From classrooms to cafes, sidewalks to shopping malls, housing to hospitals, the three pillars of Ontarios human rights system have repeatedly decried how deeply rooted racism operates at every level and every sector of society.

These three human rights pillars are:

Policy, education and advocacy of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC).

Legal advice and services of the Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC).

Mediation and adjudication at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO).

The research of the OHRC, and the complaints litigated by the HRLSC and adjudicated by HRTO, have exposed the excruciating realities of anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism in Ontario. But until this watershed time of reckoning, no one seemed to be listening or prepared to take meaningful action.

Had power holders paid attention, they would have heard that racist stereotyping of Black and Indigenous people as criminal and deviant is reinforced daily by ordinary institutions.

For decades, the OHRC highlighted that not all discrimination is explicit, and that structural and implicit biases are so pernicious and pervasive that we absorb and replicate negative images of marginalized groups in all aspects of our communities.

Every year, HRTO decisions pronounce on the harm of systemic racism. This March, a 6-year-old Black girl was racially discriminated against when police restrained and handcuffed her at school.

In 2018, Black youths had to prepay for their meals at a Toronto restaurant. These are just two of the systemic racism cases that the OHRC and the HRLSC took before the HRTO  and won.

Despite the occasional compensation award, racism persists in every corner of Ontario and the crisis has reached a crescendo in some cities. As COVID-19 magnifies systemic inequities, peoples human rights are now routinely being violated across all areas of their lives.

Enshrined by law and funded by Ontarios Ministry of the Attorney General, the three pillars must remain committed to ensuring systemic transformation through robust inquiries, broad public education, accessible, culturally safe, free legal services and speedy mediation and hearings.

Over the past decade, the pillars have supported thousands of Ontarians of different races, religions, ethnicities, ancestries, ages, genders and abilities.

Today, Ontarians are unwavering in their demand for an immediate end to systemic discrimination in all its insidious forms. The needs of marginalized communities are acute.

For example, just last week, the OHRC released A Disparate Impact, which confirmed that Black people are more likely than others to be arrested, charged, overcharged, struck, shot or killed by Toronto police.

Ontarios human rights systems have long sounded the alarm of systemic racism, and it is time that public and private organizations join this fight against discrimination. Its time to disempower the forces of systemic inequality, dismantle the systemic structures of racism and promote human rights.
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 18:58 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ee0489 1 Business 75th-Indonesia-merdeka,75th-indonesian-independence-day,bank-indonesia,central-bank Free

After Bank Indonesia (BI) issued a special commemorative Rp 75,000 (US$5.08) bill on Monday, enthusiastic citizens stormed to the central banks website to take their share of the available quota.

By Tuesday morning, the appointment slots available at pintar.bi.go.id for the public to exchange their money with the new bill at the BI headquarters in Central Jakarta and BI representative offices across Java were all full up until Sept. 3.

Early this morning I accessed the website to register for the exchange at the Semarang branch office [in Central Java] but the quota was full, father of two Toni Rendra told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

In practical terms, my wife will probably need [the Rp 75,000 bill] the most since she depends a lot on bills when shopping at traditional markets, he added.

The exchange schedule after Sept. 3 is not yet accessible, but citizens wishing to purchase the special bill -- issued to commemorate Indonesia's 75th Independence Day -- still have other opportunities since the registration process is opening gradually in two stages.

The first stage is from Monday at 3 p.m. until Sept. 30. The places of exchange include the BI headquarters and 45 representative offices in all provinces.

The second stage is from Oct. 1 until completion. The exchange will be available at the BI headquarters and representative offices, as well as designated banks.

Read also: Bank Indonesia releases commemorative Rp 75,000 bill to celebrate 75th Independence Day

BI Deputy Governor Rosmaya Hadi said in a press conference on Tuesday that as many as 68,051 citizens had registered for the exchange via the website, which is equivalent to 97 percent of the quota available for the first 10 days of exchange.

She said the remaining 3 percent was available at representative offices in the provinces of Papua, West Papua and Gorontalo as well in Sibolga in North Sumatra, Lhoksemauwe in Aceh, Ternate in North Maluku and Mamuju in West Sulawesi.

Rosmaya said BI would provide a quota of 300 of the Rp 75,000 bills per day for the BI headquarters and 150 bills per day for each representative office.

The central bank, she added, deliberately divided up the exchange schedules with a limited number of bills in each period so that people would not flock to exchange centers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

We have calculated how [the citizens] should exchange [the money]; the schedule, the duration, so we can still follow COVID-19 protocols, Rosmaya said.

She acknowledged the publics enthusiasm for the commemorative bill since its launch, saying that BI would reevaluate the exchange timelines.

BI has set a limit of one bill per citizen. In total, it will release 75 million of the Rp 75,000 bills.
As we continue in our commitment to elevate diversity, inclusion and equality conversations, FN is shining a light on Black-owned businesses in honor of Black Business Month. For these next few weeks, we encourage you to get to know these incredible Black-owned companies and support them all year round.

Immediately after footwear brand Kahmune was featured on QVC and HSN on Aug. 14 as part of their Small Business Spotlight program focused on Black-owned businesses, 2,000 visitors stormed the Kahmune site.

More from Footwear News

While most simply wanted to learn more about the brand, which offers footwear in a range of skin shades, founder Jamela Acheampong is succeeding in generating increased buzz around the collection launched in 2017.

The entrepreneur came up with the concept after unsuccessful searches to find shoes to complement her darker complexion. She quickly discovered the term nude generated products online in lighter skin tones that left women of color out in the cold.

A lot of the nudes you find are tan and beige, said Acheampong. You need to ask who created and designed them. [However], I realized there are also women who are fairer than tan, too. Its a problem all women may have.

To reinforce her message, the brands name is a play on the word commune, which means group or community. Each color is named after women of the cities and regions whose skin tones inspired them. They range from Edinburgh, the lightest shade to Juba, the darkest. The palette has also been coordinated with shades of some of the leading cosmetic foundations on the market  from LOreal Paris to Maybelline, and are indicated on the Kahmunes website.

Story continues

Armed with an undergraduate degree in economics and a masters degree in finance and accounting, Acheampong was prepared to handle the numbers side of the new business. When it came to developing product, the footwear novice headed to the MICAM footwear trade show in Italy, where she found a manufacture, also in Italy, to produce the line of pumps, flats and sandals, available in 10 skin shades.

For funding, Acheampong initially received a small business loan, rounded out with funds from online pre-orders and angel investors. In addition, she received funding in 2018 from ride share service Uber and Girlboss, a media company that helps fund women-owned businesses. (The two partnered to create Uber Pitch, a program awarding more than $200,000 in financial funding to rising-star entrepreneurs.)

Since its launch, the brand has developed a following among high-profilers, including Lupita Nyongoo and Tamera Mowry as well as everyday women like teachers and lawyers. Its been a [mix] of social media, word-of-mouth and networking at events with other successful businesswomen, [such events include those sponsored by] Odyssey Media, Jack and Jill and AdColor, said Acheampong, about marketing initiatives.

Despite the need to fill a void in the marketplace, the brand has not received the support from the fashion community Acheampong had hoped for. People love the idea and follow the brand online, said Acheampong. But, support in the fashion and footwear communities has been hard to [generate].

The entrepreneur credits an early mention by Elle magazine for initially getting the word out. A Black editor noticed a photo on the site of prototypes of the shoes Acheampong had posted. She sent it to a colleague who ran a piece about me in January 2017 that resulted in 30,000 visits to my site even before it was up and running with bona fide product.

The first shoes were available for pre-order in March 2017 for delivery in July. Since then, she has added coordinating handbags based on requests from customers. Women who have supported me love a good bag, said Acheampong.

She also took a suggestion from her sister, who stands at 6 1 and needed a size 12 shoe. In Europe, shoes only go to size 9, said Acheampong. So, I needed to make my own last and there were challenges  testing, iterating, along with some broken heels here and there.

The footwear collection includes pumps in four heel heights, flats, sandals and mules. All shoes feature cushioned insoles, with prices ranging from $150 to $300.

While the entrepreneur is on a mission to equalize the fashion options for women of all colors, she said retailers then need to follow suit. If theyre going to offer [product] in different complexions and skin tones, they need to take a note from beauty retailers who stock 40-plus shades. Consumers need to pay attention: Were they an after-thought or a first thought?

Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
CAIRO Egypts Parliament on Tuesday approved a maritime deal setting the countrys Mediterranean Sea boundary with Greece and demarcating an exclusive economic zone for oil and gas drilling rights, the state-run news agency reported.

The deal, signed earlier this month, angered Turkey, which vowed to resume its disputed oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Egyptian-Greek move was widely seen as a response to a disputed agreement between Turkey and Libyas Tripoli-based administration that spiked tensions in the East Mediterranean region.

The Turkey-Libya deal was widely criticized by Egypt, Cyprus and Greece as an infringement on their economic rights in the oil-rich sea. The European Union says its a violation of intentional law that threatens stability in the region.

The Egypt-Greece deal has established partial demarcation of the sea boundaries between the two countries, and that the remaining demarcation would be achieved through consultations, the MENA news agency reported.

Egypts Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Al called the deal very significant and said it is in line with international law.

He said the agreement with Greece comes amid tensions in the East Mediterranean region and attempted provocations by some countries. He was apparently referring to Turkey, which stands on the opposing side in Libyas years-long conflict that has turned into a proxy war.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the Egypt-Greece agreement worthless, vowing to keep his disputed pact with Tripoli government in place.

Following the Aug. 6 deal, Turkey deployed a seismic research vessel to prospect for potential oil and gas reserves in waters that Athens claims are located over Greeces continental shelf.

That led Greece to place its armed forces on high alert and send warships to the spot, demanding the Turkish vessels withdrawal. The Greek and Turkish navies have been engaged in a game of brinkmanship in waters between the Greek island of Crete, Cyprus and Turkey.

Turkey has accused Greece of trying to exclude it from the benefits of oil and gas finds in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. It argues that Greek islands should not be included in calculating maritime zones of economic interest a position Greece says contradicts international law.

Greece has around 6,000 islands and smaller islets in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, more than 200 of them inhabited.

At the signing ceremony in Cairo, Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry said the deal allows Egypt and Greece each to move ahead with maximizing their benefits from resources available in this exclusive economic zone, namely promising oil and gas reserves.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias hailed the deal as an exemplary agreement, saying it is the complete opposite of the illegal, invalid and legally non-existent memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Tripoli.

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
Azelio, a Swedish company specialising in thermal energy storage with dispatchable power, has signed an agreement with UAE-based Alec Energy to set up a renewable energy storage site at Masdar city in Abu Dhabi.

Alec Energy is the award-winning solar business division of ALEC Engineering and Contracting, and a part of the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

Azelio and Alec Energy recently signed a MoU, covering a collaboration over 49 MW installed capacity of Azelios energy storage until 2025.

The verification project will be established during the third quarter in partnership with Masdar and Khalifa University.

The purpose of the installation is to evaluate Azelios energy storage technology for inclusion in the Masdar product portfolio for current and future renewable energy projects.

The preparation for Azelios energy storage installation in Abu Dhabi is progressing according to plan. The project has reached an important milestone in a signed agreement with ALEC Energy to prepare and set up the installation site.

Alec Energys General Manager James Stewart said: "We are very excited about this solar storage collaboration with Azelio and are working on a number of other identified regional opportunities to introduce this innovative storage solution for larger schemes as the Azelio product moves through its structured development program."

Azelio CEO Jonas Eklind said: "We are happy to progress in our collaboration with ALEC Energy. This agreement is an important milestone for the project in Masdar City together with Masdar and Khalifa University and will ensure a high-quality installation."

As Abu Dhabis home of innovation and R&D, Masdar City is proud to be the location for this pilot project that has the potential to improve battery storage capability for renewable energy projects. The success of this project could help aid a sustainable recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic and advance the energy transition around the world, said Yousef Baselaib, Executive Director of Sustainable Real Estate at Masdar.
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Hebbronville Station on Texas 16 seized more than $70,000 in marijuana, authorities said.

Late Sunday, agents said they responded to a report of a green pickup occupied by two people who could be involved in illicit activities. The vehicle arrived at the checkpoint on Texas 16.
michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: The president, the postal service and the election. My colleague Luke Broadwater on whats actually going on.

[music]

Its Wednesday, August 19. Luke, theres a theory floating out there about the post office, the president and the upcoming election, and I wonder if you can just explain it. What is this theory?

luke broadwater

So the theory, I guess the short version of it is this: President Trump has installed a mega donor and close ally as the postmaster general and has set him about on a course to cut the post office. And in doing so, wreak havoc onto mail-in voting, thereby helping President Trump be reelected.

michael barbaro

And, Luke, where does this theory come from?

luke broadwater

Well, we can take it all the way back to about the turn of the century, when mail use peaks in America right around 2001. And since that time, weve seen about a 50 percent reduction in the mailing of first class mail. To accommodate this, a series of postmaster generals have approved cuts and reductions to things like mailboxes, to things like sorting machines in attempt to shrink the agency along with the lower volume of mail.

michael barbaro

Got it.

luke broadwater

Then you have this pandemic come in, and you have a ton of people now and a ton of states looking at mail-in balloting. Something like three out of four Americans may be eligible to vote by mail this year. And so you have this whole new demand on the post office. Then, on top of all these problems, a new postmaster general is installed.

archived recording His postmaster general is a Republican mega donor, who 85 days from the election by the way, decided the time was right for a chaotic and sweeping overhaul.

luke broadwater

His name is Louis DeJoy. He has never worked for the post office before.

archived recording Critics of the president say hes trying to sabotage the postal service ahead of the election. It was only a month and a half ago Trump identified mail-in voting as the biggest threat to a second term.

luke broadwater

He reassigns more than 20 executives in the post office. He immediately limits overtime for the postal workers. In the unions view, he speeds up the removal of mail-sorting machines. He puts in stringent rules that limit how many times a mail carrier can make a run in a day. And the result of all these changes, where some people were seeing slower mail, becomes in many peoples view a crisis. People all across the country are calling their senators, calling their Congress people. They are saying they havent gotten mail for weeks. I talked with one congressperson in Philadelphia who said in a normal July, he gets something like 10 to 20 complaints about the post office. And this year in July, he got more than 300, almost 400. And so people who were already worried about DeJoy and what he was doing at the post office, their fears were exacerbated when last week 

archived recording (donald trump) But two of the items are the post office and the $3.5 billion for mail-in voting. 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.

luke broadwater

President Trump came out and basically admitted that he doesnt want to fund certain aspects of the post office, because they might contribute to mail-in voting.

[music]

And when he said that, it was like alarm bells rang across the country for Democrats.

michael barbaro

What is the president objecting to here exactly? What is his problem with this funding, and what is this funding?

luke broadwater

So this all comes out of the fight over the latest round of stimulus legislation to help Americans suffering from the coronavirus and to help the American economy. In the Democrats proposal, they have $25 billion dollars to help the post office, and they have $3.6 billion to help states with their elections. There is a provision in the Democrats bill for universal mail-in voting, but that is not directly connected to the money for the post office. It appears that President Trump has conflated these two issues. So he thinks that by blocking the money for the post office, hes preventing universal mail-in voting. The truth is that states have already decided on their own whether or not theyre doing universal mail-in voting, and this money for the post office would not change that.

[music]

michael barbaro

So in the process of opposing this thing thats not really even in the Democrats proposals, hes nevertheless admitting very explicitly that he wants to find a way to curtail mail-in voting by depriving the postal service of funding.

luke broadwater

Yes, he says that out loud, and you could hear jaws hitting the floor around the country.

michael barbaro

Got it.

luke broadwater

But to make matters worse, right around this time, you start seeing reports come out from different states across the country that they have received letters from the postal service saying we might not be able to accommodate mail-in balloting in the final weeks of the election for your state. And so with Trumps comments, then these letters, and everything else we know about Postmaster General DeJoy and his background and ties to the Republican Party, and the cuts hes putting in place, people around the country start to suspect that theres sabotage going on.

michael barbaro

Right, so here youre laying out the kind of elements of this theory that now, Im sure for many people, especially Democrats, is starting to sound not so much like a theory, but a kind of reality. And so Im curious how people within the Democratic party are reacting exactly? What are they saying? What are they doing?

luke broadwater

Well, I mean, there was immediate outrage.

archived recording (protesters) [CHANTING]

luke broadwater

People started protesting.

archived recording (protesters) (SINGING) Mama, mama, cant you see? Mama, mama, cant you see? What DeJoy has done to me? What DeJoy has done to me?

luke broadwater

People went to Postmaster General DeJoys house and protested outside his house.

archived recording (protesters) (SINGING) He wants to sabotage the post. He wants to sabotage the post. And throw away all of our votes. And throw away all of the votes. Mama, mama, cant you see?

luke broadwater

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Pelosi has called the House to come back and pass emergency legislation to block what Postmaster General DeJoy and President Trump are doing to the post office in her view. And you see a hearing on Monday, an emergency hearing, in which Mr. DeJoy will be called in front of Congress to take tough questions about his role in all this, and what his plans and intentions are.

michael barbaro

So the presidents comments, essentially confirming many peoples fears, have poured a lot of fuel onto this theory. But as plausible as this theory may sound, is there actual evidence that connects DeJoys actions to Donald Trump and shows that hes actively seeking to undermine the postal service to strengthen his chances of re-election?

luke broadwater

I mean, he has said that. But in terms of actual actions, I dont think you can say that. To pull that off, you would have to destroy the post office in key areas, right? You would have to do it in Democratic strongholds, but not in rural areas. You would have to be very sort of selective about how you went about cutting and weakening the post office. And thats not really what weve seen. What weve seen is across the country weve seen problems with the post office. In fact, a lot of the complaints that we get are from rural Americans, and we see a lot of rural Republicans who are very upset about whats going on at the post office  G.O.P. senators and Republican secretaries of state. So Donald Trump believes that mail-in voting helps Democrats, but almost all the studies weve seen is that it doesnt really help anybody. It just makes more people vote. Now, maybe he views it as if fewer people vote, I can win. But theres no real evidence of that either, that sort of a smaller electorate would benefit him over Joe Biden.

michael barbaro

Well, now that theyve seen this reaction to the presidents words, and this theory has taken hold, how is the Trump administration responding?

luke broadwater

Well, theyve walked back a number of things that Trump said.

archived recording If the Democrats were to give you some of what you want, which you articulated in a series of tweets in the last hour, would you be willing to accept the $25 billion dollars for the postal service including the $3.5 billion? archived recording (donald trump) Sure, if they give us what we want. And its not what I want. Its what the American people want.

luke broadwater

The president has now said hes open to funding the post office in a way that he wasnt only a day earlier. His Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has gone out there and said 

archived recording (mark meadows) Im all about piecemeal. If we can agree on postal, lets do it.

luke broadwater

 that they would be open to a standalone bill to fund the post office.

archived recording (mark meadows) Ive been the one thats advocating for that. Speaker Pelosi is the one who said that she wont do anything unless its a big deal.

luke broadwater

Theyve made a number of pledges to try to tamp down some of the accusations.

archived recording (mark meadows) Theres no sorting machines that are going offline between now and the election. Thats not happening.

luke broadwater

Theyve said theyll stop removing the post boxes. They said they have authorized overtime for the election. And the postmaster general has pledged that every ballot will be treated with respect and counted and sent to the proper place. They are pledging up and down there wont be any sabotage.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well be right back. So at this point, the Trump administration has more or less said we will stop doing the things that are fueling this theory. Thats now very much out there that we are trying to damage the postal service to try to win a second term in the middle of a pandemic. Im curious what the actual capacity of the postal service is with the cuts that are already in place. Can the postal service handle an election in which 100 to 200 million people may use mail-in ballots?

luke broadwater

The short answer is yes. They have more than enough capacity to handle that volume of mail. Pretty much everybody agrees on that  election experts, the postal union, the postmaster general. If you look at a traditional Christmastime, you have much more mail moving than youre going to see during this election, even though it is a very heightened amount of mail-in ballots. The issue for the post office is not the volume or the capacity. The issue is the timing. And so they have a concern about last-minute requests for mail-in ballots. Thats really their issue. Theres 45 states across the country that allow people to request ballots within two weeks before the election. Some allow the requests as short as four days. There are even five states that will send out a mail-in ballot to a voter if they receive an application by mail, even the day before the election.

michael barbaro

Wow, thats just not a lot of time for the postal service to get a ballot out, get a person to fill it out and get it back in time before the election.

luke broadwater

Yes, exactly. So the postal service is saying, even in a good year, even a year where there is not this big rush of mail-in ballots and theres no pandemic, we would have trouble with some of those deadlines. And so were asking you in a pandemic year, in a year where 75 percent of voters are eligible to vote by mail, please push your deadlines back, and give us two weeks to process these things.

michael barbaro

OK, theyre just basically creating a bigger buffer of time to make sure they can handle all of this capacity. That seems kind of reasonable.

luke broadwater

Yeah, I mean, and I think that if this request had gone out without Donald Trumps comments, without Postmaster General DeJoys cuts, they would have been seen as sort of a reasonable letter to ensure that everyones vote actually counted, that the post office can accommodate some of these deadlines. Well, lets change them to make sure that no one is under a false impression that theyre filling out a ballot thats going to count when its not actually going to get there in time.

michael barbaro

So, look, I want to return to the original theory here about the president, the postal service and the election. You identify the ways in which the president could, if he wanted to, weaken the postal service in ways that would advantage him in the election by, for example, going into a Democratic community and making cuts to the postal service. Does the president actually have that kind of power? Could he demand changes to the postal service in the next 70 or 80 days that would actually make it easier for him to win re-election?

luke broadwater

Well, so he does control the board of governors now for the postal service, and he controls the postmaster general. And he could give them some marching orders theoretically. That said, I do think it would be difficult to carry out without raising the alarm of a large unionized workforce. If all of the sudden, the entire branch of the Philadelphia post office was closed down, and people were laid off, we would know about that. These are not shrinking violets who would just be pushed around. So hed either need buy-in from the unions to sabotage the election  a bunch of unionized workers  which seems highly unlikely. Or we would hear crying foul from every corner of the country about what he was doing.

michael barbaro

So youre saying its not very practical as a electoral strategy for the president. But I wonder if youre getting the sense that the presidents actions so far, and his words when it comes to the postal service and this election, are creating a lot of doubt about whether mail-in voting is going to work? And whether the postal service can make mail-in voting work, and if that is starting to in its own way undermine faith in the postal service in the minds of voters?

luke broadwater

Absolutely. Its an interesting thing the presidents doing, because the post office has long been one of the most popular functions of government. I think 91 percent of Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, support the post office. And so what the unions believe hes doing is they say there are three levels of support that they have. One is the board of governors. They say the presidents taken that over. The second is the postmaster general. They say the president has taken that over. And the third is the American public, and they still have the American public on their side. But if the service of the post office is so eroded, and the confidence in it has degraded so much that their polling starts to fall, and people dont have confidence in them anymore, well, now the theory goes its open for privatization.

michael barbaro

Oh, interesting. And what could be a bigger stage for people to judge the postal service than an election?

luke broadwater

Thats right.

archived recording (donald trump) There is the issue of voter fraud. Isnt it amazing the way they say theres no voter fraud?

luke broadwater

Donald Trump has long sought to undermine American elections with his rhetoric.

archived recording (donald trump) There are 1.8 million dead people that are registered right now to vote. And folks, some of them vote. I wonder why. I wonder how that happened. They woke up from the dead, and they went and voted.

luke broadwater

But now what were seeing is on the other side.

archived recording (nancy pelosi) Within this administration is an attempt to make sure your vote doesnt count and doesnt count as cast.

luke broadwater

Democrats are worried about a rigged election.

archived recording (nancy pelosi) The actions this administration are taking, vis-a-vis our voting system, our sacred right to vote are a domestic assault on our constitution. archived recording (chuck schumer) Donald Trump is aimed at hurting the elections. He says he wants to slow down the mail to hurt the elections and make people doubt the results of the election.

luke broadwater

So now were seeing both sides questioning the legitimacy of the election. And I dont know how thats a good recipe for America and for confidence in our electoral system.

archived recording (barack obama) What weve never seen before is a president say, Im going to try to actively kneecap the postal service, and I will be explicit about the reason Im doing it. Thats sort of unheard of.

michael barbaro

You know, I cant help but think about 2016 and Russian interference. And Im kind of haunted by the Russian theory of the case, which is that you dont actually have to do the thing. You dont actually have to interfere in the election, because the real power is just in calling the election itself into doubt.

luke broadwater

No, thats an interesting point. Yeah, I mean, the key distinction between the two is in 2016, a lot of the concern was about outside interference. This time, the accusation is that the meddling is coming from the White House itself. That the calls coming from inside the house, so to speak. That is obviously a huge cause for alarm, and its a very different line of concern than we saw in 2016. Now, you know, despite all this concern and all the heated rhetoric that weve heard, there is perhaps a silver lining. And that is when you talk with a lot of get-out-the-vote folks, and you talk with activists about how their messaging is changing, now theyre really pushing this idea that you need to vote a good two weeks before the election by mail. And so people that maybe didnt hear that message and would have voted the week before election, and maybe the post office wouldnt have gotten the ballot there in time for their vote to count, I think theres a good chance now that they will get that ballot in ahead of time, and their vote will count.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well, Luke, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

luke broadwater

Thank you.

michael barbaro

On Tuesday, under growing pressure from Democrats, activists and voters, Postmaster General DeJoy said he would formally suspend the operational changes hes been making to the postal service until after the 2020 election. Among the changes he will suspend are eliminating overtime for mail carriers, reducing post office hours and removing postal boxes, all of which have been blamed for slowing mail delivery and could undermine mail-in voting. But DeJoy has not said that he will permanently reverse any of the changes that he has already made.

[music]

Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today.

archived recording 1 The Commonwealth of Kentucky cast all 60 votes for the next president of the United States, Joe Biden. archived recording 2 Mississippi cast two votes for Bernie Sanders and 38 votes for our next president Joe Biden. archived recording 3 Delaware is proud to cast its 32 votes for our favorite son and our next president. archived recording 4 Our brand, Delaware, Joe Biden.

michael barbaro

During the second night of the Democratic National Convention, after a virtual roll call from 57 states and U.S. territories, Joe Biden was formally designated as the partys nominee for president.

archived recording [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] archived recording (joe biden) Well, that you very, very much from the bottom of my heart. Thank you all. It means the world to me and my family. And Ill see you on Thursday. Thank you, thank you, thank you. archived recording [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

michael barbaro

Later in the evening, Bidens wife, Dr. Jill Biden, delivered the nights keynote speech from a classroom quieted by the pandemic, recalling her decision to marry Biden not long after the death of his first wife and daughter in a car crash.

archived recording (jill biden) I never imagined at the age of 26 I would be asking myself, how do you make a broken family whole? Still, Joe always told the boys mommy sent Jill to us, and how could I argue with her.

michael barbaro

Recounting that tragedy, Joe Biden described her husband as uniquely capable of healing the nation in the middle of a deadly pandemic and economic collapse.

archived recording (jill biden) I know that if we entrust this nation to Joe, he will do for your family what he did for ours. Bring us together and make us whole. Carry us forward in our time of need. Keep the promise of America for all of us.

michael barbaro

The speech was the latest sign that the Biden campaign will frame the coming election as a referendum on President Trump and his handling of the coronavirus.

[music]
New Delhi, Aug 18 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed Tihar Jail authorities to provide adequate medical care to Atul Singh Sengar, one of the convicts in the Unnao rape and murder case, after he was diagnosed with oral cancer.

A single judge bench of the high court presided by Justice Vibhu Bakhru passed the order while hearing Sengar's plea seeking parole on medical grounds.

During the course of hearing, Sengar's counsel informed the court that Atul has been diagnosed with oral cancer.

The court then disposed of the plea with the direction that the jail authorities shall ensure that necessary and adequate treatment, as advised by doctors, is provided to him.

On the previous date of hearing, the bench had to select a hospital for seeking treatment while being in custodial parole.

While the matter was being heard through video conferencing, the counsel appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) appraised the court that the petitioner convict is an influential person and shall only be granted custodial parole.

"The allegation is that he and his goon had beaten up the father of the prosecutrix (the rape victim) and a false case was registered against him... They are politically affluent people and can influence others. He has been convicted for offences under 304 IPC," said the CBI counsel.

He further questioned why parole was being sought and an appeal had not been filed. Responding to the same, the counsel for the convict said he wanted to file an appeal but was not able to do it due to restricted functioning of the court.

Following the arguments, the judge said, "You select the hospital for surgery in Delhi, we will give you custodial parole." The arguments and directions came in while the court was hearing an application filed by convict Atul Singh Sengar, who is serving jail term, seeking eight weeks parole on the ground that he has multiple health issues and has to undergo surgery in Kanpur.

In March this year, Delhi's Tis Hazari Court sentenced expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and six others to 10 years imprisonment for the death of Unnao rape survivor's father. Sengar is already serving life imprisonment for raping the minor.

Sengar and his brother Atul were directed to give 10 lakh compensation to the family of the victim for the loss of their father. "There are four minor children involved, three girls and one boy. They have also been uprooted from their native place," the judge said.

Seven people, including Sengar, his brother and two police personnel, were held guilty for culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy, earlier this month.

The case pertains to the death of rape survivor's father in custody on April 9, 2018. It was alleged that he was assaulted following a quarrel with some of the accused in the case.
By Trend

Ambassador of Turkey to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral held a meeting with members of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabkh region of Azerbaijan has been held, the community told Trend.

Head of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Karabakh, MP Tural Ganjaliyev greeted the Turkish ambassador.

During the meeting, the participants emphasized that the joint efforts of Azerbaijan and Turkey, which are one nation, two states, help bring the voice of justice of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh to a wider international audience.

The communitys members put forward their proposals for further expansion of activities in this field.

In turn, Ozoral noted that Turkey has always been and will be next to Azerbaijan.

The ambassador expressed confidence that the Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were expelled from their homes as a result of the Armenian occupation will return to their homeland soon.

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
The Chinese government requires every foreign app distribution platform in the country to partner with a local firm and for it to be majority-owned and operated by a local company to operate in the region. Apple, however, was given an exemption. The Cupertino-based tech giant introduced its App Store in China in 2010, without having to tie up with a local partner in the country.

That, however, wasnt the only exemption the brand had received from the Chinese authorities. The app distribution platforms in China are required to follow laws that heavily censor content and services. Apple was also allowed to bypass these instructions from the government and distribute apps on its platform with loose censorship.

Apple was given these exemptions due to the business it brings to China, which is mainly the production of the majority of its products in the country. The Chinese government, however, has recently been withdrawing these exemptions and tightening its grip on Apple to force it to comply with all the laws in the country, mainly in retaliation to the restrictions that the US is imposing upon a few Chinese companies.

Apple was recently asked by the Chinese government to remove 47,000 games from the App Store in China as these games didnt have a license from regulators. Sources in the industry also suggest that Apple has given up on bringing the Apple TV+ service in the country, as there has been no progress in getting a green light for it from the local authorities. So it is evident that laws on the App Store are getting stricter with each day passing by.

The company had a chance to bypass these restrictions imposed by China back in 2013 by setting up a legal entity under Shanghai Free Trade Zone program, which would have allowed Apple to operate without the need of tying up with a local partner. However, Apple lost the chance by not acting on it, as it thought it would mean a potential loss of control.

In 2018, the first signs of the trade war between the US and China started appearing, and with it, Apple started facing issues from the Chinese government. This is when Apple realized that it would need to use the Shanghai Free Trade Zone program to better operate App Store in China, But it was too late, as China was embroiled in a trade war with the US. As a result, China didnt approve of Apples application to register the entity.

Moreover, after the Trump Administration started pressuring TikTok to cease operations in the US, it is likely that China will retaliate by tightening its grip on the App Store and its operations in the country. It is possible that the company might not agree to operate the App Store in China with such tight restrictions, which could jeopardize the existence of the App Store in China, leading to a huge loss for the brand.

Our Take

The ongoing trade war between the US and China is causing a huge loss to companies in both countries, which wouldnt do anyone any good. Both countries should resolve these issues to stop losing money any further.

[Via: TheInformation
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Rating Action: Moody's Affirms ACCO Brands' Ba3 Corporate Family Rating; Outlook Stable

Global Credit Research - 17 Aug 2020

New York, August 17, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") affirmed ACCO Brands Corporation's (ACCO) Ba3 Corporate Family Rating (CFR) and Ba3-PD Probability of Default Rating. At the same time, Moody's affirmed the company's senior unsecured notes due 2024 at B1 and the speculative grade liquidity rating is unchanged at SGL-2. The outlook is stable.

While ACCO will be negatively impacted by the disruptions caused by the coronavirus, Moody's affirmed the ratings because the company has good liquidity to manage through temporary operating volatility including continued positive free cash flow. Moody's expects that growth will resume when conditions begin to return to normal. Moody's continues to believe that the company will be able to capitalize on its strong market position to restore credit metrics close to pre-coronavirus levels and that the company will reduce costs and preserve cash to manage through the current difficult environment. Moody's expects ACCO's debt/EBITDA will peak over the next 6 to 12 months at around 5x and then improve to around 4.0x to 4.5x by the end of 2021 and in line with Moody's expectations for the Ba3 rating given the operating profile.

Moody's expects that ACCO's operating performance will continue to be negatively impacted in the second half of 2020 due to lower demand for its products given the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Further challenging ACCO's operating performance will be a contraction of the global economy in 2020, particularly in key markets for ACCO such as the US, Europe and Brazil, before recovering in 2021. The uncertainty of school re-openings and the challenges caused by the slow return of employees to offices will negatively impact school and office supply purchases. Offsetting some of this decline will be an increase in ACCO's electronic products such as computer accessories and air purifiers. Moody's expects ACCO's revenues to decline about 20% in the second half of 2020 compared to second half of 2019 and recover by approximately 15% in 2021 compared to 2020. Operating profits will also be significantly down by approximately 45% in 2020 (vs. 2019) and improve by around 40% in 2021 (vs 2020), though not quite recover to 2019 levels. Moody's estimates that approximately half of ACCO's sales are related to education purchases, and half for commercial/office purchases.

Story continues

Moody's took the following rating actions on ACCO Brands Corporation:

Ratings Affirmed:

.... Corporate Family Rating at Ba3;

.... Probability of Default Rating at Ba3-PD;

.... $400 million Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 at B1 (LGD5);

Rating Unchanged:

.... Speculative Grade Liquidity Rating is unchanged at SGL-2;

Outlook Actions: .... Outlook remains stable. RATINGS RATIONALE

ACCO's Ba3 CFR reflects its good scale, product diversification within office/school products, and solid geographic diversification. The rating also incorporates Moody's expectation of near-term weakness in its operating performance due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as operating profits will continue to be pressured due to school closures and office disruptions. Moody's expects debt/EBITDA to remain high at above 5x in 2020 and then decline to below 4.5x by the end of 2021. ACCO's stated leverage goal of 2.5x debt/EBITDA (company calculated, vs. 3.5x as of 6/30/2020) gives Moody's comfort that the company will continue to focus on debt repayment over the next 12 to 18 months. Moody's anticipates that ACCO will resume share repurchases as permitted under its credit agreement only after it reduces leverage to its target levels. The rating also incorporates the cyclicality and the mature nature of the office and school supplies industry. Moody's estimates that approximately 60% of ACCO's sales are tied to discretionary consumer spending, which would be negatively impacted by a contraction of the economy. The remainder is driven more by business spending, which is also subject to cyclicality. Mitigating these factors is ACCO's solid market position within the office supply product categories, solid free cash flow, and good liquidity. Moody's also considers ACCO's high relevance to its largest customers as one of only a few global suppliers of office products.

The rapid spread of the coronavirus outbreak, deteriorating global economic outlook, low oil prices, and high asset price volatility have created an unprecedented credit shock across a range of sectors and regions. Moody's regards the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. The consumer durables industry is one of the sectors most meaningfully affected by the coronavirus because of exposure to discretionary spending.

ACCO is publicly traded and has a balanced financial policy approach between shareholder distributions and leverage. ACCO has a moderate dividend ($6 million per quarter) and engages in share repurchases, which Moody's expects to be curtailed until leverage is reduced to the company's target level. Acquisitions are an event risk.

The stable outlook reflects Moody's view that ACCO will maintain an acceptable credit profile with free cash flow of approximately $100 million and $130 million in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Moody's also projects in the stable outlook that the company will use its free cash towards debt repayment such that debt to EBITDA falls below 4.5x by the end of 2021.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS

The rating could be downgraded if operating performance weakens because of customer losses or volume reductions, pricing pressure, or lower consumer spending, or if liquidity deteriorates. Debt-funded acquisitions or shareholder distributions could also result in a downgrade. Key credit metrics that could lead to a downgrade include debt/EBITDA sustained above 4.5x.

The rating could be upgraded if the company maintains solid reinvestment that sustains profitable growth with a stable to higher EBITDA margin, generates strong free cash flow. and reduces leverage. ACCOs financial policy would also need to be consistent with debt/EBITDA sustained below 3.5x.

Headquartered in Lake Zurich, IL publicly-traded ACCO Brands Corporation ("ACCO") manufactures and supplies office, school, calendar products and select computer and electronic accessories sold primarily in the US, Europe, Brazil, Australia, Canada and Mexico. Key brands include AT-A-GLANCE, Barrilito, Derwent, Esselte, Five Star, Foroni, GBC, Hilroy, Kensington, Leitz,Marbig, Mead, NOBO, Quartet, Rapid, Rexel, Swingline, Tilibra and Wilson Jones. Annual revenues are approximately $1.8 billion as of June 30, 2020.

The principal methodology used in these ratings was Consumer Durables Industry published in April 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1060509. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.

For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.

The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.

These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.

Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.

The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.

Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.

Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.

Maria Iarriccio Vice President - Senior Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 John E. Puchalla, CFA Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653

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With the performance of Eversource Energy suddenly a potent election-year issue, the chief executive of the publicly traded utility has agreed to testify before a state legislative committee whose leaders proposed sweeping regulatory reforms Monday.

Jim Judge, the Eversource chairman and president who largely disappeared from public view after a massive power outage, will appear before the legislatures Energy and Technology Committee, whose leaders outlined bipartisan regulatory review legislation.

My sense is that there is a better understanding of the fact that he didnt manage a number of things well, including the P.R. side of this, where I think they really screwed up, said Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, the committee co-chair.

Eversource, which delivers electricity to most of Connecticut and large swaths of Massachusetts and New Hampshire as a regulated monopoly, struck a relatively contrite tone in confirming Judges willingness to testify later this month about what was a nine-day outage in some places after Tropical Storm Isaias.

While we mobilized the largest restoration effort Connecticut has seen in order to get the power back on for every customer, we understand the frustration our customers and political leaders are feeling, said Tricia Taskey Modifica, the Eversource media relations manager. Well participate in the regulatory and legislative process to ensure we understand why this storm had such a severe impact, and ultimately to figure out what can be done better.

Judge was roundly condemned for his refusal to join Gov. Ned Lamont in taking questions outside Eversource offices on Aug. 5, a day after 800,000 Eversource customers lost power after a tropical storm veered to the west, leaving most of Connecticut on the windward side of a storm that snapped branches and uprooted trees.

At the same press event, the chair of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority said that Eversource badly underestimated the threat of the storm by preparing for between 125,000 and 380,000 outages.

The performance of Eversource and to a lesser extent the smaller United Illuminating, which serves New Haven, Bridgeport and 15 other communities, has sparked an investigation by PURA and bipartisan calls for a deep review of how well the utilities perform and the state regulates them.

Needleman and his energy co-chair, Rep. David Arconti, D-Danbury, and the panels two ranking Republicans, Sen. Paul Formica of East Lyme and Rep. Charles Ferraro of West Haven, outlined a Take Back Our Grid Act, less an actual bill than ambitious list of topics to be potentially tackled in a special session next month and the regular session in January.

Among other things, the legislation would set minimum staffing levels, increase PURAs power to impose civil penalties, making the utilities liability for damages caused by certain outages, and impose a rate freeze for two years.

With new leadership at PURA and on the Energy and Technology Committee, Needleman said the opportunity exists for a fresh look at complex system.

In Connecticut, where residents pay some of the highest electric rates in the U.S., the production of electricity is a largely deregulated commodity sold in a market that is competitive, but only within state-set parameters. The delivery of that electricity to homes and business is a regulated business with two major players that enjoy geographic monopolies, Eversource and UI.

Im really committed to going back to ground zero on this, Needleman said. I think we really need to look at how we got here.

The hearing was originally called to examine the factors behind an Eversource rate increase, then dramatically broadened after the blackout.

These two events have convinced us that it is time we had a serious conversation on what can be done to protect the ratepayers going forward, Ferraro said.

The part-time General Assembly consistently has proven unequal to the task of reforming the complex system. Eversource and UI are among the most influential interests at the State Capitol, and the complexity of the issue in most years has been an ally to company efforts to maintain the status quo.

Were just outgunned. Were outgunned and out-bought, Needleman said.

The hearing is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 27. Lawmakers would prefer to question Judge face-to-face, but a video conference in more likely, given the social-distancing precautions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arconti said a special session could address limited issues involving requiring the utilities to reimburse ratepayers for the loss of food and medicine due to an outage that he says was prolonged by poor planning before the storm and communication in its aftermath.

The breakdown in communication that occurred between the utilities and their customers and the utilities and local election officials of our municipalities was completely unacceptable, he said.

Needleman is currently the first selectman of Essex and Formica once held that role in East Lyme. Both said the utilities failed to communicate with customers and local officials.

Lets try to bring some relief now and take a deeper dive in next years legislative session, talking about things like reinventing utilities and grid modernization, Formica said.

Judge was jubilant in a message to shareholders in March about the companys reliability and profitability, assuming them Eversource was coming off its most successful year ever.

The Eversource trustees agreed, paying Judge a $3 million bonus that swelled his compensation for the year to $19.8 million. Shareholders didnt object. The stock price had soared from $65.04 to $85.07, a gain of 31 percent over 12 months. And the reliability of the companys electric distribution system was in the industrys top 10 percent.
Weather Alert

.An arctic cold front will move across the region on Wednesday, causing rain to change to snow Wednesday afternoon and evening. ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY... * WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of one inch with localized higher amounts and ice accumulations of a light glaze. * WHERE...Portions of southwest Indiana, western Kentucky and southern Illinois. * WHEN...From 4 PM Wednesday to 6 AM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute, especially along the Ohio River. The transition from rain to a wintry mix and snow may not occur closer to the Tennessee border areas until this evening. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The combination of gusty winds, falling temperatures and wind chills, and falling snow will cause hazardous travel. Freezing of residual moisture on roads from rain earlier Wednesday could also cause icing of roads and walkways. Black ice issues could linger through the early morning hours. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. &&
The Indian government has recently announced a review of the Confucius Institutes (CI's) in colleges across the country. Reports said that Indian chapters of Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms in seven colleges and universities are under the scanner.

The review was launched after security agencies sounded the government about their concerns around the growing Chinese influence in higher education and culture. The move assumes significance as it comes nearly two months after Chinese and Indian troops clashed at the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, leading to the death of 20 Indian soldiers.

Reacting to the development, Chinese embassy spokesperson, Hi Rong, urged India to treat Confucius Institutes in a fair manner and avoid politicising normal cooperation. India, however, is not the first country to launch a crackdown on these institutions.

Last year, Australia had raised concerns over the increasing influence of CIs in its universities and constituted a task force to thwart what it described as attempts by foreign governments to interfere in the countrys educational institutions. Many universities in the US have also ordered closures of these Chinese-backed language and cultural programs on their campus. There have also been shutdowns in France, Sweden, Canada and Belgium among others.

WHY CI's ARE SO CONTENTIOUS

Named after Chinas renowned philosopher and thinker, the Confucius Institute program began in 2004 in South Koreas Seoul, with a stated aim of promoting Chinese language and culture. It caters to overseas demand for Chinese language learning. According to a BBC report, as of 2018, there were 548 CIs around the world and 1,193 Confucius classrooms based in primary and secondary schools.

The website of Hanban, an agency part of Chinas ministry of education that manages these institutes, says that the function of these non-profit educational institutions is to enhance understanding of Chinese language and culture among foreigners, develop friendly relations between China and other countries, and foster the development of multiculturalism

But what makes CIs particularly contentious is their proximity to Chinese Communist Party and Chinas renewed push for soft power under Xi Jinpings vision of a Chinese Dream.

Professor Dibyesh Anand of London's University of Westminster, an expert on China and its politics, said that CI's have never hidden their direct links with Beijing and the CCP.

Confucius Institutes are integral to Chinese public diplomacy where the visible focus is on generating positive image of China as a benign civilisational power while the invisible agenda is to raise the cost for foreign universities to conduct research and/or host events critical of Chinese Communist Party, Anand said.

Critics of these institutions have also pointed out that within classrooms, there is extensive censorship on issues such as Tibet, Taiwan and historical events like the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square massacre.

Notably, a campaign launched by activist group Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) called for the closure of CIs, saying that it threatens academic freedom and free speech...is controlled by the Chinese Government, and is a central part of its soft power plan to improve the global view of Chinas authoritarian system.

But many argue that CIs are similar to culture and language organisations like the Alliance Francaise or Germany's Goethe Institute.

"In a way, CI is no different from British Council or Alliance Francaise for they all serve the purpose of improving image of their respective country. However, while western organisations represent the state and not the government, CI represents an authoritarian Party State, Anand said.

On the Indian governments decision to shut down CIs in the country, Anand said that the move is not likely to be anything more than gestural politics because unlike the West, China is India's neighbour, and unlike Western universities that provide plenty of other non-CI opportunities to learn Chinese and about China, there are relatively few chances in India.

What India needs to do is invest heavily in researching and studying China at various universities without letting security-strategy to become the sole focus, he underscored.

TOOL OF CHINAS SOFT POWER?

Soft power  which has now become an important terminology in foreign policy discourse  was coined by American political scientist Joseph Nye. It is defined as the ability of a country to persuade others to do what it wants without force or coercion.

According to a report published by the Council on Foreign Relations in 2018, while ascertaining the exact funds earmarked by China for its soft power push is difficult, experts, such as US sinologist David Shambaugh of George Washington University estimated the yearly spending at $10 billion a year. The report also identified CIs and educational exchanges as some of the vital tools of Chinas soft power campaign.

Gunjan Singh, an assistant professor at the Jindal Global Law School and a former research fellow with the Indian Council of World Affairs, also believes that one of the major objectives behind establishing these Institutes was to extend the Chinese soft power.

However, the closeness between the Chinese government and CIs has greatly affected this goal. CI's have been an extension of Chinese government and a body by which the Chinese government wants to influence the public views in the host countries. They have also been very strict about the courses and topics of discussions and hence were not seen fit in major democratic set ups and university campuses, Singh said.

Parama Sinha Palit, an affiliated researcher at Swedish South Asian Studies Network, Lund University, and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the RSIS, Singapore, feels that given the current Covid-19 scenario the world over, which is reshaping the global cultural flow, the CIs are hardly capable of communicating Chinas soft power.

With the Chinese leadership employing the internet police to threaten its domestic publics posting on its failure to handle the virus while attempting to adjust the narrative retroactively on the one hand, and its maritime aggression amid the pandemic on the other, CIs are hardly in a position to pose as instruments of Beijing's soft power, Palit said.

WHAT CHINA SAYS

Last week, after the US State Department's designated the Confucius Institute US Center (CIUS) as a Chinese "foreign mission, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian decried the decision and said that the US was trying to demonise and stigmatise the normal operation of China-US cooperation projects.

But it appears that China has closely watched the closures and taken steps to quell international backlash. Last month, in an unexpected move, China decided to rebrand its ambitious programme.

According to a report in the state-run Global Times, a centre for Chinese language education and cooperation has been set up under the Ministry of Education and the Confucius Institutes brand would now be run by a newly launched non-governmental organisation. The report, citing analysts, said that the move would disperse the Western misinterpretation that the CIs acted as China's ideological marketing machine.

However, many, including Palit, believe that the rebranding may not have a significant impact. Whats in a name? she asked.

If the aggressive posture of the Chinese leadership continues, and I see little chance of its ebbing in the near future, the rebranding will not help in quelling scepticism or the negativity which pervades the global perception regarding China, she added.
Huawei logo. The U.S. government slapped additional restrictions against Huawei, Monday. / Yonhap



By Kim Hyun-bin



Samsung and SK have been watching with concern as the Trump administration announced a further tightening of restrictions on Huawei, as the two have been key semiconductor supplier for the Chinese telecom giant.



The new restrictions make it more difficult for Huawei to access commercially available chips that use U.S. software and technologies, which is a major blow to the Chinese company as nearly all semiconductors on the market have some sort of U.S. software or technology embedded within their production line.



The U.S. Department of Commerce is set to expand restrictions preventing Huawei from obtaining semiconductors without a special license, which will also be applied to foreign firms that use U.S. software or technology in their products.



"We dealt a direct blow to Huawei and the repressive Chinese Communist Party by further limiting Huawei's ability to acquire U.S. technology and compromise the integrity of the world's networks and Americans' private information," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Monday (local time).



The specific details of how far the restrictions will be applied are not known, but they could be troubling for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix as they export DRAM and NAND memory semiconductors to Huawei. Many industry watchers believe the restrictions when further strengthened and prolonged could impact the Korean tech giants' profitability.



Samsung and SK are currently reviewing the implications of the tightened restrictions.



"We are looking into the situation and have to check the legal issues as they are very extensive. We cannot immediately know the impact on us at this point, but we will review the situation both in the U.S. and Korea," an SK hynix official said.



China's state-run news agency says the U.S. restrictions legitimize China's retaliation and the country will impose sanctions against key U.S. companies including Apple, Qualcomm and Boeing.



Washington has called on foreign governments around the world to squeeze Huawei out, arguing that the data it collects is handed over to the Chinese government, which Huawei denies.



"The Trump Administration sees Huawei for what it is  an arm of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) surveillance state  and we have taken action accordingly," Pompeo said in the statement. "We will not tolerate efforts by the CCP to undermine the privacy of our citizens, our businesses' intellectual property, or the integrity of next-generation networks worldwide."



The tighter restrictions comes less than a month after the U.S. State Department targeted LG Uplus for using a substantial amount of Huawei equipment for its 5G infrastructure, urging the Korean telecom company to "migrate away from untrusted vendors to trusted vendors."



SK Telecom, KT and LG became the world's first to commercialize 5G in April 2019.



SKT and KT both use Samsung's 5G equipment and only LG implemented Huawei equipment for its nationwide coverage.



"LG went the cheaper way knowing there could be consequences for using Huawei as it is less than half the price compared to Samsung," an official familiar with the matter said.



Although SKT and KT do not utilize Huawei's equipment for their 5G networks, the two companies have adopted the Chinese technology giant's equipment for their landlines.



"It is not meaningful equipment, just a repeater which is a cable transmission device. It is irrelevant to the U.S. sanctions on wireless 5G equipment from Huawei," a telecom official said.



It would be nearly impossible for LG to switch its vendor with the company scheduled to invest trillions of won in expanding its 5G infrastructure nationwide in the coming years.



"There is not much LG Uplus can do at this point. They will probably just wait out the situation until the U.S. election in November. If Joe Biden wins the race, the restrictions against Huawei could be lifted," an official familiar with the matter said.



According to the latest CNN poll released Monday, Biden is backed by 51 percent of registered voters nationwide while Trump was supported by just 42 percent.


Big number: $549.8 million, the amount the provincial government committed to giving Toronto, with support by the federal government, through the Safe Restart agreement. It will cover about 41 per cent of the total amount Toronto needs to fill its projected $1.35-billion year-end shortfall. The rest is TBD.

Mayor John Tory was in a pretty good mood at a press conference last week, held just hours after the provincial government provided details on how much Toronto would receive from the COVID-19 bailout fund for municipalities.

What we had going just a few weeks ago is what amounted to a four-alarm fire with respect to the impact that COVID-19 has had on our finances, the mayor said. And we called the people we needed to call to get some help in fighting that fire  namely the government of Ontario and the government of Canada  and they have responded.

It was an optimistic take on the news, a celebration of government cooperation in a tough time. I dont feel the same optimism. Im here to Debbie Downer this whole situation.

Sure, its a relief to finally know that Toronto will receive about $550 million in combined emergency funds for city operations and the TTC, but the commitment amounts to only enough to keep Torontos budget from immediately exploding into an inferno. It does not douse the flames.

The fire still burns.

Worse, the bailout process thus far has been a good illustration of just how structurally dysfunctional the relationship is between Torontos government and its provincial counterpart.

Why did it take more than four months from the day Tory first sounded the alarm about Torontos COVID-19 fiscal crisis before the province confirmed how much Toronto would get? Why, after all this warning, does the amount committed  $404 million for the TTC and $146 for general city operations  not cover even half the full $1.35 billion Toronto has calculated it needs to avoid a year-end operating budget deficit?

The provincial funding announcement last week pledged a phase two bailout in the fall, but again offered scant details. Kinga Surma, associate minister of transportation, told reporters that additional transit funds will be contingent on transit agencies working with the provincial government to achieve shared transit objectives  suggesting there will be hoops the TTC needs to clear to get the remaining $300 million needed to fill its projected year-end gap. In other words: no money if you dont do what we say.

This kind of condescending paternalistic approach has been an undercurrent throughout this whole bailout process. But Torontos government didnt create the conditions that led to this crisis. The mayor and councillors didnt demand to have responsibility for vital services like transit and social housing downloaded on them. And they certainly didnt ask to have to deal with those responsibilities while being legislatively prohibited from using powers and revenues available to other governments.

So spare me any notion that providing bailout funds is some heroic selfless gesture by the provincial government. This isnt a parent helping out a wayward kid by writing a cheque. Queens Park, at times under both the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals, enabled this quagmire through two decades of municipal policy choices.

The process to date should have no one feeling confident in Torontos long-term prospects.

Even if enough phase two funding emerges from Queens Park to completely eliminate the 2020 shortfall, Toronto faces a dire budget situation going into 2021 and beyond.

Transit fare revenue, usually about 12 per cent of Torontos operating budget revenue, is likely to stay well below normal levels, even as service needs to ramp up to allow enough space for rider safety. Municipal land transfer tax revenue  about seven per cent of the budget  is a major question mark, dependent on a resurgent condo market.

And theres a perfect storm brewing related to social services. People currently sleeping in tents will need physically distanced shelter space when the temperature starts to dip. Theres the potential for hundreds more people left unhoused via the evictions process enabled by the provinces Bill 184. And the numbers increasingly suggest a deadly opioid crisis that will demand a rapid public health response.

The situation is bad enough that early estimates suggest a $1.47 billion budget shortfall for Toronto in 2021, a more alarming fiscal fire than the one city hall is facing this year. Does Toronto have a provincial partner fully committed to dousing the flames?
WATERLOO REGION  About 20 public health nurses will be hired to help Waterloo Regions schools safely open their doors to students this fall.

Additional resources will definitely help us give more attention to the large number of schools that we have in our region than otherwise we would been able to, said acting medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang.

Funding for the nurses was recently announced by the province as part of its school reopening plan, and Wang said the region is awaiting further information about the new positions.

The principle is to allow these nurses to better support the reopening of schools as well as overall the health of schoolchildren, she said.

The region is working as quickly as possible to recruit the nurses, but theres only three weeks before students go back to school. Until theyre all hired and trained, some public health nurses will likely need to be reallocated.

The nurses will assist schools with infection prevention and control, case and contact management, outbreak management, and supporting communication and engagement with parents and health-care partners.

With about 20 nurses and about 200 schools in the region, the nurses wont be stationed full time at any particular school.

They will be going out there to various schools and they will be in contact with their schools. Likely a nurse would have a group of schools, Wang said.

Wang said she is thankful for the added resource that will allow the nurses to make connections with schools and take more time to respond to their individual needs.

Public health also plans to visit local schools to ensure theyre set up to operate safely, but likely will only be able to get to a small number before the first day of classes. Public health is already working closely with schools to implement provincial guidelines and providing assistance when asked to ensure a safe reopening.

These visits will something that will be an added measure that well do to assist them further in making sure that the things that theyve planned and put in place look good to us too, Wang said.

Stay home when sick to limit spread in schools

COVID cases in schools are to be expected, Wang warned.

As we any place where people gather, we expect that we will have COVID-19 cases detected, she said. But all the measures that the schools are diligently putting in place will help limit and control the spread of COVID-19.

That includes screening for symptoms at home for all staff and students before they go to school every day, and promptly isolating anyone who develops symptoms.

Wang urged anyone who develops symptoms not to go to school.

Coronavirus symptoms have been evolving since the beginning of the pandemic and the list is quite long now for any potential system related to COVID, Wang said.

The province is preparing updated guidance for symptoms parents and staff should look for, but Wang said any symptoms causing concern should be enough to stay home since they could also be a telltale sign of another infection that can be spread.

The bar should now be low to stay home, rather than the old notion of being strong and carrying on. We need to really change our mindset as we live with COVID that its better for us, its better for all of our community, if we actually do not try to tough it through, Wang said.

She said all of the regions residents have a role to play in a healthy return to school.

Keeping schools open safely will be facilitated by low rates of community transmission. Everyone therefore has a part to play to keep community transmission as low as possible.
Women on horseback marched in a parade behind flag-bearers on Pennsylvania Ave. A horse and cart pulled a large sign, "We demand an amendment to the constitution of the United States enfranchising the women of this country." Read more

This story was originally published by our partners at The 19th.

The fire spread in 18 minutes.

Inside the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, hundreds of mostly young, immigrant women rushed from door to door, only to find they had been locked by their bosses, part of a protocol to keep the women inside and working. Dozens jumped from the ninth floor of the burning building onto the streets of New York, dying on impact. In all, 146 workers perished.

Eighteen minutes of horror  and the course of a brewing labor movement was forever changed.

It was March 25, 1911. Female garment workers  including the workers at the Triangle factory  had already been banding together across the country to shout from soap boxes on street corners and strike by the thousands, fighting for basic workplace protections in the largest demonstrations seen at the time. They were protections that the Triangle Waist Company had refused to enact, including unlocking the exit doors so workers could take breaks, before dozens of their own burned.

The labor movement had already resonated with the white affluent women who were leading the broader push for suffrage, but the outrage over the fire was a catalyst, bringing into sharp focus that the fight for representation in both the workplace and in government were inextricably linked.

 READ MORE: The 100th-anniversary commemorations of womens suffrage highlight the racial divide

Clara Lemlich, a leader in both the labor and suffrage movements, put the argument this way in a 1912 piece published in Good Housekeeping: The manufacturer has a vote; the bosses have votes; the foremen have votes; the inspectors have votes. The working girl has no vote. When she asks to have the building in which she must work made clean and safe, the officials do not have to listen.

A century ago, working women joined with women across the socioeconomic spectrum to help pass the 19th Amendment in 1920  work that was uneven and unequal then. Today, working low-, middle- and upper-class women are feeling the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and it is galvanizing them to fight for better labor protections, all against the backdrop of an election year where voting rights are again at the forefront.

Workers are understanding that we dont have very much of a safety net or social insurance, and that there arent very many protections, said Rebecca Dixon, executive director of the National Employment Law Project. Were at an inflection point where workers are wanting to join together to balance this power.

The work that started a century ago remains unfinished, a fact that is bearing out in the data.

Women have experienced about 54 percent of all job losses since February. They have been laid off at record rates after the coronavirus set off the nations first female recession. Those returning to work in some of the industries women dominate  hospitality, education, retail  are wading through a patchwork of regulations that ensures many women dont have access to paid sick leave. One in three women are essential workers, at times forcing them to decide between their health and economic livelihood.

And as for the mothers who were sent to work from home, the deterioration of the child care industry over the past several months and the uncertainty around school reopenings has left many women  who perform the majority of the child care in heterosexual working couples  in a position of choosing whether to care for their children or cultivate their career.

People have been arguing that access to child care, paid leave, paid sick time and quality schooling have long been feminist issues, said Alix Gould-Werth, director of family economic security policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. People are sort of starting to realize the degree to which they are also economic issues and engaging and centering that in the economic policy debate.

Issues of child care and worker protections are likely to be key as the country formulates a coronavirus recovery for American pocketbooks.

The issue of resusicating the child care industry is expected to be a centerpiece of former Vice President Joe Bidens presidential campaign. Child care will also likely be addressed in the next wave of relief  if Republicans and Democrats can agree on a package.

 READ MORE: Kamala Harris applauds Bidens audacity to choose a Black woman to be his running mate'

As for paid sick leave, the first coronavirus recovery act tried to address the gap by offering two weeks of paid sick time for the rest of the year to workers at small- and medium-sized companies. But the act included a wide exemption for companies with more than 500 employees and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Only 20 percent of U.S. workers were ultimately covered.

Paid sick leave has not made it into the subsequent proposals for coronavirus relief proposed by the House or the Senate, an issue for the nearly 25 percent of all civilian workers who dont have access to this benefit. That figure increases the less workers earn.

The U.S. is one of the only developed nations without a universal paid sick leave policy, which is part of the reason the issue has gained attention in the midst of a public health crisis that urged people to stay home if they were feeling sick.

The lack of a universal policy has already created problems for businesses, said economist Kate Bahn, director of labor market policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.

It is really difficult for the businesses who maybe want to offer better programs for their workers and particularly care about things like retaining their good workers, to do so if its not a universal program, Bahn said.

Congress has shifted its focus to how companies can better protect themselves from lawsuits related to coronavirus. Many businesses are worried that customers or workers, who may not always abide by new COVID-19 safety rules, will try to sue operators if they get sick.

At the federal level, the agency that can protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), has received 9,190 complaints as of August 17 related to coronavirus, the agency told The 19th. It has issued just four citations.

Labor groups have criticized OSHA for failing to set an emergency temporary standard, a national set of required safety regulations that workplaces across America would have to abide by if they want to avoid facing citations and other fees. Instead, OSHA has laid out a set of guidelines for businesses to follow, but that lack an enforcement component.

Its sort of an employer-by-employer honor system. Theres no way to hold them accountable, Dixon said.

OSHA has defended the decision to not adopt emergency rules, saying its standards, in addition to its coronavirus guidelines, are sufficient. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia wrote in a late April letter to AFL-CIO union president Richard Trumka that the agency would not adopt an emergency standard because OSHAs industry-specific guidance is far more informative for workers and companies about the steps to be taken in their particular workplaces.

That is one of the reasons OSHA has considered tailored guidance to be more valuable, Scalia wrote.

The AFL-CIO ultimately responded by suing OSHA in May, but the case was rejected a month later after a federal appeals court ruled that the agency reasonably determined that an [emergency temporary standard] is not necessary at this time.

Another lawsuit, filed by workers at a meatpacking facility outside Scranton, Pennsylvania against the agency, is still pending.

OSHAs advent, coincidentally, dates back to Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire: Frances Perkins, who witnessed the flames engulf the building, was so moved by what she saw that she went on to become secretary of labor and establish OSHAs precursor, the Labor Standards Bureau.

Labor activists also say liability protection for businesses could shield some that may not be acting to protect their employees. Dawn Huckelbridge, director for Paid Leave for All, said the focus on immunity is almost an admission that workers are likely to get sick on the job.

Thats particularly worrisome for women who are most likely to be in fields that dont offer the benefit. Of the 40 lowest-paying jobs, women make up nearly two thirds of the workforce, which includes industries like hospitality, where only 33 percent of workers have access to paid leave, and retail, where 61 percent of workers have it.

Earlier this year, McDonalds workers and employees at Instacart, the app that hires personal shoppers to get your groceries for you, went on strike to protest working conditions related to coronavirus.

The tension is not unlike the one working women were experiencing in the early 20th century when they were fighting for workplace safety and recognition.

In the early 1900s, low-wage garment workers were pioneering public protests, long before the suffragists decided they were willing to adopt tactics, said Allison Lange, author of Picturing Political Power: Images in the Womens Suffrage Movement.

As working women started to join the fight for the vote in larger numbers, they brought their tactics along with them, helping to energize the suffrage movement in the hopes that women could push for regulations at the federal level, not just in their individual places of work.

But when the 19th Amendment finally passed, it, like the movements that helped put it in place, did not equally advocate for all women. Women of color did not truly obtain access to the ballot until the Civil Rights Act of 1965, and even still, women of color and marginalized groups continue to struggle with disenfranchisement.

Wealthier white women were the visible leaders, and they were also actively sidelining Black women suffragists who wanted the right to vote and specifically because of the racial terror and lynchings in the South, Dixon said. Voting rights are still tied to building power to address racial terror and systemic racism, like what were seeing driving the uprising that were seeing right now. Voting rights are as important today as they were then.

That history has followed women of color in the decades since, putting them in a more precarious position when the pandemic hit this year that made them more likely to get sick and lose their jobs.

Latinas have suffered the highest rate of unemployment of all groups as a result of coronavirus-induced job losses. Unemployment for them peaked at 20.2 percent, followed by Black women, for whom the jobless rate peaked at 16.5 percent. That figure topped out at 13.1 percent for white women.

Still, the rates are record highs for each of the racial and ethnic groups, creating a shared experience of suffering  though to wildly varying degrees  that has turned many women onto the urgency of this moment, much like women of all backgrounds felt the momentum to secure the vote a century earlier.

Workers are also eying the election in November in much the same way women looked to the 19th Amendment one hundred years ago: As an opportunity to play a role in the process.

Fundamentally, people have felt powerless through this virus because of the virus itself, but because of the way that both the government and the employers have treated people put either out of work without adequate wages and benefits or at work in unsafe conditions, said Gwen Mills, the secretary-treasurer of Unite Here, the union that merged with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the group that fought for protections following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.

Mills said the union has been trying to make the connection this year between the role unions play in the workplace and the one they can play to help workers become more involved in the electoral process, guiding them through the steps of sending a mail-in ballot or getting registered, particularly in immigrant communities where there are more barriers to getting workers to the polls.

About 85 percent of Unite Heres members across the nation  largely hotel, food service and airport workers  are out of work. Thats changed the lens through which theyre looking at the 2020 election, Mills said.

We often talk with our members about opportunities to volunteer for the election. Its always people balancing multiple priorities. But this year, its just much more straightforward to talk with people and theyre much more willing to commit the time to do it, Mills said. To me that has echoes of 100 years ago, when workers were figuring out how to organize in the shop and figure out how to expand the right to vote for women.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : After the Supreme Court said money from the PM-CARES fund need not be transferred to the National Disaster Relief Fund, BJP President J.P. Nadda hit out at Rahul Gandhi's "nefarious designs" following the former Congress chief's attack on the PM-CARES fund.

Nadda tweeted, "The verdict by Supreme Court on PM-CARES is a resounding blow to the nefarious designs of Rahul Gandhi & his band of 'rent-a-cause' activists. It shows that the truth shines despite the ill intent and malicious efforts of the Congress party and its associates." Batting for the fund which Nadda claimed has received wide public support, he alleged, "Rahul Gandhi's rants have been repeatedly dismissed by the common man who has overwhelmingly contributed to PM-CARES. With the highest court also pronouncing its verdict, will Rahul & his 'rent-a-cause' activist army mend their ways or embarrass themselves further?" Nadda accused the Gandhi family of having treated the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) as its "personal fiefdom" for decades and had "brazenly transferred citizens' hard-earned money from PMNRF to its family trusts". The BJP chief called it a "smear campaign" against PM-CARES.

The Centre for Public Interest Litigation had petitioned the apex court for transferring money from the PM-CARES fund to National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) which the top court denied.

The PM-CARES fund was set up this year in March to receive contributions for the purpose of Covid-19 relief.
According to sources President Donald Trump wants to discuss things in a meeting with Putin, ahead of the November elections before his term ends.

This was expressed by four people who are privy to these discussions, saying that the incumbent is set to make it happen. Getting the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin will be one of the most significant acts he will achieve, before the elections, reported NBC News.

According to sources, administration officials are looking for times and venues that will accommodate another Trump-Putin summit. One of these places that can host it is New York.

The summit's objective is that both representatives of the most powerful nations will be talking about reaching a consensus for a new nuclear arms control agreement, whether or not Trump gets a second term, note New York Post.

Other things for discussion is the option to have a blueprint to follow and get their signatures on it for the new START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). It's important to note that the old one is losing it efficacy next year, thus the need for one asap.

This venue according to Trump's associate, will be a chance to show that he pulls off the purpose of the summit and get Putin to agree.

One of the privy said that the president want to show his ability to reach agreements, but one of then called it a big stage and nothing more.

According to sources the White House team is projecting more sessions with world leaders, as ramp up to get the thumps up for his second presidential term.

Also read: Nuclear Arms Race Between US and Russia Looms If No New Treaty is Signed

Robert O'Brien, National security adviser did a guest spot on Sunday, on NBC's Meet the Press. He mentioned that the President has not asked for the Russian leader's approval for a summit, cited BNN Bloomberg.

Should the Russian President go to the U.S. and sign an arms deal that will be a success for everyone.

O'Brien added that the meeting may not pull through in the U.S. although it would be good for Putin to go to the U.S. and validate any nuclear agreement, especially with the arms deal that will help control nukes in the U.S. and Russia.

Immediate after the report, there was no response given to the questions. Press outlets are still waiting for an answer.

On Friday, the State Department that Envoy for arms control, Marshall Billingslea is set to meet with Sergey Ryabkov, the Russian Deputy Foreign. Place of discussion will be in Vienna next Monday, as another phase of deal-making on other nuclear arms deal to replace the old one.

Last June, Billingslea is having all options for all parties, in the treaty and said China must be part of it. After that time, both the U.S. and Russia have differences in the basic framework, leaving much work to fix details, confirmed Yahoo.

Trump does want to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, but some are not convinced.

Related article: Pentagon Plans to Protect America From Ballistic Missiles, Sets Up Plan B for Assurance

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A man who died following a road crash in Co Antrim has been named as local DJ Lee Barry.

DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said the Larne community is in shock following the crash, which took place on Mill Brae on Monday night.

He said: I want to sent my condolences to his family and to his friends, and all those who knew him.

It is clear that after speaking to people in the town today, that there is a real sense of shock and sadness.

He was very well known and its a real tragedy to have hit the town.

One vehicle was involved in the incident. Police were called to the scene at around 11.30pm.
President Trump returned fire at several of his political foes  including the former first lady Michelle Obama and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York  after they issued a stinging indictment of his leadership during the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

Facing an onslaught of criticism that his failure to contain the coronavirus had left more than 170,000 Americans dead and millions unemployed, the president took to Twitter, often his preferred medium for sparring, to fight back.

Most extraordinary was his engagement with Mrs. Obama, who used her headlining speech to question his temperament for the office and urged Americans to vote for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. like our lives depend on it.

Somebody please explain to @MichelleObama that Donald J. Trump would not be here, in the beautiful White House, if it werent for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama, Mr. Trump, who has generally avoided engaging with Mrs. Obama, tweeted.
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Over the course of 12 months, Timothy Ray Ramos had the misfortune of working at a Dollar General store that was robbed three times.

The first time, Nov. 21, 2017, Ramos escaped without suffering physical harm. About two weeks later, the same robber hit the store at 3350 SW Military. This time, he stabbed Ramos in the neck with a knife.

Then, on Nov. 9, 2018, a trio of robbers raided the store. One jumped the counter to loot the cash register while another aimed a rifle at Ramos.

Ramos, fearing for his life, tried to grab the rifle. During a brief struggle, one of the robbers said, What are you waiting for? Shoot the guy, Ramos remembered.

The gunman shot Ramos in his left leg, upper torso and right arm.

Bleeding profusely, Ramos stumbled to the door, locked it and dialed 911.

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Emergency medical services took Ramos to San Antonio Military Medical Center where he underwent 11 hours of surgery. He remained in intensive care for two weeks.

Now, Ramos is suing Dollar General and the three robbers for more than $1 million in damages.

Dollar Generals negligence and failure to take precautions to prevent a violent assault led to his injuries, Ramos alleges in the complaint. The action was filed Thursday in state District Court in San Antonio.

Ramos says the company knew about prior criminal and violent activities at and near the store premises.

Crystal Ghassemi, a spokeswoman for Tennessee-based Dollar General Corp., said it doesnt comment on pending litigation.

But Ghassemi said in an email, The safety and security of our customers is a top priority, and we employ a number of measures designed to create and maintain a safe work environment for our employees and a safe shopping environment for our customers, all while protecting company assets.

The publicly traded company is one of the largest discount retailers in the country. It had more 16,000 stores in 45 states as of earlier this year.

The chain is known for products sold at everyday low prices in its small-box locations, according to a filing with securities regulators. It earned $1.7 billion on $27.8 billion in sales in its last fiscal year.

Discount chains such as Dollar General have become magnets for crime and killing, according to a ProPublica article published in June.

More than 200 violent incidents involving guns at Dollar General and Family Dollar stores have occurred since the beginning of 2017, ProPublica reported, citing the Gun Violence Archive. Nearly 50 people in those incidents, including at least six employees.

A large number of the incidents involved armed robberies in which workers or customers have been shot, ProPublica reported. San Antonio wasnt among the cities mentioned.

The violent crimes are, in part, because of the stores ubiquity, and many of its locations are in high-crime neighborhoods. But that alone doesnt explain the trend, ProPublica reported.

The chains owners have done little to maintain order in the stores, which tend to be thinly staffed and exist in a state of physical disarray, it added.

The account of the robbery at the San Antonio store where Ramos was shot was taken from his lawsuit. His lawyers did not respond to calls and emails. It couldnt be determined if Ramos continues to work at the store.

The lawsuits narrative mirrors details in a San Antonio Police Department report. The report, however, mentioned a fourth suspect who held the stores door open during the robbery.

Also named in Ramos lawsuit are the three robbers: Nathaniel Alexander Panvini, now 20; Kameron Anthony Green, 19; and Hector Fabian Aguilar, 20.

Panvini pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is serving a 24-year sentence in a Beeville state prison.

Green pleaded no contest to similar charges and was sentenced to 12 years. He is serving his sentence on a prison farm in Brazoria County near Houston.

Aguilar received 10 years probation after he was granted deferred adjudication.

Patrick Danner Patrick Danner covers banking, insurance, business litigation and bankruptcies. To read more from Patrick, become a subscriber. pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
DUBLIN, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Gelcoat Market by Resin Type (Polyester, Vinyl Ester, Epoxy, and Others), End-use Industry (Marine, Transportation, Wind-Energy, Construction, and Others), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Gelcoat Market is Projected to Grow from USD 974 Million in 2020 to USD 1,808 Million by 2025, at a CAGR of 13.2%.

Composites offer exceptional properties, such as stiffness, strength, tenacity, density, thermal & electrical conductivity, fatigue, and corrosion resistance. Owing to these outstanding properties offered by the composites, they are preferred over conventional materials such as aluminum steel in high-performance applications in several end-use industries.



However, the global pandemic disease COVID-19 has forced the automotive, wind blade, and aircraft manufacturers to shut down their operations, which is expected to decrease the demand for composites in 2020.



Epoxy is the fastest-growing resin type of Gelcoats, in terms of value



Excellent chemical resistance, durability, and strength of epoxy resin make it suitable for manufacturing Gelcoat. Due to thermal and mechanical properties offered by epoxy resin-based Gelcoat, such as resistance to corrosive liquids, excellent electrical insulation, good performance at elevated temperatures, lower styrene emission as compared with polyester resins, and good adhesion strength to different varieties of reinforcements., makes it most promising segment. Due to COVID-19, lockdown conditions and halt in the production of automobiles and marine boats have reduced the demand for epoxy resin-based gelcoats.



Wind Energy is the fastest-growing end-use industry of gelcoats, in terms of value



The wind energy industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period in terms of value. Chemical protection and UV resistance properties of Gelcoat are increasing its use in the wind energy industry Wind is an important source of renewable energy, and wind turbine blades are the key components in wind power generation system. Different protection technologies are used to manufacture and develop surfaces for wind turbine rotor blades.



Wind turbine rotor blade manufacturers require in-mold stable Gelcoat as the protective coating on blades. However, due to COVID-19, travel restrictions, lockdown scenario, supply chain disruption, and liquidity crunch various countries are expected to miss the wind installations target in 2020. The lower wind energy instalations will reduce the demand for composites blade and in terns Gelcoat demand in wind energy industry. Post 2020 the demand is expected to gater momentum.



APAC is the fastest-growing composites market



APAC is projected to register the highest CAGR in terms of value in the global Gelcoat market during the forecast period. The growth of the Gelcoat industry in this region is supported by the low-cost labor, the advancement of composite technology solutions, and the penetration of composites in various end-use industries.



Due to COVID-19, numerous wind blade manufacturers and automotive companies have halted their production sites across various countries that has led to reduced demand for composites, which affected the Gelcoat demand in Asian countries. The recovery in the end-use industries with restoration in the supply chain would drive the Gelcoat demand during the forecast period.

Research Coverage

This report covers the global composites market and forecasts the market size until 2025. The report includes the market segmentation - Resin Type (Polyester, Vinyl Ester, Epoxy, and Others), End-use Industry (Marine, Wind Energy, Transportation, Construction, and Others) and Region (Europe, North America, APAC, Latin America, and MEA). Porter's Five Forces analysis, along with the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges, are discussed in the report.



It also provides company profiles and competitive strategies adopted by the major players in the global composites market. Some of the prominent players in the Gelcoat market are Ineos Enterprise (UK), Bufa Composite Systems GmBh (Germany), and HK Research Corporation (US).

Key Topics Covered



1 Introduction



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights

4.1 Attractive Opportunities in the Gelcoat Market

4.2 Gelcoat Market, by End-Use Industry & Region

4.3 Gelcoat Market, by Resin

4.4 Gelcoat Market, by Country



5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 Drivers

5.1.1.1 Growing Use of Composites in Various Industries

5.1.1.2 Useful Properties Offered by Gelcoat

5.1.1.3 Increase in Demand for Gelcoat in Transportation Industry

5.1.2 Restraints

5.1.2.1 Shift Toward Closed Molding Process Affecting Use of Gelcoat

5.1.2.2 Cracking of Gelcoat

5.1.2.3 Disruption in Supply Chain and Logistics due to COVID-19

5.1.2.4 Lower Capacity Utilization and Liquidity Crunch due to COVID-19

5.1.3 Opportunities

5.1.3.1 Growing Wind Energy Industry

5.1.3.2 Growing Demand from the APAC Region

5.1.4 Challenges

5.1.4.1 Government Regulations for Styrene Emission

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Value Chain Analysis

5.4 Price Analysis

5.5 Technology Development

5.6 New Technology and Impact Analysis

5.7 Growth Influencing Factors, by End-Use Industry



6 Macroeconomic Overview and Key Trends

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 Trends and Forecast of GDP

6.1.2 Impact of COVID-19 on Aerospace Industry

6.1.2.1 Short-Term Strategies to Manage Cost Structure and Supply Chains

6.1.2.2 New Opportunities

6.2 Impact of COVID-19 on Automotive Industry

6.2.1 Short-Term Strategies to Manage Cost Structure and Supply Chains

6.2.2 Impact on Electric Vehicle (EV) Demand Due to Lower Oil Prices

6.2.3 New Opportunities

6.3 Impact of COVID-19 on Wind Energy Industry

6.3.1 Short-Term Strategies to Manage Cost Structure and Supply Chains

6.3.2 New Opportunities



7 Gelcoat Market, by Resin

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Impact of COVID-19 on Gelcoat Market

7.3 Polyester

7.4 Vinyl Ester

7.5 Epoxy

7.6 Others



8 Gelcoat Market, by End-Use Industry

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Impact of COVID-19 on End-Use Industries

8.3 Marine

8.4 Transportation

8.5 Construction

8.6 Wind Energy

8.7 Others



9 Gelcoat Market, by Region

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Regional Impact of COVID-19

9.3 North America

9.4 Europe

9.5 APAC

9.6 Latin America

9.7 MEA



10 Competitive Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Recent Developments

10.2.1 Expansion

10.2.2 Agreement & Partnership

10.2.3 New Product Launch

10.2.4 Merger & Acquisition

10.3 Market Ranking of Top 5 Players in Gelcoat Market

10.4 Market Share Analysis in Gelcoat Market

10.5 Competitive Benchmarking

10.5.1 Tier 1 Companies

10.5.1.1 Dynamic Differentiators

10.5.1.2 Innovators

10.5.1.3 Vanguard

10.5.1.4 Emerging

10.5.2 Competitive Benchmarking of Tier 1 Companies

10.5.2.1 Strength of Product Portfolio

10.5.2.2 Business Strategy Excellence

10.5.3 Tier 2 and 3 Companies

10.5.3.1 Dynamics Differentiators

10.5.3.2 Innovators

10.5.3.3 Vanguard

10.5.3.4 Emerging Companies

10.5.4 Competitive Benchmarking Tier 2 and 3 Companies

10.5.4.1 Strength of Product Portfolio

10.5.4.2 Business Strategy Excellence



11 Company Profiles

11.1 Ineos Enterprise

11.2 Bufa Composite Systems GmbH

11.3 HK Research Corporation

11.4 Allnex

11.5 Scott Bader Company

11.6 Poliya Composites Resins and Polymers

11.7 Interplastic Corporation

11.8 Alpha Owens-Corning (AOC) Aliancys

11.9 Polynt-Reichhold Group

11.10 Turkuaz Polyester

11.11 Other Companies

11.11.1 Sika Advanced Resins

11.11.2 GRM Systems S.R.O.

11.11.3 Satyen Polymers

11.11.4 Vikram Resins and Polymers

11.11.5 Mader Group

11.11.6 Resoltech

11.11.7 Zhejiang Leader Composite Co. Ltd.

11.11.8 Changzhou Huake Polymers Co. Ltd.

11.11.9 Eternal Synthetic Resins (Changsu) Co. Ltd.

11.11.10 Jiangsu Fullmark Chemicals Co. Ltd. China



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tywew4

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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TikTok has been in hot waters around the world in some of the biggest countries of the world.

Oracle has shown interest in the wake of President Trumps deadline through the executive order to ByteDance, to either sell TikToks US business or try a spinoff of the operations complying.

The latter part has prompted a talks on the potential combination between Twitter and TikTok, as discussions are underway for a new strategy to comply with the newly issued guidelines.

Present Trump has relaxed the deadline from 45 to 90 days for ByteDance to make an informed decision.

The Tech Giants racing against the Clock

According to Financial Times, TikTok held a closed-door meeting with executives from Oracle over the possibility of buying their US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand operations.

Oracle is working closely with venture capital firms General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital to exasperate the process. The two high-profile venture capital firms already have holdings in ByteDance.

Oracle has joined as a direct competitor of Microsoft which is interested in the race for purchasing the US, UK operations.

Meanwhile Reliances Jio is in talks to buy India operations of TikTok.

Bans set the things in Motion

A month and fortnight ago, TikTok was banned in India along with 58 other Chinese apps, citing privacy concerns.

The neighbouring country Pakistan has also taken cognizance of the situation and have given final warning to TikTok, after banning a short video app Bigo.

Political Factors involved in the Interest?

The interest from a successful B2B company such as Oracle in a service-based application has come as a surprise for the tech fraternity.

According to social media chatter, the move is seen as a part of Oracle CEOs public affiliation with President Trump.
(Natural News) Based on the title of this article, you may already be thinking, but wait, Kamala Harris would only be vice president, which is technically true at the moment. But what would happen in the event that a president-elect Joe Biden fully loses his mental capacity or worse after Nov. 3, bumping Kamala to the number-one position of power over the free world?

It is hardly a far-fetched idea, seeing as how Biden already appears to be in the latter stages of a very serious case of dementia. Should he barely make it past the finish line before going kaput  assuming he wins, which we genuinely hope is the far-fetched part  Kamala would instantly become Americas 46th president. And this would almost certainly mean that Americans everywhere will soon be going to prison for all sorts of non-crimes, thanks to Kamalas love for prosecuting people.

In her own words, Kamala has repeatedly bragged in pride about her record as a prosecutor, promising to be a prosecutor president if Biden gets elected. In other words, Kamala is already planning on becoming president herself, since everyone who is paying attention knows that Biden is just a very weak heartbeat away from passing the baton straight to her.

This should scare everyone because Kamala has never met a problem, either political or personal, that could not be solved by her throwing people in prison. She did it to David Daleiden from the Center for Medical Progress after he published damning footage exposing Planned Parenthood as an aborted baby body parts chop shop.

Kamala actually went so far as to send heavily armed agents to Daleidens home to seize all of his footage, which showed Planned Parenthood employees admitting on tape to illegally selling fresh aborted baby body parts as a side gig. Thanks to Kamala, Planned Parenthood still has not been held accountable for committing these heinous crimes.

Throughout her tenure, Harris seemed to think that the solution to just about any problem was to throw someone in jail, wrote Michael Snyder in a now-archived article for End of the American Dream.

Kamala has also bragged about arresting people for cannabis even though she apparently used it herself

Perhaps the most socially relevant issue that many people seem to not know about concerning Kamala is her egregious stance on cannabis. Kamala reportedly imprisoned some 1,500 people for cannabis violations during her tenure, and later laughed about using cannabis herself when pressed about this blatant contradiction.

Kamala also tried to block evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row. She only ended up releasing it after the courts forced her to do so, and continued to engage in other sinister behavior as part of a conspiracy to keep prisoners in jail for as long as possible in order to provide cheap labor to the state of California.

The moral of the story is that Kamala represents everything that the left claims to oppose. She would never bring about any positive changes in prison reform, and she seems to get some kind of sick pleasure out of abusing the criminal justice system to perpetuate injustice.

If Harris really does become president, I anticipate that there will actually be discussion in some red states about the possibility of declaring independence from the federal government, Snyder added, noting that not even Hillary Clinton was as openly corrupt as Kamala has been.

I dont know about you, but that certainly does not sound like someone that I want in the White House.

For more related news about the deception of Kamala Harris, be sure to check out Deception.news.

Sources for this article include:

EndOfTheAmericanDream.com

NaturalNews.com
A boat flying a Trump flag speeds past a sinking boat, after a group on a "Trump parade" caused large waves on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon: (@jimirosenk - Twitter)

A group of boats flying flags in support of president Donald Trump created waves large enough in a Portland river that they caused a boat to sink with people onboard.

On Sunday, more than 20 boats flying flags in support of the president sped down Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, as part of the Trump Boat Parade that took place that day, according to the Daily Mail.

Boats flying flags for Mr Trump have increased over the last few months as a way for supporters to rally for his 2020 presidential campaign, while observing social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In footage shared to social media the boats were shown causing large waves to form as they sped down the river on Sunday.

The waves caused trouble for one boat, which took on too much water and started to sink, as the people onboard repeatedly screamed for help.

Trump boat parade overtakes the Willamette River in Portland, OR and sinks nearby families boat  pic.twitter.com/RMZbHHFuFW  Jimi R (@jimirosenk) August 16, 2020

One man was seen jumping off the boat, as the vessel took on more water, while others attempted to hold on to their possessions.

The boat then sank completely and broke apart, as the people onboard were forced to swim in the choppy waters to stay afloat, while nearby vessels raced over to try and help them.

They were then eventually helped onto a nearby boat, as only remnants of their vessel were still visible floating in the river.

A spokesman for the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office told the Mail that river patrol deputies responded to the incident, but that the family had already climbed onto the other boat by the time they arrived.

The spokesman added that no one was injured in the incident and confirmed that the boat that sank was not part of the parade.

Thousands of the presidents supporters took part in Trump Boat Parades over the weekend, as an estimated 2,000 gathered in Clearwater, Florida, in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record of 1,180 boats in a single parade, that was recorded in Malaysia in 2014.

Story continues

The gatherings took place in states across the US, including Delaware, New Jersey and Alabama.

Video footage of the Clearwater parade will be reviewed by Guinness officials to decide whether a new record has been set, but organiser Cliff Gehart told Fox 13 that 1,600 people registered and paid to be a part of the event.

He added that people came from Palm Beach, Orlando and South Carolina to attend the Clearwater event to represent Trump and to support his effort.

Read more

Former senior Trump official endorses Joe Biden
Jennifer Aniston really got the ball rolling on this project.

Actor Dane Cook told Extra on Monday that the 51-year-old Friends veteran was the first star to sign on for the live table read of the 1982 comedy Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

'I think Jennifer Aniston was lovely and the first person to say, "Im in," and then it just started to rocket after that,' said the 48-year-old Employee Of The Month star.

Trailblazer: Jennifer Aniston really got the ball rolling on this project. Actor Dane Cook told Extra on Monday that the Friends veteran was the first star to sign on for the live table read of the 1982 comedy Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Seen in January

A fan: 'I think Jennifer Aniston was lovely and the first person to say, "Im in," and then it just started to rocket after that,' said the 48-year-old Employee Of The Month star. Seen in 2017

Jennifer's ex Brad Pitt as well as Julia Roberts, Sean Penn, Morgan Freeman, Shia LaBeouf, Matthew McConaughey, Jimmy Kimmel and Henry Golding are also involved.

Cook told Extra's Billy Bush: 'I wanted to do something that lightens the mood, can help people, and at the same time, I wanted to do something that felt celebratory, because we dont have movies.'

The stand-up comedian then added: 'We started making phone calls. I think Jennifer Aniston was lovely and the first person to say, "Im in," and then it just started to rocket after that.'

Did Jen ask him to do it? Jennifer's ex Brad Pitt as well as Julia Roberts, Sean Penn, Morgan Freeman, Shia LaBeouf, Matthew McConaughey, Jimmy Kimmel and Henry Golding are also involved. Seen in January

Rare: Brad famously made a guest appearance on Friends in 2001, but the couple have rarely worked together despite maintaining a friendship even after their divorce; shown in 2001

Dane said a lot more big named were coming forward.

'You havent even heard all the names. In the next 24 hours, your mind is going to be blown!' On Friday more stars will be announced.

The live virtual table read Dane Cook Presents Feelin A-Live Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which is sponsored by Snack Pop, will debut on Friday, August 21, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Facebook Live and TikTok via COREs official Facebook page and TikTok account. It will also stream via LiveXLive.

Details: The live virtual table read Dane Cook Presents Feelin A-Live Fast Times at Ridgemont High will debut on Friday, August 21, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Facebook Live and TikTok via COREs official Facebook page and TikTok account. It will also stream via LiveXLive

The live event will stream on the Facebook and TikTok accounts of Penn's organization CORE on August 21 at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PST.

Cook, who's appearing in the read, will also present the reading.

'On behalf of our dedicated team at CORE, Im so appreciative of the support Dane has given and continues to give to our work,' Penn wrote in a press release.

'I'm always game for a giggle. So to gather remotely for a night of laughs with so many talented folks while providing CORE with much-needed resources to continue our vital work  then consider us fully onboard to play!'

Penn has stayed mum on which character he'll play in the table read, though he has confirmed he won't be reprising his star-making turn as Jeff Spicoli.

All-stars: Eric Stoltz, Sean Penn and Anthony Edwards in Fast Times At Ridgemont High in 1982

No repeats: Penn hasn't said who he'll play, though he confirmed he won't reprise his role as Jeff Spicoli, which catapulted him to the A-list; still from Fast Times At Ridgemont High

Though Pitt famously made a guest appearance on Friends in 2001, a year into his marriage with Aniston, the two have rarely worked together on screen or in film-related projects.

Following the end of the Tree Of Life actor's engagement to Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad and the Friends star, 51, struck up a relationship in 1998.

The two tied the knot in Malibu in July 2000, but they announced plans to separate by early 2005, and he later remarried to Angelina Jolie.

Despite the circumstances, the former couple have maintained a friendship throughout the years, though it seemed to have strengthened recently.

Last year, Pitt made an unexpected appearance at Aniston's 50th birthday celebration, where the two had a genial chat.

Aniston had invited him, and the two reportedly had a significant chat, though she cut it short to allow other guests to spend time with her.

In January of this year, the two had another rendezvous at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where Pitt took home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor for his acclaimed role in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

A good time to be Jen Aniston: She is Emmy nominated for her show Morning Show

His speech included a joke about playing a guy who 'doesnt get along with his wife,' which got a big round of applause and some cheering from Aniston in the audience.

When Aniston won her own award for her role in The Morning Show, her ex-husband paused backstage to watch her acceptance speech on a monitor, which she later called 'sweet' while speaking with ExtraTV.

The two shared a sweet moment of congratulations later in the evening when they bumped into each other back stage.
I was raised in a household where our voices were allowed to be heard, she recalled. If we wanted to go out on a Friday night but our parents didnt want us to go, because, say, our test scores, we could make the case for why we should still be allowed to go out. The result was that we all learned how to speak up and speak frankly about our feelings.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration's Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development (IATF) and Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs (ACVBA) will hold virtual public meetings on Sept. 2 and 3 respectively via Microsoft Teams.

"Now more than ever, it is critical for our veteran small business advisory committees to discuss challenges faced by the veteran small business community and how we can expand the resources available to them," said Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator for the Office of Veterans Business Development. "We look forward to hosting our committee meetings virtually, supporting and advocating for this important and underserved population."

The IATF will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EDT) via this Microsoft Teams meeting link.

The ACVBA will meet on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EDT). The meeting will be two separate sessions with a lunch break in between.

Part 1 (morning session)  9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. EDT  Meeting link.

 Meeting link. Part 2 (afternoon session)  1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT Meeting link.

Public comments and questions are strongly encouraged to be submitted in advance by Aug. 28 to [email protected] or (202) 205-6773. During the live event, attendees will be in listen-only mode and may submit additional written questions via the Q&A chat feature in Microsoft Teams. For technical support, please visit the Microsoft Teams support page. Transcripts will be available after both meetings at www.sba.gov/ovbd, under the "Federal Advisory Committees" section.

The IATF meeting will include committee member updates from the Departments of Defense, Labor, Treasury and Veterans Affairs, General Services Administration, Office of Management and Budget, North Carolina Military Business Center, and Student Veterans of America.

Committee members will also receive updates from the Vocational Readiness and Employment program and the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance programs.

The ACVBA meeting will include remarks from ACVBA chairwoman Fran Perez-Wilhite as well as updates on the Veteran Business Project. Topics discussed during the meeting will include SBA's veterans' programs, women-owned small business federal contracting program, the 8(a) Business Development program, VA's Center for Verification and Evaluation's verification process, the VR&E program and GSA's sam.beta.gov changes.

Committee members will also hear about lessons learned from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov .

Contact: [email protected]

Follow us on: Twitter , Facebook , Blogs & Instagram

Release Number: 20-62

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

Related Links

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Japan ramps up aid to Mauritius after oil spill The Mauritian government has vowed to seek compensation from the ship's Japanese owner and insurer for "all losses and damages" related to the oil spill disaster

Japan is sending a second team of experts to help clean up more than 1,000 tonnes of oil that leaked from a Japanese-owned bulk carrier into pristine waters off the coast of Mauritius.

The decision came as the Mauritian government vowed to seek compensation from the ship's owner and insurer for "all losses and damages" related to the disaster.

Tokyo has already dispatched one team of six experts, including a coastguard expert and diplomats, to aid in the response.

The new team of seven experts is to leave Japan on Wednesday and will carry materials such as sorbent to help clean up the oil, Japan's embassy in Mauritius said in a statement Monday.

"The oil spill has caused serious damage over the southeast coastal environment of Mauritius and will have an inevitable impact on the country's tourism industry as well," the statement said.

"Japan has decided to dispatch the team out of comprehensive and holistic consideration of all circumstances, including the request of urgent assistance from the government of the Republic of Mauritius and the friendly relationship between the two countries," it said.

The MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef on July 25 and began oozing oil more than a week later.

Both the Mauritian and Japanese governments have come under fire for not doing more immediately to prevent a large-scale spill.

Japanese firm Nagashiki, the ship's owner, has pledged to "sincerely" respond to requests for compensation over damage to the marine environment.

The ship split in half over the weekend, and a portion remains stranded on the reef.

At a meeting Monday, the national crisis committee formed in response to the spill determined that it was "still risky to remove the remaining small amount of residual oil in the engine room" of that portion of the ship, according to a statement issued Monday night.

"Oil-pumping operations should resume as soon as the weather permits," the statement said.

Story continues

The committee approved a plan to tow the larger section of the boat, which is not stuck on the reef, eight nautical miles "from the outer limit of the reef".

- Help from India, France -

Thousands of Mauritians volunteered day and night to clean the powder-blue waters that have long attracted honeymooners and tourists, before the clean-up operation was fully handed over to experts.

Greenpeace has termed the spill the "worst ecological disaster" in the country's history, threatening wetlands that boast rare mangrove forests and scores of fish and coral species.

Japan is not the only country to send aid.

A 10-member team from India's coastguard arrived in Mauritius on Sunday with 28 tonnes of equipment including booms, barges and skimmers.

France had already sent military planes, ships and equipment to help contain the oil spill, which also threatens the French island of La Reunion southwest of Mauritius.

str-rcb/gd
Film and television production could restart in earnest within weeks, Screen Australia predicts, following Wednesday's release of guidelines for the federal government's $50 million Temporary Interruption Fund (TIF).

"I think every production out there desperately wants this, judging from my inbox over the past week," said Tim Phillips, head of business affairs at the federal screen agency. "I think this is the thing that will get everyone over the line."

The Temporary Interruption Fund is targeted specifically at Australian productions. Credit:Elise Lockwood/Universal

Screen Australia will administer the fund, which was announced on June 25 and is designed to fill the gap in the insurance market that has arisen as a result of COVID-19.

Up to $4 million, or 60 per cent of a production's overall budget (whichever is less), will be made available in the event that a COVID-related event shuts production down, temporarily or permanently, for a period including the last two weeks of pre-production and the shoot.
Sanderss Promotion of Criminal Justice Reform Marginalized by Democrats

Commentary

The one admirable element of Sen. Bernie Sanderss (I-Vt.) proposed revolution for the people was his promise of reform of the U.S. criminal justice system. If this was all he had ever done, it wouldve entitled Sanders to a respected position in the history of American congressional reformers.

This is a type of politician that is out of fashion in the United States and was never as easily accommodated in the American system as it has been in the British system. In the larger Parliament of the United Kingdom (650 members), theres generally room for some outspoken independent crusaders for various causes who can hold their districts in all political seasons.

Among the better known were William Wilberforce (17591833), who led the battle against the slave trade; the Earl of Shaftesbury (18011885), who fought to alleviate the poverty created by the Industrial Revolution; and Richard Cobden (18041865) and John Bright (18111889), who fought for cheaper bread, freer trade, and electoral reform. In the late 20th century, Enoch Powell on the right and Anthony Wedgwood Benn on the left would qualify in this category.

In the United States, the closest there has been to such people were relatively independent-minded senators in the first third of the 20th century, such as Robert La Follette and George Norris, leaders of the Progressive movement seeking public ownership of electricity and a wide range of reforms.

La Follette carried his home state of Wisconsin in 1924 when he ran as Progressive candidate for president against Calvin Coolidge and John W. Davis. (One of the minor ironies of U.S. political lore is that the career of the successor to the La Follette dynasty in Wisconsin, Robert La Follette Jr., ended at the hands of the diametrically opposite Joseph R. McCarthy by 5,000 votes in the Senate election of 1946.)

Independent voices such as these have been generally muffled in the almost impenetrable two-party system of the United States. Its in this respect that Sanderss achievement in persisting electorally for decades as a socialist, and as a linguistically obvious migrant to Vermont from Brooklyn, managed to carry a candle of independent thinking all the way to the U.S. Senate and to maintain it there.

Plea Bargaining

Sanders has never ceased to denounce the perversion of the American plea-bargaining system, by which prosecutors single out people close to targeted individuals, threaten them with spurious indictments if they cant jog their memories to provide damaging evidence against the defendant, and promise them immunity from prosecution for perjury in exchange for such evidence.

This is a loathsome and notorious practice known to everyone with any acquaintance with the legal system of the United States, but it is only sporadically criticized by a few brave souls scattered among the political, legal, and judicial communities.

Some have been more vocal than I have in opposing most of Sanderss socialist message, but none has been more consistent in praising his proposals for legal reform. The plea bargain, as it has evolved, is chiefly responsible for the fact that the United States has 6 to 12 times as many incarcerated people per capita as other comparable prosperous democracies: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

Thats why the United States has 5 percent of the worlds population and 25 percent of the worlds incarcerated people. Its a shocking and disgraceful state of affairs, and prosecutors in Great Britain and Canada who behave as prosecutors in the United States routinely do would be disbarred for life, and for cause.

While the plea bargain is the worst perversion of the system of justice envisioned by the authors of the Bill of Rights, its far from the only problem. Other factors that have made the U.S. criminal justice system a conveyor belt to the bloated and corrupt prison system of the country include the vitiation of the Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendment guarantees of a grand jury (to guard against abusive indictments), due process, no seizure of property without just compensation, a speedy trial and impartial jury, counsel of choice, reasonable bail, and avoidance of cruel and unusual punishment.

As anyone familiar with the workings of the U.S. criminal justice system is aware, these constitutional promises have all been substantially put to the shredder while the overpraised justices of the Supreme Court for the last 50 years sat on their high bench like suet puddings, self-laudatorily debating legal issues of undoubted importance but of much less influence on the character and integrity of American society and the freedom of its people than the dismemberment of the Bill of Rights.

Dashed Hopes

Most of Sanderss socialist message is archaic nonsense, emanating implausibly from the sylvan state of Vermont in the rough cadences of an Ebbets Field hot dog vendor, but for bringing these issues of criminal justice reform forcefully to the attention of the nation, hes earned the homage of all Americans.

Unfortunately, in working out the BidenSanders Unity Agreement, the legal section was delegated to former Attorney General Eric Holder, one of the most egregiously abusive prosecutors in American history and also one of the most shamelessly partisan prosecutors as well. The best he could manage in legal reform was a pallid and tepid inquiry into avoidance of prosecutorial abuses.

The vice presidential nomination of Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has dashed any hopes that might have existed that the official Democrat position this year might include any relief for the over-prosecuted millions who have been ground to powder among the 40 million ostensible felons in the United States (including, for these purposes, people who fail breathalyzer tests and were guilty of disorderly conduct many years earlier).

Harris was a maximum-sentence prosecutor in California who frequently condoned and herself engaged in the most dubious practices to secure convictions, including more than 1,000 carceral sentences for the mere use of marijuana, an offense she acknowledges that she engaged in herself. Its very difficult to imagine that any administration in which Harris would exercise the influence that is almost assured by the fragile condition of this presidential nominee will produce anything useful in penal or legal reform.

Its regrettable, but indicative of the low priority of human rights in the political forum of the contemporary American left, that Sanders carried almost none of his commendable fervor for legal reform into the unity agreement.

Yet he succeeded in gaining approval of his ludicrous proposals for tax increases; unaffordable medical care; the Green Terror; reinforcement of the monopoly of the teachers unions and the continued dumbing down of the youth of the nation; continued prostration of the Treasury to the destructive fires of academic ignorance and subversion; open borders and entire access of illegal migrants to the welfare, health, and education systems; a renewed green light for a nuclear-armed Iran; and the general appeasement of peaceful protesters who burn down and pillage the centers of U.S. cities.

Sanders is more concerned with Marxist economics than with human rights, and whatever ember of criminal justice reform was still glowing at the conclusion of the unity agreement has been crushed by the hobnailed jackboot of the Torquemada of San Francisco, Harris, reliably hard-line leftist though she is in all other discernible respects.

Conrad Black has been one of Canadas most prominent financiers for 40 years, and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world. Hes the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, and, most recently Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other, which is about to be republished in updated form.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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A northern Indiana city still has more than two dozen underground coal-storage vaults that need addressing more than eight years after a man walking on a sidewalk plunged into one of the chambers.

Goshen officials began mapping and inspecting the vaults after Dew Drop Inn owner Ken Carner fell 8 feet into a vault under his building in July 2012 when its weakened roof gave way.

That led to a cost-sharing program to fill in the most dangerous vaults and under which building owners paid to wall off their basements, while the city paid to fill in the cavity. The cost of repairing the overhead sidewalk was split, The Elkhart Truth reported.

While some of the vaults were shored up and restored, 30 were closed by the time the cost-sharing program ended in 2018, but 27 still need to be addressed, Public Works Director Dustin Sailor told the Goshen Redevelopment Commission last week.

He said that while annual inspections were required for the vaults identified as the biggest concerns, no known follow-up was done after reports were last received in 2015.

Sailors staff inspected the 27 remaining vaults and found that 12 were safe with no apparent repairs needed, six were in OK condition with future repairs likely required, and nine others were bad and needed to have corrective measures done soon.

Sailor said hed like to have the OK and bad vaults inspected by a structural engineer to help determine the next step. He estimated it could cost $3,000 per location.

But some commission members balked at that proposal, with Commission President Tom Stump calling it too expensive.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Indiana
Shapraku Umade, a 19-year old blacksmith who specialises in fabricating firearms, has been arrested by police in Lagos, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, has said.

Mr Umade was arrested alongside two other suspects at the Ajah area of the state during a transaction of illegal firearms. The team transports the firearms from Benue to Lagos State where they sell at the rate of N30,000 each.

According to the Commissioner of Police, information was received from a credible source that some arm merchants, who (are) based in Adipo area of Benue State were bringing arms and ammunition to Ajah area of Lagos to sell to some armed robbers and cultists.

Sequel to the information, SARS operatives were mobilized to Ajah, to closely monitor the area. The exercise paid-off as three of the arms dealers were arrested in a hotel at Lekki, by Jakande Estate with a shuttle bag containing two locally made barrette pistols.

The suspects are Messrs Umade, Moses Anzuur, 19, and James Tsebee, 20.

Shapraku Umade is the blacksmith who fabricated the firearms. He acquired the skills from his late father. It was revealed that the suspect usually sells the guns to their Lagos collaborators at the rate of Thirty thousand Naira (N30, 000) each. He has been in the illicit business for the past two years, the police said.

Mr Odumosu said an investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is completed.

Meanwhile, while disclosing the achievements of the command in the last one month, Mr Odumosu said a total number of 10 assorted firearms with lots of ammunition of different calibre, cutlasses, axes, other dangerous weapons, and criminal charms were recovered.

Within the last one month, the Command arrested 27armed robbery suspects, 15 traffic robbery suspects and successfully foiled 22 traffic robbery attempts. Two armed robbery suspects died during an exchange of fire with the Police.

We arrested 39 suspects for cultism and have successfully prevented the annual 7/7 and 8/8 celebrations by the cultists. 4 suspects were arrested for kidnapping and 19 suspects were arrested for murder, he said.

Mr Odumosu added that 29 suspects were arrested for rape and defilement, while 21 suspects were arrested for domestic violence and two suspects for child abuse, all of whom will be charged to Court.

In addition, seven suicide attempts were foiled by the command, three stolen vehicles recovered, and kidnapping, especially on the waterways, were curtailed.


Gorleston church's support feeds 120 a week Gorleston church's support feeds 120 a week

St Mary Magdalene in Gorleston has adapted its family support programme this summer because of current restrictions but has seen a significant increase in uptake.

The church first launched its FAM programme in August 2019 with the aim of supporting needy families, as identified by the local primary schools, during the school holidays. From then, until the lockdown began, families were invited once a week during each school holiday for an hour of activities, followed by a two-course hot meal for the whole family.



However, with the social distancing regulations, the team has had to adapt the way the programme functions.



Rev Matthew Price, Vicar of St Mary Magdalene Church, explains We realised that we wouldnt be able to accommodate all the families in our church hall and still comply with the social distancing requirements, so we have opted for a delivery service for this summer holiday. Each Wednesday a team of volunteers delivers a two-course meal for families to heat up, alongside a bag of activities for the families to do together. Weve also set up a dedicated Facebook group so that the families can share photos of what their children create, and we can all stay connected during the week.



Throughout this years summer holiday the FAM programme is serving 27 families, which amounts to approximately 120 meals each week. Each family has been referred to the church by one of the primary schools in the parish and the deliveries will continue for each of the six weeks of the school summer holiday.



After the first week, one of the recipients commented, A big thank you from [our] family. We are having our first home-cooked meal for months. Far call from the ready meals we usually have.



Another mum said, a big thank you for including my daughter, who has additional needs, with the family activity packs. Each week there have been fun, sensory activities from rainbow rice, snowballs, coloured wool and her favourite, bubbles, as well as a lovely crochet rainbow. She has really enjoyed using them, as have my other three in the activities provided for them, thank you.



Tony, who is one of the volunteers delivering the meals and activity packs, said, At my last delivery all the children had to come down [from their upstairs flat] because they wanted to meet the man who brings the food. Such a joyous experience.



Rev Price also paid tribute to the Norfolk Community Foundation for their support of a grant which funded the programme and to Kingsgate Community Church who are assisting in the production of some of the main courses.



Visit the churchs website here :



Click here to read about St Mary Magdalenes other support activities during this summers lockdown.



The pictures show Volunteers ready to deliver meals and activity packs (top), and one of the participants with their completed activity (above), and are courtesy of St Mary Magdalene Church.



Tony Rothe, 18/08/2020
Alabama Sen. Doug Jones voiced his support for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden during Mondays virtual Democratic National Convention.

Ive known Joe for more than 40 years. I met him as a wide-eyed law student and hes been my friend and champion ever since Jones said. The Joe I know is exactly the leader our country needs right now.

You can watch Jones address below.
The Philippines government has reached out to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to implement the Dharavi model of containing the outbreak of Covid-19 in its densely populated slums.

BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said on Tuesday, The Philippines government will be following the Dharavi model for containing Covid-19 in densely populated slums of Philippines. BMC has shared the details of the Dharavi model with the Philippine governments health department, he said.

Chahal also shared a news report from Philippine Daily Inquirer . The news report reads, The DOH declared that it would follow the successful Dharavi-Mumbai campaign conceptualised by Assistant Municipal Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar. Dharavi in India is Asias largest slum where the Hollywood movie Slumdog Millionaire was shot. It has a total population of 1 million within a 2.5-square-kilometer area. This means eight to 10 people in a 9-square-meter area.

Dharavi has seen cases in single digits for the past few days, and its curve flattened by the end of June. On Monday, Dharavi recorded four new cases, on Saturday and Sunday it had recorded five new cases each, on Friday, it had recorded nine new cases, and on Thursday, it had recorded six new cases.

This is in contrast with the number of cases that were being reported in a single day in May, when cases in Dharavi peaked. On May 3, it recorded its single-day highest number of cases at 94.

While the total number of Covid-19 cases in Dharavi touched 2,672, it has 80 active cases currently. The doubling rate in Dharavi is 269 days, and growth rate is 0.27%, in contrast with May when the growth rate was at its peak at 4.8%.

The Dharavi model of containing the spread of Covid-19 includes testing in high numbers, moving positive patients to institutional quarantine facilities, shifting high and low risk contacts to separate quarantine facilities, and treating patients in time. BMC organised fever camps, door-to-door surveys, used private clinics and dispensaries to reach maximum number of people and detect Covid-19 early, according to Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of the G North administrative ward, with jurisdiction over Dharavi.

Dighavkar said, We are giving the Philippines government information on how we conducted fever camps in Dharavi, and carried out contact tracing, and organised institutional quarantining. Over the past few weeks, Dighavkar has been flooded with calls from municipal corporations in cities of Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolhapur, for similar information.

Chahal said, BMCs Chase the Virus Policy has shown the world the way to fight Covid-19, but BMC is not complacent. We will not lower our guard. He pointed out that doubling rate in Mumbai is now 86 days, with a low infection rate of 0.8%, and a discharge rate of 81%. Mumbai has done 6.6 lakh tests. He said, There are 17,800 active cases in Mumbai, and symptomatic patients in hospitals are 5,388 and 7,548+ Covid beds are vacant.

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An infrared camera in a nature reserve in northwest China's Gansu Province has captured footage of a wild giant panda mother and her cub, a rare scene for the normally solitary species.

The 14-second clip showed the cub, which is estimated to be around 1 year old, wandering in the woods behind the mother at the Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve, said He Liwen, an official with the administration of the reserve.

He said wild giant panda fathers usually do not participate in raising cubs.

"Cubs usually leave their mothers at the age of two and start living alone. So the footage capturing two wild giant pandas together is rare," he said.

Located in the southern part of Gansu, the Baishuijiang reserve is home to many rare animal species, including giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, and takins.

The reserve has more than 180 infrared cameras installed, which shot over 2,000 video clips and 10,000 photos in the first quarter of this year.

He said the cameras have captured multiple footage of giant panda mothers and their cubs since last year, indicating the population of the species tends to be on the rise in the reserve.

The fourth national giant panda census, released in 2015, showed that Gansu had 132 wild giant pandas, of which 110 lived in the Baishuijiang reserve.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : After the disclosure of a holding in HDFC, the Chinese central bank Peoples Bank of China has now acquired an equity stake in ICICI Bank.

The government had in April notified new norms for FDI investments by neighbouring countries which would require approvals. It is not clear if portfolio investments need to go through some vetting process or the government will continue with this open route till the time no FDI approval is required.

The investment by the Chinese central bank in ICICI Bank is modest. It subscribed to the recent ICICI Bank's Rs 15,000 crore capital qualified institutional investors (QIP) placement and invested Rs 15 crore.

The Chinese central bank was among the 357 institutional investors which included domestic mutual funds, insurance companies and global institutions that subscribed to the issue.

The investment comes at a time when business and trade relations between India and China have nose-dived after the Galwan valley clash between the soldiers.

Earlier, a disclosure by HDFC had caused a flutter after PBOC holding breached 1 per cent mark. HDFC had clarified that Chinese central bank, People's Bank of China (PBOC) has been an existing shareholder of the company and only the disclosure was being made as they hit the 1 per cent threshold.

HDFC's Vice Chairman and CEO Keki Mistry had told IANS that the PBOC had been an existing shareholder and had owned 0.8 percent in the company as of March 2019.

Thereafter, there have been reports that PBOC has cut its stake in HDFC.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Luxshare factories will need to employ 50,000-60,000 labourers to start iPhone production

A report of Apple insider stated that Luxshares facilities in the northern province of Bac Giang have yet to fulfil requirements to produce iPhone, a conclusion the tech giant arrived at after it latest business trip at the factories in Vietnam.

According to Tang Due Bang, foreign affairs manager at Luxshare, the representatives of Apple have been regularly visiting local manufacturing lines over the past summer to check construction progress and assess their ability to assemble iPhones.

Apple is impressed by the speed at which our facilities are built here. At the same time, through practical research, Apple highly appreciates the potential of Bac Giang province and its hard-working workers, said Bang.

Luxshare poured $270 million into developing the factories in the area to employ about 28,000 labourers. However, to meet the demand for iPhone production, Luxshare would have to employ about 50,000-60,000 labourers.

The major sticking point for Apple is the insufficient dorms for labourers. To deal with the issue, Luxshare has purchased two land plots outside the facilities to construct more dorms. The company may have to wait for the completion of the new accommodations to start manufacturing iPhones.
Caffe Machiavello, a minority-owned family business in Palo Alto, California, responded to the recent increase in food insecure people by offering free meals to their local community. (The USDA defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.)

Owner, Maria Neal, began the Pay It Forward program during the coronavirus lockdown, and the program has continued amid Santa Clara Countys reopening.

Sponsors buy meals through the restaurants website, and the restaurant then matches the number of meals and donates them to individuals or families who have requested a meal through the same website. These recipients have the option to submit requests anonymously, and there is no application necessary.

Caffe Machiavello is setting aside some of these sponsored meals for local organizations, including Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley, the Palo Alto Police Department and the Palo Alto Division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as churches, support groups and local chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous, among others.

This strategy allows us to address a bigger need at a faster rate, said Rahsaan Dean, Neals husband and Caffe Machiavellos chef. With advance notice, I was able to cook 80 meals for Second Harvest.

Sponsors of the program are not just local. The program also has many sponsors in Colorado, including Panorama Consulting Group, an ERP and business transformation consulting firm owned by Neals close friend of fifteen years, Vanessa Davison.

Vanessa grew up in Silicon Valley and has a history of helping businesses undergo turnaround and restructuring initiatives to weather difficult times.

When Maria reached out to me to sponsor the program, it was a no-brainer given my roots in the community as well as my passion for creative ways to be engaged, said Davison. We work with many private equity firms and venture lenders in Silicon Valley as well, which allows us to reach out to this powerful network to also engage as a sponsor and help support the community.

Like many of their meal recipients, Neals family  including herself, her husband and their four children  have been financially impacted by the global crisis. However, as a cancer and bilateral kidney transplant survivor, Neal wants to give back to the community.

As a fellow Latino woman, Vanessa has been one of my biggest supporters during my health issues, said Neal. Partnering on this program is our way as Latino women to come together once again to not only do business together but help Americans get through this.

Neal is looking for more partners like Panorama Consulting Group so the restaurant can reach its goal of feeding 500 people a day. In addition to donating meals, Panorama is helping the restaurant in their marketing efforts aimed at the ultimate objective of feeding 25,000 people. As of August 18, the restaurant had provided a total of 387 meals.

To become a sponsor or request a meal, interested parties can visit the online ordering section of Caffe Machiavellos website and click Pay It Forward.
New York's police commissioner has blamed the surge in gun violence on the city's Brooklyn borough, claiming perpetrators are also committing similar acts in other part of the Big Apple.

Over the weekend, authorities confirmed that New York City saw at least 39 shootings, six fatalities and more than 50 injuries.

On Tuesday, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea told NY 1 that a large amount of the violence is coming out of Brooklyn.

'Right now about half of the shootings in New York City, close to, are coming out of Brooklyn and thats a big problem,' Shea said.

'When you dig a little deeper and peel the onion back youre seeing Brooklyn individuals and perpetrators with active gun cases sometimes from Brooklyn committing violence in other parts of the city,' Shea said.

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NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said on Tuesday that 'about half of the shootings in New York City, close to, are coming out of Brooklyn and thats a big problem'

Shootings across New York City have increased by 82 per cent year to date, and murders are up by 30 per cent in another startling indication of how crime is taking over the city. A crime scene near Prospect Park in Brooklyn was cordoned off after a fatal shooting

Year to date, shootings are up 82.1 per cent, murders are up 30.2 per cent, burglaries are up 43.3 per cent and car theft is up 58.7 per cent. Police at the scene of a fatal shooting near Prospect Park in Brooklyn

Today, @NYPDShea discussed gun violence, public safety in New York City, and the required support from our partners to ensure safety in our communities.



Watch more with @patkiernan  pic.twitter.com/E7ROVyDinf  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) August 18, 2020

A DailyMail.com request for comment to the commissioner's office was not immediately returned.

Shootings across New York City have increased by 82 per cent year to date, and murders are up by 30 per cent in another startling indication of how crime is taking over the city.

The NYPD released figures on Monday for the week of 8/10/2020 through 8/16/2020 that showed

Year to date, shootings are up 82.1 per cent, murders are up 30.2 per cent, burglaries are up 43.3 per cent and car theft is up 58.7 per cent.

This week compared to this week last year is even worse; shootings are up 142 percent, murders are up 40 per cent, rape is up 11.1 per cent and car theft is up 71.9 per cent.

Year to date, crime is down by 2.7 per cent but compared to this week last year, it is up by 2.0 per cent. But as the crimes go up, the number of arrests being made are declining.

Year to date, they are down by 30 per cent. When comparing this week to the same week last year, they are down by 50 per cent.

Gov Andrew Cuomo blasted the recent surge in gun violence in New York City and the state as an 'urgent crisis' that he blamed squarely on police departments because they have done 'very little' to come up with reform plans.

This week compared to this week last year is even worse; shootings are up 142 percent, murders are up 40 per cent, rape is up 11.1 per cent and car theft is up 71.9 per cent. Police seen at a crime scene in New York City

A person was shot at the Grand Central Terminal around 10am on Saturday. An MTA employee is seen cleaning the blood with bleach following the shooting

The NYPD released photos and video Monday of three men being sought for questioning in the shooting death of one-year-old Davell Gardner

Shootings in New York City have nearly doubled in the past year, and there has been a nearly 30 per cent increase in murders

In the last five years the number of shootings fell to a low of 754 in 2018, but that number is now rising

These statistics are for the week 08/03/2020 - 08/09/2020

He also threatened to pull funding from up to 500 departments across the state if they do not have plans in place by April 2021.

Cuomo raised the growing lawlessness during his Monday press conference where he revealed in New York City murders are up 29 per cent, while shootings are up 79 per cent year to date.

He then broke down the percentage increases of shootings within each borough as compared to previous year data, noting that shootings are up 60 per cent in the Bronx, 102 per cent in Brooklyn, 54 per cent in Manhattan, 75 per cent in Queens and 108 per cent in Staten Island.

As part of the effort to get the number of shootings down, Cuomo said that he was sending a letter to 500 police department jurisdictions, 'explaining that it is imperative that we address this urgent crisis' involving the tension between police and local communities.

Cuomo said that although he had made an executive order on June 12, insisting that the individual police jurisdictions adopt a reform plan by April 1, 2021, 'very little had been done' so far - hence the letter.

'We have an issue and we have to address the issue,' Cuomo said, also noting that 'denial is not a successful life strategy, not in government, not in your personal life.'

He said that New York state 'does not run from a crisis, it's not what we do. It's not who we are. We're not going to deny that this is a crisis.

'What do we do in a crisis? Leaders lead and leaders act. This is a time for leadership and action. Acknowledge the tensions. They're real,' he said, noting that there are real issues on both sides of the table, between police and community members.

Gov Andrew Cuomo blasted the recent surge in gun violence in New York City and the state as an 'urgent crisis' that he blamed squarely on police departments because they have done 'very little' to come up with reform plans

He also threatened to pull funding from up to 500 departments across the state if they do not have plans in place by April 2021

On the city level, the Sergeants Benevolent Association has repeatedly lashed out at Mayor Bill de Blasio for cutting the NYPD's budget which they say is stopping them from being able to do their jobs.

On Monday, de Blasio brushed off responsibility for the escalating crime.

Instead he said: 'It's just painful. It's horrible when you see a situation like the one you talked about, someone's there at a memorial and see an act of violence like that is very, very painful and it should not happen in this city.

'We are dealing with a perfect storm. I keep telling everyone, I think every-day New Yorkers understand it.

'We have been put through hell on the city. Everything fell apart simultaneously because of the coronavirus.

'We're now building it back up and the NYPD is moving officers where they're needed, engaging with the community more deeply to fight crime, increasing gun arrests, but it will take time, and we need the whole picture to come back into focus.

De Blasio then fumed at President Donald Trump - who has threatened to send in the National Guard to regain control of the city - saying: 'The President blusters and the President tries to draw attention to himself and rarely has much to back it up.

'The bottom line is, the NYPD is, obviously, as they have done for decades upon decades, they are the people who can help us address this issue and end this violence and that's who I'm relying on.'
Six schemes of Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund (MF) have received Rs 708 crore from maturities, pre-payments and coupon payments during August 1-14, 2020. This takes the total cash flow received by the company since April 24, 2020, to Rs 4,988 crore.

Investors' money worth nearly Rs 26,000 crore is stuck in the six funds that were closed on April 23.

Among the six debt funds, the Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund (FIUBF) and the Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund (FIDA) received in cash, 21 percent and 12 percent of their assets under management (AUM), respectively.

Further, the company added that borrowing levels in the other funds continue to fall with Franklin India Low Duration Fund (FILDF) and Franklin India Credit Risk Fund (FICRF) now having outstanding borrowing of 1 percent and 5 percent of their AUM, respectively.

The money will be distributed to unitholders subject to a successful unitholder vote, the company said. However, as per a Karnataka High Court order, the e-voting and unitholders meet will remain suspended until further directions.

This is very crucial as active monetization of assets of the schemes and distribution of investment proceeds to the unitholders will be possible only after successful e-voting, the statement read.

The Supreme Court had in June asked all petitions related to the case to be transferred from various high courts to the Karnataka HC.

On April 23, Franklin Templeton announced the closure of its schemes. The combined size of these six schemes was Rs 25,856 crore as on April 22. Looking at its past track record, nobody would have expected that things would come to a stage where the fund house would have had to close six of its debt schemes.

The house is Indias ninth-largest mutual fund with average assets under management (January-March 2020) of Rs 1.16 lakh crore.
By Tessa Vikander

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Canada has released as much information as it legally can about the arrest of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, the government's lawyers said on Monday, as she sought more confidential documents relating to her 2018 detention.

Meng, 48, was arrested in December 2018 at Vancouver International Airport on a U.S. warrant charging her with bank fraud for allegedly misleading HSBC about Huawei's business dealings in Iran.

She has said she is innocent, and is fighting extradition to the United States while under house arrest in Vancouver.

On the first day of hearings expected to last up to three days, Meng's lawyer said a "flurry of emails" between Canadian and American officials around the time of Meng's arrest should not all be covered by privilege, as Canadian prosecutors have argued.

Meng's lawyers have pushed for the release of more documents to support their assertion that Canadian and American authorities committed abuses of process while questioning Meng before her arrest, including the improper sharing of identifying details about her electronic devices.

Crown lawyer John Gibb-Carsley said his team is committed to making the trial "as open as possible without divulging the privileges which need to be protected."

However, Mengs lawyers argued that abuse of process is an exception to litigation privilege.

"We see a flurry of emails around the subject matter," Scott Fenton, a lawyer for Meng, said. "We would be easily guilty of being wrong that all these emails are about that subject matter because we can't see them, so it's a matter for the closed hearing to determine what these are about."

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have denied any abuses relating to their conduct during Meng's arrest.

Several of the privilege claims were litigated in a federal court in Ottawa in late July, because they were made on the basis of national security.

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The hearings will continue in a closed session on Tuesday, potentially stretching into Wednesday. Meng will not be present.

A schedule proposed jointly by lawyers for the prosecution and defense said that a decision on the issue by Oct. 2 would allow the rest of the trial to proceed as planned, with hearings wrapping up in April 2021.

(Reporting by Tessa Vikander in Vancouver and Moira Warburton in Washington; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Stephen Coates)
The out-of-control COVID-19 crisis in South Texas is a deadly numbers game gone frighteningly wrong.

It has resulted in over 1,400 deaths and 44,000 coronavirus cases in the region. The positivity rate has far surpassed the statewide recommendation of 10% and bodies are stacking up in refrigerated trucks parked outside hospitals and alongside the interstate. Resources are starting to trickle into the region, but it could be too little, too late.

In the Rio Grande Valley, the situation has been inflamed by fighting among various communities over CARES Act disbursement fundsCoronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Actfrom county and state officials, slow testing and tracking methods, and two questionable recovery field hospitals supported by federal money to two companies that cull favor among the Trump Administrationone a nonprofit that runs migrant detention facilities for children, and the other a for-profit that builds border walls. In Hidalgo County, one of the nations worst hot spots for coronavirus, County Judge Richard Cortez has likened the pandemic to a tsunami that has quadrupled in cases since June.

A month ago, the county only had a dozen or so health investigators to conduct contact tracing for over seven thousand active cases, the countys health authority told me. More have since been added due to resources provided by Governor Greg Abbott. But many people here were asymptomatic and completely unaware of the contagions they carried and brought to their families, co-workers, and those they passed by on the streets.

July 21 was the deadliest day in the countys history of this virus. 49 people died from the novel coronavirus and 339 new cases were identified. There were 7,286 active cases that day and 1,080 were hospitalized, including 257 in intensive care units, the county reported.

My husband was one of the lucky ones who walked out of an area hospital that day after spending ten days hospitalized for COVID-19. During this time he received two life-saving doses of plasma donated from other coronavirus survivors. One batch came from a New York donor, we were told.

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He may have caught coronavirus at a June 29 news conference where the countys health authority left early to take an urgent phone call where he learned that he himself had COVID-19. Two days later in the middle of the night, my husband began running a fever and our odyssey with this virus began. He self-isolated for twelve days before he finally admitted that he needed to go to the hospital. (Read my last Year of Fear installment.) Since his release, he has remained self-isolated on oxygen. We have been told that he could test positive for up to ninety days.

Imagine my familys dismay when my three adult children and I all received early morning phone calls on Sunday, August 2 from different state-funded contact tracers to alert us all that we may have been exposed to coronavirus.

My husband had been hospitalized and tested positive twenty-one days prior. According to CDC guidelines, we should have been informed within three days of his diagnosis so we could mitigate community spread. Of course we knew he had COVID-19 and we all self-isolated and monitored ourselves for symptoms in our McAllen home. He had actually been isolated in a wing of the house since he first began feeling feverish on July 1, despite getting negative results on two COVID-19 tests. How many people could he have infected if he had relied on the faulty tests? How many other families or friends of those infected went weeks before learning?

Region is a tinderbox

More resources were repeatedly requested by hospital administrators and three local county judges who met for a roundtable discussion with US Senator John Cornyn on August 11 at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valleys Regional Academic Health Center in Harlingen. UTRGV President Dr. Guy Bailey said that the universitys School of Medicine is running four COVID-19 testing facilities in South Texas. The university also is state-funded to conduct contact tracing and in the past few weeks hired 191 contact tracers to locate and inform call those who have been in contact with someone with coronavirus in South Texas.

If there was ever a time to be grateful for a School of Medicine, this is it, Bailey said. I couldnt be prouder of what our School of Medicine has done to adapt and work with this crisis. Indeed it is a point of pride, but as Dr. John Krouse, dean of the School of Medicine, told the group: Testing without contact tracing is ineffective.

And that is basically what happened here in Hidalgo County for several weeks. Krouse said that UTRGV is now testing about 1,200 people per day and 35 percent are positivethats one in every three people tested and thats far more than the state-recommended 10 percent positivity rate. Krouse said tests now have a 24-hour turnaround.

But just a few weeks ago, test results were taking upwards of seven to ten days and that led to higher infection rates and community spread, Cortez said. Its a disaster and we cannot continue this way, he told Cornyn on August 11. We need rapid, rapid testing.

My eldest son and I waited seven days to learn we were negative after testing on July 16. We self-isolated, but its scary to imagine how many people circulated in the community spreading the germs unchecked before they got results.

With news media from all over the world here reporting on what is happening, its clear that infections in South Texas is a bad algorithm that is repeating and replicating with uncontrolled speed. Cornyn said the Rio Grande Valley has been sent $530 million to help hospitals, public schools, public transportation, airports and even public housing, as part of CARES Act funds.

And while there is no doubt that this money will help, it seems like a lot, a lot too late. Most hospitals have been at capacity for several weeks. The death and infection count rises daily, and when we think we have reached our shock maximum, another day brings even worse news.

Questionable field hospitals

There are also serious questions about how many millions of dollars are being spent on two step-down facilities that have been virtually unused because they are set up for low-acuity patients while hundreds are in ICUs, not ready for these convalescent facilities, one at the converted McAllen Convention Center, the other in Harlingen at a converted conference facility. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) issued a contract to the Harlingen field hospital to a for-profit company that builds border wall segments throughout the Southwest. The McAllen facility is being run by a nonprofit that operates controversial migrant detention facilities for children, two of which have been shut down.

As I reported for Border Report, BCFS Health and Human Services has converted the McAllen Convention Center into a 250-bed capacity facility for recovering COVID-19 patients. But as of August 11, only eight patients had been sent for free care at the facility, which is paid for with CARES Act funds. The converted Casa de Amistad conference center in Harlingen is being run by SLSCO, which has received over half a billion dollars in federal government contracts to build segments of border wall throughout Texas and southern California. The facility had not helped a single patient as of August 11.

Local hospital administrators told me that the lower-level acute care available at these facilities is not what patients need: They need high-level ICU facilities, for which these facilities are not licensed.

So has this been a good use of federal funds? I put the question to Senator Cornyn at a news conference on August 11 immediately following the roundtable discussion, and he responded: The big concern with the spike in cases was that it would overrun the hospital facilities, hospital ICU beds, the number of ventilators and the like, and so we worked to bend that curve. The possibility that there would need to be additional surge facilities built is what those facilities are for, and the fact that they are not widely needed is actually good news. But they are there if they are needed.

Yes, but how many families do they help if they remain virtually empty?

I have submitted several requests with the state for information on how much these contracts are worth and the names of other companies that also put in bids and for how much, but the information has not been provided. My daily requests to Texas Division of Emergency Management go largely unacknowledged and unanswered. Hopefully they will get back to me. I find it curious that no other companies seem to be getting big-dollar border contracts, even during a pandemic.

PREVIOUSLY: What will normal mean after COVID-19?

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Sandra Sanchez has been an award-winning newspaper journalist for the past 30 yearsincluding many years covering the Southwest border and immigration for USA Today. She began her career in her hometown of Washington, D.C., working for the Washington Post. In 1994, she moved to Austin as USA Todays Southwest correspondent. During her tenure with the nations largest newspaper, she covered the Los Angeles riots, Oklahoma City bombing, Hurricane Hugo, and many immigration stories from Arizona to Brownsville, Texas. She was the opinion editor for The Monitor newspaper in McAllen, Texas, from 2013 to 2018 during the initial surge of migrants on the Southwest border. She is passionate about border and immigration issues and enjoys being a correspondent for Nexstar Media Groups BorderReport.com.
Jaipur, Aug 18 : State Health Minister Dr. Raghu Sharma on Tuesday said corona cases have risen in the state at a few places due to super spreaders.

"To control such cases, special focus is on checking the super spreaders. He said milk vendors, vegetable vendors, grocers and whoever falls under this category will be checked effectively so that the spread of infection could be stopped," he added.

Covid-19 cases in Rajasthan are touching new highs each day. On Monday, 1,334 Covid-19 cases were registered while on Tuesday, 694 fresh cases were registered in the state till 8.30 a.m. The state has reported 897 deaths while the cumulative Covid positive cases in the state stand at 63,324. The number of cumulative recovered patients in the state stand at 47,965.

The Health Minister said a selection of 'Swasthya Mitras' has started in urban areas after they were introduced in the villages recently.

The selection of 'Swasthya Mitras' in urban areas was not started due to Covid-19, but will be started soon so that their services could be taken during the time of corona, said Dr. Sharma adding that more than 80,000 'Swasthya Mitras' have been selected in rural areas for medical help and to create general public awareness about their health.

In the second phase, the selection of 'Swasthya Mitras' was to be started in urban areas, but could not be started due to Covid. Now the ward-wise selection of 'Swasthya Mitras' will be started in the urban areas of the state.

The Health Minister said soon beds with oxygen will be increased at all district hospitals and hospitals attached to medical colleges in the state. He said the emphasis of the State Government is on reducing the fatality rate due to corona. In such a situation, patients face more problems due to less saturation of oxygen at night, so directions have been given to deploy trained nursing personnel and staff in all hospitals.

Dr. Sharma said the Government is trying to ensure there is no shortage of doctors during the time of corona and on normal days. For this, the recruitment process of 2,000 doctors has been completed. The problems being faced in this regard have been resolved and directions have been given to appoint these doctors soon.

Dr. Sharma said that the ratio of recovery rate in the state is among the best while the fatality rate is declining fast. The mortality rate at present in the state is 1.4 per cent. Plasma therapy is also being promoted in the state and sufficient quantity of life-saving injections that are worth Rs 40,000 are available and being administered free-of-cost to the patients. The intent of the government is that no person should die of corona and more and more corona positive cases should test negative and people lead a normal life. For this, emphasis is being laid on increasing the recovery percentage.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 16:40:54|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific on Tuesday lauded the Philippines' efforts to suppress COVID-19, urging the Southeast Asian country to further to improve its strategy.

"The Philippine government has been putting a lot of efforts to continuously improve their (healthcare) capacity," Takeshi Kasai, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, said in a virtual media briefing, citing Manila's ongoing efforts to improve the testing and contact tracing capacity, and upgrade health services.

Kasai added they had not really seen the number overwhelming the healthcare facilities so far.

"I think it's very important for the (Philippine) government to continue to improve (their healthcare) capacity but also very important for the government to continue to communicate to people to encourage them to maintain their healthy behavior," Kasai said.

The WHO noted that the Philippines and Papua New Guinea have rising COVID-19 cases affecting the young.

In the Philippines, for instance, the WHO noted that more than half of the reported cases are people under 40 years, a similar trend that is also observed in the rest of the region.

"The epidemic is changing. Young, healthy people are increasingly driving its spread. Many are unaware they are infected, with very mild symptoms or none at all. This can result in them unknowingly passing on the virus to others," he said.

Kasai said the trend increases the risk of spillovers to the most vulnerable: the elderly, the sick, people in long-term care, people who live in densely-populated urban areas and under-served rural areas.

"We must redouble efforts to stop the virus from moving into vulnerable communities," Kasai said.

As the Philippines has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia, Kasai stressed the need to control the spike so as not to overwhelm the healthcare facilities.

Kasai said the strict lockdown imposed by the government in the early stage of the pandemic in mid-March has "prevented a significant number of infections and deaths," adding that it prevented the country's healthcare system to be overwhelmed.

The Philippines is easing the lockdown restrictions in Metro Manila on Wednesday.

"(In easing) the level of movement control, I think it's very important for everybody to voluntarily do very similar things so that we can continue to suppress (the rise of infections) and not overwhelm the healthcare facility in this country," he added.

In the same briefing, Kasai also stressed the need to "redouble" the efforts of governments to contain the disease and protect the vulnerable in the region.

"What we are observing is not simply a resurgence. We believe it's a signal that we've entered a new phase of the pandemic in Asia," Kasai said.

He said countries are increasingly able to minimize large scale disruptions to people's lives and economies by combining early detection and rapid responses to emerging infections, and people sticking to the prevention measures that are part of the "new normal."

"The direction the epidemic now takes depends on the actions of governments and people across the region," Kasai added.

Kasai stressed the need to "continue to refine, learn and adjust our response in pursuit of the new normal, because COVID-19 will likely be with us for the foreseeable future."

He specifically urged the government to focus on "refinements" such as "greater targeting and earlier introduction of localized movement control measures and public health interventions."

"Approaches like this are more effective and minimize social disruption and impact on economies. We also have to continue to strengthen the capacity of systems to identify cases, isolate and treat them, and trace and quarantine their contacts," he added.

The Philippines now has 169,213 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 2,687 deaths and 112,861 recoveries.

The WHO regional office said that more than 400,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the region and over 9,290 have died from the disease. Enditem
Lana, a new startup based in Madrid, is looking to be the next big thing in Latin American fintech.

Founded by serial entrepreneur Pablo Muniz, whose last business was backed by one of Spain's largest financial services institutions, BBVA, Lana is looking to be the all-in-one financial services provider for Latin America's gig economy workers.

Muniz's last company, Denizen, was designed to provide expats in foreign and domestic markets with the financial services they would need as they began their new lives in a different country. While the target customer for Lana may not be the same middle to upper-middle-class international traveler that he had previously hoped to serve, the challenges gig economy workers face in Latin America are much the same.

Muniz actually had two revelations from his work at Denizen. The first -- he would never try to launch a fintech company in conjunction with a big bank. And the second was that fintechs or neobanks that focus on a very niche segment will be successful -- so long as they can find the right niche.

The biggest niche that Muniz saw that was underserved was actually in the gig economy space in Latin America. "I knew several people who worked at gig economy companies and I knew that their businesses were booming and the industry was growing," he said. "[But] I was concerned about the inequalities."

Workers in gig economy marketplaces in Latin America often don't have bank accounts and are paid through the apps on which they list their services in siloed wallets that are exclusive to that particular app. What Lana is hoping to do is become the wallet of wallets for all of the different companies on which laborers list their services. Frequently, drivers will work for Uber or Cabify and deliver food for Rappi. Those workers have wallets for each service.

(Photo by Cris Faga/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Lana wants to unify all of those disparate wallets into a single account that would operate like a payment account. These accounts can be opened at local merchant shops and, once opened, workers will have access to a debit card that they can use at other locations.

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The Lana service also has a bill pay feature that it's rolling out to users, in the first evolution of the product into a marketplace for financial services that would appeal to gig workers, Muniz said.

"We want to become that account in which they receive funds," he said. "We are still iterating the value proposition to gig economy companies."

Working with companies like Cabify, and other, undisclosed companies, Lana has plans to roll out in Mexico, Chile, Peru and, eventually, Colombia and Argentina.

Eventually, Lana hopes to move beyond basic banking services like deposits and payments and into credit services. Already hundreds of customers are using the company's service through the distribution partnership with Cabify, which ran the initial pilot to determine the viability of the company's offering.

"The idea of creating Lana was initially tested as an internal project at Cabify," Muniz wrote in an email. "Soon Cabify and some potential investors saw that Lana could have a greater impact as an independent company, being able to serve gig economy workers from any industry and decided to start over a new entrepreneurial project."

Through those connections with Cabify, Lana was able to bring in other investors like the Silicon Valley-based investment firm Base 10.

"One of the things we've been interested in is in inclusion generally and in fintech specifically," said Adeyemi Ajao, the firm's co-founder. "We had gotten very close to investing in a couple of fintech companies in Latin America and that is because the opportunity is huge. There are several million people going from unbanked to banked in the region."

Along with a few other investors, Base 10 put in $12.5 million to finance Lana as it looks to expand. It's a market that has few real competitors. Nubank, Latin America's biggest fintech company, is offering credit services across the continent, but most of their end users already have an established financial history.

"Most of their end users are not unbanked," said Ajao. "With Lana it is truly gig workers... They can start by being a wallet of wallets and then give customers products that help them finance their cars or their scooters."

The ultimate idea is to get workers paid faster and provide a window into their financial history that can give them more opportunities at other gig economy companies, said Ajao. "The vision would be that someone can plug in their financial information for services. If they're working for Rappi and have never been an Uber driver and they want to be an Uber driver, Lana can use their financial history with Rappi to offer a loan on a car," he said.

That financial history is completely inaccessible to a traditional bank, and those established financial services don't care about the history built in wallets that they can't control or track. "Today if you've been a gig worker and you go to a bank, that's worth nothing," said Ajao.
They are in the middle of filming for their hit reality show.

And Chloe Sims enjoyed a night out with her sister and co-star Demi Sims, on Monday as the continued filming scenes for The Only Way Is Essex.

The reality TV star, 37, oozed glamour in her cream mini dress and ivory blazer while her sister, 23, opted for a contemporary yet stylish black bodysuit.

All dolled up: Chloe Sims put on a glamorous and leggy display as she began filming the upcoming series for The Only Way Is Essex in her hometown with her sister Demi on Monday

Chloe wore a tiny cream dress that hugged her curves in all the right places and accentuated her hourglass figure.

The slinky bandeau number made the most of Chloe's ample assets and complimented her open-toe cream sandal heels.

Chloe opted for a structured ivory blazer with shoulder pads and large side pockets.

Family style: The younger Sims sister, 23, chose a completely different outfit choice compared to her older sister, 37, but remained just as stylish in her form-fitting black bodysuit

She took the sultry outfit up a notch as she paired it with a large pair of hoop earrings, a crucifix necklace and gold clutch bag.

The TOWIE star channelled her inner Marilyn Monroe with her contoured makeup look, winged eyeliner and cherry red pout.

Her sister also sported a bronzed and full coverage makeup look, but decided to opt for neutral and brown hues.

Glamourpuss: Chloe donned a cream slinky mini dress that accentuated her hourglass figure and she paired it with a long cream structured blazer with side pockets

Hollywood style: The TOWIE personality looked like a movie star with her glamorous long blonde waves and contoured makeup look that she finished off with a satin red lipstick

Golden girl: Chloe highlighted her radiant complexion with gold jewellery such as her large hoop earrings, a crucifix necklace, and her matching golden clutch bag

Demi kept her signature blonde tresses in a structured blonde bob cut that was styled to perfection.

She wore an incredibly stylish yet futuristic body suit from the edgy online fashion brand, Maniere De Voir

The black form-fitting number clung to her slender physique and featured construction detailing and white piping.

She paired it with some nude sandal heels that exposed her pristine and pink pedicure.

Black is back: Demi sported a stylish black bodysuit from online fashion brand Maniere De Voir that featured construction detailing and white piping that highlighted her sensational figure

Chic: The blonde beauty kept her silky tresses in a sleek blunt bob cut and opted for a bronzed makeup look with a rose-orange glossy lipstick

Footwear: The Only Way Is Essex star opted for a pair of edgy nude sandal heels that displayed her slender pins and perfectly preened coral manicure as she strolled down the street

The blonde beauties posed up a storm at the Essex location with their other sister, Frankie Sims, 25, and co-star Georgia Kousoulou, 29, for filming of the hit ITV reality show.

Frankie opted for a cropped, distressed denim jacket that she paired with a white vest and silky grey joggers.

Meanwhile Georgia sported an oversized beige blazer that she tied in at the waist with a cream scarf.

Sister act: Their other sister and TOWIE castmate, Frankie, 25, kept things casual yet glam in a pair of silky stone-grey joggers, a white top and a distressed cropped denim jacket

TOWIE crew: The Sims sisters were joined by their pal Georgia, 29, who was seen wearing an oversized beige blazer with shoulder pads that she tied at the waist with a cream scarf

As Chloe departed the undisclosed TOWIE filming location, she switched up her outfit entirely but looked nevertheless stylish.

She was spotted leaving in an oversized fringed black leather jacket and matching black vest.

She showcased her incredibly slender legs once more in a pair of high-waist denim shorts.

Rock chick: Chloe looked like the ultimate rock queen as she did a 180 degree turn with her outfit and sported a fringed oversized leather jacket with a black top and denim shorts

Her sister decided to keep her fashionable Maniere De Voir outfit but departed the filming set wearing a beige blazer over her shoulders.

Demi changed her shoe candy for a comfortable pair of white, black and red Nike trainers.

She maintained her perfectly styled long blonde bob and stunning makeup look.

Their sister, Frankie, was seen departing the venue with her TOWIE beau, Harry Lee.

Pins out: The reality star showcased her slender pins once more in her high-waist light denim shorts that featured a frayed edge and she also wore mesh kitten heels with a pointed toe

Their dating history got off to a rocky start on the show in 2019 following his dramatic split from Chloe Brockett, but the pair have been going from strength to strength in 2020.

Georgia also exited the building in her original outfit that comprised of an oversized blazer and belt scarf combo.

She finished off the monochromatic look with a beige Gucci shoulder bag that features a symmetrical silver tiger head clasp and matching silver chain.

Lady in red: Chloe kept her classic red lipstick and contoured makeup but changed her bag for a designer round-edged leather Balenciaga tote and donned a thick black chain necklace

On Sunday, the group returned to filming with the 10th anniversary special of The Only Way Is Essex.

The ITVbe show have also released a trailer ahead of its special reunion episodes that air in September.

In the video posted to Twitter on Friday, it revisited key moments from the show's history including when Lauren Goodger pushed ex Mark Wright into a swimming pool.

Structure: Demi mirrored her construction detailed bodysuit with a well-constructed beige blazer that she draped over her shoulders as she exited the venue

Other hilarious parts include Sam Faiers asking for a vajazzle and Gemma Collins telling people to 'Google her'.

TOWIE tweeted: 'SHUT UP! 10 years of #TOWIE!? BRAND NEW episodes coming this September, starting with an anniversary special.

'Things are about to get REEM, You ain't ready for this candy! #TOWIE10 on @ITVBe.'

Some of the original cast are expected to be make a dramatic return in the anniversary show including Amy Childs.

Denim look: Their sister Frankie was seen leaving with her TOWIE beau, Harry Lee, who was wearing a silver bomber jacket with denim skinny jeans and a black top with a zip feature

However, other former TOWIE stars such as Sam Faiers and Mark Wright have both confirmed they won't appear on the show again as they claimed they are in a different place now.

The TOWIE bombshell also opted for a pair of pointed mesh kitten heels and a thick black chain necklace that completed the rock chick ensemble.

Chloe maintained her flawless makeup look which was completed with a red lipstick and she continued to wear her large hoop earrings and crucifix necklace.

She also gave her outfit a designer touch with a chic yet compact black Balenciaga bag.
MIAMI, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Payless, the footwear retailer with a 60+ year heritage, is excited to announce its relaunch into the North American market, unveiling an immersive Ecommerce platform and new brick-and-mortar retail concept stores. Formally dropping "Shoesource" from the brand name, Payless returns, offering the same, unparalleled commitment to providing value to their community, now across a range of apparel, accessories, and footwear.

Founded in 1956, Payless has an extensive history of providing value to customers around the world. Today, that value proposition not only still rings true, but also has never been more important as we as a Nation continue to adjust to the new normal. Reemerging with a new Omni-channel approach both online or in-stores, Payless is the new economy, enabling everyone, everywhere to move through life comfortably and confidently. Consumers can now shop fashion and trend-right comfort at a great value thanks to the brand's integrated shopping experience.

"We're back and bringing more community responsibility, fashion-forward footwear, and on-trend partnerships to our 60M+ Payless customers who have missed us," said Jared Margolis, CEO of Payless. "We saw an opportunity for the brand to relaunch into the US market, providing our community with the affordable, value driven products they've always searched for, now across multiple categories, at a time when value couldn't be more critical. Payless is for everyone, and now more than ever, the world needs to pay-less. We are so excited to bring Payless back to you, so you and future generations to come can lead the way forward."

Kicking off today, US consumers can shop on the new Ecommerce platform. From beloved Private Label brands: AirWalk, American Eagle, and many more, to K-Swiss, Kendall + Kylie and Aerosoles, Payless is rolling out a variety of diverse community partnerships throughout the year. Payless is putting the purchasing power back in the hands of consumers, all with an easy tap, swipe or click of a button.

As part of the Omni-channel rollout, our goal is to open 300-500 free standing stores across North America over the next five years, beginning with the launch of the first prototype store in Miami, FL, the new home and headquarters for the brand. The new store locations will be in addition to the brand's existing 700 international stores  298 Franchise and 412 Latin and Central America locations. Implementing a seamless customer experience with engaging in-store touchpoints that merge design with onsite digital components, including smart mirrors, touchscreen wall panels, and a first-of-its-kind Augmented Reality foot comparison chart, Payless' new brick-and-click stores will not only have an updated design, look and feel, but also reinvent the way we shop.

Taking a step further, Payless is also bringing their core belief of value to life with its, "Powered by Payless" initiative. Looking ahead to the fall 2020 season, a growing number of individuals nationwide will be unable to access internet or the technology needed for new, at-home and hybrid learning, and the meal services provided through in-school lunch programs. Recognizing the brand's responsibility to do their part, as part of the new effort, Payless is partnering with deserving schools across the country to provide students, teachers and their families with the online connectivity technology, complimentary lunches, and shoes to power the body and mind for this new and different school year ahead.

"We are in truly unpreceded times, and it's undeniable that this year's back-to-school season will be unlike any other," said Margolis. "We are fully aware that we're relaunching in a time when many have lost their jobs, finances are tight, and parents nationwide are adjusting to working from home, facilitating at-home schooling for their children, all while serving the most important role as parent. However, during this time we also know that kids all over the country are leading the way  through their imaginations, resilience, and determination. We're excited and proud to be in a position to bring the Payless brand back to life to provide parents with the value they need, and kids with the styles they will love, in a way that acknowledges and celebrates every single one of our consumers."

For more information about Payless, the brand's relaunch into the US market, including Ecomm, retail store openings and the "Powered by Payless" initiative, or new collection items featuring in-house, Private Label, and partnership designs, visit and shop Payless.com.

About Payless

Founded in 1956 in Topeka, KS, Payless is an iconic footwear retailer with a 60+ year heritage, and uncompromised commitment to value. Serving millions of customers through its extensive global network of brick-and-mortar and Ecommerce retail footprint, Payless spans 30 countries with over 700 stores in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean. Relaunched in 2020, Payless is now headquartered in Miami, FL and offers a wide range of fashionable footwear as well as apparel and accessories, all at affordable prices for every member of the family.

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A Georgia prison deputy who suddenly collapsed due to a cardiac problem, and was helped by three inmates late July, is doing well. He has recently returned to work and has thanked the men who rushed to save him.

On Friday, the Sheriffs Department posted a photo on their Facebook page with the recovering deputy, Warren Hobbs, and the inmates who helped save his life, standing side by side.

Hobbs had quickly sought out the inmates who came to his rescue when he suffered a medical emergency a few weeks ago so he could thank them in person, the post stated. Were glad to welcome him back.

The deputy, who works at Gwinnett County Jail in Lawrenceville, had looked like he was sleeping on the job on the day the incident occurred. He fell out of his chair, split his head open, and started bleeding.

Inmate Mitchell Smalls was there when it happened and quickly took action.

I started hollering and screaming and banging on the door to try to alert everybody to wake up, Smalls later told Fox News. Soon, around 60 inmates began making as much noise as possible in an attempt to alert the other deputies.

The commotion was enough to wake Hobbs, who then struggled to get up.

It was sad because it didnt look good at all, but the man had fight in him to get up, recalled inmate Terry Lovelace. As he came up, I can make eye contact with him. Im like, Deputy Hobbs, Deputy Hobbs, please.

Hobbs managed to push a button to release Lovelace and fellow inmate Walter Whitehead, who then rushed to assist the ailing man and attempted to call other deputies using a phone and Hobbss radio. Help arrived within seconds, and they took over the lifesaving effort.

The exterior of the Gwinnett County Jail is seen on June 30, 2020, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Hobbs says he does not remember losing consciousness but only what sounded like pounding drums and inmates shouting his name over and over, the sheriffs office said.

After the incident, the sheriffs office commended the inmates for the vital support they provided to Deputy Hobbs during the crisis.

These inmates had no obligation whatsoever to render aid to a bleeding, vulnerable deputy, but they didnt hesitate, the office wrote in a Facebook post. Many people have strong opinions about law enforcement officers and criminals, but this incident clearly illustrates the potential goodness found in both.

Prison deputies spend 12 hours a day with inmates, according to the news outlet, and thus they tend to develop a bond based on a mutual respect that goes deeper than the uniforms they wear.

Whitehead told Fox News: I dont care if its a police officer or whoever it was. I will do whatever I can to save a man. I dont want anyone to die.
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I remember my year 12 formal like it was yesterday. The dreadful hot pink taffeta dress I wore to it, the brown oversized tuxedoes the boys rented for it, the group singing of the James Taylor song You've Got a Friend, the faux tears and the alcohol-fuelled pool party that followed.

So with the news that year 12 formals would be cancelled for this term at the very least and end-of-school graduations would take place without parents or be relegated to later in the year I was instantly sad.

Helen Pitt (in pink taffeta) at her year 12 farewell. Credit:Tracey Blundell

So too, I imagine, formal hire and high-end frock shop owners across the state, whose disappointment can only be matched by the vast number of teenage girls pining for this excuse for some retail therapy. Not to mention the businesses associated with the costly school formal industry: function centres, restaurants, hairdressers, make-up artists, fancy car rentals and florists who will feel the blow too. And teachers who in their own way I am sure enjoy marking the end of the school calendar with a bit of ceremony; although many will breathe a sigh of relief that the recorder has been banned at school assemblies. Who could ever dream of a day when singing was outlawed in schools? But that's what it's come to for the corona class of 2020.

Certainly, the shy and sartorially challenged  like my year 12 son  will be thinking, "Phew, I dodged a bullet there" avoiding the tricky subject of who to ask to the formal, or learning how to dance.
As the novel coronavirus began to spread through Minneapolis this spring, Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant tore up her budget to find money to combat the crisis. Money for test kits. Money for contact tracers. Money for a service to help communicate with residents in dozens of languages.

While Musicant diverted workers from violence prevention and other core programs, state officials debated how to distribute $1.87 billion Minnesota received in federal aid.

As she waited, the Minnesota Zoo got $6 million in federal money to continue operations, and a debt collection company outside Minneapolis received at least $5 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, according to federal data.

It was not until Aug. 5 that Musicant's department finally received $1.7 million, the equivalent of $4 per Minneapolis resident.

Since the pandemic began, Congress has set aside trillions to ease the crisis. A joint Kaiser Health News and Associated Press investigation finds that many communities with big outbreaks have spent little of that federal money on local public health departments for work such as testing and contact tracing. Others, like Minnesota, were slow to do so.

For example, the states, territories and 154 large cities and counties that received allotments from the $150 billion coronavirus relief fund reported spending only 25 percent of it through June 30, according to reports that recipients submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Many localities have deployed more money since that June 30 reporting deadline, and both Republican and Democratic governors say they need more to avoid layoffs and cuts to vital state services. Still, as cases in the U.S. top 5.4 million and confirmed deaths soar past 170,000, Republicans in Congress are pointing to the slow spending to argue against sending more money to state and local governments to help with their pandemic response.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that congressional Democrats' efforts to get more money for states, "aren't based on math. They aren't based on the pandemic."

Negotiations on a new relief bill broke down last week, in part because Democrats and Republicans couldn't agree on funding for state and local governments.

KHN and the AP requested detailed spending breakdowns from recipients of money from the coronavirus relief fund and received responses from 23 states and 62 cities and counties. Those entities dedicated 23% of their spending from the fund through June to public health and 7 percent to public health and safety payroll.

An additional 22 percent was transferred to local governments, some of which will eventually pass it down to health departments.

The slow aid is due to many reasons, including bureaucracy, politics and understaffing that makes it difficult for departments to navigate the system.

"It does not make sense to me how anyone thinks this is a way to do business," said E. Oscar Alleyne, chief of programs and services at the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

Congress mandated that the coronavirus relief fund be distributed to state and local governments based on population. Minneapolis, with 430,000 residents, missed the threshold of 500,000 people that would have allowed it to receive money directly.

The state of Minnesota received $1.87 billion, a portion of which was meant to be sent to local communities. Lawmakers initially sent some state money to tide communities over until the federal money came through. The Minneapolis health department got about $430,000 in state money.

When it came time to decide how to use the CARES Act money, however, Minnesota lawmakers were at loggerheads.

Then Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, and the city erupted in protests over racial injustice.

Finally, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz decided to divvy up the money using a population-based formula developed earlier by Republican and Democratic legislative leaders that did not take into account COVID-19 caseloads or racial disparities.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The state then sent hundreds of millions of dollars to local communities. Still, even after the money got to Minneapolis a month ago, Musicant waited as city leaders decided how to spend it.

A coalition including the National Governors Association has blamed delays in spending on the federal government, saying final guidance on how states could spend the money came late in June. The coalition said state and local governments had moved "expeditiously and responsibly" to use the money.

Some cities received large federal grants, including Louisville, whose health department was given $42 million by April, more than doubling its budget.

But as of mid-July in Missouri, at least 50 local health departments had yet to receive any of the federal money, a state survey found. The money must first flow through local county commissioners, some of whom aren't keen on sending money to public health agencies that closed businesses down.

Rural Saline County in Missouri received the same funding as counties of similar size, even though the virus hit the area particularly hard, with outbreaks at a meatpacking plant and factory.

It was late July when $250,000 in federal CARES Act money finally reached the 11-person health department  far too late to hire the army of contact tracers who might have slowed the virus in April, said Tara Brewer, Saline's health department administrator.

Some local health officials say that the laborious process required to qualify for some of the federal aid is also a problem.

Lisa Harrison, public health director for Granville Vance Public Health in rural North Carolina, says it's tough to watch major hospital systems such as Duke University receive tens of millions of dollars in direct deposits, while her department received only $122,000 through three grants by the end of July.

Back in Minneapolis, Musicant said the new money from CARES allowed the department to run free COVID-19 testing Saturday at a church about a mile from the site of Floyd's killing.

It will take more money to do everything the community needs, she said.
Martin Hong said he was assaulted by three teenagers

Gardai are investigating an alleged racist attack in which two Chinese men were verbally abused about the source of the Covid-19 virus before being assaulted.

The duo - Martin Hong and Arthur Ma, both in their early 20s - were assaulted by three teens in Cork after they objected to comments passed to them about the source of the virus.

Both required hospitalisation for minor cuts, bruises and a broken tooth.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the August 8 incident - and are treating it as a racially-motivated attack.

It came after a Chinese woman was verbally abused and then pushed into a canal in Dublin by a group of youngsters who were mocking her about the coronavirus.

That particular incident made world headlines.

Laughed

Mr Hong said their incident involved three teens.

"It was around 8pm when I was walking with my friend to do some grocery shopping," he told RTE.

"On the way, we heard some people talking about the Chinese virus as we were walking in their direction.

"They were making fun of us but when we asked them to repeat what they were saying, they laughed at us and made fun of us.

"They also raised their middle finger towards us."

Mr Hong said when his friend tried to record the incident on his phone, one of the teens took out his own phone and claimed the Chinese men had been insulting Ireland.

"My friend tried to film it because we did not want to get into any physical contact with them. We asked them to repeat what they said.

"They said we were racist and were saying bad things about Ireland. They were also saying Black Lives Matter - I don't even know why they were talking about that.

"They tried to portray themselves as the victims."

The two Chinese men were then assaulted by one member of the group.

"I stepped forward to try to reason with them and one of them just punched me.

"Both of my eyes got very severely bruised. I got punched in the eye and the nose, my nose was bleeding. I lost one of my teeth and, for one or two minutes, I lost consciousness when I fell to the ground."

Another member of the group attacked Mr Ma.

"We both ended up in hospital. A very nice old lady walking by called the police and they took us to hospital."

The duo were treated in hospital overnight before being released.

Afterwards, they were so shaken by their ordeal they have been reluctant to leave their home for fear of further attack.

Afraid

The two men have been in Ireland for over a year and it was the first time they had endured a physical attack.

"It happened around my home so I don't dare to go out from my home," Mr Hong said.

"I went out for some shopping yesterday and a teenager said 'hi' to me and I was afraid to reply."

Mr Hong has faced multiple dental appointments to repair the damage to his teeth.

"Before now, all the racial things were verbal - this is the first time I got physically attacked.

"Since this pandemic began affecting the Irish community, the first racist comment I received was from some kids.

"They were toddlers, they had only learned to speak and they were already racially abusing (people). They were only kids and that is the shocking part," said Mr Hong.
The controversial $400 weekly unemployment boost assistance has been accepted by eighteen states. However, there are other states who compare it to the Democrat-sponsored CARES Act.

Recent attempts by the Trump administration to come up with a viable option for Americans to get support have necessitated the executive actions that circumvented the Democrats' slow progress. The action by the president enables the federal aid to come in sooner than expected.

To date, thirty states are mulling over the offer, while eighteen have decided on the welfare it gives to its constituents. But two states are holding back and refusing it because it is less than the $600 weekly benefit that was under the CARE Act by Democrats in March, reported Newsweek.

According to many states, they are not able to shoulder the financial cost. Other factors in the bureaucracy disliked by the signed August 8 executive order reboots the benefits for those Americans without work.

Last Tuesday, a report released by the Associated Press confirm that 18 states are in because of the current situation faced in the pandemic. Another is that to get the deal, the states will should a fourth of the $400 no work benefits.

Sources say that thirty states are not deciding on the offer of $400. Others are saying that the no-work benefits with no additional support from the federal government will be a few hundred dollars compared to nothing without it. There is a clamor for the reinstatement of the $600 a week benefit. Most of the Republicans believe, as well as the president, that other options are on the table.

Also read: Democrats Risk Facing Executive Action Due to Relief Bill Dispute, Says White house

According to the governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshare, he got a letter from Mitch McConnell, Senate Leader, to accept the offer. The Kentucky governor told the press that three other State leaders were contacted about the federal aid. More were not aware of the president's plans, so he talked to them, noted WHAS11.

Several governors openly opposed the executive order and opting for one that is sponsored by the Democrats who stalled the White House. Most want the continuation of the CARES Act, but the $600 dried up on July 31. The White House preferring the $400 no-work benefit.

Based on records from the Department of Labor statistics about 963,000 people lined up for unemployment support, all the first-time last week. But not as many as during March, with about 28 million getting support while jobless.

The Trump executive order states that about a fourth of the cost, which is $100 will be added to the $300 of the federal aid. But critics point out that it is $200 less than the former $600 before. Democrat Nancy Pelosi was hit the GOP on their preference for a cheaper option cited CNBC.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been neutral about the executive order and was part of many governors who are hoping another deal comes along. He told the press another option can be opted for.

There is a difference of opinion about the weekly $400 unemployment boost assistance by Trump. Yet, it came when the Democrats deadlocked the discussions and the money is there.

Related article: President Trump Authorizes $400-Per-Week Unemployment Payments Hits Democrats for Stalling Tactics

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai's affinity to India is quite well known. The IIT Kharagpur alumnus has more often than not dwelled on his middle-class upbringing in India. The Google CEO was born in Madurai on June 10, 1972 and grew up in the country. After his IIT Kharagpur stint, Pichai moved to the US to pursue a Masters of Science degree from Stanford University. He later joined Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania to pursue MBA.

Pichai in his speeches often reminisces about his time in India. He also frequently speaks about sticking to one's beliefs and working hard -- a staple of Indian middle class life. His meteoric rise is also proof that there is truth to his words. He joined Google in 2004 and led the product management and innovation work at a Google suite. Pichai was eventually made the CEO in 2015, and then named CEO of Alphabet Inc as well in December 2019.

Here are Sundar Pichai's top quotes reminding people of his Indian middle class life:

1. Pichai spoke at length about his first experience of boarding a place. The Google CEO said his father spent a year's salary to send him on a plane to Stanford. During YouTube's Dear Class of 2020 virtual ceremony, Pichai said, "My father spent the equivalent of a year's salary on my plane ticket to the US so I could attend Stanford. It was my first time ever on a plane... America was expensive. A phone call back home was more than $2 a minute, and a backpack cost the same as my dad's monthly salary in India." For most of Indian middle class, the first flight would be some of the most memorable experiences.

Also read: Google CEO Sundar Pichai recalls how his father spent a year's salary on his flight ticket to US

2. During an interview with New York Times, Pichai reminisced about his humble beginnings -- long before he had become the CEO of the world's largest tech company. "We lived in a kind of modest house, shared with tenants. We would sleep on the living room floor. There was a drought when I was growing up, and we had anxiety. Even now, I can never sleep without a bottle of water beside my bed. Other houses had refrigerators, and then we finally got one. It was a big deal," he said.

3. Pichai could be heading the world's largest tech company, but when it comes to disciplining his son, he took a leaf out of every Indian parent's book. In an interview in 2018, Pichai said that his son does not have a phone. He, however, mines Ethereum. His disdain for TV is also part of the Indian parents' charter. "At home, our television is not easily accessible, so that there is 'activation energy' before you can easily go watch TV. I am genuinely conflicted, because I see what my kids learn from all this," Pichai told the Times.

4. Sundar Pichai is also a stickler for following one's dreams and making something of one's life. "I think it is important to keep your hopes, keep your dreams and try to follow them. And I think most of how life plays out is up to you, and not up to what happens outside of you," he had said.

Also read: Coronavirus: Google CEO Sundar Pichai donates Rs 5 crore to Give India

5. Pichai believes that one's attitude can be that one winning factor. "A person is happy is not because everything is right in his life, he is happy because his attitude towards everything in his life is right," he said.

6. "Be open, be impatient, be hopeful. Don't lose that impatience. It will create the next technology revolution and enable you to build things my generation could never dream of. You may be just as frustrated by my generation's approach to climate change, or education. Be impatient. It will create the progress the world needs," he said during YouTube's Dear Class of 2020 virtual ceremony.

7. Pichai who has moved up the ladder in a significant manner believes that without failure, one cannot succeed. "Wear your failure like a badge of honour!," he had said.

Also read: Google CEO Sundar Pichai makes special appearance in Reliance AGM; here's what he said

Also read: Google parent Alphabet Inc paid Sundar Pichai $281 million in compensation in 2019
Google will stop supporting older Huawei phones in the US as the temporary general license (TGL) issued by the US government to the company has expired. The license ensures Google-certified Huawei smartphones to receive updates for the Google apps and services.

Huawei smartphones faced a TGL license expiry in May 2019 but it was renewed a few times. However, with the ongoing scrutiny of the Chinese apps, it is uncertain if the license will be renewed for another year. There has been no update from the US Commerce Department about renewing it one more time, a report by Android Headlines stated.

The US government placed Huawei in its entity list which bans American firms from working with Huawei. Since the license formerly expired in May 2019, Huawei will have to wait longer to provide security patch updates to the phones launched after May 2019.

In addition to this, older Huawei and Honor phones lose all the Google apps as Google certifies the new software updates releasing for all Android smartphones.

However, as per the report, Huawei has already replaced Google Mobile Services (GMS) with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) in its newly launched smartphones. Huawei has also built the App Gallery as an alternative to Google's Play Store.

Due to the absence of GMS support, the banking and payment related apps will be affected as the Google-backed SafetyNet Attestation API will no longer work.

The US on Monday added 38 of Huawei's affiliates across 21 nations to its Entity List, news agency PTI stated. "As we have restricted its (Huawei's) access to US technology, Huawei and its affiliates have worked through third parties to harness US technology in a manner that undermines US national security and foreign policy interests. This multi-pronged action demonstrates our continuing commitment to impede Huawei's ability to do so," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States has provided ample time for affected companies and persons primarily Huawei customers to identify and shift to other sources of equipment, software, and technology and wind-down their operations.

"Now that time is up. We will not tolerate efforts by the CCP to undermine the privacy of our citizens, our businesses' intellectual property, or the integrity of next-generation networks worldwide," Pompeo said.

"The Trump Administration sees Huawei for what it is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) surveillance state and we have taken action accordingly. Today, our government enacted several measures to protect US national security, our citizens' privacy, and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijing's malign influence," he added.
Zareen Khan says people still assume Salman Khan helps her find work: "I cannot be a monkey on his back"
Oil trading has been on the decline these past couple of weeks as conflicting data pulls prices in different directions. But, according to some, a correction may be on the way.

Reuters John Kemp noted in his weekly column on fund trading that market movers were relatively indifferent to oil futures last week, all thanks to mixed signals from the industry and the media about where oil fundamentals were going. They were a little bit more interested in oil products than crude oil futures, but that was as far as activity went.

In a way, this speaks of subdued price volatility, probably to the chagrin of some traders, at least. But when you have, on the one hand, the IEA and OPEC saying oil demand will remain 8.1-9.1 million bpd lower this year than the last, and, on the other, high-frequency data suggesting this demand is picking up in some key markets, it is easy to see where thick subdued volatility comes from.

Yet from another perspective, traders may be lying in wait for a correction. This is what Capital.coms Nathan Batchelor suggested in an analysis earlier this week. Citing technical analysis, he suggested that oil may be set for a major correction this week before the next price rally begins.

If the rally fails to materialize, which is always a possibility, then prices are going to slump again as disappointed traders sell off. Oil was already down early on Tuesday after it started the week with gains, mostly on the back of reports that China was preparing to ramp up its crude oil imports from the United States as per the trade that deal the two sealed last year.

On the flip side, the Energy Information Administration said in its latest Drilling Productivity Report that drillers were adding wells in the Permian and the Bakken. While not unexpected, any news about a rebound in U.S. shale oil drilling tends to apply downward pressure on prices amid pessimistic forecasts for oil demand, and despite projections that supply will soon shrink sufficiently to boost prices. The latest to come out with such a projection was Bank of America, which said it expected Brent crude to reach $60 a barrel in the first half of next year thanks to a tightening global oil market.

Related: Uncertainty Upends Mergers & Acquisition In Oil And Gas



Back in June, we upped our oil price forecasts by $5 per barrel (/bbl) and argued that Brent would average $43/bbl in 2020 and $50/bbl in 2021, Bank of Americas analysts said. But now they are seeing a deficit on oil markets in the second half of the year, to the tune of 4.9 million bpd, easing to 1.7 million bpd in 2021.

Some may argue that it is way too early to talk about deficits, especially since some OPEC members, notably Saudi Arabia, ramped up their production as early as July. But if demand picks up more strongly, the oversupply, at least, could shrink to levels that would support higher prices.

For now, all eyes are on OPEC+. The group is meeting on Wednesday to discuss the progress of its production-control agreement. Although no changes in this agreement are expected, traders will be watching to get a whiff of the general sentiment in the cartel, which is from this month easing production cuts from 9.7 million bpd to 7.7 million bpd, to remain in effect until the end of the year.

The OPEC+ is unlikely to cause the correction in oil prices that some are anticipating but a surprise inventory build from the EIA, which also reports on Wednesday, could do that. The EIA has been reporting hefty inventory draws for the last three weeks, with the total exceeding 20 million barrels.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel rescued a Bangladeshi woman who was trafficked into India from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, an official said on Tuesday.

They also apprehended a man who was allegedly involved in bringing her into the country illegally, the official said.

Acting on specific intelligence, BSF troops of the border outpost Bhithari, rescued the woman who hailed from Gayabanda district in Bangladesh at around noon on Monday, he said.

The man, who allegedly trafficked her was identified as Tarial Gazi of village Dharkhanda under Swarupnagar police station area in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, the BSF official said.
It is called the allocution. It is the most important part of a guilty plea in federal court. It comes  if it comes  when the judge personally addresses the accused, who has been placed under oath, and asks him to explain in his own words how and why he is guilty of the crime charged.

Is Kevin Clinesmith willing to allocute? Is he willing to admit without reservation that he deceived his FBI colleagues and a federal court? The lack of clear answers to those questions is almost certainly the sticking point  the reason why, to this moment, there is only a false-statement charge against the former Bureau lawyer, not a false-statement guilty plea.

When it comes time to allocute, the court must ensure that the accused acknowledges committing the acts alleged and, just as significantly, doing so with the level of criminal intent prescribed in the relevant penal statute  the mens rea of the crime. If the accused does not admit guilt, and evince that he is doing so voluntarily and in full awareness of the possible consequences, then the judge should not accept the guilty plea.

After all, such a plea involves a waiver of constitutional and statutory rights  to due process, to putting the prosecution to its burden of proving all elements of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt at trial, to appeal. The plea further subjects the accused to potential imprisonment and significant fines; and the allocution itself could subject the accused to further prosecution for perjury if he lies while under oath.

From the Justice Departments standpoint, moreover, a deficient allocution can mean that all bets are off. Prosecutors can withdraw the offer to settle the case by plea; they can file an indictment alleging additional crimes.

In addition, if the plea agreement contemplates cooperation in exchange for sentencing leniency, the allocution can be a make-or-break moment. If the accused is not forthright in admitting his misconduct and corrupt intent, that may well render him useless as an accomplice witness. The guilty plea may stand, but the Justice Department is apt to conclude that the accused has failed to live up to the cooperation terms, exposing him to the likelihood of a more severe sentence.

Story continues

In a big investigation, particularly in the case of the first suspect to plead guilty, there is a lot riding on the allocution. In the case of Russiagate, while we are not privy to the negotiations, it sure looks like Connecticut U.S. attorney John Durham is not buying Clinesmiths mealy-mouthed version of events  the version publicly touted by his lawyer.

Yesterday, Judge James E. Boasberg of the federal district court in Washington, D.C., scheduled what he described as a plea agreement hearing in the case. That is to occur, by telephone, tomorrow at 1 p.m. So it sounds like the parties are still negotiating.

At the end of last week, it seemed all systems were go. Thursday night, Attorney General Bill Barr publicly acknowledged that, on Friday, there would be a development in Durhams investigation. He said it would not be earth shattering. That could have meant just the filing of charges, rather than a guilty plea. But then Clinesmiths lawyer, Justin Shur, announced that his client was about to plead guilty. As I noted Friday evening, the false-statement charge was filed by the prosecutor as a criminal information. That had to mean Clinesmith had waived indictment by the grand jury. That often happens when a defendant has agreed to plead guilty, especially if there is a cooperation agreement. (As of now, no plea or cooperation agreement has been filed.)

Clinesmiths case is very serious: As an FBI lawyer, he tampered with a document that was key to an investigation involving the president of the United States. Specifically, after learning from the CIA that former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page had been a CIA source against Russia, Clinesmith told an FBI agent that Page had never been a CIA source, and falsified a CIA email to make it look as though the agency had acknowledged as much. Worse, Clinesmith knew the FBI agent had asked about Pages status because the agent was preparing to submit a sworn application to the FISA court for a surveillance warrant. This was to be the fourth such warrant, all premised on the FBIs theory that Page had worked for Russia against the United States, not the other way around. Clinesmith knew the agent and the court would rely on the misinformation he had provided.

Given the gravity of this misconduct, Barrs assessment that the charge was not earth shattering could be taken to signal that the Justice Department sees Clinesmith as a building block for the prosecution of more consequential suspects in Durhams investigation. Or maybe Barr just meant that Clinesmiths misconduct had been known for months, having been revealed by the Inspector General late last year. (See DOJ-IG FISA Report, pp. 247-56.) The AG could have figured that, because Clinesmiths offense is clear cut, many people were already wondering why he hadnt been indicted yet, and would not be surprised by the announcement of a criminal charge or a guilty plea.

Clear-cut or not, a crime still has to be proved, meaning all of its essential elements must be established.

Clinesmith is charged with making or using a false document in connection with a matter under investigation. Under the relevant statute (Section 1001 of the federal penal code), there is no crime unless the suspect acted knowingly and willfully. In the law, this is the highest mens rea proof requirement. To be guilty, the accused must have acted with full understanding of what he was doing (i.e., not by accident or mistake) and must have been aware of the wrongfulness of his conduct.

With that in mind, here is what Shur asserted last Friday in the statement he issued to the media about what was then being reported as Clinesmiths imminent guilty plea:

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.

To the contrary, if Clinesmith claims that he had no intent to deceive, then he is not even admitting guilt to a false statement offense, much less accepting responsibility. It doesnt matter if he understood in some cosmic sense that it was wrong to doctor an email; to be guilty, he has to have understood that it was wrong in the criminal sense; he has to acknowledge committing a knowing and willful act of deception against the FBI and the FISA Court.

A lawyer is his clients agent. Unless and until we hear otherwise, we have to assume that Shurs statement represents what Clinesmith is prepared to say.

To be sure, Clinesmith has a lot to lose. He is a young lawyer. To judge by the tack he took in the aforementioned inspector generals investigation, Clinesmith calculates that the facts can be spun as murky, allowing him to finesse the guilty plea: Maybe he can get Durham and the judge to accept an allocution that is ambiguous regarding criminal intent; maybe he figures the prosecutor is so anxious to notch a guilty plea that hell settle for a dubious one. Or maybe Clinesmith hopes he can somehow avoid being permanently disbarred: Say the bare minimum he can get away with in admitting a regrettable lapse in judgment, yet deny that he intentionally defrauded a court.

Whatever Kevin Clinesmith is thinking, his allocution would not be sufficient if it mirrors Shurs portrayal of what happened. If Im the judge, I wouldnt accept such a guilty plea. And if Im the Justice Department, and Im convinced Clinesmiths story is a self-serving distortion, I wouldnt agree to accept the plea, to drop any charges, or to sign Clinesmith up as a cooperating witness.

The stakes are high for John Durham, too. In a high-profile investigation, the first charges and the first guilty plea set the tone. They signal whether the prosecutor has a case, whether he is negotiating from a position of strength or weakness. And everybody is watching.

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday stressed efforts to ensure that new fiscal funds directly benefit businesses and people to consolidate the foundation of the country's restorative growth.

Li made the remarks while presiding over an executive meeting of the State Council.

Li also called for strengthening the implementation of financial policies designed to back the real economy to help market entities relieve their strains, and seek further development.

By early August, nearly 300 billion yuan (about 43.3 billion U.S. dollars) of the 2-trillion-yuan newly increased fiscal funds have been used to support tax and fee cuts, according to the meeting.

Meanwhile, as far as the rest of the 1.7 trillion yuan in new funds, 97.8 percent has gone directly to city and county governments to enhance fiscal strength at grassroots levels.

Such progress has boosted government efforts in aiding market entities, stabilizing employment and ensuring people's livelihood, and accelerating restorative economic growth, it said.

For the next stage, the meeting said efforts will be made to prompt local governments to spend the allocated funds on market entities and people's livelihood, closely monitor the use of the funds, and strictly deal with irregularities and misuse of the funds once they are spotted.

In the first seven months, more than 870 billion yuan in financial burdens were exempted for market entities thanks to the government's supportive policies, including tax and fee cuts and deferring loan and interest repayments, said the meeting.

More efforts should be made to benefit market entities by keeping the liquidity at a reasonable and ample level while supporting the real economy, especially small businesses, with a variety of monetary policy tools, it said.

Financial support towards market entities should be more convenient, according to the meeting, which encouraged the employment of big data systems that can serve as handy liaisons between banks and companies.

China's loan prime rate reform should be further deepened to guide the lending rates lower, and more measures shall be taken to facilitate the financing of small and micro businesses, it said.

The meeting also stressed carrying out inspections on unreasonable and illegal bank charges.

To promote employment of normal graduates, the meeting also decided to allow graduates of qualified colleges to acquire teacher certifications, with school assessments of teaching abilities instead of exams.
Navy pilot Nick Charles faced grave danger as he circled over Guadalcanal, looking to land after a successful bombing raid on the Japanese in 1943.

He was miles off course, with almost no fuel left. The identification had been shot off his plane, so gunners on the ground couldnt tell him from the enemy. Worse, his radio was on the fritz.

While Lt. Charles wondered if hed survive World War II to see his relatives back home in Pennsylvania, Lady Luck smiled and a split-second recognition tipped the hand of fate. Thats one of our planes, a ground crew member called out. Hear the engine.

For his coolness in combat, guiding the Avenger safely to a stop, the young lieutenant was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The personal decoration was among a dozen he received during a 25-year military career.

Nelson R. Charles, 100, formerly of Ambler, a Navy captain who later became commanding officer of the Willow Grove Naval Air Station and then Horsham Township manager, died Wednesday, Aug. 12, of heart disease at Brittany Pointe Estates in Lansdale.

Born in Millerstown, Perry County, Pa., he was the son of Jacob Otis and Helen Rounsley Charles. After his mother died, he was raised in Duncannon, Pa., by his paternal grandparents. He graduated from Duncannon High School.

He met Cynthia Preston while attending Temple University. They married in 1945.

With World War II looming, he left Temple after his junior year to fly for the Navy and became a career officer, serving until 1967, when he was honorably discharged.

He was in flight school in 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. For the next four years, he was almost constantly at war. By the time he circled over Guadalcanal in 1943, he had already survived 27 bombing missions. Many other pilots did not fare so well.

Of his flight school class of 26, only two came back, said daughter Nancy Charles-Columbia.

The Navy awarded him the Silver Star Medal for gallantry as pilot of a torpedo bomber during the battle off Samar against the Japanese fleet on Oct. 25, 1944. The conflict took place in the South Pacific.

He led his division of bombers through intense anti-aircraft fire to strike against heavy units of the enemy fleet, then boldly pressed home his attack and scored direct hits on the foredeck of a cruiser, damaging it so severely that subsequent assaults by our forces sank her, wrote Navy Secretary James Forrestal in the medal citation.

Among his military awards were a Navy Unit Commendation with four stars, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with seven stars, and the Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars, according to his discharge paper.

He was the commanding officer of a carrier-based flight squadron during the Korean War and, later, a test pilot. He was the squadron and air group commander of the Navys Atlantic fleet aboard the Randolph.

He loved what he did, his daughter said. He loved engaging the enemy. At home, he was unassuming and not aggressive at all. He didnt talk about his exploits.

In 1964, he assumed his final military post as commanding officer of the Willow Grove Naval Air Station. After retiring from the Navy in 1967, he became Horsham Township manager.

Later, he was vice president of marketing for an environmental engineering firm in the suburbs.

Capt. Charles was a founding member and president of the Horsham Rotary Club. He also served as Rotary district governor for Southeastern Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Military Officers Association of America and the Navy League of the United States.

He and his wife had three children. The couple were members of the Old York Road Country Club. Capt. Charles served on the clubs board of governors for 12 years, five as president. He enjoyed world travel with family.

In addition to his daughter, he is survived by a son, James P.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His wife died in 2017. A daughter, Cynthia Anne, died in 1968.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Whitemarsh Memorial Park Wayside Chapel, 1169 Limekiln Pike, Ambler, followed by burial in Whitemarsh Memorial Park.
For example, during protests against the Iraq War in 2003, police trapped hundreds of protesters on a block of Chicago Avenue east of Michigan Avenue, then arrested them for failing to disperse, even though most of them had not heard the order and could not disperse anyway because they were trapped between police lines, Glenberg said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18)  The Department of Health has set the record straight on the release of COVID-19 test results after a laboratory's claim that over 5,000 coronavirus-positive individuals have yet to be informed of their health status.

DOH, in a statement on Monday, said laboratories are allowed to inform people of their test results, regardless if they tested positive or negative for COVID-19.

Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire added Tuesday that laboratories have long been authorized to disclose test results to patients.

"It is not really efficient if were going to be the ones to provide results to patients because it will take a long time and contact tracing would be delayed," she told CNN Philippines' The Source.

RELATED: DOH eyeing 8-hour window for contact tracing in 'recalibrated' strategy

The DOH has been compiling data sent by the country's 105 testing laboratories for its daily case count, which is released every 4 p.m.

Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon claimed that laboratories are only allowed to release the results directly to the individual if they tested negative. But if they are positive for COVID-19, they are required to submit it to DOH so they can break the news to the concerned individual. He said this led to failure to inform over 5,000 of the people tested in their laboratories that they are carriers of the virus.

There are over 15,700 positive confirmed cases since July 30 and one-third of these people have not been informed about their status as confirmed positives and has been dangerously increasing community transmission," Gordon said in a letter sent to DOH.

The Philippine Red Cross contributes 25 percent to the national testing efforts.

DOH refuted Gordon's claim, saying there is no order that restricts laboratories to issue of patient's results either physically or digital options.

"The responsibility of informing tested individuals or their physicians of test results falls with the laboratories," it said.

It said, under Administrative Order No. 2020-0014-A, laboratories have to submit additional reports to the individual's local government unit in order to facilitate isolation and contact tracing.
The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has infected more than 21 million people and killed 773,152 across the world till date even as scientists and researchers are trying to understand the viral illness and find treatments and vaccines.

Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease, has affected more than 2.7 million and 51,797 have succumbed in India.

Here is the latest on effects of the coronavirus disease:

* According to researchers, immune responses last months and possibly longer in patients with mild Covid-19. Antibodies decrease and immunity wanes soon after recovery in mildly ill patients, early reports suggested.

* However, a Chinese study last month on 349 Covid-19 patients, which has not yet undergone peer review, found similar immune response patterns at six months regardless of symptom severity. And in a study published on Saturday ahead of peer review, US researchers performed blood tests in 15 patients after mild Covid-19, looking for three signs of lasting immune responses: antibodies, so-called memory B cells, and memory T cells.

* The studys co-author Lauren Rodda of the University of Washington School of Medicine told Reuters that patients still had all three of these defense layers, reducing their risk of reinfection, three months after recovery. Rodda said that if they do become reinfected, they are less likely to become severely ill or be contagious. Test results at three months were unchanged from results at one month, so her team believes this is a lasting response.

* Rodda added, according to Reuters, they support US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice that patients need not be retested for COVID-19 within the first three months after an infection because the findings show immune responses last three months, if not longer.

* A study at University of Oxford of more than 62,000 Covid-19 survivors has found significant risks for mental health issues. Researchers found that one in 16 patients who never had a mental illness will be diagnosed with one within three months after infection. This risk is about twice as high as expected and is even higher among patients who were sick enough to be hospitalized, study leader Maxime Taquet told Reuters.

* Taquet said that most common are anxiety disorders, but depression, insomnia, and rarely, dementia, also occur. The study, reported on Sunday on the medRxiv website ahead of peer review, also found higher-than-average Covid-19 rates in people with a previous psychiatric diagnosis. If you experience anxiety, low mood, insomnia or memory loss after COVID-19, you should see a medical professional as there might be ways to improve these symptoms, Taquet said to patients, according to Reuters.

* Researchers in Hong Kong, who expected viral load to correlate with smell and taste impairment, have found that viral load was not linked to the severity of these so-called olfactory and gustatory symptoms, nor with how long it takes for the sense of smell or taste to return to normal. The findings were reported in the journal Laryngoscope.

* The findings are based on data from 39 patients in Hong Kong who developed problems smelling or tasting - or both. On average, it took 10 days for these senses to return. Four to six weeks after becoming ill, 72% had completely recovered the ability to smell and 83% were able to taste again. But there was no statistically significant link between viral load and severity of these symptoms or the recovery time.

* New data from a nationwide study in the US may help fine-tune the use of convalescent plasma to treating seriously ill Covid-19 patients. The therapy involves transfusion of antibody-rich blood plasma from people who have recovered from the disease.

* At 2,807 hospitals between April 4 and July 4, more than 35,000 hospitalised patients with, or at risk of, life-threatening Covid-19 respiratory problems received a transfusion of at least one unit of Covid-19 convalescent plasma.

* Roughly half the patients were in intensive care units and roughly one-quarter needed mechanical ventilators. Mortality rates were lower when plasma was given within three days of diagnosis, rather than later, the researchers found. And the more antibodies in the plasma, the lower the recipients risk of death.

*The research team concluded, in a report posted ahead of peer review on medRxiv, that while the study was not a gold-standard randomised trial, the findings added to evidence that the quality and manner in which convalescent plasma is administered to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 may reduce mortality.

(With agency inputs)
Palace Shaw was standing in one of the galleries in Bostons Institute of Contemporary Art when she heard something that rattled her. It was the summer of 2017, and the show on display was Nari Ward: Sun Splashed, a large retrospective of the Jamaican American artists work. Shaw, who had recently graduated from college, was working as a visitor assistantwhich meant, she says, being a mediator between the art and the visitor, but also kind of a policing role where I was enforcing museum policy. She spent long days on her feet watching visitors stream in and out of galleries.

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That June day, one of the museums volunteer guides was leading a tour of four school-age girls. Three of the girls were Black, says Shaw, and one was South Asian. The girls were asking the guide questions about the art, which included collages, large-scale installations, works made from found objects, and photographs, many of which dealt with racism, identity, and history. Whats Black Power? one of the girls inquired. The guide, an older white woman, was clearly struggling to give answers. At one point, Shaw says, she compared Afro-textured hair to different kinds of animal fur. She knew what she was saying wasnt quite right. But she didnt really know how.

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It wasnt the first time Shaw, who is Black, had witnessed a guide saying something racist, unwittingly or not. So she decided to speak to her supervisor. The response she got, she says, was along the lines of I hear you, and we can do more training, but there isnt that much we can do, because its a volunteer position.

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Over the past few years, museums have been forced to confront politics at every turn, from legacies of colonialism to the provenance of their funding. In the wake of George Floyds killing by police and subsequent protests, museums have come under renewed fire for their handling of race in exhibitions, on social media, and in the workplace.

Many museums arent even open to visitors right now at all due to the pandemic. But that doesnt mean these tensions arent continuing to escalate, especially as institutions chart paths forward in a grim financial landscape and reevaluate their programming. Museums are in the process of confronting how they educate the public about the art on their wallsarguably the most important thing a museum can do, but also a job that often falls to unpaid employees. These volunteers were historically dubbed docents, though many museums have abandoned that term. The work a docent job entails varies by institution, but it is often public-facing, and can range from manning an entrance desk to leading student tours. It also tends to skew toward a certain demographic. As one museum education employee who has worked at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art said, Its not totally this, but mostly, its an army of privileged old white women.

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According to the museum employees and educators I interviewed, incidents of racial insensitivity and sometimes outright racism involving white volunteers are not uncommon. I have personally witnessed and overheard very disparaging comments from docents, who dont even I think realize what it is that theyre saying, said Porchia Moore, department head and assistant professor of museum studies at the University of Florida and co-creator of the Visitors of Color project. She has also served as an independent consultant for museums including the National Gallery in D.C. and the North Carolina Museum of Art, training staff and volunteers in racial literacy and cultural competency. Theres some tension between museums and museum professionals who increasingly want to get it right, she said, and a docent corps that doesnt have the language and framework for that.

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Monica Garza, the director of education at the ICA, declined to comment on the specifics of the incident Shaw described, but said, The entire allegation is super distressing. Unequivocally, she added, there are no different standards [for volunteers versus staffers].

Moore advocated for a reimagination of the role of volunteer guides as paid positions, along with hiring more people of color. Docents are one of the most vital resources for museums, but the current model literally has inequality and exclusions baked into it, she said, noting the economic privilege inherent to committing to free labor in service of an institution, one that might entail hours of training before the volunteering even starts.

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One way to help make the pool of applicants more inclusive would be to turn these positions into paying jobs; many museums, the ICA included, have paid positions who fill some similar roles. Another option is to attract students into the corps by offering credit for courses, as the Getty Museum in L.A. has done. But for most museums, cutting down on unpaid tour guides doesnt seem feasible, particularly now. I dont know any museum in the world that could afford to have their staff do the breadth and depth of the tours that we do, said Arlene Brickner, chair of the Volunteer Organization at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which may have the largest corps of volunteers of any museum in the United States; as of 2019, the Met had approximately 1,400 volunteers across several departments, of whom 400 lead tours in 11 languages. Hence the question many museums have been asking themselves: How do we better train the volunteers we already have to talk about race?

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The onboarding for Bostons Museum of Fine Arts volunteer gallery instructor programs used to mention Thomas Sullys iconic portrait of George Washington, The Passage of the Delaware (1819) once or twice. It wasnt insufficient. We had a historian come and talk about it from the perspective of the Battle of Trenton, said Nicole Claris, who manages gallery teaching and collections training at the MFA. But in 2018, they instead had four different speakers address the painting. First, they discussed the work in the context of early 19th century painting. Then Claris talked about it in the context of portraits of presidents and how Washington was seen in 1819. Then an educator who has written a book on slavery came to talk about a figure in the shadows of the painting: William Lee, whom Washington enslaved. Finally, a student of color whod worked as a docent came to talk about why and how that context matters.

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This approach is part of a volunteer training program that began in the fall of 2018, centered on the museums Art of the Americas collection. The program uses objects as windows into history: a locked silver box that once contained sugar, for instance, is used to tell a story thats about silver mining but also about slavery and labor conditions in the Americas. The course is mandatory for all gallery instructors who lead tours of this collection. And since last yearwhen a class of mostly Black and Latinx seventh grade students was subjected to racist comments from museum staff and patrons, ultimately leading to a formal apology from the MFAall staff members and volunteers have been required to undergo unconscious bias training.

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Garza said that the ICA has also put more educational emphasis into its training program and instituted implicit-bias awareness training. It was several years ago that we began to see the need for more training by outside specialists to help tour guides navigate challenging content and foster dialogue, Garza said. In the fall of 2017, the museum hired a dedicated person to oversee the training, hiring, and firing of volunteers. Since the museum has been closed due to the coronavirus, Garza said theyve continued to work on implicit-bias awareness and have expanded readings and discussions on racism in response to current events with our gallery volunteers.

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Ginnie Hibbard is retired, in her 70s, and has been a volunteer gallery instructor at the MFA for about a decade. During that time, the training has shifted drastically, as has her own understanding of the art. When I took my first Art in Americas course, it was strictly history and how the MFA American collection reflected that history, Hibbard, who is white, told me last summer. I can say this without prejudice: It was the white male historian version worldview that you get in the textbook.

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Hibbard said that the MFAs new curriculum has changed the way she leads tours and discusses objects, like the museums John Singleton Copley portrait of Samuel Adams. Nine years ago, I would have gotten the kids involved by asking them how he was dressed or what his pose was or his expression, she said. Its age-dependent, of course, but now you can get into civil rights, you can get into different ways of protesting.

She said the new training has helped prepared her for more challenging discussions. In the museums Spanish Colonial gallery, there are a series of casta paintings, which portray the detailed racial classifications in colonial Latin America. Los Angeles Times art critic Carolina Miranda has described casta paintings as decidedly weird territory, displaying an obsession with the races and the ways in which they mixbut theyre also works that were sent back to Spain as a way of supposedly combating negative stereotypes about interracial marriage. Contextualizing and describing them to a group of 10 kids is difficult, but Hibbard said she now has a clear vision of what shed do if a young child on her tour asked about them.

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I would not bring up race, she said. I would not bring up the differences between people in the paintings, because youre making the assumption that the kids notice the differences. I would say that they were part of a series that show us what life was like in New Spain. Theyre valuable because they show us what people wore, what the plant life was like. She said she would probably not ask the kids if they had questions. On the other hand, she said, with older kids, shed go into their history and context. If I had AP Spanish students who were fluent in Spanish, Id give them the whole spiel, she said. Theyre old enough to understand, and they might experience racism in their own lives.

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But even this pedagogical approach isnt clear-cut. Moore, the racial literacy consultant for museums, takes issue with the choice to omit all racial context in discussing art with young kids. I would argue that the notion and structure of racial equity and historical thinking are concepts that need to be taught from the earliest age possible, she said. In fact, there is no better place to do this than the museum.

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Training is by no means a cure-all, and in recent years some in the museum worldand other workplaceshave come to question its efficacy. Though Moore has trained volunteers herself, she fundamentally believes docents need to be paid if there is any hope of change. I recently worked with a corps of docents where most people had a winter home and a summer home, she said. For most museums around the country, the way the docent program is set up makes that a reality. Palace Shaw pointed out that people of color often have to sit through training that is largely designed for a white audience. You have to ask yourself, who is this training really for?

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Many museums are facing an even more existential crisis right now: the question of whether they will be able to reopen at all. But when and if they do, these issues will inevitably become a daily reality again, and perhaps a more pressing one at institutions thatracked by layoffs and financial woesmight rely more than ever on volunteer labor. The ICA, Garza said, is using this moment for a fundamental reimagining of its tour programs. When we eventually start tours up again, the program will look quite different, she said. One experiment during the closures has been assigning museum volunteers to a food distribution site that the ICA has been operating out of its seasonal gallery space in East Boston during the pandemican attempt at rethinking what a museums community role can be and what its volunteerism can look like.

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Moore said she is taking some time now to think deeply about the efficacy of training as it relates to docents. Im reading a lot of the literature and looking at what the data says about implicit bias, about cultural competence, about racial literacy, about whether you can teach someone these things, she said. I think that you can, but what Ive seen is that [museums] make this a one-off thing. They invest in it for a year and theyre like, OK, now we have our shared language and we have our terminology and were good. She said they instead need to envision something more fundamental, a whole structural reimagination of museums that goes well beyond volunteers. We need to use this time to think about wage equity, hierarchy of the boards, and the systemic and institutional racism in museums, Moore said.

Shaw also believes that the problems here are much broader and deeper than questions of training. People trust [museums] so much and trust the education they provide.  People really assume that when they come into a museum, they are encountering a truth of some kind, she told me. Mistakes that docents make get folded into that. She left the ICA in 2018 and now works in media and has hosted a podcast called The Whitest Cube about race and museums. After her time working inside these institutions, she said, I really dont believe in museums anymore.
France is sending more experts to Mauritius Monday to help decide the fate of a grounded ship leaking oil into pristine waters off the coast of the Indian Ocean island.

France had already sent military planes, ships and equipment to help contain the oil spill, which also threatens the French island of La Reunion southwest of Mauritius.

The three additional experts will be tasked with helping the Mauritian government determine what to do with the wreck, which has split in two, Sebastien Lecornu, minister for France's overseas territories, told Franceinfo on Monday.

France was in favour of an "environmental approach and protection of biodiversity, and particularly the coast of La Reunion," he said.

Possibilities include sinking part of the ship in the open sea, which "is clearly not our preferred solution", or to tow the wreck elsewhere and destroy it, which would require "more time", the minister said.

No oil deposits have yet reached Reunion, he added.

The Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef off the southeastern coast of Mauritius on July 25 and began oozing oil more than a week later, threatening a protected marine park with mangrove forests and endangered species.

Officials said over the weekend that the ship had broken in two.

Mauritius declared an environmental emergency and salvage crews raced against the clock to pump the remaining 3,000 tonnes of oil off the stricken vessel.

After visiting Mauritius, Lecornu returned to La Reunion late Sunday and said he believed the clean-up would involve "at least 10 months of work".
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Bishop David Oyedepo

The Presidency has asked Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church to create his own country where he can live by his own laws.

This is coming after he made some controversial comments on government regulations earlier today.

President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the Company and Allied Matters Acts, CAMA into law on August 7, 2020, and the CAC intends to apply the law in churches.

Under the law, religious bodies and charity organisations will be strictly regulated by the registrar-general of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and a supervising minister.

CAMA provides that the commission may by order, suspend the trustees of an association or a religious body and appoint an interim manager or managers to coordinate its affairs where it reasonably believes that there has been any misconduct or mismanagement, or where the affairs of the association are being run fraudulently or where it is necessary or desirable for the purpose of public interest.

While addressing members of his congregation on Sunday, Oyedepo said such laws were borne of out the governments jealousy about the prosperity recorded by the church.

Oyedepo questioned the rationality behind subjecting churches to the same laws as companies, describing the church as Gods heritage on earth.

However, reacting to his statement on Monday, Mrs Onochie, the social media aide of President Muhammadu Buhari said the popular cleric would have to create his own country where he can live by his own laws.

I hope this is not true. If it is, Oyedepo will have to manufacture his own country and live by his own laws, she tweeted.

As long as he lives and operates within the entity called Nigeria, he will live by Nigerian rules and laws. He will do as hes told by the law. Enough of lawlessness.
Up to 1,100 jobs could go at Pizza Express as it announced plans to shut 73 stores (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Pizza Express is to shut 73 of its restaurants across the UK with the potential loss of 1,100 jobs in a bid to stay afloat in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown, the chain has announced.

The company, which currently has around 454 restaurants in the UK, said on Tuesday it has finalised a proposal to reduce its restaurant and rental costs via a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

It said that although the majority of its restaurants were profitable before lockdown was imposed, earnings had been declining across the Pizza Express estate for the last three years.

It added that the reduction in revenue caused by the enforced closure of all restaurants, the cost of reopening and the UKs uncertain economic future meant its rental costs were no longer sustainable.

The impact of the global pandemic has meant that we have had to make some incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term Zoe Bowley, Pizza Express

Pizza Express, which is majority owned by Chinese firm Hony Capital, also confirmed it had hired advisers from Lazard to lead a sale process for the business.

It said it would hold a virtual meeting for its creditors on September 4 to seek approval for the measures set out in the CVA.

Zoe Bowley, Pizza Expresss managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: Unfortunately, the impact of the global pandemic has meant that we have had to make some incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term.

Today we have confirmed that 73 of our pizzerias are proposed to close permanently.

Ms Bowley said that in most cases, the stores selected for closure are near to another Pizza Express that has already reopened or will be reopening soon.

She added: Our focus is on our people whose jobs are impacted and we will be doing everything we can either to redeploy them or to support them in finding roles elsewhere.

Hard as this process is, it will protect the jobs of over 9,000 of our colleagues and provide a strong footing for Pizza Express to meet future challenges and opportunities.

Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: These situations are never easy, particularly now for the retail, hospitality and leisure businesses on our high streets at the sharp end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Property owners, however, need to take into consideration the impact on their investors, including the millions of people whose savings and pensions are invested in commercial property, as they vote on any CVA proposal.
Islamabad, Aug 18 : Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa has reached Saudi Arabia and held meetings with the Kingdoms top military leadership, it was reported on Tuesday.

"COAS met His Excellency General (Staff) Fayiadh bin Ha'med Al-Rowaily, Chief of General Staff, and His Royal Highness Lieutenant General (Staff) Fahad bin Turki Al Saud Commander Joint Forces, KSA," Dawn news agency the ISPR as saying on Monday.

"Military to military ties including training exchanAges were focus of the meetings," it added.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have longstanding military ties, which are governed by a bilateral security cooperation agreement of 1982, under which Pakistan assists the Kingdom in training and defence production capabilities.

Pakistani troops have, moreover, been stationed in Saudi Arabia in training and advisory role.
Five cities across Canada will soon have access to technology that could save lives by preventing traffic and pedestrian collisions using artificial intelligence.

Founded by Craig Milligan, a Winnipeg-based traffic safety engineer, MicroTraffics technology analyzes traffic camera footage looking for near misses, then uses the data to identify changes to intersections that could lessen the potential for accidents.

In his previous work helping cities to create intersection safety improvement plans, Milligan observed that intersections with zero previous crashes were still seeing fatalities, and that the crash data wasnt enough to determine the safety of an intersection. He decided to seek out a more proactive way to prevent them, based on the number of near misses an intersection sees on a daily basis.

According to MicroTraffics own data, three-quarters of crash fatalities happen in locations where fatalities have not previously occurred.

Road fatalities (are) killing 2,000 people a year in Canada, he said. We believe that every single one of those deaths is preventable if we can measure the risk and take actions to prevent the risk.

In a 2019 pilot project, MicroTraffics technology analyzed a weeks worth of traffic camera footage in 40 cities across North America, including Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal. The program looked for near misses between vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, using speed, time and distance to identify the incidents. MicroTraffic then presented diagnostic reports to the municipalities, which were used to identify changes to the intersections that would prevent these near misses.

These changes included modifications to intersections such as changing the angle of turns, realigning sidewalks to make pedestrians more visible, changing bike paths, or adjusting signal timing.

Milligan said after making the changes, many of the intersections saw daily near misses drop to zero.

Sometimes they drop by 80 per cent, sometimes they drop by 100 per cent, he said.

If you take away all the near misses, youre basically taking away the potential for a fatal collision.

The grant program, which will be funded by insurance giant Aviva Canada, will allow more cities access to the technology, said Milligan.

The grant is part of Aviva Canadas Take Back Our Roads program, which includes a number of initiatives such as events and partnerships aimed at improving road safety in Canada.

By working with innovative companies like MicroTraffic and governments, were able to help create real change to improve road safety in Canada, Catherine Brown, Aviva Canadas vice-president of marketing and corporate social responsibility, said in a news release.

Up to five cities of 100,000 people or more will have 10 intersections analyzed. The cities will be chosen based on their needs as well as their commitment to road safety, according to the release.

Were going to be tackling 50 of Canadas most dangerous intersections, bringing meaningful changes to how they operate from a safety perspective, said Milligan.

I think that the grant program will reveal some interesting national-level trends in road safety, he added.

The program will be available to provincial, regional and municipal government departments and agencies, and is based on a cost-sharing model, meaning those selected will pay a quarter of the cost of administering the program, up to a maximum of $12,500.

The applications close on Sept. 8, and the work doesnt take long  Cities should have intersection safety improvement plans and diagnostics in their hands before the end of the calendar year, said Milligan.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Planning Inc. ("Creative Planning"), one of the nation's largest Registered Investment Advisers ("RIA"), today announced the acquisition of Miller Financial Management, a Registered Investment Advisory firm located in Muncie, Indiana. Miller Financial Management provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management for clients with approximately $150 million in Assets Under Management.

Peter Mallouk, Chief Executive Officer of Creative Planning, said, "I am excited to welcome Chris and Andrew Miller and their team to the Creative Planning family. They share our financial planning-led approach to investment management and match our culture and values. Together, we will be stronger as we build out our presence in Indiana."

Andrew Miller, Partner of Miller Financial Management, said, "We built our practice over the past 18 years by always striving to put client interests first. As we looked forward to the future for Miller Financial Management and our clients, it became clear that we needed to partner with a firm that would help us provide continuity of service to our clients. We sought a firm that shared our vision for a client experience centered around financial planning and fiduciary values and we think Creative Planning shares our vision for that client experience. We are honored to join the Creative team and look forward to many years of providing the best possible service and value to our clients."

Peter Mallouk went on to say, "Creative Planning has a presence in Indiana, and with Miller Financial joining the team, we begin to set the stage to further expand in the region. Our goal is to become the number one choice for individuals seeking independent wealth management in Indiana and throughout the country."

About Creative Planning

Creative Planning, Inc. is an independent wealth management firm that provides a financial planning led investment management approach, retirement planning, estate planning, trust services, tax advice and family office services for individuals as well as 401(k) and institutional money management. Creative Planning manages over $50 billion in assets across all 50 states.

Data as of August 18, 2020.

Related Links

www.creativeplanning.com

SOURCE Creative Planning
Iran reportedly paid bounties to a Taliban faction to kill US and coalition troops in Afghanistan, leading to six attacks including a suicide bombing at the US airbase in Bagram.

According to a CNN report, US intelligence determined that Iran paid the bounties to the Haqqani network, for the December 2019 attack on Bagram, in which two civilians were killed and more than 70 others injured  including two Americans.

The reports comes just months after similar allegations surfaced that Russia was also paying Taliban fighters to kill US troops in the region.

The latest discovery was made upon viewing a Pentagon briefing document, the network said. The name of the government that funded the attack remains classified on the document, but two sources familiar with the intelligence confirmed that it refers to Iran.

According to a CNN report, US intelligence determined that Iran paid the bounties to the Haqqani network, for the December 2019 attack on Bagram, in which two civilians were killed and more than 70 others injured  including two Americans

Afghan security forces gather at the site of Monday's suicide attack near the Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul, Afghanistan

Less than a month after the Bagram attack, the US killed key Irans top general, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Baghdad, following what CNN described as a lengthy process to develop options to counter Iran's monetary support for militant groups in Afghanistan.

The suspected Iranian bounty plot was cited by US officials as a partial justification for the Soleimani strike, a current administration official and former senior official said.

However, by March and amid tenuous ongoing peace talks with the Taliban, the Trump administration decided against taking more specific action in response to the bounty scheme, or condemning either Iran or the Taliban publicly for the attack.

The Department of Defense does not disclose timelines or discussions surrounding internal deliberations and intelligence briefings. With that being said, the department has repeatedly demanded, both publicly and privately, that Iran cease its scourge of malign and destabilizing behavior throughout the Middle East and the world, a Pentagon spokesman, Maj Rob Lodewick, said.

While the United States, its Nato allies and coalition partners are working to facilitate an end to 19 years of bloodshed, Irans inimical influence seeks to undermine the Afghan peace process and foster a continuation of violence and instability.

The reports comes nearly two months after allegations surfaced that Russia was also paying Taliban fighters at much as $100,000 per-soldier to kill Americans in Afghanistan.

The New York Times first reported in June that American intelligence officials concluded months ago that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. troops.

Less than a month after the Bagram attack, the US killed key Irans top general, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Baghdad, following what CNN described as a lengthy process to develop options to counter Iran's monetary support for militant groups in Afghanistan

However, by March and amid tenuous ongoing peace talks with the Taliban, the Trump administration decided against taking more specific action in response to the bounty scheme, or condemning either Iran or the Taliban publicly for the attack

According to the paper, U.S. policy members developed a 'menu' of options, from a diplomatic slap to further increases in U.S. sanctions or other unnamed responses.

But officials said the White House has taken no response to date and no explanation for the delay was given.

Trump has dismissed the reports on the suspected Russian bounty plot as a hoax, though the White House in early July said the president had by that time been fully briefed on the matter, as early as March 2019.

In a series of scathing tweets responding to the Times report, Trump wrote: 'Nobody briefed or told me, VP Pence, or Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an 'anonymous source' by the Fake News New York Times.'

'Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us.....' Trump continued.

Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also fiercely refuted that the president had known of the Russian bounty plot for months, stating that 'neither the president nor the vice president were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence'.

But she added: 'This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of The New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter.'

Former Vice President Joe Biden, however, took the opportunity to blast Trump on the report as he spoke at a town hall in June.

He said that, if true, the report contains a 'truly shocking revelation' about the commander in chief and his failure to protect U.S. troops in Afghanistan and stand up to Russia.

Biden called Trump's apparent inaction over the plot a 'betrayal of the most sacred duty we bear as a nation - to protect and equip our troops when we send them into harm's way'.

A Pentagon investigation into the Russian scheme remains ongoing, while the Kremlin vehemently denied the claims.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, that there would be 'an enormous price to pay' if Moscow was paying such bounties

In the document observed by CNN, officials noted that a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices was used in the attack. A group of 10 Taliban fighters then exchanged gunfire with local security forces after the blast, before being killed by US airstrikes

Afghan Taliban fighters and villagers attend a gathering as they celebrate the peace deal signed between US and Taliban in Laghman Province, Alingar district on March 2, 2020

Iran has long been known to use proxies for conducting attacks throughout the region but in the months following the Bagram attack, US officials across several agencies were tasked with investigating the nations ties to the Haqqani Network in Afghanistan (Pictured: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani)

With regard to Iran, the attack at Bagram, which is regarded as the most prominent US military installation in the region, was highly sophisticated and caused a great deal of concern for officials as it highlighted a vulnerabilities in a number of US compounds.

In the document observed by CNN, officials noted that a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices was used in the attack. A group of 10 Taliban fighters then exchanged gunfire with local security forces after the blast, before being killed by US airstrikes.

Based on the nature of the attack and agreed upon bounties, the December attack likely met the criteria for reimbursement, the Pentagon briefing document said.

While intelligence officials conceded that the Haqqani Network would not necessarily require monetary reimbursement for carrying out the attack, they said the funding linked to the attack probably incentivizes future high-profile attacks on US and Coalition forces.

Iran has long been known to use proxies for conducting attacks throughout the region but in the months following the Bagram attack, US officials across several agencies were tasked with investigating the nations ties to the Haqqani Network in Afghanistan.

Investigators discovered that the Irans relations with the group poses a significant threat to US interests, however National Security Council officials said in late March that it should not take steps to address it, for it would likely have a negative on peace talks with the Taliban first brokered by Trump in February.

A joint intelligence assessment carried out by the CIA, NSA and NCTC last month found that the Haqqani Network conducted at least six attacks against US and Coalition interests last year

The reports comes nearly two months after allegations surfaced that Russia was also paying Taliban fighters at much as $100,000 per-soldier to kill Americans in Afghanistan

While the Trump administration declined to take specific retaliatory action, officials told CNN the President has taken a strong stance against Iran because of its dealings with the Taliban.

The object of concern was the relationship because it seemed like one that in any other year would have merited pretty concerted action, a source told CNN. The overarching element to all of this has been the prioritization of the peace deal with the Taliban and that, even going back to December 2019, was a well-known priority in terms of what the US response would be to a potential incentivized attack backed by a foreign government.

The president reportedly sees the peace talks as the key to achieving his pledge to remove all US troops from Afghanistan  a feat hes still yet to achieve with the 2020 elections a matter of three months away.

However, the issue of foreign governments goading the Taliban to resume attacking US and coalition forces in Afghanistan persists.

A joint intelligence assessment carried out by the CIA, NSA and NCTC last month found that the Haqqani Network conducted at least six attacks against US and Coalition interests last year.

When approached by CNN, a State Department spokesperson declined to comment on Irans apparent involvement in the Bagram attack, but said that Irans support to some elements of the Taliban has threatened to undermine the peace process in Afghanistan.

Iran has tried to use proxy groups to carry out the Iranian regime's own nefarious agenda, and it would be a mistake for any faction of the Taliban to get entangled in Iran's dirty work.

The source added that the Trump administration remains committed to addressing the range of threats Iran poses to the US and regional stability.
A correspondent, who is linked to Iran, has been arrested by the regime for social media posts, although the content of the posts has not been revealed or discovered reports Nadaa Syria.

Pro-regime media sources revealed that a regime-affiliated security patrol has arrested a correspondent for the Iran linked TV channel Al-Mayadeen. The correspondent, Rida al-Basha, was arrested on Saturday in a raid on his home in the city of Aleppo, which is under the control of the regime.

According to Snack Syrian sources, the Assad regime has arrested the correspondent because of a post he had shared on Facebook. No further details were revealed about the content of the post, according to the website.

The correspondents recent posts did not criticize any of the regimes practices in its areas of control, nor did they address the rampant corruption in the city of Aleppo, the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic nor the deliberate recklessness of the regime in the city.

The arrest is shrouded in ambiguity while the real reasons behind the regimes decision to pursue loyalists remain unknown.

On Mar. 15, 2017, the regime-affiliated Ministry of Information suspended the same reporter under the pretext of contravening the law. In early November 2018, the regimes intelligence services raided Bashas home in Aleppo and arrested him. Basha is originally from the town of Nobl al-Shia.

At the time, Basha said that one of those who pretended to advocate for the freedom of the press and patriotism submitted five malicious reports against him to the security services after Bashas call to boycott the municipal and city council elections.

The same press corps had previously been called in for investigation after Basha exposed the regime militias looting of civilian homes and occupying residential areas in Aleppo Governorate.

Social media accounts in the regime-controlled areas are under scrutiny and tight security control, as per the Minister of Interior, who declared that the regimes intelligence services monitor the Facebook accounts of Syrians, to pursue them and, if needed, bring violators to justice.

The years spent promoting the regime did not benefit a number of media personnel who were placed under restrictions, arrested, and had their work permits revoked while they thought they would be put on a pedestal after deliberately misleading the masses and lying in favor of the regimes militias.

However, when one of them spoke about the real state of local affairs and brought up corruption issues in regime-controlled areas, the regime proved its role as the saboteur who expects journalists to harp on about their achievements for fame and money.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The consumer lending industry is witnessing a significant power shift from those having access to capital to those having access to customers. New age consumer technology, e-commerce, and even traditional retail businesses could be the biggest beneficiaries of this trend, accelerated by the pandemic. TERA, an AI-based risk-tech SaaS platform, is enabling businesses to create and deploy customized credit products to make consumer loans affordable for customers and profitable for new lenders. The Bengaluru-based company has raised USD 3.5 million to date from GAIN Credit, a US-based Fintech.

The risk technology firm offers a comprehensive lending infrastructure that includes digital on-boarding solutions, AI-enabled automated underwriting, loan management systems, and an API ecosystem integrated with India Stack and other external data sources. What makes TERA truly unique is given its deep experience in risk management, lending operations/governance, and capital access, it can offer a one-stop-shop partnership for businesses who have little to no digital lending DNA to confidently deploy and scale their online credit products with positive economics.

Consumer lending has always been a lucrative business with large profit pools traditionally residing within financial institutions. TERA is now enabling businesses that have large customer bases to become profitable lenders themselves. This will not only help businesses further monetize their customer relationship but also deliver personalized credit products to customers and channel partners, indirectly enabling higher revenues and margins from their core business, explained the Co-founder & CEO of TERA Finlabs, Pradeep Rathnam to reporters over the virtual launch event. An MIT Sloan alumnus, Rathnam is a financial services veteran who has worked with Citibank, Bajaj Finance, and AEGON Insurance.

According to data released by the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), Indias total credit to households as a % of GDP increased marginally from 9.4% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2019. During the same period, Chinas rate surged from 35.7% to 55.2%. A large part of this growth is owed to alternate lenders and consumer technology companies like Alibaba, Tencent, and many others who have leveraged their customer base to provide lending products at scale. India will need many such institutions to step up and fill the credit gap.

While there is a visible growth in demand for small-ticket loans, primitive non-digital business models limit established players in tapping the opportunity. Experts believe that traditional lenders will soon be challenged by those with access to customers, offering simple products with superior experiences powered by API-led solutions that can be implemented with speed and scale. It also ties-in with the fact that the market is witnessing higher demand for digital-first sachet loans offered at the point-of-sale with smaller ticket sizes, shorter tenures, and higher frequencies. Instead of being a simple lead provider, businesses lending to their customer base allows them to increase the lifetime value of this relationship and drive improved unit economics. This is also beneficial to customers who see higher approval rates and credit solutions directly integrated into the product or service offering vs. them having to secure financing on their own. We are already seeing large consumer tech and e-commerce companies offering their credit products. Soon relatively smaller companies will want to embed credit into their core product offering said Mukund Venkatesh, MD India, GAIN Credit, when asked about the future of consumer credit in India.

Credit delivery is more efficient and cost-effective when it is fulfilled by the entity that knows the customer best. The cost of acquisition and loss rates, the two most critical components that impact the profitability of a credit business, are minimized when businesses offer credit to their captive customer base. After COVID-19, industries will see a surge in digitization which in turn will make alternative data a key driver of risk management for consumer credit. The existing product or service relationship that a business enjoys with their customer can be leveraged to offer best in class embedded financing solutions said Larry Rosenberger, former CEO of FICO and Chairman, GAIN Credit.

COVID-19 has severely stifled credit flow to consumers and small businesses. Uncertainties around business continuity and job security are further making borrower evaluation difficult for traditional lenders. The emergence of new captive consumer lending entities that are integrated with businesses that are close to their customers will only help channel more credit effectively and quickly.

Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content.
Maunakea, Hawaii - How complete is our census of the Sun's closest neighbors? Astronomers and a team of data-sleuthing volunteers participating in Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, a citizen science project, have discovered roughly 100 cool worlds near the Sun - objects more massive than planets but lighter than stars, known as brown dwarfs.

With the help of W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea in Hawaii, the research team found several of these newly discovered worlds are among the very coolest known, with a few approaching the temperature of Earth -- cool enough to harbor water clouds.

The study will be published in the August 20, 2020 issue of the Astrophysical Journal and is available in preprint format on arXiv.org.

Discovering and characterizing astronomical objects near the Sun is fundamental to our understanding of our place in, and the history of, the universe. Yet astronomers are still unearthing new residents of the solar neighborhood. The new Backyard Worlds discovery bridges a previously empty gap in the range of low-temperature brown dwarfs, identifying a long-sought missing link within the brown dwarf population.

"These cool worlds offer the opportunity for new insights into the formation and atmospheres of planets beyond the solar system," said lead author Aaron Meisner from the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab. "This collection of cool brown dwarfs also allows us to accurately estimate the number of free-floating worlds roaming interstellar space near the Sun.

To identify several of the faintest and coolest of the newly discovered brown dwarfs, UC San Diego's Professor of Physics Adam Burgasser and researchers from the Cool Star Lab used Keck Observatory's sensitive Near-Infrared Echellette Spectrometer, or NIRES, instrument.

"We used the NIRES spectra to measure the temperature and gases present in their atmospheres. Each spectrum is essentially a fingerprint that allows us to distinguish a cool brown dwarf from other kinds of stars," said Burgasser, a co-author of the study.

Follow-up observations using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, Mont Megantic Observatory, and Las Campanas Observatory also contributed to the brown dwarf temperature estimates.

Brown dwarfs lie somewhere between the most massive planets and the smallest stars. Lacking the mass needed to sustain nuclear reactions in their core, brown dwarfs are sometimes referred to as "failed stars." Their low mass, low temperature, and lack of internal nuclear reactions make them extremely faint -- and therefore extremely difficult to detect. Because of this, when searching for the very coolest brown dwarfs, astronomers can only hope to detect such objects relatively close to the Sun.

To help find our Sun's coldest, nearest neighbors, astronomers with the Backyard Worlds project turned to a worldwide network of more than 100,000 citizen scientists. These volunteers diligently inspect trillions of pixels of telescope images to identify the subtle movements of nearby brown dwarfs and planets. Despite the advances of machine learning and supercomputers, there's still no substitute for the human eye when it comes to finding faint, moving objects.

Backyard Worlds volunteers have already discovered more than 1,500 stars and brown dwarfs near the Sun; this new discovery represents about 100 of the coldest in that sample. Meisner says this is a record for any citizen science program, and 20 of the citizen scientists are listed as co-authors of the study.

The availability of decades of astronomical catalogs through NOIRLab's Astro Data Lab helped make the discoveries possible.

"The technical burden of downloading billion-object astronomical catalogs is typically insurmountable for individual investigators - including most professional astronomers," said Meisner. "Thankfully, the Astro Data Lab's open and accessible web portal allowed Backyard Worlds citizen scientists to easily query massive catalogs for brown dwarf candidates."

Data sets from NASA's WISE satellite as well as archival observations from telescopes at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory and Kitt Peak National Observatory were also key to these brown dwarf discoveries.

"It's exciting these could be spotted first by a citizen scientist," said Meisner. "The Backyard Worlds discoveries show that members of the public can play an important role in reshaping our scientific understanding of our solar neighborhood."

###

ABOUT NIRES

The Near Infrared Echellette Spectrograph (NIRES) is a prism cross-dispersed near-infrared spectrograph built at the California Institute of Technology by a team led by Chief Instrument Scientist Keith Matthews and Prof. Tom Soifer. Commissioned in 2018, NIRES covers a large wavelength range at moderate spectral resolution for use on the Keck II telescope and observes extremely faint red objects found with the Spitzer and WISE infrared space telescopes, as well as brown dwarfs, high-redshift galaxies, and quasars. Support for this technology was generously provided by the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation.

ABOUT W. M. KECK OBSERVATORY

The W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes are among the most scientifically productive on Earth. The two 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes on the summit of Maunakea on the Island of Hawaii feature a suite of advanced instruments including imagers, multi-object spectrographs, high-resolution spectrographs, integral-field spectrometers, and world-leading laser guide star adaptive optics systems.

Some of the data presented herein were obtained at Keck Observatory, which is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

The authors wish to recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that the summit of Maunakea has always had within the Native Hawaiian community. We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to conduct observations from this mountain.

For more information, visit: http://www.keckobservatory.org
India will have to wait a few weeks for the initial results of Phase I/II human trials being conducted on two indigenous vaccine candidates against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), as the stage is set for more advanced trials on a third option, VK Paul, who chairs one of the national task forces on Covid-19 management,said on Tuesday.

The two candidates that are in phase I/II human trials are drug maker Zydus Cadilas ZyCov-D and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin. Bharat Biotech received the central drugs controllers approval to conduct human trials on June 29, and Zydus Cadila on July 2.

It will take a few weeks for the results of the 2 indigenous anti-Covid-19 vaccines that are currently in phase I/II human trials in India, Paul, who is member (health) at Niti Aayog, the governments policy think tank, said at a Covid-19 related health briefing on Tuesday.

Also read: New immunity insights a boost against Covid-19

The antibody titer needs to be evaluated, and other reactions that are seen in this phase, which we will get to know in a couple of weeks. After that regulatory pathways will be decided and accordingly clearances sought from the regulatory body, Paul said.

Antibody titer is a test that measures the amount of antibodies within a persons blood to assess the strength of the bodys immune response to a disease.

The government is closely tracking the progress of the candidates being tested by Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila amid a global race against time to find a vaccine for the coronavirus disease, which has claimed in excess if 778,000 lives worldwide since it broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

Also read: Flu season will be a test run for the USs biggest-ever vaccine campaign

Paul also said Serum Institute of India will begin the phase 3 human trials in a day or two in India on the Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed by UKs Oxford-AstraZeneca. Pune-based Serum Institute has struck a production and clinical trials deal with AstraZeneca for the AZD1222 vaccine, which has until now been tested in the most number of people -- 1,077 -- among the close to 200 vaccine options being tested across the world.

Results for the one in Phase 3 trial will take longer as Phase 3 trial usually takes longer. Its not appropriate to comment on a specific time line but it will be a few weeks longer than the phase I/II trials. Phase I/II could take 3-4 or even six weeks to show results. So just hold on, it will take time it is about waiting and watching as it is a scientific process that takes its own time. Only after one stage is reached and crossed that we can talk about the next stage. As of today as things stand, we are on right track and lets wait for those milestones to be met, Paul added.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

Paul said that once the indigenous vaccines or for that matter any other vaccine reaches the stage of availability, the government will be ready with a procurement and distribution plan.

The plan will be based on how to make the vaccine accessible in terms of supply chain based on the vaccines characteristic -- whether it would require a single dose or multiple doses or would need cold chain to be maintained for storage among other things, he said.

The national expert group on Covid-19 vaccine met prominent domestic vaccine producers on Monday to help chalk out a plan. As reported by HT on Tuesday, the expert group asked the manufacturers to come up with a roadmap in the next three days on production capacity, pricing, and the kind of support they expect from the government.

We have requested them to provide more clear-cut data; information on their individual capacities and how these capacities will pan out with time. How they can ramp up these capacities from where they are today to where they could be. This is a dialogue in motion, and we will have updates from them in this process of dialogue. We can assure you India has huge capacity; in fact, we were pleasantly surprised to find out how much capacity we have within the country, Paul said.

Pricing of the vaccine will be a key factor. We did request them to indicate what possible prices could be. Pricing perhaps being very complex because some of these vaccines are at an early stage; some insights into where the price range would be, but this information will be refined as we would move along. There is no firm information that we can share today but yes we are asking what kind of a price range we are looking at for the vaccine from individual vaccine manufacturers.

A word of caution: please dont assume any vaccines that is going for trial will be successful. We want it to succeed; we want these three and many others to succeed but it keep in mind that it is not always 100% success as we develop any vaccines. Keep your fingers crossed, he said.

Experts also say that a vaccine will be instrumental in preventing the spread of infection in the long run.

A vaccine will be needed to check the disease spread but we dont know when an effective vaccine be available for use even though all our efforts are being directed towards making it happen as soon as possible. A good vaccine is the most cost-effective way of preventing a disease, said Dr Amita Jain, head, microbiology department, KGMU (King Georges Medical University), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).

Total Covid-19 deaths: 778,506

Participants for Oxford vaccine Phase I/II trials: 1077

________________________________________

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The Rebelle Rally is the first all-women's off-road navigational rally raid in the U.S. and the longest event of its kind in the lower 48 states. Started in 2016, the Rebelle features two classes of competition: 4 x 4 and Crossover. In 2020, the Rebelle is going electric, adding a special designation to honor the highest-finishing battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) and hybrid or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in each class, with allowances for on-course rapid charging.

"The Rebelle Rally shows us what is possible when we have the courage and ambition to do more with the cars in our driveway, and we all need that inspiration now more than ever," said MMNA Chief Operating Officer Mark Chaffin. "We are thrilled to continue our support for Team Record the Journey this year with the world's best-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicle1, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and to continue to prove our legacy of quality, dependability and reliability."

Last year, Team RTJ piloted a lightly modified Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross  affectionately referred to as "Rosie the Riveter"  to second place in the Crossover class with seven-year U.S. Air Force veteran Karah Behrend at the wheel and RTJ founder and 31-year U.S. combat veteran Rachael Ridenour serving as navigator. Behrend became the first adaptive athlete ever to complete the Rebelle, and the pair were honored with the 2019 Rebelle Rally Team Spirit Award.

Ridenour, a multi-time Rebelle competitor and past winner, will again lead Team RTJ in 2020 and is currently vetting candidates to drive the Outlander PHEV in the competition. Running October 8-17, the event starts on the slopes of Lake Tahoe, California, and ends in the Imperial Dunes of Glamis, east of San Diego.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the world's best-selling plug-in hybrid electric vehicle1. It combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a 12.0 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and offers the quiet and clean operation of an electric vehicle combined with the ease of refueling of a gasoline vehicle. Charging the pack can be done in as little as 25 minutes, using the CHAdeMO DC fast-charge system, which provides up to 22 miles of all-electric range.

Record the Journey is dedicated to assisting military veterans with successful transition back into civilian life. The nonprofit utilizes outdoor photography adventures as a therapeutic modality to help veterans process their military experiences, including combat, injury and loss. Photography allows expression and engagement without words, making an often difficult process a little easier.

RTJ was the first nonprofit to receive a loan of a Community Utility Vehicle through MMNA's Small Batch  Big Impact corporate social responsibility initiative. For more information on the Small Batch  Big Impact initiative and MMNA's CUV program, visit www.mitsubishicars.com/community.

For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Through a network of approximately 350 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, research and development, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. 2019 marked the brand's seventh consecutive year of sales growth, and MMNA was the top-ranked Japanese brand in the J.D. Power 2020 Initial Quality study, ranking sixth overall and experiencing the greatest year-over-year improvement of any brand.

Located in Franklin, Tennessee, MMNA is a part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Mitsubishi continues to lead the way in the development of highly efficient, affordably priced new gasoline-powered automobiles, while using its industry-leading knowledge in battery-electric vehicles to develop future EV and PHEV models.

For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (657) 238-2801 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

Disclaimers

Based on IHS Markit New Registrations of plug in hybrid and all SUV body styles for Jan 2013 - Aug 2019 compiled from governments & other sources (where available). Captures 95% of global new vehicle volumes in more than 80 countries.

Contacts

Jeremy Barnes

Senior Director, Communications and Events

[email protected]

Mobile: 714-296-1402

Lauren Ryan

Manager, Communications and Events

[email protected]

Mobile: 404-862-8286

SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Related Links

www.mitsubishicars.com


BEIRUT, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Lebanon's ex-Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said on Tuesday he accepted the verdict of a UN-backed tribunal over the 2005 assassination of his father Rafik, but vowed he would not rest until punishment is served.

Hariri said it was time for the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement to assume responsibility after the tribunal convicted one of its members of conspiracy to kill Rafik al-Hariri, who was also a former prime minister.

"Hezbollah is the one that should make sacrifices today," he said. "I repeat: we will not rest until punishment is served." (Reporting by Ellen Francis and Beirut bureau Editing by Gareth Jones)
Were honored to be recognized for the second year in a row as a 2020 Best of Scottsdale Award winner. The Saddleback team works hard daily to make a positive impact on our community by providing high-quality communications services to our customers.

Saddleback Communications, a provider of world-class, fiber-based voice and data communications to business and residential customers in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), has been honored with the 2020 Best of Scottsdale Award. This is the second consecutive year Saddleback has been recognized for contributions to the Scottsdale business community.

The Best of Scottsdale Award Program was created to honor and generate public recognition for the achievements and positive contributions of businesses and organizations in and around Scottsdale.

Selection as a 2020 Best of Scottsdale Award Winner is determined by the marketing success of an organization in the local community and business category. Recipients are selected based on empirical data supplied by independent third parties and information gathered internally by the Scottsdale Award Program, rather than nominations, voting, contests or surveys.

Were honored to be recognized for the second year in a row as a 2020 Best of Scottsdale Award winner, said Bill Bryant, President of Saddleback Communications. The Saddleback team works hard daily to make a positive impact on our community by providing high-quality communications services to our customers.

Saddleback provides custom business communications solutions, including Unified Communications as a Service, Contact Center as a Service, Collaboration, SIP Trunking, point-to-point Ethernet and dedicated Internet Access.

About Scottsdale Award Program

The Scottsdale Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Scottsdale area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

Each year, the Scottsdale Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Scottsdale area a great place to live, work and play.

The Scottsdale Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

About Saddleback Communications

Saddleback Communications delivers advanced voice and data communications services over a carrier-class, redundant network to business and residential customers on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). Saddleback Communications provides custom business communications solutions, including Unified Communications as a Service, Contact Center as a Service, Collaboration, SIP Trunking, point-to-point Ethernet and dedicated Internet Access. The company also leverages its state-of-the-art Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network to deliver high-quality voice and high-speed Internet to residential customers. Learn more at http://www.saddlebackcomm.com.
Phoenix, Arizona, Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Holy Supper, the most solemn celebration of The Light of the World took place today via a virtual worldwide event transmitted from Phoenix, AZ. The event is a call to communion recalling the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The faithful joined a live Holy Supper service in a historic digital event. The event was transmitted from Phoenix, Arizona. Live transmissions from all over the world, including Malabo, Guinea Equatorial, Zurich, Switzerland, Valencia, and Spain were presented. Participants could be seen waving as the image of their own participation in the event flashed across the screen to over 1 million connections.

A limited group of faithful gathered at the grandiose temple in Phoenix, Arizona. This group represented the worldwide membership who could not gather in person due to the current global pandemic. The members who attended the event and participated inside the temple observed the health measures recommended by the health department and the governor's office. The practices of social distancing, face mask and shield, and use of gloves were diligently implemented, among other health and safety measures.

Despite the worldwide pandemic, the event united millions of people across the world in over 60 countries. The ceremony of the Holy Supper was broadcasted live on the digital platforms of Facebook, YouTube, and SoundCloud, exceeding 1 Million total views. The event was also broadcasted on multiple radio stations throughout North America.

The religious ceremony ended with a prayer and a thank you statement to the authorities and government agencies.

MATERIAL DIGITAL

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Bci1v0MB-lNku11cj-sSuLeJbUjOfde_?usp=sharing

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TLOTWchurch

Twitter

https://twitter.com/iglesialldm

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/TLOTWchurch/

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC92R8P98AwEGtvx3uZkNtgA

ISAIAS CAMPOS

The Light of The World Church

Vocero del Evento

Phone: 806-340-2224

Contact Email: info@tlotw.org

Attachment
A young father was high on ice when he caused a fatal car crash which killed his grieving girlfriend, months after they lost their newborn baby.

Bailey Hogan-Jones pleaded guilty to culpable driving occasioning death over the high speed smash in Bendigo, 150km north-west of Melbourne in 2018.

The car Hogan-Jones and his 21-year-old girlfriend Nukyah Gunthorpe were travelling in slammed into a stationary van at speed, killing the young woman on impact.

The crash was one week before Christmas, and only six months after the death of their nine-day old baby Eli.

Nukyah Gunthorpe, 21, (pictured) was killed during a high speed crash in December 2018

Her death was only six months after losing her nine day old baby Eli, after he was born prematurely

Hogan-Jones was inconsolable when police arrived at the scene only seconds after the fatal crash.

'Is my girlfriend dead? I told her I didn't want to drive,' he said.

He admitted to a paramedic and police that he had smoked ice two hours before getting behind the wheel.

Blood tests confirmed methamphetamine and amphetamines were in his system.

Neither he nor Ms Gunthorpe, were wearing seatbelts.

Bailey Hogan-Jones (pictured) pleaded guilty to culpable driving occasioning death over the high speed smash in Bendigo, 150km north-west of Melbourne in 2018

Neither he nor Ms Gunthorpe, (pictured) were wearing seatbelts

She was thrown into the windscreen and suffered critical injuries, dying in hospital an hour later

She was thrown into the windscreen and suffered critical injuries, dying in hospital an hour later.

Prosecutor Robyn Harper told Victoria's County Court the car was travelling as fast as 144km/h along the residential road in Flora Hill.

Police had been pursuing the car, after seeing the driver speed through a red light.

Officers told the court they had been travelling at more than twice the 60km speed limit to catch up to Hogan-Jones.

The court heard the car (pictured) was travelling as fast as 144km/h along the residential road in Flora Hill

Hogan-Jones was inconsolable when police arrived at the scene only seconds after the fatal crash (pictured)

Paramedics transport a patient on a stretcher after the crash

Two men, driving home from a harness racing meet near Warrnambool, were stopped in a turning lane, about to cross into Hogan-Jones' path.

The driver knew he couldn't get around the corner in time so took evasive action.

Hogan-Jones braked suddenly and lost control of his car, skidding down the road and colliding with the van at a speed between 98km/h and 128km/h.

His lawyers dispute the speed.

Louise Baggott said her daughter's final words when she went out that day were 'I love you mamma'.

She also sent one final text message to her mother, promising she would be home soon, reported news.com.au.

'I had to see my daughter's beautiful, broken face and body,' she told the court.

She said she'd spent the last year in mourning.

Louise Baggott said her daughter's final words when she went out that day were 'I love you mamma'

'We were so full of hope at one point in our lives. It's all gone,' she said.

Ms Baggott's youngest daughter Lola said she didn't like how quiet the house has become without her loud older sister.

'I miss her,' she said.

'I will love you always and forever. A force to be reckoned with, a shoulder to lean on, and the bravest person I'll ever know. A piece of my heart has gone with you Nukyah. Until we meet again, have a dart rolled and ready for me.'

Hogan-Jones' lawyer Eleanor Millar said he had made poor decisions in the past but he had worked to turn his life around after learning he was to be a father.

'With Eli's passing all of that was then undone ... he will have to live with another poor decision for the rest of his life,' she said.

Hogan Jones will return to the Victoria County Court on Wednesday to be sentenced.

Friends and family offered condolences for the loss of the 'adored daughter and loving mother'

Ms Baggott's youngest daughter Lola said she didn't like how quiet the house has become without her loud older sister

A fundraiser for the family in the months after their death raised more than $5,000 to help support Louise Baggott and her youngest Lola during the grieving process.

Friends and family offered condolences for the loss of the 'adored daughter and loving mother'.

While an online obituary depicted the community's grief over the loss of the young mother.

'I will love you always and forever. A force to be reckoned with, a shoulder to lean on, and the bravest person I'll ever know. A piece of my heart has gone with you Nukyah. Until we meet again, have a dart rolled and ready for me,' it read.
The Central Water Commission Monday issued a flood advisory for several states, warning some hill districts in the north of likely flashfloods and landslides, as heavy rains continued to wreak havoc in parts of the country and water level in rivers rises.

The advisory for Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh said there is likelihood of rise in water levels in rivers such as the Ganga, Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Ghaggar, Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Ramganga, Sarda, Sarju and Ghaghra due to a forecast of heavy to very rains there. There is likelihood of flashfloods in some of the hill districts in these states in association with cloudburst. Necessary precautions have to be taken for possible landslides and blockages of river flows due to landslides in high ranges of these states, it said.

The advisory for Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh said heavy to very heavy with isolated extremely heavy falls are likely over Telangana, Vidarbha (Maharashtra) and Chhattisgarh during next 24 hours. Due to the ongoing extremely heavy rainfall, the Godavari River is also getting good flows due to rain in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Telangana, the advisory said. The Polavaram project on Godavari in Andhra Pradesh is likely to get around 40,000 cumec (cubic metre per second) and Laxmi Barrage around 20,000 cumec till Monday night and is expected to rise in view of the rainfall forecast, it said.

The Indravati River is likely to rise in Dantewada, Narayanpur and Bijapur districts in Chhattisgarh. while river Sabari is likely to rise rapidly in Koraput, Malkangiri districts of Odisha and in Sukma district in Chhattisgarh and east Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, it said.

The advisory for Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa said there is likelihood of rise in water levels in the basins of lower Mahi, lower Narmada, lower Tapi and Damanganga. Water level for Narmada, Tapi, Damanganga rivers are likely to rise rapidly due to rains which are predicted over next 4-5 days, it said.

Madhuban dam in Valsad District is likely to get heavy inflows. At present, the dam has storage of 67.09 per cent. A close watch is to be maintained and release of water, if any has to be done, it should be with due care and after informing all downstream districts including Union Territory of Daman, the CWC said.

Other dams in this region such as Kadana Dam on river Mahi, Panam Dam on river Panam, Sardar Sarovar Dam on river Narmada, Ukai Dam on river Tapi are also expected to get increased inflows. The Hatnur Dam in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra is likely to get an inflow of around 1,505 cumec till Monday night and Ukai Dam is also expected to receive around 3,703 cumec till Tuesday morning. Due to the forecast of extremely heavy rain in their catchment, there is likelihood of sudden rise in inflows which may have to be regulated properly following the rule curves and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) after informing all downstream districts well in advance, it said.

As the rainfall of higher intensity is likely to continue for at least 1-2 days, there is likelihood of rise in levels of rivers along the west coast in Maharashtra and Goa in the west flowing rivers between Tapi and Tadri. Necessary precautions have to be taken on road and rail bridges which pass through these areas as they are prone to submergence. Care should be taken to regulate road and rail traffic to avoid any incidents, the advisory said.

East Rajasthan and west Madhya Pradesh are likely to get heavy to very rains for next 3-4 days and there is a likelihood of rise in water levels in rivers such as Chambal, Mahi, Sabarmati, Kalisindh, Banas. Most of the dams in these rivers are having storage between 35 to 70 percent, care should be exercised to monitor the situation very closely, the advisory said.

The advisory for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh said inflows have started increasing in Panchana dam, and Parwan Pickup Weir and have crossed the threshold limit. The advisory for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka said due to continuous inflows from the previous spell of rainfall in the southern states, most of the dams in Cauvery Basin have reached very close to 90-97 per cent storage. A round the clock watch has to be maintained for proper reservoir operation and information to all downstream districts as well as to lower riparian states has to be provided well in advance, it said. Most of the dams in Krishna Basin are also having storage between 86 to 97 per cent. Hidkal Dam on Ghataprabha River is filled to 97 per cent of its full capacity and hence a close watch has to be maintained for any increased inflows likely due to the very heavy rainfall forecast for central Maharashtra during the next 2-3 days, the advisory said.

Due to water flows from upstream areas of Krishna River, the Almatti and Narayanpur dams are getting heavy inflows and since these dams are filled around 90 to 92 per cent of the capacity, both the dams are releasing the excess flow. The advisory for Bihar said many rivers the state continue to flow in severe to above normal flood situation with falling trend. The situation will continue for another three-four days, it said.
The Police Command in Yobe on Tuesday said the abducted District Head of Mashio, Isa Mai-Buba, has been released by his captors.

Mashio is a district under the Fune Local Government Area of the state.

The Commands spokesperson, Dungus Abdulkarim, made the disclosure in a statement released in Damaturu.

He said Mr Mai-Buba was released by his captors on Tuesday in Damaturu, near the state airport along Gashua Road.

This came as a result of efforts by the joint operation of securities, where all routes linking the district with other locations were beefed up.

That made it impossible for the abductors to move out to their destination with the chief, the spokesperson said.

Mr Abdulkarim said the victim would receive medical attention for stress and fatigue before being released to his family.

NAN recalls that Mr Mai-Buba was abducted by unknown gunmen at his residence on August 15.

(NAN)
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A North Korean government official tells CNN's Will Ripley that the country's massive military drill was in response to perceived aggression f
The big picture: Separating TikTok from ByteDance could be tricky, especially if its new owner only buys operations in select regions. Would that lead to multiple versions of TikTok, a name change or more? Time will tell.

Microsoft isnt the only US-based tech giant interested in acquiring TikTok. Oracle, the Redwood City-based cloud and database specialist has reportedly expressed interest in the popular Chinese-owned video app.

The Financial Times claims Oracle co-founder and executive chairman Larry Ellison has met with TikTok owner ByteDance regarding an acquisition of the apps US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand operations. Sources tell the publication that Oracle was working with a group of investors including Sequoia Capital and General Atlantic that already own a stake in ByteDance.

Microsoft is also a key suitor in the discussion, confirming as much on its official blog earlier this month. Sources tell FT that Microsoft is particularly interested in buying TikTok in regions where the app has been banned, like India. According to a person close to ByteDance, the company is opposed to selling assets beyond those in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

With Oracle now interested in TikTok, one has to think that gives ByteDance a bit of negotiating room to counter a potential offer from Microsoft.

Regardless of who ends up with TikTok, the general consensus is that the asset will trade hands soon. President Donald Trump last week gave ByteDance 90 days to divest TikToks operations in the US due to concerns about the app as a national security threat.

Image credit: Daniel Constante, Ascannio
Green energy groups have cast doubt the Queensland government can meet its commitment to provide 50 per cent of the states energy from renewable energy sources in 10 years' time.

However, they are confident it will be able to provide more than one-third of Queenslands energy needs by 2030.

New wind turbines, similar to these in the Atherton Tablelands, are being built on sheep grazing land at Warwick as Queensland shifts towards providing 33 per cent of energy from renewables by 2030. Credit:Andrew Burke

Green Energy Markets renewable energy economist Tristan Edis said there had been tremendous growth in renewable energy in Queensland in the past six years, but the state would not reach the 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.

"Green Energy Markets have been tracking renewable energy projects activity in Queensland and there is still some way to go," he said.
CANBERRA, Australia - China on Tuesday began investigating whether Australia is dumping wine in a trade dispute that further strains relations between the countries and could shut the biggest export market for Australian wine.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said the anti-dumping investigation involved wine in containers of 2 litres (68 fluid ounces) or smaller imported from Australia from Tuesday.

The Australian government denied subsidizing exporters.

We do find this deeply troubling, concerning and perplexing given Australias wine industry is not subsidized to export and its certainly not dumping product on the world market, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said. Now its for China and Beijing to explain the rationale behind these actions and why they have moved to that stage of an investigation.

Chinas only other anti-dumping investigation of Australian products effectively closed the China market to Australian barley in May through crippling tariffs. Australia is appealing that decision.

The investigation of Australian wine exports, which made 1.1 billion Australian dollars ($795 million) from the Chinese market last year, could take between a year and 18 months.

Birmingham said he hopes China will not impose interim trade measures during the investigation.

Chinas decision to shut out Australian barley a week after it banned beef exports from Australias four largest abattoirs over labeling issues has been linked to Australian calls for an independent investigation into the source of the coronavirus as well as responses to the pandemic.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye warned in an Australian newspaper interview in April that Australian wine could be targeted in a Chinese consumer boycott if the government persisted with its call for a coronavirus inquiry.

Asked if the wine investigation was a political tactic, Birmingham told reporters, Thats really a question for China.

Our hope and expectation is that these matters should be considered and addressed on their merits and that means that Beijing and Chinese authorities should look at the evidence, Birmingham said.

Graeme Shaw, owner of Shaw Wines outside Canberra, said Chinese tariffs would have a considerable effect on large Australian wine producers.

I think the industry should have been expecting something from the comments from the Chinese ambassador, Shaw told Nine Network television news.

Weihuan Zhou, a University of New South Wales international trade expert, suspected the wine probe was part of separate, decadelong trade dispute between the countries over anti-dumping rules, particularly over Australias allegations of Chinese dumping of steel products.

Bilateral relations had shown improvement since the pandemic after Australia distanced itself from U.S. security concerns over popular Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat, Zhou said.

I dont think its part of the previous political fight between Australia and China over the coronavirus, Zhou said. There have been positive signs of political improvement of the bilateral relationship.

Shares in Australian wine exporter Treasury Wine Estates plunged as much as 17% on the Australian stock market on Tuesday on news of the Chinese investigation.

The Melbourne-based company reported to the Australian Securities Exchange in 2018 that it was one of several Australian wine exporters experiencing delays in getting wine through Chinese customs.

The company said in a statement to the exchange on Tuesday that it will co-operate with any requests that we receive for information from Chinese or Australian authorities.

Birmingham said Australian wine was the most expensive on the Chinese market after New Zealand wine. He said he had been unable to speak to his Chinese counterpart about the mounting trade disputes since last year.

Australia is certainly not engaging in any type of war, he said.

Australia has had a free-trade deal with China, its biggest export market, since 2015. Australia is regarded by some as the Western country most susceptible to Chinese economic pressure because of their close economic ties.

Zhou said he had long doubted that China would target Australian wine in its diplomatic dispute with Australia because Chinese investors would be harmed.

The Chinese investors are trying to secure a production base in Australia so that they can provide sufficient supply back to the Chinese market, Zhou said.

That means that if Chinas government decides to impose anti-dumping duties against Australian wine, that will hurt the Chinese investors as well, he said.
In this Oct. 16, 2017, file photo Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., receives the Liberty Medal from Chair of the National Constitution Center's Board of Trustees, former Vice President Joe Biden, in Philadelphia.

PHOENIX  In a pre-recorded video, Cindy McCain highlights the late Sen. John McCain's close friendship with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in another high-profile instance of a Republican lending her voice to the Democratic National Convention.

In the video, first reported on by the Associated Press, McCain narrates key moments of the Biden-McCain friendship, with photos and video clips of the two men. A snippet of the video on YouTube does not contain an explicit endorsement of Biden over Republican President Donald Trump.

In the video, Cindy McCain talks about the two families that grew close, as her husband and Biden worked together and traveled thousands of miles together.

In the teaser on YouTube, McCain says the two men grew close when Biden, a senator from Delaware at the time, met John McCain when McCain was assigned as a Navy aide for him on an overseas trip.

"It was a friendship that shouldn't have worked," Cindy said in the video. "John, a former Navy pilot just released from a North Vietnamese prison. Joe, a young senator from Delaware. But in the 1970s, Joe was assigned a military aide for a trip overseas."

The late senator's voice breaks in: "I was a Navy Senate liaison and used to carry your bags on overseas trips."

Biden says, "The son-of-a-gun never carried my bags! He was supposed to carry my bags, dammit, but he never carried my bags."

Over the years, as their families grew close, Cindy said, They would just sit and joke. It was like a comedy show, sometimes, to watch the two of them."

'Terrifying': Former senior Trump administration official endorses Biden

McCain's virtual presence on the second night of the convention, where Democrats and Republicans are seeking to make the case for Biden's bid, comes after prominent Republicans on Monday expressed their dissatisfaction with Trump's first term, including former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Rep. Susan Molinari.

Story continues

McCain, along with her daughter, TV commentator Meghan McCain, have been at times outspoken critics against Trump, whose feud with the late senator dates to 2015, when Trump launched his first bid. The McCain women occasionally speak out against Trump, but these days, they tend to only speak out when he re-airs his grievances.

My husband and Vice President Biden enjoyed a 30+ year friendship dating back to before their years serving together in the Senate, so I was honored to accept the invitation from the Biden campaign to participate in a video celebrating their relationship.https://t.co/Y6XOnBC1IW  Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 18, 2020

McCain's support of Biden through the video should come as no surprise, given the families' longstanding friendship. But it's a reminder of the type of politics the late senator practiced.

McCain, a retired Navy captain and Vietnam prisoner of war, had become a fixture in American and global politics before his death on Aug. 25, 2018, at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer.

Cindy McCain was asked in 2019 if she expected to get involved in politics during the 2020 presidential election.

"I think Im going to sit back and kind of see what happens," she said. "Were still trying to put our family back together."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DNC: Cindy McCain highlights John McCain's friendship with Biden
India has crossed the 3-crore mark in Covid-19 tests and its tests per million stand at 21,769. Where does that place India vis-a-vis other nations?

IMAGE: Migrant workers returning to work go through the mandatory Covid-19 test, at a testing camp organised by the Delhi government. Photograph: ANI Photo.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has announced that India has tested a cumulative total of 3,09,41,264 samples up to August 17, with 8,99,864 samples being tested on Monday.

With the number of tests crossing the three-crore mark, the Union health ministry asserted that a new hallmark has been achieved due to expanded diagnostic lab network and facilitation for easy testing across the country, reports Press Trust of India.

Expanded diagnostic lab network and facilitation for easy testing across the country have given a substantial boost to the testing capacity, it said, adding that building on this achievement, the Tests Per Million have seen a sharp increase to 21,769.

How does this compare with the top 10 nations with the highest Covid-19 cases? Have a look.
Wikicommons

Donald Trump has announced he will pardon Susan B Anthony, who was found guilty by an all-white male jury for voting in the 1872 presidential election.

The president said he would be signing a "full and complete pardon" later on Tuesday following the announcement.

"She was never pardoned, did you know that? What took so long?" Mr Trump said.

Ms Anthony, a women's suffrage leader, was known for pioneering the movement to give women the right to vote, but she was also vocal about being anti-slavery and pro-voting rights for all.

The pardon was announced on the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in the United States. The amendment is also known as the Susan B Anthony amendment.

In 1872, Ms Anthony was arrested in her hometown of Rochester, New York, after she convinced nearly 50 women in her town to register to vote for the presidential election. On Election Day, the pioneer showed up to a polling place with 14 other women and convinced the election inspectors to allow them to cast their ballot.

She was arrested and charged with voting illegally by a US Deputy Marshal in the weeks following the election. In a highly publicised trial, Ms Anthony was found guilty and ordered to pay $100 fine for voting. The activist declined to pay the fine, a move that could've landed her in jail until she paid, but instead the judge decided to not have her taken into custody.

Congress passed the 19th amendment in 1919, and it was ratified on 18 August 1920.

Although Ms Anthony was not alive to see the women earning the right to vote, she has remained a prominent figure in the 19th amendment coming to fruition. Her gravestone located in Rochester remains a prominent spot for people to visit around the election. In 2018, many women placed their "I voted" stickers on the stone to honour the pioneer.

Mr Trump's pardon comes as Republicans and Democrats have faced off in recent weeks about voter fraud and what the upcoming election might look like amid the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats have accused the president of attempting to undermine the election by interfering with the United States Postal Service (USPS) and its ability to transport mail-in ballots.

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The president has denied these accusations but said remained firm on his perspective that the upcoming election will be "rigged" if voters are universally allowed to vote by mail.

Read more

Michelle Obama says Trump in over his head in DNC address

Trump claims Chicago violence worse than Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria

Trump credits Obama for 2016 victory as he lashes out at DNC attacks
Prince Charles is set to step down from running his 900-acre organic farm in Gloucestershire after 35 years of running it, it has been reported.

The heir to the throne 'will not renew lease' on Duchy Home Farm because he 'will be expected to be king at some point'.

He turned the farm organic in 1985 and started selling Duchy Originals products, sold in retailers such as Waitrose and Ocado.

The farm supplies carrots and potatoes to restaurants, supermarkets, and local schools as a wholesaler.

It also keeps rare livestock breeds such as Tamworth pigs, Irish Moiled pigs, Gloucester, Shetland and British White cattle.

At the time, Charles was credited with using 'pioneering agriculture techniques' to produce this organic food.

But he is expected to quit operations at Home Farm, with the next tenancy to be announced later this year, according to The Sun.

A source told the paper: It will be a wrench to give up Home Farm but the prince will continue to farm organically at Sandringham.

Charles is now reportedly looking to convert the 2000-acre Sandringham estate into the UK's biggest organic sheep farm.

He took over the Norfolk estate from Prince Philip last year and achieved organic status this summer.

It comes as Prince Charles made a 'significant' donation to a new farming charity following the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on farmers.
The late senator John McCain once said about Russia, the country is a gas station masquerading as a state." Although the politician is speaking from a biased American position, the truth is that Russia's massive hydrocarbon reserves give some truth to his opinion. Since the early days of the industry more than a century ago, oil and gas have been flowing from wells in Western Russia and Siberia. To maintain its position globally, Moscow is putting all its cards on the development of the Arctic.

The Russian part of the Arctic contains the lions share of the resources with more than 48 billion barrels of oil and 43 trillion m3 of gas. Export could ensure a steady supply of revenue for the state coffers on which Moscow is heavily dependent. Several factors hamper the quick development of the region including arduous conditions, Western sanctions, and now also Covid-19. Moscow, however, is adamant on its energy strategy towards 2035.

The hurdles

When Western sanctions were imposed after the conflict in Ukraine and the annexation of the Crimea, the liquefication technology required to develop Russias LNG industry was out of reach. The countrys first massive project in the Arctic, Novateks Yamal LNG, was completed only after Chinese financiers provided the funds when Western sanctions took a bite.

Novatek, however, has been developing its technology to lessen dependence on foreign suppliers. The homegrown capabilities will be applied to the fourth train at the Yamal LNG facility that is launching somewhere this year. It could be vital for the companys other two projects starting operations between 2023 and 2025. In five years Novateks capacity could have tripled when Obskiy LNG and Arctic LNG 2, both in the Yamal Peninsula, are launched.

Related: Is This The Beginning Of The End Of Oil & Gas Exploration?

Moscows assistance in the form of tax exemptions could spur investment in the Arctic. Starting from this year, investments in the region concerning LNG projects are excluded from the mineral extraction tax for the first 12 years. Also, the tax for offshore oil projects has been reduced by 5% for the first 15 years.

Moving ahead

Despite the hurdles, Russia's oil and gas industry is moving ahead. Although the challenges are significant and the risk of failure is real, Moscow seems adamant on making the Arctic the next big region of production.

Also, Covid-19 is impacting developments in the region due to spiraling infection rates. However, equally negative effects on other LNG projects globally could benefit Novateks plans. The strong backing of the Russian state means that developers in the Arctic have an advantage over their competitors.

The tax breaks benefit companies that are feeling the pain of low energy prices due to reduced demand. Rosneft, for example, started drilling as part of its massive Vostok oil project, which is supposed to increase output from an initial 25 million tonnes per year in 2024 to 115 million tonnes in 2030. Financial support is an important cushion in a time when the oil and gas industry is facing significant challenges.

Gazprom, also, is still on track with its Arctic projects. Although the investments are under review, no delays are yet announced. The energy giant has also started drilling at its Kharasaveyskoye gas field in the Yamal Peninsula.

Pivot to the East

Western partners are hesitant to commit to large Russian energy projects as a result of sanctions. Apart from some exceptions such as the joint venture with Shell in the Russian Far East, Western oil majors are treading carefully due to the threat of American sanctions. Instead, Moscow has been forced to enact its own 'pivot to the east' policy.

The growing partnership with China is, among others, the result of the inability of Russian companies to access technology and funds in the West. The proliferation of essential technologies and Beijing's significant financial capabilities, however, weaken the ability of sanctions to isolate Moscow and change its behavior.

For the West to reach some tangible results, the road of confrontation will lead to growing entrenchment. Real policy changes during peacetime won't happen unless the stick, sanctions, is supplemented by carrots such as diplomatic talks and trade ties.

By Vanand Meliksetian for Oilprice.com

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Who is Charlie Peng, the alleged mastermind of the Chinese hawala racket in India

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 18: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday registered a case of money laundering against a Chinese national. He has been accused of allegedly running a hawala racket worth Rs 1,000 crore.

Chinese hawala scam | Who is Charlie Peng & what did he do? | Oneindia News

The Chinese national in question is Luo Sang alias Charlie Peng. The 42 year old Peng is allegedly holding a fake Indian Passport. He is accused of creating a web of sham companies which he used to launder hawala funds to and from China.

He has been orchestrating this racket for the past 3 years now. Investigations have shown that he was involved in the import and export of medical and electronic goods and also other items.

ED registers case under PMLA in China hawala scam

He is said to have got the fake passport from Manipur after he married a woman there.

He had also managed to get fake Aadhaar cards. He is also alleged to have bribed some Tibetans in Delhi and got work done through them.

Peng had been arrested in 2018 by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on charges of fraud and forgery. He was also accused of running an illegal money changer.

It may be recalled that last week the Income Tax Department conducted raids against some Chinese individuals and their local associates for allegedly indulging in a money laundering racket involving Rs 1,000 crore using shell or dubious firms, the CBDT said.

It said the "subsidiary of Chinese company and its related concerns have taken over Rs 100 crore bogus advances from shell entities for opening businesses of retail showrooms in India".

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), that frames policy for the tax department, said the searches were launched basedA on credible inputs that a few Chinese individuals and their Indian associates were involved in money laundering and hawala transactions through a series of shell entities.

Some bank officials were also raided, it said.

"Search action revealed that at the behest of Chinese individuals, more than 40 bank accounts were created in various dummy entities, entering into credits of more than Rs 1,000 crore over the period," it said in a statement without identifying the entities involved.

"Incriminating documents of hawala transactions and money laundering with active involvement of bank employees and Chartered Accountants have been found as a result of the search action," it said.

Evidences of foreign hawala transactions involving Hong Kong and US dollars have also been unearthed, the CBDT said.
A media conglomerate with a pro-establishment editorial bent and history of ethical lapses apologized yesterday after one of its reporters lied to protestors about which news agency she worked for.

The apology came after Nation TV reporter Mookravee Deebukkam was outed by protestors at Sundays anti-government rally, the biggest in years, amid rising frustration at the media for ignoring or misrepresenting the movement.

The editorial team of Nation TV has investigated the incident and questioned the female reporter, Nation TV said in a Monday statement. We found that the accusations were true. We must apologize to the protestors interviewed, audience members and everyone.

Despite a professional ethics code which demands that reporters clearly identify themselves and their affiliation, the news television channel, a subsidiary of Nation Multimedia Group, reasoned that the reporter had to lie.

She was concerned about her safety, worried that if she told the truth about where she works, she might be pressured on her duties because lately some Nation TV reporters who cover the protests have been assaulted, pressured and scolded, some even with rude words. There was even a campaign to tell people to stop watching Nation TV, it said.

While pro-democracy protestors have been calling out domestic media agencies for not covering the protests, the harshest criticism has been leveled at Nation for toeing a pro-establishment editorial line. At Thursdays downtown Bangkok rally at Srinakharinwirot University, the crowd called out the Nation TV team.

Is there any reporter from Nation here? student activist Teerapat Bat Ketdon shouted into the microphone, prompting the crowd to point out the team. Please dont twist our words!

Protest organizers and participants have complained that domestic print and broadcast media are providing little coverage to widening protests against the military-backed government and calls to reform the monarchy.

Story continues

Tanawat Wongchai, who organized this years Wing Lai Loong (Run Against Dictatorship), said the mainstream media, including the largest-circulation newspaper Thairath, is too preoccupied with trivial matters such as ghost stories and lottery numbers.

Thairath and Amarin TV, you are my hope in seeing Uncle Phons dick, read the protest sign raised by a protestor on Sunday. Photo: QuoteV2 / Facebook

I want many media in Thailand to be more balanced, covering more of the ongoing protests instead of covering Uncle Phon he said, referring to Thairath newspapers heavy coverage of a roiling tabloid tale of murder and YouTube.

As for Nation TV, Tanawat said it should do more than apologize and make changes to do better.

They should reform the organization. If they are genuinely sorry for this, they must, from now, not be biased in its coverage or put a spin on peoples words to attack the opposition.

Nation TV has often come under criticism for its perceived ethical breaches over the years. Days before last years election, a Nation TV host passed off a clearly doctored audio clip as a conversation between fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and rising progressive star Thanathorn Juangroonruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party. Its management threatened to sue Thanathorn after he complained.

Return the peoples power, we are not slaves, we are free (Thai), bags on protesters heads read at todays ongoing rally at the Democracy Monument.

Related

Bangkok students rally in rain to call on govt to step down

This article, Thai protesters complain media shun, distort protests, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
Toni Van Pelt stepped down on Sunday, citing health concerns, after an investigation found she ran a toxic work environment at the National Organization of Women

The president of the National Organization of Women stepped down on Sunday night, citing 'health concerns', after an internal investigation found she ran a toxic work environment but cleared her of racism, despite allegations from 15 former staff.

Toni Van Pelt sent an email to NOW supporters and members claiming she could no longer 'ignore' her doctors wishes and that she had to step down. She did not give details on her apparent health problems.

Ten minutes later, another email went out announcing the results of an internal investigation into allegations against her that she ran a toxic and racist work environment.

The investigation uncovered 'governance issues and evidence of a toxic work environment', according to the email, but the many allegations of racism were dismissed.

NOW was founded in 1966 by prominent Washington feminists including Betty Friedman.

But since June this year, The Daily Beast has been detailing the complaints of some within the organization who say it is far from the safe space for women that it purports to be.

When Van Pelt won her position in 2018, some - including the women who ran against her - revolted.

They wrote a letter, calling her racist and giving examples like the fact she'd refused to use a black reverend's title, instead calling him by his first name, during a panel.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) - 'a grassroots organization founded in the 1960s with the purpose of promoting feminist ideals, leading societal change, and eliminating discrimination'

They also recounted an incident where she asked her staffers about Pramila Jayapal, a congresswoman, and said: 'What's her name? Punjabi?'

The accusers also said it was racist that she'd referred to her social media director, who was Asian-American, as an 'IT person'and that she talked over women of color in meetings. They did not point out if she ever talked over white women in the same meetings.

One of their biggest complaints is that she only ran with Gilda Yazzie, a Native American woman who she asked to be her vice president, because she was a woman of color.

Dozens of women - including the two who lost to Yazzie and Van Pelt - signed a letter calling for Van Pelt to lose her position after she won it.

Yazzie also filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination.

She apologized for any remarks she made that caused offense, but they were unsatisfied with it.

'All Black Lives matter. As a White woman, Ill never understand the experiences of women of color. I challenge myself to address structural racism and recognize that this is a lifelong, ongoing process.

'I do understand it is critical to acknowledge my own privilege and strive to be a better ally. As the leader of NOW, and a leader within the intersectional feminist movement, I must hold myself and our organization accountable to do more,' she wrote at the time.

BJ Star, another woman in the organization, described herself as Asian American when filling out paperwork. She is shown, left, and right in an old picture

Now, members have slammed the investigation and say the organization is still trying to cover up racism.

'To hear that Toni is stepping down for health issues is offensive.

'We cannot move forward with restorative justice by covering up racism or making excuses for people to leave,' said Kim Porteous, one of 26 chapter leaders who have called on Van Pelt to step down.

Van Pelt is now the first woman in the organization to be accused of racism.

In August, BJ Star, 71 - who was running for a seat on the board - filed papers claiming she was Asian-American when she is white.

Other members of the organization said she was falsely claiming to belong to a minority to improve her election chances.

Among the claims against NOW was that women of color, who joined the organization to become part of a feminist movement, were heckled or talked over whenever they tried to give speeches.

Gilda Yazzie claims she was racially discriminated against in the organization

Stephanie Loraine Pineiro, the executive director of the Florida abortion fund, said she was talked over constantly after being invited to speak at a NOW event in 2017.

It's unclear what the other women did to her that she perceived was racist, or what they said to her, but she emailed the chapter president, claiming she'd been racially discriminated against, and attached a series of documents about white silence.

Barbara Cady, the chapter president, replied calling her an 'immature girl who wants to blame the world for her bad experiences.

Cady, she said, told her to read a book about slavery and warned: 'Im not buying any of this nonsense about "white silence".

'You do not know anything about my experience in life and I resent you thinking its OK for you to spout off about race issues to me  Every women [sic] in that room has suffered, even the white ones.

'I suggest you get off you [sic] high horse and drop this "white women vs women of color" nonsense. We are all in this together, sister.

'I dont owe you anything because you believe you have had a certain experience in life from being whatever it is you consider yourself to be.'

Cady also called her one of the most 'disrespectful' guests they'd ever had, and asked why she accepted a $25 payment if she was so offended.

She later apologized for her remarks.

The organization did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries on Tuesday morning about Van Pelt's resignation or the organization.
The hereditary chiefs that govern Six Nations have come out in support of the group occupying the McKenzie Meadows construction site in Caledonia.

In a statement, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council (HCCC) says it has not granted any type of consent which would allow this development to proceed.

The council is made up of chiefs from each of the six nations  Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora  that form the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The chiefs thanked the land defenders who they say are taking peaceful steps to protect and save the land for our future generations, who will have nowhere to live and prosper if the settler population continues to unlawfully encroach upon our lands.

The hereditary chiefs say they were not consulted before construction proceeded in what the council considers the red zone of its ongoing development moratorium on contested lands.

The developers thought they had settled the land claims question when they reached an agreement with the Six Nations elected band council before starting to lay the groundwork for 218 homes on McKenzie Road, the first phase of a much larger development planned for the area.

In exchange for the band councils support of the project, and after a year of consultation between property owner Foxgate Developments and the band council, Ballantry Homes gave $352,000 in cash and 42.3 acres of land on Townline Road to the reserve.

But those occupying the site, which they have renamed 1492 Land Back Lane, have criticized that arrangement, saying the elected councils support was purchased with the equivalent of the price of one of the future houses and land next to the city dump, according to spokesperson Skyler Williams.

The Land Back group says public consultations held by the elected council were sparsely attended, and that the majority of those residents who did attend voted against the deal. Williams added that the band council does not have a legitimate mandate because of low voter turnout and its links to the federal government, which created the band council system.

Elected chief Mark Hill noted in a statement that the developers were not legally obliged to compensate the reserve but did so in light of ongoing land claims. He was not available for an interview.

Williams, Hill and Haldimand Mayor Ken Hewitt have all criticized the slow pace of the land claims process along the Grand River, which has already taken 25 years and is not due to be decided upon in court until 2022.

The Confederacy chiefs echoed a request from the group occupying the McKenzie Road site for dialogue with the federal government.

Indigenous Services minister Marc Miller did not respond to several interview requests for this story.

Some Caledonia residents are frustrated by the demonstrations, which have closed sections of Argyle Street and Highway 6 and increased traffic along side roads, including transport trucks diverted off the highway.

A rolling blockade of supporters from the Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo area was expected at the site late Tuesday afternoon, which the OPP warned could snarl traffic on several major highways and local thoroughfares.

Police visited the site on Friday to serve a pair of injunctions ordering the occupiers to leave the McKenzie Road site and clear the barricades.

I stand in support of the families and businesses who have been affected by these blockades, Haldimand-Norfolk MP Diane Finley said in a statement, adding that the OPP has her full support as they work to enforce the law and bring order back to our communities.

Civil, lawful protest is an important part of being a Canadian, Finley said. But the unlawful use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of a political agenda is not acceptable.

The Confederacy chiefs said police action is not the way to an amicable solution, recalling what happened in 2006 when Six Nations land activists moved into the former Douglas Creek Estate lands, which the Haudenosaunee call Kanonstathon.

We know that this issue will not be resolved by the use of injunctions, which escalate matters with the attempt to impose Canadian law and criminalize our people for simply asking that the Crown honour its treaty commitments, the HCCC statement read.

We deeply hope to avoid repeating the events of 2006, which involved the reclamation of Kanonstathon, where after many years of discussion, negotiation and moving toward a resolution, the federal government simply walked away from the negotiation table.
OTTAWAThe opposition parties are pushing back against Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus proroguing of Parliament, saying the House of Commons must continue ongoing probes into the WE Charity controversy and the scrutiny of the Liberals pandemic plans.

Trudeau announced Tuesday afternoon that hed asked Governor General Julie Payette to prorogue Parliament, in order to give the Liberals a chance to reset before navigating the next stage of the pandemic and guiding the economic recovery.

But with Parliament already in recess until late September, prorogation has little concrete effect  other than to disrupt the Commons committees that had been probing the WE Charity controversy.

We are proroguing Parliament to bring it back the exactly same week it was supposed to come back anyway and force a confidence vote. Were taking a moment to recognize the throne speech we delivered eight months ago had no mention of COVID-19, had no conception of the reality we find ourselves in now, Trudeau said.

The House of Commons finance, ethics and official languages committees have all launched studies into the Liberal cabinets decision to have WE Charity administer a $544-million student volunteer grant program.

Trudeau and then finance minister Bill Morneau apologized for failing to recuse themselves from the May 22 cabinet decision to approve WEs involvement. While they insisted it was the recommendation of the public service to use WE Charity, both politicians had more extensive family ties to the organization than had been known publicly or even to fellow cabinet ministers when the government signed the deal.

Since 2015, WE Charity had paid about $500,000 on speaking fees and expenses for Trudeaus mother Margaret and brother Alexandre, and covered expenses for his wife Sophie for appearances at WE Charity events. Morneau, whose daughter works for WE Charity, paid the charity $41,000 last month for two trips he had taken in 2017 at the organizations expense.

On Monday, Morneau resigned as finance minister in order, he says, to put his name forward to become director general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Trudeau framed the decision to prorogue as necessary to lay out his governments plan for rebuilding the economy after COVID-19s first wave. But in practice, he could have requested prorogation on Sept. 22 and delivered a throne speech the following day  while allowing the committees to continue their work for the next four weeks.

Trudeau committed during the 2015 election never to use prorogation to duck difficult political circumstances, as the Liberals had accused Stephen Harper of doing.

Notwithstanding the prorogation, opposition parties have made clear they will continue to demand accountability for the WE Charity controversy.

Trudeau insists the government is not hiding anything, pointing to his promise to release thousands of pages of internal records related to the deal.

The prorogation will not affect the federal ethics commissioners investigations on the decision to outsource the student grant program to WE Charity.

By proroguing Parliament, Trudeau has also set up a showdown with the opposition parties over support for his minority mandate.

When the government resumes with a Speech From the Throne, a confidence vote will be forced. The Conservatives, who will have a new leader, are not likely to support the Liberals agenda. And on Tuesday, the Bloc Quebecois laid out a series of demands for its support. Those include additional federal supports for seniors, compensation for dairy farmers under supply management, unconditional health transfers to the provinces, and giving the Quebec government control over the provinces share of the student service grant.

The leader of the Bloc Quebecois has serious doubts about his partys support for the Speech from the Throne, but believes it is his duty to discuss it first and wait for its content, read a statement from the party, which has already threatened a confidence motion.

Shutting down Parliament in the middle of a pandemic and an economic crisis, with a planned sitting next week and committees working hard to get answers and solutions for Canadians, is wrong, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a written statement Tuesday evening.

Canadians shouldnt be forced to pay the price for Mr. Trudeaus scandals.

Outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer accused the prime minister of being spineless, and called proroguing Parliament a disgusting attempt to make Canadians forget about his corruption.

Hiding out for two months wont solve the Liberals ethical problems, said Scheer in a statement.

Lori Turnbull, a Dalhousie University political science professor who worked at the Privy Council Office during Trudeaus first mandate, questioned why the Liberals needed to prorogue Parliament  even if they want to reset the political narrative.

To a certain extent, (Trudeau) is going to get a lot of the way there just by appointing (Chrystia) Freeland as finance minister, because she is such a compelling story, Turnbull said in an interview Tuesday.

The story about Morneau was over very quickly, and to me thats problematic  but people are really changing the channel very quickly towards Freeland and prorogation and what all that means.

Turnbull added that if Trudeau was looking to press reset on his minority mandate, he could just as easily do that with a budget from Freeland as a Speech from the Throne delivered by Payette.
A convicted killer who bragged to a fellow inmate about eating his victim's penis has died from a 'very aggressive' cancer.

David Kevin Loader, 59, was serving a life sentence for the 2001 killing of George Martin, 64, when he died from metastatic cancer earlier this year.

A coronial inquest in Darwin on Tuesday heard Loader was diagnosed in November last year.

Loader was transferred to the Royal Darwin Hospital, where he took his final breath on January 11.

A convicted killer who once bragged to a fellow inmate about eating his victim's penis has died from a 'very aggressive' cancer (stock)

Loader's treatment and care in custody was 'appropriate and of a high standard,' Coroner Greg Cavanagh found.

'When people are in the care of the state, that care needs to be examined from time to time and the reasons are obvious,' he said, the NT News reported.

'They've got no other rights when they're in custody, their rights to complain, move, shift, (say) 'I don't like it here' - they haven't got any of those rights at all.'

Loader was serving a life sentence, with a 20-year non-parole period, for killing Mr Martin at a campsite at Mandorah, near Darwin, on July 5, 2001.

The Northern Territory Supreme Court heard in 2002 the pair had been drinking heavily before Loader 'blanked out' and woke to find Mr Martin laying face up in a large fire near his camp.

Loader died after being transferred from prison into palliative care at the Royal Darwin Hospital (pictured)

Loader was arrested five days later at Mount Isa in Queensland after police searched the campsite and found human bones in the fire pit.

Inmate Daymon Hannila told the court during the trial he thought Loader was joking when he described how he killed Mr Martin.

'(He said) that he hit the person on the head with a rock, cut off his leg, put it in the fire and cooked it,' Hannila said via video link from Townsville prison.

He told the court how Loader claimed to have cut the man's penis off, cooked it in the fire and ate it.

Hannila said Loader told him it tasted like chicken.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Four years ago, Ohio Gov. John Kasich famously refused to attend the national convention of his own party in his own state in protest of Donald Trumps coronation as the Republican presidential nominee.

This time around, the former two-term governor has found a convention and candidate he can embrace  the Democratic National Convention and Joe Biden.

Kasich, last man standing against Trump in the 2016 GOP primaries, said he is choosing conscience over partisanship in speaking virtually this week to support Bidens bid to dump Trump on Nov. 3.

Unconcerned about being a pariah among some in his own party, Kasich will deliver recorded remarks on the opening night of the Democratic convention on Monday evening. The We the People themed-night also includes liberal socialist U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former first lady Michelle Obama.

In an interview with The Dispatch, Kasich said he had hoped for a Trump transformation that would temper his tongue and dampen his divisiveness once confronted with the gravity of the Oval Office.

I was hoping he would change, but he has not united us; he has divided us, Kasich said. The level of vitriol, the fighting between citizens and the partisanship is just not good. I think we need to take another tact.

With both being natives of blue-collar Pennsylvania, Kasich says his brand of compassionate conservatism meshes with former vice president Biden and what Kasich sees as must-haves  a good heart and empathy.

Kasich, who arrived in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1983 while Biden was a senator from Delaware, said he has known the No. 2 to Barack Obama for close to 40 years and finds no artifice in him.

Biden is a guy who can unify us. Its his personality, thats who he is, Kasich said. There wont be all this fighting and demonizing going on all the time. Its not his history. Its not his style.

While he has concern over some of Bidens stances on issues, Kasich said he expects Biden to reach out to Republicans to forge consensus.

Kasich said last week that he had not spoken with Biden about his prime-time remarks at the virtual Democratic National Convention. The former governor was approached by Biden campaign officials to speak in an apparent appeal to swing voters and to broaden the Biden base.

Democrats hope Kasich  a favorite-son, 11-percentage-point winner over Trump in the 2016 Ohio GOP presidential primary  can sway some Ohioans to abandon the president in the unexpectedly competitive state. After accepting his partys nomination in Cleveland, Trump went on to beat Democrat Hillary Clinton by 8 percentage points in Ohio.

The fact that the former Ohio CEO and nine-term congressman is not a fan of Trump, whom he faced during 11 Republican presidential debates, is nothing novel.

Kasich positioned himself for a DNC speaking spot by spending nearly four years as a political commentator with CNN, supporting the impeachment of Trump and denouncing the presidents lack of leadership in handling the coronavirus pandemic.

He largely tears down Trump over what he portrays as his divisive and nasty approach to governance.

He a divider, not a uniter. The name-calling and personal attacks, they dont work.

This is not about the issues, its about the fact we need someone to bring people together. Because without that, the issues dont matter if all we are doing is fighting one another, Kasich said.

I believe this is an election about getting the country back together so we can have an effective conversation about things. The best years we have are when people work together.

Some Democrats grumble about a conservative Republican being afforded a say amid the partys crowning of Biden and running mate Kamala Harris, senator from California.

Ive spoken out over so many of the Kasich policies for years. There are a lot of things the governor and I dont agree on, said Ohio Democratic Chairman David Pepper.

I dont think that Biden or the DNC would have done this unless they think it will help them win Ohio, Pepper said. If Kasich is endorsing our side because he thinks Donald Trump is a horrific president, I am glad he is with us. Hes speaking to a lot of voters in the middle trying to make the same decision.

Asked about Kasichs defection, Trump Ohio campaign spokesman Dan Lusheck said simply, Nobody cares. Ohio Republican Party spokesman Evan Machan likewise offered a near-identical response: No one cares.

Leading abortion opponent Michael Gonidakis, appointed by Kasich to a near-decade-long term on the State Medical Board of Ohio, cares.

He doesnt have a conscience  he has an ego and that ego is still bruised from getting his butt beat by the President in 2016. He should not get a free pass for acting like he is a nice guy! He treated everyone like crap in Ohio for 8 years, Gonidakis wrote in a tweet.

Last week on CNN, Kasich said he believes Biden to be a fellow man of faith, adding, A lot of people scratch their heads about why some of these very conservative evangelicals support Trump. It seems not to be consistent with the things that they believe in as promoted in the Old and New Testament.

Kasich said the Republican Party he once knew has become mired in Trumps brand and has lost its way with its unwillingness to challenge its president. But Kasich said he has not changed his GOP stripes.

Noting that he has received both praise from Republican never Trumpers and criticism from the presidents loyal base, Kasich said it is not a cardinal sin to vote for a member of an opposing party.

The things I represented throughout my entire career, I still believe in and I have not abandoned those principles  its a matter of conscience.

This is just the way Ive been all my life. Leadership means you can walk a lonely road. Im perfectly happy with where I am. My decision is the right one and a good one.

After casting a write-in vote for U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, in 2016, Kasich confirmed that he is casting his ballot for Biden this year.



Randy Ludlow of The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio) wrote this story.

 2020The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio)

Visit The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio) at www.dispatch.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Four PSNI officers have been injured after a van rammed two police vehicles on Monday night in south Armagh.

At around 11:45pm, police on patrol on Finnegans Road were alerted to the manner in which a silver-coloured Ford Transit van was being driven. The driver of the van subsequently rammed the police vehicle, forcing it off the road. Two officers sustained minor injuries.

The PSNI said that as the van continued on, officers in another police vehicle on Finnegans Road, made an attempt to stop it. However, the van collided with the police vehicle, lifting it off the ground, and a further two police officers were injured.

Expand Close The damaged vehicle Photo: PSNI / Facebook

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A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of several offences, including handling stolen goods, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and driving without insurance. He remains in custody this morning.

District Commander of Newry, Mourne and Down, Superintendent Jane Humphries said: "Unfortunately, due to the nature of the injuries sustained by our officers, they have been unable to return to duty today.

We have also had to take two police vehicles off the road so they can be examined for road worthiness, which affects our service delivery. There is also the impact in terms of our officers and their welfare, as well as the cost of repairs to the vehicles, which is substantial.

Anyone who witnessed this incident, or who captured footage, is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference CW 2343 17/08/20. You can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/
The in Madhya Pradesh on



Monday took a dig at BJP leader over his "tiger is alive" remark.

The opposition party also questioned Scindia's "silence" on issues like non-payment of salaries to contractual teachers and shelving of the farm loan waiver scheme by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government.

"He (Scindia) had once said (in July) that 'tiger abhi zinda hai' (tiger is still alive). Why this tiger did not venture to serve people in the Gwalior-Chambal region in the last five months? But now in this jungle raj, he is going to to meet the saffron party leaders in Indore and Ujjain to retain cabinet berths for his loyalists who toppled the government in March," MP media cell chairman and MLA Jitu Patwari told reporters here.

"....Scindiaji come out to the streets. Why are you hiding in house? Why are you in a cave with tail down?" he said.

Patwari said Scindia is out on a tour "to do political management in the wake of a petition in court challenging the over-sized Madhya Pradesh cabinet".

Scindia is going door-to-door to meet BJP leaders to save his men from getting sacked from the cabinet, he alleged.

"In Congress, Scindia got immense respect. He was our big leader. The party leaders used to go to his house and to be around him seeking tickets for elections," Patwari said referring to Scindia quitting the party and joining the BJP with over 20 MLAs in March this year, which led to collapse of the Kamal Nath government.

Patwari said 69,000 contractual teachers have not been paid their salaries since the last three months.

"28 such unemployed teachers have committed suicide in the last three months," he claimed.

(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 the afternoon the same day, Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives Chuan Leekpai paid tribute to the late leader and expressed grief over his passing in the funeral book.

Talking with Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Chuan lauded Phieus contributions to the Vietnam  Thailand ties and wished that the two peoples would continue building on the past achievements to develop bilateral ties to a greater height.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand Don Pramudwinai also sent a wreath to the Vietnamese Embassy.

Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Vijavat Israbhakdi wrote on the book that the late leader will be forever remembered for his dedication to the nation, adding that he played a significant role in Vietnams development and economic growth at present.

Ambassadors of Laos, Cambodia, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, China, Nepal and defence attaches of the US embassy and representatives of diplomatic corps in Bangkok also paid tribute and expressed sympathy with the Vietnamese State, Government and people and the bereaved family.

Similar ceremonies were also held in the Vietnamese embassies in Indonesia, Myanmar, Sweden and Greece from August 14-15.
New Delhi: A WhatsApp chat between actor Sushant Singh Rajput and his former manager Disha Salian reveals that the duo discussed work extensively. The chat is from April, two months before Sushant and Disha died. Screenshots of their conversation have now gone viral on the internet. They spoke thrice between April 2 to April 10 and discussed about a digital campaign for PUBG and a food oil brand promotion.

The chats clearly reveal that Sushant was looking forward to work and said he will wait for the script to come.

On April 2, they spoke about the food oil brand promotion. Disha briefed the actor about the contract and said she can quote Rs 60 lakh for him to do the promotion. Sushant further asked her about the brand name. Take a look:

Disha then approached him on April 7 for the PUBG digital campaign. The company wanted Sushant to encourage people to 'Stay Home Stay Safe and Play PUBG' during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also required to post a video on Instagram in that coming week.

Read their WhatsApp exchange here:

Disha Salian allegedly jumped off a high-rise apartment in Mumbai on June 8 and Sushant was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14. It is being assumed that there is a link between the two deaths which happened in a span of five days. However, nothing has been official as of yet.

The twin deaths, however, have raised enough suspicion with people pressing for a fresh and fair probe.
The Democratic Party in the United States presented an army of passionate speakers at its virtual convention on Monday, who made the case for Joe Biden to replace Donald Trump as the President.

From former US first lady Michelle Obama, to New York governor Andrew Cuomo, whose state was the early US epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, speakers flayed Trump on various counts.

Among this lot was Kristin Urquiza, who lost her father to the coronavirus disease. She read out from a scathing obituary blaming failed leadership for his death.

My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life, Urquiza said.

One of the last things that my father said to me was that he felt betrayed by the likes of Donald Trump. And so when I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my dad, she added.

In her brief three-minute appearance, Urquiza, who lives in San Francisco, said that Trump may not have caused the coronavirus, but his dishonesty and irresponsible actions made the tragedy worse.

She also accused the US president of being disconnected with the reality.

Urquiza gained national attention in July when an obituary she wrote for her father, Mark Anthony, blamed the carelessness of the politicians who did not acknowledge the severity of the virus.

There are 78 days until the presidential election in the United States and the Democrats used the opportunity on Monday to attack Trump on the coronavirus pandemic, racial justice and the shattered economy.

Former rival Bernie Sanders and prominent Republican John Kasich also joined forces at the event in a display of unity for Biden.

The convention will continue till Thursday at the end of which Biden will accept his partys presidential nomination.
By Ursula Hegi

Flatiron Books. 274 pp. $26.99

- - -

In January 1362, a vast tidal surge in the North Sea killed more than 25,000 people (some estimate as many as 100,000) in a region that now encompasses parts of Britain, Germany, Denmark and the Low Countries. Known as the Grote Mandrenke, "the great drowning of men," the storm reshaped entire coastlines, submerging towns and breaking apart islands. Among the latter was Strand, in present-day northern Germany, where the sea swallowed the prosperous town of Rungholt.

Nearly three centuries later in 1634, another devastating storm killed 6,000 people and carved off the peninsular town of Nordstrand from what remained of Strand. It is here, on a summer day in 1878, that Lotte Jansen is playing on the beach with her four young children when another (this time fictional) rogue wave engulfs them and rips three of the children from her hands. Only Lotte and the youngest, infant Wilhelm, survive. From this nearly incomprehensible tragedy, novelist Ursula Hegi spins a surprisingly sunlit tale of grief and rebirth, drawing on history and folklore to create an indelible portrait of a family and community forged in crisis.

A U.S. citizen since moving here from Germany as a young adult, Hegi is known for her novels set in Burgdorf, Germany, during and after World War II; books in which she deploys a rare gift for depicting outsiders - most memorably Trudi Montag, the young woman with dwarfism who's a central character in Hegi's bestselling "Stones From the River." In her new book, "The Patron Saint of Pregnant Girls," Hegi performs a kind of alchemical cartography, transporting readers to a place so vividly rendered they may undergo culture shock upon reentering our own damaged world.

Nordstrand's bleak, quicksilver beauty mirrors the mercurial fortunes of its inhabitants. In the moments after the freak wave, Lotte kisses baby Wilhelm and tosses him, too, into the ocean. "Take him, God, in return for my other three," she cries, her act witnessed by the villagers who've rushed to search for the children. Lotte's husband, Kalle Jansen, saves Wilhelm. Unable to forgive his wife for this momentary madness, or his infant son for surviving when his other three children drowned, Kalle joins a traveling circus that makes regular rounds through Nordstrand, abandoning Lotte and Wilhelm.

Another villager is 11-year-old Tilli. "A pretty man," she thinks when she sees Kalle with Lotte shortly before tragedy overwhelms them. "Dangerous to marry a man prettier than you. Every girl knows that." Tilli herself knows both too much and not enough about men and women: She has been sent to Nordstrand's St. Margaret Home for Pregnant Girls after being impregnated by her twin brother.

Locals shun the girls at St. Margaret, named for the patron saint of pregnant women and housed in a mansion built by a bishop who favored peacocks and fine porcelain. Here the nuns who run St. Margaret (many of whom also gave birth as children) have created their own proto-feminist idyll. Same-sex relationships among the nuns are condoned. Sister Hildegunde paints visionary images on the chapel walls of St. Margaret defeating a dragon. Other nuns teach the girls biology, physics and mathematics, along with weaving, painting, poetry and theater, and eventually child care and midwifery.

"They don't act like real nuns," the girls whisper to one another.

"They don't even punish us."

"Maybe they're not real nuns."

Perhaps not, but then everyone in Nordstrand seems to have stepped from a folk tale, or a canvas by the Biedermeier-style painter Carl Spitzweg. Sabine, the circus's seamstress and Lotte's close friend, lives in a circus wagon with her daughter, Heike, who's 20 but has the mind of a child. When honey begins to flow down her wagon's walls, Sabine discovers it houses an immense beehive. It's a neat metaphor for Hegi's novel, in which myriad coteries - families, the girls and nuns at St. Margaret, the circus and the Old Women who act as Nordstand's Greek chorus - coexist yet remain mysterious to one another, each possessing its own hidden sweetness.

At times, the sweetness overwhelms the book's grittier, more compelling story lines. Childlike Heike doesn't just marry a beekeeper, she plays the cello like a dream. Kalle, a toymaker, leaves the circus to visit Lotte, arriving on a zebra. Still, even the most fanciful scenes feel deeply embedded in grief, as parents mourn their lost children - the Jansen siblings snatched by the North Sea; Sabine's lovely Heike, vulnerable in her inability to ever understand the world of grown-ups; Tilli's infant daughter, taken from her arms and adopted by a bourgeois family.

Brought into the Jansen household to help care for Wilhelm, Tilli begins to think of the baby as her own, and herself as a daughter to Lotte and Kalle after the couple reunites. But the Jansens' reconciliation is based upon a shared delusion as dangerous as Nordstrand's unstable sands: the legend of Rungholt, the town lost in the 14th-century Grote Mandrenke.

"Rungholt, so near that when the wind breaks off, you may hear the bells in its church towers beneath the surface of the Nordsee where the sunken island lies intact ... awaiting the next time it will rise in its entirety ... just long enough to let you enter."

Lotte and Kalle's belief that they will find their lost children alive when Rungholt magically reappears threatens not just their renewed love for each other and their son, but also their lives and Tilli's. Hegi's deeply compassionate novel charts the shadowlands where grief makes its home, a place "where wanting to believe becomes believing," and where a family holding hands on the sand is a more miraculous sight than a lost island rising from the waves.

- - -

Hand's 16th novel, "The Book of Lamps and Banners," will be published in September.
Social media lit up with Kristin Urquizas quotes from her speech to the Democratic Convention even before she finished her short yet stinging rebuke of President Trump, who she blamed for her fathers death due to Covid-19.

His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump  and for that he paid with his life, she said of her dad, a Trump voter who had gone to a karaoke bar soon after stay-at-home orders were lifted in Arizona.

Im one of the many who have lost a loved one to Covid. My dad, Mark Anthony Urquiza, should be here today, but he isnt... My dad was a healthy 65-year-old.

Lifelong Republicans vouch for Joe Biden

John Kasich, the former Republican governor of Ohio, was among a group of senior Republicans who spoke at the convention about their inability to support Trump in the White House.

Kasich said, Im a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country. Thats why Ive chosen to appear at this convention. In normal times, something like this would probably never happen, but these are not normal times.

Susan Molinari, a former Republican congresswoman from New York, said, Ive known Donald Trump for most of my political career. So disappointing, and lately so disturbing.

The Rising plays, and The Boss approves

Democrats used Bruce Springsteens The Rising as background score for a searing video of Trumps handling of the many crises of his presidency  caging illegal immigrants, rising racism, the Covid-19 pandemic and the anti-racism protests that followed George Floyds killing.

Springsteen had written the song after the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001. The Democratic National Committee said the song highlights the resilience of the American people in overcoming the crises.

The Boss, as Springsteen is called, approved. He retweeted a Joe Biden post of the video. Come on up for #therising, he added, using a line from the song.
MILWAUKEE  Mike Atari has run the In & Out Pantry convenience store for two years at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and James Lovell Drive, a short walk from the Fiserv Forum, where the 2020 Democratic National Convention was supposed to take place this week.

Over the past few weeks, business has been slow, but manageable. On Monday, he had two other people working besides himself. Despite the convention going virtual, he expected Monday to be a little bit busier than normal. There would be sightseers, out-of-towners, protesters, somebody who would stop at his store to pick up a snack or a drink.

Instead, he said Monday was maybe the slowest day hes had since the pandemic began. He sent his employees home. There was nothing for them to do. Construction workers in the area and other workers werent even Downtown, Atari suspects because everyone normally in the city wants to avoid the irregularity and blocked-off streets of a national convention security zone.

Im mad, Atari said, although he admitted he didnt know who he should be angry at. He just knows that this was supposed to be one of his best weeks ever business-wise, and instead its starting out as one of the worst.

Its not good, he said.

Atari chatted with a customer at about 2 p.m. Monday. They both wondered what all of the security  Milwaukee Police Department, Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security officers and private security all seen in the area  was here for. They couldnt name anyone of international importance who is expected this week at the Wisconsin Center, the site of the scaled-down, now largely virtual convention. Gov. Tony Evers is one of the few who has said he will be speaking from Milwaukee in person.

Joe Biden, the former vice president and presumptive Democratic Party nominee for president, Joe Biden, is expected to speak from afar on Thursday to accept his partys nomination, sparking continuous criticism from the Trump campaign, which has paid for Wheres Joe? billboards around Milwaukee. On Monday afternoon, Trump spoke to an audience at an airport in Oshkosh, with protesters gathering outside.

Forrest Darby, 76 Forrest Darby, of Las Vegas, flew to Milwaukee this week. He's a delegate for the 2020 Democratic National Convention and feels let down about

Forrest Darby, 76, flew in to Milwaukee from Las Vegas this week. Despite being an active Democrat for five decades, he never tried to be a national delegate. Now in his later years, the retired union electrician finally got himself picked to represent his county at the national convention.

It was a bucket-list thing, he said in the hotel lobby of Hyatt Regency Milwaukee less than a block from the fenced border around the convention center. He expected, as a delegate, that there would be some event going on. Something to watch. That hed be able to hear some speaker. But there wasnt. Monday afternoon, there werent even political protesters anywhere near the campus. It was quiet, quiet even for Milwaukee during a pandemic. Streets were empty.

I havent seen our international (union) president here. I havent seen anyone here. I havent seen anyone even in a union T-shirt here, he said, bemoaning what could have been.

Some Democrats, including Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, have blamed President Trump specifically for the convention not being in-person, claiming if the U.S. had more thoroughly shut down and better precautions earlier on then the pandemic would be less widespread. Trump and most Republicans have taken the opposite approach, saying that keeping the country mostly open is the best path forward.

Darby is turning his political trip into a sightseeing tour, planning to rent a car and see Wisconsin, a state hes never visited.

Hes staying at a bed and breakfast in the Milwaukee neighborhood of Bay View. Months ago, every room at the place was booked. Now, he said, hes the only guest.

When it was announced more than a year ago that the DNC was coming to Milwaukee, 50,000 people and $200 million worth of consumer spending were expected to descend on Milwaukee. Instead, theres next to nothing.

This is a far different footprint of what we expected in March of 2019, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said while speaking from his home during a virtual press conference Monday. Its not a conventional convention by any stretch of the imagination.

Still, Barrett said that thanks to federal grants, the heavily changed convention shouldnt directly cost Milwaukee taxpayers.
This is one in a series of opinion essays from public safety experts about how to make Black lives matter when it comes to policing. The main story was published last week. A live webcast on the topic will be held Thursday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. at Facebook/NJ.com.

By John Vespucci

Recently there has been a focus to scapegoat police officers for the police misconduct of a few but should the system of policing in America be the one to bear the burden of this blame by not supplying police officers the proper tools? Recent incidents involving police brutality have tarnished the police profession, and in many of those incidents, officers were engaged in conduct that is statistically atypical in policing. But how do we reform policing to control for what many perceive as systemic discriminatory police practices and abuses of the use of force? The key is education.

In the United States, the average police academy runs 15-20 weeks, averaging 600  800 hours. There are no national standards and few states establish minimum requirements other than some essential topics that need to be covered. To put this into perspective, a cosmetologist license in New York State requires a minimum of 1,000 classroom hours. Both professions also undergo on-the-job training, which is often touted as essential to learning the craft, however, this type of training is not without its own potential pitfalls.

In the United Kingdom, all police recruits as of this year are required to have an equivalent of a bachelors degree worth of police-related training  roughly 2,000 or more classroom hours. Dr. Maria Haberfeld, professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, found that police training in the U.S. is significantly less than most European countries. Her studies show that police in Germany require 30 months of training, Ireland, two years, whereas officers in Finland and Norway are required to attend a three-year police college.

Despite the limited length of academy training in the U.S., training police in the U.S. ought to be universal but the decentralized requirements of 18,000+ individual departments would be difficult to mainstream. Currently, less than 10% of departments require a college education and very few specify a particular curriculum to study. Heeding this advice in 21st-century policing is still largely lacking.

The skill sets of college-educated officers have been vastly studied and these studies have shown significant advantages versus those officers who do not have a college education. Professionalism, reflective judgment, humanistic values, cultural sensitivity and less dogmatic approaches are only a few of the attributes that have defined a better police officer and are more prominent in officers with a college education. Additionally, education in policing has been shown to result in better behavioral and performance characteristics, better skills in independent decision making and problem-solving situations, improved adaptability, greater aptitude for innovative thinking, improved management abilities, fewer departmental disciplinary actions, better adaptation to accepting critical feedback, better at discovering extra resources to assist in their job responsibilities and fewer citizen complaints.

Then, the question remains: why havent police administrators heeded the advice of these many studies? There is a multi-faceted explanation that needs to be addressed. Often police professionals tout policing as a craft or learned art. Many studies do show that police experience plays a major role in police officer performance, however, the experience variable often varies depending on the police department, and officer experiences. Studies show that 10-11 years as a police officer produces the most change in police behavior, so the argument, at least, is that a college education would theoretically best benefit policing for the first half of a police officers career.

Policing is an art in communication and interacting with people from various diverse positions in society. Additionally, it is a profession where an understanding of the evolving law and society is as important as keeping current with technology and innovative criminality. To understand these core concepts, and appreciate diversity, a college education can prove to enlighten an officers knowledge and trade tools. Attending a college institution offers an officer experience in interacting with students from other cultures, more importantly, others with differing views. This experience is often not obtained in a police academy setting as all police recruits have one directive: to view policing in the eyes of their instruction.

More so, a police officer can benefit from a foundational knowledge in psychology, sociology and criminology. This often leads towards an officers comprehension of the why people behave a certain way; a concept often not concentrated on in police academy training. College is not just about learning, it is also about learning how to learn. This benefits a police officer in their careers as they are continually responsible for staying up to date with changing laws and societal issues, as well as technological advances and global issues affecting criminal justice in the U.S.

So why is there reluctance? To start, opponents often cite how associated costs would burden the taxpayer. This would not be the case if a college education was an applicant requirement, similar to almost every other profession where the applicant bears the cost of schooling. Another opposing thought is that by raising the education requirement for police officers, the applicant pool will lessen, and eliminate diversity. Although this can be a concern in small rural police departments, there are no epidemic shortages of police applicants.

Additionally, with the popularity of online schools and the availability of supplemental college tuition programs, studies have shown there is little effect on diversity. Expectations of higher police salaries are also a concern, however, most police departments in the tri-state area have salaries comparable to entry-level positions for other professions requiring a bachelors degree. Lastly, the concept of a college degree molding a better police officer does not negate the fact that other criteria also produce great police officers, void of an educational background.

Policing has faced great challenges since its inception and continued police reform is necessary to keep current with evolving laws, technology and society. Exploring ways to improve policing should be a constant concentration by police administrators, and studies have shown time and again that college education as a career prerequisite only improves the foundation of police reform- the police officer. Every new policy or program will inevitably face challenges and trade-offs. We must weigh these tradeoffs and equip each and every police officer with the aptitude and knowledge to successfully implement new and innovative changes in policing.

Dr. John Vespucci is an author and adjunct assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and faculty associate at Arizona State Universitys School of Criminal Justice. He is also a 24-year police veteran and served as a police academy instructor.

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There were no technical snafus, dropped video feeds or any of the other on-air nightmares that had kept Democratic officials up at night. Besides a few mistimed cues here and there, the countrys first virtual convention on Monday  equal parts telethon, pep rally and Zoom therapy session  made its way smoothly to TV sets around the nation.

Fewer TV sets than four years ago, though.

Live television viewership of the opening night of the Democratic National Convention fell roughly 25 percent from 2016, according to Nielsen, with MSNBC emerging as the clear winner among the major networks.

About 19.7 million people watched the proceedings on TV from 10 to 11:15 p.m., the portion featuring speeches by Senator Bernie Sanders and Michelle Obama, the former first lady. Four years ago, about 26 million people tuned in for the Democrats first night in Philadelphia.

The Nielsen figures do not include online and streaming viewers, a rapidly growing chunk of the American mass media audience. Younger viewers, in particular, have grown accustomed to watching live events on news websites and services like YouTube. Cable and satellite TV subscriptions have been falling for years.
OTTAWA - William Francis Morneau leaves federal politics as suddenly as he burst onto the Ottawa scene less than five years ago.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - William Francis Morneau leaves federal politics as suddenly as he burst onto the Ottawa scene less than five years ago.

In November 2015, the newly elected Liberal member for Toronto Centre became the first rookie MP in nearly a century to step into the high-profile and demanding role of finance minister.

Minister of Finance Bill Morneau announces his resignation during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

He set about implementing pillars of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's economic platform, including tax cuts for the middle class, the new Canada Child Benefit and a revamped Canada Pension Plan.

Morneau brought ample experience as a business leader and volunteer to the role.

He took the reins of the family business from his father, growing human resources firm Morneau Shepell to 4,000 employees from just 200.

Morneau was also a keen supporter of the arts, and worked to help at-risk youth and ensure better access to health care and education. He also helped found a school for Somali and Sudanese girls at a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees camp in northern Kenya.

In the rough-and-tumble world of parliamentary politics, the deliberate and thoughtful finance minister was forced to learn fast.

While still honing his political chops, he rarely seemed far from one controversy or another.

It would prompt the opposition to try to paint the wealthy former businessman as out of touch with the realities of ordinary Canadians.

Morneau's first budget projected years of big deficits despite Trudeau's 2015 election promise to keep annual shortfalls under $10 billion.

A contentious tax-reform plan released in 2017 led to an outcry from enraged business owners, doctors, tax experts and even backbenchers within his own Liberal caucus.

"I've learned from this experience that we have to be very good at communicating to Canadians what it is that we're trying to achieve," Morneau said at the time.

There were also questions that year about the minister's personal assets.

The federal ethics commissioner of the day fined Morneau $200 for failing to disclose his role as a director in a private corporation that owns a villa in France. Morneau had disclosed his ownership of the villa to Mary Dawson but, thanks to what his office called an administrative oversight, failed to mention the ownership structure itself.

Criticism intensified when word spread that he hadn't placed his Morneau Shepell holdings into a blind trust after being named to cabinet  a decision Morneau insisted was framed by Dawson's own advice.

In response to the controversy, Morneau sold off the remainder of his Morneau Shepell shares, which were worth about $21 million. He donated to charity the difference between what the shares were worth at the time of the sale and their value in 2015 when he was first elected  estimated at about $5 million  and promised to place his other assets in a blind trust.

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In his final months as finance minister, Morneau oversaw massive spending to deal with economic and social fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morneau and Trudeau are both facing investigations by the new federal ethics watchdog, Mario Dion, for taking part in talks to hand WE Charity a contract to run a pandemic-related student-volunteer program.

One of Morneau's daughters works for the organization, another has spoken at its events and his wife, Nancy McCain, has donated $100,000. Morneau also revealed last month that he had repaid WE some $41,000 in expenses for trips he and his family took in 2017 to view two of its humanitarian projects in Ecuador and Kenya.

In stepping down, the 57-year-old Morneau signalled a need for a new finance minister to take up the challenge of navigating Canada's economy through the shoals of the pandemic.

"I will look forward to watching politics from the outside, and hopefully contributing in another way."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2020.
Former first lady Michelle Obama launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump on the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday, calling him the "wrong president" for the country and urging Americans to elect Joe Biden in November to end the chaos created by Trump's presidency.

While acknowledging she did not care much for politics, Obama said Biden's steady and empathetic approach to problems was the answer and urged voters to stand in line or do whatever it takes to ensure they can beat Trump.

"Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy," Obama said, adding Trump was "in over his head" as president.

"So if you take one thing from my words tonight, it is this: if you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we dont make a change in this election. If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it."

Obama, whose husband Barack Obama was president when Biden was vice president from 2009-2017, capped a long parade of speakers, including some of Trump's fellow Republicans, who made the case for Biden at the start of his four-day nominating convention.

Former rival Bernie Sanders and prominent Republican John Kasich said Biden's steady approach to problems was needed to confront the coronavirus pandemic, economic woes and racial injustice.

"Joe Biden will end the hate and division Trump has created. He will stop the demonization of immigrants, the coddling of white nationalists, the racist dog whistling, the religious bigotry and the ugly attacks on women," said Sanders, a U.S. senator and Biden's top primary rival.

The coronavirus pandemic forced Biden's Democrats to overhaul the convention, largely eliminating the in-person gathering planned for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and turning it into two-hour, prime-time packages of virtual speeches and events from around the country.

Story continues

The convention featured discussions with voters who described their struggles confronting the virus and coping with the slumping economy and healthcare.

Kristin Urquiza, who lost her father to Covid-19, blamed Trump's mismanagement of the pandemic for his death.

"My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life," she said. "When I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my Dad."

The convention opened amid widespread worries about the safety of voting in November because of the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats have pushed mail-in ballots as a safe alternative, but fear it could be hindered by cost cuts at the Postal Service that, under Louis DeJoy, a top Trump donor, have led to delays in mail service.

"The president may hate the Post Office, but he's still going to have to send them a change of address card come January," said U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who ran unsuccessfully against Biden in the 2020 primary.

The convention also highlighted a call for a broad racial reckoning over systemic racism and police brutality amid protests that broke out after the death of African American George Floyd in Minnesota under the knee of a white policeman.

Speaking from Houston, Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd introduced a moment of silence and honored other Black victims of police violence.

"So, it's up to us to carry on the fight for justice. Our actions will be their legacies," Floyd said.

A video showed Biden speaking virtually with activists and officials around the country about ways to battle racism.

Jim Clyburn, the influential U.S. Representative from South Carolina whose endorsement of Biden was critical to his breakthrough primary victory in that state in February, said Biden understood the need to unify people was part of presidential leadership.

Kasich, a former Ohio governor and frequent Trump critic who lost to Trump in the 2016 Republican primary, described his opposition to Trump as a patriotic duty and said the country was at a crossroads.

Standing literally at a fork in a road, he called Biden "a man who can help us see the humanity in each other."

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said Kasich "was a loser as a Republican and he'll be a loser as a Democrat."

Other Republicans on the speakers list included former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman and former Hewlett Packard Enterprise Chief Executive Meg Whitman.

"Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business, let alone an economy. Joe Biden, on the other hand has a plan that will strengthen our economy for working people and small business owners," Meg Whitman said.

The inclusion of Republican speakers angered some Democrats who voiced concern it would take time away from progressive speakers like Sanders of Vermont and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

But Cedric Richmond, a Louisiana congressman and Biden campaign co-chair, pushed back against that idea, telling reporters earlier in the day, "Remember tonight's theme is 'We the People,' not 'We the Democrats.'"

In a break with tradition, Trump looked to steal Biden's spotlight by crisscrossing the United States in a campaign swing to Wisconsin and Minnesota. Candidates usually limit their activities during their opponents' convention week.

Biden, 77, leads Trump, 74, in national opinion polls heading into back-to-back convention weeks for the two political parties. Trump will be formally nominated for a second term at next week's Republican National Convention, which also has been scaled back due to coronavirus concerns.

(REUTERS)
Getting into college can be tedious as one has to decide on a course and then pick a good college where that course can be offered. The good thing is that there is no shortage of public colleges in Nairobi to choose from. In such a case, students have to look at several things before deciding on the college to join.

Image: gettyimages.com

Source: UGC

While you are looking for a public college in Nairobi, you might want to decide on the location of a particular college. Many institutions are found within the CBD, which could be a good thing, but there are also challenges such as traffic jams during peak hours and high transport costs.

The fees for a particular course may also vary from one institution to another; hence a student should have a range of options before picking one. In most cases, public colleges in Nairobi County tend to be cheaper than private ones because of government funding.

Public colleges in Nairobi

Most students tend to rush for universities at the expense of colleges. However, things have changed, and some students who qualified for placement into public universities are continually opting for a college education. Here is a list of public institutions in Nairobi that you can enrol in:

1. College of Human Resource Management

Image: twitter.com, @Ihrm_Kenya

Source: UGC

College of Human Resource Management, which was formerly known as IHRM College, was established in 1997 at the training arm of the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM). IHRM is a statutory professional body that regulates the human resource profession in Kenya through an Act of Parliament - HRMP Act 2012.

The institution develops the human resource needed for the management of people in work settings. The main campuses are found in the CBD. Courses offered range from certificate, diploma, higher diploma and certified professional programs. IHRM is one of the colleges offering public relations in Nairobi.

Contacts

Physical location : Ufundi Coop Plaza, 1st, 3rd & 4th Floors, and 3rd floor of Caxton House

: Ufundi Coop Plaza, 1st, 3rd & 4th Floors, and 3rd floor of Caxton House Postal address: P.O Box 4322-00200, Nairobi, Kenya

P.O Box 4322-00200, Nairobi, Kenya Telephone number : +254 (0) 202217490, +254 (0) 2217979

: +254 (0) 202217490, +254 (0) 2217979 Mobile number : 0727792122, 0718781513

: 0727792122, 0718781513 Email address: info@chrm.or.ke, college@chrm.or.ke

info@chrm.or.ke, college@chrm.or.ke Website: chrm.or.ke

2. East African School of Aviation

Image: twitter.com, @EASAKenya

Source: UGC

There is no doubt that the East African School of Aviation (EASA) is one of the prestigious public colleges found in Nairobi. It is the Training Directorate of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). The school is an Approved Training Organization (ATO).

EASA serves as an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Regional Training Center of Excellence (RTCE). Apart from being among the best-equipped Civil Aviation Training Centers in Africa, it is also a designated centre of excellence by EAC for Northern Corridor partner states.

Contacts

Physical location : Embakasi, Off Airport North Road

: Embakasi, Off Airport North Road Postal address : P.O. Box 30689-00100 Nairobi, Kenya

: P.O. Box 30689-00100 Nairobi, Kenya Mobile number: +254716164229, +254716164230, +254788777724, +254788777721

+254716164229, +254716164230, +254788777724, +254788777721 Email address: info@easa.ac.ke

info@easa.ac.ke Website: easa.ac.ke

READ ALSO: Most marketable courses in Kenya 2020

3. Kenya Institute of Special Education

Image: twitter.com, @KISEKenya

Source: UGC

Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) is a semi-autonomous government agency. The Ministry of Education created it through Legal Notice No. 17 of 14th February 1986.

The institution focuses on human capacity development to facilitate service provision for people with special needs. Some of the programs offered include autism, hearing impairment, and intellectual disabilities.

Contacts

Physical location: Kasarani, Thika Superhighway Exit 8, Off Kasarani-Mwiki Rd

Kasarani, Thika Superhighway Exit 8, Off Kasarani-Mwiki Rd Postal address : P. O. Box 48413 - 00100 NAIROBI, KENYA

: P. O. Box 48413 - 00100 NAIROBI, KENYA Mobile number: +254-724-269505, +254-20- 8007977

+254-724-269505, +254-20- 8007977 Email address : info@kise.ac.ke

: info@kise.ac.ke Website: kise.ac.ke

4. Kenya School of Monetary Studies

Image: twitter.com, @KSMSKenya

Source: UGC

When it comes to public colleges in Nairobi Kenya, Kenya School of Monetary Studies features prominently. KSMS was established as a school of the Central Bank of Kenya. It was registered in 1997 as a corporate entity, limited by guarantee under the Companies Act.

The mandate of this institution is to build capacity for the banking sector. It also supports Central Bank to deliver on its core mandate, which is fostering a stable and well-functioning financial system. It was established by CBK and Ministry of Finance to offer specialised education and training programs in finance, banking, economics and other related studies.

Contacts

Physical location : Mathare North Road, Off Thika Super Highway

: Mathare North Road, Off Thika Super Highway Postal address: P.O. Box 65041-00618 Nairobi, Kenya

P.O. Box 65041-00618 Nairobi, Kenya Mobile number: (+254) 20 8646000

(+254) 20 8646000 Email address: ksmscommunications@ksms.or.ke

ksmscommunications@ksms.or.ke Website: ksms.or.ke

READ ALSO: List of national schools in Kenya in 2020

5. Kenya Medical Training College

Image: twitter.com, @Kmtc_official

Source: UGC

Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) headquarters is found about three kilometres on the northern side of Nairobi city. It is one of the best public health colleges in Nairobi. The institution offers more than 76 medical courses.

This makes KMTC one of the biggest public colleges in Nairobi, contributing to the health sector in the country. The school attracts students from as far as Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi. If you are interested in colleges in Nairobi offering public health, then this is a good place to start.

Contacts

Physical location : Off Ngong Road

: Off Ngong Road Postal address: P.O. BOX 30195-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

P.O. BOX 30195-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Email address : info@kmtc.ac.ke

: info@kmtc.ac.ke Website: kmtc.ac.ke

6. Kenya Institute of Mass Communication

Image: twitter.com, @kimc_nbi

Source: UGC

Kenya Institute of Mass Communication was originally called Voice of Kenya Training School. The institution was established in 1961. It was mandated to train electronic engineering and technicians for KBC. The school offers radio and television production courses, and electronic and studio technology.

The school is funded by the Kenyan government to train media middle level personnel. In 2011, the institution was transformed into a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency (SAGA) under Legal Notice No. 197 of 2011.

Contacts

Physical location: Uholo Road, Off Mombasa Road

Uholo Road, Off Mombasa Road Postal address : P.O. Box 42422  00100 Nairobi, Kenya

: P.O. Box 42422  00100 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (+254) 020 6997000

(+254) 020 6997000 Mobile number: +254-708-262-895

+254-708-262-895 Website: kimc.ac.ke

READ ALSO: Most popular high schools in Kenya

7. Kenya Technical Trainers College

Image: twitter.com, @kttc_kenya

Source: UGC

Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC) is a public institution under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology. It was established to train technically skilled personnel to teach in technical institutions and be employed in other sectors. It derives its authority from the Education Act Cap 211 (Revised in 1980) and Legal Notice No. 242 of 1978.

Contacts

Physical location : Gigiri area of Nairobi along Limuru Road next to U.N. Offices

: Gigiri area of Nairobi along Limuru Road next to U.N. Offices Postal address: P.O. Box 44600 - 00100

P.O. Box 44600 - 00100 Website: kttc.ac.ke

Most public colleges in Nairobi offer programmes in different areas of studies. Students can enrol for the certificate, diploma, artisan, and degree courses at some of these institutions. Professional courses are also available that enabled individuals to advance their knowledge in their areas of specialisation.

Tuko.co.ke outlined on Thursday some of the private colleges in Nairobi. The courses offered and location of these institutions was also highlighted.

These private institutes have been approved by Kenya's Ministry of Education and other international regulatory bodies. The private institutions have their individual goals, policies, and they are privately funded.

READ ALSO:

Best courses for A or A- students in 2020

Best courses for B+, B, or B- students in 2020

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Saudi Arabia records lowest temperature in 30 years

Erdogan's visit to Ukraine scheduled for February 3

Russian peacekeeping contingent establishes order of passage through Lachin corridor

French Senate votes to ban hijab at sporting events

Armenian FM: All necessary conditions to be created for Demarcation Commission work

Olaf Scholz: Borders in Europe cannot be changed by force

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
Activist Gemma O'Doherty has denied claims she tried to evade service of defamation proceedings brought against her by Jimmy Guerin, the brother of murdered journalist Veronica Guerin.

On Tuesday Ms O'Doherty told Mr Justice Richard Humphreys that defamation proceedings against her are vexatious and an "outrageous attempt" to silence her from revealing corruption, which she said "will not happen."

She also told the court that the publication of her purported home address in media reports of court proceedings where it was alleged she was trying to evade service had endangered her privacy and her safety.

Representing herself Ms O'Doherty, said she is a "well respected" and "a multi award-winning journalist" with over "two million followers".

However, she said has "received death threats" and had been "assaulted" due to her work as an investigative reporter, and expressed her concern that 'Antifa' may try to harm her.

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She also said that she had to take extra security precautions at the address, which cannot be published due to an order of the court.

In his action Mr Guerin, who is an independent councillor on Fingal County Council, claims he was defamed in comments allegedly posted by Ms O'Doherty about him on her Facebook and Twitter accounts in July 2019.

He seeks damages, including aggravated and punitive damages, as well as injunctions permanently prohibiting the continued publication of the comments at the centre of the action.

The Howth-based councillor further seeks an order restraining Ms O'Doherty from publishing similar statements about him in the future.

Last week, following an ex-parte application, Mr Guerin's lawyers secured various orders against Ms O'Doherty, including one deeming that she has been formally served with the summons outlining the action against her.

In their application Mr Guerin's lawyers claimed Ms O'Doherty had been "actively trying to evade service," of the proceedings she said were brought against her in order to stop her speaking out about Garda involvement in the murder of Veronica Guerin and the protection of paedophiles by the gardai.

On Tuesday Ms O'Doherty said the claim she had tried to evade service, of documents she said she had already been served, was "utterly untrue."

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On an ex-parte basis, she sought various orders varying the orders made last week. The orders she seeks include one directing the service of any documents on her to an alternative address in Dublin or by email.

She sought orders preventing media publication of her purported home address. She also intends to have Mr Guerin's action against her struck out.

During her submissions Ms O'Doherty was critical of the media reporting of last week's application, which she said was "derogatory, defamatory and vicious".

She was further critical of both Mr Guerin and his legal team, and made allegations that the court had been misled and that perjury had been committed, and a complaint has been made to the gardai.

Mr Justice Humphreys said he was prepared to make orders preventing the media publishing her home address.

However, he was not prepared to grant her any further orders in the absence of other side, and adjourned the matter to Wednesday's sitting of the court.

Ms O'Doherty however objected to the matter being adjourned. She said the order she sought should be granted as the other side had obtained orders against her when she was not in court.

In reply the judge said the matter would have to be heard in the presence of both sides. While Ms O'Doherty might not like it "that is how the law works" the Judge said.
Sudan's transitional government has signed a provisional peace deal with a leading rebel group that foresees its fighters being integrated into the army by November 2023, ending decades of conflict.

The transitional government, which took power after the army overthrew longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir last year, has been holding talks in neighbouring South Sudan since last October with the four main rebel factions that have yet to lay down their arms.

The deal with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) covers Blue Nile state and the Nuba mountains of South Kordofan, where the rebels continued fighting after South Sudan won independence in 2011.

In a major breakthrough, it sets out future security arrangements between Khartoum and the SPLM-N, the official SUNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

Measures agreed include a ban on the recruitment of child soldiers and an undertaking not to advance beyond the current lines of control.

The 50-page document, signed on Monday in the South Sudan capital Juba and seen by AFP, said "the two parties have agreed on arrangements for the integration, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of fighters of the SPLM-N".

It noted "the revolution and change that took place in Sudan is an exceptional opportunity... to build and develop a professional national army that reflects the diversity of Sudan".

The transitional government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has made peacemaking with the SPLM-N and other rebel factions based in Sudan's vast western region of Darfur one of its top priorities.

The rebel groups are largely drawn from non-Arab minority groups that long railed against Arab domination of successive governments in Khartoum.

The talks' chief mediator, Tutkew Gatluak, an adviser to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, said a comprehensive agreement between the Khartoum government and all four rebel groups would be signed on August 28.

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Former Gov. Christie Todd Whitman, who once co-chaired a Republican convention and served in a Republican adminstration, spoke at the Democratic convention Monday night to endorse Joe Biden for president.

What am I doing here? said Whitman, whose parents were introduced by their parents at a Republican National Convention. Im a lifelong Republican.

Whltman was the first of four Republicans to speak during the first night of the of the 2020 Democratic National Convention under the theme, We the People Putting Country over Party.

This isnt about a Republican or Democrat, Whitman said. Its about a person, a person decent enough, stable enough, strong enough to get our economy back on track, a person who can work with everyone, Democrats and Republicans, to get things done. Donald Trump isnt that person. Joe Biden is.

Whitmans father, Webster Todd, served as state party chairman for a decade and was an adviser to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Her mother, Eleanor Todd, was a national committeewoman and a former vice chairwoman of the Republican National Committee.

Even as a kid, she pitched her tent in the GOP, meeting Eisenhower at age 6 and selling lemonade at age 14 to raise money for Richard Nixons 1960 presidential campaign.

She served two terms as governor, the only woman to hold the post in New Jersey, and campaigned around the country for fellow Republicans.

That led to speculation about her becoming the GOP nominee for vice president in 1996.

Even Nixon raised that possibility. In 1996, we should have a woman on the ticket. Has to be a governor -- executive experience. Christie Whitman would be a real sleeper, he said.

The talk increased after Whitman was tapped to deliver the Republican response to President Bill Clintons 1995 State of the Union address.

When 1996 rolled around, Whitman and Texas Gov. George W. Bush co-chaired the Republican convention in San Diego. Four years later, Whitman worked to make Bush president. She served in his administration as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Despite her Republican bonafides, Whitman has opposed Trump since the beginning, supporting Hillary Clinton for president in 2016 and saying it was mind boggling that Senate Republicans voted to block witnesses in the Senate trial after he became only the third president ever to be impeached by the House.

State Republican Chairman Doug Steinhardt said Whitman should become a Democrat and offered to donate the postage stamp to mail in her change of registration form.

Politics is about making choices, Steinhardt said. Governor Whitman made the choice to appear at the Democratic National Convention, speaking on the same evening as Socialist Bernie Sanders. I dont begrudge her that right, after all, this is America.

But, no one in America should ever think that Christie Whitman represents the values of the New Jersey Republican Party.

Whitman was followed by business executive Meg Whitman, who had a prominent role in Mitt Romneys 2008 and 2012 GOP presidential campaigns; former Rep. Susan Molinari of New York, the 1996 Republican convention keynote speaker; and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who ran against Donald Trump for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

The speeches were an effort to woo disaffected Republicans and independent voters who disapprove of Trump and might be amenable to supporting Biden, the former vice president who campaigned as a more moderate alternative to far more progressive candidates such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who also was speaking Monday night.

In a Monmouth University poll released earlier this month, 10% of Republicans and 59% of independents had an unfavorable view of the president.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.
How complete is our census of the Suns closest neighbors? Astronomers using NSFs NOIRLab facilities and a team of data-sleuthing volunteers participating in Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, a citizen science project, have discovered roughly 100 cool worlds near the Sun  objects more massive than planets but lighter than stars, known as brown dwarfs. Several of these newly discovered worlds are among the very coolest known, with a few approaching the temperature of Earth  cool enough to harbor water clouds.

Discovering and characterizing astronomical objects near the Sun is fundamental to our understanding of our place in, and the history of, the Universe. Yet astronomers are still unearthing new residents of the Solar neighborhood. A remarkable breakthrough was announced today, with the discovery of roughly 100 cool brown dwarfs near the Sun [1]. The new Backyard Worlds discoveries bridge a previously empty gap in the range of low-temperature brown dwarfs, identifying a long-sought missing link within the brown dwarf population.

These cool worlds offer the opportunity for new insights into the formation and atmospheres of planets beyond the Solar System, said Aaron Meisner from the National Science Foundations NOIRLab and the lead author of the research paper. This collection of cool brown dwarfs also allows us to accurately estimate the number of free-floating worlds roaming interstellar space near the Sun.

This major advancement was made possible with archival data from the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) and the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), which were made available through the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), all programs of NSFs NOIRLab. Large survey data sets were then made available to the Backyard Worlds volunteers using NOIRLabs Astro Data Lab science platform. The results, to be published in TheAstrophysical Journal, demonstrate the rapidly growing role of survey and archival data research in astronomy today.

Brown dwarfs lie somewhere between the most massive planets and the smallest stars. Lacking the mass needed to sustain nuclear reactions in their core, brown dwarfs resemble cooling embers. Their low mass, low temperature and lack of internal nuclear reactions make them extremely faint  and therefore extremely difficult to detect. Because of this, when searching for the very coolest brown dwarfs, astronomers can only hope to detect such objects relatively close to the Sun.

To help find our Suns coldest and nearest neighbors, the astronomers of the Backyard Worlds project turned to a worldwide network of more than 100,000 citizen scientists [2]. These volunteers diligently inspect trillions of pixels of telescope images to identify the subtle movements of brown dwarfs and planets. Despite the abilities of machine learning and supercomputers, theres no substitute for the human eye when it comes to scouring telescope images for moving objects.

The keen eyes of the Backyard Worlds volunteers have already discovered more than 1,500 cold worlds near to the Sun, and todays paper presents roughly 100 of the coldest in that sample. According to Meisner, this is a record for any citizen science program by a factor of about 20, and 20 citizen scientists are listed as co-authors of the study. A handful of these cool worlds  which are among the very coldest brown dwarfs known  approach the temperature of Earth. NASAs Spitzer Space Telescope provided the brown dwarf temperature estimates [3].

Brown dwarfs are expected to cool as they age, passing from near-stellar temperatures down to planetary temperatures and below, fading all the while and eventually winking out. The new discoveries attest to this picture by uncovering elusive examples of brown dwarfs approaching Earth-temperature.

This paper is evidence that the solar neighborhood is still uncharted territory and citizen scientists are excellent astronomical cartographers, said co-author Jackie Faherty of the American Museum of Natural History. Mapping the coldest brown dwarfs down to the lowest masses gives us key insights into the low-mass star formation process while providing a target list for detailed studies of the atmospheres of Jupiter analogs.

Citizen scientist, Astro Data Lab user, and paper co-author Jim Walla added, Its awesome to know that our discoveries are now counted among the Suns neighbors and will be targets of further research.

Alongside the dedicated efforts of the Backyard Worlds volunteers, NOIRLabs Astro Data Lab was instrumental in this research. The technical burden of downloading billion-object astronomical catalogs is typically insurmountable for individual investigators  including most professional astronomers. AstroData Labs open and accessible web portal allowed Backyard Worlds citizen scientists to easily query massive catalogs for brown dwarf candidates, explained NOIRLab astronomer Stephanie Juneau, who helped introduce the citizen scientists to Astro Data Lab. Astro Data Lab also enables convenient matching between data sets from NOIRLab telescopes and external facilities, such as NASAs WISE satellite, that jointly contributed to these brown dwarf discoveries.

In addition to Astro Data Labs making data accessible to the Backyard Worlds collaboration, archival observations by telescopes at two other NOIRLab Programs  CTIO and KPNO  were also key to this discovery. Wide-area imaging from NOIRLabs Mayall and Blanco telescopes was also critical, explained Aaron Meisner. To select only the very coldest brown dwarfs, we inspected deep images from a variety of sensitive astronomical surveys.

Its great to see such thrilling results from NOIRLabs efforts to broaden participation in astronomy research, said Chris Davis of the National Science Foundation, the US agency that supports operations at the Kitt Peak and Cerro Tololo observatories and at CSDC. By making archival data from NSFs Mayall and Blanco telescopes publicly available and easily accessible through CSDC, folks with a fascination for astronomy can make a real contribution to science and to our understanding of the Universe.

The approach of the Backyard Worlds project  searching for rare objects in large data sets  is also one of the goals for the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory [4]. Currently under construction on Cerro Pachon in the Chilean Andes, Rubin Observatory will image the visible sky from the southern hemisphere every three nights over ten years, providing a vast amount of data that will enable new ways of doing astrophysical research.

Vast modern data sets can unlock landmark discoveries, and its exciting that these could be spotted first by a citizen scientist, concludes Aaron Meisner. These Backyard Worlds discoveries show that members of the public can play an important role in reshaping our scientific understanding of our solar neighborhood.

###

Notes

[1] The closest of these new discoveries is roughly 23 light-years away from the Sun. Many more of these brown dwarfs are in the 3060 light-year distance range.

[2] Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 is hosted by Zooniverse.

[3] Complementary follow-up observations were also supplied by Keck Observatory, Mont Megantic Observatory, and Carnegie Institution for Sciences Las Campanas Observatory.

[4] Rubin Observatory and Department of Energy (DOE) Legacy Survey of Space and Time Camera are operated by NSFs NOIRLab and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC).

More information

This research was presented in the paper Spitzer Follow-up of Extremely Cold Brown Dwarfs Discovered by the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 Citizen Science Project to appear in The Astrophysical Journal.

The team is composed of Aaron M. Meisner (NSFs NOIRLab), Jacqueline K. Faherty (Department of Astrophysics, American Museum of Natural History), J. Davy Kirkpatrick (IPAC, California Institute of Technology), Adam C. Schneider (School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University), Dan Caselden (Gigamon Applied Threat Research), Jonathan Gagne (Institute for Research on Exoplanets, Universite de Montreal), Marc J. Kuchner (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Adam J. Burgasser (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), Sarah L. Casewell (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester), John H. Debes (ESA for AURA, Space Telescope Science Institute), Etienne Artigau (Institute for Research on Exoplanets, Universite de Montreal), Daniella C. Bardalez Gagliuffi (Department of Astrophysics, American Museum of Natural History), Sarah E. Logsdon (NSFs NOIRLab), Rocio Kiman (Department of Astrophysics, American Museum of Natural History & Department of Physics, City University of New York), Katelyn Allers (Physics and Astronomy Department, Bucknell University), Chih-chun Hsu (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), John P. Wisniewski (Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma), Michaela B. Allen (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Paul Beaulieu (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Guillaume Colin (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Hugo A. Durantini Luca (IATE-OAC, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba-CONICET), Sam Goodman (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Leopold Gramaize (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Leslie K. Hamlet (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Ken Hinckley (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Frank Kiwy (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), David W. Martin (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), William Pendrill (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Austin Rothermich (Physics Department, University Of Central Florida), Arttu Sainio (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Jorg Schumann (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Nikolaj Stevnbak Andersen (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Christopher Tanner (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Vinod Thakur (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Melina Thevenot (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Jim Walla (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Zbigniew Wedracki (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Christian Aganze (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), Roman Gerasimov (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), Christopher Theissen (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), and The Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 Collaboration.

NSFs National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), the US center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the international Gemini Observatory (a facility of NSF, NRCCanada, ANIDChile, MCTICBrazil, MINCyTArgentina, and KASIRepublic of Korea), Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The astronomical community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on Iolkam Duag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawaii, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachon in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that these sites have to the Tohono Oodham Nation, to the Native Hawaiian community, and to the local communities in Chile, respectively.

Links

Contacts:

Aaron Meisner

Astronomer at NSFs NOIRLab

Cell: +1 650-714-8643

Email: ameisner@noao.edu

Peter Michaud

NewsTeam Manager

NSFs NOIRLab

Gemini Observatory, Hilo HI

Cell: +1 808-936-6643

Email: pmichaud@gemini.edu

Amanda Kocz

Press and Internal Communications Officer

NSFs NOIRLab

Cell: +1 626 524 5884

Email: akocz@aura-astronomy.org
In a landmark decision, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced that government jobs will now be reserved for domicile certificate holders of the state. This means that natives of other states will not be able to apply for government jobs in MP.

Formalities related to this decision will be completed shortly, sources in the Chief Minister's Office told News18.

The Madhya Pradesh government today has taken an important decision of offering government jobs to only local youths. We are making necessary legal arrangements for this, Chouhan said in a video message.

The announcement is widely seen as a move aimed at wooing voters ahead of the crucial bypolls to 27 assembly seats in the state.

Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel called the decision a welcome step, adding that necessary amendments would be introduced to ensure only those who have cleared their Class 12 examinations from MP are eligible for government jobs. This will ensure local kids right to state resources, he said.

After Kamal Nath took charge as chief minister in 2018, he had announced that 70% of jobs in the private sector will be reserved for local youths.

Reacting to Chouhans announcement, Congress MLA Kunal Chaudhary said the move came "better late than never", adding that the chief minister has finally realised that youth of the state need jobs. They did not remember when outsiders were forced into government jobs through Vyapam scam, said Chaudhary.

Chaudhary claimed that the unemployment rate has risen to 28% in MP, adding that mere announcements would not suffice and proper mechanism is needed. He said the Congress government had ensured 70% jobs to local youths in the private sector.

"They need to ensure that government vacancies are advertised in the first place, which is hardly happening in MP," Chaudhary alleged.
GCC: Iran's strong reaction to UAE-Israel normalization 'a threat'

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 5:21 AM

The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has reacted with outrage to Iran's strong opposition to a recent deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize relations.

In a statement on Sunday, the regional grouping's Secretary-General Nayef Falah Mubarak al-Hajraf alleged that the position adopted by various Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, amounted to a "threat," Sky News Arabia reported.

Such remarks, Hajraf claimed, served to foment instability and insecurity in the Persian Gulf region and ran counter to the standing diplomatic customs.

The United Arab Emirates and Israel announced the deal that laid the groundwork for full normalization of their relations on Thursday.

The agreement was met with uniform condemnation of all Palestinian factions, who called it a stab in the back of the Palestinians and sheer betrayal of their cause

The Emirati Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, summoned Iran's charge d'affaires in Abu Dhabi in reaction to the Iranian president's remarks, which it alleged amounted to "interference" in the UAE's internal affairs and an "assault" on its sovereignty, the Emirates' official WAM news agency reported..

The Iranian envoy was served with a "strongly-worded memo" over the "unacceptable" and "inflammatory" remarks, echoing the GCC's allegations that Rouhani's words carried "serious repercussions" for the security and stability of the Persian Gulf region, the agency added, citing the ministry.

Lambasting the move, President Rouhani warned Abu Dhabi about the consequences of allowing the Tel Aviv regime to secure a foothold in the region and wield influence.

He said Emirati rulers had taken a wrong path to think that their security and economic growth would be ensured if they sided with the United States and the Israeli regime, similarly denouncing the deal as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said normalization between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv served to further galvanize regional people against the occupying regime, thus bringing its ultimate disintegration closer.

The GCC official suggested though that by assuming such stances, the Islamic Republic was avoiding a "peaceful" resolution of the existing differences with its fellow Persian Gulf littoral states, and neglecting the principles of good-neighborliness.

Tehran has repeatedly expressed readiness for participation in a dialog aimed at ironing out the differences.

It, however, has cautioned against foreign meddling, including by the US and its allies, asserting that the region's problems have to be sorted out by its own members. Tehran has invited the regional states to join their efforts to ensure security without any foreign interference.

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Maharashtra reported 422 new Covid-19 fatalities on Tuesday, taking the states toll up to 20,687, while 11,119 fresh infections pushed up the case count to 615,477. Of the 422 deaths, however, 327 were from the past 48 hours, 67 from last week and 28 are from the period before last week, according to the state health department.

The state authorities are currently wary of a spike in cases if people crowd places during Ganeshotsav, which begins on Saturday. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who has expressed concern about a second wave and warned authorities, told the latter on Tuesday to be extra cautious during the festival.

Mumbai, meanwhile, recor-ded 931 Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, taking its tally of infections to 130,410. The citys toll rose by 49 to 7,222. While cases in Mumbai have plateaued over the past month, Pune district, which comprises Pune City, Pune Rural and Pimpri-Chinchwad, remains the worst affected in terms of daily rise in cases and fatalities. On Tuesday, Pune City reported 1,267 new cases, Pimpri-Chinchwad 747 and Pune Rural 418. Of the 89 deaths recorded in the district, 54 were from Pune City, 16 from Pune Rural and 19 from Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The states case fatality rate (CFR), which has been a cause for concern for the government, is still high at 3.36% against the national CFR of 1.94%.

Maharashtras recovery rate stands at 71.14%, as 9,356 patients recovered on Tuesday, taking the total number of recovered patients to 437,870. The active Covid-19 cases in state stand at 156,608.

Meanwhile, authorities are gearing up to counter a spike in cases this month-end or early September owing to crowding during Ganeshotsav. Although most parts of the state are witnessing their peak and the downward trend of infection is expected to begin by August-end, authorities and the state-level task force appointed for the clinical management of the critical patients are wary.

During todays meeting with the collectors and divisional commissioners the chief minister has asked them to be very careful about crowding during the festival. He has asked district authorities to increase lockdown curbs during the festival and rigorously follow state guidelines. The public mandals have been asked to arrange for online darshan of Ganpati idols to avoid crowding. The CM has also been asking authorities, during review meetings, to ensure that there is no emergence of a second wave in any of the districts, said a state official, on the condition of anonymity.

Health minister Rajesh Tope said they expect the downward trend of the Covid-19 infection after mid-September. We have been witnessing peaks across the state, but are not sure how long it will last. We have been witnessing stabilisation of cases in Malegaon, Dharavi and the spread is in control in Aurangabad. In most places, the spread has been plateaued and now the downward trend is expected, he said, adding that district and civic authorities have been asked to go for aggressive tracking and testing and also ensure that fatality rate remains low.

The CM, in the meeting with district-level officials, said parts of Maharashtra have reached their peak of Covid-19 cases, while some parts are close to getting there. therefore, the measures adopted till now should be implemented effectively further and without any laxity, a statement from the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) quoted Thackeray.

The chief minister also urged public Ganpati mandals to implement the guidelines issued by home department. There will not be any processions, as per guidelines, but all precautions must be taken so that there is no crowding. It is the utmost importance to see to it that spread of coronavirus does not increase due to it, the statement further said.

Dr Avinash Bhondve, Maharashtra president of Indian Medical Association, said, After plateau, there will be fall in the cases by month-end but there is upsurge expected if the curbs are not followed properly. This may or may not be necessarily because of Ganeshotsav.

Thackeray, during the meeting, said while cases have come under control in some areas, some other districts have seen a surge in the number of patients. Thackeray directed district administrations to take guidance from the state-level Covid task force to reduce the case fatality rate. He said districts, where more patients are testing positive for coronavirus, must ensure an adequate number of ICU beds and beds with oxygen supply.

Meanwhile, Tope said the state-level Covid task force will also study the cases where people who have recovered from Covid-19 are facing respiratory issues. The health minister said the topic was discussed at length during the review meeting on Tuesday.

Recently there have been cases where recovered people are facing respiratory problems and have to be admitted. Till now, we believed that the recovered patients have built an immunity to fight the virus and that they will not face any health issues. We are seeing a new form of Covid-19. In most districts we are seeing virulence and resistance by Covid-19. The task force will carry out a study on this. We will consult the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Tope said, after attending the CMs review meeting.

Tope said he is for opening up of gymnasiums in the state, however, the final decision rests with the chief minister. Under the Disaster Management Act, the chief minister has the authority to announce relaxations. As health minister, my stand is and has been that there is no harm to open up gymnasiums while maintaining social distancing. There are several people who want gyms to be opened as it helps in building immunity. The chief minister is concerned about social distancing. But for that we can issue standard operating procedure (SOP) to open up gyms, he said.

The minister said that some areas that had experienced a surge in cases are now under control. He added that following the measures will remain crucial. In several areas such as Dharavi, Aurangabad city, Malegaon, etc, the situation is now under control. The cases there have plateaued. How high the peak will be [in a particular area] is impossible to say. We have seen that the curve is flattening where antibodies have developed in 25-30 per cent [of the population]. We will have to wait and watch, but will have to continue following out protocol in a mission mode, said Tope.
Thousands gathered in Buenos Aires and other Argentine cities on Monday to reject the management of President Alberto Fernandez and his decision to extend the quarantine, amid the increase in coronavirus infections.

The so-called "Patriotic Flag" protest which occurred during the holiday for the 170th anniversary of the death of the liberator Jose de San Martin encompassed various complaints including security concerns, economic deterioration and government plans to reform justice, supposedly to protect to the Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in the cases that she is prosecuted for alleged corruption.

She served as president from 2007-2015. This is the third time that the opposition sectors have protested during the quarantine.They have already held marches on June 20 and July 9. As of Monday, Argentina had reported more than 295,000 COVID-19 cases and 5,703 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
GUATEMALA CITY Guatemalas president said Monday that a group of attackers trying to take possession of a ranch were responsible for a weekend attack on an Indigenous community that left about 15 houses burned.

President Alejandro Giammattei said the attackers have been identified and that warrants have been issued for their arrest.

On Saturday, armed men attacked the hamlet of Cubilgitz, near the northern town of Cobn. They forced out about 40 families belonging to the qeqchi Indigenous group and burned their homes. There were no reported injuries.

The ranch land is apparently in dispute because of legal conflicts. The families lost most of their possessions.

The countrys top human rights prosecutor, Jordn Rodas, has called for a rapid investigation and government aid for the victims.

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
Op-ed by former Homeland Security chief of staff comes on the day Democrats kick-off a four-day virtual convention.

A former high-ranking Trump administration official has endorsed Democratic challenger Joe Biden for Novembers election and said the United States is less secure under President Donald Trump.

Miles Taylor, who served at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) between 2017 and 2019, including as chief of staff, on Monday said he witnessed the damning results first-hand of what he called Trumps personal deficiencies.

I can attest that the country is less secure as a direct result of the presidents actions, Taylor wrote in an op-ed published in the Washington Post on the day the Democrats kick-off a four-day virtual convention to nominate Biden.

Today, the nation has fewer friends and stronger enemies than when Trump took office.

In a statement, White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere called Taylor another creature of the DC Swamp who never understood the importance of the Presidents agenda or why the American people elected him and clearly just wants to cash-in.

The DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Taylor is one of the most senior former Trump officials to endorse Biden, the former vice president who has a lead in most opinion polls for the November 3 election. He called Trumps presidency dangerously chaotic.

Even though Im not a Democrat, even though I disagree on key issues, Im confident that Joe Biden will protect the country and Im confident he wont make the same mistakes as this president, Taylor said in an advertisement to support Biden released on Monday by Republican Voters Against Trump, an anti-Trump advocacy group.

Trumps inappropriate and often absurd executive requests meant the DHS staffers were regularly taken away from dealing with genuine security concerns, Taylor said in his op-ed.

One morning it might be a demand to shut off congressionally appropriated funds to a foreign ally that had angered him, and that evening it might be a request to sharpen the spikes atop the border wall, so theyd be more damaging to human flesh, he wrote.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 13:21 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ec27e8 1 National Kutai-Barat,West-Kalimantan,dead-body Free

Police are investigating a 70-year-old man who placed the dead body of his 47-year-old wife in the water tank at the couple's home in Kutai Barat, West Kalimantan.

Kutai Barat Police criminal investigation head Adj.Comr. Iswanto said that the man, identified only as NHD, told officers that he placed his late wife's body in the water tank to fulfill her final wish.

"He claimed that before his wife passed away, she told him that she did not want to be away from her family. That's why he decided to put her body in the water tank," Iswanto said on Sunday as quoted in tribunnews.com.

The tribunnews.com report did not mention whether the tank contained water or was empty, nor if it was in use at the household.

Iswanto said that despite the man's claim, however, the police had opened an investigation into the case.

"We have conducted an external examination of the [wife's] body and found no injuries. A forensic team from AW Sjahranie hospital in Samarinda also conducted an autopsy of the body and found no signs of violence," he added.

He explained that the hospital's forensic team had collected samples from the body to determine the woman's cause of death, with the lab results expected next week.

"Besides waiting for the complete results of the autopsy, we are also questioning several witnesses," Iswanto added and that NHD remained free because police had not gathered enough evidence to warrant his arrest.

Police discovered the body of NHD's wife on Friday after reports from local residents concerned about the woman's whereabouts. NHD reportedly told police that his wife had died from liver disease five days before her body was found. (nal)
Students sit an exam in a computer room at a technical school in Jinan, Shandong Province, China, on January 29, 2018. (GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

Notepad++ Software Banned in China for Supporting Hong Kong, Xinjiang

The free text editing software Notepad++ announced on its official Twitter account on Aug. 16 that the companys website was blocked by Chinas Tencent Website Security Center.

The software company said the ban was obviously due to its #FreeUyghur and #StandWithHongKong versions of the software.

Notepad++ has actively supported the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, where Beijing has recently enacted a draconian national security law to criminalize any acts of subversion, secession, and collusion with foreign forces against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime. Last month, the company named its latest software version Stand with Hong Kong.

According to a screenshot Notepad++ posted on Twitter, when a user tries to access the download page of Notepad++s official website in China, a warning issued by the Tencent Website Security Center pops up, stating this site may contain illegal content. It also states that this site has been reported by a large number of users. It may have posted content that is explicitly prohibited by the state. To protect your personal and property safety, we recommend that you visit with caution.

Many netizens left messages on Twitter congratulating the software for obtaining the privilege of being blocked in China.

Some tweets expressing support were: Congratulations on being blocked by the CCP. Achievement unlocked!, and Being blocked by the CCP means you are doing the right thing!

Notepad++ is a popular text editing software developed by Chinese-French developer Don Ho, who has been concerned about human rights issues and social affairs. In April this year, the words THANK YOU HEALTHCARE WORKERS were added to the updated version of the software to thank frontline medical staff who were treating COVID-19 patients around the world.

He also successively supported the Free Uyghur movement, referring to the Uyghur Muslim ethnic minorities who are being heavily suppressed in Chinas Xinjiang region; and the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, when students who called for democratic reforms were brutally massacred by Chinese troops.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has set a provisional date of August 29, 2020, for the launch of the party's manifesto for the 2020 elections.



The Communications Director of the party, Lawyer Kakra Essamuah told GraphicOnline in an exclusive interview that the document contains several policies which will impact the lives of Ghanaians positively.



He said some of the policies which include salaries for assembly members, free primary healthcare and a $10 billion accelerated infrastructural plan had already been made known by the NDC flagbearer John Mahama.



"Ours is provisionally fixed for the 29th of August, it's provisional, it's not something that has been firmed. When it is firmed-up, it would be announced," Lawyer Essamuah said.



He said the party was not engaged in any battle of wills with the New Patriotic Party to see who releases their manifesto first.



"As far as the NDC is concerned, everything that we do is according to our own plan, we are not looking at what the NPP is doing and the reason is very simple, all parties will go to the poll on the same date but we have different plans leading to that date.



He accused the NPP of not coming up with any new ideas on how the country should be run should they be re-elected.



"They (NPP) haven't brought forth any original or new ideas as to what they would do if they are given the chance to lead this country. They and their supporters have now sunk to very dirty campaigning which does not promote democracy and our image as a country that loves democracy".











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.

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Residents of Sungbuk District in Seoul wait to be tested for COVID-19 outside the district health center, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han



Gov't bans face-to-face worships in Seoul metropolitan area



By Kim Se-jeong



The COVID-19 crisis appears to be spinning out of control in Korea with the Seoul metropolitan area recording triple-digit increases in new infections over the past five days.



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 246 new cases Monday, pushing up the total caseload to 15,761 with 306 deaths. Among the 246, 201 were in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, as the total number of cases over the last five days reached 991.



Mass infections were reported to have started in churches and then spread to people at restaurants, coffee shops, military bases, protest sites and police stations. COVID-19 is posing a grave challenge to quarantine officials who have branded the current situation worse than the outbreak among the Shincheonji Church of Jesus members in Daegu in February and March.



In response, the government banned all church activities in the Seoul metropolitan area, except for online worship starting from midnight Tuesday.



"To prevent the virus from spreading faster, the government will tighten social distancing rules in the Seoul metropolitan area," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a special address to the nation. "If these fail to bring the number down, we won't have any other option but to tighten social distancing rules to the maximum which will have a huge impact on the country's economy and citizen's lives."






Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 04:23:13|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday refuted the statement by its spokesman about Sudan's contacts with Israel on signing a peace deal.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not discuss the relations with Israel," Sudan's acting Foreign Minister Omer Gamar-Eddin said in a statement.

Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Haidar Badawi al-Sadiq "has not been assigned to make any statements in this regard," he added.

He explained that his ministry was astonished by its spokesman's remarks on Sudan's endeavor to establish formal relations with Israel, adding that those statements created an ambiguous situation that needs clarification.

Earlier on Tuesday, al-Sadiq reportedly said that "Khartoum is looking forward to a peace agreement with Israel based on Khartoum's interests without sacrificing the values."

He added that "there is no reason for the continuation of hostility between Sudan and Israel. We do not deny the existence of contacts between the two countries."

He commended the recent decision by the United Arab Emirates to sign a peace deal with Israel as "bold and courageous and maps the right path for the rest of the Arab countries."

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Sudan's statement on seeking a peace deal with Israel, vowing that his government "will do whatever is necessary to turn vision into reality."

"Israel, Sudan and the entire region will benefit from the peace agreement and will be able - together - to build a better future for all peoples of the region," Netanyahu said in a statement. Enditem
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - The government of Benin says it is planning to build a hotel complex near the "Gate of No Return" (a monument symbolic of slavery), based in Ouidah, a former slave trading post about 50 km from Cotonou
Urbina said its the cost of hiring attorneys to review forms on top of the rising application costs that will put many in a difficult financial situation. Attorneys can cost up to thousands of dollars, he said. So, when an individual has to pay for these very high filing fees plus these very high attorney fees, it can become inaccessible.
PHOENIX  Kristin Urquiza, who blamed Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and President Donald Trump for her father's death from the coronavirus in a widely shared obituary in June, said Monday in an impassioned speech on the opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention that she will be voting for Joe Biden in memory of her father.

Urquiza, who grew up in the Maryvale neighborhood of Phoenix, said in a short, pre-taped speech that her father, Mark Anthony Urquiza, trusted political leaders to keep him safe amid the pandemic but ended up contracting COVID-19 after a night out with friends in late May. He thought it was safe to resume normal life after Ducey lifted Arizona's stay-at-home orders.

"He had faith in Donald Trump," Urquiza said in the video, interspersed with family photos. "He voted for him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear, that it was OK to end social distancing rules before it was safe."



He died in a hospital intensive care unit just a couple of weeks later after an "agonizing" battle with the coronavirus and time spent on a ventilator. He was 65 years old with no pre-existing conditions, his daughter said.

"His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that he paid with his life," she said.

Urquiza wrote her father's obituary shortly after his death June 30, calling out Ducey and Trump for their leadership during the pandemic, which has hit people of color hard.

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed how communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by the virus. In Arizona, American Indian and Alaskan Native, Asian and Black patients were hospitalized in greater numbers than their share of the state's population.

The 39-year-old Urquiza, who now lives in San Francisco, said she intends to vote for Joe Biden on Nov. 3 in memory of her father, a decision her father would approve of.

Story continues

"One of the last things that my father said to me was that he felt betrayed by the likes of Donald Trump," she said. "And so when I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my dad."

Here are her full remarks:

I'm Kristin Urquiza. I'm one of the many who has lost a loved one to COVID. My dad, Mark Anthony Urquiza, should be here today but he isn't. He had faith in Donald Trump. He voted for him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear, that it was okay to end social distancing rules before it was safe, that if you had no underlying health conditions you'd probably be fine.

So in late May, after the stay-at-home order was lifted in Arizona, my dad went to a karaoke bar with his friends. A few weeks later, he was put on a ventilator. And after five agonizing days, he died alone in the ICU with a nurse holding his hand. My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump  and for that he paid with his life.

I am not alone. Once I told my story, a lot of people reached out to me to share theirs. They asked me to help them keep their communities safe, especially communities of color, which have been disproportionately affected. They asked me, a normal person, to help because Donald Trump won't. The coronavirus has made it clear that there are two Americas: the America that Donald Trump lives in and the America that my father died in.

Enough is enough. Donald Trump may not have caused the coronavirus but his dishonesty and his irresponsible actions made it so much worse. We need a leader who has a national, coordinated, data-driven response to stop this pandemic from claiming more lives and to safely reopen the country. We need a leader who will step in on day one and do his job, to care.

One of the last things that my father said to me was that he felt betrayed by the likes of Donald Trump. And so when I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my dad.

This article originally appeared on the Phoenix Patch
Touted as the 'perfectionist' of Bollywood for picking the right scripts at the right time, Aamir Khan recently found himself on the wrong side of the Internet when he sat down with Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan on an official visit in Istanbul.

Khan, who was in Turkey with his Laal Singh Chaddha crew to finish the shoot on the upcoming film, was snapped with the First Lady, the photos of which were shared by her on Twitter.

"I had the great pleasure of meeting @aamir_khan, the world-renowned Indian actor, filmmaker, and director, in Istanbul. I was happy to learn that Aamir decided to wrap up the shooting of his latest movie Laal Singh Chaddha in different parts of Turkey. I look forward to it!" Emine wrote on Twitter after hosting a meeting with Aamir.

I had the great pleasure of meeting @aamir_khan, the world-renowned Indian actor, filmmaker, and director, in Istanbul. I was happy to learn that Aamir decided to wrap up the shooting of his latest movie Laal Singh Chaddha in different parts of Turkey. I look forward to it! pic.twitter.com/3rSCMmAOMW Emine Erdogan (@EmineErdogan) August 15, 2020

The meeting which seemed pretty harmless on paper soon became a talking point in India. "Do us a favor give him citizenship ! We don't want him in India," wrote one furious fan.

"Let him release his film in Turkey, now no one is interested in india to see it," chimed in second as calls to boycott Laal Singh Chaddha grew louder by the minute.

Notably, Indias relationship with Turkey has deteriorated in the past several months, particularly after Article 370 was scrapped in Kashmir last year. Turkey has continued to side with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, reported the print.in. A Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson recently also commented that removal of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir has not contributed to peace and stability in the region.

This, however, isn't the first time Khan has found himself in the eye of a social media storm. A few years ago, Khan along with his wife Kiran Rao were labelled as "anti-nationals" and hyperactive Twitterati suggested the couple move to a different country when a statement made by actor on intolerance set the Indian Internet on fire.

"In the last six to eight months, there has been a growing sense of despondency, I would say. Kiran (wife Kiran Rao) and I have lived all our lives in India. When I sit at home and talk to Kiran, for the first time she said, 'Should we move out of India?' Now that's a disastrous and a very big statement for Kiran to make to me."

She fears for her child, fears for what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers everyday. So that does indicate that there is a sense of growing disquiet, there is this sense of growing despondency apart from alarm. You feel why this is happening, you feel low. That sense does exist in me," said Khan at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards.

His comments were said to be polarising the nation as the couple were subjected to scathing attacks and deplorable remarks made to them suggested that they had done an act of treason.

Back in 2015, Khan received severe bashing online for hurting "Hindu sentiments" with his movie PK that took a swipe at organised religion and godmen.
NEWSALERT-US-BIDEN US President Joe Biden says he believes Putin doesn't want full-blown war with Ukraine and would pay 'dear price' for it. (AP)US President Joe Biden says he believes Putin doesn't want full-blown war with Ukraine and would pay 'dear price' for it. (AP)
Cai Xia also defended Ren Zhiqiang, the billionaire who called Xi Jinping a "clown". Due to her criticism, the academician has also lost the right to a pension. The regime targets dissident intellectuals.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A retired professor from the Central Party School has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and lost her pension rights for attacking the authorities in some public comments.

In a statement published on its website the School said Cai Xia violated CCP discipline by delivering "execrable" speeches that created "serious political problems". In particular, the 68-year-old teacher defended Ren Zhiqiang, the dissident billionaire who was targeted by the regime for calling Xi Jinping a "power-hungry clown".

Cai, now in the United States, is a long-standing critic of the Party. She strongly supports the launch of liberal reforms in the country. According to a leaked recording of a speech circulated online since June, Cai called on the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee to replace a top leader. She did not identify the person but called for an overhaul of a wide range of domestic and foreign policies.

The professor instead expressed her support for Ren in an article posted online last month. The tycoon was indicted on July 23 for embezzlement. He was also expelled from the Party for damaging the image of the leadership and the state with his criticism.

Another well-known academic, jurist Xu Zhangrun, was recently punished for criticizing Xi and calling for democratic openings. The Qinghua University lecturer was arrested on 6 July for "promoting prostitution". Released a few days later, his university then fired him for "moral corruption".
The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) said on Tuesday that it will hold a protest on August 21 if the city goverment does not release adequate grant-in-aid for the 12 DU colleges fully funded by it.

The DU and the AAP dispensation have been locked in a tussle over formation of governing bodies in 28 colleges fully or partially funded by it. The DUTA said that governing bodies have been formed in nine out of 12 colleges fully funded by the government but due to the inadequate grants released by the government, salaries have not been paid to staffers since May.

On August 6, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodias office has issued a statement alleging corruption in the 12 DU colleges.

In an online briefing, the DUTA called them unsubstantiated allegations.

It is obvious that this is another ploy for their callous and inhuman act of not releasing the required Grant-in-Aid to these colleges, as a result of which employees in these colleges have gone without salaries for several months, said DUTA president Rajib Ray.

Ray said employees have gone without salaries for the past four months for no fault of theirs. For the past one year or more, the sanction of grants to the 12 colleges 100 per cent funded by the Delhi Government has been sporadic and inadequate. Inordinate and unexplained delays in release of grant have had a crippling effect on institutions. This is totally unacceptable, more so in the current context, when employees are battling health and livelihood issues, he added.

Most colleges have not paid salaries from the month of May. In some colleges, employees only received a part of their salary for the month of April, he claimed.

The Delhi government had released grants in aid for paying salaries in three instalments (Final Installment for the financial year 2019-2020 towards salaries from January to March), and two for financial year 2020-21.

On release of each of these installments, it was brought to the notice of the Delhi Govt that the grants sanctioned were highly inadequate and not enough to cover salaries for the said periods, he said.

Colleges have not received any Grant-in-Aid for the month of June, July or August, according to Ray.

The DUTA has given a call for protest at Mandi House on August 21, if the government does not release adequate grants for the colleges.
A Burlington County man who pleaded guilty last year to health-care fraud charges related to his drug treatment facility has been sentenced to 36 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $9 million in restitution, authorities said Monday.

Jason Gerner, 46, of Shamong, was co-founder of Liberation Way, which had three locations in Pennsylvania, according to U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Gerner pleaded guilty in August 2019 to charges of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, McSwain said in a statement.

Others who pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing were identified in a Courier Post report as Michael Sarubbi II, 53, of Cherry Hill, and Dana Fetterman, 35, of Haddon Township.

Gerner and his colleagues operated Liberation Way under the guise of helping addicts get healthy, said Michael J. Driscoll, FBI special agent, said in a news release. Their elaborate, years-long swindle of the health care system victimized vulnerable patients for profit.

An investigation revealed that Gerner and others fraudulently purchased premium insurance policies on behalf of patients so that Liberation Way could bill for expensive treatments that were never provided.

Gerner and his colleagues were also accused of ordering tests and treatments for patients who were never seen by their doctors; paying a doctor to sign urine testing orders for patients who were never seen; receiving kickbacks from laboratories; and conspiring to hide proceeds received from kickbacks.

U.S. District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone sentenced Gerner to 36 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gerner was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,338,607 and forfeit $444,983, McSwain said.

The employees of Liberation Way looked at the opioid epidemic devastating Pennsylvania and saw an opportunity to make a buck off the backs of vulnerable people, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement. Pennsylvanians with substance abuse disorder, who deserved care from Liberation Way, were harmed instead.

In addition to the FBI and the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office, the case was investigated by the states Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Former McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook is fighting a lawsuit from his previous employer.

The fast-food giant filed a lawsuit against Easterbrook on Aug. 10, accusing him of engaging in sexual relationships with three employees and conspiring to keep photographic and video evidence of those relationships secret in a wilful violation of the companys policies.

McDonalds is seeking to force him to pay damages or to disgorge him of compensation that he retained when the companys board fired him without cause in November.

In a recent court filing, however, Easterbrooks lawyers said the claim that McDonalds did not know about his relationships with multiple employees when offering him a separation agreement is false, Bloomberg reported.

"McDonalds  a sophisticated entity represented by numerous internal and external experts when it entered into the separation agreement  is aware it cannot credibly allege a breach of contract claim," Easterbrooks lawyers wrote in a filing on Friday, according to Bloomberg. "Instead, it improperly seeks to manufacture claims for a breach of fiduciary duty or fraud."

Easterbrooks lawyers also want the suit, which was filed in Delawares Chancery Court, moved to an Illinois court, calling Delaware "the wrong forum," Bloomberg reported. The company is incorporated in Delaware.

In a statement, McDonalds said it "stands by its complaint, both the factual assertions and the court in which it was filed."

McDonalds said an internal investigation discovered "dozens of nude, partially nude or sexually explicit photographs and videos of various women, including photographs of these Company employees, that Easterbrook had sent as attachments to messages from his Company e-mail account to his personal e-mail account."

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McDonalds alleged in the lawsuit that Easterbrook had "lied to the Company and the Board and destroyed information regarding" his behaviour, which allegedly occurred in 2018 and 2019.

Easterbrook also approved a stock grant worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to one of the women "shortly after their first sexual encounter and within days of their second," the lawsuit said.

Easterbrook received total compensation of US$55.1 million from 2017 through 2019, according to the companys 2020 proxy statement.

McDonalds new CEO, Chris Kempczinski, who was promoted to the position in November, said in an email to employees that Easterbrooks "conduct deviated from our values in different and far more extensive ways than we were aware when he left the company last year."

"While the Board made the right decision to swiftly remove him from the Company last November, this new information makes it clear that he lied and destroyed evidence regarding inappropriate personal behavior and should not have retained the contractual compensation he did upon his exit," Kempczinski said, noting the companys litigation is to "recover the compensation he retained upon his departure from McDonalds and align his exit payout with a for cause termination."

 USA Today
The piling on has reached full force in the J.R. Romano-must-go show.

On Monday, 2018 Republican standard-bearer Bob Stefanowski issued word that he, too, thinks the GOP chairman should step down over the way he handled allegations of domestic violence against a candidate.

Wed really like to hear from Bobs wife, Amy Stefanowski, a voting member of the state central committee and chair of the Madison GOP town committee, where the central figure in the scandal lives.

This gullywumper, to borrow a word from former longtime WFSB-TV meteorologist Hilton Kaderli, doesnt look survivable by Romano. On the other hand, he told my colleague Kaitlyn Krasselt Monday hes holding firm with no intention of quitting the chairmanship, which is also a paid job.

And we know he has a lot of support among the mostly unknown insiders who seal his paycheck.

What really matters, the deeper question here, isnt the fate of J.R. Romano. Its how and why the Connecticut GOP finds itself in need of a serious reckoning. Bad judgment lurks at the root of this crisis, as always. But it starts with lousy candidates  nowhere more than in the 2nd Congressional District this year.

Why does the party mount so many hopelessly inexperienced, fringe, extremist and generally unqualified candidates? Why are Republicans not a serious threat to most of the 11 first-term Democrats in the state Senate? That should be a GOP frenzy, but its not.

We need to do some soul searching as Republicans in this state if we want to win elections, said Jayme Stevenson, first selectman of Darien, who lost a primary bid for lieutenant governor in 2018. She called for Romanos ouster in a written release Saturday night that minces zero words.

Red in the bluest state

Lets be clear here  all of us including liberal Democrats benefit from a healthy Republican party. One-party rule leads to bad legislation. Dont make me give examples, you know what Im talking about.

So lets look at that soul that would be searched. Some flaws are in the state GOPs control. Some  President Donald Trump comes to mind  are not.

Conservatives here must win battles in arguably the bluest state. The last statewide or congressional Republican to hold office was 12 years ago. The party cant decide whether it wants to embrace Trumpian, anti-everything populism; old-style community values; or pro-business investment.

And it cant shake its love affair with well-meaning multimillionaires lacking public service experience.

GOP primary elections tend to reward bombastic conservatives who cant beat Democrats rather than moderates who have worked their way up.

Over the course of 12 years, weve had some, I would consider, solid candidates that did not make it through the primary system. That is certainly an issue, said state Rep. Vin Candelora, R-North Branford, the deputy House minority leader.

Take 2018: The ticket of Stefanowski, who never held public office and ran on tax cuts, and Joe Markley, a libertarian state senator, won 644,000 votes, a highly respectable total that fell short of the Democrats Ned Lamont-Susan Bysiewicz team. I like Stefanowski (the post-2018 version) and Markley personally. But moderate Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and Stevenson would almost certainly have picked off some centrist Democrats in that election, and might have won.

Then theres Trump. Who in his or her right mind would want to run for office, uphill to begin with, when the party has a guy at the top of the ticket who  by his own public statements  is using the U.S. Postal Service as a weapon against the Democrats, a weapon against the expansion of voting that he knows would end his presidency?

This is third-world dictator stuff, people. Whether youre a Bernie bro, a Biden believer or a loyal Trump supporter, if youre not afraid of a president slowing down the mail three months before his own reelection, then Id strongly suggest you get out of bed and go watch the History Channel.

And that doesnt even get to Trumps personal behavior. Theres a lot thats cringeworthy, Stevenson said. Its a deterrent and its exacerbated by our partys inability to cultivate great candidates.

Out of their league

She and Candelora both rue the loss of an era when, as Stevenson put it, We agreed to disagree on policy ... But now if you agree with Donald Trump on policy, youre personally attacked.

Social media with its culture of instant expression and gratification is part of the issue, Candelora said. In the past after an outrage such as the killing of George Floyd, There was a level of cooling off that occurred.

That creates a political culture that bubbles up less prepared, less experienced, more activist candidates on both sides of the aisle, he said.

Which brings us to the sweepstakes in the 2nd Congressional District, for the right to be trounced by Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney. Were not exactly looking at the clash of Bob Dole vs. George H.W. Bush among the two Republicans.

Thomas Gilmer, a political neophyte commercial construction guy charged in two felony counts related to an alleged 2017 domestic dispute on the eve of the Aug. 11 primary; and Justin Anderson, a lieutenant colonel in the Connecticut Army National Guard and retired prison officer, who obtained a security video of the alleged assault and apparently waved it around for a couple of months before alerting police.

How did these two characters wake up and decide theyd like to be United States congressmen? And so many party regulars, the gatekeepers, said, Yeah, that works for us.

These are tough times for the state party. But the Massachusetts GOP manages to elect governors and the Alabama Democrats eked out a win for a U.S. senator, who spoke Monday night at the Dems online convention.

Squabbling reflects deep rifts

Now we will see finger-pointing. Who knew what, when, about this video? And what did they do, exactly?

Notice that the calls for Romano to step down are very different. Some said its outrageous and an unacceptable affront to women that Romano would know about the video and not alert authorities. That includes two of the partys most prominent women, Rep. Themis Klarides, R-Derby, the state House Republican leader and likely candidate for governor, and Stevenson.

Some, including former U.S. Rep Rob Simmons, the last Republican to hold the CT-2 seat, from 2001 to 2007, say  as The CT Mirror reported  that Romano should have quietly ousted Gilmer. Others, including Sen. Kevin Witkos, R-Canton, a retired police sergeant, say its a matter of law and order.

You cannot build barriers to illegal activity and then claim plausible deniability, Wikos said in a written statement over the weekend.

Stefanowski sees it as a management issue, a failure to communicate. The chairman was put in a difficult position trying to balance the wishes of the victim to remain anonymous with doing the right thing to help her. But he should have disclosed all relevant information to the party leadership as soon as he knew about it so they could make an informed decision on the best candidate for the second district. This wasnt done, and the leader of the party needs to take accountability for it and resign.

All that criticism from different directions, over a scandal in a race with two candidates out of their depth, reflects the plight of the whole Republican Party.

Candelora joined the calls for Romano to resign, for the good of the party. For Democrat and Republicans alike, he said, Its gotten to the point of ugliness where people dont want to run.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com
An aging Tigerland apartment complex plagued with violence  including an October double homicide and the fatal police shooting of a domestic violence suspect last month  could soon be forced to shut down after a Baton Rouge judge declared the property a nuisance.

The case exemplifies a larger problem facing the Tigerland area, which was developed decades ago to provide LSU students with upscale housing options near campus but has since deteriorated amid its abundance of cheap apartments and an uptick in crime. Both local law enforcement and LSU leaders have struggled with questions about Tigerland's future since students still flock to the cluster of bars at its entrance.

District Court Judge William Morvant declared the site a nuisance Tuesday, agreeing with arguments laid out by the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors asked the court to intervene after Baton Rouge police responded to the Sandpiper Apartments on Tigerland Avenue to execute an arrest warrant, but ended up shooting the suspect when he pointed a gun at the officers.

That shooting occurred in the unit adjacent to where a man and woman were found shot to death in the October double homicide, which happened during a drug deal, according to police.

+4 Tigerland suspect killed by BRPD was facing arrest for machete attack on girlfriend Baton Rouge police shot and killed a suspect in Tigerland early Monday while trying to take him into custody on a series of violent incidents,

The petition alleged the complex should be deemed a nuisance based on an established pattern of illegal activity on the premises, including 195 calls for service that police have received from that address since the start of 2016. Those calls include batteries and a reported rape in addition to drug activity, shots fired and the recent homicides, according to the petition. The building is relatively small, with 14 individual units.

The property owner, Ibrahim Khoder, asked prosecutors and the judge to be more understanding of the massive challenges facing Tigerland landlords.

Khoder said he's owned the building in the 4700 block of Tigerland Avenue since the 1980s, and didn't start experiencing problems with violence and drug use until about 2016. He feels the DA's office is unfairly singling him out and blaming him for conditions that are rampant throughout the neighborhood, not unique to his complex.

"If they shut me down, they should shut down the whole place," he said after the hearing. "The entire neighborhood needs to be condemned, to be honest. You would be appalled to know some of the crimes that are happening there."

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III acknowledged the problem is bigger than the Sandpiper apartments, but he said the complex stands out for the number of calls for service that police receive to that specific location. Building residents have expressed similar concerns in recent months, but also noted that many of Khoder's tenants are struggling with economic hardship and have faced rejection from other potential landlords. They nonetheless want to feel safe in their homes.

"I think this building is cursed," the complex manager said after the police shooting last month. "The number of people I've seen die from overdoses and shootings since I've lived here  you wouldn't believe."

The Sandpiper complex is toward the back of the Tigerland area, where many of the buildings have deteriorated over the past few decades as LSU students have passed them up in favor of newer complexes outside the neighborhood. Meanwhile crime and violence have risen and landlords have become less discerning when deciding whom to accept as tenants.

Some landlords will rent to anyone without performing a background check, which often means they can charge higher rent prices, according to residents. Khoder said he charges $650 a month with utilities included for studios and $700 a month without utilities for two-bedroom units in the Sandpiper complex, which is visibly rundown on the outside but appears otherwise functional.

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Khoder said many of his tenants there don't have written lease agreements and some are unable to make regular monthly payments, instead helping out with cleaning and minor repairs around the building. He said these people are desperate, and he has a heart for helping others.

+18 In-depth look at Tigerland today: Bars still big with LSU students despite concerns about crime It was 1971 and the sun was rising over Tigerland. Large apartment complexes springing up offered LSU students what newspaper ads described as

Concerns about crime in the area have grown loud enough that even the LSU student newspaper called for all of Tigerland to be razed to the ground following the 2019 double homicide.

But students still frequent the bars along Nicholson Drive that developed in the shadows of nearby apartment buildings. Those drinking establishments remain an LSU staple, a debaucherous rite of passage for many students, even as the surrounding apartments have become less desirable. Some argue it creates a dangerous combination: Drunk and disoriented college students can become easy targets for people looking to steal their belongings or otherwise take advantage of them outside the bars.

Khoder said he lived in Tigerland himself as an LSU student decades ago. That was not long after he immigrated here from Lebanon, young and curious and chasing the American dream. Buying rental properties in the neighborhood seemed like a lucrative enterprise, and for a while it was, Khoder said. But now business is not so good  many of his tenants at the Sandpiper Apartments have their rent paid through social services programs and receive other forms of assistance, he said.

Khoder said he's in his 70s and spends much of his time caring for his ailing wife. He doesn't have the time to babysit his tenants, he told the judge. He has evicted problematic residents in the past, but has sometimes received threats in the process.

"I came to America for opportunities, your honor, not to get killed by drug dealers," he said. "Some of these people are dangerous.  I need help with this. I'm not the police."

+22 Wife of Tigerland shooting victim: 'Nobody does anything to deserve that. These are human lives' Rebecca Riley had no reason to be worried Wednesday night when her husband answered the door and agreed to help their neighbor with something 

Khoder said he would consider selling the property if possible. He also promised to take steps to clean it up in the meantime, though Moore said the landlord has ignored for several months repeated requests that he install security cameras.

Moore said that lack of action is what prompted him to file the petition and settle the dispute in court. Khoder arrived to his hearing several minutes late and without an attorney Tuesday morning. He was at times argumentative but ultimately bemoaned his current situation and pledged to cooperate.

The judge issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday, which prohibits any illegal activity on the premises that contributes to the nuisance designation. Another hearing has been scheduled for next Wednesday, when the judge will decide whether to make the injunction permanent.

State law allows for a court to order the closure of a nuisance property for up to five years. The judge could also require the defendant to take other reasonable steps to abate the nuisance without closing the premises.
A beloved older sister. A friend who loved listening to Steve Earle. A quiet brother-in-law who was always reading.

More than 100 people gathered at Oppenheimer Park in Vancouvers Downtown Eastside Saturday to remember family and friends who died in recent months, when COVID-19 precautions have prevented gatherings to remember lost loved ones.

Many of the lives lost were due to overdoses. While the Downtown Eastside has not experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, overdose deaths have spiked during the pandemic. In May, 171 British Columbians died of overdoses, the highest number ever recorded. In June, 175 people lost their lives.

The memorial in Oppenheimer Park followed a march down East Hastings and Cordova streets organized by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. Mourners called for an expansion of safe supply, which ensures users can access prescription drugs that arent tainted by dangerous additives.

They moved through the streets chanting Safe supply so we wont die.

Oppenheimer Park has been closed off behind a high blue metal fence since the province and city removed a tent city in May. But rally participants slipped through one panel where the bolts had been unscrewed and entered to remember loved ones near the parks memorial totem pole.

Aiyanas Ormond spoke about Dave Murray who died this spring at age 68 of antibiotic-resistant septicemia. Murray, a participant in the North American Opiate Medication Initiative study  the continents first prescription heroin trial  advocated tirelessly for access to safe supply.

Murray was an activist, but a gentle one, remembered for his habit of reading the newspaper every single day and wearing glasses held together by tape.

As a leader, Dave was  soft-spoken, he led by example, Ormond said. He was somebody on the team who made everybody better.

Laura Shaver spoke about her brother-in-law, Ken Steward, who introduced her to her fiance.

You would always see him, and he was reading a book, or he was colouring, Shaver said. He was a really sweet guy and he went way too soon.

Shaver also remembered her friend, Chereece Keewatin. Keewatin was a member of the BC Association of People on Opioid Maintenance and a supervisor at an overdose prevention site.

Chereece died needlessly, Shaver said. She was a big, big powerful little woman who, til the last day, worked, in a wheelchair, at VANDU.

Elvis Wilson remembered his friend Dwayne, while Colin Trent-Rosso remembered his cousin Cyril Alec, who died just three days ago.

He was a pretty innocent guy, a nice guy and I just want to acknowledge, hes with the angels now, Trent-Rosso said.

Sorry about all the friends I lost down here, Wilson said. I miss them. Thank you for listening. God bless you all.

Garth Mullins remembered Wade Crawford, a member of the Six Nations who had taken part in many protests, including the action at Oka, Que., in 1990. Crawford died at age 48 from health complications.

Laura Pierre spoke about her older sister, Star, who recently died in hospital. Pierre said her younger sister also died several years ago.

People gave my younger sister the wrong kind of drugs when she was drunk. They gave her heroin instead of rock (cocaine) and that stopped her heart right away, Pierre said.

I stand here alone now without either of my sisters because they were drug sick. I hope our times will change, so we can have safe drugs for people, and we dont have to lose them anymore.

Elli Taylor spoke about Duncan Grant, the son of her friend Erica Grant. Duncan was found dead in April in the London Hotel, the single room occupancy hotel where he lived.

Duncan was a kind, strong warrior ... He was always at protests, beside his mother, and he did everything he could to make the community a better place, Taylor said.

Myles Harpes and Brittany Graham spoke about their friend Arthur Lakis.

He lived down the hall from me and we became fast friends, said Harpes. He liked Steve Earle, so wed get everything ready and ... put on Steve Earle and sing to the songs ... and pretend we were at a concert.

Before a moment of silence, Ormond asked participants to speak the names of people they had lost. For a moment, the air was full of a chorus of names.

As police and Vancouver park rangers gathered at the opening in the fence, with some participants reporting officers were not allowing any more people through, Graham said its been difficult to move on without a way to remember lost loved ones.

We havent been able to gather this way, we havent been able to remember or move forward in our movement, Graham said.

It feels horrible that we have to push into this park to use this park to memorialize people that we love, like Arthur.

Read more about:
Kayla Brim laughed when she learned it could take 10 days to get her COVID-19 test results back. I thought, Okay, well, within 10 days I should be fine, she remembers.

That was on July 2. More than a month later, Brim is still far from fine.

Prior to the pandemic, the 28-year-old from Caldwell, Idaho, juggled homeschooling her two kids with her work as a makeup artistshe was supposed to open her own salon in July. Now, she suffers daily from shortness of breath, exhaustion, excruciating headaches, brain fog, neuropathy, high blood pressure and loss of taste and smell. She feels like a little old lady, completely knocked out by simple tasks like making lunch for her children. Shes working just enough to help pay the bills and the lease on her empty salon, but she has no idea when shell be able to work full-time again, and no idea how she and her husband will manage financially if she cant. Half of my day is spent trying to sleep, and the other half of it is trying to pretend like Im okayand I dont know when Ill be okay, Brim says.

This is long-haul COVID-19. Even young, healthy people can become long-haulers (as many call themselves), left unable to work, lead a normal life or, some days, get out of bed. The consequences for each individual can be devastatingand at scale, theyre staggering. Over time, long-haul coronavirus may force hundreds of thousands of people out of work and into doctors offices, shouldering the double burden of lost wages and hefty medical bills for the indeterminate future. To treat them, the health care system may have to stretch already-thin resources to the breaking point.

Its going to be an impending tsunami of patientson top of all the [usual] chronic care that we do, says Dr. Zijian Chen, medical director of the Center for Post-COVID Care at New York Citys Mount Sinai Health System, one of the countrys only clinics devoted to caring for patients in the aftermath of coronavirus infection. At some point it becomes very unsustainablemeaning, the system will collapse.

Story continues

When most people think of COVID-19, they imagine two possibilities: a flu-like illness that clears on its own, or a life-threatening condition that requires ventilation and a hospital stay. Its not hard to see how the latter scenario leads to long-term damage. Mechanical ventilation is incredibly hard on the lungs, and days or weeks spent sedated in a hospital bed can sap physical and mental strength. In a small study published in 2011, nearly all the participants who needed intensive treatment for a severe lung injury reported decreased physical ability and quality of life five years after leaving the hospital. Some took years to return to work. Hospitalized coronavirus patients may face a similar fate.

But with COVID-19, its not just the sickest who face a long road back. A July 24 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that, out of about 300 non-hospitalized but symptomatic COVID-19 patients, 35% were still experiencing symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue up to three weeks after diagnosis. (By contrast, more than 90% of non-hospitalized influenza patients fully recover within two weeks.) Recovery from COVID-19 can be a drawn-out process for patients of all ages, genders and prior levels of health, potentially leading to prolonged absence from work, studies, or other activities, the report noted.

The CDCs surveyors only checked up on people a few weeks after they tested positive for coronavirus, but emerging evidence suggests a large subset of patients are sick for months, not just weeks, on end. Dr. Michael Peluso, who is studying long-term COVID-19 outcomes at the University of California, San Francisco, says about 20% of his research participants are still sick between one and four months after diagnosis.

Kayla Brim with her family, outside their home in Caldwell, Idaho, on Aug. 11. Brim has been sick with COVID-19 since early July. | Angie Smith for TIME

The implications of that problem are enormous. If even 10% of the more than 5 million (and counting) confirmed COVID-19 patients in the U.S. suffer symptoms that last this long, half a million people are already or could soon become chronically ill for the foreseeable future.

When Mount Sinai opened its Post-COVID Center in May, the hospital advertised it as the first in the country; since then, a handful of others have opened in states including Colorado, Indiana and Illinois. Mount Sinais clinic was modeled after the practice the hospital opened to treat survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Its very similar. Its a new group, and they need special care, Chen says. The biggest difference, he says, is the size of the group. Significantly more people have survived COVID-19 than were directly affected by 9/11. Mount Sinai has only scratched the surface of that demand, treating about 300 people so far. The wait time for new patients extends into October.

The challenge for doctors like Chen is that nobody really knows why long-haul COVID-19 happens, let alone how to treat it. Other viral diseases with long-term symptoms, such as HIV/AIDS, offer some clues, but every day in the clinic is essentially uncharted territory. One hypothesis is that the virus persists in the body in some form, causing continuing problems. Another is that coronavirus pushes the immune system into overdrive, and it stays revving even after the acute infection passes. But at this point, its not clear which theory, if either, is right, or why certain patients recover in days and others suffer for months, Peluso says.

Plus, just as theres huge variation in acute COVID-19 symptoms, not all long-term patients have the same issues. A researcher from the Indiana University School of Medicine in July surveyed 1,500 long-haulers from Survivor Corps, an online COVID-19 support group. They reported almost 100 distinct symptoms, from anxiety and fatigue to muscle cramps and breathing problems. A JAMA Cardiology study published in July suggested many recently recovered patients had lingering heart abnormalities, with inflammation the most common.

Some long-term COVID-19 patients have abnormal test results or damage to a specific organ, giving doctors clues as to how they should be treated. But for others, theres no obvious reason for their suffering, making treatment an educated guessing game. We dont know why they [still] have symptoms. We dont know if our techniques are working, Chen says. We dont know if theyre going to get back to 100%, or 90%, or 80%.

With little evidence, some doctors turn coronavirus long-haulers away or try to convince them their symptoms are psychological. Marcus Tomoff, a 28-year-old in Tampa, Fla. who is in his second month of debilitating fatigue, back and chest pain, nausea and anxiety after a bout of coronavirus, says he hasnt been taken seriously by friends or even his doctors. Several times Ive cried in front of my doctors and they say, You need to deal with this, youre young, he says.

The haphazard testing system in the U.S. has further complicated patients searches for care. Mount Sinais Post-COVID Center, for example, only accepts patients who tested positive for COVID-19 or its antibodies, and Chen fears potential patients who couldnt get tested or got false-negative results may be falling through the cracks. The best he can do right now is refer them to specialists and hope they find a doctor who can help.

For 46-year-old Andrea Ceresa, getting better is a full-time jobminus the paycheck. Ceresa had to stop working as a New Jersey dental office manager after she got sick in mid-April with what she and her doctors believe was COVID-19. (She tested negative for the virus and its antibodies, but her doctors think they were false negatives.) More than 100 days later, shes in regular contact with her primary care physician, an integrative care doctor and a rotating cast of specialists who she hopes can treat her lingering gastrointestinal problems, hearing and vision issues, weight and hair loss, heart palpitations, migraines, brain fog, neuropathy, fatigue, nausea and anxiety. She finally got an appointment at a post-COVID program after weeks of waiting, but shes mostly been left to cobble together her own care team.

Ceresa has paid for her own health insurance through the federal COBRA program since she stopped working, which has put her in a precarious financial state. I have a stack of bills and I just am starting to open them now, she says. Im definitely, at this point, going to be in the hole thousands of dollars. Im collecting unemployment. I know Im going to have to go on disability. Even then, she says, it may not be enough to pay her bills.

There may soon be a lot of patients like Ceresa, says Dr. Bhakti Patel, a pulmonologist at University of Chicago Medicine who studies the long-term effects of critical care. Patel says patients with long-term issues after surviving coronavirus may face a number of obstacles. Patients who remain too sick to return to work (or who are unemployed due to the economic climate) may lose employer-sponsored health insurance at the moment they need it most. Younger patients who do not qualify for Medicare but need public insurance will likely be funneled toward Medicaid, which Patel says is already over-stretched. The services long-haul coronavirus patients may needlike physical therapy and mental health carecan be difficult to access, especially via public insurance networks like Medicaid, Patel says. That bottleneck will only get worse if more people need public aid.

As patients with an emerging disease, long-haulers also need an intensity of outpatient care and expertise, that goes beyond what the average primary care physician can offer, Peluso says. Very few doctors are experienced in treating long-haul symptomsand even among those who are, experienced is a relative term. This wasnt a specialty three months ago, says Chen.

People who cant get into a dedicated post-COVID program may need to try a slew of specialists before they find one who can help, an expensive and tiring game of trial-and-error. (Thats assuming patients can get appointments with specialists like pulmonologists and neurologists, who are often few and far between outside of densely populated areas.) The sickest long-haul patients may also require pricey and difficult-to-access rehab or in-home care, on top of other medical costs. If a family member has to give up work to become a caregiver, that can also have serious economic consequences.

Some long-haulers will likely have to file for disability benefits, a byzantine system of its own thats at risk of becoming overwhelmed. From 2008 to 2017, only about a third of people who applied for disabled-worker benefits in the U.S. were initially approved, according to Social Security Administration (SSA) data. It can be especially difficult for patients without a clear diagnosis or cause of illness, since SSA requires claimants to provide objective medical evidence of an impairment.

With few other resources available, thousands of long-haulers have sought help from virtual support groups like Survivor Corps and Body Politic, where members talk about their symptoms and celebrate signs of recovery. Programs like COVID Bootcamp 101, an online rehab series run by the nonprofit Pulmonary Wellness Foundation, are also trying to fill gaps in care. The scientific community is doing its best to catch up, but Chen says the government may need to help develop long-term solutions that address the economic consequences of long-term coronavirus symptoms, like a medical safety net program (as it has done for HIV/AIDS patients) or financial assistance for COVID-19 patients (as it did for 9/11 survivors).

Without clear answers about what happens next, all doctors can offer the public is yet another plea to take coronavirus seriouslybecause right now, the only surefire way not to become a long-hauler is to not get COVID-19 at all.

That doesnt help people like Ceresa, though. After more than 100 days of feeling sick, Cersa says shes still baffled this happened to her, an active and healthy woman whos been a vegan for decades. She stayed home all April except for a couple trips to the grocery store and still had her life destroyed by the virus. She cant work, sing in her band or plan her wedding after getting engaged a few weeks before the pandemic hit. She tries to comfort herself by thinking about ways it could be worseit could be cancerbut the truth is, things are bad. You try to be hopeful and think somehow, miraculously, youre going to be better, and it doesnt happen, she says. I cant imagine living like this for another day, let alone the rest of my life.

At this point, no one knows if shell have to.

This story has been updated to reflect Andrea Ceresas admission to a post-COVID program.
OTTAWA - The only finance minister to serve under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suddenly resigned Monday night, saying someone else should guide the country through a long and bumpy economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (520 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - The only finance minister to serve under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suddenly resigned Monday night, saying someone else should guide the country through a long and bumpy economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bill Morneau said he had considered leaving his role as finance minister for some time, adding that he never intended to run for a third term as an MP.

Minister of Finance Bill Morneau announces his resignation during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

The path to an economic recovery could take years to play out, and Morneau said the government needed a finance minister who wanted to stick around for the long haul.

During a hastily called news conference on Parliament Hill, Morneau said he had tendered his resignation to Trudeau in the morning, and that he was also stepping down as the Liberal MP for his riding of Toronto Centre.

"It's really important for someone to want to be in this political role for the next period of time and that period of time will be very challenging," he said Monday evening. "So that is what I'm sure the prime minister is reflecting on as he thinks about the next finance minister."

Morneau said he is putting his name forward as a candidate to replace Angel Gurria as the next secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Gurria announced last month that he wouldn't seek a fourth five-year term and would step down next summer.

Trudeau, in a statement issued Monday as Morneau was speaking, said Canada would "vigorously support" Morneau's efforts to take on the new role.

The person who takes over Morneau's job will have to manage all manner of relationships  including with provinces and territories that receive huge sums in transfers, the Bank of Canada, and Liberal caucus colleagues asking for funding  all while holding the federal purse strings, and holding down their own riding, said Elliot Hughes, a former Morneau policy adviser.

"All of that for someone who has been in the job for five years is still really challenging," said Hughes, now with Summa Strategies.

"Having someone to do that, to come in fresh, completely new to the job in this situation, needless to say is a lot to ask."

Morneau has been finance minister since late 2015, when the Liberals returned to power with a majority government. He remained in the job after the 2019 federal election, when the Liberals were reduced to a minority government.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Scuttled were plans for a late March budget, and one has yet to be released. The expected deficit plunged to a record $343.2 billion, fuelled by costs for emergency aid that stand around $214.3 billion, according to the Finance Department's latest estimate.

Morneau then faced opposition calls for his resignation in recent weeks over allegations that he had a conflict of interest in the WE Charity affair. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet had even threatened to try to trigger an election this fall if Morneau and Trudeau didn't resign.

Morneau and Trudeau are both facing investigations by the federal ethics watchdog for taking part in talks to hand WE a contract to run a student-volunteer program for youth whose summer job opportunities vanished with the pandemic. Both have familial ties to the organization.

One of Morneau's daughters worked for the organization, another has spoken at its events and his wife has donated $100,000. Morneau also revealed last month that he had repaid WE some $41,000 in expenses for trips he and his family took in 2017 to view two of its humanitarian projects in Ecuador and Kenya.

The recent news that Mark Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, is helping to advise Trudeau on the post-pandemic economic recovery had fuelled speculation that Morneau was about to be replaced.

Last week, Trudeau tried to shut down that speculation by taking the unusual step of issuing a statement to say he had full confidence in Morneau and that reports of policy clashes between them were false.

Morneau denied on Monday that Trudeau had asked him to resign.

On Monday, Trudeau's statement also highlighted the way they had worked together, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic to quickly get aid to families and businesses.

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"Thanks to his unwavering leadership and commitment to service through the pandemic, our government has laid the groundwork for a strong economic recovery," the statement said.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said in a statement that Morneau's resignation was further proof of a government in chaos and consumed by scandal.

"At a time when Canadians are worried about their health and their finances, Justin Trudeau's government is so consumed by scandal that Trudeau has amputated his right hand to try and save himself," Scheer said.

Similarly, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Morneau's resignation comes just when people "need a steady and reliable government" with many worried about paying the bills in coming months resulting from the current economic crisis.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2020.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Bill Morneau has been federal finance minister since 2016.
Is Parth Samthaan Insecure?

As per India.com report, "Parth has got a bigger project and with the entry of Karan Patel in the show, his plot has been sidelined. Earlier, the story revolved around Anurag and Prerna but now it has been focusing on Mr Bajaj and Prerna, which has left him insecure. Also, Parth is not ready to play the role of a father of a 10-year-old in the show. His salary is also one of the reasons for his decision."

Pearl V Puri NOT Replacing Parth

Also, a few reports that suggested Bepanah Pyaar actor Pearl V Puri is replacing Parth in the show, is just a rumour as the makers are still trying to convince Parth to stay back.

Erica Fernandes Planning To Quit Kasautii?

There were also reports that Erica Fernandes is also planning to quit the show for better prospects. It has to be recalled that Erica had recently resumed shooting on the sets, and had moved out of her family house as she was concerned about her family. The actress had said that she doesn't want to take any risks as her father has had four heart attacks, while her mother has a history of TB.

Divyanka Tripathi NOT Replacing Erica

It was said that Divyanka Tripathi Dahi will be replacing Erica as Prerna. However, Divyanka took to her Instagram story and clarified that it's just a rumour. The actress wrote, "DTD as Prerna in KZK? It's a rumour! (Just clearing the air for those who care)."

Erica Clarifies

Apparently, makers are upset with Parth's unprofessional behaviour, and are apparently negotiating with the actor. On the other hand, Erica clarified that she is not quitting the show. She told TOI, "I am currently very much a part of Kasauti..."

Makers Unhappy With Parths Behaviour!

A source was quoted by the leading daily as saying, "The channel is unhappy with Parth's recent behaviour, which they feel is unprofessional. However, the production house wants him to continue on the show, and meetings are on in this regard. They are negotiating, but it seems like Parth wants to move on."

Barun, Zain & Harshad Considered For Parths Role!

Meanwhile, if Parth decides to move on, the makers have apparently shortlisted a few actors for his role and the list includes Barun Sobti, Zain Imam, Aashim Gulati, Harshad Chopda, Vishal Aditya Singh, Vivek Dahiya and Pearl V Puri.
Alger has a proud, 56-year record of investing in change and innovation, and we believe the innovation of actively managed ETFs is something that will help to continue to propel our growth.

Fred Alger Management, LLC (Alger), a leading growth equity investment manager, today announced its plans to launch two actively managed exchange traded funds (ETF): Alger 25 ETF and Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF, marking the firms entry into the ETF space. Both vehicles will be focused, high-conviction strategies. These products are scheduled for availability in 1Q 2021.

We have seen increased demand for our focused strategies since we launched our first one in 2012. Having these strategies available as actively managed ETFs enables investors who prefer an ETF vehicle to access our investment capabilities, said Dan Chung, CEO and chief investment officer of Alger. Alger has a proud, 56-year record of investing in change and innovation, and we believe the innovation of actively managed ETFs is something that will help to continue to propel our growth.

Alger 25 ETF will be managed by Dr. Ankur Crawford, executive vice president and portfolio manager. She has been with the firm for over 16 years and currently co-manages more than $22 billion in the firms U.S. large cap growth equity strategies. This ETF will execute a strategy similar to the Alger 25 Fund, which launched in 2017, by investing in 25 high-conviction large cap growth equities in the technology, health care, consumer discretionary, and industrials sectors.

Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF will be managed by Amy Y. Zhang, CFA, executive vice president and portfolio manager. The ETF will seek to invest in 40 high-conviction mid cap growth equities. Amy has been with the firm since 2015 and manages several of Algers small and mid cap strategies, including the Alger Small Cap Focus Fund, a five-star Morningstar rated fund.

Alger has licensed ActiveShares from Precidian Investments, LLC, which enables the firm to deliver actively managed investment strategies in an ETF vehicle without disclosing holdings daily. The ETFs will be listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc., which currently lists nearly 80% of all U.S. ETF assets under management.

As active growth equity managers, the ability to shield the strategies underlying holdings enables our investment team to construct these high-conviction portfolios with confidence. Our in-depth, fundamental research process, which we have refined for more than 55 years, is critical to our quest to generate strong, long-term returns on behalf of our clients, added Dan.

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH) will be the custodian, administrator, and transfer agent of the funds. Alger and BBH have worked closely together for more than a decade.

After more than ten years partnering with Alger, we are excited to now partner on its first actively managed ETF launch, which will continue to bring fresh investment solutions to the collective market, said Ryan Sullivan, senior vice president and head of U.S. ETF Services at BBH.

About Alger

Founded in 1964, Alger is widely recognized as a pioneer of growth-style investment management. Headquartered in New York City with affiliate offices in Boston and London, Alger provides U.S. and non-U.S. institutional investors and financial advisors access to a suite of growth equity separate accounts, mutual funds, and privately offered investment vehicles. The firms investment philosophy, discovering companies undergoing Positive Dynamic Change, has been in place for over 50 years. Weatherbie Capital, LLC, a Boston-based investment adviser specializing in small and mid-cap growth equity investing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alger.

About Brown Brothers Harriman

BBH is a privately held financial institution that has been a thought leader and solutions provider for over 200 years. The firm serves individuals, families, businesses and institutions in its three business lines: Private Banking, Investment Management, and Investor Services. BBHs culture of accountability fosters deep and lasting relationships built on commitment, adaptability and trust. The company is independent, selective, and specialized by design.

BBH operates its global business out of eighteen offices located in New York, Boston, Beijing, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Dublin, Grand Cayman, Hong Kong, Jersey City, Krakow, London, Luxembourg, Nashville, Philadelphia, Tokyo, Wilmington and Zurich. For more information, please visit http://www.bbh.com.

The views expressed are the views of Fred Alger Management, LLC (FAM) and its affiliates as of August 2020. These views are subject to change at any time and may not represent the views of all portfolio management teams. These views should not be interpreted as a guarantee of the future performance of the markets, any security or any funds managed by FAM. These views are not meant to provide investment advice and should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell securities.

Risk Disclosures: Investing in the stock market involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks as their prices tend to be higher in relation to their companies earnings and may be more sensitive to market, political, and economic developments. Investing in companies of medium capitalizations involve the risk that such issuers may have limited product lines or financial resources, lack management depth, or have limited liquidity. A significant portion of assets will be invested in technology and healthcare companies, which may be significantly affected by competition, innovation, regulation, and product obsolescence, and may be more volatile than the securities of other companies. Assets may be focused in a small number of holdings, making them susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory event than a more diversified portfolio. These Funds are classified as non-diversified funds under federal securities laws because they can invest in fewer individual companies than diversified funds. These Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are different from traditional ETFs. Unlike traditional ETFs, these ETFs will not tell the public what assets they hold each day. This may create additional risks for your investment. For example:



You may have to pay more money to trade an ETFs shares. These ETFs will provide less information to traders, who tend to charge more for trades when they have less information about the underlying holdings.

The price you pay to buy ETF shares on an exchange may not match the value of an ETFs portfolio. The same is true when you sell shares. These price differences may be greater for the ETFs offered pursuant to this Prospectus compared to other ETFs because these ETFs provide less information to traders with respect to the underlying portfolio holdings.

These additional risks may be even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions.

The differences between these ETFs and other ETFs may also have advantages. By keeping certain information about an ETF secret, the ETF may face less risk that other traders can predict or copy its investment strategy. This may improve an ETFs performance. If other traders are able to copy or predict an ETFs investment strategy, however, this may hurt the ETFs performance. For more information regarding the unique attributes and risks of these ETFs, please refer to the Funds prospectus.

Because the Funds do not provide daily disclosure of its portfolio holdings, but instead a verified intraday indicative value (VIIV) calculated and disseminated every second throughout the trading day that is a highly correlated per share value of the underlying portfolio, there is a risk that market prices may vary significantly from the underlying net asset value (NAV) of the Funds. The Funds shares trade on NYSE Arca, Inc. and therefore may be halted in certain circumstances. Creation and redemptions in the Fund occur through an agent called an AP Representative who is not obligated to engage in creations or redemptions. The Funds may have a limited number of AP Representatives and if AP Representatives are not able to proceed with creations and/or redemptions the Funds shares may trade at a discount to NAV and possibly face trading halts and/or delisting. The Funds face numerous market trading risks, including the potential lack of an active market for Fund shares, losses from trading in secondary markets, periods of high volatility and disruption in the creation and/or redemption process of the Funds. Any of these factors may cause the Funds shares to trade at a premium or discount to NAV.

Morningstar calculates a Morningstar Rating  based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a funds monthly performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The Morningstar Rating may differ among share classes of a mutual fund as a result of different sales loads and/or expense structures. It may be based in part, on the performance of a predecessor fund. The Morningstar Rating does not include any adjustment for sales loads. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. Alger Small Cap Focus Fund Z was rated 5, 5, and 5 Star(s) for the 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods among 577, 508, and 377 Small Growth funds as of 6/30/20.

Rankings and ratings may be based in part on the performance of a predecessor fund or share class and are calculated by Morningstar using a performance calculation methodology that differs from that used by Fred Alger Management, Inc.s. Differences in the methodologies may lead to variances in calculating total performance returns, in some cases this variance may be significant, thereby potentially affecting the rating/ranking of the Fund(s). When an expense waiver is in effect, it may have a material effect on the total return or yield, and therefore the rating/ranking for the period.

Before investing, carefully consider the Funds investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. For a prospectus or summary prospectus containing this and other information about the Fund, call (800) 992-3863, visit http://www.alger.com, or consult your financial advisor. Read it carefully before investing.

Distributor: Fred Alger & Company, LLC Member NYSE Euronext, SIPC. NOT FDIC INSURED. NOT BANK GUARANTEED MAY LOSE VALUE.
Reiterating his state's stand to build the SYL canal at the earliest, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday told Punjab that its construction and availability of water are two different issues and must not be confused.

In a meeting on Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal, convened on the directions of the Supreme Court, which asked the Centre on July 28 to mediate between the two states on the decades-old issue, both Haryana and Punjab stuck to their stands.

At the meeting, Khattar strongly advocated for the honouring of the apex court verdict to complete the SYL canal's construction. He also emphasised upon the immediate need for building the channel with adequate capacity to help Haryana draw its legitimate share of water, a state government release said on Tuesday evening.

On Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's claim that availability of water has gone down, Khattar said the construction of SYL and availability of water are two different issues and completely unconnected and should not be confused. "Allocation of water between states shall have to be pro rata, depending on the current availability of water as provided in the 1981 agreement," he said.

In a video conference with Khattar and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Punjab chief minister had argued that the SYL canal issue was an emotive one and could disturb the national security and his state will "burn" if asked to share water.

"We maintained our stand that the SYL should be constructed. The Supreme Court too has said that," Khattar had told reporters after the meeting.

Meanwhile, according to the Haryana government statement, Khattar also argued during the meeting that there is clear evidence that surplus, unchanneled waters of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas have been flowing to Pakistan for the last 10 years, resulting in a colossal waste of national resource.

"In fact, the Central Water Commission (CWC) had quantified this flow from Ravi river at 0.58 MAF, advocating the construction of a second Ravi-Beas link at Dharamkot. Water also flows to Pakistan downstream of Ferozepur especially during the monsoon," he said.

He argued that such surplus water can be harnessed for drinking water-starved areas of south Haryana and for groundwater recharge instead of allowing it to flow to Pakistan. He also said main carriers of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej waters in Haryana at present are Bhakra Main Line (BML) and Narwana Branch, which are more than 50 years old and "run 247, 365 days a year" and have considerably deteriorated and need maintenance.

He warned that the failure to maintain the BML and Narwana Branch would lead to a major humanitarian disaster in case of any major breach in any of these canals as they carry water for drinking purposes also apart from irrigation.

"So, an alternate carrier is the need of the hour. SYL canal can serve all these purposes apart from carrying a legitimate share of Haryana water and indent-free surplus water, which otherwise is flowing to Pakistan," said Khattar.

He said while Haryana is open for dialogue and discussion on the subject but with a clear stipulation that construction of SYL must be completed as per the Supreme Court decree at the earliest.

"Not doing so is a gross injustice to the people of water-deprived areas of Haryana, struggling to receive its fair share of water despite a clear and unambiguous judgement of the Supreme Court in its favour," he said.

Shekhawat, as per the statement, also stated in no uncertain terms that infrastructure and carrier capacity in the shape of SYL canal has to be created to harness Haryana's allocated share of water as per its current availability and also to harness the part of water flowing to Pakistan.

Responding to the Punjab chief minister's demand for Yamuna waters, Shekhawat said that Punjab had raised this issue earlier also before the Supreme Court and it had been discussed and deliberated at length before delivery of the judgement on SYL by the apex court.

"Moreover, this issue is not relevant now, as agreement on sharing of Yamuna waters has already been finalised in the 1994 agreement among Haryana, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi," Shekhawat said.
Food Myanmar Firm Ties Up With Krispy Kreme to Create Doughnuts With a Local Flavor

Ohm-Mhway jaggery-coated doughnuts with coconut flake topping from Krispy Kreme and Tree Food. / Supplied

A traditional Burmese snack may find a global audience thanks to a collaboration between Myanmars Tree Food and the international doughnut company Krispy Kreme.

The two have launched a new doughnut called Ohm-Mhway, a jaggery-coated doughnut topped with coconut flakes.

Jaggery is an unrefined type of sugar produced using traditional methods from toddy palm sap. It contains molasses, crystals and other elements that are usually removed from refined types of sugars.

I was so happy and excited when they offered me an opportunity to collaborate with them. One of our brands goals is to share traditional Burmese snacks with the world. So, Im pleased about this collaboration. This marks a milestone for the company, said Ma Cho Lei Aung, founder of Tree Food.

It is tremendously exciting for our company to find ourselves working together with a global organization like Krispy Kreme. At the same time, it gets more exposure for our products and helps introduce Burmese jaggery to a global contemporary market, she said.

The product was launched Aug. 1 and will only be available for a limited time.

We dont how long the product will be available. Most of the feedback were getting from customers is good, so we hope the collaboration will continue for months to come, she said.

Last July, Krispy Kreme team contacted Tree Food to collaborate with them and they started preparing for this project.

Mainly, we have to provide them with palm syrup. As you know, jaggery has different colors, tastes and combinations. So, firstly we discussed the color, taste and natural extract for the palm syrup to use with the doughnuts. We are making it using our homemade method, explained Ma Cho Lei Aung.

Tree Foods products are all made with ingredients from the central Myanmar region.

Arjuna Yoganandan, the general manager of Krispy Kreme said, Prepare yourself to enjoy the great duo of traditional flavors with our delicious melt-in-your-mouth doughnut.

Im so thankful to Krispy Kreme for valuing jaggery, our traditional snack, Ma Cho Lei Aung said.

Currently, Ohm-Mhway doughnuts are available at all of Krispy Kremes outlets in Myanmar during a Buy five, get one free promotion.

So, this is a good chance for foodies to taste the combination of Western pastry and Myanmars traditional snack.

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Garbo Bar at Myanmars Melia Hotel Reopens With New Giant Burger Set
How do you save a truly corrupt country like Lebanon?



The poison that is killing the country will require an international reaction not seen in decades



By Robert Fisk August 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - "Well, we can all agree that the sea took 70 per cent of the blast! a close Lebanese friend announced to me this week, with intriguing if doubtful science. I had asked him  because I knew the answer  which of Lebanons religious communities had suffered most grievously from the explosion that changed the nation. Or did not change the nation, as the case may be. Like everything in Lebanon, his calculation may have been right. Because Beirut, like Tripoli  and Haifa, for that matter  is built on one of those ancient east Mediterranean promontories, like the face of an old fisherman as Fairouz memorably called her capital city. The great clap of sound may have embraced more salt water than buildings. And the fish, so far as we know, are not religious. But my acquaintance  a Sunni Muslim, a civil servant of many years, a reader of books rather than memos  was quick to caution me. Lets not see this in civil war terms. But yes, the Christians were hit worse because they live next to the port in the east of the city, the Maronites mostly. The Muslims side of Beirut lost its windows, the Christians lost their lives. But even that wasnt quite true. Those who said that the dead contained Lebanese of every faith were also correct. There were Muslims  Sunni and Shia among the firefighters, shopkeepers and others  not to forget the dozens of Syrian refugees who may be a quarter of all the fatalities. In fact, the Syrians somehow got included in the death toll for Lebanon. But there was something slightly odd about the way this tragedy was retold in the west. In France, in Britain and America  and, I noticed, in Russia, too  the narrative (a word I hate) was a little different. The Lebanese, so we were told, were now protesting against the elites and the government  which had corrupted the country, bankrupted its economy, failed to protect its people  and now demanded a new system of politics, democratic, non-sectarian, uncorrupted, etc, etc. True again. And yes, the smashed houses and apartment blocks and devastated streets were indeed part of the destruction of Beirut. But their names  Gemmayze, Mar Mikhael, Ashrafieh  were presented as mere locations on a city map rather than the very epicentre not just of the blast wave but of the old Christian heartland of the Lebanese capital. These districts were beautiful, their Ottoman heritage magnificently preserved  just look at what has happened to the breathtaking Sursock Museum. These areas were joyous, centres for young people (largely middle class but Muslim as well as Christian), filled with restaurants and bars, immensely popular not only among Lebanese youth but with the westerners who lived in the city and felt safe in a French-speaking, English-speaking, largely pro-European (and often anti-Syrian, anti-Iranian) population. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Before the civil war, it was the other way round: foreigners lived in the west of Beirut, clustered around the American university with its liberal education, its protest demonstrations, its (then) Palestinian movements, its middle class Sunnis and Druze and  if, you drove south twenty miles, its large, ignored Shia minority. In subsequent wars with Israel, it would be these and other Muslim areas which would be smashed by bombs, decimated by explosions, its people cut down in swathes. The Christian districts would be partly spared. Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael were Christian Phalangist front lines, the streets of west Beirut patrolled by a mixture of venal Palestinian and Muslim militias. When the Israelis invaded Lebanon in 1982, they were greeted as saviours by tens of thousands of Christians and welcomed into their streets. Ariel Sharon would meet Christian militia leader and later murdered president-elect Bashir Gemayel in the magnificent Au Vieux Quartier restaurant in east Beirut, the hostelry long ago redeveloped but the street in which it stood devastated on 4 August. And no, the ball of fire whose shock waves broke those peoples lives last week was not some kind of hideous political revenge for the past. The Christians stood up to months of Muslim militia bombardment during the war and Syrian bombardment afterwards  and in recent months, their people have been among the cheerleaders of those demanding an end to Lebanons rotten governments. But among them, too, are those who hysterically welcomed home from exile the awful and  many believed  crazed Christian general Michel Aoun, he who was Syrias enemy and who is now Syrias friend and whose son-in-law was the foreign minister (hence the attack on his former ministry at the weekend). On the day Aoun returned to Beirut in 2005 after years of pleasant exile in Paris, his supporters, singing and waving banners, repaired to Gemmayze to celebrate his return. Wed better go and listen to them and find out what they want, a Sunni businesswoman said to me at the time. After all, we now have to live with them. True, yet again. But then this week steps forward the son of the aforesaid assassinated president-to-be, young Nadim Gemayel, a former member of parliament, to tell the world that Hezbollah and thus Iran was behind the corruption of Lebanon. And this is a story being heaped into the narrative of this most recent of Lebanons crises. By Saturday, we were being told  this in the Financial Times  that it has long been an open secret that Hezbollah controls sectors of Beiruts port, as it does its airport Well, up to a point, Lord Copper. Television channels then hinted that Hezbollahs weapons were smuggled through the same harbour. Was the ammonium nitrate to be used for Hezbollah bombs? Indeed, perhaps some of it had already been used for violence, its supposed 2,750 tons long ago reduced in weight? So perhaps its time for a visit to my favourite all-purpose Lebanese government ministry, the Department of Home Truths. Hezbollah does indeed control parts of Beirut airport next to the southern suburbs, which it rules. Watch who runs the security in the terminal when Iranian airliners land and Hezbollah members pass through immigration control. But the port? Heres a little home truth from a Beirut shipping agent whom Ive known for several decades. Every Lebanese party has its people in the port  Sunnis, Shia, Christians, the lot. If I need to bring in a vessel and I want to move goods quickly through the port, I might get customs men who are Berris party people. He is talking about the Amal movement, the Shia pseudo-militia belonging to the speaker of the Lebanese parliament. And if the Berri people are asking too much? Well, I go to Hezbollah to see if I can get a lower rate from their customs people. Or to the Christians. Or even (though not many, it seems) the Druze who work in the port. And thats the point. With every major party  their intelligence sought by every major foreign power  operating in the port, would Hezbollah really store explosives, munitions, bombs, even missiles in the harbour? In a Hollywood movie, of course. But in real life? No, their weapons come across the Syrian-Lebanese frontier to the east. During the civil war, the Christian Phalange in east Beirut controlled the entire 5th Basin (so it was called) in the port. But did they import weapons and ammunition into Beirut through the harbour? Of course not. (They shipped them in industrial crates into their port of Jounieh to the north, but thats another story). Beiruts port was not a weapons dump. It was a roulette wheel for everyone. And the casino, its dice loaded by every faction in Lebanon, spectacularly blew up last week. But the present tale is now acquiring wings with a series of dangerous but unspoken associations. For Hezbollah, read the Shia of Lebanon who, alas, do not largely support the protests  although, at the start last October, they bravely stood up to the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon. And on several specific occasions, Hezbollah thugs have arrived in central Beirut to threaten and beat the anti-corruption protestors in an effort to sectarianise the demonstrations, to force them into an endangered Maronite-Sunni alliance opposed to the government. For Hezbollah  and here is their real shame  have sided with the Lebanese mafiosi. They may be representatives of the masses of southern Lebanon, the self-proclaimed and major resistance to Zionist aggression, but they have chosen to support the very same zoama  the big families  who have corrupted Lebanon. Hezbollah have seats in the government. They want to keep them. So the principle representatives of the Shia are against any change in the corrupt regimes which rule Lebanon. What all this suggests is that the very sectarian element in Lebanese life  which permeates the politics, economy, society and (dare I use the word?) culture of the country  is now being grafted onto last weeks detonation. We dont call the blast zone Christian and we dont call Hezbollah Shia  and we very definitely dont mention the war  but all this is true, and its about time we realised this before we dress up the mushroom cloud as a nursery story about big bad greedy politicians  or elites as I now hear them being called  and the streets of east Beirut as symbols of all Lebanon. The real story of this exquisitely tormented and brilliant nation, of course, goes far further and wider. Its a truism  as well as true  to say that corruption is the cancer of the Arab world (and not just the Arab bit, if recent events in Israel taken into account). But somehow, we find the Lebanese version of corruption more terrible, more shameful, more grotesque than that which is practised in every other Arab country. Is this because it is more obvious? Or because it exists in the only Arab nation that actually publicises its own decay? So lets return, briefly, to the Department of Home Truths and take this story outside Lebanon. Every Arab dictator who wins around 90 per cent or more at the polls runs a corrupt country. Yet Egypt, whose army controls shopping malls, real estates, etc  enough to make the average Lebanese politician weep with envy  is left out of the corruption stakes by which we measure the Lebanese. We do business with Sisi (a 97 per cent vote in 2018), and Trump calls him my favourite dictator after Sisi has overthrown Egypts only elected president, locked up tens of thousands of his opponents and tortured inmates to death. And we encourage UK citizens to prop up his bankrupt countrys tourist industry, send the Royal Navy on courtesy calls to Alexandria and praise Egypts stability under its wretched tyrant who is  here we go  fighting Islamist extremism etc, etc. The same applies to Syria. The Russians do business with Assad (an 88.7 per cent vote in 2014), may rebuild his entire country, their ships pay courtesy calls  rather a lot  to Syrian ports and the regime is regarded in Moscow as a bulwark against Islamist extremism (etc, etc, again). Saudi corruption  in a land which would not dream of any elections even if its king or crown prince were to win 99.9 per cent of the vote  is itself so respected that the UK Fraud Squad can be called off corruption cases unless we upset the chief corruptors in the kingdom. Tony Blair had much to say about the Britains national interest when it came to letting those who allegedly took backhanders off the hook. The line is: Arab dictators are corrupt, the people merely repressed. We know their votes  when they pretend to hold elections  are fiction. But the Lebanese, very oddly, are held by us to higher account. Their parliamentary elections never produce 90 per cents or 80 per cents. They are often in single figures. Because the sectarian list system of voting is so thorough, so carefully crafted that it really does take the population  their religious origins, that is - into account. In its way, it is actually quite fair  if you ignore the graft and cash handouts and if - and only if - you accept the system of confessional voting and the utterly sectarian politics of the state and the inevitable fact that the vote will produce a series of leaders on revolving chairs who hold power because of their religion rather than their abilities. What the young people of Lebanon desire  or those we actually observe demonstrating today  is easy to understand. No nation whose president must be a Christian Maronite, whose prime minister will always be a Sunni Muslim, whose speaker of parliament must always be a Shia, will ever be a modern state. The very certainty of power-through-religious-sect ensures corruption. There can be no checks on dishonesty when power rests on mutual fear rather than compromise. And by giving a vote to every citizen  in an election process so contorted that even MPs must study the form, so to speak  the Lebanese people are themselves brought into the electoral wheel of shame. Their very participation in elections has thus contaminated them with the corruption they so viscerally and correctly hate. No wonder their rage is so incendiary. The resignation of a government  like Hassan Diabs little theatrical performance on Monday  is just another invitation to participate in the states next act of self-humiliation: lets have another election and bring the same crooks back to the casino! And to think  and yes, this is true  how often we outsiders praise Lebanons unique democracy, adding that it is, if flawed, at least better than the surrounding dictatorships. Yet without leaders, how does such a genuine, young, politically honourable movement  rightly insistent on an end to the outrageous national contract in which Lebanon is imprisoned  bring about constitutional change? Weve heard more and more voices talking of how much better the French ruled Lebanon, a nonsense which any reading of modern Lebanese history should destroy  take out the works of Kamal Salibi, Samir Kassir and the inimitable Brigadier Stephen Longrigg if you have any doubts. But more serious ideas are now floating about; that there should be some form of international mandate to restore Lebanons economy, to force the banks and government into transparency, its leaders into representative government rather than seigneurial privilege . Yet the moment the west arrives in the form of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organisation (WTO)  indeed, the UN on some as yet unthought-through, untested mandate  the Christians and Muslims of Lebanon will unite to throw them out as bravely as their grandfathers did the French. Weve specialised in the western world this past century in creating new nations, new constitutions, new peoples gathered untidily within frontiers which make no geographic and even less political sense. We can hardly start tinkering with the system all over again, punishing the Lebanese for their greed if they wish us to rescue their economy and their banks, to provide them with food and reconstruction and new political systems. Indeed, the price of our western bail-outs  from the US, the EU and all our financial empires  will look less like the colonial mandates of 1919, more like the cruel reparations levied on Germany after the First World War. To impose our law on a crushed and starving nation in 1919, to ensure they paid their debts, we had to occupy part of the German nation. To clean up Lebanon today, the west would have to make sure its people obey the new rules. Which UN force would be called upon to undertake this mission impossible? The only conceivable vehicle would be the combination of a new international league attached to Marshall Plan largesse, a re-envisioning of the worlds commitments  not just to little Lebanon but the whole Middle East tragedy, a multinational work of imagination which could embrace all the sectarian and expansionist wars that have afflicted the region over the past hundred years. Think of the UN at its inception in 1945, a place of near-euphoria (and almost virgin purity) compared to the old donkey which clip-clops before us today. But we live in the age of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and nationalism of a kind which only Arab tyrannies might have dreamed of a few years ago. The Lebanese are not alone in seeking an end to corruption. We are all demanding the same thing across the globe. We are, to coin a another cliche, all Lebanese now. Thats why the cataclysm which swept through their capital was so powerful and so frightening. Robert Fisk is an English writer and journalist. He has been Middle East correspondent intermittently since 1976 for various media; since 1989 he has been correspondent for The Independent, based in Beirut. - " Source " - The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Post your comment below See also The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
JAIPUR: One person was killed on Tuesday (August 18) after a fire broke out at a fireworks warehouse in Rajasthan's Jaipur. According to the police, the man was injured after the fire broke out due to a short-circuit at the warehouse. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Police said that the cracker godown was set up at a basement inside a house in Shankar Gurjar lane at Subhash Chowk area in Jaipur. Five firetenders arrived at the spot almost 30 minutes after the fire broke out and controlled the flames after 30 minutes.

Investigations revealed that crackers were stored illegally inside the house in the residential area that led to the incident.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.
The Enforcement Directorate has recorded the statement of actor Sushant Singh Rajputs father in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to the 34-year-olds death case, officials familiar with the matter said.

According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, KK Singh was questioned on his sons finances. Singh filed a complaint with the Bihar Police last month, accusing Rajputs girlfriend and actor Rhea Chakraborty of abetting his alleged suicide. He also alleged that Chakraborty illegally transferred Rs15 crore from a bank account of Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14. Patna police registered an FIR on July 25 based on Singhs complaint. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also registered a case against Chakraborty and three of her family members in connection with Rajputs death. Chakraborty has denied the charges levelled against her and her lawyers have maintained that she would cooperate in the ED probe.

The officials cited above said the central agency has already quizzed Chakraborty, her brother Showik, father Indrajit Chakraborty, Rajputs business managers, chartered accountants, house helps, his friend and flat mate Siddharth Pithani as part of its probe and recorded their statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

A few friends of Rajput, who were also his business partners, have also been summoned by the agency for questioning next week, officials said.
President Zelensky has signed the relevant decree.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed first Prime Minister of Ukraine (1990-1992) Vitold Fokin a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Donbas settlement.

Relevant Decree No. 327/2020 of August 18, 2020, has been posted by the President's Office on its website.

Read alsoPotential pick for spot in TCG team, ex-PM Fokin "watches too much TV", delegation member saysThe document says Zelensky appointed Fokin as first deputy head of the delegation (by agreement).

Who is Vitold Fokin

Vitold Fokin (ethnic Russian) was born in Dnipropetrovsk region in 1932. Under the Communist rule, he was a member of the Communist Party (CPU) Commission in 1976-1981, member of the Central Committee of the CPU in 1981-1991, MP of the 11th convocation of the Ukrainian SSR's Verkhovna Rada in 1988-1989.

From 1990 to 1992, under the presidency of Leonid Kravchuk, he was Prime Minister of Ukraine. He was one of the first politicians to receive a lawmaker's mandate in an independent Ukraine.

Relations with Russia

Fokin was among signatories of the agreement between the governments of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia, which covered a Russian ruble-based common economic policy. The transition to the national currency, the hryvnia, required prior notification.

In 1993, Fokin was President of the International Fund for Humanitarian and Economic Relations of Ukraine and Russia.

Statements on Donbas

Fokin first appeared at a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on August 4, he was invited by Leonid Kravchuk. Sergiy Garmash, a Donbas-born chief editor of the Ostrov outlet, who is part of the Ukrainian negotiating team representing certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, said after Fokin's address that his words had surprised him.

"I haven't heard for a long while the expression 'people of Donbas' in my circle. It's apparent he watches too much TV... There was an impression that the ex-prime minister had arrived not from a village outside Kyiv, but from the occupied territory. But this is also useful. I just wish he's sincere in his concern for the people and the country, while everything else (if he agrees to work in the delegation) will be erased by the harsh realities of Moscow's unwillingness to go for any compromises," Garmash said.

Ukraine's delegation to TCG: latest reshuffles

On July 30, Leonid Kravchuk, Ukraine's first president, became new head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group for the peaceful settlement in Donbas, having replaced Leonid Kuchma, also a former president of Ukraine.

On July 31, Kravchuk hinted that Vitold Fokin, who was Ukraine's Prime Minister during Kravchuk's cadence, could join the team soon. He would supposedly be coordinating communications among all parties involved.
LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands  A U.N.-backed tribunal on Tuesday convicted one member of the Hezbollah militant group and acquitted three others of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri 15 years ago.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Salim Ayyash was guilty as a co-conspirator of five charges linked to his involvement in the suicide truck bombing. Hariri and 21 others were killed and 226 were wounded in a huge blast outside a seaside hotel in Beirut on Feb. 14, 2005.

However, after a years-long investigation and trial, three other Hezbollah members were acquitted of all charges that they also were involved in the killing of Hariri, which sent shock waves through the Middle East.

None of the suspects were ever arrested and were not in court to hear the verdicts.

The tribunals judges also said there was no evidence the leadership of the Hezbollah militant group and Syria were involved in the attack, despite saying the assassination happened as Hariri and his political allies were discussing calling for an immediate and total withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon, Presiding Judge David Re said.

The verdict was met with disappointment in Beirut.

I am very angry, said Sami Kara, a Hariri supporter, complaining that after 15 years and hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the tribunal, it turned out that one person carried out such a huge crime.

That money, he said, should have been spent on building power stations in Lebanon, where electricity cuts are common.

When launched in the wake of the attack, the Hariri tribunal raised hopes that for the first time in multiple instances of political violence in Lebanon, the truth would emerge and the perpetrators would be held to account.

But for many in Lebanon, the tribunal failed on both counts. Many of the suspects, including the man convicted Tuesday, are either dead or out of the reach of justice. And the prosecution was unable to present a cohesive picture of the bombing plot or who ordered it.

The verdicts came at a particularly sensitive time for Lebanon, following the devastating explosion at the Port of Beirut two weeks ago, and as many in Lebanon are calling for an international investigation into that explosion.

But it was doubtful the verdict, coming 15 years after the assassination and with no defendants in court, would bring closure to those who had been waiting for justice.

Hariris son Saad, himself a former Lebanese premier, told journalists outside the court building that the family accepts the verdicts, though he acknowledged that everybodys expectation was much higher than what came out.

The time when political crimes in Lebanon used to go unpunished are gone, he said, adding that the family awaits the implementation of justice.

A hearing will be held at a later date to determine Ayyashs sentence. As the U.N.-backed court has no death sentence, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.

Hariri supporters in the Beirut district of Tareeq al-Jadideh expressed anger and disappointment at the verdicts.

If a police station in Tareeq al-Jadideh had investigated this crime, it would be a better result, one man, driving away on a scooter, told a local television station.

Sketching the complex political backdrop for the assassination, Re said that in the months before his death, Hariri was a supporter of reducing the influence of Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

He said judges who studied reams of evidence in the trial of the four Hezbollah members accused of involvement in the bombing were of the view that Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr. Hariri, and some of his political allies.

But he added that there was no evidence the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariris murder, and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement in it.

The court had not been expected to rule on either Hezbollah as an organization or Syria  but on the four named Hezbollah suspects  as the tribunal can only accuse individuals, not groups or states. But the fact the tribunal appeared to explicitly and categorically rule out evidence tying Hezbollahs leadership to the crime was good news for the Iran-backed group, which dominates Lebanese politics and has come under increased scrutiny and pressure at home.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement welcoming the guilty verdict against Ayyash, but he also put blame on Hezbollah. He said that Hezballah operatives do not freelance and that the conviction shows the groups members are not defenders of Lebanon as they claim to be but constitute a terrorist organization dedicated to advancing Irans malign sectarian agenda.

The verdicts were delayed by nearly two weeks as a mark of respect for victims of another devastating explosion  the detonation of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at Beiruts port. The Aug. 4 blast killed around 180 people, injured more than 6,000, left a quarter of a million with homes unfit to live in and plunged a nation already reeling from economic and social malaise even deeper into crisis.

The guilty verdict could compound tensions in the tiny country. Hariri was Lebanons most prominent Sunni politician at the time of his assassination, while Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim group backed and funded by Tehran.

The trial centered on the alleged roles of four Hezbollah members in the suicide truck bombing that killed Hariri and 21 others and wounded 226 people. Prosecutors based their case largely on data from mobile phones allegedly used by the plotters to plan and execute the bombing.

Re said that the telecom evidence in the case was almost entirely circumstantial. However, another judge, Janet Nosworthy, later said that judges had ruled that four different networks of mobile phones were interconnected and coordinated with each other, and operated as covert networks at the relevant times.

It was the lack of clear evidence from phone records tying them to the bombing plot and efforts to set up a false claim of responsibility that led to the acquittals of three suspects  Assad Sabra, Hassan Oneissi, who changed his name to Hassan Issa, and Hassan Habib Merhi. The judges ordered the arrest warrants for the three men to be withdrawn.

During the trial, which started in 2014 and spanned 415 days of hearings, the tribunal in Leidschendam, Netherlands, near The Hague, heard evidence from 297 witnesses. The court and the investigation is believed to have cost nearly $1 billion.

Initially, five suspects were tried, all of them Hezbollah members. Charges against one of the groups top military commanders, Mustafa Badreddine, were dropped after he was killed in Syria in 2016. The court said Tuesday it could not prove that Badreddine was the mastermind behind the assassination.

Ayyash, 56, has been at large and is not likely to serve time as Hezbollah had vowed not to hand over any suspects. Prosecutors and defense lawyers can appeal the verdicts.

The assassination was seen by many in Lebanon as the work of Syria, a charge Damascus denies and which the judges now say was not borne out by evidence in the trial.

Nada Abdelsater Abu Samra, a lawyer for the victims of the bombing, said the ruling marked the first time a court has told the Lebanese government it must implement the U.N. Human Rights convention and offer compensation.

She said the ruling also confirmed the failure of Lebanese authorities to protect and save evidence in the early stages of the investigation  which supports calls for an international fact-finding mission into the Aug. 4 port blast to safeguard the truth.

Responding to critics saying it was a waste of time and money, she told AP: Justice is not a waste of money or time.

___

Associated Press writer Mike Corder reported this story in Leidschendam and AP writer Zeina Karam reported from Beirut. AP writers Bassem Mroue, Sarah El Deeb and Bilal Hussein in Beirut contributed to this report.
Western Australia has cancelled its annual royal show and postponed phase five restrictions for another two months in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The royal show had been due to start on September 26, with half a million people typically attending the week-long event.

Premier Mark McGowan said he had received advice it would be too risky to stage the show given the inability to track and trace attendees and the difficulty associated with keeping surfaces clean.

Western Australia has cancelled its annual royal show and postponed phase five restrictions for another two months in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19

'Obviously this news will be disappointing for many families, for many businesses and many regional communities,' he said on Tuesday.

'I hated doing this. It's sad because the royal show is such a great event. I was looking forward to taking my own children.'

Phase five restrictions are now due to come into place on October 24 - the same date earmarked for the AFL grand final.

Under phase five, crowds at Optus Stadium will be allowed to double to 60,000 and the two square metre rule will be removed, although the state's hard border arrangements will remain in place.

Queensland remains favourite to host the grand final, but Western Australia continues to be linked to the flagship event.

'I don't know what date the grand final is scheduled for - I'm not sure they know exactly what date it is,' Mr McGowan said.

'The grand final is one of those things I get asked a lot about ... but it's not our main priority.'

The premier said he had 'no knowledge' of the state making an offer of up to $35 million to claim hosting rights.

He said WA chief health officer Andy Robertson had advised the government he does not expect Victoria to bring its second wave under control for two months.

One new case was recorded in WA overnight with a woman in her 20s testing positive after returning from overseas.

The state has five active cases, all in hotel quarantine.

Two women from South Australia who breached quarantine after being refused entry to Western Australia have meanwhile been taken into custody.

Police say the women, aged 19 and 22, arrived in Perth on a flight from Adelaide on Monday night intending to holiday and visit family.

They were directed to quarantine at the Novotel Hotel in Perth until return flights could be arranged.

But it's alleged the women, who had not applied to enter the state, left the hotel early on Tuesday and caught a taxi to a unit block in Coolbellup.

They have each been charged with failing to comply with a direction under the Emergency Management Act and will face Perth Magistrates Court.

Acting police commissioner Gary Dreibergs said the pair had not been tested for COVID-19 but the health department had advised they did not pose a significant health risk.

Mr McGowan said the government was seeking advice on whether to force federal MPs to quarantine upon returning from upcoming parliamentary sittings.

But a ban on school leavers celebrations was unlikely to be on the cards.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:11:45|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish coast guard has rescued over 200 illegal migrants in four separate incidents off Turkey's western Aegean coast in the last five days, the force announced on its website.

In all the incidents, the migrants claimed that Greek coast guard teams pushed their boats back to the Turkish territorial waters, according to the announcements.

Didem Isci, an expert for the Bosphorus Migration Studies, urged both Turkey and Greece to launch diplomatic talks as soon as possible before a new "tragedy" occurred in the sea.

"Illegal crossings to Greece have increased significantly as a result of the more favorable weather conditions of the summer months," Isci told Xinhua over the phone.

"And, we frequently started to hear about these kinds of incidents such as the Greek side pushing the boats of the migrants back to our country," she continued.

In Isci's view, no one should expect Greece to admit these people into the country at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet.

For her, the best solution could be found through diplomacy after the two countries would discuss the matter in detail over a table.

However, due to the latest row between Ankara and Athens over overlapping interests on the energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean, a diplomatic solution seems far out of reach for the moment, the expert noted.

"Unfortunately, until the next tragedy would occur on the sea, we will continue to hear such incidents each day in media reports, but they won't be on the diplomatic agenda of the two countries," she said.

Since the beginning of August, 1,256 migrants were captured or rescued on the Aegean Sea on their way to Greek islands, taking the total number to 14,476 this year, the Turkish coast guard revealed.

Hosting nearly 4 million Syrian refugees in its territory, Turkey has long been urging European countries to shoulder more responsibility.

In February, the Turkish government opened borders and let illegal immigrants cross into Greece. But this decision was suspended after the pandemic broke out.

The Aegean Sea was once the main route for migrants trying to reach Europe via Turkey. A deal was signed between Turkey and the European Union in March 2016 to curb the flow of illegal immigration. Enditem
Ken Makovsky

Advocacy is my passion.

Its what led me to law school at Washington University in St. Louis many years ago. But to my surprise I learned that the law was one of several means of advocacy. Advocating for a cause influencing the court of public opinion was what I found truly exciting, moreso than influencing the court of law. This passion coupled with a yen for entrepreneurism led me to start my own firm, and found it upon the values of strategic advocacy for our clients.

The Makovsky agency has succeeded for nearly a thousand clients, thriving on the waves of change in how our work is performed. We started on a shoestring without clients! Our 40th Anniversary is a natural moment for reflection on our achievementsand the nearly 300 awards we have won, as well as the evolution of the firm and the spectacular talent that has graced our organization.

Over the past forty years, our industry has survived and prospered, during times of peace, prosperity and stability as well as uncertainty, polarization and challenging economies. With that long-term perspective in mind, here is my opinion of the 10 most important developments affecting PR in the past 40 years:

The March of Technology: When Makovsky opened up in 1980 with just me and my administrative assistant, our primary tools were a few IBM Selectric typewriters. Today, due to the pandemic, our entire agency is running remotely and fully online from locations throughout the country. In forty years hence, perhaps our Zoom calls and iPhones will look similarly quaint. Makovsky is constantly seeking tools that help us better advocate for our clients and conduct business more efficiently. Sticking to core values and embracing the march of technology has been essential to our longevity.

The Digital Impact: The internet revolution ignited such huge changes within our business that it's often hard to remember when print media was king. Clients today expect that we can analyze their impressions, social engagement and the size of their global audiencesall a measure of eyeballs on digital channels. Yet, it wasnt that long ago that our business-to-business clients persisted in asking if their online article appeared in a publications print edition too as we need that for the coffee table in reception. Today, the communications environment is far more complex and fragmented.

Consequently, our focus on advocacy has led us to center strategies on reaching key audiences wherever they may be found; todays multiplicity of channels enables that. Digital fueled 24/7 news cycles and also radically shifted crisis communications. No more thinking about the crisis overnight, nor delivering the strategy to the client tomorrow. Now Artificial Intelligence is bringing new vistas in communicating (e.g. Alexa) covering creativity, targeting and insights.

Specialization: Back in 1980 nearly every firm was a generalist. It was perfectly acceptable to tell a new tech client: Give me a few days to learn your business. Today youd be laughed out of the park if you said that. So when I focused our first practice on technology, we made sure we knew the business before we walked in the door. We hired specialists and decided to make deep specialization our strategy in technology, financial services, investor relations and health. Our tagline: The Power of Specialized Thinking. We were somewhat unique. Over the years, specialization grew and today it is commonplace.

Consumer Power and Influence: Voices of countless individuals (from bloggers to podcasters) became more trusted than many experts and became influencers for seemingly every product, issue, and nuance. Further, many organizations today are not as dependent on advertising or traditional media to reach the consumer. Through the advent of search engines, social media and social listening, consumers are enabled to make informed decisions on purchases before they ever enter the physical or online retail environment. This changed the psychology of the sale.

The Arrival of Fake News: Our business is all about ethical advocacy as it gives clients a competitive edge and economic advantage. But today advocacy is harder than ever before thanks to fake news: disrupting a companys ability to tell its own truthful story and negatively impacting its reputation. The digital track and AI have made it easy to put words in peoples mouths that they never uttered and to create video and film to demonstrate events that never happened. Monitoring the media, crisis planning, and tech advances are among ways to defend and sustain the purity of our advocacy message.

The "End" of Privacy: A recent survey found that 64 percent of internet users believe organizations are not completely transparent about how they use customers personal data. When privacy is openly breached, its a reputation killer and an expensive credibility situation to fix. In the U.S., with the exception of a few states we do not have standardized privacy rights. The opposite is true in the European Union.

New Ways to Collaborate: I think of today vs. yesteryear and am certain we have turned collaboration on its face. There is Google Docs vs. making photocopies for all, then coordinating everyones changes. There is everyone has his or her own office vs. open seating or cubicle seating. The idea: tear walls down and collaborate. Private offices got smaller; conference rooms increased. Even with Covid-19s attack on open seating, we will not reverse course, but use socially distanced desks. Working from home accelerated the success of virtual collaborative teams.

Revolution in Measurement and Data Analytics: This was not even on most client agendas 40 years ago! We now have computer dashboards for client access at any time to see our media relations results, for example. This has progressed from analysis of media presence compared with competitors; share of voice, to a range of data (circulation, dates of publication, message identification, etc.). Today we message test on targets before communicating, which helps determine overall strategy, and research the impact of campaigns. PR practitioners with analytics skills are in demand and training our talent along these lines is critical.

Rise of the Communications Role: Its rare that we get a client who doesnt have a Chief Communications Officer (CCO), compared to years ago when you could not count on it. The position and its responsibilities have grown in importance in a complex world. A 2019 report by the Page Society, based on the input of 200+ CCOs around the world, found that the CCO is becoming increasingly multi-faceted, amid sweeping changes in C-suite structures, company cultures, stakeholder engagement, business models and technology. More and more CCOs report to the CEO.

PR Emerges From Behind-the-Scenes: Before I started Makovsky, practitioners worked behind the scenes, preparing frontline client executives for their moment in the sun. We still do that, but the clients and agencies today are more open about retaining PR. It was a big deal the day a major client I worked on, a scientist from DuPont representing the aerosol industry, was set for a TV debate with the New York City head of consumer affairs on the fluorocarbon challenge. At 4 PM the day before the debate, the scientist cancelled out. The client suggested I stand in his place. But leadership at the agency I worked at had to approveso I met with the chairman, president, and EVP to discuss the image of publicly identifying me with one client, as I was assigned to others also. Would that hurt the agencys business? (It didnt!). We were supposed to stay in the background. Today what is inside is outside. There are few secrets anymore. (P.S.The debate went GREAT!!)

Our profession has been in a whirlwind of change since 1980. It hasnt stopped yet. Were banking on the future!

***

Ken Makovsky is the president and CEO of Makovsky Integrated Communications.
Chad Wolf, acting Secretary of Homeland Security, appears before a Senate panel in Washington on Aug. 6, 2020. (Toni Sandys/Pool/Getty Images)

Trump Administration Challenges Findings on Legality of Homeland Security Promotions

The watchdog conclusions that the highest officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were promoted in an invalid order of succession are baseless and baffling, a Trump administration official said on Monday.

Acting DHS General Counsel Chad Mizelle said the findings from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) didnt include relevant evidence and questioned the timing of the legal opinion.

The report takes the reader on a march through a marsh. At each refusal to rely on key evidence, the morass thickens and the water deepens, as crucial questions lurking just underneath the surface begin to emerge: Is the ignored evidence and failure to afford DHS deference more than just a good faith disagreement? Does the timing of this report suggest that something else is motivating this opinion? Does the GAOs unfortunate recent history of issuing partisan and inaccurate reports perhaps explain what is going on? Mizelle wrote in a letter to the GAOs General Counsel Thomas Armstrong.

As the reader reaches the reports conclusion, he is left with the sinking and inescapable feeling that something is afoot in the swamp.

Armstrong asserted that the proper line of succession in the DHS was improperly altered when Kevin McAleenan took the role of acting secretary following Kirstjen Nielsens resignation last year.

That means the current top officials, acting Secretary Chad Wolf and acting Deputy Ken Cuccinelli, are ineligible to hold their current positions, GAO said.

The group, a congressional watchdog that claims to be nonpartisan, referred the matter to the DHS inspector general.

Democrats cheered the legal opinion, calling on Wolf to return a lower position he held in the department and for Cuccinelli to resign.

Mizell said Nielsen legally changed the order of succession through three official acts, including a document issued on April 9, 2019. The next day, she personally swore in McAleenan as the new acting secretary.

Even if the GAO were correct that the Nielsen memorandum did not designate then-Commissioner McAleenan as then-Secretary Nielsens successorwhich it is notthe swearing in of then-Commissioner McAleenan (and the accompanying announcement) unequivocally supplanted that prior designation, the general counsel wrote.

In addition, then-acting Secretary McAleenan amended the order of succession, invoking federal law, leading to Wolf taking office.

That would mean Wolf and Cuccinelli are lawfully performing their current roles.

A GAO spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement on Tuesday: We stand by our decision, but will certainly review their concerns. GAO has rigorous standards to ensure that all of our legal decisions are accurate, nonpartisan, and independent.
The Portland Police Bureau is now on the hunt for 25-year-old Marquise Love, known by friends as 'Keese Love', for his apparent involvement in the vicious attack on Sunday

Portland Police have identified a suspect in a sickening attack on a truck driver over the weekend, who was seen in a viral video being knocked unconscious by a kick to the head from a protester while he was trying to stop a transgender woman from being robbed.

The Portland Police Bureau is now on the hunt for 25-year-old Marquise Love, known by friends as 'Keese Love', for his apparent involvement in the vicious attack on Sunday.

Police said the victim was trying to help a transgender woman who had some of her belongings stolen at the scene.

'That person has not been contacted and their identity is unknown. Investigators would like to speak to this person,' police said in a statement Tuesday.

Police say they have left Love a number of messages, urging him to hand himself in, but have so far received no response. They say they have a probable cause for his arrest.

The incident took place shortly before 10:30pm Sunday, just blocks away from a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Oregon's capital outside of the federal courthouse.

Police received a 911 call from a bystander who reported that a group of protesters were 'chasing a white Ford' four-by-four truck, which then crashed into a tree in the downtown area, a press release says.

A rioter wearing a shirt with the word 'Security' on it, delivered a sickening kick to the man's head from behind as he sat facing the other way in Portland, Oregon on Sunday night. Police say that man is 'Keese' Love (shown right)

The man was rushed to hospital after being kicked. He has since been released and is recovering, police said

In the footage, demonstrators are seen hauling the man out from his truck and throwing him to the ground. The victim appeared dazed and was profusely bleeding from the head.

He was ordered to sit on the ground and told to 'wait for police to arrive.' The man, who some activists claimed had driven towards them, was then knocked clean unconscious by a vicious kick to the side of his head from behind.

As he lay unconscious on the ground, shouts of 'Black Lives Matter' were heard as other protesters attempted to provide first aid.

Others began ransacking the man's truck and when questioned by bystanders, they explained that they were simply 'checking for weapons.'

Police said they received another call estimating that around nine or 10 people were 'beating the guy' as he lay in the street.

A post allegedly uploaded to Love's Snapchat account the same evening appeared to reference the attack, in which he wrote: 'Might go to jail for a racist tonight when all i did was fight him look it up on twitter put money on my books and come see me.'

By the time police arrived on scene the suspect had disappeared and the victim was unconscious on the ground. He was taken to hospital but has since been released and is now recovering, police say.

He has not been publicly named by police, but a GoFundMe page identified the victim as Adam Haner.

The victim has not been publicly named by police, but a GoFundMe page identified his as Adam Haner

A post allegedly uploaded to Love's Snapchat account appeared to reference the attack on Haner, in which he wrote: 'Might go to jail for a racist tonight when all i did was fight him look it up on twitter put money on my books and come see me.'

In the fundraiser, set up by his brother Brian, Haner is said to have suffered a number of injuries, in addition to unspecified items being stolen from his truck.

'Hoping this money will help Adam get things together for his life after the attack he suffered. I know he will need repairs, or to replace the truck that was wrecked,' Brian Haner wrote. 'He is going to need time to recover from his injuries as well. Plus replace things that where stolen from his pick-up that night.'

Brian Haner added that his brother would 'give the shirt of his back to help any of the people around him, and he really doesn't deserve what happened to him in Portland.

'Adam was trying to help someone and was then attacked,' he continued.

The Portland Police Department has not yet responded to a DailyMail.com request to confirm Haner's identity.

Investigators now say the victim was believed to have been helping a 'transgender female who had some of her things stolen in the area of Southwest Taylor and 4th Ave,' before the assault occurred.

In the fundraiser, set up by his brother Brian (left), Haner is said to have suffered a number of injuries, in addition to unspecified items being stolen from his truck

The man's truck collided with a tree and he appeared dazed as he was ordered out of his vehicle

The man, accused of driving at demonstrators, was commanded to sit on the ground and wait for police to arrive

After the man was knocked out by the kick, other demonstrators came to glower over his motionless body and shout obscenities

Protesters eventually came to the man's aide and he was rushed away by an ambulance

David Hernandez, who shot the graphic footage, shared the same theory, claiming the victim was defending the transgender woman from being beaten and robbed by protesters, when the group turned their attention to the truck driver and his female companion.

The unnamed man then got into his truck and drove away as he and the woman became a target, but crashed in the pursuit, Hernandez said.

Drew Hernandez, who filmed the incident on his cell phone, has spoken of his experience of being in Portland on Sunday night, saying 'sometimes it feels like you're walking in a Third World country'

'I think he just felt extremely threatened,' Hernandez said in an interview. 'They chased him... until he finally crashed. When they finally caught up to him, they went nuts.

'This was violent, extremely violent,' he said. 'Sometimes I forget I'm walking the streets of an American city in the Northwest. Sometimes it feels like you're walking in a Third World county.'

Earlier footage shows the truck parked outside a 7-Eleven, with some rioters kicking it and attacking the man through the window, as others shout, 'He didn't do nothing.'

Hernandez said that after violence erupted on Sunday - which has become a nightly occurrence in the city - groups of protesters have attacked random bystanders.

'It's literally like just one thing after another,' he said. 'Just these random people, they start physically assaulting.'

Sgt. Kevin Allen, a police spokesman, said that the rioters 'were chasing the truck before it crashed, and they assaulted the driver after the crash.'

Allen said that officers 'encountered a hostile crowd and a squad from the Rapid Response Team responded to help secure the scene while the investigation was underway.'

Police said they have not yet been able to identify the transgender woman who may have been robbed.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Brent Christensen at 503-823-2087 or at Brent.Christensen@portlandoregon.gov.
DOYLESTOWN >> A man and woman will face decades in state prison for the repeated sexual assault of three children under the age of 13, abuse that they also filmed in more than 40 videos of child pornography. Leonard F. Hewitt Sr. 51, and Krystyn Anne Smock, 40, both of Bristol Township, committed the acts for more than four years...
The group, branded 'Boris' Babies' when they entered Parliament in 2019, are now being called 'f***ing nobodies' by Mr Johnson's allies. Senior party sources have pointed the finger at Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison and fellow Tory Alicia Kearns as ringleaders. As many as 20 recently-elected MPs are believed to have gathered at 1pm in the office of one of their number, Alicia Kearns (right), which swiftly became known as the 'Pork Pie Putsch' because she represents Melton Mowbray. Whips suspect three other relatively new backbenchers - Ms Davison from Bishop Auckland, Gary Sambrook (inset left), a freemason and MP for Birmingham Northfield and Chris Loder, a former train guard (inset right) from West Dorset - of being among the ringleaders. They are now being called the 'grey wolves' by some allies of the Prime Minister because 'they were not socialised in Parliament during the pandemic', according to Sky News. One Cabinet source was furious at the lack of loyalty, telling The Times: 'They were only elected because of him. Most of them are a load of f****** nobodies. It's nuts.' Downing Street is understood to be particularly annoyed about Miss Davison. Carrie Johnson, along with Dilyn, the PM's dog, and Rishi Sunak had campaigned for her in 2019 (left). And in a sign that all is not well, Nimco Ali, Carrie's best friend tweeted today: 'Honestly can't believe the audacity of @DehennaDavison. Girl get a grip'. Christian Wakeford, the first Tory to represent Bury South in more than 20 years, became the seventh MP known to have written to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee. Last year he admitted he approached Owen Paterson and called him a 'c***' after the government instructed MPs to vote to change parliamentary sleaze rules. Today he defected to Labour.
Williamstown, Ky., August 18, 2020  The Ark Encounter and Abraham Productions, Inc., announced today a new event that will be the worlds largest Christian music festival, to be held at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Ky. (south of Cincinnati), in 2021. The event  40 Days & 40 Nights* of Gospel Music at The Ark  will take place August 2 - September 10, 2021, and will span 40 days with multiple concerts daily, dynamic speakers, and opportunities to experience everything the Ark Encounter has to offer.

40 Days & 40 Nights of Gospel Music at The Ark will feature the largest talent roster of any Christian Music Festival in the world with more than 60 artists like The Hoppers, The Isaacs, Booth Brothers, Karen Peck & New River, Triumphant, The Martins, Greater Vision, Brian Free & Assurance, Lynda Randle, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Joseph Habedank, and so many more. In addition, several of the most sought-after national speakers will make appearances during this event to include Dr. Robert Jeffress, Dr. David Jeremiah, Dr. Jerry Vines, Dr. Johnny Hunt, Dr. Tim Hill, Pastor C.T. Townsend, Dr. Barry Clardy, and many others.

Abraham Productions, Inc., president Ray Flynn states: We are extremely pleased to partner with the Ark Encounter and their outstanding team to produce The Worlds Largest Christian Music Festival. This event will give us the potential to reach more than 200,000 people with the blessings, encouragement, and good news of Jesus Christ through music and inspiring messages.

During the 40 Days & Nights of Gospel Music at the Ark, concerts will be held in the mornings at 10 a.m. with the main event at 5 p.m. in the new state-of-the-art Answers Center near the massive ship. Music will also be presented daily in Noahs Village nearby, and at 2 p.m. there will be opportunities to hear dynamic presentations from Ark founder and CEO Ken Ham and even more gospel music.

Daily admission to the Ark Encounter gives free access to all the concerts and speakers and allows guests to explore the Ark, which at 510 feet long is the largest timber-frame structure in the world. Built according to the dimensions given in the Bible, the Ark features three decks of striking teaching exhibits. Other attractions include the live animal Ararat Ridge Zoo, movies, family playground, ziplines, a new Virtual Reality Experience, family dining at Emzaras Kitchen, coffee shops, gift shops, and more.

Ken Ham, whose ministry of Answers in Genesis operates the Ark Encounter, declared: As a big fan of gospel music, Im thrilled our world-renowned Ark attraction will be hosting this highly ambitious music festival. We expect to welcome visitors from all over the country and even abroad.

Admission prices, discounts, annual passes, hotel information, and additional details are available at www.40DaysOfGospelMusic.com . Tickets can be purchased through www.arkencounter.com and www.AbrahamProductions.net or by calling toll free Abraham Productions at 888-238-6858 or the Ark Encounter at 855-284-3275.

Abraham Productions, Inc. was founded in 1998 and is one of the largest and most-respected concert production companies in the gospel music industry.

Answers in Genesis is an apologetics (i.e., Bible-defending) ministry based in northern Kentucky, near Cincinnati. The Ark Encounter opened in 2016. Its sister attraction, the Creation Museum (west of the Cincinnati Airport and next to the AiG headquarters), has also become a major family attraction in the Midwest. For more information on the two attractions, visit http://www.creationmuseum.org and http://www.arkencounter.com .

*Note: 40 days and 40 nights is the well-known phrase from Genesis 7:4 and how long it rained during Noah's Flood.

###
Up to 20 pieces of military equipment, restored and upgraded in Russia, were delivered to Donbas over the past two weeks.

Russia continues weapons and military hardware supplies to the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, intelligence reports.

"Russia continues to supply weapons, military hardware, and other military assets to the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions through border sections beyond Ukraine's control," according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate.

Read alsoDonbas truce: Ukraine reports two ceasefire violations by enemy forces on Aug 17Over the past two weeks, up to 20 pieces of military hardware, restored and upgraded b Russian defense firms, were delivered to be operated by the Russian occupation forces in Donbas.

Yet another batch of unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with modern video surveillance systems was delivered from Russia in a separate haul by trucks.

Therefore, the intelligence concludes, Russian are enhancing combat effectiveness of the 1st (Donetsk) and 2nd (Luhansk) Army Corps.

Russian arms supplies to Donbas: previous report

In late July and early August, within a week, Russia delivered to the occupied areas in eastern Ukraine at least 10 armored combat vehicles, up to 30 trucks loaded with small arms, ammunition, and military equipment, as well as about 1,000 tonnes of fuel, Ukrainian military intelligence has reported.
Let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can: Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country, Obama said of her husbands successor. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi for post COVID-19 care after complaining of fatigue and body ache, hospital authorities said on Tuesday.

Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo

According to a statement issued by AIIMS, he is comfortable and is continuing his work from hospital.

'Home Minister Amit Shah has been complaining of fatigue and body aches for the last 3-4 days. He has tested negative for COVID-19.

'He has been admitted to AIIMS for post COVID care. He is comfortable and is continuing his work from hospital,' the statement said.

Shah, who was earlier undergoing treatment for coronavirus infection at Medanta Hospital, on Friday said that he has tested negative for the disease.

Shah, 55, had also said that on the advice of doctors, he will be in home isolation for the next few days.

On August 2, Shah had said on Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was on 2GB this afternoon to clarify earlier comments about an impending COVID-19 vaccine, and whether or not it would be mandatory.

"It's not going to be compulsory to have the vaccine," he told host Jim Wilson.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison toured the AstraZeneca laboratories in Macquarie Park. Credit:Nick Moir

"There are no compulsory vaccines in Australia ... what we want to achieve is as much vaccination as we possibly can."

Mr Morrison said Australia had one of the best records in the world of getting high rates of immunisation, and there had been "a bit of an overreaction" to the announcement this morning.

He said there would be "a lot of encouragement" to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

"We can't hold someone down and make them take it," he said.

Read more: Talk of mandating COVID-19 vaccine 'unhelpful', expert warns
At the time, he possessed a fully loaded 9mm Glock handgun, four bags of marijuana  some of which he intended to distribute  and $323 in cash, according to a news release from Kirsch's office.

Police determined the handgun Dixon had in the car was stolen, and the individually packaged marijuana weighed 17 grams total, the Times reported.

Dixon was clocked speeding at 95 mph and was ejected through the vehicle's sunroof after it flipped several times on the exit ramp to Cline Avenue.

He was treated for minor injuries at Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary, then released and transported to the Lake County Jail.

The car Dixon was driving, a black 2019 Infiniti Q50, was a rental owned by Enterprise Leasing.

Kirsch said he has instructed federal law enforcement and his office to charge offenders in high-speed pursuits federally, whenever possible.

"There have been several high-speed pursuits in the recent months that have garnered media attention in Northwest Indiana. This type of criminal activity  fleeing police and putting many lives at risk while doing so  is entirely intolerable," Kirsch said.
The remarks indicated that the president, often called Europes last dictator, has no intention of engaging in dialogue with members of the opposition, something that Western leaders have encouraged, and believes he can still prevail, either by force or simply by waiting for his opponents to lose momentum.

Since a huge protest on Sunday, where hundreds of thousands of people expressed their rage over the rigged presidential election on Aug. 9 and the frenzy of police violence in the days that followed it, Mr. Lukashenko has been scrambling to shore up his crumbling pillars of support and ensure that the security services, his last and so far steadfastly loyal base, stick with him.

Mr. Lukashenkos rejection on Tuesday of any compromise came as the leaders of Germany, France and the European Union spoke by telephone with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and urged him to help ease escalating tensions in Belarus, Russias neighbor and a longstanding, if often awkward, ally.

Mr. Putin, according to the Kremlins account of conversations, responded by telling the Europeans to stay out of the crisis in Belarus, stressing to Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany that any attempts to interfere in the countrys domestic affairs from the outside leading to a further escalation of the crisis would be unacceptable.

He delivered much the same message to President Emmanuel Macron of France, telling him that putting pressure on the Belarusian leadership would be unacceptable.
Footy WAG Rebecca Judd has shared the bizarre story of how she was almost left with an unsightly tattoo at the age of 13.

The mother of four, 37, said on the 3pm Pick-Up on Friday that she came perilously close to getting a dolphin tattoo during a visit to New Zealand with her mother, Kerry Brown, as a teenager.

'My mum was such a rebel back in the day. So, she grew up in New Zealand and she had her friend do [a tattoo],' Rebecca told her co-host Katie 'Monty' Dimond.

Rebecca explained that Kerry, who has a small star tattoo on her arm, encouraged her daughter to get an inking as well.

'So when we went back to the town she grew up in, I was like, "How cool if I got a tattoo?" And mum was like, "Yeah! Let's do it!"' she continued.

'So I was about to get a dolphin [tattoo]. I know, how bad! As a 13-year-old... what a little bogan!'

'What a little bogan!' Footy WAG Rebecca Judd (pictured) has shared the bizarre story of how she was almost left with an unsightly tattoo at the age of 13

Fortunately, a bizarre discovery at the shopping centre on her way to the tattoo parlour changed Rebecca's plans at the last minute.

'I found these little chicken crystals, like a little set of... you know those Swarovski crystals, those little figurines? I found a little set of chickens, and I bought those instead,' she explained.

Astonishingly, Rebecca still has the crystal figurines 24 years later.

'Mum was like, "Yeah! Let's do it!"' Rebecca, 37, said on Friday that she came close to getting a dolphin tattoo during a visit to New Zealand with her mother, Kerry Brown (left), as a teenager

'I've still got these chickens; they saved me!' she declared: 'What was mum thinking?'

Had she got the cringeworthy tattoo in her teens, it's possible Rebecca might not have enjoyed a stellar modelling career in the 2000s.

Rebecca shares a close relationship with her lookalike mother.

Born in New Zealand, Kerry and her then-husband, Hugh, followed the trend of Kiwis moving to Western Australia during the mining boom in the 1980s.

'I found a set of crystals, and I bought those instead': A bizarre discovery at the shopping mall on her way to the tattoo parlour changed Rebecca's plans at the last minute. Had she got the tattoo, it's possible she might not have enjoyed a stellar modelling career in the 2000s

They lived in a small cray-fishing town called Leeman, before moving to Perth a few years later.

Kerry and Hugh separated when Rebecca was a child, but remain close friends.

'When they moved, mum was 16 and Dad was 22... they were like two kids. I look back and think, "I can't believe they were ever together,"' Rebecca told the Herald Sun in 2017.
The academic year has yet to officially start for many schools in Massachusetts, but individuals at two colleges in Boston have already tested positive for the coronavirus.

Both Boston University and Emerson College have reported positive COVID-19 cases among their campus communities in the past two weeks.

At BU, a school of more than 35,000 students, 5,376 tests have been administered since July 27. Eight of the tests have come back positive, while 98 were inconclusive, according to the universitys coronavirus testing dashboard.

Of those eight cases of the virus, all but one were confirmed on Aug. 11 or later, the dashboards data shows.

Emerson has reported only one positive COVID-19 case among the roughly 250 people tested as of Aug. 10, the date the college began its baseline testing program.

The person, who self-reported the information to the school, is receiving appropriate care, Emerson noted in a statement.

That individual is currently isolated, per our testing and quarantine isolation protocols, the school said, adding that it is working to create a weekly updated coronavirus dashboard to share the number of tests completed, the positive test rate and other useful information related to the schools COVID-19 efforts.

The two colleges have offered students the options of returning to campus for the fall semester or doing their studies remotely.

Extensive safety and testing protocols are in place at both colleges for students seeking to return to campus.

All undergraduate students at BU, whether they or living on- or off-campus, are expected to be tested immediately upon arriving at the university. Afterward, they will be tested twice weekly. Testing will be administered freely to faculty, staff and students.

Multiple public health guidelines will be in place at Boston University as well. Campus community members are required to wear a face covering, maintain appropriate physical distancing and complete daily symptom attestations before arriving on campus.

Joining several other private colleges and universities, Emerson is participating in the Safe for School Testing Program with the Broad Institute in Cambridge. Tests for members of the campus community will be administered at Tufts Medical Center, and all faculty, staff and students returning to campus are required to be tested prior to arriving or on the day of move-in for a residential student.

After the baseline test, students must do weekly testing using a self-swab PCR test through the end of the fall semester, according to the school

Students at Emerson who do not do their required weekly testing may have their card access to buildings turned off and may be subject to community standards sanctions, the college noted.

Fears about college students returning to their campuses amid the coronavirus pandemic and spreading the viral respiratory infection have prompted many schools, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst, to move to almost fully remote learning.

North Carolinas flagship university, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, moved its academic semester online after reporting at least 130 COVID-19 cases during the first week of classes, The Guardian reported.

Boston City Councilor Liz Breadon last week wrote to the presidents of BU and Boston College to express her concerns about thousands of students returning to off-campus housing in Allston and Brighton. BC has also offered students the option to come back to campus.

The city councilor noted that in both neighborhoods, residents are worried that off-campus students are returning from areas across the country that are experiencing out-of-control coronavirus surges.

Another concern is that off-campus students will not receive the same level of access to quarantine facilities, medical support and monitoring as those who are on campus, Breadon added.

As an elected official for this district, I would like to see a more robust plan to support the health and wellness of students living off campus, and an enforceable code of conduct, not just for students safety, but that of the community at large, the city councilor wrote in her letter.

Statewide, 114,611 COVID-19 cases and 8,611 deaths linked to the virus have been confirmed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as of Monday. In Boston, 14,916 patients and 746 fatalities have been identified.

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I recently was taken aback by a headline I read that stated that 30 Trenton cops involved in alleged misconduct. Like many who read that headline, I was shocked by that revelation. I had retired in 2018, and never remembered officers being involved in that kind of behavior to that degree. But as I read the actual article I came to realize that it was mostly frosting with no cake.

The actual confidential memo that was the focus of this article was just a law firms synopsis and updates into ongoing disciplinary issues going back nine years.

The point of the memo was to provide information to City Council on the merits of approving a $175,000 contract to Trimboli & Prusinowski Law Firm to continue pursuing resolution to these matters.

While the memo details thirty officers involved in disciplinary matters, only two of the officers named were actually involved in abusive and criminal behavior.

These two officers have already been fired or suspended, even as the two cases have yet to be completely resolved.

The other remaining officers were disciplined through the internal disciplinary process. Supervisors doing their jobs and ensuring officers following policies and procedures.

While there are those that question the merits of having officers investigating officers, the Trenton Police Department supervisors and Internal Affairs appear to recognize and address discipline issues. All of the officers charged included supervisors, men, women, and white, black, and Latino officers. There does not appear to be any bias and from reading each of the issues, deserving of at least, an investigation.

But isnt that what internal discipline is about? Identifying weaknesses and utilizing progressive discipline to fix negative behavior? By utilizing this process correctly, officers can become better at their jobs and will recognize the proper behavior when faced with a similar situation in the future.

This article attempted to draw a connection into why internal affairs records of officers sentenced to serious punishment should be presented to the public. But what does an officer being charged with being out of uniform, or insubordination in the way he speaks to a supervisor, provide any benefit to the public? The crazy part is that almost all of these issues have already been in the newspaper. There was nothing other than the truly minor disciplinary matters, that wasnt already written about.

Transparency must play a role in any new age police department. It has its place and works toward providing faith in the police. This memo, even as most of the cases are not within Attorney Grewals guidelines on transparency, demonstrates that the Trenton police department takes progressive discipline seriously.

What truly stood out to me, was the fact that some of these cases went back nine years. That officers have moved on with their careers with these unsupported investigations still lingering and the refusal of police directors and city leaders to deal with these issues in a timely manner. This memo did nothing but provide evidence of how poorly the city deals with these disciplinary matters especially involving officers that are innocent of accusations.

Aside from a young councilmans orgasmic declarations as he was made aware of the smoking gun about this memo, most folks read it for what it truly was. A big nothing burger as another council person likes to say.

Once again, this councilman affirmed his anti-police viewpoint and rhetoric as he stated without evidence, for decades, Trentonians have been sounding the alarm about police misconduct. The release of these documents shows that the people of Trenton were not making this stuff up. I would truly like to see this young councilman explain how this memo proves that.

I dont believe too many citizens complain about an officer not wearing their uniform properly, or about a number of officers defending themselves from a brutal attack at a bar. I honestly dont believe too many Trentonians actually care about those issues.

Where this councilman is missing in action are the real concerns of this city. The crime and murder that has become almost commonplace in a city barely seven and half miles. And I am sure there will be some that will attempt to connect Trentons murder and mayhem to whats happening around the country. But you cant compare whats happening in New York City, and Chicago to what is happening in Trenton. In those cities, the mayor and council have publicly turned their backs on the police and have martyred criminals, leaving themselves open to what is currently happening in those areas.

In Trenton, at least from what I have read and seen, Mayor Gusciora supports the police. He holds onto faith that Director Coley will come up with an actual plan to better control the violence, even as her only plan is that the city needs more police.

If this young councilman worried half as much to the violence plaguing Trenton as he does to constantly demonstrating his hatred and disdain of the police, he may actually be a part of the solution. Instead he makes unsupported bias statements about memos that do nothing to improve the services the police department provides and does nothing to improve officer-community relationships.
IPS officer Rakesh Asthana on Tuesday took charge as the new Director General of the Border Security Force that guards India's fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

IMAGE: Rakesh Asthana takes charge as the new Director General of the Border Security Force. Photograph: @BSF_India/Twitter

A 1984-batch Indian Police Service officer of Gujarat cadre, Asthana (59) was handed over the baton of the about 2.65 lakh personnel-strong force by Indo-Tibetan Border Police DG S S Deswal at the BSF headquarters at Lodhi Road in New Delhi, a force spokesperson said.

Deswal, his batchmate from the Haryana cadre, has been heading the BSF in an additional capacity since March 11 after the then DG Vivek Johri was transferred to head the Madhya Pradesh Police.

The new DG was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by a column of troops before he took charge, the spokesperson said.

Asthana is the 27th chief of the force and is expected to hold office till July next year, his scheduled date for retirement from service.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday issued orders for the appointment of Asthana, who has been serving as the DG of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security till now apart from heading the Narcotics Control Bureau in an additional capacity.

As per the ACC order, Asthana will continue to hold the NCB charge.

The police officer has served in various capacities in Gujarat Police apart from serving in various ranks of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Asthana, while serving as the special director of the CBI in 2018, had a bitter feud with his senior and CBI director Alok Verma as they both levelled allegations of corruption against each other.

Both the officers were later removed from the central probe agency by the Union government and Asthana was subsequently cleared of the charges.

The new DG, officials said, met senior officers and was briefed about the operational situation at the two borders soon after he took charge.

The BSF is primarily tasked with guarding Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh apart from rendering a variety of duties in the internal security domain of the country.
Israel-Emirates deal: Palestinians to boycott Dubai 2020 Premier Shtayyeh says in protest against decision to normalise

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 18 AGO - The Palestinians have decided to boycott Expo 2020 Dubai due to the deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, said Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.



"In protest of the UAE's decision to normalize relations with Israel, the occupying power, the Cabinet decided to cancel Palestine's participation in Dubai Expo 2020, planned to open in October 2021," tweeted Shtayyeh. (ANSAmed).




DES MOINES  Representatives of four influential agricultural interests Tuesday implored President Donald Trump to order his administration to make good on a promise to fully implement the federal Renewable Fuel Standard  warning his reelection prospects in Iowa may hang in the balance.

In their letter, Jim Greif, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Tim Bardole, president of the Iowa Soybean Association, Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and Brad Wilson, chairman of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, thanked Trump for coming to see firsthand the destruction wrought by a historic derecho windstorm that may have impacted up to 14 million acres of Iowa crops and for moving quickly to approve initial disaster aid.

Iowans are tough and resilient, but the scope of destruction is hard to fathom, they wrote. Todays action will assist countless Iowans to begin the long road back to normalcy.

While we are appreciative of the disaster aid, rural Iowa will not complete the long road back to normal without robust and stable markets for our crops and biofuels, the four added. So we write today beseeching you to fulfill your promise to protect the RFS and to implement the program at statutory levels.

According to Gov. Kim Reynolds disaster aid request, officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture initially have projected farms in the 36 Iowa counties hardest hit by last weeks windstorm sustained at least $3.77 billion in damage to 3.57 million acres of corn and 2.5 million acres of soybeans.

That economic punch, along with the loss of key export markets, abuse of Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) refinery exemptions by the (Environmental Protection Agency), and the economic downturn resulting from COVID-19 have combined to stretch rural Iowa to its limit, the four Iowa ag leaders said in their letter.

Given that economic backdrop, Greif, Bardole, Shaw and Wilson say it is imperative for the president and his administration  most notably EPA Director Andrew Wheeler  to make good on last falls agreement that calls for blending 15 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel into other motor fuels. Since then, the EPA has issued rules that Iowa elected officials, corn growers and biofuels groups say will not fulfill the agreement reached with Trump.

One senior White House official has even told us that the 15-billion-gallon conventional level for the RFS was biblical to you, the four wrote. Yet, the fact of the matter is that the RFS has not actually been enforced at the statutory levels during the four years of your presidency.

They charge the EPA has undermined the fuel rule by granting dozens and dozens of illegal refinery exemptions  destroying demand for more than 4 billion gallons of biofuels  and now is considering a plan to grant retroactive hardship exemptions for oil companies dating back as far as 2011.

Mr. President, you have the power to immediately end the frustration of farmers related to biofuels and to remove all doubt of your commitment to the RFS, according to the letter, which is similar to one issued last week when Vice President Mike Pence visited Iowa.

During a briefing Tuesday in Cedar Rapids by Iowa officials on the derecho storm impacts, GOP U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst  who also faces reelection in November  pressed Trump to have his administration dispense with the gap-year waivers being submitted to the EPA by oil refineries in a way that we not allow them to move forward.

In response, Trump told Ernst that I approved the ethanol and we did the whole thing with the 12 months and all the others. But she said farmers and Iowas biofuels industry need help from the EPA to follow the intent of the law.

Alright. Well speak to them. Ill speak to them myself. Ill do it myself, the president said.

After the exchange, Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson Jeremy Busch said in a statement that Ernst was using the occasion to desperately try to cover up her vote to confirm Wheeler as EPA head in the first place.

In their letter, the four ag leaders outlined what they believe the consequences will be if the president does not take more action to protect biofuels.

Make no mistake, we often hear from farmers: If we cant trust the Trump administration to do the right thing before the election, then why on Earth would we expect them to treat us fairly after the election? Many rural voters are waiting to see if you will uphold the RFS and your promise before the election. Iowa may very well hang in the balance, the four leaders wrote.

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Shweta Singh demands early SC decision

Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta Singh Kirti took to Twitter on August 18 to appeal to Supreme Court for an early decision. Shweta said "we have been very hopeful and have been patiently waiting" adding that "every minute of delay is causing pain and heartbreak." Shweta's tweet comes a day after Sushant's family lawyer Vikas Singh spoke to Republic TV saying that he believed a delay in judgment could cause further tampering of evidence. "I am very shocked by this delay in judgment. If judge sir felt Mumbai police should continue, then he should have said it that day only. This time in the interim is being wasted. Although Mumbai Police has still not filed an FIR. Maybe they could have asked the Patna police to continue the investigation in the interim since they had an FIR," said Vikas Singh.

Requesting for an early decision from the Supreme Court, we have been very hopeful and have been patiently waiting. Every minute of delay is causing pain and heartbreak. #CBIForSSR  shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 18, 2020

Sena drags SSR death case in Facebook controversy

Shiv Sena made a veiled attack on the Centre, saying Facebook is being used as a platform to spread enmity between Hindus and Muslims and has promoted hate speech. In its Saamana editorial, Sena claimed that the tags of being a 'silent PM' on former PM Manmohan Singh were generated on Facebook. It further dragged Sushant Singh Rajputs death case, saying Facebook groups have declared themselves as investigative agencies, judges in the case. It also claimed that Facebook has accepted that some BJP leaders used its platform for electoral gains and pressurized to not take action against them.

Read the full story here

Congress attacks Scindia, questions his silence on local issues

The Congress party in Madhya Pradesh on Monday took a dig at BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia over his "tiger is alive" remark, and questioned his silence on issues like non-payment of salaries to contractual teachers and cancelling of the farm loan waiver scheme by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government. Jitu Patwari said 69,000 contractual teachers in the state have not been paid their salaries since the lockdown has been imposed. He claimed that 28 such unemployed teachers have committed suicide in the last three months.

"Scindia had once said (in July) 'tiger abhi zinda hai' (tiger is still alive). Why did this tiger not venture to serve people in the Gwalior-Chambal region in the last five months? But now in this jungle raj, he is going to meet the saffron party leaders in Indore and Ujjain to retain cabinet berths for his loyalists who toppled the Congress government in March," Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Jitu Patwari told reporters.

Read the full story here

Coronavirus cases cross 27 lakh, 51,797 deaths

India witnessed a single-day spike of 55,079 new coronavirus cases on August 17, taking the total case tally 27,02,742. As many as 876 people lost their lives to the contagious disease, taking the total coronavirus-related death toll over 51,797. Ministry of Health said that a total of 19,77,779 people have been cured/discharged/migrated from the highly contagious disease, taking the recovery rate to 73.17 per cent. The third worst-hit country has been reporting the highest surge in daily coronavirus cases surpassing the United States and Brazil that have a higher overall tally.

Get the Live updates here

Neighbours Of Pakistan PM Imran Khan Looted

Pakistan's Dunya News reported that thieves looted valuables worth Rs 13 million from the house neighbouring PM Imran Khan's residence in Zaman Park in Lahore. This comes as a major embarrassment for the Prime Minister of 'Naya' Pakistan who is being called out for not being able to maintain law and order situation in his own neighbourhood amid the global victimisation campaign he has run almost since the day he took office. Pakistani journalist Naila Inayat shared the news on her Twitter account and it has left wondering about the thieves with many of them believing it was Imran Khan who looted his neighbours.

Burglary in PM Imran Khan's neighbourhood.

https://t.co/V0rTybc14i  Naila Inayat   (@nailainayat) August 18, 2020

Read the full story here

Lakhs Sign The #CBIForSSR Petition

More than three lakh people have signed #CBIForSSR petition strengthening the call for CBI probe in the mysterious death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Join the Republic Media Network Campaign for #CBIForSSR to ensure that the cloud over the circumstances of actor Sushants death are removed, that the truth prevails, and that those who have compromised the investigation so far face penalties under the law. remain unanswered as Republic Media Network continues to expose glaring loopholes in the investigation.

Here's where you can sign the petition to demand a CBI probe into the actor's death: http://petition.republicworld.com/

Read the full story here
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has filed a patent application to use blockchain technology to streamline and secure mail-in voting.

The Secure Voting System patent application, published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office last week, describes how the same technology that supports bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could be used to track and secure the vote by mail system.

The filing comes amid claims that Donald Trump is attempting to undermine the 2020 presidential elections by incapacitating mail-in voting.

The US president claims that mail-in voting is at risk to widespread voter fraud and potential foreign interference  claims that have been widely debunked.

Record numbers of people are expected to vote by mail in November due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 170,000 Americans.

Voters generally wish to be able to vote for elected officials or on other issues in a manner that is convenient and secure, the patent application states.

Further, those holding elections wish to be able to ensure that election results have not been tampered with and that the results actually correspond to the votes that were cast. In some embodiments, a blockchain allows the tracking of the various types of necessary data in a way that is secure and allows others to easily confirms that data has not been altered.

Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Show all 16 1 /16 Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma A Trump supporter sits in the upper rows of the BOK Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of a campaign rally. There were reports of far lower numbers attending than the president's team had predicted Getty Images Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Donald Trump points to his shoe at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma during a lengthy explanation of why he walked so carefully on a ramp at West Point military academy a week earlier Getty Images Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma A police officer gestures during a Black Lives Matter event near the BOK Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of a campaign rally by Donald Trump AP Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Trump supporters take their seats in the BOK Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of a campaign rally by the president. Many people in the crowd were choosing not to wear face masks despite medical recommendations during the coronavirus pandemic AP Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Merchandise vendors wearing face masks at the BOK Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of a Donald Trump rally Getty Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Trump supporter Scott Hilliard, left, argues with Black Lives Matter protester Eugene Smith near the BOK Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of a campaign rally by the president AP Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma A Trump supporter and a Black Lives Matter protester face off in Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of a campaign rally by Donald Trump AFP via Getty Images Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma A protester shouts at Donald Trump supporters outside a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma REUTERS Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Eric Trump, Donald Trump's second son, in the BOK Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of a campaign rally AP Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma A woman wearing a T-shirt with the message 'I Can't Breathe' is arrested after refusing to leave the area outside the rally, which she said she had a ticket for AFP via Getty Images Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma A woman speaks to police officers during a protest against racial injustice outside a Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma REUTERS Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Brad Parscale, Donald Trump's campaign manager, in Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of the president's first rally in three months Getty Images Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma A protester against racial injustice is arrested outside a Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma REUTERS Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma A Trump supporter wearing a Make America Great Again cap speaking outside a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma REUTERS Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Trump supporters wait to enter a rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma AFP via Getty Images Donald Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma Donald Trump supporters and opponents clash outside the BOK Centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma ahead of an election rally by the president AP

Blockchains are essentially an online ledger that are impossible to erase or edit, as it is distributed and supported by a network of computers rather than just one.

The USPS filing envisions a number of ways that the technology could be implemented to improve the security of mail-in voting, including sending out QR codes linked to a digital voting system and storing voter IDs and votes on the blockchain.

It is not the first time blockchain technology has been touted for its ability to revolutionise the voting process. US startup Voatz has already used its blockchain-based voting system for minor elections in the US, including the 2018 general election in West Virginia.

Trump has frequently undermined mail-in voting by publicly questioning its integrity. A lawsuit filed this week accused the Republican candidate of attempting to stop postal votes for his own electoral benefit, as polls suggest more Democrats than Republicans plan to vote by mail.

The complaint describes Trumps actions as a loathsome tactic once associated only with tin-horn dictators and banana republics.

It is not clear if or when the USPS plans to roll out or test the blockchain-based system. A representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
SARS-CoV-2 is thought to have originated in bats and spread to humans via a yet-to-be identified intermediate mammalian host. Almost two dozen animal species are known to be susceptible to infection, and there have been numerous reports of infected people transmitting the virus to their pet cats and dogs, to farm animals and even to lions and tigers at the Bronx Zoo. Instances of people catching SARS-CoV-2 from animals, however, are extremely rare. At least two people probably caught it from minks -- semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals raised for their soft pelts -- in the Netherlands, where outbreaks occurred on about a dozen farms. Still, health authorities say theres no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus, and consider the risk of them doing so to be low.
In the weeks since the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced plans to effectively reduce institutional investors public disclosure of their holdings, more than 1,500 people have submitted comments to the commission. The overwhelming majority are opposed to the proposal.

A quick recap: On July 10, the commission said it wanted to raise the threshold for filing the 13-F quarterly disclosure form, from $100 million to $3.5 billion. The S.E.C. says this would eliminate about 90 percent of all 13-F filings.

The gist of the public comments  some more colorful than others  is that the change would reduce transparency, going against the commissions stated mission of protecting investors.

On what planet is this good for the average investor? asked one respondent. The timing of the proposal during the pandemic is particularly vulgar, wrote another. A supporter of the change noted that companies in other industries arent required to divulge their proprietary strategies.
The Nasara Coordinator for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Abdul-Aziz Haruna Futa has described as false, claims by members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that his outfit is collecting data of perceived NDC members to be expunged from the newly compiled voters register.

He said he is disappointed that the party would make such claims as it is impossible for him to orchestrate an expulsion of people's names from the register.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, August 17, 2020, Haruna Futa said the exercise they embarked on in the various Zongo communities was only to assist the party to effectively target Zongo communities and campaign for the party ahead of the 2020 polls.

This is a lie and I'm very disappointed in Sofo Azorka and his NPP. How can I do that? Do I have the power to do that? Even the power of the republic has no power over the EC how much more me a Nasara Coordinator of the NPP? There is no way, and they [NDC] are aware, Haruna Futa said.

His comment comes on the back of a viral video that saw NDC Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka making claims that the NPP Nasara Wing is roaming around communities in the Savannah Region collecting data from residents into a book with the aim of deleting the names of perceived NDC supporters from the new voters register in the region.

If you see anybody in your community holding this book going around writing our peoples names, dont let him go free, finish him, Chief Sofo Azorka is heard in the video saying.

According to Haruna Futa, the party has filed a complaint at the regional police command because they deem Alhaji Azorka's comments to be death threats on party members.

I find it to be a threatening word. We take a serious view of it. I am sending a strong word to the NDC and Sofo Azorka and his people. We have reported this case to the Regional Police Command in the Savannah Region and I'm expecting them to take it seriously. While we follow the laws of Ghana, nobody can take the law into their own hands, he said on Eyewitness News explaining that a member of the party has already been beaten and his mobile phone and money were taken from him by the NDC while collecting the data purely for the party's own use ahead of the elections.

Meanwhile, the Savannah Regional Communication Officer of the NDC, Malik Basintele has justified the comments by Chief Azorka.

According to him, they were not death threats but rather words to firmly state the party's stance not to countenance any illegality by the NPP and they will fiercely resist them.

---citinewsroom
In October 2016, Dan Mallon, then an Emergent executive on the Trobigard program, acknowledged to colleagues that Emergent sales representatives had made unsupported claims about Trobigard to clients and said the practice would end, according to two former company employees familiar with his remarks. The former employees, like several others interviewed for this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matters publicly.
(Natural News) Thousands showed up on Tuesday, August 11, at Fair Park in Dallas as volunteers from the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) distributed around 10,000 boxes of food.

People had begun lining up before sunrise hoping to get boxes containing canned goods, noodles, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, rice, trail mix and some recipe ideas, according to recent reports from CBS Dallas.

The line reached more than a mile long as about 8,000 people came for the NTFBs fourth food drive since the pandemic was declared in March. The NTFB planned to distribute enough food to support 2,000 families.

It was also the organizations first distribution effort that offered a new walk-up option for hundreds of families and individuals without transportation.

Unemployed Americans turn to food banks

The long lines came after almost 30 million of the 249 million Americans polled last month said they didnt have enough to eat, and another 5.4 million reported they often did not have sufficient food.

One man showed up after his daughter had told him about the drive. With unemployment benefits cut, her husbands been laid off for three months. So, its just been a struggle, Richard Archer told CBS Dallas.

Theres times I open the refrigerator and theres little there, said Diana King. We make do with what we have and we make it stretch. King said she made the trip to save on food.

Others who showed up at the event had even driven from across Texas. I came this far just to get the help, said Rene Hightower, who lives in West Dallas.

Organizers see no indication that the food assistance will no longer be needed in the near future. When stimulus checks hit, we saw a decrease, said NTFBs government relations director Valerie Hawthorne.

But with unemployment benefits running out, weve seen the need increase, she added.

Since March, more than three million Texans have filed unemployment claims. However, most of them saw their $600-a-week benefit reduced to $400 just last month.

This figure could even be further reduced to $300 in some states, if local governments fail to dole out the extra $100 it is recommended to provide, reported the Daily Mail.

In June, Texas saw a decrease in its unemployment rate after adding 243,900 private sector positions. (Related: Coronavirus pushes unemployment to highest levels since the Great Depression.)

However, recent distributions like the NTFBs reveal that the need for food is still great.

Pandemic places food banks under increasing pressure

Katie Fitzgerald, an executive at the nonprofit organization Feeding America, said that food bank demand has increased by 50 percent since the pandemic was declared in March.

She said that the pandemic has also affected certain groups worse than others, including people of color, women, children, seniors and those with disabilities.

But this is no recent news. In fact, a 2019 report from Feeding America said that 37 million Americans still face hunger, including more than 11 million children.

Moreover, most of those who are food insecure are ineligible for federal nutrition assistance programs. Therefore, for these households, charitable food assistance might be their sole option.

Furthermore, Fitzgerald reports that the number of volunteers in food drives has seen a significant decrease as well.

Organizers like Fitzgerald are calling for more government assistance and urging people to donate in cash to help them continue their work.

Brian Luallen, executive director of the nonprofit group Fair Park First, said that although the recent distribution effort of the NTFB was more efficient, helping families avoid hours waiting in line, the need has still increased compared to previous distribution efforts.

We want the North Texas Food Bank to be a success, said Luallen. But its critical to get the donations needed to keep doing good work, he added.

Read the latest articles about the food shortage in the U.S. during the Wuhan coronavirus outbreaks at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

DFW.CBSLocal.com

DailyMail.co.uk

FeedingAmerica.org
Eye on tech: UAE signs commercial deal with Israeli firm on coronavirus R&D

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday signed a "strategic commercial agreement" with Israeli companies to cooperate on research and development related to coronavirus (Covid-19), the first after the two countries entered into a peace pact.

The Emirati APEX National Investment company signed a "strategic commercial agreement" with Israel`s Tera Group to cooperate on research and development related to Covid-19, including a testing device, the UAE`s state news agency WAM said late on Saturday.

The deal "is considered the first business to inaugurate trade, economy and effective partnerships between the Emirati and Israeli business sectors, for the benefit of serving humanity by strengthening research and studies on the novel Coronavirus," WAM quoted APEX`s chairman Khalifa Yousef Khoury as saying.

The agreement was signed at a press conference in Abu Dhabi, soon after Israel and the UAE announced an agreement that will lead to a full normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two states.

"The United Arab Emirates and Israel will immediately expand and accelerate cooperation regarding the treatment of and the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus," the two countries said on Thursday in a joint statement.

US President Donald Trump claims to have helped broker the deal, under which Israel agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank.

Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications and other issues, the joint statement said.

"TeraGroup`s BioSafety testing is conducted in selected countries around the world, including the Emirates Field Hospital in Abu Dhabi, with plans to expand the testing to cover the entire UAE," WAM said.

In June, the UAE had said two private companies from the United Arab Emirates and two Israeli companies would work together on medical projects, including ones to combat the new coronavirus.

Two state-owned Israeli defence contractors in July announced partnerships with Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42 to develop technologies to help fight the new coronavirus.
A Utah man was charged on Monday with throwing his wife into a river over a dispute about dinner.

Douglas Harold Green, 61, was charged with aggravated kidnapping in the course of committing unlawful detention and assault.

Employees at the Provo River Resort told local police that the Pleasant Grove man threw his wife into the Provo River on Sunday, according to a police affidavit, Deseret News.

According to police, employees at the Provo River Resort told them that Douglas Harold Green threw his wife in the river and screamed at witnesses as they tried to help

Green said he threw his wife in the river 'after she refused to do what he asked. The victim claimed she and Douglas were arguing over dinner arrangements. Douglas reportedly became angry and threatened to drown her in the river,' the affidavit states.

The affidavit states that Green dragged his wife to the riverbank 'and forced her in,' according to the affidavit. When others tried to help the woman, 'Douglas yelled at them to stay away.'

Wasatch County Sheriff's deputies arrived and found the woman with bruises on both of her arms.

Green was booked at the Wasatch County Jail.
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertify Inc. today announced the appointment of Devon Wijesinghe to the company's board of directors, effective September 6, 2020. Wijesinghe currently serves as Head of Corporate & Business Development at Cision, which was recently acquired for $2.75 billion by Platinum Equity, and will lend his expertise in go-to-market brand and data strategy to Vertify.

"We are excited to welcome Devon to our board of directors. He brings success and leadership in key areas, such as data, analytics, and go-to-market strategy, that are vital to our future operations and overall vision," said Matt Klepac, CEO and board chair of Vertify. "Devon's counsel and connections will infuse energy into our board and strengthen our commitment to our clear go-to-market vision for Revenue Intelligence. With his guidance, Vertify's ROI platform will continue to successfully meet the needs of today's revenue teams. This is yet another effort to partner with talented people who can help add more value for our team members, customers, and shareholders."

Before his appointment at Cision, Wijesinghe built Insightpool, a social software and data company that merged with TrendKite before being acquired for $225 million by Cision. He was also the co-founder of e-Verifile, one of the largest data credentialing software companies before it was acquired by Yuicapa Equity. Wijesinghe is poised to hit the ground running as he works to drive more value into the fast growing Vertify machine.

"Business has forever changed. We live in a time where what worked in the past no longer does. Having true intelligence combined with perfect data in sales and marketing is now the only way to succeed," said Devon Wijesinghe. "I'm ecstatic about joining the board of Vertify to help Matt and his team become the premiere revenue operations technology company. They are changing the landscape with trustworthy automated revenue analytics."

About Vertify

The Vertify Revenue Operations Intelligence (ROI) platform turns disparate data into intelligent answers for every revenue team. With Vertify, take control of your future with next best action knowledge to better shape your strategy, allowing for improved execution, plan predictability, and next level revenue growth. That's ROI. Headquartered in Austin, TX, Vertify operates globally with hundreds of customers across a variety of verticals.

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Actor Ankita Lokhande shared a picture with her mother Vandana Phadnis on Monday. Ankitas many fans were effusive in praise of her beauty.

Sharing a picture, Ankita simply wrote: I love u maa @vandanaphadnis. Ankitas fans showered her with their affection and also commented on her beauty. While the comments section were full of heart emojis, some wrote about her beauty; Sach me yarr ap bhut khoobsurat hain (you are truly very beautiful) while another said Love u mam.

Ankita has been steadfast in her support for Sushant Singh Rajputs family in their quest for unearthing, what they claimed, to the truth behind Sushants death. From making television appearances to speaking about the Sushant she knew till they went their own ways in 2016 to coming out in support of his family and calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Ankita has been rather consistent.

Speaking about Sushant, she had earlier told Republic TV in July that the person knew could never commit suicide. She had said: Sushant was not the guy who could commit suicide. We have seen worse situations when we were together. He was a happy-go-lucky guy.

How much ever I know him, he wasnt a depressed guy. I have not seen a person like Sushant, a guy who used to write his own dreams, he had a diary... He had his 5-year plan  what he wants to do, how he will look, etc. And exactly after 5 years, he had fulfilled them. And when things like depression are used after his name... it is heartbreaking. He might be upset, anxious, yes, but depression is a big word. Calling someone bipolar is a big thing, she had continued.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salians WhatsApp chat reveals they were in touch till April, see messages here

She had, however, accepted that blind items written in tabloids about him would affect him badly. She had said: Very badly. Sushant was very sensitive and very emotional about his career and everything. He was even affected by what people used to say about our relationship. He would be affected by what people would write about him. A boy, who came from outside and made it big solely due to his hard work, how would he be unaffected by such things?

Sushant had died by suicide at his home in Mumbai. While Mumbai Police had begun investigating the case, Sushants father KK Singh, towards the end of July, had filed an FIR in Patna accusing his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty of abetment to suicide and siphoning off money from his sons account, among other charges. The actors family has been demanding CBI probe into the matter. Enforcement Directorate is also looking into the financial irregularities in the case.

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MANISTEE -- Coldwell Banker Professionals announced the acquisition of Coldwell Banker ALM to expand the company's presence into Northwestern Michigan. This is the 15 acquisition by Coldwell Banker Professionals since 2007.

Coldwell Banker Professionals ALM offices are located at 202 E. Ludington Ave. in Ludington and 1121 Parkdale Ave. in Manistee. The two new locations will now be the 11th and 12th Coldwell Banker Professionals office and will be managed by former broker/owner Michael Cnudde. Coldwell Banker Professionals now has 275 full-time sales associates.
Coronavirus stay-home orders have sparked an unprecedented demand for grocery delivery around the world. Now investors are clamoring to bet on promising players in the field.

That includes DST Global, the investment firm helmed by Israeli-Russian billionaire Yuri Milner. Most recently, it poured $35 million into Weee!, a California-based startup that from its own warehouses delivers to major cities across the U.S. Asian groceries like fresh kimchi and Japanese desserts. The Series C round boosted the five-year-old startup's total raise since launch to more than $100 million.

Weee! declined to share its post-money valuation, but the figure likely surpassed $500 million as industry sources told TechCrunch that DST Global does not generally back companies whose valuation is less than $500 million.

Online grocery is a capital-intensive business with thin profit margins, so it's unsurprising to see many contenders -- in both China and the U.S. -- operating in the red. Against the odds, Weee! turned profitable earlier this year and went cash-flow positive.

That means the startup was in no rush to fundraise, probably giving it more bargaining power in negotiating terms with a storied investor like DST Global, whose portfolio spans Spotify, Twitter, Airbnb, Slack, Didi and Gojek, just to name a few.

Weee! certainly matches DST Global's investment target as a high-growth startup. In June, the company recorded 700% year-over-year growth in revenue and was on course to generate revenue in the lower hundreds of millions of dollars in 2020, it told TechCrunch at the time.

Since the U.S. began winding down lockdowns and people returned to supermarkets, some grocery delivery services have seen their revenue growth slow. Weee!, however, is currently growing 15-20% more than its March peak. CEO Larry Liu explained the sustained boom stems from the service's product differentiation: Asian specialties that one can't even find in Chinatowns.

Story continues

"People don't want to pay extra if [an online grocery] only provides convenient delivery but no product differentiation," said Han Shen, founding partner of iFly.vc, a California-based fund that backed Weee! in its Series A round.

In addition, Weee! tries to streamline every step of its operations, from product procurement, warehouse management, staff allocation, through to door-to-door delivery. The result is zero food waste thanks to fast inventory turnover.

"There is no secret tactic that we can't talk about, nothing more than achieving efficiency throughout the entire process," Shen observed.

In the meantime, Weee! works to keep prices down by cultivating direct relationships with suppliers like local farms and opting for next-day delivery rather than the more costly 30-minute standard expected in China, where he grew up. Earlier this year, former chief operations officer of Netflix Tom Dillon joined the board to help beef up Weee!'s operational efficiency.

With the new proceeds, the Asian e-grocer hopes to hire new talents and expand its delivery service from eight key regions to 13-14 cities across the U.S. by the end of this year.

Updated the story with comments from DST Global.

Updated the story again to remove comments from DST Global which the firm confirmed were inaccurate.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: A 25-year-old MTech student in the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) took his own life in his room on the campus. He took the extreme step after sending a message to his friends back in his native Chattisgarh about ending his own life as he was having Covid-19 symptoms for the last few days.

The youth, Sandeep Kumar Markande, was found hanging after IISc security and administration staff along with the police rushed to his room on being alerted by his friends in Chattisgarh.

On receiving the mail, Markandes shocked friends back home had desperately tried calling him to talk him out of such thoughts. However, on receiving no response to their calls, they alerted the IISc staff about the mail. The institute staffers, in turn, alerted the police.

A senior police officer said the incident came to light around 7.30 am when the institutes staffers from the administrative department called Sadashivnagar police under whose jurisdiction IISc campus falls. They rushed to Markandes room and on getting no response to their doorbells, they broke open the door to find him hanging in his room.

The youths body was then shifted to MS Ramaiah hospital for a postmortem examination.

What has baffled the police and the IISc staffers is Markandes mention in the mail to his friends that he was suffering from Covid symptoms since a few days. The IISc staff said they found no report of Covid test, nor had Markande visited any hospital for a Covid-19 test to be conducted.

Markande lived alone in his room and was known by his classmates as a friendly person, besides being brilliant in his studies.

An IISc statement said: "We are deeply saddened to report the death of a student in IISc by suicide. We express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the student, who was pursuing an MTech degree at the Department of Computational and Data Sciences. The mental well-being of our students, faculty, and staff is of serious concern to us and we have provided facilities and wellness resources which include 24 x 7 emergency call service for anyone needing to talk to a mental health professional, 24 x 7 online counselling and support, one-on-one counselling with counsellors and psychiatrists on campus, and other resources and links hosted by IISc's Wellness Centre."

Based on a complaint by IIS authorities, a case of unnatural death has been registered, and the police are waiting for Markandes parents to arrive for further investigations, the police added.
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Common , the leading community-driven residential brand and operator, today announced a request for proposals on their newest project, the Remote Work Hub . Common is now accepting submissions from both private and public sector groups to be part of a site selection competition for the Remote Work Hub. The winner, announced in early 2021, will become the first development to accurately address the challenges resulting from the nation's increasingly distributed workforce in the US, managed and designed by Common. With the help of a distinguished advising jury, Common will choose the site that best allows renters to live and work in the places they call home.

The way we work has fundamentally changed. The rapid, messy, and global embrace of remote work following the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges to cities across the world. However, it has also accelerated existing trends toward working from home. In 2018, global surveys found that 70% of working professionals were working at least one day a week somewhere other than the office. More than half (53%) were working remotely for half of the week or more. With government-mandated lockdowns issued in March and April throughout the developed world, employers were forced to embrace a distributed workforce in a learn-as-you-go, ad hoc manner. By early May, companies like Twitter and Shopify began making these changes permanent.

Remote workers who may have stayed in high-rent cities prior to COVID-19 for the proximity to peers and desirable neighborhoods are now looking elsewhere, presenting a unique moment for smaller cities and jurisdictions to capitalize economically, culturally, and reputationally from an emerging tech-fueled workforce. The Remote Work Hub's goal is to design, develop, and build an innovative new product meant for a changing residential landscape, and also to attract talent and economic vitality to cities that are often on the "outside looking in".

"Cities that were passed over during the tech-powered economic growth of the past two decades have a unique opportunity right now to capture a piece of the pie," said Common founder and CEO Brad Hargreaves. "The future of economic development is about making cities appealing to workers, not just recruiting major employers. By issuing a Request for Proposals, we are seeking diverse voices, sites, and cities to make a big impact on how we will live and work in the future, rather than returning back to normal after COVID-19."

Both public sector groups and private real estate developers/owners are invited to download the full RFP on the Remote Work Hub site , attend the informational session on September 2nd, and respond with an 'Expression of Interest' by October 16, 2020. With the goal of developing a fully operational Remote Work Hub within the next 18-24 months, Common will provide the marketing engine, capital relationships, and operational capabilities to execute on the finalist's proposal. The expert jury, that includes former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and celebrated Architect and Dean of UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design Vishaan Chakrabarti , is set to assist Common in selecting the winning proposal in January 2021.

Competition Timeline

August 18th, 2020 | RFP Brief Release

September 2nd, 2020 | Pre-submission Conference

September 16th, 2020 | Questions Due

September 2020 | Q+A Addendum Release

October 16th, 2020 | Stage I 'Expression of Interest' Submissions Due

November 2020 | Stage I Finalists Announced and Stage II Submission Requirements Released

November 2020 - January 2021 | Finalist Workshops

January 2021 | Stage II 'Development Proposals' Due

Q1 2021 | Stage II Winner(s) Announced

2022 - 2023 | Project Opening

To learn more about the Remote Work Hub, visit our website or reach out to [email protected] .

About Common

Common is the leading residential brand and operator that designs, leases, and manages multifamily properties that appeal to today's renters. Through smart design and tech-enabled property management, Common delivers exceptional experiences across eight cities and 3,000 members in coliving, microunit, and traditional apartments. We are the preferred choice for both residents looking for a stress-free and all-inclusive living environment from a trusted brand, and for real estate owners seeking reliable, above-market returns. The Common platform also includes workforce housing management brand Noah and family-first urban designer and operator Kin . With 15,000 beds signed and under development and $65 million in venture capital investment, Common is expanding into 22 cities across the world. To work with us, visit our partners page or follow us on instagram at @common.living .

Contact: Molly Graizzaro, [email protected]

SOURCE Common

Related Links

www.common.com


A week after a devastating wind storm ripped through a swath of the Midwest, thousands in Iowa remain without power, corn and soybean plants lie bent and broken in the fields, and anger is rising among residents who say state officials and Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds did not seek aid quickly enough in the powerful storm's aftermath.

Hurricane-force winds gusting up to 112 mph in the rare derecho storm flattened 37 million acres of crops and damaged many homes and businesses, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Critics of Reynolds, an ally of President Donald Trump, have charged she did not call for the National Guard immediately after the hurricane-like event on Aug. 10, canceled a planned tour of damage in the epicenter of Cedar Rapids the next day, and waited nearly a week to formally ask for nearly $4 billion in federal disaster relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for thousands of businesses, farms and residents who lost their livelihoods.

"The state and federal aid we needed immediately after the storm on Monday was delayed for days by a misunderstanding of this disaster and plain ignorance about the reality on the ground in communities across eastern Iowa," said U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids. She has been in the streets of her town with a manual saw for several days, helping her neighbors cut up downed trees.

"I live here. I saw it firsthand," she said. "We need FEMA, we need additional support from the National Guard, and we need to amplify the stories of what's happening on the ground here to spark more action from our governor and the administration."

Reynolds has pushed back against such criticism, saying she moved to deploy the National Guard to affected neighborhoods on Thursday, when she was asked by Cedar Rapids officials, as is protocol.

Cedar Rapids officials say they began asking for help right away.

She said the state had submitted the request for federal help, which Trump signed on Monday morning.

Reynolds said in a news conference Monday that the damage was so extensive and wide-ranging that officials didn't have a true sense of the scale early on.

"Every day we continue to see more and more," she said.

White House officials said Monday that Trump will be heading to Iowa on Tuesday to discuss the storm damage with the governor. The president also will meet with Iowans affected by the severe weather, a spokesman said.

"Just approved (and fast) the FULL Emergency Declaration for the Great State of Iowa," the president tweeted.

Vice President Mike Pence visited the state for a campaign event with farmers on Thursday, saying he was "taken aback to hear the magnitude of this storm and its impact."

In Cedar Rapids, blocks of apartment complexes were decimated, with roofs and walls torn off in the storm and insulation, water bottles, pieces of siding, chairs, socks, and piles of drywall scattered across lawns.

Hot, exhausted residents sat in lawn chairs and tents and asked where the government help was.

Pamela Elliott, 48, and her partner, David Frantz, 41, said they sat outside in the heat for four days after the storm ripped the roof off their apartment, waiting for aid. Police kept telling them aid workers were on their way, but no one came.

"We need help," said Elliott, an insurance company claims processor. "There's so much destruction, but the response is moving really slow. I figured it would be a lot quicker."

She and Frantz finally made their way to the main Red Cross shelter in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in downtown Cedar Rapids, where, even though the beds are six feet apart to promote social distancing, it was still crowded.

"We've had a lot of sleepless nights. I'm, like, traumatized," Elliott said. "I know it's been a week today, and it doesn't even seem like it's a week. It feels like it just happened yesterday."

More than 1,000 homes in the Cedar Rapids area have been declared uninhabitable, raising the specter that hundreds of families could be without a place to stay at a time when the state remains in the grip of the pandemic, reaching an all-time high of 832 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to the state health department. Reynolds was reluctant to impose wide-ranging virus restrictions and has pushed back on the idea of a statewide mask mandate.

"This is a crisis within a crisis," said Stacey Walker, a Democrat who serves on the Board of Supervisors for Linn County, which includes Cedar Rapids. "We are seeing an estimate of billions of dollars of homes and businesses while Iowa has a governor who - in the view of many scientists and doctors - is not doing all she can to do to curb this pandemic. You add all this together and we are going to be climbing out of this devastation for years."

"This is Iowa's Katrina," he continued. "Literally Iowa was hit with a hurricane-style meteorological event. It seems crazy to say that, but it's true."

The pandemic has complicated the crisis response. Many of those left homeless are reluctant to go to traditional shelters for fear of exposing themselves to the virus and have been camping in tents or staying in damaged homes.

Eli Perencevich, an infectious-disease physician and epidemiologist at the University of Iowa, said that along with the risk of infection being spread through temporary shelters, thousands of college students at the state's three large public universities - Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa - are headed back to the state.

"It's a double whammy," he said. "We could be at a really dangerous point if this starts spreading exponentially with the students back and along with a large homeless population."

Michael Cappannari, a spokesman for FEMA Region VII, said completing a damage assessment for the broad area of Iowa would have been a time-consuming task even without the pandemic, which has strained resources. FEMA, he said, had provided a liaison officer to work with the state on the assessment, but in the end the request was made before it was finished - a process that had been complicated by the coronavirus.

Brad Hart, a Republican who serves as the nonpartisan mayor of Cedar Rapids, defended Reynolds' response to the crisis, saying widespread power outages and knocked-down cell towers made it difficult to assess how bad the damage was in the first few days.

"Nobody knew how big it was at the state level," he said. Hart may have confused matters himself by declaring on local radio Wednesday that Cedar Rapids did not need the National Guard's help, adding to the confusion. He later said he had been misunderstood.

On Sunday, Reynolds formally requested an expedited Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Iowa, including funding for 27 counties for assistance with housing, personal property replacement, medical expenses and legal services, and additional money for debris and replacement of public infrastructure in 16 counties.

"Expedited major disaster declarations are few and far between," said former FEMA administrator William "Brock" Long, now executive chairman of Hagerty Consulting. When they do happen, they often happen quickly, he said, sometimes within hours of a major disaster hitting.

Unlike a hurricane - which can prompt a pre-disaster emergency declaration, allowing emergency services, for example, to be readied - the derecho hit vast swaths of Iowa with almost no warning.

In a news release, the governor's office said that work to develop the request began immediately following the storms but that many local agencies have not yet been able to complete damage estimates.

Over the weekend, Genevieve Adams, 48, a Nordstrom fulfillment center worker, was still trying to clear the debris from her modest home in Cedar Rapids. Bleachers from the middle school next door had blown several yards into her home in the Cedar Hills neighborhood, rendering it unlivable. She and her 15-year-old son were staying with her sister - for now.

She wept as she described subsisting on a cup of coffee and one meal a day since the storm.

"A week later and we don't even have food," Adams said through tears. "It's a struggle to make it on our own. They could at least have a truck or something out delivering meals."

Critics also said state officials were quicker to respond in the last significant weather-related crisis in Cedar Rapids, devastating floods in 2008 that washed away several blocks of the city, according to Austin Frerick, a Cedar Rapids native and agriculture and antitrust researcher at Yale University. He was at his parents' home in Iowa when the storm hit and spent much of the past week clearing debris from his hometown streets.

Calvin Ross, 42, a construction day laborer, agreed. He lived in Cedar Rapids during the 2008 flood and remembers aid coming a lot faster.

He and his partner, Nicole Seber, were still staying in their apartment, staying cool by taking showers, eating whatever food people brought by. They're still paying rent on their apartment and say they have nowhere else to go.

"It's still been a week and we don't have any help out here," Ross said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Anne Gearan, Toluse Olorunnipa and Seung Min Kim and contributed to this report.
Former GOP Gov. John Kasich Endorses Joe Biden for President

Former Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who has been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, endorsed Joe Biden for president on Monday night during the virtual Democratic National Convention.

Kasich, who was a rival of Trump in the 2016 GOP presidential primaries who never endorsed the partys nominee, called on other Republicans to take off our partisan hats and put our nation first for ourselves and of course for our children.

Kasich, in criticizing Trump, said that many of us have been deeply concerned about the current path weve been following for the past four years, adding that it has created division, disfunction, irresponsibility, and growing vitriol between our citizens.

Im a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country, he said. Thats why Ive chosen to appear at this convention.

Kasich, who was seen on video speaking from a gravel crossroads, was seemingly brought in to appeal to disaffected Republicans or independents to possibly broaden Bidens voter base.

In response, President Trumps reelection campaign said Kasich is a sore loser who endorsed the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that was signed by President Barack Obama in early 2016. Trump withdrew the U.S. signature from the agreement, saying it would wreak havoc on the U.S. economy and its independence.

John was a loser as a Republican. Never even came close, Trump himself told reporters onboard Air Force One on Monday. He hasnt done too well with Trump. Hes been easy pickings, the president said.

Other Republicans criticized Kasich for partaking in the DNC. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, told ABC News that Kasichs endorsement would have zero impact against Trumps reelection, adding: Theyre absolutely meaningless.

From the left, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also offered criticism of Kasichs appearance at the DNC.

Its great that Kasich has woken up & realized the importance of supporting a Biden-Harris ticket. I hope he gets through to GOP voters, she wrote on Twitter. Yet also, something tells me a Republican who fights against womens rights doesnt get to say who is or isnt representative of the Dem party, she added.

The DNC is being held from Aug. 17 until Aug. 20, including speakers such as former President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), former first lady Michelle Obama, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and others.

Both Biden and his vice presidential pick, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), are also scheduled to speak and will be most likely nominated.
The launch of Apple Pay, Saudi Payments and the continued issuance of regulatory testing licenses and regulations by SAMA and CMA to support fintech activities are some of key developments in fintech over the last year in Saudi Arabia, a report said.



The Fintech Saudi Annual Report 2019/20, which provides an overview of the development of the fintech industry in Saudi Arabia over the past year, highlights a number of key developments that have taken place to support the growth of the fintech industry.



Director of Fintech Saudi, Nejoud Almulaik said 2019/20 had been a pivotal period for the fintech industry in the Kingdom.



Despite the challenges of Covid-19 we have seen progression in regulations, infrastructure and an increasing number of investment rounds in fintech companies, which have built a solid foundation to support the emergence of a growing fintech industry in Saudi Arabia, that will contribute in a meaningful way to Vision 2030, he added.



Within the community there have also been a number of major initiatives including the NCB / Monshaat fintech accelerator program and the launch of Riyad Banks fintech fund.



Fintech Saudi has also continued to support the development of the fintech industry through initiatives including the Fintech Ecosystem Directory and the Fintech Jobs Portal to support fintech companies, the Fintech Regulatory Assessment Tool to provide greater regulation clarity and the Fintech Data & Research Initiative to support data driven innovation in fintech.



The collective impact of these developments is contributing to the growth of an emerging fintech industry. The number of operating fintechs has increased 3-fold in a year, from 20 in 2019 to 60 this year, with over 100 fintech startups at the idea or pre-commercial stage.



There has also been an increase in fundraising deals completed in Saudi fintechs for the year to date with the total investment amount already surpassing 2019 levels. This is building up to a fintech market in Saudi Arabia that, according to Statista, is expected to reach transaction values of over $33 billion by 2023.



The Fintech Saudi Annual Report consists of a number of sections including an overview of the fintech industry by KPMG, the view from fintechs from MAGNiTT and interviews with the SAMA Regulatory Sandbox and the CMA FinTech Lab.



Fintech Saudi is an initiative launched by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) in partnership with the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to support the development of the Fintech Industry in Saudi Arabia. Fintech Saudis ambition is to transform Saudi Arabia into an innovative fintech hub with a thriving and responsible fintech ecosystem.  TradeArabia News Service


One of the legendary milestones of the 1960s was the so-called summer of love centered around the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood in San Francisco in 1967, when thousands of hippies descended on the town to start their new utopia. Daniel Patrick Moynihan thought the summer of love counterculture represented the first heresies of liberalism. Who are these outrageous young people? Moynihan asked. I suggest to you they are Christians arrived on the scene of second-century Rome. Theologian Will Herberg offered a similar judgment, observing that the hippies resembled the Adamites of second century Christianity, believing that they had been restored to the sinless purity of before the Fall, in fact, to Adams primitive innocence in Paradise.

The ecstasy of the summer of love never descended into riots or mass violence (though there was a lot of small-scale violence), but the obvious social problems arising from this Rousseauian idyll didnt take long to become evident. Tom Wolfe memorably recalled in his essay The Great Relearning that doctors at the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic were treating diseases no living doctor had ever encountered before, diseases that disappeared so long ago they never even picked up Latin names, diseases such as the mange, the grunge, the itch, the twitch, the thrush, the scruff, the rot. The rate of venereal disease in San Francisco during 1967s summer of love was six times higher than it had been in 1964. Newsweek noted that Pregnancy becomes the most frequent serious side effect of pot. At the peak of the summer of love, San Franciscos public health authorities were treating 10,000 hippies for drug addiction, at a cost of $35,000 a month.

Herberg observed that It is not innocent to pretend to an innocence impossible for man The hippie spectacle is a kind of Medusa head; but it will turn those who gaze upon it without adequate protection not into stone images, but into fools and simpletons. And as we know, the next year the youth movement expressed itself by destroying the Democratic Party with a huge riot in Chicago, which, in a parallel with today, the left and their media toadies called a police riot.

The point is, weve come full circle back to 1968 without even the pretense of a summer of love. As bad as things were in Haight-Ashbury in 1967, the CHAZ/CHOP and other Antifa-sponsored utopias of recent weeks have had none of the naive innocence of the summer of love. It went from zero-to-hate faster than a Tesla gets to 60 mph.

A couple of other footnotes. Today of course the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco has gentrified and become hugely expensive. I havent been by lately to see whether the Haight is afflicted with homeless encampments, as I havent been near the place in more than 20 years. But last time I was there, I spotted a brand new Range Rover parked on the street near the famous intersection. Except, the brand lettering on the front and back had been altered to read: DERANGED ROVER. Which seems a perfect expression of the rich lefties who have ruined San Francisco.

In reviewing this long ago episode I also re-read Joan Didions article about it, Slouching Toward Bethlehem. It was there that I re-acquainted myself with what I had mis-remembered as a myth: smoking bananas. Heres Didion:

Sharon lived in a house where a friend of Maxs lived, and the next time he saw her was when he took the friend some bananas. It was during the great banana bubble. You had to kind of force your personality and the banana peels down their throats. Sharon and I were like kidswe just smoked bananas and looked at each other and smoked more bananas and looked at each other.

Democrats have gone from smoking bananas to embracing a bananas candidate. Buckle up everyone: the rest of this year is going to be a wild ride.
Thirty-nine new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Northern Ireland on Monday amid fresh warnings that localised lockdowns could be introduced.

In total, 290 cases have been recorded in the space of a week  an average of 41 a day.

Health Minister Robin Swann said a new, younger profile of people testing positive was emerging.

He said experts were focused on breaking the chain of transmission  but warned a tipping point could be reached where decisive action was needed.

He told UTV: When we get to that tipping point, and I would rather that we didnt, that is when we do have to look at the lockdown measures as well.

Read More

That is when we as an Executive have to look at stepping back some of the relaxations that we have made in the past number of months.

That is where I think we are coming to very, very quickly.

He said these included the number of people in houses, the number of people who can gather at one place, when and where people could travel.

Mr Swann added: I would rather not go there, but when we start to see the increase in the figures of contamination and positive cases that we are actually seeing now, it is something that we are actively seeing.

He suggested lockdowns may not be geographic, but could be by sector.

He added: If we are having to look at certain industries, certain provisions, again about closing those down, it has a negative impact, it has a large impact on quality of life in Northern Ireland.

Mr Swann warned that unless the virus was brought under control, the region would head into another lockdown and more restrictions.

He said the next days and weeks were crucial.

Earlier, the regions chief scientific adviser has warned that localised restrictions where cases have surged may soon be required.

Professor Ian Young said the rising numbers were of considerable concern and represented a tenfold increase on infection rates earlier in the summer.

He said two council areas - Antrim & Newtownabbey and Mid & East Antrim - were particularly affected by surges.

Prof Young added: I think were getting close to the point, certainly in those areas with the high numbers of cases, that we may have to consider whether any additional local measures are required.

I dont think were at the point where wed be considering measures across the whole of Northern Ireland because there are still many parts of Northern Ireland where, as a result of public behaviours and other factors, the level of virus remains at a low level.

The expert adviser said a one-size-fits-all approach would not be appropriate when it came to any renewed restrictions.

We are undoubtedly seeing Covid fatigue and that leads into complacency, he told BBC Radio Ulster.

In the Republic of Ireland, 56 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases there to 27,313.
Michelle Obamas speech Monday at the Democratic National Convention stirred emotions and contained a clear message: The letters V O T E dangled from her simple gold necklace.

Almost instantly, New York Times fashion director Vanessa Friedman revealed on Twitter the source of the handmade necklace: For all those who want to know, Michelle Obamas V-O-T-E necklace is from ByChari.

Designer Chari Cuthbert, whose parents were born in Jamaica, told the Daily Beast that her mom alerted her that the former first lady wore the necklace during her speech. Out of respect, I didnt post it or anything, because I didnt want to take advantage, said Cuthbert.

Soon, however, the world knew and Cuthbert and her five female employees in Los Angeles were swamped with calls.

For all those who want to know, Michelle Obamas V-O-T-E necklace is from By Chari.  Vanessa Friedman (@VVFriedman) August 18, 2020

Christina Reynolds, vice president of communications at EMILYs List, tweeted: Psst, Biden team: start selling that vote necklace @MichelleObama is wearing and youll fund ads for the next 77 days.

Friedman later tweeted that Obamas V-O-T-E necklace went viral because it beckoned you in, emphasizing the close-up, the intimate nature of her address. It was personal, as was her statement. It underscored her words.

ByChari is selling the V-O-T-E necklace on a 16-inch chain for $295, which can be paid in four interest-free installments of $73.75.

Color choices are 14K yellow, rose and white gold. Longer chains and larger letters ($405) or diamond letters ($1,210) are also available. It will take up to four weeks for the handmade piece to be produced, according to the website.

Beautiful necklace, but unaffordable for many of us. If you made it in Sterling silver, you would get boatloads of orders! Please consider.  Social Distance Warrior (@collagecandy) August 18, 2020

Twitter users and others asked for lower-cost alternatives including making a sterling silver version.

Here are affordable jewelry and apparel alternatives with a vote theme:

Zales has a 14k-gold, 18-inch necklace with hand-assembled letters that spell out VOTE ($249 and free shipping).Zales

Zales has a 14k-gold, 18-inch necklace with hand-assembled letters that spell out VOTE ($249 and free shipping).

The Vote Ring by Uncommon GoodsUncommon Goods

For every necklace ($50), ring ($50-$60), bracelet ($65-$85) and pin ($50) sold in the Vote jewelry collection commemorating the centennial of the 19th amendment, Uncommon Goods will donate $5 to League of Women Voters NYC.

mazi + zo's VOTE necklaces support When We All Vote to increase voter turnout.mazi + zo

mazi + zo designed a 16-inch VOTE necklace of sterling silver ($72) and recycled solid 14k gold ($192) handcrafted in NYC. Thirty-five percent of the selling price will be donated to When We All Vote, an organization founded by Michelle Obama to increase voter turnout.

Anna Corpron of Brevity jewelry designed a VOTE necklaceBrevity

Anna Corpron of Brevity jewelry designed a VOTE necklace in a statement-piece size and small size, made in gold plated ($108-$148) and stainless steel ($78-$118). Her Election Collection includes capsule pieces like a Vote pin ($15) and Activist necklaces, with donations made to Girls, Inc.

A Vote necklace made of rhodium-plated letters on a matching, 16-inch chain with a three-inch extender by Larissa Loden is available on Amazon for $60 plus $5 shipping.

On eBay, redsvintagestuffredsvintagestuff sells vintage election jewelry, including a VOTE necklace with Swarovski rhinestones in red, white and blue ($6.99 plus $3.50 shipping).redsvintagestuffredsvintagestuff/eBay

eBay sells vintage election jewelry, including a VOTE necklace with Swarovski rhinestones in red, white and blue ($6.99 plus $3.50 shipping).

Customizable necklaces let you make your own statement: Baublebars Pisa necklace uses white letter beads ($36). Take 10% off your first order and shipping is free for orders of $35 or more.

Create your own message with Brook & Yorks Nella necklace ($88) in rose, silver or gold plated metal. Shipping is free.

Dissent Pins sells drop earring with tiny ballot boxes ($21.95). The 24k gold-plated earrings have either black or blue highlights. Fifty percent of profits will be donated to The New Georgia Project, which has been working for years to register and civically engage Georgians.

Out of Print has an enamel pin that states Read Think Vote ($10), with a portion of sales in the Get PoLITical collection donated to PEN America and their Free Speech 2020 campaign.

Election T-shirts

Tee-Public has hundreds of T-shirts for $20 with a vote theme such as Voting like a girl since 1920. Just added: A tank top with Michelle Obamas plea from Monday: Vote Like Your Life Depends On It.

Zazzle has released a T-shirt in various colors with the words Vote Like Your Life Depends On It in white letters ($24.80). There are also trucker hats ($16.15), reusable grocery bags ($9.70) and totes ($33.45). Receive 20% off of your first order.

Zazzle has a trucker hat with the words Vote Like Your Life Depends On It ($16.15).Zazzle

Cafe Press has election-related T-shirts, some on sale for $18, for men and women. Get free shipping for orders of $50 or more with the code FREESHIP50.

And Red Bubble has T-shirts with the message to Vote starting at $18. Receive 10% off your first order by enrolling to receive emails.

Amazon has voting stickers, vintage posters, T-shirts and documentaries.

 Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

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Specialists are working on the biggest single cleaning programme at the British Museum in decades after dust accumulated on artefacts during the lockdown.

Teams of experts have been cleaning the surfaces of the exhibits in order to prevent them from getting damaged by the particles.

More than 30 staff members have been working on dusting the museums collections for around three weeks.

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The London venue, which has been shut to visitors because of the coronavirus pandemic, is set to reopen on August 27.

Ladders and a cherry-picker have to be used to clean some of the larger objects, including a totem pole.

Fabiana Portoni, the museums preventive conservator and dust expert, said that the accumulation of dust particles on the museums ancient artefacts can cause long-term damage.

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The major sources of dust in the museum include visitors, who can bring in dust from hair fibres or their clothes, and nearby traffic pollution, she said.

Ms Portoni told the PA news agency: During lockdown, all of these sources were reduced however there was still dust present around the museum.

The shortage of people flowing through the galleries and disrupting the air meant dust accumulated in more unusual places where it wouldnt normally be expected to be found, she added.

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Only limited cleaning took place while the museum was closed, Ms Portoni said.

Physical dusting and chemicals are used to clean objects, she added, but great care has to be taken as removing the dust can also damage an objects surface.

Ms Portoni said the museums closure provided a fantastic opportunity to do a deep clean.

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A lot of these objects, to be able to clean them, they require ladders and different equipment and we have to do it before opening or after opening, so the timing is a little bit reduced, she said.

But now, because we are closed, we can spend hours cleaning and theres no rush, so it is a good opportunity for that.

The London venue will have been shut for 163 days by the time it welcomes back visitors, which is the longest peacetime closure in its 261-year history.

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Visits to the museum will need to be pre-booked and a one-way route will be installed around some of its galleries.

Tickets for the day the museum welcomes back visitors have already sold out.

Galleries featuring objects from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Assyria, Africa, Mexico and North America will reopen before more displays go on show later in September.

Other museums and galleries including the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery and Tate venues in Liverpool, London and St Ives have all already reopened.
WENDAKE, QC, Aug. 17, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - In recent interviews about, among other things, his government's reluctance to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Premier Francois Legault indicated that, on the one hand, the Indigenous Nations must be recognized, but on the other hand, there is a risk of "giving" them a veto over Quebec's development.

The AFNQL appreciates the fact that, for a rare occasion, the Premier is speaking out clearly on these crucial issues for all of Quebec society. Moreover, now that the cards are clearly on the table and that the Prime Minister's position is finally known, the AFNQL sees possible solutions and proposes to begin discussions between the provincial government and First Nations right now on the recognition of Nations as well as on the scope of the Aboriginal and treaty rights of all First Nations.

"Premier Legault must first realize that this is not about "giving" rights, but about recognizing rights. The colonial regime has left its mark. The Premier of Quebec must also admit that any recognition of Nations without specifying the rights it implies would be meaningless.

There are words that are frightening, that can even hurt the pride of Quebecers: colonialism, structural and systemic racism, discrimination. The AFNQL believes that now is the time for all peoples who share the territory to get rid of these words, this colonial heritage that blocks our collective future.

In a recent survey, the Quebec population shows an openness, a willingness to better understand First Nations issues. Is the Legault government ready to follow the path indicated by the population?

Above all, before agreeing to enter discussions with First Nations, is the Legault government ready to undertake a deep and sincere reflection on the relationship it wants to develop with First Nations? Will it instead continue to be inspired by principles dating back to the colonial era? It is up to the Premier to answer this question. For its part, the AFNQL is ready to accompany him in this process that could be crucial for the future of Quebec," declared Ghislain Picard, Chief of the AFNQL.

About the AFNQL

The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador is the political organization regrouping 43 Chiefs of the First Nations in Quebec and Labrador. Follow us on Twitter @APNQL

SOURCE Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador

For further information: Source: Alain Garon, [email protected], Communications Officer, Cell. : (418) 254-4620

Related Links

http://apnql.com


Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath



on Tuesday said Madhya Pradesh lags behind other states in conducting COVID-19 tests.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nath asked him to ensure that the number of tests is increased.

"Till the mid of this month, as compared to other states, Madhya Pradesh has conducted an average of 12,000 tests per 10 lakh population while in states like Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Assam, the number of tests (conducted) is more than 50,000 per 10 lakh population," the former chief minister stated.

The state Congress president also said that because of lesser number of tests, Madhya Pradesh is ranked at the 15th place, which is the lowest among the list of the most-affected states.

Nath said the state government conducting a lesser number of tests is a matter of grave concern.

"The campaigns being run by the state government are a mere formality and they are more confined to publicity only," he said.

Nath alleged that the efforts being made by the government are not serious in nature and they are not aimed at making the state and the people infection-free.

He requested the government to make serious efforts in this regard "so that Madhya Pradesh can set an example for the country and the world by becoming infection free from the pandemic".

The COVID-19 case tally in Madhya Pradesh stood at 47,375 as on August 18, as per health department.

As per the government data, 10,72,575 samples have been tested so far in the state.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ithaca, N.Y. -- Ithaca College revised its coronavirus reopening plans on Tuesday, announcing that all instruction would be online for the fall semester and that it would not bring students back to campus. First-year students were scheduled to arrive on the first weekend of September.

Ithaca follows a number of prominent colleges that have shifted to online classes over the past week including Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia.

A letter from President Shirley Collado cited the seriousness of the pandemic, as well as the belief that Ithaca students wouldnt get a worthwhile experience given all the safety measures and changes that are required to operate a campus safely in a pandemic.

As planning for the fall academic and residential experience continued, it became very clear that, due to the absolutely necessary modifications around things like facilities preparedness and population density, the on-campus experience that our students would have had this semester would ultimately be very different from the IC experience our students would expect and that we would want them to have, Collado wrote.

Collado also wrote that the school didnt want to risk bringing students to campus and then sending them home, a process that would interrupt their academic experience and has already happened at one prominent institution.

Ithacas announcement comes one day after the University of North Carolina gave up on its attempt to provide an in-person experience after just a week. The school saw 135 coronavirus cases in its first week, five among employees, and had nearly filled its emergency quarantine housing.

The plan at UNC was a particularly poor one. The school draws many of its students from areas where the coronavirus is prevalent, meaning it was guaranteed to start the year with a significant amount of virus on campus. The school also chose not to test students either before they traveled to campus or on arrival, allowing those cases to go unchecked.

North Carolina isnt the only school to encounter early challenges. An increase in cases on most campuses is expected.

Notre Dame reported an initial surge in cases after bringing students back. Videos of parties from other campuses foreshadow the challenge that colleges will have getting enough students to alter their behavior to operate a campus safely.

Most of the colleges in Upstate New York still expect to hold in-person classes or operate residence halls this fall. Syracuse University, for instance, is moving in its student body this week. Le Moyne moved in its freshman class last weekend.

The change in plans for Ithaca is the third time the school has altered its course in recent months, as it tried to find the best route for the academic year.

The school was an outlier from local schools when it announced its initial plan to start the fall semester in October, saying that the school wanted extra time to prepare. Later the school adjusted that plan and indicated it would start the fall semester on time and but planned a phased approach to bringing students back to campus by October. The school had announced previously that it wouldnt be able to accommodate students who wanted to perform a state-mandated quarantine on campus.

Collado wrote that Ithaca hopes to bring students back for the spring semester.

Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1639

MORE CORONAVIRUS AND COLLEGE

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Syracuse University reopening: What happens when a party school meets a pandemic?
I hope to be able to utilize the experience I gained in the JAG (Judge Advocate General) Corps to help clients all across Kentucky. I was fortunate to receive a tremendous amount of trial and litigation experience and I want to use those tools I have learned to serve Kentuckians. - Tyler Fleck

The Elizabethtown, Kentucky law firm of The Fleck Firm, PLLC recently launched a new website, providing valuable online legal content and resources for current and potential clients in the Radcliff, Elizabethtown, Fort Knox, Bardstown, and Louisville area.

The site offers an array of helpful information which can help potential clients who may be fearful of the legal process. The website includes basic information on animal law, personal injury law, and estate planning.

The law firm is run by Attorney Tyler Fleck who recently served in the military in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps. I hope to be able to utilize the experience I gained in the JAG (Judge Advocate General) Corps to help clients all across Kentucky. I was fortunate to receive a tremendous amount of trial and litigation experience and I want to use those tools I have learned to serve Kentuckians. This new website is a gateway for information that clients may be seeking.

Website visitors can learn how the experienced personal injury, civil litigation, and estate planning attorneys at The Fleck Firm, PLLC can assist them with any and all of their legal needs. The firm has quickly developed a reputation for professionalism, and adhering to the rules of procedure.

About The Fleck Firm, PLLC

The Fleck Firm, PLLC is owned by Attorney Tyler Fleck (http://thefleckfirm.com/about-us) and headquartered in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The law firm's mission statement is To Provide Ethical, High Quality Representation at Affordable Prices to All. It devotes itself to serving the needs of families and individuals in the following legal matters:



Personal Injury / Car Accidents  Advocating for those in Kentucky who have been harmed in an accident, liaising with the insurance companies and filing a lawsuit if necessary, to ensure those who have been injured are compensated adequately.

Civil Litigation  Suing individuals in court for acts of negligence, real estate matters, wrongful death, and criminal acts.

Estate Planning  Ensuring that individuals have a complete and total plan for when they pass away, ensuring that assets are in a strategic position to get to those people they care about at the least costly method possible.

Located in Elizabethtown, KY, The Fleck Firm, PLLC is dedicated to serving the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in personal injury, civil litigation, and estate planning at a reasonable cost. The law firms new website explains the practice areas in greater detail. It shares biographical information about the law firm and the attorneys.

The lawyers at The Fleck Firm, PLLC, founded in 2020, have over 10 years of experience in the practice of law. For more information about the law firm, please visit the firms website (http://thefleckfirm.com), or call 270-446-7000.
Microsoft has always been good at working with developers, right from its earliest days as a language vendor. Its program has evolved over the years, from a top-down, Redmond-driven approach that peaked with the regular MSDN DVDs of documentation, to todays community-based program wrapped around Microsoft Docs, Microsoft Learn, a global team of Azure Developer Advocates, and an ever-growing set of tools and frameworks developed on GitHub.

The Windows Community Toolkit: a .NET starter kit

Working with the community has produced interesting results with more accurate and timely documentation using GitHub to manage content and a series of community-led open source projects. One of the more important projects is the Windows Community Toolkit, a series of functions, controls, and services for .NET and UWP applications. Its a project thats only going to get more important with the transition from the older .NET Framework to the .NET Core-based .NET 5 and rollout of both Project Reunion and the cross-platform Multiplatform App UI (MAUI) framework.

The Windows Community Toolkit isnt a monolithic entity that needs to be shipped with your applications. Its a set of NuGet packages, so you can pick and choose what you need, keeping any code and library overhead to a minimum. If youre building modern Windows .NET applications its well worth a look, as it contains many important XAML controls that can help deliver a good looking and user-friendly application. Other useful tools include a set of helpers to improve application performance, a set of parsers for common data formats including Markdown, and the core code needed to support Windows 10s notification framework.

Adding MVVM to the Toolkit

One of the more recent additions to the toolkit is a new library for building applications using the MVVM design pattern. Model-view-viewmodel is at the heart of the upcoming MAUI framework, and .NET needs a good, fast implementation if its to be successful. The result is a relatively lightweight set of MVVM tools as well as a set of sample code.

Theres a lot to like in the new MVVM Windows Community Toolkit implementation. Perhaps the most useful is that its an order of magnitude performance improvement over comparable .NET MVVM tooling, as its co-author Michael Hawker, the lead on the Windows Community Toolkit project at Microsoft, pointed out in a presentation at UnoConf last week. That improvement will be critical for MAUI applications, especially when targeting mobile platforms such as Android and iOS. It might not have all the features of heavyweight alternatives, but for most purposes its an ideal choice, and with some of the alternative .NET MVVM tools no longer being developed, its worth a look.

Make your UI event-driven

The MVVM design pattern is intended to support event-driven user interfaces. At its heart is a model, which acts as the interface between your application and any back-end business logic or data. Your user interface is implemented by the view, much like the familiar MVC (model view controller) pattern. MVVM differs from other similar design patterns in its viewmodel, which links data bindings in the view to the data in the model, providing a way of representing the state of one to the other.

Your viewmodel code handles processing inputs and outputs to and from the view, using standard XAML data bindings to controls. The aim here is to keep code in the view to a minimum so that designers can concentrate on producing user experiences while developers work on the back-end code and on the viewmodels event-driven processing of view state. By enforcing a separation between the view and the model you can focus development on the application logic, using prototype controls before switching in a final design without affecting the code thats been written during application development.

Start with Microsoft.MVVM.Toolkit

The code for the new MVVM toolkit is very new, but its mature enough to support prototype application development. Perhaps the biggest issue is that there isnt any documentation for Microsoft.Toolkit.MVVM on the Microsoft Docs site yet, though a little searching will find the initial tranche of documentation on GitHub.

Like the rest of the Windows Community Toolkit, the MVVM Toolkit installs from a Nuget repository. As it was inspired by the now deprecated MVVMLight, transitioning from the older toolkit to the Windows Community Toolkit shouldnt be too difficult.

Start by downloading the preview release of the MVVM Toolkit from Nuget and installing it in your application in Visual Studio. This will bring in any dependencies and set up a framework that you can use to start building an MVVM application.

Under the hood: a notification system in action

At heart, MVVM is a messaging-based architecture that monitors for events from both the model and the view, sending asynchronous notifications between the two using the viewmodel. Youll need to familiarize yourself with the core base classes which control how the viewmodel responds to changed properties in the underlying model. When an observable object in the model changes state, the viewmodel raises an appropriate notification and uses that to deliver an event message across a binding to a UI control in the view.

Key to operation of the MVVM Toolkit, and the reason for its significant performance improvements over other .NET MVVM implementations, is its Messenger Class. This is how you link the different elements of a MVVM application, implementing and registering message handlers. You can think of it as a simplified publish and subscribe system, only offering services to the model and the view. Recipients and senders need to be registered and unregistered if no longer needed. For example, if youre using MVVM Toolkit to power a chat app, and a specific user logs off, you need to unregister them from the application to prevent memory leaks.

Designing for MVVM

Having a publish and subscribe model at the heart of the model view makes a lot of sense. It allows you to ensure all your control bindings are associated with message end points, giving you a way to build out programmatically the mappings necessary to link view and model in a way that should scale between multiple views and multiple models.

Separating view and model in this way simplifies the overall structure of your application, especially when you consider that youre going between a declarative programming model in your XAML view and an object-oriented approach in your model. Using a messaging-based viewmodel as a translation layer between these two very different ways of programming reduces risk and keeps the amount of code-behind needed in your views to a minimum. Before you write any code, make sure your application design includes those mappings and bindings in detail, along with the messages theyre carrying, as these are your internal APIs for all your integration between front end and back end.

The .NET communitys work on the Windows Community Toolkit is important for the future of the platform. With significant changes underway (the transition to .NET 5, the separation of SDK and Windows in Project Reunion, and the cross-platform UI model in MAUI) having a set of reference controls and features is becoming increasingly important. You can pick and choose the elements you want to get a boost on your own .NET journey. The MVVM Toolkit may be one of the newest parts of the kit, but its likely to become one of the most important.
A group of theoretical physicists, including two physicists from the University of Groningen, have proposed a 'table-top' device that could measure gravity waves. However, their actual aim is to answer one of the biggest questions in physics: is gravity a quantum phenomenon? The key element for the device is the quantum superposition of large objects. Their design was published in New Journal of Physics on 6 August.

Already in the preprint stage, the paper that was written by Ryan J. Marshman, Peter F. Barker and Sougato Bose (University College London, UK), Gavin W. Morley (University of Warwick, UK) and Anupam Mazumdar and Steven Hoekstra (University of Groningen, the Netherlands) was hailed as a new method to measure gravity waves. Instead of the current kilometres-sized LIGO and VIRGO detectors, the physicists working in the UK and in the Netherlands proposed a table-top detector. This device would be sensitive to lower frequencies than the current detectors and it would be easy to point them to specific parts of the sky - in contrast, the current detectors only see a fixed part.

Diamond

The key part of the device is a tiny diamond, just a few nanometres in size. 'In this diamond, one of the carbons is replaced by a nitrogen atom,' explains assistant professor Anupam Mazumdar. This atom introduces a free space in the valence band, which can be filled with an extra electron. Quantum theory says that when the electron is irradiated with laser light, it can either absorb or not absorb the photon energy. Absorbing the energy would alter the electron's spin, a magnetic moment that can be either up or down.

'Just like Schrodinger's cat, which is dead and alive at the same time, this electron spin does and does not absorb the photon energy, so that its spin is both up and down.' This phenomenon is called quantum superposition. Since the electron is part of the diamond, the entire object - with a mass of about 10-17 kilograms, which is huge for quantum phenomena - is in quantum superposition.

'We have a diamond that has up spin and down spin at the same time,' explains Mazumdar. By applying a magnetic field, it is possible to separate the two quantum states. When these quantum states are brought together again by turning off the magnetic field, they will create an interference pattern. 'The nature of this interference depends on the distance the two separate quantum states have travelled. And this can be used to measure gravity waves.' These waves are contractions of space, so that their passing affects the distance between the two separated states and thus the interference pattern.

Missing link

The paper shows that this set-up could indeed detect gravity waves. But that is not what Mazumdar and his colleagues are really interested in. 'A system in which we can obtain quantum superposition of a mesoscopic object such as the diamond, and for a reasonable length of time, would be a real breakthrough,' Mazumdar says. 'It would allow all kinds of measurements to be taken, and one of those could be used to determine whether gravity itself is a quantum phenomenon.' Quantum gravity has been the 'missing link' in physics for nearly a century.

In a paper published in 2017 (1), Mazumdar and his long-time collaborator Sougato Bose, together with several colleagues, suggested that entanglement between two mesoscopic objects could be used to find out whether gravity itself is a quantum phenomenon. Simply put: entanglement is a quantum phenomenon, so when two objects that interact only through gravity show entanglement, this proves that gravity is a quantum phenomenon.

Technology

'In our latest paper, we describe how to create mesoscopic quantum superposition. With two of these systems, we were able to show entanglement.' However, as they noticed during their work, the single system would be sensitive to gravitational waves and this became the focus of the New Journal of Physics paper.

'The technology to build these systems could take a few decades to develop,' Mazumdar acknowledges. A vacuum of 10-15 Pascal is required, while the operating temperature should be as low as possible, near absolute zero (-273 C). 'Technology to achieve either high vacuum or low temperature is available, but we need the technology to achieve both at the same time.' Furthermore, the magnetic field must be constant. 'Any fluctuation would collapse the quantum superposition.'

Freefall

The reward for creating this kind of system would be great. 'It could be used for all kinds of measurements in fields such as ultra-low energy physics or quantum computing, for example.' And it could, of course, be used to determine whether gravity is a quantum phenomenon. Mazumdar, Bose and colleagues have just uploaded another preprint (2) in which they describe how this experiment could be performed. 'To ensure that the only interaction between the two entangled objects is the gravity between them, the experiment should be done in free fall,' explains Mazumdar. With visible enthusiasm, he describes a one-kilometre long drop shaft in a deep mine, to reduce interference. Two entangled mesoscopic quantum systems should be dropped repeatedly to obtain a reliable measurement. 'I think this can be done in my lifetime. And the result would finally resolve one of the biggest questions in physics.'

###

Reference: Ryan J Marshman, Anupam Mazumdar, Gavin W Morley, Peter F Barker, Steven Hoekstra and Sougato Bose: Mesoscopic interference for metric and curvature & gravitational wave detection. New Journal of Physics, 6 August 2020.

Notes:

(1) Spin Sougato Bose et al: Entanglement Witness for Quantum Gravity. Phys Rev Letters 2017, DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.240401

(2) M. Toros, T. W. van de Kamp, R. J. Marshman, M. S. Kim, A. Mazumdar, S. Bose: Relative Acceleration Noise Mitigation for Entangling Masses via Quantum Gravity. arXiv 29 July 2020. https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.15029
The National Democratic Party (NDP) has postponed its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to Thursday, August 20.



The meeting, initially scheduled for August 18 at its head office in Accra was to confirm a date for the party's national conference.



The meeting was also to select a flagbearer for the party ahead of the Presidential Elections in December.



However, the General Secretary of the NDP, Alhaji Mohammed Frimpong, told GraphicOnline that the meeting was rescheduled because about half of the 12-member NEC were engaged in some urgent assignments elsewhere.



"The meeting has been postponed to Thursday, it will still be held at the head office in Accra. The issue is that the same people who were to be involved in the meeting are performing some key duties for the party at other locations so they could not be involved," Mr Frimpong said.











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.

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The man on the Dec. 15, 1967 cover of TIME would have been easy to mistake for an actor, ambassador or politician. But the chiseled face instead belonged to Dr. Christiaan Barnard, a 45-year-old heart surgeon from a little-known hospital in Cape Town. He was enjoying the international spotlight after pulling off a once-unthinkable feat: transplanting a human heart.

The Dec. 15, 1967, cover of TIME | TIME

The work that led up to his achievement left a trail of surgeons, patients, politicians and everyday people. When I set out to investigate the heart transplant race of the late 1960s, I found thatdespite the success in South Africamy work would begin much closer to home: in Richmond, Va., where I live, at the local teaching hospital, the Medical College of Virginia (MCV). And despite the life-saving endpoint, the story wouldnt be a happy one. Rather, it would expose a troubling moment in the long-fraught history of the relationship between race and health in America.

The year before Barnards historic achievement, the ambitious Afrikaner traveled to Richmond to study the surgical techniques of two stars in the organ transplantation worldDrs. David Hume and Richard Lower. During his three-month visit, Barnard soaked in a wealth of knowledge by observing the Virginians experiments, including surreal moments such as using a baboon to cleanse the blood of a young man with liver failure.

But the aha moment for Barnard came when he witnessed Lower remove a dogs heart and preserve it with extreme cold in order to implant it into the chest of another dog. It was a technique the MCV surgeon had developed earlier at Stanford University with another transplant pioneer, Dr. Norman Shumway. Barnard took the technique back home and soon made his mark on history.

After all theyd shared with the curious South African, the Virginia surgeons were understandably miffed by his overnight fame. It was time, Hume told Lower, to get on board the heart transplant train.

Story continues

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The historic moment for the MCV doctors took place about six months later. Late in the afternoon of May 24, 1968, a factory worker named Bruce Tucker was rushed by ambulance to MCV. Tucker, 54, was celebrating his work weeks end drinking with friends when he fell off a wall and hit his head.

His vital signs were stable when he arrived at the hospital, but he was also reportedly disoriented and combative. He lost control of his limbs and lapsed into a coma. Tuckers prognosis for recovery was poor.

So were the circumstances surrounding his accident. First, I was told by a doctor who was on the scene that the 54-year-old Tucker, as a Black man with liquor on his breath, fit the stereotype of a charity patient, unlikely to pay his bills. Sociologists call this being socially dead.

Second, this was a time when the rules of organ transplants of any kindincluding obtaining prior consent from family membershad yet to be written. Third, Richmonds African-American community had long-held suspicions of the medical experiments conducted at the medical college.

In one of my first interviews for my book The Organ Thieves, former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder described what it was like growing up Black in the 1930s in Richmond, the former Capital of the Confederacy. As a boy, he heard rumors of what was unfolding behind the fortress-like walls of the hospital. You best stay away from MCV, he was warned, or you might get snatched up by the night doctors!

Wilder, a solo lawyer in 1968, was asked to represent the family of Bruce Tucker in a civil lawsuit against the hospital. Bruces brother, William, a local merchant, had been frantically searching for Bruce after his accident.

It would take two more days before William would learn the truthnot from the hospital, but from his local funeral home director. By then, Bruces heart had been taken and transplanted in the chest of an ailing white businessman. His kidneys had also been taken.

While hospital officials later claimed they made every effort to find the family, William Tucker remained deeply skeptical. When he was given his brothers belongings, he made a shocking discovery: His own business card had been in Bruces trousers all along. Why hadnt anyone called William at his repair shop or simply driven over to take him to his brothers bedside?

History is filled with such hard questions, large and small. Grave-robbing and body-snatching helped lay the foundation for Americas first medical schools, including the one where Bruce spent his final hours. The legacy of second-class medical treatment for Black people across the United States can still be seen, not least in the disproportionately high death rate of Black Americans from COVID-19. And the scars left behind for generations of families like the Tuckers can be seen in the suspicions many African Americans still harbor about getting tested for the virus.

As the Black Lives Matter movement leads a much-needed reckoning and conversation about systemic racism, I hope the story of the early days of heart transplantation serves as a reminder of just how literally those words need to be taken, and the importance of taking every lifeand deathseriously.

Gallery/Jeter Publishing

Chip Jones is a Pulitzer-nominated journalist who lives in Richmond, Va. His book The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South is available now from Simon & Schuster.
Unilever Concerned By Possible Dutch Exit Tax

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

18 August 2020

Unilever may scrap plans to overhaul its company structure if an exit tax proposed by a Dutch opposition party is passed.

Unilever has been owned through two separately listed companies, a Dutch NV and a UK PLC, since its formation in 1930. In June 2020, Unilever announced plans to unify its group legal structure under a single parent company. This was to be achieved through a cross-border merger, by means of which Unilever NV would be merged into Unilever PLC, based in the UK. Unilever PLC would continue to be incorporated in the UK and would remain UK tax resident.

Unilever disclosed in a prospectus issued on August 10, 2020, that potential changes to Dutch tax law could mean that the boards decide not to proceed with the unification proposal. The prospectus noted that a proposal for an exit tax has been introduced in the Dutch parliament by opposition party GroenLinks.

Unilever said that the measure would impose "an exit tax on certain types of transactions where, effectively, a company which is tax resident in the Netherlands and with consolidated net revenues of at least EUR750m moves to a 'qualifying state.'" This, Unilever estimates, would result in a tax bill of some EUR11bn.

Unilever noted that the passage of the bill is at present uncertain. The boards will proceed with their proposals, provided that unification remains in their best interests, the prospectus states.

Previously Unilever had considered instead unifying its structure in the Netherlands. The Netherlands had proposed abolishing tax on dividends and introducing a withholding tax on dividends paid to low-tax jurisdictions. However, in October 2018, after Unilever's board voted against the proposal, the Government dropped those plans and instead decided to target a greater reduction to its corporate tax rate.

Under existing rules, holding cooperatives are generally not subject to dividend tax in the Netherlands, unlike BVs and NVs. The Government had previously intended to abolish this difference but at the same time exempt distributions from dividend tax in cases where shareholders in a holding cooperative, BV, or NV, reside in the European Union/European Economic Area, or a jurisdiction with a tax treaty with the Netherlands, subject to a minimum five percent holding threshold.
Cumberland County has suspended an employee over what it terms a racist social media post regarding the shooting death of a 5-year-old child in North Carolina.

Rome Smith, an officer with the countys juvenile detention unit, was commenting on Facebook about the death of Cannon Hinnant, who was shot to death by a 25-year-old neighbor on Aug. 9. Some have claimed the killing was racially motivated, noting that the victim was white and the alleged shooter is Black.

Smith, who is Black, wrote that Cannon shouldve ducked, and put responsibility for the killing on the victims parents, according to screenshots of the post shared by others.

Yall always trying to sneak diss and discredit a black person being killed innocently by police. Blame cannons parents for not watching him, Smith allegedly wrote.

Police in North Carolina say Darrius Sessoms walked up to Cannon and shot the child in the head as he sat on his bicycle. No motive for the killing has been revealed, but the case has drawn widespread attention.

Cannons family has rejected the suggestion that the killing was racially motivated, saying Sessoms was a longtime neighbor.

Smiths post drew condemnation from many on social media.

His Facebook account and other social media outlets appear to have been disabled. Attempts to reach him for comment Tuesday morning were unsuccessful.

In a statement that did not identify Smith by name, county officials confirmed the suspension and condemned the remarks as shockingly insensitive and racist in tone.

As required by law, the investigation into this matter will remain confidential until the process is complete, Cumberland County Freeholder Director Joseph Derella said.

We will not tolerate County employees using social media to broadcast hateful messages, Derella said. This is not who we are and we intend to pursue the strongest action available to us.

Records indicate Smith has been enrolled in the state pension system for 26 years and his salary is $56,678.

Cumberland County has shared service agreements to house its detained juveniles in other counties, but maintains a small staff for administrative purposes and for transportation of detainees to and from court appearances.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AKT  the full-body workout that combines cardio dance intervals with strength and toning  announced today it has surpassed 100 signed franchise agreements. Over the last few months, despite the pandemic, the fitness franchise has inked multiple deals and opened seven new locations in a variety of markets across the country.

With over 15 studios currently open, the recently secured deals will bring new studios to the likes of Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Northern Virginia and Los Angeles, more than quadrupling the brand's current footprint. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, AKT is backed by Xponential Fitness , a curator of eight leading boutique fitness brands.

"We believe AKT has maintained steady growth during the economic challenges the pandemic has presented because for so many people, fitness is more than just an hour of their day  it's a lifestyle," said Melissa Chordock, President of AKT. "With our programming tailored to all fitness levels, a robust on-demand presence to complement in-studio workouts and topnotch cleaning and safety procedures in all of our locations, we are confident AKT will continue to be a place people go to grow stronger bodies and minds."

Founded in New York City by international fitness expert and celebrity trainer, Anna Kaiser, and touted amongst some of the nation's fittest influencers like Alicia Keys and Shakira, AKT's workout applies to all body types and fitness levels with a customized mixture of its four core modalities  DANCE, BANDS, CIRCUIT and TONE. Each studio boasts a vibrant atmosphere, complete with mood lighting, a disco ball and premium amenities. The total investment range to open an AKT franchise is $341,200 - $529,900.

To find an AKT studio near you, visit www.theakt.com , and to learn more about opening your own AKT franchise, visit www.theakt.com/franchise .

ABOUT AKT:

Founded in 2013, AKT is a full-body workout that combines cardio dance intervals with strength and toning, which are effective and accessible for all fitness levels. Designed by celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser, AKT is fueled by positivity and the belief that movement has a powerful, lasting impact. With four signature class formats including dance-based, cardio and strength circuits, interval training and toning, AKT is designed to push customers to sweat, dance and burn calories in a high-energy atmosphere. Head-quartered in Irvine, California, AKT is backed by Xponential Fitness, the largest franchisor of boutique fitness brands. To learn more about the AKT franchise opportunity, visit www.theakt.com .

Media Contact: David Robertson, Fishman Public Relations, 847-945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE AKT

Related Links

https://aktinmotion.com/


Mauritian authorities announced that the tanks of the MV Wakashio, which ran aground two weeks ago off the South East coast of the island, had been emptied of their heavy fuel payload with a small amount of residual oil remaining in the engine room.

Salvage teams have thus been successful in avoiding the worst. Damage to the lagoons, the shores and the ecosystem remains localised. These constitute a major relief for Mauritians and the Mauritius tourist industry.

Much of the fuel oil spilled in some parts of Mauritiuss south east lagoons were removed and disposed of in secured locations. Efforts to contain the spill are being led by Mauritian authorities in collaboration with around 100 experts from all over the world. The MV Wakashio broke into two on 15 August. The rear half of the ship remains on the reefs and the front half will be towed away. There has been no further spillage at this stage.

There has been a strong mobilization of Mauritians to support public authorities, the private sector, experts and NGOs in operations to contain the spread and remove the heavy oil already spilled in the lagoon. Significant progress has been made in recent days, which continued to motivate response teams to take prompt actions.

Impact of the oil spill is localized in the south eastern region of the island over an estimated 10 to 12 kilometres of coastline leaving the remaining 310 kilometres unaffected. Encouraging reports confirm that even major beaches of the south east as well as the Blue Bay Marine Park are unaffected.

Beaches and lagoons on most of the south and east part of the island as well as in the north and west have not been affected.

This is encouraging for hotels, resorts and other tourism operators as they stay prepared to welcome tourists again when borders reopen after they were closed earlier this year due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

Photos

Some facts Le dernier voyage du MV Wakashio Wakashio Some facts about the MV Wakashio spillage: The MV Wakashio was carrying a payload of 4,180 metric tons of heavy oil. As from 06 August, heavy oil started leaking from one cracked oil tank of the Wakashio. The spillage stopped on 09 August after 500 metric tons of oil were pumped out of the cracked tank. An estimated 800 metric tons of oil leaked in the sea and lagoons. 3,184 metric tons of oil were pumped out of the tanks of the bulk carrier. Around 884 metric tons of oil liquid waste, 524 metric tons of solid waste sludge and contaminated debris, and 416 cubic meters of saturated artisanal booms have been collected as at mid-day on Monday August 17, 2020. The MV Wakashio broke into two on 15 August. The rear half of the ship remains on the reefs and the front half will be towed away. There has been no further spillage at this stage. An estimated 10 to 12 kilometres of coastline and surrounding lagoons were most hit by the spillage situated in the south eastern part of the island. More than 310 kilometres of beaches and coastline (where most of the hotels and resorts are situated) representing more than 96% of the islands coastline remain unaffected.

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The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is requesting the details of its members who wish to take advantage of the special voting granted by the Electoral Commission (EC).

Ahead of the December 7 General Elections, Journalists will be busy working 24/7 to bring the Ghanaian populace up to speed with all the news they need to hear.

In the line of duty, it will be difficult for some to even move to the designated polling stations to cast their votes.

As is done in every election year, the EC grants special privileges to some persons including people in the media and the security agencies.

With months away from Election Day, the GJA is requesting from Journalists who wish to take advantage of the special voting to submit their details for inclusion.

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) requests all journalists whose duties may not allow them to vote on Election Day at the polling stations they registered but wish to take advantage of the Special or Early Voting to send the following details to the Ghana International Press Centre by the 10th of October, 2020, a press release by the GJA signed by President Affail Monney has said.

Journalists are to send their names, Voter ID Number, Code on ID Card, as well as Polling Station to the Press Center before the close of the aforementioned date.

Full press release from the GJA Below:

PRESS RELEASE

SPECIAL VOTING

The Ghana Journalists Association ( GJA) requests all journalists whose duties may not allow them to vote on Election Day at the polling stations they registered but wish to take advantage of the Special or Early Voting to send the following details to the Ghana International Press Centre by the 10th of October, 2020.

1. Name

2. Voter ID Number

3. Code on ID Card

4. Polling Station

Regulation 23, sub-regulation 2(a) of C. I. 94 states that the application for Special Voting shall be made no later than 42 days before polling day in the constituency of the applicant. Journalists who want to benefit from this provision should, therefore, send their particulars to the GJA before the October 10 deadline to enable the EC to process their applications for Special Voting.

Affail Monney

President
Rah Ali has shared that she is pregnant more than a year after suffering a miscarriage and losing a baby girl after five months gestation.

The 36-year-old reality star is expecting a daughter with her husband, according to an article Monday by People.

'I'm so overwhelmed with joy that it's a challenge even finding the words to express how thankful I am,' Ali said in an exclusive article.

Pregnancy reveal: Rah Ali, shown in August 2019 in New York City, has shared that she is pregnant more than a year after suffering a miscarriage

The former Love & Hip Hop: New York star also discussed being pregnant amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

'Despite constantly micromanaging my family to be sure they stay safe during this health crisis, there's absolutely nothing that has gotten my time or attention outside of preparing for our baby and keeping the energy around me pure and positive,' Ali said.

'I'm a living testament to the phrase, 'Don't sweat the small stuff'',' she added.

The Bronx native also joked that she must have been 'about 5 minutes pregnant' when she learned early that she was expecting.

Reality star: The 36-year-old reality star, shown in March 2014 in New York City, is expecting a daughter with her husband, according to an article Monday by People

'I really felt it. I texted my friend a few weeks later and asked her to stop at the store and get me a test, and when those lines popped up I said, ''I knew it, I knew it,'',' she said.

Ali said she and her husband learned they were expecting a girl from her doctor.

'I started screaming,' she revealed to People.

Pandemic pregnancy: The former Love & Hip Hop: New York star, shown in March 2013 in NYC, also discussed being pregnant amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Ali opened up in June 2019 about having a miscarriage while five months pregnant.

She told People that it was 'the worst experience' in her life after she lost her baby girl, whom she named Sanaa.

'I held her  and she slept in the room with us until the morning when they took her away. I felt like I lost my soul,' Ali said.
COLUMBUS, OhioWeeks after halting bankruptcy proceedings for the company formerly known as FirstEnergy Solutions because of an alleged bribery scandal to bail out the companys nuclear plants, a federal judge on Tuesday approved paying tens of millions in fees and expenses to outside firms that did work on the case.

However, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Alan Koschik ruled that accounting, legal, and consulting work done for FirstEnergy Solutions  a former FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary now called Energy Harbor  can only be paid on an interim basis, meaning many of the firms will only receive a fraction of their payment until the judge grants final approval.

Koschik also held off on allowing the payment of the final $1.2 million of about $68 million in fees and expenses to law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a law firm that represented FirstEnergy Solutions during its bankruptcy proceedings and helped lobby for the passage of House Bill 6, which provides a $1.3 billion ratepayer bailout to the companys two Ohio nuclear power plants.

Ex-House Speaker Larry Householder and four allies have been charged with operating a massive bribery scheme to secure the legislations passage.

Koschik said he would issue a ruling on Akin Gump, as well as decide on final approval about payment for the other firms, during a hearing on Nov. 17.

Firms that did work for the creditors in the case were permitted payment in full by the judge.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts office previously asked Koschik to delay approving any payments to the firms, in case its found that any of them had a connection to the bribery case.

Once the horse gets out of the barn, its kind of hard to put him back in, said Trish Lazich, a lawyer with the AGs office, during the hearing.

Koschik replied that he has already approved a majority of expenses in the case.

Most of the horse has left the barn, Koschik said. There may be a hoof left in the barn at this point.

Following the judges decision Tuesday, Yost spokeswoman Bethany McCorkle stated in an email that Overall, we are pleased with the Courts ruling, which took into consideration several different stakeholders positions.

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated, in error, that Judge Alan Koschik held off approving payment of all $68 million in fees and expenses billed by Akin Gump. The law firm has already received about $66.8 million in fees on an interim basis -- the judge held off on final approval, which would permit the payment of the remaining $1.2 million.

Read more Ohio politics and government stories:

For the first time in Ohio, rural counties have the highest rates of coronavirus infection, Gov. Mike DeWine announces

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose tries different tactic to pay postage for Nov. 3 absentee ballots

Post Office says it will hold off on changes until after November election

Ohio AG Dave Yost to President Trump: Dont reform post office until after the November election

Some mail in Northeast Ohio has been delayed weeks, gone undelivered to some neighborhoods due to cuts to Postal Service, letter carriers say
By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijans largest electrical power producer Azerenergy is upgrading its operations to avoid the repetition of the accident that took place in Mingachevir power plant in 2018 that cut off power supply in 39 cities and regions across the country.

Azerneregy is developing a new microprocessor-based relay protection and an upgraded emergency control system to prevent accidents, the companys press service reported on August 18.

The new system will allow prevent accidents at a power plant as the substation or the line will be automatically localized, preventing coverage of the entire system in less than a second.

Part of the installation work is ready. The imported equipment for a modern microprocessor-based emergency system has been installed, 90 percent of which has been put into operation, while others are in the process of adjustment.

The new system is being applied directly at all power plants and substations built and reconstructed over the past two years.

Moreover, the electromechanical protection system is being replaced by a modern system at old power plants and substations that have not been reconstructed. A local SCADA-system is being created and integrated into the Central Dispatcher SCADA- system at old power plants and substations.

Along with the new emergency control automatics and microprocessor-based relay protection, Azerenegy is also implementing serious projects in the field of reconstruction of the SCADA dispatching system, frequency regulation and reactive power compensation.

It should be noted that the accident in the thermal power plant in Mingechevir in July 2018 was caused among other things by Azerenergys unpreparedness, the existing technical and a number of other shortcomings in the activities of the company, which did not allow an adequate response to the incident.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Max Verstappen still had to change his Honda engine for the Spanish Grand Prix, but despite an old engine he still managed to drive to P2. Honda can be satisfied, although the gap to Mercedes is still very big.

Honda happy with Verstappen

''Luckily, we moved up one place and were in second place. The top three have a completely different pace than the rest of the field, so it's good to see that one of us is there'', says Toyoharu Tanabe to Auto Sport Web about Max Verstappen. Victory wasn't in it though.

''Overtaking a Mercedes is very difficult. It is difficult at all to get close to another car with a Formula 1 car, so you really have to be much faster per lap. So it's more about the speed in qualifying'', says Tanabe. From Belgium the FIA wants the teams to use only one engine mode, but Tanabe wonders if this is feasible and who will be hurt the most in the end.

Honda doubts about abolishing qualifying mode

''We're having talks with the FIA, because we as manufacturers don't feel that you can control this. If we can all share our ideas about this and come to a solution this can already be done in Belgium, but otherwise you have to postpone those rules first'', says Tanabe about that. He doesn't know yet if Honda will benefit from it.

''That will all depend on the way this is controlled. If Mercedes loses speed then that's good for us of course, but at the moment I'm not sure yet'', concludes the technical man at Honda.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks were little changed on Tuesday as regional coronavirus cases continued to rise and escalating tensions between the United States and China fueled pessimism on the outlook for global growth. In economic releases, Germany's machinery exports declined sharply in the second quarter amid the coronavirus pandemic, data from the engineering industry association, VDMA, showed. Machinery exports decreased 22.9 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, following a moderate 5 percent fall in the first quarter. In the first six months of 2020, machinery exports were down 14.1 percent. The benchmark DAX was up 8 points at 12,929 after gaining 0.2 percent in the previous session. Cyclicals such as banks and automakers were broadly lower. Evotec gained 1.8 percent. The German company and Novo Nordisk have agreed on a strategic collaboration on the discovery and development of new therapeutics for patients with chronic kidney disease. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Cuba Gooding Jr (pictured on Thursday leaving court in Manhattan, showing off his BLM mask) has been accused of rape

A new Cuba Gooding Jr. accuser has claimed in a lawsuit that the actor raped her in a hotel room in 2013 after undressing himself and forcing himself on her while Mumford and Sons played in the background.

The actor is already on trial on six groping charges relating to three alleged incidents in New York between 2018 and 2019. On Tuesday, another woman filed a lawsuit under the name Jane Doe alleging the 2013 rape.

She claimed she met the actor in a lounge bar and that they went back to The Mercer Hotel where he asked her to go to his room with him for him to change his clothes.

Once inside, she claims he put on the music, took his own clothes off then groped her, feeling inside her halter-neck dress to touch her breasts with one hand, and using the other to grope her genitalia.

The woman claims in her lawsuit, which Page Six first reported, he then raped her vaginally and anally.

Gooding Jr.'s attorney Mark Heller denied her claims, saying: 'The allegations are completely false. No complaint was lodged seven years ago.'

The allegations are the most serious of any that have been formally leveled against the actor.

It's unclear if the woman took her allegations to the police either in 2013 or in the years since.

In addition to the three women involved in the criminal trial, several more women say Gooding Jr. groped them in different incidents going back years.

The government wants to use their testimony to support their case at his New York trial later this year.

The actor and his legal time are trying to fight it.

He has asked multiple times for the case to be thrown out but the judge is allowing it to proceed.

The alleged rape happened at The Mercer Hotel in Soho, Manhattan, in 2013, the woman claims

The accuser says Gooding Jr took her to his room where he said he wanted to change his clothes, then attacked her

In his most recent appearance, last week, the actor's lawyers argued that they should be allowed to question one of the women about her history as a sexual abuse victim and about the fact she'd complained she has small breasts.

Gooding Jr is facing six groping charges over three alleged incidents which occurred in 2018 and 2019.

One of the women alleged Gooding pinched her buttocks. Another said he squeezed her breast at the Magic Hour rooftop in New York City in June last year.

Gooding Jr's attorneys said on Thursday that the woman speaks openly about the fact that she is self-conscious about her 'small breasts' online, and that it can cause her to 'misconstrue things'.

They want to be able to ask her about her history of body insecurities, and about her history having been sexually and mentally abused by her family.

'I believe that her decade long physical and mental abuse by her famly sexual nature and mental is completely relevant to her credibility, to her pre-disposition, sensitivities, her mindset.

'It creates a foundation for who she is... she speaks about it in blog posts endlessly on the internet.

'It is part of who she is, it's sewn into her personality,' his attorney said, adding that the woman suffers from 'distortions'.

He also said it was relevant that she posted online about preferring threesomes to one-on-one sex, saying: 'This accuser speaks very publicly on her blog posts about her desire and interest and preference to be in menage a trois rather than monogamous relationships.

Gooding Jr. had been scheduled to go on trial in April, but that was postponed as coronavirus cases surged in New York and the state shut down most court matters.

Now that the number of new positive cases and hospital admissions are down in New York, courts are starting to reopen.

No new trial date for Gooding has been set.


(TNS)  State revenues didnt take as big of a hit as finance experts predicted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, with government officials reporting the total tax collections grew by 2 percent in the fiscal year that ended in June.But thats below the 3.1 percent revenue growth finance officials predicted at the beginning of the year, before the pandemic forced hundreds of thousands of Virginians to file for unemployment and stay home, thus slowing spending. The state was $234 million below what it anticipated collecting in taxes for the year.That was about three quarters of a billion dollars better than we expected, Finance Secretary Aubrey Layne said Tuesday.Lawmakers are preparing to meet in Richmond Tuesday afternoon to  in part  amend the $135 billion state budget that they approved back in April. In anticipation of the financial damage the COVID-19 pandemic would bring, they froze about $2 billion allocated for early childhood education and community college students, raises for teachers and government employees, and investments in affordable housing and the environment.Around the same time, a hiring freeze was ordered for state employees, and discretionary spending for state agencies was halted.On Tuesday morning, Gov. Ralph Northam told legislative members of the finance and appropriations committees during a virtual meeting that Virginia was projected to get $2.7 billion less than expected over the next two years.We feared worse, he said in prepared remarks. But this still requires serious and thoughtful budgeting and planning.Northam said while education was his top priority, hes still not advocating for more spending in that area. Hes also not recommending lawmakers spend any new money on his other priorities that were highlighted in the original two-year budget: behavioral health, lowering college tuition, making it easier to access affordable health care and investing in transportation.We all share these priorities, and we will return to them in January, when the time is right, Northam said. Another budget reforecast is expected in December.Instead, the governor is proposing an amended budget that allocates $88 million to combat evictions and expand affordable housing and $85 million for broadband access as many school districts move to virtual learning.He also wants to spend $2 million to pre-stamp mail-in ballots and supports legislation allowing localities to install secure ballot drop-off boxes ahead of the Nov. 3 election.To be clear, voting will be safe and secure in Virginia. Your mailed-in ballots will be counted. Virginia will take every action necessary to protect the vote, he said.And hes proposing a package of $14 million that he says lifts up Virginias historically Black colleges and universities  with $7.5 million going to Norfolk State University  and funds important cultural sites with $9.6 million.And he wants to allocate $15 million for dam rehabilitation projects that cant wait, along with a few other smaller environmental projects.Northam, a doctor, has maintained  like many other Democratic governors in the U.S.  that the only way to solve the economic crisis is to first solve the health crisis. About 107,000 Virginians have tested positive for the coronavirus since March, with deaths rising to 2,385 as of Monday, according to the Virginia Department of Health.As we make budget decisions, this week and into the next session, we must keep in mind that we cant know what is going to happen with the pandemic, when a vaccine will be available, or how much longer this will go on, Northam said.The government has been paying for expenses related to COVID-19  such as testing and personal protective equipment  by using federal CARES Act funding. Virginia received $3.1 billion, and allocated about 45 percent of that to localities.Along with making changes to the budget, state lawmakers are expected to consider legislation related to criminal justice reform during the special session. Theyll meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Richmond in person, and are expected to take up bills in committee meetings virtually for the duration of the session.
Disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who owes his freedom to President Trump, will headline a Republican fundraiser and in-person watch party next week when the president accepts the partys nomination at the Republican National Convention. The viewing party is also a fundraiser for a GOP state Senate candidate, and will be in St. Charles. The state Republican Party, however, decried the move: To be clear: we have nothing to do with this event and we dont condone it. Its a bad idea. Republicans in Illinois are for cleaning up Democrat corruption that has plagued us for too long - not celebrating one of its most insidious characters. #twill Read the tweet here.
The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) has appointed Jayant Krishna as its group chief executive officer in India for the first time. Krishna spoke to Rajeev Jayaswal about the plans of UK firms to set up their manufacturing bases in India. Edited excerpts:

Many multi-nationals are considering exiting China and looking for India as one of the alternatives. What is the view of the UK industry on this matter?

UK firms, like many multi-nationals, have started looking at diversifying supply chains as a result of the [Covid-19] pandemic, and India, with its already large and growing market, presents an attractive destination. The UK industry has long invested in India across sectors. It is not just the shift to reducing reliance on China or other areas that will see that grow, but directly the rapid improvement in the operating environment in India  the rise of India in the World Banks Ease of Doing Business rankings is testament to that - and the growing opportunities as the Indian economy continues to achieve its full potential on the world stage.

Why would British firms prefer India over China?

UK businesses are and will look to India as an incremental base for manufacturing and research and development, among other areas. I cannot say now how many British firms are looking to shift from China to India but some of them are contemplating exploring India as a manufacturing destination in addition to their existing investments in China. But I would say that India is an extremely attractive country for British firms to invest in.

How do you see India as an investment destination?

I think it is widely agreed that India is already establishing itself as an important global player, both economically and geopolitically, and that journey is moving forward. In not so distant a future, India will be the largest country by population and the third largest in terms of the size of its economy; and quite understandably, businesses want to be a part of that.

From a UK perspective, that thought process is heightened by Brexit, in which the UK is forging new trading relationships, post-Covid-19.

In terms of policy changes, those mentioned previously in the priority sectors of food and drink, life science and healthcare, and digital and data services, should be the focus, and ultimately make it easier for the UK firms to do business in India.

India has significant legal and regulatory barriers still to overcome, as our members have told us every year in our annual Doing Business in India survey run since 2015. Progress has been made but making the regulatory framework more equitable would indeed be very positive for attracting more investments.

Is the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (self-reliant India Initiative) congruent to enhanced bilateral trade between India and UK?

UK businesses remain committed to India and want to be part of and support Indias Atmanirbhar Bharat mission. With that being said, it is vital that India remains open to international trade and investment.

India has made great progress in terms of economic development since opening up to international markets in 1991 and the ambition to become the worlds manufacturing powerhouse is quite appropriate. But to do so, India will need imports and technology and knowledge transfers if it wants to be a competitive exporter.

Should India remain open and speaking with senior government officials I am reassured that it will, I see no reason why bilateral trade between the UK and India will not grow. At the JETCO [UK-India Joint Economic Trade Committee], both governments were in agreeance that the relationship has grown in recent years and the pandemic, Brexit and Indias global ambitions present an opportunity to revitalise the relationship.

There are great complementaries between Indias needs and the UKs offering and it was very positive to hear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the centrality of sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, pharma, space, and defence, to global cooperation. These are all areas ripe for India-UK collaboration in creating Aatmanirbhar Bharat, underpinned by both nations strong track record in technology and innovation.

How much have India-UK trade and investment increased?

Since the turn of the century, the UK has been one of the largest investors in India, totaling over 22 billion in last two decades, and making it the second-fastest-growing G20 investor in India. And in trade, it is clear that businesses and consumers share confidence in one another  demonstrated by growth in trade to 24 billion in 2019. Likewise, FDI [foreign direct investment] from India reached 11 billion in 2019.

What are the problems and prospects of trade and investment relations between India and the UK?

The prospects for trade and investment between the UK and India are certainly upbeat. At the JETCO at the end of July, UK secretary of state for international trade Liz Truss and India minister for commerce and industry Piyush Goyal recommitted to important progress to remove non-tariff barriers in core sectors of food and drink, life science and healthcare, and digital and data services, in the shape of an Enhanced Trade Partnership.

Business-led joint working groups highlighted the key challenges to trade and made formal recommendations to overcome these. The next round of JETCO is scheduled to take place in autumn where the ministers will discuss how to support these recommendations, which include greater standards alignment and a UK-India data adequacy agreement, and in due course make it easier to do business between and in both countries.

In addition to the identified sectors, manufacturing will be a key sector for UK trade and investment and we at UKIBC have consistently advocated that the UK government amend visa policies to ensure that talented people from India can study, train and work in the UK. UKIBC has been particularly active in the area around the post-study working visa. India now receives more than half of all UK tier-2 working visas and the second most tier-4 study visas. The new UK Graduate Immigration Route for this year, which allows students to stay for up to two years post-study to find work, is a very welcome move and should help to attract Indian talent to the UK, and strengthen the living bridge between the UK and India.

Is an India-UK FTA expected soon? What are the possible areas of early harvest agreements?

The UKIBC has welcomed the governments shared ambition for a future FTA that came out of JETCO. The commitment to an Enhanced Trade Partnership is seen as a road map to such an agreement, starting, rightly, by focussing on market access issues and the ease of doing business.

The three priority sectors  food and drink, life science and healthcare, and digital and data services  are important starting points for such action.

So, the priority is to remove market access barriers and ultimately make it easier for businesses in the UK-India trade and economic corridor, with a view to a future FTA, and I think both governments are aligned to that view.
Stephan Francis will spend the next four years in jail for having a loaded AR-15 rifle and f
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A woman who was raped by the Golden State Killer when she was just 15-years-old called him a 'repulsive, pathetic coward' during his sentencing hearing Tuesday.

Kris Pedretti was attacked by Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., now 74, just before Christmas 1976. She told a court Tuesday he is a 'soulless being'. Another victim said: 'Monsters were real. He was the bogeyman.'

DeAngelo Jr. in June pleaded guilty to all 13 counts of murder, 13 counts of kidnapping, and confessed to 161 uncharged crimes - many of which were rapes - which go back beyond the statute of limitations. All told, he admitted harming 87 victims at 53 separate crime scenes spanning 11 California counties in a plea deal that spares him the death penalty, prosecutors said.

He was wheeled into court to face 16 of his victims Tuesday, the first of four days of hearings before he is sentenced to life in prison. Victim after victim lined up to describe him as a 'sick monster,' 'horrible man' and 'subhuman' who stole their innocence and changed their lives.

The daughter of one victim, Patricia Murphy, told the court: 'He is an evil monster with no soul. He is subhuman.' Patti Cosper also gave him an obscene hand gesture and cursed him.

His sentencing, expected Friday after three days of testimony from his victims and survivors, brings to an end a sinister, decades-long saga of kidnappings, rapes and murders.

He appeared frail, in an orange prison jumpsuit and a mask Tuesday, staring straight ahead. He was also known as the East Area Rapist and Visalia Ransacker and his sentencing ends a more than 45-year hunt for the notorious killer.

Kris Pedretti was attacked by Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., now 74, just before Christmas 1976. She told a court he is a 'souless being'. The Golden State Killer faced his victims in court Tuesday, the first of four days of hearings before he is sentenced to life in prison

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., 74, in June pleaded guilty to all 13 counts of murder, 13 counts of kidnapping, and confessed to 161 uncharged crimes - many of which were rapes - which go back beyond the statute of limitations

Sixteen of his Sacramento County rape victims plan to confront him Tuesday in a courthouse that is otherwise still sealed from the public because of the coronavirus.

A similar number will tell Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman on Wednesday and Thursday how DeAngelo's crimes changed their lives, before he is formally sentenced Friday.

Some read statements on behalf of their loved ones who could not testify in person, while others proudly gave their names now that DeAngelo is heading to prison.

'He and his knife had complete control over me for the next two hours,' the daughter of rape survivor Patricia Murphy read from her mother's statement. 'He truly is an evil monster with no soul.'

DeAngelo as a police officer for Exeter Police Department, in the early 70s (left). All told, DeAngelo has admitted harming 87 victims at 53 separate crime scenes spanning 11 California counties in a plea deal that spares him the death penalty, prosecutors said

Murphy in her own statement raised her middle finger and said DeAngelo 'can go straight to hell.'

'This has been on my mind for 44 years. That's a long time,' Jane Carson-Sandler said before giving her testimony.

Certain triggers can still bring flashbacks to that night in 1976 when DeAngelo confronted her with a butcher knife as she snuggled in bed with her three-year-old son after her husband left for work at a nearby military base.

'I hope that he'll be listening, but we know that during the hearing when he pleaded guilty, he never lifted his head,' she said.

She is among survivors and prosecutors who contend that DeAngelo is merely masquerading as a feeble old man in a wheelchair.

Prosecutors cited 'his slow gait, the distorted twist of his hands' and his halting answers to Bowman in June. But, they said, his 'agile movement and behavior in his jail cell indicate an individual who is healthy and physically active.'

Pete Schultz told how he 'performed horrific acts against our mother while she was tied and blindfolded.' He himself was tied to bedpost at age 11, while his seven-year-old sister was locked in her room during the attack on Wini Schultz.

'The Boogeyman is gone', he said.

Schultz called DeAngelo a 'sick monster,' and noted that the only characteristic his mother could recall was that 'she was certain he had a very inadequate penis.'

That was a recurring theme for witnesses, who tried to break through to DeAngelo.

The charges linked to rapes were filed as kidnappings to commit robberies because the statute of limitations for sexual assaults had expired.

He also publicly admitted to numerous other rapes in Alameda, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Tulare and Yolo counties.

DeAngelo Jr was only identified and arrested in 2018 by using a new form of DNA tracing.

The daughter of one victim, Patricia Murphy, told the court: 'He is an evil monster with no soul. He is subhuman'. She also raised her middle finger at him during her testimony

'He didn't win, I'm not a lost girl,' Kris Pedretti said in an interview before her testimony. 'I want to make that clear'

Karen Veilleux spoke on behalf of her ill sister Phyllis Henneman, who was the first victim of DeAngelo's crime spree that terrorized the state

Victims and their family members of Golden State Killer/East Area Rapist Joseph James DeAngelo enter the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse on Tuesday

DeAngelo pleaded guilty in June to 13 murders and a host of rapes and other crimes, and is to be sentenced following three days of victim impact statements from family members and rape victims

Sixteen of his Sacramento County rape victims plan to confront him Tuesday in a courthouse that is otherwise still sealed from the public because of the coronavirus

Pedretti, left, hugs Kindra DiGiacomo, whose mom was a victim after she gave her victim impact statements at the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse on Tuesday

Victims, sisters Susan Peterson and Peggy Rex, speak to the media after they gave their victim impact statements

Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney Thienvu Ho told a judge Monday: 'The blank stare, the halting answers that sometimes burst forth in gasps of breath, might lead some to suspect or later contend that he is physically or mentally deficient.

'He has portrayed himself as being feeble and frail, as someone who is physically unable to express remorse.  The fact of the matter is, he consciously chose not to do so.'

THE GOLDEN STATE KILLER: HOW A VIETNAM VET TURNED COP GOT AWAY WITH RAPE, BURGLARY, KIDNAPPING AND MURDER FOR DECADES BEFORE BEING BROUGHT DOWN BY A GENEALOGY WEBSITE

DeAngelo Jr., a former cop, eluded law enforcement for decades until his DNA was linked to the crimes through GEDMatch.com, a genealogy website that one of his relatives had submitted their DNA to.

DEANGELO'S CRIMES 1974-1975: 120 burglaries in Visalia and surrounding areas June 18, 1976: Sexual assault/rape, Rancho Cordova July 17, 1976: Sexual assault/rape, Carmichael August 29, 1976: Burglary, attempted sexual assault, Rancho Cordova Sept. 4, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Oct. 5, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Citrus Heights Oct. 9, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Rancho Cordova Oct. 18, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Oct. 18, 1976: Carjacking, Rancho Cordova Nov. 10, 1976: Kidnapping, Citrus Heights Dec. 18, 1976: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Jan. 18, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Jan. 24, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Citrus Heights Feb. 7, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Feb. 16, 1977: Assault, attempted murder, Sacramento March 8, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento March 18, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Rancho Cordova April 2, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Orangevale April 15, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael May 3, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento May 5, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Orangevale May 14, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Citrus Heights May 17, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael May 28, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Sept. 6, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Stockton Oct. 1, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Rancho Cordova Oct. 21, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Oct. 29, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Nov. 10, 1977: Sexual Assault/rape, Sacramento Dec. 2, 1977: Attempted sexual assault, Sacramento Jan. 28, 1978: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Jan. 29, 1979: Sexual Assault/rape, Carmichael Feb. 2, 1978: Brian and Katie Maggiore were killed, Rancho Cordova March 18, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Stockton April 14, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Sacramento June 5, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Modesto June 7, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Davis June 23, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Modesto June 24, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Davis July 6, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Davis Oct. 7, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Concord Oct. 13, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, Concord Oct. 28, 1978: San Ramon Nov. 4, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, San Jose Dec. 2, 1978: Sexual assault/rape,San Jose Dec. 8, 1978: Sexual assault/rape (DNA link), Danville Dec. 18, 1978: Sexual assault/rape, San Ramon March 20, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Rancho Cordova April 4, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Fremont June 2, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Walnut Creek June 11, 1979: Sexual assault/rape (DNA link), Danville June 25, 1979: Sexual assault/rape, Walnut Creek July 5, 1979: Attempted sexual assault, Danville Oct. 1, 1979: Attempted sexual assault/murder (no DNA) Goleta Dec. 30, 1979: 2 people killed, Goleta March 13, 1980: Sexual assault/rape, Lyman and Charlene Smith were killed (DNA link), Ventura Aug. 19, 1980: Sexual assault/rape, Keith and Patrice Harrington killed, Dana Point Feb. 5, 1981: Sexual assault/rape, Manuela Witthuhn killed (DNA link), Irvine July 27, 1981: 2 people killed (DNA link), Goleta May 4, 1986: Sexual assault/rape, Janelle Cruz killed(DNA link) Irvine Advertisement

While his real identity remained a mystery until then, his crimes earned him a series of ominous names.

First, he was the Visalia Ransacker, a burglar who ravaged people's homes from 1974-1975, stealing personal items and scattering women's underwear around the crime scenes.

Next, he was the East Area Rapist, a shadowy predator who assaulted dozens of women between 1976 and 1979.

Between the burglaries and rapes, he started killing, earning himself the name of the Golden State Killer and the Original Nightstalker.

What triggered his sadistic tendencies remains largely a mystery.

DeAngelo grew up following his US Airman father around with his mother and sister.

Little is known about his upbringing beyond that they were, at one time, stationed in Germany.

His sister's son, Jesse Ryland, has told in the past how DeAngelo would often see his father beat his mother, Kathleen.

He also claimed that he witnessed his sister being raped by two airmen when she was just seven and he was nine.

Ryland speculated that may have been the catalyst for his obsession with rape later in life. DeAngelo has never commented on it.

The family returned to the US and settled on the West Coast by DeAngelo's teenage years.

His father was posted overseas in Korea later but he and his mother and sister stayed. His mother, according to a profile in the Los Angeles Times in 2018, started seeing a married man who had his own family.

It left DeAngelo in charge of caring for his younger siblings.

Former childhood friends told how he would try to fit in to their families as if they were his own.

He graduated from Folsom Senior High School in 1964 and joined the Navy, working as a damage control man aboard the Canberra during the Vietnam War.

No other details of his military career are known.

A 1967 article in The Auburn Journal, the local newspaper where his parents live, describes him as a 21-year-old due home on leave.

After returning to the US from Vietnam, he met Bonnie Colwell, a science student who ultimately broke his heart.

He and Bonnie were at one time engaged but she broke it off in 1971.

When he was arrested in 2018, Bonnie went into hiding.

DeAngelo's next known milestone was not until 1972, when he graduated from California State University with a degree in criminal justice.

From there, he joined The Exeter Police Department where he worked as an officer on the burglary unit.

It's in this job that he learned how to commit seemingly perfect burglaries himself.

It was also while he was working there that he married Sharon Marie Huddle.

The pair had three daughters, who are now all adults.

Between 1974 and 1975, a figure who became known as the Visalia Ransacker carried out more than 120 burglaries in the area. For decades, his identity was unknown.

When DeAngelo was arrested in 2018 for the murders and rapes of dozens of others, he was quickly tied to the Visalia Ransacker crimes and blamed for them.

His signature, when burglarizing, was to leave women's underwear scattered at his crime scenes.

In 1975 was when he graduated from burglarizing to attempted kidnapping and then killing, shooting dead Claude Snelling who was protecting his teenage daughter, Elizabeth, from being kidnapped.

Elizabeth, 16, woke up at 2am on September 11, 1975, to see a man in a ski mask, standing over her bed, telling her to go with him or be killed.

He dragged her from her room and out of the family's backdoor towards their carport but was stopped by Snelling who happened to be in the kitchen at the time.

Elizabeth later recalled: 'I heard a yell and saw my dad charge out the back door.

'The kidnapper] threw me down and shot my dad twice. Then he pointed the gun at me.'

DeAngelo hit her with the gun and kicked her but fled. Snelling died on his way to the hospital.

In 1976, he left the Exeter Police Department and started working for the Auburn Police Department.

That is when his relentless raping began.

Between 1976 and 1979, he raped dozens of women in the area.

It terrorized the neighborhoods where he picked his targets and earned him the name East Area Rapist.

One of the victims recalled how he lay down next to her after the attack and sobbed: 'I hate you, I hate you, I hate you Bonnie.'

DeAngelo was fired by the police department in 1979 after being caught shoplifting a hammer and dog repellent from a drugstore in Citrus Heights, one of the areas where he would attack women.

He then spent 27 years working at a Save Mart Supermarkets distribution center, fixing trucks, before retiring in 2017.

It's unclear when but he and his wife separated some time before his 2018 arrest which came as a shock to his neighbors and relatives.

It was the first time police had tested samples of DNA found at some of the crime scenes against DNA being stored by GEDMatch.

One of DeAngelo's relatives had willingly submitted their sample to find out more about their ancestry.

Since his case, it has been used as a crime-solving technique hundreds of times.

DeAngelo's neighbors described him as 'cantankerous', unlikable and a 'curser'.

While he has been blamed for 88 crimes, he has also been exonerated in others.

Among his rapes is the attack of a 13-year-old girl who recalled in detail being assaulted while he shone a flashlight in her face.

'In a very harsh whisper, he would say, 'Do you want to die?

'Do you want me to kill your mother? Do you want me to slit her throat?'' Wardlow said.

'I answered him immediately, 'I don't care,' and he'd say, 'Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!'' Margaret Wardlow, who was raped by him in 1977, recalled to Inside Edition after his arrest last year.

DeAngelo's wife and children have never spoken of his crimes.

His sister was stunned when he was arrested.

'As stunned as I am - because I've never seen him display any kind of madness or anything like that - I just can't believe it.

'I've never seen anything to allow myself to think he could do such things,' Rebecca Thompson, his older sister, told The Sacramento Bee at the time of his arrest.
From laundromats to kids waiting for the tooth fairy, Americans try to navigate coin shortage caused by coronavirus.

A convenience store chain is offering a free beverage or sandwich in exchange for them. A laundromat owner drove four hours across state lines to get $8,000 worth. A young girl in Illinois wrote the tooth fairy saying she will gladly take dollars as a substitute if it helps.

There is a shortage of coins across the United States  yet another odd side effect of the coronavirus pandemic. Quarters, dimes and nickels are not circulating as freely as they usually do because many businesses have been closed and consumers are not out spending as much.

The US Federal Reserve announced in June that the supply system for coins had been severely disrupted. The US Mint and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have urged Americans to use coins or turn them in to banks. As the economy recovers and businesses reopen, the coin supply is expected to normalise.

Meanwhile, retailers large and small have urged shoppers to use cards or exact change whenever possible. Some will not provide change. Grocery giant Kroger Company is still accepting cash, but offers customers the option to load their change onto loyalty cards to use on their next visit or to donate the balance to charity.

As the US economy recovers from coronavirus disruptions, the coin supply is expected to return to normal [File: Mike Wintroath/The Associated Press]

Convenience store chain Wawa offered customers a free beverage at some of its stores if people brought in $5 worth of coins, or a sandwich for $50 or more. Community State Bank, a regional bank chain in Wisconsin, even offered a $5 bonus for every $100 worth of coins that people brought in. The bank had to suspend the offer after a week due to an overwhelming response.

As the shortage persists, it has become clear that there are still some conundrums that only coins can solve.

Its at the minimum an inconvenience  at worst its a business challenge, said Brian Wallace, CEO of the Coin Laundry Association, a trade group for laundromats.

About 56 percent of laundromats that serve the public take quarters as the only form of payment. And 89 percent take quarters as some form of payment, with cards, loyalty programmes or mobile payments as an alternative, according to the trade group.

Laundromats rely heavily on coins, in part, because many of their customers are unbanked or underbanked, meaning they mostly or entirely use cash instead of cards to pay for things.

Daryl Johnson, who owns Giant Wash Laundry  a chain of 11 laundromats in the Minneapolis area  said his company normally buys anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 in quarters a week for its change machines. But after the Fed began rationing distributions of coins, his bank said it might not be able to provide any.

Obviously we were freaking out a little bit, he said.

Johnson got creative: he offered to buy change from friends and family on Facebook. He put up signs in stores asking customers to bring in their own coins and adjusted his change machines to only accept smaller bills to limit outflow. He even drove more than four hours to Omaha to buy $8,000 in quarters from another laundry operator.

To help its customers navigate the coin shortage, Grocery giant Kroger Company is still accepting cash, but offers customers the option to load their change onto loyalty cards to use on their next visit or to donate the balance to charity [File: Rogelio V Solis/The Associated Press]

Its that or my businesses close, he said.

Things have stabilised somewhat, both for Johnson and his bank, in terms of supply.

People who rely on coin-operated laundry machines in laundromats and apartment buildings are struggling as well. Stephanie Sabin of Portland, Oregon has a washing machine at her apartment complex that only takes quarters. In July, her neighbourhood bank was closed for in-person business. The next five locations she tried were either closed or unable to give her quarters. She has been able to get her laundry done with quarters her family had on hand or that she bought from her boss.

Desperate times, she said. You can no longer request rolls of quarters at grocery stores or even get change back if you pay with cash at a food drive-thru.

Toll booths, parking meters, vending machines and other spots that were once coin-heavy have largely modernised to accept other forms of payment. But people are finding themselves in need of change for other situations.

Leigh Ann Tognetti of Rio Grande City, Texas had just started her five-year-old daughter on an allowance in July: two quarters for every day she picks up her room.

Its a lot of quarters to go through in a week, she said. I had no idea or even crossed my mind that there could be a coin shortage.

To keep good on her promise, Tognetti has used change from the vending machine at work and coins mailed to her by a friend. She has also used a stack of dimes or doubles up two days payments with a dollar bill instead.

If she would pick up every single day we would have a problem, she said.

For theNorth Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, a shutdown in March turned into an unexpected opportunity to help offset lost revenue and ended up helping address the coin shortage, too.

The aquarium shut down its waterfall and cleared out about 378 litres (100 gallons) of coins that visitors had thrown in over the past 14 years. The coins, which are still being washed and counted, will go towards operating costs.

We are definitely feeling the pinch, said Danielle Bolton, a spokeswoman for the aquarium. Every penny counts, literally.

The shortage is even being felt by the young.

Take Jen Vicker, of Bollingbrook, Illinois. Her 10-year-old daughter woke up with a loose tooth recently and worried the tooth fairy would not be able to pay because of the shortage.

So she wrote a note: Dear tooth fairy, you may already know this but there is a national coin shortage in America. You usually leave me dollar coins, but until this situation is resolved, I would like cash for my teeth. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Bengaluru, Aug 18 : Two Congress members, including former city mayor R. Sampath Raj and city civic ward corporator Abdul Zakir were quizzed by the central crime branch (CCB) in connection with the riots in the city's eastern suburb last week, police said on Tuseday.

"Raj and Zakir were summoned to the CCB office in the city and questioned about the riots in D.J. Halli and K.J. Halli areas in the suburb on August 11, in which Congress MLA from Pulakeshinagar segment Akhanda Srinivas Murthy's house was burnt in protest against a derogatory post by his nephew in the social media, a police official told reporters here.

Raj, who was the city mayor in 2017-18, is the city's councilor from the D.J. Halli ward. He lost in the May 2018 assembly elections from the C.V. Raman Nagar segment in the city's eastern suburb.

Zakir is Congress corporator from the D.J. Halli civic ward, a densely populated area in the eastern suburb.

About 350 people, including a dozen activists of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), a political outfit, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the riots in which a part of the D.J. Halli police station and scores of vehicles were also burnt and public property in the area damaged.

Three youth died when the police opened fire on the fateful night to control the situation and quell the unruly mob.

"Both were asked about the reported internal differences in the party between Murthy and the party's corporators in his assembly segment ahead of the elections to the city civic body later this year," said the official.

In the cctv video footage of the area during the mayhem, some of the culprits known to Raj were seen indulging in arson, looting and destroying public and private property.

"Zakir was questioned for reportedly forwarding a few offensive messages in the Whatapp groups, which made about 500 miscreants descend in the area and indulge in frenzied mob violence," said the official.

State Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters on Monday that rift in the opposition (Congress) party and many of its members aspiring for a ticket to contest in the upcoming civic body elections sparked the riots in a show of one-upmanship and an attempt to settle scores.

Refuting Bommai's statement, Congress state unit president D.K. Shivakumar had countered that the BJP government was trying to cover up its failure to prevent the violence by giving misleading statements.

"Though our members have nothing to do with the riots caused by mob frenzy, the ruling party was blaming them instead of admitting to delay in acting against the accused (Naveen) and failing to disperse the unruly mob," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi, where he is camping to meet the party high command and apprise the top leadership of the situation in the city.

In a related development, police detained political activist Wajid Pasha from the area for allegedly instigating the mob to attack the MLA's house and the police station.

Pasha had set up the Karnataka Tipu Sultan Tiger Arfath Trust to serve the needy in the area.
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A 26-year-old man from Idaho says hes grateful that he was arrested in January, explaining that it forced him to turn his life around.

Logan Celner, who lives in Bonneville County, said he first came across painkillers when he had his wisdom teeth removed at the age of 14. He noticed that the medication helped in suppressing his anxiety and was drawn to use the medication in excess.

At some point in high school, they became available to me through friends of mine, he told In The Know. I ended up taking them for a little while during school and that was during my senior year.

Celner said, for four months, he would take the pills daily until he finally ran out. Upon experiencing withdrawals, he did some research and came upon the over-the-counter, anti-diarrhea drug Loperamide. According to ScienceDaily, the drug has increasingly been abused by people attempting to self-treat their opioid addiction, with sometime fatal results. In Celners case, he was taking Loperamide twice a day.

I was anxious, like I ended up stealing it because I didnt have any money to buy it, Celner recalled. There was just a lot of like feeling sh*tty because the high really wasnt helping out anymore.

Though the 26-year-old said he was aware that he needed to quit, he was more concerned about the effect any further withdrawal would have on his health.

I did not remember what it felt like to not be on anything at all, he said. I just didnt remember feeling what normal felt anymore, I guess, and so I was just super, super worried about not getting the escape I guess I needed  a worst off feeling like the withdrawals wouldnt end.

Celner continued to steal the drug from a grocery store in Ammon until he was caught earlier this year. Up until that point, his family and small group of friends were unaware of his drug use.

I was very reclusive and kept to myself, he said. People definitely noticed that, but in terms of doing what I was doing, nobody really had a clue.

Story continues

The 26-year-old said he purposely kept his addiction a secret because of concerns over how he would be perceived and to avoid discussing his anxiety. After being caught by the store owner and taken to the stores backroom for questioning by the police, however, Celner confessed to stealing and opened up about his years of drug use.

I basically told them everything I had been doing cause I knew that I needed to get help but I just did not have the courage to tell anybody, he said. At that point, everybody knew, but I got a lot of support that I never would have imagined getting. That was pretty amazing.

On July 20, a district judge placed Celner on four years of felony probation after he pleaded guilty to burglary. Though Celner had also been given the option to spend two weeks in jail with a withheld judgment in his case, he said he opted for probation because he believed it would hold him accountable. As part of his probation, he is expected to maintain a job, receive counseling, perform community service and go to school.

I wanted to use it as a way to discipline myself but also as a motivator, he said. I just felt a little more comfortable in terms of having that incentive to stay sober being in probation rather than just two weeks in jail.

That same month, Celner, who identifies as a recovering drug addict, shared his journey on Facebook, explaining why his arrest was a turning point for him.

I thought I wouldnt ever be able to get out of the addiction I put myself in, but I was given the blessing of being caught, it forced me to help myself and have the opportunity pay penance for my choices as I didnt have the courage to do it myself, he wrote as part of a lengthy post. Now I know its possible to become sober, and feel the ball and chain the addiction [sic] be lifted from me and feeling control over my life again and having the drive and motivation to do better, be better.

In the months since his arrest, Celner told In The Know that being sober has, in many ways, given him new life. Though quarantine has proven to be particularly trying for many who have experienced addiction to drugs and alcohol, Celner said hes been fortunate to work at a time when many are struggling to hold onto their jobs. That, along with the support he has received from friends and family alike, has kept him determined to stay sober.

I can think more clearly, he said. Its a lot easier, like I had a hard time remembering words I was looking for in conversations. So just being able to have my mental capacity whereas it definitely was not there before and I can recognize that has been awesome. It just feels good to be able to think more clearly.

If youre interested in stories like this, consider reading about this man who shared photos of his incredible transformation.

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Lucknow, Aug 18 : The Yogi Adityanath government has set up two tribunals at Lucknow and Meerut to dispose off the claims of private individuals and government authorities for compensation for destruction of property during protests and riots.

The state government had notified 'Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance 2020' in March this year.

The two tribunals, which will cover the entire state, are coming up at a time when the Karnataka government has also adopted the Uttar Pradesh model of attaching property of rioters involved in the recent communal clashes in the state.

A senior official said, "The tribunal in Lucknow will cover the eastern region while the one in Meerut will cover the western region. A search committee headed by the chief secretary will identify people who will be part of the tribunals, which will be headed by a retired district-level judge." The Lucknow tribunal will handle cases from Jhansi, Kanpur, Chitrakoot, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Devi Patan, Prayagraj, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Basti and Vindhyanchal divisions.

Claims from Saharanpur, Meerut, Aligarh, Moradabad, Bareilly and Agra divisions will be taken up by the Meerut tribunal.

The ordinance was promulgated after anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests rocked the state in December 2019.

The state government booked hundreds of people for allegedly damaging property in over 20 districts of the state. The home department then put up hoardings with photographs of those identified as having participated in the protests with the amount each of them owed to the government for destruction of property.

The matter was challenged in the High Court, but the government brought an ordinance to empower itself to recover the damages.

As per the ordinance, the government or owner of a private property can file claims for compensation within three months of incidents like protests or riots in which the property has been damaged or destroyed.

The order of the tribunal will be considered final and cannot be challenged before another court. The tribunal will also be empowered to attach the property of the accused. The notification about the ordinance stated that liability for destroyed and damaged property will be fixed on the accused and those who are accused of instigating or exhorting them.

"The tribunal also has the power to decide a matter ex parte, if those given notices do not respond," the notification said.
Chrystia Freeland had what she thought would be the final chat with Justin Trudeau about running for the Liberals in July 2013. On the phone from her Manhattan home, she again turned him down.

It was part of a process that began eight months earlier when she met Trudeau  then a leadership hopeful  at a Toronto signing for her book, Plutocrats.

She and Trudeau clicked immediately. Both are extroverts and natural politicians who share similar views. He loved her book and its theme of the hollowing out of the middle class  so much that it would become his campaign bible.

Afterwards, his top people, Katie Telford and Gerald Butts, kept in touch with her. In fact, the wooing of Freeland and her star power was an intricate dance. It was subtle, sophisticated, and, it would appear, with no big move until necessary.

It became necessary in June 2013 when Bob Rae gave Trudeau, by then party leader, a heads-up that he planned to resign his Toronto Centre seat.

A couple of days later, Freeland was in Ottawa for a speech and met Trudeau for breakfast. No pressure. Instead, she says Trudeau wore flip-flops on a Saturday morning and asked me if I might be interested in running to replace Rae.

Back home, she mulled it over for a month before telling Telford and Butts that, regretfully, she couldnt accept.

They asked if Trudeau could call her in New York.

Freeland made it clear to them that were she single, instead of married with three kids, she would accept in a heartbeat. She was ready to give up her top-tier job in journalism for Thomson Reuters, but wouldnt compromise on her family.

She explained that to Trudeau but the phone call didnt quite end as planned. Hers was, she admits now, a soft no. That meant, she says, she wanted to be sure he understood she took the offer very seriously and that it was an honour. He was sympathetic and she says she was impressed by how sensitive he was to the needs of family.

Trudeaus most intoxicating argument for Freeland was the emotional appeal of serving the country. In all of our conversations, the idea of public service was very important to him, she says. And it is to me too.

She says Trudeau made it very clear there were no guarantees. It would be a contested nomination for the candidate to replace Rae. No promises about the byelection and none for the next general election.

There may have been no guarantees  and it was important it be seen that way  but there certainly would be high-powered help from senior Liberals.

She had more long talks with her family and decided it could work for everybody. Not long after, she accepted Trudeaus offer.

On July 26, 2013, Freeland left journalism to join the Liberals. She won the nomination and the byelection in Toronto Centre that fall, becoming the first big get for Trudeau. Then last month, she won the redistributed riding of University-Rosedale in the Oct. 19 election.

Soon after, she had a date with a cabinet swearing-in at Rideau Hall and, at 47, became the new minister of international trade and head of the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations.

Her whole life, from its unusual beginnings on the Peace River, had been leading up to that point.

Magical childhood

Memories from Albertas Peace River country make Freelands heart soar.

I had a wonderful childhood, she says, recalling the place where she was born. It was magical.

Albertas fertile northern frontier, 500 kilometres north of Edmonton, instilled love to last a lifetime.

I remember coming home from working in the fields with my grandfather one day in the summer and he stopped and said to me: You know, what I love most about the farm is that every field has a different view and every one is beautiful.

He loved the Peace River so much, she says of John Wilbur Freeland. His father was John, so he became Wilbur  wartime flyer, rodeo bronc rider, boxer under the name Pretty Boy Freeland, lawyer and farmer.

Through him, shes linked to her familys homesteading past. He put her and her only sibling, Natalka, on a big brown mare named Princess when they could barely hang on. And when she was 12 and Natalka 10, he gave them horses for Christmas. When her mare got sick one winter, her dad let Misty stay in the basement.

But politics was bred in her bones. Both parents were lawyers, having studied law at the University of Alberta. Her father, Donald, ran for the provincial Liberals under Nick Taylor, a move his daughter calls a suicide mission in Alberta, and her late mother, Halyna Chomiak Freeland, ran unsuccessfully for the New Democrats. (A great-uncle, Ged Baldwin, was a crusading Red Tory MP.)

I remember being surrounded by politics from the moment I was born, she says.

Through her mothers parents, Michael Chomiak and Alexandra Loban Chomiak, Freeland is rooted in the immigrant experience, the other major influence on her life.

The Chomiaks saw themselves as political refugees from Soviet-occupied Ukraine, and loved Canada.

All my grandparents loved Canada but my Ukrainian grandfather was the most passionate, says Freeland, who was born Christina Alexandra and adopted the names Ukrainian form. I remember his kids once saying something mildly critical of Canada. He pounded his fist on the table and said hed lived in six countries and Canada was the best in the world.

Michael Chomiak was a lawyer and journalist before the Second World War, but they knew the Soviets would invade western Ukraine (and) fled  and, like a lot of Ukrainians, ended up after the war in a displaced persons camp in Germany where my mother was born.

Along the way Michael and Alexandra had six children, the last two born in Canada. They lived in poverty after they arrived; he couldnt practise or go to law school and eventually worked for years as a lab assistant.

(Their experience) had a very big effect on me, Freeland says. They had heated political discussions  They were also committed to the idea, like most in the (Ukrainian) diaspora, that Ukraine would one day be independent and that the community had a responsibility to the country they had been forced to flee  to keep that flame alive.

From her mother, Halyna, a feminist and activist who used the law to fight for social justice, Freeland learned how strong women can be. Her parents divorced when she was 9, and she lived with both her mother and her father, who remarried: Carol Freeland says Chrystia once told her, Youre my mother too.

Halyna worked hard to have her two girls speak Ukrainian at home, telling them: People in (Soviet) Ukraine arent allowed to speak it. Her daughter honours the tradition.

Its tough to corral Donald long-distance from Toronto to talk about his politician daughter. Finally, he calls from his pickup truck on his way home at dusk. Hes 71 and was swathing canola, working the 2,500 hectares that grew from just 12 hectares under the original Freeland homesteaders.

He broke up much of that acreage himself, riding a tractor that pulled a local Vegreville breaking plow, often with his little girl Chrystia beside him.

Donald is proud of both daughters, and says of Chrystia, There was nothing she wouldnt try  We always talked about social problems and it was always interesting.

Recently, old friends and acquaintances, even Chrystias grade school teachers, have stopped him on the street or called to praise her political success.

One can almost see him grinning.

Lessons from the East

A mass grave holding thousands of Ukrainians murdered under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin before the Second World War helped change the course of Freelands life.

It was March 1989. She was 21 and a Harvard exchange student at the University of Kyiv. She worked as a fixer for New York Times reporter Bill Keller by setting up a visit to Bykovnya, near Kyiv, and translating for him.

I saw how important Bill was to these people, Freeland says of older Ukrainians who told him their stories. I saw how they looked at Bill and how important he was in their lives  Im sure he was a large part of why I became a journalist.

For more than half a century, the line was that occupying Nazis were responsible for Bykovnya (also spelled Bykivnia) and other mass graves. Kellers story was part of the unravelling of that fiction.

Freeland translated for people whod seen tarpaulin-covered trucks move into the pine forests of Bykovnya at night and puddles of blood in the road. They knew the killings predated the Nazi invasion and believed the executions, there and elsewhere, were the work of Stalins secret police, precursors to the KGB. Now that they were old and frail, their voices were finally being heard.

A quarter-century later, Freeland sits in the Rosedale townhouse she shares with her husband, New York Times reporter Graham Bowley, and their three children. Freeland, petite at five foot two, is casual in jeans. She apologizes for her messy home but its more the clutter of a busy family at the end of a day. (The homes $1.3-million price tag became the subject of media stories but she said she would never apologize for having had a successful international career.)

In a busy kitchen, she reflects on how her journalism path was set after Bykovnya. She graduated in history and literature from Harvard and began to freelance from Kyiv. It was real work and I was impatient to get back to it, she says, of why she earned her Oxford M.A. in Slavic studies as a Rhodes Scholar in only a year.

There could have been no better occupation for the young Freeland. She learned that the official story is often wrong. The lesson was to believe her own eyes and search for the truth for herself.

Freeland was stunned by a speech by U.S. president George H.W. Bush in Kyiv in August 1991, urging independence-minded Ukrainians to work with the hated Soviet Union  which would implode four months later. It was a moment of cognitive dissonance for me. My Ukrainian grandparents had a better understanding of what was going on.

She was unimpressed by a White House press corps that didnt venture outside to gauge the public mood.

She took these lessons to the Financial Times, where she would run the Moscow bureau and later serve in senior management. She would also hold senior positions at the Globe and Mail in Toronto and Thomson Reuters in New York.

She met fellow reporter Bowley in London and connected because he, too, grew up on a farm. They married in two ceremonies for their families and went on to juggle career postings that meant their children were born in different cities  Natalka, 14, in Toronto; Halyna, 10, in London; and Ivan, 6, in New York.

Freeland also published two books  Sale of the Century: The Inside Story of the Second Russian Revolution in 2000; and, in 2012, bestselling Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else.

Freeland is at ease talking with people and would likely ace the social game on Survivor. Shes made powerful friends and contacts that have made her even more valuable to the Liberal party. She referred to former U.S. treasury secretary Larry Summers as my dear friend  probably the smartest person I know, when introducing him to the annual Liberal convention in 2014.

Many members of the global super-elite have helped me to understand their world and some have become friends, she writes in Plutocrats. She cites David Thomson, 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet and chair of Thomson Reuters, as an important friend and teacher. Geoff Beattie, then president of the Thomson familys private holding company, hosted a book launch for Plutocrats in Toronto in November 2012. It was there that she met Trudeau.

By the time she left journalism at the end of July 2013, she had become a political insider, friends with Telford and Butts, now chief of staff and principal secretary in the PMO. The inner circle of Trudeaucrats around the boss is tight, and Freeland says Butts has a no a------s rule.

Perhaps her best contact was Margaret Trudeau.

Shes really charismatic, says Freeland. She said, Im so glad youre on my sons team. Im sure youre very smart but I know you must have strong values too. My son must have thought (that) because its what he values: doing things for the right reasons. 

The Trudeau revolution begins

At Trudeaus swearing-in at Rideau Hall, his new international trade minister, barely up to his sternum, practically lifted him off the ground in an embrace.

Freeland, in her customary red dress, wore the widest grin and gave the biggest hugs of the day. She was ecstatic and not afraid to show it.

For that Nov. 4 ceremony, she sat with her 6-year-old son, Ivan, in her lap, smiling softly and whispering to him.

Freeland was clearly channelling her mother, Halyna. She was four-foot-ten, and called the little communist. She often quoted feminist icon Emma Goldman to Chrystia, and her favourite line was: If I cant dance, I dont want to be part of your revolution.

Her daughter is at the dance. Since her appointment, shes been studying the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, signed by the Conservatives and released online during her first week on the job. With the fine print now revealed, there are more concerns about what Canadians may be giving up. Shes holding the hot potato along with her boss, and neither has said where they stand on a deal that cant be amended by Parliament, only accepted or rejected.

Freeland was with Trudeau at the APEC conference in Manila last week when U.S. President Barack Obama, the TPPs biggest booster, jumped the gun and said both the U.S. and Canada would soon be signatories.

She described her own political philosophy in Plutocrats as being simply Canadian and says Canadian culture will be important for her at the cabinet table. She believes Canadians must see their own lives reflected in their art and culture or theyll think that real life is something that happens to other people and in accents other than their own (to quote an old Aussie B-movie).

After Manila, Freeland appeared on Real Time With Bill Maher, where she praised Canadas policies on Syrian refugees before a panel that was at times condescending. The show at one point identified her as prime minister of international trade.

Freeland faces political challenges while trying to be, well, nice. So far, shes lived in an essentially courteous world.

Halyna taught her to be aware and kind. When she was in an enrichment class at school in Edmonton, her mother said, Thats wonderful but what about your friends who dont get to go to enrichment classes? How do you think they feel? Dont you think they would enjoy going? She nudged her daughter into organizing a protest in grade school.

Halyna, who died in 2007, helped give her daughters the tools. Is it any wonder she accepted Trudeaus offer to serve? Big Apple journalists who raised an eyebrow at the unexpected move surely didnt know her.

But do we know her better?

She surprised many soon after her arrival, says Ottawa-based consultant Robin Sears. Journalists rarely make the leap to politics successfully. She has  by choosing her topics, her messages and her events with caution.

As with all the other greenie ministers, however, how well she makes the move from opposition international policy guru to effective international trade minister is the acid test for her and for this government.

The public can begin to gauge her mettle for themselves when a new Parliament opens on Thursday. The girl who grew up on a farm in Alberta and finally said yes to Trudeau will be sitting near him in the Commons  with the power to make a difference.
Sanjay Dutt, who was diagnosed with stage-4 lung cancer last week, has been making regular visits to the hospital. He was spotted with wife Maanayata Dutt, sisters Priya and Namrata Dutt outside their residence as he left for the hospital on Tuesday. Sanjay waved to the paparazzi and showed a thumbs up sign.

Sanjay was seen in a blue kurta-pyjama and sported coloured hair. His wife was seen in a pink kurta. The couple walked out of the house hand in hand and were seen hugging before he left.

Sanjay Dutt and Maanayata outside their residence. (Varinder Chawla)

Sanjay Dutt with Maanayata and Namrata Dutt outside his residence. (Varinder Chawla)

Maanayata gives Sanjay Dutt a hug before he leaves for hospital. (Varinder Chawla)

Sanjay was admitted to Lilavati Hospital last weekend after he complained of breathlessness. He was discharged on Monday. A day after coming home, the actor issued a statement on social media requesting his well-wishers to not speculate about his health amid rumours that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The actor has not yet officially commented on the nature of his diagnosis. The actors wife, producer Maanayata Dutt, on Wednesday said the Bollywood star is a fighter who has always emerged winner amid adverse conditions and urged fans to not fall prey to speculations. We need all the strength and prayers to overcome this phase. There is a lot that the family has gone through in the past years but I am confident, this too shall pass, she said.

Sanjay will be finishing the dubbing of his upcoming film Sadak 2 before taking a break from work for his medical treatment. The 61-year-old had announced on Tuesday that he would be taking a short break from his work commitments to take care of his health.

Also read: Pandit Jasrajs body being brought back from New Jersey, says granddaughter Shweta Pandit

He (Dutt) will finish the dubbing work before going on the break. He has a very little work left and he is doing that, source close to the films production told PTI. He is currently awaiting the release of Sadak 2 and Bhuj: The Pride of India, which will premiere on Disney+Hotstar.

He will also star in the second installment of KGF, Shamshera, alongside Ranbir Kapoor, and Torbaaz. In 2019, the actor had featured in three movies -- Ashutosh Gowarikers period drama Panipat, Karan Johar-produced Kalank and political drama Prassthanam.

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ATLANTA, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Invesco Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ), a leading global asset manager, announced today the release of its 2019 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, which highlights our progress in reducing our impact on the environment, our commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing, being strong corporate citizens in the communities we serve as well as our dedication to cultivating an inclusive and engaged workforce.

Invesco highlights the steps it has taken to be part of the solution for climate change, cultivate an inclusive, diverse workforce and efforts to support COVID-19 relief work in the communities in which it operates.

Invesco's CSR approach includes three pillars, which are core to the firm's purpose of delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life.

Fostering a culture where diverse people and ideas thrive;

Making responsible investments that align with the long-term interests of our clients;

Ensuring sustainable operations and strong governance.

"Invesco has demonstrated a continued determination to be part of the solution to provide a better future, a better workplace and an investment experience that help people get more out of life. Our latest Corporate Social Responsibility Report is evidence of this commitment and shows great developments in building a diverse and inclusive workforce, serving as good stewards of our clients assets and strengthening of the communities where we live and work," said Cathrine de Coninck-Lopez, Global Head of ESG for Invesco.

Key highlights of the report include:

Diversity & Inclusion

Invesco has pledged to increase female representation of senior managers to be between 35% and 40% by 2022. As of December 31, 2019 , Invesco has reached 32%.

, Invesco has reached 32%. Invesco has expanded diverse candidate slates and interview panels for new hires; during 2019, 65% of the candidate slates were diverse, and 81% of the interview panels were diverse.

In the U.S., Invesco provides for up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave for birth mothers and 10 weeks of paid parental leave for fathers/domestic partners and adoptive or foster parents after the birth/adoption of a child. In Europe , Invesco employees will be entitled to 26 continuous weeks' paid leave at full basic salary within 12 months of becoming a parent whether via birth, adoption or surrogacy. Invesco is also offering its European employees a phased return to work at full pay for 80% of their normal working pattern during their first six weeks, to assist with the adjustment back into the workplace.

Climate Change

Invesco saw more than a 20% decline in Scope 1 (natural gas) and Scope 2 (electricity grid) greenhouse emissions from 2017 to 2019.

In 2019, Invesco achieved a 27% reduction in waste across the company compared to a 2017 baseline.

Invesco aims to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions at a local property level through waste, water or energy reduction initiatives; in addition Invesco has implemented carbon offsetting of the global air and travel emission investing in a variety of impact projects focused on helping the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Invesco is a discloser and investor member of CDP since 2016 (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project).

Invesco has published the inaugural 2019 Climate Change Report in July 2020 as a commitment to the Task Force for Climate related financial disclosures (TCFD)

Corporate Citizenship

In 2019, Invesco supported over 117 charity organizations and its employees volunteered more than 6,700 hours through Invesco Cares.

Through Invesco's U.S. corporate sponsorship with Rock The Street, Wall Street at Stuyvesant High School, female executives from across Invesco led weekly classroom-based workshops and will provide ongoing mentorship. As a result of Invesco's efforts:

There has been a 68% increase in financial literacy among Stuyvesant students.



93% of students indicate they are likely to pursue a major or minor in either finance or economics.

Invesco Asset Management ( Japan ) Limited and Invesco Global Real Estate Asia-Pacific formed a Cross- Function Team (CFT) to implement a clothing donation drive for the Japan Relief Clothing Center and hosted fundraising events for Second Harvest Japan, the only nationwide food bank in Japan .

) Limited and Invesco Global Real Estate Asia-Pacific formed a Cross- Function Team (CFT) to implement a clothing donation drive for the Japan Relief Clothing Center and hosted fundraising events for Second Harvest Japan, the only nationwide food bank in . Invesco's Henley and London offices raised 110,976 for CLIC Sargent during a variety of events throughout 2019. CLIC Sargent supports children and young adults with cancer, as well as their families. The challengers embarked on a one-day adventure, traveling from Henley along the Thames by canoe, foot and bike, ending at the Invesco offices in Portman Square, London .

offices raised 110,976 for CLIC Sargent during a variety of events throughout 2019. CLIC Sargent supports children and young adults with cancer, as well as their families. The challengers embarked on a one-day adventure, traveling from Henley along the Thames by canoe, foot and bike, ending at the Invesco offices in Portman Square, . The Invesco Cares team in Hyderabad, India hosted a sapling distribution drive. Employees distributed more than 800 indigenous tree saplings in eight hours.

hosted a sapling distribution drive. Employees distributed more than 800 indigenous tree saplings in eight hours. Invesco is a signatory of the Stewardship Code Signatories in UK (Tier 1 status) and Japan .

ESG

Received an A+ rating by the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) for the Company's strategy and governance in responsible investment for the fourth year in a row and for listed equities ESG incorporation for the second time in three years, in the latest assessment report just released by the PRI last week.

Received an A rating by the PRI for the Company's Listed Equity-Incorporation, Listed Equity  Active Ownership, Fixed Income  Corporate Financial, Fixed Income  Corporate Non-Financial and Property.

By 2023, Invesco aims to have ESG risks integrated across all its investment capabilities.

Invesco views proxy voting as an integral part of its investment management responsibilities and our patented proxy voting portal facilitates investment-led voting decisions.

Invesco is an active participant member and supporter of ESG initiatives, including: Climate Action 100 +, the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), the Asian Investors Group on Climate Change (AIIGCC), the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment (CCRI), One Planet Asset Managers Initiative, Farm Animal Investment Risk & Return Initiative (FAIIR) and PRI collective engagement initiatives such as the tailings mine safety initiative

Invesco is a member of the following organizations: The Sustainable Financial Organisations (ACGA, Asia ), UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF, UK), Council of Institutional Investors (CII, US) and Responsible Investment Association (RIA, Canada )

), UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF, UK), Council of Institutional Investors (CII, US) and Responsible Investment Association (RIA, ) To learn more about Invesco's ESG efforts, please view Invesco's 2019 Environmental, Social and Governance Investment Stewardship Report

COVID-19

To date, Invesco has contributed over $1 million (USD) to global COVID-19 relief efforts and is continuing to provide support by matching employee donations to support COVID-19-related charities.

(USD) to global COVID-19 relief efforts and is continuing to provide support by matching employee donations to support COVID-19-related charities. Invesco was one of the largest investors to sign onto the Interfaith Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) Investor statement on coronavirus response.

Invesco enhanced its client communications and connectivity by implementing a fully digital client-engagement strategy consisting of COVID-19 resource hubs, "digital roadshows," webinars and virtual meetings.

In March 2020 , Invesco engaged in approximately 75K virtual client engagements in the US and Canada .

, Invesco engaged in approximately virtual client engagements in the US and .

In EMEA, Invesco hosted 8 pan-EMEA webinars reaching over 5,000 clients.



In Asia-Pacific , Invesco engaged in over 1,000 virtual investment team meetings.

"We focus on creating long-term value and solutions for our clients, employees, shareholders and the communities we serve," said De Coninck-Lopez. "We are devoted to continuously improving our CSR and investment stewardship efforts, while fostering greater transparency of this work."

To learn more about Invesco's commitment to corporate responsibility and to view the full report, read it online here.

All information is as of 6/30/20 unless otherwise noted.

About Invesco Ltd.

Invesco is a global independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life. Our 13 distinctive investment teams deliver a comprehensive range of active, passive and alternative investment capabilities. With offices in 25 countries, Invesco managed $1.1 trillion in assets on behalf of clients worldwide as of June 30, 2020. For more information, visit www.Invesco.com.

Contact: Gina Simonis [email protected] +1 (917) 715-8339

SOURCE Invesco Ltd.
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If you're wondering what to watch during lockdown, two of Australia's screen icons have a few suggestions.

On Tuesday acclaimed director Gillian Armstrong (My Brilliant Career, Little Women) and award-winning actor Marta Dusseldorp (Stateless, Janet King) joined The Age's film writer Karl Quinn for a subscriber-only discussion about all things film and television.

Armstrong (top right) and Dusseldorp (bottom right) said the federal government's $400 million film package would not help Australian storytelling.

Armstrong said she had binged The Bureau (SBS On Demand) and also found herself re-watching films from places she would like to be.

"I realised I was using films that were taking me to the place that I'd love to be right now, like Tuscany. So I started watching The Talented Mr Ripley," she said. "The other one  if you want to go back to Italy  is The Conformist, which is one of the films that stayed with me all my life."
A man was taken to a Toronto hospital by Ornge air ambulance for treatment of critical injuries after a stabbing at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Market Plaza on George Street in Peterborough.

The man was in stable condition by early Tuesday night, city police Chief Scott Gilbert said.

Another man was was taken by paramedics to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment of injuries.

Two people were arrested by city police after an investigation into the stabbing.

One of the people arrested is also facing further charges after an altercation at the city police station on Water Street in which an officer was attacked.

The police station altercation happened at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.

A man, not believed to be an officer, was taken by paramedics to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment after the police station altercation.

City police are continuing an investigation in the Market Plaza stabbing but said there is no threat to public safety.

Anyone with information can call 705-876-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online at stopcrimehere.ca.

Its been a difficult few days (for officers), Gilbert told Tuesday nights Peterborough Police Services Board meeting as they deal with horrendous events, but he said its been even more difficult for families affected in these events.

Woman was critically injured in attack

On Monday morning a 61-year-old woman suffered critical injuries after being attacked on the walking trail in Jackson Park and dragged into a ravine.

A 76-year-old woman heard the assault, which happened at about 9:30 a.m., and climbed down into the ravine to intervene, according to Gilbert. The 76-year-old had been alerted to the attack by another woman on the path, he said.

Gilbert did not name the woman, but said she likely saved the other womans life.

I have no doubt: If not for her (the 76-year-old), the injuries to the victim would have been more serious, of not fatal, Gilbert said.

The attacked woman was taken by paramedics to Peterborough Regional Health Centre and was later airlifted by Ornge air ambulance to a Toronto hospital, where she remained in critical condition on Tuesday.

Corby Charles Dewitt, 29, of McDonnel Street was charged with sexual assault, kidnapping, uttering threats to cause death, assault and choking to overcome resistance.

He was arrested after being tracked by a police dog, Gilbert said.

A section of the trail was closed for about four hours on Monday for the city police investigation.

 with files from Joelle Kovach, Examiner Staff Writer and Todd VanDonk, Peterborough This Week
Forget the gleaming, high-rise towers in the nation's most glamorous cities and those sprawling, palm treeringed residences with killer ocean views. Today's hottest housing is located in towns and small cities that aren't usually a part of the national conversation.

The realtor.com economics team identified the 10 hottest ZIP codes in the country where demand is surging and homes are flying off the marketsometimes within hours of being listed. These places tend to offer cheaper homes, or less expensive prices per square foot for those seeking more spacious abodes, than the rest of their respective suburbswhich themselves are bargains compared with the nearby cities.

Some of these ZIPs are close to highways or public transit for commuters (when white-collar workers stream back to their offices) and may boast good school districts as well. Other ZIPs on our list are in less pricey cities, appealing to cash-strapped buyers.

"With prices growing faster than they were before the pandemic and people looking for more space, affordability has become even more important," says realtor.com's chief economist, Danielle Hale.

Many folks who have been spending more time than ever before in their abodes, especially those who will be working from home indefinitely, are looking for larger homes in more remote areas where it's easier to maintain social distance.

"People are shifting away from Western metros, which tend to be more expensive, says Hale.

Homes in these ZIPs sold in an average of just 18 days. That's about four weeks faster than in their respective metropolitan areas and roughly 51 days faster than properties in the rest of the country. They also received about 4.3 times more views on realtor.com.

"This year's list is definitely centered on the East Coast, which is a bit of a shift from previous years," says Hale. "Some of those areas in the Northeast have bounced back in a big way [from a deluge of COVID-19 cases], which is probably helping them to rise to the top. ... The absence of the South and Midwest is because of the pandemic and how it has played out over time in different parts of the country."

To come up with our list, the realtor.com economics team looked at ZIP codes in the 300 largest metropolitan areas (which include the main city and surrounding smaller urban areas, towns, and suburbs) from April through June of this year. We ranked ZIP codes by which ones received the most page views per property on realtor.com and had the fewest days on the market.

ZIP codes needed at least 13 listings per month to be included. Only the top ZIP code from each metro was included.

So what are the nation's most in-demand ZIP codes?

Cheaper ZIP codes in smaller cities are popular with buyers

Colorado Springs, CO, has become a popularand more affordablealternative to Denver. Mint Images/Getty Images

Colorado Springs' 80911 snagged the top spot in 2020 as the only ZIP code in the Western swath of the country. Homes in the southwestern ZIP code sold in a median six days in July.

The appeal of the ZIP code, about 80 miles south of Denver, may lie in its relative affordability. The median home list price was $306,500 in Julysignificantly less than the median $455,050 price within Colorado Springs' city limits, according to realtor.com data. It's also much less expensive than Denver's median $550,000 price tag.

But that increase in demand has driven prices in the ZIP code up nearly 15.9% from last July.

"You can get a lot for your money here," says Dominic Pucci, a real estate agent at Blockhouse Real Estate. He moved from California to the 80911 ZIP code, where he also sells homes now. He gets some buyers from California purchasing second homes or rental properties in the area as well as military personnel relocating from all over the country to one of the area's five military bases.

Many of the homes in the ZIP code are rehabbed or recently flipped ranches and bilevel, single-family homes with yards. A five-bed, three-bath home in good shape with a two-car garage in the community is now going for about $330,000, he says.

The market is "still really cooking-hot," says Pucci.

Homes in Raleigh, NC's 27604, No. 10, are similarly listed at a fraction of the price in the rest of the growing technology hub.

Affordable areas within commuting distance to larger cities are in demand

Boston-area suburbs, exurbs, and smaller, nearby cities, like Melrose, MA, are becoming more popular with home buyers. Boston Globe / Contributor/Getty Images

Reynoldsburg's 43608, No. 2, benefits from its proximity to Ohio's capital city of Columbusat about a third less of the cost. Homes in the Reynoldsburg suburb, about 20 minutes east of Columbus, are listed at a median $193,450compared with $267,000.

"There's lots of building, lots of jobs. Our whole surrounding area is hot," says longtime Reynoldsburg real estate broker Oleta Johnson, of Gene P. Johnson Realty. She touted the nearby Ohio State University, an Amazon fulfillment center, and an expanded Facebook data center as just a few of the area's employers.

"We've never seen anything like this," says Johnson, who listed a four-bed, 2.5-bath house "in a nice subdivision" at 3 p.m. on July 31. It had 22 showings and three offers, and was sold by noon the next day for $275,000for $15,000 above asking price.

"We were waiting for the other shoe to drop when this pandemic hit," says Johnson. Real estate professionals were permitted to show homes through the pandemic. "But we havent seen any drop in pricing or time on market."

Three Boston-area, smaller cities of Melrose, MA (No. 4), Hudson, NH (No. 7), and Worcester, MA (No. 8); the Portland, ME, outpost of South Portland (No. 5); and the Washington, DC, suburb of Springfield, VA (No. 9), have also benefited from their more affordable prices and closer proximity to the bigger cities.

In Worcester, about an hour west of Boston, developers are turning old factory buildings into apartments and condos, new restaurants are coming online, and buyers priced out of Boston are descending.

"The whole city's really just blowing up," says Worcester-area real estate agent Nick McNeil, of the Lux Group. The 01602 ZIP code in the Tatnuck area, home to Worcester State University, is one of the area's more residential districts.

"It's a lot of single-family houses," he says. "We see a lot of Tudors, a lot of bungalow-style homes."

Buyers can scoop up three-bed, 1.5-bath homes in the $300,000 to $350,000 range. But they'd better act fast. Homes are selling in a median 17 days.

"Boston has just become unaffordable, so people are spreading out, traveling to find suitable housing at a reasonable price," McNeil says.

Buyers are flocking to less expensive parts of the country

Topeka, KS, is a more affordable destination for home buyers. LawrenceSawyer/Getty Images

Buyers chasing affordability are also discovering cheaper parts of the country that offer lower home prices, costs of living, and even taxes, in some areas. And as more companies allow workers to telecommute going forward, these places, like Rochester, NY (No. 3), and Topeka, KS (No. 6), could see surges in demand.

Smaller cities could also benefit from folks fleeing their small apartments and condos in big cities seeking additional square footage and backyards without losing that urban feel.

"With big cities being expensive, people are looking for areas that are more affordable," says realtor.com's Hale.

Top 10 Hottest ZIP codes in the U.S.

1. Colorado Springs, CO (80911)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $306,500

Median list price within the city limits: $455,050

2. Reynoldsburg, OH (43068)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $193,450

Median list price within the city limits: $193,450

3. Rochester, NY (14617)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $162,450

Median list price within the city limits: $158,950

4. Melrose, MA (02176)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $644,950

Median list price within the city limits: $644,950

5. South Portland, ME (04106)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $350,050

Median list price within the city limits: $350,050

6. Topeka, KS (66614)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $159,500

Median list price within the city limits: $132,500

7. Hudson, NH (03051)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $440,000

Median list price within the city limits: $440,000

8. Worcester, MA (01602)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $329,950

Median list price within the city limits: $315,050

9. Springfield, VA (22152)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $509,950

Median list price within the city limits: $549,950

10. Raleigh, NC (27604)

Median list price in the ZIP code: $287,950

Median list price within the city limits: $519,800

The post Far From the Bright Lights of Big Cities, These Are America's Hottest ZIP Codes in 2020 appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Israeli media says PM Netanyahu may have abandoned Israels opposition to the sale of military equipment to the UAE.

Israel has not softened its opposition to any American arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that could diminish its military superiority as part of a US-brokered normalisation of their ties, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said on Tuesday.

The statement followed a report in Israels Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that the Trump administration planned a giant sale of advanced F-35 jets to the UAE as part of the Gulf countrys move last week to normalise ties with Israel.

Under understandings dating back decades, Washington has refrained from Middle East arms sales that could blunt Israels qualitative military edge. This has applied to the F-35, denied to Arab states, while Israel has bought and deployed it.

In the talks [on the UAE normalisation deal], Israel did not change its consistent positions against the sale to any country in the Middle East of weapons and defence technologies that could tip the [military] balance, Netanyahus office said.





The US embassy in Jerusalem and representatives of the UAE government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

No policy change

Eli Cohen, Israels intelligence minister, also said on Tuesday he knew of no change to the policy opposing US sales of advanced weaponry to Arab states.

He declined to be drawn on the UAE, which is currently unable to buy the F-35  but which the US administration has said could clinch unspecified new American arms sales after Thursdays normalisation announcement.

I know of no change to the position and the policy of the state of Israel, Cohen told public broadcaster Kan. I am telling you that Israel has not given its consent to coming along and changing the arrangement.

Several sources told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz they were concerned Netanyahu may have abandoned Israels vehement opposition to the sale of military equipment and technology to the UAE, particularly the F-35 advanced fighter jet.

A previous plan for the sale of American F-35 jets to the UAE was blocked by the US Congress under pressure from the Israel lobby in Washington, reported Haaretz.








UPDATE: N.J. town announces Santander ATM theft scam charges against 20 people with dozens more likely

More than two dozen people who used prepaid debit cards to steal from ATMs at banks around New Jersey have been arrested, according to three law enforcement sources.

The sources told NJ Advance Media this is a multi-jurisdictional investigation in several New Jersey counties and in New York. The scam appears to be exploiting a glitch in Santander ATMs where the people were able to continue to withdraw amounts using prepaid debit cards, two sources said.

Tens of thousands of dollars had been fraudulently obtained, the sources said.

The people, who are from New York, appear to be loosely connected through social media, two sources said.

In Morris County, a report to police came in around 3:30 a.m. of suspicious activity at a Santander Bank ATM in Boonton, a law enforcement source told NJ Advance Media.

There were also reports of fraudulent activity at locations in Randolph and Montville, the source said. There have been at least 19 people arrested in Morris County, according to the source, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the investigation.

A separate source said a Santander location at Main Street and Route 33 in Robbinsville had been robbed, with multiple arrests.

Theyre rounding guys up, the source said of the arrests. Its in the double digits.

A third source said there were at least 19 arrests in Mercer County along Interstate 195.

A Woodbridge police spokesman said Tuesday morning the department was investigating a possible theft from a Santander ATM. And at least one location in Hoboken was targeted, a law enforcement source said.

A separate law enforcement source said 11 people were arrested in Sayreville in connection with the scam at two different Santander branches.

There have also been reports of other ATMs hit in locations around the tri-state area.

Police in South Windsor, Connecticut also confirmed the existence of the scam.

We have been made aware of an ATM scam in which suspects are using Santander Bank ATMs to fraudulently withdraw cash using fake debit cards, Sgt. Mark Cleverdo said. Since we have a branch in town, we are asking any citizen using their ATM to use caution when withdrawing money.

On Monday night in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn, New York two men driving out of state vehicles, withdrew money from a Santander Bank ATM using stolen credit cards, according to BoroPark24.com

Santander Bank Spokeswoman Nancy Orlando told NJ Advance Media that it learned Tuesday about suspicious activity involving some of its branch-based ATMs and that the devices were temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.

She added that some branches may have additional security and some would be temporarily closed for security reasons, but did not give the locations of any specific sites.

We are continuing to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate this situation and apologize for any customer inconvenience, she said. As we work to expeditiously resolve this situation, our customers should know that there is no impact to their accounts or funds, which can be accessed online, using our digital app, in our branches or at non-branch ATMs.

State Police referred questions about the investigation to the FBIs Newark office.

We are aware of incidents at ATMs across the state and we are looking into it, the offices spokeswoman, Doreen Holder told NJ Advance Media late Tuesday afternoon.

Holder said she could not give out any other details.

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- About $7 billion reportedly will be spent this fall on television and digital commercials from political campaigns and political action committees, filling the airwaves with political ads many viewers dislike. Companies running ads immediately afterward have been concerned about the potential of a negative spillover effect on how they and their products and services are perceived.

But new research from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business finds that the opposite is true. Contrary to mainstream thought, political ads instead yield positive spillover effects for nonpolitical advertisers.

And this happens regardless of whether the political ad is an attack ad or not, who the ad supports, and whether it's sponsored by a candidate, political party or PAC. Political advertising accounts for nearly 10 percent of all U.S. television ad revenue.

The findings are in the article, "Impact of Political Television Advertisements on Viewers' Response to Subsequent Advertisements ," -- accepted for publication in Marketing Science -- by Beth Fossen, assistant professor of marketing; Girish Mallapragada, associate professor of marketing and Weimer Faculty Fellow; and doctoral candidate Anwesha De, all from the Kelley School of Business.

"Our investigations provide insights into the previously unexplored ad-to-ad spillover effects and, more broadly, provides insights into how political messages influence consumers," Fossen said. "Nonpolitical ads that follow political ads benefit through a reduction in audience decline and an increase in positive post-ad chatter."

Using data for 849 national prime-time ads during the 2016 U.S. general election, the researchers found that ads airing after a political commercial saw an 89 percent reduction in audience decline and a 3 percent increase in post-ad chatter online.

Their findings remained consistent when examining the effect by TV network and political party affiliation.

"It seems reasonable to assume that Fox News viewers are more likely to be positively stimulated by pro-Republican ads than viewers of other channels," researchers wrote. "However, evidence from our data suggests that the positive spillover from pro-Republican ads is not higher and is nearly lower on Fox News viewership decline than when pro-Republican ads air on other channels."

They found a similar trend when it came to advertising on MSNBC, whose viewers frequently identify with the Democratic Party and progressive causes.

Mallapragada said the findings show that television networks and stations can leverage the positive spillover effects on subsequent ads by implementing differential pricing and systematic ad sequencing.

Prevailing belief in the business industry has suggested that political ads on television hurt the effectiveness of subsequent ads. To illustrate this concern, during the 2020 Super Bowl, game broadcaster Fox isolated political ads from other paying advertisers in their own ad breaks, a decision that cost the network millions in ad revenue, because it ran nonpaid show promos alongside the political ads instead of commercials from paying advertisers.

"The insights from this research enable advertisers to advocate for the inclusion of ad positioning in ad buys and, specifically, negotiate that their ads follow political ads," he said. "Our results may also encourage advertisers outside of the television context to experiment with advertising next to political content, an experimentation that may be especially beneficial for online advertisers given that they commonly blacklist political topics to avoid having their ads appear near political content."

###

Editors: Copies of this paper are available from George Vlahakis at vlahakis@iu.edu.
When faced with the imminent filing of this lawsuit, the Postmaster General today announced his intention to pause his disruptive actions until after the election, Raoul said in the news release. But make no mistake, a statement issued in a press release is inadequate in providing assurance to the millions of Americans relying on the Postal Service that he will not reverse course  again. I am filing this lawsuit to ensure that the Postmaster General can be held accountable to a federal court. The right to vote is too important to be contingent on a statement in a press release.
Protesters hold up blank papers during a demonstration in a mall in Hong Kong, on July 6, 2020. Hong Kongers are finding creative ways to voice dissent as police began making arrests for people displaying now forbidden political slogans. (Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty Images)

Hong Kong Youth Chase Hope, Freedom Under Beijings Authoritarian Grip

When news reached Simon Cheng, a former British consular employee and Hongkonger-in-exile, that he had become a fugitive overnight, he took it with a mix of shock and pride.

You are in the headlines now, a friend texted him.

There was no notice in the mail, nor any official statement from the Hong Kong government. But CCTV, the Chinese Communist Partys state broadcaster, confirmed the Hong Kong police ordered Chengs arrest, one of six overseas pro-democracy advocates they said violated the new national security law on charges of secession or collusion with foreign forces. The offenses are punishable with up to lifelong imprisonment.

Cheng, who fled to the U.K. under political asylum, dismissed what he called a groundless accusation.

I did nothing that violates my conscience, the 29-year-old activist told The Epoch Times from his London home, adding that, at this moment, I have no way back but to persist.

Being on the Chinese regimes target list, he said, was something of an accomplishment.

Its my honor to sacrifice for democracy, he said.

Since pro-democracy protests ignited last summer in the former British colony over Beijings growing encroachment, police have made close to 9,700 arrests and prosecuted over 2,000. Secondary and post-secondary students made up roughly 40 percent of the arrestees. In Hong Kong, secondary school begins at age 13.

At least 24 have been arrested under the security law since it took effect on July 1.

Riot police detain people after they cleared protesters taking part in a rally against a new national security law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020, on the 23rd anniversary of the citys handover from Britain to China. (Dale de la Rey/AFP via Getty Images)

A State Enemy

The arrest warrant came roughly a year after Chinese agents abducted Cheng while he was on a business trip to mainland China and placed him in detention for 15 days.

Cheng later described being shackled, hooded, and repeatedly tortured as police tried to extract intelligence about the Hong Kong protest movement. A day after he broke his silence and shared his experience with the media, Chinas English-language state broadcaster CGTN aired a confession video showing him admitting to Chinese authorities prostitution charges, for which he has brought a lawsuit to U.K.s broadcast regulator, citing breach of privacy and fairness.

Simon Cheng on March 31, 2020. (Courtesy of Simon Cheng)

In London, Cheng said he has noticed suspicious people following him on at least three occasions. On Aug. 10, he posted a screenshot of a threatening email he received, with the subject line: Chinese agents will find you and bring you back.

Still, Cheng keeps going. He has created a platform called Haven Assistance, to help Hongkonger dissidents escape to other countries.

Hong Kong has entered a new phase since Beijing enforced the new security law.

Local authorities have doubled down on their aggression, criminalizing the use of a popular protest slogan and an unofficial protest anthem, and barring 12 pro-democracy legislative candidates from running in elections before postponing the voting completelywhich Beijing critics said was a tactic to avoid an embarrassing defeat at the polls for the pro-Beijing camp. Police have made arrests over social media posts, raided the newsroom of an outspoken newspaper, and put out arrest warrants targeting Cheng; a U.S. citizen; and other overseas dissidents.

A Hong Kong Cafe, known as a yellow shop because its owners expressed sympathy for protesters has windows decorated with blank post-it notes in Hong Kong, on July 9, 2020. (Vincent Yu/AP)

The regimes tightening grip has been heavily criticized by governments around the world. The United States has sanctioned 11 local officials for their role in implementing the law and trampling on Hong Kongs freedoms, including city leader Carrie Lam.

No one would naturally hate the Chinese Communist Party from their birth, Cheng said, adding that many moderate Hong Kong youths have become more vocal in dissenting against the Chinese regime due to its aggressive policies.

Beijing has pushed the young people to where they are. They made so many enemies because of their own doing, he said.

Defending Hong Kongs Identity

At Causeway Bay, a popular shopping district, Zack Ho, 19, hands out flyers containing creative catchphrases to remind people of Hong Kongs political predicament while promoting local cultural customsfrom Hong Kongs use of traditional Chinese script (as opposed to the simplified version used in mainland China) to its famed creamy egg tarts.

The idea is to reach the mild people who dont have much of an opinion about the citys current political situation and who are too caught up in the humdrum of their daily lives, said Ho, who is the convener of the student activist group Inspidemia.

Zack Ho, a student activist, pictured at The Epoch Times office in Hong Kong, on Dec. 16, 2019. (Nina Wong/The Epoch Times)

His flyers intentionally use phrases that would circumvent the authorities new ban. Post-Hong Kong times, for example, hints at the end of the one country, two systems formula, under which Beijing promised to preserve the citys autonomy upon its transfer of sovereignty in 1997. Parts of the slogan there are no rioters, only a tyrannical government, are replaced with blank spaces to work around the new law.

We try to just play word games, Ho said in a phone interview. Since we cannot say one country, two systems is dead, [and] we cannot say the autonomy of Hong Kong is dead  we try to imply that softly to them.

The streets are much quieter compared to last year, when fears of deepening Beijing control following a government proposal to enact an extradition bill brought millions to the streets. Citing concerns about the spread of COVID-19 and the new law, this year, police quickly made arrests to suppress any budding signs of protests. Often, people who walked past Hos booth simply stayed chill and ignored them, as patrolling police officers, whose numbers have steadily grown, stood nearby and watched quietly, Ho said.

Even printing the materials was no small feat: among 50 printing shops he talked with, only a handful was willing to print his leafletsbecause many complete their printing work in the mainland and dont want to risk provoking authorities, he said.

Ho, who hopes to pursue a political career in the future and serve local communities as a district councilor, was not deterred by the security law. We just want to bring out our mindset, he said. People should not shut up from this.

But in August, as several young pro-democracy activists were arrested for violating the new law, the escalating suppression forced Ho to reconsider his stakes.

What should I say from now on  [to] be more safe for me to continue my work? he asked himself. The first rule, he decided, was try not to get arrested and play a long-term game.

Despite the risks, he, like Cheng, likened the recent arrests to a badge of honor. Because we stand for justice. We stand for Hong Kongs true values, he said.

Chasing Hope

There has been a sense of loss and frustration among Hong Kong activists as they grapple with the aftereffects of the new law, such as symbols of the movement being wiped away: slogans, protest songs, rallies, and Lennon Wallseither voluntarily to avoid authorities scrutiny, or because police forbade them.

It feels a bit lonely where we are. Were all alone, said Ventus Lau, who organized several major protests in 2019, in a recent phone interview. The 26-year-old, one of the pro-democracy candidates who was disqualified from the September elections, is also facing rioting charges in relation to last years protests.

Ventus Lau appears at the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts to attend his court hearing on Aug. 3, 2020. (Song Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

The new reality is the most dreadful for the young generationthe driving force of the pro-democracy protestswho face a future under Beijings authoritarian reign, he said.

He doesnt see a way out yet, but believes that as long as Hongkongers preserve that flicker of hope, a solution will surfacemaybe just not now.

We can never give up because it is what we can only do for our next generation, he said. We have to fight until the final moments.

Its the only way they can envision a different future: by carrying on, they would show the world that Hong Kong still deserves freedom.

We dont fight because we have seen hope. We fight because we want to chase hope, and hope is made by human efforts, Ho said.

And the darkest moment, in Chengs words, also would be the brightest moment because they can witness the massive change that will come.
DANBURY  The city plans to clap back at John Oliver after the comedian challenged Danbury residents to a fight.

Mayor Mark Boughton said the official city of Danbury response to Olivers comments on his HBO show Last Week Tonight will air Sunday morning on WTNH during Connecticut Capital Report.

Wait till you see what the Rock is cooking... Boughton wrote on social media, in reference to former wrestler Dwayne The Rock Johnson.

Boughton said he plans to tape his response Friday.

Oliver ranted about Danbury on his Sunday night episode where he discussed issues with juries, including in Connecticut.

I know exactly three things about Danbury, Oliver said. USA Today ranked it the second best city to live in in 2015, it was once the center of the American hat industry and if youre from there you have a standing invite to come get a thrashing from John Oliver  children included  (expletive) you.

Oliver also mentioned Danburys charming railway museum and historic Hearthstone castle.

Boughton said he took the comments as a sarcastic joke and a positive promotion for the city, but he disliked the swearing and challenge to children.

Those things were a little too edgy for me, Boughton said in a Facebook Live video Monday. Thats why he will pay the price because you dont mess with Mayor Mark.

A spokesperson for HBO did not return a request for comment.
A potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by a unit of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) could cost no more than 1,000 yuan ($144.27) for two shots, state media on Tuesday quoted chairman Liu Jingzhen as saying. Sinopharm has said its experimental vaccine could be ready for public use by the end of this year. It has entered a late-stage human test in the United Arab Emirates to gather proof of efficacy for final regulatory approvals.

"It will not be priced very high. It is expected to cost a few hundred yuan for a shot, and for two shots it should be less than 1,000 yuan," Liu told the Guangming Daily newspaper. Governments and drugmakers around the world are in a frenetic race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 200 candidates are in development, including more than 20 in human clinical trials.

Moderna Inc said earlier this month that smaller volumes of its experimental vaccine have been priced at $32-$37 per dose. Last month, the U.S. government struck a deal for an experimental vaccine being developed by Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE that secures enough to innoculate 50 million Americans for about $40 a person.

Sinopharm's Liu did not mention whether China's state-backed nationwide insurance program would cover some of the vaccine costs for consumers, or whether it could be included in the country's free vaccination scheme. China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a Sinopharm unit, has moved two vaccine strains using the same method into human trials. Its plants in Wuhan and Beijing combined could make over two million doses of the drug annually.

Also read: More infectious, less deadly COVID-19 mutation may be a good thing: Expert
School districts across the state are weighing their reopening options after Gov. Phil Murphy said last week that schools can, in certain circumstances, go all remote.

But some districts that are planning for in-person options are facing staffing problems.

Schools in Elizabeth want to start the year remotely after 375 teachers said they couldnt return to the classroom because of coronavirus health concerns. Newark, Jersey City, Bayonne and a growing number of districts are considering a remote-only reopening, saying in-person classes would be unsafe for students and staff.

Some teachers who dont want to expose themselves to the coronavirus but arent ready for retirement are asking whether they can take a year off. Others are worried about caring for young children who have all virtual learning while they are supposed to return to the classroom.

But how could it all work? Can teachers get leave or unemployment benefits if they refuse to return to the classroom?

The NJEA and other unions have sent fact sheets and informational emails to their members and they pledge to help teachers navigate whatever benefits are available to them.

But its complicated.

If teachers want to stay out of the classroom, they will have to weave through a patchwork of benefits  some with pay and some without.

WHAT ABOUT THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT?

Teachers who are able to teach but cannot do so in person for medical reasons can ask for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mental health reasons are included, but a generalized fear of COVID-19 is not, unless it causes a more specific medical issue.

Its been the law for decades that when somebody claims they are unable to do their job for medical reasons, but dont want to go out on sick leave and do want to do their jobs, there is a requirement to try to accommodate that person, said Stephen Edelstein of the Weiner Law Group.

Edelsteins firm represents more than 30 districts across the state, and he said administrators are trying to figure out how many students want to come to school in person first, so that they will know what staff accommodations they can safely make.

If a beat cop breaks his leg, they try to give him desk duty. Thats an accommodation, Edelstein said. So if a teacher for some reason cant leave home but is healthy enough to teach, in this case they will try to accommodate by scheduling that teacher for a remote class. But you can only do that up to a point. If have five remote classes and 10 teachers who want to do remote, you cant do it.

American Federation of Teachers New Jersey (AFTNJ) president Donna Chiera said shes seeing more and more teachers who say they need to stay home. In the past two weeks, she said, more than 300 teachers from Perth Amboy asked for remote accommodations while another 40 asked for accommodations in North Bergen.

We are telling staff members who do not have an ADA official status that if there is a medical condition and their doctor would say it is unsafe to go into school, thats our first line of defense, she said.

WHAT OTHER KINDS OF LEAVE CAN TEACHERS TAKE?

Teachers who are looking for time off rather than a remote accommodation can apply for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which now has expanded benefits enacted by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act  but they need a qualifying reason.

Importantly, the leaves are only temporary  paying up to 12 weeks  and some only provide a portion of the regular pay.

What the Families First Act did was expand the regular FMLA, so this is more than they wouldve gotten previously, said Edelstein, who has been an attorney for school boards for decades.

Here are the qualifications for leave and what each kind of leave pays:

Employees may qualify for paid sick leave at 100% of their pay for two weeks (up to $511 daily or $5,110 total) if theyre subject to a quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19; if they have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19; or if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms themselves and seeking a medical diagnosis.

Employees may qualify for paid sick leave at two-thirds of their pay for two weeks (up to $200 daily or $2,000 total) if they are caring for an individual subject to quarantine, if they are experiencing any other substantially-similar conditions specified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or if they are caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or whose child care provider is unavailable) because of COVID-19-related reasons.

Finally, employees can also now qualify for an additional 10 weeks of family and medical leave paid at two-thirds of their salary (up to $200 daily or $12,000 total) if they are caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or whose child care provider is unavailable) because of COVID-19-related reasons.

The category of the professional staff that I think is having the most difficulty are those staff members who have child care issues because the schools that their children go to are all remote leaning or remote certain days a week, AFTNJs Chiera said. Thats where we are seeing the most concern by staff.

HOW ARE DISTRICTS MAKING THESE DECISIONS?

In bigger districts, human resources personnel might handle requests for leave and accommodations, but in smaller districts, its superintendents and principals, Edelstein said.

And the rules keep changing.

Peter Daquila, the business administrator for Chatham schools, said its been something of a roller coaster ride.

Its just been nerve-wracking because of the unknown and the ever-changing guidelines, Daquila said. You start a plan on Monday and the plan changes on Wednesday and then it changes again on Friday. There have been many nights of interrupted sleep worrying about this.

Daquila said in his district, some 15% of the teachers are age 60 or older.

They are saying I want to take time off, he said. Its a matter of finding a replacement so we have enough staff for school.

Edelstein said districts are taking their responsibilities here very seriously.

And they are really working hard to do the right thing for the kids and for their staff, he said. I have not seen a single instance in which any district is taking this cavalierly.

Steve Baker, spokesman for the New Jersey Education Association, said the union will work with its members to protect their rights and help them advocate for the benefits they are legally entitled to.

The problem we are looking at is a flood of people leaving the profession because they fear for their lives, said Baker, who believes the school year should start remotely. The answer isnt to get the unemployment system just right. The solution is to make schools safe.

Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up with your email here:



CAN TEACHERS GET UNEMPLOYMENT?

In normal times, people who leave jobs voluntarily or refuse work will not qualify for unemployment benefits.

But if you can show some reason or good cause as to why you should be considered an exception to the rules, said Alex Lee, an employment attorney with Einhorn Barbarito in Denville.

But under the CARES Act, its easier to qualify - as long as youre not also getting paid leave. You cant double-dip.

The expanded federal unemployment benefits, known as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), include coverage under specific coronavirus-related circumstances.

The Labor Department gives a list of reasons to qualify, including when the work poses high degree of risk to health and safety health concerns and also child care issues related to coronavirus.

It notes that decisions for these cases are highly fact-specific and are determined on a case-by-case basis.

A teacher would probably need medical documentation, including a diagnosis or self-quarantine recommendation from a physician, to present to a claims examiner, Lee said.

The Labor Department said benefit eligibility could include those with an immune system [that] is compromised by virtue of a serious health condition.

CAN I GET UNEMPLOYMENT AS A CAREGIVER?

Teachers -or any worker- who have young children who will be participating in virtual learning also may qualify for benefits.

The Labor Department said you may be eligible if you are the primary caregiver for care for a child whose school or place of care is closed due to COVID-19.

But youd probably have to prove youve exhausted all child care options, and if you have an older child, it may be harder to demonstrate a need to stay home, Lee said.

Educators also might have a harder time saying they cant teach in-person classes because they live with or care for someone else who has pre-existing conditions.

Those circumstances could be more problematic because while guidance provides support for caring for a member of the household who actually is diagnosed with COVID-19, it does not specifically extend so far as to (cover) care for another person who is only at risk, Lee said.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO PROVE?

If a teacher quits because they dont believe its safe to be in a classroom and they dont have an underlying health condition, they would probably have to prove the school is unsafe, Lee said.

For teachers, assuming a school provides masks, sanitizing materials and other supplies, it might be hard claim to make, Chiera said, adding the determination could depend more on the specifics, including the schools air circulation system, how many students are in each classroom, social distancing in hallways and more.

Thats been a big concern for teachers in urban districts where buildings may be older and lack proper ventilation, Chiera said.

Be sure to document everything because if someone wrongly gets benefits, theyre responsible to pay it back, even if it was because of a Labor Department error.

Any documentation that shows that the circumstances or conditions that are preventing the teacher from working should be regularly updated to show that the circumstances are continuing throughout the time periods the teacher is unable to work, Lee said.

WHAT NEXT?

If a teacher decides not to return to the classroom, the first step would be to tell their employer they plan to apply for unemployment based on a COVID-19 reason. If the employer disputes the claim, it could take many weeks to be adjudicated by the Labor Department.

Next, apply, but be prepared to be denied for regular unemployment benefits. Thats a requirement before you can be considered for PUA.

We advise, after applying for a COVID-19 reason and receiving a rejection, that you wait for NJDOL to contact you regarding next steps, so we can gather any additional information necessary to assess you for PUA, the Labor Department said. It could take up to 4 weeks to process your claim.

While waiting for the district to finalize its plans, teachers who believe they cant work in person should collect doctors notes about any underlying conditions and other proof of why they believe their school is unsafe.

Depending on the school district, teachers should be prepared for a fight as some districts may choose to fight unemployment claims, Chiera said.

A district could say that a teacher isnt unemployed. They had a job to come to work every day in a school building and they refused that job, Chiera said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com.

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com.
"Outside of the pandemic related issues, no business turnaround is without its fair share of setbacks. With HIL, I feel confident they are doing whats necessary to drive the business forward, generate cash and communicate the story, even if it looks as though we are taking two steps forward and one step back. COVID-19 has presented a step-back. This is unfortunate as things had been progressing nicely over the past few quarters.

Despite feeling an initial impact from the onset of COVID-19 and the related economic shutdown, HIL was very busy in the quarter, winning new business, negotiating contracts with current customers, furloughing employees, cutting costs, applying for PPP money, and negotiating lease deferrals. All-in cost savings through 2020 are expected to be $10mm in SG&A, bringing the run rate to $110mm (as opposed to previously guided $120mm). Numbers may come in lower depending on how long COVID-19 lockdowns continue, but Im pleased with the swift and decisive actions taken by a management team facing nearterm uncertainty. The biggest COVID related impacts came from projects scheduled to be awarded being deferred instead, and the collection of accounts receivables (since returned to normal in April). New bookings, which drive 20-30% of consulting fee revenue were down QoQ, with backlog taking a 7% dive from the prior quarter. $20-30mm of that backlog was made up of project cancellations, but the company hasn't seen any pricing pressure or unfavorable negotiated terms due to the pandemic. This is a positive.

Diving into some recent operating results, Q1 2020 marked the fifth straight quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA (Adjusted EBITDA was $3.2mm for the quarter on the back of -$1.2mm EBITDA before unrealized FX gains), an increase of 36% YoY. Another positive, but still a far cry from my projected $30mm+ run rate EBITDA at 10% CF EBITDA margins.

So where does that leave us as shareholders? Clearly, the market is not believing in the turnaround. The share price reflects a business in decline, assuming A/R and cash collection will be difficult, and new business will continue to decrease. I'd argue that once we return to some normalized business environment, investors should see the share price rebound in line with improved operating results. As a sanity check, HIL continues to win new business despite project deferments and the current difficult environment (this includes $30m in new bookings during one week of Q2 alone).

As a further sanity check, heres a brief highlight of the negative issues most likely being projected out to 2021 and responsible for the large share price decline, followed by mitigants:

Business is in decline, new bookings will continue to suffer - HIL generated $30m in new bookings last week alone, which probably wouldn't happen for a business in decline, also set to benefit from any infrastructure bill announcement or spending in that category

Can't collect receivables - collection activity returned to normal as soon as April (once governments realized the world wasn't ending)

Can't sustain a prolonged downturn - HIL has $23mm in liquidity with cash + term loan availability, has cut costs by $10mm, will most likely receive some stimulus money, and still has their Libya receivable to collect. In addition, global infrastructure makes up the largest portion of their business, which will hopefully see a boost from new bill announcements, or see airports/aviation sector take advantage of this reduced period of demand by undergoing maintenance capex projects and facility upgrades (happened following both 9/11 and 2008).

Price of oil will continue to impact operating results  While energy is in a strange place, and the Middle East segment makes up 30% of their business, HIL has seen minimal disruptions in that segment (95% of billable workforce is working) given most projects are tied to infrastructure and facility management.

Management/insiders are dumping shares  weve seen no evidence of large holders dumping stock, and in fact during Q2 the largest shareholder purchased another 50,000 shares at the current price level

Thinking through the above, I dont believe the current valuation is warranted. If HIL sold their entire business for 0.5x revenues, that would value the entire company above $2.50/share. That's 0.5x revenues. The amount of M&A in the space is rampant, and even sub-scale deals are taking place at higher prices.

As weve spoken about before, this situation was going to require some patience. Weve built/added to our position in the $1.60 - $3.00 range and may be purchasing more shares should the price fall further. A return to a more normalized business environment, growth in backlog/bookings and continued cash collection should bode well for the share price. We have the insider buying and cheap valuation, whats left is the markets recognition of value."
In June 2017, a director of regulatory affairs at the government contractor Emergent BioSolutions told colleagues that she objected to claims the company was making in a brochure for one of its newer products: a drug injector for victims of exposure to nerve agents.

"Functionality testing has not been successful in this device," Brenda Wolling wrote in comments obtained by The Washington Post. Regarding a claim that the injector was designed to withstand "challenging operational and logistical conditions," she wrote, "No testing ever conducted." Even to describe the product as a "treatment of nerve agent poisoning," Wolling wrote, "implies that we have efficacy data showing it works."

Three months later, the Trump administration awarded Emergent a $20 million no-bid contract to supply those very injectors to the State Department. The firm later received a second contract, worth up to $100 million, to supply the agency with more of the injectors - sold under the name Trobigard - and related treatments.

A Post examination found that after a number of production problems, Emergent last year quietly began to recall tens of thousands of Trobigard units from foreign buyers and removed Trobigard from the official product line on its website and in its securities filings. The examination shows that Emergent secured contracts to supply an unproven medical treatment at a time when the mission of protecting U.S. diplomats against chemical attacks had taken on fresh urgency, in an effort the government code-named Project Mandrake.

The Post obtained internal company records, reviewed emails from Emergent staffers and government officials, and interviewed nine people involved in making, selling or buying the Trobigard injectors.

Separate from its work for the State Department, Emergent is among the largest suppliers of vaccines to the Strategic National Stockpile. The company built its market position by acquiring biodefense competitors and the rights to various treatments, as it did in the case of Trobigard.

Nina DeLorenzo, an Emergent spokeswoman, said in a statement that Wolling's views were "taken seriously" but "do not and did not necessarily represent the company's position."

DeLorenzo said the brochure on which Wolling commented "is old and has been superseded." Asked whether it had been shown to State Department officials, she said: "We are contractually restricted from discussing this."

DeLorenzo attributed the recalls of Trobigard from the militaries of the United Arab Emirates and Italy to a flaw detected by Emergent's "rigorous quality processes" in a small minority of injector devices She said no injectors sold to the State Department were affected.

DeLorenzo said the subsequent decision to move Trobigard from the "products" section of Emergent's website and securities filings to a "pipeline" of products in development was part of a "wide-ranging internal review" and was not due to any "specific concerns about the product."

Asked directly whether Trobigard works, DeLorenzo said, "While we are restricted in what claims we can make about Trobigard under applicable law, it is considered by government customers to be an essential defense against a chemical weapons attack and we stand by it." She added, "We have conducted studies to assure ourselves and our customers that the auto-injector device will perform as our government customers expect."

Although Emergent is seeking approval for Trobigard from health authorities in Belgium, it has not sought approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration - a circumstance that bars the product's sale in the United States. The State Department told Emergent that it had obtained a legal opinion from the FDA's general counsel saying the department could buy Trobigard for use by U.S. diplomats overseas, according to a company record.

A State Department spokesman, Ruben Harutunian, declined to comment on The Post's findings.

In addition to the State Department deals, Emergent has been awarded contracts worth up to $75 million by the Defense Department to develop other injectors for potential use by troops to counter certain kinds of chemical attacks.

- - -

Government officials, including at the State Department and the national stockpile, had previously bought FDA-approved auto-injectors of nerve agent antidotes from Meridian Medical Technologies, a division of Pfizer. But in 2013, Meridian halted manufacture of its injectors after some were found to be faulty. This set off shortages across the government as the devices expired and could not be restocked.

In August 2015, Emergent, primarily a vaccine maker at the time, entered the drug-injector market. The company bought the rights to an injector from an Austrian firm in a licensing deal and rebranded it as Trobigard. Emergent said the Austrian firm previously sold the injector with the same drug combination to military buyers.

Over the following year, Emergent secured contracts with governments such as the UAE and Kuwait for tens of thousands of Trobigard devices, which are spring-loaded "auto-injectors" that allow individuals to administer the antidote to themselves merely by pressing the injector firmly against a thigh.

But little testing was performed to check that the drug combination worked, The Post found. Wolling, the regulatory director, warned colleagues in a June 2016 email to "exclude efficacy claims" about Trobigard from pitches to potential buyers.

"We have not substantiated that this co-formulated product is efficacious or safe, and have never tested against nerve agents as an antidote," Wolling wrote.

Referring to the two drugs in Trobigard, DeLorenzo acknowledged that "Emergent has not tested the safety or efficacy of atropine and obidoxime co-formulated."

"Emergent made clear to government agencies interested in procuring Trobigard that they were doing so based on their own determination of need, without this type of safety or efficacy data from Emergent," DeLorenzo told The Post.

But she noted that the combination was consistent with a recommendation by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons that nerve agent attacks be countered by administering atropine and an oxime, a class of drugs that includes obidoxime. The drugs in Trobigard also are listed as treatments for nerve agent poisoning in a federal government emergency health database, and they previously have been combined in injectors sold by smaller companies overseas.

Wolling, who has since left Emergent, declined to comment.

In October 2016, Dan Mallon, then an Emergent executive on the Trobigard program, acknowledged to colleagues that Emergent sales representatives had made unsupported claims about Trobigard to clients and said the practice would end, according to two former company employees familiar with his remarks. The former employees, like several others interviewed for this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matters publicly.

Mallon, who also has left Emergent, did not respond to messages seeking comment.

DeLorenzo said Emergent initially used sales materials produced by Trobigard's prior owner but later "upgraded" them. Asked whether unsupported claims were made to the State Department, DeLorenzo said Emergent "responded truthfully and accurately" to a solicitation.

By 2017, production problems had begun to arise. A discoloration was found on some Trobigard injector units after sterilization. The "red spots" issue, as it was known internally, led to a company review, Emergent documents show.

DeLorenzo said the cause was a chemical used inside the injectors, which was occasionally found deposited on the outside of devices. She said that the discoloration had "no adverse impact to product quality beyond visual appearance" but that discolored units were discarded.

"We have made improvements to reduce the number of times a situation like this can occur," she said.

More concerning was that Emergent scientists also discovered that greater physical force was needed to activate some injectors than was expected, according to company records and interviews. Former Emergent employees said the problem was so persistent that some in the Trobigard team had T-shirts made with the slogan: "May the activation force be with you."

Sales were disrupted. In January 2017, a senior Emergent executive wrote to the UAE acknowledging "production challenges." Emergent sent the UAE 20,000 injectors needing extra activation force on the condition that they be labeled "emergency use only."

In an email to colleagues in March 2017, Mallon said that the source of the problem had not been identified and that "the root cause may be multi-variate."

DeLorenzo said Emergent "encountered some issues with activation force that have since been addressed." She said a company study found "men and women with varying hand and arm strength" were able to use the devices. "All pharmaceutical products and drug-device combinations encounter hurdles in development," she said.

In June of 2017, Wolling raised the flags about the assertions in the Trobigard product brochure. She posted 17 comments on a PDF version of the document that was circulated to colleagues. Also among them was an objection to a claim that the injector devices had been "designed to meet military requirements."

Around this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needed to replenish stocks of injectors in the national stockpile. After conducting market research, it opted for a rival product from a firm in Israel. The Israeli firm, Rafa Laboratories, received an emergency FDA approval for its product in April 2017.

- - -

By September 2017, State Department officials were increasingly alarmed at chemical weapons use by the Syrian regime and the Islamic State and were anxious to boost protections for U.S. diplomats. The agency gave Emergent a one-year contract worth $20.5 million to supply auto-injectors. Under the deal, Emergent delivered 456,845 auto-injectors - enough to provide several for each of 58,000 Foreign Service officers and local employees overseas.

No bid competition was held, on the grounds that there was "unusual and compelling urgency" after Pfizer's production halt, according to contract records. The injectors were needed to protect officials who "operate in countries with active and/or assumed chemical [redacted] programs," the records show.

"It is vital to rapidly establish new sources of autoinjector countermeasures to maintain the safety of deployed Department employees," the documents said.

Emergent's 2017 deal with the State Department entailed a sharp increase in spending by the department above earlier plans. In August 2015, the department had been preparing to pay Meridian $750,000 per year for five years to replace expiring devices, according to records of an abandoned deal.

The Emergent deal called for replacing the State Department's entire stock of Meridian injectors with Trobigard, a department spokesperson said.

The lack of FDA approval for Trobigard led both sides of the deal to take unusual steps, according to former company employees with knowledge of the arrangement.

Rather than selling Trobigard through its company structure in the United States, company documents show, Emergent used a small subsidiary in Britain. Injectors were assembled in Germany and Switzerland and transported to U.S. embassies directly from Europe.

Six weeks after the State Department signed the deal, Emergent's first study of Trobigard's drugs was completed. The company-funded study in the Netherlands tested the drugs on guinea pigs exposed to sarin gas and recorded positive findings. As they published their work in a scientific journal, the study's authors warned that the results "cannot be directly extrapolated to the human situation."

Securing further orders from the State Department was an explicit part of Emergent's company strategy. A corporate strategy document for 2018 said the company aimed to "secure State as anchor tenant for Trobigard product" and "maximize funding for State" to buy more products. Such funding depends on appropriations by Congress.

In November 2017, Emergent hosted senior State Department officials at a facility in southern Germany where Trobigard is manufactured. The trip left a good impression on William Walters, who is a physician and was the senior department official overseeing the contracts, according to another official.

"Dr. Walters and team enjoyed the visit and facility walk more than I thought possible," the U.S. official, Klemens Schmidt, told Emergent executives in an email the following Monday. "You hit a home run with the entire event."

- - -

In August 2018, regular testing by Emergent revealed that some sample devices retained from batches sold to the UAE failed to deliver a full dose. "Plunger did not fully expel the drug contained in the cartridge," said part of the text on a slide included in an internal presentation to executives.

An internal inquiry blamed an "inadequate silicone layer in the barrel of the cartridges," records show. Emergent formally recalled eight batches of the auto-injectors from the UAE, beginning with 61,000 units in January 2019.

Emergent's contract with the State Department said it must report "any issues with the safety and efficacy of delivered or ordered products and/or manufacturing or quality of the production lines" within two business days.

Company leaders concluded that the UAE recall did not trigger this obligation because batches used for the State Department's orders were not affected, current and former company officials said.

DeLorenzo declined to comment on that decision. "We are contractually restricted from commenting on our interactions with the State Department," she said.

Emergent's management team was told of the recall in a Jan. 24, 2019, email from two senior executives. The email was labeled "for internal use only" and noted that the company would not be making a public statement.

Emergent was then on the verge of securing another deal with the State Department. Late the following month, the company announced a new contract, for up to $100 million, to supply the department with more Trobigard, lotion for treating chemical burns and other treatments. Emergent was the sole bidder.

Around that time, two senior U.S. officials assisted Emergent as it sought to sell Trobigard to foreign governments, The Post found.

In March 2019, Walters told an executive at Emergent that his counterparts in Japan wanted to buy auto-injectors and offered to broker an introduction, according to a State Department official. Walters declined to comment.

After a visit to Japan, President Donald Trump's health preparedness chief, Robert Kadlec, an assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, also advised Emergent's top in-house lobbyist, Christopher Frech, about the potential opportunity in Japan, according to two people familiar with the matter.

A spokeswoman for Kadlec, Carol Danko, said, "Dr. Kadlec was contacted by Japanese senior government officials asking for American suppliers of medical countermeasures in preparation for the Olympic Games, and Kadlec provided them contacts with multiple suppliers."

Records show that Emergent is the largest contractor to Kadlec's office at HHS, which now controls the national stockpile. In the years before he joined the administration, Kadlec was a paid consultant to Emergent and formed a start-up firm with Emergent's chairman. Kadlec and Emergent previously told The Post that their past work together has no impact on Kadlec's work at HHS.

DeLorenzo declined to say whether Japan ultimately bought Trobigard.

Further testing in May 2019 found that samples drawn from Trobigard injectors sold to Italy showed problems similar to those that led to the UAE recall. Six batches of the injectors provided to Italy were recalled. In this case, the company alerted the State Department and other customers.

DeLorenzo said the company concluded that the silicone problem was "strictly limited" to the batches that were recalled. "Emergent continues to monitor Trobigard batches for conformance to the product specifications throughout the product's shelf life," she said.

In July, Emergent leaders ordered that Trobigard sales materials be scrapped and that the device be moved to a portion of the company's website that lists products in development, the company confirmed. They also told staffer to make sure all future sales materials for Trobigard were approved by the company's medical, legal and regulatory departments.

Emergent put together evidence that all injectors bought by the State Department were safe, former employees said. Government officials ultimately agreed. In September 2019, the State Department authorized the payment of a $10 million contract installment to Emergent.
Gerard McMahon, of Carrignavar, Co Cork, is reunited with his stolen dog Jake, found in Limerick by Garda Shane Hayes

Animal lovers are demanding tougher penalties for dog- nappers after a surge in pet thefts across the country.

One group of pet owners staged a street protest after warning that the penalties faced by dog-nappers are too lenient and are largely ignored by criminal gangs engaged in the lucrative black market for stolen animals.

Pet Theft Awareness Waterford (PTAW) staged a demonstration to highlight the crisis.

Forged

In recent weeks, gardai have seized dogs amid fears they had been stolen in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Tipperary.

In one case, nearly a dozen animals were recovered.

In another, gardai recovered two dogs in Limerick that had been stolen weeks earlier in Cork.

The men found with the dogs insisted they belonged to them and even produced forged ownership documents.

One dog was reunited with its owner, who said his family had been left heartbroken by the theft.

Owners of valuable dog breeds - which have been specifically targeted - were warned to take precautions with the security of their pets.

PTAW staged a protest in Waterford demanding pet thieves face tougher sanctions.

Organiser John Kelly said pets played an important role in the lives of their owners, and that is not being reflected in the way thefts are treated.

"At the minute, dogs are deemed as inanimate objects - the same as if someone went in and stole a piece of furniture," he told radio station WLRFM.

"Yes, there are prison sentences, but they're not being enforced, it's not penalised."

Pet owners are worried that criminals convicted of dog- napping largely face monetary fines.

They say the penalties are dwarfed by the money to be made from the black market in stolen animals.

"We want it changed so that it's the same as kidnapping," Mr Kelly said.

"We want harder penalties, we want the Government to get on board to come down on these criminals that are making money from animal thefts."

The spate of thefts has been underpinned by the black market for stolen dogs, animals required for dog fighting and for both Irish and foreign puppy farms.

Some high-demand breeds can fetch up to 2,000 or 3,000.

Gardai have urged dog owners to take every possible precaution with their pets and to review security measures around their homes, with advice available from local anti-crime officers.
- Mali's government spokesperson confirmed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was arrested by mutinying soldiers

- Prime Minister Boubou Cisse was also arrested despite earlier appeals for alleged brotherly dialogue

- The apparent coup attempt in Mali began with gunfire at a key military camp near the capital, Bamako, on the morning of Tuesday, August 18

- In the city, young men set a government-owned building on fire

Soldiers who had taken up arms near Mali's capital and staged an apparent mutiny amid ongoing political crisis on the country have now arrested President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Keita was arrested in Bako on Tuesday, August 11, after a number of senior civilian and military officials were also reportedly rounded up by the soldiers.

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President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been arrested by mutinying soldiers. Photo: The Herald.

Source: UGC

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The arrest of the head of state was confirmed by security officials who spoke to Reuters' reporters.

Keita's arrest came barely hours after gunfire was heard at an army base about nine miles outside Bamako, the country's capital.

Yes, mutiny. The military has taken up arms, a security source was quoted by Reuters news agency.

The scale of the mutiny was, however, not immediately clear.

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At the time, The magazine Jeune Afrique reported that Keita was in a secure place along with his son and most of his ministers.

And according to The Guardian, a European diplomat said a relatively small number of members of the national guard, apparently angered by a pay dispute had seized a munitions depot.

A French military source was also quoted saying discussions were taking place between Malis army command and the mutineers.

However, reports of violence at the base immediately prompted fears of a replay of the mutiny in 2012 that led to a coup detat which opened the way to Islamic extremists and ethnic separatists.

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An opposition politician in Bamako said Tuesdays events had come as a complete surprise to him and his colleagues.

This is not some kind of thing organised with us, he said.

Alexandre Raymakers, a senior Africa analyst at the risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, said it was unlikely the mutiny was planned by political leaders close to the opposition.

This remains a fast-moving situation, but initial indications point to the mutiny being within the national guard, with significant elements of the army still loyal to Keita," he was quoted.

READ ALSO: Kenyans in diaspora rally to join government in fight against COVID-19

"The mutiny is likely driven by a range of factors closely tied to the deteriorating military situation in central and northern Mali, rather than the ongoing political crisis, he added.

Keita came to power in 2013 and won a second term as president in 2018.

But there has been rising anger at government incompetence, endemic corruption and a deteriorating economy.

Protesters took to the streets n July 2019, when the constitutional court overturned the provisional results of parliamentary elections held in March and April after his party performed poorly.

READ ALSO: Meet the enterprising woman who invests in real estate, developed properties worth over KSh 758M

Keita had hoped concessions to opponents and recommendations from a mediating delegation of regional leaders would help stem the tide of dissatisfaction but the protest leaders rejected proposals to join a power-sharing government.

There are widespread concerns that any instability will benefit extremists in Mali affiliated with al-Qaida and Islamic State.

The insurgents have proved tenacious, growing in strength across the Sahel region.

This was despite the intervention of thousands of French forces, teams of US special forces, regional armies and one of the biggest UN peacekeeping deployments in the world.

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
by Thomas Han

Card. Andrea Yeom, Archbishop of Seoul and apostolic administrator of Pyongyang, presides over the mass and the coronation ceremony of the statue of the Virgin. An autographed message from Pope Francis.

Seoul (AsiaNews) - With a solemn ceremony in the Myeong-dong cathedral, Card. Andrea Soo-jung Yeom, Archbishop of Seoul, consecrated the diocese of Pyongyang (North Korea) to Our Lady of Fatima. Card. Yeom is Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, as there are no bishops or priests in the north, killed at the time of Kim Il-sung.

The ceremony, on the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, last August 15, included mass, the coronation of the statue of the Virgin and the reading of an autographed message from Pope Francis. Concelebrants included the apostolic nuncio Msgr. Alfred Xuereb, the two auxiliaries of Seoul, Msgr. Timothy Yu and Job Koo, along with numerous Seoul priests.

Msgr. Matteo Hwang, vicar of Pyongyang, Msgr. Thomas Choi, Fr. Gugliermo Kim and Fr. Girolamo Chang, all from Pyongyang, and Maryknoll missionary Fr. Gerard Hammond, a leading expert on North Korea, were also present.

The cathedral was packed with faithful, lay and religious, although limited due to compliance with the health regulations caused by Covid-19. Before entering the cathedral, all participants had to go through temperature control, wear masks, sit one meter a part. No singing, just the sound of the organ.

The date of the event is very significant for the Korean people: August 15 is the day of the Liberation of Korea, the anniversary of the end of Japanese colonial rule and the Second World War. This year is the 75th anniversary of the Liberation, and the 70th anniversary of the start of the fratricidal Korean war.

In his homily, Card. Yeom recalled how much the life of the Church and Korea itself have experienced persecutions from the beginning. He stressed the importance of a true conversion for the evangelical liberation of the entire Korean people.

The cardinal also recalled the decisive role played by the Holy See in supporting the government of the newly born Republic of Korea, in order to obtain recognition as the only legitimate government in the Korean Peninsula at the UN General Assembly held in December 1948 in Paris. It was thanks to this recognition that the UN, 70 years ago, was able to send troops to help defend freedom and democracy during North Koreas invasion.

After the homily, Card. Yeom crowned the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, then recited the prayer of consecration, asking the Virgin for her intercession for peace in the Korean Peninsula and for the religious freedom of the faithful in Pyongyang and throughout North Korea.

Marking the occasion, Pope Francis sent Card. Yeom a signed message, accompanied by the apostolic blessing. The message, dated 24 July, underlines the urgency of "a new way of thinking that overcomes division and weaves just and fraternal relationships" and joins Korean Catholics "in prayer for the conversion of hearts and for the triumph of a culture of life, reconciliation, fraternal love and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula.

"In our rapidly shrinking world - continues Francis - we are challenged not only to respect each other but also to feel responsible for each other, building bridges and promoting sustainable human development, based on respect for authentic human values and inviolable dignity of all ".

In preparation for this dedication, Card. Yeom sent a special letter to all the faithful of Seoul, asking them for prayers, sacrifices, and the practice of charity, begging Our Lady so that peace in the Korean peninsula and religious freedom for the Diocese of Pyongyang and religious freedom can be achieved as soon as possible. the Church in North Korea.
First, the good news: Trustees for the Alamo Colleges District averted hefty legal bills and the extra expense of a stand-alone election with their decision this week to join the Nov. 3 ballot.

Their vote may have also saved six of the trustees their seats on the community college districts board.

Thats because the Texas attorney generals office last week threatened to remove the trustees who voted to postpone the election to an undetermined date, and bar them from running again for their seats if they didnt place the postponed May 2 trustee election on the fall ballot, two board members said.

The bad news? It never had to be this way. The Alamo Colleges boards unprecedented action to indefinitely postpone its trustee election, by a 6-2-1 vote, came to state officials attention last week.

Longtime trustee Gene Sprague, one of two board members who opposed the election delay, said his online request for an attorney generals opinion on his colleagues action, placed the morning after the vote, received immediate attention.

An assistant attorney general called him within hours. He was told Gov. Greg Abbotts March order allowing governmental entities the authority to move their spring elections to the fall due to pandemic-related public health concerns was not open to such loose interpretation. As in, no, its not OK for unelected officials to continue in their posts.

After the assistant attorney general warned of possible litigation and punitive measures against individual members of the board if they did not comply with the governors order, Sprague placed the assistant attorney general in contact with the districts legal counsel.

After the call from Austin, Sprague notified board Chairman Marcelo Casillas, and a special board meeting was quickly scheduled.

A letter detailing the threats coming from Austin was sent to the Alamo Colleges District trustees by the districts lawyer on Sunday.

At a noon meeting Monday, the Alamo College District trustees unanimously voted to reconsider the vote taken Aug. 11 to postpone their trustee election. They then called an election for Nov. 3, beating the deadline to get on the ballot by less than five hours.

The move spared taxpayers a tab $450,000 for a stand-alone election compared to an approximate bill of $170,847 for its share of the general election.

In an interview with the Editorial Board last week, Casillas said the decision to postpone the vote was based on concerns about voters and poll workers safety during a pandemic. The board also did not want to be included in a partisan election, he said, and feared their races would get little attention during a presidential election.

In his motion to move forward with a November election date, trustee Joe Jesse Sanchez said some of the trustees concerns about a fall election were resolved late last week, prompting their change of heart on the issue.

An extensive presentation on election safety proposals at a Commissioners Court meeting Friday addressed their public safety concerns, Sanchez said. Likewise, a vote by the San Antonio City Council to add a 1/8-cent sales tax proposal to the November ballot ensured down-ballot races would not be ignored.

There was no mention of the attorney generals office threatened legal action. It deserved to be part of the public discussion on the election vote.

The politics of self-preservation are undeniable. A postponed election would have meant extremely low turnout, a boon to incumbents. The lack of transparency, even in the decision to be on the Nov. 3 ballot, is troubling and undermines public trust in this board.
Marvin Creamer  the retired South Jersey university geography professor who is most famous for sailing around the world on a 36-foot sailboat without any navigational instruments  died on Aug. 12 in Raleigh, North Carolina, following hospitalization for a brief illness.

He was 104 years old.

Creamer started the extraordinary journey when he was 68, after teaching geography at Glassboro State College, now known as Rowan University, for nearly three decades.

He is the only known person to have sailed around the world without using nautical instruments.

Creamer boarded his steel-hulled boat  the 36-foot Globe Star on Dec. 21, 1982, and spent the next 510 days at sea, navigating his way across the world without even a compass or a watch.

He only used celestial navigation  the relative positions of the sun, moon, and stars  during his journey. His knowledge of water currents, wind patterns, sea color, and marine life also helped guide him, according to a Rowan University biography.

Creamer recounted his journey to a Rowan geography class in 2012, and explained his decision to make the trip. You might ask, How could anybody, sane or insane, get himself in such a fix? he said to the class.

I was hooked. Taken hostage by an idea, he added, recalling the idea to circle the globe came to him in the middle of the night. I just wanted to do it so badly.

Creamers 30,000-mile journey started in National Park in Gloucester County, where he sailed to Cape May. After staying in Cape May a couple of days, because of weather conditions, Creamer and his crew sailed east to Cape Town in South Africa via Dakar, West Africa.

From there, he traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Cape Horn, the Falkland Islands, and along the South American coastline northward, via Cape Verdes and Bermuda. He returned to National Park, New Jersey on May 17, 1984.

Creamer's sailboat, the 36-foot "Globe Star," in Cape Town, South Africa.Provided by Kurt Creamer

The epic trip wasnt Creamers first experience with transatlantic sailing  he had previously sailed from Cape May to Bermuda nearly a decade earlier. He also sailed to and from Ireland, the Azores in Portugal, and Dakar, Senegal in the 1970s.

Born in 1916 on his parents farm in Pittsgrove Township, Creamer lived most of his adult life in Glassboro. He graduated from Glassboro State College with an undergraduate education degree in 1943. Five years later, he started teaching at the university.

Creamer established the geography department at Rowan as its first chair, received numerous honors as alumnus and professor emeritus, and retired from teaching in 1977.

He earned graduate degrees in education and geography from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Wisconsin, and was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in the humanities in 1980.

His son, Kurt Creamer, said he remembers his fathers passion for sailing, specifically without navigation instruments, calling it a single-minded focus in an email to NJ Advance Media.

But what also stands out is his lifelong curiosity and diverse interests  I dont know anyone that had more hobbies than my father had over the course of his life, he added.

Kurt Creamer said he went with his father on his last substantial sailing trip, when the older Creamer was 95, and along with two of his grandsons, the pair sailed from Maine to Bermuda, and then from Bermuda to North Carolina.

It only dawned on me slowly over many years just how remarkable (and dangerous) a navigational feat it was that he had accomplished, he wrote of his fathers famous voyage.

Philip Miller, a friend and fellow sailor, met Creamer when he was bareboat chartering with a friend. The friend mentioned Creamer was attempting a sail around the world with no navigational instruments, and asked if Miller wanted to help outfit the boat.

Miller said he agreed  thus beginning the start of a decades-long friendship with Creamer. The men spoke on the phone every two weeks to catch up and discuss sailing, he added.

He was a remarkable person to begin with, Miller told NJ Advance Media. He had an absolute perfect memory up until the time of his demise. When I called him, wed talk about things from 20 years ago.

Creamer was not only an exceptional sailor, but he was also a resourceful man, according to Miller. He described a point in Creamers voyage when his boats tiller  the steering mechanism  broke, as he was sailing close to the tip of South America.

To solve the problem, Creamer took apart the framework holding a camera on the boat and fashioned it into a steering mechanism, Miller said.

He had all this knowledge and all this capability, not only as a sailor, but as a mechanic and he had a brain that covered anything, he said. He was just an all around person that if there was a problem, he solved it.

Marvin Creamer, third from the left, is pictured with family.Provided by Kurt Creamer

Creamer also was one of the 50 nominees for the New Jersey Hall of Fames Class of 2014 and he received sailings highest honor, the Blue Water Medal, in 1985.

Rowan University established the Marvin Creamer Scholarship Fund in his name and dedicated a public art monument  titled Endeavor  to him in 2015

Creamer and his late wife, Blanche Layton Creamer, moved to Pine Knoll Shores in North Carolina in 1987, but kept their house in New Jersey until 2003, when they moved to North Carolina full-time, his son Kurt said.

In 2018, Creamer moved to Raleigh to be closer to his children, according to the magazine Walter. Last year he told the magazine, Ive lived a life of adventure. Its a good feeling to know I was able to carry out one of my dreams.

Creamer was married to Blanche in 1946, who died in 2005, and is survived by his sister, children, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his wife of 10 years, Elaine Gillam Creamer, according to an obituary.

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The head of Israel's Mossad intelligence service arrived in the United Arab Emirates today, Emirati media reported, in what marked the first high-profile visit since the two countries agreed to normalize ties last week.

National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, whom he praised for contributing to the success of the peace accord between the UAE and Israel, the official Emirati WAM news agency said today.

"The two sides discussed prospects for cooperation in the fields of security as well as exchanged points of view on regional developments and on issues of common interest," WAM reported.

According to the Times of Israel, a larger delegation from Israel is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi later this week.

Cohen is the first high-level Israeli official to visit the UAE since the announcement of a United States-brokered agreement last week in which Israel agreed to hold off on annexation of large portions of the West Bank in return for cooperation with the UAE on trade, tourism, security and other areas of mutual interest.

The deal makes the UAE the third country, after Egypt and Jordan, to normalize diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. The two countries are expected to finalize the deal in the coming weeks.

Cohen reportedly played a key role in the UAE-Israel negotiations. Last week, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Mossad chief to thank him for his agencys help "in developing the ties with the Gulf states over the years, which assisted in bringing the peace treaty to fruition, a statement from Netanyahus office said.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters today announced its endorsement of former Vice President Joe Biden for president and Senator Kamala Harris of California for vice president, citing their strong record of standing with working families throughout each of their careers.

The union's General Executive Board voted unanimously Tuesday to support the candidacy of Biden and Harris. Biden has a long history of standing with unions and workers on the job site. As vice president, he helped put rules in place that made it easier to organize and expanded overtime eligibility to millions of additional workers, and he has committed to protecting workers' hard-earned pensions. Harris has advocated for workers as Attorney General of California and as Senator and offered her own thoughtful pro-worker platform during her run for the presidency.

Biden, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee, has proposed a bold plan to protect the interests of hardworking Americans going forward, one that prioritizes collective bargaining, worker organizing and unions. It calls for workers to be treated with dignity and receive the pay, benefits and workplace protections they deserve.

"The Teamsters have a friend in Joe Biden," Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said. "From his very first election to the Senate until now, Vice President Biden has been on the side of working Americans supporting their right to organize, their desire for fair wages and their need for a secure retirement."

Biden and Harris both signed the Teamsters Pledge last year promising to back the union's priorities  pension reform, collective bargaining rights and fair trade, including related legislation. They also both sat down with the Teamsters to discuss their views on the issues. Biden also participated in the union's candidate forum held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa last December.

"I want the support of the Teamsters because we need an incredibly strong labor movement that has to grow in America," Biden said during his interview. "We need to strengthen unions. It is something I have done my whole career, I think it is critically important and the Teamsters are an incredibly, incredibly important element of organized labor in America."

"I want Teamster members and their families to know that I stand with them," Harris said during her interview. "I want them to know in the America I believe in, no one should have to work more than one job to have a roof over their head or to put food on the table."

Both Biden's and Harris' national field organizers voted via card check to join Teamsters Local 238 in Iowa, proving their campaigns were willing not just to talk-the-talk, but walk-the-walk.

The former vice president also spoke to Teamsters at various venues during the presidential primary campaign, including a visit to a First Student school bus yard in Nashua, N.H. in February. There, he discussed with the Local 633 members his own experiences of driving a school bus while a law student at Syracuse University.

"Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have both had to fight hard to get to where they are today," Hoffa said. "The Teamsters will be just as determined working for Joe and Kamala this fall because we know they will work for our members in the White House."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Bret Caldwell

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Related Links

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In its arguments during the hearing, Vedanta had claimed the closure order was nothing but 'naked discrimination' against the company

The Madras High Court on Tuesday rejected a plea from mining giant Vedanta to order reopening of its Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. While Sterlite termed the verdict a temporary setback while politicians across the political spectrum in Tamil Nadu welcomed it.

A division bench of Justices TS Sivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan upheld the orders of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board directing the closure of the unit in May 2018.

In its arguments during the hearing, Vedanta had claimed the closure order was nothing but 'naked discrimination' against the company and a knee-jerk reaction of the state to 'appease' a section of public with vested interest after 13 protesters were killed in the police firing.

Rejecting the charges, the state government had submitted that it has full authority and powers to shut down a factory when it causes serious threat to the environment and ecology.

The Sterlite unit had flaunted many rules which amounted to violation of statutory provisions warranting closure of the factory, it had told the court.

The court, in its judgment, that runs over 800 pages dismissed a batch of writ petitions from Vedanta and others challenging the closure.

TEMPORARY SETBACK, SAYS STERLITE

The company described the verdict as "temporary setback" and said it would look into all legal options available to it while political leaders and others welcomed the judgement.

Sterlite CEO Pankaj Kumar told reporters in Tuticorin, "We will look at all legal options available to us." Associate Vice President D Dhanavel said the judgment was "disappointing" and a "temporary setback."

To a question, Kumar said: "There may be a possibility of lay-off," adding the plant has been shut for over two years. Dhanavel said "our company has continuously taken efforts to protect jobs of all to the possible extent despite closure. But now with this setback that (safeguarding jobs) will be a challenge...we will discuss this and take further steps considering the welfare of employees."

POLITICIANS HAIL VERDICT

Several people hailed the high court judgment in Tuticorin in southern Tamil Nadu by distributing sweets and bursting fire crackers.

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam welcomed the ruling, saying it reflected the thoughts of crores of people. DMK President M K Stalin said he bowed before the court for its judgment. He urged the government to pass a Cabinet resolution welcoming the judgment and file a caveat petition in the Supreme Court in case Vedanta files an appeal.

MDMK chief Vaiko said the judgment has done justice and hailed it as "a huge win" for people's agitations. "Without compromising even a little, I myself have argued against the plant before the tribunal, the High Court and the Supreme Court," he said and recalled his party's "26 year long struggle against the plant.

State Secretaries of CPI (M) and CPI, K Balakrishnan and R Mutharasan, PMK founder leader S Ramadoss also urged the government to fight the matter in the apex court if the firm went on an appeal and ensurethe plant's permanent closure.
Kilimnik was born in Ukraine but attended a military language institute in Moscow from 1987 to 1992 during the collapse of the Soviet Union. The institute was linked to the Russian military intelligence agency, or GRU, but he has always denied any connection to the intelligence services. He reportedly now resides in Moscow and did not make any public comments after the reports release.
The headline in Saturdays Daily Mail leapt out at me over my bacon and eggs. YOU COULDNT MAKE IT UP! I wonder where they got that idea from.

Paul Bracchi and Tim Stewarts double-page report concerned a man called Jon Andrewes, who had managed to obtain a string of high-profile public sector jobs based on bogus CVs.

He claimed to have an impressive list of academic qualifications, including degrees from Bristol, Plymouth and Edinburgh universities and a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Pure invention, but sufficiently plausible to secure him the chairmanship of two NHS Trusts and other senior posts with a health partnership and a hospice charity.

So convincing was Andrewes that he beat 117 other candidates to become the head of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, which has a budget of 380 million and employs 5,000 staff.

Jon Andrewes, pictured,mana ged to obtain a string of high-profile public sector jobs based on bogus CVs. He claimed to have an impressive list of academic qualifications, including degrees from Bristol, Plymouth and Edinburgh universities and a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

In the 12 years before he was rumbled, Andrewes also worked as chairman of the Torbay NHS Trust and CEO of St Margarets Hospice, a palliative care charity in Taunton, Somerset.

During that time, he earned 1 million in salary and benefits. When his deception was finally exposed and he was convicted of fraud and jailed for two years, he still had 96,000 in the bank.

That was confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. But the Court of Appeal has just ruled that his prison sentence was punishment enough and he should be allowed to keep the money, since he earned it.

The court decided he had given full value to his employers, even though he had obtained the jobs fraudulently.

Despite lacking the qualifications he boasted, there appear to have been no complaints about the quality of Andrewes work.

Under Jons leadership, we achieved a hell of a lot. He got things done, said a Lib Dem councillor in Brixham, Torbay, where Andrewes was credited with bringing in millions of pounds of investment.

The court decided he had given full value to his employers, even though he had obtained the jobs fraudulently. Despite lacking the qualifications he boasted, there appear to have been no complaints about the quality of Andrewes (pictured) work

I dont agree with anyone forging qualifications, but I suspect he got frustrated with people less able than himself getting promotions because he did not have the right piece of paper.

Andrewes started life as a builder before training as a social worker. And although he lacked the relevant degrees and diplomas, that didnt stop him enjoying a successful career as a top-level NHS and charity administrator.

Which begs the question: are any of these fancy qualifications worth the paper theyre written on?

After all, the panjandrums running Public Health England are dripping with degrees  for all the good thats done us. When push came to shove, the body charged with preparing for a pandemic proved worse than useless. Theres no need for me to detail again the well-documented multiple failures over the provision of protective equipment and track and trace.

This column has been on Public Health Englands case for the past six years, since shortly after it was established. Instead of concentrating on the primary job it was set up for, most of the time PHE has been engaged in ridiculous displacement activity.

Past initiatives have included instructing us to stay indoors and draw the curtains whenever the sun shines; banning supermarkets from selling daffodils alongside fruit and veg, just in case Chinese shoppers mistake them for spring onions; and organising a campaign to hand out free rubber johnnies at food banks to the over-60s  patronisingly dubbed Silver Singles  to encourage them to have safe sex.

Lately, theyve been beavering away (from home, naturally) drawing up a list of banned substances under the Governments fatuous anti-obesity drive  including outlawing daytime TV advertising of killer foods such as cheese and mustard.

Yet while PHE has been nannying us to distraction, it has failed spectacularly in its principal task of protecting us against genuine threats to our health.

For instance, in the midst of the Covid panic, it is easy to forget that in 2015 PHE frittered away 100 million on an expensive influenza vaccine, which proved effective in just three per cent of cases. That winter 20,000 people died of flu, which puts the number of people dying from (not with) corona this year into some kind of perspective.

In the midst of the Covid panic, it is easy to forget that in 2015 PHE frittered away 100 million on an expensive influenza vaccine, which proved effective in just three per cent of cases

Finally, PHE is being put out of its misery. But who would bet against those responsible for the Covid clustershambles ascending seamlessly to similar elevated positions in the super new agency which will replace it  especially given this Governments fatal attraction to experts and following the science?

Its not as if our hapless Health Secretary Matt Hancock is over-qualified when it comes to running the NHS.

Yes, hes got a degree in PPE. Unfortunately that stands for Philosophy, Politics and Economics, not Personal Protective Equipment. His brief real-life experience before entering politics full-time was limited to computer software and analysing the housing market.

Still, soon-to-be-sacked Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is a former fireplace salesman, which helps explain why hes done such a magnificent job sorting out the GCSE results.

Still, soon-to-be-sacked Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is a former fireplace salesman, which helps explain why hes done such a magnificent job sorting out the GCSE results

Fraudster Jon Andrewes was caught when study of his various CVs revealed that he had adopted three different identities.

That may have earned him two years in jail, but it would have been no bar to advancement in politics.

Grant Shapps invented a second persona for himself as an alleged millionaire internet marketer called Michael Green, charging clients 183 for tips on making money from the world wide web.

That didnt stop him later rising to become Tory chairman and, currently, Transport Secretary, in which capacity he is pursuing a demented anti-car, pro-bike agenda guaranteed to cripple freedom of movement and kill off city centres.

When you look at the pigs ear Hancock and Shapps have made of their respective portfolios, does anyone seriously believe that Jon Andrewes could have done any worse  fake qualifications or otherwise?

He seems to have made a reasonable job of running all the hospital trusts and charities hes been involved in.

Now hes out of prison, maybe we should put him in charge of the NHS. After all, before he got his collar felt, he had accumulated 12 successful years solid experience.

What have we got to lose? This is the kind of outside-the-box thinking Dominic Cummings is always banging on about.

He advocates hiring misfits and weirdos to shake up Whitehall.

Why not fraudsters and jailbirds, too?

As someone once said, you couldnt make it up.

A cornucopia of daft animal stories today for Gary to get his teeth into. But where to start?

There was the Humboldt penguin detained by police after it was spotted wandering the streets of Nottingham. Perhaps it was looking for a pelican crossing.

Then came news that, having toppled numerous statues of racist historical figures, the woke brigade are now turning their attentions to the names of birds and other flying creatures they consider offensive. They have circulated an online spreadsheet entitled Problematic Common Names. Nurse!

In their sights is the McCown longspur, an obscure brown bird named after a Confederate general. Who knew? The Hottentot teal is history, obviously. And the gypsy moths days are also numbered, on account of disrespecting the vulnerable travelling community.

Top of the list is the Hitlers Eyeless Beetle, presumably not the same as Hitlers VW Beetle? To be fair, who thought it was a good idea to name a beetle after Hitler?

Does it have a small moustache and an inclination to invade Poland every summer?

My favourite story came from Sea Life Manchester, where two turtles have been given counselling because they have grown apart during lockdown.

Lets hope theyre Happy Together!

Then came news that, having toppled numerous statues of racist historical figures, the woke brigade are now turning their attentions to the names of birds and other flying creatures they consider offensive

My summer holiday this year consisted of a day trip to Sheringham, Norfolk, thanks for asking. Walking along the front, eating chips, I spotted this painting of a typical British holidaymaker taking a well-earned nap  part of a terrific mural on the sea wall. All thats missing is the knotted hanky.

On closer examination, its Iain Duncan Smith. Always knew he was a secret Kipper!

Iain Duncan Smith enjoying a kip?

It's Noggin the Non-binary Nog

Disney has just unveiled its first bisexual lead character in an animated series called The Owl House. Have there been bisexual supporting characters in the past?

To be honest, I always wondered about Woody, in Toy Story. Theres a definite touch of the Village People about him.

Will Disney now be updating its back catalogue to reflect modern LGBT sensibilities? Maybe the new-look Seven Dwarfs will feature Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Julian and Sandy.

Ooooo, ello!

Elsewhere, a history professor is claiming a recently discovered female skeleton in a Viking warrior grave may have been gender fluid.

If cartoon characters can be updated, does this mean that we can look forward to Noggin the Non-binary Nog?
In a scathing attack on former Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his "improbity" swipe at the PM CARES fund, BJP president JP Nadda on Monday (August 17) called the Gandhi scion "the prince of incompetence", dubbed him a "loser" and accused him of "spreading fake news".

"This happens when the 'prince of incompetence' shares articles without even reading them. The RTI was filed to know details of other RTIs and this is maliciously spun by you as an attack on transparency. Well, it's natural given how your career is only based on spreading fake news," Nadda tweeted.

This happens when the Prince of Incompetence shares articles without even reading them. The RTI was filed to know details of other RTIs & this is maliciously spun by you as an attack on transparency. Well, its natural given how your career is only based on spreading fake news.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) August 17, 2020

The senior BJP leader slammed Rahul Gandhi after the latter posted a screenshot of an article that said a RTI request related to the PM CARES fund was turned down by the Prime Minister's Office.

Nadda lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the "massive support" for the PM CARES fund is a testimony to this fact. He added that the fund was set up by the Centre to raise money to tackle coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

"The entire nation has full faith (in) the PM and his initiatives. This faith was yet again visible with the massive support for PM CARES. Being the loser you are, you can only crib and spread fake news while the entire nation has joined hands in the fight against COVID-19," Nadda noted.

The entire nation has full faith on the PM and his initiatives. This faith was yet again visible with the massive support for PM CARES. Being the loser you are, you can only crib and spread fake news while the entire nation has joined hands in the fight against COVID-19.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) August 17, 2020

"Your family's dubious legacy includes appropriating a permanent position in PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) and then diverting money from PMNRF into your family trusts. You and your mother also took money from the Chinese to hurt our national interest. Can anyone stoop lower?" he added.

The article shared by Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO had turned down the RTI (Right To Information) request because it would "disproportionately divert resources of the office".

Along with the screenshot of the article, Rahul wrote: "PM Cares for Right To Improbity".

PMCares for Right To Improbity. pic.twitter.com/P7uTnNLUIv  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 17, 2020

According to the article, the RTI query had sought to know the total number of requests received and disposed by the PMO since April and the number of those that were related to the PM CARES Fund and the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
SKY News will broadcast live coverage of the Northern Territory election on Saturday 22 August from 6pm ACST.

Darwin Bureau Chief Matt Cunningham will moderate a SKY News / NT News Leaders Debate today at 1.30pm ACST / 2pm AEST, the only televised debate ahead of the Northern Territory Election.

Led by an expert panel including Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert, Political Editor Andrew Clennell, Darwin Bureau Chief Matt Cunningham and guest panellist former Country Liberal Party candidate Jacinta Price.

One of Australias most prominent political insiders, Graham Richardson and Nationals Senator Matt Canavan, will also provide analysis and commentary throughout the coverage.

Sky News political reporter Trudy McIntosh and Mix 104.9 Darwin presenter Katie Woolf will be live on the ground reporting from the Territory Labor, Country Liberal Party and Territory Alliance Party Headquarters throughout the night as the results come in.

Will voters reward a Leader who has kept the Territory relatively COVID free, or will there be a mood for change?

Visit skynews.com.au/politics for the latest updates on the 2020 Northern Territory Election.

In the lead up to election night, Darwin Bureau Chief Matt Cunningham will moderate the Sky News / NT News Leaders Debate on Wednesday 19 August at 1.30pm ACST / 2pm AEST, the only televised debate ahead of the Northern Territory Election.

Ahead of voting on Saturday, party leaders Michael Gunner (Territory Labor), Lia Finocchiaro (County Liberal Party) and Terry Mills (Territory Alliance) will debate the issues critical to Territorians including the COVID-19 recovery, the economy, crime and energy policy.

During the debate, each leader will also be given an opportunity to ask a question of each other.

Watch the debate during Afternoon Agenda at 1.30pm ACST / 2pm AEST on Sky News or online at ntnews.com.au.

Leaders Debate, Wednesday 19 August from 1.30pm ACST / 2pm AEST

Territorians Decide, Saturday 22 August from 6pm ACST / 6.30pm AEST
The dailies on Tuesday, August 18, reported on the dramatic scenes that were witnessed at the homes of two senators who were put under house arrest for long hours before they were taken back to their respective counties, and another one who was nabbed on his way to the Senate.

A report on the status of the case pitting Deputy President William Ruto's Weston Hotel against Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) was also given prominence.

Newspapers for August 18. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

1. People Daily

The Ministry of Health has denied allegations of misappropriating COVID-19 funds.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe who appeared before a parliamentary committee on health was hard-pressed to explain how the funds had been used.

Kagwe said the ministry had only been allocated 15% of the funds and had spent the money on buy masks and setting up infrastructure.

He also denied claims that donations from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma were stolen, arguing the equipment could be accounted for.

Mochache said KSh 300 million was used to purchase masks, which were yet to be distributed, and another KSh 500 million was used to put up infrastructure at Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTCs).

People Daily newspaper for August 18. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

2. The Star

National Land Commission (NLC) has defended Deputy President William Ruto's ownership of a piece of land on which his Weston Hotel sits.

Ruto has been embroiled in a legal tussle with Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) over the ownership of the land.

The lands agency had ruled that though the land belonged to the public, the DP was a legitimate buyer and was supposed to be allowed to pay for its market value to legalise ownership.

The KCCA opposed the directive and filed a case to that effect.

However, in its later submission in court, the NLC maintained its position on the matter and accused the aviation agency of trying to force it to override the rights of the buyer.

The Star newspaper for August 18. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

3. Daily Nation

The proceedings of a special Senate sitting convened to debate the revenue sharing formula on Monday, August 17, was adjourned after three senators were arrested on the eve of the debate.

Senators Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), Christopher Langat (Bomet) and Stephen Lelegwe (Samburu) were arrested ostensibly to bar them from casting their votes on the elusive legislation and in turn, have the government's side carry the day.

The ploy, however, failed as lawmakers opposed to the formula successfully pushed for adjournment of the sitting until the whereabouts of their colleagues was established.

The House later in the evening agreed to form a 12-member committee to deliberate on the proposed formulae and come up with a more suitable and binding proposal.

The committee will be headed by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula and his Nairobi counterpart Johnson Sakaja.

Daily Nation newspaper for August 18. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

4. The Standard

The government has not allocated funds to Kenya Medical Research Insitute (KEMRI) to enable it to respond to COVI-19 pandemic despite the National Assembly directing that the institution should be funded adequately.

According to the publication, KEMRI provides over 70% of COVID-19 testing in the public sector but the government has been reluctant to finance it.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) which has been offering financial aid to KEMRI has also terminated the services.

It has been established that the state is working on plans to replace the medical institution with another body called Kenya Centres for Disease Control (KCDC).

Already KSh 300 million has been set aside for the construction of the new institution that will replace KEMRI, according to reports.

The Standard newspaper for August 18. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

5. Taifa Leo

The bail application filed by Sirisia MP John Waluke and his counterpart Grace Wakhungu has been pushed to September 25.

The hearing of the application by the two has been postponed twice ever since it was filed in June when the two were sentenced to seven years in prison or part with a collective fine of over KSh 1.4 billion.

Waluke, who is staring at losing his parliamentary seat was slapped with a fine of KSh 727 million while the 80-year-old Wakhungu was fined KSh 707 million.

Taifa Leo newspaper for August 18. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

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Rouhani Adviser Claims President Not Been Given Clear Report On November Protests Death Toll

Radio Farda August 17, 2020

President Hassan Rouhani's Media Adviser Hesamoddin Ashena has claimed that security authorities have yet not presented a "clear and defendable report" on the death toll of the protests in November 2019,

In an interview published in the Andishe-ye Pouya bi-monthly journal on Saturday, Ashena said President Rouhani "is not a person who says kill people," adding that "he has not been given a [definitive] report on this [incident].

The Rouhani advisor also claimed that the Law Enforcement Force, Interior Ministry and Health Ministry have all given different accounts of the death toll to the president but has not stated which body is responsible for the final report.

The protests in November 2019 began after the government increased the price of gasoline by 200 percent without prior notice. When nationwide protests broke out, the government attempted to conceal the violent crackdown on protesters by imposing a news blackout and shutting down the Internet for several days.

Despite the Iranian public's demands, Iranian officials have not released any official figures on the death toll of the protests or the number of people who were arrested during the unrest.

On May 31, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli put the death toll of November protests at between 200 to 225, while lawmaker Mojtaba Zolnour was quoted two days later by the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) as saying 230 people had been killed during the protests. Both figures are far less than reports and estimates by international news agencies, human rights organizations and the United States.

In a report in December 2019, Reuters quoted sources close to Khamenei's inner circle who claimed that 1,500 Iranians had been killed in the protests, based on information gathered from security forces, morgues, hospitals and coroner's offices. At the time, Khamenei allegedly told the security forces in a public meeting to "do whatever is necessary to stop" the protests, the sources said.

That figure was much higher than Amnesty International's estimate number of deaths, which stood at 304. Iranian authorities have vehemently denied these figures.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/rouhani-adviser -claims-president-not-been-given-clear-report-on- november-protests-death-toll/30788184.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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A violent fist fight broke out on a freeway in Houston Thursday between a 20-year-old woman and a man she claims followed her and punched her through her car window when she was waiting at a stoplight.

Analisse Quintana, who is Latina, alleges that the unidentified white man stalked her car in anger after she accidentally cut him off in traffic at around 5.20pm Thursday in the Cypress area of the city.

Shocking social media footage shows Quintana emerging from her car and taking a swing at the man before an all-out brawl erupts, while other panicked drivers called the police to report the violent scene.

Scroll down for video

Analisse Quintana, 20, is shown being dragged to the ground and beat around the head by an unidentified man in shocking social media videos of a road rage incident in Houston Thursday

Quintana, seen here in red, claimed the man followed her for five minutes after she accidentally cut him off in the Cypress area of Houston. When they reached a stoplight, she alleged he jumped from his gray pick-up and punched her through her car window,

The video was taken by women sitting in the car in front who can be heard calling 911 to reported the attack and state that their own car had been hit from the back.

The two drivers are shown tussling and angrily grabbing at each other as the women sitting in front begin to sound more and more panicked.

It also shows an out-of -breath Quintana walking back to get in her car after the man backed off.

A second video shows the the man, described as blond and about six foot tall, dragging Quintana to the ground by the neck of her t-shirt.

It was captioned by the other driver stating: 'Bro wtf! And he was the one in the wrong.'

Police are now looking to identify the man who is reported to have had a young boy, around six or seven years old, in the front seat of his gray Ford pickup model 150/350.

According to Quintana, the road rage incident began when both cars were traveling along the Beltway 8 frontage near Philippine Street in the Cypress area of Houston.

'I was driving off the feeder road (Beltway 8), and I was switching lanes, and upon me doing so I accidentally cut off a man who I noticed started driving aggressively after me,' Quintana claimed when speaking to the Houston Chronicle.

Quintana, pictured, was identified as the woman in the videos

She the alleged the man followed her off the Beltway after the accidental cut-off and got off the same exit, following her Kia Soul for five minutes before they came to a stoplight.

'He stopped beside me at the light and started yelling at me outside the window, and I kept putting my hand up so he can leave me alone,' Quintana continued.

'I immediately felt scared and tried to put my window up, but it was too late he punched my window, and when I turned toward him he repeated to punch me yelling racial slurs.'

Quintana said that she then decided to get out of her own car to protect herself and that's when the fist fight began.

'I knew then I should have stayed in the car, but my immediate reaction was to defend myself,' said Quintana.

'I have a lot of mixed feelings of hurt and disappointment with our society today. People were looking at this man repeatedly punching me, choking me and dragging, and no one helped.'

'I did try to defend myself, but I should have made a better decision and stayed in the car,' she added to Fox 26.

'You get upsetokay greatbut to physically assault, especially a grown man to assault a woman, I just haven't really grasped the concept.'

She claims the man smashed the window of her Kia Soul, pictured above covered in plastic

In the first video of the incident, Quintana can be seen running from her vehicle and taking a swing at the man who begins to beat her. She says that she should have stayed in her car but that in the moment, she wanted to protect herself after the man followed her and punched her

The video shows the violent fist fight as another driver is heard calling 911

The video then shows the exhausted Quintana making her way back to her car

She was left with some injuries, sustained when the man smashed her car window and punched her.

'I have some scratches on my arm here,' said Quintana. 'I also had glass in my big toe.'

The young woman had been on her way to visit her mother Edna Mojica at the time of the attack.

Mojica has shared the videos to Facebook calling for help in identifying the man who beat her daughter .

'Our Nani needs justice,' she said in a Facebook video. 'It only takes that one person who recognizes this EVIL HATEUL human.

'While he had his small boy was watching. He followed her to the light. He jumped out his car, she watched him come toward her and tried to put her window up but it was too late he punched her car window and preceded to punch her in the face repeatedly as he called her all sorts of derogatory racist hateful names,' she added.

'She fought back defending herself after he threw her in the floor. BUT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO DO SO.'

A second, shorter video shows the man more clearly as he drags the young woman by her hair as she continues to fight back and other drivers watch on

The white man, described as blond and around 6ft tall, then grabs her around the neck

Police are trying to identify the man seen fighting with Quintana in the video

The family has also voiced their anger that no other drivers stepped in to help the young woman and that they can be seen passing on once they could continue through the stoplight.

'Many cars were at the stop light while this was happening and NOBODY HELPED HER WHILE THIS GROWN RACIST MAN BEAT AND DRAGGED Her ALL OVER THE STREET like a drag doll. While they took multiple videos,' Mojica said.

'I think I was more upset because nobody stopped to say "Hey, let me help this woman out",' her father told ABC 13 of the bystanders.

The Harris County Sheriff's department confirmed that an investigation is underway. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at (713) 221-6000.
The coronavirus pandemic could have a big impact on Social Security's financial prospects. And that means the future of the program could be a bigger issue in the 2020 presidential election.

This year alone, about 65 million Americans will receive more than $1 trillion in benefits through Social Security retirement, disability and survivor benefits.

But the funds used to pay those benefits will likely become depleted sooner than previously anticipated due to the effects Covid-19 has had on the U.S. economy.

Just how quickly those funds could run out is still to be determined. In April, the Social Security Administration said the funds were projected to run out in 2035, at which point 79% of benefits would be payable.

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But the depletion of the funds has accelerated since then, with other projections indicating the program's funds could run out as soon as 2032 or 2028.

Former vice president Joe Biden, who will clinch the Democratic nomination for president this week, has backed expanding the program, with bigger benefit checks to Americans and higher taxes on the wealthy.

Biden's campaign plan calls for restoring the long-term solvency of the program by having high-wage earners pay taxes toward Social Security. Currently, employees and employers each pay 6.2% from wages. But that is currently capped at wages of $137,700. Biden's plan calls for applying those taxes to earnings over $400,000.

Biden's plan would improve benefits for individuals in several key ways.
China accuses US of using 'digital gunboat diplomacy' after Trump orders TikTok to divest ops

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 1:41 PM

China has censured the United States for using "digital gunboat diplomacy" after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending an ultimatum forcing the popular Chinese-based company TikTok to divest its business operations in the country.

"Freedom and security are just pretexts for some American politicians to conduct digital gunboat diplomacy," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a daily press briefing in Beijing on Monday.

On Friday, Trump issued an executive order extending video-sharing platform TikTok's deadline from 45 days to 90 days to either sell or spin off its US operations.

Trump had originally ordered TikTok's Chinese-owned mother company, ByteDance, to divest its US operations by November 12.

In the new order, the company is required to destroy any data gathered from US users and report it to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States once all the data has been destroyed.

TikTok precursor app Musical.ly, which the company bought in 2017, must also destroy all it data.

The original order, which had a 45-day deadline ending on September 20, did not include any of these new requirements.

Trump has claimed TikTok's activities constitute a threat to US national security.

Last week, TikTok said that it was "shocked by the recent executive order, which was issued without any due process."

The app said in a statement that it spent nearly a year trying to engage in "good faith" with Washington to address its concerns.

According to reports, the Trump administration is forcing ByteDance to hand over TikTok's US operations to American international technology company Microsoft.

Zhao further stressed that TikTok had done everything required by Washington, including hiring only Americans as its top executives, hosting its servers in the United States and making public its source code.

But the social media app has been "unable to escape the robbery through trickery undertaken by some people in the US based on bandit logic and political self-interest", Zhao added.

In the meantime, TikTok's American employees are set to sue the Trump's administration over a ban on the popular video-sharing service. Mike Godwin, a lawyer representing TikTok's employees, said the company's legal challenge to Trump's executive order will be separate from a pending lawsuit lodged by ByteDance.

The US has long been using national security concerns as an excuse to impose a ban on Chinese communication apps and technologies.

It has already targeted Chinese tech companies, including telecom giant Huawei, over allegations of security threats.

Relations between the US and China have recently hit the lowest level in decades. The two are at loggerheads over a number of other issues, including trade, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the South China Sea and the coronavirus pandemic.

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Kristin Urquiza may not have been one of the big names to speak at the Democrats' virtual convention Monday night -- but she had a big message for voters.

Urquiza made headlines in June with an obituary The Arizona Republic that blamed politicians for the COVID-19 death of her father, Mark Anthony Urquiza. During a pre-taped speech on Monday night, she laid the blame on the president for the death of her father, who she said was a Trump supporter.

"His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life," she said.

The video included a slideshow with old images of Urquiza with her father.

PHOTO: Kristin Urquiza of San Francisco, speaks during the first night of the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 17, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)

Urquiza talked about her father's trust in Trump, and how he went out to a karaoke bar in May after the state reopened businesses.

He had faith in Donald Trump," she said. "[He] listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear; that it was OK to end social distancing rules before it was safe and that if you had no underlying health conditions."

MORE: DNC 2020 Live: Speakers assail Trump on COVID-19 response

A few weeks after the karaoke outing, Urquiza said her father was hospitalized and put on a ventilator.

"After five agonizing days, he died alone in the ICU with a nurse holding his hand," she said as the slideshow displayed an image of her father in the hospital.

Urquiza said that Trump didn't cause the virus, "but his dishonesty and his irresponsible actions made it so much worse."

The U.S. leads the world in coronavirus cases, with over 5.4 million, and in deaths, with over 170,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

"One of the last things that my father said to me was that he felt betrayed by the likes of Donald Trump," Urquiza said. "And so, when I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my dad."

Kristin Urquiza, daughter who lost father to COVID-19, blames Trump in emotional DNC speech originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
By Toby Sterling and Bart H. Meijer

LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands (Reuters) - A U.N.-backed court on Tuesday convicted a member of the Hezbollah group of conspiring to kill former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in a 2005 bombing that set the stage for years of confrontation between Lebanon's political forces.

Hariri, a Sunni Muslim billionaire, had close ties with the West and Sunni Gulf Arab allies, and was seen as a threat to Iranian and Syrian influence in Lebanon. He led efforts to rebuild Beirut following the 1975-1990 civil war.

While the court found no evidence of direct involvement by the leadership of Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, or the Syrian government, the judges said the killing was clearly a politically motivated act of terrorism.

Delivering their verdict over several hours, they found main defendant Salim Jamil Ayyash guilty on all counts and said prosecutors had established his affiliation with Hezbollah.

"Mr. Ayyash had a central role in the execution of the attack and directly contributed to it," said Presiding Judge David Re, reading from a 2,600-page ruling.

"Mr. Ayyash intended to kill Mr. Hariri and had the required knowledge about the circumstances of the assassination mission, including that explosives were the means to be used," he said.

The judges said there was insufficient evidence against three other men charged as accomplices in the Feb. 14, 2005 bombing, also alleged members of the Shi'ite Muslim group, and they were acquitted.

Hariri's son, Saad, like his slain father a former Lebanese prime minister, reacted to the verdict by vowing he would not rest until punishment was served. He said it was time for the Hezbollah movement to assume responsibility.

"Hezbollah is the one that should make sacrifices today," he said. "I repeat: we will not rest until punishment is served."

Hezbollah has denied any involvement in Hariri's killing. Its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday he was not concerned with the trial and that if any members of the group were convicted, it would stand by their innocence.

Story continues

PLUNGED INTO CRISIS

Hariri's assassination plunged Lebanon into what was then its worst crisis since the war, setting the stage for years of confrontation between rival political forces.

It removed a powerful Sunni leader and allowed the further political expansion of Shi'ite power led by Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon.

Sunni Muslim power Saudi Arabia said the verdict marked a start in achieving justice and that "Hezbollah and its terrorist elements" must be punished.

Israel's foreign ministry described the ruling as "unequivocal" and said Hezbollah had "taken hostage the future of the Lebanese in the service of foreign interests".

All four defendants were tried in absentia. Ayyash was formally convicted of a terrorist attack and the homicide of Hariri and 21 others. He will be sentenced at later hearings and could face life in prison.

The verdict comes at a sensitive time for Lebanon, still reeling from the aftermath of a huge explosion in Beirut that killed 178 people on Aug. 4. The explosion at the port, where authorities say unsafely stored ammonium nitrate detonated, fuelled public outrage and led to the government's resignation.

"Im very disappointed, like many Lebanese," 36-year old Lebanese-born Ahmad Sayed said of the verdict. He drove from Bielefeld in neighbouring Germany to witness the decision.

"Fifteen years we waited for this verdict and it was very weak. We dont like this decision," he said.

POLITICAL MOTIVATION

The judges noted that days before he was slain, Hariri endorsed a call for Syria to end its then-occupation of Lebanon.

While the judges did not say who had planned the attack, they said it was "very likely" that the decision to kill him was only made after a Feb. 2, 2005, political meeting at which participants had agreed to call for the "immediate and total withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon."

The investigation and trial of the four alleged Hezbollah members has taken 15 years and cost roughly $1 billion.

Prosecutors used cell phone records to argue the men on trial -- Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi, Assad Hassan Sabra and Hussein Hassan Oneissi -- carefully monitored Hariri's movements in the months leading up to the attack to time it and to put forward a fake claim of responsibility as a diversion.

DNA evidence showed that the blast that killed Hariri was carried out by a male suicide bomber who was never identified.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling and Anthony Deutsch; Additional reporting by Beirut bureau, Dan Williams and Stephen Farrell in Jerusalem, Nayera Abdallah in Cairo; Editing by Samia Nakhoul, William Maclean, Nick Tattersall)
In 1920, the suffragist Molly Dewson sat down to write a letter of congratulations to Maud Wood Park, who had just been chosen as the first president of the League of Women Voters, formed in anticipation of the passage of the 19th Amendment to help millions of women carry out their newfound right as voters.

Partner and I have been bursting with pride and satisfaction, she wrote. Dewson didnt need to specify who partner was. Park already knew that Dewson was in a committed relationship with Polly Porter, whom she had met a decade earlier. The couple then settled down at a farm in Massachusetts (where they named their bulls after men they disliked).

Dewson made every political decision, career decision based on how it would affect her relationship with Polly Porter, Susan Ware, a historian and the author of Partner and I and Why They Marched: Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote, said in a phone interview.

Dewson was far from the only suffragist who had romantic relationships with women. Many of the women who fought for representation were rebels living nonnormative, queer lives.
The trials will be conducted at several medical facilities across Pakistan

Pakistan regulators have approved final-phase testing of a Chinese-made vaccine against the coronavirus, officials said Tuesday, in the country's first ever clinical trial of its kind.

According to Pakistan's National Institute of Health (NIH), regulators have approved the testing of a vaccine under development by CanSinoBio and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology China.

The medication is already undergoing Phase 3 trials -- or large-scale testing on humans -- in China, Russia, Chile and Argentina. Saudi Arabia will also take part, NIH said.

"This will be the first ever Phase 3 clinical trial for any vaccine in Pakistan," the NIH said in a statement.

Pakistan's inclusion in the trials would help it secure "preferential vaccine supply and pricing", it added.

The trials will be conducted at several medical facilities across Pakistan, including the large Indus Hospital in Karachi.

"Hopefully we will come out with the vaccine within three to four months," Abdul Bari, who heads the Indus Hospital, told AFP.

The coronavirus has claimed more than 6,000 lives in Pakistan but cases have been dropping for several weeks.

bur-ak/wat/kaf
A timeline of how Malis months-long political crisis culminated in President Keitas resignation following a coup.

For months, Mali has been mired in an escalating political crisis marked by large anti-government rallies and failed mediation attempts by regional leaders wary of further instability in the country.

Political tension has been simmering following the re-election of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in 2018, in a poll that opposition parties said was marred by irregularities.

Friction rose earlier this year after a dispute over the results of a parliamentary election prompted tens of thousands to take to the streets to demand Keitas resignation. The demonstrators accused Keita of failing to fix the countrys dire economic situation and contain a years-long armed campaign by various groups that has killed thousands and rendered vast swaths of Mali ungovernable.

The tension culminated on Tuesday when mutinying soldiers detained Keita, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top government officials, a dramatic escalation that was condemned by regional and international powers.

Here is a timeline of what has led to the latest unrest:

Disputed elections

On March 26, veteran opposition leader Soumaila Cisse is abducted by unidentified gunmen along with six members of his team while campaigning in the conflict-hit centre of the country, just days before the long-delayed parliamentary election.

Just hours before polls open on March 29, the impoverished country of some 19 million people marks its first death due to the new coronavirus, raising concerns that it is particularly exposed to a COVID-19 outbreak.

The first round of parliamentary vote proceeds despite the threat of coronavirus threat and security fears about possible attacks by armed groups.





The second round, on April 19, is disrupted by incidents which prevent some voters from casting their ballots.

On April 30, Malis Constitutional Court overturned the results for 31 seats, handing Keitas party 10 more parliamentary seats, making it the largest bloc. The courts decision sparks protests in several cities.

Calls for president to resign

On May 30, the main opposition parties, as well as civil society groups, form a new opposition alliance, called Movement of June 5  Rally of Patriotic Forces.

The alliance calls for a demonstration to demand Keitas resignation.

Largely led by influential Muslim leader Mahmoud Dicko, thousands of people take to the streets of Malis capital, Bamako, on June 5, condemning what they say is the presidents mishandling of many crises plaguing the country.

On June 11, Keita reappoints Boubou Cisse as prime minister and tasks him with forming the new government.

But thousands of protesters gather to demonstrate again on June 19, under the umbrella of the June 5 Movement, reiterating their demands for Keitas departure.

In early July, Keita floats political reforms in a bid to appease opponents, but they are all rejected. The protest movements leaders continue to call for parliament to be dissolved and urge for civil disobedience.





Worst political strife in years

On July 10, mass protests turn violent.

At least 14 people are killed in three days of clashes between security forces and protesters, in the worst political strife Mali has seen in years.

Alliance rejects plan by mediators

On July 18, the opposition alliance rejects a plan proposed by international mediators to defuse tensions.

After several meetings with a delegation from the 15-nation ECOWAS bloc, led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, the June 5 Movement says the presidents departure is a red line for the mediators.

On July 27, ECOWAS calls for the swift creation of a unity government in Mali, warning of sanctions against those standing in the way.

The opposition rejects the plan and insists the president stand down.

Keita detained

On August 10, Keita swore in nine new judges to the Constitutional Court, part of an ECOWAS suggestion for resolving the dispute.

Al Jazeeras Nicolas Haque, who has reported extensively on Mali, noted that the new judges had been nominated by a Keita ally.

The appointments, Haque said, added fuel to the fire in this feeling amongst protesters that Keita is abusing power by bringing allies close to him.





After a pause, anti-government protests resume on August 11, with demonstrators ignoring pleas from regional mediators to avoid taking to the streets.

The following day, on August 12, Malian security forces fire tear gas and use a water cannon to disperse hundreds of protesters who camped out at a square in the capital.

The opposition declares on August 17 that it will stage daily protests culminating in a mass rally in Bamako at the end of the week.

On August 18, Keita and Cisse are detained by soldiers who earlier in the day staged a mutiny at a key base in Kati, a garrison town just outside Bamako.

Opposition protesters gather at a square in Bamako in a show of support for the soldiers while regional and international powers urge the troops to return to the barracks and foreign embassies advise their citizens to stay indoors.

After midnight on August 19, Keita announced his resignation as the countrys president.
- Mwenda said the loss of funds was heartbreaking and discouraging to Kenyans and donors who sacrificed resources to support the government in fighting COVID-19 pandemic

- The youth leader argued Kagwe was likely to interfere with the investigation process if he was allowed to continue staying in office

- The health CS is on record dismissing calls to resign

Mount Kenya Youth Alliance chairman and philanthropist Moses Mwenda has called for the resignation of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe over loss of COVID-19 funds.

Mwenda who has been running a series of charity programs in Mt Kenya region and parts of Nairobi county accused Kagwe of failing to safeguard billions of shillings bestowed upon his ministry by Kenyans and donors.

READ ALSO: William Kabogo tells Mt Kenya leaders planning to succeed Uhuru to allow him finish his term

Mt Kenya Youth leader Moses Mwendahas called for the resignation of Health CS Mutahi Kagwe over loss of COVID-19 billions. Photo: Moses Mwenda

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Hatuingii tundu la Seneti bila ya kuwaona Malala na Langat, Murkomen afoka

In a statement released on Monday, August 17, the youth leader asked the health CS to step aside and allow investigative agencies to carry out their work without any interference or hindrance from his ministry.

"Many Kenyans have made personal sacrifices to give donations and financial aid to this government in order to help it fight COVID-19 yet the same funds are being misappropriated. I am among those Kenyans who feel robbed. The honourable thing the CS can do is resign and allow for proper investigation. It is the only way he will restore our confidence in this ministry," said Mwenda.

READ ALSO: Man United identify 6 star players who will be sold after Sevilla humbling

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe. Photo: State House.

Source: Facebook

He questioned why the ministry allocated KSh 300 million to purchase face masks which have never been procured to date.

"I was surprised to hear the CS and his PS Mochache tell MPs that the procurement of the masks was still on course yet many Kenyans out there cannot afford to buy a face mask. The government has money but wants to complicate things and buy time so that when Kenyans blink their eyes, the cartels strike and make a kill," he added.

Mwenda also asked investigative agencies to probe the Senate ad hoc committee on coronavirus pandemic chaired by Nominated Senator Sylia Kasanga.

According to the young leader, allegations raised by one of the witnesses in NTV's expose' on the theft of COVID-19 funds that some senators were involved in the scandal should be taken seriously.

Last week, UK and US diplomats Jane Marriott and Kyle McCarter expressed their disappointment over disturbing reports of embezzlement of COVID-19 funds

The duo categorically slammed Kenya Medical Supplies Authority for violating clear procurement laws in the guise of emergency

On Monday, a section of Kenyans trooped to social media to call for the resignation of Kagwe over the corruption allegations.

Kagwe, however, is on recording dismissing calls to resign.

Speaking during an inspection tour in Kakamega county on Saturday, Augus 8, the CS said he would not step aside as some of his critics were demanding and vowed to stay focused on his work undisturbed.

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PHILADELPHIA  A vaccine is the only way to end the coronavirus pandemic, and Philadelphia's top doctor is hopeful that one  and maybe more  will be available early next year.

Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley Tuesday said he is optimistic that at least one coronavirus vaccine will be available for Philadelphia residents in the first few months of 2021.

Officials will wait to vaccinate residents until studies show available vaccines are safe and effective.

Once a vaccine or vaccines are proven safe and effective, Farley said the city will provide vaccinations to priority populations, such as the elderly, those with chronic medical conditions, and healthcare staff. He also said priory will be given to African Americans and other groups due to the virus having a stronger impact among those communities.

Following the initial vaccination offering period, low risk populations and eventually everyone will be able to get vaccinated.

Farley mentioned three vaccines that are in late stages of testing: one being developed by Moderna that has been given out to 30,000 people at 89 locations across the country; a vaccine from a German company that is being given to 30,000 people in the United States, Germany, Argentina, and Brazil; and University of Oxford vaccine that is being given to people in England, India, Brazil, and South Africa.

According to Farley, the Oxford-developed vaccine is already in production due to the optimism over its safety and effectiveness. China is also testing two vaccines. A total of about 40 vaccines are in the works, he noted.

He also touched on the vaccine touted by the Russian government, saying that it has not been but through trials and studies to prove its safety and effectiveness.

"Using a vaccine that has not been adequately tested among the general population is something we don't do in the United States and I don't think anyone should do," he said. "People should not be given a vaccine outside of a research study unless it is proven to be safe and effective."

Story continues

Farley said he's heard to concerns regarding vaccines: that more people will want it than can have it and that people are afraid it won't be safe and won't get it.

Those two concerns balance one another out to a certain extent, he said.

Latest Data

Farley reported 84 new cases of the coronavirus in the city Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases seen in the city to 32,432 since March 10.

More than half of the new cases are in people under the age of 40, he said.

Last week's positivity rate was 4.08 percent, which is slightly down from 4.1 percent the previous week.

Farley said the city's case counts have not changed much, by appear to have stabilized.

No new coronavirus-related deaths were reported Tuesday. The city's total death toll is 1,717. Of the 1,717 deaths, 863  or 50 percent  have been nursing home or long term care facility residents.

Farley said more than 3,000 coronavirus tests were administered last week and that the average time to get test results is two days.

Various sites are now offering testing to children. You can find sites offering tests for children online here.

This article originally appeared on the Philadelphia Patch
Kolkata, Aug 18 : Some family members of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and activists are not happy with many politicians, including senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, observing August 18 as the death anniversary of the redoubtable freedom fighter.

"It is absolutely false... there is no question of observing the date as Netaji's death anniversary. Even the Justice Mukherjee Commission has also said that Netaji did not die in the plane crash," contended Netaji's grandnephew and activist Indraneel Mitra.

August 18 marks the 75th death anniversary of Netaji amid controversies even now as many refuse to believe that he died in the plane crash. These people think that Netaji had survived and lived till old age in hiding, and that his death remains an unsolved mystery.

"The theory of the plane crash was imposed by Jawaharlal Nehru and his associates to secure his political position as the Prime Minister of India. He had declared Netaji a war criminal, then imposed the air crash theory of Netaji on the entire nation when there was no official information to substantiate the accident," Mitra alleged, adding that he is "extremely disappointed" to see people observing August 18 as the freedom fighter's death anniversary.

Mitra also alleged that the Central government had spied for over two decades on the family of Netaji to secure the political interests of a particular family.

Ever since the August 18, 1945 plane crash in Taiwan, there have been multiple theories about how Netaji dodged death and went on to live incognito or died in some other way.

Author and Netaji researcher Dr. Jayanta Chowdhury said that it is "annoying" to know that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paid tribute to Netaji on his death anniversary. He said many senior BJP leaders like Kailash Vijayvargiya and others also paid respect to Netaji on social media, marking the day as his death anniversary.

He said that Justice Mukherjee Commission of Enquiry had said: "As regards the ancillary query (vide paragraph 3 of the notification), the commission is of the view - consequent upon its above findings - that in undertaking the scrutiny of publications touching upon the question of death or otherwise of Netaji, the Central Government can proceed on the basis that he is dead but did not die in the plane crash, as alleged." Chowdhury said that the commission's version "clearly nullified the air crash logic". "I don't know why the leaders and members of the current government have also started believing in the same flawed theory," he added.

Netaji's great-grandniece Rajashree Choudhury also told IANS that there was no question of ashes and the resurrection of the plane crash theory again. "Netaji met several people after that, as per declassified files, including Nikhil Chattopadhayay, son of revolutionary Virendranath Chattopadhayay, in 1968 at Russia's Omsk," she claimed.

A declassified Prime Minister's Office file had an affidavit filed by Narendranath Sindkdar, a writer-journalist who was based in Moscow between 1966 and 1991, claiming that Chattopadhyay and his wife had met Bose in the Siberian town 23 years after he was apparently killed in a plane crash, she said.

"Filed before the Mukherjee Commission in 2000, Sindkdar's affidavit quoted Chattopadhyay as saying that Bose was in hiding in Russia for he feared being prosecuted as a war criminal in India," Choudhury said.

Netaji's great-grandniece said there were several radio speeches of Netaji after August 18, 1945. She said that above all, Netaji's elder brother Suresh Chandra Bose's dissent report in one of the earliest inquiries said that his brother never died in an air crash as there was no plane which took off or landed in Taihaku on August 18.
The top civil servant at the Department for Education could be in line for the sack after ministers raised concerns about a series of fiascos.

Jonathan Slater has been permanent secretary at the department since 2016, serving under four education secretaries.

However, his future is reportedly in question  despite Government denials that he will be leaving his post.

Ministers are said to be concerned about the recent failure to reopen schools before the summer, and exam grading.

Jonathan Slater (pictured) has been permanent secretary at the Department for Education since 2016, serving under four education secretaries

Should he leave, Mr Slater would be the fourth permanent secretary to vacate their post within seven months.

Sir Philip Rutnam left the Home Office in January after sensationally accusing Home Secretary Priti Patel of bullying. He also said he would take the Government to an employment tribunal.

Sir Simon McDonald said in June that he was going to leave the Foreign Office in the autumn, and Sir Richard Heaton said earlier this summer he was standing down at the Ministry of Justice.

Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill was ousted earlier this year  and is being given a 250,000 payout. He is due to step down in September, and his replacement has not yet been announced.

Helen McNamara, who was head of propriety and ethics at the Cabinet Office before her promotion to de facto deputy cabinet secretary, is reportedly set to be transferred to a job as permanent secretary for a large Whitehall department.

Sir Philip Rutnam (left) left the Home Office in January after sensationally accusing Home Secretary Priti Patel (right) of bullying. He also said he would take the Government to an employment tribunal

Ministers failed to reopen schools in June after opposition from teachers, and were forced to reverse their position on A-level and GCSE results. They are said to be concerned about Mr Slaters performance, according to reports in The Times.

But a spokesman for the department said: The permanent secretary is not leaving his post and is focused on the job in hand, delivering the Governments agenda alongside ministers and the wider department.

Mr Slater was deputy chief executive and director of education for Islington council in north London before joining the civil service in 2001.

He spent four years heading the No10 Delivery Unit under Tony Blair. He was later appointed permanent secretary of the Department for Education in place of Sir Chris Wormald, who moved to the Department of Health.

In 2018, Mr Slater told Civil Service World magazine that joining the department was like coming home.

He said: My father was a teacher, my mother was a social worker and these are the two professions that we oversee.

Ive done different sorts of jobs in the civil service and Ive done my best to learn and be useful in justice and defence, but education, I know, he added.

Last year Mr Slater accepted a role as a diversity champion helping Whitehall to become more friendly towards gay, lesbian and transgender people.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 00:48:12|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and six others injured when a container fell on a mini-bus in Tanzania's eastern region of Morogoro, police said on Monday.

Wilbroad Mutafungwa, the Morogoro regional police commander, said the container fell on the mini-bus carrying the victims at around 9: 30 a.m. (7:30 GMT) after the container had detached from a truck.

"When the driver of the mini-bus attempted to pass on the right side of the truck with the container, the container detached from the truck and fell on the vehicle," he told a news conference.

Mutafungwa said the truck loaded with tobacco was heading to Dar es Salaam from Morogoro while the mini-bus was heading to Morogoro from Dar es Salaam. Enditem
OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pan Theater today announced that due to audience demand their experimental Sunday evening show, Galaxy Probe, will return for a second series starting August 16, 2020 at 7:30 pm. The live unscripted show will be available for free via both Zoom and Facebook.

"It's like a sci-fi soap opera - I really enjoy the emphasis on drama and exploration of characters, but it can be funny too," said Jeff Miner, member of the Galaxy Probe cast.

Galaxy Probe

Audiences Are Thrilled

Audiences for Series One, a soft launch of the show in July, were thrilled and intrigued - many attended every show and were left wanting more. "It was a moving ending. There were things at stake," said one attendee, "I ended up caring about people I didn't really know!"

Galaxy Probe presents the ongoing saga of the Stardust, a Galaxy-class Star Cruiser, and its crew, an assortment of humans and aliens. The wholly improvised show will appeal to both sci-fi fans and followers of long-form theatrical improv.



Series Two to Premiere August 16th at 7:30pm

Galaxy Probe Series Two: Perihelion is part of Pan Theater's commitment to long-form improvisational drama. The show can be accessed over Zoom (details at PanTheater.com) or through Pan's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sanfranciscoimprov/

Show dates: August 16th, 23rd, 30th and September 6th. Time: 7:30pm

Founded in 2002, Pan Theater is Oakland's oldest improv theater. Pan offers shows, classes and workshops in long-form and short-form improv, acting technique and other theater-related subjects.

Pan Theater and Galaxy Probe are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Pan Theater in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.



For more information, press only:

PR Contact Name: David Alger

Phone number: 415-685-9477 | Email: [email protected]

For more information about Pan Theater visit: www.pantheater.com

For show tickets and further information visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/galaxy-probe-returns-season-2-by-adej-tickets-116939070909?

To Support Pan Theater via Go Fund me visit:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/pan-theater039s-future





SOURCE Pan Theater
'This letter assumes significance as it is for the first time that a letter has been documented and collectively agreed upon.'

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with other party leaders at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo

Sanjay Jha -- former national spokesperson of the Indian National Congress -- is making more news since being suspended from the party than before disciplinary action was taken against him.

His latest tweet on Monday, that 100 Congress members have written to interim party President Sonia Gandhi seeking a change in the leadership and a transparent election, concluding with 'watch this space', caused a sensation in the grand old party at a time when the issue of Facebook links with the Bharatiya Janata Party was the talk of town.

"I am a committed Congressman by ideology which I cannot say about 99 percent of the Congressmen who are in the party" Sanjay Jha tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com, dismissing charges of collusion with the BJP.

The first of a two-part interview:

Your tweet has caused a flutter in the party. What were you referring to?

There is a letter signed by 100 members of the Congress party including former chief ministers and members of Parliament and this letter expresses the concerns and worries of these veteran experienced leaders who have fought on the ground for a long time for the Congress party.

They have said in the letter that they are worried about where the party is headed.

This letter assumes significance as it is for the first time that a letter has been documented and collectively agreed upon and delivered to the Congress leadership -- about 10 days ago.

But where is the letter? What exactly does it say?

This letter will be put out in the public domain after all signatories come out as it is their (Congress party's) code of conduct.

This is an internal party issue and it is up to them to decide whether they want to put it in the public domain or not.

As to what the contents of the letter are, I wrote in my tweet clearly that the issue is about internal democracy in the party and they need to create more platforms where discussions can happen and people can shape the (political) campaign and do strategy.

The other issue is about the Congress president's post as there is no permanent head since Rahul Gandhi resigned last year. Mrs Sonia Gandhi is the interim president of the party for the last one year.

These are sending a very wrong message to the people of India that the interim president is holding the post for one year and that too at a time when the party has lost two consecutive parliamentary elections winning 44 and 52 seats.

It does not make the Congress look hungry or competitive to reclaim its space which they lost.

And the third important element in the letter says there has to be fair and transparent elections to the most powerful body that is the Congress Working Committee.

Randeep Surjewala says your tweet is not true, it is motivated by the BJP and that you are acting like a stooge of the BJP by circulating such news.

He has to defend the indefensible. I can understand his predicament.

His statement is outrageous, bizarre and a blatant lie because I have myself tweeted and also said publicly that the alleged collusion between the BJP and Facebook based on the Wall Street Journal report is a very serious issue.

We all know what social media can do in terms of manipulation of public opinion by distributing fake news. We all know that the BJP's IT cell is professional and a master in that.

The biggest social media platform in the world, that is WhatsApp with Facebook, if they are playing favourites, then there are serious consequences for Indian democracy.

And I believe every Opposition party including the Congress has a legitimate right to question that.

I am glad that Congress member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor is calling for an investigation and therefore to say that I have tweeted this issue at this time to divert attention from the Facebook-BJP links is absolutely ridiculous. It falls flat on its face.

To call me a BJP stooge is nothing but humour because if you see my Twitter bio you will see that I am a committed Congressman by ideology which I cannot say about 99 percent of the Congressmen who are in the party.

Since you mentioned Facebook let me remind you that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has 14 times more followers than Rahul Gandhi. He is nowhere close to Modi's popularity on social media.

There is no denying that Modi is India's most popular leader in India today. To understand why, look at the reality.

Since the BJP won the elections in 2019, the Indian economy is in doldrums, farmers are in distress, jobs have vanished and unemployment is at a record high.

There is an air of authoritarianism in the country and you have border problems with China.

Migrants became a humanitarian crisis.

In the pandemic India will soon catch up with America and fatalities are rising and yet Modi is the most popular leader in India. People don't see an alternative to him.

That is a commentary on Modi's ability to change and impress Indian public perception with his ersonal charisma.

The other part tells you that the Congress has not been able to stem the tide against him or the fact that there is no formidable opponent to the BJP after several monumental disasters.

It tells you that people are not seeing the Congress as an alternative to Modi.

This is what I have been saying, you need a renewal within the party and look into leadership all over again.

Therefore, a dramatic and drastic change is needed.

Do you believe internal elections can be held for the CWC? Is it at all possible?

Otherwise, I believe if the Congress party does not bring in internal democracy within and we continue to be seen as a party dominated by cabals and caucuses.

There is no way people will believe that this party is truly ready to take up the challenges of India's economic and politics crisis.

India wants to see greater transparency not just within the country but within political parties who represent them.

The perception that we have become very family-centric or the fact that dynastic succession works in the Congress is going to hurt the Congress.

Rahul Gandhi must be appreciated, applauded and admired for resigning as Congress president and telling the CWC to please select or elect leader in a proper procedural manner.

And it is over a year that the CWC did nothing about it and this is damaging the Congress party perception.

Besides the Gandhi family who are the national leaders in the Congress party who can attract crowds?

Rasheed Kidwai told me that Congress candidates demand the Gandhis to campaign because they are the stars of the party. The Congress has no other pan-India face.

Until you try out the experiment you will never know.

Until you are given a chance you will never know who can perform.

You remember Rajiv Gandhi had no political experience in 1984 and at least from 1984 to 1987, the political accords he signed (were good). He made many progressive changes like the computer revolution. It looked like a golden period in India's overall history.

A golden period for India or the Congress party? Because what Rajiv Gandhi did in his tenure was a disaster, wasn't it?

Later on, yes, you can say that that from 1987 to 1989 things collapsed. But you had major accords signed in the north est and then Punjab and he handled them well.

Larger point, one has to understand that at the end of the day the Congress needs to put new faces up there in the front when Rahul Gandhi himself has said that he does not want to lead the Congress party nor anyone from the Gandhi family. This is the message coming from the horse's mouth.
Amid ongoing unrest prevailing in Belarus over disputed elections, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Monday, August 17 that he had recalled the ambassador to Belarus Ihor Kyzym for discussions to assess the future prospects of bilateral relations between the two neighbours keeping in mind the new reality. The Ukrainian foreign minister said in a statement that the events in the Eastern European nation are fundamentally changing the situation in the relations between both the nations.

This comes just days after the foreign ministers of the Lubin Triangle States including Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine released a joint statement about being deeply concerned with the situation in Belarus after the elections declared Alexander Lukashenko as Belarusian president which according to the opposition was rigged, further triggering demonstrations calling for democracy. Additionally, the states also talked about the refrain of the use of force and release of the detained protesters.

Read - Belarus Chaos Brings A Poker-faced Response From Russia

The August 10 statement read, As Foreign Ministers of Lublin Triangle States, we are deeply concerned with escalation of the situation in Belarus after the presidential elections and call upon the authorities to refrain from the use of force and to release all those detained last night.

Meanwhile, after denying the possibility of a rerun of votes for several days, Belurasian president on Monday, August 17 said that he is ready to share his leadership. He also noted that his change of the decision was not based on the pressure from the protesters because according to Lukashenko, they are acting on the foreign powers.

The US official also reportedly said that Belarusian leaders comments reflect the realisation of government acknowledging the publics demands. However, the official added that sharing power still does not address the lack of fair elections.

Read - Belarus President Lukashenko Says He Is Ready To Share Power As Protests Intensify

Belarus Elections

Lukashenko on August 10 had secured yet another term as the country's president after the authorities announced the preliminary results in which the 65-year-old former Soviet Army member allegedly secured over 80 per cent of the total votes polled. Opposition leaders, including the main challenger Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya denounced the outcome and called it a rigged election before fleeing the nation with her family to take exile in Lithuania.

Read - Protests Resume In Belarus Demanding President To Resign

Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump has acknowledged the terrible situation in the European nation. According to international media reports, the United States believes that the Belarusian president who secured his sixth term in the office, Alexander Lukashenko can no longer ignore the calls of democracy by thousands of demonstrators.

Read - EU Calls Summit On Belarus; Striking Workers March

Read - German President Urges Military In Belarus To Refrain From Using Violence

Image: AP
This accomplishment speaks volumes about the commitment of our entire team at 10Pearls. We are proud to be the go-to partner for businesses who are looking for a reliable, high quality, yet flexible technology partner to lean on.

10Pearls, an innovative, end-to-end digital transformation company, is recognized for a second consecutive year in the annual Inc. 5000 list, ranking among the nation's fastest-growing private companies. 10Pearls inclusion in the list for a second year in a competitive market points to high demand for its services.

The Inc. 5000 list provides a unique look at the most dynamic US companies and independent small businesses across key industry segments. In making the list, 10Pearls joins the company of Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other companies that gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

Businesses recognize that the need to digitally transform and disrupt is increasingly important to their survival in the digital economy. More than ever, these businesses are seeking partners with a track record of successfully driving digital and emerging technology transformation, acceleration, and scale.

This accomplishment speaks volumes about the commitment of our entire team at 10Pearls. We are proud to be the go-to partner for businesses who are looking for a reliable, high quality, yet flexible technology partner to lean on," said Imran Aftab, CEO of 10Pearls. "The fact that we can help with not just acceleration, but innovative and emerging technologies (AI, ML, Blockchain, etc) enables us to be the strategic digital outsourcing partner of choice.

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 the following milestones:



Aggregate revenue of $209 billion in 2019

Over 1 million jobs collectively

Median rate of 165% growth

About 10Pearls:

10Pearls is an end-to-end digital technology services partner that helps businesses with innovative product development, digitalization of existing business processes, modernization and acceleration through augmentation of existing teams. We leverage our deep understanding of the latest technologies and the nuances of the digital landscape in your specific industry to drive company growth, no matter where you are on your digital journey.

10Pearls is proud to have a diverse clientele including large enterprises, SMBs, and high growth startups. We work with clients across industries, including but not limited to healthcare/life sciences, energy, communications/media, financial services, technology and education. Our many long-term, successful partnerships are built upon trust, integrity, and successful delivery and execution. To learn more, visit https://10pearls.com.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a petition by an NGO seeking transfer of contributions in PM CARES Fund to National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

The NDRF is a statutory fund created under Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The court held that individual and organisations are free to contribute to NDRF and there is no prohibition on the same. However, PM CARES is a separate fund established as a public charitable trust and no direction can be issued to transfer funds from that to NDRF, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan ruled.

While disposing of the petition, the court said that there is no need for fresh national disaster relief plan.

The NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), had claimed that PM CARES Fund was set up in violation of the legal mandate under the Disaster Management Act as per which any grant made by any person or institution for the purpose of disaster management should be compulsorily credited to NDRF.

Also Read: PM Cares a public fund, not intended to circumvent NDRF, govt tells Supreme Court

The PM CARES Fund was set up by the central government on March 28 as a public charitable trust with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation such as that posed by Covid-19 pandemic.

The central government had rebutted this argument stating in its affidavit before the top court on July 8 that the PM CARES is a fund established to carry out relief work and there are several such funds established on similar lines in the past.

During the hearing before the apex court, the central government through solicitor general Tushar Mehta, had defended the PM CARES Fund saying that it was not intended to circumvent the NDRF as alleged by the petitioners.
Govt says it Welcomes Recognition of Centre Assessed Grades

HM Government of Gibraltar has said it welcomes the recognition by the UK Government of Centre Assessed Grades.

'This is very good news for many students who felt hard done by with the grades originally awarded to them. This has been a hard year for students, parents and educators. The experience with the initial A-Level was clearly going to get even worse with GCSE's. This mechanism now ensures that students will now be awarded grades assessed by those closest to their work and with the deepest understanding of each students ability.'

'In Gibraltar, we will therefore no longer have to fund appeals or recognise the CAGs for the purposes of awarding the status of Gibraltar Scholars.'

The Government also extended its congratulations to all A-Level students on the basis of their final grades which will now be the grades they were awarded by their teachers.

Government said that this solution is a fairer and more equitable solution given the number of unfair situations which had come to their attention in the past days.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 14:53 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ec9163 1 City construction,Waskita-Beton-Precast,collapse,konstruksi-ambruk,cibitung-cilincing-toll-road Free

Eight workers were injured after a construction structure on the Cibitung-Cilincing toll road in Cilincing district, North Jakarta collapsed Sunday afternoon.

Construction firm Waskita Beton Precast (WSBP), which is handling the project, said the eight workers had been evacuated from the site and were taken to Citra Harapan Indah Hospital in Bekasi, West Java.

"They sustained mild injuries. They have been discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment," acting WSBP corporate secretary Ales Okta Pratama said on Monday as reported by kompas.com.

"The company has also cleared the site of all workers," he added.

According to Ales, WSBP, a subsidiary of state-owned general contractor Waskita Karya, has set up an internal investigation team to determine the cause of the incident.

"WSBP has set up an internal team so similar events don't happen in the future," he said.

The incident caused no disturbances to the flow of traffic in the Marunda area.

WSBP started the construction of the Cibitung-Cilincing toll road in 2017.

The 34.8 kilometer toll road, which connects Cibitung in Bekasi regency, West Java and Cilincing, is a part of the Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR) II network and is expected to open in 2021. (nal)
ATLANTA, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MedShape, Inc., the industry leader in innovative NiTiNOL and other advanced material technologies, today announced that it has received a Technology/Therapeutic Development Award funded by the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) to assist in the research and development of a dynamic compression fusion device using superelastic nickel titanium (NiTiNOL) for use in diabetic foot limb salvage surgery. The funding award from PRMRP includes $2.6M to complete the research milestones over the next 3 years.

Nearly 5 million military Veterans suffer from diabetes mellitus with 15,000 of those also diagnosed with Charcot Foot,1,2 a painless, progressive, disease that results in the breakdown of the bones in the midfoot. Diabetic patients reportedly are 10-20 times more at risk of needing an amputation compared to non-diabetics4. In addition, those who undergo an amputation are 3 times more likely to die within 1 year of surgery compared with patients who are successfully treated through other surgical options. Given the high mortality rate, orthopaedic surgeons strive to salvage the limb with alternative surgical treatments. Currently, intramedullary (IM) screws are placed across the midfoot in an attempt to stabilize and realign the foot. However, these "beaming" devices undergo repetitive and significant loading, with 25-60% of the current devices experiencing failure, often due to loss of compressive force, implant loosening and axial migration.3,4

Through the support of the DOD research grant, MedShape, in collaboration with limb salvage specialists Dan Latt, MD/PhD (University of Arizona) and Naohiro Shibuya, DPM (Texas A&M College of Medicine), will explore the development of novel devices that maintain dynamic compression and effectively stabilize the foot in an effort to preserve the limb in the diabetic Charcot Veteran population. By leveraging MedShape's patented NiTiNOL platform technology, devices can be designed to adapt and respond to specific changes in the biological environment that occur during healing while also effectively load-sharing with the bone to reduce stress risers on the device that lead to device failure and additional surgery.

"Standard midfoot fusion devices should be robust enough to withstand weight-bearing and also able to apply compression for bone-on-bone healing. However, standard devices don't work well for diabetic patients with Charcot neuroarthropathy because their midfoot bones have deteriorated, which puts them at risk for amputation. Surgeons need a better solution, and we believe that our dynamic compression technology can be developed to address this dire need", said David Safranski, PhD, Director of Basic Research at MedShape, Inc. "Due to MedShape's extensive experience in smart (NiTiNOL-based) orthopaedic devices, we are uniquely qualified to address this clinical challenge with our Veterans. The PRMRP's support is critical for our team to develop these next-generation medical devices."

The clinical use of MedShape's internal NiTiNOL technology has already been successfully demonstrated through the company's DynaNailO TTC Fusion System. Ten peer-reviewed publications on the DynaNail report significantly improved clinical outcomes when treating high-risk patient populations such as diabetics and those with Charcot neuroarthropathy,5-7 suggesting the utility of the technology in other challenging fusion applications. Last month, MedShape received a small business innovation research grant to develop novel MTP replacement implants, thus reinforcing MedShape's continued commitment to advancing biomaterials research to develop state-of-the-art medical solutions.

For more information on MedShape, visit www.medshape.com.

About the DOD PRMRP Program:

The PRMRP has supported research across the full range of science and medicine, with an underlying goal of enhancing the health, care, and well-being of military Service members, Veterans, retirees, and their family members. Program oversight is provided by a programmatic panel with joint military service and interagency representation. Congressional appropriations have supported over 1600 awards in over 155 different topic areas. Congress appropriated $350 million for the FY19 program to solicit proposals in 49 topic areas.

The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering acquisition office. This work was supported by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, through the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program under Award No. W81XWH-20-1-0677. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense. In conducting research using animals, the investigators adhere to the laws of the United States and regulations of the Department of Agriculture.

About MedShape, Inc.:

MedShape, Inc. is a privately held medical device company developing and commercializing medical devices that use patented, advanced material technologies to address the demand for improved joint fusion and fracture fixation in foot and ankle surgeries. For more information, visit www.medshape.com.

DynaNail is a registered trademark of MedShape, Inc.

1Franklin H, Rajan M, Tseng CL, Pogach L, Sinha A, Mph M. Cost of lower-limb amputation in U.S. veterans with diabetes using health services data in fiscal years 2004 and 2010. Journal of rehabilitation research and development 2014; 51(8): 1325-30.

2Ahn P. Veteran Population Projection Model 2016 Executive Summary. In: Affairs DoV, editor.; 2017.

3.Eschler A, Wussow A, Ulmar B, Mittlmeier T, Gradl G. Intramedullary medial column support with the Midfoot Fusion Bolt (MFB) is not sufficient for osseous healing of arthrodesis in neuroosteoarthropathic feet. Injury 2014; 45 Suppl 1: S38-43.

4Butt DA, Hester T, Bilal A, Edmonds M, Kavarthapu V. The medial column Synthes Midfoot Fusion Bolt is associated with unacceptable rates of failure in corrective fusion for Charcot deformity. Bone & Joint Journal 2015; 97-B(6): 809.

5Dupont KM, Shibuya N, Bariteau JT. Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodesis with Intramedullary Nails  Mechanobiological Background and Evolution of Compressive Technology. Global J of Orthopedics Research, 2019. 1(5): 1-8.

6Steele JR, Easley ME, Nunley JA, Adams SB, et al. Comparison of Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodeses Using a Sustained Dynamic Compression Nail Versus Nondynamized Nails. Foot & Ankle Spec, 2020. 13(3): 193-200.

7Ford SE, Kwon JY, Ellington K. Tibiotalocalcaneal Arthrodesis Utilizing a Titanium Intramedullary Nail With an Internal Pseudoelastic Nitinol Compression Element: A Retrospective Case Series of 33 Patients. J Foot Ankle Surg, 2019. 58(2): 266-272.

Media Contact:

Jenn Pratt

Carabiner Communications

404.655.2273

[email protected]

Company Contact:

Kathryn Smith, Ph.D.

678.235.3304

[email protected]

SOURCE MedShape, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.medshape.com


The latest crackdown makes it even harder for the Chinese firm to buy chips produced by the US, even if they are made abroad.

Another 38 Huawei affiliates were also added to the Department of Commerces Entity List, a blacklist of firms linked to Huawei.

We dont want their equipment in the United States because they spy on us, Mr Trump told Fox News on Monday. And any country that uses it, were not going to do anything in terms of sharing intelligence.

Washington has combined its economic sanctions on Huawei with a lobbying campaign pushing allies in Europe and elsewhere to exclude the company from planned next-generation wireless networks.

Mr Trump referred to Huawei as the spy way as he spoke with Fox & Friends hosts on Monday. He took credit for Britains recent move to backtrack on plans to give the company a role in the UKs new high-speed mobile phone network.

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We said we love Scotland Yard very much but were not going to do business with you because if you use the Huawei system that means theyre spying on you, Mr Trump said. That would mean theyre spying on us.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between the US and China over security concerns.

Today, we dealt a direct blow to Huawei and the repressive Chinese Communist Party by further limiting Huaweis ability to acquire U.S. technology and compromise the integrity of the worlds networks and Americans private information.  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 17, 2020

The UK has also been caught in the crossfire of such restrictions, forcing it to ban Huawei equipment being used in the nations 5G network  a major U-turn on an earlier decision to allow it a limited stake instead.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said Huawei has continuously tried to evade controls imposed in May.

The Trump administration sees Huawei for what it is  an arm of the Chinese Communist Partys surveillance state  and we have taken action accordingly, he said.

Today, our government enacted several measures to protect US national security, our citizens privacy, and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijings malign influence.

Attention in the US has recently turned to another Chinese behemoth, TikTok, which President Donald Trump said would be banned unless it is bought from owner ByteDance.

Microsoft and Twitter are among the parties reported to have been in talks about a possible takeover of TikToks US operations.

Huawei has not responded to calls for comment.
MORE than 60 people marked the 75th anniversary of VJ Day in Henley.

The Second World War was brought to an end with the surrender of Japan to the allied forces on August 15, 1945.

Fighting in the Asia-Pacific region had taken place from Hawaii to north-east India and the Commonwealths principal force, the Fourteemth Army, was one of the most diverse in history with the worlds major religions represented and more than 40 languages spoken,

Events to mark the occasion on Saturday had to be scaled back due to the social distancing measures brought in to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

A 20-minute ceremony held in Henley market place was hosted by the Henley and Peppard branch of the Royal British Legion.

Branch chairman John Green carried the branch standard while James Nelson carried that of the Dunkirk Veterans Association.

The flag of the Royal British Legion was flying from the town hall.

Lt Col Peter Blaker, president of the branch, told the spectators that people tended to think of the end of the war as May 9, 1945  VE Day  but it wasnt.

He said: What happened in the Far East was irrelevant to most people and yet on December 1941 we were engaged in a war that went on and was relentless, brutal and of strategic importance to us.

There were families in the Henley area who lost fathers, brothers, husbands and sons. Then there were prisoners of war, not just captured soldiers and servicemen, but civilians  women and children  who suffered indescribable conditions in those camps.

He then recited the exhortation before Rev Jeremy Tayler, the rector of Henley with Remenham, led prayers.

There was a two-minute silence at 11am preceded by The Last Post and followed by Reveille, both played by bugler Stuart Henderson, from Reading.

Lt Col Blaker then recited the Kohima Epitaph.

Mr Green led the crowd in giving three cheers for the Queen, who is the patron of the Royal British Legion, to conclude the ceremony.

Afterwards, Mr Green said: I was heartened by the number of people who joined us. The town was well represented from the Mayor down to families with young children. It was a timely reminder that, even after VE Day, the war was not over.

Most people believe it was the atom bombs which caused the final surrender of Japan.

The actual Burma campaign was one of the most successful and one of the most hard fought by the British and Indian armies. It was the first major military defeat of Japan.

In these times of recollection, we must not forget what went before so these things dont happen again.

We have to continue to raise funds to help those and their families who have suffered through conflict.

Members of the branch enjoyed a special lunch with a wartime theme at the Maltsters Arms in Rotherfield Greys, which was once the headquarters of the Peppard and district branch of the Legion. In Nettlebed, about 30 people gathered at St Bartholomews Church lychgate, the villages war memorial, at 4pm for a short ceremony.

Jim Bowers, who chairs the Nettlebed branch of the Legion, said that a battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry served in Burma as well as two battalions of the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

He added: There were an awful lot of people who didnt come back from the Far East.

Prayers were led by the Rev Mark Ainsworth, priest-in-charge of Nettlebed, before the names of 11 servicemen from the village who died during the war were read out by Lady Anabel Elworthy.

Mr Bowers recited the exhortation before a recording of The Last Post was played and a two-minute silence was observed. David Challis, secretary and treasurer of the branch, lowered a Union flag standard before Reveille was played.

Mr Bowers then read the Kohima Epitaph and Sir Timothy Elworthy, the branch president, laid a wreath.

At the end of the ceremony hand bells were rung in the churchyard by Peter Ellis and his children Dominic and Jennifer and James Champion, all from Sonning Common.

The churchs six bells could not be sounded because of social distancing guidelines.

Ron Jewitt, president of the Caversham branch of the Legion, laid a wreath on behalf of members at the war memorial in Christchurch Meadows.

He said: Remembered on this special day, the glorious Fourteenth Army, who fought in the Far East. This was followed by a two-minute silence at 11am. In Shiplake, a short wreath-laying ceremony was held at the war memorial with Rev Stephen Cousins officiating.

Members of the Shiplake and Dunsden branch of the Legion were present and president Oliver Makower laid a wreath.

In Wargrave, there was a small wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial on Mill Green led by Rev John Cook, vicar of St Marys Church.

After prayers and a bible reading, a two-minute silence was observed at 11am. Then the exhortation and Kohima Epitaph were read out.

Wreaths were laid by Tony Elliott, president of the Wargrave branch of the Legion, and 95-year-old John Fryer, who is the only surviving member of the branch to have served in the war.

Three poppy crosses were planted to remember the villagers who gave their lives in the Far East and are named on the memorial.

They are Leonard George Astell, whose grave is in the Kohima Cemetery in India, Beatrice Le Blanc Smith, who is listed on the Singapore war memorial, and Brig John Theobolds, who died near Kohima and is buried at Imphal Cemetery in India.

In Watlington, a short tribute event was held at the war memorial in High Street, organised by the parish council, where the exhortation was read

The Watlington branch of the Royal British Legion had asked people in the town to observe a two-minute silence at 11am.

Residents were also encouraged to hang out flags and bunting as they had done for VE Day in May.
Storyful

A North Carolina man narrowly avoided being struck by a falling tree branch, covered in ice, outside his home in Fayetteville on Sunday, January 16.Homeowner Jalisa Autry said she and her fiance were woken by a loud cracking sound on Sunday morning. When the pair took a look out their window, they saw a large tree limb on their front lawn.Around an hour later, we heard the same sound, but louder with the second boom, Autry told Storyful. At that point we noticed it was very close to our cars, so my fiance decided he needed to move the cars ASAP before the tree and ice could do any more damage.Autrys fiance had stepped off the porch when the two heard another crack. I screamed for him to run, he ran as fast as possible and dodged the branch falling on top of him, said Autry. Were thankful that he was not injured!This home security video shows the mans close call. Credit: Jalisa Autry via Storyful
BGR

Our Sun isnt quite as old as other stars out there. However, scientists are already trying to pinpoint exactly when the Sun will die. Of course, it isnt as simple as throwing out a date. After all, were working with a massive ball of energy that weve still barely managed to scratch the surface of  The post Scientists think they figured out when the Sun will explode and kill us all appeared first on BGR.
A 48-year-old man is facing a trafficking charge after police in Fall River discovered and seized 996 bags of fentanyl from the mans motorcycle, officials said.

Detectives were conducting surveillance near 876 Locust St. around 6 p.m. Monday after getting a tip about drug activity. The officers saw a man they recognized as Jason Murphy exit a multifamily dwelling and ride off on a motorcycle. Another man also drove off on a motorcycle, Fall River police said in a statement issued Tuesday.

The officers followed both men to a business parking lot that is located at the state line with Providence and Pawtucket, Rhode Island, officials said. There, the detectives apparently saw Murphy use his phone and pace back and forth in the parking lot.

A black Jeep Cherokee with tinted windows pulled into the back of the lot near Murphy, who walked over and opened the passenger side door, the statement said.

Detectives saw the exchange of a dark-colored bag that Murphy put in a compartment on his motorcycle, officials said.

Believing the exchange was a drug transaction, detectives followed the two motorcycles as they left the parking lot. The motorcyclists parked near 178 Reeves St., police said.

Detectives approached the two, identified themselves as police officers and searched the men and their bikes, the statement said.

A K-9 alerted the officers to the compartment on Murphys motorcycle, where a black plastic bag containing several bundles of blue glassine bags bound with rubber bands was discovered, police said.

A total of 996 bags of suspected fentanyl were seized, along with $150, according to police.
Another day, another interview for Giuliana Rancic.

The former E! News host, then known as Giuliana DePandi, had logged serious hours on red carpets, sat down with countless celebrities and regularly traded pleasantries in Italian with George Clooney. What was so special about this dayassignment: interview the winner of the first season of The Apprenticein 2005?

Okay, there was something a little different about it.

"I would watch [The Apprentice] with my girlfriend Colette every week, and Colette's like, 'You need to marry him.' I'm like, 'I do need to marry him,'" Giuliana recalled on HuffPost Live years later. "So that's why when the assignment came up at E! I was all over that."

Giuliana & Bill Rancic's Cutest Pics

That she was, but in impeccable rom-com fashion, Bill was instantly smitten, too.

"What's your life like, as far as romance and love, have you..."? Giuliana asked, to which the sweetly flustered Bill replied, "It's been...how 'bout yours? Let's turn this around."

And she said, "Okay, honest, I'm very busy, I work a lot, so I haven't found any time." Then he agreed, "That's how it is for me." It had been a good year, Bill acknowledged, and "when I find the right one it's the right one." He teased Giuliana about all the young California surfer types she must meet, and she protested, "No, I like a business man."

And then he proposed.

Giuliana Rancic, Bill Rancic, Duke

Well, not exactly, but there was flirtatious talk of marriage and looking like a good coupleall of it captured on camera, because they couldn't help it that the sparks were flying nonstop mid-interview.

Now married for almost 13 years and the parents of son Duke, who turns 8 on Aug. 29, the devoted duo who knew pretty much right away that they wanted to spend forever together have built a powerhouse partnership. Scary times, such as Giuliana undergoing treatment for breast cancer in 2011, have since melded with the triumphant times, such as the birth of their son via gestational carrier after several failed rounds of IVF, to become part of the fabric of their enduring, ongoing love story.

Story continues

"Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful bride!" Bill wrote on Instagram in May. "Duke is so lucky to call you MOM! We love you and think you are the most: amazing, beautiful, funny, talented, caring, fun mom & wife!"

Giuliana shared a complementary sentiment in June, writing, "Happy Father's Day to our best friend and the most wonderful and loving daddy we could have ever hoped for. Thank you for making our life a beautiful adventure every single day and showering us with so much love. Duke and I love and adore you beyond words."

Giuliana Rancic and Duke Rancic's Sweetest Mother-Son Moments

Alas, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they aren't spending G's birthday today in one of her favorite spots in Italy, where she was born and they vacation regularly ("Can't wait to go back!" she wrote longingly in May), but so long as the family is together, location is secondary.

"Bill and I do a lot of really cool things as adults...a lot of things we love," Giuliana told Chicago's Splash magazine earlier this year. "But there is nothing that even comes close to the joy we get from our son and our family together. It's just a different type of joy."

Added Bill, "Family is everything to us. Family first."

Bill Rancic, Giuliana Rancic

And what do you know, Giuliana got the scoop on whether Bill liked kids or not when they first met.

"I have seven nieces and nephews," the proud uncle told her. Asked if he saw kids in his future, he replied, "Of course, many."

Giuliana told E! when their son was born in 2012 that she and Bill felt "blessed beyond words" to become parents. And while they haven't ruled out the possibility of Duke having a sibling one day, they're leaving that up to a higher power, too.

"Nothing quite yet to put out there [as far as news goes]," she told Splash. "We'll put it in the big man's hands above, but we'd love to. What's meant to be will be."

And don't these two know it.

Bill Rancic, Giuliana Rancic

"When we first met, I think we knew there was something special," Bill recalled of that momentous moment on the Today show in 2013. "On our second datethis is what we tell peoplewe were making plans for six to seven months in advance, which I had never done in my life before. I think it was the third or fourth date when she came to Chicago, and that was it. That was the weekend we both knew it would be it for us. It was the rest of our lives."

However, it sounds as though they were making plans from day one.

On the morning that they met, Giuliana and her E! crew showed up to interview Bill about, sure, his love life, but also about the fact that he was auctioning off the car he had won on The Apprentice to benefit kidney cancer research, having lost his father to the disease in 1999. "I'm going to personally deliver the keys to whoever wins the car, so I'll be driving the car up to your drivewayhopefully it's your driveway," Bill said. And should he forget to wipe his home address from the navigational system, he informed her, "You're more than welcome to come over any time."

Giuliana Rancic's Best Throwback Posts

Their first date was dinner in Malibu where, according to Bill, "We knew instantly." He told ABC News, "We were making plans for three, four months out. That was on our first date. We had our phones out and we were like, 'In July, I gotta go here, maybe you can meet me,' and this was in March, two hours into the first date. It was the craziest thing ever.

When the Italian-born, Washington, D.C.-raised host did finally roll up in his hometown of Chicago, "I rolled out the red carpet," Bill said on Today.

"Cubs game, Giordano's pizza and a gift basket waiting in her hotel when she arrived," he remembered. "I cooked her dinner. It was just so much fun. We were with all my buddies; just a wild three days. It was Memorial Day weekend, I think eight years ago, and that was it. That was the end of my dating world."

Bill Rancic, Giuliana Rancic

His three sisters helped him prepare for the day he knew he wanted to proposeDec. 15, 2006.

Once again, Giuliana was flying in from Los Angeles to visit, and he was returning that day from a business meeting in Detroit, so he had a limo pick her up at the airport. And then, after taking her about a mile, the driver pulled over.

"You see, for some reason they sent a stretch limo and they had this big driver, then the limo pulls over on the side of the road in a desolate area," Bill remembered that night to ABC News in 2014. "She was understandably upset and worried. She was freaking out. But, he gets out, opens the door and I'm standing there."

"I had a helicopter waiting," he continued, "and told her we were going to look at the Christmas lights, which Chicago is known for. We got up there and were drinking champagne and had Michael Buble playing in the background, then we flew over Michigan Avenue. That's when I got down on one knee."

Bill Rancic, Giuliana Rancic, Wedding

He then proceeded to smash a champagne flute with that one knee, but their mutual excitement ruled the moment.

"'Life together is going to be an adventure, just like tonight,' I told her," Bill recalled, noting that he didn't technically ask her to marry him. "That was it. She said, 'Yes.'"

They tied the knot on Sept. 7, 2007, in a dream ceremony on the isle of Capri.

"Here we are eight years later," Bill said. "We constantly are improving as partners. Our trick is something we simply call 'checking in.' Every couple weeks or every month, we talk about the marriage and things that may be bothering us, but also things we like. When I know she likes something, I'm committed to doing more of it."

Celebrity Weddings in Italy

Now they split their time between homes in L.A. and Chicago (where they're co-owners of restaurants RPM Steak, RPM Seafood and Pizza Portofino) and Coeur d'Alene, Idado, where they added a summer vacation house to their portfolio in 2016. They're also both still actively working on behalf of those battling cancer, Giuliana in her work with Fab-U-Wish, in collaboration with the breast cancer nonprofit the Pink Agenda, and Bill announced this month that he's teaming for the third year with Astellas Oncology on its #C3Prize, which provides grants to businesses with the best non-treatment ideas to improve cancer care.

"I always say marriage and kids are the two things that will affect your life from that day on," Bill said in 2014. "So, you better make those decisions wisely, marriage probably more so because the day you get married, everything you do from that point on is different. It's no longer 'I,' it's 'We.'"

And even with the projects that are technically just herssuch as her HSN clothing line G by Giuliana, her Fountain of Truth skin care products and her co-hosting duties on E! Live From the Red CarpetBill is there to lend his support.

Giuliana Rancic, Bill Rancic, Duke

"I quiz her beforehand," Bill told Chicago's Splash magazine about helping his wife prepare for that parade of stars coming down the carpet. To this day, Giuliana said, she gets excited and nervous, explaining, "There are a lot of emotions, until the red light of the camera comes on and then I feel a sense of calm."

And she isn't too proud to ask her husband for tips, even on something that is decidedly her jam.

"I think a lot of it is leaving your ego at the door," Giuliana told Splash. "There are things I know and things I don't. Recognizing and leaning on someone that does know is important."

Added Bill, "We both know our strengths and weaknesses and how we can help each other. It's a good formula for us."

Besides, he knows from personal experience that Giuliana's interview skills are the best in the business.
Powells City of Books on Burnside will reopen on Friday, five months after the coronavirus pandemic forced the building to close to the public.

The iconic multistory store, a tourist attraction that takes up a full block abutting the downtown business district, will only allow patrons in the Green and Blue rooms in the southeast section of the building. In a message posted to the stores website, company CEO Emily Powell called the limited reopening an experiment.

Customers will have access to select new arrivals, bestsellers, used books, small press titles and gift items, along with the beloved literature section in full, the bookstore said in a statement. The company added that its following all local and federal guidelines regarding reopening and is taking precautions to safeguard the health and safety of customers and staff.

Powells Books reopened its suburban Cedar Hills store on Aug. 7, with physical-distancing procedures in place.

Powell's City of Books, seen here on May 22, 2020, when it was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Dave Killen/Staff)The Oregonian

The nationally known independent bookseller laid off about 85% of its 400 workers when it closed all five of its stores in March, with Emily Powell calling the pandemic and its economic consequences unprecedented and grievous times. Over the past five months, the company has focused on online sales and curbside pickup, and it has brought back some of the laid-off employees.

Its bizarre. Its surreal, Powell recently said of being in the nearly empty downtown location during normal business hours. Its also in some ways magical. It feels like walking through the aisles with the ghosts of writers and readers.

In July, Powells Books permanently closed its small store at Portland International Airport.

-- Douglas Perry

dperry@oregonian.com

@douglasmperry

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Mobile, AL -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/18/2020 -- The first Secret Scientist pop-up shop will make its inaugural debut in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina at the address 128 Park Avenue. Details on when the shop will open will be announced via the official Secret Scientist Facebook page and the website.



Prospective customers outside of Alabama eager to see the Secret Scientist products at a store near them are encouraged to visit the Secret Scientist Facebook page and leave a comment on which city should receive the next Secret Scientist pop-up store. The online store is always open and is frequently updated with new products that have recently debuted at the flagship store.



About Secret Scientist Clothing

Launched in 2009, Secret Scientist Clothing is an urban streetwear brand based in Mobile, Alabama providing a range of products from t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, and footwear to accessories and more. The brand recognizes and embraces individuality while making fashion fun, accessible, and always trendy. For more information, please call 251-680-0429. Customers can also visit the store located in The Shoppes at Bel Air.
PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, "Construction Equipment Rental Market by Application (Excavation & Mining, Material Handling, Earthmoving, and Concrete), Product (Backhoes & Excavators, Loaders, Crawler Dozers, Cranes, Forklift, and Others), and Propulsion System (Electric & ICE): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027". According to the report, the global construction equipment rental industry was pegged at $90.99 billion in 2019, and is expected to reach $106.42 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.2% from 2020 to 2027.

Major drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Reduction of expenses including maintenance cost, operational costs, and labor cost, growing construction market in developing countries, and no high ownership cost & financial constraints have boosted the growth of the global construction equipment rental market. However, lack of skilled and qualified operators and decrease in new construction activities in developed nations hamper the market. On the contrary, easy relocation & fuel-efficiency along with new IoT technology are expected to create new opportunities for the market players in the coming years.

Download Sample PDF (290 Pages with More Insight): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/7021

COVID-19 scenario:

The demand for construction equipment has decreased as construction activities in various countries have temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Lockdown in various countries, shortage of labor, and disrupted supply chain have hampered the demand for rental construction equipment.

The earthmoving segment dominated the market

By application, the earthmoving segment held the largest share in 2019, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global construction equipment rental market, owing to large number of earthmoving activities on construction and mining sites. However, the excavation & mining segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period, due to rise in construction and mining activities in developing nations.

The electric segment to manifest the highest CAGR through 2027

By propulsion system, the electric segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 7.3% during the study period, owing to rise in awareness for using electric operated machines to reduce carbon emission. However, the ICE segment held the largest share in 2019, contributing to around 94% of the global construction equipment rental market, due to its higher operating power and stability in operations.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Construction Equipment Rental Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/7021?reqfor=covid

North America held the lion's share

By region, the market across North America held the largest share in 2019, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global construction equipment rental market, due to higher usage of rental equipment over owing the equipment. However, the market across Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period, due to rising awareness regarding benefits of renting and leasing of construction equipment.

Major market players

Boels Rentals

Herc Rentals Inc.

H&E Equipment Services

Nesco Holdings, Inc.

Kanamoto Co., Ltd.

Mtandt Group

Maxim Crane Works , L.P.

, L.P. Sarens n.v./s.a.

Ramirent

United Rentals, Inc.

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Avenue is a user-based library of global market report database, provides comprehensive reports pertaining to the world's largest emerging markets. It further offers e-access to all the available industry reports just in a jiffy. By offering core business insights on the varied industries, economies, and end users worldwide, Avenue ensures that the registered members get an easy as well as single gateway to their all-inclusive requirements.

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Concrete Pumps Market: The concrete pumps market size was valued at $3,800.0 million in 2019, and is projected to reach $4,853.2 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.0% from 2020 to 2027.

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Pre-Book Now with 12% Discount:

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About Us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP, based in Portland, Oregon. AMR provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

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NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. magazine today revealed that Advertise Purple is No. 781 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy's 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.

Advertise Purple president Kyle Mitnick reacted by saying, "Third consecutive year is quite an honor, and a feat we couldn't have achieved without the exceptional leadership and output from each department at Advertise Purple. Our goal has always stemmed from simply addressing our customers' needs to scale their affiliate programs in the fastest and most efficient way possible. Sticking to this simple notion has resulted in bleeding-edge proprietary technology, unparalleled results, and a team with one common goal. Thank you for recognizing this Inc, and we're humbled to be in such good company."

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. 5000's aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 18.

"The companies on this year's 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."

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.



About Advertise Purple, Inc

Advertise Purple is a global digital marketing agency focusing on the growth and optimization of the affiliate channel. In 2018, 2019, and 2020 Advertise Purple was recognized as a 'Top Advertising & Marketing' company in America, 'Fastest-Growing Privately Held Company' in America, and 'Best Workplace' in America. To learn more about our service, please visit www.advertisepurple.com.

CONTACT: Direct any inquiries for Advertise Purple to Stephen Adamson. Call 424-272-7400 or email [email protected], 2200 Michigan Ave, Suite A, Santa Monica, CA 90404

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media

The world's 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 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 www.inc.com.

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/.

SOURCE Advertise Purple

Related Links

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Donald Trump steps off of Air Force One as he arrives at the Eastern Iowa Airport for a briefing on derecho damage on 18 August, 2020: AP

Donald Trump's appointed postmaster general Louis DeJoy has said he will suspend any changes he makes to the United States Postal Service (USPS) until after the election to avoid accusations that the agency, at the president's behest, has interfered with November elections.

This decision comes just one day after Mr DeJoy agreed to speak before the House Oversight Committee on 24 August to address budget and service changes in the USPS, following growing national outcry and cuts to service.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Tuesday that the House will carry out a vote on Saturday to boost the agency with $25 billion after she declared Mr DeJoy's latest move an "insufficient first step" to address the crisis.

Mr Trump has also responded to former First Lady Michelle Obama, who declared him "in over his head" in a passionate attack against the president during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention. He insisted that his administration has saved "millions of lives" despite the coronavirus death toll surpassing 170,000 this week.

After he made several campaign stops on Tuesday, the president faced another round of widely watched condemnations from prominent Democrats and several Republicans during the DNC's second night, which saw former attorney general Sally Yates accusing the president of "weaponising the rule of law" to serve himself.

He "fawns over a dictator who is still trying to interfere in our elections" and has moved to "sabotage the post office to keep people from being able to vote," she said.

A bipartisan Senate committee on Tuesday also revealed a 1,000 page report following its conclusive investigation into Russian interference into the president's 2016 campaign.

In his DNC remarks, former Secretary of State John Kerry took sharp aim at the president for inheriting a "growing economy and a more peaceful world and, like everything else he inherited, he bankrupted it," he said. "When this president goes overseas, it isn't a goodwill mission, it's a blooper reel."

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Following Mr Biden's official designation as the party's nominee, the president's campaign declared that Mr Biden's "supervisors from the radical left are now formally in charge."

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Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that he has never heard of the former senior administration official who endorsed Joe Biden and called the president terrifying.

Miles Taylor, former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief of staff under Kirstjen Nielsen, became one of the highest-ranking former administration officials to endorse the presidents rival on Monday, featuring in a scathing attack ad.

Mr Trump hit back against the comments following the first night of the Democratic National Convention, calling Mr Taylor a disgruntled employee and insisting that he had never heard of him.

Many thousands of people work for our government, the president wrote on Twitter.

With that said, a former DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE named Miles Taylor, who I do not know (never heard of him), said he left & is on the open arms Fake News circuit. Said to be a real 'stiff'. They will take anyone against us!

Mr Trump's outburst follows Mr Taylors appearance in a video for Republican Voters Against Trump and his op-ed in The Washington Post on Monday.

What we saw week in and week out, and for me, after two and a half years in that administration, was terrifying, Mr Taylor, a longtime Republican, said in the video.

We would go in to try to talk to him about a pressing national security issue  cyberattack, terrorism threat  he wasnt interested in those things. To him, they werent priorities.

Mr Taylor claimed that the president wanted to restart the practice of separating children from their families at the US-Mexico border following the termination of the widely-denounced strategy in 2018, among a number of allegations.

Recommended Former senior Trump official endorses Joe Biden

He added: Given what I have experienced in the administration, I have to support Mr Biden for president, and even though I am not a Democrat, even though I disagree on key issues, Im confident that Mr Biden will protect the country and Im confident that he wont make the same mistakes as this president.

Mr Taylors wrote in his op-ed that the president is governed by whim, political calculation and self-interest.

According to Mr Taylor, the president allegedly wanted to "cut off the money and no longer give individual assistance" to people who suffered during deadly wildfires in California, as he believed the people in the state didn't support him politically.

The former DHS official is among several high-profile former administration officials who have publicly denounced the president.

Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as White House communications director, has endorsed the Democratic nominee.

Former national security chief John Bolton, has said he will not be voting for Mr Trump or Mr Biden.
By Alan S. Blinder and Yana van der Meulen Rodgers

The United States is experiencing an unprecedented crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic fallout. State and local leaders, essential workers, and first responders are doing everything in their power to contain the spread of the virus, but we still have no good guess as to how long the outbreak will last, how long until a vaccine will be ready, and ultimately how long until life returns to any semblance of normal.

In this new era of uncertainty, one thing is clear: To get through this crisis, we need to work together, care for one another, and make sure no one is left behind in the recovery. For New Jersey, that means ensuring the state has the resources to both contain the spread of COVID-19 and provide necessary relief to the families and small businesses harmed the most by the pandemic. The demand for social safety net programs is only increasing as New Jersey residents struggle from job losses and businesses struggle from shutdowns necessary to protect public health. This is precisely why we wrote an open letter to Gov. Phil Murphy and the states legislative leadership today urging them to avoid damaging spending cuts in next years budget.

As a first step in surviving economic downturns and recessions successfully, a sufficient amount of reserves is important to help meet emergency needs without resorting to drastic spending cuts. In fact, tax and budget experts suggest that states keep two months of emergency funds, called a rainy day fund, on hand to provide flexibility during a crisis. Unfortunately for New Jerseyans, the state spent down all of its rainy day funds during the Great Recession and left it empty until the previous fiscal year, when Governor Murphy and legislators agreed to put $401 million into the fund. As a result, New Jersey enters this crisis with the lowest amount of rainy day funds on hand in a long time.

Due to New Jerseys lack of savings and preparedness, there is reason to worry that the state will pursue counterproductive budget cuts. Large cuts would erode the health and social infrastructure needed to continue combatting COVID-19. Such cuts would also increase inequality and exacerbate the economic downturn. Instead of budget cuts, the state should look to raise revenues to balance its budget where it can. Cutting spending on critical assets like housing, public transportation and healthcare will hurt New Jerseys economy and especially those most in need of relief, including low-income households, single mothers, and people of color who have been disproportionately harmed by the pandemic.

Growing evidence indicates that decisions to rely on budget austerity will have adverse effects that are stratified by gender, race/ethnicity, class, and disability status, and they would come at a time when the nation has pointed a spotlight on the need to eliminate such disparities, especially by race.

Unfortunately, throughout the current crisis, the federal response has been slow and woefully insufficient. Governor Murphy, along with every other governors in the country, has requested billions in support to provide relief to families and businesses while avoiding harmful cuts. Still, New Jersey has received only a fraction of what it needs, especially considering that we are at the epicenter of this crisis.

Because of the lack of federal support, it is imperative that New Jersey do all it can to raise the resources necessary for providing support to families and small businesses. In a recession, balancing the budget by cutting vital spending will have more negative effects on most citizens than balancing the budget by raising taxes. Both the personal income tax and corporate tax are fair ways to raise more revenue.

According to analyses by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and New Jersey Policy Perspective, modest adjustments to income tax rates on those earning $250,000 and more would raise approximately $1.5 billion in new revenue each year while making the overall tax code fairer. Extending the temporary corporate tax surcharge of 2.5% on businesses with profits of $1 million or more would provide $425 million in additional annual revenue to invest in critical assets and services.

Instead of a cuts-only response  which was employed by the state with little success after the Great Recession  New Jersey lawmakers must take a balanced approach that includes new revenue. Doing so now will ensure we maintain the foundation to speed our recovery and strengthen our communities as we come out the other side of this crisis. Importantly, such changes will go a long way to reducing racial and economic inequities.

The COVID-19 crisis will have a lasting impact on our state and country, no matter what. The leaders of our state government have the responsibility for setting priorities and making choices that will protect and enhance the health and welfare of all residents, especially those who have been marginalized the most. Everything we do to strengthen our economy, build up our revenues, and reduce inequities will help our state fare better and become a place where everyone can thrive.

Lessons from decades of scholarship in economics point to the need to embrace a comprehensive response to the COVID-19 crisis that emphasizes the importance and value of peoples jobs and families as an integral part of the economic system. We must judge the success of policy responses by how they promote human well-being for all. At the end of the day, this crisis is unprecedented, and our response must match it.

Alan S. Blinder is the Gordon S. Rentschler Memorial Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University.

Yana van der Meulen Rodgers is a professor and the Faculty Director of the Center for Women and Work at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

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Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:35:09|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's ministry of health on Tuesday urged reporters to exercise caution while covering the COVID-19 pandemic.

The caution comes after two journalists reporting for two major media houses in the East African country tested positive for the virus.

Emmanuel Ainebyoona, ministry of health spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that the owners and managers of media houses should provide protective equipment, ensure social distancing at workplace and that journalists should always wear face masks while in their course of duty.

"We have been observing that they (journalists) tend to be so close to people in line of their work without observing prevention measures. They interview people without masks and not observing social distancing," said Ainebyoona.

"The journalists are not immune to COVID-19. So they need to be extra vigilant more than even the general population in observing the prevention measures including wearing face masks, hand washing, and social distancing," he said.

Robert Kabushenga, the Chief Executive Officer of the state-owned New Vision group in a Monday statement announced that one of the company staff at its head offices in Kampala tested positive for the virus over the weekend.

"Management is tracking all possible contacts at the office and will collaborate with the medical workers to facilitate further tests," said Kabushenga.

"Those identified as having contact with the concerned staff will be required to stay at home and isolate for a period of 14 days," he said.

Uganda continues to record daily increases of COVID-19 cases, with a total of 60 cases confirmed on Monday, bringing the total number of infections to 1,560, according to the ministry.

According to the ministry, Uganda has so far registered a total of 15 COVID-19 deaths and 1,165 recoveries since the index case was reported on March 21. Enditem
The EU Commission has yet to decide if it will appeal a court decision in relation to Apple and its tax affairs in Ireland.

Last month, the General Court of the European Union ruled in favour of Apple and Ireland in their appeal against a decision by the Commission that the State had granted favourable tax rulings to the company.

The European Commission alleged that Ireland had provided State Aid to two Apple companies in 2016 following a three-year investigation.

The decision was welcomed by both apple and the Irish government. The European Commission has a right to appeal the decision to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which must be lodged within two months and 10 days of July 15 judgement.

It is understood that the Commission has yet to make a decision on whether it will lodge such an appeal. The Irish Government said it will defend its position in the event of such an appeal.

While the court case was being heard, Apple had to pay 14.3bn into an escrow account which remains in place. The net asset value of the fund at the end of 2019 was 14.02bn.

A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said: The escrow fund cannot be accessed until the legal proceedings are fully completed. Therefore, if an appeal is made, the fund cannot be dissolved until that legal action concludes. As the General Court ruled against the commission, an appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union is open to the commission at this stage.

Apple employs up to 6,000 people in Ireland, most of whom are located in two centres in Cork.
In mailrooms across the country, letters and packages are piling up. People who rely on the postal service for their medication and paychecks are accosting mail carriers on the street.

The cause of the chaos is plain for all to see, and appears to be deliberate. Mailboxes are disappearing from the streets, letter sorting equipment is being removed from offices and new rules are being introduced by the new boss of the postal service that is slowing deliveries.

We have one of the largest processing centres in the country, and we have mail backed up for days and weeks, all over the place. You could wallpaper our big building with mail, said Nick Casselli, a mail worker union president in Philadelphia.

The changes in question would have drastically impacted the postal services ability to deliver mail in normal times. But they come in the midst of a pandemic, ahead of an election in which a record number of people will vote by mail. They come at a time when the president himself is attacking the integrity of mail-in ballots almost daily, without evidence, and holding up vital funding.

The timing, postal workers say, is no accident. Along with election experts and Democratic lawmakers, they are warning that the changes pose a grave threat to the integrity of the upcoming presidential election, and are an attempt by the Trump administration to undermine the democratic process.

This is a deliberate attempt to affect the upcoming presidential election, Mr Casselli said. He needs the American public to turn on the postal service. That ruins the ballots in November.

The proposition that a sitting president would try to weaken the postal service to help his reelection bid would sound like a wild conspiracy theory had Mr Trump not himself admitted that was his intention.

I think the motivation is quite clear. Donald Trump sees mail-in balloting as a threat to his reelection, and so he's seeking to dismantle the post office Eric Swalwell, Democratic congressman from California

After weeks of attacking the post office and its ability to handle mail-in ballots in the upcoming election, Mr Trump offered a frank explanation last week about why he was blocking emergency funding for the service in the next coronavirus stimulus bill.

They need that money in order to make the Post Office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots, he told Fox Business. But if they dont get those two items, that means you cant have universal mail-in voting, because theyre not equipped to have it.

Mr Trumps own statements make the clear link between his election prospects and his attacks on the US postal service. Since the nomination of Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, Mr Trumps position has steadily declined to the point where his reelection is in serious doubt. As his polling numbers have fallen, his attacks on the integrity of mail-in ballots have increased. He now frequently suggests, without evidence, that they are vulnerable to fraud  a claim that no independent election expert supports and for which he has provided no evidence.

His attacks have become a rallying point for Democrats in recent days. Lawmakers in both Houses have called for hearings and bills to examine the changes being implemented.

I think the motivation is quite clear. Donald Trump sees mail-in balloting as a threat to his reelection, and so he's seeking to dismantle the post office, Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell, told The Independent.

The worst-case scenario, he added, is that millions of Americans could be disenfranchised or dissuaded from casting their vote in a cloud of confusion created by the president.

I fear that just the spectre of it creates enough confusion because now people will wonder if their vote will even be counted, said Mr Swalwell, a House representative from California, who was a signatory of a letter signed by more than 170 House Democrats to the postmaster general raising concerns about the changes.

(EPA (EPA)

In an apparent effort to hobble peoples ability to vote by mail, Mr Trump has blocked much-needed funding for the postal service to help it deal with the pressures of the coronavirus.

House Democrats have called for $25 billion for the post office as part of a $3 trillion coronavirus relief package. That package would also include $3.6bn for election funding to help states meet the demands of holding a vote during the pandemic. The White House has rejected that proposal, citing Mr Trumps false claims that granting the funding would lead to fraud.

But the funding fight is one part of a wider campaign to hobble the postal service, which is relied upon by millions for prescription deliveries, paychecks and bills. Drastic changes to the way the postal service operates being made in parallel to Mr Trumps attacks have election experts worried.

Some of these changes have been planned for months, but the new head of the postal service, Louis DeJoy  a major Trump donor  has implemented further reforms which have dramatically impaired the ability of postal workers to deliver mail on time.

The appointment of the postmaster general is decided by a board of governors which is appointed by the Trump administration. When Mr DeJoy was picked for the role in May this year, Democrats immediately cried foul.

"The idea that we would appoint and accept the appointment of a partisan political donor with no credentials ... is reckless and irresponsible ... and a stick in the eye by Trump to a service Americans count on every day," Virginia congressman Gerry Connolly said at the time.

Mr DeJoy is a political ally of Mr Trump and donated $1.2million to his campaign between 2016 and 2020, according to campaign finance reports compiled by the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).

Many of the changes have been implemented under the guise of cost cutting and efficiency. Since his appointment, the postal service has banned employees from working overtime and making extra trips to deliver mail. The removal of postboxes and mail sorting equipment has also picked up pace. In some mailrooms, work hours are being cut and mail left behind.

Mr DeJoy has insisted that these changes are necessary because the USPS has faced a dramatic drop in revenue due to the coronavirus, amounting to some $2.2bn in the last three months. The new measures are already having an adverse impact on the ground.

We are seeing equipment removed. Its not crippling our operation yet, but its part of a bigger problem, said Kimberly Karol, a postal worker in the swing state of Iowa.

They have initiated a pilot programme that changes how we handle unprocessed mail that is much more inefficient. We are having to double handle mail and in many cases leave mail behind, or carriers have to come back multiple times to get mail.

In this March 1, 2017, file photo, then Elon Trustee Louis DeJoy is honored with Elon's Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership in Elon. N.C. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin and union officials say the U.S. Postal Service is considering closing post offices across the country, sparking worries ahead the anticipated surge of mail-in ballots in the 2020 elections. (AP)

Similar changes have impacted mail delivery across the country, including in many swing states that could decide the result of the election.

In June, union officials were told that 671 mail sorting machines would be taken out of service due to a reduction to letter and flat mail volume, the New York Times reported.

A number of battleground states were severely impacted by those reductions: Some 24 machines were removed in Ohio, as well as 11 Michigan and Florida respectively, nine in Wisconsin, eight in Philadelphia and five in Arizona.

In the area that Mr Casselli represents in Philadelphia, five mail processing machines have been taken out.

They process over 100,000 pieces of mail a day. Thats 500,000 pieces of mail. When you keep taking away machinery, a domino effect is going to take place. Less machines, less mail delivery, he said.

Trump is no dummy. He knows how to destroy a company, he added.

Similar delays have been reported in Maine and Oregon.

The problem may be much bigger when the ballots start to roll in. Because of the pandemic, more Americans will vote by mail in this election than ever before. While voting rules differ state-by-state, nearly half have introduced changes to grant easier access to mail-in voting, which in many was previously only available for specific reasons.

A New York Times analysis found that at least three-quarters of all voters will be eligible to vote by post  which experts say could amount to some 80 million ballots rushing through mailrooms.

Compared to the rush the postal service sees at Christmas, when it handles some 500 million pieces of mail every day, that might not seem a lot. But the confluence of funding struggles, workplace changes and equipment reduction introduced by Mr DeJoy means that the ability of postal workers to deliver ballots on time is under threat.

There is evidence, too, that many more Democrats plan to vote by mail than Republicans. According to a WSJ/NBC News poll published this week, some 47 percent of voters who back Mr Biden plan to vote by mail, compared to 11 percent of Trump voters.

The looming crisis prompted the Postal Service to send letters to 46 states and D.C. warning that it could not guarantee that all ballots sent by mail for the presidential election would arrive in time to be counted  even if the voters followed all the rules.

The Postal Service is asking election officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works, Martha Johnson, a spokeswoman for the USPS, told the Washington Post in a statement.

The Post reported that the warnings were issued at the end of July, but planned from before Mr DeJoy took up his role.

Nonetheless, Mr DeJoys actions have drawn the ire of Democrats. A letter written by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Carolyn Maloney, a congresswoman and chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and signed by 192 other House Democrats, to raise serious concerns about the changes he has implemented.

Ms Maloney, who represents a district in New York, told The Independent that Mr DeJoys drastic changes in the midst of a pandemic and only months before a presidential election in which tens of millions of ballots will be cast by mail, are extremely irresponsible.

These changes have caused confusion between management and postal workers on the ground who provide essential services to the American people. The Trump Administration must stop undermining the Postal Service, and ensure it follows past precedent to prioritize election mail so that ballots are delivered to voters and boards of election in time to be counted, she added.

While the letter stopped short of accusing Mr DeJoy of being part of a Trump administration plan to undermine the election, others have not.

I think the president has put in place somebody who has been directed to dismantle the post office, to bring it to its knees, said Mr Swalwell.

The worst part about that is that its during a pandemic when people are trying to be good citizens and not leave the house. At the time when they need [the post office] the most, he is preventing them from doing their duty.
Message delivered to meetings of two mass organizations opening in Beijing President Xi Jinping encouraged China's youth on Monday to have firm ideals, hone their skills and make new and greater contributions as the country is nearing its goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and embarking on a journey to achieve the goal of building China into a modern socialist country. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark in a congratulatory letter to a session of the All-China Youth Federation and the congress of the All-China Students' Federation. The combined meetings opened in Beijing on Monday. About 3,000 members and representatives attended the opening meetings either in Beijing or via teleconference at venues across the country. During the two days, they are reviewing the work reports of the ACYF and ACSF over the past five years and plans for the next five, revising charters and electing new leadership for the two organizations. The two organizations are part of the mass organizations guided by the CPC that represent people from different sectors of society. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended congratulations on the meetings' opening, and sincere greetings to students and young people of all ethnic groups and all walks of life in China, as well as overseas Chinese youth. Xi said that with the concerted efforts of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the nation, China is about to secure a victory in completing the first centenary goal-building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the time the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2021. He said the nation is embarking on a new journey to achieve the second centenary goal-building China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by the time the People's Republic of China celebrates its centenary in 2049. The president called on Chinese youth to have firm ideals and convictions, cultivate a noble character, hone their skills, be innovative and creative and work hard in the new era. Xi said the work of the ACYF and ACSF is an integral part of the Party's youth work. Party authorities and governments at all levels should strengthen leadership over youth work, support the work of the two organizations and create a favorable environment for young people to enhance and apply their talents. The president urged the youth organizations to deepen reforms and produce innovations. They should work to mobilize young people to firmly follow the Party and forge ahead in the new era. Leaders attending the opening session included Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee; Chen Xi, head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan. While addressing the meetings on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Sun praised young people's role in combating COVID-19 earlier this year, adding that young Chinese have proved with their actions that they are qualified for the tasks ahead. Sun said millions of members of the Communist Youth League of China have become involved in controlling the virus in communities, treating patients and making essential medical supplies. Another 1.7 million young Chinese offered their services voluntarily during the novel coronavirus outbreak. They organized blood donations and fundraising and won the praise of the Party and people. Sun said that today's young people are in the best period of the development of the Chinese nation, and are the new force for realizing the nation's great rejuvenation. She explained that they have been presented with rare opportunities to make contributions and achievements and to accomplish the great missions of the time. Zhou Song, a new ACYF member who heads the discipline inspection commission at China National Biotec Group, which is leading the nation's COVID-19 vaccine development efforts, said more than 44 percent of the staff at the State-owned conglomerate are younger than 35. Zhou said the young professionals are the very people who made China a leader in vaccine development. "Currently, our branch in Wuhan, Hubei province, has made the world's first inactivated vaccine, and our branch in Beijing owns the world's largest manufacturing facilities," he said. Zhou said there is still room for youth organizations to produce improvements in educating the young about combining personal pursuits with national development. As a member of the ACYF, he said he will perform his role in uniting more young people around him to shoulder responsibilities bestowed by the times.


After the Chinese central bank's investment in mortgage lender HDFC Ltd created a flutter in the Indian market earlier this year, the People's Bank of China has now made an investment in ICICI Bank. The Chinese bank has emerged as one of the investors in ICICI Bank's Rs 15,000 crore capital raising exercise which ended last week. The Chinese bank signed a cheque of Rs 15 crore in the private bank under the qualified institutional placement.

People's Bank of China was amongst the 357 institutional investors which included domestic mutual funds, insurance companies and global institutions that subscribed to the issue. The prominent investors among them were Government of Singapore, Morgan Investment and Societe Generale.

It makes good sense for the Chinese central bank, which is flush with funds, to diversify part of its war-chest in countries like India rather than stay invested in US and Europe. US and China are already locked in a trade war which has now further escalated into their business areas.

Also read: Has People's Bank of China sold entire stake in HDFC? Here's what we know

This investment in the banking sector comes close on the heels of People's Bank of China increasing its stake in the HDFC Ltd to over 1 per cent in March this year. The investment, though a small one, had created a flutter in the market with a nationalist lobby alleging a bigger design of the Chinese. In fact, the government soon after tightened foreign portfolio investment rules, especially on investments coming from neighbouring countries with a Chinese connection citing 'opportunistic takeovers'.

Chinese bank's investment in the mortgage lender was actually too small to make any impact or pose a threat to a RBI regulated entity like HDFC Ltd. Also, in the last three months, the People's Bank of China has reduce its stake below 1 per cent in the HDFC Ltd as the shareholding pattern for June doesn't show it under the substantial 1 per cent stake category.

Also read: Bank of China's 1% in HDFC: Should we fuss?

Currently, there is no bar on Chinese investment in India, but the relations between the two countries are on a downhill. The current investment comes right after Galwan Valley border clash with the mainland soldiers.India had reacted by banning 59 Chinese apps including TikTok , SHAREit, WeChat. The government is already monitoring Chinese investment in India very closely.

Also read: Another blow to China! 24 companies plan to shift production units to India

The market regulator Sebi is also scanning portfolio investments from China as well as from investors of Chinese origin via Hong Kong and other countries.

According to experts, the current investment by a Chinese bank in ICICI Bank doesn't pose any threat as banking is a highly regulated business. Take for example, no single investor has voting rights of more than 15 per cent in a banking entity. In addition, any acquisition of share beyond 5 per cent requires RBI's prior approval.

Also read: Rs 50,000-crore push to mobile manufacturing can't dent China's domination
Williamson, WV (25661)

Today

Evening rain followed by a mix of rain and snow overnight. Low 28F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Evening rain followed by a mix of rain and snow overnight. Low 28F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Larry M. Demery, 45, was granted parole on Tuesday and will be freed on August 6, 2023, The N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission announced

One of the two men convicted in the 1993 murder of Michael Jordan's father will be released from prison after serving 27 years of a life sentence, officials announced on Tuesday.

Larry M. Demery, 45, is due to walk free on August 6, 2023, after he was granted parole by the North Carolina Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission this week, ABC 11 reported.

Demery was sentenced to life in prison in 1996 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder and robbery charges in the fatal shooting of James Jordan Sr.

Jordan Sr was shot dead in July 1993 as he slept in his parked Lexus on the side of Highway 74 in Robeson County, North Carolina.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission said Demery had been approved for a Mutual Agreement Parole Program (MAPP), a scholastic and vocational program for freed inmates.

The violent death shocked fans of James Jordan's world-famous son, Michael (pictured with his dad) who at that point had led the Chicago Bulls to the first three of his six NBA titles

The letter notes that while the state of North Carolina does not grant parole to those serving life sentences for murder, Demery's crimes were committed before October 1, 1994 - when the law went into effect.

Demery, who was 17 at the time, and childhood classmate Daniel Green were both accused of killing Jordan, stealing his vehicle, and dumping his body over a bridge in South Carolina, after targeting him for robbery.

Jordan's remains were recovered weeks later on August 3, in a swampy area near McColl, South Carolina.

During the murder trial, the men accused each other of pulling the trigger, but both were ultimately convicted of murder.

Green however, remains jailed despite his repeated attempts for a new trial. His most recent effort was rejected by a judge last year, The News & Observer reported.

Larry Demery, left, and Daniel Green, were convicted of murdering James Jordan, father of NBA star Michael Jordan, in 1996. Green remains behind bars despite repeated requests for a new trial

Michael Jordan's father, James Jordan Sr (left) was shot dead in July 1993, while sleeping in his car on a North Carolina highway

His conviction for first-degree murder has previously been upheld by two state courts.

Lawyers for Green had claimed that he hadn't been present when Jordan was shot in the chest and had only helped dispose of the body.

Prosecutors have maintained that Green killed Jordan as part of a series of crimes that included other armed robberies.

An affidavit accompanying a motion for a new trial last year stated that Demery allegedly told Green's attorney Christine Mumma during a December 2018 interview that 'that he felt coached by law enforcement to testify falsely against Mr Green.'

Mumma said the case against Green was dependent on testimony by Demery, arguing he had an incentive to lie in hopes of avoiding the death penalty.

The violent death shocked fans of James Jordan's world-famous son, Michael, who at that point had led the Chicago Bulls to the first three of his six NBA titles. Jordan now owns the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.

The NBA legend opened up on his father's death in sports documentary 'The Last Dance', released earlier this year.

Jordan recalled the advice his father had given him when dealing with times of hardship.

'One of the things he always taught me was you have to take a negative and turn it into a positive,' Jordan said.

'So I started looking to the other side of it, and that helped me get through it.'
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Frustration regarding city drainage issues dominated Monday nights Linden Lanes community ward meeting hosted by Coun. Shawn Berry.

City staff joined Berry at the meeting to answer questions from the more than 40 area residents who attended.

The drainage ditch along 34th Street and the drains and culverts connected to it are blocked, preventing drainage and increasing the damage done to the neighbourhood during the storms that hit the Brandon area and beyond this summer.

The June 28 rainstorm event brought the long-standing matter back to centre stage. Wendy Bulloch took the matter to city council in mid-July. She presented again during Mondays community meeting, with drone footage to point out the issues. Variously, water accumulating on Bullochs end of the street has been as high as her knee or waist, depending on the rain event.

While the city has begun working on the problem, cutting trees impeding drainage, residents are saying its not enough. Some said new developments to the west and to the south are draining into the already overburdened system. Others said when the city ripped up Willowdale Crescent, water drainage issues worsened.

The citys ultimate message was that existing infrastructure is not built to withstand the water surges the area is seeing this summer, though city engineering department representative Aaron Kaluzniak did his best to field questions.

He explained drainage systems were built to have the capacity to deal with one-in-25-year rainstorms. What Brandonites have experienced recently is more in line with one-in-100-year rainstorms.

Acting city manager Dean Hammond spoke after residents had expressed their frustration with years of dealing with destroyed basements.

Hammond said there is now a drainage task force comprised of experts and that a drainage master plan will be presented to council in September.

He listed the four items he hoped would be addressed by the plan.

No. 1, he said, was global warming and change in weather patterns, adding, "We as a city need to be aware of that."

Its highly likely that from now on, the city will be battered with heavy rainfall on a couple of occasions each summer season.

"Obviously, that plays into anything that we design or engineer going forward," he said.

Hammond also hopes to see more retention ponds and increased maintenance of the drainage system, as well as mitigation efforts, which will depend on both the city and residents.

Bulloch told The Brandon Sun she would like to see residents as part of the task force, not just experts.

 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.
NSW Chief Justice Tom Bathurst has reflected on the Black Lives Matter and Me Too movements and the changes wrought by the COVID-19 crisis in a historic welcome to new lawyers streamed live on YouTube.

"This is as strange for you as it is for me. I didn't know what a vlogger was until last week but I guess I am one now," Chief Justice Bathurst quipped on Tuesday.

New lawyers are admitted to the legal profession by the NSW Supreme Court and typically attend a ceremony to take an oath or affirmation of office, a tradition dating to the 12th century.

The ceremonies have been suspended during the coronavirus pandemic and lawyers have been admitted remotely.
Smithers, a leading provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services, appointed Dr. Sharon Swales as Managing Director of its Harrogate Environmental Risk Sciences laboratory.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005757/en/

Sharon Swales, Managing Director, Environmental Risk Sciences, Harrogate (Photo: Business Wire)

As Managing Director, Dr. Swales is responsible for the operational, commercial and scientific leadership of the Harrogate laboratory, which includes environmental fate, plant and animal metabolism, ecotoxicology, product chemistry, residue, and regulatory services.

"With deep industry expertise and outstanding leadership skills, Dr. Swales will continue to make valuable impacts on operations that benefit our global client base and our staff that serve them," said Susan Shepherd, President, Smithers Environmental Risk Sciences Division. "She brings the experience and understanding of the agrochemical, pharmaceutical and chemical industry environmental testing sectors needed for continued growth of the business."

Dr. Swales has 25 years of industry experience. She began her career at Covance Laboratories as a Lab Technician in Environmental Fate, progressing through to Study Director, responsible for metabolism and environmental fate studies. Following a period in Regulatory Affairs, where she was primarily responsible for the conduct of environmental risk assessments, she progressed to Manager of Environmental Scientific Operations. During her time at Smithers, she has served as Director of Environmental Fate and Metabolism, and Deputy Managing Director.

Dr. Swales received her PhD and MSc in Food Science from University of Leeds and BSc Hons in Biochemistry from University of Hull. She is a member of SETAC Europe and ACS.

Smithers is committed to delivering accurate data, on time with high touch and continues to invest in talent, technology, and quality assurance to better serve its clients and grow its market share in the life sciences industries, which include pharmaceutical, medical device, and environmental sciences.

About Smithers:

Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Smithers is a multinational provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services. With laboratories and operations in North America, Europe, and Asia, Smithers supports customers in the transportation, life science, packaging, materials, components, consumer, and energy industries. Smithers delivers accurate data, on time, with high touch, by integrating science, technology, and business expertise, so customers can innovate with confidence.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005757/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Glenn Goldney, Vice President of Sales Marketing

ggoldney@smithers.com

+1 (330) 762-7441
Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - The Zimbabwe government has extended curfew to 2000 hours and increased working hours as part of several changes to reduce the rise in coronavirus cases in the southern African nation
The NYPD has released photos and video of three men that are wanted for questioning in relation to the death of one-year-old Davell Gardner.

The baby was shot and killed in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn at the Raymond Bush Playground.

A gunman opened fire on July 12 during a cookout when Davell was shotin the stomach. He died later at Maimonides Medical Center.

The NYPD has released photos and video of three men that are wanted in relation to the death of one-year-old Davell Gardner

The baby was shot near the Raymond Bush Playground in Bedford-Stuyvesant on July 12 when a gunman opened fire on a cookout

This is the third photo of three men being sought for questioning in the shooting death

Three other men, aged 27, 35, and 36, were also wounded in the attack but suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

In newly released video from the NYPD, two men can be seen, one of whom has his face covered by a bandanna, looking at their phones.

In a second video, a man can be seen walking insider a building along with a case or speaker.

Little Davell was murdered while sitting in his stroller around 11:35pm.

The young New York City family had enjoyed a cookout with loved ones earlier in the day and were still at the park.

Video shows the men taking money out of an ATM machine

Another clip shows one of the men walking into an apartment block with a portable speaker

Suddenly, two men dressed in black approached the area, opened fire with a gun and quickly fled the scene as chaos ensued. The child's stroller was left behind at the scene.

Davell Gardner, one, was shot in the stomach and later died in hospital

Mayor Bill de Blasio later observed a moment of silence and declared himself 'heartbroken' over the boy's death, part of a recent surge of gun violence in the city.

'It's just horrifying,' de Blasio said at the time.

Three other men in the area at the time of the shooting were injured, but survived the incident.

No charges have been filed yet and local police have urged residents to come forward with information in the case to bring justice for Davell.

Last month, surveillance video was released that captured the incident.

The clip shows the two suspects running after four adults and pointing the weapons in their direction.

Last month, the New York Police Department has released footage of the moment two gunman opened fire in a Brooklyn neighborhood

The boy's grandma Samantha had earlier told The New York Daily News: 'So, when is it going to end? When are these young African American men, when are they going to stop with the shooting and the killing of all these innocent kids? It dont make any sense.'

Calling Davell the 'joy' in her life, she added: 'They need to stop this gun violence. I feel like this: You all are ranting and raving about black lives. But you take a life that was only a year and half old. And its not fair.'

She added: 'I hope they catch the b******s and put them under the jail cell.'

Davell Gardner Jr. was in his stroller when two men fired and fled. Davell, who was hit in the abdomen, died at the hospital. Gardner Jr. pictured with his father, Davell Gardner Sr., right

Two men dressed in black parked outside Raymond Bush Playground in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of New York City on Sunday, July 12th when they opened fire

'The baby was with his family enjoying a Sunday night in the Summer when someone started shooting,' Chief Jeffrey Maddrey of the NYPD Chief of Community Affairs Bureau tweeted.

'Three people were injured and the baby was killed. This. Must. STOP! We as a community, we as a police department denounce this disgusting violence.'

'These are the very real people affected by senseless gun violence,' NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted as he asked anyone with information to contact police back in July.

Pictured: a prayer card at the funeral of Davell Gardner, Jr. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

Shootings across New York City have increased by 82 percent year to date, and murders are up by 30 percent in another startling indication of how crime is taking over the city.

The NYPD released figures on Monday for the week of August 10 through August 16, which paint a worrying picture of how the situation in New York is growing increasingly hostile.

In the year to date, shootings are up 82.1 percent, murders are up 30.2 percent, burglaries are up 43.3 percent and car theft is up 58.7 percent.

This week compared to this week last year is even worse; shootings are up 142 percent, murders are up 40 percent, rape is up 11.1 percent and car theft is up 71.9 percent.

Year to date, crime is down by 2.7 percent but compared to this week last year, it is up by 2.0 percent.

As the crimes go up, the number of arrests being made are declining.

Year to date, they are down by 30 percent. When comparing this week to the same week last year, they are down by 50 percent.

In the last five years the number of shootings fell to a low of 754 in 2018, but is now rising

Shootings in New York City have nearly doubled in the past year, and there has been a nearly 30% increase in murders
Official and popular Palestinian views denounced the US-brokered peace deal between the UAE and Israel. Palestinian factions such as Hamas, Fatah and the Islamic Jihad expressed their disappointment at the accord.

According to a joint statement by the three parties to the deal, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a peace agreement between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. The historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region, the statement said.

All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from todays historic achievement.

Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the environment, the establishment of reciprocal embassies and other areas of mutual benefit, the statement continued.

As a result of this diplomatic breakthrough and at the request of President Trump with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the presidents Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world, added the joint statement.

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas slammed the tripartite deal announced in return for the suspension of Israels plans to annex parts of the West Bank. The Palestinian leadership said the deal undermines the Arab Peace Initiative and the decisions of the Arab and Islamic summits, and international legitimacy, and constitutes an aggression against the Palestinian people, and exclusion of Palestinian rights and sanctities, especially Jerusalem and an independent Palestinian state based on the borders of 4 June 1967.

The PA demanded the UAE immediately retract from the agreement that goes against the Palestinian people, Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa and that conducts normalisation [with Israel] in the guise of supporting the Palestinian cause. It also warned Arab countries against succumbing to US pressures to sign similar deals at the expense of Palestinian rights.

The leadership affirms that the UAE, or any other party, has no right to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people, and does not allow anyone to intervene in Palestinian affairs or speak on their behalf about their legitimate rights in their homeland, PA Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said.

The PA called for emergency meetings at the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in response to the agreement. It also called on the international community to adhere to international law and international resolutions that form the bases for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Peace will not materialise without the complete termination of Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, it added.

Palestinian factions criticised the accord, including the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Fatah. PLO Secretary General of the Executive Committee Saeb Erekat said the announcement is an approval to Judaicise Jerusalem and its sanctities and that the UAEs decision was forthcoming with or without annexation, a decision at the expense of the legitimate national rights of our Palestinian people.

The agreement is a strategic mistake resulting from miscalculations to satisfy senior White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, based on illusory alliances to confront Iran  an existential threat to the US  Erekat added. The deal, he stated, is a point of strength for Iran it wouldnt have acquired even if had spent billions of dollars.

This rewards Israel for continuing to occupy us, killing [our] children and building settlements, in return for a temporary halt to Israels annexation plan, Erekat said.

I really believe that this step is a killer to the two-state solution, he added, stressing that an apartheid system is the basis of the Trump-Netanyahu peace deal, dubbed the Deal of the Century, that would acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and undermine Palestinian refugees right of return.

Riyad Al-Maliki, minister of foreign affairs and expatriate Palestinians, announced that the PA recalled its Ambassador in the UAE Essam Masalha, while the PLO intensified calls with international organisations to follow up on their efforts with Palestinian refugees in camps, especially on dues to UNRWA, to ensure the agency continues to offer its services on the humanitarian, educational and healthcare levels to refugees amid the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The PLO added the accord was signed amid the increasing demolition of homes, installations and tents in the West Bank, land clearing, the uprooting of trees, daily raids, mass arrests and withholding the bodies of martyrs as part of an Israeli policy of ethnic cleansing and collective punishment. The organisation urged speedy action to protect the Palestinians against the crimes of the occupation, to try the occupier before the International Criminal Court, enforce a boycott and refuse to provide a lifeline that can benefit the occupier.

The PLOs Executive Committee confirmed the presidential decisions declared 19 May in which Abbas announced the PLO will not abide by agreements it signed with Israel and the US administration, and resulting obligations in light of the Deal of the Century and Israels annexation plan.

The body added it continues to adhere to the principles of the organisation, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. These principles include Palestinian refugees right of return, according to UN General Assembly Resolution 194, the right to self-determination, and the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, as the foundation for security, stability and peace in the region. The committee reiterated its rejection of Israels settlement expansion and warned against the dangers of Israels annexation plan.

The media spokesperson of the Islamic Jihad movement, Dawoud Shehab, meanwhile, said the UAE-Israel deal came to save the government of Benjamin Netanyahu from its crises.

The Palestinian Democratic Union (known as FIDA) said the accord was signed at a time Israels arrogance has reached unprecedented levels, and that Netanyahu will not suspend the annexation of parts of the West Bank.

The agreement is dangerous and represents a free reward for the Israeli occupation for its crimes and violations of the Palestinian peoples human rights, said Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum, adding that the deal is a stab in the back of the Palestinian cause and will encourage more violations and violence against the Palestinians.

The Palestinian National Initiative said the deal was signed at the expense of the Palestinian people and their rights, stating the accord came in tandem with Israels decision to postpone, not to cancel, its annexation plan. The group urged Palestinian unity to counter present threats.

Tayseer Khaled, a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), said Trump and Netanyahu are advancing towards a heated position, warning against presenting similar deals as being to the benefit of the Palestinians.

This is a hostile step. As much as it sends a message from Trump to American voters, it also paves the way for the Deal of the Century that targets the termination of our cause, the DFLP said in a statement.

Tens of activists converged on Al-Manara Square in central Ramallah, the West Bank, in protest at the UAE-Israel deal. A march called by national and Islamic forces saw demonstrators raising the Palestinian flag and urging unity.

The protest is one in a series of activities that will be arranged soon as part of the popular response to the normalisation project with the UAE. The Palestinian official and popular responses send a message of our rejection of the deal, said Essam Bakr, coordinator of national and Islamic forces in Ramallah.

A number of observers are of the opinion that the call to put off the annexation plan is the result of pressure exerted by influential US figures, such as Middle East envoy Denis Ross and veteran journalist Thomas Friedman who crafted the Arab Peace Initiative.

Zionists believe a hasty annexation for the sake of US and Israeli elections will constitute an existential threat to Israel. It will lead to the collapse of the Oslo Accords and the disintegration of the PA, endanger Israel and flood it with Palestinians who will threaten its Jewishness and transform it into a binational state, said Mohamed Al-Nobani, a Palestinian writer.

He added that Zionist intellectuals, especially in the US, have rejected the annexation plan, not because they support the establishment of a Palestinian state beside Israel, but because they believe it endangers Israels integration with its Arab surrounding.

Dalal Erekat, a professor of strategic planning, said the Palestinian cause is not about the issue of annexation, but a cause against occupation, racism, oppression, war crimes, prisoners of war, martyrs and deprivation of the simplest rights to life.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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I carabinieri hanno arrestato Rosario Palermo, 60 anni: e accusato di omicidio e occultamento di cadavere
SPRINGFIELD, PA  As the coronavirus battle continues in Pennsylvania, flu season is creeping up.

Luckily, the two Giant stores in Springfield are offering flu shots.

Giant is making flu shots available now at all its stores, including the Springfield locations at 721 W. Sproul Road and 950 Baltimore Pike.

Customers can also visit any in-store pharmacy to get their vaccination now.

Giant pharmacies offer several types of flu shots for children, adults and seniors.

Most insurance plans cover flu shots at $0 copays, including Medicare Part B. Flu shots are administered by immunizing Giant pharmacists.

No appointment is needed for the in-store vaccinations.

Select Giant pharmacies will offer drive-up flu shots where patients can pull into a spot in the designated area of the parking lot and be vaccinated without leaving their car Sept. 13 through Oct. 17.

For customers who cannot be safely vaccinated from inside their vehicle or for walk-up customers, seating will be available. Social distancing measures will be in place if more than one patient is being served.

Store locations offering drive-up flu vaccinations as well as the dates and times will be available Sept. 1.

Appointment won't be needed for drive-up vaccinations.

This article originally appeared on the Springfield Patch
Hindu extremists in India attack praying pastor, family with sharp weapons

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While praying, a Christian pastor and his family were brutally attacked by radical Hindu extremists wielding sharp weapons amid an uptick in incidents of religious persecution in the country.

Asia News reports that Pastor Rajesh Gupta was praying in the home of another believer when the Hindu radicals attacked him and his family.

A friend rescued Gupta and his family and drove them to the hospital, where his wife remains hospitalized with a fractured hand and leg, according to Asia News.

The beating of Gupta and his family marks the second attack against Christians carried out by groups of suspected Hindu radicals in Faridabad in recent months.

On June 20, a group of Hindu fundamentalists attacked an education center that is part of the Grace Assembly of God Church in Faridabad and placed a Hindu deity statue inside.

"The renovation of the church was going on when the extremists pulled down the under-construction wall and gate of the church" and installed the idol and manhandled the pastors, Pastor Ivan Power, head of the Assembly of God in northern India, told UCA News.

The Hindus claimed that a Hindu temple had existed on the same site as the church. However, the Christian church had been worshipping in that location for the past 15 years and the land was purchased from a local person who occupied it for 47 years prior to that purchase.

The Hindus continue to offer daily prayers before the monkey-headed Hindu god, according to church officials, who have accused local police of turning a blind eye to the incident.

Open Doors USA, a religious freedom monitoring group that operates in 60 countries, ranks India as the 10th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution.

Open Doors notes that incidents of persecution against Christians in India have increased since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party took power in 2014. Often, Hindu radicals attack Christians with little to no consequences.



The view of the Hindu nationalists is that to be Indian is to be Hindu, so any other faith  including Christianity  is viewed as non-Indian, an Open Doors fact sheet on India reads.

Persecution against Christians in India rose by over 40% in the first half of 2020, according to a recent report from Persecution Relief. The group recorded 293 incidents of anti-Christian persecution in the first six months of the year, including five religious-motivated rapes and six religiously-motivated murders.

In most cases, the attackers are right-wing Hindus who want to turn India into a Hindu-only nation, Shibu Thomas, the founder of Persecution Relief, told UCA News. They are opposed to Christians and missionary work.

A recent report from United Christian Forum in India, a Christian organization that advocates on behalf of Christians in India, found that attacks on Christians and their places of worship in India continued to escalate in both number and severity in the early months of 2020, with 27 violent incidents reported in March alone.

It was recently reported that three Christians in Ranjitpur village, Bihar state were brutally beaten by Hindu extremists angered by the believers acceptance of what they called a foreign faith and foreign God.

In July, a woman in Redhadi, a village in Indias Khunti district, who had recently converted to Christianity, was brutally murdered by four youths associated with a Hindu fanatic group.

The woman was the fifth Christian to be murdered in India in the last two months. Previous killings included a woman, a teenager, and a pastor  all targeted for their faith. The killings took place in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
Dealing with the death of a loved one is one of the most difficult things to go through, but it has become all the more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With large gatherings banned, non-essential hospital access severely restricted and physical contact limited, the way people mourn together has fundamentally changed. With the aid of technology, those who are losing loved ones have had to find new ways to connect.

It was really difficult trying to cope because our friends and family from afar couldnt come and be with us at all, says Odie Luangrath, whose husband, Dwayne Andrews, 49, died at their home in Etobicoke on April 8, after a battle with brain cancer.

Dwayne had a huge network of friends, most which are in Nova Scotia, the U.S. and Australia, and they all wanted to come fly in to help and be with us, but they couldnt, Luangrath said. When he started to get really sick, we started doing Google video chats every Saturday with all his friends so they could see him and talk to him, though he wasnt really responsive, she said.

Theres four guys that all grew up on the same street and he stayed friends with them for his entire life; theyre his brothers. Even though he had two brothers, these guys were his brothers, Luangrath said. No matter where he moved or where they moved, they always stayed in touch.

Since his passing, she has continued this weekly tradition with Andrews friends and family. Every Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, she logs onto Google chat, with some wine by her side, and talks to everyone virtually, sharing stories and reminiscing to help grieve. She says people will hop on and off as the chat goes on throughout the evening, and some loved ones will stay on until 1 or 2 a.m.

Her sisters  whom she is in a bubble with  have been taking turns coming over to see her and spend time with her, and friends and neighbours have been leaving food and wine on her porch; some have joined her for a meal on her patio while staying physically distanced.

One friend virtually sent Luangrath a generous amount of Uber Eats gift cards to use on the days she doesnt feel up to cooking or for when Andrews two kids  Sebastian, 16, and Isabel, 15, both from a previous marriage  come back to the home they have lived in for half their time, to visit with her and be in a space full of memories of their late father.

Torontos different faith communities have their own unique practices and considerations and have been adapting in the face of this change. Reverend Brent Hawkes  who has been the senior pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto since 1977, and Rabbi Yael Splansky, senior rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple and a past chair of the Reform Rabbis of Greater Toronto  are hoping to help Canadians contextualize the emotion of these life cycle rituals while also offering a message of hope and community strength, as we look toward life after COVID-19.

They told the Star in a joint phone call that theyve seen digital transformations of ceremonies  like streaming of funerals from the graveside  and though this option is welcome, especially for those who cant travel, technical issues (in one case, the cameraman forgot to press the streaming button) can arise, causing more disappointment.

Hawkes had a funeral experience in April, at which he saw a few friends gathered together. He says there was no coffee hour, no socializing. Funerals are for the living to celebrate the life, to support each other. All of that is being lost right now. People are delaying the funeral. They are cremated or buried and then doing a celebration of life. That is holding people back, he says.

Even under normal circumstances, grief is very isolating and the time of mourning is very lonely, which is why we have all these rituals to embrace people so they are not alone, Splansky says. Now during coronavirus, we are told to isolate and we are all a little lonely anyway so, for a mourner, its doubly isolating.

Having her husband die during a lockdown did force Luangrath to face her grief head on, and know she wasnt alone. It eases the suffering. I think it would be more painful if I was sitting at home crying constantly knowing that everyone elses lives went back to normal. You know that feeling of missing out? Thats what it would feel like if it wasnt during the pandemic, Luangrath said.

She journals on social media, sharing her journey and memories through posts on Facebook and Instagram, and she has heard from others who are also going through loss, creating another support system altogether.

Andrews didnt want a funeral but a wake in his hometown of Halifax instead. He was cremated, and the hope and plan was for Luangrath to bring his ashes to Nova Scotia this month. The two would fly out there each August to visit his parents cottage, where theyd have a reunion with family and friends, so Andrews wish was for his ashes to be spread there, in his favourite place, with his favourite people.

Obviously, because of COVID, I couldnt do that. If I went there, I wouldnt be able to see everyone for two weeks (due to the mandatory quarantine for travellers that is in place), Luangrath said. It continues to make the grieving process much harder because I cant even go to take care of his ashes the way that he wanted.

To help people connect, Splansky and others offer Zoom shivas. In the Jewish tradition, for seven days, the mourners come to the home and we bring food to feed them. None of that can be done now, of course. What weve done with online shivas has been remarkably comforting, Rabbi Splansky said. You can see everyones face and hear everyones words. As long as theres one person to lead and call on one by one, the families hear beautiful words of condolences. People are really enveloped by their circles of support.

As a young widow who would have celebrated her wedding anniversary last week, Luangrath advises that you shouldnt assume the person who is grieving doesnt want to hear from you. If anything, its almost insulting when others dont reach out. Theyre grieving as well, but its almost as if they dont want to bother me, but they should reach out. And knowing that other people are grieving as well actually brings comfort.

If you have a friend who is dealing with a recent death, how can you help, albeit from a distance? Splansky suggests reaching out in every way you can, even by telephone. Connection of human voice is so important. People would normally return to the workplace, and colleagues would ask how they are doing and hear the stories, and thats not happening now. We need to extend ourselves even further to help mourners overcome.

There are online resources available for those dealing with loss and bereavement. The aforementioned faith leaders have Zoom options to connect people during this time, and Internal Family Systems Counselling Association has started Grief Corps, which offers residents of Canada the chance to participate in complementary and virtual bereavement support groups to help cope with the loss of a loved one due to COVID-19.

You can also reach out to your church, mosque, synagogue or other houses of worship to see what options they have available to you during these unprecedented times.
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A recent market study published by FMI on the textile floorings market includes global industry analysis 2014-2018 & opportunity assessment 2019-2029, and delivers a comprehensive assessment of the most important market dynamics. After conducting a thorough research on the historic as well as current growth parameters of the textile floorings market, the growth prospects of the market are obtained with maximum precision.

Textile Floorings Market: Taxonomy

The global textile floorings market is segmented in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present a complete market intelligence approach to the reader.

By Material Type

Synthetic Textiles

Polypropylene

PET

Acrylic

Nylon

Animal Textiles

Wool

Fur

Plant Textiles

Grass

Sisal

For more insights into the market, request a Sample of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1629

By Product Type

Rugs

Carpets

By Technology

Tufting

Woven

Needlefelt

By Application

Residential

Commercial

Others (Industrial, etc.)

By Region

North America

Latin America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

APEJ

Japan

MEA

Report Chapters

Chapter 01  Executive Summary

The report initiates with the executive summary of the textile floorings market, which includes a summary of key findings and statistics of the market. It also includes the demand-side & supply-side trends pertaining to the textile floorings market.

Chapter 02  Assumptions and Acronyms

This chapter includes a list of acronyms and assumptions that provides a base to the information and statistics included in the textile floorings market report.

Chapter 03  Research Methodology

This chapter help readers understand the research methodology followed to obtain various conclusions as well as important qualitative and quantitative information about the textile floorings market.

Chapter 04  Market Overview

Readers can find the definition and a detailed taxonomy of the textile floorings market in this chapter, which will help them understand the basic information about the textile floorings market. Along with this, a comprehensive information pertaining to textile floorings and their properties are provided in this section. This section also highlights the inclusions and exclusions, which help readers understand the scope of the textile floorings market report.

Chapter 05  Global Textile Floorings Market Demand Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029

This section explains the global market value analysis and forecast for the textile floorings market between the forecast periods of 2019-2029. This chapter includes a detailed analysis of the historical textile floorings market, along with an opportunity analysis of the future. Readers can also find the absolute $ opportunity for the current year (2019), and an incremental $ opportunity for the forecast period (20192029). Along with this, pricing analysis of the textile floorings market at the regional level has been provided in this section. This section also explains the global market volume analysis and forecast for the textile floorings market between the forecast periods of 2019-2029.

Chapter 06  Global Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029, by Material Type

Based on the material type, the textile floorings market is segmented into synthetic textiles, animal textiles and plant textiles. In this chapter, readers can find information about the key trends and developments in the textile floorings market and market attractiveness analysis based on the material type.

Chapter 07  Global Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029, by Product Type

This chapter provides details about the textile floorings market based on the product type, and has been classified into rugs and carpets. In this chapter, readers can understand the market attractiveness analysis based on the product type.

Chapter 08  Global Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029, by Technology

Based on the light source type, the textile floorings market is segmented into Tufting, Woven and Needlefelt. In this chapter, readers can find information about the key trends and developments in the textile floorings market and market attractiveness analysis based on the technology.

Chapter 09  Global Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029, by Application

This chapter provides details about the textile floorings market based on the application, and has been classified into residential, commercial and others (industrial, etc.). In this chapter, readers can understand the market attractiveness analysis based on the sales channel.

Chapter 10  Global Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029, by Region

This chapter explains how the textile floorings market will grow across various geographic regions such as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan and Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Chapter 11  North America Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029

This chapter includes a detailed analysis of the growth of the North America textile floorings market, along with a country-wise assessment that includes the U.S. and Canada. Readers can also find the pricing analysis, regional trends, and market growth based on the application and countries in North America.

Chapter 12  Latin America Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the textile floorings market in Latin American countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and the Rest of Latin America. Along with this, an assessment of the market across target segments has been provided.

Chapter 13  Western Europe Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029

Important growth prospects of the textile floorings market based on its end users in several countries such as Germany, the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, and the Rest of Western Europe are included in this chapter.

Chapter 14  Eastern Europe Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029

In this chapter, India and ASEAN countries are the prominent countries in the Eastern Europe region that are the prime subjects of assessment to obtain the growth prospects of the Eastern Europe textile floorings market. Readers can find detailed information about the growth parameters of the Eastern Europe textile floorings market during the forecast period of 2019-2029.

Chapter 15  APEJ Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029

This chapter highlights the growth of the textile floorings market in APEJ by focusing on China, India, ASEAN, Oceania and Rest of APEJ. This section also help readers understand the key factors that are responsible for the growth of the textile floorings market in APEJ.

Request for covid19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/covid19/rep-gb-1629

Chapter 16  Japan Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029

This chapter highlights the growth of the textile floorings market in Japan by. This section also help readers understand the key factors that are responsible for the growth of the textile floorings market in Japan.

Chapter 17  MEA Textile Floorings Market Analysis 2014-2018 & Opportunity Assessment 2019-2029

This chapter provides information about how the textile floorings market will grow in major countries in the MEA region such as GCC countries, South Africa and the Rest of MEA, during the forecast period of 2019-2029.

Chapter 18  Competitive Landscape

This chapter provides tier structure of the market participants. This section also helps the readers to understand competition between key market players is.

Chapter 19  Company Profiles

In this chapter, readers can find a comprehensive list of all the prominent stakeholders in the textile floorings market, along with a detailed information about each company that includes company overview, revenue shares, strategic overview, and recent company developments. Some of the market players featured in the report are Mohawk Industries, Inc., Interface, Inc.,Beaulieu International Group N.V, Tarkett SA, Balta Group, Shaw Industries Group Inc., Forbo Holding AG, Mannington Mills, Inc., J+J Flooring Group and Vorwerk and Co. KGamong others.
Namibia diamond output to fall on Covid-19  chamber of mines

19 august 2020 News

Diamond production in Namibia is expected to fall in 2020, negatively impacting government revenue and export earnings, according to the countrys chamber of mines.

Chamber of Mines of Namibia resident Zebra Kasete said the drop in diamond output was due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He said demand for diamonds had also plummeted, being a luxury good in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, dampening the flow in the diamond pipeline.

Namibias central bank said last April that the diamond mining sector is forecasted to decline by 14.9% in real terms during 2020 due to the anticipated fall in demand, compounded by interruption in logistics for holding sales auctions due to travel restrictions and lockdowns around the world.

The projected contraction of 14.9% for 2020 is a downward revision from a growth of 5.3% projected last February.

Namibia produced just above 2 million carats in 2019, according to the Kimberley Process.

Namdeb production increased by 7% to 400 000 carats in the second quarter of the year.

With targeted regional lockdowns in Namibia in response to Covid-19, marine operations implemented measures to enable operational continuity while safeguarding the workforce.

This more than offset the decrease in production from Covid-19 at the land operations.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
Abdur Rahman, 28, working at MS Ramaiah Medical College, is accused developing a medical application to help injured Islamic State cadres in conflict zones

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an ophthalmologist in Bengaluru for allegedly being in touch with Islamic State operatives, reports said on Tuesday.

Abdur Rahman, 28, working at MS Ramaiah Medical College, is also accused of developing a medical application to help injured Islamic State cadres in conflict zones and a weaponry-related application to help further the terror group's activities in the country.

News18 reported that Rahman has been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). He was taken into custody on Monday in connection with the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) case being probed by the agency.

The NIA has found that Rahman allegedly toured Syria, and visited an Islamic State medical camp in early 2014. Reports added that he stayed with Islamic State operatives for 10 days before returning to India.

After Rahman's arrest, the NIA carried out searches at three of his premises and seized digital devices, mobile phone, laptop containing incriminating material, NIA spokesperson Sonia Narang was quoted as saying by PTI.

The college where Rahman was studying "was taken aback by questions regarding one of their faculty members," News18 reported.

"He was admitted to the college in 2017 under the government quota, through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (conducted by the state government). The college is not aware of his activities outside the campus," the college said in a statement.

The ISKP case was initially registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell in March, 2020, after the arrest of a Kashmiri couple  Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh  from the Okhla Vihar, Jamia Nagar area in the National Capital.

The couple had affiliations with the ISKP  which is an affiliate group of Islamic State  and were allegedly involved in subversive and anti-national activities.

PTI reported that they were also in touch with a member of the Abu Dhabi module of the Islamic State, Abdullah Basith, who was arrested in a separate NIA case and lodged in Tihar jail.

"During interrogation, arrested accused Rahman confessed that he was conspiring with accused Sami and other Syria-based Islamic State operatives on secure messaging platforms to further Islamic State activities. He was in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured Islamic State cadres in the conflict zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of Islamic State fighters," Narang added.

Besides Rahman and the Kashmir couple, the agency had also arrested two Pune residents, Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri, for allegedly being part of the conspiracy to further the activities of Islamic State /ISKP in India and to carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.

With inputs from agencies
Indias top naval commanders will discuss important operational issues during a three-day conference in New Delhi from August 19 to 21, amid the ongoing border tensions with China in the Ladakh sector, a navy official said on Tuesday.

The navy has been on an operational alert in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) where scores of warships are ready in the aftermath of the border row that triggered a brutal brawl in the Galvan Valley that left 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese dead on June 15.

The navy has stepped up surveillance and activities in the IOR, which, it believes, China will inevitably try to enter in its quest to become a global power, just as it has laid claim to large portions of the disputed South China Sea, as reported by Hindustan Times on July 29.

The commanders conference, to be chaired by navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh, assumes greater significance against the backdrop of recent events along Indias northern borders as well as the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, a navy spokesperson said.

It would provide the higher naval leadership a forum to discuss conduct of operations, sustenance and maintenance of assets, procurement, infrastructure development and human resource management issues within the ambit of the new normal established by the pandemic, the spokesperson said.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh will address the navy brass on the opening day of the conference.

A commanders conference is important at any time, but this one might especially look at various matters that the navys commanders would carefully consider in the backdrop of Chinas growing belligerent attitude, said maritime affairs expert Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande (retd).

The commanders will also discuss ways to optimise joint planning, tri-service synergy, operational readiness and functional reorganisation within the navy to enhance efficiency, the spokesperson said. The deliberations will also cover larger security imperatives in the Indo-Pacific region, he said.

The navy has positioned warships along critical sea lanes of communications and choke points in the IOR under its mission-based deployment model and the vessels can be diverted for any mission. Indian warships have been deployed from as far as the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Strait and northern Bay of Bengal to the southeast coast of Africa.
DORTMUND, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / August 17, 2020 / From mid-March 2020, the Company's income and earnings were shaped by the severe restrictions on public life imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive impact this has had on the economy. Consequently, the consolidated revenue growth of 6.3% generated by the Company in the first nine months was wiped out in the final three months of the 2019/2020 financial year as revenue declined by more than 25% compared to the prior-year quarter, accompanied by a major drop in earnings.

In the 2019/2020 financial year (1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020), Borussia Dortmund generated consolidated total operating proceeds (revenue plus gross transfer proceeds generated) of EUR 486.9 million (previous year: EUR 489.5 million). Borussia Dortmund's consolidated revenue remained virtually level at EUR 370.2 million (previous year: EUR 370.3 million).

In the financial year ended, the consolidated net loss amounted to EUR 44.0 million (previous year: profit of EUR 17.4 million). Consolidated earnings before taxes (EBT) amounted to EUR -46.6 million (previous year: EUR 21.8 million); consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) amounted to EUR 63.0 million (previous year: EUR 116.0 million).



Consolidated revenue amounted to EUR 370.2 million (previous year: EUR 370.3 million), of which EUR 32.5 million (previous year: EUR 44.7) from match operations, EUR 169.8 million (previous year: EUR 167.3) from TV marketing, EUR 98.0 million (previous year: EUR 96.8) from advertising, EUR 36.6 million (previous year: EUR 31.5) from conference, catering and miscellaneous, and EUR 33.3 million (previous year: EUR 30.0) from merchandising.

Net transfer income, which comprises gross transfer proceeds less residual carrying amounts and transfer costs, amounted to EUR 40.2 million (previous year: EUR 82.9 million).

The Group's personnel expenses increased by EUR 10.1 million from EUR 205.1 million to EUR 215.2 million in the financial year ended. Depreciation, amortisation and write-downs within the Group rose by EUR 13.6 million from EUR 92.5 million to EUR 106.1 million. The Group's other operating expenses were up EUR 0.5 million year on year from EUR 118.5 million to EUR 119.0 million.

Story continues

The consolidated financial result declined by EUR 1.7 million from EUR -1.7 million to EUR -3.4 million.

The above information relates to key figures from the consolidated financial statements of Borussia Dortmund calculated in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs).

In the separate financial statements of Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA prepared in accordance with the German Commercial Code (HGB), the Company reported a net loss for the year of EUR 49.7 million. In light of this earnings situation, it is not possible to propose a dividend distribution to the Annual General Meeting

Dortmund, 17 August 2020

Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA

Borussia Dortmund Geschaftsfuhrungs-GmbH

At 12:00 p.m. today in Dortmund, Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA will hold an annual press conference on the preliminary figures for the 2019/2020 financial year, which will be live-streamed online at https://aktie.bvb.de.

Contact:

Dr. Robin Steden

Inhouse Counsel / Investor Relations

SOURCE: Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/601976/Adhoc-Borussia-Dortmund-DisclosesPreliminary-Figures-for-the-20192020-Financial-Year




Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:53:00|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand joined forces on Tuesday for the start of the 96th Mekong River joint patrol.

Chinese vessels departed from the Guanlei Port in southwest China's Yunnan Province, while vessels of the other three countries departed from ports in Laos and Myanmar. The patrol will last four days and three nights.

Before the patrol, law-enforcement authorities of the four countries held a video conference to discuss the security situation on the river and reached an agreement on jointly cracking down on illegal activities such as stowaways, telecom fraud, and drug crimes.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping.

China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have been carrying out joint patrols on the Mekong River for eight years. Enditem
M utineering Malian troops have seized the country's president and prime minister in an apparent coup after months of protests against the regime.

Soldiers surrounded a house and fired guns in the air to cheers from protesters, in a day of dramatic unrest in the West African country's capital city of Bamako.

The mutinous troops said they had detained the president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and prime minister Boubou Cisse. A regional official confirmed this.

One of the soldier's leaders told AFP: "We can tell you that the president and the prime minister are under our control."

Prime Minister Boubou Cisse (L) and President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (R) / Getty Images

Protests began in the garrison town of Kati near Bamako, where soldiers took weapons from a barracks' armoury and arrested senior military officers.

Demonstrators cheered the soldiers actions, with some even setting fire to a Bamako building that belongs to Malis justice minister.

Prime Minister Boubou Cisse had earlier urged the soldiers to lay down their weapons

Soldiers and protesters in Bamako / Getty Images

There is no problem whose solution cannot be found through dialogue, he said.

Armed men also detained other civilian officials including finance minister Abdoulaye Daffe.

Mr Keita, who came to power in a democratic election in 2013, has tried to meet the protesters demands through a series of concessions since the demonstrations began in June.

Protesters in Bamako / Getty images

He has broad support from the country's former coloniser France and other Western powers. Tuesdays developments were immediately condemned by ECOWAS, the regional body that had been mediating the crisis.

France and the United States also strongly criticised the unrest. J Peter Pham, the State Departments special envoy for the Sahel region, tweeted: The US is opposed to all unconstitutional changes of government whether in the streets or by security forces.

Mali has experienced years of unrest since a 2012 coup allowed an Islamic insurgency to take hold in the West African nation.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Landmines pose a serious threat in conflict areas, yet modern detection systems struggle to discriminate between explosives and clutter. A project funded by the Army developed a new method for landmine identification that will greatly reduce false alarm rates.

Fewer false alarms will significantly reduce the cost of humanitarian landmine clearance operations and provide greater road mobility by avoiding unnecessary route detours. With this new technology, landmines can be detected without digging.

Vadum, Inc., North Carolina State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory, collaborated to develop what's known as the Vibration-ENhanced Underground Sensing system, or VENUS.

"New concepts are rare in the area of landmine detection," said Dr. James Harvey, program manager, ARO. "This advance has the potential to be a game changer."

The Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate of the U.S. Army CCDC C5ISR Center supported the research as a part of an Army Small Business Technology Transfer award managed by ARO.

Most conventional landmine detectors are based on detecting the electromagnetic signature of the mine itself, which can easily be confused with other buried metal objects or wet or magnetic soil patches.

With this new technology, published in the proceedings of the 2020 SPIE Defense & Commercial Sensing Conference, the small metal parts inside the landmine are stimulated to vibrate using a pulsed magnetic field.

Most other buried objects don't respond to the magnetic pulse and those that do have very different vibrational characteristics. The vibrations are detected by a unique high dynamic range vibrometer that can distinguish closely-spaced low-frequency vibrations.

"This new capability resulted from combining exciting results from several previous ambitious research projects and is an outstanding example of the transition from university basic research to new military and commercial technology capabilities," said Professor Michael Steer, a NC State research partner. "The mathematical algorithms behind the detection depend on understanding the details of the interaction of magnetic fields, radar pulses, and vibrating components within the landmine as well as with the properties of various soil and clutter objects. Advancing university physical models and analysis continue to support the improvement of the detection algorithms."

The Army awarded the research team an additional two-year Phase II STTR contract to mature its unique technology.

As part of that award, the research team will work to miniature and ruggedize the detection device for reliable outdoor testing at an Army range. The researchers also will collect data from real landmines in a variety of soil conditions and demonstrate the performance of the technology in demanding and stressing field conditions.

"Because conventional metal detectors and ground penetrating radar rely on similar same fields, it should eventually be possible to upgrade conventional systems with VENUS technology to maximize detection capability," said Dr. Josh Wetherington, principal Vadum researcher.

###

CCDC Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. As the Army's corporate research laboratory, ARL discovers, innovates and transitions science and technology to ensure dominant strategic land power. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win the nation's wars and come home safely. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.
Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would posthumously pardon Susan B Anthony, one of the most visible figures of the 19th century women's suffrage movement in the US.

The presidents declaration came on the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote in America, and as he lags behind Democratic candidate Joe Biden in polls ahead of the November election.

Mr Trump signed a proclamation declaring August as National Suffrage Month" and announced his intent to pardon Anthony, decrying the activists conviction, asking: What took so long?

Who was Susan B Anthony?

Anthony was an American activist and pioneer for the womens suffrage movement in the US, acting as president of the National Woman Suffrage Association between 1892 and 1900.

She was a prominent figure of womens rights movements and spent her life fighting for the cause.

Activists often visit Anthonys grave site in Rochester, New York, on Election Day to honour her legacy.

She has faced criticism in recent years for marginalising black women within the womens movement.

Why was she arrested?

Anthony cast a vote in the 1872 election in Rochester, New York, when it was still illegal for women to vote.

She was found guilty and fined $100 (75.50), which equates to about $2,100 ($1,590) in 2020, an amount that she never paid.

Following her highly-publicised case, Anthony continued to lobby for womens rights helping to merge the two largest suffrage associations into one, later leading the organisation.

Her work helped pave the way for the 19th Amendment but she died 14 years before it was passed in 1920.

What is the 19th amendment?

The 19th amendment prohibited voting discrimination on the basis of sex, paving the way for women's ability to vote in the US.

The victory came after a gruelling and militant, century-long campaign by the womens rights movement, which led to hundreds of women being injured and others arrested.

After launching the womens rights movement in 1848, women began pushing for the realisation of a federal amendment that would legally grant women the right to vote.

The amendment was passed in 1919 by the Senate after a number of failed attempts.

Despite the milestone, millions of women continued to face discrimination at the polls  black women were disproportionately impacted by suppressive and discriminatory poll taxes and literacy tests, and it wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, decades after the passage of the 19th Amendment, that racial discrimination was prohibited at the polls.

Why is she being pardoned now?

Some have argued that Mr Trump announced the pardon of Anthony this week to generate female support ahead of the November election.

Mr Trump has been trying to rebuild his support within the female suburban demographic, who according to polls, are becoming increasingly alienated from the president.

Others have voiced criticism for the pardon on behalf of Anthony, demanding that Mr Trump rescind it.

She was proud of her arrest to draw attention to the cause for womens rights, and never paid her fine, New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul tweeted. Let her Rest In Peace.

The pardon also comes amid controversy surrounding the president over mail-in voting in the November election.

Mr Trump, who has publicly condemned widespread mail-in voting, last week opposed the funding for the postal service proposed by Democrats to assist mail-in ballots this November.

The move has stoked accusations from Democrats that Mr Trump is trying to suppress the US vote.
By Ayya Lmahamad

A water reservoir with a capacity of 7,500 cubic meters is being constructed in Azerbaijans Salyan district.

The reservoir will help improve water supply in the nearby Neftchala district that is experiencing water shortage problems.

The construction is part of the project on improvement of water supply to Neftchala and nearby settlements in line with the presidential order of December 11, 2019 On measures for reconstruction of water supply and sewerage systems in Neftchala.

A 44-km water pipeline will take water from Salyan to Neftchala and provide around 40,000 city residents with water supply. At the same time, sewage system in Neftchala will be reconstructed.

Work is currently underway on the part of 44-kilometer water pipeline to Tatarmahla, Banka settlement and Neftchala district. Additional work forces and equipment are used to complete the water pipeline construction as soon as possible.

The construction of the main water pipeline is expected to be completed by the end of current year and the pipeline will be connected to the existing drinking water network.

As part of the project, 118 kilometers of drinking water and 116 kilometers of sewerage networks will be created in Neftchala, as well as in the settlements of the Bank and Kurkand, adjacent to the city center. An 8.6 kilometers long sewerage collector and a 4,000 cubic meters per day wastewater treatment plant will be built to manage and treat wastewater.

Azerbaijans water reserves are estimated at 30.9 billion cubic meters, out of which 33 percent are local inland waters and 66 percent are transboundary rivers.

It should be noted that in the government session on July 23, President Ilham Aliyev urged the government to take measures to eliminate the water shortage problem in the country. Furthermore, on July 28, Ilham Aliyev signed the Order on additional measures to ensure the efficient use of water resources in the country.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Monday, August 17, 2020

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Tesla (TSLA), The Walt Disney Company (DIS) and PepsiCo (PEP). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

You can see all of todays research reports here >>>

Tesla shares have literally been on fire lately, witth the stock up mroe than +90% over the last six months. The Zacks analyst believes that this momentum can continue on the back of robust Model 3 demand, ramp up of Model Y production, significant Shanghai Gigafactory progress, amazing line-up of upcoming products and aggressive expansion efforts.

The red hot EV maker recently posted the fourth consecutive quarterly profit, which qualifies it for inclusion in the S&P 500 list. Tesla has a first-mover advantage in the EV space with high range vehicles, superior technology, and software edge.

However, high R&D, SG&A costs and massive capex may clip the margins. Tesla is investing heavily to increase production capacity, boost sales and construct Gigafactories, which are likely to strain its near-term prospects. Waning margins for Model S/X is another concern.

(You can read the full research report on Tesla here >>> )

Shares of Disney have lost -9.8% in the year to date period against the Zacks Media Conglomerates industrys fall of -10.3%. The Zacks analyst believes that Disney benefits from the growing popularity of Disney+, owing to a strong content portfolio and a cheaper bundle offering despite stiff competition.

Disney reported disappointing third-quarter fiscal 2020 results as its businesses were adversely affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The companys domestic parks and resorts, cruise-line business, and Disneyland Paris were closed in the reported quarter.

Story continues

Shanghai Disney Resort re-opened in May and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, despite reopening in late June, was closed again in July. The pandemic affected Disneys third-quarter segmental operating income by $3.5 billion. Upcoming launches in the Nordics, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal and Latin America are expected to rapidly expand subscriber base.

(You can read the full research report on Disney here >>> )

PepsiCo shares have gained +1.5% over the past three months against the Zacks Soft Drinks Beverages industrys rise of +6.1%. The Zacks analyst believes that the company has gained from its strong portfolio of brands, a responsive supply chain and flexible go-to-market systems, which helped maintain continued supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The companys top and bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the sixth straight quarter in second-quarter 2020. Despite the coronavirus outbreak, results gained from resilience in the global snacks and foods business.

Lifting of restrictions and the gradual easing of challenges as the quarter progressed also aided results by improving business performance and channel mix. However, declines in the beverage category hurt volumes and top line growth in the second quarter. Also, adverse currency rates and higher operating expenses remain headwinds.

(You can read the full research report on PepsiCo here >>> )

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Caterpillar (CAT), Zoetis (ZTS) and Charles Schwab (SCHW).

5 Stocks Set to Double

Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.

Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>

Sheraz Mian

Director of Research

Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>

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Solid Subscription & Political Ad Revenues Aid TEGNA (TGNA)

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Low End-Market Demand & High Debt Restrict HD Supply (HDS)

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Global non-profit organisation Women in Music (WIM) has launched a South African chapter as the country holds Women's Month in August. WIM works to educate, empower and advance women in the music industry.

There is a real need for women in the industry to connect, uplift, support, support and create opportunities for women, says founding member and chair Tumi Mogapi. It is crucial to have a space for conversations about levelling the playing field for all, with the mission to educate and grow the South African music industry. We are creating a space for us to pause, reflect and ask questions to address representation and belonging.

The Women in Music South Africa founding members are:

Keke Mokoena, Keke Mokoena Brands

Tumi Mogapi, Publisher Services Manager: SAMRO

Lulama Mali, Platoon SA

Diane Coetzer

Manaileng Maphike, YLT Services

Mpumi Phillips, Creative Manager, SHEER Publishing

Sarah Jane Nicholson

Morgan Ross, GM: UMG Live Africa

It will be followed by a series of online panel discussions where women in the South African music industry can discover more about WIM membership and connect to the already growing community.The launch marks a significant step forward in the homegrown music industry with the founding members choosing Womens Day for its historical significance in the empowerment of women to advance their own political, social and economic position.There are minimal spaces solely for women in music within the midst of the highly male-dominated South African music industry, adds founding member and vice-chair Manaileng Maphike. WIM South Africa is that space  a space where South African women can create networks with like-minded women from across the globe to propel their careers beyond the borders of South Africa.To give effect to this, membership of WIM provides many benefits including access to educational and networking events around the world, educational seminars, panels and workshops with top-notch professionals, up close and personal evenings with acclaimed performers, producers and other industry professionals, roundtable discussions on current topics relevant to the industry, and special mixers and speed networking events.Members also get access to online networking groups, directories, newsletters, forums and more, all to enhance networking with the SA chapter of WIM and the larger WIM worldwide community. This includes access to an exclusive WIM Google Group as well as useful resources and information from mentors and peers and answers to pertinent questions from the WIM community.Prospective members will be able to learn more about WIMs mission, values and work in the first of a six-part online panel series, presented in collaboration with Africa Rising Music Conference. Hosted by the South African chapter founders, the first in the series will take place on 31 August 2020.For more information on WIM go to www.womeninmusic.org . Follow Women In Music on Facebook here
Bayonnes latest luxury building up for approval wont look like the rest.

A project moving forward this week plans to convert a brick 1921 Catholic school building into residences without abandoning the nearly 100-year-old facade.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Schools current look will be maintained to the greatest extent possible, according to the redevelopment plan up for a City Council vote Wednesday night. The school built in the Roman revival style is part of the vanishing architectural history of Bayonne, the plan states.

I think itll stand out from all the new buildings that are going up, said developer Mitchell Burakovsky.

The 99-year old school sits at the corner of East 22nd Street and Church Lane, a quick walk from the 22nd Street Light Rail Station. It was open until 2008 and has since been mostly vacant. The neighboring Parish of St. John Paul II has remained open.

Burakovskys intention is to convert the school into about 30 luxury loft-style apartment units. It will also feature a gym, rooftop, and garage, which will match the buildings style, he said.

The apartments will range from studios to two-bedroom units. The goal is to begin construction in a year and start leasing in late 2023, Burakovsky said.

The developers other projects in Bayonne include Hudson Flats and Skye Lofts.

It was an unused building by the church so were finding a good use for it, he said.
NESS ZIONA, Israel, Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Meat-Tech 3D Ltd. (TASE: MEAT) announced today it achieved a significant milestone: it successfully printed a uniform, thin, slaughter-free meat tissue produced from stem cells. Meat-Tech's successful experiment is a technological breakthrough that significantly increases the feasibility of Meat-Tech's technologies.

Meat-Tech's most important experiment to date transpired as part of the company's multi-year work plan. The plan is to develop an industrial process, with integrated 3D digital printing technology, for growing and producing cuts of beef without harming animals. Designated as "Project Carpaccio", due to its similarity to the thinly-sliced meat delicacy, Meat-Tech applied its proprietary 3D printer for tissue construction, followed by a cell-growth process. Meat-Tech's scientists succeeded in printing several cell types, which coalesced into a single fat and muscle tissue grown in Meat-Tech's laboratory.

This feat has brought about the coalescence of a living tissue composed of several different bovine cells. The experimental results were analyzed by a professional examiner and corroborated by the company's audit committee.

This milestone demonstrates three significant process capabilities attained by Meat-Tech:

- Successful sorting of stem cells into fat and muscle cells, allowing the synthesis of muscle fibers and fat tissue;

- Formulation and production of bio-inks designed to print fat and muscle cells to ultimately form tissues; and

- The formation of printed tissue containing coalesced fat and muscle cells.

The experiment demonstrated that Meat-Tech's digital bioprinter has high efficacy in arranging cells in space as planned, with coalescence observed both between different cells and between cells and their environment, both of which are essential for tissue formation.

Meat-Tech's Chairman, Steven H. Lavin, said, "Completing this significant milestone earlier than anticipated is a significant technological achievement for Meat-Tech, bringing it one step closer to developing technology to build slaughter-free meat-growing plants combined with printing technology, and demonstrating the company's ability to print fat and muscle cells to build tissue."

This milestone is part of the Company's defined goals included in the merger it completed in January 2020. This achievement triggers the vesting of half of the options granted to MeatTech's shareholders as part of the merger transaction.

About Meat-Tech 3D

Meat-Tech 3D is a research and development company aiming to develop commercial technologies to manufacture alternative foods with no need for animal butchery, based on rapid growing cycles. Meat-Tech is developing a unique, proprietary bioprinter to deposit layers of cells (including stem cells and differentiated stem cells), scaffolding, and cell nutrients in a three-dimensional form of structured cultured meat, often called "clean meat". For more information, please visit www.meatech3d.com

For further information please contact:

Sharon Fima

[email protected]

SOURCE Meat-Tech 3D Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.meatech3d.com


POTTSTOWN  For Theresa Sell, that day 75 years ago feels like it was yesterday.

That day was Aug. 18, 1945, and Japan had surrendered to the United States three days earlier, effectively ending World War II.

Sell, then Theresa Marchione, had celebrated out in the street with all the neighbors when the surrender was announced. It meant the war was over and her brother Anthony would be returning to the family home in the 500 block of King Street.

But war does not always play by the rules.

So it was that when Anthony Marchione finally came home from war, it was to be buried.

A gunner and photographers assistant with the Yotan-based 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, Marchione had survived several combat missions. On the day he died, he aboard a B-32 aircraft that was attacked by Japanese fighters, despite the earlier surrender, as it took photographs over Tokyo.

He was struck in the chest by a 20 mm cannon round and earned the regretful honor of being the last man to die in World War II.

It was six days after his 20th birthday.

He was such a good person, his sister Theresa, two years his junior, recalled recently in her home in Pottstowns North End. He used to scrub the floor for my mother so she wouldnt have to.

Marchione graduated from Pottstown High School in 1943 and played the trumpet in the band.

His sister Theresa graduated a year later and woke up the day after her prom to discover that the Allies had landed in Normandy in the largest amphibious invasion in history, better known as D-Day.

Marchione, Theresa and sister Geraldine, five years younger, were the children of Ralph and Emelia Marchione, both Italian immigrants.

My father was a shoemaker, and he had shops in the 400 block of High Street and on South Franklin Street, Sell said.

We lived in the center of town, so we walked pretty much everywhere. And we went to the old Jefferson School on Beech Street and the junior high and we walked to them as well. It was a long way, but we didnt think much about it in those days, she recalled.

Most of our childhood, we spent swimming in the Manatawny or playing in the playground or in the alley, said Sell.

When war came, Marchione joined the Army Air Corps on Nov. 20, 1943, with an eye toward becoming a pilot, but the Army had other ideas and decided he should be a gunner and photographer.

While overseas he wrote us tons of letters. He was a very good letter writer, said Sell, known to most as Terry.

But it was a telegraph that brought news of Marchiones death.

Sell was working as a bookkeeper for a machine parts plant in the South Pottstown portion of North Coventry, when a co-worker came looking for her and told her the boss wanted to see her.

I thought I was going to be reprimanded for taking a break, said Sell. Instead, someone drove me home, I cant recall who it was, and when we got home all the neighbors were crowded around the house and I could hear my mother screaming.

Her sister Geraldine, still in high school, was swimming at Sunnybrook Pool and one of the neighbors went to get her, said Sell. Now Geraldine Young, Sells sister lives in Fleetwood, Berks County.

Marchiones death is the subject of a book titled Last to Die, by military historian Stephen Harding, published five years ago.

In it he recounted the details of Marchiones mission.

He was aboard one of several B-32s sent to fly over Tokyo as part of a photo team. When two of the planes were forced to return to Okinawa because of serious engine oil leaks, defensive firepower was cut in half and the two remaining B-32s had to prolong their time over Japan in order to photograph targets. Eventually, Marchiones plane was met by Japanese pilots.

In the book Harding wrote: The Japanese pilots who took to the air on Aug. 18, whether from Atsugi or Oppama, had no intention of simply shepherding the American aircraft out of Japanese airspace. Their purpose was far more direct: they were fighter pilots, and they were on the hunt.

The Japanese pilots ignored the order to ceasefire, it was very, very sad, said Sell.

In an interview with The Mercury after the publication of his book, Harding explained that Marchiones death was a significant factor in the final days of World War II.

His death three days after the Japanese had surrendered made for difficult decisions for the American command. The attacks faced by Marchione and his comrades, as well as others on the day before, forced generals to decide whether to treat them as unfortunate attacks by a few die-hard pilots unwilling to accept the ceasefire, or an indication that the war was not over.

General Douglas MacArthur eventually chose not to retaliate, preventing the possibility of prolonged war and far more casualties.

Nobody wants to be the last person killed in any conflict and Tonys death would have been a footnote in history had it not been for the fact that his death came very close to restarting a war that most people assumed was already over, Harding told The Mercury.

It took four years for Marchiones body to be returned home to Pottstown and he is buried in the old St. Aloysius Cemetery on High Street.

I went back to work and when I met people in the street, I would get upset if they talked about Tony, but if they didnt talk about him I got upset too, she said.

Now 93, Sell said her brothers needless death still affects her.

Generally, the family marked Marchiones passing every year on the day he was buried, but Sell does not look forward to Aug. 18.

It still feels like it was yesterday, she said.
During Sydney's COVID-19 surge in March and April, something curious happened. On days when the air was dry, more people seemed to catch the virus. When the city's air was more humid, fewer people caught it.

That's no coincidence, the authors of a new study say. Dry air increases the coronavirus' ability to spread, they argue.

A woman is tested at the drive-through COVID-19 testing site at Bondi Beach this month. Credit:Nick Moir

In Sydney a 1 per cent decrease in the amount of water in the air was associated with a 7.7 per cent increase in infections, according to the peer-reviewed study, published on Tuesday in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.

The lockdown in February and March was, of course, a much more substantial contributor to stopping the outbreak. But the researchers found the same link between dry air and cases whether or not a lockdown was in force.
The tropics are expanding, and climate change is the primary culprit

WASHINGTON--Earth's tropics are expanding poleward and that expansion is driven by human-caused changes to the ocean, according to new research.

The tropics wrap around Earth's middle like a warm, wet belt. This part of the globe gets the most direct sunlight throughout the year and is characterized by high average temperatures and heavy rainfall. In contrast to the tropics' lush interior, however, this region's edges are hot and parched.

Scientists have noticed for the past 15 years that these arid bands are expanding toward the poles into regions like the Mediterranean, southern Australia and southern California. Interestingly, these dry areas have expanded more in the Southern Hemisphere than the Northern Hemisphere and researchers have struggled to pinpoint exactly what is driving the trend.

A new study in AGU's ,Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres argues that the failure to agree on an exact mechanism has been, in part, because most researchers have been looking in the wrong place. The new study found tropical expansion is driven primarily by ocean warming caused by climate change rather than direct changes to the atmosphere. A bigger shift is happening in the Southern Hemisphere because it has more ocean surface area, according to the new study.

Tropical expansion could have profound economic and social implications: the process could shift storm paths and cause more severe wildfires and droughts in places like California and Australia that are already water-stressed.

The new findings provide the clearest evidence yet that tropical expansion is in fact primarily driven by climate change, according to the study authors. While natural long-term climate fluctuations contribute to the observed trends, these variations alone cannot explain the extent to which expansion has already occurred.

This means, the authors argue, that climate change might have already significantly contributed to tropical expansion, especially in the ocean-dominated Southern Hemisphere.

"We demonstrate that the enhanced subtropical ocean warming is independent from the natural climate oscillations," said Hu Yang, a climate scientist at the Alfred Wegner Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany and lead author of the new study. "This is a result of global warming."

A disconcerting phenomenon

A 2006 paper published in the journal Science announced a troubling finding: in some parts of the world, the tropics were expanding. Researchers have attempted to figure out the culprit ever since that paper was published. Scientists estimate from satellite observations that this widening is happening at a rate of 0.25 to 0.5 degrees latitude per decade. But without pinpointing a root cause, they cannot accurately model how quickly the expansion will occur in the future or what regions it will impact.

Some researchers have suggested greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion and aerosols in the atmosphere are driving the expansion. But climate models using these variables to explain the expansion consistently underestimate the speed of the shift and do not account for why expansion is happening in some regions but not others. This has led some researchers to theorize that tropical expansion can simply be explained by natural oscillations in Earth's climate. But natural variation does not quite fit the patterns scientists have already observed.

Ocean versus atmosphere

Yang and colleagues began to take notice of tropical expansion in 2015, when analyzing ocean currents that carry warm water toward the poles. This got them thinking: what if tropical expansion was driven not by changes in the atmosphere, but changes in the ocean?

Because the ocean and atmosphere are highly connected systems, it is often difficult to tell which is driving the other, Yang said. In the new study, Yang and his colleagues analyzed water temperatures in the major ocean gyres, large circular ocean currents that carry warm water toward the poles and cold water toward the equator. They used satellite observations of sea surface temperature between 1982, the year observations began, and 2018, and compared these observations to data on the expanding tropics that stretches back to 1979.

They found excess heat building up in the subtropical oceans since global warming began in the mid-1800s has driven tropical edges and ocean gyres toward the poles. When the researchers compared movement of the ocean gyres to tropical expansion, they found the two phenomena matched: tropical expansion was happening in places where the ocean gyres were moving poleward.

"I actually am really impressed with this paper," said Kristopher Karnauskas, associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder who was not connected to the new study. "There really aren't a lot of papers out there that really investigate the role of the ocean in the tropical expansion problem."

###

AGU supports 130,000 enthusiasts to experts worldwide in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, we advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.

Notes for Journalists

This research study is freely available. Download a PDF copy of the paper here. Neither the paper nor this press release is under embargo.

Paper title: "Tropical expansion driven by poleward advancing mid?latitude meridional temperature gradients"

Authors: Hu Yang, Gerrit Lohmann, Evan J. Gowan, Xiaoxu Shi, Qiang Wang: Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany;

Jian Lu: Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division, Paci?c Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States;

Jiping Liu: Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, United States.

This press release and accompanying images are available online at: http://news. agu. org/ press-release/ the-tropics-are-expanding-and-climate-change-is-the-primary-culprit/

AGU press contact:

Lauren Lipuma,

+1 (202) 777-7396,

news@agu.org

Contact information for the researchers:

Hu Yang,

Alfred Wegener Institute,

Bremerhaven, Germany

hyang@awi.de

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
In an online program organised by the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Bhushan Patwardhan, the University Grants Commission (UGC) vice chairman showered praise on the recently ushered in New Education Policy (NEP).

There is a misunderstanding among Indians that original knowledge source comes from the West and this new education policy is liberating us from that. This policy for the first time boldly has talked about our countrys legacy. So in search of our own identity, education will play an important role in the future, Patwardhan said.

Along with Patwardhan, SPPU vice chancellor Nitin Karmalkar, pro-vice Chancellor N S Umrani, SPPU registrar Prafulla Pawar and deans of several departments of SPPU were present.

Patwardhan further said, I will not talk about the specifications or the points drafted in this policy, but it is the process of change of thoughts for all of us. SPPU is actually a miniature of UGC in Pune, we are handling more than 1,000 universities and SPPU is handling more than 1,000 colleges.

We celebrated our Independence Day but the question is that have we become free in our mind. And education is to liberate our minds from that kind of impact of colonial times and so many invasions on our country. So we have to change our curriculum in a major way and we have started this process. The inter-disciplinary studies concept was first introduced in SPPU in the country and emphasis is given on this in the NEP. The internship has now been applied to all other subjects. So this new policy comes with so many new things and I welcome this policy. he added.

Talking on this occasion, Karmalkar said, It has become necessary to make basic changes in the syllabus and with the NEP it would be possible now. Social development is an important aspect highlighted in this policy and it should be promoted by universities and colleges.
An angry note branded a father 'fat' and 'selfish,' for wrongly parking in a family bay - despite his wife and daughter being inside the car at the time.

Gilly Patel had stopped off at a Tesco Extra supermarket near the Ricoh Arena in Coventry to buy sweets and other items for a family party on Sunday, leaving his family in the back seat of his BMW.

When he returned he found a note which read: 'Bit selfish parking in a family space when you on your own.

'If you walked a bit you would not be so FAT.'

The writer, who was seemingly oblivious to Mr Patel's family in the back of the car, returned to his own Land Rover Discovery, where he was confronted over the message.

Gilly Patel was branded 'selfish' and 'fat,' for parking in a family space at Tesco Extra in Coventry on Sunday

The father returned to his BMW in Coventry where he discovered the note on Sunday afternoon

Mr Patel said: 'I was only in the store for five minutes shopping for gifts and things like that and he was still waiting in his car by the time I got back so I went over to him and told him through his window that I had every right to use that parking space.

'He wouldnt respond at first and he only apologised after security guards came over, even though they didnt get involved.

'He saw my wife get out of the car and tapped me on the shoulder as if to say sorry, totally ignoring social distancing. I was furious.'

Mr Patel, from Dudley, believes the man who wrote the offensive note had been waiting to see what happened when he returned to the vehicle but had been oblivious that his wife and one-year-old daughter were sat in the back seats of the BMW.

Mr Patel was able to confront the driver of the note after his wife saw them walk back to their Land Rover Discovery

The former Coventry University student said: 'I think he was waiting to see my reaction when I came back and didn't realise my wife was in the car and had spotted him going back to his own vehicle.

'He must have felt a right idiot. I was totally shocked someone could take the time to write a note like that in the first place with everything else going on the world, let alone without getting their facts right.'

Mr Patel said he feels as though the incident may have been racially motivated.

'People should think twice before they start making baseless accusations against others.'
The U.S. Democratic Party in case of a victory at the presidential election in November is ready to interact with Moscow on the issues of limiting and reducing nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia. Those are the provisions of the foreign policy part of the proposed Democratic Party platform subject for approval by the National Convention.



"Just as was the case during the height of the Cold War, its in our interest to work with Russia to verifiably limit and reduce our nuclear stockpiles. We will build on this foundation to negotiate arms control agreements that reflect the emergence of new players like China, capture new technologies, and move the world back from the nuclear precipice," the document said.



The program draft also includes the promise to stand up "to a revanchist Russia" together with European partners. "We will not allow Moscow to interfere in our democracies or chip away at our resolve. We will reaffirm Americas commitment to NATO and defending our allies. We will maintain transatlantic support for Ukraines reform efforts and its territorial integrity," the document stated.

The convention delegates are going to name Joe Biden as the U.S. presidential nominee and Kamala Harris as the vice-presidential candidate at the upcoming election on November 3. Due to the coronavirus pandemic the event is conducted remotely, TASS reported.
Survivors of Joseph DeAngelo, the man now known as the "Golden State Killer," addressed him directly in court on Tuesday in powerful and emotional victim impact statements.

The three days of hearings, which includes statements from survivors and victims' family members, began Tuesday with victims of rapes in Sacramento County. DeAngelo, who was a police officer from 1973 to 1979, will be formally sentenced on Friday to life without parole.

One woman, who was a 22-year-old newlywed when she was raped in May 1977, told DeAngelo in court Tuesday, "I forgive you."

"Kindness is a sign of strength not weakness. This is for me -- not for you," she said. "You have lived over 70 years carefree, and the victims and the survivors have had long-lasting scars."

'Had complete control over me'

The daughter of rape survivor Patricia Murphy read a statement on her mother's behalf on Tuesday as DeAngelo sat silently in a white face mask and orange jail shirt.

PHOTO: Joseph James DeAngelo appears in Sacramento Superior Court on Aug. 18, 2020, in Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento Superior Court Department)

On Sept. 4, 1976, Murphy, a 29-year-old single mother, was attacked outside her parents' house.

"That night forever changed me," the statement said. "I never felt safe for many years. It was hard for me to trust ... I was always looking over my shoulder expecting someone to jump out at me."

"I wonder why he picked me to be one of his rape victims? Did he know my name?" she said. "He punched me in the face and broke my nose. I had a concussion from falling backwards ... it soon became clear that he and his knife had complete control over me for the next two hours."

PHOTO:Joseph DeAngelo returns to Sacramento Superior Court in Sacramento, April 10, 2019. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

"The lump on my nose [from the punch] never went away," her statement said. "I learned to accept it was just part of my face."

Murphy later turned to alcohol and drugs to "numb my pain," she said.

Murphy, still suffering from PTSD, was hospitalized for several days after DeAngelo's arrest. She had trouble sleeping and had vivid nightmares.

Story continues

MORE: The 'Golden State Killer': Inside the timeline of crimes

DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 counts of first-degree murder in front of dozens of victims and victims' relatives in June as part of a plea deal, which also required him to admit to multiple uncharged acts, including rapes, which were described in horrific detail by prosecutors.

The death penalty was taken off the table in exchange for the guilty pleas. DeAngelo will be sentenced to life without parole.

PHOTO: Joseph James DeAngelo, known as the Golden State Killer, arrives for the first day of victim impact statements at the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse in Sacramento, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020. (Santiago Mejia/Reuters)

'Whatever it took to save herself and her family'

On Oct. 18, 1976, Mini Schultze, a wife and mother of two, was raped in her home.

Her son, Pete Schultze, who read a statement on her behalf Tuesday, recalled how DeAngelo tied him to the bed until his hands turned blue.

His mother was bound, blindfolded and raped, and her wedding ring was stolen, he said.

MORE: 'Golden State Killer' victim recalls rape that 'terrorized' her

"Our mother is not Jane Doe No. 22 and we are not just No. 37 uncharged offense. We are the family of Mini Schultze and we have all survived because of her bravery and resolve to do whatever it took to save herself and her family," Pete Schultze said.

He said his mother, now a breast cancer survivor and grandmother of four, is still married to his father after 55 years.

'I would never be a child again'

On Dec. 18, 1976, Kris Pedretti was 15 years old when she raped by a knife-wielding man who said he would kill her if she did not obey him.

"He tormented me. And he told me over and over again he would kill me. And I believed him," she said in court Tuesday.

PHOTO: Kris Pedretti reads her victim impact statement as Joseph James DeAngelo is in the court room the Sacramento County Courthouse, in Sacramento, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Pedretti said she thought she was going to die at three different times that night.

The next morning, "I woke up knowing I would never be a child again," she said.

PHOTO: Kris Pedretti reads her victim impact statement as Joseph James DeAngelo is in the court room the Sacramento County Courthouse, in Sacramento, Calif. , Aug. 18, 2020. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Pedretti said her parents did not let her talk about that night, which forced her "to live my life like the rape never happened."

She said she struggled for 41 years with extreme panic attacks, failed relationships, unhealthy coping mechanisms, few friends and frequent job changes.

"Though I have found my way to a happy and safe life," she said, "DeAngelo deserves his sentence of life without parole in the most dark and lonely containment."

"Your secrets have been exposed. Your double life is over. The world, and I mean the entire world, knows who you are and what you did," Pedretti said. "You will forever be known as a repulsive coward who hid behind a mask of evil. The devil can keep you company in your prison cell, as he gnaws away at whatever soul you have left.

Pedretti said she thinks the victim impact statements should be his only reading materials in his prison cell.

'She was a survivor'

Debbie Strauss Popado, who was raped on Oct. 29, 1977, died from cancer in 2016. Her daughter, aunt sister and mother spoke on her behalf in court Tuesday.

After her attack, Popado would get phone calls with "heavy breathing and evil threats," said her sister, Sandy James.

"My sister Debbie was never the same" and the rape "chipped away at her soul and her happiness," James said. She "lived with constant fear, always wondering, 'Was he living near by?'"

She had bouts of depression and was terrified of being home alone, her daughter said.

MORE: 'Golden State Killer' pleads guilty as horrific crimes recounted by prosecutors

"You took the sister I knew from me that night," James said, overcome with emotion. "I have also been broken through this nightmare."

"After many decades of suffering, witnessing his capture, meeting so many other victims and survivors, would have been incredibly healing for Debbie," James said.

The arrest "brought about much pain and emotion as if it were happening all over again," James said. "I've begun a whole new cycle of grieving for my sister."

"Today is a day of celebration and a day of healing," her mother added. "Although my daughter passed away in 2016, she was a survivor."

PHOTO: Gay and Bob Hardwick who were attacked in their Stockton home in 1978 by Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo, stand as the charges are read against DeAngelo during a hearing in Sacramento Superior Court in Sacramento, Calif. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP, FILE)

DeAngelo, now 74 years old, was accused of committing 13 murders as well as multiple rapes and burglaries in the 1970s and 80s, terrorizing communities from Northern to Southern California.

The "Golden State Killer" crimes went unsolved until April 2018, when DeAngelo was arrested in Sacramento County.

DeAngelo became the first public arrest obtained through genetic genealogy, a new technique that takes the DNA of an unknown suspect left behind at a crime scene and identifies him or her by tracing a family tree through his or her family members, who voluntarily submit their DNA to public genealogy databases. This allows police to create a much larger family tree than using law enforcement databases.

To identify DeAngelo, investigators narrowed the family tree search based on age, location and other characteristics.

Authorities conducted surveillance on DeAngelo and collected his DNA from a tissue left in a trash. Investigators plugged his discarded DNA back into the genealogy database and found a match, linking DeAngelo's DNA to the DNA found at multiple crime scenes, prosecutors said.

Since DeAngelo's arrest, over 150 other crime suspects have been identified through genetic genealogy.

ABC News' Jenna Harrison contributed to this report.

'Golden State Killer' victims address him in court: 'The devil can keep you company' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Filming has commenced in the UK on the Christmas Special of the tenth anniversary series of Call The Midwife.

Made by Neal Street Productions, series will return with a 90-minute special episode.

Created and written by Heidi Thomas, this years Christmas Special is set in December 1965. Everyone at Nonnatus House is looking forward to traditional celebrations with all the trimmings, but nothing goes quite to plan. Sister Monica Joan is rushed to hospital, and Trixie is incensed to receive a subscription to a Marriage Bureau as a Christmas gift.

Meanwhile, a surprise reunion for Shelagh involves her in a deeply moving birth, and the circus arrives in Poplar, bringing new friendships, new experiences, and an exciting adventure for Nurse Crane.

As the production is taking place during the current Covid-19 pandemic, additional controls are being implemented.

Call the Midwifes production team and Neal Street Productions are committed to helping get the country back to work and have developed comprehensive protocols in accordance with current government guidelines to ensure that the series is produced in a safe and responsible manner. They have worked closely with industry bodies and the BBC to develop the detailed Covid-19 protocol policy, implementing various safety measures and testing and will keep it under constant review.

There is also a designated Covid-19 supervisor on set to look after the productions safety precautions and efforts. The health and safety of the cast and crew is the highest priority. Due to the later than usual start to filming, series 10 in 2021 will consist of seven hour-long episodes instead of eight.

Dame Pippa Harris, Executive Producer, says: Alongside the rest of the country, we have all been devastated to see how Covid-19 has affected people around the world. Our midwives and nurses may not be the front-line heroes of todays NHS, but by getting back to work, they, and we, hope to bring some joy and respite into peoples lives.

In such difficult times, the values of Call The Midwife seem more resonant than ever. In series ten we will continue to celebrate the skill and bravery of the UKs NHS whilst bringing laughter and love into our homes.

Heidi Thomas, Creator, Writer and Executive Producer, says: Everyone is overjoyed to be whisking the dust sheets off Nonnatus House and getting back to filming after lockdown.

It is a particular thrill to be able to deliver the Christmas Special on time, just as we promised at the start of the pandemic. We are very much a family at Call The Midwife, and like families everywhere, we have missed each other. We will now be putting more love and energy into our work than ever and cant wait to share Series 10 with our fantastic, loyal audience.

The Christmas Special cast will include Jenny Agutter (Sister Julienne), Linda Bassett (Nurse Crane), Judy Parfitt (Sister Monica Joan), Fenella Woolgar (Sister Hilda), Ella Bruccoleri (Sister Frances), Helen George (Trixie), Laura Main (Shelagh Turner), Leonie Elliott (Lucille), Stephen McGann (Dr Turner), Cliff Parisi (Fred), Annabelle Apsion (Violet), Georgie Glen (Miss Higgins), Max Macmillan (Timothy), Daniel Laurie (Reggie) and Zephryn Taitte (Cyril).

Call the Midwife airs in Australia on BBC First and ABC.
China could be the only economy to keep growing this year, according to a BBC article - China and trade: Breaking up is hard to do  published on Monday.

Global trade has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, China has responded to the situation by reassuring and giving businesses confidence to reopen, the article said, citing Steven Lynch, chief executive of the British Chamber of Commerce in China.

China very quickly gave tax incentives and support to companies with supply chains and manufacturing operations in the country to reassure them of their investments, Lynch said.

The country plays a very important role in the global supply chain. The article quoted a recent survey as saying 87 percent of companies of the world still use the Chinese mainland as one of their top 3 sourcing destinations.

China's appetite for high-tech goods is growing when other countries are cutting back.

"We cannot just give up this market", Taiwan-based industrial computer maker Advantech founder Chaney Ho was quoted as saying by the BBC.

China accounts for a quarter of Advantech's global business. Moreover, the country is still doing a lot of infrastructural expansion for 5G and high-speed train subway infrastructure, which requires a lot of industrial computers.

"This is not just good for Advantech, but also for a lot of other European companies too", Ho said.

BBC pointed out China is becoming one of the world's most important customers rather than the world's supplier, and global trade has been defined by China in the last few decades. That, the report said, is not going to change any time soon.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan increased by 587 to 36,100, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health.

To date, 31,580 (+607) patients have fully recovered in the country, while 240 have died.

Under the instructions of President of Uzbekistan, unlimited movement of vehicles as well as local air rail traffic in Uzbekistan was resumed since August 15, 2020.

In addition, from August 17, 2020, Tashkent resumes 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 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.

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.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
DAndre Anderson, communications and volunteer coordinator for the Equity Alliance in Chattanooga, announced his bid for a seat on City Council representing District 8.

Mr. Anderson, 21, is a graduate of Central High School and a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has been a member of the Tennessee National Guard since 2016. Anthony Byrd is the incumbent.

Mr. Anderson ran for School Board in District 9 in the 2018 general election after serving as a student representative on the board.

His campaign said, "Inspired by the connections made and experience gained through this debut campaign, Mr. Anderson has continued to serve as an advocate and activist for his community. He organized a group called Dre & Friends whose purpose was to provide relief to those affected by the April 2020 tornado. In recognition of these relief efforts, Mr. Anderson was invited to participate in the Out-of- Contact Student Campaign by local nonprofit, UnifiEd. He worked with a team to distribute COVID-19 care packages to over 600 students who could not be reached by Hamilton County through standard means.



"Mr. Anderson decided to run for City Council in District 8, galvanized by the Black Lives Matter movement. In recent months, he has spoken with the citizens of District 8 regarding their concerns, and will continue to seek input from community members to better understand their needs. He believes elected officials should be held accountable for putting people over politics. He aims to give voice to the voiceless, combat division, and unite the community for our shared health and prosperity. His top priority is the fight for unity and equity for the people of District 8.



"Mr. Anderson recently became the communications and volunteer coordinator for the Equity Alliance in Chattanooga where his role is to advocate for voter turnout by registering voters who have been purged from the system. He hopes to increase voter engagement and encourage people to vote locally to see real change in our community. Mr. Anderson is excited to serve in his district and represent its people."






Queensland will keep its hard border lockdown in place until New South Wales and Victoria completely eliminate community transmission of coronavirus.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement as Queensland marked its 29th day with no new cases, leaving only seven active infections in the state.

Meanwhile, Victoria recorded 222 new coronavirus cases and 17 deaths, while NSW counted three more cases.

When asked about reopening her state, Ms Palaszcuk said her government is still 'very concerned' about the situation in NSW and is monitoring it daily.

As for Victorians, she said they will be barred from entry at least until December.

'I think we're going to continue to see restrictions in Victoria up until Christmas time,' she said on Monday.

'That's very unfortunate for people living there but it's a serious situation.'

Queensland's border slammed shut to Victorians on July 10 as a second wave of coronavirus began smashing the state.

Fears the outbreak could spill into NSW quickly mounted, prompting Ms Palaszcuk to lock NSW and the ACT out a month later, on August 8.

Despite infections dwindling in NSW, the QLD Premier said the changing situation in the state, like the City of Sydney this week being declared a hotspot, meant interstate travel still poses a health risk.

'We are still very concerned about NSW and we are watching very closely if there is any movement of cases in northern NSW,' Ms Palaszcuk said on Tuesday.

'Its critical that we keep on top of that  we can't give that certainty when the situation is constantly evolving and changing.

'I will make the best decisions to keep Queenslanders safe.'

Victorians could be barred from entering QLD until Christmas if community transmissions do not cease. A person wearing a face mask is seen in Melbourne on Tuesday

The QLD Premier said she is still 'very concerned' about the case numbers in NSW. Two women are pictured wearing face masks out shopping in the CBD on August 15

Ms Palaszcuk has been slammed for her tight border restrictions, with critics arguing they are impacting the economy and draining resources needed to enforce them.

Responding to criticism on Tuesday, Ms Palaszcuk credited her state's tight regulations with keeping Queensland's community transmissions low.

'Queenslanders can go about their daily lives which is not the case in other parts of the world,' she said.

'My priority is to keep Queensland as open for Queensland as much as possible during this time.'

'We are not the only state that has borders shut, and what we have seen with those states with hard border closures we do not have a large number of cases.'

The Premier also revealed she had recently received a letter from Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressing his concern about the economic hit to the agricultural sector and supply chains, which he said were at risk due to border closures.

Ms Palaszczuk said the letter was addressed to all premiers and she would be open to discussing the matter further in Cabinet.

'The prime minister has written to all premiers. We only just received that letter. It's a very generic letter and of course we're happy to have further discussions at national cabinet,' she said, Nine News reported.

Ms Palaszcuk credited her state's tough border measures with keeping QLD's coronavirus case numbers low. Young women pictured enjoying a night out in Surfers Paradise in June after COVID-19 restriction eased

'It's just a very generic letter. It talks about health, well freight we have a national agreement about freight and the testing of drivers and in relation to health we want the best health care for all Australians no matter where they live.'

Queensland Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the border closure could continue into next year and was a strain on police resources.

'We have over 1,200 officers per roster dedicated to the COVID response,' he told the Today Show on Tuesday.

'We've been doing that for many months now. We're managing it. It's a strain. We're planning ahead. We realise we may be going into next year with this type of approach and our planning is thorough around that.

'The message is very clear  make sure you have the reason to enter Queensland. If you are coming out of the hotspot states as well as Victoria and ACT you will not be let in unless you have exemption and should have border declaration pass ready.'

Of NSW's three new cases, one is a returned traveller in hotel quarantine and two were locally acquired from south-west Sydney.

One of the community transmissions is a close contact of a previously reported case, while the source of the other is under investigation with contract tracing underway.

Although numbers in NSW continue to drop, NSW Health said the unidentified source of some cases remains a concern.

Airforce personnel walk though a park in Melbourne On Tuesday as Victoria recorded 222 new cases and 17 deaths

'Even though daily case numbers are low, there have been 16 cases in the last 4 weeks whose source is not identified or linked to clusters, mainly in western and south western Sydney, indicating that COVID-19 is continuing to circulate in the community, undetected,' NSW Health warned.

NSW Health declared the City of Sydney a coronavirus hotspot on Monday following recent confirmed cases in the east including at Cafe Peron in Double Bay and the Den Sushi restaurant in Rose Bay.

The move came after the Thai Rock restaurant in Potts Point sparked an outbreak of 37 cases and a number of new infections linked to CBD venues surfaced over the past two weeks.

Anyone who lives in the City of Sydney or has visited there in the past two weeks has been urged to get tested, even if they only have mild symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freelands appointment as Canadas first female finance minister prompted a flurry of online reaction from politicians and leaders across Canada.

Many  including Ontario Premier Doug Ford  have applauded Freelands historic appointment, and have taken to Twitter to offer words of encouragement and congratulations on the appointment

Freelands appointment to the position follows the resignation of Bill Morneau on Monday evening.

Heres a sampling of what theyre saying on social media:
An Internet personality, Ismaila Mustapha, popularly called Mompha, on Tuesday filed a suit seeking to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to pay him N5 million as damages for alleged unlawful re-arrest and detention.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Mustapha, who is facing a N32 billion fraud charge, was re-arrested on Friday by the EFCC.

He was re-arrested when he went to the EFCC Office, Ikoyi, Lagos, to reclaim his five wristwatches, one Apple airpod, one iPhone, eight mobile phones and one pair of sunglasses seized from him by the anti-graft agency in 2019.

READ MORE:

The visit followed a ruling given by Justice Mohammed Liman on July 24, in which the judge ordered the release of the seized items on the grounds that the EFCC did not list them as exhibits in court.

In the suit filed on his behalf on Tuesday by his counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), Mr Mustapha is praying the court to declare that his re-arrest and detention by the EFCC was unjustifiable and unlawful.

He is equally urging the court to declare that the continued seizure of the items violated his right to own property under Section 44 of the constitution.

He is praying the court to order the EFCC not only to free him but also to give him back the seized items and pay him N5 million as damages.

A litigation officer in the office of Mr Mustaphas lawyer, Kayode Adeboye, who swore to an affidavit in support of the application, averred that his (Mustapha) arrest was baseless.

EFCC Officials

He argued that Mr Mustapha had been granted bail by the court and never absconded.

Mr Adeboye, in line with the bail conditions, Mr Mustapha had been reporting at the EFCC office fortnightly without defaulting.

However, the spokesman for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said that Mr Mustaphas re-arrest was connected to a fresh set of cyber fraud charges.

The court has yet to fix a date to hear Mr Mustaphas N5 million suit.

(NAN)
The family of slain Bauchi lawmaker, Hon. Musa Mante Baraza, has regained freedom after spending five days in kidnappers den.

Recall that Mantes wives, Rashida Musa Mante 40, Rahina Musa Mante 35 and his one- year old daughter Fausar Musa Mante were abducted by gunmen after killing him at his residence last Thursday in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi.

Confirming their release, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Bauchi Command, Ahmed Wakili said: They were rescued yesterday around 11pm by the police, no ransom was paid. Immediately they were rescued they were taken straight to teaching hospital in Bauchi.

They were admitted there for medical attention and no suspects were arrested yet. I will give you further details later.
NEW YORK (AP)  Joe Biden is poised to unveil his vision for the modern Democratic Party in the first presidential nominating convention of the coronavirus era, an all-virtual affair that will test the former vice president's ability to overcome unprecedented logistical challenges in an urgent mission to energize a winning coalition.

The Democratic National Convention, which formally begins Monday, is not a convention in the traditional sense. There will be no physical gathering place, no cheering audience, no balloons. The program will consist instead of a series of online video addresses  half of which will be prerecorded  that play out for two hours each night until Biden formally accepts the Democratic presidential nomination in a mostly empty Delaware ballroom on Thursday.

Along the way, Biden's party will make history by unveiling the nation's first Black vice presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. The speaking program also features two former presidents, two past presidential nominees, a former Republican governor, a New York ultra-billionaire and various working-class Americans.

Nothing about 2020 has been normal. So I dont think anyone expected that this convention would be normal either, said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who was under consideration to serve as Biden's running mate and will speak at the convention. I hope wherever people are that theyre excited about the moment and the opportunity that lies before us.

The online gathering comes as Democratic officials work to energize supporters behind Biden's candidacy  not simply against President Donald Trump's. While Trump is a huge motivator for many Democrats, there is some concern within the party that lower-information voters who lean Democrat and swing voters aren't locks to cast ballots for Biden this fall, especially as the pandemic creates barriers to voting.

At the same time, Trump and his allies are fighting to scare away would-be Biden-Harris backers by describing the Democrats' 2020 ticket as the most ideologically extreme in American history. While widely considered a political moderate  at least compared with the likes of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren  Biden has plans to implement a Medicare-like system for those who want it, sweeping environmental protections and higher taxes on the rich.

Still, Biden attracted the support of former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, who is scheduled to speak Monday. The Biden campaign hinted that Kasich would not be the only high-profile Republican featured at the convention, but refused to say more.

The inclusion of Kasich, who opposed abortion rights and fought labor unions while in office, rankled some progressives. One of the far left's champions, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is scheduled to speak for just 60 seconds to help introduce Sanders the day after Kasich. Prominent liberal activist Ady Barkan, who previously backed Sanders, is scheduled to deliver remarks the next day.

Im glad that John and other moderate-type Republicans understand that it is wrong to be supporting Trump, Sanders told The Associated Press. But what John says has nothing to do with what I will say. My speech has everything to do with the need to defeat Trump, elect Biden and move the country into a government that works for all of us and not just the 1%.

There appears to be far less tension among the Democrats' often-competing factions heading into the 2020 convention than many predicted earlier in the year. Just six months ago, political operatives were openly contemplating the prospect of a contested convention in which none of the Democratic candidates had a clear delegate majority going into the convention.

That possibility quickly faded in early March. After Biden's commanding South Carolina primary victory, several competitors suddenly rallied behind him as the pandemic began to explode.

Even if there was leftover resentment among wings of the party, the convention's online forum doesn't provide any opportunities for public infighting. Key votes on the party platform already will have taken place by mail ballot. The details, which are expected to be approved overwhelmingly, were hammered out in Zoom meetings.

Progressives got their say when they extended party rules through 2024 that ban superdelegates from voting for the partys presidential nominee on the first nominating ballot.

But without the opportunity for the approximately 4,800 Democratic delegates from across the country to gather on the same convention hall floor, as is tradition, the opportunity for a genuine convention debate over the direction of the party has been eliminated.

Larry Cohen, a prominent Rules Committee member and Sanders confidant, lamented the loss of an in-person convention, but not because it limits debate.

The key of a convention, really, is the party building that comes with 57 different delegations, he said, noting the in-person daily meetings that would occur in hotels across a host city. You shape the party in those breakfast meetings, where you argue over what it means to be a Democrat in Wyoming, what does it mean in Georgia.

The Biden campaign on Friday announced watch parties in all 50 states featuring elected officials and celebrities such as Alyssa Milano, Pete Buttigieg and Valerie Jarrett. The watch parties, like the convention itself, will be online.

With less focus on policy debates, convention officials are highlighting the historic racial diversity on the ticket as the nation experiences a national awakening on race. Harris, who is also of Asian descent, is scheduled to address the nation Wednesday night as the first woman of color on a major party's presidential ticket.

The high-profile Black speakers also on the program include former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Barack Obama, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Bottoms, who will introduce a video tribute to the late Georgia congressman John Lewis on Thursday night, ahead of Biden's speech.

"For so many people of color in this country, race is always at the forefront," Bottoms said. "To be able to have this collective conversation in so many ways is cathartic, especially as were going into an election year, because there wont be any secrets about what people across this country expect from the next administration.

Despite the focus on racial justice, the Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist, predicted next week's convention would lack excitement. He said it likely doesn't matter, however, especially as Trump and his party prepare for their convention the following week.

As excited as I am about Kamala Harris, the best weapon Democrats have is Donald Trump, Sharpton said. He will do himself in. Just dont get in his way. He will beat himself.

___

Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Wilmington, Del., contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Ocasio-Cortez is scheduled to speak the day after Kasich, not the same day.
Army officials on Tuesday released the name of a Fort Hood, Texas, soldier who died after being injured at the scene of an auto accident in the town of Killeen.

Spc. Cole Jakob Aton died Aug. 12 from "injuries suffered while providing assistance at an accident scene on U.S. Highway 190/Interstate 14," according to a Fort Hood news release.

Read Next: New Army Assessment Course Will Force Colonels to Think Like Generals

It's unclear from the release whether Aton was involved in the accident. The case is currently under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the release states.

Aton, a 22-year-old native of Science Hill, Kentucky, entered the service in March 2018 as an Army Patriot Launching Station Enhanced Operator-Maintainer and had been assigned to 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery Regiment, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, since August 2018, according to the release.

"The command wishes to express its condolences to the families and friends of Specialist Jakob Aton, and all who have been affected by this tragic accident," Col. Ethan Hall, commander of the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, said in the release. "Specialist Aton was a professional, committed to the mission. His selfless service and care for others are in keeping with the highest traditions of the 'Lightning Brigade' and our Army. The entire team is heartbroken."

Aton's awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon, according to the release.

His death is one of a spate of Fort Hood soldier deaths that has attracted national attention.

In late June, base officials announced that skeletal remains found in Killeen had been positively identified as those of Pvt. Gregory Morales, a Hood soldier who went missing in August.

And on July 6, Army officials confirmed that human remains discovered near Hood had been identified as Spc. Vanessa Guillen's.

Guillen, a 20-year-old 3rd Cavalry Regiment soldier who disappeared April 22, was allegedly murdered by Army Spc. Aaron Robinson, according to a July 2 criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Texas.

Guillen's case has become a rallying cry for lawmakers and advocates of female veterans, who are now calling for an end to the culture of sexual harassment and assault in the U.S. military.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarty announced in June that he had ordered an independent review of Fort Hood's command climate. The five civilian members of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee are expected to provide an interim program report by mid-September and a final report by Oct. 30, according to a recent Army news release.

Some of the deaths appear to be accidental but are still under investigation. On July 17, the body of Pvt. Mejhor Morta was found in the vicinity of Stillhouse Hollow lake, southeast of Fort Hood. Two weeks later, Spc. Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas died in a boating accident at the lake.

Morta and Hernandezvargas were both assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: SecArmy Pledges 'Every Resource' to Root Out Causes of Vanessa Guillen's Death
The method said to be used for Irish students was previously used in the UK for A-level results which were issued on July 13th.

The UK government were forced to make a u-turn regarding the results after mounting pressure from students who felt they have been unfairly affected by the new system.

The system lowered the grades given by teachers to a large number of students, with those from lower socio-economic backgrounds being disproportionately affected.

Students in the UK will now receive the original marks given to them by their teachers.

Almost 800 people have signed the

Leaving Certificate petition, entitled 'Scrap School Profiling', at the time of writing.

The campaign page, set up by Aidan Cusack, called for the Department of Education to "remove the classist school profiling from the Leaving Certificate calculated grading system, which would further entrench privilege into our education system."

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The petition has also gained support on social media, with TD for Dublin South-West, Paul Murphy tweeting that the Irish Government should learn from the mistakes made in England, Scotland and Wales with the A-level results.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the 2016 hacking of Democratic Party accounts and the release of emails intended to harm Hillary Clintons campaign, the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded in the final report of its Russia probe, which also found that President Donald Trump didnt collude with Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian effort to hack computer networks and accounts affiliated with the Democratic Party and leak information damaging to Hillary Clinton and her campaign for president, the bipartisan panel wrote in the report, which was released Tuesday. Moscows intent was to harm the Clinton Campaign, tarnish an expected Clinton presidential administration, help the Trump Campaign after Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee, and undermine the U.S. democratic process.

The committees three-year probe found numerous contacts between Trump associates and Russians or people with ties to the Russian government, as well as efforts by Trump to take advantage of the leaks politically, but the committee did not find evidence of collusion between President Trump and the Russians.

The report, however, called former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manaforts presence on the team a grave counterintelligence threat.

Manafort created opportunities for Russian intelligence services to exert influence over, and acquire confidential information on, the Trump Campaign, the report said. The committee was particularly concerned about Manaforts sharing of information with people it says were affiliated with Russian intelligence services and associates of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the panel, said the report, which involved sorting through millions of documents and hundreds of witness interviews, revealed a breathtaking level of contacts between Trump officials and Russian government operatives.

This cannot happen again, he said in a statement. As we head into the heat of the 2020 campaign season, I strongly urge campaigns, the executive branch, Congress and the American people to heed the lessons of this report in order to protect our democracy.

Russia has long denied interfering in the U.S. election.

Republicans emphasized the lack of evidence of collusion by Trump and criticism of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its use of the salacious Steele dossier in its investigation, while warning that threats continue from Russia and other countries, including China and Iran, ahead of November.

The committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election, said acting Chairman Marco Rubio.

Rubio said the evidence of Russian meddling was irrefutable, but he also dinged the FBI for their acceptance and willingness to rely on the Steele Dossier without verifying its methodology or sourcing.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said politicians must take special care not to fall prey to foreign influence efforts, amplify disinformation, or politicize our adversaries attacks on us and said the goal of the foreign efforts is to sow division.
Rick Love loved Jesus above all else. He loved the Bible as Gods Word.

Ricks love for Jesus led him to love Muslims. But his love for Scripture eventually changed his mind about how to love Muslims.

Rick, who passed away on December 29, did not always love Jesus. In a candid confession in his book, Glocal: Following Jesus in the 21st Century, Rick describes how in his youth he embraced the sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle of the sixties. After partying through the night of his 18th birthday, he woke up in the morning thinking, There has to be more to life than this, and Im going to find it. It was of the 1970s Jesus Movement he would later write, I encountered Jesus, and my life radically changed.

From the start, Ricks faith was all about following Jesus, which he distinguished from the cultural trappings associated with Christianity and traditional ways of doing church. It was certainly not about a heretical fusion of Christianity with American nationalism, that he believed has tragically damaged the witness of American Christians.

The other element at the heart of Ricks faith was the authority of Scripture. Not content with merely upholding inerrancy as an abstract doctrine, he would steep himself daily in the biblical text, allowing it to guide his life. His wife Fran describes how day after day she witnessed Rick holding up his hands in prayer and worship as he studied the Bible.

From Scripture, Rick understood early on that God cared about all nations and cultures. This moved him to care about Muslims. For decades, he assumed this meant he should become a missionary in the traditional sense. He and Fran went to Indonesia to serve Jesus. Later Rick was asked to lead Frontiersone of the largest evangelical organizations worldwide dedicated to reaching out to Muslims.

Ricks second conversiona term he used himselfbegan after the terrible events of 9/11 and the so-called War on Terror. In early 2002, Rick was stung by an article titled Stealth Crusade in Mother Jones magazine, which depicted Rick as the prime example of a deceitful approach to missionary work among Muslims. In the overheated and interconnected post-9/11 world, this article quickly went viral. Translated into many languages, it found its way onto the front pages of Muslim-run newspapers around the world.

The article misrepresented Rick, and distorted his views. But it also made him acutely aware that Christians frequently talk to each other as though no one else were listening. Terms familiar to us are easily misunderstood by others. For example, in his youth Rick described himself as militant for Christ, by which he meant passionately committed. Later he came to understand that to non-Christians, militant sounds aggressively militaristic.

But Rick was also troubled in his conscience. Though he had never been dishonest in the way Mother Jones implied, he felt he had not truly been honest with his Muslim friends either. He believed he needed to repent.

Rick urged Frontiers to adopt what he called 3D Communicationcommunicating with integrity and consistency before three key audiences: fellow Christians, Muslims, and secular news media. Under his leadership, Frontiers changed its mission statement to read, With love and respect, inviting all Muslim peoples to follow Jesus.

Notice the emphasis on following Jesusnot Christianityechoing Ricks first conversion.

Ultimately, Ricks second conversion took him deeper, guided by his love of Scripture. He had always been a peacemaker in relationships among Christians, but the wars and violence following 9/11 led him to a fresh study of biblical peacemaking.

Article continues below

In his book Peace Catalysts, he writes: As I studied the topic of peace from Genesis to Revelation, I realized that the idea of peace and peacemaking is much bigger than I thought. I wondered how I had missed it  What I discovered transformed my life  May you examine the Scripture to see for yourself, and may you experience your conversion of peace.

Rick did not waver in his evangelical theological commitments, but he became convinced his understanding of the gospel had been incomplete. By focusing exclusively on rescuing souls for the afterlife, he had ignored Gods loving concern for peoples well-being in this world. Rick came to believe that peacemaking was at the heart of what Jesus said Gods children should do.

But what if a Muslim friend does not want to follow Jesus? Rick believed, following Matthew 22:39 and Jeremiah 29:7, that following Jesus still requires us to love that friend and continue our friendship, working together for the peace and well-being of society. He became convinced that Jesus way of loving Muslims would not allow friendship to be instrumentalized as a mere means to the end goal of conversion.

In 2006, Rick left Frontiers, founded Peace Catalyst, and devoted the rest of his life to peacemaking with Muslims. In 2008, I was privileged to work closely with Rick on the Common Word initiative, bringing together senior Muslim, Christian, and Jewish leaders around the world in a call to love God and love each other. Ricks experience convinced him that loving Muslims with no ulterior motives could powerfully change the world.

Ultimately, Ricks second conversion was not a departure from his original faith. It was a restoration of his original focus on simply following Jesus.

Peace Catalyst prioritizes loving friendships with Muslims. A key value is hospitality, as Muslims and Christian friends (sometimes with Jewish friends) break bread together around a common table, with no strings attached.

But Peace Catalyst is ultimately about following Jesus. On its website, Rick wrote:

Above all, we are followers of Jesus, on a journey with him, following where he leads us. We center our lives on himnot on the religion of Christianity, not on Western civilization, and not on patriotism. Jesus is the great peacemaker. We affirm a Jesus-centered approach to life because this highlights the treasure of the good news.

Rick came full-circle back to his original faith: following Jesus.

But did Rick still believe in inviting Muslims to follow Jesus? Muslims and Christians alike often asked him that question. His typical answer was something like this: Of course I would like to see my Muslim friends encounter Jesus as I did, just as Muslim friends want me to embrace Islam. But ultimately that is up to God, not me. What is up to me is that Jesus calls me to follow him in loving my Muslim neighbors unconditionally and partnering with them toward a peaceable world.

In his later years, Rick believed strongly that though the gospel includes an eschatological future in heaven, it is also about Gods kingdom coming and Gods will being done on this earth as it is in heaven.

Rick passed away from complications related to bile duct cancer, and entered the presence of the Lord. But in his last days, he maintained hope that what he created in Peace Catalyst would carry on his vision.

I want to be part of creating a new heaven and a new earth with God, said Rick, quoted in his obituary.

A peaceable kingdom.

Joseph Cumming is a scholar of Islamic and Christian thought who serves as pastor of the International Church at Yale University.
Amid all the controversy swirling around the June 14 death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, his family's lawyer Vikas Singh said on Monday that there are very, very high chances that it was a murder.

Singh, a former Additional Solicitor General, said that after the death of the 34-year-old actor, his flatmate Sidharth Pithani remained in constant touch with the bereaved family till the time an FIR was filed.

"But after a case was registered (in Patna), he started helping Sushant's ex-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty," the lawyer said.

"Till the time we filed the FIR, Pithani was in contact with the family and gave an impression that it was a suicide and that Sushant was under depression. The bereaved family was believing the same. But once the FIR was registered (by Sushant's father KK Singh), he was helping Rhea by sharing that email. It was at that point that the family felt it could be a murder. Now, from what he has done and questions that have appeared, the chances are very, very high that it could be a murder," Singh told IANS.

The lawyer also raised questions on the autopsy report, claiming a lot of "discrepancies".

"The autopsy was not shared with anybody for long. It is silent on the effect of hanging on the body, like popping out of eyes, bone-snapping etc; nothing is there. I don't think even nail clippings have been taken for testing," Vikas Singh said.

He alleged that the autopsy was conducted at a hospital with a bad reputation and "is infamous for providing certificates in lieu of money".

"Though the autopsy is silent on a lot of things, like was there a stool to hang, whether he could have hanged himself or not, and so on. I hope that the CBI as a very professional and efficient agency will address these important questions and reach a logical conclusion," the lawyer added.

Pointing to a mark found on Sushant's body, the lawyer said that cloth, a part of which was found hanging, may not be the one that caused Sushant's death.

"The mark on Sushant's body was a very uniform mark; such a mark can typically be made by a belt," he said, adding that he wasn't sure if it was a dog leash or some kind of a belt.

The former ASG also pointed out that since another autopsy cannot be carried out and a lot of physical evidence which could have helped resolve the case may not be available now, electronic evidence would play a really important role.

"I'm sure that a big electronic trail would be there... the Central Bureau of Investigation will definitely be able to make out a proper case with the help of electronic evidence available," Singh said.

The Supreme Court had last week reserved order on Rhea Chakraborty's plea for the transfer of the Patna FIR to the Mumbai Police.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy had noted that Rhea herself has pleaded for a CBI probe. Both the Bihar government and Sushant's father are also seeking a CBI probe into the actor's death, while the Maharashtra government opposes it.
Thousands of A-level students face waiting until 2021 to go to university after the government's sudden U-turn over exam grades left 55,000 pupils scrambling for places.

Elite universities face being overwhelmed by the u-turn as students who initially did not meet their offer requirements under the now-scrapped algorithm system now have the required grades.

There are also concerns that this year's exam chaos could have longer term consequences and spill over into next year, with some high performing students this year thought to be prepared to defer to get into their university of choice next year.

55,000 pupils who were rejected by their first choices had signed up for other institutions - and could now want to return to their desired university if their grades are bumped up by the U-turn.

Roughly 30,000 students accepted a place at their second choice university, while an additional 80,000 are holding out for appeals.

As of Tuesday morning, more than 11,000 students have had no decision made on their application and have an undefined status within the Clearing system by UCAS, while 20,000 students have already deferred, the highest number since 2011, reports The Telegraph.

Now a number of top universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, and Liverpool, have already indicated some students, mostly on practical courses such as medicine, may have to defer, causing possible long term consequences for next year's cohort.

Some top institutions have promised to honour their offers, with the head of admissions at one university saying that withdrawing successful applicants was 'unthinkable'.

But he also admitted he had 'no idea' how to handle the thousands of applicants who would be able to claim a position.

Meanwhile lower-tier institutions already reeling from financial pressures caused by the impact of Covid-19 face further problems due to pupils potentially ditching a course they obtained through clearing last week in favour of going with their first choice.

Today the head of universities admission body, UCAS, has warned students not to make a 'knee-jerk reaction' when deciding their future.

Gavin Williamson last night said the Government would expect universities to try to 'build as much capacity' as possible so students could make their first-choice offers  although detailed plans do not yet exist

Labour's shadow universities minister Emma Hardy told Radio 4's Today programme the government needs to offer support to the under-siege sector.

Bristol universities to honour places despite U-turn 'chaos' Two universities based in Bristol say they will honour their offers if students now have the required grades following the government's U-turn. The University of Bristol, which ranked ninth in England in the QS World University Rankings, confirmed it will honour its offers - but it may asks students courses with a practical element - like dentistry or medicine - to defer if necessary. A spokesperson for the university told the Bristol Post: 'We will do everything we can to support applicants in these unprecedented circumstances. We are delighted to confirm that we will accept applicants who have met the terms of their offer.' The University of the West of England (UWE), based in Bristol, also said it will honour the offers of places made. However, it said students must have either selected UWE as their firm choice or insurance choice. UWE has given students until September 7 to confirm their grades. Advertisement

She said: 'This is what I'm hearing from the sector at the moment that they are feeling very vulnerable in this situation.

'You have to remember this is not happening in isolation, the IFS (Institute for Fiscal Studies) only recently said that there were thirteen institutions at risk of going bankrupt and we were calling on the government to say we need to stop any institution from going under. We need to offer them protection.'

The IFS report released last month said that 13 universities were in dire financial straights and may require a bailout from the government.

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, said: 'The university system is hierarchical and for the top institutions it will be a year of plenty, but for the institutions towards the bottom of the rankings it will be a famine.

'However the good news for universities is that applications from students here and overseas is higher than expected.'

Meanwhile, Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council told the Financial Times that if thousands of students do defer, it could have a major impact upon pupils due to sit exams in 2021.

He said: 'There could be a stack of students who have deferred, who have these gloriously high A-level grades and the poor 2021 (A-Level) students who've missed a significant amount of their course are going to have to compete.'

It is thought that up to 1,500 potential Oxbridge students could miss out on going to one of the ancient universities.

The Russell Group, who represent the top institutions in the UK, has warned that any increase in admissions risked 'stretching resources'. And that some universities would not be able to take on more students due to safety restrictions put in place to stem the Covid-19 pandemic.

Actor Phil Davis has hit out at the government after Durham gave his daughter's place away already to another student

Oxford made around 3,900 offers for an expected 3,287 places. Not everyone is expected to be able to take up their place at first choices this year

Despite the u-turn many students could still be disappointed and not able to get into their preferred university.

Actor Phil Davis has hit out at the government on social media after his daughter's place at Durham has already been given away to another student.

The Sherlock star said: 'A level sense at last but too late for my daughter. Durham uni have given her place to someone else. She was one A star away from required grades. Disgraceful.'

Cambridge University extended offers to around 4,500 pupils but only has 3,450 places and Oxford made around 3,900 offers for an expected 3,287 places, reported the Daily Telegraph.

Both elite institutions have already said some applicants will have to take deferred places as they do not have spaces for everyone to start in the autumn.

Lucy is off to Cambridge after government's grades U-turn Lucy Lipfriend now has the grades for a place at Cambridge University. The 19-year-old had been given teacher-assessed grades of A*AA, before the Government's computer algorithm downgraded her to three Bs. But after yesterday's U-turn, the teenager has achieved the grades she needed to study theology, religion and philosophy at Clare College. The past few days have been a 'whirlwind' but Lucy now has a place at her 'dream' university. She said: 'I haven't heard anything yet from Ucas or Cambridge yet so it's not fully sunk in yet.' Lucy Lipfriend now has the grades for a place at Cambridge University Lucy had originally planned to appeal her grades, as she believes the algorithm downgraded her after a poor performance in last year's A-level exams when her mother was ill. Lucy planned to take them again this year. After exams were cancelled, her former teachers submitted centre assessed grades of A*AA. Three private tutors predicted three A*s. And Lexie Bell said she is 'relieved' the Government has 'finally seen sense'. The 18-year-old's centre-assessed grades of A*s in English and religious education and an A in psychology had been 'unfairly' downgraded to ABB. The pupil, from Shoeburyness High School in Southend-on-Sea, said she felt 'survivor's guilt' after Sussex University held its offer despite her dip in grades Advertisement

Ministers last night lifted a temporary recruitment cap designed to prevent the most popular universities from hoovering up students at the expense of less popular institutions.

Universities are now seeking legal advice to find out what obligations they have to the 55,000 pupils who did not get good enough grades under the algorithm, but after the u-turn now have the sufficient marks, as reported by The Times.

There are also concerns that lower ranked institutions could face financial problems if higher ranked universities take on significantly larger number of pupils.

Gavin Williamson last night said the Government would expect universities to try to 'build as much capacity' as possible so students could make their first-choice offers  although detailed plans do not yet exist.

The Education Secretary said: 'We expect universities to be flexible and to go above and beyond to be able to honour those commitments that's why today we've lifted student numbers caps in order for universities to be able to expand put extra capacity into the system.'

This came as students in next year's cohort have already expressed concerns about the knock on effect of deferred places on their chances of getting into top institutions.

A large number of this year's students deferring will limit the number of places available for the 2021 intake.

Popular courses, including law, are already full, despite there being 135,000 potential students, with many qualified for their first choice institutions.

Universities say that they were not consulted about the Government's decision to use teachers' predicted grades instead of the controversial algorithm to determine A-levels.

Now, amid the U-turn, the number of pupils who meet the requirements for their first choices has risen by a considerable amount.

One university, The University of Central Lancashire is re-starting its admission procedure again to try to accommodate those didn't make the original offer grade but now will.

A head of admissions at one university told The Times withdrawing offers for successful applicants was 'unthinkable' - but he admitted he had 'no idea' how to handle the thousands of applicants who would be able to claim a position.

One parent of a daughter who plans to apply to Cambridge told the Times: 'I'm pleased for the kids who have been through this but what happens now?

'I cannot see how she doesn't face an even bigger uphill battle to get a place if some of them have already been earmarked for this year's students.'

In a statement, Ucas  the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service  did not offer a guarantee for youngsters to get a place at their first choice destination.

It means the U-turn threatens to throw struggling admissions departments into disarray over the coming days as they try to resolve the crisis.

Mary Curnock Cook, former head of Ucas, last night predicted 'chaos' due to the 'extra volume' of students, which she estimated at 55,000, now trying to switch to their first-choice destinations.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, chief executive of UCAS Clare Marchant said: 'My first bit of advice to students as of last night when we had this change is don't knee jerk into anything, talk to your parents or guardian and then look at your centre assessed grade and then say do I need to contact my first choice university and have a conversation with them, and that would be my immediate advice.'

The key questions and answers in the government's exam grade saga What was the original plan? After exams were cancelled, Ofqual, the exam regulator, asked teachers to submit grades for students and list them in order of ability. However, it was apparent that many had been overly optimistic. It was decided that more reliance would need to be placed on statistical modelling  or 'standardisation'. This led to the algorithm which was used to calculate grades. Why was this controversial? A huge proportion of teachers' predictions were deemed useless. A school's performance in previous years played a greater role  reducing 40 per cent of A-levels, and an even higher proportion of GCSEs. The system penalised students at low-performing schools in poor areas. Its aim was only to preserve existing trends  including educational inequality. What has now changed? Before yesterday's U-turn, Ofqual loosened its strict criteria on appeals, saying schools could challenge results. But the onus on schools to submit evidence that their grades were wrong meant the row deepened. The Scottish government was first to U-turn, promising to restore the original teacher predictions. Westminster came up with a 'triple lock' guarantee, meaning pupils could fall back on mock exam grades or take fresh papers in October. But after a weekend of confusion, it announced England would also allow teachers' grades. How will they get new grades? Guidance is yet to be issued by the Department for Education, but it is assumed that boards will send out new exam certificates in the coming days for A-level students. The Government has said GCSE results will not be delayed, so they should also reflect teachers' grades. Can students still appeal? The Government hopes the vast majority of appeals will now be dropped. Gavin Williamson indicated appeals would need to be based on 'bias and discrimination'. But full guidance is yet to be released. What about universities? Universities demanded 'urgent clarification' on how they could be expected to accommodate a wave of extra students with upgraded marks. Although the Education Secretary is lifting the student numbers cap, universities may find they are fully subscribed and the only option is to defer places. Mr Williamson said he expected universities to be 'flexible' and 'honour the commitments' to students who now have better grades. There is no detail yet on how the system will work, having already been under massive strain. Advertisement

Those with offers for some of the most competitive universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, are expected to be the most likely to be told to defer for a year if they want to go to their original first choice.

Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said universities will 'only be able to fit a certain number of people before social distancing becomes impossible'.

He also flagged concerns around 'physical capacity' and the number of teaching staff universities would need to accommodate all students.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, warned that the sector needed 'urgent clarification' on a 'number of crucial issues' immediately.

He said: 'The events and confusion of recent days have added further uncertainty and distress to students who have already faced many difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

'Universities will do everything they can to work through these issues in the days ahead. The Government will need to step up and support universities through the challenges created by this late policy change.'

The prestigious Russell Group of universities also demanded answers on how they should deal with the surfeit of new students.

Dr Tim Bradshaw, the group's chief executive said: 'We know the changing situation is creating uncertainty for students and universities.

'However there are limits to what can be done by the university sector alone... We now need urgent clarification from Government on the additional support it will provide to help universities with the expected increases in student numbers, particularly for high cost subjects such as chemistry, medicine and engineering.'

Ucas pointed out that at present, 69 per cent of 18-year-old applicants had been placed with their first-choice university  a higher percentage than last year.

It advised students who had been rejected from their first choice university because of the A-level downgrades not to rush into a decision about what to do next, and said it would issue further advice to students and schools.

The Government introduced a one-year student numbers cap to limit the number of domestic undergraduates each university could take, preventing less popular universities from losing out in a smaller student market during the pandemic.

This cap has since been ditched. Some universities, including Buckingham, had already pledged to take applicants who missed their grades before yesterday's U-turn, with a few Oxford colleges taking the same decision.

Professor Alan Smithers of Buckingham University agreed the decision will 'create major difficulties'.

He said: 'Many will have already filled their places, as they make more offers than they expect to admit.'

And the University and College Union said admissions staff were already facing 'unbearable workloads', with general secretary Jo Grady saying the 'political incompetence is unforgivable'.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'The big question remains as to why this decision has taken so long to come, as it may already be too late for some... who have already missed out on their first choice of university and course.'

Dr Simon Hyde, the incoming general secretary of the Headmasters' and Headmistress' Conference said the U-turn is 'not perfect, but it will do', but called for 'urgent clarity' on university admissions.

'I'm relieved the government and Ofqual have finally seen sense,' says 18-year-old set for three A*s Lexie Bell said she is 'relieved' that the government and Ofqual have 'finally seen sense'. The 18-year-old's centre assessed grades of A*s in English and Religious Education and an A in psychology had been 'unfairly' downgraded. Lexie Bell said she is 'relieved' that the government and Ofqual have 'finally seen sense' Ofqual's standardisation process meant that her grades in English and RE were both reduced to B's. The pupil from Shoeburyness High School in Southend-on-Sea received an A for psychology. But she felt 'survivor's guilt' after Sussex University held its offer despite her unexpected dip in grades. Her father Michael Bell, 53, CEO of a charity, said: 'Lexie was lucky, she still got her offer given to her even though she didn't meet the offer grades. 'But there was an element of survivor's guilt there because she realised she was going to be okay but clearly lots of people weren't going to be. 'She is relived that the government and Ofqual have finally seen sense. 'There is definitely a sense of relief on behalf of the students who have been affected by this in a far more difficult way because they have lost their places at university.' Mr Bell, who is attempting to launch a judicial review of the A-level system, added that the U-Turn is 'too little too late'. 'It's about time but it should never have got this far,' he said. 'If you want my honest opinion we should be seeing resignations from Ofqual and from the government - they should be ashamed of themselves.' Advertisement

Student who stood to miss out on 16,000 scholarship is 'thankful' over Government's grades U-turn A student who stood to miss out on a 16,000 scholarship has said she is 'thankful' and 'excited' about the Government's U-turn. Jess Johnson, 18, needed an A in English to earn a place at St Andrews studying her chosen subject Jess Johnson, 18, needed an A in English to earn a place at St Andrews studying her chosen subject, along with a 4,000-a-year scholarship, but she was downgraded from her predicted A to a B and was initially told she had been rejected. Now, after the Government announced A-level results will be based on teachers' assessments, that decision is set to be reversed. Jess, who studied at Ashton Sixth Form College in Greater Manchester, said: 'I am very thankful for that. 'I'm very excited about that, I'm glad they made the change. 'I think it would have been unfair if (Northern) Ireland, Scotland and Wales made the change and we didn't, so I'm very glad.' She questioned why the change had taken so long, coming four days after results were released on Thursday. 'It should have been changed a few days ago to be honest,' she said. 'It's caused a lot of stress and anxiety that it didn't need to by making us wait..' Jess won the Orwell Youth Prize in 2019 for her short story A Band Apart. The dystopian fiction was about an algorithm that sorted students into bands based on class. Advertisement

Student who was 'devastated' when she was marked down by three grades says the government's U-turn is too late Abbie Park, 18, from Newcastle, believes the U-turn is too late, though she is now happy with her grades. Abbie Park, 18, was left devastated by a three-grade drop in her Spanish A-level result, and missed out on her BBB offer to study law at Newcastle University, as well as her insurance offer She was left devastated by a three-grade drop in her Spanish A-level result, and missed out on her BBB offer to study law at Newcastle University, as well as her insurance offer. She had centre-assessed grades of an A in psychology, B in law, and a B in Spanish but she was downgraded to BBE. That has now been reversed. She said: I dont know whats going to happen now. Im still waiting to see if Im going to get into university. She phoned Newcastle University straight away but her place has still not been confirmed. They have said theyre going to do everything they can to honour all original offers that have now been met with the centre-assessed grades so Ive got my fingers crossed, she said. Its just a stressful waiting game now. Abbie added that he had been absolutely gutted by the E grade for Spanish and added: I was meant to be going out celebrating but I just couldnt because I was so devastated. Advertisement




File photo

A police Sergeant identified as Nelson Onyenibe with force number 456246 may have landed himself in serious trouble after allegedly extorting N1.8 million from a teenager he accused of internet fraud.

According to Vanguard, the policeman attached to Special Protective Unit (SPU) Base 5, BeninCity, Edo State, abandoned his AK-47 rifle with serial number B11343170 and 30 rounds of ammunition before vanishing into thin air.

Onyenibe was said to be a member of a police team that accosted the teenager identified as Precious Idisi on Tuesday, August 11.

The team said to be operating in a Toyota Camry car along DSC Express Road, Ughelli South local government area of Delta State, when they waylaid the teenager and his friend, handcuffed and accused him of being an internet fraudster.

Onyenibe was said to be on special guard duty at a hotel in the vicinity at the time of the incident.

The policemen reportedly went through Idisis phone, including his bank statement. They were said to have transferred N1.8 million from the teenagers account.

Idisi, who reported the matter at the Ebremede Police Division two days after the incident, said that the money was part of N2 million sent to him by his elder brother living in Germany for the burial ceremony of his late father.

A security source from the Ebremede police division confirmed the incident to Vanguard on Sunday saying:

According to the victim, the amount was part of N2million sent to him by his elder brother residing in Germany to be used for the funeral rites of their late father.

They were subsequently taken to a Point Of Sale, POS operator identified as Ofuya Faith at PTI junction where Precious was compelled to forcefully make a withdrawal of N1.8million.

Upon reporting the matter at the police station, the DPO directed the Divisional Crime Officer I, DSP Yerimah Ikerodah in the company of another policeman to go and arrest the suspect.

Unfortunately, on arrival at the hotel where the suspect was stationed, DSP Yerimah began negotiating for a share of the money with the suspect, an incident that led to the sergeant escaping after jumping the fence of the hotel leaving his rifle and ammunition behind.

However, DSP Yerimah has been issued with a query for disobedience to lawful order, discreditable conduct and sabotage while the salary account of the fleeing sergeant has been frozen with the POS operator equally arrested and detained pending further investigation.

Though the State Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onowakpoyeya could not be reached for comments when contacted, the security source stressed that the police has also launched a manhunt for the fleeing police sergeant and his accomplices.

Speaking on the incident, an Urhobo youth leader who earlier brought the matter before the DPO, Efemena Umukoro, said the activities of policemen extorting money from private individuals in the state is fast becoming a regular occurrence adding that the state commissioner of police has ordered for a full-scale investigation into the incident.
SHANGHAI, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Acorn International, Inc. (NYSE: ATV) ("Acorn" or the "Company"), a leading marketing and branding company in China, today announced that the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") has received on August 17, 2020 US time a preliminary non-binding proposal letter, dated August 17, 2020 (the "Proposal"), from Mr. Robert W. Roche, Executive Chairman of the Company, to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company not already owned by the Buyer Vehicle (as defined below) at US$15.22 per American Depositary Share (the "ADS," each ADS representing twenty ordinary shares) or US$0.761 per ordinary share in cash, subject to certain conditions (the "Proposed Acquisition"). According to the Proposal, it is anticipated that the Buyer Vehicle or its shareholders will control approximately 75% of the outstanding shares of ordinary shares of the Company.

According to the Proposal, Mr. Robert W. Roche will form a transaction vehicle (the "Buyer Vehicle") for the purpose of pursuing the proposed transaction. It is currently expected that substantially all of the capital for the Proposed Acquisition would be borrowed from third parties in the form of debt funding. In that regard, the Buyer Vehicle has entered into an agreement with a third party lender pursuant to which, subject to certain terms and conditions, such lender will provide such proposed funds. The third party lender will require a timely opportunity to conduct customary legal, financial and accounting due diligence, and satisfactory completion of such due diligence is a condition to the lender providing the proposed funds.

The Special Committee of the Board will schedule a meeting to consider next steps with respect to the Proposal. No decisions have been made with respect to the Company's response to the Proposed Acquisition. There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be made, that any agreement with respect thereto will be reached or executed, or that this or any other transaction will be approved or consummated.

About Acorn International, Inc.

Acorn International is a leading marketing and branding company in China, leveraging a twenty-year direct marketing history to monetize brand IP, content creation and distribution, and product sales, through digital media in China. For more information visit www.acorninternationalgroup.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "future," "going forward," "intends," "outlook," "plans," "target," "will," "would," "potential," "proposal" and similar statements. Such statements are based on current expectations and current economic, market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond control, which may cause actual results, performance, actions, or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Acorn International, Inc.

Related Links

www.acorninternationalgroup.com


Sessions College Logo

Sessions College for Professional Design (Sessions) announced today that it has appointed Neil Edwards to its Board of Directors effective August 1, 2020.

With the reskilling revolution and COVID-19 pandemic, Sessions College is experiencing unprecedented growth due to the quality, affordability, and accessibility of our online education, said Doris Granatowski, CEO. Weve expanded the bench strength of our board of directors to reflect our increased focus on new education programs for the digital workforce, the corporate reskilling market, and attacking international markets. We have a unique educational platform, DigitalComplete, powering our expanded efforts as well as our team.

Edwards has a 25-year track record in the US, EU, China, and Africa, serving, CEO and COO roles as well as board director and management consulting roles in the finance, government, media, tech/IT, telecom, and investment banking sectors. Edwards is currently the managing director of Actum360, which provides growth, turn around, and crisis management advisory services to companies and PE firms. He recently turned around and exited Trensant, an artificial intelligence company focused on supply chain analytics, to the Kleiner - Vinrock backed company Interos. Based on his successful record, he has led special initiatives with organizations such as Google, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Samsung, Visa, & Vodafone. He is a regular contributor to Forbes magazine, covering the digital and innovation trends impacting CFO's and finance leaders.

Sessions will be a major disruptor and trendsetter in the skills-based education market over the next year with its DigitalComplete platform, said Neil Edwards. I joined the Sessions board of directors because it is one of the few education companies that have the ability to execute on launching new digital focused programs, expand into the corporate reskilling market, and go international. Sessions DigitalComplete platform is the secret sauce that gives it the edge to move out aggressively where other companies may not. I look forward to helping to drive its strategy and execution plans in this exciting period of their growth.

About Sessions College

Sessions College, founded in 1997, is the pioneer in accredited and affordable online skills-based education that readies adult learners for the digital workforce. Sessions College developed its proprietary DigitalComplete platform to provide the best possible interactive experience for students. Students learn via real world projects that reflect the latest industry-relevant skills. More than 17,000 students from 90 countries have received a micro-credential or degree from Sessions College and the school boasts a graduation rate 2.4 times the national average and an employment rate 2.2 times the national average. Sessions College is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and the Middle States Commission for Secondary Schools (MCSS) and is approved to deliver education in all 50 states through the National Council for State Authorization for Reciprocity Agreements (NC- SARA).
European stocks closed lower Tuesday as a choppy start to the week's trading continued, with investors monitoring the coronavirus pandemic and rising tensions between the U.S. and China.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 gave up its earlier gains and fell 0.6% for the session, with bank stocks falling 1.1% and oil and gas firms slipping 1.3%.

Market participants monitored the latest developments in the U.S.-China technology war. On Monday, President Donald Trump's administration moved to further tighten restrictions on Huawei by effectively cutting the telecommunications giant off from chips made by foreign firms that have been produced with U.S. software or technology.

Investors also kept a close eye on U.S. pressure on Bytedance, the Chinese owner of popular social media app TikTok. Last week, Trump signed an executive order giving the company more time to figure out a sale of its U.S. TikTok business.

Microsoft is currently seen as the frontrunner in the race to buy TikTok's operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand assets. But that changed late Monday after it emerged that Larry Ellison's Oracle was also in talks to acquire those units. Ellison is a known supporter of the president.

On Wall Street as European markets closed, the S&P 500 gave back earlier gains after briefly breaking above an all-time high that was set before the coronavirus pandemic.
We start with the states that are on the map that we feel pretty confident in, but we really need to do the work  those are the Virginias, the New Hampshires, the Colorados, OMalley Dillon said. In 08 and 12, those were really strong battleground states. They are still battleground states, but we are heavily favored. Some people might call them safe states. I certainly dont believe that. I believe that we have to do the work to ensure that we continue to maintain our support there.
Presidential Candidate for the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama says he has a track record of honoring his promises to Ghanaians.



Between 2013 and 2016, under my administration, we borrowed a little above 54 billion. But all over the country, you will see what we did with that amount of money, he said.



Akufo-Addo said we should compare track records. Now ask him; Today, Ghanas debts are 257 billion. In four years, he has borrowed more than 140 billion. So, the simple question Ghanaians should ask is what has he (President Akufo-Addo) done with the money? NDC Flagbearer quizzed.



He added that his leadership as the next President of Ghana will not make campaign promises he cannot deliver, accusing the Akufo-Addo government of failing to honor his many promises for which Ghanaians gave him their mandate in 2016.



Our major opponent (NPP) are good at promises but poor at delivering. For them, their policy is that; say anything that the people will believe and vote for you.



Political power is the most important thing to them. And when you get the power, whether you fulfill the promises or not; it doesnt matter, Mr. Mahama said.



Paying a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief and the people of Sogakope in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region on Monday, former President John Dramani Mahama said that the Akufo-Addo government has failed to even provide water and electricity to many communities especially those in the rural areas of the country.



He further accused the Akufo-Addo government of abandoning all the water projects started under his previous administration but expressed confidence that the NDC will win power again in the 2020 general election to continue all the abandoned projects he started.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Why would anyone leave freedom for repression? Why would anyone leave Russia for the USA?

The remarks seemed to be a shift for President Trump, who repeatedly called Mr. Snowden a traitor and spy who should be executed in the years before his election.

Source: Trump Says Hell Look Into a Pardon for Edward Snowden  The New York Times

I have talked about Snowden several times here on the website. I am not a fan of his and do not, as I have said about Assange also, believe that they are exactly what we are lead to believe about them

Yet, I do know that Snowden, Assange and Manning have been messed up royally and Snowden will only mess his life up even more if he trusts the country that he tried to get information out about.information he deemed to be important enough to change his life over!

But Snowden can do what he pleases and if going back to America is his dream? More power to him

I have been in Russia since 2006 and I know Russia and the Russian people. Snowden has been treated very good and has had a very free life here in Russia. In fact, the fact he would even leave Russia is just one more thorn in his side as to his true intentions and what he is all about

So seriously, from someone who lives in Russia and is an American, why would you destroy your life and try to go back to the demon pit that you so despise so much that you had to cause a scandal and steal data from?

Me, pardon me, but I will stay right where I am at. Thank you for the pardon, but I would not trust anything that the USA said was happening

We will see and as always, it will be exactly the opposite of what we are being told right now!

WtR
The RBI allowed Yes Bank's former MD and CEO Ravneet Singh Gill to use the office-provided car and housing facility for up to three months post supersession of the board in March, the bank's annual report said. In a rare move, the Reserve Bank had superseded the board of the capital-starved lender and placed it under a moratorium.

Gill had demitted office as managing director and chief executive officer of Yes Bank on March 5 pursuant to RBI's supersession of the board. After this, a request was received from Gill for continuation of use of bank-provided car for a period of one month and accommodation facility for three months due to the national lockdown, Yes Bank said in its annual report for 2019-20.

The private sector lender said it then applied to the RBI, seeking permission for continuation of use of the requested facilities by Gill. It was granted permission through communications dated April 4, 2020 and May 22, 2020. "The Board of Directors at its meeting held on May 6, 2020, had approved the proposal as mentioned in the resolution for allowing Ravneet Singh Gill to use bank's provided car facility for the period of one month and accommodation facility for the period of 90 days commencing from March 7, 2020.

"The Board was of the view that the aforesaid perquisites will also be appropriate gesture and consideration for Ex MD & CEO of the bank to enable him to make alternative arrangements and orderly transition with regard to his accommodation and other benefits during the lockdown period due to COVID-19," the annual report said. According to the Banking Regulation Act, any provision of conferring any benefit or providing any amenity or perquisite in any form, whether during or after the term of office of the MD and CEO is deemed as a provision relating to remuneration, Yes Bank said.

However, any such provision relating to appointment and remuneration of the MD and CEO cannot take effect unless approved by the RBI, as per the Act, it added. Gill, who previously looked after the India operations of German-based Deutsche Bank, took over the reins of Yes Bank from March 1, 2019.

This was necessitated after RBI denied extension to the lender's MD and CEO Rana Kapoor. Kapoor is currently in judicial custody for alleged financial irregularities.
A warning has been issued to shoppers at a popular Sydney market after authorities discovered a worker had coronavirus.

The worker attended the Sydney Markets at Flemington, in the city's inner west, on August 9 while infected.

NSW Health advised anyone who was at the markets between 8am and 4pm on August 9 to monitor their condition and get tested if any symptoms develop.

Authorities have warned shoppers that a worker at Sydney Markets (pictured), in the city's inner west, had coronavirus on August 9

People who had close contact with the infected worker were told to isolate for 14 days and will undergo testing for coronavirus.

NSW Health said the area where the infected person was working had been cleaned and is not a threat to the public.

The department reported seven new cases in the state on Monday, including six from community transmission and one traveller who flew in from overseas.

NSW Health said anyone who attended the markets on August 9 between 8am and 4pm should monitor their symptoms and get tested if necessary

People who had close contact with the infected worker have been told to isolate for 14 days and will undergo testing for coronavirus. Pictured are healthcare workers at Sydney Markets

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

It comes as the entire city of Sydney, including the CBD and surrounding suburbs, was declared a hotspot on Monday.

It stretches from Circular Quay past Central Station to Camperdown, Glebe and Chippendale in the inner-west, and to Eastlakes and Rosebery in the south.

To the east, where the outbreak is spreading, it encompasses Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said on Monday Sydneysiders were more likely to have coronavirus than the flu.

'Some of the information that we have received recently is that people are tending to think their illness is influenza,' Dr Chant said.

'They're saying, "It's OK I got flu-like symptoms. I must have influenza. I don't need a COVID test." It is essential at the moment we have very low rates of influenza circulating.

'So if you have symptoms, respiratory symptoms of cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, headache, aches and pains, it is most likely that you have COVID, not flu.'

On Tuesday, Victoria announced another 222 cases of coronavirus and 17 deaths - a significant drop from a record high of 725 cases on August 6.
The Federal Government has said the ongoing evacuation of Nigerians from abroad as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic would end on Saturday, August 22, 2020.

The Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said with the stoppage of evacuation, the nations airports would be given sufficient time to prepare for reopening.

He also disclosed that some countries, such as the United States of America, United Arab Emirates and Egypt, had expressed their readiness to repatriate convicted Nigerians, who had been pardoned and paroled.

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BHP Group on Tuesday said it expects most major world economies except China to bear the brunt of a coronavirus-led downturn this year, reporting a 4% drop in annual profit that missed analysts' estimates.

While miners have seen green shoots emerge from an economic pickup in the world's top metals user, as well as a boost in infrastructure spending, the risk of new virus outbreaks around the world threatens to undermine growth, BHP said.

The warning came as BHP reported underlying profit attributable from continuing operations for the year ended June 30 that fell to $9.06 billion below estimates of $9.42 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

"With the exception of China, the world's major economies will contract during the 2020 calendar year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic," Chief Executive Mike Henry said in a statement.

Henry added that the potential for fresh waves of coronavirus infections in key markets was weighing on the demand outlook for 2021 at the world's largest listed miner.

"Not too many surprises in there," said portfolio manager Andy Forster of Argo Investments in Sydney. "Maybe a touch under expected, and the dividend a bit below."

Shares fell by as much as 1.3% before trimming the drop to 0.3% at A$39.75 ($28.72) by 0203 GMT, compared with a 1% rise in the broader index

The profit miss was in contrast to rival Rio Tinto, which last month rode its iron ore-rich portfolio to beat profit estimates and touted "a very steep V-shaped" recovery in China.

It declared a final dividend of 55 cents per share, down from 78 cents a year earlier, but still in line with its payout ratio.

BHP also announced asset divestments and executive leadership changes - that will see top management evenly split by gender - as Henry, who officially took the reins in January, puts his stamp on the business.

The miner said it is looking at options including a demerger or sale of thermal coal assets, as it favors energy-rich metallurgical coal in its portfolio given a lower-carbon future.

These include its Australian Mount Arthur operations, 80% of its BHP Mitsui Coal joint venture, and one-third of the Cerrejon mine in Colombia. Japanese trading house Mitsui had no immediate comment.

It also said it was looking to sell off its Bass Strait oil and gas stake, though that was not down to any environmental agenda, Henry told an analyst call.

He said BHP was bullish on oil because it has profitable prospects for at least the next decade and is open to acquisitions near existing assets.
The Cold Chain Association of China's Guangzhou city has ordered all member companies to halt the import of frozen meat and seafood from COVID-19 hit areas, after nearby Shenzhen city found the novel coronavirus on a surface sample of chicken wings imported from Brazil.

The order was made public by the citys Internet Information Office via its Weibo account, but did not specify places or countries for the ban, reported Bloomberg. It further states that all workers who come in contact with such products will have to undergo weekly coronavirus testing.

Multiple cases have cropped up in similar instances reported across cities in China where the virus was found on imported seafood packets.

Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here

A complete ban on meat imports has, however, not been considered as such incidents have been isolated and a severe move would affect supply and prices to detriment of consumers, Chen Wei, executive vice-president of the China Meat Association told the Beijing News.

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

An interview with infectious disease expert Zhong Nanshan, also posted to the Guanggzhou Internet Information Offices Weibo account, sought to reassure citizens, saying as long as the food is cooked thoroughly, transmission through food is not a major problem.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) too has backed this, stating there were no examples to prove the virus could be transmitted through food.
SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group, and sbe, the leading international hospitality group that develops, manages and operates award-winning brands, are pleased to announce the first Mondrian hotel in Asia Pacific. Mondrian Seoul Itaewon, which is being developed in partnership with Yojin Construction & Engineering, marks the fifth property in the Mondrian portfolio. With new hotels slated for Bordeaux and Cannes next year, the Mondrian brand expects to grow its lifestyle hotel portfolio to approximately 15 properties by 2022.

Together, Mondrian Seoul Itaewon, Mondrian Bordeaux, and Mondrian Cannes represent the continued strong expansion of the brand's international footprint and award-winning restaurants and lounges in collaboration with sbe partner Accor, including soon-to-be announced Mondrian properties in Australia, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Located in the internationally diverse district of Itaewon, the Mondrian will present an immersive lifestyle destination with bold design, colorful art, and seductive restaurant and nightlife offerings.

"We are proud to introduce the first Mondrian in Asia Pacific together with our partner sbe," said Michael Issenberg, Chairman & CEO of Accor Asia Pacific. "The Mondrian brand captivates the energy of Seoul with its creativity, revolutionary design and exciting bars and restaurants. Seoul is one of Asia's most dynamic cities and is renowned for its colorful K-pop scene and fashion-forward vision, while remaining deeply rooted in culture and tradition. The opening of Mondrian Seoul Itaewon will provide a complete lifestyle hotel experience in the heart of Seoul's most vibrant district."

Chadi Farhat, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East & Europe for sbe states: "We are very proud to bring sbe's iconic Mondrian brand to one of the most rapidly growing countries and capitals in the world, Seoul. This is the first of many exciting projects in collaboration with our partners at Accor, which will expand not just the Mondrian brand, but all sbe brands throughout key markets globally. We have been honored to work with Michael Issenberg, the Accor Asia Pacific team and especially with Yojin Construction & Engineering to bring this newest Mondrian destination to life with the launch of five lifestyle sbe food and beverage concepts within the property."

Eunsang Choi, Vice Chairman of Yojin Construction & Engineering states: "We are very pleased to open the first Mondrian hotel in South Korea together with Accor and sbe. Itaewon is known as a 'special tourism district' in Seoul for its cultural diversity, shopping and dining, and this exciting hotel is set to become a destination in its own right, delivering an energetic and unexpected offering for those seeking the newest lifestyle experiences."

Mondrian is a world-leading lifestyle brand, offering innovative design and creative concepts tailored to the local destination, with progressive dining and drinking experiences. Mondrian hotels provide a playful framework so guests and locals alike can immerse themselves in the culture of the city. Having welcomed guests to its 'must see' locations in Los Angeles, New York, South Beach and Doha, Mondrian Seoul Itaewon represents the brand's first expansion into Asia.

Boasting 296 guestrooms, the hotel features a range of dining and leisure spaces that are unlike anything Seoul has seen before. The outdoor pool features a spacious viewing deck overlooking the city, while Altitude pool bar offers a range of exotic cocktails, mocktails and fine wines with casual bites. Mondrian also brings Asia's first Cleo restaurant to the lobby, delivering the brand's famous blend of Miami vibes and Mediterranean cuisine. Privilege rooftop bar will curate a wide selection of whiskeys and wines, alongside eclectic live performances, while the Rumpus Room and Blind Spot provide more intimate settings for after-work drinks or to relax and chill with the sounds of an in-house DJ. A gorgeous 867-square-meter ballroom with integrated LED screen and five stylish meeting rooms provide the perfect backdrop for any celebration or event.

> IMAGES: To download photos, please click here.

About Accor

Accor is a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in 5,000 hotels and residences across 110 destinations. The Group has been acquiring hospitality expertise for more than 50 years, resulting in an unrivaled portfolio of brands, from luxury to economy, supported by one of the most attractive loyalty programs in the world. Beyond accommodation, Accor enables new ways to live, work, and play, by blending food and beverage with nightlife, wellbeing, and co-working. It also offers digital solutions that maximize distribution, optimize hotel operations and enhance the customer experience. Accor is deeply committed to sustainable value creation and plays an active role in giving back to planet and community via its Planet 21  Acting Here program and the Accor Solidarity endowment fund, which gives disadvantaged groups access to employment through professional training. Accor SA is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACRFY) in the United States. For more information visit accor.com, or become a fan and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

About sbe

Established in 2002 by Founder and CEO Sam Nazarian, sbe is a privately-held, leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hotels, residences, restaurants and nightclubs. Through exclusive partnerships with cultural visionaries, sbe is devoted to creating extraordinary experiences throughout its proprietary brands with a commitment to authenticity, sophistication, mastery and innovation. Following the acquisition of Morgans Hotel Group, the pioneer of boutique lifestyle hotels, in partnership with Accor, sbe has an unparalleled global portfolio which will see 36 hotels and over 200 global world-renowned culinary, nightlife and entertainment venues by the end of 2020. The company is uniquely positioned to offer a complete lifestyle experience - from nightlife, food & beverage and entertainment to hotels and residences, and through its innovative customer loyalty and rewards program, The Code, as well as its award-winning international real estate development subsidiary, Dakota Development - all of which solidify sbe as the preeminent leader across hospitality. The company's established and upcoming hotel brands include SLS Hotel & Residences, Delano, Mondrian, The Redbury, HYDE Hotel & Residences, and The House of Originals. In addition, sbe has the following internationally acclaimed restaurants and lounges under subsidiary Disruptive Restaurant Group: Katsuya by Chef Katsuya Uechi, Umami Burger, Cleo, Fi'lia, Carna by Dario Cecchini, Leynia and Diez y Seis by Chef Jose Icardi, HYDE Lounge, S Bar, Doheny Room, Nightingale, Skybar, Bond, and Privilege. To learn more, visit sbe.com.

About Yojin Construction & Engineering Co., Ltd

Established in 1976, Yojin Construction & Engineering Co., Ltd has been providing living spaces, both residential and commercial facilities, infrastructure as well as building facilities for US Forces, operating hotel, distribution and cement businesses in Korea for over 40 years. With the management philosophy of customer satisfaction, spirit of challenge and respect for human life, Yojin Construction & Engineering Co., Ltd is constantly striving to develop and expand its business as a leading company in the industry. While expanding distribution businesses such as Velasita and Asanwai Mall, Yojin Construction & Engineering Co., Ltd has been operating Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Kuro with the successful experience operating best Western Premier Kuro Hotel for the past 10 years. Currently Yojin Construction & Engineering Co., Ltd is refurbishing Itaewon Capital Hotel to bring the French Acor Hotel Group brand Mondrian into Korean market for the first time.

group.accor.com | sbe.com

Press Contacts :

Gaynor Reid

Vice President Communications & CSR

Accor Asia Pacific

T. +65 9108 3577

[email protected]

Boyeon Han (Mary)

Marketing and Communications Manager

Accor Ambassador Korea

T. +82 2 2270 3440

M. +82 10 8591 4173

[email protected]

Rachel Kaplan

Senior Director of Marketing

Sbe

[email protected]

SOURCE sbe
A new study published in the journal Nature may help prevent locusts from gathering in large swarms that cause widespread damage to crops.

A research team, led by the Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has found that a smelly compound emitted by locusts can attract the insects in the wild, forming a giant cluster.

According to the study, a compound called 4-vinylanisole or 4VA, has been identified as an aggregation pheromone that is responsible for the swarm behavior. It can be triggered by aggregation of four to five locusts, and its production increases with the population density.

The scientists also discovered that both gregarious and solitary locusts are strongly attracted to 4VA, regardless of age and sex.

Upon further testing, they found the compound could be sensed by a receptor, called the OR35 gene, on an antenna of the insect. When the scientists used gene-editing technology to eliminate the gene in locusts, the insects became incapable of responding to the compound.

Lead researcher Kang Le said the aggregation pheromone was a hard-earned discovery. "A locust has more than 100 receptors, and it has been found so far to emit 35 odorous compounds. So, our team has undertaken a huge amount of tests to find the receptor that matches the compound 4VA," Kang said.

"This finding is exciting because it indicates that a locust can be engineered to be immune to the effects of the pheromone," scientist Leslie Vosshall, also a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, wrote in an accompanying article on the study.

Many countries around the world are suffering severe locust plagues this year. Current methods like aerial spraying of pesticides can harm beneficial insects and the environment.

The discovery may inspire scientists to use locust compounds to combat this threat. According to scientists, possible control measures include laying pheromone traps to lure locusts, and using gene-editing technologies to prevent locusts from sensing 4VA, thus preventing swarms.
Hyderabad:

An official of a private bank was on Sunday shot at and injured allegedly by an unidentified person at his residence here, police said.

The accused went to the flat of Manmadh Dalai, the private bank official, at Shanti Nagar this afternoon and had a word with him before firing, a police official said.

The banker sustained injury in the leg and he was rushed to a hospital. The victim is out of danger, said the official.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy said the accused would be soon nabbed.

... He (accused) spoke in Telugu, English and broken Hindi. He ran away after he (victim) sustained injury in the leg. The way he spoke to the watchman, with the wife of the (victim) on intercom and the owner, we cannot come to a decision... It could be robbery, Reddy told reporters.

We will definitely detect the case soon by taking into consideration whether he (accused) came in connection with bank transactions or whether he was completely an unknown person or he came through employees of the bank, he added.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Jammu and Kashmir: Two terrorists were killed on Tuesday (August 18) in a joint operation of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and Police at Kreeri area of Baramullah district. One soldier also martyred in the encounter today taking the total number of martyred to 4.

The operation which began on Monday (August 17) was put on hold during the night. One terrorist was killed in the encounter on Monday that broke out in Kreeri village of Baramullah district of North Kashmir.

Two CRPF soldiers and one Special Police Officer (SPO) of Jammu and Kashmir Police got martyred after some unidentified opened fire on in Baramulla district on Monday. The wreath-laying ceremony of two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who lost their lives in a terrorist attack in Baramulla on August 17 was held in Budgam on Tuesday.The jawans, driver Khurshid and Constable Luvkush, hailed from Bihar, according to RR Bhatnagar, adviser to Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, who was also present to pay tributes to the jawans who had made the supreme sacrifice.

This was the second such attack on security forces in the last 48 hours in north Kashmir. On Sunday (August 16), a joint team of forces were fired upon terrorists in orchards of Sopore village.
Eleven years ago, Russell Ledet would attend classes at Southern University and A&M College in the day and then work as a security guard at Baton Rogue General Medical Center at night, studying organic chemistry during his breaks.

Today, Ledet is a medical student working inside the hospital, and he hopes that his story will inspire young people who believe becoming a doctor is out of their reach. "I thought growing up only rich people go to college," Ledet told BBC News. After high school, the Louisiana native joined the Navy as "a way out," and he "started to realize that the world was more than where I was from."

He enrolled at Southern University and A&M College in 2009, and took on the security guard job in order to support his growing family. After shadowing the hospital's chief surgery resident, he was motivated to continue his education, and earned his PhD in molecular oncology from New York University. In 2018, Ledet was accepted into the Tulane University School of Medicine, and earlier this year, launched The 15 White Coats organization with fellow students. Their motto is "Resilience is in Our DNA," and they want to help give a foundation to children of color planning careers in the medical field.

"Coming from where I come from, nobody tells you that you can do things in the world, you can make an impact," Ledet told BBC News. "If nobody tells you, you don't know. But now that I know, I can tell the kids."

More stories from theweek.com

Bill Clinton is getting sidelined at the DNC

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A Virginia Democratic state senator is included in at least 14 people to be sued in connection with the partial Confederate monument dismantling in June, which led to "life threatening" and "permanent injury" of a man.

Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene announced during a news conference on Monday.

Sen. L. Louise Lucas, who is also president pro tempore of the Virginia State Senate, will face a lawsuit of conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument in excess of $1,000.

Aside from the Virginia Democratic state senator, Portsmouth school board member, local NAACP chapter members, and three public defenders are also facing charges.

Neither of the public servants can be reached immediately for a statement, according to a report.

Greene requested the individuals to voluntarily turn themselves into custody.

"During this time of our nation's unrest, which was a direct result of the heinous death of Mr. George Floyd, countless monuments across our nation were being defaced by protestors," Greene was quoted.

The said injured man was Chris Green, who suffered a life-threatening injury during protests that took place after George Floyd's killing.

Floyd's death resulted in interest in wanting Confederate monuments and flags taken down.

The act to remove the Portsmouth monument led to hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage, according to Greene.

Greene said that the Virginia State Police has finished their investigation on Jul. 22. Meanwhile, Portsmouth Police Department did its investigations into the Jun. 10 demonstrations.

Greene said the investigators compiled written, videos, and audio evidences around the destruction of the Confederate monument.

There were also requests made for additional state and federal assistance for an independent probe.

But Greene said that the request "fell outside of the scope of investigation for those law enforcement entities."

The Virginia Democratic State Senator

Lucas has been part of the state senate since 1992, according to her biography. She was also the first black woman to be president pro tempore of the state senate.

The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and other Virginia Democrats attacked the charges against Lucas.

"It's deeply troubling that on the verge of Virginia passing long-overdue police reform, the first Black woman to serve as our Senate Pro Tempore is suddenly facing highly unusual charges," Gov. Ralph Northam tweeted Monday.

Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe said through tweets that she is a public servant who is not afraid to do and say what she think is right.

McAuliffe said that he stands with his good friend, adding that what Lucas did was what would John Lewis called a good trouble.

However, some fellow politicians think different.

Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Rich Anderson said Lucas should turn herself in.

Anderson said that felony charges against a sitting senator will be taken seriously and will not be used for political gains.

Confederate Monuments

In a Jul. 24 report, Virginia has removed its Confederate monuments honoring the Confederate generals and officials.

This included a bronze statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee in the same spot where he stood to assume command of the state's armed forces in the Civil War.

Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn quietly ordered the removal of the Lee statue.

Filler-Corn said that Virginia has a story to tell that expands far beyond the Confederacy and its participants.

Check these out:

Confederate Flag Debate: Governor Haley to Remove Flag From State Capitol

Trump Donates $100,000 of Salary to Restore National Monuments

Trump Signs Executive Order to Protect American Monuments from Vandalism
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MaxCyte, Inc., a global cell-based therapies and life sciences company, today announces the expansion of subsidiary CARMA Cell Therapies' ongoing Phase I intraperitoneal delivery and dose-escalation trial of MCY-M11, its lead anti-mesothelin CAR-PBMC cell therapy candidate. The expansion will involve a new parallel cohort of patients and the initiation of two additional clinical sites.

The new parallel Phase I cohort will evaluate intraperitoneal delivery of MCY-M11 at escalating doses in additional patients with relapsed/refractory ovarian cancer and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, with the addition of a preconditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide prior to MCY-M11 infusion. This parallel Phase I cohort with preconditioning will progress independently from the ongoing evaluation of MCY-M11 in the existing no-preconditioning Phase I cohort. The MCY-M11 Phase I trial will also allow for multiple treatment cycles where indicated for both future preconditioning and no-preconditioning patients.

New clinical sites for the study at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School and Hackensack University Medical Center are joining existing sites at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health and Washington University in St. Louis.

In May, encouraging preliminary results for MCY-M11, which support this study expansion and the pursuit of new strategies with the therapy, such as the addition of a preconditioning regimen and delivering multiple cycles of treatment to further enhance efficacy, were presented at the virtual ASCO meeting. Results to date also support the continued validation of MaxCyte's proprietary CARMA autologous cell therapy platform.

For the ASCO abstract, please visit: https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/185279/abstract.

Following the expansion of the Phase I trial, preliminary clinical data for the existing no-preconditioning MCY-M11 trial are anticipated in H2 2020.

"We are very pleased with the progress of this first-in-human trial to date, and have great hopes that we are moving closer towards bringing a more effective immunotherapeutic option for patients with solid tumors," said Claudio Dansky Ullmann, MD, Chief Medical Officer of MaxCyte.

About MCY-M11

MCY-M11 is a non-viral, mRNA-based anti-mesothelin CAR-PBMC cell therapy manufactured using un-manipulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). It is being evaluated in the clinic as treatment for high mesothelin expressing solid tumors. It is under ongoing development in a first-in human multi-center, non-randomized, open label, dose-escalation Phase I clinical trial evaluating the safety and preliminary efficacy of intraperitoneal infusions of MCY-M11 in individuals with platinum-resistant, high-grade, serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary, primary peritoneum or fallopian tube, or individuals with advanced peritoneal mesothelioma, with recurrence after prior chemotherapy. MaxCyte anticipates 27 study participants will be enrolled across the existing and the new parallel cohort. Interim results presented at the ASCO 2020 meeting show that intraperitoneal infusion of MCY-M11 is feasible, safe, and well tolerated. There have been no dose-limiting toxicities and no treatment related discontinuations or deaths and most reported treatment related adverse events have been Grades 1-2 per NCI CTCAE in three completed dose levels as a single agent in the existing cohort. Enrollment in the fourth dose level of the existing cohort is in progress and will run alongside with enrollment in the new parallel cohort that includes a preconditioning regimen. Multiple cycles of treatment will be allowed in both the fourth dose level of the existing cohort and at all dose levels in the new parallel preconditioning cohort. We currently anticipate preliminary clinical data in H2 2020. More information about the study can be found at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03608618).

About CARMA Cell Therapies

Through its wholly owned subsidiary, CARMA Cell Therapies, MaxCyte is facilitating advancement of novel mRNA-based cell therapies for cancer and other diseases with serious unmet needs. CARMA is a novel and proprietary platform for the development of non-viral, human messenger RNA (mRNA)-based, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or T-cell receptor (TCR) redirected immune cell therapies. CARMA [derived from CAR m RN A ] utilizes MaxCyte's Flow Electroporation technology for highly efficient, non-viral, delivery of one or more mRNA(s) into un-manipulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or isolated immune cells such as T- or NK-cells. CARMA offers the potential for a safer cell therapy, as a result of transient expression of receptor(s) and a non-viral delivery approach. At the start of 2020, MaxCyte established CARMA Cell Therapies as a wholly owned subsidiary to facilitate independent investment and new partnerships to advance the CARMA platform. MaxCyte has retained Locust Walk, a global life science strategic advisory and transaction firm. The Company expects CARMA to be self-funded by end of 2020. For more information, visit https://www.maxcyte.com/carma-cell-therapies/.

About MaxCyte

MaxCyte is a clinical-stage global cell-based therapies and life sciences company. As the inventors of the premier cell-engineering enabling technology, the Company helps bring the promise of next-generation cell and gene-editing therapies to life. The Company's technology is currently being deployed by leading drug developers worldwide, including all of the top ten global biopharmaceutical companies. MaxCyte licenses have been granted for more than 120 cell therapy programs, with more than 90 licensed for clinical use, and the Company has now entered into eleven clinical/commercial license partnerships with leading cell therapy and gene editing developers. MaxCyte was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, US. For more information, visit www.maxcyte.com.

SOURCE MaxCyte, Inc.

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Hoge Fenton, a leading Northern California law firm, today announced it is hosting "Whos Developing in Downtown San Jose," a webinar with a group of notable developers. Presented in partnership with the CCIM - Northern California Chapter, Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, and AREAA Silicon Valley, the webinar, which takes place on Thursday, August 20 from 10-11 a.m. PDT, will focus on steps the developers are taking now and in the future to evolve Downtown San Jose's central business district.

The event will be moderated by Hoge Fenton Shareholder and Real Estate Attorney Sean Cottle, and the panel will include Urban Community Fund Co-Founder and Partner Gary Dillabough; Urban Catalyst Fund Founder and Managing Partner Erik Hayden; Bay View Development Group Chief Investment Officer Ted McMahon; and Jay Paul Company Chief Investment Officer Matthew Lituchy.

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to stifle the economy - halting business and forcing work and learning from home - many businesses and developers are focusing their efforts in Silicon Valley to develop key projects in downtown San Jose. The following topics will be discussed during the webinar:



Current status of development in Downtown San Jose.

Current rent and vacancy situation.

Long-term impact of the pandemic on Downtown San Jose development.

To learn more about the speakers and to register for the free webinar, please visit https://hogefenton.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FRaU5V1QStCcfXHhNbrbGA.

About Hoge Fenton

Hoge Fenton is a world-class law firm headquartered in Northern California, with offices in Downtown San Jose and Pleasanton. It provides trusted advice and advocacy representation for public and privately held companies both locally and abroad. The firm prides itself on being the smart alternative to Big Law; its clients receive top quality, efficient, and responsive legal services.

As a member of Mackrell International, a premier network of independent law firms in 60 countries, Hoge Fentons reach extends around the world. Clients have seamless access to vetted and trusted local counsel throughout the U.S. and across the globe. Mackrell International has been named a Top Ranked Chambers Global Leading Law Firm Network.

More information: http://www.hogefenton.com/

Contacts

Hoge Fenton

Alay Yajnik

408.947.2481

Alay.yajnik@hogefenton.com
Former First Lady Michelle Obama referenced President Donald Trumps narrow 2016 victory in Michigan while highlighting the importance of voting in the upcoming presidential election.

Obama headlined the opening night of the Democratic National Convention Monday with a speech arguing Trump has failed to meet the challenges of this moment in American history. She said voters need to head to the polls like they did in 2008 and 2012, when voters elected her husband with the national popular vote and the electoral vote.

Weve got to show up with the same level of passion and hope for Joe Biden, she said. Weve got to vote early, in person if we can. Weve got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow-up to make sure theyre received. And then, make sure our friends and families do the same.

The former first lady said too many people stayed home during the 2016 presidential election, pointing to one state where the winning margin averaged out to just two votes per precinct -- that state is Michigan, a critical battleground in the 2020 race.

In 2016, Trump broke through the Democratic blue wall and flipped Midwest states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania by a narrow margin. He won Michigan by 11,000 votes, a margin of only 0.3%, becoming the first Republican to win the state since 1988.

Without those close wins in the three Midwest states, Trump would not have had enough electoral votes to become president.

Trumps victory was a combination of various factors, but Michigan Democrats have pointed to reduced turnout for Hillary Clinton as one of the major reasons Republicans flipped Michigan. Clinton earned 295,730 fewer votes than Obama did in 2012, while votes for third-party candidates increased by 199,766.

Obama said Biden is not a perfect candidate, but Trump has proven he is wrong for the country. Now isnt the time to withhold votes in protest, she said, or play games with candidates who have no chance of winning.

Four years ago, too many people chose to bleieve that their votes didnt matter, she said. Maybe they were fed up. Maybe they thought the outcome wouldnt be close. Maybe the barriers felt too steep. Whatever the reason, in the end, those choices sent someone to the Oval Office who lost the national popular vote by nearly 3 million votes.

The former first lady also warned that folks who know they cannot win fair and square at the ballot box are trying to suppress the vote before Nov. 3.

Though Biden consistently holds a lead over Trump in polls of likely Michigan voters, Democrats are warning the campaign not to take the state for granted.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Michigan is definitely a tossup in an interview on MSNBC Monday. She said voters should expect dogfight in the 2020 presidential race.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan is definitely a tossup in 2020 presidential race

Trump, Biden take different approaches to campaigning, amid coronavirus concerns in Michigan

Political groups spend millions on ads to turn Michigan Republicans against Trump over coronavirus response

Coronavirus, racial protest response could undermine Trumps outreach to Black voters in Michigan

Trump campaign bus makes push for women voters in Michigan battlegrounds

In must-win Michigan, Trump campaign takes fight door to door as polls show Biden with strong lead
South Africa: SA, Ghana engage in trade talks

Business people in South Africa and Ghana are set to engage in trade and investment talks that get underway today.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) is today hosting a South Africa-Ghana Trade and Investment webinar.

The aim of the two-day webinar is to reinvigorate and rekindle bilateral economic relations between the two countries post the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking ahead of Tuesdays session, Deputy Minister Fikile Majola said the webinar will afford South African and Ghanaian businesspeople the chance to exchange ideas and information on how to increase trade and investment between the two countries.

It is important that we continue the conversation and interaction between South African businesspeople and their counterparts from other African countries, despite the Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown.

This is to ensure that we continue to work with our businesses to identify new opportunities that we can explore in order to increase bilateral trade and investment between South Africa and other African countries, said the Deputy Minister.

Majola said the session is also part of South Africa's economic strategy for Africa, which is premised on the development integration approach focusing on advancing the priorities for Africa as set out in the countrys Re-imagined Industrialisation Strategy, and the Integrated National Export Strategy (INES).

This is also part of South Africas commitment to increasing intra-African trade and investment in line with the spirit and letter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Bilateral trade between South Africa and Ghana was on an upward growth trajectory before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown in South Africa.

Two-way trade between the two countries increased considerably from almost R4 billion in 2014 to R14 billion in 2019.

The webinar which will conclude on Wednesday, is being held under the theme Developing Afrocentric Solutions and Forging Partnership in Response to Covid-19.

Companies operating in agro-processing and agricultural equipment, pharmaceutical, mining, rail, textile, energy and infrastructure will participate in the sessions.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
WASHINGTON  Less than three months before the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the Senate Intelligence Committee published its fifth and final volume comprising over three and a half years of investigation, offering a rare bipartisan look at the sitting presidents exposure and vulnerability to compromise by foreign intelligence agencies through his campaign and connections.

The nearly 1,000-page report, based on hundreds of interviews and more than a million documents, is titled Russian efforts to influence the Trump Campaign and the 2016 election.

Robert Mueller testifies before the House Intelligence Committee in Washington in 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

While former special counsel Robert Mueller and other prosecutors have laid out the possible legal case against Trumps associates and their activities during the 2016 campaign, the Senate report dives into the murkier world of counterintelligence. This wilderness of mirrors, as former top CIA spy hunter James Jesus Angleton described counterintelligence, is where spies seek to influence, deceive, infiltrate and compromise their opponents while defending themselves against similar penetration.

The Senate report, a subject of contention between the lawmakers and the White House, does not necessarily extend as far as the FBI investigation  and senators were not always able to get access to all the information they asked for, according to its authors. The result is that the American people still do not, and may never, have all the facts necessary to determine the full extent of cooperation between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016, they write.

However, the Senate report does include several new and illuminating takeaways.

Perhaps most damaging is the conclusion by the Senate Intelligence Committee that Paul Manafort himself, President Trumps former campaign chair, may have been directly connected to the hack-and-leak operations conducted by Russian hackers, which ultimately exposed large tranches of emails belonging to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). While the report is heavily redacted and doesnt explain the two pieces of information that led to that conclusion, the authors went into further detail on Manaforts longtime business associate Konstantin Kilimnik. The Intelligence Committee identifies Kilimnik as a Russian intelligence officer and concludes he may also have ties to the operation by the GRU, a Russian military intelligence agency, to expose the DNCs emails. Kilimnik, according to the committee, also almost certainly helped arrange some of the first public messaging that Ukraine had interfered in the U.S. election to distract from Russias involvement.

Story continues

The Senates report also includes details about WikiLeaks, an online publisher founded by Julian Assange that first gained prominence after it published thousands of leaked documents about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2010. The summer before the 2016 election, WikiLeaks published a large trove of emails tied to the DNC, purporting not to know any details about the source that provided them  an assertion the committee has now contradicted.

Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, in Austin, Texas, in 2014. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

WikiLeaks actively sought, and played, a key role in the Russian influence campaign and very likely knew it was assisting a Russian intelligence influence effort, concluded the Senate Intelligence Committee. Relatedly, the committee said the Trump campaign undermined claims of connections between the DNC dumps and Russia, and was indifferent to whether or not it was furthering Russian interests by promoting the dumps contents to help Trump win.

The senators also reviewed the infamous Trump Tower meeting in June 2016, in which members of the Trump campaign sat down with several Russians, including lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya and lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin. The committee said the campaign was seeking negative information about then Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton that would be of benefit to the [Trump] campaign. However, the committee found no reliable evidence that information of benefit to the campaign was transmitted at the meeting, or that then-candidate Trump had foreknowledge of the meeting.

Additionally, the committee dismissed the conclusion that the Trump campaign had significant contact with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during an April foreign policy Trump speech held at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington.

While the committee also concluded that Trumps foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos presented a prime intelligence target and potential vector for malign Russian influence, it assessed he wasnt a witting servant of Russian interests. He also, the committee wrote, failed to achieve some of his loftier goals, such as a face-to-face meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, despite the campaigns support of such efforts.

Former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos leaves court after his sentencing hearing in 2018 in Washington. (Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)

Overall, Russian officials managed to connect with and influence several Trump campaign officials  a reality the Senate committee attributed to their relative openness, lack of experience and disorganization.

Russia took advantage of members of the Transition Teams relative inexperience in government, opposition to Obama Administration policies, and Trumps desire to deepen ties with Russia to pursue unofficial channels through which Russia could conduct diplomacy, concluded the committee.

In addition to probing evidence that Trumps associates were influenced by Russia, the committee also explored the failings of the U.S. government to respond to the threat.

The committee concluded that the FBI lacked a formal or considered process for escalating its warnings about the DNC hack within the organization of the DNC, and noted that the FBI gave unjustified credence to an unverified document circulating in 2016 concerning the Trump campaigns compromise by the Russians known as the Steele dossier, written by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele.

As with the first four volumes of the committees reports on Russian interference in the 2016 election, this final chapter was bipartisan, though its authors emphasized different key conclusions. The committee was united in instructing the public to take its conclusions to heart in advance of the 2020 election so that Russian officials cannot so easily return to their old playbooks.

Announcing the release of the new report, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, the acting chair of the committee, emphasized first and foremost the conclusion that the committee found no evidence the Trump campaign actively colluded with Russia in 2016, and pointed to the FBIs mistakes in investigating the campaign.

Sen. Marco Rubio. (Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In a recorded video message, Rubio warned that Russias still meddling and that the report shows us how to protect our country from these kinds of efforts.

In a statement, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chair of the committee, pointed to the breathtaking level of contacts between Trump officials and Russian government operatives, which poses a very real counterintelligence threat to our elections.

As we head into the heat of the 2020 campaign season, I strongly urge campaigns, the executive branch, Congress, and the American people to heed the lessons of this report in order to protect our democracy, Warner wrote.

At the conclusion of the report, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden argued for declassifying and releasing more information to the public because this report includes redacted information that is directly relevant to Russias interference in the 2020 election. One subject in particular that Wyden felt deserved more sunlight is Manaforts deep ties to Kilimnik, including their potential link to the Russian hack-and-leak operation.

For former senior intelligence officials who confronted the threat posed by Russian influence in the U.S. head-on, the report is a long time coming and gives concrete details about the true national security threat that Russia posed in 2016, rather than simply the criminal activity of the Trump campaign.

The report lays bare to the American public what all of us in the [intelligence community] felt all along, said Marc Polymeropoulos, a 26-year veteran of the CIA who retired in June 2019. He pointed specifically to the reports conclusions about contacts between the Trump campaign and the Russians.

Ive always talked about the sleepless nights we all had, he said. Now its obvious why.

Cover thumbnail photo: Kevin Dietsch/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
BOSTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Seniorlink, Inc., a leading provider of services, support and technology that engages family caregivers, is pleased to announce that its care management services subsidiary, Caregiver Homes Network, has again achieved three-year Accreditation for Case Management with Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Distinction from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). It last achieved this accreditation in 2017.

The three-year accreditation is the highest level of achievement awarded by NCQA, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality. NCQA's Case Management Accreditation with LTSS Distinction is a comprehensive, evidence-based program that evaluates the quality of case management programs in provider, payer and community-based organizations.

"Seniorlink is honored to have Caregiver Homes Network once again recognized by NCQA for its commitment to upholding the highest standards of care," said Tom Riley, President and CEO, Seniorlink. "I am especially proud of our dedicated care teams leveraging our Vela technology platform to ensure that complex individuals receive quality care at home, particularly during the unprecedented Covid-19 public health crisis."

Seniorlink offers a unique set of care collaboration solutions that balance human touch and technology. The company's care management services subsidiary, Caregiver Homes, provides direct support to family caregivers caring for patients with complex or chronic diseases. This model has connected nurse case managers, patient advocates, and healthcare professionals with family caregivers for 20 years. Through the implementation of Vela, Seniorlink's HIPAA-secure care collaboration app, high-quality, in-home care is delivered efficiently at scale in communities across the United States.

This is the third time that Caregiver Homes was awarded accreditation by NCQA. In 2014, Caregiver Homes was the first Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) provider in the nation to receive NCQA Case Management Accreditation. In 2017, the company was the first to achieve NCQA accreditation for Case Management with LTSS Distinction, a new category as of 2016.

"Case Management Accreditation moves us closer to measuring quality across population health management initiatives," said Margaret E. O'Kane, President, NCQA. "Not only does it add value to existing quality improvement efforts; it also demonstrates an organization's commitment to the highest degree of improving the quality of their patients' care."

NCQA Accreditation standards are intended to help organizations achieve the highest level of performance possible and create an environment of continuous improvement. Earning NCQA's Accreditation of Case Management with LTSS distinction demonstrates that an organization is dedicated to coordinating the delivery of care in a person-centered and integrated manner to help individuals function optimally in their preferred setting.

"Our organization has a unique focus on the family caregiver as central to coordinating care in today's healthcare system," says Riley. "We believe that engaged caregivers, talented clinicians and patient-centered technology are the essential ingredients to improving outcomes and lowering costs."

More information about Seniorlink can be found at www.seniorlink.com.

About Caregiver Homes from Seniorlink

Caregiver Homes from Seniorlink is a tech-enabled health services company focused on keeping care in the home, where family caregivers play a pivotal role. Our solutions combine collaboration technology through our proprietary app, Vela; evidence-based clinical protocols; and the human touch of dedicated care teams working in partnership with family caregivers. Seniorlink's solutions lead to improved outcomes, cost savings, and improved consumer engagement and satisfaction for health plans and providers. For more information, please visit www.Seniorlink.com.

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.

SOURCE Seniorlink, Inc.

Related Links

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Lawsuit seeks to delay enforcing Noem's new abortion pill ban

Planned Parenthood and ACLU of South Dakota are suing Noem and the Department of Health in enforcing a new abortion pill ban.
SACRAMENTO  More than five decades after the movement for ethnic studies was sparked by protests on Bay Area college campuses, the state will require every undergraduate in the California State University system to take an ethnic studies course.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday mandating that every CSU campus adopt the graduation requirement by the 2024-25 academic year and offer courses about people of color starting next year.

The governor signed AB1460 by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, despite objections from CSUs Board of Trustees, which approved a competing plan to create a separate ethnic studies and social justice requirement. Webers bill will take precedence over the trustees action.

The bill was shelved last year after some CSU faculty said it would set a bad precedent for legislators to require that certain courses be part of a colleges curriculum.

But ethnic studies professors and some lawmakers said the killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody, and subsequent nationwide protests over racial inequality, showed that students need a deeper understanding of race in America.

Weber, a retired professor who helped create an ethnic studies program at San Diego State, said CSU trustees were diluting the core of ethnic studies by removing the focus on race. She said AB1460 is a true ethnic studies mandate.

This bill reflects 50 years of student, faculty, and community advocacy for curriculum reflective of and responsive to our diverse state, Weber tweeted after the bill signing.

The distinction between the competing proposals is, at its core, a debate about what should constitute ethnic studies, which is traditionally defined as the study of four primary groups: African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

CSUs ethnic studies and social justice proposal, which trustees approved July 22, would have broadened the requirement to include other marginalized groups including Muslims, Jews and LGBTQ people.

The push for ethnic studies started when students on the campuses of San Francisco State University and UC Berkeley led the Third World Liberation Front strikes of 1968. They demanded courses to emphasize the experiences of people of color, and Berkeley started one of the first ethnic studies departments in the country.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
The DCCC poll found President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden in a statistical tie, with support from 46% of respondents to 47% for Trump.

The DCCC added Kennedy to its Red to Blue Program in July, for having surpassed aggressive goals for grassroots engagement, local support, campaign organization and fundraising.

Another poll by Global Strategy Group for the House Majority PAC, another Democratic organization, found Kennedy leading Van Drew 47% to 46%.

Kennedy celebrated the polls and the Cook Report change, while Van Drew dismissed two as funded by Democrats.

Froonjian cautioned against making too much of the results, particularly of the DCCC poll.

Dont read too much into it, with a 5% margin of error, Froonjian said. All had similar margins of error.

Froonjian said the voters in the 2nd District often split their votes between candidates of different parties, for various offices.

They really do look at different candidates. They dont just go the party line. Thats why it is a swing district, Froonjian said.
US President Donald Trump said he moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem for the evangelicals .

Speaking at a campaign rally on Monday, the day the Democratic National Convention began, Trump said that Christian voters are more enthused about Americas embassy to Israel being in the holy city than Jews are.

Thats for the evangelicals, said Trump. The evangelicals are more excited about that than Jewish people. Its incredible.

Trump held a rally and gave a campaign speech in Wisconsin on Monday. Later that day, the Democratic National Convention kicked off in the same Midwestern state.

Trump added that presumptive Democratic nomnee Joe Biden, who served as vice president under former President Barack Obama when the United States signed the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, will provide a more favorable agreement to Tehran if elected.

Iran will insist on an even better deal than they made with Obama, said Trump.

The United States withdrew from the landmark deal in 2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran. The administration says Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies.

Trumps comments came as the United States continues its maximum pressure strategy against Iran. Part of the nuclear deal included the expiration this October of a weapons embargo on Iran. Last week, Washington failed to achieve an extension of the arms ban at the UN Security Council.

Trump also touted the US recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory in the speech.

Last week, the United States brokered a deal for Israel and the United Arab Emirates to establish full diplomatic relations. The UAE is the first Gulf state to recognize Israel.

Jerusalem is a holy city to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Past Republican presidential candidates also vowed to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city. Trumps decision gained support from Jewish voters as well as evangelical Christians. Some Jewish groups like J Street have grown more critical of US support for Israel in recent years, but evangelical support on the issue remains strong, hence Trumps comments.

Bidens vice presidential pick Kamala Harris will speak to the convention on Wednesday. Harris agrees with Biden on Middle Eastern issues and likewise opposed Trumps withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
The Communications Service Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2020, popularly known as talk-time tax bill is completing its passage through Parliament under a certificate of urgency.

The bill, which is to amend the Communication Service Tax Act 2008 (Act 754) to provide for reduction in the tax rate from nine per cent to five per cent, is now awaiting presidential assent.

It was taken through all the stages of passage in a day in accordance with Article 106 (13) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 119 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.

The bill was first presented to Parliament and read for the first time on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, and the Speaker, Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye, referred it to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.

Bill Structure

The bill contains two clauses, with clause 1 of the bill providing a reduction in the tax rate from nine per cent to five per cent. The clause 2 provides for the commencement of the bill.

Rationale For The Bill

Chairman of the Finance Committee, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah, said the committee was informed that as a result of the restrictions and the protocols introduced to combat the coronavirus (Coivd-19) pandemic a number of innovations for communications had been introduced.

Presenting the committee's report in the House, he stated that these innovations have resulted in an increase in the use of electronic communications services.

According to him, a number of persons are now required to work from home while businesses and monetary transactions are also being conducted electronically.

He indicated that digitization was also a major government policy that was to catalyze economic activities and promote growth as part of the development agenda and help achieve the Ghana beyond Aid vision.

This was to provide some relief to households and businesses that now relied on electronic communication services such as data and airtime, he noted.

Fiscal Impact Of The Bill

Dr. Yeboah, who is also the MP for New Juaben, disclosed that the Finance Committee was informed that the change in the tax rate would result in a reduction in revenue from the tax of about GH90.1 million.

Commencement Date

The reduction will take effect from September 15, 2020 to give the telecommunication companies sufficient time to reconfigure their systems to ensure smooth implementation of the reduced tax.

Support To National Youth Employment Agency

Section 5 of the Communications Service Tax Act, 2008 (Act 754) as amended by the Communications Service Tax (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 998) provides that at least 20 per cent of six percentage points of the tax shall be used to finance the national youth employment programme.

Following the proposed reduction of the tax rate, the House amended Section 5 of Act 754 to reflect the current reduction in the tax rate.

---Daily Guide
A glamping spot in East Sussex has been named the second best in England by VisitEnglands annual Awards for Excellence.

Swallowtail Hill Farm, just over an hour and a halfs drive from London, picked up the silver gong at the annual awards. Landal Darwin Forest in Derbyshire was named the countrys best camping site, while Eye Kettleby Lakes in Leicestershire was awarded third place.

Swallowtail Hill Farm, near picturesque Rye, is set on 40 acres of wildflower meadows and woodland and offers chic shepherds huts, cottages and cabins.

London hotel, The Ned, was also named as the best Large Hotel of the Year at the awards, followed by Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa in Wiltshire and Hampshires Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa.

After being named the best B&B in the world by TripAdvisor for the second year running , The 25 Boutique B&B in Devon was named Englands best B&B and Guest House of the Year, with St Cuthberts House in Northumberland and Haven Cottage in Cumbria coming in second and third respectively.

VisitEngland Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: These prestigious awards celebrate the outstanding businesses and individuals in tourism across England who have delivered excellence. From a world-class boutique B&B in Devon to adventure-packed experiences in Somerset, from an accessible country park and national nature reserve in Dorset to a bespoke English wine tour in Kent, our award winners provide stand-out experiences of the highest calibre.

Millions of jobs and local economies depend on tourism and this years awards are also a timely reminder of the determination, innovation and commitment of businesses across the country who have been working extremely hard to reopen, to welcome visitors back safely and to continue to provide a first-class experience.

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston added: "Not only does our tourism industry offer incredible experiences to those who holiday here, it supports millions of jobs up and down the country. I'm delighted to see so many great establishments, from major Lincolnshire attractions to boutique Yorkshire hotels, being celebrated.

"I would like to congratulate all the winners and businesses around England who are doing an outstanding job in showcasing the best in tourism. I encourage everyone to get out, Enjoy Summer Safely, and experience everything England has to offer."
On a Thursday morning during last falls impeachment hearings, Geoff Bennett, an NBC White House correspondent, approached then-Ambassador Gordon Sondland as he was walking toward the Capitol. Robert Luskin, the ambassadors attorney, intervened by shoving aside Bennetts mic and then trying to block him from questioning his client. Bennett wasnt fazed. He told Luskin, As a respected attorney, I am sure you understand how the free press works, sir! and then walked unencumbered to pose his questions to Sondland.

Bennett is not afraid to push back. And we saw that intensity again late Thursday night, shortly after the official Twitter account for NBC News posted this:

President Trump told reporters he had heard rumors that Sen. Harris, a Black woman and U.S.-born citizen, does not meet the requirement to serve in the White House. The president said he considered the rumors very serious.

Within minutes, Bennett went public, castigating his own newsroom with a quote-tweet to his 100,000 or so followers: This tweet stops short of saying Kamala Harris is fully eligible to serve and to suggest otherwise is a desperate and racist lie.

Minutes later, NBC deleted its tweet and posted a new one, with a tone much closer to Bennetts: Sen. Harris eligibility to be president is not in doubt, despite racist birtherism suggestions that were echoed by the president Thursday. Then, to make sure everyone got the message, the network pinned that new tweet to the top of its feedand left it there for several days so it would be the first thing that NBC Newss 7.7 million followers would see.

Journalists pride themselves on speaking truth to power. Increasingly, that truth is directed toward their own editors and colleagues, and in the most public ways possible. For certain journalistsparticularly those with stature, and those fortunate to work for responsive managementthis route gets results. It can also be less risky than the traditional, private boss, can I talk to you discussion. By going public, reporters can generate a groundswell of support that will insulate them from managerial retribution.

But does it work for everyone? And should it? While the feedback can be valuable, the consequences can be severe. That is especially true now, when newsroom jobs are precarious, and when journalists can be viciously targeted by anonymous trolls.

How often, and under what circumstances, should journalists openly criticize their organizations or support colleagues whove been disciplined?

The genesis of the Bennett incident was a column in Newsweek (which I wont link to) that presented specious legal arguments to raise doubts about whether Sen. Harris fulfills the constitutional requirements to be president. It was hard to find a legal scholar who would defend the op-ed, but the theory was catnip to Donald Trump, who launched his candidacy years ago by shilling phony, racist conspiracies around Barack Obamas birth certificate. Asked about Harriss eligibility at a press briefing last Thursday, the president pumped his bellows and fanned the embers: I heard it today that she doesnt 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 thats right. I would have assumed the Democrats would have checked that out before she gets chosen to run for vice president.

NBC News tweet on the incident was, in the most literal sense, accurate. That is, Trump was quoted correctly, and no words were misspelled. But it failed to convey to readers that Newsweeks column was deeply flawed, or that Trumps response was designed to instill doubt in voters minds.

Bennett isnt an MSNBC-style partisan. He is an experienced journalist, with years at ABC News, NY1 and NPR before joining NBC in 2017. He also has hosted C-SPANs Washington Journal, the pinnacle of fair-minded broadcast news.

Nor was Bennett the only journalist to go public with concerns. After Trumps press conference, NPR led its story much the way NBC had framed its tweet: President Trump stoked a controversial theory being promoted by supportersand his campaignthat Sen. Kamala Harris of California is not eligible for the vice presidency. Lulu Garcia-Navarro, the host of NPRs Weekend Edition Sunday who has won Peabody and duPont awards, told her 78,500 Twitter followers that this language does our audience a grave disservice. Its not a theory. Its a lie. NPR changed the phrase controversial theory to an untrue conspiracy theory and went on to acknowledge on Twitter that its language hadnt been clear enough that suggestions Sen. Harris isnt eligible are lies. Minutes later, Garcia-Navarro tweeted, This is what a credible news organization does. I am proud to work at NPR.

And even some Newsweek journalists  including a top correspondent and a senior editor  went public with their disgust.

THE MEDIA TODAY: Information overload on night one of the Democrats virtual convention

Grumbling about your employer or your colleagues is hardly new in journalism. For many reporters, its both an occupational hazard and a nontaxable perk of the job. But in this COVID-19 era, when newsrooms are closing and atomized journalists are working out of their bedrooms, its more cumbersome to register your displeasure. And its hard to beat the gratification that comes from changing your newsrooms policy in a public way.

Criticism often goes underground (whisper networks, back channels) until a moment presents itself, and what was shared privately is broadcast publicly, says Jill Geisler, a Loyola University faculty member who studies newsroom management and has written for CJR. It happened in 2017 with medias #MeToo scandals and again right now as #BlackLivesMatter opened new opportunity for outspokenness.

But it doesnt always go smoothly, particularly for journalists who have less experience or who work for smaller news organizations. Last May, as protests over the George Floyd killing heated up, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Alexis Johnson posted a satirical tweet about a litter-filled parking lot, noting it was from a country-music concert. Bosses told Johnson, who is Black, that she could no longer cover the protests; they did the same to another Black staffer, photojournalist Michael Santiago, who had retweeted Johnsons post and publicly supported her. Santiago left the paper; Johnson filed a lawsuit.

How often, and under what circumstances, should journalists openly criticize their organizations or support colleagues whove been disciplined? And will Twitter-fueled critiques stifle the kind of counterintuitive reporting, or untraditional approaches, that we expect journalists to tackle? As Geisler told me, Public criticism can easily translate into bullying or scapegoating, the very thing that causes people to leave organizations. We dont want that.

Bennett and Garcia-Navarro fought a good fight here. They drew attention to mistakes that needed to be fixed quickly and transparently. Using their considerable experience and hard-earned credibility, their actions might also spur more systemic change in their news organizations.

But its possible to envision scenarios when Twitter critiques go awry, particularly when journalists get unfairly targeted, or when they turn their concerns into nasty, public battles that seek retribution more than justice. We might not always find the consequences to be as helpful or constructive.

Im not 100% sure what the right policy is here. I am quite sure Id benefit from your thoughts, so feel free to email me, at [email protected]

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Bill Grueskin is on the faculty at Columbia Journalism School. He has previously worked as founding editor of a newspaper on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, city editor of the Miami Herald, deputy managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, and an executive editor at Bloomberg News. He is a graduate of Stanford University (Classics) and Johns Hopkinss School of Advanced International Studies (US Foreign Policy and International Economics).
The British School

Mohali : The British School celebrated the day online. Students gave speeches highlighting the sacrifices made by freedom fighters.

Shivalik Public School

Mohali : Shivalik Public School organised an e-assembly. Students gave speeches and sang patriotic songs. Children drew the national flag and the national symbols.

Indira Holiday Home

Chandigarh : The students of Indira Holiday Home Preparatory School participated in an online colouring activity wherein they drew and coloured the national flag.

Delhi Public School

Mohali : Delhi Public School, Mohali, celebrated Independence Day on its premises and invited all students and their parents to attend the ceremony that was streamed live online.

PML SD Public School

Chandigarh : junior wing students of PML SD Public School participated in flag-making and slogan-writing activities. Senior wing students recited poems in praise of India.

Hansraj Public School

Panchkula : Children of Hansraj Public School recited poems, took part in a fancy dress contest and gave speeches.

Star Public School

Chandigarh : Star Public School, Sector 52, organised flag-making, drawing art and craft and singing activities.

DAV, Surajpur

Surajpur : DAV Public School organised various activities such as patriotic poetry recitation, singing, dancing, salad-making, poster-making and slogan writing.

The Sky World School

Panchkula : Students of The Sky World School, Sector 21, Panchkula, made posters, gave speeches, recited poems and gave dance performances to highlight the importance of the day.

MRA Model School

Chandigarh : A flag hoisting ceremony was organised at MRA Senior Secondary Model School, Sector 27. Principal Seema Biji along with school advisor Saroj Sawant unfurled the flag.

Stepping Stones

Chandigarh : Stepping Stones Senior Secondary School broadcast live the proceedings of the flag hoisting ceremony. Principal Anu Kumar unfurled the flag. Students and staff prepared an ode to the nation.
Marks & Spencer said that its plans to cut 7,000 jobs comes after seeing a material shift in trade.

It plans to reduce the number of roles at the retail chains central support centre, in its regional management and UK stores over the next three months.

The company has confirmed that no jobs at its Irish stores will be impacted by the cuts announced today.

During lockdown, the company said it has learnt to work more flexibly, using the same staff to man both the food aisles and the clothing section of the stores.

New Microsoft technology will also allow it to reduce layers of management, M&S said.

We expect a significant proportion will be through voluntary departures and early retirement. In line with our longstanding value of treating our people well, we will now begin an extensive programme of communication with colleagues, M&S said.

It also expects to create a number of new jobs as M&S invests in its online capacity.

More to follow
No teacher signed up for this, Tracy Campbell, a 35-year veteran music teacher from Colorado, told the World Socialist Web Site about the demand that educators return to the classroom in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The part that is left out in the news coverage is that teachers werent asked.

Why werent the unions organizing in March? If they were strong, we wouldnt have to do this organizing, she said, explaining why she and several others set up an independent Facebook group, Colorado Schools for Safe Openings-14 Days No New Cases.

Their Refuse to Return group has attracted 9,469 members and helped inspire at least 35 other groups across the US, including in Illinois (32,555 members), Indiana (13,392 members), Oregon (13,565 members), Tennessee (6,133 members), Pennsylvania (7,831 members), Mississippi (2,210 members) and more.

Tracy Campbell

Social media opposition has erupted nationally, while educators have mounted protests, petitions and sickouts to oppose the ruling-class campaign to reopen schools. The Facebook groups opposed to this homicidal campaign have become centers for organizing protests, sharing scientific and political developments, venting anxiety and frustration, and increasingly for discussing local, statewide and national strike action to halt the reopening of schools.

As the World Socialist Web Site reported, the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee was launched on August 15 to unify educators, school workers, parents and students independently of the unions to oppose the forced return to work and school by the Democrats and Republicans.

The statement that accompanied the announcement called for a nationwide general strike, emphasizing, 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.

Unlike any of the mainstream media outlets, the WSWS has closely covered the explosion of opposition on social media. Having seen one of our articles, Tracy contacted us in order to tell her story. She has been a music teacher for 35 years, and lives near the Navajo Nation reservations that have been devastated by COVID-19.

Like other educators, Tracy has carefully followed the science of the pandemic and has been acutely aware of the immense dangers posed by the reopening of schools. When she was asked to return for in-person instruction at her school, she refused. I decided not to take any contract teaching jobs this year, since I have grandsons and my health is more important, she told the WSWS.

Tracy taught during a time when public education was under a continual assault by both corporate-controlled parties, with per-pupil funding declining, class sizes skyrocketing, and school buildings left to decay. The treatment of teachers has just been going down, down, down, Tracy said. All electives are getting the short stick. I had to fight for my program my entire life as a band director. It was always on the chopping block.

Commenting on the pandemic and the drive to reopen schools, Tracy stated, The Democratic governor here, Jared Polis, said its up to local control whether or not to do in-person learning, which is just giving power to these little Betsy DeVos forces in small rural areas. School districts have given carte blanche to these people who think its all a hoax and are now starting schools. This is exactly what Betsy DeVos wanted, to dismantle the whole public education system.

As a result, people are resigning left and right. Theyre telling band teachers they have to teach in person, with kids blowing into instruments. Its crazy!

Tracy noted that since the start of the pandemic, teachers have been freaking out, adding, if theyd organized online learning we couldve had mobile computer labs for hard-hit places. Why arent they asking experts to come up with solutions?

She noted that in her district and across the US, the pandemic has worsened conditions that were already terrible for working-class and impoverished communities. I lost six students one year that I was teaching on the reservation. Six were killed or died in car wrecks, and its really hard on the kids.

I think the pandemic is waking people up. We better learn fast how to organize, because whats at stake is not only the emotional well-being of our children. We understand theres problems with remote learning. But going remote is temporary, death is not temporary. Well be creating more trauma for kids if we reopen schools.

Tracy said that since she no longer had a full-time teaching position, I realized I had the freedom to organize without fear of retaliation, which had always been an issue for me because I didnt want to lose my job. She reached out to two other teachers and they decided to begin organizing opposition to the reopening of schools. We said that we cant just sit around complaining on Facebook, Tracy noted.

We decided to start these Facebook groups because there wasnt much then. As the weeks went on, it was crazy, because our groups kept growing. The other administrators of our Colorado Facebook group were very helpful and active. We began finding other groups that werent associated with us, then reaching out to other places like Iowa, Mississippi and more. It caught on like fire. There were so many teachers that didnt have any union support. Little by little, people have been sharing their really raw emotions and fears.

We started planning collective actions, doing phone calling, car caravans. Im a big proponent of protest art, so I told everyone we should start doing art installations outside our buildings. In Tennessee, they did ones, in Little Rock too. Grim reapers started showing up at protests in Colorado and all over.

Tracy noted that the groups are meant not only to be a support system, but a way for teachers to communicate safely. I started getting hate mail sent to me. They said, Do you know your Facebook profile will be with you forever? And I said, Yeah, and I want my grandkids to know that I fought against this. Its really been grassroots, and crosses party lines.

Pointing to the widespread self-sacrifice and concern over social issues among teachers, Tracy stated, You dont have to be socialist to be a teacher, but we pretty much are. An important motivating factor that led Tracy and others to form the Facebook groups was the complete absence of any broader organizing by the teacher unions. While there is growing support for a nationwide strike against reopening schools, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), which have long colluded with the austerity program of the two big-business parties, are opposed to collective action and instead are facilitating the reopening of schools by isolating educators district by district.

Tracy noted that the unions supposedly representing custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other school workers are also doing nothing to protect them. She said, Were talking about everyone in our schools, their unions arent being effective for them either. Custodians here almost walked out of their meeting recently; theyve had to work in unsafe conditions during summer school.

Tracy expressed her support for the recently formed Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee. She said, Id love to help with this in any way I can; Id like to help form a rank-and-file committee here. I think a nationwide strike would be great. This last week before school starts here, Im doing all I can on the ground. These teachers are going in, and theyre coming out saying half the staff wasnt wearing masks. Teachers want to strike, but the unions are doing nothing. Even in Florida, they filed this lawsuit, but teachers are still going into classrooms this week.

Reaching across to other workers is really important; I tell my group that too. Weve got to get with our villages and communities.

All educators, school workers, parents and students who support this initiative should join the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee 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.
A health worker is carrying out a COVID-19 test in Dalian, in China's northeast Liaoning Province, on July 26, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas Dalian City Running Out of Money Amid Pandemic, Documents Show

A series of internal documents from Dalians municipal government recently obtained by The Epoch Times reveals that the northeastern Chinese city is under financial strain that has been exacerbated by the economic costs of the pandemic.

The documents show some of the urgent fiscal and economic difficulties that Chinese authorities face.

Dalian Pulandian District Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau (housing bureau) stated in a document dated May 21: Special request for the district government to allow borrowing of 1.6 million yuan [$226,200] from the district Letters and Visits Departments stability maintenance fund for May 2020 to December 2020.

The funds will be given to state-owned enterprises to cover local construction workers insurance and benefits.

The insurance and benefits, known as the five insurances and one fund, include pension insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, work injury insurance, maternity insurance, and housing provident fund. In addition, stability maintenance is the regimes euphemism for efforts to suppress dissidents and maintain political stability on behalf of the Communist Party.

Dalian Pulandian district officials requested permission to borrow funds earmarked for stability maintenance and use them to cover employee benefits. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

The housing bureaua government agency with real political poweris short on cash, indicating the severity of Dalians financial woes.

In the document, the housing bureau promised to return the loan [from the maintenance fund] in a timely manner under two prerequisites. First, the court is to unblock the state-owned enterprises bank accounts; and second, the local treasury would cover the municipal construction maintenance fees.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) finances, as the countrys fiscal revenue experienced negative growth for the first time since the global financial crisis of 2008, according to Chinese officials. In March, that figure tumbled 26.1 percent from a year earlier.

While the Dalian municipal government hasnt yet released its financial data for this year, it estimated that large industrial and corporate enterprises profits fell by 62.1 percent from January to April. China counts large firms as those with main business revenues of 20 million yuan (about $2.89 million) or more.

Some Construction Projects Discontinued

A housing bureau document, reporting projects approved for continuation, revealed that as of March 29, there were a total of 543 housing projects, of which 61 were new and 482 were continuing construction.

Of the continuing projects, only 409 were approved. The remaining ones were unsound (six), long-term shutdowns (29), not intended to resume (13), and unable to resume (19), indicating a total of 67 abandoned city projects.

A March 31 notice showing that some housing projects were abandoned by Dalian city. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

Migrant Workers Sent Back to Dalian

Also in the document, a total of 2,365 migrant workers were transported back to their hometown of Dalian during the pandemic, to work on local projects instead. That likely means the migrant workers were unable to find work in the urban areas where they relocated.

This reflects how the pandemic has seriously hindered the recovery of the labor market.

The pandemic has caused both funding and labor shortages in the Dalian government and will likely impact its ability to continue city construction projects.

The Dalian Commerce Bureau issued a notice, dated March 17, noting that retail sales fell by 25.1 percent during the months of January and February.

The development of the epidemic is still unclear, the external economic environment is turbulent, and the development of enterprises is more prominently restricted by rent, labor, and logistics, it said.

Dalian municipal government office May 22 notice on foreign capital utilization from JanuaryApril, 2020. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

A notice from the Dalian Municipal Government Office, dated May 22: Notice on the actual utilization of foreign capital in various areas of the city from January to April 2020, disclosed that foreign investment had plummeted, and the amount of foreign capital actually utilized year-on-year fell by 56.8 percent from January to April.

A series of special tax reports, issued by the Pulandian District Taxation Administration, revealed that exports and taxes have been hurt by the pandemic.

Affected by the epidemic, the February export value was reduced by 23.99 million U.S. dollars year-on-year, a decrease of 37.26 percent, and that the export situation this year didnt look optimistic.

As for the main source of local fiscal income and corporate income taxes, the Pulandian District Taxation Administration examined the resumption of business and production, and found that the manufacturing and construction industries during the first quarter of this year have been more affected by the pandemic. A substantial decline in revenue in the first quarter is expected, by more than 70 percent year-on-year.

These two industries are the main sources of tax revenue for the Pulandian District government, accounting for nearly 90 percent of prepaid taxes, according to the documents.

A survey of 15 key taxpaying companies in the area found that while about 73 percent resumed production, the majority lost money this year. There were only four companies that made a profit in the first quarter, and two of them had increased profit and tax declarations year-on-year.

According to the report, the total taxes paid by 15 key taxpaying companies in the first quarter fell 80 percent year-on-year.
In the run-up to the Democratic National Convention, which opened last night, fans of convention pomp mourned the likely shortcomings of this years unprecedented virtual formata result, of course, of the coronavirus pandemic. We heard (repeatedly) that thered be no balloon drop this year. Businesses in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the city that was set to host the convention, testified to losing their expected convention foot traffic. The total programtwo hours per night, split across four nightswas set to be 16 hours shorter than the planned, in-person event. For reporters and pundits, the quadrennial rites of setting up a makeshift studio, grabbing delegates for interviews, and hobnobbing with politicos were suddenly off the table. The rituals that survived did so as simulacra. Delegates were to be filmed applauding speeches from their front rooms. Some of them donned their glitzy convention outfitsbut only for a photoshoot in the Washington Post.

Not that everyone felt a sense of loss. Some seasoned political reporters saw the lack of a physical convention as an opportunity to focus less on pageantry and more on what matters, especially at this time of dovetailing national crises. NBC News anchor Lester Holt told Time that the virtual format would force the press to assess the messages, the timing, the words as opposed to how the crowd reacts or those surprise moments in the crowd or the demonstrations. I would argue that were not going to have as many distractions that we might otherwise have. Politicos Eli Okun and John F. Harris wrote recently that conventions rarely offer unscripted drama, and instead have become de facto journalist conventionsa chance for thousands of reporters and editors to socialize with each other and sources. This years cancellation raises sharp questions of what genuine value conventions hold, Okun and Harris wrote. David Weigel, a campaign reporter at the Post, told them that he has more time to cover voting rights now that he doesnt have to spend hours in airports and convention security lines.

ICYMI: When the news becomes religion

Last nights programminga slick, fast-moving package that shuffled through speeches, rousing films, and music videos; bridged figures as divergent as the democratic socialist Bernie Sanders and the Republican John Kasich; and culminated in a widely-lauded, pre-taped address from the former First Lady Michelle Obamawas frequently substantive. Voters outlined their present financial struggles. One, Kristin Urquiza, shared the pain of losing her father to COVID-19.

Not that the substance always made it onto TV. While CNN and MSNBC broadcast the full two hours and mostly refrained from cutting in, Fox News and the major broadcast networks showed only the second hour, and talked over portions of it. (They offered longer coverage via their streaming services.) Some of the network chatter was itself substantiveNBC, for instance, brought on Geoff Bennett to report on Trumps attacks on the Postal Service and mail-in votingbut much of it was inane. After Kasich spoke, convention producers introduced longtime Republican voters who intend to break with Trump; rather than show their testimonials, CBS and ABC cut away, respectively, to the Trump allies Reince Priebus and Chris Christie, both of whom bashed Kasich. (Hes a backstabber, Christie said. Bidens gonna be getting calls from John Kasich, hes gonna wanna change his phone number.) Network anchors and pundits speculated as to what speakers might say just moments before the speakers appeared. While these interludes were going on, the convention feed continued to roll, on mute, in one corner of the screena hellish distraction that alternately had the air of an ad and a hostage video. At one point, NBCs Garrett Haake recapped his conversations with voters in Milwaukee while unrelated voters opined, silently, to his right.

In the networks defense, the unprecedented format of this years convention, and the uncertainty around how it would be presented, forced them to make unenviable, real-time choices. The rat-a-tat rhythm of the Democrats virtual production did not contain natural break points for punditry. The alternativeletting things play out uninterruptedwas much smoother, but also meant handing primetime air to programming that, no matter how substantive it was, was ultimately an unfiltered infomercial for a political party. Physical conventions, of course, have long been carefully stage-managed, but reporters attending them have at least had the chance to scan the room for howls of dissent and other newsworthy flashpoints. As Heather Hendershot, a professor of film and media at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote for the Post yesterday, The 2020 conventions should be seen less as a divergence from the regular way of doing business than a culmination of that approach, in which total control has finally, theoretically, been achieved.

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What we saw on many networks last night felt like an attempt to wrest back a measure of that control. The result, unfortunately, was an unwatchable exercise in difference-splitting. Ahead of the three remaining nights of the Democratic convention and the Republican effort next week, the networks should make a choice and stick with it. If they think that voters should get to hear each partys best case from the partys own mouth, they should air the convention programming without punditry. If they find that to be unacceptable, they should just air the news or something else. Trying to do both just leads to information overload. Im going for a lie down.

Below, more on the convention and the campaign:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Successful Pitches shows freelancers the way

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
"I grew up and received my pre-college education within Florence One Schools," Reynolds said via text message Monday afternoon. "My wife has been an educator for 12 years, 10 of those years being within Florence One, and currently, I have twin daughters who will be third graders this year, and one more daughter who will be a kindergartner next year.

"My desire to see Florence One flourish continually is very personal for me, but I also desire to see all children and educators have an opportunity to learn and work within the best environment possible. I believe education provides opportunities for young people that nothing else within society can provide. Growing in knowledge changes a persons perspective on life, allowing them to see beyond themselves and all of the opportunities that are available to positively affect the society they live within. Its also within the walls of a school that child typically understands their passions and desires that leads to careers and opportunities within their life."

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He added that as a pastor he loves people and wants nothing more than to help them.
Indias top naval commanders will discuss important operational issues during a three-day conference in New Delhi from August 19 amid the ongoing border tensions with China in the Ladakh sector, a navy official said on Tuesday.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh will address the navy brass on the opening day of the conference.

The navy has been on an operational alert in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) where scores of warships are ready for any task in the aftermath of the border row. It has stepped up surveillance and activities in the IOR, which, it believes, China will inevitably try to enter in its quest to become a global power, just as it has laid claim to large portions of the disputed South China Sea, as reported by Hindustan Times on July 29.

The commanders conference, to be chaired by navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh, assumes greater significance against the backdrop of recent events along Indias northern borders as well as the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, a navy spokesperson said.

It would provide the higher naval leadership a forum to discuss conduct of operations, sustenance and maintenance of assets, procurement, infrastructure development and human resource management issues within the ambit of the new normal established by the pandemic, the spokesperson said.

A commanders conference is important at any time, but this one might especially look at various matters that the navys commanders would carefully consider in the backdrop of Chinas growing belligerent attitude, said maritime affairs expert Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande (retd).

The commanders will also discuss ways to optimise joint planning, tri-service synergy, operational readiness and functional reorganisation within the navy to enhance efficiency, the spokesperson said. Deliberations will also cover larger security imperatives in the Indo-Pacific region, he said.

The navy has deployed warships along critical sea lanes of communications and choke points in the Indian Ocean region under its mission-based deployment model and the vessels can be diverted for any mission.

Indian warships are deployed across a large expanse from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Strait and northern Bay of Bengal to the southeast coast of Africa.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has "elevated and solidified" America's growing and critical partnership with India in ways not seen in any previous US administrations, according to a senior White House official.

President Trump has prioritised US-India relationship and worked to expand all facets of the partnership over the last three-and-a-half years, the senior administration official from the National Security Council of the White House told PTI on Monday.

"Given the two countries' democratic foundations and their mutual interests in rebuilding the global economy following COVID-19, diversifying global supply chains, and ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open, President Trump will continue to build this critical partnership in the years to come," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"The Trump Administration has elevated the US relationship with India and solidified our growing partnership in ways not seen in any other US administration," the official said, noting that the president has enabled India to become the first non-treaty ally to be offered an armed MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System.

During President Trump's historic visit to India February 24-26, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the relationship to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Modi was also one of the first foreign leaders to visit the White House after President Trump took office on June 26, 2017, the senior official said.

The two leaders have also spoken side-by-side at two major events ? "Howdy, Modi!" in September 2019 in Houston, Texas, before a crowd of over 55,000 and again at "Namaste, Trump" in February 2020 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to address a crowd of 110,000 people, the official noted.

"These gatherings boosted our people-to-people ties and highlighted the warm personal relationship between the two leaders," the official said.

Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy prioritises closer cooperation between the United States and India to secure a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, the official said.

"We have boosted quadrilateral consultations among the United States, India, Australia and Japan, with the four foreign ministers meeting for the first time in September 2019," the official said.

"President Trump has strengthened all aspects of US-India security and defence cooperation to build a comprehensive, enduring, and mutually beneficial defence partnership," the official said.

Under the Trump Administration, the United States has become the second-largest arms supplier to India, growing from virtually no arms sales a decade ago to more than USD 20 billion today, the official said, adding that earlier this year, the US and India concluded USD 3 billion in defence sales, including MH-60R naval helicopters and additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

To bolster India's role as a net provider of security in the Indo-Pacific, the Trump administration has lifted restrictions on the provision of sensitive defence technology, enabling India to become the first non-treaty ally offered an armed MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System, the official said.

As global leaders with vibrant democracies, the United States and India have cooperated to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. US and Indian pharmaceutical companies have collaborated to expand global supplies of critical medicines and are cooperating on vaccine development, the official added.

In a separate statement, Al Mason, co-chair for the Trump Victory Indian American Finance Committee, said Trump has elevated India's stature on the world stage, and asserted that credit also goes to Prime Minister Modi.

"Of course, due credit also goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his skilled policy towards the US.

"The India-US relationship has been rock solid. Kudos to the brilliance of both Trump and Modi for cementing the bond between India and US," Mason told PTI.

His remarks came ahead of the November 3 presidential election where Trump, a Republican will face former vice president Joe Biden.

Biden, the Democratic Party's candidate last week picked Indian-American Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, a move that could woo the influential Indian diaspora in America. President Trump's running mate will be Vice President Mike Pence.
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The Singapore State Courts. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE  A 26-year-old woman who gave birth to a 2.5kg full-term child at her Bedok North home in January and then threw him down the rubbish chute in a tightly knotted plastic bag  intending to kill him  has been jailed for one-and-a-half years.

On Tuesday (18 August), the judge presiding over the case rejected the culprits plea for a probation sentence. District Judge Salina Ishak noted the seriousness of the offence despite the baby emerging unscathed.

She also expressed reservations about the perpetrator not being aware that she was carrying a child to term, which her lawyer had raised in mitigation.

The culprit, now 27, pleaded guilty at the State Courts on Tuesday to one charge of attempted culpable homicide not amounting to murder, for committing an act with the intention of causing the death of her newborn son.

The perpetrator, who has been in remand since February after she turned herself in to the authorities and has not seen the victim since disposing of him, cannot be named due to a court order to protect the victims identity. He is now in foster care.

The boy was found by two Bangladeshi cleaners who were clearing rubbish about three hours after the incident and had heard his faint cries.

The culprit surrendered herself at a police station a day before she was due to be interviewed by investigators and provide a DNA sample.

Culprit threw victim then went back to sleep

In the early hours of 7 January, the perpetrator felt pain in her stomach and went to the toilet at about 6am. Deputy Public Prosecutor Yan Jiakang said, Although the accused had not had her usual menstrual cycle for many months, and did wonder whether she might be pregnant on occasion, she had chosen not to dwell on it further.

She claims that she was shocked after the delivery. She carried the victim out of the toilet and went to the kitchen. She took a white plastic bag and placed the victim in the bag, tying it up, said the prosecutor.

Story continues

She realised that the victim was moving inside the plastic bag but wanted to get rid of him quickly. Immediately, she opened the door latch to the rubbish chute and with the intention to cause the victims death, threw the victim in the plastic bag into the rubbish chute. The accused lived in a third floor unit. Thereafter, she cleaned up all the blood in the house, took a shower and went back to sleep, the prosecutor added.

Victim found by cleaners who heard his cries

At about 8.30am, two cleaners from Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, Patwari Shamin, 24, and Kamal Mostafa, 40, began clearing rubbish from HDB chutes along Bedok North.

Shamin pulled out the rubbish bin containing the victim, loaded it onto a motorised cart, and replaced it with an empty rubbish bin in the chute. As he closed the door to the chute, he heard the faint sound of a baby crying. He asked Mostafa whether he heard anything but Mostafa said he didnt.

Shamin then went closer to the bin he had just put on the cart and heard the cries a little louder. He quickly moved aside a newspaper at the top of the rubbish covering most of what was below, and saw what appeared to be a baby in a white plastic bag that had been tied up, said DPP Yan.

He also noticed blood on the plastic bag. Shamin and Mostafa stopped what they were doing immediately and called their supervisor, Mazumdar Mohammad Abu Taleb, to come down to the scene, she added.

Taleb arrived soon after with property officers from Aljunied-Hougang Town Council. They went over to the rubbish bin which had been placed on the motorised cart and observed that approximately three-quarters of the bin was filled with rubbish. They saw the baby moving in the white plastic bag and heard the sounds of his cries, said DPP Yan.

At about 9.10am, one of the town council property officers, Mohamed Lathiff Ali Kutty, tore open the plastic bag which was tied in a dead knot and saw the victim covered in blood lying face up and crying. The officer told his colleague to call for the police and an ambulance. Lathiff lifted the baby out of the plastic bag and asked Shamin and Mostafa to find some clothing to wrap the victim and give him warmth. They found a T-shirt, shawl and other pieces of clothing for the victim, who was taken to hospital via ambulance shortly after.

The victim was found to have a fractured collarbone as a result of birth.

Culprit confessed to crime after being asked for DNA

When officers knocked on her door the next evening to ask the culprit and her family whether they knew anything about a baby being thrown into the rubbish chute, she feigned ignorance.

The next month, on 9 February, officers handed her a letter asking her to attend an interview and to undergo DNA testing. The perpetrator was scheduled to report to a police station on 14 February.

But on 13 February, she came clean to a friend, who advised her to surrender herself. The culprit walked into a police station later that day.

Culprit not aware she was pregnant

The prosecution had sought a two-year jail term. DPP Yan said a government psychiatrist did not find the culprit to be of unsound mind or to be labouring under any mental illnesses at the time of the offence; she later had post-partum depression.

The perpetrator also had the presence of mind to clean up the blood after disposing of the child. She also did not come clean when policemen conducted door-to-door searches, the prosecutor noted.

But defence lawyer Arias Lim played down the severity of the culprits crime. She had missed her period but was not aware that she was pregnant and had gone to the toilet only to have the baby fall out of her, said the lawyer.

The judge, however, expressed her reservations about the perpetrators ignorance of her pregnancy.

In sentencing, District Judge Salina Ishak also noted, among other things, that the victim was vulnerable and depended solely on the perpetrator. He was also thrown from a height of three-storeys into a dangerous and unsanitary area, exposing him to risk of being crushed by falling objects, or infection and disease.

The dead-knot on the plastic bag also put him at risk of dying from suffocation. And the culprit tried to cover up her crime and did not initially confess to the cops who were at her door.

It was also fortunate that the baby did not suffer from any serious or permanent injuries, said the judge.

The culprit showed little expression throughout the court hearing, even as her sentence was passed. She appeared in court via video-link from Changi Womens Prison. Her sentence was backdated to the date of her remand on 15 February.

For her offence, she could have been jailed for up to seven years and also fined.

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Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant on Tuesday wrote to home minister Anil Deshmukh demanding action against Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami for allegedly naming a Maharashtra cabinet minister in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput case without any evidence and violating the norms of the Press Council of India. Goswami did not respond to HTs texts till the time of going to press.

The former Union minister in his letter said that Goswamis reference to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is aggravating. The South Mumbai MP alleged that Goswami, for the interest of a few people, was spreading false news. The news channels have named Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and his son and minister Aaditya Thackeray in connection with Rajputs suicide. Under the garb of journalism, Mr Arnab Goswami, chief editor of Hindi news channel Republic Bharat and English news channel Republic TV, is constantly airing news irresponsibly. Without any evidence, the news channels and its chief editor Arnab Goswami have been levelling allegations on Maharashtra Cabinet minister, he alleged in the letter.

The Sena deputy leader alleged that in the past too, Goswami, while presenting news, had spoken in a derogatory manner against politicians and opposition leaders, for which cases have been lodged against him.

Speaking to TV channels on Tuesday, Sawant said there is a new fad of media trial and said guidelines of the Press Council of India and code have to be followed while reporting about an ongoing case.

Recently, it is seen channels decide the accused, name some people, and indulge in character assassination. The body language and the manner in which this is done is so disrespectful. It came to a point where Maharashtra Chief Minister was singularly named. Such language is aggravating. This is not just disrespecting the person but the insult of the entire state, because he is the CM of this state. I have asked the home minister to take cognisance of this. They think nobody will question them, he said.

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18 Aug 2020, 10:10 AM

India's power generation surges for first time in 5 months in early August

India's electricity generation in the first 15 days of August rose for the first time since early March, provisional government data showed, as the country opened up industries and lifted restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus. Power generation rose 2.6% in the first 15 days of August compared with the same period of last year, data from federal grid operator POSOCO showed, compared with a 1.8% fall in July.

Hiring picks up; job seekers look beyond their industry in post-COVID era

The latest 'Labour Market Update' by LinkedIn on the hiring trends based on its economic graph shows that between April and June, hiring in the country increased by 35 per cent. While the overall hiring activity is still down 15 per cent year-on-year as of end-June, the slow recovery is coming on the back of bottom hit in April when the hiring declined by 50 per cent year-on-year.

Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tests positive for coronavirus

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairperson and managing director of Biocon, announced in a tweet that she has tested positive for COVID-19. Taking to the social media platform, the billionaire entrepreneur said that she has developed mild symptoms.

Oracle holds preliminary talks with ByteDance; enters race to buy TikTok

Oracle Corp has held preliminary talks with TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, and was seriously considering buying the app's operations in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the Financial Times newspaper reported. Twitter Inc had approached ByteDance to express interest in acquiring the U.S. operations of TikTok, while Microsoft Corp was still the favorite to clinch a deal in the race.

India travel demand high, says Lufthansa as air bubble flights to Germany resume

The Lufthansa Group on Monday expressed confidence that air travel demand to and from India remains high despite the COVID-19 lockdown disruption, as it welcomed the bilateral air bubble agreement which allowed Germany's largest airline to resume flights from India last week.

Tea production to hit multi-year low in 2020 due to lockdown, floods

Tea production in India is expected to fall to multi-year low in the current year. Production is likely to fall by 37 per cent to 878 thousand tonnes on account of the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown and the torrential rains in the northern part of the country, highlights a Centre for Monitoring report.

Citigroup makes 'million dollar payment error' from cosmetics giant Revlon's account

Citigroup is trying to recover almost $900 million (or roughly Rs 6,800 crore) it mistakenly paid to cosmetic firm Revlon's lenders. Citigroup reportedly called it a "clerical error". The payment error took place after UMB Financial sued Revlon on behalf of certain dissenting lenders, including Brigade Capital Management and HPS investment partners, over its restructuring tactics.
In 2018 the American president secretly authorized the CIA to engage in offensive Cyber War operations. This capability had long been sought and one reason why permission was finally granted was the increased defensive Cyber War capabilities Western companies had developed. This effort was market driven because the damage done via hacking Internet networks makes it more difficult to sell Internet based equipment and services.

One of the major developments of the last two decades has been the creation and growth of Internet security operations. Initially these were mainly firms that sold and supported their own Internet security software. Soon the major Internet companies got involved, again because it was good business. Hackers were seen as agricultural pests in the Internet based computing ecosystem. One after another Microsoft, Apple, IBM, Amazon and others got more involved in protecting their customers from hackers. These separate operations cooperated by sharing information, especially about hacking groups as well as the new tools and techniques hackers were using. The effectiveness of this cooperative effort enabled the CIA to make a case for offensive operations. There was now enough intelligence being obtained, which the U.S. government (the largest computer and network user in the world) had access to that the CIA could realistically plan and carry out offensive operations.

While details of offensive operations are usually kept secret, the same is not the case with many defensive operations. Thats because information about hacker techniques and tools is best exploited by letting users know how they are vulnerable and how to avoid it.

A recent example of this came from the IBM X-Force IRIS (Incident Response and Intelligence Services) security team. One of the many hacker groups X-Force was aware of, ITG18/APT35, had been hacked and 40 GB of hacker how-to videos were obtained. These videos were for upgrading the skills of ITG18 hackers via the use of Bandicam, a video recorder that created annotated videos of activities on a video screen. These vids showed how hackers used their tools and revealed new uses or more effective use of current techniques.

ITG18 is an Iranian group that is mostly in it for the money, but the Bandicam videos showed that the victims were often military or government personnel who might have access to information that could be sold to any country interested in that sort of thing.

X-Force gained much useful information from the Bandicam videos and passed on a lot of it to IBM customers and computer users in general. For example, the videos revealed some techniques that were not known while also revealing how effective some security techniques were. For example, banks and other Internet services have long urged their customers to use second-factor authentication when logging in. The second-factor is usually a four-digit security code sent to the users cell phone. Over the last year there had been several claims that second-factor schemes could be hacked, even though this took a lot of effort. The ITG18 videos revealed that hackers were advised to ignore accounts that used second-factor because it consumed so much time to hack and there were so many accounts available that did not use second-factor.
Chennai, Aug 18 : Is the Sterlite Copper smelter plant suffering from Tuesday legal jinx? On Tuesday the Madras High Court dismissed Vedanta Ltd's plea to reopen its Sterlite Copper smelter unit in Tuticorin.

Curiously, way back on 28.9.2010 - a Tuesday - the Madras High Court had ordered the immediate closure of the plant for violating various environmental laws and causing pollution.

In 2010, the court delivering its order on writ petitions filed by National Trust for Clean Environment (NTCE) and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, a bench of Justice Elipe Dharmarao and Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar also said that the employees are entitled for compensation under Section 25 FFF of Industrial Disputes Act at the rate of 16 days wages for every completed year of service.

The court also asked the Tuticorin District Collector to take necessary steps for the re-employment of the factory workers in other organisations around Tuticorin, to the extent possible, to protect their livelihood.

Quashing the environmental clearances given by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) for the original setting up of the plant as well as subsequent capacity expansion, the court said that the plant had come up within 25 km of the environmentally fragile zone near the Gulf of Mannar.

"The bench ordered closure of the plant as it was violating pollution laws and functioning without holding the mandatory public hearing and environment impact assessment (EIA)," NTCE's advocate G.Rama Priya told IANS on 28.9.2010.

From the start, the copper smelter plant was mired in controversy.

Originally the plant was planned in Goa but it faced severe opposition from the state's people. However, the AIADMK regime under J. Jayalalithaa gave a warm welcome to the project and allotted land at Tuticorin.

Ever since then the plant was in the eye of storm with Vaiko leading a protest against the project and later filing a case.

Later the Supreme Court on 2.4.2013 - again a Tuesday - allowed the Sterlite copper smelting plant to continue operations and asked it to deposit Rs 100 crore with the authorities to restore the environmental damage caused from 1997-2012.

Pointing to the various violations of environmental norms, the apex court then said, "For such damages caused to the environment from 1997 to 2012 and for operating the plant without a valid renewal for a fairly long period, the appellant-company obviously is liable to compensate by paying damages."
The Prince of Wales  himself a former sufferer of COVID 19  has reached for poetry to reassure Victorians that despite the darkness brought upon them by the coronavirus pandemic, better times will return.

"You will soon see sorrow go down with the sun," quoted the man who would be King of Australia in a message of hope to Victorians.

Recalling his relationship with Victoria that began with a "very happy six months" as a student 54 years ago at Geelong Grammars Timbertop campus in the states high country near Mount Buller, Prince Charles declared he had built a "special fondness" for Victoria.

Victorians, he said, like all Australians, had a reputation as tenacious and resilient "or indeed, as you might say in Australia, [they are] made of tough stuff."
The Nigerian government is proposing a N12.658 trillion budget for

the 2021 fiscal year, details of its budget call to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have shown.

According to a circular posted on the website of the Budget Office of the Federation on Monday, the aggregate revenue available for budget for 2021 is projected at N7.498 trillion while the aggregate expenditure level is projected to be N12.658

trillion.

These projections, the government said, are in accordance with its 2021-2023 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

The circular, signed by the minister for finance, Zainab Ahmed, noted that the key parameters for the 2021-23 fiscal framework were set in line with the global and domestic economic outlook.

Mrs Ahmed noted that the aggregate expenditure is made up of Statutory Transfers of N481.41 billion, Debt Service of N3.124 trillion, Sinking Fund of N220 billion, Recurrent (non-debt) expenditure of N5.746 trillion and Capital expenditure (exclusive of capital in Statutory Transfers) of N3.086 trillion.

Of the capital expenditure, MDAs Capital is N1.485 trillion, the circular said.

Similarly, the Statutory Transfers of N481.41 billion consist of allocations to the National Judicial Council (NJC), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National Assembly (NASS), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Public Complaints Commission (PCC), North East Development Commission (NEDC) and Basic Health Care Provision fund (BHCPF).

It is expected that these arms of Government and agencies will apply the funds transferred strictly to accomplish the purposes for which they are intended, the circular noted.

In compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (2007), all beneficiaries of statutory transfers will be required to provide the BOF periodic reports of the allocation and expenditure of the funds received.

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The N3.124 trillion in respect of Debt Service is made up of N2.183 trillion for Domestic Debt, and N940.89 billion for Foreign Debt. Additionally, N220 billion is provisioned for Sinking Fund to retire maturing loans.

Similarly, the aggregate sum of N3.086 trillion, which excludes capital component of statutory transfers, has been set aside for sundry critical capital expenditure. They include N1.485 trillion for MDAS capital expenditure; N234.19 billion for Capital Supplementation; N337.06 billion for Grants and donor funded projects; N20 billion for Special Intervention Programme; N4335.59 billion for GOEs; and N674.11 billion for Multi-lateral and Bi-lateral Project-tied loans.

2020 Budget

As of May 30, the Nigerian governments actual revenue was N1.62 trillion, which represents 62% of the N2.62 trillion pro-rata revised budget. The shortfall of 38% is attributable to the underperformance of both oil and non-oil revenue sources, the circular noted.

Earlier in the year, oil prices fell sharply due to Covid-19 related disruptions of economic activities around the globe. The situation in the global oil market was compounded by a price war between forces in the OPEC cartel, notably Saudi Arabia and Russia.

The circular added that structural weaknesses in the global economy, and the domestic environment by extension, further compounded the economic crisis.

The key underlying assumptions of the 2020 Budget included a benchmark oil price of US$57pb, later revised to $28pb; oil production of 2.18mbpd, revised to 1.8mbpd; and Exchange rate of N305/US$, also revised to N360/US$.

The thrust of the FGNs capital expenditure programme in 2021 will be completion of as many ongoing projects as possible, rather than starting new projects, the circular noted.

Thus, MDAs are hereby advised that new projects will not be admitted into the capital budget for 2021, unless adequate provision has been made for completion of ALL ongoing projects.
MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that the total decline in cash remittances for the period January-June 2020 was reduced to 4.2 percent from a cumulative contraction of 6.4 percent in May 2020. This is due to the 7.6 percent growth of personal remittances from overseas Filipinos (OFs) in June 2020, which grew to US$2.737 billion, up from US$2.545 billion in June 2019. This trend is a reversal from three consecutive months of decline from their comparable levels last year. The growth was attributed to the 14.2 percent rise in remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more to US$2.164 billion in June 2020 from US$1.896 billion in June 2019. Meanwhile, remittances mainly from sea-based workers fell by 13.1 percent from US$593 million posted a year ago to US$515 million in June 2020.



Similarly, OF cash remittances that are coursed through banks rose by 7.7 percent to US$2.465 billion in June 2020 from US$2.29 billion in June 2019, supported mainly by remittances from land-based workers. The continued drop in sea-based workers' remittances was due to the repatriation of many sea-based workers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. By type of worker, cash remittances from land-based and sea-based workers for January-June 2020 continued to be lower compared to their levels in 2019 by 4 percent to US$10.959 billion from US$11.411 billion, and 5.2 percent to US$3.06 billion from US$3.228 billion, respectively.



By country source, remittances for January-June 2020 from the United States, Japan, Singapore, Oman and Taiwan were among the countries that registered continued growth, while declines were noted in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Germany and the UK. The highest share to total OF remittances at 39.7 percent for January - June 2020 emanated from the US, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Hong Kong, Qatar, and Taiwan.[1] The combined remittances from these countries accounted for 78.9 percent of total cash remittances.



[1] There are some limitations on the remittance data by source. A common practice of remittance centers in various cities abroad is to course remittances through correspondent banks, most of which are located in the U.S. Also remittances coursed through money couriers cannot be disaggregated by actual country source and are lodged under the country where the main offices are located, which, in many cases, is in the U.S. Therefore, the U.S. would appear to be the main source of OF remittances because banks attribute the origin of funds to the most immediate source. The countries are listed in order of their share of cash remittances, i.e., from highest to lowest.

View Table

http://www.bsp.gov.ph/publications/tables/2020_08/news-08172020a1.htm

SOURCE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
NORTHAMPTON - A 20-year-old Florence man who crashed head-on into a Northampton police cruiser early Monday on Sylvester Road is facing charges of drunken driving and driving without a license, police said.

Diego J. Corrada-Mattei of Sylvester Road is charged with crashing into a cruiser just before 2:30 a.m. in the area of 26 Sylvester Road, said Police Chief Jody Kasper.

The crash occurred a few hundred feet from Corrada-Matteis residence.

He is charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a marked lanes violation.

He was arraigned on the charges at his arraignment Monday in Northampton District Court.

Kasper said officer Alan Schadel was driving his cruiser north on Sylvester Road when he saw a car heading south in the northbound lane. He pulled over to the side of the road and stopped, and the vehicle drove into him.

Corrada-Mattei suffered minor injuries. Schadel was not injured.

The cruiser sustained some damage to the front bumper but remained operational. Corrada-Matteis vehicle has towed from the scene.
The insistence of National Assembly deputies on removing the household registration system, or ho khau, as it is called by Vietnamese, shows their great determination to remove the paper that is limiting civil rights.

How many countries in the world are still using household residence registration books? I think the system only exists in Vietnam, said Chair of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Ngan noted that freedom of residence is stipulated in the law and now is the time to remove the old paperwork.

"Dozens of procedures related to household registration books are out of date and they must be removed for the sake of the people. We must not regret cumbersome procedures. Anything that is progressive and convenient for people should be considered and applied, she said.

As the head of the compilation team of the amended Law on Residence, Minister of Public Security, To Lam has proposed implementation of the plan submitted by the government. The law would take effect on July 1, 2020 instead of 2025 as suggested by the National Assemblys Legal Committee.

The insistence of National Assembly deputies on removing the household registration system, or ho khau, as it is called by Vietnamese, shows their great determination to remove the paper that is limiting civil rights.

"There is no reason to keep ho khau until 2025," he said.

The views of the National Assembly Chair and Minister of Public Security are taking into consideration people's aspirations and the needs of life. As the State has realized that ho khau has become outdated, it should immediately remove the system to both create conditions for people and accelerate modernization of state management.

The Ministry of Public Security estimates that removing ho khau and applying personal identification numbers updated from the national population database will help reduce costs for administrative procedures for people by VND1.6 trillion a year.

The ho khau system in Vietnam was established in 1964 as a tool to ensure social security and economic state management. Every citizen must register for a permanent residence at one address and moving can be implemented only with the permission of local authorities.

The association of ho khau with consumption distribution, access to public services and employment allowed it to become an effective tool for controlling migration and residency.

Before Doi Moi (renovation), very few people left their places of residence without the permission of appropriate authorities, and people had a hard time living without permanent residency in their localities.

However, ho khau has been one of the causes of inequality of opportunity.

There are two main reasons for considering reform of the ho khau system.

First, people who have registered for temporary residence face barriers accessing services and jobs in the state sector, causing social costs and injustice.

Second, the system causes economic losses by reducing migration and impeding structural transformation and national economic growth.

Tu Giang

Online administrative procedures improved to save time, cost Administrative procedures conducted online have the same legal validity as other forms, according to the Prime Ministers Decree No 45/2020/ND-CP.
Thee Western Bay is surrounded by beautiful beaches, lush native bush, and outlying islands, filled with flora and fauna for us to discover and enjoy.

Many groups in the region work to ensure this natural environment is restored and conserved, preserving our taonga now and for generations to come.

During lockdown, all on the ground conservation work had to stop.

While this created some tension for community conservation groups who were worried that they couldn't attend to regular tasks like checking and clearing traps, working together, they ensured they were prepared and knew what protocols to follow when the levels of lockdown changed.

Now a couple of months on, there is a lot of activity occurring catching up. Groups are also well prepared for the uncertainties going forward now the country is in Alert Level 2.

But one big worry during this time has been funding availability. With donations slowing down, and gaming trust funding on hold or severely limited, one thing helping some of the groups survive has been committed two-year funding by TECT.

Last year, TECT approved a funding application to the collective sum of $300,000, across eight community conservation groups.

The funding application was the first of its kind to be received by TECT. Facilitated by Bay Conservation Alliance, it pulled together the various needs of seven of its member groups into one collective submission.

Bay Conservation Alliance works to reduce the administration load on its members, supporting them with tasks like financial management, communications and marketing, volunteer recruitment and management, fundraising, advocacy, and project management.

Bay Conservation Alliance CEO Michelle Elborn says they work to lighten the load on some of the administrative burden through shared support services.

"There is a lot of national research indicating that community-led conservation is struggling with issues like ageing volunteers, limited resources and increased red tape.

"We work with groups to increase their long-term sustainability and supporting larger landscape-scale environmental outcomes. Combining volunteers with some professional support means the volunteers can focus more on the fun stuff like being in the bush, planting trees or doing species monitoring.

"We know our member groups are so grateful for the funding during this unprecedented time. Whatever happens with other funders, they have the assurance they have another year of TECT funding which is very welcome."

From Little Blue Penguins, and endangered Hochstetter's frogs, to estuary walkways and hectares of forest, Bay Conservation Alliance's member groups support the well-being of nature everywhere in the region.

For Aongatete Forest Project, which manages 500 hectares of native forest in the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park between Tauranga and Katikati, Bay Conservation Alliance's support has improved their organisational sustainability.

"We've been very pleased with the support that BCA has provided in areas like accounting, funding and compliance and it has improved our organisational sustainability even more than we had anticipated," says James Denyer, Aongatete Forest Project Chairman.

"The two-year funding we received from TECT has shown its value in giving our organisation longer-term funding certainty  invaluable since Covid-19 has impacted many traditional funding sources. BCA's help with getting this funding has reduced our overheads, so we can concentrate on our operations in the forest."

Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society volunteers.

Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society is another member who count Bay Conservation Alliance as key to their future operations and success.

"Our main aim is the ecological monitoring and restoration of the four key coastal areas surrounding Maketu via a pest mammal control program, removal of invasive plant species and education. BCA's support is vital. It helps cut down the administration required and with two-year funding, allows us to plan better and focus on ecological restoration work rather than our survival," says Julian Fitter, Chair of Maketu Ongatoro Wetland Society.

"TECT funding has been a key ingredient for our success as at least half of the work is running the organisation, the hard part, pest control is the easy bit. So many thanks to both BCA and TECT  working together is what it's all about."

TECT is currently accepting applications for business as usual funding for community groups in the Western Bay. To learn more about applying for TECT funding, visit https://www.tect.org.nz/apply-for-funding/.
Four inner Sydney roads are set to be permanently closed to through traffic to stop motorists funnelled from the new WestConnex motorway interchange at St Peters using them as rat runs.

Six weeks after the nine-kilometre M8 tunnels from Kingsgrove to St Peters opened, a City of Sydney committee has recommended the full council approve the Alexandria closures. They include Anderson Street at Mitchell Road; Loveridge Street at McEvoy Street; Brennan Street at McEvoy Street; and Lawrence Street midway between Maddox and Harley streets.

The start of the new Westconnex M8 tunnel at St Peters. Credit:Brook Mitchell

McEvoy Street is part of a key east-west route south of the CBD for motorists travelling to and from the M8 tunnels and the interchange at St Peters.

Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore said Alexandria residents wanted the council to do everything it could to reduce the impact of traffic from the WestConnex motorway on their neighbourhood.
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Belarus ambassador to Slovakia Igor Leshchenya declaring solidarity with protesters in belarus, seen in the image taken from a video released on Aug. 15, 2020. (Nashaniva via Reuters)

Belarusian Ambassador Resigns After Supporting Protesters

MINSK, BelarusThe Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia, who supported protesters rallying against his countrys authoritarian president, said on Tuesday he has handed in his resignation, a move indicating growing dissent at a high level of government.

Igor Leshchenya said in an interview that it was a logical move after he recorded a video statement supporting unprecedented protests that have roiled Belarus for nine days in a row since the Aug. 9 presidential election that gave a sixth term to longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko.

In the statement released on Saturday, Leshchenya expressed solidarity with those who came out on the streets of Belarusian cities with peaceful marches so that their voice could be heard, said he was shocked by the reports of mass beatings and torture of protesters and accused Belarusian law enforcement of restoring the traditions of the Soviet secret police.

As an ambassador, Im appointed by the president, and it is expected that I follow the policies determined by him. The Foreign Ministry (of Belarus) believes my civic stance has gone beyond that, Leshchenya told independent Belarusian news outlet Tut.by on Tuesday.

The president is yet to sign Leshchenyas resignation.

Leshchenya, 52, was the first top government official to support the protests against Lukashenko, who won 80 percent of the votes, according to the official election.

His top challenger, former English teacher Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, got only 10 percent and denounced the vote as rigged, demanding a recount as hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets all across Belarus in protest.

People carry a portrait of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, former candidate for the presidential elections during opposition rally in front of the government building in Minsk, Belarus, on Aug. 17, 2020. (Sergei Grits/AP Photo)

The rallies have continued despite a brutal response from the police, who in the first four days of demonstrations detained almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades, and clubs. At least two protesters died.

Tsikhanouskaya left the country for Lithuania in a move her campaign said was made under duress. On Monday she announced she was ready to act as a national leader to facilitate a new election.

Lukashenko, who has run the ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist since 1994, bristled at the idea and refused to cede his post despite the protests growing and attracting more and more people who used to be at the core of his electorate.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (R), addresses workers of the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant in Minsk, Belarus, on Aug. 17, 2020. (Nikolai Petrov/BelTA Pool Photo via AP)

On Monday, several major state-controlled plants and factories announced strikes, with thousands of workers taking to the streets and demanding Lukashenkos resignation. Nearly 100 employees of state television, Lukashenkos propaganda mouthpiece, also started a strike on Monday.

More factories announced strikes on Tuesday. In Minsk, the capital, several dozen people gathered in front of a theater to support the troupe that gave notice en masse after the theaters director, Pavel Latushko, was fired for siding with the protesters.

The embattled president said on Monday the country could have a new presidential election, but only after approving an amended version of its constitution in a nationwide referenduman apparent bid to buy some time amid the growing political crisis.

Western officials said the elections were neither free, nor fair, and criticized Belarusian authorities for their violent crackdown on protesters. In Brussels, European Council President Charles Michel said an emergency summit of EU leaders would convene on Wednesday to discuss the election and crackdown.

Last week, the 27 EU foreign ministers decided to start drawing up a list of people who could face sanctions from the violence.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement Monday that the UK does not accept the results of this fraudulent presidential election.

The foreign ministers of Ireland and Canada echoed his sentiment.
In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, college affordability is a top concern.

Roughly two-thirds of parents of college-bound students now say they are more worried about paying for their child's education, according to a report by Discover Student Loans.

More than half of parents also said their child's college plans have changed due to Covid-19, Discover found. By necessity, some students will attend a school closer to home, delay going to college or choose a less expensive public, rather than private, college.

In addition, families will need to rely on financial aid even more than before.

"Don't assume that just because a school has a high sticker cost it's not affordable," said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's editor-in-chief and author of "The Best 386 Colleges."

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When it comes to offering aid, private schools typically have more money to spend, he added. "Even though an in-state school may have a lower initial sticker cost, it doesn't mean that private schools could not be the most affordable."

Yes, annual tuition plus room and board at four-year, private universities is much higher  $49,870 in 2019-20  compared to public institutions  at just $21,950  according to the College Board.

However, about two-thirds of all full-time students receive aid, which can lower the price significantly.

Net price: Your net price is tuition and fees minus grants, scholarships and education tax benefits, according to the College Board.

To that end, The Princeton Review ranked colleges by how much financial aid is awarded and how satisfied students are with their packages. The report is based on data collected from fall 2019 through spring 2020.

Here are the 10 best schools for financial aid, according to The Princeton Review:
A little over a century ago, feminists tirelessly campaigned for womens suffrage in the United States. They organized marches and other events in hopes of increasing public support for the campaign.

One hundred years ago this month, women were finally given the right to vote through the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment was first introduced to Congress in 1878. It took more than 40 years for it to be passed and then approved by three-fourths of the states.

On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the much-needed 36th state to ratify the amendment. At the time, the country had 48 states.

The fight for voting rights goes back to the countrys first womens rights convention in 1848. The meeting was held at Wesleyan Methodist Church in Seneca Falls, New York.

An estimated 300 people attended the conference. One of them was abolitionist Frederick Douglass. No women of color were present.

Attendees included Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She was the lead writer of the Declaration of Sentiments, a document calling for equality with men, including the right to vote.

Today, the old building where the convention took place is part of the Womens Rights National Historic Park in Seneca Falls.

Andrea DeKoter is the parks acting superintendent. She told VOA that the Declaration of Sentiments is modeled after the U.S. Declaration of Independence. But the words  all men are created equal  were changed to, all men and women are created equal.

African American men were given voting rights in 1870 through the passage of the 15th Amendment. Women continued to fight for their own suffrage. However, DeKoter said there was racism in the womens rights movement. White suffragists did not include Black women in their movement, she said.

Martha S. Jones is a history professor at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. She said the exclusion led Black women to form a parallel movement within their own organizations. Jones said these included religious conferences, civil rights organizations, and antislavery groups.

Some states passed their own womens suffrage legislation. But womens rights activists wanted a national amendment.

New activists

As the lives and expectations of women were changing in the early 20th century, a new generation of young women continued the struggle. By 1916, these suffragists increased their protests. They organized marches, silent gatherings, and hunger strikes. Critics harassed and shouted at the women.

Renewed energy in the movement, along with President Woodrow Wilsons 1918 decision to support the amendment, helped lead to its passage two years later.

A century later, many women still face voter suppression, notes the League of Women Voters. This, the group says, includes forcing discriminatory voter ID and proof-of citizenship restrictions on eligible voters, reducing polling place hours in communities of color, and illegally purging voters from the rolls.

Inequalities like these and others may be reduced through passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA, supporters say. The ERA was introduced to Congress in 1923, three years after American women gained voting rights. It was approved by the House of Representatives in 1971 and by the Senate in 1972. But it was only ratified by three-quarters of the states in January 2020  many years after the target deadline.

Eleanor Smeal is president of the Feminist Majority Foundation. She argues that if the deadline were removed, the amendment could become a part of the Constitution.

Like women who fought for voting rights, Smeal said, the Equal Rights Amendment is very important because it establishes that all women must be treated equally under our Constitution.

Among other things, she said, it would end discrimination in areas such as pay and education, and help prevent violence against women.

Im Ashley Thompson.

Deborah Block reported this story for VOA News. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

feminist - n. someone who believes that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities

suffrage - n. the right to vote in an election

introduce - v. to present (something) for discussion or consideration

abolitionist - n. a person who wants to stop or abolish slavery

parallel - adj. very similar and often happening at the same time

harass - v. to annoy or bother (someone) in a constant or repeated way

eligible - adj. able to be chosen for something : able to do or receive something

polling place - n. a building where people go to vote in an election

purge - v. to remove people from an area, country, organization, etc., often in a sudden or violent way

deadline - n. a date or time when something must be finished
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We intentionally build and nurture a beloved community that is bonded together through a beautiful struggle that is restorative. Who is making this lovely promise? None other than Black Lives Matter (BLM), an organization that promises a place where each person feels seen, heard, and supported.

Why have so many people bought into the language of community from a self-professed Marxist organization? Sociologist Robert Nisbet asked the same question in his 1953 book The Quest for Community, at the height of the communist regime in the Soviet Union: Why were so many people attracted to Marxism? Nisbets theory was that it was precisely because so many Westerners had embraced individualism  which, ironically, set them up to be drawn in by a collectivist vision of society.

How did individualism come to have such a counter-intuitive effect? Ever since the rise of the modern age, leading Western thinkers have accepted what is known as social contract theory. First proposed by Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, social contract theory fundamentally changed the way people in the West thought about relationships. These early social thinkers aspired to be scientific, so they based their social theories on Newtonian physics, which views the material universe as a collection of atoms bumping around in the void under the forces of attraction and repulsion. Applied to the social world, social contract theory pictured humans as individual atoms that entered and exited relationships at will.

According to social contract theory, we are highly autonomous individuals whose highest aim is self-preservation. Social contract theorists proposed that prior to the rise of civilization, humans existed in a pre-social condition. Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau regarded all relationships  familial, civil, and religious  as contracts we enter into, not something intrinsic to human nature: Relationships are something that we create and define. As a result, all relationships start to look more like a contractual exchange of goods and services, rather than innate connections.

The goal of redefining all relationships in terms of contracts was always phrased in the context of liberation. Relationships, rather than being primary, become secondary and derivative, something we create by choice. While social contract theory promised freedom for the individual from any biological or social bonds to other people, it ultimately led to lonely people, lacking any sense of belonging. Robert Nisbet put it this way: Release man from the contexts of community and you get not freedom and rights but intolerable aloneness.

As social contract theory percolated down through American society, families, church communities, neighborhoods, and other smaller communal groups weakened and began to break down. With this disintegration came the loss of spheres of influence that give people a sense of identity and belonging, apart from the state. Nisbet notes, Individualism has resulted in masses of normless, unattached, insecure individuals. Individuals, increasingly alienated from the community, are drawn to the state in hopes of finding community and a causes larger than themselves. People seek from the state a source of community that transcends them, with which they can identify and belong.

For disillusioned, isolated people, Marxism offers the salvation of community. Nisbet observes, To a large number of human beings Marxism offers status, belonging, membership, and a coherent moral perspective. Because Marxism offers a comprehensive worldview, it is attractive to the isolated individual despite its demonstrated totalitarian nature. Historically, Marxism has always led to a despotic authority  whether it be in the Soviet Union, Cuba, or Venezuela. As Hannah Arendt points out in her book, The Origins of Totalitarianism, it is isolated individuals who are most vulnerable to totalitarianism, because they lack identity within a social group.

No wonder Marx called for the abolition of the family. He knew that deconstructing the family was the main way to draw people to the totalitarian state. Totalitarianism was not just imposed on people. People themselves gravitated to it because of the natural longing for community.

Community and Comrades

Black Lives Matter also seeks the demolition of the family system. They understand, as Marx did, that the path to a collectivist Marxist society lies in denigrating the family. Two of the three Co-Founders identify themselves as queer, opposing all forms of heteronormativity. It might seem odd that a large part of their agenda is about undercutting the family. But it makes perfect sense given their Marxism. In their statement of beliefs, BLM lists their goals:

disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and villages that collectively care for one another, especially our children

free themselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking

do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women

foster a queer-affirming network

Marxist groups like Black Lives Matter meet the need for community through affirming that belonging and identity are to be found in ones race, gender and sexual orientation. Group identity fills the hole created by a broken family system. Individuals who find themselves alienated from their families, and thus, society at large, look to organizations like Black Lives Matter to mold their identities and offer them belonging.

The Beloved Community of the Church

Despite the clear Marxist agenda of Black Lives Matter, many Christians have passed along the Black Lives Matter hashtag in the name of social justice. While Christians think they are supporting an organization fighting the good fight against prejudice and racism, they are actually supporting an organization that opposes the family as God designed it to be.

How then, should Christians respond to people who are hungry for connection, belonging, and a group identity that transcends the individual? By explicating the biblical concept of community. The Christian understanding of social theory is grounded in the Trinitarian God, who is one Being in three persons. The oneness and threeness of the Trinity offers the needed balance of the one and the many  the value of the individual and their need to belong in community. As the persons of the Godhead intimately relate to one another, expressing in mutual love and self-giving, so people as image-bearers were hardwired to intimately relate to one another in community. Christianity refutes the idea from social contract theory that we are autonomous individuals, who can make and break relationships at will. On the contrary, we are innately relational beings, who were created for community, both within the family system and within the church.

The church is meant to be a reflection of the Trinity. In the solidarity of the church, people can truly be diverse and yet belong. Why? Because race and gender were Gods ideas: He delights in variation and differences. The church should be a beautiful array of people; a place where the uniqueness of human beings is affirmed in light of each person being created in the image of God. Christians also affirm that a persons identity cannot be reduced solely to race, economic class, or gender. The Gospel transcends all these dividing lines: All can belong in Christ. It is the community of the church that will exist forever in perfect communion with their Creator: Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all" (Colossians 3:11, ESV). It is in the beloved community of the church, not Marxist comradeship, where people find true belonging.
Police in Germany are being investigated after an officer was seemingly caught kneeling on a teenager's neck while he was being arrested.

Video taken in Dusseldorf's old town on Saturday shows the 15-year-old boy being pinned down by two officers, one of whom places a knee around the boy's head.

The arrest echoes that of George Floyd, who suffocated while an officer knelt on his neck during his arrest in Minneapolis in May.

Herbert Reul, interior minister for North Rhine-Westphalia, where Dusseldorf is located, called the video 'shocking' - but urged people not to rush to judgement.

Police officers in Germany have been placed under investigation after one officer appeared to place his knee on a 15-year-old boy's neck during an arrest in Dusseldorf at the weekend

Police in Dusseldorf say officers were called to a restaurant in the city's Old Town around 7.30pm to reports of ten people rioting.

When officers arrived they said the 15-year-old was nearby, and tried to intervene to stop them breaking up the riot.

Several witnesses told Die Welt that the boy molested the officers, shouted insults at them, and then assaulted them.

The officers tried to arrest the boy but he resisted, according to police officials, meaning they restrained him.

Footage of the incident shows the boy on the floor with one officer sitting on his legs with one of his arms twisted up behind his back.

Another officer then places a knee on the back of the boy's head, trapping his other arm underneath his head.

The officer then moves his knee slightly lower as he tries to trap the boy's hand under his other foot.

Onlookers can be heard shouting 'get your knee down ... brother, that's not funny.'

Police say they were called to break up a riot when the boy - who was not involved - tried to stop the officers and assaulted them, leading to the arrest

The video was posted on social media where it quickly went viral, prompting Dusseldorf police to launch an investigation.

To ensure the probe remains independent, it will be carried out by the neighbouring Duisburg police force.

Interior minister Herbert Reul, said the 28-second footage only shows a small part of a larger incident, and urged people not to rush to judgement.

'I do not want to justify the operation on Saturday evening in any way, but I also do not want to judge it prematurely,' he said.

Placing a knee on the boy's head would have been permitted under state guidelines on restraint, Reul said, but placing a knee on his neck would not.

There is not thought to be any police bodycamera footage of the incident, so it cannot be viewed from a different angle.

The boy was not harmed during the arrest, Welt reported, and none of the officers were injured.

He was arrested and taken to the local police station, before being released into the care of his legal guardians.

It comes after George Floyd choked to death while being arrested in Minneapolis in May, after officer Derek Chauvin placed a knee on his neck for nine minutes (pictured)

George Floyd died while being arrested in Minneapolis on May 25, accused of resisting officers after trying to use a counterfeit $20 in a store.

Video from the scene showed officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for nine minutes during the arrest, including two while he was unconscious.

Before losing consciousness, Floyd could be heard saying 'I can't breathe' and 'they're going to kill me' repeatedly.

Chauvin was subsequently fired along with three other officers who participated in the arrest, and has since been charged with murder.

The other officers - Tou Thao, James Kueng and Thomas Lane - have been charged with abetting second-degree murder.

The death sparked protests in Minneapolis which eventually spread around the world, as marchers called for an end to discrimination and cuts to police budgets.
President Rouhani: Recent Security Council meeting, political, historical victory for Iran

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 4:49 PM

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says a recent meeting of the United Nations Security Council that led to resounding failure of the United States in its effort to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic Republic marked a great political achievement and a historical victory for the Iranian nation.

Rouhani made the remarks in a Monday meeting with senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in Tehran, noting that the US and its President Donald Trump have been snubbed twice in the world body during past few years.

Rouhani said "the United Nations Security Council held an important meeting" in 2018, which was chaired by Trump "when I was also in New York," and in that meeting, 14 members of the Security Council opposed his views.

"There is no precedent in history of the Security Council when 14 countries opposed [the US views]," Rouhani added.

This time, he said, the US once again was attempting to pass a resolution against Tehran on Friday, but only one country -- the Dominican Republic -- out of 15 members of the Security Council voted in favor of it.

"This is a big political and historical success for us," the Iranian president added.

On Friday, the UN Security Council unanimously rejected a US resolution to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is due to expire in October in line with a landmark nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), that Iran clinched with six world powers in 2015.

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.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said on Monday that failure of the US-drafted anti-Iran resolution heralds fundamental changes in international relations.

"What happens in the world is no more a function of interactions among major powers," Zarif said, emphasizing that the world has entered a post-West era.

"We have witnessed failure of important hegemonic powers in the world to obtain their desired goals at different junctures. This has been a long-standing process which started from the Vietnam War," he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani also pointed to Iran's two-time victories against the US at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and said it was unprecedented in the history for the international court to rule twice during the same year against Washington in its face-off with Tehran.

"These are all a reality," the Iranian president emphasized.

In February 2019, the ICJ ruled that Iran can proceed with a legal action to recover billions of dollars in frozen assets that the United States said must be paid to purported American survivors and relatives of victims of attacks spuriously blamed on the Islamic Republic.

Judges at the Hague-based tribunal dismissed Washington's allegations the case should be thrown out, and that the court did not have jurisdiction in the lawsuit.

It came after the ICJ in October 2018 ordered the United States to halt the unilateral sanctions it re-imposed on "humanitarian" supplies to Iran.

The court, which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, announced its ruling regarding the July 2018 lawsuit brought by Tehran against Washington's decision to re-impose unilateral sanctions following the US exit from the JCPOA.

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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ellembele Constituency of the Western Region has chided President Akufo-Addo to apologize to the people of Nzema for lying about the construction of a One-District-One-Factory in the constituency.

This comes a day ahead of President Nana Akufo-Addos tour of the Region.

Raising their concerns at a press conference at Anyinase, the Communication Officer for the Constituency, Kwesi Hanson said the President lied about the construction of the Feanza Coconut Oil Industry.

He said the industry been in existence for more than 10 years.

The people of Ellembelle District have been waiting for the fertilizer factory which Nana Addo promised them during his campaign tour in 2016 at Nkroful. For the past three to four years, this promise has not been fulfilled and the people of Ellembelle are so disappointed, feel cheated and deceived by the President and the NPP government.

At the meet the Press encounter organized on Friday 13th December 2019, the President peddled highly mischievous falsehood when he indicated that a coconut oil processing factory has been established in Ellembelle and that over 1,600 jobs have been created for the people of Ellembelle. One would wonder if the private initiative of an individual can be classified as one of the flagship projects pencilled down for each of the District in the country.

The Ellembele NDC thus asked the President to apologize or commission the Feanza Industrial Factory which is along the Esiama-Nkroful road if it is truly a 1D1F project.

Is it not surprising and so interesting that the President did not include the commissioning of said established factory (Feanza Oil industrial) in his itinerary which is along the same road linking Esiama to Nkroful. We would like to bring to the attention of the president that if it is indeed the fact that the said factory is a 1D1F, he must commission it. In the wake of this development, we want the government to come again on the establishment of Coconut oil factory, published the names of the over 1,600 people he falsely claimed have been employed and the income taxes accrued as a result of the employment.

We forcefully submit that the president, Nana Akufo Addo lied to the people of Ghana and as a matter of urgency should come out and render an unqualified apology to the people of Ellembelle and Nzemamaanle Traditional Council.

He also questioned the unnecessary delays with the construction of roads to the home town of late Dr. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah.

While the president has the discretion and prerogative to commission any completed government project, or cut the sod for the commencement of a new one, there are a few issues for which the people of the communities he is touring would want him to address including the uncompleted road linking Esiama to Nkroful.

This was a project that was awarded on contract in 2016, under the NDC. At a stage in its construction, after the NDC lost power, the current administration ordered the contractor to evacuate from site. It is curious that the contract was re-awarded to the same contractor by this government, as the 2020 election drew closer. We would like the president to answer the following questions:

1. The road project has delayed for 4 years, after the NDC left office. Was the initial contract terminated? If yes! Why?

2. What is the reason for the needless delay? Is it for lack of funds for a the road? Or is it a deliberate attempt by the government to gain political advantage in an election year?

3. Who is paying for the contract? Is it the government or, as reports suggest, is it being funded by Ghana Gas Company?

4. So, if Ghana Gas Company is now the entity sponsoring the Esiama Nkroful road, rather than government, based on what moral principle did your government accept financial help from that company, given that, your Deputy Minister for Energy, Hon. Joseph Cudjoe (MP for Effia Constituency), recently said that an NPP government would never have sited that gas infrastructure facility on Nzema soil, if the NPP was the party in power at the time.

---citinewsroom
I have avoided reading books written by my former colleagues reporting on their observations or experiences in Governments I served with them lest some contents in the books put temptation in my path to attempt a rejoinder or critique of the book and earn the displeasure of such a colleague.

I did not, therefore, intend to look for let alone to read, my vandal-mate, Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi's Working with Rawlings. But fate is cruel. An autographed copy of the book was left at the gate of my residence on Sunday, 2nd August 2020 by a former associate during the PNDC Government, a former functional executive committee member of the NDC and Government appointee of the NDC Government from 2009 to 2016. Word was left alongside the book that, portions of it narrates on the authority of rumours, if ever rumours now constitute a source of authority for Professors, that the late Mr. Paa Kwasi Amissah-Arthur and I were members of the National Reform Movement. I was identified and baited by the author and Mr. Kofi Totobi-Kwakye, then the Minister for National Security, with the Vice Presidential candidacy in the 2000 election to breach the ranks of the movement. I am reported to have excitedly swallowed the bait. The narrative is an irredeemable lie because I can say and prove authoritatively in due course that neither the late Mr. Amissah-Arthur nor I was an associate or member of the National Reform Movement.

With hindsight, the uninvited copy of the autographed book was the real bait to get me to read the book, so I may as usual be tempted to refute and expose its subjectivity, figments of imagination, delusions, and breaches of all the ethics of acceptable standards of scholarly research, and report writing. I have always hated laziness in any professional work not to talk of the work of persons who hold themselves out as scholars, academics or mainstream professionals subjected to disciplinary proceedings by their professions for unethical products. Baiting me with Working with Rawlings is the real bait of the author I have willingly and knowingly decided to swallow like a fish to give rise to this exposition and critique. I served under the same regimes as a ministerial appointee and longer than the author served, played critical roles in them, lived them, kept some records of my observations and lived experiences. I can and will, therefore, contest some of the author's or authors' shoddy and unscholarly reported outcomes.

I have read Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi's Working with Rawlings. I came away with the conviction that Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi may have presented himself as the primary author but others who are acknowledged and referred to in the book as knowing and living the same observations and experiences the primary author narrates, played the role of co-authors, editors and reviewers of the book. The author and/or co-authors claim the primary author is a scholar and a legal luminary. The author and his collaborative authors have thus set themselves to be judged by the high standard obtainable in the professions they profess to belong to. Any scholar or professional worth the name must be learned in the philosophy and methods of research including its ethics in his or her chosen field or the discipline he or she holds out himself or herself to be competent in.

For instance in the foreword to the book which is normally not an integral part of the book the reader is told by one Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang, PhD/FGA that:

Written in clear, engaging prose, the writer invites the reader to receive the content of the narrative honestly delivered. The vivid, engaging and deeply reflective eye witness account couched in unencumbered prose, brings to the fore events narrated with open honesty and transparency.

The first person narrative perspective releases the reader from the potentially uncomfortable position of an intruder to that of a trusted addressee. This is especially so as the text grounds its content in verifiable fact, at times seeking and receiving the approval of non-fictive persons. (Italics supplied)

Whilst the foreword is normally not an integral part of the book, no ethical academic will ever write a foreword to a scholarly book without first reading the book to make an objective assessment of its veracity because the writer of the foreword knows the invitation to write the foreword was based on the intention to use his or her reputation to entice the public to invest financial and human resources in purchasing and reading it. In this instance, the writer of the foreword is marketing the book with her credentials of PhD/FGA and has an ethical obligation to the public for integrity and truth in what she says with her credentials in the foreword.

Did the writer of the foreword play any significant role as an editor, a reviewer, and an institutional colleague of the primary author in his narratives and writing or authoring of the book such that by the ethics of scholarly and professional writing she or he should not ethically have written the foreword to the book? Did she or he conceal those facts which make for an accountable and transparent ethical foreword writing in her foreword to the book?

This same ethical standard applies to collaborators and consultants to the book who have been held out as substantially contributing to the book, reviewing, and editing it. For instance, is it ethical for a judge of the superior court of justice before whom the author alleges he appeared as a witness for one of the parties to a case participate in writing the book as a reviewer and/or editor of a book in which his decision as a judge has been patently twisted and presented as verifiable fact without the learned justice asking the author or co-author to expunge that manifestly false portion of the narrative from the book before it was published? How ethical can a contract signed on 4th December 1997 be attributed by a scholar author(s) to an Ishmael Ayittey when the judge reviewer and/or editor of the book had concluded ex cathedra in a reported judgment that it was Nat Amateifio who signed the contract?

Is it also ethical for professional lawyers and a Justice of the Superior Court to be consultants, reviewers and/or editors of a book in which they are unable to tell the Sir Cecil John Rhodes Scholar and author that Mr. Justice P. E. N. K. Archer was the Chief Justice of Ghana on 7th January 1993 and not Mr. Justice I. K. Abban who became Chief Justice on 22nd February 1995 after Mr. Justice P. E. N. K. Archer retired the previous day? A serving Justice of the Superior Court of Ghana and reviewer of the book who does not know who his Chief Justice was on 7th January 1993! To cap it all, the author who holds himself out as a professor, a governance and local government specialist has not yet mastered in his teaching career how to just pick up the Ghana Law Reports reporting 1993 cases to confirm for himself and his consultants, reviewers and/ or editors who was the Chief Justice of Ghana at a particular time in Ghanaian history such as the date of the coming into force of the very important 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution he professes to know and write about with pretentious scholarly erudition! Oh, even a simple Google search would have revealed it! Are Chief Justices Archer, and Abban not by now turning in their graves at this scandal of scholarship and judicial conduct exhibited in Working with Rawlings?

This is the book which the equally portrayed distinguished scholar Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang, PhD/FGA has put her reputation and integrity on the line to the whole world in the foreword when she stated that it is: Written in clear, engaging prose, the writer invites the reader to receive the content of the narrative honestly delivered. The vivid, engaging and deeply reflective eye witness account couched in unencumbered prose, brings to the fore events narrated with open honesty and transparency. (Emphasis supplied).

But wait until we get to examining how she could ethically have collaborated with the author and others to doctor an interview on Radio Gold with the President Emeritus, H. E., Flt Lt. J. J. Rawlings, to the public in 1996 which has shamefully been narrated in the book as a hallmark of integrity.

The person who brought the autographed copy of the book to my residence has brought me trouble and he knew that by my nature I will not shy away from an honest challenge when professional ethics of any profession is at stake. I have taken up the challenge: and time and the pressure of my already onerous work schedule permitting, I intend to deal with the foregoing issues and more in a series of presentations.

I intended to be guided in my presentations by the hallowed ethics of accountable and transparent writing which requires a professional or academic of any hue who writes very serious discourse for public education, guidance and consumption to disclose everything which the public must take into account in assessing the veracity of his work. My next presentation will, therefore, state any biases and any conflicts of interest my presentation may be tainted with to bring myself within the acceptable ethical standards empowering me to critique the author's book. I shall be using my observations as a participant and my experiential learning therefrom spanning the period the author narrates as my background knowledge base in the exposition and critique I will be making. I will as far as practicable use the qualitative method of social research, analysis and reporting to arrive at my conclusions in my critique of Working with Rawlings.

It is important for everybody to take notice and I hereby serve notice that I do not lay any claims to being a scholar or an academic. I am not so self-conceited as to claim any intelligence or intellectual standing in society and I need none to function as any Ghanaian trying to live an honest life.
Pelosi accused Trump of conducting a "campaign to sabotage the election" by manipulating the Postal Service to disenfranchise voters. "The Postal Service is a pillar of our democracy, enshrined in the Constitution and essential for providing critical services: delivering prescriptions, Social Security checks, paychecks, tax returns and absentee ballots to millions of Americans, including in our most remote communities," Pelosi said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday called the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives back into session from its summer recess to vote on the Postal Service funding and restore DeJoy-instituted changes they claim would possibly keep mailed-in ballots from arriving at election offices throughout the country in time to be counted in the Nov. 3 election. DeJoy has agreed to testify next Monday before the House Oversight Committee about the Postal Service operations and the changes he has made.

He defended one of his political appointees and a major Republican campaign donor, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, for taking substantial steps to curb costs at the Postal Service and improve its performance. "I'm just making it good," Trump told Fox News in an interview. "We have a very, very good business guy running it, and I want to make -- I jokingly say, but it's true -- I want to make the post office great again, OK? Its been run horribly, and we're going to make it good," he said. "Now, what am I supposed to do? Let it continue to run badly? So, if you fix it, they say, 'Oh, he's tampering with the election.' No, we're not tampering."

Trump said last week he opposes $28 billion in new funding for the postal agency, part of it to pay for the collection and processing of an expected onslaught of millions of mailed-in ballots from voters too afraid to go to polling places during the coronavirus pandemic. For months, Trump has claimed without evidence that states mailing out ballots to voters will lead to election fraud and a rigged vote against him.

"I have encouraged everybody to speed up the mail, not slow the mail," Trump told reporters outside the White House, before leaving for campaign appearances in the Midwestern states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

President Donald Trump said Monday he wants to "speed up" U.S. mail delivery even as opposition Democrats are planning to vote this week to curb changes at the Postal Service they claim would inhibit the processing of an expected sharp increase in mailed-in ballots in November's national presidential election.

The House is planning votes in a rare Saturday session, but it is not clear whether Trump would approve of increased Postal Service funding, even if the Republican-controlled Senate also approves the legislation.

Trump contended the Democratic-initiated vote is an attempt by Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to pressure his administration to provide more coronavirus aid. The White House and opposition Democrats have been unable to agree on extending the national government's unemployment assistance to millions of jobless workers and other financial help to American families and businesses.

After saying he opposed the increased Postal Service funding, Trump said he would approve the funds if Democrats pass the coronavirus relief package Republicans favor. Trump also offered a mixed assessment of the Postal Service operation. Trump said he was not worried about Postal Service cutbacks keeping Americans from receiving medical prescriptions, but that the deficit-ridden agency needs to improve its financial condition.

"The post office is running very well," he said. "The post office -- now look -- if you look at the post office, for years thats all people complained about. We're going to run it well, and were going to not lose so much money."

"One of the things the post office is losing so much money on is delivering packages for (warehouse retailer) Amazon and these others," he said. "Every time they deliver a package, they probably lose $3 to $4. That's not good. They have to raise those prices, OK? Not for the people to pay, but for Amazon and those companies to pay."

Studies have shown, however, that the Postal Service profits from delivering packages but loses money overall because fewer people are mailing first-class letters these days or paying bills through the mail and instead paying their monthly obligations online. The Postal Service receives no government funding, instead relying on money it collects from purchase of stamps, delivery fees and sale of postal-related merchandise.

In a Sunday interview on CNN, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows denied charges that Trump is trying to manipulate the voting process. "The president of the United States is not going to interfere with anybody casting their votes in a legitimate way whether its the post office or anything else," Meadows said.

But he said the White House is afraid that an avalanche of mail-in ballots will postpone the results of the 2020 election. "A number of states are now trying to figure out how they are going to go to universal mail-in ballots," Meadows said. "That's a disaster where we won't know the election results on Nov. 3, and we might not know it for months."

Nine of the 50 states are planning to conduct their voting in November almost exclusively by mail. Millions of voters in other states can get a mail-in ballot if they ask for one. Trump and first lady Melania Trump have already requested mail-in ballots in their adopted home state of Florida.

Trump has said there is a difference between a mail-in ballot that states have automatically sent to voters even though they did not request one and an absentee ballot a voter requested.

Many analysts say there is no evidence that voting by mail gives one party an advantage over the other and says making it harder to cast a ballot through the mail could backfire on the Republicans, who tend to be older voters who may prefer to vote by mail rather than in person in a pandemic. Trump says mail-in voting favors Democrats.
An independent review has been launched into allegations of racism among trustees in the citys public school board.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) announced in a statement Monday that lawyer Arleen Huggins, a partner at Koskie Minsky LLP in Toronto, will head a third-party investigation into allegations made by a student trustee earlier this month.

Ahona Mehdi, a recent graduate of Westmount Secondary School, posted a litany of allegations in an Aug. 1 Twitter thread concerning racist incidents she said she witnessed or was subjected to while serving as a HWDSB student trustee.

Mehdi, whose year-long term as trustee ended July 31, said she witnessed white trustees use the N-word in reference to Serena Williams and claim that there is too much Black leadership in the board.

Mehdi also alleged another trustee spoke about how Muslims and Arabs were evil, anti-Semitic and violent.

In all honesty, it was the most patronizing experience of my life, Mehdi wrote in the thread. Im beyond grateful to no longer serve as the boards token for student voice (and) diversity.

Just hours after Mehdi went public, Alex Johnstone, chair of the HWDSB, released a late-night statement committing to take action that builds a culture of equity and inclusion within the board.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce later called Mehdis allegations deeply disturbing.

The independent review, which commenced Monday, will be a transparent process that will include discussions will all trustees and relevant senior management of the HWDSB, the board said in its statement.

Huggins is the former president of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and author of a damning report released in June that found the Peel District School Board unwilling and incapable of addressing anti-Black racism in its schools. The report led to the boards director of education being fired.

The board said in its statement it will keep the community updated throughout the investigation, the findings of which will be openly reviewed at a later board meeting. The written report will also be made public.
This years awards winners also included Impacto, a non-governmental organisation founded in Mexico; and Asama, a non-profit organisation established in 1995 in Burkina Faso.

Hieu and the two other finalists stood apart from thirty-nine applicants from 27 countries on six continents, who triumphed through a challenging selection process as all applicants demonstrated good practice for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage with both courage and a lofty spirit.

According to the organising board, the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage of the Muong community, one of minority groups of Vietnam, has a strong social impact on the entire society.

The activities of Vu Duc Hieus Museum of Muong Cultural Space could be considered as model activities for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage of minority people, resulting in assisting minority groups to affirm their cultural identity and promoting the establishment of the harmonious cultural diversity of the nation.

The winners will be honoured at an award ceremony which will be held online on Youtube on August 15 due to the complicated developments of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The awards, sponsored by the Republic of Koreas Jeonju city, aims to encourage model safeguarding practices of intangible cultural heritage in the global community regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, race, age, gender, or any other political, social, economic or cultural orientation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 07:47:53|Editor: huaxia

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an emergency heat proclamation on Monday to free up energy capacity as an ongoing heat wave scorched the U.S. state.

The proclamation temporarily allows some energy users and utilities to use backup energy sources to relieve pressure on the grid during peak times during the energy emergency. State officials worked aggressively over the weekend to bring more energy resources online, according to a press release from the governor's office.

State officials noted that California's power grid is about 4,400 megawatts short of the energy needed to provide uninterrupted power service. Local authorities declared a statewide Stage 3 Electrical Emergency over the weekend, initiating rotating outages throughout the state for the first time since 2001.

In an effort to prevent or limit power outages during the heat wave, the California Independent System Operator issued a statewide Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation, beginning Sunday and extending through Wednesday. The Flex Alerts are in effect from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day.

"Record-breaking heat is straining supplies; consumers should plan for potential outages," tweeted the agency on Sunday.

Officials urged California residents to refrain from major appliance use, turn off unnecessary lights and appliances, and set their thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.5 degrees Celsius) or higher between 3 and 10 p.m.

Excessive heat warnings were issued by the National Weather Service on Saturday and will be in effect till Wednesday for most of Southern California. Temperatures in California's Death Valley reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4 degrees Celsius) on Sunday afternoon, the highest temperature recorded in the country since 1913, according to the National Weather Service. Enditem
Roger Stone, former adviser to President Donald Trump, leaves the Federal Court after a sentencing hearing in Washington on Feb. 20, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

Roger Stone Drops Appeal Efforts Following Commutation

Roger Stone is reluctantly ending efforts to appeal his felony convictions, a month after President Donald Trump commuted his prison sentence.

After Stones lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Monday night, Stone wrote on his website that he reluctantly decided to end the bid to overturn what he believes are wrongful convictions.

Based on their previous actions in my case to date and based on their recent actions in the [Michael] Flynn case  it would be impossible for me to ever get a fair hearing from this appellate court for the vitally important, fundamental constitutional issues my case raises, Stone wrote.

Even if he won his appeal, the resulting new trial would go before the same judge, who Stone has accused of being politically biased.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama-nominee, has proven over and over again in my case that she simply cannot and will not ever permit me to have a fair trial in her courtroom, Stone alleged.

I regret not going forward with the appeal to fully expose all that happened, with the hope that by doing so, I could help prevent it from happening to anyone else ever again; but I had to decide based on what is best for me and my family, he concluded.

Stone told The Epoch Times on July 14 that he wasnt sure whether to appeal the convictions because hed face Jackson again.

Roger Stone, a longtime friend and adviser of President Donald Trump, reacts after Trump commuted his federal prison sentence, outside his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on July 10, 2020. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)

Stone, a former Trump campaign aide, was found guilty by a jury last year on seven counts, including obstruction, witness tampering, and making false statements to Congress. The charges came from special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Jackson twice denied Stone a new trial, even when his legal team presented evidence that the jury forewoman had made social media posts against Trump.

Jackson said the claim that the forewoman was tainted by political bias is not supported by any facts or data and it is contrary to controlling legal precedent.

Trump commuted Stones sentence in July, just before Stone was set to start his jail sentence.

He was treated very unfairly, as were many others in this case. Roger Stone is now a free man! Trump said in a statement.

Ivan Pentchoukov and Mimi Nguyen-Ly contributed to this report.
City seeks feedback on Community Improvement Districts The City of Kansas City, Missouri, is looking at ways to improve policy related to Community Improvement Districts and wants to hear from you. "Community Improvement District (CIDs) are designed to help improve the community by bettering conditions for existing businesses and attracting new growth," said Beth Breitenstein, public information officer for City Planning and Development.

Actually, this is just another rigged survey from a special interest group to promote more taxes for basic city services that aren't being fulfilled . . . Read more:
ITASCA, Ill., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council is highly alarmed to see that the mortality numbers for COVID-19 already have surpassed the total annual number of preventable, accidental deaths in 2018, the most recent year of final data  and it is only August. At this pace, COVID-19 likely will be the third leading cause of death in 2020, behind only heart disease and cancer. It would mark the first time since 2016 that preventable deaths  which include drug overdoses, motor vehicle crashes and falls  would not be the third leading cause of death in the United States.

According to the latest data, the number of confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now exceeds 170,000, eclipsing the total number of preventable deaths in 2018 (167,127).

Although preliminary, this grim milestone clearly illustrates the scale of the pandemic. In a little more than six months, COVID-19 has claimed more lives than accidental drug overdoses, motor vehicle crashes and falls combined during 2018. In addition, COVID-19 is having an impact on preventable deaths, with increases in opioid overdose and motor vehicle fatality rates as an indirect consequence of the pandemic.



NSC urges the U.S. public to stay vigilant and follow public health guidance around facial coverings, physical distancing and proper hygiene. Employers who are reopening traditional work environments must ensure their employees are returning safely. NSC has materials for all types of work environments  including schools  through its SAFER initiative, available at nsc.org/safer.

We know how to end preventable, accidental deaths like overdoses, motor vehicle crashes and falls. NSC continues to work with experts on effective pandemic countermeasures, because safety will always be at the heart of all prevention efforts. We are committed to collaborating with stakeholders and leaders  both in the private and public sectors  to save lives and prevent injuries, from the workplace to anyplace.

About the National Safety Council

The National Safety Council is America's leading nonprofit safety advocate  and has been for over 100 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace, roadway and impairment. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.

Connect with NSC:

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SOURCE National Safety Council

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http://www.nsc.org


Teachers of the College of Technology Education Kumasi (COLTEK) of the University of Education Winneba (UEW) has commended the government for converting the College into a full-fledged university.



The teachers, who formed the COLTEK chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), said the move by the government was a demonstration of its firm commitment towards the development of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana.



Dr Stephen Baffour Adjei, Chairman of COLTEK chapter of UTAG, at a press conference in Kumasi, said the teachers were grateful that parliament had finally passed a Bill to give the Kumasi and Mampong campuses of the University of Education Winneba autonomy.



Members of the Association, he said, would cooperate and support the government in its industrialization agenda to transform the nation to promote national development.



The President, Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo, during a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a Technical Examination Unit at COLTEK in December 2019, announced plans to grant autonomy to the COLTEK and the College of Agriculture Education (CAGRIC) at Asante Mampong.



Parliament on Monday, August 10, this year, passed the University of Skills and Entrepreneurial Development Bill to give effect to the Presidents vision, and proposed Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, as the new name for COLTEK.



Dr Adjei said COLTEK and CAGRIC of UEW had discharged their mandate of training highly qualified technical and vocational teachers and other professionals, who are currently in responsible positions in the nations development agenda.



He said the teachers were committed to demonstrating support and high professional competence by developing innovative and transformational curricular within the context of competency-based training, learner-centred and problem-solving learning techniques that were practical and relevant to TVET.



Again, the teachers were ready to deploy the most qualified and professional expertise to fulfil the mandate of the new University in terms of fostering the necessary linkages between university, industry and community at all levels of education.



Dr Adjei said the teachers were awaiting the Presidents assent to the Bill to allow the new university to take-off this academic year.

Source: GNA









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To be or not to be! Whether Reliance Communications spectrum can be sold by its financial creditors under the insolvency proceedings or whether Reliance Jio is liable to pay the Adjusted Gross Revenues (AGR) dues for RCom's spectrum that it has been using for the past three years.

This is where the AGR case has been stuck over the past few days. As per experts, the Insolvency And Bankruptcy Code (IBC) rules are quite elaborate. Under Section 18 of the IBC, it is said that when the insolvency proceedings are initiated, the resolution professional cannot take control over the "assets owned by a third party in possession of the corporate debtor held under trust or under contractual arrangements including bailment."

So what does it mean? In the last hearing, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had argued that the permission given to telcos like RCom for spectrum usage doesn't necessarily transfer the ownership to them since the government hold it in trust under the doctrine of public trust.

"Going by the IBC rules and the DoT's response, the spectrum trading has to be kept out of the purview of the resolution plan," says a telecom analyst.

ALSO READ: AGR case: No technicalities to come in way of recovery of dues, says SC

But here's the catch. As per Harish Salve, who represents Jio and RCom's Committee of Creditors (CoC), it's still not clear under the current policy that if spectrum can be sold under IBC. He said that the asset is actually not the spectrum but the right to use the spectrum that's being given to the licensees, and hence, the asset is capable of being considered under the resolution plan. He also pointed out that under the tripartite agreement, the government recognises spectrum as collateral to be used by operators for raising funds from banks.

"With this argument, DoT seems to be in a bind. If spectrum can be shown as asset in the balance sheet, it can be sold as well. The reason banks take spectrum as collateral is because it can auction it in case of default by the licensee - which is exactly the case with RCom at the moment," says a Delhi-based telecom professional.

In January, UVARCL emerged as a top bidder for the assets of RCom and Reliance Telecom (a RCom subsidiary) that includes spectrum, real estate assets, enterprise and data centre businesses. The resolution plan submitted by UVARCL, which is expected to issue zero-coupon bonds to CoC, entails auction of RCom's spectrum once it gets the DoT's approval.

ALSO READ: Govt to toe SC's line on AGR dues for Reliance Jio

Interestingly, Salve also said that UVARCL is not fronting for anyone and its equity comes from public sector banks and public sector insurance firms. "Jio has no interest in bidding for RCom's assets. There is no question of one operator paying AGR dues of another. As far as Jio is concerned, it has cleared its dues pertaining to spectrum usage," he reportedly said.

In 2016, Jio bought 45 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum in 13 circles from RCom under the spectrum trading agreement. In addition, the Mukesh Ambani-controlled telco is sharing spectrum with RCom in nine circles to create a large (common) block of spectrum in the 800 MHz band to enable both players to offer 4G services.

A Jio source says that the telco is using about 23 per cent of the RCom's total spectrum holding in the 800 MHz band. "If you look at the shared spectrum pool, Jio had been sharing more amount of spectrum with RCom under the pact. On that shared spectrum, we have been paying SUC [spectrum usage charges] in addition to 0.5 per cent of the sharing charges to the DoT," says the source.

With the two arms of the government (DoT and CoC) at the loggerheads, and each side presenting a convincing argument, it would be interesting to see what road the apex court takes to secure the AGR dues.

ALSO READ: Will Reliance Jio have to pay RCom's AGR dues?
Russia Turns Sights To Switzerland, Hong Kong Treaties

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

18 August 2020

Russia's double tax agreements with Hong Kong and Switzerland are next on the radar for authorities in Russia, who are seeking to ensure the country can subject to at least 15 percent withholding tax outbound dividends and interest payments.

In televised comments during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said authorities are reviewing Russia's network of double tax agreements to identify those that do not permit taxation at source at at least a 15 percent rate.

Already, the Russian Government has negotiated to increase withholding tax rates in the agreement with Cyprus, having earlier threatened to withdraw from the deal. After reaching that compromise, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Sazanov said: "In the coming month, we also plan to complete negotiations with Luxembourg and Malta on the same terms as we offered Cyprus."

The Russian Ministry of Finance further stated: "Russia is also awaiting an official response from the Netherlands to directed proposals to revise the tax agreement in the coming weeks. If the Netherlands agrees to negotiate, they will be offered the same conditions as the Republic of Cyprus."

In his televised comments, Overchuk said the Russian Government has yet to receive a response from the Dutch Government but would follow up with it if necessary.
SPRINGFIELD  While the scandal factor was low, the intensity of the the first debate between two candidates for the 1st Congressional District seat was high as Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse and incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal traded barbs over police reform, the pandemic and their professional track records.

Morse, 31, has marketed himself as a progressive taking a run at the establishment in a new political landscape hungry for youth, disdainful of entrenched lawmakers and eager for reform. He has been mayor of Holyoke since 2012 and is in the midst of his fourth term.

On the flip side, Neal, 71, has touted his experience as essential in uncertain times. A member of Congress for 30 years and a former mayor of Springfield, he has ascended to the highest ranks of the Democratic Party as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

Both are Democrats heading toward a primary election on Sept. 1.

Over an hour at WGBY in downtown Springfield on Monday, the candidates covered ground including the CARES Act stimulus package, the criminal justice system, racial injustice and defense spending.

What the two spent the least time debating was the recent controversy over Morses sex life, which has taken up much of the public discussion over the race in recent weeks.

The broadcast airs Monday at 7 p.m. on WGBY and can be livestreamed on MassLive.com. Host outlets included The Republican and MassLive, The Berkshire Eagle and New England Public Media.

Morse has been an openly gay political figure since his first run for mayor in Holyoke when he was 22.

Earlier this month, the Massachusetts College Democrats sent Morse an email informing him he was no longer welcome at their political events and mixers after students had come forward alleging Morse made them uncomfortable with sexual advances  and had sexual relations with students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Morse was a guest lecturer in the political science department at UMass from 2014-19.

The university announced it would not invite Morse back and has hired an outside attorney to investigate. Holyoke City Councilor Michael Sullivan has called for a Personnel Department investigation of the matter.

Neal also teaches at UMass as a guest lecturer on journalism.

Morse supporters and LGBTQ advocacy groups decried the story, which first appeared in the Massachusetts Daily Collegian, as a political hit piece, orchestrated by the Neal camp to derail Morses campaign three weeks before the primary.

When I got that email a couple Fridays ago alleging that I made students feel uncomfortable ... as a human I would never want to make someone uncomfortable and I need to honor that truth, Morse said. But then come to find out over the last week that this was a backroom political smear against this campaign.

Neal flatly denied this in prior media coverage and during Mondays debate.

There is no room for homophobia and my campaign was not responsible for this action under any circumstances, Neal said early in the broadcast.

Both moved relatively quickly onto questions posed by panelists Ray Hershel of NEPM, who also moderated the debate, Elizabeth Roman of The Republican and El Pueblo Latino, and Danny Jin, Statehouse reporter for The Berkshire Eagle.

While Hershel posed the first question about the Morse controversy, other panelists followed up with questions about parity among rural and urban communities for online learning, the merits of the CARES Act and Medicare for All.

Im proud of the fact that I wrote the CARES Act, Neal told the panel. The CARES Act provided loans for 10,400 small businesses ... to point out in the CARES Act there was $400 million for our hospitals, unemployment insurance, which was perhaps the most important thing we did, including the $600 in supplemental that I included in that package ... not to miss the fact the stimulus checks, the $1,200 put into the pockets of individuals who badly needed it not just to meet the demands of the day but for sustenance as well. To make their mortgage payments and to also pay their rents.

During the debate, Neal blasted Morse for saying publicly during the campaign that he would have voted against the CARES Act.

All of what I just talked about would not have happened if Mayor Morse had his way, Neal said.

Morse countered that he believed the CARES Act was little more than a Band-Aid and Neal is overstating its effectiveness.

While Congressman Neal is in Washington, Im seeing young people and children and families go hungry. The fact that folks in power in Washington think that a onetime payment of $1,200 is enough ... for all of you at home? $1,200? Why go to Washington if youre not going to use your power for the people of this district? Morse said.

The mayor added that the city of Holyoke provided tens of thousands of meals to children who might go hungry without school meals and 2,000 laptops to children who cannot afford them for remote learning.

You cant on the one hand say: I have all this power, reelect me, and then not be able to actually use that power to to help the most vulnerable people in our communities in the midst of a pandemic, Morse said.

Neal hammered Morse about spotty attendance at Holyoke School Committee meetings while the schools are in state receivership, and at meetings of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to discuss public transportation trends and challenges with leaders of other communities.

If you were a real progressive you would have cared about the children who attend the schools in Holyoke, Neal said, adding later in the debate: This mayor keeps talking about the things hes going to do. He doesnt show up for the job he has.

Morse lobbed back that Neal talking about showing up was laughable and that Neal hasnt hosted a Town Hall meeting in the district in three years. Morse added that Neal tops the list of recipients of corporate campaign donations.

He is the No. 1 recipient of corporate money in Congress. ... Do we want a member of Congress that is bought and paid for (by) big pharma ... or the insurance industry? Morse asked, adding that he has accepted no corporate donations.

Neal responded that he controls the dialogue with his corporate donors.

If you contribute to my campaign you buy into my agenda. ... Im not buying into yours, Neal said.

In the final several minutes of the debate, Morse teed off on Neal for not being aggressive enough on releasing President Donald J. Trumps tax returns, an issue that recently made it to the U.S. Supreme Court.

I have done this the way legal advisors have told me to  I was not going to screw this up by doing this in a harried or hurried manner, Neal argued, noting that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has endorsed his approach.

Yeah we just heard that the elite thinks you did a good job  Nancy Pelosi thinks you did a good job. You dont work for the speaker. You work for the citizens here in the 1st Congressional District, Morse answered.

The Massachusetts 1st Congressional District encompasses communities in central and Western Massachusetts and covers about one-third of the state.
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center (JFOODO) will roll out a new Japanese green tea promotion for the US market beginning in August 2020.



The promotion will feature Marie Kondo (also known as KonMari),*1 a tidying expert, best-selling author and Emmy-nominated television star as the campaign spokesperson. Marie Kondo regularly drinks Japanese green tea and has had a close relationship with the drink from a young age. She learned about it from her grandmother, a Japanese tea ceremony master. Together with actress Nikki Reed, the Twilight Saga star and owner of sustainable lifestyle brand, Bayou with Love, they will introduce the wonderful world of Japanese green tea. The promotion will kick off with a campaign video that will show the audience how to simplify their life and mind with Japanese green tea.

Millennials*2 who have high purchase intent for Japanese green tea value not only the product functions, but also its rich history, and the visions and stories surrounding the producers.

The promotion site was revamped this year to become a source of information for various Japanese green teas and their usage as well as highlighting tea farmers and distributors in Japan. The campaign will share their ideas, stories, and masterful techniques through blog articles and social media contents. Also, a brand video will be launched in September with the theme of "A Journey to Simplify You. It will depict everyday mindful moments experienced by Americans with diverse lifestyles gained through Japanese green tea.

Furthermore, the campaign will support existing online sales channels in the US (primarily Amazon.com) for Japanese businesses by serving digital promoted ads designed to give easier access to their products and expand the market.



The US green tea market is currently worth approximately 166.4 million USD. The export value of Japanese green tea to the US nearly doubled in the last five years to approximately 60 million USD in FY2019, and it is expected to grow in the future.

Due to millennials interest in mindfulness, the campaign draws attentions to Japanese green tea and its high concentration of theanine. Theanine suppresses the tension in the central nervous system caused by caffeine and releases the tension of your body and mind so you can be in a state of mindfulness. The campaign shows how the unique value of theanine differs from coffee and black tea to unwind both mental and physical tension. Japanese green tea is the perfect mindful beverage for all consumers and their lifestyles.

*1 Marie Kondo's Bio

A tidying expert. Her book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up," has been translated and sold in over 40 countries and the series is a global best-seller with over 12 million copies sold. In 2015, she was listed as one of the "100 most influential people" by American magazine Time and her consulting practice has expanded beyond Japan.

*2 Millennials

The generation born between 1981 and 1996 (age 24 to 39 in the year 2020)

*3 The reason for the large concentration of theanine in Japanese green tea

Cultivating the varieties of Japanese green tea  especially gyokuro, matcha, and kabusecha involves covering the plants to shield them from sunlight. By thus impeding the conversion of the theanine in the tea leaves into stimulating, energizing catechin, the tea contains a large quantity of theanine.

Contact for inquiries:

The Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center (JFOODO) Overseas Promotion Division

E-mail: JFB@jetro.go.jp

The Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center (JFOODO) was established on April 1, 2017 within JETRO. JFOODO will devote its resources to the branding of Japanese agricultural, forestry, fishery and food products. To further boost the export of the products, JFOODO will work to create a stronger platform for overseas B to C promotions and branding projects that stimulate international demand. To learn more, visit https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/jfoodo/

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9be7acf3-39e9-4ccf-90fa-b67a8994bf36

A video accompanying this announcement is available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c2fa9686-bfcf-4ab5-8c91-9e8240c4a94d
A group of Malian soldiers shot their guns in the air outside of Bamako on Tuesday and began detaining senior military officials in the garrison town of Kati, in what appears to be a mutiny. Mutiny leaders now claim President Keita and senior government officials have been arrested.

Update 17h21 UT:

Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been reportedly arrested on Tuesday by mutinous soldiers in the capital Bamako.

French President Emmanuel Macron has been in discussion with West African leaders, urging further mediation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), according to the office of the presidency.

While the ringleaders of this action were not immediately known, many feared that this mutiny would turn into a repeat of the 2012 military coup d'etat.

Officials are being arrested  it's total confusion, according to an officer at Mali's Ministry of Internal Security, who spoke to journalists and did not want to be identified.

In a statement released by Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, France condemned the mutiny and has urged the soldiers to return to barracks,

Government workers reportedly fled their offices in Bamako, as armed men went around to offices, rounding up officials, including Finance Minister Abdoulaye Daffe.

There was no information confirming the whereabouts of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Witnesses saw armoured cars and military vehicles in Kati which is 15 kilometres from the capital.

"Given the tensions reported this morning, August 18 in Kati and Bamako, it is strongly recommended to stay at home," the embassy said on Twitter.

Long standing frustration in Mali's military

The soldiers alleged frustration  although their reasoning for this action is still unknown-- is amidst a political crisis that has gripped the country for the past two months.

"This morning, angry soldiers took up arms at the Kati camp and fired in the air. There were many of them and very nervous," a doctor at Kati hospital told AFP.

Story continues

A Malian defense ministry source said that they are closely monitoring the situation, but denied that this action was a mutiny.

"Military hierarchy has come into contact with the troops, we will make an official statement during the day,"

Calls for the president to go

This has happened amongst a backdrop of political turmoil, as the opposition are mounting new demonstrations, calling for President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to step down.

The opposition Mouvement du 5 Juin-Rassemblement des Forces patriotiques du Mali (M5-RFP), is a grouping of various members of civil society, opposition parties, unions and religious leaders, and have been organizing large demonstrations against the Keita government.

The protests ramped up after the Constitutional Court invalidated 30 legislative election results, including a third in favour of Keita.

However, a peaceful demonstration on 10 July erupted in three days of unrest, where 23 were killed and more than 150 injured, according to the opposition. Prime minister Boubou Cisse said 11 died, while the UN reported 14 protesters killed.

The group has also refused to meet with a West Africa States mediator, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.
People walk by the headquarters of the China National Petroleum Corporation in Beijing on March 25, 2015. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Regime Rushes to Destroy Files Overseas as US Cracks Down on Beijings Espionage: Leaked Document

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has directed certain overseas Party cells to destroy sensitive documents and safeguard Party secrets, in response to heightened scrutiny in the West of the regimes covert activities abroad, an internal document obtained by The Epoch Times reveals.

A notice issued in August by Chinas state-owned oil giant China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) instructed that the companys overseas offices in more than ten countries, including Australia and Canada, must urgently destroy or transfer sensitive documents relating to overseas Party-building activities.

Party-building activities overseas, according to New York-based China commentator Qin Peng, refers to the CCPs efforts to expand its global influence. Under this program, Chinese consulates can instruct Chinese multinational companies to carry out tasks beyond their business operations, such as collecting intelligence, stealing sensitive information, and influencing local officials, he said.

CNPC is the worlds third-largest oil company and has operations in 75 countries, according to its website. Like most Chinese companies, the oil giant has a CCP unit embedded in its organizationto ensure the firm is toeing the Party line in its business activities. The company has more than 1.3 million employees worldwide, with almost 700,000 Party members as of 2018, according to the companys website.

The notice said that important documents that cant be easily destroyed may be given to the Chinese embassy in Cambodia for safekeeping.

It also directs the companys Party members not to divulge sensitive information to local law enforcement.

When subject to foreign investigations, Party members and cadres must abide by [the principle of] strictly guarding Party secrets, the document said. This is an iron rule and discipline.

The directive was a response to recent actions by the United States and other Western governments, the document said, citing an incident in Australia where authorities searched and seized mobile phones and computers of Chinese diplomatic personnel because they contained material relating to the CCP. It did not provide further detail about this incident.

The United States has in recent months escalated efforts in combating Chinese espionage and malign influence activities. The Trump administration in July ordered the closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston, saying the diplomatic outpost was a hub of spying and intellectual property theft. Federal agents also made a string of arrests of suspected undercover Chinese military officers studying in the country, who prosecutors say are part of a broader network spanning 50 U.S. cities.

The regimes covert foreign influence operations have also come under the spotlight in many democracies, particularly in Australia, where the government has stepped up actions targeting Chinese influence in politics and university campuses.

Nicholas Eftimiades, a former senior U.S. intelligence official and author of the book Chinese Intelligence Operations, told The Epoch Times that the incident in Australia may have referred to an unreported seizure by border officials at the countrys ports of entry, or the recent raid of a Chinese-Australians home as part of an investigation into Chinese foreign interference.

Australian police in June raided the home of John Zhang, a naturalized Australian citizen and an aide to a state politician, seizing materials such as computer evidence. According to court documents, Zhang was under investigation for allegedly concealing that he was acting on behalf of, or in collaboration with the key organs of the CCP, including the Ministry of State Security, the regimes top intelligence agency, and the United Front Work Department, the Party branch that oversees the regimes foreign influence operations.

Going Underground

The notice said the United States, the U.K., Australia, Canada, and New Zealand were highly sensitive countries, and directed staff in those countries to delete all Party-building materials from electronic devices and destroy physical files. Where documents cant be destroyed, they should be sealed and stored in a secure location or handed over to the Chinese embassy in Cambodia, the document instructed.

In Australia and Canada, CNPC staff are to report to their local Chinese consulate the status of how they have dealt with sensitive urgent information, the notice said.

The document also demands that all the companys overseas party organizations, particularly those located in Malaysia, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia, should proactively accept the leadership role of the Party committee at Cambodias Chinese embassy.

The CNPC and Chinese embassy in Cambodia did not respond to The Epoch Times questions as of press time.

The instructions also emphasized limiting public exposure of overseas Party activities. It prohibited events from being promoted on Chinese social media such as Weibo and WeChat, and issuing public reports of such activities. Communications about Party members or organizations, and reports on Party-building activities should be sent via encrypted channels. Party members were also banned from raising the Chinese national flag, wearing the Party badge, and displaying the content of Party activities on notice boards.

In addition, when holding Party-building activities, staff are not to disclose the identities of Party members and their Party positions, the notice said.

Damage Control

Eftimiades said that its very likely this directive was issued to other state-owned enterprises. The notice, he said, revealed an extraordinary global operation to protect information, to restrict activities so that they dont come up on the radar of foreign governments.

The regime is now in damage control, after triggering strong reactions from Western governments over a range of behaviors, from its military aggression in the South China Sea to its border dispute with India, Eftimiades said.

Damage control entails destroying and securing evidence, while toning down activities so outside observers dont perceive the regime as a threat, according to Eftimiades.

James Carafano, vice president of the Heritage Foundations institute for national security and foreign policy, said this move would not be surprising given that the regime is likely anticipating much more scrutiny from Western countries.

If theres one thing theyre really good at, its covering up their tracks, Carafano told The Epoch Times.

The notice also reveals the close cooperation between the regime and state-owned companies, Eftimiades said.

A huge dimension of this is the role of the consulates in directing and coordinating the activities of state-owned enterprises abroad, he said.

The Chinese regime also publicly reveals how Chinese consulates preside over overseas Chinese companies.

A document on risk prevention guidelines for overseas Chinese companies, found on the website of Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, points out that companies must register with their local consulates and accept their guidance and management.

In the event of sudden safety-related incidents, Chinese companies must do their public relations under the guidance of corresponding consulates and related Chinese agencies, to positively guide the public opinion.

In March 2019, Qi Yu, secretary of the Party committee at Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a meeting, during which the committee said Chinese consulates should enhance their political understandingin order to better serve the Party.

While the document suggests the CCP has become more cautious, countries shouldnt let up their guard, Qin warns, adding that as these activities go underground, the Chinese regime is likely to engage in more covert actions, and its a long-term threat that countries shouldnt dismiss.

Cathy He CHINA EDITOR Follow Cathy He is a New York-based reporter focusing on China-related topics. She previously worked as a government lawyer in Australia. She joined the Epoch Times in February 2018.

Frank Fang journalist Follow Frank Fang is a Taiwan-based journalist. He covers news in China and Taiwan. He holds a master's degree in materials science from Tsinghua University in Taiwan.


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CHENNAI: The now defunct Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi has operated for 16 years and 92 days without valid Consent to Operate from Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and operated for 10 years, two months and 15 days without Hazardous Waste Management (HWM) authorisation. Who is to be blamed?

While holding Sterlite accountable, the Madras High Court has practically indicted TNPCB for the botch-up. "TNPCB did nothing in the matter. The regulator failed to discharge their duties diligently bearing in mind the purpose for which it was constituted," the court observed.

Not just this, the high court bench has found TNPCB wanting at least a half-a-dozen times. The court questioned as to why Sterlite was permitted to handle and dispose of hazardous and other waste after the

expiry of the authorization on July 9, 2013 without being monitored.

"Stringent action has to be initiated against the officials of the TNPCB who were in-charge at the relevant point of time equally the superior officers and others at the helm of affairs of the Board. All of them were silent spectators to the illegality," the bench added.

The bench said it was not clear as to why the State Government has abdicated its statutory responsibility cast under the Rules. The matter is a very serious issue and the petitioner cannot escape by contending that non-renewal of authorization can have no impact on the consent to operate.

The analysis of the data available in the Care Air Centre of TNPCB for the years 2015 to 2018 shows that the values have remained static for varying periods of time and certain readings were shown to be unrealistic, which will go to show that the air quality in the area was not monitored.

"It is not clear as to why the regulator did not take any stringent action on this aspect of the matter. Had TNPCB noted that the values remained static for several hours, they should have alerted the station or made an inspection to ascertain as to whether the monitors were functioning properly, was there any technical glitch, or was there any other factor which led to such abnormal display," the court observed.

The court said there was sufficient material to show that the groundwater pollution was on account of Sterlite's operation. It expressed displeasure regarding the manner in which the officials of the TNPCB had functioned earlier.

The court noted the fact that the infrastructure with TNPCB was thoroughly inadequate considering the

magnitude of the Sterlite unit.

The furnace stack height of Sterlite is 60 metres as against 102.8 metres as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) norms and this will contribute to excessive ground level concentration of SO2 in

ambient air.

"Thus, viewed from any angle, what is abundantly clear is that there is non-compliance of the stack height norm stipulated by the CPCB. TNPCB had failed in its duty in enforcing the norms stipulated by the MoEF/CPCB. It is not clear as to why the TNPCB did not take note of this issue earlier and did so only in the year 2018," he added.

As early as in the year 2005, the NEERI has recommended that the petitioner should use cleaner concentrate. The report also states that a quantity of 0.0008 MT/day of arsenic remains unaccounted.

The petitioner would state that they have submitted compliance reports, material audit requirement has been complied with and they account for the arsenic input and output in the process and there is no un-accounting.

"The question is as to who will testify for the correctness of the stand taken by the petitioner. Unfortunately, the organization which has to do the same, namely, the regulator, the TNPCB, appears to have not acted, presumably because the HWM authorization was not renewed. It is rather surprising as to how the TNPCB continued to permit the petitioner to operate and handle and disposed of hazardous waste without renewal of the authorization," it added.

"Thus, we can safely conclude that there is every possibility of these hazardous chemicals being not accounted for, thereby causing hazard to the environment. The person to be blamed is the regulator and the regulator alone. Thus, many issues have gone unnoticed and the regulator for the reasons best known has not followed up the matter with earnestness thereby putting the people of the locality in peril," the court said.

TNPCB chairman AV Venkatachalam was not available for comments. While, Sterlite CEO Pankaj Kumar claimed: "At no point in our operations were any concerns of pollution raised by the appropriate authorities."
BRUSSELS, Aug 17 (Reuters) - European Union leaders will hold a video call on developments in Belarus at 1000 GMT on Wednesday, said their chairman, European Council President Charles Michel.

The EU has launched a process of imposing sanctions on Belarusian officials responsible for election fraud and a crackdown on protests that followed an election there in which Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory with an official tally giving him 80%.

The 27 EU leaders will discuss what other support they can extend to Belarus.

Initial ideas include starting a fund for victims of repression there, funding projects to support media pluralism, advising on police reform, enhancing student exchanges with the EU as well as granting easier access to the bloc's labour market for Belarusian workers.

Poland, the Czech Republic, the three Baltic states and Denmark have also called for EU mediation between Lukashenko and the opposition. (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; editing by Jason Neely)
An immersive theatrical event centered around the beloved series Doctor Who will come to London beginning February 17, 2021. Doctor Who: Time Fracture will run at the former military drill hall now known as Immersive | LDN, located in Mayfair.

Featuring an original story, Doctor Who: Time Fracture is set at the height of the blitz in 1940, when a weapon of unknown origin destroys a small corner of Mayfair and opens up a rift in time and space. Audience members are tasked with stepping up and becoming the hero in order to save the earth, confronting monsters and aliens along the way, while meeting Daleks, Cybermen, Time Lords, and many other strange and mysterious characters.

The production is written by Daniel Dingsdale, directed by Tom Maller, and designed by Rebecca Brower, all in collaboration with BBC Studios. Immersive Everywhere serves as producer.

Doctor Who: Time Fracture will take place with adherence to the UK's social distancing guidelines. The production will also offer a no-questions-asked ticket exchange policy for patrons. It will provide a free preview to coronavirus pandemic frontline works, with full details to come.

For more information and tickets, click here.
BRISTOL, Tenn. - On Aug. 24, elementary school students in Bristol, Tennessee will be able to return to classrooms full time, while students in middle school and high school will be allowed to return to classrooms for two days per week.

At its Monday night general meeting the Bristol Tennessee Board of Education voted to approve allowing students to return to classrooms next week and allow this arrangement to continue until further notice. Students in Pre-K through grade 6, whose parents chose to allow in person learning will be able to attend classes in person Monday through Friday.

Students in grades 7 through grade 12 will be allowed to return to classrooms on a hybrid schedule with two days of in person learning and three days of online learning. Middle and high school students with names between the letters A and L will have in person classes on Monday and Tuesday, students with names between M and Z will have in person classes on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday will be online only.

Annette Tudor, Bristol, Tennessee director of schools, said that parents who had chosen to allow their children to attend school in person will be able to contact the school and change their decision to online only and vice versa. She said a lot has changed since they sent out surveys to parents several weeks ago.

When the board approved allowing kids to return to school on Aug. 24 it also approved the school districts guidelines for in person and online learning. The board also gave Tudor and school administration permission and authority to make changes to and adjustments to in person and online learning protocols as needed.

Update: Middle and high school students with names between the letters A and L will have in person classes on Monday and Tuesday, students with names between M and Z will have in person classes on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday will be online only.

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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.






Former Gov. Chris Christie, who competed against then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich for the Republican presidential nomination four years ago, blasted his former colleague as a backstabber and untruthful guy after Kasich endorsed Joe Biden on the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

And Christie, a backer of President Donald Trump, also had choice words about a Republican who preceded him in Trenton and also backed Biden: former Gov. Christie Whitman.

Christie spoke during ABCs coverage of the 2020 Democratic National Convention after Kasich, Whitman and two other other Republicans crossed party lines to support Joe Biden and criticize Trump.

He pointed out that both Whitman and business executive Meg Whitman, both of whom preceded Kasich at the convention, supported Hillary Clinton over Trump four years earlier.

He said their endorsements would have zero impact.

I mean theyre meaningless, Christie said. They were with her four years ago. Now theyre with Biden. No surprise.

Kasich, whose second-place finish in the 2016 New Hampshire GOP primary allowed him to remain in the race while forcing Christies early exit, wound up being one of the three finalists for the nomination, along Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

Do you know how many Republican governors  of his colleagues, his sitting colleagues at the time  endorsed John Kasich? Zero. Christie said. The reason they didnt endorce him is because hes a backstabber and hes an untruthful guy.

"He's a backstabber, and he's an untruthful guy"https://t.co/g5iYXE7OGd  TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 18, 2020

Trump on Tuesday took notice of Christies attack.

John Kasich did a bad job in Ohio, ran for President and was easy to beat, and now went to the other side desperate for relevance, Trump said on Twitter. Good Job by Chris C in exposing yet another loser!

The former head of the Office of Government Ethics quickly responded to Trumps warm tweet about Christie.

You fired Chris Christie and his entire team after they spent months preparing for the presidential transition. You doomed your transition effort to failure, apparently to avenge his prosecution of your nepotist son-in-law's crooked daddy. Now you quote Christie? Clueless.  Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) August 18, 2020

On Twitter, #chrischristie was trending, but not because most commentators supported him.

As Chris Christie rips into corrupt Democrats Im reminded of the time he closed a NJ state beach to the public and then took his family there #DemocraticConvention pic.twitter.com/Y4lq0MuA3A  PoliticalGroove (@PoliticalGroove) August 18, 2020

I had completely pushed Chris Christie out of my mind so thanks to ABC for ruining that. #DemocraticConvention pic.twitter.com/V9w9hGUaHa  Lucia Martinez (@louseeuh) August 18, 2020

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Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.
The Bay Areas stifling heat wave is expected to stick around for at least another day, creating difficult conditions Tuesday for firefighters battling dozens of lightning-sparked blazes around the region while also making life miserable for those unaccustomed to the hot, muggy weather.

The heat wave, which started started Friday, may begin to abate Wednesday with a significant drop in temperatures arriving Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Although temperatures at the coast and in some locations around the bay are expected to be slightly more comfortable Tuesday, the inland areas were still expected to see searing temperatures near or surpassing 100 degrees, said Rick Canepa, a weather service meteorologist.

An extreme heat warning remains in effect for the Bay Area through 9 p.m. Wednesday, but the thunderstorms that featured lightning bolts shooting into the dry hillsides, causing fires Sunday and Monday, are not expected to return.

Temperatures at the coast Tuesday were expected to reach the mid- to upper 70s at Ocean Beach in San Francisco and down to San Mateo County coast, warmer weather in the 80s was expected along the coast in Marin County. Around the bay, high temperatures Tuesday afternoon were expected to top out at 80 in downtown San Francisco, 86 in Oakland and 87 in Hayward, while reaching into the 90s down the Peninsula and hitting 97 in San Jose.

Inland temperatures were forecast to surpass triple digits: 106 in Concord, 105 in Livermore and 108 in Brentwood.

Cooler weather should arrive gradually overnight into Wednesday, said Brian Garcia, a weather service meteorologist, with temperatures dropping as low as the 70s in warmer places but dropping to the mid-50s and 60s along the coasts.

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.

On Wednesday, temperatures may drop 5 to 10 degrees in most places the inland areas should remain hot, Canepa said.

There will be a big change on Thursday, he said.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 09:53:58|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe recorded 47 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the country's total to 5,308, while a record 1,756 people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours, raising the total recoveries to 3,848.

Of the 47 new cases, 42 were caused by local transmission, while five are returning citizens from South Africa.

Meanwhile, three more deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 135.

In its daily update, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the three deaths were recorded in Bulawayo, Mashonaland East and Manicaland Provinces.

Thanks to the recoveries, active cases sharply went down to 1,325 from 3,037 during the previous day.

The country has done a cumulative total of 183,163 COVID-19 tests to date since the onset of the disease in March. Enditem
By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan has provided free medication to more than 3,500 COVID-19 patients nationwide who are being treated at home, a member of the COVID-19 working group under the Ministry of Health Inara Makayeva said on August 17.

The free medication is given to asymptomatic COVID-19 patients and those with mild symptoms who are being treated at home in line with the Ministry of Health decision of June 30.

The medical package provided to such patients includes vitamin C, vitamin D3, magnesium, zinc, selenium and paracetamol. These medicines are prescribed to patients in order to prevent complications that may arise during treatment and the course of the disease. It should be noted that the condition of home patients is controlled by district doctor via phone, and if necessary, the doctor visits the patient at home to examine his condition.

The COVID-19 working group has developed special instructions for outpatient treatment of patients with COVID-19. Every day, the clinics keep lists of patients with positive test results, after which these patients are contacted by phone and asked about their current status. Medicines are delivered directly to the patients place of residence. Then, the doctor calls twice a day and monitors the medication.

The COVID-19 working group under the ministry was set up on June 29 to coordinate the work of 39 field centers covering 87 medical institutions in Baku. Some 39 territorial medical centers were established according to the decision of the working group's leadership to fight COVID-19, covering these 87 medical institutions on the basis of a territorial subdivision, which is subordinate to the Baku City Health Department.

Currently, the country observes a significant reduction in the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

As of August 18, Azerbaijan, the nation of ten million people, has registered 34,343 COVID-19 cases and 508 coronavirus- related deaths. The total number of recovered patients is 32,042. Currently, 1,793 people are under treatment in special hospitals.

Azerbaijan, registered its first COVID-19 case on February 28 and introduced the special quarantine regime on March 24.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
MBABANE  For the very first time in history, the 2020 Umhlanga Reed Dance ceremony will not take place.

This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected the country and the world at large.

Umhlanga is among the most important cultural events held annually in the kingdom and has grown to attract tourists from all over the world.

The main reed dance is normally held around August or early September and is attended by over 100 000 maidens who are unmarried and childless.

These maidens travel from various chiefdoms to the Ludzidzini Royal Residence to participate in the seven-day ceremony. On day one, the maidens register upon arrival at Ludzidzini Royal Residence.

King

The following day, His Majesty King Mswati III commissions them to cut the reed at Bhamsakhe and Mpisi farms, depending on their ages.

The older girls cut the reed at Bhamsakhe, while the younger ones cut it at Mpisi Farm. On the third day, the maidens head to the swamps to cut the reed, while on day four, they march back to Ludzidzini Royal Residence.

Day five marks a relaxation and rest period for the maidens at their respective camps within Lobamba. On day six, the maidens deliver the reed at Ludzidzini Royal Residence and dance before Their Majesties. On day seven, the maidens showcase their chastity before Their Majesties at the Ludzidzini stadium and then return to their respective homes on the next day.

Imbali Indvuna Nonduduzo Zubuko delivered the royal command yesterday at Ludzidzini Royal Residence. Zubuko said His Majesty King Mswati III was expecting the arrival of the maidens on August 25, 2020 and the main dance was to be held on August 31, 2020.

She said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event had been cancelled at Ludzidzini and Shiselweni Royal residences.

According to Zubuko, alternative ways to ensure that the reed was finally delivered to royal residences would be considered.

Announced

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe also announced that the issue of the Umhlanga holiday was yet to be deliberated upon and the nation would be informed in due course.

The minister further urged the maidens to follow all the COVID-19 precautionary measures while at home and be safe at all times. She commended His Majesty for the decision to call off the event and place the safety of his nation first.

Imbali Overseer Hlangabeza Mdluli said the reed dance was a way of life for emaSwati that began long ago where over 100 maidens danced above the cattle byre. Mdluli said the numbers slowly grew and the maidens shifted to dance below the cattle byre. However, he said due to the growing numbers exceeding thousands, a mini stadium was built at Ludzidzini where the ceremony now took place.

The stadium itself is becoming small and cannot accommodate the growing number of maidens, said the imbali overseer. He said by virtue of the event not taking place, it definitely had a bearing on tradition, hence they would ensure that they would try by all means to bring the reed to the royal residences (Ludzidzini and Mbangweni).

Mdluli said the reed dance usually gathered nations and the country had been greatly affected.

Senior Prince Masitsela said unlike the Incwala ceremony, the reed dance was less significant in the countrys traditions.

The prince said umhlanga was bound not to take place under the current situation, adding that His Majesty cancelled his own birthday and the Easter services, hence the reed dance was nothing (bigger than that).

He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health discouraged mass gatherings.

According to the prince, the reed dance brought people together and there was no way that it could take place under this situation of COVID-19.

Health Promotional Officer at WHO local office, Dr Kevin Makadzange commended the move, stating that Their Majesties made a good decision.

Transmission

Dr Makadzange said, with the reed dance taking place at a time where there was a transmission happening, it was expected of the country to put off the event.

He said there was no way that Eswatini could host a mass gathering in the midst of the transmission.

We are living in the new normal following the COVID-19 pandemic and have to compromise some of the old things we used to do, said Dr Makadzange.

He stated that the COVID-19 regulations were still in effect and mass gatherings were banned all over the world.
Authorities searching a root cellar in Oklahoma did not find any clues leading to the remains of two girls who disappeared in 1999.

Ronnie Busick, 68, pleaded guilty last month to a reduced charge of accessory to murder in the December deaths of Danny and Kathy Freeman, their daughter, Ashley Freeman, and her friend Laura Bible. The girls were both 16.

Busick told authorities that he told the Bible family that 'there's a 75 per cent chance the girls' remains are in the root cellar on Ethel Drive in the Tar Creek area of Ottawa County, the Tulsa World reports.

Authorities searched a root cellar on a tip that it contained the remains of Ashley Freeman, left, and Laura Bible. The two 16-year-olds disappeared in 1999

Authorities were 'very disappointed' that the tip yielded no results

Ronnie Busick, 68, pleaded guilty last month to a reduced charge of accessory to murder in connection with the murder of Ashley's family

Authorities searched the area on Tuesday.

'I don't know if he got it confused with something else,' Investigator Gary Stansill said, adding that he was 'very disappointed' by the results of the search.

Busick was sentenced to 15 years, serving 10 in prison and five on supervised release

'He's got years of drug abuse; I don't know. He provided landmarks and detail that only he would have known.'

Busick was sentenced to 15 years, serving 10 in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the other five on supervised release.

While he is expected to be sentenced on August 31, Busick's term could be halved if he provides information leading to the recovered bodies.

During the July 15 hearing, District Attorney Matt Ballard and prosecutor Isaac Shields said that Busick had already provided some information. They added that there may be a provision for him to lead investigators to a location.

Warren Phillip Welch II, David Pennington and Busic are believed to have shot Ashley's parents before kidnapping the girls and setting their home on fire. Welch and Pennington have since died.

The bodies of Ashley's parents were found after fire ripped through the property, but the girls vanished

The pair were last seen on December 29, 1999, at the mobile home of Ashley Freeman and her parents while having a birthday sleepover. The charred remains of Ashley's home

Lisa Bible Brodrick and her aunt Lorene Bible look over where workers and law enforcement personnel searched an area

The pair were last seen on December 29, 1999, at the mobile home of Ashley Freeman and her parents while having a birthday sleepover.

The bodies of Ashley's parents were found after fire ripped through the property, but the girls vanished.

Some time during the night authorities say someone set fire to the motor home using an accelerant near a wood-burning stove.

Warren Phillip Welch II, David Pennington and Busic are believed to have shot Ashley's parents before kidnapping the girls and setting their home on fire. Welch and Pennington have since died

Investigators found the body of Kathy Freeman, Ashley's mother, in the charred remains of the mobile home. They believe the girls were taken to a mobile home in Picher, where they were raped and killed.

Investigators in the ensuing years have tirelessly searched for clues across the country and even into Canada and Mexico.

Convicted killer Jeremy Jones once confessed that the girls were in a mineshaft in Kansas. Jones would later recant that confession.
In a priceless December 2018 USA Today/Suffolk University poll of Democrats and independent voters, Someone entirely new topped the Democrats list of announced/rumored presidential wannabes.

In other words, Anonymous generated more excitement than Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren.

Nearly 50 percent of polled Democrats/Independents rated Joe Bidens desirability as meh, dont run, or who? Seventy percent of respondents placed Harris in those categories.

But Anonymous never showed, so, before the South Carolina primary, conspiratorial Democrats winnowed the field to shut out Bernie Sanders, and stuck the party with a Biden/Harris ticket.

Now, the Democrat/Media Complex faces the monumental task of whipping up enthusiasm for a bumbling, geriatric throwback who placed fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire, and an even weaker performer who withdrew before the first primary votes were cast.

Biden and Harris are an odd match. In the first candidate debate, Harris labeled Biden a racist for opposing forced school busing and later said she believed Bidens sexual misconduct accusers. Amusingly, media cannot hide the sweet irony that Democrats who gratuitously brand guiltless opponents racist and sexist will embrace a descendant of Jamaican slave owners chosen only for her race and sex.

The ticket has problems at the top  and at the real top.

The seven classic signs of early dementia include memory problems, confusion, personality changes, withdrawal, difficulty with common tasks, language problems and poor judgment.

Biden has shown them all, so campaign staff keeps Joe sequestered in his Delaware basement, stage-manage his rare appearances, script him carefully, and deflect press questioning.

Should he win, at 78, Joe Biden would be older upon taking office than President Ronald Reagan was when he left it, so for all practical purposes, Kamala Harris will head the partys November ticket.

Why? Actuarial odds favor Harris having to complete Bidens first term and undertake presidential duties for which her meager record scarcely qualifies her.

Harris has no economic or foreign policy experience, and her already-demonstrated political impulses are extralegal and anti-democratic.

Before entering the Senate, Harris served as Californias attorney general, during which time she mass-incarcerated thousands of young black men for minor infractions, policies she has since rejected to express solidarity with Black Lives Matter. It took court actions to correct Harriss violations of defendants rights and prosecutorial abuse.

In further disregard for the law, Harris supports open borders, sanctuary cities, and amnesty, including government-funded health care for illegal aliens.

Beginning with trivialities like plastic bags and straws, Harris has expressed her intention to ban essential products.

Harris was a co-sponsor of The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act, which would eventually outlaw the sale of gasoline-powered automobiles. And Harris said, I am in favor of banning fracking, a technology that produces raw materials for petroleum-based products, clean-burning, inexpensive natural gas and directly supports millions of well-paying jobs.

Kamala Harris is no friend to Americas Constitution, either, especially its First and Second Amendments.

Harris advocates banning social media hate speech  We will hold social media platforms accountable for the hate infiltrating their platforms because they have a responsibility to help fight against this threat to our democracy. Harris, of course, would reserve the right to determine what, exactly, constitutes hate speech.

Before her pre-primary withdrawal, Harris promised that, if elected, she would impose a mandatory gun buyback program. We have to work out the details, but Isupport a forced buyback. Harris is receptive to the idea of sending the police into homes to confiscate guns, even though police in Democrat-run jurisdictions havent been able to prevent criminal anarchists from turning communities into combat zones.

Harris also supports forced labor unionization. During her abortive campaign, Harris said that, as president, she would be about banning right-to-work laws.

Harris originally proposed banning private health insurance outright, then backed off before releasing another plan that would incrementally eliminate the private insurance on which 180 million satisfied Americans rely.

Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau called it hilarious that anyone would think Harris is a moderate because she has one of the most liberal records in the U.S. Senate.

Unfortunately, in American presidential politics, just one person selects a running mate  the nominee. This time, the decider was a malleable, 77-year old, mentally-challenged careerist.

Sadly, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the best Democrats have to offer this year, because Anonymous never appeared.

Contact columnist Jerry Shenk at jshenk2010@gmail.com
Khartoum: Sudan's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it was astonished by remarks made by its own spokesman in which he said Khartoum had "contacts" with Israel, stressing that the government had not discussed the possibility of diplomatic relations.

Haydar Sadig, the ministry's spokesman, made the comment to Reuters earlier in the day and praised the United Arab Emirates' decision to normalise relations with Israel as "a brave and bold step". He was confirming remarks made earlier to regional media.

President of the Sudanese Transitional Council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, right, and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki inspect a guard of honour at the Khartoum airport in Khartoum. Credit:AP

Under the US-brokered deal announced last week, the UAE becomes the just third Arab country to forge full relations with Israel in more than 70 years. The pact could reshape Middle East politics from the Palestinian issue to the fight against Iran.

In February, Israeli officials said Israel and Sudan had agreed to move towards forging normal relations for the first time during a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan's military-led, transitional sovereign council, in Uganda.
Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church has filed a lawsuit against California over restrictions on indoor worship after the state issued a second lockdown order as part of its response to COVID-19.

According to the report, the suit was filed Wednesday in Superior Court of the state of California for the County of Los Angeles, North Central District, and names Newsom, Attorney General Xavier Beccera, and other officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as defendants.

"California targeted the wrong groups. California first lifted restrictions on gatherings that occurred outdoors, blessing after-the-fact the illegal conduct of the 'George Floyd' protestors."

Grace Community Church and MacArthur state, the government officials are interfering with their religious freedom and selectively restricting gatherings amid the pandemic.

"California has no such power to determine whether churches are 'essential."

"This is especially the case when the government has given free rein to protestors and is not similarly restricting marijuana dispensaries, large retail outlets and factories, and abortion providers."

"Just because you think God will ultimately vindicate your decision to disobey the government on the last day doesn't mean it's wise. You might have other options that avoid undue attention."

Despite Newsom's order, Pastor John MacArthur announced during the Shepherd's Conference held earlier this month that next year's conference will include a summit on biblical inerrancy.
Photograph: Rick Wilking/Reuters

A report by the Senate intelligence committee provides a treasure trove of new details about Donald Trumps relationship with Moscow, and says that a Russian national who worked closely with Trumps presidential campaign in 2016 was a career intelligence officer.

The bipartisan report runs to nearly 1,000 pages and goes further than last years investigation into Russian election interference by special prosecutor Robert Mueller. It lays out a stunning web of contacts between Trump, his top election aides and Russian government officials, in the months leading up to the 2016 election.

The Senate panel identifies Konstantin Kilimnik as a Russian intelligence officer employed by the GRU, the military intelligence agency behind the 2018 poisoning of the Russian double agent Sergei Skripal. It cites evidence  some of it redacted  linking Kilimnik to the GRUs hacking and dumping of Democratic party emails.

Kilimnik worked for over a decade in Ukraine with Paul Manafort, Trumps campaign manager. In 2016 Manafort met with Kilimnik, discussed how Trump might beat Hillary Clinton, and gave the Russian spy internal polling data. The committee said it couldnt reliably determine why Manafort handed over this information, or what exactly Kilimnik did with it.

It describes Manaforts willingness to pass on confidential material to alleged Moscow agents as a grave counterintelligence threat. The report dubs Kilimnik part of a cadre of individuals ostensibly operating outside of the Russian government but who nonetheless implement Kremlin-directed influence operations. It adds that key oligarchs including Oleg Deripaska fund these operations, together with the Kremlin.

The investigation found that Kilimnik tweets under the pseudonym Petro Baranenko (@PBaranenko). The account regularly propagates Moscows line on international issues, such as the conflict in Ukraine and the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.

The fact that a Republican-controlled Senate panel established a direct connection between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence makes it harder for Trump and his supporters to allege that the investigation into possible collusion was a witch-hunt or hoax as the president has repeatedly claimed, in the remaining three months before the election.

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The Republican-controlled Senate panel said it was hampered in its search for the truth by the fact that Kilimnik and Manafort kept their communications secret. They used burner phones, encrypted chat services, and frequently changed email accounts. They also messaged via a shared email draft.

The committee is dismissive of the dossier by the ex-MI6 officer Christopher Steele, which alleged that the Kremlin had been cultivating Donald Trump for at least five years, but stops short of offering an opinion on whether the allegations within it are true. That dossier contained an allegation that Russia spied on Trump during a visit to Moscow in November 2013 and filmed him in his private suite at the Ritz-Carlton hotel with two prostitutes. Trump strenuously denies the claim.

However, the Senate report offers the most compelling account yet of what went on inside the hotel. It alleges that a suspected Russian intelligence officer is stationed permanently in the building and presides over a network of security cameras, some of them hidden inside guest rooms. The officers agency is redacted, but is likely to be the FSB, the spy agency Vladimir Putin headed, in charge of counter-intelligence.

Related: Trump in Moscow: what happened at Miss Universe in 2013

The report says: The committee found that the Ritz Carlton in Moscow is a high counterintelligence risk environment. The committee assesses that the hotel likely has at least one permanent Russian intelligence officer on staff, government surveillance of guests rooms, and the regular presence of a large number of prostitutes, likely with at least the tacit approval of Russian authorities.

It adds: According to two former employees of the Ritz Carlton in Moscow, in 2013 there was at least one [redacted] officer permanently stationed at the hotel. This non-uniformed officer was believed to be a [redacted] and had access to the hotels property management system, guest portfolios and notations, as well as the network of hundreds of security cameras at the hotel.

The [redacted] was believed to be able to monitor the camera feeds from his office.

Roger Stone is alleged to have taken direction from the Trump campaign to obtain inside knowledge about WikiLeaks. Photograph: Sam Corum/EPA

The committee, which spent three years taking evidence for its report, also examined previous trips by Trump to Russia. It says that during a 1996 visit, Trump attended a party for a group of American investors at the Baltschug Kempinski hotel. The party was arranged by David Geovanis, a Moscow-based businessman who the report says has links to the Russian security services.

The report notes: In some circles of the US expatriate business community in Moscow, it has been common for visiting businessmen to be taken to nightclubs or parties where prostitutes are present. It is likely that Russian security or intelligence services capitalize on those opportunities to collect information.

During the 1990s and into the 2000s, David Geovanis developed a reputation in Moscow, in part as a host for visiting businessmen.

It goes on to say that Trump may have begun a brief relationship with a Russian woman he met at the Geovanis party. Her name is blacked out. One source of the information is Theodore Liebman, an architect who lived in Moscow and New York in the 1990s, and who travelled to Russia with Trump to the event. Geovanis has spoken to journalists and is reluctant to visit the US, the committee notes.

It describes the Russian governments overall operation in support of Trump in 2016 as aggressive and multi-faceted. The language echoes that of Mueller, who called Moscows meddling sweeping and systematic. But in many places the committee is more damning, suggesting a high level of coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian intermediaries.

The report says that Trumps close friend Roger Stone was working closely with WikiLeaks in summer 2016. It suggests Stone was briefing Trump in real time, and that the Trump campaign was shaping its messages ahead of releases by WikiLeaks of Democratic emails stolen in Moscow by GRU state hackers.

It says: Trump and senior campaign officials sought to obtain advance information about WikiLeakss planned releases through Roger Stone. At their direction, Stone took action to gain inside knowledge for the campaign and shared his purported knowledge directly with Trump and senior campaign officials on multiple occasions.

Trump believed Stone was getting inside information from WikiLeaks, the committee said, adding that it wasnt able to establish if this was indeed the case. It also said it was implausible that Trumps foreign policy aide George Papadopoulos  who learned of the hack in April 2016  did not pass this information on to the Trump campaign.

Scott Horton, a lecturer at Columbia law school, said on Tuesday the Senate committees report confirms nearly everything about Trumps ties to Moscow. He said it vindicated claims by the Democrats and others that the campaign had indeed colluded with the Russians  something Trump has vehemently denied.

The committee offers a much deeper view into the intelligence collected by US authorities than does the much sketchier Mueller report. It will support the view that Mueller, far from exonerating Trump, simply expected to pass the baton to Congress to conduct deeper inquiries.

Manafort was convicted in 2018 and 2019 of multiple counts of money laundering and bank and tax fraud, as well as obstruction of justice. The charges related to his lobbying work in Ukraine. In May he was allowed out of jail, where he was serving a 90-month sentence, because of the risk of contracting Covid-19.

In February a court sentenced Stone to 40 months in prison for lying to investigators and witness tampering  only for Trump to commute his sentence in July, days before he was due to report to prison.

A new poll published by the Pew Research Center on Tuesday found that 75% of Americans now expect Russian or other foreign interference in the November election, and a diminishing percentage (47% compared with 55% two years ago) are confident the administration will make serious efforts to protect the election from hacking and other external threats.
President Hassan Rouhani complained about excessive criticism of his administration by the state television and said that "too much criticism will disappoint the nation."

He made the comment during a meeting with the chief and senior managers of Iran's state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), on Monday August 17.

Although IRIB Chief Ali Askari takes part in a daily meeting with President Rouhani as a member of the COVID-19 Disease Control Task Force, this was Rouhani's first meeting with the broadcaster's senior executive managers.

The IRIB Chief is directly appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his managers are usually endorsed by Khamenei's office.

President Rouhani has lashed out at the state TV network for its "biased and unilateral" news coverage several times since 2013, and at times his administration has refused to allocate the budget requested by the state TV.

In a bid to appease IRIB's managers, President Rouhani praised their monopoly on broadcasting in Iran, calling it an advantage for the organization. In reality, the monopoly effectively ended two decades ago, when Persian-speaking satellite televisions started to beam programs into Iran from Europe, the United States and the Persian Gulf region.

During the meeting with the state TV's managers, President Rouhani, who did not seem happy about constant criticism of his administration on national TV, said the meeting was arranged for him to thank the managers for their cooperation with the disease control task force.

President Rouhani claimed that whatever is broadcast on the IRIB reflects the official view of the Iranian government, and that those outside Iran accept the news on the state TV as the voice and vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which reflects the goals and image of the Iranian political system.

Numerous critics, including three of Iran's presidents since 1997, have criticized the IRIB's exclusive right over broadcasting, often describing it as an undesirable "monophony."

At the same time, particularly with the rise in influence of social media channels that challenge Irans official news dissemination systems, the IRIB lost its influence particularly among young Iranians.

Some experts and analysts have even attributed Rouhani's own victory in the 2017 presidential election to the rise in social media influence around the country. As Tehran University sociology professor Younes Nourbakhsh wrote in an analysis of election results in the economic daily Donya-ye Eqtesad in 2017, Social media managed to stand against the direction taken by the state TV" that supported Rouhani's hardline rival and "created supporters in cyberspace" for Rouhani. Nourbakhsh added that social media "formed an avalanche-like chain of events, and netizens supported their candidate and spread information."

Meanwhile, in recent years, many critics have said that the IRIB is no longer the point of reference for the society as far as news and information on current events are concerned. One of the main takeaways of the most recent Iranian presidential election was that social media proved to be more powerful and effective than the state TV, although the latter is readily available to everyone at almost no cost.

Media analyst Qader Bastani recently wrote in Sharq newspaper that social media has left little room for the state TV reports and now only the bloopers on TV become viral. Unlike the past, when the audiences were passive and under the influence of the media, now social media are the forerunners of the media landscape and exercise great influence."

Stressing that the IRIB needs serious change in its approach, Bastani wrote, "It is now hard for reporters to go among the people because the people no longer talk in the way that reporters want them to talk. Everybody talks in a controversial way and it is hard to find citizens who would say what television managers want them to say."

In another article, Bastani wrote that people in Iran are concerned about the fact that their voice is not reflected on state TV. He further suggested that in the same way that the Islamic Republic has put an end on the state monopoly in banking, it should also end the IRIB's monopoly on broadcasting.

In the meantime, Khabar Online revealed in a report that, while critics allege that the Iranian state broadcaster's viewership is declining, the IRIB maintains that over 80 percent of the Iranian population rely on the network for news and information.
The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has reiterated the party's position to ensure a peaceful election.



He notes however that the posturing of the government raises questions about its commitment to a violent-free election in December.



Addressing the Chiefs and people of Mepe in the North Tongu constituency on Monday to kick start his four-day tour of the Volta Region, Mr Mahama observed that the government does not seem to be interested in making the Decemnber general elections peaceful.



"In December we will go for an election and we want our election to be non-violent and we in the NDC are peaceful people. But our opponents have a tendency for violence and they have displayed at any given opportunity," he said.



Mr Mahama cited a number of instances to buttress his point.



He recounted that thugs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who chased out a judge in a court in Kumasi were given just a slap on the wrist whilst those who perpetrated the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence continues to walk free of charge.



He also recalled how some members of the NDC were attacked at Banda during the recent voter registration exercise, leading to the death of an innocent person adding, "we have a whole minister claiming that she fired a gunshot at Kasoa during the registration exercise and nothing has happened".



"So when you look at all these things, you can predict what they will do in the elections and officials of the party have said that, Ayawaso West Wuogon was a dress rehearsal and that the real thing was going to be on voting day," he said.









Source: James Agyenim-Boateng, NDC Campaign Spokesperson









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A UN-backed tribunal on Tuesday found a member of the Hezbollah Shiite movement guilty over the 2005 murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri but cleared three other suspects after a years-long trial.

The long-awaited decision prompted mixed reactions, with the late Hariri's son Saad telling journalists outside the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) he "accepted the tribunal's verdict."

"Everybody's expectation was much higher than what came out today, but I believe that the tribunal came out with a result that is satisfying. We accept it," said Saad Hariri, also a former prime minister, after attending the hearing at the STL's heavily fortified courthouse.

Salim Ayyash, 56, was convicted in absentia by the STL based in the Netherlands, over a huge suicide bombing in Beirut that killed the Sunni billionaire politician and 21 other people.

"The trial chamber finds Mr Ayyash guilty beyond reasonable doubt as a co-perpetrator of the assassination of Rafic Hariri," said David Re, presiding judge of the tribunal.

Addressing victims of the attack, he said: "We sincerely hope the verdict today will give you some sort of closure."

But judges said there was not enough evidence to convict Assad Sabra, 43, Hussein Oneissi, 46, and Hassan Habib Merhi, 54, over the blast, which changed the face of the Middle East.

The judges also said there was no evidence to directly link Syria -- the former military overlord in Lebanon -- or Hezbollah's leadership to the attack.

Sentencing for Ayyash will be decided at a later date. He faces life imprisonment if he is ever brought before the court.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has refused to hand over the four defendants and rejected the court's legitimacy.

- Mobile phone plot -

Judges said there was sufficient evidence to show that Ayyash was at the centre of a network of mobile phone users who scoped out Hariri's movements for months before his assassination.

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A still-unidentified suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden Mitsubishi truck blew himself up as Hariri's motorcade passed on the Beirut waterfront on Valentine's Day in 2005.

Prosecutors had said Ayyash was a ringleader of the group, while Oneissi and Sabra allegedly sent a fake video to the Al-Jazeera news channel claiming responsibility on behalf of a made-up group. Merhi was accused of general involvement in the plot.

The judges said evidence also linked phones used in the attack to Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine -- who was indicted by the court but is believed to have been killed in the Damascus area in May 2016.

The Hariri bombing triggered mass protests that drove Syrian forces out of Lebanon after three decades.

But the court said there was not enough evidence to tie Damascus to the crime.

"Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr Hariri and his political allies, however there is no evidence that the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariri's murder and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement," Re said.

Nevertheless, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, welcoming the verdict, said it "helps confirm what the world is increasingly recognizing -- that (Hezbollah) and its members are not defenders of Lebanon as they claim to be but constitute a terrorist organization dedicated to advancing Iran's malign sectarian agenda."

An EU spokesperson said "the European Union reiterates the need to fight impunity and strengthen accountability and the rule of law at the international level".

"We hope that the judgment today will be given appropriate follow-up," the EU statement added.

A lawyer for Oneissi slammed the prosecution's case, saying "it was obvious from the start it would not hold," against his client.

He was happy for Oneissi, but at the same time sad that hundreds of millions of dollars (euros) was spent on "such an empty dossier and on evidence that was obviously poor from the start," Vincent Courcelle-Labrousse told journalists.

The hearing opened with a minute's silence for victims of the explosion that devastated Beirut two weeks ago, killing 177 people. The verdicts were initially scheduled for August 7 but postponed because of the blast.

- 'Heinous crime' -

The UN Security Council agreed in 2007 to establish the court billed as the world's first international tribunal set up to probe terrorist crimes.

It opened its doors in 2009, although the Hariri trial itself did not formally start until 2014.

The court has cost at least $600 million to operate and has so far heard only four cases, two of them for contempt of court about news reports with information about confidential witnesses.

Hariri was Lebanon's Sunni premier until his resignation in 2004 over Syria's role as powerbroker in the country.

Judge Re said Hariri's assassination was "political" and was prompted by his decision to move away from Syria and the sending of representatives to an opposition meeting where participants agreed to call for Damascus' immediate and total withdrawal from Lebanon.

Observers have voiced fears that the verdict, whichever way it went, could spark violence on the streets in Lebanon.

Tuesday's verdict came as thousands of Beirut residents have expressed anger at the authorities after the port blast triggered by a warehouse fire that set off large amounts of stored ammonium nitrate.

The disaster led to the Lebanese government's resignation and compounded Lebanon's severe economic crisis.

burs-st/ch
Addressing the workers at a local plant, Lukashenko told them to "calm down, get back to work", and meet again in January 2021.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has intimidated a crowd of protesters with a possible reaction on the part of Russia if Belarus holds a new election, canceling the results of the latest vote.

"We will not review these elections, their results. That's because this is not you who demand this, this isn't workers. This is a demand coming from above. And you will also be put in a human chain from Vilnius to Kyiv to show it is necessary to create a cordon sanitaire between Russia and the West. It's actually a move against Russia. Do you want Russia to react? I don't," Lukashenko said, addressing workers at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT), Belarus 1 TV channel reports.

Do you want Russia to react? I don't.

Speaking to a crowd of protesting workers, many of whom were booing the president, chanting calls for him to step down, Lukashenko said: "You calm down, get back to work, and in January we will meet again and you will tell me what else needs to be done."

Russian assistance to Belarus amid protests

Lukashenko over the course of the last few days spoke with his Russian counterpart over the phone at least twice, as officially reported.

"[A]t our very first request, comprehensive assistance will be provided [by Russia] to ensure the security of the Republic of Belarus," said Lukashenko.

In another phone call between the two on Sunday, Putin had told Alexander Lukashenko Russia was ready to offer military assistance if necessary, as demonstrators gathered for the biggest protests against Lukashenko's re-election.

Earlier, Lukashenko complained about external interference in his country's affairs, hinting at a western plot toward a "color revolution", and denied the idea to hold new elections, telling protesters: "Unless you kill me, there will be no other elections."

An OSINT group Conflict Intelligence Team has reported that the Kremlin is deploying its RosGvardia [Russian Guard] troops and paddy wagons to the border with Belarus.

Russian military assistance to the neighboring Belarus amid mounting unrest would constitute "an invasion", Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius has said.
The Congress on August 18 wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking him to probe allegations that its India team 'interfered' with the country's electoral democracy. It demanded a time-bound high level inquiry into the conduct of Facebook India's leadership team and their operations.

KC Vengopal, Congress General Secretary (Organisation), in the letter to Zuckerberg mentioned the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, which alleged that Facebook did not apply its hate speech rules to BJP leaders.

Venugopal said pending the internal investigation and submission of the report, the company should "consider a new team to lead Facebook India's operations so as to not influence the probe."

"Set up a high level inquiry by Facebook headquarters into the India leadership team and their operations, and submit a report to the Board of Facebook within one or two months. The report should also be made public," Venugopal said in the letter.

In its response to the report, and the reactions it has generated, Facebook said the company's social media platform prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence, adding these policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation.

"The WSJ article mentions hate speech of at least three other politicians that were wilfully permitted by Facebook India," Venugopal said, adding that the social media site "may be a willing participant in thwarting the rights and values that the founding leaders of the Congress sacrificed their lives for."

He said other political parties have raised the issue in Parliament, adding that the Congress has separately demanded a probe by a Parliamentary Committee in India into "this very serious issue of Facebook's interference in world's largest electoral democracy."
The influential Australian abstract artist and leading exponent of radical modernism, John Nixon, has died at the age of 70.

Nixon died at his home in Melbourne during the early hours of Tuesday morning after a year-long struggle with leukaemia.

In tribute, Anna Schwartz Gallery announced Nixon's solo exhibition, Groups + Pairs 2016  2020, installed before the onset of COVID-19, would remain on public display until the end of 2020.

Nicholas Chambers, the Art Gallery of NSW's senior curator of modern and contemporary international art, said Nixon's contribution to contemporary art in Australia was immense.

The artist's work is held in the collections of the Museum of Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Australia and other state galleries as well as public collections in Denmark, France, Germany, Korea, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, and the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Russia to favour dialogue in Belarus after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Macron's office said on Tuesday.

Belarus has been convulsed by protest and seen a violent crackdowns since an Aug. 9 presidential election in which incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory that the country's opposition labelled a fraud.

European Union leaders are due to meet on Wednesday to discuss possible sanctions against Belarus.

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The Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has revealed why he may not remarry any time soon.

The controversial monarch disclosed this while speaking on Tuesday, during the 8th-day Islamic ceremony of his late mother, Suheebat Akanbi and the 20th years remembrance of his late father, Kolawole Akanbi.

The programme was attended by Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun and representatives of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo), APC leader, Bola Tinubu, among others.

There were also various traditional rulers within Iwo land in attendance.

An Islamic cleric, Muhydeen Bello, delivered the lecture of the day.

Mr Akanbi said his love for his subjects is time-consuming that only a dedicated woman with the love of the people can bear.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the monarch broke up with his queen, Chanel Chin, over personal irreconcilable differences in December 2019 and since then has been no queen in the palace.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Akanbi said he showed love to his mother during her lifetime and enjoined others to emulate him.

I love my mother and took care of her. I advise that you also take care of your mother,  he said. I cant have a wife because I dont have time. I am here to reform Iwo like my father and I am following his steps.

I am certain that I will be remembered for good by the time I leave the throne at 120 years because I use my money, energy and every other resources to serve the kingdom, he said in Yoruba.

My father was good at fighting for peoples right and thats why I defend myself anytime anyone want to cheat me or my people.

Oluwo of Iwo (PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES)

He hailed Mr Oyetola for the love he has for Iwo land and endorsed him for a second term in office.

Thanks to Bola Tinubu  our leader in Yoruba land. No Yoruba leader has the power to lead Nigeria than Tinubu. Awolowo paid his price and it is time for Tinubu to be allowed.

In his remark, Mr Oyetola promised to continue to assist Iwo as governor.

I am happy for the monarch and I pray that his mother makes paradise. My mothers prayer made me a governor today. We are working on major roads in Osun. Osogbo to Iwo road is now in good shape with the support of the federal government and brought a college of education here again.
Calling President Donald Trump "unfocused and undisciplined," a former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden's bid for the presidency.

"Given what I've experienced in the administration, I have to support Joe Biden for president," former Trump administration official Miles Taylor said in a video posted and produced by the group Republican Voters Against Trump. "And even though I'm not a Democrat, even though I disagree on key issues, I'm confident that Joe Biden will protect the country, and I'm confident he won't make the same mistakes as this president."

Taylor is a lifelong Republican who served as former DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's chief of staff. He said what he saw working day-to-day in the Trump administration "terrified" him, and accuses President Trump of repeatedly exploiting the department to serve his own political agenda.

He also detailed what the president said were "magical authorities" even when top aides would say a particular policy was illegal.

"[Trump] was one of the most unfocused and undisciplined senior executives I've ever encountered," Taylor said in the video.

PHOTO: Miles Taylor accompanies Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen during a trip to Honduras to meet with President Juan Hernandez and security ministers in Tegycugalpa, Honduras, March 27, 2018. (Dept. of Homeland Security/Flickr.com)

"He wasn't interested in those things," Taylor said of trying to talk to the president about issues such as a cyberattack or a terrorism threat. "The president wanted to exploit the Department of Homeland Security for his own political purposes and to fuel his own agenda."

The new accusations about the president's conduct also detail allegations that Trump tried to cut off funding to deal with wildfires in California because the state is run by Democrats.

"He told us to stop giving money to people whose houses had burned down from a wildfire because he was so rageful that people in the state of California didn't support him, and that politically it wasn't a base for him," Taylor said in the video.

Story continues

White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement that Taylor is "another creature of the DC swamp who never understood the importance of the President's agenda or why the American people elected him and clearly just wants to cash-in."

MORE: Trump administration has taken a 'belligerent, aggressive tone' with Oregon officials: Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff

Taylor said he's "confident Biden will protect the country" and not make the same mistakes President Trump has.

Asked to respond to comments from a White House official questioning why Taylor continued to serve if he had such a problem with the Trump administration, Taylor told ABC News that's exactly the reason.

"If I thought the president was incompetent, why did I continue to serve? For exactly that reason. Most people who joined the administration saw plainly that the president was ill-prepared for his job and would need people who knew what they were doing," Taylor said in a statement. "We were foolish for hoping he would rise to the occasion (he didn't), that he could be fixed (he couldn't), and that his presidency wouldn't be that bad (it was worse)."

In a subsequent op-ed in the Washington Post, Taylor says that the president once demanded a DHS briefing to determine the color of the border wall in February 2019 amid a potential second government shutdown.

PHOTO:The Homeland Security logo is seen before a press conference at FEMA headquarters in Washington, Aug. 26, 2011. (AFP via Getty Images)

"He was particularly interested in the merits of using spray paint and how the steel structure should be coated. Episodes like this occurred almost weekly," Taylor wrote.

Senior White House adviser and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner said Monday on CNN that Taylor "was a nice kid" who "wasn't up to the task."

"Look, Miles was a nice kid," Kushner said. "He worked here for a couple of years. But I will say that it makes a lot of sense to me that he's endorsing Joe Biden."

John Cohen, a former acting under secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, told ABC News that Taylor "confirms what many of us who worked at DHS have observed from the outside."

MORE: Trump administration has taken a 'belligerent, aggressive tone' with Oregon officials: Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff

"Under this administration, the department created to safeguard the nation from foreign and domestic threats has been used by this White House as nothing more than a partisan political instrument," Cohen, an ABC News contributor, said. "It also confirms why there have been so many operational breakdowns involving the department over the past 3.5 years."

A source inside the Department of Homeland Security told ABC News that people in the department were surprised, baffled, and angry to learn of Taylor's comments.

Spokespeople for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

Former DHS official blasts Trump, endorses Biden originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Precautions: Police form a roadblock in Auckland as New Zealands largest city remains in lockdown. PHOTO: DEAN PURCELL

New Zealand's prime minister yesterday postponed the country's general election by a month, to October 17, as the city of Auckland remains in lockdown due to a growing coronavirus outbreak.

Jacinda Ardern bowed to pressure to delay the polls after some parties complained they could not campaign with nearly a third of New Zealand's five million people under lockdown in Auckland.

"Ultimately, October 17 provides sufficient time for parties to plan around the range of circumstances we will be campaigning under," Ms Ardern said at a news conference.

She ruled out delaying the polls any further, as her Labour Party maintains a lead over the conservative National Party in opinion polls.

"We are all in the same boat. We are all campaigning in the same environment," Ms Ardern said.

Yesterday, New Zealand recorded nine new cases of Covid-19, taking the number of active cases to 78. There have now been a total of 1,280 cases in the country, and 22 deaths.

An earlier election would have worked in Ms Ardern's favour, as her success in stifling Covid-19 and keeping the country virus-free for 102 days until the latest outbreak had boosted her popularity.

The election was scheduled for September 19 and New Zealand law requires it to be held by November 21.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who had called for a delay, said: "Common sense has prevailed".

The leader of the populist New Zealand First party delivered government to Labour through a coalition deal after no party won a majority at the 2017 election.

Ms Ardern's opponents accuse her of using the pandemic to shore up support as she appears on television nearly every day to reassure New Zealanders, while other party leaders struggle to get attention.

Her rivals are hoping Ms Ardern loses some of her appeal once economic hardships caused by the lockdown begin to bite.

New Zealand has fared far better than most countries during the pandemic but an abrupt resurgence of Covid-19 last week in Auckland prompted Ms Ardern to extend a lockdown for the city's 1.7million residents until August 26, while social-distancing rules are in place in other towns and cities.

The origin of the new outbreak is still unknown. Authorities said previously that it could have been through an Americold cold-storage facility where one of the infected individuals worked.

Tests of surfaces in the facility are under way.

Australian authorities are also investigating if there is any link to an Americold facility in Melbourne, where Covid-19 cases have surged. Results are expected this week.

Another possible source is the quarantine system for New Zealanders returning from overseas.

"Right now the focus must be on finding out exactly what failed so catastrophically at the border so we can be sure it won't happen again," National Party leader Judith Collins said on Twitter.

New Zealanders celebrated when authorities eliminated community transmission of the coronavirus at the start of the pandemic with a hard lockdown that forced almost everyone to stay at home.
A statue of Junipero Serra at the Mission San Rafael Arcangel, founded in 1817, in San Rafael. (Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: Junipero Serra and the other Roman Catholic missionaries who came to California in 1769 and thereafter accompanied military expeditions under the authority of the Spanish crown. King Carlos III had codified military superiority over the clergy in colonial frontier matters; therefore, whatever blame for mistreatment of the native populations that occurred during that era should be assigned to the Spanish government. ("'Agent of colonialism' or a 'saint for our times'? Junipero Serras legacy divides Latinos," Aug. 16)

As a descendant of two Spanish-era California mission soldiers, I shudder to imagine what types of abuses they may have inflicted on the natives. However, I do not disavow my ancestors; they were lowly mestizos, Spanish citizens, tough men living in harsh times.

There are no statues of mission soldiers to topple, but they were the ones who carried out the disciplinary orders against the mission Indians. If blame must be assigned, point to the government they pledged allegiance to.

The U.S. government waged war and outright genocide against the native people of North America to acquire their lands. The U.S. had no intention of converting them to Christianity. In California, more outrages against native people occurred during the Gold Rush and later.

The Spaniards, albeit misguidedly, attempted to convert the natives. Which government did the most harm?

Terri de la Pena, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: Why is it impossible for critics of Serra ignore the difference between the often rapacious and violent Spanish soldiers and the padres who tried to protect indigenous people?

Activists today judge great figures from the past  Serra, George Washington and John Muir, to name a few  by their own narrow criteria while ignoring the great good they have done.

All of us have "warts."

Larry Walker, Canoga Park
Larbi Sadiki

Larbi Sadiki is Professor of Arab Democratization at Qatar University. He is editor of the Routledge Series (UK): the Routledge Studies of Middle East... more ern Democratization and Government. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the Brill Journal, PROTEST.
The Democratic National Convention will be a little different this year, as the thousands of usual attendees will have to tune in from home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Originally planned for an in-person event in Milwaukee, the DNC will kick off (mostly) remotely this week over four nights from August 17-20, with virtual watch parties available to audiences in all 50 states. This years theme will revolve around Uniting America, with each night of the convention focusing on one aspect of that  from strong leadership to Americans rising up to make positive change together.

Viewers who tune in to the convention can expect to hear from a variety of speakers, including former Democratic contenders South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Andrew Yang, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama, among many others. The event will also feature musical performances from The Chicks, Billie Eilish, John Legend, and more across all four nights of the convention, as the party will formally choose its nominees for president and vice president.

Delegates and superdelegates will come together at next weeks convention to officially decide on and nominate the Democratic Partys leadership before heading into the general election. Former Vice President Joe Biden has solidified the number of delegates he needs to secure the nomination, and named California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate just this week. But delegates that still remain tied to former candidates will be handed over, along with what will surely be a number of big promises from within the establishment.

All in all, this DNC will be unlike any other for a number of reason: Its the first election happening during a pandemic, and its the first time that Democrats are facing an opponent who is completely unhinged and trying to derail voting in the first place. The backlash to that  which is already aplenty  will surely surface even more in DNC speeches. So, if youre looking to tune into this years convention, weve outlined all the ways you can watch, stream, and participate.

Story continues

When Does The DNC Start?

The convention will officially kick off on Monday, August 17 and will go on for four nights. Each nights programming is scheduled for 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

Can I Watch The DNC On TV? Where?

Most major news networks will be airing the convention, so you can take your pick and watch the DNC on ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC News, and PBS News.

Where Can I Stream The DNC?

There are a lot of options for streaming the DNC, and perhaps the easiest way to tune in on desktop or mobile is on the Democratic National Convention website. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, and Amazon Prime will all also be live streaming the DNC.

What Happens After The DNC?

The convention will solidify the Democratic partys candidates to take on President Donald Trump in November, and will basically be a moment for the establishment to introduce Biden and Harris on its official ticket. Later this month, Americans can expect to hear from Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at the Republican National Convention from August 24-27, before both parties face off on the debate stage and at the ballot box.

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Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 17:27 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ed8687 1 National carbon-dioxide,carbon-emission,carbon-footprint,emisi,WRI-Indonesia,greenhouse-gas,greenhouse-gas-reduction,climate-change,climate-change-Indonesia,climate-crisis Free

The World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia launched on Monday a smartphone application dubbed Emisi and website nol-emisi.id to track, count, reduce and reabsorb carbon emissions produced by daily human activities, so that people can participate in mitigating climate change.

Energy consumption, which includes, among other things, transportation, electricity and heat, is by far the largest contributor to human-caused carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to 74 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, according to Climate Watch data.

Transforming the lifestyles and behaviors of communities can contribute to reducing carbon emissions. It will send a strong signal to the government and businesses to immediately change their patterns of production and development, WRI Indonesias sustainable business and commodities manager Andika Putraditama said in a written statement on Tuesday.

According to WRI data, Indonesia is among the world's top 10 greenhouse gas emitters which contribute over two-thirds of global emissions that exacerbate the climate crisis worldwide.

The crisis has also affected various regions in the Southeast Asian country, such as floods in Jakarta caused by extreme rainfall earlier this year, the extreme drought in more than 300 villages in West Nusa Tenggara in July and the rising sea level in Semarang, Central Java, the WRI noted.

A 2019 survey by global public opinion and data company YouGov, however, has found that one in five Indonesians do not believe human activity causes climate change, whereas the average Indonesian releases about 2.09 tons of carbon emissions annually.

The Emisi app currently provides features to help people track the emissions from their daily transportation and reabsorb the emissions by planting trees, either by themselves or with the help of partners such as WeCare.id, the Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI) Foundation, the Carbon Ethics Foundation, the Leuser Conservation Forum (FKL) Foundation and the Mitra Aksi Foundation.

The app will soon be completed and will be able to track emissions from other activities such as the use of electricity, food and clothes consumption and waste production.
"A HISTORIC WIN today for @Johnmacarthur and @GraceComChurch! The judge allowse indoor services with singing and no attendance cap! Church agrees to adhere to masks and social distancing until the full hearing. #ChurchIsEssential!" -Jenna Elis Tweeted.

Pastor John MacArthur and his Grace Community Church brought a lawsuit against California orders stipulating that churches may not meet for indoor services. However, until the full hearing in September, the Judge allowed indoor worship with singing and safety measures to protect the residents.

Trump, on the other hand supporting John MacArthur with his personal Attorney, has been gaining support from Christian believers. In conclusion, The California Court acknowledged that the church is essential.

Pastor John MacArthur stated, "I am very grateful the Court has allowed us to meet inside and we are happy for a few weeks to comply and respect what the judge has asked of us because he is allowing us to meet. This vindicates our desire to stay open and serve our people. This also gives us an opportunity to show that we are not trying to be rebellious or unreasonable, but that we will stand firm to protect our church against unreasonable, unconstitutional restriction."

He compares and contrasts how California has been shutting down churches while abortion clinics and liquor stores have been deemed as "essential."

The Grace Community Church reopened the indoor service this Sunday as service plans to continue. His first sermon talks about "We Must Obey God Rather Than Men."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 13:34:17|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Casualties were feared after rockets struck a diplomatic district in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on Tuesday morning as the country is preparing to celebrate its independence anniversary, witnesses said. Enditem
Actor Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer Satish Maneshinde has claimed in a new interview that it was at Sushant Singh Rajputs behest that she left his home on June 8. Sushant died by suicide on June 14 and his father has filed an FIR against Rhea in Patna, accusing her of abetment to suicide among other charges.

However, in an interview to India Today, her lawyer asserted that she left Sushants home at his request as he wanted his family members to come stay with him. Sushant had been calling his family, tell them he was moving out of Mumbai and requesting them to come meet him. After several days of Sushant calling and crying over the phone, his sister Meetu agreed to come live with him on June 8, 2020. Sushant then requested Rhea to move in with her parents for the time being, the lawyer said.

Rhea has said that Sushant was depressed but his family has rejected this. Rhea had been suffering from her own anxiety issues and panic attacks and Sushants conduct had aggravated these conditions. That said, she was not at all comfortable with leaving Sushant. The very same day (June 8), Rhea had arranged a therapy session for herself with Dr Susan Walker and asked Sushant if she could leave after the session. But Sushant told her to leave immediately before Meetu arrived, the lawyer added.

Sushants family was not on good terms with the actors girlfriend. The lawyer claimed that their ties were strained after actors sister Priyanka tried to molest Rhea under the influence of alcohol. He said Sushant had confronted his sister over the incident.

However, the lawyer of Sushants father had called the incident a mind game played by Rhea. Accepting that the ties were strained between Sushant and Priyanka, Vikas Singh had said that the late actor realised his mistake in a few days. He realised his mistake that in a short span of few days Rhea had played a mind game to separate two siblings who were inseparable and happened to be each others strongest emotional support, he had said in an interview.

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The Black Rifle Coffee Co. era begins in San Antonio at 5 a.m. on Wednesday morning, with full drive-thru and in-store service at the new store near the intersection of Bitters Road and U.S. 281.

The location at 180 W. Bitters Road, the former home of Market Barbecue, is the first brick-and mortar shop for the popular Salt Lake City-based franchise in the city. The company already was selling bagged coffee at kiosks inside The Shops at La Cantera and North Star Mall, and in September, it opened its first Texas coffee shop in Boerne.
Here is a sentence I never in a million years thought that I would ever write or read: This November, for the first time in our history, the United States of America may not be able to conduct a free and fair election and, should President Trump be defeated by Joe Biden, have a legitimate and peaceful transfer of power.

Because if half the country thinks their votes were not fully counted due to deliberate sabotaging of the U.S. Postal Service by this administration, and if the other half are made to believe by the president that any mail-in vote for Biden was fraudulent, that would not result in just a disputed election  not another Bush v. Gore for the Supreme Court to sort out  that would be the end of American democracy as we know it. It also isnt hyperbole to say it could sow the seeds of another Civil War.

The threat is real.

So, personally, I will walk, I will jog, I will skip, I will crawl, I will slither, I will bike, I will hike, I will hitchhike, I will drive, I will ride, I will run, I will fly, I will roll, I will be rolled, I will be carried, I will trek, I will train, I will trot, I will truck, I will strut, I will float, I will boat, I will ramble, I will amble, I will march, I will bus, I will taxi, I will Uber, Lyft, scooter, skateboard or motorcycle  and I will wear a face mask, a face shield, gloves, goggles, a hazmat suit, a spacesuit or a wet suit  but I damn well will get to my neighborhood polling station to see that my vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is cast and counted on Nov. 3.

And it is not because I am some raving liberal. Its because I believe that America, at its core, is still a center-left, center-right country and is best governed by someone who can reforge the two and lead from there. I believe that Biden is the one who can do that best, and that is actually the source of his appeal to many Americans.
It has not been a very good year, to say the least. In fact, it has been so far another annus horribilis.



Most people surveyed have labelled it the worst year of their lives and for good reason.



Except for war years there has never been a year as bad as this one in recent memory.



It is a leap year, which should really mean nothing. It is the 20th year of the 21st century, another insignificant fact, yet it is a momentous year of global violence and turmoil.



There have been phenomenal mass uprisings across the globe. Citizens discontent with their governments have taken to the streets to protest, oppose or propose one principle or another.



From Afghanistan to Barcelona, from Hong Kong to Chile, from Lebanon to Haiti, there is unrest, destruction and death.



Almost 40 per cent of the worlds 195 countries witness disruption and protest to some degree. Why, even the Vatican is not immune.



It is a veritable smorgasbord of misery, suffering, and confusion.



So far, we have not even mentioned the unspeakable coronavirus pandemic which has swept the earth like a tsunami, killing close to 750,000 people and infecting over five million worldwide.



The economic meltdown caused by Covid-19 may have triggered this unforeseen violence, with unemployment soaring, leaving millions homeless and hungry.



Famous mathematician Peter Turchin, of the University of Connecticut, predicted this chaotic trend in his 2012 article in the Journal of Peace Research. He goes on to say that 2030 would be worse. We would rather not look to the future with such pessimism.



Many predictions were made about 2020, from Nostradamus in the 16th century, to Baba Vanga in the 21st century, among hundreds of others in between. Who do we believe? Where do we look for answers? Could the fault be in us or in our stars?



Both astronomers and astrologists agree that the Age of Aquarius starts when the vernal equinox point moves out of constellation Pisces into Aquarius. Although astrology is considered a pseudo-science, the worlds population follows it religiously.



One view is that of change, brought by 2020 will be the cycles of Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto. The year begins with the union of Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn and ends in conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in Aquarius. If this sounds like gibberish to you it does to the majority of people too, but not to astrologists. While few could have foreseen the coronavirus, they did warn us that 2020 would be a year of massive global upheaval, thanks to the rare alignment of Saturn and Pluto on 12 January.



Most astrologers saw this as a very important year that would make history by challenging us in very extreme ways, wrote renowned astrologer Chaim Nicholas, author of Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance.



Somehow, this sounds ominous, especially to those who know nothing about cosmic constellations. Astrologists assure us that from the get go Januarys planetary conjunction was an ominous one. Why should the coming of the Age of Aquarius be ominous?



The famous 1967 Broadway musical Hair praised the dawning of the Age of Aquarius as a time of peace and freedom, of Woodstock and self-assertion. Yet one has to admit that the 1960s was a time of societal and cultural rebelliousness. It was the heyday of hippies and yippees and a New Age which had begun. Although astrologer Neil Spencer denounced the science of the lyrics, the concept drew the attention of audiences worldwide.



Much as we try to deny it, a majority follow their astrological signs and act on them.



Astrology has been around since the 17th century BC and was practised by ancient cultures in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China, among others. Moreover, it was common in academic and political circles.



Astrological age affects humanity possibly by influencing the rise and fall of civilisations or cultural tendencies. Traditionally, Aquarius is associated with electricity, flight, computers, democracy, modernisation, rebellion, non-conformity, persecution, humanity, all of which seem to fit the present state of the world.



The Aquarian world is ruled by a secretive power  hungry elites seeking absolute power over knowledge. A few names come to mind at present.



Popular psychic Sylvia Browne predicted in 2008 in her book End of Days a wide pneumonia pandemic in or around 2020: A severe pneumonia-like pandemic will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and bronchial tubes and resisting all human treatments. Now that is eerie. One can feel the goosebumps. She made some startling predictions before her death, but nothing prevented the events from happening.



She predicted 2020 would be the worst year in America since 1968, which included the assassination of Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy and a devastating recession. So, predictions, at most, raise eyebrows, but do not affect the march of time.



The world is significantly more violent today; what can be done about it? Millions of human souls are fighting from the yoke of political, religious, and social tyranny. This has defined 2020.



Technology may have transformed pen and pencil, but so far has done little to erase pandemics.



In this digital world we are still looking to the stars for answers.



Will the Age of Aquarius or Jupiter or Mars protect us from cyber theft, save the world economy, or bring peace health and happiness to 2020 and beyond?



We shall see.



In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis.



Elisabeth II (b 1926)

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Gladys Berejiklian's 'secret' twin sister died at birth and she hails from a family who fled a genocide where more than 40 of her relatives died, before her parents sought a better life in Australia.

The New South Wales Premier, 49, may seem like a familiar presence to most voters due to her coronavirus warnings broadcast daily throughout the state.

But the nation is now taking a good look at Berejiklian, who along with Victoria's Daniel Andrews, has played an outsize role leading the fight against the pandemic.

While Premier Berejiklian's work ethic, cautious instincts and her success (so far) in staving off a second coronavirus wave are well known, voters may be less familiar with the NSW leader's personal backstory.

Gladys Berejiklian (centre) with her sisters Rita (left) and Mary (right). The latter made headlines at the last election for telling a troll to 'grow some pubes'

Berejiklian (back row) is the oldest of three sisters. The NSW Premier only revealed last year that she had a twin sister who was stillborn, who she learned of as a child

Surprisingly for a politician, Berejiklian rarely speaks about herself, with details about her family's past dragged, begrudgingly, out of her over several years.

The two biggest insights into the Premier's personal life emerged in a 2018 speech where she was instructed to talk about herself, and in a lengthy newspaper interview prior to the last state election.

Escaping genocide

As the Ottoman Empire massacred its Armenian subjects during World War I, Berejiklian's grandparents fled the tiny, landlocked Caucasus nation for the Middle East.

'More than 40 of my relatives were among the 1.5 million Armenians massacred in what became the first genocide of the 20th century,' Berejiklian said in a landmark address to The Sydney Institute.

'All four of my grandparents were orphaned and witnessed untold atrocities.'

Her mother, Arsha, was born in Jerusalem, Israel, and her father, Krikor, in Aleppo, Syria - a city now known for a more recent humanitarian crisis.

A historical photograph of Armenians killed in the genocide of 1915, more than a century ago

Men stand by skulls and bones of victims of the massacre in this undated historical image

Berejiklian's mother and father migrated, separately, to Sydney in the late 1960s, met and later married at an Armenian Orthodox church in Chatswood, in the city's north.

They worked as a nurse and a boiler-maker/welder - her father working on the Opera House during its construction - and settled in suburban North Ryde.

Gladys, the oldest of three sisters Rita and Mary, was born on September 22, 1970.

She spoke Armenian at home, attended public schools, was her high school captain and carried the burden of being the first-born to parents 'obsessed' with her attending university.

'I was extremely competitive and wanted good marks but from the talk of the kids I hung out with in our neighbourhood, I was doomed,' Berejiklian said in her speech.

Berejiklian (bottom right) with her parents Arsha and Krikor and sisters Rita and Mary

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Berejiklian was the school captain of Peter Board High School

'Based on what the local kids told me, every kid who went to North Ryde High got bashed up and was forced to take drugs.

'This petrified me. I didn't even know what drugs were but I was pretty sure they were bad.'

But she went on to study at university and became the president of the state's Young Liberals.

In 1996, she wrote a letter to newly elected Prime Minister John Howard, demanding a meeting - and was shocked when he said 'yes, sure.'

She then worked as an executive for the Commonwealth Bank and was elected to the NSW Lower House for the seat of Willoughby in 2003, before becoming transport minister in the O'Farrell and Baird governments.

Driven by the loss of her secret twin

Berejiklian (pictured this week) told a reporter last year: 'I had a twin sister and she didn't make it... I feel like I've got to justify my existence by sacrificing'

In that landmark speech, Berejiklian admitted that sharing her personal story was 'not something that comes easily to me'.

Indeed, news reports at the time said fellow party members saw her reluctance to share a bit of her personal life as a weakness.

'In public life, part of my M.O. has been to not stray from core business - after all, I have been elected to do a job, and to do it well,' she said.

But even then her remarks were quite reserved compared to the deeply personal admission she later made to a reporter.

Berejiklian, who is not married and is extremely close with her siblings, told The Weekend Australian magazine last year that there was something else that drives her - the loss of her twin sister.

'I'm very lucky for me every day in life is a bonus,' Berejiklian was quoted saying. 'I had a twin sister and she didn't make it. It was just luck that I came out first.

'Imagine if you had a twin; you came out first, they didn't make it, I feel like I've got to justify my existence by sacrificing. So I don't care if I'm not happy all the time. I feel like I've got to work hard.'

Berejiklian said she only learned she had a twin when an acquaintance came over when she was a child and asked: 'Where's the other one?' A birth certificate describing her as the 'elder' of twins later confirmed the truth.

Arsha Berejiklian told The Weekend Australian that she didn't tell Gladys about her sister, as she didn't want to upset her.

As for the present, Berejiklian and her government continue to battle the coronavirus crisis with the Premier warning on Monday, as ever, that the state's residents should not fall into complacency and get tested if they have virus symptoms.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre, Delhi government and the civic bodies to meet and find a solution to the financial difficulties being faced by the three municipal corporations.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan said a committee should be constituted to look into the financial aspects of the corporations as well as the Delhi government. We expect that this meeting shall be convened at the earliest, the bench said.

The court was hearing an application moved by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, alleging that Rs 90.60 crore payable as grant-in-aid under the sanitation/urban development head, for the first quarter ending June 30, had not been released yet by the Delhi government. The plea said Rs 181 crore under the same head for the second quarter is also due.

On Tuesday, advocate Satyakam, the additional standing counsel of the Delhi government, told the court that it had not received over Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre as its share of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection and hence the government had not been able to release money to the civic bodies.

Following this, the court said that a meeting between all stakeholders should be convened to discuss all the issues, especially the financial aspect. The matter would be now heard on September 8.

In its plea filed through advocate Mini Pushkarna, the north corporation said the funding was meant for payment of salaries of sanitation activities.

In its application, the north corporation has said expenses towards salaries till May 2020, sanitation services and providing PPE kits, gloves, masks, sanitizers to the workers, had been incurred by the corporation from its own internal resources, in the absence of any amount being released by the Delhi government.

The application has been filed in a pending writ petition by one Rahul Birla seeking directions to the Delhi government and the municipal corporations to pay salaries to sanitation workers with arrears.
Clearing the way for drilling in the remote Alaskan area, Trump administrations oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has left many shook and concerned about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Hollywood star and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio drew fans attention to Interior Secretary David Bernhardts announcement on Monday regarding the same.

Taking to his social media handles, DiCaprio shared a CNN report briefing about the availability of the entire 1.5 million acre Coastal Plain area after the future leases of the federally-owned land. Though the plans are certain to be met with legal challenges, since drilling in the Alaskan Arctic has long been controversial, Bernhardt asserted that the announcement marks a new chapter in American energy independence and hoped it could create thousands of new jobs.

However, environmental activists have predicted exacerbated climate crisis and damaging of the environment as the only result of drilling the Arctic. Yet, ahead of the elections in US this year, President Donald Trump has already signed offshore drilling executive order.

Current president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Gina McCarthy, who was also an Environmental Protection Agency administrator under former President Barack Obama, not only considered the decision a threat to US wildlife but also called it an egregious intrusion into the sacred lands of the Gwichin and other Indigenous People. DiCaprio shared an image of the melting Arctic and captioned it with an excerpt from the report.

On a call with reporters, Bernhardt shared, I do believe that there could be a lease sale by the end of the year. It requires an oil and gas development program that delivers energy to the nation and revenue to the Treasury. The law makes oil and gas development one of the purposes of the refuge, clearly directing me, acting through the Bureau of Land Management, to carry out a competitive exploration and development program for the potentially energy rich coastal plain.

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ARCADIA TWP.  Over 30 Arcadia residents attended a public hearing Monday to discuss possible alterations to the townships master plan.

The special meeting was held under the pavilion at Finch Park rather than at Arcadia Township Hall to allow for distancing among those in attendance.

Township treasurer Greg Wisner said that while not a legal document, the master plan provides an outline for the communitys vision for the future.

The master plan is the vision for your township, Wisner said. Its more of an architects drawing rather than a blueprint.

The vision outlined in the municipalitys master plan can form the basis of future zoning, economic development and regulator ordinances within the community.

Statute requires local municipalities in Michigan reassess their current master plan every five years to determine if the plan is in need of an update.

Wisner said that community input from Mondays meeting will help guide the direction of any alterations to the current master plan.

It is the planning commissions responsibility to assess the existing master plan based on the residents' input, and would provide any revisions for the township board to consider.

The township board can either request additional changes from the planning commission, adopt the changes or reject all changes, if they determine the current master plan as written meets the needs of the community.

The feedback receive during Monday's hearing will be discussed during the next regular planning commission meeting to be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14 at Arcadia Township Hall.

Wisner reported that some property owners in the current marina district are concerned that they would be impacted by the new master plan.

Right now a lot of the discussion is around the marina district and what kind of activities should be permitted in that district, Wisner said. What we determined is that there are fewer types of businesses that people would like to see around the lake that were accounted for in the original master plan.

Wisner said the proposed adjustments are relatively minor, and would not affect the zoning designation for anyones residential property.

Its adjusting the districts that we came up with originally six years ago, he said. Some of those districts got a little smaller and some may have expanded a little bit and the types of businesses that are allowed have shifted around.

The master plan was passed by the Arcadia Township board in 2014. It was developed as part of a collaborative effort with other area municipalities through the Land to Lakes initiative.

We did this as a group effort because many of the townships in Manistee and Benzie (couinties) share characteristics, Wisner said. For example, Arcadia Township and Onekama Township both share a lakeshore, we have the same Lake Michigan lakeshore so we have some of the same geography, population and development wishes. So in this collaboration we were able to share language and share ideas so we all didnt have to come up with this on our own.

Wisner said that officials began to reassess the current master plan in early 2019, but had been delayed due in part to coronavirus.

In October 2019 Michigan Sea Grant conducted a three-day planning meeting that involved public comment on the direction of the community. Wisner said that information gained from the public during the Sea Grant meetings indicated the current master plan was in need of an update.

The current master plan allows for larger constructions along Lake Arcadia with more broad applications than what was supported during the information sessions, Wisner said. The proposed changes would bring the master plan more in line with conclusions drawn from the Sea Grant meetings.

People said they would like to protect the views of Lake Arcadia so we dont want any big buildings down there, Wisner said. Some people thought it would be nice to have a little bait shop or coffee shop down by the waterfront. Its all about what possibilities are here and what things do the citizens want to protect and whats important to the citizens that live here. The views of the lake and the hills are really important to the people here. The things that were doing are trying to protect those resources. The master plan is an expression of that."

The current master plan is available to the public on the planning commission page on townshipofarcadia.org.
Council to use alternative building as Ty Nos set for redevelopment as part of move to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in Wrexham

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Aug 18th, 2020

Wrexham Council have announced they are working on the next steps of tackling homelessness and rough sleeping in Wrexham, and will look to acquire a building to use as a replacement while Ty Nos gets redeveloped.

Earlier this year  to help prevent the spread of coronavirus  Welsh Government asked local authorities to remove rough sleepers from the streets and to rehouse them in temporary accommodation, locally that took place at disused accommodation at the Plas Coch end of the Glyndwr University campus.

Back in June it was announced the council was looking for long term alternative accommodation provision, with Welsh Government offering 50m across Wales to help all local authorities achieve the goal to help keep people in their homes and end homelessness.

The local plan to achieve the permanent solution is set to go before the Executive Board of the council, however we understand it will be a Part 2 secret report so details are thin.

Wrexham Council have said a balanced package of measures is being considered explaining them as:

Finding an alternative building to replace the facilities at Plas Coch at the end of September. This will provide a medium-term solution while Ty Nos is redeveloped.

Redeveloping the existing Ty Nos rough sleeper facility in the town centre to provide a permanent support hub with increased capacity.

Identifying and buying five additional properties for use as general need accommodation that can be used in different situations to support people who are homeless.

Updating the councils Housing Allocations Policy to make it easier to find more permanent accommodation for people who are homeless  in line with Welsh Governments direction.

The current Ty Nos night shelter has around 16 beds which means any medium term alternative building would have to be of scale to replace that resource quite promptly without large scale conversion, for example an ex-B&B.

In early 2019 Ty Nos was the site for semi-permanent pod style modular accommodation units, and we understand that the units will not be removed from the site during the redevelopment.

Councillor David Griffiths, Lead Member for Housing, said: The former student accommodation has been used to house and support people who are homeless or sleeping rough over the past few months, and the arrangement has been very successful.

As well as helping to prevent the spread of coronavirus and keeping our communities safe during the current emergency, its given the council and its partners the chance to provide extra support to many peoplehelping them find alternative pathways to improved health, employment and housing.

However, the building was only a temporary arrangement, and  like the rest of Wales  were working closely with Welsh Government on finding a more permanent solution.

Were working very hard to comply with the direction given to councils by Welsh Government.

Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council, said: I want to say a big thank you to Glyndwr University for its help and support over the summer. Allowing us to lease the disused student accommodation has been a huge help, and were incredibly grateful.

I also want to thank all the staff whove worked on this project for getting us to where we are.

As a council, were working closely with the Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James, to achieve Welsh Governments vision.

The measures were looking at for the autumn will help reduce the number of rough sleepers in the town, reduce the pressure in our communities, and lead us towards a long-term solution that will benefit everyone.

Welsh Government policy requires councils to find a long-term solution to rough sleeping, and I think this is really important for Wrexham.

Councillor Pritchard adds: The proposals have been designed though close working between national and local government, with support from Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, and based on funding from both the council and Welsh Government.

Taking people off the streets, and providing them with the support they need to improve their health, employment and housing prospects will help everyone in the long-run.

The Minister for Housing and Local Government Julie James said: The coronavirus has reminded us all of the fundamental importance of good-quality affordable housing, a safe and secure home and strong and cohesive communities where people want to live and work.

I have been clear that I do not wish to see anyone forced to return to the streets. We have a unique opportunity to change services and change lives for the better  and make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.

Joint working across partners is key to success; partnership working has helped meet immediate needs and develop the longer term measures outlined by Wrexham Council.

The package announced will build on Wrexhams work so far and help transform services in the longer term. It is important that we continue to work closely together to provide high quality homes and support that prevent homelessness and where it cannot be prevented ensure people are rapidly rehoused.
She's expecting her second child with her husband, real estate executive Andrew Joblon.

And on Tuesday, Australian actress Claire Holt gushed over her man as they celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary.

The Vampire Diaries star, 32, shared a sweet picture from their wedding day to Instagram, before paying tribute to her 'soulmate and best friend'.

'I love you': Pregnant Vampire Diaries star Claire Holt gushed over her husband, Andrew Joblon, on their two-year wedding anniversary on Tuesday. Pictured on their wedding day

'The topic of our most significant argument during quarantine/pregnancy was pasta (I still don't think Andrew offered me any but I've moved on because I'm very mature),' she began her post.

'I'd say that's a sign of a damn good marriage! Happy anniversary to my soulmate and best friend.'

Claire added: 'There's no one else in the world I'd rather be stuck inside with. I love you beyond.'

Bumping along nicely! It comes after Claire showed off her baby bump at 35 weeks pregnant. On Saturday, she posed for a mirror selfie in her LA home and shared a picture to Instagram

In the image, the newlyweds embrace on their wedding day, standing underneath an elaborate floral arch.

It comes after Claire showed off her burgeoning baby bump at 35 weeks pregnant.

On Saturday, the blonde posed for a mirror selfie in her Los Angeles home and shared a picture on Instagram.

In the caption, she asked fans for their postpartum advice 'the second time' around, admitting to feeling stressed about how she will cope mentally.

The Brisbane-born star took the opportunity in the caption to reveal her mixed emotions, as she prepares to give birth again.

Looking for advice: In the caption, Claire asked fans for their postpartum advice 'the second time' around, admitting to feeling stressed about how she will cope mentally. Pictured with her husband, Andrew, and son, James

Claire began: '35 WEEKS. I'm excited to meet this little girl but I'm SO anxious about losing it again. The recovery, sleep deprivation, feedings, two kids 17 months apart, a pandemic... It's a lot.'

The actress revealed that she's 'always had help' and is 'completely in awe' of women who do it all on their own.

'I know how lucky I am and I know each stage is temporary, but I'm still feeling stressed about how I'll cope mentally,' she admitted.

It isn't easy! Claire revealed that she's 'always had help' and is 'completely in awe' of women who do it all on their own

Referring to her first pregnancy with 16-month-old son James, Claire said she still felt 'overwhelmed' despite having had help.

'I still felt overwhelmed, embarrassed, guilty that I was struggling, and not at all like myself after I gave birth. Did anyone have a totally different postpartum experience the second time? Tips?' she concluded her post.

Claire married Andrew in August 2018, eight months after their engagement.

She was previously married to film producer Matthew Kaplan, who filed for divorce in April 2017, a day before their one-year anniversary.
- The man admitted to charges of making charcoal in a state forest contrary to the Forest and Conservation Management Act of 2016

- The court then handed him a three months non-custodial sentence

- He will be reporting to the Kenya Forestry Service to be given trees for planting

A Nairobi court has handed a three months non-custodial sentence to a man who pleaded guilty to charges of destroying Ngong Forest.

The man identified as Stephen Songoro was found making charcoal inside the forest on Monday, August 17.

READ ALSO: Women who tolerate husbands' abuses don't respect themselves - Psychological counsellor

Stephen Songoro was found making charcoal inside Ngong Forest. Photo: Nairobi News.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Man who left home to undergo circumcision reunites with family 20 years later

According to Nairobi News, chief magistrate Abdul Lorot of the Kibera law courts ordered Songoro to plant trees at the state forest for three months as the penalty.

Songoro is reported to have admitted charges of making charcoal in a state forest contrary to the Forest and Conservation Management Act of 2016.

He will be reporting to the Kenya Forestry Service (KFs) station in the forest for the period.

READ ALSO: Honest woman returns KSh 4 million deposited into her bank account by mistake

The unlicensed charcoal-burner will then be assigned planting trees to replace those he had destroyed.

Songoro was arrested inside the forest while making charcoal in a kiln near the Kenya Scouts offices.

He did not have a permit or license from the KFS chief conservation and management officer.

READ ALSO: Scientists successfully harvest 10 eggs from 2 remaining northern white rhinos in race to save species

The KFS officers who arrested him recovered a hand saw, a spade and a sack half-filled with charcoal and all the items were presented before the court as exhibits.

In Nigeria, Kolade Emmanuel Balogun, a convicted internet fraudster, also referred to as Yahoo boys, was ordered to control traffic for three months.

The Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction of the suspect on Thursday, August 13, 2020.

READ ALSO: Nairobi woman develops platform offering free study materials online to empower students

Former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, said the Yahoo boys had become role models in Nigerian society.

The ones that have swag, the Yahoo Yahoo boys as my son would say; these, in short, are the role models they are looking at," he said.

Diezani further stated that an irresponsible boy will end up becoming an irresponsible man, noting that such an occurrence has become a vicious cycle.

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
Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addresses the nation of Belarus from an undisclosed location in Lithuana, on Aug. 17, 2020. (Reuters/Screenshot of video address)

Belarusian Opposition Politician Tsikhanouskaya Says She Is Ready to Lead Nation

Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said on Aug.17 she was ready to lead Belarus and called for the creation of a legal mechanism to ensure that a new fair presidential election could be held.

Speaking in a video address from Lithuania, she also urged security and law enforcement officers to switch sides from President Alexander Lukashenkos government, saying their past behavior would be forgiven if they did so now.

Her video was released a day after Belarusians chanting Step down! filled the center of the capital Minsk in the biggest protest so far against what they said was the fraudulent re-election a week ago of longtime president Lukashenko.

I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period, Tsikhanouskaya said, saying it was essential to make the most of the momentum generated by a week of protests.

The former English teacher has become one of the leading opposition figures against Lukashenko, who is struggling to contain a wave of mass protests and strikes that pose the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule of the country.

She fled abroad last week, saying she had done so for the safety of her children, but quickly began releasing new videos calling for anti-government protests to continue.

The unrest has spread to sections of society normally seen as loyal to the president, as workers from large state factories staged walkouts and some police, journalists from state media, and a sitting ambassador came out in support of the protesters.

Opponents of Lukashenko say he rigged the Aug. 9 presidential election to secure a sixth term in power. He denies losing, citing official results that gave him just over 80% of the vote.

The Kremlin said on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had told Lukashenko Moscow was ready to assist Belarus in accordance with a collective military pact if necessary and that external pressure was being applied to the country.

It did not say where from.

Russia is watching closely as Belarus hosts pipelines that carry Russian energy exports to the West and is viewed by Moscow as a buffer zone against NATO.
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Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : The Supreme Court will on Wednesday pronounce the verdict on a petition filed by actress Rhea Chakraborty seeking transfer of the case filed in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput's death from Patna to Mumbai.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy will pronounce the verdict at 11 a.m. The transfer petition filed by Rhea has been opposed by the Bihar government and Sushant Singh's father K.K. Singh.

The Bihar government in its submission to the apex court said, "It is apparent that it is on account of political pressure in the State of Maharashtra that neither the FIR has been registered by the Mumbai Police nor did they extend any cooperation to Bihar Police in discharging their obligation to conduct investigation expeditiously." The Centre has sought the apex court's nod for investigation into the case by the CBI and ED. The Centre told the apex court that the CBI has already registered an FIR while acceding to the request made by the Bihar government.

Rhea in her written submissions had told the Supreme Court that the Patna FIR could at best be regarded as a zero FIR and should be transferred to Mumbai police and insisted that Rajput's father has made baseless allegations against her. "A plain reading of the subject FIR is clearly indicative of the fact that no such consequence of such alleged act has ensued within the State of Bihar.

The maximum that may be done in such instance, is for the FIR to be registered as a 'Zero FIR' and the same may be forwarded to the Police Station having jurisdiction over the matter", said Rhea in the written submissions.

Sushant Singh Rajput's father K.K. Singh has informed the Supreme Court that Rhea has already begun to influence witnesses connected with the case and took a U-turn on a CBI probe.

Singh in the affidavit said the mail relied upon by Rhea raises a question if the email was sent by Siddharth Pithani to Mumbai Police, and asked why was the same shared by the potential witness with Rhea, who is a prime suspect in the case.

"Nevertheless, the email is sent after the registration of the FIR and one day before the filing of the present transfer petition and thus the said email seems to be procured by the petitioner (Rhea) from the potential witness, who seems to be already under her influence", said the affidavit filed through advocate Nitin Saluja.

Singh's counsel had argued that Rhea too wanted a CBI probe into the matter, and questioned why she was against it now.

"Moreover, as stated in the Petition that the Petitioner (Rhea) through her social media platform had requested the Union Home Minister for a CBI inquiry and now since the Respondent No.1 (Bihar government) has entrusted the aforesaid FIR to the CBI and Union of India has accepted the said request of the Respondent No.1, the Petitioner should not have any grievance in this regard".

Rhea contended that the investigations in Bihar are totally illegal and such illegal proceedings cannot be transferred to CBI in the present manner by way of illegal executive orders.

"The Petitioner has no objection if the transfer of investigation to CBI is done in exercise of powers conferred upon this court under Article 142 of the Constitution of India. Otherwise, the present transfer from Bihar Police to CBI as is done is totally without jurisdiction and contrary to law," said the written submission.

The Solicitor General, representing the Centre, had argued it is a fit case for a CBI inquiry. Mehta questioned how Mumbai Police summoned 56 persons and recorded their statements, as they cannot do it under inquest proceedings. He submitted before the court that Mumbai Police never registered an FIR to investigate.

He insisted that the ED has already initiated investigation, and after one central agency has registered a case, another central agency (CBI) should be engaged.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - On Tuesday Aug 18th, at 6:30 pm EST, BPTN will release data collected from almost 1,300 Black Professionals in the industry across the US and Canada. May 2020, Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN), convened Tech Executives from across North America to create the Black Tech Pandemic and Anti-Racism Task Force. This Task Force, co-chaired by executives from Salesforce, Tableau and TD Bank, built a tailored three-tiered action plan aimed to help reduce the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black Tech in the workplace.

Here are some stats on COVID-19

40% of COVID deaths in the US are from African American communities but this community only makes up 13% of the total US population

In Toronto , 21% of reported cases affect Black people, who make up only 9% of the city's overall population

, 21% of reported cases affect Black people, who make up only 9% of the city's overall population Since the start of the pandemic, Montreal districts with higher numbers of Black people and more cramped housing have registered the most cases of COVID-19, according to an analysis by CBC News

districts with higher numbers of Black people and more cramped housing have registered the most cases of COVID-19, according to an analysis by CBC News In Dallas , majority-Black neighborhoods had a potential community need for COVID-19 patient support 46 percent higher than majority-white neighborhoods

Here's what you need to know:

Outcome 1: COVID-19 is having a disproportionate effect on Black Tech and their families.

The impact of this virus is not just on underprivileged Black people: 67.62% of Black Tech professionals have been directly or indirectly affected by this wide-spreading virus. Tech companies shouldn't assume Black employees are not impacted, as almost 50% of Black tech workforce has been emotionally, losing family - including children, work and having to move back home, or live in a multi-generational home and worried about loved ones who work on the frontlines. Three themes emerged: Tech companies must help "lighten the burden" caused due to the additional cognitive load from COVID-19; Black Tech Professionals are losing loved ones, and financially, Black tech professionals are not only supporting themselves, but due to the disproportionate job loss in the community, they're forced to support their immediate and extended families.

Outcome 2: Tech companies need to act NOW

BPTN engagement with tech companies, its 10,000+ members and data from the task force support the development of "The Table of Elements For a Post-Pandemic Recovery and Elimination of Anti-Black Racism in Tech." This periodic table is a practical tool for the many companies who understand the need to act, but aren't sure where to start. It's a self-assessment tool all tech companies will have access to. It's designed for Thought Leadership, equipped with practical advice that will help Tech companies act in a timely manner.

Outcome 3: BPTN's global campus is an intersectional hub

Tech companies and Black Tech need a place to engage. In 2021, BPTN is set to launch an all-encompassing platform promoting job opportunities, events, networking, mentoring and so much more. Moreover, companies will have access to the aforementioned Periodic Table, resources such as best practices on hiring, retaining and nurturing Black tech, and the chance to meet an abundance of amazing talent from the community.

Members of the Taskforce:

Task Force Co-Chairs

Archana Subramanian, COO and Senior Vice President, Salesforce (San Francisco Bay Area)

Tim Clark, CIO Business Segment Technology, TD (Toronto)

Molly Q Ford, Senior Director, Global Equality Programs, Salesforce (San Francisco Bay Area)

Scott Gibbs, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Industries, Tableau (New Jersey)

Lekan Olawoye, Founder, BPTN (Toronto)

Task Force Executive Members

Imran Khan, President and CEO UGO, Head of Digital Experience, TD (Toronto)

Colleen Ward, Vice President Technology Solutions, TD (Toronto)

Caroline G. Gayle, Managing Director, Canadian Technology Financial Services, Accenture (Toronto)

Margot Goodson, North America Diversity & Inclusion Lead, SAP (Philadelphia)

Paul S. Kearns, AVP, Business Relationship Management, Sun Life (Boston)

Sheri Robinson, Senior Manager -Data and AI Lead, Accenture (Toronto)

Meghan L. Murray, Director of Finance, Triton Digital (Montreal)

David King, Director of Employee Experience, Diversity & Belonging, Shopify (San Francisco)

Tammy Connelly, Talent Acquisition Leader, Shopify (Waterloo)

Alyssa Merwin, VP, North America Sales Solutions, LinkedIn (Washington DC)

Michael Dennis, Partner, KPMG (Montreal)

Andrew Alleyne, Partner, Fasken (Toronto)

Earl Simpkins, Partner, US Strategy Leader, PwC (Dallas)

Jennifer Laidlaw, Inclusion Partnerships, Office of CEO, CIBC (Toronto)

Derek Quashie, Partner US Immigration, PwC Canada (Brampton)

Karen Rodney, Vice President, People, Talent & Vibe, Fiix Software (North York)

Katie Allen, Manager, Sustainability & Social Impact, Fiix Software (Toronto)

Max Bazile, Senior Manager, Deloitte (Brampton)

Allan Porter, Vice President, Infrastructure and Technology Enablement, Sunlife (Toronto)

Rezarta Sherifi, Human Resources Manager, Herjavec Group (Mississauga)

Katherine Isaac, VP, Herjavec Group (Toronto)

Sumit Oberai, SVP, Digital Technology, RBC (Toronto)

Tarisai Madambi, Senior Manager, Management Consulting, KPMG (Toronto)

Sabry Tozin, VP of Engineering, Linkedin (San Francisco)

Kateau James, Managing Director, Global CIO office, Deloitte (Atlanta)

Task Force Advisors

Richard Wiltshire, Head of Customer Success, Sales Solutions, North America, LinkedIn

Adijat Sade Akinsipe, Enterprise Recruitment Lead  QE / Architecture / Innovation & Wealth Management Technology, RBC

Kalsang Tanzin, Regional Manager, Mid Market - LinkedIn Sales Solutions

Greg Butler, Head of Customer Success, Chicago, LinkedInSales Solutions

Media involvement: On Tuesday Aug 18th, at 6:30 pm EST, BPTN will release data collected from almost 1,300 Black Professionals in the industry across the US and Canada via Zoom. All media are welcome to attend by signing up prior the launch event through this registration link .

If you are unable to attend, we are also available for interviews prior to the event. For further information or interview requests please contact [email protected]

Stay connected - Follow BPTN on LinkedIn

About Black Professionals in Tech Network

Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN) is the largest tech network in Canada with over 10,000 members, and in the top three in North America. We bridge the "Network gap" in the tech industry by providing Black tech and business professionals with access to senior executive sponsorship, skill-building and a strong peer network to support professional growth and advancement. We facilitate exposure for tech companies to hire and promote Black tech talent through pipeline building, internal culture development and becoming an "Employer of Choice."

SOURCE Black Professionals in Tech Network

Related Links

www.bptn.ca


[August 17, 2020] Partners Group backed SPi Global Invests in LearningMate to Acquire Majority Stake SINGAPORE and MUMBAI, India and NEW YORK and MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LearningMate, the leader in business to business ed-tech services has sold a majority stake to SPi Global, the market leading content technology enterprise. SPi Global is owned by Partners Group, a global private markets investment management firm with over USD 96 billion in assets under management, on behalf of its clients.

Founded in 2003, LearningMate has today close to 1000 ed-tech professionals, across the globe. LearningMate is among the leading diversified digital enablement providers in the ed-tech space with a strong multi-geographic presence across 6 locations (New York, Phoenix, Mumbai, Kolkata, London, and Vancouver). For more information, visit https://www.learningmate.com LearningMate leads with a 'Services over Platform' strategy in the K-12, Higher education and Corporate Training sectors. LearningMates best-in-class middleware technology platform provides clients with a cloud-based infrastructure that allows them to create, curate, enhance and deliver digital learning content to multiple delivery channels. LearningMate also supports its clients with digital content and curriculum services that focus on improving learning efficacy and reach. LearningMates platforms and solutions have benefited over 250 clients till date and touch millions of students and faculty every day across the globe. LearningMate was majority owned by Helix Investments, a New York based private equity fund with a special focus onIndia. Helix made the investment in 2009 and has been a LearningMate partner for over a decade. Helix will retain a minority stake in the company, demonstrating their continued commitment in the future growth of LearningMate. Given that LearningMate has built a unique position and brand due to its focus on innovation and digital technologies, the company will continue to operate independently under Samudra (Sam) Sen, Founder and CEO of LearningMate. The new LearningMate board will consist of representatives from Partners Group, SPi Global and independent directors of repute. Sam will continue to be part of the LearningMate board. The partnership will help both companies leverage complementary strengths and bring greater value to their customers. The ed-tech space is booming today and online learning is becoming the new normal especially in the light of the recent developments. LearningMates founding team and senior management will continue to remain invested in the company and successfully lead the organization to build value for the future. We are very pleased to join hands with the LearningMate team. Having known the organization and management for more than a decade, I have always considered LearningMate as one of the leading players in the ed-tech space. I am pleased to be part of the LearningMate board and look forward to working alongside Sam to create value in the Education markets said SPi Global President and CEO Ratan Datta. We are excited with this new partnership and look forward to working closely with Partners Group and the SPi Global leadership to accelerate our growth and make a significant contribution to our education and training communities in these unprecedented times of rapid change that will need us to innovate more than ever before. added Samudra Sen, Founder and CEO, LearningMate. About SPi Global SPi Global is a market leading content technology and content solutions enterprise that provides data services and subject matter expertise (SME) to multiple industries such as research, learning and education, finance, healthcare and life sciences, media and retail, and other corporates. Leveraging its deep domain expertise and suite of proprietary technology platforms, the company brings forth cutting-edge innovation for the extraction, enrichment and transformation of structured and unstructured content and information assets. With a client-base scoping 30 countries worldwide, SPi Global delivers business transformation services across the globe. The companys multi-geographical resource pool is strategically located in eight countries, India, the Philippines, United States, China, Nicaragua, Vietnam, United Kingdom and Singapore. For more information, visit www.spi-global.com . Contact:

Bhaskar Jha

Bhaskar.jha@spi-global.com

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hotel Association of Los Angeles issues the following statement, attributable to Executive Director Heather Rozman about recent use of Southern California hotels as migrant detention centers.

"The Hotel Association of Los Angeles condemns the use of hotels as migrant detention centers and calls on any hotel that knowingly is providing rooms for such purposed to stop immediately. We applaud Council Member Gil Cedillo for his quick and appropriate response, ensuring the safety and fair treatment of every individual no matter their country of origin."

About the Hotel Association of Los Angeles

The Hotel Association of Los Angeles has advocated for the Los Angeles lodging industry for more than 70 years through legislative support, coalition building, lobbying and public advocacy. Its members represent a cross-section of the lodging industry, including owners, managers, suppliers and vendors.

Media Inquiries

Pete Hillan

831-227-5984

[email protected]

SOURCE Hotel Association of Los Angeles
Students have spoken of their delight and relief following the Education Minister's U-turn on the awarding of A-level grades.

Yesterday Peter Weir revealed both A-level and AS-level candidates will be awarded grades as predicted by their teachers.

He abandoned plans to use centralised standardisation following an outcry from teachers, parents and pupils over last Thursday's results.

Mr Weir made the announcement hours after confirming GCSEs would be based solely on teacher predictions.

The news was met with relief by students, who are happy Northern Ireland followed England and Wales yesterday in awarding grades based on teacher predictions. Scotland had already made the change last week.

But as a result of the embarrassing about-face, some students are demanding the Education Minister now step down over the fiasco.

Carrickfergus mum-of-four Gillian Brownnutt (47) told the Belfast Telegraph that her 16-year-old daughter Mia, who attends Ulidia Integrated College and is awaiting her GCSE results on Thursday, could now look forward to getting her grades.

Mia had been panicking after her brother Leo (19) had one A-level marked down from a predicted A* to a C.

Leo's place at Queen's University to study English and creative writing is already secure, but the family will be keen to get the updated marks.

"There's definitely a bit of relief in the house now for Mia on what's ahead of her," Ms Brownnutt said.

"Mia has dyslexia so she has to work extremely hard. She's predicted mainly C grades, but if she was marked down it would be more detrimental."

Expand Close Carrickfergus mum-of-four Gillian Brownnutt (47) told the Belfast Telegraph that her 16-year-old daughter Mia, who attends Ulidia Integrated College and is awaiting her GCSE results on Thursday, could now look forward to getting her grades / Facebook

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Whatsapp Carrickfergus mum-of-four Gillian Brownnutt (47) told the Belfast Telegraph that her 16-year-old daughter Mia, who attends Ulidia Integrated College and is awaiting her GCSE results on Thursday, could now look forward to getting her grades

Aron Hughes' results last week (BBD) were below his predicted grades (ABB).

With an unconditional offer to study law with politics at Queen's University, the St Columb's High School student (18) from Belfast welcomed the U-turn on the grades.

"It's fantastic news and I think it's something that was well needed. I personally have already been in touch with my school to see exactly what my results will be upgraded to," he said.

"I don't think this would have happened without all the political parties and young people coming together to get the results we deserved.

"I think the protest that was planned (for Tuesday) would have added extra pressure, but I am quite disappointed that Peter Weir only made the decision following England and Wales.

"It would have been better if Northern Ireland had taken the lead in the same way that Scotland did."

Abbey Community College pupil Tinique Murray (19) said she was "over the Moon" when she heard the news.

Her place to study criminology and criminal justice at Ulster University had been in doubt after two of her predicted results were downgraded.

"I'm so, so happy. We had waited enough," she said.

"I'm hoping now I'm getting into uni.

"I thought I might have to wait a year and resit my tests. But I've got all my hope back again."

She said she also hoped Mr Weir acknowledged the impact this has had on students, insisting it had caused worry and panic for many young people.

Echoing her comments were student protesters Nicole Beck (18) and Robert Burke (18), who were among 50 who gathered outside the Education Authority offices in Belfast yesterday afternoon - not long before news of Mr Weir's announcement emerged.

"I want Peter Weir to step down," said Nicole.

"The fact is that Scotland apologised straight away."

Robert told the Belfast Telegraph the blame for the handling of the grades crisis lies solely with the Education Minister and his department.

"I think, ultimately, CCEA has been led by Peter Weir and the department, and criticism of them (exams body) is unfair," said Robert.

"They had been led by the British Government and I think blame lies with Mr Weir and I think in the coming days we need to look at the power of the Department of Education, and reassess the power of the teaching unions, because I am sure no union in the north of Ireland would stand for this shambles."
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Hyderabad, Aug 18 : Eight more people died of COVID-19 in Telangana while 1,682 new cases pushed the tally to 93,937, health officials said on Tuesday.

With the fresh fatalities, the death toll mounted to 711. However, the fatality rate in the state is still low at 0.75 per cent against the national average of 1.92 per cent. Officials said 53.87 per cent of the deceased had comorbidities.

A day after the slump in the daily count to less than 1,000, the positive cases rose again as authorities ramped up the number of tests.

The state had reported 894 cases on Monday as the number of tests conducted fell to 8,794. During the last 24 hours ending Monday 8 p.m., 19,579 samples were tested.

The officials claim that the number of tests was much higher than the state's target of 5,600 as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) benchmark of 140 tests per million per day.

With this the number of tests conducted in the state so far mounted to 7,72,928. Samples tested per million population stand at 20,818. The test results of 560 samples were awaited.

In addition to 16 government and 23 private laboratories conducting RT-PCR/CBNAAT and TRUENAT tests, the state has 1,076 rapid antigen testing centres.

According to the media bulletin issued by the office of the director of public health and family welfare, 2,070 people recovered from COVID-19 during the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative recoveries to 72,202.

With this the state further improved its recovery rate to 76.68 per cent against the national average of 72.51 per cent. The number of active cases now stands at 21,024 including 14,140 who were in home/institutional isolation.

Of the new positive cases reported in the state, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) accounted for 235, followed by 166 in Ranga Reddy district and 106 in Medchal Malkajgiri. Warangal Urban district saw 107 new cases while 94 new infections were reported in Nizamabad. Officials said 88 new cases were reported in Karimnagar, 79 in Mancherial, 69 in Jogulamba Gadwal, 59 each in Peddpalli and Jagtiyal, 47 each in Siddipet and Rajanna Sircilla, 45 in Khammam and 32 in Mahabubnagar.

New cases were reported from all 33 districts. Only two districts reported new cases in single digit.

Age wise COVID positive details show that 65.9 per cent of those tested positive were in the age group of 21-50 years. Terming this as a susceptible age group, authorities have urged them not to go out unless absolutely necessary. They were advised to strictly exercise precautions like wearing face masks and maintaining physical distancing.

Among the COVID positive cases, 24.4 per cent were above 51 years of age. About 10 per cent were aged below 20 years.

Officials said 65.10 per cent of those tested positive were male while the remaining 34.90 per cent were female.

According to the media bulletin, out of 20,396 beds in government-run hospitals, 17,807 beds were vacant.

122 private hospitals treating COVID cases have a total of 8,101 beds and out of them 3,806 beds were vacant.

According to the media bulletin, the state has over 800 containment zones with the highest 124 in Ranga Reddy district, followed by 85 in Mahabunagar, 80 in Rajanna Sircilla and 79 in Gadwal. Greater Hyderabad has 64 containment zones.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A daylight shooting near a parking lot at one of Trentons busiest intersections killed a South Jersey man Monday afternoon, authorities said.

The gunfire, reported at about 1:30 p.m. at South Broad and East State streets, killed Rahkeem Ortiz, 29, of Blackwood, in Gloucester Township, Camden County, the Mercer County Prosecutors Office said.

No arrests or charges were reported in the crime late Monday, nor did the prosecutors office discuss any possible motives. Hes the 25th homicide in the city this year.

Ortiz listed himself online as working for a snack foods company, but he was known to some Trenton police officers as an area resident. State records show he was released from New Jerseys prison system last fall after serving about three years for gun and assault charges.

The city is having its deadliest year of murder since 2014, when the city had 34 killings, following the inglorious record-breaking 2013, when the city recorded 37 murders.

Early last week, two 18-old city men were killed on Centre Street in South Trenton. No arrests or charges have been reported in that investigation.

All but two of the homicides in Trenton this year have been shootings.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 735 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, raising the statewide total to 125,579.

Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine provided the new numbers at a news conference Tuesday morning.

The report comes a day after the state reported 384 cases, the lowest number in a month, albeit with a caveat: Mondays data didnt includes cases from Philadelphia due to reporting delays, the health department said. The health departments latest report Tuesday includes a two-day total of 208 COVID-19 cases from Philadelphia.

Across Pennsylvania, 7,499 deaths have been tied to the coronavirus, including 31 newly reported cases Tuesday. More than 5,000 coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, according to the health department.

After climbing steadily in late June and July, the number of new coronavirus cases has dropped in August. The state hasnt reported 1,000 new cases in a single day since July 28, and the state hit that mark several times last month. At the peak of the virus in the spring, the state regularly reported more than 1,000 new cases a day.

The state has averaged 756 new cases a day over the past seven days, according to state data.

The state reported 18,926 test results through 10 p.m. Monday. Between Aug. 11-17, the state administered 162,293 COVID-19 tests, an average of more than 23,000 tests per day.

With schools beginning classes later this month, the health department is now recommending students wear masks all day, with exceptions for brief breaks. Levine said the recent guidance is more of a clarification, since schools were seeking more specificity.

From our perspective, this is what we meant all along, Levine said.

The health department remains concerned about the uptick of cases among young adults, including those 19 to 24 years old. In August, about 17 percent of all new COVID-19 cases in the southeastern and northeastern regions have involved those 19-24 (about 5-6 percent of all cases in April occurred in that age group).

About 4 percent of those tested in Pennsylvania have been found to be positive for the coronavirus. More than 1.3 million people have tested negative for the coronavirus.

The health department estimates that 79 percent of all of those who have been infected with the virus have recovered. The department considers patients to be recovered when they are 30 days past the rate of infection or the onset of symptoms.

Statewide, there are 560 coronavirus patients being treated in hospitals, according to the health departments online dashboard. At the peak in the spring, about 2,800 people were being treated in hospitals.

Most of those who contract the coronavirus suffer relatively mild symptoms and can recover at home. But the virus can be more serious, particularly for seniors and those with health issues.

Statewide, 5,064 coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and personal care homes.

There are 20,444 residents of long-term care facilities who have tested positive for the virus, along with 4,261 employees. A total of 24,705 people have been infected in those facilities.

Cases have been found in 899 long-term care facilities in 61 counties.

Heres a look at the trend of new cases since the beginning of July.

July 1-7: 4,693 new cases, an average of 670 per day

July 8-14: 5,372 new cases, an average of 767 per day

July 15-21: 6,094 new cases, an average of 870 per day

July 22-28: 6,619 new cases, an average of 945 per day

July 29-Aug. 4: 5,625 new cases, an average of 803 per day

Aug. 5-11: 5,272 new cases, an average of 753 per day

Aug. 12-18: 5,298 new cases, an average of 756 per day

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Home Minister Amit Shah was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in New Delhi on August 17 complaining of fatigue and body aches for the last 3-4 days.

The union minister has been complaining of fatigue and body aches for the last 3-4 days, said the hospital in a press release on August 18. He has been admitted to AIIMS for post-COVID care, the hospital said.

According to the press release, "he is comfortable and is continuing his work from hospital."

On August 2, the union minister had tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection and admitted to a hospital.

He tweeted saying, "On getting the initial symptoms of coronavirus, I got the test done and the report came back positive. My health is fine, but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors. I request that all of you who have come in contact with me in the last few days, please isolate yourself and get your inquiry done."

On August 14, he said that he had tested negative for COVID-19.

Shah, 55, had also said that on the advice of doctors, he will be in home isolation for the next few days.

"Today my corona test report has come negative. I thank God and also express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who blessed me and my family by wishing me well during this period. Will stay in home isolation for a few more days on the advice of doctors," Shah had tweeted.
A Houston Police narcotics officer placed under investigation last month has resigned.

The officer, Juan Martinez, joined the department in 2005. He was assigned to the narcotics division and was relieved July 16. He resigned Aug. 10, a spokesman said.

Several law enforcement sources previously said Martinez was being investigated for inappropriate conduct related to undercover operations and confidential informants.

After the Chronicle first reported Martinez was being investigated, Chief Art Acevedo told reporters that he was the subject of a proactive internal investigation and promised to provide more information once the investigation had been concluded.

On Monday, Acevedo said his investigators provided evidence to the Harris County District Attorneys Office and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas; both groups declined to prosecute.

The department closed an internal administration into the incident after Martinez resigned, Acevedo said.

Im precluded from saying anything further, he said.

Houston Police Officers Union Vice President Doug Griffith declined to comment, saying he was not familiar with the specifics of the investigation. Attempts to reach Martinez were unsuccessful.

The action is the latest to hit the narcotics division, which has come under scrutiny over the past 18 months after a January 2019 drug raid that led to the deaths of two homeowners and to the shooting of four officers.

The officer who led the raid, Gerald Goines, was later accused of lying about buying drugs from the home, and Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg subsequently announced prosecutors would be reviewing more than 14,000 cases Goines and his former squadmates had handled. In August, she charged him with murder. Goines partner, Steven Bryant, and four other former narcotics officers and supervisors have been charged with an array of other crimes, including tampering with government records, theft by a public servant and misapplication of fiduciary property.

Goines was also charged in federal court in November with violating the civil rights of the couple killed in the raid. During Goines detention hearing, an FBI agent said one of Goines confidential informants told investigators that she and the former officer had a years-long sexual relationship.

A Chronicle investigation after the raid found additional misconduct within the narcotics division, showing officers filed false affidavits when they asked judges for search warrants or arrest warrants, performed sloppy investigative work and misrepresented their use of confidential informants.

Prosecutors also reviewed thousands of cases Goines and his squadmates had worked on and identified more than 150 defendants who may need to have their cases overturned. So far, three people have seen their convictions thrown out.

st.john.smith@chron.com
North Dakota oil and gas tax revenue has fallen behind a 2019 forecast, but state officials are hopeful about a rebound and overall revenues tracking ahead, with new forecasts coming next month.

Oil tax revenue is 15%, or $367.7 million, behind the Legislature's forecast adopted in 2019. Oil prices and production have sunk amid the coronavirus pandemic. North Dakota's July oil tax allocations, from May production, were 83% under forecast, or more than $168 million.

"It appears that this is probably the bottoming out for the revenues and that we're looking at some higher revenues beginning in August, and so hopefully this will be the low point with these revenues and that we'll be on an upward trend after this," Legislative Council Senior Fiscal Analyst Adam Mathiak recently told the Legislature's interim Revenue Advisory Committee.

State lawmakers last week also learned that overall state revenues to the general fund, which funds general government operations, are 3.4% ahead of forecast, or $104.3 million.

Oil tax revenue flows every month through a series of state government funds. No more than $400 million of oil tax revenue goes to the general fund in every two-year budget cycle. More than a year into the current budget cycle, the general fund will have received $374 million after a $23.4 million deposit to be made Friday, said Ryan Skor, the state treasurer's director of finance.

Last month, North Dakota's oil tax savings account, the Legacy Fund, posted its lowest-ever deposit: $9.44 million, down from the previous all-time low of $10.24 million deposited in June. The average deposit is about $54 million. The $6.8 billion voter-approved fund is derived from 30% of monthly oil tax revenue. The Legacy Fund will get a $20.69 million deposit on Friday, Skor said.

Office of Management and Budget Director Joe Morrissette said more data such as April and May sales tax returns filed in June have given insight into how the pandemic affected tax collections.

Total July revenues were 9.1% over forecast for the month. But recent sales taxes, the biggest revenue source of the general fund, were 15% behind, or $14.1 million. Overall, sales taxes are 2.8% ahead, or $28.3 million.

"It's an evolving situation; we're learning as we go and gathering data as we can," Morrissette told the Tribune. "We were a little surprised by June. July -- we're not quite sure yet. Should that be our expectations as we go forward for August? We're trying to wrestle with that as we work on a new forecast and an outlook for the next few months."

Next week, the Advisory Council on Revenue Forecasting meets to discuss North Dakota's economic state of affairs. The group comprises state officials and industry leaders, such as petroleum marketers, grain growers, and auto and implement dealers. The group also will hear from Moody's Analytics, an economic research firm, as well as oil and gas industry officials.

"The interesting thing about those discussions is everyone has their own perspective," Morrissette said.

His office in early September will release a new state revenue forecast for the remainder of the budget cycle and both years of the coming 2021-23 period. Forecasting paused in spring amid the pandemic.

Later in September, the interim Legislative Revenue Advisory Committee will review a new 2019-21 forecast and a preliminary outlook for 2021-23 from IHS Markit, a global market analyzer. Sen. Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks, who chairs the committee, expects to have the Office of Management and Budget's new forecast by then, for a comparison.

Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, expects the current budget cycle to finish next summer "in pretty good shape."

But eyes will be on a fund filled from accumulated oil tax revenue to be spent in the next budget cycle, he and Morrissette said. In 2019, the Legislature relied on $764.4 million from that fund to help balance the 2019-21 general fund budget.

"We'll see how things go," Wardner said.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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The special prosecutor appointed to review the conduct of state attorney Kim Foxx in letting Jussie Smollett off the hook for staging a fake hate crime to libel Trump-supporters has completed his work, and she, too is off the hook. Via The Patch:

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx made "false and misleading statements" about her office's prosecution of actor Jussie Smollet and engaged in "substantial abuses of discretion," but she didn't break the law, according to special prosecutor Dan Webb. Last year, Smollett, the former "Empire" actor, was accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack on himself. He was indicted on 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct that were dropped by Foxx's office. Webb's investigation found the "process and decision-making" of Foxx's office related to Smollett's prosecution amounted to a "substantial abuse of discretion and represented a major failure of the operations." The detailed statement released Monday also found:  Foxx's office engaged in "substantial abuse of discretion and breached its obligations of honesty and transparency by making false and/or misleading statements to the public" about why the charges were dismissed.  Foxx's office made false statements and misled the public by claiming the State's Attorney had legally recused herself from Smollett's prosecution.  Foxx engaged in a substantial abuse of discretion and breached its obligations of honesty and transparency by making false and/or misleading statements to the public that she stopped communicating with Jurnee Smollett, Mr. Smollett's sister, after the actor had become a subject of the investigation. Webb's summary report determined that Foxx's claim that her office's deferred prosecution of charges against Smollett were similar to more than 5,000 other cases wasn't true.

So she lied to the public and abused her powers, but it's not criminal.

Why, you might ask?

Because it's not a crime for a public official to lie to the public unless it's under oath, which it rarely is. In fact, they can lie to their colleagues and often do. They don't lie all the time. Only when they're awake.

But it is criminal in many cases for a member of the public to lie to public officials. It was the height of irony when Roger Clemens was prosecuted for lying to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. Really. How can Congress complain about people lying to them when they lie to us 24-7?

The police can lie to suspects and often do. And prosecutors can use witnesses who are promised benefits to produce false evidence  i.e., lies. It's really amazing that with all the Trump associates the Mueller team prosecuted, none was willing to lie to support collusion in return for a lesser sentence.

Anyway, I'd like to see lying to the public made criminal. My first defendant in this fantasy would be Adam Schiff. Number two, Jerry Nadler. Number three, Nancy Pelosi. Any additions?

Photo credit: YouTube, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
German chancellor calls for national dialogue as Belarusians turn up pressure on President Alexander Lukashenko.

More state-controlled companies and factories have joined the strike in Belarus, turning up the pressure on President Alexander Lukashenko to step down after winning an election they say was rigged.

Tuesdays walkouts strengthened the strike that began on Monday, encompassing several large tractor factories in Minsk, a huge potash factory in Soligorsk that accounts for one-fifth of the worlds potash fertiliser output and is the nations top cash earner, state television and the countrys most prominent theatre.

The development marked the 10th day of unprecedented mass protests against election results that handed Lukashenko his sixth term with 80 percent of the votes, while his top challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya apparently received only 10 percent.

The authorities should understand that they are losing control. Only Lukashenkos resignation and punishment of those in charge of rigging and beatings [of protesters] can calm us down, head of an independent miners union Yuri Zakharov told The Associated Press news agency on Tuesday.

The people said their no to Lukashenko, and we will not back down. The strike will continue and grow until he steps down.

Lukashenko on Monday dismissed the strikes as insignificant and said he would not cave in to pressure, but appeared nervous as dissent grew.

An envoy resigns

Also on Tuesday, the Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia, Igor Leshchenya, said he had handed in his resignation after coming out with a statement in support of the protests.

In a video released on Saturday, Leshchenya expressed solidarity with those who came out on the streets of Belarusian cities with peaceful marches so that their voice could be heard.





He said he had been shocked by the reports of mass beatings and torture of protesters and accused Belarusian law enforcement of restoring the traditions of the Soviet secret police.

Leshchenya, the first top government official to support the protests against Lukashenko, said in an interview on Tuesday that resigning after that was a logical move.

The mass protests, which drew hundreds of thousands of people, have continued despite a brutal response from the police, who in the first four days of demonstrations arrested almost 7,000 people and injured hundreds with rubber bullets, stun grenades and clubs. At least two protesters died.

On Tuesday, nearly 1,000 people gathered in front of a theatre to support its troupe who gave notice en masse after the director, Pavel Latushko, was fired for siding with the protesters.

A coordination council forms

Tikhanovskaya left the country for Lithuania in a move her campaign said was made under duress.

On Monday, she announced she was ready to act as a national leader to facilitate a new election.

Her top ally, Maria Kolesnikova, said on Tuesday that a coordination council is being formed to represent the people and negotiate the transition of power.

The council will figure out the best way for the transition of power, be it new elections or some other option, she said.

Lukashenko, who has run the ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist since 1994, called the launch of the council an attempt to seize power.

We see it unequivocally: it is an attempt to seize power, he said, adding that he would take measures against those who join the council. We have enough of these measures to cool down some hotheads.

Opposition supporters take part in a protest rally in front of the parliament building in Minsk [Tatyana Zenkovich/EPA]

Western officials refused to recognise the Belarusian election as free or fair and criticised the countrys authorities for their violent crackdown on protesters.

In Brussels, European Council President Charles Michel said an emergency summit of European Union leaders would convene on Wednesday to discuss the election and crackdown.

Last week, the 27 EU foreign ministers decided to start drawing up a list of people who could face sanctions resulting from their involvement in the violence.

Merkel, Putin talk

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, according to her spokesman Steffen Seibert.

[Merkel] underlined that the Belarusian government must refrain from violence against peaceful protesters, immediately release political prisoners and enter into a national dialogue with the opposition and [civil] society to overcome the crisis, Seibert said.

In its statement, the Kremlin said Putin warned Merkel against foreign interference in Belarus.

Moscow also said it expected the tense situation in its neighbour and ally to soon calm down.
The company, which operates in Ireland as Milano and has 454 restaurants in the UK, said on Tuesday that it has finalised a proposal to reduce its restaurant and rental costs via a company voluntary arrangement.

The company said that although the majority of its restaurants were profitable before lockdown was imposed, earnings had been declining across the Pizza Express estate for the last three years.

It added that the reduction in revenue caused by the enforced closure of all restaurants, the cost of reopening and the UKs uncertain economic future meant its rental costs were no longer sustainable.



The impact of the global pandemic has meant that we have had to make some incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term

Pizza Express, which is majority owned by Chinese firm Hony Capital, also confirmed it had hired advisers from Lazard to lead a sale process for the business.

It said it would hold a virtual meeting for its creditors on September 4 to seek approval for the measures set out in the CVA.

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Zoe Bowley, Pizza Expresss managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: Unfortunately, the impact of the global pandemic has meant that we have had to make some incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term.

Today we have confirmed that 73 of our pizzerias are proposed to close permanently.

Ms Bowley said that in most cases, the stores selected for closure are near to another Pizza Express that has already reopened or will be reopening soon.

She added: Our focus is on our people whose jobs are impacted and we will be doing everything we can either to redeploy them or to support them in finding roles elsewhere.

Hard as this process is, it will protect the jobs of over 9,000 of our colleagues and provide a strong footing for Pizza Express to meet future challenges and opportunities.

Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: These situations are never easy, particularly now for the retail, hospitality and leisure businesses on our high streets at the sharp end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Property owners, however, need to take into consideration the impact on their investors, including the millions of people whose savings and pensions are invested in commercial property, as they vote on any CVA proposal.
The US-based global investor rights law firm, Rosen Law Firm announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of HDFC's shareholders. This investigation has been initiated as a result of the allegation on the bank that it may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. Hence, the Rosen Law Firm is preparing a securities lawsuit on behalf of the shareholders of the HDFC Bank.

The Rosen Law Firm has requested the investors to submit their details if they have brought HDFC Bank Limited securities and are interested to receive information about the investigation pertaining to the securities lawsuit and to recover from the investor losses in the HDFC Bank Limited securities.

18,000. The law firm has also confirmed that their representatives would get in touch with the shareholders and provide you detailed information related to the proposed class action to recover their losses in the HDFC Bank Limited securities. Alongside, the charges would also include the bank executive insisting the borrowers in buying GPS devices in addition to the auto loans and even compelling that the loans would not be sanctioned unless they buy these devices. Furthermore, it has also been found that the devices have been manufactured by a Mumbai firm, Trackpoint GPS and each device costs about18,000.

The malpractice carried out by the bank officials was confessed by the bank's CEO, Aditya Puri in the bank's AGM.

HDFC Bank's Communication Executive states, "We were unaware of any such development (class action lawsuit) till we heard about it from the media a little earlier today. We are getting details about it. Well examine it and respond to it as appropriate. Prima facie it does look frivolous as we believe we have been transparent in our disclosures".
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:05:12|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran's parliament speaker on Tuesday urged Muslim states to condemn recent agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to normalize ties, according to the parliament's website.

In a message to his counterparts in Muslim countries, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that the deal between the UAE and Israel undermines all efforts by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States to take practical and serious measures for restoration of Palestinian rights.

The agreement also encourages the occupation of Palestinian territories and violates their rights by Israel, as well as creating insecurity in the region, Qalibaf said.

He urged the parliaments of Muslim states to condemn what he called the "anti-Islamic" agreement and adopt measures to oppose the deal.

The agreement, brokered by the United States on Thursday, is a step to normalize the relations between Israel and the UAE, while Israel agrees to suspend its plan to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank.

Iran has strongly condemned the deal and the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces has urged the UAE to reconsider the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel. Enditem
People in positions of leadership and influence must do everything they can to get people travelling again, following and implementing all the protocols which are part of the new reality, the UNWTO Secretary-General has said.

In a statement, Zurab Pololikashvili said the cost of the restrictions on travel introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is there for all to see.

Between January and May, the sudden and rapid fall in tourist arrivals cost an estimated $320 billion. Thats three times greater than the impact of the Great Recession of 2007-2009 on our sector  and this is just for the first five months of the year, he said.

"The re-opening of borders to tourism is a welcome relief to millions who depend on our sector. But this alone is not enough, especially in view of recent announcements and measures which seem further and further away from the international coordination that UNWTO has been calling for since the pandemic erupted.

"In these uncertain times, people around the world need strong, clear and consistent messages. What they dont need are policy moves which ignore the fact that only together are we stronger and able to overcome the challenges we face," said Pololikashvili.

"Those in positions of leadership and influence have recognised the importance of tourism for jobs, economies and rebuilding trust. This is only the first step. Now, they must do everything they can to get people travelling again, following and implementing all the protocols which are part of the new reality," he said.

"As UNWTO has said from the start of this crisis, governments have a duty to put the health of their citizens first. However, they also have a responsibility to protect businesses and livelihoods. For too long, and in too many places, the emphasis has overly focused on the former. And we are now paying the price.

"It doesnt have to be this way. As a sector, tourism has a long history of adapting and responding to challenges head-on," he said.

In recent weeks, global tourism has led the way in finding and implementing solutions that will help us adapt to the new reality as we wait for a vaccine that could be many months away. Rapid but rigorous testing at ports and airports, and tracing and tracking apps have the potential to drive the safe restart of tourism, all of which builds on the learning curve of the behaviour of individuals and societies during these difficult past months, said Pololikashvili.

These solutions need to be fully embraced, not just cautiously explored. To delay will be a catastrophe and risk undoing all the progress we have made to establish tourism as a true pillar of sustainable and inclusive development, he said.

"Moreover, it will be the most vulnerable members of our societies who will be hit the hardest as those most shielded from the economic and social consequences of tourisms standstill urge continued caution.

"Short-sighted unilateral actions will have devastating consequences in the long run. By and large, people have learned how to behave in a responsible way. Businesses and services have put protocols in place and adapted their operations. Now it's time for those making the political decisions to close the gaps, so that we all can advance together," he said. - TradeArabia News Service
Courtesy photo

A convicted sex offender was arrested as he tried to enter the country illegally in rural Webb County, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Agents responded to a report of a lost individual in the brush on Sunday evening near U.S. 83, several miles northwest of Laredo. Agents located the individuals and identified him as Miguel Gonzalez-Guel, a 30-year-old Mexican national who is a registered sex offender.
Work permit applications for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot are now able to be done online.

AIP work permit applications can now be done online Work permit applications for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot are now able to be done online.

AIP work permit applications can now be done online Work permit applications for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot are now able to be done online.

AIP work permit applications can now be done online Work permit applications for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot are now able to be done online. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Canadas immigration department is now accepting online applications for work permits under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) program.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) started accepting applications for AIP work permits as of today, August 17. Paper applications will be accepted until September 1, 2020.

The AIP offers a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals with a job offer in one of Canadas four Atlantic provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, or Nova Scotia. Before applying for permanent immigration, candidates need a work permit to work legally in Canada.

In order to get this work permit, candidates will need:

a valid job offer from an employer in an Atlantic province;

a referral letter from the province; and

a commitment to apply for permanent residence within 90 days of the temporary work permit application.

Once all these requirements are met, candidates may then be eligible for a one-year employer-specific work permit. The foreign nationals partner may be eligible for an Open Work Permit for Spouses and Common-Law Partners. Atlantic Canada employers do not need to complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment through this program.

Once the candidate has accepted the job offer, the employer is expected to connect the candidate with a designated settlement service provider organization for a needs assessment and to develop a settlement plan. Employers are also supposed to support the long-term integration of newcomers, so they can settle permanently into their new homes.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

Foreign nationals must submit their application for the employer-specific work permit online. They are not eligible to apply at a port of entry. After applying for the temporary work permit, foreign nationals must then apply for permanent residence within 90 days.

The AIP offers two programs for foreign workers and one program for international student graduates: the Atlantic High-Skilled Program, the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program, and the Atlantic International Graduate Program.

Skilled workers need at least one year of prior work experience in an occupation thats related to the job offer from their Atlantic Canada employer. International student graduates do not need to meet this same requirement, but the job offer should be full-time for at least one year and classified as a skill-level of 0, A, B, or C.

Candidates need a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) language level of 4 in all areas for English and French, and test results cannot be more than two years old. Canada will accept copies of test results for this program.

The AIP is in place until December 31, 2021. Canada created the pilot in 2017 with the intention of admitting over 7,000 immigrants and their families over the pilots term. The AIP has been successful in attracting immigrants to the region, and Minister Marco Mendicino said he intends to make it a permanent immigration program in his mandate letter.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
A Northern Ireland woman who survived two strokes has backed a new counselling service to help survivors and carers readjust from the Covid-19 crisis.

The Stroke Association has secured 48,903 in National Lottery funding for its First Steps project.

The six month initiative offers one-to-one telephone or online counselling as a direct response to the pandemic. Sessions will help clients develop emotional resilience, readjust to life after strokes and reintegrate to life post-lockdown.

Around 4,000 people have a stroke or mini-stroke every year in Northern Ireland. There are almost 39,000 stroke survivors.

They include Denise Watson (47), who was rushed to Antrim Hospital in January 2018 after experiencing symptoms at her home in Belfast.

"My stroke seemed to come from nowhere really," said Denise, who is originally from Fermanagh. "I didn't have any health issues or at least nothing I was aware of. That day, I was at home, cleaning and tidying upstairs when I felt a numbness down my right side.

"I continued what I was doing for a while but the feeling got worse and so I looked in the bathroom mirror. I couldn't see anything wrong but when I tried to speak, my speech sounded very strange to me. It was very frightening."

A brain scan at hospital later revealed she had suffered two strokes. She recalled an episode three weeks prior when she had lost her vision temporarily, but had put it down to the effects of a severe migraine.

After returning home to her husband John and three children a week later, her fears of falling ill again were confirmed when she suffered a mini stroke in April 2019.

"I felt very anxious and emotional every time I spoke about my experience," she said. "I couldn't even say the word stroke to my friends or family. I didn't talk to anyone about how I was feeling because I felt like I didn't want to worry them even more."

She thanked staff on the Royal Victoria Hospital's stroke ward for their care and referring her to the Stroke Association's counselling service earlier this year.

With the help of her counsellor Marie, Denise finally felt able to openly discuss her fears without the feeling of burdening her family.

A report published by the charity in 2019 found that 45% of stroke survivors felt abandoned after leaving hospital.

Marie Penney, project manager of the First Steps Emotional Support service at the Stroke Association in Northern Ireland, said stroke survivors here were already experiencing isolation and fear.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has turned lives upside down and we're hearing every day how it affects people emotionally and psychologically," she said.

She added: "We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke and it's a team effort to get there."
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has become an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) partner company, joining a group of over 65 extractives companies, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), commodity traders, financial institutions and industry partners who commit to observing the EITIs supporting company expectations.

The new status would require that NNPC:

 Publicly declare support for the EITI Principles and, by promoting transparency throughout the extractive industries, help public debate and provide opportunities for sustainable development.

 Publicly disclose taxes and payments.

 Ensure comprehensive disclosure of taxes and payments made to all EITI implementing countries.

 Publicly disclose beneficial owners and take steps to identify the beneficial owners of direct business partners, including Joint Ventures and contractors.

 Engage in rigorous procurement processes, including due diligence in respect to partners and vendors.

 Deliver natural resources in a manner that benefits societies and communities.

 Ensure that company processes are appropriate to deliver the data required for high standards of accountability.

EITI Board Chair, Rt Hon. Helen Clark, welcomed the companys commitment to the EITI: NNPC plays a vital role in Nigerias economy. Joining the EITI as a supporting company is a welcome step in the NNPCs journey towards achieving greater transparency and to help ensure that Nigerias citizens benefit from their natural resource wealth.

Zainab Ahmed, Nigerias Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and former EITI Board member, also stressed the importance of ensuring that natural resource wealth contributes to sustainable development, saying that: Increased transparency of Nigerias national oil company revenues is contributing to improvements in our countrys domestic resource mobilisation efforts.

Established in 1977, NNPC has grown to become the largest asset holder across Nigerias oil and gas industry value chain. Traditionally an oil and gas entity, it is transitioning towards becoming an integrated energy company with an interest in power generation and transmission.

The state-owned company has recently taken measures to become more transparent. In June 2020, it published audited account for 20 of its subsidiaries. NNPC also publishes its financial and operations report every month on its website, national dailies and online media to keep the public informed about its activities as part of efforts to be accountable to Nigerians. It is working with Nigeria EITI (NEITI) on an action plan to routinely disclose information and it currently publishes some of the data required by the 2019 EITI Standard on its website.

These disclosures demonstrate NNPCs commitment to its journey to become a more transparent national oil company. Adherence to the EITI supporting company expectations will give further impetus to NNPCs corporate vision of greater transparency and accountability. Three areas in which there is scope for advancing transparency are revenues and payments to government, contracts governing petroleum exploration and production and consolidated group-level financial statements.

Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director at NNPC, affirmed his companys commitment to the EITI: Becoming an EITI supporting company aligns with NNPCs corporate vision and principles of transparency, accountability and performance excellence. Our partnership with NEITI and EITI strengthens our commitment towards commodity trading transparency, contract transparency and systematic disclosure of revenues and payments. We are on a journey towards greater transparency and look forward to deepening our collaboration with the EITI to further this work.

NEITI Executive Secretary, Waziri Adio, commended NNPCs move to support the EITI: NNPC joining the EITI as a supporting company is a major inflection point in the quest for transparency  for the company, for Nigeria's oil and gas sector, and for the country as a whole. This is so given how critical NNPC is to the sector and to the country. NEITI welcomes this bold commitment. We will continue to work and walk with NNPC to translate its espoused commitments to transparency and accountability into concrete and sustained actions and results.

Becoming an EITI supporting company can help state-owned companies make progress on the journey to transparency. A recent example is Qatar Petroleum, which has been an EITI supporting company since October 2019 and has now published its annual and sustainability plans for the first time.

EITIs mission is to promote understanding of natural resource management, strengthen public and corporate governance and provide the data to inform greater transparency and accountability in the extractives sector.

By becoming a member of the EITI, 54 countries have committed to disclose information along the extractive industry value chain  from how extraction rights are awarded, to how revenues make their way through the government and how they benefit the public. Through participation in the EITI, countries agree to a common set of rules governing what has to be disclosed and when  the EITI Standard.

Dr. Kennie Obateru

Group General Manager

Group Public Affairs Division

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

NNPC Towers, Abuja.

18th August, 2020.


Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A vaccine against the coronavirus is not publicly available yet.

But with pharmaceutical companies racing to have a vaccine ready by early next year, top New Mexico health officials are already making plans about which state residents could get it first.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Monday that its too early to say whether the vaccine will be mandatory for any certain occupations or groups of people in New Mexico but that it will be strongly recommended for residents deemed to be at high risk.

The Democratic governor appeared to go a step further during a news conference last week, saying that New Mexicans should expect there will be a mandatory population for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Specifically, Lujan Grisham said, health care workers, educators, nursing home residents and emergency responders could be among that population, although she said its still unclear how widely available the vaccine will be and how effective it will be at preventing the virus.

Were going to have to see how much vaccine is available, and I do expect this: I expect there to be a fairly engaged  debate about mandatory populations more than the first responders, Lujan Grisham said.

Under a 2003 state law, the governors administration has the authority to issue vaccine orders during a declared public health emergency.

Those who decline a vaccine for reasons of health, religion or conscience can be ordered to isolate or self-quarantine under the same law.

The Governors Office did not directly answer a question Monday about whether the Lujan Grisham administration would invoke that law once the coronavirus vaccine is available.

While we dont yet have a vaccine, and there are and will be several unknowns in the short- and midterm future about it, the overall key point is that the more people who get a vaccine, the safer we all are as a group, Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said. Thats going to be the underlying principle here no matter what the vaccine ultimately looks like.

Sackett also said the state would, as a starting point, use existing recommendations for the flu vaccine to guide the coronavirus vaccine plan.

New Mexicos Department of Health currently recommends an annual flu vaccine for young children, pregnant women, individuals ages 50 or older and those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease. Its also recommended that Native Americans and residents of nursing homes or other long-term care facilities get a flu vaccine every year.

Rep. Gregg Schmedes, R-Tijeras, said any state-level attempts to mandate a coronavirus vaccine for certain groups or individuals would likely generate pushback.

I dont think the government should be telling people what they have to put in their bodies, Schmedes, a physician, said in a Monday interview.

However, he said, he would not oppose private nursing homes implementing mandatory vaccine policies for their residents.

A federal plan to help develop, manufacture and distribute a coronavirus vaccine  called Operation Warp Speed  aims to provide at least 300 million doses of a vaccine by January.

As part of the operation, the federal government has reportedly doled out more than $10 billion to pharmaceutical companies.

With clinical trials underway, Lujan Grisham suggested that an existing state medical advisory team  whose work is focused on the states gating criteria for gradually reopening the economy  could eventually work on the vaccine priority issue.

Human Services Secretary David Scrase said the state could follow a similar protocol as it did when making standards for which COVID-19 patients might get ventilators in the case of a medical equipment shortage. Such a shortage has not materialized, although 718 New Mexico residents have now died due to complications from the disease.

Meanwhile, although many details  including the cost of administration  about the coronavirus vaccine remain unclear for now, the governor said many New Mexicans would welcome it.

If its widely available, Im getting a vaccine, Lujan Grisham said. I would want my family to get a vaccine. I want them to be as safe as they can now that we have this deadly virus living among us.
In May, the province announced it was issuing a request for proposal to finally activate Manitoba Hydros extensive, but largely underutilized, fibre optic network in the north to benefit woefully underserved communities.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

In May, the province announced it was issuing a request for proposal to finally activate Manitoba Hydros extensive, but largely underutilized, fibre optic network in the north to benefit woefully underserved communities.

What it failed to point out at the time was that virtually all the small local players, many of whom have worked with Manitoba Hydro Telecom in the past connecting one community at a time, had been excluded from the process.

Those smaller internet service providers (ISPs) have come together to form a coalition to make sure their concerns about their future access to that network are heard.

Specifically, they are concerned that if one or two of the national telcos are chosen by the province to be the gatekeeper of this key Crown asset, it might make it harder for them to embark on projects that they have undertaken which the larger competitors have chosen not to be involved in.

"We are really concerned about access to that network," said Ken Sanderson, the CEO of Broadband Communications North and the chairman of the new entity called the Coalition of Manitoba Internet Service Providers (C-MISP).

Sanderson, whose self-sustaining non-profit organization has built broadband networks and Internet access infrastructure for more than 50 remote communities in Manitoba, has always had a good relationship with the Manitoba Hydro Telecom (MHT).

"It appears they are trying to find a replacement for MHT and if they are turning it over to the private sector, specifically the large players, that is where the concern comes in," he said. "They are basically handing the keys to the kingdom over to one competitor."

Last year, the province issued a request for qualifications. All nine of the founding members of C-MISP were rejected.

In that RFQ it was noted that Manitoba has about 800 communities and transportation corridors that dont have access to reliable high-speed connections but are either dependent on satellite for internet access and/or have internet speeds that are far slower than what is commonplace in urban centres.

A spokesperson for Manitoba Crown Services said that "historically the province has tried to tackle this significant issue with little success."

As a result, the spokesperson said, "Manitoba has taken a new innovative approach by issuing a request for qualifications last fall to seek carriers and other providers who could use existing infrastructure to make services available in communities across rural and northern Manitoba."

Manitoba subsequently posted a RFP on July 16, looking to work with one or more of the short-listed proponents "that will best improve broadband connectivity in Manitoba."

More than two years ago, a federal government-sponsored program called Connect to Innovate announced $55.5 million in funding to connect 72 remote communities across the province by March 2021. That program included significant contributions from the province in the form of access to MHT network, which is well known to have plenty of capacity to spare.

But that project has fallen apart due to infighting and bureaucratic challenges.

David MacKay, the executive director of C-MISP said, "Idle fibre is helping no one. But we see Manitobas RFP response as a gross overreaction to the chaos created by the Connect to Innovate funding."

The poor state of broadband access in many northern communities is becoming even more of an acute issue during the COVID-19 pandemic where travel conditions are already challenging.

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The RFP process is a sign the province is finally trying to deploy an asset that is already there. The RFQ documents note that access to high-speed internet is "strongly linked to better outcomes for Manitobans from increased access to education opportunities, economic opportunities and options for communication between family, friends and communities."

The smaller players regularly interact with the large telcos, but are concerned about their ability to get fair access to valuable asset that is owned by a provincial Crown corporation.

The new organization, which is still in the process of finalizing its legal status, is requesting that the Manitoba government "consider and implement all reasonable measures to stimulate and support business viability" for this Crown asset.

Sanderson said they do not want to be seen as naysayers.

"We want to work with whoever. We want to be partners with them," he said. "Our goal is for every Manitoban to be connected, but connected fairly and in a way that allows for competition."

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
MOSCOW, RUSSIA / ACCESSWIRE / August 17, 2020 / Inspector Cloud, an AI SaaS company that has been developing a solution that automates the work of merchandisers and sales representatives, has raised a new round of investments from the OKS Group fund, founded by Oleg Polyakov and Kirill Matveev. The total investment amounted to $500,000 USD. The funds are to be used for expansion into the European and Latin American markets.

Inspector Cloud is a Computer Vision SaaS that helps sales reps of CPG companies to check on their shelf KPI through recognition of the goods. Inspector Cloud reduces the time of the merchandiser's visit to the stores, as there is no need to make a manual counting of the goods facings, and it suffices to take several photos. This increases the accuracy of data from retail outlets, saving on the working time of the merchandiser and his supervisor, who also do not need to manually engage in manual counting of goods.

Inspector Cloud has been able to secure some big-name clients, including PepsiCo, Unilever, Nestle, Schwarzkopf, Henkel,PMI etc.

"The crisis is not a reason to pause investments. On the contrary, now it is especially important to support promising Russian developers and give them additional opportunities for development, - says Mark Hanney, managing partner of OKS Group. Regarding the deal - Inspector Cloud is a sustainable company with a strong technology base. We are confident that it will continue to actively grow".

By the end of the first half of 2020, the number of photos processed has already exceeded 30 million, which is a 7x increase compared to 2019. This makes Inspector Cloud one of the fastest-growing Image Recognition startups in retail space.

This is not the first round of investments for Inspector Cloud. In 2017, the company raised $150,000 USD, where "The Untitled ventures" acted as one of the lead investors, and in 2018 - $200,000 USD angel investments were reached at the seed stage. Those funds were used to refine the product development. At the present time, the Inspector Cloud leadership plans on investing into expansion to promising foreign markets.

Story continues

"First of all, we focus on countries with a relatively large population, in which a significant market share is occupied not by retail chains, but by small convenience stores," comments Alexander Berenov, CEO and founder of Inspector Cloud. "We plan to increase sales in Eastern Europe, Poland in particular, and in Latin America, starting with Brazil."

About the company

Inspector Cloud is a computer vision software developer. The company was founded by Pavel Boyko and Alexander Berenov in 2016, in Moscow. Inspector Cloud is a digital platform that enables the largest FMCG companies to automate performance checks of their sales representatives and merchandisers. Using neural networks, the system recognizes goods on shelves in retail chains and generates reports, measuring quantitative data of on-shelf availability of the goods, its shelf share in comparison to competitors, and other key indicators.

Media Contact

Inspector Cloud

Alexander Berenov, Founder & CEO

www.inspector-cloud.com

berenov@inspector-cloud.com

+7 968 452-17-77

SOURCE: Inspector Cloud





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/602003/OKS-Group-Foundation-Invests-500000-in-Inspector-Cloud-Product-Recognition-System




Finding Freedom is the best-selling book in the UK, the publisher announced today.

The bombshell biography of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, co-written by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, sold 31,000 copies in the UK in the first five days of its release, according to new figures from data provider Nielsen Book.

The book has also topped Amazon US and Amazon UK best-sellers charts.

The bombshell biography, Finding Freedom, by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand is officially a best-seller. Pictured: Prince Harry, 35 and Megahn Markle, 39 in London on January 7

The biography offers a window into Meghan and Harry's lives during their time as senior royals, and is full of details on their shock exit from the royal family.

It addresses the alleged rift between brothers Harry and William, 38 as well as the relationship between their wives.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, claim they were not interviewed for the book, which provides a high level of personal detail and a dramatic account of the events leading up to the Sussexes' departure from royal life.

Mr Scobie has given several high-profile interviews to publicise the book in the week since its release.

Yesterday he made headlines once more when he spoke to True Royalty TV.

In the interview Mr Scobie claimed that Prince Harry had made an exasperated call to his grandmother, 94, following an alleged tussle with Her Majesty's long-time dresser Angela Kelly.

Finding Freedom was selling 31,000 copies across the UK five days after its release on August 11 its publisher has claimed

'Harry had to intervene,' Mr Scobie said.

'He called his grandmother and said, ''I don't know what the hell is going on. This woman needs to make this work for my future wife''. And of course, we can kind of see now where this 'what Meghan wants, Meghan gets' narrative came from.

'Harry felt that there were those within the institution that would stop at nothing at the very least to make Meghan's life difficult.'

Scobie also claims that Prince William has not spoken to his brother properly since he revealed his plan to quit the UK for North America.

In the TV interview to promote the book, Mr Scobie said: 'The brothers had not spoken since around the time of the Sandringham summit.

'They hadn't seen each other. That's really going to take some time to heal. I think the distance between the brothers grew wider and wider. And that's partly because of things that take place - and we discuss them in the book.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's plan to step back from their royal duties made the brother's relationship difficult, said Mr Scobie.

He continued: 'I think really where it went wrong for Harry and Meghan and the Cambridges was that decision to go public with the road map to their new working model.

'The statements weren't discussed internally. That's really what caused the most amount of hurt to William, because he wears two hats.

'He's not just the brother, he's also future king and he felt that damaged the reputation of the family.'

'That it put family business out into the public domain when it should've been discussed privately and there was a lot of hurt there that continues to this day.'

Royal expert Katie Nicholl said the authors may be the 'only winners' from the publication of Finding Freedom.

Writing in Vanity Fair, she asked if the book was 'worth it for Harry and Meghan' before adding: 'The irony of Finding Freedom is that, locked down in their rented mansion in LA, the Sussexes have less freedom than they did when they lived in Windsor.'

Meanwhile she added that the book's authors write that the monarchy had lost two of its greatest assets.

She concluded: 'They, perhaps, might be the only winners in this rather sad story.'

The book had reached number one on Amazon's Top 10 New York bestseller in 24 hours list on the day of its release for pre-order.

Meanwhile in July, 14 days before its release, the biography also topped the media giant's bestsellers list as royal fans rushed to pre-order their copy.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 03:42:36|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Aug. 18, 2020 shows the United States Postal Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., the United States. The chief of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) said Tuesday his agency will suspend until after the election a series of cost-cutting reforms that raised concerns from critics about delays in mail delivery and possible disenfranchisement for voters. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The chief of U.S. Postal Service (USPS) said Tuesday his agency will suspend until after the election a series of cost-cutting reforms that raised concerns from critics about delays in mail delivery and possible disenfranchisement for voters.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has recently been under heightened scrutiny, including calls for testimony from both the House and the Senate, after he launched sweeping organizational changes to cope with the dire financial situation facing the USPS, with measures ranging from a ban on extra trips by postal workers for on-time delivery to crackdowns on overtime pay and shakeup in agency leadership.

"To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded," DeJoy said in a press release. "The Postal Service is ready today to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives this fall."

DeJoy also said that the USPS will expand its task force on election mail, and that effective Oct. 1, the agency "will engage standby resources in all areas of our operations, including transportation, to satisfy any unforeseen demand."

In further explanations, the postmaster general said he wants to "assure all Americans" that hours for retail services at USPS will not change, that mail processing equipment "will remain where they are," that no mail processing facilities will be closed, and that "overtime has, and will continue to be, approved as needed."

A former logistics executive appointed by President Donald Trump to head the USPS this summer, DeJoy has found himself in a hard time.

On the one hand, Trump - to whose campaign DeJoy was a megadonor - recently threatened to defund the USPS because of the president's resentment over what he believed was Democrats' intention to use the congressionally-approved money to expand mail-in ballots during the election, a method Trump claimed would cause voting fraud.

For the Democrats, they accused the postmaster general of deliberately slowing mail time and sabotaging the upcoming election, in which a surging number of voters are expected to vote by mail due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I came to the Postal Service to make changes to secure the success of this organization and its long-term sustainability," DeJoy said in the press release. "I believe significant reforms are essential to that objective, and work toward those reforms will commence after the election," he added, noting that there are some "longstanding operational initiatives" that "predate" his arrival in June.

The Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate both asked DeJoy to testify, scheduling the hearings for Aug. 24 and Aug. 21, respectively.

DeJoy has agreed to participate in the House hearing, according to an announcement Monday by Carolyn Maloney, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee that will host the event. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called lawmakers back to Washington from the ongoing recess to vote on the Maloney-proposed "Delivering for America Act," which sought to block DeJoy's overhauls.

The Senate hearing will focus on "examining the finances and operations of the United States Postal Service during COVID-19 and upcoming elections," the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs announced Tuesday. The Senate hearing will be held remotely, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying "the Postal Service is going to be just fine" - giving no indication that he was willing to call back senators.

Trump, who last week reversed course on defunding the USPS by saying he would approve the money "through a separate thing" instead of incorporating it into the coronavirus relief bill, took to Twitter on Monday to vent his fury over the scheduling of the House hearing as it coincided with the Republican National Convention, during which Trump will be officially nominated the GOP presidential candidate.

"Why is Congress scheduled to meet (on Post Office) next Monday, during the Republican Convention, rather than now, while the Dems are having their Convention," Trump said. "They are always playing games. GET TOUGH REPUBLICANS!!!" Enditem
Pune-based FPL Technologies has raised $10 million in its series A round of funding from Sequoia India, Matrix Partners, Hummingbird Ventures and a clutch of angel investors.

FPL Technologies offers a mobile-first credit card solution, which consumers can apply through the OneScore app and requires no physical interaction with agents.

We believe that a world-class mobile-first consumer experience suited for Indian consumer preferences, would drive a large adoption of OneCard and we are committed to build and scale that in India, said Anurag Sinha, cofounder, FPL technologies.

A VISA Signature metal credit card, it is issued in partnership with a bank.

Through OneCard, the company aims to simplify card solutions for young Indians. It comes with enhanced reward offerings, which can be easily redeemed through the OneCard app.

OneCard is available in 12 citiesMumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Indore, Jaipur and Kolkata. The company plans to take it to other cities .

Since its launch in 2019, the startup has raised $15 million. The recent funding round will help the company scale up its engineering and product teams to develop and grow the issuance of OneCard to more customers.
UK Border Force officers help migrants with children, believed to have been picked up from boats in the Channel, disembark from Coastal patrol vessel "HMC Hunter", in the port of Dover, on Aug. 9, 2020. (Glyn Kirk /AFP via Getty Images)

UK County Reaches Capacity to Care for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children

Kent County Councils childrens services is currently hosting almost three times the number of children it can accommodate and cant accept more lone migrant children, local officials of the southeast English county said on Tuesday.

The announcement came as the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) arriving in the UK reached a record high, and a row broke out between the UK and France over which country should take the migrants.

Kent County Council leader Roger Gough said he was deeply disappointed and concerned that the council had to make this announcement, and that the issue would have been resolved if there had been a nationwide effort to share the burden.

The stark reality today is that, despite my conversations with the Home Office alerting them that Kent expected to reach safe capacity to meet its statutory duty of care this weekend, 13 new arrivals in the last 2 days has now tipped the balance and the council simply cannot safely accommodate any more new arrivals at this time, Gough said in a statement.

Over 4,000 Crossed Channel This Year In Small Boats

The county of Kent is home to Dover harbor, a major ferry port located across the English Channel from the French port city of Calais.

Over the years, asylum seekers and migrants have made the perilous journey across the channel to the UK from France or other countries near the English Channel. Some attempt to travel by boat; others try to smuggle aboard lorries that are transported by ferry or via the Channel Tunnel.

Dover, a port town in the southeast English county of Kent, and the French port city of Calais are seen on a map. (Screenshot/Google Maps. Map data (c)2020 Google)

In October last year, 39 bodies were found in a lorry in Essex, east England, adding to the numerous tragedies involving human trafficking. After Britain tightened its border control at sea ports, more migrants opted to travel in small boats.

Over 4,500 illegal immigrants have arrived in Britain since the start of the year, according to think tank Migration Watch UK. This is more than double the number of illegal immigrants who arrived in the whole of 2019, with the majority arriving after the lockdown period began.

Taking advantage of a spell of hot weather and calm sea conditions, hundreds of people including children and pregnant women have made the dangerous 21-mile crossing in recent days, many in overloaded rubber dinghies and other small vessels.

On Aug. 6 alone, 235 migrants made it across the channel in 17 boats, breaking the record set the previous week.

A migrant woman reunites with her child after arriving at Dover harbor, in Dover, Britain, on Aug. 9, 2020. (Paul Childs/Reuters)

Gough said that Kent County Council has cared for and found homes for over 1,500 UASC in Kent since significant numbers arrived at the port of Dover in 2014 and 2015.

The council is currently responsible for 589 children and 945 young adults who have left care, whilst still sustaining our focus on delivering high-quality services to citizen children in care, Gough said.

National Transfer Scheme

According to Sue Chandler, a cabinet member for Kents Integrated Childrens Services, the countys current problem of overcapacity could be solved if each other local authority in the UK accepted two or three UASC from Kent.

Kents numbers would reduce to the councils safe allocation as stated in the national transfer scheme (231 children)Kent is currently caring for almost triple this amount, Chandler said in a statement.

We are grateful for the support some other local authorities have given recently, but, unfortunately, due to the continued high level of arrivals, it has not been enough to make a real difference to the numbers in Kent.

Under the national transfer scheme (pdf), Kent can ask other counties to accept children on a voluntary basis. Chandler argues that the scheme has to be made mandatory.

In the longer term, to ensure that any recurrence of this inconceivable situation is avoided in the future we are appealing to the Home Office to mandate the existing national transfer scheme, or provide alternative central government incentives, to guarantee that the future care of UASC is fairly distributed nationally, she said.

UKFrance Row

Uncontrolled arrivals of asylum seekers and migrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia have long been a source of tension between European countries struggling to find an effective joint response.

The recent surge of channel crossing has ignited a new round of arguments between France and Britain.

Under the EUs Dublin regulation, which Britain still has to follow during the Brexit transition period, Britain can return the migrants to the first EU country in which they arrived, but it has to be done within three months.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the rule inflexible and rigid.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said in a tweet that the number of boat crossings was appalling and shameful.

France and other EU states are safe countries. Genuine refugees should claim asylum there, not risk their lives and break the law by coming to the UK.

Her office has asked the armed forces to help control the sea border, and appointed a small boat commander to work with France on the issue.

In response, French Mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart on Aug. 13 told AFPTV that Britain created the problem because of its own out-of-date laws on border control.

They [the British] have done so by failing to touch their legislation for 20 years, she said, according to The Guardian.

She told Johnson to calm down and change the way Britain deals with migrants.

Criticism in the UK

Critics, such as groups campaigning for the rights of immigrants and refugees, accused the British government of stoking some voters xenophobic fears by magnifying the issue.

Britain is better than this. The arrival of small numbers of people by boat is not a crisis, said Stephen Hale, chief executive of Refugee Action, urging the government to focus on the CCP virus pandemic and resulting economic crisis.

According to a BBC tally, the numbers crossing the Channel illegally this year are equivalent to less than 1 percent of all immigrants last year.

Mary Clark and Reuters contributed to this report
Photo credit: Adeline Lulo - Hearst Owned

Annie Reynoso wanted a tummy tuck. But her doctor said no. Uterine fibroids meant she wasnt a good candidate for abdominal surgery. He had an idea though, the doctor. If what Annie was looking for was a physical boost, there were other options out there. Like breast implants.

Annie, then 32, looked down at her boobs. She felt a little uncomfortable, like she was being upsold. But it was true, they were droopy. They could use some oomph. Plus, this was supposed to be a birthday gift to herself, something just for her. Shed been saving up for years. So she went for it: $4,500 implants that took her from a C- to a D-cup.

She didnt regret it. Not at first anyway. Her new breasts were perky. They did have oomph. They filled out shirts and dresses in a way that made Annie feel good about her body. She forgot all about the tummy tuck.

Photo credit: ADELINE LULO - Hearst Owned

Then it was a few years later, and odd things started happening: Her breasts swelled to a G-cup. She had fatigue that would knock her out for days. Sudden dizzy spells made it scary for her to drive. Shed get short of breath after walking just a few steps. She had night sweats that soaked her mattress. And there were even stranger symptoms: nausea if she ate before noon, and pain in her chest, neck, ears, and jaw that felt like the worst sunburn of her life. She kept tubes of Aspercreme in her purse, coat pockets, and desk drawer. At least a dozen times a day, she had to slather herself in ointment.



Throughout 2018, Annie got mammograms, blood tests, biopsies, MRIs, CT scans, an echocardiogram, and more. The results turned up nothing. Or almost nothing. One doctor diagnosed her with a fast heart rate. After a large lymph node was discovered on her neck, she got a biopsy. Still no conclusive answers. At this point, even though she had good health insurance, she was shelling out hundreds of dollars for co-pays and out-of-network specialists. The tests added up.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Annie paid for them all, until she lost her job as a mental health advocate, which she did full-time while also going to school. Shed been good at it, but she was always sick. And with so many bills and no income, she slid $7,000 behind in rent on her New York City apartment. More than once, she came home to an eviction notice taped to her door. Her car was almost repossessed; she cashed out her 401(k). Between the stress of her money problems and her illness, she failed four of her college classes, leaving her unable to graduate.

Story continues

Thats when something finally changed: A friend of Annies started feeling better after her implants were removed, and a rheumatologist told Annie some of her symptoms aligned with Sjogrens syndrome, an autoimmune disease potentially triggered by her implants. After that, all she could think about was getting them out.



Once again, she waited in a surgeons office. A new one this time. Shed gotten her implants in the Dominican Republic, where her family lives and they could help her through the recovery. Now she sat alone in New Jersey, consulting with a doctor about having her implants removed in a procedure called an explant. She was hopeful. Until she was told it would cost $7,500and that insurance wasnt likely to cover a dime.

It had nothing to do with where shed gotten her implantsinsurance companies generally dont reject coverage for complications just because an initial surgery took place out of the country. It had everything to do with the fact that insurers just dont cover the explant Annie needed, even though she wasnt changing her mind for aesthetic reasons. Even though she was dangerously sick and had reason to believe shed never get better as long as the implants were in her body. Even though she didnt have close to $7,500.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

When it comes to popular plastic surgeries, boob jobs are at the top of the list. Theyve been the most performed cosmetic procedure in the country for 13 years straight. In 2019, around 300,000 women got breast implant augmentations, a 41 percent jump from 2000, according to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). (This doesnt include the additional 107,000 women who got breast implants after a mastectomy and reconstruction, which is considered medically necessary.) Driving the record-setting numbers: Gen Z and millennial women, who make up nearly 70 percent of breast implant surgeries.

The uptick has no doubt been helped along by a ground-level plastic surgery economyno-surgery nose jobs, lunchtime lipo, in-and-out injectablesthat makes getting nipped, tucked, and filled seem as easy as getting a bikini wax or a teeth-whitening treatment.

It seems that way because thats exactly how its sold. Some plastic surgeons have adopted an attitude of Ill inform you of potential risks but follow up by saying those risks likely wont happen to you, says S. Lori Brown, PhD, a retired FDA researcher. Its not surprising why: The average surgeons fee for a breast implant procedure is around $4,000. Multiply that by 300,000 and theres your $1.2 billion reason for the everything will be fine.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

In many cases, doctors are righteverything will be fine. But in a lot of other cases, it wont. In 2019, nearly 34,000 women had their implants removed, according to the ASPS. A number that has been going up by the thousands the past few years. And a huge chunk of those proceduresexplants often cost between $7,000 and $10,000wont be covered by insurance, creating a new health and financial crisis for women.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

At the heart of it all is something both frustratingly murky and devastatingly clear: Women self-report any number of different symptoms like Annies that are believed to be caused by their implants, but there is no official medical term or definition. They have to just call it breast implant illness. Many doctors, citing a lack of scientific proof, dont believe the condition even exists. They rarely warn their patients about it in advance. Insurers dont acknowledge it at all.

And yet, there is evidence to suggest that breast implant illness might actually be an autoimmune disorder caused by implants. In 2018, a study in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that women with silicone breast implants had more than a 20 percent increased risk of being diagnosed with an autoimmune or rheumatic disorder.

There is also overwhelming anecdotal evidence online, in Facebook groups like Breast Implant Illness and Healing by Nicole, where hundreds of thousands of women share their stories. And of course, there are the endless comments on posts like Chrissy Teigens recent Instagram update about having her implants removed. Women saying they wish they could toowomen saying, Having them is making me sick.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Enter the question youre probably wondering about right now, which everyone involved in this entire mess has raised at some point: Who should pay when a voluntary procedure goes wrong? For women like Annie, the answer seems obvious. Theyre sick, they need health carehealth insurance (which, btw, they pay to have) should help them get well.



Still, most insurers wont. Its a bit of a game, says Scot Bradley Glasberg, MD, former president of the ASPS. Insurers use the fact that there is no true medical definition or billing code for breast implant illness as an opportunity to try not to pay for it. When it comes to explants due to breast implant illness, they consider it just as elective as the original implants were. (The exception is for women who undergo breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, including those done for preventive reasons, but even here, there are insurance-friendly loopholes. Some government- and religious-based plans are exempt from having to cover anything, leaving those women to pay for any later complications out of pocket.)



Never mind that insurers often cover the cost of addressing complications from other elective procedures like IVF and gastric bypass surgery. Or even other breast-implant-related complications that they can see, like a rupture. And confusingly, breast reductions are often covered in full if a woman can prove shes in pain and the surgery would end up improving her quality of life.

Photo credit: THE VOORHES - Hearst Owned

This is mind-boggling to people like Bailey Martindale, 30, who got breast implants to help correct a genetic condition that caused her breasts to grow long and narrow. For her, it was a quality-of-life decision as much as it was a cosmetic one, yet she still paid for them in full. Six years later, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Hashimotos thyroiditis and doctors said removing her implants would likely improve her health. She was also told that the $16,000 for the type of explant she needed was considered elective and therefore not covered. She still hasnt been able to come up with the money.

For sick women who are financially able to get explant surgery, it can change everything. In a July 2020 study in Annals of Plastic Surgery, researchers found that those experiencing symptoms of breast implant illness saw an improvement in their health within a month of having their implants removed. Like Lauren Dearman, who had explant surgery last November.

She was just 20 when her parents offered to pay $8,000 for her C-cup breast implants. Six years later, she began to have severe abdominal issues and chest pain, bad enough that she went to the ER. She was tired all the time and had such trouble focusing that she couldnt even write a to-do list. She couldnt climb the stairs to her third-floor apartment without gripping the railing. Her boyfriend told her she was out of shape. Her boyfriend, she knew, was wrong.

When she came across a Facebook group where women were talking about breast implant illness, the stories read like her own medical file. Within weeks, she made an appointment with a surgeon in Chicago who agreed that her implants could be at the root of her health issues. Lauren cried when she learned how much the surgery would cost. Her parents couldnt pitch in financially this time, so Lauren withdrew $2,500 from savings and took out a personal loan for $6,500 so she could have the procedure. At $190 a month, shell be paying it off for the next three years. But she feels so much better now.

In a health care system that has no problem paying for Viagra (and Viagra overdoses), the fact that women like Lauren have to finance their medical care is infuriating, says Cari M. Schwartz, a lawyer at the firm Kantor & Kantor in California.



Schwartz is working on bringing a class-action lawsuit against insurance companies that deny explant coverage. Shes interviewed hundreds of women across the country desperate to get their implants out. In every case, insurers denied coverage, even when physicians deemed removals medically necessary. Schwartz has seen women rack up credit-card debt, borrow money, lose relationships and jobs, and go bankrupt in an effort to save their health. Women are essentially told that their health issues are their fault, she says, because they chose to get implants.



Photo credit: Hearst Owned

In 2019, the FDA said it was putting more effort into educating doctors and patients on the systemic symptoms many women with implants experience. Although they also still say they dont have definitive evidence demonstrating breast implants cause these symptoms.

Doctors, too, remain reluctant to get onboard. To recognize breast implant illness is to kill the goose that laid the golden egg, says H. Jae Chun, MD, a Newport Beach, California, surgeon who specializes in explant surgery. And many doctors just arent going to mess with the goose.



In the meantime, one of the only options for desperate patients is the National Center for Health Researchs program to help women navigate the path to explant. They dont give out money, but if a woman has health insurance, theyll do what they can to coach her and her plastic surgeon through the insurance maze. Often, that means helping fill out paperwork explaining why the procedure is medically necessary. Its a process that can take months and still results in a denial the majority of the time, says Diana Zuckerman, PhD, the groups president. But so far, theyve helped more than 1,500 women get the explants they need.

Annie doesnt have the $7,500 for hers yet. She did get a new job and had started saving up, but she lost it during the pandemic. So shes been scrolling through job listings, many of which tout great health insurance benefits. Not that it matters.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Photos of Annie Reynoso by Adeline Lulo

Photos of Bailey Martindale and Lauren Dearman provided by the subjects

Explant photos by The Voorhes

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Eight months into production in Uganda, ENGO Holding Limited is making breakthroughs across Africa.

David Beecham Okwere, secretary of chief executive director of the electronics firm, told Xinhua in a recent interview that besides the domestic market, the company started exporting to the regional markets via dealerships.

Okwere said the company has positioned itself to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), aimed at accelerating intra-African trade and boosting Africa's trading position in the global market.

The firm exported the first batch of phones to Morocco in May, with the North African country ordering 16,000 pieces every two or three weeks.

According to experts, if all 55 African Union member countries join the AfCFTA, the agreement will become the world's largest free trade zone by the number of countries, covering more than 1.2 billion people, with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars.

"We hope to use that (agreement) as an entry point into the African market. Our vision is to become a giant manufacturing phone company in Africa," Okwere said.

Evelyn Anite, Uganda's minister of state for investment told Xinhua in a recent interview that the firm was not only contributing to the economic growth and development of the country but it was immensely helping in building local capacity through transfer of ICT knowledge and skills.

Chinese privately owned enterprises are following through their country's commitment to help industrialize Africa through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) framework.

One such enterprise is ENGO, which started with the assembling of feature phones and smart phones and later plans to start manufacturing. It hopes to create about 500 jobs by 2021.

At the Beijing summit of the FOCAC held in 2018, China announced industrialization as one of the eight initiatives that will help Africa fast track its economic transformation.

ENGO has also started manufacturing smartphones that have an installed thermometer. According to the company, the new innovation is critical as temperature screenings are now required before entry into a facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Okwere said the development of the device took a period of four months, starting in March, with support from the firm's parent company in China.

He said if the phone passes the approval process, it will be an addition in efforts to fight the pandemic that continues to spread on the continent.

Uganda's ministry of health said such an innovation is a big boost in the fight against the pandemic.
Foreign residents travelling to Dubai will still have to obtain permission before returning as the city opens door for people again amid pandemic. Reports suggest that in March, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) suspended the entry of non-citizens as a measure to battle the novel coronavirus. However, on August 12, the United Arab Emirates came out with measures in order to ease few lockdown restrictions, including the entry of foreign residents to seek approval before coming back to the state.

Read: Turkey Calls Out 'hypocritical' Decision Of UAE To Normalise Relations With Israel

Dubai prepares to battle against the novel coronavirus

According to reports, Dubai had reopened to foreign visitors in the month of July. Reportedly, Dubai on June 21 announced that it would allow international tourists from July 7 but with a set of conditions. All foreign tourists would have to show a certificate that they had tested negative for the coronavirus, not before 96 hours before arriving in Dubai. Abu Dhabi, which is the largest emirate has restricted movement with people requiring a negative COVID-19 test to enter.

Read: Dubai Named One Of The Alternate Venues For T20 World Cup 2021 To Be Hosted By India

Reports suggest that measures were taken to allow the residents either by granting them special exemptions or through an online registration system. Even after steps being taken, many had remained overseas. According to the reports by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority registration was no longer required to enter the UAE. Reports suggest that people returning are asked to submit their passport number and other details on a government website before they begin the travel. However, people overseas have highlighted that they have struggled to obtain approval to return as several applications have been rejected. According to reports, the UAE has recorded a total 64,541 coronavirus infections with 364 casualties.

Read: Netanyahu Announces Israel Preparing For Direct Flights To UAE Via Saudi Arabia

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(Image Credits: Unsplash)
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Port Louis, Mauritius  Tue, August 18, 2020 11:30 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066eb97d1 2 World Mauritius,oil-spill,Japan,Cargo,environmental-damage,environmental-issues Free

Japan is sending a second team of experts to help clean up more than 1,000 tons of oil that leaked from a Japanese-owned bulk carrier into pristine waters off the coast of Mauritius.

The decision came as the Mauritian government vowed to seek compensation from the ship's owner and insurer for "all losses and damages" related to the disaster.

Tokyo has already dispatched one team of six experts, including a coastguard expert and diplomats, to aid in the response.

The new team of seven experts is to leave Japan on Wednesday and will carry materials such as sorbent to help clean up the oil, Japan's embassy in Mauritius said in a statement Monday.

"The oil spill has caused serious damage over the southeast coastal environment of Mauritius and will have an inevitable impact on the country's tourism industry as well," the statement said.

"Japan has decided to dispatch the team out of comprehensive and holistic consideration of all circumstances, including the request of urgent assistance from the government of the Republic of Mauritius and the friendly relationship between the two countries," it said.

The MV Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef on July 25 and began oozing oil more than a week later.

Both the Mauritian and Japanese governments have come under fire for not doing more immediately to prevent a large-scale spill.

Japanese firm Nagashiki, the ship's owner, has pledged to "sincerely" respond to requests for compensation over damage to the marine environment.

The ship split in half over the weekend, and a portion remains stranded on the reef.

At a meeting Monday, the national crisis committee formed in response to the spill determined that it was "still risky to remove the remaining small amount of residual oil in the engine room" of that portion of the ship, according to a statement issued Monday night.

"Oil-pumping operations should resume as soon as the weather permits," the statement said.

The committee approved a plan to tow the larger section of the boat, which is not stuck on the reef, eight nautical miles "from the outer limit of the reef".

Help from India, France

Thousands of Mauritians volunteered day and night to clean the powder-blue waters that have long attracted honeymooners and tourists, before the clean-up operation was fully handed over to experts.

Greenpeace has termed the spill the "worst ecological disaster" in the country's history, threatening wetlands that boast rare mangrove forests and scores of fish and coral species.

Japan is not the only country to send aid.

A 10-member team from India's coastguard arrived in Mauritius on Sunday with 28 tons of equipment including booms, barges and skimmers.

And on Monday, Sebastien Lecornu, France's minister for overseas territories, said Paris would send three experts to help Mauritius determine what to do with the wreck.

France had already sent military planes, ships and equipment to help contain the oil spill, which also threatens the French island of La Reunion southwest of Mauritius.
Award-winning Irish design brand Jill & Gill has moved into a retail unit at 5 St Stephen's Green - a location usually only affordable to large fashion multinationals.

The 399 sq m retail unit close to the top of Grafton St in Dublin was previously home to a branch of the fashion chain Coast.

Landlord Aviva is making the unit and other vacant shops in its portfolio available on short-term licences to small Irish firms in a move that combines supporting local businesses with avoiding the scourge of 'void' or empty units in retail centres.

For the tenants, the pop-up shops mean access to a potential mass audience in places where commercial rents are beyond the reach of all but the biggest companies - even if it's only until the unit is let.

"To have this chance for people to see what a small Irish business can do excites us so much", Gillian Henderson of Jill & Gill said. "We want to showcase our skills and passion for modern, handmade Irish products. Through this store we can give a sense of the value and satisfaction of investing in local design that is meaningful and impactful and created with passion."

Aviva Life & Pensions is one of the country's biggest commercial landlords and is offering the sites on a short-term basis until they are let on commercial terms under the 'Champion Green' campaign to encourage consumer support for local producers and services providers.

It also reflects the growing number of vacant commercial units in prime retail centres across the country since the pandemic and subsequent lockdown took their toll. That includes the closure of big multinational fashion brands like Debenhams, Oasis and Warehouse

"The short-term licence arrangements are a 'win win' for everyone; not least shoppers and the city centre retail community," said Suzie Nolan, head of property fund management at Aviva. "We are enabling up-and-coming businesses to showcase their products in a physical and high-profile location which is expected to drive additional footfall to these locations.

"The property fund will also benefit from this initiative as, having the shops occupied by interesting and attractive tenants such as Jill & Gill, will assist in promoting the currently vacant units to prospective new tenants. While the vacancy rate in the Fund is only 4pc, it's made up of small units in well located properties that would be an ideal fit for the Champion Green initiative."
F resh from criticising Priti Patel's stance on cross-channel migrant crossings, the ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has unveiled a new flavour which takes aim at the Australian government's use of fossil fuels.

The tub for the Unfudge Our Future flavour  a mix of "chocolate and peanut butter non-dairy ice cream, fudge brownies and peanut butter cookie dough  features the message: "Dear Scott Morrison, make fossil fuels history!

As well as the Prime Minister, Ben & Jerrys has made personalised tubs for energy minister Angus Taylor and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, with messages calling on the coalition government to "invest in a fast and fair transition to 100% renewables"

The AUS$15 (8.20) ice cream is only available in Australia and was launched in collaboration with 350.org Australia, and the Climate Council.

(Ben & Jerrys) / Ben & Jerrys

A portion of sales will go to 350.org Australia.

Ben & Jerry's Impact & Activism Manager Steph Curley said: "Whilst climate change affects us all, it doesn't affect us all equally.

"Many of our communities are at an increased risk of a warming planet - and we have a responsibility to advocate for a new future.

"These are critical decisions that will impact Australia and our planet for generations to come.

"We've seen it's possible to redesign the way we live, and with enough people power - we can call on governments to rebuild for a cleaner, resilient and fairer future for everyone.

The company is encouraging customers to email to Mr Morrison, Mr Frydenberg and Mr Taylor to voice their environmental concerns.

The three groups are pressuring the Australian government to adopt a "science-led approach to climate change", to stop using fossil fuels and increase renewable energy usage.

It is Ben & Jerry's second political intervention in a week, after the company launched a scathing attack on the UK governments treatment of migrants crossing the English Channel.

A source close to Home Secretary Priti Patel later described the ice cream as overpriced junk food.
Kylie Jenner might have one of the most recognizable faces of the social media era, but getting to see her makeup-free is a rare treat for fans of the reality TV star.

The 23-year-old shared short video on her Instagram story, giving her devoted followers a rare look at both her natural hair and makeup.

Jenner shared the look at her makeup-free face before getting glammed up, going through her daily makeup routine.

Instagram / kyliejenner

Her go-to makeup look was unsurprisingly fully made up of items from her own brand, Kylie Cosmetics.

When Jenner was showing off her bronzer and blushes, she talked about how her personal makeup collection had gone through it and that she wanted her followers to know that she really does use this stuff, even though the mirrors on her blush palettes still had the cleanliness sticker on them.

Instagram/@kyliejenner

She continued by giving her 190 million Instagram followers a tour of her glam room, showing off an enviable amount of Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin products.

Part of the glam room tour included letting her followers know which Kylie Cosmetic product is her current favorite, which was the highlighter (or "kylighter") Queen Drip.

The reality star went on to share other products she favors, both of which had a food theme, including the Salted Caramel highlighter and the Sunday Brunch highlighter.

Instagram/@kyliejenner

After the tour of her glam room, Kylie shared another mirror selfie with her followers but this time, her makeup look was complete and her hair was perfectly curled.

The social media star has shared multiple photos of herself during her lavish trips over the past month, including a birthday visit to Turks and Caicos and a vacation to a mansion in Utah.
Jasmyne Boyce, from left, Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons and Debbra Sweat of Rantoul Reformed set up to register voters Friday afternoon at Golfview Village Apartments. They will also register voters from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Meadowlands and noon to 2 p.m Saturday, Aug. 22, at Pheasant Ridge.
MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell gets into a heated exchange with CNN's Anderson Cooper. CNN

A COVID-19 therapeutic drug being hyped by the MyPillow founder pushed CNN's Anderson Cooper to the limits of his patience on Tuesday afternoon.

"Sir, just for our viewers: You have no medical background. You're not a scientist," Cooper told Mike Lindell, a close ally of President Trump, also known as the "MyPillow guy."

"A guy called you in April and said he had this product. You are now on the board and are going to make money from the sale of this product," Cooper said.

"The reason he reached out to you is you have the ear of the president ... How do you sleep at night?"

Lindell has been pushing for FDA approval of oleandrin  a drug derived from a plant that is toxic when consumed raw  claiming it is a "cure" for COVID-19, despite that there is no evidence of a cure yet.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Anderson Cooper lost patience Tuesday afternoon while interviewing MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell, who has been pushing a coronavirus therapeutic he describes as a "cure" without evidence.

"Sir, just for our viewers: You have no medical background. You're not a scientist," Cooper told Lindell.

"A guy called you in April and said he had this product," Cooper continued. "You are now on the board and are going to make money from the sale of this product. The reason he reached out to you is you have the ear of the president ... How do you sleep at night?"

"Anderson, that's your narrative," Lindell said, before accusing "the media" of trying to deny the treatment to the American people out of an animus toward President Trump.

Lindell met with Trump at the White House in July to push for FDA approval of oleandrin. The meeting was first reported by The Washington Post.

Story continues

The drug, which is derived from a plant that can be fatally toxic when consumed raw, is being produced by a company called Phoenix.

Lindell sits on the board of the company, and reportedly vouched for the drug to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson.

"If people were left to their own devices, this would be the next hydroxychloroquine," an administration official told The Post regarding oleandrin, referring to the drug pushed by Trump early on in the pandemic despite medical scrutiny over its effectiveness.

Growing in frustration, Cooper asked Lindell, "How are you different than a snake-oil salesman?"

"I think my platform stands by itself," Lindell said. "I have a platform that God gave me of integrity and trust."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 19)  The Department of Health wants faster contact tracing and stricter localized lockdowns as Metro Manila and the rest of the country ease into relaxed quarantine measures, its spokesperson said Tuesday.

"We also set new targets wherein we have to find contacts of a positive patient or maybe even just a suspect or probable (case) within the 8-hour period they have while they are doing the active surveillance," DOH Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines' The Source.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday night that the government is targeting to identify at least 10 close contacts per COVID-19 patient, from a high of 37 contacts following the successful model used in Baguio City.

RELATED: Duterte calls police to sacrifice as PNP to be tapped in contact tracing

Vergeire said the past two weeks when Metro Manila and nearby Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite went under strict lockdowns gave time for the DOH to recalibrate its strategies, as requested by health workers who have been overwhelmed in treating thousands of patients the past five months.

The country's COVID-19 cases climbed to 164,474 on Monday, with 112,759 patients deemed recovered while 2,681 died. Experts from the University of the Philippines OCTA Research group project an "uncontrolled spike" to 230,000 cases by end-August should Metro Manila and the four provinces revert to GCQ.

"We want to implement strictly so that we will not reach that certain level of numbers in the cases, here in Metro Manila specifically," Vergeire said.

"Id just like to make mention also that even experts are saying that it is not just community quarantine that is the only intervention for us to fight COVID-19. Our economic managers are already telling us that we need to look at the economic side of this also," the DOH spokesperson added, pointing out possible spikes in hunger and in other diseases needing medical attention.

READ: PH cant afford to extend MECQ as economic costs pile up  Roque

Vergeire noted that the country can "expect higher cases" as the country's main business hubs reopen, like what happened in June and July when the stay-at-home rules were relaxed. Much of the strategies depend on people individually following minimum health standards to prevent transmissions, namely the wearing of masks, frequent washing of hands, social distancing, and the new rule on wearing face shields while commuting and when in the workplace.

There are currently more than 1,200 clusters of cases, which refer to an area with more than two cases of the disease at the same time. Vergeire said most of these are communities, as workers who may have gotten the virus while reporting to work infect their family members.

She added that DOH officials have been visiting local government units to provide support and technical assistance on active case surveillance. This involves going house to house to look for people who have flu-like symptoms or those who were exposed to a positive case so they can be isolated, tested, and treated as needed.
Even as Punjab and Haryana stuck to their stated positions on the contentious Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Union water resources minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday said the SYL could be completed and kept ready while discussions on water sharing continue and the final formula could be decided later.

The Union ministers view was reflected in an official statement issued by the Punjab government after his meeting with the states chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Shekhawat and Khattar were present in Delhi whereas Amarinder joined the meeting through video conference.

With todays meeting, the logjam between the two states has been broken. Both chief ministers expressed their views in the first round of talks. Another meeting will be held in a week or so to take things forward

Detailed discussion was held in a positive and cordial atmosphere. Both chief ministers expressed their views in the first round of talks. Another meeting will be held in a week or so to take things forward, Shekhawat told reporters after the meeting, adding that the logjam between the two states has been broken.

The central minister convened the meeting with the two chief ministers to work out a solution for implementation of Supreme Courts January 15, 2002, and June 4, 2004, orders to complete the remaining portion of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. The meeting was called on the directions of the apex court which, during a hearing on July 28, directed that the chief ministers of the two states meet to find out the solution if any, else there is a decree which has to be executed.

Punjab will burn if Centre goes ahead with SYL. Its an emotive issue that could disturb national securityThere had been no scientific assessment of the available river waters in the state to date. A tribunal should be set up for fair adjudication of it.

The sharing of the Ravi-Beas waters has been a bone of contention between Punjab and Haryana for decades. While Haryana has been seeking its rightful share, successive Punjab governments have refused to share water and complete the SYL canal, which was to carry the formers share of water, stating that it has not water to spare.

During the video conference, Amarinder reiterated the need for a tribunal to make a fresh time-bound assessment of the water availability, even as he sought complete share of water for his state from the total resource available, including from Yamuna. Besides asking the Centre to look at the emotive canal issue from the national security perspective, he suggested that Rajasthan be involved in discussions on the SYL canal/Ravi-Beas waters as it was also a stakeholder.

Construction of SYL canal has absolutely no connection with sharing of water between the states The canal must be completed as per decree of the Supreme Court. Not doing so is gross injustice to the people of water- deprived areas of Haryana

Khattar, on the other hand, said that completion of the SYL canal by Punjab and availability of water were entirely different issues. We are open for dialogue and discussion on the subject but with a clear stipulation and condition that construction of SYL must be completed as per decree of the Supreme Court at the earliest. Not doing so is gross injustice to the people of water deprived areas of Haryana, he added.
DENVER, Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE: AR) ("Antero" or the "Company") announced today that, as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 17, 2020, $191,566,000 principal amount of the Company's outstanding 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021 (the "2021 Notes") have been tendered and accepted for purchase (the "Tendered Notes") pursuant to the previously announced cash tender offer (the "Any and All Offer") on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated as of August 11, 2020 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"). This amount includes $18,480,000 principal amount of 2021 Notes tendered pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the Offer to Purchase and the related notice of guaranteed delivery provided in connection with the Any and All Offer, which remain subject to the holders' performance of the delivery requirements under such procedures (the "Guaranteed Delivery Notes").

Holders of 2021 Notes that have been accepted for purchase will receive the total consideration of $980.00 for each $1,000 principal amount of 2021 Notes purchased pursuant to the Any and All Offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon from the last interest payment date to, but not including, August 18, 2020. Antero expects to make payment for the Tendered Notes (other than the Guaranteed Delivery Notes) on August 18, 2020 and to make payment for the Guaranteed Delivery Notes delivered pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures on August 20, 2020.

Based on the results of the Any and All Offer, the maximum purchase price, excluding accrued interest, available to purchase the Company's outstanding 5.125% Senior Notes due 2022 and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2023 (collectively, the "Dutch Auction Notes" and, with the 2021 Notes, the "Notes") subject to the previously announced cash tender offers (the "Dutch Auction Offers" and, collectively with the Any and All Offer, the "Offers") will be $250,000,000, which was the maximum amount available for the Dutch Auction Offers regardless of the principal amount of Tendered Notes. The "Dutch Auction Cap" will be a principal amount of Dutch Auction Notes that can be purchased with such maximum purchase price.

The Dutch Auction Offers are scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, unless extended (the "Dutch Auction Expiration Date"). As more fully described in the Offer to Purchase, holders of Dutch Auction Notes who validly tender (and do not validly withdraw) their Dutch Auction Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Monday, August 24, 2020, unless extended (the "Dutch Auction Early Tender Deadline"), will receive the applicable "Dutch Auction Total Consideration" (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), including a "Dutch Auction Early Tender Payment" of $30.00 per $1,000 principal amount of Dutch Auction Notes. Holders who validly tender their Dutch Auction Notes after the Dutch Auction Early Tender Deadline will not be eligible to receive the Dutch Auction Early Tender Payment.

Information relating to the Dutch Auction Notes and Dutch Auction Offers is set forth in the table below:

Dutch Auction Notes

CUSIP

Numbers / ISIN(1)

Outstanding

Principal

Amount(2)

Total

Consideration

(Bid Price

Range)(3) 5.125% Senior Notes due 2022.........

03674X AC0 /

US03674XAC02

$ 756,030,000

$ 800.00  860.00 5.625% Senior Notes due 2023.........

03674X AF3 /

US03674XAF33

$ 705,641,000

$ 720.00  780.00





(1) No representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP numbers or ISIN listed in this release or printed on the Dutch Auction Notes. They are provided solely for the convenience of holders. (2) As of the date of this release. (3) Per $1,000 principal amount of Dutch Auction Notes accepted for purchase. Includes the Dutch Auction Early Tender Payment. Holders whose Dutch Auction Notes are validly tendered in the Dutch Auction Offers after the Dutch Auction Early Tender Deadline but by the Dutch Auction Expiration Date (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted for purchase in the Dutch Auction Offers will receive the Dutch Auction Offer Consideration (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), which does not include the Dutch Auction Early Tender Payment. Holders will also receive accrued and unpaid interest from the applicable last interest payment date to, but not including, the applicable settlement date with respect to the Dutch Auction Notes accepted for purchase.

As previously announced, and as more fully described in the Offer to Purchase, the "Clearing Premium" will be determined pursuant to a modified "Dutch Auction" by consideration of the "bid price" specified by each holder that tenders Dutch Auction Notes prior to the Dutch Auction Early Tender Deadline. The bid premiums of Dutch Auction Notes validly tendered after the Dutch Auction Early Tender Deadline will not be used in determining the Clearing Premium. The Clearing Premium for the Dutch Auction Offers will be the lowest single bid premium (the amount by which bid price exceeds the "Base Price," which is also equal to the minimum "bid price") at which Antero will be able to purchase Dutch Auction Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dutch Auction Cap. If the aggregate amount of Dutch Auction Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or below the Clearing Premium would cause Antero to purchase more than the Dutch Auction Cap, then holders of Dutch Auction Notes tendered at the Clearing Premium will be subject to proration as described in the Offer to Purchase.

Additional Information

The dealer manager for the Offers is J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and the co-dealer managers for the Offers are BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Any questions regarding the terms of the Offers should be directed to J.P. Morgan at (toll-free) (866) 834-2045 or (collect) (866) 834-2045. The depositary and information agent is IPREO LLC. Any questions regarding procedures for tendering Notes or requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal or the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery should be directed to the information agent for the Offers, IPREO LLC, at (888) 593-9546 (toll-free), (212) 849-3880 (all others) or [email protected]. Copies of such documents are also available at the following web address: https://www.debtdomain.com/public/antero/index.html.

This press release is for informational purposes only. This press release is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase with respect to any Notes or any other securities. The Offers are being made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, a related Letter of Transmittal and a related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, each dated August 11, 2020, which set forth the complete terms and conditions of the Offers. The Offers are not being made to holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offers will be deemed to be made on behalf of the Company by the Dealer Managers, or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. None of the Company, the Dealer Managers, the Depositary or the Information Agent makes any recommendation as to whether holders should tender or refrain from tendering their Notes. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering any or all of such Holder's Dutch Auction Notes, and how much they should tender or at what bid price any Dutch Auction Notes should be tendered.

Antero is an independent natural gas and oil company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of unconventional liquids-rich natural gas properties located in the Appalachian Basin.

This release includes "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are not under Antero's control. All statements, except for statements of historical fact, made in this release regarding activities, events or developments Antero expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as Antero's ability to successfully consummate the Offers and the terms thereof, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Although Antero believes that the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there is no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such statements. Except as required by law, Antero expressly disclaims any obligation to and does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Antero cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties incident to the exploration for and development, production, gathering and sale of natural gas, NGLs and oil, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Antero's control. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility, inflation, lack of availability of drilling and production equipment and services, environmental risks, drilling and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in estimating natural gas and oil reserves and in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to capital, the timing of development expenditures, impacts of world health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, potential shut-ins of production due to lack of downstream demand or storage capacity, and the other risks described under the heading "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Antero's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

SOURCE Antero Resources Corporation

Related Links

http://www.anteroresources.com


The Trump administration announced on Monday it has finalized a plan to open up part of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas drilling.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said drilling leases will soon be auctioned off so companies can start exploring for oil and gas, and this move "marks a new chapter in American energy independence." Under a 2017 law, there must be two lease sales in the refuge by 2024, and Bernhardt said he believes "there could be a lease sale by the end of the year."

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest national wildlife refuge in the United States, and is home to polar bears and caribou. Environmental activists warn that drilling in the Arctic will harm animals, pollute water, and hasten climate change. Gina McCarthy, president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council and a former Environmental Protection Agency administrator, told CNN the Interior's decision is an "egregious intrusion into the sacred lands of the Gwich'in and other Indigenous people" and a threat to wildlife.

Several environmental organizations said on Monday they plan on filing lawsuits to stop the leases. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has called for a ban on new oil and gas permits on public lands.

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ANZ Bank chief executive Shayne Elliott says the needs of retiree shareholders influenced the decision to pay a "prudent and modest" dividend amid such economic uncertainty, as it resumed shareholder distributions after an emergency pause.

Mr Elliott on Wednesday underlined the revenue challenges facing the bank, but said it was still generating excess capital and there was enough clarity about the outlook to return some of this to shareholders.

ANZ Bank chief Shayne Elliott said the lender had gained market share in mortgages during the quarter and seen a strong performance in its markets division, but he warned the virus crisis would not be resolved soon. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

While Westpac and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank both opted not to pay dividends this week, the better-capitalised ANZ unveiled a payment that was almost 70 per cent lower than last year, at 25 a share.

Some analysts including Jonathan Mott of UBS said before the result it would make sense to wait until later this year to decide on dividends after ANZ's board had already deferred the decision in April. But Mr Elliott said it was paying out only 15 basis points of capital, adding "on any description thats prudent and modest".
A novel receptor protein that binds to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and prevents it from entering cells may hold promise for treating COVID-19 and other coronavirus-related diseases, according to research published online Aug. 4 in the journal SCIENCE.

As scientists race to find treatments for COVID-19, many are focused on a specific protein called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, or ACE2, which is found on various cell surfaces throughout the human body. Its purpose is to generate smaller proteins that regulate functions within the cell. Using the spike-like protein on its surface, the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to ACE2 prior to entry and infection of cells. Thus, ACE2 acts as a receptor for the virus that causes COVID-19.

In the study, Dr. Erik Procko and scientists at the University of Illinois engineered a novel receptor that resembles ACE2, with the intent of using it as a "decoy" that can bind to the virus before it can latch onto ACE2 at the cell surface and invade the cell. First, Procko examined more than 2,000 ACE2 mutations and created cells with the mutant receptors on their surfaces. By analyzing how these interacted with the coronavirus spike protein, he found a combination of three mutations that made a receptor that bound to the virus more strongly and made it a more "attractive" target for the virus.

After Procko posted his findings to a preprint server, a colleague connected him with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. USAMRIID scientists, including Dr. Andrew Herbert of The Geneva Foundation, agreed to test the receptor in cells using live SARS-CoV-2.

We were already in the process of testing several therapeutic candidates for SARS-CoV-2, and Erik's approach seemed novel--and certainly compelling enough to give it a shot." Dr. Andrew Herbert of The Geneva Foundation

USAMRIID's team determined that the decoy receptor has potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2, activity that is on par with the best neutralizing antibodies identified to date. Furthermore, they found that the decoy receptor not only neutralizes SARS-CoV-2, but also acts to neutralize SARS-CoV-1, a closely related virus that uses the same cellular receptor.

"Once we confirmed neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2, it made sense to test for pan-coronavirus activity against other coronaviruses that also use ACE2 to enter cells," said Herbert.

Additional research is required to determine whether the decoy receptor could be used to effectively treat or prevent COVID-19 and related coronavirus diseases, according to Herbert. The team hopes to secure funding for animal studies to help answer those questions.
As many as 10 million people across California may take turns being plunged into darkness on Monday evening as the states grid operator works to keep the regions power system from collapsing under the strain of one of the worst heat waves in generations.

The outages, which were expected to hit as soon as 4 p.m. in California, would mark the third time in four days that the states utilities deliberately cut power to protect a grid thats been pushed to the brink of failure as people blast their air conditioners and fans to keep cool. The state is facing an electricity shortfall on Monday of about 4.4 gigawatts, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom. Thats the equivalent of about four nuclear power plants.

Let me just make this crystal clear: We failed to predict and plan these shortages -- and thats simply unacceptable, said Newsom, who called for an investigation into why officials failed to anticipate the need for blackouts.

Shortly after 3:30 p.m, the states grid operator declare a stage-two grid emergency -- one step away from a blackout order.

Since Friday, millions of Californians have been abruptly plunged into darkness with little notice, reminiscent of the mass blackouts that the states utilities carried out less than a year ago to keep their electrical lines from sparking fires during unusually strong windstorms -- all extreme weather events made more frequent by climate change. But even last years outages pale in comparison to the one planned for Monday. Rarely if ever have 3.3 million homes and businesses across California, or roughly 10 million people based on the average size of a household, been affected by a planned shutdown of this kind.

And it couldnt be hitting California at a more vulnerable time, with the pandemic forcing people into lockdown, leaving them with little choice but to endure the heat indoors.

The rotating blackouts will last for about an hour each, according to the states grid operator. This month is the first time California has resorted to rotating outages since the 2001 energy crisis, when hundreds of thousands of customers lost power, electricity prices surged to record levels and the states largest electric utility went bankrupt. (It went bankrupt a second time last year in the face of crippling wildfire liabilities.)

Part of the problem is Californias rapid shift away from natural gas. About 9 gigawatts of gas generation, enough to power 6.8 million homes, have been retired over the past five years as the state turns increasingly to renewables, according to BloombergNEF. That leaves fewer options when the sun sets and solar production wanes.

Normally, California can import enough power from neighboring states when supplies are tight. But the sprawling heat wave blanketing the U.S. West is pushing power plants to the hilt across the region.

California is in a tight spot, BNEF analyst Brian Bartholomew said. Its retired a lot of gas. And the storage thats supposed to help hasnt yet come online.

Tonight could be the grids biggest test yet, with temperatures expected to soar as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) in some parts of the state. Heat in some parts of the region has already broken records.

We dont have enough resources, John Phipps, director of real time operations at the California Independent System Operator, said on a conference call. Were going to have to call for blackouts.

Newsom, a Democrat, signed an order that will temporarily allow users and utilities to use backup generators to ease the need for blackouts.

By 3 p.m. local time, it was already 102 degrees in Sacramento. With temperatures climbing, demand for power in the state is expected to reach more than 49,700 megawatts Monday afternoon, just shy of the all-time record set in 2006. Power prices more than doubled, to the highest in five months.

The relentless heat is starting to take a physical toll on Californias power system. Transformers -- the metal cylinders sitting atop power poles -- can malfunction and catch fire if they dont cool off at night. And temperatures in some parts of Southern California are expected to remain in the low 80s overnight. During a deadly, 10-day heatwave in 2006, the states utilities lost more than 1,500 of these devices, with each knocking out service to one neighborhood in the process.

The heat wave gripping the West Coast stems from a stubborn, high-pressure system that has parked itself across the Great Basin spanning Nevada and other western states. It essentially acts as a lid trapping hot air, and there arent any indications its going to budge soon.

Such phenomenons, sometimes called heat domes, are getting worse because the Earths climate is changing. As the planet warms, the contrast between the heat at the equator and the cold at the pole decreases. That saps the strength of the jet stream, which otherwise would be able to shove the ridges out of the way. It explains in part why extreme heat has blanketed regions around the world in recent weeks.

Extreme weather has taken a profound toll on electrical grids in recent weeks. Earlier this month, millions of people lost power across the US Midwest after a wall of lightning, hail and deadly winds tore a path of ruin from central Iowa to Chicago. Days earlier, Tropical Storm Isaias darkened millions of homes from the Carolinas to Connecticut.

Soaring temperatures have already shattered records across California. According to the National Weather Service, Los Angeles International Airport hit a daily record of 93 degrees, breaking a previous high of 85 set in 1994. Death Valley reached 130 degrees for the first time since 1913. If validated, the weather service said, it will go down as the hottest August temperature there ever.
OTTAWA  Bill Morneau resigned suddenly as Canadas finance minister on Monday after weeks of speculation about his political future following his role in a charity scandal that rocked the Liberal minority government.

In accepting his resignation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hailed Morneau's five years of steering the Canadian economy through a new government, an oil price crash and the economic fallout of a global pandemic.

Trudeau and Morneau had reportedly clashed over how to spend billions of dollars to deal with COVID-19s impact on the Canadian economy  measures that have racked up a $343 billion deficit on the books.

Morneau's ability to remain in the job was an open question after his revelation that he had accepted complimentary trips from WE Charity before taking part in cabinet discussions to approve a $544-million contract for the organization, and only reimbursed the charity on the eve of an appearance before a House of Commons committee.

Trudeau now faces two of the biggest political crises that a government could confront: the abrupt loss of a finance minister and one of the biggest economic crashes in Canadas history.

He will need to name a political and financial leader he can trust to carry the confidence of financial markets and a minority parliament, reunite a restive caucus, and lead the way to an economic recovery that Morneau said will take many years.

Trudeau did not immediately announce a replacement following Morneaus resignation, but was expected to do so by Tuesday or Wednesday morning at the latest.

Among the contenders: Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos and Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.

Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney has also been mentioned, but is believed to be a long shot, given that he has never held elected office.

In a statement released shortly after Morneaus Monday evening news conference, the prime minister insisted that he retained confidence in Morneau, implying there was no big rift that drove Morneau to step down both as finance minister and as the member of Parliament for Toronto Centre  a notion that Morneau himself did not entirely rule out.

Morneau said that vigorous debate over policy choices is part of the normal interplay between a prime minister and a finance minister, or other cabinet members, especially during the pandemic when big economic measures were at issue.

He said he met with Trudeau on Monday morning and told the prime minister he was no longer in it for the long haul.

Its been an enormous privilege to have this job but, like any job, theres a time when youre the appropriate person in the role and a time when you have to decide youre not the appropriate person in the role, he told reporters at an early evening news conference.

Since Im not running again, and since I expect that we will have a long and challenging recovery, I think its important the prime minister has by his side a finance minister who has that longer term vision. So thats what led me to conclude during this time period that its appropriate for me to step down.

Morneau said he had never planned to run in more than two federal elections when he first sought a seat in 2015, and now will try to win the job of secretary-general of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development.

It was an abrupt shift for Morneau, who had told a friend just last week that he expected to remain in the finance ministers position.

Morneaus political instincts have frequently failed him, as demonstrated by changes to small business corporate taxes that he later dialed back, his failure to disclose to the ethics watchdog he had a holding company that owned his French villa, and his inability to forge alliances within Liberal caucus.

But the tipping point may have been the revelation that he had accepted trips from WE Charity before taking part in cabinet discussions to approve a $544-million contract for the organization, and only reimbursed the charity on the eve of an appearance before a House of Commons committee. That admission stunned the Trudeaus government, with a Liberal source saying his fellow MPs were shocked and angered by Morneaus failure to grasp the political ramifications of his actions.

Trudeau and Morneau each have close family connections to WE Charity, but both claim that the decision to choose WE to administer the governments student volunteer grant program was not politically influenced.

One of Morneaus daughters works for the charity and another has also spoken at WE events. Trudeaus mother and brother have been paid to appear at WE Charity events, and his wife has had her expenses reimbursed when she has taken part in WE Charity activities.

Just days ago, Trudeau appeared to be dampening speculation about Morneaus future after news that the prime minister had turned to Carney for advice.

Morneau, 57, was first elected in Toronto Centre in 2015. Married to Nancy McCain, he was head of the large pension and human resources management firm Morneau Shepell. He sold his shares in that company amid a controversy over his handling of small business tax changes and a pension change bill he introduced and later withdrew.

On Monday night, Trudeau said in a written statement that Morneau has been key to his governments biggest successes: in lowering unemployment before the pandemic struck, creating the child benefit that lifted families out of poverty and shoring up the Canada Pension Plan.

Every step of the way, Bill and I have worked closely together, along with our team of cabinet ministers and caucus members to help Canadians navigate this challenging time. Our number one priority has been supporting Canadian families and businesses the best and fastest way possible, Trudeau said. Thanks to his unwavering leadership and commitment to service through the pandemic, our government has laid the groundwork for a strong economic recovery.

Trudeau said he would support Morneaus bid to win the top job at the OECD.

Politically, Morneaus move was is a gift to the Opposition. The Conservatives, who choose a new leader next week, and the NDP painted Morneaus exit as proof the government is out of touch with ordinary Canadians.

Morneaus resignation' is further proof of a government in chaos, outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer posted on Twitter. At a time when Canadians are worried about their health and their finances, Justin Trudeaus government is so consumed by scandal that Trudeau has amputated his right hand to try and save himself.

Canadians are having a hard time making ends meet. During the worst recession since World War Two, families are worried about keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table. This is when people need a steady and reliable government. They need a government thats in it for them, and not wealthy insiders.

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh said Canadians deserve better than a government losing its finance minister on the eve of a major change to emergency benefits for millions of people who have no idea how to pay the bills in August.

This isnt about Minister Morneaus ethical lapses  its about the Prime Ministers failure to work for people instead of for himself, he said.

Singh underscored that Trudeau is himself facing a third ethics investigation after having violated the rules twice before.

In the first case, he accepted a vacation and helicopter trip to the Aga Khans private island for his family at Christmas. The second instance saw Trudeau cited for pressuring his justice minister to cut a prosecution settlement of corruption charges for SNC-Lavalin.

Ministers can come and go, but if the prime minister keeps breaking the rules for his wealthy friends, this governments priorities wont change. The failure to deliver for everyday people is on the prime minister. It starts and ends with him, Singh said.

Morneau spent five years steering the Canadian economy through a new government, an oil price crash and the economic fallout of a global pandemic.

During the past five months, he and Trudeau reportedly clashed over how to spend billions of dollars to deal with COVID-19s impact. Several Liberals downplayed the impact of those differences on Monday.
The Strategic Thinkers Network Africa (STRANEK-Africa) has appealed to government to consider declaring half working hours for workers on the election day, December 7.

At the end of a new voter registration exercise by the Electoral Commission (EC), Ghana is now gearing towards the December 7 polls with 16,983,306 registered voters.

During the 2016 General Elections, EC records reveal that 10,713,650 votes were recorded out of the 15,712,505 total registered voters. The calculations suggest that as many as 4,831,506 registered voters did not vote on the day.

In order to avoid a repeat in the upoing election, STRANEK-Africa is proposing to government to declare a half-working day backed with an instrument to compel business owners to allow workers to go out and vote in their numbers on December 7.

With 16,983,306 registered voters for the December 7th, 2020 election, it has become judicious for STRANEK-Africa to suggest to Government of Ghana to consider declaring half working hours for workers on the day of election, a press statement signed by the Director of Gender and Social Policy, Adjoa Tima Boafo has said.

STRANEK-Africa is of the view that A time should come where Ghana should boast of 99.9% voter turnout on the day of elections and we are hopeful that as we identify the challenges plus propose solutions to reduce the number of voters not voting during general elections, those solutions or suggestions are implemented. Then, Ghanaians can be more confident that our democracy is being strengthened day after day.

Read the full press statement below:

For immediate release:

17.08.2020

DECLARE HALF WORKING HOURS FOR WORKERS ON ELECTION DAY- STRANEK-Africa

STRANEK-Africa wishes to first of all, congratulate the Electoral Commission of Ghana and Ghanaians for a successful voter registration exercise despite some lingering issues. With 16,983,306 registered voters for the December 7th, 2020 election, it has become judicious for STRANEK-Africa to suggest to Government of Ghana to consider declaring half working hours for workers on the day of election.

In the year 2016 with 15,712,505 registered voters, 10,713,650 voters casted their ballot according to Electoral Commission of Ghana. This means that, in as much as 167,349 votes were recorded as blank or invalid votes, 4,831,506 registered voters did not vote on December, 7th, 2016. The implication is, there is more room for improvement so far as voters coming out to cast their ballot is concerned.

It is indeed trite knowledge with regards to the constitutional right of Ghanaians to vote so far as one has registered as a voter (article 42 of the 1992 Constitution). However, we are of the opinion that, a declaration by Government of Ghana backed by an instrument asking workers (except essential workers) to work half of their maximum hours of work, will go a long way to compel employers to allow their workers to close for the day when workers have exhausted half of their hours of work.

Most Ghanaians enjoy travelling to their hometowns to cast their vote. Thus, if a declaration by Government of Ghana backed by an instrument is passed, it will give workers the chance to travel to their hometowns to cast their vote on the day of general elections and even those who will move from one constituency to another constituency, electoral area to another electoral area since their place of work may not be where they vote.

A time should come where Ghana should boast of 99.9% voter turnout on the day of elections and we are hopeful that as we identify the challenges plus propose solutions to reduce the number of voters not voting during general elections, those solutions or suggestions are implemented. Then, Ghanaians can be more confident that our democracy is being strengthened day after day.

We are all involved in building our motherland Ghana.

Signed.

Adjoa Tima Boafo

Director of Gender and Social Policy

[email protected]

Nii Tettey Tetteh

Executive Director
By PTI

WASHINGTON: Describing Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan as "endangered minorities", a resolution introduced in the US Congress has sought to resettle these persecuted religious communities from the war-torn country to America.

Introduced in the House of Representatives last week by Congresswoman Jackie Speier and co-sponsored by seven others, the resolution supports refugee protection for Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, noting the "systematic religious persecution, discrimination and existential danger" faced by the members of these communities.

"Sikhs and Hindus are indigenous but endangered minorities in Afghanistan, numbering approximately 700 out of a community that recently included over 8,000 members," the resolution stated.

ALSO READ | Sikhs say 'tired' of living in Afghanistan

The resolution supports resettling Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan in the US under the United States Refugee Admissions Programme pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Expressing concern for the safety of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, the resolution condemns all terrorist attacks, religious persecution and discrimination against members of these communities in the war-ravaged country.

Noting that Islamic militants attacked a gurdwara in Kabul on March 25, killing 25 worshipers, including a four-year-old girl, the resolution said that the terrorists made further attempts on the lives of the survivors before and after the funeral ceremony held for the victims.

The resolution also mentioned the suicide bombing carried out by Islamic State-Khorasan in Jalalabad on July 1, 2018, which took the lives of 19 people, including leaders of Sikh and Hindu communities.

"These acts of violence follow a greater pattern of targeted violence against Sikhs, Hindus, and other religious minorities in Afghanistan in recent years," it said.

According to the resolution, the Department of State and US Commission on International Religious Freedom have documented systemic discrimination against Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, including restrictions on religious practices, illegal seizure of property, the inability to send their children to public schools due to harassment, judicial bias against religious minorities, and constitutional limitations on the political rights of religious minorities.

The former Taliban-led government routinely persecuted and discriminated against the Afghan-Sikh community, restricting their funeral rites and forcing the community to publicly identify themselves by wearing yellow armbands, it said.

The resolution rued that President Donald Trump has proposed resettling up to only 18,000 refugees for fiscal year 2020, in contrast to the Obama administration's proposal of 110,000 refugees for fiscal year 2016.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a political assembly meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea plans to convene a key meeting of the ruling party on Wednesday and discuss economic and military issues amid international sanctions and recent flood damage, state media said.

The ruling Workers' Party's powerful politburo will gather for its sixth plenary meeting to decide on the issues of "crucial significance in developing the Korean revolution and increasing the fighting efficiency of the party," the official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday.

The meeting comes as the isolated country is struggling to contain the coronavirus and cope with flood damage after weeks of heavy rain that hit the Korean peninsula.

Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to make a "frontal breakthrough" in the country's campaign to build a self reliant economy in the face of tightening sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programmes.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Kim Coghill)
The German government, in turn, denied this statement.

Visiting MZKT, a Minsk-based manufacturer of heavy off-road vehicles, Alexander Lukashenko has told MZKT workers that German Chancellor Angela Merkel called him, but the German government has denied this information.

"Yesterday Merkel called: 'I want to talk.' [Lithuanian President Gitanas] Nauseda and others ... 'We want to talk' ... The West or the East should not make me toe the line," the TUT.by channel quoted Lukashenko as saying.

Read alsoAlmost 80 people missing in Belarus after bloody crackdown on protests

Speaking in a comment to Reuters, the German government, in turn, denied this statement. According to the German government, Chancellor Angela Merkel has not spoken by telephone with Alexander Lukashenko since an August 9 presidential election in Belarus, after Lukashenko said Merkel had called on Sunday, asking to talk.

"Such a conversation between Merkel and Lukashenko has not taken place since the elections," the spokesman told Reuters.

Recent developments in Belarus in brief
Press Release

18 August 2020

This issue of our Monitor series is a landmark in so many ways. First, never has our industry sustained such prodigious pressure on performance across all markets in all countries across all continents for so long and to such a debilitating degree. Second, after nearly 50 editions working together on this industry-recognised publication, we are very sad to announce that this will be the last collaboration with our dear friends at STR. Watch this space for future publication collaborations. Third, Liverpool won the League (earlier and later than any other team).

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This is the first, and hopefully only, edition in which every single market recorded negative RevPAR performance. And not just modest declines. Big stonking ones. For example: Amsterdam (-68%), Prague (-73%), Paris (-73%). The best performers were Riyadh (-3%) and Cape Town (-25%). Amazing statistics and thanks so much to STR for being able to share anything in these strange times.

In terms of development costs, tender pricing has remained relatively stable as conflicting forces neutralise each other (namely lower productivity due to C19 safety measures versus lower prices from reduced activity).

Despite C19, there have been a good number of deals in a range of markets, including Africa and CEE/CIS. Of particular note has been the number of 'resort' transactions, especially in Greece, Italy and Portugal (long may this trend continue). More worringly though, we are starting to see receivership scenarios (especially in UK).

This issue of our Monitor series is a landmark in so many ways.

Our final page feature is a comparison of development costs between branded and unbranded hotels, whereby RLB provide a detailed breakdown of the additional costs that a developer/investor can expect to incur when chosing to work with a brand and to abide by their brand standards.
A man walks past a sign urging people to wear face masks in Melbourne as the city battles an outbreak of coronavirus

Australia has secured access to a "promising" potential coronavirus vaccine, the prime minister announced Tuesday, saying the country would manufacture it and offer free doses to the entire population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia had reached a deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to receive the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with Oxford University.

"The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in the world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian," he said.

"If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians."

The Oxford vaccine is one of five globally in Phase 3 efficacy trials, and researchers hope to have results by the end of the year.

It is the first such deal for Australia, and Morrison said his government was also in talks with "many parties around the world" over other potential vaccines as well as supporting local scientists in their efforts.

The country is yet to reach a final agreement with AstraZeneca on the cost, and a local manufacturer has not been locked in.

However, Australia has signed an Aus$25 million ($18 million) agreement with American medical technology company Becton Dickinson to buy 100 million needles and syringes to administer the doses.

Although none of the coronavirus vaccines under development has proved its efficacy yet in clinical trials, at least 5.7 billion doses have been pre-ordered around the world.

Five vaccines -- three Western and two Chinese -- are in Phase 3 efficacy trials involving thousands of people, including the Oxford vaccine.

AstraZeneca has also signed agreements to provide doses to the US, Europe and Brazil.

Another deal struck by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, would see India manufacture the Oxford vaccine for distribution in 57 low- and middle-income countries.

First shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine created by Western laboratories have often been snapped up by the United States.

Morrison said Australia remained "committed" to ensuring early access to the potential vaccine for Pacific countries and regional partners in Southeast Asia.

Earlier this month he called on nations to share potential vaccines, saying any country that discovered one and did not make it available globally "would be judged terribly by history".

Australia has recorded almost 24,000 cases of COVID-19 and 438 fatalities to date.

Early in the pandemic it was considered among the most successful at curbing the virus's spread until an outbreak in Melbourne, the country's second-biggest city, that authorities struggled to contain.

The outbreak -- which was traced back to two hotels being used to quarantine travellers returning from overseas -- has ravaged aged-care homes in the city, causing dozens of deaths.

An overnight curfew, mandatory mask-wearing and the shutdown of non-essential businesses now appear to be bringing the virus under control, with the number of new daily cases falling below 300 in recent days.
CASS COUNTY, MI -- A 59-year-old woman from Niles is recovering from minor injuries she suffered in a hit-and-run crash Monday afternoon.

The injured woman was the passenger in a vehicle struck in the rear by an unknown vehicle. Cass County Sheriffs officials said in a news release that the unknown vehicle continued westbound on U.S. 12.

Around 2:51 p.m., police received a call indicating a hit-and-run crash near the intersection of U.S. 12 and Fir Road in Cass Countys Milton Township.

The sheriffs investigation revealed the vehicle with,a 68-year-old driver and 59-year-old passenger were rear ended by an unknown vehicle, police said in the news release.

The injured woman was transported to Lakeland Hospital Niles by Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service. She was treated for minor injuries suffered in the crash, sheriffs officials said in the release.

The investigation indicated seat belts were worn by the occupants in the vehicle that was struck in the incident.

The Michigan State Police assisted in the investigation of the crash.

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Imphal:

Curfew was on Sunday imposed in certain parts of Imphal East district of Manipur in view of continued violence in the region following Fridayas triple blasts.



The curfew came into force from Sunday noon and covered Porompat and Sawombung subdivisions of Imphal East district. It will continue till further directions, an order issued by the District Magistrate said.



The governmentas decision to clamp the curfew follows the shutting down of mobile internet services in Imphal West district to halt spreading of rumours through social networking sites.

#Manipur Govt extends curfew in the entire Imphal East district in view of protest against NSCN-IM and #UNC economic blockade; issues notice pic.twitter.com/LLTY1BD5YG a News Nation (@NewsNationTV) December 18, 2016

A

Manipur: Protest staged against NSCN-IM in Khurai Heikru Makhong, Imphal East. pic.twitter.com/znA3YrG4dj a ANI (@ANI_news) December 18, 2016

The landlocked state has been experiencing severe hardship in supply of essential items since November 1 after United Naga Council (UNC) imposed an indefinite economic blockade on the two national highways that serve as lifeline for the state.



The blockade was imposed following the state governmentas announcement of A formation of seven new districts, four of which have been formally inaugurated.



Tension in the state heightened after suspected militants continued their violent attacks on Manipur Police and other state forces in the last few days that left three policemen dead and 14 others injured last Thursday.



The attack was followed by triple bomb blasts at Nagaram area in Imphal West district allegedly by Manipur Naga Peopleas Front on Friday.



In another incident, suspected militants overpowered a small outpost of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Nungkao area yesterday in Tamenglong district and fled with nine service weapons.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
But at their hearts, rituals connect us to community. In Studies of Religion I often talk to the students about the individuals rite being like a fractal repeating  one Hajis experience deepens and nourishes the faith of the entire ummah, or community.

As Australia has become more and more secular, the rituals of a predominantly Christian society are being replaced with moments that celebrate educational attainment. No longer posing babies in silk and lace baptismal robes, we starch their collars for the first day of kindergarten photos.

Rites of passage, and the rituals within them, are ancient and enduring. They mark and create time. They formalise what we already know about ourselves. That we are older, and that we are hopefully a bit wiser.

I remember two specific moments from the end of my year 12. As 120 year 12s lined up to enter the school chapel, Monsignor Doherty saw me and asked: Daisy, why are you crying? I responded: Because I am sad to be leaving school. I was not the only student crying, but there were others who were giddy and giggling with excitement to get out of there. The ritual of graduation gave us all a moment to mark the end of our time as students and the start of the great unknown of the long summer and university offers to come.

For individuals, school cohorts, and as a group of Australians all born in the same 12 to 15 months, year 12, and the rites and rituals associated with it, is the culmination of 13 years of education. Having survived 100 days of kindergarten, year 6 graduations and the awkwardness of school formals, students are celebrated by their parents and school communities. These coming-of-age rituals help students shape their identities and choose their paths and purposes. Every school is different, but COVID-19 has stripped us all of these rites and rituals.

I mourn the loss of rituals for year 12 because 2020 has been a year of constant unknowns. Thrown into their homes, they took to their screens to learn and socialise, and found isolation incredibly difficult. They lost the social infrastructure of the school day. They had to learn how to proactively ring their friends in an age of the best time to call is text.

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The rituals of year 12 graduation will be different this year, but schools will find ways to mark it so students can cry and giggle and know they are now adults. Watching Premier Gladys Berejiklian detail the new NSW Health directives on school events, one could see the sympathy she held for them, as someone who thrived at school and was probably more of a crier than a giggler when she left. Many year 12s were starting their trial examinations when they found out that the final rays of hope for end-of-year celebrations were being taken away.

There is one other memory I have of my year 12 graduation. Standing outside the school gates hugging my best friend Melissa as well as others. There was no ritual or formal rite in that moment, and I have hugged some of those girls many many more times in the past 18 years. Because high school, and its ending, is about the friendships you made, the friendships that will fade, and the ones that will keep for decades. It is about learning and choosing your tribes, even if you won't be able to hug them for a while.
The ASUS ZenFone 7 will pack in a powerful set of specs. ASUS confirmed yesterday that the device will become official on August 26. Well, the phone now surfaced on Geekbench, revealing some of its specs.

The phone appeared on Geekbench with the ASUS_I002D model number. The listing doesnt mention the ZenFone 7 specifically, but this is almost certainly ASUS upcoming smartphone.

The ASUS ZenFone 7 will offer powerful specs, as expected

The company doesnt really release that many phones a year, and it all fits. In any case, Geekbench claims that the phone will include the Snapdragon 865 Plus SoC. That is the most powerful processor Qualcomm has to offer.

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In addition to the Snapdragon 865 Plus, the device will also sport 8GB of RAM. It is possible that more than one variant of the phone will become available, though. So, its possible well see a 12GB RAM model as well.

Were still not sure how many ZenFone 7 devices will ASUS announce. Last year, only the ZenFone 6 arrived, but in previous years, ASUS tended to release several completely different models.

The ASUS ZenFone 7 managed to score 966 points in the single-core benchmark on Geekbench. In the multi-core test, it managed to rack up 3,282 points.

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The phone was also spotted at two additional certifications recently, NCC and TUV Rheinland, Those certifications confirmed that the phone will ship with Wi-Fi 6 support, Bluetooth 5.0, and that it will have a large battery.

A 5,000mAh battery will also be a part of the package

The ASUS ZenFone 7 will include a 5,000mAh battery, it seems. We still do not know how large will its display be, though. An OLED panel will almost certainly be a part of the package, which was not the case on the ZenFone 6.

Itll be interesting to see if this phone will offer a rotating camera setup like its predecessor. The ZenFone 6 had a rather interesting, motorized camera setup which acted as both the phones front and rear camera setup.

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That camera module did work really well, and it was even able to take landscape shots on its own. It also allowed ASUS to trim down the bezels without including a pop-up camera, notch, or a display camera hole.

The ASUS ZenFone 7 design still did not surface, so were not sure what to expect. Its possible that its design will appear in the coming days, though. The closer the launch date, the bigger the chance well see the device ahead of time.
The federal government issued an alert this week about a coronavirus test kit manufactured by a Massachusetts laboratory equipment company that may provide false results.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted laboratory staff and health care providers Monday that there is a risk of inaccuracies with the TaqPath genetic test produced by Thermo Fisher Scientific due to issues with the centrifugation equipment used to quickly spin samples before they get processed as well as the companys testing platform.

The Waltham-based companys molecular test makes coronavirus diagnoses based on respiratory specimens, according to a letter from the FDA. The test is designed to detect viral nucleic acid via nasal swabs.

After investigating customer complaints, Thermo Fisher found that inadequate centrifuging of test samples can lead to false positive results, the FDA said.

The company has since updated its instructions related to centrifugation to reduce the risk of false positives, according to the agency.

The second issue the FDA flagged was connected to the Biosystems COVID-19 Interpretive Software the company uses.

Laboratory staff must upgrade their software to reduce the risk of invalid, potentially false negative results or inconclusive tests, the federal government said.

The FDA authorized the Thermo Fisher Scientific TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit for use in the U.S. on March 13 and is working with the Massachusetts company to resolve the issues with the technology.

The agency did not disclose how many tests may have been impacted by the problems with the testing kit.

Related Content:
The world is nowhere near achieving herd immunity against coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

Dr Michael Ryan, the no-nonsense Irish epidemiologist in charge of the WHO's health emergencies programme, told people to stop pinning their hopes on the theory as a Covid fix-all.

Scientists believe at least 70 per cent of people need to have caught and recovered from the virus to reach herd immunity  when a disease runs out of room and can no longer spread because enough of the population have been exposed to it.

More optimistic experts estimate community protection could be established if 40 per cent of people had antibodies against Covid-19. But studies suggest only about 10 to 20 per cent of the people living in badly-hit countries such as the UK have the disease-fighting proteins.

Dr Ryan dismissed the controversial strategy of herd immunity as a viable policy at a press briefing today in Geneva, Switzerland, where the WHO is headquartered.

He said: 'As a global population, we are nowhere close to the levels of immunity required to stop this disease transmitting. This is not a solution and not a solution we should be looking to.'

Dr Michael Ryan, in charge of the WHO's health emergencies programme, said the world is nowhere near achieving herd immunity against coronavirus

Herd immunity could be closer than scientists first thought and as little as 10 per cent may need to be infected for the virus to fizzle out. Pictured are estimates given by different teams, and how many antibodies the UK population is thought to have now

The UK was one of the nations that pondered herd immunity as a public health strategy at the beginning of the crisis - which ministers have since come under fire for.

Sweden, on the other hand, went ahead with its herd immunity strategy and avoided locking down the country.

Without a vaccine and only one drug proven to cut the risk of death, it means that thousands of people will die from the virus if a country purposely tries to reach herd immunity. Covid-19 is estimated to kill around 0.6 per cent of everyone it infects but is much deadlier for older people.

Public health officials there modelled that about four in 10 Swedes would build up protection against the virus.

But a report published last week in Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine last week revealed about 17 per cent of people have had the virus - far below what would be needed.

WHAT IS HERD IMMUNITY AND WHICH COUNTRIES ARE PURSUING IT? Herd immunity is a situation in which a population of people is protected from a disease because so many of them are unaffected by it - because they've already had it or have been vaccinated - that it cannot spread. To cause an outbreak a disease-causing bacteria or virus must have a continuous supply of potential victims who are not immune to it. Immunity is when your body knows exactly how to fight off a certain type of infection because it has encountered it before, either by having the illness in the past or through a vaccine. When a virus or bacteria enters the body the immune system creates substances called antibodies, which are designed to destroy one specific type of bug. When these have been created once, some of them remain in the body and the body also remembers how to make them again. Antibodies - alongside T cells - provide long-term protection, or immunity, against an illness. If nobody is immune to an illness  as was the case at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak  it can spread like wildfire. However, if, for example, half of people have developed immunity  from a past infection or a vaccine  there are only half as many people the illness can spread to. As more and more people become immune the bug finds it harder and harder to spread until its pool of victims becomes so small it can no longer spread at all. The threshold for herd immunity is different for various illnesses, depending on how contagious they are  for measles, around 95 per cent of people must be vaccinated to it spreading. For polio, which is less contagious, the threshold is about 80-85 per cent, according to the Oxford Vaccine Group. WHICH COUNTRIES ARE PURSUING HERD IMMUNITY? Herd immunity is considered a controversial route for getting out of the pandemic because it gives a message of encouraging the spread of the virus, rather than containing it. When UK Government scientists discussed it in the early days of the pandemic, it was met with criticism and therein swept under the carpet. The Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said at a press conference on March 12, designed to inform the public on the impending Covid-19 crisis: 'Our aim is not to stop everyone getting it, you can't do that. And it's not desirable, because you want to get some immunity in the population. We need to have immunity to protect ourselves from this in the future.' Sir Patrick has since apologised for the comments and said he didn't mean that was the government's plan. In a Channel 4 documentary aired in June, Italy's deputy health minister claimed Boris Johnson had told Italy that he wanted to pursue it. The Cabinet Office denied the claims made in the documentary and said: 'The Government has been very clear that herd immunity has never been our policy or goal.' Meanwhile, unlike most European nations, Sweden never imposed a lockdown and kept schools for under-16s, cafes, bars, restaurants and most businesses open. Masks have been recommended only for healthcare personnel. Sweden only introduced a handful of restrictions, including banning mass gatherings and encouraging people to work and study from home. Dr Anders Tegnell, who has guided the nation through the pandemic without calling for a lockdown, claimed on July 21 that Sweden's strategy for slowing the epidemic, which has been widely questioned abroad, was working. Dr Tegnell, who previously said the 'world went mad' with coronavirus lockdowns, said a rapid slowdown in the spread of the virus indicated very strongly that Sweden had reached relatively widespread immunity. 'The epidemic is now being slowed down, in a way that I think few of us would have believed a week or so ago,' he said. 'It really is yet another sign that the Swedish strategy is working.' At the time Sweden's death toll was 5,646 which has now reached 5,787. But when compared relative to population size, it has far outstripped those of its Nordic neighbours. Advertisement

It comes after recent modelling suggested herd immunity against Covid-19 could be achieved if as 10 per cent of people get infected.

The calculations account for swathes of people who are less likely to get infected. Immunity among the most socially active people could protect those who come into contact with fewer people, scientists say.

The true size of the pandemic is a mystery because millions of infected people were not tested during the height of the crisis, either because of a lack of Covid-19 swabs or because they never had any of the tell-tale symptoms.

Counting how many people who have coronavirus antibodies through blood tests is, therefore, considered the most accurate way of calculating how much of the population has already been infected.

But research has suggested that antibodies decline three months after infection  meaning only a fraction of true cases during the peak of the crisis may have been spotted and exactly how much immunity the world has developed is unknown.

And scientists say immunity in the UK is likely to be far higher than what Government antibody testing shows because it doesn't account for T-cells. Top immunologists have said the infection-fighting cells are typically more durable and long lasting than antibodies.

There is no indication that any country in the world has developed herd immunity yet, based on antibody studies.

But in places severely battered by the disease, infectious disease specialists have speculated that there is some level of protection.

Professor Paul Hunter, at the University of East Anglia, said India - with the third most infections globally - didn't look far off herd immunity.

Studies have shown up to a quarter of people living in Delhi, which is home to almost 19million, have antibodies.

He told MailOnline: 'They do look like they are running up until the point they are achieving herd immunity.

'Given they are running somewhere in the order of two and five times the incidence in the UK, it means we are way behind that [in terms of herd immunity].'

Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told the New York Times: 'I'm quite prepared to believe that there are pockets in New York City and London which have substantial immunity.

'The reason people think it might be lower is that it's not the case that everyone is equally likely to be infected by a transmissible disease,' he told DailyMail.com.

'If you go through the naturally infectious process, you are going to generate immunity in the people most likely to be exposed, by definition.'

In other words, groups like essential workers and people living in multi-generational homes are most likely to have been outside of their homes early in the pandemic, making them most likely to have already been infected and to have developed immunity.

What remains to be seen is how much those groups - which represent a larger proportion of metropolitan areas - will provide a shield for their larger communities.

Dr Hanage said: 'What happens this winter will reflect that. The question of what it means for the population as a whole, however, is much more fraught.'

His comments follow the research of Professor Sunetra Gupta, a theoretical epidemiologist at Oxford University, who also believes London and New York may already have reached herd immunity.

A controversial study at Oxford University led by Professor Gupta claimed that up to half of the UK population may already have had Covid-19, and therefore herd immunity.

Modelling by the group indicated that Covid-19 reached the UK by mid-January - weeks before the first case was diagnosed.

But antibody testing conducted by Public Health England suggests just 5.7 per cent of the country had antibodies at the beginning of August, but the figure was as high as 8 per cent in London.

Professor Gupta said in an interview with Reaction: 'I think very few people would agree that exposure rates in London are less than 20 per cent.'

She believes herd immunity may have been reached partially because previous infection with other human coronaviruses, such as the common cold, may offer protection against the new one - SARS-CoV-2.

'That could be the explanation for why you don't see a resurgence in places like New York,' she said.

But the theory of cross-protection has only been explored by a few studies and are unable to give conclusive answers.

Other scientists say immunity levels may be far higher than estimated because antibodies aren't the only type of immunity against Covid-19.

T cells are also play an important role, but currently cannot be measured in surveillance programmes.

It's hoped T cells, which target and destroy cells already infected, would offer long-term protection  possibly up to many years later.

IS HERD IMMUNITY CLOSER THAN SCIENTISTS FIRST THOUGHT? Herd immunity could be closer than scientists first thought and as little as 10 per cent may need to be infected for the virus to fizzle out. Pictured are estimates given by different teams, and how many antibodies the UK population is thought to have now Herd immunity against Covid-19 could be closer than scientists first thought and as little as 10 per cent of people may need to be infected for the virus to fizzle out, experts say. It means pockets of London and New York and countries like India may already be immune to the life-threatening disease, should a second wave hit. Cases may not rise so drastically as they did during the first peak of the pandemic earlier this year because the disease has run out of room to spread, or the disease may be less severe if immunity is short-lived, scientists believe. Previously it's been speculated 60 to 70 per cent of the population would need to suffer Covid-19 or be vaccinated to gain 'herd immunity' status. But that would be devastating and cause millions of deaths, which is why Britain quickly dropped the controversial strategy in March. And scientists still do not have any firm proof as to how long immunity actually lasts once a person has fought off Covid-19, mainly because it is still shrouded in secrecy and has only been known to exist since the start of the year. Modelling studies have started to suggest that a far lower threshold is needed to achieve herd immunity  with researchers believing it could be between 10 and 43 per cent. The calculations account for swathes of people who are less likely to get infected. Immunity among the most socially active people could protect those who come into contact with fewer people, scientists say. The true size of the pandemic is a mystery because millions of infected people were not tested during the height of the crisis, either because of a lack of Covid-19 swabs or because they never had any of the tell-tale symptoms. Counting how many people who have coronavirus antibodies through blood tests is, therefore, considered the most accurate way of calculating how much of the population has already been infected. But antibody testing suggests just 5.7 per cent of England had antibodies at the start of August, but the figure was as high as 8 per cent in London. Other estimates have been slightly higher, saying around a fifth of people living in the capital have been infected  similar to levels in New York City. Advertisement

The Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, in Sweden, believe if there was a rapid commercial test to spot T cells circulating in the body, it may reveal that far more people have some form of immunity against the disease than antibody testing suggests  possibly double.

Professor Hunter noted 'a big caveat' with herd immunity - no one knows how long immunity to the coronavirus lasts.

He said: 'If you look at other human coronaviruses, they can infect people in subsequent years, so probably Covid-19 immunity doesn't last even year.

'And so they will achieve some degree of herd immunity but it won't last.

'It's quite plausible that most of those antibodies will fade in the Indian population but hopefully T cell immunity will be present.

'They are closer to having some sort of herd immunity that would lessen further waves. They aren't likely to be as bad as the first because the immune system of people who have had it will kick in a bit quicker.'

Previous estimates have suggested around two thirds (60 per cent) of a population would have to catch Covid-19 for herd immunity to develop.

Under this rule, it could have seen 40million people in Britain infected and hundreds of thousands more deaths than there already are.

However, research since has suggested lower variations for herd immunity thresholds which offer promise.

Just 43 per cent need to be exposed to the virus, according to scientists from Nottingham and Stockholm, or 24million people in Britain.

Professor Frank Ball, Professor Tom Britton and Professor Pieter Trapman  three authors of the new study  said herd immunity from the disease spreading could be 'substantially lower' than it would be from a vaccine.

They wrote in the journal Science: 'Our application to Covid-19 indicates a reduction of herd immunity from 60 per cent... immunization down to 43 per cent in a structured population, but this should be interpreted as an illustration, rather than an exact value or even a best estimate.'

Antibody testing in New York City suggest that as many as one in five (or about 20 per cent) of people there have some level of immunity to coronavirus.

And the new mathematical modeling study from the University of Sussex suggests that as much as 40 per cent of the state has immunity.

But Dr Hanage cautions that the virus may be spreading much more slowly in New York, and especially in New York City, but it is still spreading.

He also says that the resulting herd immunity would not be enough to prevent the deaths of large swathes of the population there.

'It's quite sobering if you imagine that what had actually happened in New York City was not the result of social distancing, but the natural epidemic curve,' he said.

'That came at the cost of nearly 300 deaths per 100,000 in the population.

'Imagine that per capita mortality rate over the entirety of the US getting [around] 900,000 deaths.'

But he added: 'The more immunity there is in the population, the more benefit you're going to get from non-pharmacological interventions (like social distancing) - it's better bang for your buck.'

Other researchers say just 10 per cent of the population need to catch the disease to gain herd immunity.

The study by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Strathclyd, found that Belgium, England, Portugal and Spain have herd immunity thresholds in the range of 10 to 20 per cent.

The study lead Dr Gabriela Gomes told the New York Times: 'At least in countries we applied it to, we could never get any signal that herd immunity thresholds are higher.

'I think it's good to have this horizon that it may be just a few more months of pandemic.'

Carl Bergstrom, an infectious disease expert at the University of Washington in Seattle, said: 'Mathematically, it's certainly possible to have herd immunity at these very, very low levels.

'Those are just our best guesses for what the numbers should look like. But they're just exactly that, guesses.'

The variation in estimates exist because modelling studies all take different approaches.

But they are producing lower herd immunity thresholds because they take into account that not everyone is susceptible to catching the disease.

An initial calculation for herd immunity assumes that everyone is at the same risk of Covid-19, which scientists know in real life is not the case.

Catching Covid-19 has shown to be more likely when people live in crowded conditions, live in poorer areas or work in essential roles, from nurses to bus drivers.

For example, researchers in Mumbai who conducted a random household antibody testing survey found between less than 58 per cent of residents in poor areas had antibodies, versus 11 to 17 per cent elsewhere in the city.

Those from black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) backgrounds have also been shown to be more at risk of catching the coronavirus.

Research from Imperial College London published last week suggested 17 per cent of black people and 12 per cent of Asian people in England have already had the virus compared with five per cent of white people.

Older people and those with underlying health conditions are also more at risk of getting severe disease and dying.

This alters how many vulnerable people are in the population the next time Covid-19 strikes, and therefore how many people need to have survived the virus in order to protect others.

The Stockholm and Nottingham academics hinged their research on levels of social activity, saying the virus is considerably more likely to infect people who come into contact with more people, either through socialising, picking up the children from school or work.

If the virus spreads more rampantly among the most socially active group, the level of immunity they build up could protect people in the less active groups, the study claimed.

Professor Hunter explained that herd immunity is intertwined with 'disease resistance' among a population.

He said if 50 per cent of people needed to be infected to gain herd immunity for a disease, but 25 per cent of the population could not get infected for genetic reasons or otherwise, then a smaller percentage of people need to be infected.

He said: 'Almost certainly an element of that will be true for Covid-19. And not everyone is genetically susceptible to serious disease.

'We know there is a big difference in people who go on to develop severe illness and indeed are likely to die, but what we don't know whether it actually stops you getting in mild or spreading the infection.'
KALAMAZOO, MI  A man who told police he accidentally shot and killed 21-year-old Wayland woman McKenna Dutkiewicz will stand trial on one charge of open murder in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

John Jacob Spangenberg, 23, is accused of killing Dutkiewicz at around 10 p.m. June 1 at his Kalamazoo apartment, located in the 1300 block of Jack Pine Way, just north of West Michigan Avenue in the citys Arcadia neighborhood.

Spangenberg waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 18, and was bound over to Kalamazoo County Circuit Court, where he will now stand trial, according to court records.

Kalamazoo Public Safety Capt. Craig Habel confirmed with MLive in early June that Spangenberg told officers he thought the gun was unloaded when he shot Dutkiewicz.

Dutkiewicz, according to her obituary, was a 2017 graduation of Wayland Union High School and attended Eastern Michigan University for two years. She had plans to continue her education at Western Michigan University.

Also on MLive:

Kalamazoo man, 23, charged with open murder in killing of Wayland woman

Citizens call for new leadership in Kalamazoo after failure during Proud Boys rally

None of them saw a single repercussion, counter-protester says of Proud Boys who rallied in Kalamazoo

City commissioners weigh in after Proud Boys and counter-protesters clashed in Kalamazoo on Saturday
Timm Hanly had to keep his romance with girlfriend Briana De La Motte under the radar during his stint on Bachelor in Paradise.

But now the show is over, the 28-year-old has nothing to hide.

'It was harder to hide it than it was to put it out there,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday. 'Briana's been hidden for the last few months. She deserves to let the world know that we are together and in love.'

Secret love: Timm Hanly (left) has admitted it was 'difficult' keeping his relationship with girlfriend Briana De La Motte (right) a secret while Bachelor in Paradise was airing

'It's natural when you love someone to want to everyone to see it,' he added.

Timm had to keep his romance off social media for months until the show had finished airing, due to his contractual obligations to Channel 10.

He was linked with Brittany Hockley while on Bachelor in Paradise; however, the pair split shortly after leaving Fiji together just a few episodes in.

Soon after the season finale, he enlisted Briana to be the face of his new clothing range, Front Runner.

Coming clean: 'Briana's been hidden for the last few months. She deserves to let the world know that we are together and in love,' Timm told Daily Mail Australia

He wanted to show his girlfriend how important she was to him, and said the decision to involve her in the project was a 'quick and easy' one.

'It's important for your brand to have a face and people to know who the founder is, and what the founder stands for,' he said.

The pair have had an on-off relationship for seven years, and reunited a few weeks after Timm left Paradise.

Brief romance: He was linked with Brittany Hockley (left) while on Bachelor in Paradise; however, the pair split shortly after leaving Fiji together just a few episodes in

Still Timm's Front Runner: Soon after the season finale, Timm enlisted Briana to be the face of his new clothing range, Front Runner. He wanted to show his girlfriend how important she was to him, and said the decision to involve her in the project was a 'quick and easy' one

Speaking about the success of his new range, Timm said he was surprised by the overwhelming number of orders and was not prepared for it.

'The fear was that it was not going to go well. That was the nightmare,' he said.

Front Runner's first collection drops on Tuesday, September 1
Some graduates of the School of Hygiene who were picketing at the Sanitation Ministry over unpaid allowances have been moved out of the premises by the police.

They, however, say, there will return to the premises threatening to use whatever means to have their demands met.

There was heavy police presence at the Ministry on Monday, August 17, 2020, following the insistence of the agitated graduates not to vacate the premises until they receive clearance for their unpaid allowances leading to a confrontation between the two.

The students, who brought along mattresses, food items and cooking utensils, set up camp at the Ministry as early as 3:00 am.

They accused the police of physically assaulting them.

The police started beating us after the Chief Director asked them to move us from the Ministry. They are just beating us mercilessly. Is that how we live in this country just because we are demanding what is due us? They just call the police to beat us up, one of them said.

Another student said, Akufo Addo promised us the allowance and now they are beating us.

But Citi News Philip Nii Lartey who was at the scene later in the evening reported that the police, after dispersing the crowd had packed their items into vehicles and conveyed them to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command.

Police officials told Citi News they had to use non-lethal weapons to disperse the students.

In this COVID-19 season, demonstrations and protests are not allowed under the Executive Instrument and here we are, they came up in their numbers threatening and massing up and it will be wrong if the police allow them to sleep here. We used a soft-hand approach talking to them to leave but some insisted that they will cause distractions at the Ministry and being protectors of state and individuals, we will not sit down for this gross violation. Therefore, we brought armless Police Personnel to use non-lethal equipment to drive them out and we have succeeded in doing that. Under my watch, no one was tortured, Director of Operations, Accra Regional Police Command, ACP Kofi Boakye said.

The Protests

These trainee students were promised an allowance of GHS400 each for the three years they were in school but the government has so far failed to pay any of the 1,348 students.

The Ministry of Sanitation has failed to pay the allowances. The President promised to give us preferential treatment by transferring us from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Sanitation but three years down the line, the Ministry has failed to restore the School of Hygiene allowances, leader of the group said.

We are here for our allowance and we are not leaving until we get our money. We are going to sleep there even if it takes a month, we will be here, one other student lamented.

As it stands now, each student is owed an accumulated amount of GHS 12,000 according to the group, contrary to the Ministry's claim of owing the students a total amount of GHS 9,096,000.

A closed-door meeting led by the Deputy Minister for Sanitation, Micheal Yaw Gyato, left students fuming.

The leaders of the students complain that authorities were not forthcoming.

They want to form a committee and they want us to be part of the committee to speed up the process to pay the money. But we have been hearing this story for years, the leaders complained.

---citinewsroom
A dramatically different first day is on the books for September, as Manitoba school divisions dial in on how to manage classroom demands with pandemic health risks.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A dramatically different first day is on the books for September, as Manitoba school divisions dial in on how to manage classroom demands with pandemic health risks.

Most Winnipeg school divisions released their back-to-school plans Monday. While plans vary, many have kindergarten to Grade 8 students resuming in-class lessons full time Sept. 8, with high school students attending in-class lessons two to three times a week.

Pembina Trails School Division superintendent Ted Fransen said high school students in the Winnipeg south end authority will get a taste of normalcy this fall.

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES A spokesperson for Safe September Manitoba  a coalition of teachers, parents and community members petitioning the province for remote learning options and smaller class sizes  called the division plans released so far "disappointing."

Fransen said the division has devised an academic program that will not require the cohorting of students; rather Pembina Trails four high schools will rely on physical distancing and students will attend class just two days out of the six-day school cycle.

"We have found a way to balance having a sound, strong academic program and keeping our students safe," Fransen said Monday. "We wanted to make sure that our students were safe and healthy, while maintaining a robust academic program.

"So by having our high schools divided into thirds, were able to have smaller classes at the high school and therefore not required to cohort."

Within the River East-Transcona division, students at schools in northeast Winnipeg will be cohorted and told to follow the "rules of the road" when moving through hallways, but generally will be sat in the same desk throughout the day. High school students will return for "up to five" days of in-class instruction.

The division has directed its schools to have staff move between rooms instead of pupils, and entry and exit times will be staggered and scheduled. Bus transportation within RETSD will be prioritized for those outside the Perimeter Highway or living 2.5 kilometres away from their school.

"Our schools will be ready for Sept. 8, 2020, and we ask that all parents and caregivers prepare now for sick days and look into transportation of their own students," said superintendent Kelly Barkman.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, speaks to the media during a COVID-19 update at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. For Carol Sanders story.Winnipeg Free Press 2020.

Many school divisions will provide reusable masks to students to wear when physical distancing is not possible. On Monday, chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said mandating masks in schools is not off the table.

Manitoba announced 38 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, with the majority linked to known clusters in the Brandon area and in the Southern Health region.

Continued unfavourable virus activity in September could prompt public health to re-evaluate how it goes about reopening schools, Roussin noted.

As is the case with most school divisions in Manitoba, Seven Oaks will only make remote learning available to students who have a doctors note advising against a return to class; otherwise, attendance for all students is mandatory.

"Thats one where weve basically just gone with the provinces guideline and advice from their reopening plan," superintendent Brian OLeary said. "It is something that would be case-by-case, but for us, teachers will have a full-time job with the kids who are present in their class.

"We cant ask teachers to support remote learning and teach a class. They can do one or the other."

The northwest Winnipeg division is endeavouring to keep students cohorted by classroom for early and middle years, and plans to have one metre of distance between desks. Most high school students will attend on alternating days  class sizes are cut in half  and will follow a normal class schedule, keeping two metres of distance from each other as much as possible.

DREAMSTIME Manitoba schoolchildren will return to class this fall. Provincial public health guidelines are in place and school divisions will determine how students will be effectively distanced.

OLeary said the division is expecting to establish additional classes for early and middle years, and is anticipating new costs for substitute teachers and beefed-up custodial services.

A spokesperson for Safe September Manitoba  a coalition of teachers, parents and community members petitioning the province for remote learning options and smaller class sizes  called the division plans released so far "disappointing."

"Dr. Roussin is continually emphasizing the need for all Manitobans to return to what he calls, the fundamentals,  mask use, physical distancing, avoiding prolonged indoor group gatherings  yet this province is proceeding with school reopenings as if the pandemic were over, with few precautions in place," a spokesperson said in a statement.

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Winnipeg School Division, the provinces largest, released a hefty 37-page pandemic planning document Monday, detailing its efforts to maintain staff and student health.

All people entering WSD property will be screened for symptoms, and the division recommends hand hygiene stations be placed throughout facilities, locker use be suspended, and water fountains be turned off. Students who eat lunch at school will have to do so at their desk. Additional custodial staff will also be brought on to sanitize high-touch areas and washrooms hourly. Students in high school will return to class to "the greatest extent possible."

The St. James-Assiniboia School Division is taking a reserved approach, with some programming paused for September. School sports, music and choir instruction, practical arts and culinary arts have been put on hold.

The west Winnipeg division has planned for grades 9 to 12 students to attend class on alternate days for the first three weeks of September. Later in the month, students can return to in-class learning every day, "if high schools can effectively timetable and implement physical distancing and the use of cohorts," the division's plan states.

In the short term, SJASD is telling parents to transport their children to school; in September, the division will only transport eligible bus students from the Headingley and Brooklands areas.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
The widow of PC Andrew Harper has said she is overwhelmed by the amount of public support for a campaign to jail people who kill police officers for life.

Lissie Harper, 29, is campaigning for a new law in her husbands name that would create a mandatory life sentence for those found guilty of killing an emergency worker.

Our justice system is broken and we need Harpers Law to help fix it, she said.

I have witnessed first hand the lenient and insufficient way in which the justice system deals with criminals who take the lives of our emergency workers.

Sadly nothing I do will bring Andrew back  but I know he would be proud of me for seeking to bring about a law change, which will hopefully act as a deterrent to anyone considering doing to one of his fellow emergency service workers the terrible thing that happened to him.

Ms Harper was expected to meet with her local MP, John Howell, on Tuesday and is waiting for a date for a meeting with the home secretary.

She said she had been overwhelmed by thousands of people across the country who have backed the campaign.

Ms Harper had been married to PC Harper for a month when he was dragged to his death by a group of teenagers who were stealing a quad bike in Berkshire last year.

The driver of the car, 19-year-old Henry Long, was jailed for 16 years for manslaughter, while Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were given 13 years each for the same offence.

All denied knowing the 28-year-old officer was attached to their car during a high-speed getaway.

The attorney general is currently considering whether the sentences were unduly lenient and Ms Harper wrote to the prime minister demanding a retrial after the trio were acquitted of murder last month.

(Thames Valley Police/PA)

But a judge said there was no evidence of jury intimidation or other issues that would have invalidated the verdict.

Ms Harpers campaign for a change in the law is being supported by the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank-and-file officers.

Chair John Apter, said: The killing of a police officer should see those responsible face the rest of their lives in prison.

This campaign would be Andrews legacy and we will continue to support Lissie in her efforts to seek justice and change the law for the greater good.

The current guidelines for sentencing manslaughter state that the sentence depends on the level of culpability and aggravating factors, which mean that punishments can be increased if victims were performing a public duty at the time of the offence.

For adult offenders, the starting point ranges from two years to 18 years depending on the circumstances.

Life sentences can be passed for manslaughter but are far rarer than for murder, which is a deliberate rather than involuntary crime.
A worker at the OBrien Fine Foods factory in Timahoe, Co Kildare, last week which shut down after 80 workers tested positive for Covid- 19

Serial testing will start at meat factories this week as staff at shuttered plants prepare to return to work.

A HSE spokesperson said it has been drafting a plan that will mirror testing regimes at nursing homes.

The move comes after the Government promised to ramp up testing in high-risk facilities.

Ministers said a serial testing programme would be rolled out for meat plants and direct provision centres.

"A letter will shortly go to them to commence the process of data collection in advance of testing," said a HSE spokesperson.

"A schedule will then be built and testing starting during the week commencing 17 August.

"This is a large and complex logistical exercise, but similar to those we run for nursing homes."

Workers at Midlands meat factory O'Brien Fine Foods are waiting for further test results after it shut due to a Covid-19 outbreak earlier this month.

It is understood staff at Kildare Chilling are also waiting for results following an outbreak. A spokesperson was not available for comment.

"The outcome of additional testing is expected over the coming days," said a spokesperson at O'Brien Fine Foods.

She said the plant will gradually reopen from next Monday in line with public health guidance.

"O'Brien Fine Foods is adopting a slow, controlled, and phased approach to the resumption of normal operations from 24 August," she added.

Separately, there were no days lost due to industrial disputes between April and June this year compared to over 7,000 during the same period last year.

Crisis

New official figures show there were three disputes during the same period last year which resulted in 7,693 days lost.

In the first three months of this year, there were four disputes involving almost 22,000 workers and 19, 912 days were lost, according to the Central Statistics Office.

There was concern in government circles that industrial action could plunge the economy into crisis.

Trade unions rejected a HSE proposal to ban industrial action.

Health managers tabled the plan as part of a strategy to deal with the pandemic.

This is the first time since 2015 that no days were lost to industrial disputes in a three-month period.
Tel Aviv, Aug 18 : The Israeli government has approved an aid plan for hotels across the country, at a cost of 300 million shekels ($88 million), the Ministry of Tourism said.

The hotel industry suffered a severe blow following the decision to shut down the country's borders in late February and a ban on foreign nationals entering Israel in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

This industry includes 430 hotels with more than 55,000 rooms, employing about 41,000 workers.

The Ministry said on Monday many of the hotels are struggling to recover, and more than 40 per cent of them were still closed.

The new plan, set by the finance and tourism ministries, will offer grants, aiming to preserve the tourism industry in Israel and ensure that it survives the coronavirus crisis.

Eligibility for the grants, as well as amounts, will be determined according to each hotel's revenues decrease, compared with corresponding periods in previous years.

Finance Minister Israel Katz said the plan would provide long-term certainty and support to hotels affected by the crisis.

Minister of Tourism Asaf Zamir added that "this is another important step in preserving the tourism infrastructure in Israel".

"We will continue to help all factors in the tourism industry return to be a significant engine of economic growth."
TORONTO (AP)  Canadas finance minister announced his resignation Monday amid reports of differences with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over government spending to protect the economy during the coronavrius pandemic.

Bill Morneau said he is leaving politics and has put his name forward as a candidate to lead the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Trudeau thanked Morneau for his five years as finance minister and said in a statement that Canada will vigorously support his bid to lead the OECD.

Morneau and Trudeau have reportedly butted heads amid spending to backstop the pandemic-hammered economy. Morneau said he was not asked to resign but added that he is no longer the appropriate the person for the job.

Canada's government is predicting a historic CDN$343 billion (US$260 billion) deficit for 2020-21 resulting from its economic and stimulus plans to battle the impact of COVID-19. Trudeau has called the spending a lifeline to Canadians battling to stay afloat.

Recent news that Mark Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, has been advising Trudeau during the pandemic fueled speculation that Morneau might be replaced.

Carney and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland would be considered favorites to replace Morneau but two senior government officials told The Associated Press that Carney is not a potential candidate to replace him. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. One of the officials confirmed Carney has been informally speaking with the prime minister for some time.

Carney was the first non-Briton to take the top job at the 325-year-old Bank of England.

Opposition parties have been calling for Morneaus resignation over allegations that he had a conflict of interest in a controversy with WE Charity, a scandal that has also touched Trudeau.

Trudeau has said he should have recused himself from a Cabinet decision to award a contract to We Charity to administer money to students having trouble finding work due to the pandemic. The almost billion-dollar program came under scrutiny after it was revealed that We Charity, an organization Trudeaus family has worked for, was chosen to administer it. Trudeaus wife, brother and mother have been paid a combined $300,000 Canadian (US$221,000) for speaking at a number of WE events.

Story continues

Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, said Morneau's resignation is not a surprise and noted he too had a conflict of interest with the charity.

By firing Morneau, Trudeau is hoping to take the attention off himself, Wiseman said. Once the government announced that Carney was advising Trudeau, that signaled that Morneau would soon be gone.

Wiseman said Morneau is the sacrificial lamb in the We Charity affair.

I dont think the departure was a product of policy differences, although the prime ministers office would like to make it so appear, he said. Morneaus departure is a direct consequence of his association with the WE charity, with him and his family having received free trips to Kenya and Ecuador and his daughters employment with WE in flagrant violation of the Conflict of Interest law.

Morneau has been Trudeau's finance minister since the prime minister took office in 2015. He is the former head of Canadas largest human resources firm, Morneau Shepell.

Gerald Butts, Trudeau's former principal secretary, noted recent leaked reports of acrimony between Trudeau and Morneau and said in a Twitter message earlier on Monday to knock it off.

Liberals are more lethal to Liberals than any competing partisans, Butts tweeted. Canadians have little patience for this stuff in the best of times, and these are not those. Friendly advice to former colleagues: knock it off, unless you missing losing.
Top Beijing officials are promising certain countries, with whom they have strategic partnerships, early access to Chinas imminent coronavirus vaccines as they seek to repair their global image following criticism over their failure to contain the initial outbreak of the virus.

The countries China is working with to produce vaccines and provide early access include Russia, Pakistan, the Phillippines, Brazil, and Indonesia. The details of Chinas negotiations with the countries remain unknown but are believed to be related to recognition of Beijings territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Chinas Foreign Ministry has struck a deal with the Philippines to provide them with priority access to a coronavirus vaccine developed in China, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Meanwhile, Chinas Sinovac Biotech Ltd., which is ostensibly privately owned, has reached an agreement with Brazil and Indonesia to cooperate in producing hundreds of millions of doses of its vaccine for use in those countries.

In Pakistan, the China National Pharmaceutical Group has agreed to conduct clinical trials in the country, and Pakistan will receive doses for about one-fifth of its 220 million population.

Russias health ministry must still approve a deal to produce a vaccine in Russia that was developed by Chinas military and the China-based CanSino Biologics Inc.

Of the six global vaccine candidates in the final phases of clinical trials involving people, three are being developed in China. Last month, the U.S. began the worlds largest vaccine study involving 30,000 volunteers, who will test doses of a vaccine developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna.

China was swiftly criticized by the U.S., Britain, and other western countries for allowing the coronavirus outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan to spill across the countrys borders and infect the rest of the world, causing a global pandemic.

The pandemic damaged ongoing trade negotiations between the U.S. and China as the Trump administration laid the blame on Beijing for the global crisis.

Story continues

They could have stopped the plague. They could have stopped it. They didnt stop it, Trump said last month.

More from National Review
By Alexandra Alper

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has looked at banning additional Chinese-owned companies following his decision to ban the short-video app TikTok, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Meadows said the administration was focused particularly on Chinese companies that collected personal data and could pose a national security risk.

"Most of what the president has looked at is banning other Chinese apps that might collect personal information and have potential national security risk," he said.

On Saturday, Trump said he could exert pressure on more Chinese companies such as technology giant Alibaba.

Trump, who has made changing the U.S.-China trade relationship a central theme of his presidency, has been sharply critical of Chinese-owned companies over national security concerns. Under a Chinese law introduced in 2017, companies have an obligation to support and cooperate in China's national intelligence work.

The Trump administration has also ordered TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations within 90 days.

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper; writing by Andrea Shalal; editing by Chris Reese)
As the conflict in Yemen approaches its sixth year, attacks on or near schools have forced many to close their doors, depriving thousands of children of their basic right to an education, a new report has found.

Independent Yemeni human rights organization Mwatana and the London-based Ceasefire Center for Civilian Rights found that the countrys warring factions have "all damaged, destroyed, used, occupied or attacked schools." The report released Tuesday documented more than 380 attacks on or in close proximity to educational facilities between March 2015 and December 2019.

Many of 153 airstrikes attributed to the Saudi-led coalition appeared to be indiscriminate, the report found. In the vast majority of cases, when coalition airstrikes damaged or destroyed schools, researchers were not able to identify a military target nearby.

In 140 out of 153 [cases], there wasnt any military presence in or near the schools. Its like they bombed the schools for nothing, said Noria al-Hossini, the reports lead researcher.

Mwatana and the Ceasefire Center also documented 171 instances of schools being occupied or used for military purposes, with the Iran-aligned Houthis responsible for a majority of incidents. Forces loyal to Yemens President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, as well as the Emirati-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) Security Belt, also used or occupied schools, the report found.

The report highlights a school in Hodeidah governorate that was seized by Emirati-supported forces in February 2018. Now functioning as a weapons storage site and military barracks for the Giants Brigades (Al Amaliqah), the school is fired upon daily by the Houthi rebels, witnesses said. The students, only a small fraction of whom have continued their schooling, now study at a nearby mosque.

The authors also recorded instances of Houthis planting landmines and storing explosive materials near schools. The STC and forces loyal to the government, including Islah-affiliated groups, have looted and damaged classroom furniture and forcibly entered schools with weapons, according to witnesses.

The war between the Houthi rebels, who overran the capital in 2014, and the Saudi-led coalition of Arab nations, which intervened the next year to restore the internationally recognized government, has created what the United Nations describes as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Already the region's poorest country, the fighting has left roughly 80% of Yemen's population in need of some form of aid, the UN says.

Children continue to bear the brunt of the crisis. The UN childrens agency, UNICEF, said in 2019 that one in five schools could no longer be used as a direct result of the conflict. More than 2 million children are out of school, and a further 3.7 million are at risk of dropping out.

Access to education remains a dream for millions of Yemenis, said al-Hossini. It was shocking that three or four years later, schools are still destroyed or damaged, and the young kids have to study under trees.

With 155 documented incidents, including 87 coalition airstrikes and 58 cases of school occupation and military use by the rebels, Saada was the governorate subjected to the most school attacks, the report said.

The Houthi-controlled northwestern governorate bordering Saudi Arabia was the site of an August 2018 air attack that killed dozens of young boys when a coalition warplane dropped an American-manufactured bomb on their school bus. The Western-backed coalition later expressed regret and said "mistakes" were made.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the governments who supply them with bombs and other weapons have been widely criticized for not doing more to limit civilian deaths in Yemen. A recent government watchdog investigation into a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia found that the Donald Trump administration failed to adequately assess the risk of civilian casualties in Yemen before authorizing the transfer.

In June, the United Nations angered human rights groups by dropping the Saudi-led coalition from its annual blacklist of childrens rights violators. In his report to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attributed 222 child deaths or injuries to the coalition in 2019, a drop from 729 the year before. The Houthis, who were deemed responsible for 313 such casualties, and Yemeni government forces, accused of 96, remained on the list.

Mwatana and the Ceasefire Center called on the United Nations to relist the coalition and refer Yemen to the International Criminal Court. Among its recommendations, it urged the warring parties to stop placing military targets near schools and put an end to practices that put students and teachers at risk.
The ruling Shiv Sena, which is part of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government, comprising the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, on Tuesday, launched into ally-turned-rival the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and alleged that the party benefitted the most electorally using social media and gained politically by spreading religious hatred since it assumed power at the Centre in 2014.

An editorial in Saamana, the party mouthpiece, referred to a news report published in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on August 14 that took a dig at Facebooks India operations for turning a blind eye to hate speech by a BJP elected representative and three other Hindu nationalist individuals and groups in a bid not to hurt the social media companys lucrative business prospects in its biggest market.

The editorial in the Marathi daily said that social media platforms can be used to voice opinions but if it is used to spread hatred to divide the country, then action should be taken against those without thinking about which party they belong to. Facebook cannot turn a blind eye to the person spreading hatred because he is from the ruling party.

It exhorted foreign companies to abide by Indian laws.

The BJP leader cited in the WSJ report is T Raja Singh, the lone party member of the Telangana legislative assembly (MLA), who is known for his provocative social media posts against Muslims and dabbling in divisive and rabble-rousing politics.

It is alright to have a difference of opinion on platforms such as Facebook However, the social media company (Facebook) is not a platform to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims, it said.

Instead of connecting society, social media is used to spread hatred. Today, countless new age Goebbels have their own law, judicial process, prison. Social media is on the payrolls of political parties. In 2014, the social media army had made a big contribution because of which the BJP had won the election under the leadership of (Narendra) Modi, it said.

In the last seven years, truth is being twisted and falsehood is being openly propagated. Rumours and hatred against religion are being spread for political gains, it added.

The editorial pointed out that social media was full of jokes and memes about former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh until not too long ago, but now the same platform has turned on the heat on PM Modi and ex-Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, which is tragic.

Keshav Upadhye, BJPs chief spokesperson, Maharashtra, dismissed the allegation that the party has gained electorally because of its divisive politics.

He described Senas charges as laughable.

Such claims made by the Congress or the Shiv Sena are baseless. It is far from reality. Before last years parliamentary elections, over 700 (Facebook) pages, which had right-wing propaganda, were banned. Today, too, materials written against Modiji are available on Facebook. The BJP has not benefitted electorally in any way, Upadhye rebutted.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also taken a swipe at the BJP over the WSJ report.

BJP and RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) control Facebook & WhatsApp in India. They spread fake news and hatred through it and use it to influence the electorate. Finally, the American media has come out with the truth about Facebook, Gandhi had tweeted on Sunday, two days after WSJ had published the report.

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Madhya Pradesh (MP) chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan state on Tuesday that only those who belong to MP would be eligible for state government jobs from now on.

We have taken an important decision that the state government jobs will be only given to youngsters, who belong to MP. We are putting in place necessary legal provisions to this effect. MPs resources are only for the states children, the CM said, in a video clip released to the media.

The Congress government led by Kamal Nath, whom Chouhan replaced in March 2020, had announced to reserve 70% of the jobs in the industrial units for locals but no guideline was issued in this regard.

In a tweet, the CM said: From today, the children of Madhya Pradesh will have the first right over the resources of Madhya Pradesh. All government jobs will be reserved only for the children of Madhya Pradesh. Our aim is to involve the local talents in the upliftment of the state.

However, legal experts differed from the views of the chief minister. Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Bar Council Shivendra Upadhyay said, A complete ban for students of other states will be unconstitutional. The state government can give some concession to the students who are from Madhya Pradesh but debarring students of other states is not legally possible.

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Four former top Republicans formally backed Joe Biden at Monday night's virtual Democratic National Convention festivites, with 2016 GOP hopeful John Kasich promising his fellow party members that the Democrat wouldn't become too liberal.

'I'm sure there are Republicans and independents who couldn't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat, they fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind. I don't believe that,' Kasich said. 'Because I know the measure of the man - reasonable, faithful, respectful and you know, no one pushes Joe around.'

Kasich was preceded in the program by former GOP New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former New York Rep. Susan Molinari and former GOP California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard who now runs Quibi.

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich asked his fellow Republicans to cross party lines and vote for Joe Biden

Former GOP New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman talked about how she's been a 'lifelong Repubilcan,' but now she's supporting Joe Biden over President Donald Trump

Quibi CEO Meg Whitman, who ran as a Republican for California governor in 2010, ridiculed Trump's business acumen

Rep. Susan Molinari talked about how, as a New York lawmaker, she's known Trump for years and it's been 'disappointing and lately so disturbing'

'What am I doing here? I'm a lifelong Republican. My parents were introduced at a Republican National Convention by their parents,' Todd Whitman said.

But she said she was compelled to vote for a 'person decent enough, stable enough, strong enough to get our economy back on track.'

'A person who can work with everyone,' she continued. 'Donald Trump isn't that person. Joe Biden is.'

Meg Whitman briefly belittled Trump's business acumen.

'And let me tell you, Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business let alone an economy,' she said.

While Molinari, who had represented New York City in the House of Representatives, talked about how she knew Trump for most of her political career.

'So disappointing and lately so disturbing,' she uttered.

As for Biden, Molinari called him her 'friend.'

'He really is a good man,' the lawmaker-turned-Google lobbyist said.

When it was Kasich's turn the camera hovered over the former Ohio governor as he literally stood at some crossroads in Westerville, Ohio, situated outside of Columbus and the former site of a Democratic debate.

Kasich's point: that Trump had taken the country 'down the wrong road.'

'It's a path that's led to division, disfunction, irresponsibility and growing vitriol,' Kasich said.

The former GOP governor pleaded with Republicans to cross party lines.

'Yes, there are areas where Joe and I absolutely disagree. But that's OK, because that's America,' he said.

He praised Biden for being a 'good man' and a person who had shown him respect over their 30-year relationship.

'Joe Biden is a man for our times,' Kasich said. 'Times that call for all of us to take off our partisan hats and put our nation first for ourselves ... and our children.'

Prior to the appearances of the four Republicans, the Trump campaign had lashed out and called them a number of names.

Kasich, the campaign said, was a 'sore loser.'

Molinari a 'swamp creature,' who had lobbied for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Trump campaign also noted that Meg Whitman and Christine Todd Whitman had already voted Democratic once - selecting Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016.


An outbreak of Covid-19 has been confirmed at a Glanbia food group factory in Co Kildare.

Four members of staff have tested positive for the virus in the Ballitore facility.

The company said the health and safety of employees, customers and suppliers is its top priority.

Kildare had the most Covid-19 cases of any county in yesterday's daily figures - 26 of a national total of 56.

The Cabinet is meeting this afternoon to consider new restrictions following an emergency meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) yesterday in response to an increase in virus cases in recent days.

A Glanbia statement on the outbreak said today:

"We are working closely with local health authorities and following all appropriate advice.

"Glanbia Ireland immediately activated contact tracing procedures and the companys health and safety and quality teams have implemented all the appropriate processes.

"Since March, we have managed the challenges arising from coronavirus with a dedicated crisis response team in place to ensure that our 2,000 people in Ireland are protected and that we continue the important service of producing food products and ingredients to serve our consumers, customers shareholders and communities."

Glanbia said it has has implemented detailed site protection plans and protocols at all of its locations and is managing health and safety through measures such as temperature checking at point of entry on site; heightened cleaning and sanitation; social distancing across operations; personal protective equipment (PPE); perspex partitions where appropriate, remote working where possible and limiting site access to essential personnel only.

The statement added: "This is in addition to the stringent hygiene measures followed throughout our entire supply chain, including operator measures and sanitation of equipment in all of our production facilities which are fully operational.

"Please be assured Glanbia Ireland is continuing to monitor this situation on a proactive basis and are taking all appropriate measures."

Glanbia said any staff who contract Covid-19 at the facility and anyone required to self-isolate will all continue to be paid.
She underwent a harrowing six hour operation on Friday to repair her broken feet and will need a wheelchair for the forseeable future.

And Katie Price looked pained as she tried out her new 10,000 personalised 'KP' wheelchair at her Surrey home on Tuesday.

The glamour model, 42, appeared in discomfort as she took delivery of the glittering pink wheelchair with her initials 'KP' spelled out in Swarovski crystals on the back, before she was helped into the seat.

Post-op: Katie Price looked pained as she tried out her new 10,000 personalised 'KP' wheelchair at her Surrey home on Tuesday

The star displayed her feet and leg casts as she was helped into the chair to try it out.

Fitting for the beauty's famous love of bling, the spokes were also adorned with pink and white crystals.

Katie looked stylish in a grey slogan print jumper and blue shorts as she chatted with friends, just four days after undergoing the surgery.

Her newly caramel locks were styled sleek and straight while a radiant palette of make-up enhanced the star's pretty features.

Bling: Katie's initials were spelled out in crystals on the back of her seat

Four days later: The star displayed her feet and leg casts as she was helped into the chair to try it out

Trying it out: Katie eased herself into the new wheelchair before going for a test run

Easy does it: Katie was given a tour of her new personalised wheelchair

Glamour: Katie looked stunning as she prepared to try out her new wheelchair

Family first: The mum of five was joined by youngest daughter Bunny, six

Katie looked focused as she chatted with experts about the wheelchair with the seat and footrest adjusted for her.

Katie recently broke her feet and ankles in a freak accident on holiday in Turkey with Carl and children Princess, 13, and Junior, 15.

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.

Watching on: Bunny looked on as her mother prepared to try out the new wheelchair

Close bond: Katie embraced her beloved daughter - who she shares with ex husband Kieran Hayler

Sparkle: Fitting for the beauty's famous love of bling, the spokes and rims of the wheelchair were also adorned with pink and white crystals

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.'

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 

Focus: Katie listened intently as she tested out the wheelchair with a pal

Getting about: Katie has been using a black wheelchair for her mobility but looked excited to get a pink version

Style: Katie looked stylish in a grey slogan print jumper and blue shorts as she chatted with friends, just four days after undergoing the surgery

'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.'

It was recently claimed Katie was banned from having sex with boyfriend Carl, 31, for two weeks after the surgery.

Checking it out: Katie inspected the new blinged-up wheelchair before getting in

Chat: The star was seen chatting with two glamorous friends as she looked at the wheelchair

Post surgery: Her newly caramel locks were styled sleek and straight while a radiant palette of make-up enhanced the star's pretty features

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.'

The requirement will allegedly be 'a real test' for Katie, but the star is said to be following the doctor's orders.

Trying out: Katie looked focused as she got to grips with the new wheelchair

Inspection: Katie looked to be a fan of the hot pink wheelchair as she inspected the crystal work

Smile: Katie looked delighted as the seat was adjusted for her before she got in

New wheelchair: The hot pink wheelchair was adorned with crystals

Agony: The mother-of-five took to her Instagram Stories in the early hours of Saturday morning to issue a hospital update after revealing she had undergone the surgery

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'.

Update: Katie has been keeping her followers updated with her injury and subsequent surgery

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.'
Brad Pitt will be working again with his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston when they appear at an upcoming live table read of the hit 1982 comedy Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

Pitt, 56, and Jimmy Kimmel, 52, were the newest additions announced Monday for the all-star lineup - which marks the first time Brad will have worked with Aniston since 2001.

Among the other celebrities joining the nostalgia exercise are Julia Roberts, Matthew McConaughey, Shia LaBeouf, Morgan Freeman, Henry Golding, Dane Cook and Sean Penn, who rose to fame with his role in the original hit film.

Collaborators: Brad Pitt, 56, will join his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, 51, in a live table read of Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1981) on August 21

The live event will stream on the Facebook and TikTok accounts of Penn's organization CORE on August 21 at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PST.

Fans can also stream the feed on LiveXLive, where they'll be able to donate to Core and other organizations currently battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Cook, who's appearing in the read, will also present the reading.

'On behalf of our dedicated team at CORE, Im so appreciative of the support Dane has given and continues to give to our work,' Penn wrote in a press release. 'I'm always game for a giggle. So to gather remotely for a night of laughs with so many talented folks while providing CORE with much-needed resources to continue our vital work  then consider us fully onboard to play!'

Penn has stayed mum on which character he'll play in the table read, though he has confirmed he won't be reprising his star-making turn as Jeff Spicoli.

All-stars: The read also features Julia Roberts, Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman, Henry Golding, Shia LaBeouf, Jimmy Kimmel, Dane Cook and Sean Penn; still from Fast Times At Ridgemont High

No repeats: Penn hasn't said who he'll play, though he confirmed he won't reprise his role as Jeff Spicoli, which catapulted him to the A-list; still from Fast Times At Ridgemont High

Though Pitt famously made a guest appearance on Friends in 2001, a year into his marriage with Aniston, the two have rarely worked together on screen or in film-related projects.

Following the end of the Tree Of Life actor's engagement to Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad and the Friends star, 51, struck up a relationship in 1998.

The two tied the knot in Malibu in July 2000, but they announced plans to separate by early 2005, and he later remarried to Angelina Jolie.

Despite the circumstances, the former couple have maintained a friendship throughout the years, though it seemed to have strengthened recently.

Exes: Pitt and Aniston began dating in 1998 and were married in Malibu in 2000, though they announced a separation in early 2005; pictured in 2000

Rare: Brad famously made a guest appearance on Friends in 2001, but the couple have rarely worked together despite maintaining a friendship even after their divorce; shown in 2001

Last year, Pitt made an unexpected appearance at Aniston's 50th birthday celebration, where the two had a genial chat.

Aniston had invited him, and the two reportedly had a significant chat, though she cut it short to allow other guests to spend time with her.

In January of this year, the two had another rendezvous at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where Pitt took home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor for his acclaimed role in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

His speech included a joke about playing a guy who 'doesnt get along with his wife,' which got a big round of applause and some cheering from Aniston in the audience.

When Aniston won her own award for her role in The Morning Show, her ex-husband paused backstage to watch her acceptance speech on a monitor, which she later called 'sweet' while speaking with ExtraTV.

The two shared a sweet moment of congratulations later in the evening when they bumped into each other back stage.
Hugh Jackman did a great job portraying Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

For 17 years, Jackman proved that he is one of the best actors after he continuously played the lead role in the franchise. From the 2000 film "X-Men" up until his seventh and last film "Logan" in 2017, he impressed his fans as he cemented his place in the series.

Because of that role, Jackman currently holds the Guinness World Record for the "longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero."

But everything in the film industry has to end one day or another, and the actor quit playing Wolverine three years ago.

While the news is still breaking the hearts of his fans and MCU followers, they suggested many actors like Henry Cavill, Liam Hemsworth, Jason Momoa, Keanu Reeves and Johnny Depp who could fit the role and replace him. However, a Marvel fan spotted the best actor to play the role after him.

In a new concept design created by famous digital artist BossLogic, Shia LaBeouf became the perfect and most ideal star to win the MCU character.

Earlier this month, BossLogic unveiled how the "Transformers" star can ideally replace Jackman for the next era of the MCU. This came after Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige's announced the list of the mutants who will arrive in the next phase during the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.

Although the studio is reportedly not rushing to introduce the X-Men to the MCU, the artist gave an idea to other fans how LaBeouf can be Feige's first choice for the role.

The MCU concept design by BossLogic recreated LaBeouf's visual by turning him into Wolverine with a bloody look after being shot twice. Such stunning design left fans in awe, especially when the output looks very similar to Jackman.

The fan edit also blessed LaBeouf with a part of the original costume, with his claws coming out of a gloved hand.

BossLogic posted the fan art alongside the caption, "Shia LaBeouf as Iceman... All honesty tho I think I just designed a @thehughjackman." [sic]

The graphic illustration currently has 74,000 likes, and it earned praises from netizens and fans.

One netizen said, "He'd be a great wolverine. He can play any role idc what anyone thinks. Carried Tax Collector as Creeper."

"Hugh jackman is the best wolverine I cannot imagine anybody else making the role after him," another one wrote before she finally accepted that LaBeouf is a great fit, too.

"I thought it was @zacefron first glance. He'd be my choice for Wolverine. Plus the Greatest Showman handoff at the end would double as passing the baton," another one suggested.

Last year, Jackman went back to Broadway to star in "The Music Man." Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the revival's launch has been moved to October 2020.

Meanwhile, LaBeouf went all-in for his role in "The Tax Collector" by having his entire chest tattooed.

READ MORE: Brie Larson Net Worth: How Much Did 'Captain Marvel' Earn After Big Break?
By Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for a report from the Puducherry District Magistrate (DM) over the alleged improper burial of a COVID-19 patient on June 5.

Responding to a complaint from the Secretary of the Federation for Peoples Rights G Sugumaran, the NHRC on July 24 directed the DM to furnish the report within six weeks.

Sugumaran in his complaint maintained that the body of Jyothimuthu who died of COVID-19 was thrown into the pit by health and municipality workers while burying it on June 5.

He alleged that video footage on social media showed the body being thrown into the pit in the presence of the Villianur Commune Panchayat Commissioner and Tahsildar without following the guidelines on burying bodies of COVID victims, thereby dishonouring it. He sought the intervention of the NHRC in this regard.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sugumaran said the Commission accepted the complaint and directed the Puducherry district collector in an order dated 24th July to initiate action and report to it by September 14.
ATLANTA, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimized Payments, a leading payments analytics and consulting firm, has hired a payments veteran, Jim Paradis, from Chase Merchant Services as one of its senior payments consultants. Jim will help the Company manage its growing portfolio of Fortune 1000 clients by providing analytics and advice to reduce the cost of payments and streamline back-office operations.

Jim brings over 30 years of experience in the payments industry15 of those years were spent managing national and international enterprise accounts with Discover and Chase, a global leader in payments processing. Throughout his career, he's identified millions in cost savings for his clients through interchange analysis and MCC management.

Reducing costs isn't the only skill in Jim's wheelhouse. He's well-versed in helping high-risk clients navigate Visa and MasterCard chargeback monitoring programs, as past successes indicate. In addition, he focuses on developing and monitoring key performance indicators for each client to ensure continued optimal performance.

"I'm excited to have Jim join our team," says Anand Goel, CEO of Optimized Payments. "He brings three decades of advanced knowledge and insights in the payments space, including contract renegotiation, interchange optimization, and overall industry best practices. His experience managing payment complexities and nuances with some of the largest insurance companies and billers in the U.S. will be invaluable as we serve clients in these verticals."

On what he's enjoyed most over his 30-year career in payments, Jim says it's being able to make a difference for his clients. Through identifying significant cost savings and consulting on processing efficiencies, he's become a trusted partner to dozens of large clients globally. "Joining Optimized Payments gives me the opportunity to continue contributing to my clients' success, and I'm eager to get started."

About Optimized Payments

Optimized Payments is a payments analytics and consulting firm dedicated to helping clients reduce the cost of card acceptance while simplifying the back office operations. By leveraging its proprietary software and its consultants' broad industry experience and insights, Optimized Payments has saved clients over $280 million in card processing costs.

Contact

Monika Llorens

Phone: +1 (404) 697-9180

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://optimizedpayments.com/

SOURCE Optimized Payments

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A Livingston Parish judge Tuesday delayed a hearing on whether the state can enforce its coronavirus mask mandate against a Watson restaurant, in effect letting the barbecue joint stay open if it wants to.

While 21st Judicial District Judge Brian K. Abels didn't say Firehouse BBQ could remain open, his earlier order preventing the Louisiana Department of Health from taking action against the restaurant will remain in effect another two weeks.

A hearing had been set for Tuesday but the judge rescheduled it for Sept. 1 so he can hold a longer court session. He expects to receive a brief from Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry in support of the restaurant and against Gov. John Bel Edwards' mask mandate.

The Louisiana Department of Health sued Firehouse this month, saying inspectors found employees and customers weren't wearing masks and tables weren't properly spaced out  conditions Edwards imposed on restaurants in an effort to help stem the pandemic.

Judge tells Louisiana officials to back off Firehouse BBQ pending a court hearing next week A Livingston Parish district judge has told state officials to not take any further action against a Watson restaurant that has been violating

Health officials pulled the eatery's food license, and a parish judge later issued a temporary restraining order directing Firehouse BBQ to close its doors if it wouldn't comply with state regulators.

After Firehouse defied the state's action, the state sought a contempt-of-court order that could have included fines and jail time. Judge Abels in turn issued a temporary order blocking the state from taking action against the restaurant, pending a hearing.

In a court filing Tuesday, lawyers for the Health Department said Firehouse hadn't demonstrated how it would suffer because of the mask mandate and noted that Edwards' order has not been found unconstitutional in any state or federal court.

Firehouse owner Eunice Danielle Bunch has posted a hand-written sign to the restaurants windows, just above the health departments shutdown notice, calling the mask requirement an "illegal mask mandate."

She has said some of her employees had adverse medical reactions to covering their faces. Edwards has suggested that if people aren't capable of wearing masks, they shouldn't be out in public because they would presumed to be at a higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19.

The Health Departments actions marked the first time a state agency moved to close a restaurant for not following Edwards' emergency order, arguing the restaurant is causing irreparable harm to public health.

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John Bel Edwards' coronavirus bar closure is constitutional, federal judge rules A federal judge has sided with Gov. John Bel Edwards in a lawsuit over his closure of bars, rejecting a request from several bar owners in the

Edwards administration previously took action on bars after ordering them to close, a move that was challenged in federal court by bar owners in the New Orleans and Houma areas, as well as in a separate state lawsuit in Acadiana.

The legal fight in U.S. District Court in New Orleans bolstered the states position that it can enforce public health mandates; a federal judge ruled the governor's bar-closure order was constitutional. The case in state court remains pending.

Pointing to an opinion by Landry criticizing the governor's mask mandate, Firehouses lawyer said the states emergency order is not enforceable because employers cant ask workers to disclose their medical conditions needed to exempt them from wearing masks.

The federal judge presiding over the lawsuit filed by bars said in his order Monday that Landry's opinion doesn't carry the force of law.

A wide range of public health experts have stressed the importance of face coverings, saying they limit the spread of viral droplets from the wearer to others. Its especially important, they say, because an unknown number of people can contract the virus and unknowingly spread it before they develop symptoms, if any at all.

Statistics cited by the state suggest mask-wearing and social distancing practices have helped lower the number of new cases in Louisiana.

Cases over the past week have dropped by nearly half compared to a month ago when bars shut down and Edwards mandated masks in most places. Though testing has declined slightly recently, the early summer surge in cases also led to a rising death toll.

+10 This BBQ restaurant is still open despite lost permit and court order. Now the state is stepping in A Livingston Parish barbecue restaurant defied a judge's order by opening its doors to diners Tuesday, setting up a showdown with Health Depar
Two to be honored for service to the community

As William & Mary celebrates the opening of the academic year, the university will honor a student and staff member for their community service.

Assistant Director of Health Promotion Eric Garrison and Sara Martinez 21 are the recipients of the 2020 Presidents Award for Service to the Community. The award is presented annually to one student and one faculty or staff member for their sustained commitment to service work that has made a significant impact on the community.

"These two active citizens inspire us in these times when we all must look for ways to use our own assets to create more just and caring communities," said Melody Porter, director of the Office of Community Engagement.

The award is usually presented during W&Ms Opening Convocation ceremony; however, that event has been postponed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the university is hosting a virtual opening ceremony Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. to mark the beginning of the 2020-2021 academic year, and Martinez and Garrison will be recognized during that event.

Garrison is being honored in part for his service last year as chair of the Virginia Campus Task Force to Prevent Sexual Assault.

I must acknowledge my peers dedicated work while recalling the thoughts of Fred Rogers when he said, Always look for the helpers, said Garrison. For me that includes collaborators. I dont do my work as a castaway on a deserted island in the Chesapeake Bay, so I certainly cannot accept this award as just one person. I am grateful to all the talented and caring faculty, staff and students who invite and inspire me, and I hope I invite and inspire them, so that together we can help create a health-promoting community that lasts long after this pandemic ends.

When the pandemic caused the cancellation of multiple Take Back the Night events planned at campuses across the state, Garrison recommended a virtual version. With the support of Garrisons colleagues at W&M, other universities and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, the task force hosted the first nationwide, collegiate Take Back the Net event this spring. Because of its success, the event will likely become an annual tradition, kicking off Sexual Assault Awareness Month each year.

"Eric Garrison has been deeply present to students, faculty, staff and community across the Commonwealth and beyond, supporting people who are recovering from trauma and creating spaces of healing and well-being on a grand scale, said Porter. He walks alongside survivors of sexual assault with empathy and understanding, educates and empowers students to be part of a community of care and advocate for just policies, and has creatively adapted his work during the pandemic to bring people together across distance where they can find common ground and a sense of renewed hope.

Martinez, a neuroscience major, is being honored for her work in addressing health care and food inequalities and the opportunity gap.

When I received the news, my initial reaction was shock followed by more passion, Martinez said. I thought, Did this really just happen? But then my gears began turning. I asked, Whats next? What can I do better? How can I engage more meaningfully with my community?

She has worked with the mentoring program Lafayette Kids and volunteered with Olde Town Medical and Dental Center. Martinez also served as the service chair and co-president of the Latin American Student Union.

"Sara Martinez has thoughtfully integrated her unique perspective, skills and consciousness of identity into her engagement with community and her peers, said Porter. As a Big in Lafayette Kids, Sara developed encouraging and supportive relationships with children in our community while being conscious of the power of sharing parts of her Salvadoran culture.

Because of the respect she has for community members and partners in her volunteer work as an interpreter at Olde Towne Medical and Dental Center, she took a medical interpretation course to expand her medical vocabulary. Sara has engaged her peers in meaningful conversations and work around identity, equity and justice.

Along with the award, Martinez and Garrison will receive $500 to donate to a community organization of their choice. Martinez has selected Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center, and Garrison has chosen the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, which hosts the Virginia Campus Task Force.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:07:59|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) looks to tap into new business opportunities with Indonesia amid the challenges from the COVID-19 epidemic.

Speaking on Tuesday at an online forum to promote trade, investment, professional services and innovation and technology between China's Hong Kong and Indonesia, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said that digital economy and innovation and technology will bring fresh opportunities for business cooperation between the two sides.

Lam said digital innovation has helped Hong Kong contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and minimize community disruption, which is open for sharing with overseas partners, including those from Indonesia.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR government Edward Yau said Hong Kong is an attractive location for Indonesian companies to expand to the mainland and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region.

Indonesian investors can establish businesses in Hong Kong to take full advantage of its close ties with the mainland and find new business opportunities especially in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Yau said.

The forum was held by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the HKSAR government and the Consulate General of Indonesia in Hong Kong. Enditem
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Linkedin Allan Policarpio (Inquirer.net/Asia News Network)  Tue, August 18, 2020 13:36 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ec3d99 2 People Orlando-Bloom,Katy-Perry,celebrity,pregnancy,actor Free

For Orlando Bloom, living in these new circumstancesamid the COVID-19 pandemichas been nothing short of surreal.

But as unnerving life is under quarantine, it also gave him the opportunity to just hit the pause button, and spend some time in introspection.

To be honest, I was working a lot and have found some real solace and a kind of reset. It feels like a reset that we all needed; a chance to reflect on whats important and what we have been doing, the movie star said in a recent interview in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

And I just hope that, you know, we can keep that. I hope that thinking can continue, through even if there are vaccines already in place, and people want to go about their lives, he added.

Orlando also acknowledged the privilege he has, saying that there are people who are having a rougher time out there.

I feel incredibly blessed. Obviously, youre (Jimmy) in New York and there are people there who probably couldnt get out of their apartments for weeks on end. So I have been feeling really grateful, he said.

One of those blessingsthe biggest one as of lateis the new baby on the way. His fiancee, pop star Katy Perry, is expected to give birth anytime soon, and Orlando cant wait to welcome their baby girl.

Im so excited to have a little daddys girl  that love of your life feeling. Well, I hope shes going to love me as much as Im going to love her, said Orlando, who described Katy as a force of nature. You wouldnt know shes pregnant other than the giant belly in front of her!

Read also: Pregnancy during pandemic forces Katy Perry to seek 'more balance'

His first kid, 9-year-old Flynn, with his ex-wife model Miranda Kerr, is just as excited. He has a couple of brothers (Mirandas sons with her second husband), but this is going to be his first sister! he said.

The 43-year-old British actor is a goodwill ambassador for the humanitarian agency UNICEF, whose job, Orlando said, has never been more crucial.

The world is suffering from this pandemic. And when we think about how we feel at home, you can imagine and multiply that by 10 or even more. There are already a lot of huge issues, then you add the COVID-19 element on top, he said. But UNICEF is on the ground all over the world, trying to help people and giving them PPEs (personal protective equipment).

Orlando has been working with the said organization for 11 years now, and he sees to it that he goes on a field trip with them at least once a year. So I can witness firsthand the work that they do on the field to save the lives of children and women in the most desperate situations, he said.

We do some documentation, put the message out and hope people can support, related Orlando, who had two films out last monththe war drama The Outpost and Retaliation, where he plays a survivor of sexual abuse.

The 43-year-old actor stressed that our actions and problems are all interconnected.

Obviously, its so challenging at home, but we also have the foresight that were a global community. And when one part of the community is suffering, the whole thing suffers. Grappling with that idea is challenging, he said.

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This article appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
New York governor Andrew Cuomo is writing a book about his experience managing the coronavirus pandemic and his relationship with the Trump administration, his publisher Crown announced Tuesday.

American Crisis, set to be released October 13, chronicles the ingenuity and sacrifice required of so many to fight the pandemic, the publisher said. The book will share his personal reflections and the decision-making that shaped his policy, and offers his frank accounting and assessment of his interactions with the federal government and the White House, as well as other state and local political and health officials.

Last month Cuomo said in a radio interview on WAMC that he wanted to write a book documenting the entire experience, because if we dont learn from this then it will really compound the whole crisis that weve gone through.

While New York now has one of the lowest infection rates in the United States, it had once been the nations virus hot spot, as the virus ravaged downstate New York, killing more than 25,000 people.

The questions are what do you do with the fear and would you succumb to it, Cuomo wrote in an excerpt from the book published by the Associated Press. I would not allow the fear to control me. The fear kept my adrenaline high and that was a positive. But I would not let the fear be a negative, and I would not spread it. Fear is a virus also.

The announcement comes the day after Cuomo turned his speech at the Democratic National Convention into an extended metaphor in which he compared President Trump to the coronavirus. The pair have often clashed, especially in regard to the handling of the virus.

While Cuomo has accused Trump of ignoring advice from scientists and being in denial about the severity of the pandemic, Trump has blamed Cuomos poor management for New Yorks more than 25,000 COVID-19 deaths.

Cuomo has received criticism for the states death toll among nursing home patients, as thousands of virus-related deaths occurred after the governor ordered hospitals to return nursing home residents to their facilities  even if they were infected with COVID-19  to free up hospital beds.

More from National Review
A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a new rule that would have rolled back Obama-era sex discrimination protections for transgender people in health care.

The rule, finalized in mid-June, was set to go into effect on Tuesday. The United States District Court in Brooklyn issued an injunction temporarily blocking the regulation from being enforced while a lawsuit moves forward, in light of a June Supreme Court ruling that established that employers cannot discriminate against transgender people in the workplace.

While the administrations rule was based on the idea that discrimination against transgender people was not discrimination because of sex, Judge Frederic Block said that idea is at odds with the high Courts decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga. which said sex discrimination protections in the workplace include transgender people.

When the Supreme Court announces a major decision, it seems a sensible thing to pause and reflect on the decisions impact, Judge Block wrote. Since H.H.S. has been unwilling to take that path voluntarily, the court now imposes it.

H.H.S. took a position on that issue, as it was entitled to do, he said. But that position was effectively rejected by the Supreme Court.

The ruling calls into question what it means to discriminate on the basis of sex. An earlier rule from the Obama administration would have required insurance companies to cover and health care providers to offer medical care for transgender patients. While several district courts upheld the policy, a Fort Worth judge said the rule was legally invalid and issued a nationwide injunction to block its enforcement.

The Trump administration cited the Texas ruling in its attempt to change the Affordable Care Act rule.

The director of HHSs Office for Civil Rights, Roger Severino, said in June that anti-discrimination protections should apply only to male or female as determined by biology in keeping with the lawmakers original intent when they passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Story continues

However, legal experts had predicted that the courts approach to health care jurisprudence would likely be affected by the Bostock ruling because the language in the Affordable Care Act was similar to the employment discrimination statute in the Bostock case, the New York Times reported.

The injunction is not the final say in the case: The judge will read briefs and hear arguments from both sides before issuing a final opinion and any decision could still be subject to appeal.

More from National Review
Actress Ankita Lokhande on Tuesday took to Instagram to share an adorable picture with her mother Vandana Phadnis. The mother-daughter duo looked super adorable in the different shades of blue.

I love u maa @vandanaphadnis, read the post.

Ankitas friends and her fans have poured in their love on the post and praised her beauty. Bigg Boss 13 fame Arti Singh dropped heart emojis in the comments section while a fan wrote, family goals love forever.

The actress has been in the news after she shared her bank statements to quash the rumours that the EMIs of her flat was paid by late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

She wrote, Here I cease all the speculations. As transparent as I could be. My Flat's Registration as well as my Bank Statement (01/01/19 to 01/03/20)highlighting the EMIs being deducted from my account on a monthly basis. There is nothing more I have to say #justiceforssr.

Ankitas boyfriend Vicky Jain extended his support and wrote, Hats off Miss Lokande, to which she replied, "@jainvick thanku thanku thanku and thanku for being my strength." (sic)

Sushants sister Shweta Singh Kirti also took to the comment section and said, You are an independent woman and I am proud of you my girl!

Ankita and Sushant had been in a relationship for nearly six years before they parted their ways in 2016.
Bengaluru, Aug 18 : A 15-year-old girl committed suicide in Sagade in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district, purportedly for not being able to afford a smartphone to attend online classes, an official said on Tuesday. The police are probing the smartphone angle.

"A 15-year-old girl committed suicide in Chamarajanagar's Sagade village for unknown reasons; we are investigating the matter," a police officer told IANS.

The young girl consumed pesticide on Monday and succumbed to its poisoning at the government hospital at around 7 p.m.

She was studying in Class X at the Sagade government school.

The police have registered a case of unnatural death.

"The parents of the deceased girl gave a written complaint about the suicide and we are investigating whether the stated reason for the suicide is true," he said.

According to the police, both the parents, Rajesh and Padma, are in their mid 40s and workk as labourers.

Though the version that the girl committed suicide because her parents could not buy her a smartphone is doing the rounds, the police are not endorsing it for now, saying the truth will come out only after the investigation.
Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - The micro-bogging website, Twitter, has suspended the account of Zimbabwes Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services over alleged multiple violations of the companys hateful conduct policy
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
You all have black lung, and youre all gonna die! Buff would yell at gatherings of miners.

A coalition of miners, physicians and activists known as the Black Lung Association began pressing for comprehensive reforms, including new programs for workers compensation. Miners carried signs at legislative hearings proclaiming NO LAW, NO WORK. Soon the movement reached into the mines themselves, with a 1969 strike of 200 workers in Raleigh County, in southern West Virginia.

The news quickly spread, and within just a few days, more than 10,000 miners in neighboring counties had joined the protest, Hamby writes. It was a wildcat strike; the United Mine Workers leadership didnt approve. Some 40,000 more workers across West Virginia soon took part in what Hamby calls the largest political strike in U.S. history.

As a result of the black lung uprising, West Virginia passed its first workers compensation laws related to the disease; Kentucky and Ohio soon followed. In 1969, Congress passed a comprehensive reform that attacked black lung at its source by requiring companies to sharply reduce (and to continually monitor) coal dust. Richard Nixon quietly signed it into law; unlike Trump he didnt invite coal miners to the signing ceremony, because he didnt have one.

The reforms were supposed to eradicate black lung, consigning it to coal minings primitive past. But putting the laws into practice was another, slower and much less visible fight. By the dawn of the new century, black lung was on the rise again, while coal miners had collectively assimilated a red state view of the world. Describing this new reality takes up most of Hambys book.

At first, the new generation of black-lung sufferers saw their ailment as the way of the world. As one miner tells Hamby: If you wanted to keep your job, you worked when and how the company told you and didnt complain. And another: If you was lucky enough to get a job and you had a family to feed, you done what you had to do to feed your family, sacrifice your body.

Hamby is not an elegant or emotional writer, but he does manage to capture the inner turmoil of his subjects as they get sick and realize the coal mining companies and their high-power attorneys are getting the best of them. Mostly, he accomplishes this with a blow-by-blow description of repeated doctor visits and proceedings before administrative law judges.

We werent lawyers. Didnt know anything about the law, Mary Fox, the wife of the miner Gary Fox says, remembering the couples first, unaided attempts to get black lung payments. We had never seen a courtroom before. An advocate stepped in to help the Foxes: John Cline. After several frustrating years working at a rural medical clinic, and seeing lawyers get the best of West Virginia miners again and again, Cline had gone to law school himself, at the age of 53, just so that he could represent them.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 16:02 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ed06be 1 Business Gojek,Southeast-Asia,integration,App,platform,ride-hailing-service Free

Gojek is integrating its application and using the single brand name Gojek for all its markets in Southeast Asia.

One mobile application can now be used to access Gojeks services in all its operating countries. For example, Indonesian users can access Gojek in Vietnam with their current Gojek app.

The company was previously known as GoViet in Vietnam and GET in Thailand, while it has been using the brand Gojek for its Indonesia and Singapore market.

The name integration in all four countries validates the competitiveness of local innovations at the international level, the companys co-CEO, Andre Soelistyo, said in a statement on Monday, which coincided with Indonesias 75th Independence Day.

The company reported that GoViet had made it to the 100 most reliable products and services list by the Vietnam Economic Times. Meanwhile, GETs food delivery was also reported to have the most growth among similar services in Thailand.

The platforms integration is also a reflection of the dedication of our driver-partners who continue to serve us even during this pandemic, said Gojek co-CEO Gojek Kevin Aluwi.

He added that the company would also integrate its driver-partner applications, such as Gojek Driver and GoKilat Driver for courier services, into a single app called GoPartner.

According to the University of Indonesias (UI) School of Economics and Business Demographic Institute (LD FEB UI) report released in August, Gojeks contribution to Indonesias economy reached Rp 104.6 trillion (US$ 7.2 billion) last year, or around 1 percent of gross domestic product at the time. (eyc)
The Air Force is investigating whether a small drone flew close to Air Force One as it came in for a landing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Sunday, following President Donald Trump's weekend trip to New Jersey.

The 89th Airlift Wing, which oversees the base, said the incident is under review. "The 89th Airlift Wing's C-32A aircraft landed safely without incident," a spokesman said in a statement.

Read Next: Trump Says Reported $2.2 Billion Cuts to Military Health System Are a No-Go

Several passengers accompanying the president described seeing a small drone. Bloomberg News reported the drone was "yellow and black and shaped like a cross" and flew off the right side of the plane, a modified Boeing 757 used when an airport cannot accommodate the larger VC-25A aircraft.

"We came very close to hitting it, per [Agence France-Presse's Sebastian Smith], who had a window seat," tweeted Bloomberg's Jennifer Jacobs.

Defense against small drones has become an increasing priority for the Pentagon in recent years, especially as the systems are easy to obtain.

Some bases have already invested in defenses against small unmanned aircraft. For example, U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and Air Force Global Strike Command last year began using "a command-and-control capability integrated with some detection and some jamming," according to Steve Wert, the Air Force's digital program executive officer, as reported by Air Force Magazine.

Part of the base defense role lies with Security Forces airmen. Last month, Lt. Gen. Warren Berry, deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering and force protection, told reporters those airmen will soon need better tools to deter unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which aim to disrupt base operations or spy on aircraft.

"We're going to need to factor in, as we look to the future, [ways to] counter small UAS," Berry said during a Mitchell Institute Aerospace Nation event.

"That's going to be a demand signal on this course moving forward that we're going to have to really think through," he said, adding that the Air Force is charting solutions to "make sure that we have [airmen] resourced appropriately to execute that part of the air base air defense mission as well."

The service is coordinating with the Army-led Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, he added.

The office in June authorized seven of 40 proposed defensive countermeasures to be used to detect and destroy enemy drones.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Air Force Formalizes $3.9 Billion Air Force One Deal with Boeing
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Scooters India, the government-owned firm known for making the iconic Lambretta scooters, is likely to shut down very soon as the two-wheeler maker continues to report losses since 2016-17. The company's net worth is also plunging. According to sources, a proposal to be placed before the Union Cabinet in this regard is being prepared.

Last year, the government made serious efforts to sell its entire stake in the company, but failed to get any suitable buyers. To give another try, the government is planning to sell the assets of the loss-making Scooters India and shut down the company. Sources said a panel of secretaries formed to oversee the disinvestment process has approved the proposal despite an opposition from the Ministry of Heavy Industries."

The Ministry of Heavy Industries has been tasked with finalising the proposal for the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' (CCEA) final approval. Once the cabinet gives a go-ahead to the proposal, the ministry will initiate the process of winding up the company. Another source said that "after the introduction of BS-VI norms, it is very difficult for the company to revamp it's production line".

As per the proposed plan, a major chunk of the company's land, approximately 147 acres, will be sold to the Uttar Pradesh government at a fair price while its manufacturing plant and machinery may be put up for auction.

The Scooters India brand name may be sold separately as it has famous brands such as Lambretta, Vijai Super, Vikram and Lambro. Currently, the company produces several types of three-wheelers under the Vikram brand. Government agency MSTC is likely to be roped in for auction of the assets. The receipt from the sale will be used towards the payment of its employees. Presently, the company has around 100 employees. They may be offered a separation scheme.

Scooters India has a market capitalisation of Rs 265 crore and the stock trades flat at Rs 30. Its 52-week high was Rs 50.55 and the yearly low was Rs 14.25.
US recourse to Dispute Resolution Mechanism in 2231 has no leg to stand on: Zarif

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 17 August 2020 / 15:04

Tehran (ISNA)  Iran's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated the fact that US recourse to Dispute Resolution Mechanism in 2231 has no leg to stand on.

"John Bolton has repeated today what he said on May 8, 2018, while National Security Advisor in the Trump administration," Zarif wrote on his official Twitter account.

"At least he is consistenta trait notably absent in this US administration. US recourse to Dispute Resolution Mechanism in 2231 has NO LEG TO STAND ON," he added.

Zarif made the remarks in reaction to former US national security advisor John Bolton's article in Wall Street Journal in which he undermined US' decision to activate snapback mechanism against Iran, saying: "The agreement's backers argue that Washington, having withdrawn from the deal, has no standing to invoke its provisions. They're right. It's too cute by half to say we're in the nuclear deal for purposes we want but not for those we don't. That alone is sufficient reason not to trigger the snapback process".

End Item

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SC reserves decision on all petitions challenging July 6 UGC guidelines

The Supreme Court reserves decision on all petitions challenging July 6 UGC Guidelines for mandatory conduct of final year university exams. SC has allowed parties to file written submissions of their arguments in three days.

Explain how UGC Act can override an order issued by disaster management authority: SC to Solicitor General

Court asks SG Mehta to explain how UGC Act can override an order issued by state disaster management authority. The Court said there is a doubt over this issue still. Court allows all parties to file their written submissions in three days.

Disaster Management Act has statutory supremacy in time of disaster: SG

SG repeats that this case should not be seen as a conflict between Centre and states. The Disaster Management Act has statutory supremacy in time of disaster which can either be local or spread across nation.

UGC guidelines has statutory or legal force: SG

SG informs Court that it is wrong to assume that UGC Guidelines are mere preaching. He reads out UGC Act to suggest that all guidelines of UGC shall be followed by all Universities. So the guideline of July 6 has statutory or legal force.

Most universities in states objecting against UGC guidelines have held their exams: SG

Many states which are now objecting to holding of exams, most universities in their states have held their exams. In Delhi out of 8 state universities, 6 have conducted exams. Court asks SG to supply the details in writing to the Court.

UGC guidelines vetted by Ministry of Health: Solicitor General

The UGC guidelines were vetted by Ministry of Health and Family welfare and all precautions were prescribed for holding exams. So its wrong to say that the Centre did not take into account the ground situation and public health concerns, the Solicitor General said

UGC Guidelines is flexible, we have given 3 modes to write exams: Solicitor General

SG tells Court that Maharashtra appointed expert committee in May that recommended exams for final year students between July 1-31. On June 19 state took a somersault. SG states that UGC Guidelines is flexible. It is based on rationale that degree has to be awarded based on exam. We have given three modes to write exam, time fixed to hold exams extended from July 31 to September 30. If anyone is unable to give exam, he/she will get another chance after September 30.

Dont want to make it centre vs state fight: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta begins arguments for UGC. He said,UGC Guidelines governs 900 universities across India. Dont want to make it Centre vs state fight. Both are supreme in their own spheres.

No contradiction between April 29 and July 6 UG guidelines: SC

Delhi raises the question that there is discrimination between those Universities which followed April 29 guidelines of UGC and those which are now being forced to conduct test.

Court says, There is no contradiction between April 29 and July 6 guidelines. The latest guidelines only prescribes the methodology of holding exams.

No rational difference final year and other year students: Advocate

There is no rational difference between final year and other year students. Other year students are being assessed on internal assessment while final year students life put to risk by asking them to either take online or offline test, the advocate said.

Public health is the issue, state has power to direct cancellation of exams: Advocate

Students cannot access libraries, textbooks, tuition. Nobody wants to venture out as elderly people at home are vulnerable. Even for online exams students suffer from connectivity problems. So public health is directly in issue and state has power to direct cancellation of exams, the advocate representing Delhi said

6 out of 8 universities in Delhi have completed exams, but students are facing difficulties: Sr advocate representing Delhi

Delhi tells SC that out of 8 state universities six have completed exams. But students are faced with handicaps for offline or online exams. Senior advocate KV Vishwanathan representing Delhi.

UGC didnt consult any medical experts to understand the realities before issuing guidelines: Advocate General of WB

Kishore Dutta, Advocate General of West Bengal tells Court that state is duty bound by its constitutional duty to protect health of citizens. This concern is not addressed by UGC. UGC did not consult any health or medical experts to understand the practical ground realities before issuing July 6 order.

South Bengal districts affected by Cyclone Amphan, most people were evacuated: Advocate

South Bengal districts are affected by cyclone and most people including students have been evacuated. To hold physical exams is not possible. On holding online exams both state and students lack digital infrastructure, the advocate said.

Section 12 of UGC Act requires consultation with states and university: WB

West Bengal points out that UGC order of July 6 is not a statutory document but an executive order. Section 12 of UGC Act required consultation with states and university. This was not done.

West Bengal begins argument

Odisha concludes arguments and West Bengal begins arguments. Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta is addressing Court for organization of university teachers of West Bengal

Odisha tells SC that it is not possible to hold exams due to Covid situation

Odisha tells SC that it is not possible to hold exams due to Covid situation. It stated that examination is culmination of 6 semesters and students are being marked based on performance of five semesters.

Now Covid cases have peaked in Odisha. More than 2 lakh students are in final year. Most students have returned back home. Several students are in rural areas where connectivity and availability of laptops and computer is a challenge and hence online exams cannot be conducted.

Court is hearing the arguments made by state of Odisha

Maharashtra concludes argument. Now Court is hearing the state of Odisha.

UGC didnt consult states before releasing guidelines: Maharashtra tells SC

Maharashtra tells SC that UGC didnt consult states affected by Covid before coming out with its July 6 guidelines. It further pointed out that on April 29 the UGC Guidelines said universities may conduct guidelines. This discretion is not there now as Universities have to compulsorily conduct exams by September 30.

Most students enrolled in Maharashtra are from different states: Advocate

Maharashtra today has 1.4 lakh active Covid cases. Senior advocate Arvind Datar representing the Maharashtra state said,There are 13 universities in Maharashtra with 11 lakh students. Most students studying in Maharashtra come from outside the state. At present most colleges are Covid testing centres. Hostels have been converted into quarantine facilities. There is no way universities can conduct exams by September 30 in these circumstances.

No dispute that Maharashtra is suffering the worst conditions: SC

Court agrees that there is no dispute that Maharashtra is suffering the worst due to Covid

UGC cannot insist on holdiing exams, it is on universitys discretion: Advocate

Advocate Datar responds that an extraordinary situation of Covid is prevailing. Also UGC cannot insist on holding exams by September 30 as conduct of examination, when to hold it depends on Universitys discretion, Datar said.

University cant dilute standards fixed by UGC on holding exams: SC

Court tells Datar, If there is a direction by UGC fixing the standard of holding examination, can the University dilute those standards? If that is permitted, every University will have a different system of passing students. You cannot dilute the standards.

All universities across India dont follow semester system: SC

Court tells Datar that all universities across India do not follow semester system. The court wants Datar to take a holistic view of country. Datar replies that his instructions are that semester system is followed across the country. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for UGC denies this statement.

5 semester are over, internal assessment for 6th semester is done: Advocate Datar

Arvind Datar tells court that welfare of students need to be the question that needs to be seen. He points out that the academic assessment followed in Maharashtra assesses students from Day 1. He claims that in Universities in Maharashtra follow semester system. At present five semesters are over and internal assessment for sixth semester is done.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A woman who helped her then-boyfriend stage a 5K Margarita Madness run -- busted by police before runners could drink their promised margaritas -- was sentenced to $1,125 in fines Tuesday.

Jamilah Board, 42, of Arizona, appeared via video link in Kent County Circuit Court on a charge of attempted alcohol-furnishing place for consideration.

Board and another person, Aaron Quincy Scott, were charged last year in connection with an August event at Riverside Park.

Participants were supposed to get a margarita at the end of the run/walk.

What the runners didnt know was that the state Liquor Control Commission had denied a license for the event.

Grand Rapids police showed up and intervened, allowing the run to continue but not any consumption of alcohol.

Scott and Board were arrested.

In court Tuesday, Aug. 18, Boards attorney said Scott was not a key player in the event and that her boyfriend applied for the permits.

Still, he acknowledge she was at the starting line and apparently knew they didnt have the right to serve alcohol.

Board, a nurse, apologized in court Tuesday.

I sincerely apologize for my actions, Board said. It has been a complete embarrassment for myself and my family. I 100 percent guarantee you I will make wiser decisions in my life.

Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Sullivan said he didnt see any purpose in ordering more jail than the two days already served by Board upon her arrest.

He ordered $1,125 in fines.

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Nick Studer has been appointed Managing Partner of Oliver Wyman's management consulting business.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005602/en/

Nick Studer has been appointed Managing Partner of Oliver Wyman's management consulting business. (Photo: Business Wire)

In announcing the new role, which Nick will take up fully on January 1, 2021, Oliver Wyman Group Chief Executive Officer and Marsh McLennan Companies Vice-Chairman, Scott McDonald, said: "I am excited to appoint Nick to this role, which will increase our leadership and management capacity to help us implement our strategy and achieve our ambitions more rapidly. This will also bring Oliver Wyman in line with the other Oliver Wyman Group businesses NERA, Lippincott and OW Actuarial which each have a dedicated leader of the business." Scott McDonald will remain as Chief Executive Officer for the entire Oliver Wyman Group.

Nick (46) joined Oliver Wyman in 1997 in London and was elected Partner in 2003, while working in its New York office. He has served on the firm's Executive Committee since 2012, and currently heads the firm's global consumer and industrial practices, which work with the Transportation, Energy, Communications, Media, and Technology, Retail and Consumer Goods, and Automotive and Manufacturing industries.

Previously, Nick led the firm's global Financial Services practice group. He has advised senior government leaders and policy makers across the world on topics of industry competitiveness and stability and supported the World Economic Forum on the Role of Financial Services in Society. He has co-authored many articles and studies, including support for Her Majesty's Treasury in proposing a 10-year vision for the Global Competitiveness of the UK's Financial Services Industry. Nick was a founding Director of TheCityUK and a founding advisory board member of the FICC Markets Standards Board.

"I am honored to take on this role, and to work alongside Scott and the entire Oliver Wyman team to achieve our ambitions. I am excited to continue to build a highly differentiated management consulting firm that collaborates with our clients to deliver truly industry-shaping impact. We aspire to provide a supportive home for our amazingly inspiring and talented colleagues, with a culture of love, rigour and experimentation."

Nick graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Cambridge University. He and his wife Hilary make their home outside London. A keen former rugby player, Nick is enjoying introducing his two sons to its dark arts. He maintains his scrummaging weight through a healthy interest in roasting, grilling, and pickling.

About Oliver Wyman

Oliver Wyman is a global leader in management consulting. With offices in 60 cities across 29 countries, Oliver Wyman combines deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise in strategy, operations, risk management, and organization transformation. The firm has more than 5,000 professionals around the world who work with clients to optimize their business, improve their operations and risk profile, and accelerate their organizational performance to seize the most attractive opportunities. Oliver Wyman is a business of Marsh McLennan Companies [NYSE: MMC]. For more information, visit www.oliverwyman.com. Follow Oliver Wyman on Twitter @OliverWyman.

About Marsh McLennan Companies

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) is the world's leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. The Company's 76,000 colleagues advise clients in over 130 countries. With annual revenue of $17 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market-leading businesses. Marsh advises individual and commercial clients of all sizes on insurance broking and innovative risk management solutions. Guy Carpenter develops advanced risk, reinsurance and capital strategies that help clients grow profitably and pursue emerging opportunities. Mercer delivers advice and solutions to help organizations reshape work, retirement, investment and health outcomes for a changing workforce. Oliver Wyman serves as a critical strategic, economic and brand advisor to private sector and governmental clients. For more information, visit mmc.com, follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @mmc_global or subscribe to BRINK.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005602/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Francine Minadeo

Francine.Minadeo@oliverwyman.com

212 345 6417
A senior Crown Resorts executive told one of James Packers key lieutenants that Chinese police had questioned a Crown staff member over suspicions of illegally promoting gambling in the country more than a year before 19 employees were arrested and charged.

But Crowns Australian resorts chief executive Barry Felstead told a NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority's inquiry on Tuesday that he never raised the issue with Crown's chief executive, board or risk management committee.

Crown's Australian resorts CEO Barry Felstead, pictured at the Crown AGM in 2016. Credit:Philip Gostelow

The inquiry is examining whether Crown's board and executives knew their staff were breaking the law in China as it considers whether it is a suitable holder of the licence for its new casino in Sydney's Barangaroo, due to open early next year.

The arrest of 19 Crown staff in October 2016 sent shockwaves through the ASX-listed casino giant and a shareholder class action is currently seeking to claw back hundreds of millions of dollars they lost in a subsequent share price collapse.
Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs sister Shweta Singh Kirti on Monday tweeted about feeling helpless at times but, at the same time, thanked millions of fans of the late actor for their unflinching support.

She wrote on Twitter: There are moments when sense of helplessness takes over but then I remind myself there are millions who are praying and fighting for truth and at no cost justice can be denied! #JusticeForSushant #GlobalPrayers4SSR #CBIForSSR #Warriors4SSR #Godiswithus.

There are moments when sense of helplessness takes over but then I remind myself there are millions who are praying and fighting for truth and at no cost justice can be denied! #JusticeForSushant #GlobalPrayers4SSR #CBIForSSR #Warriors4SSR #Godiswithus  shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 17, 2020

Sushants fans wrote back to show their support for the familys fight for justice. One user wrote: Di, we know its hard for you to express your feelings because there are no words to describe how you are feeling. just know that sushant has left us all for you and we will always be your side forever and always. we will keep sushant alive in our hearts. Another user said: Yes Di the world is praying for your gulshan. Nobody will be saved this time! We are all praying for justice and his happiness. A third person replied saying, Yes...stay strong di...all of us are constantly demanding justice since more than 60 days and if anyone thinks we will be tired & will stop then let me clear it to them - we will not stop, we will continue to roar and demand justice for Sushant Singh Rajput! #SCApproveCBI4SSR.

In a post on Instagram earlier in the day, Shweta had posted a video clip showing seven billboards across Australia demanding justice for the late actor. Sharing the clip, she had written: SSRians across Australia made it happen. 7 Billboards are up through out the continent. Their abundant love for Sushant made this happen. These Billboards are definitely going to convey the strong message that the whole of Australia is standing with SSR. They really want their screams to be heard by the whole Judiciary System of India, so that fair justice can be served to their dear Sushant. #GlobalPrayersForSSR #JusticeforSushantSinghRajput #CBIForSSR #scmonitoredcbi4ssr. The Billboards are up at the following 7 locations 1) SOUTHBANK - 120 Clarendon St/Westgate Freeway. 2) WILLIAMS LANDING- Princess Highway. 3) WANTIRNA SOUTH - 384 Burwood Highway. 4) EPPING- Cooper St. 5) BENTLEIGH- 823 Nepean Highway 6) DERRIMUT- Western Freeway. 7) BAYSWATER- 158 Canterbury Rd.

Also read: Janhvi Kapoor reveals familys reaction to her getting trolled, says sister Khushi was cool but it hurt dad Boney

Sushants former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande reposted Shwetas video post on her Instagram page, as a show of support. Shweta, along with her family and friends, have been calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of the actor. Sushant died by suicide on June 14 at his home in Mumbai. Mumbai Police began investigating the matter immediately but on July 25, Sushants father KK Singh filed an FIR in Patna accusing Sushants girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty of abetment to suicide, among other charges. In no time, disagreements cropped up between the Maharashtra and Bihar police forces. Enforcement Directorate (ED), meanwhile, has been looking into any financial irregularities in the late actors business dealings before his death.

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That Red Bull Racing does not have the fastest car is unfortunately a fact. But the fact that Max Verstappen has pulled out all the stops so far is also a fact! Last weekend in Spain, Verstappen achieved another second place, which of course gives him a lot of compliments.

Team boss Christian Horner is of course most happy with the performance of the Dutchman: "He is now at such an incredibly high level. He has performed optimally in every race this year. He performs constantly and in a controlled way. You can see that when he is sitting so relaxed in the car. That is extremely impressive," says Horner in the F1-Nation Podcast.

Red Bull has two faces

Horner doesn't find it difficult to give Verstappen even more compliments: "He's in top form! And he already has five years of experience in Formula 1. He's become a leader within the team."

And of course with a leading driver there is always a 'second' driver. Who, with the name Alexander Albon, is not yet performing quite as he should. And Horner sees that too, yet he is positive about the young Thai: "He thinks about everything well, instead of jumping into the car and acting like a headless chicken." But is that enough for a seat at Red Bull, as second driver?
The bamboos market is highly fragmented, with numerous small-scale, regional players. Government aid will be critical for the survival of these businesses through the coronavirus crisis

DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / The global bamboos market is projected to display strong growth between 2019 and 2029, to reach an estimated valuation of US$ 12 billion. On the other hand, the industry is likely to be strongly affected in the short term, largely owing to lockdown restrictions imposed on nations around the world which has impacted supplies of fresh bamboo to end use industries. The market is expected to display gradual recovery owing to economic uncertainty arising from the outbreak.

"Applications in the textile and furnishings industry are key contributors to revenue in the bamboos market. Environmental and sustainability awareness among consumers have been major influencers. Use in food as an immune boosting ingredient has gained traction during the coronavirus pandemic creating opportunities for market players," states the FMI analyst.

To know more about this market, request a sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-347

Bamboos Market- Critical Takeaways

Paper and pulp applications for bamboo material has increased substantially with growing importance being given to sustainability initiatives in the sector.

Consumption of food and nutraceutical products comprising bamboo has increased, driven by high nutrition and low-calorie formulation profiles.

Asia Pacific remains the leading market for bamboos, driven by large-scale cultivation and exports, in addition to favorable government policies towards the industry.

Bamboos Market- Drivers

Niche application in the infrastructure construction sector as sustainable building material increases demand for bamboo.

Major contributions from the bamboo industry towards job generation and environmental efforts has generated favor among consumers and governments.

Bamboos Market- Restraints

Applications of potentially toxic chemicals in bamboo processing operations, and associated regulations hinder market growth.

Extinction of bamboo species has been a major area of concern for market players.

Coronavirus Impact on Bamboos Market

The global bamboos industry has had to face significant challenges during the coronavirus pandemic. Lack of adequate fresh bamboo supplies, owing to transport and logistical disruptions from lockdowns has hurt market prospects. Lower disposable incomes have reduced demand from bamboo product consumers. Furthers, shut down of food service businesses has also hurt demand for edible bamboo. Financial support for small scale players from governments will be essential to their survival.

For information on the Research Approach used in the Report, Request Methodology@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-347

Competitive Landscape

EcoPlanet Bamboo, Moso International B.V., Bamboo Village Co. Ltd., Bamboo Australia Pvt. Ltd., and Shanghai Tenbro Bamboo Textile Co. Ltd. are some of the leading participants in the bamboos market.

Players in the Bamboos market have been found to expand operations geographically through strategic acquisitions and through government collaborations to consolidate supply and distribution networks.

For instance, EcoPlanet Bamboo has announced the expansion of its operations into South Africa, with the acquisition of SA Bamboo. Further, Heijinghe Biotechnology Co., Ltd has opened a new bamboo shoot processing plant in collaboration with the government in China's Zhenxiong County. Also, the government of Assam in India has announced the development of a Bamboo Industrial Park, which will open to market players in 2021.

For any Queries Linked with the Report, Ask an Analyst@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-347

About the Study

The study offers readers an assessment of the bamboos market. Global, regional and national-level analysis of the latest trends influencing the bamboos market is covered in this FMI report. The study provides insights according to end use industry (wood & furniture, construction, food, pulp & paper, textile, agriculture, and others) in four regions (North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa).

Explore FMI's Coverage of the Chemicals & Materials Industry

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 12:29 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ebd1e4 1 National State-Secretariat,Pratikno,State-Palace,COVID-19,coronavirus Free

An expert staffer to State Secretary Pratikno has tested positive for COVID-19, an official has said.

This development has prompted immediate contact tracing and coronavirus tests to detect possible exposure within the office, which stands in close proximity to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's office at the State Palace.

State Secretariat secretary Setya Utama confirmed the information, saying that the staff member learned the result of her COVID-19 test over the weekend.

[The test result came out] either on Saturday or Sunday. [The person] has been isolated, Setya said on Monday.

The close contacts of the infected person, including Pratikno, have undergone swab tests, Setya added.

A total of 29 people have gone through swab testing. All the results came out negative, he said.

As of Monday, Indonesia has confirmed 141,370 COVID-19 cases, with 6,207 deaths and 94,458 recoveries, according to the Health Ministry. (syk)
Conservative new media personality Millicent (Millie) Weaver, AKA Millennial Millie, had her day in court Monday morning via a live Zoom video stream from jail in northeastern Ohio after being arrested last Friday and spending the weekend locked up. As cleveland dot com reported Monday afternoon:

Millie Weaver and two others pleaded not guilty at a Monday arraignment in Portage County Common Pleas Court on felony charges including robbery that stem from an April altercation with Weaver's mother, according to court records. Portage County Common Pleas Court Judge Becky Doherty set Weaver's bond at $20,000 and ordered her released on her own recognizance. Weaver's boyfriend Gavin Wince and brother Charles Weaver pleaded not guilty to the same charges and were issued the same bond.

The news of Millie Weaver's arrest and detention on Friday, August 14  reported in my two previous posts at American Thinker here and here  received wide attention. Contributing to that interest were Weaver's large fan base and the fact that her arrest occurred suspiciously close to the release date of her documentary film Shadow Gate. The 82-minute-long movie promised new revelations about the Deep State, specifically an expose of the "operational role the shadow government played behind the scenes carrying out the coup against President Trump." The documentary wound up being uploaded to YouTube on Friday by Tore Maras Lindeman, who appears in the film as one of two whistleblowers. Before it was deleted (AKA censored) from YouTube, the film had accumulated 1.3 million views. Copies of Shadow Gate are all over the internet now, including at a censor-free site here.

Unconfirmed reports are that Millie Weaver's and Gavin Wince's two young children were returned to the couple after spending the weekend in the custody of child protective services.

Portage County prosecutor Victor Vigluicci said Monday that he did not know who Millie Weaver was prior to her arrest and that the case had "nothing to do with her political beliefs or whatever she chooses to publish." According to cleveland dot com, Weaver is being represented by Canton, Ohio attorney Eugene O'Byrne, who has not replied so far to any media inquiries.

A copy of the indictment of Millie Weaver and her arrest warrant, issued by the Court of Common Pleas, Portage County, Ohio on July 20, was made public on Monday and can be viewed here.



Millie Weaver speaks with Tore Maras Lindeman in a video call from jail, August 16, 2020.

Millie Weaver's friend and collaborator on Shadow Gate, Tore Maras Lindeman, posted the audio of her August 16 15-minute-long conversation with Millie Weaver while Weaver was in jail. The audio can be accessed here. The sound begins at the 2 minute and 12 second mark.

This story is far from over. In addition to the disposition of the case against the three defendants, my research and deep dive into open source records have turned up some new and interesting insights into the whole affair surrounding the arrest and the film Shadow Gate. Watch for further reports here at American Thinker.

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.
Dhaka, Aug 18 (UNI) The Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion Bangladesh (RAB) Abdullah Al Mamun has said the elite force is conducting investigation into the case filed over Major (retd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan murder with very importance and professionalism.

Everything that needs to lead the investigation smoothly is being done. As a part of it, I myself visited the spot, he said.

RAB chief said this around 1700 hours on Monday (August 17) after visiting the spot of Major (retd) Sinha Md Rashed Khan murder.

"I myself supervising investigation of the case very seriously. The investigation is going on with utmost professionalism. There is no lack of coordination among the forces regarding this incident. The investigation is going on smoothly," he added.

RAB sources said, "RAB DG went to Coxs Bazar after visiting the spot. He left Coxs Bazar airport around 1600 hours and visited the spot of Shamplapur around 1700 hours."

UNI MAZ GK 0920
A quick power industry primer: In many parts of the country, wholesale electricity is bought and sold in a competitive marketplace before utilities and retail power providers ultimately distribute that power to consumers and businesses. If power-producing plants arent profitable, their owners take them offline and absorb those costs, rather than making consumers pay for them. When many generators are able to compete in the marketplace, there is greater pressure to keep costs low and seek efficiencies. There is also greater transparency around what power generation costs and what customers are really paying for.
Chennai, Aug 18 : The Madras High Court on Tuesday dismissed Vedanta Ltd's plea to reopen its Sterlite Copper smelter unit in Tuticorin.

People in Tuticorin who are against the copper smelter plant celebrated the court order by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets. Political leaders too have welcomed the order.

The order was delivered by Justices T.S. Sivagnanam and V. Bhavani Subbaroyan. The court said the ban on the plant would continue.

The copper smelter plant was shut down by the state government following a protest that led to the deaths of 13 people in police firing in May 2018. Ever since the copper smelter plant was permitted in Tuticorin several years back people had been protesting against it alleging it of polluting the environment around.

In 2019, Vedanta had approached the High Court and sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to allow the copper smelter plant's reopening.

The Supreme Court had earlier told Vedanta to approach the High Court in a petition filed by Tamil Nadu government against the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order to reopen the plant.

The apex court also held that the NGT does not have the jurisdiction to hear the appeal filed by Vedanta against the plant closure order issued by the state government.

The NGT in December 2018 had directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to issue Renewal of Consent and issue authorisation to Vedanta to handle the hazardous substances.

Meanwhile the High Court verdict has been welcomed by Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D.Jayakumar, DMK President M.K.Stalin, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko and others.

Welcoming the order Jayakumar said the government is against reopening of the plant.

Stalin termed the High Court order as the one that respected the people's feelings and the one that would protect humanity.

He said the Tamil Nadu government instead of closing the plant by issuing an order should have called a meeting of the cabinet and taken a policy level decision to close down the plant.

Stalin said Chief Minister K.Palaniswami should call a meeting of the cabinet immediately and pass a resolution welcoming the court order and also make it a law.

The DMK's Lok Sabha member from Tuticorin constituency Kanimozhi said the court order stresses that the "economic growth at the cost of environment is dangerous".

She also urged the state government to file a caveat petition in the apex court so that when an appeal is filed by Vedanta the government's view is also heard before passing an order.

Jayakumar said the closure order shows the government's policy towards the plant.
In many human endeavors, having good tools for a particular task is an essential requirement to obtain the best results possible, and neuroscience is no different than other scientific fields in this regard. However, neuroscientists tackle the colossal objective of shedding light on the inner workings of neurons and neuronal circuits, and they rely on various methods to observe and control the firing of neurons to gain a better understanding of their functions.

Optogenetics has been regarded as one of the most impactful breakthroughs in neuroscience over the last decades. It involves using light of specific frequencies to control neurons in genetically modified organisms. Neurons, like all cells, have "ion channels"--membrane proteins that can be opened or closed and regulate the flow of charged particles in and out of the cell, thus regulating the electrical behavior of neurons. Now, thanks to optogenetics, they can be altered to be light-sensitive--light essentially can be used to open or close these channels in genetically modified organisms, giving researchers control over which and when neurons fire. Now, a new study by scientists from Okayama, Japan, proposes a promising new tool based on optogenetics for studying neurons. But why is this tool so attractive to neuroscientists? Read on to know more.

While optogenetics has certainly facilitated our understanding of neurons, the technique has some limitations. In particular, the available light-sensitive variants of negatively charged ion, or "anion," channel proteins, which regulate the flow of negatively charged ions, are much less diverse than their positively charged ion, or "cation" channel counterparts (for positively charged ions). Whereas light-sensitive cation channels can be used to "activate" neurons using light, light-sensitive anion channels act as neuron "silencers" that prevent the neuron from firing when illuminated at the right frequency.

This new study by Japanese scientists, published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, expands the available options for optogenetic neuronal silencing, and explores the potential of GtACR2, a natural light-regulated anion channel from an alga.

The scientists first introduced strategic mutations in GtACR2 amino acids to produce more light-responsive anion channels and tested the results using Escherichia coli bacteria. They found a shift in the frequency that was required to open the channel. The mutant GtACR2 channels also remained open much longer than their normal counterparts. Dr Yuki Sudo, Dr Keiichi Kojima and Ms Natsuki Miyoshi of Okayama University, who led the study, remarks: "Long-time neural inhibition generally requires repetitive long-lasting illumination; however, this invariably heats tissues, causing physiological and behavioral changes and tissue damage. Using the observed prolonged channel opening, GtACR2 mutants would be an effective neural silencer over long-term scales with lower illumination time and fewer heat-dependent effects."

GtACR2 mutants can also be activated and inactivated by illuminating them with different light frequencies. Irradiating the channels with green light opens them, silencing the neuron, but irradiation with red light causes them to quickly close. This "step-functional" property could give future scientists finer control over the state of the channels and the associated neurons, providing a more sophisticated tool for neurological experiments.

Having a highly controllable, long-lasting neural silencing technique is invaluable in all fields of neuroscience, both from basic research and applied science viewpoints. In this regard, Dr Kojima adds: "In humans, neural inhibition plays essential roles in many physiological phenomena, such as sleep, awaking, circadian rhythms and hormone secretion. We expect that our understanding of the above phenomena at the molecular level will be accelerated by optogenetic neural silencing using our engineered proteins, and that this will lead to development of new treatments for sleep disorder, jet lag and lifestyle-related diseases." The tool unveiled in this study will hopefully lead to many advances in medicine and neuroscience, as scientists continue the quest to answer one of the hardest questions ever known: how exactly do neurons and the brain work?

###
The overall portrait that emerges from the reports 966 pages is of repeated encounters between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives, but no formal collusion. The two sides shared the same objective  the defeat of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton  and basked in one anothers admiration. But more because of ineptitude than any principled commitment to the sanctity of American democracy, the partnership was never consummated, the committee determined.
Lester M. Simpson

On October 1, 2020, Lester M. Simpson will assume his role as partner in Windsor Stevens Holding LLC, joining the companys leadership team.

Simpson, an experienced investment professional, will help the companys executive team lead Windsor Stevens investment strategies and real estate development. Simpson, who holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, comes to Windsor Stevens with extensive experience in market analysis and project management.

He has helmed Wharton Equity Partners, an Ohio-based company, since 2018. In that role and previous positions, he developed his expertise in implementing successful market strategies and providing long-term value to real estate portfolios. In addition to leading Wharton Equity Partners, he served as director and program manager for Axiologic Solutions and Booz Allen Hamilton, where he led multi-level teams through engineering project lifecycles.

Rod Mullice, managing partner for Windsor Stevens, said that he welcomes Simpson to the company. He added that he is looking forward to the financial analysis and project management proficiency Simpson can bring to Windsor Stevens expanding portfolio.

We are fortunate to have such an accomplished individual to advance our vision for The Connected Lifestyle, Mullice said. His professionalism will help us continue to create communities designed to offer alternative transportation, high technology, and contemporary style. We value his skills and experience in leading high-quality projects from concept to completion and feel that he will be an excellent partner on our Windsor Stevens team.

Simpson said that he will keep the legacy of Atlantas social justice leadership central to his mission with Windsor Stevens.

I am excited to join Windsor Stevens and grateful for the opportunity to help craft the evolving landscape of Atlanta by developing spaces where people can thrive while remaining socially and economically responsible, Simpson said. Additionally, I am forever indebted to the giants who paved the way for me to positively impact the communities we serve and upon whose shoulders I stand.

In addition to his MBA in finance and real estate from Wharton, Simpson holds an MS degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University and a BS in electrical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University. He also has completed numerous advanced training courses in real estate and management leadership, and is a certified project management professional (PMP).

Windsor Stevens aspires to provide a new model for real estate development, one that honors the best of local cultural traditions while creating a built environment that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. With a strategic focus on transit-oriented development (TOD), Windsor Stevens is committed to creating walkable, vibrant, livable urban communities near mass transit. The companys mixed-use developments include a long list of amenities that contribute to what it calls The Connected Lifestyle. This includes multi-family residential choices that provide easy access to transportation alternatives, high-tech amenities, and efficient, modern design principles.

To learn more about Windsor Stevens and its properties, visit http://www.windsorstevens.com.
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse on Monday tied his candidacy for Congress and recent discussion of his private life to the ongoing power struggle between young progressives and established players in the Democratic Party.

Referencing allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with college students who have not come forward publicly, Morse argued the timing of the story, first reported by the student-run Massachusetts Daily Collegian, was obviously ... no coincidence, just a few weeks shy of the Sept. 1 primary against Rep. Richard Neal.

The pair took the stage in Springfield on Monday for a debate organized by a consortium of media organizations, including The Republican and MassLive, New England Public Media and The Berkshire Eagle. It will air at 7 p.m. on WGBY.

This is exactly what turns people away from politics, Morse said, arguing health care, climate change and the economy are what voters actually care about. Its why people dont participate and have given up on the process. This is exactly why I ran for mayor, to change the political culture of personal destruction, of politics that tears people down instead of lifting people up.

The allegations themselves were not discussed for long in Mondays debate, which largely focused on policy and the track records of the candidates. Morse has denied any relationships with his own students and said he wouldnt apologize for being young and gay. And Neal said a University of Massachusetts Amherst investigation should play out and the students voices should be heard.

Neal, who said there was no room for homophobia, misogyny or racism in my campaign, vehemently denied that his team had any involvement with the allegations against Morse.

But Morse, whose supporters have charged the allegations were politically-motivated and homophobic, said that the push against his very candidacy goes all the way to height of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Morse said the chair of the state Democrats, Gus Bickford, took me to lunch over a year ago and discouraged me from running against this congressman.

I know what its like to go against power nine years ago, and Im doing the same today, said Morse, who won his first mayoral race just out of college.

After MassLive reached out to Bickford and the Massachusetts Democratic Party via email on Monday, Bickford confirmed that he and Morse had lunch together before he entered the race, but denied ever discouraging the 31-year-old from challenging Neal.

At no point did I tell the Mayor that he should not run for Congress, Bickford said. The Party has been and remains neutral on this race and in all contested Democratic primaries.

Multiple times during the debate, Morse challenged the notion that electing him would reduce the seats level of power. He argued that if elected, the people of the commonwealth will be going to Congress together along with him to fight for Medicare for All and to combat the existential threat of climate change with the Green New Deal.

Morse also said that the push against him goes all the way to the height of power in the Democrat Party, not just in Springfield Democratic establishment but in D.C.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared in a recent ad for Neal, saying she needs a leader like Richie in the fight against the president.

When COVID-19 struck, I trusted Richie to negotiate the best deal for working people, Pelosi says in the ad. And Richie delivers for his district, he delivered over $1 billion for western and central Massachusetts.

Neal, meanwhile, challenged Morses progressivism by repeatedly hammering Morses track record as Holyoke mayor, particularly on education, highlighting many missed school committee meetings. He noted that nobody ever said I was absent for my job as (Springfield) mayor.

If youre a real progressive, you would have cared about those. He is absent in the job he has as he seeks job promotion, Neal said. He couldnt make it to school committee meetings, but hes talking now about what hes going to do in Congress.

Neal added that he helped play a leading role in building a durable, extended Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, raised $13 million for Democratic candidates, donated to the Black, Hispanic and Equality caucuses and recruited new Democratic candidates alongside Pelosi.

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Former Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko has generally rejected the tapes as a fabrication by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.

The tapes of purported conversations between former Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko and Biden when Biden was vice president during the Obama administration were flagged in a US intelligence assessment earlier this month warning of Russian interference in the upcoming election, and specifically efforts to denigrate Biden. (Photo | AP)

Washington: President Donald Trump has retweeted an audio recording that US intelligence officials have described as part of a Russian campaign to denigrate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

The leaked conversation, purportedly between Biden and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, dates from Feb. 18, 2016, and centres on the resignation of Ukraines chief prosecutor.

By amplifying the recording to his more than 85 million Twitter followers, Trump underscored the ease with which pro-Russian narratives can seep into American public discourse ahead of the 2020 election despite being flagged by intelligence officials as the product of a concerted Russian effort. Russia has also published disinformation under the guise of legitimate news stories, US officials say, reflecting something of a shift in tactics from 2016, when Russia relied on a social media campaign to sow discord and orchestrated the release of stolen Democratic emails.

The White House did not immediately return a message seeking comment, but the Biden campaign accused Trump in a statement of having habitually attacked the sovereignty of American elections, including by attempting to coerce his Ukrainian counterpart into spreading conclusively-disproved lies.

That is a reference to a July 2019 phone call in which Trump encouraged his Ukraine counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to investigate unsubstantiated corruption allegations against Biden. The call was at the centre of the impeachment case against Trump that ended with his acquittal by the Senate in February.

Donald Trump is the most hostile president to American democracy in our history, said Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates.

Andrii Derkach, a member of Ukraines parliament and a 1993 graduate of a Russian spy academy who long has aired corruption allegations against Biden and his son, has released this year what he says are recordings of conversation between Poroshenko and Biden when Biden was vice president during the Obama administration. That effort was flagged in a US intelligence assessment earlier this month warning of Russian interference in the upcoming election, and specifically efforts to denigrate Biden.

For example, pro-Russia Ukrainian parliamentarian Andriy Derkach is spreading claims about corruption _ including through publicising leaked phone calls _ to undermine former Vice President Bidens candidacy and the Democratic Party, said the statement from William Evanina, the US governments chief counterintelligence official.

In the conversation retweeted Sunday night by Trump, Poroshenko can be heard telling Biden that he had accepted the resignation of prosecutor Victor Shokin despite of the fact that we didnt have any corruption charges, we dont have any information about him doing something wrong.

An anti-Biden narrative pushed by Trump and his supporters alleges that Biden, as vice president, pressured Ukraines government to fire Shokin because Shokin had investigated a Ukrainian energy company on whose board sat Bidens son Hunter. But Bidens position on the prosecutor, who was seen by critics as soft on corruption, was the position of the US government and was also supported by other Western governments and many in Ukraine.

But the Twitter user whom Trump retweeted said in his tweet that the conversation revealed that Shokin was not corrupt and that there was no information to suggest he had done anything wrong.

A White House summary of the conversation available online does show that Biden and Poroshenko spoke on Feb. 18, 2016. But Poroshenko has generally rejected the tapes disclosed by Derkach as a fabrication by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.
(Natural News) A quick look at the top financial contributors to Kamala Harris initial failed campaign for the presidency reveals none other than Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, as the third-spot contender  meaning the world can expect a whole lot more censorship and tyranny from Big Tech should Kamala get elected on the Joe Biden ticket.

Between the years of 2013 and 2018, Alphabet Inc. contributed nearly $100,000 to Kamala as a California politician, $10,000 of which was to her political action committees (PACs). Other major contributors to Kamala include the WarnerMedia Group, the University of California, 21st Century Fox, and Venable LLP.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been shoveled over to Kamala by these corporate entities, several of which control various mainstream media outlets, in an apparent effort to eventually install her into the highest political office. And here we are in 2020 with Kamala on the same ticket as Dementia Joe, who almost certainly will not serve a full term.

Since 2018, Kamala has been continually propped up by CNN, which just so happens to be owned by WarnerMedia, Kamalas top financial contributor. It is also important to note that Fox News, which has veered to the left in recent years, is owned by 21st Century Fox, Kamalas fourth highest contributor.

In 2019, it was suggested that Kamala would likely end up being the presidential nominee  which, disturbingly, could still happen if Biden is deemed unfit. It was also reported that Kamala has had near-constant funding by the same big tech and media conglomerates she claims she will regulate.

Kamala Harris loves the war on drugs, would never legalize cannabis

Progressives everywhere would do well to take note of Kamalas horrific track record of pandering to special interests. Not only is she a threat to online free speech, but she is a police state hack who has spent much of her tenure in political office jailing people for petty crimes like cannabis possession.

Harris record also shows she is an advocate of the war on drugs and has opposed efforts to legalize marijuana, reports indicate. As Attorney General, she suggested expansions of the states efforts to track prescription drug users.

After the Supreme Court ruled that Californias prisons were overcrowded to the degree that they were engaging in cruel and unusual punishment, in large part due to her prosecutorial zest, Kamala actually challenged this ruling and tried to keep as many prisoners locked up as possible.

Kamala even fought against the release of a man who was acquitted and found to be not guilty of a crime for which he was convicted. Daniel Larsen, who spent 13 years in prison for possession of a concealed knife, had simply failed to produce evidence of his innocence in a timely enough manner, a tragic situation for which heartless Kamala could not have cared less.

Perhaps the biggest point of contention, and the one that could cost Biden and Kamala the election, is Kamalas aggressive anti-gun record. She has almost no chance of winning Florida, and other swing states like Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are also unlikely to support her long-held positions against the Second Amendment  that is, if these positions can even be reported without being dubbed as racism or sexism.

Given Kamala Harriss political record, it is far more likely that her presence will ultimately do more harm than good  which may very well be the difference in a potentially tight 2020 presidential election, reports The Burning Platform about the possibility of a Kamala presidency.

To keep up with the latest news about Kamala, be sure to check out KamalaHarris.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheBurningPlatform.com

NaturalNews.com
Mobile and Baldwin counties are both considered low risk for contracting COVID-19. Hospitalizations are on a downward trek in both counties, as they are statewide as the average number of new cases per week in Alabama has steadily dropped since mid-July.

But with approximately two weeks remaining in the latest State Health Order, some officials are starting to wonder: Will the mask mandate be extended beyond August 31?

On Tuesday, the question was posed during a Mobile City Council meeting. But few clues were provided on whether the mandatory face mask order that was issued on July 15, and extended on July 29, would remain intact once the calendar flips to September.

I do not know, said Mobile County Health Officer Dr. Bert Eichold, when asked about the status of the face mask requirement that was first put into place in Mobile on July 1. (The state health office) is very realistic about looking at the data and will make a decision base on real information that they have at the time. I really think, and hopefully people have learned, that this is a good thing to do regardless of what the governors office says, and that people continue to practice safe behavior.

Eichold speculated that if a declining number of coronavirus cases continues by months end, it could encourage Ivey to loosen some of the requirements and restrictions.

Its a good time in our community with COVID-19 and the community has responded in a positive manner, he said.

Gina Maiola, a spokeswoman for Ivey, said the governors office will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation with Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and will provide updates as needed. In the meantime, she is encouraging people to social distance and wear a mask.

Governor Ivey is encouraged with the progress Alabama is making, especially as we are currently working to get our students safely back in the classroom, said Maiola. Our daily percent positive continues to improve and hospitalization levels have lowered. The governor is proud of businesses and their employees for the creative adjustments they have made it their business models.

She added, Alabamians have made some tough decisions -- and as the governor would say, some of might have COVID-fatigue -- but nonetheless, she is grateful to the people of our state for doing a good job incorporating COVID-19 into their daily lives.

Dr. Karen Landers, the assistant state health officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health, said in a statement to AL.com that the department will continue emphasizing preventive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 that includes, among other things, wearing cloth face coverings to reduce transmission.

As this virus will continue to be present in Alabama, ADPH continues to support masking as a preventative measure, she said.

Alabama is one of 34 states with a mandatory face covering mandate that requires people to wear a face covering if they are in public. The Alabama order carries hefty $500 fines for violations, but few  if any  police agencies are writing tickets for violators.

The rash of mask mandates comes around the same time that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris, have pushed for a nationwide mask mandate. States without a mandate include neighboring Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.

Alabamas mask mandate has had its critics within the state. Republican Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, for instance, called the mandate an overstep, that infringes on property rights of businesses and individuals to make their own health decisions.

The mandate has also been the subject of a lawsuit, which challenged the legality of Iveys order as a deprivation of liberty. The lawsuit was filed by three Jackson County residents, but a judge in Montgomery dismissed it last week.

In Mobile, the City Council adopted a mandatory mask ordinance on July 1 that, at the time, was part of a small wave of city governments implementing their own mask mandates before the governor acted on July 15.

Eichold then followed up with a Health Order requiring the unincorporated areas of Mobile County to be under a similar mask order. Mobile and Jefferson counties are the only two counties in Alabama in which individual health officers can issue countywide orders without needing the endorsement from Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris.

Eichold, to the council on Tuesday, thanked them for issuing the mandate at a time when some of the public had furious backlash to the order.

It has made a difference, he said.

This story was updated at 4:05 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, to include comments from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.

Alabama unmasked: Mask-wearing debates a microcosm of polarized issue

We saw how things were going: How one small Alabama city became a leader in mandating masks
Jill Biden offered a deeply personal and hopeful endorsement of her husband as a man who can lead the nation through adversity during the Democratic National Convention.

On Tuesday night, she pledged to the nation that if her husband is elected president, Americas classrooms will ring out with laughter and possibility once again.

Speaking from the Wilmington, Delaware, high school classroom where she taught English years ago, Jill Biden described the anxiety that echoes down empty hallways and the uncertainty thats come as schools grapple with whether to resume in-person teaching as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.

The burdens we carry are heavy, and we need someone with strong shoulders, Mrs. Biden said. If we entrust this nation to Joe, he will do for your family what he did for ours: Bring us together and make us whole, carry us forward in our time of need, keep the promise of America, for all of us.

Mrs. Biden drew parallels with her husbands experience leading his family through personal adversity and what she described as his ability to lead the nation through its current crises.

___

HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION:

 Democrats make it official, nominate Biden for president

 Some key takeaways from Day 2 at Democratic convention

 After years of big moments, Bill Clintons DNC role shrinks

 Cindy McCain details husbands friendship with Biden for DNC

 At DNC, Jill Biden gets personal about familys struggles

___

Follow APs election coverage at https://apnews.com/Election2020

___

HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is endorsing Joe Biden, saying with him in the White House, We will never doubt that he will stand with our friends and stand up to our adversaries  never the other way around.

In taped remarks during the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, Powell sought to draw an implicit contrast between Biden and President Donald Trump, without naming Trump.

He said that Biden will trust our diplomats and our intelligence community, not the flattery of dictators and despots. Trump has expressed doubts about findings from the intelligence community on Russian involvement in the 2016 campaign, and has praised dictators.

Powell also lamented that today we have a country divided, and we have a president doing everything in his power to make us that way, to keep us that way.

Powell served as secretary of state under Republican President George W. Bush from 2001 until 2005, and served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under both Bush and Democratic President Bill Clinton.

___

Former Secretary of State John Kerry is trashing President Donald Trumps foreign policy, which he characterized as one nonstop blooper reel.

Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, said Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention: This moment is a fight for the security of America and the world.

He said the Obama administration left U.S. foreign policy in good order when he left office. They stopped the Ebola virus before it could become a pandemic, defeated the Islamic State group and entered into an accord to reduce emissions that cause global warming.

Kerry accused Trump of failing to stand up to Russia and doing nothing to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin after some intelligence officials concluded the country placed bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

He also referenced Trump being escorted to a White House bunker during recent protests.

Our troops cant get out of harms way by hiding in the White House bunker, Kerry said.

___

Prominent Republicans who oppose President Donald Trump have been awarded prominent speaking roles at the Democratic convention. But some progressives, who make up a large share of the partys base, say they are being unfairly overlooked.

Sen. Bernie Sanders was given a prominent slot on Monday. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren will appear later in the week.

But progressives have been angered that the DNC event has slighted others, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who spoke for roughly 90 seconds on Tuesday.

Its a huge missed opportunity, Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats, told CNN.

Julian Castro, the only Latino in the historically diverse primary field, wasnt given a speaking slot at the convention after some tense moments with Biden during the campaign. Instead, a brief clip of his keynote at the 2012 convention appeared as part of a video presentation.

The hashtag #LetJulianSpeak appeared on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the Republicans lined up to speak at the convention include former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman and former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman.

___

The Democratic Party has formally made Joe Biden its presidential nominee, a position he has sought for more than 30 years and through three White House bids.

Delegates from each state took a roll call vote during the second night of the virtual Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, awarding Biden the position. Usually, each state calls out the number of delegates that different candidates won there during the primary in a dramatic fashion in a sports arena or large hall -- but the count was all done online this time.

Biden actually clinched the nomination in early June. His other challengers in the once-crowded Democratic presidential primary had left the race, and the votes of seven states and the District of Columbia gave him the 1,991 delegates to the convention needed to lock it up.

A former senator from Delaware and vice-president, Biden first ran for president in 1988 and tried again in 2008 before launching his 2020 campaign last year.

President Donald Trump faced only token opposition in his partys primary and will formally be renominated as his partys candidate during the virtual Republican National Convention next week.

___

A cornfield in Iowa, a cattle range in Montana, the California coastline.

Those were the scenes behind Democratic delegates as they formally cast their votes in the presidential nominating process. Most delegates went to Joe Biden, but some went to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the runner-up.

Typically the nominating process is held in a convention hall with all the delegates gathered together.

But the videos submitted to the virtual convention provided more picturesque scenes from around the nation. In Michigan, the delegates stood in front of cars representing the states auto industry. In Louisiana, they spoke from an art studio with colorful murals on the wall. In Nebraska, the woman nominating Biden wore a face mask as she talked about essential workers battling the pandemic.

Speakers included Bidens onetime rivals Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

___

Two politicians from Joe Bidens home state of Delaware and a security guard who met Biden in an elevator have formally nominated him as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Jacquelyn Brittany met Biden when he went to The New York Times for an interview last year, and a video of their interaction went viral. She says he was unlike many of the powerful people with whom she shares the elevator.

She says, I could tell he really saw me, that he actually cared.

Sen. Chris Coons, who holds Bidens former Senate seat, says Biden understands the struggles and hopes of everyday people.

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, also of Delaware, says future schoolchildren will learn about the pain and grief of this time in America but also about how a President Biden restored decency and integrity to American democracy.

___

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has described the progressive movement started by Bernie Sanders as a mass peoples movement thats working to move the country toward guaranteed health care and higher education.

The New York congresswoman gave brief remarks Tuesday night as she helped nominate the Vermont senator at the Democratic National Convention.

Ocasio-Cortez is widely seen as the successor of Sanders progressive flank of the party.

She says Sanders ran a historic grassroots campaign that realized that turns away from an American history checkered by violence, xenophobia, racial injustice and more and that realizes the unsustainable brutality that rewards explosive inequalities of wealth for the few at the expense of long-term stability for the many.

___

Bill Clinton has delivered a stinging attack on President Donald Trump, saying the nation knows what hed do with four more years in the White House: Blame, bully and belittle.

The former president addressed the second night of the virtual Democratic National Convention on Tuesday and said Trump defines the job as spending hours a day watching TV and zapping people on social media.

Clinton said, Denying, distracting, and demeaning works great if youre trying to entertain and inflame. But in a real crisis, it collapses like a house of cards.

He also praised Democratic candidate Joe Biden but spent far more time on the offensive against Trump, who defeated his wife, Hillary, to clinch the presidency in 2016.

Bill Clinton played a major role in conventions for four decades but was limited to five minutes on Tuesday.

But even abbreviated, his appearance is tricky for Democrats. In the #MeToo era, as the party is focused on overt appeals to female voters, putting Clinton on stage is problematic for Democrats, given the numerous accusations of sexual misconduct against him.

___

Caroline Kennedy is portraying Joe Biden as a public servant in the spirit of her father, who once challenged Americans to look at what they can do for their country.

The daughter of President John F. Kennedy spoke Tuesday at the all-virtual Democratic National Convention about helping Barack Obama choose Biden as a running mate while on his vetting team and then seeing him in action as vice-president.

Kennedy served as the U.S. ambassador to Japan during the Obama administration and said she saw Biden as a leader who was tough but fair and commanded the trust and respect of other nations.

She appeared in a video speaking alongside her son Jack Schlossberg as they attempted to bridge a generational span across the party.

___

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer made a pitch at the Democratic National Convention not just for Joe Biden, but for flipping control of the Senate to Democrats.

Schumer said Tuesday: If we are going to win this battle for the soul of our nation, Joe cant do it alone. Democrats must take back the Senate.

The New York Democrat outlined a potential 2021 agenda on making health care affordable for all and tackling income inequality, climate change and other issues, including the COVID-19 crisis.

With the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop, he said President Donald Trump has demeaned everything it stands for.

America, Donald Trump has quit on you, he said.

We need a president with dignity, integrity, and the experience to lead us out of this crisis, a man with a steady hand and a big heart who will never  ever  quit on America, he said. That man is my friend Joe Biden. He will be a great president.

___

Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates says President Donald Trump has trampled the rule of law and treats the country like a family business.

Yates spoke Tuesday on the second night of the Democratic National Convention.

She said she never expected to be speaking at a convention but the future of the country was at stake. She said Trumps Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, represented the best of the country and said America needed a president who respected its laws and would restore the soul of America.

Yates served as deputy attorney general during the Obama administration and stayed on as acting attorney during the early days of the T acting attorney general in the first days of the Trump administration, when she was fired by the president for refusing to defend the travel ban.

___

A diverse group of Democratic leaders is delivering the keynote address on the second night of the partys convention, appearing in a montage of spliced together clips to deliver a stinging critique of President Donald Trumps leadership.

We know Joe Biden. America, we need Joe Biden, said Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia gubernatorial candidate.

The keynote address is a moment that has often been seized by political up-and-comers to deliver a soaring message. That includes Barack Obama, who rocketed to stardom in 2004 when John Kerry was the nominee.

But because the pandemic led to the cancellation of an in-person convention, Democrats opted to showcase a diverse group of local leaders in one video message on Tuesday.

It didnt have to be this bad. In the early days of the virus, Donald Trump didnt listen to the experts, said Nikki Fried, Floridas agriculture commissioner.

Long Beach, California, Mayor Robert Garcia added: We are facing the biggest economic and health crisis in generations because our president didnt -- and still doesnt -- have a plan.

The speakers contrasted Trumps leadership with that of Biden and their own, presenting the Democratic ticket as a safe choice for those who are worried.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Healthcare is putting every effort they can to treat patients and prevent further spread of the COVID-19 disease, Head of the WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan Caroline Clarinval told Trend.

Clarinval said that in the context of COVID-battle, Kazakh authorities are treading a careful path through uncertain territory.

The challenge is balancing the economic necessity of re-opening with the continued public health risk posed by COVID-19. Theres also a social and psychological management gambit at play: people need to feel that theres progress, she said.

In general, Clarinval noted, the situation in Kazakhstan gradually stabilizes.

She added that it is perhaps too early to say Kazakhstan has flattened the curve, but given the concentration of cases and the countrys vast geography, some regions will arguably be able to move forward sooner than others.

Talking WHO recommendations to curb COVID-19 spread, Clarinval said that WHOs guidelines recommend that steps to adjust or shift public health measures be implemented at the lowest administrative level.

That means measures should be shifted according to the specific setting, and based on specific epidemiological criteria, public health and health service capacity and on the acceptability and feasibility at the local community level, she said.

Furthermore, Clarinval noted that the need to implement WHO advices on the complex public health measures.

Quarantine alone cannot effectively resolve the situation, it is advised to adhere to the essential principles which prevent COVID-19 spreading, such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, physical distancing and so on, she said.

The head of the WHO country office emphasized that responding to a disease outbreak requires a collective effort.

On the one side, Kazakh ministry of health plays a critical role. At the moment, the ministry is putting every effort they can to treat patients and prevent further spread of the disease. But this is a complicated task. Responding to a disease outbreak such as COVID-19 requires the interplay of all different components. It also requires a strong sense of solidarity because it's only collectively that we can respond to the current disease outbreak of the COVID-19 appropriately, she said.

On the other hand, each of us has a role to play in determining the future of this pandemic. It is vital that everyone continues to follow the basic hygienic measures (clean hands with soap and water or sanitizer and follow respiratory etiquette) and keep at least 1-meter distance from others where possible. In areas with widespread transmission, WHO advises the wearing of masks where physical distancing cannot be maintained. This new 'normal' has become our reality, she added.

The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.

The total number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Kazakhstan since the virus was first confirmed in the country amounted to 103,300 cases. This includes 84,445 people who recovered from the coronavirus, and 1,415 patients who passed away.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
President Donald Trump turned attention to New Zealand's recent spike of coronavirus cases: "Big surge in New Zealand. It's terrible. You know, we don't want that."

Trump made the remarks while speaking in Minnesota on Monday, as the United States recorded nearly 42,000 new cases of COVID-19. New Zealand recorded nine new cases that day.

Responding to the president's comments, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that making a comparison between the situations in the two countries is "patently wrong," even as the island nation faces a new test.

MORE: The way forward: How experts would clean up our COVID nightmare if they were in charge

Since the start of the crisis, Ardern's strategy has been to "go hard and go early." The small nation of nearly 5 million went into a strict, country-wide lockdown for seven weeks in March, before it had recorded any deaths.

PHOTO: A nurse tests members of the public at the Eden Park testing station, Aug. 16, 2020, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The decisive action paid off. Twenty-two people have died from COVID-19 in New Zealand. The United States' 170,000 death toll is the highest in the world.

In contrast to the vast spread of the virus seen in the United States and elsewhere, New Zealand was able to successfully slow down the pace of transmission, before eliminating the virus in June. It went 102 days without recording any new community infections.

MORE: Controversial pastor tests positive for COVID-19 in South Korea

New Zealand's winning streak came to an abrupt end earlier this month, when a number of new infections were identified in Auckland. The country's biggest city was ordered to go back into lockdown last Wednesday.

New Zealand reported 13 new cases on Tuesday, taking the total number of active cases to 90.

PHOTO: A public notice for COVID-19 on display in Wellington, Aug. 15, 2020, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Masanori Udagawa/Getty Images)

Dr. Siouxsie Wiles, a microbiologist at the University of Auckland, told ABC News the origins of the new outbreak "are still a bit of a mystery."

"The wide testing being done shows the virus hasn't secretly been hanging around in New Zealand for the last few months. With people and goods still arriving into New Zealand from overseas, there will always be the possibility of us seeing clusters of cases."

Story continues

So far, most of New Zealand's new outbreak is limited to a cluster of linked cases in Auckland. However, one person who became infected on Tuesday works at a quarantine hotel, where a guest who arrived from the U.S in late July tested positive. Genome sequencing has shown that the guest and hotel worker carried the same strain of the virus.

PHOTO: A police officer wearing a mask gets his morning coffee from The Store in Kohimarama as Auckland wakes to a return to level three lockdown, Aug. 13, 2020, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Health authorities on Tuesday ruled out the possibility that the virus entered through a freight storage facility, where one of the people who became infected had worked.

Officials are still investigating whether the virus came through its border controls. The government was criticized for lapses in testing at ports and borders, and Ardern admitted earlier testing was "not as comprehensive as it should have been." There is now mandatory weekly testing for border and immigration staff.

MORE: UNC Chapel Hill to move undergraduate classes fully remote amid outbreaks of COVID-19

As this new outbreak emerged, Ardern wasted no time in placing the 1.5 million people in Auckland into stage three of a four-tier alert system. It means all public places must be closed and residents must work or school from home where possible. Social distancing measures have been ramped up in other parts of the country.

PHOTO: Wellington streets generally quieter under level 2 restrictions, Aug. 15, 2020, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Masanori Udagawa/Getty Images)

PHOTO: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament, Aug. 17, 2020, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

On Monday, Ardern postponed the country's general election by a month to Oct. 17 after opposition politicians complained that their campaigning would be hampered under lockdown conditions. They argued that the vote would weigh in Ardern's favor, as her handling of the outbreak has boosted her popularity.

Often referring to New Zealand as "a team of five million," Ardern has been lauded at home and overseas for mobilizing the nation during the crisis. However, for a country that relies on tourism and has shut its borders to outsiders, there's a chance the economic fallout may negatively impact the leader in the longer term.

MORE: A timeline of Cuomo's and Trump's responses to coronavirus outbreak

But Wiles believes the current outbreak can be brought under control within a few weeks, as long as the government sticks to its plan: "It's obviously frustrating to have to go back into restrictions, but the alternative is letting the virus get out of control".

The microbiologist added that approaching an outbreak "softly" doesn't work. When asked about the United States' strategy, she said, "The only way to describe it is mishandling. I'm shocked at just how bad the federal response has been and continues to be to the pandemic."

New Zealand back on alert after 3 COVID-free months originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
John Kasich and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez engaged in a war of words on Monday evening, hours before the Republican former governor was due to address the Democratic National Convention.

The convention, which is being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, kicks off on Monday at 9pm ET, with Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders due to speak alongside Kasich.

Kasich ran against Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primary, and will on Monday night speak to endorse Trump's rival, Joe Biden.

John Kasich, the Republican former governor of Ohio, will address the DNC on Monday night

Kasich criticized 'AOC' ahead of his speech, saying she receives 'outsized publicity'

In an interview ahead of his speech, Kasich, 68, who was governor of Ohio from 2011-2019, spoke out against Ocasio-Cortez.

Asked why he - as a Republican - was asked to speak, he told Buzzfeed News that he thinks the U.S. is 'moderate', and that 'extreme' politicians - like Ocasio-Cortez - receive 'outsized publicity.'

The first-term congresswoman will be allotted one minute to speak during the convention, and her speech is pre-recorded.

Kasich, on the other hand, will deliver a live address.

'I think both parties have to have new ideas, and I think this country is moderate,' said Kasich.

'People on the extreme, whether they're on the left or on the right, they get outsized publicity that tends to define their party.

'You know, I listen to people all the time make these statements, and because AOC gets outsized publicity doesn't mean she represents the Democratic Party. She's just a part, just some member of it.

'And it's on both sides, whether it's the Republicans or whether it's the Democrats.'

Ocasio-Cortez, 30, has only been given one minute to issue remarks at the DNC on Tuesday

Ocasio-Cortez, who backed Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary, fired back in a tweet, accusing Kasich of 'fighting against women's rights.'

Kasich, who is strongly pro-life, took a series of actions while governor to restrict access to abortion. The Columbus Dispatch calculated that he signed 21 bills chipping away at abortion rights.

'It's great that Kasich has woken up & realized the importance of supporting a Biden-Harris ticket,' she wrote.

'I hope he gets through to GOP voters. Yet also, something tells me a Republican who fights against women's rights doesn't get to say who is or isn't representative of the Dem party.'

Kasich is one of four Republicans to speak on behalf of Joe Biden on Monday night

Kasich will be one of four Republicans to speak in support of presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden on Monday - the same night that Sanders will address the convention.

The three Republicans joining Kasich on Monday are former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman; Quibi CEO Meg Whitman, a former adviser for Mitt Romney's presidential campaigns; and former Rep. Susan Molinari, who spoke during the 1996 Republican National Convention.

The range of speakers is intended to underscore party unity and highlight the spectrum of political ideologues who support the former vice president -- a fact that Biden's Wall Street donors have been spreading among bankers concerned about the role that Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, both Democratic socialists, could play during the election, sources told Fox Business.

Ocasio-Cortez's limited remarks, which she will deliver on Tuesday, have angered some, who have accused the DNC of trying to silence progressive voices.

Others were enraged at the allocation of such a short amount of time to the Leftist leader

AOC herself accepted the news by posting a poem entitled 'Life Is Just a Minute'

Ocasio-Cortez herself acknowledged the decision to curtail her speech by tweeting a poem, entitled: 'Life Is Just a Minute' by Benjamin E. Mays.

'I only have a minute. Sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, I did not choose it, But I know that I must use it. Give account if I abuse it. Suffer, if I lose it. Only a tiny little minute, But eternity is in it.'

The poem, she noted, was recited by the late Elijah Cummings, representative for Maryland.

On Sunday, the Young Delegate Coalition, a group of 225 delegates representing Biden, Sanders, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth, at the convention, launched a petition urging the DNC to give Ocasio-Cortez more speaking time.

'She is one of two convention speakers under the age of 50,' the petition stated.

'Yet, she is only being allotted 60 seconds to speak while Republican John Kasich is slated to have a much longer speaking segment. This is unacceptable.'

A CBS News poll released over the weekend found that only 38 per cent of Democrats said they wanted to hear from Kasich at the convention, while 63 per cent said they wanted to hear from Ocasio-Cortez.
DUBLIN, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Electrophysiology Catheters Market 2020-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global electrophysiology catheters market is estimated to grow significantly during the forecast period. The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing demand of early diseases diagnosis and treatment by electrophysiology diagnostic catheters are one of the major driving factors that are fueling the growth of the electrophysiology catheters market.



The prognosis of patients along with adult congenital heart diseases has enhanced significantly owing to early diagnosis and enhancement in surgical corrective techniques. The Catheter is utilized to deliver low voltage and high-frequency current which destroy the heart tissue that is responsible for the arrhythmia. The patients who have done with the treatment of catheter ablation has experience of long term reduction in the number of arrhythmia and return to normal heart rhythm.



The global market for electrophysiology catheters is segregated on the basis of product type and end-user industry. Based on the product type, the market is further classified into diagnostic catheters and ablation catheters. The diagnostic catheters segment is projected to have a considerable growth in the global market. Based on the end-user, the global electrophysiology catheters market is further segmented into hospitals & clinics and ambulatory surgical centers. The hospitals segment estimated to have a considerable share in the market owing to the growing number of surgeries in hospitals and clinics. Based on geography, the global electrophysiology catheters market is further segregated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World. Among, region North America projected to have a considerable share in the global electrophysiology catheters market.



The companies which are contributing to the growth of the global electrophysiology catheters market include Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific Corp., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Medtronic PLC, Stryker Corp., and others. Product launch, merger, and acquisition, collaborations with government, and technological advancements through which market players are considerably contributing to the market growth to stay competitive in the market.



Market Segmentation:



1. Global Electrophysiology Catheters Market Research and Analysis by Product Type

2. Global Electrophysiology Catheters Market Research and Analysis by End-User



The Report Covers

Comprehensive research methodology of the global electrophysiology catheters market.

This report also includes a detailed and extensive market overview with key analyst insights.

An exhaustive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations.

Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the global electrophysiology catheters market.

Insights about market determinants which are stimulating the global electrophysiology catheters market.

Detailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenues.

Extensive profiles and recent developments of market players.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Report Summary

1.1. Research Methods and Tools

1.2. Market Breakdown

1.2.1. By Segments

1.2.2. By Geography



2. Market Overview and Insights

2.1. Scope of the Report

2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends

2.2.1. Key Findings

2.2.2. Recommendations

2.2.3. Conclusion

2.3. Rules & Regulations



3. Competitive Landscape

3.1. Company Share Analysis

3.2. Key Strategy Analysis

3.3. Key Company Analysis

3.3.1. Abbott Laboratories

3.3.1.1. Overview

3.3.1.2. Financial Analysis

3.3.1.3. SWOT Analysis

3.3.1.4. Recent Developments

3.3.2. Boston Scientific Corp.

3.3.2.1. Overview

3.3.2.2. Financial Analysis

3.3.2.3. SWOT Analysis

3.3.2.4. Recent Developments

3.3.3. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

3.3.3.1. Overview

3.3.3.2. Financial Analysis

3.3.3.3. SWOT Analysis

3.3.3.4. Recent Developments

3.3.4. Medtronic PLC

3.3.4.1. Overview

3.3.4.2. Financial Analysis

3.3.4.3. SWOT Analysis

3.3.4.4. Recent Developments

3.3.5. Stryker Corp.

3.3.5.1. Overview

3.3.5.2. Financial Analysis

3.3.5.3. SWOT Analysis

3.3.5.4. Recent Developments



4. Market Determinants

4.1. Motivators

4.2. Restraints

4.3. Opportunities



5. Market Segmentation

5.1. Global Electrophysiology Catheters Market by Product Type

5.1.1. Diagnostic Catheters

5.1.2. Ablation Catheters

5.1.3. Smart home display

5.2. Global Electrophysiology Catheters Market by End-User

5.2.1. Hospitals & Clinics

5.2.2. Ambulatory Surgical Centers



6. Regional Analysis

6.1. North America

6.1.1. United States

6.1.2. Canada

6.2. Europe

6.2.1. UK

6.2.2. Germany

6.2.3. Italy

6.2.4. Spain

6.2.5. France

6.2.6. Rest of Europe

6.3. Asia-Pacific

6.3.1. China

6.3.2. India

6.3.3. Japan

6.3.4. Rest of Asia-Pacific

6.4. Rest of the World



7. Company Profiles

7.1. Abbott Laboratories

7.2. ADInstruments Pty Ltd.

7.3. Biomerics, LLC

7.4. Biotronik, Inc.

7.5. Boston Scientific Corp.

7.6. CathRx Ltd.

7.7. EPIMED International, Inc.

7.8. Integer holdings corp.

7.9. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

7.10. Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd.

7.11. Medtronic plc

7.12. MicroPort Scientific Corp.

7.13. Millar, Inc.

7.14. Nihon Kohden Corp.

7.15. Stryker Corp.

7.16. Smiths Interconnect Group Ltd.

7.17. Transonic Systems, Inc.

7.18. TZ Medical Inc.

7.19. The Standard

7.20. Teleflex Inc.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xx6hck

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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Donald Trump has claimed that recent violence in Chicago is worse than in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria  countries where hundreds of thousands of people have been killed during long and protracted wars.

During a speech at a campaign rally in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the president first pointed to a protest which took place in Chicago last Sunday and descended into violence.

Seventeen officers were injured in Chicago, Mr Trump told his supporters, at the Wittman Regional Airport on Monday.

The president then referred to a weekend in June with a high number of shootings in the city.

During a weekend spree where 78 people were shot, and 18 died, thats worse than Afghanistan, which were getting out of, the president added.

Recommended The Trump administration is hungry for war with Iran

According to the Chicago Sun Times, 18 people were killed in the city over the weekend beginning 26 June.

Thats worse than Iraq, which were almost out of, the president continued.

Trump also said the Chicago violence was worse than Syria, before going on to claim that US forces took the countrys oil. He has repeatedly said that he wanted US troops to secure oil in Syria, which could constitute a war crime.

Thats worse than Syria, which were out of, the president continued. We kept the oil, but thats ok, we dont have to talk about it...

It was not immediately clear from the speech what kind of comparison Mr Trump was trying to make when he referenced the Chicago violence.

Figures for how many people were shot in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria in July on any given day are difficult to come by. But analysis of a number of reports suggests that more people died in each of the three countries above in July, than died in Chicago during the same period.

Some 106 have people were killed in Chicago in July this year, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

At least 573 people were shot in the same time period, according to the outlet.

According to a New York Times report, 391 people were killed in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan in July 2020.

Some 282 of those were pro-government forces, while 109 were civilians, the NYT report states.

The Iraq Body Count website, which records conflict deaths in the country, estimates that at least 473,231 people have been killed since the war started in 2003.

Between 185,231 and 208,214 of those deaths were civilians, according to the website. Around 47 of those civilian deaths were recorded in July 2020.

Meanwhile in Syria, 107 civilians, including 26 children and 11 women, were killed in July 2020, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.
The Government of the Cayman Islands has ruled out the introduction of direct taxes or new indirect taxes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an August 14, 2020, statement, the Government said the territory had "good reserves and decreased debt [and] the Cayman Islands is facing the current global pandemic crisis in a strong fiscal position."

Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce's third Annual Economic Forum, Finance Minister Roy McTaggart emphasized that there were no plans for new indirect or direct taxes.

McTaggart said: "My message today is not all doom and gloom. Yes, we are currently facing severe economic and financial hardships that will require all of us to dig deep in order to persevere and survive. But because of the fiscal strategy employed over the past two terms, good reserves and decreased debt, we are facing the economic impact of this pandemic in as strong a fiscal position as I could have expected. This level of economic strength has allowed us the leverage needed to make certain decisions to better respond to the virus so as to protect life and health, and then later as we started our phased program of recovery."

The Government said the economy is poised for slower growth, with 2020 growth expected to fall by 74.6 percent in the tourism sector and by 3.8 percent in finance and insurance, and by 1.7 percent in business services. Government spending will be 12.6 percent higher than budgeted, it said, as a result of supports for businesses and individuals.
Close to ASU campus: Park Place Tempe offers luxury housing for 782 students (1- to 4-bedroom layouts) with many amenities, shops and restaurants on the ground floor, and underground parking. Once new or existing concrete is treated with the Penetron System, the waterproofing and durability properties become an integral part of the concrete matrix. This protects concrete from deterioration for the service life of the concrete, even under conditions of hydrostatic pressure.

Park Place Tempe, a high-end student housing development in Tempe, AZ, welcomed its first students on August 14, 2020  just in time for the start of the fall semester at ASU. PENETRON ADMIX was specified to waterproof all below-grade concrete structures, including an underground parking garage and a cistern for water storage.

The $50 million Park Place Tempe student housing development was designed by Humphreys & Partners Architects, specialists in the design of student housing. Only a five-minute walk from the Arizona State University campus, the luxury student housing complex comprises two five-story buildings connected via a sky bridge. Park Place Tempe features 285 units (782 beds), with one- to four-bedroom layouts (390-1,177 square feet). In addition to a long list of outdoor/indoor amenities, the ground floor has 8,723 square feet of retail space for cafes, restaurants and shops. Also included in the complex are 496 underground parking spaces. The construction was LEED-certified.

Experience with Concrete Counts

Originally, the Park Place Tempe project specified a competitors waterproofing product to treat the below-grade concrete, explains Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group. However, Hanson is an experienced ready-mix supplier and deeply knowledgeable about waterproofing concrete mixes. They showed the Park 7 (developer/contractor) project managers how PENETRON ADMIX was a superior and more reliable option.

Waterproof Forever

Ultimately, Hanson treated about 2,000 yds3 (1530 m3) of concrete with PENETRON ADMIX SB for the below-grade cistern, the underground parking garage, and basement structures. Available in soluble bags for easy batching, PENETRON ADMIX SB provides comprehensive protection against concrete deterioration caused by corrosion and water penetration that lasts for the service life of the concrete.

PENETRON, a topical crystalline material, and PENECRETE MORTAR, a waterproof grout, were used in combination to patch the tie-holes to complete the Penetron System. Once applied to the positive or negative side, the active ingredients in PENETRON and PENECRETE MORTAR react with water and concrete minerals to form an insoluble crystal network deep within the concrete matrix. This crystalline growth takes place throughout the concrete structure to fill in the micro-cracks, pores and voids normally found in concrete.

Once new or existing concrete is treated with the Penetron System, the waterproofing and durability properties become an integral part of the concrete matrix, adds Christopher Chen. This protects concrete from deterioration for the service life of the concrete, even under conditions of hydrostatic pressure.

The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives and distribution channels.

For more information on Penetron crystalline technology solutions, please visit http://www.penetron.com, email: CRDept@penetron.com or contact our Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.
EDWARDSVILLE  The Madison County Health Department is preparing to hire workers to conduct contact tracing because of the coronavirus pandemic, and Health Department officials are hoping some of them may be able to start work by the end of the week.

On Monday the County Boards Personnel and Labor Relations Committee approved job descriptions for the new workers, who would be temporary and be paid through a state grant.

On Wednesday the County Board is expected to approve an emergency appropriations request for the $4.9 million grant that would pay for that and other COVID-related expenses.

At Mondays meeting Health Department Director Toni Corona said they initially plan to hire 10 contact tracers, who would be responsible for contacting people testing positive for the virus, and determining who they have been in contact with and then notifying those people.

It very likely could be more, she said.

She noted that while it sounds like a huge number of people, Corona said for every positive case they have to contact at least two to four more.

We just need more people to deal with this, she added. I need these positions pretty much yesterday.

She later said the Illinois Department of Public Health has said a county probably needs 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 people. For Madison County that would be about 70 workers, but Corona said she hopes they dont have to hire that many.

Contact tracing is a common practice in public health, but has become a hot topic because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Normally the departments nursing staff performs contact tracing for infectious diseases, but they are being overwhelmed by the number of cases. On Monday the Health Department reported 119 new COVID-19 cases, a new record and far beyond any previous daily number.

Corona said she has already been getting resumes and applications.

Among requirements are an associates or bachelors degree. She said the job is all online or by telephone. She noted they will probably use the Madison County Emergency Management emergency operations center to house the workers.

The starting pay is $21.77 per hour, and they would be union positions. However, the jobs are temporary and would end when the grant runs out. Without additional funding, that is expected to be March 31.

Corona said the goal is to be able to contact 90 percent of cases within 24 hours of the receipt of test results.
Opining on the recent controversy on Facebook's hate speech policy and Rahul Gandhi's remark that Facebook is 'BJP & RSS controlled', Shiv Sena via its mouthpiece Saamana on August 18 has made a veiled attack on the Centre. In its editorial, Sena said that Facebook is being used as a platform to spread enmity between Hindus and Muslims and has promoted hate speech. Claiming that the tags of being a 'silent PM' on former PM Manmohan Singh were generated on Facebook, Sena seemed to blame BJP for running a digital campaign in 2014 and 2019 general elections to mark its victory.

Furthermore, dragging in the mysteries surrounding Sushant Singh Rajput's case, Sena said that Facebook groups have declared themselves as investigative agencies, judges in the case. Sena said that Facebook should not overlook the enmity that is being brought in the society using its platforms 'by members of the party in power.' Sena also claimed that Facebook has accepted that some BJP leaders used its platform for electoral gains and pressurized to not take action against them.

READ | 'Not proper': Devendra Fadnavis slams Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's remarks on doctors

Rahul Gandhi lashes out at BJP

Earlier on Monday, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that 'BJP & RSS controlled Facebook' while opining on a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on hate-speech on Facebook. He claimed that the 'American media had finally come out with the truth about Facebook'. Gandhi, who has been continually critical of the Modi government alleged that the BJP spread fake news and hatred through Facebook to influence the electorate. Facebook has currently invested a whopping $5.7 billion in the Mukesh Ambani-owned Jio platforms, raking a 9.9% stake in the company.

READ | BJP president lambasts Rahul Gandhi for raising transparency concerns about PM CARES fund

What does the WSJ report claim?

The American newspaper Wall Street Journal claimed that BJP's Telangana MLA T Raja Singh had often made communal and incendiary speeches that were posted on Facebook, clashing with the company's hate speech rules. The report claims that inspite of the posts allegedly violating Facebook's hate-speech rules and qualifying as dangerous, Facebook India's top public-policy executive Ankhi Das had claimed that punishing violations by BJP would 'damage the company's business prospects in India'. Apart from Singh, three other BJP leaders or Hindutva groups were allegedly flagged by Facebook for hate-speech.

READ | RJD Ridicules Banning Of 59 Apps, Asks Centre To Return Chinese Donations In PM CARES Fund

The report further points out that Facebook has faced issues to launch its telecommunications service - Free Basics in 2016 from the Modi government, as it violated net neutrality. The report further stated that while some of Singh's posts were removed by Facebook, the social media giant has demoted Singh's account to a non-verified, unofficial account without a blue tick.Citing preferential treatment by Facebook, WSJ points to the removal of thousands of Congress-linked Pakistan military posts and several BJP-linked fake news pages prior to the Lok Sabha elections. While Facebook publically disclosed the deletion of the Congress-linked accounts, it allegedly did not disclose the removal of the BJP-linked posts.

READ | Union Minister lashes out at Congress over Facebook row; asks Rahul Gandhi to 'introspect'
Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks in a frame grab from the live video feed of the all virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention as participants from across the country are hosted over video links to the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 17, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS

Former first lady Michelle Obama launched a blistering attack on President Donald Trump on Monday and urged Americans to elect Democrat Joe Biden in November to end the chaos she said had been created during the four years of Trump's presidency.

In an impassioned speech capping the first night of the Democratic National Convention, Obama said the Republican Trump "has had enough time to prove that he can do the job but had failed to meet the moment in a country reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, economic turmoil and racial injustice.

"Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy," she said, calling him the wrong president for the United States and that he is "in over his head".

He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is, Obama said. "If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we dont make a change in this election. If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it."

Obama, whose husband, Barack Obama, was in the White House when Biden was vice president from 2009-2017, capped a long parade of speakers, including some of Trump's fellow Republicans, who gathered online to make the case for Biden at the start of his four-day nominating convention.

The harsh takedown by Michelle Obama, regularly cited in polls as one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, could generate the sort of voter enthusiasm some Democrats thought a virtual convention might lack.

Read More

The convention opened amid widespread worries about the safety of voting in November because of the pandemic. Democrats have pushed voting by mail as a safe alternative, but Trump without evidence has proclaimed it is prone to fraud and blocked emergency aid for the U.S. Postal Service to limit mail-in voting.

Obama referred to these concerns, saying those who could not win a fair election were trying to stop people from voting by closing polling places in minority neighborhoods, purging voter rolls and lying about the security of mail-in ballots.

"We have to vote for Joe Biden in numbers that cannot be ignored," she said. "We have got to grab our comfortable shoes, put on our masks, pack a brown bag dinner and maybe breakfast too, because weve got to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to."

As Michelle said, weve got to do everything we can to elect @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. So make sure you have a plan to vote. Vote early. And tell everybody you know to register to vote at https://t.co/XdZz4dh82T. https://t.co/rAUsWHusbV  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 18, 2020

Showcasing the broad spectrum of supporters united against defeating Trump, former Democratic presidential candidate and progressive Senator Bernie Sanders and prominent Republican John Kasich joined in with Obama.

"Joe Biden will end the hate and division Trump has created. He will stop the demonization of immigrants, the coddling of white nationalists, the racist dog whistling, the religious bigotry and the ugly attacks on women," Sanders said.

The pandemic forced Democrats to overhaul the convention, largely eliminating the in-person gathering planned for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and turning it into two-hour, prime-time packages of virtual speeches and events from around the country.

Expand Close A virtual crowd seen over video links applauds as former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama concludes her remarks in a video grab from the live video feed of the all virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention broadcast from the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 17, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp A virtual crowd seen over video links applauds as former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama concludes her remarks in a video grab from the live video feed of the all virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention broadcast from the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 17, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS

It featured discussions with voters who described their struggles confronting the virus and coping with the slumping economy and healthcare.

Kristin Urquiza, who lost her father to COVID-19, blamed Trump's mismanagement of the pandemic for his death.

"My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life," she said. "When I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my Dad."

In a break with tradition by which candidates limit their activities during their opponents' conventions, Trump campaigned cross-country.

He posted more than two dozen tweets and retweets after the convention program, primarily targeting New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a critic of Trump's handling of the coronavirus. Trump steered clear of mentioning the popular former first lady.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

The convention also highlighted a call for a broad reckoning over systemic racism and police brutality amid protests that broke out after the death of African American George Floyd in Minnesota under the knee of a white policeman.

Speaking from Houston, Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd introduced a moment of silence and honored other Black victims of police violence.

"So, it's up to us to carry on the fight for justice. Our actions will be their legacies," Floyd said.

Jim Clyburn, the influential U.S. representative from South Carolina whose endorsement of Biden was critical to his breakthrough primary victory in that state in February, said Biden understood the need to unify people was part of presidential leadership.

Kasich, a former Ohio governor and frequent Trump critic who lost to Trump in the 2016 Republican primary, described his opposition to Trump as a patriotic duty and said the country was at a crossroads.

Standing literally at a fork in a road, he called Biden "a man who can help us see the humanity in each other."

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said Kasich "was a loser as a Republican and he'll be a loser as a Democrat."

Other Republicans on the speakers list included former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman and former Hewlett Packard Enterprise Chief Executive Meg Whitman.

"Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business, let alone an economy," Meg Whitman said.

The inclusion of Republican speakers angered some Democrats who voiced concern it would take time away from progressive speakers like Sanders of Vermont and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

But Cedric Richmond, a Louisiana congressman and Biden campaign co-chair, pushed back against that idea, telling reporters earlier in the day, "Remember tonight's theme is 'We the People,' not 'We the Democrats.'"

Biden, 77, leads Trump, 74, in national opinion polls heading into back-to-back convention weeks for the two political parties. Trump will be formally nominated for a second term at next week's Republican National Convention, which also has been scaled back due to coronavirus concerns.
An outside view of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 12, 2020. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)

California Authorities Bust Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Ring Run From San Mateo Jail

California officials said that over 20 people have been arrested in connection with a pandemic unemployment insurance scheme run out of a San Mateo prison that scammed more than $250,000 worth of fraudulent claims.

The San Mateo County Sheriffs Office said in a press release Aug. 15 that investigators traced 16 bogus unemployment claims to a large-scale Pandemic Unemployment Assistance fraud ring that was run out of San Mateo Countys Maguire Correctional Facility.

Proactive investigators overheard inmates conversing about these fraudulent claims which initiated the investigation, the department said in the release, adding that this is the first time a fraudulent ring of this type involving inmates at the Maguire Correctional Facility was discovered.

$250K in fraudulent #EDD #unemployment payments discovered by SMCSO&DA investigators using inmate information. Warrants netted 21 people responsible for 16 fraudulent claims using 30 inmates personal information to claim unemployment.

$150k was recoveredhttps://t.co/eLP0tQkoFJ pic.twitter.com/0nc5y7YX7Q  San Mateo County S.O (@SMCSheriff) August 15, 2020

Scammers filed the bogus claims between June 9 and July 30, the department said, netting in excess of a quarter of a million dollars in unlawful payments.

Somebody, either in March or early April, said, Hey we can put in for this and get some free money, said Stephen M. Wagstaffe, the San Mateo County district attorney, in remarks to The New York Times. Fairly soon after that point, the money was flowing.

Gang and narcotics task force agents were among the law enforcement units conducting a raid on Aug. 15, which led to the arrest of 21 suspects and the recovery of $150,000 cash. The sheriffs office said other fraudulent payments are still under investigation, potentially leading to more arrests.

Were probably going to find many, many more, Wagstaffe said. We think it had at least been going on since fairly soon after the crisis set in, which in California would be March.

The personal information of 30 inmates was used to file the unlawful claims, the department said, which could put the total number of people involved at over 50.

Inmates currently in custody at the Maguire Correctional Facility who were involved in the scam were rebooked on new charges, officials said.

We are grateful to have caught this scheme when we did and that our personnel are so proactive, the sheriffs office said in the release.

California Employment Development Department, which processes unemployment claims, said in a recent press release that in the week ending Aug. 10, the agency paid an average of $686 million a day in benefits, which is about $600 million more than the daily average paid at the height of the Great Recession.

The department has warned that filing unemployment claims based on false or misreported information is an act of fraud that is punishable by fines and jail time.
The first night of the Democratic National Convention featured a series of voter testimonials and speeches as well as a reserved conversation that centered on racial justice.

The first hour of the convention brought repeated references to the Black Lives Matter movement, the disproportionate number of Black Americans killed by police each year and the protests in several cities that roiled the nation this summer. But neither presumptive nominee Joe Biden nor the public figures who spoke made specific or related policy commitments to address various forms of racial injustice.

Biden held an online conversation with social justice activist Jamira Burley, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, and activist and author Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, a Black man killed during an arrest in New York in 2014. Most cops are good, but the fact is that the bad ones have to be identified and prosecuted and out  period, Biden said.

Mayor Muriel Bowser addressing the DNC at Black Lives Matter Plaza in DC. (DNC)

In the moments before the conversation, Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., stood on a balcony overlooking the capital city area previously known as Lafayette Square but renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza by her administration when federal law enforcement clashed with and removed protesters from the square to make way for a Trump photo opportunity at a nearby church this summer. Bowsers decision to have the words BLACK LIVES MATTER painted on a street that runs between the White House and a nearby historic church where Trump addressed reporters and posed with a Bible has inspired similar public art in other cities.

However, in recent weeks, protesters in Washington have criticized Bowsers opposition to one of the protest movements chief demands: reallocating funding from the citys police department to social programs and services. Bowser, who backed the billionaire former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg during the Democratic presidential primary, described the plan to reallocate police funding as unsound and actively worked to block the change. Bloombergs candidacy ran aground, in part, because of his vociferous support for "stop and frisk" while mayor. A federal court ruled that police stopped black and Latino residents in a discriminatory and grossly disproportionate way. Bloomberg disavowed the policy when he launched his presidential campaign.

Story continues

The seeming gap between Bowsers convention night speech  describing support for a reimaging of the nation  and her position on police funding was not unique.

Lightfoot, whose comments on Monday night amounted to a call for increased economic opportunity for more Americans, has also faced criticism from protesters and other social justice advocates in Chicago. Those criticisms intensified Friday when Lightfoot announced plans to form a task force responsible for tracking protester social media activity for early indications of planned looting. Lightfoot also said at the same news conference that she would consider using tear gas should looting recur in that city.

Acevedo, the Houston police chief, offered convention viewers an uplifting take on the protests and debates that spread across the country this summer. Many police officers recognized the death of George Floyd  a Black man killed by police in Minneapolis on May 25  as a departure from American norms, he said. But Acevedo has been the subject of long-running critiques from Houston police accountability activists who argue that he has refused to release police body cam footage from a recent series of police shootings.

What a motley crew, said Mary Frances Berry, a professor of American social thought and history at the University of Pennsylvania. You should not expect the party to have anybody who might deviate from the party line and say something like the policing bill passed in the House would not do much of anything. I dont expect hard truths to be told during a convention. It is about packaging and marketing. Thats what they are doing.

Among the racial justice events most poignant speakers were relatives of Floyd.

Our brother should be alive today, said Philonise Floyd, George's brother. Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Eric Garner should be alive today.  Our actions will be their legacy.

Floyd ended his comments by asking for a moment of silence.
People pose for a group photo during a theme event celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at a square in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Monday stressed that the country's youth should be mobilized to make new and greater contributions to undertakings of the Party and the country.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to a session of the All-China Youth Federation and a congress of the All-China Students' Federation, which opened in Beijing on Monday morning.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended congratulations on the opening of the meetings, and sincere greetings to young students and young people of all ethnic groups and all walks of life in China, as well as overseas Chinese youth.

Over the past five years, under the leadership of the Party and with the help and guidance of Chinese Communist Youth League organizations, youth federations and students' federations at all levels have played an important role in the Party's work related to youth.

Noting that the country is about to secure a victory in completing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and embark on a new journey toward the second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist country, Xi called on Chinese youth to have firm ideals and convictions, and work tirelessly with the people in the new era.

Xi urged Party committees and governments at all levels to improve leadership in youth work and continue their support to youth federations and students' federations.

Youth federations and students' federations were asked to deepen reform and innovation, and organize and motivate the youth and students to follow the Party and make new and greater contributions to undertakings of the Party and the country.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening meeting, together with the other about 3,000 representatives and officials.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attends the opening meeting of a session of the All-China Youth Federation and a congress of the All-China Students' Federation in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Chen Xi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Organization Department, read Xi's letter at the meeting.

Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the meeting on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Sun called on the young Chinese to rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and strive to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

The gatherings will summarize the work of the All-China Youth Federation and All-China Students' Federation in the past five years, and analyze and decide on the work plans for the next five years.
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Like many people who have a loved one with a life-limiting disease, news of a global health crisis and subsequent lockdowns brought my father, who suffered from Lewy body dementia, to the top of my mind. As a New Zealander living in New York, I returned home almost immediately, before the border closure in March could have stopped me from spending what would be the last few months with him.

New Zealand proved to be one of the safest countries to be during the coronavirus pandemic. Its ocean borders and strong leadership meant it made the 100-day mark of being Covid-19 free before a small cluster of domestic cases were identified recently. That promise of safety, however, did not make me part of the countrys brain gain (a number of overseas New Zealanders who have permanently returned). I returned to New York last month at a time when New Zealands daily numbers were at zero and Americas were surging.

Many friends and strangers told me I was crazy to leave New Zealand for America. Id call fellow New Zealanders living overseas to make sure I wasnt and listened to their stories.

Some friends lost their jobs and came home devastated. Others decided to stick it out and accept the uncertainty of not knowing when theyd ever be able to return to their country again. Many people I know are still battling with their own personal dilemmas of where to be as international travel becomes more difficult. In my case, I knew I had to go back to the US and that I couldnt stay in New Zealand.

Leaving New Zealand after graduating, I built a life for myself in New York that Ive watched crumble and rebuild itself more times than I can count. Ive achieved many of the career goals I made for myself after coming here, found friends that feel more like family and adopted a cat. Ive also watched my long-term relationship disappear (after moving to New York together) and have been forced to grieve the slow loss of my father from a distance.

My experience of the four months I spent in New Zealand this year felt like a final goodbye to a country that many view as a safe haven. The place I spent most of my childhood and young adult life, but no longer feels like home. Instead, the country now holds the weight of a painfully failed relationship, the notable absence of my dad and the mental health battles that plagued my adolescence. I spent quarantine there in a room filled with memories that I had moved so far away to grow up from. The safest country in the world didnt feel safe for me.

Im aware that having options for countries to live in during this time is an immense privilege, so too is knowing I can make these decisions without having to worry about any major risk due to underlying health conditions. Im also aware that many would view my decision to return as stupid. Yet, staying would have compromised my career, relationships, and mental health  all because the country offers more physical safety. My panicked rush to leave New York didnt feel the end of my story in a city Id found home and community in.

Whats also evident is that our new normal isnt going anywhere for months or even years. While for many New Zealanders the country feels like the perfect place to wait the pandemic out, New York is my home now, despite it being in an unpredictable and politically-frightening country.

So in a time that can feel hopeless, I take solace in my decision to return to a life that Ive built, in a place that fills me with the tiniest slither of optimism. After all, for many living overseas, the safest place to weather a storm can simply be the place that makes you feel like its a storm worth weathering.

Laura Pitcher is a freelancer journalist.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Officials with Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Tuesday asked for the public's help to identify a patient at the hospital.

The woman, believed to be in her 50s, was found unconscious around 3 p.m. Sunday near a hotel close to San Francisco International Airport.

She's about 5 feet tall, weighs 150 pounds, and has curly brown hair and full dentures. She was wearing a black fabric face covering with yellow liner, hospital officials said.

Anyone with information is being asked to call (628) 206-8063 or to email brent.andrew@sfdph.org.

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 United States and Russia have concluded a third round of arms-control talks still at odds over several key issues, but the two sides showed a willingness to possibly extend the New START Treaty before it expires next year.

New START, which caps the number of deployed long-range nuclear warheads each country can have, expires in February unless the two sides agree to extend it for five years. It is their last remaining bilateral nuclear-arms-control agreement.

The United States has urged China to join the negotiations -- a proposal rejected by Beijing. Moscow believes that if China is to join, then Britain and France should also be engaged in an even wider process.

"There are some areas of convergence between Russia and the United States but we do remain far apart on a number of key issues," U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea told reporters on August 18 following two days of talks in Vienna.

"We are willing to contemplate an extension of New START but such an extension will only occur if we can...address significant concerns we have with the Russian build-up of its unconstrained capabilities," Billingslea said.

The United States wants any new nuclear-arms-control treaty to cover all types of warheads, stronger verification and transparency measures, and bring China on board.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who led the arms-control talks for Moscow, said the two countries' "priorities at this stage differ significantly."

"Russia stands for an extension of the New START Treaty, but is not ready to pay any price for that," Ryabkov said, in comments shared by the Russian mission in Vienna.

Russia has said it is ready to extend the New Start treaty without preconditions and warned there is not enough time to renegotiate a complicated new treaty.

The first two rounds of talks between the two countries took place in June and July with no breakthrough on a possible extension of the treaty.

With reporting by AP, dpa, and Reuters
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:54:55|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government and the armed groups have signed a security deal that paves way for achieving comprehensive peace in Sudan.

The Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector, led by Malik Agar, on Monday signed a security agreement related to South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas.

"The agreement was signed in Juba, the capital of South Sudan," said Sudan's Sovereign Council in a statement.

The deal included establishment of a mechanism to reform the military and security institution so that there would be one professional and unpoliticized army.

It has also been agreed to integrate the SPLM fighters in the military and security institutions within six to 12 months.

After the signing of the deal, the Sudanese government said in a statement that "We are taking confident and solid steps towards achieving a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement with all the forces involved in the talks at Juba platform."

"We are working for peace that addresses the basic problems of war and puts a final end to violence and management imbalance in Sudan," it added.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Al-Hassan Al-Taishi, member of Sudan's sovereign council and spokesman for the government negotiating delegation, reiterated Sudan's declared and firm position towards reaching a peaceful settlement through negotiations with all partners in the forces of armed struggle.

For his part, Sudan's Defense Minister, Yassin Ibrahim Yassin said the realization of peace, stability and security in the country represents a maximum priority for the transitional government.

"The security agreement provided all the data that motivate and help others to join the peace process for the sake of the development and construction of the homeland," said Yassin in a statement by by Sudan's sovereign council.

The SPLM/northern sector, led by Malik Agar, in the meantime, welcomed the security deal, describing its as "historical."

"The security agreement in the two areas (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) with the Sudanese government is historical and very important," said Yasir Arman, deputy chairman of the SPLM/northern sector, in a statement.

"After reaching a comprehensive peace deal, Sudan will be developed and modernized, including the Sudanese armed forces, where we will all participate in developing, reforming and building of strong and effective armed forces that reflect Sudan's diversity," Arman noted.

Tut Gatluak, South Sudan's presidential adviser on security affairs and head of the mediation team, voiced his country's determination to achieve peace and stability in Sudan.

"Peace in Sudan constitutes utmost importance to South Sudan, because the national security is common in the two countries," said Gatluak in a statement.

The SPLM/northern sector has been fighting the government in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas since 2011. The movement later split into two factions, one led by Malik Agar and the other by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.

Earlier on Monday, South Sudan's mediation team expected that the Sudanese government and the armed groups would sign a comprehensive peace deal on Aug. 28, according to a statement by Sudan's Sovereign Council.

Since October 2019, South Sudan has been mediating between the Sudanese government and the armed groups from Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions to reach a peace deal. Enditem
The Mumbai police on Tuesday received the forensic audit report of late Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajputs bank accounts, a top official said.

While carrying out investigation into Rajputs bank accounts after his death in June, the police had decided to get them forensically audited.

Accordingly, Grant Thornton, an accounting and advisory firm, was appointed the forensic auditor in the case.

The police on Tuesday received the report from the auditor, the top police officer confirmed.

Also read| Sushant Rajput death: Supreme Court verdict on Rheas plea today

Rajputs bank transactions of the last five years were analysed by the firm, he said.

The report suggests that there was no financial transaction from Rajputs accounts to those of his girlfriend, actor Rhea Chakraborty, the official said.

Rajput (34) was financially well-off and took good care of his staff too, he said.

The police will share necessary documents with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is looking into suspected money laundering aspect in the death case, the official said.

Also read| Rhea Chakrabortys financial transactions clear, nothing incriminating: Lawyer

On July 25, K K Singh, the father of Rajput, had submitted a complaint to the Patna police against Chakraborty, her family members and a few others, alleging they abetted his sons suicide.

Based on the complaint, the Patna police had filed an FIR against Chakraborty and others.

In the complaint, Singh had also claimed that an amount of Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from his sons bank account.

Rajput was found dead in his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14.
P C Andrew Harpers widow said she has been overwhelmed by support for her campaign to introduce life sentences for anyone who kills an emergency service worker.

PC Harper, 28, was dragged to his death on August 15 last year as he tried to stop three thieves escaping after stealing a quad bike in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire.

His widow Lissie Harper, who married the officer one month before he died, is calling for a minimum sentence of life in prison for anyone convicted of killing "a police officer, firefighter, doctor, prison officer or paramedic".

"Our justice system is broken," Ms Harper, 29, said.

Lissie Harper is calling for a minimum sentence of life in prison for killing an emergency worker such as her husband / PA

"I have witnessed first-hand the lenient and insufficient way in which the justice system deals with criminals who take the lives of our emergency workers."

"Harper's Law will ensure those that commit these offences aren't out again on the streets in a matter of weeks while the families of the victims suffer their own life sentences. That would be far more just."

The campaign was first announced on August 4, when PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, said she wanted anyone who injures or kills a police officer to serve a minimum 20 year term, under "Andrew's Law".

Ms Harper said in a statement today that she is "overwhelmed by the thousands of people from across the country who have publicly backed our campaign since we announced its launch".

However, she said the original name of the campaign law "been causing potential confusion to the public - with it already being used in America and being used for a different goal by Andrew's mother".

Andrew and Lissie Harper married a month before Andrew was killed / PA

"So (we) felt it important to change the name to Harper's Law at this early juncture," she added.

"What hasn't changed is the aim of the campaign and what we are fighting for: Anyone killing a police officer, firefighter, nurse, doctor, prison officers or paramedic should spend the rest of their lives behind bars. No ifs. No buts."

TODO: define component type apester

The ringleader of PC Harpers killing, Henry Long, 19, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for manslaughter, but could be released in less than 11 years.

Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were sentenced to 13 years.

However, they could be out on licence after serving less than nine years, under legislation that says a prisoner is eligible for release after serving two-thirds of their sentence.

The campaign has been backed by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), as well as PC Harper's father, step mother, brother and sister.

Lissie Harper's campaign has been backed by Andrew's family and the PFEW / PA

PFEW's National Chair, John Apter, said the new law would be PC Harpers legacy.

He said: "We will continue to support Lissie in her efforts to seek justice and change the law for the greater good."

Ms Harper paid tribute to her late husband with a heartfelt poem she read out at a memorial ahead of the first anniversary of his killing on Friday.

In the poem, Ms Harper described her husband as "kind and strong without venom or greed," and said she was lucky to be his wife.
Millwater author Karen McMillan had to step out of her comfort zone to convert one of her childrens books in the Elastic Island series, Port Mugaloo, into a film script.

She spent the last year working on the project with a UK scriptwriter, learning as she went.

Its a completely different type of writing, Karen says. You have to make it very visual with lots of action and no internal dialogue. Eventually it became fun, but it was hard at the beginning.

The whole five book series of Elastic Island books has been optioned by Fuzzy Duckling Media, who is using that script to generate interest from a big partner so they can be developed into films.

A theme song has already been recorded, written by Murray Grindlay and featuring Kiwi singer Janayah. Karen went to one of the recording sessions and says it was really exciting and moving to hear the song inspired by her book.

Karen already had a mix of bestselling fiction and non-fiction books for adults behind her when she turned her attention to writing for children. Currently she is creating a new book in the series every year.

She says everything about writing childrens books is a delight. She regularly gets letters from young people who enjoy the books and are finding inspiration for their own writing.

The fifth book in the series, Kingdom of Blong, was published this month. Like the others, it is described as a fast-paced, exciting and original read for children aged 8-12. Every book includes unusual, real life creatures and this time its bilbies  endangered, and very cute, Australian marsupials. Karen has close ties with Australia and although the other creatures in her books have all been from across the ditch, she has the kakapo earmarked for the future.

Karen recently found out that she is one of five writers who have been awarded a residency at the cottage of playwright Robert Lord in Dunedin. The cottage has been run as a rent-free writers residency since 2003. Karen plans to research a historical novel, set in Dunedin, during her stay.

Backstory June 3, 2020

WIN this book

Hibiscus Matters has three copies of Karen McMillans childrens book Elastic Island Adventures: Kingdom of Blong to give away. To go in the draw, like Hibiscus Matters Facebook page and message us with your name and phone number, mentioning the Kingdom of Blong giveaway. Alternatively, write your name, address and daytime phone number on the back of an envelope and post to Kingdom of Blong Giveaway, Hibiscus Matters, 21 Florence Ave, Orewa. Entries close August 9. The book will be available from Paper Plus, or www.karenm.co.nz
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th August, 2020) Nearly all Russian children from the orphanages in Damascus have been repatriated, Russia's children rights commissioner Anna Kuznetsova said Tuesday, adding that the next step would be to evacuate children from Al-Hawl refugee camp in northern Syria that is not controlled by the authorities.

Earlier in the day, an aircraft with 26 Russian minors aged between one ans six years returned home.

"Now we can already say that almost all children have been brought back from Damascus. There are very few children still in Damascus. DNA samples were taken from some of them," Kuznetsova told reporters.

The next step will be the return of children from Al-Hawl camp, which is not controlled by the Syrian authorities.

"We have already met with the leadership of the camp and held negotiations. Unfortunately, due to the spread of the coronavirus infection, access to children was limited, but all documents are ready. The lists have been handed over, there is an agreement that we will repatriate them," she noted.

Some 120 children await repatriation from Syria in the near future. According to the commissioner, some four more flights were being prepared for that purpose.
WASHINGTON - Amid widespread protests and unrest over the police killings of Black Americans, a national commemoration of the 1963 civil rights March on Washington is being reconfigured to comply with coronavirus protocols in the District of Columbia.

Although many marchers will arrive via charter buses from surrounding communities on Aug. 28, the Rev. Al Sharpton, one of the organizers, will ask some to join satellite marches planned in states that are considered hot spots for COVID-19.

Were following protocol, Sharpton told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview. The objective is not how many thousands of people will be (in Washington). Itll still be a good crowd.

The commemoration, taking place on the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.s I Have A Dream speech, will begin with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial. Martin Luther King III, a son of the late civil rights icon, attorney Benjamin Crump and the families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, are expected to participate in Washington.

Following the commemorative rally, participants in Washington will march to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, and then disperse.

All participants will be required to wear masks, Sharpton said. Organizers also will provide hand sanitizing stations and conduct temperature checks throughout the event.

The objective is to put on one platform, in the shadow of Abe Lincoln, the families of people that ... have lost loved ones in unchecked racial bias, Sharpton said. On these steps, Dr. King talked about his dream, and the dream is unfulfilled. This is the Exhibit A of that not being fulfilled.

The revised plan appears to avoid a potentially awkward faceoff with Washington Mayor Muriel Bowsers government over COVID-19 restrictions in the nations capital. In late July, with local infection numbers rising, Bowser ordered that anyone travelling or returning to Washington from a virus hot spot must self-quarantine for 14 days. The list is revised every two weeks and the newest list, released on Aug. 10, classifies 29 states as hot spots.

Bowser, when asked on July 30 about the potential conflict, said government officials had been in contact with march organizers and that Washington would not be relaxing its virus rules for participants.

They are aware of all the local guidance that would affect their planning, she said. If there are people who are coming from jurisdictions that are on that list, they would need to be quarantined.

The application for the Aug. 28 event has already been approved by the National Park Service. Operating under a permit application submitted by activist and radio host Rev. Mark Thompson, the original application estimates 100,000 participants. NPS spokesman Mike Litterst said the permit has not been issued yet, but its normal for such permits to be issued closer to the actual event. Litterst said his agency was discussing COVID-19 mitigation plans with the organizers, but that compliance with local virus restrictions was not a requirement or condition of the permit.

Sharptons civil rights group, the National Action Network, is working with its local chapters to hold commemorations in Kentucky, South Carolina and Texas, where outdoor jumbo screens will display a live simulcast of the rally in Washington. All of those states are currently on Washingtons hot spot list.

The NAACP, one of several partners in this years commemoration, last week launched a website for a virtual March on Washington. The site will livestream the Washington march, in addition to other programming leading up to and after the event.

The Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 Black-led organizations that make up the broader Black Lives Matter movement, will hold its virtual Black National Convention later in the evening. Organizers said their convention will coincide with the unveiling of a new political agenda intended to build on the success of this summers BLM-themed protests, which called for the defunding of police departments in favour of investments to healthcare, education, housing and other social services in Black communities.

Sharpton first announced plans for the commemoration during a June memorial service in Minneapolis for Floyd, a Black man whose death at the hands of police galvanized nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism. The marchs theme  Get Your Knee Off Our Necks  is inspired by a refrain from Sharptons eulogy for Floyd, who died May 25 after a white police officer held his knee to Floyds neck.

The civil rights leader has called for participants in other states to march on their U.S. senators offices, to demand their support of federal policing reforms. Sharpton said protesters should also demand reinvigorated U.S. voter protections, in memory of the late Congressman John Lewis who, until his death on July 17, was the last living speaker at the original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

In June, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, which would ban police use of stranglehold manoeuvrs and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms.

In July, following Lewis death, Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. The law previously required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations.

Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Everybody is trying to jump from demonstration and to reconciliation, with no legislation, Sharpton said. If we dont have the legislation, well be back here again.

___

This story was first published on August 11, 2020. It was updated on August 18, 2020 to correct that the National Park Service has approved the application for the permit for the march but the actual permit has not been issued yet.

___

Morrison reported from New York and is a member of the APs Race & Ethnicity team. Follow him on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aaronlmorrison.
Gap Inc. will permanently close its flagship store near Union Square, as the coronavirus pandemic and prolonged retail woes strike into the heart of the companys San Francisco hometown.

The company has also closed two other Gap stores in the city  in Embarcadero Center near its waterfront corporate headquarters and Stonestown Galleria  for good.

That leaves the Chestnut Street location as the only Gap store operational in San Francisco. The companys Old Navy flagship on Market Street, multiple Banana Republic and Athleta locations, as well as Intermix on Fillmore, remain open.

While these stores were initially closed as a result of city mandates, these permanent closures are part of the larger strategy we announced last year to resize our fleet based on customer shopping patterns and store profitability, Gap said in an email to The Chronicle. As with any store closure, we are encouraging employees to find opportunities at other locations within our family of brands.

In April, Gap said that it stopped paying rent for North American stores that were closed because of coronavirus orders, and that it was actively renegotiating lease terms. Weeks later, the predominantly mall-based retailer was sued by two of its biggest landlords, Simon Property Group and Brookfield Properties, for failing to pay millions in rent.

In July, Gap Inc., including its subsidiaries Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Janie and Jack, countersued the mall landlords and said that even as government restrictions ease, the pandemic remains widespread and harmful, and has resulted in severe and irreparable hardships for the company that were not foreseeable when the leases were signed.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The retail industry had plenty of troubles pre-pandemic, with fewer people visiting malls and an abundance of online competition, but since March, the sector has faced a worsening crisis as mall stores closed and reopened and closed again, and customers pulled back on spending amid rising unemployment.

Retail bankruptcies have mounted, with Stein Mart, a 112-year-old discount retailer, and Lord & Taylor, considered to be the oldest department store in the country, filing for bankruptcy protection this month.

The demise of the three-story Gap flagship  located in the historic Flood Building, which dates to 1904  adds to the list of permanent closures in and around Union Square, including Warby Parker, Brooks Brothers, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Vilebriquin and Agent Provocateur, among others.

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter, Instagram: @shwanika
On track to file BLA for Lonca for relapsed or refractory DLBCL later this year with commercial launch preparations ongoing

Completed upsized $268 million initial public offering and received first tranche of $115 million Convertible Credit Facility from Deerfield

Company to host conference call today at 8:30 a.m. EDT

ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT), a late clinical-stage oncology-focused biotechnology company pioneering the development and commercialization of highly potent and targeted antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) for patients with hematological malignancies and solid tumors, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 and provided recent business highlights.

"ADC Therapeutics progressed rapidly this past quarter, and we are continuing to evolve towards becoming a commercial-stage company, as we prepare to submit a Biologics License Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Lonca, our lead product candidate, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, later this year and have already submitted the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) modules to the FDA. To that end, we're focused on executing a successful launch and growing our talented and experienced commercial, market access, and medical affairs teams. We also presented data at the European Hematology Association Congress in June that demonstrated the potential of Lonca to be a key part of the treatment paradigm for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, both as a single-agent and in combination with other therapies, deepening our conviction in the potential promise of this program and the hope it may bring to patients and their families," said Chris Martin, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "We also completed an upsized IPO and expanded our leadership team. With these new resources and expertise in place, we are well-positioned for our next stage of growth."

Dr. Martin continued, "With regard to Cami, our second lead product candidate, we are pleased to have patient enrollment open in our ongoing pivotal Phase 2 trial in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and remain on track to announce interim results in the first half of 2021. We look forward to providing further updates across our pipeline as our programs continue to progress."

Recent Business and Clinical Highlights

Announced first patient dosed in Phase 2 portion of LOTIS 3 clinical trial of Lonca in combination with ibrutinib: In July 2020, the Company announced that the first patient was dosed in the Phase 2 portion of LOTIS 3, a 161-patient Phase 1/2 clinical trial of loncastuximab tesirine (Lonca, formerly ADCT-402) in combination with ibrutinub, which is being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The clinical trial is intended to support the submission of a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In July 2020, the Company announced that the first patient was dosed in the Phase 2 portion of LOTIS 3, a 161-patient Phase 1/2 clinical trial of loncastuximab tesirine (Lonca, formerly ADCT-402) in combination with ibrutinub, which is being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The clinical trial is intended to support the submission of a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Announced FDA lifted partial clinical hold on pivotal Phase 2 trial of Cami for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: In July 2020, the Company announced that the FDA had lifted the partial clinical hold on its pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial of camidanlumab tesirine (Cami, formerly ADCT-301) in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The Company continued to treat those patients who could benefit from ongoing treatment during the partial clinical hold, and the clinical trial is now open for enrollment. Interim results from the clinical trial are expected in the first half of 2021, subject to any impact by COVID-19. The clinical trial is intended to support the submission of a BLA to the FDA.

In July 2020, the Company announced that the FDA had lifted the partial clinical hold on its pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial of camidanlumab tesirine (Cami, formerly ADCT-301) in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The Company continued to treat those patients who could benefit from ongoing treatment during the partial clinical hold, and the clinical trial is now open for enrollment. Interim results from the clinical trial are expected in the first half of 2021, subject to any impact by COVID-19. The clinical trial is intended to support the submission of a BLA to the FDA. Presented positive data from LOTIS 2 and LOTIS 3 trials of Lonca at the virtual 25th Annual Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA25): In June 2020, the Company presented interim data from two clinical trials of Lonca in an oral presentation and e-poster session at EHA25. Data from the pivotal Phase 2 single-agent LOTIS 2 trial showed Lonca demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 48.3% and complete response rate (CRR) of 24.1% in a broad relapsed or refractory DLBCL patient population, while upholding a manageable safety profile. The most common grade =3 treatment-emergent adverse events in =10% of patients were: neutropenia (25.5%) with low incidence of febrile neutropenia (3.4%), thrombocytopenia (17.9%), GGT increased (16.6%) and anaemia (10.3%). The Company is on track to submit a BLA to the FDA later this year based on these data. Interim data from the Phase 1 portion of the Phase 1/2 LOTIS 3 trial of Lonca in combination with ibrutinib showed an encouraging ORR of 75% and CRR of 58.3% at the Lonca dose of 60 g/kg, which is the selected dose for the Phase 2 portion of the trial, in combination with ibrutinib (560 mg/day), in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL or MCL. The combination has had a manageable toxicity profile, with the most common grade =3 treatment-emergent adverse events in =10% of patients being thrombocytopenia (20%) and anaemia (12%). These interim data highlight the potential of Lonca in earlier lines of therapy and in combination.

In June 2020, the Company presented interim data from two clinical trials of Lonca in an oral presentation and e-poster session at EHA25. Data from the pivotal Phase 2 single-agent LOTIS 2 trial showed Lonca demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 48.3% and complete response rate (CRR) of 24.1% in a broad relapsed or refractory DLBCL patient population, while upholding a manageable safety profile. The most common grade =3 treatment-emergent adverse events in =10% of patients were: neutropenia (25.5%) with low incidence of febrile neutropenia (3.4%), thrombocytopenia (17.9%), GGT increased (16.6%) and anaemia (10.3%). The Company is on track to submit a BLA to the FDA later this year based on these data. Interim data from the Phase 1 portion of the Phase 1/2 LOTIS 3 trial of Lonca in combination with ibrutinib showed an encouraging ORR of 75% and CRR of 58.3% at the Lonca dose of 60 g/kg, which is the selected dose for the Phase 2 portion of the trial, in combination with ibrutinib (560 mg/day), in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL or MCL. The combination has had a manageable toxicity profile, with the most common grade =3 treatment-emergent adverse events in =10% of patients being thrombocytopenia (20%) and anaemia (12%). These interim data highlight the potential of Lonca in earlier lines of therapy and in combination. Completed upsized initial public offering (IPO) and received first tranche of $115 Convertible Credit Facility with Deerfield: In May 2020, the Company completed its upsized IPO of 14,082,475 common shares at a public offering price of $19.00 per share, which included the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase 1,836,844 additional common shares. The total gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $267.6 million. In tandem with the closing of the IPO, the Company also received an initial $65.0 million disbursement of senior secured convertible term loans under its previously announced Convertible Credit Facility with Deerfield Partners, L.P. and certain of its affiliates. Under the Convertible Credit Facility, the Company will receive an additional $50.0 million disbursement upon receipt of U.S. regulatory approval for Lonca.

In May 2020, the Company completed its upsized IPO of 14,082,475 common shares at a public offering price of $19.00 per share, which included the full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase 1,836,844 additional common shares. The total gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $267.6 million. In tandem with the closing of the IPO, the Company also received an initial $65.0 million disbursement of senior secured convertible term loans under its previously announced Convertible Credit Facility with Deerfield Partners, L.P. and certain of its affiliates. Under the Convertible Credit Facility, the Company will receive an additional $50.0 million disbursement upon receipt of U.S. regulatory approval for Lonca. Appointed Jenn Creel as Chief Financial Officer and Victor Sandor, M.D., to its Board of Directors: In April 2020, the Company appointed Jenn Creel as Chief Financial Officer and Victor Sandor, M.D., to its Board of Directors. Ms. Creel joined ADC Therapeutics from Celgene Corporation, where she served as franchise chief financial officer and corporate vice president of global finance and business planning prior to its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr. Sandor most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of Array BioPharma, which was acquired by Pfizer, where he supported the approval of Braftovi (encorafenib) and Mektovi (binimetinib) for the treatment of melanoma. Prior to his role at Array BioPharma, Dr. Sandor was Senior Vice President for Global Clinical Development at Incyte Corporation and held positions of increasing responsibility in oncology product development at AstraZeneca.

Anticipated Upcoming Milestones

File a BLA with the FDA for Lonca for the treatment of relapsed or refractory DLBCL in the second half of 2020.

Present data from the Phase 1b trial of Cami in selected advanced solid tumors at a scientific meeting in the second half of 2020.

Initiate a pivotal Phase 2 trial of Lonca in follicular lymphoma (FL) in the first half of 2021.

Report interim results from the pivotal Phase 2 trial of Cami in HL in the first half of 2021.

Continue to accelerate the Company's pipeline of ADC product candidates for the treatment of hematological cancers and solid tumors, including presenting Phase 1 data for ADCT-602 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and ADCT-601 in solid tumors. Continue to advance our earlier-stage programs, ADCT-901 and ADCT-701, with IND-enabling studies.

Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents were $348.6 million as of June 30, 2020 compared to $115.6 million as of December 31, 2019.

Research and Development (R&D) Expenses

R&D expenses were $26.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to $21.8 million for the same quarter in 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increased number of research and development employees and increased share-based compensation expense.

General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses

G&A expenses were $19.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to $4.1 million for the same quarter in 2019. The increase was primarily due to increased share-based compensation expense, an increased number of commercial employees, and increased costs due to new commercial activities and the completion of our initial public offering.

Net Loss and Adjusted Net Loss

Net loss was $126.6 million, or a net loss of $2.01 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to $23.3 million, or a net loss of $0.49 per basic and diluted share, for the same quarter in 2019. The net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 includes a $79.3 million non-cash charge related to the changes in fair value of derivatives associated with the convertible loans under the Convertible Credit Facility with Deerfield. The significant increase in fair value was driven by the increase in the Company's share price during the quarter. In addition, net loss included share-based compensation expense of $12.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to $0.1 million for the same quarter in 2019.

Adjusted net loss was $32.1 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.51 per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to $23.3 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.49 per basic and diluted share, for the same quarter in 2019.

Conference Call Details

To access the call, please dial 646-787-0157 (domestic) or +41 22 5017540 (international) and enter pin code: 773478. A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the Investors section of the ADC Therapeutics website at www.adctherapeutics.com. The archived webcast will be available after the completion of the event and for 30 days following the call.

About ADC Therapeutics

ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE:ADCT) is a late clinical-stage oncology-focused biotechnology company pioneering the development and commercialization of highly potent and targeted antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) for patients with hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The Company develops ADCs by applying its decades of experience in this field and using next-generation pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) technology to which ADC Therapeutics has proprietary rights for its targets. Strategic target selection for PBD-based ADCs and substantial investment in early clinical development have enabled ADC Therapeutics to build a deep clinical and research pipeline of therapies for the treatment of hematological and solid tumor cancers. The Company has multiple PBD-based ADCs in ongoing clinical trials, ranging from first in human to pivotal Phase 2 clinical trials, in the USA and Europe, and numerous preclinical ADCs in development.

Loncastuximab tesirine (Lonca, formerly ADCT-402), the Company's lead product candidate, has been evaluated in a 145-patient pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that showed a 48.3% interim overall response rate (ORR), which exceeded the target primary endpoint. Camidanlumab tesirine (Cami, formerly ADCT-301), the Company's second lead product candidate, is being evaluated in a 100-patient pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after having shown an 86.5% ORR in HL patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The Company is also evaluating Cami as a novel immuno-oncology approach for the treatment of various advanced solid tumors.

ADC Therapeutics is based in Lausanne (Biopole), Switzerland and has operations in London, the San Francisco Bay Area and New Jersey. For more information, please visit https://adctherapeutics.com/ and follow the Company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures

In addition to financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS, this document also contains certain non-IFRS financial measures based on management's view of performance including:

Adjusted net loss

Adjusted net loss per share

Management uses such measures internally when monitoring and evaluating our operational performance, generating future operating plans and making strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. We believe that these adjusted financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and facilitate operating performance comparability across both past and future reporting periods. These non-IFRS measures have limitations as financial measures and should be considered in addition to, and not in isolation or as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with IFRS. When preparing these supplemental non-IFRS measures, management typically excludes certain IFRS items that management does not believe are indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Furthermore, management does not consider these IFRS items to be normal, recurring cash or non-cash operating expenses; however, these items may not meet the IFRS definition of unusual or non-recurring items. Since non-IFRS financial measures do not have standardized definitions and meanings, they may differ from the non-IFRS financial measures used by other companies, which reduces their usefulness as comparative financial measures. Because of these limitations, you should consider these adjusted financial measures alongside other IFRS financial measures.

The following items are excluded from adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss per share:

Shared-Based Compensation Expense: We exclude share-based compensation from our adjusted financial measures because share-based compensation expense, which is non-cash, fluctuates from period to period based on factors that are not within our control, such as our stock price on the dates share-based grants are issued. Share-based compensation has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy.

Certain Other Items: We exclude certain other significant items that may occur occasionally and are not normal, recurring operating expenses, cash or non-cash, from our adjusted financial measures. Such items are evaluated by management on an individual basis based on both quantitative and qualitative aspects of their nature and generally represent items that, either as a result of their nature or significance, management would not anticipate occurring as part of our normal business on a regular basis. While not all-inclusive, examples of certain other significant items excluded from our adjusted financial measures would be: changes in the fair value of derivatives, and the effective interest expense, associated with the Convertible Credit Facility with Deerfield, as well as transaction costs associated with debt or equity issuances that are expensed pursuant to IFRS.

See the attached Reconciliation of IFRS Measures to Non-IFRS Measures for explanations of the amounts excluded and included to arrive at the non-IFRS financial measures for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, product candidates, research pipeline, ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials, regulatory submissions and approvals, research and development costs, timing and likelihood of success, as well as plans and objectives of management for future operations are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including those described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this press release. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.

ADC Therapeutics SA Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Income (Unaudited) (in KUSD except for share and per share data) For the Three Months Ended June 30, For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Contract revenue 1,962 2,340 Operating expense Research and development (25,950 (21,760 (61,325 (46,572 General and administrative (18,999 (4,089 (27,509 (6,592 Total operating expense (44,949 (25,849 (88,834 (53,164 Loss from operations (44,949 (23,887 (88,834 (50,824 Other income (expense) Other income 130 278 Convertible loans, derivatives, increase in fair value (79,261 (79,261 Convertible loans, first tranche, derivative, transaction costs (1,571 (1,571 Financial income 195 659 569 1,306 Financial expense (897 (36 (939 (73 Exchange differences (100 10 (71 (68 Total other income (expense) (81,504 633 (80,995 1,165 Loss before taxes (126,453 (23,254 (169,829 (49,659 Income tax expense (104 (94 (204 (199 Net loss (126,557 (23,348 (170,033 (49,858 Net loss attributable to: Owners of the parent (126,557 (23,348 (170,033 (49,858 Net loss per share, basic and diluted (2.01 (0.49 (2.97 (1.05

ADC Therapeutics SA Condensed Consolidated Interim Balance Sheet (Unaudited) (in KUSD) June 30, 2020 December 31, 2019 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 348,593 115,551 Other current assets 10,532 7,055 Total current assets 359,125 122,606 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 1,260 1,376 Right-of-use assets 4,248 4,898 Intangible assets 8,825 8,434 Other long-term assets 384 368 Total non-current assets 14,717 15,076 Total assets 373,842 137,682 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable 6,797 3,329 Other current liabilities 20,211 15,430 Lease liabilities, short-term 1,099 1,132 Current income tax payable 148 52 Convertible loans, short-term 3,113 Total current liabilities 31,368 19,943 Non-current liabilities Convertible loans, long-term 32,855 Convertible loans, derivatives 107,058 Lease liabilities, long-term 3,334 3,899 Defined benefit pension liabilities 2,925 2,684 Total non-current liabilities 146,172 6,583 Total liabilities 177,540 26,526 Equity attributable to owners of the parent Share capital 5,795 4,361 Share premium 792,605 549,922 Treasury shares (4 (100 Other reserves 16,654 5,473 Cummulative translation adjustment (146 69 Accumulated losses (618,602 (448,569 Total equity attributable to owners of the parent 196,302 111,156 Total liabilities and equity 373,842 137,682

ADC Therapeutics SA Reconciliation of IFRS Measures to Non-IFRS Measures (Unaudited) (in KUSD except for share and per share data) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, in KUSD (except for share and per share data) 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net loss (126,557 (23,348 (170,033 (49,858 Adjustments: Share-based compensation expense (i) 12,734 56 16,524 140 Change in fair value of the convertible loans, derivatives (ii) 79,261 79,261 Convertible loans, first tranche, derivative, transaction costs (iii) 1,571 1,571 Effective interest expense (iv) 868 868 Adjusted net loss (32,123 (23,292 (71,809 (49,718 Net loss per share, basic and diluted (2.01 (0.49 (2.97 (1.05 Adjustment to net loss per share, basic and diluted 1.50 1.72 Adjusted net loss per share, basic and diluted (0.51 (0.49 (1.25 (1.05 Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted 62,863,866 47,654,258 57,225,939 47,297,859

(i) Share-based compensation expense represents the cost of equity awards issued to our directors, management and employees. The fair value of awards is computed at the time the award is granted and is recognized over the vesting period of the award by a charge to the income statement and a corresponding increase in other reserves within equity. These accounting entries have no cash impact.

(ii) Change in the fair value of the convertible loan derivatives results from the valuation at the end of each accounting period of the derivatives associated with the convertible loans, as explained in note 11 "Convertible notes" to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements. There are several inputs to these valuations, but those most likely to provoke significant changes in the valuations are changes in the value of the underlying instrument (i.e., changes in the price of our common shares) and changes in expected volatility in that price. Any change in the estimated probability of the regulatory approval of Lonca would directly affect the valuation related to the second tranche. These accounting entries have no cash impact.

(iii) The transaction costs allocated to the convertible loan first tranche derivative represent actual costs. These are not expected to recur on an ongoing basis.

(iv) Effective interest expense relates to the increase in the value of our convertible loan in accordance with the effective interest method. As the initial value of the loan is recorded net of the value of the embedded derivative, the increase in the loan value necessary to attain the amount necessary to fund the cash outflows of interest payments, repayment of capital and exit fee is considerably higher than the payments of interest at coupon rate and of the exit fee.

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Contacts:

Investors

Amanda Hamilton

ADC Therapeutics

amanda.hamilton@adctherapeutics.com

Tel.: +1 917-288-7023

EU Media

Alexandre Muller

Dynamics Group

amu@dynamicsgroup.ch

Tel: +41 (0) 43 268 3231

USA Media

Annie Starr

6 Degrees

astarr@6degreespr.com

Tel.: +1 973-415-8838
HANGZHOU, China, Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) ("BEST" or the "Company"), a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Johnny Chou, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BEST, commented, "With the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in China behind us, we made a faster-than-expected recovery as we benefited from the deeper and wider trends of digitalization for merchants and online shopping for consumers. In the second quarter of 2020, we strategically targeted both top-line growth and profitability while enhancing efficiency across our businesses. As a result, we continued to gain healthy volume growth while lowering costs in our Express and Freight segments and improved our gross margin by 0.9 percentage point year-over-year, despite challenging market dynamics. We also continued to make strong progress in Store+, which resulted in a significant reduction in losses. We are confident that we have developed the right business model for Store+ that would bring a positive impact to the Company's revenue growth and profitability. Our momentum has also been strong for Global, driven by robust demand in Southeast Asia, and further boosted by our entries into the markets of Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia during the second quarter."

"We are committed to delivering high-quality growth in a challenging market environment. Going forward, we plan to maintain a balanced growth strategy and strive for profitability by continuing leveraging our technology-enabled integrated supply chain and logistics service model, through emphasizing e-commerce, investing in technology application and automation, capturing revenue and cost synergies across multiple business units, and enhancing service quality." concluded Mr. Chou.

Gloria Fan, BEST's Chief Financial Officer, commented, "In the second quarter, we continued efforts of cost and expense reductions, while reduced risks by emphasizing accounts with higher margins and implementing stringent credit control. Although we recorded a net loss of RMB 30.9 million, we achieved a gross profit of RMB570 million, a year-over-year increase of 9.6%, adjusted EBITDA of RMB158 million, and non-GAAP net income of RMB11 million, amid intensifying competition. In addition, we generated net operating cash flow of RMB723 million during the second quarter, which well covered our planned capital expenditure of RMB424 million, leading to a strong balance of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments of RMB5.1 billion. These strong results demonstrate that through consistently improving operating efficiencies and expense management, we have achieved our strategy of balancing top-line growth and profitability for the quarter."

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS[1]

For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2020:

Revenue was RMB8,418.3 million ( US$1,191.5 million ), a decrease of 4.2% year-over-year ("YoY"). The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in average selling price (ASP) of Express business, partially offset by an increase in Express volume.

was ( ), a decrease of 4.2% year-over-year ("YoY"). The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in average selling price (ASP) of Express business, partially offset by an increase in Express volume. Gross Profit was RMB569.7 million ( US$80.6 million ), an increase of 9.6% YoY compared to gross profit of RMB520.1 million in the same period of 2019. The increase was primarily due to improved operating efficiency resulted from continued cost reduction, partially offset by a decrease in revenue. Gross Margin was 6.8%, an increase of 0.9 percentage point (ppt) YoY.

was ( ), an increase of 9.6% YoY compared to gross profit of in the same period of 2019. The increase was primarily due to improved operating efficiency resulted from continued cost reduction, partially offset by a decrease in revenue. was 6.8%, an increase of 0.9 percentage point (ppt) YoY. Net Loss was RMB30.9 million ( US$4.4 million ), compared to a net loss of RMB22.4 million in the same period of 2019. Non-GAAP Net Income [2][3] was RMB11.2 million ( US$1.6 million ), compared to non-GAAP Net Income of RMB6.5 million in the same period of 2019.

was ( ), compared to a net loss of in the same period of 2019. was ( ), compared to non-GAAP Net Income of in the same period of 2019. Diluted EPS [4] was negative RMB0.06 (US$0.01) , compared to negative RMB0.05 in the same period of 2019. Non-GAAP diluted EPS [3][5] was RMB0.05 (US$0.01) , compared to RMB0.02 in the same period of 2019.

was negative , compared to negative in the same period of 2019. was , compared to in the same period of 2019. EBITDA[3][6]was RMB117.9 million ( US$16.7 million ), compared to RMB122.0 million in the same period of 2019. Adjusted EBITDA[3][6] was RMB157.7 million ( US$22.3 million ), compared to RMB148.2 million in the same period of 2019.

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS AND STRATEGIC UPDATES[1]

Core Logistics and Supply Chain

The Company's results rebounded strongly in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 as the impact from COVID-19 pandemic in China subsided. In addition to the company-wide pursuit of balanced top-line growth and profitability, its key strategic focus during the quarter also included:

Emphasis on business integrations, synergies and efficiencies: the Company continued to emphasize e-commerce related transactions across all business units. This helped the Company achieve strong business-to-consumer (B2C) order growth during the quarter. Furthermore, the Company continued to enhance automation for its hubs and sortation centers, and combine dynamic routing between Express and Freight to drive down unit costs.



the Company continued to emphasize e-commerce related transactions across all business units. This helped the Company achieve strong business-to-consumer (B2C) order growth during the quarter. Furthermore, the Company continued to enhance automation for its hubs and sortation centers, and combine dynamic routing between Express and Freight to drive down unit costs. Enhancement of service quality: the Company continued to focus on service enhancement, network flexibility, density of last-mile service outlets, and overall customer experience.

BEST Express  Successfully executed its strategy of balanced quality growth and profitability through continued cost reduction and improved quality of service. Parcel volume increased by 19.3% YoY, representing market share of 10.7% during the quarter, improving 0.2 ppt compared with the first quarter while achieving gross margin expansion of 0.9 ppt YoY despite challenging operating conditions. Average cost per parcel decreased by 21.5% YoY.

BEST Freight  Continued to solidify its leadership position and achieved a growth rate significantly higher than industry-wide average, as well as strong gross margin expansion of 2.5 ppts YoY, driven primarily by the Company's focus on e-commerce products, economies of scale and continuous network optimization. Freight volume increased by 28.9% YoY in the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Average cost per tonne decreased by 21.1% YoY.

BEST Supply Chain Management  Focused on expanding franchised Cloud OFC business, while targeting projects with higher margins and clients with strong credit profile. As a result, gross margin increased by 0.8 ppt YoY to 9.7%. The total number of orders fulfilled by Cloud OFCs increased by 28.5% YoY to 111.3 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2020, of which the total number of orders fulfilled by franchised Cloud OFCs increased by 46.4% YoY to 53.7 million. The number of franchised OFCs increased by 25.9% YoY to 326.

BEST UCargo  The number of registered drivers on the UCargo mobile app increased 141.9% YoY to 244,234. The total number of transactions on the trucking brokerage platform increased by 19.8% YoY to 137,257.

BEST Capital  As of June 30, 2020, BEST Capital had provided financing solutions to 12,373 trucks in total, a quarter-over-quarter ("QoQ") increase of 10.9% compared to March 31, 2020.

BEST Store+

Store+ business continued to execute its strategy of enhancing order quality to improve gross margin, while developing its asset-light partnership model which enables accelerated acquisition of both membership stores and franchised BEST-Neighbor stores, and contributes to lower selling and fulfilling expenses to achieve profitability. As a result, gross margin increased by 2.5ppts YoY to 13.0%, while adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 2.6 ppts YoY to negative 10.2%.

BEST Global

Global continued with strong momentum in Southeast Asia. In the quarter ended June 30, 2020, parcel volume in Thailand increased by 95.3% QoQ to approximately 10 million, while parcel volume in Vietnam increased by 54.3% QoQ to 5.75 million. The Company also launched express delivery services in Malaysia, Cambodia and Singapore, marking another significant step towards building an efficient logistics network with an extensive coverage in Southeast Asia.

Key Operational Metrics

Three Months Ended

% Change YoY Express Parcel Volume (in '000) June 30,

2018

June 30,

2019

June 30,

2020

2019 VS

2018

2020 VS

2019 1,280,050 1,906,863 2,274,585 49.0% 19.3% Freight Volume (Tonne in '000) 1,366 1,730 2,230

26.6% 28.9% Supply Chain Management

Orders Fulfilled (in '000) 61,178 86,663 111,332

41.7% 28.5% UCargo Number of

Transactions (in '000) 96

115

137

19.4%

19.8% Store+ Total Number of

Orders Fulfilled (in '000) 871

780

768

(10.4%)

(1.6%) Global Parcel Volume in

Southeast Asia (in '000) -

783

16,100

-

1,955.2%

FINANCIAL RESULTS

For the Quarter Ended June 30, 2020:

Revenue:

The following table sets forth a breakdown of revenue by business segment for the periods indicated.

Table 1  Breakdown of Revenue by Business Segment



Three Months Ended







June 30, 2019

June 30, 2020



(In '000, except for %) RMB % of

Revenue

RMB US$ % of

Revenue

% Change

YoY

Core logistics and supply chain

















Express 5,448,476 62.1%

5,151,845 729,196 61.1%

(5.4%)

Freight 1,305,785 14.9%

1,364,989 193,202 16.2%

4.5%

Supply Chain Management 600,211 6.8%

509,708 72,144 6.1%

(15.1%)

UCargo 521,830 5.9%

492,554 69,716 5.9%

(5.6%)

Capital 56,398 0.6%

49,314 6,980 0.6%

(12.6%)

Total core logistics and supply chain 7,932,700 90.3%

7,568,410 1,071,238 89.9%

(4.6%)

Store+ 790,558 9.0%

657,364 93,044 7.8%

(16.8%)

Global 64,872 0.7%

192,500 27,247 2.3%

196.7%

Total Revenue 8,788,130 100%

8,418,274 1,191,529 100%

(4.2%)





























Core Logistics and Supply Chain

Express Service Revenue decreased by 5.4% YoY to RMB5,151.8 million ( US$729.2 million ) from RMB5,448.5 million , primarily due to a 20.7% YoY decrease in ASP per parcel, offset by a 19.3% YoY increase in parcel volume. The decrease in ASP is primarily attributable to competitive market dynamics.

( ) from , primarily due to a 20.7% YoY decrease in ASP per parcel, offset by a 19.3% YoY increase in parcel volume. The decrease in ASP is primarily attributable to competitive market dynamics. Freight Service Revenue increased by 4.5% YoY to RMB1,365.0 million ( US$193.2 million ) from RMB1,305.8 million , primarily due to a 28.9% YoY increase in freight volume, offset by a 18.9% YoY decrease in ASP per tonne.

( ) from , primarily due to a 28.9% YoY increase in freight volume, offset by a 18.9% YoY decrease in ASP per tonne. Supply Chain Management Service Revenue decreased by 15.1% YoY to RMB509.7 million ( US$72.1 million ) from RMB600.2 million , primarily due to a decrease in transportation service revenue, partially offset by a 28.5% increase in number of B2C orders fulfilled.

( ) from , primarily due to a decrease in transportation service revenue, partially offset by a 28.5% increase in number of B2C orders fulfilled. BEST UCargo Revenue decreased by 5.6% YoY to RMB492.6 million ( US$69.7 million ) from RMB521.8 million , primarily due to discontinuation of several key account customers to minimize credit exposure.

( ) from , primarily due to discontinuation of several key account customers to minimize credit exposure. BEST Capital Revenue decreased by 12.6% YoY to RMB49.3 million ( US$7.0 million ) from RMB56.4 million , primarily due to implementation of more stringent credit control policies.

BEST Store+ - Revenue decreased by 16.8% YoY to RMB657.4 million (US$93.0 million) from RMB790.6 million, primarily due to ongoing efforts to enhance order quality to improve margins.

BEST Global - Revenue increased by 196.7% YoY to RMB192.5 million (US$27.2 million) from RMB64.9 million, primarily due to strong growth in parcel volumes in Thailand and Vietnam.

Cost of Revenue:

The following table sets forth a breakdown of cost of revenue by business segment for the periods indicated.

Table 2  Breakdown of Cost of Revenue by Business Segment



Three Months Ended

% of Revenue

Change YoY



June 30, 2019

June 30, 2020



(In '000, except for %) RMB % of

Revenue

RMB US$ % of

Revenue



Core logistics and supply chain

















Express (5,203,842) 95.5%

(4,874,191) (689,897) 94.6%

(0.9ppt) Freight (1,222,296) 93.6%

(1,242,847) (175,914) 91.1%

(2.5ppts) Supply Chain Management (546,778) 91.1%

(460,298) (65,151) 90.3%

(0.8ppt) UCargo (499,994) 95.8%

(479,946) (67,932) 97.4%

1.6ppts Capital (16,794) 29.8%

(4,545) (643) 9.2%

(20.6ppts) Total for core logistics and supply chain (7,489,704) 94.4%

(7,061,827) (999,537) 93.3%

(1.1ppts) Store+ (707,497) 89.5%

(572,162) (80,984) 87.0%

(2.5ppts) Global (70,862) 109.2%

(214,540) (30,366) 111.4%

2.2ppts Total Cost of Revenue (8,268,063) 94.1%

(7,848,529) (1,110,887) 93.2%

(0.9ppt)



























Cost of Revenue was RMB7,848.5 million (US$1,110.9 million) or 93.2% of revenue in the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to RMB8,268.1 million or 94.1% of revenue in the same quarter of 2019. The decrease of 0.9 ppt in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to economies of scale and improved operating efficiency.

Table 3  Breakdown of Average Cost Per Parcel and Average Cost Per Tonne



Three Months Ended

% Change (in RMB) June 30, 2019 June 30, 2020

YoY Express:







Average Cost Per Parcel 2.73 2.14

(21.5%) Average Transportation Cost Per Parcel 0.71 0.57

(19.6%) Average Labor Cost Per Parcel 0.23 0.21

(8.3%) Average Lease Cost Per Parcel 0.09 0.08

(11.7%) Average Other Cost Per Parcel 0.14 0.08

(44.2%) Average Last-mile Cost Per Parcel 1.56 1.20

(22.8%) Freight:







Average Cost Per Tonne 706.5 557.4

(21.1%) Average Transportation Cost Per Tonne 351.5 250.2

(28.8%) Average Labor Cost Per Tonne 93.7 76.0

(18.8%) Average Lease Cost Per Tonne 55.4 51.5

(7.0%) Average Other Cost Per Tonne 44.5 40.8

(8.3%) Average Last-mile Cost Per Tonne 161.4 138.9

(13.9%)

Express Service Average Cost per Parcel decreased by 21.5%, primarily attributable to improved operating efficiency and economies of scale.

Freight Service Average Cost per Tonne decreased by 21.1% YoY, primarily due to improved operating efficiency, network optimization and economies of scale.

Gross Profit was RMB569.7 million (US$80.6 million), compared to gross profit of RMB520.1 million in the same quarter of 2019; Gross Margin was 6.8%, compared to 5.9% in the same quarter of 2019.

Operating Expenses

The following table sets forth a breakdown of operating expenses and adjusted operating expenses by category for the periods indicated.

Table 4  Breakdown of Operating Expenses and Adjusted Operating Expenses by Category



Three Months Ended





June 30, 2019

June 30, 2020

(In '000, except for %) RMB % of

Revenue

RMB US$ % of

Revenue

% of Revenue

Change

YoY Selling, General and

Administrative Expenses (514,391) 5.9%

(555,417) (78,614) 6.6%

0.7ppt Adjusted for SBC Expenses (23,569) 0.3%

(36,541) (5,172) 0.5%

0.2ppt Adjusted Selling, General

and Administrative Expenses (490,822) 5.6%

(518,876) (73,442) 6.1%

0.5ppt Research and

Development Expenses (62,517) 0.7%

(50,499) (7,148) 0.6%

(0.1ppt) Adjusted for SBC Expenses (2,388) 0.0%

(2,489) (352) 0.0%

0.0ppt Adjusted Research and

Development Expenses (60,129) 0.7%

(48,010) (6,796) 0.6%

(0.1ppt) Total Operating Expenses (576,908) 6.6%

(605,916) (85,762) 7.2%

0.6ppt Adjusted for SBC Expenses (25,957) 0.3%

(39,030) (5,524) 0.5%

0.2ppt Adjusted Total

Operating Expenses (550,951) 6.3%

(566,886) (80,238) 6.7%

0.4ppt





















Selling, General and Administrative Expenses were RMB555.4 million (US$78.6 million) or 6.6% of revenue in the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to RMB514.4 million or 5.9% of revenue in the same quarter of 2019. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to losses on disposal of fixed assets due to upgrade of Express's equipment.

Research and Development Expenses were RMB50.5 million (US$7.1 million) or 0.6% of revenue in the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to RMB62.5 million, or 0.7% of revenue in the same quarter of 2019. The decrease in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to capitalization of certain R&D expenditure to intangible assets, as well as reduction in travel expenses.

Share-based Compensation ("SBC") Expenses included in the cost and expense items above in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 were RMB39.7 million (US$5.6 million), compared to RMB26.2 million in the same quarter of 2019. In the second quarter of 2020, RMB0.7 million (US$0.1 million) was allocated to cost of revenue, RMB2.9 million (US$0.4 million) was allocated to selling expenses, RMB33.6 million (US$4.8 million) was allocated to general and administrative expenses, and RMB2.5 million (US$0.3 million) was allocated to research and development expenses.

Net Loss and Non-GAAP Net Income

Net Loss in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 was RMB30.9 million (US$4.4 million), compared to Net Loss of RMB22.4 million in the same period of 2019. Excluding the impact of SBC expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, non-GAAP Net Income in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 was RMB11.2 million (US$1.6 million), compared to non-GAAP Net Income of RMB6.5 million in the same quarter of 2019.

The following table sets forth a breakdown of non-GAAP net income for the three months ended June 30, 2020 by segment.

Table 5  Breakdown of non-GAAP Net Income by Segment



Three Months Ended June 30, 2020





Core logistics and supply chain











(In RMB'000) Express Freight Supply Chain UCargo Capital

Store+ Global Unallocated[7] Total



Non-GAAP Net

Income/(Loss) 108,337 57,940 (5,131) (17,626) 36,849

(69,405) (50,735) (48,991) 11,238









































Diluted EPS and non-GAAP diluted EPS

Diluted EPS in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 was negative RMB0.06 (US$0.01), based on a weighted average of 389.3 million diluted shares outstanding during the quarter. This is compared to negative RMB0.05 on a weighted average of 388.2 million diluted shares outstanding in the same period of 2019. Excluding SBC expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, non-GAAP diluted EPS in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 was RMB0.05 (US$0.01), compared to RMB0.02 in the same period of 2019. A reconciliation of non-GAAP diluted EPS to diluted EPS is included at the end of this results announcement.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

Adjusted EBITDA was RMB157.7 million (US$22.3 million), compared to RMB148.2 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2019. Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 1.9%, compared to 1.7% in the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin by Segment

The following table sets forth a breakdown of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin for the three months ended June 30, 2020 by segment.

Table 6  Breakdown of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin by Segment



Three Months Ended June 30, 2020





Core logistics and supply chain











(In RMB'000) Express Freight Supply Chain UCargo Capital

Store+ Global Unallocated[8] Total



Adjusted EBITDA 188,881 73,075 5,709 (17,507) 40,708

(67,336) (47,805) (18,064) 157,661

Adjusted EBITDA

Margin 3.7% 5.4% 1.1% (3.6%) 82.5%

(10.2%) (24.8%) - 1.9%







































Core Logistics and Supply Chain - Adjusted EBITDA was RMB290.9 million (US$41.2 million), compared to RMB298.5 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2019. Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 3.8%, remain flat compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Store+ - Adjusted EBITDA was negative RMB67.3 million (US$9.5 million), compared to negative RMB101.6 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2019. Adjusted EBITDA Margin was negative 10.2% compared to negative 12.8% in the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Global - Adjusted EBITDA was negative RMB47.8 million (US$6.8 million), compared to negative RMB32.3 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2019. Adjusted EBITDA Margin was negative 24.8% compared to negative 49.8% in the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-term Investments

As of June 30, 2020, cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments were RMB5,141.9 million (US$727.8 million), compared to RMB4,236.1 million as of March 31, 2020.

Net Cash Generated from Operating Activities

Net cash generated from operating activities was RMB722.6 million (US$102.3 million), compared to RMB334.2 million in the same period of 2019. The increase in net cash generated from operating activities was mainly due to recovery from COVID-19 and significant growth of our Express and Freight volumes from the first quarter of 2020.

Capital Expenditures ("CAPEX")

CAPEX was RMB424.1 million (US$60.0 million), or 5.0% of total revenue in the quarter ended June 30, 2020, compared to CAPEX of RMB380.9 million, or 4.3% of total revenue, in the same period of 2019. The increase in CAPEX was primarily due to planned upgrades of automation systems in major hubs, sortation centers, and Cloud OFCs, which included investments in high-speed automated sorting lines, dimension and weight scanning systems.

SHARES OUTSTANDING

As of the date of this press release, the Company had approximately 385.1 million ordinary shares outstanding[9]. Each American Depositary Share represents one Class A ordinary share.

FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

Due to the rapidly evolving market dynamics, the negative impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, BEST is unable to provide financial guidance at this time. The Company is closely monitoring the situation and will provide more information as it becomes available.

WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company will hold a conference call at 9:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time on August 17, 2020 (9:00 am Beijing Time on August 18), to discuss its financial results and operating performance for the second quarter of 2020.

Participants may access the call by dialing the following numbers:

United States : +1-888-317-6003 Hong Kong : 800-963976 or +852-5808-1995 Mainland China : 4001-206115 International : +1-412-317-6061 Participant Elite Entry Number : 7770489

A replay of the conference call will be accessible through August 24, 2020 by dialing the following numbers:

United States : +1-877-344-7529 International : +1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code : 10146908

Please visit the Company's investor relations website http://ir.best-inc.com/ on August 17, 2020 to view the earnings release prior to the conference call. A live and archived webcast of the conference call and a corporate presentation will be available at the same site.

ABOUT BEST INC.

BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) is a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China. Through its proprietary technology platform and extensive networks, BEST offers a comprehensive set of logistics and value-add services, including express and freight delivery, supply chain management and last-mile services, truckload service brokerage, international logistics and financial services. BEST's mission is to empower business and enrich life by leveraging technology and business model innovation to create a smarter, more efficient supply chain. For more information, please visit: http://www.best-inc.com/en/.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

BEST Inc.

Investor relations team

[email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Yang Song

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as BEST's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. BEST may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about BEST's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: BEST's goals and strategies; BEST's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; BEST 's ability to maintain and enhance its ecosystem; BEST 's ability to continue to innovate, meet evolving market trends, adapt to changing customer demands and maintain its culture of innovation; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and other countries in which BEST operates, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in BEST's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and BEST does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In evaluating its business, BEST considers and uses non-GAAP measures, such as non-GAAP net loss/income, non-GAAP net loss/profit margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, EBITDA, adjusted selling expenses, adjusted general and administrative expenses, adjusted research and development expenses, and non-GAAP diluted EPS, as supplemental measures in the evaluation of the Company's operating results and in the Company's financial and operational decision-making. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures that help identify underlying trends in the Company's business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of the expenses and gains that the Company includes in loss from operations and net loss. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its operating results, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by the Company's management in its financial and operational decision-making. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures" in the results announcement.

The non-GAAP financial measures are provided as additional information to help investors compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and prospects for the future. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, U.S. GAAP results. In addition, the Company's calculation of the non-GAAP financial measures may be different from the calculation used by other companies, and therefore comparability may be limited.

Summary of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Income Statements







(In Thousands)

























Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,







2019

2020

2019

2020



RMB

RMB US$

RMB

RMB US$

Revenue



















Express 5,448,476

5,151,845 729,196

9,716,435

8,518,532 1,205,720

Freight 1,305,785

1,364,989 193,202

2,293,715

2,048,509 289,948

Supply Chain Management 600,211

509,708 72,144

1,134,848

917,300 129,835

Store+ 790,558

657,364 93,044

1,344,080

1,120,199 158,554

Global 64,872

192,500 27,247

105,819

308,288 43,635

Ucargo 521,830

492,554 69,716

963,017

873,103 123,580

Capital 56,398

49,314 6,980

104,790

97,799 13,843

Total Revenue 8,788,130

8,418,274 1,191,529

15,662,704

13,883,730 1,965,115

Cost of Revenue





















Express (5,203,842)

(4,874,191) (689,897)

(9,341,550)

(8,365,512) (1,184,061)

Freight (1,222,296)

(1,242,847) (175,914)

(2,177,011)

(2,059,282) (291,472)

Supply Chain Management (546,778)

(460,298) (65,151)

(1,059,832)

(864,744) (122,397)

Store+ (707,497)

(572,162) (80,984)

(1,190,942)

(973,637) (137,809)

Global (70,862)

(214,540) (30,366)

(118,487)

(362,858) (51,359)

Ucargo (499,994)

(479,946) (67,932)

(932,675)

(852,985) (120,732)

Capital (16,794)

(4,545) (643)

(29,434)

(11,602) (1,642)

Total Cost of Revenue (8,268,063)

(7,848,529) (1,110,887)

(14,849,931)

(13,490,620) (1,909,472)

Gross Profit 520,067

569,745 80,642

812,773

393,110 55,643

Selling Expenses (213,222)

(230,433) (32,616)

(406,489)

(449,210) (63,582)

General and Administrative

Expenses (301,169)

(324,984) (45,998)

(588,246)

(625,703) (88,563)

Research and

Development Expenses (62,517)

(50,499) (7,148)

(116,536)

(110,814) (15,685)

Total Operating Expenses (576,908)

(605,916) (85,762)

(1,111,271)

(1,185,727) (167,830)

Loss from Operations (56,841)

(36,171) (5,120)

(298,498)

(792,617) (112,187)

Interest Income 26,024

18,415 2,606

50,049

40,000 5,662

Interest Expense (14,696)

(41,379) (5,857)

(40,744)

(74,551) (10,552)

Foreign Exchange (Loss)/



















Gain (2,198)

334 47

(4,066)

185 26

Other Income 33,076

37,935 5,369

53,635

71,869 10,172

Other Expense (3,225)

(6,037) (854)

(7,920)

(18,361) (2,599)

Loss before Income Tax

and Share of Net Loss of

Equity Investees (17,860)

(26,903) (3,809)

(247,544)

(773,475) (109,478)

Income Tax Expense (4,410)

(3,952) (559)

(8,102)

(8,102) (1,147)

Loss before Share of Net

Loss of Equity Investees (22,270)

(30,855) (4,368)

(255,646)

(781,577) (110,625)

Share of Net Loss of Equity

Investees (101)

(44) (6)

(136)

(74) (10)

Net Loss (22,371)

(30,899) (4,374)

(255,782)

(781,651) (110,635)

Net Loss attributable to non-

controlling interests (3,077)

(6,571) (930)

(5,430)

(14,431) (2,043)

Net loss attributable to

BEST Inc. (19,294)

(24,328) (3,444)

(250,352)

(767,220) (108,592)

Net loss attributable to

ordinary shareholders (19,294)

(24,328) (3,444)

(250,352)

(767,220) (108,592)































Summary of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands)









As of December 31, 2019

As of June 30, 2020

RMB

RMB US$ Assets







Current Assets







Cash and Cash Equivalents 1,994,683

2,384,686 337,530 Restricted Cash 1,786,832

1,625,088 230,016 Accounts and Notes Receivables 1,229,083

997,130 141,136 Inventories 140,006

158,718 22,465 Prepayments and Other Current Assets 2,750,126

2,921,347 413,490 Shortterm Investments 1,057,598

532,500 75,370 Lease Rental Receivables 483,363

488,841 69,191 Amounts Due from Related Parties 246,758

187,871 26,591 Total Current Assets 9,688,449

9,296,181 1,315,789 Noncurrent Assets







Property and Equipment, Net 2,939,379

3,548,293 502,228 Intangible Assets, Net 121,587

112,288 15,893 Goodwill 490,986

499,433 70,690 Longterm Investments 230,855

230,781 32,665 Noncurrent Deposits 127,191

145,892 20,650 Other Noncurrent Assets 346,645

471,378 66,719 Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets 4,378,804

4,277,966 605,507 Lease Rental Receivables 993,260

892,626 126,343 Restricted Cash 175,700

599,622 84,871 Total noncurrent Assets 9,804,407

10,778,279 1,525,566 Total Assets 19,492,856

20,074,460 2,841,355 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity







Current Liabilities







Shortterm Bank Loans 2,510,500

2,650,059 375,092 Securitization Debt 104,899

67,947 9,617 Accounts and Notes Payable 3,391,383

3,232,139 457,480 Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities 2,019,634

2,165,136 306,455 Customer Advances and Deposits and

Deferred Revenue 1,489,510

1,528,563 216,354 Operating Lease Liabilities 1,035,252

1,114,936 157,809 Financing Lease Liabilities 1,363

1,003 142 Amounts Due to Related Parties 9,769

8,316 1,177 Income Tax Payable 7,358

8,944 1,266 Total Current Liabilities 10,569,668

10,777,043 1,525,392 Non-current Liabilities







Convertible senior notes held by related parties 680,104

1,749,900 247,682 Convertible Senior Notes held by third

parties 680,104

693,456 98,152 Operating Lease Liabilities 3,482,634

3,323,387 470,395 Financing Lease Liabilities 2,072

4,539 642 Deferred Tax Liabilities 25,806

24,502 3,468 Other Noncurrent Liabilities 137,184

159,826 22,622 Long-term Bank Loans -

276,955 39,200 Total Noncurrent Liabilities 5,007,904

6,232,565 882,161 Total Liabilities 15,577,572

17,009,608 2,407,553 Shareholders' Equity







Ordinary Shares 25,988

25,988 3,678 Treasury Shares -

(111,164) (15,734) Additional PaidIn Capital 19,353,400

19,431,389 2,750,335 Statutory reserves 7,865

9,154 1,296 Accumulated Deficit (15,629,537)

(16,453,792) (2,328,883) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 163,196

183,078 25,913 BEST Inc. Shareholders' Equity 3,920,912

3,084,653 436,605 Non-controlling Interests (5,628)

(19,801) (2,803) Total Shareholders' Equity 3,915,284

3,064,852 433,802 Total Liability and Shareholders' Equity 19,492,856

20,074,460 2,841,355











Summary of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In Thousands)







Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,

2019 2020 2019 2020

RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ Net Cash Generated from/

(Used in) Operating Activities 334,242 722,606 102,277 128,692 (570,907) (80,807) Net Cash Used in

Investing Activities (638,496) (283,084) (40,068) (827,251) (169,167) (23,944) Net Cash Generated from

Financing Activities 304,705 762,081 107,866 661,497 1,367,066 193,496 Exchange Rate Effect on Cash,

Cash Equivalents, and

Restricted Cash 27,331 1,023 145 (70) 25,189 3,565 Net Increase/(Decrease) in

Cash and Cash Equivalents,

and Restricted Cash 27,782 1,202,626 170,220 (37,132) 652,181 92,310 Cash and Cash Equivalents,

and Restricted Cash at

Beginning of Period 2,934,494 3,406,770 482,197 2,999,408 3,957,215 560,107 Cash and Cash Equivalents,

and Restricted Cash at End

of Period 2,962,276 4,609,396 652,417 2,962,276 4,609,396 652,417

RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO THE NEAREST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES

The table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's net loss to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin for the periods indicated:

Table 7  Reconciliation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin







Three Months Ended June 30, 2020







Core logistics and supply chain











(In RMB'000) Express Freight Supply Chain UCargo Capital

Store+ Global Unallocated([10]) Total



Net Income/(Loss) 103,938 55,219 (7,966) (18,336) 36,524

(73,566) (53,899) (72,813) (30,899)

Add





















Depreciation &

Amortization 79,308 15,135 10,936 119 394

3,926 4,151 7,963 121,932

Interest Expense - - - - -

- - 41,379 41,379

Income Tax

Expense 1,236 - (96) - 3,465

(372) (281) - 3,952

Subtract





















Interest Income - - - - -

- - (18,415) (18,415)

EBITDA 184,482 70,354 2,874 (18,217) 40,383

(70,012) (50,029) (41,886) 117,949

Add





















Share-based

Compensation

Expenses 4,399 2,721 2,835 710 325

2,676 2,224 23,822 39,712

Adjusted EBITDA 188,881 73,075 5,709 (17,507) 40,708

(67,336) (47,805) (18,064) 157,661

Adjusted EBITDA

Margin 3.7% 5.4% 1.1% (3.6%) 82.5%

(10.2%) (24.8%) - 1.9%















































Three Months Ended June 30, 2019







Core logistics and supply chain











(In RMB'000) Express Freight Supply Chain UCargo Capital

Store+ Global Unallocated[11] Total



Net Income/(Loss) 104,531 15,552 (2,524) 4,477 26,916

(106,720) (35,871) (28,732) (22,371)

Add





















Depreciation &

Amortization 108,057 13,449 14,251 59 412

3,666 2,313 9,043 151,250

Interest Expense - - - - -

- - 14,696 14,696

Income Tax

Expense - - 133 - 4,981

(434) (270) - 4,410

Subtract





















Interest Income - - - - -

- - (26,024) (26,024)

EBITDA 212,588 29,001 11,860 4,536 32,309

(103,488) (33,828) (31,017) 121,961

Add





















Share-based

Compensation

Expenses 3,023 1,918 2,583 592 65

1,922 1,495 14,614 26,212

Adjusted EBITDA 215,611 30,919 14,443 5,128 32,374

(101,566) (32,333) (16,403) 148,173

Adjusted EBITDA

Margin 4.0% 2.4% 2.4% 1.0% 57.4%

(12.8%) (49.8%) - 1.7%









































The table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's net loss to non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income margin for the periods indicated:

Table 8  Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Net Income Margin



Three Months Ended June 30, 2020





Core logistics and supply chain











(In RMB'000) Express Freight Supply Chain UCargo Capital

Store+ Global Unallocated([12]) Total



Net Income/(Loss) 103,938 55,219 (7,966) (18,336) 36,524

(73,566) (53,899) (72,813) (30,899)

Add





















Share-based

Compensation

Expenses 4,399 2,721 2,835 710 325

2,676 2,224 23,822 39,712

Amortization of

Intangible Assets

Resulting from

Business

Acquisition - - - - -

1,485 940 - 2,425

Non-GAAP Net

Income/(Loss) 108,337 57,940 (5,131) (17,626) 36,849

(69,405) (50,735) (48,991) 11,238

Non-GAAP Net

Income/(Loss)

Margin 2.1% 4.2% (1.0%) (3.6%) 74.7%

(10.6%) (26.4%) - 0.1%













































Three Months Ended June 30, 2019







Core logistics and supply chain











(In RMB'000) Express Freight Supply Chain UCargo Capital

Store+ Global Unallocated([13]) Total



Net Income/(Loss) 104,531 15,552 (2,524) 4,477 26,916

(106,720) (35,871) (28,732) (22,371)

Add





















Share-based

Compensation

Expenses 3,023 1,918 2,583 592 65

1,922 1,495 14,614 26,212

Amortization of

Intangible Assets

Resulting from

Business

Acquisition - - - - -

1,737 907 - 2,644

Non-GAAP Net

Income/(Loss) 107,554 17,470 59 5,069 26,981

(103,061) (33,469) (14,118) 6,485

Non-GAAP Net

Income/(Loss)

Margin 2.0% 1.3% 0.0% 1.0% 47.8%

(13.0%) (51.6%) - 0.1%









































The table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's diluted EPS to non-GAAP diluted EPS for the periods indicated:

Table 9  Reconciliation of Diluted EPS and Non-GAAP Diluted EPS



Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2020

2020 (In '000) RMB US$

RMB US$ Net Loss Attributable to Ordinary

Shareholders (24,328) (3,444)

(767,220) (108,592) Add









Share-based Compensation Expenses 39,712 5,621

75,934 10,748 Amortization of Intangible Assets Resulting

from Business Acquisitions 2,425 343

4,892 692 Non-GAAP Net Profit/(Loss) Attributable to

Ordinary Shareholders for Computing

Non-GAAP Diluted EPS 17,809 2,520

(686,394) (97,152) Weighted Average Diluted Shares

Outstanding During the Quarter









Diluted 389,265,285 389,265,285

389,510,030 389,510,030 Diluted (Non-GAAP) 391,930,771 391,930,771

389,510,030 389,510,030 Diluted EPS (0.06) (0.01)

(1.97) (0.28) Add









Non-GAAP adjustment to net loss per

share 0.11 0.02

0.21 0.03 Non-GAAP Diluted EPS 0.05 0.01

(1.76) (0.25)

[1] All numbers presented have been rounded to the nearest integer, tenth, or hundredth, and year-over-year comparisons are

based on figures before rounding. [2] Non-GAAP net income/loss represents net income/loss excluding share-based compensation expenses, amortization o

f intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, and fair value change of equity investments (if any). [3] See the sections entitled "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to the Nearest

Comparable GAAP Measures" for more information about the non-GAAP measures referred to within this results announcement. [4] Diluted earnings per share, or Diluted EPS, is calculated by dividing net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders as adjusted

for the effect of dilutive ordinary equivalent shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary

and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the period. [5] Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, or non-GAAP diluted EPS, represents diluted earnings per share excluding share-based

compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, and fair value change of equity i

nvestments (if any). [6] EBITDA represents net loss excluding depreciation, amortization, interest expense and income tax expense and minus interest

income. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding share-based compensation expenses and fair value change of equity i

nvestments (if any). [7] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not

allocated to individual segments. [8] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not

allocated to individual segments. [9] The total number of shares outstanding excludes shares reserved for future issuances upon exercise or vesting of awards

granted under the Company's share incentive plans. [10] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not

allocated to individual segments. [11] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not

allocated to individual segments. [12] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not

allocated to individual segments. [13] Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative expenses and other miscellaneous items that are not

allocated to individual segments.

SOURCE BEST Inc.

Related Links

https://www.best-inc.com/


A woman has barely escaped with her life after an out-of-control car ploughed into a bus stop she was standing at just seconds earlier.

Karyn Johnson was waiting for a bus in Thornleigh, in Sydney's upper North Shore, after completing her grocery shopping at 1pm on Sunday.

Shocking video footage showed Ms Johnson put her shopping down beside the stop sign before walking back and standing beside a store front.

She looked back to see a Holden Captiva racing towards her.

Karyn Johnson (pictured) was waiting for a bus in Thornleigh, in Sydney's upper North Shore, after completing her grocery shopping at 1pm on Sunday

The car hit the sign and her shopping - including a bottle of sparkling wine - went flying after the collision.

The vehicle smashed into a real estate agent - shattering the glass and cracking a wall inside.

'At one point I double checked myself to see if there was broke glass somewhere and nothing,' Ms Johnson told Nine News.

'I can't explain why I moved away so I think somebody was looking out for me and they were standing [right next to me].

'I'll be forever grateful. I now have to find my purpose in life if I am still here.'

Gehad Tuameh was inside his tackle store when he heard the crash, racing out to help anyone injured and calling emergency services.

Shocking video footage showed Ms Johnson put her shopping down beside the stop sign (pictured after crash) before walking back and standing beside a store front

The vehicle smashed into a real estate agent (pictured) - shattering the glass and cracking a wall inside

'If you get that close to death and you miss it, that is how you know how lucky you are,' he said.

A NSW Police spokeswoman revealed that the 58-year-old driver and his wife were taken to hospital as a precaution.

'It's believed the man suffered a medical episode,' police said.

The front of their car was badly smashed during the frightening incident.
The UN Security Council was to meet in emergency session Tuesday on the humanitarian crisis triggered by Israel's crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip, in response to the firing of rockets into the Jewish state.

The 15-member body was to meet at 10 am (1500 GMT) at the request of Arab UN ambassadors and the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference.

The decision to hold the emergency session was made during closed-door consultations late Monday amid a growing international outcry at what the European Union termed the "collective punishment" of Gaza's 1.5 million residents.

The strong international reaction and warnings of a humanitarian crisis led Israel Monday to ease its blockade of Gaza, allowing in some fuel and medicine.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak authorized the impoverished territory to be resupplied from Tuesday with fuel for its sole electricity plant which was forced to shut down and with medicine for its hospitals on Wednesday.
Dubbing it as a symbol of Western "decadence," North Korean leader Kim Jong Un released an order to end dog owning in the nation's capital Pyongyang, directing authorities to confiscate pets from their owners.

According to Fox News, the directive to round up the pets was given by the dictator back in July. This is after Kim claimed that owning pets was a trend tainted by bourgeois ideology.

The source was also quoted explaining the resentment of the regime to dogs saying that while ordinary people raise livestock and pigs, the wealthy people and high ranking officials have the luxury of owning dogs.

In addition, it was reported that households with pets have already been identified by authorities. The said households are being forced to give up their pets and some are being confiscated forcefully, while some are put down.

Read also: North Korea Could Ramp-Up Threatening Missile Testing After Trump Boasts About World War 3

Western Decadence or Answer to Food Shortage?

However, despite the regime's claims that the move taken by Kim is to end the extravagance in the capital, people fear that their pets are going to end up on people's dinner tables. This is due to the current food shortage that the Hermit Kingdom is facing. It is also not unknown that the country has a reputation for eating dog meat and that the directive came just as the regime is struggling to feed the masses.

In a report by Daily Mail, it was stated that based on a recent report from the United Nations (UN), food shortage is being experienced by at least 60% of the North's 25.5 million citizens. The current situation is brought by the withdrawal of aid from overseas to the rogue nation due to their nuclear program.

In addition, they are also very much affected after they closed their borders with China amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the recent natural disasters have destroyed their crops causing a nationwide food crisis.

Despite the crisis faced by his nation, Kim Jong Un has announced that they will not be accepting aid from outside the country and that they will brave this crisis.

As of the moment, around 17,000 homes, 600 public buildings, and 100,000 farmlands have been destroyed by the flooding in the North. And with pork and beef already becoming a luxury, dog owners fear that their pets may be served to feed the starving citizens.

In the Korean Peninsula, dog meat has long been considered a delicacy. However, despite the fact that it is already a fading tradition in the South, dog meat is still considered a staple on the North Korean Menu.

Meanwhile, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo stated in a report that owners of the confiscated pets are secretly cursing the dictator but cannot do anything about it since defiance of Kim's orders in the North are punishable.

In response to the continuing shortage of food, the Kim regime has already resorted to drastic measures to feed the citizens including ordering grains from the dictator's personal reserve which is reportedly only used in times of war.



Related article: Kim Jong Un Orders Distribution of Grains from Private Reserve, Sparking Theories of Emergency in North Korea

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A respected correspondent has accused Lewis Hamilton of being the one who is politically dividing the Formula 1 drivers.

Throughout the 'corona calendar' races so far this year, the six-time world champion has been leading the Black Lives Matter-inspired moments of kneeling on the grid.

12 other drivers join Hamilton in kneeling, with others including Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen electing instead to remaining standing in their 'End Racism' t-shirts.

"They are just as much against racism as those who kneel," Peter Nygaard, a well-known journalist for the Danish newspaper BT, said.

"They have said that for different reasons they are expressing their opinion in a slightly different way.

"But because of that, the anti-racism demonstration has a slightly chaotic impression, as though there is a lack of solidarity among the drivers."

Nygaard says Hamilton's stories of the racism he has dealt with across the course of his life and career are "heartbreaking", and that using his status to fight racism is "commendable".

"One cannot question whether Hamilton's fight against racism is important," he said. "But one can discuss whether he is doing it in the right way.

"Hamilton has criticised the drivers who do not kneel, but solidarity works both ways. Why for example does Hamilton choose to wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt?

"He knows now that the very connection with Black Lives Matter is one of the reasons why at least some of the drivers, like Kevin Magnussen, are not kneeling.

"It seems in many ways as if Hamilton has painted them into a corner - as if they are only doing something because he opened this important debate.

"But if he had contacted his colleagues before his announcement rather than criticise them, they would have backed him up. Instead, he chose to show up his fellow drivers, who are as much against racism as he is," Nygaard continued.

"Lewis Hamilton is an amazing racing driver who is on his way to breaking all the sport's records," he added. "He is the ideal front man for Formula 1's fight against racism.

"But he has not really understood the concept of solidarity."

(GMM)
Former UK prime ministers John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on Tuesday joined economists Amartya Sen, Kaushik Basu and 270 others to call for urgent action to deal with the education emergency across the globe triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Noting that over 1 billion children are out of school due to the crisis, they wrote in an open letter to G20, governments and financial institutions that the immediate concern is the fate of an estimated 30 million children who, according to Unesco, may never return to school.

We cannot stand by and allow these young people to be robbed of their education and a fair chance in lifeResources are now urgently needed to get young people back into education and enable them to catch up, they wrote.

Signatories include former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, former Sri Lanka president Chandrika Kumaratunga, academic Kwame Anthony Appiah, former president of the European Commission Jean Claude-Juncker, former US official Thomas Pickering, and former Ireland president Mary Robinson.

Among urgent measures needed, they wrote, is the suspension of $86 billion in debt-service costs for two years of the 76 poorest countries and the International Monetary fund issuing $1.2 trillion in special drawing rights (its global reserve asset) for the needy countries.

They wrote: (The) World bank should unlock more support for low-income countries through a supplementary International Development Association budget, andinvite additional guarantees and grants from donors.

Now is the time for national governments and the international community to come together to give children and young people the opportunities they deserve and to which they are entitled, they added.

Other signatories include academics Richard Sorabji (Oxford), Devi Sridhar (Edinburgh), British MPs Preet Kaur Gill and Sarah Champion, and former Pakistan prime minster Shaukat Aziz.

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Popular to go-only fried chicken concept Goode Bird is heading to The Woodlands for a limited pop-up series.

Houston-based restaurant chain Goode Company announced on Friday that Goode Birds southern fried chicken will be available Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. at Goode Co. BBQ at 8865 Six Pines Dr. The barbecue restaurant is temporarily closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Since launching in July, Goode Birds original pop-up, which operates out of the kitchen at Armadillo Palace at 5015 Kirby Dr., has been a success

We are so happy with the response from our diners inside the loop. We are excited to see how our Woodlands-area diners like Goode Bird.

Menu offerings include an all-natural whole or half-bird thats brined with thyme, coated with seasoned buttermilk and honey, and dusted with flour before being deep-fried.

Instead of fried, you can opt for a spit-roasted chicken seasoned with fresh rosemary, lemon and garlic and roasted over a mesquite fire.

Biscuits come with sea salt honey butter and salads include the BLT Chopped with thick-cut bacon, heirloom tomatoes, Blue Cheese crumbles, scallion buttermilk dressing and cornbread croutons.

Theres also a roster of sides like collard greens, fried okra, pimento mac and cheese, jalapeno creamed corn, Cajun dirty rice, fried okra, hand-cut fries and red beans and rice.

A house burger, chicken sandwich and chicken tenders are also on the menu.

I have a serious love for fried chicken and cooking it at home for meals around the table, owner Levi Goode said in the release. For years Ive been wanting to open a chicken joint where I could let my southern roots shine. I decided that if there was ever a time when people needed a bit of comfort, its definitely now, owner Levi Goode said in the release.

Orders for The Woodlands pop-up dates must be placed in advance online.
The Pandemic Changes Daily Life & Brings in New Dress Codes. The corona virus pandemic has irreversibility changed public life. Profound impact is already seen in the way governments, companies and people behave.

New York, Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Disposable Masks Industry" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05896569/?utm_source=GNW

Among the many ways in which COVID-19 has changed human behavior are social distancing; working from home; avoiding crowded public places; and wearing face masks. As masks become the new norm, the pandemic is pushing us into a faceless future. To give the economy a fighting chance to heal and recover, countries are cautiously easing lockdown despite the risk of the rise in infections. As society begins to revive, the post COVID life will bear no resemblance to the pre-COVID period. Facial masks are emerging into the new dress code for people all over the world. As economies reopen and people begin going back to work, face masks will grow in importance given their role in preventing a second wave of infections. Also, masks will help give people the confidence needed to step out-of-doors. Against this backdrop, the global market for disposable masks is projected to accelerate at a CAGR of 5.4% to reach US$28.8 billion by the year 2027. The biggest growth spikes are expected in the years 2020 and 2021 at 396.6% and 18. 2% CAGR respectively. Disposable masks especially surgical face masks have today become a symbol of the times to come i. e. more frequent pandemics and rising air pollution. Surgical face masks hitherto used exclusively by doctors and hospital staff are today in demand by general public as the health crisis deepens with the relentless march of the pandemic across 160+ countries. Surgical and medical grade masks have become staple Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare, sanitation workers and people in general. While controversy over the effectiveness of face masks continue, they have nevertheless become symbolic of the human desire to take some kind of action to stay protected knowing there is no cure for the disease.



Supply Shortages Sends the World Scrambling to Respond



The sudden spike in demand has created a critical shortage of face masks the world over. This is resulting in a mass movement to home sew reusable facemasks. Fashion brands are voluntarily foraying into the production of face masks and medical gowns on a war footing to bridge the demand and supply gaps. Despite ramping up of production capacities by all manufacturers, demand for disposable face masks will continue to exceed production capacity. The severity of shortages can be put into perspective by the fact that the U. S. the worst affected by the pandemic in the world, added 156 million face masks to the Strategic National Stockpile in 2006 due to fears of flu pandemic, and since then failed to replenish supply triggering a stark shortage of face masks in 2020. In addition, France did not replenish its face mask stocks since 2011 and now depends mainly on China as well as just-in-time logistics for its needs. The COVID-19 outbreak left the country with national shortage of surgical and FFP2 masks and associated medical supplies. With a phenomenal demand for 40 million masks per week, the country has now instructed mask manufacturers ramp up production capacity to ensure availability of 40 million masks per month.



While China Positions Itself as a Global Savior, Can it Be Trusted?



Staging an early recovery from the pandemic, Chinas restarting of medical masks production for global exports offers hope in easing the pressure at least partially. However, the increase in claims of faulty masks produced and exported by the country is aggravating existing woes especially among desperate hospital staff. Some of the common issues reported by importing countries include improper fit, sub-standard products and faulty filters. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, China held a 50% share of the global surgical masks production, manufacturing close to 20 million face masks daily and Taiwan accounts for 20% of the global face masks supply. Other major countries with considerable PPE manufacturing capacity include Thailand, Mexico, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, India, the US, and some EU countries. Subsequent to the COVID-19 outbreak, China enhanced its masks production over five-fold, with a daily production of 110 million units. Quality issues associated with Chinese made masks are encouraging indigenous innovation among local manufacturers. 3M, for instance, deployed robots for dealing with worker shortage, while other companies are resorting to thinking out-of-the-box to overcome challenges. Under Arm our, Inc. unveiled the idea of no-sew masks. The sportswear company started making disposable masks with a single fabric piece, without the need for any sewing, which reduced requirement of manpower.





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05896569/?utm_source=GNW



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW

Impact of Covid-19 and a Looming Global Recession

Global Competitor Market Shares

Disposable Masks Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide

(in %): 2018E



2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

Table 1: Disposable Masks Global Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2020-2027



Table 2: Disposable Masks Global Retrospective Market Scenario

in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2012-2019



Table 3: Disposable Masks Market Share Shift across Key

Geographies Worldwide: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 4: Surgical Masks (Product Type) World Market by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2020 to 2027



Table 5: Surgical Masks (Product Type) Historic Market Analysis

by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2012 to 2019



Table 6: Surgical Masks (Product Type) Market Share Breakdown

of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 7: Respirator Masks (Product Type) Potential Growth

Markets Worldwide in US$ Million: 2020 to 2027



Table 8: Respirator Masks (Product Type) Historic Market

Perspective by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2012 to 2019



Table 9: Respirator Masks (Product Type) Market Sales Breakdown

by Region/Country in Percentage: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 10: Dust Masks (Product Type) Geographic Market Spread

Worldwide in US$ Million: 2020 to 2027



Table 11: Dust Masks (Product Type) Region Wise Breakdown of

Global Historic Demand in US$ Million: 2012 to 2019



Table 12: Dust Masks (Product Type) Market Share Distribution

in Percentage by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 13: Offline (Distribution Channel) World Market Estimates

and Forecasts by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2020 to 2027



Table 14: Offline (Distribution Channel) Market Historic Review

by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2012 to 2019



Table 15: Offline (Distribution Channel) Market Share Breakdown

by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 16: Online (Distribution Channel) World Market by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2020 to 2027



Table 17: Online (Distribution Channel) Historic Market

Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2012 to 2019



Table 18: Online (Distribution Channel) Market Share

Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2012 VS

2020 VS 2027



Table 19: Hospital (End-Use) Sales Estimates and Forecasts in

US$ Million by Region/Country for the Years 2020 through 2027



Table 20: Hospital (End-Use) Analysis of Historic Sales in US$

Million by Region/Country for the Years 2012 to 2019



Table 21: Hospital (End-Use) Global Market Share Distribution

by Region/Country for 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 22: Industrial (End-Use) Global Opportunity Assessment in

US$ Million by Region/Country: 2020-2027



Table 23: Industrial (End-Use) Historic Sales Analysis in US$

Million by Region/Country: 2012-2019



Table 24: Industrial (End-Use) Percentage Share Breakdown of

Global Sales by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 25: Personal (End-Use) Worldwide Sales in US$ Million by

Region/Country: 2020-2027



Table 26: Personal (End-Use) Historic Demand Patterns in US$

Million by Region/Country: 2012-2019



Table 27: Personal (End-Use) Market Share Shift across Key

Geographies: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS



UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US Disposable Masks Market Share (in %) by Company: 2018 & 2027

Market Analytics

Table 28: United States Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020 to 2027



Table 29: Disposable Masks Market in the United States by

Product Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2012-2019



Table 30: United States Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown

by Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 31: United States Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2020 to

2027



Table 32: Disposable Masks Market in the United States by

Distribution Channel: A Historic Review in US$ Million for

2012-2019



Table 33: United States Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown

by Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 34: United States Disposable Masks Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 35: Disposable Masks Historic Demand Patterns in the

United States by End-Use in US$ Million for 2012-2019



Table 36: Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown in the United

States by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



CANADA

Table 37: Canadian Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020 to 2027



Table 38: Canadian Disposable Masks Historic Market Review by

Product Type in US$ Million: 2012-2019



Table 39: Disposable Masks Market in Canada: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 40: Canadian Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2020 to 2027



Table 41: Canadian Disposable Masks Historic Market Review by

Distribution Channel in US$ Million: 2012-2019



Table 42: Disposable Masks Market in Canada: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Distribution Channel for 2012,

2020, and 2027



Table 43: Canadian Disposable Masks Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 44: Disposable Masks Market in Canada: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by End-Use for

2012-2019



Table 45: Canadian Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



JAPAN

Table 46: Japanese Market for Disposable Masks: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type for

the Period 2020-2027



Table 47: Disposable Masks Market in Japan: Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2012-2019



Table 48: Japanese Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 49: Japanese Market for Disposable Masks: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Distribution

Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 50: Disposable Masks Market in Japan: Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Million by Distribution Channel for the Period

2012-2019



Table 51: Japanese Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 52: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Disposable Masks in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 53: Japanese Disposable Masks Market in US$ Million by

End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 54: Disposable Masks Market Share Shift in Japan by

End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



CHINA

Table 55: Chinese Disposable Masks Market Growth Prospects in

US$ Million by Product Type for the Period 2020-2027



Table 56: Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in China in

US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 57: Chinese Disposable Masks Market by Product Type:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 58: Chinese Disposable Masks Market Growth Prospects in

US$ Million by Distribution Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 59: Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in China in

US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 60: Chinese Disposable Masks Market by Distribution

Channel: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 61: Chinese Demand for Disposable Masks in US$ Million by

End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 62: Disposable Masks Market Review in China in US$

Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 63: Chinese Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European Disposable Masks Market: Competitor Market Share

Scenario (in %) for 2018 & 2027

Market Analytics

Table 64: European Disposable Masks Market Demand Scenario in

US$ Million by Region/Country: 2020-2027



Table 65: Disposable Masks Market in Europe: A Historic Market

Perspective in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Period

2012-2019



Table 66: European Disposable Masks Market Share Shift by

Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 67: European Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020-2027



Table 68: Disposable Masks Market in Europe in US$ Million by

Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period 2012-2019



Table 69: European Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 70: European Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2020-2027



Table 71: Disposable Masks Market in Europe in US$ Million by

Distribution Channel: A Historic Review for the Period

2012-2019



Table 72: European Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 73: European Disposable Masks Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020-2027



Table 74: Disposable Masks Market in Europe: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Million by End-Use for the Period

2012-2019



Table 75: European Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



FRANCE

Table 76: Disposable Masks Market in France by Product Type:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2020-2027



Table 77: French Disposable Masks Historic Market Scenario in

US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 78: French Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 79: Disposable Masks Market in France by Distribution

Channel: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the

Period 2020-2027



Table 80: French Disposable Masks Historic Market Scenario in

US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 81: French Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 82: Disposable Masks Quantitative Demand Analysis in

France in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020-2027



Table 83: French Disposable Masks Historic Market Review in US$

Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 84: French Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis:

A 17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2012, 2020, and 2027



GERMANY

Table 85: Disposable Masks Market in Germany: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for

the Period 2020-2027



Table 86: German Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in

US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 87: German Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 88: Disposable Masks Market in Germany: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Distribution

Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 89: German Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in

US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 90: German Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 91: Disposable Masks Market in Germany: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use for the

Period 2020-2027



Table 92: German Disposable Masks Market in Retrospect in US$

Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 93: Disposable Masks Market Share Distribution in Germany

by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



ITALY

Table 94: Italian Disposable Masks Market Growth Prospects in

US$ Million by Product Type for the Period 2020-2027



Table 95: Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in Italy in

US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 96: Italian Disposable Masks Market by Product Type:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 97: Italian Disposable Masks Market Growth Prospects in

US$ Million by Distribution Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 98: Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in Italy in

US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 99: Italian Disposable Masks Market by Distribution

Channel: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 100: Italian Demand for Disposable Masks in US$ Million

by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 101: Disposable Masks Market Review in Italy in US$

Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 102: Italian Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



UNITED KINGDOM

Table 103: United Kingdom Market for Disposable Masks: Annual

Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type

for the Period 2020-2027



Table 104: Disposable Masks Market in the United Kingdom:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for the

Period 2012-2019



Table 105: United Kingdom Disposable Masks Market Share

Analysis by Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 106: United Kingdom Market for Disposable Masks: Annual

Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Distribution

Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 107: Disposable Masks Market in the United Kingdom:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Distribution Channel

for the Period 2012-2019



Table 108: United Kingdom Disposable Masks Market Share

Analysis by Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 109: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Disposable Masks in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 110: United Kingdom Disposable Masks Market in US$

Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 111: Disposable Masks Market Share Shift in the United

Kingdom by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



SPAIN

Table 112: Spanish Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020 to 2027



Table 113: Spanish Disposable Masks Historic Market Review by

Product Type in US$ Million: 2012-2019



Table 114: Disposable Masks Market in Spain: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 115: Spanish Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2020 to 2027



Table 116: Spanish Disposable Masks Historic Market Review by

Distribution Channel in US$ Million: 2012-2019



Table 117: Disposable Masks Market in Spain: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Distribution Channel for 2012, 2020, and

2027



Table 118: Spanish Disposable Masks Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 119: Disposable Masks Market in Spain: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by End-Use for

2012-2019



Table 120: Spanish Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



RUSSIA

Table 121: Russian Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020 to 2027



Table 122: Disposable Masks Market in Russia by Product Type:

A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2012-2019



Table 123: Russian Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 124: Russian Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Million by Distribution Channel:

2020 to 2027



Table 125: Disposable Masks Market in Russia by Distribution

Channel: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2012-2019



Table 126: Russian Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 127: Russian Disposable Masks Latent Demand Forecasts in

US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 128: Disposable Masks Historic Demand Patterns in Russia

by End-Use in US$ Million for 2012-2019



Table 129: Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown in Russia by

End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



REST OF EUROPE

Table 130: Rest of Europe Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020-2027



Table 131: Disposable Masks Market in Rest of Europe in US$

Million by Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period

2012-2019



Table 132: Rest of Europe Disposable Masks Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 133: Rest of Europe Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2020-2027



Table 134: Disposable Masks Market in Rest of Europe in US$

Million by Distribution Channel: A Historic Review for the

Period 2012-2019



Table 135: Rest of Europe Disposable Masks Market Share

Breakdown by Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 136: Rest of Europe Disposable Masks Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020-2027



Table 137: Disposable Masks Market in Rest of Europe:

Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by End-Use for

the Period 2012-2019



Table 138: Rest of Europe Disposable Masks Market Share

Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 139: Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2020-2027



Table 140: Disposable Masks Market in Asia-Pacific: Historic

Market Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Period

2012-2019



Table 141: Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis

by Region/Country: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 142: Disposable Masks Market in Asia-Pacific by Product

Type: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2020-2027



Table 143: Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Historic Market

Scenario in US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 144: Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis

by Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 145: Disposable Masks Market in Asia-Pacific by

Distribution Channel: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million

for the Period 2020-2027



Table 146: Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Historic Market

Scenario in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 147: Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis

by Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 148: Disposable Masks Quantitative Demand Analysis in

Asia-Pacific in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020-2027



Table 149: Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Historic Market Review

in US$ Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 150: Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis:

A 17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2012, 2020, and 2027



AUSTRALIA

Table 151: Disposable Masks Market in Australia: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for

the Period 2020-2027



Table 152: Australian Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis

in US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 153: Australian Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown

by Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 154: Disposable Masks Market in Australia: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Distribution

Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 155: Australian Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis

in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 156: Australian Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown

by Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 157: Disposable Masks Market in Australia: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use for the

Period 2020-2027



Table 158: Australian Disposable Masks Market in Retrospect in

US$ Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 159: Disposable Masks Market Share Distribution in

Australia by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



INDIA

Table 160: Indian Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020 to 2027



Table 161: Indian Disposable Masks Historic Market Review by

Product Type in US$ Million: 2012-2019



Table 162: Disposable Masks Market in India: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 163: Indian Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2020 to 2027



Table 164: Indian Disposable Masks Historic Market Review by

Distribution Channel in US$ Million: 2012-2019



Table 165: Disposable Masks Market in India: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Distribution Channel for 2012,

2020, and 2027



Table 166: Indian Disposable Masks Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 167: Disposable Masks Market in India: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by End-Use for

2012-2019



Table 168: Indian Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



SOUTH KOREA

Table 169: Disposable Masks Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for

the Period 2020-2027



Table 170: South Korean Disposable Masks Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 171: Disposable Masks Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 172: Disposable Masks Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Distribution

Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 173: South Korean Disposable Masks Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 174: Disposable Masks Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 175: Disposable Masks Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use for the

Period 2020-2027



Table 176: South Korean Disposable Masks Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 177: Disposable Masks Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 178: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Disposable Masks:

Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by

Product Type for the Period 2020-2027



Table 179: Disposable Masks Market in Rest of Asia-Pacific:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for the

Period 2012-2019



Table 180: Rest of Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Market Share

Analysis by Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 181: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Disposable Masks:

Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by

Distribution Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 182: Disposable Masks Market in Rest of Asia-Pacific:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Distribution Channel

for the Period 2012-2019



Table 183: Rest of Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Market Share

Analysis by Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 184: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts

for Disposable Masks in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 185: Rest of Asia-Pacific Disposable Masks Market in US$

Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 186: Disposable Masks Market Share Shift in Rest of

Asia-Pacific by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



LATIN AMERICA

Table 187: Latin American Disposable Masks Market Trends by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2020-2027



Table 188: Disposable Masks Market in Latin America in US$

Million by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for the

Period 2012-2019



Table 189: Latin American Disposable Masks Market Percentage

Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 190: Latin American Disposable Masks Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2020-2027



Table 191: Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in Latin

America in US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 192: Latin American Disposable Masks Market by Product

Type: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 193: Latin American Disposable Masks Market Growth

Prospects in US$ Million by Distribution Channel for the Period

2020-2027



Table 194: Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in Latin

America in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 195: Latin American Disposable Masks Market by

Distribution Channel: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2012,

2020, and 2027



Table 196: Latin American Demand for Disposable Masks in US$

Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 197: Disposable Masks Market Review in Latin America in

US$ Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 198: Latin American Disposable Masks Market Share

Breakdown by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



ARGENTINA

Table 199: Argentinean Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020-2027



Table 200: Disposable Masks Market in Argentina in US$ Million

by Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period 2012-2019



Table 201: Argentinean Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown

by Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 202: Argentinean Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2020-2027



Table 203: Disposable Masks Market in Argentina in US$ Million

by Distribution Channel: A Historic Review for the Period

2012-2019



Table 204: Argentinean Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown

by Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 205: Argentinean Disposable Masks Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020-2027



Table 206: Disposable Masks Market in Argentina: Summarization

of Historic Demand in US$ Million by End-Use for the Period

2012-2019



Table 207: Argentinean Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis

by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



BRAZIL

Table 208: Disposable Masks Market in Brazil by Product Type:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period

2020-2027



Table 209: Brazilian Disposable Masks Historic Market Scenario

in US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 210: Brazilian Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 211: Disposable Masks Market in Brazil by Distribution

Channel: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the

Period 2020-2027



Table 212: Brazilian Disposable Masks Historic Market Scenario

in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 213: Brazilian Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 214: Disposable Masks Quantitative Demand Analysis in

Brazil in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020-2027



Table 215: Brazilian Disposable Masks Historic Market Review in

US$ Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 216: Brazilian Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis:

A 17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2012, 2020, and 2027



MEXICO

Table 217: Disposable Masks Market in Mexico: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for

the Period 2020-2027



Table 218: Mexican Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in

US$ Million by Product Type: 2012-2019



Table 219: Mexican Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 220: Disposable Masks Market in Mexico: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Distribution

Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 221: Mexican Disposable Masks Historic Market Analysis in

US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2012-2019



Table 222: Mexican Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 223: Disposable Masks Market in Mexico: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use for the

Period 2020-2027



Table 224: Mexican Disposable Masks Market in Retrospect in US$

Million by End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 225: Disposable Masks Market Share Distribution in Mexico

by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 226: Rest of Latin America Disposable Masks Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type:

2020 to 2027



Table 227: Disposable Masks Market in Rest of Latin America by

Product Type: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2012-2019



Table 228: Rest of Latin America Disposable Masks Market Share

Breakdown by Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 229: Rest of Latin America Disposable Masks Market

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Distribution

Channel: 2020 to 2027



Table 230: Disposable Masks Market in Rest of Latin America by

Distribution Channel: A Historic Review in US$ Million for

2012-2019



Table 231: Rest of Latin America Disposable Masks Market Share

Breakdown by Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 232: Rest of Latin America Disposable Masks Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 233: Disposable Masks Historic Demand Patterns in Rest of

Latin America by End-Use in US$ Million for 2012-2019



Table 234: Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown in Rest of

Latin America by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



MIDDLE EAST

Table 235: The Middle East Disposable Masks Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2020-2027



Table 236: Disposable Masks Market in the Middle East by

Region/Country in US$ Million: 2012-2019



Table 237: The Middle East Disposable Masks Market Share

Breakdown by Region/Country: 2012, 2020, and 2027



Table 238: The Middle East Disposable Masks Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020 to 2027



Table 239: The Middle East Disposable Masks Historic Market by

Product Type in US$ Million: 2012-2019



Table 240: Disposable Masks Market in the Middle East:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Type for

2012,2020, and 2027



Table 241: The Middle East Disposable Masks Market Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ Million by Distribution Channel:

2020 to 2027



Table 242: The Middle East Disposable Masks Historic Market by

Distribution Channel in US$ Million: 2012-2019



Table 243: Disposable Masks Market in the Middle East:

Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Distribution Channel for

2012,2020, and 2027



Table 244: The Middle East Disposable Masks Market Quantitative

Demand Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 245: Disposable Masks Market in the Middle East:

Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by

End-Use for 2012-2019



Table 246: The Middle East Disposable Masks Market Share

Analysis by End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



IRAN

Table 247: Iranian Market for Disposable Masks: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Product Type for

the Period 2020-2027



Table 248: Disposable Masks Market in Iran: Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Million by Product Type for the Period

2012-2019



Table 249: Iranian Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 250: Iranian Market for Disposable Masks: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Distribution

Channel for the Period 2020-2027



Table 251: Disposable Masks Market in Iran: Historic Sales

Analysis in US$ Million by Distribution Channel for the Period

2012-2019



Table 252: Iranian Disposable Masks Market Share Analysis by

Distribution Channel: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 253: Iranian Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Disposable Masks in US$ Million by End-Use: 2020 to 2027



Table 254: Iranian Disposable Masks Market in US$ Million by

End-Use: 2012-2019



Table 255: Disposable Masks Market Share Shift in Iran by

End-Use: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



ISRAEL

Table 256: Israeli Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Product Type: 2020-2027



Table 257: Disposable Masks Market in Israel in US$ Million by

Product Type: A Historic Review for the Period 2012-2019



Table 258: Israeli Disposable Masks Market Share Breakdown by

Product Type: 2012 VS 2020 VS 2027



Table 259: Israeli Disposable Masks Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Million by Distribution Channel: 2020-2027



Table 260: Disposable Masks Market in Israel in US$ Million by

Distribution Channel: A Historic Review for the Period

2012-2019



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Key Highlights:

Aimed at self-reliance and a momentous stride towards "Atmanirbhar Bharat"

The registration process begins on August 18, 2020, through MyGov portal

Indigenous microprocessors SHAKTI and VEGA have been rolled out under the aegis of MeitY

To provide further impetus to the strong ecosystem of the start-up, innovation and research in the country, "Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge- Innovate Solutions for #Aatmanirbhar Bharat" has been launched by Union Minister of Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad. The challenge invites innovators, start-ups and students to use SHAKTI (32bit) and VEGA (64 bit) microprocessors to develop various technology products.

Using the Open Source Architecture under the aegis of Microprocessor Development Programme of Ministry of Electronics and IT, SHAKTI and VEGA have been developed by IIT Madras and Center for Development of Advance Computing (CDAC), respectively.

According to the press release issued by Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), this initiative is aimed at meeting India's future requirements of strategic and industrial sectors. It also has the potential to mitigate the issues of security, licensing, technology obsolescence and most crucially to cut dependency on imports. The design, development and fabrication of these state-of-the-art processor variants at foundry in the country and abroad make for a successful leapfrog to ultimate goal of vibrant ecosystem of Electronic System Design & Manufacturing in the country.

This challenge is open to students at all levels and start-ups. The challenge demands contestants to not only tinker with these Swadeshi Processor IPs and facilitate them with innovating the frugal solutions for societal needs but also make available the entire home-grown ecosystem around Swadeshi Processors to develop the complex designs for catering to both global and domestic requirements in near future. A slew of benefits will be offered by MeitY to the contestants and technology resources that include internship opportunities and regular technical guidance from the best VLSI & Electronics System Design Experts in the country, along with business mentorship and funding support and facilitation by Incubation Centres.

MeitY is offering financial support of Rs 4.30 crore at various stages of the challenge for developing the hardware prototype and incubating a start-up. Spread over the period of 10 months, it will provide an opportunity for 100 semi-finalists to win Rs 1 crore of award; 25 finalists will win total Rs 1 crore of award and top 10 teams entering the finale will get the seed fund of total Rs 2.30 crore and incubation support for 12 months. All participants will get an opportunity to translate their innovations around Swadeshi Processors, showcase them at a higher viewership platform and facilitate them to scale from ideation to marketplace, thereby standing a chance to contribute to the overall mission of #AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

Also Read: ZEE5 launches TikTok-like short video platform HiPi

Also Read: Beetel to launch 'Make in India' brand Flix; to sell earphones, chargers, stereo
Foreign powers that continue to violate an arms embargo designed to stop the flow of weapons into war-torn Libya could face new sanctions, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has warned.

Mr Mass gave the warning on Tuesday during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Germanys top diplomat pointed to a Berlin peace summit that took place in January, when international governments committed to upholding the long-flouted UN embargo.

Despite being hailed as a breakthrough at the time, the summits aims, focusing on reducing foreign involvement in the long-running civil war, have largely fallen flat.

Ultimately, we have to be able to rely on everyone who signed the agreement in Berlin  adhering to what they signed, Mr Maas said.

I also wouldnt rule out further sanctions, he added.

Mr Maas trip to Abu Dhabi follows his visit to Libya on Monday, during which he discussed with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj ways to end the power struggle between the UN-backed leader and military strongman General Khalifa Haftar.

Mr Serraj has the backing of Turkey and Qatar, while Haftar is supported by Egypt, Russia, and the UAE.

The European Union has launched the Irini naval mission in a bid to enforce the arms embargo.

Meanwhile, Germany, France, and Italy have moved to impose EU sanctions on individuals and companies that provide ships and aeroplanes for the transportation of arms.

So far there have been no punitive measures announced for the countries that send the weapons in the first place.

During his UAE visit, Mr Maas also discussed the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, reiterating his hope that the recent landmark deal to establish ties between Israel and the UAE will contribute towards peace in the region.

Under the deal, Israel has suspended its plans to annex West Bank territories, a precondition for the resumption of talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Maas said.

It is actually easier for all sides to communicate directly with one another. And we will also try to do our part, Maas said.

Ahead of his talks with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Mr Maas called the Israel-UAE deal historic.

Palestinians, however, have reacted with anger at the fact that the UAE conditioned normalising ties with Israel only on Israel suspending plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, and not on Israeli recognition of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

(dpa/NAN)
After three long years of lobbying, Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings efforts have yielded results, and work has begun on the construction of the Odanta Road within the Klottey Korle constituency.



Announcing the commencement of the project on her official Facebook page, the NDC legislator exclaimed, I am pleased to announce that the work [construction of the roads] commenced today, Sunday, 16th of August 2020.



She further elaborated on her relentless efforts to push far and beyond to get the project done for her constituents.



It has been three long years of lobbying, writing letters and asking questions on the floor of Parliament.



The 7km Odanta Road in the last few years had gained notoriety for being one of the worst roads within the Klottey Korle Constituency.



Residents had complained severally but authorities turned a blind eye to their plight.



However, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings promised the residents she would do all within her power to fix the road.



True to her words, after she finally accompanied engineers to survey the roads requiring rehabilitation, the tender was advertised by the Ministry for Roads and Highways and the contract awarded.



This gesture has further raised her already soaring image among her constituents to a messiahnic status, with many chanting accolades in her praise as she cut the sod for the commencement of the project last Sunday.



The Odanta Road and Eseefoo Roads in Asylum Down which were started on Sunday are two of the ten roads earmarked for rehabilitation in Klottey-Korle.



In an unfortunate twist of events the NPP parliamentary candidate in the constituency, Mr. Prince Appiah Debrah, has granted interviews to some media houses in Accra attempting to claim credit for the project.



He has intimated that he lobbied to get the Municipal Assembly to construct the road.



However, when his claims were fact checked by this reporter, it came to light that Mr. Debrah had no hand in the project. It has been established that he peddled falsehood in an attempt to leverage on being the governing partys candidate to deceive the constituents into voting for him.



Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings however stated that she will not allow herself to be distracted from her mission to serve her constituents.

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
MILWAUKEEAn older man in a Biden 2020 T-shirt was leaning against a concrete barrier across the street from the Wisconsin Center on Monday afternoon, talking into a TV camera about coming to the Democratic National Convention. Ive always wanted to attend one, he said, And in the past, I heard about all the parties and socializing  

Well, that isnt happening this year.

As he spoke, on the kickoff day of the convention that will make Joe Biden the official Democratic nominee for president, the streets of Milwaukee were virtually empty. An estimated 50,000 party members were expected to flood into the city before the COVID-19 pandemic hit; now almost everything is going to take place virtually.

Its a bit incongruous, then, that blocks of downtown Milwaukee around the convention centre are fenced off, with a heavy police presence along the fenceline. There were more kayakers in the river passing under a nearby bridge than there were pedestrians on the streets on Monday. When the police looked out from behind the fences, there were just a handful of wandering reporters and that guy in the Biden shirt, longing for a party. Only a handful of delegates are inside the building.

This is not a normal convention. Its the complete opposite of it, the campaign co-chair, Rep. Cedric Richmond, told a media briefing  via Zoom, naturally. For two hours a night through Thursday, speakers will appear from their home states in a mixture of live speeches and pre-recorded video segments. Harris will speak Wednesday and Biden will Thursday, both of them from Delaware.

If the prospect of a presidential convention on Zoom seems very of the moment in a country thats recently become overfamiliar with video conferencing, it still seems slightly absurd to shut down a big chunk of a city around what is essentially the broadcast headquarters of a four-day-long national TV commercial.

But it highlights the strange role that modern political conventions play in U.S. politics, even before COVID-19. Its been generations since a nominee was actually selected on the convention floor; for decades, the big rally parties have been essentially long prime-time ads.

Still, the halls full of cheering party faithful have set a particular script and soundtrack for that kind of ad, and a convention where everyones appearing from their homes presents a bit of a challenge. In the absence of giant crowds punctuating speeches with wild applause, the trick will be to make two hours of presidential politicking into compelling TV.

The Democrats have made it pretty clear that their core message is beat Trump. According to campaign officials, the first nights plan was to highlight the diverse coalition within and beyond the party that shares that goal. Figures from across the political spectrum  from Bernie Sanders on the left, to Michelle Obama from the Democratic mainstream, to disaffected Republicans including former Ohio governor John Kasich  were to deliver messages trying to show a united front, and pressing the point-by-point case that Trump has been a disaster in handling the coronavirus, in handling the protest movement that has sprung up around racism in policing, on the economy, in his divisiveness, and in his recent approach to the post office and mail voting.

The prepared text of Sanderss keynote address summed up the message: The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake. We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice-president.

Trump himself went on the offensive. He aimed to highlight the absentee convention by making an in-person appearance an hour and a half down the road in the city of Oshkosh. There, several blocks were shut down by mid-afternoon as sidewalks were flooded with people waving Trump-Pence signs. Residents sat out in their yards  nearly as many bearing Biden lawn signs as Trump ones  taking in the spectacle.

Were gonna fight for the survival of our nation and civilization itself, Trump told his supporters in his characteristically heated late-afternoon speech. He attacked Biden as being pro-crime and anti-cop, said Democrats would ruin the economy, and criticized the partys decision to hold a virtual convention. Joe Biden has no enthusiasm and you cant win without enthusiasm, Trump said.

Hes right that enthusiasm will likely be vital in this campaign. But recent polls show supporters of both candidates report being very enthusiastic  even if Bidens supporters, according to a recent CBS News battleground poll, are mainly motivated by opposition to Trump.

Only two per cent of respondents to that CBS poll reported being unsure who theyd vote for. As many political experts have been saying for months, the election might turn on who can get their supporters to the polls. The job isnt persuasion, but motivation.

Which is another challenge of a virtual convention. Those crowded rooms and screaming crowds and all the partying and socializing dont just provide a TV backdrop  they get party members together to whip themselves up, get focused on the task of the election, and leave fired up to work on the campaign.

It will be interesting to see if, and how, a purely broadcast spectacle can accomplish that. Or if, for those in Bidens corner, Trump is already providing all the motivation they need.

Read more about:
"I'm planting a 'high-tech field' now!" said a farmer from east Chinas Anhui province. For farmers like him, thanks to advanced technology, they no longer have to depend solely on weather conditions for an increase of production. A drone sprays pesticides over an orchard in a village in Linfen, north Chinas Shanxi province. (Photo/Xinhua) Yu Wenhe, a farmer from Anhui province said that for his high-yield disaster resistant varieties, he no longer need to rely solely on the weather conditions; from planting to harvest, every process can be finished by machines, and the yield can be well guaranteed. "Mobile phones have become the new farm tools. You can control the land at home," Yu opened the mobile phone software and had a clear understanding about the "transplanting area", "operation track" and "fertilizer". "After farm machines are equipped with positioning function, I can grasp in time about how many seedlings and how much fertilizer are needed, as well as receive accurate data, Yu said. Agricultural science and technology, such as the integration of agricultural machinery and agronomy and intelligent agriculture, helps ensure the high production of autumn grain crops. "Farming has changed from manual work to technical work!" said Huang Qinyong, a farmer from the eco-agricultural demonstration field in Zhengbaotun town, Xiajin county, east China's Shandong province, adding that "the leaves of these corns are thick and broad. Under the guidance of experts, the temperature can be calculated accurately. When growing five days later than usual, the plants are 20 centimeters higher than the ordinary varieties." Huang also noted that with the application of a new type of organic fertilizer and high-tech agricultural equipment, corn can grow faster, with abundant and well-developed roots; this year, the yield of more than 300 mu (20 hectares) of corn is expected to increase by more than 100 jin (50 kilograms) per mu. "The breeding level has been improved; agricultural mechanization and intelligence has been improved, and the disaster prevention and reduction system is improving to help stabilize grain production capacity," Li Maosong, a researcher at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said. At present, the coverage rate of fine varieties in China has reached 96 percent; varieties' contribution rate to agricultural yield has increased over 43 percent, and the comprehensive mechanization rate of crop cultivation and harvest has exceeded 70 percent.


With a 5:0 win, Inter advanced to the final for the first time since 1998.

On August 17, Ukraine's FC Shakhtar Donetsk were destroyed by Italy's FC Inter in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals.

With a 5:0 win, Inter advanced to the final for the first time since 1998 with an emphatic display in Dusseldorf, UEFA reported.

Both teams confidently passed the previous knockout stages: the Miners knocked Benfica, Wolfsburg and Basel off the competition, while the Milanese cruised past Ludogorets, Getafe and Bayer 04, according to Shakhtar's press service.

Teams' managers delivered no surprises in the starting lineups, fielding all the strongest performers for the moment.

Inter will face Sevilla in the final in Cologne on Friday, August 21.

"It was a super performance and we made Shakhtar look average," Inter manager Antonio Conte has told Sky Sport Italia, according to Daily Mail.

Shakhtar in Europa League

On August 11, Shakhtar Donetsk thrashed Basel (Switzerland) behind closed doors at Gelsenkirchen's Arena AufSchalke and advanced to semi-finals.

While being a constant presence in Champions League group stages, Shakhtar have only reached UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League group stages twice (200506 and 200910), according to Wikipedia.

In 2009, Shakhtar won the UEFA Cup over Werder Bremen in the final held in Istanbul, becoming the first team in the independent Ukraine to win a European trophy.
Israeli defence officials fear that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his aides may have abandoned the country's long-standing opposition to the sale of American military equipment to the United Arab Emirates during the recently signed agreement with the Gulf state to move towards the normalisation of relations. The United Arab Emirates has long wanted to purchase sophisticated American weapons, including the F-35 fighter jets and UAVs, but couldn't do it due to pressure on the US from Israel and its lobby in Washington. However, media reports suggest that Netanyahu and his confidants may have secretly given up the traditional stand in order to get UAE to sign the pact.

Read: After UAE-Israel Deal, Kushner Slams Palestinian Leaders

Israel, still officially maintains the opposition to the sale of F-35s to the United Arab Emirates despite the recent US-brokered agreement. But some officials have expressed concerns that Netanyahu may have abandoned Israel's opposition to the sale of American-made military equipment to the UAE. Many officials have also expressed concerns about Netanyahu leaving out the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Israel Defense Forces from the initial talks.

Read: India And UAE Hold Wide-ranging Talks, Resolve To Boost Ties

"In the UAE there is a great deal of admiration for Israels technological innovation, but it is important to remember that Abu Dhabi seeks to acquire very sophisticated weapons from the US. It is important to ensure that such a process will include Israels MoD, MFA, and the IDF if it will result in the reduction of Israels Qualitative Military Edge or QME," Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin tweeted on August 14.

9. D. In the UAE there is a great deal of admiration for Israels technological innovation, but it is important to remember that Abu Dhabi seeks to acquire very sophisticated weapons from the U.S...  Amos Yadlin (@YadlinAmos) August 15, 2020

10. It is important to ensure that such a process will include Israels MoD, MFA, and the IDF if it will result in the reduction of Israels Qualitative Military Edge or QME.  Amos Yadlin (@YadlinAmos) August 15, 2020

Read: Netanyahu Announces Israel Preparing For Direct Flights To UAE Via Saudi Arabia

Israel PMO: Opposition of sale remains unchanged

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on August 17 informed that Israel's official stand on the opposition of sale of sophisticated weapons by the Americans remains unchanged and consistent. This came after talks of Netanyahu secretly abandoning Israel's official position. On August 13, Israel and the United Arab Emirates agreed to the full normalisation of relations between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv. With the signing of the deal, UAE became the third country after Egypt and Jordan to normalise relations with Israel.

Read: Netanyahu Says Pact With UAE Proves 'Land For Peace' Demand Wrong
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:14:50|Editor: huaxia

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Wang Chunyu (L), neurologist and team leader of the 21st batch of the China medical team in Ethiopia, treats a patient with his fellow member at Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital in Akaki neighborhood on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 17, 2020. The 16-member 21st batch of Chinese medical team in Ethiopia, which is now in the East African country for about one and a half year period, showed their commitment to serving Ethiopians by staying put in the country even after their duty ended, pursuing their service as the country faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Mikias Legesse, a medical doctor fighting the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontline in Ethiopia, spoke highly of the life-saving material and experience-sharing supports he and his fellow physicians garnered from their Chinese counterparts in the fight against the virus.

Legesse, who is presently working as COVID-19 Isolation Ward Coordinator at the Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital -- also known as the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located in Akaki neighborhood on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, has been actively fighting the COVID-19 pandemic alongside members of the 21st batch of the Chinese medical team in Ethiopia, constituting 16 medical professionals who have specialized in various fields.

"We are lucky because we are the only hospital in Ethiopia that has the Chinese medical team at the moment," Legesse told Xinhua on Monday, as he emphasized the Chinese medical team's "immense contribution" in preparing the hospital and its community against the menace of COVID-19 even before the first case of virus was reported in the East African country on March 13.

"We have been preparing as much as possible, and the China medical team has been a great help in this regard," said Legesse, adding that "they have been supplying us with protective PPE materials and other sorts of help."

Legesse, recalling the 12-member Chinese anti-pandemic experts' team that was dispatched in Ethiopia on April 16 to help the country's fight against the virus during the early days of the pandemic, also stressed that the Chinese anti-pandemic experts "have given us lectures, materials and to study from them and that was also a great help to us."

"The team members that came from Sichuan shared their experience in detail and we were amazed in their level of action because they controlled the virus very well. We take their experience and translated it into our setup," the young medical doctor added.

Noting that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could "become very challenging because we are seeing the number of positive patients from our hospitals increasing daily," Legesse also emphasized the commitment among Ethiopian and Chinese medical experts at the Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital in terms of strengthening their joint efforts in the fight against the infectious virus.

As of Monday morning, the number of COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia has risen to 29,876 as the death toll due to illnesses related to the virus surged to 528, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Health.

According to Jibril Abas, CEO of Tirunesh Beijing Hospital, the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, which has so far reported about 50 COVID-19 positive cases, is one of the least COVID-19 affected hospitals in Addis Ababa, mainly due to the successful partnership among the Chinese and local medical experts, both in terms of preparation before the outbreak as well as joint response efforts.

"The first case detected almost five months back. The first thing we did was discuss with the Chinese medical team, as we have affiliations with hospitals in China, so they provided us with orientation on the ongoing novel coronavirus at the time," Abas told Xinhua on Monday.

The hospital, which established a taskforce to oversee COVID-19 prevention activities during the early stage of the outbreak based on the recommendations and findings provided by the Chinese experts, has been also receiving "huge amount of support from the Chinese medical team and the Chinese government," the CEO said, adding that "we are very grateful for that."

The support from the Chinese medical team and the Chinese government ranges from early advice on COVID-19 prevention, screening patients and staff all the way to the provision of thermometers, personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as various other materials to screen the patients and staff, according to Abas.

"We have received three rounds of PPE from the Chinese government, and we are expecting another round soon," Abas said, adding that "without PPE we would have had huge number of COVID-19 positive cases especially among our staff."

Noting that the Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital was built "entirely with funds and construction companies which were assigned by the Chinese government," Abas also stressed that members of the 21st batch of Chinese medical team "are highly educated and highly specialized professionals, which we wouldn't have had otherwise."

"The support is ongoing. The friendship is a real thing, you see it on the ground," the CEO affirmed.

The 16-member 21st batch of Chinese medical team in Ethiopia, which is now in the East African country for about one and a half year period, showed their commitment to serving Ethiopians by staying put in the country even after their duty ended, pursuing their service as the country faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wang Chun Yu, team leader of 21st Batch of the China Medical Team in Ethiopia, who is a neurologist in profession, stressed that even though the team members didn't have experience in fighting against the virus, "all the medical team members started very hard on the techniques and medical knowledge about the virus."

After enabling themselves against the COVID-19 with help from the Chinese experience against the virus, the Chinese medical team members then trained the staff and medical staff of the Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital in fighting against the virus as well as precautionary measures when dealing with their patients.

In addition to the donation of three batches of much-needed medical supplies to the hospital, the Chinese medical team also introduced Chinese experience on fighting against the virus and trained the medical staff on preventing the virus.

"We never stop even under very serious epidemic consideration. Even though we are in the face of very dangerous situation, our medical team members never fear to go to the frontline to help the patients and to consult them," Wang told Xinhua. Enditem
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As New York Citys schools are scheduled to reopen in less than a month, the union that represents school principals and administrators is calling on the mayor to delay the reopening of school buildings -- saying that schools are not prepared for in-person instruction.

Mark Cannizzaro, president of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, wrote on behalf of 6,400 school leaders to Mayor Bill de Blasio last week that moving ahead for in-person learning on the tentative Sept. 10 start date is in disregard of the well-being of school communities. Students across New York City are expected to return to school under a blended learning model of in-person and remote instruction.

The slow rollout of guidance has forced us to once again address an unfortunate truth: schools will not be ready to open for in-person instruction on September 10th, Cannizzaro wrote in the letter. A more realistic, phased-in approach would instead welcome students for in-person learning toward the end of September, following a fully remote start to the year.

Earlier this month, Chancellor Richard Carranzas team met with principals to discuss submitting individual school plans to the state, which were due last Friday, the letter explained. School leadership teams must wait for approval on the school plans, Cannizzaro said, which could mean schools have less than 15 working days to prepare for the arrival of students.

The task before them is simply not possible to complete while simultaneously providing assurances of a safe and secure learning environment, he said in the letter.

While principals and administrators are ready to take on the responsibilities of reopening their school buildings this fall, Cannizzaro implored de Blasio to not ignore their voices and commence in-person learning only when school leaders are confident they can reopen buildings safely and successfully.

According to the New York Times, principals across the five boroughs are scrambling to get ready to reopen their school buildings -- like calculating how many students can safely be in the building at one time following social distancing protocols, creating a curriculum and schedule to accommodate blending learning, as well as keeping a line of communication open with staff and families.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

And some principals are questioning the readiness of reopening schools across the city, the Times reported.

Groups of principals from Districts 13 and 15 in Brooklyn are calling on the mayor to delay in-person instruction and phase students back into buildings during the fall semester. Principals in District 31, which encompasses all of Staten Island, have not organized a letter as of Tuesday morning.

District 15 principals wrote in a letter to de Blasio to start the new school year with fully asynchronous instruction from Sept. 10-18 to allow for school staff to be properly trained and make necessary improvements to increase health and safety in classrooms. Students would begin to phase into blended learning from Sept. 20 to Oct. 18, the letter stated.

Principals in District 13 created a petition of conditions they feel must be met to reopen school safely, including requests for information, time allocations, supports, policy clarifications and personnel. The group is also calling for a phased reopening of in-person instruction, with students returning to school in small groups starting Sept. 14, the Times reported.

We, the undersigned Principals (and other community members who are committed to a safe and smart opening of schools this fall), request the following conditions be met PRIOR to opening schools because AS OF NOW WE DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE READY TO OPEN SAFELY, the petition stated.

Principals in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn told the Times they dont think their schools will be ready to welcome kids on the first day of school. A Bronx elementary school principal, Alexa Sorden, has been working to rearrange classrooms with fewer desks, while using antibacterial wipes on furniture. She said Sept. 10 isnt close to realistic, according to the media outlet.

The school leaders are worried how their most vulnerable students will fare without some in-person instruction, and how to keep families safe, according to the New York Times.

School, for some of our neediest children, is everything, Sorden said to the Times. Its the only place where they know what to expect.

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As homeowners and businesses count the cost of flooding in West Cork, many people are pointing to the lack of clearing debris from small rivers, streams and gullies as being a contribution to the damage.

Bina Long, who leases the Beehive bar in the village of Cononagh, four miles west of Rosscarbery, had just refurbished the premises in the hope of shortly reopening as the Covid-19 lockdown eases.

The floors came up and there was mud everywhere. I lost a lot of units in the hall and all my electrical appliances such as the dishwasher, cooker, fridge. I'm just devastated, it's like a bad dream. It's the final straw what with Covid, Ms Long said.

She believes the nearby river was a factor.

There was a lot of debris, trees and silt in it. The council came out to cut the trees and take them away. That's like closing the gate after the horse has gone, she said.

Ms Long added that the owners of the bar had been excellent and were helping her to get back on her feet.

The post office/shop at Castlefreke, Rathbarry, also near Rosscarbery had reopened yesterday, thanks to the help of many locals who rallied to aid postmistress Breda Hartnett who's run them for the past 51 years.

Her daughter-in-law, Deirdre, said the premises were flooded previously in June 2012.

Mrs Hartnett, who is a widow, broke her femur and only came out of hospital on July 21. When the water started coming, in Deirdre called the fire brigade for help as she was worried she wouldn't be able to get her upstairs to safety. In the end, she managed to get Breda upstairs, even though the power had gone and there were no lights.

She praised the fire brigade for helping make the place safe and draining out the flood water, especially as they were under severe pressure with calls to attend all over the area.

After the floods, the clear up begins, the main N71 route was again closed today at Rosscarbery with diversions in place as council workmen and officials began the mammoth task of clearing tons of silt and debris from the roads and repairing the road surfaces in the area. Picture: Andrew Harris.

The river hasn't been cleaned out and that's the problem. Breda has raised this issue with the council before, Deirdre said.

Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard visited Rosscarbery in the aftermath. He toured the flood-damaged village with members of the local tidy towns group.

They told me there were many gullies and drains which hadn't been cleared there in the past two years, he said.

Fianna Fail TD Christopher O'Sullivan also toured the damaged region.

I have no doubt without flood defences in Clonakilty, the river there would have burst its banks. But the problem in other areas is the council doesn't have enough outdoor staff to cleans drains, he said.

In Dunmanway, some houses in Chapel Street were flooded for the fourth time in five years.

"The people there simply pulled out the carpets and said 'here we go again'. One woman was lighting a fire when the water came up through the fire grate, Dunmanway-based Independent councillor Declan Hurley said.

Cork County Council is undertaking emergency road repairs on the flood-damaged N71 in Rosscarbery.

Motorists are reminded to drive with caution in the general area, as many roads in West Cork have been damaged during the recent weather events, a spokeswoman for the council said.
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dispel today announced their collaboration in the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) Protecting Information and System Integrity in Industrial Control System Environments Project.

Manufacturing organizations that rely on industrial control systems (ICS) to monitor and control physical processes that produce goods for public consumption are facing an increasing number of cyberattacks.

In this new project, the NCCoE, in conjunction with the NIST Engineering Laboratory (EL) and industry collaborators, will highlight how an organization can take a comprehensive approach to securing ICS within the manufacturing sector by leveraging the following cybersecurity capabilities: behavioral anomaly detection, security incident and event monitoring, ICS application whitelisting, malware detection and mitigation, change control management, user authentication and authorization, access control least privilege, and file integrity-checking mechanisms.

The goal of the project is to demonstrate an example solution that protects the integrity of data from destructive malware, insider threats, and unauthorized software within manufacturing environments that rely on ICS. The NCCoE will map the security characteristics to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework; the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Framework; and NIST Special Publication 800-53, Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations, and will provide standards-based security controls for manufacturers. Additionally, NIST will implement each of the listed capabilities in two distinct but related existing lab settings: a discrete-based manufacturing workcell and a process control system that resembles what is being used by chemical manufacturing industries. This project will result in a freely available NIST Cybersecurity Practice Guide.

Dispel is joined by collaborators CyberX, Dragos, GreenTec USA, ForeScout Technologies, OSIsoft, Radiflow, Tenable, TDi Technologies, and VMware in supporting the NCCoE.

About the NCCoE

The NCCoE is a collaborative hub where industry organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions work together to address businesses' most pressing cybersecurity challenges. Through this collaboration, the NCCoE develops modular, easily adaptable example cybersecurity solutions demonstrating how to apply standards and best practices by using commercially available technology.

About Dispel

Utilities and manufacturers use Dispel for secure remote access to their industrial control systems. Purpose-built for industrial environments, Dispel serves over 1.2 million people and partners every day from offices in New York, Austin, Virginia, and Tokyo.

Press Contact

McKenna Cosway

[email protected]

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko addresses workers of the Minsk Wheel TBelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko addresses workers of the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant in Minsk, Belarus.  AP photoractor Plant in Minsk, Belarus.  AP photo

Minsk: Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, said on Monday he would be ready to hold new elections and hand over power after a constitutional referendum, an attempt to pacify mass protests and strikes that pose the biggest challenge yet to his rule.

He made the offer, which he insisted would not be delivered on while he was under pressure from protesters, after exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she was willing to lead the country.

In a sign of his growing vulnerability, Lukashenko faced heckling and chants of step down during a speech to workers at one of the large state-run factories that are the pride of his Soviet-style economic model and core support base.

He faces the threat of European Union sanctions after a bloody crackdown on protests following what demonstrators say was his rigged re-election victory last week. He cites official results that gave him just over 80% of the vote.

Officials in Washington and the EU want Russia not to meddle in what President Donald Trump called a terrible situation, after Moscow told Lukashenko it was ready to provide military help against an external threat.

Russia is watching closely as Belarus hosts pipelines that carry Russian energy exports to the West and is viewed by Moscow as a buffer zone against NATO. Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke twice this weekend.

A burly former Soviet collective farm manager, Lukashenko used blunt language while speaking to workers on Monday.

Weve held elections, he said. Until youve killed me there wont be any new elections.

But he offered to change the constitution, an apparent concession that seems unlikely to satisfy protesters who say its something he has spoken about before.

Well put the changes to a referendum, and Ill hand over my constitutional powers. But not under pressure or because of the street, Lukashenko said, in remarks quoted by the official Belta news agency.

Yes, Im not a saint. You know my harsh side. Im not eternal. But if you drag down the first president youll drag down neighbouring countries and all the rest.

He also said people could hold parliamentary and presidential elections after the referendum if that was what they wanted.
A leading Armenian political analyst believes that the establishment of democracy in Belarus will be of high significance to Armenia, a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization that also include Belarus.

In an interview with RFE/RLs Armenian Service (Azatutyun) on August 17 Richard Giragosian, the founding director of the Yerevan-based Regional Studies Center, said that in that case Armenia where a democratic change of government took place in 2018 will no longer feel alone in the post-Soviet groupings.

Giragosian thinks that the resignation of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is only a matter of time. Its a question of days and even hours of what time he has left. But I dont think the question is if, but [I think its] when he will leave power, the political analyst said.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have been filling the streets of capital Minsk and other Belarusian cities protesting against the official results of the August 9 presidential election that they believe have been rigged in favor of Lukashenka who has ruled Belarus since 1994.

Many observers in Yerevan have been drawing parallels between the unfolding events in Belarus and Armenias peaceful protests in 2018 that led to the resignation of Serzh Sarkisian, who attempted to extend his rule after completing two five-year presidential terms.

In a general sense like Armenias 2018 Velvet Revolution the movement in Belarus is everything except geopolitical. This is not about the European Union, its not about Russia or the West. Its about a change of government in Belarus like in Armenia, Giragosian said. One key difference in what makes Belarus very different from Armenia is that in 2018 former President Serzh Sarkisian in many ways realized that his time had run out. And to his credit, he did not go out fighting. Lukashenka wants to go out with a battle.

The political analyst also drew some parallels between the crackdown on opposition supporters in Belarus and the crackdown on Armenias post-election protests in 2018 in which 10 people were killed. [The] March 1, 2008 [crackdown] was replicated, repeated in Belarus with the overreaction by the security forces using torture, imprisonment of not only demonstrators, but even innocent by-standers, he said.

Giragosian highlighted several important aspects of democratic change in Belarus for Armenia. One is that Armenia is no longer vulnerable by being alone. We are no longer the only victory of non-violence and people power and a democracy [in post-Soviet groupings]. Belarus will hopefully join us. And second, what this also means is that the real loser here is not just Lukashenka, its [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev in Baku. Azerbaijan, after events in Belarus, is now much more isolated and vulnerable, he said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, the leader of Armenias 2018 Velvet Revolution, sent congratulations to Lukashenka on his disputed reelection hours after Belaruss Central Election Commission announced the preliminary results of the vote on August 10.

Only a handful of world leaders have congratulated Lukashenka on his disputed election win. Among them are Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinas leader Xi Jinping. The European Union has said it does not recognize the results, and the United States has expressed deep concern over the election results and the unrest, with President Donald Trump describing the situation unfolding in Belarus as terrible.

Pashinians move immediately drew criticism from his political opponents and some leading human rights activists who believe that the Armenian leader took a hasty step. Pashinian himself refused to comment on the criticism, but other officials and pro-government lawmakers have defended his step.

In an interview with RFE/RLs Armenian Service on August 16 Secretary of Armenias Security Council Armen Grigorian said that decisions like the one to congratulate Lukashenka are taken on the basis of a comprehensive risk assessment.

Security-related and other major decisions have grounds, they are not born out of thin air, Grigorian said. In general, a complete risk assessment is made, and a decision is taken in the interests of the Republic of Armenia.

Giragosian also questions the timing of the congratulatory message that Pashinian sent to Lukashenka.

My problem and criticism is not necessarily with the message itself, but the timing of the message. It was sent much too quickly and it would have been much smarter for the Armenian government to delay, to wait. Also, to send a message later would be lost in the overwhelming responses of other bigger countries. But we are someone exposed for the hypocrisy of it. In other words, doesnt that message to Lukashenka and that election in particular stand in contradiction to everything that the Armenian government is supposed to stand for? This is my problem. And it wasnt smart diplomatically. What was the rush? It should have and could have been delayed to a more cautious approach, the political analyst concluded.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Former First Lady Michelle Obama joined Kamala Harris in what is expected to be a series of tirades against President Donald Trump in the presidential campaign in support of presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden.



Speaking in the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention Monday, Michelle said, 'Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country.'



'He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head'.



Making a scathing attack of the President in her recorded keynote address, she called on the voters to 'Vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it.'



It comes five days after Kamala Harris made an aggressive speech against Trump's White House record in her maiden campaign appearance with Biden as his running mate.



She accused the White House of operating in 'chaos' and 'with a total and utter lack of empathy.'



'Because whenever we look to this White House for some leadership, or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division and a total and utter lack of empathy.'



She questioned the legitimacy of Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential election despite trailing Hillary Clinton by three million votes.



The U.S. economy under Trump was 'in shambles',and the businessman-turned politician's divisive approach on race relations only helped strengthen 'torch-bearing white supremacists,' according to Michelle.



'Our economy is in shambles because of a virus that this president downplayed for too long.'



'He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is,' she said, echoing the words Trump used about the coronavirus death toll in a recent interview.



Bernie Sanders, John Kasich and Gretchen Whitmer were among the other speakers on the convention's opening night, but it was Michelle who spoke with an emotional punch.



Because of the coronavirus outbreak, the four-day presidential nominating convention was downsized, with most of it being held remotely from many venues across the country.



The largely virtual convention featuring pre-recorded speeches with no live audience is officially centered at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, where its production is headquartered.



Biden and his vice presidential running mate Kamala Harris are expected to be nominated during the convention.



The Trump campaign described the opening of the 2020 Democratic National Convention as a 'Hollywood-produced infomercial.'



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo blasted the recent surge in gun violence in New York City and the state as an 'urgent crisis' that he blamed squarely on police departments because they have done 'very little' to come up with reform plans.

He also threatened to pull funding from up to 500 departments across the state if they do not have plans in place by April 2021.

Cuomo raised the growing lawlessness during his Monday press conference where he revealed in New York City murders are up 29 per cent, while shootings are up 79 per cent year to date.

He then broke down the percentage increases of shootings within each borough as compared to previous year data, noting that shootings are up 60 per cent in The Bronx, 102 per cent in Brooklyn, 54 per cent in Manhattan, 75 per cent in Queens and 108 per cent in Staten Island.

New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo blasted gun violence in NYC and upstate New York Monday, while noting that police and local communities needed to work together

There has been a dramatic uptick in shooting violence in NYC over the last few months. A shooting scene is shown taped off by police in Brooklyn on August 16

Cuomo said that shootings in NYC are up 79 per cent year to date. A victim is shown after an incident in Brooklyn on July 7

The NYPD, on Monday, released its own shooting violence figures - which were higher than Cuomo's numbers - stating that year to date, shootings are up 82.1 per cent and murders are up 30.2 per cent.

'You cannot dismiss these numbers,' Cuomo said Monday during a press conference. 'You cannot look at this reality and say it doesnt exist, because the reality is so clear.'

Cuomo said that in NYC, data showed that more than 90 per cent of the victims 'are black and brown.'

'You want to talk about social justice? You want to talk about civil rights? You want to talk about social equity? How do you explain that?' Cuomo said, of the substantial uptick in shootings with minority victims.

'Its not just New York City. Its all across the nation,' Cuomo added.

Cuomo said he sent a letter to 500 police jurisdictions across the state to address the 'crisis'

Cuomo said that police and local communities needed to work out their issues because 'divorce isn't an option.' NYPD officers are shown at a shooting scene on July 16 in Brooklyn

Cuomo said in his press conference that shootings in NYC were up 79 per cent year to date. He also broke down the number of shootings by borough

Shootings have risen in states and major cities all across America in recent months, with New York City and Chicago often reporting notably higher levels of gun violence incidents.

The increase in shootings have coincided with the easing up of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, large-scale protests against police brutality, continued mass unemployment and the natural, annual increase in violence during summer months.

Cuomo noted that NYC wasn't alone in having an increase in shootings, however - upstate New York has also seen a 70 per cent increase in the year to date.

In Albany, shooting violence was up 240 per cent, in Buffalo it was up 66 per cent, in Rochester it was 54 per cent and in Syracuse it was up 130 per cent, Cuomo said.

As part of the effort to get the number of shootings down, Cuomo said that he was sending a letter to 500 police department jurisdictions, 'explaining that it is imperative that we address this urgent crisis' involving the tension between police and local communities.

Like coronavirus which was hard to deal with, he said, this 'also a matter of life and death.'

Cuomo said that although he had made an executive order on June 12, insisting that the individual police jurisdictions adopt a reform plan by April 1, 2021, 'very little had been done' so far - hence the letter.

'We have an issue and we have to address the issue,' Cuomo said, also noting that 'denial is not a successful life strategy, not in government, not in your personal life.'

He said that New York State 'does not run from a crisis, it's not what we do. It's not who we are. We're not going to deny that this is a crisis.

'What do we do in a crisis? Leaders lead and leaders act. This is a time for leadership and action. Acknowledge the tensions. They're real,' he said, noting that there are real issues on both sides of the table, between police and community members.

The NYPD released their own statistics on shootings in NYC, which were higher than Cuomo's

Shootings in New York City have nearly doubled in the past year, and there has been a nearly 30% increase in murders, according to the NYPD

In the past week, there have been 18 murders - up from 10 in the same time period last year, while car thefts have doubled and there have been 37 more shootings, the NYPD said

Cuomo said that it was necessary to get both sides to the table to create police departments that can actually carry out a public safety function 'because divorce is not an option.'

'The relationship is based on trust and respect and the relationship is ruptured,' Cuomo said of police and community members.

'But divorce is not an option here. Divorce is not an option. You can't say, 'We don't need any police. End the police department.' Oh really? And then what happens at 2 o'clock in the morning when someone is coming through the window and you hear the glass break?' Cuomo asked.

'So divorce is not an option. You have to resolve the tensions and reconcile.'

Cuomo said that his letter to each of the police jurisdictions decreed that if they didn't come up with a 're-imagined police department' by the April deadline, the state would not be providing future funding to them.

'I'm trying to force attention and focus and action on this issue,' Cuomo said. 'People are getting shot everyday, it's getting worse, not better. We have to act.'
Facebook Inc.s practice of putting fact-checking warning labels on anti-vaccination posts triggered a lawsuit accusing the social media company of censorship.

Also read: House IT panel divided on summoning Facebook

Childrens Health Defense, a nonprofit advocacy group led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., filed the complaint Monday in federal court in northern California.

The warning labels appear to flag disinformation, but in reality censor valid and truthful speech, according to the complaint.

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On August 12, over a hundred US lawmakers wrote a key letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, urging him to use his authority to remove federal tax deductions for abortion. Senator Mike Braun (R., Ind.) and Representative Warren Davidson (R., Ohio) led the effort, organizing the efforts of 23 Senators and 80 Representatives.

The lawmakers argue that "abortion is not health care" and thus should not be subsidized by International Revenue Service (IRS) tax revenue. The signatories additionally implore the IRS not to "treat premiums for health insurance that covers such abortions as medical care, unless in compliance with the law's separate accounting requirements for coverage of non-medical care".

After the 1973 Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade, the IRS reinterpreted the statutory definition of "medical care" to include abortions. This reinterpretation of the definition "creates tax breaks for abortions through the medical expenses deduction as well as through health flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, and other tax-preferred health accounts and tax breaks that incorporate [the regulation's] definition of 'medical care.'"

The lawmakers' proposal would end medical tax breaks for abortion, unless the mother's life is in danger, and require health insurers to classify abortion separately from medical procedures. Both regulatory revisions have long been the goal of pro-life lawmakers and activists around the country.

Christian Post reported, "Every human life from the moment of conception is invaluable," Braun said. "Taking the life of an unborn child through abortion is certainly not health care and should not be treated as such."
LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands - A U.N.-backed tribunal on Tuesday convicted one member of the Hezbollah militant group and acquitted three others of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri 15 years ago.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Salim Ayyash was guilty as a co-conspirator of five charges linked to his involvement in the suicide truck bombing. Hariri and 21 others were killed and 226 were wounded in a huge blast outside a seaside hotel in Beirut on Feb. 14, 2005.

However, after a years-long investigation and trial, three other Hezbollah members were acquitted of all charges that they also were involved in the killing of Hariri, which sent shock waves through the Middle East.

None of the suspects were ever arrested and were not in court to hear the verdicts.

The tribunals judges also said there was no evidence the leadership of the Hezbollah militant group and Syria were involved in the attack, despite saying the assassination happened as Hariri and his political allies were discussing calling for an immediate and total withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon, Presiding Judge David Re said.

The verdict was met with disappointment in Beirut.

I am very angry, said Sami Kara, a Hariri supporter, complaining that after 15 years and hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the tribunal, it turned out that one person carried out such a huge crime.

That money, he said, should have been spent on building power stations in Lebanon, where electricity cuts are common.

When launched in the wake of the attack, the Hariri tribunal raised hopes that for the first time in multiple instances of political violence in Lebanon, the truth would emerge and the perpetrators would be held to account.

But for many in Lebanon, the tribunal failed on both counts. Many of the suspects, including the man convicted Tuesday, are either dead or out of the reach of justice. And the prosecution was unable to present a cohesive picture of the bombing plot or who ordered it.

The verdicts came at a particularly sensitive time for Lebanon, following the devastating explosion at the Port of Beirut two weeks ago, and as many in Lebanon are calling for an international investigation into that explosion.

But it was doubtful the verdict, coming 15 years after the assassination and with no defendants in court, would bring closure to those who had been waiting for justice.

Hariris son Saad, himself a former Lebanese premier, told journalists outside the court building that the family accepts the verdicts, though he acknowledged that everybodys expectation was much higher than what came out.

The time when political crimes in Lebanon used to go unpunished are gone, he said, adding that the family awaits the implementation of justice.

A hearing will be held at a later date to determine Ayyashs sentence. As the U.N.-backed court has no death sentence, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.

Hariri supporters in the Beirut district of Tareeq al-Jadideh expressed anger and disappointment at the verdicts.

If a police station in Tareeq al-Jadideh had investigated this crime, it would be a better result, one man, driving away on a scooter, told a local television station.

Sketching the complex political backdrop for the assassination, Re said that in the months before his death, Hariri was a supporter of reducing the influence of Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

He said judges who studied reams of evidence in the trial of the four Hezbollah members accused of involvement in the bombing were of the view that Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr. Hariri, and some of his political allies.

But he added that there was no evidence the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariris murder, and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement in it.

The court had not been expected to rule on either Hezbollah as an organization or Syria  but on the four named Hezbollah suspects  as the tribunal can only accuse individuals, not groups or states. But the fact the tribunal appeared to explicitly and categorically rule out evidence tying Hezbollahs leadership to the crime was good news for the Iran-backed group, which dominates Lebanese politics and has come under increased scrutiny and pressure at home.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement welcoming the guilty verdict against Ayyash, but he also put blame on Hezbollah. He said that Hezballah operatives do not freelance and that the conviction shows the groups members are not defenders of Lebanon as they claim to be but constitute a terrorist organization dedicated to advancing Irans malign sectarian agenda.

The verdicts were delayed by nearly two weeks as a mark of respect for victims of another devastating explosion  the detonation of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at Beiruts port. The Aug. 4 blast killed around 180 people, injured more than 6,000, left a quarter of a million with homes unfit to live in and plunged a nation already reeling from economic and social malaise even deeper into crisis.

The guilty verdict could compound tensions in the tiny country. Hariri was Lebanons most prominent Sunni politician at the time of his assassination, while Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim group backed and funded by Tehran.

The trial centred on the alleged roles of four Hezbollah members in the suicide truck bombing that killed Hariri and 21 others and wounded 226 people. Prosecutors based their case largely on data from mobile phones allegedly used by the plotters to plan and execute the bombing.

Re said that the telecom evidence in the case was almost entirely circumstantial. However, another judge, Janet Nosworthy, later said that judges had ruled that four different networks of mobile phones were interconnected and co-ordinated with each other, and operated as covert networks at the relevant times.

It was the lack of clear evidence from phone records tying them to the bombing plot and efforts to set up a false claim of responsibility that led to the acquittals of three suspects  Assad Sabra, Hassan Oneissi, who changed his name to Hassan Issa, and Hassan Habib Merhi. The judges ordered the arrest warrants for the three men to be withdrawn.

During the trial, which started in 2014 and spanned 415 days of hearings, the tribunal in Leidschendam, Netherlands, near The Hague, heard evidence from 297 witnesses. The court and the investigation is believed to have cost nearly $1 billion.

Initially, five suspects were tried, all of them Hezbollah members. Charges against one of the groups top military commanders, Mustafa Badreddine, were dropped after he was killed in Syria in 2016. The court said Tuesday it could not prove that Badreddine was the mastermind behind the assassination.

Ayyash, 56, has been at large and is not likely to serve time as Hezbollah had vowed not to hand over any suspects. Prosecutors and defence lawyers can appeal the verdicts.

The assassination was seen by many in Lebanon as the work of Syria, a charge Damascus denies and which the judges now say was not borne out by evidence in the trial.

Nada Abdelsater Abu Samra, a lawyer for the victims of the bombing, said the ruling marked the first time a court has told the Lebanese government it must implement the U.N. Human Rights convention and offer compensation.

She said the ruling also confirmed the failure of Lebanese authorities to protect and save evidence in the early stages of the investigation  which supports calls for an international fact-finding mission into the Aug. 4 port blast to safeguard the truth.

Responding to critics saying it was a waste of time and money, she told AP: Justice is not a waste of money or time.

___

Associated Press writer Mike Corder reported this story in Leidschendam and AP writer Zeina Karam reported from Beirut. AP writers Bassem Mroue, Sarah El Deeb and Bilal Hussein in Beirut contributed to this report.
Update: Police identify 3 killed in wrong-way crash on NYS Thruway

Farmington, N.Y.  Three people died and two others were seriously injured in a two-vehicle, head-on crash earlier this morning on the New York State Thruway in Ontario County.

An 81-year-old Ohio man was confused and was driving west in the eastbound lanes of the Thruway when he struck an eastbound vehicle head-on, said State Police Trooper Mark ODonnell.

The crash happened around 1:30 a.m. between exits 44 (Canandaigua/Victor) and 43 (Manchester/Palmyra).

The 81-year-old man, as well as two occupants of the other vehicle, died at the scene. The two other occupants of the eastbound vehicle suffered serious injuries and were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester for treatment.

The four men in the eastbound vehicle were from Queens and were returning to New York City after a visit to Niagara Falls, ODonnell said.

The 81-year-old man had previously been reported missing as a vulnerable adult in Ohio, ODonnell said. Police believe the man had left the Clifton Springs service area and drove the wrong way for around eight minutes before the crash.

Police have not released the identities of those involved in the crash.

The Thruway was closed to all eastbound traffic between exits 44 and 43, but has since reopened.

Did you witness the crash or see the wrong-way driver? The Post-Standard would like to hear from you. Share what you saw with reporter Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com.

Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @JacobPucci.
A cop heard 'faint calls for help' from a 32-year-old homeless man who got trapped in a water slide support pipe at an Arizona pool from a quarter of a mile away - but the man tragically died before he could be rescued.

The officer attempted to find the source of the cries after he first heard them at 12.30pm on Monday, but couldn't locate the victim for an hour and a half until he entered the Eldorado Aquatic and Fitness Cente.

Police say the homeless man had become trapped inside the large cylindrical steel support for a water slide, which acted like a megaphone, carrying the man's voice a quarter mile away.

During a Monday press conference Officer Kevin Watts said the man was a transient who climbed up on top of the structure and got trapped inside the pipe.

A 32-year-old homeless man died after he got trapped in a water slide support pipe at Eldorado Aquatic and Fitness Center in Scottsdale, Arizona early Monday. Crews pictured early Monday dismantling the water slide's hollow support pipe where the man got stuck

He was finally extracted around 7am. His cause of death will be determined by the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner. A view of the dismantled pipe where he got stuck above

'For whatever reason, [he] climbed up on the large slide that is here for this pool and climbed down inside of a support tube of the super structure for that large slide...It wasnt an easy feat. It took some work to get down in there,' Scottsdale Police Officer Kevin Watts said Monday

The man jumped the fence to the aquatic center and gained entry to the swimming pool.

He went for a swim then made his way to the top of the large water slide at the park, which is supported by a large hollow steel tube. He climbed into it and got stuck, according to AZCentral.

'For whatever reason, [he] climbed up on the large slide that is here for this pool and climbed down inside of a support tube of the super structure for that large slide,' Watts said.

'It wasnt an easy feat. It took some work to get down in there,' he added.

Fire officials initially said they were 'working to free an individual trapped in a large pipe.' Crews later said that it turned into a body recovery operation

Fire officials were seen draining the back pool area early Monday and said the man was about four feet down

After locating the man, officers spoke with him through the pipe.

He later became unresponsive and died, shifting the rescue mission into a recovery operation.

Fire officials were seen draining the back pool area early Monday and said the man was about four feet down. His body was finally extracted around 7am.

His cause of death will be determined by the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.

Officials have not released the victim's name.
There is nothing worse for a victim than the crime committed to her be erased like nothing. This is what Rose McGowan must be feeling now as she called for "acknowledgment and apology" from director Alexander Payne.

She alleged that the director abused her at the tender age of 15.

According to McGowan, the director played a "soft-core porn movie" when she was still a minor and then left her on a street corner after the said incident. She also described the director as being "well-endowed."

Alexander Payne. You sat me down & played a soft-core porn movie you directed for Showtime under a different name. I still remember your apartment in Silverlake. You are very well-endowed. You left me on a street corner afterwards. I was 15. pic.twitter.com/mVqiN4S9NW August 17, 2020

The former "Charmed" actress then shared a headshot of herself as a teenager, not to boast how pretty she was in a throwback picture but to show the world the 15-year-old girl demeaned by an adult she trusted.

I just want an acknowledgement and an apology. I do not want to destroy. This was me at 15. pic.twitter.com/XeNpsrpY4s August 17, 2020

In the said post, the 46-year old actress said that she does not want to hurt or destroy the director, but she wants her due. Given their age gap at present, it means Payne was 28 during the alleged incident -- certainly younger than he is now, but still a mature man compared to a minor like Rose at the time.

The "Down Sizing" director's camp is yet to comment, so it remains to be seen if the "Charmed" actress will get her acknowledgment and apology.

It is also worth noting that some reports called McGowan and Payne friends, which the actress vehemently denied. She said they are not friends at all and emphasized that she os so happy to be out of the cult that is Hollywood.

Media is saying we were friends. No, we were Hollywood acquaintances. I'm so happy to be free of the Cult of Hollywood. It's bigger than Hollywood though, it's the system. Read this: pic.twitter.com/bejlds3c5D August 17, 2020

#MeToo

Rose McGowan is a known #MeToo supporter. In fact, she is more than that, as she is considered one of the catalysts of the movement that has taken hold of the United States and beyond since 2017.

The #MeToo movement emerged after several allegations of rape and sexual assault were made against media mogul Harvey Weinstein. Up to now, Weinstein refuses to admit to any of these accusations.

Rose was at the forefront of this emergence. She was one of the first to speak out against the man she said raped her at the Sundance film festival in 1997.

For what it's worth, McGowan said that she is not just one of the first to take an action. According to her, she is the first one to do so -- even though the credit goes to the newspaper outlets that reported it.

"No. I was the first. I called the New York Times. I blew it wide open, not them. They won the Pulitzer, and I'm the one hard-up for money. It's disgusting. I was kind of grossed out by how much they enjoyed being lauded," McGowan said.

Last year, her memoir titled "Brave" got published and immediately became a bestseller. Inside the book, she did not mention Weinstein's name, but she called him "the Monster."

When Rose was interviewed recently by the Irish Times, she still refused to say his name or discuss him even. Maybe it is her way of disempowering the man who traumatized her.

Now, it appears that she is on a crusade to speak out against all possible injustice in the world. However, protecting women (including transgender women) is one of the causes she is truly committed to, as can be seen in her tweets and interviews.

READ MORE: Kelly Clarkson Defends Self Against Trolls: 'Aim Higher Please!
Turkey sent the Yavuz drilling vessel to an area off the southwestern coast of Cyprus on Tuesday.

Turkey dispatched a drilling ship to an area off the southwestern coast of Cyprus on Tuesday, in a move that could fuel territorial disputes with EU member states in the eastern Mediterranean.

Ankara resumed its search of the contested waters last week after German-mediated negotiations with Greece collapsed when Athens announced a maritime delimitation agreement with Egypt on Aug. 6 in retaliation to a similar deal between Turkey and Libya.

The eastern Mediterranean has become an energy hot spot with big finds for EU member Cyprus, as well as Israel and Egypt in recent years. Turkey is now pushing to secure a share of the resources, defying warnings from the bloc that its unilateral actions could further strain ties.

France has temporarily beefed up its military presence in the region to ward against Turkeys steps. Turkey on Monday accused France, Armenia and the United Arab Emirates of forming an alliance against Turkey. The UAE and Egypt are allies, while Armenia is a landlocked country and a historical rival of Turkey.

This unravels the dimensions of an insidious alliance that is being attempted to be forged against Turkey, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. No matter what, Turkey will resolutely continue to protect both her and Turkish Cypriots rights in the Eastern Mediterranean stemming from international law. No alliance of malice will manage to prevent this.

After dispatching the Oruc Reis survey ship to the south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo last week, Turkey added the 230-meter (755-foot) long Yavuz drilling vessel on Tuesday. Its accompanied by three offshore supply ships under the protection of the Turkish navy. All vessels are strongly advised not to enter this area, a Turkish navy website said Saturday as it designated exploration areas off-limits through Sept. 15.

Turkey  which sent troops and captured the northern third of Cyprus in the wake of a 1974 coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece  doesnt recognize Cyprus as a sovereign country and opposes Cypriot drilling without an agreement on sharing any proceeds with the Turkish Cypriots.

The internationally recognized government of the Republic of Cyprus has licensed several offshore exploration blocks, some of them located in disputed waters. Cyprus has an agreement with Exxon Mobil, Total SA and Eni SpA for oil and natural gas exploration rights near an area where Turkey wants to drill.

Ankara also doesnt recognize Greeces claim that its territorial waters start immediately south of the island of Kastellorizo, the most distant Greek outpost in the contested area. It argues that a countrys continental shelf should be measured from its mainland. Greece says that islands must also be taken into account in delineating a countrys continental shelf, in line with the UN Law of the Sea.

The escalation of the Turkish provocation is directed against Europe and the response must be escalated accordingly, Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias said after meeting with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Christodoulides in Nicosia.

Recent developments is the region will affect EU-Turkish relationship, Christodoulides said. Both ministers made clear that their countries stand ready to enter into a discussion with their neighboring countries as long as this dialogue will take place under the international law.

(Updates with Greek and Cypriot foreign ministers from ninth paragraph.)

With assistance from Georgios Georgiou.
Fifty years ago today, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a lawsuit against Michigan officials, arguing that unfair housing practices fueled racial segregation of public schools in Metro Detroit. Unfortunately, too little has changed since then.

Driving into my hometown, I am greeted by a sign that reads, Orion Township: Where Living is a Vacation. A vacation for whom? Certainly not for Black families.

Since leaving Michigan in 2008, I earned a PhD studying how discrimination, poverty, and public policy shape the well-being of families and communities. A high school freshman at Lake Orion High School in 2004, I was one of 1,946 White kids, who made up 93% of the student body. There were 33 Black kids in our entire high school, making up just 1.6% of the student body. Fifteen years later, 80 Black kids make up only 3.3% of the student body.

How is it that just 35 miles north of Detroit, Americas Blackest city, and 40 miles southeast of Flint, there are so few Black people?

We, the White people of Oakland County, systematically kept Black families out. We must do better going forward.

Within Detroit, our parents and grandparents allowed city planners to demolish thriving Black neighborhoods to build highways that would enable our White Flight to the suburbs, like Oakland County. We did not revolt at the injustice of the Federal Housing Authority subsidizing White-only subdivisions while refusing to insure mortgages in and near Black neighborhoods. Indeed, the Federal Housing Authority refused to guarantee loans for a planned White neighborhood adjacent to a Black neighborhood near Eight Mile until a segregation wall was built between the two neighborhoods.

While White families accumulated wealth through (subsidized) home ownership, our elected officials systematically undermined Black families efforts to do the same. Even today, our neighbors in Detroit have been faced with unconstitutionally high property taxes and the resulting mass foreclosures.

Within Oakland County, we learned racism from our families: from the streets were told not to cross, our parents decisions to commute, and the local news in our living rooms stoking fear about Black people in Detroit and Pontiac. Our schools taught us that racism was something that happened in the South, conveniently forgetting our own history of slavery, the Detroit Riots, and our own violent opposition to school desegregation.

Our parents and grandparents werent the only ones to keep Black families out. We reelected L. Brooks Patterson six times to serve as the executive of Oakland County, where he served for 27 years until his death last year. Before that, we elected him to serve for 16 years as Oakland County Prosecutor. We brushed aside the fact that he built his career fighting against the court-ordered plan to desegregate Detroit Public Schools (the busses for which were blown up by the Ku Klux Klan the night before desegregation was to start) and reelected him as he worked furiously to keep Black families out of Oakland County. We stood by him as he proposed turn[ing] Detroit into an Indian reservation, fought refugee resettlement in Oakland County, and undermined efforts to (re)invest in Detroit. Last year, we put his name on the countys Executive Office Building.

We stood by as our county leadership introduced barriers to keep Black families out of Oakland County. Notably, in April 2018, under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sent a letter of noncompliance summarizing their investigation, finding that Oakland Countys housing assistance programs have a discriminatory effect on non-white households. The January 2020 report analyzing impediments to fair housing noted that not only are Black applicants more than twice as likely as Whites to be denied a mortgage in Oakland County, but also many towns use a restrictive definition of family and discourage affordable housing development, which disproportionately prevented Black families from becoming our neighbors.

Fellow White people, we need to take responsibility for the fight for racial equity in Oakland County. Governor Whitmers recent executive directive creating the statewide Black Leadership Advisory Council and Oakland Countys appointment of a first-ever Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer are steps in the right direction.

But it wont be enough unless we hold our leaders accountable, including our local school boards; village, city, and township leadership; County Board of Commissioners, statewide representatives, and so on. We must raise questions about why our school anti-racism resolutions neglect to mention Black people, why our towns are so resistant to public transit, and why  during a pandemic  we incarcerated a Black child for neglecting to complete her online homework. We must support local organizations who are already fighting this fight.

Fellow White people, we cant undo what has been done in our name in the past, but we can take responsibility for a more just and less violent Oakland County from this moment forward.

Natalie D. Hengstebeck, PhD is a native of Lake Orion.
TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Canopy Rivers Inc. ("Canopy Rivers" or the "Company") (TSX: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) will hold its annual general and special meeting (the "Meeting") of shareholders of the Company ("Shareholders") on September 24, 2020 at 10 a.m. (EDT). Electronic copies of all materials related to the Meeting can be found on the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval or on its website at www.canopyrivers.com/investors.

The Meeting will be held at the offices of the Company. However, due to health concerns relating to the novel coronavirus pandemic and to comply with government and public health directives, the Company is urging all Shareholders to vote by proxy in advance of the Meeting and is discouraging physical attendance in person at the Meeting. The Meeting will not be open to the general public and will be limited to registered Shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders only. Shareholders who wish to access and ask questions at the Meeting can do so by phone or audio-only webcast using the details provided below. An audio replay of the Meeting will also be available until October 24, 2020.

Webcast

https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1348223&tp_key=493036b225

Phone

North American toll-free dial-in: 888-390-0546

Confirmation #: 82714675

Replay Information

North American toll-free dial-in: 1-888-390-0541

Replay entry code: 714675 #

About Canopy Rivers Inc.

Canopy Rivers is a venture capital firm specializing in cannabis with a portfolio of 18 companies across various segments of the cannabis value chain. We believe that bringing together people, capital, and ideas raises the potential of the entire cannabis industry. By leveraging our industry insights, in-house expertise, and thesis-driven approach to investing, we aim to provide Shareholders with exposure to specialized and disruptive cannabis companies. Our mission is to invest in innovators across the cannabis value chain, help them grow, and ultimately create value by guiding these companies towards a monetization event. Together with our portfolio, we are helping build the cannabis industry of tomorrow, today.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance.

Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding the date, time and location of, and the matters to be voted upon at, the Meeting and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of the Company. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: regulatory and licensing risks; competition risks; changes in cannabis industry growth and trends; changes in the business activities, focus and plans of the Company and its investees and the timing associated therewith; stock market volatility; the Company's actual financial results and ability to manage its cash resources; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including challenging global financial conditions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; potential conflicts of interest; the regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; changes in the Company's relationship with Canopy Growth Corporation and its investees; risks associated with the termination, renegotiation and enforcement of material contracts; credit, liquidity and additional financing risks; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation, including the Company's interpretation of such regulation; changes in the global sentiment towards, and public opinion of, the cannabis industry; divestiture risks; and the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form dated June 2, 2020, filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

SOURCE Canopy Rivers Inc.
Joseph Desean Taylor, 26, was taken into custody without incident just before 9am yesterday as he walked out from 2304 Natalie Cove with his mother, his final hostage, to surrender to law enforcement.

Police have identified the man they say shot and wounded three officers before holding three family members hostage in a Cedar Park home during a near 18-hour stand-off that ended peacefully Monday.

Joseph Desean Taylor, 26, was taken into custody without incident just before 9am yesterday as he walked out from 2304 Natalie Cove with his mother, his final hostage, to surrender to law enforcement.

Just over an hour earlier he had also released his teen brother, and his sister following negotiations with investigators that began shortly after 3:10pm Sunday, when Taylor first barricaded himself and his family members inside of 2304 Natalie Cove.

Taylor, who reportedly suffers from manic depressive disorder, broadcast for more than an hour on Facebook Live during the impasse, filming himself negotiating with police and speaking with a family member who pleaded desperately for his surrender.

At one point he appears to smoke a joint while on the phone to negotiators, and says that his hostages are 'not doing good'.

He adds: 'They ain't harmed or nothing but they would like to leave'.

But when the officer suggests he leave the house so he can speak to his sister, he replies: 'I need more time. I'm having a conversation here I might never get the chance to have again, so give me some more time'

Scroll down for video

After barricading himself and the family inside the home, Taylor went on Facebook Live for around an hour. During the stream, one of Taylors sisters is heard pleading with him on the phone to go outside and get in an ambulance because he was bleeding.

He has since been charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and three counts of aggravated kidnapping, police say.

The 26-year-old was previously arrested at the same address last year, after he reportedly strangled his 15-year-old brother after the teen refused to give him money.

The latest incident began when Taylors mother called police Sunday morning to report that her son had kicked in her front door and was acting aggressively.

Officers responded to the home and were immediately met with gunfire once inside, and they returned fire.

It remains unclear if they struck Taylor, but during the Facebook Live video, the negotiator suggests he comes out of the house so they can 'get your arm checked out'.

Interim Cedar Park Police Chief Mike Harmon says more than 50 rounds were fired during the incident, though it isnt clear how many of the rounds were fired by Taylor or the officers.

The three responding officers were all shot and wounded, though none suffered life-threatening injuries.

Officers responded to the home and were immediately met with gunfire once inside. The officers returned fire though it remains unclear if they struck Taylor (Pictured: Several bullet holes are seen on the patrol vehicle that first responded to the scene)

The injured officers were identified as Jacqueline Quiles (left), who has been with the department four years; Cris Hester, a 10-year veteran of the force; and Nik Anderson (right), who has served with CPPD for eight years.

Police officers work in front of a house in Cedar Park, Texas, where a standoff began Sunday

They were identified late Monday as Jacqueline Quiles, who has been with the department four years; Cris Hester, a 10-year veteran of the force; and Nik Anderson, who has served with CPPD for eight years.

One of the officers was shot on the side of their bulletproof vest, one was shot on the top of the head and received stitches; and the third one was shot in the left upper bicep area.

Each of the officers received treatment at a hospital. Two have been released, with Anderson is said to be in a stable condition after undergoing surgery.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, SWAT, Round Rock police, Leander police and the Williamson County sheriffs office then responded to the incident.

After barricading himself and the family inside the home, Taylor went on Facebook Live for around an hour. During the stream, one of Taylors sisters is heard pleading with him on the phone to go outside and get in an ambulance because he was bleeding.

She told him she didnt want him to bleed out from an arm injury hed sustained. Taylor responded that seeking medical treatment seemed like a good idea, but its not going to work like that.

A woman standing near the suspect then interrupts the call, saying they need to answer a call from the police department.

Taylor, who appears to be smoking marijuana, is also heard on the video speaking to a police negotiator, who asks him how everything is going.

'They're not don't good,' Taylor said of his hostages. 'They ain't harmed or anything but they would like to leave.'

The investigator responds that he wanted to let Taylor know that he had checked on the condition of the officers he'd shot and their injuries are non-life threatening.

'Yeah, that's good to hear,' Taylor responds.

The continue you and calm and friendly exchange. When the negotiator pushes the issue of surrendering, Taylor declines.

'I'm having a conversation with my family that I may never get the chance to have again,' Taylor says. 'So give me more time.'

The officer asks Taylor if he will consider letting his brother out of the house.

'Nah I'd rather he be with my mom,' he says, before hanging up.

Police officers were seen arriving at the house, in the Heritage Park area, on Sunday

Taylor is also heard on the video speaking to a police negotiator, who asks him how everything is going. He responds that nobody is harmed but all want to leave.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, SWAT, Round Rock police, Leander police and the Williamson County sheriffs office then responded to the incident

Taylor kept his family members locked inside the home overnight, staying in regular contact with on-scene negotiators and described as highly communicative by Chief Harmon.

Around 7:45am Monday, Taylor released his sister, brother and a family dog from the home after a breakthrough in talks with police.

The two hostages were interviewed by authorities and looked over by medics at the scene. Police have since said that neither were injured.

Harmon said the mans mother played a key part in helping her son and daughter get out of the house.

Just over an hour later, Taylor walked out of the home alongside his mother. He was taken to a nearby hospital for examination before being booked into the Williamson County Jail on Monday afternoon.

His mother, meanwhile, was said to be unharmed with her condition described as OK.

Harmon said the 18-hour ordeal is the most complex situation Ive been involved with in 20 years of working in law enforcement.

The police chief revealed this is also not the first time Cedar Park PD have responded to the home.

According to Williamson County court records, Taylor was previously arrested for family violence in September last year.

A probable cause affidavit states Taylor strangled his 15-year-old brother when the two got into a physical fight over money.

When the complainant refused to give the defendant money he became angry, pushed him to the floor, got on top of him and put his hands around his neck and choked him, the affidavit states.

Three officers were shot in the incident on Sunday, but are expected to survive their injuries

Mike Harmon, chief of Cedar Parks police, provided an update on Sunday night

The incident was first reported after 3:00pm local time in Texas

Taylors mother and her two adult daughters reportedly broke up the fight, however the teen reportedly said he was scared for his life and thought [Taylor] was going to kill him.

Taylor's mother said at the time he has been diagnosed with a mental health condition but refused to take medication for it.

Police reported that during this incident, his sister threatened to call the police. She said he responded with threatening to kill her son.

Taylor's mother said at the time he has been diagnosed with a mental health condition but refused to take medication for it

Taylors mother told police at the time that she owns a gun for personal protection but had hidden it from Taylor because he had exhibited violent behaviors for an extended period of time.

However, she said he found it and bought ammunition for it, telling her that he needed it now to protect himself from people trying to get him.

She said that Taylor had also called out-of-state relatives, threatening to take her life and the lives of other family members.

Taylors grandmother, Helen, said she received two calls from the 26-year-old, in which he stated both times that he was going to take down his mother and that she needed to prepare for sad news.

Taylor was then charged with assault causing bodily injury  family violence, a third degree felony. In March 2020, the State said there was probable cause to arrest Taylor, but filed to dismiss the charge due to insufficient evidence.

It's unclear if the same gun described by Taylor's mother in the 2019 incident was the same weapon used to fire upon officers on Sunday.

When approached by KVUE about the 2019 incident, Helen said she wasnt ready to discuss details.

I pray that all will take into consideration, and read up on mental health, of what our family has and will go through. Prayers for all involved, please. This is a very difficult time, and I would hope that Joseph can get the mental help he needs. I pray for the officers and thank them for trying to help my family, she said in a brief statement.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has sent greetings to medical workers across the country ahead of China's Medical Workers' Day.

Noting that medical workers are a vital force in advancing the cause of healthcare, Xi said since the COVID-19 outbreak, a great number of medical workers have raced against time and fought tenaciously against the virus at the frontlines.

They have made significant contributions in fighting the epidemic, and demonstrated the noble spirit of giving priority to saving lives with total devotion and ultimate love, Xi added.

Xi called on medical workers to adhere to the people-first approach, uphold medical ethics, strive to excel professionally and make new contributions to advancing the Healthy China initiative and improving people's health and well-being.

Xi also urged Party committees and governments at all levels, as well as the entire society, to care for medical workers and foster a sound social environment that respects the medical profession.
PBS Kristin Urquiza at the Democratic National Convention on Monday

Between high-profile politicians speaking at Monday's opening night of the Democratic National Convention, a woman who lost her father to the coronavirus disease COVID-19 delivered a poignant  and pointed  message to the rest of the country.

"My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump," Kristin Urquiza said, speaking from her home. "And for that, he paid with his life."

Mark Anthony Urquiza, Kristin's dad, died on June 30 from COVID-19.

Urquiza was one of a handful of people who have gone public  and grabbed headlines  for writing obituaries for family members who died from the virus. These remembrances blamed Trump and other leading Republicans for the deaths, in large part because of the president's contradictory and sometimes dismissive attitude toward the pandemic.

Biden reportedly reached out to Kristin to invited her to speak Monday night about her father.

"He had faith in Donald Trump," she said in a remote appearance during the virtual gathering. "He voted for him, listened to him and believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear, that it was okay to end social distancing rules before it was safe and that if you had no underlying health conditions that you'd probably be fine."

Trump has defended his strategy in different ways  saying the states had fumbled where he has not, saying that the virus was not foreseeable and saying that the steps he did take, like limiting international travel, saved countless more lives.

"By comparison to most other countries, who are suffering greatly, we are doing very well - and we have done things that few other countries could have done!" he tweeted in July.

Kristin said Monday that after Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey lifted his state's stay-at-home orders on May 15, her father later went out to a karaoke bar where it's believed he contracted the virus.

Story continues

"A few weeks later, he was put on a ventilator," she said. "And after five agonizing days, he died alone in the ICU with a nurse holding his hand."

While Democratic lawmakers old and new will line up this week at the virtual DNC to slam Trump on everything from his controversial rhetoric to his fumbled handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kristin's choice to speak was intended, in part, to personalize the scale of loss across the country in recent months.

She also highlighted the disproportionate impact the virus has had on communities of color in the U.S.

The coronavirus has made it clear that there are two Americas: the America that Donald Trump lives in and the America that my father died in," she said Monday.

At least 170,100 people have died from COVID-19 as of the time her speech aired Monday night, according to a New York Times tracker.

RELATED: Texas Woman Writes Viral Obit Naming President Trump for Husband's 'Needless' COVID-19 Death

The Arizona native who now lives in San Francisco told The Arizona Republic in July that she blamed Gov. Ducey for her father's death in his obituary because she wanted the lawmaker to see that coronavirus deaths weren't just numbers.

She said Monday that once she told her story, "a lot of people reached out to me to share theirs."

A wave of obituaries just like hers have been published this summer.

Stacey Nagy, a Texas woman who blamed Trump directly in her husband's obituary, told PEOPLE in August that she wanted people to know who she blamed for her husband's death.

"I was very angry about it," Nagy, 72, said then.

"He was the love of my life for crying out loud. I was pissed, Nagy said of her late husband, David, who died from COVID-19 at 79.

Nagy added then that the whole thing is just so needless," and that she found it "difficult listening to the B.S. that Trump says, watching Trump ignore the whole thing and minimize it from the beginning and do nothing about it."

"Its because of his attitude that this whole coronavirus thing turned into a political thing," Nagy added.

RELATED: Hospital Worker's Daughter Urges Texas Governor to Attend Her COVID-19 Funeral: 'My Mother Mattered'

Nagy blamed Texas Gov. Jim Abbott, just as Fiana Tulip did in her mother, Isabelle Odette Papadimitriou's obituary in July.

Tulip wrote in her mother's obituary that the Republican governor's "inaction and active denial" of the virus' impact "has made it clear that the people dying, and the families theyre leaving behind, are just numbers to you."

Tulip said she invited the Texas governor to come to her mother's funeral, just as Kristin Urquiza had invited Arizona's Republican leader to come to her father's funeral. Neither attended.

"My mothers loss is enormous," Tulip previously told PEOPLE. "I know in my heart that it was preventable."
Sweden's Covid-19 expert Anders Tegnell has come under fire for appearing to ask whether a higher death rate in elderly people was a fair price to pay for herd immunity.

Email exchanges obtained by journalists in Sweden under freedom of information laws appear to show the country's coronavirus strategist discussing the option of keeping schools open to encourage herd immunity in mid-March.

One conversation was with Tegnell's Finnish counterpart, Mika Salminen, in what Swedish journalists say appears to be a brainstorming of methods to tackle the pandemic.

The newly-released emails which date back five months have caused a stir in Sweden and have fuelled criticism of the country's no-lockdown approach to the pandemic.

Sweden's Covid-19 expert Anders Tegnell (pictured) has come under fire for appearing to ask whether a higher death rate in elderly people was a fair price to pay for herd immunity

'One point would be to keep schools open to reach herd immunity faster,' Tegnell said, to which Salminen emailed back that Finnish health agency had considered this but rejected it because 'over time, the children are still going to spread the infection' to other age groups.

Finland's modelling suggested closing schools would reduce the spread of Covid-19 among elderly people by about 10%, Salminen said.

Tegnell responded: '10% might be worth it?'

The newly-released emails which date back five months have caused a stir in Sweden, where many have interpreted them as suggesting Tegnell wanted to keep schools open to encourage herd immunity.

Sweden has insisted schools remain open for children younger than sixteen, although Tegnell has denied this decision was aimed at speeding up the goal of herd immunity.

'My comment was on a possible effect, not on an expected one, that was part of the assessment of the appropriateness of the measure,' he told Swedish journalist Emanuel Karlsten.

'Keeping schools open to gain immunity was therefore never relevant.'

The Covid-19 strategist has repeatedly insisted that the government's aim was not to fast-track herd immunity but to slow the spread of Covid-19 enough so that health services do not become overwhelmed.

Fuelling further speculation about Tegnell's intentions, Swedish daily paper Aftonbladet reported that he had appeared to have deleted several requested emails in a batch of more than 200 spanning from January to April.

Sweden, which never imposed a national lockdown, claimed herd immunity would protect its population.

This tactic would have meant so many people contracting and becoming resistant to Covid that it would no longer spread.

Only 15 per cent of the population in Stockholm, the capital, have been infected so far, according to antibody testing.

Some 60 per cent would be needed to acquire herd immunity.

As of Monday, Sweden has recorded a total of 85,045 coronavirus cases and 5,787 deaths.

The country's case and death numbers have fallen steadily since June. Despite this, the number of cases are relatively high compared to other European countries and it has recorded significantly higher figures than its Nordic neighbours.
Factory workers in Belarus staged a walk-out in an act of solidarity with workers from Belarusian Television who have gone on strike in the wake of the contentious election results. Footage from August 17 shows strikers from some of Belarus' biggest factories showing support with banners and chants. 200 employees of Belarusian Television protested in front of their building and many more joined to show solidarity. One factory worker is heard in the video saying: "When we heard what was going on here on BT [Belarusian Television Building] we decided to support people as we did the previous time. "We heard that people are trying to go on strike, but are not allowed to do that, so we decided to support them. "People are supposed to know the truth."
Tap to see detail Democratic politician Republican politician

Michelle Obama, who anchored the Democrats first virtual convention Monday night, spoke longest, followed by Eva Longoria, the actress who hosted the event.

Four Republicans who stepped up for Joseph R. Biden Jr.  including the former Ohio governor John Kasich  spoke for a total of about five and a half minutes.

Mondays lineup of speakers was intended to convey the broad ideological support for Mr. Biden  from Republicans like Mr. Kasich to Senator Bernie Sanders, the democratic socialist from Vermont, who placed second in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.

How long each person spoke

Heading into the four-day convention, the most closely guarded secret was how much time each speaker would get during the two-hour window each night.

Party officials said the average speech length would clock in at two minutes  after accounting for the five major addresses from the Obamas, the Bidens and Senator Kamala Harris, Mr. Bidens running mate. Speakers spent recent weeks privately jockeying with convention organizers for extra time.

With so little time to divide among so many speakers representing the ideological, racial and geographic diversity of the party, convention planners have been careful not to advertise how much time each speaker received, to avoid causing hurt feelings in advance of the virtual event.

Heres a list of the main speakers on Monday night:
In another profound way that the coronavirus pandemic has upended American life, the Democratic National Convention started Monday with no convening. Instead, Democrats opted for the first virtual convention as the party begins the formal process of nominating Joe Biden as its candidate for president.

Here are five takeaways from the first night.
Flight with humanitarian aid from Ukraine to fly to Beirut on Wed morning - ambassador to Lebanon

Ukraine is completing preparations for sending a batch of humanitarian aid to victims of the explosion in Beirut, Ukrainian Ambassador to Lebanon Ihor Ostash said.

"The loading of humanitarian aid of Ukraine on the AN-72 plane is nearing completion. As the Lebanese asked, these are medications and wheat flour. We will fly to Beirut tomorrow morning," he wrote on Facebook.

As reported, on August 4, 2020, the explosion rocked the port area of Beirut, killing 171, injuring more than 6,000 people and leaving 300,000 people without homes.

On August 17, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decided to allocate UAH 8.4 million for the provision of humanitarian aid to Lebanon.
KETCHIKAN, Alaska - An Alaska tribal group has filed a lawsuit against state officials claiming the commercial fishing permit system unfairly prevents local anglers from fishing on their traditional grounds.

The lawsuit filed by the Metlakatla Indian Community asks a federal judge to prevent the state from requiring commercial fishing permits for tribal members, Alaskas Energy Desk reported Monday.

The tribe named Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and other administration officials in the lawsuit that says the tribes fishing rights are guaranteed by Congress.

The Metlakatla people have lived on Annette Island in southeast Alaska since the late 19th century, when about 820 Tsimshian people migrated with an Anglican missionary from coastal British Columbia to the uninhabited islands south of Ketchikan.

Congress established the Annette Islands Reserve as a permanent, self-sustaining home for the tribe in 1891. Federal authorities set aside waters within 3,000 feet (914 metres) of shore exclusively for the people of Metlakatla in 1916.

The Annette Islands would have been worthless without access to fish and its adjacent fisheries, attorneys for the tribe wrote earlier this month.

State authorities issue a limited number of commercial fishing permits to prevent overfishing in Alaskas fisheries. Metlakatla community members also fish in state waters generally within a days travel to compensate for low salmon catches within their boundary.

If Metlakatlas tribal members want to fish in state waters, the state says they need a permit.

The U.S. Congress, not the state of Alaska, granted the Annette Islands Reserve, and an integral part of the reserve is access to traditional fisheries, the lawsuit argues.

Those rights were not taken away from us, Metlakatla Mayor Reginald Atkinson said. They were basically ignored or set aside by the state of Alaska.

The Alaska Department of Law said state attorneys had not yet been served with the lawsuit by Friday, but the department plans to review the matter and respond.
The Centre told the court that PM CARES is a voluntary fund, while the budgetary allocations for NDRF and SDRF remain unchanged

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to direct the Centre to transfer the contributions made to the PM CARES Fund for battling the COVID-19 pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that voluntary contribution can always be made to the NDRF as there is no statutory bar under the Disaster Management Act.

The judgement came on a PIL, filed by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation, seeking a direction that all the money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the COVID-19 pandemic should be transferred to the NDRF.

The PIL had also sought a direction to the government to prepare, notify and implement a national plan under the Disaster Management Act to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bench, also comprising Justices RS Reddy and MR Shah, said in its verdict that a plan prepared by the government under the Disaster Management Act was sufficient for COVID-19 also.

The Centre had on 28 March set up the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund with the primary objective to deal with any kind of emergency situation like the one currently posed by the COVID-19 outbreak and provide relief to those affected.

The prime minister is the ex-officio chairman of the fund and the ministers of defence, home and finance are its ex-officio trustees.

During the hearing in the top court on 27 July, the Centre had defended the PM CARES Fund saying it is a public trust meant to receive "voluntary contributions" to fight COVID-19 pandemic and the budgetary allocations for NDRF and SDRF are not "being touched".

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the court that the PM CARES Fund is a "voluntary fund", while funds to the NDRF and SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) are made available through budgetary allocations.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioner NGO, had said that they are not doubting the bona fide of anyone but the creation of the PM CARES Fund is allegedly in contravention of provisions of the Disaster Management Act.

He had claimed that an audit of the NDRF is being conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) but the government has said the audit of the PM CARES Fund will be done by private auditors.

Dave had also questioned the validity of the PM CARES Fund.

The solicitor general had said that a national plan was prepared in 2019 and that had included the ways to deal with a "biological disaster."

On 17 June, the apex court had asked the Centre to file its response on the plea, which has sought a direction that all the contributions made by individuals and institutions for the COVID-19 pandemic should be credited to the NDRF, rather than to the PM CARES Fund.

The PIL had alleged that the Centre has been "refraining from divulging information about the specific utilization of crores of rupees that have been contributed to the PM CARES Fund till date".
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks were modestly higher in cautious trade on Tuesday as a new round of Brexit talks began and investors looked ahead to the release of minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting for any clues to policy changes at its September meeting. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index edged up 0.2 percent to 370.10 after rising 0.3 percent on Monday. The German DAX rose 0.4 percent, France's CAC 40 index gained 0.3 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.2 percent. Nestle shares rose about half a percent. Nestle Health Science, a unit of the Swiss food major has agreed to acquire the business of privately held IM HealthScience with its brands of IBgard, FDgard, Fiber Choice and REMfresh. Danish Jewelry maker Pandora slumped 8.4 percent after it swung to a second-quarter loss. Miner BHP Group declined 1.6 percent after reporting a 4 percent drop in annual net profit. BP Plc and Royal Dutch Shell were moving higher after oil prices rose in the previous session amid reports that China would boost U.S. crude imports. Marks & Spencer Group shares tumbled 3.2 percent. The retailer said it plans to cut a further 7,000 jobs over the next three months. Engineering and consultancy company Wood Group soared 8 percent. After reporting a loss in the first half, the company said it remains committed to delivering medium term EBITDA margin target of 100 basis points improvement on 2019. Capita lost 10 percent. The outsourcer reported a first-half loss before tax of 28.5 million compared to a profit of 31.2 million last year. Housebuilder Persimmon surged 4.5 percent after saying it will restore its dividend. Evotec gained nearly 2 percent. The German company and Novo Nordisk have agreed on a strategic collaboration on the discovery and development of new therapeutics for patients with chronic kidney disease. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Uttarakhand and eastern Rajasthan are likely to record heavy rainfall on Tuesday, while parts of Madhya Pradesh (MP) are likely to record extremely heavy rain, measuring over 20 centimetres (cm).

India Meteorological Department (IMD) authorities have issued a red category warning for MP on Tuesday.

A red category warning implies that disaster management authorities should take action to prevent rain or flooding disaster.

Raisen in MP has already recorded 19 cm rain since Monday. Parts of Gujarat, including Tapi and Surat, have recorded 28 and 25 cm, respectively.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) warned on Monday that water levels could rise in the following rivers such as Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, Ghaggar, Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Ganga, Ramganga, Sarda, Sarju, and Ghaghra. There is a likelihood of flash floods in some of the hill districts in Uttarakhand along with cloudburst.

Necessary precautions have to be taken for possible landslides and blockages of river flows due to landslides in high ranges of these states, the CWC said. It also said there is a moderate risk of flash floods in north Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh (MP), eastern Rajasthan, and southern Gujarat.

The monsoon trough is active and lies south of its normal position (from Ganganagar to the Bay of Bengal). It is very likely to be active and near-normal/south of its normal position during next three-four days, IMD said in its morning bulletin on Tuesday.

A convergence of strong moist southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea over northwestern plains is likely to further strengthen during the next 24 hours. A fresh low-pressure area is very likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal on Wednesday. It is likely to become more marked during the subsequent 24 hours.

Due to these favourable conditions, heavy to very heavy rain is likely over north-west India, including western Himalayan region, until Thursday.

Extremely heavy rain, measuring over 20 centimetres (cm), is

is likely over eastern Rajasthan and Uttarakhand on Tuesday and Wednesday and Tuesday, respectively.

Widespread and very heavy rain is very likely over Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal over the three-four days.

Extremely heavy rain is likely over Meghalaya on Thursday

and over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on Wednesday and Thursday, IMDs bulletin said.

Monsoon rain over the country since June 1 is 4% excess with 6% excess over east and north-east India; 18% deficient over northwest India; 6% excess over central India and 26% excess over the southern peninsula.
US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to normalise relations with Israel in a deal to be known as the Abraham Accords.

The agreement makes the UAE the first Gulf state and the third Arab nation to reach such a deal, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. The UAE, along with most other Arab nations, has until now not recognised Israel and has no formal economic relations with it.

Lauded by Trump as a historic peace agreement between our two GREAT friends, the agreement is another sordid betrayal of the Palestinians by an Arab regime. It is a death certificate for the Arab Initiative, launched by Saudi Arabia in 2002 and endorsed by the Arab League, offering a normalization of relations with Israel in exchange for a full withdrawal from the occupied territories, a just settlement of the Palestinian refugee problem based on UN Resolution 194, and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Abraham Accords supposedly makes recognition of Israel dependent upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halting plans to annex swathes of Palestinian land in the West Bank occupied since the June 1967 war. The aim is to side-line the fate of the Palestinians, which for decades defined the Arab states attitude towards the Zionist state, in order to cement an alliance between the Sunni petro-monarchies and Israel against Iran.

The UAE claimed publicly that its decision was a way of encouraging peace efforts and taking Israels planned annexation of parts of the West Bank off the table, arguing that relations with Israel should be tempered with realism. Netanyahu rejected this, insisting that he had only agreed to delay the annexation, with the plan remaining on the table.

The agreement is in reality bound up with the Trump administrations maximum pressure sanctions regime targeting Iran, tantamount to a state of war, aimed at overturning its government and installing a client regime that would reinforce US hegemony over the resource-rich Middle East and strengthen Washingtons position against China.

The announcement is the result of years of backroom talks on issues ranging from trade and security to intelligence-sharing that included Israels opening of an office in 2015 in Abu Dhabi. Its timing meets the needs of all three parties. It comes as Israels economy is unravelling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and as Netanyahus trial proceedings on charges of bribery, corruption, and breach of trust in three separate cases move to the evidence hearings set for January. It gives the beleaguered Netanyahu, who heads a fractious coalition and faces increasing opposition from his support base among far-right forces, the chance to pose as Israels master statesman.

It likewise enables Trump, who is trailing in the polls against Joe Biden, the Democrats presidential candidate, to claim a diplomatic triumph after his administrations draft Security Council resolution extending a UN ban on arms sales to Iran, due to expire in October, was defeated, paving the way for Iran to purchase arms from other major powers.

The UAE is seeking Washingtons approval for its request to purchase the US F-35 advanced combat aircraft and armed unmanned aerial vehicles, reversing its previous reliance on French fighter jets and Chinese drones. It is also seeking US support for major concessions from Qatarin exchange for lifting the UAEs, Saudi Arabias and Bahrains three-year long blockade of Qatari airspace and land crossings.

The UAE-Israel agreement comes in the wake of Netanyahus proposal to annex the settlements and the Jordan Valley, the most fertile part of the West Bank, equal to 30 percent its territory and encircling what remains of the Palestinian areas, making even a mini-statelet unviable.

Trump had originally indicated his consent to Netanyahus annexation plans, which play well with his evangelical Christian base as Novembers presidential elections approach. But facing opposition within his administration, including from his son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner, who is close to Saudi Arabias de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he pulled back.

Bin Salman, along with the European and regional powers, had opposed the move for exposing the mirage of a Palestinian state. Allowing the annexation to go ahead would have created a furor, jeopardising the plans to build an anti-Iran alliance that included Israel.

Kushner has indicated that other states would follow the UAE, with Oman and Bahrain, which hosts the US Sixth fleet, in line to do so, and even suggested that Saudi Arabia would follow suit in the not too distant future. Riyadh has so far remained silent on the agreement but has steadily built covert links with Israel in recent years.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen, in an interview with Army Radio, said he anticipated additional agreements, both with more Gulf countries and with Muslim countries in Africa, a reference to a likely peace deal with Sudan. The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, was instrumental in instigating last years pre-emptive military coup in Sudan that ousted long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir, who was close to Qatar and Turkey.

While the details of what normalisation of relations means in practice are unclear, the UAE has opened a direct phone line to Israel and unblocked Israeli news websites. This follows a deal between an Abu Dhabi-based firm to conduct research and development related to COVID-19 and two Israeli firms. Other deals including travel, trade, embassies and security cooperation are expected in the coming weeks.

The European powers, Egypt and Jordan, have all welcomed Israels pullback from annexing the settlements and the Jordan Valley.

Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority (PA) that controls the West Bank, said in a statement, The Palestinian leadership rejects and denounces the UAE, Israeli and US trilateral, surprising announcement, which was a betrayal of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa and the Palestinian cause.

The Islamist Hamas movement, which controls Gaza, likewise rejected the US-brokered deal, saying it did not serve the cause of the Palestinians.

Turkeys foreign ministry called the UAEs behaviour hypocritical and said that the Palestinian people and the PA were right to react strongly against the agreement. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey might suspend diplomatic relations with the UAE, already strained over Libya and the Horn of Africa.

Irans President Hassan Rouhani denounced the deal as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and warned that by lining up with Israel the Emirates now faced a dangerous future. He said, [The UAE] better be mindful. They have committed a huge mistake, a treacherous act. We hope they will realize this and abandon this wrong path.

In a further indication of the political course of the Arab states, on Sunday, the Gulf Cooperation Council, representing Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, issued a statement condemning Rouhanis threats against Abu Dhabi. Secretary-General Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf warned, Iran must adhere to the UN Charter and refrain from interfering in the domestic affairs of other nations, while the UAE gave Irans charge daffaires in Abu Dhabi a strongly worded memo over the presidents remarks.

The sordid deal between Israel and the UAE deepens the treacherous role of the Arab bourgeoisie, which has now formally buried its own two state solution, and confirms that the nationalist agenda championed by all sections of the Palestinian bourgeoisie provides no way forward for the decades-long struggle of the Palestinian workers and oppressed masses.

A resolution of the terrible situation of increasing poverty and imminent war confronting Palestinian and Israeli workers, as well as workers throughout the Middle East, cannot be left in the hands of the regions ruling classes and the imperialist powers. Workers must unite with their class brothers and sisters across the region and internationally in a struggle to put an end to capitalism and war and re-organise society on a socialist basis.
State media says politburo of Workers Party will gather for sixth plenary meeting amid sanctions and flood damage.

North Korea plans to convene a key meeting of the ruling Workers Party on Wednesday to discuss economic and military issues amid international sanctions and recent flood damage, according to state media.

The politburo of the Workers Party will gather for its sixth plenary meeting to decide on issues of crucial significance in developing the Korean revolution and increasing the fighting efficiency of the party, the official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday.

The agency did not provide further details.

The announcement of the meeting comes as the isolated country struggles to cope with flood damage after weeks of heavy rain on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rejected any outside help last week, despite state media reporting floods destroying 39,296 hectares (97,102 acres) of crops and damaging more than 16,000 homes.

State media did not mention any deaths or injuries.

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, KCNA paraphrased Kim as saying on Thursday.

North Korea maintains it is coronavirus-free, a status widely doubted by outsiders.

In late July, Kim ordered a total lockdown of the border town of Kaesong after authorities reported finding a person with COVID-19 symptoms. North Korea later said the persons test results were inconclusive and Kim lifted the towns lockdown last week.

Despite Kims rejection of any aid, South Koreas unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said Seoul remains willing to provide humanitarian assistance to North Korea.

Pyongyang in past months has severed virtually all cooperation with Seoul amid a deadlock in larger nuclear negotiations between the United States and North Korea, which faltered over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief and disarmament steps.

North Korea in June blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, following months of frustration over Seouls unwillingness to defy US-led sanctions for its nuclear weapons programme and restart joint economic projects that would help North Koreas broken economy.

Last year, Kim pledged to make a frontal breakthrough in the countrys campaign to build a self-reliant economy in the face of tightening sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programmes.

But experts say the COVID-19 crisis likely derailed some of Kims major economic goals by forcing the country into a lockdown that shut the border with China  North Koreas major ally and economic lifeline  and potentially hampered his ability to mobilise people for labour.
Abacus Property Groups strategic pivot into storage and office assets is proving prescient in the face of the pandemic, shielding it from the virus' worst effects even as Victoria struggles through a harsh lockdown.

The $1.72 billion ASX listed company has spent the past two years consolidating 87 per cent of its portfolio in key office and self storage sectors and selling down residential and retail assets - the sectors hardest hit by the virus - since managing director Steven Sewell took over.

Abacus boss Steven Sewell is leading the transformation of the trust. Credit:Tamara Voninski

"We, like owners of all classes of real estate, watched as the restrictions on movement on the entire Australian and New Zealand populations placed a stress on the business never before seen," Mr Sewell told investors on Tuesday.

Despite the "draconian" lockdown now underway in Victoria, Mr Sewell said Abacus funds from operations fell just 3.6 per cent to $124.6 million, down from $129.2 million last financial year.
As the world reverts to normal, will there be a new normal where countries including India become more and more protective of their own territories, markets, bilaterals, traffic and cargo?

At a recent aviation webinar, SpiceJet chief Ajay Singh ruffled the feathers of the UAE ambassador when he said that India could no longer rely on middlemen to ferry its passengers and goods across to various countries and that its own airlines were now in a position to do so.

The ambassador took great exception to the use of the term middlemen though the import of the message settled in.

In todays environment when protectionism is rearing its head again - more so in the precarious aviation industry - Singhs words should not be taken lightly.

Airline authorities around the world are seeking to protect their turf, and in what promises to be a bloody future, one cannot rule out battles over ferrying of passengers and goods.

This kind of finger-pointing has already surfaced in the case of certain American airlines and the United States.

In a letter to the Indian authorities, the Trump administration argued that India was running scheduled operations under the guise of Vande Bharat, and this amounted to unfair trade practices since their carriers were losing out.

After the US threatened retaliatory action, India quickly entered into a travel bubble arrangement and now carriers from both sides are flying back and forth.

Similar instances have occurred with other countries in West Asia and surrounding regions in June and July.

IndiGo, GoAir and Air India operate flights into Kuwait but in June, when the airlines sought clearances for charter flights, there were inordinate delays by the Kuwait authorities.

After the Indian side began to stop the incoming flights from the region (Jazeera and Kuwait Airways), Kuwait authorities relented.

Now both sides are operating in a spirit of give and take, says a senior ministry of civil aviation (MOCA) official.

A similar tussle between SpiceJet and Qatar - this time over cargo - was also resolved after the Indian side flexed its muscle.

In some ways, the permit raj is back in full force during Covid-19, the MOCA official says.

He adds that for Indian carriers, perversely, the longer the non-scheduled operations last, the better because it reduces competition since scheduled operations are suspended.

With a lower number of flights (750-800 a day versus the normal 3,300-3,400 a day) and lower loads (which vary between 52-55 per cent), only two million passengers were ferried by air in June instead of the usual 12 million.

Now the authorities and airline executives are worried about the softening of domestic air traffic in July.

Operations are ad hoc and subject to change at very short notice as states are going in for selective lockdowns as and when required.

Faced with this, airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet are focusing increasingly on charter flights and cargo.

However, the broader questions on who does how much are now being raised time and again.

As things stand, the Indian airlines share in ferrying its own traffic in and out of the country has been very low, and carriers like Emirates and Singapore Airlines primarily rely on Indian traffic.

As the CEO of one of the domestic carriers says: We have let Dubai become our national hub and Emirates our national carrier.

The situation with cargo is worse.

In 2019-20, Indian carriers ferried around 7 per cent of the total cargo that was carried.

Even with cargo, the bulk is carried by airlines from other countries, an official points out.

Domestic airlines are arguing that if Indian authorities cannot help them with a revival package of any sort, the least they can do is strengthen their own carriers to carry a larger share of the Indian traffic and cargo carried out of the country by foreign carriers.

Both SpiceJet and IndiGo, and now even Vistara (which recently brought in some wide bodies), are looking at both these segments.

SpiceJet, which had submitted its application before the pandemic, has more recently been designated as a carrier for flights to UK, USA and Amsterdam and is planning to wet lease aircraft and take the plunge.

Government sources say that as far as they are concerned, the field is wide open.

They argue that Indian carriers never focused on either air cargo or the international market till the pandemic hit and desperate measures kicked in.

Several bilateral agreements remain unutilised from the Indian end because Indian carriers by and large either dont have the wherewithal to take advantage of them or have not focused on this.

MOCA sources point out that the Indian carriers have been quite content with just the action on the domestic market, which is large in normal times.

A top government official says that they would be very happy if IndiGo went in for wide bodies (and have conveyed this to the carrier many times) and got into the international market whole hog, but they have seen reluctance from its side so far.

The official adds that most of the domestic carriers dont have the aircraft for cargo operations and this business has never been their focus.

It is only now - in the post-Covid-19 era - that some of them are focusing on this segment.

Air services agreements govern the frequency with which countries allow airlines from other countries to operate in their jurisdictions.

Indian governments have been accused of being very generous with the grant of bilateral rights to some countries in the past, a matter of much controversy.

Air services agreements are arrived upon in a larger context and therefore have to be viewed as such.

"So, amending existing agreements is not always possible or desirable, points out a former external affairs ministry official.

But as the world reverts to normal, will there be a new normal where countries including India become more and more protective of their own territories, markets, bilaterals, traffic and cargo?

The prospect cannot be ruled out.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters
Intelligence agency GCHQ has been forced to delete an online brainteaser after accidentally spelling out the c-word.

An answer to one of its regular puzzles had underlined the fourth letter in the names of the planets Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Neptune.

Twitter users were quick to point out the irony of the code-breaking body, famed for cracking the Enigma, missing such a glaring blunder.

One mocking follower tweeted: 'Even the most brilliant code breakers can end up with a four letter blooper. See you next Tuesday perhaps?'

Another joked: 'Was GCHQ accidentally sweary, or did they planet that way?'

Intelligence agency GCHQ has been forced to delete an online brainteaser after accidentally spelling out the c-word

Twitter users were quick to point out the irony of the code-breaking body, famed for cracking the Enigma, missing such a glaring blunder

Yesterday morning, GCHQ invited its 115,000 followers to solve the remainder of the sequence: C, U, T, S, I, U, N.

Revealing the answer as T - the fourth letter of the final planet, Neptune - it demonstrated the logic by underlining the fourth letter of four other planets.

But it failed to spot that its selection of Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Neptune spelled out the rude word.

GCHQ hastily removed the tweet within 20 minutes and amended the question to include the letters of all eight planets.

A GCHQ spokesman: 'We apologise for any offence inadvertently caused by this morning's post. We deleted it as soon as we became aware of the issue.'

Headquartered in Cheltenham in a ring-shaped compound known as The Doughnut, the UK's top intelligence agency is steeped in history

Headquartered in Cheltenham in a ring-shaped compound known as The Doughnut, the UK's top intelligence agency is steeped in history.

It is most renowned for cracking the German's Enigma code during the Second World War, when it was based in Bletchley Park.

The agency itself is divided into an intelligence-gathering arm known as the Composite Signals Organisation, and the National Cyber Security Centre which shields the UK's communications infrastructure.
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Rage Against the Machine were supposed to be on tour this summer, but instead, their music is coming alive on American streets. In Portland, Oregon, protesters have been chanting the fuck you/I wont do what tell me chorus of 1991s Killing in the Name, Rages most enduring anthem.

In the new episode of Rolling Stone Music Now, Rage guitarist Tom Morello  who has a new book due in the fall called Whatever It Takes, along with a retrospective Audible release, Tom Morello at the Minetta Lane  looks back on his life and career. Among other many other subjects, he recalls the making of Killing in the Name in detail.

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To hear the entire episode, press play above or download and subscribe on iTunes or Spotify.

Fuck you, I wont do what you tell me is a universal sentiment. While its a simple lyric, I think its one of [Zack de la Rochas] most brilliant. And to me, it relates to Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass said, the moment he became free was not the moment that he was physically loosed from his bonds. It was the moment when master said, Yes. And he said, No. And thats the essence of Fuck you, I will not do what you tell me. And thats why its encouraging to hear it shouted at the Fed goons who are shooting tear gas at American citizens.

I was teaching guitar lesson to an accomplished local scenester musician and was showing them how to play drop-D [tuning]. Maynard Keenan of Tool had taught me how to do drop-D. I was actually playing bass at the time, a crappy Ibanez bass. And I was like, When you play drop-D tuning, it just sort of suggests different patterns to your fingers. And the first pattern I played was that riff. I said, hold on one sec, and got my little Radio Shack recorder and recorded that.

Story continues

And then it was originally an instrumental. Theres a Rage Against the Machine video from Cal State Northridge  which is our first public performance  where we open the show with an instrumental version of Killing in the Name and Timmy [Commerford], I think, came up with hat really cool [bass riff]. [Brad Wilks] crowd-bouncing beat is there from the very, very beginning. And then Zack laced it with the historic lyrics. We actually left the lyrics off of the lyric sheet of the first record, because its I think its two lines, 16 fuck yous, and one motherfucker. And were like, in the midst of all this grand political poetry, lets just that one stand for itself.

The dunna-dunt [before de la Rocha raps, and now you do what they told ya] that was an important part! I remember our A&R guy, Michael Goldstone, whos a genius. Hes got Pearl Jam. He was really the fifth Beatle early on. He was a great help, but he wanted us to take that part out of the song. I think he heard hit single, as long as he doesnt have that crazy part where it just stops a lot! That was a bit of a lift from Zeppelins Good times, Bad Times, that part. Weve felt pretty confident that needs to stay in the song, and I think history has borne that out.

Download and subscribe to our weekly podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now, hosted by Brian Hiatt, on iTunes or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts), and check out two years worth of episodes in the archive, including in-depth, career-spanning interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Halsey, Neil Young, the National, Questlove, Julian Casablancas, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Marr, Scott Weiland, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, Donald Fagen, Phil Collins, Alicia Keys, Stephen Malkmus, Sebastian Bach, Tom Petty, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, the Zombies, Gary Clark Jr., and many more  plus dozens of episodes featuring genre-spanning discussions, debates, and explainers with Rolling Stones critics and reporters. Tune in every Friday at 1 p.m. ET to hear Rolling Stone Music Now broadcast live from SiriusXMs studios on Volume, channel 106.

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Australia could be 'split in two' in a bid to quell the spread of COVID-19 - with the states worst-hit by the pandemic trying to suppress the virus rather than eliminate it.

State and territory leaders outside Victoria and NSW have stepped up restrictions on travellers from the nation's two most populated states.

Victorians are effectively banned from leaving the state, and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it could be Christmas before she re-opens borders with Victoria and NSW.

A leading epidemiology expert said New South Wales and Victoria could be cut off from states with minimal community transmission until an effective vaccine is found.

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Australia could be effectively split in two with the borders between the nation's two states worst hit by the virus and the rest of the country closed off, an expert has warned

Australia's Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said last week a working vaccine could be produced within months, but independent health experts have warned it may take a year for the country to have a completely safe inoculation.

'The rest of Australia are hoping to retain their elimination status. That means we will essentially be living in a country that's split in two,' University of Melbourne Professorial Fellow in Epidemiology Tony Blakely told 9news.com.au.

The two separate strategies at tackling the virus could mean residents in South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania are allowed to move around freely between each state.

The NSW and Victoria borders would however remain closed  potentially even to each other - until community transmission is significantly reduced.

Professor Blakely said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was past the point where he could attempt to quickly eradicate the spread of the virus - and that the tough social distancing restrictions came a month too late.

If officials in the COVID-19-embattled state wanted an elimination strategy now, they would need several more weeks of draconian stage four restrictions, Professor Blakely said.

A healthcare worker carries out a COVID-19 test at a drive-through testing facility in Melbourne on Tuesday. Victoria and New South Wales could pursue a policy of virus suppression, while less-affected states have the luxury of trying to eliminate the coronavirus

He said health authorities in Victoria would need to dramatically improve contact tracing as well as prioritise mask usage to go about a successful suppression strategy.

'We can learn a lot from NSW  they have played a very good game for a suppression strategy,' the expert said.

'NSW is demonstrating that you can keep the virus levels low.'

A Sydney light rail worker cleans a tram on August 6. A suppression strategy requires high standards of contact tracing and mask wearing, University of Melbourne Professorial Fellow in Epidemiology Tony Blakely said

In the nearly two months since Victoria's second wave began in June, NSW has successfully suppressed the virus to the point where its residents can largely go about their lives as normal.

During that period, daily infection totals in NSW have regularly gone into double digits but exceeded 20 cases only three times.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week dismissed calls to pursue a COVID-19 elimination strategy, saying that trying to wipe out the virus would cripple the embattled economy.

Victoria has been battling a deadly second wave, which claimed 17 lives on Tuesday (Pictured: Pedestrians in Melbourne on Tuesday)

He said the strategy would involve a long and harsh lockdown, like the one implemented in New Zealand, that would cost jobs and may not even work.

He said the Victorian outbreak, caused by hotel quarantine breaches, showed there is no guarantee elimination can be achieved when essential workers and returning Australians are entering the country from overseas.

'You can't mortgage off your economy for what would prove to be an illusory goal,' he said.
The recent decision by the Connecticut legislators to remove the liability coverage for all police officers was a contemptuous decision. I have researched, briefly, the seven fatal police involved shootings from February 2019 to Jan. 20, 2020. Listed below is a description by police accounts of those fatalities and the incidents:

Feb. 20, 2019: stolen car, exchange of gunfire; Windham

April 20, 2019: license plate did not match vehicle, victim attempted to run over police officer; Wethersfield

July 9, 2019: car stop, victim struggled with police officer, managed to take gun from police officer, shot by assisting officer; East Hartford

Sept. 3, 2019: domestic bombs call, victim shot while struggling with two police officers; East Hartford

Jan. 2, 2020: domestic violence call, police said victim attempted to assault officer with knife; Ansonia

Jan. 15, 2020: stolen vehicle, lengthy high-speed chase, after stop displayed knife; West Haven

Jan. 20, 2020: welfare investigation, neighbor altercations, shot fired; Waterbury

In each of the above incidents the police officers life was in imminent danger. It is very easy to read of these incidents and put it behind us. Each police officer has to live with his decision the rest of his life.

Everyone can decide for themselves if these officers and every officer in the State of Connecticut deserve to have their liability insurance canceled. This is despicable behavior. When a police officer is involved in a precarious situation, we must have his or her back.

It is obvious that the legislators decision was based entirely on police actions in another state. Everyone should show their outrage by contacting their state representative to have the liability insurance reinstated and to voice an opinion. Additional opinions will be welcome on election day.

It is not logical to punish an entire police department for the action of one police officer.

If changes need to be made, then we should start with the lawmakers who lack the fortitude to make rational decisions.

Francis Kieras

Danbury
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Private sector lender Yes Bank has repaid Rs 35,000 crore to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) out of the total special liquidity facility (SLF) of Rs 50,000 crore drawn for interim support, Yes Banks Chairman Sunil Mehta said in the banks 2019-20 annual report.

In addition to the SLF of Rs 50,000 crore extended by RBI, the bank has since then received strong customer liquidity inflows. I am pleased to report that the bank has, as of date, repaid Rs 35,000 crore of SLF. The balance will be repaid within the timelines set by RBI, Mehta said in the annual report.

Yes Bank was rescued by a clutch of lenders led by the State Bank of India (SBI) in March. This was following a near financial collapse of the lender on account of the alleged financial irregularities and careless lending by previous management under founder Rana Kapoor.

Since the bail-out, Yes Bank has improved its financial position, Mehta said.

Yes Bank has made significant progress. The bank successfully raised equity funding of Rs 15,000 crore through a followon public offering (FPO) within four months of the restructuring scheme, amid challenging market conditions, towards the end of July, Mehta said, adding this demonstrates the strong confidence of institutional and retail investors in the banks restructuring plan, action taken, future roadmap and professional leadership.

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Following this capital increase, the banks Common Equity Tier (CET) 1 ratio has doubled to 13.4 percent from 6.6 percent at the end of June, bringing its capitalisation largely in line with the private sector peers, Mehta said.

The significantly improved solvency ratio strengthens the banks resilience to potential asset quality risks, resulting from the impact of the economic slowdown and COVID-19 related disruptions on Indias economy, Mehta said.

Going ahead, the Board of Directors recognises the need to strengthen and augment oversight along with governance and risk management practices, Mehta said in the report.

Acknowledging that strong corporate governance is key to success of an institution, the Board has identified Culture of Compliance as a key asset "that we need to nurture and cherish - a culture of transparency, integrity, trust, accountability and collaboration," the chairman said.

These comments are significant since the RBI had earlier found out major divergence in the NPA figures reported by the bank under previous management and what was found by RBIs inspection scheme.

The importance of good governance cannot be understated, which was also emphasised by RBI in its recent discussion paper on improving the quality of governance and empowering the Board of Directors to set the culture and values of the institution, identify and manage conflicts of interest, manage risks while also endeavour to improve the supervisory oversight of senior management, Mehta said.

Going forward, he said Yes Bank aspires to be seen as a bank, which is trusted for its integrity, practices highest standards of governance, is contemporary and continuously motivated to deliver value to its stakeholders.
The most controversial and highly anticipated presidential election in recent American history is less than three months away, and New York still has a lot of work to do in order to avoid the repeating mishaps of the primary election, in which an untold number of New Yorkers were disenfranchised by bureaucratic and political failures such as not receiving their absentee ballots on time. It took six weeks to certify the Democratic presidential primary results in the state, an untold number of people never received their absentee ballots and thousands of ballots were invalidated for minor technicalities or missing a postmark, the latter an error by the United States Postal Service and not the voter.

The state has begun to take some steps through legislation, though few new laws or provisions have actually been put in place since the primary. And new issues have arisen from federal attempts to cripple the USPS could create even more complications.

Officials for the state Board of Elections testified to the state Legislature this month that they expect many of the same problems that plagued the June primary to occur in the November general, which will see significantly higher turnout. With an estimated 5 million absentee ballots expected, the state BOE also said they would need another $50 million to process them all, on top of the $25 million generally needed to conduct a presidential election.

The state Board of Elections said it planned to put a large red X or arrow indicating where voters need to sign when filling out their absentee ballot to avoid invalidations for technicalities, but theres little they can do without action from the state, or more funding from the federal government. And while theres some movement in state government, it is apparent that congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump are determined to deliberately starve states and the US Postal Service of the resources needed to conduct a largely mail-in election to avoid risk of spreading the coronavirus. Unlike the Democrats in the House of Representatives, the Republican Senate has recessed until September and does not plan to return early. Trump has said he would deny funding to the USPS and for elections because he wants to disrupt mail-in voting.

The state Legislature returned for an unusual summer session in late July to pass, among many other things, rules that would hopefully help the general election run more smoothly than the primary. Chief among them was a bill to expand absentee voting to everyone in light of the pandemic, temporarily tweaking the definition of temporary illness  one of the few reasons someone can vote by absentee  to include fears of contracting or spreading COVID-19. An earlier executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo had made the same change for the primary, but he had not issued a new one to cover the general. That bill was sent to Cuomo on Aug. 10 and still awaits his signature. He has until Thursday to sign it before it automatically becomes law, although he said on Friday he intends to approve it.

The state Legislature also passed several other bills meant to alleviate some of the issues that arose in June. One bill will allow absentee ballots lacking postmarks to be counted if they are received a day after the election. Under current law, boards of elections may count ballots received on or before Election Day, as well as those with postmarks on or before Election Day received up to seven days after the election. The postmark indicates a voter cast the ballot in time. However, in June, thanks to mistakes on the part of the post office, some ballots did not have a postmark when received after the June 23 primary, particularly in Brooklyn, and thus were deemed invalid. (A judge later ruled that ballots received up to two days after June 23 but missing a postmark must be counted in the primary.) The new bill is meant to partially address this issue under the assumption that a ballot received the day after the election must have been cast in time, regardless of the postmark. It would not, however, do anything for people who send in their ballots on time but whose ballots  through no fault of their own  are received just a few days after the election without a postmark.

Another bill that passed the state Legislature would allow the boards of elections to begin processing absentee ballot applications immediately. Under current law, boards are not allowed to begin processing applications until 30 days before the election. With the sudden influx of applications, voters across the state  particularly downstate  said they didnt receive their ballot in time for the election, despite applying on time. Part of the problem lay with the boards of elections struggling to process the surge in applications and part lay with mail delays. The new legislation is meant to begin the process earlier, so voters can apply as early as they want, allowing boards of elections and the Post Office more time to mail out ballots.

A third bill would make it harder to throw out an absentee ballot due to a technicality such as a missing signature if the voters intent is clear. The bill would require a board of elections to give a voter the chance to rectify a minor mistake. In the primary, tens of thousands ballots were deemed invalid due to technicalities like those.

The state Legislature also sent those three bills to Cuomo on Aug. 10, although Cuomo has not indicated when or if he plans to sign them. At a Monday press conference, he said hell have an answer this week. Like the expanded absentee voting bill, these two pieces of legislation automatically become law this week if he does not act on them. Senior Cuomo advisor Rich Azzopardi denied that the governor has delayed signing any of the three bills, since he legally has 10 days to consider them, despite the obvious time sensitivity of these measures and the fact that state inaction on these issues led to widespread disenfranchisement in June.

Other bills pushed by voting rights advocates didnt pass, such as one that set up online ballot tracking so voters can see where their ballot is and if it has been processed after they mail it. This particular bill dates back to 2013 and would expand existing technology used for tracking military ballots. Others were introduced after the brief summer session in June, including one that would permit boards of elections to set up absentee ballot drop boxes like those used in other states, taking the Post Office out of the equation, but that was only introduced last week. A spokesperson for the state Senate majority said the chamber plans to reconvene before Election Day, when it could theoretically pass more voting reforms. A spokesperson for the Assembly majority did not return a request for comment. Both chambers would need to meet very soon in order for any additional measures to be implemented in time for Election Day.

The state also has not expanded early voting, something that voting rights advocates and editorial boards said would provide an alternative to absentee voting and a safer in-person option than voting on Election Day. New Yorkers still only have just nine days to vote early; according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the average number of days in states with early voting provided is 19. The state Legislature did pass a bill that would require at least one early voting site in a countys most populous municipality for ease of access, but that would not take effect until next year and dates back before the coronavirus. Otherwise, no other bills passed both chambers to require a greater number of early polling places nor more days to vote early, directly in response to the pandemic or otherwise. New York City voluntarily selected nearly 20 more sites for the 2020 primary than for the 2019 general election, although it still falls short from the 100 sites Mayor Bill de Blasio wanted last year.

Cuomo has thus far refrained from issuing executive orders regarding the election, as he did for the primary. He hasnt yet required boards of elections to mail absentee ballot applications to all eligible voters, for example. Cuomo said on Friday that he would support the establishment of absentee ballot drop boxes, although has given no indication if he plans to use executive power during the ongoing state of emergency to allow boards of elections to set them up. When asked at his Monday press conference about the prospect of using his executive power, Cuomo said his administration is looking at potentially issuing more executive orders and will have an answer this week.

On the federal level, negotiations have stalled on a new coronavirus aid package, and with it, any potential new funding for state and local boards of elections. President Donald Trump has also made his distaste for mail-in voting apparent (which is the same as absentee voting despite what Trump says), making unsubstantiated and disproven claims of fraud and using New Yorks dysfunctional primary as evidence that mail-in voting doesnt work, conveniently ignoring the states where elections are conducted by mail without a hitch like Colorado. Trump said he would deny funding to the United States Postal Service and additional money for running elections because he doesnt want to see expanded mail-in voting in November.

Trumps new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has also been taking steps to weaken the USPS in the runup to the presidential election through cost-cutting measures and work slowdowns that could affect the handling of mail-in ballots. In New York City reports have emerged of mail delays as a result of federal policy from DeJoy. The USPS on Sunday said it would stop removing mailboxes for at least 90 days after receiving widespread criticism for the practice, meaning that those in place now will still be there on Election Day.

But New Yorkers are not taking Trumps attempts at disenfranchisement sitting down. Sixteen people, including state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi and congressional candidate Mondaire Jones, filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of voters and candidates against the Trump administration to ensure the USPS gets adequate funding. The suit claims that Trump and DeJoy are attempting to cripple the postal service in order to interfere with the presidential election to help Trump. State Attorneys general, including Letitia James in New York, have also indicated that they are examining legal options to combat Trumps efforts to undermine the Postal Service.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday instructed the official machinery to be on high alert as the state is experiencing heavy rain fall and floods and take the necessary measures to prevent any loss to property or lives.

The Chief Minister held a high-level review on the rains and floods situation in the State, with senior officials from the various departments and the ministers at Pragathi Bhavan.

He reviewed district-wise situation and suggested necessary action on rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures to prevent any loss of life and property.

He wanted the officials to remain on high alert especially in the worst affected districts like Warangal Urban, Warangal Rural, Karimnagar, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Peddapally, Jayashankar Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem and others.

In view of forecast of heavy to very heavy rains may continue to lash the state in the next three to four days, he directed that officers to take up relief and rescue measures on a war footing at the required

places.

He wanted setting up the Control Rooms wherever they are necessary and monitor the situation 24-hours. The Telangana CM told the officers that there was no dearth of funds to undertake relief measures and hence no one should bother about the availability of funds.

He instructed officials to set up relief camps all over the state in the areas where there is danger from the floodwaters make arrangements for the supply of food, shelter in these camps. Supply Masks and sanitizers to prevent people from Covid.

KCR congratulated the Electricity department for efficiently managing the situation despite the natural calamity, maintaining the power Grid though there was substantial increase in the demand and for ensuring continuous supply of the power.

He also congratulated the Municipal Administration Department for ensuing that there was no major damage or inconvenience in Hyderabad and other cities. He said though as on date, the situation is under control, but the the next three to four days are crucial. KCR made it clear that the governments aim is that however massive may be the calamity, there should not be any loss to life.

Stating that there is possibility of heavy flood in Godavari river in the coming days, he asked officers to identify the low-lying villages and areas in Eturu Nagaram, Mangampet Mandals along with other areas and shift people from these areas to safer places.

He asked Ministers, Public Representatives to stay wherever they are and monitor the relief measures. He directed the Agriculture officials to prepare estimates about the crops damage due to rain and floods.

While continuing the measures to combat the situation now, officials should prepare a permanent strategy to face such calamities in the future, he added.
DETROIT, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Glass Ionomer Filling Market in Dental Restoration by Defect Class Type (Class I, Class II, Class III, Class IV, Class V, and Class VI), by End-User Type (Hospital, Dental Clinic, and Laboratory), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Market Size, Share, Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2020-2025.

This strategic assessment report provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today's market realities and future possibilities for the forecast period of 2020 to 2025. After a continuous interest in our Composite Filling Market in Dental Restoration report from the industry stakeholders, we have tried to further narrow down our research scope to the glass ionomer filling market in order to provide another aspect of the market. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most comprehensive manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available as well as in formulation of growth strategies.

The report estimates the short- as well as long-term repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand at the global, regional, as well as country level. Also, the report estimates the possible loss that the industry may register by comparing pre-COVID and post-COVID scenario.

Glass Ionomer Filling Market in Dental Restoration: Highlights from the Report

The dental industry proves to be extremely dynamic with major players focusing on the development of advanced products better addressing the changing market requirements. This also drives several M&As in the industry intended at gaining the leading position or to maintain the market positions. Like other end-use industries, the dental industry is heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic leading to production halts due to the lockdown, supply-chain disruptions, remote work, adjusted staff hampering production speed, pandemic-related costs, and slackened demand. All the major companies, such as 3M (Oral Care Division), Dentsply Sirona, and Envista (Danaher Corporation) registered a double-digit decline in the first two quarters of 2020.

The market for dental restoration, one of the major segments of the dental industry, is enduring several challenges due to social distancing and shelter-in-place mandates across the globe and is anticipated to register a hefty decline in 2020. Glass ionomers are one of the most widely used materials for dental restoration and are also estimated to record a huge decline in their demand this year.

Despite the hefty decline in short-term demand, the long-term outlook still seems positive for the glass ionomer filling material market. The market is expected to recover from 2021 and reach US$ 0.46 billion in 2025 supported by the following factors:

Protocols for safe execution of dental procedures

Patient footfall rebound in dental clinics

Advancements in dental procedures

Rising dental tourism

Growing dental expenditure

Glass Ionomer filling materials release fluoride ions to prevent tooth decay in the future, apart from excellent esthetics. Such properties will augment the demand for glass ionomer filling materials for dental restoration in years to come.

Click Here and Run Through the TOC of the Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/1009/glass-ionomer-market-in-dental-restoration.html

Analysis by Type of Defect: Class-I defect is rising due to unhealthy eating habits.

Based on the defect class type, Class-I type of defect is likely to remain the largest and the fastest-growing segment of the market during the forecast period. The rising population coupled with unhealthy eating habits amongst teenagers and young children have significantly increased the cases of class-I defect. Class V is the second-fastest-growing defect type during the same period.

Analysis by Type of End-User: Dental clinics are the largest users driven by growing number of dentists.

The market is segmented based on the end-user type into hospitals, dental clinics, and laboratories. Dental clinic currently holds the largest share of the market and are expected to maintain its position during the forecast period as well. A growing number of dentists coupled with specialized attention provided to patients at dental clinics has led to its dominance. Hospitals also have a significant share of the market. High budget as well as large patient footfall to augment the segmental growth.

Regional Analysis: Europe is ahead of the pack with higher preference of glass ionomer fillings over amalgam.

In terms of region, Europe occupies the lion's share of the global dental restorative glass ionomer filling market. The region is also expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period, owing to the higher preference of glass ionomer fillings over amalgam. Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during 2020-2025. This is mainly because of the high population base of key Asian countries, such as India and China, coupled with a rapid shift from amalgam to glass ionomer filling in the region. Additionally, the rise in the demand for regular oral check-ups to have oral hygiene is elevating the demand for glass ionomer filling in this region.

Register Here for a Free Sample of the Detailed Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/1009/glass-ionomer-market-in-dental-restoration.html

Key Players & Strategies

The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, glass ionomer filling manufacturers, dentists/dental experts, and patients. The major dental glass ionomer filling manufacturers are

3M

Coltene Holdings AG

Dentsply Sirona

Envista

Mitsui Chemicals

Tokoyama Dental Corp.

Bisco, Inc.

Parkell Inc.

Ultradent Products, Inc.

These companies manufacture glass ionomer filling materials either in the form of powder or liquid along with their accessories as complete dental kits.

Some of the Key Events and Strategic Alliances in the Market:

The market's attractiveness has led to a series of strategic events and M&As by key players to better align with market growth.

In 2019, Danaher Corporation separated its dental platform by forming Envista Holdings Corporation, one of the largest global dental products companies.

In 2016, Dentsply International Inc. and Sirona Dental Systems Inc. merged to form Dentsply Sirona Inc. to create the world's largest and the most diversified manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies.

In 2014, Kerr (now a subsidiary of Envista) acquired Dux Dental to further expand its product portfolio and to better serve dental professionals.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.

Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.

Market trend and forecast analysis.

Market segment trend and forecast.

Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.

Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.

Emerging trends.

Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.

Key success factors.

This report studies the glass ionomer filling market in dental restoration and has segmented the market in three ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the three ways in which the market is segmented:

Dental Restorative Glass Ionomer Filling Market, By Defect Class Type:

Class I (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Class II (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Class III (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Class IV (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Class V (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Class VI (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Dental Restorative Glass Ionomer Filling Market, By End-User Type:

Hospital (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Dental Clinic (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Laboratory (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Dental Restorative Glass Ionomer Filling Market, By Region:

North America (Country Analysis: The USA , Canada , and Mexico )

Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , The UK, France , Italy , Russia , Spain , and Rest of Europe )

Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China , Japan , India , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil , the UAE, and Others)

Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the advanced materials industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports:

https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/Advanced-Materials.html

About Stratview Research

Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas.

We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies.

Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.

For enquiries, please contact:

Stratview Research

E-mail: [email protected]

Direct: +1-313-307-4176

SOURCE Stratview Research
The chairman of listed builders Abbey saw his remuneration package rise to 1.3m from 1.2m during the company's most recent financial year.

Charles Gallagher was paid a salary, including fees, of 1,340,000 and received benefit in kind of 27,000.

The came despite a sharp drop in profit before tax to 32.9m from 53m during the period, as trading in the three months to the end of April was significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company's two other executives, Lorenzo Fraquelli and Nick Collins, also saw their renumeration increase.

Mr Fraquelli. who is managing director of Abbey Developments Limited, saw hiscombined salary and benefits in kind package rise to 540,000 from 491,000.

Mr Collins, the managing director of the Kingscroft Developments Limited arm of Abbey, also saw his remuneration increase to 293,000 from 284,000.

Yesterday the company announced that Gallagher Holdings Limited, which owns the majority of Abbey, had increased its share in the company to 94.02pc.

This percentage shareholding is based on the latest shares in issue of 20,907,610 ordinary shares following recent share buyback transactions.

On Friday Abbey purchased 4,500 ordinary shares for 16.00 per share for cancellation.

Abbey's revenue from continuing operations tumbled to 182.1m in the last financial year to April 30 from 230.9m in the previous year.

The construction firm said it had completed 490 sales in the year to the end of April, with 405 of those in the UK and 57 in Ireland.

The remainder were in the Czech Republic.

In Ireland its portfolio includes developments in Kilcoole, county Wicklow, and Portarlington in Laois.

The 83-year old company has previous stated that in light of the current Covid-19 crisis it would not be recommending a dividend.

Shares in the company were up over 3pc yesterday afternoon in Dublin.
Townsville, Gladstone and Mackay might soon be renamed because of their dark links to the slave trade amid the Black Lives Matter movement.

Some Queensland towns are named after men who conducted blackbirding missions in the late 19th century.

Blackbirding was the coercion or kidnapping of vulnerable people who were brought to Australia to work as poorly paid labourers.

The fresh calls come after Aboriginal activist and former Greens MP Lidia Thorpe suggested Queensland and Victoria should change their names since they honour Queen Victoria, who presided over the British Empire.

There has been increased pressure to disassociate from historical figures tied to the slavery movement in the wake of the Black Lives Matters protests, which saw statues of slave traders pulled down across the U.S. and Britain.

Townsville was named after Robert Towns, a master mariner and businessman who exploited cheap migrant labour from the South Sea Islands, India and China.

Russell Island, in Moreton Bay, Queensland, could soon be renamed due to links with 'pro-slavery' Lord Russell

Tony Magrathea (pictured) lodged the petition which gathered 393 signatures in Queensland

Similarly, Mackay got its name from Captain John Mackay, who travelled to China and the Pacific Islands for blackbirding expeditions between 1865 and 1883.

Gladstone was named after former British prime minister William Ewart Gladstone, whose father was one of the largest slave owners in the British Empire.

The cities are in the limelight due to their connections to 'pro-slavery' historical figures.

Tony Magrathea, from Dicky Beach on the Sunshine Coast, took a petition to state Parliament to draw attention to Queensland locations 'named after British aristocrats and politicians who were slave traders or pro-slavery in their public life'.

Mr Magrathea gathered 393 signatures for his 'renaming places associated with pro-slavery politicians' petition, which was tabled on July 15.

'Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to discover and rename all places named for British aristocrats and politicians who were in favour of slavery,' he wrote.

The signatories said Russell Island should be the first location under consideration, claiming Lord Russell voted against slavery abolition.

Queensland Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham responded to Mr Magrathea's petition on Friday and said his department had been removing racist names in recent years.

Lord John Russell (1792 -1878)

Jim Crow Mountain (pictured) near Rockhampton has been given its former indigenous name of 'Baga', removing a reminder of colonialism that local traditional owners found offensive

'I am aware that some place names chosen in the past might not be considered appropriate today,' he wrote.

'In recent years the department has been removing racist names that are clearly inappropriate.'

Mr Lynham said the department had reinstated the names of two mountains in the Rockhampton area to the indigenous names of Baga (formerly Jim Crow Mountain) and Gai-i (formerly Mount Wheeler).

Jim Crow was likely named after state and local laws that enforced social segregation in the United States, while some believe Mount Wheeler got its name from a police officer responsible for the massacre of indigenous people.

'Place naming creates an important connection between people, history and place,' Mr Lynham wrote.

'However, for the Darumbal people - the Traditional Owners of the Rockhampton area - the now renamed Mount Wheeler and Jim Crow Mountain were a hurtful reminder of colonial history.'

Queensland places named after controversial figures TOWNSVILLE Townsville was named after Robert Towns, a master mariner and businessman who exploited cheap migrant labour from the South Sea Islands, India and China MACKAY Mackay got its name from Captain John Mackay who travelled to China and the Pacific Islands for blackbirding expeditions between 1865 and 1883 GLADSTONE Gladstone was named after former British prime minister William Ewart Gladstone, whose father was one of the largest slave owners in the British Empire JIM CROW MOUNTAIN Believed to have been named after state and local laws that enforced social segregation in the United States MOUNT WHEELER Some believe Mount Wheeler got its name from a police officer responsible for the massacre of Indigenous people Advertisement

Townsville is one place that has been mentioned a possible target for renaming

But Lord John Russell, who lived from 1792 to 1878, was the British Secretary of State for Colonies, and a member of the British Parliament, was against slavery.

Lord Russell presented a petition for the abolition of slavery on July 4, 1828, according to the History of Parliament online.

Citizens living on Russell Island are not as fussed by the proposed name change, Nine News reported.

'People these days are just picking at everything. Let's rename this cheese, let's rename this island,' one resident said.

The Redland City Council tried to rename the island five years ago, with the hope of giving it its Indigenous name.

'We're trying to recognise the Indigenous name for Russell Island  so that's Canaipa Island,' Councillor Mark Edwards said.

Gladstone's name may be on the chopping block over historical ties to a British prime minister whose father was a huge slave owner

Black Lives Matter protesters vandalised a statue of Winston Churchill in Britain in June

Activists have made a concerted effort in recent years to remove cultural touchstones including destroying historical statues, renaming places and changing memorial days.

This push has culminated in the tearing down of statues across Britain and the USA during Black Lives Matter protests.

Ms Thorpe, who represented the Greens in the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 2017 and 2018, made headlines when she said Australian states Queensland and Victoria should be renamed.

Queen Victoria granted permission to become a separate colony in 1859, and the new colony was named Queensland (Queen's land) in her honour. Similarly, Victoria was also named after Queen Victoria when the colony was established in 1851.

Aboriginal activist and former Greens MP Lidia Thorpe (pictured) said she wants both Queensland and Victoria to change their names since they honour British Empire ruler Queen Victoria

Ms Thorpe suggested the Victoria name change in an interview with The Herald Sun, in which she said: 'Anything that's named after someone who's caused harm or murdered people, then I think we should take their name down.'

Ms Thorpe in 2017 became the first Aboriginal woman elected to the Victorian Parliament when she won the inner-Melbourne seat of Northcote at a by-election following the death of former Labor minister Fiona Richardson.

Little more than a year later, she lost her seat at the 2018 general election.

As a senator for Victoria, Ms Thorpe said she would campaign for a treaty with indigenous people.

'It could even stay the same if that's what people want, if that's part of the negotiation outcome of a treaty where everyone gets to understand both sides,' she said.
The massive protests in Belarus are a chance for the European Union to try and flex its rarely used foreign-policy muscle in what could be a defining historical moment.

The blocs 27 leaders will hold an emergency conference call on Wednesday to discuss the violent aftermath of Belaruss presidential election, which the EU said was neither free nor fair. And while options are limited, timely action could sway the outcome while also redefining the EUs international role.

Since emerging from a decade of internal crises -- from euro-area debt chaos to the UK becoming the first country to leave the bloc -- the EU has found itself caught in a struggle between the US and China, and with its old foe Russia still causing trouble. No longer able, and in some cases willing, to piggyback onto American power, the EU wants to strike out on its own.

What we have witnessed in Belarus is not acceptable, European Council President Charles Michel, who will chair the video conference, said in a letter to the leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

But aside from symbolism, theres a ceiling to what they can do and toughening the rhetoric remains their main arsenal. The blocs foreign ministers have already agreed to start working on sanctions -- though leaders may push to expedite them.

Russias Role

The EUs leadership believes the response to the situation has been too muted, in particular on the role that Russian President Vladimir Putin might play in shoring up Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, according to an EU official in Brussels. There should be no outside interference, Michel made a point of saying in his letter.

Eastern European countries geographically close to Belarus such as Poland and the Baltic states pushed for the call, arranged for noon Brussels time on Wednesday, but Michel needed little persuasion, EU officials said.

He and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen started their mandates at the end of last year with teams that reflected a new-found focus on international issues and although the coronavirus pandemic has stymied their plans, that vision hasnt altered. And the EUs foreign-policy chief, Spains Josep Borrell, has shown a willingness in the past to speak his mind even though he has limited powers.

These peaceful demonstrations had clear demands: the release of all unlawfully detained people, the prosecution of those responsible for police brutality, and holding of new presidential elections, Borrell said in a statement on Monday. The sheer numbers clearly show that the Belarusian population wants change, and wants it now. The EU stands by them.

The call will be as much about showing how the EU can act when it believes a line has been crossed, one EU official said, and its willingness to directly take on Putin.

Another added that while the outcome needs to be more than a mere statement, theres a balancing act between taking measures that sends a strong signal and steps that are counter-productive and make a negotiated solution harder.
A Lincoln man facing murder and gun charges in connection to the fatal shooting of a 32-year-old man downtown in March has pleaded not guilty.

Marcus Winston, 35, had been set for arraignment Wednesday morning but instead entered the plea in writing and waived his court appearance.

Winston hasn't yet been given a trial date on charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony for Timothy Montgomerys killing during a disturbance at 13th and O streets shortly before bar break.

Police said multiple officers working in the downtown area heard gunshots at 1:31 a.m. March 15 and found Montgomery, who had been shot once in the chest.

He died about an hour later at a Lincoln hospital.

Police contacted another man, Nathaniel Love, after being called to a medical emergency at an apartment near Eighth and G streets about 20 minutes after the shooting on O Street. He had been shot in the leg.

Police suspected he had been shot by Winston.

Love, who is accused of being an accessory to a felony in connection to Montgomery's killing, entered a written not guilty plea last week.

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Israel Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi spoke today on the phone with his Omani counterpart, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah. The rare phone call focused on the Israeli-United Arab Emirates (UAE) normalization accord, announced Aug. 13, and other recent regional developments. After the phone call, Ashkenazi tweeted, "We spoke about recent developments in the region, the normalization agreement with the United Arab Emirates and the need to strengthen relations between Israel and Oman." He added, "The Omani Foreign Minister emphasized the strong stance of the Sultan and his [support for] achieving of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East as well as the need to resume peace negotiations."

Relations between Israel and Oman had warmed up in recent years, and especially since 2018 when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, visited Muscat and met with Sultan Qaboos. The phone call today might indicate that Oman would be next in line for establishing diplomatic ties with Israel.

Yesterday, Israel's Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said that Bahrain and Oman could soon follow the UAE in recognizing the State of Israel. In the wake of this agreement will come additional agreements, both with more Gulf countries and with Muslim countries in Africa. I think that Bahrain and Oman are definitely on the agenda. In addition, in my assessment, there is a chance that already in the coming year there will be a peace deal with additional countries in Africa, chief among them Sudan, said Cohen.

As a reminder, in February 2000 Netanyahu met in Uganda with Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan's Sovereign Council. Since then, other senior Sudanese officials have made positive statements on Israel, though renewal of relations has not been announced yet.

Mauritania, another Muslim African country, could also be a candidate for renewing ties with Israel. After the 1993 Oslo Accords, Israel established a mission in Nouakchott and later on opened an embassy there. But a decade ago, with pressure coming from Iran, Mauritanians severed diplomatic ties with Israel. Since then, the relations between Nouakchott and Tehran became complicated. These complications might explain the favorable reaction in Mauritania to the Israel-UAE deal. Mauritania, a member of the Arab League, said it trusts the wisdom and good judgment of the UAE leadership in signing the agreement with Israel. Its Foreign Ministry said, The UAE possesses absolute sovereignty and complete independence in conducting its relations and assessing the positions it takes in accordance with its national interest and the interests of Arabs and Muslims."

In the meantime, Israel advances in big steps toward strengthening ties with the UAE. President Reuven Rivlin extended today an invitation to the crown prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to visit Jerusalem. A delegation composed of Israeli diplomats and officials from the office of the National Security Council is expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi in the coming days.
FULTON, NY  The coronavirus nightmare for the Rydelek family began in May.

The Rydeleks own a Syracuse-area medical transport company, and Slavka Rydelek often drove for the company. An essential worker, she one day transported a client from a doctors office to home.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is eager to make India a key location to conduct business, one ruling made by the Supreme Court could threaten to stymie businesses and scuttled deals, Bloomberg revealed.

The apex court ended the 38-year saga of an alleged turmeric forger, who was arrested in 1982, and, eventually, sentenced to a month in jail along with an Rs 500 fine. Nearly after a decade, the top court reversed his conviction. This after the two lower courts took around 14 years each to render verdicts.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

While the World Bank ranks India third in terms of doing business. When it comes to enforcing contracts, it appears nearly at the bottom, worse than Pakistan, Senegal, and Syria, the report said.

Listen: Setting Sail podcast | Wow Momo may cut jobs in September, business still not back to pre-Covid level: Sagar Daryani

The report quotes Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics and Strategy at Mizuho Bank in Singapore, as saying, "The complexity, the unnecessary delays -- it shows how India lags countries like China in their judicial system and just how much further they have to go."

The report also mentions how legal and compliance expenses of companies listed in India increased to just over $3 billion in the fiscal ending March 2018, up 57 percent in five years, Mint reported.

The long time to resolution creates a lot of uncertainty for foreign companies otherwise interested in doing business in India, said Souvik Ganguly, Managing Partner at Mumbai-based Acuity Law. Uncertainty makes investors nervous, Ganguly said, adding that India is competing against Singapore, Thailand and other countries, which are much faster to resolve disputes.

According to the report, when IHH Healthcares attempted to take over hospital chain Fortis Healthcare, the deal was scuttled by Daiichi Sankyo Cos four-year fight to enforce a $500 million arbitration agreement against Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh.

In another case, the Indian Supreme Court directed the provincial government in West Bengal to return land leased to Tata Motors back to local farmers after 10 years.

Part of the backlog is a result of judicial vacancies. Government data showed, that in 25 high courts, which hear most of the commercial disputes, 37 percent of judgeships were vacant as of August 1. As for lower courts, the most recent data identified a vacancy rate of around 23 percent.

The law ministry told Parliament last year that it is coordinating with the judges of the Supreme Court and high court to fill up the vacancies. Last week, a panel of Supreme Court judges recommended 11 new judges for appointments across three different high courts, the report said, adding that there the ministry did not respond to emails or phones calls seeking comment.
English Swedish

Stockholm August 18, 2020: Aino Health announces today that they have signed an agreement with Stockholm City Mission for the SaaS solution HealthManager. The solution will be implemented in September/October 2020.

With the implementation of Aino HealthManager, The Stockholm City Missions managers get automated and long-term support for proactive valuable dialogues where they greatly can increase the well-being and engagement with their employees.

After having searched the market for this kind of services, we have not seen another solution with the same flexibility, usability, and which has the same robust analytics tool as Aino HealthManager, says Pia Radda Hanning, HR Manager Stockholm City Mission.

We are happy to welcome the Stockholm City Mission as a customer and we are very proud to be able to help a non-profit organization, like the Stockholm City Mission, to work with the well-being and engagement of their employees. This is also a very exciting organization with a genuine purpose in a, for us, new vertical, says Jyrki Eklund, CEO Aino Health.

HealthManager is a SaaS solution that supports managers with internal health-related processes and absence management. It also offers reporting and analytic tools to follow key metrics related to corporate health management. The goal of the solution is to decrease sick leave and increase employee engagement.







For more information:

Jyrki Eklund, VD Aino Health

Phone: +358 40 042 4221

jyrki.eklund@ainohealth.com

Certified adviser

Erik Penser Bank

+46 8 463 83 00

certifiedadviser@penser.se





About Stockholm City Mission:

The Stockholm City Mission is an idea-based organization, independent of the state, municipality, and church, which cooperates with the municipality, region, and other non-profit organizations. The organization is there for people who are homeless, suffer from abuse, children, young people, and the elderly. Stockholm City Mission also conducts school operations and social enterprises. The work is carried out by staff and volunteers. The business is funded with donations from individual donors, companies, parishes, foundations and foundations, contributions from the state, municipality, and region as well as income from the social enterprises. For more information: www.stadsmissionen.se.

About Aino Health (publ):

Aino Health is the leading supplier of Software as a Service solutions in Corporate Health Management. The companys complete system of SaaS platforms and services reduces sick leave, lowers related costs, and improves business results through increased productivity and employee engagement by making health, wellbeing, and safety an integrated part of everyday work. For more information: www.ainohealth.com.








Whats new: The staff who worked at the Chinese Consulate General in Houston, which the U.S. government ordered closed last month, were welcomed back to China by Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Beijing Capital International Airport on Monday.

In a speech to the staff, Wang praised their calm behavior and said they had safeguarded the countrys interests in an extremely difficult and even dangerous environment, according to reports by the state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Wang said that the Consulate General in Houston showed that anti-China forces in the United States are undermining bilateral relations and deliberately trying to block China's development, Xinhua reported.

The background: On July 21, Washington demanded the closure of the consulate within 72 hours over allegations of spying and stealing intellectual property. On July 24, Beijing ordered the shutdown of the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu. American staff at the consulate were given 30 days to leave the country, according to U.S. media reports.

Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use.

Contact reporter Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com) and editor Joshua Dummer (joshuadummer@caixin.com)
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Thailand's monarchy has long been considered untouchable, an institution of vast wealth and power protected against scrutiny by draconian laws. It is often described as a sacred and revered institution, purportedly above politics. With a new king, criticisms long whispered are spilling into the open. King Maha Vajiralongkorns lavish lifestyle, mostly enjoyed in Germany, colourful personal history and volatile reputation have made him a figure of fear in some quarters and ridicule in others. Protests across many provinces in 2020, defying emergency decrees in the middle of a pandemic, made oblique references to the monarchy and its power. In August, the criticism became explicit, with a series of protests taking aim not only at the structure of the monarchy and its influence in politics and military affairs but at the king personally. Update: Anger boils over In October, anti-monarchy protests became much more fierce and direct. The queen's motorcade came close to protesters on October 14, and the government responded with a harsh emergency edict. Water cannon and tear-gas have been fired on protesters, many of whom are high school students. Top protest leaders have been among about 100 people arrested and major rally points have been closed, but the youth have borrowed tactics from Hong Kong and staged large flash mobs. The King pointedly met former communist insurgents, telling them to teach the younger generations to love the monarchy. Why is such criticism extremely unusual in Thailand? What laws protect the king? How are this years protests different from the past? And how does Harry Potter and a 500-year-old elephant battle fit into all of this? King Maha Vajiralongkorn's coronation went for three days in May 2019. Credit:Thailand's Royal Public Relations Department Why is criticism of Thailands king unusual?

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Because its effectively outlawed. A law known as lese-majeste  literally injured majesty  is infamous in Thailand. Article 112 of the countrys criminal code says anyone who defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent can be punished with a jail term of between three and 15 years. The law has been used to quell almost all criticism of the royal family. Several countries have similar statutes on the books but Thailands lese-majeste law is the worlds harshest. Punishments are often imposed consecutively, meaning sentences can be decades long. Truth is often not a defence. This is why, for generations, little has been said openly, even in private, about the king in Thailand. Guide books have warned tourists against insults. The law has been around since 1908 but the penalties were toughened by a military junta in 1976, and the number of charges and length of sentences increased markedly in the last years of the previous kings rule. After a coup in 2014, the junta issued an edict allowing prosecutions for liking or sharing content on social media, and there was a notorious case where a young activist was incarcerated for sharing a BBC Thai profile of Vajiralongkorn. The king with consort Sineenat Bilaskalayani and a pet dog on a military aircraft in August 2019. Credit:Thailand Royal Household Bureau Who is the king? King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, is the 10th monarch in the Chakri dynasty, which dates back to 1782. The family had absolute rule until a revolution in 1932.

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The long reign of Vajiralongkorns father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, was responsible for the high regard in which the monarchy has been held. Through a series of development projects (and with the support of propaganda), he won a place in many Thai hearts and was often greeted with adoring crowds. By the end of his 70 years on the throne in 2016, he had come to be regarded by many as the father of the nation. Vajiralongkorn is Bhumibols only son. He was a student at The King's School in Parramatta and at Duntroon, the Australian Army's officer training college, from 1972 until 1975. He was 66 when he formally assumed the throne in an elaborate, three-day ceremony in May 2019. The Prince arrives in Sydney as an 18-year-old to begin his studies in 1970. Credit:Antony Matheus Linsen Married four times and with seven children, Vajiralongkorns reputation as a playboy dates back to when he was a young man. His mother even referred to him in the 1980s as a little bit of a Don Juan. His first marriage, to a cousin, officially ended in 1993, although by then he had five children with the woman, a former actress, who became his second wife. That marriage lasted two years until, in 1996, she left for Britain with the children. She and their four sons were later granted asylum in the US by the Clinton administration; the daughter, now a fashion designer, was raised by her father. The then crown prince with a fellow student at The King's School in Sydney in 1970. Credit:Edward Beresford The king had a son, Prince Dipangkorn, with his third wife, Srirasmi, in 2005, who notoriously wore only a g-string in a video of a 2009 birthday party thrown for a prize poodle, Foo Foo. She was stripped of her titles in December 2014 and put under house arrest, where she remains, while seven relatives were charged with corruption and/or lese-majeste for profiting from their royal connections, and many were handed hefty jail terms.

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Vajiralongkorn with his third wife, Srirasmi, and their son, Dipangkorn, at Paris Fashion Week in 2007. Credit:Getty Images Vajiralongkorns relationship with his fourth wife, a flight attendant, had been long rumoured but he surprised the world three days before his coronation by announcing they were married. He also briefly had a consort, an army officer elevated to a rank not seen since the end of absolute monarchy. She was stripped of her titles in October 2019 for disloyalty and plotting against the queen, but returned to the court in an order dated August 28, 2020, which called her "flawless". One former palace insider says the king has a temper and makes emotional decisions. The military is closely linked to his identity, analysts say, as he values discipline, has close advisers who were in the armed forces, and bestows military ranks on favoured women. Since coming to power, he has taken direct control of several army units, assumed personal ownership of the Crown Property Bureaus fortune (estimated at somewhere between $40-$70 billion) and intervened in the drafting of the constitution  there have been 20 new or revised charters in Thailand since 1932  to ensure he could spend more time in Germany. He flies back to Thailand for important occasions. Of his reputation, when he was crown prince he said that black sheep were useful in making other sheep appear whiter. Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa, pictured here in 2009, has been charged under lese-majeste five times. Credit:The Age Who has been charged under lese-majeste laws?

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Thai Lawyers for Human Rights knows of 25 people now in jail for lese-majeste. Notable cases have included a DVD seller charged for distributing an ABC Foreign Correspondent report containing clips of Foo Foos scandalous birthday; Australian author Harry Nicolaides was sentenced to three years' jail, and later pardoned, over a line in a work of fiction; and a man was sentenced to 70 years, halved because he confessed, over 10 messages on Facebook. The most attention-grabbing case was over a 500-year-old elephant battle involving a long-dead king that had been used as the basis for a series of royalist films. Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa questioned the accuracy of the Thai version of history and was charged. It took until 2018 for the king to step in and have the case quashed. Sulak, who has beaten the charge five times, says the king not only put an end to his case but ordered a stop to lese-majeste prosecutions. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also said the king did not want the law to be used. Its true there have been no new lese-majeste prosecutions since 2018; other laws have been used instead. Sedition laws and the Computer Crimes Act each carry hefty penalties and can be used for alleged offences against national security. But that moratorium may be over: on August 13, protest leader Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, 24, posted that he was facing a lese-majeste charge and a day later was carried away by plainclothes police on the way to a demonstration. Protest leader Parit Penguin Chiwarak outside the criminal court in Bangkok after his release on bail on August 15. Credit:AP So why are there protests now?

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Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has tested positive for the coronavirus, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at a meeting of the governmental commission on the social and economic development of the Far East, which took place in the city of Blagoveshchensk in the Far East.



"Unfortunately, Alexander Novak has contracted the coronavirus. Lets wish him a speedy recovery. In fact, he came all the way here and returned to Moscow without taking part [in the meeting]," Mishustin said.

Meanwhile, Energy Ministry Spokesperson Olga Golant said that Novak will take part in a meeting of the OPEC+ monitoring committee set to be held on August 19, TASS reported.

"Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak tested positive for COVID-19 during a working trip to the Far East. He doesnt have any symptoms and feels well. The energy minister will continue to fulfill his duties remotely. In particular, on August 19, he will take part in a meeting of the OPEC+ monitoring committee via video link," she said.

Earlier, it was reported that the entire pool of journalists accompanying Mishustin during his trip to the Far East departed from Blagoveshchensk, the administrative center of the Amur Region, after new coronavirus cases were confirmed.

The media representatives left the hotel with those of them who had contracted the virus traveling in a separate van. They were among the first to be taken onboard the Emergencies Ministrys evacuation flight, where they were isolated. All journalists were given protective suits, masks and gloves. After all of them put on the suits, they were taken to the plane in a bus. The flight was performed by Sukhoi Superjet 100.

The Russian governments press service reported on Monday that during routine tests some journalists of the pool tested positive for the coronavirus. The cabinet announced that all necessary measures were taken to protect their life and health. The reporters were isolated and remain under control of doctors. Later they were sent to Moscow under medical supervision with all sanitary and epidemiological measures being observed.

Earlier, some journalists of the prime ministers pool were taken from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the Far East to Moscow to be placed under quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus. Other media representatives continued their work and traveled with the prime minister to Magadan and Blagoveshchensk. All journalists passed their last test on August 17 after arriving in the Amur Regions capital.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev earlier had to suspend participation in the events scheduled for his working trip after testing positive for the coronavirus.

The Russian prime ministers Far Eastern tour began on August 13 and is due to end on August 18. During his trip, Mishustin visited Chukotka, Kamchatka and the Magadan and Amur regions.
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Fortis Healthcare, which has seen occupancy levels nosedive due to the sharp fall in elective surgeries, outpatient consultations and stoppage of international patients, has struggled to capture the Covid-19 opportunity. That, too, despite setting aside a major part of its infrastructure to treat patients afflicted by the disease.

The company says the reason for low realisations from Covid-19 is due to the price caps imposed by State governments and the declining trend of cases in the geographies that it operates in.

Of the 3,650 operational beds in its network, Fortis Healthcare has currently allocated around 1,260 beds for Covid-19 patients.

Battered by COVID

The country's third-largest hospital chain had seen some normalcy returning to its business operations in FY20 under new owner IHH Healthcare. However, Covid-19 disrupted that in Q1FY21.

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

Hospital business revenue in Q1 FY21 stood at Rs 488.3 crore, a fall of 47 percent from Rs 913 crore in the year-ago period. Revenues from Covid-19 treatment were approximately 8 percent of hospital revenues.

As of July, Fortis hospital network had an occupancy level of 51 percent, of which Covid-19 patients accounted for 14.3 percent, an improvement from just 3.7 percent in May, but not nearly enough to reach the pre-Covid occupancy levels of 65-70 percent.

The (COVID-19 numbers have started flattening across major geographies where we have hospitals, I don't expect any massive increase, Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, MD and CEO, Fortis Healthcare, said in a recent media call.

Also there are a lot of regulations that have come on pricing. The yield coming down would result in similar revenues as we have seen in the first quarter, Raghuvanshi added.

Geographical factor

Most of Fortis hospitals are concentrated in Delhi NCR and Mumbai, where there has been a steady decline in Covid-19 cases.

Delhi, which was reporting 3,500-4,000 Covid cases on a daily basis in June, is now seeing less than 1,000 cases a day. Mumbai, too, has seen a steady decline in daily cases from about 6,000 in June to less than 1,000 cases a day now.

Moreover, Maharashtra and Delhi have capped the prices of Covid-19 treatment. For instance, in June, the Delhi government capped charges for intensive care unit beds with ventilator support of Covid patients at Rs 18,000, a norm applicable to 60 per cent of the total private beds in the national capital.

Maharashtra, too, capped the charges for a Covid-19 patient in an isolation ward at Rs 4,000 a day. The maximum charge for an ICU has been capped at Rs 7,500 per day, and charges for ventilators are capped at Rs 9,000 a day. This is applicable for 80 percent of beds.

Earlier, private hospitals were charging between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 a day for a ventilator. With the price caps, the charges are now about 70-80 percent lower than before. While there are allegations of private hospitals flouting the caps, the hospitals have denied this.

The prices for Covid-19 treatment are controlled across the geographies we are present in. We comply with existing regulations, and are trying to make the whole process as transparent as possible, Raghuvanshi said.

Gradual recovery expected

Raghuvanshi says that with the gradual opening up of the economy, business momentum has improved and Fortis is seeing a gradual uptick on a month-on-month basis.

OPD and IPD volumes have shown a month on month improvement, resulting in a gradual recovery of non-Covid patient flow, he said.

Hospital occupancy, which had dropped to 29 percent in April, has become stable at a little over 50 percent in July and August.

About 9 percent of all the OPD consultations now happen digitally, and the hospital chain expects more OPD consultations to move online as it strengthens its technology platform.

Raghuvanshi says the recovery could be gradual as the majority of patients postpone elective surgeries further. Restrictions on international travel, limited lockdowns in select States, and the ongoing regulatory uncertainty are also factors affecting performance, he said.
Australians will be fined $140 every day unless they leave Bali as Indonesia attempts to control its coronavirus outbreak.

The country previously chose to freeze all visa arrangements for international travellers and allowed them to stay.

The arrangement is expected to end on Thursday, which will mean that the estimated 7,000 Australians living there will face the daily penalties.

Australians will face a $140 fine per day if they stay Bali without a visa extension as the government ends the grace period on Thursday. Pictured are tourists in Bali in June

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smart Traveller website warned Australians last week to apply to extend their visa or make plans to come home as soon as possible.

'Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration will no longer automatically extend expired visas or stay permits under COVID-19 emergency arrangements,' it said.

'Overstaying your permit may result in fines, detention and/or deportation.'

It noted that COVID-19 was 'widespread' in Indonesia and Australians were not allowed to travel to the island nation.

There are an estimated 7,000 Australians that chose to stay in Bali during the global pandemic. Pictured are tourists on the beach in August

Indonesian Institute president Ross Taylor said the changes had left many Australian's unprepared but he believed that detention was unlikely.

'It has really caused a lot of panic, he told The West Australian.

Mr Taylor said the group is lobbying to extend the visa freeze to allow Australians to get out of the country without facing massive charges due to flight delays.

'We just want to give people a chance because at the moment there are no international flights operating out of Bali,' he said.

Mr Taylor said the only available routes out of Bali would take Australians through a string of countries and cost thousands of dollars.

He said once Australians arrived they would need to foot an additional $2,500 bill to be placed in hotel quarantine.

Australians may find it difficult to get back home with a very limited amount of internal flights available. Pictured are tourists at Bali Airport in July

WA Premier Mark McGowan said he would be looking at ways to bring home Australians while keeping his state safe.

'Obviously we have to cope with large numbers of people still coming into the country,' he said.

'At any given point in time we have between 1200 and 1500 people in quarantine hotels.'

Mr McGowan said he wanted to avoid a Victoria-style outbreak from the influx of travellers.
Xiaomi India is going to host another sale of the Redmi Note 9 Pro today. Launched in March, the handset is a follow up of the companys popular Redmi Note 8 Pro. The smartphone boasts of a new square camera module and a punch-hole display at the front. The company had also launched the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, a slightly beefed-up version offering a higher resolution camera and higher memory and RAM options. The Note 9 Pro will go on sale today at 12 noon on Amazon India and Mi.com.

SPECIFICATIONS

The Redmi Note 9 Pro features a 6.67-inch full-HD+ LCD display with a punch-hole placed on top center and a quad-camera setup in a square module. Like the previous Redmi Note 8 series, it has Gorilla Glass on the front and back, but this time the cameras are also protected with the same. Other notable design features include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner similar to the Poco X2 and the Realme 6 series.

The device is powered by the new 8nm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G which should be more efficient and slightly more powerful than the 730G. The smartphone will be offered in two variants- 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. There is also a dedicated microSD card slot to expand the storage further.

The square camera module is placed at the center and is raised from the main body. It includes a 48-megapixel main sensor next to an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera. There is also a 5-megapixel macro camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. At the front, there is a 16-megapixel selfie camera placed in the punch hole. According to the company, the camera is capable of shooting RAW photography and some nifty tricks in pro mode while shooting video.

The battery unit is rated at 5,020mAh which is said to be the biggest on a Redmi Note device and supports 18W fast charging. Rest of the features include support for 4G VoLTE, NaVIC GPS, dual-SIM card slots, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, P2i coating, USB Type-C and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The handset will come with Android 10 with MIUI 11. There are three colour options to choose from including Aurora Blue, Glacier White, and Interstellar Black.

PRICE AND OFFERS

The smartphone is priced at Rs 13,999 for the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant, and Rs 16,999 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. Airtel is offering double data benefits with Rs 298 and Rs 398 unlimited packs on the Note 9 Pro.
The governments of Ukraine and Israel have called on all pilgrims who plan to take part in this year's Rosh Hashanah celebrations in Ukraine to refrain from visiting the city of Uman due to the threatening epidemiological situation.

A joint Ukrainian-Israeli government statement on the pilgrimage of Hasidim to Uman on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah was published on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers, according to Ukrinform.

"The epidemiological situation in Ukraine and Israel, as well as in the world in general, unfortunately, does not allow us to traditionally mark the holiday this year as usual. Following the recommendations and warnings of the Ministries of Health of Ukraine and Israel, we urge all pilgrims who are planning to take part in this year's Rosh Hashanah celebrations in Ukraine to refrain from visiting the city of Uman due to the threatening epidemiological situation," the statement reads.

However, those who have decided to visit Uman should remember that lockdown restrictions in Ukraine apply to all public events and must be strictly adhered to.

"The governments of the two states jointly care for the health and safety of their citizens. We hope for understanding and sincerely believe that next year we will be able to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and other holidays together without any restrictions," the statement said.

In 2020, the celebration of Rosh Hashanah falls on September 18-20.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 16:53:12|Editor: huaxia

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People wearing face masks and shields walk at a market in Manila, the Philippines, Aug. 18, 2020. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines soared to 169,213 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 4,836 new daily cases on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

MANILA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines soared to 169,213 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 4,836 new daily cases on Tuesday.

The DOH said that the number of recoveries surged to 112,861 after it reported 182 more patients have survived the disease.

The death toll also increased to 2,687 after seven more patients have succumbed to the viral disease, the DOH added.

Metro Manila topped the five regions or provinces with the highest number of daily confirmed cases reported on Tuesday with 2,959, followed by Laguna province, south of Manila, 321; Cavite province, south of Manila, 220; Rizal province, east of Manila, 185; and Bulacan province, north of Manila, 145.

Starting Wednesday, lockdown restrictions in Metro Manila, where most of the COVID-19 cases are recorded, and four outlying provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal will be eased after a two-week stricter lockdown to allow more industries and businesses to open.

However, the government warned to impose strict "localized" lockdown in areas with clusters of infections. Police also recommend the implementation of evening curfew to limit the movement of people.

"Just be careful, follow the safeguards," President Rodrigo Duterte said in a televised public address late on Monday when he put Metro Manila and the neighboring four provinces under a less strict lockdown.

While the government has loosened the restrictions, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said several strict measures would be imposed to control the spread of the virus.

"We need to open the economy while refreshing the government's responses to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)," Roque said.

He said minimum health standards, including wearing masks when out in public and social distancing, will continue to be enforced, as the government ramps up tracing, isolating, and treating those who tested positive for the virus.

Roque said the rest of the country are placed under an even more relaxed modified general community quarantine.

Health authorities said the drivers of virus community transmission in the Philippines include the workers, the returning overseas Filipinos displaced by the pandemic, and jails, workplaces, and even the public transport such as trains.

The government is conducting house-to-house visits to find asymptomatic coronavirus patients so that they can be tested, isolated, and treated.

In mid-March, the Philippines imposed a lockdown in Metro Manila and other high-risk regions to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The restriction measures strictly limited the movement of the people and halted economic activities due to the travel bans and temporary closures of schools, transport and businesses. The economy contracted as a result.

The Philippines has been grappling with surging infections despite the initial lockdown imposed in the early part of the pandemic.
Were honored and excited to team up with Atlanta Beats Covid to provide face shields for teachers through our Labor Day Sales Event, said Stacey Ellis, vice president of Jim Ellis Automotive Group.

In response to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) available to teachers and students in the Atlanta area, Jim Ellis Automotive Group will be donating a portion of every sale of all new or pre-owned vehicles to Atlanta Beats Covid (ABC) during their upcoming Labor Day Sales event. The Labor Day Sales Event will take place from August 31 through September 7  all 18 Jim Ellis family-owned and operated dealerships will participate.

As we enter a new school year in the midst of a pandemic, teachers and educational staff are having to navigate unchartered territories. Teachers are currently going into their schools to plan curriculum, setup their classrooms and meet with other staff members, all in a potentially vulnerable environment. Unfortunately, many schools are not able to provide educators or students with face shields, masks or other PPE. Many schools and teachers also encounter difficulties getting their hands on PPE due to a nationwide shortage and shipping delays.

During the holiday sales event, prospective buyers can shop in-person or at any one of the 18 Jim Ellis family-owned and operated dealerships. Shoppers also have the convenient option to shop from home using the Jim Ellis Express Way. With the Jim Ellis Express Way, shoppers can search and compare thousands of vehicles in the entire Jim Ellis dealership network from their phone, computer or tablet. Shoppers can also configure their payment, value their trade, secure financing and more. At-home services allow you to complete your entire purchase without ever visiting a dealership  including the option to submit all paperwork electronically, complete a test drive and take delivery of your vehicle at home.

ABC is an ad-hoc group of volunteer makers, engineers, fabricators, seamsters and other Southeast industry experts that was founded to address the huge PPE shortage facing our medical workers and has now expanded to help our educators during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, ABC has provided over 28,000 pieces of PPE to the Atlanta community and 2,357 face shields to area schools since July 2020.

Were honored and excited to team up with Atlanta Beats Covid to provide face shields for teachers through our Labor Day Sales Event, said Stacey Ellis, vice president of Jim Ellis Automotive Group. Our hope is that we can help provide comfort and safety to those doing the important job of teaching our children.

ABOUT JIM ELLIS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Jim Ellis Automotive Group has been serving the Atlanta area since 1971. There are 14 brands under the tutelage of Jim Ellis Automotive Group: Alfa Romeo, Audi, Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. During the At-Home Labor Day Sales Event, each respective dealership will offer special incentives for their new and pre-owned car inventory.

ABOUT ATLANTA BEATS COVID

We are an ad-hoc group of volunteer makers, engineers, fabricators, seamsters, and other Southeast industry experts that are working to provide our hard-working healthcare providers and other vital members of our community with the necessary PPE that they need to stay safe while battling COVID-19.

For more information about ABC, request PPE, or to donate, please visit our website: https://atlantabeatscovid.com/

Contact

Caroline Dunn

869 Pickens Industrial Dr N E Suite# 1, Marietta, GA 30062

atlantabeatscovid@gmail.com
KENTWOOD, MI  A man has been arrested in Nebraska in the Aug. 10 killing of a Kentwood woman in her home.

Deolanda Galvez, 45, was found dead in her home at 502 Jennifer St. SE, near 48th Street and Eastern Avenue.

Kentwood police did not reveal how she died but early on considered her death suspicious. Police found her deceased after being asked to conduct a welfare check.

Police said the suspect who was known to the victim. He was recently found in Nebraska and held by Nebraska State Patrol. Kent County prosecutors issued an open-murder warrant against the suspect.

Prosecutors are working to extradite the suspect, whose name has not been released, to Michigan to face the charge.

Investigators asked anyone with information to contact Kentwood Police Department at 616-698-6580 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.

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The DNC was hosted by Eva Longoria

Viewers have slammed the 'boring' and 'unwatchable' first night of the Democratic National Convention, as America braces for three more nights of what many described as little more than a two-hour 'infomercial'.

'The DNC right now is like a 3am infomercial but has less sex appeal,' one person tweeted Monday night.

'Watching DNC convention, five minutes in... LAME... BORING... EVA LONGORIA... who cares,' another tweeted.

The convention opened Monday night with a stellar cast of Democrat supporters including former First Lady Michelle Obama, former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and the family of George Floyd - the black man whose 'murder' by a white cop in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests calling for an end to systemic racism across America.

However, despite the impassioned speeches, viewers were left struggling to connect with the convention after it shifted to a virtual format for the first time in its history in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Viewers were left struggling to connect with the DNC convention after it shifted to a virtual format for the first time in its history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joe Biden appeared by video feed from Delaware at the start of the programming

Biden speaks with Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, author Gwen Carr - mother of Eric Garner, Houston Police Chief Art Acevdeo and social justice activist Jamira Burley

Representative for Wisconsin Gwen Moore prepares to speak at the DNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, most of which took place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic

The party decided to scrap an in-person event in exchange for two hours of programming each night from Monday through to Thursday this week which will culminate in Joe Biden accepting the Democratic presidential nomination in his adopted hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

The Republicans are opting for a similar model when they too take the Republican National Convention virtual in a four-day event next week.

But concerns are now building that voters will tune out of the key events in the campaign calendars as a lack of live crowds, pre-recorded conversations and speeches, and 'stilted' programming failed to excite the audience on opening night.

The control room for the DNC. A lack of live crowds and 'stilted' programming failed to excite the audience on the convention's opening night

The party decided to scrap an in-person event in exchange for two hours of programming each night from Monday through to Thursday this week. Pictured is the control room

Staffers donned masks as they worked in the control room during the two-hour broadcast

Frustrated viewers took to social media Monday night to complain about the 'boring' first night of the DNC event. Staffers can be seen working in the control room

Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore took to the stage in a make-shift studio

The virtual conference even came with a virtual crowd who applauded as Michelle Obama finished her speech

Frustrated viewers took to social media Monday night to complain about the 'boring' first night of the DNC event.

'This DNC is so boring like I want 1996 again where everyone was doing the Macarena,' one person tweeted, referencing the footage that recently resurfaced of then-First Lady Hillary Clinton clapping and dancing along to the 90s dance craze at the convention that year.

'The DNC is so boring that Joe Biden already forgot who the nominee is,' added another.

Another suggested making up a drinking game to get through the two-hour event: 'Biden DNC Drinking Game Rule: Drink every time there's Amtrak.'

The Milwaukee convention had been expected to pull in crowds of around 50,000 delegates, journalists, party officials and VIPs but the party was forced to scale this back first to 5,000 attendees then to 1,000 and going almost-entirely virtual.

The absence of a live crowd wasn't lost on viewers, with one person commenting on social media: 'Oh is the crowdless DNC program coming off a bit stilted?'

Viewers have slammed the 'boring' and 'unwatchable' first night of the Democratic National Convention, as America braces for three more nights of what many described as little more than a two-hour 'infomercial'

Viewers were left baffled by the format which, instead of a high-energy live event on stage, many likened to an infomercial.

'I had to turn off the DNC because it was unwatchable but it was real weird going from commercials for super specific prescription drugs to prerecorded DNC Skype calls were everyone is speaking in the same tone as a Drug ad warning you about the side effects of Otezla,' one person tweeted.

'OK this definitely feels like a telethon,' tweeted another.

Another agreed: 'I don't have enough cannabis to get through this insipid DNC infomercial.'

Many viewers were left struggling to connect with the convention after it shifted to a virtual format for the first time in its history in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Criticism didn't just come from Republicans either, with Democratic supporters lamenting the 'weird' and 'awkward' infomerical and crying out for some 'energy'.

'I desperately want @JoeBiden to win. But does anybody else feel weird and embarrassed by this awkward @DNC infomerical?' wrote one supporter.

'This show is desperately in need of some @AOC @staceyabrahams @MaxineWaters @Oprah energy.'

Another person was in agreement comparing the two-hour event to what would happen if Saturday Night Live 'didn't do comedy'.

'I'm trying to be here for you @DNC, but the @DemConvention (9-11 pm et) is like if @nbcsnl didn't do comedy,' they tweeted.

'I can't believe our industry artists let the DNC go on TELEVISION like an infomercial!'

Criticism didn't just come from Republicans either, with Democratic supporters lamenting the 'weird' and 'awkward' infomerical and crying out for some 'energy'

Another supporter wrote that the 'message is good' but the format was 'unwatchable'.

'Holy cow. I'm dying watching #DNC,' they wrote on social media, alongside an image of the Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo speaking at the convention.

'Message is good but wow just unwatchable.'

Former Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria hosted the event from a TV studio in Los Angeles, and many of the speakers gave their speeches - not live - but via pre-recorded messages.

The presidential candidate himself addressed the audience in a pre-recorded video conversation with social justice activist Jamira Burley, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NAACP President Derrick Johnson and Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner.

Questions are now being raised over the success of the virtual model as Americans face another three nights this week from the Democrats and four more next week from the Republicans.

The second night of the convention will hear frFormer Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Former Secretary of State John Kerry, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Former President Bill Clinton, and Former Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
RBI board approves transfer of Rs57,128-cr surplus to govt

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the transfer of Rs57,128 crore out of its surplus to government. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Central Board of RBI on Friday through video conference.

RBI Central Board while approving the transfer of surplus to the central government for the accounting year 2019-20, also decided to maintain the Contingency Risk Buffer at 5.5 per cent

"The board reviewed the current economic situation, continued global and domestic challenges and the monetary, regulatory and other measures taken by RBI to mitigate the economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic. The board discussed the proposal of setting up an Innovation Hub. The board discussed various areas of operations during last year and approved the annual report and accounts of the Reserve Bank for the year 2019-20.

The board also approved the transfer of Rs57,128 crore as surplus to the central government for the accounting year 2019-20, while deciding to maintain the Contingency Risk Buffer at 5.5 per cent," the central bank said in an official statement.

Last year the RBI board approved a record payment of Rs1,76,000 crore to the government, which included Rs1,23,000 crore as dividend and Rs52,640 crore from its surplus capital.

The dividend from the central bank will come at a time when the central government's finances are under severe strain. The government's fiscal deficit as on June 30 touched 83.2 percent of the full year budget target of Rs7,96,000 crore, primarily on account of a sharp fall in revenues due to the nationwide lockdown, imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The RBIs income comes from the interest it receives from the purchase and sale of government securities, the interest earned from lending to banks and interest earned on holdings of bonds. The net profit is arrived at by subtracting the operational and other expenses of RBI.
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina appreciated her Indian counterpart's gesture in sending Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to further the bilateral ties, sources told ANI. They reportedly discussed issues such as enhancing connectivity, the revival of economy post-COVID, cooperation on COVID-19 assistance including on therapeutics and vaccine and joint commemoration of Mujib Borsho. Moreover, the proposal for the travel bubble for business, official and medical travel figured in the talks.

Sources noted that security-related issues of mutual interest were on the agenda as well. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina allegedly expressed her gratitude over the supply of locomotives. According to sources, Hasina also spoke about the case of Rohingya Muslims and their possible safe repatriation to Myanmar.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina hasn't met anyone from abroad & very few in the country in past few months. Greatly appreciated PMs gesture in sending someone to touch base, convey message &see how the 2 sides can take relations forward: Sources on Foreign Secy's visit to Bangladesh  ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2020

Read: Vikram Doraiswami Appointed As New Envoy To Bangladesh

Proposal for Joint Consultative Commission at Foreign Ministries' level to be convened virtually soon to oversee relationship, especially projects. Proposal for travel bubble for business, official and medical travel was discussed: Sources on Foreign Secy's visit to Bangladesh  ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2020

Shringla arrived in Dhaka for a two-day visit at around 11.30 am earlier in the day. This is his second visit to Bangladesh after taking over as the Foreign Secretary. During the visit, the Foreign Secretary is likely to meet his counterpart Masud Bin Momen and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen. As per reports, Shringla was likely to convey Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special message to Hasina.

Bangladesh FM dismisses reports of a rift with India

Recently, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen dismissed reports of his country's alleged rift with India. He was reacting to Indian High Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das being unable to meet Bangladeshi premier Sheikh Hasina. Maintaining that Bangladesh was everyone's friend, he highlighted the historically close relationship with India. According to him, Hasina had not met many foreign ambassadors who had gone back to their respective countries.

In fact, he revealed that the Bangladesh PM was not meeting anyone due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is chairing Cabinet meetings via video conference. Rejecting any impact of Pakistan PM Imran Khan's phone call to Hasina, Dr. Abdul Momen said that this was not going to affect the bilateral relationship with India. Additionally, he also refuted the charge that his country's position vis-a-vis India had changed because of the relationship with China. Observing that a solution pertaining to the LAC clash should be worked out through negotiations, he reiterated that Bangladesh never meddles into any other country's internal affairs.

Read: Kozhikode Plane Crash: Bangladesh Foreign Minister Offers Condolences To Bereaved Families
U.S. Software Giant Oracle Joins Bidding for Parts of TikTok

Ding Yi / Aug 18, 2020 05:52 PM / Business & Tech

U.S. software company Oracle has joined the bidding for parts of TikTok, the popular ByteDance-owned short video app that U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to ban unless it cedes its U.S. assets to an American firm.

Oracle has held preliminary talks with ByteDance to buy TikToks operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The software giant is working together with a group of U.S. investors that already own a stake in ByteDance, including General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital, the report said.

Oracles entry could challenge Microsofts bid for TikToks operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Being the only company that has made public talks with ByteDance, Microsoft is considered the frontrunner in the race to finalize a deal with the Chinese tech startup.

Twitter is also said to be interested in absorbing TikToks U.S. business, irrespective of questions about the U.S. social media companys ability to finance an acquisition estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars.

Last week, President Trump ordered TikTok to sell its U.S. business within 90 days of a recommendation from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a government panel that has the authority to scrutinize foreign investments which it believes could be detrimental to national security.

Contact reporter Ding Yi (yiding@caixin.com)

Related: Trump Orders Sale of TikToks U.S. Assets Within 90 Days
Democrats opened the most extraordinary presidential nominating convention in recent history on Monday night with a programme that spanned the gamut from socialists to Republicans, from the relatives of George Floyd to family members of those killed by the coronavirus. Truncated and conducted virtually because of the coronavirus crisis, the presentation at times resembled an online awards show, and it offered a vivid illustration of how both the pandemic and widespread opposition to President Trump have upended the countrys politics. Capping the evening was an urgent plea ...
In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of EnerSys (NYSE:ENS) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for EnerSys

The calculation

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$198.4m US$213.5m US$225.0m US$234.9m US$243.7m US$251.8m US$259.3m US$266.4m US$273.3m US$280.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Est @ 5.37% Est @ 4.43% Est @ 3.76% Est @ 3.3% Est @ 2.98% Est @ 2.75% Est @ 2.59% Est @ 2.48% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 10% US$180 US$175 US$168 US$159 US$149 US$140 US$130 US$122 US$113 US$105

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$1.4b

Story continues

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 10%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$280m (1 + 2.2%)  (10% 2.2%) = US$3.5b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$3.5b ( 1 + 10%)10= US$1.3b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$2.8b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$75.4, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at EnerSys as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 10%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.346. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For EnerSys, there are three relevant aspects you should consider:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 4 warning signs for EnerSys that you should be aware of before investing here. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for ENS's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
MEXICO CITY At first glance, they seem like an odd couple.

Yet Turkey, a Mediterranean power that often chafes at what it calls Western interventionism, and Venezuela on the Caribbean, rich in oil and gold but in perpetual crisis and under U.S. sanctions, have a few things in common.

There is an economic relationship; the murkier aspects have attracted the scrutiny of the U.S. Treasury Department. There is solidarity in their anti-U.S. rhetoric, even if the United States is a key trading partner of Turkey. The personal relationship between the leaders of Venezuela and Turkey is warm, partly forged by mutual words of support during domestic attempts to force them from power.

The alliance was on display Tuesday when Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Caracas to sign agreements and mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

No sanctions, or blockade, or any type of situation will stop us from continuing to deepen our fundamental relationship and especially our economic and commercial relationship, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said in a joint news conference with Cavusoglu.

The Turkish diplomat, who visited the Dominican Republic and Haiti before arriving in Caracas, said his meetings in Venezuela focused on agriculture, construction, tourism, education and medical assistance. Despite the pandemic, the trade volume between Turkey and Venezuela tripled in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2019, Cavusoglu said without giving a specific figure.

We should keep going," the Turkish foreign minister said. He told Arreaza that Turkish Airlines intended to be the first carrier to restart flights to Caracas when you open your airport."

Venezuelas main international airport closed to commercial passenger traffic because of the pandemic, but the number of airlines operating there had dwindled for years as the country descended into crisis. The economy deteriorated, political conflict and human rights abuses escalated, millions fled Venezuela and U.S. sanctions virtually paralyzed its flagship but already ailing industry, oil.

Along with Russia and China, Turkey is among a small number of lifelines for Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro, who has fended off efforts by U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaid to oust him. The U.S. has made it increasingly hard for those countries to do business with Venezuela, last week seizing the cargo of four tankers for allegedly transporting Iranian fuel to Venezuela. Iran said the U.S. had no right to confiscate the shipment in international waters.

The U.S. Treasury Department has also expressed concern about Venezuelan gold that it says was flown to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

From early 2018, as foreign exchange reserves dried up, Venezuela started selling gold to pay contracts, including some for a food distribution network that was exploited in a corruption scheme allegedly run by Maduro associates, the department said.

A Turkey-based company run by Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman linked to Maduros circle, purchased goods in Turkey on behalf of Venezuelan clients, marking up prices before being sold back to Venezuela," the department said last year.

Saab was arrested in June in Cape Verde while on his way to Iran and is fighting extradition to the U.S. Maduros government said the businessman was on a humanitarian mission to Iran to buy food and medical supplies.

Maduro, who peppers speeches with socialist rhetoric, says U.S. pressure amounts to a coup attempt. His personal relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took off when he quickly expressed solidarity after Erdogan survived a coup attempt by part of the Turkish military in 2016. Erdogan returned the favor when Guaid, his movement now idled, was campaigning strongly against Maduro.

Still, Turkey is operating within U.S. constraints. Last year, the major Turkish bank Ziraat stopped working with Venezuelas central bank because of American sanctions.

Hence, punitive measures by the United States that increase the cost of Turkeys relations with Venezuela could potentially push Erdogan to scale back his support for Maduro," even as he continues to criticize U.S. policy on Venezuela, wrote Imdat Oner, a former Turkish diplomat. In an analysis for the Washington-based Wilson Center, he described the relationship between Turkey and Venezuela as an alliance of convenience."

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging on, and California leading the country in confirmed cases, Alessandra Ambrosio decided she and her daughter Anja needed to get tested.

The former supermodel was seen pulling up to a drive-thru testing outlet in her adopted home of Los Angeles on Monday.

And afterwards she put on a leggy display in Daisy Dukes when she and Anja headed on over to a friend's house in West Hollywood.

Leggy: Alessandra Ambrosio, 39, showed off her seemingly endless legs when she went to a friend's house in West Hollywood after getting tested for COVID-19 at a drive-thru outlet

The Brazilian-born beauty's version of Dukes Dukes were cut so short that the white inner pockets could be seen peaking through the bottom of the denim shorts.

She also donned a plunging floral blouse that oozed early 1970s California style.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel rounded out her ensemble with beige, open-to sandals, stylish sunglasses and wore her dark brown tresses long and straight, with a part in the middle.

Short cut: The Brazilian-born beauty donned Daisy Dukes that were cut so short the inner white pockets peaked through the bottom of the denim shorts

Casual style: Ambrosio paired her Daisy Dukes with a plunging floral blouse that oozed early 1970s California style and beige sandals

Her mother's daughter: Sharing more than a resemblance to her mother, Anja, 11, looked cute in multi-colored shorts, a white and black crop top and flip-flops

Sharing more than a resemblance to her mother, Anja, 11, looked cute in multi-colored shorts and a white and black crop top.

She also donned flip-flops and had her brown locks pulled into a ponytail for the afternoon excursion.

Before making the drive to the her mate's house, Ambrosio was among a line of people waiting to get tested for coronavirus in her black SUV.

The pair both did the swab test for the virus and then the model and entrepreneur tossed their individual testing packages from her vehicle into a large container set up along the route.

COVID-19 crisis: Moments earlier, Ambrosio was among a line of people waiting to get tested for coronavirus in her black SUV

Safety first: Both mother and daughter did a swab test an the drive-thru outlet

Drive-thruThe model and entrepreneur tossed their individual testing packages from her vehicle into a large container set up along the route

Uncertain times: Los Angeles County also tops the list of confirmed cases in counties in the US with 221,971

Having a safety-first mentality is crucial during these uncertain times considering California leads the nation with 623,873 confirmed cases of COVID-19, which includes 11,243 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University & Medicine on Monday, August 17.

Florida is second with 573, 416 cases and 9,452 deaths.

What's more: Los Angeles County also tops the list of confirmed cases in counties in the US with 221,971.

Miami-Dade County is second with 145,307.

Globally, the US tops the list with 5,425,545 confirmed cases and 170,317 deaths related to coronavirus. Brazil is a distant second with 3,340,197, followed by India, Russia and South Africa.

In and out: Like all the other people waiting in line, Ambrosio did not have to leave her vehicle during the drive-thru test
Philipp Schindler Johannes Eisele | AFP | Getty Images

Behind closed doors, Google is engaged in a bitter standoff with the online travel industry. The issue is global but German travel companies have been particularly outspoken. Activity booking platform GetYourGuide, hotel finder Trivago, and Airbnb rival HomeToGo have been feuding with the search giant about their unpaid advertising bills since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Online travel companies were particularly exposed to the devastating economic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak as lockdowns brought worldwide mobility to a near standstill. New bookings dried up and the sites had to refund tens of millions of dollars to customers that were unable to travel. In a joint letter, a group of German travel start-ups asked Google, which has helped the businesses thrive over the years by promoting their websites in its search results in exchange for a fee, to share the burden. The letter didn't work as the companies hoped it would. CNBC has been able to confirm through multiple sources and materials that Google demanded advertising bills were paid in full. "Google refused to do anything and instead asked us to pay immediately in the midst of the pandemic," said GetYourGuide Chief Executive Johannes Reck, who persuaded SoftBank to invest $500 million in his Berlin-based company last year. Reck told CNBC that Google's behavior during the coronavirus "is the match that has ignited a much greater fire." Google played down the allegations and said it is working with its travel partners to help protect their businesses. "We've taken a number of measures including helping them surface their cancellation policies in our travel search products," a spokesperson for the company said.

Plea for help

As times got tough, a group of German firms wrote a letter to Google on April 30  two days after parent company Alphabet posted quarterly earnings with $41.1 billion in revenue  asking the search giant to postpone collecting their bills. The letter was authored by the German Start-ups Association (The Bundesverband Deutsche Startups) and signed by eight travel start-ups including GetYourGuide and Trivago. Unlike Facebook and Microsoft's Bing search engine, Google has not been overly accommodating when it came to delaying or reducing unpaid bills, according to three of the companies that signed the letter. All of the companies that signed the letter paid Google in full in June or July. "We're absolutely not satisfied with the support Google offered during this ongoing crisis" Patrick Andrae, HomeToGo's co-founder and CEO, told CNBC. Axel Hefer, chief executive at Trivago, told CNBC that Trivago has "missed a collaborative spirit from Google." He added: "As one of the largest players in the travel ecosystem and probably one of the very few still generating profits right now, I would have expected more solidarity."

Facebook oered some online travel companies an immediate 60-day delay in payments and proactively provided credits to test new ad products during recovery, thereby osetting some of the incurred losses. Bing immediately oered payment delays of at least 90 days, with ongoing review, should the recovery not start.

Google vs. GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is one of the firms that is particularly upset with Google. Valued at over $1.5 billion, the start-up wouldn't be the size it is today if it weren't for the U.S. search giant. But the relationship has become increasingly frosty in recent months. In February and March, GetYourGuide spent over 4 million euros ($4.7 million) in advertising on Google's platforms, acquiring customers who canceled and were refunded. After that, bookings dropped to less than 1% of 2019 levels. Following April's open letter, there was a media storm, and Reck said Google "shut up for a couple of weeks." However, on May 8, Google asked GetYourGuide for full payment on all ad bills with no credit or discounts for any canceled and refunded bookings. On May 15, Philipp Schindler, senior vice president and chief business officer at Google, held a call with online travel companies. He promised a generous recovery package and acknowledged that travel is in dire straits. The package included payment support, credits on non-Adwords platforms and other benefits. He also said Google was struggling, too. Nothing happened immediately afterward. But in the week of May 25, as Germany eased its lockdown measures and travel picked up slightly, Google started asking travel companies to commit to a payment plan, saying their accounts would be suspended if they didn't comply. When asked about a possible suspension, a Google spokesperson told CNBC: "We treat payment terms with our customers or partners as confidential and we're not able to disclose details."

Johannes Reck, CEO of travel start-up GetYourGuide. Jens Kalaene | picture alliance | Getty Images

Conversely, the online travel firms needed to secure Google Search ads more than ever at this time. Google has a 90% market share on search engine traffic in Europe and more than 75% of travelers in Europe consult Google before they travel, Reck said. As soon as GetYourGuide started to advertise again, Google essentially said "pay now," or commit to this payment plan, according to Reck. The payment plan allowed GetYourGuide to delay payments by a maximum of six months but the company would have only been able to do so much advertising with Google while fulfilling the payments. "That didn't make sense because you don't want to constrain yourself in the rebound," said Reck. In an updated statement provided Thursday, a Google spokesperson said: "We fully recognize the enormous challenges facing the travel industry, and we've been working in close collaboration with travel advertisers to help them protect their businesses and look toward recovery." They added: "The issue of payments collection applies to only a very small number of travel companies, and virtually all of our partners in the industry do not have overdue bills with us. As a matter of fairness, we're applying the same rules equally to all of our clients asking for relief, across both travel and the many other sectors that've been impacted by the pandemic."

Monopoly concerns
COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death in the U.S., said former Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Thomas Frieden.

It has been eight months since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the country. Yet, it has already come to the point of being the leading cause of death, following heart disease and cancer.

"COVID is now the No. 3 cause of death in the U.S. - ahead of accidents, injuries, lung disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and many, many other causes," Frieden told CNN on Monday.

The other causes of death that Frieden listed have been around for some time now. COVID-19, on the other hand, had only been around for less than a year but had already killed more people.

Having the disease as the third leading cause of death in the country has been a matter of concern for many. According to John Hopkins data, novel coronavirus has already infected over 5.4 million Americans and killed over 170,000.

New York Times data shows that the U.S. has been recording over a thousand COVID-19 deaths per day, on average, for the past three weeks.

Frieden added that the rate of deaths due to COVID-19 in the U.S. is also much higher than anywhere else in the world. "Last week, Americans were eight times more likely to get killed by COVID than were Europeans," Frieden said.

COVID-19 Spreads Rampantly

As more students are heading back to school, health experts are getting more worried about a possible trend: less testing with high test positivity.

Data from the COVID Tracking Project has shown that the number of tests performed each day in the country has dropped by an average of 68,000 compared to the daily rate in late July. There are also 15 states that had fewer tests this week than last week.

Positivity rates are also still higher than the 5% that the World Health Organization recommends, reported The Hill.

Dr. William Haseltine, chairman and president of ACCESS Health International, said the U.S. testing situation is "not good."

"What we're not picking up is people who are contagious," said Dr. Haseltine said. He added that with decreases in testing, health officials are likely to miss most people who can spread the virus.

Less COVID-19 Testing

As for the lower number of tests done per day, medical experts have several reasons.

Haseltine said one of the reasons is because supplies don't get shipped to places that can tests. "I think it's part of a strategy not to count how many people are infected," he said.

One more reason is that people are not motivated to get tested. As tests take several days or longer to have results, the delays can make some tests "borderline useless." This is especially true to essential workers, mostly Latinos, who get higher exposure to the virus on a daily bases.

Dr. Kent Sepkowitz said that even as rates are getting worse, states are finding fewer cases, making the case numbers go down. "As a result, by looking less, they are finding fewer cases, and sure enough, the case numbers are going down," he said.

Medical experts are also worried that minorities like Latino people will not trust a vaccine once it becomes available. Latinos are not getting enough representation in COVID-19 vaccine trials, and health officials are worried they might react differently to a vaccine.

If they have a hard time trusting the vaccine development, they might still suffer mainly from the virus, and cause more deaths within their community. Lack of diversity in trials will also not be representative of those affected by COVID-19.

Check these out!

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Two CDC Senior Officials Resign From Their Positions, Here's Why
The Executive Director of the Alliance for Christian Advocacy Africa, Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, has entreated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to implement the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) Report.



I will add my voice to those of the many people who are calling on the President to, even though he has some few months to end his tenure, pay attention to the constitutional review report, he said.



In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, Rev. Dr Opuni-Frimpong, who is a former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), explained that the political tension in the country could not be wished away, and that the implementation of the report could be among the measures to ensure peaceful elections.



He also said although much taxpayers money was invested in the constitutional review process and the compilation of the report, its content was not being implemented.



Winner-takes-all



Ever Pure

According to him, some of the suggestions in the report included scrapping the winner-takes-all system as currently being practised in Ghanas democratic dispensation.



Rev. Dr Opuni-Frimpong opined that the political violence witnessed in the country every election year was being fanned by the winner-takes-all concept provided for under the Constitution, adding: As a result, when you lose an election in Ghana, it is very humiliating. Losing elections means that you have lost everything, and that is why people fight hard for power.



He added that under the Constitution, the power to appoint was also vested in the President.



The person who can take us out of this situation of political violence and hooliganism is a sitting President who will say that even though this winner-takes-all practice favours me constitutionally, I will review this aspect of the Constitution, he added.



Kinapharma Safeway

He, therefore, urged President Akufo-Addo to muster the political courage and initiate processes for the implementation of the report, saying: I am begging the President not to leave office without implementing this report.



He said a number of well-meaning Ghanaians had also made similar calls and, therefore, expressed the hope that the President would implement the report before the end of his first term in office.



For now, it works well for him, but we must be legacy-minded. It is not like something works for me and so long as it works for me, praise God, he said, adding that we must always think about the future.



Peace



Rev. Dr Opuni-Frimpong said there was the need to sustain the prevailing peace being enjoyed in the country because there is a thin line between peace and violence and so we need a leader who will think beyond now.



He said it was unfortunate that when a political party was in opposition it clamoured for the scrapping of the winner-takes-all policy, but when it came into office, it abandoned the idea.



Commendation



The executive director commended members of the CRC for painstakingly going round the country to solicit views on the Constitution and using their expertise to compile the report to guide the country in its fledging democracy.



Background



President John Evans Atta Mills, on January 11, 2010, acting in accordance with Article 278 (1) of the Constitution, which confers on the President powers to appoint a Commission of Enquiry into matters of public interest, inaugurated the CRC to review the 1992 Constitution with the Constitution Review Commission of Enquiry Instrument 2010 (C.I. 64).



The CRC was tasked to collate the views of Ghanaians on which provisions of the 1992 Constitution required amendment.



Work of the CRC



In executing its mandate, the CRC travelled all over the country to hold consultative fora with Ghanaians of all walks of life. It also received numerous memoranda on what provisions of the Constitution needed to be amended and even on how the CRC should conduct its affairs.



In addition, it also engaged the services of experts to review the Constitution and make recommendations for reforms.



Presentation of report



The CRC worked for two years, and after analysing all the submissions, as well as receiving expert opinions from both local and international consultants, it completed and presented its report to the Government on December 20, 2011.



After receipt of the report, as per Article 280 (3) of the Constitution, the Government, on June 15, 2012, gazetted a White Paper stating its positions on the recommendations made by the commission.



Subsequent to the issuance of the White Paper, the Government set up the Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) on October 2, 2012 to study further and engage with citizens and then implement the recommendations approved in the White Paper.



Lawsuit



But while the work of the CRIC was ongoing, the CRC was slapped with a lawsuit which consequently stalled the work of the CRIC.



A US-based Ghanaian, Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare, in July 2014, instituted a lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the CRC.



However, on October 14, 2015, in a majority five-two decision by a seven-member panel presided over by the then Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, the Supreme Court affirmed the legality and constitutionality of both the CRC and the CRIC and dismissed the case.



Since the Supreme Court ruling, there have been calls for the CRIC and the CRC to complete their mandates and thereby complete the constitutional review process as soon as possible.



However, very little has been done since.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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Medical staff of Wuhan No. 1 Hospital gesture to bid farewell to medics from Guangdong Province before their departure from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has sent greetings to medical workers across the country ahead of China's Medical Workers' Day.

Noting that medical workers are a vital force in advancing the cause of healthcare, Xi said since the COVID-19 outbreak, a great number of medical workers have raced against time and fought tenaciously against the virus at the frontlines.

They have made significant contributions in fighting the epidemic, and demonstrated the noble spirit of giving priority to saving lives with total devotion and ultimate love, Xi added.

A doctor helps a recovered COVID-19 patient with rehabilitation training in a ward of Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Xi called on medical workers to adhere to the people-first approach, uphold medical ethics, strive to excel professionally and make new contributions to advancing the Healthy China initiative and improving people's health and well-being.

Xi also urged Party committees and governments at all levels, as well as the entire society, to care for medical workers and foster a sound social environment that respects the medical profession.
Chandigarh Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh warned on Tuesday that his state would burn and pose a national security threat if the Centre pushed to complete the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal, which has been hanging fire for almost four decades because of an intractable dispute with Haryana over river water sharing.

Singh made the comment at a virtual meeting with Union water resources minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar.

If you decide to go ahead with SYL, Punjab will burn and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also suffering the impact, he said, saying the issue could destabilize a state already plagued by Sikh extremism and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective, he told Shekhawat, according to a Punjab government statement.

Khattar said he was open to dialogue but maintained that the canal should be completed at the earliest. We are open for dialogue and discussion on the subject but with a clear stipulation and condition that construction of SYL must be completed as per decree of the Supreme court at the earliest. Not doing so is gross injustice to the people of water deprived areas of Haryana, the chief minister said.

Both states stuck to their stands at the meeting convened on the directions of the Supreme Court (SC), which asked the Centre on July 28 to mediate between the two states. The two CMs described the interaction  the first such meeting between them on the SYL project  as cordial and agreed to talk again.

Detailed discussion was held in a positive and cordial atmosphere. Both chief ministers expressed their views in the first round of talks. Another meeting will be held in a week or so to take things forward, Shekhawat told reporters after the meeting.

The decades-old dispute over the canal, which is to carry water from Punjab to Haryana, is rooted in a disagreement over sharing of Ravi-Beas water. Haryana is seeking its rightful share, and Punjab is refusing to complete the canal, saying low volume of water mean it has nothing to spare. The canal is finished on the Haryana side.

In its 2002 and 2004 judgments, the SC ordered the completion of the canal in Punjab. In July 2004, the Punjab assembly passed a law annulling all inter-state agreements related to the sharing of Ravi and Beas waters, including the December 1981 tripartite agreement signed by chief ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to set up the SYL canal. In November 2016, the top court struck down this law.

Currently, Haryana says it receives about 1.62 million acre feet (MAF) of its share of 3.5 MAF of Ravi-Beas waters. Punjab says it was unfairly deprived of Yamuna river water when the state was reorganized in 1966 to create Haryana.

At the meeting, Singh argued for a tribunal to adjudicate water availability and said availability of Ravi-Beas water decreased from 17.17 MAF in 1981 to 13.38 MAF in 2013. Trans-basin transfer of water can only be allowed from a surplus basis to a deficit basis, and, as of today, Punjab is a deficit state and could not therefore be asked to transfer water to Haryanawhy would I not agree to give water if we had it, he asked.

Khattar said Punjab should build infrastructure capacity to harness river water. There is clear evidence that surplus, un-channelized water from Ravi, Sutlej and Beas has been flowing to Pakistan for the last 10 years resulting in colossal national waste. In fact, Central Water Commission (CWC) quantified this flow from Ravi river at 0.58 MAF, advocating construction of a second Ravi Beas link at Dharamkotsuch surplus water can be harnessed for drinking water starved areas of south Haryana and for ground water recharge instead of allowing it to flow to Pakistan, the Haryana CM said.
HOUSTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ensign Natural Resources LLC ("Ensign" or the "Company") announced today the purchase of Eagle Ford Shale ("EFS") and Edwards ("Edwards") acreage in South Texas from Newpek LLC ("Newpek"). The Newpek acquisition includes approximately 5,700 net acres in Bee, DeWitt, Karnes, and Live Oak Counties and current net production of approximately 2,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day. This acquisition increases Ensign's current ownership in the leases and wells it acquired from Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. ("Pioneer") in 2019.

Ensign concurrently announced that it reduced its future gathering, processing and transportation rates with the Company's primary midstream provider.

"We have been focused on securing incremental gains and improving our margins during this unprecedented downturn in the energy market," said Brett Pennington, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ensign. "We believe these transactions will strengthen the asset and our relationship with key partners in the value chain, while lowering future gathering costs and increasing free cash flow. The commitment and support of our equity sponsors have allowed us to be nimble and capture value during these challenging times."

Ensign was formed in late 2017 in partnership with Warburg Pincus, a private equity firm focused on growth investing. As part of the Pioneer acquisition, the Company also secured an equity commitment from the Kayne Private Energy Income Funds, an investment platform dedicated to partnering with high caliber management teams to acquire and develop large producing oil and gas assets in North America.

Sidley Austin LLP acted as legal counsel to Ensign.

About Ensign Natural Resources

The Company is an exploration and production company operating in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. Ensign currently operates approximately 130,000 gross acres and 700+ wells in Bee, DeWitt, Karnes, and Live Oak Counties. The Company is focused on making disciplined investments, continuously improving, and applying modern technology. CEO Brett Pennington is joined by a management team experienced in finding, developing, and exploiting unconventional assets. Ensign is funded through Warburg Pincus and the Kayne Private Energy Income Funds platform. For more information please visit www.ensignnr.com.

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing. The firm has more than $53 billion in private equity assets under management. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 19 private equity funds, which have invested more than $84 billion in over 900 companies in more than 40 countries. The firm's active portfolio of more than 185 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector, and geography. The firm has invested in energy companies for over 30 years, investing over $14 billion in over 90 companies and is a market leader in building upstream oil and gas companies of scale. For more information please visit www.warburgpincus.com.

About Kayne Anderson

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. ("Kayne"), founded in 1984, is a leading alternative investment management firm focused on energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and growth equity. Kayne manages approximately $30 billion in assets for institutional investors, family office, high net worth and retail clients and employs nearly 370 professionals in five offices across the U.S. The Kayne Private Energy Income Fund, L.P. is part of Kayne's successful energy private equity practice that has raised over $10 billion since 1998. The Fund was formed in mid-2014 to take advantage of the market opportunity to acquire and develop large, long-life producing oil and gas assets in North America. For more information please visit www.kaynecapital.com.

Contact

Sarah McGrath

(212) 878-6378

[email protected]

SOURCE Ensign Natural Resources LLC
With much fanfare, Prithviraj Sukumaran announced his next with Gokulraj Baskar yesterday (August 17). In a poster released along with the announcement, the actor revealed that the project will be India's first film to be completely shot under virtual production.

With many wondering if the film is based on an epic story, thanks to the poster that made it look like one, the director has stated that the film is indeed an epic drama based on a mythical character from Kerala.

While interacting with Times of India, Gokulraj Baskar was quoted as saying, "Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer is based on a mythical story. It's about a mythical character from Kerala, which could also attract the international audience."

Adding that he and his team will be filming the yet-to-be-titled movie in a studio in Kochi, he said that he has been researching the real-time visual effects since a long time. He went on to say, "We will be filming the movie in a studio set in Kochi, Kerala. I have been researching about the real time visual effects for a long time now and I am taking the initiative of assembling a studio in Kerala itself. We will bring adequate team and virtual production tools to our studio."

He added that the new method would have a great scope in the industry, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Gokulraj said that he is elated to introduce the new technology through his film, which can be a saviour in situations like a lockdown. The film is backed by Prithviraj Productions and Magic Frame.

It is to be noted that ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli's RRR team is also eyeing for virtual technology. However, there is no confirmation regarding the same. Interestingly, the only two films which are made with the massive technology so far are the 2019 films The Lion King and The Mandalorian.

Prithviraj Sukumaran Announces India's First Movie To Be Completely Shot Virtually

Kaduva: This Is When The Prithviraj Sukumaran Starrer Will Start Rolling
French police are hunting a twisted group of criminals who have been mutilating live horses and taking their body parts.

At least 15 attacks on horses and donkeys have been reported in the country since the start of the year, most recently in the countryside near Lyon.

Officers have not announced any suspects or motive, but speculate the attacks could be part of a twisted fetish, sadistic ritual, or online 'challenge'.

At least 15 horses have been mutilated across France since the start of the year, with eyes, ears and bones hacked from still-living animals (pictured, a horse found recently in Puy-de-Dome)

A donkey found dead in Forges les Eaux, north of Paris, in June had one of its eyes cut out and an ear removed

On Monday a mare which had previously died of natural causes was found with its nose, ear, and one eye removed in the Jura region.

It comes after a horse in the same region was stunned before having its eye gouged out and a piece of bone removed. The animal later died.

The local gendarmerie have since issued an appeal for information on anyone seen acting suspiciously near paddocks, breeding farms or equestrian centres.

'These cases are taken very seriously and are being investigated by the Jura police,' they wrote on Facebook.

'Every effort is made to identify the authors and put an end to such actions.'

The attacks date back to at least February this year, when a horse was found dead at an agricultural school in Chateau-Salins, near the Alsace region.

One of the horses's ears had been 'meticulously' removed, France Bleu reported.

A few days later, across the other side of the country, a racehorse was found dead with an ear missing in the Vendee region, south of Nantes.

A horse found dead in Neuvy-en-Sullias, near Orelans, in March had been stabbed several times in the neck and stomach, and had an ear cut off

A racehorse was found dead in February in the Vendee region, near Nantes, with one of its ears severed. The owner said it would have taken a group of people to restrain the animal

Owner Philippe Boutin told Channel 3 that there were signs of a struggle in the field, and that it would have taken a team of people to bring the horse down.

The attacks have increased in recent weeks, with at least five incidents reported since the start of the month.

The attacks are not specific to a region, and have been reported across the east, west and north of the country.

In 2016, a similar case of mutilation was reported in Belgium when a horse had its ear cut off, while another case occurred in France in 2014 at Usson-en-Forez.

Cases have also been reported in the UK dating back as far as 2002, with police linking one attack in Cornwall in 2012 to Satanic rituals.

Police in Roanne near Lyon, where the most recent case was discovered, told AFP they had linked the latest horse mutilation to 'about 15 other mysterious acts of torture and mutilations of live horses around France these last weeks.'

'Is this a challenge on the internet? The impulse of an individual? All avenues are being investigated,' Bruno Wallart of the police in Riom in the Puy-de-Dome region of central France, where several horses have reportedly been mutilated, said in June.

Local investigations are backed by the Central Office on the Fight against Threats to Environmental and Public Health of the French national police.
Further signs of a desire to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf emerged from Saudi Arabia and the UAE this week, writes Ahmed Mustafa

The meagre signs of openness in the otherwise locked tensions in the Gulf have emerged over last few days, prompting hopes of de-escalation after the Iranian-initiated attack on Saudi oil facilities in mid-September.

Restraint by Saudi Arabia and its close allies, mainly the US and UAE, has helped avoid a war in the region, but tensions are still high and a large-scale military struggle could flare up at any moment.

Toned-down statements are also coming from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, paving the way for negotiations that could lead to a new comprehensive deal between Iran and the rest of the world. They indicate that the Gulf Arab countries are returning to their traditional path of detente to fend off escalation while keeping the pressure up to deter Iranian aggression.

The unprecedented drone and missile attack on Saudi oil giant Aramco facilities in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia in September had led to a halt of almost half of Saudi oil production.

Yemeni rebel Houthi militias backed by Iran claimed responsibility, but Saudi Arabia and almost the whole of the rest of the world considered Iran to be responsible. Iran denied responsibility, but still justified the attack as a self-defence response by the Houthis to the war in Yemen where an Arab Coalition is fighting the Houthis led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Though Saudi Arabia has said that it reserves the right to respond appropriately to the attack, the Americans backed off in their response after initially strong rhetoric that had led many to expect an American strike on Iran.

As the days passed and Aramco restored its lost oil production, the tensions started to ease to the extent that a much-talked-about meeting between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and US President Donald Trump at the UN in September overtook the news of the Aramco attack.

The meeting did not materialise, much to the dismay of French President Emmanuel Macron who had tried to broker it, as each party held firm to its position: the US wanted a dialogue with no precondition to agree to a new Iran deal, while Iran wanted the American sanctions lifted before any dialogue.

Irans calculation that the US will not fight a war on behalf of the Gulf Arab states has worked so far, and it seems its neighbours are getting the message as well. Despite the severity of the attack on Saudi Arabia and its strategic implications, the Gulf countries have avoided a disastrous war that would mean losses to them all.

This week, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been focusing on a political solution to the Iran crisis, probably starting from Yemen. On Sunday, UAE State Minister of Foreign Affairs Anwar Gergash wrote in the London Financial Times and Saudi Crown-Prince Mohamed Bin Salman spoke on American network CBS favouring a political solution rather than war with Iran.

Detente as deterrence was the clear Saudi message. In a pre-recorded interview for the CBS programme 60 Minutes, Bin Salman warned that crude oil prices could rise to unimaginably high numbers if the world did not come together to deter Iran.

But he added that he would prefer a political solution to the crisis rather than a military one. If the world does not take strong and firm action to deter Iran, we will see further escalations that will threaten world interests, he said.

He talked about Yemens hinting that the ball was in Irans court to stop the war and start a political settlement process. He repeated calls for Tehran to stop backing the Houthi militants in Yemens civil war so a peaceful solution could be achieved.

First, if Iran stops its support of the Houthi militia, the political solution will be much easier Today, we open all initiatives for a political solution in Yemen, Bin Salman said.

Responding to a partial ceasefire offer by the Houthis, he was cautious, simply saying that we will see. News reports about US contacts with the Houthis in Yemen that surfaced just before the Aramco attacks have added to the conclusion that all the parties in Yemen are exhausted of the war and looking for a settlement to the conflict.

Bin Salman also urged Trump to meet Rouhani and craft a new deal on Trehans nuclear and missile programmes as well as its dangerous meddling across the Middle East.

The Saudi message was almost echoed by the Emirati ministers article in the Financial Times. In it, Gergash focused on the efforts by the European signatories to the Iran nuclear deal  the UK, France and Germany  to start new negotiations with Iran for a more comprehensive deal after Trump withdrew the US from the deal last year.

He reiterated that we only want Iran as a normal neighbour in the article.

Gergash wrote that we believe that there is an opening for Iran to reach a new understanding with its neighbours and the world. Tehran should see that a new agreement could offer it the space, confidence and resources to refocus its attention on its own people rather than on its proxies abroad. A deal would be a ticket to re-enter the global trading system, build prosperity and expand opportunity. It is a blueprint for a new, shared and more stable regional order.

A comprehensive deal with Iran would not only be with the six world powers that signed a deal with Iran in 2015 that mainly focused on its nuclear programme and the alleviation of sanctions on Tehran.

A new deal, reportedly supported by the Gulf Arab countries that want support from the US and UK, would cover all concerns about Iran, ranging from its missile programme to curbing its proxies in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and other countries.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 3 October, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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WINSTED  Since the late 1940s, Winchester has been bound by state statute to pay annual tuition to the Gilbert School, a semi-private high school. Ninety percent of Gilberts operating budget comes from that annual tuition.

But over the years, according to Mayor Candy Perez, the annual tuition payment has become a burden, and is not always set before the town begins its own budget approval process, which includes Gilbert School tuition. In March 2019, for example, Gilbert brought forth a budget with a $600,000 increase, and negotiations between the town and the school were stalled for several months.

If the statutes were changed, Perez reasoned, the stalling would stop, because the tuition fee would be agreed upon beforehand.

The statutes include 10-164-33, requiring tuition in towns where no (public) high school is maintained; and 10-164-34, requiring approval by a state board of an incorporated or endowed high school.

Perez this week proposed to the Board of Selectmen that it and the Winchester Public Schools Board of Education ask the state legislature to change the state statute and allow tuition to be negotiated and set before the town and school budgets are approved, thereby eliminating any unexpected increases levied by the Gilbert School Corp., which serves as Gilberts school board.

Instead of getting an additional bill out of the blue, we could negotiate tuition before our budget season starts, Perez said, during the selectmens meeting Monday night. That way, theres not this tug and pull, back and forth.

In May, Gilbert School Superintendent Anthony Serio said the tuition increased because contract negotiations between the town and the school broke down. According to a story in the Register Citizen, in 2019, Gilbert and Winsted had settled on a one-year extension of the contract, with $6,849,000 to be paid from the district to Gilbert. But Gilbert requested to be named the sole designated high school for Winsted students, which was unanimously rejected by the Board of Education, according to the minutes. Gilbert then billed the district $6,943,193 for the coming school year, according to the minutes for the July 22 meeting of the Winchester Board of Education. The board had budgeted for the cost of tuition under the terms of the most recent agreement between the two sides. To make up the difference, the Winchester Public Schools drew funding from the Additional Town Support for Non-Educational Expenses line item in the town budget, the boards non-lapsing fund.

The state statutes governing semi-private schools apply to schools and academies that exist in a town that has no high school of its own. In Winsteds case, the Gilbert School Corp. leases the school building from the Gilbert Trust, and depends on the annual tuition for its students to pay its bills. The Gilbert School also has an international student program, drawing a group of student from China, primarily. During the 2020 budget season, the Gilbert School learned that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, less than half of the usual 30 or more students would not return in 2020-21.

Serio on Tuesday acknowledged that while the change would affect any school governed by these statuted, for Winsted its simply directed at Gilbert.

They want to have more say in our budgetary process, more control, Serio said. As far as the increases Candy is referring to, they didnt come out of the air, they were part of contract negotiations that fell apart. Eventually we were able to work that out. Its a continuing problem.

Its my understanding that they (the selectmen) are joining forces with the Winchester Board of Education to make this happen, Serio said.

In May, the Gilbert School also applied for and received a $900,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan, and said it would use it for salaries. At that time, Perez argued that the school should use the funds for tuition, to lessen the burden on Winsted taxpayers.

Board of Selectmen member Linda Groppo thought having the statute changed was a good idea. Its 2020, and the statutes are 71 years old, she said.

Selectman Jack Bourque agreed on examining the statute. This kind of proposal to the state, to clarify state law, is very important, he said. But its not just for one school. Any request we make here is to make changes for all endowed academies in the state. Its a tough road to face, and I suspect there will be a lot of resistance.

We should be able to negotiate this here in town, Bourque said. We continue to look at the Gilbert School as completely independent.

Bourque said that because the Gilbert School Corp. has four members who also serve on the Winchester Board of Education, while the other five members represent Gilbert alone.

The issue is that the makeup of the board is so difficult, he said. We can go through the state law thing, and I think its a great idea, but I also think we can find ways to work together. If the Gilbert board didnt have 5 against 4 all the time, we wouldnt have these issues.

Bourque pointed out that Winsted didnt pay tuition (to Gilbert) until the 1960s, and at that time, Gilbert was more focused on providing lower cost education. Theyd just present a budget and get paid, he said. Lets see if we can encourage the Gilbert School Corp. to manage these issues themselves. Theyre in independent board. They should be able to do that.

The selectmen agreed to establish a committee to work with the legislature to change the statute.

Its a start, Bourque said But we should also be doing other things, locally.
A petty trader, Damilola Osilulu, on Tuesday told an Ile-Tuntun Customary Court in Ibadan that she hits her husband, Akinkunmi, because he orders her around on how she must live her life.

Testifying before Henry Agbaje, the president of the court, Ms Osilulu countered her husbands accusation of nagging.

She alleged that her husband complained a lot and also makes senseless demands from her.

Sometimes, Akinkunmi orders me to do senseless things and I dont obey him.

However, if I see wisdom in his demands, I try as much as possible to come down to his level.

If I cant take his nonsense, I hit him straight away because Akinkunmi feels he is the husband, and that he is also lord over me, Ms Osilulu said.

Earlier in his account, Mr Akinkunmi, a printer, said that he filed the divorce suit to bring an end to his wifes domination over his affairs.

My lord, Damilola does not want me to have a say in the house as she challenges my authority.

If I ask her to do anything, she questions my authority and violently attacks me.

This is to the extent that people keep coming to our matrimonial home for settlement of rift every now and then.

Only God knows what would have happened if I had reacted to her frequent attacks against me.

Enough of Damilolas nagging; I cannot continue to stand her disrespect.

Besides, she doesnt take proper care of our three-year-old child Mr Akinkunmi stated.

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In his short ruling, Mr Agbaje prevailed on the couple to exercise more patience.

He advised relatives of both parties to do the needful by settling the matter.

Mr Agbaje adjourned the case until August 31, for judgment.

(NAN)
On Friday, authorities arrested a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer for charges of conspiring with a relative who was formerly with the agency as well and sending top-secret classified information to the People's Republic of China (PRC).

During a press release, the Department of Justice announced that the criminal complaint filed against former agent Alexander Yuk Ching Ma was unsealed on Monday.

Chinese espionage

National Security Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers said the evidence of Chinese espionage was prominent and that unfortunately, it is connected with ex-American intelligence officers. Authorities said the officers deceived their colleagues, the country as well as its liberal democratic values of the United States.

According to Fox News, Demers said betrayal would never be worth it, and it will always be revealed whether it be immediately or years after the activities. The official added authorities will always find traitors and bring them to justice. He noted the individuals may be expendable for the China intelligence services but are a reminder to the US to remain vigilant.

Ma, a 67-year-old US citizen, was born in Hong Kong and worked for the CIA since 1982, as written in court documents. He maintained a top-secret clearance and was also part of several nondisclosure agreements where he accepted his responsibility of protecting government secrets during his stay with the agency.

The suspect parted ways with the CIA in 1989 and traveled to Shanghai, China to find a different career and later went to Hawaii in 2001.

The complaint against Ma also states that he and his 87-year-old relative who is suffering from debilitating cognitive disease first sent sensitive information to the Chinese intelligence agency in March 2001.

The particulars include details about CIA personnel, foreign informants, classified operations, and several methods for concealing communications. The two men are believed to have been paid $50,000 for their efforts.

Also Read: South Dakota Declines Trump's Weekly $300 Unemployment Benefits Despite High Jobless Rate

Persisting interference

The recent complaint marks the latest in a series of cases against former intelligence officers. Kevin Patrick Mallory, another ex-CIA intelligence officer, was sentenced to 20 years in jail in May 2019 for spying for China. Last November, Jerry Chun Shing Lee was given 19 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to supplying classified information to the Asian superpower., as reported by The New York Times.

Between 2010 and 2012, US authorities believe Chinese officials gathered several American informants in China, killing most and disrupting the CIA's network of intelligence within the country.

Although officials have debated the role of some American intelligence officers in revealing the identities of informants in China, US authorities have not publicly accused any individual of giving away information that caused the network's collapse.

The court documents state that Ma worked in 2006 as a translator for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on a contract. He then supplied his relative with pictures of individuals that the Chinese intelligence believed to be American agents.

The relative then identified two of the five individuals that Chinese intelligence officers inquired about. Ma's wife was also seen traveling to Shanghai and is believed to have delivered a laptop to Chinese agents.

The former intelligence officer is also accused of repeatedly copying classified documents that the FBI had him translate. He sometimes used a digital camera or a photocopier to make the duplicates. Ma then took the records from the Hawaii offices of the FBI that he worked in.

Related Article: Trump Shares Fauci's Take on In-Person Voting, Top Infectious Diseases Experts Says it is Plausible

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Company Headquarters in San Diego, CA We view this recognition as a great honor and believe it reflects on the incredible work of our employees and the value we deliver to our loyal clients," says CEO Peter Heald.

Signature Analytics is currently being featured within this year's 2020 Inc. 5000 list of The Most Successful Companies in America. This has been the fifth year in a row for the company to receive this honor within the most dynamic segment of the American economy - independent small businesses. Their ranking came in at 2743 out of 5000 other companies across the nation.

The annual Inc. 5000 list showcases the fastest-growing, privately held companies in the nation. Not only is this an extraordinary accomplishment for Signature Analytics but puts them as a rarefied company since now making the prestigious five years in a row placing them on the Inc. 5000 Honor Roll. This honor represents an elite group that has once included organizations such as Microsoft, Vizio, and Patagonia.

The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA, which also has offices in Orange County and Los Angeles. Their geographic focus allows the team to work in the clients' offices within market territories and remotely from the Signature Analytics' offices. The team credits their continued success to their focus on clearly defined processes, industry expertise, and their business model's ability to quickly adapt and remain flexible to serve their clients through periods of growth or change.

"We view this recognition as a great honor and believe it reflects on the incredible work of our employees and the value we deliver to our loyal clients," says CEO Peter Heald.

Signature Analytics manages its client's accounting function and financial reporting, so they can focus on running and growing their businesses. For many clients, Signature Analytics goes beyond the numbers to help their clients achieve their goals, including things such as growth, profitability, and transitioning the company for sale.

Unlike many traditional outsourced accounting service firms, Signature Analytics' modern, yet comprehensive solution includes a full accounting team with a business advisory component embedded into each engagement and overseen by a CFO. They believe in providing services both on-site and remotely and using the best-in-class technology available to improve operational inefficiencies and communication. This approach enables Signature Analytics to become a strategic partner with its clients to help them achieve their short- and long-term goals.

To see how Signature Analytics can help your company with accounting and financial needs, visit their website at http://www.signatureanalytics.com.

About:

Signature Analytics provides expert level accounting and business advisory solutions to small and middle-market businesses throughout Southern California and beyond. We accomplish this by managing your accounting and financial functions, so you don't have to go beyond the numbers to help improve your business' performance and achieve your goals.

We pride ourselves on being a US-based professional services firm and support our clients remotely and on-site. We've been recognized five times on the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies list and as one of the Best Places to Work nationwide. Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/signature-analytics/.
An Ecology of Mind is a film portrait of Gregory Bateson, celebrated anthropologist, philosopher, author, naturalist, systems theorist, and filmmaker, produced and directed by his daughter, Nora Bateson.

The film includes footage from Batesons own films shot in the 1930s in Bali (with Margaret Mead) and New Guinea, along with photographs, filmed lectures, and interviews. His youngest child, Nora, depicts him as a man who studied the interrelationships of the complex systems in which we live with a depth motivated by scientific rigor and caring integrity.

Nora Batesons rediscovery of his work documents the vast  and continuing  influence Batesons thinking has had on the work of an amazingly wide range of disciplines. Through contemporary interviews, along with his own words, Batesons way of thinking reveals practical approaches to the enormous challenges confronting the human race and the natural world.

Gregory Batesons theories, such as the double bind and the pattern which connects, continue to impact the fields of anthropology, psychiatry, information science, cybernetics, urban planning, biology, and ecology, challenging people to think in new ways.

Until now, his work has been largely inaccessible to most of us. Through this film, Nora Bateson sets out to show that his ideas are not just fodder for academic theory, but can help instruct a way of life. She presents his thinking using a richly personal perspective, focusing on the stories Bateson used to present his ideas and how the beauty of life itself provided the framework of his lifes pursuits.

This film hopes to inspire its audience to see our lives within a larger system - glistening with symmetry, play, and metaphor. An invitation to ask the kinds of questions that could help thread the world back together from the inside.
A first information report has been filed in Raipur against a senior Facebook executive and two users of the social media platform for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, police said on Tuesday.

The case was lodged at Kabir Nagar police station late Monday night based on the complaint of Awesh Tiwari, a Raipur-based journalist of a news channel, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav told PTI.

Three persons, identified as Ankhi Das from New Delhi, Ram Sahu from Mungeli (Chhattisgarh) and Vivek Sinha from Indore (Madhya Pradesh), were booked.

An investigation is underway and further action will be taken accordingly, the official said.

The three have been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 295(a) (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 505(1)(c) (with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit offence against any other class or community), 506 (criminal intimidation), 500 (defamation) and 34 (common intention), he said.

Das is Facebook's Director, Public Policy, India, South and Central Asia.

Tiwari lodged the case after he was named in a complaint by Das to Delhi Police, alleging that she had been receiving threats to her life through online posts.

According to the FIR, Tiwari in his complaint said that on August 16, he put up a post on his Facebook account related to an article published in the Wall Street Journal.

The WSJ reported that Facebook refused to apply hate speech rules to certain Bharatiya Janata Party politicians, while the social media giant has asserted that its policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation.

Tiwari in his police complaint said, 'Two Facebook users, with names Sahu and Sinha, jumped in to defend Das and commented on his (Tiwari's) post that she (Das) is a Hindu and she is talking in the interest of the faith.

'Sahu allegedly posted derogatory and communally sensitive photographs and also threatened him.'

Tiwari also said he had been receiving threat messages and calls on WhatsApp after his post.

He alleged that Das, Sahu and Sinha were trying to defame him by spreading religious hatred due to which his life is under threat and he is living in constant fear.

Tiwari has submitted to police screenshots of the threat messages received on his mobile phone.
The Jerusalem District Court ruled Monday the books were treasures of the Jewish people that had historic, religious and national importance and must be preserved. The best way to do so would be to keep them at the National Library under a public trust, it ruled.
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BURLEIGH HEADS, Queensland and BURLINGAME, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bustech, Australia's award winning advanced bus manufacturer, and Proterra, a leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, today announced a new collaboration to manufacture Bustech's all-electric ZDi 12.5 meter transit bus utilizing Proterra's industry-leading battery technology platform.



The partnership represents Proterra's entry into the Australian market and will be the company's first Proterra Powered battery electric vehicle operating outside North America.



Under the partnership, Bustech will incorporate Proterra's battery technology into the ZDi's integrated chassis systems. The Proterra battery system powering the all-electric ZDi transit bus will feature 450 kWh of energy capacity that will enable an estimated 325 km of drive range on a single charge. The vehicle can fully charge in about two hours.



Proterra battery packs incorporate advanced features such as liquid cooling with an active thermal management system that will ensure optimal charging and maximize battery life by maintaining a constant battery temperature in Australia's demanding climate.



The technical partnership will use Proterra's battery technology while ensuring overall vehicle manufacturing and assembly is consistent with local supply chains on shore in Australia. Operating as a core technology partner, Proterra will provide training and development support to strengthen Bustech's in-country service network and experience with the battery product.



"Everybody within our organisation is extremely excited to be in a partnership with Proterra. Since I joined Bustech as CEO in January 2020 we have focused on creating a business and engineering environment which is ready for the adoption of the technology advancements that will drive our industry forward. We have upskilled the group over the last six months with the capacity and capability to bring the ZDI Proterra Powered electric vehicle to market in early 2021 and have a significant number of orders in the pipeline which we have been working on in advance of the announcement of our partnership," said Bustech CEO Thinus Steyn.



"Proterra is excited to take our battery technology and expertise to the Australian transit market with Bustech. Our best-in-class battery technology platform has been proven in more than 13 million service miles driven by our fleet of battery electric transit buses in the United States and Canada. Now, we look forward to delivering the benefits of Proterra Powered clean, quiet electric vehicles to even more people around the world," said Jack Allen, Proterra CEO and Chairman.



Proterra batteries are manufactured with safety mechanisms built directly into the battery architecture and have undergone extensive testing to meet the exacting safety standards. Proterra battery systems incorporate Proterra's patented technology, monitoring sensors throughout the battery pack, and passive propagation resistance, which isolates individual battery cells in the rare case of a thermal event to prevent wider spread.



"We have been really impressed with the battery technology from Proterra, with its energy density and inbuilt control system. This will translate into a vehicle with unparalleled performance and safety. Our aim is to introduce product which is deployable into operating network without having to remodel the full fleet or depot service model. By delivering an estimated 325 km range per drive cycle we can support operators through adoption and roll out of full electric vehicles, based on the battery energy levels, whilst acknowledging and dealing with the specific climatic conditions we face in Australia." said Gregg Dinning, Bustech CTO

Established in 1995, Bustech developed the first electric bus in Australia and is recognized as a leader in innovation and electric vehicle product development in the Australasian market. In 2019, Bustech joined with the Australian Bus Corporation (ABC) to form the largest bus manufacturer in Australia.



Bustech has undertaken significant market analysis to engage and review critical technical partnerships which introduce best-in-class technology to the Australasian market, while also offering unparalleled aftermarket support. The partnership with Proterra will deliver a vehicle designed for maximum range, and support Bustech's commitment to creating local jobs and engaging the local supply chain.



Australia continues to be a global leader in adopting electric transit vehicles as more states and municipalities commit to bold transportation electrification targets. In 2019, the government of New South Wales announced plans to transition its fleet of approximately 8,000 transit buses to all-electric.



"This relationship reflects the intended transformation within the current market. Being able to bring a US technology company like Proterra to Australia is a fantastic opportunity to assist in the rapid growth expectations and maturing of BEVs in Australia. Our ethos is to collaborate with partners who are leaders in their field and Proterra fits that mould. Together with Proterra, we have aspirations to quickly scale in the market with our integrated body and chassis and Proterra's battery solution. We see this solution scaling across all variants of vehicle within our range, including articulated and double decker buses. This is very much a collaboration and we look forward to maturing the relationship into the future," said Christian Reynolds, Group Managing Director at Bustech & Precision Buses.



Proterra Powered leverages Proterra's electric vehicle technology and expertise to help commercial vehicle manufacturers electrify their vehicles. As an OEM that uses its own battery technology to power its fleet of heavy-duty electric transit buses, Proterra brings more than a decade of experience manufacturing, testing and delivering EVs. To date, Proterra Powered has helped world-class OEMs like Thomas Built Bus, Van Hool, FCCC, and Optimal-EV introduce 100% battery-electric vehicles that are powered by Proterra electric vehicle technology.

About Bustech

Bustech is Australia's largest privately owned bus manufacturer. Bustech is 100% Australian owned and operated and is based in Burleigh Heads on Queensland's famous Gold Coast. Bustech designs, engineers and manufactures chassis' and bodies for mass passenger vehicles. Bustech has established facilities in Queensland and South Australia, with a production capacity of 400 buses per annum and also has a joint venture arrangements in Tasmania, supplementing the overall capacity for the group by 100 per annum, respectively.

About Proterra

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission electric transit vehicles and EV technology solutions for commercial applications. Proterra provides a suite of products, services and financing options for a seamless transition to clean, quiet, battery-electric fleets. Designed for durability, safety and energy efficiency and validated by rigorous U.S. independent testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

SOURCE Proterra

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SCHENECTADY  After a nearly five-year stint on the job provisionally, Lisa Ayers is out as Schenectady County public health director.

All told, Ayers, whose last day in the post was Friday, has been with the county for more than 30 years. The change comes as the position has taken on added significance because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ayers was replaced on an interim basis midnight Friday by Keith Brown, who had worked as an assistant to the county manager, according to his boss, County Manager Rory Fluman.

Fluman said Brown has a background and a master's degree in public health, and added that the county planned to hire a new public health director sometime next year. He said they will consider any qualified in-house candidates for the job.

"With Keith Brown being our interim director, we're going to have a seamless transition, his proven track record of working with partners during these sensitive contact tracing issues has proven extremely valuable," said Fluman.

Attorney Kevin Luibrand, who is representing Ayers, said Tuesday that county officials tried to force Ayers out in part because of her age. Ayers is 59.

"They attempted to force her retirement, which she declined, so they demoted her," he added. "She's not ready or interested in retiring."

He did not know her current job title in the office but said " it is significantly lower" than before.

Ayers' annual base salary as public health director was $102,855 along with the $11,000 she earned in longevity pay, said Fluman.

Luibrand said "it's mixed in the truth" when asked about Ayers not obtaining her master's degree during her tenure, a condition of her being hired provisionally in 2016. "She did have to get her master's but her time to do so isn't until the end of this year," Luibrand said.

Citing personnel issues, Fluman said he couldn't discuss the issue related to Ayers' academic credentials.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

County Legislator Brian McGarry, lone Republican on the majority Democratic panel, said he laments that he and some colleagues were left in the dark about Ayers' removal.

"At the peak of a health crisis like this, the county legislature should be informed about a change in the leadership of our public health department in some manner," he said.

Legislature Chairman Anthony Jasenski did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment.

Ayers spent decades working as a public nurse for the county before taking on the role of health director where she led the department through its response to the pandemic.

Like much of the state, the initial explosion of cases in Schenectady County has ebbed in recent months, though on Monday the county lost its 44th resident to the virus. The victim was a woman in her 70s. Since March, 1,121 county residents have been diagnosed with the virus.
As the zeitgeist shifted from pandemic panic toward rage for racial equity, inspired by the killing of George Floyd, Mr. Sin tweaked his program: Soon he was messaging with Kia Damon and Ghetto Gastro, a collective of food lovers based in the Bronx.

They discussed dishes as varied as yakamein, the Afro-Chinese soup of New Orleans  which Mr. Sin made with Ms. Damon for one dinner  or what the chef Eddie Huang and others call hood Chinese food, like the chicken wings served in many New York neighborhoods. The Chinese diaspora, it turns out, is remarkably agile.

China is this incredible beacon in food, said Marcus Samuelsson, the Ethiopian-Swedish host of No Passport Required, who has made Harlem his home. Were relearning about heritage, culture and history. Thats not just happening in the food world, but everywhere. We see it in taking down monuments, for example. Were having a really important conversation in America and, if America is having it, very often the world is having it.

Mr. Sins mission is beyond gastro-diplomacy, approaching gastro-activism, using the culinary intersections as conversational starting points. Chefs are happy to join in.

Ms. Damon, the founder of Supper Club From Nowhere, a culinary history project inspired by the civil rights chef Georgia Gilmore, cheered Mr. Sins request to collaborate. Amid what she called exhausting Black for pay propositions, designed to help brands burnish their political credentials by partnering with people of color, she called Distance Dining a breath of fresh air.

Hes already doing the work in himself, she said. Theres relief because Im not doing this work alone. Im not having this conversation alone.

Ms. Damon, whose mother is Gullah Geechee and father is Creole, sighed. When we face those ugly parts of us and our distance, and we come together to reconcile with that, what does that taste like? she said. I want to look back and know what I was doing during the great Covid pandemic of 2020, when there was a nationwide, global movement for all Black lives. I want to know that Im proud of what I was doing. I was cooking for a better future, cooking for a better me. When everything feels so bad, doing this feels good.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: PM CARES fund has been constituted with an objective to extend assistance in the wake of public health emergency like COVID-19 and no exception can be taken at this need of the hour in its constitution, the Supreme Court Tuesday said.

The apex court noted that it was created as a dedicated national fund with a objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation as posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide relief to the affected.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said it is for the Central government to take the decision as from which fund what financial measures are to be taken and it is neither for PIL petitioner to claim that any financial assistance be made from particular fund nor this Court to sit in judgement over the financial decisions.

The observations came on a PIL, filed by NGO ''Centre for Public Interest Litigation, seeking a direction that all the money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the COVID-19 pandemic should be transferred to the NDRF.

The Centre had told the top court that Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the PM CARES Fund and Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance, Government of India are ex-officio Trustees of the Fund.

"The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees (Prime Minister) shall have the power to nominate three trustees to the Board of Trustees who shall be eminent persons in the field of research, health, science, social work, law, public administration and philanthropy.

Any person appointed a Trustee shall act in a pro bono capacity," the Centre had submitted.

Taking note of the submissions, the apex court said the PM CARES Fund is a public charitable trust and is not a government fund,.

The bench said it consists entirely of voluntary contributions from individuals/organisations and does not get any budgetary support.

"The mere fact that administration of the Trust is vested in trustees, i.e., a group of people, will not itself take away its public character," the apex court said.

ALSO READ | SC verdict on PM CARES 'resounding blow to nefarious designs' of Rahul Gandhi: BJP chief JP Nadda

It noted that the contributions made by individuals and institutions in the PM CARES Fund are to be released for public purpose to fulfil the objective of the trust.

"The PM CARES Fund is a charitable trust registered under the Registration Act, 1908 at New Delhi on March 27, 2020. The trust does not receive any Budgetary support or any Government money."

"It is not open for the petitioner to question the wisdom of trustees to create PM CARES fund which was constituted with an objective to extend assistance in the wake of public health emergency that is pandemic COVID-19," the bench also comprising justices R S Reddy and M R Shah, said.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the NGO, had argued that he was not questioning the bona fide of constitution of PM CARES Fund.

He had submitted that PM CARES Fund should not have been constituted when NDRF is already in place to take care of disasters.

ALSO READ | SC judgement on PM CARES Fund a 'body blow to transparency': Congress

Dave also said that NDRF is audited by CAG but PM CARES Fund is not audited by CAG rather by a private Chartered Accountant.

The apex court, however, sid that the nature of NDRF and PM CARES Fund are entirely different.

"The guidelines issued under Disaster Management Act, 2005 with regard to NDRF specifically provides for audit of the NDRF by the Comptroller & Auditor General of India whereas for public charitable trust there is no occasion for audit by the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

"At this need of the hour no exception can be taken to the constitution of a public charitable trust, namely, PM CARES Fund to have necessary financial resources to meet the emergent situation," the bench said.
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According to a new study published by Polaris Market Research the worldwide microscope market is anticipated to reach USD 12,851.2 million by 2025. In 2017, the electron microscope segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue, whereas Asia-Pacific accounted for the majority share in the global microscope market.

Several technological advancements in the fields of nanotechnology, semiconductors and life sciences have augmented the growth of the microscope industry. In addition, this has encouraged government bodies to invest in research and development; which in turn has led to an increase in research and development activities in companies, small laboratories and academic institutions. Companies and academic institutions are increasing collaborations for shared use of advanced laboratory equipment has further supplemented market growth. The other factors driving the market growth include lightweight and portability of certain microscopes production of robust, more accurate and relatively cheaper instruments, and widespread adoption of microscope use by manufacturers across various domains. Emerging market in developing countries and newer innovative fields of application provide numerous opportunities for growth.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/microscope-market/request-for-sample

The major driver of the growth of the microscope market is the advancements in the field of nanotechnology. Various factors such as optimal energy consumption and its conservation, environmental preservation, and increasing industrial productivity and quality by optimizing operational efficacy have fuelled the growth of nanotechnology. Also, miniaturization in semiconductor and electronics industry and material science has boosted market growth. Furthermore, the extensive use of microscopes and technological advancements in the field of forensic sciences, pharmacology, cell biology, biophysics and microbiology among other life sciences has augmented market growth.

In view of increasing technological advancements and its benefits, there has been an increase in the research and development activities in companies, small laboratories and academic institutions. It has also encouraged the government bodies to increase funding of such research and development activities. Moreover, companies and academic institutions are collaborating in order to use advanced laboratory equipment, which in turn has also supplemented market growth.

The recent technological advancements in the manufacturing process of microscopes has led to the production of robust, more accurate and relatively cheaper instruments. In addition, certain microscopes are lightweight and portability in nature which has further contributed to the market growth. Furthermore, recent advancements in commercial applications of nanotechnology, life science and semiconductor manufacturing has led to a widespread adoption of microscope use by manufacturers across various domains.

Browse for full research summary: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/microscope-market

Asia-Pacific dominates the global market and is predicted to exhibit growth at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This rapid growth is due to the swelling economic growth in countries such as China and Japan. Various factors governing the growth in this region include presence of major market players in this region, increasing government and rapidly increasing research and development activities. Furthermore, various technological advancements in the field of material and life sciences, and nanotechnology is further boosting the market growth.

The different types of microscopes include optical microscopes which is further categorized into inverted microscopes, stereomicroscopes, phase contrast microscopes, fluorescence microscopes, confocal scanning microscopes, near field scanning microscopes, other optical microscopes; electron microscope which is further categorized into transmission electron microscope which is further categorized into scanning electron microscope; scanning probe microscope; and others. The electron microscope segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period owing to technological advancements, in the fields of material and life sciences. Electron microscope segment is further sectioned into scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope.

The key market players profiled in the report include Nikon, Carl Zeiss AG, Leica Microsystems, Hitachi High Technologies, Bruker Corporation, NT-MDT Company, FEI Company, Jeol Ltd., Olympus Corporation, Asylum Research, Omax Corporation, Amscope, Celestron, Motic and Magnus Analytics. These market players have adopted various strategies such as such as new product release, novel technology development and collaboration among others to expand their foothold and increase their customer base.

Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/microscope-market/request-for-discount-pricing

About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world.

Contact us-

Polaris Market Research

Phone: 1-646-568-9980

Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com

Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com


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The nomination terms and conditions for the two categories of the Khalifa bin Salman Award for Bahraini Doctors have been amended, HRH the Prime Ministers Court undersecretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Khalifa announced yesterday. This comes in response to medical institutions requests.

Under the amendment, medical institutions in the Kingdom will be allowed to nominate any number of doctors for the award categories, without any limit. Shaikh Mohammed stressed that the move aims to give more chances for Bahraini doctors to compete, in line with the objectives of the award, launched primarily to encourage doctors to showcase their distinction in the fields of therapeutic, clinical and medical research, as well as in innovation and service to society.

The undersecretary added that the award embodies His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifas interest in and care for Bahraini medical and health professionals, in recognition of their dedication and bravery in facing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He praised the keenness of medical institutions and doctors to participate massively in the award, wishing them success.

The two-category Khalifa bin Salman Award for Bahraini Doctors will be granted on the first Wednesday of November every year during the Kingdoms celebration of Bahraini Doctors Day. The first category is the Innovation and Creative Award in Therapeutic, Clinical and Medical Research.

It will be granted to three Bahraini doctors who prepare therapeutic, clinical and medical scientific research and attain distinguished achievements in their medical field characterised by creativity and innovation. The second category, Extended Loyalty and Giving Award, will be granted to Bahraini doctors who have worked for a period of no less than 30 years, in recognition and appreciation of their efforts and contributions.

Any qualified Bahraini doctor may apply for the award by submitting their nominations through the institution to which they belong, no later than September 5, by filling in the form designated for this purpose on the Ministry of Health website. They must also send the required documents supporting their nomination to the ministry by e-mail on kbs.bdra.reg@ health.gov.bh.
By PTI

HYDERABAD: A 27-year-old migrant labourer has been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the health of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on a social media platform.

In June this year, the Cyber Crime wing of Hyderabad police had registered a case in this connection, they said.

During the course of the investigation it was revealed that one Panyala Raju, a native of Jagityal district in Telangana and residing in Saudi Arabia had posted the message, police said.

As such the cybercrime police initiated a LOC (Look Out Circular) against him and he was detained by immigration authorities at Mumbai international airport on his arrival from Saudi Arabia on August 14, a release said on Monday.

Based on the information, a police team went to Mumbai and took the accused in custody and brought him to Hyderabad, police added.
Cuba Gooding Jr. was accused in a new lawsuit of raping an unnamed woman twice at a hotel in Manhattan in 2013.

The suit, filed on Tuesday, said that the woman first met Gooding in the VIP lounge of a Greenwich Village restaurant and was later invited to join the actor and his friends for drinks at The Mercer Hotel in SoHo. When she arrived at the hotel, Gooding said he needed to change his clothes but would do so quickly and instructed the woman to come with him to his room, the lawsuit said.

Once inside the hotel room, the woman attempted to leave the room after she saw Gooding begin to take his clothes off in front of her. The woman said the actor blocked her path, pushed her onto the bed, forcibly touched her breasts and genitals and then raped her, despite the woman saying no repeatedly.

Also Read: Migos Rapper Takeoff Accused of Rape at an LA Party in New Lawsuit

When the woman tried to leave after Gooding went to the bathroom, Gooding returned to the bed and anally raped her, the lawsuit said.

Plaintiff was afraid to move in fear that Defendant might rape her a third time. Nevertheless, Defendant fell asleep almost immediately, upon which Plaintiff went to the bathroom to clean herself. However, at this point she realized that Defendant had woken up as she heard him rustling in the bed, the lawsuit said. [The woman] was in fear that she might be raped again, told [Gooding] she had to head downstairs in order to meet her friend, and hurriedly left the hotel room.

The unnamed woman is seeking a trial by jury and unspecified damages for mental, emotional and physical injury, distress, pain and suffering and injury to her reputation in an amount to be proven.

Mark Heller, an attorney for Gooding, did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment but told the New York Times that the accusations were completely false and defamatory.

The lawsuit against Gooding comes as the actor is awaiting a criminal trial in New York on charges of forcible touching and sex abuse. He has pleaded not guilty.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

Read original story Cuba Gooding Jr. Accused of Raping Woman at Manhattan Hotel At TheWrap
The Coralynne was secured near Newcastle, NSW on Aug. 15, 2020 during a joint operation by Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and Australian Border Force. Three men were charged after nearly a tonne of cocaine was seized. (Australian Federal Police)

Drug-Filled Vessel Intercepted Off NSW Coast

Up to a tonne of cocaine worth almost a quarter of a billion dollars has been seized and three men charged after Australian authorities intercepted a drug-filled boat off the NSW coast.

The Coralynne was secured near Newcastle on Aug. 15 during a daring joint operation by Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and Australian Border Force officers after a tip-off from New Zealand authorities.

Border force officials boarded the trawler, which was on fire, about 150 nautical miles off the coast in 3.5 metre seas, arrested three crew and towed the cocaine-filled trawler back to Sydneys Balmain.

ABF NSW Commander Danielle Yannopoulos says its probably the countrys biggest cocaine bust in three years.

Just to give you a bit of an idea, the ABF seized about 760 kilos of cocaine last financial year, she said on Aug. 18.

This is likely to be the biggest cocaine detection since 2017.

Authorities are working out exactly much cocaine was seized but believe it could be up to a tonne.

If we work on the basis that its a couple of hundred kilos, up to one tonne, then the street value is between $100 million and $250 million, AFP Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough told reporters.

NZ intelligence reported the boat to Australian authorities on Aug. 11, after it was tracked in a stretch of ocean not usually visited by trawlers.

Australian intelligence officers then observed the boat meeting a mother ship when, they will allege, the drugs were transferred.

Its believed the bigger vessel could have come from South America.

The men arrested on the Coralynnetwo Australians aged 27 and 32 and a 40-year-old Hong Kong manappeared in Sydneys Central Local Court on Monday and were refused bail.

NSW Police State Crime Commander Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the need to mitigate the spread of coronavirus added another layer of difficulty to the operation.

A lot of this product comes from countries that are at risk, and are dealing with the risk of COVID-19, he said.

We go through this profile of how are we going to deal with it and then, obviously, all the staff are briefed.

Investigations are continuing.

By Tiffanie Turnbull in Sydney
Sinn Fein TD Darren ORourke said he understood Mr Adams spoke to the party member after Detective Inspector Pat Marry went to the former leader for help.

Mr ORourke denied there was a culture of fear in the party, adding that he understood members do not need to consult senior members before giving information to gardai or the PSNI.

The Irish Times reported on Tuesday that the unnamed Sinn Fein member gave a statement detailing how he heard Aaron Brady confess to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe during the robbery of Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan on January 25th 2013.

Mr Marry told the newspaper he had to go to a Sinn Fein TD for help before the witness was told by the party that there were no issues in him providing information about the killing.

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Brady, a 29-year-old from Co Armagh, was convicted of capital murder at Dublins Central Criminal Court last week.

Mr ORourke said: I dont know that person, and again I dont know the decision-making process in terms of their own thinking and why they felt they needed to do that.

The party has been very clear that in so many cases and so many incidents, that people should come and make statements and bring information they have to the guards and PSNI.

In fairness I dont think the party presumed they needed to, you dont need to come to Sinn Fein first before you do that, its clearly not the case.

I think in how that developed and played out it was clear that the party dont require that from people, and a very helpful and useful role was played by that person, which was the important point.

Asked if the TD involved was Mr Adams, Mr ORourke said: Its my understanding that it was.

He insisted there is no culture of fear in the party, adding: I can say that as somebody who has been a member of this party for over 20 years and come into it without a strong republican background. I have never experienced that and the leadership has always been encouraging in terms of our important role as citizens first.

I dont know what the rationale was on behalf of that person, maybe it was them being over-cautious or second guessing themselves.

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said the incident raises serious questions.

He added: Once again when it comes to Sinn Fein and the law of the land, we have seen a shadowy parallel system at work.

We have seen it in respect of the murder of Paul Quinn, the horrific treatment of Mairia Cahill, and at various repeated junctures.

The revelation that a key witness in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe wouldnt speak with investigating gardai until they cleared it with party figures raises serious questions that the party must answer.

Why does a Sinn Fein activist feel they need to speak with party officials before making a statement to the gardai? Do Sinn Fein believe their authority comes before that of the state? Will Sinn Fein encourage all who have information on the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe to present themselves to the gardai?
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mail carrier Mike Nugent didnt think he had a good chance at the route he placed a bid for in 1996.

Nugent had been a mail carrier at the Briggs station in Parma for about eight years, and the route he wanted was held for 20-something years by the late Lindy Winston. Nugent thought whoever earned the bid would need high seniority. Mail carriers throughout the city were able to place a bid. Nugent had a lot of competition.

I bid on it, and then when the bidding results came out, I got it, Nugent said. And I was like kind of confused, like how the heck did I get this? And as I found out, once I got there, a guy with like 30-something years at West Park had bid on it, but he put the wrong number down.

Nugent, whose nickname is NOOJ, said he thinks the other man accidentally bid himself to East Cleveland, and he ended up with the job delivering at the West Park station. Nugent, who will be 56 on Aug. 25, has provided mail delivery in the West Park neighborhood for 25 years, beginning in June 1996. Hes retiring, and his last day is Saturday.

The mail system has been an essential fixture in American life since 1775, when Benjamin Franklin became the young nations first postmaster general. As hundreds of years have passed, people have relied on carriers like Nugent to deliver medicine, paychecks, letters and other necessities. Today, amid a global pandemic, the Postal Service serves as a life-line for people who want to limit their exposure to the public. That includes voting by mail in the upcoming general election, a system that Democratic lawmakers say is under attack.

Ohio is one of 46 states that recently received a warning from Postal Service officials that deadlines laid out in the states mail-voting laws could result in disenfranchised voters. According to a CNN report, the Postal Service said earlier this month it has ample capacity to manage the projected increase in the mail for mail-in voting.

According to a report from NBC News, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has directed the removal of 671 letter sorting machines over this year. The equipment removal began in June, according to CNN. DeJoy has also cut overtime for workers. The moves have resulted in mail delays, and with some sorting machines out, that has raised questions of whether enough resources will be in place to help with mail-in ballots.

The Postal Service said Sunday that it would stop taking out sorting machines and collection boxes. According to a CNN report, the Postal Service now says it wont remove any additional machines from now through the election, and it wont remove any mailboxes for 90 days.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called back the House of Representatives from its break. The House will vote Saturday on whether to keep any additional changes in the Postal Service from happening. It will also look to aid the Postal Service with $25 billion in funding, according to CNN. DeJoy will testify before the Senate on Friday as questions continue to linger as to whether his changes to the Postal Service could impact the election. DeJoy will testify before the House Oversight Committee on Aug. 24, according to USA TODAY.

President Donald Trump said in an interview Thursday with Fox Business Network that he wont make a deal with Democrats regarding funds that would help the Postal Service handle more mail-in ballots.

Customers along Nugents route  which includes Saint Joseph Academy, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Poor Clares Monastery, and residential streets like Greenwood Avenue and Ernadale Avenue  have concerns over the recent changes with the Postal Service and the potential impact on the upcoming election.

Mike and Malena Roche live on Greenwood Avenue in the West Park neighborhood. Theyve lived there for 14 years and appreciate how much Nugent has done for them and the community. Mail-in voting will be crucial for this election season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Roches plan on voting by mail. Malena said she is concerned with how mail-in voting will turn out.

I am incredibly concerned about the state of the affairs of the United States Postal Service, Malena said. I think something needs to be done. Its obviously a fabric of all of our lives. Voting is something that everyone should have access to, and were in a pandemic. Mail-in voting, in my opinion, and I know people have very different opinions on this, I think is very important for our elderly, anyone whos sick, anyone whos unable, all should get the right to vote.

Nugent believes the Postal Service plays the role of messenger, saying states must figure out their respective voting situations. Ohios deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 31, and ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2.

On Monday, equipment that looked like sorting machines were spotted in a lot behind the citys main post office. A U.S. Postal Service spokesperson said the machines in the lot wouldnt affect the ability to process mail for the election, and that they were used to process magazines.

Daleo Freeman, the president of the Cleveland postal workers union, told cleveland.com that four more machines used to sort envelopes were put in the lot. Freeman said when it comes to election time or the holiday season, when more mail is processed, those machines will be missed, and he expects delays.

Beyond the election, delays also create problems for people who are homebound or working from home during the pandemic. Many people rely on the mail for business and even life-saving deliveries like medication.

Mike Roche, 45, is an attorney and loves music. Nugent regularly delivers records and CDs to Roche, and Malena said he is always careful with the products.

The excitement of getting mail has a distinct feel to it. Mike Roche had that feeling when he was waiting for a record he always wanted: the Bruce Springsteen August 1978 bootleg from his concert at The Agora.

Mike, I think it was 2017, 2018, delivered it, Roche said. It was actually on my stoop because we have like a slot, so whenever he dropped off a record or a CD, he would put it on the front stoop. And I remember rushing out to get it and popping it in and listening to it.

Malena, 45, is a special education teacher for Cleveland Public Schools. She said Nugent would let her know if something important from her district came in the mail.

It restores your faith in humanity, Malena said of Nugents kind-heartedness. Hes just such a good person. My kids know who he is. It just makes our neighborhood feel super safe. I know that sounds really weird. Im going to sound like a teacher for a minute, but we have community helpers that are around always looking out for us, and he always is.

Still, mail carriers also serve as a friendly, reliable face for the communities they see and serve every day.

Just getting to talk to them in their natural habitat. Theyre at home, Nugent said. Theyre at their house. Theyre not in a store or not in a workplace, so you really get to learn a lot about people and earn their confidence and their trust.

Nugent lives about a mile from his route, and during his career, he worked to build a relationship with his customers. Malena said Nugent is a fixture at block parties because of how well people know him. Streets like Greenwood and Ernadale are even planning get-togethers for him, with Greenwood having a party this Saturday.

Especially in light of everything thats going on right now with COVID, I really appreciate it, Nugent said of the Greenwood party. And I kind of in an odd way feel a little bad that people have to almost subject themselves or maybe have to not go because of this, and I totally understand. Its kind of mixed emotions really, with COVID and social distancing. Im very grateful.
By Kim Jae-heun



The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) imposed fines on seven firms in the food and beverage, apparel and mobile carrier sectors for avoiding delivery of written contracts with their dealership stores.



The antitrust watchdog launched an investigation to check if the companies are properly fulfilling their obligation to adopt contract standards.



This is part of the government's efforts to establish a culture promoting fair contracts. Suppliers have been avoiding the use of standard contracts set by the KFTC or even failing to sign them, enabling suppliers to use their superior position to bend the market to their favor.



The result showed Hyungji, SK Telecom and KT have failed to use updated contract forms that have been revised in June. Binggrae, Descente Korea, K2 and Hyungji did not implement an electronic contract system and still used written contracts.



Seven firms including Ottogi, LG Uplus and KT adopted electronic contract systems but their usage rate varied from 20 percent to 100 percent. Some firms failed to deliver contracts, delayed them or left out important clauses, which are also violations of the Fair Trade Act.



Ottogi was fined the most with 10 million won ($8,442), followed by LG Uplus 8.75 million won, KT and K2 with 8 million won each and SPC Samlip and CJ Cheiljedang with 7 million won each. Namyang Dairy Products was fined 6.25 million won.



The antitrust watchdog said it will conduct additional investigations on 177 firms in the same three sectors soon and expand its target industries too.



Within this year, six industries of furniture, publishing, boilers, home appliances, oil circulation and medical appliances will adopt standard contract forms. Only six types of businesses currently use them.



"We will be able to prevent the suppliers' unfair trade practices with their dealership stores by inspecting to see if they are properly using standard contracts. Food and beverage, mobile carriers and apparel are the three industries that account for a large portion of dealership stores' transactions, and disclosing the types of major law violations will help," the KFTC official said. "The KFTC will continue to carry out investigations in other sectors too."


Researchers have achieved an efficiency record for transparent solar cells, paving the way for skyscraper windows to serve as power sources.

A team from the University of Michigan used an organic, carbon-based design to transform sunlight into electricity with an efficiency rate of 8.1 per cent.

Commercial solar cells, which are typically made using silicon rather than carbon, tend to have an efficiency rate of between 14 and 19 per cent.

"Windows, which are on the face of every building, are an ideal location for organic solar cells because they offer something silicon can't, which is a combination of very high efficiency and very high visible transparency," said Stephen Forrest, a professor of engineering who led the research.

The transparency of the solar cells used in the research had 43.3 per cent transparency, which is similar to the transparency of windows used in skyscrapers and tinted car windows.

Recommended Solar energy breakthrough creates electricity from invisible light

Skyscrapers and other large buildings with glass facades already use a coating on windows in order to reduce the glare and heat of the sun.

Using sheets of transparent solar cells would provide the same functionality, while also producing electricity to power the building.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

The colour-neutral material developed by the researchers can be manufactured at scale, using materials that are more environmentally friendly than other transparent solar cell materials.

It can also be placed in between the panes of double-glazed windows in a way that improves efficiency, depending on the building's latitude and the angle that the sun's rays are hitting the window.

"The new material we developed, and the structure of the device we built, had to balance multiple trade-offs to provide good sunlight absorption, high voltage, high current, low resistance and colour-neutral transparency all at the same time," said Yongxi Li, a researcher at the University of Michigan who was involved in the study.

A separate version of the material that had a greenish tint improved efficiency to 10.8 per cent with 45.8 transparency, however the colour may not be suitable for some commercial applications.

The research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week.
Innocent: Cardinal George Pell's Prison Journal to be Released

High-ranking Catholic cardinal spent 404 days in jail -- here's what he wrote while there

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Carmel Communications

Aug. 17, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- The first volume of Cardinal George Pell's prison journal is set to be published as a book and an e-book by Ignatius Press in early 2021 and as digital installments starting on August 17, 2020. The unprecedented work, PRISON JOURNAL: THE CARDINAL MAKES HIS APPEAL, features the writings of a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who was unjustly convicted of sex abuse until his appeal was unanimously overturned by the Australian High Court and encompasses his 404 days in solitary confinement.

Cardinal George Pell, as prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, which had been newly created by Pope Francis to manage the finances of the Vatican, was accused of sexually assaulting choir boys in his former cathedral during the 1990s. So sure that the charges were false, the cardinal voluntarily left Rome for Australia to stand trial. The trial ended in a hung jury, but when the case was retried, Cardinal Pell was found guilty and sentenced to six years in prison.

"PRISON JOURNAL is going to be a spiritual classic," said Father Joseph Fessio, S.J., editor of Ignatius Press.

On April 7, 2020, after fifty-nine weeks in jail, the High Court in Australia overturned his conviction and Cardinal George Pell was finally free. PRISON JOURNAL contains his reflections not only on the pain of being falsely accused and unjustly imprisoned, but also on the meaning of suffering in the life of a Christian and the divine command to forgive one's enemies.

"I hold no ill will to my accused, I do not want my acquittal to add to the hurt and bitterness so many feel; there is certainly hurt and bitterness enough," Cardinal Pell said in a statement after his acquittal.

Cardinal Pell was subject to immense vitriol during his trial as the State of Victoria sought to convict him with no corroborating evidence or witness testimony. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial and during his prison time. Indeed, the High Court, when it overturned his conviction, said that there is "a significant possibility that an innocent person has been convicted because the evidence did not establish guilt to the requisite standard of proof."

PRISON JOURNAL "is a testament to the capacity of God's grace to inspire insight, magnanimity and goodness amidst wickedness, evil and injustice. That it was written so beautifully bears witness to the Christian character that divine grace formed in its author, George Cardinal Pell," said George Weigel, author of "The Next Pope," in his introduction.

Please visit www.PellPrisonJournal.com for more information about the book. Digital installments of PRISON JOURNAL will be available starting on August 17, 2020, for $5 per month.

For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview with Cardinal George Pell, please contact Kevin Wandra (404-788-1276 or KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com) of Carmel Communications.

SOURCE Carmel Communications

CONTACT: Kevin Wandra, 404-788-1276, KWandra@CarmelCommunications.com

Related Links

www.PellPrisonJournal.com
-- One of the focuses of Pompeo's journey was to form a European alliance against China and Russia.

-- Pompeo's anti-China rhetoric has found little support, while his attempt to divide Europe was met with criticism.

-- Pompeo had repeatedly used democracy and freedom as pretexts to promote the United States' own interests, and thus divide Europe into an old and a new bloc.

BERLIN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrapped up his four-stop trip to Central and Eastern Europe after leaving Poland this weekend, probably with some disappointment.

During his stops in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Austria and Poland, Pompeo spared no efforts preaching his China-bashing cliches, attempting to build an alliance against Beijing on the pretext of democracy and freedom.

However, his anti-China rhetoric has found little support, while his attempt to divide Europe was met with criticism.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (2nd L) and Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak (2nd R) sign the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in Warsaw, Poland, on Aug. 15, 2020. (Polish Ministry of Defence/Handout via Xinhua)

ANTI-CHINA AGENDA FAILS

One of the focuses of Pompeo's journey was to form a European alliance against China and Russia. He asked the four countries to shun Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant considered a threat by Washington as it takes a lead in the 5G network, as well as Russia's energy supply to Western Europe.

During his journey, Pompeo repeatedly claimed that China and Russia are posing a threat to "the democratic world," saying that using technologies from China and Russia would pose a "danger" to the sovereignty of those countries.

However, Pompeo's rhetoric found little resonance and even rejections. At a joint press conference with Pompeo in Prague on Wednesday, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis called his country "a leader in Europe" on 5G and cybersecurity, saying that the Czech Republic is "a sovereign country and I do not see any major threat here."

On relations with China, Babis said that the Czech Republic "seeks lines with the European Union and there's no fundamental problem here," despite Pompeo's botched attempt to sow discord.

Babis told a Czech newspaper on Thursday that as a sovereign country, the Czech Republic treats countries equally. He also refused to rule out Huawei as a potential partner in 5G building despite Pompeo's push.

A similar scene played out in Vienna, Pompeo's third stop. At a joint press conference with his U.S. counterpart, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said that "our approach is not to ban in general one competitor or one provider, but to establish a clear list of criteria to avoid high-risk providers."

On the issue of 5G and cybersecurity, Austria shared similar stance as the Czech Republic. Schallenberg said that Vienna has adopted a common position within the EU, which is called the "EU toolbox."

Pompeo probably won some support in Slovenia, the country currently led by a populist government, and both countries signed a declaration on 5G security on Thursday which will exclude Huawei; however, it drew widespread criticism from both political and media circles.

"The signing of the political declaration on 5G security between Slovenian Foreign Minister (Anze) Logar and U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo does not follow Slovenia's interests," member of the European Parliament and member of the leadership of the Slovenian Social Democratic Party Milan Brglez said.

The Slovenian local newspaper Vecer carried a commentary on Friday, saying that Pompeo found a willing audience among Slovenian officials for U.S. plans to edge out Chinese competition in 5G telecommunications and contain Russia's energy expansion.

"We cannot get rid of the feeling that all that search for threats to human rights, secure communications, the rule of law and democracy is not about those values of Western civilization, but about who gets a bigger slice of the pie in this future business, and consequently controls the world," said the commentary.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) and Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Jansa attend a press conference in Bled, Slovenia, Aug. 13, 2020. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

MALICIOUS PLAN TO DIVIDE EUROPE

As the Slovenian newspaper said, it was about business interests. Besides Huawei, Pompeo had repeatedly used democracy and freedom as pretexts to promote the United States' own interests, and thus divide Europe into an old and a new bloc.

The Russia-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project is definitely one of the key issues now between Europe and the United States, as Washington is worried that the project would strengthen Western Europe's energy dependence on Russia and thus expand Moscow's influence in Western Europe.

Critics of the U.S. sanctions have speculated that Washington is using the measures to enhance the sale of its own liquefied natural gas to Europe.

Pompeo raised the issue during his trip. In Vienna, Pompeo told reporters that he disagreed with Austria on the security threat posed by the project. Austria is one of the investors in the pipeline through the partly state-owned energy company OMV.

In response, Pompeo's Austrian counterpart and host Schallenberg told reporters that Vienna deeply regrets the "extraterritorial sanctions" imposed by the United States against the project. Austria's position is almost the same as Germany's, as Berlin is the biggest beneficiary of the project and also the fiercest accuser of U.S. sanctions.

"The federal government cannot be brought to its knees by the U.S. sanctions threats against the rightly controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline," wrote the Austrian newspaper Die Presse. "In addition, it does not want to exclude Chinese companies like Huawei from setting up the 5G mobile network, even if the U.S. would like to do so," the newspaper said.

Pompeo also attempted to win a construction contract at the Czech Dukovany nuclear power plant for the American firm Westinghouse. However, the Czech Republic rejected his push to force a new memorandum.

U.S.-Poland defense cooperation is another thorn between Washington and Berlin, as well as between Warsaw and Berlin. On Saturday, Pompeo and Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). It consists of the opening of a base in Poland for the U.S. army, probably in 2021. The total number of American soldiers will increase by 1,000 to around 5,500.

The strengthened U.S.-Poland defense cooperation came as Washington decided to withdraw around one third of its troops from Germany as a punishment for Berlin's incompliance with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) 2 percent of gross domestic product defense spending standard and Nord Stream 2.

Germany depends on U.S. troops in security and economic terms and is angry about Washington's one-sided decision that did not involve consulting its allies. Meanwhile, as a new EU member, Poland is at odds with Germany and France due to Warsaw's judicial reforms. The closer ties between the United States and Poland have been considered by some observers as a U.S. strategy to weaken Europe.

"I believe that the U.S. move for sending some of the U.S. troops evacuated from Germany to Poland runs counter to the EU's unified foreign and security policy, and its motives are very suspicious," Sylwester Szafarz, a Polish expert on international issues, told Xinhua.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (L) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Vienna, Austria, Aug. 14, 2020. (Dragan Tatic/BKA/Handout via Xinhua)

"This will not help Poland consolidate its position within the European Union, but also it is suspected that the United States is trying to divide the European Union further by pushing for a possible Polexit after Brexit," the expert said.
BENGALURU, India, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced that Gartner Inc. has positioned Infosys as a Leader in its May 2020 Magic Quadrant for Oracle Cloud Applications Services, Worldwide. We consider this positioning by Gartner as validation of our capacity to deliver and carry out tech-powered Oracle cloud application solutions for large, global clients in a cost-effective and bundled manner.

For the report, Gartner evaluated 19 service providers on two primary criteria  completeness of vision and ability to execute. According to the report, the vendors who are positioned as Leaders are "performing well today, gaining traction and mind share in the market; they have a clear vision of market direction and are actively building competencies to sustain their leadership position in the market."

Dinesh Rao, EVP and Global Head  Enterprise Application Services, Infosys said, "From our view, this recognition reflects our commitment towards driving customer success and continued excellence in delivering Oracle cloud application services. Leveraging our unique solutions, global innovation hubs and a creative pool of talent, we have been delivering tangible results for our clients across industries. We believe that being acknowledged as a Leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant validates the investments we have made to help transform our clients to resilient live enterprises."

"At Harmonic, we had a critical and complex Agile implementation ahead of us which required a partner with global reach, proven industry capability and continuous investment in innovation. With Infosys' rich experience in multifunction transformation, framework-driven approach, and superlative tools and accelerators, we were able to successfully carry out the implementation in record time. We look forward to our continued partnership with Infosys as we prepare to accomplish many more milestones," said Santhosh Kumar, VP IT Applications & PMO, Harmonic Inc.

Kim Nicolaus, NGPS' Program Director & Digital Transformation Director at DNV GL (Business Assurance) commented, "The implementation of NGPS (Next Generation Production System) is a critical milestone in the digitisation journey of the Business Assurance unit of DNV GL, unbundling our various business processes into the Oracle Cloud suite. Infosys partnered with us on this challenging journey, supporting us with the integration of more than 7 applications and systems, across more than one hundred countries serving over 100,000 customers. Together we deployed NGPS within time, resulting in a smooth transition and positive outcome for our digital transformation programme."

A complimentary copy of the Magic Quadrant for Oracle Cloud Applications Services, Worldwide report can be accessed here.

Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Infosys Ltd.

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With nearly four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

SOURCE Infosys
Its a telling example of pop culture echoing the real-life sentiment that Disneys much-beloved modern classic Finding Nemo features a support group for sharks struggling to master their overwhelming need to feed.

While lighthearted, this iconic scene  Fish are friends, not food!  plays up the long-standing view of sharks as ravenous killers with insatiable appetites. In reality, these sleek predators are hugely influential in balancing aquatic ecosystems.

For all their (in)famous portrayal in books, movies and video games, however, sharks swim a fine line between fear and adoration. In recognition of this vital  if often misunderstood  role, the Tennessee Aquarium hosts SharkFest! each August. This jaw-some celebration of all things shark-related is exclusively for Aquarium members and is included with an Aquarium membership.

SharkFest! will return on Aug. 27. In light of the continuing need to practice physical distancing, however, this years celebration will be a virtual live event packed to the gills with behind-the-scenes access, special guest appearances and up-close views of the many shark species that call the Aquarium home.

Members will kick things off by learning more about the sharks that inhabit the Stingray Bay touch tank. These include Epaulette Sharks, aka Walking Sharks, and the brilliantly patterned Japanese Horn Shark, which is renowned for having the strongest bite force of any animal. (Dont worry, though, those jaws are solely for cracking the tough shells of urchins.)

Next, the fun continues well off the visitor path in a special, behind-the-scenes staging area. There, experts will introduce viewers to the Aquariums rarely seen Swell Sharks and Carpet Catsharks, two species which defy belief by glowing under ultraviolet light.



Aquarium members wont be the only ones logging in to join the fin-tastic fun. Ocean explorer, conservationist and underwater filmmaker Fabien Cousteau (grandson of the famed Jacques Cousteau) also will be making a special guest appearance. Viewers can expect to hear stories and insights about sharks pulled from Cousteaus many encounters with them during a life spent advocating for  and occasionally living alongside  ocean life.

Finally, the stream will conclude with an exclusive feeding of the Aquariums enormous Secret Reef exhibit. This 615,000-gallon tank is home to a pair of Sandbar Sharks and a quartet of Sand Tiger Sharks. During this special SharkFest!-only event, viewers will be able to venture above the exhibit to see for themselves how the Aquarium ensures the health and proper nutrition of these sleek predators using, quite literally, a 10-foot pole.

Members can access the SharkFest! stream between 6-7 p.m. using a private link delivered via email. If they cant join the fun live, or if they want to replay the presentation, the same link will let them tune in after the fact.

This years SharkFest! is presented by Nature Films Network, a Chattanooga-based video production and stock footage licensing company whose credits include a number of underwater documentaries. Chief among these is Shark Clans, a mesmerizing film which puts viewers in the dive cage as they learn about the surprising social interactions of Great White Sharks in the waters off the Australia coast. Some of the crew from Nature Films Network will also appear during the Dive Stream. Theyll share experiences theyve had while filming truly gargantuan Basking Sharks and Great Whites.

In addition to the wealth of live events, members and the public will also have the opportunity to support the Aquarium  and snag some especially cool items and experiences  during the first-ever SharkFest! mini-auction. Plenty of exciting shark-themed VIP experiences and other cool items have been assembled for users to bid on. There are also several opportunities for guests to make a donation and receive some fun shark swag, including actual shark teeth from some of the Aquariums sharks. The auction begins Aug. 18 and concludes the day after SharkFest! on Aug. 28.

For more information about SharkFest!, visit tnaqua.org/sharkfest/. To learn more about the work of Nature Films Network, visit naturefilmsnetwork.com/

Aquarium memberships are $120 for individuals or $175 for families. Members enjoy unlimited access to the Aquarium, special discounts in the gift stores or off admission to partnering attractions as well as access to exclusive events, such as SharkFest! More details at tnaqua.org/members/
Gear: Fisherman Bertie Donohue holding the sling that Ellen Glynn and Sara Feeney would have held during their ordeal at sea

Aran Islands fisherman Bertie Donohue had planned to move the floats that helped save two young paddleboarders last week, but 'something stopped him'.

The fisherman who owns the pots at the centre of an epic rescue in Galway Bay last week says that the two paddleboarders are "very tough, very brave women".

When he heard that Sara Feeney (23) and Ellen Glynn (17) had managed to grab on to floats two miles south-west of Inis Oirr - after a night being swept across the bay - the crab fisherman knew immediately it was his gear.

Mr Donohue, who is from Cill Einne on the island of Inis Mor, said he believed what had happened to the two Galway women "could happen to any of us".

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He said their own presence of mind had been key to their survival, along with their rescue by fishermen Patrick and Morgan Oliver of Galway RNLI.

Expand Close Thankful: Ellen Glynn with her parents, Johnny and Deirdre. Photo: Ray Ryan / Facebook

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Whatsapp Thankful: Ellen Glynn with her parents, Johnny and Deirdre. Photo: Ray Ryan

Mr Donohue had set the three strings of pots close to an area known as "the Finish" off the southern Aran island this season for the first time.

The fisherman, who processes brown crab on Inis Mor, said he had planned to move the gear early last week, but "something stopped him".

"When they got hold of the floats, it was the outer set of gear," he said. "If they had missed it, they would be out in the Atlantic."

When the two exhausted women realised their location after fog lifted last Thursday morning, the Cliffs of Moher were just to the south of them and the wide Atlantic just west.

Expand Close Cousin Sara Feeney / Facebook

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It was at that point that they spotted the floats and grabbed hold of them, securing the sling through the webbing on the boards.

"I don't know how they survived that night as there was awful weather, and that north-easterly is cold and makes a very bad chop in the sea when you are away from shore," Mr Donohue said.

"That is a very exposed location, and I only set the gear there to help another fisherman, who lost 200 pots last October when his boat sank in Inis Oirr," he explained.

"And his boat sank in a north-easterly, the same wind those girls had, which just shows you how tough that weather is."

Mr Donohue lifted the pots at the weekend, and there was a good catch of crab. He has now moved the gear to another location.

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The Irish Coast Guard helicopters, RNLI Aran and Galway lifeboats, Doolin and Costello Bay Coast Guard units, Garda, the Civil Defence, local fishing and leisure craft, along with Galway Flying Club, Aer Arann and many volunteers on both sides of Galway Bay took part in the search, which was co-ordinated by Valentia Marine Rescue Sub Centre.

The Irish Coast Guard has said the search for the two women covered a 200sq mile sea area.

It said it was using the US software that was used effectively by Valentia Coast Guard in 2011 to track the probable location of the crew of the yacht Rambler, which capsized in the Fastnet race.

The software generated two scenarios which were used to help find the young women.
No word if the Postmaster-General will have the 700 mail sorting machines put back to work, or if he will return the thousands of mailboxes, hes recently removed.

The Postmaster General faces at least one criminal referral by the New Jersey Attorney General and criminal indictment for slowing down and intentionally impeding mail delivery to prevent mail-in ballots from being processed. Trumps newly appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy backed down today and agreed to eliminate any appearance of his criminal obstruction of mail delivery until after the upcoming election.

DeJoy has openly committed the crime of tampering with mail delivery after assuring Congress he isnt.

DeJoys actions, according to many expert legal experts, amount to a criminal conspiracy thats so blatant that it's being documented in postal worker reports. Workers have witnessed the removal of sorting machines, and intentionally engineered mail slowdowns across the country, even after an extra $10 billion was provided in the Cares Act, about three months ago.

Meanwhile, DeJoy has said nothing about whether the 700+ mail sorting machines taken out of service will be returned to service or if over 1000+ mailboxes will be returned to their last locations.

Failure to return the mailboxes and the sorting machine could lead to his indictment and trial in New Jersey and several other states for criminal obstruction of the mail.



DeJoy would be challenged for a viable legal defense now that President Trump has clearly stated he intentionally slowed mail delivery to knee cap the election to help him win. Trumps big mouth has dug an enormous hole for DeJoy and could put him in danger of a criminal indictment in more than one state. A federal pardon as Trump leaves office wont be of any real help for DeJoy if he is indicted in New Jersey and many other states.

Asked by NPRs Noel King, the head of the Iowa Postal Workers Union Kimberly Karol, whether she has felt the impact of DeJoys changes, the 30-year Postal Service veteran answered in the affirmative, saying

Mail is beginning to pile up in our offices, and were seeing equipment being removed.

I dont see this as cost-saving measures. I see this as a way to undermine public confidence in the mail service.

Kimberly Karol went to point out equipment that we use to process mail for delivery, including sorting machines being removed from Postal Service facilities in Iowa. DeJoy was rushing ahead with policies that, according to critics, were intended to sabotage Postal Services day-to-day operations less than 90 days before an election that could hinge on mail-in ballots. Karol said 

In Iowa, we are losing machines. And they already in Waterloo were losing one of those machines. So that also hinders our ability to process mail in the way that we had in the past.

I grew up in a culture of service, where every piece was to be delivered every day. And his policies, although theyve only been in place for a few weeks, are now affecting the way that we do business and not allowing us to deliver every piece every day, as weve done in the past.

I dont see this as cost-saving measures. I see this as a way to undermine public confidence in the mail service. Its not saving costs. Were spending more time trying to implement these policy changes. And its, in our offices, costing more over time.

USPS Postmaster General Suspends Delay Causing Policy








Presidential Running Mate Kamala Harris has recently announced one of the plans she intends to implement if she gets elected as vice-president of the United States. The senator has revealed that her administration plans to propose an affordable housing plan to American residents who need it the most.

Affordable and secure housing plan

The running mate's housing program will give clean, safe, and secure housing to low-income families, including armed guards and three full meals every day.

According to Babylon Bee, outside of the community, Harris was seen smiling and taking pictures and later saying that she could think of no better place for people to live in other than the homes she will provide.

The senator proceeded to give a tour of the exclusive, gated community. Harris said it would house mass quantities of people who need an affordable place to live if she gets elected.

Harris revealed the community had top-level security and was surrounded by high walls, barbed wire fencing, 24-hour surveillance monitoring, and specialized guards. The towers provide security personnel a high-ground to watch the surroundings and immediately respond to disturbances.

Detailing the housing further, Harris showed how the community is designed to be laid out in fun, organized sections they call "cell blocks." The senator revealed the reason the housing plan is relatively cheap is their innovative floor plan that combined the several parts of the home into one space, including the bathroom, bedroom, living room, and dining room.

Also Read: Joe Biden Picks Kamala Harris as Running Mate for 2020 Election, Becomes First Black Woman VP Nominee

Walking through the cell blocks, Harris added that each individual who lives in the community would have access to three government-provided meals of gruel every day.

One resident told reporters that he has tried to leave the community several times but failed on all attempts. He stated he understood that Harris knew what was best for him and that he was being kept there for his own safety and security. The senator, when asked for a comment on the issue, laughed it off.

What it means for the homeless

The problem of affordable housing has long since plagued the United States, and Senator Harris is planning on taking it head-on. Analysts estimate that it would require approximately 7.2 to 12 million additional housing units to begin fixing the crisis the country is currently facing about homelessness.

Harris has pledged to contribute more than $135 billion to fund the building and maintenance of several hundreds of thousands of additional housing units, as reported by Fool.com.

In the United States, more than 550,000 people suffer from homelessness, which includes over 150,000 children. The lack of affordable housing is one of the major reasons for the problem.

The issue is why Harris plans to propose the Ending Homelessness Act, which would provide billions of funds to address homelessness.

Struggling to pay rent is another indirect cause of homelessness as people who do not meet their deadlines are forced into the streets. Harris' Rent Relief Act aims to support families and individuals in keeping their homes by giving them refundable tax credit if they spend 30 percent of their gross income on renting fees, including utility bills.

Related Article: South Dakota Declines Trump's Weekly $300 Unemployment Benefits Despite High Jobless Rate

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31819

The collaborative efforts of companies will make significant enhancements in threat intelligence response for clients across the world.

FREMONT, CA: KnectIQ, an innovator in cybersecurity, announces that it has entered into a contract with Stealthcare, a forerunning US-based cybersecurity solutions provider.

The security concept of Zero Trust is improved by groundbreaking new technologies that enable true end-to-end encryption. KnectIQ's patented and patent-pending technologies allow the ultra-secure movement of sensitive data by eliminating threat surfaces, including stored, static keys and certificates associated with PKI. The latest collaboration with Stealthcare will provide the world-first technology, reinforcing Stealthcare's position as the complete cyber threat intelligence and aggregation platform available presently.

Led by Jeremy Samide, Stealthcare's motto is that cybersecurity needs to pivot to a more proactive stance. The company also believes that the present market approach to cybersecurity is flawed. Today, 90% of the security market is reactive, pinpointing cyber-attacks only after the damage is done. Stealthacre believes that KnectIQ shares its same fundamental value that to eliminate cyber-attacks before they occur. KnectIQ will improve Stealthcare's robust specialized services through its globally popular enterprise security for inflight data.

KnectIQ is excited to have another partner in its quest to disrupt the status quo - to drive a sea change in how the world fundamentally views cybersecurity. The combined efforts of both these companies will make significant improvements in threat intelligence response for clients around the world.

KnectIQ is a privately held provider of innovative cybersecurity solutions. Headquartered in St. Paul, the firm is also registered to conduct business in the EU with an office in Luxembourg. Its proprietary technology manages secrets, provides a true trust environment, and helps businesses achieve global compliance.
Stratovolcano 5230 m (17,159 ft)Ecuador, -2S / -78.34W(4 out of 5)1934-ongoing (as of 2020), 1728-1916, 1628 (first observation) - ?Explosive. In historic time: frequent, intermittent strombolian activity

If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online:

According to IGEPN, effusive-explosive eruption of the volcano continues. ...

A physically active tour to visit and climb some of Indonesia's most active and famous volcanoes: Papandayan and Galunggung in West Java, Merapi in Central Java, Kelud, Semeru, Bromo, the Tengger caldera, and Ijen in East Java.

Africa's version of Mauna Loa, Nyamuragira (or Nyamulagira) is a massive basaltic shield volcano neighboring Nyiragongo. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and has voluminous eruptions every few years.

Our popular app is now also available for iPhone and iPad! Get the latest volcano news and earthquakes world-wide - it's free!

We offer a broad variety of tours to volcanic areas: volcano expeditions and specials, discovery tours with hiking, photography, nature and culture, pilot tours and private custom tours.

Much current eruption news is provided by the 9 Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC) distributed around the globe. The VAACs provide a vital service for aviation safety.

Support us - Help us upgrade our services!

Maintaining our website and our free apps does require, however, considerable time and resources.

We're aiming to achieve uninterrupted service wherever an earthquake or volcano eruption unfolds, and your donations can make it happen! Every donation will be highly appreciated.

Improved multilanguage support

Tsunami alerts

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Earthquake archive from 1900 onwards

Detailed quake stats

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Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online:

Android | IOS to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online:

We truly love working to bring you the latest volcano and earthquake data from around the world.We need financing to increase hard- and software capacity as well as support our editor team.If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please PayPal or Online credit card payment )., these features have been added recently:
STAMFORD  Are you looking for masks?

To help residents who may need masks to go to the store, to prepare for school and to be safe when in public, the Stamford Community Emergency Response Team is regularly distributing face masks to the public.

The giveaways are every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rippowam Middle School in Stamford.

The face masks are free.

CERT has been handing out about 10,000 masks for free to town residents at the weekly giveaways this month.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Me Andre Michel accuses Moise

Jovenel Moise took advantage of his participation in the investiture ceremony of the Dominican President, to announce the presidential, legislative and municipal elections in 2021. "Jovenel Moise lied to the international community. No election is possible in Haiti with Jovenel Moise in power," reacted Me Andre Michel, spokesman for the radical opposition called "Democratic and Popular Sector". He reiterates for the umpteenth time "the Constitutional mandate of Jovenel Moise will undoubtedly end on February 7, 2021 [...] We inevitably need a balanced transitional government resulting from a political agreement [...]"



Electricity : Contract under review

Following the unfavorable opinion of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (CSC/CA) of the contract to be signed between the State and General Electric for the turnkey supply of a gas power plant of nearly 50 Mw, technicians from the Ministry of Public Works are working to correct the contract taking into account the recommendations of the CSC. A working session with the executives of the CSC/CA is even envisaged informs Eddy Jackson Alexis the Secretary of State for Communication.



100 community restaurants supplied in 2 days

100 community restaurants were supplied last weekend by the Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) in 8 communes of the West department: Port-au-Prince, Petion-ville, Delmas, Tabarre, Croix-des-Bouquets, Cite Soleil, Carrefour and Leogane.



Youth Observatory

Under the leadership of the Youth Observatory, around twenty young leaders of associations took part in the fourth phase of the production of specifications on Haitian youth. During this workshop supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), these young people submitted several proposals in the fields of education, health, culture, leisure, justice, security, employment, economy, environment, politics, access to information. The final document will be submitted to the Executive Branch, the main political parties, civil society organizations and international actors intervening in Haiti.



Artibonite : situation of the Sacred Lakous

Pradel Henriquez the Minister of Culture received the visit of the Empress of Lakou Soukri, Mrs. Barbonne Michel Narcisse last week. They discussed the situation of the Sacred Lakus of the Artibonite Department and Lakou Soukri in particular.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















YUMA, Ariz. - Grappling for votes  and the spotlight  as Democrats hold their national convention, President Donald Trump reached back Tuesday to the signature issue of his 2016 campaign to deliver a broadside against Democratic rival Joe Biden over immigration.

As Democrats gathered virtually, Trump targeted voters in a pair of key swing states and sought to curry favour with women voters by pardoning Susan B. Anthony, a leader in the womens suffrage movement.

In Arizona, one of the top 2020 battleground states, the president sought to paint a Biden victory in apocalyptic terms, insisting the survival of our nation is at stake in November, as he slammed what he hyperbolically labeled the insane and lethal policies of his opposition.

Bidens plan is the most radical, extreme, reckless, dangerous and deadly immigration plan ever put forward by a major party candidate, he said. It must be defeated. and it will be defeated on November 3.

Trump repeatedly mischaracterized Bidens views on immigration, which are more centrist than many others in his party. Biden, for instance, does not support abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and he argues that crossing the U.S. border illegally should be criminally prosecuted rather than made a civil offence, as many other top Democratic presidential hopefuls proposed.

With his second campaign trip in two days, Trump was hoping to halt an expected convention polling bump for his rival and shore up support with his focus on immigration, one of the most important issues to his political base. He was also trying to stanch an erosion in support among female voters with a symbolic nod on the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

In recent weeks, Trump has been trying to build support within the pivotal female voter constituency and has stepped up his events aimed at women. His campaign has launched another women for Trump bus tour, and the president has embraced a law and order message with renewed vigour.

The president also worked in a last-minute stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a briefing about damage from the derecho last week that has left thousands without power and caused catastrophic damage across the battleground state. Many there have expressed outrage that their plight has not received more national attention.

The storm, which packed 100 mph winds and similar power to an inland hurricane, blew down trees, flipped vehicles and caused widespread damage.

Weve come through for you, and we will always come through for Iowa, Trump said, as the citys mayor urged him to consider enhanced federal disaster funding for people there.

Trump highlighted his immigration agenda during his stop in Yuma, and got an update on construction of his southern border wall. The president insisted that, in addition to fulfilling his pledge to build the wall, Mexico was also paying for it  even though theyre not.

They are paying for it, he said as he stood in front of a replica of his wall, telling reporters hes planning to enact a border crossing toll at some point in the future.

Mexico will be paying, he said. Were figuring how much we have to charge.

Before leaving Washington, Trump held a White House event to announce the pardon of Anthony, convicted of voting in 1872 in violation of laws permitting only men to vote. But he quickly pivoted to the upcoming election and the issue of voting by mail.

Win, lose or draw, we have to get it right, Trump said of the November vote count, levelling a fresh offensive against mail-in voting.

You cant have millions and millions of ballots sent all over the place, sent to people that are dead, sent to dogs, cats, sent everywhere, Trump said.

In fact, voter fraud has proved exceedingly 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.

Only nine states have plans for universal mail-in voting, in which ballots are sent automatically to registered voters. Five of those states relied on mail-in ballots even before the coronavirus pandemic raised concerns about voting in person.

Trumps pardon announcement came on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which ensured women the right to vote. The amendment states, 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 passed it in 1919, and the amendment was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920.

Anthony was arrested for voting in Rochester, New York, and convicted in a widely publicized trial. Although she refused to pay the fine, the authorities declined to take further action.

She felt the trial was the greatest miscarriage of justice because she had not had an opportunity to have a jury of her peers, and the jury didnt get to vote, according to Deborah L. Hughes, president and CEO of The National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House in Rochester, where Anthony died in 1906.

So to pardon her is to validate the trial, and she would not buy that idea at all, Hughes said.

Hughes said the question to ask on the anniversary is how she would want to be honoured. She would be the first to say if any president wanted to honour her, the best way to do that is to make sure there is no voter suppression anywhere in the United States, Hughes said.

Preparations for Trumps own acceptance speech next week were under way at the White House, where a stage was being erected on the South Lawn.

As was the case Monday in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Trump did not venture beyond the airports in Iowa or Arizona  a reflection of the new realities of campaigning in the midst of a pandemic. But Trumps Yuma rally felt much like his rallies of old, with a tightly packed crowd of hundreds shouting and cheering  though many were wearing TRUMP and MAGA masks.

___

Associated Press writers Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, N.Y., and Kevin Freking and Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.




INDIA, Aug 18, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - The COVID-19 pandemic is still being battled across the world and a lot of organizations have come to an ambiguous halt. In such uncertain times, businesses are reorienting their approach towards the new normal. Especially, for an industry like Events and Conferences, where the real essence is a large gathering of like-minded people coming together to create an experience. Adapting to the new norm, Clavent is organizing a virtual conference on 5th and 6th September 2020 called the "EMERGE 2020 MARTECH SUMMIT".Clavent, an India based global conferences company, is hosting Emerge Martech Summit powered by Clevertap, a Marketing and Advertising Technology Conference on 5th & 6th September. Emerge Martech Summit 2020 will bring together marketers & business leaders looking to take their business to the next level. It will cover the latest factors that are set to transform the future of marketing, technology, and data functions.The virtual conference will facilitate a digital networking platform that will allow unrivaled real-time interaction and seamless networking experience with speakers, exhibitors, and fellow delegates. The platform will try to recreate all the elements of an offline conference in an online environment having different sections like lobby, networking lounge, speaking area, virtual expo area, and a speaker's networking area.The conference will cover four major themes- AdTech, Content & SEO, User Analytics & Retention, Affiliates/Media Buying. Clavent has secured an outstanding lineup of talented thought leaders and influencers like Sam Baisla, Founder & CEO at Brand Samosa; Atin Chhabra, Global Director - Digital Customer Experience at Schneider Electric; Shweta Srivastava, Head of Digital at Philips; Penny Soo; Alexis Chiagouris, Director, Digital Marketing at Flexera; Puneeth Bekal, Director - Marketing at Mastercard; Nakul Laad, GM Business planning, and Strategy at Swiggy; Rebecca Kurian, Head of Marketing, India at Logmein; Prithvi Raj, Strategic Media Client Leader at Nielsen Media - South Asia; Neel Pandya, Head of Media at L'Oreal; Mahip Dwivedi, Head Mobile App Marketing & SEO Growth at Flipkart; Rahul Singh, Co-Founder & CEO of Winkl; Malay Harsha, Director Marketing at CleverTap and more. During the two days of dynamic discussion, attendees will discover industry secrets and gain a new cache of knowledge about the latest in advertising and marketing technology."In previous years, Clavent has been organizing great global conferences in countries like Australia, Philippines, Singapore, India, England, and France. This year, with the COVID outbreak, the industry has taken a hit and there have been major layoffs and shutdowns but we as an organization are adapting to the situation and organizing virtual conferences. This year we are going to dig into the fast-changing landscape of digital marketing together - but virtually. We really want to thank Clevertap for partnering and supporting us for this conference," said Sneha Betharia Jha, Director of Clavent.Emerge is set to discuss things beyond the tried and tested best practices which are not enough to be effective at capturing a market share the way they once were. Emerge will cover new tools, applications, tactics, and technologies for Marketing and advertising which are much needed in entering the digital arena in this post COVID world. It will help industry professionals become more digital market savvy and effectively compete in the global marketplace. Emerge 2020 is sponsored on Gold level by Winkl and will feature brands like Time of India, ALT Balaji, Blue Star Limited, EarlySalary, Lenskart, Max life insurance, Ogilvy, OkCredit, Raymond limited, SBI, VFS global, Wipro, Zomato, Ola, Master Card, Flipkart, Zee5, Swiggy, Grofers, Mastercard, Philips, Schneider Electric, Pepsico, BurgerKing, Udaan, Paytm, Vedantu, Logicserve iFlix which are participating in the conference.For more information - https://bit.ly/EmergeMartechRegister for free - https://bit.ly/EmergemartechfreeJoin pre-conference discussions and thought topics on twitter (@calventevents EmergeMartech) and Facebook (@ClaventEvents). For any other inquiries, please email contact@clavent.com.Source: CLAVENTCopyright 2020 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
If the intention was to generate negative news coverage before the start of their national convention, Democrats couldnt have done a better job by failing to include Texans in its prime-time lineup.

Some Texas Democrats were especially miffed that the convention snubbed the two Texans who ran for president, one of them a Latino candidate who waged a historic presidential campaign.

Former San Antonio mayor and U.S. housing secretary Julian Castro, who ended his presidential run by backing Elizabeth Warren, has proven he can deliver an electrifying prime-time speech at a convention.

Former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke earned his potential speaking slot when he galvanized Texas voters to give Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz a major re-election scare.

Complaints from ordinary Democrats surfaced on Twitter over the weekend with a #LetJulianSpeak hashtag.

Some Democrats were shocked that a Texan hadnt been given a solo speaking slot, appearing only in cameos. Yet others were livid that no Texas Latino or Latina was to be showcased, given theyre the future of the party in Texas.

Castro appeared on MSNBC and spoke of the greater good of Vice President Joe Bidens campaign and in presenting a big Democratic tent at the convention.

But he also admitted, Id be lying if I said that I am not disappointed that there arent more Latinos and Latinas, generally, speaking on that program, and that theres not a Native American, not a Muslim American.

Agreed.

ORourke spoke out, too, asking rhetorically if the DNC gets how important Texas is.

The short answer is no, he said. Theyre not going to ride to our rescue, theres no cavalry coming to help us at the end of the day. Texans have to win Texas, but thats the way its always been, and Im great with that.

This years convention was affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Its prime-time programming was crunched into two hours each night over four nights that will be aired by national television networks.

Since initial criticisms of Texas invisibility at the convention, Texas Democratic Party chairman Gilberto Hinojosa sounded more satisfied Monday with additions made by the Biden campaign.

Texas actor and political activist Eva Longoria Baston opened the convention. Others who will speak include state Rep. Victoria Neave and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas. It wasnt clear if any of those are solo spots.

Given that failed presidential candidates Andrew Yang and Pete Buttigieg were awarded such gigs, the Castro and ORourke snubs sting.

Former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte said its important to note that, at this point, the Democratic National Convention and its leadership have more to do with logistics than with programming.

She was the 2008 co-chair of the Democratic National Convention Committee and in 2016 co-chaired its rules committee. She says the Biden campaign no doubt is deciding whos handed the microphone.

As much as Id like to thump Tom Perezs head, she said of the Democratic National Committee chair. Its not his call. Its basically a campaign call.

Van de Putte said theres likely to be some surprises that dont appear on the agenda. The convention is always a bit of an unveiling, a reveal, she said.

She was pleased that Latinas were selected, though from other states, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico. She also noted San Antonio Councilwoman Ana Sandovals spot on a convention panel. Other Latino Democrats are speaking in non-prime-time hours.

The Biden campaign is likely thinking strategically in terms of the big picture, looking at where the votes are and at party unity.

Its using prime-time slots to acknowledge Democratic Party stars and hierarchy. Its parceling out minutes to reward its most loyal supporters and allies.

One Democratic insider suggested the weekend fuss over Texas snubs might have started as a Republican ploy to show Biden knows he cant win the Lone Star state.

Im going to opt for faith in those on the ground who arent giving up hope in Texas and everywhere else where postal workers are being hampered from doing their jobs.

Im putting my faith in voters nationwide wholl listen to the Democratic messages of hope and inclusion, and who acknowledge the Black Lives Matter movement is important.

Im putting my faith in voters and candidates who already know the No. 1 goal in November.

Its restoring democracy.

eayala@express-news.net
Turkish cement exports to Germany rose 4.2% in the 1H20

18 August 2020

The export of cement from Turkey to Germany increased 4.2 per cent from January-July 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, exceeding US$140.4m, reported the Turkish Ministry of Trade.



Turkey exported US$22.7m of cement to Germany in July 2020, up 8.4 per cent on the year-ago period. The country's export of cement to world markets in January-July 2020 increased by 0.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2019, amounting to more than US$2.06bn.



"In July 2020, Turkey's export of cement to international markets amounted to US$351.6m, which is 11.5 per cent more compared to the same month of 2019, the ministry added. Turkeys export of cement to international markets in July this year amounted to 2.3 per cent of the countrys total export.



During the last 12 months (July 2019-July 2020), Turkey exported cement in the amount of more than US$3.5bn.

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Film critic and anti-censorship campaigner David Stratton has attacked the Melbourne International Film Festival for its "craven response" in dropping a movie that features an adult man in an implied sexual relationship with a young android girl after it was accused of "normalising sexual interest in children".

Writing on the blog Filmalert101, Stratton  a critic for The Australian, former co-host of The Movie Show on SBS and At The Movies on the ABC, and former director of the Sydney Film Festival  slammed MIFF for dumping the Austrian movie The Trouble With Being Born from this year's online-only program after concerns were raised by two forensic psychologists.

David Stratton has accused MIFF of a "craven response" in the face of criticism of a controversial film. Credit:Justin McManus

Dr Karen Owen, a former manager of Corrections Victoria's Sex Offender Programs, last month said she was so disturbed by the film she ceased watching it and deleted the link, adding that because the festival was an online event this year, "without question [the film] would be used as a source of arousal for men interested in child abuse material".

As director of the Sydney Film Festival, Stratton and his Melbourne compatriot Erwin Rado fought a battle against censorship between 1966 and 1971 that ultimately resulted in the major film festivals being given a significant degree of freedom to show explicit material to an audience of consenting and informed adults.
When I first gained admission into the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) in 2017 to pursue my dream of becoming a journalist, people made me feel I was choosing the wrong profession. While almost everyone who spoke to me believed and admitted to my passion and love for society and thought I would be a good journalist, they were not convinced of my physical and, to some extent, the emotional strength to accommodate the numerous and mostly unwarranted assaults and attacks journalists go through in Ghana.

They felt journalism was too risky and dangerous a profession for someone like me, who they considered physically not too strong. For them, to be a journalist, you need to have some level of mental toughness and be physically built to resist attacks. I was made to feel so unfit for journalism that at a point, I had to reconsider my decision, though I didn't change it.

The role of the media as a societal institution, I believe has been underestimated in Ghana, partly because of ignorance, lack of understanding of the media, and hugely out of disrespect and impunity. Out of ignorance and lack of understanding of the media, most people still think it is an institution made up of a group of few intellectuals and numerous school dropouts, unemployed and nosy people who have nothing to do and so go around looking to report on other people's wrongs. They think the journalist is the one nicely dressed and reading the news, while the dropouts are the reporters and cameramen.

And so, while those who appear on the screens and heard on-air are treated with a considerable level of respect, the rest are treated with sheer disrespect. Well, we cannot fault them. Ignorance is expensive they say. But maybe moving forward, people need to be educated to know that journalism goes beyond presentation and hosting programs. In fact, they should know that true journalism is going out to the people and reporting the good and the bad and most importantly the challenges, all in the interest of society.

People need to know that free media is not only important, it is a necessity for every democratic dispensation. The basis of democracy is a free and independent press. With a free, independent and of course a responsible media, citizen participation in the national discourse, freedom of expression, accountability, rights and constitutional rule can be guaranteed. Democracy is media freedom and so an attack on the media is an attack on democracy.

It is therefore unfortunate and a dent on the good image of Ghana, as the beacon of democracy in Africa, that people subject journalists to various degrees of assaults with impunity without any sanctions. It is even more unfortunate and alarming that most of these attacks are perpetrated by personnel of our security institutions, the police and the military, the very people who should be ensuring law and order. The very people whose duties are to protect and preserve the constitution are the ones abusing journalists and going unpunished.

While we continue to demand and hope that media freedom is respected and for assaults on journalists to be a thing of the past for the interest of our democracy and national image, I am convinced that the media themselves are not doing enough to end this canker. The media, I believe has not shown enough commitment and seriousness in the fight against media brutality. In certain jurisdictions, like the United Kingdom and the United States, an attack on even a student journalist on an assignment is an attack on the entire media and they don't rest until justice comes to play.

But here in Ghana, an attack on a Multimedia journalist is an attack on the Multimedia Group, an attack on a Tv 3 journalist is an attack on Media General, an attack on Citi journalist is an attack on the Omni Media and no one else. If my memory serves me right, the only time we saw a unified media fighting for media freedom and fighting for justice was when a member of the Tiger Eye PI, Ahmed Hussein-Suale, was murdered and this was because it had to do with murder and because of his association with Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Even that, how did it end? No one talks about it now.

So why does the Ghanaian media seem to be good at doing everything and fighting for everyone, except for themselves and saving their institution? There are two ways to this: either the media themselves do not see the gravity of the attacks on journalists and their institution or they are getting certain things wrong. For me, it is the later. The media is unable to fight for justice and against assaults, because they are getting certain things wrong and also due to failure on the part of their professional organisations. Three things stand out in all these: unhealthy competition, dormant GJA and the lets- give- it- to- God disease.

Unhealthy competition

How often do you here media houses in Ghana giving credit to each other? It is only in Ghana that you here and see statements like an Accra based radio/Tv station without the name of the said media house in news reports. It appears to be an abomination to mention the name of a media platform on another platform. You see, the point I am trying to make is that, for some reasons, our media instead of complementing one another towards national development, see themselves in an unnecessarily fierce competition. And it has gotten worse that, they hardly give credit to each other on-air, let alone collaborating.

Truth is, we can only fight a common enemy with a united front. Competition is good but in certain situations, we should be complementing each other and not competing. The last time the media united in a fight against illegal mining (galamsey), we saw what happened, we saw how powerful they became. Consistency, intensity and uniformity are very key in advocacy journalism and that is what we need in the fight against media brutality.

Dormant GJA

Unfortunately, the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), which is supposed to be the mother body of journalists, like the Ghana Bar Association(GBA) is to lawyers and the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is to doctors, for some reasons has been so disappointing when it comes to defending media freedom and fighting for justice for journalists. While I agree that their legal status as just a professional organisation and not wielding too much power makes their work difficult, I strongly believe they can and should be doing better than just issuing press statements. Even if they don't have the legal strength to sue on media brutality and to fight for justice in the court, they can and need to unite all these media houses and journalists to fight for media freedom and for justice. The media do not necessarily need the court. We have the power, we have the microphones, the cameras and the pens which are enough for us to fight injustice and brutality against our profession, just like we do for others.

Let's-give-it-to-God disease

The last and for me most annoying of all the points is what I call the let's-give-it-to-God disease: the situation where people are caught red-handed abusing a journalist and instead of punishing them to serve as deterrent to others, we just decide to give it to God because they have apologised. Are we serious? We need to prosecute. God is tired of receiving issues of media brutalities in Ghana. Its time for people to face the law, whether they are sorry or not.

In conclusion, media brutality is something we should all be against. The media provides essential services to society and the least we can do is not subjecting them to brutality. Journalism is not weightlifting that one has to be physically built, as my people felt, to practice. The GJA should be more proactive in dealing with issues of media freedom.

For journalists and other media persons, I know off air we are friends, lets know that we need to fight for ourselves and profession, just as we do for others. In doing this, consistency, intensity and uniformity are very key. Competition is good, but sometimes we need to complement each other. After all, the ultimate goal of journalism is to serve society and make it a better place.



The writer, By Isaac Piyuori, is a student journalist at GIJ
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- School bus drivers and monitors employed by First Student, Inc. voted overwhelmingly to ratify their newest national master agreement with the company. The contract covers over 20,000 Teamsters at the company through March of 2021.

"Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to make this happen," said IBT Passenger Transportation Director Rick Middleton. "Negotiations were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the committee reached a deal with the company to address as many issues as we could under the circumstances. When we begin bargaining on a five-year successor agreement next year, negotiations will cover only long-term benefits and other articles that were not modified by this agreement."

This contract includes a number of significant improvements, including protections against the use of audio or video equipment by management to target members for discipline or discharge, additional safety obligations on the part of the company and improved transfer rights in the event that a member moves to another location. Perhaps most notably, the committee reached an agreement with the company to create a new job classification for non-CDL drivers, which restricts what non-CDL work can be performed and gives preferences to full CDL operators. This provision will protect members' jobs from being outsourced to ride-share companies and provide a pathway for First Student members to attain a CDL.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

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Israeli warplanes pounded Hamas-ruled Gaza early Tuesday in response to Palestinian fire balloons launched across the border, the Israeli occupation army said.

The strikes came as visiting Egyptian security officials strove to defuse the latest uptick in violence, a Hamas source said.

"Fighter jets and (other) aircraft struck underground infrastructures belonging to the Hamas terror organisation in the Gaza Strip," an Israeli military statement said.

It linked the air strikes to "explosive and arson balloons launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel".

The Hamas source told AFP the Islamists had held talks with the Egyptian delegation in Gaza on Monday before it left the territory for meetings with the Israelis and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

It was expected to return to Gaza after those talks were concluded, the source added.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.

Despite a truce last year backed by Egypt and the UN , Hamas and Israel clash sporadically, with Palestinian incendiary balloons or rocket or mortar fire drawing retaliatory Israeli strikes and civil sanctions.

Israel has banned fishing off Gaza's coast and closed the Kerem Shalom goods crossing, cutting off deliveries of fuel to the territory's sole power plant.

The plant's spokesman Mohammed Thabet announced its "complete shutdown" on Tuesday after its fuel ran out.

Power had been in short supply even before the shutdown, with consumers having access to mains electricity for only around eight hours a day.

That will now be cut to just four hours a day using power supplied from the Israeli grid.

For the rest of the time, those Gazans who can afford it rely on solar panels, or generators, which also need fuel.

The Hamas source said there were no casualties in the latest Israeli air raids.

"The occupation continued its aggression and carried out air strikes on Gaza after midnight," he said, adding that the strikes were seen as a "negative response" to the truce feelers.

Gaza security sources and witnesses said the strikes hit Hamas lookout posts at Rafah in the south of the territory and Beit Lahia in the north.

Tensions have been rising for more than a week, with Hamas firing rockets and launching bundles of balloons across the border fitted with incendiary or explosive devices.

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By Thomas Baffuto

In July 1990, the leaders of our country, in a collective voice, made a resounding statement: People with disabilities are as valuable and worthy to our society as every other citizen and they must be treated as such by our government and by businesses across the land. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed 30 years ago this month, but the perils posed by COVID-19 threaten the very protections this landmark legislation affords.

The ADA, which is a comprehensive civil rights law that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life, includes an integration mandate. The mandate requires that individuals with disabilities receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. It was this mandate that was central to the Supreme Courts 1999 Olmstead decision that found unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is a form of unlawful discrimination.

But to live a full and integrated life in New Jersey, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) must receive comprehensive home and community-based services, which are funded with a combination of state and Medicaid monies. With tremendous stress on the state budget, and an unprecedented nine-month fiscal year to grapple with, we realize that elected officials will be forced to make difficult and painful decisions. Those decisions must not be on the backs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Any reductions in funding will have an immediate and devastating impact on those who rely on services just to get by day to day.

Prior to COVID-19, the service delivery system was already facing significant challenges finding and retaining direct support professionals to assist people with I/DD with their tasks of daily living and beyond. These essential DSPs have done extraordinary work since the pandemic began and they are the reason individuals can receive integrated services in the community.

Prior to COVID, a proposal to raise their wage was included in the governors funding blueprint for FY21. Though it was clear before, now more than ever this workforce has proven itself incredibly valuable and in desperate need of a wage increase. Additionally, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have become increasingly reliant on DSPs as the pandemic and required social distancing has placed programming and resources out of reach for the foreseeable future.

COVID-19 has taken away loved ones. It has hurt small businesses and our economy. It will change how we interact with friends and families and how we conduct our work for many months to come. But we cannot allow the progress of the ADA to be swept away by COVID-19. We cannot allow funding cuts in the state budget that will reduce or eliminate home and community-based services.

In the 30 years since the ADA was signed, the service delivery system for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has come so far. We know difficult decisions lie ahead. We urge the governor and the Legislature to continue their commitment and support for people with I/DD because we cant let the advancements set forth by the ADA be another victim of the COVID crisis. Let us mark this 30-year anniversary by reconfirming our commitment to people with disabilities with no cuts to funding in the FY21 Budget.

Thomas Baffuto is the executive director of The Arc of New Jersey, the states largest advocacy organization representing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 10:49:43|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The bomb threat at a Cameroonian government building here early Monday turned out to be a false alarm, police said Monday evening.

Police received a phone call at about 10:30 a.m. local time (0930 GMT) which said an explosive device was planted in the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reforms building where over 100 civil servants were working, prompting their immediate evacuation from the area.

"After investigations, the parcel suspected to be a home-made explosive device turned out to be an insulin pump," police said, adding that formal inquiries have been launched to establish "the facts of the false alert."

The civil servants who were evacuated earlier will return to work "normally" on Tuesday, police said.

Before the false alarm, there had been at least six minor explosions in Yaounde in the last two months, according to security reports.

Last Friday, two people were "seriously injured" after a device exploded in Mokolo, one of the densely populated neighbourhoods in the city. Enditem
Aerospace startup Sceye Inc. will soon build helium-filled airships in New Mexico that, by 2022, could hover over remote places across the state to provide broadband connectivity and environmental monitoring services.

The state Economic Development Department has pledged $5 million in Local Economic Development Act funding to help the company establish a production facility here, bringing 140 new manufacturing and engineering jobs to the state.

The company, which launched in 2014, has already been developing and testing its airships at the Roswell International Air Center and the Moriarty Municipal Airport since 2017. It has invested more than $50 million to create a stratospheric airship built to hover for long periods of time at 65,000 feet up.

The company expects to operate a fleet of five ships over New Mexico within two years to potentially offer broadband service from the sky for the Navajo Nation and other rural areas in partnership with private companies, while also monitoring for methane emissions, ozone levels and other things under contract with the state, said Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes.

The decision by Sceye (pronounced Sky) to set up manufacturing in New Mexico and launch its first commercial services here is a slam dunk for the state, Keyes said.

New Mexico has been home to many innovative companies and Sceyes approach to broadband and methane monitoring is game changing, Keyes said in a statement. Its these types of disruptive companies that will drive economic development in the state for years to come.

Sceye CEO Mikkel Vestergarrd will testify today about broadband access and the companys technology before the State Legislatures Interim Committee on Science, Technology and Communications.

Vestergarrd is known worldwide for developing ground-breaking medical technologies to fight malaria and other diseases through Vestergarrd, a Switzerland-based global health corporation he founded and led for 22 years. He stepped down from the health company last January to concentrate on Sceye as a platform technology to attack global problems, such as monitoring the effects of climate change, while also providing off-grid connectivity in remote communities.

The company is discussing future environmental monitoring services with the state Environment Department, Keyes said. Its also working with the state Transportation Department to compile comprehensive information on Sceyes stratosphere-based broadband technology during upcoming airship flights in October, Keyes told the Journal.

That data could then be used by private Internet providers to seek federal funding to help tap into Sceye services to offer broadband on the Navajo Nation and elsewhere.

The Sceye platform has flown two times in New Mexico, but more flights are needed to gather data, Keyes said.  This is an innovative technology solution that could potentially be much less expensive to provide broadband in rural areas of New Mexico than putting fiber in the ground.

Sceye credits state incentives like LEDA funding for locating its operations here.

Our partnership with the Economic Development Department has helped us choose New Mexico, not just for research and development, but for scaled production of our business in the future, Vestergarrd said in a statement.

The company hasnt announced where it will put its manufacturing site. But its seeking technical assistance from the states national laboratories and research universities.

The company is collaborating with local institutions for the skilled workforce it needs, Keyes said. These are high-paying jobs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, who are unaware that they are infected with the Covid-19, are driving the spread of the deadly virus, it was reported on Tuesday.

The proportion of young people with Covid-19 has risen, the BBC quoted WHO officials as saying on Monday, putting the lives of those who are more vulnerable at risk if people socialise without realising they are carrying the virus.

"The epidemic is changing," the WHO Western Pacific regional director, Takeshi Kasai, also explained.

"What we are observing is not simply a resurgence. We believe it's a signal that we have entered a new phase of pandemic in the Asia-Pacific," he said.

Outbreaks have occurred in recent weeks in countries like Vietnam where the virus had appeared to be under control.

Several European countries including France and Spain have seen case numbers rise significantly in the past two weeks, with some warning that young people are not following social distancing guidelines.

As of Tuesday, the overall number of global coronavirus cases stood at 21,814,597, while the fatalities rose to 772,782, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

The US accounts for the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 5,437,969 and 170,491, respectively.

Brazil came in the second place with 3,359,570 infections and 108,536 deaths.
Wellington, Aug 18 : New Zealand on Tuesday reported 13 new COVID-19 cases, including 12 from the Auckland cluster, with no new infections in managed isolation and quarantine facilities.

The 13 cases remains under investigation but is believed to be linked to the same cluster, according to the Ministry of Health.

There are 98 people linked to the cluster who have been moved into the Auckland quarantine facility, including 44 people who have tested positive and their household contacts, reports Xinhua news agency.

There are six people receiving hospital-level care for Covid-19, two in Auckland City Hospital, and four in Middlemore, it said.

Tuesday's new confirmed cases brought the country's overall tally to 1,293.

The total number of active cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand is now 90, of which 69 are part of the recent community outbreak, and 20 are imported cases in managed isolation and quarantine facilities, it said, Partial genome sequencing results indicated that a positive case is not linked to the Auckland community cluster, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a daily briefing, meaning that more than one cluster is in the community in New Zealand.

This case is a man who is a maintenance worker at the Rydges Hotel, which is being used as a managed isolation facility in Auckland.

The man carried out maintenance tasks on rooms between bookings, following full infection prevention and controls, including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

He tested positive on Sunday, and the partial genome sequencing indicated his case is most closely linked to a positive case from the Rydges on July 31, a returnee from the US.

Further genome sequencing and matching were being completed on this case on Tuesday.

Auckland will remain in Covid-19 Alert Level 3 till August 26 before further decisions are made, with the rest of the country staying in Alert Level 2 with relaxed restrictions.

Under level 3, businesses are required to implement COVID-19 safety measures, but most people are encouraged to stay at home.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- MP Ndindi Nyoro said the kind of dictatorship witnessed in Kenya was setting the ground for anarchy

- Nyoro said Kenya could have been worse than Somalia, Mozambique and Venezeula combined if Uhuru became president in 2002

- He said the government should be accommodating divergent views from Kenyans

Kiharu lawmaker Ndindi Nyoro has said Kenya would have been doomed if President Uhuru Kenyatta ascended the presidency in the 2002 General Election.

Nyoro said Kenya would be in a worse position than Somalia, Mozambique and Venezuela combined if Uhuru won the then elections.

READ ALSO: Woman buys cake to celebrate her divorce and netizens can't keep calm

Ndindi Nyoro said the government should accept divergent views. Photo: Ndindi Nyoro.

Source: Facebook

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Taking to his social media, the Tanga Tanga lawmaker said the kind of dictatorship witnessed in the country of late was nauseating and was setting the stage for anarchy.

"If he became president in 2002, Kenya would be worse than Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Somalia combined. The kind of petty dictatorship we have in this country is both nauseating and a good breeding ground for anarchy," he said.

READ ALSO: Murkomen painfully admits Senator Orengo was right when he said gov't eats its own people

The firebrand MP said those in power should learn to accept divergent opinions because "we were not born to clap for their ideas!"

As earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke, his Kapseret counterpart, Oscar Sudi also lashed out at President Uhuru and said he regretted voting for him.

In a post on his Facebook page on Monday, August 17, Sudi said he was now aware of Uhuru's "true colours" but time could not be reversed.

READ ALSO: Kakamega: Senator Malala spends night in cold after refusing to enter "dirty" cells

He also said Deputy President William Ruto was to be blamed for convincing him to support Uhuru.

Tanga Tanga lawmakers have been crying foul after they were pushed to the periphery when Uhuru and Opposition leader Raila Odinga buried their political rivalry in what came to be known as the handshake.

The handshake destabilised the once colourful Uhuruto bromance after the two top leaders started reading from different scripts.

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WASHINGTON - An exhaustive investigation led by members of President Donald Trump's own political party portrays his 2016 campaign as posing counterintelligence risks through its myriad contacts with Russia, eager to exploit assistance from the Kremlin and seemingly determined to conceal the full extent of its conduct from a multiyear Senate probe.

The long-awaited report from the Senate Intelligence Committee contains dozens of new findings that appear to show more direct links between Trump associates and Russian intelligence, and it pierces the president's long-standing attempts to dismiss the Kremlin's intervention on his behalf as a hoax.

Like the Mueller report before it, the nearly 1,000-page Senate document does not contain evidence of direct collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence. But the Senate report carries particular weight because it is the first major investigation of Russian interference in 2016 to be conducted by a Republican-controlled committee and endorsed by both Republicans and Democrats.

The report's language is often stark, describing Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's receptivity to Russian outreach as a "grave counterintelligence threat" that made the campaign susceptible to "malign Russian influence."

At one point, the document concludes that members of Trump's transition team probably fell prey to Russian manipulation that they were too callow to recognize. Kremlin operatives "were capable of exploiting the transition team's shortcomings," the report says. "Based on the available information, it is possible - and even likely - that they did so."

Other sections of the report may furnish Trump supporters new material to use in attacking the FBI and one of its informants. The probe is particularly critical of the credibility and sourcing of a "dossier" assembled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele as part of an opposition research effort funded by Democrats.

But Trump will have difficulty taking exculpatory advantage of a report that is replete with damning details about his conduct and that of his associates.

The Senate probe is the first to flatly declare that a longtime partner of Manafort was, in fact, a Russian intelligence officer. The report also for the first time cites evidence that that alleged operative, Konstantin Kilimnik, may have been directly involved in the Russian plot to break into a Democratic Party computer network and provide plundered files to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.

The committee determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally directed the hack-and-leak campaign.

In one of its most startling passages, the report concludes that one of Trump's core claims of innocence cannot be credited. In written testimony to the team of federal prosecutors led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, Trump insisted that he could not recall ever discussing the WikiLeaks dumps with political adviser Roger Stone or any other associate.

"Despite Trump's recollection," the Senate report said, "the committee assesses that Trump did, in fact, speak with Stone about WikiLeaks and with members of his campaign about Stone's access to WikiLeaks on multiple occasions."

The document describes Trump and associates of his campaign as often incapable of candor. It offers new proof that former national security adviser Michael Flynn lied about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the United States, raises troubling questions about Manafort's decision to squander a plea agreement with prosecutors by lying to Mueller's team, and accuses Blackwater founder Erik Prince of "deceptive" accounts of his meetings with a Russian oligarch in the Seychelles weeks before Trump was sworn into office.

The overall portrait that emerges from the report's 966 pages is of repeated collisions between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives, but no formal collusion. The two sides shared the same objective - the defeat of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton - and basked in one another's admiration. But more because of ineptitude than any principled commitment to the sanctity of American democracy, the partnership was never consummated, the committee determined.

The report is the last of five installments in the Senate probe that confirm the broad outlines presented in 2017 by U.S. intelligence agencies: that Russia waged a massive campaign of cyber-intrusions and social media disinformation at first to disrupt the 2016 election, then to try to sway its outcome.

The document would read more like a harrowing historical account were it not for mounting evidence that many of the same forces of disruption are lining up for the 2020 election. The top U.S. counterintelligence official recently warned that Russia is again waging a far-reaching interference campaign and favors Trump in the upcoming election.

The United States has taken some steps to thwart Moscow's plans, including a reported effort by the State Department to flood Russian citizens' cellphones with offers of reward money for information on the Kremlin's operations.

But Trump continues to amplify many of Russia's divisive messages. Attorney General William Barr has intervened in criminal cases against Trump allies Stone and Flynn. And Trump supporters on Capitol Hill, including Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., have reportedly accepted material from Russian-tied sources to discredit former vice president Joe Biden, Trump's opponent in November.

Some of the Senate report's most damaging material centers on the conduct and connections of Manafort. The longtime GOP operative not only fed sensitive campaign reports to Kilimnik but then worked with him after the election "on narratives that sought to undermine evidence" of Russian interference, the report states. Among the Russian-planted ideas they sought to advance, the committee found, was that Ukraine was the true culprit in the 2016 election.

A Russian lawyer who met with Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner at Trump Tower before the 2016 election also had more "significant connections" to the Kremlin than has been previously reported, the Senate probe concludes.

The "dirt" that Natalia Veselnitskaya offered on Clinton was "part of a broader influence operation targeting the United States that was coordinated, at least in part, with elements of the Russian government," the report states.

The Senate probe was conducted in an unusually bipartisan fashion given the polarized atmosphere in Congress. For most of the past three years it was led by Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Mark Warner, D-Va., though Burr stepped down earlier this year amid investigations of his stock sales at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic.

There were partisan differences, however, in how to interpret the outcome of the probe, which includes some findings likely to be seized upon by Trump supporters.

The panel concluded that the FBI's handling of Russian threats to the election was "flawed," for example, and that the bureau gave "unjustified credence" to allegations about Trump's Russia ties made in the dossier compiled by Steele, "based on an incomplete understanding of Steele's past reporting record."

The committee said it did not rely in any way on Steele's memos, but it included references to separate sources related to one of his dossier's most explosive allegations. The report cited "testimony and other information provided by several witnesses" referring to the possible existence of compromising tapes and witness accounts of Trump's conduct with women during past visits to Moscow.

The panel agreed that the FBI overestimated Steele's reliability and that Manafort and other aides exposed the campaign to undue Russian influence. But its leaders were divided along party lines in how they interpreted other findings, and several members - including the committee's acting chairman, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. - endorsed dissenting conclusions about Trump's culpability.

"After more than three years of investigation by this Committee, we can now say with no doubt, there was no collusion," a group of six panel Republicans, including Rubio, wrote in a statement that instead accused the Democratic Party of coordinating with foreign actors to produce Steele's dossier.

The FBI's conduct remains under investigation by Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham, who was tapped by Barr to explore the origins of the Russia probe.

A former FBI lawyer is expected to plead guilty Wednesday to falsifying a document in the Russia case. Durham is also likely to interview former CIA director John Brennan on Friday, according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Five Democratic senators - including Kamala Harris of California, the party's 2020 vice-presidential nominee - asserted that the report "unambiguously shows that members of the Trump Campaign cooperated with Russian efforts to get Trump elected." Referring specifically to their findings on Manafort, the Democrats wrote, "This is what collusion looks like."

Warner, the ranking Democrat on the panel, did not sign onto the Democrats' dissent but noted "a breathtaking level of contacts between Trump officials and Russian government operatives that is a very real counterintelligence threat to our elections."

Burr and Warner launched the probe before Trump's inauguration in January 2017. Since then, Mueller released a 448-page report on Russian interference, and Trump was impeached and acquitted after Democrats accused him of coercing Ukrainian leaders to interfere in the 2020 election. The Senate probe involved interviews with more than 200 witnesses and gained access to classified materials relating to Russian disinformation efforts.

And although it covered much of the same turf as Mueller's investigation, the committee's work was different in nature. Mueller ran a criminal probe; the Senate committee conducted an intelligence investigation - a distinction that helps explain some of the nuanced differences between their conclusions.

Mueller eventually secured the convictions or indictments of six Trump aides. The Justice Department later sought to withdraw charges against one, Flynn, and Trump commuted the sentence of a second, Stone.

The special counsel also indicted 26 Russians, charging 12 military officers with involvement in the hacks and 13 Russians with manipulating social media to influence U.S. opinion. Kilimnik was charged with obstruction of justice.

The Intelligence Committee's report notes that it had made referrals to the Justice Department "for potential criminal activity" suspected during the course of its investigation. As The Washington Post reported late last week, Trump Jr., Kushner and Manafort were among those flagged to federal prosecutors because the committee believed that their testimony was contradicted by information unearthed by Mueller.

It is unclear whether the Justice Department took action on the referrals.

- - -

The Washington Post's Tom Hamburger, Rosalind S. Helderman, Greg Miller and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.
Professor Paul Bartholomew has held the post of Interim Vice Chancellor at Ulster University since February (Credit: Nigel McDowell/Ulster University)

Professor Paul Bartholomew has been appointed as the new Vice Chancellor of Ulster University (UU).

The academic had a career in the NHS as a diagnostic radiographer for many years before moving into higher education in 2001.

He has a Doctorate in Education and has held positions at three UK universities.

Prof Bartholomew, who is married with one son, moved to Northern Ireland in November 2016 from England to take up the role of Pro-Vice Chancellor of Education at UU, leading on initiatives relating to student satisfaction, progression and retention.

Read More

He has held the post of Interim Vice Chancellor at the university since February, during which time he has had responsibility for it fours faculties: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Computing Engineering and the Built Environment, Life and Health Sciences, and the Ulster University Business School.

Prof Bartholomew has also been responsible for academic standards, digital learning, employability and other areas.

His new role is expected to come with an annual salary of 300,000.

Jenny Pyper, Chair of Council at Ulster University, said Prof Bartholomew's "strong, clear and progressive leadership" has been a source of reassurance for staff and students in recent months.

"I know this news will be welcomed by staff, students and the wider Ulster University community across Northern Ireland," she added.

With the recent news that our Graduate Entry Medical School at the Magee campus will welcome its first students in September 2021 and the Belfast campus currently also on track for a September 2021 opening, this is an exciting time.

"On behalf of Council I would like to offer my congratulations to Paul as we embark upon a new chapter for Ulster University under his leadership, together with Council, Senate and the Senior Leadership Team.

Prof Bartholomew said it was a "true privilege" to take up the position.

Never has Ulsters vital and multi-faceted impact been more needed than at this unprecedented time," he said.

"The natural pace of change has become much amplified over 2020 and we will meet these challenges with the commitment, profound expertise and collaborative spirit and that is so much part of Ulsters strength and value.

"Working together with our talented Ulster staff, students and alumni, our industry partners and the communities we serve, I look forward to leading Ulster as we work to deliver the full potential of this remarkable place and its people.

His appointment comes at turbulant time for Ulster University, like many across the UK, firstly dealing with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic in recent months and, in the last week, controversy over A-level grades.

Education Minister Peter Weir announced on Monday that AS and A-Level pupils would receive either their teacher-assessed or exams board calculated grade, whichever is higher, prompting some universities to question how extra student places will be funded if substantial numbers are given improved A-level grades.

Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday morning, however, Prof Bartholomew said that, while it was obvious that students' grades will increase, Ulster University will work to accommodate those who qualify.

"That will mean they've more opportunities and we've potentially more obligations to take them," he said.

"I think we know that money has already been committed and there is a pot that gets shared out.

"We are confident that we can take more students and I think before we start committing money I think we have to sit down and work out what the sector can do with the department to meet the needs of those students.

"We're confident we can give more students than ever a fantastic experience at both universities."

Ulster University has approximately 27,000 students and 2,700 staff across four campuses - Belfast, Coleraine, Jordanstown and Magee.

It is currently completing a new campus in Belfast City centre.
In this image from video, former first lady Michelle Obama speaks during the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday. Read more

WASHINGTON  At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, former Michelle Obama told party members that when they go low, we go high.

After four years of President Donald Trump, she came back to give it to them straight.

If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me they can; and they will, if we dont make a change in this election, Mrs. Obama told her party in a blunt and emotional appeal that capped the first night of the Democrats' convention.

 READ MORE: Fact-checking Michelle Obamas convention statement that 2 votes per precinct helped Trump win

The former first lady outlined dire stakes for the election ahead, declaring President Donald Trump in over his head and the wrong president for our country. Warning of possible voter suppression, she told Americans they must vote for Joe Biden in numbers that cannot be ignored if they want to preserve the most basic requirements for a functioning society.

The scathing assessment was delivered in the last and longest speech in Democrats experiment with a virtual convention in the coronavirus era, a spot Mrs. Obama earned through her overwhelming popularity in her party.

She delivered her remarks in a casual setting  a living room, with a Biden campaign sign on the mantle  and identified as much with the beleaguered voters of America as the lineup of politicians that preceded her in the program.

You know I hate politics, she said, before diving into a speech that appealed to both her longtime fans in the Democratic coalition and a broad audience she's drawn since leaving the White House and becoming a bestselling author.

The president has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head, she said. He cannot meet this moment.

It is what it is, Mrs. Obama said  echoing a remark Trump made recently about the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus.

Citing the pandemic, the flagging economy, the political unrest that's broken out nationwide over systemic racism and what she described as America's lack of leadership on the world stage, Mrs. Obama said the nation is underperforming not simply on matters of policy, but on matters of character.

 READ MORE: Joe Bidens DNC: Left and Not-So-Left unite against Trump

In contrast, Mrs. Obama said, Biden is a profoundly decent man who knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country. She recounted how Biden has prevailed through the personal tragedy of losing his first wife, baby daughter and adult son and said Biden will channel that same grit and passion to help us heal and guide us forward.

Republican Donald Trump succeeded President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in 2017 and has tried to undo many of Obama's achievements on health care, the environment and foreign policy, among others.

On Monday, before the event, Trump took a dig at the former first lady's coming speech, noting that her remarks were prerecorded and that his own speech at the Republican National Convention next week will be live.

Who wants to listen to Michelle Obama do a taped speech? he said at a rally in Wisconsin.

Mrs. Obama, who leads an effort to help register people to vote, spoke about the importance of voting in the Nov. 3 election, which will take place amid a pandemic that has killed more than 170,000 Americans and infected more than 5 million in the U.S.

Wearing a necklace that spelled out the word Vote, she noted Trump lost the popular vote but still won the White House, and weve all been suffering the consequences.

Her remarks came as debate rages in Washington about U.S. Postal Service changes that are delaying mail deliveries around the country, and amid legal battles in several states over access to mail-in ballots. Mrs. Obama issued a call to action to those who sat out the last election: Now is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games, she said.

We have got to grab our comfortable shoes, put on our masks, pack a brown bag dinner and maybe breakfast too, because weve got to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to, she said.

In keeping with the virtual nature of the convention, Mrs. Obamas remarks were recorded before Bidens announcement last Tuesday that he had chosen California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Her speech was the fourth Democratic convention address by Michelle Obama, who first introduced herself to the nation during her husbands groundbreaking campaign in 2008. She spoke again in 2012 to urge voters to give him a second term.

Michelle Obama returned to the convention stage in 2016, backing former first lady Hillary Clinton over Trump, who had spent years pushing the lie that Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. and was ineligible for the presidency.

She spoke of the code her family lives by: Our motto is, when they go low, we go high.

This time Obama put an asterisk on that 2016 rallying cry.

Lets be clear: going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty, she said. Going high means taking the harder path.

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this article from Oshkosh, Wis.
Although the focus of oil markets in recent months has been on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the latest Saudi Arabia-instigated oil price war, still bubbling away under the surface is the previous major markets driver: the U.S.-China trade war. Progress in meeting the requirements of the deal were scheduled to be reviewed over the weekend by U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, and Chinas chief economic adviser, Liu Hu, but have been postponed. Part of the reason for this is believed to be that as of the end of June, China had met less than 25 per cent of the targets set out in the deal. Tensions relating to this, and to tangential matters relating to the broader deal, are set to re-emerge dramatically in the run-up to the U.S. Presidential Election on 3 November 2020.

The effect on oil prices of this rapidly shifting-dynamic does not stem just from its impact on future crude oil supply and demand patterns but also on the accompanying oil price volatility that has recently proven to be a spark for wild movements in other risk-on assets. As U.S. President Donald Trump noted: Every time theres a little bad [trade war] news the market would go down incrediblyEvery time there was a little bit of good news the market would go up incredibly... And yet, other news that was also very big, the market just didnt really care.

Crucially for Chinas view on its trade war stance with the U.S. is that its economy is recovering at a faster, more sustainable, and more safeguarded way than the U.S.s, to such a degree that domestic COVID-19 cases are increasingly irrelevant to its macro outlook. Beijing has proved it can contain new infection clusters through highly-effective local lockdowns that leave the national and even city level economy relatively unscathed, Rory Green, senior China and North Asia economist for TS Lombard, in London told OilPrice.com last week. Since mobility restrictions began to gradually ease, there have been three major infection clusters: Harbin in Heilongjiang province, and Beijing and Urumqi, both in Xinjiang province, with a further imported infection cluster, as the Chinese authorities characterised it, arising as overseas Chinese returned home, he said. In each instance, track and trace measures as well as strict targeted local lockdowns prevented a wider outbreak of the virus, and these measures also allowed the national economy and, indeed, the local economies, to continue to function without damage, he added. Related: Norways Oil Fund Loses $21 Billion In First Half Of 2020

This effectiveness in containing the COVID-19 virus resonated in Chinas recording positive second quarter 2020 (2Q20) growth of 3.2 per cent compared to the same period last year (y-o-y), and its continued controlled containment clearly remains crucial for a similarly sustained recovery through to the end of this year. We think a major second wave is unlikely and anticipate only local lockdowns, so we expect China to reach pre-COVID-19 levels of GDP by early 4Q20, according to Green. Specifically, these are 2H20 GDP growth in the 4.5-5.5 per cent y-o-y range, followed by a stunning 8.5 per cent growth next year.

So far, Chinas economic recovery has been spearheaded by heavy industry and state investment, with this infrastructure investment and export-oriented manufacturing providing a base level of jobs and activity, but from now the question is how this recovery will broaden into the services sector and private demand. Within the services sectors, the clear winners so far, Green highlighted, have been software and internet businesses, with revenue up 6.7 per cent year-to-date (ytd) y-o-y and profits up 1.3 per cent ytd y-o-y.

Finance and property services are benefitting from the equity bull market, rising house prices, and the growth of total credit, and slightly less well-recovering are the production services, including transport, logistics, and warehousing, said Green. The worst performers are catering, leisure and tourism, which, as they account for the biggest share of total employment, are crucial to the jobs outlook. However, the pace of improvement is likely to pick up following the easing of mobility restrictions and the improving macroeconomic backdrop, he underlined. Related: Petrobras Launches Development Of Major Deepwater Oil Field

For the U.S., it is probably reasonable to posit that the previously almost completely accurate equation of presidential election success to U.S. economic performance has been undermined somewhat by the extraordinary effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to U.S. NBER statistics, the equation was that since World War I, the sitting U.S. president has won re-election 11 times out of 11 if the U.S. economy was not in recession within 24 months ahead of an election but presidents who went into a re-election campaign with the economy in recession won only once out of seven times (Calvin Coolidge in 1924). Even the Coolidge win is debatable as, although he was a sitting president that won the election in 1924, he had not actually won the previous election but merely succeeded to the presidency after the sudden death of sitting President, Warren G. Harding (so he was, strictly speaking, not re-elected).

Despite the broader deterioration in U.S.-China relations  due to the details of the 25-year deal with Iran, the flouting of U.S. sanctions on Iranian crude oil exports, the U.S.s recent sanctioning of China over alleged human rights violations against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, and the extension of sanctions against Huawei over cyber-espionage and technology theft concerns - what has always mattered more to President Trump is the Phase 1 trade deal, TS Lombards chief emerging markets economist, Lawrence Brainard, told OilPrice.com. As Trumps ratings have deteriorated in recent weeks owing to his disastrous handling of the COVID-19 crisis, he has opined that the trade deal means less to him now than at the time when he concluded it, he said. But the deal promises to deliver major export contracts for soybeans and other agricultural products, thus shoring up his electoral support in the Midwest, and his need to secure the farm vote suggests he will refrain from actions that might torpedo Chinas soybean purchases, he underlined.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
When you are lining up at the supermarket checkout, carefully keeping a distance of 1.5m from others in the queue, have you noticed more people paying by waving their phone at the terminal?

Figures from banks show the use of digital wallets  smartphones or wearable devices that can make payments  is soaring.

Digital wallet transactions have grown during the pandemic as the shift towards digital payments accelerates. Credit:

ANZ Bank's digital-wallet transactions surged more than 50 per cent in the six months to July 31, compared with the same period last year, while tap-and-go payments on plastic cards fell 2 per cent.

A survey from Finder.com last week found the share of Australians using digital wallets or wearable devices had almost doubled since March, to 13 per cent, and CBA reported fast growth in digital wallet transactions earlier in the year.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : The opposition Congress on Tuesday alleged that there is an "unholy nexus" between the ruling BJP and social media giant Facebook.

The party said that the connection of Facebook executive Ankhi Das with senior BJP leaders and MPs in the run up to the Lok Sabha election of 2014 stands exposed.

Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera quoted a memo from July, 2012 by the then Facebook Global Vice President of Public Policy Marne Levine, in reference to the intermediary rules in a closed door meeting which then Minister for Law and Justice and Information and Technology Kapil Sibal was holding with opposition Members of Parliament to discuss the language of these rules.

Khera alleged that internal mails reveal that there was a connection between BJP and Facebook when UPA was in power. He said that in the same memo there was a mention of the privacy law being drafted by a 'Group of Experts on Privacy' headed by retired Justice A.P. Shah.

"Ankhi (Das) engaged with the members of the government-appointed committee. The committee members were not very forthcoming about the structures and the powers of the DPA. The Congress said that it is proud of the UPA government which did not entertain lobbyists as alleged in the mail," Khera said quoting the memo.

The Congress said that when the matter was with the Supreme Court the social media platform decided to keep it alive in the media and the PIL was filed by a few people, including BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The party said that Ankhi Das, Facebook India's Public Policy Head, also wrote an article on May 17, 2014, a day after the Lok Sabha results of 2014 were declared.

"India's 2014 elections will be remembered for many reasons but especially this: Social media platforms, which have contended with government censorship since 2011, became vital political campaign tools and the place for free political expression and organising. We launched Election Tracker on March 4 and consistently the BJP was the number one party and Narendra Modi the number one leader throughout the campaign," the party said quoting Das' article.

The Congress on Tuesday also demanded that Facebook should order a high-level inquiry into Facebook India's leadership team and their operations in a time-bound manner, and publish and make transparent all instances of hate speech since 2014 that were allowed on the platform.

"Facebook India should appoint a new team so that the investigation is not influenced," said party leader K.C. Venugopal in a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The Congress said it is disappointed by revelations made in an article in US-based Wall Street Journal and added that this is a "damning and serious allegation on Facebook India's interference in India's electoral democracy." The opposition party has accused the BJP and the RSS of controlling Facebook and WhatsApp in India, as the Congress on Sunday alleged that the two had attacked democracy in the country and demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into alleged violations by the social media platform and its messaging service.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low 14F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low 14F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Roger Stone dropped his case Tuesday appealing against seven federal felony charges for lying to Congress in the midst of the investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump's campaign.

While Stone said in a post published on his website StoneColdTruth.com on Tuesday that he felt there was not much to gain by going forward with an appeal, it also comes about a month after Trump already commuted Stone's sentence.

'It is time for me to move on with my life with my family, friends, and supporters,' he wrote in a lengthy statement on the matter. 'I regret not going forward with the appeal to fully expose all that happened, with the hope that by doing so, I could help prevent it from happening to anyone else ever again; but I had to decide based on what is best for me and my family.'

He also expressed that the cards are stacked against him at the U.S. District Court level in Washington, signaling he believes he would lose the appeal regardless.

'The political taint that exists in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, from the prosecutors to the judge to the jury pool, is so deep and abiding that the possibility of achieving a just result on the merits is as nonexistent as it was when this process played out the first time,' the former 2016 Trump campaign adviser continued.

Stone's attorneys submitted a notice on Monday night withdrawing the appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

The retraction came about a month after Trump spared Stone a 40-month prison sentence accompanied by a $20,000 fine by commuting his sentence.

Roger Stone dropped an appeal for seven felony charges against him for lying to Congress in the midst of the Russia investigation

Dropping the case, however, came a month after Donald Trump already commuted his former 2016 campaign adviser's 40-month prison sentence

Trump previewed Monday that he would pardon a 'very, very important' person on Tuesday, sparking speculation it had something to do with Flynn's case.

The president added that it would not be for NSA leaker Edward Snowden or former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

'Doing a pardon tomorrow on someone who is very, very important,' Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

He declined to offer further details except to say it was not Flynn or Snowden, a former U.S. National Security Agency contractor now living in Russia who has been charged with leaking secret information.

On Tuesday, during a White House ceremony to commemorate the passage of Women's Suffrage, Trump announced he would pardon Susan B. Anthony, who was arrested for voting in 1872 at a time when only men were allowed to do so.

The move came as President Trump revealed to reporters on Air Force One Monday that he was going to pardon someone who is 'very, very important' on Tuesday, sparking speculation it could be Stone

Rumors swirled that it could be Edward Snowden (left), a former U.S. intelligence contractor who leaked details of a classified mass surveillance program in 2013, has been living in self-imposed exile in Moscow for seven years, or former National Security Advisor Michale Glynn (right), who Trump said in May he was mulling a full pardon for after he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during an investigation into the 2016 presidential campaign

On Saturday, Trump said he was considering a pardon for Snowden, who gave a trove of secret files in 2013 to news organizations that disclosed vast domestic and international surveillance operations carried out by the NSA.

Flynn, meanwhile, twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russia's then-ambassador, Sergey Kislyak.

The U.S. Justice Department has sought to dismiss the case against Flynn following pressure from Trump and his allies.

Trump said he is 'not that aware of the Snowden situation,' but that people on both the left and the right are divided over the former contractor.

'It seems to be a split decision,' he said.

'Many people think he should be somehow treated differently, and other people think he did very bad things.'

'I guess the DOJ is looking to extradite him right now?' he told the New York Post on Thursday. 'It's certainly something I could look at. Many people are on his side, I will say that. I don't know him, never met him. But many people are on his side.'

In 2013, Snowden shared thousands of classified documents with journalists, prompting the US government to charge him with two counts of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and theft of government property.

The Whistleblower, who was Hawaii-based, worked for the CIA and NSA for several years and says he concluded that both agencies had 'hacked the constitution' with extensive government surveillance, putting everyone's liberty at risk and forcing his hand to leak the information to the media.

Snowden's decision to go public with the information set off a global debate about government surveillance put in place by intelligence agencies in a perceived bid to avoid a similar attack to 9/11 from happening ever again.

He has been living in exile in Russia since he leaked the documents.

However, last year, Snowden said his 'ultimate goal' was actually to return home to the US.

Snowden, pictured speaking during a 2019 web summit, has been in exile in Russia since 2013

'But if I'm gonna spend the rest of my life in prison, the one bottom line demand that we have to agree to is that at least I get a fair trial.'

Snowden said a fair trial won't be possible as the government won't allow him to take a public interest defense.

'I'm not asking for a parade. I'm not asking for a pass. What I'm asking for is a fair trial,' he said.

Critics have repeatedly reminded him that by leaking the classified documents he broke both federal law and the oath he took when he joined the NSA.

Last year, he published an autobiography, titled Permanent Record.

The day after its publication, the US Department of Justice filed a two-count civil lawsuit against Snowden 'alleging he had breached nondisclosure agreements signed with the U.S. federal government'.
WESLACO, Texas - Authorities have identified a man who officers fatally shot after he entered a South Texas store armed with a semi-automatic rifle and later shot a pistol at police.

Marco Antonio Sigala Jr., 27, exchanged gunfire with officers and was killed Monday at a Walmart Supercenter in Weslaco, police announced Tuesday.

Police in the city about 60 miles (97 kilometres) northwest of Brownsville previously said he argued with a customer before being confronted by officers. But little more was known Tuesday about what led him to enter the store dressed in black and carrying two guns, said Officer Eric Hernandez.

Were still trying to piece together the puzzle, Hernandez said.

The officers role in the shooting is being investigated by the Texas Rangers, while Weslaco police continue to investigate Sigala Jr.s actions.
Thousands of protestors hit the roads across Assam on Monday, demanding the repeal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the draft Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2020.

Assembled under the aegis of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP), the agitators warned of more intense protests in the future.

The AJYCP supporters also demanded the release of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi, who is in jail and is being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in the violent anti-CAA protests that rocked the state last year.

"We will not stop till the CAA and EIA are repealed.

It is also unfortunate how this government has vindictively kept Akhil Gogoi inside jail just to derail the anti-CAA movement," AJYCP's Guwahati unit president Pradip Kalita said while taking part in a human chain in the Narengi area.

In Dibrugarh city, hundreds of protestors were detained by police as they assembled to form a human chain, an official said.

A protestor taking part in a human chain in front of the historic Nagaon College said: "We will not accept the CAA and EIA. We have been protesting against the CAA since 2016, but this government has not listened to us." In Morigaon town, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and a few tribal student groups joined AJYCP and formed a long human chain.

"The Assam government has failed to protect the people of Assam. We cannot accept the diktat of Delhi. They have to repeal these two," a protestor said.

Human chains were formed across many cities and towns in various districts, including Dhemaji, Darrang, Nalbari and Biswanath.

The contentious CAA seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis entering India on or before December 31, 2014 from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after five years of residence here.

On the other hand, the draft EIA Notification 2020 seeks to supersede and completely replace the EIA Notification 2006 along with several amendments made since then.

The new draft intends to bring in controversial amendments such as post-facto grant of approval, exemption of several large industries from public hearings and reducing the time for public consultation to 40 days from 45 days.

It also proposes to permit industries to submit just one compliance report a year rather than two along with increased validity of the environment clearances for mining and river valley projects.
18:31

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has endorsed her brother Rahul Gandhi's stand on a non-Gandhi president for the Congress, saying there are plenty of people capable of leading the party, remarks that were carried in a new book which according to the Congress were made in July last year in a different context.

In the book "India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next Generation of Political Leaders", she is quoted as saying that Rahul was her leader and will always be.

Though the book was released recently by Oxford University Press, the Congress said Priyanka's interview was conducted after Rahul stepped down as party president taking responsibility for the 2019 Lok Sabha poll drubbing.

Sonia Gandhi is the interim president of the party and there has been a growing demand in the Congress for return of Rahul as chief.

In the book, which features interviews with young leaders in India, Priyanka told authors Pradeep Chhibber and Harsh Shah, "He (Rahul Gandhi) has said that none of us should be the president of the party and I am in full agreement with him. I think that the party should find its own path also."

Meanwhile, the Congress said the remarks were a year old and made on July 1, 2019 by Priyanka and its context today is to take on the vicious attack on India's polity by the current dispensation and fight it fearlessly.

Party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said millions of Congress workers and leaders have seen that Rahul has led the fight tirelessly, undaunted by setbacks.

"It is this fearlessness and uncompromising courage that the Congress requires, workers respect and nation needs," he said.

In her conversation, Priyanka said the presence of Gandhis in the party would impede the functioning of a non-family president only if her family wanted things to be that way.

"I think it would only undermine somebody if that was the way we wanted to be. But if we wanted to step back and give other people the freedom to take decisions and do anything, I don't see why there should be an encumbrance," she said to a question on Gandhi family's presence in the party and its potential to undermine a non family chief.

Noting that none in her family look at things like that, Priyanka said if there were to be another party president, "He would be my boss. If he tells me tomorrow that he doesn't want me in Uttar Pradesh but wants me to be in Andaman and Nicobar, then I would jolly well go to Andaman and Nicobar."

"It depends on me - I could say 'sorry I don't care, I'm going to do what I want. But, I don't think that any of us have that attitude. I think that we actually believe in the democratization of our party," she added.

On her and Rahul's role going forward, Priyanka is quoted as saying, "If we could enable that process of actually empowering other young people to participate and become leaders, then we would have achieved something. I see that as my role."

She said Rahul in his resignation letter post the 2019 Lok Sabha polls had said that he thinks he should take responsibility for the last election.

Asked if she could assume leadership role in the Congress, Priyanka said her brother is her leader and will always be.

"Firstly, I would like to say that, to me, my brother is my leader and he will always be. Secondly, I see hundreds of people in UP and in different parts of the country who are very well equipped to fight the BJP. There are young and good enough leaders. I cannot tell the future, I do not know what is going to happen in the future. But, I think there are plenty of people who are capable to lead the party as well," she said.

Praising Rahul, Priyanka said her brother had done a lot of work to democratise the party and had conducted elections in the Youth Congress and National Students' Union of India because he wanted to facilitate new and younger talent in the party.

"In fact, oddly enough, he was attacked from within his party for it," she said.

To a query on whether she would give a shot at leadership if Rahul decides to stay away, Priyanka said she has her work cut out in UP where she has her hands full.

"It is an immense task, if we do manage to revive the party in UP, it will actually do a lot to the party in the rest of the country as well. It's a huge task," she said.

"I am at ground zero, and it is going to take a lot of time, a lot of focus, and frankly, I am quite happy doing it. I really do believe that if we do manage to build there it will be a huge contribution to the party. So, I feel that I would like to focus there and put my head down and work hard there," she added. -- PTI
WILTON  First his power went out, then it came back on, then it went out again.

Many officials tried to help him, but, finally, after crews repeatedly came and went without fixing the problem, Adolfo Briceno flagged down a utility foreman from North Carolina who assessed what was wrong, assembled his crew and restored electricity to Brecinos Wilridge Road home.

For Brecino, losing power was more difficult than it would be for most since the 60-year-old suffers from myasthenia gravis. The condition has left him with shortness of breath, a drooping eye that prevents him from driving and problems with the muscles in his neck.

My muscles are so weak, I cant pull the cord on my generator, he said, let alone get out to buy gas to fill it.

For that, Brecino relied on his neighbors, who he called his heroes.

Click here to sign up for the Bulletins free electronic newsletter, Online Today.

After he initially lost power on Aug. 4 due to Tropical Storm Isaias, Brecino relied on his generator until the lights came back on the morning of Aug. 9.

I got full power but for just a couple of hours, he told Hearst Connecticut Media, explaining that his lights began to flicker and nothing was turning on. It was like getting no power, nothing was working, he said.

He immediately called his electrician who told him the problem was with a pair of cables running from the utility pole to his house.

Thats when he began his quest for Eversource to restore his power.

I called Eversource at least seven times and four crews came to assess the problem, he said. They all filed reports, including my health condition, but nobody was able to help me, he said, because they came in pickup trucks and didnt have the proper equipment.

He said when he finally reached someone at Eversource, they could not tell him when someone would be able to help him.

By Aug. 11, Brecino called Wilton First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslices office and spoke with her executive assistant Jackie Rochester, who placed several calls to Eversource on his behalf. A crew was supposed to be at his house by 5 p.m., but never arrived, Brecino said.

Brecino climbed the government ladder and reached out to U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th., on Aug. 12. Shortly after Himes office intervened, a crew from Au Sable Forks in upstate New York arrived, but Brecinos hopes were quickly dashed.

They checked the power coming to my house and told me that I was receiving full power and that the problem was inside my house, he said. They left my house without fixing the problem and with my generator turned off.

As luck would have it, Donny Lewis, a foreman with Sumter Utilities in Asheville, N.C., was passing by. Brecino flagged him down and explained the problem.

He called the rest of his crew and they were able to confirm what my electrician was saying all along  that the problem was in one of the pairs of wires coming from the electric pole to my house. After requesting the proper authorization, Foreman Lewis and his crew were able to fix the problem restoring the power coming to my house.

Brecino said he is very grateful to Lewis and his crew and his neighbors.

It was a three-day ordeal that I dont wish on anybody, he said.
Oruc Reis seismic research vessel, one of the 5-6 research ships in the fully equipped and multi-purpose in the world, is seen as it is ready for a new seismic research activity in the Eastern Mediterranean in Antalya, Turkey on July 22, 2020.

An intensifying dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean over oil and gas exploration rights at sea has seen tensions flare between Turkey and Greece, with one regional expert describing the situation as the "most dangerous" in years.

Turkey and Greece, both members of NATO, are at loggerheads over competing claims to energy reserves in contested Eastern Mediterranean waters.

The countries and territories of this region include Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Libya.

Last week, Turkey sent the Oruc Reis survey vessel, escorted by warships, to conduct seismic research in territory both Ankara and Athens claim jurisdiction over. The ship is set to continue its search for potentially lucrative energy reserves through to August 23.

EU-member Greece has since pressed Turkey to stop the "illegal" activity, with the standoff even resulting in a minor collision between two frigates earlier this month. France has also stepped in to criticize Turkey's "worrying" provocations.

However, Ankara has said it will not back down from defending its "rights" and has since announced a separate drillship will search for natural gas in waters offshore Cyprus in the coming weeks.

"No matter what, Turkey will resolutely continue to protect both her and Turkish Cypriots' rights in the Eastern Mediterranean stemming from international law," Hami Aksoy, the spokesperson for Turkey's foreign ministry, said in a statement on Sunday.

"No alliance of malice will manage to prevent this. Those who think otherwise have not taken their lessons from history."

Aksoy's statement also singled out Armenia for its "conspicuous" remarks on Eastern Mediterranean tensions, shortly after the country reaffirmed its "unconditional support" for Greece and Cyprus.
Malaysian Police Probe Deadly Incident Between Coast Guard, Vietnamese Boats

2020-08-17 -- Members of the Malaysian coast guard shot dead a Vietnamese sailor during a violent confrontation with Vietnamese-flagged fishing boats suspected of encroaching in Malaysian waters of the South China Sea, authorities said Monday.

The incident occurred about 81 nautical miles (150 km) off Tok Bali, a small port in northern Kelantan state, late on Sunday when the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) was out on patrol looking for fishing boats from Vietnam and other countries poaching in Malaysian waters.

MMEA Chief Mohd Zubil Mat Som said Rescue Boat 7 was approaching two Vietnamese fishing boats to conduct an inspection when it was rammed and attacked with Molotov cocktails and hard objects including metal rods, lumber blocks and wrenches.

"(Our crew) had no choice in their effort to defend themselves, their lives, and (the ship) but to discharge their weapons toward the fishing boat," he said, adding the ramming damaged the front starboard section of the coast guard ship and broke the glass in its windshield.

He said the officers observed the rules of engagement by firing a warning shot, but claimed it was ignored. MMEA is opening an investigation into the incident.

"The MMEA has full authority to investigate any offense under Malaysian law in Malaysia's maritime zone," he said.

Shafien Mamat, Kelantan's police chief, told BenarNews that the victim's body was sent to a hospital in the town of Pasir Puteh for an autopsy.

"The remaining 18 fishermen on the boat have been brought to shore by the MMEA for further investigation," he said.

Sunday's incident occurred while the MMEA ship was out on patrol as part of Operation Seahorse, an ongoing effort to clamp down on fishing boats from Vietnam and other countries poaching in Malaysian waters.

In a statement, the MMEA chief defended the crew's actions.

Chief Mohd Zubil Mat Som said Rescue Boat 7 was rammed by the Vietnamese fishing boat and its officers were attacked with Molotov cocktails and hard objects including metal rods, lumber blocks and wrenches.

"(Our crew) had no choice in their effort to defend themselves, their lives, and (the ship) but to discharge their weapons toward the fishing boat," he said, adding the ramming damaged the front starboard section of the coast-guard ship and broke the glass in its windshield.

Mohd Zubil noted that the officers observed the rules of engagement by firing a warning shot, but claimed it was ignored. MMEA is opening its own investigation into the incident.

"The MMEA has full authority to investigate any offense under Malaysian law in Malaysia's maritime zone," he said.

"The remaining 18 fishermen ... have been brought to shore by the MMEA for further investigation," he said.

In Hanoi, spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Vietnam's Foreign Ministry was "deeply concerned" about the incident and wanted the Malaysian side to "strictly deal with any personnel that caused the deaths of Vietnamese fisherman."

The Vietnamese embassy in Malaysia would arrange consular visits to the detained fishermen, she told reporters, according to Tuoi Tre News.

"At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperated with domestic agencies to verify the identities of the fishermen and obtain more information about the case to have a basis to fight wrong-doing, take measures to protect citizens, and protect the legal rights and interests of Vietnamese fishermen," she added.

Hundreds detained

Separately, the MMEA division in Sarawak, a state in Malaysian Borneo, announced on Sunday that it had detained 20 Vietnamese fishermen on two boats in its territorial waters 225 nautical miles north of Tanjong Po near Kuching under its Operation Eastern Dragon.

"Inspections of the first boat found 17 individuals including the captain on board, while on the second boat three individuals including the captain were engaged in illegal fishing," Robert Teh Geok Chuan, the MME commander in Sarawak said in announcing the arrests that occurred last week.

The agency confiscated 40 tons of fish, 13,000 liters of diesel and the two boats. The agency estimated the total value at 2.5 million ringgit (U.S. $596,000).

Operation Seahorse, which was launched on June 24, so far has resulted in the detention of 487 Vietnamese crew members from 43 boats. Operation Eastern Dragon, which started in April 2019, has resulted in the detention of 1,411 crew members from 135 foreign fishing boats. Officials did not identify the countries of origin.

Ramli Dollah, a security analyst at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), said some in Vietnam see it as their right to fish throughout the South China Sea.

"Vietnam considers this area is theirs because it is one of the claimants of the islands in the South China Sea," Ramli told BenarNews.

He said other factors including Vietnam's booming fishing industry as well as the rich sea life found in the South China Sea contribute to the encroachment.

"The South China Sea is one of the rich fishing zones in Asia especially being home to the blue fin tuna and other marine species," he said. "[D]ue to the high demand for fish in the global market, it is not surprising that Vietnam has become one of the world's major exporters."

Certain key importers of seafood including the European Union, have reprimanded countries like Thailand and Vietnam in the past for lax enforcement of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activities. The European Commission slapped Vietnam with a 'yellow card' in 2017, warning that its seafood exports to the European market would be cut off if its fisheries enforcement did not improve.

Vietnam subsequently created a National Steering Committee to combat the issue in 2019, but IUU fishing remains a problem  Vietnam is still considered the 4th worst offender of IUU fishing in Asia, according to the IUU Fishing Index put out by the Geneva-based Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

In January 2019, the EU cleared Thailand of a similar yellow card, four years after Brussels had warned Bangkok against illegal and unregulated fishing by Thai boats.

Meanwhile Malaysian defense analyst Abdul Rahmat Omar, a retired army captain, said ramming cases were unusual.

"But there were instances in the past where Vietnamese boats deployed lines astern hoping that the propellers of our patrol vessels would get caught. There have been incidences where they have rammed Indonesian patrol boats because they do venture all the way to the Natuna islands," he told BenarNews.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

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In times of uncertainty and in a world that has forgotten how to laugh, we are all in greater need of hope and cheer, now more than ever. And as a confectionery company, one is a little more biased to believe that it is societies with a sense of humour and a childlike optimism that are most resilient. The simple human truth, that when people laugh, they become more resilient.Perfetti Van Melle India as a confectionery company operates through many brands but has a singular core that is to spread smiles and laughter.

Through their brands that seek to preserve childlike fun and spontaneity, up-lift moods to keep childhood stress-free or offer small pleasures that keep homes & families light-hearted. Perfettis house of brands are a pocketful of joy. Through the initiative, they wanted to reach out to their large family of consumers with the message of staying optimistic, being hopeful about the future, even when the present seems challenging. Moreover, Perfetti wanted to leave the viewers with a simple message of hope i.e. if one can find their smile, one can find their way through these challenging times. Because a smile, while it may seem simple, goes a long way in keeping optimism, and resilience alive. Conceptualized by Perfetti Van Melle India & Ogilvy India,in the film, the world is likened to a small girl named duniya (a metaphor for the world) who is shut inside and feeling disconnected. But on discovering a candy in a box, her world magically lights up. With a heart-warming treatment, the film closes on the message "We will smile again" brought by Perfetti "Spreading smiles since 1994".



Rohit Kapoor, Director Marketing (India), Perfetti Van Melle:



We want to leave the viewers with a simple message of hope, i.e., if we can find our smile, we can find our way through this tough period. And like the girl, who returns to her usual joyful state, we believe the world will also find its laughter once again.



The Alpenliebe in the little girls hand, is symbolic to Perfetti India, a sweet candy that can quickly lighten up a childs face.



Anurag Agnihotri, Managing Partner-Creative, Ogilvy Mumbai:



The brand wanted to do a message of hope in the context of what we all are facing right now. Because this message was coming from a confectionery brand, we took care that the ad must belong to the category in an authentic manner. A kid is so happy to see a candy and we sort of used that as a metaphor to say we all will smile again. We devised the element of magic, in a fairy tale way, where candy is just a symbol of brightness and magic. We brought in magic dust etc in terms of execution. There is so much uncertainty and we must tell each other to keep faith and that everything will be fine again.



The film is currently on air across all social media platforms and has garnered some good reviews and over 4 million views so far.
Epic is asking a California court to protect it from what the company describes as retaliation from Apple over the escalating conflict between the two massive tech companies.

Its the latest development in a dispute that rapidly unfolded late last week and ultimately saw Epic Games filing a lawsuit against both Apple and Google for allegedly unfair and anti-competitive actions relating to each platform holders' handling of third-party storefronts and payment options.

Its a lot to catch up on, so heres a quick summary:



This all started August 13 when Epic Games updated Fortnite to include a payment method that bypassed the usual platform fees taken out of in-app purchases. (More on that here.) Apple fired back that afternoon by pulling Fornite from the App Store, claiming that payment scheme and update violated its App Store Guidelines. (And, more on that here.) Soon after, Epic broadcast an in-game short to Fortnite parodying an Apple commercial and displaying the message Epic Games has defied the App Store Monopoly. In retaliation, Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices. Join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming 1984 to players. Around that same time, Epic filed a lawsuit against Apple arguing its App Store policies were unlawful and anti-competitive. (More on that here.) Much later into the day, Google also opted to remove Fortnite from Androids Google Play store. That action was similarly followed up with a lawsuit, though the examples at the core of Epics issue with Google differ slightly due to the platforms more open nature. (More here.)

That brings us to today where Epic Games has revealed that Apples action against it extends much further than simply delisting Fortnite.

As stated in this recent filing, Apple has decided to revoke Epic Games entire developer account, preventing Epic both from having apps on the App Store and making it impossible for the company to keep iOS and MacOS support up to date in Unreal Engine.

That, as explored more in-depth here, would prevent external developers from creating iOS or MacOS games through Unreal Engine or updating existing games down the line, while Epic itself wont be able to update its Unreal Engine client on MacOS either.

Though Apple has yet to make a statement on this most recent development, its comments from last week seems to indicate that Apple views its reaction as a natural consequence of Epic Games decision to knowingly violate the App Store guidelines with the controversial Fortnite update.

Epic disagrees, and is asking the court to bar Apple from taking what it views as retaliation against Epics lawsuit against Apple. From todays motion: Not content simply to remove Fortnite from the App Store, Apple is attacking Epics entire business in unrelated areas.

As such, Epic is asking the court to prevent Apple from delisting or refusing to list Fortnite or any of its future updates on the basis of Epics payment processing options, from removing or modifying versions of Fortnite already present on players devices, or from taking any adverse action against Epic (like the decision to cut its developer tools access) over Epic's decision to include payment processing options.

When Epic gave users of its app Fortnite a choice of how they wanted to make purchases, Apple retaliated by removing Fortnite from its App Store, reads Epics motion. Then when Epic sued Apple to break its monopoly on app stores and in-app payments, Apple retaliated ferociously. It told Epic that by August 28, Apple will cut off Epics access to all development tools necessary to create software for Apples platformsincluding for the Unreal Engine Epic offers to third-party developers, which Apple has never claimed violated any Apple policy.

Epic argues that it stands to face significant harms in the short term if Apple is allowed to carry out its alleged retaliation. Part of its argument in favor of the motion hinges on the fact that Epic believes it is likely to succeed on the merits of its antitrust claim given antitrust rules outlined in Section 1 of the commerce-regulating law The Sherman Act.

But even if Apple were to come out on top, Epic argues any damages against Apple could be redressed monetarily while the harms Epic says it will endure in the meantime could not be fixed through the exchanging of funds.

Part of that is because of the reputational harms Epic says it faces by Apples actions against it and its properties, both with the player base of Fortnite users and with the community of external developers that use Unreal Engine in their day-to-day.

On the Fortnite side of things, iOS users already cant receive any of Fortnites frequent updates and, once they fall behind, will lose the ability to play with the full pool of up-to-date Fortnite players on other platforms. This stands to, from Epics perspective, destroy the trust between Epic and players, a loss that is impossible to quantify.

The potential harm Epic perceives against external developers that either use Unreal Engine to create iOS and Mac games or the devs who primarily work in Unreal Engine from a MacOS-powered device has already been stated. The ensuing impact on the Unreal Engines viability, and the trust and confidence developers have in that engine, cannot be repaired with a monetary award, reads the motion. This is quintessential irreparable harm.

In Epics words: Without [an injunction], millions of players will lose their ability to stay connected on Epic games, and an entire ecosystem based on the Unreal Engine will collapse.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Guangzhou-based EV startup Xpeng Motors founded on August 14 a mobility technology subsidiary in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, according to Tianyancha, a Chinese company information search platform.

Dubbed Hangzhou Xiaopeng Mobility Technology Co.,Ltd., the newly-established company involves a registered capital of 5 million yuan ($645,140), which are totally poured by Guangzhou Xiaopeng Smart Mobility Technology Co., Ltd.

According to Tianyancha, the Hangzhou-based company features a line of businesses covering the operation of EV charging infrastructures, the sale of intelligent power transmission, distribution and control facilities, the used car dealership, as well as the sale of distributed AC charging piles, complete vehicles and new energy vehicles.



(Xpeng P7, photo source: Xpeng Motors)



According to the data offered by China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC), the insurance registrations of Xpeng Motor's vehicles shoot up 130% over a month ago to 2,532 units in July, the highest figure the startup has posted so far this year. Of those, 1,723 units were from the Xpeng P7, the EV manufacturer's second mass-produced model hitting the market in late April.

(Xpeng G3, photo source: Xpeng Motors)

It is also noteworthy that the insurance volume of the Xpeng G3 amounted to 5,994 units for the first seven months, 86.04% of which were delivered to private users.

The car rental area has long been an important whereabouts for new energy vehicles. As the domestic NEV market is not mature enough, selling products to business users has served an efficient method for EV makers to spur sales and lower costs. However, the demands of mobility service market and personal users are remarkably different as the former more focuses on cost effectiveness and the later gives more weight to individuation and intelligence.

As of June 2020, Xpeng Motor has built 128 sales outlets in 63 cities and 65 service centers in 52 cities. Besides, it has signed up with nearly 200 supercharging stations located in 62 cities and has been given access to over 200,000 third-party charging piles so as to provide users with fast and efficient charging solutions.
SANTA FE, N.M., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer51, an international consumer-experience company with business operations in Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Indiana announced the completion of the acquisition of Santa Fe-based web design and development firm, Desert Elements Design, Inc.

The acquisition of Desert Elements is the third acquisition for Consumer51 within the state of New Mexico, following the acquisitions of Xynergy, Inc. and Sante Fe SEO. The consolidation of marketing companies and expansion of services solidifies Consumer51, along with its group companies, as the premier marketing agency in the state. The Consumer51 group of companies now claim 50+ years of combined experience in marketing and communications for a wide variety of businesses, including government and the private sector.

Consumer51's in-depth experience in marketing automation combined with the web development and marketing prowess of Desert Elements ensures that businesses in New Mexico and surrounding states now have access to a set of powerful, integrated services to propel their marketing and revenue generation plans. The Consumer51 group companies bring extensive marketing services to its clients and maintain the position as New Mexico's first and only Hubspot Partner for integrated marketing automation led services.

Commenting on the acquisition, Arijit Banerjee, CEO of Consumer51 said; "The coming together of Consumer51 and Desert Elements underscores our commitment to the state of New Mexico. Over the last three years, our growth has allowed us to expand our reach and serve more clients within the state and across the globe. We are investing heavily in New Mexico because we believe there's tremendous talent and opportunity in this state. Over the next decade, we plan to invest several million dollars to build a state-of-the-art operation right here in Albuquerque and Santa Fe that will support clients around the world."

The acquisition has been in the works for over a year now, when the two teams started partnering to serve clients in New Mexico and other states. With this new development, Consumer51 has emerged as New Mexico's undisputed leader in digital marketing, website and app development. The company brought marketing automation leader Hubspot to New Mexico in 2018, becoming the state's first Hubspot partner. This year, Consumer51 led the field in digital awards, winning four Gold and three Silver awards honoring excellence in advertising for inculcating the highest creative standards in the industry at the ADDY Awards organized by The American Advertising Federation  New Mexico. The coveted Golds in the respective categories of 'Digital Creative Technology  User Experience' and 'Websites  Consumer' went to the websites for Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farms and Terra Verde respectively.

The two above mentioned Gold winners also found pride of place in the 'ABQ 30,' an elite list celebrating the 30 greatest 'ideas' of the year.

Molly Duncan, Founder & President of Desert Elements who would continue to work with Consumer51 as part of the Advisory Board, said; "I am excited to be a part of Consumer51 and proud of the work the Desert Elements team has accomplished over the years. The breadth and depth of the Consumer51 marketing automation expertise will now provide businesses in New Mexico the opportunity to avail a powerful integrated approach in pursuit of their growth plans."

Desert Elements Design is a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based marketing, website development, and graphic design firm offering a full range of integrated online and traditional marketing services for more than 20 years for a notable group of clients comprising various state government agencies as well as private companies.

About Consumer51

Consumer51 LLC is a privately held consumer-experience company, providing marketing and technology solutions for today's connected world. The company provides a wide range of services including web design, web development, web hosting, domain registration, email management, user experience design, mobile application development, brand identity design, inbound marketing, creative services and consulting to clients ranging from startups to Fortune 50 brands. For more information about Consumer51, visit http://www.consumer51.com.

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12833976

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Consumer51 LLC
BLOOMINGTON  Isaac Thorne, the Connect Transit general manager who announced his resignation earlier this month, has found a new job as the director of transit for Knoxville Area Transit in Knoxville, Tenn.

Thorne resigned from Connect Transit July 31 to "pursue another opportunity in the transit industry." He could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

Isaac has a winning track record in the transit industry, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said in announcing the hire earlier this month. He is an innovative leader who never loses sight that public transit is a customer-focused service. I am also confident that he is the right person to continue to move KAT toward an all-electric fleet as part of our citys sustainability strategy.

Thorne started his career in the transit industry with Connect Transit in 2007, where he held several positions before he was hired as general manager in 2017.

Since serving as general manager, Thorne implemented several changes, such as initiating the Better Bus Stop Campaign, mobile ticketing and annual rider and customer satisfaction surveys.

I am excited to be working with the employees of the City of Knoxville, Knoxville Area Transit and most importantly, our customers, Thorne said in the statement released by the mayor's office. It is an honor to be trusted to lead an exceptional transit system that has been nationally recognized in the beautiful City of Knoxville.

Thornes final day with Connect Transit is Friday. His first day in Knoxville is scheduled for Aug. 31.

His successor at Connect Transit has not yet been named.

PHOTOS: New app keeps transit riders connected

Contact Kevin Barlow at (309) 820-3238. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_barlow

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Voters Sue Trump, USPS, DeJoy Over Concerns About Mail-In Election

A group of voters has sued President Donald Trump, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, claiming that the agencys latest cost-cutting changes are infringing on citizens rights to vote.

DeJoy has since announced that USPS would suspend all operational changes until after the election.

To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded, he said in a statement on Aug. 18.

Four voters from different states on Aug. 17 filed a lawsuit in federal court in the District of Columbia, in an effort to restore the operation of the Postal Service to its status on Jan. 1. The voters accuse Trump and DeJoy of conspiring to undermine the legitimacy of the 2020 election by crippling the agencys operations ahead of the 2020 elections.

They alleged that the Trump administration engaged in outrageous tactics to slow down mail delivery, which they claimed had resulted in the failure of the prompt delivery of mail-in ballots and applications, according to their complaint. The plaintiffs did, however, acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic had already posed challenges to the Postal Service but claimed that the Trump administration had exacerbated the delays via its alleged tactics.

Despite the devastating effects of the coronavirus on USPSs ability to deliver the mail during the Spring primaries and primary runoffs, and the thousands of USPS employees who were quarantined because they were exposed to and, in some cases, contracted, coronavirus, DeJoy has taken several steps calculated to slow downand to underminethe agencys ability to deliver the mail, all in the name of cost-cutting but at the expense of the right of citizens to vote, the voters attorneys wrote (pdf).

The outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus during an election year thrust the issue of mail-in voting into the spotlight as large numbers of Americans are predicted to vote by mail in order to avoid crowds at polling locations. Yet, concerns over whether the USPS would be able to deliver mail-in ballots on time became a center of attention after the agencys general counsel and executive vice president, Thomas J. Marshall, sent letters to multiple states warning them that it might not be able to meet mail-in deadlines.

A United States Postal Service mailbox stands in New York City, on Aug. 5, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, DeJoy 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.

He said the financial position of USPS is dire and without dramatic change, the agency will face an impending liquidity crisis. His changes resulted in at least 20 postal executives reassigned to new roles or displaced. These cost-cutting measures have reportedly resulted in mail backlogs across the country, further elevating worries that ballots wont be delivered in time for the November election.

The lawyers said in the complaint that the four voters residing in New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Indiana, are examples of those who didnt get mail-in ballots in time for their states primaries, despite requesting absentee ballots.

They also alleged that the USPS situation is forcing voters to go to polling stations to vote during the pandemic.

In one example, Gina Arfi, the resident from New York state, was unable to vote in the states June 23 primary election because the absentee ballot she requested was never delivered, and she didnt want to risk exposing herself and her 85-year-old grandmother, who she lives with, to COVID-19.

The voters are asking the court to reinstate Postal Service operations to how it was on Jan. 1, including replacing or restoring high-speed sorting machines that have been taken out of service, restoring overtime pay for all USPS employees, and lifting the USPS hiring freeze.

The voters are not the only group who have taken legal action against the USPS amidst concerns about mail-in voting. Meanwhile, a separate group of voters and several Democratic candidates also filed a lawsuit on Aug. 17 in a federal court in New York.

USPSs decision to implement cost-cutting measures just months ahead of the election has been widely criticized, and has prompted House Democrats to urge the FBI to begin an investigation to determine whether DeJoy, or members of the USPS board of governors, committed any crimes in connection with reports of mail delays.

DeJoy is set to testify at a House Oversight Committee hearing next week, House lawmakers confirmed on Aug. 17. A number of Democratic members of Congress have called on DeJoy to resign, with one member even going so far as to say that he should be arrested by the Houses sergeant at arms if he doesnt testify.

Officials at the Justice Department and the USPS didnt immediately respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
- David Silva has returned to his homeland to land to join Real Sociedad

- The 34-year-old spent ten years in the Premier League playing for Man City

- The Spanish midfielder 11 trophies including the Premier League, FA Cup and League cup

David Silva has ended his ten-year spell with Man City to join Spanish side Real Sociedad as a free agent.

The former Spanish international has been linked with a move to Serie A side Lazio after a deal worth 10million a year was offered to the midfielder.

READ ALSO: Kevin Opiyo: Ex-Mathare striker and Oliech's brother dies of cancer in Germany

David Silva finally leaves Man City to join La Liga club Real Sociedad. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Source: UGC

But the 34-year-old made a U-turn at the eleventh hour to return to his homeland after a decade in the Premier League to join Sociedad.

The Etihad announced the Spaniard will be honoured with a statue outside their stadium in recognition of his service.

READ ALSO: Mbunge Oscar Sudi sasa amlaumu DP Ruto kwa kumshinikiza ampigie Uhuru kura

"The time has arrived. Ten years and 13 titles later, it's time for me to say goodbye to the club that has left an indelible mark on my life and career," Silva said on Twitter earlier on Monday.

"I look back and it's clear I could not have made a better decision than to accept City's proposal to join their project back in 2010,"

Silva won 11 major titles with the Citizens including four Premier League titles, FA Cup and League Cup trophies.

The former Valencia playmaker played his last game for City in their 3-1 defeat Lyon in the Champions League quarter finals.

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Kenya's county where young girls are sold to men for sex in exchange for maize and beans | Tuko TV :

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Democrats: We Could Lose The U.S. Postal Service

Microphone and US Flag View Photo

During the Democratic Weekly Address, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI) stated that unless service changes to the Postal Service are overturned, we could lose it.

Peters was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

Hello, Im Gary Peters. I proudly represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate.

I also serve as the Ranking Member on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees the U.S. Postal Service.

Over the last few weeks, I have heard alarming reports from my constituents in Michigan about serious delays in mail deliveries.

Veterans, small businesses, seniors, and rural residents have told my office about unexpected delays as they wait for their medicine, paychecks, bills and even mail-in ballots to arrive.

Postal workers, mail handlers, letter carriers are all committed to getting the mail out every day  and they have shared stories of mail piling up in ways they have never seen before.

For more than 245 years, the Postal Service has carried on a tradition of reliable, on-time delivery.

Dedicated postal workers and letter carriers over the years have delivered mail through wars  through hurricanes  through rain and snow. And theyve always done it on time.

Last week, after the new Postmaster General refused to give me clear answers about the causes of these delays, I launched an investigation.

Im working to find out what changes are causing these delays  and why were they put into place in the first place.

As part of my investigation, I want to know about how families and small businesses across the country are affected.

If you have experienced an unexpected delay in your mail delivery, you can share that information with my office by going to www.peters.senate.gov/postal.

Your story will help us protect the Postal Service and fix the delivery service problems that far too many Americans are now experiencing.

The Postal Service is the only carrier that delivers to every address in the United States  no matter how remote.

And unless we work together to overturn these service changes, we could lose this critical lifeline that so many Americans count on each and every day.

I hope you will join me in shining a light on how these disruptions impact your life. Together we can ensure the Postal Service will continue to provide steady, reliable service for generations to come.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Power lines carry electricity away from the gas-fired power plant in Redondo Beach in 2019. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

California's power grid operator delivered a blistering rebuke Monday to the state's Public Utilities Commission, blaming the agency for rotating power outages  the first since the 2001 energy crisis  and warning of bigger blackouts to come.

In their first public comments since the blackouts began Friday evening, officials at the California Independent System Operator described a "perfect storm" of conditions that caused demand to exceed available supply: scorching temperatures in California and across the western United States, diminished output from renewable sources and fossil-fueled power plants affected by the weather, and in some cases plants going offline unexpectedly when electricity was needed most.

But Stephen Berberich, the grid operator's president, said the state could have been prepared for that perfect storm if only the Public Utilities Commission had ordered utility companies to line up sufficient power supplies.

During the grid operator's board meeting Monday, Berberich faulted the commission for failing to ensure adequate power capacity on hot summer evenings, when electricity from the state's growing fleet of rooftop solar panels and sprawling solar farms rapidly drops to zero but demand for air conditioning remains high. It's a challenge that will only intensify as California adds more solar panels and wind turbines to meet its targets of 60% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% emissions-free power by 2045.

"For many years, we have pointed out to the [Public Utilities Commission] that there was inadequate power available during the net peak, Berberich said, referring to the evening period when solar production dries up but cooling demand remains high. "The situation we are in could have been avoided."

He added, Its near certain that we will be forced to ask the utilities to cut off power to millions today to balance supply and demand  today, tomorrow and perhaps beyond."

Story continues

Asked about the grid operator's criticism, commission spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said the agency is "working with our sister agencies to better understand why this occurred."

"The question were tackling is why certain resources were not available," she said in an email.

Blackouts were ultimately avoided Monday evening, with the grid operator crediting lower-than-expected temperatures and energy conservation by homes and businesses. But additional outages could still come later in the week.

Customers of Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego Gas & Electric had their power briefly shut off Friday and Saturday. Several municipal electric utilities that operate their own systems have not been affected, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which has been able to share excess power with the rest of the state.

Even before this week's heat wave, which saw temperatures reach a record-shattering 130 degrees in Death Valley, California's power system was in flux.

So much solar power is generated during the afternoon that California sometimes pays other states to take its excess supply. But there are fewer gas-fired power plants than in past years to pick up the slack each evening. And coal plants have been shutting down across the West because of competition from cheaper natural gas and renewables, meaning there may be less energy available for California to import in a pinch.

All of those changes are manageable, experts say. Several studies have shown that running a large power grid using mostly renewable energy is technically possible and could save money because solar and wind power have gotten so cheap.

"We're moving forward with a low-carbon grid," Mary Leslie, a member of the Independent System Operator's board of governors, said during Monday's meeting. "I think the direction is really clear, and we're not going backward. We're going to move forward."

The sun rises over solar panels at the 550-megawatt Desert Sunlight solar farm in Riverside County, California. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times )

But this week's energy emergency dramatizes the urgency of filling the evening gap.

Last year the Public Utilities Commission ordered Edison, PG&E and other utilities to buy thousands of megawatts of new power capacity. Most if not all of those resources are expected to be four-hour lithium-ion batteries that can store solar energy during the afternoon and distribute it when the sun goes down.

But none of those batteries are online yet  and the need will only grow when the massive Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant begins shutting down in 2024.

Jim Caldwell, a former assistant general manager at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said the Public Utilities Commission should be acting much more aggressively to bring new supplies online. He echoed the grid operator's call to look beyond batteries, and to build enough additional solar power to keep those batteries charged.

"Knowing what we know and where we're going as a state, knowing that were going to need a lot of investments in renewables in order to meet the climate goals, what the hell's going on?" Caldwell asked. "We know its cheaper, we can get the [federal] tax credits now. We ... need the economic activity.

Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Subscribe to the Los Angeles Times.

The Independent System Operator, which runs the power grid for most of the state, warned in September that California could face evening power shortages as early as summer 2020, with much larger shortfalls coming in later years as several Los Angeles-area coastal gas plants retire. One of the system operator's top officials said at the time that the summer 2020 gap could probably be resolved by importing power from other states, "as long as its not hot across the West."

But this week, it is extremely hot across the West, with Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Sacramento and Seattle all breaking daily temperature records Sunday, and high temperatures expected to continue for several more days.

Coupled with stay-at-home orders necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the heat wave could be even deadlier than usual for people stuck at home without air conditioning  a dynamic that may be worsened by California's rotating power outages.

Officials at the Independent System Operator described a mad dash to secure any available power supplies and reduce demand. Berberich said utilities in the Pacific Northwest have agreed to export some excess electricity to California, and the Department of Defense and other major energy users have agreed to consume less during peak periods.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation warned over the weekend that it was releasing emergency flows through Glen Canyon Dam on the Utah-Arizona border in part to generate more electricity for California, and that boaters on the Colorado River should prepare for rapid changes in river flow.

Releases from Glen Canyon Dam are increasing as Reclamation generates more #hydropower to meet emergency electrical needs in California. Be careful along the downstream riverflows will change rapidly and without warning. #coriver pic.twitter.com/ilKhcQSZH6  Bureau of Reclamation (@usbr) August 16, 2020

Utility companies, meanwhile, could do little except ask their customers to conserve power as much as they could from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., when electricity demand is typically highest. On Sunday, the Independent System Operator preemptively called a "flex alert" for every day through Wednesday.

"It's 3 pm. That means it's time to set the thermostat to 78, avoid using large appliances, and turn off unnecessary" lights, Southern California Edison tweeted Monday afternoon, linking to a page with more detailed advice on saving energy.

Although the rotating blackouts have been disruptive, they're not wildly outside the realm of what power grid operators typically consider acceptable  at least so far.

It would be exorbitantly expensive to build enough power plants to ensure the electricity never goes off  and some of those plants might sit idle for years at a time. So instead, the U.S. utility industry has long followed a standard of having enough power on call to ensure this type of outage doesn't happen more than once every 10 years.

The last time California was forced to implement rotating blackouts because of insufficient energy supply was nearly 20 years ago, during the 2001 energy crisis, as opposed to more recent intentional outages because of fire safety.

But these blackouts may strike a raw nerve for many PG&E customers after the utility's decision last year to shut down power to millions of people in an effort to prevent its aging and poorly maintained transmission lines from igniting wildfires.

In a letter to his own top energy officials Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom described the blackouts as "unacceptable and unbefitting of the nation's largest and most innovative state." He instructed them to investigate what had gone wrong and take several steps to better prepare for future heat waves.

"Energy service shutoffs are simply too disruptive, and we must do more to prevent them in the future," Newsom wrote.

Marybel Batjer, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, speaks during a news conference as Gov. Gavin Newsom looks on in Sacramento, California on July 23, 2019. Newsom appointed Batjer to lead the utility regulator. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP)

Berberich said the Independent System Operator accepted responsibility for failing to give Californians more notice about the power supply emergency before rolling blackouts began this weekend.

"We thought there would be adequate power to supply the demand. We were wrong," he said.

Not everyone accepted the Independent System Operator's explanation for what's going wrong on the grid.

Loretta Lynch, who served as president of the Public Utilities Commission during California's early-2000s energy crisis, said she suspects but can't yet prove that this week's power supply shortages are a result of collusion among energy marketers  the same type of illegal activity that forced California to implement rolling blackouts two decades ago. She blamed the Independent System Operator for a history of failing to penalize power-plant owners who game the system to jack up prices.

"Their job one is to manage the damn grid, and they couldnt do it," Lynch said.

Berberich disagreed with that assessment, saying he's seen no evidence that plant owners are withholding electricity.
A member of the indigenous dance group Canpatlanezi adjusts their head dress at the Philly Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the East Park Reservoir Discovery Center in Fairmount Park, October 7, 2021. Philly Indigenous People Day was established in 2011 as part of an initiative to help preserve and grow Indigenous culture in the city of Philadelphia. It is organized by the Philly Indigenous Peoples Day Committee, which is dedicated to maintaining, teaching and celebrating the culture of Indigenous people in Philadelphia, and around the world. Read more

In the nations capital, there is no Columbus Day. The D.C. Council voted to replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day in 2019. And the capital is certainly not alone. D.C. joined an already-growing list of places that no longer observe the day, even though it remains a federal holiday.

Columbus Day falls on the second Monday of October, commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, when he landed in the Bahamas on Oct. 12. Until this year, it was one of 11 official city holidays in Philadelphia, when city government buildings and services close and staff are given a day off.

In 1990, South Dakota became the first state to rename Columbus Day. Over the years, more than a dozen other states have followed suit, from Maine (now observing Indigenous Peoples Day) to Hawaii (now observing Discoverers Day), along with an even larger list of cities. One that stands out: Columbus, Ohio, a city named after the very Italian-born explorer that the holiday commemorates.

Why did Philadelphia rename Columbus Day?

For several years many wondered: Would Philadelphia be next? Its a question that was posed on our Curious Philly platform last year, where readers send in questions and our reporters track down answers. And it was a timely one. A Christopher Columbus statue, which has stood in Marconi Plaza since 1976, was expected to move out of South Philly after the Art Commission approved its removal.

 READ MORE: Why is the South Philly Columbus statue an issue?

City officials proposed the move in August 2020, saying it should be relocated in recognition of the fact that Columbus legacy includes the enslavement, forcible removal, and the devastation of the Indigenous people that he encountered, and that in this current moment in our countrys history, the statue can no longer be displayed on public property.

Opponents argued the marble statue celebrates Italian American culture, and launched a legal battle to keep it in its original place.

Despite the opposition, city leaders were open to changing how the city marks Columbus Day. (One change that did happen last year: There was no organized Columbus Day Parade, because of the pandemic.)

 READ MORE: Do you have a question you'd like our reporters to answer? Ask us here.

We know that Columbus Day is an important symbol for many Italian Americans, including those in our city, said city spokesperson Lauren Cox last year. Ultimately, each individual is able to make their own choice about which holiday(s) they do or do not celebrate personally. In terms of its future as a City holiday  where City buildings and services are closed  the administration would be open to changes.

How city holidays work

All official city holidays are outlined in the collective bargaining agreements made between the mayors office and the citys four municipal unions. Any new holidays must be agreed upon by all parties. To do away with Columbus Day and/or replace it with Indigenous Peoples Day, one of the citys four municipal unions, or a city administration representative, would need to propose it during contract negotiations. And, again, all unions and the mayor would then need to agree on the change.

(Last summer, when the Columbus statue raised questions about Columbus Day, it was already too late to make the change, since the municipal union contract was already in place until July 1, 2021.)

The issue of holidays, not just Columbus Day, is being discussed internally, said Cathy Scott, president of AFSCME District Council 47, in 2020.

But there seemed to be momentum for this change. Theres certainly ... a kind of moral force at work to rename and dissolve the mythic histories that have controlled our thinking about historical events, said Matt Wray last year. Wray is an associate professor of sociology at Temple University whose research focuses on race and ethnicity. Columbus is not only charged with being an enslaver but also an architect of racist genocide and a harbinger of massive land theft of Indigenous people.

Indigenous Peoples Day in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has recognized Indigenous Peoples Day for a decade, but its mostly symbolic. Why? City Council cannot appoint official city holidays, but can only mark observances. (The difference: On official city holidays, services shut down; on others, business carries on as usual.)

In 2011, Council proposed and approved a resolution recognizing and honoring the achievements, traditions and contributions of American Indians, also known as Indigenous peoples of the City of Philadelphia. Philadelphias first Indigenous Peoples Day was declared on Oct. 8, 2011, and falls on the first Saturday of every October after that. Yet, without the designation of an official city holiday, few know the recognition exists.

There are 17 Council members, and any of them can introduce ceremonial proclamations on any topic at any time, explained Joe Grace, director of communications for the Philadelphia City Council Presidents Office, in 2020. But only the mayors office, in negotiations with its municipal workforce, has the authority to declare city holidays.

So, what happened this year? The city simply renamed the existing holiday.

On January 27, 2021, Mayor Jim Kenney signed an executive order which made Juneteenth an official city holiday, and renamed Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day:

WHEREAS, the story of Christopher Columbus is deeply complicated. For centuries, he has been venerated with stories of his traversing the Atlantic and discovering the New World. The true history of his conduct is, in fact, infamous. Mistakenly believing he had found a new route to India, Columbus enslaved indigenous people, and punished individuals who failed to meet his expected service through violence and, in some cases, murder; WHEREAS, over the last 40 years many states and cities have acknowledged this history by recognizing the holiday known as Columbus Day instead as Indigenous Peoples Day. These jurisdictions include: Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.; ... The City holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October, formerly known as Columbus Day, shall now be designated as Indigenous Peoples Day.

According to CBS3, the city was also pursing codifying these changes in its Collective Bargaining Agreements with the four municipal worker unions. There also remain legal challenges.

How to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day

In the meantime, you can celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, Oct. 11:

Indigenous Peoples Day Philly celebration 2021 (Community / in-person / outdoors) Philly with Standing Rock, Philadelphia Assembled and Indigenous Peoples Day Philly host a celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day with artists, vendors, dance, storytelling, and Lenape guests. There has been an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration for more than a decade, but this is the first time the day is officially recognized by the city. The event will be held at Shackamaxon, also known as Penn Treaty Park. (Oct. 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 1301 N. Beach St., facebook.com)

This article has been updated since it first posted. Staff reporter Laura McCrystal contributed to this story.

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(Bloomberg) -- Oracle Corp., the worlds second-largest software maker, is weighing a surprise bid for part of TikToks business, seeking to rival Microsoft Corp. in the race to acquire the viral video streaming app, according to people familiar with the matter.

The company, controlled by billionaire Larry Ellison, has made a preliminary approach to other parties, including the venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, to partner with it in a bid for the apps operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the people said, asking not to be identified.

It isnt clear why Oracle, which focuses on business customers and has virtually no investments in consumer apps or social media, would want to acquire TikTok. However, co-founder Ellison is one of the few Silicon Valley moguls to openly support President Donald Trump. Ellison, whose company was once among the industrys most aggressively acquisitive, hosted a fundraiser at his estate for the U.S. president in February.

The entry of Oracle would challenge Microsofts bargaining position, as the Redmond-based company had been the only party to publicly confirm it was in talks with TikTok owner ByteDance Ltd. Trump on Friday ordered ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets within 90 days, adding to an earlier executive order that would prohibit U.S. persons and companies from doing business with TikTok effective 45 days from Aug. 6.

Oracle didnt immediately respond while ByteDance declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg. Sequoia, a venture investor in ByteDance, also declined to comment. The Financial Times reported on the talks earlier.

The potential bid makes little strategic sense, said Anurag Rana, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, given its subscale cloud business and TikToks lack of synergies with its core database or applications products.

Oracles shares were up 2.8% in premarket trading in New York Tuesday.

Valued at roughly $166 billion, Oracle held about $43 billion in cash or near equivalents as of the end of May, making it one of few companies that could potentially afford the lofty price tag for TikTok. Analysts and bankers have estimated the value of TikToks U.S. business at between $20 billion and $50 billion, a wide range that reflects the complexity involved in separating TikToks American and global businesses.

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A potential bid by Oracle to acquire certain assets of TikTok, according to news reports, makes little strategic sense, given its subscale cloud business and TikToks lack of synergies with its core database or applications products. A financial investment in conjunction with private equity or other tech companies may be more plausible, in our view.

Anurag Rana, Senior Tech Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence

ByteDance bought the Musical.ly app in 2017 and merged it with TikTok, creating an app with over 100 million users in the U.S. alone. That deal is being unraveled by U.S. officials, which have cited national security concerns amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing. Now, the company is facing a fast-approaching deadline to reach a deal, or risk facing a complete shutdown of its American business.

Other bidders potentially interested in the assets include Twitter Inc. The social media company is among U.S. tech firms that have also explored possible bids though its unclear how far those talks have gone, according to multiple people familiar with the deliberations.

Why Trumps Been Threatening Your Teens Favorite App: QuickTake

(Updates with additional context, shares.)

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Authorities deployed helicopters in western China on Tuesday to rescue people stranded by flooding as heavy rain swelled the Yangtze and other rivers to dangerous levels, state media reported.

Landslides backed up a river, trapping 48 people on rooftops in Longnan city in the southern part of Gansu province, according to The Paper, an online news portal.

Neighboring Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality both declared the highest-level flood control emergency, a first for Sichuan.

In Sichuan, water lapped at the toes of the Leshan Giant Buddha _ a towering 8th-century statue carved into a mountainside _ for the first time since at least 1949, a government scenic management committee said.

Downriver in Hubei province, officials at the Yangtze River Water Resources Commission warned that the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric project, would see the largest inflow of water in its 14-year history.

Elsewhere, approaching Typhoon Higos was expected to make landfall Wednesday on China's southern coast. Ferry service was suspended starting Tuesday evening between Zhanjiang city in Guangdong province and Hainan island, a city announcement said.

Flooding has left more than 200 people dead or missing in China this year and caused $25 billion in damage.

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Showcasing the nations benevolence, Indian Coast Guard not only provided assistance but also evacuated the Pakistani national and master of the merchant ship MV Haykal after he suffered a heart stroke last month. According to reports, the incident took place on the vessel which was on its way to Gopalpur in Odisha.

ANI cited its sources saying that the 60-year-old Captain Badar Hasnain was evacuated on July 13 and his condition is now under control. He will now be travelling back to Pakistan on Monday, August 17 through the Attari-Wagah border. Captain Hasnains well-wishers including his daughter have lauded the humanitarian gesture offered by the Indian government along with the efforts made by the doctors to provide swift emergency evacuation and also proper treatment.

Read - Pakistan Registers 488 New Coronavirus Cases; Tally Reaches 289,213

Read - Pakistan: Islamabad International Airport's False Ceiling Collapses Due To Heavy Rain

Indian Coast Guard responded to request

The Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai had responded to the request of immediate medical assistance for the 6-year-old and then the vessel was diverted to Visakhapatnam. With the assistance of Vizag Port team, he was evacuated from the vessel on July 13 and taken to Queens NRI hospital in Visakhapatnam.

The diagnosis of the doctors revealed that Captain Hasnain suffered from Hypoxic Ischemic Encehalopthy and recommended his treatment to continue in the hospital itself. tweet by the Indian Coast Guard on July 13 reads: "#ICG MRCC(CHN) coordinated Medevac of MV Haykal Pakistani Master who suffered heart stroke & reqd immediate medical assistance. Vessel bound for Gopalpur directed to close Vizag Hbr. Patient disembarked AM 13 Jul by VPT Pilot boat & shifted to hospital for further management."

Not only to Pakistan but Indian Coast Guard recently also offered its helping hand to crisis-stricken Mauritius by sending a ten-member team to assist with the horrific oil spill destroying nation's turquoise waters. The Japanese tanker MV Wakashio ran aground at least three weeks ago off the coast of Mauritius and then split apart on Saturday, August 15 as the Mauritian authorities confirmed that poor sea conditions have made the removal of remaining fuel on the ship riskier.

Read - "I Can Walk There Now": Delusions Of Pakistan's 'Kashmir Minister' Shock Interviewer

Read - Pak's Coronavirus Tally Jumps To 288,717, Death Toll At 6,168

Inputs/Image: ANI
Cyberwrite's predictive analytics algorithms calculate the likelihood of a cyberattack specific to the company and predicts the type and amount of financial losses resulting from a cyberattack.

SANTA CLARA, California, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the global cyber risk modeling market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Cyberwrite with the 2020 Global Technology Innovation Leadership Award for its real-time, on-demand Cyber Risk Quantification & Mitigation Platform. The company's proprietary machine learning (ML)-based algorithms and actuarial science-powered solutions enable real-time and on demand cyber risk analysis and financial impact assessment using advanced algorithms and a simple-to-understand reporting system suitable for businesses of any size. Cyberwrite's software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution assesses cyber threats and exposure to first- and third-party cyber risks while proactively enabling data-driven decisions regarding cybersecurity improvements. The technology supports the cyber profiling of businesses of all sizes, including small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and micro-companies.

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"In addition to customer-specific data which is monitored and collected in real time, Cyberwrite's risk models also consider the external and inherent risk factors of a company, including its geography, sector, and operational risks, enabling an analysis of the actual risks posed to the company, not just technical-driven risks offered by legacy cyber risk solutions. Even if a company is not in the pool of companies Cyberwrite has already profiled, it can be added within minutes by any non-technical user, and a simple-to-understand report, including projected financial damages and risk scores, is delivered in real time. It is one of the few solutions that can also profile micro-companies and provide them with a financial loss estimation, even if a company does not have an online presence," said Vinay Venkatesan, Program Manager at Frost & Sullivan. "Furthermore, as Cyberwrite's ML technology can include new and updated risk scenarios, its platform remains accurate and relevant over time as cyber risks continue to evolve.

Cyberwrite's solution automatically collects data from the Internet related to attack surface, the dark web, and proprietary cyber risk and digital risk-based data related to each entity, which is used as classifiers in its exclusive ML models and translated into benchmarked risk scores to similar industry peers, providing visibility of the company's risk levels for each risk type. In addition, Cyberwrite utilizes data related to historical cyber damages and current regulatory fines and risks that organizations have to manage to construct a comprehensive cyber risk benchmarking report used for use cases, such as cyber insurance, supply chain vendor risk management, and financial analysis of cyber risks for companies of any size.

The multi-lingual platform available in five languages is used worldwide by corporations and insurance companies to assess cyber risks posed to their clients. Multiple insurance firms utilize Cyberwrite's platform and application programming interfaces (APIs) to underwrite cyber insurance policies for SMBs and corporations in real time and to enable their agents and brokers to explain financial risks to customers for engagement purposes in a simple manner. Moreover, the platform is used for managing aggregated risks on different books of business. By assessing and scoring risks using the advanced algorithms verified by the insurance industry, the solution now enables corporations requiring a third-party vendor risk analysis to understand their exposure to both financial and technical cyber risks.

"As a company operating in an emerging market, Cyberwrite understands the challenges in gaining customers' trust while providing accurate and actionable data on an ever-evolving environment," noted Venkatesan. "With its innovative, unique technology-driven solutions, it allows clients to identify financial risks, mitigate those risks in an actionable manner, and understand the potential impact of a cyber incident and budget remediation actions."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that develops a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Kristen Moore

P: 210.247.3823

E: kristen.moore@frost.com

About Cyberwrite

Since 2017 Cyberwrite's AI solution have enabled corporations worldwide to assess and quantify the probability and financial impact of cyberattacks. The company was founded by cyber security and insurance industry veterans and is backed by VC firms SpeedInvest, Plug&Play and 500startups. Cyberwrite has offices in New York and in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information visit www.cyberwrite.com.
Writings on the Wall

As a part of my academic field, I do a lot of trend spotting and basic estimates of what could happen in the future. Here are a few examples. Read more
Actor James Nesbitt has paid tribute to his sisters for looking after their father until his death.

James Nesbitt Sr died last Friday, aged 91.

He was the former headmaster of a primary school in Lisnamurrican, near Broughshane, Co Antrim.

Prayers and tributes were said outside the family home in Castlerock, near Coleraine, Co Derry, before he was laid to rest in Downhill Burying Ground.

Nesbitt described his fath- er as a "great listener" and said that shortly before his death he had been writing a history of his life.

"You can imagine how long that took," he told mourners.

"He was also planning for his funeral and he wrote: 'I would like to dedicate this reading to all those paid or unpaid, family or strangers who have cared for me during my years of affliction.

"I suppose I am a rather elderly, widowed, orphan'.

"This reading, to my mind, sums up Dad. Dad bled love.

"I want to thank all who have been in Dad's life - his beloved wife and my mother May, and his sisters, his daughters and nieces and his friends, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all those who he adored and loved.

"Dad was so proud of Margaret, Kathryn and Andrea.

Adored

"They cared for him and loved him, he adored them and was so proud.

"It wasn't always easy, and Kathryn probably saw that more than most as she dedicated so much of the last year of his life looking after him.

"There's no hierarchy of grief. Margaret, Kathryn and Andrea will miss Dad terribly and they will miss him because they loved him and they loved him because he loved them."

Nesbitt is most famous for his role as Adam in the popular television series Cold Feet.

He is Chancellor of Ulster University.

Mr Nesbitt Sr was a life-long supporter of Coleraine FC, and manager Oran Kearney and player Eoin Bradley were among those attending his funeral.

A song by Harry Connick Jr was played as the cortege passed hundreds of mourners lining the route to the graveyard.
The trailer for Netflixs latest comedy-drama, The Duchess, starring Irish actor Rory Keenan and British-based comedian Katherine Ryan is here.

The Duchess is a six-episode series comedy written by and starring Katherine Ryan. An authentic extension of Katherines stand-up comedian stage persona, The Duchess explores the unique world view of a fashionably disruptive all-round bad person whose redeeming quality is that shell sacrifice everything to be a good parent.

The series follows the powerful and problematic choices of a fashionably disruptive single mom living in London.

Her daughter, Olive, is her greatest love so she debates a second child with her greatest enemy - Olives dad. Can two wrongs make another right?

Nearly a decade ago, Katherine got pregnant by Irish boyband pop star, Shep Knight (Rory Keenan). The last guy to get up off the stool.

He would soon become her greatest enemy, but they now keep a lid on their mutual disdain for one another for the sake of their exquisite daughter, Olive.

Olive is the love of Katherines life, and The Duchess wonderfully illuminates the intricacies of very modern and celebrated single motherhood in London.

Now in a position to grow her family, Katherine debates whether it makes more sense to have a baby with her very devoted new boyfriend, go it alone, or double-down on her first mistake and have another child with her nemesis, Shep.

Katherines strength of character and singular perspective challenges everyone around her and the audience in a fantastically entertaining way - it is unapologetic and confrontational - and she manages to be sympathetic and vulnerable in her own trademark way.

The Duchess premieres on Netflix on September 11.
A section of the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway connecting HCMC with the southern province of Dong Nai. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

The Transport Ministry has approved the widening of an expressway between Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province from the current four to eight or 10 lanes.

The section between HCMC and Long Thanh in the HCMC  Long Thanh  Dau Giay Expressway will be expanded in the 2021-2030 period. HCMC is Vietnams biggest city while Long Thanh is where a mega international airport is being built.

The ministry has commissioned the HCMC-based construction firm Cuu Long CIPM to make a pre-feasibility report for the upgrade before the end of the year.

The company has estimated that the widening of the 24-kilometer section from four to eight lanes will cost VND9.8 trillion ($424.5 million).

The upgrade was sought by Dong Nai authorities, who said the five-year-old expressway is severely congested since it is used by 52,000 vehicles a day on average as against a design capacity of 44,000.
Houston police plan to release body camera footage from the officer-involved shooting of Nicolas Chavez, whose death on cell phone video appeared to show him on his knees.

Police Chief Art Acevedo said Monday that the footage from the April 21 shooting  the video of which he has described as difficult  will be made public within the next two weeks. The police-worn cameras were among 70 different angles of the incident that were captured on video.

We will be releasing the footage when I announce my findings, in terms of my administrative investigation, Acevedo said, hours before his Democratic National Convention appearance.

Calls for HPD to release the footage, along with video from other police-involved deaths, were among the demands by protesters in June during several George Floyd protests in Houston. During one such protest, some rally-goers chanted, Release the tapes.

Chavezs family and friends have said he seemed to be undergoing a mental crisis. During the April incident, the first of a month-long string of six officer-involved shootings, at least four officers opened fire on Chavez, 27, killing him following a 14-minute confrontation in Denver Harbor. Concerned 911 calls had warned them of a man jumping fences and threatening bystanders, police said.

The officers asserted that he charged at them with a pointy object, later identified to be a piece of rebar, according to authorities. Officers fired a Taser and bean bag projectiles at him, police said, but Chavez picked up an officers already used Taser and pointed it at them.

The cell phone footage then appears to show Chavez on his knees and rising to his feet before stumbling back down when the lethal rounds were fired.

The decision to release the police footage conflicts with the wishes of Chavezs widow, Jessica Chavez. During a news conference in June, she tearfully said she did not want videos of her husbands death made public.

She could not be reached for comment on the decision to release the footage.

Acevedo said the Special Investigations Unit probe into Chavezs death wrapped up in late June and the bulk of the evidence was then handed to the Harris County District Attorneys Office to review. After that review, the evidence  including any video  will be presented to a grand jury to determine whether a criminal charge is warranted.

Acevedo was unable to say whether he anticipates criminal charges or not into the officers involved in Chavezs death.

Thats not up to us, he said.

Acevedo called on the FBI in May to take a closer look at the shooting in case of a possible civil rights violation.

Of the seven people killed during the citys 18 officer-involved shootings so far in 2020, all have been men and people of color. The seven men, including Chavez, have been identified as Christopher Aguirre, 28; Adrian Medearis, 48; Rayshard Scales, 30; Randy Lewis, 38; Joe Castillanos, 38; and Ashton Broussard, 30.

Broussard was killed Aug. 4 by an off-duty Houston police sergeant after he was accused of attacking a security guard and stealing her gun.

Jay R. Jordan contributed to this report.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Whatever be Kamala Harris's preference for her identity, many Indians in the US will rally around her as she is the first person with Indian blood in her veins to get close to the White House, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

IMAGE: Democratic US vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks to reporters during a campaign event in Delaware, August 13, 2020. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

The only time I met and heard Kamala Harris was at a gala fundraising event in New York in 2018 for Pratham USA, an organisation dedicated to better education in India.

She was introduced as "the first Senator of Indian American heritage in the history of the US Senate." Looking back at that experience now after she has been picked by Joe Biden as his running mate on the Presidential Democratic ticket, I think her keynote address on that occasion threw some light on her India connection.

Her links with India are basically an emotional link with her family, rather than a civilisational or political attachment to the country.

She began her address with a warm reference to her "Chithy" (her mother's younger sister) who had come from Canada and her sister Maya.

She then shared personal anecdotes about events that shaped her thoughts and her ideals.

As she spoke of her younger days, she laughed charmingly after every sentence, conveying a kind of nostalgia.

She reflected on her visits to Chennai, where she accompanied her grandfather, who had fought for India's Independence, on his morning walks on the Besant Nagar Beach.

She also recalled her visit to Chandigarh to meet her "sick" grandmother, who turned out to be healthy enough to host a party for her.

Harris said her grandfather was one of the most influential people in her life "One of the things that he definitely taught me is that freedom and democracy are not given to us. We have to fight for it. Freedom and democracy are not something we take for granted. And if it will endure, it will be because we fight for the ideals and the nobility of what it means to live in and fight for and support a democracy," she said.

After speaking about her growing-up in California with an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, she spoke about her family's lineage as well as their commitment to "standing up for what is right" and urged those in attendance to join the "collective fight" against hate and division.

Although the event was basically Indian-American and the Indian consul general was present, she did not say a word about India as a nation, its background or India-US relations.

No Gandhi, no Nehru.

She linked the problems of people of South Asian origin with those of the other minorities in the US and that was the only reference to her South Asian pedigree.

She consistently characterised herself as a "Black American," but included all minorities in her crusade for equality and democracy.

IMAGE: Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted this picture with the caption 'Let's go win this, Kamala Harris'. Photograph: Kind courtesy @JoeBiden/Twitter

No one doubts that Harris was the most appropriate choice for Vice Presidential candidate and her Indian connection was only a minor factor.

More important were the many complementarities she brought to the ticket, such as her younger age, her gender, her identity as a black politician and her reputation as a valiant fighter for the minorities and human rights and her thorough professionalism.

As the Attorney General and a Senator from California, her service has been impeccable.

Some other names were under consideration on the belief that their swing states might help in getting electoral votes.

Eventually, she prevailed because of the many compensatory elements in her personality.

Her strength as a debater, her qualifications for governing and the racial diversity she would bring to the ticket were the major considerations.

Her friendship with Biden's elder son, Beau, who died of cancer in 2015, was also a factor, said Biden.

Whatever be Harris's preference for her identity, many Indians in the US will rally around her as she is the first person with Indian blood in her veins to get close to the White House.

If she becomes the Vice President, she will be only a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

This is not a situation, which can be ignored by the 80% of the Indians who voted for Hillary Clinton.

It is true that the community got divided in the last four years because of the perception that Trump might be better for India and the Hindus, even though his migration policy was hurtful.

Harris may bring back the unity among the Indians in favour of the Democrats.

Her original name, Kamala Devi (Goddess of Lotus) should resonate well with some even in its truncated form as Kamala (Lotus)

Anticipating this, it is being pointed out that Harris was unfriendly to India at a crucial moment.

During her aborted campaign for the Democratic candidature for President, Harris had said that the US was watching the situation in Kashmir after the scrapping of the erstwhile state's special status and that she would strive to lead while upholding the values the US is known for, including speaking out against "human rights abuses".

She even regretted that at a critical time in Kashmir, there was no US ambassador in Islamabad.

Asked about the possible role the US could play following last year's lockdown in Kashmir and the human rights situation there, she replied: 'It is about reminding people that they are not alone, that we are all watching.'

IMAGE: Democratic US vice presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris speaks during a virtual campaign fundraising event in Delaware, August 12, 2020. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

After External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar declined to attend a meeting last year with the House Foreign Affairs Committee because of the presence of Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who had moved a resolution in the House of Representatives on the situation in Kashmir, Harris extended strong support to the lawmaker who, like her, has roots in Tamil Nadu.

Harris tweeted: 'It's wrong for any foreign government to tell Congress what members are allowed in meetings on Capitol Hill. I stand with @RepJayapal, and I'm glad her colleagues in the House did too.'

It is not unusual for candidates to speak what the voters want to hear during campaigns without regard to the foreign policy implications of what they say.

George Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump were not particularly friendly to India even though they had quite a few supporters from the Indian community.

But when they came to power and recognised the role of India in global affairs, its potential value as an ally against China, its vast market and potential for investment, they readjusted their perspectives on India.

Harris will not be different in this respect.

IMAGE: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during a campaign stop in Detroit. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters.

The Biden camp has already made it known that the Presidential candidate was in favour of the India-US nuclear deal and the growth of India-US relations during the Obama regime.

He was also supportive of Indian migration.

Plans are already afoot for a Biden team to begin working on the Indian dDiaspora to wean it away from the Republican camp.

Kamala Harris has certainly added a new dimension to the Democratic ticket, but it is by no means certain that she will clinch the Presidency for Biden and then position herself for 2024.

The likely prospect of the popular vote going for one party and the electoral votes for another is daunting.

The campaign will be ugly and no one knows what forces will be in play in November.

The pandemic, George Floyd, China, Russia or cyberattacks may become decisive factors at any moment even though Biden has an edge over Trump at this point in time.

T P Sreenivasan, (IFS 1967), is a former Ambassador of India and Governor for India of the IAEA.

Ambassador Sreenivasan is a frequent contributor to Rediff.com and his earlier columns can be read here.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
A detective investigating the murder of a serving garda in Co Louth approached Gerry Adams after a Sinn Fein member, who was a key witness in the case, would not make a statement before speaking to the party, it has emerged.

Sinn Fein TD Darren ORourke said he understood Mr Adams spoke to the party member after Detective Inspector Pat Marry went to the former leader for help.

Mr ORourke denied there was a culture of fear in the party, adding that he understood members do not need to consult senior members before giving information to gardai or the PSNI.

The Irish Times reported on Tuesday that the unnamed Sinn Fein member gave a statement detailing how he heard Aaron Brady confess to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe during the robbery of Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan on January 25 2013.

Expand Close Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (Garda/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (Garda/PA)

Mr Marry told the newspaper he had to go to a Sinn Fein TD for help before the witness was told by the party that there were no issues in him providing information about the killing.

Brady, a 29-year-old from Co Armagh, was convicted of capital murder at Dublins Central Criminal Court last week.

Mr ORourke said: I dont know that person, and again I dont know the decision-making process in terms of their own thinking and why they felt they needed to do that.

The party has been very clear that in so many cases and so many incidents, that people should come and make statements and bring information they have to the guards and PSNI.

In fairness I dont think the party presumed they needed to, you dont need to come to Sinn Fein first before you do that, its clearly not the case.

I think in how that developed and played out it was clear that the party dont require that from people, and a very helpful and useful role was played by that person, which was the important point.

Expand Close Darren ORourke, second right, with Gerry Adams (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Darren ORourke, second right, with Gerry Adams (Niall Carson/PA)

Asked if the TD involved was Mr Adams, Mr ORourke said: Its my understanding that it was.

He insisted there is no culture of fear in the party, adding: I can say that as somebody who has been a member of this party for over 20 years and come into it without a strong republican background. I have never experienced that and the leadership has always been encouraging in terms of our important role as citizens first.

I dont know what the rationale was on behalf of that person, maybe it was them being over-cautious or second guessing themselves.

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said the incident raises serious questions.

He added: Once again when it comes to Sinn Fein and the law of the land, we have seen a shadowy parallel system at work.

We have seen it in respect of the murder of Paul Quinn, the horrific treatment of Mairia Cahill, and at various repeated junctures.

The revelation that a key witness in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe wouldnt speak with investigating gardai until they cleared it with party figures raises serious questions that the party must answer.

Why does a Sinn Fein activist feel they need to speak with party officials before making a statement to the gardai? Do Sinn Fein believe their authority comes before that of the state? Will Sinn Fein encourage all who have information on the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe to present themselves to the gardai?
T he Portuguese president swam to the rescue of two women at an Algarve beach after their kayak capsized.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told reporters the women came into difficulty when they were swept away by a current at the Praia do Alvor beach on Saturday.

Video footage captured the moment the 71-year-old president swam towards the women and their capsized kayak.

The footage shows a person on a jet ski approaching the kayak to offer assistance while another man in the water provides support.

President Rebelo de Sousa told local reporters the women had come from a neighbouring beach.

He said: "As there is a very large west current, they were dragged out, turned around, swallowed a lot of water and were not even able to turn [the kayak], nor to climb [on it], or swim, such is the strength of the current."

He added that he was helped by another "patriot" on the jet ski.

The UK Government has advised against non-essential travel to mainland Portugal since March 17 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Tuesday, the Government updated its list of countries which are safe to travel to during the coronavirus pandemic but it did not remove Portugal from the quarantine list.
CEDAR GROVE, N.J., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay LLC, the Lawsuit Settlement Funding Company, announced their commitment to providing pre-settlement funding for victims of sexual abuse even as many defendants such as the Boy Scouts of America and Catholic Archdioceses across the country file for bankruptcy or fight statute-of-limitation laws.

While Legal-Bay offers lawsuit loans based on a plaintiff's anticipated settlement at end of trial, the amount of financial compensation awarded by the courts will depend on the kind of claim made: The extent of the abuse, what kind of abuse was allegedly suffered, and the length of time for which the abuse went on. The age of the victim will also be a factor, as well as the physical or psychological injury that a victim suffered.

Chris Janish, CEO, commented, "Unfortunately the many litigations all across the country involving sex abuse cases has become very vast and confusing for the victims. Our underwriting team is working feverishly to stay up-to-date with each evolving litigation as best as possible, so that we can do our very best to assist any victims who are desperately in need of funding. Between Covid-19 and now many recent bankruptcy filings, we see tens of thousands of victims waiting several years to ultimately get financial justification."

Applications for pre settlement funding, also known as law suit loans or settlement loans, are now being taken for a variety of sexual abuse cases. If you'd like to learn more about lawsuit funding, you can visit Legal-Bay HERE or read on for updates to some headliner cases.

As the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby cases played out, we were hit with yet another celebrity sex scandal: The Epstein Victims' Compensation Fund Program has been established by Jeffrey Epstein's estate to benefit survivors who were sexually assaulted by the late multi-millionaire and his longtime partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. Eligible individuals include all victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Epstein "regardless of where they were harmed, when they were harmed, whether the claim is time-barred by the applicable statute of limitations, and whether they have previously filed a lawsuit against or settled with Epstein and/or the Estate."

It is estimated that Epstein may have abused hundreds of women since the 1990s, some underaged. The Palm Beach Post notes that some victims have felt safer coming forward with abuse allegations since Epstein's death. And now they will have a chance to be compensated without any sort of cap on the amount they can receive, as each claim will be reviewed individually. Survivors can submit a claim even if a statute of limitations had prevented them from doing so in the past.

If you or a loved one require an immediate cash advance pre-settlement loan, please visit the company's website HERE or feel free to call Legal-Bay on its toll-free hotline at: 877.571.0405, where live agents are available to take a legal funding application.

The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year as legal claims of past sexual abuse continue to mount. The Chapter 11 petition was filed in Delaware in the midst of numerous new sex abuse lawsuits. Several states including California, New York, and New Jersey recently expanded their statute of limitations enabling victims to file suit when they weren't eligible to do so previously. California, for example, opens a three-year "lookback window" which relaxes age restrictions on filing claims, giving claimants until the age of 40, or until five years after they've become aware of the abuse.

Officials for the Boy Scouts of America will not say how many abuse lawsuits have been filed or how many millions they have already paid out in settlements. Some experts put the number of active lawsuits well into the hundreds, which doesn't take into account the many suits that were settled out of court for undisclosed amounts.

The bankruptcy petition for BSA lists assets of $1 billion to $10 billion and liabilities of $500 million to $1 billion. Some insurance companies that represent the organization have refused to cover payouts in sexual abuse cases, contending that more could have been done by BSA's leaders to prevent the abuse from occurring in the first place.

The bankruptcy will most likely halt ongoing lawsuits while settlements are negotiated.

Legal-Bay is currently funding loans for settlements in these cases. Please visit the company's website HERE for more information on how Legal-Bay can help you out with a settlement loan during this difficult time.

The New York Archdiocese has paid out over $40 million in compensation to 189 victims of clergy sexual abuse just this year. The Diocese of Rochester alone has over 90 cases submitted through the New York Child Victims Act, and has since filed bankruptcy. The average claim comes to just over $211,000 per plaintiff. The payouts are a result of the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program, which was put into place to address the multiple accusations against the New York Diocese.

Governor Cuomo assisted in passing legislation to extend filing deadlines for sexual abuse survivors in the state of New York (A.8401-C/S.8977). The new legislation, also known as The Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights, provides survivors with information regarding their care and treatment, affords them health care services at no cost, and allows them to receive updates regarding any DNA test results, evidence kits, and status of their case. Notifying victims of their legal rights will help ensure survivors receive the information they need to navigate complicated medical and criminal justice systems. The law took effect last summer and enables sexual abuse victims to file criminal charges until they reach age 28 and civil cases until age 55.

For more information on the funding programs and a complete list of cases Legal-Bay funds, including Boy Scouts of America, clergy sexual abuse, or any other sex crime cases, please visit the company's website HERE.

Legal-Bay has been a leader in providing pre-settlement money for many of these cases even while most companies have stopped legal funding due to defendants claiming bankruptcy. Recently, statute-of-limitation issues in places like California, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania have been extended. This has created a whole new wave of filings, but has also made negotiations and obtaining fair settlements more difficult.

Legal-Bay settlement funding is an advocate for victims involved in sexual abuse cases, and is committed to helping victims acquire loans for lawsuits. Any pre settlement loan received is risk-free since the lawsuit loans only need to be repaid if the plaintiff wins their case.

SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC

Related Links

https://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com


5 1 of 5 Contributed photo / Community Renewal Team Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Contributed photo / Community Renewal Team Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Contributed photo / Community Renewal Team Show More Show Less 5 of 5









MIDDLETOWN  The Community Renewal Team of Middletown and Hartford recently held ice cream socials in both municipalities to encourage people to complete their U.S. Census forms, according to a press release.

Middletowns giveaway, in partnership with Christmas Wish CT, was held at the Middletown Farmers Market Friday afternoon, where Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz joined Mayor Ben Florsheim to bring attention to the importance of returning data so everyone can be counted, which depends on federal funding for local agencies.
BERGEN, Norway, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BerGenBio ASA (OSE:BGBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for unmet medical need indications, announces its results for the second quarter and first half of 2020.

A presentation and live webcast by BerGenBio's senior management will take place at 10.00 am CET today, please see below for details.

Richard Godfrey, Chief Executive Officer of BerGenBio, commented: "Set against the unprecedented backdrop of a global pandemic, this has been an eventful period for BerGenBio. During this time we have continued our focus on progressing clinical trials of our lead candidate bemcentinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and more recently COVID-19, while ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of our staff and the patients participating in our clinical trials has been and remains our top priority.

"The COVID-19 crisis has and will likely continue to delay clinical trials throughout the sector and as anticipated has impacted patient recruitment into BerGenBio clinical studies and extended previously anticipated timelines. The impact of the pandemic on our clinical trials has continued through the second quarter, but we are pleased that new patients continue to be recruited into our clinical studies with bemcentinib, and already enrolled patients have been able to continue their treatment throughout the restrictions.

"We continue to make progress, with a latest milestone in NSCLC trial presented at the Next Gen Immuno-Oncology Congress conference where 6 of the 7 identified AXL positive patients reported clinical benefit and data showed a 2.5-fold improvement in median Progression-free Survival.

"The Company remains in a strong cash position, with two drug candidates backed by pioneering biology, continued favourable clinical results and important data readouts on the horizon in two major cancer indications, as well as a potential COVID-19 treatment. This is an exciting time for us."

Operational Highlights - second quarter and the first half of 2020 (including post-period end)

Positive interim clinical and translational phase II data with bemcentinib in combination with KEYTRUDA in checkpoint inhibitor refractory NSCLC patients

In June, BerGenBio presented positive data from its Cohort B, stage 1, in the phase II trial evaluating bemcentinib in combination with KEYTRUDA in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and with confirmed progression on prior immune checkpoint therapy.



The trial included 12 evaluable patients for cAXL, BerGenBio's proprietary composite-AXL (cAXL) immunohistochemistry biomarker. 7 of these 12 patients were cAXL-positive whereby 6 of these 7 patients reported clinical benefit and 2.5-fold improvement in mPFS.



BerGenBio also reported an update on Overall Survival data from Cohort A, where cAXL-positive patients reported 12-month Overall Survival of 79% and median Overall Survival of 17.3 months, whereas cAXL-negative reported 60% and 12.4 months respectively.



Data was presented at the NextGen Immuno-Oncology Congress, 25 June

First patient dosed in bemcentinib COVID-19 study in June 2020

In April, BerGenBio announced the selection of bemcentinib as the first candidate in a UK Government-backed national ACCORD study.



The study was a multicentre, seamless, Phase II adaptive randomisation platform trial to assess the efficacy and safety of multiple candidate agents for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalised UK NHS patients, and the first patient was dosed in June.



At the end of July, the incidence of COVID-19 in the UK had drastically reduced and the UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) decided to cease grant funding. Subsequently, the University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust notified all sites in the ACCORD programme to cease the recruitment of new patients into the trial for all candidate agents. Patients already recruited, including those dosed with bemcentinib, will continue on treatment as per the protocol.



The decision to halt the study reflected the significant decrease in the incidence of COVID-19 in the UK and difficulty recruiting a sufficient number of patients and in no way reflected any interpretation of the efficacy or safety of any of the candidate agents.



BerGenBio is now in the late stage set-up phase to sponsor a similar study to ACCORD in a country of high COVID-19 incidence.

First patient dosed in bemcentinib Glioblastoma study in July 2020 (post-period)

In July, BerGenBio announced the first patient was dosed in an investigator-initiated trial (IIT) assessing bemcentinib in recurrent glioblastoma (GBM). The study will enrol up to 20 recurrent GBM patients, at up to 15 sites in the USA .

.

Increased expression of the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is significantly correlated with poor prognosis in GBM patients and preclinical data has suggested that bemcentinib may be a promising therapeutic agent for GBM, particularly in post-irradiation mesenchymal-transformed GBM tumors.



A comprehensive translational research programme will run in parallel with the clinical trial.

Q2 2020 Financial Highlights

(Figures in brackets = same period 2019 unless otherwise stated)

Revenue for the second quarter amounted to NOK 0.0 million ( NOK 0.0 million ) and for the six months ended 30 June NOK 0.0 million ( NOK 8.7 million ). The revenue in 2019 reflects clinical milestone payments from ADCT.

) and for the six months ended 30 June ( ). The revenue in 2019 reflects clinical milestone payments from ADCT. Total operating expenses for the second quarter amounted to NOK 64.7 million (NOK 52.0 million) and for the six months ended 30 June NOK 121.0 million ( NOK 106.5 million ). NOK 7.5 million (NOK - 2.5 million) of operating expenses was non cash accruals for option cost.

(NOK 52.0 million) and for the six months ended 30 June ( ). (NOK - 2.5 million) of operating expenses was non cash accruals for option cost. The operating loss for the quarter came to NOK 64.7 million (NOK 52.0 million) and for the six months ended 30 June NOK 121.0 million ( NOK 97.8 million ), reflecting the level of activity related to the clinical trials BerGenBio are conducting.

( ), reflecting the level of activity related to the clinical trials BerGenBio are conducting. Cash and cash equivalents increased to NOK 828.4 million by 30 June ( NOK 419.4 by 31 March 2020 ).

by 30 June ( by ). Private placement completed in May 2020 , with gross proceeds NOK 520 million (including NOK 20 million from repair issue in July). Net proceeds to be used to take full advantage of clinical development opportunities stemming from the Company's technology and to progress readiness for early commercialisation possibilities and general corporate purposes.

Presentation and Webcast Details

A presentation by BerGenBio's senior management team will take place today at 10:00 am CET:

Webcast link: https://channel.royalcast.com/webcast/hegnarmedia/20200818_6/

Dial-in numbers:

NO: +47-21-956342

SE: +46-4-0682-0620

DK: +45 78768490

UK: +44-203-7696819

US: +1 646-787-0157

Pin: 712491

The second quarter report and presentation is available on the Company's website in the Investors/Financial Reports section and a recording of the webcast will be made available shortly after the webcast has finished.

About BerGenBio

BerGenBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformative drugs targeting AXL as a potential cornerstone of therapy for aggressive diseases, including immune-evasive and therapy resistant cancers. The company's proprietary lead candidate, bemcentinib, is a potentially first-in-class selective AXL inhibitor in a broad Phase II oncology clinical development programme focused on combination and single agent therapy in lung cancer, leukaemia and COVID-19. A first-in-class functional blocking anti-AXL antibody, tilvestamab, is undergoing Phase I clinical testing. In parallel, BerGenBio is developing companion diagnostic tests to identify those patient populations most likely to benefit from bemcentinib or tilvestamab: this is expected to facilitate more efficient registration trials and support a precision medicine-based commercialisation strategy.

BerGenBio is based in Bergen, Norway with a subsidiary in Oxford, UK. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: BGBIO).

For further information, please visit: www.bergenbio.com

Contacts

Richard Godfrey

CEO, BerGenBio ASA

+47 917 86 304

Rune Skeie

CFO, BerGenBio ASA

[email protected]

+47 917 86 513

International Media Relations

Mary-Jane Elliot, Chris Welsh, Lucy Featherstone, Carina Jurs

Consilium Strategic Communications

[email protected]

+44 20 3709 5700

Media Relations in Norway

Jan Petter Stiff

Crux Advisers

[email protected]

+47 995 13 891

Forward looking statements

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/15728/3170257/1292296.pdf Release https://mb.cision.com/Public/15728/3170257/8229aada42531dad.pdf Q2 2020 Financial Report BerGenBio ASA

SOURCE BerGenBio ASA
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cannabis Packaging Market Research Report by Type (Cannabis Flower Packaging, Concentrate Packaging, Edibles Packaging, and Vaporizer and Extract Packaging), by Product (Barrier Bags, Child Resistant Canisters, Coin Envelopes, Concentrate Containers, and Glass Jars), by Content Type, by End-User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913715/?utm_source=PRN







The Global Cannabis Packaging Market is expected to grow from USD 777.46 Million in 2019 to USD 1,540.38 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.07%.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Cannabis Packaging to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the Cannabis Packaging Market studied across Cannabis Flower Packaging, Concentrate Packaging, Edibles Packaging, and Vaporizer and Extract Packaging.



Based on Product, the Cannabis Packaging Market studied across Barrier Bags, Child Resistant Canisters, Coin Envelopes, Concentrate Containers, Glass Jars, Paper Exit Bags, Pens & Kits, Pop Top Bottles, Pre-Roll Tubes, and Vape Cartridges.



Based on Content Type, the Cannabis Packaging Market studied across Concentrates and Derivables.



Based on End-User, the Cannabis Packaging Market studied across Cosmetics & Personal Care, Food & Beverage, Medical & Pharmaceuticals, and Pet Care.



Based on Geography, the Cannabis Packaging 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 Cannabis Packaging Market including ABC Packaging, Berry Global, Canapa Solutions, CRATIV, Dymapak, FunkSac, Green Rush Packaging, GrowCargo, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Kush Supply Co., MarijuanaPackaging.com, Presto Products Company, PSG, Sana Packaging, Shatter Labels, and SKS Bottle & Packaging.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Cannabis Packaging 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 Cannabis Packaging Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Cannabis Packaging Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Cannabis Packaging Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Cannabis Packaging Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Cannabis Packaging Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Cannabis Packaging Market?



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913715/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.





Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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A fugitive drug dealer arrested last October in Bethlehem Township was taken into custody Monday night in Miami, Florida, federal authorities said.

Timothy Stanley Wilkins, 41, allegedly fled the country after federal charges were filed March 11 related to the Northampton County arrest last Oct. 9.

He was attempting to re-enter the United States when federal agents took him in to custody at Miami International Airport, according to William M. McSwain, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Wilkins is charged in the three-count federal indictment from March with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The October arrest occurred at 2027 Willow Park Road, where Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township and Northampton County investigators served a search warrant on his apartment.

The federal indictment says Wilkins was caught with 991 grams of a fentanyl/heroin mix and a mix containing cocaine, as well as a Grendel P-10 .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun.

Authorities at the time seized $13,756 and a 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander, court records say. Wilkins was freed Oct. 14 after posting $75,000 bail.

As alleged in the Indictment, charging him with firearms and drug offenses, Wilkins has a brazen disrespect for the law, McSwain, the federal prosecutor, said in a news release Tuesday. In response to the charges, he fled the country, but all that did was postpone the inevitable.

If you are charged in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with a federal offense, there is no place to hide, here or abroad. We will not rest until we find you and hold you accountable.

Wilkins was scheduled to have his initial appearance Tuesday in federal court for the Southern District of Florida and then will be extradited to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, or a mandatory minimum 15 years imprisonment plus eight years supervised release; a $1.5 million fine; and a $300 special assessment, according to the release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allentown Resident Office; the Bethlehem Police Department; and the Northampton County District Attorneys Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Lewis Fallenstein.

I would like to take an opportunity to recognize the cooperation among our law enforcement agencies responsible for getting a dangerous drug dealer off the streets, Northampton County District Attorney Terence P. Houck said in a statement. It is important for people to know that together, we will investigate, arrest and convict these law breakers by exhausting all federal and state efforts in the pursuit of this cause.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Small business owners across the five boroughs hope Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio can work it out.

During a press briefing Monday, the governor said gyms around the state can begin to open Aug. 24 with possible delays until Sept. 2 to allow localities enough time to set up inspections. Local executives  Mayor Bill de Blasio in New York City  have discretion on indoor classes.

The state will require inspections of gyms within two weeks of reopening. For instance, localities will need to perform inspections by Sept. 16 for gyms that reopen Sept. 2.

Despite the state requirements, a timeline for inspections of city gyms remains unclear, and Mayoral spokesman Mitch Schwartz said that the limited number of city health inspectors will remain focused on its education system. He said the city will opt to not have classes resume.

Theres no higher priority than making sure our schools and child care centers are safe for learning in the fall, and the Citys dedicated team of inspectors will continue prioritizing that work, he said. While indoor fitness classes and indoor pools will not be opening at this time, well be developing a fair and rigorous inspection system for other gym setups in the coming weeks.

A state official could not say what consequences there would be for localities that do not meet the inspection deadline, but that gyms would be allowed to open under state law starting Aug. 24. Until Sept. 2, jurisdiction would essentially fall to localities allowing them to make the decision on facilities reopening.

More than 1,500 gyms across the state filed a class-action lawsuit against the governor in early July putting legal pressure on the state to allow reopening. The cases next hearing was to be held Thursday. Attempts to contact the gyms attorney were unsuccessful Monday night.

Gyms in the five boroughs find themselves in a unique situation. In addition to state oversight, they face city regulations including a special permit from the Board of Standards and Appeals as gyms are considered physical culture or health establishments.

The owners of one gym chain on Staten Island, Intoxx Fitness, expressed frustration at the confusion caused by the dueling positions of the city and state.

Who do we listen to? owners Carlo Lasorsa, Michael Giliotti, and Rosario DiBernardo said in a written statement. Our governor tells us we can open but our mayor tells us we cannot. Cuomo released an outlined plan of opening for gyms in New York State, in which we are compliant. Four hours later we get news that NYCs mayor is not prepared to provide us with enough health inspectors to check our facilities. Because of de Blasio we no longer have an opening date and once again we are at the mercy of a dysfunctional government.

Schwartz, the mayors spokesman, said more information would be provided Tuesday morning.

State-issued guidelines for safely reopening include 33% capacity, mandatory mask-wearing, sign-in sheets and health screenings at the door, and the installation of special air filters.

Gyms are one of the areas where you have to be very careful and we know that, Cuomo said. If its not done right, it can be a problem, and weve seen that.

In late July, health officials in California linked a COVID-19 outbreak to a San Diego gym that had been operating illegally, and the Centers for Disease Control shared South Korean research from May that linked cases to fitness classes in that country.

Despite the latest news on gyms, the governor did not offer an update on when indoor dining would be allowed in New York City. Indoor options have been allowed in all other parts of the state.

The five boroughs also have similar virus data to the rest of New York. Statewide tests on Sunday found a .71% infection rate.

In New York City, tests found an infection rate of .9% with Staten Island having the lowest of the five boroughs at .5%. Restaurants in all other parts of the state had the opportunity to offer indoor dining when their regions entered Phase 3 of the reopening process.

The governor also didnt say when other indoor facilities like New York Citys malls and movie theaters would have the opportunity to reopen. He said the process is about opening the most essential businesses with the lowest risk first.

Im sure theres a whole group of people who say I cant live without going to the movies, Cuomo said. On the index of how essential, movie theaters are not that high on the list.
DETROIT, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2020 Detroit Fashion + Tech Hackathon (DF+TH) is scheduled virtually for Sept. 25-27 and is co-hosted by Whim and Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC), an initiative of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Participants include coders, designers, artists, retailers, entrepreneurs, product and data specialists, and creatives. Registration is now open. Early bird registration for a no-cost ticket will end on Aug. 27. Starting Aug. 28, tickets will be on sale for $19 per person. Register at Eventbrite.

For those who would like to learn more about the event, a virtual information session will be held on Aug. 27 from 5 - 6 p.m. via Zoom. The session will include a general overview of the DF+TH, information about the meet and greet, and a Q&A session. Interested participants will be able to register for the DF+TH during the information session. Register today to attend the info session on Eventbrite.

At a glance, the 36-hour Detroit Fashion + Tech Hackathon brings together creativity and technology to develop solutions to the problems facing the fashion and retail industries. The event also provides networking opportunities with industry experts. When looking deeper, the DF+TH is a part of an ethical fashion revolution ignited by the COVID-19 crisis. This event is an official part of the Detroit Month of Design. 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the festival which takes place September 1-30. Programmed by Design Core, Detroit Month of Design is a citywide celebration of creativity that gathers designers and the greater community to celebrate Detroit's role as a UNESCO City of Design.

"While industries are still uncovering the full impact of COVID-19, the crisis is providing an opportunity for unique innovation and more sustainable practices in fashion," said Lori McColl, Founder of DF+TH and Whim. "Not everything will be successful; however, this is a good time to test things out and develop a blueprint for moving forward, one of the guiding principles of the DF+TH."

The last few months have seen a historic shift in how the world views technology in the fashion industry. Fashion is culture; it's only right for fashion to seize the moment to review sustainability, ethical sourcing, and its role with regard to diversity. Questions have arisen on protecting fashion's most vulnerable workers after COVID-19. How do we protect smaller brick and mortar brands from extinction?

"Whim hopes after this crisis, we will see a shift in sustainability to include global citizenship," said McColl. "A focus on the way we think of each other and the responsibility we have to care for one another. We hope the DF+TH will bring awareness, and most importantly real solutions to aide brands in the midst of an economic collapse."

While the DF+TH looks forward, its history demonstrates the event's impact. The DF+TH was created in 2018 as a strategic event to attract investment and create jobs for Detroit. With the goal of diversifying trades and manufacturing, the DF+TH has an opportunity to impact technology and innovation to bring creatives together in a new and sustainable way.

Now, the DF+TH is moving beyond just Detroit.

"The DF+TH is a unique platform that has always brought creative minds together in Detroit and demonstrates how their talents and businesses could grow and thrive here in the state," said Tanya Markos-Vanno, Development and Operations Manager, MEDC's Pure Michigan Business Connect. "Now this annual event is moving virtual, providing opportunities for participants across the world to connect, meet mentors, and develop innovative solutions, showcasing how Detroit and Michigan play an important role in the growing apparel, retail, and high-tech fields globally."

The 2020 DF+TH is building off the innovation and diversity of last year's successful hackathon. The 2019 hackathon brought together more than 70 participants from 33 Michigan cities as well as out-of-towners from other states and countries to solve real problems facing established brands in the fashion industry.

Those experiencing DF+TH in 2020 can expect to see new partners and problem statements to support the event experience as the fashion industry enters a new "normal." Now is the time for innovators to bring new ideas to the table at the Detroit Fashion + Tech Hackathon, as the industry adopts new methods of innovation to bridge the gap between consumers and fashion.

About Detroit Fashion + Tech Hackathon

The 36-hour Detroit Fashion + Tech Hackathon brings together creativity and technology to develop solutions to the problems facing the fashion and retail industries. This event supports the overall foundation of innovation in Detroit.

www.detroitfashionhackathon.com | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

About Whim

In a rapidly changing business world, Whim designs innovation models that grow new revenue channels, drive efficiencies in business, and leverage the latest technology to meet customers' needs. With more than 50 years of collective experience, Whim knows how to follow the rules and when to break them to drive business strategies and design tailored architecture. Whim speaks your language, provides ongoing support, and ensures the return on investment.

www.whim-detroit.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

About Pure Michigan Business Connect & Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Pure Michigan Business Connect is a free MEDC service that identifies procurement, engineering, and other supply chain opportunities from local, national, and global companies and proactively seeks to connect them to qualified Michigan companies and partners.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy.

www.michiganbusiness.org/services/pure-michigan-business-connect/ | www.MichiganBusiness.org | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter

Contact: Ashleigh Laabs

Phone: (989) 780-4090

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Whim Detroit, Detroit Fashion + Tech Hackathon

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Sajid Javid has landed a lucrative role as a senior adviser at an investment bank six months after resigning as chancellor.

Mr Javid, 50, left in a February reshuffle after Boris Johnson ordered him to fire his team of aides.

Now he will join the European advisory team at JP Morgan, where he started his career as a graduate in New York.

Sajid Javid, 50, left in a February reshuffle after Boris Johnson ordered him to fire his team of aides

His pay cheque has not been disclosed but he will advise clients on the economic landscape in Europe after Brexit.

Mr Javid follows in the footsteps of former prime minister Tony Blair, who is paid 2million per year as a part-time global adviser for JP Morgan. The ex-Chancellor will be under strict rules over what he can divulge, especially privileged information gained as a minister.

Earlier this year, JP Morgan posted the biggest annual profits of any US bank in history  just shy of 28billion. Its 64-year-old chief executive Jamie Dimon was the best paid banking boss for a fifth year in a row, scooping 24million.

He will join the European advisory team at JP Morgan, where he started his career as a graduate in New York. Pictured: The JP Morgan headquarters in Manhattan

JP Morgan said: We are delighted to welcome Sajid back to JPMorgan as a senior adviser, and we look forward to drawing upon his in-depth understanding of the business and economic environment to help shape our client strategy across Europe.

Mr Javid joined JP Morgan after leaving university in its currencies and emerging markets businesses, before later moving to Deutsche Bank.

He became a Conservative MP in 2010, serving as business secretary in 2015, before becoming Home Secretary and then Chancellor.

He was succeeded by Rishi Sunak who took over a Chancellor in February.
Findings refute idea of monarchs' migration mortality as major cause of population decline

LAWRENCE, KANSAS -- In a new study, Monarch Watch Director Chip Taylor and colleagues have shown that speculation regarding the declining monarch population, despite having received much attention, is unsupported.

Published Aug. 7 in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, the researchers show that the decline in the monarchs' overwintering numbers is not due to an increase in the deaths of monarchs during the migration -- the "migration mortality hypothesis." The main determinant of yearly variation in overwintering population size, they found, is the size of the summer population.

Taylor, a University of Kansas professor emeritus of ecology & evolutionary biology, said the monarch butterfly populations have been declining for most of the last two decades. The numbers of monarchs measured at the monarch overwintering sites in Mexico in the winter of 2013-2014 were an all-time low.

The progressive decline in prior years, and these low numbers, led to the submission of a petition to the Department of the Interior to have the monarch declared a threatened species. These concerns also increased the search for an explanation for the decline.

The prevailing view was that the decline was due to habitat loss that followed increased use of glyphosate herbicide on corn and soybean fields in the Upper Midwest -- the "milkweed limitation hypothesis."

However, that view was challenged by a number of researchers who maintained that the decline was likely due to increasingly high levels of mortality during the butterflies' migration. This became known as the migration mortality hypothesis.

Taylor said the migration mortality hypothesis, though unsupported by data, has received substantial coverage in Science and Scientific American.

"Monarch Watch has been collecting recovery data for tagged monarchs since 1992, and we knew that those advocating the migration mortality hypothesis were on the wrong track from the outset and told them so," he said.

In this recently published study, Taylor and co-authors summarized the results of tagging almost 1.4 million monarchs that resulted in nearly 14,000 recoveries of tagged butterflies in Mexico.

"Showing the migration mortality hypothesis advocates their assumptions were wrong took awhile since that required a significant effort to vet our monarch tagging database for accuracy and to analyze the data," Taylor said. "Dealing with 1.4 million records is no simple task."

In contrast to the predictions of the migration mortality advocates, the tagging recoveries -- a measure of migration success -- did not decrease over time, the researchers found.

In addition, the number tagged each year was correlated with the size of the overwintering population in Mexico, consistent with the milkweed limitation hypothesis. The tagging also confirmed that the majority of monarchs reaching the overwintering sites originated from the Upper Midwest.

These findings support the conclusion reached by a team of experts that sustaining the monarch migration will require the restoration of over a billion milkweed stems in the Upper Midwest in the coming years.

###

The co-authors on the paper were John Pleasants of Iowa State University; Ralph Grundel and Samuel Pecoraro, both of the U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center; and James Lovett and Ann Ryan of Monarch Watch and the Kansas Biological Survey.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Analysis Myanmar Peace Conference Grapples with Mistrust and COVID-19

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attends the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee on Monday. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

The latest round of the 21st-century Panglong peace conference under the National League for Democracy is going to kick off tomorrow (Wednesday), with fewer participants than previous events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 230 participants will be attending the state-sponsored event to avoid crowding and to follow social distancing.

The conference is also reduced from the normal five days to three with participants joining the opening and closing ceremonies. Prior to the event, all the delegates, journalists, security personnel and those providing logistical support were tested for COVID-19.

The key negotiators are participating in the process, but many of the delegates and observers are unable to be present, including seven ethnic armed groups, which are non-signatories to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) but invited by the government.

The pre-negotiated principles are ready to be validated as the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) led by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, on Monday, met and agreed the final draft of those principles.

The UPDJC is a mechanism established under the NCA to oversee the political dialogue. It has representatives from political parties, the government, the Tatmadaw (military) and Parliament and ethnic armed groups who signed the NCA. The 21 political parties with parliamentary seats are eligible for the UPDJC to help create a federal union.

The UPDJC members have to agree everything before it can be approved by the union peace conference (UPC). In this final round, steps in the UPDJCs process were skipped, partly due to COVID-19 preventative measures.

The current peace negotiations were almost stopped by a stalemate in late 2018 when the Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State, both NCA signatories, decided to postpone participation in the formal peace process.

Informal talks were held throughout 2019 and the formal process got back on track in January with altered rules.

Peace negotiations during COVID-19

The peace and political dialogue in Myanmar has been both positively and negatively affected by COVID-19.

Travel restrictions meant negotiators spoke via videoconferencing until normal talks resumed this month. The government in January said it would hold the UPC in April but the planned UPDJC discussions were canceled. COVID-19 pushed aside the political parties role as public consultations and discussions with the UPDJC (the process conducted in previous conferences) were canceled.

In addition to COVID-19, parties focus on campaigning for the November general election led to calls for the Panglong conference to be delayed.

Some politicians have suggested that it would be better to resume the conference under the new government.

However, after meetings between the armed groups and political parties in late July, the politicians consented for the sake of the peace process.

Even in my party, some of our UPC delegates have to be replaced as they became 2020 election candidates, said Tar Hla Pe, a member of the UPDJC representing the Taang National Party.

U Thu Wai, who represents the UPDJCs political parties, said on Monday that during the UPDJC meeting the parties shared their understanding because it is important to attain good results for peacebuilding.

Despite facing exclusion from the process, some UPDJC members recently told The Irrawaddy they supported convening the conference.

The political parties input is not much reflected in the current discussion as it is like they informed us after they agreed. Some political parties feel they are excluded. We also feel that way, said U Myint Soe, a UPDJC member and a senior member of the Union Solidarity and Development Party.

He said the peace process currently focuses on the perspectives of the government, Tatmadaw and the ethnic groups but they are working hard to bring the peace negotiations back to the table, referring to last years impasse in formal negotiations.

U Myint Soe, a retired lieutenant general who has been involved since the peace process started nine years ago, and also a UPDJC secretariat member, said the political parties can give suggestions on the issues that are shared to them but they are mostly already agreed points.

This UPC will be a bridge

The Taang National Partys Tar Hla Pe said they expect the conference to pave the way to move forward the sluggish NCA process and a guarantee to reach the goal of building a union based on federal principles and self-determination.

We are neither treated as negotiation partners nor advisors in the process, said Tar Hla Pe. But we dont reject them because we are not spoilers and we understand their negotiations move forward to achieve peace and a federal union.

Although the process of community consultations and political dialogue on key political and federal principles was skipped, we want political dialogue through the UPC to continue, said Padoh Saw Tun Myint Aung, a UPDJC member and the chairman of the Kayin Peoples Party.

Politicians told The Irrawaddy that although their ideas are not reflected in the current negotiations, they understand well that the conference is a bridge to keep up the peace process under the next government.

But participants will not have the chance to debate or share their views.

Sai Nyunt Lwin, the vice-chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, one of the biggest ethnic parties, said the parties voices are neglected and representatives will have to agree to whatever the government, ethnic groups and the Tatmadaw have negotiated.

The role of the political parties is missing and we also dont expect anything [from the conference], he said, adding that the planned conference is just carrying on existing work.

What is likely to be agreed at this Panglong conference?

The government, Tatmadaw and ethnic groups agreed to the draft text of part three of the Union Accord, during the ninth Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting on the ceasefire last Thursday. They included at least 20 principles under different topics such as setting a framework for NCA implementation, plans for the peace process beyond 2020 and a five-point road map toward creating a democratic, federal union.

The first two parts of the Union Accord, with 51 basic principles for a federal union, were agreed at the 2017 and 2018 conferences, respectively.

However, the observers say if the key federal principles are not included, the essence of the peace conference will be missing.

In 2017, there was stalemate in federal principles negotiations due to issues known as a package deal, the inclusion of drafting the state constitution and other key basic federal principles were dismissed due to the Tatmadaws push for the non-separation issue.

In 2020, the negotiators managed to avoid the term non-secession in the discussion and focused on other principles, such as drafting state/regional constitutions and security reintegration.

Observers are concerned these issues may cause another deadlock like the non-secession term in the past.

But so far it is not a major obstacle as the issues are in the list for further negotiations. Many rounds of discussions on terminology are expected to debate the Burmese term for state constitution under the new government. Similarly, it will go to the security sector because the militarys focus on security reintegration is based on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, rather than social security reintegration.

Disputes over wording were the causes of deadlock during the NCA draft-text negotiations in 2014-15, under the previous government and they continue. Daw Aung San Suu stressed in her speech on Monday to the UPDJC that the root causes of the dispute over the wording lie with trust-building. She urged negotiators to build mutual understanding and trust to overcome the mistrust and doubt accumulated over 70 years of civil war.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Peace Process Back on Track, Says Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Non-Signatories to Myanmars Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement Yet to Decide on Attending Peace Conference
Circuit used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to rank the metropolitan areas with the most delivery drivers. This was deter
According to a study by CareerBuilder, 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. As a result, financial wellness tools are becoming a vitally important part of any employee benefits package.

Benefit Advisors Network (BAN), a national network of independent employee benefit firms, is pleased to announce that it has created a strategic partnership with Rain, whose mission is to improve financial wellness and increase worker productivity by giving employees full control over their income, putting an end to predatory financial products and practices.

Under the terms of the new partnership, BAN's 120+ member firms nationwide can provide the Rain Instant Pay App, which provides early wage access for employees at mid- to large-sized organizations across the United States.

According to a study by CareerBuilder, 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, says Taylor Constantine, the head of Rains Partner Program. "As a result, financial wellness tools are becoming a vitally important part of any employee benefits package. Such tools not only help an organizations employees during tough times, but also lead to increased productivity.

Continues Constantine, Particularly at a time when the American workforce needs solutions like earned wage access, we are excited to partner with Benefit Advisors Network as we begin the process of working with multiple member agencies. We look forward to being a part of the Benefit Advisors Network organization as a long-term partner."

The Rain Instant Pay app allows employees to withdraw advances against their upcoming paychecks. The capital is provided by Rain, which is then reimbursed according to the employers pay schedule.

This is not a loan and there is no interest, Constantine explains. Employees simply pay a small fee for the service, which is significantly healthier than taking a payday loan.

Other benefits of the Rain Instant Pay App include the following:



There is no change in cash flow;

The App works with current payroll and timekeeping software;

There is no cost for businesses to implement the App;

Regular use results in reduced employee turnover and increased job applications;

Employers realize improved job performance and pick up more shifts;

The App usage leads to a reduction in no-call no-shows.

Over the next few months, Rain will also launch a new pay card program which can be used to replace employers current pay card programs or provide a pay card solution for those who do not currently have one.

Adding Rain to our Partner relationships strengthens BANs Lead2Health resources available for our members clients. When an employee has money problems, they can endure ongoing stress, which impacts their health and in turn, the workplace. A corporate philosophy which includes the financial wellbeing of its workforce translates into an efficiently operating business. RAIN provides such support to an employers holistic wellbeing culture, says Bobbi Kloss, BANs Director of Human Capital Management Services.

Our industry is highly competitive and changes almost daily, says Perry Braun, Executive Director of the Benefit Advisors Network. As a result, it is critical that we continue to provide our member firms with the necessary tools, such as the Rain Instant Pay App, to further enhance the value they bring to their employer clients while also accelerating their individual firms growth.

About BAN

Founded in 2002, BAN is an exclusive, premier, national network of independent, employee benefit brokerage and consulting companies. BAN delivers industry leading tools, technology, and expertise to member firms so that they can deliver optimum results to their employee benefit customers. BAN intentionally limits membership because of the highly collaborative interactions. For more information, visit the Companys website at http://www.benefitadvisorsnetwork.com.

About Rain

The Rain Instant Pay app provides early wage access for employees at mid to large-sized organizations across the United States to improve financial wellness and increase employee productivity. Rains mission is to regrow financial freedom by giving people full control over their income and to put an end to predatory financial products, replacing them with on-demand pay. Find out more at https://rain.us, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
This story was originally published by HuffPost and has been republished here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

President Donald Trumps administration on Monday finalized a sweeping plan to open Alaskas fragile Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drillinga move that would forever transform one of Americas last true wild places.

The decision, which the Wall Street Journal first reported, sets the stage for oil and gas leasing across the refuges entire 1.56-million-acre coastal plain, possibly before the November election.

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Its not the end of the leasing process, but it is a very, very significant milestone, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, a former fossil fuel lobbyist, said in a statement to media.

The refuge, often described as Americas Serengeti, covers more than 19 million acres in northeastern Alaska. The region is home to polar bears, caribou, moose, and hundreds of species of migratory birds. For decades the coastal plain, known as the 1002 Area, has been a battleground between energy companies and conservationists.

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Republicans have tried for decades to open the area for oil and gas extraction, and the GOP tax law passed by Congress in late 2017 included a provision, introduced by Republican Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, that requires the Interior Department to approve at least two lease sales for drillingeach covering no fewer than 400,000 acres.

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We may or may not do it, Trump told Fox & Friends in a Monday morning interview, as if aware of how unpopular doing so would be. We are looking at different things in Alaska. Ive been very good to Alaska.

In theory, I should go down as a great environmental president, he added.

In reality, Trump has an absolutely abysmal environmental record. And he has spent August working to green-wash it ahead of the 2020 election. Upon signing into law a major public lands package earlier this month, he touted himself as a conservationist in the mold of late President Theodore Roosevelt, a claim that has no basis in fact.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Bidens campaign responded to Mondays news by reaffirming his commitment to protect the refuge if elected to the White House in November. The former vice president pledged to permanently safeguard the area as part of the climate plan he released last year.

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Biden has outlined robust, ambitious, and actionable plans to lead us through a clean energy revolution that creates millions of good-paying, union jobs and protects national treasures and the local economies they support, campaign spokesman Matt Hill said in a statement.

Environmental groups responded to Mondays news with outrage.

Our climate is in crisis, oil prices have cratered, and major banks are pulling out of Arctic financing right and left, Adam Kolton, executive director at Alaska Wilderness League, said in a statement. And yet the Trump administration continues its race to liquidate our nations last great wilderness, putting at risk the indigenous peoples and iconic wildlife that depend on it.

The administration can expect numerous legal challenges.

America has safeguarded the refuge for decades, and we will not allow the administration to strip that protection away now, Gina McCarthy, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council and former EPA administrator, said in a Monday statement.
Google Maps has evolved and gained a slew of new features in the recent past. Now Google Maps on the iPhone gets improved street-level details and natural imagery in select cities, including San Francisco and London.

The improved street-level details will help you transit better. Furthermore, Google Maps will soon get a feature that will tell the exact shape and width of the road. This is something that will help you to decide whether the road is wide enough for your vehicle or you are better off walking. For those with accessibility needs, Google Maps will show sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian islands. The feature is currently available in London, New York, and San Francisco. In the coming months, the feature will soon be extended to other cities.

The new Google Maps features are being rolled out in a staged manner. In other words, it might take some time for the update to roll out for all iOS users. Currently, you get to use Google Maps in three modes, Default, Satellite, and Terrain. Google is now using Terrain data and adding the same to the base map. Moreover, you get to see different natural features like icy, forested, and mountain regions. Interestingly you will also get to see if there are snow caps on the peaks of the mountain. On a related note, Google Maps recently added support for Dashboard Mode on Apple CarPlay.

Exploring a place gives you a look at its natural featuresso you can easily distinguish tan, arid beaches and deserts from blue lakes, rivers, oceans and ravines. You can know at a glance how lush and green a place is with vegetation, and even see if there are snow caps on the peaks of mountaintops.

In the image above, you can see various degrees of greenery throughout Iceland and ice caps colored in White. Google believes the new details will help you get a better picture of the place and get around safely.

[via Google
Kakao Talk introduces Chanel perfume in its e-commerce category in July. / Courtesy of Kakao Commerce



By Kim Jae-heun



It didn't take too long for Chanel to set aside its own policy and join others to sell cosmetics online.



Industry insiders expressed expectations that makeup items would be least affected by the rapid increase in people shopping online because consumers have to test cosmetic products in person.



But COVID-19 has made it almost imperative for the French fashion house to introduce its beauty products on Kakao Talk, where luxury brand sales have nearly doubled in the first half of this year compared to 2019.



Since last month, Chanel has been selling 22 cosmetic products including lipsticks, perfumes and hand creams. It is the first time for Chanel to start selling products on any online retail platform apart from its official website.



One of the benefits of selling through Kakao Talk is that the messenger application is used by 93 percent of smartphone users in Korea. Starting in August last year, it has been selling beauty products of 66 luxury brands including Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Estee Lauder in its e-commerce category.



According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, gross merchandise value for the online cosmetics market grew by 15.7 percent between January and March compared to the same period last year. The rate soared particularly high in February and March by 37.5 percent and 19.1 percent, respectively, after the pandemic started to get very serious here.



Also, a lot of young customers don't find it necessary to visit stores to buy their makeup items anymore.



Local beauty select shop brand Chicor, operated by Shinsegae, attracted over 65,000 people as membership customers only in a month after the grand opening of its online mall in July. Among them, 86 percent were in their 20s and 30s.



The brand sells products of 450 cosmetic brands varying from premium brands to low-price ones.



"Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, cosmetics brands were hiring influencers from Instagram and YouTube to introduce their items online. The pandemic boosted the transition faster and the online market is growing faster than we expected," a Chicor official said.



Other cosmetics brands are speeding up efforts to use online retail channels to increase sales.



Last June, the country's largest cosmetic firm AmorePacific signed a memorandum of understanding with Naver to launch a brand store through the portal site, which is used by over 74 percent of the internet users in the country.



In July, it also concluded a joint business plan with e-commerce firm 11st to start a delivery service that ensures customers receive their orders within 24 hours.


BENGALURU, India, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced that Gartner Inc. has positioned Infosys as a Leader in its May 2020 Magic Quadrant for Oracle Cloud Applications Services, Worldwide. We consider this positioning by Gartner as validation of our capacity to deliver and carry out tech-powered Oracle cloud application solutions for large, global clients in a cost-effective and bundled manner.

For the report, Gartner evaluated 19 service providers on two primary criteria - completeness of vision and ability to execute. According to the report, the vendors who are positioned as Leaders are "performing well today, gaining traction and mind share in the market; they have a clear vision of market direction and are actively building competencies to sustain their leadership position in the market."

Dinesh Rao, EVP and Global Head - Enterprise Application Services, Infosys said, "From our view, this recognition reflects our commitment towards driving customer success and continued excellence in delivering Oracle cloud application services. Leveraging our unique solutions, global innovation hubs and a creative pool of talent, we have been delivering tangible results for our clients across industries. We believe that being acknowledged as a Leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant validates the investments we have made to help transform our clients to resilient live enterprises."

"At Harmonic, we had a critical and complex Agile implementation ahead of us which required a partner with global reach, proven industry capability and continuous investment in innovation. With Infosys' rich experience in multifunction transformation, framework-driven approach, and superlative tools and accelerators, we were able to successfully carry out the implementation in record time. We look forward to our continued partnership with Infosys as we prepare to accomplish many more milestones," said Santhosh Kumar, VP IT Applications & PMO, Harmonic Inc.

Kim Nicolaus, NGPS' Program Director & Digital Transformation Director at DNV GL (Business Assurance) commented, "The implementation of NGPS (Next Generation Production System) is a critical milestone in the digitisation journey of the Business Assurance unit of DNV GL, unbundling our various business processes into the Oracle Cloud suite. Infosys partnered with us on this challenging journey, supporting us with the integration of more than 7 applications and systems, across more than one hundred countries serving over 100,000 customers. Together we deployed NGPS within time, resulting in a smooth transition and positive outcome for our digital transformation programme."

A complimentary copy of the Magic Quadrant for Oracle Cloud Applications Services, Worldwide report can be accessed here.

Gartner Disclaimer

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Infosys Ltd.

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With nearly four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg
WESTLAKE, Ohio -- Four high-achieving students from Bay Village and Westlake have been selected for Cuyahoga Community College Honors Program Fellowships, which offer scholarships to cover tuition, fees and books.

Local scholarship recipients are Michael Kasunick and Dayna Prochaska of Bay Village and John Kirschnick and Marissa Luce of Westlake.

The students signed commitment letters with Tri-C during a recent virtual ceremony. Each scholarship -- funded by donors to the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation -- is valued at up to $5,120 per academic year.

Tri-Cs seventh fellowship class features 54 students with at least a 3.5 grade point average and outstanding ACT/SAT scores. By entering the scholarship program, they commit to being full-time students, maintaining a high GPA and earning a degree from Tri-C within two years.

This is the largest fellowship class since Tri-C began the program. The previous high was 46 students in 2018.

These gifted students chose to come here because they understand the power of a Tri-C education, said Karen Miller, the colleges provost and chief academic officer. I look forward to celebrating their success at Spring Commencement in 2022.

The honors fellowship places special emphasis on academic planning, mentoring and portfolio building to reflect student work. Smaller honors class sizes also ensure specialized attention for students.

The program is designed to support eventual transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelors and other advanced degrees. Previous Honors Program Fellows amassed numerous academic honors on their way to earning associate degrees from Tri-C.

For information on the Honors Program Fellowship, including eligibility requirements, contact Rebecca Stolzman at 216-987-4713 or rebecca.stolzman@tri-c.edu.

Computer round-up: The City of Rocky River and the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District are offering a computer round-up through Aug. 21.

River residents should place their discarded computers on the tree lawn on their regularly scheduled trash pickup day this week, or bring them to the Rocky River Service Department at 22401 Lake Road (across from Bradstreets Landing).

Computer equipment that can be recycled through this program includes CPUs, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, terminals, modems, cables, software and ink printer cartridges.

The parking lot at Bay Village City Hall will host Food Truck Friday on Aug. 21. (Carol Kovach, special to cleveland.com)

Lunch break: Off the Griddle and Dough Daddy Doughnuts will be the featured vendors at this weeks Food Truck Friday event from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday (Aug. 21) in the parking lot at Bay Village City Hall, 350 Dover Center Road, Bay Village.

In case of rain, the trucks will move to the front of Dwyer Senior Center, 300 Bryson Lane, Bay Village.

Westlake student honored: Madeline Boyer of Westlake was selected to become a member of the National Honor Society of High School Scholars. The society recognizes top scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment.

The announcement was made by Claes Nobel, senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, and NSHSS founder and chairman.

NSHSS members automatically become lifetime members at the time of their initial membership. At each step along the way -- from high school to college to career -- NSHSS connects young scholars with the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions.

On behalf of NSHSS, I am honored to recognize the hard work, sacrifice and commitment that Madeline has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence, said Nobel. Madeline is now a member of a unique community of scholars -- a community that represents our very best hope for the future.

We are proud to provide lifetime membership to young scholars to support their growth and development, said James Lewis, NSHSS president. We aim to help students like Madeline build on their academic success by connecting them with unique learning experiences and resources to help prepare them for college and meaningful careers.

For more information about NSHSS visit nshss.org.

Skills upgrade: Cuyahoga County Public Library is offering sessions to help area residents improve their employment skills virtually during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mastering Virtual Interviews will be offered at 11 a.m. Aug. 26. Register online at attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/4488364 Residents can learn which companies in Northeast Ohio are doing virtual interviews, which platforms they are using and how to prepare themselves for an interview.

Since 1976, CCPL has helped adults at all stages of their working lives acquire the skills employers want, find jobs and transition to new careers through its Cuyahoga Works: Job & Career Services program.

Call 216-475-2225 to schedule a free virtual appointment with one of the librarys professional career counselors. For more information, visit cuyahogalibrary.org.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. from Bay Village, Rocky River and Westlake for the West Shore Chatter column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.

Read more from the West Shore Sun.
Money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the Covid-19 pandemic need not be transferred to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), the Supreme Court said today, adding that the government is free to transfer money to the disaster response fund if it feels it is appropriate to do so.

The court also said there is no need for a new plan and that one under the National Disaster Management Act, made by the government last November, is enough to deal with Covid-19. This was a complete and unquestioning clean chit to the government that ministers and top leaders celebrated through ...
LANSING  The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a former Mecosta County mans murder convictions, despite his claims that hes innocent, and he will remain in prison for killing his two relatives 25 years ago.

Kevin Lyall Tower is serving life in prison at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater in connection to the murders of his two uncles more than 25 years ago.

In an eight-page opinion, the court affirmed a Mecosta County judges previous decision and denied Towers motion for relief from judgment.

The case started July 5, 1995, where the victims  Towers two uncles  were last seen alive at their Remus farmhouse with then-25-year-old Tower.

Over the next three days, withdrawals were made from one victims savings account in Big Rapids by Tower and codefendant Rebecca Cochran. On July 9, one of the victims vehicle was abandoned at an accident in Grand Rapids.

Partially decomposed bodies  with stab and bullet wounds  matching the victims descriptions were found in a remote area of Mecosta County on July 26. Human hair and blood were found in various spots at the farmhouse a week later.

Tower was subsequently arrested and convicted of the murders in 1996. Following the convictions, Towers defense team filed a motion for a new trial, which was denied. Motions for relief of judgment were also filed, and denied, in 1999 and 2011.

In 2018, a third motion for relief from judgment was filed and Tower alleged Cochran recanted and withdrew her testimony from a preliminary examination hearing in 1995.

The testimony was centered around new evidence of Tower accusing Cochran of being pressured by the prosecutor and detective to falsely testify that she saw a knife  a weapon used in the murders  in Towers truck.

Cochrans other testimony could certainly be viewed as important to the charges against defendant. However, she has not recanted that testimony, the court wrote in its Aug. 13, 2020, opinion.

Tower, now 50, will remain in prison for life without the possibility of parole.

Scroll through the gallery above to view articles from previous Pioneer editions covering the case.

Read the full opinion below.
The media reported that the Madras high court on Tuesday rejected Vedanta's plea to reopen Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin.

Shares of Vedanta were down 1.37% at Rs 126.20. It recovered after tumbling as much as 6.06% to hit the day's low at Rs 120.20.

The media reported that the Madras high court on Tuesday rejected Vedanta Resources Plc's petition to challenge the March 2018 closure order by the Tamil Nadu government of Sterlite Copper smelter plant in Tuticorin, about 610 km from Chennai, in March 2018.

The petition was reportedly moved by the company in February last year, after the Supreme Court granted Vedanta liberty to move the High Court in this regard. While pronouncing the judgment this morning, the Court reportedly informed that the verdict would have been out by 12 March, if it were not for the COVID-19 pandemic.

As per reports, Vedanta's Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi was shut down by the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in 2018, citing violations of environmental laws. The closure order was passed immediately after the plant had turned into a protest site, with citizens opposing the expansion of the plant. The order was supported by the State government, which endorsed the same within a week.

In February 2019, the Supreme Court set aside a December 2018 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that had allowed the reopening of the Sterlite plant. However, the order was set aside on the ground that the NGT did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the case. Therefore, Vedanta was allowed to move the High Court against the orders passed against it, leading to the present plea, reports added.

Vedanta is a diversified natural resources player, with a significant presence in zinc, oil and gas, copper, aluminium, iron ore, and power.

On a consolidated basis, the company reported a net loss of Rs 12,521 crore in Q4 March 2020 as against net profit of Rs 2,615 crore in Q4 March 2019. The profit was impacted by exceptional loss of Rs 17,132 crore in Q4 FY20 due to impairment of assets at oil & gas, copper and iron ore business.

Revenue from operations declined 16% to Rs 19,513 crore in Q4 March 2020 from Rs 23,092 crore in Q4 March 2019. Revenue fell due to lower commodity prices further impacted by COVID-19, lower volumes at zinc, oil & gas, steel business and lower power sales at TSPL partially offset by higher volume at aluminium and iron ore business, and rupee depreciation.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a humanitarian gesture, a Pakistani national and captain of a merchant ship MV Haykal was given assistance and evacuated by Indian Coast Guard last month after he suffered a heart stroke. The vessel was enroute to Gopalpur in Odisha.

The condition of the 60 -year-old Captain Badar Hasnain who was evacuated on July 13 is now stable and will be travelling back to Pakistan today through the Attari-Wagah border.

Capt Badar Hasnain, a Pak national & master of vessel MV Haykal, suffered a heart stroke on 13 July while the vessel was en-route Gopalpur, Odisha. Indian Coast Guard responded to the request for immediate medical assistance for him & evacuated him to a hospital in Vizag: Sources  ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2020

According to a report by news agency ANI added that Captain Hasnain's well-wishers including his daughter have appreciated the humanitarian gesture of the Indian government and efforts of the doctors to provide immediate emergency evacuation and medical treatment.

ANI

The Indian Coast Guard's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (Chennai) responded to a request for immediate medical assistance for Captain Hasnain and the vessel was diverted to Visakhapatnam.

Hasnain was disembarked on July 13 with the assistance of the Vizag Port team and evacuated to the Queen's NRI hospital in Visakhapatnam.

#ICG MRCC(CHN) coordinated Medevac of MV Haykal Pakistani Master who suffered heart stroke & reqd immediate medical assistance. Vessel bound for Gopalpur directed to close Vizag Hbr. Patient disembarked AM 13 Jul by VPT Pilot boat & shifted to hospital for further management pic.twitter.com/6qYBTu3CwV  Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) July 13, 2020

The provisional diagnosis of the doctors at the hospital was that he suffered from "Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy" and further recommended his treatment to continue in the hospital. A tweet by the Indian Coast Guard on July 13 reads, "#ICG MRCC(CHN) coordinated Medevac of MV Haykal Pakistani Master who suffered heart stroke & reqd immediate medical assistance. Vessel bound for Gopalpur directed to close Vizag Hbr. Patient disembarked AM 13 Jul by VPT Pilot boat & shifted to hospital for further management."
WASHINGTON - At least 21 states planned to file lawsuits this week against the U.S. Postal Service and its new postmaster, Louis DeJoy, seeking to block service changes that have prompted widespread reports of delays and accusations of an intentional effort to thwart voters from mailing their ballots this fall.

The suits, including one filed Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Washington state, will argue that the Postal Service broke the law by making operational changes without first seeking approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. They will also argue that the changes will impede states' ability to run free and fair elections, officials from several state attorney general's offices told The Washington Post. The Constitution gives states and Congress, not the executive branch, the power to regulate elections.

"We will be taking action to reinstate Postal Service standards that all Americans depend on, whether it's for delivering their prescription drugs or for carrying their very right to vote," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at a news conference.

Pennsylvania's suit is being joined by California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina, among others. It names DeJoy, the Postal Service and the chairman of the USPS's board of governors, Robert Duncan, as defendants.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced his state was filing a separate suit, joined by Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. The lawsuit names President Trump as a defendant, along with the Postal Service and DeJoy, accusing the president of infringing on state power to administer elections through his attacks on mail balloting.

All the states are represented by Democratic attorneys general, but Shapiro said Tuesday that he would not be surprised if Republican attorneys general join the litigation.

"We're trying to stop Trump's attacks on the Postal Service, which we believe to be an attack on the integrity of the election. It's a straight-up attack on democracy," Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat, said in an interview. "This conduct is illegal. It's unconstitutional. It's harmful to the country. It's harmful to individuals."

"We're asking a court to make him stop," he said.

The Trump campaign and the Postal Service did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump said last week that he was opposed to an emergency bailout for the agency because he does not want widespread voting by mail in the fall. That prompted a rush of action by state election officials and Democratic lawmakers, who say the president's attacks on mail voting and the recent operational changes by DeJoy, a top GOP donor, are undermining confidence in the Nov. 3 election.

DeJoy announced Tuesday that he was suspending those initiatives until after the election "to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail."

In response, the attorneys general said his statement did not change their legal strategy, which is to obtain the force of a court decision to protect mail service. The states in the Washington-led suit plan to seek a temporary restraining order Wednesday to hold DeJoy to his promise, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said.

"A tweet or a statement or a press release is one thing," Shapiro said. "We need to see binding action to reverse these changes."

He said the states are pursuing multiple suits to incorporate specific circumstances unique to each into the litigation.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is planning separate legal action, she said in a statement Tuesday.

"The integrity of our elections is fundamental to our nation's democracy and we won't allow anyone to undermine them, not even the president of the United States," James said.

Washington's solicitor general, Noah Purcell, said the president has tried to interfere with the state's elections, a violation of the Constitution's clear language that elections shall be governed by Congress and the states.

"The constitution give states authority to decide how to hold elections," Purcell said. "Whether the direction is coming from the president or not, he has said repeatedly that he does not want us doing mail-in voting, even though Washington has been doing it for years without incident."

The Washington suit, quoting heavily from the president's tweets and media appearances, alleges Trump has repeatedly and deliberately sowed mistrust about voting by mail, thereby interfering with and undermining the states' rights to conduct elections.

"He has come out and said he was doing it to give himself an advantage in the November elections," Herring said. "That's one of the reasons this lawsuit is so important: to reassure Americans and Virginians that their vote will count in November, and I'm going to make sure of it."

Among the service changes the suits seek to block are elimination of staff overtime, altered operations at state distribution centers and the removal of mailboxes and critical mail-sorting equipment. All of those threaten the timely delivery of mail to people who rely on the Postal Service for a wide range of essentials, including medical prescriptions and ballots, the states will argue.

"States have the right to conduct mail-in elections if they choose," Frosh said. "Trump is trying to undermine that."

The agency's operational changes caused nationwide slowdowns that the attorneys general argue required advance public notice to and approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission. That process would have enabled the states to weigh in on the impact before the changes were implemented.

Frosh said the operational changes are also a violation of the Voting Rights Act, saying the removal of sorting machines disproportionately hurts cities, which tend to have larger minority populations. The lawsuit also alleges the changes violate the Americans With Disabilities Act by making it more difficult for people with physical disabilities and health conditions to safely cast ballots.

"Because we're in the middle of a pandemic, this is asking them to risk their lives," he said.

The USPS also recently warned 46 states and D.C. that it could not guarantee the delivery of ballots under their current deadlines. The agency urged states to send election mail first-class rather than third-class. States and counties that use marketing or bulk-rate postage for their ballots could see delays that may prevent some ballots from being counted.

- - -

The Washington Post's Jacob Bogage and Tony Romm contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, August 18, 2020 -- Think you don't need to worry about COVID-19 while using a public restroom? A group of researchers from Yangzhou University in China recently reported that flushing public restroom toilets can release clouds of virus-laden aerosols for you to potentially inhale.

If that's not cringeworthy enough, after running additional computer simulations, they've concluded that flushing urinals does likewise. In Physics of Fluids, from AIP Publishing, the group shares its work simulating and tracking virus-laden particle movements when urinals are flushed.

The researchers' work clearly shows public restrooms can be dangerous places for potentially becoming infected from a virus, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other work has shown that both feces- and urine-based virus transmission is possible.

"To do this, we used a method of computational fluid dynamics to model the particle movement that occurs with the act of flushing," said Xiangdong Liu. "The specific models are the volume of fluids model and discrete phase model."

Flushing a urinal, much like flushing a toilet, involves an interaction between gas and liquid interfaces. The result of the flushing causes a large spread of aerosol particles to be released from the urinal, which the researchers simulated and tracked.

What the simulations revealed is disturbing. The trajectory of the tiny particles ejected by flushing a urinal "manifests an external spread type, with more than 57% of the particles traveling away from the urinal," said Liu.

But that's not all. When men use urinals within a public restroom, these tiny particles can reach their thigh within 5.5 seconds when compared to the toilet flush, which takes 35 seconds to reach slightly higher. Particles from urinals, however, "show a more violent climbing tendency," Liu said. "The climbing speed is much faster than toilet flushing."

Urinals are used more frequently within densely populated areas, and the researchers point out that particles will travel faster and farther, which poses a serious public health challenge.

This work underscores how important it is to wear a mask within public places but especially restrooms.

"From our work, it can be inferred that urinal flushing indeed promotes the spread of bacteria and viruses," says Liu. "Wearing a mask should be mandatory within public restrooms during the pandemic, and anti-diffusion improvements are urgently needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

###

The article, "Virus transmission from urinals," is authored by Xiangdong Liu, Ji-Xiang Wang, Yun-yun Li and Xiang Cao. It will appear in Physics of Fluids on Aug. 18, 2020 (DOI: 10.1063/5.0021450). After that date, it can be accessed at https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0021450.

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Physics of Fluids is devoted to the publication of original theoretical, computational, and experimental contributions to the dynamics of gases, liquids, and complex fluids. See https://aip.scitation.org/journal/phf.
HORSHAM, Pa., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Afilias, the world's second largest domain name registry, today announced that it has joined the Global Encryption Coalition (globalencryption.org).

The Global Encryption Coalition promotes and defends the use of strong encryption for everyone. By joining the coalition, Afilias has joined forces with over 50 civil society organizations, industry associations, and companies to defend encryption that helps protect everyone on the internet.

Afilias has also signed on to an open letter penned by several members of the Coalition that opposes the "Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act S. 4501" currently under consideration by the US Senate. This letter advises the Senate of the many unintended and disastrous consequences of this ill-conceived legislation. While promising to give law enforcement access to encrypted criminal content (under warrant), the bill mandates insecure "backdoors" and hence exposes ALL content, eliminating the substantial public benefits of encryption. It will force the exposure of confidential information such as financial transactions, personal health data, and all other sensitive information on the internet to not just surveillance by law enforcement but exploitation by cyber criminals. By requiring providers to weaken the end-to-end user encryption that now protects the public, the bill will open security gaps and facilitate a massive violation of the privacy of millions of internet userswithout achieving its intended goal of finding criminals.

"When encryption is outlawed, only outlaws will have encryption," said Ram Mohan, Chief Operating Officer of Afilias Inc. which has signed the Open Letter Against Lawful Access to Encrypted Data Act . He went on to say: "Once backdoors are created, sophisticated cyber criminals (including rogue states) will just waltz right in and take whatever they want from complying US organizations, damaging their customers and putting them at significant disadvantage to global competitors. As the pandemic moves our lives online, we need more encryption, not less, to ensure the safety and security of our online communications. Unfortunately, if this legislation is adopted" he stated recently to the Wall Street Journal: "you cannot unring this bell."

"We welcome Afilias to the fight," added Ryan Polk, Senior Policy Advisor at the Internet Society and a member of the Global Encryption Coalition steering committee. "Afilias has a long history of leading new developments in security standards, fighting for strong operating practices in the domain industry, driving security norms and championing internet security. The Coalition welcomes experts such as Afilias to bring their technical and policy knowledge to the process."

About Afilias

Afilias is the world's second largest domain registry, with over 20 million domain names under management in over 200 top level domains. Afilias powers a wide variety of top-level domains, including TLDs for countries, cities, brands, communities, and generic terms. Afilias' specialized technology makes Internet addresses more accessible and useful through a broad range of applications, including Internet domain registry services, managed DNS, and mobile Web services. Afilias, Inc. is based near Philadelphia  offices are also located in Dublin Ireland, Toronto Canada, New Delhi India, Melbourne Australia, Vista California, and Beijing China. Afilias holds a Guinness World Records title for the "Largest migration of an internet top-level domain in a single transition." For more information on Afilias services please visit www.afilias.info.

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Even teleprompter could not take so many lies: Rahul's dig at PM Modis Davos speech

SC verdict on PM CARES 'resounding blow to nefarious designs' of Rahul Gandhi: JP Nadda

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Aug 18: BJP President JP Nadda on Tuesday described the Supreme Court decision on the PM CARES Fund as a "resounding blow to the nefarious designs" of Rahul Gandhi and his "band of rent a cause" activists. The apex court has refused to direct the Centre to transfer the contributions made to the PM CARES Fund for battling the COVID-19 pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

"The verdict by the Supreme Court on PM CARES is a resounding blow to the nefarious designs of Rahul Gandhi and his band of 'rent a cause' activists. It shows that the truth shines despite the ill intent and malicious efforts of the Congress party and its associates," Nadda tweeted.

Questions are raised on capable leaders in Congress: Jyotiraditya Scindia

Hitting out at Gandhi, Nadda said his "rants" have been repeatedly dismissed by the common man who has "overwhelmingly" contributed to the PM CARES fund. With the highest court also pronouncing its verdict, will Rahul and his 'rent a cause activist army" mend their ways or embarrass themselves further, he asked.

The BJP president alleged that the Gandhi family treated PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) as its "personal fiefdom for decades brazenly transferred citizens' hard-earned money from PMNRF to its family trusts".

SC says funds from PM-Cares needn't be transferred to National Disaster Response Fund|Oneindia News

BJP MLA Raja Singh denies allegations on communally charged posts online

"The country very well know that the orchestrated smear campaign against PM CARES is an attempt by the Congress to wash its sins," he said. Gandhi had earlier tweeted "PM CARES for Right To Improbity" while tagging a news report that alleged the Prime Minister's Office had denied an RTI application seeking information on the fund.

The SC judgement came on a PIL, filed by NGO 'Centre for Public Interest Litigation, seeking a direction that all the money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the COVID-19 pandemic should be transferred to the NDRF.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 13:31 [IST]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:57:28|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. private space company SpaceX successfully launched its 11th Starlink mission on Tuesday, carrying 58 Starlink satellites and three of Planet's SkySats to orbit.

A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 10:31 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Following stage separation, SpaceX's Falcon 9 first stage landed on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

It marks the first time a booster has completed six flights. Falcon 9's first stage previously supported the Telstar 18 VANTAGE mission in September 2018, the Iridium-8 mission in January 2019, and three separate Starlink missions in May 2019, January and June this year.

Starlink will deliver high-speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable, according to SpaceX. Enditem
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno state has unveiled public presentation of a compendium of his one year in office Monday in Maiduguri.

The compendium in content has 330 pages comprising of 336 selected straight news stories, features, news analysis, opinions, comments and editorials as well as selected photonews published by various print and broadcast as well as online media organisations both locally, nationally and internationally .

It was initiated by the SA to the Govenror PR Strategy, Isa Gusau and compiled through a research team work of media experts and practitioners as well as mass communicatiom consultants while the coordinating and supervising team was spearheaded by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communications and Public Relations Strategy, Malam Isa Umar Gusau.

Governor Babagana Zulum while officially presentating compendium of his first year in office,  tagged , First Vedict , at the Multi Purpose Hall of the Gobernment House Maiduguri Monday said, I thank members of the press for supporting me and made my efforts not only known to the people of Borno state but the world in general.

" You stood with us in Borno throughout the thick and thin without running away despite the Boko Haram Insurgency. Your stories have attracted a lot of commendations and awards to me and endeared me to many people without you, it wouldnt have been possible.

"This compendium which consists of my stories, reports, speeches, opinions, and editorials will serve as a research document to students of history, security and governance and others who have interest , Zulum said.

 The history of Nigeria and democracy cannot be complete without the contributions of the media.. I also want to appreciate the management of Tell Magazine for giving me special recognition with Special award for  courage and leadership .

"These your compendium and award are challenges to me to do more. I I assure you , I will do more. Insha Allah. I Will be more committed and determined todo.more .

"As I have been saying , nobody has the right to take my life. It is only God. We will continue to do our best in providing services to the people.as I took oath to do so *, Zulum said.

Earlier, the Compendium Reviewer, Professor Danjuma Gambo of the Mass Communication Department, University of Maiduguri said , the news stories, features, opinions, comments, news analyses and editorials were independently written by the reporters and media organisations without been sensored that is why the Compendium is a " Real.Verdict .

 in my life as practicing journalist and a teacher, I have not seen this kind of Compendium because usually this kind of Compendium used to be compiled at the end of the tenure of a governor but this Compendium, titled  First Verdict  was compiled in the first one year of Governor Zulums in office, Gambo said.

Presenting the Tell Magazine Special Award 2020 Governor of the Year for Courage in Leadership t o Governor Babagama Umara Zulum, the President of the Tell Magazine, Mr. Nosa Igiebor said", Congratulations sir. Leadership entails courage, commitment to the ideals of selfless service and unwavering dedication to pursue the service for the benefits of the people you lead and serve. Since your assumption of office as Governor, you have consistently demonstrated these sterling qualities of leadership.

Your style and substance are unmistakable and a welcome breath of fresh air to Nigerias sterile political space of self-aggrandisement. We are, indeed, very impressed by your resolve and determination to succeed in your mandate of delivering the dividends of democracy to the long-suffering people of Borno.

" While some other state administrators, including those whose domains enjoy relative peace, reel out excuses to the citizenry but you have remained undaunted in fulfilling your promises to a state that is under siege.

Your boldness to state things in black and white no matter the circumstances, has endeared you to many. In short, you have become the voice of the voiceless as you have proven that government is not for the fainthearted, neither is timidity or criminal silence a prerequisite for real term growth and development" Isiegbor said

Responding to the special award , Governor Zulum thanked the management of Tell Communications, he said ," I consider the award a challenge to do more".
The U.S. president can tell 20,000 lies in office (a mistruth-milestone he hit in July, according to the Washington Post) but there is one truth he cant spin no matter how hard he  or his pinky finger  may try: his wife appears to really not want to hold his hand.

This was evident on Sunday, when President Donald Trump, first lady Melania, and their son Barron, flew from New Jersey to Maryland. In video footage of the family stepping off Air Force One, we see Trump appear to reach for his wifes manicured hand and touch it briefly before she pulls away. Ask those who dislike Trump and theyll tell you she did this on purpose to embarrass her husband. Ask those who like him and theyll tell you the whole thing is overblown. Literally overblown: she pulled away, Trump fans allege, in order to prevent the wind from blowing her dress up. Personally I think the brush-off was the result of both of those things: the wind and wanting to spite a spouse she is rumoured to keep a healthy distance from whenever possible.

After all, it doesnt help the case of the it was just the wind folks that this isnt the first time the First Lady may have thwarted her husbands hand-holding advances. In 2017, on an Israeli tarmac, she appeared to literally swat the presidents hand away from her own. In 2018, she appeared stiff as a board outside the White House, her hand unyielding despite her husbands several awkward pinky-finger-led attempts to seize it (which eventually, he did). There have been other incidents over the years in which Melania Trump appears to publicly spurn her husband, but I literally dont have space to relay them all to you now.

Suffice it so say, on Sunday, we learned yet again that the man who once bragged about being able to grab women wherever and whenever he likes, cant seem to get his own wife to hold his hand in public.

Its utterly pathetic. But its also utterly meaningless. Because no matter how many times major networks run footage of the alleged hand-rebuff this week, or how loudly liberals laugh at Trumps moral failings (in this case a wife who probably despises him for reasons that include but are not limited to alleged adultery with a porn star), those with plans to vote for him in the fall will not be deterred. Nor in all likelihood, will they be deterred by anything he does or doesnt do, short of joining the Democratic Party.

(If 170,000 American COVID-19 deaths dont put them off the guy, an unhappy marriage wont.)

The strongest example of this apathy around Trump gaffes is the fact that the demographic that should be most concerned about the presidents marital discord appears to care the least.

Evangelical Christians remain among the presidents most loyal followers because they view his unsavoury personal life as a small price to pay for the political advancement of conservative causes. Theyre thrilled about many of the presidents actions from fighting transgender rights to, most recently, the Israel-UAE agreement.

According to a Pew Research poll from July, white evangelical support of the president remains strong: 82 per cent of white evangelical Protestant registered voters said theyd vote for Trump if the U.S. election were held today  or that theyd lean towards voting for him. (Ironically, white evangelicals are beginning to mirror the stereotype of the libertine, European voter who doesnt care who his leader sleeps with so long as he gets the job done.)

According to another recent poll, U.S. presidential candidate Joe Bidens lead over President Trump has narrowed since June, from 14 points to just 4. In other words, Trumps marriage might be in turmoil but his campaign isnt.

And though the Trump-hand-rejection story may clog up newsfeeds for days, in reality, it hurts him only in the eyes of people who already hate him. Those in his base dont care if the president holds his wifes hand, a plastic water bottle with both hands, or a bible outside a church in a cynical photo op. They only care that he remains president.

This is why it feels futile, sometimes, to laugh at Trump  whether he is mispronouncing Yosemite or trying and failing to look like a normal loving husband on the world stage. One gets the unsettling feeling, despite claims to the contrary, that shell be laughing at him on that stage for another four years.

Emma Teitel is a columnist based in Toronto covering current affairs for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @emmaroseteitel

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The Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary has said he is "extremely concerned" at reports that some farmers are not wearing masks or maintaining social distancing at marts.

His comments come as ICOS called on farmers "not to close the mart sector by not wearing masks".

ICOS executive Ray Doyle said he expected mask wearing in marts to soon be made mandatory by the Government. But he urged farmers to wear masks ahead of this move.

"We are hoping positive peer pressure will encourage farmers to wear a mask," he said.

The work marts have put in with social distancing, increased hygiene and contact tracing has helped sales centres remain open, he said.

"The last thing we want is a source of infection traced back to a mart. We do not want the entire sector forced backwards."

Minister Calleary said it is essential that everyone takes steps to reduce the risk to themselves and to others from Covid-19. "I would urge all those participating in marts to maintain social distance, and where they cannot do this to ensure they are wearing masks," he said.

Farming Independent reporters have seen sparse use of face masks and poor social distancing at several marts. Writing in today's paper, two doctors highlight the particular vulnerability of farmers to Covid-19 as a result of their age and health profile.

Waterford GP Derek Casey said he has seen first-hand what Covid-19 can do to patients, including farmers who are often sitting ducks for this airborne disease.

"At-risk farmers with various medical conditions huddling around a sales ring with the inevitable hand-shaking, chatting and the odd fella spitting on his hand to seal a deal - last year it was all very innocent stuff; this year it is enough to send a shiver down your spine," Dr Casey said.
Edgar Snow and his wife, Helen Snow. (Xinhua Photo)

Scholars and NGO leaders from China and the United States attended an online dialogue Tuesday to commemorate the 115th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Snow, celebrating the legacy of the great friend of the Chinese people. They also noted that Edgar Snows spirit is now more crucial than ever, as Sino-US relations are facing severe difficulties and challenges.

Jointly launched by the Beijing Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Edgar Snow Memorial Foundation, the online event discussed Snows efforts to deepen cooperation between China and the US, and also sought new solutions to promote bilateral ties at a time when the two nations relations are being dampened by the current US government.

As a Western journalist, Snow made an objective evaluation of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese revolution in the 1930s. His book Red Star Over China, which includes an account of the CPC-led Long March, has never been out of print since its publication, providing a window for Western readers into the reality of China and the Chinese people.

Edgar Snow once said: The road ahead is difficult, but bridges can be built and will eventually be built As long as there is amity between the people and friendship between the Chinese and American peoples, sabotage by a few politicians will eventually fail, said He Liliang, advisor to the China Society for Peoples Friendship Studies.

Never believe the anti-China hype and rumors produced by a few politicians. Let us all realize that cooperation benefits both countries and confrontation hurts both, she added.

Echoing He, Sidne Ward, Executive Vice President of Edgar Snow Memorial Foundation, noted that people-to-people exchanges should be enhanced despite the current dampened relations between China and the US, as it is important for both sides to understand and work with each other.

I was lucky to bring over a hundred U.S. students myself to China for short term visits over the past decade. Even though the visits were a few weeks long, I see my students having a deeper understanding of China and deeper appreciation for China, she said.

Scott Wagner, former Mayor Pro Tem of Kansas City where Edgar Snow grew up, added that business, tourism, arts and education are four foundations and strong pillars that are crucial for strong Sino-US ties.

We are at a defining moment of the bilateral relations between China and the US, and I believe what happens in the near future may define these relations for the next decades It is important now that we should be looking for as many ways to create and strengthen these relations, he said.

Edgar Snow was at the forefront of [creating] good relations between China and the US. Although he is not here now, his spirit is what remains and it is that spirit that should drive us to create better relations for our countries, he added.

It may be difficult, but we have our own example of Edgar Snow to follow, he further noted.
Features: The one- and two-story single-family houses sit on wooded lots as large as two acres. Ceilings are nine feet high on the main level, and the houses have six-foot-high windows in front. Houses come standard with two-car garages and unfinished basements. Living rooms and dining rooms have crown molding. Floors are hardwood in the foyer and vinyl in the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms. Buyers have a choice of four interior door styles and four paint colors with white trim. The kitchens have 42-inch raised-panel maple cabinets with slide-out and soft-slide drawers and soft-close doors. Kitchens also have four recessed lights. Family rooms have gas fireplaces. Wiring is provided for two ceiling fans and an interior fire-safety sprinkler system. The development is Energy Star-certified for energy efficiency.
Charity as a cover for terror: The Al-Hind link to the Bengaluru riots

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 18: The Bengaluru police detained a suspect in connection with the recent violence that broke out in the city over a controversial Facebook post.

The person was identified as Samiuddin and the police have accused him of being in touch with the accused in the RSS activist, Rudresh murder case. He has also been accused of being in contact with the members of the Al-Hind group since the past five years.

The presence of the Al-Hind has been spoken about several times in the past. Karnataka's Home Minister, Basavaraj Bommai had also spoken on the presence of the group in the state.

In the month of January this year, there was a coordinated action carried out by the Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu and Delhi Police. It was found that a person by the name Hussain Sharif had provided shelter to Shameen and Thoufiq, who are accused of killing special sub-inspector, Wilson in a revenge attack in Tamil Nadu.

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It was then found that this Al-Hindi Trust was just a front to carry out terror attacks. To the outside world, it seemed like a charity group, officers investigating this case tell OneIndia. The original motive of this group was concealed for long due to the kind of modus operandi that they followed. The only intention was to carry out violent jihad.

Investigations revealed that the trust had opened up various branches in Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu and were actively collecting funds in the name of charity. The funds collected were being used for various purposes such as recruitment, targeting right wing activists and also instigating riots.

In this context one must also look into the chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the formation of a terror group initiated by two terrorists from Bengaluru and Cuddalore.

The NIA in its chargesheet said that the conspirators who formed the terror group are ISIS cadres, Mehboob Pasha from Bengaluru and Khaja Moideen of Cuddalore. The case was originally registered by the Bengaluru police.

The case relates to Pasha, a resident of Bengaluru, who in association with Moideen and Sadiq Basha, formed a terror group for spreading the ideology and activities of the ISIS.

The NIA accused them of conspiring with other persons at the houses and Al-Hind offices of Pasha in Bengaluru and Cuddalore. It was further stated that the conspiracy was hatched in 2019 and the other accused persons were planning on carrying out attacks in South India.

SC says funds from PM-Cares needn't be transferred to National Disaster Response Fund|Oneindia News

Intelligence Bureau officials tell OneIndia that this group is modelled largely on the lines of the Falah-e-Insaniyat, which is the charity wing of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba. The FeI too uses charity as a cover to raise funds for terror. It was found last year that a module of the FeI had raised money and funded a Mosque in Haryana, which in turn was using the money to radicalise youth.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 10:50 [IST]
TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2020 /CNW/ - Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) and Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement to advance e-prescribing in Canada.

Under the agreement, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw retail pharmacies and QHR Technologies' AccuroEMR, Canada's largest single electronic medical record platform, will work towards connecting with PrescribeIT, Infoway's national e-prescribing service.

As a first step in the initiative, Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaw will begin to roll out PrescribeIT in pharmacies already using software that is integrated with PrescribeIT.

"This agreement will accelerate the adoption of e-prescribing in Canada, bringing significant benefits to patients, prescribers and health care systems across the country," said Ashesh Desai, Executive Vice President Pharmacy and Healthcare Businesses at Shoppers Drug Mart.

"PrescribeIT has shown tremendous momentum since it launched," said Michael Green, President and CEO of Infoway. "This is an important expansion for PrescribeIT and will help extend the benefits of the service more broadly."

Loblaw will continue to operate FreedomRx, the e-prescribing and messaging platform that is currently available predominantly to Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies and physicians using AccuroEMR as their electronic medical records system.

About Canada Health Infoway

Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit www.infoway-inforoute.ca.

About PrescribeIT

Canada Health Infoway is working with Health Canada, the provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to develop, operate and maintain the national e-prescribing service known as PrescribeIT. PrescribeIT will serve all Canadians, pharmacies and prescribers and provide safer and more effective medication management by enabling prescribers to transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber's electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient's pharmacy of choice. PrescribeIT will protect Canadians' personal health information from being sold or used for commercial activities. Visit www.PrescribeIT.ca.

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, and the nation's largest retailer. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,400 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and associate-owners employ approximately 200,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose  Live Life Well  puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the company's stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at nearly 1,400 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix locations and close to 500 Loblaw locations; PC Financial services; affordable Joe Fresh fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top-consumer brands in Life Brand, no name and President's Choice. For more information, visit Loblaw's website at www.loblaw.ca.

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Catherine Thomas

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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Aug. 17, 2020 | CARLISLE COUNTY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 17, 2020 | 11:42 PM | CARLISLE COUNTY

Deputies arrested four people Monday after searching a Carlisle County home.



The Carlisle County Sheriffs Office says deputies learned on Monday that 27-year-old Blake Pendergrass was at a home in the 100 Block of CR 1003. Pendergrass was wanted in Ballard County for contempt of court.



Deputies said they arrived to find 28-year-old Avery Wallace of Clarksville, TN outside. Wallace was also wanted in Ballard County for bail jumping, being a persistent felony offender, and a parole violation. They also found evidence leading them to charge him with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.



Inside the home deputies said 46-year-old Rhonda Beasley of LaCenter was found attempting to hide drug paraphernalia. Deputies arrested and charged her with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with physical evidence.



Pendergrass was also found inside the home. Deputies arrested him on the bench warrants, as well as possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.



The primary resident at the home, 27-year-old Karen Polivick arrived later at the home. Deputies charged her with trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also charged with resisting arrest.



All four suspects were booked into the Ballard County Jail.
Its a way for him to play with friends, and talk to them, and be silly, and have fun, and feel like hes done something, said Berthold about Messenger Kids. The problem is, the more he does it, the more he wants to do it. And its kind of this push and pull of parental control of screen time. Hes legitimately having time with his friends, but he has an iPad in front of his face three hours a day. The socio-emotional part is really tough to balance out.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:46:19|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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SOFIA -- Bulgaria's COVID-19 death toll has risen to 512 after a sharp rise in the last 24 hours, official figures showed on Tuesday.

The country confirmed 14 new deaths, the second-highest daily tally since the pandemic began, the health ministry said.

The daily record of 16 deaths was reported on Aug. 4.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed infections has reached 14,500, up by 135 from Monday, the ministry said.

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MINSK -- Belarus reported 84 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking its total to 69,673, according to the country's health ministry.

There have been 190 new recoveries in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 67,339, the ministry added.

So far, 617 people have died of the disease in the country, including four over the past 24 hours, it said.

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BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's tally of COVID-19 cases reached 42,146 on Tuesday, with 155 new cases reported in the last day.

The republican headquarters on COVID-19 reported 318 new recoveries and two coronavirus-related deaths over the past day, raising the tally of recoveries to 34,885 and the death toll to 1,498.

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HANOI -- Vietnam reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 infection on Tuesday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 989, along with one more death from the disease, according to its Ministry of Health.

Among the newly confirmed cases, three have recently returned to Vietnam from abroad and were quarantined upon arrival while the rest were recorded in localities including Vietnam's central Da Nang city and northern Hai Duong province, said the ministry.

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SINGAPORE -- Singapore's Ministry of Health reported 100 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 55,938.

Of the new cases, two are imported cases, one is a community case and the rest are linked with the dormitories of foreign workers.

On Tuesday, 183 more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 52,533 have fully recovered, the ministry said.

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ADDIS ABABA -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa surged to 1,128, 245 as the death toll rose to 25,884, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) revealed on Tuesday.

The Africa CDC, a specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU) Commission, in its latest situation update issued on Tuesday, said the number of people who recovered from their COVID-19 infections is also increasing, as the number of recoveries reached 846,330 as of Tuesday.

South Africa currently has the most COVID-19 cases, which hit 589,886. The country also has the highest COVID-19 related deaths, with the death toll currently standing at 11,982, according to the Africa CDC. Enditem
Oracle looks like it has joined the race to purchase TikTok before becomes a banned company in the U.S. As reported by the FT the tech group is working with investors to try and outbid Microsoft.

Microsoft has been the frontrunners for the acquisition since the executive order to ban TikTok and WeChat was announced. Trump claimed there was credible evidence that the company was using personal data to breach U.S. security.

At one stage Twitter was in the hunt. However, the size of the deal was always going to rule the social media company out of any serious involvement in the purchase.

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Another company looking to purchase TikTok is probably good news for the short video app. Otherwise it may well have been held to ransom by Microsoft if it remained the only serious bidder.

Oracle to compete with Microsoft over TikTok acquisition

Larry Ellisons Oracle has held preliminary talks with TikToks owner over a possible acquisition. Supposedly the company is seriously considering purchasing the apps operations in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Oracle is working with a group of investors that already have a stage in ByteDance, which is the Chinese version of TikTok.

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Microsoft still remains the lead contender for the takeover. In early August the company expressed its intentions to explore a purchase. Reports suggest that Microsft may be looking to take over TikToks global operations beyond the countries it outlined this month.

If that is the case, Microsoft would aim to take over operation in Europe and India. However, ByteDance does not wish to sell any assets beyond those in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. This comes from reports close to the company.

Oracle offers a credible alternative to Microsoft

By Oracle entering the race, it has essentially offered another option to TikTok. Oracles owner, Mr Ellison is a well-known and public supporter of President Trump. He recently held a fundraiser for the US president at his estate.

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There is currently no evidence to suggest the White House is more supportive of this deal. However, this may be a motivation in the move.

There are still a number of challenges to this acquisition purely on a technical front. Separating the back-end technology of TikTok from ByteDance could be interesting. Also, the question of price is also very much up in the air at this stage.

Unsurprisingly, this story has taken another twist with the introduction of Oracle to the mix. This does make the prospect of the sale of TikTok more likely. However, with more contenders vying for the sale it could make for a more unpleasant negotiation process.
The Instagram-famous former girlfriend of an ex-Hells Angels bikie has given birth to her second child a year after the pair split.

Allaina Vader, Ben 'Notorious' Geppert's ex, on Monday announced the birth of her new son, Storm.

Ms Vader is now dating Dallas Donnelly, who is understood to have fathered the child.

The Instagram model shared photos of her new boyfriend and herself with baby Storm after the birth.

Former girlfriend of Ben 'Notorious' Geppert, Allaina Vader, took to Instagram on Monday morning to announce the birth of her new son, Storm

Ms Vader had a very public split from the former Finks and Hells Angels bikie late last year (pictured in happier times)

The Instagram model shared photos of both her new boyfriend Dallas Donnelly and herself with the new baby after the birth

'I couldn't have got through this labour without you... my heart is so full right now, I can't stop staring at him when I should be sleeping,' she wrote alongside the images.

'While you two boys are sleeping like twins I am still awake of excitement and over tired now I think.'

Ms Vader and Geppert have regularly made headlines, from a war of words with their relatives to both of them being involved in public fights and road rage brawls.

Geppert, 27, was arrested in Airlie Beach in north Queensland in November after a trip away with Ms Vader that sparked their breakup.

He was spent Christmas in jail and was quick to declare to his 14,000 Instagram followers that 2020 was his year when he was released.

'I can pretty much say 2020 will be the year for the BG! How much money have you lost chasing expletive? How much expletive you lost chasing money? Think about it', he wrote.

Ex Hells Angels bikie Ben 'Notorious' Geppert declared that 2020 will be his year

Geppert arrested in Airlie Beach in November after a trip away with his now ex-partner Allaina Jones (both pictured)

In January he posted a now-deleted screenshot of a threatening message sent privately to his Instagram account.

'We are all coming for you Geppert u can't think you can just say sorry and get away with years of your bulls**t,' the message reads.

'Your time is up we will find you and you can't leave town cause you are on parole.

'It's only a matter of time your days are numbered not even the cops can save u now f**k face'.

Geppert captioned the screenshot saying the person 'keeps making fake accounts' to try and scare him and that he has no intention of leaving Airlie Beach.

Geppert's tumultuous relationship with former partner Allaina Jones is well documented (together in happier times)

He later posted a picture of a mystery brunette with the caption 'see you soon princess.'

Geppert is serving a three-year suspended prison sentence following a fight outside a KFC restaurant on the Gold Coast.

The ex-bikie was back in the news in September following the stabbing death of his 17-year-old brother Harrison during a brawl.

At the time of his brother's death, Geppert said he was 'crushed' and 'if I could give my life for you to have yours back I would do so without thinking twice'.
US begins offering 1B free COVID tests, but many more needed
OAKLAND, Calif.  Uber and Lyft, which are facing mounting pressure to classify their freelance drivers as employees in California, are looking for another way.

One option that both companies are seriously discussing is licensing their brands to operators of vehicle fleets in California, according to three people with knowledge of the plans. The change would resemble an independently operated franchise, allowing Uber and Lyft to keep an arms-length association with drivers so that the companies would not need to employ them and pay their benefits.

The idea would effectively be a return to the days of how groups of black cars were run. Lyft has presented the plan to its board of directors, one person said. Uber, which already works with fleet operators in Germany and Spain, is also familiar with the business model.

The companies have not committed to the franchise-like plans, said the people with knowledge of the discussions, who asked to remain anonymous because the details are confidential. Uber and Lyft are waiting to see how Californias legal situation around drivers, who have been treated as independent contractors, plays out first, they said.
Tuesday, August 18th, 2020 (2:01 pm) - Score 439

The Scottish Government has, as part of the wider Connecting Scotland programme, today put 15m toward helping a further 23,000 low income households, specifically those without proper broadband internet access, to get online. The extra funding will prioritise disadvantaged families with children and young people leaving care.

The original 5m Phase 1 (April  July 2020) programme focused on those (c.9,000 households) who were at risk of isolation due to coronavirus because they were in the extremely high vulnerability group (shielding) or the higher risk of severe illness group. The investment helped to provide iPads, Chromebooks and support to develop digital skills for people who were digitally excluded and on low incomes.

By comparison the new 15m Phase 2 is focused upon households with children, or where a child is normally resident (this includes pregnant women with no child in the household) and care leavers up to the age of 26 (in line with eligibility for aftercare support). Related families will get a device (as above), as well as 12 months unlimited data and technical support to get online safely and securely.

Households will also be linked with a Digital Champion who will provide 6 months of training and support over the phone. Suitable recipients will be identified by local authorities and third sector organisations who apply to the programme on behalf of those they support.

NOTE: Aside from individuals, public sector and voluntary organisations can also apply up to the 5th October for kit and connectivity to help the people they support.

Aileen Campbell, Scotlands Communities Secretary, said: It has never been more important to be connected and online. It enables us to access information about how to stay safe and healthy during Covid-19, keep in touch with friends and family, and study or work. I am therefore very pleased to be able to extend our Connecting Scotland programme and tackle the digital divide by reaching over 30,000 households across both phases that are experiencing difficulties with online access. An additional 15 million will help thousands of families and young care leavers who could not otherwise afford to get online, making sure they are not further disadvantaged by providing the necessary hardware, data, and skills they need to get connected. This builds on 25m investment in devices and connectivity which will support around 70,000 school pupils.

However, what todays announcement doesnt include is any information on the take-up of their existing scheme. We should point out that theres also a separate Scottish Government scheme to provide 25,000 laptops or tablets, with internet access, for disadvantaged pupils to support learning outside school when they return in August (details here).
The influx of technology hubs across the country has significantly inspired the youth to seek self-employment in the technology sector. The pursuit of new knowledge and the creation of innovative products have been the outcome so far. Technology hubs introduce the youth to both the technical and entrepreneurial aspects of venture creation. The entrepreneurs use the information acquired over the period to make strategic decisions in the venture creation process.

The role of these technology hubs in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Ghana cannot be underestimated. The hubs serve as a safe haven for ambitious youth who want to start or scale their businesses. They provide working spaces, opportunities, and support that many startups require to advance to the next stage of their venture creation.

On the Ghana Hubs Networks website, there are 30 hubs registered as members of the network across the country. It is worth noting that, there are other existing hubs in the country which are not members of the network. The kind of access that individuals have to hubs in Ghana has increased tremendously over the past years.

The success stories are numerous, but much needs to be done to achieve the expected goals of these hubs and to make them sustainable. The business models of most of these hubs are mostly dependent on available funds from foreign donors. The dependency on donor funding can be a threat to growth and sustainability, so there is a need for local strategic partnerships.

Most of these hubs take their inspiration from the Silicon Valley and European ecosystem business models. In discussing the success stories of the technology hubs in Ghana, one actor which is critical to the growth and sustainability of these hubs is, in most cases missing  the university. Universities have played crucial roles in the success of the Silicon Valley ecosystem in the USA, and the hubs will have to find a way to engage them in Ghana.

University support

The role of universities in the startup ecosystem must be given the necessary attention that it deserves to get the best out of the hubs. In the Silicon Valley ecosystem, some inventions started from the university to industry and vice versa. Universities are made up of competent human resources that we can leverage to our advantage in the idea creation and business building processes of technology entrepreneurs in the hubs.

The human resources managing the youth in the various hubs influence the output of the entrepreneurs. The kind of innovations and level of sophistication is as a result of the support entrepreneurs obtain from the hubs. Providing well-coordinated support will improve the venture creation process, which will result in the development of competitive products for both local and international markets.

Universities are continually researching ways to improve and present sophisticated technologies to consumers and the development of new ones. These results can enhance the idea generation and product development of most entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs in the hubs can be given access to research findings under a structured dispensation to strengthen and transform their innovations. Bridging the gap between the hubs and universities will significantly benefit this endeavour. Entrepreneurs providing indigenous solutions could be supported to improve their innovations.

The support could be structured according to the focus areas of the universities. Universities that focus on education can support startups developing EdTech products; universities that focus on agriculture can help Agritech startups, and so on. The well-seasoned Professors at these universities, who are at the same time consulting for national and multinational cooperations can introduce startups to strategic networks which will facilitate the growth of their businesses.

Infrastructure usage

Most universities have closed their doors to students during the COVID - 19 period; the laboratories are empty and not in use. During this period, startups can use the university laboratories to develop and test their prototypes with experts support. Most of our hubs cannot build and maintain well-equipped laboratories, so using that of the universities will be incredibly supportive.

Beyond COVID -19, universities can institute measures that offer the startups access to the laboratory spaces. The university laboratories can be used in lean periods and weekends. Final products or prototypes can be significantly improved using well-equipped laboratories. Lab assistants and experts in the universities can support such endeavours.

Commercialization of innovations

The ICT departments of universities have a lot of research results that can be commercialized. Partnership with private technology hubs in the country can help facilitate this move. Brilliant students or graduates could be identified and put into teams to develop products from the research findings. It will be an opportunity for universities to test most of the research findings. The industry players can also contribute to this endeavour. The universities, through their Technology Transfer Offices, could proactively organize industry events where these innovations can be exhibited. The universities can own the intellectual property, and the technology license given to spin-offs to use. This calls for a more holistic licensing regime. In some instances, the university can also invest in the spin-offs.

Attractive incentive structure

There must be an incentive structure that encourages university Professors and experts to participate in these engagements. There can be a system where mentoring startups or particular hubs could be part of a Professor's duties in the semester and rewarded accordingly. The Professors will report the outcome of these engagements to the universities at the end of each semester. Experts from the universities will also have the first right to purchase shares or invest in the spin-offs.

Proper investment in the growth of the technology sector is very crucial. Technology hubs and universities must be proactive since the collaboration will benefit them in the long term. Government institutions that support entrepreneurship must play their roles to make this collaboration work.

The intention of this engagement should be to build a stronger indigenous Silicon Valley using the resources available to achieve the bigger goal of Ghana becoming the next big technology innovation destination in Africa.

Author: Kwabena Obiri Yeboah, PhD

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management Expert | Member, Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana

For comments, contact [email protected], +233555293293
Northern white rhino rescue program resumes work with successful egg harvest

After a hiatus of a few months owing to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the international team of scientists and conservationists continued its ambitious programme to save the northern white rhino from extinction: On August 18, 2020 they harvested ten eggs from the last remaining two individuals, Najin and Fatu, in the third-ever ovum pickup procedure in northern white rhinos, at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. With great support from the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the team from the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) and Czech Safari Park Dvur Kralove overcame substantial challenges to perform this important procedure in such critical times. Preparations for the next steps in the programme - the generation and transfer of embryos - are underway, ensuring that everything is done to make the best possible progress to save the northern white rhino from the brink of extinction.

"The progress made so far in the northern white rhino assisted reproduction project is very encouraging, and we look forward to the transfer of the already developed embryos into southern white rhino surrogate females here at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This project should galvanise the world's attention to the plight of endangered species and make us avoid actions that undermine law enforcement and fuel demand for the rhino horn," says Hon. Najib Balala, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife.

Germany's Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek: "Biodiversity forms the foundation of our very existence. But it is increasingly threatened by the destruction of natural habitats, environmental pollution and climate change. The northern white rhinoceros has become a symbol for our joint efforts to fight the loss of biological diversity. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research supports this rhino conservation work through the funding it provides for the BioRescue project, which is part of the Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity. We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from the Kenyan government as partners in our efforts to save the northern white rhino. Thanks to the tremendous commitment shown by all involved, we now have the chance to save this animal from the threat of extinction."

Twelve months after the ground breaking first "ovum pickup" in August 2019 and eight months after the second, the team repeated the procedure with northern white rhinos Najin and Fatu on August 18, 2020, at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The animals were placed under general anaesthetic and ten immature egg cells (oocytes) - two from Najin and eight from Fatu - were harvested from the ovaries using a probe with a movable needle guided by ultrasound. The anaesthesia and the ovum pickup went smoothly and without any complications. The oocytes were airlifted immediately to the Avantea Laboratory in Italy. In the coming days they will be incubated and matured and fertilised with sperm from already deceased northern white rhino bulls - hopefully leading to viable northern white rhino embryos that will be stored in liquid nitrogen alongside the three embryos generated during the previous procedures.

This procedure was conducted several months behind the original schedule of BioRescue, the international consortium led by the Leibniz-IZW and partially funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the project and its partners: travel restrictions and contact prohibitions prevented work from taking place in European zoos and Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Partner organisations such as Safari Park Dv?r Kralove and Ol Pejeta Conservancy faced - and continue to face - an existential threat as they largely depend on tourism. In several ways, the current COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to wildlife conservation. It is the hope and the will of all partners of the northern white rhino rescue programme to continue its mission against the odds. Since the northern white rhino offspring that will hopefully arise from the programme shall grow up in the company of Najin and Fatu and Najin is approaching old age, there is no time to lose.

Preparations for the next steps of the mission are underway. The plan is to select a group of southern white rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy from which a female would be selected to serve as surrogate mother for the northern white rhino embryo. Additionally, the partners agreed on the procedure of sterilising a southern white rhino bull. This bull, which has already produced many offspring, is crucial to indicate oestrus and to create an ideal hormonal environment in the potential surrogates. To achieve the best possible results for work with pure northern white rhino embryos, the team relies on experience from similar embryo transfer procedures in southern white rhinos that have been performed in order to address reproduction challenges in European zoos.

QUOTES

Thomas Hildebrandt, Head of BioRescue project, Head of Dept Reproduction Management, Leibniz-IZW "As scientists we are used to fundamental challenges and to finding entirely new approaches to problems. Pushing boundaries is essentially what we are trying to achieve with the advanced assisted reproduction technologies and stem cell associated techniques in BioRescue. Still, we were hit hard by the impact of the corona virus pandemic and had to clear many obstacles to resume our work. On the other hand, this time of crisis shows the importance of our mission: We always regarded BioRescue as not only focused on creating new offspring of one single species, but rather as a first milestone in repairing severely disturbed habitats in Central Africa. Re-introducing a giant grazer back into these habitats will help rebuilding the natural resilience of these ecosystems and significantly decrease the risk of new pandemics."

Cesare Galli, Director of Avantea "It is important that we do not lose the momentum initiated in August last year with the production of the first embryos. Such complex procedures require continuous practice to be successful at all levels from oocyte collection to fertilisation embryo culture and freezing. It is a great news that the work has resumed. Time works against us as the oocytes that are not harvested will be lost physiologically anyway so we must try to do as many collections as possible in absolute safety and we know that we can achieve that with the high skilled team working in BioRescue. But collecting oocytes in Ol Pejeta is only the tip of the iceberg. A lot of work is taking place behind the scenes in European zoos to be able to establish the first pregnancy with southern white rhino embryos as this will be instrumental before we thaw and transfer any northern white rhino embryos."

Jan Stejskal, Director of International Projects, Safari Park Dvur Kralove "It is promising that our team was able to harvest eggs today, especially from Najin. We have to be mindful that her age and general health condition might not allow us to collect eggs anymore in the future. In order to save the northern white rhinos it would be really beneficial to produce embryos from Najin, not only from Fatu as we succeeded after the previous procedures."

Richard Vigne, Managing Director, Ol Pejeta Conservancy "At Ol Pejeta, despite the existential threat that is posed by the ongoing COVID pandemic, we are immensely proud to be continuing our work to save endangered species. As well as supporting the work to save the northern white rhino, we are working with our partners to safeguard East Africa's single largest population of black rhino, as well as numerous other threatened species. It is work that is becoming more and more important as the human race continues to ravage the natural world, and we very much hope that our efforts keep drawing attention to the threats posed to biodiversity across the globe."

Brig (Rtd) John Waweru, Director General, Kenya Wildlife Service "We are delighted that this partnership gets us one step closer to prevent extinction of a species. This is particularly touching given there is no remaining male of the species in the world".

Barbara de Mori, Director of the Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare - University of Padua "As scientists we have a strong ethical responsibility to do whatever is in our possibilities to save the North White Rhino from extinction and to give a chance to Naijn and Fatu to raise their offspring. The race against time has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and now we have to try to regain the lost time. As in previous procedures on the Northern White Rhino females a detailed ethical assessment of all major steps before, at and after the intervention were regularly performed in order to assure the welfare of the animals involved and to gain a high quality of research results. The next steps of the mission will be ethically monitored with care, the aim is to get offspring very soon."

Sebastian Bohl, Vice President, Global Head of New Businesses, Fertility, Merck "After eight long months, it's fantastic to see this ambitious endeavor to save the Northern White Rhino take next steps. As we think of the challenges ahead, we feel very proud to continue to be in this together with Project BioRecue as a long-term partner, providing our technology, expertise and experience in fertility to their important work. We know any journey using assisted reproductive technologies can have ups and downs and just how important it is to give these embryos the best chance of success."

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ABOUT THE PARTNERS

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife (MoTW) is responsible for overall policy direction on tourism and wildlife in Kenya. http://www. tourism. go. ke

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is the principal government institution that conserves and manages wildlife for Kenyans and the world. It also enforces related laws and regulations. http://www. kws. go. ke

German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) http://www. bmbf. de/ en/ index. html

The Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research (IZW) is an internationally renowned German research institute. It is part of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. and a member of the Leibniz Association. Our goal is to understand the adaptability of wildlife in the context of global change and to contribute to the enhancement of the survival of viable wildlife populations. For this purpose, we investigate the diversity of life histories, the mechanisms of evolutionary adaptations and their limits, including diseases, as well as the interrelations of wildlife with their environment and people. We use expertise from biology and veterinary medicine in an interdisciplinary approach to conduct fundamental and applied research - from the molecular to the landscape level - in close dialogue with the public and stakeholders. Additionally, we are committed to unique and high-quality services for the scientific community. http://www. izw-berlin. de

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa and is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees. It is also home to the last two northern white rhinos on the planet. Ol Pejeta's cutting-edge wildlife security includes a specialised K-9-unit, motion sensor cameras along its solar-powered electric fence, and a dedicated Rhino Protection Unit. http://www. olpejetaconservancy. org

Safari Park Dvur Kralove is a safari park in the Czech Republic. It's one of the best rhino breeders outside of Africa and the only place where the northern white rhino bred in human care - both remaining females, Najin and Fatu, were born here. Dvur Kralove Zoo coordinates efforts to save the northern white rhinos. safaripark.cz/en/

Avantea is a laboratory of advanced technologies for biotechnology research and animal reproduction based in Cremona, Italy. Avantea has over twenty years of experience and the know-how in assisted reproduction of livestock developed through years of research conducted in the biomedical and animal reproduction fields. http://www. avantea. it/ en/

The University of Padua in Italy is one of the oldest in the world, celebrating 800 years. Its Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science is developing leading research and education in the field of wildlife conservation and welfare with a special focus on ethical assessment and evaluation of research projects and educational programs. http://www. bca. unipd. it

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 57,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices - the company is everywhere. In 2019, Merck generated sales of  16.2 billion in 66 countries. Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials. http://www. merckgroup. com/ en

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
AUSTIN, TX  In a time of pandemic when the term "essential workers" has entered the nomenclature, U.S. military service members fit the descriptor in the full extension of the newly minted term. Amid the coronavirus scourge, many of those serving their country face extended deployments due to travel restrictions  separating them from their families for an even longer period than anticipated.

Enter Tiffs Treats, the wildly popular Austin-based warm cookie delivery company, to help sweeten the deal. In partnership with Soldiers Angels, a national 501(c)3 charity supporting the military, veterans and their families, a new initiative helps deployed service members secure a dozen warm cookies delivered to loved ones back home for free.

The partnership came about as a way to thank military service members by helping

deployed service members treat the loved ones while missing family milestones  the birth of a child, graduations, weddings and more, officials explained. To that end, Tiffs Treats CookieVision technology makes it easy for service members to record a video message with a cell phone when placing an order, letting service members send their love home with a personalized greeting enhanced with augmented reality to accompany the free delivery of warm cookies.

We are thrilled to partner with Tiffs Treats on this unique opportunity to expand our

support services for deployed service members," Soldiers' Angels President and CEO Amy Palmer said in a prepared statement. "For the past 17 years, Soldiers Angels has focused on sending stateside support to the deployed. Thanks to Tiffs Treats, we are able to reverse that support for the first time in the history of Soldiers Angels so that the deployed can send something special back to the states."

Tiff's Treats has teamed up with Soldiers' Angels to enable deployed service members to send warm cookies and a video message to loved ones back home. Image provided by Tiff's Treats.



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Palmer added: As the pandemic is causing many families to feel the quarantine blues, we know that our deployed will love this opportunity to easily send support back home to their loved ones.

Deployed service members who have registered with Soldiers Angels and whose loved ones are in a Tiffs Treats delivery zone can claim a gift card to place their free order today via the Tiff's Treats website.

Tiffs Treats bakes and delivers mouthwatering made-to-order cookies in Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina and Nashville as well as the Texas cities of Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Lubbock, Waco, College Station and San Marcos, Texas.

We created CookieVision for moments just like this, where the joy of receiving warm

cookies is multiplied when a recipient sees the face and hears the voice of a loved one,

Tiffany Chen, co-founder of Tiffs Treats, said in a prepared statement. We cant think of a better group to offer this connection to thank our military, and were excited about all the smiles these

deliveries will bring.

The partnership could allow hundreds of deployed service members to send a fun,

heartfelt surprise to their families with contactless delivery for added safety to boot, officials noted. As of today, 1,300 combat deployed service members are registered with Soldiers Angels, and more can register at the Soldiers' Angels website to claim the free cookie delivery as well as discover services for deployed military, veterans, and their families and caregivers.

About Soldiers Angels

Soldiers' Angels is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provide aid, comfort and

resources to the military, veterans, and their families. Founded in 2003 by the mother of

two American soldiers, hundreds of thousands of Soldiers' Angels "Angel" volunteers assist veterans, wounded and deployed personnel and their families in a variety of

unique and effective ways. (Tax ID# 20-0583415). Learn more at the Soldiers' Angels website.

About Tiffs Treats

In 1999, Tiffany Taylor accidentally stood up Leon Chen for a date. As an apology, she

baked and delivered a batch of warm cookies, and the concept of warm cookie delivery

was born. Tiff and Leon, both 19-year-old sophomores at The University of Texas at

Austin at the time, opened Tiffs Treats with $20, a cell phone and a dream. Since then,

the business has grown to 59 stores in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina,

with more than 1,400 employees, baking more than 150 million cookies since the

company started.

The founders are now married and the business continues to grow,

but Tiffs Treats has the same core mission: creating memorable moments through

classic, baked-to-order cookies and specialty desserts from high-quality ingredients, and

delivering them still warm straight from the oven to the home or office in about an hour.

Customers can order online, with the Tiffs Treats app or by phone, all supported by industry-leading technology and top-notch customer service. The charitably minded company continually gives back. On top of hundreds of thousands of cookies per year donated to nonprofit organizations, each new stores grand opening benefits a local charity. To date, Tiffs Treats has donated over $200,000 to worthy causes through these events.

To learn more, visit the Tiff's Treats website.

This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Homegrown short-form video app Mitron on Tuesday announced it had raised $5 million (approximately Rs 37.3 crore) led by Nexus Venture Partners in a new funding round.

Existing investors 3one4 Capital and Arun Tadanki's private syndicate LetsVenture also participated in the latest round.

Mitron app is a short-form social video app that allows users to create, upload, view, and share entertaining short videos.

Founded by two computer science engineers, Shivank Agarwal who is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee and Anish Khandelwal, an alumnus of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Nagpur, Maharashtra, the app was launched in April this year.

Mitron said it will use the new infusion of capital to accelerate its product development to increase user engagement and hire high quality talent.

The company aims to onboard a wide network of Indian content creators on the app, and invest in building the brand.

"We are thrilled to have Nexus Venture Partners join us in this journey, bringing in deep expertise of helping their portfolio companies build great products," Agarwal who is also the CEO of Mitron, said in a statement.

"With more than 33 million downloads on Google Play Store and 9 billion video views per month, Mitron has emerged as the popular choice among Indians for short-form video." The latest round of financing saw participation from angels including Deep Kalra (Chairman, MakeMyTrip), Amrish Rau (CEO, Pine Labs), Jiten Gupta (Founder, Jupiter), Amarjit Batra (MD, Spotify India), Anand Chandrasekharan (Former Facebook, Snapdeal executive), Karan Bajwa (MD, Google Cloud, India), Radhika Ghai (Co-founder, Shopclues), Vikalp Sahni (Co-Founder and Ex-CTO at GoIbibo) and Shanti Mohan (Founder, LetsVenture).

TK Kurien (Premji Invest), Manish Vij and Harish Bahl (Smile Group) also participated in their individual capacities.

Earlier, Mitron had announced a seed funding round on July 1, led by 3one4 Capital and a LetsVenture syndicate led by Arun Tadanki.

Several new digital startups have attracted the attention of investors in the recent months.

Lifestyle community commerce platform Trell on Monday announced a $11.4 million (nearly Rs 86 crore) Series A round funding led by KTB Network and Samsung Ventures, among others.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Sunday's race in Barcelona was not "boring", according to former F1 driver Christijan Albers.

Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory in Spain, prompting Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas to agree that the six-time world champion is on target for a seventh.

But Albers told De Telegraaf: "I didn't think the race was boring. For me, a lot was happening.

"Mercedes has solved the tyre problem of Silverstone and were in fact even faster than before.

"And while Bottas had the car to be faster than Max, he couldn't do that. Put simply, he screwed up, not only at the start but also when overtaking.

"I also don't think he is the best at managing the tyres," Albers added, referring to Bottas.

(GMM)
The program, WebMD Back to Care , comes amid reports of high unemployment due to Covid-19 shutdowns and restrictions, while millions of Americans are de-prioritizing non-Covid-19 related healthcare. Visits to physicians for non-Covid-19 care are down sharply, largely due to fear of exposure, but some experts believe that people may continue to avoid routine healthcare and treatments -- and reduce or limit their prescribed medications  due to hardship.

WebMD Back to Care was developed to provide information on available patient assistance support for their prescription medications, quickly and seamlessly via a secure WebMD platform. Assistance information on over 1,000 prescription products will be available through Back to Care, and the platform will be continually updated.

"Many consumers aren't aware of the resources that may be able to support them in getting the healthcare they need," said John Whyte, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, WebMD. "With Back to Care, they can find out what help may be available, so that they can continue to make their healthcare a priority."

Secure, Seamless Process

The program was designed to be effortless for physicians and caregivers. Through an integration with patient education technologies from WebMD's sibling organization, Krames, patients receive information about Back to Care automatically as part of patient education materials shared with patients at the conclusion of a doctor's appointment or hospital discharge. More than 1,800 hospitals throughout the U.S. are participating in the program.

Enrollment in Back to Care is done easily via texting a code printed on the patient's discharge information. Once enrolled, patients receive a link to a mobile-optimized Back to Care website, where they can quickly type in their prescription name and identify applicable savings resources. If so, they would be linked to the drug manufacturer for additional support via the manufacturers' patient assistance home pages.

Should the patient be prescribed a generic drug or one without patient assistance available, the program would also deliver a text link to WebMD Rx, a prescription drug discount program, where consumers can type in the name of a medication into the search bar and get a product description and prices for filling it at nearby pharmacies. After finding the lowest price, users can text, print or email a coupon to themselves or download the WebMD mobile app and show the coupon at the pharmacy.

"In this challenging time, the pillars of good healthcare haven't changed," said Dr. Whyte. "Seeking care when needed, scheduling needed screenings and preventive care, following up with doctors, and taking prescriptions as directed can support health, avoid complications, and keep conditions from worsening. We are hoping that consumer trust in WebMD, and the support we have from our partners in healthcare, can help make a difference."

About WebMD

WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands Company, is the leading provider of health information services, serving patients, physicians, health care professionals, employers, and health plans through public and private online portals, mobile platforms, and health-focused publications. The WebMD Health Network includes WebMD Health, Medscape, Jobson Healthcare Information, prIME Oncology, MediQuality, Frontline, Vitals Consumer Services, Aptus Health, MedicineNet, eMedicineHealth, RxList, OnHealth, Medscape Education, and other owned WebMD sites. WebMD, Medscape, CME Circle, Medpulse, eMedicine, MedicineNet, theheart.org, and RxList are among the trademarks of WebMD Health Corp. or its subsidiaries.

About Internet Brands

Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., Internet Brands is a fully integrated online media and software services organization focused on four high-value vertical categories: Health, Automotive, Legal and Home/Travel. The company's award-winning consumer websites lead their categories and serve more than 250 million monthly visitors, while a full range of web presence offerings has established deep, long-term relationships with SMB and enterprise clients. Internet Brands' powerful, proprietary operating platform provides the flexibility and scalability to fuel the company's continued growth. Internet Brands is a portfolio company of KKR and Temasek. For more information, please visit www.internetbrands.com.

SOURCE WebMD Health Corp.

Related Links

http://www.webmd.com


The Ontario government is providing the City of Burlington with $4,470,700 in Phase 1 funding for municipal operating pressures as well as $1,571,213 to support transit operations.

The announcement on Aug. 12 is part of $4 billion in emergency assistance the province is providing to municipalities facing reduced revenues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burlington mayor Marianne Meed Ward said she was delighted.

The Premier listened to our voices and heard our concerns, said Meed Ward. This is exactly the support we need to continue to serve our residents in the midst of COVID-19. Todays funding will allow us to continue to provide the services our community depends on, without service cuts, unacceptable tax increases or depleting reserves.

In September, Ontarios 444 municipalities will receive $695 million in Phase 1 funding for municipal operating pressures. This funding will be allocated on a per household basis and would be shared 50/50 between upper- and lower-tier municipalities. Up to $695 million in additional funding will be available through Phase 2 for municipalities that have COVID-related financial impacts that exceed the initial per household allocation provided under Phase 1.

In addition to the support for municipalities, the government is providing over $660 million in the first phase of transit funding to the 110 municipalities with transit systems. The funding can be used to provide immediate relief from transit pressures, such as lower ridership, as well as for new costs due to COVID-19, such as enhanced cleaning and masks for staff.

In the second phase, additional allocations will be provided based on expenses incurred.

Jane McKenna, MPP for Burlington, said the funding will help with crucial needs facing municipalities.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, all three levels of government in Burlington, municipal, provincial and federal, have come together to reduce the spread of the virus and protect the health and safety of Burlington residents. Now, as we move into the recovery phase, this funding will help to address the most urgent needs of communities like Burlington, ensuring that critical services are there when people need them most, said McKenna.

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Were going to make sure that the ability to function going into the election is not adversely affected, McConnell said during an event in Kentucky. I dont share the concern, the presidents concern . . . and, in fact, [Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin], in discussions with [Pelosi], had already indicated the administration is prepared to spend up to $10 billion just to make sure the post office is on good terms going into the November election.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the Ontario government will permit school boards to access their reserve funds for pandemic needs  but local MPPs say the use of the their emergency funds is bad fiscal management.

Lecce said school boards will be allowed to access $500 million of their own reserve funds to ensure physical distancing in classrooms.

The government will spend $50 million to update school ventilation systems, and another $18 million to hire principals and support staff to administer online learning.

The plan doesnt sit well with Jeff Burch, MPP for Niagara Centre.

Emergency reserve funds are supposed to be for future obligations, he said. It is really bad fiscal management to expect school boards to use those funds; thats not what those funds are for. The governments plan misses the point.

Said Jennie Stevens, MPP for St. Catharines, This is not new money, Doug Ford has not added one new dollar.

In Niagara, our board has done such a great job in creating a surplus but that surplus will only amount to a drop in the bucket of the money that was announced.

Sam Oosterhoff, parliamentary assistant to Lecce and Niagara West MPP, said, I would challenge that if you were to ask anyone what a rainy day looks like and if you ask them if a global pandemic that has created huge pressures in our education system would qualify as a rainy day  I believe most people would agree that it does.

Burch was critical about the timing of the funding.

It is an unbelievable claim that the government is going to improve the ventilation systems three weeks before school. The official opposition has been raising concerns about ventilation and infrastructure long before the pandemic. To say youre going to start fixing things three weeks before the children go back to school is way too little, too late, he said.

Stevens echoed similar concerns.

The government has had four months to say what their plan will be and now with only a couple of weeks left before school starts, this government is attempting to solve ventilation issues by providing inadequate funding.

Oosterhoff said this funding demonstrates the governments multi-faceted approach to the pandemic.

I dont think that upgrading to the air ventilation system is the be-all-end-all when it comes to ensuring safety. These funds are designed to be available to schools but it is merely a component. I would imagine that not every school will utilize it. This one-time funding will be beneficial for the future. We are hoping that school boards will be taking that up.

Stevens and Burch said the government needs to do more to properly ensure the safety of the students when school begins.

Stevens will be talking to parents and teachers this week to see what their concerns are.

Ill be taking their voice and their concerns back to the legislature.

Burch intends on focusing on the size of the classroom.

The government needs to hire more teachers, education workers and line up extra classroom spaces. It is a middle of a pandemic and the government can only offer old money.

Oosterhoff reiterated the governments plan was not developed by a couple of politicians and bureaucrats.

If you look at per pupil funding, it is the highest per pupil in Canada including higher than the NDP in British Columbia, he said. It has been developed in consultation with advice from SickKids (Hospital), pediatric experts, Ontarios top doctor, the chief medical officer of health.

Schools in Ontario reopen Sept. 8.
BAY CITY, MI  Shaheen Development is bringing more than 100 new residential units to Uptown Bay City, including apartments and brownstone townhomes for rent. Its an investment business and community leaders say will help further connect Uptown and downtown Bay City.

Al Warr, director of development for Shaheen Development, said this is a major investment in Bay City and will help meet the demand for housing.
HOUSTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP), the largest provider of allied health training in Texas, today announced the launch of a new online dental assisting program for parent learners that will combine flexible, online coursework with three weekends of in-person clinical training. The new 10-month certificate program offers an industry-recognized and stackable certificate, enabling graduates to work in high-demand occupations while also creating new pathways for them to complete their degree.

"CHCP shares a dedication to providing lifelong career skills in the communities we call home," said Katherine McLean, director of human resources at Jefferson Dental & Orthodontics. "CHCP's in-person Dental Assisting program has long been a reliable source of talent, preparing externs and graduates that can execute our patient care model. We are excited to continue to grow our teams by providing more learners across the state of Texas access to career opportunities."

According to data from the The Texas Workforce Commission employment in dental assisting is expected to grow by 22% over a 10-year period ending in 2026. The new program, which has been approved by the Texas Workforce Commission and accredited by the nationally recognized Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), builds off the success of CHCP's 10 month online medical assisting program with bootcamps that provides many working adults with complicated lives an opportunity to earn a national industry-recognized certification.

"Our number one priority is creating accessible training opportunities that lead to in-demand careers for all aspiring professionals," said Jon Patterson, president of digital services at CHCP "This new online program is designed specifically with the parent learner in mind  supporting those who are not well-served by traditional models of education because of their current work responsibilities, childcare needs, or lack of transportation. Now they can receive the critical skills training they need to be placed into a well-paying allied health field, while at the same time continuing on their path to a degree."

The first cohort of the program launched in July with weekend clinicals offered through the Houston campus, with plans to expand to CHCP's six other campuses across Texas in the coming months. Students who participate in the program will receive an externship and take the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners examination, leading to certification to be a dental assistant throughout the state of Texas.

About CHCP

As a leader in healthcare education and training, CHCP helps students develop the skills they need to meet the demands of today's healthcare industry. Founded by physicians, CHCP is focused on healthcare education and training and its accredited programs have been developing healthcare professionals for 30 years. CHCP faculty have real-world, on-the-job experience and are committed to helping students succeed. Just as importantly, CHCP's on-campus, blended, online and hybrid program offerings give students flexible options to learn on their schedule. CHCP offers continuing education nationwide for medical imaging and emerging healthcare technologies through the Medical Technology Management Institute (MTMI). For more information, visit www.chcp.edu .

SOURCE College of Health Care Professions (CHCP)

Related Links

http://www.chcp.edu


Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

The Albuquerque City Council on Monday cleared the way for a controversial West Side residential development to go forward  though multiple councilors said they realize the case might ultimately be headed to court.

The council voted 4-3 to uphold site plan approval for the Overlook at Oxbow, in the process denying a pair of appeals that argued the project did not meet city development standards.

The vote followed a 90-minute hearing and came nearly two years after Gamma Development submitted its original plans to the city for a residential project on 23 acres known as the Poole property and located at the east end of Namaste Road, above the Rio Grande wetlands.

Brian McCarthy of Gamma said he was looking forward to building beautiful new homes in a spectacular location.

Both the (citys Integrated Development Ordinance) and private property rights were rightfully acknowledged by our governing body and were thoroughly pleased with their decision, McCarthy said in a written statement late Monday.

The citys Environmental Planning Commission initially gave Gamma site plan approval in March of 2019, but a pair of appeals led to a city council hearing last summer. After hearing the case, the council voted to send the project back to the EPC for another review. The EPC approved a revised Gamma site plan in February, but another round of appeals led to Mondays city council hearing.

Opponents have argued that Gamma is skirting the citys Integrated Development Ordinance by proposing two cluster developments on the same site plan and by using a drainage easement to meet the citys open space requirements for cluster developments. The IDO allows developers to build on smaller lot sizes in exchange for creating open space. The current plan includes two clusters totaling 69 homes and almost eight acres of open space.

A city land-use hearing officer this summer recommended upholding the EPCs decision, in part because he found that the citys ordinance did not expressly prohibit multiple clusters in the same site plan.

But Thomas Gulley, one of the appellants, chided that logic of allowing something just because it is not expressly prohibited.

Think of the mess you might be creating that a developer could drive a truck through, he said.

Reversing the EPCs approval requires five councilors votes, but only seven of the councils nine members participated in the action.

Lan Sena, who represents the district where the development is slated, recused herself because she was a party to one of the appeals having signed on as a neighborhood leader before she was in March appointed to the city council.

Though she had participated in the councils 2019 vote on the project, Cynthia Borrego recused herself this time around saying she had a conflict of interest because she is also a board member for the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority and the issue involves a drainage easement. She said it would be difficult to be impartial.

Only three councilors  Pat Davis, Isaac Benton and Klarissa Pena  voted to reverse the EPC decision.

Benton said the project missed the mark for what he perceives as a cluster development, with long rows of houses more akin to a traditional subdivision.

Davis said he understood that private property owners have the right to develop their property, but disagreed with the plan.

Our simple decision is whether this is an appropriate development or an appropriate plan for this site. I dont believe it is, he said. I dont believe this is a good precedent for the city council to establish.

But with a motion to reverse the EPC failing and Bentons subsequent motion to once again send the case back to the EPC for another review unable to attract a second, Councilor Trudy Jones motioned to uphold the EPCs decision.

It garnered the four votes needed to pass, as Jones was joined by Brook Bassan, Diane Gibson and Don Harris.

Now that appellants had exhausted their options at the city level, both Harris and Pena said they expected the case to go to state District Court.

Without kind of putting the pressure on the neighborhoods and the appellants that maybe we should just move it to the next level which would be going to district court, Pena said.

Gulley could not immediately be reached for comment about his plans.
BEIJING (Reuters) - A potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by a unit of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) could cost no more than 1,000 yuan ($144.27) for two shots, state media on Tuesday quoted chairman Liu Jingzhen as saying.

Sinopharm has said its experimental vaccine could be ready for public use by the end of this year. It has entered a late-stage human test in the United Arab Emirates to gather proof of efficacy for final regulatory approvals.

"It will not be priced very high. It is expected to cost a few hundred yuan for a shot, and for two shots it should be less than 1,000 yuan," Liu told the Guangming Daily newspaper.

Governments and drugmakers around the world are in a frenetic race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 200 candidates are in development, including more than 20 in human clinical trials.

Moderna Inc said earlier this month that smaller volumes of its experimental vaccine have been priced at $32-$37 per dose.

Last month, the U.S. government struck a deal for an experimental vaccine being developed by Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE that secures enough to innoculate 50 million Americans for about $40 a person.

Sinopharm's Liu did not mention whether China's state-backed nationwide insurance program would cover some of the vaccine costs for consumers, or whether it could be included in the country's free vaccination scheme.

China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a Sinopharm unit, has moved two vaccine strains using the same method into human trials. Its plants in Wuhan and Beijing combined could make over 200 million doses of the drug annually.

(This story corrects capacity figures in last paragraph)

(Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Brenda Goh; Editing by Kim Coghill)
As weve seen in the past few months, in the midst of a national crisis, advertising changes. After our look back at turn-of-the 20th century ads, I went through The Chronicles archive to see how the U.S. entering World War II changed how retailers advertised in the paper in the early 1940s.

In the months before Pearl Harbor, the war in Europe was front-page news in The Chronicle, but the display ads made little reference as to what was happening overseas.

Even after the declaration of war, the Dec. 26, 1941, Chronicle had plenty of regular ads for after-Christmas sales.

But a few suggested that life for residents of San Francisco was about to change. The City of Paris department store advertised civilian dog tags endorsed by air raid wardens, as well as and emergency cots and other supplies.

By early January, the tone had changed. A Roos Bros. advertisement hawked shoes that were correct with uniforms. Florsheim Shoe Shops hinted at likely rationing: With an eye to the future, buy two pairs now.

Throughout the war, retail ads encouraged customers to buy war bonds in addition and sometimes in place of their goods. War bonds raised money to finance the war and were paid back in 10 years with interest. A Dec. 7, 1942, Bank of America ad showed a buff Uncle Sam, with the message Back him, 100%. And it wasnt just banks advertising war bonds and stamps.

Local furniture chain Joseph Breuner announced in The Chronicle in 1943 its store was putting off its August sale. The demand for furniture and floor coverings far exceed the supply, so in fairness to those in real need, we urge buying only if necessary. Instead, it encouraged people to purchase more war bonds and savings stamps.

An ad for the clothing store Hastings showed a detailed chart on yearly spending for clothes with the tagline: How to spend less for clothes and buy more War Bonds and Stamps. Of course, this was best accomplished by buying your wares at Hastings, they argued.

Even upscale I. Magnin encouraged customers to achieve victory by careful consideration of everything you spend your time and money for, by choosing clothes that serve many occasions and that youll love for many, many seasons. Buy only what you need now ... BUT FIRST BUY WAR BONDS.

Advertisements also referenced womens changing roles during wartime. A January 1942 White House ad encouraged women to buy from their Home Front line: fashions designed for your exciting action-packed new on-and-off duty life. A smiling woman in the classifieds announced Yes, Im a Richmond worker under a listing for War Women Power needed at Richmond Shipyards. Meanwhile, the Emporiums photo department advertised its portrait services  for lovely photographs to send him.

After V-J Day, it took months for the troops to return home from victory over Japan and rationing to be completely lifted. But store ads in The Chronicle reverted back to a lighter and more optimistic tone, even before the peace treaties were signed.

Despite continued reports in the press of a shortage of worsted suits  youll find no shortage at Hastings, a September ad declared. With the war over and France liberated, I. Magnin advertised exclusive Alexandrine gloves: The first to come from post-war France.

An early December ad from Roos summed up the attitude that prewar normalcy was right around the corner, with an illustration of a serviceman arriving at a door and the text: Itll be a real Christmas again!

More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond.

More from Chronicle Vault

 True story: When Nazi sailors were forced to live on Angel Island.

 10 months before Pearl Harbor: When Navy sailors in S.F. ripped a Nazi flag off the German consulate.

 Joe Rosenthal: The photographer behind World War IIs most famous photo.

 Virtual Dem convention this week: RFK to Dukakis to Clinton  Classic S.F. photos of Democratic candidates.

 VP pick: How Kamala Harris was shaped by Berkeley and her mother.

From the Archive is a weekly column by Bill Van Niekerken, the library director of The Chronicle, exploring the depths of the newspapers archive. Its part of Chronicle Vault, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting more than 150 years of San Francisco stories. It is edited by Taylor Kate Brown, The Chronicles newsletter editor. Sign up for the newsletter here, and follow Chronicle Vault on Instagram. Contact Bill at bvanniekerken@sfchronicle.com and Taylor at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com.
Advertisement

Daggers disguised as smoking pipes, miniature cameras and escape kits hidden in matchboxes are among a haul of chilling 'James Bond style' gadgets used by British secret agents in World War Two that are going up for sale this week.

A host of concealed weapons used by secret service personnel behind enemy lines are set to go up for auction on Friday.

The deadly items include normal-looking smoking pipes, pens and pencils which have daggers inside for close-quarter combat.

This fountain pen was actually a concealed dagger that could be used by spies caught out behind enemy lines during the Second World War

A specialist 'escape' compass expertly concealed in a box of matches is among the items to go up for auction later this week

Hidden daggers were also crafted inside pipes to ensure secret agents always had some protection on them whilst gathering intelligence

Special Operations Executive agents were issued with various items containing hidden compasses, including a showering brush, a matchbox, ointment tin and a coat toggle.

The sale features a message bolt with a secret compartment, and several miniature cameras which were used to gather intelligence.

The items would have been used by secret agents dropped into Nazi-occupied Europe to gather intelligence, or passed into the hands of those in prisoner of war camps a means of escape.

They were also used to assist resistance fighters battling the Nazis in countries like France.

Later on in the war, the Special Operations Executive deployed agents to south east Asia.

Among the items up for sale is a silk escape map of China, which would have been used on the front.

Another way of hiding compasses was to conceal them within in the bottom of a shaving brush, the compass would be small enough to fit inside, but large enough so that an agent could use to navigate an escape route

Straight out of a James Bond film, the Ticka Watch Camera appeared as a pocket watch, but was in fact used as a spy camera

Miniature cameras such as the one above could were used to gather intelligence from Nazi-occupied Europe during the height of the Second World War

While some chilling weapons were concealed in every day items, this garrote wire served only one purprose - to strangle an enemy, most often from behind, as a silent way means of incapacitating them

This miniature hacksack may have been used as a means of escape for an agent who was being detained by the enemy in the Second World War

Less subtle but equally effective items going under the hammer are a miniature hacksaw, gorsed garrote wire for choking an unsuspecting guard and an unused reel of trip wire.

The James Bond-style items are being sold in 26 lots by a collector of SOE items who has amassed them over a number of years with East Bristol Auctions.

The collection is expected to fetch 3,000.

Auctioneer Andrew Stowe said: 'They're incredibly interesting artefacts - these were normal 'every day' objects, but contained hidden and often deadly surprises.

'These items were smuggled into prisoner of war camps, or secreted about a person's uniform with only one intention - to help them escape and evade capture.

'Perhaps the most interesting item is the smoking pipe which actually contains a hidden dagger.

'You can just picture the gentleman RAF Officer smoking this in his prison camp, just waiting for the opportunity to arise where he could make good his escape. It's incredible.

'Everyone loves little stories of spying and espionage, and these items are a direct link to those very stories.'

The sale takes place on Friday.

Buttons were crafted to contain hidden compasses to ensure agents trapped in Europe would be able to navigate their way to safety

Escape maps were woven from silk to help personnel who may have been gathering intelligence in occupied areas during the war

Compasses were hidden in all manner of everyday items to avoid detection, including at the end of a duffle coat button

This bolt carries a hidden chamber for carrying secret messages that can be passed discretely and most importantly, without arousing suspicion

An American Red Cross 'Escape and Evade' kit carried razor blades and a compass to be carried by secret agents overseas

Compasses were hidden in all sorts of every day, non-suspicious items, including a tin of 'Wintergreen' ointment, above

This Royal Air Force belt buckle contained a secret compass, thought to be issued by by the Special Operations Executive, which would drop agents into occupied Europe by parachute to gather intelligence

Instead of graphite or lead, this pencil carried a hidden blade, which spies would be ready to use at a moment's notice to evade capture

Special Operations Executive-issued razors could be transformed into daggers at a moment's notice, but would go undetected otherwise

Trip wire, with a guide on how to use it, was handed out to secret agents and used by resistance fighters in occupied Europe and south east Asia, during the Second World War

Hiding in plain sight: Cigarette lighters would carry a small compass as a means of escape for anyone carrying it during the war
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"):

Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 18 August 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 26,823 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,930 pence 25.51 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,908 pence 25.22 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,924 pence 25.42 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 18 August 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 15,569 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 25.35 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 25.30 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 25.32 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 18 August 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 23,745 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 25.40 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 25.20 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 25.31 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 37.34 USD 28.62 GBP which was calculated as of 11 August 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 193,529,293 Public Shares outstanding, or 199,532,224 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 17,427,457 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005731/en/

Contacts:

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
The court noted that it would be difficult to arrange for security personnel to escort Saibaba from Nagpur to Hyderabad amid COVID-19

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to grant emergency parole to Delhi University's former professor G N Saibaba to attend his late mother's post-funeral rituals.

A division bench of Justices Z A Haq and A G Gharote, however, directed the Nagpur jail authorities to make necessary arrangements for Saibaba to talk to his family via video conferencing on one day.

Saibaba, who is serving life sentence in the Nagpur Central Prison of Maharashtra for links with Maoists, had sought parole to go to Hyderabad to attend the post-funeral rituals of his 74-year-old mother who died on August 1.

The court, while rejecting the plea for emergency parole, noted that it would be difficult to arrange for security personnel to escort Saibaba from Nagpur to Hyderabad amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Special public prosecutor P K Sathianathan, appearing for the government, opposed Saibaba's plea and argued that most of the post-funeral rituals are complete.

Saibaba, who is wheelchair-bound with 90 per cent physical disabilities, had last month also sought parole to visit his ailing mother which was rejected by the prison authorities.

In March 2017, a sessions court in Maharashtras Gadchiroli district convicted Saibaba and four others, including a journalist and a student of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU),for Maoist links and indulging in activities amounting to waging war against the country.

The court had held Saibaba and others guilty under various provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Since his conviction, Saibaba has been lodged in the Nagpur Central Prison.
LOBAMBA  The first sitting of the PAC got off to an explosive start as Clerk to Parliament Ndvuna Dlamini sang like a canary.

The clerk, who is the Parliament controlling officer, said his work was being interfered with by politicians and threatened to report this to the King.

He alleged that meetings with the Parliament presiding officers and the prime minister, who was the minister responsible for Parliament business, had yielded no results which was why he wanted to escalate the issue to the countrys authorities.

Implementation

This happened yesterday when Ndvuna appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where he was asked to give a picture of how far he had gone with the implementation of the PAC recommendations, in particular the use of vehicles by presiding officers.

The other issue the clerk had to address was that of international trips where the auditor general found that Parliament had an over expenditure yet not all legislators had been afforded the chance to travel.

This was when the clerk revealed that he had no control of trips undertaken by the politicians as most of them were awarded by the presiding officers in Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini and Speaker Petros Mavimbela. This then resulted in Ndvuna informing the committee that there was one presiding officer who was fond of travelling to New York.

Although the controlling officer did not reveal any names, he kept referring to the presiding officer as a female and in the current crop of presiding officers only Senate President Lindiwe is female.

He said the other challenge was that the presiding officer always travelled First Class, which was very expensive for government.

Ndvuna alleged that there were trips which he had grounded, which were to be undertaken by one of the presiding officers and he received attitude from that officer. I once asked if you are going to spend E400 000-E500 00 alone on a trip yet there are some legislators who have never travelled anywhere, what does that mean? he said.

The clerk to Parliament said he must be allowed to make a travelling plan which they should stick to.

For example, there is a presiding officer who likes to travel to New York. I will tell it all another day. She loves going to New York, First Class and the money that is spent on that is a lot, he said.

If that officer did not travel then she ignores you and stops talking to you (uyakudvuba).

He said when he told that presiding officer that there was no money for the trip, she would take you to task.

He said, however, he had since developed a thick skin because every day he was threatened.

Its part of the job, being a clerk is not for cry-babies, he said. When asked who the officer was, the Clerk said she was a she of course.

Meanwhile, PAC member Lobamba MP Allen Stewart informed the clerk that he had told the PAC that he worked without fear of favour, but it was clear that he was sending an SOS call to the members to assist him. He advised the clerk to stick to his duties whether he was threatened or not. Whether they get mad at you or not, stick to your duties, he said.
Nicola Sturgeon has rejected calls for an immediate public inquiry into Scotland's Covid-19 care home catastrophe.

Politicians have demanded an urgent probe into how many infected patients were discharged into care homes. Scottish Tories have urged ministers to 'tell us what happened  and do it now'.

It comes after it was revealed at the weekend that at least 37 patients  in Ayrshire and Arran, Grampian, Tayside, Fife and Lanarkshire  who had tested positive for the coronavirus were discharged into care homes.

But the First Minister yesterday refused calls to carry out an investigation straight away, amid fears it could cause government to 'take our eye off the ball'.

Ms Sturgeon told her daily briefing in Holyrood that a public inquiry would occur 'in due course' because 'we may not even be halfway through this pandemic'.

Nicola Sturgeon has rejected calls for an immediate public inquiry into Scotland's Covid-19 care home catastrophe

She said: 'This virus is still a day-to-day threat to us, which is why it's really important ... to keep really focused on what we've got to do today and tomorrow and next week.'

And she added it was important that we 'don't take our eye off that ball in order to become focused on an inquiry'.

Ms Sturgeon was pressed to commit to the inquiry concluding or publishing interim findings before the Holyrood election next year.

But she argued she would not 'dictate' timescales and that it was important to keep the balance between holding an inquiry and dealing with the virus.

And Ms Sturgeon said 'there will undoubtedly be lessons to learn' but insisted that appropriate guidance was issued 'at every stage'.

At least five health boards knowingly transferred patients to care homes around the time that lockdown was put in place in March, it was revealed on Sunday.

The Sunday Post claimed that at least 37 potentially infectious people were moved to care homes in a desperate attempt to free up beds.

The Scottish Government has confirmed 1,431 untested patients were moved to care homes between March 1 and April 21, before testing was mandatory.

A unit set up in May is already investigating the near 2,000 deaths in Scotland's care homes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, a graph shows how many deaths have been recorded each week in different settings in Scotland since the pandemic began

WERE INFECTED PATIENTS DISCHARGED INTO CARE HOMES IN ENGLAND AS WELL? Nearly 20,000 hospital patients  most of whom hadnt been tested for coronavirus  were discharged into care homes during the first weeks of lockdown, it emerged in June. Up until April 16, government guidelines said patients should be released into care homes  even if they had tested positive for Covid-19. Official public health guidance issued on February 25 stated: It remains very unlikely that people receiving care in a care home or the community will become infected. The policy, described as 'disastrous', was blamed for the catastrophic spread of the virus in care homes, killing nearly 15,000 elderly and vulnerable residents. Charities said it was a failure to allow a single person to be discharged into care homes without being tested. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: This awful statistic shows how devastating the consequences have been in care homes from the failure to get enough tests for the virus organised quickly enough.' Advertisement

In the wake of the Sunday Post's report, Scottish Labour called on the Lord Advocate to urgently investigate the scandal.

A unit set up in May is already investigating the near 2,000 deaths in Scotland's care homes as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Labour's health spokesperson Monica Lennon has now asked if the dedicated group will look into the revelations, which she called 'deadly'.

She asked James Wolffe QC to find out whether the policy to discharge patients into care homes was widespread and who was aware of it.

And Ms Lennon called for him to discover if care homes were even aware of positive test results before infected residents were admitted.

Ms Lennon said it was 'unacceptable' that the Scottish Government has failed to be transparent, saying care homes deaths have been the 'crisis within a crisis'.

'Tragically, thousands of older people have died and there must be accountability for decisions that led to the virus infiltrating care homes in the first place,' she added.

'It will be extremely distressing to impacted families to learn that Covid-19 positive patients were knowingly discharged from hospital to care homes.'

She added that the 'least they deserve is a commitment that this will be thoroughly investigated'.

The Scottish Tories also called for an urgent inquiry into the matter, which they said should start this week.

Donald Cameron, the health spokesman for the the party, warned 'waiting is not an option' and an investigation must be immediately carried out.

He said: 'The horrendous decision to send dozens of Covid patients to care homes cannot be swept under the carpet any longer.

'Families of victims have been left in the dark about how their loved ones died - and they still don't know the full picture.

'There can be no more delays and secrecy. Light must be shone on how this scandal happened immediately.

'The SNP must begin an inquiry into how Covid patients were sent to care homes - and it has to start this week.'

A similar scandal was uncovered in England, with MPs warning that care homes were 'thrown to the wolves' during the pandemic.

The policy, described as 'disastrous' was blamed for the catastrophic spread of the virus in care homes, killing nearly 15,000 elderly and vulnerable residents.

In March the NHS was keen to free up hospital beds for incoming Covid-19 patients, and the Government said testing was not necessary on discharge.

Nearly 20,000 hospital patients  most of whom hadnt been tested for coronavirus  were discharged into care homes during the first weeks of lockdown.
GUATEMALA CITY - Guatemalas president said Monday that a group of attackers trying to take possession of a ranch were responsible for a weekend attack on an Indigenous community that left about 15 houses burned.

President Alejandro Giammattei said the attackers have been identified and that warrants have been issued for their arrest.

On Saturday, armed men attacked the hamlet of Cubilguitz, near the northern town of Coban. They forced out about 40 families belonging to the qeqchi Indigenous group and burned their homes. There were no reported injuries.

The ranch land is apparently in dispute because of legal conflicts. The families lost most of their possessions.

The countrys top human rights prosecutor, Jordan Rodas, has called for a rapid investigation and aid for the victims.
(Newser)  New research has scientists more hopeful that lingering antibodies will help COVID-19 patientseven those who had only mild casesfight off future coronavirus infections. The studies show that months after recovering, patients have antibodies in their blood still able to defeat the virus, the New York Times reports. "The antibodies decline, but they settle in what looks like a stable nadir," said an immunologist who worked on one of the studies, which has not yet been peer reviewed. "The response looks perfectly durable." Another immunologist and author on a study under review now sees reason to be encouraged, though of course more research on all aspects is needed. "This is exactly what you would hope for," he said. "All the pieces are there to have a totally protective immune response."

story continues below

Scientists can't be sure of immunity until patients successfully fight the virus off after a later exposure. But then, there's also no proof that anyone is contracting the virus more than once. One explanation could be that immune systems are learning from their first exposure to the virus, the way they do with other viruses. Antibodies usually vanish from the blood within months; they can't replenish themselves. "Frankly, thats not that surprising, because you're not sick anymore," one professor said. But that finding in COVID-19 patients might have sparked an overreactionconcern that immunity, even from a vaccine, might not last long. There are experts less worried about that, per Scientific American. Antibodies are just part of immunity protection anyway, they say in citing reassuring evidence. "The data on the decline of the antibodies is not scary," another viral immunologist said. (Read more antibodies stories.)
Her father was a homicide detective, an Irish American who spent his career on the New York Police Department and served once as grand marshal of the city's St. Patrick's Day Parade. It was his hope that his daughter would follow him onto the force.

Instead, Anne Ferguson-Rohrer chose journalism and became a key editor at The Washington Post, where she policed copy flow and helped determine what millions of readers saw the next day online and in print.

Ferguson-Rohrer, a longtime copy desk chief who served most recently as night news director, overseeing late-breaking news coverage, died Aug. 18 at her home in Arlington, Va. She was 58.

The cause was complications from pancreatic cancer, said Carrie Camillo, a friend and Post colleague who called her the "traffic cop" of nighttime news.

News editors tend to play quiet backstage roles in journalism, serving as guardians of language and common sense as they uphold journalistic standards in a relentless news cycle. Ferguson-Rohrer was an unusually colorful figure - literally so, with her flaming red hair - in the newsroom.

Off deadline, she was a gregarious presence with an omnivorous appreciation for high- and lowbrow culture, a fascination with the Yankees and the Giants of her youth, and a devotion to animal rights.

But under looming deadlines, when reporters and editors delayed in finishing stories, Ferguson-Rohrer was known for firing off intra-office missives that were caustic and sometimes profane, with a certain mafioso persuasiveness.

"I hate you with the heat of a thousand suns," she once told offending editors, partly - perhaps - in jest. "Also, I keep track, and you will pay one day."

Barbara Vobejda, a Post deputy managing editor, emphasized Ferguson-Rohrer's "combination of tough humor and gentle kindness" and her mentorship of dozens of journalists.

That mix of caring and command propelled Ferguson-Rohrer, within six months of her joining The Post in 1998, from a Metro section copy-editing job to a supervisory role. She was tasked with overseeing the roughly dozen Virginia and Maryland inserts called "tabs," featuring news of near and outlying counties. Her responsibilities grew to include recruiting and hiring copy editors across the newsroom. In 2009, she was asked to run copy desks for all sections except sports.

She later held the title of multiplatform editing chief, leading a team of nearly 50 editors as they shepherded copy for print as well as online and mobile devices.

"She has transformed what was a print-only desk into an operation versed in the high arts of search-engine optimization, linking and all manner of digital publishing," read her citation for the 2011 Eugene Meyer Award, the paper's highest honor. "Anne shows a kind of equanimity amid chaos that epitomizes the best of our Newsroom culture. She is smart, careful and generous with her time and wisdom."

As strict as Ferguson-Rohrer could be about enforcing deadlines, she was equally gracious in saving Post journalists from embarrassment.

"Anne was the final line of defense," said Mike Semel, The Post's top local editor. "You'd have a huge aspirational project that had been read by five senior editors and Anne would give it the final read. She'd always find ways to say things more clearly. But more than once, she saved our bacon by catching holes in the reporting or something that simply didn't make sense. She'd never take or want credit. Anne never danced in the end zone. But she would take enormous pride in making sure our readers got our best work."

Anne Marie Ferguson was born in the Bronx on Nov. 13, 1961, and grew up in Pelham, N.Y., the oldest of five siblings. She was in her teens when she decided on a journalism career, later writing in a newsroom biographical sketch, "When it became clear that my ambition to play third base for the Yankees wasn't going to pan out, I figured writing about them was the next best thing."

She studied journalism at Syracuse University and Michigan State University before working at the old Paterson (N.J.) News, the Salisbury (N.C.) Post and the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal, where she rose over nine years to copy desk chief.

Ferguson-Rohrer was a former board member of ACES: the Society for Editing, was active in Basset Rescue of Old Dominion (BROOD), a basset-hound rescue group, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels.

Survivors include her husband of 32 years, S. Scott Rohrer, a journalist and historian, of Arlington; a son, Joshua Rohrer of Alexandria, Va.; two brothers; and two sisters.
Prosecutors have provided insufficient evidence to prove a key claim in their case against three men accused as accomplices in the 2005 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, a judge said on Tuesday.

The judges are reading their decision at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon against four accused and have not yet pronounced their verdict.

While prosecutors had shown that suspects used cell phones to coordinate the attack, they did not sufficiently connect the suspects to a false claim made immediately after the attack by people who must have known Hariri would be killed.

"The prosecution has therefore not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt (against three suspects') participation in the false claim of responsibility for the attack on Hariri," said Judge Janet Nosworthy.

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IIT Delhi and Wells Fargo recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a peptide-based ELISA test for the detection of COVID-19 antibodies

US based Wells Fargo International Solutions Private Limited through their philanthropic partner, United Way of Bengaluru (UWBe), has joined hands with IIT Delhi in this fight against coronavirus.

IIT Delhi and Wells Fargo recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a peptide-based ELISA test for the detection of COVID-19 antibodies.

ELISA, short for serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, determines whether a person possesses antibodies for COVID-19 in the blood. The test results can help the medical fraternity fight the disease in many ways; a significant way would be the identification of individuals with antibodies who can donate their blood as part of an experimental treatment of infected patients.

This project- a collaboration between IIT Delhi and National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune - has the potential of making a meaningful difference to this situation by enabling affordable, home-based testing.

This research will utilise the microplate-based enzyme immune-assay technique. The choice of antigen will be a peptide that has been computationally identified. Structural analysis of the available complex will be performed to design a novel peptide that has a complementary property with spike protein of COVID-19.

A set of peptides will be designed using a combination approach to test their binding. From the sequences of the variable regions of the Heavy and Light chain including the novel designed peptide, cloning of the mAb fragment (CV-Fab) will be performed. CV-Fab will be produced from which ELISA based testing kits will created.
Beat that Jennifer Gardner? For Ben Affleck's birthday, Ana de Armas gave her boyfriend something that his previous wife did not have a chance to gift.

Affleck turned 48 this weekend, and De Armas quickly made it extra special by presenting him a brand-new customized BMW motorcycle, per Page Six. The actor was no doubt happy and excited about it, immediately taking it for a spin -- with the gift giver herself of course!

De Armas also got them matching his-and-hers green helmets to cement the idea that they are together.

The "Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice" actor has no qualms about it, quickly wearing it and then placing De Armas' helmet on her head.

The two enjoyed the ride, especially Ana. At one point, she removed her hands off Affleck's waist and threw them up in the air. Thankfully, no wardrobe accidents took place.

Love Story

The two had been romantically linked since March when they vacationed in Cuba and Costa Rica. While reports have repeatedly come out saying Jennifer Garner is jealous and does not want the relationship to happen, it should be taken with a grain of salt.

De Armas knows full well that Garner is still part of Affleck's life because they share three kids together. But both sides have no issues with it.

According to a source of Us Weekly, Ana is simply in awe of his boyfriend. She loves that he can make time for everything important in life apart from her.

"Ana thinks Ben is such a sweet and nice guy. [She] admires how he juggles so much between work, his kids and co-parenting with Jen," the source said.

The source added that while Affleck is making sure he is an involved father despite his divorce from Garner, his number one priority these days is Ana. He makes sure he has enough time with her.

With that, it is not surprising that the source said the couple is in a great place. They are having so much fun together and just want to make each other happy. The source added that Ana is always talking about how amazing Ben is to her, while Affleck is always thinking of ways to bring joy to De Armas.

Some reports added that despite their separation, Ben remains fond of Jennifer. He knows the two of them shared a "deeply meaningful" relationship, and he wants his next relationship to be like that as well.

This means he found the same with De Armas. This is not surprising given how Ana supported his sobriety journey. She keeps him on track and prevents him from getting his hands on addictive substances. If they do not have a deep and meaningful relationship, then it is not likely De Armas can help him in that capacity.

It remains to be seen whether they would eventually get married, too.

The two became Instagram official on De Armas' birthday last April. She posted several cute pictures of them together from her 32nd birthday.

READ MORE: Ben Affleck Reveals His Biggest REGRET in Marriage With Jennifer Garner
Gene and Betty Braden were looking for a new location for their Pearl-area haunted house when they came across a former meatpacking plant on the East Side.

Which was obviously perfect. How many San Antonians would gladly pay to be scared out of their wits in an abandoned meatpacking plant? Just think of all the angry cow ghosts set on revenge.

The roughly 6.5-acre site on East Commerce Street had plenty of space, and it had sat vacant for years.

The couple bought it in 2013 and installed the haunted house in one of several buildings on the property. Initially, they werent sure what they were going to do with the rest of the site, said Betty Braden, but visitors started asking about living spaces.

That year, at the end of the Halloween season, they began working on building 19 apartments that combine living and workspace, which they said quickly filled.

Depending on the number of bedrooms, the units range in size from about 900 square feet to 2,800 square feet, with the average unit at 1,600. The newest tenants are paying just less than $18 per square foot, the Bradens said.

Theres a waiting list, and they plan to add more units eventually.

We realized there was a demand for it, Betty Braden said.

On ExpressNews.com: For first time, signs of growth around AT&T Center

The couple operated haunted houses in San Antonio and other Texas cities for years and moved into real estate development over time, converting the warehouses theyd bought for haunts into spaces for the living.

Rent checks coming in regularly was appealing. Also, development was more predictable than seasonal haunted houses, when the weather can make or break attendance, Gene Braden said.

They converted part of the East Grayson building where theyd run their previous haunted house into an apartment and business space.

They also worked with a partner in Dallas on about 15 other properties.

Not long after building the East Commerce spaces, they turned their sights to a boarded-up Handy Andy distribution center they had noticed during the haunted house hunt.

The building, down the street from a Coca-Cola Bottling Co. facility, also had been vacant for years and was much bigger than the Bradens previous undertakings. It includes about 101,000 square feet of single-story space. The couple added 33,000 square feet of mezzanine space.

On ExpressNews.com: In fast-changing San Antonio neighborhoods, homeowners flooded with offers from investors

They planned to create 35 white box units, shell spaces with utilities and glasswork that buyers would finish out for live-work condominiums. They envisioned dedicating about 40,000 square feet of the space to restaurants or retail. They named the property Arena Vista.

In 2018, City Council approved up to $222,000 from the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to be used for facade and lighting improvements, landscaping and artwork requirements.

The TIRZ reimburses developers for improvements, paid for out of property tax revenue. Council documents also indicate the project received Inner City Reinvestment and Infill Policy fee waivers of about $20,000.

The Bradens said they were about 80 percent done with the project and had about $9 million tied up in the work. Restaurants had expressed interest. They started marketing the units during the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.

However, electrical work, landscaping, an unfinished courtyard and other work remained to be done. The couple said they applied for a loan to finish the project, expecting to complete the remaining tasks in about six months.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Days before they were supposed to close on the loan in March, their lender called to withdraw from the deal, Gene Braden said.

The couple said they dont have the resources to finish it themselves.

The pandemic truly threw us for a loop, he said. Since the end of March, (we) have been doing everything we can do to try to get another loan, sell the building or find a partner to team up with us to finish the project.

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Theres been some interest in purchasing it, the Bradens said, but an agreement has not materialized.

The property is within an opportunity zone, part of President Donald Trumps 2017 tax overhaul designed to encourage investment in economically distressed areas. Investors can park their capital in long-term investments in exchange for reduced or eliminated capital-gains tax burdens.

The Bradens said they recently got an extension for repaying loans of about $4.3 million, and they are hoping within the next month theyll get a contract to sell the property or another loan to buy out the bank.

It is disappointing, Betty Braden said. Were just hopeful whoever buys it will continue the vision. ... We really need something over here.

Both of the couples projects sit in an area thats seen little of the economic growth that was supposed to follow the construction of the AT&T Center. In 2014, then-President Barack Obama designated a 22-square-mile swath of the area as a promise zone, an urban revitalization initiative.

Historically, the East Side has just been underinvested, said Tuesdae Knight, president and CEO of the nonprofit San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside.

But the Bradens see signs of change. They point to the redevelopment of the Merchants Ice complex on East Houston Street, the overhaul of the Red Berry Estate on Gembler Road, and a mixed-use project planned near East Commerce Street and Spriggsdale Boulevard.

Knight also cited plans to rename and redesign the historic Sunset Station venue and the redevelopment of the abandoned Friedrich industrial complex on East Commerce Street.

We need housing, business, industry  all types of development, she said. I think were rounding that corner now.

Despite the curveball of the pandemic, the Bradens are hoping to do more projects of their own in the area.

Were disappointed in the way Arena Vista is turning out for us ... (but) we would do it all over again, Gene Braden said. We love the East Side. Theres a lot of opportunity.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
Mumbai, Aug 18 : The legal team of Rhea Chakraborty has detailed the entire incident pertaining to the previous allegation made by the actress that it was Priyanka, sister of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who had molested her after getting too drunk, and the incident had in turn created a rift between the siblings.

Rhea's lawyer Satish Maneshinde detailed the whole incident in the fresh statement.

"In the initial months of their relationship, when Rhea had visited Sushant's house, his sister Priyanka and her husband Siddharth were living with him. One night, in and around April 2019, Rhea and Priyanka had gone out to a party. Priyanka consumed copious amounts of alcohol and was behaving inappropriately with men as well as women at that party. So, Rhea insisted that they return to Sushant's home. Upon returning, Sushant and his sister continued drinking alcohol while Rhea retired for the night as she had a shoot the next morning. Rhea was asleep in Sushant's room when she suddenly awoke to find Priyanka had got into bed with her and was groping her. Rhea was extremely shocked and demanded that she leave the room immediately. Subsequently, Rhea herself left the house. Thereafter, Rhea informed Sushant as to what had transpired, and Sushant got into an argument with his sister regarding the same. That due to the aforesaid incident, the relationship between Sushant's family and Rhea had been strained since inception. Even after his death when a list of 20 people was made to attend the funeral, Rhea's name was not included in the list and hence excluded from attending the funeral," said Manshinde.

About how Rhea and Sushant came to know each other and the actress's subsequent departing from the late actor's home, the lawyer added: "Rhea and Sushant were known to each other over the past several years as they were both working in the Indian film industry. Rhea and Sushant had maintained a cordial friendship and would occasionally communicate with each other. In April 2019, Rhea and Sushant had attended a party hosted by the film fraternity and shortly thereafter they began dating each other. Even though they spent a lot of time at each other's homes, they officially moved in together in December 2019 and live at Mount Blanc, Bandra, till Rhea left on the 8th of June 2020."

Talking about the allegations against Rhea, he said: "It is total nonsense and an afterthought to make allegations after a period of 40 days, the manner in which it has been made before Bihar Police. No allegations whatsoever were made till 27th July 2020 by anybody in the family before Mumbai Police or to any authority. Their statements were recorded by police in Mumbai. They are educated and have an IPS officer OP Singh in the family. The allegations are totally concocted and fabricated for ulterior purposes."

Manshinde continued: "Rhea denies all allegations of abetment of suicide , misappropriation of funds and others or otherwise. The Mumbai Police and the Enforcement Directorate have been handed over all of Rhea's financial documents, which clearly show the falsity of such allegations. She has not received a single transfer from Sushant's accounts. All her Income Tax Returns have been examined by police as well as Enforcement Directorate (ED). Neither of them have found anything incriminating against," he added.

Sushant was found dead in his home in Mumbai on June 14. Before his death, Maneshinde claims that the actor kept on trying to reach his family.

"Sushant had been calling his family, informing them of his decision to move out of Mumbai and requesting them to come and meet him. After several days of Sushant calling and crying over the phone, his sister Mitu agreed to come live with him on 8th of June 2020. Due to this development, Sushant requested Rhea to live with her parents for the time being. Rhea had been suffering from her own anxiety issues and often endured panic attacks. Sushant's conduct also aggravated these conditions. Even though Rhea was desirous of seeing her family, she was not at all comfortable with leaving Sushant. The very same day,8th June 2020, Rhea had arranged to have a therapy session of her own with Dr. Susan Walker and requested Sushant if she could leave after the session. However, Sushant told her to leave immediately before his sister Mitu arrived. Thus Rhea reluctantly left and informed Sushant to let her or her brother know about anything he required or in case he needed to talk," Manshinde claimed.

It was shared that Mumbai Police and ED have investigated Rhea's relationship with Sushant and her financial status at great length, and "till today nothing incriminating has been found against her".

Manshinde also said that "Rhea does not know and has never met Aaditya Thackeray till today. Neither has she ever spoken to him telephonically or otherwise, though she has heard of him as a leader of the Shiv Sena".

About Rhea's alleged interaction with actor Dino Morea, the lawyer clarified that the actress knows and has met Dino socially as he is her senior in the film industry.

Continuing on the media overdrive about the case, Manshinde said: "The media is requested not to speculate its own theories and make unsubstantiated claims. She has remained silent to such allegations. Her silence should not be mistaken for a weakness. Truth will remain the same," said her lawyer.

Rhea, as put by her lawyer, would like the truth of the matter to be revealed by "virtue of a fair and impartial investigation".

"She has admitted in her petition to the SC that she sent a message to Amit Shah to order a CBI investigation. She has also informed the Supreme Court that if the court transfers the case to CBI she had no objection. What she has challenged is the illegal registration and investigation of Bihar Police without jurisdiction, and transfer to CBI of an illegal investigation. Unless the Maharashtra Government consents to a CBI investigation, the case cannot be transferred to CBI. Instead, the Bihar Government ought to have transferred the investigation to Mumbai Police as per the notification issued by the Union Government," the lawyer said.

He also stated that Rhea will not submit to an "illegal investigation".

"My client has not shied away from cooperating with any investigating agency till date, but she is entitled to a fair and impartial investigation by an agency which has jurisdiction to investigate the case. The manner in which the proceedings were instituted and being conducted in Bihar made it appear unlikely that she would receive a fair treatment," said Maneshinde.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery

-- Syndicated from IANS
Song Hong will find it difficult to collect its VND219 billion ($9.52 million) from New York & Co. Source: doanhnhan.vn

The local textile giant has just published the financial report for this years first half, showing that the company has not set a provision for the arrears of its biggest overseas partner, New York & Co. that went bankrupt last month.

Specifically, Song Hong sold a large number of orders to New York & Co. through intermediate Easy Fashion Macao Offshores ltd. (Easy Fashion). According to the agreement between Song Hong and the US partner, debt clearance related to the sales is performed via Easy Fashion with a timeline of 90 days.

The local companys receivables from the partner as of June 30 were about VND219 billion ($9.52 million). Of this, past-due receivables were about VND163.8 billion ($7.1 million), and receivables still within the deadline were about VND55.2 billion ($2.4 million).

However, Song Hong seems to be unlikely to be able collect the sums due to the collapse of Retail Winds (RTW) that owned 400 New York & Co stores across 32 states in the US. On July 13, RTW filed for bankruptcy because of insolvency.

According to Song Hongs management board, the event has impacted its ability to recover the sums. Currently, the company is working with Easy Fashion and lawyers.

Recovering the receivables still depends on the progress of restructuring RTWs operations, noted the report.

RTW has 180 days to restructure operations under the supervision of authorities, according to US regulations.

In the second quarter of 2020, Song Hong earned VND962 billion ($41.83 million) in net revenue, down 17.4 per cent on-year. Besides, its after-tax profit reached VND58 billion ($2.5 million), down 56 per cent on-year. Over the first six months of the year, its cumulative profit declined 44 per cent to VND122 billion ($5.3 million), equalling nearly 60 per cent of the 2020 plan.
Press Release

August 18, 2020 HONTIVEROS PUSHES 'LIFESAVER' LOANS FOR MICRO, SMALL BUSINESSES "Let's keep the lights on for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing 'pay-when-able' loans to help tide themselves over this unprecedented crisis." This was the statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros as she pushed for 'lifesaver' loans for struggling micro and small enterprises to be included in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or the Bayanihan 2. "Micro and small businesses that provide livelihood are losing money. Some have closed shop already. Their workers and employees are being laid off. Wala na rin silang kumpyansang mangutang dahil walang kasiguraduhan kung makakabayad. Kailangan nila ng ayuda at suporta," she added. The Senate and House of Representatives are convening the bicameral conference committee to deliberate on conflicting provisions of their respective versions of Bayanihan 2 bills. Bayanihan 2 focuses on providing a more extensive economic relief and rehabilitation measures. To aid financial rehabilitation and recovery of micro and small businesses, Hontiveros said that pay-when-able' loans or or soft loans junior to commercial loans must be provided by government-owned banks such as Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines. This will bring back confidence to both commercial banks and small business owners to enter into a loan agreement. "Despite partial credit guarantees, private banks are still tentative about lending due to economic uncertainties. At kung ikaw ay small business owner, bakit ka pa magdadagdag ng utang lalo't sarado naman ang iyong negosyo at walang kitang pumapasok?" she said. "Kapag may option na 'pay-when-able', hindi sila mag-aatubiling mag-avail dahil para itong utang sa anak o pamangkin mo na pwedeng ipagpaliban ang bayad. Kung kulang yung cash pambayad ng lahat ng loans, unang babayaran ang utang sa commercial bank. This will give creditors the confidence to restructure commercial loans, dahil alam nilang may line of credit galing sa 'kamag-anak," she added. The senator hopes that this amendment be incorporated in the final version of the Bayanihan 2 because it will not only assist firms to settle recurring operational expenses such as interest payments, utilities, rents and leases, but will also help in continuously paying for the wages of their workers "These small businesses create jobs. Failure to save them from this economic disruption will push more people to poverty. Huwag nating hayaang tuluyang sumadsad ang mga negosyong bumubuhay sa ating ekonomiya at mga kababayan," she concluded.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday reached Dhaka for a two-day visit to Bangladesh which is aimed at enhancing ties with the neighbouring country. The foreign secretary is likely to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to deliver a special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is Shringlas second visit to Bangladesh within five months. He had last visited Bangladesh in March.

According to local media reports, Hasina is likely to meet Shringla at her official residence after which the foreign secretary will hold talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Masud Bin Momen and Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.

The visit is being seen as New Delhis attempt to check Dhakas growing proximity to Beijing in the aftermath of the June 15 violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. India, as a retaliatory measure, had banned 59 Chinese apps citing security concerns. Later, China had responded by exempting import duty on around 100 Bangladeshi products.

The trip is also being perceived as a reconciliatory measure after reports of a tiff between the Bangladesh government and the Indian High Commissioner and the alleged questions over the quality of the 10 Indian locomotives given to Bangladesh. Recently, India had described its relationship with Bangladesh as exceptionally close.
During Americas major political party quadrennial conventions, presidential candidates of both parties usually keep a low profile when their opponents speak. Its a longstanding tradition which lets candidates take a deep breath before the headlong plunge into fall campaigning, while still allowing them to present themselves as honourable combatants in the gladiatorial contest that is American presidential politics.

And like so many longstanding traditions in Americas political life, Donald Trump has cast it aside.

As Democrats were gearing up for the first ever virtual party convention  a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic that, as of this moment, has killed more than 170,000 of their fellow Americans  Donald Trump was firing up Air Force One for the first of four day-long trips to swing states.

Since the novel coronavirus brought an end to campaigning-as-usual in mid-March, most of Trumps appearances outside Washington have been billed as official trips (which lets him bill the taxpayer for the full cost of travel.) Yet he has never shied away from attacking his political enemies  real or perceived  even at events meant to showcase the countrys response to the pandemic. And Mondays triple-header, which placed him before adoring crowds in a trio of midwestern airport hangars, let him throw off any pretense of speaking as if he were an incumbent president trying to lead the country.

At the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, just a few miles from where a quartet of former police officers sparked nationwide protests by killing George Floyd with a knee to the neck, Trump reveled in the memory of watching television images of national guardsmen using tear gas and nightsticks against protesters. And at airports located in the largely monochromatic locales of Mankato, Minnesota (88.28 percent white) and Oshkosh, Wisconsin (88.8 percent white), Trump repeatedly invoked blatantly racist appeals to handpicked crowds, railing against the (Black, female) mayor of Chicago and warning that a victory for former Vice President Joe Biden would give Washington bureaucrats a green light to force the construction of low income housing projects in every neighborhood in America.

And as the Democrats televised convention dominates prime-time television this week, Trumps campaign counter-programming will continue on Tuesday and Thursday with trips to to Yuma, Arizona (for immigration-themed remarks) and Scranton, Pennsylvania  Bidens birthplace  to discuss jobs and trade policy just hours before the ex-Veep accepts his partys nomination.

 Trump says Chicago worse than Afghanistan Iraq or Syria

Trumps own partys (largely virtual) convention kicks off three days later, at which point viewers at home will see him consign yet another political tradition to the dustbin of history.

Traditionally, parties have used the four-day convention format to build anticipation for the candidates triumphant acceptance speech on the final day, while the candidates themselves have remained out of sight. But Trump, never one to shy away from the spotlight, will reportedly speak on all four days of the Republican convention.

No Trump campaign officials would speak on the record as to whether the decision to flood the zone with two weeks of counter-programming with the president front-and-center is part of a coherent long-term plan, or simply a reflection of his own inability to surrender the spotlight  even when doing so could be to his benefit.

But Mark McKinnon, the former top media adviser for George W Bushs two successful presidential campaigns, opined that the all Trump, all the time programming plan is a pretty good strategy.

The point is not so much to attract attention to Trump as it is to distract attention away from the Democrats, said McKinnon, currently the executive producer for Showtimes The Circus.

McKinnon dismissed the idea that Trumps constant presence on voters television screens during both conventions could have any negative impact by leaving him overexposed. Thats like saying the sun could be overexposed, he said.

One person familiar with the thinking of the president and top campaign officials  who spoke on the condition of anonymity  said the travel and the four-day speaking schedule at next weeks GOP convention were both Trumps ideas. They lamented that there is no one working for the campaign with the stature or desire to tell the President it might not be a good idea to make himself even more ubiquitous instead of letting others make the case for his reelection until his acceptance speech.

He really believes that hes his own best communicator, surrogate, and spokesperson, they said. No one is going to challenge him on that.

The last GOP consultant to helm a campaign that ran a non-Trump candidate predicted that Trumps spotlight-hogging would have as good a result as when he hijacked the White House Coronavirus Task Forces daily briefings  a practice that ended after he mused aloud about the potential benefits of injecting disinfectant.

The question I would ask is: When is the last time the President went out in public and did something that helped him? said Stuart Stevens, who was chief strategist for Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign and is now one of the leaders of The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump GOP Super PAC.

Stevens, who recently authored a book-length repudiation of his lifes work as a GOP consultant entitled It Was All a Lie, observed that Trumps poll numbers appear to take a hit whenever he spends an extended period of time at the center of the news cycle.

While Stevens did not rule out the possibility that it would be helpful for a candidate to speak on all four days of his or her nominating convention, he opined that such a move would only be effective for a candidate who entered the convention without the widespread name recognition and public profile of any incumbent president  much less one with Trumps appetite for the spotlight.

If you had a candidate who was unknown  you could make a case that it would work for someone like Jimmy Carter, it would have been positive. But for Trump? I dont think so, he said. The fundamental problem with Trump is hes over-exposed, and he needs to make this race about anything other than Donald Trump, and hes just incapable.

The former GOP ad guru and television writer was not surprised that no one on Trumps team has been able to convince him to cede the spotlight, either.

Nobody whos very good at politics will work for Trump because he wont take anybodys advice, he observed.

Another guru of campaigns past  veteran Democratic strategist James Carville  agreed with Stevens characterisation of Trump as someone who is incapable of stepping aside and letting others promote him in the run-up to his acceptance speech.

Its better to have someone else toot your horn than for you to do it, thats just kind of human nature, he said. But he [Trump] doesnt have that basic instinct  he would rather tell you how great he is than have anyone else do it.

Carville, who in 1992 helped Bill Clinton to become the most recent Democratic presidential candidate to deny an incumbent Republican a second term, said Trumps stage-hogging was more likely a reflection of the dire straits his re-election campaign finds itself in with just over 75 days until Election Day.

This is not a strategy on his part, he explained. Everything he does is just flummoxing  you can't figure it out, and the truth of matter is, no one on his own campaign can figure it out. He has got in his mind that he can talk his way back into office, and that no one else can do it like he can.

Carville posited that Trumps recent attacks on the widely popular US Postal Service and his insistence on making himself omnipresent during the GOP convention are both related to his standing in the polls relative to Biden, whose lead he described as having staggering stability.

He knows he's losing, he said. I think hes a desperate man who is starting to come to grips with the reality of all of this.
Kottayam:

A first-year student of the Government Polytechnic College has been hospitalised with kidney damage after he was brutally ragged by eight senior students, said police on Sunday.

Police said the student has been admitted to a hospital in Thrissur and was put on dialysis after doctors diagnosed him with kidney damage.

The accused allegedly forced the victim to consume liquor mixed with some harmful powder following six hours of brutal ragging which included hard physical exercises like push-ups.

The eight students of the institute at Nattakom in the district are absconding after police booked them for allegedly ragging their juniors in the hostel.

The students, accused of ragging first-year pupils in the hostel attached to the polytechnic, were booked early this month. They have also been suspended from the institution.

The victim underwent dialysis three times after his admission in the hospital 10 days ago, police said.

Police in Chingavanam in the district is probing the case.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy visited the student at the hospital in Thrissur.

Chandy urged the government to bear the expenses of the students treatment.

Earlier, in two separate complaints lodged with police, two students, including the one currently undergoing treatment at the Thrissur hospital, had alleged that they were subjected to brutal ragging by their seniors at the institute.

The other pupil is admitted to a private hospital in Eranakulam, police said.

The accused in the two incidents are members of the same group. Two cases have been registered against them, police said, adding that investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, the state human rights commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.

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Trump and other opponents have raised questions about the security of the boxes, and his campaign has filed suit over the practice in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. In Ohio, the states Republican secretary of state has prohibited localities from having more than one drop box per county.
South Africa: Strategy to help SA address climate change

South Africas National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) which supports the countrys ability to meeting its obligations in terms of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, has been approved.

This strategy defines the countrys vulnerabilities, plans to reduce those vulnerabilities and leverage opportunities, outlines the required resources for such action, whilst demonstrating progress on climate change adaptation, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, said on Tuesday.

The NCCAS outlines a set of objectives, interventions and outcomes to enable the country to give expression to its commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and approved by Cabinet, the NCCAS aims to reduce the vulnerability of society, the economy and the environment to the effects of climate change.

It gives effect to the National Development Plans vision of creating a low-carbon, climate resilient economy and a just society.

The draft NCCAS was published for public comment in the Government Gazette 42446 (Notice No 644) last year.

The 2015 Paris Agreement elevated the importance of climate change adaptation through the establishment of a global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change.

Minister Creecy said international climate change talks in Spain in 2019 was an opportunity lost for the international community to show increased ambition on adaption, mitigation and the finance required to tackle climate change.

Despite this, South Africa is moving forward and this strategy is our response to the effort required to tackling the climate change crisis, she said.

Creecy noted that the adaptation remains a critically important area for developing countries.

She expressed the hope that when the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26), hosted by the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in 2021 comes, there will be a commitment for higher ambition on all the elements of the Paris Agreement: mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation.

To achieve this will require additional, predictable and adequate finance, technology and capacity building mitigation and adaptation support, including securing carbon market share of proceeds. There is also a need for Parties to support clear global adaptation goals with timelines as in the Paris Agreement, Creecy said.

COP26, which was originally scheduled to take place from 9-19 November 2020 in Glasgow, UK, has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN)s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its implementation is in line with the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

These ensure balance between adaptation and mitigation, and adequate financial, technological and skills support for African countries to enhance their efforts against climate change.

South Africas Nationally Determined Contribution, deposited with the UNFCCC in 2015, outlines the countrys contributions to the global goals to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Economic benefits

Adaptation to climate change presents South Africa with an opportunity to transform the health of the economy and build resilience, thus strengthening the social and spatial fabric, and enables the country to remain globally competitive, said the Minister.

It will ensure that food production is not threatened while also ensuring sustainable economic development.

This strategy is an important step forward for South Africa. We now have a common reference point for climate change adaptation efforts in South Africa in the short to medium-term, providing guidance across all levels of government, sectors, and stakeholders affected by climate variability and change, said the Minister.

The 10-year plan, which is coordinated by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, will be reviewed every five years. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Despite the confirmation of 16,000 new coronavirus cases over the weekend, Spain is not in a second wave of the virus, according to Fernando Simon, Director of the Center for the Coordination of Health Alerts & Emergencies, or CCAES.

The Epidemiologist acknowledged that 16,000 new cases in three days "is not good" but insists that "this soft progressive increase is much more moderate than in other periods."

Dr Simon claims that one of the reasons for the 16,000 cases is that "the infections are occurring in Communities with higher populations, such as Madrid, which he described as worrying, saying, "everything that refers to large cities is complicated," but he applauded the powerful control measures and 59,000 PCR tests" being carried out every week in Madrid.

Dr Simon believes its "very likely" that there will be a greater increase" in new infections around August 15, which is when most towns and villages in Spain tend to throw summer parties and said the priority now is to keep a lid on any new outbreaks.

"The goal is to reach September with the lowest level of transmission possible, because of the return to schools and work Centres after the holidays, he said.

Dr Simon stressed that Spain still has time to reduce transmission, and argued that "in most of the territory the level of transmission is being progressively reduced. He attributes the large increase in positive cases to "increases in some Autonomous Communities, and points out that around 60-70% of positives cases are now being detected, which is much more than in March and April, when only 10% were identified.

"There are three types of community: those that have evolved unfavourably; those that are currently in an upward phase and those that have not been in a phase of significant growth, he said. The problem in September is that people from areas with different epidemiological situations will gather, so we have to try to minimise the risk before that explosive mixture.

Dr Simon also revealed that right now around 20,000 suspected cases are being detected daily, compared to 10,000 six weeks ago and says the average age of those infected since the beginning of the pandemic is around 40.

1,420 imported coronavirus cases have been confirmed since the start of the so-called new normal on May 11, around 300 of them arrived on 228 commercial flights and 163 were diagnosed in the last seven days.

"There are less than we might think and its a much smaller problem than we expected a couple of months ago, said Dr Simon, who believes the current measures are "good enough" but called for a study into the hypothetical adoption of new restrictions in the future.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The chairman of the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, Fayez Al-Sarraj, and the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, discussed preventive and precautionary measures taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus, particularly in places where illegal immigrants are housed and in prison and rehabilitation centres
Travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have hit airlines, hotel and other related sectors hard. As per a report released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in early August, the leisure and hospitality industry has lost 4.3 million jobs since February. The industry has been pushing for more government relief to address its plight.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association estimates that hotels have lost over $46 billion in room revenue since the deadly virus started escalating in mid-February in the US.

Using the TipRanks Stock Comparison tool, we placed Hilton and Marriott alongside each other to see which stock is poised to recover better when the COVID-19 pandemic fades.

Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT)

The rapid outbreak of coronavirus caused a halt in leisure and business travel and severely impacted Hilton and peers. Hiltons second-quarter RevPAR or revenue per available room, a key metric of the hotel industry, fell 81% Y/Y in the second quarter.

Total revenue was down 77.3% to $564 million. Lack of business led to an adjusted loss per share of $0.61 in the second quarter compared to adjusted EPS of $1.06 in the second quarter of 2019. The companys adjusted EBITDA of $51 million was still in the positive zone despite a highly challenging quarter.

Looking at the brighter side, the company said that all major regions have seen a month-over-month rise in occupancy and RevPAR since April. Recoveries have been notable in the US and the Asia Pacific region. Currently, about 80% of Hiltons hotels that were temporarily closed have reopened, including all hotels in China and the majority in the US.

The system-wide occupancy rate has now improved to 45% compared to a low of about 13% in April. The occupancy in China is over 60% while demand for limited-service hotels and leisure has driven over 45% occupancy in the Americas. Meanwhile, occupancy is around 30% in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The company feels that it will take two to three years for the demand to get back to pre-COVID levels. (See HLT stock analysis on TipRanks).

Story continues

On August 14, Jefferies analyst Cassandra Lee upgraded both Hilton and Marriott to Buy from Hold and stated that Both are anchored by proven management teams and business models which we have confidence will recover, Lee raised the price target for Hilton stock to $101 from $72.

With 4 Buys, 6 Holds and 1 Sell, Wall Street has a Moderate Buy consensus for Hilton stock. An average price target of $84.20 suggests a 0.92% downside in the stock in the coming 12-months.

Marriott International (MAR)

The pandemic caused a worse-than-anticipated impact on Marriott Internationals second-quarter performance. The hotel giants RevPAR or revenue per available room plunged 84.4% worldwide, with an 83.6% decline in North America.

A 72.4% drop in overall revenue to $1.46 billion pushed Marriott into an adjusted loss per share of $0.64 from an adjusted EPS of $1.56 in the priors second quarter.

However, managements comments about a recovering business were reassuring to some extent. CEO Arne M. Sorenson stated that the company is seeing a steady return in demand. Its worldwide occupancy rates recovered to about 34% in the week ended August 1 compared to 11% in the week ended April 11. Currently, 91% of Marriotts hotels are open worldwide while 96% are open in North America.

The CEO also highlighted the improvement in Greater China, where all the hotels opened in early May. Occupancy levels in the region touched 60% which looks impressive compared to the 70% recorded in the same time last year pre-COVID.

Last year, domestic travelers accounted for 95% of the companys North American room nights. This aspect works in favor of the companys US business as it doesnt rely so much on inbound travel from the rest of the world.

While hopeful of some improvement, the company cautioned in its quarterly SEC filing that pre-COVID levels of business will not return until at least after 2021.

On August 17, Barclays analyst Anthony Powell increased his price target for Marriott stock to $108 from $105 and reaffirmed his Buy rating. Powell finds the companys update on China RevPAR growth and hotel development encouraging.

Based on the sequential demand improvement in North America, Powell also sees the prospect of a more meaningful recovery once the current situation improves. (See MAR stock analysis on TipRanks)

Not everybody on the Street shares Powells optimism. Marriott has a Hold consensus based on 4 Buys, 8 Holds and one Sell. An average price target of $100.45 reflects a possible upside of 4.9%.

The COVID-19 pandemic has crushed hotel and travel companies and it will take a long-time for them to bounce back. There has to be a considerable improvement in the occupancy rates of hotels to meet expenses and service their debts. Hilton stock has declined 23.4% year-to-date while Marriott stock has fallen 37%.

Both Hilton and Marriott have asset-light business models as they generate fees for franchising and managing properties rather than owning them. However, based on higher EBITDA margins and the Street consensus, Hilton looks more poised for a better recovery post the pandemic.

To find good ideas for 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 analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment

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When Trisha and Patrick Riley reopened Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub in East Lansing, Michigan, in early June--after being closed for 12 weeks--the 950-capacity restaurant and bar remained open for just 12 days before they voluntarily shut its doors a second time.

Despite precautions like limiting the number of guests, posting warning signs, and making masks widely available, this Michigan State University hotspot couldn't fend off Covid-19. By June 23, the Ingham County Health Department had received word of 14 reported cases linked to Harper's; the number had spiked to 34 by June 24. To date, the number of cases linked to the bar and restaurant stands at 192. Of that number, 46 cases were secondarily related to the Harper's outbreak, according to ICHD public information officer Amanda Darche.

This second closing is the nightmare business scenario that the GOP hoped to avoid by proposing to enhance liability protections for businesses in its version of a Phase 4 stimulus bill, dubbed the Heals Act. The legislation would raise the bar for filing liability claims surrounding Covid-19. Rather than requiring plaintiffs to prove a company did not take reasonable care to prevent injury, sickness, or death on their premises--the current standard of liability--it would require them to prove that a company acted grossly unreasonably.

"They have to show that the exposure caused the plaintiff to contract the coronavirus," and that the business did nothing to prevent consumers from getting sick, says Robert Tauler, managing partner at Tauler Smith, a Los Angeles law firm specializing in commercial litigation. "That is a very, very difficult standard to meet," he says, adding: "It would basically cut any lawsuit off at the knees."

Expanding liability protections for companies is vital, say business advocacy groups, as it would have two benefits: It could shield businesses against a wave of coronavirus-related lawsuits, and potentially stem the rate of business bankruptcies during the pandemic. The thinking is thus: Companies currently sitting on the sidelines may feel more comfortable about reopening and as a result they'll stave off economic ruin.

The opposite is true, say Democrats. Existing law is prodding industries to improve safety conditions; undermining it could bring disastrous consequences.

The liability provision in the Heals Act became a breaking point in congressional negotiations over a Phase 4 bill and prompted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to adjourn the session. Even so, U.S. Chamber of Commerce's executive vice president and chief policy officer Neil Bradley says it's likely to remain a dominant issue, should lawmakers come back to the table. "I'm very confident that some form of safe harbor will be included in any final bill."

Even if these reforms don't pass, it's important to note that the current bar in liability cases is already high, says Robert Litan, an attorney and nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution. "In the real world, it is very difficult for a consumer to prove that he or she contracted the virus from being at a company," he says, adding that workers face a similar causation issue. "Even workers who spend all day at work can contract the virus from their family members, friends, etc."

What's more, employees at some, typically large, companies may be limited in seeking legal redress if they have signed arbitration agreements. In such instances, claims go to arbitration rather than the courts. Employees might also find that forums for their legal claims are limited. Workers are typically required to file claims with state workers' compensation agencies, which may go before an administrative law judge. An employer's insurer may defend the claim and/or negotiate a settlement, which is typically limited to a portion of a worker's salary, payment of medical bills, and disability compensation.

That doesn't mean companies can afford to be lax about safety. "Employers don't get to just sit back and say 'OK, workers comp; we're covered,'" says Nicholas Reiter, co-chair of the national labor and employment practice at Venable, a law firm based in Washington, D.C. "If they're not protecting their employees, they can be hauled into court for an injunctive relief claim." In these cases, employers may be barred from engaging in the harmful practices and be required to improve safety conditions.

Reiter notes a recent example of employees at three Chicago McDonald's locations. In May, the workers sued McDonald's Restaurants of Illinois and a franchise owner for alleged inadequate social distancing training and weak mask enforcement practices. In late June, a judge partially granted employees' preliminary injunction seeking safety improvements, while also absolving McDonald's Corp. and McDonald's USA from liability, as they don't own the restaurants in question.

In a statement provided to Law360, a McDonalds USA representative defended the company's commitment to safety, noting that McDonald's had enhanced 50 of its processes during the pandemic to keep employees and customers safe.

While safe harbor remains an open question, the predicted wave of Covid-19 liability cases has yet to surface. Of the more than 4,270 Covid-19-related lawsuits filed since the pandemic kicked off in the U.S., 428 cases involve labor and employment issues. As of August 13, just 279 cases were brought by consumers according to Washington, D.C.-based Law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth, which is tracking the cases. Other complaints the firm is tracking range widely from contract disputes and civil rights violations to securities litigation and miscellaneous tort issues like defamation and libel.
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By The Associated Press

Aug. 18, 2020 | NASHVILLE

By The Associated Press Aug. 18, 2020 | 12:49 PM | NASHVILLE

When he joined the Tennessee Valley Authority as CEO last year, Jeff Lyash offered up a lighthearted goal in an interview: to never be "on either end, good or bad, of a presidential tweet.



Turns out, that was too much to ask for.



Thanks to President Donald Trump, Lyash has had a head-spinning August as the head of the nation's largest public utility, created in 1933 under the New Deal to provide electricity, flood control and economic development to Tennessee and parts of surrounding states.



Trump had already been complaining about a vote to close a TVA Kentucky coal plant, which predated Lyash. Trump grumbled again in April about Lyash's compensation for running the independent agency, which makes him the highest-paid federal employee. Then an advocacy group's TV ad  aimed at an audience of one  hit its target.



The ad in July, which criticized a TVA plan to outsource 20% of its technology jobs to companies based in foreign countries  produced a Trump tweet, and soon thereafter, a White House meeting, where Trump met with some of the in-house IT workers who were set to be replaced, fired the TVA's chairman and another board member, and called for Lyash to be replaced by a new CEO whose salary would be capped at $500,000.



During that Aug. 3 meeting, Trump received a note from chief of staff Mark Meadows that said Lyash had called the White House promising to address the labor concerns. Lyash then had his own White House meeting three days later, reversing course on the IT layoffs.



We were wrong in not fully understanding the impact on our employees, especially during the pandemic, Lyash said in a statement after he and interim board chairman John Ryder met with White House officials. We are taking immediate actions to address this situation. TVA fully understands and supports the Administrations commitment to preserving and growing American jobs.



The interim chairman also said there will be a review of the CEO's compensation, which for Lyash topped $8.1 million total in his first six months on the job.



TVA supporters like Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee stress that theres more nuance surrounding the CEOs high compensation than critics let on. The utility is funded largely by ratepayers and doesnt use tax dollars. Federal law requires it to pay competitively with other major utilities. TVA has said its top executive compensation falls in the bottom 25% of big utilities.



Lyash's pay was blasted in the TV ad paid for by U.S. Tech Workers, an advocacy group whose message, federal jobs should go to Americans, meshed easily with Trump's election-year promises to keep jobs in the U.S.



Another one of many Fake T.V. Ads, this one about the Tennessee Valley Authority, which for years has paid its top executive a ridiculous FORTUNE, Trump tweeted in July. Not run by the U.S., but I have long been fighting that crazy salary' & its policies. Strange ad paid for (?) by U.S. Tech Workers'.



The ad "was designed to probably irritate the president when he saw it. And it did, Kevin Lynn, who heads advocacy group, said in an interview. And I spoke briefly with Vice President Pence following the meeting and he said, You know, we talked about that ad for days.



The meeting made clear that Trump, who has vowed to save the coal industry, was still upset by the TVA's February 2019 vote to shutter the coal-fired Paradise Fossil Plant in Kentucky. At the time, TVA shook off pressure from Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and decided to keep retiring aging coal-fired power plants in favor of cheaper and cleaner energy sources, including natural gas.



Trump also reiterated his complaint that Lyash is ridiculously overpaid.



The total compensation for the CEO position in 2019 was $15.1 million, split between Lyash and the remaining work of former CEO Bill Johnson. Lyash's package includes a $920,000 annual salary and various pension and performance incentives that sweeten the deal by millions of dollars.



Trump also signed an executive order to require all federal agencies to complete an internal audit to prove they are not replacing qualified American workers with people from other countries.



Trump cant fire Lyash himself, but he does have control of TVAs nine board members, a power he flexed by firing chairman Skip Thompson, his own appointee, and Richard Howorth, appointed by former President Barack Obama. Thompson had already criticized Trump for floating ill-informed opinions about the CEO's salary in April.



Trump described the removals during the Aug. 3 meeting as a warning to other federally appointed boards.



If you betray American workers, then you will hear two simple words: Youre fired, Trump said.
NEW YORK CITY, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Megalith Financial Acquisition Corp. ("MFAC") (NYSE: MFAC, MFAC.U, MFAC WS), a special purpose acquisition company, announced today that BankMobile Technologies, Inc ("BankMobile" or the "Company"), with which MFAC has signed a definitive Business Combination Agreement, will attend the 2nd Annual Needham Virtual FinTech & Digital Transformation 1x1 Conference on Wednesday, August 19th, 2020. Attending from BankMobile are Co-founder and CEO Luvleen Sidhu and CFO Bob Ramsey, along with A.J. Dunklau, CEO of MFAC. The presentation for such meetings is available and posted on the MFAC website at https://www.megalithfinancial.com/investor-relations

The 2nd annual Needham FinTech & Digital Transformation 1x1 conference, which will be conducted virtually, will feature 25 public and private companies covering areas such as payments, FinTech, BaaS, digital transformation, and IT services/BPO.

About Megalith Financial Acquisition Corp.

Megalith Financial Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, with a focus on the fintech or financial services industries. MFAC consummated its initial public offering on the NYSE in August 2018 and is listed under the symbol MFAC. More information can be found on its website at http://www.megalithfinancial.com

About BankMobile

Established in 2015, BankMobile Technologies is a division of Customers Bank and is among the largest mobile-first banking platforms in the U.S., offering checking and savings accounts, personal loans and credit cards. BankMobile, named the Most Innovative Bank by LendIt Fintech in 2019, provides an alternative banking experience to the traditional model. It is focused on technology, innovation, easy-to-use products and education with the mission of being customer-obsessed and creating customers for life. BankMobile employs a multi-partner distribution model, known as Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), that enables the company to acquire customers at higher volumes and substantially lower expense than traditional banks. Its efficient operating model enables it to provide low-cost banking services to low/middle-income Americans who have been left behind by the high-fee model of traditional banks. Today, BankMobile Technologies provides its BaaS platform to colleges and universities and currently serves over two million account-holders at 722 campuses (covering one out of every three students in the U.S.). BankMobile Technologies is operating as the digital banking division of Customers Bank, which is a Federal Reserve regulated and FDIC-insured commercial bank. BankMobile is a technology company and is not a bank and does not provide banking services. For more information, please visit: www.bankmobile.com .

Story continues

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this release are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as plan, intend, anticipate, believe, expect, estimate, forecast, target, project, predict, intend, plan and outlook and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward-looking statements include estimated financial information, including forward-looking statements with respect to revenues and earnings, as well as forward-looking statements with respect to performance, strategies, prospects and other aspects of the businesses of MFAC, Customers Bancorp (CUBI), Customers Bank and BankMobile, or the combined Company following completion of the proposed Transactions, which are based on current expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not predictions of actual performance. A number of factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement and the proposed Transactions; (2) the inability to complete the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of MFAC, any required regulatory approvals, or other conditions to closing in the Merger Agreement; (3) MFACs inability to meet the minimum cash requirements of the Merger Agreement due to a failure to complete the equity private placement or the amount of cash available following any redemptions by MFACs public stockholders; (4) the ability to meet NYSE listing standards following the consummation of the Transactions; (5) the risk that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of BankMobile as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Transactions; (6) the ability of CUBI and Customers Bank to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Transactions, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of management to operate the combined Company as a stand-alone public company, the ability of the combined Company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees, and the costs involved in CUBI and Customers Bank continuing to provide certain services to the combined Company; (7) costs related to the proposed Transactions; (8) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (9) the possibility that the combined Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (10) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in other documents filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by MFAC or CUBI. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing factors are not exclusive, and neither such factors nor any such forward-looking statement takes into account the impact of any future events. All forward-looking statements and information set forth herein are based on the current beliefs and assumptions by management of each of MFAC, CUBI, Customers Bank and BMT as of the date hereof and speak only as of the date they are made. Each of MFAC, CUBI, Customers Bank and BMT disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement whether written or oral, except as may be required under applicable law.

For a more complete discussion of the assumptions, risks and uncertainties with respect to CUBI, you are encouraged to review the filings CUBI makes with the SEC, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments thereto, that update or provide information in addition to the information included in those Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings, if any. For a more complete discussion of the assumptions, risks and uncertainties with respect to MFAC, you are encouraged to review the filings MFAC makes with the SEC, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments thereto, that update or provide information in addition to the information included in those Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings, if any.

Disclaimer

This release shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Contacts

Megalith Financial Acquisition Corp.

A.J. Dunklau

Chief Executive Officer

aj@megalithfinancial.com

BankMobile

Bob Ramsey

Chief Financial Officer

rramsey@bankmobile.com




Pandemic now driven by 20s, 30s, 40s group, many asymptomatic: The World Health Organization has said it was concerned that the novel coronavirus spread was being driven by people in their 20s, 30s and 40s, many of which were unaware they were infected, posing a danger to vulnerable groups. WHO officials said this month the proportion of younger people among those infected had risen globally, putting at risk vulnerable sectors of the population worldwide, including the elderly and sick people in densely populated areas.

Dear Reader,

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Digital Editor
New Delhi, Aug 18 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgement on whether the final year degree examinations in universities should be held before September 30, in accordance with University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.

The top court will also decide whether state governments have the power to take a decision against conducting final year examinations under the Disaster Management Act.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan has reserved the judgement on a batch of PILs along with some state governments - Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha and Delhi - questioning the UGC direction to universities to conduct final year exams before September 30. The state governments have argued that they have the power to promote students without exams in the backdrop of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the UGC, contended before the top court that final year is the degree year and exams cannot be done away with. Mehta also cited examples of exams being conducted by some universities and added that many top-level universities have opted for online exams. Mehta insisted that foreign universities and further education require degrees.

Citing the UGC guidelines, Mehta contended before the bench that these guidelines are not merely for preaching and that they are mandatory. The guidelines which have been challenged before the top court have a statutory mandate, added Mehta.
Considering the seriousness of the situation, Japan has decided to dispatch the second Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert Team, which consists of 7 members, to the Republic of Mauritius to deal with the oil spill from the bulk carrier MV WAKASHIO which has been stranded off the coast of the country since July 25th.

The team will bring items such as sorbent for oil clean-up and leave Japan on August 19th to initiate on-site environment assistance activities after arriving at the country.

The team is composed of a majority of experts in the environmental field. The oil spill has caused serious damage over the South East coastal environment of Mauritius and will have an inevitable impact on the countrys tourism industry as well.

Japan has decided to dispatch the team out of comprehensive and holistic consideration of all circumstances, including the request of urgent assistance from the Government of the Republic of Mauritius and the friendly relationship between the two countries.

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Some 8,000 miles from the United States, embedded between China, Pakistan and India, lies the beautiful Kashmir valley. Surrounded by majestic mountains, populated by lush green forests and mighty torrents of glacial waters, quietened by nature into freshwater lakes.

Last year on Aug. 5, 2019, in flagrant disregard of the UN Security Council, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi dissolved the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The state was broken into two parts which were then incorporated into Union Territories of India namely as Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. By revoking Article 370 and Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution, India was now effectively free to rule by fiat from New Delhi.

These have been the heaviest 365 days for the people of Kashmir, now under dual lockdown of communication and media blackout, and then COVID-19 provided another cover to the occupation forces to push new citizenship laws. Kashmir needs the United States to lead in the fight to regain autonomy from India.

Kashmir is at the crossroads of civilizations. Their cultural heritage values diversity and harmony and extols virtues of tolerance and justice, and produced some of the finest exquisite tapestry of their trades for the world.

A dot on the map, known as a heaven-on-earth comparable to Switzerland, Kashmir was cruelly fated to become a point of contention  a vortex of power politics, a saga of intrigues and deceits, and a flash point for regional conflicts it had no part in instigating.

Over the past 70 years-plus, the Kashmir dispute has been the tipping point in multiple wars between Pakistan and India, and most recently a bloody spat between China and India on the so-called Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. For Pakistanis, the Kashmir dispute is a matter of rights, independence and an age-old quest for self-determination of a neighboring people.

Indian actions of Aug. 5, 2019, have taken the fig leaf of limited autonomy and representation from the people of Kashmir. Their lands were annexed and they remain under military siege. Besides the internet and media blackout, the residents were kept away from businesses and practicing religion.

These actions were hailed as a great victory for Modis ruling BJP government.

Yet the solution imposed by India is completely unacceptable to the Kashmiri people one and all. Forcible military takeover of Kashmir has required a massive induction of additional forces, with the numbers now reaching around 1 million Indian troops to subdue some 10 million Kashmiri  one occupying soldier for every 10 Kashmiri man, woman and child especially in the valley.

Indias uses of rape as an instrument of war have been well documented in reports by the United Nations. The Kashmiris were forced into captivity, confined to their homes for seven months. Thousands have been arrested and disappeared to destinations unknown.

The Kashmiri youth is being targeted in particular. Women and children have been blinded by the use of pellet guns. Extrajudicial killings have become the norm. The Indian judiciary has been intimidated into compliance and now refuses to take up cases relating to missing Kashmiris. Rapes, an increase of domestic violence and home searches in the darkness of night, together with the complete shutdown of communications from Kashmir and the coronavirus pandemic hide the victims horrific stories from surfacing.

Imagine if the State of Texas was unilaterally abolished against the will of its people and the entire spectrum of Texan political leaders incarcerated for over a year with no recourse, simply for the crime of representing their constituents. And then they dont have any such rights to defend themselves and bear arms, like the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Imagine foreign troops marching the streets with license to tyrannize and subdue the defiant into acquiescence. Imagine the personal losses, the human tragedy that all of this would entail.

The United States, that far-off land half a world away from Kashmir, is a beacon of freedom, liberties and justice to people around the world, so it has to play its lead role against human rights abuses of Kashmiris. By doing what is right and just, the United States will have asserted its moral authority and justified its preeminent position as a force for good in a world that is crumbling under the petty ambitions of a few. You are Kashmirs only hope.

Bashir is the former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and Hashmi is the Consul General of Pakistan in Houston.
When a pair of magicians dedicate their ten years of experience as emotion generators and their patented innovation at the service of watch brands, the approach to watches in boutiques enters a whole new dimension. Roger Dubuis gave it a test run in Dubai, Macau and Singapore.

Clement Kerstenne and Philippe Bougard  Levita

Watches levitating in display cases, including open ones, that can be grasped and admired from every angle without any visible technology? Both marketing tool and work of art that enhances the products as well as the customer experience, this innovation creates a new relationship between the sales team and its potential customers. Founders of the Levita company, Clement Kerstenne and Philippe Bougard patented their object levitation technique in 2019. By offering the possibility of having exceptional pieces levitate in a fluid and elegant way, they use the impact of magic to communicate in points of sale. Visitors attention is immediately captured by the watch or watches thus highlighted, the interaction with sales assistant becomes more natural, and customers themselves help spread the emotion when they share their videos.

A watch from the Roger Dubuis boutique in Dubai that can be admired 360, or even grasped by the sales assistant who can open the display in order to present it to the customer  Roger Dubuis

The Gravity Window acts as a transaction facilitator, but the two magicians don't stop at this technology. They also adapt and design unique and customizable projects based on brands history, create scenarios and decors, integrate other technologies to increase interactivity, and even offer immersive experiences where customers are surrounded by levitating watches.

For more information about Levita, click here.
LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Britain said the re-election of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko earlier this month was "fraudulent" and it would work with international partners to sanction those responsible and hold the country's authorities to account.

"The world has watched with horror at the violence used by the Belarusian authorities to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent Presidential election," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Monday. "The UK does not accept the results."

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Kate Holton)
- A renowned Free State doctor, Dr Mohammed Bobat, has passed away after contracting the coronavirus

- A heartbreaking video shows Dr Mohammed's colleagues paying tribute to him in the hospital's hallways

- The video quickly gathered over 57 000 views and it broke South Africans' hearts

PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed!

The medical professionals on the frontlines in the fight against the coronavirus are risking their lives on a daily basis.

However, sadly some of them contract Covid-19 and it ends up killing them. The Free State lost a renowned doctor who worked in the Bongani Regional Hospital and Mediclinic.

A video was shared on the @CovidSupportSA Twitter page showing colleagues paying tribute to the late doctor as his body was transported through the hospital hallways.

The post was captioned:

'Dr Mohammed Bobat worked in Bongani Regional Hospital and also at Mediclinic, Welkom - he was well-known in medical circles and he had a persona of his own, simplicity was his hallmark. We have lost another brave and selfless soul to #Covid19inSA. May he rest in peace."

Dr Mohammed Bobat has passed away from Covid-19 and his colleagues paid tribute to him in a touching video. Photo: @CovidSupportSA.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: People filmed singing praises to God in street: "New way of churching"

Take a look at the post below:

South Africans were heartbroken over the video and they sent their condolences to Dr Bobat's family.

Those who knew him also shared their views on his death.

Mantsoareng Marotholi, who goes by the Twitter handle @mantsoareng, commented:

"I bet the atmosphere in theatre won't be the same any more... Jokes and laughter always. Farewell Dr Bobby."

Another tweep, @Nhla_nhla2, added:

"This video proves the seriousness of this pandemic. Lost two cousins in one month."

Social media user, @LJ_Malepanyana, wrote:

"He was a dedicated Dr, when my mother told me this morning she said her is broken as the doctor looked well after my younger bro after being involved in a car accident. A very passionate doctor, may he rest in peace."

Bess Morgan, @BessMorgan6, said:

"This video really shows how difficult the pandemic must be for all hospital staff. Thank you one and all for all your courageous hard work. Condolences to his family."

Briefly.co.za previously reported on another healthcare worker who died. Richards Bay nurse, mother of two, and loving wife, Chantal Naicker, has been laid to rest last week.

The funeral, which took place at Netcare The Bay Hospital where Sister Chantal worked, was attended by family members and colleagues alike.

Standing side by side while respecting social distancing measures, the family members and staff watched the funeral procession.

Led by a lone piper and followed by an ornate carriage with transparent windows displaying her beautiful white casket, the final moments of her last time being at the place she dedicated many years of her life to was swiftly over.

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
Wang Huaqin (C) shows her painting skills to fellow villagers in her studio in Qingzhou, Shandong Province, last month.[Xiao Da/For China Daily]

Shandong Province is synchronizing poverty alleviation with rural revitalization by introducing high-end talent and developing projects to enrich residents while maintaining a friendly ecological system.

A typical example is Shengshuiyu Town in Jining's Sishui County, which is known as the home of Confucius.

After driving along a mountain road nestled in greenery, visitors arrived at the town's Dongzhongdu Village, where they came upon some youth exercising, drawing landscapes, doing woodwork and working with clay.

"This is really a fantastic place for my students to learn from nature. They learn fast when they get themselves involved," said Hu Jicheng, who led a group of students from Chengzi primary school for field studies.

Last year, by contrast, the village was seldom visited by outsiders. Many houses were dilapidated, and roads were narrow and muddy. Things began changing last year when Shengshuiyu was designated as a demonstration area for the province's rural revitalization campaign.

Since then, local governments have invested in roads, water supplies and a drainage system, as well as computer network systems in the demonstration area that are home to 3,576 families in 18 villages.

After completing the infrastructure, local governments initiated a campaign to woo talent to develop projects in the communities. To date, local governments have signed 30 projects with 37 partners.

"We have changed 48 old, shabby houses that were not being used into places where students and tourists can read, have coffee and tea, work with clay and do woodwork," said Tian Bin, 46, one of the partners.

"The local government has built the platform for us. What we need to do is to develop a rural environment in which people and nature can coexist in harmonious ways."

"Our village is changing every day. The environment is getting better and better, and so are our lives," said Li Baoyu, the Party branch secretary of Dongzhongdu, adding that the projects developed by the partners are bringing more income to the village.

Villagers paint in Wang Huaqin's studio in Qingzhou, Shandong Province, last month. [Xiao Da/For China Daily]

With more tourists coming to the village, restaurants and shops are getting busier, providing jobs for residents.

Kong Deyun, 44, found a satisfactory job at a restaurant.

"It takes me five minutes to walk to the restaurant. I can earn around 2,000 yuan ($287) every month," Kong said, adding that she also sells the fruits and vegetables she grows to the restaurant.

"The price the restaurant offers is usually higher than the market," she said.

Li is especially glad to see so many young people.

"Seeing young people in our village makes me feel confident in our future," he said.

Shandong has been putting efforts into building environmentally friendly rural areas over the years. It has developed 1,500 villages that feature beautiful landscapes and sound living environments by improving infrastructure such as toilets and sewage treatment facilities, according to the provincial Department of Ecology and Environment.

Based on a sustainable ecology, local governments are helping enrich the lives of local farmers.

For example, farmers in Qingzhou, a county-level city of Weifang, Shandong, have a profitable sideline. When free from farm work, they pick up brushes to portray their real lives in rural areas through art.

Wang Huaqin had never thought a farmer like her could earn 400 to 500 yuan a day by painting. The 49-year-old has become a skilled painter, though she started learning just four years ago.

Several of her paintings have won prizes in provincial and national competitions, and one of her works is the first of the farmers' paintings in Qingzhou to have been displayed in the National Art Museum of China.

In 2017, she established a painting studio and has helped more than 70 farmers learn painting. Each of them can earn as much as 70,000 to 80,000 yuan every year. Wang and her team also dabbled in commercial wall paintings.

"We have been invited to draw on the walls in Qingdao and cities in Hebei Province," Wang said.

One of the works made by the farmer-painters in Wang Huaqin's studio in Qingzhou, Shandong Province. [For China Daily]

"Each of our farmers can earn more than 10,000 yuan per month when business is good," she told a media tour on July 21.

There are more than 30,000 farmer-painters like Wang in Qingzhou. Every year, they create 500,000 paintings with total revenues reaching 300 million yuan, thanks to the local government efforts to extend the industrial chain of farmer paintings and combine it with tourism.

A farmer-painter with a medium skill level or above can earn an additional 20,000 yuan annually, the local government said.

"What we are portraying are the most common activities in our everyday livesstories happening nearby, harvest scenes and places where we live and work," said 74-year-old Ma Jiqing, a locally prominent painter who has been involved in the arts for more than 60 years.

Ma is a heritage successor of the Qingzhou farmer-artists. His work has become an essential part of his family life, persuading fellow villagers to learn.

The local government has been making great efforts to encourage the development of farmer-painters in a bid to boost tourism sectors and rural revitalization, said Chen Tongzhou, head of the Qingzhou publicity department.

By 2023, Qingzhou is expected to have more than 100 painting studios, 100 rural cooperatives and 100 online companies selling farmers' paintings, Chen added.

(Source: China Daily)
AUSTIN, TX  The governor on Tuesday threatened to cap property tax revenue at current levels in a forceful rebuke of the Austin City Council's recent move to cut $150 million from the police budget.

"Under my plan any city that defunds police will have their property tax revenue capped at current levels," Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on his personal Twitter page after announcing the legislative plans during a press conference in Fort Worth, Texas. "Cities cant cut law enforcement & then turn around and increase taxes on the residents they just endangered."

Flanked by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, the governor also was joined by Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Sen. Jane Nelson, and Representatives Giovanni Capriglione, Charlie Geren, Craig Goldman and Stephanie Klick during his announcement.

Flanked by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (left) and Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen (right), Gov. Greg Abbott announces his plan to cap property tax rates in cities that make cuts to police funding on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Photo provided by the governor's office.

"Part of our job as state leaders is to ensure the safety and security of all Texans, and we will not allow this core function to be undermined by cities that seek to defund and dismantle law enforcement agencies that have a sworn duty to protect our communities," Abbott said in a subsequent statement. "Defunding the police puts Texans in danger and invites lawlessness into our cities, and cities that endanger their residents should not be able to turn around and raise more taxes from those same Texans."

He rallied the conservative troops to take up the matter during the next legislative session: "I strongly urge the Texas Legislature to take up this important issue next session to protect their constituents and ensure law enforcement have the resources and support they need to protect their communities."

Story continues

On Twitter, Abbott said more details on his plan would be released soon. Under the governor's plan, cities that lower police budgets would not be able to increase property taxes again, he explained.

Under my plan any city that defunds police will have their property tax revenue capped at current levels. Cities cant cut law enforcement & then turn around and increase taxes on the residents they just endangered. More announcements soon.#txlegehttps://t.co/jSMj2i7QTy

 Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 18, 2020

In response to a growing call to "defund police"  a movement responding to police abuse calling not for dismantling of police departments but stripping them of certain roles such as dealing with the homeless or interacting with suspects in the throes of mental crises  the Austin City Council agreed to cut $150 million in police funding on Thursday.



Related story: Austin City Council Approves $150M Cut To Police Budget

The council action comes in the midst of ongoing protests calling for police reform that were sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 after an officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. In Austin, activists calling for law enforcement changes already were galvanized a full month before following the fatal police shooting of Michael Ramos, 42, who was killed despite being unarmed after a brief confrontation with police outside a South Austin apartment complex.

Under my plan any city that defunds police will have their property tax revenue capped at current levels. Cities cant cut law enforcement & then turn around and increase taxes on the residents they just endangered. More announcements soon.#txlegehttps://t.co/jSMj2i7QTy

 Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 18, 2020

Even while other major Texas cities have increased police funding despite the growing calls for defunding from members of Black Lives Matter and other groups, Austin last week voted to slash the $442 million police budget with cuts, including:

$20 million primarily taken from cadet classes and overtime in a move to reinvest in permanent supportive housing and services, EMS for COVID-19 response, family violence shelter and protection, violence prevention, workforce development and a range of other programs.

Transfer of police functions (and related funding of nearly $80 million) out of the department over the course of the fiscal year. These include Forensics Sciences, Communications/911 call center, strategic support, and internal affairs.

Create a Reimagine Safety Fund to divert almost $50 million from APD toward alternative forms of public safety and community support, to be delivered from outside APD, as determined through the year-long reimagining process.

Greg Casar was the first Austin City Council member reacting to Abbott's plan: Today, a group of all-white members of our state government, including Gov. Greg Abbott, attacked the Black Lives Matter movement," Casar said in a prepared statement. "Gov. Abbott could have held a press conference to express his support for the George Floyd Act. Instead, he held a press conference to fear-monger and lie in order to distract from the fact that 10,000 Texans have now died from COVID-19."

Casar noted Abbott's actions on other matters heightened in urgency amid the coronavirus:

"Abbott has failed to expand Medicaid and provide healthcare to those who need it most. He is putting teachers and families at great risk by forcing schools to re-open without adequate protections and support. Abbott cant even be bothered to call a special session to provide much-needed economic relief to millions of Texans who are being neglected by his administration during COVID-19."

Casar noted the irony of Abbott's stance on the Austin City Council budget moves after his own recent cuts to the Texas Department of Public Safety during the fiscal year 2018-19 budget process: "In his press conference today, Abbott said 'defunding law enforcement is never the answer,' yet the governor himself requested a 4 percent cut to DPS recently, which amounts to some $50 million  more than double that of Austins own immediate reallocation last week," Casar said.

Casar noted the moves made by the council were in direct response to calls from its citizenry. During each council session mulling the police budget, council members first heard from hundreds of residents who signed up to voice support for police budget cuts  a process taking several hours before the body was able to proceed with action items well into the night or wee hours the following morning.



"The message from the tens of thousands of Austinites who made their voices heard in this years budget process was clear: We must decrease our over-reliance on police to handle all of our complex public safety challenges and instead reinvest in domestic violence shelters, mental health first responders, and more," Casar said. "Thats what our city council did  and its exactly the work were committed to continue."

Austin Mayor Steve Adler responded to Abbott's threat during a 4 p.m. news conference. He insisted the budget cuts were not punitive or rebuke of the local police force that he praised, but a redefining of the law enforcement function. He accused the governor of "trading in fear," and rejected the characterization that $150 million was cut from the police budget.

The $49 million "bucket" taken from the Austin Police Department constitutes tasks that can be viewed in a reimagined way, Adler said. Graphic provided by the mayor's office.

Instead, Adler said the cuts amounted to $20 million, or 4 percent of the budget  roughly the same amount Abbott slashed from the Texas Department of Public Safety in the last fiscal year. The council reductions  in "buckets" holding $20 million, $80 million and $49 million in budgeted police funds  affect unfilled positions without the need for layoffs and transfers some tasks historically handled by police to civilian-led functions in a move valued at $80 million. He said the third, $50 million bucket also should not be characterized as cuts.

Another $80 million reduction falls under the "decoupling" category examining functions that could be transferred to civilian-led departments. Graphic courtesy of the mayor's office.

"These are not things removed from the police department," Adler said. "In fact, there was no decision made as to if, whether or not, these functions should be changed. But we have started the work already taking a look at those functions. Does it need to be a sworn officer with a gun who's taking noise and sound measurements downtown outside of clubs?" he said in referencing one task undertaken by police. No function was ended, no function was reduced. The concil voted to not take a penny from any of these functions."

Genuine budget cuts of roughly $21 million call for bolstering other city functions currently under police oversight. Graphic courtesy of the mayor's office.

The reductions made will not compromise safety, Adler assured. Police response time also would not be affected by concil's directives, Adler added, noting one move that would integrate 9-1-1 services with the city's 3-1-1 information line.

"Safety is our primary concern, keeping our community safe, and that means safety for all," the mayor continued. "It's not just about reforming and then changing and training, because Minneapolis was doing a lot of both," he said, referencing the city where Floyd died while in police custody that served as the catalyst for protests. "It's about redefining public safety into a conversation that centers on the safety of the most marginalized. It's recognizing that public safety is also about health care delivery and delivery of opportunity."



All told, the reductions in police expenditures represent some 34 percent of the department's overall budget. That funds will be channeled into other functions, such as the hiring of additional paramedics and mental health response team members. The transferred monies also would be used to bolster social services, housing for victims of violence and resources for the city's homeless population.

"It's about reimagining," Adler said. "It's about trust. Its about Black Lives Matter," he added, using the reference to make an analogy with the disproportionate rate of Hispanics afflicted with the new coronavirus in Austin in alerting to needed fixes in the way things are done by the city. "If this virus taught us anything as we have stayed at home watching the disproporaionate impact is that we have been doing something wrong for a long period of time and we need to fix it."

Contrasting Abbott's perceived vision of Austin, Adler noted the city's successes  landing a huge Tesla automaking plant and the coveted U.S. Army Futures Command to name two big economic development plums  as evidence of municipal exceptionalism, he suggested as he categorized the state capital as "...a beautiful city that takes care of its people. We need not all be the same," he said of cities often pitted as obstacles to state machinations or dominant political ideology. "Our state should be celebrating and learning from our cities," Adler said, calling municipalities as incubators for innovation. "Together, our cities help make the state stronger."

This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
In New York City, a man punched a 62-year-old bus driver in the face after the driver stopped him from boarding without a mask. In Los Angeles, two taco stands shut down after customers cursed, shouted and threw drinks at restaurant workers who politely asked them to cover their faces. And in Tucson, a man had to be physically carried out of a supermarket by his son after he threatened to beat that f------ mask off the face of another man.
Online pharmacy PharmEasy has formally filed with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) seeking approval for the merger with its smaller rival Medlife, documents show.

Medlife and its promoters will get a 19.59 percent stake in PharmEasy's parent company API Holdings for about $230 million, while PharmEasy holds the remaining 80 percent stake. This would value PharmEasy's parent at $1.2 billion, making it the largest player in the space so far.

Moneycontrol first reported on July 21 that PharmEasy has been in talks to acquire Medlife for about $200 million, after Medlife was unable to raise external funds from investors.

Founded by Tushar Kumar and Prashant Singh in 2014, Medlife provides medicines, health products, doctor consultations and tests on its website and app. It has not raised any external venture funding so far--an anomaly in the sector--and has been supported by co-founder Kumars trust.

"The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of 100 percent equity shares of Medlife by API Holdings, and as consideration, the acquisition of up to 19.59% of the equity share capital of API Holdings (on a fully diluted basis), by the Medlife Promoter Shareholders and other shareholders of Medlife," Medlife said in a filing with the antitrust regulator. The deal is still pending approval.

The Indian online pharmacy space is becoming a hotly contested one, more so with the recent entry of American giant Amazon and Reliance Industries (RIL). Amazon launched an e-pharmacy service in Bengaluru last week, while RIL is in advanced talks to acquire Netmeds for about $150 million.

The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the e-pharmacy space. Although mergers- expected for a while- are finally happening, these companies are also seeing orders surge as much as 50 percent in the last few months, and are seeing many more first time customers.

PharmEasy last raised $220 million in a funding round late 2019, led by Singapores sovereign fund Temasek and Canadian pension fund CDPQ, among others. It was valued at about $700 million.
The information technology (IT) parliamentary committee is divided on summoning Facebook executives to clarify reports of bias towards the BJP in censoring hate speech.

Nishikant Dubey, who is a committee member and BJP Member of Parliament (MP), told Hindustan Times that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor could not seek an explanation from Facebook because the parliament's rules do not permit it.

"As the chair, Tharoor's powers are conferred upon him by the speaker," Dubey said as per the report.

Rule 269 states that it is the secretary general who has the power to summon a witness," Dubey added.

Tharoor, who heads the IT parliamentary committee, had sought a response from Facebook after a Wall Street Journal report titled "Facebook hate speech rules collide with Indian politics".



Our Parliamentary committee will, in the normal course, consider testimony under the topic Safeguarding citizens rights & prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms. The subject is squarely within the IT Cmts mandate& @Facebook has been summoned in the past. https://t.co/saoK8B7VCN

 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 16, 2020

The report alleged the platform did not action on hate speech by BJP members, on the advice of Ankhi Das, Facebook's Director  Public Policy in India, South & Central Asia.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, a member of the IT committee, also said the matter needs to be looked into.

In a tweet, Moitra had responded to Dubey's stance that the committee cannot initiate action without a discussion among the members.



Am IT comm member - agenda item was already agreed & bulletinized with Speaker's approval at the beginning of the year. When to schedule each item & who to call is Chairman's prerogative Amazing how @BJP jumps up & down at anything to do with FBs interests! https://t.co/O1cNN0lO7Rpic.twitter.com/FKBbBnNXQB  Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) August 17, 2020

Former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary said as per the report that the committee can take up a special subject under rule 276 of the procedure.

"A committee may, if it thinks fit, make a special report on any matter that arises or comes to light in the course of its work which it may consider necessary to bring to the notice of the Speaker or the House, notwithstanding that such matter is not directly connected with, or does not fall within or is not incidental to, its terms of reference," Achary said.


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Japan's final HTV cargo spacecraft leaves space station for fiery end



August 18, 2020  Japan's "white stork" has taken flight from the International Space Station for the last time.



The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) ninth H-II Transfer Vehicle, or HTV-9, was released from its temporary perch at the end of the space station's robotic arm on Tuesday (Aug. 18) at 1:36 p.m. EDT (1736 GMT). The uncrewed cargo vehicle, which JAXA nicknamed the "Kounotori," or "white stork," will spend two more days in orbit before flight controllers in Tsukuba, Japan command an engine burn that it will send the spacecraft plunging back into Earth's atmosphere.



Loaded with about 7,400 pounds (3,400 kilograms) of used equipment and trash from the space station, the HTV will meet its fiery end, succumbing to the heat of re-entry and burning up over the Pacific Ocean.



The de-orbit will mark the end of 11 years of HTV missions.



"Over the past 11 years, the H-II Transfer Vehicle Kounotori has delivered over 40 tons of cargo, research, hardware and equipment to the International Space Station," Joel Montalbano, NASA's ISS program manager, said in a statement during NASA TV's broadcast of the departure. "I want to congratulate Japan on the HTV missions."



First launched on Sept. 10, 2009, atop Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' first H-IIB rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan, the barrel-shaped HTV was Japan's first spacecraft to service a space station and the first uncrewed vehicle to be berthed on the U.S. segment of the International Space Station (ISS). The 33-foot (10-meter) long and 14-foot (4.4-meter) wide, solar-powered spacecraft was also the first capsule to carry both pressurized and unpressurized cargo.



"A white stork carries an image of conveying an important thing (a baby, happiness, and other joyful things); therefore, it precisely expresses the HTV's mission to transport essential materials to the ISS," JAXA officials wrote of the spacecraft's nickname in November 2010.



After HTV-1, subsequent Japanese spacecraft delivered supplies to the station in January 2011, July 2012, August 2013, August 2015, December 2016, September 2018 and September 2019. HTV-9 was launched on May 20 (May 21, Japan time) and was attached to the Earth-facing port of the space station's Harmony module five days later.



Like the eight vehicles that preceded it, HTV-9 spent its 85 days berthed to the station being unloaded of its cargo and then repacked with waste. After the space shuttles retired in 2011, Japan's HTV was the only spacecraft capable of delivering and removing the station's refrigerator-size payload racks. HTV-9 carried NASA's final "EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to the Space Station," or EXPRESS rack, which provide power, storage, temperature control, data and transport for up to 10 research experiments.



HTV-9 also delivered the final set of six new lithium-ion batteries that were used to complete the upgrade of the space station's solar power system this summer. Older, less capable nickel-hydrogen batteries, mounted on a pallet that was launched on HTV-8, are now being discarded in the unpressurized compartment aboard HTV-9. (The exposed pallet that was launched on HTV-9 will be jettisoned from the station later.)



In total, the nine Kounotori delivered more than 80,150 pounds (36,356 kg) of science equipment and supplies, including 58,513 pounds (26,541 kg) of pressurized cargo and 21,636 pounds (9,814 kg) of unpressurized cargo. The vehicles also disposed of nearly 48,000 pounds (21,695 kg) of trash, including 35,236 pounds (15,983 kg) of pressurized refuse and 12,593 pounds (5,712 kg) of unpressurized spent hardware.



On Tuesday, NASA flight controllers in Houston remotely commanded the Canadarm2 robotic arm to detach HTV-9 from the Harmony node and position it for release. Then NASA astronaut and Expedition 63 commander Chris Cassidy, assisted by Russian flight engineer Ivan Wagner, oversaw the vehicle's departure as it was freed from the robotic arm's grasp and fired its on board thrusters to separate from the orbiting laboratory.



"It has been a real honor for the members of Expedition 63 ... to welcome HTV, conduct operations in it and now to be part of its departure on the ninth spaceship of the class. Much congratulations to our colleagues and friends at JAXA," Cassidy said after the HTV reached a safe distance from the space station.



As it moved away, HTV-9 enabled one more experiment, completing the already successful Wireless LAN Demonstration (WLD). In a first, the HTV transmitted live images to the space station in real time. The technology may someday support autonomous dockings on future missions, including between vehicles operating around the moon and Mars.



The HTV is the third type of visiting vehicle to retire after flying in support of the ISS program. After NASA's space shuttle landed from its last mission in 2011, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) flew its fifth and final mission in 2015. The space station continues to be supplied by Russia's Soyuz and Progress spacecraft, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus freighter and SpaceX's Dragon capsule. Boeing's Starliner and Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser are expected to enter service in 2021.



JAXA is planning to succeed the HTV "Kounotori" with a new, more advanced spacecraft, dubbed the HTV-X. The new ship will have greater payload capacity, be able to support cargo that requires power and be equipped with a hatch to allow for late additions just prior to its launch.



Targeted to first fly to the station in 2022, the HTV-X is also being considered for flights to the moon, to deliver supplies to the planned lunar orbit Gateway as part of JAXA's proposed contributions to NASA's Artemis program.



"HTV is the last Japanese cargo vehicle of the series, yet this final departure is the start of a new chapter for our international partner, who is developing [the] next generation cargo vehicle, HTV-X," JAXA astronaut Norishige Kanai said from the HTV control room in Tsukuba, Japan. "We have upgraded the capability of the new vehicle [to] expand our activity in space, not only on the ISS, but beyond low Earth orbit. We look forward to seeing HTV-X in the near future. Till then, farewell HTV."



The ninth and last of JAXA's H-II Transfer Vehicles, or Kounotori, is released from end of the Canadarm2 robotic arm after 85 days berthed to the International Space Station. Loaded with refuse, the HTV will meet its demise re-entering the atmosphere. (NASA TV)





JAXA's H-II Transfer Vehicle-9 (HTV-9), is pictured attached to the International Space Station's Harmony module, dwarfing the moon behind it, on June 4, 2020. (NASA)





JAXA's mission patches for the HTV-1 through HTV-9 flights to the International Space Station, 2009 to 2020. (JAXA/collectSPACE)





Artist rendering of JAXA's planned HTV-X cargo spacecraft in Earth orbit. The HTV-X is being developed to resupply the International Space Station and support NASA's Gateway at the moon. (JAXA)





JAXA's H-II Transfer Vehicle-9 (HTV-9) floats free in Earth orbit after being released from the International Space Station on Aug. 18, 2020. (NASA)





JAXA's H-II Transfer Vehicle-9 (HTV-9) as seen prior to release through a window in the International Space Station's cupola, Aug. 18, 2020. (NASA)





NASA astronaut and Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy unloads a bag packed with fresh food from JAXA's HTV-9 on May 26, 2020. (NASA)





JAXA's H-II Transfer Vehicle-9 (HTV-9) is pictured in the grips of the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm on May 29, 2020. (NASA)



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- There was a heated debate in the Senate on Monday, August 17, over the arrest three senators Christopher Lang'at (Bomet), Steve Lelegwe (Samburu) and Cleophas Malala (Kakamega)

- Senators exchanged bitter words on the floor of the house as each one maintained their hardline stance over the controversial third basis counties revenue formula

- After a long day of drama, however, the lawmakers managed to reach a deal leading to a formation of a committee to break the deadlock

After a record nine times without reaching a deal, there could be light at the end of the tunnel after the Senate formed a 12-member committee on Monday, August 17, to try and reach a consensus on the counties revenue sharing formula stalemate.

The decision came after a day of drama marked by heated debate over the arrest of three senators Christopher Lang'at (Bomet), Steve Lelegwe (Samburu) and Cleophas Malala (Kakamega).

READ ALSO: Woman celebrates getting a divorce and netizens can't keep calm

Former Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen (standing) is among the list of 12 lawmakers formed by the Senate. Photo: Kipchumba Murkomen.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Lilian Muli turns heads in flirty crop top showing her hourglass figure

A ruling by Speaker Ken Lusaka that nominated senators could not vote on behalf of their elected colleagues who had been arrested forced those supporting the government's position led by Senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Irungu Kang'ata (Murang'a) to appeal for dialogue after sensing defeat.

"Given what the Constitution and the standing orders say, and we are guided by the constitution and the standing order, my hands are tied, there is nothing that I can do but to say that we will follow the constitution, Lusaka said.

Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka had a difficult time trying to calm down angry senators. Photo: Citizen TV.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Lionel Messi kuondoka Barcelona siku chache kufuatia kichapo cha Bayern

The unity deal was thereafter reached after Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja sought Lusaka's permission to adjourn for 15 minutes saying the leaders could find an agreement together.

Hope is good breakfast and bad supper. Where we have reached on this matter, we can agree, said Sakaja.

Below is full list of the 12 senators:

1. Moses Wetang'ula - Bungoma (Co-chairman)

2. Johnson Sakaja - Nairobi (Co-chairman)

3. Kipchumba Murkomen - Elgeyo Marakwet

4. Mahamud Mohamed - Mandera

5. Anwar Loitiptip - Lamu

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula speaking at an event. Photo: Moses Wetang'ula.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Arsenal forward reportedly agrees new 250,000-a-week deal

6. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr - Makueni

7. Susan Kihika - Nakuru

8. Samson Cherargei - Nandi

9. John Kinyua - Laikipia

10. Stewart Madzayo - Kilifi

11. Ledama Ole Kina - Narok

12. Moses Kajwang - Homa Bay

First meeting

The committee would hold its first meeting on Tuesday, August 18, and would decide the stakeholders to consult, including the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) which first developed the proposal.

READ ALSO: Nishikilie: Jowie Irungu set to release gospel song

A week ago, the Senate had failed for the eighth time failed to break the deadlock on the revenue sharing standoff which pitted the so called Team Kenya and supporters of the "one man, one vote, one shilling".

The motion to adjourn the sitting was moved by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen with a total of 34 senators voting for adjournment against 26.

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
File / Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORD  A city man sustained serious stab wounds during a fight at the McDonalds on East Main Street early Sunday morning, according to police.

Officers were dispatched to the 24-hour fast-food restaurant at 2:55 a.m. Sunday on a report of a fight in progress at the site, where they were told a large group had congregated, Lt. Tom Scanlon said Tuesday.
A Minnesota businessman known as the 'MyPillow Guy' has been roasted by CNN host Anderson Cooper for promoting herbal supplement oleandrin as a cure for COVID-19, describing it as 'the miracle of all time'.

Cooper told Mike Lindell, founder of MyPillow and a fervent supporter of Donald Trump, that he was 'a snake oil salesman' and was putting lives at risk.

'This thing works, and it is the miracle of all time,' Lindell insisted.

Lindell, a 59-year-old former crack addict and born-again Christian, began selling pillows in 2004 at trade shows.

Mike Lindell appeared on Anderson Cooper's show on Tuesday afternoon to promote the 'cure'

Lindell, 59, is a fanatical supporter of Donald Trump, describing him as the greatest in history

His company, MyPillow, has now sold more than 40 million pillows, according to his website, and Lindell caught the eye of the president; he is now working as campaign chair for Minnesota.

He is also now on the board of the company that sells oleandrin.

Lindell told Cooper that he received a phone call on Easter Sunday which led him to the 'cure'.

'This guy called me on Easter Sunday and said he has an answer to the virus, so I reached out to my friend Secretary Ben Carson, who is on the taskforce,' said Lindell.

Lindell insisted that oleandrin had been tested on 1,000 people - but, pressed repeatedly by Cooper to provide evidence of the test, was unable to do so.

'You are telling people this cures COVID, and you have nothing to prove it,' said Cooper.

Cooper noted that Dr William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, had called oleandrin 'quackery' and advised people: 'Do not take it.'

Lindell, known as the 'MyPillow Guy', is now on the board of the company producing the drug

Cooper repeatedly challenged Lindell to provide any evidence that oleandrin worked

Lindell has said Trump was 'enthusiastic' about the extract and wanted the FDA to approve it.

Cooper had begun the highly combative discussion by noting that Lindell not only has no medical or scientific background, but that the pillow manufacturer also has a financial stake in a company that would profit from the supplement being widely sold.

Lindell said he told Minnesota-born Ben Carson, the housing secretary and member of the coronavirus task force, about oleandrin

'Morally, is that right?' asked Cooper, prompting Lindell to claim that studies have shown the supplement's efficacy and 'the FDA's got them all.'

'Why aren't they publicly out there? Why aren't they peer-reviewed?' Cooper pressed.

'You have no medical background,' Cooper continued.

'You are not a scientist. A guy called in April saying he had this product. You are now on the board and going to make money from the sale of this product.

'The reason he reached out to you is because you have the ear of the president and could get a meeting with the president and you stand to make money from it.

'How do you sleep at night?!'

Lindell replied that 'the media is trying to take away this amazing cure that works for everybody.'

And, pressed on his financial gain from the unproven remedy, he replied: 'No, no - that's your narrative. I don't care about the money. They put me on the board last week, because when this will get approved... I can scale things and get it out to everybody.'

He continued: 'I have a platform God gave me of integrity and trust.'

Mike Lindell is pictured speaking at the White House on March 30. He was there again June 7

Cooper could barely contain his smile as he grilled the manufacturing expert about the drug

Cooper then brought up Lindell's F-rating with the Better Business Bureau and how the MyPillow boss agreed to settle in California for a million dollars over deceptive marketing and false claims about his products.

'That's not a great track record for honesty, sir,' Cooper said.

Lindell, meanwhile, insisted he only had a poor BBB rating and was hit with lawsuits because of his passionate support for Trump.

Lindell is said to be weighing a political career of his own, with a potential run for Minnesota governor in 2022.

He has sharply criticized the current governor, Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and their fellow Democrats for their handling of protests following George Floyds death that evolved into riots and looting.

Cooper, however, was relentless in his attack.

'Just in summation, you have to medical background,' Cooper said. 'You have no scientific background at all. You have a financial stake in this company.

'You don't know - you can't give any details about an alleged study of 1,000 people that you allegedly have read but you remember nothing about it, not one single detail other than 1,000 people.'

'This has not been tested anywhere outside one lab in a test tube.

'Never been tested in animals, never peer reviewed, studied, published.

'And you have a history of running ads that you have had to make massive settlements for because they were deceptive testimonials.'

When Cooper called him a 'snake oil salesman' again, Lindell reacted by saying he does 'what Jesus has me do.'

'Jesus wants you promoting remedies that are never tested?' Cooper shot back.

'Ask yourself, why would I ruin my reputation?' Lindell countered.

'Money,' the anchor replied. 'You don't have a great reputation.'
Protesters outside Los Angeles City Hall in June hold images of George Floyd, who died when a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck. Protests were held for weeks across the country. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

The killing of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and prompted many to take stock of the country's long history of racism toward Black people.

President Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden reacted to the killing and the demonstrations in dramatically different ways, shining a light on how each has approached the complicated issue of race throughout their political careers.

Trump has consistently downplayed the role of racism in American life while simultaneously attacking protesters, making racist and xenophobic comments and claiming he's done more for Black people than any other president with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln.

Biden has positioned himself as a crusader for racial justice who'll use the presidency to correct long-standing social inequities and restore the climate of relative tolerance that marked his two terms as vice president under Barack Obama. He's chosen as his vice presidential running mate California Sen. Kamala Harris, setting her up to become the first person of color and the first woman to hold that position if elected.

Despite their differences, both candidates face an electorate that's somewhat doubtful that either can improve racial tensions.

Only about a third of voters had confidence that Trump could effectively handle race relations, according to a Pew Research poll conducted in June. Fewer than half of respondents felt confident that Biden would be effective on the issue.





President Trump

President Trump speaks about protests by white nationalist in Charlottesville, Va., during a news conference at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., on Aug. 12, 2017. (Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Images)

Trump claims hes done more to help African Americans than his predecessor, Obama, the nation's first Black president. He says he also comes out ahead of Lyndon Johnson, who signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Acts of 1965.

With African Americans, Im doing very well, Trump told Axios reporter Jonathan Swan during an interview broadcast on HBO in early August.

They had the best employment numbers theyve ever had; they had the best job numbers theyve ever had; they were making more money than theyve ever made, he said. We were all set until we got hit by China with the virus. We were becoming a very unified country.

Story continues

Yet Trump often undercuts his self-praise by seeming unaware of basic facts about Black Americans, such as their greater risk than whites of being killed by police, or the reality that despite historically low jobless figures for Black Americans pre-pandemic, the wealth gap between Black households and white ones is as wide under his administration as it was 30 years ago.

Hes been defensive, obtuse or outright dismissive when discussing racial inequities, white supremacist violence and his own stereotyping of Black people, Latinos, Muslims, Asians and immigrants from Central America as threats to public safety and health.

Trump has described some majority Black nations as "shithole" countries while suggesting, "We should have people from places like Norway. And within days of Harris being named Biden's vice presidential running mate, he perpetuated the false claim that Harris, who was born in Oakland to an Indian-immigrant mother and Jamaican-immigrant father, might not be eligible to serve as vice president.

He launched his political career by spreading similar racist innuendos suggesting that President Obama wasn't a natural-born U.S. citizen.

Trump acknowledged in the Axios interview that the knee on the neck was a disgrace, referring to George Floyd's death as a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly eight minutes. The 46-year-old Black man's death set off months of peaceful protests and sometimes violent clashes with authorities.

But when asked what systemic racism means to him, he acted glib.

Does anybody really answer that question accurately? he replied. Does anybody really know?

Trump insists that police violence is a major problem for white people. Black Americans are more than three times more likely to be killed by police than white Americans.

As for the Black Lives Matter movement, he calls the activists anarchists and Marxists who never shouldve gained respectability.

Even so, Trump has shown an openness to criminal justice reforms that would reduce the number of Black people in the nations prisons, and his administration has taken steps to aid business development, job creation and educational programs in communities of color.

In 2018, Trump signed the First Step Act, the first major criminal justice reform law in over a decade. The law reduced sentences for some prisoners who were given mandatory minimum sentences, and it funded programs to reduce recidivism by helping released prisoners transition back into society.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that Trump signed into law in 2017 set up opportunity zones in more than 8,700 census tracts across the U.S. where the poverty rate is on average twice the nationwide rate of about 12%, and that includes many neighborhoods with high populations of people of color. Entrepreneurs and real-estate developers who invest in these zones receive a capital-gains tax break lasting seven years on the money they put into those projects, and if they hold onto those investments for at least a decade, they pay no capital-gains taxes at all.

The program is fairly new so gauging its success is difficult, and the coronavirus outbreak has stalled many development plans around the country.

Trump also signed a bipartisan bill in 2019 to renew $255 million in annual funding to historically Black colleges and universities and other institutions that primarily serve students of color that was at risk of lapsing. Some schools wouldve faced deep budget cuts and layoffs if the funding hadnt been approved.

At the same time, Trump has frequently fueled hatred against migrants from Latin American countries by describing this population as infiltrated by dangerous criminals. He launched his 2016 campaign with a vow to build a wall along the U.S.- Mexico border to stop the flow of migrants in the U.S. illegally.

His administration's zero tolerance immigration policies have led to migrant parents being separated from their children along the U.S.-Mexico border and migrants being required to endure often dangerous conditions in Mexico while they wait for their asylum hearings in the U.S.

Joe Biden

Joe Biden introduces his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 12. Harris is the first Black woman and first Asian American on a major party ticket. (Associated Press)

Biden has staked his third presidential bid around the idea that Americans deserve straight talk from their leaders about the countrys divisions, especially when it comes to the subject of race.

The battle for the soul of this nation has been a constant push and pull for more than 240 years, a tug of war between the American ideal that were all created equal and the harsh reality that racism has long torn us apart, the presumptive Democratic nominee said during a speech in Philadelphia in early June.

Biden speaks like a man who harbors no doubt thats hes pulling for the right side in that enduring tug of war. The reality has been, at times, more muddled.

As a candidate, hes promised to bring an end to the selfishness and fear ushered in by the Trump presidency, and hes said he won't exploit the country's racial wounds for political gain like his Republican opponent.

Black voters, especially those over 50, back the former vice president by wide margins over Trump. Many cite Bidens long-standing relationship with the Black community, his support for civil rights legislation and his service under Obama.

But throughout his five decades in politics, the 77-year-old has at times embodied the conflict between the nations idealism and its treatment of people of color.

As a young lawmaker, he joined with segregationists in the 1970s to fight against court-ordered busing, at a time when Black students in cities like Boston risked being spat on and jeered with racial epithets on their way to newly integrated schools. And hes faced scrutiny among progressives and activists over his support for a 1994 crime bill thats been blamed for the mass incarceration of Black men.

Biden once described the Harvard-educated Obama as clean and articulate" in one of many tone-deaf attempts to demonstrate his racial openness. His campaign recently had to clarify remarks he made to a group of Black and Latino journalists that suggesting that Latinos are a diverse community representing a broad range of political views, "unlike the African American community, with notable exceptions."

Despite his stumbles, Biden often appears emotional when describing how Black peoples struggle for acceptance and equality has personally inspired him.

Although he hasnt been an outspoken champion of reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans, he recently laid out plans to close the wealth gap between Black and white Americans and combat inequities in the criminal justice system, the economy, housing and other areas.

He has also promised to appoint the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Biden has also tried to shore up his somewhat softer support among Latinos by announcing a set of economic policies targeting that community, along with immigration reforms.

Biden plans to invest in programs that increase home ownership among families of color, including creating a new tax credit of up to $15,000 to help lower- and middle-income families buy the first home.

He also wants to create a $30-billion Small Business Opportunity Fund to help kick-start public-private developments in communities of color and fine-tune Trumps Opportunity Zone program to make it more effective at spurring economic development in qualifying low-income census tracts.

The former vice president says he'll eliminate state and local regulations, including racially discriminatory zoning ordinances, that make it harder for Black people and other people of color to buy or rent a home. And he'll direct more than $50 billion in venture capital funds to small businesses owned by Black entrepreneurs and other people of color.

He plans to require the Federal Reserve to track and report data on racial disparities in the economy.

Biden has never been able to live down his support for the Clinton-era crime bill, but his criminal justice policies target racial inequities in policing, the courts and incarceration.

He's called for greater accountability for police officers who use deadly force and better training for officers. And he's vowed to eliminate mandatory minimums for nonviolent crimes and the cash bail system, as well as end the practice of incarcerating people for drug use alone.

Biden's pitch to Latino voters includes promises to create a path to citizenship for the nations 11 million immigrants in the country illegally as well as longtime refugees from countries devastated by natural disasters and civil unrest who have temporary protective status.

He'd offer free tuition for Latino, Black and Native American students whose families make less than $125,000 a year at public colleges and universities, HBCUs and at other private educational institutions that serve populations of color. And his platform calls for forgiving all federal student-loan debt related to undergraduate tuition at HBCUs and minority-serving institutions for debt holders earning $125,000 or less.

Biden also would direct the Justice Department to prioritize the prosecution of hate crimes, which have sharply surged during the Trump presidency.
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Linkedin Sophie Yu and Byron Kaye (Reuters) Beijing, China/Sydney, Australia  Tue, August 18, 2020 14:30 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ec73cb 2 Business China,anti-dumping,Australia,wine,import Free

China said on Tuesday it has begun an anti-dumping probe into imports of Australian wine in a move that will likely worsen tensions between the two countries and knocked a fifth off the market value of Australia's biggest winemaker.

The investigation by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) will look at imports of wine from Australia in containers holding two liters or less in 2019, the ministry said in a statement. It would also examine any damage to the Chinese wine industry from 2015-19.

The probe was requested by the Chinese Alcoholic Drinks Association, which asked the regulator to look into 10 Australian wine producers, including Treasury Wine Estates , the maker of Penfolds, and Accolade wines.

Shares of Treasury, the world's biggest standalone winemaker, fell up to 20% as the industry and investors worried about the prospect of a possible import tax on Australian wine.

The company said in a statement it would cooperate with any requests for information from the authorities and remained committed to China as a "priority market".

The probe comes against a backdrop of increasing tensions between the countries after Canberra called for an international inquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus.

China is the top market for Australian wine exports and is also Australia's largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth A$235 billion ($170 billion) last year.

Beijing recently imposed dumping tariffs on Australian barley, suspended some beef imports and warned Chinese students and tourists it wasn't safe to travel to Australia because of allegations of racism.

Australia's Minister for Trade Simon Birmingham called the investigation "very disappointing and perplexing" and said China was also considering a request to investigate countervailing duties, an import tax imposed to prevent dumping or counter export subsidies.

He told reporters he had not spoken with his Chinese counterpart, or other senior Chinese government officials, since May when he requested discussions in light of the barley tariff.

Price concerns

The China Alcoholic Drinks Association said Australian wine producers had cut their prices and were taking market share from local companies, which had seen a rapid deterioration in production and operating conditions.

China's imports of Australian wine more than doubled to 12.08 million liters between 2015 and 2019, the association said. The price of imports fell 13% to $6,723 a kiloliter, it added, citing Chinese customs data.

Over the same period, the market share of domestic wine fell from 74.4% to 49.6%, it said.

Australian industry figures show the country sells more wine to China than France, exporting A$1.1 billion ($795 million) of product in 2019/20 for a 37% market share of China's imports by dollar value.

"The export data doesn't support any facts that we're dumping wine," said David Harris, managing director of South Australian Wine Group, which was named in the investigation.

"Our wine's more expensive than virtually any wine-exporting country in the world," he added.

Tony Battaglene, chief executive of industry body Australian Grape & Wine Inc, said China's move was unexpected and could lead to a tariff being applied to all of the roughly 1,200 Australian winemakers which export product to China.

"As in the barley case they can apply a tariff across the board," he said. "It can apply at a company level and at a national level. It would be detrimental, there's no doubt about it."

Australian wine exporters including Treasury faced blocks and delays in 2018 when Chinese customs officials held up shipments. Relations were strained at the time after the Australian government accused Beijing of meddling in domestic affairs.

Fund manager Macquarie Equities said it was reviewing its investment rating of Treasury Wine due to "increased geopolitical risks", and warned of the possibility of additional tariffs.
New York-based Venture Capitalist Fred Wilson (pictured in 2016) says the coronavirus pandemic will allow NYC to undergo the transformation it needs

A New York City venture capitalist has hit back at critics who say the Big Apple will never be able to return to its former glory after the coronavirus pandemic, saying the crisis is actually helping weed out residents who don't want to invest in 'a better NYC.'

Fred Wilson, the co-founder of Union Square Ventures, has painted an optimistic picture for what's to come in New York, despite the recent wave of crime, homelessness and violence that has plagued the five boroughs amid a devastating pandemic.

In a post published on his blog AVC on Tuesday, Wilson said he believes the current state of affairs will allow the city to undergo the transformation it needs, noting that it 'has sucked for the last decade or more.'

The blog comes days after businessman James Altrucher weighed in on the issue in his own post, in which he predicted the city won't 'bounce back' because its business opportunities, culture and food scene have been wiped out.

New York City has suffered a tumultuous five months since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March - when it became the epicenter of the deadly outbreak

Coronavirus cases in New York City have drastically declined in recent months, but the Big Apple has since seen a rise in crime, homelessness and violence

Homeless people in New York City on August 17. Some residents say they no longer want to stay in New York because the homeless population is growing and becoming more aggressive

Ramshackle encampments have popped up all over the city in recent months

New York City has suffered a tumultuous five months since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, during which it became the epicenter of the deadly outbreak and nearly 800 people were dying in the state every day.

While the number of cases has significantly declined since, and the city has made strides in its reopening plans, it has also seen many of its residents pack up and move to cheaper and smaller suburbs, as businesses flounder and crime rates increase.

The city is also experiencing a rise in homelessness, with rough-sleepers and drug addicts seen setting up encampments on the streets of Midtown Manhattan and shooting up in broad daylight.

Wilson however, says that while the city won't be the same as it was before the outbreak, he doesn't believe it is 'going out of business' as others have claimed.

'It is certainly the case that many talented people are leaving NYC right now. It is also the case that the city is suffering from rising crime, filth, etc,' he writes.

'NYC is not going out of business. It will need a turnaround. It will need new leadership, which it will get. The pandemic will end. Restaurants, museums, broadway, nightclubs, etc, etc, etc will re-open.

The homeless have used furniture and junk abandoned by wealthy people fleeing the city during the pandemic to build a sidewalk camp

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week he will turf 13,000 homeless people out of Manhattan hotels and back into shelters as New Yorkers complained that the city is becoming a shanty town

As shootings spiral, there is also a growing homeless problem with encampments popping up all over Manhattan. 13,000 homeless people have also been moved into hotels around the city

'It won't be the same NYC that existed pre-pandemic. But that is a good thing. NYC has sucked for the last decade or more,' he added.

The 58-year-old said the grim circumstances will give rise to an opportunity to create a 'better NYC'; one that is more affordable and 'environmentally sustainable.'

'Many people who can will leave forever. Rents will be lower (maybe a lot lower). Artists will be able to live in NYC again,' Wilson writes.

'We have the opportunity to reimagine what NYC is. We can reimagine transportation, schools, policing, housing, construction.

'We can create an environmentally sustainable NYC. We can create an affordable NYC. We can create a better NYC.

James Altrucher, who co-owns a comedy club in the city and also describes himself as an angel investor and author, is among the many who have fled. He is convinced the city will never recover

'But the first thing that has to happen is we need all the people who are afraid of all of this change to leave so those who are left can come together and create this better NYC. And thankfully that is happening,' he added.

Wilson, who began his career as a venture capitalist in 1986, publishes posts on his blog, 'AVC: musings of a VC in NYC' daily, describing it as his 'diary where I think things through "out loud".'

The MIT and Wharton School graduate previously ran Flatiron Partners, an investment fund involved in a number of website startups, including Kozmo.com, The New York Times Digital, and VitaminShoppe.com.

The firm later shut down in 2001 and Wilson founded Union Square Ventures three years later.

Wilson's take on the issue is a stark contrast to that of Altrucher, who said the rise in crime, change in culture, and switch to remote working, means there's nothing keeping people in the city anymore.

Altrucher, who co-owns a comedy club in the city and also describes himself as an angel investor and author, is among the many who have fled New York City.

He and his family fled to Miami after the June riots and looting made them fear for their and their children's safety, when people tried to break into his apartment building.

He explained that unlike in previous times of crisis like 9/11 or the crime wave of the 70s, there is nothing bringing people back now because everyone can work remotely.

'Even in the 1970s, and through the 80s, when NYC was going bankrupt, even when it was the crime capital of the U.S. or close to it, it was still the capital of the business world (meaning, it was the primary place young people would go to build wealth and find opportunity,' he wrote in his blog.

In the last five years the number of shootings fell to a low of 754 in 2018, but is now rising

Shootings in New York City have nearly doubled in the past year, and there has been a nearly 30% increase in murders

'It was culturally on top of its game  home to artists, theater, media, advertising, publishing. And it was probably the food capital of the U.S.

'NYC has never been locked down for five months. Not in any pandemic, war, financial crisis, never', he wrote.

Altrucher also cited a Facebook group where residents aired their concerns about homelessness and crime.

He said he was not tempted to leave the city until June, when riots and looting took over the city for a week.

'Nothing was wrong with the protests but I was a little nervous when I saw videos of rioters after curfew trying to break into my building,' he wrote.

Residents have complained over issues of 'quality of life' from those living in the neighborhoods affected

New York authorities are to begin the process of moving homeless people who are currently staying in hotels back to shelters, but some are calling for more long-term solutions to the city's homeless crisis

He has now moved with his family to south Florida and is unsure if they'll come back.

It comes as recent data showed shootings across New York City have increased by 82 percent year to date, and murders are up by 30 percent in another startling indication of how crime is taking over the city.

The NYPD released figures on Monday for the week of 8/10/2020 through 8/16/2020 which paint a worrying picture of how the situation in New York is growing increasingly hostile.

Year to date, shootings are up 82.1 percent, murders are up 30.2 percent, burglaries are up 43.3 percent and car theft is up 58.7 percent.

This week compared to this week last year is even worse; shootings are up 142 percent, murders are up 40 percent, rape is up 11.1 percent and car theft is up 71.9 percent.

Year to date, crime is down by 2.7 percent but compared to this week last year, it is up by 2.0 percent.

New York City is also experiencing issues with drug addicts who have been seen shooting up in broad daylight in Manhattan neighborhoods.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the once bustling area at the heart of the Big Apple has emptied of office workers rushing to and from meetings and tourists snapping photos of sparking skyscrapers.

They've now been replaced with people down on their luck, many of them struggling with drug addiction, who have come to call that stretch of Broadway 'home'.
Opposing the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal at a meeting with his Haryana counterpart, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday warned that it is an emotive issue in his state and Punjab will burn if asked to share water.

Meeting Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat through a video link, the Punjab CM argued that the SYL canal issue could disturb national security.

Both states stuck to their stands at the meeting convened on the directions of the Supreme Court, which asked the Centre on July 28 to mediate between them on the decades-old issue.

But the two CMs described the interaction  the first such meeting between them on the SYL project -- as cordial and agreed to talk again.

Punjab is reluctant to share water with Haryana through the SYL canal project, saying it has nothing to spare. Amarinder Singh reiterated the need for a tribunal for a time-bound assessment of river water availability.

You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective, he told Shekhawat, according to a Punjab government statement.

If you decide to go ahead with SYL, Punjab will burn and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also suffering the impact, he added.

Shekhawat and Khattar joined the video conference from Delhi. Linking the SYL debate with national security, Singh said Punjab remained at risk from all quarters.

He said Pakistan was continuing with attempts to foment trouble and was trying to revive the separatist movement through the banned Sikhs for Justice organisation.

The water issue could further destabilise the state, he warned, according to the statement.

Singh described the meeting as amicable and cordial.

Haryana CM Khattar hoped for an amicable solution to the dispute.

We maintained our stand that the SYL should be constructed. The Supreme Court too has said that, he told reporters after the meeting.

SYL has been a contentious issue between the two states with the Punjab portion of the canal still incomplete.

The construction began in 1982.

Punjab has been demanding reassessment of the Ravi-Beas river waters' volume while Haryana has been seeking completion of the SYL canal to get its share of 3.5 million acre feet (MAF) of water.

Amarinder Singh claimed Punjab had a right to Yamuna water, in which it did not get a share at the time of 60:40 division of assets with Haryana during the state's division in 1966.

He also expressed his willingness to sit across the table with his Haryana counterpart to discuss the emotive issue.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat suggested that the SYL could be completed while discussions on water sharing continue for arriving at a final formula.

Punjab and Haryana CMs placed their viewpoints on the issue and we have decided to have another meeting soon, he told reporters.

At the next meeting, talks will be held from the point where we ended them today and whatever the outcome, we will apprise the Supreme Court about it," he said.

He called the meeting cordial and positive.
Investigations are under way for Victoria Bridge to have shade structures for pedestrians and cyclists braving the heat of the Brisbane sun.

Local Member for South Brisbane, Jackie Trad, said she had written to lord mayor Adrian Schrinner asking for information about the council's plans for shading over the popular bridge but was yet to hear back.

Victoria Bridge will be converted to a green bridge as part of the Brisbane Metro project. Credit:Harrison Saragossi

Ms Trad said she was concerned the bridge's conversion from a vehicle bridge to purely pedestrian, cycling and buses would be of limited use if it was too uncomfortably hot for people to use daily.

The Victoria Bridge will be converted to a 'green' bridge as part of the Brisbane City Council's $1.2 billion Brisbane Metro project.
STRANEK-Africa wishes to first of all, congratulate the Electoral Commission of Ghana and Ghanaians for a successful voter registration exercise despite some lingering issues. With 16,983,306 registered voters for the December 7th, 2020 election, it has become judicious for STRANEK-Africa to suggest to the Government of Ghana to consider declaring half working hours for workers on the day of the election.

In the year 2016 with 15,712,505 registered voters, 10,713,650 voters cast their ballot according to the Electoral Commission of Ghana. This means that in as much as 167,349 votes were recorded as blank or invalid votes, 4,831,506 registered voters did not vote on December, 7th, 2016. The implication is, there is more room for improvement so far as voters coming out to cast their ballot is concerned.

It is indeed trite knowledge with regards to the constitutional right of Ghanaians to vote so far as one has registered as a voter (article 42 of the 1992 Constitution). However, we are of the opinion that, a declaration by Government of Ghana backed by an instrument asking workers (except essential workers) to work half of their maximum hours of work, will go a long way to compel employers to allow their workers to close for the day when workers have exhausted half of their hours of work.

Most Ghanaians enjoy travelling to their hometowns to cast their vote. Thus, if a declaration by Government of Ghana backed by an instrument is passed, it will give workers the chance to travel to their hometowns to cast their vote on the day of general elections and even those who will also move from one constituency to another constituency, electoral area to another electoral area since their place of work may not be where they vote.

A time should come where Ghana should boast of 99.9% voter turnout on the day of elections and we are hopeful that as we identify the challenges plus propose solutions to reduce the number of voters not voting during general elections, those solutions or suggestions are implemented.

Then, Ghanaians can be more confident that our democracy is being strengthened day after day.

We are all involved in building our motherland Ghana.

Signed.

Adjoa Tima Boafo

Director of Gender and Social Policy

[email protected]

Nii Tettey Tetteh

Executive Director

+233 559 042 914
As Camillia King-Stanley looked up at the towering mural, an artwork of brilliant colors celebrating a brilliant moment in history for women, she saw a lot.

It went far beyond the two-week painting of Nashville artist Kim Radford that was formally recognized Tuesday on the 100th anniversary of the womens right to vote being ratified. King-Stanley said she saw history, she saw hope and she saw a time in the future when she can bring her two young daughters to downtown Huntsville so they can see and appreciate a better world.

Its emotional, she said of looking ahead to that day with her girls. I want to cry. When we go to school or they are getting ready to do something or one of their activities, I always tell them, Be amazing. Youre amazing. And theyll be able to see, OK, I am amazing.

Their mom, as vice president of the Womens Economic Development Council board in Huntsville, was a part of a sprawling two-year effort to bring the mural into reality. The mural was like a child raised by a village of ideas and supporters until Radford last month began painting the brick on the eastern side of the Clinton Avenue parking deck.

Radford researched the project and decided, I want that wall.

A mural on Washington Street in downtown Huntsville celebrates the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage. It was formally dedicated on Aug. 18, 2020. (Paul Gattis | pgattis@al.com)

This is really cool to see this come full circle from when I first heard about the project, she said during the ceremony.

The mural towers more than three stories on the parking deck wall facing Washington Street between the courthouse square and Clinton Avenue and features a young African American girl lifting a watering can that reads Votes for Women flanked by 1920 and 2020. The artwork features brightly-colored flowers and butterflies as well as a triangular pattern representative of a southern quilt.

The girl is wearing a purple sash that reads vote and, at the bottom, an upward tilting Huntsville.

This mural is titled This Girl Can and celebrates and honors the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, King-Stanley told the audience during the ceremony. While the young girl is African American, she is an artistic representation of all generations of women who have fought before her to have the right to vote. Our hope is that little girls, including my own, will look at this mural and feel hope and inspiration in what we can accomplish when we work together.

While the 19th Amendment guaranteed women the right to vote, that did not include women of color in Alabama, King-Stanley reminded the audience.

The right to vote did not end in 1920, she said. It continued on another 45 years until 1965 with the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Among the heroes behind the project was Arts Huntsville.

A guiding vision for public art in Huntsville is to create installations that lift the spirit and engage the mind, said Allison Dillon-Jauken, executive director of Arts Huntsville. Through this soaring mural, Kim has embodied that vision as This Girl Can now soars as it greets residents and visitors along Washington Street here in downtown Huntsville each day.
Last week, I woke up to dozens of tweets from Zimbabweans, amused at a tweet I had sent a few days before. Stay safe, Chi-Town friends, I tweeted as storms ripped through Chicago. I was confused, but a little Googling informed me that Chitungwiza, the third largest city in Zimbabwe, is also known as Chi-Town. Later in the day, a man asked me to amplify #ZimbabweanLivesMatter, a hashtag activists in the southern African nation are using to protest corruption in their government. The Zimbabwean government, in turn, has responded by sending in the military, banning demonstrations, and incarcerating political dissidents, whom it is accused of torturing in custody.

On Thursday, Donald Trump explicitly stated that he was withholding funding to the United States Postal Service to suppress votes. 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, he told reporters.

The following day, in response to sustained protests outside the state capitol, the Tennessee legislature passed a bill banning certain forms of protest and stripping voting rights from those convicted of breaking this new law. If people  knowingly thumb their nose at authority and dont do what authorities have requested they do, they should be charged with a serious crime, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally explained on Wednesday.

McNallys words tell us more about what is happening than perhaps he intended. Across the United States, Republicans are cracking down on protests and making it difficult to impossible to vote, all in the name of preserving their authority. Trumps attacks on the Postal Service arent about the cost-effectiveness of our post offices, as Trump crony Richard Grenell tried to pretend, but about making it harder for people to vote. Trump believes this increases his chances of holding onto office, and therefore authority. Saying so isnt politically manipulating the Postal Service, as Grenell claims. It is literally repeating what Trump himself has said.

Both the Tennessee law and the attacks on the post office are meant to hinder the ability of citizens to dissent, whether through protest or voting. These are laws which are meant to shore up Republican power, increase and exert the authority of the state  controlled by the Republican Party  over the lives of the people, and to deny Americans the right to oppose and change their government  rights which are enshrined in the constitution and are the very bedrock on which the country was purportedly built.

Thinking about all the ways Republicans are trying to destroy our republic, and all the ways in which theyve already been and might continue to be, successful, quite literally keeps me up at night. I have not been more terrified or more uncertain of the future and security of the US at any time in my life, including after the 9/11 attacks. Whether deploying violent federal officers to disappear protestors in Portland or teargassing them for a photo-op in Washingtons Lafayette Park, Donald Trump has demonstrated that he has no problem using the authority of the state to crack down on dissidents and maintain his ever-weakening grasp on power. In turn, the Republicans have shown they are unwilling to stop him.

In a piece for The Verge earlier this month, Sarah Jeong was criticised for saying the question of whether the US is better at human and civil rights than China is becoming a genuinely difficult question to answer. A lot of critics on Twitter pointed out the fact that Jeong was even allowed to ask the question demonstrates the United States is better than China.

That may be technically true, but were not as bad as China is a depressingly low bar. Reading about the authoritarian crackdown in Zimbabwe, or watching the footage of protesters march for democracy in Minsk, or seeing demonstrators attacked in the streets of Hong Kong, many Americans shake their heads pitifully, saying a silent prayer of solidarity with those freedom fighters and thanking God it isnt them. But as Jeong points out, we have kids in cages on our borders, a president who has seriously floated postponing our election, and federal law enforcement which shoves dissidents into unmarked vans. If that wasnt frightening enough, we also have millions of Americans who are perfectly okay with this.

 Donald Trump says mail-in ballots will lead to 'greatest election disaster in history'

A republic, if you can keep it, Ben Franklin is purported to have said in 1787, following the Constitutional Convention. Whether Americans can, or are even willing, to keep a republic  and indeed democracy and the civil liberties enshrined in the constitution Franklin had just helped craft  remains to be seen. The agonised cries of protestors teargassed for a photo-op, and that sound of wrenching metal as mailboxes are removed from city streets? That could well be the death knell of American democracy.

No doubt Ben Franklin is turning in his grave while supposedly patriotic Americans are turning a blind eye. Because while things may not be as dire in Washington as they are in Harare, it turns out we can be taken over by authoritarian strongmen just as easily as any other country. The only thing standing between democracy and autocracy are those willing to fight for freedom. We need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those freedom fighters, whether in Chitungwiza or Chicago.
Travellers wearing face masks arrive from Paris to St Pancras Station. (PA)

The UK has recorded more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases on seven of the past eight days, the latest government figures show.

Figures published on the governments official coronavirus tracking website showed there had been more than 1,000 cases on every day apart from Monday - when there were 713.

The highest number of cases for the eight-day period came last Friday, when 1,441 people tested positive for coronavirus.

According to the governments data, there have only been two days where the number of new cases was below 1,000 since 9 August.

A Covid-19 testing centre at Mixenden Activity Centre in Calderdale. (PA)

Despite the rise in infections, only 12 more coronavirus deaths were confirmed on Tuesday - with just 11 announced over the last three days.

The government said 41,381 people have died in the UK within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, as of 5pm on Monday.

Separate figures published by the UKs statistics agencies show there have now been 57,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

It comes as scientists have warned that testing alone is unlikely to bring the viruss reproduction, or R number, below one at current levels of immunity.

Imperial College London researchers believe other interventions such as continuing physical distancing will be needed again to keep the virus under control.

The R number represents how many people someone infected with Covid-19 is likely to go on to infect.

Professor Nicholas Grassly, from Imperial's School of Public Health, said: "Effective testing is key to controlling the coronavirus pandemic.

"Our results show that test and trace can help reduce the R number but needs to be carried out effectively and quickly to do so.

"Test and trace alone won't be enough to control transmission in most communities and other measures alongside will be needed to bring the R number below one."

While Dr Margarita Pons-Salort, from Imperial's School of Public Health, said: "Among others, the effectiveness of these strategies depends a lot on the timeliness to provide test results and to find and quarantine contacts.

"This means that to have a real impact on transmission, testing strategies need to be implemented very well."

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Kansas City Seeks Justice

Families, victims who've seen offenders charged speak out in support of Operation: LeGend KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Families and victims touched by Operation LeGend are speaking out. On Monday, they said they're grateful for the federal agents in Kansas City helping local police solve crimes and bring closure. Chautill Wallace, the mother of Chieynne Wallace, is asking people to stop fighting with each other and find a way [...]

Desperately Seeking Plan To Solve Longstanding Problem

WATCH: Violent crime victims step forward to discuss how to combat crime in future in Kansas City WATCH: Violent crime victims step forward to discuss how to combat crime in future in Kansas City Police said these are the types of crimes that Operation LeGend is working to solve and combat in the future After a violent summer in Kansas City, victims and family members from crimes such as murders, shootings and armed robberies are stepping forward to share their experiences.

Kansas City Testimony

Families, victims of historic KCMO violence share their experiences KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As the Kansas City metro continues to see a historic year in violence, the families of a homicide victim and a robbery victim gathered with Kansas City police to share their experiences on Monday. The parents of Chieyenne Wallis shared how their daughter's death has changed their lives.

Midtown Stabbing Postscript

Police: Man stabbed to death after reporting homeless individual in apartment laundry room A 39-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, man has been charged with second-degree murder after reportedly stabbing the man who called to report him to police.Officers were called to an apartment near Linwood and Benton Boulevard on July 31 to investigate a reported stabbing.

Suspect Kansas City Lady Killer D-Day Moved Up

Kylr Yust case moves closer to new trial date A man accused of killing two women nearly a decade apart is getting closer to a trial date, however, multiple issues remain with the case.Kylr Yust is accused of killing Jessica Runions in 2016 and Kara Kopetsky in 2007. Both of their remains were found on the same Cass County farm early in 2017.

Meth Town Deals With Drama

Police: Woman shot, killed in Independence during domestic disturbance INDEPENDENCE, MO (KCTV) -- A woman was shot and killed Sunday during a domestic disturbance. Officers were called about 9:40 p.m. to the 2600 block of South Arlington Avenue. When they arrived on scene, they found a woman dead inside the home who had been shot.

Kansas City Offers Cash Incentive Against Crime Spike

FBI increases reward for fugitive wanted in Operation LeGend case KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The FBI has increased a reward for information leading to the arrest of a federal fugitive being sought by agents as part of Operation LeGend. The reward now stands at $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of 30-year-old Cory Brown, also known as "Twin."

Tonight, this roundup of community news, police action and reports of violence offers an update on a controversial crackdown that sparked debate from both conservatives and progressive jockeying for political power amid a historic spike in local violence.Developing . . .
"McConnell and his enablers must stop playing politics with the lives of poor people and low-wage workers, many of whom must vote by mail," Barber said. "It's clear that the Kentucky senator is willing to let Postmaster General Louis DeJoy destroy the USPS as part of his effort to continue an extremist agenda. In tandem with the White House, McConnell is blocking a full and just relief package and de-fanging the USPS to prevent a fair election.

"The orchestrated slow-down on mail is already causing increased late fees on bills that people can't afford and is expediting evictions because payment doesn't come in time," Barber said. "It is also a dangerous form of voter suppression."

McConnell's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Both houses of Congress left for an August recess before passing a second bill to provide economic relief from the effects of COVID-19. Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for House lawmakers to return to Washington to take up the problems with the postal service. They're expected back in town this week.
In Minnesota, Trump also leaned in to the civil unrest that swept across the country this summer, saying he met with small business owners who were victims of the violence and destruction on the streets of Minneapolis. He pledged to save our cities and our suburbs from the future of crime and chaos, corruption and economic collapse that puppet Joe Biden would unleash in America.


A Hezbollah member was today found guilty over the murder of Lebanon's billionaire Prime Minister Rafic Hariri who died in a suicide attack with 21 other victims in 2005.

Salim Ayyash, 56, was convicted in absentia by the UN-backed tribunal in the Netherlands which has been presiding over the case since 2009.

Ayyash was at the centre of an operation which tracked Mr Hariri's movements for months before a Mitsubishi truck laden with 2,200 pounds of TNT was driven at the former premier's motorcade in Beirut.

Judges said there was not enough evidence to convict Assad Sabra, 43, Hussein Oneissi, 46, and Hassan Habib Merhi, 54, over the blast, which changed the face of the Middle East.

Vehicles burn following a suicide bombing that targeted the motorcade of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, killing him and 21 others in Beirut, Lebanon, on Valentine's Day, 2005

Salim Ayyash, 56, was convicted in absentia by the UN-backed tribunal in the Netherlands which has been presiding over the case since 2009

The judges also said there was no evidence to directly link Syria - the former military overlord in Lebanon - or Hezbollah's leadership to the attack.

'The trial chamber finds Mr Ayyash guilty beyond reasonable doubt as a co-perpetrator of the assassination of Rafic Hariri,' said David Re, presiding judge of the tribunal.

Addressing victims of the attack, the Australian said: 'We sincerely hope the verdict today will give you some sort of closure.'

Sentencing for Ayyash will be decided at a later date. He faces life imprisonment if he is ever brought before the court.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has refused to hand over the four defendants and rejected the court's legitimacy.

Hariri's son Saad, himself a former Lebanese prime minister, was in the heavily secured court for the judgement.

Judges said there was sufficient evidence to show that Ayyash was at the centre of a network of mobile phone users who scoped out Hariri's movements for months before his assassination.

A still-unidentified suicide bomber driving an explosives-packed Mitsubishi truck blew himself up as Hariri's motorcade passed on the Beirut waterfront on Valentine's Day in 2005.

Lebanese army soldiers carry away a wounded man following a massive bomb attack that tore through the motorcade of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut, Lebanon, on February 14, 2005

Prosecutors had said Ayyash was a ringleader of the group, while Oneissi and Sabra allegedly sent a fake video to the Al-Jazeera news channel claiming responsibility on behalf of a made-up group. Merhi was accused of general involvement in the plot.

The judges said evidence also linked phones used in the attack to Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine - who was indicted by the court but is believed to have been killed in the Damascus area in May 2016.

The bombing triggered mass protests that drove Syrian forces out of Lebanon after three decades.

But the court said there was not enough evidence to tie Damascus to the crime.

'Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr Hariri and his political allies, however there is no evidence that the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariri's murder and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement,' Re said.

The hearing opened with a minute's silence for victims of a separate explosion that devastated Beirut two weeks ago, killing 177 people. The verdicts were initially scheduled for August 7 but postponed because of the blast.

Judge Re called on the court to observe a 'minute's silence to remember the victims of this catastrophe, those who lost their lives, those who were maimed or injured, their families, those who were made homeless'.

Former Lebanese prime minister and Rafic Hariri's son Saad Hariri speaks outside the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) at Leidschendam after the verdict

Bahiya al-Hariri, the sister of Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, reacts after praying at his grave in Beirut after the verdict

Bahia Hariri, center, the sister of the assassinated former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and other relatives and supporters, pray over Hariri's grave, in Beirut, Lebanon, after the verdict today

The UN Security Council agreed in 2007 to establish the court billed as the world's first international tribunal set up to probe terrorist crimes.

It opened its doors in 2009, although the trial itself did not formally start until 2014.

The court has cost at least $600 million to operate.

Prosecutors said during the trial that Hariri was assassinated because he was perceived to be a 'severe threat' to Syrian control of the country, allied to Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Hariri was Lebanon's Sunni premier until his resignation in 2004 over Syria's role as powerbroker in the country.

Lebanese special forces police standing guard today near the graves of those who were killed in the suicide bomb attack on Mr Hariri

Presiding Judge, Judge David Re, back centre, with Judge Janet Nosworthy, left, and Judge Micheline Braidy, during a session of the United Nations-backed Lebanon Tribunal in Leidschendam, Netherlands on Tuesday

Observers have voiced fears that the verdict, whichever way it goes, could spark violence on the streets in Lebanon when it is announced.

Tuesday's verdict came as thousands of Beirut residents have expressed anger at the authorities after the blast, triggered by a warehouse fire that set off large amounts of stored ammonium nitrate.

The disaster led to the Lebanese government's resignation and compounded Lebanon's severe economic crisis.
Members of the General Assembly cannot be arrested on some charges during legislative sessions or the 15-day period leading up to them, under a provision in the state constitution intended to prohibit politically motivated arrests. But that protection does not apply to felonies. Lucas, along with several of the others who were charged, faces two felonies: conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument causing more than $1,000 in damage.
(Newser)  Mutinous troops have seized Mali's president and prime minister and are now moving freely through the country's capital city after an apparent coup, officials say. The unrest began in the garrison town of Kati, the same place where another coup began in 2012, the AP reports. After taking control of the Kati camp and detaining senior officers Tuesday, the troops marched on the capital, Bamako, and stormed the residence of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. "What began as a mutiny appears to have morphed into a coup," says Will Ross at the BBC. "This will be welcomed by the huge number of protesters who have been out on the streets for months calling for President Keita to step down." He notes that during the 2012 chaos, jihadists were able to seize the north of the country.

story continues below

The continued conflict in the north and jihadist attacks across the country have fueled protesters' anger, along with corruption and the dire state of Mali's economy. The West African ECOWAS bloc urged soldiers to end the rebellion. "This mutiny comes at a time when, for several months now, ECOWAS has been taking initiatives and conducting mediation efforts with all the Malian parties," the 15-nation bloc said in a statement, per CBS. "ECOWAS calls on all soldiers to return to their barracks without delay." France and the US also voiced concerns, with J. Peter Pham, the State Departments special envoy for the region, saying the US is "opposed to all unconstitutional changes of government whether in the streets or by security forces." (Read more Mali stories.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 14:19:07|Editor: huaxia

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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The governor of the U.S. state of Washington issued a statement on Monday criticizing President Donald Trump administration's move to limit the ability of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to process vote-by-mail ballots.

Governor Jay Inslee expressed his anger and objection against "the Trump administration's efforts to suppress the votes of the American people," arguing that the U.S. Postal Service is a vital and trusted part of all communities.

"Mail-in ballots are the easiest, safest, most reliable voting method there is and Washington's vote-by-mail system is proof of that. Our system has worked well for years without incident, and I am confident it will continue to ensure strong and dependable access to democracy for the people of our state," said Inslee.

"The USPS does not just deliver ballots but also medication, paychecks, supplies and other crucial lifelines. To cut back and restrict this service at any time is inexcusable, but during a pandemic it is downright abhorrent," Inslee noted, adding that "the president should be doing less to suppress our votes, and more to suppress the COVID-19 virus."

Inslee committed in the statement that he will do everything in his power to help ensure all people in the state have access to the full range of services offered by the USPS, especially their constitutional right to participate in state, local and federal elections.

U.S. House Oversight Committee on Sunday called for the chief of the country's postal service to testify before the panel about the cost-cutting overhaul to the agency, which lawmakers worried would sabotage the presidential election later this year with the expected surging of mail-in ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump on Aug. 13 threatened to block the 25-billion-U.S.-dollar funding for the USPS supported by Democrats in a coronavirus relief bill passed in the House in May. Trump said the money would assist mail-in ballots, which he has repeatedly railed against and claimed the method would cause voting fraud. Enditem
The repercussions of the announced UAE-Israeli peace agreement will ricochet throughout all the current crises in the Middle East, not least the Libyan conflict. The impacts, moreover, could be quite pronounced given the possibility that normalisation could lead to explicit forms of coordination in the handling of crises in which it has been previously difficult to untangle the threads of influence, whether from Turkey, Iran or other parties.

Despite the many reports on an Israeli role in the Libyan crisis, their substance remains uncorroborated, officially refuted and sometimes attributable to the disputants mutual smear campaigns. However, an attempt to identify the areas of convergence between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi on the Libyan crisis and its geopolitical significance in the MENA region could help form a picture of the potential effects of that historic agreement, the mere timing of which has implications that extend well beyond UAE-Israeli bilateral relations and the Palestinian cause to the whole intricate web of regional power balances.

MINIMISING TURKISH INFLUENCE

As we know, Abu Dhabi supports the Cyrenaica-based Libyan National Army (LNA) coalitions that have encountered major setbacks following Turkish military intervention in the battle of Tripoli. It was the heavy weaponry and mercenaries that Turkey transferred to Libya that shifted the military balances on the ground in favour of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

To Tel Aviv, Turkish expansion into Libya presents a threat in the framework of that crisiss relationship with the conflict over energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Turkish-Libyan axis could obstruct the Israeli project to deliver natural gas to Europe via Cyprus and Greece by means of the EastMed pipeline, the accord for which was signed by the leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Israel in January 2020. That project conflicts with areas covered by the agreement signed between Ankara and the GNA in November 2019 which basically aimed to obstruct any energy projects in the region that exclude Turkey.

Still, Israel has maintained a certain distance in its opposition to Turkish behaviour. The two countries have close economic relations as well as overlapping security concerns in Syria despite flareups of tensions between them such as that which occurred when Israeli forces killed Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara in 2010. Israel did not add its name to the statement signed by France, Egypt, the UAE and Greece in May 2020, protesting Turkish provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean. But it did declare its full support for Greece on 12 August 2020 in response to drilling activities that Turkey had apparently launched in response to an Egyptian-Greek maritime border agreement signed on 6 August. It would appear, therefore, that Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi agree on the need to curtail Turkish expansionism from Libya to the Eastern Mediterranean, even if the two broach the matter from different premises.

CONFRONTING ISLAMIST MILITANTS:

Israel and the UAE may also converge on the fight against Islamist radicals in Libya. The UAE is deeply concerned by the infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical Islamists into the GNA, because of the threat they pose to the UAEs allies in eastern Libya and to regional allies such as Egypt which has had to tighten the defences of its western border due to the heightened possibilities of terrorist infiltration from Libya. Israel, for its part, has been wary of all manifestations of the Islamist ascendancy in the region since 2011. This concern has extended to the growth of radical Islamism in Libya because of how it interweaves with Hamas in Gaza and how it feeds anti-Israeli sentiment in general and in North Africa in particular. Israel would have taken stock of the fact that the first reaction to the UAE-Israeli agreement came from Mohamed Al-Emari, a member of the GNA Presidency Council who condemned it as an unsurprising betrayal from the UAE. The Tunisian Ennahda movement called it a flagrant attack on Palestinian rights. The Turkish reaction was predictable given how Ankara has cast itself as a champion of Arab and Islamic causes espoused by its Islamist allies in the region, even though Turkey recognised Israel decades ago and sustained close and strategic relations with Tel Aviv long before the UAE.

FIGHTING IRANIAN INFILTRATION

While Abu Dhabi has been more open to Iran during the past two years, to which testify new channels of cooperation, this has not diminished its opposition to Iranian penetration elsewhere in the region, including Libya. This conforms with Israels regional policy aims, as both Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi regard Tehran as the main threat to the region.

True, the Iranian role in Libya appears limited. However, growing Turkish-Russian influence there could tempt Tehran to insert itself for pragmatic reasons, especially in view of its relations with Russia and Turkey in Syria and, perhaps, as a means to counter US sanctions. In addition, Libya is connected to Sub-Saharan areas such as Niger and Chad where Iran also seeks to expand its influence, whether for uranium, money laundering or other purposes.

In mid-June 2020, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif voiced his support for the Turkish-backed GNA in Tripoli and during a subsequent visit to Moscow he voiced his support for Russian-Turkish efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis. According to some reports, Iranian freighters delivered arms to the GNA in 2018 and 2019. The most recent sighting of an Iranian ship was in Misrata in April 2019. On the other hand, other reports accuse the LNA of receiving military support from the Bashar Al-Assad regime in Damascus, which is backed by Iran.

In May 2020, Israels UN representative officially accused Iran of violating the arms embargo to Libya. He said that Iranian made Dehlaviyeh anti-tank missiles had come into the LNAs possession. Iran denied this and the accusation of violating the arms embargo. Some analysts have argued that it does not stand to reason for Iran to support LNA Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar who is backed by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. However, complex, multifaceted crises such as the Libyan conflict may sometimes compel outside stakeholders to take contradictory stances to advance their particular interests.

EXPANDING INFLUENCE INTO AFRICA

Israeli-UAE convergence in Libya could extend to coordination in the Sahel region where both countries have growing influence. The UAE is a major funder of the G5 Sahel members and it has important development and investment programmes in the region. Israel, for its part, revived diplomatic relations with Chad in January 2019 and has since strengthened military/security relations with NDjamena in the framework of the drive it set in motion to expand its influence in Central and West Africa when Netanyahu attended the ECOWAS Summit in Liberia in 2017.

Now that UAE-Israeli normalisation has become official, this development could stimulate some other G5 Sahel nations, such as Niger and Mali, to follow Chads suit. One also imagines that Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv will work more closely together to counter Turkish economic and military pressure on Chad, perhaps taking advantage of the LNAs current control of southern Libya towards this end. On the other hand, it appears that Israel is also eying Sudan as a possible avenue towards tightening relations with Chad and with the Sahel region as a whole. The fall of the Omar Al-Bashir regime in Khartoum and the consequent rise of Saudi-UAE influence in Sudan at the expense of Turkish-Qatari access had made this avenue available as never before. It is noteworthy that Netanyahu met with Lieutenant General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, during his visit to Uganda in February 2020.

The lines of convergence in Libya between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv may affect regional and international interplays in ways that increase the pressures on Ankara and its Islamist allies and counter Ankaras attempts to obstruct energy projects in the Eastern Mediterranean. Still, there may be limits on how far such coordination could go. For example, Tel Aviv, which holds other types of leverage, could try to work out an accommodation with Turkey of some sort. Simultaneously, some stakeholders in the Libyan crisis might fear the propaganda value of rapprochement with Israel in the hands of their adversaries. Libyan statements cited in the Israeli press about possible cooperation between Cyrenaica and Tel Aviv were vehemently denied by authorities in eastern Libya precisely because they could be exploited by the GNA, as was the case when, in June 2020, the Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon cited the deputy prime minister of the government in eastern Libya, Abdel-Salam Al-Badri, as calling for Israeli support, or when, in December 2019, the Foreign Minister of the eastern government Abdel- Hadi Al-Haweij, said that the government hoped to establish friendly relations with Israel.

*The writer is a researcher at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Mike Henrys first half-year as chief executive of BHP wasnt without its challenges but the resilience of the groups portfolio of resource assets and the quality of its management enabled him to report a robust result.

The $US9 billion ($12.5 billion) of underlying profit and the lower final dividend were slightly below market expectations.

To produce a stable result in the context of the coronavirus pandemic - and the disruption to its operations and the volatility in its markets and commodity prices it wrought  is, however, a testimony to the quality of the portfolio and BHPs management of it.

BHP's chief executive Mike Henry is reshaping his portfolio and leadership team. Credit:Eamon Gallagher

When the pandemic struck BHP was forced to transfer about 1000 of its workforce  fly-in, fly-out workers from the east coast, Bali, Tasmania and even New Zealand  to Western Australia in anticipation of the states borders closing.
Qatar Airways pays out over USD $1.2 Billion to customers since March. Image: Qatar Airways

The airline said In the context of unprecedented numbers of refund requests as airlines and passengers navigate entry restrictions imposed by countries around the world to limit the spread of COVID-19, it has worked hard to process almost all refunds requested since March 2020 (96%). The airline is now processing all new refunds back to the original form of payment in less than 30 days.

Additionally, the airline introduced an unrivalled flexible booking policy that has proved extremely popular with passengers. Qatar Airways tickets are now valid for two years from the date of issuance. Passengers can also choose to change their travel date or destination free of charge as often as they need, change their origin to another city within the same country or any other destination on the airlines network within a 5,000 mile radius of the original, exchange their ticket for a future travel voucher worth 110% of the original ticket value, or swap their tickets for Qmiles.* Over one third (36%) of Qatar Airways passengers selected one of these options over a refund.

Qatar Airways Group chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: With the impact of COVID-19 on global travel, passengers have had to change their plans at short notice and it has been difficult for them to plan ahead with any certainty. What they want and deserve are flexibility and reliability, and in Qatar Airways we hope they find an airline they can trust. The amount we have paid out in refunds has undoubtedly had an impact on our bottom line, but it is our duty to do the right thing by our customers and trade partners and as an airline we are strong enough to mitigate the impact of this.

Qatar Airways took a number of important measures to ensure that it could manage the unprecedented number of refund requests  over 10,000 per day at the height of the crisis  from passengers that needed to change their travel plans in light of COVID-19. Firstly, it increased its automation capabilities, with customers being able to request their refund online, from which point it can largely be processed automatically. The airline also automated travel voucher requests, so that passengers were able to receive a voucher within 72 hours of requesting it online.

In terms of manpower, Qatar Airways redeployed employees from other areas of the business  for example its Cabin Crew and Ground Services staff  to join the airlines global network of customer contact centres to help manage the large volume of online requests and customer phone calls.
A California resident has tested positive for the plague, making it the first case in the state in five years.

Health officials believe the person was walking his or her dog in South Lake Tahoe when he or she was bitten by an infected flea, according to a press release from the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency.

The patient, whose name, age and sex has not been revealed, is currently being cared for by a medical professional and is recovering at home, the release said.

It comes less than two weeks after a New Mexico man in his 20s died from the state's second reported case of plague this year.

Health officials believe the person was bitten by an infected flea while walking their dog in South Lake Tahoe (pictured), California, and is currently recovering at home

Plague is caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, and is usually transmitted to humans from the bites of infected fleas.

Symptoms, such as fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes, typically appear within three to seven days.

The disease is deadly, but can be treated with antibiotics if it is detected early enough.

The World Health Organization says the mortality rate is estimated between 30 percent and 100 percent if left untreated.

Cases of human plague are quite rare with an average of seven per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, infections are more common in some areas of the US than others.

'Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County,' Dr Nancy Williams, El Dorado County Public Health Officer, said in the press release.

'It's important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking and/or camping in areas where wild rodents are present.'

There hadn't been a case of plague (pictured) in California since 2015 when two people fell ill after being exposed to infected rodents or fleas in Yosemite National Park

Between 2016 and 2019, health officials have found 20 rodents with evidence of exposure to the bacterium that causes the disease, the release said.

However, there were no reports of plague-associated illnesses during this time period.

Multiple areas around South Lake Tahoe now have signs advising the public of the presence of plague and ways to prevent exposure.

The last reported case of plague in California was in 2015 after two people were exposed to infected rodents or fleas in Yosemite National Park. Both recovered.

Prior to that incident, there hadn't been a case in the Golden State since 2006.

The disease caused a global epidemic impacting Europe in the mid-1300s and leading to the so-called Black Death, which killed more than 20 million people, about one-third of the continent's population.

In addition to the New Mexico death, Chinese officials have sealed off a city and a village in the Inner Mongolia region after reports of bubonic plague deaths in the country this year.
There may be no better way to honor the legacy of a caregiver than to support the next generation.

Thats the mindset that led John Ryan, and his wife, Marsha, to endow the Monica L. Ryan Nursing Scholarship with a gift of $100,000. Monica Ryan was Johns mother. She died in October at age 95.

She was a role model for everybody, John Ryan said. She was the embodiment of determination and grace  a remarkable woman.

The scholarship will benefit a student in SIU Carbondales newly established bachelor of science in nursing program. Preference will be given to program students who have expressed interest in working at Southern Illinois Healthcare after graduation.

We hope the recipients will choose to stay local, John Ryan said. This program will serve the people of Southern Illinois. We are encouraging newly trained nurses to join the local team which provides extraordinary medical care.

The first in her family to go to college, Monica Ryan earned a nursing degree from Northwestern and worked at Wesley Memorial Hospital (now Northwestern Memorial Hospital). She met her husband, Bud, a law student at Northwestern, when he was visiting a sick friend.

After their marriage, the couple moved to Jacksonville. Bud Ryan was born and raised in Jacksonville, went to Illinois College, was states attorney for 16 years and an associate circuit judge until his retirement. Monica Ryan was active in numerous civic organizations in Jacksonville and a volunteer at Passavant Area Hospital.

Her nursing career was put on hold while she raised four kids, but she was always a full-time caregiver.

Her energy was a marvel to all of us, John Ryan said. She took care of my fathers grandparents and parents, and her own parents as they aged. She was the go-to caregiver in the family.

Once the children were grown, she renewed her license and then did volunteer work at Jacksonvilles hospital until 2012, when she moved to Carbondale to be closer to her family.

John and Marsha Ryan have deep roots at SIU. John Ryan was part of the first class to graduate from the School of Law. Marsha Ryan has worked as a faculty member at the School of Medicine and School of Law. She also served on the board of trustees.

Both of John Ryans brothers graduated from SIU, as have his and Marsha Ryans two children and a nephew.

SIU has a special place in our hearts, John Ryan said. We have a lot of fondness for the university.

The opportunity to earn a bachelor of science in nursing in Carbondale made endowing a scholarship in his mothers name the clear choice for the Ryans philanthropy.

Healthcare is personal for everyone, he said. We are pleased to contribute in this way to the health of our community.

For the Ryans, the ability to advance ones education in the heart of Southern Illinois is what sets the region apart. Thats why theyve made supporting SIU a priority.

Getting an education is one of the most important things we can do, John Ryan said. You cant do anything better with charitable donations than create an opportunity to help people better themselves.
Jennifer Hudson has distributed over 2,000 backpacks of school supplies to disadvantaged children.

The 'Spotlight' hitmaker and her sister Julia were joined by a group of volunteers for their 10th annual Hatch Day in Chicago on Friday (14.08.20), which saw them help out kids in need via their Julian D. King Gift Foundation, even though they had to do things differently this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jennifer explained in a video shared to Instagram: "We're still out there this Hatch Day, just in a different way. We're going to hit these streets and sneak up on y'all. And we're going to drive by with backpacks, because we don't need crowds this year, but we will want to make sure we service the children.

"We're getting out there. Everybody is out here working, making it happen.

"Drop your location, and we're going to drop you a backpack and school supplies for what you need during this pandemic, because our kids still gotta go and grow to school. And we support that."

Hatch Day takes place on what would have been Jennifer's nephew Julian's birthday but he was tragically murdered, along with the 38-year-old star's mother and brother.

And the 'Dreamgirls' actress and her sister - who was Julian's mother - made sure they took the time to honour him.

Sharing photos from their celebration of what would have been her relative's 19th birthday, Jennifer - who has 11-year-old David with former partner David Otunga - wrote on Instagram: "Oh but we made it thru it all! Although it was very different this year with all that's going on ! We went to @juleyah house and celebrated #Julian d.king bday , he woulda been 19 ! My munch made his cousin cake , which made it even more special !

"On this Hatch day many kids in chicago was still blessed ! Happy heavenly birthday nephew !! We will always honor and uphold your memory ! Until next time guys ! P.s I been around these kids to long ! Haha."

The Julian D. King Gift Foundation was established in honor of the youngster to provide stability, support and positive experiences for children of all backgrounds to help enable them to grow to be productive, confident and happy adults.

Every year, the charity collects and distributes school supplies and Christmas presents, and this year, as well as the usual backpacks, they also distributed hand sanitiser, face masks and tablets to students.
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Linkedin Daniel Silva (Agence France-Presse) Madrid, Spain  Tue, August 18, 2020 09:39 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066eb1b9e 2 World Spain,Juan-Carlos,graft-allegation,exile,UAE Free

Spain's former king Juan Carlos, who went into exile this month in the face of graft allegations, is in the United Arab Emirates, the royal palace said Monday, ending the mystery over his whereabouts.

The 82-year-old, who has long had warm relations with the Gulf monarchies, "travelled to the United Arab Emirates on August 3 and he remains there," a spokesman said without giving further details.

In a surprise move, Juan Carlos announced on August 3 that he was leaving Spain to prevent his personal affairs from undermining his son King Felipe VI's reign, but did not say where he would be going.

The royal palace had up until now refused to reveal where Juan Carlos is living, saying he would announce it himself if necessary.

It was first reported that he had travelled to the Dominican Republic or Portugal, where he spent part of his youth, but pro-monarchy Spanish daily ABC later said the former king had gone to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.

While Juan Carlos is not under formal investigation, revelations by a former mistress, German businesswoman Corinna Larsen, raise legal questions about his financial affairs which officials are looking into in Spain and Switzerland.

The daily Tribune de Geneve has reported that a Swiss prosecutor is focusing on $100 million (85 million euros) which that late Saudi king Abdullah allegedly deposited in 2008 into a Swiss bank account to which Juan Carlos had access.

In conversations which were apparently recorded without her knowledge that were leaked to the media, Larsen claimed Juan Carlos had collected a payoff relating to a 2011 high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia that was awarded to a consortium of Spanish firms. The 450-kilometre (280-mile) link between Mecca and Medina was inaugurated in 2018.

Royal apology

Spain's Supreme Court in June announced an investigation to determine whether the contract had involved the "crime of corruption in international transactions" and whether Juan Carlos was legally responsible -- but only for acts committed after his abdication in 2014, because of the immunity he enjoyed until then.

Juan Carlos ascended the throne in 1975 on the death of the fascist dictator Francisco Franco and ruled for 38 years before abdicating in favour of his son Felipe VI in June 2014 -- just two years after he apologised to Spaniards for jetting off on an elephant-hunting trip in Africa with Larsen as Spain grappled with a financial crisis.

He was a popular figure for decades, playing a key role in the democratic transition from the Franco dictatorship which ruled Spain from 1939-1975.

But a steady flow of embarrassing media stories about his past lifestyle and personal wealth have eroded his standing in recent years and renewed debate over the future of the monarchy in Spain.

Polls show Spaniards are roughly equally split over whether their country should remain a monarchy or become a republic.

Older people and conservatives are more likely to back the monarchy, while younger people and leftists are more likely to oppose it.

'Fleeing justice'

Anti-monarchist parties have accused Juan Carlos of "fleeing justice" but his lawyer has stressed that he would remain available to answer questions from prosecutors.

A majority of Spaniards, 56.2 percent, feel his decision to move abroad is "misguided", according to a poll published Sunday in the daily ABC, with only 25.4 percent saying it was the right step.

An even greater number, 60.9 percent, believe his self-imposed exile is harmful for his son, the current King Felipe VI, according to the poll of 802 people carried out August 10-14.

Since ascending to the throne in 2014, King Felipe VI has since taken steps to improve the monarchy's image, such as imposing a "code of conduct" on royals.

Earlier this year he stripped his father of his annual allowance of nearly 200,000 euros after new details of allegedly shady financial dealings emerged.
FREDERICTON - Former Progressive Conservative deputy leader Robert Gauvin has flipped to the Liberals and took a swipe at his former colleagues Tuesday, calling them "ice cold" when it comes to helping the most vulnerable.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs heads from a visit with Lt.-Gov Brenda Murphy at Government House in Fredericton on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. Higgs request to disolve the legislature was granted. A provincial election will be held September 14. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

FREDERICTON - Former Progressive Conservative deputy leader Robert Gauvin has flipped to the Liberals and took a swipe at his former colleagues Tuesday, calling them "ice cold" when it comes to helping the most vulnerable.

Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers introduced his new candidate for the riding of Shediac Bay-Dieppe on the first full day of New Brunswick's provincial election campaign.

"Robert's values and principles are entirely aligned with our party," Vickers told reporters in Scoudouc, N.B., a small community in the heart of the riding.

"He is committed to the protection and promotion of linguistic rights in New Brunswick, a more unified province and the absolute protection of emergency health-care services in the province's hospitals."

Gauvin left the Progressive Conservatives in February to sit as an Independent in protest over health-care reforms that would have seen the closure of emergency rooms in some rural hospitals.

The government later scrapped the idea because of public backlash and gaps identified in the plan.

New Brunswick Progressive Conservative candidate Robert Gauvin answers questions from the media in Fredericton on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018. A former Tory deputy premier is now the Liberal candidate for the riding of Shediac Bay-Dieppe in New Brunswick's provincial election. Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers announced the nomination of Robert Gauvin this morning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/James West

Gauvin told reporters Tuesday he quit the government of Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs because it lacked compassion.

"This government right now is ice cold," Gauvin said. "In New Brunswick, we have to take care of the people with the most challenges and we're not doing that right now."

Gauvin, who is the son of former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Jean Gauvin, won the only Tory seat in northern New Brunswick in the 2018 provincial election. He said he didn't ask for and wasn't promised anything to make the jump to the Liberal party.

At a campaign stop Tuesday in Oromocto, Higgs said Gauvin is a good fit for the Liberals because both have walked away from tough issues.

"Last week we experienced a no-show," Higgs said, referring to Vickers walking out of negotiations over a power-sharing agreement. The failure to strike a deal with the opposition pushed Higgs to call the snap election.

"When the discussions became of substance, the opposition decided not to participate and they didn't come back. So maybe Mr. Gauvin is in the right camp, because in that regard, because walking away, it wouldn't be the first time," Higgs said.

The Tory leader promised improved services for mental health and addiction if his government is re-elected.

New Brunswick Progressive Conservative candidate Robert Gauvin answers questions from the media in Fredericton on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018. A former Tory deputy premier is now the Liberal candidate for the riding of Shediac Bay-Dieppe in New Brunswick's provincial election. Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers announced the nomination of Robert Gauvin this morning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/James West

"The rising level of mental illness and addiction in our province is alarming," Higgs said. "It's a crisis that is eroding the very fabric of our communities and destroying our families."

He said a recent survey indicated over half of New Brunswickers felt they were at higher risk of mental health problems due to COVID-19. That increased risk was driven by isolation, financial stress, substance abuse, and a jump in domestic and intimate partner violence.

The Tory leader said he would continue the five-year mental health plan his government put in place, which includes better access to counselling and better training for health workers.

"We need to do more on the front end of this crisis," Higgs said. "That means investing more in prevention and early intervention."

Green Leader David Coon on Tuesday introduced Green members Kevin Arseneau and Megan Mitton as his campaign co-chairs.

Coon said he hadn't had the opportunity to review Higgs' announcement on mental health, but said the Tory leader would have to spend money in order for it to work.

"He's a very parsimonious person and it's against his nature to spend money," Coon said, outside the legislature. "On some things as important as mental health care, he has to be ready to spend the money where it matters."

As for Gauvin, Coon wished him luck with the Liberals.

"That's the other old party in this province that continues to play old politics and spend most of their time involved in political bickering rather than finding real solutions for New Brunswickers," Coon said.

Higgs announced Monday he's sending voters to the polls Sept. 14 after failing to reach a power-sharing deal with the opposition. It is the first provincial election campaign in the country since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interim NDP Leader Mackenzie Thomason issued a statement Tuesday criticizing Higgs and Vickers for prompting an election during the pandemic.

Campaign signs popped up across the province overnight as the 28-day campaign entered its first full day. While the candidate signs are a common sight during elections, the rest of the campaign will be much different because of COVID-19 concerns.

The parties will be placing a greater emphasis on social media and mail-outs rather than door-to-door canvassing. Both the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives had technical issues streaming their announcements online Tuesday.

At dissolution, the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals each had 20 seats in the legislature, while the Greens and the People's Alliance each had three. There were two vacant seats and one Independent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2020.
In this screenshot from the DNCCs livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 17, 2020. (DNCC via Getty Images)

Racism Key Focus at Opening of Democratic Convention

A significant portion of the speakers featured during the first hour of the opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention focused on the topic of racism in the United States.

According to the conventions host, actress Eva Longoria, the ongoing systemic racial injustice would be one of the three main topics during the first day of the convention.

One of the first major speakers, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, spoke in front of the Black Lives Matter plaza at the center of the nations capital.

It was here that just weeks ago, Americans donned face masks, and safely and peacefully protested the death of George Floyd, Bowser said, referencing the man whose death triggered a wave of protests and riots across the nation.

Without mentioning that at least 150 law enforcement officers were hurt by violent demonstrators in her city in May, Bowser criticized President Donald Trump for the law enforcements response to the violence.

He sent troops in camouflage into our streets. He sent tear gas into the air and federal helicopters too, Bowser said. I knew if he did this to D.C., he would do it to your city or your town. And thats when I said enough. I said enough for every black and brown American who has experienced injustice. Enough for every American who believes in justice.

Bowsers speech was followed by an address from Floyds younger brother Philonise Floyd who called for a brief moment of silence.

People of all races, all ages, all genders, all backgrounds peacefully protesting in the name of love and unityits a fitting legacy for our brother, but George should be alive today, Philonise Floyd said. For the names we do not know, the faces well never see, those who cant mourn because their murders didnt go viral, please join me in a moment of silence to honor George and the many other souls we lost to hate and injustice.

The moment of silence was followed by Leon Bridgess performance of his single Sweeter, which he released after Floyds murder. Bridges previously told Billboard that he had written the song a year earlier and was disappointed to see the song represented a perpetual narrative.

Trump has condemned the killing of Floyd, calling it terrible and disturbing. All of four of the police officers involved in the arrest which led to Floyds death are now facing criminal charges.

Racism and COVID-19

Longoria, the host, and at least one other speaker connected the theme of racism to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We need to address the economic inequalities that this virus has exposed and worsened and we need to solve the testing and healthcare disparities that have led to people of color dying of COVID at higher rates than white people, Longoria said.

The narrative that the United States is a racist country, while thin on evidence, has been a dominant theme in the campaign of Joe Bidenthe presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Following the moment of silence, the hosts played one of Bidens campaign speeches with an echoing voice effect and dramatic music.

The moment has come for our nation to deal with systemic racism, to deal with the growing economic inequity that exists in our nation, to deal with the denial of the promise of this nation made to so many, Biden said. You know Ive said from the outset of this election that were in the battle for the soul of this nation and we are in the battle for the soul of this nation.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Coastal Development Authority (CODA), Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib on Monday, 17th August 2020 on behalf of the Authority donated five thousand (5,000) pieces of facemasks and one hundred and fifty (150) bottles of hand sanitizers to the Greater Accra Association of Assembly Members (GAAM) to help in the fight against the Covid19 pandemic.

According to the CEO, the Authority has taken this initiative to help in curbing the spread of the virus. He said the Authority is distributing facemasks and hand sanitizers across the Coastal Development Zone which is made up of one hundred and nine (109) constituencies under the six (6) regions.

He advises the assembly members to continue to educate their constituents within their respective assembly areas to keep observing the safety protocols by frequent hand washing with soap, use of hand sanitizers and the mandatory wearing of facemask in order to stay alive for the nation.

He promises that the Authority will continue to render its support in order to achieve economic and social development in the Coastal Development Zone.

He took the opportunity to motivate the assembly members to ensure that they work very assiduously by ensuring that their environments are always clean enough to help in the realization of the Presidents initiative by making the city the cleanest.

The President of GAAM, Hon Moses Abor thanked the CEO for coming to their aid with the PPEs at time assembly members needed them most.

He promises that they will ensure that the PPEs get to the grassroots for their protection against the virus. He also applauded the effort of the CEO and appealed to other agencies to also come to their aid to enable them help the needy in their various communities. Mandela Wiafe, Assembly Member for Trobu Electoral Area expressed his gratitude to CODA for the support rendered to them.

He explains that they the assembly members are the ones who work directly with the people at the grassroots and for that matter would appeal that they are supported with more PPEs to be distributed to their constituents since we are not in normal times.
Kondotti : Maneka Gandhi MP on last day lauded the denizens of Malappuram for their fast response and rescue mission during the Karipur plane crash.

She applauded Malappuram, a district once she maligned as 'violent', in a reply to Morayur Panchayat Secretary V Abbaz's letter explaining the incident. Maneka reportedly expressed gratitude for their action and added that she expects such kind acts from them in future too.

Earlier this year, BJP leader Maneka Gandhi accused them wholesale of a tendency towards criminal activity after a trap set with explosives killed a pregnant elephant, except that it had happened in another district (Palakkad).
IDF Fighter Jets Target Underground Hamas Posts in Gaza

Sputnik News

22:31 GMT 17.08.2020(updated 23:13 GMT 17.08.2020)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted underground Hamas Posts in Gaza on Tuesday local time.

"Recently, IDF fighter jets and aircraft attacked underground infrastructure of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip. The attack was carried out in response to the explosion of explosive balloons and arson from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory during the day," an IDF statement on the matter reads.

The attacks targeted infrastructure located near the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The airstrikes took place just hours after an Egyptian envoy left the Gaza Strip after attempting to prevent an escalation between Hamas and Israel.

Explosions have been reported across the Gaza Strip since last week in response to incendiary balloons being launched into Israel from Gaza.

Last Thursday, Israel also announced that it is limiting Gaza's fishing zone while simultaneously agreeing to temporarily halt its annexation of the parts of the West Bank to pursue full diplomatic recognition and relations with the United Arab Emirates.

US President Donald Trump called the preliminary peace agreement "historic" during a Thursday news conference. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated last week that while Israel has agreed to hold off its annexation plans, the delay is only temporary.

 Sputnik

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Consolidated Machine & Tool Holdings (CMTH), a portfolio company of White Wolf Capital (White Wolf), is pleased to announce the acquisition of Waiteco Machine (Waiteco), managed by William Waite and Paulette Barros and Specialty CNC (Specialty), led by Roger Shoufler and Mike Baker. These acquisitions bring additional manufacturing capacity to CMTH, and their advanced CNC equipment run by talented machinists enhances the capabilities of the CMTH family of companies. The acquisitions benefit both Waiteco and Specialty by providing access to capital, supporting their continued growth, and last but not least, further growth opportunities and enhanced benefits for our most valued assets  our employees. Both transactions were closed simultaneously on August 14, 2020. Details of the transactions were not disclosed.

Sean Lafferty, CFO of CMTH, noted, We are excited to have Waiteco and Specialty CNC join our team. Both companies have talented management and staff, and we look forward to helping them grow and further develop their businesses.

Elie Azar, a Managing Director and CEO of White Wolf, noted, We are really excited to partner with the talented folks at Waiteco and Specialty and look forward to supporting their continued growth. With the additions of Waiteco and Specialty to the CMTH family, CMTH has closed on five add-on acquisitions this year alone. We are enthusiastic about CMTHs continued growth and what this means for our employees and customers.

George & Company served as exclusive financial advisors to Waiteco.

Generational Equity served as exclusive financial advisors to Specialty.

About CMTH

CMTH, started by White Wolf Capital, LLC in early 2017, is a platform holding company comprised of industry leading manufacturers specializing in precision machining, fabrication, assembly, and design of highly engineered components. CMTH locations are AS9100, ISO:9001, and ITAR certified. CMTH has a seasoned management team with experience serving various blue chip customers across multiple industries. For further information, please visit: http://www.cmth.com.

About Waiteco

Waiteco, founded by William Waite in 1982, provides contract machining and assembly services for industrial manufacturing customers nationally. Waiteco boasts an experienced team of machinists and programmers that are able to machine a variety of materials and can do horizontal milling and precision welding. Waiteco is located in Devens, MA. http://www.waitecomachine.com

About Specialty

Specialty, founded by Mike Baker and Roger Shoufler in 1998, provides contract machining and complex assembly services for the defense (Navy), aerospace, and medical industries. Employees are all highly skilled and capable of machining and programming. Specialty can also machine all types of metals and plastics. Specialty is located in Bloomington, IN. http://www.specialtycnc.com

About White Wolf

White Wolf is a private investment firm that began operations in late 2011 and is focused on management buyouts, recapitalizations and investments in leading middle market companies. In general, White Wolf seeks both private equity and private credit investment opportunities in companies that are headquartered in North America with $10 million to $100 million in revenues and up to $10 million in EBITDA. Preferred industries include: manufacturing, business services, information technology, security, aerospace and defense. For further information, please visit: http://www.whitewolfcapital.com.

CMTH Acquisition Criteria

CMTH is actively seeking add-on acquisition opportunities that meet the following criteria:



Revenue of $5 million to $50 million

Specializing in contract precision machining, fabrication, assembly, and design of highly engineered components

Serving the aerospace, defense, medical, heavy industrial, power, agricultural as well as other end markets

Certified by: AS9100, ISO:9001, and/or ITAR

Tier-1 or Tier-2 supplier status

Please contact info@whitewolfcapital.com to discuss potential acquisition candidates.
by Pierre Balanian

A surprising verdict is issued after 15 years. For the usual conspiracists, the Tribunals decision must be due to some deal between Iran and the United States, with France as mediator, to get Lebanon out of its morass. Sunni protesters from Tripoli and Sidon were preparing to invade Beirut. Groups of Christians are set to march on Baabda. In the end, the Tribunal found two men guilty  one, Mostafa Badreddine, is dead; the other, Salim Ayyash, is nowhere to be found.

Beirut (AsiaNews)  The verdict handed down today by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in The Hague has disappointed at least half of the Lebanese population. It comes 15 years after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al Hariri on 14 February 2005.

In an unprecedented move, the verdict, which was set to be pronounced on 7 August, was unjustifiably postponed to 18 August. For what reason? In Beirut people are wondering what happened between 4 August (when the city was hit by twin blasts) and 18 August to "change the content of the verdict or at least mitigate its political use".

What seems certain is that the Lebanese capital has been the scene of indirect secret talks, with France as mediator, between Iran and the United States, so far without any positive outcome that might lead to reconciliation.

During his two-day official visit to Beirut, Iranian Foreign Minister Jawad Zarif praised French President Emmanuel Macron. Although "held back by the US," as some conspiracists say, such praise seemed part of an initiative to get Lebanon out of its morass.

Since yesterday, hundreds of "Sunni protesters" have been preparing to travel to Beirut, some eyewitnesses in Tripoli and Sidon told AsiaNews. They were supposed to move right after the verdict was issued, which was expected to condemn Hezbollah and Syria.

At the same time, a large group of Christians had prepared to march to the Baabda Palace, the official residence of the Lebanese president. For his part, Rafiq Hariri's son Saad arrived in The Hague yesterday.

Going against expectations, the Special Tribunal found that Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr Hariri but there was no evidence that the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr Hariris murder, nor direct evidence of Syrian involvement in it.

The Tribunal does say that The crime scene was not properly secured and that Critical evidence  in the form of the vehicles in Mr Hariris convoy  were removed by the ISF[*] from the crime scene on the very evening of the attack.

The very long verdict, the longest in history, was read in three parts, until late afternoon today. The Tribunal did name five people materially connected to the attack, all of them close to Hezbollah, but did not present any evidence as to who ordered the murder or what role, if any, Syria played in it.

Of the five defendants in Hariris murder, Mostafa Badreddine, topped the list. A former Hezbollah military leader, he was killed, 55, in May 2016 in Syria, near the Damascus airport by a group of takfiris. Badreddines brother-in-law Imad Mughniyeh, also a top Hezbollah military official, was killed in Syria as well.

Badreddine joined Hezbollah in 1982 after Israels invasion of Lebanon. He was responsible for many attacks, including the bombings of the French and US embassies in 1983 in Kuwait. After his arrest, hijackers who seized two Kuwaiti planes in 1985 and 1988 demanded his release. He then "escaped" from prison in 1990 during the Iraq invasion of Kuwait.

The other accused (picture 2) include Salim Ayyash, 56, "responsible for the cells that carried out the attack" in which Hariri and 21 other people were killed, as well as 226 others were injured. He was also accused in a failed 2004 attack against former Lebanese minister Marwan Hamade.

The other accused are Hussein Hassan Oneissi, 46, and Assad Hassan Sabra, 43, who reportedly provided a video with fake content to the al Jazeera network, blaming a fictious El-Nusra-wal-Jihad-fi-Bilad-El-Sham (Victory and Jihad in Greater Syria) group for the attack. A fourth man, Hassan Habib Marii, 54, was also accused.

The Tribunal found the last three not guilty of Hariri's murder. All the accused were tried in absentia.

The verdict is based above all on the analysis of calls between mobile phones used by the people involved. The Tribunal was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Badreddine masterminded the attack, as alleged.

The group followed and monitored every move Hariri and his escort made from October 2004 to February 2005. It also organised and carried out the bombing that killed him and the others.

The four men still alive are nowhere to be found. The Tribunals documentation is collected in five large volumes for a total of 148,000 pages, available to the parties as of today. The verdict was published on Tribunals website.

In the end, the Tribunal found two people guilty; one is dead; and the other, Salim Ayyash, is nowhere to be found.

[*] Internal Security Forces.
18.08.2020 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan has called on corporate bodies for support for victims of Friday nights inferno in her constituency.

Fire gutted over 100 wooden structures that serve as accommodation for residents of Shiashie, a slum community around East Legon in Accra.

The Member of Parliament for West Wuogon (AWW) Constituency, Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan set up a Ghc 20,000 fund to support residents of Shaishie who lost their properties through last Friday evening fire outbreak.

Im pleading with all cooperate bodies to help in supporting the Shiashie victims who lost all their properties, is very sad incident and as MP I cant do it alone, Lydia Seyram Alhassan exclusively told Accra-Kingdom FM 107.7

We have a fund. So far, weve been able to raise about GH20,000 but its woefully inadequate, she added

She also used the opportunity to express her gratitude to all and sundry who provided accommodation for the displaced residents especially the Shiashie Presby church for giving the victims the church premises to sleep.

---KingdomfmOnline
18.08.2020 LISTEN

Special Prosecutor has reviewed portions of Kwamena Ahwois Working with Rawlings material, critiquing aspects of the book which he described as untruths.

the uninvited copy of the autographed book was the real bait to get me to read the book, Amidu said in an epistle titled KWAMENA AHWOIS WORKING WITH RAWLINGS  AMIDUS CRITIQUE (Part 1)

He noted:I served under the same regimes as a ministerial appointee and longer than the author served, played critical roles in them, lived them, kept some records of my observations and lived experiences. I can and will, therefore, contest some of the authors or authors shoddy and unscholarly reported outcomes.

His remarks follow the comments made by former President JJ Rawlings who had maintained Professor Kwamena Ahwois controversial book  Working with Rawlings is a deliberate ploy to take over the opposition NDC, if the Flagbearer losses the 2020 polls.

The book catalogues the academicians accounts of his days as an appointee and close associate of the former military leader under the PNDC administration.

However, some of the claims in the book have been challenged by the former military leader and some former appointees of the erstwhile NDC government.

He suspects there is a grand scheme by Ahwoi to consolidate his control in the NDC beyond 2020 insisting the timing of the launch of Professor Ahwois controversial book  Working with Rawlings  is deliberate.

In a tweet Mr. Rawlings said: People like him do not expect the NPP to let go off 2020, so they are hoping to utilize the opportunity of a loss, to damage Rawlings with some vicious, manufactured stuff.

Below is the full Statement

MARTIN A. B. K. AMIDU Esq WRITES:

KWAMENA AHWOIS WORKING WITH RAWLINGS  AMIDUS CRITIQUE (Part 1)

INTRODUCTION

I have avoided reading books written by my former colleagues reporting on their observations or experiences in the Governments I served with them lest some contents in the books put temptation in my path to attempt a rejoinder or critique of the book and earn the displeasure of such a colleague.

I did not, therefore, intend to look for let alone to read, my vandal-mate, Mr. Kwamena Ahwois Working with Rawlings. But fate is cruel. An autographed copy of the book was left at the gate of my residence on Sunday, 2nd August 2020 by a former associate during the PNDC Government, a former functional executive committee member of the NDC and Government appointee of the NDC Government from 2009 to 2016. Word was left alongside the book that, portions of it narrates on the authority of rumours, if ever rumours now constitute a source of authority for Professors, that the late Mr. Paa Kwasi Amissah-Arthur and I were members of the National Reform Movement. I was identified and baited by the author and Mr. Kofi Totobi-Kwakye, then the Minister for National Security, with the Vice Presidential candidacy in the 2000 election to breach the ranks of the movement. I am reported to have excitedly swallowed the bait. The narrative is an irredeemable lie because I can say and prove authoritatively in due course that neither the late Mr. Amissah-Arthur nor I was an associate or member of the National Reform Movement.

With hindsight, the uninvited copy of the autographed book was the real bait to get me to read the book, so I may as usual be tempted to refute and expose its subjectivity, figments of imagination, delusions, and breaches of all the ethics of acceptable standards of scholarly research, and report writing. I have always hated laziness in any professional work not to talk of the work of persons who hold themselves out as scholars, academics or mainstream professionals subjected to disciplinary proceedings by their professions for unethical products. Baiting me with Working with Rawlings is the real bait of the author I have willingly and knowingly decided to swallow like a fish to give rise to this exposition and critique. I served under the same regimes as a ministerial appointee and longer than the author served, played critical roles in them, lived them, kept some records of my observations and lived experiences. I can and will, therefore, contest some of the authors or authors shoddy and unscholarly reported outcomes.

I have read Mr. Kwamena Ahwois Working with Rawlings. I came away with the conviction that Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi may have presented himself as the primary author but others who are acknowledged and referred to in the book as knowing and living the same observations and experiences the primary author narrates, played the role of co-authors, editors and reviewers of the book. The author and/or co-authors claim the primary author is a scholar and a legal luminary. The author and his collaborative authors have thus set themselves to be judged by the high standard obtainable in the professions they profess to belong to. Any scholar or professional worth the name must be learned in the philosophy and methods of research including its ethics in his or her chosen field or the discipline he or she holds out himself or herself to be competent in.

For instance in the foreword to the book which is normally not an integral part of the book the reader is told by one Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang, PhD/FGA that:

Written in clear, engaging prose, the writer invites the reader to receive the content of the narrative honestly delivered. The vivid, engaging and deeply reflective eye witness account couched in unencumbered prose, brings to the fore events narrated with open honesty and transparency.

The first person narrative perspective releases the reader from the potentially uncomfortable position of an intruder to that of a trusted addressee. This is especially so as the text grounds its content in verifiable fact, at times seeking and receiving the approval of non-fictive persons. (Italics supplied)

Whilst the foreword is normally not an integral part of the book, no ethical academic will ever write a foreword to a scholarly book without first reading the book to make an objective assessment of its veracity because the writer of the foreword knows the invitation to write the foreword was based on the intention to use his or her reputation to entice the public to invest financial and human resources in purchasing and reading it. In this instance, the writer of the foreword is marketing the book with her credentials of PhD/FGA and has an ethical obligation to the public for integrity and truth in what she says with her credentials in the foreword.

Did the writer of the foreword play any significant role as an editor, a reviewer, and an institutional colleague of the primary author in his narratives and writing or authoring of the book such that by the ethics of scholarly and professional writing she or he should not ethically have written the foreword to the book? Did she or he conceal those facts which make for an accountable and transparent ethical foreword writing in her foreword to the book?

This same ethical standard applies to collaborators and consultants to the book who have been held out as substantially contributing to the book, reviewing, and editing it. For instance, is it ethical for a judge of the superior court of justice before whom the author alleges he appeared as a witness for one of the parties to a case participate in writing the book as a reviewer and/or editor of a book in which his decision as a judge has been patently twisted and presented as verifiable fact without the learned justice asking the author or co-author to expunge that manifestly false portion of the narrative from the book before it was published? How ethical can a contract signed on 4th December 1997 be attributed by a scholar author(s) to an Ishmael Ayittey when the judge reviewer and/or editor of the book had concluded ex cathedra in a reported judgment that it was Nat Amateifio who signed the contract?

Is it also ethical for professional lawyers and a Justice of the Superior Court to be consultants, reviewers and/or editors of a book in which they are unable to tell the Sir Cecil John Rhodes Scholar and author that Mr. Justice P. E. N. K. Archer was the Chief Justice of Ghana on 7th January 1993 and not Mr. Justice I. K. Abban who became Chief Justice on 22nd February 1995 after Mr. Justice P. E. N. K. Archer retired the previous day? A serving Justice of the Superior Court of Ghana and reviewer of the book who does not know who his Chief Justice was on 7th January 1993! To cap it all, the author who holds himself out as a professor, a governance and local government specialist has not yet mastered in his teaching career how to just pick up the Ghana Law Reports reporting 1993 cases to confirm for himself and his consultants, reviewers and/ or editors who was the Chief Justice of Ghana at a particular time in Ghanaian history such as the date of the coming into force of the very important 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution he professes to know and write about with pretentious scholarly erudition! Oh, even a simple Google search would have revealed it! Are Chief Justices Archer, and Abban not by now turning in their graves at this scandal of scholarship and judicial conduct exhibited in Working with Rawlings?

This is the book which the equally portrayed distinguished scholar Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang, PhD/FGA has put her reputation and integrity on the line to the whole world in the foreword when she stated that it is: Written in clear, engaging prose, the writer invites the reader to receive the content of the narrative honestly delivered. The vivid, engaging and deeply reflective eye witness account couched in unencumbered prose, brings to the fore events narrated with open honesty and transparency. (Emphasis supplied).

But wait until we get to examining how she could ethically have collaborated with the author and others to doctor an interview on Radio Gold with the President Emeritus, H. E., Flt Lt. J. J. Rawlings, to the public in 1996 which has shamefully been narrated in the book as a hallmark of integrity.

The person who brought the autographed copy of the book to my residence has brought me trouble and he knew that by my nature I will not shy away from an honest challenge when professional ethics of any profession is at stake. I have taken up the challenge: and time and the pressure of my already onerous work schedule permitting, I intend to deal with the foregoing issues and more in a series of presentations.

I intended to be guided in my presentations by the hallowed ethics of accountable and transparent writing which requires a professional or academic of any hue who writes very serious discourse for public education, guidance and consumption to disclose everything which the public must take into account in assessing the veracity of his work. My next presentation will, therefore, state any biases and any conflicts of interest my presentation may be tainted with to bring myself within the acceptable ethical standards empowering me to critique the authors book. I shall be using my observations as a participant and my experiential learning therefrom spanning the period the author narrates as my background knowledge base in the exposition and critique I will be making. I will as far as practicable use the qualitative method of social research, analysis and reporting to arrive at my conclusions in my critique of Working with Rawlings.

It is important for everybody to take notice and I hereby serve notice that I do not lay any claims to being a scholar or an academic. I am not so self-conceited as to claim any intelligence or intellectual standing in society and I need none to function as any Ghanaian trying to live an honest life.

MARTIN A. B.K. AMIDU

---kasapafmonline
Artyom Vazhenkov said that when darkness fell at the notorious detention center in the Belarusian capital of Minsk where he was held for several days, the screaming from those being tortured echoed into the night.

"It was horrible -- not what I saw, but what I heard" Vazhenkov said in an interview with Current Time after his release. "At night, from our window outside we could hear people howling, screaming."

Now back in Moscow, Vazhenkov described the torture, abuse, and inhumane conditions that he and others held at the Akrestsina detention center endured.

Some 7,000 people have been detained in the protests that erupted across Belarus after longtime President Alyaksandr Lukashenka was declared winner of the country's presidential election on August 9. In Minsk, many have ended up at Akrestsina and have spoken of and documented on social media the physical abuse they suffered while held there.

Thousands have been released, but hundreds remain locked up.

Amnesty International and local human rights groups have collected testimony from protesters in Belarus who describe being tortured or subjected to other ill-treatment in such facilities, including being stripped naked, beaten, and threatened with rape.

The international human rights organization says detention centers across Belarus have become "torture chambers."

As evidence of abuse at prisons and on the streets mounted, some Belarusian police and other security service members have quit, with many documenting the move on social media by throwing their uniforms into the trash or other similar gestures.

In an unusual move, a senior police officer in Lida denounced the "cruelty and brutality" meted out by security forces against protesters in Belarus.

In a video on the independent Tut.by news site, Yury Makhnach, a police lieutenant colonel in Lida, said police reacted brutally because they had been told they would face reprisals if the opposition prevailed.

Belarusian state media said Vazhenkov, a coordinator for Russia's Open Society, an opposition organization funded by former Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who came to monitor the vote, was detained on August 11 with another Russian national, Igor Rogov, allegedly showing "signs of alcohol intoxication."

Vazhenkov was suspected of planning "mass unrest," but was released with no charges filed on August 15. According to TASS, Rogov was released and returned to Moscow on August 12.

Now back in Moscow, Vazhenkov told Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, what he experienced and witnessed.

"On the first day, they didn't give us water and didn't let us go the toilet," Vazhenkov recounted. "They would come in and just beat us. Just for fun. They'd say, 'This is the way we are reeducating you animals.' We were constantly forced to lie on the floor."

Besides the beatings, Vazhenkov and others were forced to kneel for hours on the concrete floor with their foreheads bowed to the ground. "The whole body was generally just numb; people were really moaning in pain," he said.

Nearly "any action" would trigger the guards to violently lash out, according to Vazhenkov. "Anything you said triggered an aggressive reaction," he explained. "Can I have water?' -- aggressive reaction. 'We need to go to the toilet' -- aggressive reaction. These situations didn't always end in beatings, but every word we uttered was met by insults and humiliation."

He said one of the more extreme forms of torture he witnessed was the so-called swallow, when a detainee is handcuffed behind his back and elevated. "This is guaranteed to cause dislocations," Vazhenkov said.

He said another extreme form of abuse was the "walk down the corridor." "This is when a naked person walks down a hallway with riot police standing on either side of the corridor, beating them with truncheons, hitting them all over," Vazhenkov described.

Besides the physical abuse, the guards subjected the detainees to constant humiliation.

"In the cell, for example, they kept everyone in their underwear for some reason. Moreover, there was one case in which a young man was taken to court in his underwear and sentenced to 14 days," Vazhenkov said. "He was taken out of the cell and led, as he said and as I understood, down the street in the swallow pose in his underwear to the courthouse, which was nearby."

The spirits of those held inside were raised by the support they heard coming from those gathered outside Akrestsina, most of them seeking information about loved ones inside.

"We heard that people on the other side of the wall supported us and shouted: 'Hang on! Hang on! We are with you!' I remember once some girl shouted: 'Vanya, I love you! When you get out, we will get married!' It was really touching," Vazhenkov recounted, adding that even these moments of hope triggered fears as well.

"On the one hand, this gave us hope, but, on the other hand, it pissed off the police, and we feared they would take out their anger and aggression on us," he said.

Vazhenkov's account echoes those of other former detainees.

According to accounts collected by Amnesty International, detainees in Minsk and elsewhere in Belarus were "severely beaten for the entire duration of their detention."

"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. They described being stripped naked and subjected to sadistic beatings while listening to the screams of other victims," said Marie Struthers, Amnesty International's director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. "These are people whose only 'crime' was to take to the streets in peaceful protest."

Lida police officer Makhnach offers a glimpse at what may have motivated police.

"The ideology was this: if the authorities lose, then each of us will be hanged on a tree branch by the side of the road," he explained in the video uploaded to Tut.by, adding that 13 police officers in Lida had stepped down. "Therefore, the authorities must be protected by any means."

"I am ashamed to wear the epaulets of a police officer," he continued. "I devoted 23 of the best years of my life to the service -- and I never could have thought that it would turn out this way. That we [police] will begin to treat the people of our country with cruelty and brutality."

Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on reporting by Alina Pinchuk of RFE/RL's Russian Service and Aleksei Aleksandrov of Current Time
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and other officials sanctioned by the US government over a national security law are clinging to the premise that the measures will be harmless because they do not have American bank accounts or own property in the United States.

But, the long reach of the American government - and the dominance of the US dollar as a trade currency - could throw up an array of unexpected barriers for so-called specially designated nationals (SDNs), according to former American officials and compliance lawyers.

Sanctioned individuals - and in some cases their close family members - could find overseas bank accounts closed, bank-issued credit cards cancelled and insurance coverage put on hold by financial institutions wary of running afoul of US regulators and losing access to the American financial system, compliance officials said.

Transactions with US companies, including ordering from American websites such as Amazon.com, are likely to be blocked and even booking a staycation at a US-owned hotel chain could prove difficult, if not impossible, depending on how the company's foreign subsidiaries are structured, said Julia Friedlander, deputy director of the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank.

"What that does is pushes an individual out of the US dollar system," Friedlander, a former senior policy adviser in the US Treasury Department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said. "If they want to conduct payments, they're going to have to do so using financial institutions that are cut off from the US financial system and largely will not transact in dollars."

On August 8, the US Treasury Department sanctioned 11 Hong Kong and mainland officials, including Lam, the current and former police commissioners and the head of Beijing's local liaison office, over the implementation of the national security law, which American officials claim undermines the city's autonomy and could curb freedom in the city.

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They also barred those officials and close family members from travelling to the US. Three days before sanctions were enacted, Hong Kong's police chief transferred a mortgage from HSBC to Bank of China (Hong Kong), according to public records.

The Hong Kong sanctions followed a July 14 executive order by US President Donald Trump and the passage of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which would allow the US to sanction foreign banks and other financial institutions who engage in "significant" transactions with individuals deemed to have contributed to the erosion of the city's autonomy.

"Sanctions like these, while they of course carry a very heavy dose of symbolism, they also have some pretty practical impacts from a financial standpoint," said Scott Flicker, the chairman of Paul Hastings' Washington office and leader of the law firm's global trade controls practice. "You don't need to be present in the United States and you don't need to be dealing specifically with a US financial institution to be affected."

Violating sanctions can be costly for financial institutions and other companies that breach US sanctions, even if inadvertently.

For example, American Express agreed to pay US$204,000 to the US three years ago after a Belgian credit-card issuer processed more than 1,800 transactions in violation of sanctions against Cuba. Amex owned a 50 per cent stake in the Belgian firm's parent company.

The Hong Kong sanctions are being administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), an arm of the Treasury Department. Over seven decades, the office has overseen sanctions against Cuba, Iran and North Korea and Russia.

OFAC regulations prohibit US persons and entities from providing goods or services with sanctioned individuals, entities or countries and property or assets held by those facing US sanctions are subject to freezing and potential seizure.

Depending on the sanctions programme, special licenses are required for a US citizen to meet with a SDN or for a sanctioned foreign leader to stay at a US-owned hotel overseas.

While there is a process to appeal a sanction designation, being removed from a sanctions list is difficult, lawyers said. The designations stem from the president's executive power under the US Constitution, they said.

For the most part, Hong Kong and mainland officials have mocked the measures.

Lam said in a television interview last month that she had no assets in the United States and "I don't particularly like going to the US", while Luo Huining, director of Beijing's liaison office in the city, sarcastically offered on August 8 to send US$100 to US President Donald Trump, so that it could be frozen.

To be sure, sanctioned individuals are less likely to struggle if they do not hold assets in the US and make most of their transactions in currencies other than the US dollar, such as the yuan.

The challenge, however, comes if their financial institution needs to access the US financial system regularly.

Following a series of multibillion-dollar settlements with American authorities over anti-money-laundering and sanctions breaches, banks and other financial institutions are much more cautious when it comes to doing business with so-called politically exposed persons. That includes individuals the US has not sanctioned.

As a result, financial institutions are severing ties with foreign individuals who are more likely to come under American scrutiny, as well as US clients in some cases, to avoid falling under the purview of US authorities.

Luo Huining, director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong, is one of 11 officials facing US sanctions over the city's national security law. Photo: Sing Tao Daily alt=Luo Huining, director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong, is one of 11 officials facing US sanctions over the city's national security law. Photo: Sing Tao Daily

"Many banks take a highly risk averse approach to these issues," said Adam Ferguson, a partner at Eversheds Sutherland in Hong Kong.

Bernard Chan, convenor of the Executive Council, said he had one of his US bank accounts closed in March unrelated to sanctions, after the lender learned of his political role in the city. Chan is one of only two members of Lam's de facto cabinet who have declared American assets.

"After the news of my account being closed in the US, I've been approached by other banks in Hong Kong, including a US bank, to open an account with them in Hong Kong," Chan said. "But I've enough bank accounts already and l don't need any more."

Chan, who is not facing sanctions, did not name the bank that closed his account. He has another account in the US that remains open.

Even ahead of the US sanctions, global banks in Hong Kong were quietly reviewing their client lists for people at risk, according to people familiar with their thinking.

Two of the city's three currency-issuing banks, HSBC and Standard Chartered, have paid a combined US$4 billion since 2012 and reached agreements with US authorities to avoid criminal prosecution for past failures in their anti-money-laundering and sanctions control programmes.

In recent days, Citigroup took steps to suspend credit-card accounts associated with some of the individuals facing US sanctions, according to a person familiar with the moves but not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.

Bloomberg reported on August 12 that the Hong Kong arms of some Chinese state-owned banks, including Bank of China (Hong Kong), are being cautious about opening new accounts for individuals facing sanctions.

Spokespersons at Citigroup, HSBC and Standard Chartered all declined to comment for this story, while Bank of China did not respond to a request for comment.

The credit union for the city's police force began moving about HK$11 billion in assets from foreign banks to China-based lenders in May over concerns about potential sanctions.

Rising tensions between the US and China threatens to trap financial institutions between the two superpowers.

Trump's executive order prohibits "the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked" by the sanctions. The Hong Kong Autonomy Act separately includes a provision that subjects banks who engage in "significant" transactions with blocked persons to sanctions themselves.

At the same time, Article 29 of the city's national security law prohibits the imposition of sanctions, blockades or other hostile actions against Hong Kong or the mainland - potentially putting banks in a bind if they abide by the US decrees.

Bankers are reluctant to discuss publicly how they will address any potential clash, saying privately they would look to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the city's de facto central bank, for guidance on how to proceed regarding their Hong Kong business.

"With respect to the various laws that exist and the potential conflicts between those laws, we follow the laws and regulations of all of the countries in which we operate and will continue to do that," Noel Quinn, HSBC's chief executive, said on a conference call with journalists on August 3. "It would be wrong of me to speculate on any potential conflicts between different laws between the US and China."

The HKMA said on August 8 that unilateral sanctions by foreign governments are "not part of the international targeted financial sanctions regime and have no legal status in Hong Kong", sparking confusion among some bankers.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 14 paving the way for sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland officials this month. Photo: Bloomberg alt=US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 14 paving the way for sanctions against Hong Kong and mainland officials this month. Photo: Bloomberg

At the same time, businesses and other entities with ties to sanctioned individuals could face their own challenges under US sanctions. Related companies in which a sanctioned individual owns 50 per cent or more can be blocked from engaging in transactions in the American financial system.

The US placed Arkady Rotenberg, a Russian businessman and a former judo partner of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his brother Boris Rotenberg under sanctions in 2014, but Arkady Rotenberg transferred part of his business to his son Igor in an attempt to avoid sanctions. The US placed Igor Rotenberg under sanctions four years later.

One Hong Kong company already took steps last week to reduce its potential exposure because of family ties.

Engineering firm Analogue Holdings issued a statement on August 9 that Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, the city's Secretary for Justice and wife of Analogue's chairman, did not have an interest in the company and no rights to the shares held by her husband. She is one of the 11 officials sanctioned by the US government.

The next day, Analogue announced it had reduced its interest in New York-based Transel Elevator & Electric because of US-China tensions and no longer held a controlling stake in the American company.

Sanctioned individuals acting as signatories on contracts, such as a contract with the Hong Kong government, also can prove problematic for companies and lead to penalties.

For example, OFAC fined Exxon US$2 million in 2017, claiming agreements the energy giant signed with Russian oil company Roseft violated US sanctions because the signer of the contracts, Rosneft's president, was facing sanctions himself. A federal court vacated the penalty in December after a lengthy court fight.

Enhanced enforcement by the US in recent years is increasingly causing banks to shy away from business, even if it is technically legal, over concerns about the potential for enhanced compliance risk later, Flicker, the Paul Hastings lawyer, said.

"If you are a person on the OFAC SDN list, it is a near certainty that you're going to face difficulty in opening bank accounts or conducting bank transactions with global financial institutions that may be in that de-risking mode," Flicker said.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 16:27:05|Editor: huaxia

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by Keren Setton

JERUSALEM, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Yossi Cohen, chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, landed in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday, days after a historic agreement between the two countries established diplomatic relations.

It was the first public visit by such a senior Israeli official in the Gulf state. Cohen is believed to have been instrumental in the negotiations leading up to the agreement, under the auspices of the Trump administration.

Israeli media reported a larger delegation is expected in Abu Dhabi later this week in order to formalize the agreement.

The agreement will be the third such accord the Jewish state has with countries in the region. Decades after peace with Egypt and Jordan, there was a lengthy stalemate in which there was no progress in peace and normalization between Israel and the Arab world.

Many believe that before Israel establishes ties with other countries, it must solve its conflict with the Palestinians. And for decades, the Palestinians relied on this support in their fight against Israel.

The very public reveal of the pending agreement between the UAE and Israel indicated a shift in the traditional position.

"This is a move that demonstrates there is a country that is willing to break that equation...but it does not mean this equation is not correct anymore," said Nimrod Goren, head of the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, "Progress with the Palestinians would make such agreements possible with many other countries."

The last time Palestinian and Israeli negotiators sat together was in 2014.

This stalemate together with major regional shifts that have occurred in recent years have led to a thawing in the relations between Israel and several countries in the area. Covert relations with the UAE and other countries have reportedly been going on for several years, especially cooperating against the mutual adversary, Iran.

The Palestinian issue has been sidelined as both sides see a bigger threat and larger interests.

"A lot of countries in the region feel threatened by Iran and do not want to wait for the Palestinians to respond to peace proposals in order to promote cooperation with Israel," said Emmanuel Navon, a professor of international relations at Tel Aviv University.

The Palestinians have ruled out cooperation with the Trump initiative to bring peace between them and the Israelis. Considered controversial by many, the "Deal of the Century" also includes an Israeli annexation of West Bank territories which Palestinians see as a major chunk of their future state. The move was supposed to have happened last month.

The agreement between the UAE and Israel was largely enabled by Israel tabling the annexation. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said annexation will happen at a later time, it is realistic to expect it will not happen at all.

"The Americans told us that they wanted to expand the framework of peace, and that is our highest priority right now: expanding the circle of peace," Netanyahu said on Monday in a first-ever interview to Sky News Arabia, an Abu-Dhabi based TV news channel.

There have been reports that other countries, such as Bahrain and Sudan, may follow suit and forge public relations with the Jewish state. Earlier in the week, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi spoke with his Omani counterpart Yosef bin Alawi bin Abdullah. According to a statement released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the two discussed "the need to strengthen relations between Israel and Oman....and advance the process of normalization in the Middle East."

"There might be an agreement with another Gulf state, but we will not see something wider," Navon told Xinhua.

While security cooperation is believed to have been going on for many years, the agreement will bring to the forefront cooperation in other matters.

"This will enable mutual investments and cooperation. It is definitely good for both economies," Navon added.

The importance of the agreement cannot be underestimated. It brings a wind of change to a region that is accustomed to talking in terms of conflict and confrontation.

"There is definitely a change of the regional map and this is not trivial," Goren told Xinhua. Enditem
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Linkedin Tatiana Kalinovskaya (Agence France-Presse) Minsk, Belarus  Tue, August 18, 2020 07:47 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ea5587 2 World Belarus,anti-government,Alexander-Lukashenko,politics Free

Demonstrators descended on the Belarusian capital on Monday for a ninth night of protests against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko, who was heckled by factory workers as pressure grows on him to step down.

Several thousand protesters gathered at Independence Square in central Minsk, waving the red-and-white flag of the opposition, chanting "Leave" and calling on the ex-Soviet country's authoritarian leader to resign.

Demonstrators also marched to detention centers demanding the release of opposition leaders and protesters arrested during rallies against the results of a presidential election on August 9 that Lukashenko claims to have won with 80 percent of the vote.

Employees at several factories and state television earlier walked off the job after the biggest opposition rallies in Lukashenko's 26 years in power on Sunday.

More than 100,000 people took part in a "March for Freedom" following calls for continued demonstrations from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a political novice who stood against Lukashenko on August 9 and claims she won the election.

While European Union leaders are to hold an emergency video summit on Belarus on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said the United States was following events "very closely", describing it as a "terrible situation".

However, Russia, the most powerful ally of Lukashenko, has said it is ready to step in if necessary.

'Fighting their own people'

A police crackdown that has seen thousands arrested and widespread allegations of brutality appears to have turned even Lukashenko's support base at state-owned industries against him.

In footage widely shared on social media, workers at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT) interrupted Lukashenko with shouts of "Leave!" as he tried to give a speech on Monday.

An angry Lukashenko, who had earlier told the workers he would not give in to calls for new elections, walked off the stage, saying: "Thank you, I have said everything. You can shout 'Leave'."

In a video recording of the speech, Lukashenko can be heard saying: "Until you kill me, there will be no elections."

Yet later he suggested that he may be willing to hand over power following a referendum on the constitution.

"You should get it approved in a referendum and then, using that new constitution, if you want, hold both parliamentary or presidential elections," he said.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Monday voiced its "concerns about the conduct" of the Belarus election... and the disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters, widespread detentions and alleged torture and mistreatment by the security forces".

The OSCE said in a statement it made "a formal offer" to the Belarus government to facilitate dialogue between both sides.

"An open and constructive dialogue is needed to find a way forward in Belarus," the statement said.

"A formal offer has therefore been submitted to the government of Belarus for a visit by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office" Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama "to meet with the government and representatives of the opposition," the group added.

Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Ottawa joined the chorus of countries condemning the "crackdown on peaceful protestors" and rejecting the "fraudulent" vote while demanding "free and fair elections."

In his statement, he also called "for a thorough investigation to be conducted through" the OSCE.

Meanwhile demonstrators also gathered outside the Minsk headquarters of state television, where local media reported that 600 people joined the strike.

Maria Kolesnikova, a senior opposition leader, joined the protesters, saying: "I know how scared you are, because we are all scared. Thank you for overcoming your fear and joining the majority."

Production at the Belaruskali potash producer was partially suspended after workers joined the walkout, Russian news agencies reported.

Potash, used to make fertilizer, is a major source of income for Belarus, which is one of the largest producers in the world.

Challenger 'ready' to lead

Lukashenko has defied calls to stand down after the election that saw him imprison his closest rivals, shun independent observers and unleash a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters.

The opposition called for a general strike after hundreds of workers at state-run factories first downed tools last week.

In a video posted online on Monday, Tikhanovskaya -- now in exile in Lithuania -- said that although she never planned to enter politics she was prepared to temporarily take over the leadership.

"Fate decreed that I'd find myself on the frontline of a confrontation against arbitrary rule and injustice," said Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who ran for president only after other potential candidates including her husband were jailed.

"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period."

Tikhanovskaya, who says she will organize new elections if Lukashenko steps down, has demanded the release of all detainees and criminal cases be opened against those who ordered the crackdown.

More than 6,700 people arrested, hundreds wounded and two people have died in the crackdown.

Detainees have gradually been released, many emerging with horrific accounts of beatings and torture.
Jeremiah Young took over Kibler & Kirch 10 years ago, growing the legendary design shops interiors business, founding an art gallery and partnering with rustic icon Old Hickory (photo: Audrey Hall). To be a good designer you have to have a tremendous amount of empathy, says Young.

Business of Home is the respected media of record for the U.S. home industry, considered a must-read by designers coast to coast. So being chosen for Editor in Chief Kaitlin Petersens yearlong 50 States Project, which she describes as a series of candid conversations with designers we admire  one from each state  is a coveted honor. As she worked her way through the M states this July, Petersen reached out to Jeremiah Young, owner and creative director of Kibler & Kirch, to represent his state of Montana. The resulting Business of Home interview with Young covers topics including transforming legacy businesses, how the landscape fuels his creativity and his uniquely collaborative design method.

Kibler & Kirch doesnt subscribe to a particular look, instead creating timeless, quality  and uniquely personalized  designs that clients love. We do some projects that are flagrantly contemporary and others that are so rustic you hear banjos playing in the background, Young tells BOH. While he grew up in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, Youngs spiritual home is unquestionably Montana. He revels in the landscape  the most beautiful place in the world  which, along with the work of talented local artisans and artists, infuses all of Kibler & Kirchs projects with a distinctly Montana spirit, from a stately Billings manse that reflects the cosmopolitan owners travels to a Thomas Molesworth-inspired Wyoming cabin, featured in the book Cabin Style, that he custom-designed down to the tiniest detail.

Young purchased Kibler & Kirch in 2010. The firm, started by Rosina Kastelitz and Erica Hash in 1990, was already a local legend, best known for its beloved Red Lodge, Montana, retail shop. But after 20 years, the original owners were retiring. Doesnt somebody want to buy this business? Young, whod stopped in to buy a chair, remembers asking Kastelitz. A month later, the deal was done and I was up to my eyeballs in all the things I didnt know before, he says.

While Kibler & Kirch had always included an interior design business, Young moved the emphasis to the design side, opening his studio and showroom in the historic Stapleton Building in downtown Billings in 2015 and creating the sister business of Stapleton Gallery, where he could feed his passion for Western art and support Montanas rich community of artists. Along the way he added a new role as creative director for iconic American furniture company Old Hickory to his CV, expanding and editing offerings to keep it relevant while focusing on authenticity and attention to detail because people recognize when something is the real deal.

Recently, Young closed the Kibler & Kirch Red Lodge retail store, with plans to reopen in his Billings Stapleton building. Weve got to reimagine and keep the soul of the retail store weve had forever, then translate it into something even more amazing, he tells BOH. In the meantime, Young and his team of six are busier than ever, with more than 25 current projects  both new builds and significant remodels  underway. Always he is mindful of growing a legacy: I took over this firm thats been going for 30 years now  Im trying to take this namesake with a great reputation so that it can go beyond me and live for another 30 or 50 or 100 years.

BOH notes that the Kibler & Kirch design process is unusual  with editor Petersen titling the interview, Why this Montana designer never presents to clients. Instead of meeting with the client and then going back to the studio to put together a presentation, Kibler & Kirch involves clients in the nuts and bolts of designing, spending days at a time working in tandem. Were working on intimate spaces, Young says. These are their homes, and you have to truly get to know them to do good work for them.

While Youngs BOH interview delves into some of the challenges of running a design business, from billing to managing staff, ultimately for him the joy is in the people and taking care of people, he says. To be a good designer, you have to have a great amount of empathyan ability to love your clients, be inspired for them and take this journey with them. Thats what gives me this greatest satisfaction.

About Jeremiah Youngs Kibler & Kirch:

Annually recognized on Mountain Living magazines Top Mountain Designers list, Kibler & Kirch resonates with a distinctive  and distinctly Western  style. Its Billings, Montana, showroom represents more than 100 companies featuring a carefully curated collection of American-made furnishings and decor ranging from rustic to refined. And owner and creative director Jeremiah Young and staff bring those resources  and deep connections with regional artists and artisans, including those represented by Youngs Stapleton Gallery  to bear on crafting timeless interiors for clients where the spirit of the West meets modern treasures that are built to last. Follow Kibler & Kirch on Instagram and for more information, visit http://www.kiblerandkirch.com.
ANDOVER, MA  Shishan Wang is one of two Republicans in the primary to challenge state Rep. Tram Nguyen, a Democrat, in the 18th Essex District.

Wang, 51, lives in Andover with his wife Lijun and his three children. His daughter Sophia attends Brandeis University while his twin sons are students at Andover High School.

Wang is a research scientist and has previously run for Andover School Committee. He has a Ph.D. in food science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The 18th Essex District includes parts of Andover, Boxford, North Andover and Tewksbury. The primary contest is Sept. 1, and voters can also cast ballots early in person or by mail.

Age (as of Election Day)



51

Office sought:

State Representative

District:

18th Essex

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

I have been living in Andover with my wife Lijun and three children for thirteen years. My daughter Sophia is attending Brandeis University. My twin sons are studying at Andover High School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Ph.D. in Food Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Occupation

Senior research scientist in Microbiology and Biochemistry (over 13 years).

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

No

Campaign website

www.shishanwang.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking office because Beacon Hill can benefit from alternative viewpoints. Politicians are making policies in an echo chamber and that is not healthy. Just think about how fast both house and senate pushed through police reform without thorough discussion with stakeholders. I hope to represent a more moderate viewpoint and slow down controversial bills that need more debates and more thought.

How would you rate the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic on a letter-grade scale (A, B, C, D or F), and how would you explain that rating?

I would rate it a B-minus. To be fair, when it first broke out, the whole world was in uncharted territory. Overall, I think the Governor did a good job given the circumstances. However, from very early on, we know that elderly people and those with comorbidities are the most vulnerable. I think we should have issued stricter guidelines for elder facilities much earlier.

Story continues

Also, we should have erred on the safe side and mandate mask wearing earlier. People in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan started wearing masks as early as January. They managed to contain the virus and kept their economies going. CDC and WHO were not recommending masks at that time. Given conflicting information, common sense would say to wear a mask.

Is Chapter 40B, the state's affordable housing law, working, and if not what would you change?

I support improving affordable housing and adopting certain zoning changes by simple majority voting rather than the existing two-thirds requirement. Massachusetts is one of the few states requiring two-thirds voting in zoning rules.

What steps, if any, should the state take toward police reform?

Residents in my district have a great relationship with law enforcement, and I dont think there is anything that needs immediate attention. When something unfortunate happens  especially in a different state with different laws  we should resist knee-jerk reactions. Instead, we should calmly analyze our situation, gather data, collect feedback from various stakeholders  especially the police  before pushing for sweeping reform.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Our community suffered two major blows consecutively  the 2018 Columbia Gas Explosion and Covid-19. Each crisis is a reminder of how people, businesses, and communities are struggling and suffering. Meanwhile, the media are dominated by news about social unrests and political bickering. Each news blurb further divides and polarizes the public. This is not how it should be. My vision is to rebuild and have a prosperous and harmonious community where everyone has a chance to succeed and fulfill his or her dreams.

This vision can only be achieved if we:

Share the values of hard work, grit, civility and civic-mindedness

Teach our children personal accountability, social responsibility and citizenship

Embrace pro-economy and pro-job policies

Cut waste and trim unnecessary spending

Ensure our children have access to high quality but affordable education

Preserve law and order

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The incumbent and I are both immigrants. We are both LEGAL immigrants. However, the incumbent is for sanctuary cities/state and giving illegal immigrant licenses. I am against illegal activities, including entering this country without proper authorization. The consequences of illegal activities should be punishment or suspension of privileges, and not reward.

The incumbent is for the ROE Act (which removes parental consent for minors seeking abortions and allows for late-term abortions). I am against expanding abortion rights. I think women have adequate access to legal abortion in Massachusetts.

I oppose any form of tax increase. Instead, I want to cut waste and spending, and make tertiary education affordable.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

The incumbent supports Bill S1401, the Safe Communities Act, which limits the cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. She also supports Bill S2061, the Work and Family Mobility Act, which allows illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. These undermine law and order in our district.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a research scientist in biotechnology, I have been working on and managing research and development projects since 2007. My team has successfully developed several new products which are being commercialized and used by customers.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Do what is right and not what is easy.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

After my family and I moved here from China, we went through some rough times. At one point, we were on H1-B visa. It was stressful. It was unnerving, especially when we have young children to feed and clothe at that time. But we worked hard, persevered, and managed to pull through. Now I have a doctorate degree and work as a research scientist. My family and I live in Andover. My daughter is attending Brandeis University and my sons are in Andover High School. Many will say I am an exemplar of the American Dream.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.



This article originally appeared on the Andover Patch
MICA is a predominately white institution (PWI), Smith said. Being at a PWI, there is kind of an expectation for Black artists and what theyll create  an expectation that it will come from your trauma or it will be about the Black experience in some way or it has to be socio-political. As my work has to do with pattern making and some of my figures seem more symbolic, I get a lot of what does this mean? Or does this pattern come from your heritage? Sometimes they do, but sometimes they dont. I notice that those questions dont get asked of white students.
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (3rd R), Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (2nd R) and Britain's Sophie, Countess of Wessex, (R) sit behind Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (L) and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (2nd L) inside Westminster Abbey as they attend the annual Commonwealth Service in London on March 9, 2020 HARRIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge did not speak for two months after the Sandringham summit sparked by the Megxit crisis, a royal writer has said.

Omid Scobie  co-author of Finding Freedom, which chronicles Harry and Meghans life as royals  said the Sussexes decision to reveal their plans to quit without warning the Windsors caused the most upset with William, and the rift between the brothers will take some time to heal.

Harry and Meghan released their bombshell statement about wanting to step down as senior royals in January, prompting the Queen to call a meeting at Sandringham with the duke, his older brother and their father, the Prince of Wales, to deal with the crisis.

The couples final public royal engagement was the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March, where Kate was accused in the book of barely acknowledging her sister-in-law.

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Scobie, speaking on True Royalty TVs The Royal Beat, said: Where it really went wrong for Harry and Meghan and the Cambridges was that decision to go public with the roadmap to their new working model, the statements that werent discussed internally.

Thats really what caused the most amount of hurt to William because he wears two hats.

Hes not just the brother. Hes also a future king and he felt that that damaged the reputation of the family, that it put family business out in the public domain when it should have been discussed privately.

And there was a lot of hurt there that continues to this day.

He added: Its why we saw such an awkward moment at that Commonwealth service.

Video of the Day

The brothers had not spoken since around the time of the Sandringham summit. They hadnt seen each other. And, you know, thats really going to take some time to heal.

Scobie also suggested that Harry, who has outlined his personal commitment to tackling institutional racism, will at some point address his own past mistakes.

He was widely condemned in 2009 after being caught on film calling a former Army colleague a Paki, and in 2005 he caused outrage when he donned a Nazi soldiers uniform complete with swastika for a fancy dress party.

The author said: Hes on a journey at the moment and I do think that at some point well hear him really talk about that journey and what hes learnt on that.

But I think at the moment  hes still educating himself. Maybe he feels hes not there yet.

He described Harry and Meghans new 11 million home in Santa Barbara, California, as pretty much their forever home.

Kensington Palace declined to comment.

Read More

A source close to the Sussexes said Harry and Meghan are in contact with the royal family.

The family are in contact with each other  a suggestion that theyre not talking is untrue, they said.

On the dukes racial inequality work, they added: The duke believes that it takes every single person to combat racism and racial inequality and he definitely counts himself as part of that.

He has spoken for some time about the systemic problems caused by unconscious bias and the role everyone plays to fix it.
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Freedom Mortgage Corporation and RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation announced they have completed their previously announced merger. RoundPoint is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Freedom Mortgage, one of the nation's largest full-service mortgage companies and a leader in VA and government-insured lending.

Founded in 2007, RoundPoint services and subservices approximately $75 billion in unpaid principal balance (UPB) of mortgages comprised primarily of agency loans. As a result of the merger, Freedom Mortgage's combined owned and subserviced mortgage servicing rights (MSR) portfolio is now approximately $310 billion of UPB, elevating the company further up on the list of the 10 largest agency mortgage servicers in the country. The merger also provides Freedom Mortgage with an active subservicing platform and broadens the scope of the company's co-issue origination network.

"Our transition to the Freedom family has been a great move for us," said Kevin Brungardt, CEO of RoundPoint. "By combining our unique strengths, resources and expertise, we will realize major operational benefits. Together, we look forward to setting a new standard for mortgage servicing excellence."

"We are delighted that RoundPoint is now officially part of the Freedom family," said Stan Middleman, CEO of Freedom Mortgage. "RoundPoint brings over 378,000 new customers to the Freedom ecosystem, and we look forward to the opportunity to make them customers for life. We are excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead."

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisor to RoundPoint and Sidley Austin LLP served as legal counsel. Classic Strategies Group served as financial advisor to Freedom Mortgage and Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman LLP served as legal counsel.

About Freedom Mortgage Corporation:

Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Freedom Mortgage is a full-service mortgage company that provides mortgage loans through retail, wholesale, and correspondent channels. One of the nation's largest loan originators and servicers, the company is licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Freedom Mortgage is a leader in VA mortgage lending and one of the mortgage industry's largest philanthropic supporters of the USO and military families. The company is also renowned for its vibrant work environment where its team members can thrive. For more information, please visit FreedomMortgage.com.

About RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation:

Founded in 2007, RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation is a leading national loan servicer, residential mortgage lender and co-issue purchaser. As one of the nation's largest non-bank mortgage servicers, it currently services nearly $75 billion of mortgage assets and is authorized to service loans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company is headquartered in Fort Mill, SC with an office in Dallas, TX. You can learn more about RoundPoint's services by visiting www.roundpointmortgage.com.

FREEDOM MORTGAGE CONTACT:

Audrey Shapiro

Freedom Mortgage Corporation

(856) 380-9073

[email protected]

ROUNDPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING CONTACT:

Roman Vega

(980) 258  6162

[email protected]

PRESS CONTACT:

Henry Drennan

Strategic Vantage Marketing & Public Relations

(615) 497-8358

[email protected]

SOURCE Freedom Mortgage

Related Links

https://www.freedommortgage.com


PROVIDENCE, R.I., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tufts Health Plan has been awarded an accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its Medicaid HMO product in Rhode Islandrecognized for its service and clinical quality through a rigorous evaluation of consumer protection and quality improvement requirements.

"This national accreditation underscores our commitment to make certain our Rhode Island members have quality health coverage, especially those who have high-risk health conditions," said Tom Croswell, president and CEO for Tufts Health Plan. "I'm proud of our employees who make coordinating our members' care a top priority, recognizing that the health care system can be both intricate and confusing. We want to be sure Rhode Islanders receive the greatest value from their health plan."

The NCQA Health Plan Accreditation evaluates how well a health plan manages all parts of its delivery systemphysicians, hospitals, other providers and administrative services. This national standard is set to represent the best practices in the insurance industry and continues to guide Tufts Health Plan's approach to the services it provides to members, both in clinical and operational measures.

Tufts Health Plan began serving Rhode Islanders in 2009, offering employer-sponsored plans to expand upon its mission to improve the health and wellness of diverse communities. Since 2017, the health plan has provided Medicaid coverage for low-income Rhode Islanders, and now supports 23,000 members across employer-sponsored plans and Medicaid, with high-quality, affordable health care for themselves and their families.

Tufts Health Plan's Massachusetts Medicaid plan is ranked as one of the top health plans nationally by NCQA, receiving a 4.5 rating. Only 14 other Medicaid plans received a 4.5 rating or better.1 Its commercial HMO/POS and Massachusetts PPO plans are rated 5 out of 5  the highest rating possible  by the NCQA.2

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter, on Facebook and on LinkedIn.

About Tufts Health Plan

Tufts Health Plan is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage. Staying true to our mission of improving the health and wellness of the diverse communities we serve, we touch the lives of 1.15 million members in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut through employer-sponsored plans, Medicare, Medicaid and marketplace plans, offering health insurance coverage across the life span regardless of age or circumstance. We are continually among the top health plans in the country based on quality and member satisfaction. Our Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and Senior Care Options plans received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the highest rating possible.* Our commercial HMO/POS and Massachusetts PPO plans are rated 5 out of 5  the highest rating possible  by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).** Our Medicaid plan is rated 4.5 out of a possible 5.***

To learn more about how we're redefining what a health plan can do, visit www.tuftshealthplan.com/whatwedo. Connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn and Instagram.

*Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next. For more information on plan ratings, go to www.medicare.gov. Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO plans received 5 out of 5 stars for contract years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

**NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 20192020

***NCQA's Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2019-2020

1 NCQA's Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Ratings 20192020

2 NCQA's Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2019-2020

Contact: Kathleen Makela

[email protected]

857-304-8293

SOURCE Tufts Health Plan

Related Links

http://www.tuftshealthplan.com


Wong Teek Son, one of the founders of Riverstone Holdings Ltd, became the fifth billionaire in Malaysia from manufacturing gloves. His current net worth is $1.2 billion as shares of his company rose almost six times from a low in March, thanks to the growing demand for protective products because of the coronavirus pandemic. On August 17, Riverstone shares dipped 13% in its worst week since March and slipped another 2.2% in Singapore after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared they have worlds first coronavirus vaccine for use, while Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson are among those reaching deals with the Russian government to supply vaccine shots. In the month of June Supermax Corp's Thai Kim Sim also became a billionaire as his company's stock soared 394% this year. Companies making rubber Glove, Hartalega, and Kossan also gave three other billionaires.

Read: Malaysia Calls Beijing's Claims In South China Sea 'baseless Under International Law'

Malaysia is a leader in rubber gloves manufacturing. It manufactures around 65% of the worlds supply of rubber gloves and according to an estimate by the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry, exports will climb 45% this year. According to international media reports, Riverstone peers Top Glove Corp and Hartalega Holdings are now among the five most valuable companies on Malaysias equity benchmark index. Their shares have jumped more than 192% this year, lifting the net worth of their billionaire founders. The glove industry came into controversy last month when the United States barred imports of the products from two Top Glove units because of reasonable evidence of forced labor in the units. On the other hand worlds largest glove producer is in talks with the United States to settle this matter.

Read: Experimental Stem Cell Technology Gives Hope For Revival Of Malaysia's Sumatran Rhinoceros

Malaysian Economy Shrinks

Coronavirus pandemic brought fortune for the protective gear industry of Malaysia, but on the other hand, Malaysia has reported a dip in economic growth and it contracted 17% in the last quarter in its worst downturn since the global financial crisis. The central bank said the real rate of annual growth was 16.5% in the April-June quarter, down from a 2% contraction in the first quarter of the year. Business shutdowns, travel restrictions, and other measures to help contain outbreaks of the new coronavirus took a heavy toll. The central bank said, however, that key indicators such as exports, industrial output, and consumer spending began to bounce back in May as pandemic-related restrictions were eased. It is forecasting a contraction for the full year of minus 3.5% to minus 5.5%. It expects the economy to resume expansion in 2021, growing between 5.5% and 8%.

Read: Hong Kong-based Chinese Warship Carries Out Live-fire Drills In South China Sea

Read: Frenchman Who Aided Mayan Farmers Killed In Guatemala
A riot police officer (2L) points at a woman lying down after being searched during a demonstration in a mall in Hong Kong on July 6, 2020, in response to Beijing's new national security law. (Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images)

Global Freedoms at Risk Over Beijings National Security Law

It is becoming increasingly clear under Beijings new national security law that anyone, anywhere across the globe, can be targeteda threat experts call unprecedented and an exportation of the countrys oppressive model.

The expansive legislation, which went into effect on July 1, gives the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sweeping powers to target individuals for any acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces. The offenses can carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The law has triggered fears that Hong Kong will become just like any other mainland Chinese city under the authoritarian grip of the CCP. But the threat has spread beyond Hong Kong.

a U.S. citizen and pro-democracy activist, and five others were issued arrest warrants by Hong Kong authorities following the legislations implementation.

Every provision of this lawwhich was concocted in Beijing and enacted without the Hong Kong legislatureapplies to everyone outside of Hong Kong, Chu wrote in an op-ed. Nobody is beyond the laws reach, not me in the United States, and certainly not the estimated 85,000 Americans living and working in Hong Kong itself.

In response to Beijings legislation, the Trump administration on Aug. 7 sanctioned Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and 10 other Hong Kong and Chinese officials. The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets the officials have, and generally bar Americans from doing business with them. China soon responded with unspecified sanctions against 11 U.S. politicians and heads of organizations promoting democratic causesmatching the same number the United States had originally targeted.

One of those 11 sanctioned was Michael Abramowitz, the president of Freedom House, a U.S.-based, government-funded nonprofit.

Annie Boyajian, director of advocacy at the organization, called the law the latest example of the CCP seeking to export their model of oppression.

Its also very ironic how broadly the CCP says this law applies, given how frequently Chinese officials tout the principles of noninterference and national sovereignty, Boyajian told The Epoch Times, describing it as outrageous.

Chu, among the five others issued arrest warrants, is wanted on suspicion of secession or colluding with foreign forces, which is punishable with life in prison.

To be clear, [Chu] was doing that lobbying work here in the U.S.to his own government! Boyajian added.

The sanctions against Freedom Houses president follow sanctions placed on the group back in December last year. Boyajian said the latest move was a sign of the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions against Hong Kong and CCP officials.

Chilling Effect

The national security law is entirely unprecedented said Scott Watnik, litigation partner at U.S. law firm Wilk Auslander and co-chair of the firms cybersecurity practice, noting that it applies to everyone in the world with zero jurisdictional safeguards or defenses to non-resident foreign nationals.

China is aiming to instill fear in its critics across the world and control the narrative, so that journalists and government officials will think twice before they criticize China, Watnik told The Epoch Times. At least to some degree, China is likely to have some success in bringing about this chilling effect.

Anyone who comments on affairs in Hong Kong could be at risk of violating the legislation, he said.

The national security law comes in response to months of pro-democracy protests that started in 2019.

The fact that these stories are getting so little international attention should be frightening to us all, Donald Kendal, research fellow and co-leader of the Stopping Socialism Project at The Heartland Institute, told The Epoch Times.

The text of the law is so broadly written that all interpretative and enforcement power lies in Beijings hands, with no check on the Chinese government by any judicial or other authority, Watnik said.

The law has no limits; it means whatever Beijing says it means, he added.

There are a multitude of actions the United States can take to combat Beijings national security law, such as expanding sanctions to entities involved in human rights violations in Hong Kong, urging other democracies to impose matching sanctions, and welcoming Hongkongers forced to flee their homeland, according to Boyajian.

The transformation of Hong Kong into an authoritarian state is occurring at nearly breakneck speed, she said. Instead of Beijing officials viewing Hong Kong as one of their greatest assets, they have unleashed a campaign of oppression that is to their own detriment.

The contrast between the U.S. and Chinese sanctions is telling: The former aim to punish human-rights violations, and the latter aim to punish speech about those violations, wrote Abramowitz in an op-ed.

Inconveniences posed to Freedom House staff due to Beijings latest actions pales in comparison to the sacrifices made by those in Hong Kong and mainland China seeking to protect and promote rights and freedoms, Boyajian said. It is our honor to stand with them.

In the month since the law went into effect, the Hong Kong government has escalated attempts to curtail the citys freedoms. Authorities postponed a scheduled September legislative election for a year, citing fears over the CCP viruswhich broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019and disqualified 12 pro-democracy candidates who won votes in an unofficial primary.

Popular protest slogans were also outlawed.

Watnik, like other experts, believes the security law may end up backfiring as the communist regime is now front and center. He called Chinas retaliatory sanctions against U.S. lawmakers weak and empty, as they are of no practical effect. Imposing economic sanctions on China, as the United States has, may hurt U.S. companies in the short term, he said, but hitting the CCP financially may be the only way to end totalitarian rule in China.

Chinese officials claimed the national security law would target a small segment of society, but recent events have shown otherwise.

The CCP has created a blueprint of persecution that identifies, tracks, and suppresses dissenting voices, David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA, a nonprofit that aids persecuted Christians globally, told The Epoch Times, noting Chinas long track record of oppressing religious minorities.

Beijings new law also highlights how the party is willing to disregard deals they have previously agreed to in order to further their own imperialist interests, said Edward Bourke, executive director of Australian-based conservative political action group Victoria Forward.

Bourke told The Epoch Times that the CCP only responds to strength, emphasizing that the global community must take a decisive and united stand against the CCP by employing appropriate punitive measures.

Eva Fu, Cathy He, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
US must end 'unilateral' Iran sanctions, return to 'correct' track of observing nuclear deal: China

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 1:59 PM

China has called on the United States to end its "unilateral" sanctions against Iran and adopt a correct path towards respecting a multilateral 2015 nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and big powers.

Speaking at a regular press conference in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the US needed to abandon unilateralism as well as unilateral sanctions, adopt a reasonable and realistic attitude, and return to the "right track" of observing the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the United Nations Security Council decisions.

In response to a question about Washington's failed attempt on Friday to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran, the spokesperson said most members of the council opposed the US' wrongdoing, and held the view that the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the nuclear deal, should be "earnestly preserved and implemented."

"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 interest of the international community is a dead end," Zhao added.

The UN Security Council almost unanimously refused on Friday to support a US-sponsored draft resolution on extending the arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under the JCPOA.

During the 15-member Security Council vote, the US received support only from the Dominican Republic for its anti-Iran resolution, leaving it far short of the minimum nine "yes" votes required for adoption.

Russia and China, both veto-wielding powers and parties to the JCPOA, voted against the draft resolution and the remaining 11 Security Council members, including France, Germany and Britain, abstained.

Elsewhere in his presser, the Chinese spokesperson said Beijing welcomed a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin about holding a summit of world leaders to avoid "confrontation" over a US threat to trigger the so-called "snapback" mechanism stipulated in the JCPOA, which would reinstate all UN sanctions on Iran.

"China welcomes Russia's proposal on holding a video summit on the Iranian nuclear issue, and applauds Russia's efforts on de-escalating tensions on this issue and its contribution to regional security," Zhao said.

He emphasized that Beijing firmly endorses the landmark nuclear deal and "stays committed to upholding peace and stability in the Middle East."

"We are ready to work with relevant parties to keep close communication and coordination and advance the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue," he pointed out.

The remarks come as Trump has said he probably would not participate in any such summit.

In a statement on Friday, Putin proposed a video summit with the United States, Britain, France, China, Germany and Iran, saying, "The issue is urgent."

Putin added that the alternative was "only further escalation of tensions, increasing risk of conflict - such a scenario must be avoided."

A day after the US suffered a humiliating defeat at the Security Council, Trump pledged to use the controversial snapback technique, saying, "We'll be doing a snapback. You'll be watching it next week."

"Snapback" was envisioned in the event Iran was proven to be in violation of the JCPOA which Trump unilaterally left in May 2018.

The US circulated a six-page memo last Thursday from State Department lawyers, claiming that the United States remained part of the 2015 Security Council Resolution 2231, and still had the right to use the snapback provision.

However, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday that the United States is not a party to the JCPOA anymore and therefore cannot force the reinstatement of UN sanctions on Iran.

"We therefore consider that the US is not in a position to resort to mechanisms reserved for JCPOA participants (such as the so-called snapback)," German news agency DPA quoted the EU spokesperson as saying.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier on Sunday denounced the US attempts to invoke the snapback mechanism, saying, "American snapback is illegal and unacceptable and the Americans know they cannot use snapback."

The top Iranian diplomat strongly dismissed the US argument and said, "We should not think that if they say something loudly and repeat it, they are right."

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MANILA, Philippines - A strong earthquake jolted the central Philippines on Tuesday, killing at least one person, injuring dozens, and damaging houses, two buildings used for coronavirus quarantine, bridges and a port.

A three-story house collapsed in the coastal town of Cataingan as the ground shook. A retired police officer pinned in the debris died, and rescuers were looking for other members of his family who were missing. More than 40 people were injured by the quake in Masbate province, according to disaster response officials.

More than 100 people who were undergoing coronavirus quarantine in two damaged Cataingan government buildings were moved to school buildings to ensure their safety, the Office of Civil Defence said. The quake also damaged roads, bridges and a port.

People should avoid returning immediately to damaged structures, Rino Revalo, a Masbate provincial administrator, told the ABS-CBN network.

The 6.6 magnitude quake hit about 5 kilometres (3 miles) from Cataingan at a depth of about 21 kilometres (13 miles), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

Cataingan resident Isagani Libatan said he was on his way to his aunts house for breakfast when his motorcycle suddenly swerved as the ground heaved.

I thought it was my tire but people suddenly streamed out in panic from swaying houses and then we lost power, Libatan said by telephone, pausing as he felt a fairly strong aftershock.

The earthquake was set off by a movement of the Philippine Fault, said Renato Solidum, who heads the government volcanology institute. It was felt in several provinces across the central Visayas region.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the worlds earthquakes occur. It is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year, making it one of the worlds most disaster-prone countries.

A magnitude 7.7 quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines in 1990.
They send flowers. They spend months chatting online. They share poems expressing their love.

For people forced to stay home during the pandemic, an online connection can offer solace and love. But federal officials warn of a more sinister presence lurking on social media: con artists seeking to defraud vulnerable victims by posing as romantic suitors.

Nearly 11,500 people in the U.S. reported this year they were victims of romance scams involving a total loss of $346 million, according to the FBI. This time last year, nearly 10,400 victims reported they were defrauded of $274 million. Data from the Federal Trade Commission also shows an increase in reported romance scams in the first half of this year.

Because scams often unfold over months or years, agents said it wasnt clear the rise in cases was connected to the pandemic. But FBI special agent Laura Brunstetter said theres no doubt the pandemic has created prime conditions for tricksters as people spend more time online to combat loneliness.

It's just the perfect environment, Brunstetter said.

Agents with the FBI Houston branch hosted a Tuesday afternoon Twitter forum to educate and encourage people to recognize and report romance scams. Questions from more than a dozen people suspicious about their own online encounters or curious about romance scams flowed in during the two-hour session.

Houston is a hot spot for such crimes, said Keith Houston, Harris County assistant district attorney. Roughly half of the financial cyber crimes he investigates are romance scams, the majority of which involve victims older than 50, he said.

With the current crisis in romance scams, the problem is people are home and theyre alone, and unfortunately thats a bad situation, Houston said.

The ploys typically involve a network of well-organized criminals, Brunstetter said. Often, the scam begins like a regular relationship with a message via social media that leads to continued conversations via text or email. The scammers pose as a romantic partner, sometimes for six months to a year, before asking for money that is supposedly for a sick child, an investment or a business venture.

Most people wouldn't give money away to a stranger that you just met, but after youve been talking to them for that long, it becomes easier to swallow, Brunstetter said.

Savvier scam artists have hired actors to meet with victims one time to build trust, she said.

In one recent case, a Houston woman in her 50s was defrauded of $2 million in a scheme that began in 2014, according to the FBI.

Two Nigerian men implicated in the case, Kunle Mutiu Amoo, 49, and Lanre Sunday Adeoba, 62, were sentenced to 36 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $86,500 in restitution by a federal judge on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to the FBI.

The woman, whose story is featured on the FBIs website, fell in love with a man online after they exchanged emails and phone calls about church and prayed and sang together. He claimed to be working in construction, and she wired him money for a project at his request.

Amoo and Adeoba posed as South African diplomats who needed the womans financial help to transport money on behalf of her so-called boyfriend, according to the FBI. They admitted they tried to defraud the woman of more than $500,000.

I not only invested money in this man but there is a big, huge piece of my heart that I invested in him, the victim told the FBI. Its not just the finances, its the emotional part, toobeing embarrassed, being ashamed, being humiliated.

Most of the fraudsters are foreign, Houston said, so the crimes fall outside the jurisdiction of the FBI or Harris County. Still, the district attorneys office charges local people recruited to participate in the multi-layered schemes by laundering money or opening illegal accounts.

People targeted as victims, too, can become involved in criminal activity both with and without their knowledge when they start receiving benefits.

Harris County prosecutors are drafting arrest warrants for a man who was warned by bank security officials that he was the victim of a romance scam, Houston said. The man refused to stop, however, and was involved in a theft of $300,000.

A bust in 2019 netted charges against nine local residents who acted as money mules or recruiters in a scheme funneling money to Nigeria under the guise of an airplane sale, Houston said.

Many of the scams go unreported due to the stigma or shame of falling victim to an emotionally and financially devastating scam, said Christina Garza, spokeswoman for the FBI Houston branch.

One woman was only convinced that she was being scammed when Houston showed her the website from which her apparent suitor had copy-and-pasted poems, he said.

Theyll send flowers, theyll invest a little bit of money, Houston said. Theyll make you think its real.

People should use common sense, be vigilant and look for red flags such as a person claiming to be overseas, making excuses to avoid meeting in person or acting too good to be true.

Anyone who suspects fraud should do their research on the potential scammer, ask lots of questions and conduct a reverse image search on Google to find out if the persons photo is linked to other fake accounts.

Online daters should stay on the platform for at least a month before moving conversations to private channels like WhatsApp, Houston recommended. Many dating and social media sites are able to detect scammers.

The FBI encouraged people to report romance scams online.

anna.bauman@chron.com
Tens of thousands of small businesses that received federal paycheck protection forgivable loans in the past few months can now apply for Louisiana Main Street program grants for the first time.

More than 70,000 businesses across Louisiana were approved for $7.3 billion through the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program this year and have been waiting in line for a chance at the state grant.

The first round of Main Street grants were available to small businesses that did not receive any federal support; now 21 days later the program has changed.

Business owners can apply for quick relief up to $5,000 for eligible small businesses that have received $1,000 or less in federal assistance. Or they can seek up to $15,000 for itemized expense reimbursement. Business owners who hire a certified public accountant or financial professional to fill out the application can apply for reimbursement up to $500 each.

The Main Street recovery program has more than 16,000 completed applications in the system and another 20,000 applications in the pipeline. Checks are expected to be mailed in mid-August.

"Many of them have already applied," said state Treasurer John Schroder. "Those who haven't applied should do so immediately."

There is a total of $275 million in the state program. About $40 million of that is set aside for minority-, veteran- and women-owned businesses during the first 60 days of the program.

Small business owners must have receipts for all the expenses they are seeking reimbursement for through the program. Rent, insurance, utilities, payroll, inventory replacement, teleworking equipment, sanitizers, cleaning supplies and equipment needed to set up social distancing are all eligible expenses. About the only thing that cant be claimed is lost revenue.

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Grants are available to all businesses that were domiciled in Louisiana as of March 1, have fewer than 50 employees, are at least 50% owned by a Louisiana resident, and filed state income taxes in 2018, 2019 or plan on filing in 2020.

Home-based businesses and franchisees are eligible, as are sole proprietorships, but the business must have a physical location that is open to customers and employees.

Business can apply at louisianamainstreet.com.

Main Street Recovery program gets nearly 9,000 applications in first week Nearly 9,000 businesses successfully submitted applications to the states Main Street Recovery Grant Program, which is providing reimbursemen

Need help applying for the $15,000 state business grant? Baton Rouge center to open soon A coalition of local officials, business leaders and lenders are briefly opening a center for small business owners to get help in person in B
In another profound way that the coronavirus pandemic has upended American life, the Democratic National Convention started Monday with no convening. Instead, Democrats opted for the first virtual convention as the party begins the formal process of nominating Joe Biden as its candidate for president.

Here are five takeaways from the first night.

TRUMPS DIVISIVENESS HAS UNITED DEMOCRATS

From former Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich to self-proclaimed democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, the first night of the convention showcased how wide the Democratic partys tent is  and, in contrast, how narrow a political space is occupied by its counterpart.

Integral to Bidens pitch is the idea that he can unite the country against President Donald Trump with a call to restore common decency. And the Democrats showed how people on either ends of the ideological spectrum are joining that effort. We can all see whats going on in our country today and all the questions that are facing us, and no one person or party has all the answers, Kasich said in his convention message. But what we do know is that we can do better than what weve been seeing today, for sure.

Also read: Biden will tell truth, trust science: Michelle Obama at Democratic convention

Sanders had a similar, if blunter, warning. My friends, I say to you, and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: The future of our democracy is at stake, the Vermont senator said. We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden. ... The price of failure is just too great to imagine.

That open-door approach for Democrats is an implicit contrast with Trump, who is notorious for slamming any Republican who publicly criticizes him and whose convention next week is not likely to feature as wide an ideological range. It makes it harder to agree on a governing platform besides Dont-Be-Trump. But Democrats are gambling on that being sufficient to win.

VIRTUAL ENTHUSIASM ISNT EASY

One of the most urgent questions heading into a virtual convention was whether the format could generate enthusiasm. The first impression, charitably, is that it remains a tall order.

Actress Eva Longoria emceed the nights programming, a combination of prerecorded and live material, from a studio. On one hand, Longorias video interactions with everyday Americans  a farmer, a student, a small business owner, among others  offered a better look at their lives than having them on a traditional convention stage in front of thousands of delegates.

Also read: Joe Biden offers full-throated support to India against China, Pakistan

But theres also something lost when the headliners  well-known politicians who are used to much different environs  cant feed off the crowd. You can take the same zinger against Trump or a wrenching personal biographical pitch about Biden, and it just wont land the same way when delivered straight to a camera.

Democrats are clearly aware that they also lost the camera shots that at a normal convention would capture the partys racial, ethnic and gender diversity  that much is assured by party rules on state delegations. They tried to make up for it from the start, with an invocation delivered in Spanish and English and a national anthem sung by children and adults from all over the country, representing a range of races and ethnicities.

Conventions have long been derided in some circles as infomercials. Now the evolution is complete.

DEMS PUSH CONTRAST WITH TRUMP ON RACE

Democrats showed out of the gate that they will continue to draw a sharp contrast with Trump and Republicans on the matter of racial justice  giving the issue emotional prominence on the opening night.

In the first half hour, Democrats showcased the family of George Floyd, the Black man whose killing by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25 spawned nationwide protests and intensified calls to address the nations history of systemic racism. One of Floyds brothers spoke about him and named a litany of other Black Americans killed by police, followed by a moment of silence.

Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., introduced the Floyd family from Black Lives Matter Plaza, the stretch of 16th Street in Washington leading up to the White House that was repainted and renamed in the wake of Floyds death.

Bowser compared the history of peaceful protest in the nations capital with Trump ordering Lafayette Square cleared with tearing agents so he could walk to a nearby church to be photographed with a Bible.

While we were peacefully protesting, Donald Trump was plotting, Bowser said. I knew if he did this to D.C., he would do it to your city or your town, and thats when I said enough.

Trump, meanwhile, confirmed two guests he has invited to participate at his convention next week: a white St. Louis couple who gained national headlines when they emerged from their house wielding weapons to confront protesters who were in their neighborhood.

BIDEN ALREADY A PRESENCE

In traditional conventions, the nominee is mentioned relentlessly from the podium but goes unseen until the closing night, with the rare exception of cameos.

But in a virtual convention, all the rules go out the window.

Biden was featured Monday in several video snippets and even appeared in a roundtable segment where he talked to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and others about racial justice issues, from voting rights to changing policing practices.

That may cut down speaking time for other Democrats in an already truncated convention. But it also increases the odds that Biden will get maximum exposure to voters who may pop in and out of the broadcast or online stream over four nights.

MICHELLE OBAMA A CLOSER

There are few people in politics in a highly polarized country that have the popularity of former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Four years ago, she used her Democratic National Convention speaking slot to highlight a slogan that didnt work, politically, for her party in 2016: When they go low, we go high!

This year, Obama had another task  to lend some of her golden glow to the less luminescent Biden.

I know Joe, she said in excerpts released from her prerecorded video. He is a fundamentally decent man, guided by faith.

And he listens, Obama added, a Biden campaign sign over her shoulder. He will tell the truth, and trust science.

Her remarks were more overtly political than her other speeches, and now the larger question for Biden may be the extent to which Obama campaigns for him in the fall.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump is muddying the facts about mail-in voting and vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris on the eve of the Democratic National Convention.

Asked to disclaim the racist conspiracy theory that Harris isn't eligible to serve in the White House because of her immigrant parents, Trump repeatedly demurred and said he knew little about it, even as the false rumors swirled on social media over the past week. Harris unquestionably meets the Constitution's requirements to be vice president. On Sunday, Trump's own White House chief of staff acknowledged her eligibility.

Trump also continued to blast mail-in voting as flawed and fraudulent while insisting that absentee mail ballots, especially in states like Florida that he must win in November, are quite fine and safe. There are little differences in security measures between the two.

His weekend claims capped a litany of distortion and falsehoods following Joe Biden's announcement of Harris as his running mate. He misrepresented Biden's position on taxes, persisted in minimizing the coronavirus threat and exaggerated his own record on the economy.

A look at the past week's rhetoric, also covering Social Security and more:

MAIL VOTING

TRUMP: Absentee is good; mail-in, universal is very, very bad. Theres no way theyre going to get it accurately.  news conference Saturday.

TRUMP: The honorable thing to do is drop the Mail-In Scam before it is too late! Absentee Ballots, like they have in Florida, are good!  tweet Saturday.

THE FACTS: He's making a false distinction. Mail-in ballots are cast in the same way as absentee mail ballots, with the same level of scrutiny such as signature verification in many states.

In more than 30 states and the District of Columbia, voters have a right to no excuse absentee voting. That means they can use mail-in ballots for any reason, regardless of whether a person is out of town or working. In Florida, the Legislature in 2016 voted to change the wording of such balloting from absentee to vote-by-mail to make clear a voter can cast such ballots if they wish.

Story continues

More broadly, voter fraud has proved exceedingly 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.

Only nine states currently have plans for universal mail-in voting, where ballots are sent automatically to registered voters. Five of those states relied on mail-in ballots even before the coronavirus pandemic raised concerns about voting in person.

Blasting mail-in voting, Trump in the past week said he may hold up funding for the U.S. Postal Service to impede those votes across the 50 states.

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.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Sunday on CNN's State of the Union that Trump had requested a Florida absentee mail ballot to vote in November.

___

ON BIDEN-HARRIS

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."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.

On Sunday, Meadows said he accepted that Harris is eligible to serve as vice president.

Sure, said Meadows, when asked on CNN whether he acknowledges the fact that she meets the constitutional requirements to be president or vice president. And I think the president spoke to this yesterday. This is not something that were going to pursue.

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. Only after mounting pressure during his 2016 campaign did Trump disavow the claims.

___

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 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.

___

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.

___

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: You cant compare it to 1917. That was incredible. That was  that was the worst ever by far. That was  you look at  they lost possibly 100 million people.  news conference Saturday.

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 on Aug. 10.

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.

___

NEW YORK VOTING

TRUMP: Ballots are defrauded.  news conference Saturday.

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.

___

EDITOR'S 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
It is a brave new world for Niagara Regional Transit with the launch of the brand new NRT OnDemand service for west Niagara.

We are pretty happy with the first day, said Rob Salewytsch, the transit systems planning co-ordinator. Launching a new service can be kind of challenging at the best of times  never mind in the middle of a global pandemic.

Things went pretty well. We had some technical issues early on. The mayor of Grimsby had a trip that was cancelled out of the system, but they did a second run in the afternoon, and everything was fine.

I took two trips myself in the morning and the afternoon. I waited for one minute and six minutes. I couldnt ask for anything better on Day 1, he said Monday.

The Region has partnered with a company called Via, which bills itself as the leader in public mobility solutions.

The goal of NRT OnDemand is to provide residents with an affordable, efficient and convenient public transit option in Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln, Wainfleet and Pelham.

The service provides connections to the transit hubs at the St. Catharines bus terminal, Welland bus terminal and Port Colborne city hall.

We have been working on this for over a year, Salewytsch said. There was a lot of time for questions and to work out the details. I was a little nervous, but we are pleased with Via.

They had technical staff at the ready, so if there were an issue, it would be handled quickly. I had a chance to meet some of the drivers, and they were excited.

Riders in Grimsby, Lincoln and Pelham can book a shared ride for trips within their municipality and intermunicipal trips.

Riders in Wainfleet and West Lincoln will be able to book a shared ride for intermunicipal trips, but not within their municipality.

Salewytsch said there will be opportunities to expand the service if it proves successful.

Connections to or from nearby transit hubs provide access to fixed-line transit options.

NRT OnDemand represents an opportunity for technology and public transit to expand access to efficient, convenient, and affordable mobility solutions without the need for a private vehicle, Via chief executive officer and co-founder Daniel Ramot said.

Ramot said the partnership demonstrates how flexible, digital solutions can create and extend public transit infrastructure to support rural communities.

The service is Vias second in Canada. Via is providing on-demand service in Sault Ste. Marie. The company also has about 100 partnerships in 20 countries.

There is a mobile app for NRT OnDemand. The service is also available by calling 289-302-2172 for riders without access to a smartphone.

Passengers select a pickup and drop-off location within the service zone and confirm their ride.

Once a ride is booked, Vias technology matches passengers headed in the same direction with 10 high-capacity vehicles. The technology directs passengers to a nearby corner, or virtual bus stop.

Because of the pandemic, riders are required to wear masks, and a partition separates them from the drivers.

Niagara Region Chairman Jim Bradley said the on-demand service is an excellent example of what happens when Niagara works together.

With the launch of NRT OnDemand, all Niagaras municipalities will now be connected through public transit, he said. This dynamic, new service will allow all residents of west Niagara to have the freedom to go where they want when they want using transit.

Pelham Mayor Marv Junkin lauded the partnership.

Connecting Pelham residents to other municipalities in west Niagara and throughout the region in a timely and efficient manner allows for greater access to places of employment, shopping or the pharmacy, Junkin said.

The service is available Monday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The fare for intermunicipal trips  including connections to St. Catharines, Welland and Port Colborne  is $6. The intramunicipal fares for riders in Grimsby, Lincoln and Pelham is $3.
The National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr. Sammy Awuku, has advised Ghanaians to remain vigilant so they do not fall for the lure and deception of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).



According to him, Ghanaians cannot continue to rely on the deception of the NDC especially when the partys flagbearer is one who has been in power before and could not transform the lives of citizens.



In apparent reference to the flagbearer of the NDC, former President John Mahama, Sammi Awuku reiterated that We believe that this is a candidate weve known over the years. We do not want to discuss much of what the NDC wants to do. But what we are interested in is that Ghanaians should not fall for the lies and deception.



For Awuku, Ghanaians are faced with the choice of President Akufo-Addo, who he said has delivered on all his promises, and former President Mahama who is a sweet talker and can deceive citizens if they let their guards down.



We face a choice on December 7. Basically we are confronted with a former President and a sitting President. One has delivered and kept his promise. One on the other hand has proven to be a smooth talker with a silver tongue , youll exchange your color TV with a black and white, counseled Mr Awuku in an exclusive.





He indicated that Ghanaians know the NDCs candidate, John Mahama very well and as such the NPP does not need to say much about him or the partys negative plans.



Sammi Awuku further indicated that it is better the NPP retains power to enable President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia move the country out of the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.



He said the country requires the rich leadership of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumias intellect when it comes economic matters to maneuver Ghana out of the hardships economists are predicting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



We believe Ghanaians stand at an advantageous position having Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the winsome pair of an experienced, solid, strong, courageous leader whose efforts are being complimented by that of an able Vice President, a renowned economist and a banker.





In a post COVID-19 Ghana, you will definitely need someone with some financial background to also compliment the effort of a strong and decisive leader, he said.











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.

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How Books and Buckets program in Long Beach aims to keep kids away from gang violence
Leaving Cert students will have to wait for at least week after their results come out if they want to know how their teachers assessed them.

And they will not be able to see their teachers estimated marks and the class-ranking they got unless they apply to appeal the result, the Department of Education has confirmed.

The results will be released on Monday, September 7, but the appeals applications process will not open until the following Monday, September 14.

The timeline also leaves any disappointed student in the dark for at least three days after the publication of CAO Round One college offers on Friday, September 11.

Read More

While the appeals system allows a student to see the teachers mark it does not allow them to challenge it.

The process is confined to ensuring that marks and ranking provided by the teachers were entered correctly and transmitted correctly to the Department of Educations national standardisation process.

There is growing concern about how the system of calculated grades will treat the 61,000 students who entered for the Leaving Cert this year in the wake of the fiasco in Britain and the North over A-Level results.

The system implemented in Ireland to assess students when the June exams were cancelled is broadly similar to what was introduced in the UK.

But widespread furore in the UK about the system for marking down teachers grades in the national standardisation processes forced a u-turn there and teachers grades have been restored.

As pressure mounted here on Education Minister Norma Foley, she has repeated assurances that the calculated grade system will treat students fairly and equitably.

She noted that calculated grades had been developed closely with all education partners with stakeholders arriving at an agreed solution.

Ms Foley said adequate time was given here for the detailed work needed to enable the calculation of grades and details of the process used will be published by the Calculated Grades Executive Office when the results are issued.

According to the minister, unlike the UK systems, the calculated grades office had collected individual estimated percentage marks, and not estimated grades, for students.

This, she said, gave the Irish system more granular data to use as a basis to calculate final grades.

One concern is the use of schools academic track records in the national standardisation process will disadvantage high-attaining students in certain schools.

Ms Foley said strong measures have been put in place to identify and reward exceptional students from schools that typically in the past would have performed at average or below average levels.

There is no evidence in the public domain of similar processes being used across the UK, she said

Ms Foley said another key difference between the Irish system and those used in the UK is that the process in Ireland is being overseen by an independent panel of international and domestic experts, rather than being conducted solely by an agency of the state.
On opening night of their awkward but stirring virtual convention, Democrats prioritized racial justice along with the pandemic and the recession.

Why it matters: On issues, Joe Biden's widest margin over President Trump in a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll is race relations  a 24 point spread.

But Democrats have to show Black voters that they're listening, fighting, and making room for their voices in the party.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser invoked her 2-year-old daughter as she overlooked the new Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House.

George Floyd's brothers, Philonise and Rodney Floyd, led a moment of silence early in the two-hour show.

Between the lines: The Biden campaign included nods to white male Democrats, and to Republicans who might cross over.

But the focus was even more on appeals to progressives, women and people of color who didn't bother to vote in 2016.

Trump's handling of the virus animated the night's top zinger  from Kristin Urquiza, who wrote a viral obituary for her father, Mark Urquiza of Arizona:

"My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump  and for that he paid with his life."

was a healthy 65-year-old. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump  and for that he paid with his life." Video.

Michelle Obama owned the night, and used a line from President Trumps "Axios on HBO" interview as a rapier: "[H]e is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is."

'Those five words  down from her seven-word catchphrase at the 2016 convention, "When they go low, we go high"  have become a cultural shorthand for Trump's handling of the virus.

 down from her seven-word catchphrase at the 2016 convention, "When they go low, we go high"  have become a cultural shorthand for Trump's handling of the virus. Video.

The former first lady encouraged viewers to "request mail-in ballots tonight," and urged them to be prepared for chaos at polls:

"We've got to grab our comfortable shoes, put on a mask, pack a brown bag dinner and maybe breakfast, too, because we have to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to."

Timekeepers at the N.Y. Times (subscription) say Michelle Obama had the most time (18.4 minutes), followed by host Eva Longoria (12.5 minutes) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (8.4 minutes).
Three major councils are backing a campaign to end sexual harassment against women in Northern Ireland.

Belfast City Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and Ards and North Down Borough Council are supporting a motion by the Raise Your Voice Project to consider misogyny as a hate crime.

A public awareness poster campaign in these councils facilities will highlight sexual harassment and sexual violence.

The authorities will ask Judge Desmond Marrinan to classify misogyny as a hate crime as part of his independent review of hate crime laws in Northern Ireland.

Karen Sweeney from the Womens Support Network and Raise Your Voice said: We would like to pay tribute to Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh and Ards and North Down councils for recognising misogyny as an issue that affects the lives of women, girls and non-binary people across Northern Ireland.

They are leading the way for safer communities. We will be urging other councils to support our campaign to make misogyny a hate crime.
The digital divide

We could have been years ahead

(TNS)  Five months ago, Dr. Jessica McColley was scrambling to find creative ways to care for her patients.COVID-19 forced people out of waiting rooms. People still needed care. Chronic health conditions didnt just go away McColley, then lead clinician at Riverside Health Center in Belle, and her team began driving to patients homes for appointments. Telehealth, or virtual care, couldnt reach most of Riversides patients.The Cabin Creek Health System, with care centers across Kanawha County, including Riverside, conducted 829 virtual care visits during the first week of April. Just 22 were done via video chat. The rest were by telephone.Telemedicine has proved effective during the pandemic, keeping people with chronic health conditions away from crowds and allowing more one-on-one time between patients and caregivers, according to health professionals.Once [the pandemic] is all said and done, telemedicine is here to stay. Theres no two questions about it, said Dr. Kishore Challa, president of the West Virginia Board of Medicine.But West Virginia has a connectivity problem.Without sufficient internet access, drastic health disparities will widen between the states most impoverished and vulnerable communities and wealthier places, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, West Virginias chief health officer from 2015 to 2018.Telephone visits only go so far, McColley said, who was recently promoted to chief medical officer of Cabin Creek Health Systems.Even if it is over video or Zoom, them being able to see my face ... and me being able to look them in the eyes and know that theyre OK, or know that theyre not OK, she said. I think its easier being able to hide stuff on the phone definitely than it is on the video.Its not just telehealth that requires sufficient broadband. The success of West Virginias children is directly dependent on internet access, Gupta said.If theres one investment that needs to happen immediately, it is in broadband, to ensure that this does not become a basic fundamental rights issue  its as important as the air we breathe, Gupta said. In a time where we cannot remain connected any other way, being online is very important.If we dont, then were already creating the divide to begin with.West Virginia was the reason telehealth requirements needed to be loosened nationwide early in the pandemic.In March, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expanded telehealth access to keep elderly patients in their homes. But Challa and state health officials and professionals immediately raised concerns because the expanded service required both audio and video communication between caregivers and patients.Challa urged Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma to waive the requirements because of the digital divide in West Virginia, and then worked with Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., to make it happen.The next problem: Medicare did not reimburse audio telehealth visits at the same rate as video visits.Had that also not been changed , doctors offices in West Virginia, especially in rural areas without broadband, would have closed, Challa said.These fixes expire once the national state of emergency ends. Telehealth is here to stay, Challa said, but those who need it most are more likely to live in a community without sufficient broadband.[Internet access] is essential, he said. It is the backbone of telemedicine.The Kanawha Valleys digital divide is quantifiable, McColley said. About 70% of patients at Cabin Creeks Kanawha City facility have utilized telemedicine during the pandemic compared to 11% at the Clendenin Health Center.The Clendenin facility serves communities in Clay and Roane counties as well as eastern and northern Kanawha County.Vaccinations, cancer screenings and well-child visits still must be done in-person, McColley said, but almost all of Cabin Creeks behavioral health screenings, or mental health treatments, are conducted virtually.Communities without sufficient broadband show the highest rates of people with chronic health conditions.McColley said those places are often home to the worst mental health conditions.Thats our most vulnerable population, I would say, and it is because they have little to no access [to mental health treatment] or its because they have little to no resources, she said. Ensuring that we have these broadband abilities to have telehealth services  internet, video  in those remote places, it should be the most important [goal], because we also see in those remote places some of the highest incidences of mental health disorders.Challa is advocating for permanent changes to Medicare and Medicaid access and billing. Low-income Medicaid patients lack the same access to telehealth as Medicare patients 65 or older.Essentially, Medicaid patients are going to the emergency room. Theyre going to [doctors] offices rather than on the phone and its been a big problem for everybody, he said. These are the most vulnerable patients  their socioeconomic status is not good.In the meantime, Challa, a cardiologist practicing in South Charleston, has implemented telemedicine procedures to ensure patients and doctors dont fall into bad habits.In our office, we made a policy that once a patient gets virtual care once, the next time it has to be a physical appointment  unless its just a follow-up or minor Hey how you doing? kind of thing, he said. Otherwise the doctor will never see the patient or the patient will never see the doctor.McColley predicts a similar hybrid model for telehealth and in-person visits with screenings and tests at facilities and subsequent check-ins and prescription refills done virtually.In 2007, eight state senators co-sponsored a broadband expansion bill. Its premise, lead sponsor Sen. John Unger II, D-Berkeley, said, was to get internet access to every municipality and rural area in West Virginia by 2010.Under the bill, if the state couldnt get private corporations to invest in expanding broadband, then West Virginia could enter into a public-private partnership to get it done. If private companies werent interested, then municipalities and counties could do it themselves.The bill passed both chambers before Manchin, then governor, vetoed it.We could have been years ahead with all this and we werent, said Unger, chairman of the state Senate Public Health Caucus.Theres a strong and long-standing correlation between high poverty rates, low educational attainment and lack of higher-wage jobs and communities without sufficient internet access, Unger said.They cant attract businesses because of the lack of it  Theyre not able to maximize opportunities with their educational system because of the lack of it, he said.Unger took issue with Gov. Jim Justices plan to use $100 million in federal CARES Act money to pave roads. Justice eventually moved $50 million to broadband expansion. Unger said West Virginia should stop laying asphalt and start laying broadband fiber.I mean even the most creative thinking is a real stretch of how building a road helps with COVID-19, he said. What we really need to be doing is looking at a whole new normal, and that new normal is going to be that were going to have to enhance our connectivity, our broadband, and make sure theres no digital divide.
Due to the coronavirus crisis, schools in many countries closed, including IGCSE schools, causing Cambridge to announce banning students in more than 150 countries through over 4,800 schools from sitting exams

Egyptian students enrolled in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) system, developed and managed by the UKs University of Cambridge, have taken to social media platforms to express their rage over the downgrading of results by the UK exam boards, experienced by almost half of IGCSE students worldwide, according to Cambridge Assessment International Education.

This year, students in Egypt of equivalent degrees, mainly the national system of the Thanaweya Amma, started the first phase of registration for universities, filling out forms of colleges of their desire in which they are accepted based on their scores. Meanwhile, many IGCSE students are still considering whether to appeal their grades before they apply for university.

Students worldwide were shocked when they received grades lower than those proposed by their teachers in each subject. Due to the coronavirus crisis, schools in many countries closed, including IGCSE schools, causing Cambridge to announce banning students in more than 150 countries through over 4,800 schools from sitting exams.

We have taken the difficult decision not to run our international examinations in the May/June 2020 series in any country, Cambridge International wrote on its official website, including other programmes, such as International AS & A Level and Cambridge O Level.

In Egypt, students on social media argued that they received lower grades than those expected by their teachers, adding that their grades were even inconsistent with those of other mates, which would obstruct them from entering the colleges they want.

Head of the 118-year-old Cairo University in Greater Cairos Giza governorate Mohamed El-Khosht sided with the IGCSE students, critcising the unfair Cambridge policies that he said booted the students' efforts.

He described the IGCSE as one of the most successful programmes in the world but that the Cambridge policies this year have violated the British traditions in education, which are known for being fair.

Cambridge has to rethink its decision and the British government has to review the Cambridge policies in terms of arbitrary assessment, El-Khosht wrote on Facebook.

So what happened this year?

Teachers in IGCSE centres worldwide were asked to send predicted grades; these are the grades assessed by teachers and approved by heads of departments for each student, based on the results of the exams and other assignments and tests over the course of each of the three years included in the programme, starting from year 10. Teachers also hand a rank order, simply by putting each group of students in numbers starting from 1, according to activity and performance over the year, which means that 1 is the most secure from being downgraded, and 2 is less secure, and so on.

Exam boards received the teachers predictions for each student and, as usual, was set to conduct the final step, known as the standardisation process; this is when Cambridge International awards grades through combining data from the school with other data," including historical school performance data, says Cambridge International.

This means centre-assessed marks can be different from the final grade awarded by Cambridge.

This year, Cambridge International wrote on its website that the grades of less than half of IGCSE students worldwide were changed from predicted marks by their teachers in each subject, most of them to a lower grade, while the rest had their grades untouched.

Justifying the action, Cambridge International said on 11 August Predicted grades for June 2020 were higher than historical school performance data for the last three years, which is understandable, as teachers want to see their students succeed.

Ahram Online talked to Hania Khalil, a mother of a student in year 10 whose grades were dramatically downgraded. She expressed deep disappointment as only two of the students in her sons class, which comprises between 20 to 30 students, received grades similar to the predicted marks.

Khalil says her son was predicted to receive B* in Chemistry, but he was then downgraded by the exam board to E. He also had his grades in Information Technology downgraded from A* to B*, meaning that some of the students had their marks degraded by even more than a level.

The difference between A* and A, for example, is not as slight as it looks. A* means 100 percent and A means 95 percent. Accordingly, students getting an A will not be able to join many colleges, especially in the medical sector, known to be fiercely competitive in Egypt.

Khalil said she went to her sons school and talked to the manager and found that the latter already sent appeal emails to the British Council in Egypt and a senior official in Cambridge. The manager told Khalil that appeals can only be considered in case all students submit them. Khalil said many students will not sign the petition because they got fair marks.

The one solution left is to pay 50 percent of the course's cost to retake an exam, she added.

In an interview with Akher El-Nahar TV programme on El-Nahar channel, El-Khosht confirmed that he spoke with an official at the British Council who also said students can retake exams for half their cost.

Cambridge Internationals stance on appeals this summer seems unclear so far.

On its official website, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), which is in charge of regulating qualifications, examinations and assessments in England, reviewed the normal appealing mechanism, including marked assessment material, moderation process, marking error, as well as assessment material marked by the IGCSE centres.

However, it then said, in a report published by the Assets Publishing Service in April, that these normal procedures cannot be carried out this year, as there will be no assessment material marked or moderated by the exam board and no criteria against which to determine whether an error has occurred.

Ofqual says students think their grades do not reflect their performance in an exam as they will have the chance to sit exams in Autumn or the following Summer.

Khalil says she feels sorry for those in Grade 12, the last year of the programme before college, because they do not have the opportunity to retake exams.

She noted that, when Cambridge decided to cancel exams, online exams were conducted by schools and centres and they were monitored by cameras. Moreover, each student over the course of the year has undergone 1,500 exam papers in each subject, in addition to mock exams and quizzes, to offer the exam boards sufficient data on each student.

They demanded certain standards but then they ditched them, she added.

She also referred to the move made by Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who decided last week to allow students whose results were downgraded to use the grades predicted by their centres.

Amid public anger worldwide, Cambridge International wrote that it had been listening to the feedback by IGCSE students and schools and is trying to carefully find appropriate response to the feedback that would, also, make sure schools, universities and employers continue to trust our qualifications.

It pledged to announce the actions it will take on Tuesday, 18 August.

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The Obama administration quietly blessed the shipments to Libya of machine guns, automatic rifles, mortars and ammunition, but American officials later grew concerned as evidence grew that Qatar was giving the weapons to Islamic militants there.

American and Arab officials have expressed worry about something similar happening in Syria, where Islamists in the north have turned into the most capable section of the opposition, in part because of the weapons from Qatar. Saudi Arabia recently has tried to wrest control from Qatar and take a greater role in managing the weapons shipments to Syrian rebels, but officials and outside experts said the Qatari shipments continue. The greatest worry is over the shoulder-fired missiles  called man-portable air-defense systems  that Qatar has sent to Syria since the beginning of the year. Videos posted online show rebels in Syria with the weapons, including the Chinese FN-6 models provided by Qatar, and occasionally using them in battle.

The first videos surfaced in February and showed rebels wielding the Chinese missiles, which had not been seen in the conflict previously and were not known to be in Syrian government possession. .

Western officials and rebels alike say these missiles were provided by Qatar, which bought them from an unknown seller and brought them to Turkey. The shipment was at least the second antiaircraft transfer under the Qataris hand, they said. A previous shipment of Eastern bloc missiles had come from former Qaddafi stockpiles.

The shipments were small, the Western officials and rebels said, amounting to no more than a few dozen missiles. And rebels said the Chinese shipments have been plagued with technical problems, and sometimes fail to fire. The first FN-6s were seen in the custody of groups under the Free Syrian Army banner, suggesting that they were being distributed, at least initially, to fighters backed by the United States and not directly to extremists or groups with ties to Al Qaeda.

American and Arab officials said that Qatars strategy was a mixture of ideology  the ruling familys belief in a prominent role for Islam in political life  and more hard-nosed calculations.

They like to back winners, one Middle Eastern official said.

In meetings with Mr. Obama, the leaders of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have expressed a host of grievances about the Qatari shipments and have complained that Qatar is pursuing a reckless strategy.
In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what's on the radar of our editors for the morning of Aug. 18 ...

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what's on the radar of our editors for the morning of Aug. 18 ...

What we are watching in Canada ...

Minister of Finance Bill Morneau leaves after walking into the room before staff were ready, ahead of a news conference where he is expected to announce his resignation, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

The only finance minister to serve under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suddenly resigned Monday night, saying someone else should guide the country through a long and bumpy economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bill Morneau said he had considered leaving his role as finance minister for some time, adding that he never intended to run for a third term as an MP.

The path to an economic recovery could take years to play out, and Morneau said the government needed a finance minister who wanted to stick around for the long haul.

During a hastily called news conference on Parliament Hill, Morneau said he had tendered his resignation to Trudeau in the morning, and that he was also stepping down as the Liberal MP for his riding of Toronto Centre.

"It's really important for someone to want to be in this political role for the next period of time and that period of time will be very challenging," he said Monday evening. "So that is what I'm sure the prime minister is reflecting on as he thinks about the next finance minister."

Morneau said he is putting his name forward as a candidate to be the next secretary general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

---

Also this ...

With only weeks until classes resume, a new survey suggests the majority of Canadian parents plan to send their kids back to school but most would want classes cancelled if there is a new COVID-19 outbreak in their community.

The survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies is the latest to take parents' temperature as provinces prepare to reopen schools after sending children home this spring when the pandemic arrived.

The results suggest many parents are torn, with 66 per cent of respondents with children admitting they were worried about children returning to school but 63 per cent saying they planned to send their kids anyway.

Yet 69 per cent also felt all classes should be suspended and learning shifted back to home if there is a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in their community, with 19 per cent saying classes should continue and 12 per cent unsure either way.

The online survey of 1,510 Canadians over age 18, including 385 parents with school-aged children in their households, took place Aug. 14-16. An internet poll cannot be given a margin of error because it is not a random sample.

The results underscore the nervousness and sensitivities around the planned reopening of school, says Leger president Jean-Marc Leger, with many parents supporting the return of classes but ready to shut it down again at the drop of a hat.

---

What we are watching in the U.S. ...

Joe Biden introduced the breadth of his coalition to a divided America on Monday night, progressive Democrats joining conservative Republicans and a billionaire CEO to deliver an urgent appeal for voters to unite against President Donald Trump regardless of political ideology or party.

Former first lady Michelle Obama vouched for Biden's empathy and experience, while the extraordinary ideological range of Biden's many messengers on the opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention was perhaps best demonstrated by former presidential contenders from opposing parties: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist who championed a multi-trillion-dollar universal health care plan, and Ohio's former Republican Gov. John Kasich, an anti-abortion conservative who spent decades fighting to cut government spending.

"My friends, I say to you, and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake," Sanders declared.

Kasich said his status as a lifelong Republican "holds second place to my responsibility to my country."

"In normal times, something like this would probably never happen, but these are not normal times," he said of his participation at the Democrats' convention. He added: "We can do better than what we've been seeing today, for sure."

---

What we are watching in the world ...

For two and a half minutes the popular Indian radio DJ described in graphic detail what she said was the torture and killing of a father and son in police custody.

The father was arrested for flouting coronavirus lockdown rules by keeping his mobile phone shop in southern India open past curfew, Suchitra Ramadurai alleged in a video posted to her Instagram. The man's son went to check on him at the police station and both were beaten so badly they were still bleeding when they appeared before a judge the next day.

Three days later, on June 23, they were both dead.

"Please share this story," Ramadurai told her followers. "Let's fight the system."

The video, which was viewed 20 million times before police ordered Ramadurai to take it down, sparked an extraordinary groundswell of public outrage at the deaths with local opposition politicians marching in the streets, Bollywood stars voicing their condemnations and television stations holding hourslong debates on police brutality.

Even more rare, 10 police officers were arrested in a federal investigation and charged with murder.

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On this day in 1954 ...

The top architectural award at Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan, was given to the Canadian pavilion, designed by Arthur Erickson of Vancouver.

---

ICYMI (In case you missed it) ...

Village Brewery, which describes its blond ale as crisp, dry and slightly fruity, is looking to persuade beer lovers that a new batch made from reused wastewater tastes just as good.

The Calgary beer-maker has teamed up with University of Calgary researchers and U.S. water technology company Xylem Inc. to brew up a limited 1,600-can batch.

The goal was to show that dirty water  even that flushed from toilets in a major city  can be made safe to drink while helping conserve the globe's dwindling potable water supply.

"Certainly we do expect some eyebrows raised and the yuck factor is real," said Christine O'Grady, project co-ordinator at Advancing Canadian Wastewater Assets, or ACWA.

"Part of this project ... is to start the conversation about how this can be done, why it should be done and that water is a resource that we need to protect."

ACWA is a research partnership between the University of Calgary and the City of Calgary that involves the Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility by the Bow River in the city's southeast.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2020
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is clamping down on pet dogs in Pyongyang, per local reports.

South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo cited an anonymous source who said that Kim criticized pet ownership as "a 'tainted' trend by bourgeois ideology."

The source described "resentment" among the lower classes because they raise pigs and livestock, while the country's officials and wealthier populace own dogs.

The animals are being put down, sent to zoos or sold to restaurants where dog meat is eaten, the source said, according to Chosun Ilbo.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, is cracking down on pet ownership in the capital city of Pyongyang, according to local reports.

Decrying it as a Western "decadence" and "a 'tainted' trend by bourgeois ideology," Kim in July ordered that dogs be confiscated, an unnamed source told South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.

"Ordinary people raise pigs and livestock on their porches, but high-ranking officials and the wealthy own pet dogs, which stoked some resentment," the source said.

Per Chosun Ilbo, the source added that "authorities have identified households with pet dogs and are forcing them to give them up or forcefully confiscating them and putting them down.''

The dogs are also being sent to zoos or sold to restaurants where dog meat is eaten, the source told Chosun Ilbo, noting that pet owners are "cursing Kim Jong Un behind his back."

This move comes as the famously secretive country reels from a food shortage and floods.

Meanwhile, its leaders are sticking to the national narrative that they haven't been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which has sickened nearly 22 million people and killed at least 775,000 people worldwide. It claimed to have one case in July  a North Korean defector who fled to South Korea and then swam back after becoming the subject of a sexual assault investigation. However, experts doubt that the Hermit Kingdom has remained unscathed by the disease, particularly amid South Korean media reports that almost 200 soldiers died of the coronavirus while several thousand more were quarantined to curb the infection's spread.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The new Minister of Health, Constantino Chiwenga is yet to meet doctors and nurses to address the challenges plaguing the country's public health system.



The Zimbabwe Nurses Association said that there had been no attempt to address workers' demands as yet through formal engagement.





Chiwenga opted to take over the Health and Child Care portfolio following differences with President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the sacked Obadiah Moyo's successor, it has emerged.





Mnangagwa last week announced that he had appointed Chiwenga the new Health minister, sparking speculation on the motives behind the surprise move that has been described as unconstitutional by some legal experts.





Lawyers say a VP is not allowed to double up as a minister in terms of the constitution.





Insiders told The Standard that Chiwenga wanted Health and Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro, who is his personal doctor, to take over the ministry, but Mnangagwa did not agree.





After the haggling, the VP is said to have volunteered to take over the portfolio.





Chiwenga is said be among a section in government that were said to be unhappy with the scandals that have rocked the Health ministry related to the procurement of medical equipment to fight Covid-19.





Moyo is on $50 000 bail over abuse of office charges after he was accused of single-handedly awarding a tender to Delish Nguwaya, a close friend of Mnangagwa's children.





Nguwaya was arrested over a US$60 million drugs procurement scandal.





He was also freed on $50 000 bail by High Court judge, Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, who said the businessman cannot be blamedfor approvals made by government officials. He was also freed on $50 000 bail by High Court judge, Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, who said the businessman cannot be blamedfor approvals made by government officials.





According to sources, Chiwenga pushed for Moyo's sacking following his arrest.





Chiwenga, according to sources, feels the corruption in the Health ministry will dent the party's performance in the 2023 general elections.





Mnangagwa also appointed Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza as Health permanent secretary, replacing Agnes Mahomva, who was moved to the new position of chief coordinator for the country's response to Covid-19 in May.





"Chiwenga's first task is to get doctors and nurses back to work and I am sure he is going to do that this coming week," a well-placed source said.





"He will try to make things work in the Health ministry and all hospitals to function and save lives, reinventing his legacy in the process."





It was, however, not immediately clear how Chiwenga would get the health workers back at work, but the source said negotiations for government to pay them United States dollar-based salaries were already in progress.





Mnangagwa's spokesperson George Charamba refused to comment on Chiwenga's appointment, saying: "I am too serious for those kind of conversations."





A fortnight ago there were reports that Mnangagwa and Chiwenga clashed over an alleged plot against the president in the ruling Zanu-PF.





Some of Chiwenga's loyalists were accused of being involved in the organisation of the July 31 protests and this led to the suspension of politburo member Cleveria Chizema after posters publicising the demonstrations were allegedly found in her house.





Chizema has denied being involved in the plot and says she suspects the posters were planted by her enemies in the party. Standard




A two-day stand of Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes was held on Sunday and Monday at Arden Downs, as it was known when it was a stop on the Grand Circuit; now it is generally known at the Washington County Fair, literally just down the road from The Meadows.

The freshmen started off the action Sunday, and as has been the case as of late, the co-owning team of trainer Mitchell York and driver David Brickell swept the A two-year-old pacing filly action. First up was the Betting LineLazan Hanover miss Lazy Day Hanover, now one off the North American victory lead for freshmen after winning her seventh race in seven fair starts in 2:04.4; then came the A Rocknroll DanceTiamo distaff Tiamogonedancen, already a double track record setter at the fairs, and now undefeated in four fair contests after a 2:02.3 win.

That time tied her for fastest freshman at Washington with the ArtspeakTriplet Hanover colt Terry A Hanover, trained and driven by Todd Schadel for owners Christine Schadel and Caitlin Solt.

Todd Schadel also set a PA fair seasons record when the Bar HoppingChiptomytlou gelding Top Me Off made his fair bow a winning one in 2:05.1 for himself, his wife Christine, and Rick and Regina Beinhauer. In all, Todd drove five freshman winners and trained four.

On Monday, trainer Roger Hammer swept the A colt events, although he drove only the trotter, the Possess The Will gelding No Name Yankee, who won in 2:04.1, also fastest trot of the meet. In the two divisions for pacers, Chris Shaw guided the Artspeak gelding Bipbopnallie, undefeated in four fair starts, in 2:01.3, with Roger finishing right behind with Lifes Marvalous, and then Hammers lieutenant Branden Smith built on four B level wins with the A Rocknroll Dance gelding Caffeine Buzz to win this A contest in 2:04.

Driver Eric Neal swept the three-year-old pacing filly A races, including posting the fastest time of the Washington meet, 2:01.1, with the Sweet Lou filly Loudoo Princess, winner of three straight for trainer Sharon Donella, also co-owner with Kathleen Quinn-Hodel and Virginia Trump. Eric also was victorious with the Well Said filly Summer Gig in 2:04.1 for trainer/father Randal and Neal Racing Stable LLC.

Todd Schadels five driving wins made him top Washington driver and gives him 41 on the fair circuit; he and Roger Hammer each trained four winners to tie in that bracket, and Schadels circuit-high total there is now at 39.

The return of racing to the Somerset County Fair in Meyersdale PA, with two-year-old PA Fair Sire Stakes racing set for Thursday at 2 p.m. and three-year-old contests on Friday at noon, is a special event, since it has been at least 60 years since harness racing was held at the southwest Pennsylvania twice around, according to Sam Beegle, president of the PHHA and a single-digit youth when the racing ended.

I married the daughter of one of the regulars there  George Heit, Jr., Beegle recalls. Other horsemen who competed there were Clay Hammer (Rogers father); the Burtnett brothers, Al and Tom; and Al Washington. We have a picture of George wearing a soft cap racing at the fair. (The Caliente hard-shell helmet started replacing the soft caps in the years approaching 1960, and no one in southwestern Pennsylvania would be surprised to know that Delvin Miller got a prototype hard helmet from the Pittsburgh Steelers and then lobbied racing management for their acceptance.)

Clay Hammer was the winner of five national UDR titles  and his son Roger has won eight to tie Stanley Dancer as the biggest earners of percentage crowns. Roger is expected to be at racing at the Somerset fair.

No one associated with the fair knows exactly the year or the circumstances when racing ended  although research notes that the fair itself was originally started by the Meyersdale Harness Racing Association. Racing there certainly goes back a long ways  on the Internet, in an old Horse Review, you can find a condition sheet for the 1905 meeting!

(MSOA / PFHHA / PHHA)
LOS ANGELESIn December of 2018, the social media platform Tumblr, which had previously been a haven for adult content and sexual expression, announced it would ban all porn from its site. Last year, rumors swept the internet claiming that Twitter, another major media platform, would soon follow suit.

But a new analysis by TechNadu columnist and online threat expert, Bill Toulas, claims that Twitter may, in fact, go in the opposite direction  embracing adult content and even allowing adult performers to make money off of their Twitter posts.

Twitter hosts thousands of porn performer accounts, and while some performers use the platform primarily to communicate with fans and post announcements of upcoming events, many also provide samples of their work, posting explicit video and imagery.

Under current Twitter policy, such explicit posts are permissible as long as the subjects of the images appear with their consent, and the posts are marked as sensitive, which shields the post from the view of Twitter users who choose not to see them.

As Toulas noted in his TechNadu analysis, Tumblr appears to be gradually slipping to obsolescence after banning adult content. Indeed, Tumblrs parent company, Verizon, sold the platform at a reported loss of $1 billion just eight months after the porn ban  though buyers Automatic Inc., owners of the popular online publishing platform WordPress, said that it would keep the porn ban in place.

Twitter wouldnt want to take that chance right now, Toulas wrote. On the contrary, they may move in the opposite direction by embracing performers and letting them monetize their social media followings.

Another recent analysis, however, saw the Twitter situation in a more dire light. While the platform appears to have no current plans to ban porn, wrote Mashable reporter Mark Hay last week, many social media and adult industry experts still believe those working in the porn industry have good reason to fear an eventual Twitter porn-pocalypse.

New privacy laws in California as well as the European Union may be driving Twitter toward a crackdown on porn, according to Hay. The 2018 FOSTA/SESTA law, which holds platforms legally liable for content that could be construed as sex trafficking  even if the platforms did not know about that content  has also made online adult content a riskier business.

Whatever path Twitter opts for, it will undoubtedly send ripples across the adult content industry, Toulas wrote. Banning porn will be a catastrophe for minority sexually-orientated communities that could be lined up next in the moderation pipeline.

Photo By Thomas Ulrich / Pixabay
With Tesla announcing plans to build a manufacturing plant in Central Texas  and with the possibility of the company headquarters arriving as well  many in this state are rejoicing. Not me.

Tesla is the worst. And Elon Musk, Teslas founder and CEO? Hes awful, too. My hatred for both the company and the CEO burns inside me with the heat of 10,000 SpaceX rocket launches.

My reasons for this rage range from the profound to the petty. Ill list them in that order. Tesla, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways.

Reason 1: public giveaways for private companies. Del Valle ISD offered $46.4 million in tax breaks for the privilege of hosting Teslas new manufacturing facility in its neighborhood. Travis County commissioners approved other goodies, for a total package worth $60 million. Will the states Texas Enterprise Fund be far behind in offering a public subsidy for private enterprise?

In return, Tesla plans to employ 5,000 workers, with starting wages of $35,000 per year. In other words, poverty wages for a family of six.

And Gov. Greg Abbott and other Texas leaders celebrated?

See, its already obvious Tesla moved here precisely because it could pay its workers $35,000 a year! We shouldnt have to pay Tesla an additional $60 million in public subsidies for the thing it already planned to do.

And why does a CEO with an estimated net worth of $70 billion demand to take money from Texas public school kids for his companys bottom line? Because he can. Because there is no shame anymore in late-stage capitalism as practiced by Elon Musk.

Thanks, Mr. Musk! Please, sir, may I have another?

Reason 2: electric vehicle subsidies. A debate rages over whether Tesla is profitable over the past year or is still losing money. What is not debatable is that the only way the firm can report a profit is because, for regulatory reasons, other auto manufacturers are forced to purchase regulatory credits from Tesla. Because other companies do not produce enough electric cars, according to federal regulations.

Tesla booked $782 million in payments from traditional automakers in the first half of the year. Tesla reported a profit of $16 million in the first quarter and $104 million in the second, meaning it would show a loss without the regulatory credits forcibly paid by its competitors.

Teslas entire business model to date has been built on government subsidies. From the $1.2 billion to build a battery plant in Reno to the $7,500 EV car purchaser credits  which mercifully have now been phased out for Tesla. Without them, the company never would have been profitable. Can we stop publicly subsidizing a $270 billion market cap company, please? Again, something about capitalism is broken here.

Reason 3: accounting shenanigans. David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital wrote a scathing analysis of Teslas accounting practices in his Aug. 4 quarterly investment letter.

All but accusing the firm, and Musk, of fraud, Einhorn wrote: We question whether TSLAs accounting, which does not appear to correspond to the creation of regulatory credits through auto sales, transfers of those credits to a counterparty nor payment for those credits, conforms to GAAP accounting.

Einhorns bottom line is that he thinks Tesla is cheating in order to show a technical profit for four quarters in a row, which would allow the firm to be included in the S&P 500 index. Through what appears to be sheer abuse of the accounting rules, Einhorn wrote, TSLA has now contrived reported profits to make it technically eligible (for S&P 500 inclusion).

Einhorn went on to predict Teslas future crash  along the same lines as the catastrophic fraud of WireCard, or WDI, following its recent inclusion in the German stock exchange, or DAX. As with WDI and the DAX, we expect the TSLA parabola to end around the speculated inclusion in the prestigious S&P 500 Index.

Reason 4: stock valuation. Ive made exactly one forward-looking market call on an individual stock in my six years of writing a newspaper column. I wrote about Tesla in 2015 as a company that Im reasonably certain will be dead in five years, despite its $25 billion market cap.

Ha, ha. The jokes on me because I revisited that call in January to point out that its growth to a $100 billion market cap was even more ridiculous.

A mere half-year later, the stock switched into ludicrous mode. The company is now valued at $270 billion. Keep in mind this nearly tripling in value happened amid a global recession and pandemic. The lesson, as always: I am an idiot. I burn with special hatred for Tesla specifically for making a mockery of my considerable investment skills and business acumen.

Reason 5: tweets. Musk uses Twitter all day long for lying, bullying, distracting and salesmanship.

When criticized for his PR stunt regarding kids stuck in a cave in Thailand in 2018, Musk replied to the critic over Twitter with unsubstantiated slander: Sorry pedo guy you really did ask for it.

In the face of critics who pointed out the precarious financial position of Tesla in 2018, Musk lied about a taking-Tesla-private deal, tweeting, Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding Secured.

Lying, bullying and distracting via Twitter doesnt make Musk unique among leaders in the world in 2020. But Musks style reminds me of the unquenchable narcissism of another lying, bullying, distracting salesman who has an important job to do but who nevertheless chooses to spend his day on Twitter.

Reason 6: cars. I hate cars. I get it  people like Teslas. They look cool and they zoom fast. Wearing my personal finance hat, I have tried my best to convince my children (and anyone else who will listen) that paying a premium for a cool car makes as much sense financially as paying a hefty premium for a cool washing machine and dishwasher. They are all just rapidly depreciating metal and plastic consumer goods. (To be clear, I mean cars and household machines, not my children.)

Cars are a bad use of your money. They shouldnt be cool. Harumph. Am I being petty? Yes, youre damn right I am. Im so Tom Petty right now that Im free fallin and I wont back down.

Michael Taylor is a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and author of The Financial Rules for New College Graduates.

michael@michaelthesmartmoney.com |twitter.com/michael_taylor
The State of Osun Chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has commended Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for pardoning 962 workers in the State, who were demoted for committing administrative infractions, including engaging in further studies without following due process.

The State Chairman of TUC, Comrade Adebowale Adekola, gave the commendation while reacting to a circular issued by the Office of the States Head of Service on Monday, directing all account officers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) where the affected workers are posted to ensure the implementation of the governors directive.

Oyetola had during a meeting with a labour group in January ordered the reversal of the demotion of all the affected staff totalling 962, urging them not to commit such infractions again and to also show more commitment in their service to the State.

On the issue of demotion of some workers, we have forgiven those demoted for embarking on further studies without approval. Their cases will be reviewed and their demotion will be reversed as appropriate, the governor had said.

He also at the time tasked workers in the state to be committed to the policies and programmes of government aimed at making life more liveable for the people.

Adekola said the prerogative of mercy granted the affected public servants showed that Oyetola was a listening, caring and magnanimous leader, adding that his action had further demonstrated his love and concern for workers in Osun.
The official signing is set in three weeks in Washington. Meanwhile, direct telephone services between the UAE and Israel have begun; the international community approves, except for Iran and Turkey. For Bernard Sabella, Israels pledge to suspend its annexation plan raises questions. Palestinians need a strong and united leadership to re-establish relations with Arab countries.

Ramallah (AsiaNews) - The Palestinians "want peace" and any agreement that can put an end to a hundred years of conflict is good; however, the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) takes place "without the Palestinians being informed, this further marginalises them, said Bernard Sabella, Fatah representative and executive secretary of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Mr Sabella said that Israels pledge to "suspend" the annexation plan "raises many questions about its real practicality. This is a point for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump with no global significance.

The agreement between Israel and the UAE does not lead to an all-encompassing agreement with the Palestinians, and is good only for Israel". Meanwhile, the "peace process is stalled with no progress in terms of a two-state solution.

For the Catholic leader, this is the real point. If you want real peace, you must also involve the Palestinians and work to end the conflict. If further agreements are reached with other Arab countries like Bahrain, we can hope for at least Palestinian involvement, if not approval, he added.

Following the agreement, direct telephone services have been established between Israel and the UAE. The international community has warmly welcomed the move, but was condemned as a "stab in the back" by Palestinian leaders (both Fatah and Hamas), Iran and Turkey.

After talking with his UAE counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi announced that "soon" the leaders of the two countries would "meet" and join their efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The signing of the agreement is expected in three weeks in Washington, under the patronage of the US president. For Palestinian leaders, the pact is a "gift to Israel" made with the sole purpose of electorally helping Trump and Netanyahu. For his part, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed stressed that the agreement was reached to stop further Israeli annexation".

The UAE is a great nation, said Bernard Sabella, where many Palestinians work and conditions are good for the majority. In this sense they represent an example, but the fact remains that the opening of official relations will not touch the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian problem. For true peace, it is necessary to work towards the end of the conflict.

"From the UAE's perspective, the signing is important because it strengthens its position vis-a-vis Iran, boosts its ties with Washington and leads to important economic and technological collaboration, whilst its strategic limits remain clear.

Meanwhile, Palestinian leaders  increasingly divided, with "Fatah open to dialogue but losing ground to the extremists of Hamas  are left behind, relegated to the margins of the political decision-making process.

"We can do nothing other than hope that UAE leaders will be wise in applying the agreement and sharing its details, Sabella said. Otherwise, the Palestinian Authority will further weaken at home and at the regional and international levels. This is why it is essential to re-establish contacts with all Arab countries, without exception.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18)  Ghost month is here, that time of the year when people are extra vigilant about bad luck.

During ghost month, souls of the deceased would roam around and bring potential harm and other misfortune to the living, Feng shui expert Marites Allen told CNN Philippines' New Day on Tuesday.

While this year already started off on the wrong foot due to the pandemic, Allen said it is better to be extra cautious about activities which could further attract bad luck.

Here are some dos and don'ts during ghost month, which starts on August 19 and ends on September 16:

Dos

 Offer incense to 'feed' the ghosts

 Keep your door hinges properly oiled, your closed spaces well-lighted and your living spaces clean to maintain a positive environment.

 Play meditative and relaxing music to ward off hungry ghosts.

 Wear mantra protection charms and bright colors to boost positive energy.

Don'ts

 Sleep facing a mirror, which is regarded as a "soul stealer" in feng shui.

 Hang out clothes to dry at night. Toys or dolls for children must be blessed before giving them back.

 Push through with major events (i.e. getting married, moving to a new house, starting a new business) as this could "invite" wandering spirits with you.

 Kill rare insects like moths or butterflies, which are believed to be manifestation of spirits or ancestor paying a visit to the family home.

 Go to any "yin" or negative places such as the hospital, cemetery, or funeral. Avoid staying out late at night. Wear some charms to protect you if necessary.
New Delhi: A day after more than a dozen masked men opened fire, vandalised vehicles and homes and assaulted women and children at Kucha Mohtar Khan in north Delhis Mori Gate, five persons have been arrested in connection with the violence.

The alleged prime suspect Lalit aka Pongi, a habitual criminal from Model Town, is still untraceable, officials said.

Deputy commissioner of police (north) Monika Bhardwaj said the arrested persons were identified by their first names -- Jatin, Vikas, Ritwik, Gaurav and Chetan.

All of them are residents of north Delhis Gur Mandi and Rajpura villages. While four of them were caught on Monday night following raids at their possible hideouts, Chetan was arrested on Tuesday.

During interrogation, the five men admitted to their involvement in the violence, police said. They told the police that they were called by Lalit and his brother-in-law, Luv, for settling a score with some residents of Kucha Mohtar Khan with whom the two had an altercation late Sunday night.

Lalit was allegedly assaulted by five-six locals over some issue that is yet to be known.

To take revenge, Lalit and his brother-in-law called their associates, who reached there in 15 minutes and allegedly went on the rampage in the neighbourhood for nearly 30 minutes -- firing in the air, vandalising vehicles and homes and assaulting women and children, a police officer associated with the probe said, requesting anonymity.

DCP Bhardwaj said multiple teams have been conducting raids in north Delhi, Nangloi and Uttar Pradesh to nab Lalit, Luv and at least five more men involved in the rioting. At least four persons, including a woman and a girl, were injured and over two dozen vehicles were damaged.

The arrest of Lalit and Luv is important as only their interrogation would help us find the exact cause behind the fight. We spoke to the locals who said Lalit fought with them because they had stopped him from harassing some residents. We need to verify their version and for that, Lalit will have to be questioned, said an investigator, who did not want to be named.

The officer said Lalit was previously involved in seven-eight crimes, including a murder. We have learnt that it was Lalit who had opened fire in the area, he added.
The Chinese people always say better roads lead to better life. Therefore, transportation infrastructure must be built in advance to carry out poverty alleviation.

In the recent years, Chinas rural transportation has experienced drastic changes, which both facilitated rural residents, and revitalized rural development.

Five poverty alleviation cadres and representatives recently shared their stories of fighting poverty through the improvement of transportation infrastructure with Peoples Daily.

Xu Wenqiang, director of the Tibet Autonomous Regions transportation department introduced that the total transport fixed-asset investment of the autonomous region is expected to exceed 251.5 billion yuan ($36.23 billion) at the end of this year. The total mileage of Tibets expressways was only 38 kilometers five years ago, but has now added up to 620 kilometers and will reach 1,100 kilometers based on the completion of the projects implemented between 2016 and 2020. As of the end of the last year, the total mileage of highways in the autonomous region reached 104,500 kilometers.

Before the end of this year, all townships and incorporated villages that meet the conditions will be connected to highways, and 95 percent of townships and 75 percent of incorporated villages will be connected to hardened roads. Tourists visiting Tibet and local residents will be able to enjoy safer, more smooth and more convenient trips, he said.

Anyuan in the southwestern part of Jiangxi Province, was considered a remote county before 2013, as it cost a day to travel from it to Ganzhou, a city just 200 kilometers away. In the recent years, a vast expressway network connected with neighboring provinces has been built, introduced Luo Hongbo, an official with the department of policy and legislation under the Ministry of Transport and deputy Party secretary in Anyuan county.

He said drastic changes have taken place in Anyuan. Enterprises have invested in the county, which solved the employment problem of the local young people; the low logistics cost facilitated e-commerce and tourism. A total of 2 billion yuan of turnover was achieved last year by the countys e-commerce businesses, and over 80 percent of townships and 32 percent of impoverished villagers are fighting poverty through e-commerce, Luo said. More than a third of the townships in the county developed tourism, receiving 4.8 million tourists last year, he added.

Sertar county in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Garze, Sichuan Province was once in deep poverty. With an average elevation of over 4,127 meters, the mountainous county was isolated. Gui Zhijing, deputy Party secretary of Sertar county experienced the transportation progress there. After four years of poverty alleviation efforts, the county now has 2,260 kilometers of highways, and 17 townships and 134 incorporated villages have been connected to hardened roads and bus services. The county officially got rid of poverty in February, Gui said.

Last year, Sertar county attracted an investment of 130 billion yuan, and the number of hotels in the county rose from 54 to 150. Gui believes that the better transportation will bring better lives to the local people.

The continuously improving transportation has laid a solid foundation for industrial development, said Lyu Yida, who was once the first Party secretary in Rela village, Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture, Sichuan Province. According to him, Rela villagers suffered severe road conditions in the past, until a 6.9-kilometer road network was constructed. The village was connected to hardened roads and bus services.

The village established a food company in 2018 that sells yak meat and honey. The company achieved revenue of 2.6 million yuan last year, which largely reinforced the confidence of the villagers in poverty alleviation, Lyu introduced.

Wang Guangguo is the Party secretary of Dianziping village, Jianshi county, Enshi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, Hubei province. According to him, it usually took a couple of hours for the villagers to go to a fair in its neighboring township, and they had to walk along the cliffs. Thanks to the poverty alleviation efforts, the village has constantly improved its transportation, from building gravel roads to asphalt roads, connecting every household with hardened roads.

We used to grow only potatoes, corns and soybeans, but now we started growing fruits and established a chili factory that sells our products overseas. The new roads help drive industrial development and bring wealth to the people, Wang said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:08:27|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Protests against the United States erupted in two Syrian areas in northeastern Syria on Tuesday in the wake of a U.S. attack that killed a Syrian soldier a day earlier, according to the state news agency SANA.

The protests took place in the city of Qamishli and the provincial capital of Hasakah in the northeastern province of Hasakah.

The participants shouted slogans urging the U.S. forces to withdraw from Syria and burned the U.S. flag.

A day earlier, two U.S. military helicopters targeted a Syrian military checkpoint in the countryside of Qamishli, killing a soldier and wounding others.

The attack came after the Syrian checkpoint prevented a U.S. patrol from passing through.

The protesters said the U.S. attack against the checkpoint is an attack against all Syrians.

They also called for resisting the U.S. "occupation" and supporting the Syrian army against the forces that "undermine the Syrian sovereignty."

The U.S. maintains several bases in areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Hasakah and other areas in northern Syria. Enditem
Millie Bobby Brown is returning to work, as Hollywood gets back to business, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

And the two-time Emmy nominee is also reuniting with some famous friends, following months of isolation.

She palled around Monday with none other than Mariah Carey, as they enjoyed a 'surprise visit' while she promotes her new Netflix movie Enola Holmes.

Millie and Mimi: Millie Bobby Brown palled around Monday with none other than Mariah Carey, as they enjoyed a 'surprise visit'

The 16-year-old posed for a selfie with Carey, 50, who wrote: 'A surprise visit by Enola Holmes a.k.a. princess Millie!'

She hung out with the pop icon and her twins, son Moroccan and daughter Monroe, both nine, last Halloween.

Carey previously posted a photo of Moroccan with his Stranger Things-themed jack-o-lantern, depicting Brown's character Eleven.

She wrote on Twitter: 'My son is obsessed with Millie Bobby Brown... can someone please ask her to call him.'

Family friend: She hung out with the pop icon and her twins, son Moroccan and daughter Monroe, both nine, last Halloween

Biggest fan: Carey previously posted a photo of Moroccan with his Stranger Things-themed jack-o-lantern, depicting Brown's character Eleven

Moroccan is sure to have a new obsession soon, as Brown dropped the teaser Monday for Enola Holmes.

She stars as the equally brilliant titular sister of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), based on the book series of the same name by Nancy Springer.

The Netflix film stars Sam Claflin, Susie Wokoma, Fiona Shaw and Helena Bonham Carter, as Brown also serves as a producer.

Leading lady: Brown dropped the teaser Monday for her new Netflix movie Enola Holmes, which premieres September 23

Sister sleuth: She stars as the equally brilliant titular sister of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), based on the book series of the same name by Nancy Springer

Coming soon: She was recently cast in another Netflix film The Girls Ive Been Before, in which she stars as Nora, a queer con artist who must use her powers of persuasion to get out of a hostage situation (pictured in January, 2020)

Brown captioned the teaser, 'alone loshme reeebtpms wnettyrhitd,' an anagram for 'Enola Holmes, September 23rd,' confirming the premiere date.

She was recently cast in another Netflix film The Girls Ive Been Before, in which she stars as Nora, a queer con artist who must use her powers of persuasion to get out of a hostage situation.

The English actress found her big break on the streaming platform back in 2016, with the first season of Stranger Things.

Season four of the nostalgic sci-fi phenomenon is expected to premiere next year, after COVID-19 put production on pause back in March.

Big break: The English actress found her big break on the streaming platform back in 2016, with the first season of Stranger Things
A sailfish print created by Yu Qinyuan. The art form usually features calligraphy, stamps and seals. [For China Daily]

Anglers are likely to recount "big fish" stories about herculean battles with silver-scaled kraken. These usually end with the declaration, "It was definitely at least this big!", as they exaggeratedly gesticulate with their hands to indicate the vastly overstated length of their former aquatic nemesis.

It was probably much easier to persuade people that these tales were true before the age of camera-laden smartphones.

However, even before the invention of photography itself, avid anglers around the world came up with inventive ways to prove the legitimacy of, and record, the outstanding fish they managed to land. While those in the West opted for things like fish taxidermy, in China a different method was used to, literally, mark an impressive catch-one that has since evolved into a traditional art form.

The method is called yuta, or fish printing. People apply paint to the fish and press it on paper to record its exact shape and size, and such details as the texture of its scales, fins and tail.

Yu Qinyuan, a native of Gaomi, a county-level city of Weifang, Shandong Province, has been a leading figure in inheriting, practicing and promoting the art form.

The 56-year-old was first exposed to the practice as a child.

"I grew up with my grandparents, a scholarly family, who knew the basic fish-printing techniques. When they caught a big fish, they'd print it and frame it as a memento," he recalls.

Yu has been practicing fish printing full time for 10 years. During that time, he has learned from masters from around the country and developed his own systematic approach to the art form.

The uniqueness of fish printing, Yu says, lies in that it is able to precisely capture the details of the fish species. "Each fish scale has its distinctive texture, like a person's fingerprint. The texture cannot be drawn by even the most perceptive painter but is clearly visible when rubbed onto the paper."

He says that a fundamental rule of fish printing is to not use a pen or brush to add any details to the fish. The only exception to the rule is the eyes, which require a great painting technique and often take longer than the printing process.

Yu Qinyuan hosts fish-printing trainings in his studio in Gaomi, Shandong Province. [For China Daily]

The origin of fish printing remains unclear.

According to Yu, there is no written record of the art form in historical records, and no ancient works have been found.

But experts believe that the art form might date back to ancient China, as the techniques resemble that of stone rubbings from the Song Dynasty (960-1279). For instance, both art forms use a dabber.

The art form is now known best in Japan as gyotaku, meaning fish rubbing. In China, a small group of practitioners are working to promote the art form.

Yu estimates that fewer than 1,000 people in the country have mastered the skill.

"The Chinese style of fish printing has influences from traditional Chinese painting. Upon completing the printing, usually we would adorn it with drawings of plants and landscapes, calligraphy and also stamps and seals," Yu says.

The Chinese aesthetics are also reflected in the color choices.

While most of the time the artists would select colors to create the original shades of the fish, works commissioned by clients would often use red, as many consider the red koi fish to be auspicious.

Yu is currently working on a 20-meter scroll that incorporates 22 varieties of fish that inhabit Shandong's Weihe River.

Yu led the successful effort to include fish printing on Gaomi's intangible cultural heritage list and the equivalent list of Weifang city this June.

"To be honest, fish printing does not have a standardized system like Chinese watercolors or calligraphy. There are only a handful of practitioners around the country. So each year we will meet up a few times to discuss the techniques, tackle problems together, learn and progress," Yu says.

Yu now has his own studio in Gaomi that aims to promote fish printing. He occasionally hosts short-term training courses in Beijing. So far, more than 100 people have learned the skill from him, either in one of these courses or at his studio.

The ancient practice of "fish printing", once used to record the achievements of Chinese anglers, has evolved into a treasured traditional art form. [For China Daily]

Yu considers Yan Beiyu one of his best students. She has attended four of his training sessions.

Her interest started in 2018, when she enrolled her 4-year-old daughter on the course as she thought it would be a good approach to introducing children to traditional art. She did not expect to develop an interest in the subject herself.

Yan took the next three sessions by herself and went back to teach her daughter. Now, the entire family practices the skill.

"Yu's teaching method is very detailed and approachable. It's easy for people of all ages to understand and master. He also explains a lot about the origins of the genre and discusses the future of fish printing, and what we can do to promote the art form. It really is a traditional art form suitable for all ages," Yan says.

The ancient practice of "fish printing", once used to record the achievements of Chinese anglers, has evolved into a treasured traditional art form. [For China Daily]

The ancient practice of "fish printing", once used to record the achievements of Chinese anglers, has evolved into a treasured traditional art form. [For China Daily]

The ancient practice of "fish printing", once used to record the achievements of Chinese anglers, has evolved into a treasured traditional art form. [For China Daily]

(Source: China Daily)
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Mediawan (Paris:MDW) announces it has reached an agreement with the banks of its lending pool for the amendment of its 230m credit facility. Amendments include notably, amongst other technical changes, the suspension of the leverage covenant (net debt EBITDA) for December 2020 and June 2021 in the context of a deteriorated financial performance related to the covid-19 situation.

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U.S. government debt yields held steady Tuesday morning as investors monitored a fresh batch of economic data and Treasury auctions.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was little changed at 0.68%, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond held at 1.415%. Yields move inversely to prices.

Market focus is largely attuned to simmering U.S.-China tensions and ongoing concerns about the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. tightened restrictions on China's Huawei on Monday, seeking to make it more difficult for the tech giant to obtain critical components.

The Department of Commerce also added 38 Huawei affiliates onto a trade blacklist called the Entity List.

Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers remain locked in a stalemate over a potential new coronavirus stimulus deal. Democrats and Republicans are holding their respective presidential nominating conventions starting this week.

Senate Republicans plan to introduce a narrow coronavirus relief plan that also includes $10 billion for the U.S. Postal Service, NBC News reported Monday evening.

In the latest sign the economy may be slowly recovering, U.S. housing starts reached 1.496 million in July, according to data released Tuesday by the Commerce Department.

That figure far exceeded the 1.24 million expected by economists; in June, housing starts totaled 1.186 million. The data is seen as a key indicator for the health of U.S. consumers and the economy more broadly.

July's number comes amid growing strength in the sector, which saw the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF rise to a record high.
The Democratic National Convention has a distinctly different feel this year, with the coronavirus pandemic pushing it to a virtual affair that lacks raucous crowds, behind-the-scenes dealmaking and the general pizzazz of a political celebration.

It also is taking on a somber tone, with both Democratic leaders and Americans from around the country warning about what they see as the dangers of Donald Trump and the lack of leadership as Covid-19 has ravaged the United States.

Big questions loom over the four-day event: Will Joe Biden get a convention bump in the polls? Will the Democratic Party anoint a new rising star? How will Kamala Harris handle her big moment? Will Trump try to stomp on the event?

Here are key moments from the first night.

Michelle Obama: Going high is the only thing that works

Michelle Obama delivered an impassioned plea for a Biden presidency, slamming Trump as a president out of his depth and urging Americans to rise above the politics of division.

Wearing a necklace spelling "V-O-T-E, the former first lady urged Americans to cast a ballot, via mail or in person, for Biden like our lives depend on it.

In a speech that largely avoided mentioning the incumbent by name, Obama labeled Trump as the wrong president for the country.

He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment, Obama said with an air of resignation. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.

Going high is the only thing that works, Obama said in a reprisal of her trademark, When they go low, we go high mantra of 2016.

George Floyd's family makes a surprise appearance

The opening night featured a moment of silence for George Floyd, the Black man killed by Minneapolis police in May, delivered by his brother Philonise. Philonise Floyd commended the nationwide protests against racial injustice as a fitting tribute for his late brother and listed the names of other Black Americans killed by police.

Story continues

For the names we do not know, the faces well never see, those who can't mourn because their murders didn't go viral, please join me in a moment of silence to honor George and the many other souls we lost to hate and injustice, Philonise Floyd said. And when this moment ends, let's make sure we never stop saying their names.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Boswer introduced Philonise and his brother Rodney while standing at a balcony overlooking the newly minted Black Lives Matter Plaza  just blocks from the White House.

We can't just paint those words behind me, we can't just say those words. We have to live those words, Bowser said. We have to undo the laws and systems that have codified racism for far too long.

Cuomo: Americas division created Trump

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo slammed Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his failure to unite the nation.

Only a strong body can fight off the virus. And America's divisions weakened it, Cuomo said. Donald Trump didn't create the initial division. The division created Trump.

Cuomo, who saw his national stock rise during the pandemic thanks to his frequent press conferences and aggressive measures to combat the outbreak, said the Trump administrations incompetence led to its weak virus defense.

Now we need a leader as good as our people, a leader who appeals to the best within us, not the worst, a leader who can unify, not divide, a leader who can bring us up, not tear us down, Cuomo said. That man is Joe Biden.

Biden says most cops are good

During a brief panel that focused on police violence, Biden said that most cops are good. The fact is that the bad ones have to be identified, prosecuted and out, period.

The message is a stark contrast from the repeated calls from Trumps camp that Biden is out to defund the police and from the anti-police chants that have been ringing at protests in cities across the country. Biden told reporters in July that he didnt agree with defunding police departments, but that officers needed to meet minimum basic standards of decency.

Biden has called for reform among police-community relations, and asked the panelists about the best course to do so. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pressed the need for economic opportunity in struggling communities, and Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo suggested a national ban on chokeholds.



His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump

Kristin Urquizas father voted for and supported Trump. But she said Trumps coronavirus response was why her father is dead.

His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life, Urquiza said.

Urquiza, who had gone viral for a blistering obituary condemning elected officials coronavirus response, blasted Trump for his management of the crisis during a brief DNC appearance. She lay into the inequalities in care that particularly impact communities of color. She contrasted Trump and Biden, saying Trump has refused to heed the advice of health experts and has exacerbated the pandemic.

Urquiza said her father regretted voting for Trump as he died and dedicated her vote for Biden to him.

The coronavirus has made it clear that there are two Americas: The America that Donald Trump lives in and the America that my father died in.



Republicans make pitch for Biden

John Kasich, the former Ohio governor and one of Trumps primary challengers back in 2016, stood at a literal crossroads as he talked about his choice to vote for Biden, despite being a longstanding Republican.

I'm a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country, he said. That's why I have chosen to appear at this convention. In normal times, something like this would probably never happen. But these are not normal times.

Kasich was the first person to run for president and then speak at the opposing partys convention four years later since former Sen. Joe Lieberman spoke on behalf of Republican nominee John McCain in 2008.

During his short speech, Kasich emphasized Bidens reputation as a moderate Democrat. "I'm sure there are Republicans and independents who couldn't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat. They fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind. I don't believe that because I know the measure of the man, he said.

Kasich was joined with other lifelong Republicans, including former Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman, former New York Rep. Susan Molinari and former New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman, who has been a vocal critic of Trump and supported Kasich during the 2016 GOP primaries.



Cortez Masto: Trump is trying to take away the vote

Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto called out Trump for denigrating mail-in voting, pointing out how the president himself has requested absentee ballots twice this year.

Cortez Mastos home state of Nevada became the subject of Trumps ridicule when it moved to expand mail-in voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. She blasted Trump for trying to undermine those efforts in court and by cutting down on postal services.

My home state took the advice of scientists and medical experts and listened to the people of Nevada to put in place a vote-by-mail system so voters have a lot of options this fall, she said. But Donald Trump is trying to divide us by undermining that right.

Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have faced fierce criticism for changes to the U.S. Postal Service that they have cast as cost-saving measures but that have led to serious delays. A group of voters filed a lawsuit Monday against DeJoy and Trump, accusing them of conspiring to undermine the election by gutting mail services.



Former Democratic rivals praise Biden

The Democratic field saw fierce confrontations this election cycle as candidates fought for the nomination. But those conflicts were nowhere to be found at the partys convention.

A consortium of Bidens former Democratic rivals popped into the convention for a montage praising the candidate as the future of the party. Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand and a number of other former candidates spoke about their time on the grueling campaign trail, including their interactions with Biden. They all portrayed Biden as a candidate of strong character who reached out to them as a friend, in spite of the stiff competition for the nomination.

Booker brought up a special moment from the debate stage: What was remarkable to me was in the commercial break he puts his arm around me and starts telling me how good my ideas are, he said. And next thing you know, I feel like he's giving me a pep talk and literally telling me how important it is, how really important it is that I'm on that stage.

Andrew Yang was among the candidates to praise Biden, though he had previously expressed disappointment at not being on the speakers list for the convention.

Joe called me the night I suspended and was extraordinarily gracious and comforting, and he told me I should be proud of myself, he said. Said that I did myself and my family a real service and the country a service.



Bernie puts aside policy differences to back Biden

Bidens biggest primary rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), painted Trump as an authoritarian threat to the United States and urged his supporters to elect Biden.

The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake, Sanders said. My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine.

In a rare mention of policy detail during the night, the Vermont senator noted he and Biden diverge on how to provide every American with healthcare  the defining issue of the primary campaign. But in a sign of unity, Sanders said that Bidens plan would nevertheless expand coverage, lower prescription drug prices, and enroll more Americans into Medicare.


Almost three-quarters of older American adults with dementia filled prescriptions for medications that aren't designed for the brain disease, a new study finds.

Researchers found that many had filled at least one prescription for antidepressants, opioid painkillers, epilepsy drugs, anxiety medications or antipsychotics.

What's more, patients who were women, white and in their 60 or 70s were the most likely to do so.

The team, from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, says these psychoactive drugs could come with dangerous side effects such as nausea, jitteriness or agitation, which may lead to even more prescribing.

A new study found that, of more than 737,000 dementia patients, 73.5% of filled at least one prescription for opioids, antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics and anti-epileptics over the course of a year (file image)

For the study, published in JAMA, the team looked at Medicare prescription records of 737,839 people with dementia and an average age of 82.

Researchers then looked to see if they have filled prescriptions for several classes of psychoactive drugs including opioids, antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics and anti-epileptics.

None of these drug classes have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for use in dementia patients.

In all, 73.5 percent of the patients filled at least one prescription for one of the above drug classes over the course of a year.

About half of study participants had gotten antidepressants, which might be prescribed to try to counteract the withdrawal and apathy often seen in dementia, according to lead author Dr Donovan Maust, a geriatric psychiatrist at the University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

However, he says antidepressants don't treat these symptoms of dementia.

'Apathy and withdrawal, and a tendency to get agitated, are common symptoms of dementia,' Maust said.

'And as much as health care providers want to help these patients and their family caregivers, these medications are just not helpful enough to justify this amount of prescribing.'

Patients most likely to fill prescriptions not meant for dementia were women, white, their late 60s and early 70s, and with low incomes.

The next most common drug class in which at least on prescription was filled was opioids with about 30 percent doing so.

Researchers believed opioids may be prescribed not only to treat pain but also behavioral symptoms such as aggression and agitation.

However, there are safety concerns - such as the risk of addiction - and a lack of evidence of the benefits of opioids.

About 27 percent filled prescriptions for anxiolytics, which inhibit anxiety, and about 22 percent each received anti-epileptics and antipsychotics.

Maust says that most who received opioids filled just one or two short-term prescriptions, which may indicate they had been injured and were treating pain.

But for those taking the other classes of drugs, they often received multiple prescriptions, such as epilepsy drugs, sometimes prescribed as substitutes for antipsychotic drugs, or to treat chronic pain.

'A brain that has dementia is doing its best to function as well as it can,' Maust said.

'If we add a psychotropic medication into the mix it may not be a helpful thing - and it comes with risks.'

The team says all of the drugs are linked to risk for senior citizens such as falls or dependence, which could lead to withdrawal.

Additionally, all of the medications have side effects such as nausea or jitteriness.

Maust says the person with dementia may not be able to communicate the side effects to their loved one, and may just appear agitating, causing them to be prescribed another medication to calm then.

'As a nation we have a goal of keeping dementia patients living in the community as much as possible. But the use of these medications appears to be as high for them as it is for those who are in nursing homes,' he said.

'Clinicians and caregivers may need more support to provide non-drug based approaches to prevent or address the symptoms that these medications are probably being prescribed for.'
A first-year student of marine engineering allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself at his brothers house in Sector 84 on Monday evening, said the police.

The police said that the deceased had come to Gurugram during the lockdown and was staying with his elder brother for the last four months. His father was undergoing treatment in a private hospital in the city and his elder brother was with his ailing father when the incident took place.

Preet Pal Sangwan, assistant commissioner of police (crime), said the police control room received a phone call, reporting that a man was found shot dead in an apartment building of a residential colony. Following this, a team from the Vatika police post was sent to the spot. A countrymade pistol was found lying on the bed and the man was found lying in a pool of blood, he said.

During investigation, it was revealed that the family members were not aware of the reason behind the suicide, said police, adding that so suicide note was recovered from the spot.

Sangwan said the family is also unaware of the fact that the deceased had a countrymade pistol. The brother, on whose statement the case has been registered, said that he is unaware from whom his brother had acquired the weapon and the possible reason behind acquiring the gun. There was no issue within the family that might have prompted him to end his life, he said.

The elder brother in his statement to the police said that he received a call from his brother at 6.30pm and he asked him at what time he was reaching home. Around 8.30pm, the complainant reached home and found the door to be locked. He tried reaching out to his brother but his mobile phone was switched off. He then approached the societys maintenance office for duplicate keys but they didnt have any. The brother then called a carpenter, who broke a glass adjacent to the wooden gate after which the complainant opened the door and entered inside the apartment.

As soon as he discovered his brothers dead body, he informed his family members, relatives and friends and then called police control room. No suicide note was found from the spot, said Sangwan.

The body was handed over to the family members after the post-mortem examination on Tuesday, said the police.

A case under section Arms Act was registered at Kherki Daula police station and a probe is underway, said police. The police are also scanning his call records to find out the motive.

Gurugram does not have a dedicated helpline to deal with such situations. A few major suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are +914066202000 from Roshni (Hyderabad-based) and +914424640050 from Sneha India Foundation (Delhi-based).
A UN-backed tribunal convicted on Tuesday a Hezbollah affiliate in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The tribunal in the Netherlands also said the leadership of the Lebanese group and the Syrian government were not involved in the attack.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon declared that Salim Jamil Ayyash, who the court said was affiliated with the political and military organization Hezbollah, played a key role in the killing. Three other defendants were found not guilty, Reuters reported.

Hariri was killed in a bombing of his motorcade in Beirut in 2005. The powerful businessman had ties to Saudi Arabia and was a prominent Sunni Muslim politician in the country following the civil war that ended in 1990. His son, Saad, also served as prime minister.

Hariris ties to the Gulf made him a rival of the Iran-backed Hezbollah and Syrian government. Syria withdrew its forces from Lebanon shortly after the assassination following massive protests.

The tribunal also said it did not find evidence that Hezbollah and Damascus played a role in the assassination of Hariri.

Some Lebanese reacted with anger at the tribunals decision. Hariri supporters demonstrated in Beirut on Tuesday in opposition to the verdict.

Hariri had called for Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, and the court said the decision to kill him was related to this, according to Reuters.

Ayyash and the others on trial were not present for the ruling, making it unclear what effect the decision will have.
Every year, 150 to 300 children in the United States are diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs), aggressive and lethal tumors that grow deep inside the brain, for which there are no cures. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers showed that experimental drugs designed to lower the body's natural production of alpha-ketoglutarate extended the lives of mice harboring DIPG tumors by slowing the growth of the cancer cells. Interestingly, they also found that artificially raising alpha-ketoglutarate levels with DIPG-causing genes may slow the growth of other brain tumors. The results, published in Cancer Cell, were part of a nationwide study that explored the cyclical role that cancer cell metabolism may play in regulating brain tumor genes.

Led by senior author Sriram Venneti, M.D., Ph.D., and a team of researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, the researchers primarily studied H3K27M tumors, DIPGs linked to mutations in a gene, called histone 3. Histones are proteins cells spool chromosomes around. This helps cells cram lengthy chromosomes into tiny nuclei and control gene activity. Any genes that are buried in the spools cannot be read and are thus turned off. Cells can "epigenetically" fine tune spooling by using a process known as methylation to chemically tag histones. For years scientists knew that cancer genes often alter the metabolism of tumors. In this study, the researchers not only found that this may be true for patients with H3K27M tumors but also that these alterations in metabolism may be part of a feedback loop involving alpha-ketoglutarate (-KG), that epigenetically keeps these and other brain tumors in a cancerous state.

Brain scans of H3K27M patients showed that they had higher levels of certain precursor metabolites - namely glucose and glutamine - than patients with deep brain tumors who do not carry the H3K27M mutations. Then through a series of detailed experiments on mice and cells in petri dishes, the researchers found that H3K27M mutations induced the cancer cells to produce high levels of -KG and this, in turn, spurred more growth. Further results suggested that this happened because -KG prevented methylation of histones and thus epigenetically kept genes that are vital for cancer cells exposed and active. For instance, lowering -KG levels with experimental drugs increased histone methylation, slowed cancer cell growth, and helped mice harboring the DIPG tumors live longer. In contrast, they saw surprisingly opposite results in lower grade tumors associated with mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase genes (IDH1), which naturally produce lower levels of -KG. Introducing H3K237M genes into IDH1 tumors slowed growth by raising alpha-ketoglutarate levels which, in turn, increased methylation and turned off cancer-sustaining genes. The researchers concluded that understanding the intricate details behind these feedback loops may help researchers devise effective ways to treat DIPG and other brain tumors.

###

Article:

Chung, C. et al. Integrated Metabolic and Epigenomic Reprogramming by H3K27M Mutations in Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, August 13, 2020, Cancer Cell; DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.07.008

This study was supported by the NIH (NS110572, NS099427), the Chad Tough Foundation, Mathew Larson Foundation, St. Baldrick's Foundation, Claire McKenna Foundation, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer, Storm the Heavens Foundation, a joint Chad Tough Foundation and Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation fellowship award, the Sidney Kimmel Foundation, Doris Duke Foundation, Sontag Foundation, the Toyota Research Institute, Rudi Schulte Research Institute, and the Ian's Friends Foundation.

For more information:

medlineplus.gov/braintumors.html

http://www.cancer.gov/types/brain

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Brain-and-Spinal-Tumors-Information-Page

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Hope-Through-Research/Brain-and-Spinal-Tumors-Hope-Through

http://www.ninds.nih.gov

NINDS is the nation's leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.
(CORRECTS first name of defendant to Salim, sted Merhi.)

LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The chief defendant in the trial of four Hezbollah members charged with conspiracy to kill former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri was a member of the Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim group, and used a cell phone identified by prosecutors as critical in the attack, a judge said on Tuesday.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is "satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt" that the evidence showed that Salim Jamil Ayyash used the phone, Judge Micheline Braidy said, reading a summary of the 2,600-page verdict.

"The evidence also established that Mr. Ayyash had affiliation with Hezbollah," Braidy said. Ayyash faces charges of committing a terrorist attack and homicide, among others.

The Tribunal is reading the verdict in the trial. The judges have not yet ruled on Ayyash's guilt or innocence. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Writing by Anthony Deutsch; editing by John Stonestreet)
90 Day Fiance stars Andrei Castravet and Elizabeth Potthast Castravet flew to Andreis home country of Moldova for their second wedding on recent episodes of the fifth season of TLCs 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After. Elizabeth and Andrei hoped to build their young daughter Eleanors relationship with her grandparents and baptize her in his religion after they married for the second time.

But Andreis tension with his in-laws is well-known among 90 Day Fiance fans. Elizabeth worried that things would go downhill once her relatives arrived to celebrate the event.

And Elizabeths worst nightmares came true at a dinner attended by Andreis family and friends alongside Chuck Potthast, Elizabeths dad, and Charlie Potthast, her brother. After Charlie and Chuck peppered Elizabeths husband with one too many questions about his past as a police officer in Moldova and his move to Ireland, Andrei and Charlie repeatedly threatened to fight each other physically.

Andrei Castravet, baby Eleanor, and Elizabeth Potthast Castravet | Elizabeth Potthast Castravet via Instagram

Andrei threatened to f*ck Charlie up after a fight

At a tense dinner (and plenty of drinks) with Chuck, Charlie, and several of his friends and family members, Andrei seemed to feel hounded by his in-laws many questions about his past.

Finally, when Charlie turned to his sister and asked her to speak up in defense of her dad and brother, Andrei had had enough.

Shut the f*ck up, dude, Andrei told Charlie across the table.

You shut the f*ck up, Charlie shot back.

Youre gonna f*cking take it outside, man, the 90 Day Fiance star demanded, seeming to threaten Charlie with a physical fight.

Whats good? Whats good? Charlie taunted Andrei.

Meanwhile, Andrei chanted back, What are you gonna do, dude?

The pair scrambled to their feet for a brief scuffle, pushing and grabbing each other (although it never came to blows). Andreis brother and friends, as well as Elizabeth, desperately tried to separate the two men and calm them down. They eventually succeededand both Andrei and Charlie sat back down, although they continued their argument.

In America, we do what the f*ck we want and we say what the f*ck we want, Elizabeths brother declared.

Ill f*ck you up, man, Andrei threatened Charlie.

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Andrei Castravet Claps Back at a Fan Who Calls Him a Poor Excuse of a Man

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Some Fans Wonder Why Andrei Castravet Didnt Marry a Moldovan Woman

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Fans Call Out Andrei Castravet For His Sexism On Social Media

Elizabeth pushed back against her husbands treatment of his in-laws

For her part, Elizabeth was horrified and embarrassed by both her husbands and her brothers behavior. 90 Day Fiance producers asked Elizabeth what had gone down, and she seemed just as confused as anyone.

I dont know, she said, visibly shaken. I just started hearing a bunch of, f*ck you, no, f*ck you, and then they just got up. I dont know what the f*ck is going on. But theyre both at fault, and thats no way to behave. This is not okay.

Once they both sat down, Charlie began to push back yet again against Andreis behavior.

Dude, we flew all the way out here and youre trying to fight me? he challenged him.

I dont give a f*ck, Andrei told his brother-in-law angrily. Go back to your f*cking country.

I will. Ill be happy to, Charlie shot back.

Andrei turned to his wife and demanded that she defend him over her father and brother.

You have to tell them now, like, this is not f*cking America, he told Elizabeth.

But Elizabeth reminded her husband that they should be treating their guests with respect.

Baby, theyre here as guests of your country, Elizabeth admonished her husband. You dont treat them that way.

Andreis family members warned him that he should calm down

While Andrei didnt show any signs of calming down, even his family members seemed to think he should back off a bit.

Andrei, put your fire out a bit, his sister-in-law, Ina, advised him. Have a little respect for them. Thats your father-in-law.

Meanwhile, Radu, Inas husband and Andreis brother, stayed calm as well and seemed to want to understand the root of the issue. He turned to Elizabeths brother and asked him why hed gotten so angry.

Charlie defended himself, retorting, He wanted to fight me. What are you talking about? I dont have any problems, dude.

Radu seemed to think the problem might lie with how much he and Andrei had been drinking that night.

Charlie, let me say, I think that the problem is just alcohol, he speculated.

Alcohol brings out underlying problems, Elizabeths dad agreed.

Radu even told 90 Day Fiance producers that Andrei and Charlie seemed similar to him in many ways.

I see similarities between Andrei and Charlie, of course, Andreis brother admitted. They are both pushy and they are also searching forI dont think so, like trouble, but they are searching for something. They are always eager for a fight. But that is also the effect of alcohol.

Eventually, Andrei and Elizabeth decided to leave the dinner themselves. And Elizabeth was none too happy with her husbands attempts to fight her brother.

Your behavior is out-f*cking-rageous. Outrageous, she yelled at Andrei as they headed back to their car. Who behaves like that in front of all those people? Thats f*cking embarrassing!

But Andrei wasnt done. He didnt say much until he suddenly turned around and ran back to the restaurant, appearing to want to come to blows with Charlie and solve their problems with his fists once and for all.

Come on. Im gonna f*ck him up. Im telling you, the 90 Day Fiance star yelled at Elizabeth as she tried to pull him away from the door.

Babe. Youre not fighting my brother, she exclaimed in horror as the sneak peek ended. Youre insane!
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 05:15:46|Editor: huaxia

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WARSAW, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Polish Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski tendered his resignation on Tuesday, saying he had been talking about his resignation for months with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Polish media reported.

"Today I resign from the post of health minister... I will not disappear, I will not go away, I will remain an MP, I will remain in the public sphere, I will be serving public functions. Of course, I'm returning to my profession," Szumowski said at a press briefing.

Szumowski, a professor of medical sciences, was appointed health minister in January 2018.

"We managed to prevent the situation of tens of thousands dying from coronavirus in Poland. Of course, the number of cases is rising, but on the other hand, we also have an economy that is functioning so there will be more funds for further treatment of other diseases," he said, cited by English channel Poland In run by TVP, the country's largest television network.

Szumowski said he had decided to resign already in February, but then the COVID-19 epidemic struck, which kept him at his post for another six months.

"I assess my cooperation with Lukasz Szumowski admirably: thank you for your service for the country in this difficult time," Morawiecki wrote on Twitter.

Morawiecki said later on Tuesday that he will present a candidate for the new health minister by the end of this week. Enditem
Discussion on cooperation in the fields of security comes days after two states agreed to establish diplomatic ties.

The head of Israels foreign intelligence service has visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for security talks, only days after the countries agreed to establish diplomatic ties in a move that angered Palestinians.

Mossad chief Yossi Cohen discussed cooperation in the fields of security with the UAEs national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the official Emirati WAM news agency reported on Tuesday.

Cohens trip to Abu Dhabi marked the first visit to the UAE by an Israeli official after the announcement last week by United States President Donald Trump that the two countries had agreed to normalise relations.

The two sides discussed prospects for cooperation in the fields of security as well as exchanged points of view on regional developments and on issues of common interest including efforts to contain COVID-19, WAM said.

As part of the deal, Israel agreed to suspend the annexation of territories in the occupied West Bank, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had only agreed to a delay and that the controversial plan was not off the table in the long run.

The UAE decision was coming regardless of Israels annexation plans, according to Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator. This decision is at the expense of the legitimate Palestinian national rights, he told the Palestinian news agency Wafa on Friday.





Palestinians protested against the deal, seeing it as a betrayal of their cause by a major player in the Arab world, which has broadly held that normal ties with Israel are only possible once its dispute with the Palestinians is resolved.

Israel-UAE tensions had run high in 2010 after Mossad was widely blamed for the assassination in a Dubai hotel room of an operative for the Palestinian group Hamas, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.

Making history

Trump said leaders from Israel and the UAE would sign the historic agreement at the White House in the coming weeks.

Netanyahu last week called Cohen to thank him for the Mossads assistance in developing the ties with the Gulf states over the years, which assisted in bringing the peace treaty to fruition, the prime ministers office said.

The Israel-UAE deal is only the third such accord Israel has struck with an Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, and raises the prospect of similar deals with other pro-Western Gulf states.

Netanyahu on Monday appeared on Sky News Arabia, in his first-ever interview with the Abu Dhabi-based network.

This is a great moment  we are making history, he said, adding: This is a combination of limitless possibilities.

Saudi Arabia has maintained a conspicuous silence over the deal, but local officials have hinted that Riyadh is unlikely to immediately follow the UAE, its principal regional ally, despite US pressure.





Trumps son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner insisted on Monday that it would be in Riyadhs interest to formally establish ties with Israel.

It would be very good for Saudi business, it would very good for Saudis defence, and, quite frankly, I think it would also help the Palestinian people, Kushner said.

Netanyahu on Monday said Israel was working on opening a corridor over Saudi Arabia for flights to the UAE.

Meanwhile, Omans minister responsible for foreign affairs spoke to his Israeli counterpart on Monday, the first publicised contact since the announcement of the UAE-Israel deal.

Yusuf bin Alawi and Israels Gabi Ashkenazi spoke via telephone about recent developments in the region, Omans foreign ministry said on Twitter.

Oman, along with Bahrain, had already expressed its support for the deal, and bin Alawi told Ashkenazi that Muscat clearly reaffirms its position calling for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Other Gulf countries, including Kuwait and Qatar, have so far remained silent on the Israel-UAE agreement.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), a not-for-profit organization educating the public about the benefits of chiropractic care, has issued a public statement in support of the findings of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) that was published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA Network Open) on August 5 and is now trending.

The study, "Effect of Spinal Manipulative and Mobilization Therapies in Young Adults With Mild to Moderate Chronic Low Back Pain" concludes that, when performed by a doctor of osteopathy (DO) or a physical therapist (PT), neither spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) nor spinal mobilization appeared to be effective treatments for mild to moderate chronic low back pain (LBP). The authors note that neither is more effective than a placebo.

This is an important finding as it helps consumers understand the difference between SMT provided by a doctor of chiropractic and SMT performed by other healthcare providers. While SMT is the primary focus of chiropractic, it is one of many therapies employed by DOs and PTs. Taken in conjunction with previous studies, the JAMA study effectively demonstrates the widely held understanding that chiropractic spinal manipulation is more effective.

"Many consumers and even some medical professionals still assume that spinal manipulation is equally effective regardless of the provider type," said Sherry McAllister, DC, executive vice president of the F4CP. "These findings, when taken along with the findings of previous papers, help to differentiate the effectiveness of spinal manipulation for low back pain delivered in the context of chiropractic care. This helps explain why historically 94% of spinal manipulation is provided by doctors of chiropractic. This study also brings into question the effectiveness of mobilization of the spine for low back pain as provided by physical therapists and osteopaths."

In the U.S., doctor of chiropractic programs typically take four years to complete and require at least three years of undergraduate college education for admission, a total of seven years of post-high school education. This includes rigorous clinical training that focuses primarily on chiropractic spinal manipulation.

Among North American regulated health professionals, SMT is most often delivered by DCs, and to a lesser extent, by a specially trained subset of physiotherapists and osteopathic practitioners. It is also included in the scope of practice of naturopaths (NDs) and physicians (MDs), although these providers rarely use SMT as their primary treatment modality (source: BMC).

In 2018, The Lancet published a three-part series on LBP, calling for worldwide recognition of the disability associated with the disorder and the removal of harmful practices. In the second paper, recommendations for the treatment of LBP were outlined, including spinal manipulation, which is most often performed by a doctor of chiropractic.

In a 2017 study published in JAMA, Paige et al., completed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT) for acute (6 weeks) low back pain. Of 26 eligible studies identified, 15 RCTs (1711 patients) provided moderate-quality evidence that SMT has a statistically significant association with improvements in pain. The rest of the RCTs (1381 patients) produced moderate-quality evidence that SMT has a statistically significant association with improvements in function.

To access additional research in support of chiropractic care and the efficacy of spinal manipulation, visit https://www.f4cp.org/new-research/ .

In addition, the results of another RCT suggest that chiropractic manipulative therapy in conjunction with standard medical care offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning when compared with standard care alone. "As the opioid crisis rages on, consumers can be even more confident that choosing chiropractic spinal manipulation is the right choice," said Dr. McAllister. "Numerous evidence-based guidelines recommend conservative (non-drug, non-surgical) care such as chiropractic care as front-line treatment that is effective when done by a trained professional."

Research has shown chiropractic care is faster, safer, less costly and more effective. Chiropractic patients are highly satisfied with their care, according to multiple surveys. Results from the Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic 2018 Annual Report found that more than half (52%) of adults who saw a DC for significant neck or back pain said it was because the DC offered "the most effective treatment for my pain" as compared to other types of care.

About the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) informs and educates the general public about the value of chiropractic care and its role in drug-free pain management. Visit www.f4cp.org ; call 866-901-F4CP (3427).

Media contact:

Marcia Rhodes, Amendola Communications for F4CP

[email protected]

(602) 793-1561

SOURCE Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

Related Links

http://www.f4cp.org


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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Seoul, South Korea  Tue, August 18, 2020 08:30 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066eaa5cb 2 World South-Korea,church,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-quarantine,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Thousands of members of a Protestant church linked to a coronavirus cluster in Seoul have been asked to quarantine, South Korean authorities said Monday, as they accused the group's firebrand conservative leader -- who has reportedly tested positive -- of obstruction.

The country's "trace, test and treat" approach has been held up as a global model in how to curb the virus, but it is now battling several clusters linked to religious groups.

Over the weekend the capital and neighboring Gyeonggi province -- between them home to nearly half the population -- banned all religious gatherings and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel after a burst of new cases sparked fears of a major second wave.

South Korea reported 197 new infections on Monday, taking its total to 15,515, its fourth consecutive day of triple-digit increases after several weeks with numbers generally in the 30s and 40s.

The largest current cluster is centered on the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul, headed by Jun Kwang-hun, a controversial conservative pastor who is a leading figure in protests against President Moon Jae-in.

A total of 315 cases linked to the church had been confirmed by the end of the weekend, officials said Monday, making it one of the biggest clusters so far, and around 3,400 members of the congregation had been asked to quarantine.

Around one in six of the church members tested so far had been positive, "requiring rapid testing and isolation," said vice health minister Kim Gang-lip.

But a list of members provided by the church was "inaccurate", he said, making the testing and isolation procedure "very difficult".

The situation amounted to an "early stage of a large-scale outbreak", said Jung Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"If the outbreak is not controlled right now, the number of confirmed cases will increase exponentially, leading to collapse of the medical system and enormous economic damage," she said.

Turbulent priest

Sarang Jeil's leader Jun was among the speakers who addressed thousands of right-wing protestors who rallied against Moon's centre-left government in the heart of Seoul at the weekend, despite the outbreak and calls to avoid large gatherings.

Jun tested positive for the virus, Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday.

The health and welfare ministry and the Seoul city authorities have filed two separate police complaints against Jun, accusing him of deliberately hindering efforts to contain the epidemic.

He previously defied a Seoul rally ban to hold an anti-government protest in February, at a time the government was urging everyone to stay at home because of the virus, and was later detained on allegations of separately violating election laws.

The initial coronavirus outbreak in the South was centered on the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is often condemned as a cult and was also accused of obstructing investigators.

A lawyer for Sarang Jeil said the church had given authorities details of members going back 15 years, so many former congregants would have been included.

"This nationwide fear is a gimmick to arrest Rev. Jun Kwang-hun," Kang Yeon-jae told reporters at the church.

The leader of Shincheonji -- to which more than 5,000 cases were linked -- Lee Man-hee was arrested earlier this month for allegedly giving inaccurate records of church gatherings and false lists of its members to health authorities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 17

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.
CONCORD, N.H. - Amer Fakhoury, an American who was jailed for months in Lebanon and later released over decades-old murder and torture charges that he denied died Monday, his family said. He was 57.

Fakhoury, a restaurant owner in Dover, New Hampshire, died at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma while in prison.

He had been visiting family in Lebanon in September when he was detained. Lebanese officials accused him of torturing prisoners in the 1990s at a prison run by the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army.

Fakhourys family and lawyer said he worked at the former Khiam Prison, but had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture. They said he was illegally detained.

In March, a judge dismissed the charges after U.S. officials worked to free him. They felt his detention was led by the militant Hezbollah organization, which the South Lebanon Army opposed.

In a statement, Fakhourys family said he was tortured under the hands of Hezbollah.

God loved Amer Fakhoury so much that he took him out of the hands of these terrorists and brought him to his family in America to live out his last days, they said.

Fakhoury became a U.S. citizen last year. His lawyer and family said he fled Lebanon in 2001 through Israel and eventually to the United States because of death threats he and many other SLA members received after Israel ended its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.

Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war since Israels creation in 1948. Lebanon bans its citizens from travelling to Israel or having contact with Israelis.

Fakhoury hadnt set foot in Lebanon in nearly 20 years, but was given assurances from the government that he could return and that his file was clear, his lawyer said.

Fakhoury started looking into a visit after President Michel Aoun encouraged former SLA members to return home. Like many others in the army, Fakhoury faced a charge in 1996 of collaborating with Israel, but that was dropped, his lawyer, Celine Atallah, said.

He was jailed in Beirut while on vacation to visit family. Lebanons intelligence service said he confessed during questioning to being a warden at Khiam, described by human rights groups as a centre for torture.

His lawyer and family said he never abused anyone, and there was never an abuse allegation against him. U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said documents indicated that hes not the individual that the Lebanese and Hezbollah-linked papers allege him to be. She introduced a bill that called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon.

Its heartbreaking to learn of Amers passing, Shaheen said in a statement. She added, Im very relieved that Amer was able to spend the last few months of his life surrounded by loved ones while receiving the best care possible. Amer was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a pillar in his community. He immigrated to the United States, and through hard work and entrepreneurship, he lived the American dream.

Fakhourys case had put a significant strain on already troubled ties between the U.S. and Lebanon. Lawmakers in Washington had threatened to withhold critical aid to the country and impose sanctions on the Lebanese military, which is seen by the Trump administration as a bulwark against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement.

Lebanon has been embroiled in a political and financial crisis, and earlier this month, a massive explosion of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut killed at least 180 people and wounded 6,000.
North Wales nurse fronts national Marks and Spencer campaign to raise money for NHS charities

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Aug 18th, 2020

A North Wales nurse is starring in a new nationwide campaign to help raise funds for the NHS.

Zoe McDonald, 51, is a senior staff nurse with the renal acute team at Ysbyty Gwynedd and is one of four nurses to feature in the campaign being run by Marks and Spencer.

The nurses personal stories about how NHS Charities Together, a federation of over 250 charitable organisations that support the health system, has provided crucial support during the Covid-19 crisis will be shared in stores across the country throughout August.

M&S stores across the region have been raising money over the last few months, with customers have already raising over 36,355 for the federation.

All of the funds generated will go towards helping local NHS services and the North Wales NHS charity, Awyr Las, is one of those which has received donations.

It has supported the development of a wellbeing service that provides a support and counselling network for NHS staff, like Zoe, during the pandemic.

The generous donations have also bought iPads for the wards to help patients keep in touch with their family, virtually, whilst in hospital.

Zoe, who works on the Hebog Ward, said: The first time I had to go to a Covid-19 ward to dialyse a patient, I didnt sleep the night before.

I was terrified, literally shaking when I walked in. The staff on the ward were so good, they put me at ease and now it feels OK to go there. I put my protective gear on; its become part of what we do.

The charity helped fund a wellbeing service that provides support for staff to talk to about their fears or how the pandemic was affecting them, anything really.

Ive heard from quite a few people whove used it and they said it helped a lot. The camaraderie of the staff has got me through. From my incredible manager to staff Ive met for the first time, weve all helped each other.

Peter Swallow, Head of Region for M&S stores in North Wales said: Our local NHS Charity, Awry Las, plays an essential role supporting the community and we cant thank them enough for their incredible efforts over the past few months.

The donations raised so far in M&S stores in North Wales have already done so much to support patients and their loved ones through these challenging times, and we look forward to raising more funds this month with our customers support.

As one of four nurses to feature in the campaign, Zoe is one of four nurses featured in the campaign alongside Mhairi-Jane Ramage, a specialist practitioner district nurse in Midlothian, Scotland; Ray Atienza-Hawkes, charge nurse in the Ambulatory Assessment Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford; and Suzanne Vickers, a matron for palliative and end-of-life care at County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust.

M&Ss partnership with NHS Charities Together has so far raised over 7,448,100 across the UK for good causes.

Donations from M&S have been raised through a number of initiatives, including the retailers Rainbow Sale, which saw ten per cent of each purchase, excluding VAT, donated to the federation.

It has also been selling limited edition bags for life and t-shirts and raising money through one-off donations at till points.

Customers will continue to have the opportunity to donate to NHS Charities Together throughout August.

Stores across North Wales that have contributed to the fundraising include those in Prestatyn, Wrexham Eagles Meadow and Llandudno.
Protesters in Portland have chanted their names for months now  George Floyd and Breonna Taylor Black Americans killed by police this year. But Portlands decades-old movement for police reform started with another name  Kendra James.

On the latest episode of Beat Check with The Oregonian, reporters Noelle Crombie and Shane Dixon Kavanaugh talk about their story analyzing all the fatal police shootings dating back to 2003, when James was shot and killed during a traffic stop.

Since Kendra James was killed, Portland police shot and killed 39 more people, and a disproportionate number of them were black.

We talked about their findings, about several of the killings that have, in particular, galvanized mass protests, and whats has happened to officers involved in the fatal shootings.

Heres the full episode:

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
WASHINGTON - Senate Republican leaders are preparing a slimmed-down coronavirus relief package of roughly $500 billion that will include extended payments for unemployed people and smaller businesses, a GOP senator said Tuesday.

The measure will also include $10 billion for the embattled Postal Service, said one top GOP aide. The agency has become the focus of a campaign-season battle over whether it will have enough resources to handle an expected flood of mail-in ballots for this Novembers presidential and congressional elections.

The fight between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over weathering the pandemic has become a critical battle thats highlighted Trumps troubled handling of an outbreak that has killed over 170,000 Americans, cost tens of millions of jobs and shuttered businesses in virtually every community.

Its also focused recently on newly imposed cuts in Postal Service operations that critics say are aimed at curtailing the agencys ability to deliver mail-in votes in time for them to be counted this November. That has coincided with Trumps repeated insistence, without foundation, that expected record levels of mail-in votes by people eager to avoid polling places will lead to widespread fraud in the elections.

Under intense public and political pressure, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Tuesday that he would withhold some of the operational changes he has begun to impose, like the removal of mailboxes, until after the elections.

Negotiations over a far larger coronavirus relief bill are expected to resume after Labor Day between the White House and top congressional Democrats.

Im hoping that we actually can get back together, and in spite of the proximity to the election, put it aside and reach an agreement sometime soon, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday in Manchester, Kentucky.

With Democrats demanding that bargainers piece together a wide-ranging measure, the trimmer package emerging from McConnell and other top Republicans seems to be an effort to show voters what the GOP would favour enacting quickly. With the partys presidential convention next week, the measure could give Republican senators facing difficult reelection races this fall an opportunity to vote for a relief measure with popular provisions, even though it would probably be blocked by Democrats demanding a more generous bill.

The GOP package was also taking shape as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has summoned the House to return to Washington for an unusual Saturday vote to provide $25 billion for the Postal Service and to block changes in the way it operates. In a letter to fellow Democrats, she said shed continue seeking a broader economic relief bill as the coronavirus crisis continues to spiral further out of control.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a member of the Senate Republican leadership, said the emerging legislation will provide $300 weekly in extra federal payments for unemployed people above the state payments that beneficiaries receive. He said he believes the extra payments would run through 2020.

A massive relief bill approved earlier this year provided $600 extra per week, but those payments expired at the end of July. Democrats want to continue the added $600 in payments, but Trump and congressional Republicans have pushed for less.

Blunt said the trimmed-down measure would also have money for schools to cope with the coronavirus pandemic and for businesses struggling to stay open and retain employees during the staggering recession.

A second GOP Senate aide said the new proposal includes $105 billion for education.

That aide said the plan also has $16 billion for virus testing and $29 billion for developing vaccines, manufacturing treatment and other initiatives aimed at conquering a virus that has killed more than 170,000 Americans and infected more than 5 million this year.

The bill does not include a renewal of the one-time direct payments of up to $1,200 for taxpayers and dependents that were part of early legislation aimed at providing relief to people as the economy slowed to a near halt. In Kentucky, McConnell said hed favour continuing the aid to lower-income people who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic.

The Democratic-led House approved a $3 trillion relief plan in May, while Senate Republicans offered a $1 trillion package. In negotiations between Democrats and the White House that dissolved in bitterness earlier this month, Democrats dropped their proposal to $2 trillion and asked Republicans to meet them at that halfway point, but that has not happened.

The two GOP aides spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the legislation publicly.

___

AP reporter Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky, contributed to this report.
He was born April 25, 1948, at Lexington, the youngest of nine children of Gerald Jack and Velma (Garringer) Horn. He received his education from Lexington Public Schools, graduating from Lexington High School with the class of 1966. Following his education, Clif was inducted into the National Guards and served his country until his honorable discharge.

On August 30, 1969, he was united in marriage to Karen Kay Westbrook at the Baptist Church in Lexington. To this union three children were born: Jeramy, Joshua, and Julia. The couple made their home in Lexington, until moving to Chattanooga, Tenn., where Clif attended Bible College. Following Bible College they returned to Lexington, where Clif began a long career in contracting. Clifs work ethic as a self-employed contractor was to be admired. He was particular about the quality of his work, and in the years to come he was proud to be able to work side-by-side with his son, Jeramy.
By Laman Ismayilova

The 3rd ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival has announced the list of animated films and screenplays to be included in the competition program.

The list of competition participants is available on the festival's official website.

The selection committee for animated films includes Nazrin Aghamaliyeva (Azerbaijan), Aydan Hasanova (Azerbaijan), Liz Manresa (France), Sophie Vimont (France), Nicolina Sterbet (Moldova/Italy), Demetrios Poursanidis (Greece).

The selection committee for screenplays consists of Sevinj Azimova (Elsever) (Azerbaijan) and Jahangir Selimkhanov (Azerbaijan).

All films and screenplays will be evaluated by an international jury. The winners will be announced at the closing ceremony of the 3rd ANIMAFILM festival on October 18, 2020.

Notably, great prizes are waiting for the festival's winners in Azerbaijani categories.

Moreover, the selection committee has decided to add new nominations: Best Azerbaijani Short Student Animated Film (up to 15 minutes) and Best Azerbaijani Screenplay for a Short Animated Film for Children (up to 6000 characters).

Most of submissions came from United States. Countries, such as England, Canada and France were active as usual. Number of submissions doubled compared to last year. We also received around 20 films and around 40 screenplays from Azerbaijan. This makes us very happy, as it shows that animation in Azerbaijan starts to recover, said the festival's director Rashid Aghamaliyev.

The selection committee has reviewed 433 applications from 58 countries. The committee accepted around 146 works to the competition program.

Notably the third ANIMAFILM Festival will be held in two cities of Azerbaijan, Baku and Sheki on October 14-18.

The festival is supported by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture, Sheki City Executive Power, Azerbaijan Union of Film-makers, Embassy of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan, Embassy of France in Azerbaijan, French Institute in Azerbaijan, Nizami Cinema Center, Mujru Publishing, Barat Abdullayev and other partners and sponsors.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Kota (Rajasthan):

Prime Minister Narendra Modis wife Jasodaben on Sunday appreciated the demonetisation move, saying it will curb both corruption and black money, and hoped the central government will continue to work for the countrys progress and development.



The decision by the Union government to demonetise old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will curb both corruption and black money in the country. The move will bring back black money stashed abroad, she said.



Jashodaben was Kota in Rajasthan to attend a function as the chief guest.



When asked to comment on Modi-led governments performance, she appreciated the work done so far and hoped it will continue to work for the progress and development of the nation and welfare of the people.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Rhea's Lawyer Says Her Silence Shouldn't Be Mistaken For A Weakness

Rhea's lawyer Satish Maneshinde said that the investigation report of the police is lying with the Supreme Court in a sealed cover. He said in his statement, "Even if Rhea is to be investigated by a third agency, she will face it. Thankfully, in this Electronic Age, nothing can be concocted or manufactured. Media is requested not to speculate its own theories and make unsubstantiated claims. She has remained silent to such allegations. Her silence should not be mistaken for a weakness. Truth will remain the same."

Rhea Chakraborty Denies Allegations Levelled Against Her By Sushant's Father

Sushant's father KK Singh had filed an FIR against Rhea and her family in Patna under several sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Through her lawyer, Rhea has denied all the allegations levelled against her by Sushant's father. Rhea's lawyer said that it is total nonsense and an afterthought to make allegations after a period of 40 days, the manner in which it has been made before Bihar Police.

Satish Maneshinde said that no allegations whatsoever were made till 27th July 2020 by anybody in the family before the Mumbai Police or to any authority. He said that teir statements were recorded by Mumbai police and that they are educated and have an IPS officer OP Singh in the family.

Calling the allegations 'totally concocted' and 'fabricated' for ulterior purposes, Rhea's lawyer said that the actress denies all allegations of abetment of suicide, misappropriation of funds and others or otherwise.

Rhea Chakraborty's Lawyer On ED Investigation

Satish Maneshinde said, "Both the Mumbai Police and the Enforcement Directorate have been handed over all of Rhea's financial documents which clearly show the falsity of such allegations. She has not received a single transfer from Sushant's accounts. All her Income Tax Returns have been examined by Police as well as ED. Neither of them have found anything incriminating against her."

He further said that so far, Rhea and her family has cooperated with the Enforcement Directorate.

Rhea Chakraborty's Lawyer Says Actress Has No Objection To CBI Inquiry In Sushant's Death Case

"Rhea has always maintained that she would like the truth of the matter to be revealed by virtue of a fair and impartial investigation. She has admitted in her Petition to the SC that she sent a Message to Amit Shah Union HM to order a CBI investigation. She has also informed the SC that if the Court transfers it to CBI she had no objection. What she has challenged is the illegal registration and investigation of Bihar Police without jurisdiction and transfer to CBI of an illegal investigation. Unless the Maharashtra government consents to a CBI investigation , the case cannot be transferred to CBI. Instead, the Bihar government ought to have transferred the investigation to Mumbai Police as per the Notification issued by the Union Government. The very foundation of the Federal Structure is at stake by the present actions for Bihar government," Rhea's lawyer said in his statement.

Rhea's Lawyer Reveals Why The Actress Was Apprehensive About The Nature Of Investigation By Bihar Police

Satish Maneshinde continued in his statement that as per law, the Bihar police ought to have registered a 0 FIR and transferred the investigation to the Mumbai police since they have no jurisdiction to investigate Sushant's death case.

He said, "Rhea will not submit to an illegal investigation. There were various reasons that made my client apprehensive about the nature of the investigation that would be conducted by the Bihar Police. The Bihar Police registered the FIR on the same day that the complaint was received, despite a delay of over 40 days."

Satish Maneshinde claimed that the Bihar Police arrived in Mumbai without ever summoning his client to cooperate with their investigation. He said that there were several newspaper articles quoting the advocate of the complainant as having stated that the Bihar Police were hesitant to register the FIR but did so at the behest of the political leadership in Bihar.

Satish Maneshinde said that his Rhea Chakraborty has not shied away from cooperating with any investigating agency till date, but she is entitled to a fair and impartial investigation by an agency which has Jurisdiction to investigate the case. She further added that the manner in which the proceedings were instituted and being conducted in Bihar made it appear unlikely that she would receive a fair treatment.
Eine altere Frau versucht sich mit einem Schal gegen Infektion und Allergie zu schutzen

The guidelines around COVID-19 are constantly evolving as experts learn more about the novel coronavirus, but one recommendation from doctors and the CDC has remained intact: wearing a face mask can slow the spread of the virus. Up until recently, just about any face covering had been deemed helpful, provided it covered your nose and mouth. However, new research from Duke University suggested that neck gaiters - the pieces of fabric that act like a sleeve for your face and neck - are far less efficient than a traditional face mask.

In the study, researchers tracked how many particles from a person's mouth were being released into the air through and around the mask. The results suggested that the neck gaiter may actually be worse than wearing no mask at all. After the study was shared widely, though, the research team at Duke clarified with The New York Times that the data was misconstrued. "Our intent was not to say this mask doesn't work, or never use neck gaiters," said Martin Fischer, PhD, an associate research professor at Duke and a coauthor of the study. In fact, the purpose of the study was to test an inexpensive technology that would allow mask manufacturers to evaluate their own products.

What's more, The New York Times reported that Linsey Marr, PhD, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, had conducted her own study on single-layer and double-layer neck gaiters, which found that both blocked particles from escaping the mask, though the double-layer gaiter was more effective. "I've been recommending neck gaiters, and my kids wear neck gaiters," Dr. Marr, a leading expert on aerosols, told The New York Times. "There's nothing inherent about a neck gaiter that should make it any worse than a cloth mask. It comes down to the fabric and how well it fits."

To get a better understanding of what works - and doesn't - in the fight against COVID-19, we spoke to two experts to get their take on these latest developments.

Story continues

Related:

Why Face Masks Are More Effective When Everyone Wears One

Face Masks Are Most Effective When Everyone Wears One, So Enough With the Excuses

What Makes Neck Gaiters Less Effective Than Other Masks?

David Cutler, MD, a family medicine physician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, told POPSUGAR that more research is needed to better understand the efficacy of the different types of face masks. That being said, it's widely understood that N95 masks - which should be left to medical professionals - are the most effective at blocking the virus. Surgical masks and fabric face masks are acceptable for daily use among the general population, Dr. Cutler explained. Where does this leave neck gaiters? "Cloth gaiters will likely be less effective than a cloth mask that has a paper filter inside to block virus transmission," he said.

As the NYT piece noted, that's in part because multilayer masks - with or without a filter - seem to offer more protection. Many people have been wearing neck gaiters while exercising because of how easy they are to take on and off and because they're commonly made with a single layer of porous material that's easier to breathe through. However, this is part of what makes neck gaiters problematic: if the fabric is easier for you to breathe through, it's also more likely that your germs can escape. According to Dr. Cutler, the porous material can "allow germs to flow through," and it can also hold more moisture (as in, your spit), "which can sustain viral activity."

If you're taking the gaiter on and off while exercising, you're also touching it with potentially unclean hands, something the CDC recommends people avoid doing.

Related:

How to Wash a Fabric Face Mask

A Doctor Explains How to Properly Clean Cloth Face Masks to Keep Germs at Bay

Is It Ever OK to Wear a Neck Gaiter?

What's most important is that you're wearing something over your mouth and nose. "One thing we know with fair certainty is that if everyone wore a mask, there would be a lot less COVID-19," Dr. Cutler said. In light of this latest research around neck gaiters, specifically, Dr. Cutler noted that the average fabric face mask or neck gaiter isn't perfect, but it's still useful. "The key takeaway about masks is that everyone should wear one," he explained. "We should all accept that perfect is the enemy of good."

That being said, multiple layers of fabric will always be better than one, regardless of which type of mask you choose. "The CDC recommends using a mask that traps respiratory droplets and prevents them from being released," Mike Bell, MD, deputy director of the CDC's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, told POPSUGAR. "Use a fabric that you can layer (two to three layers) that's washable." Be sure to wash the mask after each use.

Similarly, Dr. Bell noted that one of the most important factors of a face mask is that it fits snugly around your face, something not all neck gaiters do. "The main job of the mask is to keep the respiratory droplets that you produce when talking, sneezing, coughing, and raising your voice to sing or shout from being spread into the environment around you, possibly landing into the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or be inhaled into the lungs of others," Dr. Bell said.

So make sure your mask is sitting securely against your face at all times, and keep a safe distance of six feet between yourself and others.
President Trump said Tuesday that he will grant a posthumous pardon to Susan B. Anthony, one of the major figures of the womens suffrage movement.

The presidents announcement came on the 100th anniversary of the ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

I will be signing a full and complete pardon of Susan B. Anthony. She was never pardoned, Trump said at the White House Tuesday morning.

The womens rights activist was arrested in 1872 for voting as a woman in Rochester, New York and was later convicted. Several years later, in 1878, the amendment giving women the right to vote was presented to Congress thanks to Anthonys efforts.

She was also active against slavery and collected anti-slavery petitions while still a teenager.

Anthony died in 1906.

More from National Review
Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) is among several people charged with damaging a Confederate monument during a protest in Portsmouth that left a man critically injured, police announced Monday.

Lucas faces a count of conspiring to commit a felony and felony injury to a public monument in excess of $1,000 in relation to the June 10 incident, Police Chief Angela Greene said at news briefing, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Greene also announced warrants against Portsmouth NAACP President James Boyd, a local school board member and others allegedly involved in the protest where demonstrators toppled a statue honoring a Confederate soldier, according to WVEC. The charges follow an independent investigation and come ahead of a special legislative session during which Virginia lawmakers are set to discuss police and criminal justice reforms.

Lucas and others are accused of organizing the destructive protest and summoning hundreds to take part, which led to the monument being destroyed. A man was hurt as protesters brought down the statue, McClatchy News reported.

I am asking for these persons to immediately turn themselves in to the Portsmouth Police Department, Greene said, according to the Times-Dispatch.

News of the charges against Lucas drew criticism from fellow Democrats including Gov. Ralph Northam, who voiced support for the state lawmaker.

It's deeply troubling that on the verge of Virginia passing long-overdue police reform, the first Black woman to serve as our Senate Pro Tempore is suddenly facing highly unusual charges.@SenLouiseLucas, I look forward to seeing you in Richmond tomorrowso we can get to work. https://t.co/flI9W5HnYH  Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) August 17, 2020

Its deeply troubling that on the verge of Virginia passing long-overdue police reform, the first Black woman to serve as our Senate Pro Tempore is suddenly facing highly unusual charges, Northam wrote on Twitter.

Story continues

Claire G. Gastanaga, executive director for the ACLU of Virginia, told the Associated Press she feels the charges are political. The civil rights group has since called for all charges to be dropped against Lucas and the six others.

I think theyre discriminatory, Gastanaga told the outlet, which confirmed the Portsmouth Commonwealths Attorneys office hadnt approved the police charges. The police department is making decisions about who should be charged in a circumstance in which the elected (prosecutor) is being bypassed. The police want a different result.

The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus also weighed in on what they called suspiciously timed and seemingly retaliatory actions by Portsmouth police against the senator.

I believe during the incident in question, Sen. Lucas stood up for protesters, Chairman Lamont Bagley said in a statement. Were confident that justice will be served and that she will be exonerated of these charges. She was there fighting for justice.

McClatchy News contacted Lucas office for comment Tuesday and is awaiting response.

The investigation into the protest is ongoing, Greene said.
As an investigation into the deaths of two people found inside an SUV submerged in the water near the Boston Seaport, authorities say videos show the vehicle crashing through a guardrail.

Tatianna Morales and Djovany Pierre were discovered inside a 2008 Ford Escape submerged the water off the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal on Friday. Their families had reported them missing on Wednesday, according to the office of Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins.

Security cameras near the terminal captured footage of the white Ford Escape, which belonged to Morales, crashing through a wooden guardrail and into the Reserved Channel at 10:32 p.m. on Tuesday, Rollins office said in a statement issued Tuesday.

My office continues to investigate the deaths of Tatianna Morales and Djovany Pierre with the goal of finding answers for their loved ones and the public. Were also here to connect their families with resources and assistance as they cope with this tragedy, Rollins said.

The investigation is ongoing, as authorities look to determine facts surrounding the incident, including the nature of Morales and Pierres relationship, the district attorneys office said.

Anyone with information about the deaths is asked to call the Suffolk County State Police detectives unit at 617-727-8817.

Morales, of New Bedford, and Pierre, of Roxbury, were 21 years old.

Massachusetts State Police troopers had received information last week that an SUV went into the water near 88 Black Falcon Ave., officials said in a previous statement.

The SUV was found in about 40 feet of water, around 15 feet out from the pier, according to the statement from state police.

Divers were able to extricate Morales from the vehicle and bring her body to shore. Pierre could not be pulled from the vehicle while underwater. Divers hooked tow cables to the SUV, which was then winched out by a truck, state police said.

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JERUSALEM - Israel and Sudan on Tuesday said they are close to reaching a peace agreement  setting the stage for a possible second dramatic diplomatic breakthrough for Israel with its Arab neighbours in a matter of days.

A Sudanese Foreign Ministry official announced that his government is looking forward to concluding a peace agreement with Israel, drawing a pledge from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do all thats needed to wrap up a deal.

The announcements came days after Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced an agreement to establish formal diplomatic ties.

While Sudan does not have the resources and influence of the UAE, it has a far more hostile history toward Israel.

Sudan hosted the landmark Arab conference after the 1967 Mideast war where eight Arab countries approved the three nos: no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel and no negotiations.

In 1993, the U.S. designated Sudan a state sponsor of terrorism in part for its support of a number of anti-Israel militant groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah.

But in recent years those hostilities have softened, and both countries have expressed readiness to normalize relations.

Sky News Arabia quoted a Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying his government looked forward to a peace agreement based on equality and Sudanese interests.

There is no reason to continue hostility between Sudan and Israel, the spokesman, Haidar Badawi, was quoted as saying.

We dont deny that there are communications with Israel, he added, saying both countries would gain much from a deal.

But Sudans Acting Foreign Minister Omar Qama al-Din sought to distance himself from the spokesmans comments, saying in a statement the remarks were received with astonishment. He said his ministry did not discuss the issue of ties with Israel.

A Sudanese government official told The Associated Press that deliberations between Sudanese and Israeli officials have been going on for months, with help from Egypt, the UAE and the U.S.

Its a matter of time. We are finalizing everything. The Emirati move encouraged us and helped calm some voices within the government who were afraid of backlash from the Sudanese public, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

In February, Netanyahu met Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the head of Sudans transitional government, during a trip to Uganda where they pledged to pursue normalization. The meeting was held secretly and only announced after the fact.

In a statement Tuesday, Netanyahu said Israel, Sudan and the entire region will benefit from a deal. We will do all thats needed to turn this vision into a reality, he said.

After last weeks announcement with the UAE, Netanyahu predicted that other Arab countries would soon follow suit.

An Israeli deal with Sudan would mark a new setback for the Palestinians, who have long counted on the Arab world to press Israel to make concessions to them as a condition for normalization. That wall of Arab support had long served as one of the Palestinians few points of leverage against Israel.

The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority severed ties with the White House after President Donald Trump recognized contested Jerusalem as Israels capital in December 2017. The Palestinians have rejected Trumps Mideast plan released early this year, which heavily favours Israel, as being unfairly biased. They have condemned the Emirati decision as treason.

With the Palestinians not speaking to the White House, the Trump administration has adopted a Mideast policy that essentially ignores them while pursuing a broader Arab-Israeli rapprochement. U.S. officials believe that Palestinians will eventually tire of isolation if they see fellow Arabs pressing ahead with improved relations with Israel and ultimately agree to negotiate a settlement, even if it means backing down on some of their most significant demands.

At the same time, Arab countries have become increasingly willing to pursue interests that come at the expense of the Palestinians.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that he would reject a similar agreement to the Israeli-UAE deal made by another Arab country.

Addressing a PLO meeting in Ramallah, Abbas said that other Arab countries are moving in secrecy and in public saying why not? We are totally rejecting that.

Sudan is desperate to lift sanctions linked to its listing by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror  a key step toward ending its isolation and rebuilding its economy after the popular uprising that toppled longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir last year.

A Sudanese official had acknowledged in February that the meeting with Netanyahu was orchestrated by the United Arab Emirates and aimed at helping to remove the terror listing, which dates back to the 1990s, when Sudan briefly hosted Osama bin Laden and other wanted militants.

Under al-Bashir, Sudan was also believed to have served as a pipeline for Iran to supply weapons to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. Israel was believed to have been behind airstrikes in Sudan that destroyed a convoy in 2009 and a weapons factory in 2012.

Last weeks announcement made the UAE the third Arab country to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel.

Egypt was the first, in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994. Unofficial ties with Gulf Arab nations have also grown in recent years, fueled by shared enmity toward Iran.

A deal with Sudan could also give Netanyahu a boost at home.

Netanyahu has seen his personal popularity drop due to the coronavirus crisis, which has ravaged the Israeli economy. He also faces widespread criticism while on trial for charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Israel has long courted African support. In exchange for its expertise in security and other fields, Israel wants African states to side with it at the U.N. General Assembly and other international bodies that have long favoured the Palestinians.

Israel renewed diplomatic relations with Guinea in 2016. After Netanyahu visited Chad for a renewal of ties in 2019, it was reported that Israel was working to formalize ties with Sudan.

___

Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo, Matthew Lee in Washington, Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank, and Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed reporting.

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AKRON, Ohio  A 14-year-old male walking along a street in the Kenmore neighborhood was robbed and then shot in the arm, police say.

It was one of multiple shootings reported during the weekend in Akron involving juvenile victims, including a shooting Friday that killed an 8-year-old girl and wounded a 14-year-old girl. A 17-year-old male was wounded in a shooting Sunday in the North Hill neighborhood.

Officers were called to the area of Kenmore Boulevard and 22nd Street S.W. at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. When they arrived, the teen told police he was walking west on Kenmore Boulevard when a silver Pontiac G6 pulled up and unidentified suspects got out.

The suspects began going through the teens pockets, but reportedly took nothing. One of the suspects then fired a shot, wounding the teen in the arm. The car was later found abandoned behind a house on the 2300 block of 18th Street S.W.

The teen was treated at Akron Childrens Hospital and his injury is not considered life-threatening, police say. One of the suspects was described as a male in his early 20s, with dreadlocks, police say.

Also Sunday, police say a 17-year-old male was wounded in the stomach in a shooting late Sunday in the North Hill neighborhood. Witnesses tell police the teen was involved in a shootout among two groups on the 700 block of Carpenter Street. A house and vehicle were struck by bullets, police say.

The victim was taken to Summa Health Akron City Hospital and his condition was unavailable Monday. No arrests have been made.

Saturday night, a 27-year-old male worker at Hibachi Express on the 800 block of West Market Street was wounded in the stomach in a shooting, police say. The victim was found in an alley behind the restaurant, police say.

The suspect is male in his late 20s and was wearing a dark green shirt and dark jeans. He left the area in a dark colored vehicle with tinted windows.

The shootings remain under investigation. Anyone with information can call detectives at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Tips can be sent by texting TIPSCO to 274637. Callers can remain anonymous.

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Police chases bookend carjacking at Willoughby dealership that led employee to shoot at suspect

Teen charged in crash that killed 13-year-old girl during Cleveland police chase to be tried in adult court
Bachelor front-runner Bella Varelis has called out claims she knew Locky Gilbert before appearing on the Channel Ten reality show.

Speaking to The Herald Sun on Tuesday, Bella was quick to shut down the talk.

'I haven't been to Bali in five years and it genuinely baffles me the lengths people will go to,' Bella said. 'I've never even watched Survivor.'

'It's complete bulls**t': Bachelor front-runner Bella Varelis, 25, (pictured) has shut down claims she knew Locky Gilbert prior to going on the show

She then directly called out former co-star Nadine Kodsi, who claimed the pair knew each other: 'I didn't even have a conversation with Nadine.

'I don't listen to it [her claims] because 99 per cent of it would be complete bulls--t.'

'I'm trying not to let it get to me but it does suck when people question your integrity,' she added.

The comments appear to be a response to what was said by Nadine on the So Dramatic podcast earlier this week. Nadine alleged their love story was a set-up.

An article by Woman's Day also made similar claims, albeit attributed to a source.

Hitting back: 'I haven't been to Bali in five years and it genuinely baffles me the lengths people will go to,' Bella said. 'I'd never even watched Survivor.' Pictured: Here with Locky (L)

'Apparently they met in Bali and she basically made an agreement to go on the show and then they'd be together,' Nadine claimed.

Speculation the pair knew each other prior to the show has been swirling amid Locky and Bella's incredible chemistry on the show.

Locky was confronted with rumours Bella is the winner of this season, while appearing on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Really? 'Apparently they met in Bali and she basically made an agreement to go on the show and then they'd be together,' Nadine Kodsi claimed

Putting Locky on the spot, radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson said: 'Her name is Bella, she's got long, dark hair and she just looks like your type of girl.'

'Now they're saying she's one of the favourites with another girl,' Jackie added, referring to 31-year-old nurse Irena Srbinovska.

Locky dismissed the betting odds, pointing out that he too had been an early bookies' favourite to take the Survivor crown, but didn't end up winning.

Loved-up? Speculation the pair knew each other prior to the show has been swirling amid Locky and Bella's incredible chemistry on the show

'I don't think so. I was paying a favourite on Survivor for Sportsbet, and I clearly didn't win, so they never know what they're talking about,' he said.

It comes as TAB's latest betting odds strongly suggest that the winner of The Bachelor has been leaked ahead of the premiere.

The bookmaker has Irena and Bella as joint favourites to win Locky's heart, with equal odds of $2.50.

Their closest rival is aspiring actress Marlaina McPhillips, who at $6 is the only other contestant in single figures.

The Bachelor continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Ten
The Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) might have recruited the younger brother of former Soviet Union Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze and an alleged girlfriend of Vladimir Putin, according to RAW: A History of Indias Covert Operations by journalist Yatish Yadav. The book, released by Westland Publications, reveals Indian spies carried out a spectacular operation in Moscow to glean the vital secrets on Pakistan and China.





An excerpt from the chapter titled Patience and Pillow Talk is followed.













***





RAW: A History of Indias Covert Operations

Hardcover. Rs 730.

Excerpt courtesy: Yatish Yadav and Westland Publications





***





The Indian spies were the first to spot the tall, silver-haired political figure when Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev landed at Palam Airport in Delhi in November 1988 with an entourage of diplomats and intelligence operatives. His visit was seen as a reaffirmation of the rock-solid relationship between India and the USSR as well as Gorbachevs determination to bring new thinking to Soviet foreign policy. In fact this new thinking, which eventually put an end to the decades-long cold war, was engineered by a man in President Gorbachevs core team. Gorbachev and the awe-inspiring political figure codenamed Nicholas Darchidze had decided to move away from confrontation and create a peaceful atmosphere across the world. Known for his anti-corruption campaign in the communist nation, Nicholas knew when to switch sides in political battles and had swiftly moved from Leonid Brezhnevs team to Konstantin Chernenkos camp before being picked by Gorbachev in 1985 for his cabinet.





At the banquet that evening, an intelligence officer codenamed Ashok Khurana met the man. Soon after, Nicholass younger brother Aleksandre Darchidze interrupted the polite conversation between the two. Khurana was introduced to Aleksandre and the handshake that followed made the Russian a welcome guest on the list of the R&AWs prized possessions. Aleksandre was in love with India. Khurana, considered to be the agencys best spy recruiter, took him the next day on a daylong trip to the Taj Mahal in Agra. In the shadow of the monument of love, Khurana cajoled and wooed the powerful Georgian who later became the most important asset the R&AW spies had ever recruited.





The espionage recruitment process has an immense coolness about it. When they were driving back to Delhi, Khurana told Aleksandre that no one knows the ultimate value of freedom better than spies because they risk everything. I may not have a doctrine for life but you will find me always there for you through the chaotic moments the world will witness soon, Khurana said.





Aleksandre, well aware of the working style of intelligence organisations, smiled at Khurana. A spy remains a mystery till his last breath. But Aleksandre and Khurana had a sentiment in common against Hamid Gul, chief of Pakistans Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI), for breeding terrorism in the subcontinent. Aleksandre was part of the Soviet group that had supervised the KGBs training of the Afghan intelligence services to fight Guls spies.





Just remember, I dont want to be crucified like Jesus and never try to be a shepherd, was Aleksandres parting advice.





Khurana told me that he had devised a unique mechanism to interact with Aleksandre. They always met in foreign locations and exchanged books and periodicals containing loose sheets that were gibberish to others but a goldmine for Khurana. They never discussed politics in public places. The intense battles between spies and traitors due to the cold war had created new power blocs and India was quite interested in gleaning the secrets of both sides.





In July 1989, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was in Moscow to hold talks with Gorbachev. While the two leaders discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation aside from developments in Afghanistan and Europe, Aleksandre introduced Khurana to Anastasia Korkia, a twenty-seven-year-old public relations executive. Born in Rustavi in southeastern Georgia, Anastasia had moved to Moscow about two months after the Chernobyl disaster and begun working for a lobbying firm that was liaising with the government and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). A tall, green-eyed beauty, she was fluent in English and a walking encyclopedia on global political affairs. Aleksandre told Khurana that he had been knocked off his feet when the two first met sometime in November 1986. Anastasia moved in with him and, bitten by the love bug, Aleksandre provided her with easy access to the top echelons of the Soviet government. During their brief interaction, Khurana was introduced as a special friend.





Khurana remained in Moscow even after the prime minister returned to India and spent several evenings at the Aragvi cafe, a favourite joint of the Soviet elite and spies. The relationship between a spy and a potential recruit is exhausting because it requires patience. You have to see if there is a lock on the face, Khurana explained. If there is none, the door of opportunity is open. No wait lasts forever, but we must leave the process in the shadows.





Khurana waited patiently for Aleksandres and Anastasias reluctance to work for the R&AW to dissipate. Recruiting an agent can be a nerve-wracking task. The agent must use everything in her or his power to be persuasive, build the bond of friendship and prevail over the potential recruits fear of betrayal. A recruiter cannot rush to buy a mole. So he waited for his moment. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the two agreed to be R&AW assets. And from November 1989, Khurana started receiving reams of intelligence on Soviet policies towards the USA, Europe and Asia. This was called Operation Azalea.





No intelligence is a waste. It helps the country calibrate its approach to the world and be ready for future incidents. Khuranas early harvests were Soviet communications linked to Europe and the USA and soon, he also started receiving inputs on the Soviet policy on Pakistan. Months before the demolition of the Berlin Wall began in June 1990, Khurana was provided with roadmaps prepared by the Soviets and the USA for a united Germany. Although the Indian government had no major stake in either West or East Germany besides enhanced economic and trade ties since 1982, the intelligence dossier helped the government redraft its current policies and prepare for upcoming events, such as the way the reunified country would deal with issues like their political apparatus, commercial infrastructure, monetary and other social issues. When Aleksandres brother Nicholas planned to visit Washington to hold talks with the Americans, the Indian intelligence was well informed in advance about the agenda on nuclear testing, counterterrorism and reconstruction of trade ties between the two superpowers. The two best-placed assets inside the Soviet regime then informed Khurana that the two sides discussed the withdrawal of their troops from Europe to bring stability in the region. The Indian spy continued to run the two significant assets even after the disintegration of the USSR.





Khurana was a professional. He wasnt interested in the personal lives of Aleksandre and Anastasia but he was aware that differences had begun to appear between them after the formers brother was made premier of the newly carved independent state of Georgia. Sexual entrapment is not new in the world of espionage and Aleksandre, Khurana learnt, had used Anastasia as a potent weapon to extract vital intelligence, knowing fully well the risks involved. Khurana said nothing. He continued to receive his harvest. Anastasia had found a lover in a keeper of Russian secrets at KGB headquarters in Dzerzhinskaya Square. The man had played a crucial role during the cold war and according to Aleksandre, was going to shape the new power structure in the next few years. Several intelligence reports about Pakistans nuclear programme that Khurana dispatched to R&AW headquarters were the product of pillow talk. When the first BJP-led government came to power for a brief period of time, Khurana was moved to another operation, but he maintained ties with his assets. Khurana said that the intelligence picked up by Anastasia was so good that he had requested a transfer back to the Russian theatre within a year. In 1999, Anastasias lover, codenamed Alexei, was at the helm of affairs in Russia. Now Khurana knew virtually everything happening and being planned at the Kremlin. Alexei was a close ally of India though Indian interest in him was limited to needing prior knowledge of his moves towards Pakistan and China. Sometime in late 2000, Alexei was promoted. Khurana met Aleksandre in Tbilisi. His brother Nicholas was facing political turmoil, yet the two discussed and planned the future of Operation Azalea. Nicholas had returned to power in the April 2000 election, but there was brewing discontent among his cabinet colleagues that was fanned by the opposition. He was worried that disgruntled elements inside Georgia were supported by social sector organisations operating from the USA.





Aleksandre, however, quietly dropped a bombshell. Anastasia could provide intelligence on other countries that Alexeis regime was gleaning from a variety of sources including double agents, but this would come at a heavy price. Khurana knew the agent was pushing the boundaries but he remained non-committal. In such a scenario, he said, the decision has to be taken by the top bosses. Khurana recalled that the offer was deliberated for some time at the highest levels of the R&AW. Questions were raised as to whether Anastasias move was politically motivated to spread disinformation. And above all, what was the utility of buying such intelligence at a high price?





Any slack end may inflict enormous damage to a cordial relationship, Khurana was warned.





Fearing a backlash, the government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not interested in continuing the operation. Since spies cannot operate in a political vacuum, Khurana had to accept the governments priorities. When he conveyed the decision to Aleksandre in April 2001, the Georgian said nothing. He just smiled before leaving the Moscow cafe where they had met.





I ran into Aleksandre in Berlin sometime in 2004. I was sitting in a cafe and having a chat with an old friend when he came over and patted my back. I was happy as well as embarrassed to see him, Khurana told me. He whispered in my ear, We could have prevented December 2001 and left. He meant that if I had continued running them, we could have prevented the December 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament. Tragedy can often be traced to mistakes we have made in the past. His words haunt me every time we pay homage to our brave security personnel on 13 December. No matter how good the deal was, for me personally, Operation Azalea ended in both massive triumph and failure, Khurana said.
HOUSTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Insgroup, Inc., one of the largest independent insurance brokers in the region, announced today their inclusion on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest growing private companies. Insgroup was recognized for the third time in five years, earning a place on this year's list with an impressive three-year growth rate of 55.18%.

"We continue to experience tremendous growth because our firm is rooted in a growth mindset. Our colleagues have a passion for continuous learning and the courage to change and innovate," said Insgroup's President and Chief Executive Officer, Brian Kapiloff.

"This mindset brings even greater value to our clients. It is at the core of the strategic solutions we design, the tools and technology developed to support them, and the relentless advocacy we provide at every touchpoint."



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 Inc. 5000's aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years. In this same time period, Insgroup added more than 50 new jobs and expanded into two new markets.



"The companies on this year's 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."

About Insgroup, Inc.

Insgroup, Inc., was founded in 1978 in Houston, Texas, by a group of entrepreneurs committed to providing the security necessary for business owners and individuals to pursue their dreams. Insgroup is the largest closely-held insurance brokerage firm in Texas with nearly 200 colleagues in Houston, Dallas, Addison and Austin. With expertise in Property & Casualty Brokerage, Employee Benefit Consulting, Private Risk Services, and Surety, Insgroup serves clients nationwide and partners with premier national, regional and specialty insurance carriers across the United States. For more information, visit www.insgroup.net.



Inc. 5000 Methodology

The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com/inc5000.



SOURCE Insgroup, Inc.

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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
<! Olusegun Obasanjo >

Nigerias former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how late former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington leaked information of his planned arrest by the regime of despot leader, Sani Abacha to him in 1995.

According to him, Carrington offered him political asylum in the United States of America during his trip to Copenhagen to attend the World Social Summit as Human Development Ambassador of the United Nations Development Programme.

He said he turned down the asylum offer despite its tempting and assuring nature.

Obasanjo in a condolence letter to the wife of the late Ambassador, Arese Carrington, said Carrington helped in easing the move to democratic rule in the country.

Carrington was one of the responsible, matured and respected voices to take Nigeria out of the unwholesome situation it had found itself  permanently in crisis, regularly threatened with disintegration, prolongingly devoid of democracy, and economically plundered and mismanaged.

Indeed, I recall, sometime in 1995, that on one of my trips to Copenhagen to attend World Social Summit as Human Development Ambassador of the United Nations Development Programme, I received the most touching of the warnings, pieces of advice and offers to me from Amb. Carrington.

He called me in Copenhagen and told me categorically that I was going to be arrested on returning home and, therefore, advised me not to return home.

But he did not stop it there, he offered me political asylum by his government in the US. That was both touching and assuring, but I decided that, tempting and assuring as the offer was, I would not take it. I came back and was arrested and imprisoned by Abacha. No doubt, his generous assistance to my family while I was a political prisoner makes me forever indebted to him.

When I was in prison, he was one of the few foreign Ambassadors who regularly visited my wife to encourage her and to find out how I was doing in prison. I can proudly say he was a true friend and brother, Obasanjo narrated in the letter.

The former president sympathised with Arese over the loss, saying that Carrington was the most outstanding diplomats of our time in the world.

I must say I received the news of the demise of this great brother and friend with mixed feelings of sadness and gratitude to God.

I was sad because we will miss his contribution to the building of a new world of his dream and an Africa of our joint dream but I am grateful to God for his life well spent in the service of God and humanity. Throughout his spectacular life, Amb. Carrington was devoted to something greater than he was.

He was committed to improving humankind through the fairness, kindness, optimism and intelligence he brought to bear on all his undertakings, and through the righteousness, humanness and harmony he promoted in the US as a human rights activist and indeed across the world.

He came to Nigeria with love, ate and drank Nigerian delicacies and drinks, showed a significant demonstration of oneness by walking the aisle to tie the nuptial knot outside nationality bounds with one of our illustrious daughters and that is you, and he was loved and appreciated by the people through giving him a Yoruba name Omowale and naming a street after him in Victoria Island, Lagos.

It is right that people from around the world at this point in time have been generously pouring encomiums on your late husband. I am, therefore, using this medium to add my voice to theirs in recognizing his outstanding commitment and devotion to the advancement of humanity.

 We celebrate his life well spent in the service of humanity and we will continue to project his principles and values in contributing to governance, security, and sustainable development of the African continent. His legacies will live on and continue to touch many lives and generations to come. Indeed, it gladdens my heart to know not only Nigeria and Africa, but many nations around the world had a friend in him, he said in the letter obtained by The Punch.

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Joshua trees dot the Southern California desert. Renewable energy corporations have launched a campaign to derail a petition seeking special protection for the species. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Renewable energy corporations have launched an eleventh-hour campaign to derail a petition seeking endangered species protection for Joshua trees, saying it could hinder development of the solar and wind power projects California needs to wean itself off fossil fuels.

Lawyers for the renewable energy industry say that by helping to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, they are helping to mitigate climate change and the threat it poses to sensitive desert species such as the western Joshua tree.

The state Fish and Game Commission on Aug. 20 is expected to vote on whether to accept the petition, which was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity. Approval has been recommended by state biologists.

As a candidate for listing, a species is temporarily afforded the same protections as a state endangered or threatened species.

California needs a lot of solar energy facilities built in order to meet its renewable energy goals, said Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Assn., in a recent interview.

We figure the number of Joshua trees that would be impacted would only be in the hundreds, potentially thousands, said Randy Hoyle, chief development officer at Terra-Gen Power, a renewable energy developer in the California desert.



Thats an almost infinitesimal number compared with the overall population of Joshua trees.

The center, however, charged that the industrys argument is a smoke screen.

We agree that climate change is a threat to Joshua trees and that we need to shift to clean energy as fast as possible, said Brendan Cummings, the centers conservation director and a resident of the community of Joshua Tree. But there are far better places to do that  fallowed farmlands in the Central Valley, for instance  than on top of Joshua tree woodlands.

Yet for some reason, he added, renewable energy companies seem drawn to development on Joshua tree woodlands like moths to flame.

Story continues

A final decision by the five-member state panel is expected next year. If the trees are listed, the law requires state wildlife managers to devise a recovery plan, which could limit development across thousands of acres of southeastern Californias sunniest real estate.

About 40% of the western Joshua trees range is on private land where a state endangered-species law would apply, according to the petition, and includes the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Hesperia, Victorville and Yucca Valley.

Supporters of the petition include U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and environmental organizations led by Sierra Club California, Hispanic Access Foundation, Vet Voice Foundation, the National Parks Conservation Assn. and Native American Land Conservancy.

Joshua trees embody the spirit of the California desert, Feinstein said in a recent letter to the commission, and it is crucial that we preserve their unique, iconic beauty for future generations and for the health of fragile desert ecosystems.

Just like environmental groups, most renewable energy companies, state and local lawmakers and communities across the region want to settle this fight as soon as possible.

Tapping the regions renewable energy potential was a top priority of the Obama administration, which sought to ease the nations dependence on fossil fuels and curb global warming. More recently, the Trump administration has moved to limit restrictions on desert development. In addition, California is committed to shifting the states electricity system off fossil fuels by 2045.

But some opponents of the petition suggest that saving Joshua trees may not be as important as the economic consequences.

Terra-Gen Power, however, has asked the state commission to delay its vote until January so that state legislative committees can first investigate the implications of listing Joshua trees on state climate goals, energy projects, power purchase agreements and employment opportunities.

Before a commission vote on the matter, Terra-Gen Power said it wants state wildlife authorities to provide it with clear, unambiguous instructions on how to expedite permits to remove or destroy Joshua trees standing in the way of proposed renewable energy projects.

The center, however, wants the commission to stick to its current schedule. We filed our petition 10 months ago, Cummings said. They had plenty of time to seek their permits.

It's a controversy that has reached a boiling point in Yucca Valley, where a recent public records request filed by community activist Ernesto Nevarez produced a trove of critical information.

There have been 450 requests for permits to destroy, remove or alter a Joshua tree filed in the town of Yucca Valley over the past three years, Nevarez said. Every one of them was signed off on the same day they were filed. Not one was denied.

Now theres a push to topple as many Joshua trees as possible before the commission votes on the petition, said Nevarez, a former organizer for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. So far this year, there have been 147 applications for permits to deal with Joshua trees on private property, roughly twice the number filed the previous year.

This lamentable paper trail suggests, he added, that the Town of Yucca Valley, despite its arguments to the contrary, isnt capable of properly handling its own permitting processes for dealing with sensitive species.

The Yucca Valley Town Council has denounced the petition as unnecessary because the trees are already protected under city and county ordinances and within the nearby 800,000-acre Joshua Tree National Park.

In Yucca Valley, property owners are required to get a free native plant permit from the town in order to remove, relocate or trim a Joshua tree that interferes with an existing or planned structure, roadway or utility, or is hazardous to pedestrians.

So far this year, the town has approved the destruction of 213 Joshua trees and relocation of 169 others, according to the information gathered by Nevarez.

In a letter to Nevarez, Town Clerk Leslie Copeland said she could not find any records of citations, fines or prosecutions for violating Yucca Valleys native plant ordinance over the last three years.





For the record:

1:35 PM, Aug. 18, 2020: A previous version of this post attributed a quote to Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Assn. It was Randy Hoyle, chief development officer at Terra-Gen Power, who said, We figure the number of Joshua trees that would be impacted would only be in the hundreds, potentially thousands. Thats an almost infinitesimal number compared with the overall population of Joshua trees.




MANZINI - TUCOSWA Deputy Secretary General Muzi Mhlanga will get E40 000 instead of the E1million he was claiming from government for his tooth.

This is because the court has ruled that government should compansate Mhlanga a sum of E40 000.

Mhlanga, who is also a former secretary general of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), lost the tooth in March 14, 2015 while attending a meeting for the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), which was eventually quashed by the police.

Inspection

The ruling was issued by Judge Nkululeko Hlophe last Friday. He said the court conducted an inspection in loco at SNAT Centre, where the incident took place, but upon arrival, the area had been completely interfered with. The judge said a bulldozer or grader had cleared the top soil and the car ports, where the mini-bus Mhlanga had been in had been parked.

I managed to establish that the conduct amounting to an interference with the scene happened in June 11, 2020 (a day before the inspection in loco), the judge said. He said it was very strange for this to have happened on the day they should have held the inspection in loco after the plaintiff had already been there and would have advised his former subordinates that the court was coming for the inspection the next day.

It is strange that they would have gone to interfere with the scene in that manner and in the process cause a total change of what the setting had been before as a mere coincidence, the judge said.

He said obviously, such conduct was unfortunate and in a way it compromised the observations of the court, which ended up being unable to ascertain how the mini-bus had been parked on the fateful day. He said this was because there ended up being a dispute on how the mini-bus was parked visa-versa the SNAT buildings auditorium and the side door which was not necessarily the main one when those meant to hold the meeting inside the auditorium were evacuated. The court said, the plaintiffs case was that the mini-bus had been parked so as the southern part of SNAT Centre, which would be the Manzini Bus Ranks view.

Meanwhile, it said the defendants contention was that same was parked facing the eastern part of the SNAT Centre, which was Prince Mfanyana Hall.

Position

The crucial aspect of this contested position of the bus had a lot to do with the view ordinary witnesses would have of the occurrences, particularly the assault of plaintiff.

The judge said the dentist who attended to and extracted the plaintiffs tooth or dislocated incisor was not led for him to clarify how the dislocation ame about, including when it had been effected.

It would be difficult, if not dangerous for this court to attribute same to the alleged assault by the police officers. This means that the plaintiff had not discharged the onus of proving his case virsa-versa, the dislocation of his incisor on a balance of probabilities, the court said.

It added that in other words, it had not been shown that the dislocated incisor was attributed to the police officers.

There is only a strong suspicion it was, which is not enough for the law, the court said. The court added that it had been argued that the assault was a very minor one, which at some instances occurred in situations where the plaintiff himself was resisting instructions from the police.

Be that as it may, one was not allowed to assault another, where same could not be justified in law.

I cannot find as a fact that the injuries found on the plaintiff were a result of the assault, the court said.

However, it said it could not ignore that the fact that Mhlanga was found with abrasions and bruises by the doctor on matters he was qualified to testify on and draw certain inferences in law.

Exaggeration

He said it was also in dispute and an exaggeration that he (Mhlanga) was seen lying on the ground at some point, which is consistent with scuffling, hence the bruises and abrasions referred to by the doctor.

That being the case, the court said it seemed that the plaintiffs claims only had to succeed to the extent of what it found to have been a minor assault to him. It said in keeping with the finding and bearing it in mind that there was hardly any special damages proved as opposed to general ones, it said it would make the following order covering the overall damages it found to have been inflicted on the plaintiff, which they would have been very minimal were it not for the abrasions on Mhlanga as found by the doctor.

Consequently, I order that the defendant pays the plaintiff damages in the sum of E40 000 together with costs, the court said.

In that regard, Mhlanga said the fact that the police had to go to court and account for their alleged action was enough. He said he wanted to set a precedent as they had been allegedly assaulted by the police in the past and no one had taken them to court. He added that for him, it had not been about money, but to make the police account for their conduct.
Joe Biden is applauded by his wife Jill and family members after being officially nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate at the DNC on 18 August, 2020: DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION/A

Joe Biden was nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate on Tuesday night after during an improved virtual Zoom convention saw former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, along with establishment political figures Colin Powell and John Kerry, unite behind the former VP to take on Donald Trump in November.

The progressive wing of the party, however, delivered a snub as Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez didn't mention Biden during her nomination of Bernard Sanders for the candidacy.

The night focused on Jill Biden, who said her husband would fight for the soul of America with the same grit he showed following the death of their son from cancer.

Donald Trump wasn't silent during the convention, lashing out at the DNC after Bill Clinton placed responsibility for the US's coronavirus cases on the "chaos in the oval office".

"Tell the Dems that we have more Cases because we do FAR more Testing than any other Country!" Trump said in a tweet just as the former president finished up his remarks.

Clinton wasn't the only former president shipping for Biden, however, with 95-year-old Jimmy Carter making his first appearance at a Democrat convention in eight years.

Biden was Carter's "first and most effective" supporter in the Senate during the 1976 presidential campaign, and his character and decency was best for the American people.

Biden's character and decency was placed in stark contrast to Trump throughout the event, with Powell saying those personality traits would restore America's leadership and moral authority after four years of what Kerry said has been a blooper reel of incoherent foreign policy.

Former acting US attorney general Sally Yates, meanwhile, was less colorful in her assessment of the president's actions, saying he "trampled the rule trying to weaponize our Justice Department to attack his enemies."
Dublin, Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Stepper Motor Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type; Technology" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The stepper motor market was valued at US$ 1,992.8 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 2,803.6 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.85% from 2020 to 2027.



Motors form an essential component of medical equipment. Presently, stepper motors are one of the most common motor types used in medical analyzers. Further, there is an increasing demand for stepper motors in X-ray machines, ultrasound scanners, IV pumps, as well as blood analyzers. Recent technological developments in the healthcare industry, e. g., oxygen concentrators, use stepper motors in fans for cooling. The compact size and low noise of stepper motors make it an ideal choice for medical applications.



Additionally, hybrid stepper motors are an appropriate choice for applications that require low-cost along with a fine resolution of shaft movements, such as in peristaltic pumps and medical syringe. The rising demand for medical devices worldwide owing to the increasing number of patients and governments efforts to enhance healthcare infrastructure is, in turn, propelling the growth of the stepper motors market.



Based on type, the stepper motor market is categorized into integrated lead screw stepper motor, rotary stepper motor, and fully enclosed stepper drives. In 2019, the rotary stepper motor segment dominated the stepper motor market. Rotary stepper motors are brushless and synchronous electric motors, which split a full rotation of the motor into several numbers of steps. They are considered to act as synchronous AC motors comprising several poles, which are mounted on both rotor and stator. These motors are used in a wide range of systems in industrial setup, including multi-axis machines, CNC machines, rotation stages, high-speed pick-and-place equipment, constantly driving linear actuators, linear stages, lead screws or ball screws, and mirror mounts. While selecting a rotary stepper motor, one should consider parameters such as required speed range, desired rotary or linear step resolution and step accuracy, maximum loading in each direction, and type of load (frictional, inertial, mechanical spring, or shock load). These motors can be customized or engineered as per the requirement of applications.



The stepper motor market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa. APAC held the largest share of the global stepper motor market, followed by North America and Europe, in 2019. The largest share of this region in the stepper motor market is mainly attributed to countries such as India, China, and South Korea have robust automotive sectors. These countries are also among the leading vehicle manufacturing countries in the world. Further, the region is becoming prime manufacturing hub for medical devices, with China and India being the leaders. Developing economies, such as Vietnam, are also witnessing growth in the manufacturing of medical devices. China and Japan have prominent aerospace manufacturing industries.



ABB Ltd., Applied Motion Products Inc., Delta Electronics Inc. Faulhaber Group, National Instruments Corporation, Nidec Corporation, Nippon Pulse Motor Co. Ltd., Oriental Motor Co. Ltd., Sanyo Denki Co. Ltd., and Schneider Electric SE are among the major players in the global stepper motor market.



Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Stepper Motor Market



COVID-19 outbreak, which began in Wuhan (China) in December 2019, has rapidly spread across the globe. It has badly affected China, Italy, Iran, Spain, the Republic of Korea, France, Germany, and the US in terms confirmed cases and reported deaths as of March 2020. The continuous growth of infected individuals has led the government to impose lockdown across the nation's borders. The majority of the manufacturing plants are shut down, municipalities are functioning slowly as compared to the past, and the automotive and semiconductor industries are at a halt, which is negatively impacting the stepper motor market. In terms of patient count and death toll, Canada and Mexico are still at a nascent stage in comparison with the US. However, the manufacturing plants, the semiconductor industry, and several other businesses are functioning slowly, which is negatively impacting on the stepper motor market.



Reasons to Buy

Story continues

Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.

The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the stepper motor market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.

Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.

Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.

Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to components, aircraft type, and end-users.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology

3.1 Coverage

3.2 Secondary Research

3.3 Primary Research



4. Stepper motor Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.2.1 North America - PEST Analysis

4.2.2 Europe - PEST Analysis

4.2.3 Asia-Pacific - PEST Analysis

4.2.4 MEA- PEST Analysis

4.2.5 SAM- PEST Analysis

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis



5. Stepper motor Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Growing Adoption of Robotics and Automation in Diverse Industries

5.1.2 Rising Applications of Stepper Motors in Medical Field

5.2 Market Restraints

5.2.1 Growing Implementation of Servo Motors in Motion Control Applications

5.3 Market Opportunities

5.3.1 Surging Demand for Miniature Stepper Motors

5.4 Future Trends

5.4.1 Technological Advancements

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Stepper motor Market - Global Analysis

6.1 Stepper motor Market Overview

6.2 Stepper motor Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

6.3 Market Positioning - Global Market Players Ranking



7. Stepper Motors Market Analysis - By Type

7.1 Overview

7.2 Stepper Motors Market Breakdown, by Type, 2019 and 2027

7.3 Rotary Stepper Motors

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Rotary Stepper Motors Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.4 Fully Enclosed Stepper Motors

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Fully Enclosed Stepper Motors Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.5 Integrated Lead Screw Stepper Motors

7.5.1 Overview

7.5.2 Integrated Lead Screw Stepper Motors Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



8. Stepper Motors Market Analysis - By Technology

8.1 Overview

8.2 Stepper Motors Market Breakdown, by Technology, 2019 & 2027

8.3 Permanent Magnet Stepper Motor

8.3.1 Overview

8.3.2 Permanent Magnet Stepper Motor Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.4 Hybrid Stepper Motor

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Hybrid Stepper Motor Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8.5 Variable Reluctance Stepper Motor

8.5.1 Overview

8.5.2 Variable Reluctance Stepper Motors Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



9. Stepper Motors Market Analysis - By End User

9.1 Overview

9.2 Stepper Motors Market Breakdown, by End-User, 2019 & 2027

9.3 Semiconductors

9.3.1 Overview

9.3.2 Semiconductor Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.4 Packaging and Labelling

9.4.1 Overview

9.4.2 Packaging and Labelling Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.5 Medical Equipment

9.5.1 Overview

9.5.2 Medical Equipment Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.6 Industrial Machineries

9.6.1 Overview

9.6.2 Industrial Machineries Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

9.7 Others

9.7.1 Overview

9.7.2 Others Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)



10. Stepper Motor Market - Geographic Analysis

10.1 Overview

10.2 North America: Stepper Motor Market

10.3 Europe: Stepper Motor Market

10.4 APAC: Stepper Motor Market

10.5 MEA: Stepper Motor Market

10.6 SAM: Stepper Motor Market



11. Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak

11.1 IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON GLOBAL STEPPER MOTOR MARKET

11.1.1 North America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.1.2 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.1.3 Asia-Pacific: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

11.1.4 RoW: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic



12. Industry Landscape

12.1 Market Initiative

12.2 Merger and Acquisition

12.3 New Development



13. Introduction

13.1 ABB Ltd.

13.1.1 Key Facts

13.1.2 Business Description

13.1.3 Products and Services

13.1.4 Financial Overview

13.1.5 SWOT Analysis

13.1.6 Key Developments

13.2 Applied Motion Products, Inc.

13.3 Delta Electronics

13.4 FAULHABER Group

13.5 National Instruments Corporation

13.6 Nidec Corporation

13.7 Nippon Pulse Motor Co. Ltd.

13.8 Oriental Motor USA Corp.

13.9 SANYO DENKI CO., LTD

13.10 Schneider Electric SE



14. Appendix

14.1 About the Publisher

14.2 Word Index



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/k59fla

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900




Waving guns at unarmed protesters is now officially a qualification to be a Republican star, and next week, the St. Louis couple that aimed weapons at passing Black Lives Matter demonstrators is scheduled to appear at the virtual Republican National Convention. The Washington Post reports that Patricia and Mark McCloskey, each of whom have been charged with a felony for unlawful use of a weapon, will appear on behalf of the president, while, unsurprisingly, expressing their fealty to President Donald Trump.

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Trump and other Republican officials have been publicly supportive of the white couple, both personal injury attorneys in their 60s, after they emerged armed from their house on June 28 as protesters passed by while demonstrating following the police killing of George Floyd.* The couple claimed the protesters made them fear for their lives and that they were protected by Missouris castle doctrine, which allows individuals to protect their homes. Their backers on the right also point out that the several hundred protesters were technically on private propertythe residential street was privately administered though it resembled any other normal streetas they made their way to protest at the nearby house of the citys Democratic mayor.

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The McCloskeys, who surely have lots of thoughts on the state of America today, are set to appear along with other Republican luminaries like former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and rising star in the Trump universe South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. As a cherry on top of the GOP lineup, former Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann, who had a standoff with a Native American activist at the Lincoln Memorial last yearand subsequently sued both CNN and the Washington Post for their coverage of itwill also reportedly be a speaker.

The way the Republican lineup is shaping up, it might be hard to find space to wedge Scott Baio and Tim Allen in this year.

For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below.
SpaceX is racking up wins this year, solidifying its role in the top tier of space companies operating in the U.S. today  and pressuring the rest of the industry into a new era of spaceflight.

Why it matters: Instead of remaining the young upstart breaking all the rules, SpaceX is now creating the rules for the other companies involved in the industry.

But as SpaceX transitions from startup to established leader and space companies that have been around for decades attempt to modernize, it's not yet clear how  and how quickly  the space industry will channel its growth.

What's happening: SpaceX has uprooted the idea of what an aerospace company can and should be, working on thin margins and performing feats  like landing orbital rocket boosters and reflying them  that were previously the realm of science fiction.

So far this year SpaceX has launched 13 missions to orbit.

The company's most resounding success was its launch and landing of its first crewed mission for NASA, bringing human spaceflight back to U.S. soil for the first time in nine years.

SpaceX also moved out ahead of its competitors working to create fleets of internet-beaming satellites in orbit, with more than 500 Starlink spacecraft launched so far.

The company's prototype Starship  which is expected to one day be SpaceX's interplanetary vehicle  successfully flew and landed in a test flight this summer.

SpaceX also won a huge contract for military satellite launches in the 2020s.

The big picture: SpaceX is at the same time going through the growing pains of a company moving from one phase of its life in the industry to the other.

Instead of being the new company on the block, SpaceX is now serving as the model for many of the startup space companies coming onto the scene today.

Because of their position in the industry, "they [SpaceX] always have to be their best. They have to be on," Eric Stallmer, the president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, told Axios. "They're going to be more and more scrutinized."

SpaceX didn't respond to requests for comment for this story.

Yes, but: The inertia of the space industry is immense, and it's not yet clear whether SpaceX has the momentum to propel the rest of the industry into its vision of the future.

Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and other companies have been involved in the industry for decades longer than SpaceX and their ties with the government  still the industry's biggest customer  especially run deep.

Last week Musk sniped at United Launch Alliance on Twitter after both companies won huge national security contracts, belying the founder's continued frustration with the staying power of the Boeing-Lockheed Martin initiative.

What's next: SpaceX is expected to fly more test flights of its Starship in the coming year, further proving out the spacecraft.
Election 2020 Myanmars Ruling Party Unveils Campaign Committees Ahead of November Election

NLD supporters attend an election campaign rally in Yangon in 2015. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONThe ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) on Monday announced the formation of election campaign committees at the central and state/regional levels ahead of the general election on Nov. 8.

The central committee is led by State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as chair and President U Win Myint as secretary. The committee also includes former president U Htin Kyaw, current Vice President U Henry Van Thio, Upper House Speaker U Mahn Win Khaing Than and several regional and state chief ministers.

In the upcoming election, the NLD will field more than 1,000 candidates including 80 percent of sitting lawmakers who won parliamentary seats in the previous general election in 2015.

The NLD said in its announcement that the campaign committees were formed in accordance with the decision of the partys Central Executive Committee (CEC), made at its meeting on July 21.

The NLDs central campaign committee comprises 31 members in total. The party has also assigned about 200 members to the 15 state and regional campaign committees across the country.

It also said that all members of the NLD are responsible for participating in election campaign activities.

Ahead of the 2015 general election, the NLD announced that its chair, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and patron U Tin Oo would serve as spokespersons for policies and election-related announcements.

At that time, CEC member U Nyan Win was assigned the role of spokesperson for matters relating to the Union Election Commission (UEC) and election laws, and fellow CEC member U Win Htein was appointed spokesperson for issues relating to the election campaign.

Then CEC member U Win Myint was assigned as a spokesperson for affairs relating to NLD representatives and candidates.

For this election, NLD CEC member U Win Htein has not been assigned a role in the campaign.

In the 2015 general election, the NLD won a sweeping victory, defeating the then-ruling, military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and taking office the following year.

Myanmar currently has 94 registered political parties. They will vie for a total 1,171 seats that are up for grabs in both houses of the Union Parliament and in the state and regional legislatures.

According to the UECs rules, political parties are allowed to begin their election campaigns in September.

You may also like these stories:

Critics Slam Myanmar Pro-Military Parties Meeting With Army Chief

Five Muslim Candidates Rejected From Myanmars Election

Dozens of Myanmar Political Parties Seek Assurances From Military Chief Over Election Concerns
There are fears students potentially isolated due to remote learning in the wake of coronavirus are being targeted by criminals looking to launder money through their bank accounts.

Last year, there was a spike in 'money muling' by those under 30 and the problem is now at record levels, according to Cifas.

The number of cases of suspected fraud reported to the prevention service rose to an all-time high of 364,643 in 2019, nearly 84,000 of which were classed as 'misuse of facility'.

Close to three quarters of these cases, the number of which had risen 64 per cent in the last five years, were reported after banks saw instances of suspected money laundering.

Money mule: The fraud reporting service Cifas said cases of suspected money muling involved people under 30, 62% of the time

Banks have become concerned that younger people are being increasingly targeted by criminals to act as money mules and let them pass ill-gotten gains through their bank accounts.

The data shows 62 per cent of cases of suspected money muling reported to Cifas involve people under 30.

Many are unlikely to be aware of the risk of applying for a job advert offering easy money or responding to a post on social media, or letting someone transfer money into their bank account and out again in return for payment.

Those hit with a Cifas marker, which This is Money has previously reported are sometimes unfairly applied, can be left with frozen bank accounts and the inability to apply for anything from a phone contract to a mortgage.

And those found guilty of money muling can even face a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Three university students aged between 20 and 28 were sentenced to a collective 38 months in prison last September after they helped criminals launder 64,500 stolen in a scam from a woman in her eighties by passing the money through their bank accounts in return for payment.

Now, with the new university year around the corner and 18-21-year-olds particularly at risk of being targeted, banks have urged students to be on their guard.

Ross Martin, head of digital safety at Barclays, said: 'It's a prime time for fraudsters to be targeting young people with the lure of making easy money.

'It might be particularly tempting given the current situation with the job market and the need for extra money if family finances are tight.

'Always do your research and check that the job is legitimate - don't run the risk of damaging your future career and finances.'

Younger social media users are frequently recruited as money mules with the promise of making easy money.

Students have been warned never to allow a company to use their bank account to transfer their money or accept a job asking them to do so and to be wary of job adverts which seem too good to be true.

They should also avoid adverts on social media offering get rich quick schemes, and to speak to someone they trust if they feel pressurised into accepting money into their bank account.

Britain's biggest bank Lloyds said it had frozen 41million of funds in more than 41,000 suspected money muling accounts since 2018, and that over the last three months seven in 10 people identified as money mules were under 30, with the largest age group being 18-21.

Its retail fraud director Paul Davis said: 'Young people tend to be a much more popular target for fraudsters using fake job ads, targeted emails and social media ads promising cash in exchange for making bank transfers or withdrawing and depositing money.

'We have seen some cases where scammers have targeted 'mules' as young as 16, and we've spotted the transaction that looked out of character for the usual activity on the account.'

The largest age group of those suspected by Britain's biggest bank Lloyds of being money mules were those aged 18-21. University students are believed to be especially at risk

Barclays previously found three in 10 reported money mules in 2018 were under 21 years old, with a 13 per cent rise in suspected accounts between 2018 and 2019.

Research has suggested large numbers of young people are unaware of the consequences of laundering money, whether wittingly or unwittingly.

Seven in 10 university students polled by Barclays said they were not aware of the consequences, while separate polling from Santander found the same number of people did not know what a money mule was.

The bank, which said more than half of all suspected mules were under 25 in 2018, found 27 per cent of people surveyed would click on a recruiting post they saw on social media offering them easy money.

Santander's head of fraud strategy Chris Ainsley said: 'It's alarming to see not just how criminals prey on unsuspecting social media users, but how many people are unaware of what a money mule even is. It takes just a few clicks to become embroiled in this type of crime, but the consequences can have a lifelong effect.'
Election 2020 Myanmar Opposition Parties Spend Big on Facebook Ads Ahead of Election

UBP chair Thura U Shwe Mann (right), USDP chair U Than Htay (center) and PPP chair Daw Thet Thet Khine (right).

YANGONAs Myanmars general election nears, political parties founded by a former general and a ruling party renegade, as well as the countrys ex-ruling party, widely regarded as a military proxy, are flooding the countrys most popular social media platform, Facebook, with ads in an effort to promote their activities and raise their profiles among voters.

Among the parties, the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the Peoples Pioneer Party (PPP) led by former NLD stalwart and jewelry businesswoman Daw Thet Thet Khine, and the Union Betterment Party (UBP) led by retired general Thura U Shwe Mann have been the most aggressive in vying for the attention of Facebook users in Myanmar.

According to The Irrawaddys analysis of Facebooks Ad Library, USDP-related pages spent around USD$3,700 (about 5 million Myanmar kyats) from Dec. 22 to Aug. 17 to promote the partys activities among Myanmar Facebook users. According to Facebook, the library is intended to promote advertising transparency by providing a searchable collection of all ads running on Facebook apps and services, including Instagram.

Among the USDP-related pages, the USDP Women Committee page spent $2,400 from Dec. 22 to Aug. 17 on ads designed to gain the attention of Facebook users, mostly featuring the partys slogan, activities and campaign promises. Each post aimed to reach about 1 million people and had 10,000 to 500,000 impressions. Impressions refers to the number of times an ad is seen on a screen (but may include multiple views by the same person), as opposed to reach, which estimates the size of the audience thats eligible to see an ad, based on targeting criteria, ad placements and how many people were shown ads on Facebook and its related services in the past 30 days, according to Facebook.

The majority of USDP-related ads currently active on Facebook feature videos and photos of U Than Htay, the partys president. The USDP Women Committee spent $100 on an ad featuring a recent post by U Than Htay marking his 40th wedding anniversary. In the post, the chairman boasted how ethnically pure his family is, including a racist comment asserting that there are no long noses or blue eyes or curly hair or charcoal-colored skin in my family. Though the comment was not elaborated on, anyone familiar with Myanmar politics is sure to think of Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose late husband was British and whose two sons are citizens of the UK.

From June 6 to Aug. 17, the USDP Farmers Committee page spent $600 on five posts promoting the USDPs plan to help farmers. Moreover, the USDP Workers Committee boosted three postsat a cost of $100 eachto promote the partys plan to improve the life of blue-collar workers.

The USDPs chapters in Aunglan (in Magwe Region), Bago (in Bago Region) and Kyaukse (in Mandalay Region) townships also spent a total of $400 to get more attention from Facebook users. Each post aimed to reach 1 million Facebook users.

According to the Ad Library, from July 28 to Aug. 14, Daw Thet Thet Khines Facebook page boosted seven posts at a total cost of $2,100 to obtain followers and promote the partys political and economic policies, as well as its activities, organizational structure and so on.

The page spent up to $1,500 to attract Facebook followers from July 31 to Aug. 14 with potential reach and impressions of 1 million each. It spent $100 from July 28 to Aug. 10 in an effort to see the partys campaign song reach 1 million Facebook users. The pages also spent $500 to boost five posts among Myanmar Facebook users that outline the partys political and economic policies, and highlight its activities and organizational structure.

Meanwhile, the PPPs official Facebook page appeared to be sponsored in news feeds on July 31 at a cost of around $500 in an effort to get more followers with a potential reach of 100,000 to 500,000 people and 500,000 to 600,000 impressions.

From Aug. 5 to 8, the page spent another $100 to advertise a live program focused on constitutional reform involving its chair, Daw Thet Thet Khine, vice chair U Myint Maung Tun and associate secretary Dr. Cho Set Thway. From July 30 to Aug. 10, the PPP-Mayangone Facebook page spent nearly $400 to attract more followers or to be seen in newsfeeds among people who live in Yangon.

Daw Thet Thet Khine, the incumbent Lower House lawmaker for Dagon Township in Yangon, aims for her party to unseat the incumbentNational League for Democracy (NLD) Central Committee member and former political prisoner Daw May Win Myintin Mayangone Township. Daw May Win Myint herself plans to seek reelection in Mayangone Township in the upcoming election.

None of the advertisements run by the PPP and Daw Thet Thet Khine that were seen by The Irrawaddy included a disclaimer. To improve transparency and accountability, Facebook requires that advertisers running political, advocacy or issue ads include a disclaimer label that reads Political Ad in the top left corner, with paid for by information next to it.

The Irrawaddy found that candidates and the spokesperson for the PPP spent a total of $500 on ads to promote their pages on Facebook.

Moreover, a page named News Place Media spent $100 to boost a post featuring Daw Thet Thet Khines response to criticism that her party had copied the campaign slogan of Singapores ruling party.

The Union Betterment Party (UBP) led by retired general Thura U Shwe Mann spent up to $700 on advertisements on Facebook from Aug. 2 to Aug. 17. The posts mostly introduced the partys policies and candidates. A sponsored post outlining the UBPs manifesto for the upcoming election is still active on Facebooks newsfeed.

Moreover, the official account of Thura U Shwe Mann spent $100 from Aug. 2 to 5 to attract more followers among Facebook users with the aim of reaching 1 million users and 175,000-200,000 impressions.

The Facebook account of UBP spokesperson and Central Committee member Daw Su Su Hlaing spent around $500 from Aug. 8 to 15 to boost party-related activities on Facebook with potential reach of 1 million per post.

Despite these parties heavy spending on Facebook ads, the ruling NLDs official page has yet to advertise its activities on Facebook. Nor have other popular parties such as the Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD), Kachin State Peoples Party (KSPP), Peoples Party (PP), Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) or other major ethnic parties based in Karen, Mon and Kayah states.

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The news first broke on page 3 of The Sunday Times a number of weeks back. Of course, most people, once theyd read the - admittedly fantastical, but also limited - detail, quickly put it down to a funny early August-type news story. You know the ones - throw a fairly harmless suggestion out there and itll give those bare newspaper pages something to be filled with.

But, it looks like the plan to build a new city just down the road from Dundalk, along the M1 Corridor, has a little bit more potential to it than it might first have been afforded.

In case you had missed it entirely, the gist of it is that a Hong Kong tycoon mooted the idea of building a 100,000 (which then became 30-50,000) person city, with the majority being Hong Kong ex-pats looking for somewhere else to settle.

The tycoon in question is a Mr Ivan Ko. Who is the founder of the Victoria Harbour Group (VHG). Which is an international charter city investment company based in the former British colony.

At first it looked like six potential Irish locations were being put forward, with an area south of Dundalk in the running.

However, if the photograph which landed into the Democrat email from the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce has anything to say on the matter, then it would appear that Dundalk is seemingly in pole position for any potential Nextpolis (the suggested name of any such city).

The Chamber met a representative of Mr Ko, a Mr Dave McDaid, last week in Dundalk for some, what appear, very preliminary discussions about what Dundalk and the M1 Corridor has to offer in this regard.

If the rumours are to be believed, the M1 Corridor (which stretches from Dundalk to Drogheda) is the preferred choice.

During the meeting there were proposals put forward, ranging from building a new hospital for the area, the installation of a new light rail transportation system, plus the creation of a new university.

All of the above is music to basically everyones ears in the region.

It sounds wonderful. It sounds like it could take Dundalk and the M1 Corridor region to the top level.

Lending more weight to the argument, last Wednesday yours truly recieved a phone call from reporter with the Asia Times, looking to get come comment and reaction from on the ground in Dundalk about how such a proposition would be received by the good folk of the town.

As with any such proposal, that old adage - theres many a slip twixt the cup and lip - needs to be adhered to rigidly here.

It remains to be seen what happens over the coming weeks and months in relation to Nextpolis.

Still, it made the usually dog days of August a little bit more intriguing than they usually are.

We wait with bated breath for the next tidbit of information on this one.
In a scene that immediately conjured up images of Portland protesters snatched off the street by federal agents last month, 25-year-old Matthew Cartier, a former information technology worker, was abducted by plainclothes, heavily armed local police and charged with multiple crimes during a Civil Saturday march in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Screenshot of video showing police kidnapping in Pittsburgh

Cartier is facing three charges, obstruction of a highway or other public passage, disorderly conduct and failure to disperse after being kidnapped and jailed Saturday evening. Cartier was a designated marshal for the protest; his purpose was to protect the participants by helping to alert and clear traffic ahead of the marchers.

According to the criminal complaint, Cartiers actions caused motorists to stop suddenly  causing annoyance and inconvenience to the entire neighborhood.

There have been at least 51 incidents of protesters injured or killed after being struck by vehicles since nationwide multiracial and multiethnic demonstrations against police violence began in late May, following the Memorial Day murder of George Floyd at the hands and knees of the Minneapolis police department.

It has been well documented that far-right elements, including police, have used their vehicles as weapons to intimidate and maim protesters, prompting protesters to take necessary measures in order to protect their constitutional right to assemble and protest.

Treasure Palmer, a cofounder of the group Black, Young, & Educated, which organized Saturdays march, defended the group's use of marshals to protect demonstrators, saying, Our marshals work tirelessly to protect our protesters, when the police do not.

Video of Cartiers kidnapping at the hands of Pittsburgh police spread quickly over the internet, where the initial video has been viewed over 136,000 times as of this writing.

Cartier, in a Twitter thread, attests that he was lured by police who initially asked him for directions before abducting him: When I approached the van to provide directions the passenger grabbed me and multiple other men sprang out of the back of the van heavily armed to arrest me. I was driven to the busway where officers searched me and transported me to ACJ [Allegheny County Jail].

Sergeant Donald Mitchell of the Civil Affairs unit characterized the illegal arrest as a surgical maneuver to remove the person, and said that police chose to arrest Cartier in this fashion in order to prevent the crowd from gathering around him, which would only incite them further.

Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert called the arrest, a calculated movement done to ensure that everything was safe.

Mayor Bill Peduto blamed Cartier for being kidnapped, writing on Twitter after video of his abduction began to go viral that Constitutional rights ... have restrictions. while name-dropping the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in justifying the police abduction.

Witold Walscak, legal director of the ACLU, responded to Pedutos characterization during an interview with local CBS station KDKA on Sunday. Walscak remarked, Mayor Peduto is correct that the ACLU of Pennsylvania consulted with the city in drafting guidelines for how to handle protests, specifically unpermitted protests that block roadways.

However, Walczak continued, based on eyewitness accounts, the arresting officers were in clear violation of their own guidelines. According to those who were there, the law enforcement officers involved made no effort to work with protest leaders to clear the area and gave no clear dispersal order. Instead, they tricked a protest leader to approach them and then whisked him away. The ACLU of Pennsylvania has never suggested that the snatch-and-stash arrest of a peaceful demonstrator is ever acceptable.

During a Sunday press conference, Peduto fell back on a common lie told by mayors and governors throughout the ongoing demonstrations against state violence. Flanked by police and Pittsburgh Public Safety director Wendell Hissrich, he blamed outside groups for blocking streets and for failing to communicate or consult with police about the planned protest route.

A.D. Bagheera, one of the organizers of the march, disagreed that the group has not communicated with the city. I have not gotten any communication from the mayor, the Public Safety department, or the police, except for one email seven weeks ago, she said during a Monday press conference.

After roughly 200 protesters gathered outside Pedutos residence on Sunday demanding his resignation, Peduto struck a different tone on social media Monday, tweeting out how livid he was after seeing the video of Cartiers abduction, and vowing to never tolerate these tactics being used at peaceful protests again.

Saturdays abduction is an important lesson for workers and youth who are under illusions that the disturbing scenes in Portland are just an aberration due to the intervention of US President Donald Trump and that things will be different or go back to normal under a new administration headed by a Democrat (like Mayor Peduto).

The assault on democratic rights is bipartisan and intensifying. Cartier was not abducted by federal agents sent into the city against the wishes of the Democratic governor or mayor, but by local police from the Special Deployment Division under the auspices of the mayor and a nine-person city council, all Democrats.
A third suspect was arrested in the April murder of a 21-year-old man in a Campus Habitat apartment.

The suspect fled the state shortly after the shooting, said Isabella County Prosecutor Dave Barberi, and was caught in Chicago. He was extradited from Chicago and is expected to arrive at the jail sometime Tuesday evening with arraignment expected Wednesday.

Miykael Norfleat, 20, of Chicago, and Justin Collins, 22, of Mt. Pleasant, have been charged in the shooting death of Raven Tre-Von Edelen, 21, of Wyoming (Mich.), in the evening of April 20. Both were charged with open murder, first-degree home invasion and felony firearm. Norfleat was additionally charged with carrying a concealed weapon.

That night, Norfleat is accused of bursting into an apartment in the 500 block of Edgewood Drive, while Edelen, who also went by Ray Nori, was playing videogames with friends in the living room.

Edelen was shot while he wrestled with Norfleat. Two witnesses in the apartment escaped through the window, where one of them saw Collins.

When Mt. Pleasant police officers arrived at the apartment, Edelen was already dead, according to the criminal affidavit.

The third man was connected to a red car used for Norfleat and Collins to leave the scene, Barberi said. The car was videoed at Apartment M-5 at Deerfield Village Apartments, 3400 Deerfield Road, shortly before and shortly after the shooting. One of the witnesses also told police that he saw Norfleat and Collins get in to the car, which the third suspect is believed to have driven away.

During a search of that apartment, police recovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol, the serial number for which was scratched off. It was later discovered to have been stolen from Hamtramck.

According to the affidavit, Norfleat was believed to have shot Edelen over a spat involving Collins girlfriend. Police said that during their interviews with Edelen and Collins that they said that Edelen was believed responsible for a fire that involved the girlfriends car.

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Democratic nominee Joe Biden shouldnt trust polls showing he has a strong lead in Michigan, arguing her state is definitely a tossup and will be a dogfight in the 2020 presidential race.

Whitmer appeared on MSNBC before her speech at the Democratic National Convention Monday night when she was asked about an MLive report about recent polls in Michigan. The governor said she agrees with other Democrats who warned Biden not to take the state for granted, considering polls had similarly shown President Donald Trump faced an uphill battle before he narrowly won Michigan in 2016.

Read more: Dont trust the polls, Democrats warn Biden campaign about lead in Michigan

We are going to see these numbers tighten, Whitmer said. I have never for a minute believed that it was a 10 point spread. I will say this: In 2016 Donald Trump won Michigan by less than 11,000 votes. I won Michigan just two years later by around 400,000 votes. I do believe that there is enthusiasm here to vote for Joe Biden, I believe his agenda resonates with Michiganders, but its always going to be a dogfight in Michigan and thats what people need to understand.

Trump won Michigan by a narrow margin in 2016, flipping the traditionally Democratic-voting state for the first time in 28 years. Some Michigan Democrats have since attributed their surprise loss to a lack of organizational effort in the last days of the 2016 election.

Read more: How to watch Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers speech at Democratic National Convention Monday

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist told supporters the Michigan Democratic Party has put in the work to build a grassroots network of organizers in anticipation of the 2020 election. Gilchrist expressed confidence that Biden will win Michigan during a virtual watch party before Mondays DNC program.

Whitmer is set to speak at the DNC Monday night during a section of the program focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor has gained national attention since coronavirus outbreaks became widespread in Michigan, resulting in aggressive executive orders to contain the virus spread.

Whitmer also discussed her involvement in being considered for Bidens running mate. The governor remained on Bidens shortlist in the final stages of his decision-making process, and she reportedly flew to meet with him in the final weeks leading up to the announcement.

Whitmer, who is serving her first term in office, said shes thrilled to remain Michigans governor. She is also a national co-chair of Bidens presidential campaign and a vocal surrogate in Michigan.

It was an honor to be asked to go through the process, Whitmer said. I think the world of Joe Biden. I think the world of Kamala Harris and frankly all of the women who were rumored to be a part of the veep conversations he was having I have an incredible respect for.

Women in Michigan are excited to cast a vote for Harris, Whitmer said. The governor said Harris, the first Black woman nominated to run for vice president by a major political party, is a big draw.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Trump, Biden take different approaches to campaigning, amid coronavirus concerns in Michigan

Political groups spend millions on ads to turn Michigan Republicans against Trump over coronavirus response

Coronavirus, racial protest response could undermine Trumps outreach to Black voters in Michigan

Trump campaign bus makes push for women voters in Michigan battlegrounds

In must-win Michigan, Trump campaign takes fight door to door as polls show Biden with strong lead
A 37-year-old Toronto man has been charged with second-degree murder in the citys 38th homicide.

On Thursday, July 9, Toronto police responded to a call on George Street, near Jarvis Street and Dundas Street East.

Once on scene, officers and paramedics said they found a man complaining of pain in his torso. The man was transported to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

It was later determined the deceased, who was identified as 42-year-old Daniel Carmichael, of Toronto, died from blunt force trauma.

Alan Smith, 37, of Toronto, has been charged with one count of second-degree murder.

Smith had a July 10 court appearance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com

Joanna Lavoie is a reporter with toronto.com. Reach her via email: jlavoie@toronto.com
A Russian general was killed and two other servicemen were wounded by a land mine explosion in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry said the attack took place in the southeastern province of Deir el-Zour when a Russian military convoy was returning to the base after a ``humanitarian'' mission.

It said the general died of wounds while being evacuated. The ministry didn't identify him.

Russia has deployed its troops in Syria since 2015 to shore up President Bashar Assad's government.

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The man who allegedly murdered former bikie boss Mahmoud Hawi outside a south Sydney gym ran off so erratically after the shooting it looked like he was 'doing the chicken dance', a witness has told the jury.

Yusuf Guney Nazlioglu, 39, is accused of being the masked gunman who shot Mr Hawi outside Fitness First in Rockdale in February 2018, while Jamal Eljaidi, 32, is accused of being his getaway driver.

Both have pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Hawi, who left the gym just after midday and entered his black four-wheel-drive Mercedes parked at the entrance.

Mick Hawi was shot dead outside the Fitness First gym in Rockdale in Sydney

Two men were seen fleeing the scene shortly after Mr Hawi was shot

Chris Kounavis, who works at a commercial refrigerator supplier about 150 metres from Rockdale's Fitness First, appeared before the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday via video link.

He told the jury he heard three to five 'loud bangs', which sounded like fireworks, before he saw someone 'covered head to toe' in black clothes enter the waiting car.

'They were running erratically,' Mr Kounavis said.

'The way they were running was like they were doing the chicken dance at the same time ... arms up in the air.'

Mr Kounavis told the court he saw the man get into the passenger seat of the parked car, but couldn't see how many were in the car or whether the person dressed in black was carrying a firearm.

The getaway car was torched minutes after the shooting, the jury has been told previously.

Jamal Eljaidi (pictured outside court), 32, is accused of being the getaway driver

Nazlioglu and Eljaidi are accused of moving into a second car, found in Rosebery a month later with a balaclava in a front seat footwell.

DNA consistent with the latter was found in that car but his barrister earlier suggested secondary transfer could be involved.

Mr Hawi became national president of the Comancheros at just 22 but relinquished the role in 2009 when he was sent to prison.

Nazlioglu's barrister contends his client did not kill Mr Hawi and that other people had a greater motive to murder.

The barrister representing Eljaidi has submitted there's a 'paucity' of evidence in the crown case against his client.

The trial continues before Justice Robert Allan Hulme.
Bottom line: Chargeasap wants the portable Omega power brick to be the only accessory that consumers rely on for charging all their devices. The credit card-sized charger comes in two variants: 100W ($45) and 200W ($75), with the latter able to charge two Macbook Pros simultaneously via its 2 x 100W USB-C ports. It also features a graphene membrane and a high-density nano heat sink, which according to Chargeasap, combine to offer superior heat dissipation and efficiency than traditional chargers. The company launched a 60-day campaign on Kickstarter last week, where it quickly managed to surpass the Omega's $10,000 funding goal, meaning that backers/early birds would likely start receiving their chargers on schedule in January next year.

Chargeasap claims that its pocketable Omega USB-C wall adapter is the world's first and smallest 200W Gallium Nitride (GaN) charger. The Sydney-based tech startup sells a variety of crowdfunded charging accessories (magnetic cables, power banks, chargers) and is pitching the Omega as the perfect portable charger for work, home and travel.

Instead of silicon, Chargeasap utilizes gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology from Navitas inside the Omega, which it says enables the charger to output 200W of power with minimal heat and maximum efficiency in a small footprint. As a result, the charger's 2 x USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 ports can each output 100W to charge two laptops simultaneously, alongside the 2 x USB-A ports that are compatible with a variety of fast charging protocols from Apple, Samsung, Qualcomm, OnePlus and Huawei.

With four devices connected, the Omega's 200W output is split into 65W for both USB-C ports and 22.5W on the Type-A ports. Thermals are kept in check by a graphene membrane ribbon sheet that wraps around the Omega's circuitry, alongside a high-density nano heat sink that the company says keeps it well below the industry standard for max charging temps.

Chargeasap also draws attention to the Omega's value for money proposition that saves consumers from buying a separate adapter for each of their devices. Although it may not appeal to those already using out of the box chargers, the convenience of having to use just one power brick for charging four devices at once is still there.

The Omega 200W comes with 2-way foldable prongs that can be adjusted at 90/180 for better usability. It also has a smaller 100W variant that can deliver max output through either one of its USB-C ports and features a single 22.5W USB-A port. With three devices connected, it sends 65W to one USB-C port and 12W each to the other remaining ports.

Both Omega models support 100V-240V worldwide universal voltage and come with three plug converters (AU/EU/UK) to take care of compatibility issues. Considering that Chargeasap has gone well past the charger's original funding goal with over 50 days more to go, expect its thousands of backers to start charging with their Omegas early next year.
In the weeks leading up to a prayer and worship event on his family farm in Deadwood, Alta., evangelist Chris Lindberg acknowledged he wasnt sure if he would go ahead with the gathering this summer due to COVID-19 concerns.

But ultimately, the Lord has spoken to me, he said in a Facebook video. Theres never been a more pivotal moment for Christians and concerned citizens to come together, he said.

I know that God will protect us and use us to shake this nation.

At least 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases in western Canada have now been linked to the event, called It Is Time Canada, which was held in the hamlet in northwestern Alberta from July 30 to Aug. 2.

On Monday afternoon, health officials in Alberta said they were aware of 12 COVID-19 cases connected to the event. In a statement, an Alberta Health spokesperson advised anyone who had attended or been in close contact with someone who had been at the event to book a test online and monitor for symptoms.

Earlier in the day, northern B.C. health officials issued an alert saying they had linked 17 COVID-19 cases of their own to the same event. Twelve of the cases were due to attendance at the event, while the remaining five were believed to be from secondary exposures.

Another two dozen people have been identified as close contacts and are in self-isolation with daily monitoring by public health officials.

The majority of these cases are said to be in the Fort St. John area, however the exposure alert applies to all of northeast B.C., the alert said.

Contact tracing and testing has also identified that some individuals may be at risk of secondary transmission, from contact with cases related to attendance at the event.

Lindberg did not respond to the Stars requests for comment. But in a Facebook post Aug. 9, he acknowledged that a few people who were at the event had been diagnosed with COVID-19.

They did not have the symptoms when they were at the event.  I do believe it was an incredible time that we had and keep praying in faith with us that nothing will take away from all that God did.

Three days later, on Aug. 12, Lindberg posted a video saying he had tested positive for the virus.

It is true. There was some COVID that happened. Youre looking at a guy right now that has COVID. I am diagnosed with COVID. And I am in quarantine here until the 17th of August. I thank God I dont know of anyone else in this area thats got COVID.

Lindberg had posted a COVID-19 action plan before the event, which was held beneath a large tent. It said attendees would be screened for symptoms before entry; physical distancing would be enforced; sanitizer would be available throughout the venue; and food servers would wear masks and gloves. Attendance was capped at 100.

Carla Wetherill, who attended the event, defended the decision by organizers to proceed, telling the Star via text message it was one of the cleanest events I have attended in Canada.

I would go again and again! she wrote.

Wetherill said there were no crowded lineups, people had their temperatures checked before going in and the venue was well-ventilated.

I was in a row with my son and there were two chairs separating us from a lady that was on her own throughout the whole event, she said.

Wetherill added: There were many lives changed for better at that event, including mine! I was highly blessed! The leadership followed all the instructions for gathering given by ministry of health and other authorities.

One of the events guest speakers, Steven Holmstrom, an Alberta businessman and preacher, told the Star that organizers were jumping through a lot of hoops to ensure the safety of attendees.

I saw them working really hard to keep people safe.

He referred all further questions to Lindberg.

Lindberg describes himself online as a successful farmer and evangelist. He enjoys ministering abroad, but has a vision to see his own homeland on fire for Jesus. It has been on his heart for several years to host gospel meetings on his farm and praise God, it is now a reality!

On July 29, the day before the event, Lindberg posted a video saying that a tornado had recently come through the area.

It really feels like the devil is trying to stop this event, he said. Weve had so much challenge with the event this year. But I also believe with all my heart God has called us to do it and its going to be one of the most impacting most powerful events that Ive been involved with.  Its going to take more than that for the devil to stop us.
Chilling new details have emerged in the case of a suspected Detroit serial killer accused of murdering four sex workers, including allegations that he left the victims' socks as his calling card and staged their bodies in the same position.

Deangelo Martin, 35, appeared in court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing, which concluded with a judge ruling to move the cases against the defendant forward.

Martin is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and four counts of felony murder in the killings of the women - all sex workers in their 50s - whose bodies were found in abandoned houses in different parts of Detroit as far back as February 2018.

Suspected serial killer Deangelo Martin has been bound over for trial in connection to four rapes and murders of Detroit sex workers that occurred between 2018-2019

Martin is a suspect in the killings of Nancy Harrison (left) and Trevesene Ellis (right)

He is accused of murdering Tamara Jones (left) and Annetta Nelson (right)

The victims have been identified as Annetta Nelson, 57, whose body was found on February 26, 2018; Nancy Harrison, 52, who was discovered March 19, 2019; Trevesene Ellis, 55, was found March 24; and Tamara Jones, 55, who was found June 5.

Martin was previously charged in the stabbing and sexual assault of 26-year-old woman in May 2019 and the of a 51-year-old woman in June.

During last week's hearing, prosecutors said that in each case, Martin left behind a 'calling card' by leaving a victim's sock on and positioning each body face down with one leg up, reported ClickOnDetroit.

The court also heard from a woman who described herself as Martin's ex-girlfriend who met him while working as a prostitute and using crack-cocaine.

She told the judge the defendant had sexually assaulted her in the past, reported Fox 2 Detroit. She also claimed to have visited the house where Harrison's body was found.

All the victims were found in abandoned homes with a used condom containing Martin's DNA beside them, according to the prosecution.

Martin's attorney sought to downplay the significance of the physical evidence and asked to drop all charges against him, but Judge Kenneth King denied the motion to dismiss and bound the defendant over for trial on all counts.

Prosecutors said in court during a preliminary hearing on Thursday that in each case, Martin left behind a 'calling card' by leaving a victim's sock on and positioning each body face down with one leg up

Martin was previously charged in the stabbing and sexual assault of 26-year-old woman in May 2019 and the of a 51-year-old woman in June

King said his decision to send the case to trial hinged to a large degree on the signature pattern in all four murder cases.

A coroner determined that Nelson and Harrison died of blunt force trauma, but the cause of death for the other two couldn't be determined because their bodies were too badly decomposed.

Social media rumors started circulating in May 2019 that there was a serial killer in downtown Detroit, but police quashed them at the time, saying, 'this is not true'.

Martin was initially arrested in June 2019 in the rape and attempted murder of a 26-year-old woman who was able to escape the attack. At that point, police had already uncovered three homicide victims, and teams of police officers and other city workers were searching for more bodies.

'I think it's pretty clear that we believe he is a serial killer,' Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in announcing murder charges against Martin in September.
North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly ordered citizens to hand over their pet dogs as country struggles with food shortages amid a pandemic. According to media reports, Kim had denounced pet ownership as a tainted trend of bourgeois ideology, leaving pet parents fearful that dogs will be used to solve the food shortages.

South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that that Norths authorities have identified households with pet dogs and are forcing them to give them up. Citing sources, the newspaper said that some of the dogs are sent to state-run zoos or sold to dog meat restaurants and pet owners are "cursing Kim Jong Un behind his back.

Ordinary people raise pigs and livestock on their porches, but high-ranking officials and the wealthy own pet dogs, which stoked some resentment," the source was quoted as saying.

Read: North Korea Lifts COVID-19 Restrictions In Border City After Suspected Case 'inconclusive'

Read: North Korea Floods May Have Damaged Pump Houses Connected To Nuclear Facility: Report

UN voiced alarm

In June, a United Nations human rights expert had voiced alarm over widespread food shortages and malnutrition in North Korea, which has worsened due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tomas Ojea Quintana, UN special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea told the Security Council that an increasing number of families eat only twice a day, or eat only corn, while some are starving.

North Korea has been facing multiple sanctions due to its nuclear and missile programmes that have impacted the food import, leading to widespread starvation. During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, China closed its borders for months which exacerbated the food shortages. Ojea Quintana had urged the Council to ease the sanctions imposed on North Korea and called on Pyongyang to allow humanitarian aid during these unprecedented times.

Last year, the UNs World Food Programme had earlier estimated that 10.1 million people suffer from severe food shortages after the worst harvest in 10 years. In the Joint Rapid Food Security Assessment, the UN Mission said that the food insecurity situation is serious and could become critical during the lean season.

Read: North Korea: Red Cross Trains Volunteers To Help Fight Coronavirus And Floods

Read: North Korean Authorities Send Aid Supplies To Kaesong Under COVID-19 Lockdown: Reports

(Image: AP)
She has returned home from a sun-filled getaway to Crete.

But Maura Higgins was clearly not wanting to return to reality on Tuesday as she posted swimwear shots from her holiday.

The Love Islander, 29, looked radiant as she slipped into the pink floral one-piece for the snaps.

Back to reality: Maura Higgins was reminiscing about her holiday on Tuesday as she posted swimwear shots

The reality star posed up a storm in the swimwear as she showcased her very toned physique.

She captioned the snap: 'The holiday might be over but the pictures ain't.'

Earlier, the star returned to the UK after her getaway with fellow Love Islanders Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury and celebrity stylist Jay Birmingham.

Sizzling: The Love Islander, 29, looked radiant as she slipped into the pink floral one-piece for the snaps

Iconic: On her flight back, she hilariously recreated Britney Spears's Toxic music video as she danced down the aisle of the plane

On her flight back, she hilariously recreated Britney Spears's Toxic music video as she danced down the aisle of the plane.

The star donned a cream jumpsuit as she showed off her best moves on the deserted flight.

Maura was filmed by her friend Jay for the impromptu performance shared on her Instagram stories.

She was later seen arriving at Gatwick Airport in a pink Adidas hoodie as she made her way home.

Throwback: Britney's famous music video saw the star don a racy air hostess outfit and dance on the plane

Stylish: The star donned a cream jumpsuit as she showed off her best moves on the deserted flight

Holiday over: She was later seen arriving at Gatwick Airport in a pink Adidas hoodie as she made her way home

The star carried a Chanel travel bag and wore her face mask with her famous catchphrase 'fanny flutters' written across it.

It comes after Maura branded her ex boyfriend Curtis the 'villa villain' after learning of the dancer's new romance with Amber Pierson.

Taking to Twitter, the former grid girl 'liked' a post comparing the exes; with Maura labelled 'the perceived villa villain' and Curtis labelled the 'ACTUAL villa villain.'

MailOnline has contacted Curtis Pritchard's representatives for comment.

Travelling in style: The star carried a Chanel travel bag and wore her face mask with her famous catchphrase 'fanny flutters' written across it

Heading home: Maura had jetted off with fellow Love Islanders Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury and celebrity stylist Jay Birmingham

The not-so-subtle swipe comes after it was reported that Maura is so furious about Curtis's new romance with Amber, 21, that she's said to be 'on the warpath to make his life hell'.

The professional dancer was pictured putting on a cosy display with dancer Amber, with a source close to Maura, saying the pair's outing was 'a kick in the teeth'.

And while Curtis has denied accusations he cheated on Maura with Amber, a source told The Mirror: 'Maura is on the warpath and has been telling everyone she is going to make Curtis life hell.'

Ouch! It comes after Maura branded her ex boyfriend Curtis the 'villa villain' after learning of the dancer's new romance with Amber Pierson

Continued the source: 'Maura has been with all the Love Island contestants and has been in touch with everyone this weekend seeing what we all think and telling us shes going to make his life hell.

'She seems to not be able to move on and has been talking about Curtis for months and obsessing over who he is with and if he cheated on her.'

The report came after friends of the former couple insisted that Curtis did not cheat on Maura with Amber, who he was recently spotted sharing a kiss with.

A friend close to Curtis and Maura told MailOnline the cheating claims are a 'smear campaign' by Maura to serve as a 'diversion' from rumours that circulated about her relationship with her Dancing On Ice partner Alexander Demetriou.
Peter V. Tytell, whose intricate knowledge of typewriters, shaped amid the Olivettis, Underwoods and Royals of his parents repair shop in New York, led him to a career as a renowned forensic document examiner and even to a small but important part in the 2004 presidential campaign, died on Aug. 11 at his home in Manhattan. He was 74.

His sister, Pamela Tytell, said the cause was pleural mesothelioma.

Mr. Tytells vast expertise in typewriter, paper and handwriting analysis was sought by prosecutors, public defenders, banks, insurance companies and crime laboratories to help resolve disputes over the authenticity of documents.

Peter could look at one character in a typewritten document and hed know which machine it was made by, Samiah Ibrahim, manager of forensic document examination at the Canada Border Services Agency, said in an interview. The thing about Peter was his recall. He had all these images in his head.

One of his most famous cases involved the superscript th.

In 2004, the midweek edition of 60 Minutes reported that President George W. Bush had received special treatment while serving in the Texas Air National Guard in the early 1970s. The segment, which aired during President Bushs re-election campaign against Senator John Kerry, used memorandums said to be from the files of Mr. Bushs squadron commander, Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, to make its case.
John Lewis, second from left, marching from Selma, Ala., to Montgomery in March 1965 with leaders including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (William Lovelace/Getty Images)

John Lewis, the civil rights activist who would go on to become a long-serving congressman and whose death this summer provoked a national outpouring of grief, woke up in Selma, Ala., on March 7, 1965. He put on his Sunday best, packed a backpack with essentials should he get arrested (two books, a toothbrush, some fruit) and headed out. Just after 2 p.m., Lewis led some 625 marchers on a planned 54-mile march to Montgomery, fighting for the right to vote.

Tear gas, mounted state police and an armed mob met them on the far side of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. As Lewis kneeled to pray, they were attacked. He suffered a concussion and a fractured skull. The attack led ultimately to the introduction of the Voting Rights Act.

That Lewis, barely 25, was at the front should come as no surprise. For even though the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was the most famous advocate of Gandhian nonviolence in the civil rights movement, Lewis was probably its most devoted practitioner, and "Bloody Sunday" was where his legend really took root.

John Lewis sits in the street in the aftermath of a sit-in demonstration in front of the B & W Cafeteria in Nashville. (Bill Preston/USA Today Network)

But what Jon Meacham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and longtime MSNBC pundit, overlooks in his new account of Lewis' '60s activism, His Truth Is Marching On, is the hard work that turned galvanizing protests into durable gains. Readers who know little about Lewis will find an often moving story, but it will prove unsatisfying to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the movement.

The book is heavily influenced by a series of interviews Meacham did with the congressman near the end of his life. (Lewis also contributes an afterword.) The aim is less a comprehensive biography than "an appreciative account of the major moments. The broader goal? To show the theological understanding [Lewis] brought to the struggle, and the utility of that vision as America enters the third decade of the twenty-first century amid division and fear."

Over the last two decades, Meacham has chronicled the deep divides in American life. His books, most notably American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation (2007) and The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels (2018), have sought to bridge those divides by championing the value of a civic Christianity in politics and an American history that wants to inspire by reinforcing perceived core values.

Story continues

For Meacham, the pre-1965 Southern civil rights movement  and the career of the young Lewis in particular  connects these themes to todays racial reckoning. He sees Lewis as a reminder that progress, however limited, is possible and that religiously inspired witness and action can help bring about such progress."

Meachams impulses are laudable but more suited to an op-ed, in which stirring rhetoric trumps nuance. Stretched to book length, the history gets shaky, reliant on a dated understanding of the movement as primarily regional and religious, rather than national and political, and emphasizing what today are its most noncontroversial aspects: The nonviolent protests against segregated stores and buses.

Rep. John Lewis in the Civil Rights Room in the Nashville Public Library in Tennessee in a scene from "John Lewis: Good Trouble." (Ben Arnon / Magnolia Pictures)

Not that Christian faith wasnt important; the best sections of the book highlight the role of religion in Lewis life and the Southern civil rights movement. Meacham keys in on the 1958 arrival of Rev. James Lawson in Nashville, where Lewis was attending American Baptist Theological seminary. In Lawsons workshops on Gandhian civil disobedience, Lewis read Henry David Thoreau, Reinhold Niebuhr and Lao-Tzu. Perhaps most important, he developed a larger vision of the "beloved community," which he described as nothing less than the Christian concept of the Kingdom of God on earth.

The bulk of the book, six of its seven chapters, covers his life before 1965. As Meacham shows, Lewis intellectual and spiritual commitment to nonviolence fueled a remarkable reserve of courage during the sit-ins and the freedom rides, where he suffered terrible beatings. In Mississippis Parchman prison, he was stripped, poked with cattle prods, blasted with a fire hose and made to stand soaking wet in front of freezing fans. Lewis courage earned him the chairmanship of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1963 and with it an invitation to speak at the March on Washington.

Heres the problem with reducing Lewis' life to his time in the movement: It turns the movement into the John Lewis story. Meachams ideas about Christian witness fit the protests against segregated spaces but hold less value in understanding mobilizations against discrimination in jobs, housing and schools. The center of Southern movement activism shifted away from urban sit-ins to rural voter registration and, well before the events in Selma, spoke more about political power than piety. By early 1963, the most important action was in Mississippi, where Bob Moses helped frame voter registration as nonviolent direct action in a way Lewis and the others from Nashville hadnt anticipated  linking protest directly to electoral politics.

(Random House)

Meacham hurries through the late 60s, hewing to a shopworn chronology that sees Lewis influence displaced by Black Power advocates. Even as Stokely Carmichael, who replaced Lewis as head of SNCC in 1966, advocated Black-only political parties in the South and a move from nonviolence to self-defense, Lewis went in the opposite direction  from passive resistance to active collaboration  believing that Black political success lay within the two-party system. He joined Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1968. "The America Bobby Kennedy envisioned sounded much like Beloved Community," Lewis told Meacham.

Even though Lewis lived for an additional 52 years, including 33 as a member of Congress, this story ends there. Freezing him in 1968 contributes to the persistent myth that the noble, inspiring part of the civil rights movement  grounded in Christian faith, with clear moral choices and obvious villains  ended in the 60s. Meachams decision to eschew a full biography seems to have been also motivated by the 2020 election, aimed at drawing a parallel between Trumps resurgent white nationalism and white segregationists.

And yet, in doing so, he misses so much. Lewis' leadership of the Voter Education Project in the 70s, which registered 4 million African Americans, shows that the success of the Voting Rights Act owed as much to quotidian work as to the violence on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It also helps us better understand that, while attacks on the VRA are rooted in the political power Blacks have gained since 1965, Supreme Court rulings gutting it relied on the opposite reading of history  that the movement largely ended when the marchers arrived in Montgomery.

President Johnson, right, meets with John Lewis, James Farmer and two unidentified men at the White House, before signing the Voting Rights Act, in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 6, 1965. (Yoichi Okamoto/LBJ Library)

Far from being marginal to more radical Black power critiques, Lewis work registering voters, serving in the Jimmy Carter administration and winning seats on the Atlanta city council and in Congress is a microcosm of Black politics in the 1970s and 80s. As former President Barack Obama noted in one of the less soaring but most essential points of his eulogy, Lewis moved from protest to politics because We also have to translate our passion and our causes into laws and institutional practices.

This weeks Democratic National Convention will pay tribute to Lewis life just ahead of Joe Bidens nomination speech. As the clock ticks down to this year's most consequential election and the threats to fair elections come not from burning crosses but broken mailboxes, it might be that the lesson we need most from John Lewis life is drawn not from his faith but, as Obama suggested, from his works.

Lewis is the author of "The Shadows of Youth: The Remarkable Journey of the Civil Rights Generation," among other books.

His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope



Jon Meacham



Random House: 368 pages, $30
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Seeking to turn the tables on the Congress on the controversy surrounding Facebook and its WhatsApp messaging service, the BJP on Tuesday sought to link the social media platform with the opposition Congress and even the Trinamool Congress in the past.

On Tuesday, the Congress held a press conference wherein it continued to attack the BJP on the Facebook issue by claiming its senior executive Ankhi Das was in contact with senior BJP leaders and MPs in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

On the other hand, the BJP brought up the name of Congress Spokesman and former Union Minister Manish Tewari in the whole affair, apart from people like Vijaya Moorthy and Kavitha KK, to suggest the platform's alleged past affiliations to the Congress and even the TMC.

BJP's Information Technology Cell chief Amit Malviya told IANS that Vijaya Moorthy, a part of the Public Policy team in Facebook, had worked for the Congress in the past.

In fact, he claimed, she had worked in a "nationwide electoral project" of the Youth Congress. She had a stint in an "NGO in socio-political space", as per her LinkedIn profile, between January 2012 and April 2015.

Malviya also alleged that Kavitha KK, whose LinkedIn profile also shows her to be working for the social media giant, has also worked for a Trinamool Congress MP in the past.

In fact, Kavitha's LinkedIn profile mentions working as Principal Policy Associate for TMC leader Derek O'Brien between 2015 and 2017. However, it is pertinent to mention that according to the same account, she also happened to have worked as a legislative assistant to BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi between 2014 and 2015. But her association with Lekhi was through PRS Legislative Research, unlike with the TMC MP, with whom she worked directly, or so says her LinkedIn account.

Regardless of Manish Tewari's denial, Malviya claimed he had worked for Atlantic Council in the past.

"Tewari was appointed a distinguished senior fellow of Atlantic Council, which in turn was entrusted with the job of rooting out political propaganda from Facebook. Like it or not, it's a fact," the BJP's IT Cell chief asserted.

He claimed that in the run-up to the 2019 general elections, there were at least 700 Facebook pages aligned with the BJP's core ideology, some even running into million followers, but were taken down.

IANS came across a press release dated January 9, 2017 by Atlantic Council that quoted its then South Asia Center Director Bharath Gopalaswamy as saying: "We are delighted to welcome Manish Tewari to our team. We are eager to draw on his expertise from his years of service to the government of India, and he will be an invaluable addition to the South Asia Center team as we look to deepen our programming on India and the subcontinent." Speaking to IANS, Tewari said, "It is unfortunate that half lies, downright falsehoods and insinuations are being deployed by the BJP when the WSJ story has caught them like a strartled deer in the headlights of truth. My four tweets in the morning exposed those lies in its entirety and put the record straight." Tewari also insisted these are "smear campaigns". He had tweeted earlier in the day saying, "I was Distinguished Senior Fellow with the South Asia Centre of Atlantic Council from 1st Jan 2017 till 31st December 2019. I was succeeded by Jay Panda thereafter. Distinguished Senior Fellow does not mean Board." BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar brought up Congress' alleged connection with Cambridge Analytica to hit back at the opposition party.

"They (Congress) were recently cosying up to Cambridge Analytica and Facebook to try and do hit jobs on the BJP, as recently as 2018." The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica was a data leak in early 2018, whereby millions of Facebook users' personal data was harvested without consent by the firm, primarily for political advertising.

Though Congress had tried to distance itself, a Congress poster in then Cambridge Analytica CEO's London office came out in the public domain, leaving the party baffled.

Meanwhile, even as Congress leader Pawan Khera tried to make out a case against the BJP on the whole issue, Malviya furnishing more examples from the past to connect Khera's part with the social media company.

He claimed that Ajit Mohan, MD of Facebook-India, had worked with the Planning Commission during the UPA era. He alleged that Sidharth Mazumdar, another Facebook employee who 'worked in the firm's Public policy team', had worked with Ahmed Patel, a close aide of Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi.

With political recriminations on the issue likely to continue for some more time after the fresh salvos by the ruling party, it seems that the Congress has as much, if not more, to answer as the BJP.

(Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at Anindya.b@ians.in)
Check points are set up in ong Trieu Township, Quang Ninh Province, to check people and vehicles from Hai Duong Province to Quang Ninh Province to prevent the spread of coronavirus.  VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI  Six more people have tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday evening, including four locally transmitted and two imported cases.

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control said the total number of people who have contracted the disease since the first case back in January now stands at 989.

The new locally transmitted cases include four in a Nang, aged between 30 and 65.

One of the new cases in a Nang had been taking care of a family member being treated at a Nang Hospital, two cases are from Hai Chau District and another from Hoa Vang District.

One imported male patient, 45, returned to Viet Nam from Taiwan on August 7. He is being treated at the Khanh Hoa Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Khanh Hoa Province.

Another imported case is a male patient, 35, and was one among workers who returned to Viet Nam from Equatorial Guinea aboard flight VN6 on July 29. He is being treated at the Central Tropical Hospital in Ha Nois ong Anh District.

There are currently 87,672 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entering Viet Nam from pandemic-hit regions in quarantine, including 3,395 at hospitals, 24,511 at other facilities, and 59,766 at home.

To date, 25 people have died of complications related to coronavirus. All of them had underlying medical conditions.

The total number of successfully treated patients in Viet Nam has reached 520.  VNS
Collegedale has money in the budget this year to start making the city ADA compliant, City Manager Ted Rogers told residents that had come to the commission meeting with concerns about sidewalks and street crossings in their neighborhood. A spokesperson for the Greenbrier Cove neighborhood told the commissioners that sidewalks in that area have cracks and storm drain covers that make them unlevel. There are also street corners that a disabled person could not maneuver, the council was told.

The city is aware of the problems, and Scott Wheeler, foreman of the Public Works Department, has been working on resolving them, he told the commissioners. The material used to make the covers of the catch basins is too hard for the citys equipment to grind down so he had a contractor demonstrate using a material that could be used to level them. The man, however, came without enough of the product and left it unfinished. Two days later, that company went out of business. Now Mr. Wheeler said he is waiting to get pricing from another company. He said that he has already identified and marked uneven areas on the sidewalks that exceed one quarter inch making them out of ADA compliance. The city will be able to grind these places down.

The city has a list of places that need work to meet the ADA requirements and has money designated for it. Collegedale is beginning to address and fix the problems; however, it cannot be done in one year, said the city manager.

Mowing and cleaning up the city was also a concern for the Greenbrier Cove residents. Trees remain down and some areas have tall weeds growing that is unsightly, the commissioners were told. Those downed trees remain from the April tornadoes but they are not the responsibility of the city since they are on private property, said Mr. Rogers.

Toppled, broken trees and brush from the tornadoes still remain in other areas of Collegedale as well that the city is responsible for. The public works department has found another brush grinding company to get rid of the debris. Approval was given for Collegedale to piggy-back off the city of Clevelands contract for the same type of work that will be more economical than how it has been done up until now. The new company will work on an hourly rate versus a cost for a set amount of debris. The charge of $350 per hour comes with a guarantee that 35 tons will be chipped per hour. The cost estimate to clear away the remaining trees and brush is plus or minus $7,000.

The Easter night tornadoes also damaged the Collegedale Library that has caused it to be closed since April. City Manager Rogers said it will be another week before it will open and, when it does, people will not be allowed to just browse because of COVID-19. Time slots will be given for computer and office support help, and online services will still remain intact.

Mr. Rogers told the commissioners that Collegedale is due to receive COVID-19 funds from the state of Tennessee in an amount not to exceed $172,380. The state grant will reimburse the city for the amount it spends and there are guidelines for what that money can be used for. One allowable use is to buy laptop computers for city employees. Department heads have identified which employees would receive one. The citys IT person reviewed the specs and verified that those computers were available to buy through a state of Tennessee contract.

The cost of each laptop will be $1,500. There were unanswered or unknown questions, such as if licensing for software was included in the price, and the cost of future licensing and who would be responsible if the computer is damaged. But the commission was reluctant to wait to make a decision since the purpose is to have computers available for people to work from home so the city could still function in case the offices are shut down because of the virus. The motion passed to cap the cost of 23 laptops at $45,000 with the specs and miscellaneous associated expenses provided when they become known.

Collegedale has applied for and received a tree planting grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The city will receive $2,657 to replace trees that were damaged between a city-owned park and the business next door.

Confusion with cars that are not sure when to stop at the intersection of Tallent and McDonald Roads was also discussed. The problem will be given to an engineer for suggestions.

The next meeting of the Collegedale Commission will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 8, because of the Labor Day holiday on Monday. A meeting of the Collegedale Beer Board will be at 5:50 prior to the commission meeting.
Leo Tolstoy, in an essay about War and Peace, debates whether history is shaped by Historical Forces or by Great Men. Indeed, War and Peace itself is Tolstoys way of exploring this dichotomy. He comes down on the side of Historical Forces. He downplays the importance of Great Men. Great Men, he says, are thrown up when needed by powerful Historical Forces that are beyond anyones control. If one historical Great Man didnt exist, then Historical Forces would toss up another to take his place.

Powerful Historical Forces do exist, and we are caught up in them. The rest of Tolstoys thesis is problematic. There is something much deeper going on that I believe Tolstoy missed. He failed to ask what causes Historical Forces. He did not recognize that occasionally a single individual can be a pivot around which history itself revolves to proceed in an entirely new direction.

This pivotal individual might be the creator of an idea, or he might be a leader at a critical time.

Consider ideas. The insights of the great spiritual leaders engendered the great religions which have shaped human history. Much more recently the world has suffered from Karl Marx. His seductive ideas have spawned several competing secular cults: Communism, Socialism, National Socialism, Fascism, Maoism. Marx even deeply influenced Progressivism. Progressivism was an American creation, but, under the influence of Marx, it became equally pernicious. All these children of Marx promise the delusional perfectibility of mankind. All these Marxian cults are collectivist in nature. There is no room for the individual in the world of Marx or the progressives. Marx does not fit within Tolstoys thesis.

A distinctly different type of historical pivot is the truly great man. If that specific individual, not some generalized Great Man, had not stepped onto to the stage history would have been very different. The classic example where a unique individual changed the course of history is Winston Churchill. When Churchill was named prime minister, England was already defeated and its government accepted defeat. Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax had already started to negotiate surrender terms. Churchill said no! Churchill recognized, and drew upon, something deep in British culture. Through the force of his will Churchill amplified that unique spirit until it became the immovable object which stopped and ultimately defeated Germany. Thus, Churchill deflected the historical direction of increasing world totalitarianism by calling up a counterforce which lay latent in the British people. Churchill was a pivot of history. Churchill does not fit within Tolstoys thesis.

For a century America has been wrestling with its own fight against totalitarianism. This is the contest between Constitutionalism and Progressivism.

There are actually two distinctly different movements which have been called progressive. The original movement was a Christian populist movement opposed to the concentration of power in a few hands. It developed in response to the post-Civil War rise of the super-rich industrialists and the ever-increasing, and often pernicious, power of big business. Sound familiar?

This Christian Progressive movement began in 1875 when Washington Gladden, a protestant minister, preached the Social Gospel. This sermon was the seed crystal around which the original progressive movement coalesced. At the time, the U.S. Government was small and weak. The early progressives worked to expand the power of the government so that it could act as a counterbalance to the increasing power of big business. This was the progressive movement of Teddy Roosevelt. Fundamentally this movement was religious, individualist, and populist in nature and constitutionalist in political orientation. It is the father of todays conservative movement.

Then things got out of hand and many young progressives became infatuated with government power for its own sake. As a consequence, a quite different movement adopted the name progressive. This was the totalitarian progressivism of Woodrow Wilson and his followers. In time it mutated into the collectivist atheist progressivism of today. It is noteworthy that Wilson despised the restrictions on government imposed by the rigid U.S. Constitution. He was a believer in the British parliamentarian system and its evolving constitution created by common law court decisions. He also instituted Jim Crow throughout the United States armed forces. He thereby infected the modern progressive movement with an inherent racism which now oppresses whites as well as blacks.

The Wilsonian progressives, gaining ever-increasing power under Franklin Roosevelt and later presidents, succeeded in massively expanding our government through the creation of a vast network of regulatory bureaus and the Deep State. They also packed the courts with believers in a Living Constitution. By living what they mean is that the courts now have the privilege of amending the Constitution to suit a political agenda. Progressivism is therefore a potentially lethal disease.

This modern progressive disease has stripped away most of Americas Constitutional democracy. The real power today is in the hands of unelected officials and lobbyists. Sadly, it would seem that the original Christian populist progressives were totally defeated.

Not quite! America is a kind of living organism. Like any living organism, to survive it must have an immune system. This immune system acts to protect America against destructive ideologies. Today America is deathly ill from parasitic progressivism. Fortunately, a few years ago the immune system kicked in to fight this danger. It started with the Tea Party. That citizen movement faltered. The setback was only temporary, however. The immune system set out on a different tack.

In 2016 the Republican Party primaries called up several highly talented candidates for the Presidential nomination. One was an eccentric maverick from outside the political system: Donald Trump. It seemed totally implausible that Donald Trump could possibly be nominated and then be elected president. And yet it happened. Progressives had thought, with the election of Hillary, they were finally about to turn America into a totalitarian one-party state. Trump thwarted them. Progressives went berserk and tried every possible stratagem, illegal as well as legal, to destroy Trumps presidency. This hysterical reaction of the Left tells us that Donald Trump likely is a pivot of history.

The establishment didnt select Donald Trump, the American people did. Why? The self-preservation instinct of the American immune system is on the job.

Lets not make too much of Donald Trump. He is an exceptional man, to be sure, and these days he is cast into an extraordinary role. Like Winston Churchill tapping into the British bedrock, Donald Trump evokes the Spirit of America. But he is still just a man. So lets call him a paladin of that spirit, human but representative of something profound.

Progressives cannot possibly understand what is transpiring with the presidency of Donald Trump. Progressives have no notion of the American immune system. To fight the Left, Trump invokes the hard constraints of the Constitution. Progressives hate such limitations.

More than that, arrogant progressives believe that the little people have no business governing themselves: Deplorables lack sufficient mental capacity. Sorry progressives, Deplorables are the ones who actually make this country work, not you parasites.

Donald Trump is our nations paladin. He is the instrument of We the People. Let us affirm that, under the leadership of our paladin, the Spirit of America will prevail and will consign the progressive ideology to political oblivion.

Image: MaxPixel
The investigation into the riots in DJ Halli and KG Halli, East Bengaluru, is taking twists and turns almost every day.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB), which is at the forefront of the investigations, now says that as many as 40 people with terrorism links took part in the violent protests over an offensive Facebook post on August 11. The 40 people had contacts with terror suspects arrested for blasts at Malleswaram and Church Street and the murder of RSS worker R Rudresh.

Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), confirmed that they had information that 40 people had contacts with terror elements. He said a detailed investigation was carried

out, without elaborating further.

Two days ago, the CCB arrested Samiuddin, a KG Halli resident, and said he was one of the main suspects in the riots case. The CCB also claimed that Samiuddin was in touch with the suspects arrested for Rudreshs murder and the Bangladesh-based Al-Hind outfit.

Technical evidence

A senior officer, who is part of the investigation, said details about these members being in contact with terror elements were established technically. Since a large number of people who are part of the riots are on the run, we started gathering their details using the mobile tower data and call detail records. We found that around 40 numbers used at the time of riots were in contact with the terror elements, the officer said.

The blast near the BJP office in Malleswaram in 2013 was carried out by the banned outfit Al-Ummah while the Indian Mujahideen (IM) was behind the Church Street blast in 2014. Most of the accused in these two cases have already been arrested.

These 40 numbers, including Samiuddin, had contacts with the accused and other members of the banned outfits. Rudreshs murder was committed by members of Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the officer said.

Apart from Samiuddin, we have detained a few people and got leads about others. They will be nabbed at the earliest, a senior officer said.
Toyota Motor Corporation TM recently announced that it will collaborate with Amazons AMZN cloud computing unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS), to create a platform that would help manage and monetize data gathered from the automakers global vehicle fleet.

Toyotas Mobility Services Platform enables data to be collected and reviewed for the development of vehicle services from ride and car sharing to behavior-based insurance and maintenance notifications.

This deal extends Toyota's existing relationship with AWS and represents the e-commerce giants expanding foray into the transportation business. In July, AWS announced the expansion of its partnership with Volkswagen AG VWAGY in order to help grow the automakers cloud-based software and data portal into an industry-wide market, where commercial clients can access and sell industrial applications.

Further, Toyota and Mazda Motor Corporation MZDAY recently announced their plans to invest $2.3 billion in a new joint venture (JV) factory in Alabama, $830 million more than announced in their original plan in 2018. The additional spending will incorporate new cutting-edge manufacturing technologies into the companies production lines and provide enhanced training to the workforce.

Meanwhile, Toyota is increasing its focus on manufacturing electric and fuel-cell vehicles in order to bank on the accelerated global shift to electric cars, which will bolster the companys product competitiveness. It plans to introduce fuel-cell-enabled SUVs, and pick-up and commercial trucks by 2025. Additionally, Toyota is working on hydrogen fuel stations in collaboration with various partners. The company aims to generate half of its global sales from electric vehicles by 2025.

Toyota is also making advancement toward self-driving vehicles. It is signing collaboration agreements to develop the autonomous car technology. Moreover, Toyota is shifting half of all the vehicles it makes to new cost-saving platforms, which will slash costs by 20%. The company has strengthened ties with Subaru and the partnership intends to make improved cars suitable for the CASE (connected, autonomous, shared and electric) era.

Story continues

Toyota currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Shares of the company have depreciated 3.6%, year to date, compared with the industrys decline of 5.5%.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 18:29 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066edddc9 1 National Novel-acid-attack,novel-baswedan,Attorney-General,prosecutors,COVID-19 Free

Robertino Fedrik Adhar Syaripuddin, a prosecutor who handled the trial over the acid attack against top antigraft investigator Novel Baswedan, died at Pondok Indah Hospital in South Jakarta on Monday after succumbing to COVID-19.

The man, who also had diabetes, passed away at the age of 38.

"It is true [that Fedrik has died of COVID-19]," Attorney General ST Burhanuddin confirmed on Monday afternoon.

His body was later buried at Jombang Public Cemetery in Bintaro, South Tangerang, in accordance with COVID-19 protocol.

Fedrik visited his hometown in Baturaja, South Sumatra, in late July before falling ill and receiving treatment in Jakarta. He stayed in the city for about 10 days with his wife and in-laws, tribunnews.com reported.

The late prosecutor was previously in the spotlight for demanding a short prison term of one year for Chief Brig. Ronny Bugis and Brig. Rahmat Kadir Mahulette, two police officers implicated in the acid attack against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detective Novel.

Based on the multiple charges pressed against the police officers under several articles of the Criminal Code, they could get a maximum sentence of 12 years.

Ronny and Rahmat were finally sentenced to two years and 18 months in prison -- heavier than the one-year sentence initially demanded by prosecutors.

Both were found guilty of violating Article 353 of the Criminal Code on persecution causing serious injury or death, which carries a maximum sentence of nine years' imprisonment upon conviction.

The acid attack, which occurred in the early morning of 11 April, 2017, had completely blinded Novel in the left eye and left him with 50 percent vision in his right eye. (vny)
Shares of six caustic soda manufacturers rose by 2% to 9% after the media reported that the government has extended anti-dumping duty for three months on caustic soda imported from China and Korea.

Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals (up 9.54%), Chemfab Alkalis (up 7.33%), DCW (up 5.02%), TGV Sraac (up 4.35%) Meghmani Organics (up 2.88%) and Punjab Alkalies & Chemicals (up 2.39%) advanced.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex rose 222.60 points or 0.59% to 38,273.38.

As per media reports, India extended anti-dumping duty on imports of caustic soda from China and Korea till November 2020. The duty was extended after considering the recommendations of the commerce ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), that had requested for extension of the existing anti-dumping duty on the chemical imported from China and Korea.

The duty was first imposed in 2012 on a different set of countries to protect local industry from cheap foriegn imports. The duty was then imposed on material coming from China and Korea in 2015 for a period of five years.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Jersey bids last farewell to Pandit Jasraj as the Indian classical vocalist died of a cardiac arrest in his New Jersey residence on Monday.

Scores of mourners gathered at the Highland Park Funeral Home in New Jersey on Monday to pay their last respects to music maestro Pandit Jasraj. The Indian classical vocalist died of a cardiac arrest in his New Jersey residence.

Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General New York along with Deputy Consul General Shatrughan Sinha paid a visit to the legend in New Jersey.

Jaiswal told ANI that as their nation mourns the death of the legend, they are making sure to assist the family to take back the mortal remains to India so that he can be put to rest in the best possible manner.

Pandit Jasraj was in the United States when the coronavirus-induced lockdown was enforced in India and he decided to stay back. Since he spent half a year in his New Jersey home, he has left a void amongst those who knew him more than being just a legend.

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New Jersey realtor Alka Aneja was one of the many showed up at the visitation ceremony. Aneja was the one who had sold the house to pandit Jasraj, but her association with the maestro was beyond business. He called me his adopted daughter and also taught me music, he was a beautiful soul. He is such a nice and humble person. From what I heard, he was teaching his students last night. Music was in his blood till the last second, Alka told ANI.

Like Alka, Hari is still processing the demise of the vocalist. He was one of the few disciples who was present at Pandit Jjs New Jersey home on Monday morning. It seems unrealit has not really sunk in. We are still trying to process this and figure out how we are going to move forward without him being here. He is just an incredible soul; he has given us so much love, knowledge, he said.

Pandit Jasrajs musical career spanned eight decades across continents. He received several prestigious awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, Indias second-highest civilian honour, as well as Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards. Apart from his being and accolades, its that bond with India that his disciples will miss in the US.

Pandit Jasraj was on a video conference with us last evening, he told one of the vocalists that he was very happy with the performer today, Renu a resident of Long Island, New York told ANI.

Hundreds of people were expected to attend the visitation, which was open from 4 to 6 p.m. local time Monday. To comply with social distancing rules, only 40 masked guests were allowed inside the funeral home at a time. Guests were allowed to stay inside no more than a minute after viewing the mortal remains.

India has lost a great son. Pandit Jasraj Ji was a true icon of Indian music, tradition, and culture. My meetings with him when I was serving in Washington D.C. remain etched in my memory. My condolences to his family, T. S. Tirumurti, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in New York told ANI.

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The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has outdoored a website designed to capture and make easily accessible, data on all of the Akufo-Addo governments infrastructure projects since it assumed office in January 2017.



The website, www.deliverytracker.gov.gh, has been populated with data sourced from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and provides information on the status of roads, agriculture, industry, sports, housing, airport, sea defence, fish landing sites, markets, security and digital infrastructure.



The Vice President, who unveiled the website in Accra on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 during a virtual Townhall meeting showcasing the NPP's infrastructure record, said the centralized portal will enable all Ghanaians, researchers, CSOs, and interested persons have access to and interrogate the data.



The Townhall meeting formed part of a Results Fair organised by the Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation in collaboration with the Ministry of Information.



The infrastructure data can be obtained by sector (education, health, etc.) by region or by district. As the name implies, delivery tracker is a portal where you can track the status of delivery of government promises and also infrastructure projects. It will enhance transparency and accountability in our governance. It will also enable government to monitor all infrastructure projects to ensure that uncompleted projects are prioritized in the process of capital budgeting, Dr Bawumia explained.



The portal will be regularly updated. As far as we know, Ghana is the only country in Africa that has implemented this publicly accessible delivery tracker for its infrastructure projects.



I would like to note that we have not applied any standardized units for counting projects. For example, you may have a project that constructs 120 units of apartments and another project that constructs 25 units of apartments. They will be counted as two projects in the database. We are focusing on the description of the projects, their details and locations so that we can monitor.



To make the data even more user-friendly, Pictures and digital addresses are being added for each project on the portal, the Vice President noted.



Commenting on claims that the Akufo-Addo government had nothing to show for its almost four-year term, Vice President Bawumia declared:



Our opponents are welcome to show us what they accomplished by way of infrastructure initiated in their first term in office. This is because virtually all the key projects they like to point to were completed in their second term of office. We are however happy to compare our three and a half year record with their 8 year record. The data will show that the infrastructure we have provided in many districts over just three and a half years surpasses what they provided in 8 years. We have done more while actually spending less as a percentage of GDP because of value for money.



Also, contrary to the propaganda, the evidence is that we have also completed or working to complete many projects that our government inherited. We have also put in place a solid base of digital infrastructure to propel the digital economy in Ghana.



Ladies and gentlemen, I will like to note that we are not just building infrastructure, we are building a nation. We are building all this infrastructure while staying committed to our social contract to providing free senior high school education, creating jobs, transforming agriculture, industrializing the economy, sustaining the national health insurance scheme, digitizing the economy, ensuring the public safety of Ghanaians, and keeping the lights on. We still have much more to do.



The future is bright if we stay the course. That is why we are asking the good people of Ghana to give Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP four more to do more for you.





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Just one more Senate vote could be needed to scrap a legislated increase in the super guarantee amid a scathing attack from Labor and the $3 trillion superannuation sector over speculation of a federal government backflip.

Compulsory superannuation contributions are scheduled to increase incrementally from 9.5 per cent to 12 per cent starting from next year, which would add up to $20 billion a year to superannuation funds to assist workers in retirement.

Senator Pauline Hanson's vote could be all that's needed to scrap a legislated increase in the super guarantee. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But Assistant Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume has warned this could lead to flat wages growth, sparking Labor criticism the government is prepared to backflip and scrap or delay the rise. This would require support from three crossbench senators.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson potentially holds a critical vote over the future of the super guarantee after Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff and One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts both told the Australian Financial Review they would back delaying the increase. Independent senator Jacqui Lambie declined to comment.
Its been a long dry spell in the Permian. Shale drilling and completions activity has collapsed to levels not seen since before 2000 (as far back as records are kept). That was the year shale activity first began to pick up from essentially nil and hit all-time peaks in 2008. With occasional ebbs and flows, it had gradually drifted down to the start of the current calamity, where active rigs stood at a somewhat healthy 805 rigs turning to the right.

Fracking has also taken a commensurate dive over the last eight months, defying the conventional wisdom that as prices began to improve, activity would increase. It hasnt happened in either case. Why?

Driven by low prices not seen much in modern history, formerly high-flying shale drillers like Chesapeake Energy have gone bankrupt. The service providers who do the actual work like Halliburton, (NYSE:HAL), Schlumberger, (NYSE:SLB) have written off tens of billions worth of fracking-related equipment, closed facilities and laid off thousands of workers.

Much of the expansion from 2016 onward was fueled by growth at any cost mindset in the drillers, and aided by bankers willing to accept ever-increasing estimates for the value of reserves. In 2018 much of that laissez-faire mentality in the boardrooms of the drillers and in the vaults of the bankers came to an abrupt halt as profits and cash flow were demanded. That was the moment shale activity began to falter numerically, while at the same time, a miracle was taking place. Production grew from advances in technology and a deeper understanding of key reservoirs to record levels.

EIA-STEO

Peaking at nearly 13 mm BOE in March of this year, a failure of OPEC+ nations to agree on production cuts that same month, led oil to begin a precipitous decline in price.

A decline that was soon matched in production as drillers laid down rigs, and then in April took the unprecedented step of actually shutting-in wells with the single-minded goal of forcing prices higher. With a little help from the OPEC+, which after realizing the enormity of their mistake in March, also voluntarily shut-in wells with the same goal in mind, prices responded.

Story continues

But drilling and completion activity hasnt rebounded, and its not going to do so. At least in the most likely pricing scenario being forecast, where WTI stays in the mid-$40's to a high of around $50. It should be noted that there are alternate scenarios out there. I covered one in an OilPrice article last week, where I laid out a case for WTI rising to over $100/bbl by early next year.

One thing that will limit the rebound, is the capacity simply is not there from a service and supply standpoint. Halliburton CEO, Jeff Miller commented on the prospects for a recovery in activity in their recent quarterly investor conference call-

We do not anticipate large technology recapitalization programs similar to the build-out of our leading Q10 pumps and the iCruise drilling systems. And finally, the North American business now has structurally lower capital requirements. It is a mature market, and frac job intensity is plateauing. The Halliburton I have just described to you is charting a fundamentally different course.

The growth in digital technologies, the position of strength in the international markets, the sharper approach to North America and a lower capex profile, all of that comes from the hard work that we've been doing over the last few years. We are not waiting for an upcycle to drive significant free cash flow and returns for our shareholders. We believe that the strategic actions we are taking today will further boost our earnings power and free cash flow generation ability as we power into and win the eventual recovery.

Miller is telling us that the oilfield of the future will be a smaller, less capital intensive place than in times past.

Further, there is a lack of will in many of the key shale drillers, who are determined to repair their balance sheets, and reward long-suffering shareholders with dividends. Going forward many are basing their economics on $35 oil, or less.

In this article we will take a look at the second half plans for a couple of the largest shale drillers and how this will impact the level of shale production over the next half year.

The look-ahead for the Permian

Occidental Petroleum, (NYSE:OXY) is the largest producer in the Permian, with daily production of nearly half a million barrels. Its ill-fated acquisition last year of Anadarko, a deal whose timing could simply not have been worse, has led this oil-giant to the brink of bankruptcy. In its quarterly call this month where they took a $6.6 bn asset write-down, management outlined a vision for its future in the Permian that is vastly different from the one they promised investors when the Anadarko deal was struck. OXY shares have lost 65% of their value in 2020, primarily due to the debt, ~$38 bn they took on when Anadarko was acquired.

OXY 2nd Qtr presentation

Vicki Hollub, OXYs CEO commented in the call-

We do not intend to grow production until we have significantly reduced debt and we view the long-term price of WTI to be sustainable at higher levels than where the current curve indicates. In any eventual growth scenario, we expect that annual production growth will be less than the 5% per year that we had previously stated.

Source

Instead OXY will merely look to sustain the decline of its shale portfolio to less than 25% YoY. For reference in early 2019 Anadarko was running 12 rigs in the Permian, and the old OXY was running 10. For the rest of 2020 they will have one-net rig, and allow daily production to decline to 1.3 mm BOEPD for the whole company, and to ~435K BOEPD for Permian Resources, their primary shale drilling sub-entity.

You will note in the slide above that capex for growth will not come until debt has been substantially reduced, and shareholder dividends have been restored.

On the plus side OXY has received an analyst upgrade based on valuation from JP Morgans Phil Gresh. He commented in a review of OXY-

"Given the magnitude of underperformance, the de-risking of the maturity wall and the recent stability in the oil price. Significant oil price torque in either direction remains the key to the stock's performance.

Source

In summary, the future is uncertain for OXY. In order for them to survive two things must happen. Oil prices must rise, and they must push back debt maturities that are insurmountable with projected cash flow. They seem to be having success in both cases with oil prices rising, and have recently rescheduled near term debt maturities.

Now lets look at another Permian focused driller, Parsley Energy, (NYSE:PE).

Through a combination of capital restraint and cost-cutting this Permian player has sought to secure its survival. It notably shut-in production early to prod other shale drillers to do the same. As previously noted this gambit has been successful in large measure, and recently the company restored the shut-in barrels.

Source

In the second half of 2020, Parsley will look to maintain, and not grow production while increasing capital efficiency through technological improvement. Parsley is also generating significant free cash flow (FCF), at WTI prices above $35/bbl. The estimate for FCF in 2020 is ~$350 MM. On a Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) basis, PE is undervalued with a multiple of 13.5. That compares favorably with OXYs P/CF of 15.6. PE has also recently raised their dividend where OXY has slashed theirs to $0.01 for the current quarter.

Your takeaway

As I discussed in my prior article on the direction oil prices might take the expectation is that they will continue their upward trajectory. This is based on an emerging gap between daily production and increasing demand. I did some arithmetic on this calculation in the linked article. Readers should have a look if they are interested in the numbers.

For the rest of this year the expectation is from a lack of new drilling and completion activity, production from U.S. shale will continue to decline. Many more shale drillers have outlooks similar to the companies covered in this article.

My year-end exit forecast for U.S. shale is ~5 mm BOEPD.

Note-For those who are interested in testing the waters with an investment in OXY or PE, should look carefully before they take the plunge as there are inherent risks in both. That said, valuations are attractive for both companies at the present time, and the stock prices for both should continue to rise with oil during the coming months.

By David Messler for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Read this article on OilPrice.com
The Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Ras Mubarak, has touted the achievements of the Mahama administration saying it tackled unemployment by creating over 600,000 jobs.

He says, despite the harsh economy, then state agencies under Mahama instituted social intervention programmes that provided youth employment on a scale better than the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

We know the dire straits the economy was in especially in 2015-2016 when commodity prices across the globe plummeted and so that affected governments ability to deal with certain things. But that did not stop us from creating over 600,000 jobs up and down the country under several programmes, he told Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Monday.

He cited among other things the Skills Development Fund which was implemented under the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET).

According to him, the initiative saw the disbursement of GHS 150 million to 655 businesses to train almost 100,000 people in vocational and technical trade.

Also, he mentioned another programme spearheaded by the Freezones Board that supported 69 companies that created about 16, 000 jobs.

These are new jobs contrary to what our friends in the NPP do which is count replacement of staff that are exiting from public institutions. We are talking about new jobs that are tailor-made to support young people, Ras Mubarak said. Youth unemployment in electioneering season

Unemployment and education are the most pressing problems for young Ghanaians, according to the most recent Afrobarometer survey.

Findings released on International Youth Day show that these are the problems young Ghanaians want to be addressed by the state .

The survey asked adults of all ages to cite the most important problems they want the government to address, and, infrastructure and roads were the most frequently cited priority mentioned by 59% of respondents followed by unemployment (39%) and education (38%).

Coming into 2020, the government has said the rate of unemployment in the country reduced from 11.9 percent in 2015 to 7.1 percent in 2019.

The informal economy accounts for 85 percent of employees with the formal sector accounting for the remaining 15 percent.

Both the governing NPP and opposition NDC are once again promising massive employment should one win the 2020 polls.

NDC flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama has for instance promised to create over one million jobs for Ghanaians in his next term.
Rotunda Rumblings

Two Paths: Republican former Gov. John Kasich retooled a campaign classic for his speech Monday night at the Democratic National Convention, Seth Richardson reports. In his brief address during the all-digital convention, Kasich described Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden as a man of integrity, using his trademark Two Paths analogy throughout. Now, whether that speech will matter in the long run for Biden is another question altogether.

Solid troll: The Ohio Republican Party wasnt particularly thrilled with Kasichs defection. Chairman Jane Timken has been lambasting Kasich for years, but after a call with reporters Monday, the Ohio GOP sent out a tweet directing people to kasichforamerica.com. Of course, it was misdirection. The domain, which Kasich apparently let lapse, redirects people to a fundraising missive about Kasich owing the state party $40,000, splashed with the pitch, Donate today and BUY his website domain!

Up next: Tuesday wont have quite as much Ohio flavor at the DNC, though Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Clyde, who unsuccessfully ran for secretary of state in 2018, will be one of 17 Democratic rising stars to give a keynote address in the evening. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Youngstown-area Democrat, will deliver the official delegate count.

Never say never: The Lincoln Project, the prominent Never Trump group, is going up with $67,000 worth of cable ads this week in the Columbus market during the convention, according to advertising tracking firm Medium Buying. The groups latest spot is called Complacent and urges voters to not take Bidens lead in the polls for granted.

Going postal: After Republican President Donald Trump set about meddling with the post office, a stack of dismantled mail-sorting equipment behind Clevelands main post office has caused some concern, Sabrina Eaton and Jeremy Pelzer report. A USPS spokesperson said the equipment wont have an effect on election ballots since it is for sorting things like magazines. But the head of Clevelands postal workers union disputed that.

The Yost office: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, sent a letter to Trump saying the presidents constant attempts to delegitimize voting by mail is creating chaos surrounding the November election, Pelzer writes. Yost argued any changes to the post office should come after the election, especially to avoid a mountain of litigation.

The farmers dilemma: One of the more cruelly ironic things about dismantling USPS is that it would hurt rural Ohioans much more than those in the suburbs or cities, the Columbus Dispatchs Sheridan Hendrix reports. Rural Ohioans  who are much more inclined to support Trump  rely on the postal service much more for communications reasons, including things a lot of people take for granted such as paying bills.

Positive affirmations: The Ohio Department of Healths latest coronavirus report shows good news on the testing front: Just 3.7% of tests Saturday came back positive, and the seven-day rolling average is under 5%, Laura Hancock reports. Mask-wearing has been mandatory statewide for nearly four weeks.

Trending down: The 613 and 775 new coronavirus cases reported by Ohio the last two days were the fewest single-day totals since June 30, reports Rich Exner. Another trend has also shown up: While Ohio COVID-19 case and hospitalization numbers increased to record levels over the summer, deaths remained below spring levels, and theyre also declining.

Second lawmaker has COVID: State Sen. Tina Maharath announced Monday that she has tested positive for the coronavirus and two members of her family have been hospitalized with cases of the disease. Maharath, whos from suburban Columbus, is the second Ohio lawmaker to test positive for COVID-19 after a fellow Democrat, state Rep. Stephanie Howse of Cleveland.

Play money: Gambling at Ohios casinos and racinos was up 12% in July over a year ago, led in large part by a near doubling in business at Hollywood Casino Toledo while the Detroit casinos were still closed. Overall, gambling revenue - the money kept by the house after paying out winnings - totaled $181.1 million in July, up $18.8 million from last July, Exner reports. But for the year, including three months of closings, revenue is about half of where it was this time last year.

No place like home: Yost is developing a new normal plan through which around one-third of the attorneys in his office would mostly work from home on a long-term basis, even after the coronavirus pandemic subsides. As Andrew Tobias reports, the plan should be done later this year and will be phased in.

Help, I need somebody: The Ohio Restaurant Association is launching a fundraising drive to raise $30,000 over the next 30 days to help restaurant employees still struggling because of coronavirus closures, Annie Nickoloff reports. Restaurants and bars have taken a beating during the pandemic, with requirements to operate at partial capacity and curfew restrictions on liquor sales.

The Housewife challenge: Red Wine and Blue, the liberal Ohio organization targeting suburban women for the 2020 cycle, is having a bit of fun with Trumps tweet that the suburban housewife will be voting for him. Members of the group are taking part in the #housewifechallenge featuring pictures of themselves dressed like stereotypical 1950s housewives with tongue-in-cheek captions. A sampling: Meet Laura: a professionally trained chef who likes canning cucumbers, canning tomatoes, and canning Republican extremists in the Ohio Legislature.

Sharing is caring: FirstEnergy revised its second quarter earnings report on Monday to add that the company may suffer from losses due to the ongoing federal corruption investigation involving the Akron-based power company and former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, the Columbus Dispatchs Jim Mackinnon reports.

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the Feb. 13 financial disclosure form of state Rep. Jeff LaRe, a Violet Township Republican. 1. Aside from his legislative salary, LaRe reported earning up to $999 in savings account interest from Huntington National Bank and Lan-Fair Federal Credit Union and as a course captain at M3S Sports, and $100,000 or more as executive vice president at The Whitestone Group, a private security firm based in Reynoldsburg.

2. LaRe's only reported investments were a mutual fund through the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System.

3. At some point in 2019, LaRe owed more than $1,000 to Discover, Bank of America and Park National Bank.

4. The state of Ohio reimbursed LaRe $262.08 for travel.

5. Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP gave LaRe a gift worth more than $75. The House Republican Campaign Committee gave LaRe meals, food and beverages worth more than $100.

On the Move

The Ohio Mayors Alliance hired Todd Bradley as its new policy director. Bradley will support the alliances policy priorities, with an immediate focus on police reform and educational attainment. Bradley comes from Indiana University Kokomo, where he was a political science professor for almost 20 years.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted was appointed to the Federal Communications Commission Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. Per a release, the IAC focuses on telecommunications issues affecting local, state and tribal governments.

The Biden campaign made several staff hires in Ohio: Jaladah Aslam, Ohio coalitions director Jada Campbell, Ohio deputy coalitions director Rick Neal, Ohio deputy coalitions director Angela Shute-Woodson, Ohio deputy coalitions director Gen Murphy, Ohio deputy political director Faith Oltman, Ohio press secretary Jimmy Dahman, Ohio coordinated campaign director Tim Ross, Ohio organizing director Aneese Johnson, Ohio digital organizing director Hishi Pradhan, Ohio data director Dominic Binkley has stepped down as a communications officer with Attorney General Dave Yosts office. Bethany McCorkle, Yosts communications director, said shell be taking over Binkleys duties until the AGs office brings someone else on board.

Straight from the Source

The answer is no. I think hed rather set himself on fire than get involved in the election. Nothing to see here.

-A spokesman for former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, on the rumors that he might be the prominent former congressman former Gov. John Kasich said would endorse Biden.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
We can certainly thank Bill Morneau for a lot of things he did as finance minister.

He made inclusive growth the centrepiece of his fiscal policy, focusing not just on how the Canadian economy could grow but also pushing, slowly but surely, for a more equal distribution of our collective riches.

Under Morneaus watch, gender analysis was entrenched into budget-making, forcing all policy-makers to calculate the pros and cons for women in every decision they took.

And more recently, the federal governments willingness to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in cushioning the blow of the pandemic shutdown has meant the difference between poverty and getting by for many millions of people.

Those policies were hard work, and Morneau was central to all of them.

But he did the right thing in the handing of his resignation on Monday.

As the minister told a news conference after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, like any job, theres a time when youre the appropriate person in the role and a time when you have to decide youre not the appropriate person in the role.

His official explanation of why he was suddenly, at 7:30 p.m. on Monday night, no longer the appropriate person  he never had any intention of sticking around for the long run, and the prime minister needs someone stable by his side  beggars belief.

But his time had definitely come.

The ethical conundrum caused by his granting of government funding to the very charity that employs his daughter, flew his family to Africa and Central America, and received $100,000 in recent donations from his wife was only the last straw. Forgetting to repay WE Charity $41,000 for personal travel was too much to ask an already-leery caucus to explain on his behalf when the next campaign rolls around.

Morneau had already weakened his own standing by his mishandling of the small-business tax reforms of 2017, and by running afoul of the ethics commissioner before. A harsh ruling expected later this year about the WE Charity affair would only have made a bad situation worse.

But theres more to the resignation than that. The past few weeks of WE Charity controversy have drawn Morneau detractors out of the woodwork, to the point where public confidence in the finance minister was deteriorating at a very crucial time. Tales of conflict and policy-making dysfunction flew thick.

Under Trudeau, the finance minister needs to be intimately involved in federal-provincial relations in order to deliver many of the Liberals election promises. The finance minister needs to be able to deal with the business community and have solid dealings with Bay Street. The minister needs to have a range of allies and friends in the caucus and the cabinet in order to make fiscal responsibility a central tenet in policy-making.

All of these relationships require that the public, the caucus, the opposition and the business community have the utmost respect of the finance minister, with the knowledge that the prime minister has his back at all times. Trudeaus silence and then his awkward statement of support for Morneau spoke so loudly as to suggest that that confidence was too thin to last  especially with so many momentous decisions around fiscal policy on the horizon.

The Liberals need to decide in the next couple of months how they will guide the economy towards recovery from the deepest recession in memory, how they will control their spending at the same time, and how they will make good on their commitment to inclusive growth even as the pandemic hits the most vulnerable populations the hardest.

Its a puzzle that will require not only the full confidence of the prime minister, but also someone who understands deeply what the pandemic has done to women caring for children and trying to work from home, who can balance fiscal responsibility over the long term with compassion for those hurting today.

Perhaps its time for a woman.
Pune, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global revenue cycle management market size is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 13.0% between 2020 to 2027 on account of the rising prevalence of various diseases resulting in an increase in patient pool. Revenue cycle management is a method of identifying, managing, and collecting patient service revenue and administering it with revenue generation and claims processing.

According to a published report by Fortune Business Insights titled Revenue Cycle Management Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Structure (In-house and Outsource), Type (Software and Service), Functions (Claims & Denial Management, Medical Coding & Billing, Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI), Insurance, and Others), End User (Hospitals, Physicians Office, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027, the value of this market was USD 96.27 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 258.16 billion by the end of 2027.





Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/revenue-cycle-management-market-100275





Industry Developments:

February 2018  A cloud-based platform for revenue cycle management called Acute Care was launched by eClinicalWorks

March 2019  A new RCM division was launched by Apprio Inc., called APPRIOHEALTH for delivering advanced technology solutions and services for healthcare organization.

The Report Answers the Following Questions:

What is the nature of the market for revenue cycle management?

Who are the key players of this market?

What are the key strategies adopted by the players?

Which is the leading segment of this market and why?

What are the recent industry developments of the market?

The rising prevalence of the COVID-19 has not only impacted the world economy but also led the healthcare sector to face a major crisis. This is attributable to the increasing patient pool for coronavirus positive patients and the lack of proper hospital beds and professionals. The imposition of lockdown by the governments across several countries has resulted in major economic losses for most businesses as it was not possible to operate from homes. However, the ones that did operate from homes barely managed meagre revenue.

We too hope the efforts put in by scientists and researchers reap efficient measures to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic and we can all get back to our normal lives. Fortune Business Insights has analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and are offering reports on various markets. These reports will help players and interested candidates study the market both qualitatively and quantitatively and accordingly make future decisions.





Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market.

Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/revenue-cycle-management-market-100275





Drivers & Restraints-

Increasing Adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHR) will Bolster Growth

The increasing adoption of advanced concepts in the medical sector such as electronic health records and other solutions stands as a key factor boosting the global revenue cycle management market growth. This, coupled with the wide range of IT products such as business intelligence tools, advanced predictive analytics, and automated patient collection systems provided by RCMs, will also aid in expansion of the market.

On the contrary, factors such as the budget constraints associated with the installation of revenue cycle management systems especially for small hospitals and physicians offices may cause major hindrance to the growth of the market. Nevertheless, the complexities of financial management for end users have fueled the demand for medical coding and billing services, thereby creating new growth opportunities for the market for RCM in the coming years.





Quick Buy - Revenue Cycle Management Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100275





Regional Analysis-

North America Dominated the Market Owing to increasing Adoption of Innovative Medical Solutions

In 2019, the market in North America was worth USD 52.01 billion and this region emerged dominant. This is due to the presence of many players and the launch of innovative solutions and setting up of new research centers in the U.S. Europe, on the other hand ranks second, the growth of which is attributable to the increasing number of start-ups and development of financial technology.

However, the market in Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as the fastest growing segment owing to the improving healthcare infrastructure and increasing adoption of revenue cycle management as software and services. Furthermore, the market in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa will grow steadily on account of gradual entry of healthcare advanced solutions.

Competitive Landscape-

Players Focusing on Delivering End-to-End Service to Gain Competitive Edge

Currently, Cerner Corporation is holding a dominant share in the market for revenue cycle management. This is attributable to the efficient RCM services provided by the company keeping in mind the production, efficiency, and budget requirements of the organization. The company also focuses on denial management, patient pays or pre-collect, medical billing and coding, and denial management, along with patient access for ensuring quality management services to their clients. The aforementioned factors will further help Cerner Corporation continue dominating the market in the coming years.





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List of Companies Profiled in the Report:

Cerner Corporation (Missouri, U.S.)

Epic Systems Corporation (Wisconsin, U.S)

McKesson Corporation (Texas, U.S)

MEDHOST (Tennessee, U.S)

Allscripts Healthcare, LLC (Illinois, U.S.)

Conifer Health Solutions, LLC (Texas, U.S)

GeBBS Healthcare Solutions (California, U.S)

Medical Information Technology Inc. (MEDITECH) (Massachusetts, U.S)

eClinicalWorks (Massachusetts, U.S)

Others

Revenue Cycle Management Market Segmentation:

By Structure

 In-house

 Outsource

By Type

 Service

 Software

By Functions

 Claims & Denial Management

 Medical Coding & Billing

 Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI)

 Insurance

 Others

By End User

 Hospitals

 Physicians Office

 Others

By Geography

 North America (U.S. and Canada)

 Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, and Rest of Europe)

 Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Rest of Asia Pacific)

 Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America)

 Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC and Rest of Middle East & Africa)





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Tyro Payments says its business remains resilient to the impact of COVID-19 on its small business customer base, but the electronic payments solutions provider was not confident enough to provide an outlook for the year ahead.

"Like many of our merchants, COVID-19 seriously disrupted our plans and ambitions for the year," Tyro chief executive Robbie Cooke, said.

Tyro chief executive Robbie Cooke declined to offer any outlook for the company given the risk of further COVID-19 outbreaks. Credit:Peter Braig

"Considering the challenges faced in the second half, our overall result was strong, albeit clearly behind where we had forecast to be at the time of our IPO (initial public offering)."

In its first full-year result as a publicly listed company, Tyro reported record transaction volumes and revenue for the year to June 30, as it booked a $38.1 million net loss that included more than $12 million of expenses related to its IPO.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg addresses his staff and the media after announcing that he will be ending his campaign on 4 March 2020 in New York City: (2020 Getty Images)

Former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg is planning to spend around $60m (45.5m) to help strengthen the Democratic House Majority in November, as his former aides have called for him to be pulled from speaking at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) this week.

The investment, that was announced on Monday, will match the amount Bloomberg spent in midterm elections in 2018, that helped the Democrats flip control of the House away from Republicans, according to the Washington Post.

The spending will include both television and digital ads that will be targeted in areas to help the 20 Democrats who were newly elected in 2018 keep their seats.

Funding will be split between Bloombergs political group, Independence USA, and the House Majority PAC, which is closely associated with House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Speaking about the funding on Monday, one of the former mayors advisers told the Post: Mikes view is that the investments he made last time are some of the best investments he has ever made.

We are going to be looking at the same kinds of places, which is to say suburban, swing districts. There will be some overlap with presidential contest states.

Ms Pelosi released a statement about the funding on Monday, where she praised Bloomberg for his continued help in House elections.

Mike Bloomberg played a role that was pivotal to our success two years ago, Ms Pelosi said in a statement. We are so glad that he is staying in the fight to protect and expand the Democratic majority in the House, she added.

Earlier in the year, Bloomberg donated $18m (13.6m) to the Democratic National Committee and another $35m (26.4m) to Hawkfish, a data consultancy firm working with the Democratic Party.

His donations came after he pulled out of the US presidential race and endorsed Joe Biden, who will be confirmed as the Democratic candidate for president at the DNC on Thursday.

Bloomberg, who spent over $1bn (758m) in four months during his unsuccessful presidential campaign, is scheduled to speak at the DNC later this week.

Story continues

In reaction to the announcement, a group of six former staffers on Bloombergs presidential campaign, sent a letter to convention organisers that asked for him to be taken off the speaking schedule.

The staffers are currently in a legal battle with their former boss, as they have accused Bloomberg of violating promises that they would keep their jobs until November, when he fired them after ending his presidential bid.

In the letter obtained by CNN, the staffers wrote: This is the type of greedy, anti-worker move wed expect from Donald Trump, but not from a Democratic presidential candidate.

The Democratic Party and its platform strongly oppose the immoral and unfair things that Mike Bloomberg did to thousands of his staffers during his presidential campaign.

The staffers added: Whether or not you can honour our request, we hope that you will ask Mike Bloomberg to make good on his promises to his staffers.

Its not too late to put many of us to work to help elect Joe Biden, retain the House, and take back the Senate. And its not too late to ensure that all former field staffers receive the pay and benefits that Mike Bloomberg promised us.

A representative for Bloomberg told CNN that heath benefits for everyone employed on his campaign were extended until Novembers election, and claimed that no one was promised employment until then.

The spokesperson said: Although no one was promised employment through November, Mike Bloomberg remains the biggest supporter of the Democratic Party, including through a transfer of $18 million to DNC (Democratic National Committee) organising efforts to hire hundreds of organisers in battleground states.

Read more

Bloombergs disastrous presidential run cost him $1bn over four months
TEHRAN, Iran Iran on Tuesday denied reports it paid Taliban fighters to target U.S. forces and allies in Afghanistan.

In a statement carried by Iranian media, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh called the claims entirely false and said the U.S. tries to hide its miscalculations" in Afghanistan by resorting to propaganda.

On Monday, media reports said U.S. intelligence agencies assessed that Iran offered bounties to Taliban fighters for targeting American and coalition troops in Afghanistan.

Iran sees the U.S. forces presence in neighboring Afghanistan and Iraq as a threat on its doorstep and routinely calls for their departure.

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
Baghdad:

More than 100,000 people have been displaced as a result of the massive operation to recapture Iraqs second city Mosul, the International Organisation for Migration said on Sunday.

Iraq launched the operation to retake Mosulthe last Iraqi city held by the Islamic State jihadist groupon October 17.

Since the battle began, 103,872 people have been displaced, the vast majority from Nineveh province, of which Mosul is the capital, the IOM said on its displacement tracking web page.

Iraqi Displacement and Migration Minister Jassem Mohammed al-Jaff told AFP that 118,000 people had been displaced since the operation started, a figure that includes those who fled the IS-held Hawijah area in another province.

Aid organisations had warned that a million or more people could be displaced by the Mosul operation, but those figures have yet to materialise.

Forces from Iraqs elite Counter-Terrorism Service have advanced deep into eastern Mosul, and nearly half of that side of the city has been recaptured.

But forces on the southern front have stalled south of Mosul, and those north of the city have also not entered it so far.

West of Mosul, Iraqi paramilitaries aim to retake Tal Afar, located between the city and Syria, but have yet to launch an assault on the town itself.

IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces have since regained much of the territory they lost that year.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
August 18 : Even after two months of Sushant Singh Rajputs demise, the media is digging out new information every day. Amidst the mystery of his death, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the money laundering angle based on the FIR lodged by the late actors father.

ED has reportedly summoned the late actors business partner Varun Mathur in connection with the case. Varun Mathur is one of the directors of the company called Innsaei Ventures Pvt Ltd that was started on April 26, 2018. Along with the late actor, Saurabh Mishra is also a director of the company. It is reported that earlier Mathur did not turn up when Mumbai police had summoned him to record his statement.

Lawyer Vikas Singhs serious allegations

Meanwhile, Sushants fathers lawyer Vikas Singh has made some serious allegations. He reportedly revealed that the post mortem report did not mention Sushants time of death. ANI has reported that the post mortem report Vikas Singh has seen doesn't mention the time of death which is crucial information. The time of death is important to ascertain if the actor was hanged after being killed or he died by hanging, Vikas Singh reportedly said.

Singh reportedly told ANI that Mumbai police was buying time to ensure that the evidence gets destroyed in the case. He alleged that Mumbai police tried to obstruct the investigation by the Patna police by quarantining Bihar IPS officer Vinay Tiwari, who went to Mumbai to investigate the late actors untimely demise.

Singh also reportedly told ANI that Sushants flatmate Siddharth Pithani was helping Rhea Chakraborty. He reportedly said that until Pithani was mentioned in the FIR by the late actors family, he was trying to help them, but now he has taken a U-turn and started helping Rhea.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
ARIIA 2020 rankings | The rankings have been evaluated on the basis of several parameters, including budget and funding support, infrastructure and facilities, etc

ARIIA 2020 Rankings announced | The Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020 has been released on Tuesday by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has topped the list and emerged as the best institute of national importance.

The Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu at the result announcement ceremony of Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements, 2020. #VPIVenkaiah #ARIIA2020 pic.twitter.com/WwMijtDVLP  Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) August 18, 2020

Seven IITs of the country have made it to the list of institutes of national importance, central universities and centrally funded technical institutes (CFTIs). IIT Bombay has bagged the second spot, while IIT Delhi was ranked number 3.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore has ranked fourth, while IIT Kharagpur was at the fifth position in the list.

According to a report by The Indian Express, for the first time, ARIIA 2020 had a special prize category for women-only higher educational institutions.

The top rank was bagged by Avinashlingam Institute for Home Sciences and Higher Education in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu while the second position was secured by Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, New Delhi.

The other five categories included centrally funded institutions, state-funded universities, state-funded autonomous institutions, private/deemed universities, private institutions.

In the government and government aided universities, the top position was secured by Institute of Chemical Technology (Maharashtra), followed by Panjab University (Chandigarh) and Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University (Haryana).

College of Engineering Pune got the top rank in the government or government-aided colleges category. PES College of Engineering and Coimbatore Institute of Technology got the second and third place respectively.

SR Engineering College in Telangana topped the category of the Private or self-financed Colleges. GH Raisoni College of Engineering in Nagpur (Maharashtra) was at number 2.

In the private or self-financed universities category, the first spot was secured by Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha. SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Tamil Nadu stood second, followed by Vellore Institute of Technology (Tamil Nadu).

Check the complete list here.

This year marks the second edition of ARIIA. The Ministry of Education released the rankings of universities based on initiatives taken to promote entrepreneurship on the campus.A total of 674 institutions participated in this year's ranking.

A report by NDTV said ARIIA rankings 2020 have been evaluated on the basis of several parameters. These are budget and funding support, infrastructure and facilities, awareness, promotions, and support for idea generation and innovation.

It also includes promotion and support for entrepreneurship development, innovative learning methods and courses, intellectual property generation, technology transfer and commercialisation and innovation in the governance of the institution.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 00:44:49|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Despite Thailand passing a record 80 days free from locally acquired infections of COVID-19, Thai health experts warned on Monday that the country is not immune to a second wave of infections.

"The Thais have become convinced that the country is completely free from COVID-19 cases and are now lowering their guard. By not wearing a face mask, frequently washing hands and maintaining social distancing, they have built risks," warned Professor Dr. Thiravat Hemachudha, director of the Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Center.

"This is the typical factors that will trigger a fresh surge of infections nationwide," Thiravat said, adding "it may appear that Thailand had already eradicated COVID-19, but there might be infected people out there who are asymptomatic."

Young people who are still healthy may not show any symptoms after getting the virus. But though asymptomatic, they can spread the disease, he said.

He added that using public transportation heightened the risk of infection because bus users, for example, were no longer socially distancing.

Allowing young children to return to class is also a big risk because it is difficult to keep them apart, the health expert said.

"As for people travelling here from overseas, strict screening and quarantine must be in place."

Meanwhile, Dr. Tanarak Plipat, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Public Health's Disease Control Department, agreed that the chances of Thailand facing a second wave of COVID-19 are high.

"We cannot say it will not happen, but hopefully, Thailand will be able to contain and stem as soon as possible before it spreads like wildfire."

"However, to achieve this, the public will need to change their attitude."

"Even after a COVID-19 vaccine is made available, the disease will still be around. It's just that precautions and vaccinations will prevent COVID-19 from overwhelming hospitals."

Tanarak warned that Thailand may experience similar situations in Vietnam, where local cases reemerged after having successfully controlled the outbreak.

He recommended that work forces keep workers at home as much as possible, or at least arrange flexible working hours to avoid crowding.

"Physical distancing measures must also be in place. Closed, air-conditioned places have a 19-times higher risk of COVID-19 transmission than outdoor spots," he said.

Medical facilities, meanwhile, must continue to actively seek COVID-19 cases, he added.

"For example, they should conduct a COVID-19 test on any patient suffering from lung inflammation. Don't wait until a cluster happens," he said.

Thai health authorities have also prepared for a possible new eruption of COVID-19.

According to the Ministry of Public Helath, there are now 1.12 million N95 face masks and 511,000 personal-protective-equipment sets in stock for medical staff.

"We also have 11,000 ventilators available," Tanarak said. "This is over and above the supply of medicines such as Favipiravir for treatment of coronavirus patients."

He added that all returnees from overseas faced mandatory COVID-19 tests and immediate isolation and medical treatment if found infected.

"Being alert and reacting fast should help us contain the second wave, when it occurs," he said. Enditem
(CNN) - Researchers in Germany have found possible evidence of the spread of coronavirus on a four-hour flight.

In March, early in the pandemic, two airline passengers developed coronavirus infections after sitting through a nearly five-hour-long flight, the researchers said.

It all started with an infected hotel manager. A week before the flight, 24 travelers had contact with a hotel manager who later tested positive for COVID-19, according to research published in the journal JAMA Network Open on Tuesday.

They all were among 102 passengers on the four-hour 40-minute Boeing 737-900 flight from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt. None of the passengers had received COVID-19 diagnoses before the flight. That early on in the pandemic, there were no mitigation measures in place and passengers were not asked to wear masks.

Researchers from the Institute for Medical Virology at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany examined 24 patients from a tourist group and tested them for coronavirus. Most of the other passengers were also contacted four to five weeks later for interviews.

Seven members of the tourist group tested positive for COVID-19. Four were symptomatic during the flight, two were presymptomatic and one remained asymptomatic, according to the researchers.

We discovered 2 likely SARS-CoV-2 transmissions on this flight, with seven index cases, the researchers wrote. The two people who may have been infected on the flight were sitting at the back of the plane, directly across the aisle from the seven infected passengers seated in a cluster.

These transmissions may have also occurred before or after the flight, the researchers wrote.

Just over 90% of the other flight passengers completed interviews with the researchers. One passenger reported testing positive for COVID-19 four days after the flight, but did not recall having any symptoms.

The airflow in the cabin from the ceiling to the floor and from the front to the rear may have been associated with a reduced transmission rate, the researchers wrote. It could be speculated that the rate may have been reduced further had the passengers worn masks.

The risk of transmission on a plane depends on a number of factors, including closeness to an index patient and movement of passengers and crew.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Study finds possible coronavirus spread on airplane"
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will formally accept his party's nomination in a speech delivered at the White House, ending weeks of speculation about what will be one of the most closely watched events of the presidential election.

Trump, speaking in Yuma, Arizona, said he would deliver the remarks from the South Lawn.

Im doing it live, unlike Michelle Obama, Im doing it live," Trump said, referring to a speech Monday from the former first lady during the first night of the Democratic National Convention. "And itll be Thursday night  itll be at the White House on the South Lawn."

A president's acceptance speech is usually a made-for-television event and the highlight of a party's convention, and in this case it will give Trump an opportunity to lay out a vision for his second term. But the coronavirus pandemic forced both Trump and his Democratic opponent  Joe Biden  to dramatically upend their convention plans.

It won't be the first time a sitting president uses the White House to accept a party's nomination. In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his acceptance speech from the White House via radio to the Democratic convention that nominated him for an unprecedented third term.

Democrats, who are holding a mostly virtual convention this week, have attacked Trump over his handling of COVID-19, and the spread of the virus has created political problems for his campaign in the past.

Republicans initially chose Charlotte, North Carolina, for their covention but shifted to Jacksonville, Florida, for the event's highest-profile speeches after North Carolina's Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, imposed tough coronavirus restrictions that would limit attendance at all large gatherings, including the Republican convention.

The White House? Gettysburg?: Trump team looks at options for nomination speech

Donald Trump officially accepts the Republican presidential nomination on the final night of the Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, Thursday, July 21, 2016.

Trump abruptly canceled the events scheduled in Jacksonville, Florida, as coronavirus cases spiked in that state and local officials  including some Republicans  warned they might not be be able to host the convention safely. Trump appeared to indicate he would accept the nod in North Carolina, but later then appeared to back away.

Story continues

Trump said July 29 that he might accept the nomination in remarks delivered from the White House, a venue not used by a president since FDR.

Trump also said previously he had considered Gettysburg, site of the bloodiest battle and a turning point of the Civil War.

More: Trump suggests he'll be in North Carolina to accept GOP nomination

More: Republicans fear coronavirus will force scaling back Trump's Florida convention

Trump's back and forth underscored the uncertainty GOP officials have faced as they tried to organize some form of in-person convention while responding to state and local coronavirus restrictions limiting large gatherings. Trump pilloried Cooper for the state's lockdown rules but struggled to find another state eager to hold a large event.

Trump won North Carolina in 2016, though polls show Biden with a single-digit lead there. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have already visited the state several times this year.

President Donald Trump speaks during a news briefing at the White House, Thursday, July 2, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Throughout the changes, some portions of the convention were always expected to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, including Trump's formal nomination. The acceptance speech by a nominee is considered a marquee event of a convention.

Trump held a political rally in Tulsa, Okla., on June 20, and took criticism for staging a mass event at a time when COVID was on the rise in that city.

Six members of the president's advance team contracted COVID before that Tulsa rally. The campaign has yet to schedule another rally.

Contributing: Courtney Subramanian

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump will accept Republican nomination for president at White House
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said that she wished Americans had been forced into a total lockdown the way Italy was early in the pandemic.

Speaking with the media Monday, Dr. Birx said: 'I wish that when we went into lockdown, we looked like Italy.'

Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed a nationwide quarantine on March 9, closing all non-essential businesses. The quarantine did not begin to loosen until the middle of April, with 'Phase 2' re-opening beginning in early May, although travel restrictions were still in effect.

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx (pictured Monday) said she wished America's lockdown had been like the total lockdown Italy ordered in early March

'When Italy locked down, I mean, people weren't allowed out of their houses,' Birx said, adding that 'they couldn't come out but once every two weeks to buy groceries for one hour and they had to have a certificate that said they were allowed.

'Americans don't react well to that kind of prohibition,' she said.

American cities and states didn't begin imposing lockdowns until nearly the end of March, with some areas choosing not to quarantine at all.

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, hard-hit Italy was declared the first European nation to experience an outbreak, with a mortality rate that outpaced that experienced in China.

Italy has reported 254,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus with nearly 35,400 deaths to date.

Police officers in Milan are pictured examining self-certifications of people in Piazza Duomo on March 12, after the nationwide quarantine was announced

A street in Rome is shown on March 14, nearly deserted after the nationwide lockdown began

Florence's Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio are seen complete empty on April 9

The New York City subways were full of people during the height of the pandemic on April 7

NYCs Central Park was full of people on April 19 despite the statewide lockdown in effect

In New York - the epicenter of the US pandemic - dozens of people were seen strolling around with and without masks at Long Island's Jones Beach on April 25

The United States, meanwhile, has had 5.4million confirmed coronavirus cases and 170,000 deaths to date.

Birx noted that now, Americans will need to be met with restrictions that they can live with, while also instituting personal behavioral changes, to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

She offered up a strategy that seemed to be working in Arizona, which entailed closing gyms and bars, mandating masks and banning groups of more than 10 people.

But, for example, Arizona residents were still allowed to go to malls and restaurants provided capacities were limited.

'People were interacting, people were out, but people, by just not doing those careful things, were able to drop the cases significantly, probably by more than 80%,' Birx said of the Arizona experience, according to CNN.

Birx said that Americans needed to continue to limited their interaction with others and also wear face masks.

'Tens of thousands of lives can be saved if we wear masks, and we don't have parties in our backyards  taking those masks off,' she said.

'Somehow we always believe our familys safe and our friends are safe. You cannot tell who's infected with the virus.

'You need to keep your mask on,' she said.

The CDC recommends the wearing of cloth face coverings as a 'critical tool in the fight against COVID-19 that could reduce the spread of the disease, particularly when used universally within communities.'

Research has shown that 'There is increasing evidence that cloth face coverings help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others,' the CDC said in mid-July.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Light snow this evening will give way to some clearing late. Low 13F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Light snow this evening will give way to some clearing late. Low 13F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
A white couple in New York has been arrested and accused of using racist scare tactics against their Black neighbor for three years.

The New York Daily News reports John McEneaney, 57, and Mindy Canarick, were charged Monday after allegedly attempting to intimidate their next-door neighbor by taunting her with blackface, dumping dog feces and dead squirrels in her yard, and firing gun pellets across her property. McEneaney was charged with criminal mischief and harassment, and Canarick was charged with criminal tampering, the Nassau County District Attorneys Office said.

Jennifer McLeggan, a 39-year-old nurse and single mom, moved into the house next door in the Long Island village of Valley Stream back in 2017, shortly before giving birth to her now 3-year-old daughter.

She told WABC that McEneaney and Canarick quickly made it known she was not welcome. She mowed the lawn and shoveled the snow herself, but kept getting ticket ordinances from the village of Valley Stream after seeing dog poop -- despite not having a pet canine.

I kept on noticing dog feces [in my yard]... I installed a camera here. I caught my neighbor throwing dog feces in front of my property, she said. I took that video to court, and I won a judgment.

McLeggan said the aggression didnt stop, and posted a sign outside her home in case she is harmed. She detailed how McEneaney and Canarick allegedly told her to go back to where you came from and said she can be erased, on top of claims they brandished a gun, spit in her yard, dumped feces and dead squirrels -- allegedly shot by McEneaneys father, Michael McEneaney -- and even took a blow torch to her home one early morning.

A video report from WABC shows some of the claims, including feces and a dead squirrel, captured on camera.

The police have said I need to be harmed before they can make an arrest, McLeggan wrote in the sign that went viral online. I live in FEAR for my life at home.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Pat Ryder told the Daily News that police have responded to nearly 50 calls between the two neighbors since the dispute began in 2017, but said last month that police have not found any evidence of racial bias.

Before his arrest, McEneaney told Newsday that McLeggans claims were absolutely absurd and untrue, denying he ever wore blackface and said the only time he wouldve put anything black on his face is a dark ski mask during winter.

My family has lived in Valley Stream since 1964 and weve never had a problem with anyone, McEneaney told the publication. I wish her and her child well... All I ever wanted was to live in peace.

McEneaney and Canarick were released on their own recognizance, the Daily News reports.

A judge issued an order of protection for them to stay away from McLeggan.
A health worker is carrying out a COVID-19 test in Dalian, in China's northeast Liaoning Province on July 26, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Citizens Criticize Chinese Authorities Negligence During Pandemic Lockdown

Residents of Dalian Bay district, a heavy-hit area in Chinas latest wave of the CCP virus outbreak, complained of authorities mismanagement of lockdown regulations. Unable to leave their homes, many said the prevention measures were too extreme.

Since at least late July, the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian has experienced a third-wave outbreak of COVID-19. The contagion has since spread to nine cities across five Chinese provinces, including Beijing. The climbing virus cases prompted a recent visit from Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, whose last inspection tour was to Wuhan, the worlds first CCP virus hotspot.

Dalian authorities implemented a lockdown in an attempt to contain the spread. Dalian Bay has been under full lockdown since July 26.

After weeks of isolation, local authorities gradually began to lift local lockdown measures after Aug. 15.

Residents Woes

Fujia Newtown is an apartment complex in Dalian Bay. The entire community has 12 apartment buildings.

After a 13-year-old residing in the complex was diagnosed with COVID-19 on July 22, the complex went through three weeks of lockdown. As the ban was being lifted, Fujia residents were still confined to the complex area.

Mr. Liu of Fujia Newtown told The Epoch Times that on Aug. 16, residents gathered downstairs and demanded an explanation from local authorities. However, only one female staff arrived and she gave no explanation.

Liu said residents had come downstairs voluntarily. We wanted to know why we still couldnt go out while other places had already removed the ban.

A resident said that in early morning on Aug. 17, several police motorcycles and more than 10 police cars were guarding the complex area.

During the lockdown, many residents tried to call [local authorities], but to no avail. Those people seemed to have vanished, Liu said, adding that community officials failed in their duty to convey pandemic information to residents.

Another resident said a pregnant woman was having contractions, but was delayed for three hours before she was admitted to the hospital. The mother went into premature labor and the baby was born prematurely.

The resident said: After three rounds of nucleic acid tests, the complex was still locked down. We need to live, we need to eat. Theres no knowing when it will be over. Grocery delivery provided no options. When the food arrived, its already rotten. What else can we eat?

The resident also said the online food delivery platform provided by authorities charged exorbitant fees.

Liu similarly said that because the online groceries platform is so expensive, he relies on his remaining supply of rice and noodles to save money.

Liu lives by himself and lost his full-time job years ago. He had been a steel factory worker with more than 20 years of experience. He now works as part-time security.

The first week [during lockdown] was really depressing. You had no idea whats ahead of you, the job, the living expenses, so many worries. And Im guarding the phone every day, watching news as a way of communicating with the outside world, he said.

On his birthday, July 31, I cried. It was too painful. I cooked some noodles for myself. Its really sad. Usually my relatives and friends are here, and I also have a daughter. [This year,] I sang a birthday song at home alone.

Authorities recently said Dalian Bay is now a low-risk zone, giving Liu hope that the lockdown will end soon. He celebrated with a toast on Aug. 16. His companys leader also told him that he can go back to work when the lockdown is over.

Local officials agreed to unlock Fujia Newtown on Aug. 19. The community also issued a notice demanding that residents register for a pass, which will be required for entering and exiting the complex.

Mr. Liu said that local officials didnt promise when the local public bus will resume operations. The community is located in a rural area, so it would be inconvenient if the bus service doesnt resume, he said.

Caught Off Guard

The lockdown policy was imposed suddenly and caught many local residents off guard.

A source in Dalian disclosed that his coworkers health QR code suddenly turned red on the morning of Aug. 17. The QR code system was implemented nationwide as a way for authorities to keep track of citizens COVID-19 status and determine whether they can pass through checkpoints.

The red health QR code means the coworker must stay at home. His company said that he could only verify with the district administration about the situation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 13:08:01|Editor: huaxia

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A damaged house is seen after an earthquake in Masbate Province, the Philippines, on Aug. 18, 2020. At least one person died in a 6.6-magnitude earthquake that rattled Masbate province in the central Philippines on Tuesday morning, local police said. (Masbate PDRRMO/Handout via Xinhua)

MANILA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least one person died in a 6.6-magnitude earthquake that rattled Masbate province in the central Philippines on Tuesday morning, local police said.

In an updated bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs) said the magnitude of 6.6 quake, which struck at 8:03 a.m. local time, hit at a depth of 21 km, about 7 km southeast of Cataingan town of Masbate province.

Police Colonel Joriz Cantoria of the Masbate provincial police said in an initial report that a retired police officer died after being hit by a collapsed wall in his home.

Cantoria also reported that the quake damaged several houses, roads and buildings, including the port of the seaside town and the public market.

"Masbate is conducting search and retrieval operations," Cantoria added.

The Phivolcs revised the magnitude of the Masbate earthquake to 6.6 from the earlier magnitude 6.5 on Tuesday morning.

The institute said it has recorded more than a dozen aftershocks since the initial quake struck.

The Philippines has frequent seismic activities due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Balaram Baniya, assistant editor at Nepali newspaper Kantipur Daily, is credited with breaking the news in June that China has encroached village Rui, that falls under the Gorkha district in Nepal.

On August 11, Tuesday, Baniya was found dead on the banks of Bagmati River near the Mando Hydropower Project in Makawanpur. He had reportedly gone missing a day earlier after which his family had lodged a complaint with the police.

His death has caused consternation among Nepali journalists, and press unions have called for an independent investigation into the cause of his death. These include the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Freedom Forum (FF) and the Nepal Press Union (NPU), all seeking a credible investigation into the circumstances leading to the journalist's death.

After his news on Chinese encroachment of the Rui village became public, both Baniya and the newspaper came under pressure. The newspaper had to issue an apology and Baniya was suspended for a brief while. His news had created a stir as other media organisations picked it up and conducted their own investigations.

His report put China in an embarrassing position as it highlighted the communist country's policy of encroaching upon borderlands of other nations, including friendly ones. The Nepali media also questioned their Prime Minister over encroachments by China and some of the lawmakers raised the issue publicly.

Baniya's news in June about Chinese encroachments created unease among the Chinese and Nepali leadership at a time when the two countries were tom-tomming about their relationship. It was published at a time when China was deeply embroiled in a territorial dispute with India.

Baniya's death has created a flutter and led to much speculation. In a press release, FNJ said: "We demand that the government investigate and make public the truth about the mysterious death of the journalist." The NPU said Baniya's death remains shrouded in mystery as there is a deep cut in his head. "There are suspicions surrounding his death. His death could be linked with daring news stories that he filed," NPU general secretary Ajaya Babu Shiwakoti said.

Baniya was known to be highly professional and an upright journalist. The Kathmandu Post has written a detailed account of his journalistic integrity and dedication to his work. He was also a former secretary of the FNJ.

The journalist's death may or may not be related to the Chinese encroachment but suspicion lingers. It also throws up the uncomfortable relationship that comes bundled with a China friendship. The Nepali media, independent and spunky, had earlier in the year experienced a run-in with the Chinese embassy, forcing 17 editors to issue a public statement condemning the Chinese embassy for threatening Nepali journalists and interfering in the working of a free media.

The Chinese embassy had released an intimidatory statement on an opinion piece carried by The Kathmandu Post on February 18, 2020, criticizing China's efforts on the coronavirus which spread worldwide from its epicentre in Wuhan.

In a threatening message, the Chinese embassy said: "It is regrettable that Mr. Anup Kaphle, Chief Editor of The Kathmandu Post, has always been biased on China-related issues. This time he went as far as disregarding the facts and becoming a parrot of some anti-China forces and, therefore, his ulterior purpose is destined to failure. The Chinese Embassy in Nepal has made solemn representations to the newspaper and himself and reserves the right of further action." China manages to rake up controversies even in Nepal -- currently a strong ally. Despite the latter's best efforts to keep China-related disquieting news away from the limelight, the Chinese keep riling up Nepal by virtue of their expansionist and extravagant claims.

It struck another discordant note recently when the China Global Television Network (CGTN) claimed on May 2 that 'Mount Chomolungma', also known as Mount Everest, is located in 'China's Tibet'.

After an uproar on social media by Nepali citizens, the CGTN deleted the tweet and replaced it with a more palatable, "...Mt Qomolangma, the highest peak in the world, is located on the Nepal-China border," still not acknowledging the universal name Mount Everest, by which the tallest peak is known.

An impartial investigation into Balaram Baniya's death may put to rest the speculation around his demise but his investigation into the Chinese encroachment in Nepal, a friendly country, may not fade away easily.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Canberra, Aug 18 : Australia's Health Minister Greg Hunt has revealed that a cap on international arrivals may not be lifted until the Covid-19 outbreak in the worst-hit state of Victoria is brought under control.

The government is facing increasing pressure to lift its travel restrictions that ban Australians from leaving the country and caps the number of returning citizens allowed to enter the country, reports Xinhua news agency.

The cap was introduced in July to reduce pressure on the hotel quarantine system after Victoria stopped taking returned travellers but thousands of Australians overseas said the ban has left them stranded with airlines rationing seats and prioritizing business class passengers.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the cap would remain in place for "some months".

In a statement on Monday, Hunt said that it would not be lifted until Melbourne Airport, Australia's second-biggest airport, was operational again.

Members of the government have joined calls for the cap to be lifted after being inundated by complaints from constituents stuck overseas.

"My office, like so many of our embassies and other MPs, have had direct representations from Australians unable to secure a flight home," said Bridget McKenzie, the former Minister for Sport and Agriculture.

"This is a result of caps and excessive pricing." As of Tuesday, Australia's overall coronavirus caseload stood at 23,599, with 421 deaths.

Victoria accounts for 17,027 of the total cases, with 334 fatalities.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Full-service carrier Vistara will operate 'special, non-stop' flights between Delhi and London's Heathrow from August 28 to September 30.

The airline said that the flights have been introduced as part of the bilateral 'transport bubble' formed between India and the UK.

"During the period, Vistara will fly thrice a week between the two cities -- on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays," the airline said in a statement.

"The airline will deploy its brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on the route to provide an exceptional, non-stop flying experience to travellers in both directions." Recently, the airline received its second Dreamliner aircraft, further strengthening its fleet to operate more such long-haul flights and expand its international operations.

"Vistara is also seeking necessary regulatory approvals to soon operate similar special flights to Paris, France, and Frankfurt in Germany," the statement said.

According to the statement, Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa or entry requirements in both the countries, as specified by the respective government bodies.

"The arrival of our second Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner further strengthens our fleet and underlines our commitment to expand globally," said Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara.

"There is an inherent need for an Indian carrier with modern fleet, world-class cabin products and onboard service to fly non-stop on long-haul routes."
Apple has announced two new radio stations are to launch on its Music service, while its flagship Beats 1 station has been renamed Apple Music 1.

The two new stations will be Apple Music Hits, playing popular songs from the 80s, 90s and 2000s, and Apple Music Country, focusing on country sounds.

The tech giant launched its music streaming service in 2015, which included the Beats 1 radio station, fronted by former BBC Radio One DJ Zane Lowe.

It has grown to include shows from the likes of Sir Elton John, Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga.

British R&B star Estelle has been confirmed among the daily hosts on Apple Music Hits.

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Lowe, who is also Apple Musics global creative director, said: Apple Music is home  its home to artists, its home to fans, and its home to incredible music.

Im an obsessive music nerd. I love searching for the most exciting new artists and playing them right alongside the most essential, established artists of our time, because great music does not know the difference and Apple Music fans just want to hear great music. Thats what Apple Music radio is all about.

Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music, Beats and international content, said the company hoped to continue to invest in live radio.

For the past five years, if ever there was a meaningful moment in music culture, Beats 1 was there bringing human curation to the forefront and drawing in listeners with exclusive shows from some of the most innovative, respected and beloved people in music, he said.

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Now, Apple Music radio provides an unparalleled global platform for artists across all genres to talk about, create and share music with their fans, and this is just the beginning. We will continue to invest in live radio and create opportunities for listeners around the world to connect with the music they love.
One of LSUs top defensive linemen has left the program.

Justin Thomas, an Alabama native and potential starter at defensive end, is no longer with the team, Ed Orgeron announced Tuesday.

Its unfortunate, Orgeron said.

The Spanish Fort High School graduate had returned to the team earlier this year after withdrawing from school last October for personal reasons.

Thomas posted eight tackles and a sack in five games last season prior to withdrawing from school.

His decision to leave the team is even more significant for LSU since it comes one week after another one of the Tigers top defensive ends, Neil Farrell, chose to opt out of the 2020 season.

Matt Zenitz is a senior SEC football reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mzenitz.
Seoul, Aug 18 : North Korea said on Tuesday that it will hold a plenary Central Committee meeting of the ruling Workers' Party (WKP) this week to "discuss and decide on an issue of crucial significance in developing the Korean revolution and increasing the fighting efficiency of the party".

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) didn't provide further details on the meeting set for Wednesday.

The announcement comes after leader Kim Jong-un presided over an executive policy council meeting of the Worker's Party on August 5 and decided to launch "a new department within the Central Committee of the Party", reports Yonhap News Agency Last week, the North also held a politburo meeting to decide on setting up a new department in the Central Committee and defined its function and role, saying that the newly established organization will "make tangible contribution to safeguarding the dignity and interests of the state and people".

Wednesday's meeting will mark the first time in about eight months that the North has held a plenary meeting of the Central Committee since Kim presided over a rare multiple-day plenary session late last year.

During last year's session, Kim threatened that the world will soon witness a "new strategic weapon" and warned of "shocking actual action", accusing the US of dragging its feet in talks for its own political interests.
More than a half-dozen cities, counties and civil right groups sued the Trump administration on Tuesday, saying there was no justification for its decision to cut the 2020 census short by a month, and it will lead to the undercounting of minority communities and an inaccurate head count of every U.S. resident.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in San Jose against the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Commerce, which oversees the statistical agency, asks a judge to reinstate a plan that had the once-a-decade head count ending in October instead of September.

Undercounted cities, counties, and municipalities will lose representation in Congress and tens of millions of dollars in funding. And communities of colour will lose core political power and vital services, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit was filed by the cities of Los Angeles, San Jose and Salinas in California. Also joining were Harris County in Texas, King County in Washington, and several civil rights organizations.

The census will help determine the distribution of $1.5 trillion in federal spending and the number of congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets.

Cities such as Los Angeles  where large numbers of residents are renters, dont speak English proficiently and dont have access to the Internet  are especially at risk of losing funding and the representation they deserve, said Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer.

From political representation to crucial public funding, every L.A. resident has so much riding on a full, fair and complete count, Feuer said at a news conference. The administrations abrupt, inexplicable and unlawful reversal would harm Angelenos for the next decade. It must not stand.

Census Bureau spokesman Michael Cook said the statistical agency doesnt comment on pending litigation.

Facing delays caused by the pandemic, the Census Bureau earlier this year pushed back wrapping up the once-a-decade head count from the end of July to the end of October.

The bureau also asked Congress in April to extend the deadline for turning in data used for drawing congressional districts from Dec. 31, 2020, to April 30, 2021. Top Census Bureau officials have said it would be impossible to meet the end-of-the-year deadline, and that the bureau expected bipartisan support for the request.

The request passed the Democratic-controlled House as part of coronavirus-relief legislation but it has not gone anywhere in the Republican-controlled Senate. The chambers inaction coincides with a memorandum President Donald Trump issued last month to try to exclude people living in the U.S. illegally from being part of the process for redrawing congressional districts.

Civil rights groups, states, cities and individuals have filed more than a half-dozen lawsuits challenging the memorandum as unconstitutional and an attempt to limit the power of Latinos and immigrants of colour.

To increase the chances of implementing the memorandum, Trump must receive the apportionment data while he is still in office, the San Jose lawsuit said.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.
A 39-year-old Magnolia man received 45 years in prison for killing his friend who he said owed him less than $800.

Melvin Yovani Ramirez-Russel pleaded guilty to murdering Gerardo Munoz De La Paz, 46, of Magnolia, on Monday in the 221st District Court. Presiding Judge Lisa Michalk handed out Ramirez-Russels sentence, which he is expected to serve half of before he is released, according to the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office.

He had great remorse, said Robert Bartlett, Ramirez-Russels defense attorney.

As part of the plea bargain, Bartlett said two felony charges for tampering with evidence  one for moving a human corpse  were dropped. He took a plea bargain, keeping in mind his 11-year-old daughter, Bartlett added.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Montgomery County Sheriffs Office: Man confesses to fatally shooting Magnolia resident over supposed debt

He wants at some point to be able to see his daughter, Bartlett said.

On Jan. 29, Montgomery County Sheriffs deputies found De La Pazs remains on the 20900 block of Roberts Cemetery Road, bearing a visible gunshot wound. Sheriffs detectives located video footage identifying Ramirez-Russel as the culprit. Ramirez-Russel admitted to investigators he killed De La Paz over a $700-$800 debt the victim owed him, according to the District Attorneys Office.

Ramirez-Russel, according to Bartlett, initially said in his admission that De La Paz attacked him before he fired his gun at his friend.

On the day the victims body and pickup truck were recovered, the DAs Office stated Ramirez-Russel shot De La Paz multiple times in his chest and left arm at close range with a .38 caliber pistol.

This case serves as a testament to the results that come after the hard work of the deputies, crime scene technicians, and detectives from our sheriffs department, that we have the privilege of working with every day, said prosecuting Assistant DA Rob Freyer in a statement. Their dedication was also recognized by nearly twenty loving members of the victims family, who were present in court to watch Russels guilty plea and to receive justice for the life of a very beloved man.

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District Attorney Brett Ligon also singled out the investigative teams work.

This case was yet another collaborative effort between our office and with law enforcement, and sends the repeated message to those in Montgomery County who commit acts of violence such as this, that there will be dire consequences to those who perpetrate them, Ligon said in a statement.

A female family member of De La Paz gave a victim impact statement in court.

I believe in divine justice, and I also believe in the justice of this great country, she said, according to Bartlett.

The DAs Office also stated a man helped Ramirez-Russel dispose of the body. On Feb. 5, Juan Manuel Amaya-Pavon, 37, was arrested by sheriffs deputies, charged with tampering with evidence to conceal a human corpse, a second-degree felony, after being questioned by sheriffs detectives in the case, according to authorities.

Amaya-Pavon is being held on a $75,000 bond at the Montgomery County Jail, according to jail records.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com/ twitter.com/jrgzztx
I was truly horrified by the lack of any social distancing at the Food Court Monday at the Danbury Fair mall and at the mall in general. People had masks mostly but no appropriate spacing in food lines, in bathroom lines or anywhere in the court. Tables were not distanced. It was packed. The scene was shocking! There were no mall officials or police present doing anything to address the situation.

How can Connecticut maintain its low Covid status if the malls are not safely managed? Stores were not limiting the number of entrants whatsoever. What will be done? How are you managing the mall for health safety during this crisis?
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: In a tragic incident, a six-year-old boy allegedly slipped and fell to death from the terrace of a three-storeyed building in Anna Nagar on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Ashish, son of Prem (24), who works as a security guard in the same building. Prem, who hails from Nepal, lives with his wife and two children in a room on the terrace of the building.

The boy was playing when he slipped and fell from the terrace. He was rushed to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, where he was declared brought dead, said a police officer. Tirumangalam police have registered a case and investigation is on.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse City School District is asking all teachers and staff if they feel safe coming back to school for in-person instruction.

A district survey went out Monday, said Bill Scott, president of the Syracuse Teachers Association. His union that represents 3,100 teachers in the city school district with an enrollment of 20,000 students.

The survey comes after the teachers union voted to ask the district to delay starting in-person education until November, which is the start of the second marking period.

That vote was overwhelmingly in favor of keeping kids out of the classroom for the start of the school year, but it was not all of the members of the union. Only the building representatives voted.

So the district decided to survey all of the teachers and other employees. There are more than 3,000 other employees, including administrators and custodians, who are represented by other unions. All of those are being included in the district-wide survey, Scott said he was told.

Everyone has until Wednesday to give their answers.

The district, like most in Central New York, has already asked parents whether they will send their kids to school in the fall. So far, about 50 percent of parents in the city school district have said they plan to keep their children home.

Syracuse was planning to offer a hybrid schedule for students in preK-eighth grades: They would go to school in person for two days. The other three days would be at home, online or using packets of worksheets similar to the ones teachers distributed in the spring when school shut down.

High school students had been told that they would be going to school online until January, but recently the district said they would likely get one day in the classroom.

Last week, though, Syracuse teachers asked the district to delay doing any in-person education until November. Superintendent Jaime Alicea asked the school board to delay the first day of school until Sept. 14, which it did.

If we need to extend that further that is something we can discuss, Alicea said, following the decision to delay the start of school.

The unions in every other large upstate city, and New York City, have all asked to delay in-person education until at least October. So far, only Rochester has decided to do so.

Scott said the Syracuse teachers have a long list of questions that have not been answered. They range from what happens when a child shows up to school, sick, to whether the air in buildings is safe or not.

Scott said many of the buildings in the district do not have ventilation systems that can support the Merv-13 filters that the governor has asked districts to use. The higher quality filter is not a mandate for school districts from the state; it was a suggestion.

Scott said some buildings have neither a good ventilation systems or windows that can open. He said the district is working on a list of buildings that do not or cannot meet the air filtration standards.

That is going to be quite a hurdle for people to get their minds around and overcome, Scott said.

Are you a Central New York teacher or parent with concerns about going back to school? Reporter Marnie Eisenstadt would like to talk to you. Contact her anytime: email | Twitter| Facebook | cell 315-470-2246
The 8 Cant Wait campaign was launched by the Campaign Zero project following the death of George Floyd, who was was killed after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee to the mans neck and didnt ease up, even after Floyd said he couldnt breathe. Floyds death shone a spotlight on the deaths of other Black people at the hands of police and led to nationwide protests and calls for police reform.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 05:27:30|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Mortar shells fell in the vicinity of a U.S. base in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Tuesday, a war monitor reported.

The mortar shells, launched by an unknown party, struck the the U.S. base in the Koniko gas field in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour in the afternoon, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

There is no report on casualties, the UK-based watchdog said.

Meanwhile, the state news agency SANA also reported that mortar shells targeted the U.S. base in the gas field.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian forces opened fire on the forces of the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the base with no information on casualties, said the monitor.

The U.S. maintains several bases in the areas controlled by the SDF in northern and northeastern Syria.

Earlier Tuesday, two protests erupted in the northeastern province of Hasakah against the presence of the U.S. forces in Syria.

A day earlier, two U.S. military helicopters targeted a Syrian military checkpoint in the countryside of the northeastern city of Qamishli, killing a soldier and wounding others.

The conflict erupted when the Syrian troops at the checkpoint prevented a U.S. patrol from passing through.

The Syrian government has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Syria as they entered the country illegally without the consent of the Syrian government. Enditem
This spike in cases is very serious, and we must take serious steps to address it, Jenkins said in a brief address that was shown through a live feed on the university website. He said the 12,000-student school was stopping short of sending students home at least for the time being, in hopes of getting the case count under control.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 06:28:31|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- More than 30 major U.S. business groups said on Tuesday that they're unlikely to implement President Donald Trump's recent executive order (EO) on payroll tax deferral as it would prove "unworkable" and impose a large tax bill on American families next year.

"Under current law, the EO creates a substantial tax liability for employees at the end of the deferral period," these business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

"Without Congressional action to forgive this liability, it threatens to impose serious hardships on employees who will face a large tax bill as a result of deferral," the letter said.

In an attempt to circumvent Congress, Trump earlier this month signed a series of executive orders to extend certain COVID-19 economic relief, including deferring the payment of employee payroll taxes from September through the end of the year.

While U.S. employees may get a relatively small benefit of deferral this year, they could incur payroll tax bills as high as about 2,232 U.S. dollars due in 2021, depending on their income, according to calculations by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"Many of our members consider it unfair to employees to make a decision that would force a big tax bill on them next year. It would also be unworkable to implement a system where employees make this decision," the letter said.

"Many of our members will likely decline to implement deferral, choosing instead to continue to withhold and remit to the government the payroll taxes required by law," the letter noted, urging Congress and the Trump administration to work together to provide much-needed tax relief to American families without imposing a large tax bill in the future.

The letter came as congressional lawmakers and White House officials remain deadlocked over the next COVID-19 relief bill. Economists have warned that the U.S. economy is at serious risk of sliding back into recession if the White House and Congress couldn't reach a deal on another fiscal rescue package in the coming months.

"The inability of Congress and the administration to reach a compromise has a very real and very large human cost," Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday in a statement.

"For schools and businesses to get the resources they need to safely reopen, for small businesses to keep their doors open, and for those that have lost their jobs to continue to provide for their families, Congress must act. There is no excuse for inaction," he said. Enditem
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.




At a peaceful protest demanding the defunding of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Saturday, demonstrators were beaten, pepper sprayed, kettled, detained, searched and photographed before they were released from the downtown area. CPD claims 17 officers were injured with bumps and bruises, and one hand injury.

Twenty-four people were arrested and four have reportedly been charged with felonies. Activist Berto Aguayo of Increase the Peace demanded a public apology after being beaten and spat on by CPD officers, Before anything else happens We would like to see an apology from the mayors office and the Chicago Police Department for the violence they used to attack Chicago residents.

Police in front of a raised bridge in downtown Chicago

The central business district of the third largest US city is becoming an occupied zone in response to weeks of regular protests against police violence and racism. As if to announce this new normal, the Office of Emergency Management tweeted Sunday night, after a week of an overnight lockdown in the Loop that restricted traffic and public transit: All streets, bridges and CTA stops downtown will be accessible overnight until further notice.

For those days, part of Lake Shore Drive was shut down, expressway ramps were blocked, bridges lifted and transit rerouted around the Loop. Those who could prove they lived or worked there could use a few remaining routes, monitored by police. Overnight workers dependent on public transit had their commute times as much as doubled and traffic was snarled.

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.

The immediate pretext for this massive mobilization and integration of police agencies and social media surveillance was to prevent looting, but the developments in Chicago represent a new stage in the class war in which the Democratic Party is seeking to establish itself as the preferred political instrument of the financial aristocracy in the 2020 elections.

The new plan links up the mayors office, CPD (which has about 12,000 uniformed officers), Cook County Sheriff and Illinois State Police, operationalizing quick deployment of large numbers of police. State police will be deployed to shut down access to certain areas of Chicago, county sheriffs will be sent into neighborhoods, barriers to movement to harden the city will be established. These agencies are also collaborating with the FBI as part of the Trump administration's law enforcement "surge."

At a weekend press conference, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said he would not share how many officers were deployed, but confirmed large deployments were placed downtown and a large footprint in the neighborhoods. Chicago has long been known for having the largest, most sophisticated police surveillance network of any western city outside of London and it is increasingly monitoring social media.

Large contingents of police were deployed on Saturday to protect commercial properties. Brown confirmed to media in the aftermath of the events that police were filming protesters faces with the intention of leveling charges.

Brown stated, An officer was beat in the head with a skateboard repeatedly. Protesters complained the policewho were wearing protective gear, including helmetsprovoked the crowd and beat the youth first.

At least two journalists, including a Chicago Tribune reporter, were kettled and detained. Paige Fry reported Things just got really violent really quick when police rushed the protester line. She posted video showing police rushing on protesters at multiple locations.

Both Lightfoot and Brown defended the polices actions, declaring officers remained calm, even as videos circulated on social media showing police officers rioting and beating teens.

I want to recognize our officers for maintaining professionalism and composure. I stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the ground with the men and women in blue witnessing the verbal abuse and dodging bottles and other street debris, Brown said, who was on the scene on Saturday.

Lightfoot praised the police for working fairly quickly in dispersing the protests.

CPD sought to assert control over the media narrative of events, releasing edited video of events in an effort to substantiate the view that the protesters, not the hundreds of armed men and women in riot gear and with firearms, were the source of the violence. CPDs Twitter account later posted photos and arrest records of protesters which include the full names, addresses and photographs of those arrested in an effort to intimidate and shame protesters, who are innocent of any alleged crimes until proven guilty in court.

The official narrative advanced by the mayors office and Chicago Police Department Democratic is that the protests are being hijacked by those who want to attack police.

But from the earliest days of the anti-police violence protests, it has been abundantly clear through thousands of videos that the protests are peaceful and that it is the police who initiate confrontations and escalate violence, snatching objects away from protesters, breaking up groups, physically shoving and threatening, and further escalating to beating, macing, tear-gassing, firing projectile rounds and arresting people.

Jacqulyn Hamilton of the Chicago Freedom School told Block Club Chicago, I had to argue with police to get young people, who were trying to leave the area, out past the police line. People were consistently trying to leave and being held inside and then being attacked.

Precisely because she has struck an aggressive law and order stance, defending police brutality and violence against anti-police violence protesters, Lightfoot is playing a prominent role in this weeks Democratic National Convention (DNC).

Interviewed on Face the Nation, the television news program, Lightfoot spoke on the ongoing anti-police violence protests and on her role as a Biden surrogate.

Host Margaret Brennan began by questioning Lightfoot about the previous weekends looting which took place after the shooting of Latrell Allen in Englewood and a confrontation between residents and more than 140 officers, according to media reports, many outfitted with rifles and riot gear. Brennan asked, You called that, last Sunday, a planned attack. Is that what happened this time?

Lightfoot responded, No, look, unfortunately, what weve seen in cities all across the country, not just Chicago, is a continuing wave of protests. The vast majority of these have been peaceful. But what weve also seen is people who have embedded themselves in these seemingly peaceful protests and come for a fight.

A former prosecutor and her predecessor Rahm Emanuels cleaner in the wake of the police murder of teenager Laquan McDonald, Lightfoots statements on the protests have underlined her hostility to any organized opposition to police violence. She has publicly rejected the demand to defund the Chicago Police Department, which has a $1.7 billion budget, and in June ridiculed the demand as a nice hashtag.

On Monday, Lightfoot led a panel at the DNC titled, The Path Forward: A Conversation with Vice President Biden on Racial Justice with diversity consultant Jamira Burley, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NAACP President Derrick Johnson and Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner who was murdered by New York City police.

In moments of boundless hypocrisy, Lightfoot emphasized economic empowerment, declaring, Because if people are lifted out of poverty and they are given an opportunity to feel a stake in their own future, that goes a long way.

She added Chicago challenges corporate and community-based institutions to think about how they can end systemic racism and ensure they are uplifting the quality of life in communities. One would ask if among these institutions is the Chicago Police Department, which routinely humiliates, beats and kills the citys working class residents.

As Democrats in Chicago and nationwide claim there is no money for public health, public education, housing and social services, there are endless resources available for state repression and war.

Lightfoots role in the DNC underscores the right-wing and anti-democratic character of the Democratic Party, which seeks to demonstrate it will be better than Trump in securing the class interests of the financial aristocracy.

That the need for violent repression rides high among the Democratic Partys priorities in this election must be taken as a serious warning by the working class.
The suits, including one filed Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Washington state, will argue that the Postal Service broke the law by making operational changes without first seeking approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. They will also argue that the changes will impede states ability to run free and fair elections, officials from several state attorney generals offices told The Washington Post. The Constitution gives states and Congress, not the executive branch, the power to regulate elections.
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The Brentwood, California home the Golden Girls was filmed at has been sold for $4,000,620 after a bidding war added $1 million to the total.

The four-bedroom, 2,901 sq. ft home went on the market last month with a $2,999,000 asking price, immediately garnering interest with 20 offers in a two-week span, Douglas Elliman Real Estate listing agent Rachelle Rosten told the Wall Street Journal.

'I knew there were a lot of Golden Girls fans in the world but I had no idea there were this many,' said Rosten, who noted that there were nine parties bidding for the piece of TV history.

Classic: The NBC series ran from 1985 until 1992 and documented the lives of four seniors living in Miami, Florida - Sophia, Rose, Dorothy and Blanche played by (L-R) Estelle Getty, Betty White, Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan, respectively

TV lore: The Brentwood, California home the Golden Girls was filmed at has been sold for $4,000,620 after a bidding war added $1 million to the total

Colorful: The retro kitchen area is adorned in green and pastel tones

The NBC series ran from 1985 until 1992 and documented the lives of four seniors living in Miami, Florida - Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia, played by Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty, respectively.

A Douglas Elliman told People said that none of the parties were celebrities in the spirited bidding war.

The Brentwood home was where the first season of the comedy was filmed, after which it was taped in Hollywood at Disney's studio, a Disney spokesperson told WSJ.

The custom-built Japanese and Hawaiian-inspired abode had been owned by the same family since it was initially built in 1955 by its original owners, the late attorney David Noble Barry III and wife Margaret Carr Barry.

Origins: The Brentwood home was where the first season of the comedy was filmed, after which it was taped in Hollywood at Disney's studio

In demand: Nine parties bidding for the piece of TV history, with the asking price getting eclipsed by a seven-figure total

Background: The custom-built Japanese and Hawaiian-inspired abode had been owned by the same family since it was initially built in 1955

Among the amenities of the piece of TV lore - whose storyline address was 6151 Richmond Street in Miami - include large ceilings and walls made of glass to integrate light.

Family heir James C. Barry said his parents were architecture aficionados, which motivated them to lend the show for the home.

Among the amenities of the piece of TV lore - whose storyline address was 6151 Richmond Street in Miami - include large ceilings and walls made of glass to integrate light.

Details: The four-bedroom, 2,901 sq. ft home, went on the market last month with a $2,999,000 asking price

Other notable features on the famed dwelling include a pair of skylights and a veranda situated in the main living room of the home; and sliding screen doors on the interior.

According to TMZ, the set of the home the show was filmed on was used on a visitor tour until it was dismantled in 2003.

Watch every episode of The Golden Girls on Hulu, or on Stan in Australia.

Stunning: The home allows for plenty of natural illumination with its glass doors and windows

Other notable features on the famed dwelling include a pair of skylights and a veranda situated in the main living room of the home
The Tamil Nadu HSC or Class 12, board exam results 2020 were declared on 16 July and the overall pass percentage stood at 92.34 percent

The Directorate of Government Examination (DGE) Tamil Nadu has released the scanned copy of Class 12 examination answer sheets on its website - dge.tn.gov.in. Students who had applied for a copy of their answer scripts can download it from the website.

The Tamil Nadu HSC or Class 12, board exam results 2020 were declared on 16 July. The overall pass percentage in the exam stood at 92.34 percent. A total of 7,79,931 students had appeared for the exam out of which of 7,20,209 have passed.

The pass percentage among government schools stood at 85.94 percent against 98.7 percent in private schools.

Here's the direct link to check the scanned copy of TN Board Class 12 answer sheets.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, to ensure transparency in the evaluation process, the directorate asked the students to send applications if they want to obtain the scanned copies of their answer sheets.

For candidates who are not satisfied with their score, DGE Tamil Nadu has also opened a window to apply for re-totaling and revaluation.

For the process of re-totaling, students will have to pay Rs 205 each, and Rs 305 for Biology.

The discrepancies that will be considered in re-totaling include total mistake in marks, answer valued but marks not awarded, marks awarded but no posted in the front page, unvalued answers, and difference in marks between answer sheets and provisional mark sheet.

A report by India.com said that apart from online, students can also get the answer sheets from their respective schools or through the exam centres where they took the test.

For re-totaling and re-evaluation, students can also approach their district school education office and apply between 21 and 25 August.

Here is the direct link to apply for re-totaling/ revaluation.
The Internal Affairs Ministry says 122 people are now in local police's temporary detention facilities.

Some 76 people are listed as missing after a bloody crackdown on protests and mass arrests of protesters in Belarus.

This was reported by the TUT.by news portal, which has launched an online service to help find people who have disappeared after participating in rallies across Belarus.

Read alsoPresident of European Council: Leadership of Belarus must reflect Belarusians' will

Information available on certain missing people includes the number of days they were imprisoned for but the place where they have been serving the sentence remains unknown, it said.

The situation with some of the missing is worse: neither relatives nor civil volunteers know anything about them. Their names are not on the lists of convicts or those who are kept in detention centers.

There are also cases of when people went missing on the streets under unusual conditions. For example, the director of a museum from Grodno region disappeared after work.

Meanwhile, Belarus' Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that 122 people were in local police's temporary detention facilities as of Monday, August 17.

Recent developments in Belarus in brief
'More than 1,000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced.'

Ajai Shukla reports.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi waves at the NCC cadets participating in the 74th Independence Day event at the Red Fort in New Delhi, August 15, 2020. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday approved a major expansion of the National Cadet Corps in 173 border and coastal districts of the country.

In its most substantial expansion in recent years, the size of the NCC will be boosted from the current 1.4 million cadets to about 1.5 million cadets. One-third of the additional cadets will be women.

In October, the ministry of defence had announced that the strength of the NCC would rise to 1.5 million by 2023.

However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi fast-tracked that expansion in his Independence Day address on Saturday.

'More than 1,000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced,' announced the MoD on Sunday.

'This will not only provide exposure to the youth of the border and coastal areas to military training and disciplined way of life but will also motivate them to join the armed forces,' it said.

Over the years, the NCC has provided disciplined and reliable personnel to assist the government in natural disaster and other emergencies.

Over 50,000 NCC cadets have been pressed into service to help the government implement the lockdown during the ongoing novel coronavirus crisis.

NCC is popular amongst school and college students across the country.

It involves military instructors teaching students drill, weapons firing, first aid, adventure training, camping and other military subjects.

Students who achieve high levels of proficiency are offered preferential selection as commissioned officers in the military.

A total of 814 NCC units across the country already provide training in 16,597 schools and colleges, the MoD told Parliament on March 7, 2018.

These are grouped into 17 regional directorates spread across the country and are headed by a lieutenant general based in New Delhi.

The administrative staff, instructors and training are primarily funded from the army's budget, which has allocated Rs 1,689 crore (Rs 16.89 billion) to NCC for the current year.

In addition, individual states also contribute towards the cost of NCC training in the schools and colleges under their respective jurisdictions.

Many more schools and colleges across the country have applied for NCC training to be extended to their educational establishments.

However, capacity constraints limit the number the army can oblige.

To cater to the expansion, the MoD says a total of 83 NCC units will be upgraded -- 53 from the army, 20 from the navy and 10 from the air force.

'Army will provide training and administrative support to the NCC units located in the border areas, navy shall provide support to NCC units in the coastal areas and similarly, air force will provide support to the NCC units located close to the air force stations.

'The NCC expansion plan will be implemented in partnership with states,' said the MoD.

The NCC was formed under the National Cadet Corps Act of 1948.

It has its origins in the 'University Corps', created during World War I, under the Indian Defence Act of 1917, to make up for the shortage of able-bodied personnel to carry out law and order duties.
Texas Insurance Commissioner Kent Sullivan will resign from his post in September and return to the private sector, the Texas Department of Insurance reported.

In his three years at the agency, Sullivan, who took the top leadership job in October 2017, has focused on modernizing the department.

Through this effort agency has reduced its reliance on paper, streamlined rule development, and increased automation, training, and technical support in its call center operations. It made a seamless transition to remote work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it just implemented an artificial intelligence project that holds the promise of transforming state policy reviews.

Sullivan has more than 35 years of legal experience and was a partner in several private law firms before becoming Insurance Commissioner. He previously served as a Texas Court of Appeals justice, a state district court judge, and first assistant attorney general for the Texas Office of the Attorney General.

TDI regulates the second-largest insurance market in the nation and the seventh-largest in the world. The agencys modernization push has led to faster service in complaint resolution and agent licensing, an increase in online licensing applications, and a major organizational restructuring.

Related:

Topics Texas
by Shafique Khokhar

Representatives of Pakistans major faiths attended the ceremony. For Archbishop Shaw, the pandemic united the faithful of different religions. Anglican Bishop calls for the elimination of hatred of others. Sunni, Shia and Sikh clerics call for respect for all places of worship.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw of Lahore on Sunday reopened the doors of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Like all the other places of worship in the Archdiocese, the church had been closed to the public as a result of the pandemic emergency.

Representatives of all the major faiths in the country, including members of the National Committee for Interreligious Dialogue, attended the reopening ceremony.

In his address, Archbishop Shaw stressed that the Catholic community had respected the government's directives to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

During the lockdown, Eucharistic ceremonies took place in a small chapel at the archdiocese, with few people praying for the good of the country and the whole world.

The archbishop, who noted that the COVID-19 crisis had united the faithful of all religions, thanked God for saving and protecting the Pakistani people during the pandemic.

He ended the meeting singing a hymn from the Psalms of the Prophet David, something recognised and respected by other faiths.

Anglican Bishop Irfan Jamil said that God had brought together the leaders of all religions to defend the poor. "We have been asked to wash our hands, but we must also wash our hearts and thank the Lord for his protection.

He further noted that "Wearing the mask and maintaining social distance were other precautionary measures, but we must cover our face and keep our distance from sin [as well]. We must erase hatred of others and love and protect our country."

Islamic leaders also spoke appreciatively. Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain pointed out that the Holy Quran calls for respect for all religious and places of worship.

For him, Archbishop Shaw did a great job, adding that those present at the ceremony are all ambassadors of peace united by faith.

Shia representative Qasim Raza Naqwi thanked all those who contributed to saving lives in this difficult moment.

Last but not least, Bishan Singh, from the Sikh community, thanked Mgr Shaw for organising the meeting. He too recited a prayer for unity and love between Pakistans different religions.
What should automobile manufacturers do  import cars for domestic sale or assemble cars domestically? They prefer the second solution, though the first brings higher profit.

The import tariff on CBU (complete built unit) imports from ASEAN is zero percent. Meanwhile, the production costs in Thailand and Indonesia are 20 percent lower than Vietnam. Therefore, it would be more profitable to import cars from the two countries for sale in the home market.

Some foreign invested manufacturers did so. In early 2017, Toyota Vietnam shifted to importing CBU Fortuner from Indonesia for domestic sale. It would assemble 14,000 Fortuners a year in Vietnam, but it did not do this because the production cost was high in Vietnam.

However, in 2019, the manufacturer once again began organizing domestic assembling. The prices of domestically assembled products are the same as imports.

A representative of Toyota Vietnam said the domestic assembling cost is higher than the import price, but the company decided to quote the same prices, accepting lower profits.

In late 2017, Honda Vietnam also shifted to import CR-V instead of assembling domestically. But it has recently announced that the model is now assembled in Vietnam. The products are priced at VND1.2 billion, or VND20 million more expensive than imports.

In late 2017, Honda Vietnam also shifted to import CR-V instead of assembling domestically. But it has recently announced that the model is now assembled in Vietnam. The products are priced at VND1.2 billion, or VND20 million more expensive than imports.

Mitsubishi Vietnam said it has begun assembling Xpander at its factory in Binh Duong province. The product is priced at VND630 million, equal to imports.

Why are the three models assembled in Vietnam despite advantages?

At present, domestically made cars can enjoy the 50 percent reduction in vehicle registration tax. Besides, the car models with large output, if assembled in Vietnam since July 10, can also enjoy preferential tariff for car part imports and a zero percent tariff for components which cannot be made in Vietnam.

However, enterprises want a new luxury tax policy, under which the tax would be exempted for domestically made car parts.

The policy is still under compilation, and once applied, it will put domestically assembled cars at an advantage over imports.

Benefits for automobile industry

Enterprises believe that to develop the automobile industry, it is first necessary to maintain assembling activities and gradually increase the localization ratio. It is good news that many automobile manufacturers have left the Philippines, but continue to assemble cars in Vietnam.

According to Fitch Solutions, Vietnam ranks 10th in Asia with 44.5 scores in terms of relative attractiveness of a country to automobile manufacturing facilities.

However, Vietnam is still an attractive destination thanks to the advantages brought by FTAs and low production costs. Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia are the busiest retail automobile markets among emerging Asian markets. Fitch Solutions predicted 6.1 percent growth rate of the market in the next five years.

Tran Thuy

Vietnam's automobile market sees 62 percent surge after social distancing The sales of automobile surged 62 percent month-on-month in May following the end of social distancing measures, according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA).
In an inspiring incident, a man who was jailed for 16 years in charge of dealing drugs has become a criminology professor and now teaches students studying from prisons. According to reports, Stephen Akpabio-Klementowski was sentenced to 16 years in prison after he was caught dealing drugs in the United Kingdom. Stephen had dropped out of school following his father's demise and was sent to prison when he still a teenager as he was caught with drugs. Stephen after the first three months of staying alone started working in the prison kitchen and started opening up. He was assessed for his educational skills and was encouraged to start studying while at the prison.

Read: Good News: From Kind Gestures To Unbelievable Achievements, 5 Inspiring Stories To Read

From prisoner to professor

Stephen enrolled himself at the United Kingdom's Open University and started studying from the cell of his prison. Stephen in a documentary film by BBC in association with the Open University reveals how inmates and jail guards taunted him and discouraged him from studying. Stephen in the film says that they use to tell him that the study will be of no use as it will be impossible for him to find a job once he is out of jail. Stephen says in the film that he ignored them as he knew he was studying for a change and not for a better outcome. According to the film, Stephen would study while sitting at the toilet in order to let his cellmate sleep peacefully.

Read: 'Inspiring': Twitter Hails Beirut Woman Who Played Piano In Broken House, Watch Video

Stephen in the film admits that while growing up he was the biggest barrier inside himself. Stephen says that he never saw the world as 'meritocracy' and felt that he had to grab what he could, a perception that has changed now. In the prison he studied in the time he had after his work in the kitchens. Stephen was released from prison after eight years and when he came out he had a Masters's level degree and found a job as a professor. Stephen is now a Ph.D. candidate with The Open University, UK, and an associate lecturer, working with prison students. Stephen's film, How I went from Prisoner to PhD was released by BBC on August 4, which they made in association with The Open University.

Read: IAS Officer Shares His CBSE Result In Inspiring Tweet, Says 'I Got 24 Marks In Chemistry'

Read: Ravindra Jadeja Shares Story Of Captain Vikram Batra In Inspiring Video On Instagram
New Delhi: The government is likely to take a major decision on airport privatization in its scheduled cabinet meeting on Wednesday (August 19). The cabinet may approve the privatization of six airports including Amritsar, Indore, Ranchi, Trichy, Bhubaneshwar, and Raipur. After the cabinet approval, the bidding process for the privatization of these six airports will begin this year itself.

The Modi government had earlier decided to privatize 12 airports of the Airport Authority. The decision on privatisation of six airports of Ahmadabad, Mangalore, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, and Jaipur have already been taken in the first phase.

Adani Enterprises got all these airports through the highest bid in the bidding process. The Adani firm signed the concessionaire agreement with the AAI for three airports - Ahmedabad, Mangaluru, and Lucknow - on February 14, 2020, and it is yet to sign the concessionaire agreement for the other three airports.

Earlier in May this year, the PMO held a review meeting of the Divestment and Privatization status and directed that within three months, privatization of teh remaining 6 airports has to be accomplished. The deadline for the same is over by August 15.

Ministry of Civil Aviation will place a proposal for "further" privatisation of airports before the Union Cabinet, said Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

In the first round of privatisation, the airports in Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati were cleared for operation, management and development through public-private partnership (PPP) model in February 2019.

In September 2019, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had recommended the Civil Aviation Ministry to privatise airports in Amritsar, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Indore, Raipur and Trichy.

During a webinar today, Puri said, "We are going to the Cabinet tomorrow for further airport privatisation. We have got many more airports lined up, dozens of them, and the 100 new airports we will build between now and 2030."

The AAI, which works under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, owns and manages more than 100 airports across the country.

Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports -- Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati -- after a competitive bidding process in February 2019.

Adani Enterprises signed the concessionaire agreement with the AAI for three airports - Ahmedabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow - on February 14, 2020. It is yet to sign the concessionaire agreement for the other three airports.

In June this year, the AAI gave three more months to the Adani group to take over the management of the airports of Ahmedabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow due to the COVID-19 scenario. This means the Adani group, which was expected to take over the operations, management and development of the three airports by August 12, can now take over the airports by November 12.

Notably, Airlines in India are currently permitted to operate 45 per cent of their pre-COVID domestic flights, but International passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country.
HOUSTON, Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Partners LP (Targa Resources Partners or the Partnership), a subsidiary of Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:TRGP) announced today that its previously announced cash tender offer (the Tender Offer) to purchase any and all of its 6.750% senior notes due 2024 (the 2024 Notes) expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 17, 2020 (the Expiration Time). As of the Expiration Time, $262,131,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes (45.2%) were validly tendered, which excludes $14,143,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes that remain subject to guaranteed delivery procedures. Targa Resources Partners expects to accept for payment all such 2024 Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Tender Offer and expects to make payment for the 2024 Notes on August 18, 2020, subject to Targa Resources Partners successful completion of its previously announced debt financing transaction (the Financing Condition). Concurrently with the launch of the Tender Offer, Targa Resources Partners exercised its right to optionally redeem any 2024 Notes not validly tendered and purchased in the Tender Offer, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture relating to the 2024 Notes, conditioned upon and subject to satisfaction of the Financing Condition.



This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any notes in the Tender Offer. In addition, this press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities issued in connection with any contemporaneous notes offering, nor shall there be any sale of the securities issued in such offering in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

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. The Company 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.

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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.

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 Partnerships 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.

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




CLEVELAND, Ohio  Republican former Gov. John Kasich dusted off a tried and true campaign tactic Monday night, only this time for the opposite party.

Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden featured Kasich as a speaker at the Democratic National Convention, where Kasich repurposed his now famous Two Paths closing commercial from his 2010 gubernatorial run. Kasichs brief speech  pre-recorded outdoors in Westerville at the intersection of two paths, but broadcast just after 10 p.m.  highlighted many of the talking points hes become known for since publicly breaking with his party on supporting Republican President Donald Trump.

In normal times, something like this would probably never happen, Kasich said. But these are not normal times. Im proud of my Republican heritage. Its the party of Lincoln who reflected its founding principles of unity and higher purpose. But what I have witnessed these past four years belies those interests.

Kasich said hes known Biden  who will formally accept the Democratic nomination later this week  for 30 years, calling Biden a man of integrity.

Yes, there are areas where Joe and I absolutely disagree. But thats OK because thats America, Kasich said. Because whatever our differences, we respect one another as human beings, each of us searching for justice and for purpose.

We can all see whats going on today and all the questions that are facing us. And no one person or party has all the answers, Kasich added. But what we know is we can do better than what weve been seeing today for sure.

Kasichs appearance was much hyped, deemed especially notable because of the former Ohio governors Republican bona fides. Kasich served in Congress from 1983 to 2001, including a stint as chairman of the House Budget Committee where he oversaw the adoption of a balanced budget, a rarity for Washington under any circumstance.

In 2010, he defeated Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, winning re-election in 2014 before launching an unsuccessful bid for president in 2016.

Since the last election, Kasich has become one of the de facto leaders of the Never Trump movement  a group of Republicans who refuse to support Trump.

Kasichs inclusion at the convention is part of a wider play by Biden to attract soft Republicans and conservative-leaning independents to support his bid to defeat Trump in November. Political experts are somewhat split over wheter Kasichs appearance  amounting to just under four minutes of screen time during the three hours of content on the first night alone  will amount to anything come November.

Kasichs appearance during the convention was not without its drama. Ohio Republicans outright attacked their former standard-bearer, branding him as a traitor to the party.

He should want Ohioans to succeed, but instead he endorses the radical plans of the Democrats who want to take away the freedoms of Americans, said Jane Timken, Ohio Republican Party chairman.

Aboard Air Force One, Trump blasted arguably his most vocal Republican detractor.

He was a loser as a Republican and hell be a loser as a Democrat, Trump said. Major loser as a Republican. I guess you can quote me on that. John was a loser as a Republican. Never even came close. And as a Democrat hell be an even greater loser.

But Kasich wasnt exactly welcomed with open arms by all Democrats. That included a tiff with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whom Kasich criticized as not representative of the Democratic Party as a whole in a BuzzFeed article published before his speech.

Its great that Kasich has woken up &realized the importance of supporting a Biden-Harris ticket. I hope he gets through to GOP voters, Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a tweet. Yet also, something tells me a Republican who fights against womens rights doesnt get to say who is or isnt representative of the Dem party.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : A crucial meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is scheduled for Wednesday where a decision is likely to be taken on reopening of hotels, gymnasiums and weekly markets in the national capital. The meeting was to take place on Tuesday but it got postponed due to some issues, an official said.

Earlier this month, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had presented a proposal to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal about reopening hotels and weekly markets in view of the COVID-19 situation in Delhi.

The decision of the AAP government was rejected by Baijal back then. The DDMA meeting will be chaired by the Lieutenant Governor and is likely to be attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Health Minister Satyendar Jain, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and other top officials.

Officials privy to the developments told IANS that a decision on whether or not hotels, gymnasium, yoga institutes and weekly markets should be allowed to reopen is expected to be taken in the meeting.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in its recent proposal to the LG had said that in accordance with the Centre's 'Unlock guidelines', it has the right to decide on allowing such establishments in Delhi to reopen. The AAP government had said that COVID-19 cases have been increasing in several states and the situation is "frequently deteriorating", but hotels, gyms and weekly markets have been allowed there.

It had sought to know from the LG why Delhiites are being stopped from earning their livelihood despite the fact that the number of coronavirus cases has been decreasing in the national capital.
The apparent prices and release dates for the PlayStation 5 Blu-ray model, PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S have been shared online. The source of the information claims the details are more than a rumor or speculation. If accurate, the Xbox Series consoles will hold a strong position against the PS5 hardware, especially with brand-blind shoppers.

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Alleged next-gen console prices and release dates have been shared online, with the commentator in question claiming that the vital details are according to latest news (more than a rumor or speculation. The social media user in this case is Roberto Serrano, who claims to have some sources providing him with this sensitive information about the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Serrano has been burned in the past in regard to posts made about the PS5 price and pre-order date, so of course it would be wise to take the following details with a pinch of salt.

According to Serrano, Microsoft will be first to release its next-gen consoles, with the Xbox Series S stealing the limelight on Thursday, November 5, immediately followed by the main event on Friday, November 6 with the launch of the Xbox Series X. This actually ties in conveniently with a recently leaked Xbox controller warranty that points to these dates. Sony supposedly will wait another week before launching the PS5 regular console and Digital Edition on Friday, November 13. A previous leak from a similarly contentious source stated a November 14 release in Japan first for the PS5 followed by a worldwide release on November 20.

This gives Microsoft a full week to wow the world with its powerful next-gen consoles and capture the interest of those all-important brand-blind shoppers. However, it would take more than an earlier release to completely entice that customer group, but if Serranos claimed console prices are genuine, then the Xbox has the edge. Apparently the Xbox Series X will cost US$499/499 while the Xbox Series S will be priced at the very attractive point of just US$299/299 (Serrano initially states 399 but corrects to 299 in a following post). In contrast, the PS5 prices will supposedly be US$499/499 for the model with a disc drive and US$399/399 for the Digital Edition.

Buy Microsoft Xbox One S now on Amazon
"Convalescent plasma has a long history of improving symptoms and decreasing mortality associated with pandemic diseases, dating back to meningitis at the beginning of the 20 th century," said trial principal investigator at Einstein and Montefiore, Liise-anne Pirofski , M.D., chief of infectious diseases at Montefiore and Einstein, professor of medicine, and of microbiology and immunology at Einstein, and a member of the leadership group of the national COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project . "Historically, studies of convalescent plasma for pandemic diseases have been small and the results anecdotalwe are hopeful that our randomized controlled trial will provide a definite answer on its efficacy for COVID-19."

Convalescent therapy received FDA approval for investigational use in an open label protocol (when clinical trial information is not withheld from participants) for hospitalized patients in late March -- but physician-scientists at Einstein and Montefiore have been pursuing the "gold standard" of a randomized clinical trial to determine if it can alleviate COVID-19 symptoms and reduce mortality rates.

Knowing there was no time to waste, Einstein, Montefiore, and NYU Langone swiftly launched the trial prior to securing federal funding. Study coordinators, pathologists, blood bank personnel, statisticians, regulatory specialists, clinicians, and research nurses quickly united to roll out the trial, which uses convalescent plasma and a placebo. To date, more than 180 people have been enrolled in the study, which is now expanding to other sites.

What makes this NIH grant unique compared to many others is that funding did not go directly to the principal investigators of the convalescent plasma trial, but rather to the Clinical and Translational Science Awards program, which in turn, funds the Block Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at Einstein and Montefiore (ICTR).

The ICTR, established in 2007, formalized the research partnership between Einstein and Montefiore and is designed to break down barriers that inhibit cross-disciplinary research between basic scientists, clinical researchers, and population health investigators. In addition, the ICTR provides a number of resources and training opportunities to junior faculty, like the Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP), a two-year master's program which prepares clinicians for research careers.

"This is the beauty of working at an academic center: several of our faculty are a triple threat  they are physicians seeing patients, educators teaching students and colleagues, and researchers doing outstanding scientific investigation," said Marla Keller, M.D., vice chair for research in the department of medicine at Einstein and Montefiore, principal investigator of the CTSA grant with Harry Shamoon, M.D., associate director of the ICTR, and PI of this new award. "Our junior faculty have all stepped up and risen to the occasion to fight COVID-19. It is remarkable to watch." Dr. Keller is also professor of medicine and of obstetrics & gynecology and women's health at Einstein and an ID specialist at Montefiore.

Hyun ah Yoon, M.D., a junior faculty member and assistant professor at Einstein, began the CRTP in July, and is co-principal investigator on the convalescent plasma trial, working with other emerging leaders in infectious diseases, including Rachel M. Bartash, M.D.; Uzma Sarwar, M.D.; and Inessa Gendlina, M.D., Ph.D. Along with members of NYU Langone's CTSA, they are collaborating across institutions and represent the next generation of infectious disease physician-researchers.

"We are tremendously excited to receive this NIH support for our urgent attempt to determine whether plasma from patients that have recovered from COVID-19 can save lives," says co-lead study investigator, Mila Ortigoza, M.D., Ph.D, an instructor in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology at NYU Langone Health. "Vaccines may not be available for some time, and plasma therapy may provide an important option in the meantime."

Einstein-Montefiore and NYU are two of 60 CTSAs throughout the country. The study team hopes to have results from the randomized convalescent trial by early 2021.

The grant is titled "Convalescent Plasma to Limit Coronavirus Associated Complications: A Randomized Blinded Phase 2 Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Anti-SARS-COV-2 Plasma to Placebo in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients."

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 11 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2019-20 academic year, Einstein is home to 724 M.D. students, 158 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,800 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2019, Einstein received more than $178 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook , and view us on YouTube.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System; Albert Einstein College of Medicine

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.18

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Belarus amounted to $300.9 million over 1H2020, compared to $357.7 million during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee.

The share of Belarus in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at less than 0.7 percent during the reporting period compared to 0.8 percent during the same period of 2019.

Kazakhstans export to Belarus amounted to $33.1 million over the period from January through June 2020, compared to $54.3 million during the same period of 2019.

Belaruss share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to less than 0.1 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.2 percent during the same period of 2019.

In turn, Kazakhstans imports from Belarus stood at about $267.7 million over the reporting period, compared to $303.3 million during the same period of 2019.

Belaruss share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 1.6 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 1.7 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
"Patient 984," the 45-year-old Taiwan returnee, came back to Vietnam on August 7, landing at the Cam Ranh International Airport in central Khanh Hoa Province. He tested positive at a quarantine camp.

Patients 985-988 are residents of Da Nang, the outbreak epicenter in Vietnam at the moment.

Patient 989 is a 35-year-old man repatriated from Equatorial Guinea last month.

Community transmission of Covid-19 resurfaced in Vietnam on July 25 in Da Nang after more than three months.

Since then, 509 locally transmitted cases have been confirmed, including 354 in Da Nang and 94 in neighboring Quang Nam Province.

Acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said at a meeting Tuesday that "the outbreak in Da Nang and Quang Nam Province is under control."

He said all methods, including aggressive contact tracing and isolation, have proven effective, and that the number of community infections recorded each day from the outbreak is declining.

On Tuesday, Vietnam declared 59 people Covid-19 free, 19 of them Vietnamese repatriates and the rest recorded locally in Da Nang, Quang Nam and Hue.

Vietnam has reported 989 Covid-19 infections in total, including 520 recoveries and 444 active cases. The nation has lost 25 people to the pandemic, including one Tuesday morning.

More than 22 million have been infected worldwide and recorded deaths have crossed 778,100.
Tires play a major role in Formula 1 at the moment. Pirelli has a lot of power and has made the tyres in such a way that drivers have to do their best to avoid wear and tear. Lewis Hamilton now wants to put pressure on the tire manufacturer to do a better job.

We really need to put a lot of pressure on Pirelli for the future. They didn't, unfortunately, do a great job with a tyre at the end of last year, to develop the 2020 tyre. And so we had to carry over the same tyre from 2019 into this season", he said last weekend to Motorsport.com and others.

His comments come after the tire debacle for Mercedes at Silverstone and also in Spain they drove cautiously again. According to Hamilton, Pirelli should finally listen to the drivers when making plans for the future, because that hasn't gone well for a long time.

Better tire for 2022

"Moving forwards, they're probably not going to be able to do it for next year, but for 2022 we need a better tyre, we need a tyre that gives us more grip, better safety, and enables us to to drive closer to cars and give you guys and the fans better racing."

At the moment drivers are forced to consciously keep their distance from the car in front of them in order to keep the tires whole longer. "I don't think that's what the fans want. That's not what a racing driver wants", said Hamilton.
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden said on Tuesday it had temporarily withdrawn all its diplomats from North Korea, where its embassy also represents the interests of the United States and several other nations, partly due to issues linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

Most other Western nations which have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, including Germany, Britain and France, have already pulled staff out temporarily, citing the difficulty of rotating staff and bringing in supplies during the pandemic.

Sweden acts as the consular representative of the United States, Australia and Canada, among others, in North Korea. The Swedish foreign ministry said its embassy in Pyongyang remains open and staffed by local employees.

"What has happened is that we have relocated our diplomats, either as a result of holidays or rotation," a ministry spokesman said, adding that the situation was temporary.

"But naturally, the situation has become more difficult... as a result, among other things, of COVID 19," he said, without elaborating.

North Korea says it has zero confirmed cases of the coronavirus, but has taken significant measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

In January the reclusive state shut its borders completely, cancelled most flights and train services, and ordered foreign residents into more than a month of quarantine.

(Reporting by Simon Johnson in Stockholm and Josh Smith in Seoul; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Shincheonji nightmare should not be repeated



The Moon Jae-in government has decided to ban all religious gatherings in churches in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan areas starting Wendesday to prevent any further spread of COVID-19. Only online worship services are allowed under stricter social distancing guidelines.



The move came Tuesday after conservative pastor Jun Kwang-hoon was subject to severe criticism for noncooperation in stemming the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The public backlash is growing more intense against Jun's church, the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, with it emerging as a new epicenter for infections. Concern is growing that the church could replay the nightmare of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southeastern city of Daegu, the locus of the first wave of the pandemic in February and March.



According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), infections linked to the Sarang Jeil Church surged to 438 Tuesday. The church has emerged as the country's second-largest infection cluster after Shincheonji which has so far recorded 5,214 cases. In addition, infections related to the Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, south of Seoul, jumped to 147. Four cases were related to Seoul's Yoido Full Gospel Church.



South Korea is being hit by a second wave of infections. The ban on church gatherings came after the country began to raise social distancing by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system, Sunday. The number of new daily cases suddenly climbed to 103 Friday. It then reached 246, Tuesday, marking a triple-digit figure for the fifth straight day, and raising the country's total caseload to 15,761.



Under this worsening situation, churches and other religious groups should double down on cooperating with the health authorities in bringing COVID-19 under control. At the very least, they should not block the country's efforts to contain the coronavirus. In this regard, pastor Jun's reckless and risky behavior should not be tolerated anymore.



Jun has been hit for ignoring government warnings about a potential outbreak of the virus among his church members. He encouraged churchgoers, who should now be self-quarantined and tested, to attend anti-government rallies in central Seoul last weekend. He even gave a speech at a rally in Gwanghwamun Square, Saturday, despite being tested positive for the virus.



Jun should have refrained from appearing given that he was released on bail in April after being indicted for violating the Election Law the previous month. Now he faces a new charge of breaking the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. Additionally, he is suspected of breaking self-isolation measures and damaging the authorities' anti-infection efforts by submitting an inaccurate list of churchgoers.



The government and law enforcement agencies should take stern measures against Jun in order to prevent a repetition of the Shincheonji nightmare. Religious freedom is a constitutional right. But this does not mean that churches and other religious organizations have a license to jeopardize the health of the public.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 19:14:41|Editor: huaxia

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QINHUANGDAO, China, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- All of the 13 Chinese men's volleyball league teams arrived in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, where the league's 2020 season is going to restart on Thursday.

The Chinese top men's volleyball league will resume behind closed doors on August 20 and its first match is scheduled to compete between Shanghai and Henan.

"Restarting the league is very important for improving the competitiveness of Chinese men's volleyball. If some teams are dismissed, it will cause a huge loss," said Li Quanqiang, the director of the Volleyball Administration Center of the General Administration of Sport of China.

"The resumption of the 2020 season will give players more opportunities, as well as greater training," Li added.

According to a press conference on Monday, all teams have been tested twice for both the COVID-19 nucleic acid test and antibody test, while the competition and living zones have been totally quarantined to ensure safety. Enditem
Lower Manhattan was mostly abandoned after the attacks, but has been reborn with new office and apartment towers, and has more residents than before.

But this time there is a specter of uncertainty that is unlike anything in recent memory, analysts said. The citys latest unemployment rate, which was released in June, was over 20 percent, double the highest rate during the Great Recession and approaching levels not seen since the Great Depression.

And even as New York has contained the virus and bucked forecasts that cases would increase as it reopened, there are fears of a second wave as colder temperatures arrive and people spend more time indoors.

This will go on in the rental market as long as Covid lasts, said Nancy Wu, an economist at StreetEasy, noting that the market has also been hurt by some colleges not offering in-person classes in the fall. The biggest impacts on the economy are yet to come.

More than any large American city, New York is made up of millions of renters, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck and pay a significant portion of their monthly income for an apartment. Because of that, fluctuations in the citys rental market can reveal a lot about the citys economy.

Since the pandemic struck in early March, millions of New Yorkers have lost their jobs and have been unable to pay rent. Those who could pay some rent dipped into savings and depended on the $600 weekly federal stimulus, which greatly exceeded New York States unemployment benefits but expired at the end of July.

Landlords have said they are struggling to pay their own bills, too, and can only survive so long without reliable rental income.
In the popular imagination, Death Valley in Southern California is the hottest place on earth. At 3:41 p.m. on Sunday, it lived up to that reputation when the temperature at the aptly named Furnace Creek reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NOAA Weather Prediction center.

If that reading  the equivalent of 54 degrees Celsius  is verified by climate scientists, a process that could take months, it would be the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on earth.

Death Valley is no stranger to heat. Sitting 282 feet below sea level in the Mojave Desert in southeastern California near the Nevada border, it is the lowest, driest and hottest location in the United States. It is sparsely populated, with just 576 residents, according to the most recent census.

Brandi Stewart, the spokeswoman for Death Valley National Park, said that the valley is so hot because of the configuration of its lower-than-sea-level basin and surrounding mountains. The superheated air gets trapped in a pocket and just circulates. Its like stepping into a convection oven every day in July and August, she said.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : As the coronavirus pandemic hits retail demand hard affecting businesses, footwear and apparels major Woodland has shelved expansion plans of opening more stores this year and will focus more on online sales, said Harkirat Singh, MD of Aero Club, which owns the retail brand.

Speaking to IANS, Singh said that in the pre-Covid times the share of online business of the company was 12-15 per cent of the total business, which has now increased to 20-25 per cent, also because the several brick and mortar shops are still closed and are seeing lesser demand.

"This year definitely we have stalled the expansion of new stores and are focused more on our online sale, where we are making all our stores omni-channel," he said.

Noting that this year, there would be more opportunities in the online segment, he said that the company is also preparing its new website.

"So, we will be building more digital content and see the brand more focused on the digital front." Singh also told IANS that the company will bring in more products in the protective gear segment as it has started producing masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) in the wake of the pandemic.

"We will bring in more protective products even in our lifestyle products, jackets and shoes, where we can do anti-bacterial. I think this will be a normal lifestyle for people as they will want safety against viruses and all...," he said.

The company also plans to come up with a range of skincare products such as protective lotions.

"We will come into some of the protective lotions like skincare, as that comes in essential products. We will be going for a bigger line of products which is more for protection to the body and skin and whenever you are outdoors, which protects you from viruses." He said the company will be working with its partners to create some new products in this category.

On the outlook for the retail demand, Singh was of the view that demand for the company's products may rise around the festival season later this year.
Italy has no more room for illegal migrants, its foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said Monday on a visit to Tunisia, from where many of them cross the Mediterranean Sea.

After a meeting with the Tunisian President Kais Saied, Italy's top diplomat said Rome "is ready to present all the necessary aid to Tunisia" to combat illegal immigration.

But he stressed that "there is no question of leaving in Italy those who arrive illegally," according to a statement by the Tunisian presidency.

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.

Tunisia meanwhile is battling high unemployment and political instability, pushing more so-called economic migrants to cross to Italy.

Migrant arrivals to Italy rose by nearly 150 percent over the past year, with the majority coming by boat from Tunisia, Italy's interior ministry said on Saturday.

Italy's Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese joined Di Maio along with the European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.

Negotiations between Italy and Tunisia will continue "to find formulas for bilateral cooperation," the Italian foreign minister said, according to the Tunisian presidency.

Migrants from Tunisia and Libya arrive onboard of an Italian Coast Guard boat on the Italian island of Lampedusa on August 1 /  AFP/File

The Italian delegation had expressed its "political and economic support" to strengthen Tunisia's efforts ... to encourage investment and job creation, especially in the interior regions," the statement added.

Tunisia's Saied said that "security solutions alone do not make it possible to fight against irregular immigration".

From August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020, 21,618 migrants arrived at Italy's shores, 148.7 percent more than the 8,691 landings the year before, according to data presented by Lamorgese on Saturday.

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.
The main harvest season of dragon fruit has begun in central and southern provinces in Vietnam with increasing volume of the fruit transported to Kim Thanh Border Gate in the northern province of Lao Cai to ship to China.

Ha Duc Thuan, vice chairman of the management board of the Lao Cai Economic Zone, said that an average of 150 container trucks carrying dragon fruits with an estimated volume of 3,000 tonnes travel through Kim Thanh Border Gate each day to transport the fruit to China.

Relevant forces including the customs agency, border guard, and plant quarantine and medical quarantine forces are working together to conduct both customs clearance, security checks and quarantine procedures at the border gate to ensure both the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic and the acceleration of customs clearance for fresh dragon fruit.

Because the Chinese side has implemented strict anti-COVID-19 measures and strict border trade procedures for Vietnamese dragon fruit, the clearance time has been extended, resulting in a reduction in the amount of cleared goods.

Thus, the management board of the Lao Cai Economic Zone proactively arranged two parking areas to gather trucks carrying fresh fruit and have upgraded the warehouses of local logistics companies to facilitate the gathering of trucks carrying dragon fruit.

Tran Anh Tu, Deputy Director of the Customs Division at the Lao Cai border gate, said that the import-export revenue through the border gate since early this year has reached 73% of the figure from the same period last year, of which, the export revenue measured 62% of that from the same period last year.

Approximately 355,000 tonnes of dragon fruit have been exported through the border gate, equivalent to 72% of the volume from the same period in 2019, Tu noted.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 14:41 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ec75e7 1 National 75th-Indonesia-merdeka,75th-indonesian-independence-day,#Indonesia75 Free

A 55-year-old civil servant from Tarakan, North Kalimantan, swam across the channel between the Malaysian part of Sebatik Island and the Indonesian island of Nunukan to mark the 75th anniversary of Indonesian independence on Monday.

Ibrahim Rusli tackled the currents to swim 1.864 miles (about 3 kilometers) from the Patok 16 border marker in Bambangan village on Sebatik Island, the northern part of which belongs to the Malaysian state of Sabah, to Nunukan Island in North Kalimantan province.

I have been swimming across [the maritime border] whenever there is a special occasion or on National Heroes Day. I feel a profound emotion in doing so, especially during historical moments like the 75th anniversary of Indonesian independence, he said as quoted by kompas.com

Ibrahim, who works at the Tarakan Tourism and Culture Agency, completed the crossing in two hours, from 7:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. local time.

I have been swimming since I was a child. I love the sea and I am used to it, said Ibrahim, who claimed that he started swimming 800 meters in the waters off Tarakan in junior high school and gradually increased his distance.

Monday marked his 13th Sebatik-Nunukan crossing, during which he encountered strong ocean currents.

He recalled how he failed to complete several crossings in East Kalimantan's Derawan archipelago because of sharks, and expressed gratitude that speedboats always accompanied him during his open-water crossings.

I have failed three times. First, while swimming from Derawan to Kababan island. Second, when I was injured by some marine animals while swimming across the Bali Strait. Finally, when I [attempted to swim] to the city of Tawau in Malaysia from Sebatik [Island], the ocean current was too strong then, he said.

Ibrahim vowed to attempt a more challenging crossing for the next "special occasion" or Indonesian Independence Day.

I still dream of swimming across three straits in one day, he said. (trn)
Netflix is set to debut a new home organizing show next month that will offer viewers a peek into the closet and pantries of stars like Reese Witherspoon, Eva Longoria, and Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka.

Get Organized with The Home Edit premieres September 9, and will follow The Home Edit founders Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin as they bring their incredible organizational skills into homes across the US.

Shearer and Teplin already have a huge following on Instagram thanks to their pristine home makeovers, with a history of organizing the medicine cabinets, kitchens, and makeup drawers of stars like Khloe Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow.

New show! Netflix is set to debut Get Organized with The Home Edit on September 9

Straightened up: The show will follow The Home Edit founders Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin as they bring their incredible organizational skills into homes across the US

Celeb lineup: The show is executive produced by Reese Witherspoon, who also appears in an episode

Star homes: Eva Longoria also welcomes the organizers into her home

The first season of the new Netflix show will have eight episodes packed with home makeovers.

Shearer and Teplin will travel from their home state of Tennessee to New York and California, and will organize the homes of regular people and celebrities alike.

Some famous clients set to appear in the series include Reese Witherspoon, whose Hello Sunshine production company executive produced the show.

Molly Sims is also an executive producer.

Other stars to be featured include Rachel Zoe, Khloe Kardashian, Eva Longoria, Marietta 'Retta' Sirleaf, Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Jordana Brewster, and Kane and Katelyn Brown.

Reality: Khloe Kardashian, who has shown off The Home Edit's work in her home, also appears

Coming soon: The first season of the new Netflix show will have eight episodes packed with home makeovers (pictured: Parks and Recreation star Retta)

Bananas: Rachel Zoe is among the stars who appear in the Netflix show's first season

Peek inside: Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka's kids' room is impeccable

Pictured: Kane and Katelyn Brown look at their newly-organized pantry

Cross country: Shearer and Teplin will travel from their home state of Tennessee to New York and California, and will organize the homes of regular people and celebrities alike

'We are SO proud of this show and cant wait to share it with you!' The Home Edit wrote on Instagram on Monday.

The Home Edit has grown in popularity on Instagram over the past few years, thanks to the droolworthy photos they post pantries and closets that have been perfect organized, with items divided into identical clear bins and cascading with color.

It's also helped that Shearer and Teplin have had plenty of famous clients, including Khloe Kardashian.

In 2018, they worked their magic on Busy Philipps' pantry and the actress stunned fans with the before-and-after pictures.

'My kitchen and pantry looked insane and the lovely ladies at @thehomeedit came and changed my life (I mean, at least my snacks),' she wrote on Instagram.

So pretty! Busy Philipps just showed off her amazing pantry transformation on Instagram

That's an upgrade: The star posted before and after pictures, showing how messy and disorganized it used to be

'My kitchen and pantry looked insane and the lovely ladies at @thehomeedit came and changed my life (I mean, at least my snacks),' she wrote on Instagram

In the before picture, Busy's rather large pantry is indeed a mess. It's stocked and crammed with food, like oatmeal, Kind bars, Wheat Thins, cereal, and pasta.

But there are also plenty of non-edible items, as the pantry seems to have become a catch-all space in the kitchen. There's a French press, cookie cutter, baking pans, a wok, and even lunchboxes at the bottom.

After The Home Edit did their thing, though, the pantry is unrecognizable.

For one thing, it has now mostly become a designated food space, with tools and appliances moved out and elsewhere in the kitchen.

The food is all organized by type, making it easier to find: Sauces and spices are grouped by type, as are snacks, and dry goods are all lined up together.

Anything in boxes or bags has been emptied out into clear containers  which not only makes it easier to see and creates a much neater-looking space, it's also practical: Containers that seal are great for keeping out bugs.

Rose gold: Whitney Port had them over and showed off her organized pantry afterward

Shoes! Abigail Spencer's closet was redone, with shoes labeled and put in clear boxes

Nice! This is what Olivia Culpo's bathroom looked like when they'd finished reorganizing for her

Star power: Whitney is one of the company's celebrity clients

While snacks and baking mixes are lined up in clear containers, bottles have been set up on lazy Susans, making them easier to grab and put back, keeping everything in its place.

And along the top are several cookbooks, arranged beautifully in color order.

In August 2018, Mandy Moore showed off the results of her newly-organized clothing and linen closets, which looked pristine.

'Theres no greater treat than the gift of organization,' she gushed. 'Our home is from 1950 [so] we have limited storage space, hence the massive clean sweep/donation station I did with the stuff I had been holding on to for far too long before we moved.

'Thank you to remarkable LA team of @thehomeedit for helping make my closet dreams a reality. Heres hoping I can hold my end of the bargain and keep it looking this way,' she said.

Incredible: Hoda Kotb had the organizers come for a segment on the Today show

Opinion: Before the organization gurus arrived, the doting mom picked up her two-year-old daughter Haley Joy and asked: 'Okay, is this neat or messy?'

Go-to: The company is also a favorite of Khloe Kardashian, who has had them over to organize several parts of her home

In 2017, they visited Abigail Spencer. They stored all of her shoes in individual clear containers, labeling them with the designer name on the outside.

Meanwhile, Whitney Port's kitchen got a makeover, with The Home Edit revealing that Whitney even has a special 'entertaining closet' where she keeps serving silverware, bowls, and a surprising number of rose gold pineapples.

Once The Home Edit had their way, the closet was perfectly symmetrical, with forks and knives in clear containers and those pineapples on shelves on each side.

OIivia Culpo also hired them recently to organize her beauty closet, where they introduced stackable, divided, deep bins for her blushes and bronzers.

Earlier this year, the Today show's Hoda Kotb has a visit from the team, too.
George Floyd's two brothers made one of the most moving appearances at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, calling for a minute's silence to remember victims of police brutality, such as their brother.

Philonise Floyd, speaking from his home in Texas and with his brother Rodney by his side, listed the names of others who have died in police custody, adding that it was 'up to us to carry on the fight for justice'.

'George should be alive today,' he said.

'Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Ahmaud Arbery should be alive today. Eric Garner should be alive today. Stephon Clark, Atatiana Jefferson, Sandra Bland - they should all be alive today. So it's up to us to carry on the fight.'

Philonise (right) and Rodney Floyd spoke at the DNC on Monday night in a powerful moment

George Floyd died on May 25 after Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine minute

He said he wanted honor those lost to 'hate and injustice'.

'Let's make sure we never stop saying their names,' he said.

George Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25, after being arrested by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, who knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

Philonise praised the spirit of protest which had been awakened by his brother's death, saying his brother was 'selfless'.

'He always made sacrifices for his family, friends, and even complete strangers.

'George had a giving spirit - a spirit that has shown up on streets around our nation, and around the world.'

George Floyd was the oldest of five children.

He leaves behind two brothers and two sisters - Zsa Zsa and LaTonya.

Philonise has assumed the role of family spokesman, and has been vocal about police brutality in the wake of his brother's death.

On June 10, he testified in front of Congress, imploring lawmakers to fix the criminal justice system.

(L-R) Derek Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao have been charged

Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes after an arrest for a counterfeit bill

'I am asking you, is that what a black man's life is worth? Twenty dollars?' he said, referring to the counterfeit $20 bill that his brother was said to have used just before he died at the hands of the Minneapolis police.

'This is 2020. Enough is enough. The people marching in the streets are telling you, enough is enough.'

The four officers involved in Floyd's arrest - Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao - are all awaiting trial on murder charges.
Houstons public charter schools are opening their virtual doors for their 2020-2021 school year, despite the obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public charter schools in the Greater Houston area serve more than 69,000 students with more than 38,000 living within Houston ISDs boundaries. Many public charters serve high rates of Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students while focusing on preventing dropouts.

Related: Spring Branch ISD balancing multiple objectives in return to class

Gulftons Etoile Academy focuses on grades five through eight with high academic expectations for their students. Supportive, targeted interventions for all their students are frequent and required, and students learn French in the seventh and eighth grade, with the opportunity to travel to a French-speaking country, administrators said.

After kicking off a virtual start to the school year today, the district is set to begin in-person education on Sept. 8.

We have kept busy focusing on our mission to provide every student with a world-class education and practiced out skills with virtual summer school serving over 90 students that opted in to continue their education, said Founder and Superintendent Kayleigh Colombero. We are thrilled to start a robust virtual learning program on (Aug. 17). We are also eagerly awaiting the return to in-person learning  our desk shields are already in place.

Each week, Etoile Academy will assign students coursework on Google Classroom and give them short lesson videos to watch. Students will need to complete exit tickets and assessments to pass their classes with the support of teachers on Google Hangout throughout the day to answer questions.

Bloom Academy, located in Third Ward, is a tuition-free public school that prepares students to make a positive impact in their community, administrators said. After opening in August 2019, the school will add a new grade level each year until they reach the fifth grade. In the 2020-2021 school year, Bloom will have kindergarten, first and second grade students.

Bloom students return to virtual education on Aug. 24 and remain online for at least the first four weeks of instruction.

Bloom incorporates chants, songs and movement breaks throughout the day to ensure students are engaged and looking forward to school  even on Zoom  with regularly scheduled Wiggle Breaks.

We know how incredibly important it is to ensure that our students, all of whom identify as Black and Brown, do not get left behind emotionally or academically, said Courtney Sales, Founder and Head of School of Bloom Academy. Our mission is to ensure our elementary scholars are prepared for middle school, high school, and college and to lead lives of positive impact in their communities, remains unshaken.

Bloom Academy is not our building  its our relentless pursuit of excellence by our team members and by our students no matter the setting.

Founded in 1996, Raul Yzaguirre School for Success was one of the first open-enrollment charter schools approved by the Texas State Board of Education. The school was established by the Tejano Center for Community Concerns to provide a college preparatory educational experience for students in Southeast Houston and their second campus in Brownsville, Texas.

At Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success, we serve children who need our support the most. Our administrators and teachers are going above and beyond to support our students and families with the tools they need - theyre showing why they are heroes, said Adriana Tamez, Superintendent of Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success.

Students began virtual learning at RYSS on Aug. 12, with a hybrid instructional model beginning on Sept. 8.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated when Bloom would return to in-person education.

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com
Anglo-Australian mining company BHP Group has recorded a fall in its annual revenues despite receiving a $3.5billion boost in earnings from iron ore.

Earnings from coal and petroleum fell by almost a third each for the firm as it was hit by lower prices and volumes, as well as mine closures.

The group cuts its dividend and said that while it will move away from coal it believes oil can continue to be profitable for years to come.

The company is now seeking to divest from coal operations in Australia and Colombia as it admits the fossil fuel is losing its price competitiveness to renewable energy.

BHP: 'We remain positive in our outlook for long-term global economic growth and commodity demand. 'Population growth and rising living standards are expected to drive demand for energy, metals and fertilisers for decades to come'

These include its Australian Mount Arthur operations, 80 per cent of its BHP Mitsui Coal joint venture, and one-third of the Cerrejon mine in Colombia. Japanese trading house Mitsui had no immediate comment.

It also said it was looking to sell off its Bass Strait oil and gas stake, though that was not down to any environmental agenda, chief executive Mike Henry told an analyst call.

It also expects that its growth rates in China and the OECD countries will not return to pre-Covid levels for another three years, while the recovery in East Asia may take longer.

BHP Group shares slipped 2.7 per cent to 1791.6p today.

For 2020, BHP predicts that China will be the only market not to contract. It is also the only country where global steel production is forecast to grow strongly, with a six per cent cut expected for crude steel and a three to four per cent slide for pig iron.

However, the group expressed optimism in its outlook, stating: 'We remain positive in our outlook for long-term global economic growth and commodity demand.

'Population growth and rising living standards are expected to drive demand for energy, metals and fertilisers for decades to come.'

Reported revenues declined to $42.9billion in the first half of 2019 from $44.3billion in the same period last year. Operational profits fell by 11 per cent to $14.4billion.

Iron ore was responsible for almost half of the FTSE 100 firm's revenues at $20.8billion, up from $17.3billion the previous year thanks partly to record production at its Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) facilities.

Its Broadmeadow, Caval Ridge and Poitrel coal operations also hit their highest-ever production amounts, despite the downturn in coal mining. BHP said its lower earnings were also partially made up by greater productivity levels.

Copper was the next higher-earning material, slipping slightly from $10.83billion to $10.66billion, because of a fall in copper prices at the beginning of the pandemic.

'BHP delivered a strong set of results...that reflect the strength, resilience and quality of our people and portfolio,' declared Henry.

Despite the downturn in coal mining, BHP hit its highest-ever production amounts at its Broadmeadow, Caval Ridge and Poitrel coal operations

He added that the metals company had done well despite the coronavirus and the mass protests over inequality and cost of living conditions in Chile that took place over six months between October 2019 and March this year.

'In a year marked by the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, social unrest in Chile and commodity prove volatility, we were safer, more reliable and lower cost.'

Henry said that the potential for fresh waves of coronavirus infections in key markets was weighing on the demand outlook for 2021 at the world's largest listed miner.

He said BHP was bullish on oil because it has profitable prospects for at least the next decade and is open to acquisitions near existing assets.

It declared a final dividend of 55 cents per share, down from 78 cents a year earlier, but still in line with its payout ratio.

Mike Henry said BHP had done well despite the coronavirus and mass protests over inequality in Chile that took place over six months between October 2019 and March this year

'Given the state of global economies over the second half of the fiscal year, BHPs operations have held up relatively well generating good free cash flow from continuing operations,' remarked Joe Healey, an investment research analyst at The Share Centre.

'Its clear the quicker than expected Chinese recovery has helped steady the ship, however there is no question 2020 is going to remain a challenging year with most major economies around the world expected to contract.

'Furthermore, the outlook heading into 2021 remains uncertain and could affect the business assumptions in place for a recovery dragging operational disruption further into FY2021.'

BHP also announced executive leadership changes - that will see top management evenly split by gender - as Henry, who officially took the reins in January, puts his stamp on the business.
MONTAUK, NY  After a firestorm of controversy over the Montauk Brewing Company's support of Black Lives Matter, owners of the company have posted a letter to the public  and both a new Facebook page and a gathering Saturday are shows of support for the business in the face of the backlash.

As the anger-fueled comments spread on social media, another Facebook page, Save Montauk Brewing Company, was created. "This is a group to bring awareness to the persecution of the Montauk Brewing Company. Their tagline, 'Come as you are,' is about inclusivity. They also 'unequivocally, and unapologetically,' stand against racism and violence in any capacity," the page said.

Also, an event, "Support Montauk Brewing Company," has been organized for Saturday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event is hosted by Willie Jenkins, who has organized a number of "Black Lives Matter" rallies on the East End after the death of George Floyd.

"Due to the sudden and unfounded attack on the Montauk Brewing Company by the vile Facebook page, I say, 'Let's all go down there and show them how much we appreciate their stance on equality in this country and show them support!" he wrote. "I don't drink but I'll buy a couple beers for someone else. Come down and support them and show them there are good people in the world who applaud them stepping up and speaking out."



Montauk Brewing Company founder Vaughan Cutillo co-founded the business with brewmaster Eric Moss.

A letter to the public from management was posted on the Montauk Brewing Co.'s Facebook page Friday after a Facebook page created Wednesday, Defund Montauk Brewing Company, garnered more than 23,000 members, many of whom posted the words "Back the Blue" and vowed to boycott the brewery.



"We want to take a moment to address an important topic that has come up among our community of fans, retailers, distributors and friends, related to a social media post from June 3, 2020," the letter said.

Story continues

"We are a small, community-based, 10-person business, that has always wanted all people to have good vibes  no matter who they are. Our tagline 'Come As You Are' is about inclusivity  we want everyone who likes beer to feel great. That has been our purpose from the day we opened Montauk Brewing Company."

In June, owners said, "we spoke up about an event that displayed racism and responded by donating to two non-profits, BEAM, focused on emotional/mental health and healing, and the NAACP. While our post received overwhelming support initially, recent responses made us realize that we should clarify and affirm our intent. our post was specifically in support of racial equality. We unequivocally, and unapologetically, stand against racism and violence in any capacity."

The letter continued: "We always have, and always will, support our police, first responders, nurses, doctors, fire departments, and the military for their unwavering help, protection, and selflessness. Because they are good people, doing good things, and protecting the good vibe mantra that our brewery stands for."





The founder of the Montauk Brewing Co. speaks out on public backlash after a sign he wrote in support of Black Lives Matter. / Courtesy Vaughan Cutillo.

At the center of the heated debate is a photo of chalkboard sign outside the business that has been shared across social media.

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 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. "This group is to bring awareness," the Defund Montauk Brewing Company Facebook 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.

Montauk Brewing Company, he said, made donations to the 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."

The business, he said, wholeheartedly supports police and other first responders.

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 "Defund Montauk Brewing Company" 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."

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."

"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 what's 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 past few days, 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
Theres a truism: Its lonely at the top. Prior to COVID-19, half of CEOs reported feelings of loneliness and isolation. Now, with offices closed, in-person interactions minimized, and formerly meaningful relationships relegated to Zoom calls, each of us, particularly those in leadership positions, feel as though we are facing this pandemic somewhat alone.

My firm has been conducting research into how business leaders have been coping with the mental stresses of this pandemic. The early data suggests that the loss of our tribes, personally and professionally, has compounded with stress, uncertainty, and disconnection. Isolation is taking a considerable toll on the mental wellbeing of Americas tech founders.

Since the onset of this pandemic, a great deal of focus has been placed on how leaders can support their employees. Some recent articles even suggest that in todays age, every company is a healthcare company  since theyre now in the business of protecting the mental and physical health of their employees and customers.

All of that is true. But what about the founders and leaders themselves? It seems that little attention has been paid to how those in leadership positions are actually coping right now. While my firms focus is generally on helping tech leaders thrive, the importance of self-care and mental wellbeing applies equally to our senators, mayors and public-sector leaders.

As we accept that this pandemic will continue for the foreseeable future, its important for those in positions of power  whose decisions impact the lives and careers of countless others  to carve out time for self-care if they are to sustain their ability to be of service.

Here are five ways leaders can stay mentally fit during these trying times:

Renew your purpose

A hopeful prospect of all the losses we are experiencing is the opportunity to see what remains. As we divest of distractions, commute time, trips, and social gatherings, we are left with more time alone. While a degree of loneliness is inevitable, there is an opportunity to dig deeper and unearth new meaning. Change of this magnitude can be the precursor for personal transformation, if one is willing to go into unknown territory  equipped with persistent curiosity and a tolerance for suffering. Staying vigilant on this journey requires allowing discomfort long enough to examine what we truly want in life and how we are getting in our own way. If you choose to maximize your solitude and clarify your purpose, you may one day look back on COVID-19 as a period of immense, positive personal transformation.

Related: 3 Reasons Why Purpose-Driven Businesses Can Help You Find ...

Find a support group and tribe you can be vulnerable with

No matter how much the world changes or how rapidly technology progresses, one enduring characteristic of our species is the need for community and social connection. As our traditional tribes have been disrupted, many leaders have become isolated from their peers. They maintain necessary communication with their direct reports and other stakeholders, but relationships that bring objectivity, perspective, and genuine support have been upended. Its time to be deliberate about cultivating meaningful relationships with a community of peers. I would suggest an official support group. For women, a company called Chief has pioneered a national womens network. In Los Angeles, a mens group called METal gathers every Saturday (albeit through Zoom as of late). There are countless other groups like these  I even host one myself  in which people can meet regularly, offer structured support for one another, and gain perspective from those they respect. Anybody in a leadership position can benefit from such groups, and in the absence of other strong, consistent, supportive relationships, they can serve as a critical building block of ones mental wellbeing.

Curate your time

As you test a renewed personal vision, examine how you are spending your time. Just as Google famously encouraged employees to set aside 20 percent of their time for innovation of their choice, you may want to devote a slice of your time to exploring the next version of your life. This may take the form of time in nature to reflect on important questions, finding wise counsel, writing, or forming new tribes with people who have similar commitments or values. It could be as simple as scheduling breaks between meetings and as complicated as making decisions to edit out relationships and activities that are not serving your higher purpose. Sometimes you just have to press delete. The gravitational pull of todays many obligations will be an easy default. Left to run on auto-pilot, life becomes a series of back-to-back meetings and completed checklists. Use this time to upgrade your quality of life.

Realted: Your Work-From-Home Self-Care Guide

Appreciate the people you are stuck with

It goes without saying that we are now spending more time with our families  partners, parents, and children  than we ever have before. It becomes easy to take those around us for granted, and to have those around us take us for granted. Apathy on the home-front can quickly spiral into conflict. One cannot have a thriving professional life if their home life is a wreck, and keeping the joy alive in your closest relationships is critical to avoiding this spiral. Even if you arent going out to restaurants, be creative and cultivate new experiences despite the more static general setting. Have conversations that matter, including the difficult ones that build resentment when they go underground. While focusing on your personal life as you try to build a thriving career seems counterintuitive, it actually is essential. The more focus you place on making your closest relationships thrive, the happier you will be and the more capable you will be of leading others.

Develop rituals around your personal wellbeing

With our longstanding former routines disrupted  like waking up, meditating, going to an office, leaving at a certain hour, and hitting the gym  we have to create new rituals and routines. Consistency is the fastest way to build new habits, and with the aid of Google Calendar, its quite easy to build in time for things that you normally wouldnt imagine scheduling. Use your calendar to carve out time for exercise, walks, meditation, and whatever else nourishes you. Treat your daily walk as a critical meeting. Block the time in your calendar and honor that commitment to yourself. I see so many people overworking and burning out right now, and it seems a bit ironic that as offices close, people have gone into work hyperdrive. My advice: Slow down, plan how youre going to nourish yourself, calendar it in, and treat your wellbeing with the same degree of importance as you do an investor meeting.

There are countless philosophies around stress reduction and the cultivation of a meaningful life. Frankly, many founders dont make time for them. Their work is their religion and their companies are their creative vessels. If you take the advice above to heart and translate the five remedies into action, your experience of this pandemic can be transformed from one of stress and uncertainty into a more meaningful time of creativity, joy, and growth.

Related: 4 Ways to Unlock Your Inner Creativity

Related:

Covid-19 Effect: One in Two Youths Subject to Depression and Anxiety

Entrepreneurship Was Tough Before COVID-19. Now It's Testing Founders' Mental Limits.

How Can I Overcome Imposter Syndrome?



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
UPSC AC CAPF Recruitment 2020 Notification, eligibility, selection process, date and apply for 209 Vacancies @ upsc.gov.in: The Union Public Service Commission, or UPSC, has released a notice about filling out vacancies for the post of Assistant Commandant (AC) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

UPSC AC CAPF Recruitment 2020 Notification, eligibility, selection process, date and apply for 209 Vacancies @ upsc.gov.in: The Union Public Service Commission, or UPSC, has released a notice about filling out vacancies for the post of Assistant Commandant (AC) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The recruitment for the post of Assistant Commandants (AC) in the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). Any interested and possibly eligible candidates can apply for the UPSC AC CAPF Exam 2020 anytime between August 18 and September 7 on UPSCs official website, upsconline.nic.in.

UPSC CAPF Exam is scheduled on December 20, 2020, at different examination centres sprinkled throughout India. Selected candidates will serve as Assistant Commandants in various organisations, these are:

1. Border Security Force (BSF)

2. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

3.Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

4.Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

5. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

UPSC AC CAPF Recruitment 2020 Important Dates:

Register from: August 18 to September 7 (6:00 p.m.)

Dates to withdraw online application: September 14 to September 20

UPSC CAPF Exam Date: December 20

Dates to download e-Admit Card and the date of result announcement have not yet been revealed.

Also read: UPPSC Computer Assistant Admit Card 2019-20 Released, know how to download @uppsc.up.nic.in

Also read: SSC Delhi Police Constable Recruitment 2020: Know registration, vacancy details and how to apply

UPSC AC CAPF Recruitment 2020 Eligibility:

Candidates should be between the ages of 20 and 25 need to be an Indian citizen. For OBC, the age limit can be relaxed up to 28 years while for SC/ST, ex-servicemen and residents of Jammu and Kashmir, the age limit may be extended up to 30 years. Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens may apply as well. In an exceptional case, any other nation candidates may be allowed to apply with the consent of the Central Government. The candidates should have a bachelors degree in any major from a recognised institution.

UPSC AC CAPF Recruitment 2020 Examination:

The examination will consist of a written exam (in two parts), a physical endurance test and a medical test. Candidates who manage to clear all three will then go through a personality test in the form of an interview. If they pass the interview as well, then they will have to name the forces in which they wish to serve in.

Also read: SC dismisses plea seeking postponement of NEET, JEE exams
Atomic 88, Mexico's project of talents cultivation for digital transformation hosted by the Alibaba Group, was launched online on Aug. 13.



China's ambassador to Mexico Zhu Qingqiao said at the online launching ceremony that the digital economy had shown great vitality despite economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. China was ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Mexico in the digital economy sector, complement each other's advantages and fulfill the potential to reap substantive outcomes.

More high-quality products and services would be promoted to each other's markets to constantly improve the trade structures and further the bilateral relationship and cooperation in various fields of the two countries after the pandemic, Zhu said.

Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard expressed his gratitude towards China for its assistance in Mexico's fight against the pandemic.

He said that Alibaba's initiation of the new project would push Mexico's development of digital economy, help upgrade local enterprises, and enhance the sense of social responsibility and innovation of Mexican youth. The Mexican federal and state governments would, as always, be supporting the world-renowned e-commerce giant in expanding its business in Mexico.

China's glorious achievements in the growth of digital economy were worth learning by Mexico. The state governments would actively select outstanding talents for the training program and promote more small-and medium-sized enterprises to be integrated into the digital economy, so as to improve the regional digital economy levels and serve the development of the regional "digital town."

Alibaba Group Vice President Zhang Yu said that, as one of the new forms of business in the global economy, the digital economy had become a model vigorously advanced and advocated by a wide range of countries, especially emerging markets. Mexico had great potential to boost its digital economy, and Alibaba was willing to continue to enhance cooperation and exchanges in digital talent training.
7th July, 1981. Two remarkable entities were born on this date. Completely disconnected to each other and at almost 1,600 km apart.

These two entities are former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and countrys top IT company Infosys.

Dhoni was born in Ranchi and then become India's most successful cricket captain, well, arguably. Infosys, on the other hand, was founded on the same day in Pune, which went to become a billion dollar company and one of the vibrant symbols of India's growth story.

Dhoni and Infosys: Humble beginnings

Infosys is now a NYSE listed global consulting and IT services company with more than 239k employees. From a capital of $250, Infosys has grown to become a $12.77 billion company with a market cap of approximately $41.14 billion.

Called a legend by legends of the game, Jharkhand boy's exceptional leadership qualities turned him into a cricketing phenomena. Known to back his players and his instincts, Dhoni rose from a small town boy to become Indian cricket's heartthrob.

Rose to the occasion

In 39 years, Infosys catalyzed some of the major changes that led India's emergence as the global destination for software services talent. Infosys became first IT Company from India to be listed on NASDAQ. Infosys' employee stock options program created some of India's first salaried millionaires.

MS Dhoni, the former Kharagpur Railway station TTE, gave Ranchi a place on the cricketing map. 'Mahi', his pet name, went on to break tens of records in the 16 years of his international career.

Both Dhoni and Infosys have come a long way to the at the place where they are now, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for exceptional wonders.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:29:52|Editor: huaxia

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RIYADH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia will host on Thursday a meeting to discuss food safety in light of the COVID-19, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Organised by the Saudi Food & Drug Authority, the "emergency meeting of heads of food regulatory authorities" will be held within the program of international conferences on the sidelines of the Kingdom's presidency of the Group 20 (G20), said the report.

The meeting aims to develop a sustainable environment for global cooperation in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will also discuss the challenges that countries face in addressing coronavirus, in addition to identifying contributing factors that have supported efforts to mitigate the risks of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the health ministry announced on Tuesday that the accumulated coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia exceeded 300,000.

With the registration of 1,409 cases the total number rose to 301,323 infections.

The recoveries increased to 272,911 with the reporting of 4,526 new recovered cases.

The death toll reached 3,470 with the registration of 34 fatalities in the last 24 hours. Enditem
iStock/MattZ90BY: ALEXANDER MALLIN



(HONOLULU) -- The United States Department of Justice arrested and charged a former intelligence officer with the CIA and FBI for selling highly classified U.S. secrets to China, according to court records unsealed in Hawaii on Monday.



Federal prosecutors said Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, a 67-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen living in Honolulu, worked as a CIA officer from 1982 to 1989 -- and starting as early as 2001, an FBI investigation found he had "become a compromised asset" of China's Ministry of State Security.



Ma was allegedly captured on both video and audio recordings holding a series of meetings with at least five MSS officials in 2001 in Hong Kong where he "disclosed a substantial amount of highly classified national defense information," court records say.



The information included details about the CIA's international operations, cover used by CIA officers, identities of CIA officers and human assets and other internal CIA intelligence.



Ma and a relative not named in the criminal complaint allegedly received $50,0000 in the meeting, which was captured on tape.



Following his meetings in Hong Kong, Ma in 2002 allegedly applied for a position with the FBI and after a series of background checks and interviews started his employment as a contract linguist for the FBI's Honolulu field office in 2004, all while maintaining communication with his Chinese handlers about his efforts.



The indictment doesn't make clear when Ma's work on China's behalf first became known to federal investigators.



Between 2004 and 2010 Ma "regularly gathered documents marked with U.S. classification markings" with the "intent to provide them to his MSS handlers during regular trips he made to China," prosecutors said.



In January 2019, an undercover agent with the FBI then met with Ma while posing as an MSS officer, showing Ma the video of his 2001 meeting with MSS officers and asking him to identify the individuals from the video.



Ma believed the undercover agent and agreed to identify the individuals, not knowing he was being recorded the entire time. Then, in a separate meeting, the undercover agent paid Ma $2,000 for providing the information.



Ma is expected to make his initial appearance before a federal judge on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Hawaii.



He has been charged with conspiracy to communicate national defense information to aid a foreign government. He faces life in prison if convicted, the DOJ said.



A public defender for Ma did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved
Shipping ministry slashes port tariff for cruise ships by 60-70%

Ministry of shipping has rationalised tariff rates for cruise vessels with a net reduction in rates ranging from 60 per cent to 70 per cent, with immediate effect, in a move that would give substantial relief to the cruise industry in India, especially in the current pandemic situation.

A shipping ministry release said the decision is in line with the government policy to support the economy in the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

The decision will support the cruise industry and domestic cruise tourism from the adverse economic impacts of Covid-19 pandemic, union minister of state for shipping, Mansukh Mandaviya, said.

The revised port charges for a cruise ship will be $0.085 per gross registered tonnage (GRT) instead of $0.35 at present, for first 12 hours stay (fixed rate) and $5 per passenger (head tax). Ports will not charge any other rate like berth hire, port dues, pilotage, passenger fee, etc.

For the period exceeding 12 hours stay, the fixed charges on cruise ships will be equal to the berth hire charges payable as per schedule of rates (SOR), with 40 per cent discount as applicable for cruise ships.

Further, cruise ships making up to 50 calls per year will get 10 per cent rebate in tariff while those making 51-100 calls per year will get 20 per cent rebate and those making calls above 100 per year will get 30 per cent rebate in rates.

The rationalized tariff shall be immediately effective for a period of one year, the ministry said.

Cruise shipping business has been very adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the industry needs the right policy environment and infrastructure for the cruise shipping and tourism to survive and grow.

Meanwhile, the number of calls made by cruise ships in India has increased from 128 in 2015-16 to 593 in 2019-20. This rationalisation would help to ensure that cruise calls at Indian ports do not dry up completely in pandemic times.

It will be a big support for the cruise tourism in India, which has suffered tremendously due to the adverse economic impacts of Covid-19 pandemic. It will provide the opportunity to earn huge amount of foreign exchange and generate sizeable direct and indirect onshore employment in cruise tourism sector of India, Mandaviya added.
People seeking unemployment benefits queue to find a seat for a briefing session in Seoul, Aug. 10. Yonhap



By Lee Kyung-min



The prospect of an economic rebound in the third quarter has become increasingly elusive, Tuesday, due to a recent flare-up of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in and around Seoul over the past few days.



Experts say the government's ill-conceived consumption-boosting policies overlooked uncertainties concerning a possible unexpected spike in new cases, undermining the efficacy of the stimulus package altogether amid a growing need to draft a fourth extra budget.



Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said Tuesday that the confirmed cases over the past four days have soared to 695, after the figure topped 100, Aug. 14. Many of the newly infected were churchgoers that attended a religious gathering over the weekend in Seongbuk District, northeastern Seoul.



The remark adds to one made by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Director Jung Eun-kyeong who said Monday that unless brought under immediate control, the number of confirmed cases will grow astronomically, collapsing the medical treatment system and entailing an economic crisis.



The grave situation has led to precautionary social distancing and work-from-home policies, adopted by many subsidiaries of large conglomerates.



SK Innovation and SK Telecom, the energy and telecommunication subsidiaries of SK Group, are in a full or partial work-from-home mode, a move followed by major IT firms including Kakao and KT.



The collective action set to spread wider is highly likely to dampen the mood for optimism  eagerly and almost solely  maintained by the Ministry of Economy and Finance backed by a projected growth of 0.1 percent in 2020.



Many local and international organizations view the Korean economy will suffer a contraction of between 0.8 percent and 2.3 percent in 2020.



The gloomier-than-expected outlook is likely to take a heavier toll on people classified as "non-essential" personnel, mostly low-income earners, according to the Bank of Korea.



In a report released Aug. 18, the central bank said that one in three people will not be able to continue their normal economic activities if a tight lockdown takes place.



"About 35 percent of the workforce hold non-essential positions in contactless businesses which places them under greater fear of a short-term layoff. The less essential their work is, the more likely their job stability will be threatened. If their employment is adversely affected by lockdowns, a substantial period will be needed for them to recover from the shock," the report said.



Also renewed by the unexpected spike are calls for another extra budget, an issue that has been put on hold due mostly to the faster-than-expected deterioration of fiscal soundness following the three previous spending packages worth nearly 60 trillion won ($50.7 billion).



The main opposition United Future Party and minor opposition Justice Party seek to put the issue to the fore at a provisional National Assembly session that began Tuesday and runs through Aug. 31.



Seoul National University economist Kim So-young said the government plan should have factored in the further spread of the virus instead of temporary measures to bolster consumption.



"Dishing out coupons to encourage eating out, for example, could not have been more inappropriate," he said. "Poor planning has undermined the efficacy of fiscal spending that should be about finding ways to best induce the desired outcome via efficient allocation of limited state resources. This is especially true given fiscal soundness concerns should not be overlooked as funds spent means a responsibility to repay."






(Natural News) Migration is important in the life of birds. It lets them find good food, a good mate and a good nesting site. Should migration be stalled, birds risk missing all of these benefits that, more often than not, could mean life or death.

In a recent breakthrough, researchers from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) in Canada found that the insecticide imidacloprid has crippling effects on the health of migrating birds. The researchers suspect that pesticide-laced seeds in fields might be contributing to the decline in the population of farmland bird species.

In particular, the researchers found that feeding white-crowned sparrows small doses of imidacloprid caused them to lose six percent of their weight and 17 percent of their fat stores on average. These sudden changes caused the birds to migrate at a later date than the control sparrows.

Margaret Eng, an ecotoxicologist at USask and the lead researcher, explained that this disruption of the birds normal migration pattern could have significant consequences for their survival and reproduction in the wild. Their findings appeared online in the journal Science.

Neonics linked to bee deaths

Imidacloprid belongs to a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids or neonics. The structure of these chemicals resembles that of nicotine. Pesticides featuring neonics are popular choices among farmers in the U.S. and Canada for controlling pests that damage crops.

In the past, scientists had linked neonics to sudden and significant population declines in bees. The researchers also noted that more than 70 percent of farmland bird species in the U.S. are exhibiting significant population declines.

It is also worth noting that spring bird migration occurs during planting season, and most crops in both the U.S. and Canada are planted with neonics-treated seeds. Experts are worried that birds might suffer repeated exposure to neonics because of the widespread use of imidacloprid across the continent. (Related: Biologists: Pesticide regulations designed to protect bees are failing.)

Exposure to popular pesticide generates anorexic birds

To determine if the consumption of these seeds are affecting local migration patterns of farmland bird species, Eng and her colleagues caught dozens of white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) in Ontario, Canada during their migration period.

The researchers kept the birds in cages and provided them with food and water for six hours. The researchers then fed about a dozen of them a small dose of neonics similar to what the birds might ingest from pesticide-laced seeds in the wild. The researchers then fed another group of birds a lower dose of neonics.

Eng then put a small radio transmitter on each bird for tracking and released them into a 100,000-square-kilometer site in Ontario after six hours. Within hours, Eng and her colleagues found that birds fed the highest dose of the insecticide experienced sudden weight loss.

Prior to their release, the researchers noted that both groups of pesticide-treated birds stopped eating and took in just a third of the food that the untreated birds ate. The group also noticed that the pesticide-treated birds failed to recuperate hours after being released.

In fact, half of the birds fed the higher dose of insecticide stuck around the area longer than the untreated birds. Eng speculates that the pesticide-treated birds used the extra time to flush out the pesticides and regain lost fat stores.

Birds need to be a certain weight and store a certain amount of fat in order to make it through long migration flights. Therefore, these groundbreaking findings demonstrate that the ingestion of pesticide-treated seeds from fields can be detrimental to migrating birds.

Mark Jankowski, a toxicologist from the University of Minnesota who was not involved with the work, said that the research provides a compelling set of observations that demonstrates how even low doses of neonics can have detrimental effects on the health of migrating birds.

In 2018, the European Union (EU) had banned the use of neonics because of their harmful effects on bees. But experts are skeptical that the U.S. or Canada will be enforcing a similar ban on neonics because of their widespread use and reported benefits for plants.

Read more articles about neonics and other harmful chemicals in pesticides at Pesticides.news.

Sources include:

WakingTimes.com

ScienceMag.org
Netanyahu and the head of Sudan's transitional sovereign council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, had a meeting in Uganda in February

Sudan's acting foreign minister, Omar Qamar Al-Din, has denied that the country is looking to making a peace deal with Israel, contradicting comments made on Tuesday by the ministry's spokesman Haydar Sadig.

According to Al-Arabiya, Qamar Al-Din said the ministry was "surprised" by Sadig's statements and has sought to provide a clarification.

"Relations with Israel were not discussed by any means, and the spokesman was not assigned to give statements about them," said the Sudanese foreign minister.

Speaking to Sky News Arabia earlier on Tuesday, Sadig had said that Sudan was looking forward to a peace deal with Israel and that a Sudanese-Israeli deal should serve the interests of Sudan "without sacrificing values."

"There is no need to maintain enmity between Sudan and Israel," Sadig said. "We don't deny that [the two countries] are in contact."

Sadig added that peace would bring benefits for both countries.

The Sudanese official also praised the UAEs recent deal with Israel to normalise ties. It had been brokered by the US.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 18:54:18|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police foiled a major terror bid on Tuesday in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province and arrested a suicide bomber during an operation, local media and officials said.

The CTD officials told local media that an intelligence-based operation was carried out by the law enforcement agencies near the main railway station of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab province.

During the operation, the member of a banned terrorist organization was arrested, said the CTD officials, adding that a suicide vest and a hand grenade were recovered from the terrorist.

The suspected suicide bomber has been shifted to an unknown location for further investigation.

Police said the arrested terrorist was planning to carry out terror activities in the province and was waiting at the city's railway station for his accomplice to join when the police rounded him up.

"We have launched a search operation in the city to arrest the militant's accomplice as well," said an official of the CTD, adding that according to the preliminary investigation, the suspect at large was also a suicide bomber. Enditem
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="" xml:lang=""> <head> <title>/nwsys/www/images/PBC_1241992</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="generator" content="pdftohtml 0.36"/> <meta name="date" content="2020-08-18T07:35:27+00:00"/> <style type="text/css"> <!-- .xflip { -moz-transform: scaleX(-1); -webkit-transform: scaleX(-1); -o-transform: scaleX(-1); transform: scaleX(-1); filter: fliph; } .yflip { -moz-transform: scaleY(-1); -webkit-transform: scaleY(-1); -o-transform: scaleY(-1); transform: scaleY(-1); filter: flipv; } .xyflip { -moz-transform: scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1); -webkit-transform: scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1); -o-transform: scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1); transform: scaleX(-1) scaleY(-1); filter: fliph + flipv; } --> </style> </head> <body bgcolor="#A0A0A0" vlink="blue" link="blue"> <!-- Page 1 --> <style type="text/css"> <!-- p {margin: 0; padding: 0;} .ft00{font-size:18px;font-family:Times;color:#000000;} .ft01{font-size:18px;font-family:Times;color:#1257c7;} .ft02{font-size:13px;font-family:Times;color:#0d0c0c;} .ft03{font-size:13px;font-family:Times;color:#000000;} .ft04{font-size:13px;font-family:Times;color:#1b62b7;} .ft05{font-size:13px;line-height:30px;font-family:Times;color:#000000;} .ft06{font-size:13px;line-height:30px;font-family:Times;color:#0d0c0c;} --> </style> <div id="page1-div" style="position:relative;width:918px;height:1188px;"> <img width="918" height="1188" src="http://mco.acquiremedia.com/images/PBC_1241992001.png" alt="background image"/> <p style="position:absolute;top:155px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft00"><b>Research Announcement: </b></p> <p style="position:absolute;top:155px;left:364px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft01"><b>Moody's - European recovery plan is credit</b></p> <p style="position:absolute;top:180px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft01"><b>positive for technology and telecoms, clean transport and green energy</b></p> <p style="position:absolute;top:204px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft01"><b>sectors</b></p> <p style="position:absolute;top:240px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">London, August 18, 2020 --</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:271px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft05"> European recovery fund will help accelerate region's green and digital transition<br/> Plans confirm European Union's commitment to tackling climate change</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:337px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">Europe's 750 billion economic recovery plan will be credit positive for debt issuers in the technology</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:356px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">and telecom, clean transport and green energy sectors, helping companies to cut their capital</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:376px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">spending needs, alleviate revenue strains and sustain cash flow during the downturn, Moody's</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:395px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft06">Investors Service said in a report today.<br/>Europes recovery plan will encourage countries to fund long-term investments that support the</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:445px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">region's green and digital transition, said Ruosha Li, a Moody's AVP-Analyst and the report's co-</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:464px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft06">author. The plan also highlights the EUs commitment to addressing climate change.<br/>While specific details are yet to be finalised and approved, the plan would spur a broad economic</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:514px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">recovery that will support demand for goods and services across all sectors, if it is implemented as</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:534px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft06">envisioned.<br/>Investment in infrastructure for better connectivity and a stronger technological presence in Europe</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:583px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">will support the telecom and technological sectors. The gradual implementation of direct public</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:603px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">funding of telecom infrastructure and other measures will be credit positive for European telecom</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:622px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft06">companies.<br/>The recovery fund's focus on green transition will help address some of the energy transition</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:672px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">challenges in the European auto sector. Rising public investment will alleviate some strains on</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:692px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft06">companies' capital spending, which will help in sustaining cash flow generation.<br/>For utilities, EU grants dedicated to specific green energy projects will partly alleviate pressure on</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:742px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">their capital spending and their credit metrics. Despite the support from the recovery funds, Moody's</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:761px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">still expects capital spending levels in the utility sector to continue to accelerate from current levels</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:781px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">as a result of the green recovery focus. The vast majority of this investment will be in renewables</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:800px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft06">and networks.<br/>Subscribers can access the report at: </p> <p style="position:absolute;top:830px;left:372px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft04">http://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:850px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft04">docid=PBC_1239467</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:880px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">NOTE TO JOURNALISTS ONLY: For more information, please call one of our global</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:900px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02">press information hotlines: New York <PhoneNo>+1-212-553-0376</PhoneNo>, London <PhoneNo>+44-20-7772-5456</PhoneNo>, Tokyo</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:919px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02"><PhoneNo>+813-5408-4110</PhoneNo>, Hong Kong <PhoneNo>+852-3758-1350</PhoneNo>, Sydney <PhoneNo>+61-2-9270-8141</PhoneNo>, Mexico City</p> <p style="position:absolute;top:939px;left:108px;white-space:nowrap" class="ft02"><PhoneNo>001-888-779-5833</PhoneNo>, Sao Paulo <PhoneNo>0800-891-2518</PhoneNo>, or Buenos Aires <PhoneNo>0800-666-3506</PhoneNo>. 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India's coronavirus cases have increased to more than 27 lakh with a spike of 55,079 cases on Tuesday, as per the Union Health Ministry data. The first case of COVID-19 in India, which originated from China, was reported on 30 January 2020.

The total number of recoveries rose to 19,77,780 pushing the recovery rate to 72.17 per cent, the data updated at 8 am showed. On the other hand, COVID-19 related fatalities in India have climbed to 51,197 with 876 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours.

The case fatality rate has declined to 1.91 per cent.

The United States crossed 50,000 deaths in 23 days and Brazil in 95 days. India took 156 days to reach the figure, according to the government.

There are 6,73,166 active cases of coronavirus in the country presently which comprise 24.90 per cent of the total caseload in the country.

India had crossed 20-lakh cases on August 7. And, in just 11 days, the country has registered more than seven lakh cases.

According to the ICMR, 3.09 crore samples have been tested up to August 17 with 8,99,864 samples being tested on Monday.

Coronavirus case tally in Maharashtra has breached six lakh-mark with the addition of 8,493 cases. Now, the state's case tally stands at 6,04,358.

Delhi recorded 787 fresh coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the tally in the city to over 1.53 lakh, while the death toll from the disease mounted to 4,214. As many as 18 fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

Madhya Pradesh reported 930 new COVID-19 cases, raising the overall count to 46,385. The death toll mounted by 23 to 1,128 as of Tuesday.

Here is the state-wise active coronavirus case tally:-

Andaman and Nicobar Islands -1,145

Andhra Pradesh- 85,945

Arunachal Pradesh -888

Assam- 21,471

Bihar-31,059

Chandigarh-936

Chhattisgarh-5,095

Dadra Nagar Haveli-445

Delhi-10,823

Goa-3,760

Gujarat- 14,383

Haryana- 7,014

Himachal Pradesh-1,417

Jammu and Kashmir-6,985

Jharkhand-8,112

Karnataka-81,528

Kerala- 15,365

Ladakh-578

Madhya Pradesh-10,312

Maharashtra-1,58,705

Manipur-1,921

Meghalaya-693

Mizoram-418

Nagaland-1,964

Odisha-17,430

Puducherry-3,179

Punjab-10,963

Rajasthan-13,816

Sikkim-493

Tamil Nadu-54,019

Telengana-21,420

Tripura-1,859

Uttar Pradesh-51,537

Uttarakhand-3,923

West Bengal-27,299

Also read: Yes Bank to raise ESOP pool to 225 million; fixes MD-CEO's remuneration at Rs 2.84 cr

Also read: Flight movements at Goa airport rise at least 12 times amid COVID-19 crisis
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Donald Trump came out guns blazing at a mini rally in Yuma, Arizona on Tuesday accusing former President Barack Obama and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden of 'treason' in his first sentence.

The president was greeted by chants of four-more-years as his signature pump up song 'God Bless the USA' faded out.

'You know considering that we caught President Obama and Sleepy Joe Biden spying on our campaign  treason  we'll probably be entitled to another four more years after that,' Trump said after thanking the crowd for their chants.

He also suggested during another mini-rally in Wisconsin on Monday that he should be given a chance to serve three terms as president, claiming he felt cheated out of his first four years.

Trump's visits and alternative campaigning in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Arizona Monday and Tuesday are an attempt to distract and run counter-programming to the first two days of the first-ever fully virtual Democratic National Convention.

The president jested with the crowd that it was 122 degrees at the rally location  but he wasn't far off as the temperatures in Yuma topped 110 degrees on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday during a mini rally in Yuma, Arizona that he should be able to serve two more terms, claiming his first was obstructed by 'treason' from former President Barack Obama and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden

'You know considering that we caught President Obama and Sleepy Joe Biden spying on our campaign  treason  we'll probably be entitled to another four more years after that,' Trump said as the first line of his speech following 'four more years' chants

The president was in Arizona for the second time in two months on Tuesday to get a progress report on construction of the border wall between the southern border state and Mexico

He also saw an inspected, indoors, some models of the wall and delivered remarks on immigration and border security to members of the border patrol at the international airport in Yuma

Reports claim that Trump has micromanaged the design of the border wall, calling for there the be 'slats,' so the wall is see through, and demanding they be painted a matte black for a more visually appealing and effective construction

He jokingly asked Republican Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, who was present at the rally, if he could turn the temperature down at the event held outside in the shade of an airplane hangar.

'This is like a test? You think Joe Biden could do this? I don't know,' Trump swiped at his Democratic opponent, who he calls 'Sleep Joe' and claims could not keep up with him physically or mentally.

The president spent his morning in Cedar Rapids, Iowa receiving an update on hurricane relief and then his afternoon in Arizona where he received an update on construction of the border wall between Arizona and Mexico.

He also inspected example constructions indoors before venturing to his mini-rally.

Some are framing the remarks, which are disguised by presidential business, as 'peaceful protests' in an attempt to get around rules against large public gatherings in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump's last 'official,' planned and promoted rally was in late June in Oklahoma.

The first and only post-coronavirus rally, however, was largely unsuccessful  with thousands of empty seats at a 19,000-person capacity stadium, the size of which the president was easily able to fill in the 2016 campaign and at other pre-coronavirus rallies.

Although the mini rally Tuesday  and the others in Wisconsin and Minnesota on Monday  were reminiscent of the old days with booming music, allies in tow and loyalist followers in the stands, the crowds are much smaller than in the past.

The available area in the Arizona airport, however, was packed full of adoring supporters in fold-up chairs.

Trump has held mini rallies in three different states, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Arizona, in the past two days to run counter-programming as Democrats kicked off their first-ever fully virtual convention, which runs through Thursday

His aim with a second trip to Arizona in two months is to highlight his immigration agenda as he received an update on the construction of his promised southern border wall, which was a key pledge of his 2016 campaign.

'So I'm thrilled to be in Yuma, Arizona to proudly accept the endorsement of the National Border PAtrol Council - that's a big deal,' Trump, who prides himself on his hardline illegal immigration stances touted.

'And they are  they're great friends of mine and we're building the wall,' he continued. 'We'll be up to  next week, we'll be up to 300 miles of incredible wall. Incredible.'

The president was in his element as he delivered remarks to an enthusiastic crowd of loyalist supporters.

'We are very tough at the border,' he said, bragging that if someone comes back in 1,000 years  even with all the technological advances, there will still be 'wheels and walls.'

The uptick in Trump's trips this week comes as the president tries to deflect Democrats from a convention polling boost.
Amazing.

Incredible.

Those were just two of the adjectives the Progressive Conservative premier of Ontario used to hail the new federal Liberal finance minister.

I absolutely love Chrystia Freeland. Shes amazing. Ill have her back, Ill help her any way we can, an elated Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday.

As first revealed by the Stars Susan Delacourt in April, the COVID-19 pandemic has forged a close friendship between Ford and the deputy prime minister.

The premier was visibly delighted that Freeland, who represents University-Rosedale in the House of Commons, is succeeding departing Toronto Centre MP Bill Morneau as federal treasurer.

I want to congratulate my good friend Chrystia Freeland. An amazing person. I actually texted her this morning to say congratulations. I dont know how shes going to do it. Shes working around the clock now, Ford told CityNewss Jamie Tumelty in Scarborough.

Theres no one that would be better in that role than Chrystia Freeland, he said, pointedly declining to comment on the WE Charity scandal that triggered Morneaus resignation.

Im not going to get into that federal politics. Thats up to the prime minister to deal with. Weve been working very collaboratively together.

The premier predicted Freeland would be a good partner for Queens Park, which is seeking additional federal funding for infrastructure projects.

If there was one person, I have confidence in, it is Chrystia Freeland. Shes going to do an incredible job, said Ford.

Earlier in the pandemic, the two politicians spoke candidly to Delacourt about how they set aside partisan differences to work together to tackle the most serious crisis since the Second World War.

He and I have actually come to describe one another as each others therapists, Freeland confided last spring.

Some of the daily struggles that we go through are quite similar and so sometimes when we talk well just say, This is our therapy session, said the then-intergovernmental affairs minister.

At the time, Ford explained how their shared counselling helped them both weather the storm.

Well talk for God knows how long at nighttime, and discuss every issue you can possibly think of, and we laugh at the end, the premier told the Star.

We just feel like a thousand pounds are off our shoulders, he said in April.

Chrystia is just tough as nails. The iron lady. Im telling you, just a wonderful person. Has a big heart but shes no nonsense as well.

While some federal Conservatives have privately groused about the accolades that Ford has heaped upon the Trudeau Liberals since the pandemic hit in March, the premier insisted he is not that partisan a politician.

I dont like the political stripes. Dont get me wrong, Im proud to be the leader of the PC Party, but our family wasnt elected by traditional all PC voters, he said Our family was elected, myself and my brother (the late Toronto mayor Rob Ford), by traditional NDP, union members, Liberals and fiscal conservatives.

Asked if he had a preference in this weekends federal Conservative leadership race, Ford, who has remained neutral, said he is going to work with anyone that gets elected.

Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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A Massachusetts moving company is accused of auctioning off items of a U.S. Air Force sergeant, including gear that belonged to his cousin who was killed in action, while he was deployed overseas.

The Department of Justice on Tuesday announced a lawsuit against PRTaylor Enterprises LLC, a company doing business as Father & Son Moving & Storage. The department claims the company violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which provides a wide variety of financial and housing protections to members of the military. The act requires companies to receive a court order before it auctions off a servicemembers belongings.

According to the Justice Department, Father & Son Moving & Storage auctioned off sergeants military gear and mementos that had belonged to a cousin who was killed in military action. Hi grandfathers military service medals, a dresser that was handmade by his great-grandfather and personal photographs were also sold.

The SCRA places the burden on moving and storage companies to determine whether the property in their possession belongs to a servicemember.

The lawsuit claims that the victim told the company that he was in the military. According to the Department of Justice, the storage company picked up and packed the sergeants belongings at Hanscom Air Force Base while he was present and wearing his U.S. Air Force uniform. The lawsuit also states the moving company sent mail to the sergeants address at Hanscom Air Force Base while he was stationed overseas.

This servicemember was called overseas to serve our country and returned home to find his personal possessions, family heirlooms and military awards auctioned off to the highest bidder, Untied States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said in a statement. That is unacceptable. We will continue to protect the rights of servicemembers who dedicate their lives to preserving our security and freedom.

The lawsuit is seeking the value of the auctioned items and resulted from from the U.S. Air Force, the Justice Department said.

No individual or organization should be able to get away with the kind of devastation this young man suffered when he returned home from an overseas deployment and learned that many of his most valued family mementos were gone, Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

Since 2011, the Department of Justice has obtained $474 million in monetary relief for more than 120,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA.
DANVERS, MA  The Massachusetts state primary is Tuesday, Sept. 1, but the election will be much different this year, thanks to the coronavirus. This year voters have the option of voting in-person on election day, as well as early voting and mail-in voting options.

The last day to register to vote for the Sept. 1 primary election is Saturday Aug. 22.

You can check your voting status on the Secretary of State's Website. You can also use the Website to find your polling place. If you missed the deadline to register to vote, make sure you register for future elections.



Vote By Mail

Danvers voters can request a mail-in ballot up until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26 by completing and returning the mail-in ballot application. Completed mail-in ballots can be returned using the postage-paid envelope that comes with your ballot.



There is also a drop box for completed ballots located on the Sylvan Street side of Town Hall.

Early Voting

Early voting runs from Aug. 22 through Aug. 28. All early-voting is done at Danvers Town Hall at 1 Sylvan Street.



Early voting hours are:

Saturday, Aug. 22: 9:00 a.m.  2:00 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23: 9:00 a.m.  2:00 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 24: 8:00 a.m.  4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 25: 8:00 a.m.  4:00 p.m

Wednesday, Aug. 26: 8:00 a.m.  4:00 p.m

Thursday, Aug. 27: 8:00 a.m.  7:00 p.m

Friday, Aug. 28: 8:00 a.m.  12:00 p.m

In-Person Voting

Polling hours on election day run from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All precincts vote at the Danvers High School at 60 Cabot Road.

Dave Copeland covers the North Shore for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).

This article originally appeared on the Danvers Patch
New Delhi, Aug 18 : When you are unsure of the exact date of death of the countrys one of the biggest icons, it not only does not bring a closure for the kin and the extended family, but also remains a muted affair for all others, robbed of the grandeur it otherwise deserves.

Like every year, New Delhi woke up to August 18 on a muted note, given there's no certainty that freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose died on this day in 1945.

What can be, however, said with a certain amount of certainty is that he 'disappeared' on this day 75 years ago.

With conflicting findings of different inquiry commissions into his whereabouts or status, New Delhi remembered one of its iconic heroes of the Indian freedom struggle through individual tweets by Union Ministers and politicians.

The Ministry of Culture, which would have tweeted of any event - virtual or otherwise - in Netaji's remembrance if it would organize any, but didn't. And there's a reason. Last year, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) had enthusiastically tweeted '#PIB remembers the great freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his death anniversary. #Netaji #subhashchandrabose.' The tweet was deleted later on, given that there's no certainty that he indeed died in a plane crash on this day, a theory Justice Mukherjee Commission disagreed with.

However, a rather emotional tweet came from Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri. He recounted his earlier days in Japan, saying: "When I was a young political officer in the Indian Embassy in Tokyo in the mid-70s, I used to accompany the India Desk Officer of Gaimusho on visits to Renkoji Temple on this occasion every year. Netaji's ashes were interred there. We would thank the priest for caring for them." But one of the reasons August 18 is a silent, or sombre, affair in Delhi was clear to Puri, who was immediately corrected by many that those were not Netaji's ashes.

Anuj Dhar, who penned 'Conundrum: Subhas Bose's Life after Death' remarked: "According to the Mukherjee Commission report, Renkoji remains are of a Japanese soldier, whose body was passed off as Subhas Chandra Bose's as per the escape plan. The MEA itself had doubts, but never confronted the Japanese." No wonder others like BJP National Secretary Sunil Deodhar were more careful with their words. In fact, having faced a situation where it had to delete its tweet last year, PIB's main Twitter handle too did not put any tweet on Bose.

However, this silence should not be misconstrued as the disregard by the government that declassified scores of files that unravelled many inconvenient truths from the past, including how India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru 'snooped' on Netaji's family. This muted response is primarily because there's no unanimity on Bose's death.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped a visit to the Renkoji temple during his Japan visit, it raised fresh doubts about the claims that the ashes kept there were of Netaji's.

"I believe that the time has come for the Indian government to unravel the whole mystery so that we know what actually happened to our national icon," says TMC MP Sukehndu Sekhar Roy, who raised the issues pertaining to Netaji repeatedly in Parliament.

But till that day arrives, August 18 is likely to come and go amid a muted atmosphere, at least in New Delhi.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The first night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) went just fine for Joe Biden. It featured a diverse array of voices, all of whom  from the far-left Vermont senator Bernie Sanders to the smarmy former Republican Ohio governor John Kasich  praised Biden and condemned Donald Trump as utterly unfit to meet the challenges of the coming four years. Biden leads the RealClearPolitics polling average by almost eight points right now, so just fine will do. Short of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pulling a Ted Cruz circa 2016 and urging her acolytes to vote their conscience  which she wont do  its difficult to imagine Biden coming out of his convention with anything but a bounce, if a slight one.

But for party leaders and those looking beyond 2020, last night should be cause for concern. Every speaker save for Michelle Obama could best be described as a human flatline. Muriel Bowser, mayor of the nations capital, gave an awkward speech making the case for Biden as a champion of racial justice and boasting of her establishment of Black Lives Matter Plaza in D.C., where the murder rate has spiked by 17 percent as compared with last year.

Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota senator considered by many to be the favorite for the VP slot on the Biden ticket until she took herself out of the running, gave characteristically uninspiring remarks and made her typical joke  she always laughs at least  asking of Donald Trumps behavior Who does that? Gretchen Whitmer, another veepstakes loser, who alternates between her best impersonations of Sarah Palin and Dolores Umbridge, began her speech self-importantly, calling herself that woman from Michigan, a reference to a relatively unmemorable dig that the president took at her earlier this year.

Sanders, who has finished as the runner-up in back-to-back Democratic primaries, paid lip service to the radical ideas he championed in both of his campaigns for the Oval Office, but spent most of his speech praising the man who beat him and speaking of Donald Trumps ills. It was sad, really, to see the socialist so resigned to his defeat and so effusive in his advocacy for Biden. Worse for Sanders is that the future of his movement is unclear. The aforementioned Ocasio-Cortez seems destined to become the new standard-bearer for Sanderss agenda, and while shes attained a level of fame that a 30-year-old Sanders could only have dreamed of, she is far from an ideal successor. Although she has undoubtedly proved her social-media savvy and talent for oration, Ocasio-Cortez lacks the simple, authentic charm of Sanders. Sanders has an affable abrasiveness, while Ocasio-Cortezs lectures are grating and contrived. And voters have noticed: In a July 2019 poll, 74 percent of voters indicated that they knew who Ocasio-Cortez was but only 22 percent expressed a favorable opinion.

Story continues

Former first lady Michelle Obama was by far the most compelling speaker of the night. Self-assured and sympathetic, she outclassed the cast of politicians who spoke before her, and avoided the terrible awkwardness that seemed to pervade the rest of the evening. The bad news for Democrats is that its extremely unlikely she will seek public office; despite her prowess, her distaste for electoral politics has been well established.

Its unlikely that the Democrats next nominee spoke on Monday. But the pickings are slim even outside of yesterdays narrow slate of speakers. Kirsten Gillibrands presidential campaign flamed out early, and she reminds voters too much of Hillary Clinton. It feels like decades ago that Beto ORourke insisted on the cover of Vanity Fair that he was born to be a candidate for president. But it wasnt that long ago that his campaign ended unceremoniously, and with it his stardom. Joe Kennedy III  whom Democrats selected to issue the response to Trumps 2018 State of the Union address  is running for Senate in Massachusetts against progressive incumbent Ed Markey on a platform of its my birthright. It looks like he will lose.

VP nominee Kamala Harris and former mayor Pete Buttigieg appear to be the only plausible future Democratic nominees as of right now, and they each come with their own problems. Harriss campaign was plagued by indecisiveness and infighting, and she floundered on the debate stage after her strong showing in the first one. Buttigieg may be the frontrunner. Hes the best viable communicator left in the party, a progressive who can cloak his progressivism when appealing to moderate Democrats and independents. He does, however, have a well-documented issue with appealing to black voters, and you simply cannot win a Democratic primary while garnering almost no support from African Americans.

Even worse for the Democrats is that it is unlikely their bench will be replenished anytime soon. If Joe Biden wins in 2020, that will probably be the high-water mark for Democrats, as Republicans will almost assuredly make gains in the 2022 midterms. Contrast their plight with the GOP, whose 2024 primary may be even more crowded than in 2016. Presidential-campaign veterans Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and Rand Paul will likely be greeted by a slew of new candidates, including Rick Scott, Tim Scott, Tom Cotton, Josh Hawley, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and more.

Democrats whose sole focus is on defeating Trump  that is to say, all Democrats  should be pleased with how night one of the DNC turned out. Ideally, though, a party whose top two presidential-primary finishers are approaching 80 would have more potential White House talent on its bench.

More from National Review
A preterm baby boy born weighing just 1.8 kg was admitted for over a month after being tested positive for Covid-19 at a private hospital. The baby could be the first such occurrence as the first preterm baby who was successfully discharged after undergoing ventilator treatment for about 22 days, including 100% oxygen requirement, in the state, according to the hospital authorities.

Although doctors could not confirm if this is a case of vertical transmission, they are reporting the case as the first of its kind in terms of multiple symptoms, including lung fibrosis, pneumonia in both the lungs and cytokine storm which are not usually reported in Covid-19 positive infants.

Dr Pradeep Surawanshi, who was the treating doctor at Bharati Vidyapeeth University and Medical College and Hospital for the baby, said, The baby was brought to us after delivery from another private hospital. He experienced breathlessness and was not responding to the normal treatment procedure, and so we got the baby tested for antibodies which tested positive for the Covid-19. The mother was also tested later and was found positive. The baby was born at 34 weeks and weighed only 1.8 kg. The baby was under ventilator treatment for over 22 days and was successfully discharged after 35 days of treatment. The baby is successfully breast feeding. This is a rare case because we observed cytokine storm and lung fibrosis, just like in case of adults. We will be reporting it to the Lancet publication as a first of its kind in the world.

Neelima Suryavanshi, aunt of the baby said, The baby was born on July 12 and the same day was shifted to Bharati hospital after experiencing breathlessness. It was a very critical case, but thankfully due to timely intervention the baby is now healthy.

Dr Sanjay Gupta, former president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India said, This is definitely a rare case and a positive one in that. However, the breathlessness in the baby could be because of either being born preterm and that the lungs were not fully developed and underweight or due to Covid.

The case study report of the case states that the breathing difficulty gradually increased over the next two days and the baby was put on a ventilator. The infant also received two doses of special medicine called surfactant into the babys lungs to help the delivery of oxygen. In spite of this, baby required 100% oxygen and was put on a special type of ventilator called high frequency ventilator. The X rays were showing widespread pneumonia in both lungs and resembled the disease presentation as seen in adults with severe Covid-19.

A special gas called nitric oxide was also used to help oxygen delivery. Baby also had all the blood investigations suggestive of the cytokine storm and the antibody test for Covid-19 came to be positive in both baby and mother. It is noteworthy that mother never had any symptoms of Covid-19, except the fact that she had preterm delivery (which itself can be due to corona virus-2).

A special therapy (Intravenous Immunoglobulin) which helps the immune system was also given. Due to the severity of the disease and after detailed discussion with parents, baby was given high dose steroids (methylprednisolone) for 5 days after which the baby started its gradual recovery.

The child remained on ventilator for 22 days out of which high frequency ventilator was given for 16 days. In modern day NICU care it is an exceptional event to require such a prolonged ventilatory care. Eventually the baby came off the ventilator on 25th day of life. At this stage, the CT scan of the chest showed some residual scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs, which has been recently documented in adult patients, who have recovered from the severe Covid-19. After few days of oxygen therapy during the recovery process, baby was discharged home on day 35.

Dr Suryavanshi said, This is a unique case of a preterm small baby, who suffered from severe Covid-19 disease and required almost 4 weeks of ventilatory support and heavy dose of steroids, which lead to recovery albeit with some residual damage. This kind of severe disease presentation has not been documented world over in preterm small babies. As we know babies have a tremendous potential to recover from any damage, much faster and better than adults, we hope with time, baby will eventually overcome the scars left by this dreadful disease.
A Hamilton doctor whose medical licence was suspended last year after he made lewd comments toward a female patient has been charged with sexual assault.

Dr. Koma Israel, a general practitioner with a clinic on Upper Ottawa Street, was charged with one count of sexual assault on May 22.

Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman said the assault was not doctor-patient related, but noted the victim and Israel were known to one another.

Police did not issue a news release about the assault because investigators could find no concrete evidence to suggest there were other victims, she said. Penman said Israel is not considered a risk to public safety.

However, a family member of the victim alleges that the assault occurred during a medical consultation in late December. They say the victim had been a patient of Israels for roughly four years at the time.

The family member, who reached out to The Spectator and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the alleged assault was physical and took place at the doctors clinic.

The family member claimed the alleged incident left the victim traumatized. The victim is no longer a patient of the family doctor and has sought counselling as a result of the alleged assault.

Police would not confirm if the assault related to the charges involved a patient and occurred in Israels office.

We will not be commenting further on the nature of the relationship in order to protect the identity of the victim, Penman said.

Reached by phone Monday, Israels office said he was unavailable for comment.

The sexual assault charge comes nearly one year after Israel was suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario after pleading no contest to an allegation he engaged in disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional conduct with a patient.

The complaint stemmed from an appointment with a female patient.

According to the colleges decision, issued in May 2019, Israel told his patient during an appointment a woman needs a man and that may be her problem was that she did not have a husband or a boyfriend.

Israel also asked the patient in an inappropriate and unprofessional manner whether she was attaining sexual satisfaction by masturbating.

The college said Israels comments to the patient  who had been seeing Israel for nearly four years  were degrading, insensitive and disrespectful.

Israel was barred from practice for one month and ordered to pay $6,000 in costs to the college.

It is not clear whether the sexual assault charge will yield a college suspension or disciplinary hearing.

The colleges website makes no mention of recent registration suspensions or practice restrictions imposed on Israels doctor profile.
Jakarta:

Thirteen people have died after an Indonesian military transport plane crashed in the east of the country on Sunday, officials said, marking yet another air accident for the armed forces.

The Hercules C-130 plane took off from Timika city in Papua province carrying 12 crew and one passenger, but came down in a remote mountainous region shortly before its scheduled landing, officials said.

The operator on land saw the plane at 06:08 am local time but at 06:09 AM the plane had lost contact, air force chief Agus Supriatna told AFP.

The plane was expected to land at 06:13 am local time. Aboard the aircraft were three pilots, eight technicians, a navigator and a military officer, as well as food and cement, Supriatna said.

Weather around the area is known to be unpredictable, and the plane went in and out of clouds before the crash, he added.

Rescuers located the plane debris soon after. All 13 bodies have been recovered according to the air force. Supriatna said a team was heading to the site to investigate.

The fatal incident is the latest for Indonesias accident-prone military.

In November an army helicopter accident killed three on Borneo, while another three died when a military chopper went into a home in Central Java in July. Some 12 people were killed in March when another military helicopter went down in bad weather on Sulawesi in central Indonesia.

But the worst incident in recent times was in June 2015, when an air force Hercules C-130 plane crashed into a residential neighbourhood in the city of Medan, killing 142 people and causing widespread destruction.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
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JMA reported occasional eruptive events, three explosions, and occasional nighttime incandescence at Suwanosejima's Ontake Crater during 31 July-7 August. An explosion at 1553 on 1 August generated an ash plume that rose 1.8 km above the crater rim. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale). ...

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Northern Virginia Technology Council announced that Jennifer Taylor will join the organization as President and CEO. Bobbie Kilberg, NVTCs president and CEO emeritus and strategic advisor, says, Jennifers background in the technology industry, combined with her experience with leading membership organizations, is perfectly suited for NVTCs needs."

Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the trade association representing the technology community in Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington Area, today announced that Jennifer Taylor will join the organization as President and CEO. The announcement follows Brad Schwartzs appointment as Acting President and CEO and Bobbie Kilbergs retirement on June 30, 2020, after nearly 22 years of leading and growing the organization.

Tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Samsung and others already have an established presence in the region, including those incubated here locally such as Appian and others. In addition, the region is fortunate to be the home for many major government contractors and systems integrators including Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, ManTech, MAXIMUS, and SAIC. More recently, the decision to locate Amazon HQ2 in Northern Virginia will be an even greater catalyst for an exciting, new growth phase in the regions technology evolution, elevating the regions stature further.

Taylor, a native of the DC region for 30 years, comes to NVTC from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) where she served as Vice President of Industry Affairs. While at CTA, she engaged with many of its 2,000 member companies from Alarm.com, Amazon, BOSCH, Facebook, Google, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony Electronics, and Sprint to Ford, Toyota, Lyft, and Uber. During her time at CTA, Taylor launched CTAs 21st Century Workforce Council and Diversity & Inclusion Working Group, interfacing with more than 200 technology company members. She also created the CTA Apprenticeship Coalition, in partnership with IBM, to help tech companies build and expand hundreds of tech apprenticeships nationwide and create more career pathways for American workers in fast-growing fields. Previously, she served as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Caring Village, a subsidiary of Segue Technologies. Prior to that, Taylor was Vice President, Corporate Relations and Business Development at AARP Services, where she developed go-to-market and multi-channel revenue sales strategies for a range of industry verticals. While at AARP, she worked with major industry partners including Airbnb, Best Buy, Chase, Comcast, Intel, Microsoft, and Pfizer. Earlier in her career, she served in leadership roles at the American Red Cross, RTCRM (a Wunderman Company), KSK Communications, and American College of Cardiology.

Bobbie Kilberg, NVTCs president and CEO emeritus and strategic advisor, says, Jennifers background in the technology industry, combined with her experience with leading membership organizations, is perfectly suited for NVTCs needs. Im confident she will build on what weve established and work to take NVTC to the next level.

I am honored to serve as NVTCs new President and CEO and to expand on Bobbies legacy that turned this region into the tech powerhouse it is today, says Taylor. Im incredibly excited about NVTCs future and the impactful role the organization will play to help grow and sustain an innovation community anchored by tech companies of all sizes, policy makers, venture capitalists, and academia.

As one of the largest and most influential technology councils in the U.S., NVTC is poised for its next phase, said Greg Baroni, chairman of the NVTC Board of Directors as well as chairman and CEO of Attain. Jennifer brings the right mix of policy, technology, business development and marketing leadership to NVTC. She is a forward-thinking leader who will build on the foundation that Bobbie established and advance NVTCs position as the leading regional voice of the technology community.

Taylor will replace Brad Schwartz, who served as Acting President and CEO since July 1, 2020, following Kilbergs retirement. The Board of Directors thanks Brad for his outstanding leadership over the past few months while the search continued for NVTCs permanent successor, said Rich Montoni, chair emeritus of the NVTC Board of Directors, member of the NVTC Chairmans Council, and vice chairman of MAXIMUS Board of Directors. Id also like to thank the organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry for their partnership in finding NVTCs next leader.

"We are both sad and thrilled about this NVTC announcement -- sad to lose such a groundbreaking effective leader from CTA, but thrilled for NVTC and the regional tech community. As a board member of NVTC and an advocate for Jenn and her career, I cannot think of a more appropriate executive to fill the big shoes of Bobbie Kilberg," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CTA.

Taylors role as NVTC President and CEO is effective September 10, 2020.
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year since 1937, restaurant owners in Texas have gathered for a meeting and convention to learn from one another and to discover new products and services. For the first time ever, the Texas Restaurant Association moved this to a virtual experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. TRA Marketplace kicked off yesterday and is running for six days, from August 16 to 21.

"Restaurateurs and foodservice operators have been in a fight for survival these past five months," said Dr. Emily Williams Knight, President & CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association and Education Foundation. "We could have easily cancelled this year's TRA Marketplace, as so many other organizations have done with their trade shows and conferences. However, we recognized that our industry needed this opportunity to come together, to learn about new innovations and solutions and as the Texas Restaurant Association, we could lead the information sharing and take this important event well outside the Texas border. We are proud to have include our colleagues from across the United States, making this year's TRA Marketplace not only a first by being virtual, but also being National."

For the trade show portion of TRA Marketplace, attendees can choose to attend category-based brand experience sessions, where vendor companies showcase videos of their products and services before taking questions from the audience. Categories include sanitation, food and beverage, power, service and technology, and equipment. It is a curated experience for attendees, something never done before. One week ago, attendees who registered early received TRA branded swag boxes to their homes, filled full of small gifts and materials from participating exhibitors.

The week is packed with relevant education content, including sessions on alcohol to go, marketing and PR, using video for your brand, the restaurant design of the future, delivery, technology, hiring techniques, and mental and physical wellness. Also, for the first time, TRA Marketplace is hosting two sessions completely in Spanish, one from the Department of Labor on new regulations and another on health inspections.

Keynote sessions include a conversation with the senior leadership team of P. Terry's, an Austin-based concept that has fared well during the pandemic due to their minimal menu and drive-thru capability. Another includes lauded Texan chefs and owners, including Tim Love, Fermin Nunez and Sam Hellman-Mass (Suerte), Tracy Vaught (H-Town Restaurant Group), and Anne Ng and Jeremy Mandrell (Bakery Lorraine). James Pogue will deliver a keynote on overcoming unconscious bias and racism, and the week will close with a conversation between Knight and Tom Bene, the new CEO of the National Restaurant Association. Yesterday's keynote was a frank conversation on women in the workplace and the kind of support needed for all people to stay healthy and succeed in the industry.

For the politicos, Texas Tribune executive editor Ross Ramsey will be giving a keynote presentation on the pandemic and politics, and the PAC Lounge lineup is full of law makers and trade insiders, including Senator Cornyn, Congressmen Roy, Crenshaw, and Castro. The PAC Lounge is exclusively available to individual supporters of the TRA PAC and is presented by the law firm of Monty & Ramirez, partners in the Texas Restaurant Association Law Center, a resource for members of the Association.

Other featured sessions include State of the Industry from Black Box Intelligence, a conversation on the future of the restaurant industry, Consumer Insights from Coca-Cola, and Live Music at a Restaurant During a Pandemic with BMI, Stubb's Co-Founder Eddy Patterson, Lava Cantina owner Ian Vaught, and musical artist Pat Green.

It's also a week to celebrate leaders, with the Hall of Honor awards and the Texas Restaurant Awards: COVID-19, where the industry will acknowledge those who have gone above and beyond for their people, business, and community during the pandemic.

TRA Marketplace is supported by sponsors Heartland, Coca-Cola, Sysco, Ben E. Keith, Dining Alliance, Catering Magazine, and Bar Business Magazine. Community supporters include the National Restaurant Association, the Council of State Restaurant Associations, and the state restaurant associations from Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Ohio.

Attendance is free for any restaurant owner, manager, or team member from anywhere in the world. Press are welcome, and non-exhibiting suppliers may still register for $145 on TRAMarketplace.com.

SOURCE Texas Restaurant Association
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja recently came up with a fun social media contest titled #TakeTwoWithSonam, in which she challenged the fashionistas to recreate some of her iconic looks. The actress asked her fans to emulate but also to experiment with their looks while ensuring theyre easy to recreate at home.

She kicked off the contest on Instagram with the theme #StyleYourSaree - A saree with a twist.

"The last time I did this, there was such an overwhelming response from you guys - I had to do it again! With this edition of #TakeTwoWithSonam, I want you to not just emulate, but experiment. What's the theme, you ask? It's Indian fashion at its contemporary best. A saree, with a twist. Over the years of being in the public eye, I've loved experimenting with the 9 yard fabric and giving it my own spin. Whether the spin comes from bold accessories, or a different drape, it all depends on me and my team's mood," she wrote in the post in which she called from entries from fashionistas.

She added: "What I want you to do in this challenge is fairly simple. Show me how you #StyleYourSaree. Go crazy with your looks, I'm watching all of you! Remember to tag me. Use the hashtag #TakeTwoWithSonam. Don't forget, the deadline for all your submissions is August 10. Have fun styling!"

On Tuesday, while sharing her top favourite looks from among the entries, Sonam wrote: "Whoa, whoa, whoa. This round of #TakeTwoWithSonam really had all of you show me your most creative side. I had a gala time picking out the winners - so much so that, I ended up choosing 5 entries instead of 3. Congratulations to all the winners and participants, I just can't get enough of your quirky styles! Should there be another round? What would you like to be challenged with next?" (Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in)

-- Syndicated from IANS
Students maintain a distance from one another upon arriving at Jeil Middle School on Jeju Island, in this June 8 file photo. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji







Many parents are becoming increasingly concerned over whether they should send their children back to school as scheduled for the upcoming fall semester, after the number of daily new COVID-19 infections hit three digits for the fifth straight day, Tuesday.







The recent rise in coronavirus cases, especially in the Seoul metropolitan area, has already signaled a rise in the risk to safety in schools, leading those considering larger onsite instruction in the fall semester to hurriedly adjust their opening schedules. But some parents are complaining that they have not been informed about scheduling changes at their children's schools.







The Ministry of Education announced, Sunday, a restriction on classroom capacity following a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the capital area. The number of students attending kindergartens and elementary and middle schools at one time should be kept to under one-third of the total student body for schools in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, lowered from an earlier guideline that limited them to two-thirds.







For schools in regions outside the metropolitan area, the education ministry strongly advised keeping the number of students at the two-thirds level, while ordering schools in regions with a large number of new infections to replace onsite classes with online ones.







Although these are the same restrictions as in the first semester, parents are complaining as the schedule is being readjusted right ahead of the start of the second semester. Some schools, set to open this week, have been experiencing similar confusion as in the first semester, during the early stages of the pandemic, regarding the schedule and method of students' classroom attendance.







"It was only a few days ago that I received a notice that my daughter's school was planning to conduct onsite classes every day from Aug. 24. If the schedule is adjusted, working parents like us will have to find someone to take care of children or send them to private institutes," said Jo Eun-ha, a 41-year-old working mother who has an 8-year-old daughter attending elementary school in Seoul.







Some parents said, however, that it was better to increase the number of days of school, as many students have already been taking classes at private institutes. Parents of middle and high school students are also concerned about the education gap between the haves and have-nots in terms of access to private education.







"Students have already been divided into the top level who study without a shortage of private education and the bottom level whose grades continue to fall without anyone to take care of them," said Lee Ji-whan, a 46-year-old father who has two sons attending middle school in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.







"Shouldn't schools be more active in public education, when children are already attending private institutes, to bridge the education gap during the pandemic?"


Editor's take: As millions of people have found out the hard way, working from home isnt necessarily all it is cracked up to be. It is one thing to exhibit discipline and keep yourself away from distractions in an empty house but its another beast entirely to try and be productive with kids or a significant other actively roaming around and vying for your attention. Having a space that is all your own and strictly for working could be just what you need to help get through the pandemic.

Many have been tasked with setting up a home office for the first time this year. What originally seemed like a short-term solution has since morphed into a semi-permanent fixture and one Japanese tech giant wants to help make it a bit more office like?

Panasonic recently announced Komoru, an all-in-one desk that also doubles as an office cubicle of sorts. The unique product is meant to be placed in a corner or against a wall and creates a semi-private work environment for one thanks to its integrated partitions.

The desk features a dark gray pattern while the walls are constructed of a lighter-colored pegboard-style material that offers all sorts of versatility with regard to hanging decorations and storing accessories like headphones or cables.

Panasonic said the all-in-one can effectively create a work space measuring roughly one square meter.

Panasonics Komoru launches on September 18, 2020, priced at 88,000 yen, or around $835.
With so many Democrats going postal over the latest issue they are raising, Americans should really be asking this question: who has the capability to lead this nation?

Dr. Jill Biden said, Joe is a moderate and always has been a moderate. (FOX News, The Daily Briefing, Aug. 4, 2020). Did she forget Joe himself said he would be the most progressive president in history? (Newsweek, Feb. 16, 2020). So which is he?

The whole Democrat primary process has gone downhill since Iowa. Consider the rise and fall of Michael Bloomberg (fortunately it wasnt very far), the laughable campaign of Liz Warren, the Marxist delusions of Bernie and the unpopular campaigns of so many others which led to Joe Biden becoming the nominee by default.

Joe has had very disturbing moments in interviews since the quarantine. His strange appearance on the View was one. If you havent watched it, its online. Watch it and imagine him negotiating with world leaders. Then there was his over the top response when questioned about having a cognitive test. Voters should be very concerned about his clarity after watching these appearances.

Somebody must have been concerned as a crazy story popped up about Trump barricading himself in the White House if he lost. The guy credited with saving Bidens sinking candidacy, Rep. Jim Clyburn, was pushing it. Then reporters, taking the cue, picked it up with the same zeal as they did with the Russia collusion scam.

When Joe announced his choice for a running mate, the friendly media, fawning over Senator Harris, called her the perfect choice. But they would have said that no matter who he chose. And how much of those millions raised following the announcement were being held just for the dramatic effect?

Tonight begins the final chapter in this charade. If you watch this week, count how many times President Trumps name is stated. That will tell you that this election, for the progressives, isnt about the post office or the virus, Joe Biden, securing our cities or getting Americans safely back to work. Its about their hatred and fear of Donald Trump. Its always been that.

To be a successful leader, one must have confidence, be able to make logical decisions, have strong communication skills and the clarity and stamina to carry out presidential duties, including actively being on the campaign trail itself. Can we say with certainty that Joe Biden exemplifies any of these characteristics? And have the Democrats done anything since Iowa to instill confidence in their ability to lead and provide what our nation needs in these challenging times?

Ralph Miller

* * *

I have read the previous Monday opinion pieces presented by Mr. Exum and Mr. Miller and would like to comment on them. I have so much to say that it is hard to get the words together to express what I truly want to express. I agree with 99 percent of their comments but I consider myself an independent voter because I see good qualities in both political parties and so I am not one sided.

With Mr. Exum's article promoting a opinion circulating on Facebook and Twitter I see many of my own beliefs stated. Maybe I lean more toward those comments concerning our constitutional rights than others. But, for instance the Facebook author believes in the electoral college which actually means the states with the highest populations receive the most electoral votes to win the election. Even though Donald Trump lost the popular vote by 2.95 million votes he was selected as president. Now if smaller states with less populations than say California or New York vote overwhelmingly to select a candidate then they lose. No other political forums such as local politicians or U.S. Senate choices and U.S. House of Representatives are selected this way, it is by who receives the most votes, the peoples choice.

And so the Facebook author says he doesn't give blanket approval for everything our president says or does he will still vote for him. I liked Ronald Reagan, did he have faults? Yes, as all of us do and at times he could be humorous with clean funny stories and at or most of the times he was forceful and to the point as in "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall". But, when Reagan was funny he did it in a distinguished way without flailing his arms to mock a handicapped person, nor did he call his opponents childish names and make fun of them. He didn't make it all about himself and could do no wrong, with Trump it's everyone else's fault.

To be the most powerful man representing the most powerful country on earth then he is an embarrassment. He never tells the truth and it is always about him and how great he is. Have his face put on Mt. Rushmore, please get real, he in no ways is in the ballpark with those individuals.

And to complete this opinion of the Facebook article, is this the Democratic party of the past, no, but neither is this the Republican party of the past. And if you think all of the riots in Portland, Chicago, Seattle and other places is Democrats then you are exceptionally wrong, these people belong to no party. And to Mr. Miller, does a leader need to have the qualities to make logical decisions, stamina to be on the campaign trail, communication skills and stamina. So you think Trump does, no previous political skills, every president has divulged their tax records, has been sued many times for illicit business dealings and private financial dealings to suppress past indiscretions and you know he used to fund the Clintons and even invited them to one of his weddings.

He is only three years younger than Joe Biden and Biden has tried to prove that the COVID-19 is real and a threat to our country by promoting social distancing and mask wearing. At least Joe won't disband his Coronavirus team and pretend everything is okay with 1,000 deaths a day and it the last two weeks 100,000 children have been diagnosed with COVID-19. This is just my opinion.

Clifton W. Duggan

* * *

Mr. Duggan,

You are entirely correct when you say "No other political forums such as local politicians or U.S. Senate choices and U.S. House of Representatives are selected this way, it is by who receives the most votes, the peoples choice." However, what you are not accounting for is that the United States of America is just that - a consortium of 50 states. The office of President and Vice-President are the only positions chosen on a national basis, not a state or local basis.

The Framers of the Constitution addressed this long ago when they were writing the Constitution. The farming states, primarily, those south of Maryland had no extremely large cities like the Northeast so they were not about to sign to a national popular vote which would be determined by Boston, New York, Philadelphia and the crowded Northeast. In the same vein, the Northeast was unwilling to grant one vote to each state because that would have decreased their voting power. The compromise was the Electoral College which still does favor those states with a higher population, but not by as much as a straight popular vote.

Another key thing to remember about the USA, we are not like Germany, France or other countries. Our country was formed by the many states, not by a central government organization. Yes, at times the popular vote will favor a candidate that will lose in the Electoral College, but not often. If I remember correctly, it has happened six times in 231 years. It is also important to remember is that the 2.95 million votes in favor of Clinton were mostly in the state of California and most of them were in the coastal cities from San Francisco to San Diego. Do you really think it is fair for those four cities to determine the course of the entire country? I don't and I am sure many others don't either. That is exactly what the Electoral College was suppose to address.

Presidential elections have been conducted in this manner since the very first election of 1788-1789. It is public knowledge of what is necessary to win the Presidency of the United States. If it needs to be changed then maybe some group or another should start the Constitutional process to change it, however, do not be surprised if it does not get changed. I am not sure that there is an overwhelming number of people in the country who would like it changed.

Rich Hanspire


Authorities in Melbourne, Australia will use high-tech surveillance drones to catch people outside not wearing masks as well as to scan for vehicles that are in violation of curfew by being more than 5km from home.

High powered drones will be used to find people not wearing masks and cars too far from home, according to a 7News Melbourne news report.

The drones will also be used to ensure skate parks and playgrounds remain empty.

The surveillance devices can be flown up to a distance of 7km and produce images so clear they can read a vehicles number plate from 500 meters away.

Privacy advocates are concerned that there is no sunset clause on the use of such technology and the drones could continue to be used to spy on citizens after the pandemic ends.

7News Melbourne spoke to two residents who said they werent worried because they were behaving and had nothing to hide.

Police are preparing to launch their aerial arsenal as part of a crackdown on COVID rule breakers. High powered drones will be used to find people not wearing masks, and cars too far from home. https://t.co/5zYfOfohG3 @tdolling #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/Yy84UBTH0V  7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) August 17, 2020

The measures are just the latest example of what represents one of the most draconian coronavirus lockdowns in the developed world after the state of Victoria announced a state of disaster in response to an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

There have been several instances of police physically tackling people for not adhering to mask wearing rules, including one incident when a woman was placed in a chokehold by a male police officer.

Police have also been given the power to enter peoples homes without a warrant and perform quarantine spot checks.

Drivers are also being asked to show their papers at highway checkpoints simply to get to work.

Anyone caught outside without a mask or violating the 8pm-5am curfew also risks being made to pay a massive fine.

As the post below illustrates, the rules are also being enforced by Australian Defence Force troops patrolling parks and other outdoor areas.

Police also fined a couple for allowing their child to play further than 5km from their home, while also executing a search warrant against and seizing computers belonging to two men who were planning an anti-lockdown protest.

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Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously said that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. Importantly, Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSEMKT:DSS) does carry debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.

What Risk Does Debt Bring?

Debt and other liabilities become risky for a business when it cannot easily fulfill those obligations, either with free cash flow or by raising capital at an attractive price. Ultimately, if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt, shareholders could walk away with nothing. However, a more common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. Of course, the upside of debt is that it often represents cheap capital, especially when it replaces dilution in a company with the ability to reinvest at high rates of return. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for Document Security Systems

What Is Document Security Systems's Net Debt?

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that at June 2020 Document Security Systems had debt of US$3.81m, up from US$2.31m in one year. But on the other hand it also has US$7.18m in cash, leading to a US$3.36m net cash position.

How Healthy Is Document Security Systems's Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that Document Security Systems had liabilities of US$2.83m due within a year, and liabilities of US$4.62m falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of US$7.18m and US$2.45m worth of receivables due within a year. So it actually has US$2.17m more liquid assets than total liabilities.

Story continues

This surplus suggests that Document Security Systems has a conservative balance sheet, and could probably eliminate its debt without much difficulty. Succinctly put, Document Security Systems boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Document Security Systems can strengthen its balance sheet over time. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

Over 12 months, Document Security Systems made a loss at the EBIT level, and saw its revenue drop to US$18m, which is a fall of 5.9%. That's not what we would hope to see.

So How Risky Is Document Security Systems?

We have no doubt that loss making companies are, in general, riskier than profitable ones. And we do note that Document Security Systems had an earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss, over the last year. Indeed, in that time it burnt through US$5.8m of cash and made a loss of US$2.8m. Given it only has net cash of US$3.36m, the company may need to raise more capital if it doesn't reach break-even soon. Overall, its balance sheet doesn't seem overly risky, at the moment, but we're always cautious until we see the positive free cash flow. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. For example, we've discovered 5 warning signs for Document Security Systems (2 are a bit unpleasant!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

Of course, if you're the type of investor who prefers buying stocks without the burden of debt, then don't hesitate to discover our exclusive list of net cash growth stocks, today.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Consider the heat that floods your face when you open a hot oven.

That's what the air has felt like in recent days in California's Death Valley National Park amid an extreme heat wave with searing temperatures, according to Patrick Taylor, the head of interpretation at the park.

Taylor described stepping outside in scorching 130-degree heat on Sunday as similar to "when you pull something out of the oven and that blast of heat engulfs you."

Death Valley Ranger Brandi Stewart took the metaphor even further and said being in the extreme desert heat is like "walking into an oven."

"People say, 'But it's a dry heat,' and it is an extremely dry heat  I can immediately feel it on my face," Stewart wrote in an email. "And when it's windy, it then feels like someone is blowing a hair dryer at you."

If the sensors and other conditions check out, the 130-degree temperature recorded Sunday would be the hottest Earth has been in more than 89 years  and the third-warmest ever measured.

The temperature, measured at the aptly named Furnace Creek, would be the hottest temperature recorded on Earth in August, said Arizona State University professor Randy Cerveny, who coordinates the World Meteorological Organizations extreme temperature team, which is already investigating the mark.

That 130 is only below the disputed all-time record of 134 degrees (56.67 Celsius) at nearly the same spot in 1913 and a 131-degree mark (55 degrees) in Tunisia in 1931, but both were in July, traditionally the planet's hottest month.

Taylor ventured outside twice Sunday, once for about 10 minutes and then again for about 20 minutes, to experience the record-breaking weather.

"All of us at the park had made plans that if we hit a new record, we are going outside," Taylor said.

On Monday, the park hit a high of 127 degrees at 4 p.m. This broke the previous daily record of 124 set in 2001. The low temperature recorded Monday was 104.

In this sort of heat, you immediately start sweating. "Sometimes it evaporates so fast that you dont even know youre sweating until you notice the salty crust on your skin," Taylor said.

Extreme temperatures are also dangerous and park officials advise visitors to never be more than a couple minutes' walk away from their cars where they can turn on the air conditioner. Tourists are also warned to drink at least a gallon of water each day, carry additional water in their cars, and watch themselves and others for dizziness, nausea and other symptoms of potentially deadly heat illness.

Temperatures in the 120s aren't uncommon in Death Valley, and Taylor said, "A lot of us joke here is that once it hits 120 you cant tell a difference."

The relentlessly hot weather conditions at the spot support such an extreme reading, so much of the verification effort will be looking at how the measurement was taken and the sensor itself, Cerveny said. Sunday's temperature would beat marks of 129 (53.9 Celsius) recorded three times in recent years, he said. The monitor is an official one that follows world guidelines, but still needs to be examined in a process that takes months, he said.

We are having more extremes than we had in the past, Cerveny said.

The world is creeping up on (the 134-degree record) year after year. That is something that cannot be denied, Cerveny said Monday. These extremes tell us a lot about what will happen in the future.

All of California has experienced a heat wave in recent days and it's due to a massive dome of high pressure that keeps roasting the West and the normal Southwest monsoon that would provide rain and relief is missing, so there has been no cooling, Cerveny said.

Death Valley, an austere landscape in the desert of southeastern California, includes Badwater Basin, which at 282 feet (85.9 meters) below sea level is the lowest point in North America. Nearby mountains also help trap heat there and the dry land helps temperatures get hotter, Cerveny said.

The high temperature forecast for Death Valley on Tuesday is 126 degrees. "It looks like it does start coming down as we go through the week, taking off a degree or two each day," said John Salmen, a forecaster with the NWS office in Las Vegas.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
A regime officer from Deir ez-Zor has succumb to the coronavirus, amid reports of other senior military officials also dying writes Shaam Network.

Local media sites in the eastern province revealed the death of a high-ranking officer in the regimes army. The officer hailed from the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.

The event was surrounded by secrecy by the official regimes media and the pages run by its intelligence.

Activists from the Euphrates Post website said that the colonel in the regimes army, Ahmed Allawi al-Abbas, is originally from the village of Darnaj in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, and died as a result of his infection with the coronavirus, which has been spreading in the regime-controlled areas.

On Aug. 13, 2020, the Deirezzor 24 website quoted private sources as saying that three members of an Iranian militia had arrived at al-Assad Hospital in Deir ez-Zor with coronavirus symptoms.

Deirezzor 24 wrote that despite the symptoms being apparent, the patients refused to quarantine and beat a doctor, which sent the hospital into a state of chaos. The three officers left the hospital after refusing to be quarantined.

There has been no official announcement since the outbreak of the pandemic, regarding the number of deaths and infections in the ranks of the regime militias.

Action Group for Palestinians of Syria revealed that Muhammad Othman, an officer in the Palestinian Liberation Army, died of coronavirus, in addition to army commander and Chief-of-Staff, Muhammad Tariq al-Khadra.

Some loyalist pages have been mourning those affiliated with the regime, claiming they died of seizures, or selectively announcing the death of some without mentioning the reasons, which adds more ambiguity to the situation.

Media sources suggest that the pandemic will further spread within the ranks of the regimes militias, especially those that are in direct contact with their Iranian counterparts.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
My wife sent me a text: Molly is going to call you with news. Be happy.

The call came, and the news: Our older daughter, Molly Jane, 26, who has lived in Russia since she went to graduate school there four years ago, was engaged to marry her current boyfriend, Pavel Shushkov, known as Pasha, whom she had been dating for a little over a year and a half. The wedding was set for the Fourth of July in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Was I happy?

Now, in my completely objective opinion, Molly, who works as an editor for an online news service that covers cryptocurrency, is brilliant and beautiful and generally wonderful in all ways (as is  odd coincidence  her sister) and has delighted me and enriched my life since the day she was born. It had occasionally crossed my mind that my daughters might someday marry, but who would be worthy of them? A Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist? A Google millionaire genius? Doubtful. Somehow, it had never occurred to me to put 32-year-old Russian pet-food wholesaler on the list.

We had met Pasha. He was slim and handsome and friendly and seemed like a very nice guy, although I expected we could determine that for sure if he ever learned to speak English. Which he doesnt. (Molly speaks Russian.)

Then, over the Christmas break last year, we spent a week with Molly and Pasha in France, and my wife observed, and pointed out to me, that he was kind, and that he was not only good to Molly, he was also good for Molly (gently calming her when she got impatient with her annoying parents). I listened and acknowledged the importance of all that, and, of course, no one cared what I thought anyway.
Beirut:

More than 1,000 people were evacuated from the last rebel-held pocket of Syria's Aleppo early on Monday after hours of delay, a medical official said.

"About 20 buses carrying people from Aleppo have arrived" at the staging ground west of the city, said Dr Ahmad Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations. "There are about 1,200 to 1,300 people here," he said.

More than 30 buses packed with people had waited overnight in freezing temperatures to leave Aleppo under a complex evacuation deal.

Just 350 people were able to leave after Russia and Turkey urged the Syrian regime to allow five buses to pass its final control point, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The departure of the remaining buses had reportedly been delayed until hundreds of people could be evacuated from two villages in northwestern Syria under siege by the rebels.

The Britain-based Observatory said an estimated 500 people were bussed out of Fuaa and Kafraya.

"Ten buses carrying about 500 people have left Fuaa and Kafraya and are on their way to government-controlled territory in Aleppo," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

The evacuation deal for Aleppo was brokered by regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey, and has been overseen by the International Committee for the Red Cross.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura estimated that as of Thursday around 40,000 civilians and perhaps as many as 5,000 opposition fighters remained in Aleppo's rebel enclave.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Lavasa joined as Election Commissioner in January 2018 and had more than two more years left in his tenure

New Delhi: Ashok Lavasa, who was next in line to head the poll panel, on Tuesday resigned as Election Commissioner and would soon be joining the Asian Development Bank as vice president, sources told news agency PTI.

Lavasa, the sources said, has sent his resignation to Rashtrapati Bhavan and has requested to be relieved on 31 August. He would be joining the Philippines-based ADB sometime in September, they added.

He was named the bank's vice president last month. "The ADB has appointed Ashok Lavasa as Vice-President for Private Sector Operations and Public-Private Partnerships," the multilateral lending agency had said in a statement last month. "He will succeed Diwakar Gupta, whose term will end on 31 August."

Lavasa, who would have retired in October 2022 had he become the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), is the second election commissioner to step down from the poll panel before the completion of his term.

The last time an election commission put in his papers was in 1973 when CEC Nagendra Singh was appointed a judge in the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

His resignation comes at a time when the Election Commission is preparing to hold Bihar Assembly polls amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lavasa, a career bureaucrat, joined as Election Commissioner on 23 January, 2018, and being senior most on the poll panel would have become CEC in April next year after the term of incumbent Sunil Arora ends.

Lavasa still has over two years left in his term at the Election Commission of India and as CEC, he would have conducted Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa, among other states. His premature exit puts his colleague Sushil Chandra next in the line of succession.

According to the provisions of the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991, an EC or the CEC can tender his or her resignation addressed to the President.

Lavasa had made headlines during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when he gave a dissenting note to the Election Commission of India (ECI) giving a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former BJP president Amit Shah on allegations of violating the Model Code of Conduct.

Three members of the Lavasa family including his wife had come under the scanner of the Income Tax Department for alleged non-declaration of income and disproportionate assets. The family members had denied the allegations.

An MBA degree holder from Southern Cross University in Australia, and MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies degree from the University of Madras, Lavasa, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre, also worked as Finance Secretary.
KEY FACTS 10:20 a.m.: Trudeau looking to prorogue Parliament

8:55 a.m.: Freeland to be next finance minister, reports say

6:15 a.m.: Canadian parents plan to send their kids back to school: Poll

The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Tuesday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.

8 p.m.: The British Columbia government has extended its provincial state of emergency that gives it extraordinary powers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first state of emergency was declared on March 18, the day after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry declared a public health emergency. This latest extension will end Sept. 1 and allows the government to manage immediate concerns, such as recent outbreaks in some areas of the province.

Premier John Horgan says B.C. residents have made sacrifices to keep transmission rates down, but now unsafe gatherings are eroding that progress. The province announced 83 new cases on Tuesday for a total of 4,677 cases since the pandemic began. No new deaths were reported, leaving the total number of fatalities at 198.

There are 775 active cases in B.C. and 2,326 people under monitoring because they have been exposed to someone who has been infected with COVID-19.

7 p.m.: The University of Notre Dame is shifting its classes online for a two-week period in response to a spike of COVID-19 cases on campus since classes started a week ago.

The Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dames president, announced the change in a livestreamed video for students Tuesday afternoon. It came after cases on campus jumped from 58 to 147 in just one day.

We have decided to take steps short of sending students home, at least for the time being, while protecting the health and safety of the campus community, Jenkins said. For at least the next two weeks, we will move undergraduate classes to remote instruction, close public spaces on campus and restrict residences halls to residents only.

Jenkins said the school, located in South Bend, Indiana, was prepared to send students home altogether but decided to try enacting a stricter trial period after consulting with the countys public health department, which endorsed the move.

6 p.m.: As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Ontarios regional health units are reporting a total of 42,941 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,828 deaths, up another 115 cases in 24 hours, according to the Stars latest count.

It was the first day since Aug. 1 that the province had reported a second day in a row with a jump into the triple digits.

Four health units reported 10 or more cases Tuesday: Windsor-Essex, with 25 cases, Toronto, with 22, Peel Region, with 15, and Huron-Perth, with 13.

In the last week, Huron-Perth, the smallest health unit in southern Ontario by population, has seen infections jump to the highest rate the region has seen since the beginning of the pandemic. (Even adjusting for population, the units case average is still well below the worst levels seen in larger cities in April and May.)

The long-term average for daily case reports has been consistently below triple digits since the province saw a brief spike late last month, and the province remains near the lowest rate of new infections since before the pandemic first peaked in Ontario in the spring.

That rate rose Tuesday to an average of 91 cases per day over the last week. At the pandemics worst, Ontario saw the same average reach a mid-April peak of nearly 600 daily.

A single new fatal case was reported Tuesday, in Ottawa; Ontario has averaged less than a single reported death per day over the last seven days.

The vast majority of the provinces COVID-19 patients have since recovered; the province lists fewer than 1,000 active cases of the disease.

The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test.

The province cautions its separate data, published daily at 10:30 a.m., may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date.

5:20 p.m.: Justin Trudeau says he remains on the fence about sending his three kids back to school this fall, and a new survey suggests he is not alone as many parents are nervous about the resumption of classes while COVID-19 remains a threat.

The prime minister shared his uncertainty during a news conference on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, only weeks before classes in Ontario and much of the rest of the country are set to resume after being suspended in the spring due to the pandemic.

Like so many parents, thats something we are in very active discussions on, Trudeau said outside the House of Commons, where he announced that Parliament was being prorogued after a small cabinet shuffle.

We are looking at what the schools plans are, were looking at class sizes, were looking at how the kids are feeling about wearing masks. All my friends as parents are asking these same questions.

A new survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies suggested the majority of parents plan to send their kids to school, but that most would want classes cancelled if there is a new COVID-19 outbreak in their community.

4:15 p.m.: Newfoundland and Labradors top doctor says she issued a mandatory mask-wearing order during the summer so people get used to wearing them in time for a possible second wave of COVID-19 in the fall.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said Tuesday that despite only two active cases of COVID-19 in the province, she expects people to be interacting more often when schools resume in September, putting them at greater risk of infection.

This will give people time to get used to wearing them and hopefully will reduce the spread ... so that we dont get a second wave, Fitzgerald told reporters. Thats what we want, ultimately.

On Monday, Fitzgerald ordered that beginning next week, mask-wearing will be mandatory in all indoor public places across the province. She said people can be fined for violating the mask order but the emphasis will be on educating people rather than strict enforcement.

3 p.m.: They may not be super spreaders, but a cohort of Canadians who are skeptical of the countrys pandemic response are making it harder for public health officials to keep everyone else safe, an Angus Reid study finds. Meet the cynical spreaders.

Click here for the story from the Stars Alex McKeen.

2:30 p.m.: Manitoba health officials are reporting two more deaths linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the total fatalities in the province to 11.

The government says a man in his 80s and another man in his 90s have died from the virus. They are from two different communities in the Hanover and Niverville areas south of Winnipeg. The province says both men were linked to known clusters and had been in hospital.

Health officials are also noting 17 new COVID-19 cases across the province, bringing the total of confirmed and probable cases so far to 748.

Eleven of the new cases are in the Winnipeg area, where the provinces chief public health officer has said there has been community transmission of the novel coronavirus.

2:18 p.m.: Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland has made history by becoming Canadas first female finance minister, filling the gap left by Bill Morneaus abrupt resignation on Monday evening.

In a brief ceremony at Rideau Hall, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shifted his deputy prime minister into the coveted finance portfolio Tuesday afternoon.

The cabinet shuffle sees former minister Dominic Leblanc return to take over Freelands intergovernmental responsibilities, a portfolio the New Brunswick MP and longtime Trudeau friend previously held before he stepped aside to go through cancer treatment, a source said.

2:15 p.m.: Premier Doug Ford says Ontario teachers unions are playing politics by opposing his governments back-to-school plan.

Ford says the plan to reopen schools next month was designed with input from health experts.

His comments come as officials with the Toronto District School Board meet to redraw their reopening plan after the province rejected their proposal to cut class sized by shortening the school day.

Along with the teachers unions, some parents and school boards have expressed concern about the government plan, which does not cut elementary school class sizes.

In response to those concerns, the province said boards can access $500 million of their own savings to achieve physical distancing in classrooms.

2 p.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be on hand for both to be sworn in at Rideau Hall on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET. The Liberal government is seeking a reset both internally and externally as it tries to recover from the self-inflicted wounds of the WE Charity debacle, and as the country looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trudeau is also preparing to prorogue Parliament in order to come back with a new speech from the throne and an economic update in October. Either could allow opposition parties to vote to bring down the Liberal government and force an election this fall.

2 p.m. (updated): Chrystia Freeland will be sworn in as Canadas finance minister Tuesday afternoon, replacing Bill Morneau who resigned Monday.

Multiple sources confirm to The Canadian Press that Freeland will remain deputy prime minister as well, but New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc will take over from her in the intergovernmental affairs portfolio.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be on hand for both to be sworn in at Rideau Hall Tuesday at 2 p.m. eastern time. The Liberal government is seeking a reset both internally and externally as it tries to recover from the self-inflicted wounds of the WE Charity debacle, and as the country looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trudeau is also preparing to prorogue Parliament in order to come back with a new speech from the throne and an economic update in October. Either could allow opposition parties to vote to bring down the Liberal government and force an election this fall.

Both Morneau and Trudeau are facing ethics investigations for not recusing themselves from a decision to award a large student grant contract to WE Charity, despite both having close family ties to the organization.

As the minister of finance, Freeland will help shepherd the government through the biggest economic recovery since the Great Depression. The government has not yet tabled a 2020 budget, because plans to do so in March were upended by the pandemic.

A fiscal snapshot released in July was a bare-bones look at the pandemic relief programs thus far, but provided few details about how the government intends to move out of the crisis.

12:50 p.m.: The Quebec government is giving itself six weeks to shore up its health-care sector ahead of a potential second wave of COVID-19.

Health Minister Christian Dube today presented an action plan for the health network based on nine areas of intervention, including living environments for elderly and vulnerable people, staffing, testing, infection control and governance.

Many of the measures to be put in place by the end of September are aimed at strengthening the long-term care sector, which accounted for the bulk of the provinces 5,727 deaths attributed the novel coronavirus.

Dube says a manager will be named to lead each long-term care home, and staff will be prohibited from working at more than one establishment.

He says the province has learned many lessons from the first wave of COVID-19 but still needs a more rapid and efficient response to infections.

Dube is also announcing an additional $106 million for public health, which will allow regional health establishments to hire some 1,000 full-time workers who would help with contact tracing, infection control and administering an eventual vaccine.

12:50 p.m.: Quebec reported 46 new COVID-19 cases and six additional deaths linked to the novel coronavirus.

Health officials said today two of the deaths occurred in the past 24 hours.

The province has now reported a total of 61,252 COVID-19 infections since the beginning of the pandemic.

The number of hospitalizations remained unchanged at 145 while the number of people in intensive care increased by two to 27.

12:25 p.m.: Prince Edward Island is reporting three new cases of COVID-19.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison said today the new cluster involves three essential workers.

Morrison says the two men in their 30s and one in his 40s are from the same industry and are not health care workers, but she did not give details.

She says the new infections are not connected to five cases announced last week and are not related to the Canadian Premier Soccer League, which is conducting a tournament on the Island.

Morrison says the three individuals travelled to P.E.I. on Aug. 5 and have been self-isolating since then.

She is warning anyone who travelled on Air Canada flight 626 from Toronto to Halifax on Aug. 5 that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should monitor themselves for symptoms of the virus.

The new infections bring the Islands total reported cases to 44, with 40 of them considered recovered.

P.E.I. has not had any deaths or hospitalizations from COVID-19.

11:35 a.m.: Quebec is reporting 46 new COVID-19 cases and six additional deaths linked to the novel coronavirus.

Health officials said today two of the deaths occurred in the past 24 hours.

The province has now reported a total of 61,252 COVID-19 infections and 5,727 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

The number of hospitalizations remained unchanged at 145 while the number of people in intensive care increased by two to 27.

Health Minister Christian Dube is outlining the provinces plan for dealing with a potential second wave of COVID-19.

Dube said today in Quebec City the province has given itself six weeks to put an action plan into place to ready the health network for new outbreaks.

10:35 a.m. (updated): Ontario is reporting 125 new cases of COVID-19 and four new deaths related to the virus.

The total number of cases now stands at 40,870, which includes 2,793 deaths and 37,126 cases marked as resolved.

The province also reported 90 new resolved cases today.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says the uptick in cases is due to increases in Peel Region, Toronto and Windsor-Essex.

Elliott also said that 27 of Ontarios 34 public health regions reported five or fewer cases, while 16 reported no new cases.

The province was able to complete 23,067 tests in the previous day.

The Stars Robert Benzie has the story.

10:20 a.m. (updated): Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland will be sworn in as Canadas new finance minister later today.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also looking to prorogue Parliament next month in order to come back with a new speech from the throne and an economic update in October.

Multiple sources confirm to The Canadian Press that Freeland will remain as deputy prime minister as she adds the finance portfolio to her already packed list of responsibilities.

Bill Morneau announced last night he was leaving the finance post following much speculation about a growing rift between him and Trudeau.

Both Morneau and Trudeau are embroiled in ethical investigations for not recusing themselves from a decision to award a large student grant contract to WE Charity despite both having close ties to the organization.

The Trudeau government is also planning a cabinet retreat in mid-September with the intention of proroguing Parliament and presenting a pandemic recovery plan in a throne speech in early October.

8:55 a.m.: Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland will become Canadas first female finance minister, filling the gap left by Bill Morneaus abrupt resignation Monday evening, according to multiple reports.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to shuffle his deputy prime minister into the coveted finance portfolio. The move was first reported by CTV and confirmed by CBC. The Star has yet to independently confirm the news.

Freeland, a former financial journalist, has already held several senior portfolios in the Trudeau cabinet, including international trade, foreign affairs, and most recently the re-created role of deputy prime minister.

7:37 a.m.: South Africa, which had one of the worlds strictest anti-coronavirus lockdowns for five months, relaxed its restrictions on Tuesday in response to a decrease in new cases.

The country loosened its regulations to permit the sales of alcohol and cigarettes, and the reopening of bars, restaurants, gyms and places of worship, all limited to no more than 50 people. Schools will reopen gradually starting Aug. 24.

With more than 589,000 confirmed cases, South Africa has more than half of all reported cases in Africa. The 54 countries of the continent reported a total of more than 1.1 million cases on Tuesday, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

South Africa has recorded more than 11,900 deaths from COVID-19, while overall the continent has reported just over 25,800 deaths. The actual numbers of cases and deaths are estimated to be much higher, say health experts.

South Africas new confirmed cases have dropped from an average of 12,000 per day at the peak in July to less than 5,000 per day last week. The country confirmed 2,541 new cases on Tuesday.

7 a.m.: British retailer Marks & Spencer plans to eliminate about 7,000 jobs as it streamlines management and store operations after sales plunged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The job cuts, which represent about nine per cent of the companys workforce, will occur over the next three months and affect Marks & Spencers central office, regional management and U.K. stores, the London-based grocery, clothing and housewares chain said Tuesday.

Sophie Lund-Yates, an analyst at financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said the cuts stemmed from Marks & Spencers understanding that drastic measures were needed to survive.

M&S has realized it needs to act now if it wants to secure the longevity of the business she said. Coronavirus has exacerbated existing fault lines  namely that shopping habits have changed and M&S has been slow off the mark meeting those shifting demand patterns.

6:20 a.m.: Including housing allowances, the city has helped 1,570 people move from the shelter system to permanent homes since the pandemic struck hard in mid-March. In the same period last year, 1,050 shelter residents were housed through the same two programs.

The Toronto Community Housing Corporation said that shelter residents who moved in during the pandemic have had smoother transitions than theyve seen in the past.

TCHC spokesperson Bruce Malloch credited the assistance provided through a COVID-era partnership with the city, which assists residents with furniture, clothing and social support needs. That agreement expires when Torontos state of emergency ends.

Read the full story from the Stars Victoria Gibson.

6:20 a.m.: India has reported another 55,079 new coronavirus cases. The Health Ministry on Tuesday also reported 826 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total fatalities to 51,797. India now has the fourth most fatalities behind the United States, Brazil and Mexico.

Nevertheless, its deaths per million people stand at 34, far lower than what has been reported in some North American and European countries. India has been recording at least 50,000 new infections per day since mid-July. It has now reported 2.7 million infections.

6:18 a.m.: Australias coronavirus hot spot, Victoria state, reported its lowest number of new infections in a month. Victorias Health Department reported 222 new cases Tuesday, the lowest tally since July 18. The state also reported 17 deaths following a record of 25 fatalities on Monday. Infections have been trending down after a second lockdown came into force in the state capital, Melbourne, in early August.

6:17 a.m.: A maintenance worker at a New Zealand hotel where returning travellers are isolated has tested positive for the coronavirus, the second instance of community transmission in the country since last week.

But health authorities say the mans close contacts have so far tested negative, giving them hope the outbreak might be contained. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the employee wears protective equipment while carrying out maintenance work and doesnt typically interact with guests. Meanwhile, a cluster of virus cases discovered last week in Auckland that sent the nations largest city into a two-week lockdown has grown to 69 infections after authorities reported 13 new cases Tuesday.

New Zealand now has a total of 90 active cases, including returning travellers who are in quarantine. Before last week, New Zealand had gone 102 days without any community transmission.

6:16 a.m.: South Korea will ban large public gatherings and shut down churches and nightspots in the greater capital area amid an alarming surge in viral infections that health officials describe as the countrys biggest crisis since the emergence of COVID-19.

In a nationally televised announcement on Tuesday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said strengthening social distancing restrictions for the Seoul metropolitan area, which is home to half of the countrys 51 million people, was inevitable because a failure to slow transmissions there could result in a major outbreak nationwide.

South Korea reported 246 new cases Tuesday, mostly from the capital area, pushing its total for the last five days to 959.

The measures, which will take effect Wednesday in Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province and the city of Incheon, prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Nightclubs, karaoke rooms, buffet restaurants, computer gaming cafes and other high-risk venues will be shut. Churches will only be allowed to provide online services.

6:15 a.m.: A new poll suggests the majority of Canadian parents plan to send their kids back to school in the fall, but would want classes cancelled if there is a new COVID-19 outbreak in their community.

The online poll by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies is the latest to take parents temperature about the pending return of classes during the pandemic.

Two-thirds of parents surveyed said they were worried about children returning to school at the end of the summer, with only 31 per cent saying they were not.

And while 63 per cent of parents said they planned to send their kids to school this fall, 69 per cent felt all classes should be suspended if there is a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in their community.

The poll also found strong support among parents for requiring certain measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 at schools, including making students, teachers and staff wear masks.

Monday 5:39 p.m.: As of 5 p.m. Monday, Ontarios regional health units are reporting a total of 42,809 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,827 deaths, up another 132 cases and no new deaths in 24 hours, according to the Stars latest count.

It was the second Monday in a row in which the province saw cases jump into the triple digits, following a pattern that has seen larger than normal case counts reported following weekends.

Four health units reported double digit-case counts Monday: Toronto, with 32 new cases, Ottawa at 19, Peel Region, at 18, and Hamilton with 16.

Several health units, including Hamilton, do not report daily updates over the weekend and instead report multiple days worth of cases on Mondays.

The long term average for daily case reports has been consistently below triple-digits since the province saw a brief spike late last month, and the province remains near the lowest rate of new infections since before the pandemic first peaked in Ontario in the spring.

That rate remained flat Monday at an average of 84 cases per day over the last week  still the lowest seven-day average Ontario has seen since a mid-April peak of nearly 600 daily.

Ontario has averaged fewer than a single reported death per day over the last seven days.

The vast majority of the provinces COVID-19 patients have since recovered; the province lists fewer than 1,000 active cases of the disease.

The Stars count includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases, meaning they have symptoms and contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have the disease, but have not yet received a positive lab test.

The province cautions its separate data, published daily at 10:30 a.m., may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date.

Read Mondays rolling file
Syracuse, N.Y.  Few other cities in the nation will suffer as big a financial blow as Syracuse in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis.

Syracuse ranks third among 150 cities whose budgets will be most impacted by the shutdown, behind only Buffalo and Rochester, according to a report Monday from the New York Times.

The Times report is based on an analysis from two researchers at Georgia State University and one at the University of Wisconsin. The three academics studied the economic impacts of the Covid-19 shutdown on 150 U.S. cities. Their findings will soon be published in the National Tax Journal, according to the Times.

The Times report says the most vulnerable cities, like Syracuse and Rochester, are very likely to shrink in the aftermath of the pandemic.

In cities of all sizes across the nation, mayors have pleaded with Congress to provide financial aid to local government in its next round of stimulus spending. Those cities are dealing with new expenses related to the virus in addition to suffering huge revenue losses.

Congressional Republicans, however, have so far refused to include federal aid to local governments in the next stimulus package. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has referred to such aid as blue state bailouts.

The researchers analysis challenges that assumption. While the hardest-hit cities are in New York, a reliably Democratic state, other cities suffering huge losses include those in red or purple states, like Orlando, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Louisville and Oklahoma City.

In other words, the virus doesnt care which party has its hand on the wheel.

The cities hit hardest are those dependent on tourism, direct state aid and sales tax. The least-impacted cities are those with a healthy property tax base.

In Syracuse, sales tax accounted for $92.9 million last year. State aid was $71.8 million. Together, those two revenue streams make up 65% of the citys annual income.

Property taxes in Syracuse, meanwhile, generated $36.8 million last yearjust 14% of the budget. About half the property in Syracuse is tax-exempt because it is owned by non-for-profits, such as Syracuse University and the citys hospitals.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said earlier this year he would cut state aid by 20%, as the state deals with its own budget crisis. The state withheld $12 million from Syracuse in its most recent payment.

Sales tax, too, took a nosedive this summer, though revenue has started to recover as places like restaurants and malls reopen.

Still, Syracuse will have to plug an eight-figure hole in its budget by next summer, which will almost certainly require drastic measures.

So far, Mayor Ben Walsh has furloughed just more than 100 seasonal employees, canceled all non-essential spending and hiring, and announced plans for an early retirement incentive designed to thin the city workforce.

But those measures alone only scratch the surface.

Syracuse could face a budget shortfall of as much as $30 million this year, officials said earlier in the summer.

Walsh has repeatedly said the city needs help from the federal government if it wants to avoid major cuts to services and personnel. But that aid seems unlikely to come.

The Common Council has vowed to halt approval of all new spending until Walsh provides a detailed plan for how the city will address the budget crisis. That includes stalling Walshs plan to offer an early retirement incentive for eligible employees.

Walsh told councilors he would have a plan to them before their next voting session, which is Monday, Aug. 24.
UPDATE: The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency at 2 p.m. cancelled the missing alert for Undre Jackson, Landen Bearce and Trey Faircloth.

EARLIER: Authorities are asking for the publics help in finding three missing teenagers from Montgomery.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Tuesday issued an Emergency Missing Child Alert for Undre Jackson, 16, Landen Bearce, 18 and Trey Faircloth, 15. The trio was last seen at 1:57 a.m. Tuesday in Montgomery. No additional details were released about the disappearance.

Bearce is a white male with blonde or strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. He is 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighs 167 pounds.

Faircloth is white male, 5-feet, 2-inches tall and weighs 107 pounds. He has blonde or strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes.

Jackson is a black male, 5-feet, 8-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Montgomery police at 334-625-2651 or 911.
More than 40 years ago, Emily and Mark Gilliam began their business sitting at the kitchen table with a rotary phone and index cards. Today, they have grown into one of the largest IMOs specializing in Medicare Advantage programs with more than 6,000 agents nationwide.

"The Gilliam family has built an incredibly successful family business," said Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity. "Now, we're coming alongside to support with the tools and resources to help them grow to the next level, so they can leave an even stronger legacy for their family!"

By partnering with Integrity, Southern Insurance will now have access to large-scale infrastructure and proven best practices. The platform that Integrity provides will allow them to access business function resources including marketing, accounting, human resources, product development and information technology. Integrity offers extensive technology solutions supporting agents with online quoting, enrollment and full CRM capabilities. The Integrity partner network unites their leadership with legends across the industry for expansive growth opportunities achieved through this revolutionary collaboration.

"To experience the success that we've enjoyed over the past 40 yearsand to know that it's about to skyrocket with IntegrityI'm more excited than I've ever been," exclaimed Mark Gilliam. "It's always been our goal to help agents. With the resources provided by Integrity, we'll grow faster than we ever thought possible, and help all of our agents achieve their goals at the same time."

Benefits of this partnership are designed to impact all employees at Southern Insurance. Not only will each employee have access to the expansive tools and resources Integrity provides, they will all be presented with the opportunity for meaningful company ownership through Integrity's Employee Ownership Plan.

"We built a strong foundation and now Integrity is the company to lead us into the future," said Emily Gilliam. "Partnering with Integrity allows us to leave a greater legacy for our children. I'm excited to know that we will be surrounded by the best mentors in the insurance industry."

The next generation of Southern Insurance leadership is emerging with this partnership. Alison Gilliam will join her father, Mark, as Managing Partners of Integrity, while also overseeing daily operations of Southern Insurance.

Alison is looking forward to the next chapter for Southern Insurance. She shared, "Having Integrity's resources and people standing behind us, giving us support and helping us growthat's something that really helps makes me look forward to open collaboration that we didn't have before."

"Family is a core value of Integrity," said Ryan Kimble, President of Agent Pipeline and Managing Partner of Integrity. "By joining with Southern Insurance, we not only get to help fortify the Gilliam legacy, but we get to work together to help more Americans experience more security as they move into their next phase of life. We couldn't be more proud to welcome Southern Insurance into our Integrity family."

For more information about Integrity's acquisition of Southern Insurance Group, view a video and read the full press release at www.integritymarketing.com/southerninsurance.

About Integrity Marketing Group

Integrity Marketing Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the leading independent distributor of life and health insurance products focused on serving Americans. Integrity develops exclusive products with insurance carrier partners and markets these products through its distribution network that includes other large insurance agencies throughout the country. Integrity's 1,200 employees work with over 275,000 independent agents who service over 6 million clients annually. In 2020, Integrity expects to help insurance carriers place more than $3 billion in new premium. For more information, visit www.integritymarketing.com.

About Southern Insurance Group

Organized in 1981, Southern Insurance Group is a Tennessee-based insurance marketing and distribution company offering superior product lines, specializing in Medicare Advantage programs since 2005. They have a broad knowledge in this market spanning over three decades. Their dedicated office staff has a combined total of more than 130 years experience in delivering unmatched exceptional service to their agents. The relationships that they built and maintained over the years have proven to be invaluable. Southern Insurance serves a field force of broker agents in 49 states across the nation. For more information, visit www.southerninsurance.net.

SOURCE Integrity Marketing Group, LLC

Related Links

https://integritymarketing.com/


In a powerful, heartfelt speech that closed the first night of the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama issued her most pointed public criticism yet of Donald Trump, arguing that he is not up to the job of president.

Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country, she said, on the only occasion she spoke his name in her nearly 20-minute speech. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be what we need him to be for us.

She then added, in a veiled but unmistakable reference to an answer Trump gave in an interview, dismissing concern about the U.S. death toll from COVID-19: It is what it is.

Obamas taped keynote remarks came on the first night of this years entirely virtual Democratic National Convention, which was originally scheduled to take place in Milwaukee. The event has been fractured into several multimedia components, with delegates and political superstars alike joining in from their homes.

Obama has been critical of Trump in the past, but her remarks Monday night were particularly cutting.

Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership, or consolation, or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy, said Obama.

Her speech struck a personal, emotional tone that might not have resonated in an upbeat, balloon-filled convention center. She decried a total and utter lack of empathy on the part of the administration, which she said was reflected both in the death toll from the pandemic, the highest of any country in the world, and its response to the current national moment of sometimes violent racial reckoning.

Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks during the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)

More than 150,000 people have died, and our economy is in shambles, because of a virus that this president downplayed for too long, said Obama. (The U.S. death toll in fact recently reached 170,000.)

The former first lady cast Joe Biden as the antithesis of Trump. She portrayed the former vice president as someone who is empathetic, decent and whose religious beliefs will help him rebuild the country, a common motif of Bidens stump speeches.

Story continues

I know Joe, said Obama. He is a profoundly decent man guided by faith. He was a terrific vice president. He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country. And he listens. He will tell the truth and trust science. He will make smart plans and manage a good team. And he will govern as someone who has lived a life that the rest of us can recognize.

The dark tone of her speech was a departure from the upbeat, hopeful themes that marked her rhetoric, and her husbands, during Barack Obamas campaigns and presidency. She offered a stark prediction that political disaster will ensue if Democrats dont get out to vote.

"If you think things cannot possibly get worse, they can  and they will, if we don't make a change in this election, said Obama.

"This is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games with candidates who have no chance of winning. We have got to vote like we did in 2008 and 2012. Weve got to show up with the same level of passion and hope for Joe Biden."

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Do cities have any autonomy in regulating or negotiating with telecom carriers over 5G towers? Nope. The Federal Appeals Courts decision will save telecom carriers over $2 billion in local fees. This is a major Technocrat victory over local sovereignty. The Trump Administration is racing to implement 5G and the Internet of Things, both of which are major requirements for the implementation of Technocracy. The loss of local sovereignty is a major breakdown of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the states a republic form of government.  TN Editor

A battle between dozens of city governments and some of the worlds largest wireless carriers over the future of 5G infrastructure appears to have ended with a decisive victory for the telecom companies.

This week, a federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld a 2018 decision made by the Federal Communications Commission that prohibited local governments from imposing excessive regulations on wireless carriers seeking to deploy 5G. The decision capped local fees for the installation of small cell towers, hoping to spur the rollout of the next-generation wireless networks.

Dozens of cities and municipalities sued the FCC over the ruling in 2018  most prominently Portland, Ore., though cities as far flung as San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Kirkland, Texas, added their names to the complaint against the federal agency.

Though 5G promises accelerated Internet speeds and other innovations, many communities have bristled at the rollout of 5G because of the quantity of small cell signal transmitters that would need to be attached to public telephone poles throughout each community.

Unlike traditional networks, 5G relies on short-range wireless transmission systems, requiring the installation of myriad small cell towers. Indeed, the FCC has projected that for 5G to truly blossom it will require the installation of some 800,000 small cells throughout the U.S. in the coming years.

Many communities have objected to the rollout of these towers and, in some cases imposed large fees against the wireless carriers.

Read full story here
BERLIN, Aug 18 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she had discussed the situation in Belarus with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and stressed to him that the freedom to protest must be guaranteed in the country.

Belarus has been convulsed by protest and has seen violent police crackdowns since an August 9 election in which incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in what the opposition said was a vote marked by massive fraud.

European Union leaders are due to meet on Wednesday to discuss possible sanctions against Belarus. (Reporting by Thomas Escritt Editing by Michelle Martin)
Barcelona club president Josep Bartomeu has refused to resign as he insisted there is not an institutional crisis at the Nou Camp and he confirmed Ronald Koeman will be their new manager as long as 'nothing goes wrong'.

The president gave a wide-ranging interview to Barcelona TV on Tuesday evening where he spoke about the future of the club and denied there was any 'institutional crisis'.

There has been an inquest at the LaLiga giants following their embarrassing 8-2 Champions League exit to Bayern Munich on Friday.

Josep Bartomeu gave a wide-ranging interview to Barcelona TV about the club's future

Bartomeu says Ronald Koeman will be appointed as manager as long as 'nothing goes wrong'

Bartomeu added that Koeman promised to him that Messi will continue to be a 'key player'

Quique Setien was sacked on the back of the result, and Koeman, who was pictured arriving into Barcelona on Tuesday, is the man set to take the hotseat.

The Dutch manager has told Bartomeu that Lionel Messi is very much in his plans despite speculation the legendary forward is looking to leave the club.

The club's president said: 'Koeman will be the new manager and he told me that Messi is a key player for our new project.

'He has a contract until 2021, I speak a lot with Leo and more regularly with his father.

'He is number one in the world. There is no doubt that in Koeman's new project you can count on Messi.'

Bartomeu added that Koeman said Messi will be the 'keystone' of the new team, but some of the older players will get an 'honorable goodbye'.

Ousmane Dembele was one of eight players that Bartomeu insisted would remain at the club

Following the defeat by Bayern Munich, there have been reports that Barcelona would be willing to put many of their players up for sale.

During the interview Bartomeu shut down talk of opening talks with Manchester United if they were interested in signing Ousmane Dembele.

In total he confirmed eight players who the club are not interested in selling.

He said: 'He'll stay. Messi, Ter Stegen, Lenglet, Semedo, De Jong, Griezmann and Dembele are not for sale.

Bartomeu said Philippe Coutinho who is currently on loan can stay if Koeman wants him

'We have offers for Ansu Fati but he is not for sale.'

The president also said that Philippe Coutinho could remain at the Nou Camp as long as Koeman wanted to keep him.

It has been a turbulent week for the club, with Setien and technical secretary Eric Abidal leaving the club.

Abidal was reportedly fired but Bartomeu told club TV that the Frenchman in fact asked to depart.

Bartomeu said it would be easy to resign from the club but also would be 'irresponsible'

There have been calls for Bartomeu to resign but the 57-year-old said it would be 'irresponsible' to walk out now.

He said: 'We didn't want to resign, we wanted to do the planning for next season. To resign now would be easy but irresponsible. We have a sporting crisis but not an institutional crisis.'

Bartomeu is expected to be ousted at the 2021 elections.
Phoenix, Arizona - August 18, 2020 (Investorideas.com Newswire) SinglePoint, Inc. ("SinglePoint" or the "Company") (OTCQB: SING) a fully reporting company focused on building the leading National Solar Network by leveraging its current 34 state footprint with core holdings in Solar Energy Services and Industrial Hemp based Consumer Products, reported financial results on August 14, 2020 for the second quarter of 2020 ended June 30, 2020.

Company Highlights

Achieved Approximately 34% Revenue Growth For the Six Months Ended June 2020 comparative to the Six Months Ended June 2019 Despite the Business Disruptions Caused by the Pandemic - A majority of the gross revenues year to date ($1.47 Million) have been driven by the Company's majority owned subsidiary Direct Solar America.

Direct Solar of America has continued to expand its Sales Platform building a national solar network - increased its coverage from 3 states in May 2019 to 34 States as of July 2020. The Company has added 20 additional states since the beginning of the year and will continue to expand its leading sales footprint into a national provider of residential and commercial solar services.

1606 Original Hemp continues to gain traction with consumers, retail and on social media. 1606 has expanded its penetration to represent hundreds of retail locations and has added additional manufacturing capacity to ensure scalability for its consumer product line. 1606 Original Hemp is steadily becoming the premier product choice from consumers and has amassed over 30,000 enthusiasts on social media.

Subsequent to the End of the Second Quarter

Unaudited Gross Revenues for Direct Solar of America in July 2020 were $525,492.63 on an accrual basis. The accrual based July 2020 Revenues represent an increase over the same monthly period from the prior year and signify that the solar business is beginning to return to the expected and anticipated growth rate prior to the disruption caused by the pandemic. The overall year to date increase in revenue was impacted by a slowdown in business largely related to the restrictions and operational turmoil caused by the global pandemic. The disruptions caused by the pandemic were contributing factors that limited the revenue growth in the 2nd Quarter with reported revenue of $395,277 for the three months ended June 2020.

Company unveils Strategy to create the leading National Solar Network through targeted acquisitions that enhance and deepen our offerings within our current solar sales platform. On July 20, 2020 Singlepoint Direct Solar LLC (referred to as "Direct Solar of America", a subsidiary of Singlepoint Inc., the "Company") entered into a letter of intent (the "Letter of Intent") with Standard Eco LLC ("Standard Eco," a developer and installer of grid tied solar electric systems) in Texas, Illinois, and Arizona. Pursuant to the Letter of Intent Direct Solar of America would acquire Fifty One Percent (51%) of the interest in Standard Eco for a combination of cash and stock. Standard Eco achieved unaudited revenues of $12,331,703 in 2018 and $11,345,061 in 2019 and was operationally profitable in both years. The closing of the transactions set forth in the Letter of Intent are contingent on satisfactory completion of due diligence, and entry into suitable definitive documentation.

Announced up to a $7.2 Million Offering of Common Stock (S-1 deemed effective on July 29, 2020) - The Company previously announced a pending financing agreement with GHS Investments in May 2020 via an S-1 offering that went effective on July 29, 2020. The Company intends to use the capital to support the growth of the core business operations and for general working capital.

"We continue to position SinglePoint for growth as we navigate through the uncertain business environment arising from the pandemic and we are positioned to capitalize and take advantage of the opportunities in front of us for the benefit of our company and its stockholders," stated Greg Lambrecht, CEO of SinglePoint. "Our subsidiary, Direct Solar of America achieved significant growth in its national solar network and is poised for a rebound and return to revenue growth in the second half of 2020 as consumers confidence continues to improve. While we still face challenges related to this uncertain environment that may intermittently affect our business, we continue to take appropriate action to improve liquidity and access to capital as evidenced by the recent effectiveness of our S-1 with GHS Investments. For the remainder of 2020 we are focused on growing our revenue streams related to our core businesses and seeking to opportunistically grow our business through targeted acquisitions. We are confident that this strategy will enable us to achieve significant long-term value for our stockholders."

About SinglePoint, Inc.

SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) is a fully reporting company with core holdings in Solar Energy Services and Industrial Hemp based Consumer Products. Acquired in May 2019, Direct Solar America, a majority owned subsidiary, now operates its leading national solar sales brokerage model in 34 states. In the past year Direct Solar America has virtualized its sales platform and has added its corporate offerings. 1606 Original Hemp, has been designed and created to be the premier category leader in manufacturing and marketing high quality smokable industrial hemp consumer products for sale through traditional retail channels and online. Since its debut in late 2019, 1606 Original Hemp has been placed into hundreds of retail locations across the country and has amassed a large social media following that continues to grow. The Company has a portfolio of non-core focused businesses that are searching for strategic partnerships or other alternative solutions. SinglePoint is committed to positioning the Company to be able to up list to the highest exchange possible which we feel is a benefit to our stakeholders and shareholders.

Connect on social media at:

https://www.facebook.com/SinglePointMobile

https://twitter.com/_Singlepoint_

https://www.linkedin.com/company/singlepoint

https://www.youtube.com/user/SinglePointMobile

For more information visit: www.SinglePoint.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Corporate Communication

SinglePoint

888-OTC-SING

investors@singlepoint.com

www.singlepoint.com

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Of course they did. As the Oakland-born daughter of a Jamaican immigrant father and an Indian immigrant mother, shes legally eligible to run. Case closed.

But Trump and his campaign are desperate. Polls show him slipping further behind Biden, particularly for his poor handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the racial reckoning following the video-recorded death of a Black man, George Floyd, under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer.

This has left Trumps campaign with a tough dilemma as it tries to obey what some strategists call the first rule of campaigning: Redefine your opponent before your opponent can redefine you.

That was easier for Trump to do as a political outsider challenging the great insider, Hillary Clinton. Still, he tries to run now as if he is an outsider, flailing away at Sleepy Joe and other lame nicknames, while his approval ratings slide under the weight of his own record.

Biden, a very well-known figure in national politics for decades, has proved to be remarkably resilient and so, it appears, has Harris. As a woman of color whose center-left positions have been praised and criticized by both sides, she makes an appropriate running mate for Biden.
The NIA on Tuesday filed a supplementary charge sheet against a person in connection with the recovery of high-quality fake currency notes (FICN), having face value of over Rs 1.90 lakh, in 2019 from Purnea in Bihar, officials said. The supplementary charge sheet was filed against Golam Martuja, a resident of Malda in West Bengal, before a special court in Patna.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had recovered the fake currency in December, 2019 from a man named Mohammad Mumataj at Sarkari Bus Stand in Purnea, they said. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe in January this year and arrested Martuja, officials said, adding that it filed charge sheet against Mumataj.

In its supplementary charge sheet filed, the NIA alleged that Martuja was associated with Mumataj for a long time and was involved in procuring, circulating and trafficking of high quality fake indian currency notes, NIA Spokesperson Sonia Narang said. "Martuja supplied the consignment of FICN of Rs 1,90,500 to accused Mumataj for further delivery to one Nepalese national named Bilto Mahto aka Sahu Ji. He sourced the high quality FICN from a person from Bangladesh through couriers and further trafficked the same to different parts of country, including Bihar as well as Nepal through his associates including Mumataj," she said.

Martuja was allegedly involved in another case probed by the NIA pertaining to recovery of fake currency notes having face value of Rs 4.01 lakh, she said. "The investigation done so far has revealed that FICN was being trafficked through a complex network spread across India, Bangladesh and Nepal," Narang said.
Early Booking Benefits feature amenities valued at up to $6,760 and 3% savings when paid in full by select dates

SEATTLE, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line is opening bookings for two of its most epic explorations: the 2022 Grand World Voyage and the 2021 Grand Africa Voyage. Guests who want to circle the globe on the 128-day odyssey can now make their Grand World Voyage and Africa circumnavigation reservations. Both itineraries are conveniently roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and include overnight calls at some of the world's most iconic cities.

As an added incentive to make Grand Voyage reservations, Holland America Line is offering Early Booking Benefits on both itineraries to guests who book the full cruise. Bonus amenities include an onboard spending credit, prepaid gratuities, luggage delivery service and more. Plus, those who book also receive 3% savings off the cruise-only fare when paid in full by June 1, 2021, for the Grand World Voyage and Feb, 26, 2021, for the Grand Africa Voyage.

Grand World Voyage: A Journey Like No Other

Holland America Line's 2022 Grand World Voyage aboard Zaandam travels around the globe on a 128-day journey that features an extensive collection of ports, longer stays and leisurely overnights ashore. Departing Fort Lauderdale Jan. 3, 2022, on a westward route, the Grand World Voyage charts a course from continent to continent, immersing guests in each destination so they come away with a deeper understanding of the places visited along the way. Highlights of the 2022 Grand World Voyage include:

Fifty ports of call in 27 countries, territories and island nations across four continents.

Overnight calls at nine ports, including Tokyo and Kobe ( Osaka ), Japan ; Xingang ( Beijing ), Shanghai and Hong Kong, China ; Singapore ; Mumbai ( Bombay ), India ; Aqaba, Jordan (overnight and next-day late departure); and Istanbul, Turkey .

and ( ), ; Xingang ( ), and ; ; ( ), ; Aqaba, (overnight and next-day late departure); and . Late-night departures at 10 ports, including Hilo, Hawaii ; Naha , Okinawa, Japan ; Da Nang, Vietnam ; Colombo, Sri Lanka ; Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ; Aqaba; Ashdod ( Jerusalem ) and Haifa (Nazareth), Israel ; and Mykonos, Greece .

; , ; ; ; and ; Aqaba; Ashdod ( ) and (Nazareth), ; and Mykonos, . Scenic cruising in the Amazon River, Kanmon Strait and Dardanelles; transits of the Panama and Suez canals.

and Suez canals. Two equator crossings on one crossing of the International Date Line.

Grand World Voyage Early Booking Benefits

Guests who book the full 128-day Grand World Voyage by June 1, 2021, receive amenities valued at up to $6,760 per person, including an onboard spending credit ranging from $500 for ocean-view up to $2,000 for Pinnacle Suites, prepaid gratuities, luggage delivery service and a welcome aboard bottle of sparkling wine. Suites also receive an initial in-suite liquor set-up, free shore excursion and Signature Internet Package. Guests who pay the 128-day Grand World Voyage in full by June 1 also receive 3% savings off the cruise-only fare.

Grand Africa Voyage: From Sea to Savannah

In fall 2021, Holland America Line's Grand Africa Voyage will circle the continent and features more than a dozen epic safari experiences and wildlife encounters. The 71-day cruise aboard Zaandam departs Fort Lauderdale Oct. 10, 2021, and takes a clockwise route around the continent. Highlights include:

18 African calls, with additional visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico ; Funchal, Madeira; Crete, Greece ; and Aqaba, Jordan .

; Funchal, Madeira; ; and Aqaba, . Overnight stays at Aqaba; Mahe, Seychelles ; Zanzibar, Tanzania ; and Cape Town, South Africa (overnight and next-day late departure).

; ; and (overnight and next-day late departure). Late-night departures at Crete ; Safaga, Egypt ; Richards Bay and Cape Town, South Africa ; Walvis Bay, Namibia ; and San Juan .

; Safaga, ; Richards Bay and ; Walvis Bay, ; and . Wildlife opportunities at Jozani Forest Reserve, Lokobe National Park, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, Aqulia Game Reserve, Abuko Nature Reserve, Bandia Wildlife Reserve and more.

Grand Africa Voyage Early Booking Benefits

Guests who book the full 71-day cruise by Feb. 26, 2021, receive amenities valued at up to $3,970 per person, including an onboard spending credit ranging from $300 for ocean-view up to $1,000 for Pinnacle Suites, prepaid gratuities, luggage delivery service and a welcome aboard bottle of sparkling wine. Suites also receive an initial in-suite liquor set-up, free shore excursion and Signature Internet Package. Guests who pay the 71-day Grand Africa Voyage in full by Feb. 26 also receive 3% savings off the cruise-only fare.

Shorter segments for both Grand Voyages may be released at a later date.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]

Holland America Line has been exploring the world since 1873 and was the first cruise line to offer adventures to Alaska and the Yukon more than 70 years ago. Its fleet of premium ships visits more than 470 ports in 98 countries around the world, offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience. A third Pinnacle-class ship, Rotterdam, is under construction and will join the fleet in July 2021.

The leader in premium cruising, Holland America Line's ships feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from Holland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefs.

In light of COVID-19, Holland America Line is currently assessing enhanced health and safety protocols and how they may impact future cruises. Actual offerings may vary from what is displayed. Stay updated on current Travel Advisories and Health & Safety protocols.

SOURCE Holland America Line

Related Links

http://www.hollandamerica.com


In a major boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Centre on Tuesday launched the Rs 4.30 crore Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge- Innovate Solutions for Aatmanirbhar Bharat to provide further impetus to the strong ecosystem of start-up, innovation and research in the country.

Launched by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, the Challenge gives the opportunity to develop products using IIT Madras and CDAC

microprocessors. IIT Madras and Center for Development of Advance Computing (CDAC) have developed two microprocessors named SHAKTI (32 bit) and VEGA (64 bit) respectively using Open Source Architecture under the aegis of Microprocessor Development Programme of Ministry of Electronics and IT.

Keeping up with the spirit of #AatmaNirbharBharat happy to announce Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge. Make innovative products using microprocessors from IIT Madras & CDAC. Invite students, Startups & innovators to take part in this challenge.

Details- https://t.co/SSPZHi6gAe pic.twitter.com/6YQiQcmWRn  Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) August 18, 2020

Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge- Innovate Solutions for Aatmanirbhar Bharat seeks to invite innovators, startups and students to use these microprocessors to develop various technology products.

The Challenge spread over 10 months, kick-starts with the registration process on August 18 and culminates in June 2021, with an opportunity for 100 Semi-finalists to win total Rs one crore of the award, 25 finalists to win total Rs one crore of the award and top 10 teams entering the finale, will get the seed fund of total Rs 2.30 crore and 12 months incubation support.

Above all, participants will get an opportunity to translate their innovations around Swadeshi Processors, showcase them at a higher viewership platform and facilitate them to scale from ideation to marketplace, thereby standing a chance to contribute to the overall mission of Atma Nirbharta of Government.

As one of the concrete steps towards realizing the ambition of self-reliance and a momentous stride towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, this initiative is aimed at not only meeting Indias future requirements of strategic and industrial sectors but also has the potential to mitigate the issues of security, licensing, technology obsolescence and most crucially cutting dependency on imports.

The design, development and fabrication of these state-of-the-art processor variants at a foundry in the country and abroad, is the successful step to leapfrog to the ultimate goal of a vibrant ecosystem of Electronic System Design & Manufacturing in the country.

The Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge is part of the series of proactive, preemptive and graded measures taken by Ministry of Electronics and IT to spur the technology-led innovation ecosystem in the country and staying at the forefront of digital adoption. Open to students at all levels and startups, the Challenge demands contestants to not only tinker with these Swadeshi Processor IPs & facilitate them with innovating the frugal solutions for societal needs but also make available the entire home-grown ecosystem around Swadeshi Processors to develop the complex designs for catering to both global and domestic requirements in near future.

Ministry of Electronics and IT offers a slew of benefits to the contestants and technology resources that include not only the internship opportunities and regular technical guidance from the best VLSI & Electronics System Design Experts in the country but also the business mentorship & funding support, facilitated by Incubation Centres. Financial support to the tune of Rs. 4.30 Crore at various stages of the Challenge for developing the hardware prototype and incubating a start-up is being offered.
Washington, Aug 18 : As part of the agenda of the ongoing US Democratic National Convention, delegates are expected to approve the party's platform, introducing its policy stances on major issues less than three months before the presidential election.

Roughly 4,000 convention delegates cast their votes on the platform from August 3-15 remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic, which also forced organizers to postpone the four-day convention by a month, now running Monday through Thursday after the rescheduling, and hold it almost entirely virtually, reports Xinhua news agency.

A declaration of the party's policy goals, the platform is largely symbolic and its passage is widely anticipated because delegates don't necessarily have to endorse its contents.

Drafted and approved by the Democratic National Committee's Platform Committee in July, the now amended 91-page platform incorporated policy recommendations submitted by task forces formed by allies of presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden, a moderate, and those of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who champions a leftist progressive agenda.

A manifestation of intra-party unity with which Democrats sought to achieve the common goal of unseating incumbent President Donald Trump, the platform touched upon issues that are under heated debate nationwide as the election draws near, including the Covid-19 response, economic revival, environment, policing, racial equity, healthcare, among others.

Make no mistake: President (Donald) Trump's abject failure to respond forcefully and capably to the Covid-19 pandemic -- his failure to lead -- makes him responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans," said the platform.

Calling on state- and local-level governments to expand funding for public health departments in order for them to conduct sufficient contact tracing, Democrats said in the document that they "support making COVID-19 testing, treatment, and any eventual vaccines free to everyone".

On economic recovery, the platform referred to the "Buy America" agenda Biden launched in July, a $700 billion plan that aims to salvage the economy through a domestic-leaning approach to job creation and manufacturing.

By spending $400 billion over three years in purchasing US-based goods and services, and $300 billion in research and development for new technologies and clean-energy initiatives, the Biden proposal is a direct counterprogramming to Trump's "America First" vision.

On the environment, the platform said Democrats will work to achieve net-zero emissions from greenhouse gasses "no later than 2050," while promising to eliminate carbon pollution from power plants by 2035 "through technology-neutral standards for clean energy and energy efficiency".

While the pledge of constructing 60,000 wind turbines and 500 million solar panels further represents the Democrats' commitment to clean energy, the platform didn't include the Green New Deal -- a bold resolution on fighting climate change introduced by progressive congressional Democrats that calls on the federal government to rid the US of fossil fuels, drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions across economic sectors, and guarantee new high-paying jobs in clean energy industries.

On policing, the platform advocated for reducing legal protection for law enforcement, saying the law, for too long, "has shielded police officers who stand accused of heinous violations of civil and human rights".

On racial equality, the platform said Democrats will strive for a "new social and economic contract" aimed at "building equity and mobility for the people of colour who have been left out and left behind for generations".

They also planned to establish "a national commission to examine the lasting economic effects" of slavery, segregation, and "racially discriminatory federal policies on income, wealth, educational, health, and employment outcomes".

With respect to health care, the platform vowed to move toward universal health care by advocating for a public option through the Affordable Care Act, while strengthening Medicare, Medicaid and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

However, not all Democrats voted "yes" on the platform.

Hundreds of Sanders' delegates signed a petition calling for rejecting it when the Platform Committee met on July 27 to discuss amendments, citing the reason that it didn't support Medicare for All.
Oracle Corp has held preliminary talks with TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, and was seriously considering buying the app's operations in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the Financial Times newspaper reported on August 17.

Oracle was working with some U.S. investors that already have a stake in ByteDance, including General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital, the newspaper reported, citing people briefed about the matter.

ByteDance and TikTok did not have a comment on the FT report. Oracle did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Reuters reported earlier this month that Twitter Inc had approached ByteDance to express interest in acquiring the US operations of TikTok, while Microsoft Corp was still the favourite to clinch a deal in the race.

The Financial Times said Microsoft has also seriously considered a bid to take over TikTok's global operations beyond the nations it outlined earlier in August.

Microsoft is particularly interested in buying TikTok in Europe and India, where it was recently banned by the government after border tensions with China, the newspaper said. But ByteDance is opposed to the idea of selling any assets beyond those in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, according to the report.

US President Donald Trump last week ordered ByteDance to divest the US operation s of the video app within 90 days, ramping up pressure on the Chinese company over concerns about the safety of the personal data it handles. General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital were not immediately available for comment.
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Maverick sent a shockwave through the Standardbred industry last fall when he sold for a record $1.1 million at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Anticipation had been gathering for the colt's pari-mutuel debut, which came today (Monday, August 17) at the Red Mile in Lexington Kentucky.

Maverick lined up for Race 2 during the Red Mile's 12-dash Monday program, which was contested over a 'fast' track. The son of Father Patrick--Designed To Be lined up in Post 2 for the 10-horse affair, which was a conditioned trot for two-year-olds.

After surveying the scene off the start, driver Joe Bongiorno settled the Tony Alagna trainee into third as the Mattais Melander-driven Immigrant AM S crossed over from the outside and led the field over to the quarter pole in :29.2.

Maverick, who is a full brother to the great Greenshoe, took his cue from Bongiorno in the second panel, who asked his charge for a move to the lead. Maverick responded by assuming control of the engine prior to the :58.3 half-mile.

Maverick maintained his one-length lead through the third quarter, as he trotted past the three-quarters marker in 1:28.4.

Maverick increased his lead to two lengths at the head of the lane and went on to stop the clock in a maiden-breaking 1:57.2. His final quarter was timed in :28.3 and his margin of victory was one and a half lengths.

Im very happy with his first start, Alagna told harnessracing.com after the victory. Maverick was comfortable and strong through the wire. Joe was very impressed with him.

Maverick is owned by the Maverick Racing partnership, which is based out of Milton, Ont.
Australia has secured access to a "promising" potential coronavirus vaccine, the prime minister announced Tuesday, saying the country would manufacture it and offer free doses to the entire population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia had reached a deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to receive the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with Oxford University.

"The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in the world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian," he said.

"If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians."

The Oxford vaccine is one of five globally in Phase 3 efficacy trials, and researchers hope to have results by the end of the year.

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

It is the first such deal for Australia, and Morrison said his government was also in talks with "many parties around the world" over other potential vaccines as well as supporting local scientists in their efforts.

The country is yet to reach a final agreement with AstraZeneca on the cost of the vaccine and a local manufacturer has not been locked in.

However, Australia has signed an Aus$25 million ($18 million) agreement with American medical technology company Becton Dickinson to buy 100 million needles and syringes to administer the doses.

Although none of the coronavirus vaccines under development has proved its efficacy yet in clinical trials, at least 5.7 billion doses have been pre-ordered around the world.

Five vaccines -- three Western and two Chinese -- are in Phase 3 efficacy trials involving thousands of people, including the Oxford vaccine.

It hopes to have results by the end of the year.

The company has also signed agreements to provide doses to the US, Europe and Brazil.

Another deal struck by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, would see India manufacture the Oxford vaccine for distribution in 57 low- and middle-income countries.

First shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine created by Western laboratories have often been snapped up by the United States.

Morrison said Australia remained "committed" to ensuring early access to the potential vaccine for Pacific countries and regional partners in Southeast Asia.

Earlier this month he called on nations to share potential vaccines, saying any country that discovered one and did not make it available globally "would be judged terribly by history".

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
VAN NUYS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / Here To Serve Holding Corp. (OTC PINK:HTSC) is pleased to announce its wholly owned subsidiary ICF Industries Inc. has signed a distribution agreement with Gigacrete Inc. to build, market, and distribute their GigaHouse building technology. The company intends to use Gigacrete's revolutionary building technology to custom design residential and commercial properties as well as build ADUs throughout the city of Los Angeles.

An ADU is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a detached single-family home. ADUs have been identified in Los Angeles as an important housing option for renters and homeowners, given the lack of housing supply. They also offer homeowners a new way to create rental income and add value to one's property, making it a strategic investment for homeowners and investors. An ADU using the GigaHouse building technology creates the efficiencies required to substantially lower the cost per square foot versus traditional building methods. ADUs can be built up to 1200 square feet and in January of 2020 Los Angeles residents were given the right to construct two ADUs on their property, creating an opportunity for residential homeowners and real estate investors.

GigaHouse is a super-insulated steel framed building system utilizing GigaPanel components and it is so energy efficient that a GigaHouse exceeds most other forms of construction in thermal qualities. The GigaHouse system specifically targets projects where rapid speed of construction and ease of assembly is important. By significantly reducing labor costs and project cycle times, GigaHouse building system allows a high-performance sustainable structure to be constructed below wood framed prices. This change revolutionizes the way we build by reducing onsite labor costs. All walls are insulated with high R values starting at R-24 and going as high R-60.

Traditional construction creates obstacles that are hindrances to today's builders and investors as well as the environment. The Gigahouse is easily and rapidly assembled by unskilled labor, lowering labor costs substantially and making it harder for unethical construction gouging. Building operating costs are lowered, HVAC systems can be sized down as much as 60%, and operating times to heat or cool the residence are reduced. The reduction of HVAC operational use and the additional reduction in the cost of a smaller needed HVAC unit leads to a far greater ROI. The GigaHouse is insect and fire resistant and is engineered to withstand hurricane force winds and CA seismic zone 4 earthquakes. The GigaHouse is a green, sustainable product that contains no Portland cement giving the property a low Carbon footprint. GigaHouse offers fire rated interior abuse resistant finishes by using their advanced Plastermax internal plaster and a waterproof exterior using their StuccoMax noncombustible exterior finishes with every build.

According to Cesar Herrera, President of ICF, "We have finally located the building technology we envisioned for Los Angeles. We experimented with other non-wood building technologies and none compare to the performance and benefits of building with GigaHouse. It will effectively cut building inspections down, reduce the cost of building construction and provide the consumers with general bids faster than what we have experienced before. When you combine these benefits with our strategic solar panel integration, old building methodology makes no sense. We intend to bring the GigaHouse building technology to our partners with the EPA and the Energy Star program. We are partners with a luxury home developer who is currently in the bidding process for two 40 million-dollar homes, located in the Bird Streets of Los Angeles, with an average square footage of 16,000 square feet. Our partner is so impressed with GigaHouse's building quality as well as the significant reduction in building and labor costs that he is currently submitted 2 bids to ICF using GigaHouse building technology."

About Here to Serve Holding Corp.

Here to Serve Holding Corp. operates as three entities: Novus Ordo Industries Inc. ("Novus"), ICF Industries Inc. ("ICF") and Executive Industries, which operates as a division of ICF.

Novus is a California-based licensed construction company. Working with strategic partners, Novus provides its clients with architectural, engineering, and construction services for the custom building of residential homes, commercial properties, hotels and cannabis facilities using insulated concrete forms.

ICF is a distribution, consulting and sales corporation designed to supply construction material throughout North America. ICF has contracts to distribute a diverse array of industrial products such as stuccoes, plasters, insulated concrete forms, Gigahomes, modular homes and greenhouses and medical supplies from strategically designated vendors.

Executive Industries offers corporate advisory, consulting and marketing services to both public and privately-owned companies. Executive Industries helps entities with corporate strategy, negotiation, corporate structure, marketing and executive management decisions.

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Investor Relations: 702-444-5015

SOURCE: Here to Serve Holding Corp.

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A n NHS volunteer who failed to raise the alarm as her jihadi brother plotted a gun and knife rampage through central London tourist hotspots has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Sneha Chowdhury, 26, practised knife fighting with her older brother Mohiussunnath and knew he had been viewing terrorist material online, including ways to decapitate a person.

The 29-year-old former Uber driver told his sister he was planning a violent attack, but she did not report him to the authorities out of "misguided loyalty", Woolwich crown court heard.

The terrorist was plotting an attack on popular tourist attractions including Madame Tussauds, as well as targeting an open-top bus tour and the annual Pride parade.

Chowdhury had earlier been cleared of a sword attack outside Buckingham Palace in August 2017, but continued to harbour dreams of martyrdom.

He was caught on tape boasting how he had managed to trick the Old Bailey jury into clearing him, and launched into his new plot which was foiled three days before the summer 2019 Pride event.

Chowdhury, from Luton, was convicted at trial of plotting terrorism and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years behind bars.

The terrorist was plotting an attack on popular tourist attractions including Madame Tussauds / METROPOLITAN POLICE/AFP via Gett

Today at Woolwich crown court, his sister was in the dock to be sentenced for failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.

The information you had was clearly of some significance, it included the intention of your brother to carry out an attack and training he was doing, said Judge Andrew Lees.

He said Chowdhury did not share her brothers extremist views, telling her: You didnt do what you should have done out of misguided loyalty to your brother.

The court heard Chowdhury has been volunteering for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic, and has duties looking after her mother as well as studying education at Brunel University.

You dont present a risk to the public, added the judge, handing her a two-year suspended prison sentence and 60 days of rehabilitation sessions.

Her brother had been found guilty at trial of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, collecting information likely to be useful to someone preparing an act of terrorism and disseminating terrorist publications.

He had unwittingly shared his extremist plot with undercover officers after being cleared of the Buckingham Palace plot and released from prison in December 2018.

Over the course of a five-month surveillance operation, detectives gathered crucial information about Chowdhurys mindset and plans after winning his trust.

He had booked training sessions at a shooting range and tried to acquire a real gun, while his sister knew he was training with wooden swords - known as bokkens - practising knife fighting and rehearsing beheading attacks at the family home in Luton.

The court heard Chowdhury did not share her brothers extremist views / PA

Chowdhury also talked with the undercover officers of killing the disbelievers and had plotted to attack the gay Pride march with a van.

Commander Richard Smith, from the Mets counter terrorism command, said after Sneha Chowdhurys conviction: There is no acceptable reason for listening to someone say they are planning to kill innocent people, and watching them practise how they will do that, then not reporting it to police. Sneha Chowdhury wilfully kept her brothers horrific secret and is now facing the consequences.

The judge said she had been "subject to controlling behaviour by male members of her family", and had a "very close" relationship with her brother.
Maharashtra now has more Covid-19 cases--over 600,000--than South Africa, the sixth worst-hit country globally. South Africa has reported 5,89,886 Covid-19 cases as per the reference website worldometers.info.

With 5,612,027 cases, the US tops the list of countries with maximum cases in the world. Brazil has reported 3,363,235 cases, India 2,701,604 and Russia 927,745, according to the website. Maharashtra alone recorded 604,358 cases till Monday, according to the state health department.

Maharashtra crossed the 600,000 mark nine days after it recorded half-a-million cases on August 8. It recorded 8,493 cases on Monday and 11,111 on Sunday. Maharashtra has now 155,268 active cases.

The state recorded first 100,000 cases in 96 days, the second in 22, third in 14, fourth in 11, and the fifth in just 10 days. In the first 17 days of August, Maharashtra reported 182,834 cases, or around 10,754 daily. It is much higher than previous months. As many as 247,392 cases were recorded in July, 102,172 in June, 57,157 in May, 10,196 in April and 302 in March.

Dr Subhash Salunkhe, a public health expert who heads the state governments communicable diseases prevention control and technical committee, said the cases were rapidly rising in rural areas since the lockdown restrictions have been eased.

Distribution of cases started soon after the state opted for unlocking the restrictions. Before that, cases used to be reported only from urban areas but now it [infection] has spread to semi-urban and rural areas. The overall cases are also increasing in an accelerated fashion, Dr Salunkhe said.

Officials said another major cause of concern was Covid-19 fatalities. In the first 17 days of the month, the state has reported 5,271 deaths compared to 6,988 in July, 5,638 in June, 2,286 in May, 449 in April, and 10 in March. The case fatality rate (CFR) in Maharashtra was 3.35% on Monday. It continued to be second highest in the country after Gujarat with 3.54% CFR and 2,785 deaths and 78,680 cases till Sunday, according to government data.

Dr Sanjay Pattiwar, a public health expert, said the government does not have resources in terms of specialised staff and health infrastructure to deal with the situation, especially in rural areas.

Tertiary care treatment can only prevent Covid-19 fatalities. We need specialised staff to treat critical patients. Both the state and the Central government could not provide that quality of trained health staff and infrastructure in rural and semi-urban areas, said Dr Pattiwar.

He said the state needs to train its doctors and health staff in rural areas. There should be a system for regular interaction between doctors from semi-urban and rural areas with the members of task force formed to reduce Covid-19 casualties, which is not happening, added Pattiwar.

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A group of Ukrainian investigative journalists is being subjected to a campaign of harassment and intimidation, including surveillance and arson attacks. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) join their Ukrainian affiliate, the National Union of Journalists in Ukraine (NUJU), in urging the authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the intimidation and attacks aimed at muzzling their investigations.

The team's car belonging to the project's driver and which was used when filming, was set on fire during the night of Monday 17 August. Police found material similar to an explosive substance on the remains of the car.

Earlier this month, project leader Mykhailo Tkach had reported signs of surveillance in his apartment.

The "Schemes: Corruption in Details" journalism program, a joint project of Radio Svoboda and the Ukrainian Public Broadcaster, reports high-level corruption in Ukraine. The team was recently working on a piece Kings of the Road revealing how the transport of high-level state officials breaks traffic rules. During the production of the program, the journalists repeatedly voiced concerns about being under surveillance.

On 8 August, Tkach had informed police about finding evidence of surveillance measures in his home. Sources had warned him about instructions to monitor him. When police inspected his apartment, they discovered three holes in the shared attic above the apartment and one hole in the kitchen.

However, no surveillance equipment was found. The National Police filed a report for "violation of privacy." The President of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU), Sergiy Tomilenko, called on the authorities to thoroughly investigate information about the possible wiretapping of the journalists.

The IFJ and EFJ submitted an alert condemning the situation to the Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists of the Council of Europe.

NUJU president Sergiy Tomilenko said: "Verbal harassment from high-level officials, attempted wiretapping, arson have all been directed against the journalists. Pressure on a group of journalists who reveal corruption at senior levels is a media freedom emergency. This sets alarm bells ringing for every investigative journalist in the capital and all over Ukraine. We demand law enforcement involve the best experts from the security services to investigate these cases."

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "It is essential that investigative journalists can freely and critically report on corruption and wrongdoing of state officials. Surveillance and the attack against this team are worrisome blows against press freedom that can't go unpunished. We stand in solidarity with the victimized journalists and call on the authorities to protect them from these attacks".
BEIJING  The staff of the Chinese consulate in Houston that was ordered shut by the U.S. government has returned to China.

Wearing face masks because of the coronavirus pandemic, they were greeted on the tarmac by Foreign Minister Wang Yi after disembarking from a chartered Air China flight in Beijing on Monday night.

You have resolutely safeguarded the core interests, the dignity of the country and the legitimate rights of Chinas overseas institutions under very difficult, even dangerous, conditions, he said.

The U.S. abruptly ordered China to close the consulate last month, alleging it was the center of a network that collected intelligence, tried to steal intellectual property and harassed the families of Chinese dissidents while trying to coerce them to return to China.

Three days later, China ordered the U.S. consulate in Chengdu to close in retaliation. The tit-for-tat closures were seen as a significant escalation in the deterioration of ties between the two countries over a range of issues, including trade, technology, security and human rights.
An 82-year-old Texas man told KHOU that he's waited 10 days to receive his heart medication, longer than he's ever waited for the medication to be delivered by the postal service.

In the meanwhile, his daughter was able to get him a temporary supply of the medication from a pharmacy at a local grocery store, he told the news outlet.

The USPS, which has suffered yearslong financial struggles, has further struggled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has instituted controversial cost-cutting moves at the postal service, has agreed to appear before the House Oversight Committee next week as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls lawmakers to return early from recess.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

An 82-year-old man from Texas said he's been waiting over a week for his heart medication that's been stuck at the post office.

Don White, of Humble, Texas, told local news outlet KHOU that he'd been tracking the package online, which showed it had spent the previous 10 days at a USPS sorting facility in North Houston. He said he expected the package would arrive sometime on Monday.

"There have been a few times in which it's taken a week, week and a half, two weeks, but this is the first time I actually ran out and checking with the post office didn't do much good, even though I had a tracking number on it," he said, according to KHOU.

In a statement to the news outlet, a USPS spokesperson said the postal service is in a "financially unsustainable position, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume, and a broken business model."

"The Postal Service is flexing its available resources to match the workload created by the impacts of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic," the spokesperson told the local news station. "We appreciate the patience of our customers and apologize for any inconvenience that may have been experienced. We also appreciate the efforts of employees as conditions change on a day-to-day basis."

Story continues

The USPS and its yearslong financial troubles have become the latest political controversy fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic

As Business Insider's Grace Panetta previously reported, current USPS turmoil stems from the agency's yearslong financial struggles that have been exacerbated by the fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic. Further complicating matters are controversial actions instituted by the new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

DeJoy, previously a Republican donor, has instituted cost-cutting measures, like the elimination of overtime for employees, which have been blamed for current delays in some parts of the country. The president at a press conference over the weekend defended DeJoy's leadership of the USPS.

The postmaster general and Robert Duncan, the chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors will testify before the House Oversight Committee next week in an "urgent hearing" called for by prominent Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi said Sunday she would bring members of Congress back from their current recess this week to vote on legislation to block USPS organizational changes.

The situation has caused concern that the USPS may struggle to handle an influx of mail-in-ballots in November, sent in by voters who elect to avoid polling locations due to the novel coronavirus. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, a staunch opponent of mail-in-voting, suggested in an interview last Thursday he was purposefully withholding funds to bail out USPS to sabotage efforts to expand mail-in voting. He later walked back those remarks.

Read more:

US postal workers reveal how 'ugly' their jobs have become under new leadership

7 states are preparing to sue the Trump administration, hoping to block it from reducing mail service ahead of the election

Nancy Pelosi called the House back into session early to block USPS organizational changes that could threaten mail-in voting

Democrats are demanding USPS leaders testify before Congress at an 'urgent hearing' next week

Read the original article on Insider
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BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auth0 , the identity platform for application teams, today launched Bot Detection , a new security feature that reduces the effectiveness of a credential stuffing attack by as much as 85%, with minimal impact on user experience. Bot Detection is a powerful addition to the companys expanding security portfolio, and works in tandem with Auth0 Breached Password Detection, Brute Force Protection, and Multi-factor Authentication, to provide extensive mitigation against a variety of sophisticated threats, including automated attacks, account takeovers, phishing attacks, and more.

Credential stuffing attacks often rely on stolen account credentials (username and password) from a previous data breach, and are used to gain unauthorized access to user accounts on another website. This is executed via large-scale bot-driven attacks against the login flow and is an increasingly pervasive problem for enterprises. Ongoing Auth0 customer analysis revealed the following:

Auth0 sees an average of 175,000 unique IP addresses that are deemed suspicious on a daily basis.

Threat actors can use as many as 65,000 IP addresses for a single attack.

During an attack, credential stuffing can account for as much as 65% of the traffic to Auth0s authentication service.

During a credential stuffing attack, traffic for a particular website may surge as much as 180x the usual volume, with traffic related to the attack itself accounting for 90% of overall activity.

Bot Detection correlates numerous data sources to identify and mitigate bot-driven attacks before login, and relies on a collection of risk signals and assessors that identify indicators of suspicious activity. This layered approach  also known as defense in depth  consists of multiple security capabilities, including Bot Detection, that effectively reduce the number of credential stuffing attempts and many other attacks. At a high level, Bot Detection monitors IP addresses for non-suspicious events, such as successful logins; suspicious events, such as numerous failed login attempts across multiple accounts; and IP reputation data, which is used to identify known threat actors. When suspicious traffic is detected, a CAPTCHA step is required to complete a login request  the system is designed to mitigate the majority of bot attacks targeting the login or registration flow. At launch, Auth0 will support customers using its Universal Login capabilities, with additional support for other experiences in the coming months.

Automated attacks are growing more sophisticated each day, and these large-scale bots are designed to respond to any and all controls to evade detection. Auth0 found that threat actors can, and do, change their attack strategies in as little as five minutes to bypass a security control. More than 80% of companies state it is difficult to detect, fix, or remediate credential stuffing attacks , which result in an average of more than $6 million a year in costs per company and can cause a significant impact on IT resources, account takeovers, and brand reputation.

Weve seen an increase in the volume and sophistication of bot attacks over the last few years, and companies are investing more in their defenses, said Matias Woloski, CTO and cofounder at Auth0. Being at the front door of applications with a service that secures more than 4.5 billion login transactions per month, we have a unique vantage point for quickly identifying and blocking suspicious activity before any damage is done. This is what makes Bot Detection very effective at preventing account takeover and reducing the load on DevOps and SecOps teams.

More detailed information on credential stuffing can be found here: Credential Stuffing Attacks: What Are They and How to Combat Them (whitepaper), and Reducing the Impact of Credential Stuffing (blog post).

About Auth0

Auth0 provides a platform to authenticate, authorize, and secure access for applications, devices, and users. Security and application teams rely on Auth0's simplicity, extensibility, and expertise to make identity work for everyone. Safeguarding more than 4.5 billion login transactions each month, Auth0 secures identities so innovators can innovate, and empowers global enterprises to deliver trusted, superior digital experiences to their customers around the world.

For more information, visit https://auth0.com or follow @auth0 on Twitter .

Media Contacts:

Jeana Tahnk

Auth0 Global Communications

press@auth0.com

Hannah Carroll

Matter for Auth0

auth0@matternow.com




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Support for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, security cooperation and restoration of historical memory are one of the most important issues in bilateral Ukrainian-Polish relations.

Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

I would like to mention three priority areas. First, this is an interaction on Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO. There is a direct interest of the Polish side, because European integration is primarily economic opportunities and trade. Second, security cooperation in the Black Sea ... Here, our Euro-Atlantic direction is gaining greater importance, given the buildup of Russias military presence and the expansion of illegal control over certain territories of the Azov and Black Seas," Stefanishyna said.

The Vice PM called the third priority "the restoration of historical justice and truth about the role of Ukraine in the history of Europe ", in particular, the events that happened 100 years ago near Warsaw.

As reported, on August 14-15, Stefanishyna took part in the celebrations in Warsaw on the occasion of 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.

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Programme Policy Officer (Livelihoods, Resilience & Climate Change), FT NOC, Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Organization: United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Country: Kenya

City: Nairobi, Kenya

Office: WFP Nairobi

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

Posting Dates:

Opening Date: 17th August 2020 Closing Date: 30th August 2020

Organizational Background:

The United Nations World Food Programme is the worlds largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

WFP Somalias Interim Country Strategic Plan 2019-2021 focuses on a new strategic shift towards strengthening resilience of communities; recognizing the interconnected nature of relief, nutrition, safety nets, food systems, capacity strengthening and partnerships, addressing some of the above causes within the context of chronic drought and frequent climate-related shocks.

This position is open to qualified Kenyan candidates; female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of the Programme, and the overall supervision of the Head of Programme, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Provide leadership, technical oversight, guidance and supervision to the livelihoods, resilience and climate change technical team, Area Offices and partners;

Coordinate and oversee the implementation of livelihoods, resilience and climate change activities within the strategic framework of WFP and the Somalia programme;

In conjunction with programme unit, develop strategies for transitioning relief into recovery; livelihoods and resilience programmes;

Participate in the review of Monitoring & Evaluation tools and Cooperating Partners reporting formats for livelihoods and resilience activities;

Participate in support and supervision missions to project sites to monitor progress and assist Area Offices in resolving challenges;

Develop and provide inputs for donor funding proposals and donor reports;

Manage, prioritize and plan for resources to ensure that activities are implemented according to plan;

Tags climate change development assistance food security humanitarian response inter agency groups local governance rural development

Participate in the development of the Humanitarian Response Plan - Food security component as well as related reporting:

Provide guidance for Calls for Proposals, based on community action plans and seasonal analysis and response plans;

Oversee review of proposals for livelihoods activities and provide relevant feedback to Area Offices;

Present project proposals for livelihoods activities to the Country Project Committee;

Ensure that project information and database repository is kept up to date, provide activity briefs and information for communication and reporting;

Prepare briefing and communications materials, photos and beneficiary stories on livelihoods activities;

Participate on behalf of WFP in Resilience Strategy meetings with other stakeholders and relevant inter-agency groups and contribute to related documents and discussions;

Participation in the food security cluster meetings on behalf of WFP;

Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Urban and Rural Development, or other fields relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses

Experience: At least five years of postgraduate professional experience in designing and implementing multi-faceted food systems and livelihoods programmes in arid and semi-arid areas.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English is a requirement.

Knowledge & Skills: In-depth knowledge and experience in the development of livelihoods and resilience strategies and operational plans;

Strong understanding of and expertise in community engagement processes and links to local governance;

Has engaged in policy discussions and provided input into policy decisions;

Courtesy, tact and the ability to maintain effective working relations with colleagues and external partners;

Should have strong analytical and communication skills;

Experience and familiarity within Somalia and/or the region is a plus.

Applications Instructions:

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit online applications through E-Recruitment :

Applications that do not meet the above requirements will be disregarded. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
Pierre Rouleau, COO, ManifestSeven ManifestSeven is thrilled to be the primary distributor of one of Californias most innovative brands, a sign of our joint commitment to shaping the future of legal cannabis distribution and retailing.

ManifestSeven (M7 or the Company), Californias first integrated omnichannel platform for legal cannabis, today announced a distribution agreement with Habit (Habit), Californias fastest-growing brand of cannabis-infused sparkling sodas, syrups, tinctures and chillums.

Under the deal, licensed California cannabis retailers can source Habit through M7s Distribution Division.

ManifestSeven is thrilled to be the primary distributor of one of Californias most innovative brands, a sign of our joint commitment to shaping the future of legal cannabis distribution and retailing, said Pierre Rouleau, chief operating officer of M7.

According to the BDS Analytics GreenEdge Retail Sales Tracking Platform, Habit recorded the fastest growth of any major cannabis beverage company for the second quarter of 2020. Habit is Californias most awarded cannabis beverage, having won two High Times Cups, three Chalice Cups and Kushstock for best cannabis beverage.

We chose M7 because the company is integrating B2B and B2C operations into a proprietary supply chain that doesnt end at the retailers shelves  it leads all the way into the consumers living room, said Joshua Nichols, founder of Habit. Having access to a compliant, seamless distribution channel, as well as M7s expansive retail operations, is a game changer for us.

M7 also has been awarded wholesale distribution rights to WEED, a new value-priced brand of flower and pre-rolls to be manufactured by Habit. WEED products are designed to meet the needs of cannabis consumers searching for quality and affordability.

Were proud to work with M7 to launch WEED, which focuses on affordability during these unprecedented times, Nichols added. M7s specialized integration also allows us to seamlessly launch this flower brand into a mature market, where well benefit from efficient distribution coupled with Weden, M7s storefront and delivery network for consumers.

ABOUT MANIFESTSEVEN:

ManifestSeven is the first integrated omnichannel platform for legal cannabis, merging compliant distribution with a retail superhighway. M7, with offices in Commerce and Irvine, California, services the needs of lawful operators across the supply chain, from the cultivator to the consumer, through an expansive network of four facilities stretching from the San Francisco Bay Area to San Diego. M7 further augments its business-to-business value proposition with a growing portfolio of owned and operated retail operations located in major metro markets, including brick-and-mortar dispensaries, local on-demand delivery services, e-commerce, and subscription offerings.

ABOUT HABIT:

In 2015, Habit began as one of the first companies to start processing cannabis oil into a water-soluble form. The founders adopted a process used by the pharmaceutical industry which increases efficacy of oil-based cancer therapies and applied the process to cannabis oil with some custom modifications. This process greatly increased the bioavailability of cannabinoids, allowing them to rapidly absorb before entering the GI, while also extending biological half-life. In other words, the effects kicked in way faster and lasted much longer. Habit then decided to add their new water-soluble tincture to fruit syrups and sparkling fruit sodas which they brewed out of San Diego, quickly becoming a market leader in cannabis beverages by the end of 2017. Thanks to Habits' unique encapsulation process, they are able to produce the highest potency beverages with no bitterness or funky cannabis aftertaste. Learn more at habitcrafted.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Companys beliefs and assumptions regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Companys control. This forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions made by management and other factors used by management in developing such information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.
Xiaomi reveals the secret behind its transparent TV - there are holes in the matrix

The Xiaomi Mi TV LUX is set to become the worlds first mass-produced transparent TV. But how does one go about making a TV transparent? The company detailed the process and Step 1 is obvious  take everything that normally goes behind the screen and move it somewhere else.

All the electronics and sound hardware were moved to the round stand at the bottom of the TV. This made the components more cramped than usual, so Xiaomi had to take special care when designing the cooling. The chipset has a heat sink and the whole base is dotted with vents to help with convective cooling.

Both LCD and OLED displays can be made transparent. However, Xiaomi picked OLED since it doesnt need a backlight while a transparent LCD TV would have needed an external light. But even an OLED isnt naturally transparent.

The RGBW matrix has a unique design where only half of panel is covered with pixels, the other half is left transparent. The pixels are fine enough that you cant see them at a normal viewing distance and the gaps between them are equally tiny, so you cant see them either - it all merges into a seemingly normal sheet of glass.

The image below compares a traditional OLED panel with the one used on the LUX TV. The sub-pixels are on the right, the area on the left is transparent.

To protect the panel, a 55 piece of glass is bonded to the display using UV-curable glue. Then, a thin metal frame runs the perimeter of the glass to give it rigidity.

While you may not want a transparent TV at home (even though it looks cool), the race is on to put selfie cameras behind the screen on smartphones. There have been prototypes, but their image quality left much to be desired  making displays see through is not an easy task.

Previously, Xiaomi explained that the high pixel density of mobile displays is an obstacle. It would be interesting to see if the experience gained from designing a transparent TV would help the company resolve that issue.

Source (in Chinese) | Via
Flames are tearing through Brazils Pantanal, the worlds largest wetland, coming close to the regions main highway and threatening endangered species, as the area records the most fires in 15 years for the month of August so far.

Brazils national space research agency Inpe has registered 3,121 fires in the first 15 days of August, nearly five times higher than the same period a year ago. At the current pace, fires could approach the all-time record for any month since records began in 1998.

It is extremely difficult to combat, control and combat again a fire with the dimensions that we have seen here in the Pantanal, said Paulo Barroso, president of the local firefighting committee.

Firefighters in the area worked to douse smoldering earth that was charred black as clouds of smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air.

Roughly 8,500 square kilometers, or nearly 6% of the Pantanal, has already burned in January to July, according to government data.

The Pantanal is 10 times the size of the Everglades wetlands in the U.S. state of Florida. The region is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet with more than 4,700 plant and animal species, including threatened ones like the jaguar, according to advocacy group WWF.

Most of the largest sanctuary for the blue Hyacinthine Macaw parrots has gone up in flames this year, Brazils Folha de S.Paulo newspaper reported.

The region has been suffering from below-average rainfall and higher-than-average temperatures in the past 30 days, according to data provider Refinitiv.

The blazes in the Pantanal come amid rising concerns about fires in the Amazon, its much larger neighbor to the north. Fires spiked in the first few days of August in the Amazon, but were down by 17% for Aug. 1-15, compared with the same period a year ago.

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CloudComputing.pt Encourages Lusitania to Test ExaGrid, with Impressive Results

ExaGrid today announced that CloudComputing.pt, Portugal's premier enterprise cloud computing strategy provider, led Lusitania Seguros to install ExaGrid's Tiered Backup Storage solution, which bolstered the insurance company's data protection by increasing the capacity and variety of its data backups.

Lusitania emerged in the insurance market in 1986 as the first Insurance Company with 100% Portuguese capital. Since then, and over more than 30 years, it has always designed itself as a company with an eye on the future. A reliable partner in all situations, focusing on creating value for the national economy, in order to contribute decisively to the progress and well-being of the entire Portuguese society.

The IT staff at Lusitania had modernized its infrastructure and used Veeam to back up its VMware environment, but needed to add to that as the company's data and backup needs grew. "We wanted to expand our Veeam solution and we also needed to back up more Oracle databases and file servers, but we didn't have enough time in our backup window to add more backup jobs," said Miguel Rodelo, senior systems engineer at Lusitania. "We decided to test new solutions, and started to request proofs of concept (POC) for different products."

Rodelo and his enterprise IT provider, David Domingos, chief sales officer at CloudComputing.pt, had attended VMWorld 2018 in Barcelona, where they stopped by the ExaGrid booth at the conference to learn more about the tiered backup storage solution, and ended up requesting a POC. "We decided together to bet on the ExaGrid technology," said Rodelo. "I said that if the technology is as good as it claims to be I will buy it, and my reseller said that if it was that good, he would tell every client in Portugal about it.

"ExaGrid was the last POC that we were analyzing, and it ended up being the fastest and easiest to implement, and compared to the other products we were looking into at the same time, it was clear that ExaGrid offered the best backup performance, especially when it came to our Oracle data. I expected ExaGrid to integrate well with Veeam, and it did, but when I saw that I can also use Oracle RMAN to make direct backups to ExaGrid, I decided to implement ExaGrid as our central data storage for backups," said Rodelo.

After working with ExaGrid to deliver high-performance backup storage to his client at Lusitania, David Domingos is eager to recommend the tiered backup storage solution to more CloudComputing.pt clients. "One of the best features of the ExaGrid system is that the client doesn't feel the impact of data deduplication because of the Landing Zone feature. When you look at traditional storage, you run into capacity issues, but ExaGrid's deduplication resolves those issues. In addition, ExaGrid speaks all of the languages of the backup apps and software, so if a client is using multiple approaches, such as Veeam and Oracle RMAN, or even Commvault or Veritas, ExaGrid will support all of them. ExaGrid is versatile and that adds to the value it brings our clients."

ExaGrid writes backups directly to a disk-cache Landing Zone, avoiding inline processing and ensuring the highest possible backup performance, which results in the shortest backup window. Adaptive Deduplication performs deduplication and replication in parallel with backups so that an RTO and RPO can be easily met. Available system cycles are utilized to perform deduplication and offsite replication for an optimal recovery point at the disaster recovery site. Once complete, the onsite data is protected and immediately available in its full undeduplicated form for fast restores, VM Instant Recoveries, and tape copies while the offsite data is ready for disaster recovery.

Read the complete Success Story to learn more about Rodelo's experience using ExaGrid. ExaGrid's published customer success stories and enterprise stories demonstrate how satisfied customers are with ExaGrid's unique architectural approach, differentiated product, and unrivaled customer support.

About CloudComputing.pt

CloudComputing.pt was founded in 2010 with the objective to provide services to the corporate market based on Cloud Computing, Mobility and Information Security. The motivation to work in these fields is based on the strategic view that the organization's efficiency is measured by the capacity to share business information in real time with the right people in a safe manner anywhere. This way we promote clients' continuous innovation and value, based on the following skills: UEM Security, Identity and Access Management, Cloud and On-Premise Security and Infrastructure.

About ExaGrid

ExaGrid provides Tiered Backup Storage with a unique disk-cache Landing Zone, long-term retention repository, and scale-out architecture. ExaGrid's Landing Zone provides for the fastest backups, restores, and instant VM recoveries. The retention repository offers the lowest cost for long-term retention. ExaGrid's scale-out architecture includes full appliances and ensures a fixed-length backup window as data grows, eliminating expensive forklift upgrades and product obsolescence. Visit us at exagrid.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. See what our customers have to say about their own ExaGrid experiences and why they now spend significantly less time on backup in our customer success stories.

ExaGrid is a registered trademark of ExaGrid Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005277/en/

Contacts:

Kristina O'Connell

ExaGrid

koconnell@exagrid.com
Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak will take part in the virtual meeting of the OPEC+ monitoring panel on Wednesday, despite testing positive for COVID-19, Russias energy ministry said on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that Novak had tested positive for the coronavirus while he was on a visit to Russias Far East. Novak returned to Moscow and will work remotely, the ministry said.

Novak feels good and doesnt have any symptoms, and he plans to take part in the OPEC+ panels meeting on August 19 via video conference, a representative of the Russian energy ministry told Russian outlet RBC.

Prime Minister Mishustin and Vladimir Putins Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov have recovered from COVID-19 after contracting the virus earlier this year.

The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) holds meetings every month until the end of 2020, instead of ahead of every full OPEC+ meeting only, because of the volatile oil market and the highly uncertain trajectory of global demand recovery.

The JMMC is meeting this week, but it will not discuss any revisions of the ongoing production cut pact and is not expected to make any major decisions to tweak the deal, Novak said last week.

The OPEC+ coalition saw its compliance rate with the oil production cuts at 95 percent in July, four sources from the group told Reuters on Monday, which is a level similar to the previous month, if the additional one-month voluntary cuts from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait for June are excluded.

At last months panel meetings in mid-July, the JMMC noted an improved compliance rate with the cuts. The overall compliance rate for the OPEC+ group was a record-breaking 107 percent in June, but it was due to the additional voluntary contributions from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, which cut a total of 1 million bpd in June on top of their shares of the cuts. Without those three voluntary outperformers, the OPEC+ groups compliance was 95 percent in June, which still was the highest since the cuts started in January 2017.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Future Market Insights offers 10-year forecast for the global primary magnesium market between 2016 and 2026. In terms of volume, the market is expected to register a CAGR of 2.9% during the forecast period (20162026). This report provides market dynamics and trends on all seven regions, namely, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa and Japan, which influence the current nature and future status of the magnesium market over the forecast period.

Report Description

This Future Market Insights report examines the Global Magnesium Oxide Market for the period 20162026 in terms of value and volume. The primary objective of the report is to offer updates on developments in the global magnesium market and conduct quantitative as well as qualitative assessment of the market across various applications and regional market segments.

For more insights into the market, request a Sample of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1622

On the basis of Product Type, the global magnesium market is segmented as follows:

Dead Burned Magnesia

Caustic Calcined Magnesia

Fused Magnesia

On the basis of application, the global magnesium market is segmented as follows:

Industrial

Refractories

Agricultural

Others

Regionally, magnesium market is segmented as follows:

North America

Latin America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ)

Middle East & Africa

Japan

To understand and assess market opportunities and trends, the report is categorically split into sections such as market overview, global industry analysis, analysis by application and by region. Each section discusses the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the global magnesium market. To give a brief idea about revenue opportunities from various application and region/country, the report also provide absolute $ opportunity and total incremental opportunity for each segment over the forecast period.

The report starts with market overview and provides market definition and analysis about drivers, restraints and key trends in magnesium market. The sections that follow include global market analysis, by application and further by regional/country level analysis. All the above sections evaluate the market on the basis of various factors affecting the market, covering present scenario and future prospects. For market data analysis, the report considers 2015 as the base year, with market numbers estimated for 2016 and the forecast made for 2017 - 2026.

To calculate market size, the report considers average price of magnesium oxide across geographies on a regional basis. The forecast assesses total revenue as well as volume of global magnesium market. The data is triangulated on the basis of different analysis considering supply side, demand side and dynamics of regional markets. However, quantifying the market across regions is more a matter of quantifying expectations and identifying opportunities rather than rationalising them after the forecast has been completed.

The final section of the global magnesium oxide market report provides profiles of the key industry players in order to evaluate their strategies and recent developments. Moreover, this section of the report also includes a dashboard view of key companies operating in global magnesium market. Some of the market players featured in the section include  Grecian Magnesite, Premier Magnesia LLC, Ube Industries Ltd., Robert Half International AG, Magnezit Group Europe GmbH, Magnesita Refractories SA, Kumas Manyezit Sanayi AS, Xinyang Mineral Group, Israel Chemical Ltd., and SMZ, a.s., Jesava.

Request for covid19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/covid19/rep-gb-1622

Key Regions/ Country Covered
Scranton, PA (18503)

Today

Rain and snow showers this evening transitioning to snow showers overnight. Low around 25F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%..

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Rain and snow showers this evening transitioning to snow showers overnight. Low around 25F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%.
Last weeks agreement between the UAE and Israel to normalise relations could add to Irans worries in the region

Could we be witnessing a dramatic geopolitical shift in the Middle East, with major implications for the regions security arrangements, bilateral relations and ideological frontiers, or was last weeks agreement between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel merely a case two countries aiming to strengthen their economic and political cooperation?

The question imposed itself after the US administration announced last week that the UAE and Israel had reached a historic agreement to normalise relations and establish full diplomatic ties in a US-brokered deal.

The UAE is the first Gulf Arab state and only the third Arab nation after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 to establish normalised relations with Israel. The significance of the move is undeniable, but the objectives and consequences of it are disputed. It was immediately rejected by the Palestinians.

It is a landmark event, no doubt about it. For the first time, normalisation with Israel is not linked directly to the Palestinian issue, Ian Black, visiting fellow at the Middle East Centre at the LSE in London, told Al-Ahram Weekly.

Black said that the deal between Israel and UAE had less to do with peace with the Palestinians and more to do with regional remaking. UAE-Israel ties have intensified and become increasingly visible over the last decade based on their shared hostility to Iran, he said.

The US administration hailed the agreement as a historic day for peace in the Middle East. Officials in the UAE said the decision to normalise relations with Israel, in return for Israel delaying its annexation plans in the West Bank, was intended to provide the Palestinians and Israelis with the time they needed to resume peace negotiations.

However, moments after Trumps announcement of the agreement in the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the annexation plans were only on temporary hold at the request of the US, emphasising that he had made no change in my plans for annexation.

American and Israeli officials in their public statements failed to mention the resumption of negotiations with the Palestinians or on a two-state solution in historic Palestine. But Iran was mentioned as the raison detre of the agreement.

Trumps Middle East adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner said the agreement represented a massive change for the Middle East and a dramatic breakthrough that will make the Middle East safer.

Calling for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) to follow suit, Kushner said that it is in the interest of a lot of these countries from a security point of view and from an economic point of view to have relations with Israel The more that countries come together like Israel and the UAE... the harder it will be for Iran to divide and conquer.

If you think about the people who dont want Saudi Arabia and Israel to make a peace agreement, the number one opponent for that is going to be Iran, he said.

However, the UAE quickly distanced itself from this characterisation of the agreement. The UAE-Israeli peace treaty is a sovereign decision not directed at Iran, said UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash on Twitter on Monday after the UAE had summoned Irans charge daffaires in Abu Dhabi in response to a speech by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in which he had accused the UAE of making a huge mistake in normalising ties with Israel, calling it a betrayal by the Gulf state.

Irans powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps also said there could be dangerous consequences for the UAE, calling the deal a shameful agreement and an evil action that was underwritten by the US, according to its website.

Iran fears that the normalisation of relations between Israel and the UAE could pave the way for more US weapons sales to the Gulf Arab country.

In a US National Public Radio interview on Friday, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said that the more the Emirates become a friend of Israel, become a partner of Israel, become a regional ally of the United States, I think obviously that alters the threat assessment and could work out to the Emirates benefit on future weapons sales.

The US guarantees that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than the Arab states, giving it what is labelled a qualitative military edge.

On Tuesday and contrary to Friedmans assurances, the Israeli prime ministers office issued a statement emphasising that the agreement with the UAE did not include any changes in arms policies, saying that the US made clear to Israel that it will always make sure to protect Israels qualitative edge.

But Tehran is also concerned that allowing Israel a foothold in the UAE will allow it to engage in acts against Iran. An Iranian official told the Weekly that Iran has clearly stated its position on the UAE move. We warn against hiding behind normalisation to pursue an agenda against Iran.

For the UAE, the deal is not without risks, among them regional reactions. If the other Arab Gulf states do not follow suit in normalising relations with Israel, the UAE will be in a perplexing situation, wondering whether to press ahead or to put on the brakes by waiting for other countries.

Only Bahrain and Oman from the GCC have welcomed the deal, while Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar have yet to comment. Government sources in Kuwait said its position towards Israel was unchanged, and it would be the last country to normalise relations.

The UAE agreement with Israel comes at a time when the US strategy towards Iran is faltering. The US suffered a humiliating defeat in the UN Security Council when it failed to pass a resolution extending the arms embargo on Iran last week.

Only one country supported the US resolution, the Dominican Republic.

During Trumps four years in office, the maximum pressure strategy against Tehran has achieved nothing but suffering for ordinary Iranians. In June, Iran agreed to a 25-year strategic co-operation deal with China on economic and security issues worth about $600 billion. Under the deal, Iran will sell oil to the Chinese in exchange for investments in banking, transportation, energy, communications and technology.

China and Iran will also form a joint commission for developing weapons and scientific partnerships, including in cyberwarfare, as part of Chinas moves to step up its intelligence and military presence in the Middle East. Iran is working on a similar strategic treaty with Russia.

The UAE-Israeli deal in its current shape does not represent an immediately significant transformation of geopolitical relations. The impact on the Middle East cannot be predicted immediately. There are many possible variables, Black told the Weekly.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Rating Action: Moody's rates Centurion's term loan B1

Global Credit Research - 18 Aug 2020

New York, August 18, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") assigned a B1 rating to Centurion Pipeline Company LLC's (Centurion) $75 million senior secured term loan. The outlook is stable.

"Centurion is raising additional funding to finance strategic growth projects in 2020-2021, while keeping its cash balances to maintain adequate liquidity," said Elena Nadtotchi, Senior Credit Officer.

Assignments:

..Issuer: Centurion Pipeline Company LLC

....Gtd. Senior Secured Term Loan, Assigned B1 (LGD4)

LGD Adjustments:

....LGD Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility, Adjusted to (LGD4) from (LGD3)

RATINGS RATIONALE

The new term loan is rated B1 at the same level as Centurion's corporate family rating and its existing term loan. It ranks pari passu with the existing $350 million senior secured term loan and $100 million senior secured revolving credit facility and benefits from the first-lien claim to substantially all of Centurion's assets.

Centurion's B1 corporate family rating reflects rising financial and liquidity risks in 2020. Moody's expects Centurion's revenues and cash flow to decline significantly, compared to its prior expectations, even as the company continues to benefit from material minimum volume commitments (MVC) provisions, including from Occidental Petroleum Corporation. Centurion has low maintenance investment requirements and has certain flexibility in managing its growth investment commitments. The company will utilize the proceeds from the incremental term loan B-1 to fund the Augustus Pipeline and the investment in the Wink-to-Webster pipeline system, as well as general corporate purposes. These sizable investments combined with a decline in earnings is expected to drive free cash flow generation in 2020 and weaken leverage and liquidity profile.

The stable outlook on all ratings reflects the overall strong starting balance sheet at the end of the second quarter of 2020 and significant support to cash flows from the existing MVC commitments.

Story continues

The rapid spread of the coronavirus outbreak, deteriorating global economic outlook, low oil prices, and high asset price volatility have created an unprecedented credit shock across a range of sectors and regions. We regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety.

Centurion's adequate liquidity position is supported by cash balances and its $100 million senior secured revolving credit facility expiring in 2023, that remained undrawn at the end of June 2020. The proposed upsizing of the revolver, which we do not expect to be drawn, will provide a small boost to liquidity. The new term loan will have the same financial covenants as the existing. Both the senior secured facility and secured term loan are subject to a debt service coverage ratio covenant of at least 1.10x. In addition, the revolving credit facility is subject to a maximum net leverage ratio of 4.75x net debt/EBITDA. We expect the company to be in compliance with these covenants through 2020-21.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS

Centurion ratings may be downgraded if its liquidity position were to weaken further or if its leverage were to increase with debt/EBITDA exceeding 4x. While not likely in the near term, the ratings may be upgraded if Centurion maintains good liquidity and low leverage with debt/EBITDA around 2x, maintains high quality of counterparty risk exposures and returns to growth in EBITDA amid a general recovery in the industry.

Centurion Pipeline Company LLC (Centurion), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lotus Midstream, LLC, a company headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, that is focused on the development of midstream infrastructure and services necessary to transport crude oil and condensate from the Permian Basin. The company was established at the beginning of 2018 and is backed by EnCap Flatrock Midstream, a venture capital group with a focus on investing in North American midstream assets.

The principal methodology used in these ratings was Midstream Energy published in December 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1147839. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.

For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.

The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.

These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.

Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.

The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.

Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.

Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.

Elena Nadtotchi VP - Senior Credit Officer Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Steven Wood MD - Corporate Finance Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653

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MJKK and MSFJ also maintain policies and procedures to address Japanese regulatory requirements.


More snow on the way in Pennsylvania; here's how much to expect
N ew ZealandS Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today told Donald Trump his remarks that her country was in the grip of a terrible upsurge in Covid-19 cases were patently wrong.

The US President sparked uproar when he told a crowd in Minnesota that New Zealand was experiencing a big surge, having earlier succeeded in eliminating the disease.

Thirteen new infections were confirmed on Tuesday, after nine on Monday, taking its total number since the pandemic began to 1,293, with 22 deaths. This compares with the US tally of more than 5.2 million cases and 170,000 deaths.

You see whats going on in New Zealand, Mr Trump said in his speech yesterday. They beat it, they beat it. It was like front page, they beat it. Because they wanted to show me something. The problem is, big surge in New Zealand. So, you know, its terrible, we dont want that.

Ms Ardern hit back: I think anyone whos following Covid and its transmission globally will quite easily see that New Zealands nine cases in a day does not compare to the United States tens of thousands, and in fact does not compare to most countries in the world. India carried out 900,000 coronavirus tests in a single day yesterday, a record for the country.

"Only the US has carried out more daily tests, it was reported. Indias tests returned 55,079 positive cases, taking its total to more than 2.7 million  behind only the US and Brazil.

Lebanons health minister has warned that hospitals are reaching maximum capacity to treat virus patients after the deadly Beirut blast either damaged or overwhelmed clinics and also triggered a spike in Covid cases. In China, the head of a state-owned pharmaceutical company says its coronavirus vaccine will be commercially available by the end of the year.

Australia has recorded its lowest one-day rise in new Covid-19 infections in a month, boosting hopes that a stringent lockdown in the state of Victoria has prevented a fresh wave nationally.

Victorias health department reported 222 news cases, the lowest daily tally since 217 were recorded on July 18.

In Germany authorities in the Bavarian town of Bodenwohr have ordered 120 people into quarantine after a resident who had returned from Italy tested positive for the virus, but only learned of his results after attending a large birthday party.

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Russias energy minister Alexander Novak has tested positive for the virus, the countrys prime minister Mikhail Mishustin said today.
I understand the fear many teachers have regarding returning to the classroom this fall. It is the fear of the unknown, especially for older teachers. I also understand the deficiency of adequate learning from teaching remotely. Our Public Education Department has adopted both hybrid and remote plans to begin this school year.

However, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield recently told Congress that its in the public health best interest for K12 students to get back to face-to-face learning.

Redfield said, Theres really very significant public health consequences of the school closure. Were seeing an increase in drug use disorder, as well as suicide in adolescent individuals. So, I do think its really important to realize, its not public health versus the economy about school opening  its public health versus public health.

The CDC has issued school reopening guidelines that include social distancing, masks and hygiene measures. Studies from Iceland, Sweden and Germany found no increased risk of infection among or from students returning to the classroom.

In January 2018, the Quality Counts Report released by Education Week magazine ranked New Mexico next to last nationally in education. Kids Count, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, also gave New Mexico a poor grade for its public education system.

Recognizing the deficiencies in remote learning and due to the COVID pandemic, our Public Education Department has requested a reprieve from federal student testing and accountability requirements for the 2019-20 school year. In essence, they are projecting failure of distance learning.

With this continuing poor showing in mind, it is time to consider creative methods to get our kids back in the classroom and improve our student outcomes. Teachers unions oppose returning too soon. Some local unions have blatantly politicized not returning until their police are defunded. Will the teachers unions funding of mainly Democratic politicians who make the rules in New Mexico continue as a restraint on better solutions?

To encourage face-to-face education, the Trump administration is considering some form of financial assistance to parents wishing to get their kids back in the classroom this fall.

The U.S. Supreme Court just sanctioned the use of public funds for private tuition. In May, using the CARES Act funds, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos created a $180 million voucher program for private and religious schools. DeVos is additionally trying to redirect CARES Act funds to enable low-income students to attend private schools.

Some private and parochial schools continuing normal classroom activities, with CDC guidelines, are reducing tuition costs to encourage enrollment.

With 40% of our workforce having school-age children, this could solve several problems. If both parents work, they can continue to work and not leave one parent behind with a child for remote learning from home. Nationally, that figure is about 27 million parents. In addition to increasing family income, it will also benefit the students learning process. A creative win-win.

Adelante Now is a bipartisan nonprofit working to improve academic outcomes in New Mexico.
Leidschendam, NETHERLANDS, Aug 18 (Reuters) - There is no evidence that the leadership of the Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah, or the Syrian government, were involved in the 2005 bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, a judge said on Tuesday.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is reading the verdict in the trial of four Hezbollah members charged with conspiracy to kill Hariri and 21 others.

"The trial chamber is of the view that Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr Hariri and his political allies, however there is no evidence that the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariri's murder and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement," said Judge David Re, reading a summary of the court's 2,600 page decision. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Writing by Anthony Deutsch)
The former head of the National Counterterrorism Center said he would not be surprised if right-wing domestic terrorist groups stage attacks in the United States around this Novembers presidential election.

It certainly wouldnt surprise me, particularly if the administration loses, said Russ Travers, who was the centers acting director when he was fired by President Trumps hand-picked acting director of national intelligence.

Trump, who is behind in all national polls, has repeatedly claimed that the expected widespread use of mail-in ballots during a national pandemic will lead to massive fraud and abuse and an election result that is rigged against him. The political rhetoric is such that you could very easily see some backlash from white supremacist or other right-wing terror groups, Travers said.

Travers is not alone in his assessment. An Aug. 17 Department of Homeland Security analysis also warns of possible election-related attacks. We assess ideologically-motivated violent extremists and other violent actors could quickly mobilize to threaten or engage in violence against election or campaign-related targets in response to perceived partisan and policy-based grievances, says the document, which was obtained by Yahoo News.

While the DHS document appears to indicate that such attacks might come from across the political spectrum, white supremacists are the only group it cites specifically. We continue to assess lone offender white supremacist extremists and other lone offender domestic terrorist actors with personalized ideologies, including those based on grievances against a targets perceived or actual political affiliation, policies or worldview, pose the greatest threat of lethal violence, says the document, which was prepared by DHSs Office of Intelligence and Analysis in coordination with several other offices, as well as with the National Counterterrorism Center.

Russell Travers, acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center, testifies before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Threats to the Homeland on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. November 5, 2019. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)

Travers, who was interviewed by Yahoo News before the the DHS analysis was issued, said in a subsequent phone call that he had not seen the document and was unaware of its existence.

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Despite Trumps declared intent to designate the left-wing activist movement known as antifa as a domestic terror organization, the threat from right-wing groups dwarfs that of their left-wing counterparts in the United States, according to Travers.

There absolutely is a left-wing effort that has conducted violent activities, he said, citing the small numbers of such offenses during recent protests in Portland, Ore., but it is not even in the same ballpark as the extreme right wing. However, any attempt to designate either type of group would be unlikely to survive a legal challenge, he added.

Indeed, said Travers, the U.S. government likely underestimates the amount of white supremacist domestic terrorism in the United States. But that has not stopped Trump from frequently focusing his rhetorical ire on antifa, which is short for antifascist. It was after the start of nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed in Minneapolis police custody, that Trump announced on May 31 that he would declare antifa a terrorist organization. Attorney General William Barr issued a similar statement the same day: The violence instigated and carried out by antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly.

Chris Kleponis/Polaris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Nonetheless, Travers said the difference between the small number of violent left-wing activists and the larger threat posed by right-wing groups is so significant as to be a case of night and day, and was the main reason why, when it came to domestic terrorism, the counterterrorism center decided to focus exclusively on white supremacist groups.

An experienced intelligence officer with 32 years of federal service, Travers was the centers acting director for most of 2018 and again from August 2019 to March 2020, when he was fired by Trumps then-acting intelligence chief Richard Grenell, as part of a purge of career officials holding leadership positions at the office of the director of national intelligence, to which the counterterrorism center belongs.

Established in the wake of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to analyze all U.S. government intelligence related to terrorism, the center during its early years was overwhelmingly focused on threats from Islamist groups such as al-Qaida, according to Travers. Only when that threat began to subside did the center begin to pay serious attention to white supremacism and similar right-wing movements, a shift that coincided with Travers, who had been the centers deputy director, taking charge in December 2017.

Travers, who had been at the counterterrorism center since 2003, questioned his staff in early 2018 about what it thought the center should be focusing on. In response, the centers dozen representatives posted to joint terrorism task forces or FBI field stations around the country reported that among the state and local law enforcement officials with whom they dealt, as well as among academic and private sector experts, there was a thirst for NCTC to engage in more of the domestic terrorism side, and in particular on the right wing, Travers said, adding that in its work the center always acts in support of the FBI, which has the lead role in countering terrorism in the U.S.

Members of far-right militias and white pride organizations rally in Stone Mountain, Ga., on Saturday. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)

In the heartland, they were asking our reps more and more questions on the domestic terrorism side, rather than the Islamist side, he said. At roughly the same time, Travers said, he was hearing from a wide range of sources, including members of Congress and the leaders of social media firms, that the domestic terrorism problem  and primarily the right-wing side of the domestic terrorism problem  was a growing concern for people.

However, a cursory analysis of the links between white supremacist groups in North America, Europe and Australia meant that even the phrase domestic terrorism was something of a misnomer, Travers said. It was pretty clear to us that a lot of this right-wing thing was a bit of a global movement. All of my European partners had the very same concerns.  This was a different flavor of international terrorism.

There was at least one other area in which white supremacist terrorism and Islamic terrorism overlapped, according to Travers: their use of the internet and social media to attract and radicalize followers. The right-wing thing looks a lot like the Islamist thing in terms of the information thats out there and the ways in which people radicalize and mobilize to violence, he said.

White supremacist groups use of social media in particular presents challenges to social media companies, which can ban groups like the Islamic State more easily than they can homegrown threats, according to Travers. In addition, most right-wing terrorism is committed by lone offenders, and while those individuals might have been inspired by white supremacists online screeds, invariably that hate speech would be protected by the First Amendment, he said.

Travers believes that there probably is more domestic terrorism out there than we realize, because in the absence of a domestic terrorism statute, local law enforcement officials tend to treat any murder that occurs anywhere as a simple crime. But what is the motivation behind that crime? he said. Was it a white supremacist thing or not? That may not be cataloged or tracked, and in all likelihood its not.

Even the August 2019 attack at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, in which Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old white man, used an AK-47-style rifle to kill 23 people, most of whom were Latinos, and wounded another 23, was not immediately classed by local officials as domestic terrorism, Travers said. It took a few days before that one gravitated from crime to domestic terrorism, he said. It helped that Crusius put out a manifesto, basically talked about a Hispanic invasion.

In this Oct., 10, 2019, file photo, El Paso Walmart mass shooter Patrick Crusius is arraigned in the 409th state District Court in El Paso, Texas, with Judge Sam Medrano presiding. (Mark Lambie/The El Paso Times via AP)

Yet the same lack of a domestic terrorism statute that prevents officials from designating some white supremacist attacks as terrorism is one reason why the Trump administration will have difficulty making its effort to designate antifa as a terrorist group stick in court, he said. A second reason is that antifa has neither an organizational structure nor a leader, making it similar to the right-wing boogaloo movement, according to Travers. I dont think it will pass constitutional muster, he said of the administrations intent to designate antifa, and that would be true both for extreme right movements and extreme left movements.

The U.S. counterterrorism community has become used to dealing with groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State that were hierarchical in nature, according to Travers. But that just isnt the case anymore, so weve got to get our heads around what is a movement and how do we deal with it, he said. And Im pretty sure thats going to befuddle those that want to go after both antifa and boogaloo.

Indeed, despite its May 31 announcements, the Trump administration has made no public attempt to legally designate antifa a terrorist organization, a fact that does not surprise Travers. I would be shocked if there is a designation of antifa that survives legal challenge, he said. I just dont see how it happens.

As acting head of the counterterrorism center, Travers decided that antifa and other left-wing movements or groups did not pose enough of a threat to show much concern about. It didnt have the kind of international connections that the right wing had  and I [didnt] have the resources to do everything, he said. Theres no question that in years past, so the late 60s and early 70s, left-wing terrorism in the United States was a huge deal, but just not so anymore.

People march to Columbia University to protest against former leader of the English Defence League, Tommy Robinson, and against white supremacists in New York, U.S., October 10, 2017. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

As for right-wing domestic terrorism, Travers believes that the key to reducing the threat is to focus on preventing individuals from becoming violent actors. Just as it became clear that the United States was never going to kill or arrest its way to victory over Islamist terrorists, we as a government need to be thinking a little bit broader than just arresting our way out of the domestic terrorism problem set. We dont want to make the same kinds of mistakes on the right-wing side that we have made, I think, on the Islamist question.

While acknowledging the challenges of trying to balance the need to reduce the threat of white-supremacist-inspired terrorism with the First Amendment requirement to permit people to express their abhorrent but nevertheless constitutionally protected views, Travers still finds reasons to be optimistic.

All the Pew research data suggests that the vast majority of Americans are in favor of immigration, and the vast majority of the American public sort of believes that rights and freedoms should be respected for everybody, he said. So in my mind, at least, a lot of this, even the right-wing stuff, I think, is still best characterized as a fringe, but its a fringe that is pretty loud.

Jana Winter contributed reporting.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Ibiza is known for its party atmosphere, but the government has also told bars to close an hour earlier to combat a spike in coronavirus cases. (AFP via Getty Images)

The government of the Balearic Islands has introduced a number of new social distancing measures in an attempt to stop a recent coronavirus outbreak from getting out of control.

President Francina Armengol said on Tuesday that boat and pool parties will be banned in Formentera, Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza.

According to health minister Patricia Gomez, the regions government believes boat parties are the most likely venues for mass outbreaks to originate.

Late night bars will also have to close their doors at 1am, an hour earlier than in normal summer seasons.

Tourists queue to board a ferry at Ibiza's harbour. (Getty)

Nightclubs will remain closed for the foreseeable future, Armengol said.

On Monday, Spains health ministry announced that 1,833 new coronavirus cases had been diagnosed in 24 hours  which was below Friday's post-lockdown record of 2,987 but more than three times the average seen in July.

Cumulative cases, which include results from antibody tests on patients who may have already recovered, rose to 359,082, with 32,389 detected in the past seven days, the ministry added.

Since lifting its strict lockdown at the end of June, Spain has struggled to contain a spiralling infection rate, despite mandatory mask-wearing enforced across the country and other restrictions.

People gather at terrace bar at the port of Ibiza. (Getty)

The government's most senior coronavirus expert, Fernando Simon, said more testing was part of the reason for the surge.

"We are detecting much of what is out there. I wouldn't say 100% ... but between 60% and 70%," he told a news conference, adding that the figure was slightly below 10% during the epidemic's March-April peak.

Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque Country have all launched mass screening programmes in a bid to identify and isolate asymptomatic carriers of the virus.

While hospitals are not yet under severe pressure, Simon said some medical staff were beginning to feel the strain, particularly in Madrid, which has detected 9,430 cases in the past seven days  more than any other region.

Despite widespread fears that an influx of sun-seeking summer tourists would serve as a vector for infection, Simon said only 163 imported cases had been confirmed in the past week.

The ministry is monitoring 1,019 active clusters of the virus, defined as three or more linked cases spread across different households, up from 560 at the beginning of the month.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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Edelman is providing communications services to Mashreq Bank, one of the oldest financial services institutions in the United Arab Emirates.

The firms August 5 letter of agreement calls for it to provide strategic advice in consulting with Mashreqs external counsel, non-US media management & monitoring, and handling inquiries from overseas journalists.

The relationship between Edelman and Mashreq may be terminated by either party upon 30 days written notice. Edelman pre-bills the client $20K to cover a portion of the estimated fees.

Mashreq, which is based in Dubai, bolstered its PR effort last month via the recruitment of Aimee Peters as group head of marketing & corporate communications.

She was head of marketingglobal B2B coverage & capital markets at HSBC, where Peters was in charge of marketing across its wholesale, investment and commercial banking divisions.

At Mashreq, Peters oversees developing the banks brand strategy, with a focus on digital and mobile channels.
State Rep. Avery Bourne has been named Champion of Free Enterprise by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

The award is given to legislators for contributions to the defense of free enterprise and furthering policies that promote job growth and economic opportunities for Illinoisans.
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich advised fellow Republicans to follow him in supporting Joe Biden for president, making a pitch that Biden would restore a sense of normalcy.



Kasich, who ran for the GOP nomination the same year as President Donald Trump, noted the irony of him speaking at the Democratic National Convention, but said that reflected how important it is to elect Biden over Trump.
Farmington, N.Y.  State police have identified the three people killed in a head-on crash involving a wrong-way driver on the New York State Thruway earlier this morning.

Killed were Charles Bargerstock, 81, of Stow, Ohio; Himel A. Joy, 24 and Mojammal H. Rasel, 30, both of Astoria.

State police received a report around 1:20 a.m. that a driver was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the Thruway near the Clifton Springs Service Area in Ontario County.

The wrong-way driver, later identified as Bargerstock, was driving his 2008 Honda Pilot the wrong way for at least eight minutes. Police believe Bargerstock entered the wrong lanes when getting back on the Thruway from the rest stop.

At 1:28 a.m., Bargerstock collided head-on with Joys 2015 Honda Accord at mile marker 346, about a mile east of Exit 44 (Canandaigua/Victor/NY Route 332).

Joy, Bargerstock and Rasel, a rear-seat passenger in Joys car, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The front-seat passenger in the Honda, 23-year-old Moshin Ahmed, of Astoria, was airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with serious injuries. He is currently listed in guarded condition.

Another rear-seat passenger in the Honda, 18-year-old Kenedy Apel, of Astoria, was taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital for a head injury. He is currently listed in satisfactory condition.

Bargerstock, who was traveling alone, was reported as a missing endangered person by the Stow Police Department after he left his home for an appointment around 9:30 a.m. that morning and never showed up. A BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert for Bargerstock was issued around 1:30 p.m.

The four men from Astoria were returning to New York City after a visit to Niagara Falls, State Police Trooper Mark ODonnell said.

The Thruway was closed to all eastbound traffic between exits 44 and 43, but reopened around 6:15 a.m.

The crash remains under investigation.

Did you witness the crash or see the wrong-way driver? The Post-Standard would like to hear from you. Share what you saw with reporter Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com.

Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @JacobPucci.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday expressed grief over the killing of two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, who hailed from the state, in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

The country would always remember the martyrdom of Khurshid Khan and Lavkush Sharma, Kumar said in a statement.

Khan and Sharma, who hailed from Rohtas district and Jehanabad district respectively, were among the three security personnel who were killed in the attack in Baramulla district of the union territory.

The third person who died in the attack by suspected militants of the Lashkar-e-Taiba was a local policeman.

Kumar prayed to almighty to give strength and courage to the bereaved family members of the CRPF jawans.

Their bodies would be cremated with police honours, the chief minister said.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Engineering and consultancy company Wood Group (John) PLC (WDGJF.PK, WG.L) reported Tuesday that its first-half loss was $11 million, compared to prior year's profit of $13 million. Basic loss per share was 2.2 cents, compared to 2.1 cents last year. Adjusted earnings per share were 10.1 cents, compared to 18.2 cents last year. Adjusted EBITDA declined 20.6 percent to $305 million from $384 million a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA Margin dropped to 7.5 percent from 8 percent a year ago. Revenue declined 14.7 percent to $4.09 billion from $4.79 billion in the prior year. Revenue on a like-for-like basis fell 11.5 percent. Order book as of June 30 was at $7 billion, down 16.4 percent on June 2019 on a like for like basis. The company noted that $3.1 billion of order book is due to be delivered in the second half, giving higher than typical visibility. Looking ahead, Robin Watson, Chief Executive said, 'Our objectives are to maintain full year margins in line with 2019 and deliver strong cashflow to further reduce debt in the second half.' The company projects to deliver a stronger second half margin as it looks to maintain EBITDA margins at the 2019 level of 8.6 percent. Looking further ahead, the company remains committed to delivering medium term EBITDA margin target of 100 basis points improvement on 2019. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Amsterdam/s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, 18 August 2020



Van Lanschot Kempen and Hof Hoorneman Bankierss shareholders today reached agreement on the acquisition by Van Lanschot Kempen of all shares in Hof Hoorneman Bankiers.

With 1.9 billion in client assets, Hof Hoorneman Bankiers offers private banking, online wealth management and settlement-only services as its core activities. It also manages a number of own investment funds in which mostly its own clients invest.

Karl Guha, Chairman of Van Lanschot Kempen, said: We are absolutely delighted with this acquisition, which is an excellent fit with our growth strategy. Hof Hoorneman Bankiers boasts a distinctive position in the market and offers a good fit in terms of client mix, investment policy, corporate culture and personal approach. This transaction will help us grow our client assets by 1.9 billion. There are also major synergies to be had and we see potential for future growth. Through their current trusted Hof Hoorneman Bankiers bankers, the clients will gain access to a broader offering of products and services for the preservation and creation of their wealth.

Jaco Aardoom, Managing Director of Hof Hoorneman Bankiers, added: In Van Lanschot Kempen we have found a Dutch specialist wealth manager to provide management and guidance to our clients. Hof Hoorneman Bankierss activities offer a logical and natural fit with Van Lanschot Kempen, leading me to expect a very smooth transition for our clients. In fact, Van Lanschot Kempen has a broader array of products and services to offer, including investment advice, financial planning and mortgages. We are convinced that this decision is in the interest of both our clients and our people. Aligning with a larger specialist private banking player will enable them to tap into lots of opportunities for their further development.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval of the proposed takeover and integration of Hof Hoorneman Bankiers into Van Lanschot Kempen.

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The transaction is expected to have only a minor impact on Van Lanschot Kempens capital ratio and should be completed by the end of 2020, subject to the conditions already mentioned.





Van Lanschot Kempen

Media Relations: 020 354 45 85; mediarelations@vanlanschotkempen.com

Investor Relations: 020 354 45 90; investorrelations@vanlanschotkempen.com



Hof Hoorneman

Media Relations: pr@hofhoorneman.nl





About Hof Hoorneman

Hof Hoorneman Bankiers is an independent asset manager with a full banking license, founded in 1989 and based in Gouda. In addition to its headquarters, the company has branches in Arnhem, 't Gooi,' s-Hertogenbosch, Groningen and Maastricht. Hof Hoorneman Bankiers manages individual assets and twelve own investment funds.

For more information, see hofhoorneman.nl

About Van Lanschot Kempen

Van Lanschot Kempen, a wealth manager operating under the Van Lanschot, Kempen and Evi brand names, is active in Private Banking, Asset Management and Merchant Banking, with the aim of preserving and creating wealth, in a sustainable way, for its clients. Van Lanschot Kempen, listed at Euronext Amsterdam, is the Netherlands oldest independent financial services company with a history dating back to 1737.

For more information, see vanlanschotkempen.com

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New Australian Studio instance empowers customers to use Revu 20 to effectively manage project information and meet local data residency requirements

Pasadena, CA, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bluebeam, leading developer of solutions and services that set the standard for architecture, engineering and construction professionals worldwide, announces the newest version of Revu, their flagship project efficiency and collaboration solution. Revu 20 delivers greater flexibility and control with improved user and content management capabilities and streamlines communication with new enhancements designed to increase accuracy and save time.

Along with the release of Revu 20, Bluebeam also announces the launch of a new Studio server instance in Australia today, allowing clients to host Studio Sessions and store project data within Australian borders, meeting local data sovereignty requirements. Access is available immediately and is automatic for all users in the region using Revu 20 or Revu 2019. More information can be found here.

'When we think of "teamwork" on a construction project, we think about removing barriers through technology while unlocking the inherent potential of a group of diverse project partners', said Bluebeam CEO Jon Elliott. 'When teams have the right solutions in place to work together seamlessly across distances and time zones, all of the investments an organisation makes in training, management and process development can be realised through clear and measurable improvements in quality, accuracy and efficiency. Revu 20 delivers improved communication management capabilities and productivity improvements that are designed to maximise an organisations investments across the board.'

Revu 20 introduces new communication features that are designed to boost productivity and enable more successful project delivery, improved user and content management capabilities to provide greater flexibility and control, and enhancements to the powerful markup tools in Revu that improve project data management when reviewing, commenting, marking up, tracking and managing project documents.

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'Bluebeam has always been a company that has focused on solving problems without reinventing the way teams work in the process', said Bluebeam CPO Roger Angarita. 'In fact, we focus on developing solutions that enhance the existing strength of organisations and meet them at the point where the right tools start to make all the difference. Whether that takes the form of the right features, the right collaborative tools or the right global data network. As proof to the effectiveness of our approach, Bluebeam Global Services surveyed customers at individual companies and found that 82% of Revu users reported saved time, 76% reported boosted efficiency and 88% reported improvement in work quality. These results reflect the incredible benefits of collaborative innovation and teamwork, and were proud to drive results that build a stronger business relationship among AEC companies and their customers.'

'Data security and accessibility are more important than ever, and the Australian construction industry is rising to meet the challenge', said Bluebeam Regional Director Kelly Furtado. 'We've applied Bluebeam's customer-centric approach to the development of our local data infrastructure and listened to the needs of Australian customers. We are proud to have launched a new local server instance that not only allows local projects to meet Australian data residency regulations but improves overall Studio performance in the broader APAC region.'

Studio is a collaborative space accessed from within Revu that transforms the application into a real-time collaboration solution, allowing teams to stay connected across the globe from wherever they are  whether its the jobsite, the trailer or  most recently  their homes. Studio Projects provide access to a single centralised location to store documents  even entire building projects  in the cloud, and Revu 20 delivers improved access and control. Revu 20 also introduces an improved invitation process and administrative controls in Studio Sessions that make it easier than ever for team members and administrators worldwide to instantly connect on the same set of documents and take advantage of real-time connectivity. 

Revu 20 Standard, CAD and eXtreme editions are available now at Bluebeam.com.au and through our worldwide reseller network

Bluebeam, Inc.

Trusted by over 1.9 million individuals in more than 130 countries, Bluebeam's smart, intuitive markup and collaboration solutions advance the way technical professionals work, manage and collaborate on projects digitally. Founded in Pasadena, CA, Bluebeam has grown to include additional US offices in California, Illinois, Texas and New Hampshire, as well as offices in England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Australia. Bluebeam is part of the Nemetschek Group. Download a 30-day trial of Bluebeam Revu on our website.

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CONTACT: Megan Johnstone Bluebeam, Inc. +61 (07) 3608 5800 mjohnstone@bluebeam.com




Visva Bharati on Tuesday demanded a Central Bureua of Investigation inquiry into the August 17 campus violence for which it blamed a ruling Trinamool Congress MLA and some other ruling party leaders, and asserted the prestigious central university will remain closed until the perpetrators are brought to book.

IMAGE: Locals vandalised construction material stocked by authorities to build a wall around the ground of the Visva Bharati university. Photograph: ANI

The university has also decided to seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention for the deployment of central security forces on its premises, a development that could be a potential flashpoint with the state government.

The prime minister is the chancellor of the university.

The vandalism at the prestigious university, founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, has snowballed into a major political row, after some ruling TMC supporters and varsity authorities filed police complaints against each other.

West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar threw his weight behind the university, which accused the local TMC MLA Naresh Barui of masterminding the violence.

Dhankhar Tuesday wrote to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her to initiate stern action against the perpetrators as "panic and atmosphere of fear" is prevailing at Santiniketan.

The Birbhum district TMC leadership blamed the vice-chancellor, the university's "arrogant approach", and "outsiders imported by the varsity" for Monday's mayhem.

The heritage university was shut down indefinitely on Monday following violent protests against Visva Bharati's decision to construct a boundary wall around the venue of Poush Mela, a prestigious annual cultural event started more than a century ago.

According to Shyam Singh, the Birbhum district superintendent of police, nine persons have been arrested for the campus violence.

Palpable tension prevailed at the institute with barely any movement seen on Tuesday morning.

The university filed a police complaint against Bauri, the Trinamool Congress MLA from Dubrajpur, who is also a former student of Visva Bharati, and two other TMC leaders, who were present when violence took place.

Bauri denied any involvement and said he was present in the peaceful protest not as a TMC leader but as a former student of the university.

According to police sources, locals have also filed complaints against university officials, including Vice- Chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty, blaming them for the violence. Calling the complaints "false", the university demanded their immediate withdrawal.

"Unless the miscreants, who committed vandalism along with TMC leaders at the lead, are booked and until we are at ease through the creation of condition in which the members of the university are free from bodily harm and humiliation, Visva Bharati would remain closed," the university said in a press statement on Tuesday.

The varsity also demanded that police withdraw the "false FIRs" slapped on the vice-chancellor and other university officials or else campus won't be free from "threat of humiliation and violence".

Police said they have received complaints from both sides and are looking into them.

"The executive council (of the university) has unanimously decided to write to the honourable chancellor (the prime minister) for the deployment of any of the central security forces to deal with security issues on the campus," one of its members said.

Meanwhile, a senior professor of the institution has alleged a group of protesters ransacked his residence early Tuesday, hours after the decision to close the university was announced.

Biplab Lohachowdhury, the head of the university's journalism department, also said he has filed a police complaint and written to the registrar of the institute to intimate him about the incident.

A senior police officer in Birbhum said an FIR has been lodged in the case and the matter is under investigation.

Governor Dhankhar, who expressed his dismay over the turn of events, while urging Banerjee to act tough with the perpetrators of the violence, called it an "organised crime".

"I would urge to take a proactive stance and ensure exemplary consequence to the lawbreakers," he said, adding it was baffling to "note the non-responsive stance" of the police and administration to the appeals of the varsity.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh claimed "vested interests" are trying to grab the land of Visva Bharati in tacit understanding with the local TMC leadership.

Trouble erupted on Monday after the fencing work began on the fair ground, with thousands of protesters vandalising construction equipment and tearing down the main gate.

The Trinamool Congress government condemned the violence but threw its weight behind the protesters.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was against any construction at the site and asked the district administration to convene a meeting of the stakeholders.

The university authorities, however, insisted a fence around the fair venue was required be built to honour an order of the National Green Tribunal, which had on November 1, 2017, said that a "barrier needs to be constructed to demarcate the Mela ground from the university and the locality."

University officials said they will hold a 12-hour fast to protest the violence on the campus the date for which will be announced later.
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At Ashton Medical Lodge, 29 residents tested positive for COVID-19 from August 3, 2020  August 15, 2020. Once positive results came back the residents were individually transferred to two other sister facilities, the Midland Medical Lodge and The Traymore in Dallas. Both facilities have the capacity for COVID-19 isolation wings.

13 employees at Ashton Medical Lodge tested positive between the same dates, all employees are self-isolating at home.
Mali has been gripped for months by a political crisis that has sparked the country's worst unrest in years, as a protest movement galvanised by a disputed election insists that President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resign.

After reports that soldiers launched a "mutiny" outside the capital on Tuesday, here is a timeline of the crisis.

Disputed elections

On March 26, opposition leader Soumaila Cisse is kidnapped as he campaigns three days before a parliamentary election, in an unprecedented abduction of such a senior politician.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic which a day earlier had claimed Mali's first life, the first round of the parliamentary election goes ahead on March 29. It is tainted by abductions of election officials, the ransacking of polling stations and a deadly mine explosion.

The second round on April 19 is disrupted by incidents in the centre and the north of the country which prevent voters from casting their ballots.

On April 30, Mali's constitutional court overturns the results for some 30 seats, 10 of which benefited candidates from the president's party, triggering protests in several cities.

Alliance against president

On May 30 influential imam Mahmoud Dicko, opposition parties and civil society figures form a broad-based opposition alliance which calls for a demonstration to demand the resignation of President Keita.

It goes on to adopt the name, "Movement of June 5 -- Rally of Patriotic Forces".

The movement is critical of continued failures to stem the country's jihadist insurgency, inter-community bloodshed as well as the government's record on the economy and fighting corruption, along with the organisation of the legislative election.

Demonstrations

On June 5, tens of thousands of people hit the streets in the capital Bamako.

Keita reappoints Prime Minister Boubou Cisse on June 12 and tasks him with forming the new government resulting from the elections.

On June 19 tens of thousands rally again, calling for Keita to resign.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) calls for the creation of a "consensus government of national unity".

In early July Keita makes various attempts to appease the opposition, but all are rejected and the movement's leaders call for parliament to be dissolved and urge civil disobedience.

Worst unrest in years

Violence breaks out at a mass demonstration in Bamako on July 10. Protesters attack parliament and storm the premises of a state broadcaster.

Clashes between protesters and security forces last three days and are the worst political unrest Mali has seen since 2012.

Eleven people died in the violence, according to an official tally, while the opposition says 23 died and the United Nations puts the number of fatalities at 14.

- No compromise -

On July 18 the opposition rejects a compromise proposed by an international mediation team led by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.

Days later the opposition says it will halt protests in a "truce" ahead of the Eid festival.

In a summit on the crisis at the end of July, leaders of the ECOWAS bloc stand by Keita but call for the swift formation of a unity government.

The opposition rejects the plan and insists the president stand down.

Coup fears

On August 11 thousands of protesters return to the streets.

The next day security forces in the capital fire tear gas to clear hundreds of demonstrators from a central square where they had camped overnight.

The opposition declares on August 17 that it will stage daily protests culminating in a mass rally in Bamako at the end of the week.

On August 18 gunfire breaks out at a key army base near Bamako, triggering fears of a coup attempt. ECOWAS urges soldiers who launched a "mutiny" to immediately return to their barracks.

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Amid calls from political opponents for his resignation, Canadas finance minister did just that on Monday night. But the minister, Bill Morneau, insisted his decision to step down was not related to a conflict-of-interest scandal that has embroiled Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government.

Instead, Mr. Morneau said he was resigning because he did not intend to run in the next parliamentary election and that it was time for a new finance minister to take over as the governments response to the coronavirus crisis shifted from emergency relief to longer-term planning for an economic recovery,

Mr. Morneaus resignation came six days after Mr. Trudeau issued a statement affirming that he had full confidence in his finance minister.

Mr. Morneau and Mr. Trudeau have been under political fire for not removing themselves from the cabinet discussion when a substantial no-bid contract was awarded to a charity that had connections to both of their families. In Mr. Morneaus case, his daughter has an administrative job with the group, to which he and his wife have been substantial donors.
Williamstown Select Board Issues Statement on Police Lawsuit

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Select Board on Tuesday morning issued a statement calling allegations in a federal lawsuit against the town "disheartening" and committing to "prioritize our efforts to be transparent on these issues."

The board met Monday for more than three hours in executive session in a virtual meeting attended by the outside counsel retained to represent Williamstown in an action brought by Sgt. Scott McGowan, an 18-year veteran of the town police whose filing alleges racism, sexual assault and gender discrimination  in particular by the chief of police, who is named as a defendant in the suit.

McGowan's suit, which also identifies Town Manager Jason Hoch, Chief Kyle Johnson's supervisor, as a defendant, makes a claims of discrimination and retaliation against a whistle-blower.

"Like the rest of our community, the Select Board of Williamstown is very disturbed by the allegations made by Sergeant McGowan of racism, sexual discrimination, and assault in the Williamstown Police Department," the two-paragraph statement begins.

The statement adds that the town previously has disputed allegations cited by McGowan in support of his claim, and the Select Board said it is working to put more evidence in front of town residents.

"We note that the allegations made in Sergeant McGowan's complaint were previously disputed by the Town in prior proceedings, which required a detailed analysis of the facts and allegations made," the statement reads. "We are working with counsel to provide as much of that analysis as allowable, given that some of the information may have to be redacted for privacy concerns. We believe the community should see the facts developed so far, and will prioritize our efforts to be transparent on these issues."

On Tuesday morning, Select Board Chair Jane Patton said the board may end up releasing redacted portions of testimony before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, some of which was quoted by McGowan in his court filing.

"We want to be super-transparent, but we need to balance that against being mindful and respectful of the other officers [named in the testimony] and even the complainant," Patton said. "There may be things [McGowan] may not want fully public."

The second paragraph of the statement talks about the Select Board's creation this summer of a committee to address issues of inclusion and equity in the town. But it stopped short of taking a step the new committee, the Diversity, Inclusion, Race and Equity Committee, sought in a resolution at its meeting held concurrently with the Select Board's closed-door session on Monday.

The DIRE Committee called on the town to commission an independent, third-party study of the allegations that are cited in McGowan's lawsuit and to consult the DIRE Committee in the selection of that investigator.

The president of Williams College also Monday sent the Select Board a letter asking it to "commission a prompt, full and impartial investigation."

The Select Board's statement makes no reference to such an investigation.

On Tuesday morning, Patton confirmed that the town was advised by its counsel, Springfield's Robinson Donovan, that any product of such an investigation, including interim reports, would be subject to discovery in the ongoing court case.

"It's not to say that we think anything that comes out would help the plaintiff's side," Patton said. "But that is the ongoing caution by the insurance company and the counsel."

Patton, who serves on the DIRE Committee as a representative of the Select Board, needed to attend Monday's special executive session of the Select Board and could not participate in the DIRE Committee's proceedings. She was not part of a 7-0 vote by the nine-member DIRE panel that passed the body's resolution.

The DIRE Committee on Monday also called on the Select Board to consider whether to put some town employees on administrative leave while the allegations raised in the lawsuit are being investigated.

Patton said that Monday's Select Board executive session, which was called "to discuss strategy with respect to litigation," an allowable use of closed-door meetings under the Open Meeting Law, did not give the board the opportunity to broach the subject of administrative leaves.

She said the Select Board later this week likely would have another executive session under "purpose No. 1" of the 10 allowable uses under the Open Meeting Law.

Purpose 1 reads, in part, "To discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual." Under that exception to the OML, the individual who is the subject of discussion has the right to be present and be represented by counsel.

Late Tuesday morning, that executive session of the Select Board was posted for 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Another issue that came up at Monday's DIRE Committee meeting: When did the Select Board become aware of the allegations raised in McGowan's lawsuit?

Tuesday morning's statement by the board said its members "recently learned of these allegations," and Patton declined to say whether the board knew of the allegations before McGowan's lawsuit was filed last Wednesday.

"I think we're going to, for now, leave it with 'recently,' " she said. "I understand [the question], but, for right now, recently."

Patton said the Select Board had no concrete plans to read its statement or make any other pronouncement at Tuesday evening's annual town meeting, but she did not rule out the possibility. In the meantime, she was sending the board's statement to everyone who had emailed the Select Board on the issue.

Patton, who was elected to the board in 2013 and is serving her second stint as chair, appeared at times in Tuesday's telephone interview to be struggling with what she wanted to say and what she could say based on the board's agreed upon statement.

"The real thing right now is: Yes, this is a disappointment, and the Select Board takes it as seriously as we've ever taken anything," she said. "But we have to be mindful that, so far, these are allegations. Nothing has been proven. Nothing has been adjudicated. As much as there may be a desire to have swift actions, there's a difference between allegations and conviction.

"We're trying to walk that line and be mindful to what the townspeople need and want, respecting that these are allegations."

The DIRE Committee on Monday agreed to meet on Wednesday to discuss whatever came out of Monday's Select Board meeting.

The full statement by the Select Board appears here:

"Like the rest of our community, the Select Board of Williamstown is very disturbed by the allegations made by Sergeant McGowan of racism, sexual discrimination, and assault in the Williamstown Police Department. Since we recently learned of these allegations, we have been working to understand the full story. We note that the allegations made in Sergeant McGowan's complaint were previously disputed by the Town in prior proceedings, which required a detailed analysis of the facts and allegations made. We are working with counsel to provide as much of that analysis as allowable, given that some of the information may have to be redacted for privacy concerns. We believe the community should see the facts developed so far, and will prioritize our efforts to be transparent on these issues.

"As the community knows, we have established the Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee to initiate local conversations about these issues and to develop recommendations to prevent such behaviors. These claims are particularly disheartening as we take very seriously our responsibility to ensure that the Town's appointed officials and staff consistently work towards the highest standards of professionalism and behavior in the discharge of their duties. We are committed to undertaking a thorough review of the allegations and the responses by town personnel, in order to fully understand the facts, many of which are disputed, and to determine whether any additional administrative action is necessary."
Fonterra sets up innovation center

From:ChinaDaily | 2020-08-18 09:26

Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd, the New Zealand-based multinational dairy cooperative, has established its first overseas innovation center in Shanghai, a fresh move demonstrating its confidence in and long-term commitment to China, according to a senior company executive.

The Fonterra & ACC Shanghai Innovation Center, serving all consumer and food service businesses, stands to help the company develop products that "are much closer to the needs of Chinese customers", said Paul Washer, chief financial officer of Fonterra in China.

"As one of the world's largest dairy companies, Fonterra is very optimistic about China's future," Washer said during a launch ceremony on Friday. "For Fonterra, China is not only a consumer market, but also a very important source of innovation and an important part of the global industry value chain."

Hou Haifeng, chairman of the Anchor Center for Research and Development and Certification (Shanghai), said: "The partner agency of the innovation center." I believe this will be a win-win cooperation, and we will be able to provide safe and high-quality products to Chinese customers and consumers at a faster pace of innovation."

As an extension of Fonterra's research capabilities worldwide, the Shanghai facility is designed to be responsible for everything from product development, technical skills, sensory assessments, consumer science, nutrition science to packaging.

China has been the biggest and most important market for Fonterra, and accounted for nearly 25 percent of the volume in the overall business. The company said its Anchor brand accounted for half of the mozzarella cheese used in pizzas in China, and it served half of the mainstream bakeries and tea houses.

"The Fonterra chef team will cook some fancy, tasty, fun and innovative applications that fuse New Zealand dairy and Chinese cuisine," Washer said, adding some new debuts included cheese walnut pastries and black gold cheese pastries.

He said the choice of Shanghai as the first overseas innovation center is due to the city's favorable investment environment and resources for R & D businesses. The Shanghai office was also upgraded to the regional headquarters for Fonterra China.

In the first half of this year, the city became home to 26 regional headquarters and 10 research and development centers of multinational corporations, taking the total to 746 and 471 respectively.

Fonterra is also gearing up for the upcoming China International Import Expo, bringing not just everyday milk, yogurt, cheese and butter, but a few new launches such as premium ice cream brand Tiptop.

Dairy consumption has maintained a steady growth momentum given the influence of COVID-19, suggesting people's recognition of lactoferrin's role in enhancing immunocompetence, said Jason Yu, general manager of Kantar Worldpanel in China.

"The 'stay-at-home' trend due to the pandemic has spurred spending on higher margin products like cheese, whose consumption level has remained rather low" said Yu. "This suggests the huge potential of all-category dairy consumption in China."

"The most evident trend in the China market we see is the trade-up in a lot of areas, which is good news for us as our high qualified products could meet the rising needs of good and nutritious products people are looking for," Washer said.

Yu said that Fonterra also supplies to many business-to-business companies, including bubble tea shops, cafes and restaurants. which saw noticeable recovery of business after June.

"These are the long-term drivers of China's consumer market," he said. "Locally relevant innovation in product and services offered by Fonterra will help empower success of these business."
COVID-19 El Paso County statistics

COVID-19 in El Paso County, as of Tuesday, Aug. 18:

Total confirmed cases: 5,541

Total deaths: 145

Total hospitalizations: 494

Deaths among hospitalized cases: 85*

(*Does not necessarily mean the people died in hospitals but were hospitalized at some point during the illness)

UCHealth Memorial cases:

As of Tuesday, UCHealth (systemwide) has cared for more than 2,000 unique COVID-19 confirmed positive patients. (these are hospitalizations, not including ambulatory/clinic patients)

UCHealth hospitals in the Pikes Peak region: 330 confirmed positive patients hospitalized.

Statewide, the UCHealth system has hospitalized about 2,000 confirmed positive patients.

Statewide statistics

Critical-care ventilators in use statewide: 311 out of 1,145

Confirmed cases: 53,391

Deaths: 1,903

Current statewide hospitalizations: 153

Sources: El Paso County Public Health Department, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and UCHealth.
Spain ex-king under fire over move to UAE Juan Carlos's warm relations with the Gulf monarchies and frequent visits to the oil-rich region have fuelled speculation over the source of his wealth

Spain's former king Juan Carlos came under fire on Tuesday for moving to the Middle East, with critics calling it the "worst" destination because corruption allegations he faces have links to the region.

The palace announced on Monday that he had moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 3, the 82-year-old saying he wanted to prevent his personal affairs from undermining his son King Felipe VI's reign.

While the announcement ended two weeks of speculation over the ex-king's whereabouts, it appears to have done further damage to his image with political commentators, even those in favour of the monarchy.

"It's a good choice for him, but it is a bad choice for the Royal Household and for the image of the crown," Alberto Lardies, a journalist who has written several books about the Spanish monarchy, told AFP.

"Not only are we talking of countries where human rights are not respected... but also he ends up where he allegedly mediated to collect commissions, where he allegedly lined his pockets," he said referring to corruption allegations linked to Saudi Arabia.

The main political parties, which have in the past rallied in defence of the royal household, have so far remained silent on the latest troubles.

- 'Far-reaching damage' -

While Juan Carlos is not under formal investigation, officials in Spain and Switzerland are looking into revelations about his financial affairs made by a former mistress, German businesswoman Corinna Larsen.

She said Juan Carlos had collected a payoff relating to a 2011 high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia that was awarded to a consortium of Spanish firms, according to a leaked recording apparently made without her knowledge.

A Swiss prosecutor is focusing on $100 million that late Saudi king Abdullah allegedly deposited in 2008 into an account to which Juan Carlos had access, the Tribune de Geneve newspaper reported.

"Of all the possible places to exile himself, Juan Carlos has picked the worst one," wrote Agustin Pery in an opinion piece for pro-monarchy conservative paper ABC.

Story continues

While the ex-king will probably be well received in the UAE, he "risks losing all veneration here", Pery added.

Another pro-monarchy columnist, Jose Antonio Zarzalejos, wrote that Juan Carlos had imitated police novels by "returning to the scene of the 'crime'".

The former king had "entered into a spiral which destroys what is left of his reputation. And causes serious and far-reaching damage," he wrote on the website El Confidencial.

- 'Tainted himself' -

Juan Carlos took the throne in 1975 on the death of the fascist dictator Francisco Franco and ruled for 38 years.

He abdicated in favour of his son Felipe VI in June 2014 -- just two years after he apologised to Spaniards for jetting off on an elephant-hunting trip in Africa with his mistress as Spain grappled with a financial crisis.

He was a popular figure for decades, playing a key role in the democratic transition from the Franco dictatorship which ruled Spain from 1939-1975.

But a steady flow of embarrassing media stories about his past lifestyle and personal wealth have since eroded his standing.

His warm relations with the Gulf monarchies and frequent visits to the oil-rich region have fuelled speculation over the source of his wealth.

In 2015, two Ferraris that were given to the former monarch by the UAE were auctioned by the Madrid government while the sultan of Oman in 2014 reportedly gave him a luxury flat in London.

Juan Carlos's move to the Gulf has placed King Felipe "in a very difficult situation", said Lardies.

"He took part in the decision, he tainted himself with an issue which he should not have tainted himself with."

dbh/ds/pmr
TDT | Manama

Ninety-one development projects being implemented at a cost of BD413 million were reviewed yesterday during the weekly Cabinet session, held remotely and chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. The projects are in three sectors, namely roads, sanitation and buildings.

The cost of the projects is 54 per cent higher than those that were implemented during the same period of 2019. The Cabinet also approved yesterday a recommendation submitted by the Civil Service Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, regarding the adoption of two organisational structures.

The first will be adopted by public hospitals, and includes the provision of a chief executive position, with a hiring rank of undersecretary, reporting to the board of trustees, with three directorates reporting to the chief executive.

The second organisational structure will be for primary healthcare centres, by the provision of a chief executive position, with a hiring rank of undersecretary, reporting to the board of trustees, with three directorates reporting to the chief executive.

The Cabinet reviewed a memorandum submitted by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, regarding the Kingdoms economic indicators of various sectors through to July 2020. The Cabinet approved a draftlaw amending some provisions of the executive regulations of the Municipalities Law.

The draft law includes the reorganisation of municipal affairs within the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, in line with the abolition of the financial and administrative services directorate and the technical services directorates in each municipality as well as the Capital Municipal Council, and replacing them with administrative and technical units.

The Cabinet followed up on the implementation of voluntary commitments of Bahrain, in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the recommendations that the Kingdom received during the universal periodic review process, including the preparation of a national action plan for human rights.

The Cabinet also approved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs idea to conduct a number of workshops in preparation for the formulation of a Human Rights National Action Plan. The Cabinet reviewed a memorandum, submitted by the Minister of Works, which included the 35 tenders awarded during the first half of this year, valued at BD48 million, and 44 bids, valued at BD102 millionan increase of 37 per cent over the projects offered during the first half last year.

The Cabinet approved a proposal regarding the distribution of housing units for individuals within the third district of the Northern Governorate, and allocating them from housing projects implemented in Budaiya, Al Jasra, Hamala and Salman Town. Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved a number of proposals that have already been achieved.

Also during yesterdays meeting, the Cabinet extended its best wishes to HM the King, HRH the Prime Minister, HRH the Crown Prince, Bahrains citizens, and Arab and Islamic countries on the advent of the Hijri New Year 1442. The Cabinet extended its gratitude to all citizens and residents who have volunteered to register for the phase three clinical trials of the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine.

The Cabinet congratulated the UAE for its diplomatic achievement in announcing, with the US and Israel, an agreement halting the annexation of the Palestinian territories; and condemned the threats made by Iran against the UAE, affirming its full support of the Emirates measures ensuring its security and stability.

The Cabinet condemned the Houthi terrorist militias continued launching of ballistic missiles targeting civilians in Saudi Arabia, and expressed Bahrains continued support to Saudi against any threats to its security and stability.

The Cabinet further denounced Turkish military aggression in Sidekan, Iraq, noting that the attack constitutes a flagrant violation of Iraqs sovereignty, the principles of good neighbourliness, and international law.
TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RightSure is honored to be recognized as a Top Insurance Workplace for 2020 by Insurance Business America (IBA). This premier distinction is given to companies with employee satisfaction levels that excel above all others.

To determine which companies earned a spot on the IBA Top Insurance Workplace list, employees were asked to anonymously answer questions on a range of key factors, such as compensation, benefits, culture, employee development and diversity.

Top Insurance Workplace

Based on the results, it appears that RightSure employees are quite happy. This is great news to RightSure President, Jeffery Arnold. "We work hard to foster an innovative, supportive and high energy environment," he says. "I feel like RightSure is a great place to work and it makes me so happy to learn that our employees feel the same way," he adds.

The company is known for being progressive and tech-forward, promoting remote work arrangements long before the pandemic required them. Client interaction is also tech-forward. The company is among the first of insurance agencies to successfully deploy service by a chatbot and to use a proprietary AI-driven quoting tool to instantly shop rates from more than 40 carriers for its clients.

"At RightSure, we consider our team and our clients to be part of our family, and we are grateful to both for helping operate in very special and rewarding environment," Arnold says.

About RightSure

Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, RightSure is a full-service independent insurance agency providing insurance products to families and businesses in 42 states. By using a unique, client-centered approach combined with superior technology, RightSure presents clients with a wide range of insurance options and a seamless purchasing process. To learn more and see if you can save money, visit https://www.rightsure.com or call 520-777-1125.

Media Contact:

Megan Kossow

[email protected]

520-901-7010

SOURCE RightSure

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Pedestrians wear face masks as they walk in a congested street market of Lourges, southern France, Tuesday. AFP-Yonhap



France is preparing to make face masks compulsory in the workplace, the government said Tuesday as it moved to add open-plan work areas to a growing list of places where people have to cover up to curb the spread of the coronavirus.



By the time people in France return to work after the August summer holidays, masks will be a "systematic" addition to indoor work spaces, including meeting rooms, corridors, change rooms and open-plan offices, Labor Minister Elisabeth Borne told AFP Tuesday.



Borne met labor and business representatives Tuesday to discuss the new measure, which she said was based on the advice of the government's public health council.



It took into account a growing scientific consensus that the coronavirus is transmitted not only in large drops projected when a person coughs or sneezes, but also in smaller ones that can remain suspended in air breathed out by infected people, she said.



France has already made mask-wearing obligatory on public transport and in enclosed shared public spaces such as shops and government offices, but has left their use in offices to the discretion of employers until now.



This was criticized in an open letter by a group of medical experts published in the newspaper Liberation, comparing the virus accumulating in the air of enclosed rooms to "cigarette smoke."



"And the more the virus accumulates in the air  either because of a long exposure time or because of a large number of excreters  the more we risk contamination," they said.



The experts urged the government to make masks compulsory in all confined spaces, offices and classrooms and to "unambiguously encourage" remote working.



Many French towns and cities, including Paris, have been using discretionary powers to make masks compulsory outdoors as well, mainly at food markets, in busy streets and around tourist hotspots.



Borne said the government will continue recommending telework for people in areas with active virus circulation.



The coronavirus outbreak has claimed more than 30,400 lives in France so far.



Since a two-month lockdown ended in May, new infections have been increasing in recent days and the numbers of people admitted to hospital and to intensive care have been rising as well. (AFP)


1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up.

2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed.

3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms.

4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually.

5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings.

Vote

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The final days of staycation season are set to be a washout, with flooding expected in many areas after heavy rainfall transformed streams and rivers into raging torrents.

A status yellow rainfall alert ended at 7am today, but with almost 50mm of rainfall having fallen in some areas in less than 24 hours - on top of heavy rainfall over the previous three days - flooding is expected in many areas.

Worse still, locals fear heavy showers forecast for tomorrow, Thursday and Friday could exacerbate existing flooding.

Fourteen counties in Munster, south Leinster and Connacht received between 25mm and almost 50mm of rain since 7am yesterday.

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Heavy rainfall since Thursday transformed some mountain streams in Cork and Kerry into torrents with resultant widespread flooding.

Spot-flooding on roads was also reported in Limerick, Tipperary, Galway and Waterford.

Greatest concern is focused on parts of west Cork where flood damage costing millions of euro has already been caused since last Friday in the Rosscarbery area.

Around 20 homes have suffered flood damage while roads, walls, culverts and even beaches have been carved away, such was the violence of the flood waters. In Rathbarry and Glandore, entire roads were ripped up.

Locals fear further torrential rainfall could make a serious situation potentially catastrophic for residents.

The main N71 route through Rosscarbery was closed for almost 48 hours because of flooding.

Cork County Council partially re-opened the road on Sunday and emergency repairs are now taking place.

The council warned that, while the emergency repairs are underway, eastbound traffic will divert through the village. Westbound traffic will be unaffected.

"Motorists are reminded to drive with caution in the area, as many roads in west Cork have been damaged during the recent weather events," a spokesperson warned.

An engineering inspection of all flood-damaged roads, bridges and culverts is now under way though the council warned it will be some time before an estimate is available as to the total cost of the repairs involved.

Gardai and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) urged people to drive with extreme care given the flood threat following torrential rainfall.

Motorists were warned never to attempt to drive through flood waters. Water Safety Ireland said maximum caution should be exercised near all waterways over the coming days.

Senator Tim Lombard said the Rosscarbery flood damage was "heartbreaking to witness at first hand".

"To be honest, it was devastating to see the damage to homes and businesses," he said. "This area has not witnessed flooding on this scale since 1961."

Mr Lombard said locals were "very worried" about the next 10 days with heavy rainfall forecast for later this week and local waterways already swollen with floodwater.

Cork South West TD Christopher O'Sullivan said he had been in contact with Taoiseach Micheal Martin about the "truly shocking" scale of the west Cork flood damage.

Resident Mary Hayes said the area now needed urgent help. She paid tribute to Cork council staff, emergency services and local volunteers for their efforts over the past 72 hours to alleviate the worst of the flooding for residents.
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : The 'Local ke liye Vocal' call came after the Chinese aggression at the border forced the national leadership to look beyond the investment from the neighbouring country and scout for more global partners who can infuse top dollar in the Indian supply chain and product development ecosystem.

From consumer electronics to auto manufacturing, from IT and allied sector to mobile phones, India is now aiming to create a robust local ecosystem by developing the skill set and building the supply chain locally.

The landscape is gigantic and buoyed by the immense opportunity, non-Chinese giants like Apple and Samsung are planning to invest billions of dollars into the manufacturing economy.

Global mobile manufacturing giants Samsung, Foxconn and iPhone maker Pegatron have applied for the Centre's production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for electronics worth Rs 11.5 lakh crore in the next five years.

Is this sudden shift seeking billions of dollars from the US and non-Chinese tech giants going to help us towards creating an indigenous ecosystem where desi companies can also flourish beyond creating design, helping in R&D and building world-class products? According to Satya Gupta, Chairman, India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), the Indian landscape has always been quite diverse, and it is just a perception that everything is happening with respect to Chinese companies only.

"If you look in the past, Nokia and Ericsson had a large presence here. Samsung has now been there for a long time. If you look and segregate the companies other than three large cell phone companies, the rest are non-Chinese," Gupta told IANS.

He said that it is a right strategy for the country to continue to work with global partners.

"If you have to be self-reliant, it cannot be achieved through isolation," the IESA executive stressed.

The government now proposes to expand the scope of the PLI scheme to five or six more sectors, including air conditioners and TV sets, leather, chemicals, furniture, tyres and toys in a bid to boost manufacturing in the country.

The bigger question lies ahead: How do we convert our design capability to product leadership? For this, just focusing on manufacturing will not be ideal.

"If we just keep on focusing on manufacturing, it will take us a long time to reach the product leadership. We have to work on our strength rather than just following the model which worked for China," said Gupta, adding that China came with the strength of manufacturing and we are coming with the strength of the design.

According to Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), the investments to expand capacity to achieve the numbers committed in PLI and beyond will be made not only by companies such as Foxconn, Wistron, Pegatron, Samsung and Indian ones like Lava, Micromax, Dixon but also from Chinese firms like OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi etc.

"The capacity and scale bring competitiveness and competencies and this will expand the sector many times and will develop the entire ecosystem. Design, R&D, capital goods assembly will flourish," Mohindroo told IANS.

The PLI scheme will bring additional investment in electronics manufacturing to the tune of Rs 11,000 crore.

The total cost of the scheme is expected to be Rs 40,995 crore which includes an incentive outlay of approximately Rs 40,951 crore and administrative expenses to the tune of Rs 44 crore.

According to Mohindroo, 'Local ke liye Vocal' does not mean only Indian-owned companies but is a broader term for manufacturing, design and from companies of all nationalities.

"A special window for sub-$200 phones to create Indian 'champion' companies, their revival and vigorous growth has been the key objective. The aim will be to create global-scale companies that originated from India to capture a substantial portion of the entry-level phones market globally," he stressed.

The battle is to provide the right support to indigenous companies so that while competing with global companies, we can still make our local companies competitive and world-class.

"We need to put as much focus on product development as much as manufacturing for long-term self-reliance," Gupta said.

In terms of finance, investment is very weak in the product ecosystem.

Investment from the private venture capitalists will take some time to reach this area.

"This is the reason we are asking for a $500 million fund for electronics products and $500 million for the fabless product to provide the seed funding for deserving companies in this space and build solid leadership for India," Gupta informed.

Overall, it is very important to take a pole position in key vertical areas in terms of the product function.

For that, India needs to help its product ecosystem with seed funding to grow.

(Nishant Arora can be reached at nishant.a@ians.in)
From the very start, Movable Ink has embraced the philosophy of capital efficiency. With this investment, the company will continue to deploy capital efficiently and strategically in platform innovations including ongoing R&D in new channels and AI.

Movable Ink, the leading software company powering creative personalization for the worlds largest brands, today announced it has raised $30 million in a Series C funding round with capital from Contour Venture Partners, Intel Capital and Silver Lake Waterman. Movable Ink has raised $39 million in funding to date.

Since its founding in 2010, Movable Ink has empowered more than 700 of the worlds most innovative brands to generate creative that is data-activated and contextually relevant at the time of engagement across email, mobile and web. The companys core automation and operational tools are well-positioned to meet the rapidly changing needs of marketers brought about by COVID-19.

We founded Movable Ink nearly ten years ago with a vision to empower marketers with data-inspired creativity. A lot has changed over a decade in digital marketing but never so fast and dramatically as whats happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Vivek Sharma, CEO of Movable Ink. Brands across multiple industries have accelerated digital transformation initiatives, many of which have been in progress for years. We remain deeply committed to supporting our clients through this time and helping them enter and embrace a new digital future.

From the very start, Movable Ink has embraced the philosophy of capital efficiency. With this investment, the company will continue to deploy capital efficiently and strategically in platform innovations including ongoing R&D in new channels and AI. The company will also continue to expand on its extensive partner ecosystem within the Movable Ink Exchange, a marketplace of partner integrations that work seamlessly with the Movable Ink platform to unlock data from a brands existing martech investments. Additionally, Movable Ink will expand into new geographic markets and continue to provide ongoing support for clients with a dedicated team of senior strategists across retail, financial services, travel & hospitality, media & tech and other key industries.

Movable Ink continues to drive impressive results. The technical innovation combined with the teams strategic business decisions and amazing execution over the years have enabled the company to become a leading marketing SaaS company with global traction, as well as attract the industrys best and brightest talent, said Matt Gorin, Managing Partner and co-founder at Contour Venture Partners. As Movable Inks first institutional investor I have had a front row seat to the great vision and product execution from the beginning that has enabled the companys products to become an essential part of a marketers stack. We could not be more excited about how the Movable Ink platform will continue to evolve and deliver a strong ROI for our customers.

As an early investor in Movable Ink, it is great to see the team continue to deliver tremendous value for brands and consumers. What they do is even more important now that brands are seeking new ways to stay close to customers in these challenging times, said Dave Flanagan, vice president and senior managing director, Intel Capital. We are excited to see Movable Ink continue to empower marketers to create compelling visual experiences across digital channels, driven by data to provide personalized content and engagement for customers.

Company momentum and areas of continued investments in platform, partners and people include:

Movable Ink Mobile

Movable Ink continues its innovation in the mobile channel with new personalization use cases for in-app messages and push notifications.

Mobile is an important part of our strategy to keep viewers engaged, informed, and entertained, said Yves Yakoubyan, Senior Director, Retention Marketing & Customer Care from CBS Interactive. With Movable Ink and Braze, we developed a campaign that activates data through APIs and sends users a push notification with show recommendations. We saw a 39% lift in open rates when we used relevant images leveraging Movable Ink versus our previous text-only notifications.

Movable Ink Exchange

Movable Ink continues to expand its marketplace of partner solutions and integrations with recent new partners including Oracle Commerce Cloud, MessageGears Engage, Trustpilot and Yotpo.

Customer reviews are proven to drive brand trust, which is more important than ever for businesses moving into recovery and navigating significant shifts in consumer behavior, said Peter Simpson, Global Head of Partnerships at Trustpilot. Being a part of the Movable Ink Exchange and integrated with such a powerful platform enables the brands we work with to maximize the impact of their customer reviews by pulling them into marketing campaigns that result in more loyal and valuable customers.

New Senior Vice President of People, Katy Huber

Movable Ink welcomed Katy Huber as its new Senior Vice President of People. Formerly Chief People Officer at DAN (Dentsu Aegis Network) Media, Katy brings more than 15 years of experience leading people functions for progressive and fast-paced organizations.

Its an exciting time to be joining Movable Ink as it continues to grow and scale both in the US and abroad, said Katy Huber, Senior Vice President of People at Movable Ink. I am really looking forward to contributing to what is already a unique and engaged culture. It is a great foundation to build from!

New Vice President of Artificial Intelligence, Ashutosh Malaviya

Movable Ink welcomed Ashutosh Malaviya as its new Vice President of Artificial Intelligence. Previously, Ashutosh co-founded several startups and held senior AI and Engineering leadership positions at SmartZip Analytics and Yatra Corporation.

From the first time I learned about the Movable Ink platform, I immediately saw its tremendous long-term potential to leverage AI, said Ashutosh Malaviya, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence.

International Expansion

After seven years as the market leader and personalization partner to UK brands across key industries, Movable Ink is expanding in EMEA with a specific focus on the Nordics and Benelux.

Building on Movable Inks solid foundation in the UK, we are making inroads into the Nordics and Benelux regions, engaging with many large regional brands across all industries. Our new client Bonnier News is already seeing promising positive results with the ability to drive personalization and marketing innovation at scale, said Stuart Barker, Vice President EMEA at Movable Ink. We are building out a team to seize this great opportunity and support growth in these vital regions.

Industry Recognition

In 2019, for the second year in a row, Movable Ink won AdWeek Readers Choice: Best of Tech Award for the Martech: Marketing Cloud/Automation category amidst a competitive field including Adobe and Salesforce.

SOC 2 Compliance

Privacy, security and compliance are core to everything Movable Ink does. As part of that commitment, the company has achieved SOC 2 Type 2 compliance. SOC 2 compliance is a component of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA)s Service Organization Control reporting platform. Its goal is to make sure that security measures are well-designed and operating effectively over time to protect the Movable Ink platform and especially customer data.

Our SOC 2 certification reinforces Movable Inks serious commitment to, and investment in, data security, privacy and compliance, said Lee Bankewitz, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Movable Ink. SOC 2 provides our clients and partners with peace of mind by giving them a way to independently verify our security standards.

About Movable Ink

Movable Ink empowers digital marketers to generate creative that is data-activated and contextually relevant at the time of engagement across email, mobile and web. More than 700 of the worlds most innovative brands rely on Movable Inks platform to automate the creation of unique on-brand experiences for each consumer at every moment. With more than 300 employees, the company is headquartered in New York City with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, and London. Learn more at movableink.com.

About Contour Venture Partners

Contour Venture Partners, founded in 2005, is a New York City based seed stage venture capital firm. Contour invests in early stage companies that provide innovative software solutions into the enterprise SaaS, financial services and vertical B2B SaaS sectors, with a focus on New York City. Contour has a long and successful investment track record, having invested in over 70 companies through numerous market cycles. For more information about Contour Venture Partners visit: http://www.contourventures.com.

About Intel Capital

Intel Capital invests in innovative startups targeting artificial intelligence, autonomous technology, data center and cloud, 5G, next-generation compute, and a wide range of other disruptive technologies. Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested US$12.9 billion in more than 1,582 companies worldwide, and 692 portfolio companies have gone public or participated in a merger or acquisition. Intel Capital curates thousands of business development introductions each year between its portfolio companies and the Global 2000. For more information on what makes Intel Capital one of the worlds most powerful venture capital firms, visit http://www.intelcapital.com or follow @Intelcapital.

About Silver Lake Waterman

Silver Lake Waterman is part of Silver Lake, the global leader in technology investing with over $40 billion in combined assets under management and committed capital and a team of approximately 100 investment and value creation professionals located in Silicon Valley, New York, London and Hong Kong. Silver Lake Waterman focuses on providing flexible expansion capital to later-stage growth companies in the technology and technology-enabled industries. For more information about Silver Lake Waterman and Silver Lake, please visit http://www.silverlake.com.
Saudi Arabia called Tuesday for Hezbollah to be "punished" after a UN-backed tribunal found a member of the Shiite movement guilty over the 2005 murder of Lebanese ex-prime minister Rafic Hariri.

"The government of Saudi Arabia views the ruling as the emergence of truth and the beginning of a process of achieving justice by chasing, arresting and punishing those involved," the kingdom's foreign ministry said on Twitter.

"Saudi Arabia, by calling for Hezbollah and its terrorist elements to face justice and be punished, stresses the need to protect Lebanon, the region and the world from the terrorist practices of this group," it added.

Hezbollah is a key ally of Syria and Shiite powerhouse Iran, Saudi Arabia's main regional rival.

Salim Ayyash, 56, was convicted in absentia in the Netherlands, over the huge suicide bombing in Beirut that killed Sunni billionaire Hariri and 21 other people.

But the judges said there was not enough evidence to convict three other suspects -- Assad Sabra, Hussein Oneissi and Hassan Habib Merhi.

The court also ruled that there was no evidence to directly link Hezbollah's leadership or Syria, long the dominant military power in Lebanon, to the attack.

The long-awaited decision prompted mixed reactions, with the late Hariri's son Saad telling journalists outside the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) he accepted the tribunal's verdict and found it "satisfying".

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:13:57|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's state-owned oil company plans to undertake a survey of both its mineral resources and oil in a bid to attract more investors to help speed up exploration and production, an official said on Tuesday.

Chol Deng Thon Abel, Managing Director of the Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet), said that so far only 10 percent of South Sudan's oil reserves have been surveyed for oil.

"So you still have 90 percent of the country not surveyed. But we still believe that we have huge reserves which is why we say South Sudan is an oil-rich country," he told Xinhua in Juba on Tuesday.

Thon disclosed that so far they are currently looking for investors to come and invest in some 14 oil blocks.

He added that with the prevailing peace and stability, they expect the number of blocks to increase after the survey has been conducted.

South Sudan is currently producing 170,000 barrels per day (bpd), down from 190,000 bpd due to COVID-19 pandemic. The youngest nation also has huge mineral potential like gold, iron ore and tin among others.

Thon said that six years of conflict scared away potential investors in the oil and gas sector including those who wanted to exploit mineral resources.

"The major problem was lack of stability in some parts of South Sudan but also the potential investors were looking at South Sudan as a war zone and it is always said that capital is a coward, no one will bring his money to a place where there is war," said Thon.

He said that war caused the shutting down of Blocks 1,2 and 4 in Unity and Ruweng Administrative Area and also Block 5A in Tharjath which have since commenced production following the return of peace.

"So now with the current producers unable to produce oil, it became very difficult for new players to come and invest in South Sudan, but this has changed right now which is why South Africa's Strategic Fuel Fund Association (SFF) has taken Block B2 in Jonglei and other states around Jonglei and you have Block B3 taken by Nigerian company Oranto and they are now doing exploration," he added.

Meanwhile, Thon noted that trade restrictions imposed on Nilepet by the U.S. are affecting operations in the oil and gas sector of the country due to delays in procurement of hi-tech equipment from the U.S. market.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on South Sudan officials in 2017 on the pretext of obstructing the peace process. Enditem
Defining the term democracy has long been a challenging proposition. Nearly all agree that a democracy is a government that reflects the will of the people, but questions about the particulars, of what structures are wise or useful to harness or to temper that will, have been with us since the days of Ancient Greece.

But to Harvey Rosenfieldfounder of Consumer Watchdog and author of Californias Proposition 103the answer is quite simple. Democracy is doing what Harvey Rosenfield wants. Anything else is, as he puts it in a recent Sacramento Bee op-ed, hijacking the democratic process.

What currently has Rosenfields dander up are a pair of bills, A.B. 2167 and S.B. 292, that look to make modest changes to the Prop 103 system of insurance regulation. The measures come in response to the devastating 2017 and 2018 wildfires that caused a combined $24 billion in insurance claims. They also come at the start of yet another wildfire season that already has seen the Lake Fire near Lake Hughes blaze through 18,000 acres, while a second Los Angeles County fire, the Ranch2 Fire near Azusa, has consumed more than 2,500 acres. Near the Nevada border, the Loyalton Fire has burned more than 30,000 acres.

Given both the recent losses and the projection for growing wildfire risk because of climate change, several property insurers have curtailed or scaled back writing coverage in the most wildfire-prone parts of the state. Indeed, as a recent report by the reinsurer Swiss Re suggests, this growing protection gap could be part of a global phenomenon: roughly 60 percent of the $75 billion in natural catastrophe losses seen in the first half of 2020 were uninsured.

The pullback by private insurers leaves many Californians with no other option but the state-backed insurer of last resort, the California FAIR Plan. That bodes poorly for the states future. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco recently estimated that 52 percent of the economic activity across the 12th Federal Reserve District, which includes California and eight other Western states, originates in counties with elevated wildfire hazard. An inability to secure property insurance protection poses a systemic financial risk to the West.

A.B. 2167 and S.B. 292 look to address this crisis by creating the Insurance Market Action Plan program, which would apply to certain counties with large proportions of FAIR Plan policies. The program would permit insurers that agree to take on a significant number of policies in IMAP counties to file expedited requests for adequate rates, which would be required to consider property and community-level mitigation measures. Rate requests also could include the output of catastrophe models and the market cost of reinsurance, factors that are difficult or impossible to submit for consideration under the existing Prop 103 system. IMAP would recognize that, because of climate change, wildfire risk in the future may be significantly more severe than it has been in the past.

The bills do not overturn Prop 103. Rate filings still would be open for comment by the public and would still be reviewed and regulated by the state insurance commissioner. But the bills would tweak the process slightly to allow market forces to respond to what has been and threatens to continue to be a shortage of insurance protection. Because it proposes to make changes to Prop 103, state law requires that the bills must pass by two-thirds majorities in both chambers.

The good news is that they are well on their way to doing that. After clearing the Senate Insurance and Veterans Affairs committees unanimously in April 2019, S.B. 292 was approved unanimously by the full Senate in May 2019. It has since moved unanimously through the Assembly Insurance Committee in May 2020 and was up today before the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

A.B. 2167 was passed unanimously by the Assembly Insurance Committee in May and the Assembly Appropriations Committee in June, before clearing the full Assembly in a 61-3 vote, also in June. It passed the Senate Insurance Committee unanimously Aug. 4 and is set to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee Aug. 19.

That certainly seems like a lot of democratic deliberation, not to mention overwhelming legislative consensus. But not enough for Mr. Rosenfield, who charges that the bills are being fast-tracked to detour legislative scrutiny because they have not been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for constitutional review.

The nature of the review Rosenfield is seeking is for the Judiciary panel to examine whether the bills further the purposes of the initiative. Because, alas, under California law, attaining a super-majority in both chambers is not sufficient. Any amendments to Prop 103 also must perpetuate the goals of Prop 103.

To be clear, with or without a referral to the Judiciary Committee, a determination on whether the legislation furthers Prop 103s goals will ultimately be up to the courts to decide. In fact, Rosenfield called such a challenge inevitable while asking Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins to delay a floor vote on the measure until 2021, when a new Legislature will be seated. To do otherwise, Rosenfield writes, is to allow democracy to be another casualty of the virus.

It is particularly rich to hear Rosenfield raise concerns about an undemocratic process, given how low a regard he otherwise seems to hold the democratic process of lawmaking. For example, among the reasons Rosenfield knows legal challenges to A.B. 2167 and S.B. 292 are inevitable is that his group will almost certainly be leading them. The fact that passage means both bills would have achieved support from a super-majority of the peoples representatives does not matter one bit in that calculus.

Among the other concerns Rosenfield raises in his Bee piece is that the bills are sponsored by Assembly Insurance Committee Chair Tom Daly (D-Anaheim) and Senate Insurance Committee Chair Susan Rubio, (D-West Covina), respectively. Supporters of the democratic process might think that those legislators who have been chosen by their fellow members to lead panels devoted to the subject of insurance are, in fact, the best-situated to lead legislative efforts regarding insurance law. But in Rosenfields mind, Rubio and Daly being chairs of the relevant committees counts as a demerit.

And finally, there is the matter that obviously most grinds Rosenfields gears. The Senate Insurance Committee did not let him testify for as long as he wanted to. As he writes in the Bee:

Lawmakers should have been allowed to hear the views of the author of Prop. 103 on controversial legislation that would nullify portions of the 1988 initiative. However, I was given exactly 20 seconds to explain why members should oppose AB 2167.

Lawmakers, of course, were allowed to hear Rosenfields views. He also was free to submit those views in writing, as we at R Street did. On the other side of the Legislature, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon told Politico in response to Rosenfields complaints that her chamber has offered an unprecedented level of accessibility to our committee hearings through phone testimony, in-person testimony, and remote testimony stations placed across the state.

The evidence mounts that it is not democracy that Rosenfield seeks. Only a process that revolves entirely around him will do.

It bears remembering at this point how it is that Prop 103 became law. The measure, which was highlighted by a proposal to roll back auto insurance rates by 20 percent, was one of four insurance-related initiatives presented to California voters on the November 1988 ballot. The voters in 1988 did their best to evaluate that series of complex, multistep initiatives. In the end, Prop 103 was the only one to pass. It did so by the slimmest of margins, earning 51 percent of the vote.

But here we are, 32 years later, facing a set of public policy challenges that would have been completely alien to voters in 1988, few of whom had even the term global warming. Think on what it means that there is effectively no legislative path, not even with two-thirds majorities of the peoples representatives in both chambers of the Legislature, to undo the decision made by that narrow majority of voters more than three decades ago.

Does that sound like democracy to you?

Topics California Catastrophe Legislation Wildfire Politics
Dimensity 800U joins the league of other Dimensity chipsets including Dimensity 720, Dimensity 800, Dimensity 820, Dimensity 1000 and Dimensity 1000+ that come with an integrated 5G modems.

MediaTek on Tuesday launched the Dimensity 800U chipset. The newly launched Dimensity 800U features support for 5G connectivity and it joins the league of other Dimensity chipsets including Dimensity 720, Dimensity 800, Dimensity 820, Dimensity 1000 and Dimensity 1000+ that come with an integrated 5G modems.

The newly launched chipset is built using the 7nm process and it comes with an octa-core CPU with a dual cluster consisting of two Arm Cortex-A76 processors with a clock speed of 2.4GHz and six Arm Cortex-A55 processors with a clock speed of 2.0GHZ. It integrates an Arm Mali-G57 GPU and it offers support for 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM.

In addition to that, it features support for 120Hz FHD+ displays, HDR10+ standard for enhanced visual quality. It also comes with MediaTek MiraVision PQ engine with HDR optimization for various types of videos. On the camera front, it features support for up to 64MP cameras and a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels with quad-camera capabilities.

It also features support for HDR-ISP, multi-frame NR, 3D noise reduction, depth engine, warping engine and AI-FD technologies. It comes with Integrated APU and ISP to provide a series of AI camera-enhancing functions. Additionally, it gets support for virtual assistants such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and other localised services.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the Dimensity 800U processor supports sub-6Ghz SA and NSA networks, 5G+5G dual SIM dual standby (DSDS), dual Voice over New Radio (VoNR), and 5G two carrier aggregation (2CC 5G-CA) technologies. It also features support for GPS, NAVIC, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Dimensity 800U will be powering mid-range 5G-enabled smartphones. However, MediaTek hasnt announced, which smartphones will sport this SoC yet.
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

New standard 10.25" large center display with latest-generation Mazda Connect infotainment

Carbon Edition offers unique styling and premium features to the three-row, midsize crossover

2021 Mazda CX-9 goes on sale with a starting MSRP(1) of $33,960 and will arrive at dealerships later this month

2021 MAZDA CX-9: EXHILARATING ELEGANCE

The Mazda CX-9 is the brand's flagship three-row midsize crossover SUV, able to meet the practical needs of a family while still appealing to owner's sense of style and driving enjoyment. For 2021, CX-9 receives upgrades to its technology and styling. New exterior designs are met by a high-class interior featuring new seat patterning and the largest infotainment display to be equipped on a CX-9. Additionally, new Carbon Edition model helps owners express their individuality with bold styling. Mazda North American Operations today announces the 2021 Mazda CX-9 will arrive in dealerships later this month.

Arriving in style after an invigorating journey, the CX-9's sleek design is matched by its responsive performance. The Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine equipped on all CX-9 models delivers a robust 320 lb-ft of torque and 250 horsepower on premium (93 octane) gasoline or 310 lb-ft of torque and 227 horsepower on regular (87 octane) gasoline. The turbocharged engine is paired with a quick-shifting, six-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic transmission and has standard G-Vectoring Control Plus. Mazda's predictive i-Activ all-wheel drive with off-road traction assist is standard in CX-9 Signature and available on all other trim levels.

Helping elevate the ownership experience at any level, numerous premium features are equipped as standard. New for the 2021 CX-9 Sport is a 10.25-inch large center display with the latest Mazda Connect infotainment interface. The new infotainment has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities and adds Mazda Connected Services capabilities that include a three-year trial to access the ability to monitor and control the state of the CX-9 remotely by logging into the MyMazda app and in-car Wi-Fi hotspot2 with three-months or 2GB trial. Mazda's suite of i-Activsense safety features are standard, including Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and go function, Advanced Smart City Brake Support with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Other standard features include heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, three-zone automatic climate control, six-way power driver's seat with lumbar support, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio pairing, two front USB inputs, rearview camera, keyless entry and push-button start. The CX-9 Sport has automatic on/off LED headlights with auto-leveling, LED taillights and daytime running lights, heated and power door mirrors, High Beam Control, body-colored rear roof spoiler, 18-inch gray metallic finish aluminum alloy wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers and rear privacy glass.

The CX-9 Touring adds various seating upgrades, including leather-trimmed first and second-row seats, six-way power passenger's seat, slide and tilt function is upgraded on the second-row bench seating and two USB charging ports in the second row. Other additions include power liftgate, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry and auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink.

With the optional Touring Premium Package, occupants can further enjoy the CX-9 experience with Bose 12-speaker premium audio, new wireless phone charger will be located in the storage compartment in front of the shifter, power moonroof, front and rear parking sensors, two USB charging ports in the third row, LED fog lights, second-row retractable window sunshade, SiriusXM satellite radio with three-month trial subscription. Along with this package, owners have the option to select between the second-row bench seating or second-row captain's chairs with armrest and center pass through at no additional charge.

New CX-9 Carbon Edition models builds on the CX-9 Touring with Touring Premium Package, but provides exclusive styling with Polymetal Gray exterior paint, gloss black door mirrors and new designs for the gloss black front grille and 20-inch black metallic aluminum alloy wheels. The interior has red leather seats and black interior trimming on the dash, door panels and handle bezels. The steering wheel will have paddle shifters. Smart City Brake Support Reverse and Driver Attention Alert are new i-Activsense safety features on the Carbon Edition models. The CX-9 Carbon Edition comes standard with second-row captain's chairs with armrest and center pass through. Other features include hands-free power liftgate, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, seven-inch TFT reconfigurable digital gauge display, Satin Chrome roof rails, automatic power folding door mirrors, Adaptive Front-lighting System, eight-way power driver's seat with lumbar support and memory positioning, chrome lower exterior accents, interior LED accents, windshield wiper de-icer and frameless rearview mirror.

The CX-9 Grand Touring moves up from the Touring with Touring Premium Package through added peace of mind with new i-Activsense safety features Smart City Brake Support Reverse and Driver Attention Alert join the 360 View Monitor with front and rear parking sensors now updated with high-definition digital clarity. The interior is equipped with Active Driving Display with Traffic Sign Recognition, Mazda Navigation system, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, heated steering wheel, seven-inch TFT reconfigurable digital gauge display, eight-way power driver's seat with lumbar support and memory positioning, interior LED accents and frameless rearview mirror. Other convenient and styling upgrades include 20-inch silver metallic finish aluminum alloy wheels, hands-free power liftgate, Satin Chrome roof rails, automatic power folding door mirrors, Adaptive Front-lighting System, chrome lower exterior accents and windshield wiper de-icer.

In the upper most trim level, the CX-9 Signature offers all of the appealing driving dynamics with standard i-Activ all-wheel drive while not compromising on design. New titanium gray metallic finish front grille design is a stunning first impression, especially with the LED grille accent lighting. New design 20-inch brilliant silver finish aluminum alloy wheels and larger dual tailpipes round out the elegant and exciting styling. The well-appointed interior styling has been upgraded with new quilting and piping on the first and second-row seats and patterned aluminum on the dash, door panels and handle bezels. Combined with second-row captain's chairs with center console that provide a first-class experience much like the first row with armrest storage compartment, heated seat buttons and cupholders, Nappa leather seats, Santos Rosewood interior trim and unique steering wheel stitching, the CX-9 Signature provides an executive feeling for all occupants.

MSRP3 FOR THE 2021 MAZDA CX-9 IS AS FOLLOWS:



Front-Wheel Drive i-Activ All-Wheel Drive CX-9 Sport $33,960 $35,860 CX-9 Touring $35,750 $37,650  Touring Premium Package $2,060 $2,060 CX-9 Carbon Edition $41,080 $42,980 CX-9 Grand Touring $41,940 $43,840 CX-9 Signature - $46,605

PREMIUM PAINT COLORS:

Soul Red Crystal Metallic $595 Machine Gray Metallic $495 Snowflake White Pearl Mica $395

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Acting U.S. attorney Seth DuCharme, who personally investigated the case during his first stint in the Eastern District of New York prosecutors office, said there have been many challenges to solving it over the nearly two decades, but he did not elaborate.
With the US in crisis from COVID-19, Michelle Obama blasts Trumps failures, says Biden will lead with empathy.

The Democratic Party opened its presidential convention with calls for unity and action to lift a deeply divided United States from its economic and political crisis by replacing President Donald Trump with Joe Biden.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama launched a scathing attack on President Trump, calling him the wrong president whose failures have brought chaos, adding that Bidens empathy and down-to-earth leadership would restore health and prosperity to the US.

We have got to show up with passion and hope for Joe Biden, said the former first lady on Monday.

Joes life is a testament to getting back up and he is going to channel his passion into lifting us back up.

The Democrats will formally nominate Biden for president on Thursday with delegates voting in a convention being held via video conference across 57 states and principalities.

On Monday, delegates and the American public heard from former Democratic presidential contenders Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar, as well as Republicans and working Americans who support Biden.

The job is hard, said Michelle, whose husband Barack served as president from 2009 to 2016. It requires clear-headed judgement, a mastery of complex and competing issues, a devotion to facts and history, a moral compass and an ability to listen. And an abiding belief that each of the 330 million lives in this country has meaning and worth.

You simply cannot fake your way through this job, she said while taking a shot at Trump who she said is not capable of rising to the challenge the nation is facing.

Whenever we look to this White House for leadership or consolation or any sense of steadiness, what we get is chaos, lack of vision and total and utter lack of empathy.

Michelle Obama says Trump is the wrong president for our country on the first night of the Democratic National Convention. pic.twitter.com/B85LStI4JG  Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 18, 2020

Trump, who appeared at a campaign rally in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, earlier in the day mocked the Democrats use of a pre-taped video, including Michelles remarks, saying he doubted many Americans would tune in to the televised event.

While the opening night lacked the authentic feel of a traditional convention with a packed hall of nearly 4,000 rowdy delegates, the video conferencing elements reflect the new normal of American life amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Sanders described an unprecedented moment in American political history marked by a pandemic that has killed 170,000 people in the US, economic collapse that has resulted in 30 million jobless, and systemic racism leading to nationwide protests.

The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake. We must come together to defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden, said Sanders, while taking credit for shaping todays Democratic Party.

Together, we have moved this country in a bold new direction, showing that all of us Black and white, Latino, Native American, Asian American, gay and straight, native born and immigrant, yearn for a nation based on the principles of justice, love and compassion, Sanders said, adding that Trump is taking America down the path to authoritarianism.

Prominent Republican and former Ohio Governor John Kasich, seen standing at a fork in the road, said the US is standing at a crossroads in this election and he feels it is his patriotic duty to oppose his own partys president.

Republican former Ohio Governor John Kasich started his speech with the words America is at a crossroads. [Democratic National Convention/Pool via Reuters]

Kasich called Biden a man who can help us see the humanity in each other.

The convention started with a montage of Americans reading the opening lines of the US Constitution, starting with the phrase We the People, setting a broadly inclusive theme for Bidens campaign against Trump who Democrats accuse of violating constitutional norms in his conduct in office.

Much of the Democrats message focused on the hardships the coronavirus pandemic has imposed on Americans and Trumps inability to control the outbreak.

Actress Eva Longoria, who served as the master of ceremonies for the evenings programme, spoke by video conference with Biden supporters Scott Richardson, a small business owner, Rick Telesz, a farmer, and Michelle Beebe, a school nurse.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar speaks from Minnesota in a live video feed [Democratic National Convention/Pool via Reuters]

Senator Amy Klobuchar, who ran unsuccessfully for president, touched on her 92-year-old father who survived a bout with COVID-19 in May.

We need a president who will look out for seniors, like my dad, whose families visit them looking through windows not knowing if it will be the last time they will see them, Klobuchar said.

Kristin Urquiza, who lost her father to COVID-19, blamed Trumps mismanagement of the pandemic for his death.

My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life, she said. When I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my Dad.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who gained national prominence for her tough stance against the virus, said: Just imagine if we had a national strategy to address the COVID virus.

Rodney and Philonise Floyd, brothers of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody, held a moment of silence for their brother at the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention [Democratic National Convention/Pool via Reuters]

Democrats are seeking to harness the power of the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted across the US after the death of George Floyd.

Speaking from Houston, Floyds brothers, Rodney and Philonese, held a moment of silence for their brother at the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Its up to us to carry on the fight for justice. Our actions will be their legacies, Philonese said.

Convention producers interspersed images of Americans protesting set to the rousing Bruce Springsteen song, The Rising, with clips of Biden giving a fiery speech about police reform and civil rights in Philadelphia.

Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser described her decision to rename three city blocks in front of the White House the Black Lives Matter Plaza, after federal law enforcement cleared protesters with tear gas and riot gear.

While we were peacefully protesting, Donald Trump was plotting, Bowser said, Thats when I said, enough is enough.
Together with Animals Lebanon, FOUR PAWS saves pets in Lebanon

Lebanon, Beirut | Aug. 2020 | Rapid response and emergency help after explosion at the harbour in Beirut. #SupportBeirutAnimals  FOUR PAWS

Lebanon, Beirut | Aug. 2020 | Rapid response and emergency help after explosion at the harbour in Beirut. #SupportBeirutAnimals  FOUR PAWS

Lebanon, Beirut | Aug. 2020 | Rapid response and emergency help after explosion at the harbour in Beirut. #SupportBeirutAnimals  FOUR PAWS

Lebanon, Beirut | Aug. 2020 | Rapid response and emergency help after explosion at the harbour in Beirut. #SupportBeirutAnimals  FOUR PAWS

Boston, MA, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS supports its local partner Animals Lebanon in the rescue and care of injured animals in Beirut. On August 4th, the Lebanese capital was severely impacted by a massive explosion at the port. Over 170 people lost their lives and over 6,000 were injured. Among the victims are numerous animals  including many pets. The FOUR PAWS team is helping on site to search for buried animals to provide them with medical treatment, food and, if possible, reunification with their owners.

For the next few weeks, the FOUR PAWS team will be on the ground in Beirut with the goal to rescue as many pets and stray animals as possible from the ruins, together with the help of Animals Lebanon and local volunteers. If pets cannot be reunited with their owners, FOUR PAWS will look for a safe, new home for them. The same applies for rescued stray animals. Additionally, FOUR PAWS will provide urgently needed medical supplies and food.

The unstable political and economic situation in Lebanon, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, are challenging for us. But for many people, pets are like family members. That is why we will be searching and caring for surviving animals around the clock in the coming weeks. We will also use the rescue operations to vaccinate stray animals in the area against rabies  just another source of risk that we will take care of with preventative methods, says Dr Amir Khalil, FOUR PAWS veterinarian and leader of the Beirut mission.

Expertise in crisis and conflict zones

In December 2019, FOUR PAWS and Animals Lebanon conducted an emergency mission together to care for several wild animals kept in two zoos in the south of Lebanon. The animal welfare organization has also worked in countries like Libya and Egypt. In 2016 and 2019, the FOUR PAWS team evacuated three zoos in the Gaza Strip. In 2017, FOUR PAWS rescued 13 animals from an amusement park near Aleppo in Syria, as well as the last two surviving bears and lions from a zoo in Mosul, Iraq.

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"Here at Four Paws we are uniquely positioned for these difficult rescue missions, with several offices and programs operating quite literally around the world. Because of our experienced and diverse team, we are able to provide assistance for disasters and tragedies quickly and effectively, bringing reprieve and emergency support when animals and people are in desperate need," says Danika Oriol-Morway, Executive Director for FOUR PAWS USA.

ABOUT FOUR PAWS INTERNATIONAL

FOUR PAWS is an international animal welfare organization that has, for more than three decades, consistently and successfully focused on one goal: helping improve the lives of animals through sustainable campaigns and projects. We focus on animals that are directly under human influence: farm, wild and companion animals but also specifically bears, big cats, horses, primates and stray dogs and cats. Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, FOUR PAWS has offices in 14 other countries including in Boston, MA.

Copyright:  FOUR PAWS

For direct questions and additional photo requests, please contact Danika Oriol-Morway at danika.oriol-morway@four-paws.org

Attachments

CONTACT: Danika Oriol-Morway FOUR PAWS International 617-942-1233 danika.oriol-morway@four-paws.org




Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:08:07|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- India's federal Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Tuesday said India was negotiating with 13 countries to establish bilateral air bubble arrangements for international flight operations.

"We are now taking these efforts forward and are negotiating with 13 more countries to establish such arrangements," said Puri in a brief statement posted on social media.

"These countries include Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. The ongoing negotiations will benefit stranded Indians and nationals of these countries."

Air bubbles have also been proposed with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan, Puri said.

The minister said his ministry will continue to further strengthen the reach and scope of Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) and that air travel arrangements are already in place with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and the Maldives.

VBM is an evacuation operation launched by the government for the repatriation of Indians stranded overseas.

"Going forward, we will consider such arrangements with other countries also. It is always our endeavor to reach out to every stranded citizen. No Indian will be left behind," Puri said.

Over 1 million stranded Indians have been flown under the VBM exercise. Enditem
California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar dissented in Monday's ruling, arguing that residents of nursing homes were entitled to more compensation for the violation of their rights. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

As COVID-19 continues to ravage nursing homes, the California Supreme Court ruled Monday that a state law allowing residents to sue facilities limits compensation to $500.

The ambiguous 1982 statute was aimed at allowing nursing home residents to sue on the grounds their rights had been violated, but in a 5-2 decision, the state's highest court interpreted the law to mean that residents may collect no more than $500 for violations, regardless of how many. The two dissenting justices argued the law actually intended to set a $500 cap for each violation of a patient's rights, not for the entire suit.

The decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by John Jarman, who was 91 in 2008 when he slipped and fractured his hip. After surgery, he was transferred to ManorCare of Hemet, CA, a skilled nursing facility of HCR ManorCare Inc. While there, he developed bed sores that took a year to heal after his release, the suit said.

ManorCare staff allegedly often left him in soiled diapers and ignored nurse call lights. He died before the trial, and his daughter carried on his suit.

At issue before the California Supreme Court was the meaning of a provision in the 38-year-old Long-Term Care, Health, Safety, and Security Act.

"We do not find that limiting an award to $500 per lawsuit would render the statute 'toothless,'" Justice Ming W. Chin, author of the majority decision, wrote.

He noted that lawyers for nursing home residents were still entitled to collect their legal fees from the defendants and injunctions could be issued to prevent future abuse. Residents also may sue under different laws, including the Elder Abuse Act, which provides substantially more compensation, Chin said.

But Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar, joined by Justice Goodwin Liu, said the $500 cap was "plainly insufficient to fulfill the statutes purpose to deter and remedy violations of nursing home patients' rights."

"It makes little difference that the majority leaves a few teeth awkwardly hanging in the mouth after pulling most of them out, " Cuellar wrote.

Story continues

He cited the pandemic in the first paragraph of his 26-page dissent, which was longer that the majority ruling.

"Nowhere has the pain of the COVID-19 virus been more acutely felt than in our states nursing homes," he wrote.

In a Walnut Creek facility owned by ManorCare, he said, 130 people were infected, and 12 have died. The majority's decision "deprives nursing home residents of an important tool to deter and vindicate violations of their rights," he said.

Cuellar noted that the Elder Abuse Act allows victims compensation only if they can prove by clear and convincing evidence" that a nursing home was liable for physical abuse, neglect or abandonment and also guilty of "recklessness, oppression, fraud or malice in the commission of this abuse."

"This is not an insubstantial burden," he said.

In Jarman's case, a jury in 2011 awarded the daughter $100,000 in punitive damages under a different law that was not at issue in Monday's decision. Under the 1982 law, the jury found the nursing home liable for $95,000 for various violations, an amount that will now likely be reduced to $500.

The trial court eventually struck down the punitive damages, but a court of appeal reinstated them.

Anthony M. Chicotel, staff attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, called the decision extremely disappointing and said his group would urge the Legislature to rewrite the law. The pandemic has prevented ombudsmen for nursing home patients from entering the facilities, he said, and residents now are in need of more protection than ever.

"For residents rights, this is a significant blow," said Chicotel, who filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of Jarman. He likened their predicament to being on a floating, melting iceberg that gets smaller and smaller.

Barry S. Landsberg, who represented ManorCare in the case, said the company was "pleased that the Supreme Court correctly interpreted the resident rights statute" to limit damages to no more than $500 in a civil action.

"That is what the statute says and what the Legislature intended, both when it enacted the law in 1982 and when it amended the law years later," Landsberg said.
"Mi sarei augurata che il lockdown negli Stati Uniti fosse come quello dell'Italia, dove alla gente non era consentito lasciare le loro case".

Sono le parole di Deborah Birx, uno dei membri della task force della Casa Bianca contro il coronavirus, che elogia dunque la strategia portata avanti dall'Italia per sconfiggere il contagio.

Non e la prima voce d'oltreoceano a ricordare l'importanza della politica italiana di chiusura totale nella lotta al Covid: gia nelle settimane scorse il New York Times aveva pubblicato un lungo articolo in cui si spiegava come la rigida politica messa in atto dal governo Conte supportato dal Comitato tecnico scientifico avesse portato a dei risultati insperati di contro alla situazione di contagio inizialmente creatasi.

"Ma gli americani - ha poi aggiunto Deborah Birx - non reagiscono bene a questo tipo di restrizioni".

Gli Stati Uniti, con 5,4 milioni di persone colpite e 170mila decessi sono oggi il Paese piu colpito dall'emergenza coronavirus. Solo ieri i nuovi malati erano circa 50mila.

 Riproduzione riservata

(Unioneonline/v.l.)
Professor Rohan Grey takes education seriously. Grey spent most of the past 15 years in or around institutions of learning  teaching daycare, K-12 and university students  in addition to earning six different degrees. This fall, he joins Willamette Law to begin his next chapter as a full-time assistant professor.

Grey is originally from Australia, where he grew up and went to college. He enrolled in dual undergraduate programs in international studies and music, and in 2009, moved to the United States to finish his studies at the University of Pennsylvania and Manhattan School of Music. Although the move was initially meant to be temporary, it quickly became permanent.

Grey, whose father was a barrister and whose mother came from a family of music educators, always felt torn between the two worlds. He knew he wanted to ultimately go to law school but decided to first complete a masters degree in music education at Columbia Teachers College.

While I was doing that, I got an opportunity to teach at a nearby elementary school where I had been volunteering, Grey says. So I deferred attending Columbia Law School and worked for a year as an elementary school social studies and music teacher.

Around the same period, Grey developed an interest in monetary and macroeconomic issues.

I came of age during the global financial crisis of 2007-08, Grey explains. So when I moved to the U.S. at the beginning of 2009, I was already starting to ask questions about what money was and how the financial system worked. A lot of my friends from UPenn were in the (Wharton) business school, so after we graduated, they started working on Wall Street, while I was teaching in a public school in Harlem, New York. It was a pretty stark contrast.

Grey entered law school intending to pursue a career in education law and policy. However, he quickly found child advocacy more rewarding and switched his focus to direct client services. During his final year, he enrolled in a joint-degree program with the London School of Economics, where he earned an LLM focusing on the monetary and macroeconomic dimension of copyright law and its relationship to federal arts policy.

Following graduation, he became a practicing childrens attorney in New York. However, the fascination with money and finance remained. Consequently, Grey used his free time to research various academic issues related to the legal design of money and finance, helping expand what he calls a recent renaissance in that area of legal scholarship. He also collaborated with a community of economists and social scientists who go under the school of thought called Modern Monetary Theory.

When it became clear he could no longer maintain dual commitments to child advocacy and monetary research, he decided to switch careers and enter legal academia. He enrolled in a JSD (legal doctorate) program at Cornell Law School, focusing on the law of money in the internet age. He joined Willamette Law in the fall to teach Business Organizations, Securities Regulation and first-year Contracts.

Although Grey previously taught students of all ages, including law students, this will be his first time doing so as a law school faculty member.

Im looking forward to learning how to best provide what my students need and how to best prepare them to be lawyers in this changing legal world, Grey says. I want to help them make a difference thats socially valuable.

About the Willamette University College of Law

Willamette University College of Law was the first law school to open in the Pacific Northwest. Building on deep historic roots, we focus with pride on educating the next generation of problem-solving lawyers and leaders. Our location in Salem, Oregon, directly across the street from the Oregon State Capitol and Supreme Court, cannot be matched in the region. Our thought-leading scholars advance and promote our shared responsibility to make a difference in society, placing justice, fairness, and equality at the heart of everything we do.

The College of Law produces the best problem solvers, community leaders, legal dealmakers, and changemakers in the most innovative region of the country. We have had several years of remarkable growth in academic achievement, as our bar passage rates and employment outcomes reflect. We also consistently have the highest graduate employment rates among all Oregon law schools, and are among the best on the entire West Coast.

We are a dynamic force within our universitys vision of an Only at Willamette education and have worked to develop one of the most forward-thinking and creative legal education programs in the country. Our student-centric approach manifests in the robust experiential learning opportunities we provide alongside curricular strengths in public service, business law, advocacy, international law, and health law.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has given a nod for phase-III clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine developed in collaboration with a Chinese company, a media report said on Tuesday.

According to a statement from the National Institute of Health (NIH), it has obtained "formal approval" from the DRAP for phase-III Clinical Trial of Recombinant Novel Coronavirus Vaccine Adenovirus Type 5 vector (Ad5-nCoV) developed by CanSinoBio and Beijing Institute of Biotechnology China (BIB)". The NIH said this would be the first-ever phase-III clinical trial for any vaccine in Pakistan.

"It is a multi-country multi-centre clinical trial which CanSinoBio is already conducting in China, Russia, Chile, Argentina and will shortly start in Saudi Arabia. The principal investigator of the multi-centre clinical trial in Pakistan is NIH executive director Maj Gen Aamer Ikram," the statement said. "AJM Pharma CEO Adnan Hussain signed an agreement with the NIH last month for collaborating on the phase-III clinical trial of CanSinoBIO Ad5-nCoV in Pakistan," it said.

According to a document signed by DRAP Clinical Studies Committee secretary Shafqat Hussain Danish, the committee recommended that the trial be held in Indus Hospital in Karachi. The Dawn newspaper reported that after seeing the document the test will be carried out by the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, Karachi, in collaboration with a Chinese company already conducting trials in China.

As many as 200 volunteers from Karachi, representing various ethnic groups, have been registered. The trial will be completed in 56 days during which three injections of inactivated virus will be administered to the volunteers  both male and female. The document said the National Data Safety Monitoring Committee will closely monitor the safety of the patients and submit reports on a monthly basis.

A DRAP official, not authorised to speak on record, said it was a major development as, in case of a successful trial, the vaccine would become available to people. "Though vaccines are being prepared in different countries, we cannot surely say whether we will get them as there will be high demand for the vaccines across the globe. If this trial is successful, the vaccine will be easily available to us at affordable rates," the official said.

Pakistan's coronavirus cases reached 289,832 on Tuesday after 617 new infections were diagnosed in the last 24 hours. Fifteen more people died during this period, taking the number of COVID-19 deaths to 6,190 across the country, the health ministry said on Tuesday. Minister for Planning Asad Umar, who also heads the National Coordination and Operation Centre on COVID-19, said he was hopeful that the trials on the vaccine would be successful.

"It is one of the potential vaccines which can become successful," he said. Pakistan was unable to participate in the phase-III trials held in different countries. However, an opportunity had finally been created wherein volunteers could participate in the trials within the country, Umar said.

The phase-III clinical trial is designed to evaluate whether an investigational vaccine can prevent symptomatic COVID-19 among adults. On March 24, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry had constituted a committee  Scientific Task Force on COVID-19  headed by scientist Professor Dr Attaur Rehman.

One of the committee members, who requested not to be named, said: "The trial will commence from next week which will be participated by 200 volunteers, all over 18 years of age". "We have selected volunteers from various ethnic groups to analyse their results. I believe Karachi is the most appropriate city as people from all backgrounds are settled there. An amount of Rs 50,000 will be paid to each volunteer. After completion of the trial, we will move to other cities of the country," he said.

When asked about the side effects of the vaccine, the committee member said though its safety profile was very good, every medicine had side effect in one per cent cases with mild fever, tiredness, headache or allergy. "These are mild symptoms and people should know that even the committee members are willing to volunteer themselves for the trial. We are taking part in global efforts against COVID-19. Moreover, as we are passing through the 'fifth generation warfare' phase, the trial will build a positive image of Pakistan," he said.
KEY FACTS Dominic Leblanc to return to take over Freelands intergovernmental responsibilities

Trudeau expected to suspend Parliament for short time to reset his governments agenda

OTTAWA  Hours after she made history by being named Canadas first female finance minister, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was matter-of-fact about it all.

Its about time we broke that glass ceiling, Freeland said, beaming, after she was sworn in at Rideau Hall to replace Bill Morneau, who had resigned under a cloud from Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet the night before.

And I'd like to say to all the Canadian women across our amazing country who are out there breaking glass ceilings, keep going.

An author, mother and former business journalist, the MP for the swish Toronto riding of University-Rosedale was conscious of the significance of her rise to one of the most powerful positions in government.

She vowed to bring her experience as a woman and a working mother to the really important challenge of the governments task ahead: closing the glaring inequalities the pandemic has laid bare, especially for the women who have been hit hardest in the economic shutdown.

Trudeau said he could imagine no one who is better suited to the job at a time when he wants to present a more ambitious governing agenda and economic recovery plan in late September.

On Tuesday, Trudeau asked Governor-General Julie Payette to prorogue Parliament until Sept. 23, two days later than it would have returned for the fall sitting  promising to return with a Throne Speech that will set out new priorities for ministers as Canada continues to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

He insisted it wasnt a move to dodge scrutiny by parliamentarians of his role in the WE Charity scandal, nor does he want to trigger an election. But he said he must test the confidence of the House of Commons for his new plan, since the pre-COVID platform his government was elected on is outdated.

As much as this pandemic is an unexpected challenge, it is also an unprecedented opportunity, Trudeau told reporters in a statement laced with campaign-style slogans.

This is our chance to build a more resilient Canada, a Canada that is healthier and safer, greener and more competitive, a Canada that is more welcoming and more fair. This is our moment to change the future for the better. We cant afford to miss it because this window of opportunity wont be open for long.

Freeland thanked her predecessor and his family, calling Morneau a fantastic colleague and an excellent minister of finance who had worked on the governments biggest files, including the renegotiation of NAFTA, pushing back on U.S. tariffs and working with provinces to deal with the emergency phase of the pandemic.

But Freeland also strongly suggested that Morneaus political fate would not be hers.

Freeland said that when Trudeau asked her to take on the finance job, she reminded him that they had disagreed before and said they would continue to do so, effectively striking a no-leaks bargain with her boss.

My motto has been to have open, candid conversations with the prime minister in private, but also to have a united front when we come out in public, said Freeland, and I'd like to thank the prime minister, who has treated me that way too. That's a really, really important part of any working relationship, particularly in government.

Morneaus political luck ran out last week amid speculation  despite their denials  that Trudeau had lost trust in him to lead the economic recovery plan.

While Trudeau said he didnt ask for Morneaus resignation, neither he nor Morneau denied that the two had differed on his role in the months and years ahead.

We arrived at an agreement, just as we have many times in the last five years that I was working with Bill, said Trudeau. We arrived at the same conclusions at about the same time. In other words, for the relaunch of the economy and in the next steps, he did not wish to run in the next election, and therefore it was better to have someone who could carry us through for the longer term.

A timeline of Chrystia Freeland's life

After five years in politics, Morneau stunned his cabinet and caucus colleagues last month when he admitted accepting two complimentary trips in 2017 from WE Charity, but then taking part in a cabinets decision to hire the organization to administer $544-million student volunteer program. Morneaus daughters also have ties to WE Charity  one worked there, and one spoke at a WE Charity event.

Liberal sources told the Star that Morneau, a wealthy man, did not imagine that anyone would think his policy decisions would be influenced by trips paid for by organizations like WE Charity.

On Tuesday, Morneau was said to be bruised but sanguine about his abrupt departure from politics.

A Bay Street executive before he first ran for office in 2015, Morneau said he plans to seek the leadership of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a job few believe is comparable to that of a finance minister of a G7 country.

Trudeau said documents related to the WE Charity scandal have been released to the finance committee, and the Opposition can continue to probe the controversy.

He has also apologized for not recusing himself from the cabinets decision to approve the student grant program, but said it was the public service which insisted WE Charity was the only group capable of running it. Trudeaus mother and brother had accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees and expenses from WE, and his wife Sophie hosts a podcast for WE, and had expenses covered to attend WE events.

Trudeau said Tuesday he believes Canadians want his government to focus on dealing with the economic recovery.

Pollster Nik Nanos said in an interview that the cabinet shuffle may have fanned the flames of the WE Charity controversy, which had begun to die down for the government after Trudeau and his chief of staff testified before a House of Commons committee in July. Theyve effectively reignited the controversy, and also established the conditions for a minister being asked to resign, he said.

At the same time, Nanos said, Trudeaus move to suspend Parliament and rewrite the governments agenda is a signal of a potential federal election in the offing, based on a new throne speech that presents a narrative Trudeau can control.

In a brief ceremony at Rideau Hall on Tuesday afternoon, where all officials and relatives stood masked and physically distanced, Freeland and Dominic Leblanc, who was already a privy councillor, were sworn into their new roles.

Leblanc takes over Freelands intergovernmental responsibilities, a portfolio the New Brunswick MP and longtime Trudeau friend previously held in the governments first term before he stepped aside to go through cancer treatment.

The new ministers doffed their masks in order to read aloud their oaths of office.

The Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois and the New Democrats criticized Trudeau, saying he is more concerned about saving his government than helping Canadians.

Outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer called prorogation a disgusting attempt to make Canadians forget about his corruption.

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh congratulated Freeland on the big achievement of becoming the first female finance minister, but said the resignation of Morneau changes nothing, and his party will weigh what its options are when it comes to any vote of confidence.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet laid out the BQs demands for supporting the government, despite saying last week he would vote to defeat the government if Morneau, Trudeau and Trudeaus chief of staff did not resign. They include support for seniors, for farmers in supply managed sectors; a transfer to the Quebec government of its share of funds for the now defunct student volunteer program; and changes to emergency benefits to encourage labourers to return to work.

Freeland takes over the finance role at a time when the Liberal government is projecting a $343-billion deficit. She will continue to manage Canadas relationship with the United States in the run-up to this falls U.S. presidential election.

As international trade minister, Freeland concluded a free-trade agreement with the European Union. As foreign affairs minister, she led Canadas renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, jockeying with the Trump Administration over steel and aluminum tariffs. After the Trudeau government was knocked down to a minority after last falls election and East-West tensions flared, Trudeau made her his right-hand minister dealing with the provinces, a move that assisted his governments work with premiers through the pandemic.

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The big shareholder groups in Cranswick plc (LON:CWK) have power over the company. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies. Companies that have been privatized tend to have low insider ownership.

Cranswick isn't enormous, but it's not particularly small either. It has a market capitalization of UK2.1b, which means it would generally expect to see some institutions on the share registry. Our analysis of the ownership of the company, below, shows that institutions are noticeable on the share registry. We can zoom in on the different ownership groups, to learn more about Cranswick.

See our latest analysis for Cranswick

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Cranswick?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

Cranswick already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Cranswick's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Cranswick is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is FMR LLC, with ownership of 8.0%. With 6.2% and 5.0% of the shares outstanding respectively, Standard Life Aberdeen plc and Wellington Management Group LLP are the second and third largest shareholders.

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Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 50% of the ownership is controlled by the top 13 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Cranswick

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

I can report that insiders do own shares in Cranswick plc. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own UK24m worth of shares (at current prices). If you would like to explore the question of insider alignment, you can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 13% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over Cranswick. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Cranswick better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Cranswick , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Cancer immunotherapy -- empowering a patient's own immune system to clear away tumors on its own -- holds great promise for some patients. But for other patients, immunotherapy just doesn't work.

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found evidence that helps explain why patients who are young and/or female have especially low response rates to some types of cancer immunotherapy.

Their findings suggest that since the typically robust immune systems of young and female patients are better at getting rid of tumor cells, the cells left behind are not as readily visible to the immune system to begin with, rendering some types of immunotherapy ineffective.

The study is published August 17, 2020, in Nature Communications.

Now that we know why some patients don't respond as well to immunotherapy, we can begin developing more informed approaches to treatment decisions -- for instance, developing predictive algorithms to determine a person's likely response before initiating immunotherapies that may have a high probability of not working or working poorly for them." Hannah Carter, PhD, Study Senior Author and Associate Professor, Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California- San Diego

Cancerous or infected cells wave molecular flags that tell the immune system to clear them away before the problem gets out of control. The flag poles -- molecules of the Major Histocompatibility Complexes (MHC) -- are displayed at the surface of most cells in the body.

MHCs hold up antigen flags -- bits of just about everything from inside the cells -- and display them to immune cell surveyors that are constantly checking for damaged or infected cells. Since tumor cells carry a lot of mutations, they show up frequently among these flags, allowing the immune system to detect and eliminate them.

But some tumor cells evade the immune system by also throwing up a stop sign molecule that keeps the immune system from recognizing the MHC flags. And here's where immune checkpoint inhibitors come in: This type of cancer immunotherapy uses antibodies to make the tumor cell once again visible to the patient's immune system.

So why would a person's age or sex influence how well immune checkpoint inhibitors work?

Sex and age differences have long been observed when it comes to immune response. For example, females have twice the antibody response to flu vaccines and are far more susceptible to autoimmune diseases.

Similarly, human immune systems tend to weaken as we age. But if females and younger people have stronger immune responses in most cases, you might expect cancer immunotherapy to work better for them, not worse.

To get to the bottom of this conundrum, Carter's team looked at genomic information for nearly 10,000 patients with cancer available from the National Institutes of Health's The Cancer Genome Atlas, and another 342 patients with other tumor types available from the International Cancer Genome Consortium database and published studies. They found no age or sex-related differences in MHC function.

What they did find was that, compared to older and male patients with cancer, younger and female patients tend to accumulate more cancer-causing genetic mutations of the sort that MHCs can't present to the immune system as efficiently.

Carter said this is likely because robust immune systems of the young and female are better at getting rid of cells displaying well-presented mutant self-antigens, leaving behind tumor cells that rely more heavily on the poorly presented mutations. This selective pressure is known as immuno-editing.

"So if a tumor cell doesn't present highly visible, mutated self antigens to begin with, checkpoint inhibitor drugs can't help reveal them to the immune system," she said.

"This shows an important thing, that the interplay between the cancer genome and the adaptive arm of the immune system is not a static one," said co-author Maurizio Zanetti, MD, professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and head of the Laboratory of Immunology at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

"Two simple but important variables, age and sex, influence this interplay. The study also emphasizes the master role of the MHC in dictating the outcome of this interplay, reaffirming its central role in the evolution of disease, cancer included, at the level of the individual and population."

Carter cautions that their findings for "younger" patients don't necessarily apply to children since, genetically speaking, pediatric tumors are very different from adult tumors.

In addition, she noted that, like most genomics databases, those used in this study contain data primarily from people of Caucasian descent, and more diversity is needed to confirm that the findings can be generalized to all populations.

"Cancer isn't just one disease, and so the way we treat it can't be one-size-fits-all," she said. "All checkpoint inhibitors can do is remove the generic block that tumors put up to hide from the immune system.

The more we learn about how interactions between tumors and immune systems might vary, the better positioned we are to tailor treatments to each person's situation.
This is not the Democratic National Convention that Joe Biden wanted, but it's the one he's got.

Usually, the gatherings held by America's Democrats and Republicans every four years to formally choose a presidential nominee are raucous affairs: thousands of cheering delegates, party platform debates and balloons galore.

As with so many things, 2020 is anything but usual, and Biden's decades-long quest to be his party's White House candidate will culminate... online, in the cloud.

As the coronavirus crisis lingers across America, the convention center in the Midwestern city of Milwaukee -- already a step down from the Democrats' original arena site -- is empty.

There are no delegates clad in blue, no signs, no hordes of journalists -- just an endless slick stream of recorded messages from party luminaries and applause from cyberspace.

"It is a disappointment for sure," says Jeff Sommers, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, at the Canary Coffee Bar.

Local student Lauren Farich echoes that thought.

"I understand why they had to do what they did, but it would have been cool if it was, you know, normal," Farich tells AFP.

- 'Zero energy' -

The announcement in March 2019 that Milwaukee -- best known for its breweries and the Harley-Davidson Museum -- would host the 2020 Democratic convention had thrilled store owners hoping to cash in on the arrival of some 50,000 out-of-towners.

Instead, the only thing clustered around the Wisconsin Center were security fences.

Inside, some of the few on site are the producers bringing the unprecedented, nearly all-virtual convention to life -- and trying their best to recreate the traditional format.

The convention chairman gavelled in the proceedings, children and young adults sang the national anthem in a Zoom-like format, and actress Eva Longoria served as emcee -- from a studio.

The speeches were far shorter than usual, and nearly all pre-recorded, including the keynote from former first lady Michelle Obama.

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The lack of applause between speakers was a far cry from the norm.

The event has earned immediate scorn from President Donald Trump, who will rally his party faithful next week.

"You know, when you hear a speech is taped, it's like there's nothing very exciting about it, right?" he said Monday.

Trump plans to deliver his nomination acceptance speech live from the White House.

For Bob Dommek, a 56-year-old who voted for Trump in 2016 who said he watched the last hour of Monday night's event -- especially the speeches from pro-Biden Republicans like John Kasich -- the night had "zero energy."

Though Dommek -- who says he's on the fence between Trump and Biden this time -- had a fairly positive view of the night overall, he lamented the format.

"You want to hear a laugh track or something in the background -- something, you know, I think, to try and liven it up would be good."

It remains to be seen how the new-look convention will play with voters and viewers. In 2016, between 25 and 30 million people tuned in for each night of the convention that saw Hillary Clinton named the nominee to take on Trump.

ico-elc/sst/jm
LONDON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Algeco Group, the leading modular space leasing business in Europe and Asia Pacific, today announces that it has agreed to acquire Temporary Space Nordics ("TSN") from Procuritas and other shareholders.

Headquartered in Bro, Sweden, Temporary Space Nordics is a leading provider of high-quality temporary space solutions for public and private customers across the Nordic region, with a local presence in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.

TSN operates a rental fleet of c. 7,500 modules capable of solving temporary needs for a wide range of applications including schools, kindergartens, offices, accommodation and site units for infrastructure and other construction. TSN recorded total pro forma revenue of 41m in 2019.

TSN's well-invested fleet, and range of long-term customer contracts  of which over 50% are in the public sector  is highly complementary to Algeco's existing presence in the region. Furthermore, this transaction will strengthen Algeco's position in a growing Nordic modular space market, greatly expanding the Group's presence in Sweden and securing a strong market position in Denmark.

The transaction, which is subject to review by the Danish competition authority, is expected to close in Q3.

Mark Higson, Algeco's Chief Executive Officer, said: "I am delighted to welcome TSN Group into the Algeco business. The Nordic market is particularly attractive to us and this adds significantly to our presence in Sweden, strengthens our positions in Norway and Finland and marks our entry into the Danish market."

Magnus Kjellin, Temporary Space Nordics's CEO, said: "After a period of expansion, we are very excited to now be joining the Algeco Group. Our customers will continue to benefit not only from the highest quality solutions and our best-in-class service, but also Algeco's expertise, scale and leadership position in Europe."

About Temporary Space Nordics

Temporary Space Nordics offers high quality temporary modular building solutions primarily for schools, pre-schools, offices, infrastructure and accommodation for public, infrastructure and private customers. The company was founded in Uppsala, Sweden, in the 1980's, and was previously operated as separate business units within Ramirent Plc before being carved out in 2018 and acquiring the modular building business of GSV Materieludlejning A/S in 2019. Today, TSN is headquartered in Sweden with operations in Norway, Denmark and Finland as well.

About Algeco

Algeco is the world's leading business services company specialising in modular space. We create smart spaces for people to live, work and learn. Our business is designed to help customers find the right space solution, no matter what their requirements. Algeco has operations in 24 countries with approximately 250,000 modular space and portable storage units and 3,400 remote accommodations rooms. The company operates as Algeco in Europe, Elliott in the United Kingdom, BUKO Huisvesting and BUKO Bouw & Winkels in The Netherlands, Malthus Uniteam and Wexus in Norway, Ausco in Australia, Portacom in New Zealand, and Algeco Chengdong in China.

SOURCE Algeco Group
Shares of chemical producing companies including Andhra Petrochemical, Gujarata Alkalies, and Thirumalai Chemicals leaped up to 15 per cent on the BSE on Tuesday after the government extended anti-dumping duty on imports of caustic soda from China and Korea till November 2020 to guard domestic manufacturers. "...the anti-dumping duty imposed under this notification, with respect to China and Korea, shall remain in force up to and inclusive of the 17th November, 2020, unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier," the department of revenue said in a notification issued on ...

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Under fire for making service changes that critics alleged could undermine mail-in balloting in Novembers election, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday announced that hell delay any changes until the election is over.

A statement from DeJoy said hell expand a task force on election mail to help ensure that election officials and voters are well informed and fully supported by the Postal Service. It also said mail processing equipment and blue collection boxes will remain where they are, retail hours at post offices wont change, all mail processing facilities will remain open, and overtime for postal workers will continue to be approved as needed.

I came to the Postal Service to make changes to secure the success of this organization and its long-term sustainability, DeJoys statement said. I believe significant reforms are essential to that objective, and work toward those reforms will commence after the election. In the meantime, there are some longstanding operational initiatives  efforts that predate my arrival at the Postal Service  that have been raised as areas of concern as the nation prepares to hold an election in the midst of a devastating pandemic. To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded.

The U.S. Postal Service last week warned Ohio and other states that it may not be able to meet mail-voting deadlines this November, at the same time as it idled equipment at facilities including Clevelands main post office. Reports of mail delays and post office budget shortfalls also fueled fears that the upcoming election will be undermined.

If you were going to fix these things with the @USPS, youd have fixed them 6-8 months ago or last year knowing youre going to anticipate a national election. Were trying to preserve our democracy here, and it seems like the President is doing everything he can to undermine it. pic.twitter.com/9Et3uXbHB9  Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) August 18, 2020

President Donald Trumps verbal assaults on mail-in balloting raised questions over whether his postal service appointee was deliberately trying to sabotage an election that will likely have more mail-in ballots than ever because of reluctance to vote in person during the coronavirus pandemic.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced shed recall the House of Representatives from vacation to vote on a measure to block the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or level of service it had in place on Jan. 1, 2020, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs scheduled a Friday hearing on post office operations during upcoming elections.

Numerous members of Congress from Ohio expressed concern that changes DeJoy was making would affect voting, with Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur of Toledo, Marcia Fudge of Warrensville Heights and Tim Ryan of the Niles area signing a letter that argued implementing the policies as the election approaches will cause further delays to election mail that will disenfranchise voters and put significant financial pressure on election jurisdictions.

A group of GOP Ohio Congress members wrote their own letter to DeJoy on Monday that asked him coordinate with the state of Ohio to implement procedures to ensure accurate and prompt delivery of election-related materials. The letter signed by Republicans including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman suggested that more mail processing occur in Ohio, that nightly all-clear inspections of mail facilities be made to ensure all election-related materials are sent out, and that local postal service representatives build relationships with county election boards and establish election material intakes and drop-offs.

We must protect #ohioans right to vote during to the ongoing #COVID19 pandemic. That's why I sent a letter to the Postmaster General w/ @boblatta calling on the @USPS to ensure the timely & accurate delivery of election-related materials in #Ohio.  Rob Portman (@senrobportman) August 18, 2020

Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown reacted to DeJoys Tuesday action by saying DeJoy should reverse the changes he initiated, not just suspend them.

We need sorting machines turned back on, mailboxes put back, and Post Office hours restored, said a statement Brown posted on Twitter. Anything less still amounts to sabotage of our postal system.

Kaptur posted a Twitter statement that said: Trumps handpicked postmaster backtracks amidst your outcry. Veterans, seniors, workers and voters pay the price for dirty politics from the top.

A statement from League of Women Voters national CEO Virginia Kase called DeJoys announcement too little and too late.

The changes proposed by the Postmaster General were highly concerning because of the catastrophic effect they would have on our elections this year, her statement said. Indeed, many voters were left wondering whether their mailed ballot would arrive in time to be counted. The resultant threat on voter confidence still lingers.... While we are pleased that the wide scale disruptive changes made by the Postmaster General will temporarily cease, questions remain around how to make the United States Postal Service whole againincluding restoring the deficiencies which these decisions caused in the middle of a pandemic and just months before a national election. The agency must present a clear plan for how it will replace the discarded equipment, reverse the damage done, and restore the American publics confidence in our postal system.

Let's be clear - Postmaster General DeJoy needs to REVERSE these changes, NOT just suspend them.



We need sorting machines turned back on, mailboxes put back, and Post Office hours restored.



Anything less still amounts to sabotage of our postal system.https://t.co/oFB8Fbpt3d  Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) August 18, 2020

Californias Pelosi called DeJoys latest action a necessary but insufficient first step in ending the Presidents election sabotage campaign, and said the House of Representatives will move forward with its upcoming vote on a bill that would black the Postal Service from implementing service changes and provide the postal service with $25 billion.

This pause only halts a limited number of the Postmasters changes, does not reverse damage already done, and alone is not enough to ensure voters will not be disenfranchised by the President this fall, said a statement from Pelosi.

The top Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Kentuckys James Comer, said Democrats who questioned DeJoys actions were manufacturing baseless and wildly irresponsible conspiracy theories in order to scare the American people and undermine President Trump.

Contrary to the theatrics on the left, Americans should be confident that their vote counts regardless of whether they vote by mail or in person this fall, said a statement from Comer. Postmaster General DeJoy has nothing to be ashamed of. The Postal Service has been in dire straits long before Mr. DeJoys leadership and he rightfully took action to improve its efficiency and operations to better serve the American people.

Trump's handpicked postmaster backtracks amidst your outcry. Veterans, seniors, workers and voters pay the price for dirty politics from the top.https://t.co/8KjrKMLQQR  Marcy Kaptur (@RepMarcyKaptur) August 18, 2020

More coverage:

Ohio Democrats in Congress question educational redlining

Dismantled equipment behind Cleveland post office raises delivery questions

Rep. Marcia Fudge blasts signed letter from President Trump enclosed with food for the needy

White House defends President Trumps handling of coronavirus in new report that Sherrod Brown calls propaganda

Urban farmers in Cleveland invited to join new U.S. Department of Agriculture committee

Northeast Ohio Democrats in Congress slam postal service changes, saying they will hurt mail-in balloting

Ohio politicians react to Joe Biden picking Kamala Harris as his running mate

Ohio workers say ending federal unemployment payments could ruin them if the pandemic persists

Coronavirus confusion: Why mistakes are more likely with Ohio Gov. DeWines first test

Northeast Ohio charity gets federal grant to house human trafficking victims

Lordstown Motors to become publicly traded company after merger

House passes bill to fund Great Lakes projects and numerous federal departments

Democrats including Sen. Sherrod Brown bemoan end of $600 federal unemployment supplement

Jim Jordan grills Anthony Fauci on whether protests spread coronavirus, rails about restrictions on church services
He admitted special operations forces were involved in the dispersal of protests in his country.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says units of the Armed Forces of Belarus are on full alert on the western border.

While meeting with members of the Security Council of Belarus, he also expressed concern over the situation along the country's western borders, according to the BelTA agency.

"Representatives of Western nations, including some heads of state, who don't even know where Belarus is and don't know what is going on here, have released statements," he said. "These statements indicate that the president was right when we were discussing the matter in the Defense Ministry. Thank God, we've reacted to it and deployed combat units of our army on the western borders of the country and set them to full alert. The defense minister told me that all of that had been done and the relevant units are now ready to carry out their missions."

He admitted special operations forces were involved in the dispersal of protests in his country.

"Let me stress it one more time: I strongly regret our having to use certain army units, particularly special operations units, to restore order inside the country. Because there is a certain part of our population. It's not that they fail to comprehend it  they are doing it on purpose," he said.

He says the "external component" makes the military take into account the situation and act accordingly.

"So, problems are emerging not only inside the country but also outside. We can clearly see that these are absolutely coordinated actions. But they are far from their peak. Events will unfold accordingly but we understand in what direction they will [move]," he said.

Belarus protests: Developments
New Delhi: The Delhi High court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by PT. Hexing Technology, seeking a stay on the encashment of its bank guarantee given to state run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. (EESL), following the cancellation of its smart meter contract, said two people aware of the development.

Post the cancellation of its Rs344.47 crore smart meter order for 1.5 million units, PT. Hexing Technology sought an injunction for preventing EESL from invoking and encashing its $4.08 million (Rs30 crore) contract performance guarantee.

This comes in the backdrop of India firming up a series of economic responses against China, following border tensions that remain unresolved. Also, India new public procurement rulebook calls for compulsory purchase preference to local suppliers.

After hearing the arguments, Justice V. Kameswar Rao dismissed the petition," said a legal counsel who appeared in the case, requesting anonymity.

Mint reported on 11 August about Indias EESL plan to encash the bank guarantee submitted by Indonesia-based PT Hexing after cancelling its smart meter contract. In a related development, EESL also wants to return 9980 meters supplied by the firm, said to be owned by Hangzhou-headquartered Hexing Electrical Co in China.

PT Hexing could not be contacted for comments.

They (PT. Hexing led consortium) have defaulted since last year. We have been writing to them.We have given extensions time and again. They are not in the position to execute the contract. As on date, they have only supplied 9980 meters. We have to integrate the smart meters. We have already annulled the contract. It is a comprehensive agreement," said Samdarshi Sanjay legal counsel for EESL during the course of hearing on Tuesday.

EESL had awarded the contract to a consortium led by PT. Hexing Technology and comprising of Pal Mohan Electronics Pvt. Ltd., and Hangzhou-headquartered Hexing Electrical Co Ltd, post which a performance guarantee amounting to 10% of the contract price was submitted.

Saurabh Kumar, executive vice chairperson, EESL Group had earlier told Mint that EESl will will encash the bank guarantee submitted by PT Hexing. They failed to meet the tender conditions that made it mandatory to manufacture these smart meters in India," Kumar had said.

After PT Hexings disqualification and India new public procurement rulebook for compulsory purchase preference to local suppliers, the firms eligible to participate in the snap bid called by EESL for supplying 3 million meters include Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd., Larsen and Toubro and HPL Electric and Power Ltd.

The PT. Hexing Technology petition reviewed by Mint stated, It is an admitted fact that the supply of the smart meters was delayed due to Force Majeure conditions which are beyond the control of the Petitioners."

However, on 13.08.2020, issued a letter to the Petitioners invoking clause 13 of the LOA and stated that it is annulling the LOA as the validity of the said LOA expired on 04.03.2020, on account of the alleged breach committed by the Petitioners by not adhering to the timelines and non-responsiveness to meet its contractual responsibilities," the petition said.

The state run EESL move follows the governments decision to restrict firms from countries with a shared land border from participating in bids for government procurement, without approval from competent authorities. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Power Corp. Ltd had scrapped a consignment of Chinese smart meters, which were being procured by EESL, a joint venture set up by NTPC Ltd, Rural Electrification Corp. Ltd, Power Finance Corp. Ltd and Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd.

A smart meter architecture requires a two-way communication network, control centre equipment and software applications, which enable near real-time gathering and transfer of energy usage details. The government is cautious about such equipment running the risk of being infected by a malware.

EESLs smart meter programme plans to replace 250 million conventional meters and has inked agreements for there deployment with New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Andaman and Nicobar. This will help increase debt laden discoms annual revenues to Rs1.38 trillion. Besides, Indias proposed Rs3.5 trillion distribution reform scheme to cut electricity losses below 12% starts with smart meters.

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Results of genome testing from two Auckland Covid-19 cases that were under investigation have returned this morning, confirming one case is connected to the current Auckland cluster.

However, the Ministry of Health says the second case is a man who works as a maintenance worker at the Rydges Hotel managed isolation facility in Auckland who does not have any routine contact with guests. His partial genome sequencing results indicate his case is not linked to the community cluster.

No other cases linked to this person have been identified to date.

Further genome sequencing and matching is being completed today and fuller analysis is expected later.

The person returned a positive result for Covid-19 on Sunday 16 August with symptom onset on 11 August. He was transferred to Jet Park Hotel quarantine facility on Monday 17 August. It has taken till this morning for genomic sequencing results to confirm the origin of the case.

Genome sequencing shows a returnee from the US with the same sequence as the maintenance worker was at the Rydges Hotel from 28 to 31 July before they returned a Day 3 positive test and were immediately moved to the Jet Park quarantine facility on 31 July.

At this stage there is no obvious person-to-person connection between the worker and the returnee from the US but investigations continue.

Initial reviews of CCTV footage and swipe card movements so far show no interaction between the two people including no entry to physical locations occupied by the returnee from the US.

The room the US returnee was in has been unoccupied since the case was transferred to the Jet Park quarantine facility and is still empty. The room underwent hospital-grade cleaning with hydrogen peroxide vapour sanitation using a BioQuell machine.

Contact tracing and testing has not connected any further cases to the maintenance worker, and to date this remains a single case.

Six close contacts he worked with at the managed isolation facility have been identified and are in self-isolation. They have all returned negative results from surveillance testing last week, however as a precaution all staff and returnees at the Rydges are being retested again via an onsite testing team. Forty-five staff members and 54 guests were tested yesterday, the remainder will be tested today.

Three household close contacts of the man are all in self-isolation and have been tested.

Interviews with the man have revealed that he attended two of the Emmanuel Cook Islands Good News Fellowship church services on the morning and evening of 9 August. Health officials have contact traced all attendees as close contacts. As of last night, all but nine of them had been tested with the remainder being tested today. All are in self-isolation.

The venue of the service is a school hall and deep cleaning of the facility is currently underway.

Health officials are currently assessing if environmental testing at the Rydges would provide any further insight, but, the frequent deep cleansing of the facility means this is most likely not possible.

Actions undertaken at the Rydges Managed Isolation Facility

As soon as the positive test was established a series of actions were undertaken immediately at Rydges including:

 The hotel was put into immediate lock down on Sunday morning, as soon as the positive test was returned.

 Thorough cleaning of shared areas of the hotel was carried out.

 Close contacts of the staff member identified and put into self-isolation until tested (noting that this staff member was not in a public-facing role)

 Lock down of guests in hotel lifted once cleaning completed and close contacts identified.

 Close analysis of movements were undertaken at including:

 Review of CCTV

 Review of room entry data to look for connection to cases

 Genomic Sequence sought from ESR

 Health advice sought

 Further testing of all returnees and staff undertaken

 Confirmation that infection prevention controls have been followed

 Normal procedures resumed

The man carried out maintenance tasks on vacant rooms between bookings, following full infection prevention and controls, including wearing PPE.

100% of staff have been tested since the Auckland outbreak, and as a precaution all staff are being retested. Returnees are also undergoing testing and in some cases, being retested now.
Supernatural finale date

When does Supernatural return? The CW announced the final seven episodes of season 15 will premiere Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. The series finale date is also now set for Thursday, Nov. 19 at 9 p.m., with a one-hour special celebrating the long-running series, Supernatural: The Long Way Home, at 8 p.m. ET reports the show stopped airing original episodes in March after the coronavirus pandemic shut down film and TV productions; at the time, stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles still hadnt completed the final two episodes as demon hunters Sam and Dean Winchester, but production has been allowed to resume in Vancouver. After the final episode wraps, Padalecki will next star on a reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger, and Ackles will reunite with Supernatural creator Eric Kripke on the Amazon superhero series, The Boys, next season.

The boys are back. The final 7 episodes of #Supernatural premieres Thursday, October 8! Stream next day free only on The CW. pic.twitter.com/mt0CczZUP1  Supernatural (@cw_spn) August 17, 2020

Ellen producers fired

E! reports The Ellen DeGeneres Show has fired three senior producers amid allegations of a toxic work environment. Host Ellen DeGeneres reportedly apologized again to staff during a video conference call Monday after announcing that the syndicated talk show parted ways with executive producers Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman, while show DJ Stephen tWitch Boss has been promoted to co-executive producer. Variety reports an international investigation found no evidence of systemic racism on set, but DeGeneres said she and the team will participate in diversity and inclusion training seminars.

Planes Trains and Automobiles remake

ET reports Will Smith and Kevin Hart are set to star in a remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, John Hughes 1987 comedy that originally starred Steve Martin and John Candy. Smith and Hart will similarly play two strangers who dont get along but are forced to travel together to get home for the holidays. Aeysha Carr (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Woke) will write the script; Smith and Hart will co-produce the movie, their first time appearing together on screen.

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Buzz is a daily roundup of entertainment news from movies, TV, music and celebrity gossip.
Michelle Obama took a veiled swipe at Kanye West in her speech to the Democratic National Convention last night - urging voters not to 'play games with candidates who have no chance of winning'.

The former first lady told Democrats that 'this is not the time to withhold our votes in protest' as she urged voters to back Joe Biden with the same enthusiasm as they did Barack Obama in his 2008 and 2012 election wins.

West is lobbying for a place on the ballot in several states, including battlegrounds such as Colorado, Wisconsin and Ohio, leading to fears among Democrats that he will siphon votes away from Biden.

Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner confirmed last week that he had recently spoken to West, and some Republican operatives have been helping him to secure ballot access.

Michelle Obama spoke to the Democratic National Convention last night (pictured) and urged voters not to 'play games with candidates who have no chance of winning'

Kanye West (pictured at a South Carolina rally on July 19) is lobbying for a place on the ballot in several states, including battlegrounds such as Colorado, Wisconsin and Ohio

Michelle Obama did not refer to West by name in her speech, instead urging Democrats to vote for Biden 'in numbers that cannot be ignored'.

'This is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games with candidates who have no chance of winning,' she said.

'We have got to vote like we did in 2008 and 2012. We've got to show up with the same level of passion and hope for Joe Biden.

'We've got to vote early, in person if we can. We've got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow-up to make sure they're received. And then, make sure our friends and families do the same.'

Biden has consistently led Trump in opinion polls and is widely favored by pundits to win the November 3 election.

However, some Republicans have seized on West's candidacy as a chance to weaken Biden in the marginal states which will decide the election.

Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 thanks to margins of fewer than 100,000 votes in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.

West has filed to run in Wisconsin, although his attempt to get on the ballot is being challenged on procedural grounds.

The rapper qualified for Colorado's presidential ballot on August 6, with backers including former GOP congressional candidate Matthew Zielinski.

Lawyers or activists with GOP ties have also been involved in securing the star's place on the ballot in Arkansas, Ohio and Vermont.

West's wife Kim Kardashian (pictured together) made a plea for compassion last month, saying Kanye is bipolar and that 'his words sometimes do not align with his intentions'

On Monday, a Utah elections official said West had qualified for the state's ballot after gathering the necessary 1,000 signatures from registered voters.

Trump's reelection campaign has denied involvement, with spokesman Tim Murtaugh saying, 'We have no knowledge of what Kanye West is doing or who is doing it for him.'

Speaking to reporters earlier this month, Trump said 'I like Kanye very much' but added: 'I have nothing to do with him being on the ballot. I'm not involved.'

However, his aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner said last week that he had recently met the rapper.

Asked whether he had discussed the campaign with West, Kushner told reporters at the White House: 'We had a general discussion, more about policy.'

West claimed that they talked about the book Powernomics by Claud Anderson.

The rapper would have to expand his ballot access significantly to qualify for presidential debates in the fall.

To be eligible for the debates, candidates must be theoretically able to win 270 electoral votes - the number required for a majority.

West has already missed deadlines in several states, including South Carolina where he failed to submit a petition in time.

Donald Trump (pictured at a Wisconsin rally last night) and his re-election campaign have denied involvement in helping West gain ballot access

At a rambling South Carolina rally on July 19, West ranted against abortion and raised eyebrows with his claim that 'Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves'.

After previously backing Trump, West announced last month that he had broken with the president and was running under the banner of the Birthday Party.

His wife Kim Kardashian made a plea for compassion last month, saying Kanye is bipolar and that 'his words sometimes do not align with his intentions'.

Despite Republican hopes of eroding Biden's support among black voters, polls so far have not shown West making a significant impact on the race.

One Politico/Morning Consult poll published earlier this month showed West on only three per cent among African-American voters.

In addition, Biden's nine-point national lead over Trump was unchanged regardless of whether West was one of the options.

Biden supporters also fear that dissatisfied Bernie Sanders loyalists will not turn out for the Democratic nominee in November.

Sanders himself has endorsed Biden, urging people to vote for the former vice president to remove 'the most dangerous president in modern American history'.
One of Australia's most experienced fund managers describes the sharemarket's COVID-19-induced plunge in March and early April as one of the best buying opportunities he has seen since he started managing money in the mid-1980s.

Paul Moore, founder of fund manager at PM Capital, which scans the world for investment opportunities, says the coronavirus pandemic crisis represents just the fourth "unique" occasion in his career to buy shares of high-quality companies at deep discounts.

Fund manager Paul Moore, the founder of PM Capital, says the dislocation on markets is one of the biggest opportunities in his career. Credit:Daniel Munoz

Others include the market wipe-outs of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), the "tech wreck" of early 2000 and the sharemarket crash of 1987.

During the GFC, Moore famously made investments in Las Vegas property and casinos after the city became the epicentre of the worst downturn in US house prices.
(Photo : REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson) Truck driver Oswaldo Monroy, 62, is tested for COVID-19 at an International Brotherhood of Teamsters testing site, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Wilmington, near the Port of Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 25, 2020. (Photo : REUTERS/Brian Snyder) A sign announces free testing for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts, U.S., August 11, 2020.

Researchers from Connecticut-based Yale University has created a new way to determine if a person has acquired SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19. It turns out, a person's saliva contains parts of the virus strands. Due to this conclusion, the university created its very own saliva-based COVID-19 test, and it is now approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here's how scientists want people to use it.





Is there a SARS-CoV-2 virus in a person's saliva?

If a person wants to know whether he had acquired COVID-19, he must practice self-isolation and proceed to take a COVID-19 lab test. These tests include swabbing, rapid tests, or even blood tests.

In America, COVID-19 tests range at a starting price of $100. But starting soon, these tests could possibly downgrade as low as $10.

This was after researchers from the Yale School of Public Health created the SalivaDirect test. SalivaDirect test, as the name suggests, is a saliva-based COVID-19 test.

It allows patients and hospitals to know whether a person is COVID-19 positive or not through collecting mouth saliva. The test usually runs for less than three hours before identifying the final results. Yale also made sure that the test will not use any special collection device.

"The SalivaDirect test for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 [the novel coronavirus] is yet another testing innovation game-changer that will reduce the demand for scarce testing resources," said Adm. Brett Giroir, the US official in charge of Covid-19 testing efforts.

How accurate is this Yale saliva-based COVID-19 test?

According to the Yale University press release, the SalivaDirect test results are the same as standard nasal test results 94 percent of the time.

It was also discovered that the tests agreed 97 percent of the time for positive samples and 100 percent on negative samples. Impressively, the tests did not produce any false results, compared to other similar COVID-19 tests today.

What's more impressive is that Yale officially sets this device in an 'open and available' status that hospitals and governments can reproduce.

U.S. Free COVID testing

On Saturday, Aug. 15, the SalivaDirect test has finally received its FDA-approved of an Emergency Use Authorization. This means that the Federal agency found this type of test with "variable performance."

So far, in the country, several groups demand free COVID testing for all. In this new creation of Yale, the wishes may soon come true.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
LAS CRUCES  Las Cruces police have charged three teenagers  two 16-year-old boys and a 13-year-old boy  for their part in the Aug. 4 fatal shooting of Fabian Lopez.

Each of the three boys faces one felony count of murder.

Las Cruces police have also charged two 17-year-old girls and another 16-year-old boy with harboring and aiding a felon after the fact. Those three juveniles are suspected of aiding and assisting one of the boys charged with murder in fleeing Las Cruces to evade apprehension.

Because of their ages, the Las Cruces Police Department is not publicly identifying the juvenile suspects.

Las Cruces police investigators believe the three boys charged with murder were together shortly before 9 p.m. Aug. 4 when Lopez, 24, was shot and killed while behind the wheel of his car near Frenger Park.

Investigators believe Lopez and the three teenagers charged in the homicide were involved in a drug transaction that resulted in the shooting.

After Lopez was shot, his vehicle crashed into a yard on the 900 block of Branson Avenue. Lopez was transported to a local hospital but was declared dead shortly after arrival.

Las Cruces police are continuing their investigation and additional charges are possible.

During the investigation into Lopezs death, police offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case.
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Luminex Resources Corp. (TSXV: LR) (OTCQX: LUMIF) (the "Company" or "Luminex") is pleased to announce that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQX Best Market, a U.S. market operated by OTC Markets Group in New York, under the symbol LUMIF. Luminex's common shares will continue to trade on its primary exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LR.

Marshall Koval, CEO and Director commented: "This is an important step for raising the profile and liquidity of the Company outside of Canada. We look forward to welcoming new American investors as we advance our large-scale Condor gold project in Ecuador and hope for drilling success with Anglo American and BHP, our world class copper partners."

The OTCQX Best Market provides added service, value and convenience to U.S. investors, brokers and institutions seeking to trade LUMIF. The OTCQX Best Market is OTC Markets Group's premier market for established, investor-focused U.S. and international companies. To be eligible, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, demonstrate compliance with relevant U.S. securities laws, be current in their disclosure, and have an introduction from a professional third-party sponsor.

About Luminex Resources

Luminex Resources Corp. (TSXV: LR) (OTCQX: LUMIF) is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on gold and copper projects in Ecuador. Luminex's inferred and indicated mineral resources are located at the Condor Gold-Copper project in Zamora-Chinchipe Province, southeast Ecuador. Luminex also holds a large and highly prospective land package in Ecuador, including the Tarqui and Pegasus projects, which are being co-developed with BHP Group plc and Anglo American respectively.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminexresources.com/.

To receive news releases please sign up at https://www.luminexresources.com/contact/contact-us/.

LUMINEX RESOURCES CORP.

Signed: "Marshall Koval"

Marshall Koval, CEO and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE Luminex Resources Corp.
(Photo : Dan Kitwood/Getty Images/Cancer Research UK) CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 09: A scientist examining cells in a 96-well plate. These plates allow scientists to look at lots of cells at the same time and directly compare cells that have or have not been treated with a drug, at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute on December 9, 2014 in Cambridge, England.

Cancer immunotherapy refers to a range of procedures that strengthens the patient's own immune system against cancer cells. Unfortunately, other patients do not respond, as well.

A research team from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine have inquired why patients who are either young or are females exhibit low response rates to some forms of cancer immunotherapy. The results of their study are published in the latest journal Nature Communications.



Strength of Immunity, Sex, and Age

In their report, the UCSD researchers found evidence that points to the commonly robust immune systems found in young and female patients. These are generally better at fighting against tumor cells. However, the cells that are left behind are not "as readily visible to the immune system," which makes them unresponsive to cancer immunotherapy.

"Now that we know why some patients don't respond as well to immunotherapy, we can begin developing more informed approaches to treatment decisions," said Hannah Carter, Ph.D., and an associate professor of medicine at UCSD School of Medicine. She cited the development of predictive algorithms for determining an individual's response before starting immunotherapies.

In the event of cancer cell development, the infected cells generate "molecular flags" that notifies the immune system, which in turn acts to clear them away in the early stages. This molecular flag is held up by the Major Histocompatibility Complexes (MHC), commonly appearing at the surface of cells in the body.

RELATED: Scientists From China Develop AI-Based Cancer Diagnostic Tool

These individual MHC genotypes are responsible for limiting the mutational landscape at the first stages of tumorigenesisor the mutation into cancer cells. Furthermore, MHC's project antigen flagsinformation about the infected cellsso that the immune system may detect them.

Generated tumor cells carry various mutations that should make it easy for them to be detected, with the cells producing flags visible to the surveying system of the immune system.

However, some tumor cells manage to go around this detection process by raising the equivalent of a stop signal that prevents the immune system from identifying the cells with MHC flags. At this point, immune checkpoint inhibitors are employed. Cancer immunotherapy uses antibodies to force the tumor cell to raise flags and make them detectable again to the immune system.



The Difficulty of Young and Female Patients with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

The lack of responsiveness among young and female patients has been observed and inquired in previous studies. One of the most common observations is that female patients generally have twice the antibody response to vaccines, like flue, and they are more prone to acquiring autoimmune conditions.

Human immune systems, like other physiological organ systems, weaken with age. The paper also addresses the seemingly counterintuitive inverse relationship between age and gender with autoimmune responses. In this case, stronger immune response works against these people against cancer.

RELATED: A Trial Vaccine Was Able To Successfully Wipe Out Breast Cancer in Florida Patient

The UCSD team analyzed genome information for some 10,000 patients, with the data taken from The Cancer Genome Atlas from the National Institute of Health. They also looked at other patients, 342 of them, with other tumor types with data from the International Cancer Genome Consortium database. They were not able to establish a link between age or gender with MHC function.

However, they were able to observe that younger patients and female ones tend to accumulate cancer-related mutations that MHC can't efficiently flag for the immune system. "So if a tumor cell doesn't present highly visible, mutated self-antigens to begin with, checkpoint inhibitor drugs can't help reveal them to the immune system," Carter suggested.

Check out more news and information on Cancer on Science Times.
Asus ZenFone 7 Series Set To Debut On August 26: What Can We Expect? News oi-Sandeep Sarkar

Asus is done with the launch of its new-generation gaming smartphone dubbed ROG Phone 3. Now, the company is gearing up for the ZenFone 7 series launch. The rumour mill has been churning out information regarding both ZenFone 7 and the ZenFone 7 Pro hardware. Asus itself has confirmed the arrival of its new flagship lineup for next week. Details are as follows:

Asus ZenFone 7, ZenFone 7 Pro Official Launch Date

Asus has scheduled the ZenFone 7 series launch on August 26, 2020. The company will be launching both ZenFone 7 and the ZenFone 7 Pro initially in Taiwan. Currently, there is no word on its arrival in the global markets including India.

Moreover, the company will be hosting the launch event online. The event will be live-streamed on the company's official handle on YouTube. Notably, the live stream page is already live.

Asus ZenFone 7 Series: What Can We Expect?

The Asus ZenFone 7 series has been visiting the leaks factory for a while now and have even cleared certification from multiple platforms online. However, the company has managed to keep the features of the ZenFone 7 and the ZenFone 7 Pro a mystery.

While the details on the ZenFone 7 series' hardware are limited, it has been suggested that the company might use the same flip camera design as the ZenFone 6Z on the new models. The Asus ZenFone 7 and the ZenFone 7 Pro are speculated to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor which is currently driving the ROG Phone 3 as well.

The NCC certification website suggested 512GB storage configuration. But, there is no information available on the RAM capacity. The ZenFone 7 is said to feature a 6.7-inch display which is likely to offer an FHD+ resolution. It is unknown if this would be n LCD or AMOLED panel. The leaks have also pointed at a 4,115 mAh battery accompanied by 30W fast charging support.

Best Mobiles in India

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WASHINGTON  For more than three years, the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee investigated Russias operations to influence the 2016 election. The fifth and final volume of its report on the inquiry, released on Tuesday, runs for nearly 1,000 pages and is likely to stand as the definitive bipartisan government examination of Moscows interference. The report revealed new details about Russian links to the Trump campaign in 2016 and offered broad warnings for future elections.

Senators split along partisan lines over whether to absolve or condemn the Trump campaign.

A Republican appendix to the report:

After more than three years of investigation by this Committee, we can now say with no doubt, there was no collusion.

A Democratic appendix:

The committees bipartisan report unambiguously shows that members of the Trump campaign cooperated with Russian efforts to get Trump elected.  Paul Manafort, while he was chairman of the Trump campaign, was secretly communicating with a Russian intelligence officer with whom he discussed campaign strategy and repeatedly shared internal campaign polling data.  This is what collusion looks like.

The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, found insufficient evidence to accuse anyone associated with the Trump campaign of engaging in a criminal conspiracy with Russian intelligence officials conducting interference operations. But Mr. Mueller left unanswered the murkier question of what constitutes cooperation or collusion outside the context of a criminal violation. While the Senate report established broad bipartisan agreement about what happened in 2016, Democrats and Republicans could not agree whether those facts added up to collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

A longtime Manafort associate was a Russian intelligence officer.

On numerous occasions over the course of his time of the Trump Campaign, Manafort sought to secretly share internal campaign information with Kilimnik.  Manafort briefed Kilimnik on sensitive campaign polling data and the campaigns strategy for beating Hillary Clinton.

The report concluded that Konstantin V. Kilimnik, a longtime associate of the onetime Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, was a Russian intelligence officer who may have been connected to Russias efforts to steal emails from the Democratic National Committee and make them public. The men had a long and close relationship. During the campaign, Mr. Manafort had Mr. Kilimnik convey messages to Russian oligarchs and then gave him some of the most important political intelligence that the Trump campaign had, including internal polling data. That would have allowed Russia to understand the Trump campaigns strategy, where it was focusing resources and which groups it was trying to win over  all valuable information for a foreign adversary about the potential next American administration.

The report criticized the F.B.I.

Steeles reputation as a productive F.B.I. confidential human source and [redacted] led to the F.B.I. treating the memos as credible before they were corroborated, and F.B.I.s vetting process for Steele himself was not sufficiently rigorous or thorough.

The report dwelled extensively on the so-called Steele dossier, a compendium of largely unverified and sometimes salacious rumors about Trump-Russia ties gathered by Christopher Steele, a British former intelligence agent. The F.B.I. used his information as part of a wiretap application. The committee report portrayed the dossier as shoddy and said that F.B.I. officials had an exaggerated understanding of Mr. Steeles previous assistance to the bureau; a later internal assessment found that Mr. Steeles previous reporting had been only minimally corroborated. The report also argued that the F.B.I. should have done more to raise alarms at a higher level of the Democratic National Committee after initially alerting a lower-level party aide about possible intrusion on its servers by Russian hackers.
If President Trump loses in November, the Republican Party will have lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The prospects for Donald Trumps reelection are looking challenging at best, and its not too early to consider what a Republican Party without Trump in the White House would look like.

A lot depends on how the party responds to defeat. This is where the Republicans and Democrats show a great deal of difference.

In my research on the Democratic Party after the 2016 presidential loss to Trump, I found that party leaders and activists viewed Hillary Clintons electoral college loss  even though she won the popular vote by 3 million votes  as a moment to reconsider a lot of what they believed about politics. They were willing to explore considerable changes to how they nominated candidates and what sorts of candidates would broaden their appeal. Seen in this light, Joe Bidens successful nomination bid, despite previous failed attempts, is not terribly surprising.

Would the Republicans view a Trump loss as cause to do the same?

In his book "The Losing Parties," political scientist Phillip Klinkner examines how party insiders reacted to presidential losses between 1956 and 1993. As Klinkner notes, the parties have behaved differently after experiencing a loss.

Democrats have often been open to substantial reforms of their nomination processes and are willing to re-examine the kinds of candidates they put forward. A narrow loss to Richard Nixon in 1968 produced the most substantial reforms to party nominations any American party has seen in its history.

Jimmy Carters failed reelection bid in 1980 sparked concerns that the party had become too open to presidential candidates without ties to Washington (even though he succeeded in winning the presidency in 1976 as an outsider) and that party insiders should be given a stronger role in the nomination process.

Many Democratic losses over the years have produced criticism from centrist leaders within the party that movement toward more inclusiveness and a stronger civil rights agenda pushes the party toward non-electability. Even as Democrats came increasingly to see inclusiveness as their core mission, they were willing to deemphasize that mission after a loss if they thought it would increase their chances of governing.

Story continues

After the Democrats' huge loss in 1984, a Southern state party chair said, The perception is that we are the party that can't say no, that caters to special interests and that does not have the interests of the middle class at heart. The Democrats developed the Super Tuesday primaries after that loss in part to strengthen the voices of the Southern white wing of the party.

By contrast, Republicans are far less likely to rethink their core ideology, whether that involves reduced government regulations or an increased role for fundamentalist Christian beliefs in public policy or anything else. Instead, as Klinkner notes, they have tended to respond to losses with nuts-and-bolts reforms, developing innovative advertising practices and reassessing which parts of the country to prioritize in campaigns.

These kinds of changes are certainly important. For example, the GOP decision after Richard Nixons narrow 1960 loss to John F. Kennedy to reallocate resources from Northern cities to Southern states would have important long-term consequences. But theres rarely a rethinking of the types of candidates the party believes can win office.

Importantly, there are real limits today on what the Republican Party could do to change its priorities even if its leaders wanted to. After Mitt Romneys 2012 loss to Barack Obama, leaders within the Republican National Committee produced a famous post-mortem report calling for the party to embrace immigration reform and to nominate candidates whose message wouldnt alienate women, African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and gay voters. The partys rank-and-file basically ignored those recommendations in 2016. Their support for Trump, and the partys inability to prevent his nomination, was about as complete a repudiation of that post-2012 report as one could have dreamed up.

If Trump loses in November, the GOP may find itself in a worse position than in 2012. The party would have then lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections. Given the increasing diversity of the electorate, some in the party would want to seek ways to distance the party from the nativism and bigotry that has been at the core of Trumps appeals.

But that faction would find itself opposed by a Trumpist wing of the party that sees white identity appeals as the key to the partys success, and has been happy to tie its fate to Trump himself. It is notable how many prominent younger Republican leaders, including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota, and others, have repeatedly and very publicly lavished praise on Trump even as his popularity sinks.

Even if Biden wins, Trump is unlikely to go quietly. He is already trying to delegitimize a potential Biden victory, claiming that mail-in voting is rife with fraud (its not), suggesting the election needs to be postponed, and trying to limit funds for the U.S. Postal Service so that it might not be able to process all mailed ballots in time. He would probably spend much of a Biden presidency railing against the election, and possibly even setting the stage for his own 2024 comeback.

The truth is, a sizable portion of Republican elected officials, political commentators and Trump voters have a great deal invested in the partys current identity. With Trump not exiting the stage, few GOP leaders would press to conduct a post-mortem of the 2020 election. In that way, the party is very different from the one that lost in 2012.

Seth Masket is a professor of political science and director of the Center on American Politics at the University of Denver. He is the author of the forthcoming book Learning From Loss: The Democrats, 2016-2020.




Seoul, Aug 18 : The combined forces of South Korea and the US on Tuesday began their joint annual military exercises amid rising concerns about the recent resurgence of the Covid-19 cases.

The computer-simulated Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) is scheduled to last until August 28, reports Xinhua news agency.

The first part, which focuses on defence, will continue until Saturday, while the second part for counter-attack, will run until August 28.

The summertime drill was originally slated to start on Sunday, but it was delayed after a South Korean army officer, who was to participate in the computer-simulated training, tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The number of new coronavirus cases here for the past five days totalled to 991 owing to cluster infections linked to church services in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province.

Out of the virus concerns, the exercises will be scaled back while the night-time training programs are to be skipped.

The springtime annual South Korea-US military drills were also called off due to the pandemic.

The South Korean military planned to ban all service members from leaving barracks for vacation and other purposes from Wednesday to prevent the spread of the virus inside the bases.

The ban will continue till the end of this month.
BILTHOVEN, The Netherlands, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Intravacc, a global leader in translational research and development of viral and bacterial vaccines, today announced the publication in the medical journal Vaccine, of a clinical phase I study with its candidate Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. The vaccine showed excellent induction of immunogenicity after nasal administration to healthy adult volunteers (18-50 years). In addition, the Live Attenuated Vaccine (LAV), constructed with reverse genetics, appears to be safe and well-tolerated. Intravacc is currently orienting on a suitable partner for further joint clinical development of this vaccine in a large pediatric setting.

A pediatric vaccine against RSV would not only prevent morbidity and mortality in infants and young children but could also reduce transmission to the elderly. The RS virus is the most common cold virus in children under the age of five and poses a serious threat to the elderly as well. Many biotech and pharmaceutical companies have been developing an RSV vaccine since the 1960s, but to this day no vaccine emerged out of this. An estimated 120,000 children worldwide still die of the virus every year, especially in developing countries.

The trial

The conducted trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled phase I study with a first administration in humans of a live attenuated RSV virus without the G (adhesion) protein to evaluate safety, tolerability, excretion and immunogenicity. In preclinical studies, RSVDG showed decreased host cell binding and infectivity. Intranasal immunization of laboratory animals with the RSVDG vaccine protected against replication of wild-type RSV, without aggravating the disease.

An RSV lacking the G-protein is expected to be attenuated, but still able to elicit an effective immune response due to the presence of the surface protein F as the major antigen site and residual infectivity. Using reverse genetics, Intravacc constructed a Live Attenuated Vaccine against RSV from which the coding sequence for the attachment protein (G) was removed from the RSV genome (RSVG). Live attenuated vaccines can be administered intranasally, mimicking the natural route of infection and thereby stimulating both local mucosal and systemic immunity.

Volunteers received one dose of vaccine intranasally, the control group a placebo. The side effects were mild and comparable to the placebo group. No measurable amounts of vaccine were excreted after administration, indicating sufficient attenuation of the vaccine.

Since almost everyone is infected with the RSV almost every year, adults have a fairly high background immunity. That makes it difficult to evaluate efficacy in this group. Measured antibody levels were comparable before and after immunization and between vaccine and placebo groups. In a subsequent study it must be demonstrated whether the vaccine is immunogenic to children.

Dr. Jan Groen, Intravacc's CEO says:

Worldwide, RSV is estimated to be the second cause of death after malaria in infants aged 1 to 12 months due to a single pathogen. By the age of two, almost all infants have been exposed to RSV. However, immunity to RSV is incomplete and re-infections are common throughout life. A solution in the form of a vaccine therefore meets a great unmet medical need.

Although the development of an RSV vaccine is very complex, our live attenuated vaccine provides an important first step in the clinical development of an ultimately effective vaccine. We look forward to working with targeted industry partners for the further joint development of this promising vaccine."

About RSV

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections, especially in early childhood and in the elderly. In general, it causes mild complaints. Infants and the elderly, however, can become seriously ill. RSV-related acute lower respiratory tract infection accounts for approximately 3.2 million hospital admissions per year worldwide and is a leading cause of death in an estimated 120,000 children under the age of five, especially in developing countries. In the Netherlands, approximately 1 in 100 sick babies require hospitalization.

Despite the clearly unmet medical need for a safe vaccine and the continued development of vaccines since the 1960s, there is currently still no effective approved treatment for persistent RSV infections. Passive immunization with humanized F-specific monoclonal antibodies (palivizumab) is limited to high-risk infants and its use is mainly reserved for high-income countries due to its high cost.

About Intravacc

Based on the Utrecht Science Park, location Bilthoven, The Netherlands, Intravacc is a global leader in translational research and development of viral and bacterial vaccines. As an established independent R&D organization with decades of experience in the development and optimization of vaccines and vaccine technologies, Intravacc has transferred its technology around the world, including oral polio vaccines, measles vaccines and DPT, Hib and influenza vaccines. Intravacc offers a wide range of expertise for the independent development of vaccines from lead concept to clinical phase I/II studies for partners around the world, such as academia, public health organizations (WHO, BMGF) and biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Intravacc has three proprietary vaccine delivery platforms as well as state-of-the-art research and production facilities (GMP). The company aims to significantly reduce the development risks and costs of new vaccines to contribute to global health and equal access to vaccines. For more information, visit www.intravacc.nl

Contact info

Intravacc Dr. Jan Groen, CEO T: +31 30 7920 454 Mirjam Hartman, Media relations T: +31 6 115 969 94 E: [email protected] LifeSpring Life Sciences Communication, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Leon Melens T: +31 6 538 16 427 E: [email protected]



SOURCE Intravacc, Innovating Vaccines
A question arising from more than two months of divisive protests in Portland -- do members of the media have rights that go beyond the general public -- could eventually end up before the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal judge said Tuesday.

A U.S. Department of Justice lawyer argued before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon that the press doesnt hold any special right when police declare a riot and order the public to disperse.

Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon contend journalists documenting actions by officers have a right to keep doing so even under a public order to leave when police declare a riot or unlawful assembly.

Simon is set to decide by 5 p.m. Thursday whether to grant a preliminary injunction that would continue to bar federal officers from assaulting or threatening to assault journalists or legal observers after a dispersal order.

A temporary restraining order had exempted journalists and legal observers from dispersal orders and expires then.

The ACLU has submitted 34 separate statements from journalists, photojournalists and legal observers who have suffered shots to the back, neck and legs from impact munitions fired by federal officers outside the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse since early July.

The court action comes as the city prepares for the 82nd consecutive night of protests against police violence and systemic racism in Portland stemming from 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.

Last Thursday, Oregon State Police withdrew their approximately 100 troopers from Portland protest coverage but an enhanced squad of federal officers remains in the city, the ACLUs attorney Matthew Borden told the court. Borden said his clients fear continued harm from the intentional and repeated attacks' by federal officers.

State police were sent to Portland on July 30 under an agreement between Gov. Kate Brown and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to try to curtail the clashes between federal officers and some protesters outside the federal courthouse in downtown. Officers fired tear gas and impact munitions at the crowds after some people lobbed commercial fireworks, glass bottles, paint-filled balloons and other objects at them over the fortified fence or tried to damage the fence or the building.

White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, in an email, and other federal officials indicated in sworn statements that there hasnt been a reduction in federal officers who were sent to Portland, Borden said.

They basically said they havent stood down. They havent withdrawn troops, Borden told the court. Theyre reserving the right to go back out and return to their own ways anytime they feel like it.

Borden presented a sworn statement of support from Gil Kerlikowske, a former commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a former Seattle police chief. Kewlikowske called federal officers actions in Portland undisciplined, unnecessary and excessive force.

Jordan Von Bokern, a Justice Department lawyer representing the federal officers from the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, argued theres no evidence to support a preliminary injunction.

The press, he said, doesnt hold any rights beyond the general public and cant ignore officers orders to disperse when a riot is declared.

Further, in the last 19 days, since state police arrived in Portland, encounters between federal officers and protesters have reduced almost to nothing, Von Bokern said.

The mere presence of federal officers in the district is not enough for the court to find a likelihood of irreparable injury, he argued.

The plaintiffs want the court to overstep its authority, but the court is not the roving superintendent of federal law enforcement efforts in Portland, Von Bokern said.

The judge said he was impressed by Kerlikowskes experience, noting he was the highest ranking person at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was Senate confirmed and has been involved in law enforcement for 47 years.

That contrasts with the Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad F. Wolf and Acting Deputy Director Kenneth Cuccinelli, neither who have been confirmed by the Senate and whose positions have been legally questioned by the General Accountability Office.

Von Bokern has urged the court to ignore Kerlikowskes statements and later Tuesday filed a response to them from Christopher Bishop, an acting deputy director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate.

Bishop argued that the federal Customs and Border Protection officers are acting under a use of force policy that Kerliwoske had issued and signed when he was the commissioner.

Without a full investigation of these incidents and adequate development of the factual record, it is inappropriate for Mr. Kerlikowske, or anyone else, to make a determination concerning the propriety of (Customs and Border Protection) use of force and doing so would run counter to the very principles Mr. Kerlikowske instituted during his tenure at CBP, Bishop wrote.

The government cited case law from the U.S. Supreme Court and 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that found the press isnt granted special rights beyond the general public.

A split decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972, for example, found the press doesnt have a special privilege that protects a reporter from giving testimony before a grand jury.

The nations top court also has found that the First Amendment doesnt guarantee the press a constitutional right of special access to information thats not available to the public generally. The 9th Circuit in 1993 found the press doesnt have any greater right than the public to observe an execution of a criminal defendant.

A persons membership in the press confers no special rights over and above what they have as members of the general public, Von Bokern said. Members of the press thus have no special right to ignore lawful orders to disperse.

Yet Simon cited 9th U.S. Circuit case law from 2012 in granting the temporary restraining order, which found that a free press is the guardian of the public interest.

If any question is likely to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court is the following question - whether the rights of members of the press are coextensive as the rights of the public, Simon said.

The ACLU argued that journalists play a critical role at protests as a watchful eye over government action.

The press has played a vital role in civil rights in this country,' Borden said.

If journalists had to leave the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where marchers crossed on March 7, 1965, led by then-25-year-old activist John Lewis, for example, nobody would know how those peaceful protesters were savagely beaten, Borden said.

Excluding journalists or legal observers from lawful orders to disperse a crowd once a riot is declared doesnt prevent officers from making arrests of anyone who has engaged in an alleged crime, Borden said.

The city of Portland, which previously jointly agreed with ACLU lawyers to sign a similar preliminary injunction for Portland police, said it may need to modify it due to challenges that have arisen.

The Police Bureau has found a significant influx' in people who have self-identified as press and appear to be committing crimes during nightly protests, Deputy City Attorney Naomi Sheffield said.

Some have interfered by inserting themselves between police and people they are trying to arrest, Sheffield said.

Were hopeful we can modify the citys preliminary injunction to address those concerns, she told the court. She said the city would like to have press or legal observers, for example, keep a certain distance away from officers.

Von Bokern jumped on Sheffields remarks, arguing that the citys concerns are an admission that the preliminary injunction is unworkable.'

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

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In this Wall Street Journal op-ed, President Trump and HUD Secretary Carson defend their decision to deep six the Obama administrations Affirmative Furthering Fair Housing rule (AFFH). They write:

The crime and chaos in Democrat-run cities have gotten so bad that liberals are even getting out of Manhattans Upper West Side. Rather than rethink their destructive policies, the left wants to make sure there is no escape. The plan is to remake the suburbs in their image so they resemble the dysfunctional cities they now govern. As usual, anyone who dares tell the truth about what the left is doing is smeared as a racist. We wont allow this to happen. Thats why we stopped the last administrations radical social-engineering project that would have transformed the suburbs from the top down.

Trump and Carson explain that AFFH empowered ideologically-driven bureaucrats to abolish single-family zoning, compel the construction of high-density stack and pack apartment buildings in residential neighborhoods, and forcibly transform neighborhoods across America so they look and feel the way [they] think they should.

The President and the Secretary cite the treatment of Westchester County, New York, which we discussed here (among other places), as an example of what AFFH means for the nations suburbs. The fact that Westchester County was never found guilty of housing discrimination, and indeed that such discrimination was never even alleged, shows that AFFH wasnt about ending housing discrimination. As Stanley Kurtz says, AFFH was  and remains  a massive social-engineering plan designed to tell Americans where and how to live.

Trump and Carson also cite the decisions by Portland, Oregon and Minneapolis to abolish single-family zoning. These developments confirm that (to quote Kurtz again), an anti-suburban revolution is high on the Democrats wish list.

Democrats have responded to the revocation of AFFH not by engaging on substance, but by alleging that the decision by Trump and his distinguished African-American HUD Secretary is racist. Fortunately, this mindless claim hasnt deterred the president. The Wall Street Journal editorial shows his determination to engage in a substantive discussion on the vital matter of the Democratic partys plans to regulate suburbs, in the low density form in which White, Blacks, and others enjoy them, out of existence.
Sinn Fein have this afternoon responded to media speculation surrounding the Det Garda Adrian Donohoe case.

In a statement, the party said that Gerry Adams is currently on holiday, but a spokesperson for Mr Adams, commented:



Gerry Adams was the TD for Louth when Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered and when Garda Tony Golden was murdered.



"In both of these instances, and on other occasions in which acts of criminality occurred locally, Gerry Adams publicly called on anyone with information to bring that forward to An Garda Siochana.



"He and other local Sinn Fein representatives met regularly with senior Garda officers on all these matters, including the investigations into the killings of the two Gardai.



"Any information available from the community to Sinn Fein representatives was given to An Garda Siochana.



"This significantly helped progress the investigation, which led to the recent successful prosecution.



"Sinn Fein fully supports the ongoing efforts of the Gardai to bring before the courts anyone else involved in the murder of Garda Donohue. We repeat our call for anyone with information to bring that information to An Garda Siochana.



"Furthermore, it is nonsense to claim that Sinn Fein members need the partys permission to co-operate with An Garda Siochana. Such co-operation is part of the ongoing work of all our representatives and members.



"When information came into his possession in respect of the murder of Garda Tony Golden In October 2015 Mr Adams provided An Garda Siochana, An Taoiseach, and the Minister for Justice with that information.



"He is not satisfied with how that tragic case was dealt with, and has made a complaint to GSOC which is part of an ongoing investigation.



"In conclusion, Sinn Fein has also checked our records. Contrary to media reports, there is no record of the witness in the Adrian Donohue investigation being a member of the party.



"Sinn Fein extends its condolences to the family of Garda Donohoe at this very difficult time.



"Sinn Fein will be making no further comment on this issue.



"This has been an extremely difficult time for both the Donohoe family and witnesses whose testimony led to the successful conviction in this case.



"Sinn Fein requests that the privacy of both the Donohoe family and witnesses involved is now respected."
Tamponi rapidi per il coronavirus anche negli aeroporti della Sardegna.

Sono stati effettuati a partire da oggi sui passeggeri in arrivo dai Paesi a rischio, come ad esempio la Spagna e Malta, direttamente collegati all'Isola. Ma sotto la lente restano anche Croazia e Grecia.

A Elmas e Olbia, sono gia stati allestiti appositi box, che ospiteranno personale incaricato da Ats. Quindi tocchiera a Alghero.

Questo pomeriggio 68 passeggeri sbarcati da Madrid sono stati sottoposti a tampone rapido allo scalo cagliaritano. I medici delle Usca hanno effettuato i test, che saranno processati all'ospedale Santissima Trinita. I risultati sono attesi nelle prossime 24 ore.

Lo screening proseguira nei prossimi giorni con l'arrivo di altri aerei dalla Spagna: mercoledi 19, giovedi 20 e domenica 23 per i voli provenienti da Barcellona, Siviglia e Valencia, sabato 22 per quello proveniente da Madrid.

"Le prime due aree di controllo aeroportuali consentono ai viaggiatori provenienti dalle aree indicate nelle ordinanze ad alto rischio di effettuare, in seguito alla compilazione di un apposito modulo, il tampone per la diagnosi del Covid-19. I campioni sono poi processati nei laboratori dellAOU di Cagliari e di Sassari e del Santissima Trinita e i risultati sono forniti entro le 24 ore successive. In caso di positivita, i viaggiatori saranno presi in carico dai Servizi di Igiene competenti per territorio e saranno monitorati e sottoposti al periodo di isolamento. Inoltre, saranno attivate tutte le procedure sugli eventuali contatti del paziente risultato positivo", spiega una nota dell'Ats.

"L'installazione delle prime due aree di controllo aeroportuali rappresenta un'importante forma di tutela a vantaggio della salute pubblica - dice il Commissario Straordinario di ATS Sardegna Giorgio Carlo Steri -. Il nostro compito e quello di individuare, circoscrivere e contenere. Grazie al lavoro svolto nei mesi scorsi, la Sardegna e risultata Covid free: siamo riusciti a isolare tutti i focolai, ora non possiamo abbassare la guardia ma, al contrario, dobbiamo vigilare sugli arrivi dai Paesi a rischio, cercando di identificare subito eventuali passeggeri positivi anche asintomatici".

Nel rispetto della normativa, precisa Ats, i passeggeri proventi dalle aree a rischio possono anche effettuare il tampone nel paese di provenienza nelle 72 ore precedenti all'atterraggio per certificare la loro negativita al virus o essere presi in carico dall'Ats Sardegna entro le 48 ore successive al loro arrivo nell'Isola. In quest'ultimo caso, dopo aver contattato i servizi sanitari, i viaggiatori dovranno attendere l'esito del tampone nel rispetto delle regole sulla quarantena preventiva e volontaria.

"In questo momento si e abbassata leta del contagio, ma la malattia e i casi gravi sono sempre dietro langolo  continua Steri - e e la raccomandazione e sempre quella di usare la mascherina, lavarsi la mani spesso e mantenere il distanziamento sociale per quanto possibile: con ladozione di queste tre semplici regole le possibilita di ammalarsi sono veramente remote".

Per quanto riguarda i porti, al momento nessuna indicazione e ancora arrivata all'Autorita del mare di Sardegna. Da quanto si apprende, test rapidi dovrebbero essere predisposti a breve a Porto Torres, per quanto riguarda i collegamenti con Barcellona.

(Unioneonline/l.f.-L)

***

I PRIMI TEST (Video di Michele Ruffi):

***

IL SERVIZIO DEL TG DI VIDEOLINA

 Riproduzione riservata
For the first time since Friends, Brad Pitt will be joining Jennifer Aniston on a new project all in the name of charity. The former couple are both set to star in a virtual table read of the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High in the name of charity, alongside fellow A-listers Morgan Freeman, Julia Roberts and Shia LeBeouf.

Called Dane Cook Presents Feelin A-Live, a press release claims the livestreamed event is an unrehearsed, anything-goes table read and will be broadcast on Facebook Live and TikTok.

It aims to raise money for CORE, a nonprofit spearheaded by Sean Penn, and REFORM Alliance which are centered on criminal justice reform and are currently providing coronavirus relief to incarcerated people

Getty Images

Initially, Pitt was not attached to join the project - however the events original date was shifted to August 21 so as not to clash with the Democratic National Convention.

Cook said via The Hollywood Reporter, Luckily, we were able to shift around some schedules  and add some stellar new cast members  so we're thrilled to now get to kick off your weekend with a Friday night broadcast.

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is another new name to the roster, which currently includes Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, Shia LeBeouf, Henry Golding, Matthew McConaughey, Sean Penn, Julia Roberts and Dane Cook.

Pitt and Aniston last starred on Friends in 2001, when the former couple were still married. Pitt guest starred on the show as Will Colbert, a former classmate of Anistons character Rachel Green, who despised her as she had bullied him at school. Pitt and Aniston were married in 2000 before divorcing in 2005.

They both made headlines at the SAG Awards, where their friendship was on display. Pitt proudly watched Aniston give her winner's acceptance speech for The Morning Show backstage and they were both photographed congratulating one another with big smiles on their faces.
The Semiconductor Industry Association, representing American chipmakers, said Monday it will cause significant disruption to the industry.

Every foreign-made semiconductor of any type anywhere in the world is now subject to US licence requirements if a Huawei company is in any way involved, directly or indirectly, in the transaction. (Photo | AFP)

The Trump administration is further tightening restrictions on Chinas Huawei, seeking to starve it of crucial components by cutting off all access to US technology.

As many as 38 Huawei affiliates were added on Monday to an existing list of companies banned from receiving some sensitive technologies. The Commerce Department also ended an exemption that had allowed some Huawei customers in the US to keep using its equipment and software.

We dont want their equipment in the United States because they spy on us, President Donald Trump told Fox News on Monday. And any country that uses it, were not going to do anything in terms of sharing intelligence.

Washington cut off Huaweis access to US components and technology, including Googles music and other smartphone services, last year. Those penalties were tightened in May when the White House barred vendors worldwide from using US technology to produce components for Huawei.

Huawei declined to comment on the latest US action.

The president of its consumer unit, Richard Yu, said this month Huawei is running out of processor chips for its smartphones. Huawei designs its own chips but Yu said production of the most advanced, the Kirin series, would stop Sept. 15 because the company relies on outside manufacturers that use American technology.

Huawei removed US-supplied components from its main products following earlier sanctions that blocked access to American technology. This weeks sanctions extends those controls to Asian and European components if their manufacturing process uses US technology, which is common.

But the Commerce Department said Monday that more restrictions were needed because Huawei has continuously tried to evade the earlier sanctions by using technology supplied by third parties. The new rule is designed to block Huaweis access to commercially available chips made with tools acquired from the US.

The new rule makes it clear than any use of American software or American fabrication equipment to produce things through Huawei is banned, and requires a licence, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox Business on Monday. Its really a question of closing loopholes to prevent a bad actor from access to US technology, even if they try to do it in a very indirect, very tricky manner.

Huawei, founded in 1987 by a former military engineer, denies accusations it might facilitate Chinese spying. Chinese officials accuse Washington of using national security as an excuse to stop a competitor to US tech industries.

We urge the United States to immediately correct its mistakes, stop slandering China and stop suppressing Chinese companies, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. The Chinese government will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

Vendors including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (TSMC), the biggest contract chip producer, have been scrutinising their supply and manufacturing lines since the latest US restrictions were proposed in May.

Huawei is one of the biggest customers of US and other suppliers of chips and components. They stand to lose billions of dollars in potential sales.

Nicole Peng of industry research firm Canalys said vendors she contacted Tuesday were still examining their supply lines and whether they could do business with Huawei. She said some rely on the Chinese company for up to half their sales.

Elsa Kania, a fellow at the Center for a New American Security who focuses on technology and US-China relations, said while there are valid security concerns about Huawei, the Trump administrations increasingly drastic measures against it and other Chinese companies dont have a clear rationale.

If the objective is to kill Huawei regardless of the collateral damage to American companies, then this measure is one step closer to that, she said. A lot of companies caught in the crossfire of this will see real damage.

The Semiconductor Industry Association, a trade group representing American chipmakers, said in a statement Monday that the rule will cause significant disruption to the industry.

The action targets Huawei but could have sweeping reach, said Kevin Wolf, who was assistant secretary of commerce for export administration under President Barack Obama.

Every foreign-made semiconductor of any type anywhere in the world is now subject to US license requirements if a Huawei company is in any way involved, directly or indirectly, in the transaction, said Wolf, a partner at the Washington law firm Akin Gump.

Washington has combined its economic sanctions on Huawei with a lobbying campaign pushing allies in Europe and elsewhere to exclude the company from planned next-generation wireless networks.

Trump referred to Huawei as the spy way as he spoke with Fox & Friends hosts Monday. He took credit for Britains recent move to backtrack on plans to give the company a role in the UKs new high-speed mobile phone network.

We said we love Scotland Yard very much but were not going to do business with you because if you use the Huawei system that means theyre spying on you, Trump said. That would mean theyre spying on us.
Residents of the Midwest are still reeling from the impact of a derecho that devastated the region last week, leveling corn and soybean fields, destroying homes and causing hundreds of thousands to lose power. Iowa was hardest hit by the series of storms, which wiped out roughly a third of the states 31 million acres of farmland and many homes.

At least three people died in the derecho, a line of severe thunderstorms that produce high winds, and many remain without power or access to food and water.

More than a week after the storms swept through several states, there is still a lot of confusion and needs are constantly evolving, said Carter Oswood, executive director of Feed Iowa First, an organization that distributes fresh produce to food-insecure communities.

A lot of people right after were just a bit perplexed, he said on Tuesday. What do I do? Where do I go? Where do I stay?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:31:44|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Tong Zhaohui is seen at the critical care department at the Beijing Ditan Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, on Aug. 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

Tong is a vice president of Beijing Chao-yang Hospital and an expert of the National Health Commission medical treatment group. He was among the first batch of respiratory and critical illness experts who arrived in Wuhan to assist local doctors in their fight against COVID-19.

After three months of continuous work in Wuhan, he traveled to Heilongjiang, Jilin, Qingdao and Beijing to guide epidemic treatment, and saved a large number of critically ill patients' lives.

Tong was born in Hubei Province and studied in Wuhan when he was young. During his stay in Wuhan amidst the pandemic, he was too busy to spare time to visit his parents, who live in a two-hour drive away from Wuhan.

His mother, with full understanding of the nature of his profession, reassured him through Wechat that, "You are here to save and rescue the people in your hometown amid the pandemic. We will stay at home and not go out in order to reduce the risk. Please do not worry about us and focus on your work."

It is a daily routine for members of the expert team to check on dozens of critically ill patients and travel between numbers of hospitals in different areas during the pandemic. Tong once went to the Dabieshan Medical Center in Huanggang City for an inspection. He entered the quarantine wards at 10 a.m. and did not leave the wards until 6 p.m., treating more than 60 patients.

Tong has been working in the respiratory and critical care field for 32 years. Since he started working in the respiratory department, he has always been on the frontline to treat critically ill patients. Tong felt satisfied and happy each time he saved patients' lives. His dedication to saving lives serves as a role model for all doctors.

China set Aug. 19 as its Medical Workers' day to call for respect from society for the country's medical and health workers. To mark the 3rd Medical Workers' Day, Tong wrote down a message saying "respecting life is to rescue life."
Ukrainian authorities arrested the members of a cybercrime gang who ran 20 cryptocurrency exchanges involved in money laundering.

Police in Ukraine announced the arrest of the members of a cybercrime gang composed of three individuals who ran 20 cryptocurrency exchanges used in money laundering activities.

According to the Ukrainian officials, the cryptocurrency exchanges allowed crooks to launder more than $42 million in funds for other criminals.

The group has been operating since 2018, on multiple cyber criminal forums they were offering to convert cryptocurrency resulting from cybercriminal activities into fiat.

The men were arrested in June, now the Binance cryptocurrency exchange and Ukraine Cyber Police shared details about the investigation in a joint report.

The defendants created online exchangers and offered services for money laundering and money laundering. About $ 42 million in transactions took place over two years. states the press release.

Cyberpolice has established that three residents of Poltava region are involved in such actions. The defendants organized a criminal scheme to provide services for money laundering. Namely, money received from hacker attacks on international companies, distribution of malicious software, theft of funds from the bank accounts of foreign companies and individuals.

The cybercrime gang collaborated with operators behind malware operations, especially gangs who spread ransomware.

Police conducted searches of the suspects residences and offices and seized more than $ 200,000 worth of computer equipment, weapons, ammunition and cash. The cyber agents found digital evidence of criminal activity of the suspects on the seized equipment.

According to this fact, a criminal case under Part 2 of Art. 200 (Illegal actions with documents for transfer, payment cards and other means of access to bank accounts, electronic money, equipment for their production) and Part 2 of Article 209 (Legalization (laundering) of property obtained by criminal means) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The suspects face up to 8 years in prison. concludes the press release.

The arrests are considered a success that results from the Binance internal project named Bulletproof Exchanger, which was launched earlier this year to identify transactions connected with illegal activities and identify bad actors behind them.

The investigation is part of Binances so-called Bulletproof Exchangers project that aims to track down transactions between Binance and high-risk entities. reported the CoinTelegraph.

Investigations of this kind are primarily conducted by Binances internal risk intelligence unit known as Binance Sentry as well as an analytics arm, the Security Data Science division.

Binance helped law enforcement worldwide in investigating illegal activities, in September 2019 it helped a British prosecutorss investigation in an online fraud that caused $51 million in losses to victims.

In late 2019, Binance signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ukraines Ministry of Digital Transformation to support the Ukrainian government to developing crypto-related legislation.

Binance also partnered with TRM Labs, a blockchain analysis firm that focuses on fraud detection.

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  hacking, money laundering)
Police are investigating reports that someone threw an explosive device that detonated over the weekend in downtown Portland.

The explosion occurred Saturday near the corner of Southwest Fourth Avenue and Main Street, which is in the area where protesters have gathered daily for months. A loud bang can be heard on a video posted to Twitter.

People in the video are heard shouting that the device was thrown from a black GMC SUV. Police on Monday said they had not verified that information.

They also said no one had reported the incident directly to police and that investigators were searching for information.

Arson investigators would like to hear from people who witnessed the explosion, have specific suspect information or media that might help with their investigation. Investigators would also like to recover any explosive remnants or unexploded material from the scene.

The incident came after explosive devices were thrown at protesters and some members of the press in Laurelhurst Park a week earlier in the waning hours of a protest.

No one was injured in either incident.

Police urge anyone who has information about Saturdays explosion to contact Detective Meredith Hopper at 503-823-3408 or meredith.hopper@portlandoregon.gov. Those who wish to stay anonymous can submit tips to Crime Stoppers of Oregon online or by phone at 503-823-4357.

Crime Stoppers offers rewards of as much as $2,500 for information, reported to the nonprofit, that leads to arrests in unsolved felony cases.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

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In a recent speech Joe Biden said, in reference to climate change, Were going to make historic investments that will seize the opportunity, meet this moment in history. This is the kind of statement I heard as a child that made me proud to be American. Bidens climate plan is an America First policy.

President Trump called it the most extreme stance of a nominee in history. Is it, though? One complementary federal bill, HR763, proposes only a 5% reduction per year below 2016 greenhouse gas levels, between 2025-2034. Because of a consistent decline in emissions from the power sector over the past 10 years, this number is easily attainable. Bidens proposal to invest heavily in renewable energy would make it even easier to attain the emissions reduction. Extreme? I think not.

It is apropos that Biden turned the climate narrative around to focus on job production and economic recovery. Investing in safe, affordable energy sources is the right, long-term economic decision. China, one of our global competitors, is leaving us in the dust when it comes to solar and wind energy production. Their renewable energy labor force is factors larger than ours, even when adjusting for population.

Supporting The Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act (HR763) would help ensure these goals are accomplished. With this bill, we will decrease emissions and return tax revenue to American citizens via monthly cash dividends. This will create more jobs, while helping us compete with China in renewable technology. America First, right?

Kenny Boecker

Bethlehem
Music teachers saw it coming. For months there has been concern about the dangers of transmitting COVID-19 through singing, and debate about whether musical instruments pose similar dangers too.

But that did not ease the disappointment among young singers and woodwind players when bans on doing both in groups were announced in schools this week, leading one conductor to accuse authorities of creating "glaring inconsistencies" by letting adults drink at pubs but banning kids from playing music.

At MLC School, string players can rehearse but woodwind players are not allowed under new COVID-19 rules for schools. Credit:Edwina Pickles

"Tearing up our children's music education on scant evidence of real or potential harm to the community is a bridge too far," said Benjamin Crocker, who conducts wind orchestras at schools and universities.

For several weeks, NSW Health officers have been talking to community music groups about the safe use of instruments, telling them that droplets tend to be expelled from wind instruments, such as the flute, but stay inside brass ones.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The value of steel export from Turkey to the US grew by 57.9 percent from January through July 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, having stood at $231.4 million, the Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend.

In July 2020, Turkeys export of steel to the US rose by 54.8 percent compared to July 2019, making up $17.7 million.

Steel export from Turkey to international markets dropped by 16.4 percent from January through July 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, and amounted to $7 billion.

Meanwhile, Turkeys steel export made up 7.8 percent of the country's total export over this period.

In July 2020, Turkey exported the steel worth $1 billion to foreign markets, which is 15.4 percent less compared to the same month of 2019, the ministry said.

Turkeys total steel export in July 2020 made up 7 percent.

Over the past 12 months (from July 2019 through July 2020), Turkey exported the steel worth $12.4 billion abroad.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Examples abound of how reprehensible leadership has worsened Latin Americas plight during the coronavirus pandemic. After consistently flouting public health safeguards, right-wing populist Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his left-wing coeval, Mexicos Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, turned their countries into Covid-19 killing fields, with a fifth of reported global fatalities between them.

Nicaraguan strongman Daniel Ortega went AWOL, failing to show up in public for more than a month as infections spiked. And what to say of Venezuelan autocrat Nicolas Maduro, who used the quarantine to stifle dissent instead of tending to the countrys decrepit health system, ranked 176 of 195 countries by the Global Health Security Initiative?

Of all the co-morbidities the pandemic has laid bare in Latin American democracies, populism and polarization are among the deadliest, Amherst College political scientist Javier Corrales told me. Whats harder to explain is the debacle elsewhere in the Americas, where more demonstrably temperate leaders have committed to heeding democratic institutions and global public health directives.

One of the preferred tropes among Latin Americanists has it that the regions miseries are due to crowd-surfing politicians. Leaders who play to the gallery too often disparage consensus, trample institutional checks and balances, and make enemies of adversaries while promising deliverance on empty coffers. Get rid of the barker on the balcony, the argument goes, and progress will follow. Yet last years wave of public turmoil and street protests was a clear caveat that even the best performing nations  look no further than Chile - run by reform minded rationalists, in Corrales words, are prey to dysfunction and historical inequities. Coronavirus has only added to that social debt.

Start with Colombia and Peru, whose governments acted early and swiftly to implement strict social distancing, followed expert medical advice and rolled out robust assistance to those most vulnerable to economic shutdowns. After the initial success in flattening the epidemiological curve, both countries have since been clobbered. Despite President Martin Vizcarras bold reform agenda, Peru has almost as many active cases as Mexico with one-fourth the population, and as of Thursday had buried more than 21,500 victims to Mexicos 54,666. Colombia has logged 43.1 deaths for every million people, the worlds highest fatality rate.

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Along with public health, the hopes of both governments that a quick response to the outbreak would convert into popular indulgence if not outright political capital quickly imploded. Instead, a steep drop in new cases lulled authorities into easing the lockdown by early July, which promptly sent the infection rate soaring again. Now Vizcarra faces increased public scrutiny, a renewed epidemic and one of the worst economic contractions on record.

Its much the same in Colombia, where Ivan Duque, a mostly dispassionate technocrat who cut his teeth at the Inter American Development Bank, is struggling. A spiking caseload  Latin Americas fourth highest  forced authorities to reinstate lockdowns in the countrys main cities, Bogota and Medellin. Compounding Duques woes is the predicament of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants who fled the collapsing economy at home only to be thrown out of work as Colombia locked down. Now he must manage a refugee crisis on top of a racing contagion in an economy forecast to shrink 7.8% this year.

What binds all these countries is a legacy of disabilities, from paltry social welfare backstops to a vast informal economy, where up to half of Latin Americas work-age population toils without perks, unemployment compensation or safety nets. For the one in five Latin Americans living in densely inhabited slums, like the ones ringing Buenos Aires, sheltering at home also means social compacting, exposing millions of poor in cramped airless quarters where infection flourishes.

And while most nations have managed to reach the poorest households with targeted cash transfers, millions more in the gray economy have slipped through the cracks. Consider that six in 10 Peruvians have no bank account. That invisible demographic is a major reason why as the region ramped up spending and blew up debt to offset the outbreak, even those extraordinary outlays have fallen short and done little to correct longstanding inequities.

Although virtually all countries ascribe to universal health care, coverage is at best patchy. Most Latin American and Caribbean nations fell short of the Pan American Health Organizations benchmark of investing 6% of gross domestic product on health well before the virus began to spread.

Simply pouring money into the system will not help. In 2017, Mexico spent 10% of its health budget on the health bureaucracy, more than any other country in the OECD. Despite this largesse, the coronavirus has overwhelmed Mexicos hospitals. Bulking up spending without addressing the challenges of inefficiency and poor performance would be a fundamental omission of local competent authorities and decision makers, a London School of Economics reported last year.

Health spending is bled away by corruption, obfuscated by opaque governance. Instead of opening its books to account for inflows of international aid to fight the pandemic, El Salvador neutered its Transparency and Anti-Corruption secretariat and shut down the finance ministry s Anti-Corruption Unit.

One exception to the dismal Latin American tableau is Uruguay, which stanched the spread of the disease without locking down, and is now preparing for an economic restart even as its stricken neighbors reel. But Uruguays good fortunes  low urban density, near universal health care, falling poverty and a culture of fiscal sobriety unburdened by partisan caviling - are mostly self made. Thanks to decades of reform and social consensus, the nation of 3.5 million is the hemispheric outlier.

No doubt, toxic politics has put Latin Americans at greater risk during the pandemic, even to the point of squandering vital public goods. Look no further than Brazil, where 286,000 community health workers trained to contain contagion have been repeatedly thwarted and second-guessed by the Bolsonaro governments conflicting directives on health protocols.

Yet in nations where underlying conditions and a "manana approach to reforms impede deficient states from effectively tending to the sick, delivering emergency assistance and ventilating failing businesses, even the most committed rationalists will stumble.

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

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Authorities also charged seven people tied to looting the previous week, including three people accused of looting a River North Walgreens on Aug. 10, but who were initially charged with misdemeanors and released on personal recognizance bails. The felony charges against the trio, Kendra Mosby, 24, Crystal Williams, 33, and Corey Sanders, 28, are the first sign that authorities could go after dozens of people picked up for looting but released without charges or given misdemeanors.
Visva Bharati university authorities at Santiniketan in Bengals Birbhum district lodged a police complaint against a Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmaker and eight others around midnight on Monday, more than 12 hours after a mob of local residents and shopkeepers vandalized parts of the university over a decision to build a wall.

The mob allegedly demolished two gates of the campus and damaged construction material that was stocked for building the wall around an open ground where an annual fair is held.

The states only central university, of which the Prime Minister is the chancellor, named Naresh Bauri, a resident of Bolpur and TMC lawmaker from the districts Dubrajpur constituency, in the complaint.

The university also sent separate reports on the incident to the Prime Ministers office and the Union human resource development ministry, teachers told HT. After the vandalism, the university authorities decided to close the campus temporarily.

The district police started a separate suo motu case on Monday afternoon after chief minister Mamata Banerjee intervened. Eight people were arrested for the vandalism. They were produced before the Suri court on Tuesday afternoon.

District police officers said that in its complaint the Visva Bharati authorities stated that the crowd went on the rampage when construction workers were in the process of setting up a wall. The complaint said that guarding the open ground was necessary to protect the environment as ordered by the National Green Tribunal last year.

On Monday, Bauri claimed that he took part in the agitation as a local resident and former student of Visva Bharati and not as TMC leader. How can Tagores university, which was supposed to be a part of nature, be caged behind walls. Local people will never tolerate this, Bauri said on Monday echoing the local people. He could not be contacted on Tuesday.

Held in end-December, the fair, popularly known as Poush Mela, draws thousands of people and even foreign tourists. Opposed to the wall, local people and a section of traders for whom the fair is a major source of income, had been staging demonstrations since Saturday. Bidyut Chakrabarty, the vice-chancellor, however did not budge from his decision to guard the open ground.

Sunil Singh, a member of the Poush Mela Bachao Committee (save the fair committee) and one of the traders named in the complaint lodged by Visva Bharati, said, This is a false allegation. The earthmover used to demolish the gates belongs to Visva Bharati. They did it to frame us.

Gagan Sarkar, another trader named in the complaint, alleged that Visva Bharati authorities planned the demolition.

Mamata Banerjee on Monday disapproved of the wall and said, I do not want any construction that destroys the beauty of Visva Bharati. When Rabindranath Tagore built Visva Bharati he wanted students to be in the heart of nature and study in the open. He did not want wood and cement structures.

District magistrate Moumita Godara Basu said that she will hold a meeting with university authorities and local people on Wednesday and hear both sides.

University students owing allegiance to the Students Federation of India, the students front of the CPI(M), staged a silent agitation outside the vice-chancellors office on Monday night.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the TMC of masterminding the vandalism. This is an example of law and order situation in Bengal. The TMC is trying to establish control over a Central university campus, said BJP state president Dilip Ghosh.

The vice-chancellor did not talk to the media on Tuesday as well. Anirban Sircar, the only designated spokesperson of Visva Bharati did not take calls either.
Jamie Dewing, 31, from Saltburn-by-the-Sea near Middlesbrough in north-east England, took part in a June 13 protest that claimed to be protecting London's statues from defacement by anti-racist groups.

But the protests quickly descended into a running battle between demonstrators and police. More than 100 people were arrested and six officers were injured. Boris Johnson slammed the protests as "racist thuggery".

Dewing confronted officers who were helping an isolated woman from another group near the Nelson Mandela statue at the north-west corner of Parliament Square.

Police said they were moving the woman away from the crowd when Dewing violently shoved a female officer, who fell onto her back down some steps. She hurt her back and neck and is still having physiotherapy, although she is now back on duty.

Dewing was later caught on camera acting aggressively, including throwing a metal barrier at officers and spitting at them along Whitehall, which runs off the square.

He was arrested by Cleveland Police after they reviewed CCTV footage of the incident. He initially denied the charges but then pleaded guilty when he saw how much evidence there was against him, police said.

Dewing admitted one count of assaulting an emergency service worker and one count of violent disorder at Teeside Magistrates Court on July 8.

More than 100 arrested as PM brands far-right protests racist thuggery

Detective Constable Nicky Dixon, part of the investigation team into the disorder, said: Dewing assaulted an officer who was only trying to protect a member of the public. This officer braved a hostile crowd to carry out the rescue of someone who was vulnerable. Having come to the womans aid, the officer was moving away when Dewing assaulted her.

"There is no excuse for this or his later actions, it was just thuggery.

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As part of our investigation into recent disorder, we have released many images of people we would like to speak with in connection with this incident. I would urge everyone to please take a few minutes to look through these images in the news and on social media and, if you identify anyone you recognise, please let us know who they are.
Across the country, children are returning to school in the fall  and that is excellent news. The pandemic has forced most children to remain home since March and has prevented many of them from seeing their friends for so long that the prospect of returning to school may even spark excitement where it was previously met with dread.

Governments and school boards are currently rolling out important safety protocols, which vary widely from province to province, to keep our kids and teachers safe. Following these safety measures to the letter will be critical for a successful reopening of schools.

But if theres one lesson those of us working in successful summer camps this year have learned: you have to go above and beyond basic requirements to ensure the safety of our kids.

I spent my summer working as the health and safety coordinator at the Little Red Playhouse in Montreal, a bilingual preschool that offers integration services to special needs children in the community. It was my job to come up with COVID-19 safety policies and ensure they were implemented effectively.

Weve been operating at full capacity all summer, with a new influx of children each week, many of them with communication and behavioural challenges, without a single COVID-19 case. We arent alone. The YMCA has been able to accommodate well over 40,000 children nation-wide without a single COVID-19 outbreak by implementing similar policies.

So, how did we do it?

At the Little Red Playhouse we followed these principles:

Keep groups small

We keep our groups of kids small (six children at a time). Each group has its own designated indoor space to prevent cross-contamination.

Keep records for contact tracing

We keep a contact tracing sheet where we record any breaches of the usual protocol so that if someone does contract COVID-19, we know who they may have come in contact with.

Clean surfaces frequently

We clean items and equipment several times per day and the entire facility gets a nightly deep clean.

Wash hands frequently

We make the children wash their hands every time they enter or leave the building, before and after every transition, before and after lunch and at various other times throughout the day.

Mandatory masks

We made masks mandatory for every staff member at all times. If a child was learning language and needed to see their instructors mouth for reference, a visor would be used instead.

Plexiglass between close quarters

We fitted some of our picnic tables for the youngsters with Plexiglas to avoid unnecessary contact. We also fitted our office spaces with Plexiglas to ensure several staff members could work at the same time.

Go outside

We encouraged groups to go outside as often as possible. We also installed a tent outside so children can benefit from being outdoors while taking shelter from the sun and rain.

Contactless everything

We made all of our paper documents digital; from incident reports to authorization forms to contracts, everything was done digitally and without the need for physical contact.

Social distancing

Groups of children would social distance from one another and staff members would social distance from children and other adults whenever possible. Lunch breaks were taken apart to allow for social distancing at a time where masks must come off. Kids can social distance and still have fun!

Clear stay-at-home policies

We had clear policies on when children and staff should stay home (i.e., if they exhibit symptoms). We also had policies for if children or staff exhibit symptoms at work. We also asked parents a series of COVID-19 safety questions each day at drop off and we made our staff answer similar safety questions each day before work with an online Google form.

Upgraded cleanliness facilities

We installed exterior hand washing stations to ensure children washed their hands before entering the premises. We also made sure to have contactless garbage cans, installed paper towel dispensers throughout the facility and added to be cleaned bins for toys and other items that needed cleaning but could not be done immediately.

Admittedly, schools may have different constraints than summer camps, particularly surrounding group sizes, but many of these principles could be adapted and help schools reopen and return to normalcy, carefully  an approach most Canadians want to take.

Schools should learn from summer camps. Kids belong together, but we also need to keep them, and our communities, safe.
M&S said it also expects a significant number of roles will be cut through voluntary departures. Photo: Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images

Britains bellwether retailer Marks & Spencer (MKS.L) has announced in a statement that it will cut around 7,000 jobs.

It said that job cuts were part of a major shake-up of its stores and management following the severe impact the coronavirus crisis has had on UK high streets.

It confirmed that the roles will be cut over the next three months and losses will be spread across shops, regional management, and its support centre.

M&S said it also expects a significant number of roles will be cut through voluntary departures and early retirement. It reiterated that there will be some new jobs will be created as it focuses on investing in online warehousing and its new ambient food warehouse.

"In May we outlined our plans to learn from the crisis, accelerate our transformation and deliver a stronger, more agile business in a world in which some customer habits were changed forever, said Steve Rowe, CEO at M&S.

Three months on and our Never the Same Again programme is progressing; albeit the outlook is uncertain and we remain cautious. As part of our Never The Same Again programme to embed the positive changes in ways of working through the crisis, we are today announcing proposals to further streamline store operations and management structures.

These proposals are an important step in becoming a leaner, faster business set up to serve changing customer needs and we are committed to supporting colleagues through this time."

Shares in M&S have cratered over the last few months due to coronavirus exacerbating existing issues the retailer has had with growth:

Chart: Yahoo Finance

M&S has historically struggled over the last few years to get more people buying its clothes. Since the spread of the coronavirus caused stores to temporarily shutter and people to stay in their homes during lockdown, that only impacted revenue further.

While the UK government has eased the lockdown over the last two months, for many retailers it is still playing catch-up to lost sales. And for some, like M&S, it has laid bare its issues with its hard-hit clothing and home arm  both of which plunged 29.9% in the eight weeks since shops reopened. Store sales also fell 47.9% while online revenue rocketed 39.2%.

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Analysts at Shore Capital Markets said the unexpected update from M&S shows a tough performance but improving trends, as well as a further update on the change programme, which is deepening and accelerating the necessary adjustments that management believes the business needs if it is to stabilise and prosper.

Most significantly, from a current perspective, we welcome the announcement that M&S is ahead in terms of sales and most especially cash flows against the scenario set out at its preliminary results in May 2020.

It said in a statement that it was clear that there has been a material shift in trade.

Online Clothing & Home sales have performed strongly since the start of the year with an additional 1.9 million new customers. In the last 8 weeks, online sales have represented 41% of our total Clothing & Home sales, it said

There has been a substantial change in delivery mix, with c. 68% of orders delivered to home, compared with 29% the previous year. Growth has been enabled by a robust performance from our Castle Donington distribution centre, where the group has invested in substantial additional capacity.

Following a successful relaunch in July, 8.2 million customers are now members of the new Sparks programme and over 800,000 have downloaded the M&S App since launch.
D ue to the pandemic and a surge in coronavirus cases, more Americans than ever before will be allowed to vote in the upcoming US elections on November 3, via the post.

Some states are changing electoral rules to help stop the spread of Covid-19 which could be exacerbated through physical ballot casting.

Voting through the post can be done by "absentee ballot" or a "mail-in ballot", however, there is lots of confusion about the methods which vary between different states.

Furthermore, some people have been using the terms interchangeably, mistakenly thinking they are the same thing.

REUTERS

What is an absentee ballot?

Before mail votes are explained you need to know that usually, the majority of US voters attend a polling station to physically select a candidate either through crossing a box or tapping an electronic voting machine.

An absent ballot is, therefore, someone till taking part in the voting process without attending a polling station on election day.

Every state allows this type of voting in some form, with federal law requiring that ballots are sent to overseas and military personal.

Citizens simply need to request a form from their state government and wait for a decision.

AFP via Getty Images

In 16 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia) an absentee ballot is the only form of voting through the mail that is allowed.

The voter has to also provide a reason as to why they cannot vote in person. Accepted reasons include illness, disability, being a student outside of the state or being out of the country.

There is also a term called no-excuse absentee ballot when voters to not have to give a reason to request one.

This is applicable in 29 states (Alaska, Arizona, California, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming).

However, some people refer to this whole grouping as an absentee ballot.

What is a mail-in-ballot?

Some states already conduct elections through a mail-in process thats often referred to as all-mail voting.

Registered voters in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, and Hawaii automatically receive a mail ballot, which is sent to their address before Election Day.

Recipients mail their selection back or deposit it at a voting location.

In these states, the term absentee ballot can apply to a voter who is not at their home address when it is sent out.

Misinformation about voting by mail

Donald Trump has moved to sow public distrust in the US Postal Services ability to deliver what is expected to be record numbers of mailed votes this year, claiming that postal voting would lead to massive voter fraud in the election.

However US voting fraud is extremely rare and data from the Heritage Foundation shows that in the past 20 years out of 250,000,000 votes have been cast by post, there have only been 1,285 proven cases of illegal breeches.
WATERLOO  Without being able to conduct in-person workshops, rent out facilities at 25 Regina St. S., or open its gift shop, Button Factory Arts is appealing to the public for financial help.

When COVID-19 hit, pretty much all of our revenue sources got taken down to zero, said Julie Dring, a current board member who has initiated a GoFundMe campaign with a $10,000 goal.

Its really just to help us pay for our basic operating costs just so we can write some financial relief grants and come up with a plan for when we are able to reopen, Dring said Monday.

Were really just looking for some assistance from the community just to kind of keep us afloat while we come up with that plan.

Button Factory Arts is a non-profit, charitable arts organization that has been running in uptown Waterloo for more than a quarter century. Their programs include performances, classes, workshops, special events and art exhibitions.

The historic former button factory building on Regina Street South is provided through a long-term lease and affiliation agreement with the city. Its rented out to over 12 local community organizations and includes an in-house gallery to exhibit local artists, as well as studio space and a gift shop.

Button Factory Arts has qualified for some government relief so far and has held its annual spring tulip and Fathers Day fundraisers online, Dring said. However, its operating shortfall continues to grow.

Button Factory Arts has an annual budget of around $250,000 and closer to $20,000 in donations will be needed to see the organization through to the end of the year, she said.

We ask you kindly, but with urgency, (to) please consider making a donation to our Giving Campaign, the GoFundMe page states.

Button Factory Arts executive director Heather Franklin says programming will run in the fall in a variety of formats: online, outside and inside (but with very limited capacity and with proper personal protective equipment).
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Keystone Healthcare Partners (Keystone Healthcare), a leading provider of Emergency Medicine, Hospital Medicine, and Telehealth physician management services and staffing solutions for hospitals, today announced a significant talent realignment and acquisition strategy that aims to futureproof the Company for continued growth and success both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in a post COVID-19 world.

The internal realignments and talent acquisitions, made possible by Keystone Healthcare's financial health, client stability, technological strengths, and competitive advantages, will impact several teams at Keystone Healthcare, including Revenue Cycle, Corporate, Medical Leadership, Operations Management, Business Development, and Client Services. Promotions for existing members of Keystone Healthcare include Victoria Shoemaker, Chief Revenue Cycle Officer; Don Booth, Executive Vice President of Client Services, Software Solutions, & Innovation; Nicole Ehnle, Software Solutions Administrator and Operations Associate; and Randy Wilson, Chief Financial Officer. New additions to the team include Chelsea Voors, Vice President of Strategy and Marketing and Jeff Curtis, Vice President of Business Development.

"Since February, Keystone Healthcare and our partner hospitals have faced the most challenging time our profession has known, and I am incredibly proud of, and humbled by, the bravery, courage, and selflessness our team and hospitals partners have demonstrated," said Andrew Portelli, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Healthcare. "This talent realignment and acquisition strategy will further fortify our Company as we support our partner hospitals nationwide with the clinical and administrative support, telehealth technologies, and business solutions they need to not just weather the trials ahead, but to thrive as organizations dedicated to high-quality patient care and outcomes."

This initiative follows Keystone Healthcare's recent expansion into Texas and addition of new services including ICU/CCU and APP Coverage. Keystone Healthcare's expansion was supported by two new clinical hires, including Vice President of Telehealth, Patient Access, & Connected Care, Melissa King, DNP, FNP-BC, ENP-BC, and its first-ever Director of Emergency Medical Services, Darryl Wenner, DO. That expansion dovetails with Keystone Healthcare's new talent realignment and acquisition strategy, knowing that demand for services, including Emergency Medicine, Hospital Medicine, and Telehealth & Connected Care, which features virtual case management, tele-triage, and ED2Home, will increase throughout the second-half of 2020 and beyond as COVID-19 continues to holistically impact clinical and operational capacity, patient volumes, and healthcare delivery methods.

About Keystone Healthcare

Keystone Healthcare Partners (Keystone Healthcare) is a leading provider of Emergency Medicine, Hospital Medicine, and Telehealth physician management services and staffing solutions for hospitals. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida and with additional offices nationwide, Keystone Healthcare efficiently delivers high-quality, patient-centered care through strong physician leadership and involved management that drive our innovative and integrated business model and performance metrics. Visit keystonehealthcare.com.

Contact

Samantha Mantzoros

Sagefrog Marketing Group on behalf of Keystone Healthcare

[email protected]

SOURCE Keystone Healthcare Partners

Related Links

https://keystonehealthcare.com


San Francisco police are offering a $100,000 reward to anyone who can help law enforcement arrest and convict the person or people who killed 6-year-old Jace Young, who was shot in the Bayview district while watching fireworks with family on the Fourth of July.

Police Chief William Scott announced the reward at a news conference Monday, where family members pleaded with the public for assistance.

If anybody, anywhere knows anything about what happened to my son, please come forward. This is a devastating thing that happened to my 6-year-old innocent son, said Jaces mother, Lakesha Kyle. I am begging, begging, begging, please reach out. ... All I want is some help from somebody to bring these people to justice.

Jace was killed last month at the intersection of Whitfield Court and La Salle Avenue while watching fireworks with family, police said.

He was just doing what little boys do, and he was senselessly gunned down by people in a very cowardly act, said Sgt. Timothy Kiely, the lead investigator on the case.

A 39-year-old man was also shot in the incident and transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. Days after the shooting, police officials said they did not believe either victim was the intended target.

Comunity members have called the killing a wake-up call for San Francisco, and say that more services and funding need to be directed toward San Franciscos Black youth. The killing of Jace rips at the heart of our city, Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Shamann Walton said in a joint statement last month.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance video footage and other evidence but said assistance from the public will be essential to find the people responsible for the killing.

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.

If anybody is out there who has any information, please, we need your help, Scott said. This reward is there hopefully to incentivize those that know what happened. And we need your help, this family needs your help for the sake of justice for Jace.

Anyone with information regarding this case may contact Sgt. Timothy Kiely #1215 of the San Francisco Police Department Homicide Detail at 415-553-9099 during business hours, by calling the SFPD 24-hour tip line at 415-575-4444 or by sending a text message to Text-A-Tip at TIP411 and beginning the text message with SFPD.

Joaquin Palomino is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jpalomino@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JoaquinPalomino
A British tourist fell to his death last night from a third floor hotel balcony in Corfu in a suspected suicide while on holiday with his fiancee.

The 46-year-old died just after midnight in the Kanoni region on the south of the island where the couple had been staying for a few days.

Ioannis Aivatidis, Corfu's medical examiner, told APE-MPE: 'The side effects of the antidepressants that the 46-year-old was taking will also be examined.'

The man's fiancee told officials that her partner had been taking medication for a psychological issue.

Criminal activity has been ruled out and police believe that the man killed himself, CNN Greece reported.

The 46-year-old died just after midnight in the Kanoni region on the south of the island where the couple were staying for a few days (stock photo: people at Corfu port last month)

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article then you can call the Samaritans 24 hour helpline on 116 123.
Houston-area renters, landlords and small business owners can sign up for COVID-19 relief through two assistance funds that are set to open applications this August.

Harris County is providing $25 million and the city of Houston is providing $20 million for a joint emergency rental assistance program administered by the nonprofit BakerRipley to help residents and landlords affected by the pandemic, according to a release from the office of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

Those approved through the county program may receive up to $1,200 and those approved through the city program may receive up to $2,112. Only one application is required. Applications for landlords opened on Monday and run through Wednesday, August 26. Applications for tenants will open Aug. 24 and run through Aug. 30.

EVICTION CRISIS: New data shows nearly $29M in lost rent, grim housing outlook for Houston

The program is aimed to help those with rent, late fees or payments occurring after April 1, 2020. Data shows 7,205 eviction cases claiming more than $13 million have been filed by Harris County residents from April 1 through August 17, according to the data science consulting firm January Advisors.

Our community continues to suffer great economic damage resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, with many people unable to cover basic necessities, including rent, Hidalgo said in the release. This program will bring relief to those across our region who so desperately need it, allowing families to stay in their homes while addressing the collateral impact on property owners.

The following is required to be eligible, per the release:

Landlords must be registered as a program participant

Applicant must reside within Harris County and/or the city of Houston

Total household income must be at or below the 50 percent average median income (depends on household size)

Cannot have received other Harris County-related COVID-19 assistance through a city rent relief program

Cannot be currently receiving other governmental housing subsidies

Only a portion of applicants will be approved for assistance. Tenants will receive assistance only if their landlord is approved to participate. Applicants will need valid photo identification, proof of residence within the applicable service area (i.e., lease agreement), documentation of lost wages and a copy of statements showing rental amounts due or a notice to vacate, per the release.

On HoustonChronicle.com: The coronavirus rent relief application is opening for Houston and Harris County. Heres what you need to know.

For more information on the program, including how to apply and other requirements, visit the Baker Ripley website here.

COVID relief for small businesses

Small business owners can also apply for COVID-19 relief for up to $50,000 through the city of Houston's $15 million Small Business Economic Relief Program (SBERP), which opens at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

The funds are available for businesses to use for payroll, accounts payable, rent, mortgage, personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees, and marketing strategies, according to a news release from the city. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4. Applications can be submitted online here.

SBERP funds will not be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Small businesses that are in most financial need and exhibit a moderate to high likelihood of surviving the pandemic's adverse impacts will receive the most consideration for grant funds, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in the release. I highly encourage you to take your time to complete your application fully and carefully before the Sept. 4 deadline.

Approved businesses will receive funds in two phases, the second of which comes after completing a Recovery and Resiliency assistance program.

The following is required to be eligible, per the release:

Must be a business whose principal place of business is located within city limits

Must have been in business for at least one year as of March 1, 2020

Must provide evidence of how business revenue has significantly decreased due to COVID-19

A business qualifies if it generated $2 million or less in gross annual revenue pre-COVID-19

Must be in good standing regarding city requirements

Must commit to completing the Recovery and Resiliency component

The program is funded with the city's CARES Act 2020 funds. For more information, visit the city website here.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
CENTREVILLE, Va., Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) (the "Company") announced today the pricing of its private offering of $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 0.25% convertible senior notes due 2025 (the "notes"). In connection with the offering, the Company entered into convertible note hedge and warrant transactions to offset potential dilution. The offering was upsized from the previously announced offering of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of notes. The Company also granted the initial purchasers an option to purchase, for settlement within a 13-day period beginning on, and including, the date on which the notes are first issued, up to an additional $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of notes. The sale of the notes to the initial purchasers is expected to settle on or about August 20, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to result in approximately $341.0 million in net proceeds to the Company, after deducting the initial purchasers' discount and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company (assuming no exercise of the initial purchasers' option) but before deducting the net cost of the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions referred to below.

The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company. The notes will bear interest at a rate of 0.25% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2021. The notes will mature on August 15 , 2025, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted.

The initial conversion rate for the notes is 22.2913 shares of the Company's common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $44.86 per share, which represents a premium of approximately 35% over the last reported sale price of the Company's common stock on August 17, 2020). Prior to March 15, 2025, the notes will be convertible at the option of the holders only upon the occurrence of specified events, and thereafter until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, the notes will be convertible at any time. Upon conversion, the notes will settle for cash, shares of the Company's common stock, or a combination thereof, at the Company's option. The Company may redeem for cash all or any portion of the notes, at its option, on or after August 21, 2023 and before the 51st scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of the Company's common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price for a specified period of time. The redemption price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

The Company expects to use approximately $36.0 million of the net proceeds from the sale of the notes to pay the net cost of the convertible note hedge transactions (after such cost is partially offset by the proceeds to the Company of the warrant transactions). The Company intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including but not limited to, potential acquisitions and working capital.

If the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional notes, the Company may sell additional warrants and use a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the additional notes, together with the proceeds from the sale of the additional warrants to enter into additional convertible note hedge transactions. Any remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including but not limited to, potential acquisitions and working capital.

In connection with the offering, the Company entered into convertible note hedge transactions with one or more of the initial purchasers of the notes or their respective affiliates and certain other financial institutions (the "option counterparties"). The Company also entered into warrant transactions with the option counterparties. The convertible note hedge transactions are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to the Company's common stock upon any conversion of notes and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted notes, as the case may be. However, the warrant transactions could separately have a dilutive effect to the extent that the market value per share of the Company's common stock upon expiration exceeds the applicable strike price of the warrants. The strike price of the warrant transactions will initially be $66.46 per share, which represents a premium of 100% over the last reported sale price of the common stock on August 17, 2020, and is subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the warrant transactions.

In connection with establishing their initial hedges of the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates expect to enter into various derivative transactions with respect to the Company's common stock concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the notes. This activity could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of the Company's common stock or the notes at that time.

In addition, the option counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to the Company's common stock and/or purchasing or selling the Company's common stock or other securities of the Company in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the notes and prior to the maturity of the notes (and are likely to do so during any observation period related to a conversion of notes). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of the Company's common stock or the notes, which could affect the ability of noteholders to convert the notes and, to the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of the notes, it could affect the number of shares and value of the consideration that noteholders will receive upon conversion of the notes.

The offering was made to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Neither the notes nor any shares of the Company's common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes have been or are expected to be registered under the Securities Act, or under any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the notes in the offering, nor shall there be any sale of such notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Parsons

Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the global defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, connected infrastructure, and smart cities. Please visit parsons.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we're making an impact.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs and assumptions, and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, changes in circumstances, trends and factors that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside of our control. Accordingly, actual performance, results and events may vary materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, and you should not rely on the forward-looking statements as predictions of future performance, results or events. Numerous factors could cause actual future performance, results and events to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: the impact of COVID-19; any issue that compromises our relationships with the U.S. federal government or its agencies or other state, local or foreign governments or agencies; any issues that damage our professional reputation; changes in governmental priorities that shift expenditures away from agencies or programs that we support; our dependence on long-term government contracts, which are subject to the government's budgetary approval process; the size of our addressable markets and the amount of government spending on private contractors; failure by us or our employees to obtain and maintain necessary security clearances or certifications; failure to comply with numerous laws and regulations; changes in government procurement, contract or other practices or the adoption by governments of new laws, rules, regulations and programs in a manner adverse to us; the termination or nonrenewal of our government contracts, particularly our contracts with the U.S. federal government; our ability to compete effectively in the competitive bidding process and delays, contract terminations or cancellations caused by competitors' protests of major contract awards received by us; our ability to generate revenue under certain of our contracts; any inability to attract, train or retain employees with the requisite skills, experience and security clearances; the loss of members of senior management or failure to develop new leaders; misconduct or other improper activities from our employees or subcontractors; our ability to realize the full value of our backlog and the timing of our receipt of revenue under contracts included in backlog; changes in the mix of our contracts and our ability to accurately estimate or otherwise recover expenses, time and resources for our contracts; changes in estimates used in recognizing revenue; internal system or service failures and security breaches; and inherent uncertainties and potential adverse developments in legal proceedings, including litigation, audits, reviews and investigations, which may result in materially adverse judgments, settlements or other unfavorable outcomes. These factors are not exhaustive and additional factors could adversely affect our business and financial performance. For a discussion of additional factors that could materially adversely affect our business and financial performance, see the factors included under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 on Form 10K, filed on March 10, 2020, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and speak only as of the date on which they are made. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement that becomes untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise, except to the extent we are required to do so in connection with our ongoing requirements under federal securities laws.

Media Contact:

Bryce McDevitt

+1 703.851.4425

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

Dave Spille

+ 1 571.655.8264

[email protected]

SOURCE Parsons Corporation

Related Links

www.parsons.com


A 28-year-old inmate released from the Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton by mistake was facing a slew of criminal charges, InsideHalton.com has learned.

Brampton resident Amritpal Singh Aujla is before the courts on charges that include fraud, possession of property obtained by crime, drug possession, personation with intent and a number of charges relating to failure to comply with release orders, according to Ontario court records.

Halton Regional Police have also released additional information on the wanted man, released late Monday night in error.

Aujla was last seen wearing a blue track suit (not black as indicated in the original release), Const. Ryan Anderson said in a release. He also was wearing an orange turban.

Halton police can also confirm that Aujla was in custody at Maplehurst awaiting a video court appearance Tuesday for charges laid by Peel Regional Police.

InsideHalton.com has also confirmed he has a scheduled Aug. 21 court date for other criminal matters

If seen do not approach and call 911 for police assistance, Sgt. Paul Rural said in a release.
A Derry MLA has said that if third level institutions in Northern Ireland are to get extra student places this year that Ulster University should allocate those places to its Magee campus.

In a speech made in the Northern Ireland Assembly today, Sinead McLaughlin MLA, the SDLP's economy spokesperson, spoke of the need to lift the cap on student numbers at Northern Ireland universities.

She said: "Northern Ireland has a unique educational disadvantage across the four UK nations  the MaSN cap. The Maximum Student Numbers. This holds back our economy by depriving us of the skills we need. This situation damages our productivity as well as our decision-making. But it also adds momentum to the Northern Irish diaspora, breaking up families as children leave home to study in Great Britain, typically to never return.

"As a mother I have seen my daughters leave Northern Ireland to study. And that is fine when that is what students want to do. But we are forcing our students away because our universities do not have enough places. That splits up families and is heartbreaking. And  as a report from the OECD concluded just a few days ago  it is not providing the next generation of graduate talent that our economy needs for the future. Nor are we doing enough for those students who do not go to university, who need high quality apprenticeships and a future in well paid, emotionally rewarding work.

"But today the ongoing failure around the MaSN cap has become a crisis. That is because the farce around A level grades has forced our two universities to breach the MaSN cap imposed on them by the Department for the Economy. Last week they offered places  which they are bound to honour  to students with the required minimum grades. But this week they are also bound to honour previous conditional offers to students who with the revised grades now meet those conditions. "This mess is not of the universities making. Yet it potentially creates a very serious financial situation for the universities. And it is not a one year problem. The universities will be breaching the MaSN cap this year, and each of the next three years  four years for some courses  because that is the length of undergraduate study.

"Are we really expecting the universities to pick up the financial cost of the A level fiasco? Yesterday the British media reported that the education secretary for England, Gavin Williamson, had promised that all UK universities would be released from their student number cap to allow all students with sufficient A level grades to be accepted. That is no doubt a misreport because the British media doesnt understand the difference between the UK and GB.

"But it does allow us to consider an important point. This mess is not entirely of the making of Peter Weir, our Department of Education and CCEA. It is also a mess of the making of Gavin Williamson and the British government.

"So the answer is clear. We must lift the MaSN cap for Northern Ireland, allowing students with sufficient grades to study at university in Northern Ireland. We must not expect the two universities here to pick up the bill for that. And given the role of the UK government, we expect the education, economy and finance ministers here to very robustly make the case to the UK government that it should pick up the bill for this.

"One final point, as a Foyle MLA. I urge Ulster University to allocate any additional MaSN it gets to the Magee campus. It remains a scandal that Northern Irelands second city does not have a full sized university campus. The SDLP will not rest until this achieved  and that is a pledge that we make to the memory of John Hume.

"The minister for the economy and the Executive have an opportunity today not just to deal with the latest result of what Covid-19 has done to our society. They also have an opportunity to reset the future, providing a better future for our childrens generation. Let us not allow this prize to slip from our grasp."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Ms Freeland to the job after Bill Morneau resigned on Monday.

Ms Freeland also keeps her job as deputy prime minister.

Its about time that we broke that glass ceiling, Ms Freeland said.

She is credited with helping to negotiate the new free trade agreement with United States and Mexico and is trusted ally of Mr Trudeau.

Mr Morneau and Mr Trudeau reportedly butted heads at a time when the government was spending heavily to help the pandemic-hammered economy.

Mr Morneau said he was not asked to resign but added that he is no longer the appropriate the person for the job.

Canadas government is predicting a historic 343 billion Canadian dollar (198 billion) deficit for 2020-21 resulting from its economic and stimulus plans to battle the impact of Covid-19.

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Mr Trudeau has called the spending a lifeline to Canadians battling to stay afloat.

The coronavirus is still with us. This is a once-in-a-lifetime challenge for the whole country, Ms Freeland said. We will do whatever it takes to support Canadians.

Ms Freeland is a 52-year-old Harvard graduate and Rhodes scholar who speaks five languages.

Mr Trudeau personally recruited Ms Freeland to join his Liberal Party while it was the third party in Parliament in 2013.

Ms Freeland had a senior position at the Reuters news agency and previously had risen rapidly at the Financial Times where she became Moscow bureau chief in her mid-20s during the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Ms Freeland also served as deputy editor of the Globe and Mail in Toronto and the Financial Times.

She was familiar to many TV viewers in the US because of her regular appearances on talk shows like Fareed Zakarias on CNN.

She has been a frequent critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who banned her from travelling to the country in 2014 in retaliation for Western sanctions against Moscow.

The appointment of Freeland will be very popular, especially with women, said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto.

Shes risen quickly because she is smart and competent. She impressed Trudeau in the Nafta (North American Free Trade Agreement) negotiations. It is still too early to speculate about a successor to Trudeau, but there is little doubt that she is currently the favourite with Liberal voters and, probably, the Liberal backbench.
Australia is bracing for a second trade strike on the wine industry after China launched an anti-dumping investigation that puts $1.2 billion worth of exports at risk.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the move was "disappointing and perplexing" on Tuesday and warned a second dispute over subsidies loomed as key exports become collateral damage in Australia's deteriorating relationship with Beijing.

Happier times: Trade Minister Simon Birmingham and former Australian ambassador to China Jan Adams pour wine into an Australia sign at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in 2017. Credit:Chris Crerar

The year-long anti-dumping investigation will examine whether Australian winemakers dumped bottles containing less than two litres in China at reduced prices over a five-year period, crowding out local producers and causing industrial damage.

China is the largest market for Australia's $3 billion in annual wine exports, accounting for more than 37 per cent of exports last financial year. At $1.2 billion, China was almost three times bigger than the country's No. 2 export market, the US. Australia ranks second in terms of the average price per bottle of wine imported by China.
A study from early in the global coronavirus pandemic that evidenced the benefits of using steroids to combat COVID-19 in severely ill patients could have saved lives, according to the University of Huddersfield researchers involved.

Dr Hamid Merchant and Dr Syed Shahzad Hasan assessed the results of using corticosteroid such as dexamethasone on hospitalised COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on respiratory support. By mid-April they had found that the proportion of COVID-19 patients who died in the steroid group was significantly lower compared to those who did not receive corticosteroids, at 28 per cent compared to 69 per cent. Their research has now been published in the Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine following a lengthy period of scrutiny and peer review.

The Huddersfield academics' work highlights the issues involved in scrutinising scientific evidence, as well as costs involved in research and the UK's preference for evidence-based practice. Oxford University's RECOVERY trial came to similar conclusions as the Huddersfield researchers in mid-June, leading to the UK government's decision that dexamethasone could be made available to patients, a move subsequently taken around the world.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had, early in the pandemic, recommended that steroids should not be used to combat CoViD-19 due to perceived risk of delayed coronavirus clearance. Despite warnings from WHO, various global bodies acknowledged the mortality benefits of using steroids on COVID-19 patients with ARDS, such as the National Health Commission & State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NHC), Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC), and the National Institute of Health (NIH).

"What this shows is that providing evidence is not cheap," says Dr Merchant. "It comes at a very high cost; it not only costs time and money but may even cost precious lives. The background of the pandemic highlights this, it's something that we have known for years but unfortunately has been thrown into sharp relief by coronavirus," he adds.

"There is always a dilemma of the risks versus the benefits of evidence-based practice in a medical emergency," says Dr Hasan. "The WHO advice confused a lot of people and many countries stayed away from using steroids due to risks of diminishing immune response."

Dr Merchant adds that, "The benefits of using steroids outweighs the risks. There is a risk that the immune system may go down and there is a possibility of delayed viral clearance from the body, but this is a risk worth taking if it saves lives."

Their work has now been published in the Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine following peer review. The other authors in the study included Toby Capstick, a consultant pharmacist on respiratory medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Syed Tabish Zaidi, Associate Professor in Pharmacy at the University of Leeds, Chia Siang Know, a clinical pharmacist from Malaysia, Faizan Mazhar, a researcher from Italy and Raees Ahmed, a consultant pulmonologist in Texas, USA.

The UK was among countries that steered away from using steroids until confirmed by a randomised controlled trial, but those that did not found using steroids helped to keep death rates from COVID-19 relatively low.

The UK is now using its stockpile of 200,000 doses of dexamethasone.

###
Linguistic anthropologists have observed that people all over the world perceive languages, and speakers of those different languages, as fundamentally different from one another. When people listen to others speech, they hear discrete categorical boundaries even when differences in speech exist along a continuum. Our minds, and not just our ears, perceive these differences: we think of language X as being fundamentally different from language Y. From there, it is not a big leap to think of groups of speakers as being essentially different from one another: speakers of X are fundamentally different from speakers of Y.

You might assume that people are unconsciously conflating language with culture. After all, if someone speaks French fluently, they most likely come from France, where they were raised immersed in French culture. If thats the case, peoples attitudes toward language could simply be a proxy for their attitudes toward perceived cultural differences across groups. But research suggests that peoples intuitions and misperceptions about the social life of language run much deeper than this, and manifest themselves in some surprising ways.

Indeed, people essentialize language. Psychological essentialism is the notion that particular groups of people are different because of some real, meaningful underlying essence that is present deep in their nature, and often biological in origin. So if you think that French speakers are fundamentally different from English speakers because of something about their essential nature or the biology they were born withrather than the situational or cultural variable of having lived and been exposed to French rather than Englishyou are using essentialist reasoning. This common but misleading mental habit shapes our thinking in many domains.



In the real world, as weve seen, children are born with the remarkable ability to learn languagesbut no child is born with the aptitude to speak any one in particular. Logically, speaking English rather than French, or Spanish rather than Japanese, could not possibly be codified in your DNA. It is rare to find an absolute truth in just about any field of study, but I will go out on a limb and say that if you are not exposed to French, there is about a zero percent chance that you will learn it.

But that doesnt put the kibosh on the strange intuition that speaking one language over another is somehow written into the genetic code. As Steven Pinker writes in his seminal book The Language Instinct, which examines humans remarkable language learning abilities, this belief is widespread but utterly false:

This folk myth is pervasive, like the claim of some French speakers that only those with Gallic blood can truly master the gender system, or the insistence of my Hebrew teacher that the assimilated Jewish students in his college classes innately outperformed their Gentile classmates. As far as the language instinct is concerned, the correlation between genes and languages is a coincidence. People store genes in their gonads and pass them to their children through their genitals; they store grammars in their brains and pass them to their children through their mouths.

Now, you might not need to be convinced that language is passed, as Pinker says, from peoples mouths, not their gonads. However, I have observed that even enlightened modern adults, young and old alike, sometimes think of others as defined by and linked to their native tongue, or to the native tongue of their biological forbears.

A colleague of mine is a psychology professor at a large university. In a particular class, she spends a day teaching about language acquisition, typically mentioning research on international adoptions, such as studies of Korean children adopted by French families, who grow up to speak French (and not Korean). She says it does not happen frequently, but every so often, a student will express surprise that an ethnically Asian child could learn French so well. When asked to explain their thinking, they offer the opinion that someone who is ethnically Asian would have an easier time learning a typically Asian language; French was better suited to white children. In truth, any child can learn any language; its just a matter of being exposed to it. But some adults hold the mistaken belief that something about your genes specifies which language it would be easier for you to learneven as a baby.

To give another example, a (white, Midwestern-accented) friend of mine recently told me the following story. Her cousin adopted twin African American girls, at age one and a half. The cousin had suffered from infertility for years and desperately wanted a baby; when the opportunity arose to have two at once, she was overjoyed. Fast-forward 11 years, and the girls are becoming adolescents. They are rebelling and finding their own footing, like adolescents everywhere. And their quest for self-definition has extended to their speech.

Recently, the twins mom shared, her daughters sounded different to her. As she struggled to articulate this idea, she mentioned to her cousin (my friend) that she thought they sounded Black. Trying to figure out why their speech had suddenly changed, she mused aloud. Perhaps their biological mom (whom she had never met) had spoken a dialect of African American English. Maybe the twins were exposed to this dialect early in life and it stuck, somehow. Or maybe it was transferred in utero, or inherited in their DNA? Could that be why, all of a sudden, it sounded like they were speaking differently?

Of course, the answer is that no dialect of English had been handed down in the girls DNA. This is simply impossible. Dialects (and all languages) are learned via linguistic exposure. For the twins, like for anyone, their changing speech must reflect changing conversations and social role models in their environment. Yet, you can see in the moms thinking linguistic essentialism, clear as day.

Studies of children provide some insight into adults puzzling intuitions about language and where those languages may come from. Some fascinating evidence suggests that children start out with a pretty naive theory, thinking that learning a specific language (such as French instead of English) comes from biology, not environment. Some adults may hold on to this childhood intuition, even after experience should have debunked it.

In one experiment that nicely demonstrated childrens thinking, Susan Gelman and Lawrence Hirschfeld gave Michigan preschoolers a switched at birth task. Children learned of two families the Smiths and the Joneses. One spoke English and the other Portuguese. Now, say the Smiths (the English speakers) have a baby, and the baby immediately goes to live with the Jones family (the Portuguese speakers). When that baby grows up and learns to talk, will she speak English or Portuguese?

You can see how this experiment cleverly pits childrens beliefs about nature and language against the concept of nurture and language. Does the hypothetical child grow up to speak the language of her birth parents, which would mean that language is biologically transferred? Or does she instead speak the language of her adoptive parents, which would mean that language is learned from the environment?

Five-year-old children chose the biological answer. Hearing these simple vignettes, they concluded that the hypothetical child would grow up to speak the language of her birth parents, though the child lacked exposure to that language. In jumping to this conclusion, these children are following in the footsteps of the Egyptian king in Herodotuss storythe ruler who thought that by rearing children in linguistic isolation, he could determine their true language. It seems that some adults may still hold on to this incorrect childhood intuition about where language comes fromand what this intuition represents.

Read the whole story: Scientific American
CHICAGO  Chicagos police superintendent defended his officers actions during weekend clashes with protesters, saying Monday that they acted professionally in the face of a concerted effort by those in the crowd trying to provoke a violent confrontation with them.

Video footage shows some in the crowd donning gas masks, changing clothes to hide their identities and putting up umbrellas, a tactic seen at recent protests that is meant to shield from view people throwing projectiles at officers, Superintendent David Brown told reporters.

From what I saw, they only took appropriate action when confronted with violence, he said.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot praised the departments response to Saturday evenings protest that turned into a violent clash between demonstrators and police officers, saying officers quelled the violence quickly to protect peaceful protesters.

But a number of activists and lawmakers have condemned the officers actions, saying the officers were the aggressors.

CPD pepper sprayed and beat up protesters, youth, and members of the press, Berto Aguayo, executive director for Increase the Peace, said in a statement released to news organizations. We demand an apology from the Chicago Police Department and the Mayors Office for violating our rights to peacefully assemble and for their abhorrent attacks on peaceful protesters.

Brown said police made 24 arrests and that four of those arrested were charged with felonies. Among the four were a 24-year-old man who was charged after he allegedly struck a uniformed officer with a bullhorn and a 25-year-old man who allegedly struck an officer with a skateboard. The other two were a 24-year-old woman who allegedly tried to steal a camera that had been pulled off an officers uniform during the protest and an 18-year-old college student who was charged with aggravated battery after she allegedly twice tried to grab the arm of a high-ranking member of the department.

Prior to Mondays news conference, the department released a video that showed a man striking an officer with a skateboard on Saturday. The move was part of a broader effort to get as many as people as possible to see what happened during the protest and during Aug. 10 looting in downtown Chicago.

The department, which created what it called a Looting Task Force, announced last week that it was posting videos in the hopes that people would recognize those who smashed store windows or made off with merchandise and other items.

One of the first videos posted was of two men breaking into an ATM with a hammer. That video led to the arrest of a local man who police say livestreamed the crime. Arron Neal, 20, has been charged with felony counts of criminal damage to property and burglary.

Police have been releasing a flurry of news releases that include photographs of people who took part in last weeks looting and mug shots of people who were arrested for allegedly doing so  a signal that the department is trying to make good on the mayors vow to track down and arrest those who take part in street violence.

In all, Brown said, tips from the public after those videos were posted have resulted in 11 arrests related to last weeks street violence and looting.

Between 6 p.m. Friday and midnight Sunday, 51 people were shot, including five fatally, in 38 shooting incidents Brown said, adding that four juveniles were shot but none of them was killed.

Meanwhile, the overall weekend violence in Chicago wasnt nearly as widespread as it had been during recent weekends.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials nabbed four persons for possessing narcotic substances. The officials seized 142.6 kg of Mephedrone worth Rs 28.52 crore, 31 kg of Ephedrine worth of Rs 3.1 crore and raw materials worth Rs 50 crore. On a tip-off, a consignment sent from Hyderabad was intercepted at Mumbai. The Mephedrone consignment was loaded in a private passenger bus as cargo. There was no one accompanying the cargo, to ensure that even if the consignment was caught, no individuals could be linked to it.

However, in a series of swift follow-up raids, the recipients of the consignment in Mumbai were identified and their premises including a drug manufacturing laboratory located in a residential premises was raided by DRI. The officials recovered Mephedrone and Ketamine ready to be distributed, in addition to samples of other psychotropic substances, clearly indicating a sophisticated distribution network both within the country and abroad as well.

In a three-day long operation held in Mumbai and Hyderabad, DRI officials seized a huge quantity of banned drugs. The mastermind was arrested in Hyderabad and two others were arrested in Mumbai. The mastermind is a past offender and was earlier arrested by the DRI in 2017 under the provisions of the NDPS Act.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Samir Ali  Trend:

Shortly after the transfer of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border control in Azerbaijans Gazakh and Aghstafa districts to the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, 89 border points meeting the latest standards and four complexes of military units were built and put into operation for border guards on the line of contact with Armenia, Chief of the State Border Service, Colonel General Elchin Guliyev said, Trend reports.

Work in one military unit and three border points is nearing completion, Guliyev noted.

In order to create favorable conditions of the service for repelling possible provocations of Armenia, organize safe service, and gain an advantage on the entire front line, comprehensive measures were taken within territories under the service's control. Measures are being continued to increase the combat capability of border points, to equip border guards with the most modern weapons, detection devices and other technical means, as well as to improve engineering work, the colonel general said.

Guliyev particularly noted the construction of roads leading to and between combat posts throughout the service area, the installation of protective barriers along the roads in order to ensure security, the provision of all border combat posts with special radio communications, the modernization of the line communication system and installation of hundreds of surveillance cameras and solar panels at the posts.

The provocations by Armenias armed units in the border zone, their repeated attempts to move their combat positions towards our state border were resolutely suppressed, said the colonel general.

Following retaliatory measures, many of our positions were relocated, which made it possible to increase the security of nearby settlements, main routes and personnel, to create new border combat posts in strategically advantageous directions. At the same time, the possibilities for observation over the enemy's settlements, its main routes and strategic objects were expanded, Guliyev said.

The chief of the service noted that for all the provocations of Armeniathat didnt refrain from using weapons against Azerbaijani border guards performing engineering work, Azerbaijani border guards gave a decent response; the firing points of the Armenian side were suppressed, the soldiers were destroyed.

"Securing the section of the state border with Armenia in the territories of Gazakh and Aghstafa districts by the State Border Service is an indicator of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's high confidence in the Azerbaijani border guards, ensuring the integrity of state borders and continuing the victorious march that began in Lalatapa," said the colonel general.

Our armed forces resolutely stopped the provocations carried out by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district along the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border on July 12; heroism of our soldiers and officers forced Armenian armed forces to retreat, incurring losses, Guliyev noted.

The rally of thousands of people in support of the Azerbaijani army and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on July 14 in Baku once again demonstrated the invincible will of the Azerbaijani people, their confidence in the president and national armed forces, the chief of the service stressed.

"The firm position of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the growing power of the Azerbaijani army and the fighting spirit of the Azerbaijani people will ensure the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the near future," added Guliyev.
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie slammed former Ohio governor John Kasich on Monday for his endorsement of Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention, calling him a backstabber and an untruthful guy.

A group of Republicans  which included Kasich, former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman, and former Representative Susan Molinari (N.Y.)  spoke at the DNC on Monday night in support of Biden. When asked on ABC News how big a threat Republican endorsements would be to President Donald Trump, Christie, a Republican, said Zero. Zero. Theyre absolutely meaningless, before zeroing in on Kasich, who was one of his opponents in the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

Just to show you where John Kasichs standing is in the Republican Party: When he was the only Republican governor left on the stage in 2016  Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich, [were] the three candidates left  do you know how many Republicans governors, of his colleagues, his sitting colleagues, endorsed John Kasich? Zero, Christie said.

And the reason they didnt endorse him is because hes a backstabber, and hes an untruthful guy. And so, tonight, Republicans are going to look at that and go, you can have him. Please, believe me, give us a break, get him out of our party, you take him for a little while, because on top of that, Ive worked with John a lot. Hes exhausting.

.@ChrisChristie torches Kasich: "Do you know how many Republican governors.endorsed him? Zero & the reason they didn't endorse him is b/c he's a backstabber & untruthful guy.Biden's going to be getting calls from John Kasich, he's going to want to change his phone number." pic.twitter.com/abHLm24TmH  Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 18, 2020

Joe Bidens going to be getting calls from John Kasich  hes going to want to change his phone number, Christie added with a laugh.

Story continues

President Trump tweeted his support of Christies remarks on Tuesday morning, saying, John Kasich did a bad job in Ohio, ran for President and was easy to beat, and now went to the other side desperate for relevance. Good Job by Chris C in exposing yet another loser!

Ahead of Kasichs speech at the conventions opening night, Trump had taken aim at the former Ohio governor, calling him a major loser, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

He was a loser as a Republican, and hell be a loser as a Democrat. Major loser as a Republican. I guess you can quote me on that. John was a loser as a Republican. Never even came close. And as a Democrat, hell be an even greater loser.

Kasich delivered a pre-recorded speech about the country being at a crossroads from an actual gravel crossroads.

Im a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country, Kasich said. Thats why Ive chosen to appear at this convention. In normal times, something like this would probably never happen, but these are not normal times.

He added, We can all see whats going on in our country today and all the questions that are facing us, and no one person or party has all the answers. But what we do know is that we can do better than what weve been seeing today, for sure. And I know that Joe Biden, with his experience and his wisdom and his decency, can bring us together to help us find that better way.

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A report claimed Facebook opposed applying hate speech rules to individuals liked to BJP even though they were flagged internally for promoting violence

New Delhi: Members of BJP on Monday rejected allegations that Facebook had chosen to turn a blind eye to partisan hate speech on its platform to protect its growing business interests in India.

As usage has spread across India, Facebook and its subsidiary WhatsApp have become fierce battlegrounds for Indias political parties, but BJP spokesmen denied a newspaper report that asserted Facebook officials chose not to take action against party members whose posts violated rules against hate speech.

The party members instead accused Facebook of censoring pro-India content.

Opposition Congress party lawmaker Shashi Tharoor said the information technology committee he heads in Parliament will take up the findings of the 14 August report in The Wall Street Journal. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of controlling Facebook and demanded a joint probe by Parliaments two houses.

The Wall Street Journal report said Facebook Indias head of public policy, Ankhi Das, opposed applying hate-speech rules to at least four individuals and groups linked with the BJP even though they were flagged internally for promoting or participating in violence.

Tejasvi Surya, a BJP lawmaker and a member of the parliamentary committee on IT, rejected the idea that Facebook was showing favoritism to the governing party, and instead charged it was censoring pro-India and pro-Hindu voices.

There are millions of posts mocking Hindu gods and abusing right-of-center leaders. But Facebooks advanced algorithms and community standards fail to catch them. However, unsuspecting common people running pro-right-of-center pages are suspended with no right to appeal, fellow BJP lawmaker Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore wrote in an op-ed in The Indian Express.

Facebook said in a statement Monday that it prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence and enforces these rules globally without regard to anyones political position or party affiliation.

Modis party leaders have come under scrutiny for running online campaigns laced with false claims or with vitriolic attacks on Indias minority Muslim population, posting videos or images that range from accusing Muslims of converting Hindu girls to Islam to intentionally spreading the coronavirus.

A 2019 analysis by Equality Labs, a South Asia research organisation, showed that groups sharing anti-Muslim content on Facebook were supporters of Modis party or were linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu nationalist paramilitary volunteer organisation and the ideological parent of the BJP.

The controversy comes as Facebook and Jio, Indias cheapest and most popular phone service provider, await a green light from Indias Supreme Court to roll out WhatsApp Pay, an e-commerce and digital payments platform poised to help the social media behemoth further penetrate Indias trillion-dollar digital market.

Facebook invested $5.7 billion in cash in Reliance Jio, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, whose chairman, Mukesh Ambani, is Indias richest man.

Theyre pandering to the ruling party in India because they see this as a good business opportunity. Theyre not concerned about the ethics of what is put out on Facebook. Theyre in it for making money, said political commentator Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, the author of a 2019 book on Facebook in India.

Since coming to power in 2014, Modis party has increasingly used Facebook to reach voters across India. The party has vastly outspent its main opposition, the Congress party, on social media ads.

Modi himself has a huge following on social media and has asked his partys grassroots operatives and leaders to be more active on Facebook.

BJP is far ahead of others in harnessing the power of modern communications, including social media. This is true of its presence not only on Facebook but other such platforms as well, party vice president Baijayant Panda said on Monday, pointing to a slew of video conferences and virtual rallies during Indias months-long coronavirus lockdown.

Panda and other BJP leaders said the allegation that Facebook was giving the governing party preferential treatment stemmed from the once-dominant Congress partys political misfortunes in recent years.

A whistleblower at controversial data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica said in 2018 that the Congress party was a client, prompting the BJP to accuse its rival of attempting to manipulate elections. The Congress party denied the whistleblowers allegation.

During Indias general elections in 2019, which the BJP won in a landslide, Facebook, Twitter and other social media giants were asked to adhere to the Indian Election Commissions Code of Conduct, including a ban on political ads during the 48-hour period before polling.

An Associated Press review of Facebooks ad library, however, showed that BJP-sponsored ads ran during the prohibited window in the regions where polling was scheduled. Congress-sponsored ads were taken down during the same period.

Panda said the BJP had not violated campaign rules.

It was unclear what, if anything, would come from the parliamentary IT committee review. Indian law explicitly bans hate speech, and Apar Gupta, executive director of the India Freedom Foundation, a digital rights advocacy group, said Indian courts could launch a criminal investigation into whether Facebook failed to act on known hate speech on their platform. Facebook could face penalties for noncompliance.
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a new regulation that would roll back health care protections for transgender people. Read more

WASHINGTON  A federal judge blocked the Trump administration on Monday from enforcing a new regulation that would roll back health care protections for transgender people.

Finalized days after the Supreme Court barred sex discrimination against LGBT individuals on the job, the regulation from the federal Department of Health and Human Services was to have taken effect Tuesday.

Monday's preliminary injunction from U.S. District Court Judge Frederic Block in Brooklyn bars the administration from enforcing the regulation until the case can be heard in court and decided. Block indicated he thought the Trump administration's so-called transgender rule is invalid in light of the Supreme Court ruling in June on a case involving similar issues in the context of job discrimination.

When the Supreme Court announces a major decision, it seems a sensible thing to pause and reflect on the decisions impact, Block wrote in his order, suggesting the agency may want to reconsider. Since HHS has been unwilling to take that path voluntarily, the court now imposes it.

The HHS health care rule was seen as a signal to President Donald Trump's social and religious conservative supporters that the administration remained squarely behind them after the shock of the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was nominated by Trump.

An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex," Gorsuch wrote. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what (civil rights law) forbids.

In a tweet, Trump called that horrible & politically charged and compared it to a shotgun blast in the faces of conservative Republicans.

The HHS rule sought to overturn Obama-era sex discrimination protections for transgender people in health care. Similar to the underlying issues in the job discrimination case before the Supreme Court, the health care rule rests on the idea that sex is determined by biology. The Obama-era version relied on a broader understanding shaped by a persons inner sense of being male, female, neither or a combination.

The lawsuit against the Trump administration rule was brought by an advocacy group, the Human Rights Campaign, on behalf of two transgender women. One of the plaintiffs is an Army veteran, and the other a writer and activist.

Judge Block dismissed as disingenuous arguments from HHS that its rule was legally valid, and he wrote that the agency acted arbitrarily and capriciously in enacting it.

HHS said it was disappointed by the judge's decision.

Block was nominated to the federal bench by former President Bill Clinton.
By AFP

KABUL: Several mortar shells slammed into various part of Kabul on Tuesday morning, wounding at least 10 civilians as Afghans marked their countrys Independence Day amid new uncertainties over the start of talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government.

No militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Interior Ministrys spokesman, Tariq Arian, said a total of 14 mortar shells were fired from two vehicles in the northern and eastern part of the Afghan capital. Four children were among the wounded.

Most of the mortar shells hit residential houses, Arian said, adding that an investigation is underway.

According to eyewitnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals, at least one mortar shell landed in the upscale Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood, where diplomats and senior government officials reside.

READ| Female member of Afghanistan peace team survives attack by gunmen

The attack came a day after the government said it would not release the last 320 Taliban prisoners it holds until the insurgents free more captured Afghan soldiers. The decision went against that of a traditional Afghan council held earlier this month  the Loya Jirga  and is likely to further delay intra-Afghan peace talks sought by the United States.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he wasn't aware of the mortar attack in Kabul. The Islamic State group's affiliate, which operates in Afghanistan, has interrupted national celebrations in the past with rocket fire.

Also on Tuesday morning, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani attended an Independence Day ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Kabul, inspecting an honour guard and laying flowers on the Independence Minaret monument there.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala University is prepping up to release the Kerala University UG allotment result soon. The admission window for Undergraduate Programmes for the 2020-21 session ended on August 17 and the university is expected to release the first seat allotment list on the official website, keralauniversity.ac.in anytime soon.

The registration for Kerala University UG admission 2020 started on July 21. The University also ran a trial allotment on August 12, 2020.

Kerala University is one of the top-ranked state universities in the Ministry of Human Resource Development's (MHRD) NIRF 2020 Ranking. The university runs a centralized allotment process for admission to UG courses in government, government-aided, self-financed colleges affiliated to the university.

Candidates who are allotted a seat in the first allotment list will be required to submit an admission fee online for confirmation of allotment and for rearranging or deleting higher options between August 18 and August 23, 2020.

The varsity is expected to release the second allotment list on August 24. Students, who are allotted seat in the second list will be required to submit the admission fee online, between August 24 and September 4, 2020. No further allotment lists will be released, as per the latest schedule.

In addition, the date of the reopening of college has not been released so far by the varsity.

Detailed information regarding Kerala University UG admission 2020 is available on the official website.
Beltone will set up three new subsidiaries in September, for financial leasing, consumer finance and venture capital, its CEO said.

Egyptian investment bank Beltone Financial Holding is diversifying into non-banking financial activities in a bid to return to profit in 2021, its CEO told Reuters on Tuesday.

The bank, one of Egypts biggest financial groups, will set up three new subsidiaries in September, for financial leasing, consumer finance and venture capital, CEO Ibrahim Karam said.

The financial leasing company will have an expected portfolio of 600 million Egyptian pounds ($37.78 million) within the first year of operations, while the consumer finance companys portfolio is expected to reach 400 million pounds in the first year, Karam said in an interview.

Beltone, controlled by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, had already obtained licences for the new companies this month, hired staff, set up offices and even agreed on some deals, he said.

The new companies, along with strengthening existing activities, will help us return to profit in 2021, Karam said.

The company said last year it was aiming for non-banking financial activities to contribute 30-40% of its revenues within three years.

Sawiris bought Beltone Financial in November 2015 for about 650 million pounds. The group, which has branches in Europe, the United States and the Middle East, now has 13 subsidiaries specialising in investment, asset management and securities.

Beltones consolidated losses shrank by about 52% in the second quarter of this year to 12.1 million pounds, from 25.2 million a year earlier.

In January, Beltone said that it plans to sell its 60% stake in New York-based brokerage Auerbach Grayson & Company to help stem losses. It bought the stake in 2016.

Asked when he expects Beltones exit from Auerbach Grayson, Karam said: We are waiting for the regulatory authorities there to approve the deal, but we have concluded an agreement with a buyer and signed contracts.

He didnt disclose the identity of the buyer but said the investor was not from a Gulf country.

$1 = 15.8800 Egyptian pounds

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WHITE TOO LONG

The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity

By Robert P. Jones

In 1968, James Baldwin wrote in The New York Times: I will flatly say that the bulk of this countrys white population impresses me, and has so impressed me for a very long time, as being beyond any conceivable hope of moral rehabilitation. They have been white, if I may so put it, too long. Robert P. Jones, who leads the Public Religion Research Institute, a polling firm focused on the intersection of politics and religion, draws on Baldwins quote for the title of his book White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity. Jones calls on his fellow white Christians to extricate themselves from what he asserts has defined their religion for too long: the imagined superiority of white people and anti-Black racism as its inevitable corollary.

Jones sets out to prove that American Christianitys theological core has been thoroughly structured by an interest in protecting white supremacy. According to him, white Christianity has not merely been a passive bystander in the construction of this nations racial caste system, it has been the primary cultural and religious institution creating, promoting and preserving it.

Jones builds his case with evidence, drawing on an eclectic blend of history, theology, sociology and memoir. His use of autobiography works especially well. Before the cascade of data can turn his narrative into a detached analysts clinical dissection of the problem, Jones gets personal, writing about his familys slave-owning ancestors or his own teenage years sporting the Confederate battle flag on his cars license plate.
Some refuse to be good citizens

Boos to the visitors to Lake George who refuse to wear masks on crowded sidewalks and into shops. If you want to avoid the basic human consideration of wearing a mask, you can do that without endangering other people by staying home. Think of it like putting on clothes  if you cant be bothered, you should remain in the house. The difference is, no one is going to be permanently injured by seeing you in your underwear (although they may never get the image out of their heads,) but spreading COVID-19 can lead to serious sickness, a lifelong struggle with compromised health and, in far too many cases, death. Even worse than the bare-faced selfishness of the anti-maskers is the unjustified antagonism of those who, when asked to put on a mask, get in the faces of the askers. Shop owners in Lake George report that some customers have coughed in their faces after the request was made. This should be a crime, equivalent to shoving or slapping someone. It was not a surprise that, when our reporter questioned several different people on the sidewalks of Lake George about their reasons for going without masks, they had nothing to say. That is because there is no good reason for failing to take this simple preventative step.

Event organizer commits to safety

Bravos to Eric Unkauf, organizer of the Food Truck Corral at the Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, who closed his popular event for a week after city officials raised questions about its safety, then reopened it a week later with some changes in crowd control and social distancing. Unkauf took the responsible course of, first, making sure the event was allowed under state guidelines; and, second, doing everything he could to keep it safe. The food trucks park outside the Shirt Factory, and customers either take their meals home or eat at picnic tables on the lawn. Unkauf has installed partitions on the tables so that each group of customers is separated and put up signs to remind people to wear masks and keep a safe distance from each other. Its tricky to strike the right balance between behaving safely and continuing to live and work and conduct business. Its particularly tricky when the degree of danger is difficult to measure. Were lucky in New York, for the time being, that our rate of infection is low and so we can feel relatively safe. But its our efforts in keeping our guard up that have given us this luxury. We may have to keep up those efforts for a long time to come.

It's time to support the Postal Service

Bravos to local demonstrators who rallied last week in front of the post office in Glens Falls to express their support for this critical national institution. We have seen one important institution after another, from our national intelligence services to our criminal justice system, attacked by President Trump and his allies. They have undermined faith in the systems that keep the country running, and with corrupt purpose, harmed their functioning. Now, with an election just a few months away, the Trump administration is attacking our mail delivery, specifically because he wants to curtail mail-in voting. Voting by mail has been done in this country for generations, and several states now use it as their primary avenue for casting votes. It is safe and secure, but Trump is making it less so, intentionally, by cutting funding for the U.S. Postal Service  even going so far as to remove mail sorting machines from post offices around the country. If he is allowed to continue this assault on the Postal Service, the result could be a chaotic election, with votes invalidated and vote counts delayed because of a lack of resources. Throwing the election into chaos could be a way for Trump to cling to office, even after a vote he has lost. If he manages to undermine the process to such an extent he can declare the election invalid, we will experience a power struggle and constitutional crisis, and if he succeeds at staying in office in that illegitimate fashion, we will have crossed the line into autocracy. If youre worried about that, the time to protest is now.

Grasso still has a conflict of interest

Boos to Warren County Republican Party Chairman Mike Grasso for saying its silly to criticize his appointment to the county Industrial Development Agency as political. Every member of the IDA could be questioned about their political leaning, he said. But the problem isnt that he belongs to the Republican Party. The problem is, hes the chairman of the party in Warren County, which means he raises money for GOP candidates and is instrumental in choosing who the party endorses. Its entirely inappropriate for someone who thrives on making political connections and doing political favors to serve on a board responsible for granting tax breaks to businesses. Its possible that business owners and entrepreneurs who have given money to the GOP at Grassos urging  or have refused  will come to the IDA, looking for assistance. Grasso himself seems to have recognized the conflict of interest, because he recently pledged to step down from as GOP chairman after the November election. Thats a good start, but he still shouldnt be on the IDA board until a reasonable time has passed since his resignation from the party chairmanship. A year would be about right.

Local editorials represent the opinion of the Post-Star editorial board, which consists of Publisher Brian Corcoran, Projects Editor Will Doolittle and Local News Editor Bob Condon.

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Eight drinkers have now tested positive for coronavirus after a working men's club shut its doors - with other customers now urged to self-isolate.

Those who visited the Empire Club in Stanley, County Durham between August 9 and 11 should self-isolate for 14 days from the date of their visit, authorities say.

Council staff have been working with Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace since the first suspected cases came to light over the weekend.

Visitors to the Empire Club are advised to take a coronavirus test if they have any Covid-19 symptoms and to continue to self-isolate regardless of the result.

The working men's club has been ordered shut by PHE while three others in Stanley closed of their own accord after they were linked to virus cases.

Those who visited the Empire Club in Stanley, County Durham (pictured) between August 9 and 11 should self-isolate for 14 days from the date of their visit, authorities say

The Phoenix Club, The Ball Alley and East Stanley Working Men's Club all closed to customers over the weekend.

It is understood a customer who tested positive for Covid-19 visited both the Empire Club and the East Stanley Working Men's Club over the three-day period.

Announcing its closure on Saturday, a spokesman for the Ball Alley said: 'It has come to our attention that one of our regular customers has tested positive for coronavirus, with no symptoms.

'Those that have been in close contact have been informed.

'Due to this information we have taken the difficult decision to close down the pub for a deep clean and so we can all be tested. Therefore the pub will be closed until further notice.'

A spokesman for the Phoenix Club said: 'Due to a customer testing positive we are going to close the club and get it deep cleaned before reopening.'

Amanda Healy, director of public health for County Durham, said: 'It is really important that anyone who visited the Stanley Empire Club on 9, 10 and 11 August self-isolate for 14 days from the date of their visit, along with the rest of their household, to reduce the risk of onward transmission.

'We are also encouraging anyone who visited the club who has symptoms to book a coronavirus test as well.

'However, it is crucial that even if they get a negative result they continue to self-isolate for 14 days as symptoms can take up to 14 days to develop.

'A negative test today can be a positive test tomorrow.'

The Phoenix Club, The Ball Alley and East Stanley Working Men's Club (pictured) also closed to customers over the weekend

Ms Healy added: 'We would like to thank people in Stanley for working with us in recent days, in particular the Empire Club and other venues.

'Local residents have really helped us raise awareness of the need for anyone who visited the club to self-isolate along with the rest of their household and we know of people who are following this advice as a result.

'It is really important that we all do everything we can to reduce further transmission for the benefit of people's health and also the local economy in terms of ensuring residents and businesses do not need to undergo any form of local lockdown.'

A community awareness programme has been launched in Stanley with posters to share messages to those who visited the club, reminders of how to stay safe during the pandemic as well as advice and guidance for local businesses about keeping staff and customers safe.

Ms Healy said: 'It is vital to remember that the power to protect our loved ones, friends and neighbours lies in all of our hands.

'If we all follow the simple steps of Hands, Face, Space - washing our hands often for 20 seconds, covering our face in public buildings and staying two metres apart when possible - then we will all be doing our bit to halt the spread of this virus.

'Coronavirus could hit any of us, but by working together to stay safe we can limit its impact.'
The People's National Convention (PNC) will today (August 18) finalise modalities for the election of its national executives and flagbearer ahead of the 2020 elections.



The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PNC which comprises regional secretaries, regional chairmen, all national executives, nominees of the party leadership and founding members of the party will decide among others how much will be paid in filing fees by flagbearer hopefuls at the meeting scheduled for the University of Development Studies (UDS) Guest House Conference Hall in Accra.



Also on the agenda of the meeting will be the dates for the opening of nominations, regional elections, vetting of all aspirants and a time-table for its activities leading up to the 2020 Elections.



PNC is not late



Reacting to concerns that the party was in a race against time with regards to naming its flagbearer, the PNC Chairman, Mr Bernard Mornah said the party's timing was not a novelty in the history of Ghanaian politics.



"Tomorrow, we are hopeful that we will be able to set a date for our national delegates congress taking into cognisance that regional congresses will have to be done before," Mr Mornah said in an interview with the GraphicOnline.



"I keep insisting that, there is nothing like we are late. In 2012, for instance, President Atta Mills died on the 24th of July, It took us nearly a month to perform his funeral. The NDC after that still went ahead to do their primaries and John Mahama came out and won the Presidential elections in barely two months".



He said the National Delegates Conference of the party has been fixed tentatively for September 26th by which time all regional and constituency conferences would have been completed.



Proposals



He said the NEC would also consider a proposal for the National Delegates Conference to be held simultaneously in the 16 regional capitals of the country in compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocols.



"Our national delegates are nearly about 4,200 persons and the COVID protocols will not permit a gathering of that number and so we are going to propose at the NEC that we decentralise the National Delegates Conference so that it will take place in the 16 regional capitals of our country in a simple process".



Flagbearer race



Mr Mornah also disclosed that five persons have indicated their readiness to contest for the PNC flagbearer slot. They include Reverend Samuel Adjei-Debrah, Mr Aasaki Samson Awingobit, Mr Emmanuel Anyidoho, a vice presidential running mate of the party in 2016, and former PNC Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Mr David Apasara.



He said Professor George Agbango, who is based in the United States had fallen-out because of the restrictions on travel which have been imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.



Other National Executive Positions



Mr Mornah also disclosed that there are a total of 23 roles which will be vied for at the National Delegates Conference of the party.



The roles which are for substantive officers and their deputies including National Chairman and three vice chairmen, General Secretary and two deputies, National Treasurer and two deputies, Communications Secretary and two deputies, Women's Organiser and a Youth Organiser.





Source: Graphic.com.gh









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Beyond the state of the political parties is the state of the country. I came of age as a conservative when the great domestic issue of our time was the size and reach of the federal government. Under Trump, Republicans are hardly better than Democrats on that issue, and in many respects worse. Federal debt as a percentage of gross domestic product has never been higher since World War II. The gap between government spending and federal revenue has rarely been wider. What, Me Worry? says Alfred E. Trump.

But the domestic issue of our time is not the size of government. Its the unity of the country. We are living through the most serious social unrest in 50 years. We have a president who sparks division by nature and stokes it by design.

Part of the country believes the government conspires against them. Another part believes history has conspired against them. The idea that these beliefs wont get further radicalized in a second Trump administration is fantasy.

Whatever else he does, Biden wont expend his political capital belittling, demeaning and humiliating other Americans. He wont treat opponents as enemies, or subordinates as toadies, or take supporters for fools. Joe Biden is the Democratic equivalent of George H.W. Bush  another ambitious vice president who believed in loyalty and decency more than in any particular set of ideas. History remembers the senior Bushs presidency well.

I also came of age as a conservative when the great foreign policy issue of the time was the survival and unity of what used to be called the free world. That was a world that believed in more-open borders, more free trade, greater unity among the democratic powers, greater resolve against the totalitarian powers of the day.

Whether its in his love letters with Kim Jong-un, his scorn for NATO, his asperity toward Angela Merkel, his credulity with Vladimir Putin, his undermining of the alliance with South Korea or his fire and flattery with Beijing, Trump is wrecking the idea of a free world, and of the possibility of Americas leadership of it. Conservatives used to care about this. They still should.

To be a Biden conservative isnt easy. Its about upholding your principles at the expense of your politics, and embracing mediocrity to ward off malevolence. Above all, its about curbing your enthusiasm. If that isnt conservative, what is?

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
Bengaluru ophthalmologist accused of furthering ISIS cause arrested by NIA

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 18: Abdur Rahman, an ophthalmologist working in Bengaluru has been arrested in connection with an Islamic State Khorasan Province Case has been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

He is a resident of Basavangudi, Bengaluru and is working as an Ophthalmologist at M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, the NIA said in a note.

M S Ramaiah however said in a statement that Rehman was a post-graduate student in the department of ophthalmology in the college. "According to our records, he passed his MBBS from the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute in the year 2014 and was admitted to our college in 2017 under the government quota through allotment from the Karnataka Examinations Authority. He completed his MS Ophthalmology during the examinations conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Health Sciences in the month of July 2020. The college is not ware of his activities outside the campus," M S Ramaiah Medical College said in a statement.

ISIS selling PPE kits amidst pandemic to raise funds for terror

This case was initially registered by Delhi Police Special Cell in March, 2020, after the arrest of a Kashmiri couple Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh from Okhla Vihar, Jamia Nagar in Delhi.

The couple was found to be having affiliations with ISKP, which is a banned terrorist organisation and is a part of ISIS and were found to be involved in subversive and anti-national activities. They were also found to be in touch with Abdullah Basith, who was already lodged in Tihar jail in another NIA case.

During further investigation, NIA arrested two more accused Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri, both residents of Pune, for being part of the conspiracy to further the activities of ISIS/ISKP in India and to carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.

6 ISIS terrorists who used ICT to scout for recruits and establish Caliphate held guilty

During interrogation, arrested accused Abdur Rahman confessed that he was conspiring with accused Jahanzaib Sami and other Syria-based ISIS operatives on secure messaging platforms to further ISIS activities. He was in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured ISIS cadres in the conflict-zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of ISIS fighters.

He had visited an ISIS medical camp in Syria in early 2014 for treatment of ISIS terrorists and stayed with Islamic State operatives for 10 days and returned to India.

After arresting him, NIA carried out searches at 3 premises belonging to him in Bangalore with the assistance of Karnataka Police and seized digital devices, mobile phone, laptop containing incriminating material.
In this Feb. 14, 2005 file photo former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, left, Parliament member Marwan Hamadeh and Bahiyah Hariri, sister of President Hariri, are pictured during a meeting at the Parliament in Beirut. (AP file photo)

Beirut: The death of Rafic Hariri is to many Lebanese what the JFK assassination was to Americans four decades earlier -- everybody remembers what they were doing when the news broke.

On Valentine's Day 2005, the former prime minister who embodied the reconstruction of the country after its 1975-1990 civil war was killed in a monster bomb attack on his convoy.

The blast unleashed a ball of fire in the hotel quarter of downtown Beirut, shooting debris into the sky and shattering windows in a radius of nearly half a kilometre (500 yards).

A suicide bomber in a white Mitsubishi truck packed with two tonnes of a potent military explosive called RDX had strategically positioned himself, waiting for Hariri's motorcade.

He detonated his charge at 12:55 pm, a split second after the passage of the third car in the convoy, a Mercedes S600 that Hariri was driving himself.

The whole of Beirut heard or felt the blast. Many thought an earthquake had struck. The smouldering crater dug by the explosion was 10 metres (yards) across.

One body was found 17 days after the blast, such was the devastation caused by the attack that left 226 people wounded.

The country soon found out that among the 22 dead was the man whose stature at home and abroad had earned him the nickname of "Mr Lebanon".

The unthinkable had just happened.

Hariri was no longer prime minister at the time but still very much the country's towering political figure and widely tipped to reclaim the job in upcoming polls.

The assassination was not entirely a surprise, however, and there had been warnings since Hariri had cast himself as the spearhead of a drive to end Syria's occupation of Lebanon.

Earlier in February that year, his friend then French president Jacques Chirac and then UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen had implored Hariri to lay low.

Among other foreboding signs, his friend and former cabinet minister Marwan Hamade had narrowly survived a similar attack on his convoy in October 2004.

Fifteen years after the end of the civil war, Hariri's assassination became the watershed in Lebanon's post-conflict history.

The public backlash over his murder precipitated the departure of Syrian forces that had occupied the country for three decades.

That in turn gave Hezbollah, a key suspect in the assassination of the Sunni Muslim leader, a chance to grow and fill the vacuum.

The Shiite movement is an organisation whose firepower rivals that of the Lebanese military and it has since evolved to also dominate the country's political life.

Some of the buildings left standing in the seaside area where the February 14 bomb went off still bear the marks of the explosion.

Hariri's supporters continue to visit the site, where a statue of the portly slain leader was erected.
There was fresh confusion today over when exactly thousands of pupils sitting GCSEs will receive their grades.

The Department for Education last night said that schools and college students would receive their 'centre assessment grades' on Thursday, the day they should have received them if they had sat exams.

But at the same time, the DfE said that 'official results will be released to students next week'.

It comes after yesterday's humiliating U-turn over exam grades, with a 'standardisation' system scrapped after complaints that it unfairly penalised high achievers from poor backgrounds.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson then appeared to muddy the water further on BBC Breakfast this morning, when he said students would get their highest grade on Tursday and 'certification' next week.

However, official GCSE certificates are not usually sent out for several weeks after the grades are revealed, School Week reported.

Shadow education secretary Kate Green said: 'Only a day after the Government were dragged in to a screeching U-turn, we have seen fresh confusion on what will happen to young people in the days ahead.

Gavin Williamson, pictured in Whitehall today, repeatedly refused to say whether he had offered his resignation to Boris Johnson over the A-level results debacle

A level students celebrate outside the Department for Education in London after it was confirmed that candidates in England will be given grades estimated by their teachers, rather than by an algorithm

A jazz-loving ex-journalist who flunked his A-Levels and a career civil servant with no previous education experience: The people running the exam regulator Ofqual Roger Taylor was the senior figure who first apologised for the A-Level fiasco yesterday. But the Ofqual chairman did not mention that he too suffered underwhelming A-Level results - albeit through his own lack of hard work. He and chief executive/chief regulator Sally Collier have been thrust into the firing line amid the fury over the exam grades handed out to students. But neither of them can boast a long career in education. Roger Taylor Sally Collier Former Financial Times journalist-turned businessman Mr Taylor has been in the post since 2016. Last year he told the Times Education Supplement that 'lack of application' among other issues saw him flunk A-Levels including Latin and Greek at the 39,000-per year private King's School in Canterbury. But he was handed a reprieve when he was handed a place at Oxford anyway, after passing its entry exam. After leaving the FT in 2000 he set up Dr Foster, which produced a guide to hospitals based on death rates. The Department of Health brought a 12million stake and he later sold it. Before becoming Ofqual chairman he sat on its audit and risk assurance committee. Last year he led a study which warned that algorithms had the potential to cause 'real harm'. The study was carried out by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), which he ran. Ms Collier has spent her entire career within the public sector. Before joining Ofqual in April 2016 she worked as chief executive of the Crown Commercial Service, managing director of the Government Procurement Service and director of procurement policy and capability at the Cabinet Office. In her first speech in post she told the audience: 'I have been in office eight weeks ... and most of you in the room have probably been in this sector a lifetime or parts of lifetime ... 'Many of you will know I dont come from the education sector; I was a CEO of a large commercial buying organisation, of which there are more similarities than you might think actually.' And the 200,000-per year executive wrote an open letter to students, parents and teachers in April, saying: 'Please be reassured that the grades you get this summer will look exactly the same as in previous years, and they will have equal status with universities, colleges and employers, to help you move forward in your lives.' Advertisement

'The repeated incompetence of the Education Secretary and this government are creating confusion and unease for a generation of young people and their families. If young people do not know all of their grades they could be concerned about losing college and apprenticeship places. This is not acceptable.

'It is time for him to provide immediate clarity, and ensure that young people receive all of their grades on Thursday.'

Mr Williamson was facing heated calls to resign today over the English exams fiasco.

The Education Secretary said this morning he first became fully aware of the extent of the problems with the grading system at the weekend.

But the Education Select Committee warned last month that the proposed method of using an algorithm to calculate grades could cause 'significant problems' and 'might hurt the disadvantaged'.

MPs are now demanding to see Department for Education minutes from official meetings to see exactly when ministers became aware of potential problems.

Mr Williamson yesterday announced a humiliating U-turn as the Government said grades will now be based on teachers' assessments rather than the controversial algorithm developed by regulator Ofqual.

The algorithm resulted in almost 40 per cent of grades issued being lower than teacher predictions, prompting widespread pupil and parent anger.

One Tory MP told the Telegraph the 'vultures are circling' but the Education Secretary is a 'master of finding someone else to chuck under a bus'.

Mr Williamson has attempted to deflect the blame for the situation onto Ofqual as he said the Government had been assured that the algorithm 'would stand scrutiny' and that the regulator 'didn't deliver'.

Meanwhile, he also appeared to hint that the regulator's boss, Sally Collier, could be made to carry the can for the debacle as he failed to express confidence in her performance.

Mr Williamson has apologised for the 'distress' caused by the the situation as tens of thousands of pupils face an uncertain future with universities now trying to find them places on courses which could already be at capacity.

The Education Secretary said this morning he was 'incredibly sorry' but repeatedly refused to say whether he had offered his resignation to Boris Johnson.

His attempt to defend his handling of the A-level results chaos was at risk of unravelling today after it emerged a committee of MPs had raised the alarm in July.

The Education Secretary said this morning he first became fully aware of the extent of the problems with the grading system at the weekend.

But the Education Select Committee warned last month that the proposed method of using an algorithm to calculate grades could cause 'significant problems' and 'might hurt the disadvantaged'.

MPs are now demanding to see Department for Education minutes from official meetings to see exactly when ministers became aware of potential problems.

Mr Williamson yesterday announced a humiliating U-turn as the Government said grades will now be based on teachers' assessments rather than the controversial algorithm developed by regulator Ofqual.

The algorithm resulted in almost 40 per cent of grades issued being lower than teacher predictions, prompting widespread pupil and parent anger.

Mr Williamson has insisted he intends to stay on as Education Secretary long into the future despite growing calls for him to quit over the fiasco.

One Tory MP told the Telegraph the 'vultures are circling' but the Education Secretary is a 'master of finding someone else to chuck under a bus'.

Mr Williamson has attempted to deflect the blame for the situation onto Ofqual as he said the Government had been assured that the algorithm 'would stand scrutiny' and that the regulator 'didn't deliver'.

It comes after yesterday's humiliating U-turn over exam grades, with a 'standardisation' system scrapped after complaints that it unfairly penalised high achievers from poor backgrounds

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson then appeared to muddy the water further on BBC Breakfast this morning, when he said students would get their highest grade on Tursday and 'certification' next week

However, official GCSE certificates are not usually sent out for several weeks after the grades are revealed, School Week reported

Meanwhile, he also appeared to hint that the regulator's boss, Sally Collier, could be made to carry the can for the debacle as he failed to express confidence in her performance.

Mr Williamson has apologised for the 'distress' caused by the the situation as tens of thousands of pupils face an uncertain future with universities now trying to find them places on courses which could already be at capacity.

The Education Secretary said this morning he was 'incredibly sorry' but repeatedly refused to say whether he had offered his resignation to Boris Johnson.

But signalling his intention to dig in amid mounting calls for him to resign, Mr Williamson said he is 'absolutely determined over the coming year that I am going to be delivering the world's best education system'.

Government sources said Mr Johnson values loyalty and that Mr Williamson has been with the PM 'from the start'. Many Tory MPs therefore believe that Mr Johnson will not be 'bounced' into getting rid of the Cabinet minister.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the A-Level results row 'sums up' the Government's 'incompetent' handling of the coronavirus pandemic. 'At a time of national emergency, this is no way to run a country,' he wrote in The Mirror.

Yesterday's change in tack also applies to GCSE results - due to be released on Thursday - with pupils now set to be awarded either their algorithm-adjusted or teacher estimated grades, whichever are higher.
Earlier this month, the National Rifle Association was sued by the New York attorney general, who is seeking to dissolve the organization and said top executives had looted it. Now the N.R.A., which has faced two years of turmoil and infighting, is confronting a new adversary from within its own senior ranks.

Josh Powell, one of the groups highest-ranking former executives, is poised to release Inside the NRA: A Tell-All Account of Corruption, Greed and Paranoia Within the Most Powerful Political Group in America. Mr. Powell, former chief of staff to Wayne LaPierre, the groups longtime chief executive, says the N.R.A. is rife with fraud and corruption and writes that its finances are in shambles, and that it has operated in the red for the past three years, despite annual revenues of roughly $350 million.

The book, to be published Sept. 8 by Twelve, a division of Hachette Book Group, will arrive as Mr. LaPierre and the N.R.A. are fighting for their survival.

Both Mr. LaPierre and Mr. Powell, who for a time was seen as the N.R.A.s de facto second-in-command, are named defendants in the suit brought by the attorney general, Letitia James, who has special jurisdiction because the N.R.A. was founded in New York. Beyond aiming to shut down the gun group, the suit seeks to remove Mr. LaPierre  who is accused of using millions of dollars of N.R.A. money to fund an extravagant lifestyle  and to bar both him and Mr. Powell from serving on nonprofit boards in the state.
Elon Musk has now become the fourth richest in the world after Tesla shares rose 11 per cent on Monday, closing at an all time high. Following this, Musk's net worth increased to $84.8 billion after gains of $7.78 billion in a single day, making him the wealthiest non-American on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The co-founder of Tesla went past French luxury tycoon Bernard Arnault ($84.6 billion) and Mukesh Ambani ($78.8 billion) on the index.

Only Mark Zuckerberg ($99 billion), Bill Gates ($121 billion) and Jeff Bezos ($188 billion) are ahead of him on the list of the world's 500 richest people. Musk's net worth has grown by $57.2 billion in 2020, a year marked with coronavirus induced hardships.

So far this year, shares of Tesla have surged 339 per cent, largely on account of the surging anticipation that the firm will be included in the S&P 500 Index. Amazon's Jeff Bezos has gained the most - $73 billion - this year.

Known to be part of various controversies, the outspoken tech entrepreneur's Wikipedia page recently got blocked after the multi-billionaire encouraged his fans to "trash" him on the website. Musk on Sunday tweeted, "History is written by the victors...except on Wikipedia".

In a follow-up tweet, he requested his followers "Please trash me on Wikipedia, I'm begging you". Thereafter, innumerable followers responded to the SpaceX CEO and shared their edits. This is not the first time Musk has mentioned Wikipedia on Twitter. Earlier, he expressed disappointment with the site and its accuracy, especially regarding him.

Also read: Elon Musk donates 10 lakh trees as part of viral challenge

Also read: Open to supplying batteries to other auto manufacturers: Tesla CEO Elon Musk
A US military report has claimed that North Korea has up to 60 nuclear bombs and 5,000 tons of chemical weapons.

In the report, entitled 'North Korean tactics', which was published last month, the US Army said it was unlikely the country would ever give up its stockpile, adding it uses them as a deterrent to countries seeking regime change.

'Estimates for North Korean nuclear weapons range from 20-60 bombs, with the capability to produce 6 new devices each year,' the report states, adding that other estimates suggest they could obtain up to 100 nuclear bombs by the end of 2020.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a ruling party meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea last Thursday

'North Korea sought nuclear weapons because its leaders thought the threat of a nuclear attack would prevent other countries from contemplating a regime change,' according to the report.

The US army predicts the regime possesses the third-largest haul of chemical agents, globally, which it estimates at between 2,500-5,000 tons. The army believes that in a conflict situation, it's 'highly likely' that North Korea would use chemical artillery shells, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The US is also concerned that Kim Jong Un's regime may have weaponised anthrax or smallpox, noting that if affixed to a missile and launched at Seoul, just one kilogram (2.2lb) of anthrax could kill 50,000 people.

The report also adds that North Korea has developed it cyber warfare abilities, managing over 6,000 hackers, many of whom are based overseas.

'North Korea can successfully conduct invasive computer warfare activities from the safety of its own territory,' the report said.

The US is also concerned that Kim Jong Un's regime may have weaponised anthrax or smallpox, noting that if affixed to a missile and launched at Seoul, just one kilogram (2.2lb) of anthrax could kill 50,000 people. (File photo of a North Korean missile launch)

'It has the distributed ability to reach targeted computers anywhere in the world, as long as they are connected to the Internet.'

A leaked UN report earlier this month warned that North Korea has probably developed nuclear warheads small enough to be fitted on to its ballistic missiles.

Security services from several countries warned the UN Security Council in early August that the Hermit Kingdom has likely overcome the technical hurdle, one of the key steps in developing a viable long-range nuclear weapon.

The countries, which were not named in the report, said North Korea is continuing to develop its nuclear capabilities - despite a hiatus in testing that was agreed by Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump in now-stalled nuclear talks.

North Korea has not tested a nuclear device or long-range missile since 2017, when it declared it had completed its race for 'The Bomb' - despite international skepticism.

That year, Kim oversaw the launch of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile, which is capable of ranging the entirety of the mainland United States.

The North is also thought to have tested a thermonuclear bomb at its underground testing site, that was so powerful it caused the mountain above to partially collapse.

Experts warned at the time that Kim only needed to miniaturise the bomb so it could be fitted to the missile, and then develop technology to land it precisely on a target in order to have a weapon capable of threatening the US.

The interim report, seen by Reuters, was submitted to the 15-member UN Security Council North Korea sanctions committee.

'The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is continuing its nuclear program, including the production of highly enriched uranium and construction of an experimental light water reactor,' the report said.

'A Member State assessed that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is continuing production of nuclear weapons.'
CHICAGO, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE: ODC), a leading manufacturer of sorbent minerals, parent company to Amlan International, announces that the European Patent Office has issued Patent EP 2906238. The patent covers the unique formulation of two existing mineral-based natural feed additives, Varium for poultry and NeoPrime for swine, that are helping global animal protein producers thrive in an era of antibiotic-free production.



This patent will be validated in Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Turkey, bringing the total number of countries to 12 that have issued patent protection for the mineral-based formula. Earlier this year, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for the formulations featured in Varium and NeoPrime. China issued a similar patent in 2018.

The EU patent provides a methodology for using a natural, mineral-based formula to mitigate the effects of exposure to pathogenic bacteria and the disease-causing toxins they produce, which damage gut health and function. Advancements in natural feed additives are helping to transform animal protein production by providing proven and reliable alternatives to in-feed antibiotics used to promote growth and productivity.

"Oil-Dri's European patent is another indicator for leading producers and the food industry that mineral-based antibiotic alternatives can be a value-add to ABF protein production," said Daniel S. Jaffee, President and CEO of Oil-Dri Corporation of America. "We're proud to be on the leading edge of advancements in natural feed additives that are helping to transform animal protein production by providing proven and reliable alternatives to in-feed antibiotics used to promote growth and productivity."

"Feedback on Varium from partners in the animal health industry has been incredibly positive," says Flemming L. Mahs, President of Amlan International. "Poultry producers and veterinarians report improved skin quality, fewer incidences of foot pad lesions and lower mortality rates during transport after incorporating Varium into feed rations. We are excited to see the industry recognize the animal health benefits of Varium and NeoPrime, and we will continue to work toward innovative solutions for livestock and poultry producers worldwide."

Mineral-Based Technology

Unlike antibiotics, which are designed to kill bacteria, the patented technology includes a synergistic formula of three ingredients with distinct modes of action: (1) a surface-activated mineral that facilitates chemical binding of pathogenic intestinal bacteria and the disease-causing toxins they produce, (2) an immunomodulator that stimulates an animal's innate immune system to naturally defend against disease and (3) an energy source to replenish intestinal epithelial cells that are essential for healthy gut function. Producers have substituted this patented technology for other AGP alternatives and improved growth and efficiency.

Amlan International

Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE: ODC), a Delaware corporation doing business as "Amlan International," is a global leader in proven solutions that improve the intestinal health and productivity of livestock. Amlan has grown its product offering across the intestinal health and AGP-alternative market, driven largely by the research conducted at its laboratory campus in Vernon Hills, Illinois.

Amlan International sells animal health products outside of the United States. Product associated claims do not constitute medical claims and may differ based on government requirements. Product availability may vary by country.

Reagan Culbertson

Media Contact

press@amlan.com
AMSTERDAM, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Judges at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Tuesday convicted the lead suspect in the 2005 bombing that killed former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Reading a summary of a 2,600 page decision, Judge David Re said Salim Jamil Ayyash had been found guilty of homicide and committing a terrorist act over the deaths of Hariri and 21 others. (Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; editing by John Stonestreet)
RAYMOND  A Kenosha man allegedly drove into the side of a tavern and was charged with his 4th OWI.

Christopher A. Stanton, 46, of the 7700 block of 10th Avenue, was charged with a felony count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, his fourth offense.

According to a criminal complaint:

At about 9:49 p.m. Sunday, an officer was dispatched to Lady Luck Tavern, 2650 Thelen Court, in reference to an accident. Dispatchers said that a witness saw a white Cadillac strike the side of the tavern and the driver was still inside the vehicle and refused to exit.

When the officer arrived on scene, he saw the front, drivers side door of the Cadillac was wide open and the operators legs were hanging out of the door. The driver was identified as Stanton.

Stanton was lying on his back, resting against the center console of the car. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be sleeping. When asked if he was all right, he didnt respond. Eventually, he slowly opened his eyes and informed the officer he was good, and the officer could immediately smell a strong odor of alcohol. Stanton also had glassy, bloodshot eyes and appeared to talk much slower and drawn out than a normal person.

Damage was observed to the vehicles front bumper and license plate. When Stanton was escorted out of the vehicle, he struggled to keep his balance. He agreed to perform standardized field sobriety testing and it was determined he either was too intoxicated to grasp the concept of the tests or simply refused to follow simple directions.

Inside the Cadillac, the officer located three bottles of New Amsterdam Red Berry Vodka. All bottles were located under Stantons seat and were empty.

While waiting inside the emergency room after being transported to Ascension-All Saints Hospital, Stanton said he was visiting someone and on his way back home he stopped at the tavern. He said it was due to a sensor on his vehicle indicating he had a flat tire. He admitted to playing many games of bar dice for shots.

A $2,500 cash bond was set for Stanton in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday.

A preliminary hearing for Stanton is set for Aug. 27 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records indicate. He remained in custody as of Tuesday afternoon.
The mega-testing site in Kingwood will continue for another two weeks.

Offered by the Houston Health Department, which partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the State of Texas, the site is offering a high-volume capacity test site at Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Drive.

CORONAVIRUS: 13 athletes test positive for coronavirus across 5 Humble ISD high schools during summer workouts

This is one of two Houston surge sites that has a 1,250 daily test capacity and it is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The second surge site is at Darrell Tully Stadium, located at 1050 Dairy Ashford. According to an email from Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martins office, the Kingwood site will be open through Aug. 29, excluding Sunday, Aug. 23.

According to data from Harris County Public Health, the Lake Houston area has reached 3,805 confirmed cases and 66 deaths as of Aug 17. More than 2,700 residents have recovered, according to the data. The Lake Houston area is defined as the zip codes 77396, 77346, 77044, 77339, 77338 and 77345 by The Observer.

Drive-thru sites supporting a 650 tests per day capacity are still available at Delmar and Butler stadiums and are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until testing capacity has been reached. The Delmar Stadium site requires an appointment to be made where an access code will be provided. Appointments can be made between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. by calling 832-393-4220.

According to the press release, information that is gathered through testing, treatment or services of individuals who have immigrated to the U.S. will not be used against them in their public charge evaluation. For more information on free COVID-19 testing sites in Houston, follow this link to the bilingual Houston Health Department flyer.

Symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, a new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is recommended by the CDC to wash hands with soap frequently for at least 20 seconds and to physically distance when around others. Although it is currently mandated, the CDC also recommended to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth as well as covering coughs and sneezes to prevent any potential spread of the virus. Clean and disinfect surfaces daily, or when they get dirty and monitor your health for any symptoms, according to the CDC.

Humble ISD confirms more positive COVID-19 cases

Two more individuals who were on an Humble ISD campus prior to students arriving tested positive for the coronavirus.

More Information Data on the coronavirus as of Aug.17 from Harris County Public Health can be viewed by zip code. These zip codes cover the Lake Houston area. 77396 997 confirmed cases 258 active cases 729 recovered cases 10 Deaths 77346 786 confirmed cases 186 active cases 592 recovered cases 8 Deaths 77338 835 confirmed cases 167 active cases 641 recovered cases 27 Deaths 77339 239 confirmed cases 85 active cases 140 recovered cases 14 Deaths 77345 98 confirmed cases 36 active cases 61 recovered cases 1 Deaths 77044 850 confirmed cases 219 active cases 625 recovered 6 deaths Total: 3,805 confirmed cases, 66 deaths See More Collapse

One person who was most recently at Timbers Elementary School on Aug. 6 tested positive, according to Humble ISD Chief Communications Officer Jamie Mount. Another individual at Timbers Elementary was identified as a close contact by the school district and was notified. They will be required to work from home for 14 days following TEA guidelines.

EDUCATION: Cy-Fair teachers to return to classrooms after Texas Supreme Court suspends restraining order

Timbers Elementary School is one of the schools in the district that has disinfecting UV lights installed in the filtration system, a recent update made to help with the disinfecting process. Humble ISD is in the process of providing MERV 13 air filters to the campus according to Mount, which are the new filters that can catch smaller particles.

Additionally, an individual tested positive for COVID-19 who was last on Maplebrook Elementary Schools campus on Aug. 11, according to Mount. No one was considered a close contact and everyone was wearing masks, according to her email.

Parents were not notified as there were no students on campus. Areas that have been heavily used by the individuals who tested positive have been closed for deep cleaning and sanitizing, following TEA guidelines. The individual must remain off campus until the re-entry criteria has been met, which includes having at least 10 days since symptoms appeared, at least 24 hours since recovery, and a significant improvement of symptoms.

The district notifies those on campus and the health department of positive cases when they occur, Mount said in the email statement. Our proactive procedures include required reporting of positive test results or symptoms, free testing for employees, physical distancing, following the Governors mask order, and frequent hand washing.

Humble ISD Schools welcomed back self-contained special needs students on Aug. 17 and will reopen for in-person learning starting next Monday, Aug. 24. Teachers began training on Aug. 3 and virtual schooling began on Aug. 11.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com


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The Ministry of Defense of Armenia reports that the mother of National Hero of Armenia Jivan Abrahamyan has passed away and sent the following condolence message:

 The destiny of nations should be sought in the palms of mothers  these prophetic words of Garegin Nzhdeh become more resonant especially when the borders of the homeland and the tranquility of the people are at risk and when the heroic sons of mothers having given birth to courageous boys place on the scale that which is the most precious and help determine the fate of the nation by sacrificing their lives.

It is mothers like Bavakan Abrahamyan who embody the image of the homeland in the hearts of Armenians, and our love for the homeland is measured by the love for them. Bavakan passed away and will now join the sacred mothers whose sons helped keep the homeland safe. The Ministry of Defense of Armenia expresses condolences to the family and relatives of Bavakan Abrahamyan, wishing strength and power to overcome the loss.
NATO's chief also informed he had had an important discussion with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Belarus.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the Alliance does not pose a threat to Belarus.

"Minsk must demonstrate full respect for fundamental rights. NATO poses no threat and has no military buildup in the region. We remain vigilant and ready to defend all Allies," Stoltenberg said on Twitter on August 18.

NATO's chief also informed he had had an important discussion with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Belarus.

Read alsoLukashenko says Belarusian army on full alert on western border

Belarus protests: Developments
The Bombay High Court (HC) on Monday granted anticipatory bail to a social worker booked for obstructing revenue officers from creating a temporary shelter for migrant workers at a school in Shirur village, Thane district, on the condition that he will contribute 50,000 to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund.

Social worker Farukh Sattar Dalvi had moved the HC after Kasara police booked him under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for obstructing the tehsildar from creating a temporary shelter for 80 migrant labourers who had walked from the Vasai-Virar to their hometowns.

On April 5, 2020, the tehsildar of Shahapur and some other revenue staff were making preparations to create a temporary shelter at the school in Shirur, when Dalvi, along with several other persons, reached the spot and opposed the move.

The tehsildar alleged that Dalvi verbally abused and threatened her with dire consequences if they continued with the work, and so she was forced to file a police complaint against him.

The social worker had moved the high court after the district court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. He told the HC that he was apprehensive about the possible threat of exposure to the villagers from the migrant workers.

It is no doubt true that the applicant has attempted to deter the complainant from discharging her duty and, particularly when he considers himself to be a social worker, it was rather imperative on his part to assist the government agency in securing shelter for the migrants, justice Bharati Dangre said.

The judge, however, accepted that Dalvi acted on his genuine concern for the villagers and added that, as a responsible person and a social worker, he must contribute an amount of 50,000 to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund to aid the state government which is grappling with an unpredicted situation and coping with a grim and stressful scenario.

The HC has granted him bail on a personal bond of 25,000, on the condition that he will cooperate with the investigation and visit Kasara police station on September 2, 3 and 4. He is supposed to submit the receipt of deposit made to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund when he visits the police station on September 2.
Scott Morrison has been accused of 'flat-out lying' after it emerged the Australian Border Force had no power to stop infected passengers getting off the coronavirus-riddled Ruby Princess cruise ship.

On 15 March, four days before 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney, the prime minister told reporters that cruise ships would be subject to new rules under the command of the Border Force.

But a report on released on Friday found that Border Force was 'granted no specific powers' to stop passengers disembarking.

The Ruby Princess has been linked to 28 coronavirus deaths, after more than 600 passengers later tested positive.

A report found the Australian Border Force had no power to stop infected passengers getting off the Ruby Princess (pictured on April 23) cruise ship and spilling into Sydney

Crew of the beleaguered Ruby Princess cruise ship depart a charter bus at Sydney Airport on April 23 (pictured)

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally on Tuesday accused the prime minister of lying to Australians.

'The prime minister, let's call a spade a shovel here, flat out lied when he announced on the 15th of March, that arriving cruise ships would be under "bespoke arrangements" under the "direct command" of the Australian Border Force,' she told ABC Radio.

'Four days later the Ruby Princess arrived and what Commissioner Walker's report lays bare that the Australian Border Force had absolutely no power to stop that ship.

'Despite the Prime Minister's grand announcements just four days earlier, Australian Border Force were unable to stop passengers from disembarking from the ship and were unable to stop the ship from even arriving.'

Senator Keneally added: 'This is so typical of Scott Morrison. He might be the Prime Minister of Oz, but he's more like the Wizard of Oz.

'He's standing up making these big announcements but when you pull back the curtain, you realise it's all just smoke and mirrors there's nothing much of substance there.'

A spokesman for the prime minster declined to comment on Senator Keneally's accusation.

In an interview on Sydney radio 2GB on Saturday, Mr Morrison said Labor's 'sniping' was 'disappointing'.

'We were being straight with people about what happened. The inquiry has borne that out,' he said.

'The Labor party, wanted to snipe and sledge and throw stones, and that's been their approach. It's disappointing. I don't dwell on it terribly much.'

Kristina Keneally (pictured with her husband Ben) criticised Scott Morrison

On 15 March, when infected cruise ships were causing problems around the world, Mr Morrison told reporters: 'In specific cases where we have Australians on cruise ships, then there will be some bespoke arrangements that we put in place directly under the command of the Australian Border Force to ensure that the relevant protections are put in place.'

The Ruby Princess - which was low on medical supplies and swabs for COVID-19 tests due to shortages - left Sydney on March 8 for New Zealand and returned 11 days later.

The report blamed NSW Health and largely absolved the Border Force.

Passengers were allowed to disembark before the results of 13 expedited tests, which showed at least three people had the virus.

The delay was 'inexcusable' and the swabs should have been tested immediately, the report said.

It found the NSW government also erred by allowing the disembarked passengers to immediately travel interstate and abroad, breaching a new public health order.

The federal Department for Agriculture gave the green light for passengers to disembark after NSW Health deemed the ship 'low risk' as only 0.94 per cent had reported flu-like symptoms and visited virus-hit nations.
New Delhi: Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta Singh Kirti has urged for an early decision from the Supreme Court in the pending hearing for a CBI probe into her late brother's death case. Shweta tweeted to say that the family has been "hopeful and patiently waiting" for the decision.

"Requesting for an early decision from the Supreme Court, we have been very hopeful and have been patiently waiting. Every minute of delay is causing pain and heartbreak. #CBIForSSR," Shweta tweeted on Tuesday.

Requesting for an early decision from the Supreme Court, we have been very hopeful and have been patiently waiting. Every minute of delay is causing pain and heartbreak. #CBIForSSR  shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 18, 2020

Shweta, who stays in the US, has been constantly pressing for a CBI investigation. She has been vocal on social media and often shares memories of Sushant.

Last week, Shweta shared two posts demanding a CBI probe. She wrote, "We stand together as a nation for CBI Enquiry! Demanding an unbiased investigation is our right and we expect nothing but the truth to come out. #CBIForSSR #Warriors4SSR #justiceforSushanthSinghRajput."

Another post by Shweta read, "It's time we find the truth and get justice. Please help our family and the whole world to know what the truth is and find closure, otherwise we will never be able to live a peaceful life!!#CBIForSSR Raise your voice and demand #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput #WarriorsForSSR."

She also ran the campaigns #WarriorsForSSR and #GlobalPrayersForSSR.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Bandra residence on June 14. Mumbai Police said that he died by suicide. The family has, however, suspected foul play. Sushant's father KK Singh filed an FIR in Patna against Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty accusing her of abetment to suicide, besides other offences.
But many said they wouldn't wear one, citing the personal health exemption in the mask mandate, as well as the exemption for those seeking government services.

This summer, testifiers who came to the council chambers were asked to wear masks and all the council members have during meetings.

Ultimately, Council Chair Richard Meginnis called for order in the chambers and the meeting continued without anyone being escorted out.

Following the hearing, Councilman Roy Christensen said he believes the mayor had the legal authority to appoint Lopez and he would vote to approve her since "that's the only person being put forward."

Councilwoman Sandra Washington said the city and county may not have felt the effects of the pandemic as hard as other communities in the country, but that doesn't mean there isn't a pandemic.

The pandemic has required everyone to make sacrifices, some of which they may disagree with, she said.

"There is nothing that the interim health director has done that has gone beyond her authority," Washington said.
The world's largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, Serum Institute of India (SII), is looking to raise up to $1 billion (around Rs 7,500 crore) for Covid-19 vaccine development.

For this, the company is in discussions with private equity firms, including Blackstone and KKR, as well as philanthropists and social venture funds, says a report by The Economic Times.

Moneycontrol had first reported this on June 26:

Exclusive: Poonawalla family's Serum Institute looks to raise $1 billion for big-ticket COVID-19 vaccine project

SII has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford.

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 Pune-based vaccine maker, privately owned by Cyrus Poonawalla and his son Adar Poonawalla, plans to float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for its vaccine candidates, said the report.

We are in talks with a few investors but there is no comment beyond that, a Serum Institute spokesperson told the publication.

In an interview to CNBC-TV18 in July, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla confirmed that the fundraising plans are at an early stage where the Serum Institute is looking to induct investors at the subsidiary level and dilute a minority stake. The Pune-headquartered firm looks to hedge its bets and raise funds for its critical COVID-19 project.

The fundraising exercise will be managed by Goldman Sachs, Citi and Avendus, said the report.

SII, which plans to make 100 million doses of vaccine every month and 400 million doses of the Oxford vaccine by the end of 2020, recently received $150 million from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the vaccine development and distribution.

Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic

Earlier, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla told the publication in an interview in July that the company has infused nearly $200 million for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine at personal risk, adding that it hadnt received any funding or reached advance purchase pacts with the Indian government.

He further mentioned that the aim was to concentrate on getting the mandatory approvals to carry out trials and start manufacturing the vaccine.

It has now received permission for conducting Phases 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the vaccine candidate in India. It will reportedly start Phase 2 human clinical trials of the candidate this week.

In 2015, SII was in negotiations to sell an up to 10 percent stake in the parent firm, seeking a valuation of up to $12 billion. However, the talks were called off, as per the report.

The reason behind the decision was attributed to market volatility by the company, but as per the reports investors were reluctant about the premium valuation sought and lack of liquidity options such as an IPO.

However, the coronavirus pandemic and the race to develop COVID-19 vaccine have changed industry dynamics. SII has signed exclusive agreements with AstraZeneca and Novavax, the report stated.

Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here
Nursing home operator Aperee has taken charge of operations at seven homes previously run by the Ditchley Group and its hotel operator parent, iNua Hospitality.

Aperee chief executive Paul Kingston told the Irish Independent that the deal was likely to lead within the coming 18 months to an Aperee bid to acquire all seven of Ditchley's homes in Cork, Galway, Kerry and Kilkenny.

"We have an option to acquire these homes in late 2021 or early 2022 at values to be agreed," he said.

He declined to specify a likely offer price, but industry sources put the eventual likely bid at between 35m and 45m in total.

Aperee is the nursing home operations division of Cork-based BlackBee Group investments and it will collect a management fee from Ditchley as its wealthy private owners seek to exit the sector and identify new opportunities with backing from BlackBee.

"This deal expands our brand footprint and gives us an opportunity to get to know these homes before, please God, we do acquire them," Mr Kingston said.

"We'll be looking at them over the next couple of months and seeing what improvements we can make, what capacity they have and what extensions we could do. We will be looking at bringing in software systems to help us in their management and operation. But the residents' experience is pretty much going to stay as it is," he said.

The firm already owns and operates two Aperee Living-branded nursing homes in Mallow, Co Cork and Tralee, Co Kerry. The brand will be rolled out in coming weeks to Ditchley's seven homes. The biggest is the Cramers Court home in Kinsale, Co Cork (68 beds), the smallest the Ocean View in Tralee (35 beds).

Mr Kingston said that, while nursing homes had been a focal point for tragedy and grief during the Covid-19 crisis, not one case had been confirmed in any of the nine homes.

"We've been very lucky. No residents have tested positive for Covid in any of the nine homes," he said. "The perception out there is that Covid is in every nursing home in the country. It isn't."

BlackBee last year launched a 250m fund to acquire and build nursing homes. It founded Aperee to be the homes' operations arm.

Aperee plans to start construction soon on a new home in Glanmire, Co Cork; has reached agreements to buy two nursing homes in Munster due to be announced within the next eight weeks; and is in talks to buy two other homes.
RICHMOND, Va. - A judge heard arguments Tuesday but did not immediately rule on whether to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Virginia Gov. Ralph Northams plans to remove an enormous statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee along Richmonds famed Monument Avenue.

An injunction issued in the lawsuit currently prevents Northams administration from moving forward with plans announced after the death of George Floyd to take down the bronze equestrian statue of Lee. The figure erected in 1890 is now one of the countrys most prominent tributes to the Confederacy.

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring is seeking to have the lawsuit tossed and the injunction dissolved.

The government officials of 1890 had no power and no right to make a legally enforceable promise that the Commonwealth of Virginia would display a massive government-owned monument on government-owned property forever, Solicitor General Toby Heytens argued in court.

The plaintiffs, a group of property owners who say in court papers that they live in close proximity to the monument, argue that Northams order violates several provisions of the Virginia Constitution as well as a restrictive covenant contained in the 1887 and 1890 deeds that transferred the monument and ground it rests on to the state.

The central issue in the case is does the governor have the power to make this determination on his own? said Patrick McSweeney, an attorney for the plaintiffs.

Richmond Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant said he would rule within a week.

If Marchant declines to toss the lawsuit, a trial is expected in October, according to Herrings office.

In early June, Northam announced plans to remove the statue, citing the pain felt across the country about the death of Floyd, whose death in police custody galvanized widespread protests over police brutality and racism. But Northams plans have been tied up in court since then.

Floyds death also sparked a renewed wave of Confederate monument removals across the U.S., just like a violent 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville before it and a mass shooting at a historic African American church in South Carolina before that.

Critics of the statues say they distastefully glorify people who fought to preserve slavery in the South. Others say their removal amounts to erasing history.

Now cloaked in graffiti, the Lee statue and other nearby monuments have become a rallying point during ongoing social justice protests and occasional clashes with police.

The statue was put in place in Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy for most of the Civil War, at a time when Reconstruction had ended and Jim Crow racial segregation laws were on the rise.

It is a one-of-a-kind piece by internationally renowned French sculptor Marius-Jean-Antonin Mercie and is considered a masterpiece, according to its nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, where it has been listed since 2007.

It sits in the middle of a traffic circle, a grassy island of state-owned land.

Four other prominent statues of Confederate leaders have been taken down from city property along the avenue this summer.
TMC's presence in Goa to help BJP in polls, claims Sanjay Raut

I have not insulted doctors, says Sanjay Raut as IMA demands for resignation

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Mumbai, Aug 18: Shiv Sena chief and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday clarified his assertion that 'compounders know greater than docs'.

Raut stated, "I've not insulted the docs. The method they're serving is commendable. My remark was within the context of WHO. Where I meant that the Covid-19 epidemic wouldn't have occurred if the WHO laboured effectively."

Suffering losses due to COVID, DMRC slashes employees perks, allowances by 50%

Meanwhile, Indian Medical Association's Thane chapter wrote to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Monday condemning Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's 'compounders know more than doctors' remark.

SC says funds from PM-Cares needn't be transferred to National Disaster Response Fund|Oneindia News

"We're against that a senior politician like Rautji ji who said compounders more than doctors," IMA-Thane said. "We condemn it and ask for his resignation. Doctors are demoralized and look up to you to take necessary action," it added.

Notably, while speaking to a Marathi channel on Sunday, Raut blamed the WHO for spreading the coronavirus infection and said that 'compounders know greater than docs'.

On this, the Maharastra unit of the Indian Medical Association wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of the state, Uddhav Thackeray, condemning Raut's assertion.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra continues to be the worst-affected state in India in terms of the number of infected people. A number of 6,04,358 people have been affected with 8,493 in the last 24 hours following more than 20,000 deaths in total.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : After the departure of Tik Tok, Instagram Reels has become the most popular app for young Indians as seven in 10 (18-29 age group) said they would like to use Reels as a platform for video sharing, a new report said on Tuesday.

In the absence of the Chinese short-video-making app TikTok, nearly two-thirds of urban Indians (65 per cent) said they are likely to turn to alternatives or start using video apps that are either Indian or non-Chinese in origin, according to data provided by YouGov, an Internet-based market research and data analytics firm.

Millennials (69 per cent) were most likely to show their readiness to switch to Tik-Tok's alternatives, as compared to GenZ (54 per cent).

Likewise, men were more likely than women to hold a similar view (70 per cent vs 59 per cent).

"The government's decision to ban TikTok along with other Chinese apps has presented an opportunity for homegrown players who are gearing up to take advantage of this situation," said Deepa Bhatia, General Manager, YouGov India.

"It is, therefore, imperative to gauge the needs of the audiences and understand their preferences in this space," she added.

Nearly 68 per cent TikTok content creators said they are likely to switch to Indian or non-Chinese versions of video sharing apps.

On being presented with a list of alternatives, Instagram Reels topped the list of apps most likely to be used by people in the future.

The platform, which is Facebook's answer to TikTok, is welcomed by more than six in 10 (62 per cent ) urban Indians who claim to have tried it and are likely to continue using it.

"Nearly as many have a similar view about Singapore-based app Cheez (59 per cent), which has a higher appeal among tier-2 users as compared to tier-1 city residents," said the survey.

Apart from these foreign apps, more than half claimed to have tried the homegrown app Roposo and are likely to use it in the future (54 per cent).

Other regional social media apps such as moj (47 per cent), Gana hotshot (44 per cent), Josh (42 per cent), Taka tak (42 per cent), Mitron (40 per cent) and Chingari (36 per cent) also appear to have gained ground, said the survey.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Sickening footage posted to social media shows three kittens being drowned in a makeshift bathtub.

The horrific video was filmed in Bundaberg, Queensland, and posted to Snapchat with the caption 'drowning kittens'.

The animals are seen writhing in pain as a woman holds them down in the water with her hand.

Messages on social media show a girl telling friends she decided to kill the kittens because she had run out of room for cats

Messages on social media show a woman tell friends she decided to kill the kittens because she had run out of room for cats.

In the messages, she says she wanted to do it 'while they're young'.

A friend pleaded with the woman not to kill them and said she could hand them over to the RSCPA instead.

'Or just sell them, give them away. Please, people on Facebook would have wanted them,' the friend said.

The woman replied: 'They won't be able to live for six weeks without their mum, you can't even get rid of a cat until six weeks old'.

The friend continued to plead with her, again telling her the kittens would be accepted by the RSPCA.

'Either way, I got paid to do it, I wouldn't do it to my own cats,' she said.

Another social media posts shows the woman owning up to the act.

The horrific video was filmed in Bundaberg, on Queensland's coast, and posted to Snapchat with the caption 'drowning kittens'

Sickening footage posted to social media shows a woman drowning three kittens after people begged her not to

'Yes, I killed them, why? Who gives a f**k?' she wrote.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty confirmed they were aware of the incident and said anyone who witnessed animal cruelty to contact them immediately.

A Queensland Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia a 17-year-old girl from Millbank was charged for breaching the duty of care of animals by failing to provide under the Animal Care and Protection Act.

The girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act, police said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the RSPCA for comment.
The pilots kick off the exercises by honouring Holocaust victims and the 11 Israelis killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Israeli and German fighter pilots have carried out their first joint military exercises in Germany, honouring Holocaust victims and the 11 Israelis killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

A formation of fighter aircraft, including Israeli Air Forces (IAF) F-16s and Eurofighter jets from the German Luftwaffe, began the commemorations on Tuesday with an overfly of the Fuerstenfeldbruck airbase near Munich to mark the Olympic massacre.

They then carried out an aerial tribute above the former Nazi concentration camp at Dachau.

The exercises are the highlight of two weeks of manoeuvres that will see Israeli air forces train on German soil for the first time.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, it is the only training mission the IAF is conducting abroad this year.

Luftwaffe chief Ingo Gerhartz in a statement called the joint exercise a sign of our friendship today.

He said it was also a reminder that Germany has an enduring responsibility to fight anti-Semitism with the utmost consistency because of its Nazi past.

Military cooperation

The IAF said the mission, which runs until August 28, will give its pilots a chance to practise in unfamiliar surroundings and will include simulated dogfights, air-to-ground battles and missile threats.

Israeli pilots will also take part in aerial manoeuvres with Germany and other NATO members during the deployment.

Germany and Israel have stepped up military cooperation in recent years, with the Luftwaffe taking part in joint exercises in the Israeli Negev desert in 2019.

The exercises come as Germany grapples with a surge in anti-Jewish and far-right violence, 75 years after the defeat of the Nazi regime.

In the eastern city of Halle last year, a neo-Nazi shot dead two people after trying but failing to storm a synagogue.

The attack prompted Chancellor Angela Merkel to say Germany needed to do more to protect Jewish people.

In June, Kramp-Karrenbauer ordered the partial dissolution of Germanys elite KSK commando force after revelations that some of its members harboured neo-Nazi sympathies.
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With a tree-planting drive, the bishops of Bangladesh are also marking year-long celebrations of 50 years of the countrys independence as well as the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nations founding leader.

By Robin Gomes

The Catholic bishops of Bangladesh have launched a campaign to plant 400,000 trees across the country during the current the Special Laudato Si Anniversary Year, in commemoration of the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis encyclical Laudato Si - On Care for our Common Home.

The bishops led by Cardinal Patrick DRozario, Archbishop of Dhaka, inaugurated the tree-planting drive on the premises of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB) centre in the capital Dhaka on Aug. 14. In keeping with Covid-19 health protocols, only a limited number of clergy, religious and lay representatives attended the ceremony.

The bishops who planted 3 fruit trees, called on Catholics in the countrys eight dioceses and their parishes to do so during the 2020-2021 period.

Laudato Si Anniversary Year and beyond

It was on May 24, 2015, that Pope Francis signed his landmark encyclical. The 5th anniversary of the document was marked with a Laudato Si Week, May 17 to 24 this year, which kicked off the year-long Special Laudato Si Anniversary Year, May 24, 2020, to May 24, 2021.

The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development that is organizing and promoting the celebrations said that the end of the Laudato Si Anniversary Year will see a 7-year period of projects, activities and initiatives by Catholic communities and institutions across the world, to spread the spirit of the encyclical.

Ecological balance

At the inaugural ceremony, Cardinal D'Rozario, CBCB president said that trees play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance. However, with population growth and the many needs of people, forests and green covers are gradually depleting. As a result, various natural disasters are affecting the world. In such a situation, the Archbishop of Dhaka said, the community needs to be aware of and emphasize maintaining the natural balance.

The cardinal hoped that by uniting with the world community and the country, Bangladeshs Catholic Church will be able to contribute at least a little bit to the ecological balance and sustained development of the country by planting the trees.

Celebrating Bangladesh's independence and founding leader

With the tree-planting drive, Bangladeshs bishops also intend to mark 50 years of the countrys independence next year, as well as the birth centenary this year of the founding father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh which attained freedom from Pakistan on March 26, 1971, will be marking a year-long celebration, March 26, 2021, to March 26, 2022. The nation that marked the birth centenary of Mujibur Rahman on March 17, 2020, also launched a year of centenary celebrations, which will conclude on March 17, 2021.

Cardinal DRozario is the head of the 50-member national committee, formed last year to plan both celebrations.

We love the nation and we hold the father of the nation in high respect, said the cardinal. Every Catholic in the country, he said, needs to plant a tree to express love for the country and honour for our founding leader. We will mostly plant fruit trees, but also trees that can produce wood in the future.

CBCB-Caritas partnership

The tree-planting initiative is being sponsored by the CBCB and Caritas Bangladesh, the social service arm of Bangladeshs Church.

Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi, the president of Caritas Bangladesh said they been organizing various programmes in the dioceses to sensitize people about climate change and the environment. Tree planting, he explained, is a symbolic activity of the Church for national awareness in safeguarding the environment.

The initiative connects grassroots communities with global efforts for environmental conservation, said Benedict Alo DRozario, president of Caritas Asia, the continental body of Catholic charities.

Speaking to UCA News, he said Christians can make more environmental conservation efforts without spending a penny. He encouraged practices such as abandoning plastic bags for jute bags, utilizing waste to produce compound fertilizer and preventing wastage of drinking water.
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family

By Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand

Dey Street. 354 pp. $27.99

- - -

Usually, deciphering British palace intrigue is like reading tea leaves: trying to discern nuance from opaque gestures. But the latest chapter of the saga of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle requires little decoding. In "Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family," the Duke and Duchess of Sussex effectively spill the tea on their frustrations with the monarchy, from which they officially exited senior roles in March.

Co-authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand draw on interviews with more than 100 friends, aides and others in the Sussexes' "inner circle" to draft, if not an authorized biography, the couple's version of the past four years. The open question is whether Harry and Meghan are among the sources for this friendly account. Scobie and Durand have said they did not speak with the couple on the record for the book, though the authors' note acknowledges direct conversations "when appropriate." A spokesman for the couple stated last month: "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."

The sensitivity of some details - Harry's secret Instagram handle (@SpikeyMau5), the prince's fondness for the ghost emoji, that the couple fired their night nurse over "unprofessional and irresponsible" behavior on her second shift - suggest proximity to the couple, who, tellingly, have not denied the accounts. There isn't much for them to quibble with.

For admirers of Harry and Meghan, "Finding Freedom" is 354 pages of sorbet: a dishy narrative that pushes back against media attacks while tracing the couple's connection from a July 1, 2016, blind date (" 'Almost immediately they were almost obsessed with each other,' a friend said. 'It was as if Harry was in a trance.' ") through their engagement, globally televised wedding and the birth of their son, Archie Harrison. (While fans of Harry and Meghan will undoubtedly enjoy the book's unwaveringly positive portrayal of her angelic disposition and his emotional intelligence, those who sympathize with other relatives, or closely follow the royals are more likely to see the book as telling only part of the story - or as a means to air grievances against palace courtiers and Harry's relatives.)

After their relationship became public in October 2016, paparazzi and media outlets aggressively hunted Meghan. When friends questioned the fast-moving relationship or the "suitability" of the biracial divorced American actress, Harry "would wonder, 'Is this about race? Is it snobbery?' " He cut off longtime friends and grew estranged from his older brother after Prince William reportedly urged Harry to "take as much time as you need to get to know this girl."

Citing the rapid emergence of bias and race-baiting in media coverage, the book says a "major theme" of racism in Britain involves "the question of who is authentically 'English' " - which means "to be born and bred in the UK - and be white." (Scobie, whose father is Scottish and mother Iranian, mentions his history with biracial bias, including "microaggressions" from a palace staffer that suggest authority on discrimination Meghan may have faced. His previous sympathetic coverage of the couple also suggests why Harry and Meghan would have authorized friends to talk.)

Beyond mentioning some of Meghan's earlier experiences with racism, and saying Archie's birth raised "visibility around race and inclusion at the heart of the monarchy," the book says little about how the Windsors - as opposed to aides - viewed Meghan as a person of color. Although Meghan called herself a "woman of color" in South Africa last fall, how she or Harry hoped to explore her - or Archie's - heritage in their work is unclear.

Scobie and Durand report on the distant relationship between Meghan and her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton. They go deep behind the scenes in unraveling the controversy Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, caused in colluding with paparazzi to appear in sympathetic images shortly before the wedding - which he ultimately didn't attend. The book also chronicles the Sussexes' longtime unhappiness with palace practices of not commenting on media inaccuracies (with occasional exceptions for higher-ranking relatives) and prioritizing senior royals' initiatives. Unaddressed is the implicit issue that however right Harry and Meghan's arguments may have been about their popularity, and media bias, they were outranked in a centuries-old hereditary hierarchy. Yet, the book notes, "the establishment feared their popularity might eclipse that of the royal family itself."

Harry's trauma over the media's role in the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and the damage tabloid scrutiny inflicted on previous relationships is evident in his hair-trigger hostility toward paparazzi and his determination to protect his wife. "Battered and bruised" by media attacks and absent family support, the Sussexes decide to opt out - and announce their plan before finalizing details with the palace, sparking a media firestorm and family rifts that remain unhealed.

As the book details the couple's final official engagements, a tearful Meghan tells Scobie, "It didn't have to be this way."

The book portrays a couple driven away by a toxic media environment and untenable protocol. "I don't need to have that movie moment where we get out of a car and wave to a hundred photographers before going into a building," Harry reportedly told a friend, saying the focus should be on "the work happening inside." Therein lies the conundrum: The Sussexes quit official life, but the monarchy is Harry's family business. Criticizing the Windsors stands to damage family ties - and possibly weaken the affiliation that produced the couple's platform. Harry and Meghan may feel freer to speak out, but as the very existence of "Finding Freedom" demonstrates, there's still reason to be careful about what they say.

- - -

Brewington, a journalist in Washington, is a former editor and royal blogger at The Washington Post.
The Motorola Razr 5G battery life is expected to disappoint. How could we possibly know that considering that the phone hasnt launched yet? Well, its battery capacity has just been revealed, in new certification filing.

The phone surfaced on the TUV Rheinland website, under the XT 2071 model number. There are four different variants, though: XT 2071-2, XT 2071-3, XT 2071-4, and XT 2071-5. All of them are powered by two batteries, which are combined.

Based on its battery capacity, the Motorola Razr 5G battery life is expected to disappoint

They all get power from the smaller LS30 battery, that has a typical capacity of 1,255mAh, and a rated capacity of 1,180mAh. The LS40 battery, on the flip side, has a rated capacity of 1,453mAh.

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If we combine the two, youll get a battery capacity of 2,633mAh. So, the typical battery capacity, in the end, will likely be around 2,800mAh. This certification also suggests that 18W fast charging will be included.

For comparisons sake, last years Motorola Razr included a 2,510mAh battery. It also supported 15W fast wired charging. So, the new model will be an improvement in both ways, but do note that its displays will probably be larger as well.

The phone is rumored to include a 6.85-inch main display, compared to a 6.2-inch one on the Motorola Razr 2019. So, thats a considerably larger display, and not considerably larger battery life.

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The Galaxy Z Flip 5G screen-to-battery ratio looks much better on paper

The last years Motorola Razr did not exactly excel in the battery life department, so we fear the same faith will follow with the successor. The Galaxy Z Flip 5G, for comparisons sake, features a 3,300mAh battery for its 6.7-inch display.

If the Motorola Razr 5G does end up including a 2,800mAh battery for a 6.85-inch display, well, you can see how that could be a problem. Thats a 500mAh weaker battery capacity.

Software optimization plays a huge part in everything, of course, but if the physical battery is too small, theres only so much a company can do when it comes to the software.

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The Motorola Razr 5G is expected to arrive on September 9, and unfortunately, it seems like its battery life may disappoint. The device will resemble its predecessor, but it will include larger displays, and improved design.

The Motorola Razr 2019 had its fair share of issues, which we hope Motorola will fix this time around. The phone will ship with a far more modern chip this time around, the Snapdragon 765G.
PHOENIX Kristin Urquiza, whose father died in June after a weeks-long battle against complications caused by COVID-19, blamed President Donald Trump and a failure of leadership for his death during her national, prime-time remarks on the first day of the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

Urquiza, 39, who lives in San Francisco and studied public policy, also has blamed Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey for the loss of her father.

In a brief but powerful straight-to-camera appearance, with family photos interspersed throughout, Urquiza spoke for fewer than three minutes, offering a searing rebuke of the Trump administration.

"The coronavirus has made it clear that there are two Americas, the America that Donald Trump lives in, and the America that my father died in," she said. "Enough is enough. Donald Trump may not have caused the coronavirus, but his dishonesty and irresponsible actions made it so much worse."

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Mark Anthony Urquiza holds his daughter, Kristin Urquiza, in this undated family photo. Mark Anthony Urquiza, of Phoenix, died June 30, 2020, of COVID-19. He was 65.

Urquiza said the U.S. needs a leader who approaches the pandemic from a data-driven, science-based perspective.

Earlier this summer, in a blistering obituary for her father, Mark Anthony Urquiza, Urquiza blamed his death on the carelessness of the politicians who continue to jeopardize the health of brown bodies by failing to provide clear leadership and acknowledgment of the pandemics severity.

The obituary went viral. She invited Ducey to the funeral, but he did not take her up on the invitation. Weeks later, a letter from presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden showed up in her home mailbox.

In the letter, shared with The Arizona Republic, Biden expresses sympathies for her fathers loss.

Americans, he wrote, are having to comfort each other to absorb the pain.

The family bonds that Mark spent his life strengthening are meant for times like these, Bidens July 21 letter said. Theyre meant for you to lean on to share some of those burdens that are terribly difficult to bear alone. And theyre meant to continue to grow in your love and care for one another, no matter the adversity.

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The day will come when the memory of your dad will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. My prayer for you and your family is that day comes sooner rather than later.

In the letter to Kristin Urquiza, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden expresses sympathy for her fathers loss.

Urquiza joined a line-up of Democratic Party luminaries  and some Republicans  scheduled to speak Monday night, which had the theme of "We the People." She delivered her speech immediately after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and well before former First Lady Michelle Obama was set to close the first night of the convention.

The event, initially planned to take place in Milwaukee, is being held by video from satellite locations across the country.

Urquiza spoke from her dining room.

Her remarks were powered by grief and anger, two sentiments that have helped her come to terms with the loss of her father, who, like many Arizonans, struggled to reconcile the seriousness of the novel virus with the messaging that was coming from the president and Ducey, who allowed his initial stay-in-shelter order to expire.

Her father heeded the initial order but, after it ended, she said he was under the impression that it was safe to resume his normal life.

Her dad, she said, had faith in Trump.

"He voted for him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear," she said.

So in late May, after Arizona's stay-at-home order ended, she said, her father went to a karaoke bar with his friends.

A day after falling ill June 11, he tested positive for COVID-19. His condition declined even after spending days on a high-oxygen treatment. He was put on a ventilator. The effects of the virus sapped from him his boundless energy for his family and zest for life. He died on June 30 at the age of 65.

"He died alone, in the ICU, with a nurse holding his hand," she said. "My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump and for that, he paid with his life."

One of the last things the father said to her, she said, was that he "felt betrayed by the likes of Donald Trump. And so, when I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my dad."

In this image from video, Kristin Urquiza of San Francisco, speaks during the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)

Since his death, Urquiza has been outspoken in calling out what she deems a leadership vacuum at the federal, state and local levels.

Dozens of people, particularly people of color, have turned to her for advice as they navigate their families own situations, she said.

Whether its people who have lost a loved one, or teachers going back to school who are nervous about the reopening plans or lack thereof in their area, she said during a phone interview on Monday ahead of her speech. While Im honored and have been trying my best to be able to provide as much support as possible, I think that just demonstrates further that people in the U.S. are scared. They need more direction, clear advice and direction on how to mitigate risk and the coronavirus. People are so desperate that theyre reaching out to me.

Im not a doctor, Im not an epidemiologist. Im just a daughter who is missing her dad and decided to not be quiet about why he passed.

Over the course of her life, her politics have shifted, she said.

In high school, she was part of her schools Republican club. She said she has been a registered independent and is now a registered Democrat. These days, she identifies with the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

She supports candidates who are focused on helping those who need the most help, particularly on the issues of health care and the environment.

Urquiza works at a nonprofit that advocates for the protection of the environment. She just graduated from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.

To prepare for her big moment, Urquiza spent the past few weeks writing down her feelings and thoughts in a journal, talking to her partner, Christine Keeves, and reflecting on why she is excited to vote for Biden.

For her family, the moment is a defining one.

Her mom, she said, has never been all that political.

For her, she sees me as continuing to fight for my dad when others failed him, she said. She couldnt be more proud and she keeps telling me every day that my dad is just over-the-moon proud of me. Its not the same as hearing it from him, but I do know thats true.

Have news to share about Arizona's U.S. senators or national politics? Reach the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Contact her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com and 602-444-4712.

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Subscribe for free to The Gaggle political podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, or wherever you listen to audio content.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DNC: Kristin Urquiza slams Trump coronavirus response after dad's death
Fewer Indigenous People Voted in Last General Election, Compared to 2015

Fewer on-reserve voters cast ballots in the 2019 federal election compared to 2015, new data from Elections Canada shows.

Only 52.9 percent of the roughly 380,000 electors living on reserve, voted, a nearly nine percent drop from its historic high 61.5 percent in 2015, the data says.

Alberta had the steepest drop with only 42.5 percent of its eligible on-reserve voters cast their ballots last year compared to 58.6 in 2015, a 16 percent drop.

Im shocked that Albertas numbers dropped that much, said Nipawi Kakinoosit, a national Indigenous youth leader from Sucker Creek First Nation in northern Alberta, in an interview with CBC.

When asked about the possible reasons for the decline in votes, Kakinoosit said Indigenous people view sovereign nations as sovereign and distinct within Canada, so they have no obligation at all to participate in the electoral system.

He also said by voting in the federal election, the Indigenous people could delegitmize their own governing systems. That explains why they might be uncomfortable participating in it.

Pamela Palmater, lawyer and chair of Indigenous governance at Ryerson University, in her interview with CBC before the 2019 election, said, This election presents a very different circumstance, because you have a scenario after four years that [Justin] Trudeau made a lot of promises of things he would do and hes broken a majority of those promises.

That has left a lot of First Nations people very disillusioned, because they really thought Trudeau meant what he said when he said he was going to do all these things.

Cindy Blackstock, the executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, told GlobalNews before the 2019 election that the federal leaders lacked focus in Indigenous issues.

Kakinoosit said political parties who want to increase their votes with Indigenous people have to engage more with them.

If they want us to vote for them, they need to come to us from sincerity and not just when it benefits them during election time, Kakinoosit said.
(Bloomberg) -- Catcher Technology Co., a key provider of metal frames for iPhones, has agreed to sell two businesses in China to Lens Technology Co., joining a cohort of Taiwanese companies in diversifying away from the country and adding production capacities elsewhere amid worsening ties between Washington and Beijing.

Lens Tech will pay cash for the two units located in the eastern Chinese city of Taizhou and the transaction is expected to be completed before the end of this year pending government approval, Catcher said in a statement. The deal is tentatively priced at $1.43 billion and involves a plant that accounted for 40% of Catchers total sales in 2019, spokesman James Wu said at a briefing. The U.S.-China trade war and increasing price competition is facilitating supply chain consolidation, Wu added. Catcher still maintains some operations in China.

Following iPhone assembler Pegatrons acquisition of casing unit Casetek, Catcher is likely to lose its longtime partnership with Pegatron and lose market share within the Apple supply chain, so Catcher may be selling the plant to get some cash back, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu said, adding that the plant is responsible for assembling metal frames and glass backs of iPhones. For Lens, buying this plant that provides preliminary assembly service may boost the companys chance at winning iPhone and iPad assembly orders in the future.

The U.S.-China rivalry has led to a growing bifurcation in the global tech industry, prompting firms to diversify their manufacturing bases away from China. Catchers move comes a month after fellow Taiwanese electronics assembler Wistron Corp. agreed to sell its iPhone production plant in China to Luxshare Precision Industry Co., paving the way for Apple Inc. to gain its first Chinese handset maker.

Even before the sale of its China plant, Wistron had said it will be able to raise manufacturing capacities outside of China to 50% in 2021, according to Chairman Simon Lin. Bigger rival Foxconn Technology Group has boosted its capacity outside China from 25% last June to 30% now, while Taoyuan-based Quanta Computer Inc. is also doubling the size of a new Taiwan plant, which will come online next year.

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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th August, 2020) According to the available studies, less than 10 percent of the global population have evidence of antibodies against COVID-19, Maria Van Kerkhove, the technical lead of COVID-19 response at the World Health Organization (WHO), said on Tuesday.

"I don't want to over-generalize, but what we learn from the studies available to date is less than 10 percent of the population has evidence of antibodies against SARS CoV-2 virus ... There are some higher seroprevalence rates among higher risk groups, for example, healthcare workers of sole frontline, workers who have been directly exposed to the virus, in some areas with intense transmission. And those seropositivity rates go around 20 percent, 25 percent, but again that means that a large proportion of the population remains susceptible," Van Kerkhove told a virtual briefing.
The statement made by Sanjay Raut is an insult to the young doctors in the state, the letter said

Mumbai: Expressing displeasure over the statement made by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut regarding doctors, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding a public apology from the leader.

On Saturday, Raut had told a Marathi channel, Doctors do not know anything. Compounders are better. I always take medicine from a compounder, never from a doctor.. WHO is a useless organisation. Because of WHO, the Covid-19 pandemic happened.

Many doctors have been working for days without going home and without even seeing their family. If the doctors dont know anything, then why did the government form the action team to treat Covid patients? the association asked.

The statement made by Sanjay Raut is an insult to the young doctors in the state. Raut should apologize for the statement otherwise, the doctors will take to the streets, the letter warned.

Dr Rohan Metkari, vice president, KEM, said, Raut's statement not only raises questions on efficiency of doctors but also adversely affects morale during the pandemic. Therefore, in order to clear the confusion and misunderstanding among the people, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut should not only apologize to the doctors but also to the general public.

Meanwhile, Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took a dim view of Raut's reported remarks on doctors, saying they have hurt feelings of the medical fraternity. I dont know in what sense he had made that statement. But, I feel that giving such statements is not proper amidst the Covid scenario. Our doctors are working really hard. They are putting their lives into danger and working day and night for us. This statement has hurt their feelings, the former CM said.
Related Bibliotheca Alexandrina opens 18th International Summer Festival Egypt's Almena band of Alexandria dream big after Abbey Road experience The Bibliotheca Alexandrina's Art Center will host two Alexandrian bands, Almena and High Dam, on Saturday, as part of its two-week 18th International Summer Festival.

Almena, who are known for collaborating and experimenting with other musicians from different backgrounds and for taking parts in events and workshops in many countries, are also famous for their no-drum sound. They have played dozens of concerts across Egypt and in Tunisia, Morocco and the UAE.

"We are so excited to meet our beloved fans after months of the coronavirus lockdown. We are preparing many surprises," Almena vocalist and trumpet player Youssef Nour told Ahram Online on Monday.

Founded by Nour and beat-boxer John Sadek in 2015, Almena also include Ahmed Abd Elrasol (bass guitar), Mohamed Affara (lead guitar), Adham El-Habashy (oud) and Omar Aly Abdou (keyboards).

"We will be playing two new songs from our upcoming album, Sahra ("Desert") and Bahr ("Sea") as well, of course; El-Salam ("Peace"), Nas ("People") and Saheb ("Friend")," John Sadek told Ahram Online.

Almena's repertoire consists of social themes that portray the daily life of street youth, with lyrics written either by Nour or poets Ahmed Saad and Moemen Ibrahim.

High Dam

As their name suggests, High Dam features Nubian influences. They have been playing traditional southern Egyptian and Sudanese music in groovy arrangements since they got together in 2012, but in recent years they have enriched their repertoire with new songs after they took part in workshops with musicians from Central and West Africa that inspired them to appear in folkloric outfits like dashikis.

"Finally we are back. Next Saturday High Dam and our dear friends Almena at Bibliotheca Alexandria Summer festival," said the band on social media, urging their fans to attend.

The band is made up of Hassan Jamaica (vocals), M. R. Booney (lead guitar), Karim Mostafa (vocals, keyboard), Ahmed Remo (bass guitar), Ahmed Khairy (percussion), Mohamed Gomaa (percussion) and Kisho (drums).

The two-week festival, which is operating under strict safety measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic, is dedicated to late Egyptian folk dance icon Mahmoud Reda, who passed away on 10 July at the age of 89.

The festival began on Saturday with an opening performance by Dina El-Wedidi and her band.

The event is set to feature a variety of performances and lectures on different art forms, closing with a performance by popstar Mostafa Amar on 29 August.

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The Naked City podcast will take a journey into the dark depths of the Australian criminal underworld. In this series you will hear recordings of some of Australia's most dangerous criminals, all of whom have been remarkably frank in their recollections.

Bertie Wrout was a trusted insider in the notorious Moran crime clan, but as he wasnt a blood relative he always knew he was expendable.

When the gunmen arrived at the Brunswick Club to kill Lewis Moran in March 2004, Wrout was by his side and was badly wounded in the attack.

Wrout gives us the inside story on the Underbelly War that destroyed the Morans, and tells how the clan fatally underestimated their underworld enemy, Carl Williams.
Sono nove gli indagati dalla Procura di Lanusei nell'ambito dell'operazione della Guardia di Finanza di Perugia e Nuoro che ha portato al sequestro di 8 milioni di euro tra beni mobili e immobili: spiccano un resort e 15 ville di lusso a Tertenia, in Ogliastra.

I due principali soggetti coinvolti nell'inchiesta, partita nel 2019, sono l'imprenditore abbruzzese Antonio Gentile, e il legale Luisella Corda del foro di Cagliari, nata e residente a Iglesias.

Le contestazioni riguardano reati tributari previsti dal decreto legislativo n. 74/2000, associazione per delinquere, riciclaggio e autoriciclaggio Secondo gli inquirenti "le risorse illecite provento dei reati tributari costituite da alcune societa continentali, tra cui Affare Fatto S.r.l. e Victor Srl, venivano incassate direttamente da Gentile oppure confluivano nei conti correnti intestati a Corda, per poi essere reimpiegati

nella societa Tertenia Resort srl, che, per l'appunto, gestiva un'attivita turistico-ricettiva nel territorio.

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(Unioneonline/L)
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The last thing Jessica said to John, her fiance of 10 years, was, I love you before he drove to work. Hours later, after suddenly experiencing a cardiac arrest at the office, he was in an ICU bed attached to a ventilator. He was pale and unresponsive, on multiple medications to artificially augment his blood pressure, hooked up to a machine that did the work of his kidneys, and cooled to 91.4F to preserve whatever brain function was left. He could not speak; Jessica could not visit.

This is yet another blow provided by COVID-19: to contain the spread of the virus, visitors are not allowed in the hospital for almost any reason  even if their loved one does not have COVID. At my hospital, the only way a family member can see their loved one in person is if the patient is actively dying, or if they request the medical team to withdraw life-sustaining care and the doctors are in the process of doing so. This means that not only are people in distress alone, but because family cannot see their loved ones in person, its so much more difficult for them to understand what is happening medically. What does it mean to be on a ventilator? To do everything that modern medicine can provide? Until I reached my third year of medical school and saw it for myself, I certainly had no clue.

In a pre-COVID-19 world, families would see their loved ones on the verge of death. While it was incredibly painful, being bedside allowed them to understand when their loved ones would not meaningfully improve or if they would never be able to be themselves again. Now, families must make the decision to stop doing everything in the abstract, armed only with video chats of their loved one, brief phone calls with the doctor, and information from Google.

As I tried to answer Jessicas questions that day, I realized just how unprepared we are as a society for this wave of patients who are at the end of life in the COVID-19 era.

Because of its nuanced social, ethical, and medical nature, there are no strict criteria on when to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining care. I have had patients, for example, that wanted us to do everything we could as long as they had a beating heart. Other patients have felt that if they could not visit family in Italy, play with their grandkids, or ever eat food through their mouth, then they would not want to proceed with medical interventions. Ideally, these discussions happen before a patient gets critically ill, and are documented into something called an advance directive. Unfortunately, two-thirds of Americans do not complete advance directives for end of life care, leaving those of us caring for them without any guidance on how to handle these hard decisions. Now, with over 2.5 million Americans infected with COVID-19 and 125,000 dead so far, what previously seemed so far away could be just around the corner for any of us. If we do not have these discussions now, while we are still able, I fear that in the coming months, thousands of people will be unable to spend their last moments in the way they would have wanted to.

As I answered Jessicas questions over the course of the next 36 hours, however, I realized that advance directives are only half the story.

Do you think there is a chance my fiance will make it? I remember her asking.

It had taken 30 minutes of CPR in the emergency department to get Johns heart beating again, all of his organs were failing, and preliminary CT scans of his brain had not looked promising. There was a very good chance he was not going to make it  and he was even more unlikely to be the person that she had known and loved. Yet, 10.4% of patients with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survive to discharge, and doctors typically wait at least 72 hours after cardiac arrest to make an official prognosis. When patients like him are cooled to 89.6-93.2F, we typically wait until the cooling protocol is complete, as there is some evidence that early prediction of poor prognosis can lead to the inappropriate withdrawal of care for some patients.

I will never forget what she said next. If there is any hope that he will make it, I want you to do everything, she told me. But if you dont think he will, then I want to withdraw today; I dont want to prolong this anymore for me or for him. I cant eat, I cant sleep, I cant wait, I just want to hold him, doctor.

I couldnt help but wonder what kind of incentive system our visitation restriction policy had inadvertently set up. Was she rushed into making the decision to withdraw care, because that was the only opportunity she had to be at his bedside? How can our hospitals adapt so that we can better help the families of patients who are dying make informed decisions?

Ultimately, Jessica ended up coming into the hospital later that evening, remaining bedside as we turned off the ventilator and gave John medications to keep him comfortable. He died moments later, at peace and without pain. Im grateful that we were able to reunite Jessica with her fiance, but I will never be able to get her story out of my mind. If she had been able to be present bedside, would she have waited until the cooling protocol had finished? What else could we have done to support her? And, most importantly, is this what the end of life will inevitably look like for the foreseeable future, as long as COVID-19 remains a threat? I understand that these constraints exist for everyones safety, and even allowing family to be present at death is a privilege that many dying of COVID-19 are not afforded. But we must come up with a better solution.

Lochan Shah is an internal medicine resident.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
The commander of the Defence response to the pandemic has confirmed an ADF offer to make troops available to strengthen Victoria's hotel quarantine scheme was not taken up by the Andrews government.

Lieutenant-General John Frewen, the head of the Defence COVID-19 Taskforce, told a Senate inquiry the same support offered to NSW and Queensland to establish and maintain their hotel quarantine regimes was available to Victoria.

Lieutenant General John Frewen, Commander Defence COVID-19 Task Force, testifies to the Senate. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The general's testimony made clear that had Victoria sought ADF assistance on the same scale as NSW, hundreds of personnel could have been mobilised to bolster the states quarantine arrangements.

It prompted the Victorian opposition to renew its call for Premier Daniel Andrews to resign for misleading the public about a crucial element of the deadly hotel quarantine debacle.
He said he had realized only that week that he had not paid those expenses and that it was always his intention to pay the full costs of the trips. But in a news release, WE Charity said the trips had been complimentary and that it occasionally invited potential donors on trips to see its work up close.
Three men involved in a cocaine wholesale and retail supply ring have been handed sentences totalling 11 years at Craigavon Crown Court

Three men involved in a cocaine wholesale and retail supply ring have been handed sentences totalling 11 years at Craigavon Crown Court.

Cocaine wholesaler James Cassidy (44) was handed a five and a half year sentence, "retailer" Peter Rogers (46) a 38-month sentence and "storekeeper" John Darragh (42) received 28 months. Each will serve half their sentence in jail and half out on licence.

Prosecuting lawyer Ian Tannahill has earlier told the court that when police swooped on Cassidy's home on October 11, 2018, they seized a kilo of high purity cocaine, 20,000 in cash and two top of the range cars, an Audi A4 and a Range Rover Evoque.

He said that with the police helicopter hovering above the Cassidy's home at Mount Eagles Grove in Dunmurry and recording the entire incident, cops smashed the cocaine supply ring while a deal was taking place.

As officers ran into the living room, Cassidy dropped a half kilo bag of cocaine which "burst open" covering the floor, and Mr Tannahill said a further half kilo bag was uncovered during searches of the property.

Cassidy and his wife, mother-of-three Joanne (44), were arrested along with delivery driver Darragh.

A fourth man, Rogers, from Badgers Lane in Belfast, had made a break for freedom in his van but was quickly arrested.

Police found he had 500 cash on him with a further 18,000 in cash hidden in a TK Maxx bag in the passenger seat footwell.

A search of the Cassidy home uncovered 20,000 cash in a holdall in the couple's bedroom along with scales, plastic bags and "heat sealing equipment" while a police operation at Darragh's home on Moor Park Mews in Belfast uncovered almost a kilo of high grade cocaine.

Mr Tannahill said the cocaine purity levels ranged from 40% to almost 80% although officers also found equivalent amounts of benzocaine, a commonly used cutting agent used to bulk out the drug and maximise profit.

"We say that the significance of the high purity levels, especially when associated with the cutting agent - when one looks at that you can see how much cocaine was going to be put in the market through this operation," said the lawyer.

Ascribing roles to each of the defendants, Mr Tannahill told Judge Lynch the "prosecution case quite simply is that the Cassidy home was being used to sell cocaine on a wholesale basis".

Rogers was there to buy drugs at this level of purity, Darragh "has a storekeeper role" and kept the cocaine until being told "where and when" to bring it.

Cassidy admitted having cocaine with intent to supply, concealing criminal property and converting criminal property, namely cash. His wife pleaded guilty to converting criminal property.

Darragh admitted two counts of possessing Class A cocaine with intent to supply while Rogers confessed to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

While Judge Lynch jailed the men, he gave Mrs Cassidy a two year jail sentence, suspended for three years. Jailing her husband and his two cohorts, Judge Patrick Lynch said given that the usual purity of cocaine at street dealing level is around 8%, "the two kilos would've been more in the region of 12 kilos".
ALL new large scale enterprises, especially those in the technical and medical area, must be located in Tullamore, according to the draft Offaly County Development Plan, now open for public submission.

To cater for new enterprises, two extensive Strategic Employment Zones are proposed on the northern side of the town, one around the hospital and the other at IDA lands in Ballyduff.

The plan defines Tullamore's role as a Key Town which requires it to act as the economic driver of the county and provide for strategic employment opportunities to improve its economic base.

The plan, unveiled for public comment earlier this month, contains a radical new vision for Tullamore which will set the town in a direction very different from that of the past 30 years, the town planner, architect and commentator Fergal MacCabe has stated.

Mr MacCabe, a native of Tullamore, writing in this week's Tribune, describes the plan as very coherent and says it taps into a clear cut policy stream and funding programme.

It is based on a sound survey and analysis of Offaly's strength and weakness, opportunities and threats, he finds.

Mr MacCabe says its objectives are realistic and achievable within its timeframe.

He says that the new plan takes a conservative but realistic estimate of population growth in the town with an extra 4,853 persons expected by 2027.

But he warns that its housing strategy would be undermined by an application recently lodged for development in the Clonminch area.

The plan also addresses the pressing question of the employment crisis resulting from the move away from turf as an energy source.

It plans to create alternative employment by supporting and promoting the Ferbane Food Campus, expanding the Rhode Green Energy Hub and exploiting the potential offered in Birr by the technology associated with Irish Low Frequency Array which is tied into the European network of observatories.

It also envisions Offaly as an ideal location of back office facilities for high tech firms in the Dublin Metropolitan area

The plan also commits to the completion of the Tullamore/Kilbeggan link road and the improvement of rail service on the Portarlington/Athlone line.

Adds Mr MacCabe: All of these projects flow from or align with the objectives of Project 2040 and therefore can expect funding via the National Development Plan- quite unlike the bizarre proposal of the Draft Plan to support the development of an international airport in Offaly. This crazy idea is unmentioned in any national or regional policy and therefore any investment will have to come directly and solely from the budget of the council.

See full story in this week's Tullamore Tribune and Midland Tribune
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras placed first, followed by the Mumbai and Delhi IITs, in the Union education ministrys Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020, released by vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru ranked fourth, followed by IIT Kharagpur in fifth, in the Prestigious Institutes of National Importance and Central Universities category.

IIT Madras had placed first in the first edition of the ARIIA rankings as well, in 2019.

The other institutions in the top 10 of the 2020 rankings were IIT Kanpur (6), IIT Mandi (7), National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut (8), IIT Roorkee (9) and University of Hyderabad (10).

The rankings, which aim to promote innovation among educational institutions, assess colleges and varsities on various criteria, ranging from support for entrepreneurship development to innovative learning method, intellectual property generation, technology transfer and commercialisation, among other aspects.

Among the exclusive higher educational institutions for women, Avinashlingam Institute for Home Sciences and Higher Education in Coimbatore of Tamil Nadu ranked first, followed by Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, which is based in New Delhi.

In the Private/Self Financed Colleges category, the top rank went to S R Engineering College in Warangal, followed by GH Raisoni College of Engineering in Nagpur.

Among private or self-financed universities, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha ranked first, followed by SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Tamil Nadu and Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT).

In the Government and Government-aided Universities category, the top rank was bagged by Mumbais Institute of Chemical and Technology, followed by Chandigarhs Punjab University and Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University in second and third places, respectively.

Punes College of Engineering was ranked the top government or government-aided college, followed by PES College of Engineering in Karnataka and the Coimbatore Institute of Technology.

A total of 674 institutions were part of the rankings.

Naidu said that innovation is the key defining feature of human progress and educational institutions should reinvent themselves to ensure that innovation thrives. The new National Education Policy (NEP) has a sharp focus on this aspect, he said. Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Ramesh Pokhriyal was also present at the event.

IIT Madras is known for its world-class innovation ecosystem consisting of the research park and several other centres, that has already produced world-class companies and disruptive technologies for India. We are proud to be recognised a second time in succession as Indias top innovative educational institution under ARIIA, said professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras.
BHU admit card 2020 | Entrance tests for all postgraduate programmes, LLB (3 years), B.Ed Special Education, B.P.Ed, BFA and BPA will be conducted in the first phase from 24 to 31 August

BHU admit card 2020 | The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is likely to release the admit card for post graduate entrance test (PET) 2020 and under graduate entrance test (UET) 2020 on its official website bhuonline.in soon.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, the varsity will hold the entrance test in two phases.The report mentioned the university saying that the admit card, or hall ticket, will be released one week prior to the examinations.

As per the notification by BHU, entrance tests for all postgraduate programmes, LLB (3 years), B.Ed Special Education, B.P.Ed, BFA and BPA will be conducted in the first phase from 24 to 31 August.

In the second phase from 9 to 14 September, the entrance test for remaining undergraduate programmes including BA (Hons), Arts, BA (Hons) Social Sciences, BCom (Hons)/BCom-FMM, BSc (Hons) Ag, BA LLB  5 years (Hons), BSc (Hons) Maths, BSc (Hons) Bio, Shashtri (Hons) and different programmes of BVoc will be conducted.

The University was earlier scheduled to hold the examination between 16 and 31 August.

An NDTV report mentions that BHU admit card 2020 is a mandatory document that students will have to carry to the exam centre, failing which they will not be allowed to take the entrance examination.

Once released, students should check all the details mentioned in the admit card and if they find discrepancies, they should contact the administration at the earliest.

Steps to download BHU admit card 2020

Candidates need to first go to the official website of the Banaras Hindu University - bhuonline.in. Once there, they need to click on the link that mentions BHU admit card 2020. Students should then enter their login details including registration number and date of birth. The admit card will appear on the screen. Candidates need to download and take a print out for future reference.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates may be reaching a historic normalisation of their diplomatic ties, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Tuesday (August 18) it remains opposed to future arms sales to Gulf country.

And that includes reports in Israeli media that the Trump administration is planning a "giant" sale of F-35 fighter jets to the UAE as part of the deal.

Last week the two countries agreed to normalize their relationship, but there has been an understanding going back decades that Washington would refrain from Middle East arms sales that could blunt Israel's military edge against regional rivals.

However, the the White House did signal the UAE could be free to clinch unspecified new U.S. arms sales moving forward.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz underlined the need for Israel's safety.

"I'm telling you that we must take no security risks. At the same time I repeatedly tell you that we should promote this agreement.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and representatives of the UAE government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Netanyahu's office says they oppose deals that would "tip the balance."
The new design allows not only to reduce the cost of experiments, but also increases the power of vanadium batteries

In 2020 China plans to launch the largest battery complex in the world with a capacity of 800 MW*h (approximately this amount of energy per year is consumed by a household with 200 apartments). This complex is based not on the usual lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries, but on the redox flow battery where the electricity is stored in the form of chemical energy of solutions - electrolytes. Battery consists of two tanks in which electrolytes are stored and membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) - solutions are supplied to MEA by pumps where they undergo electrochemical reactions which provide charging and discharging of the battery.

Due to this setup, redox flow batteries, unlike many other energy storage devices, enable independent scaling of power and capacity of the battery, which are determined by the size of MEA and electrolyte volume, respectively. In addition, redox flow batteries exhibit minimal self-discharge over extended periods and their electrolytes do not degrade even after tens of thousands of operating cycles, making them promising candidates for storing large amounts of energy in the smart power grids. For example, they can store excess electricity generated by photovoltaic solar cells during daylight and generate back-up electricity at night or in cloudy weather.

"Flow batteries are being actively integrated into the power grids of China, Germany and other countries, on one hand, and on the other hand, are continued to be developed and refined in laboratories", comments one of the authors of the work, researcher at the NTI Competence Center at IPCP RAS, Dmitry Konev. "We have proposed a completely new design of MEA, which will facilitate the research process and greatly reduce entrance threshold for new research groups into this area. In the future, this will help to achieve significant progress and will bring distributed energy resources from niche positioning to very high level of commercialization, including in Russia".

Sandwich with laser filling

The MEA is the heart of the flow battery. It looks like a sandwich of different sheets materials, divided into two symmetrical parts supplied with its own electrolyte. When the battery is connected to a power supply, the one electrolyte is oxidized, while another is reducing and so the battery is charging. After that, the power source can be disconnected and replaced with energy consumer - the electrolytes will undergo reverse processes and the battery will begin to discharge.

An important part of the MEA is the flow field plates, sandwich layers through which the electrolyte is pumped to the electrodes where the electrolytes are oxidized or reduced. The performance of the battery, i.e. power and efficiency, depend strongly on how well the flow fields are organized. Therefore, researchers often select different types of fields to optimize battery performance, but now this is a very labor-intensive task: flow fields are milled in dense graphite plates, which is time-consuming procedure. Russian researchers have proposed a different approach.

"We form flow fields by using several thin layers of flexible graphite materials: the necessary patterns in them are cutted by a laser and then these layers are superimposed on each other to get the required field", says the first author of the work, researcher at Mendeleev Univeristy, Roman Pichugov. "The procedure to create flow fields takes only a few minutes, which is much less than traditional milling of graphite. Plus, cheaper materials are used, and as a result, there is more scope for variation and selection of flow fields."

From cell to stack

Flow batteries can operate with different types of electrolytes. The most common (including those that are installed in China and are being introduced in other countries) utilize vanadium electrolytes, namely solutions of vanadium salts. Exactly on this electrolyte Russian scientists tested their cell design. They sorted out various types of flow fields, varied the electrolyte flow rate and obtained results that on a qualitative level coincide with the best world studies and on a quantitative level even slightly surpass them: the power of tested MEA slightly exceeded the power of similar cells on graphite.

Thus, the new design of MEA is greatly simplifying laboratory test and in the future can be used in real energy storage systems for distributed power grids. Now Russian scientists in collaboration with InEnergy LLC are developing and testing a vanadium flow battery composed of 10 such cells with a total power of 20 watts. The construction of the cell itself and the stack of 10 cells are protected by patents, the last of which belongs to ADARM company, created by the employees of MUCTR. In addition, scientists develop other types of flow batteries utilizing different electrolytes on the basis of the proposed design of MEA.

###

Mendeleev University is a flagship university of the chemical industry in Russia, whose work is aimed not only at obtaining new knowledge, but also at introducing them into industry. The study was carried out by employees of the laboratory EMEE of the Mendeleev University, NTI Competence Center at IPCP RAS, IPCE RAS and Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Article: R.D. Pichugov et al, Electrolyte Flow Field Variation: A Cell for Testing and Optimization of Membrane Electrode Assembly for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries, ChemPlusChem, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202000519
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18)  The Philippine Genome Center is expanding its research to study the new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other possible mutations of the virus that is causing coronavirus infections.

Dr. Cynthia Saloma, the center's executive director, said on Tuesday the agency is planning to look at more positive COVID-19 test results nationwide to determine if the new mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus called G614 is the new dominant strain in the country.

"We intend to expand our study to the rest of the country," Saloma told CNN Philippines. "We are going to collect about 900 samples form different time points, meaning to say from March up to October."

The research center will also keep watch of other possible mutations of the virus, she said.

"It is also important that we don't only focus on this particular kind of mutation but with other variants that could be circulating in the Philippines," she said.

Filipino researchers confirmed that the new dominant strain of coronavirus was recently detected in the country based on a small sample taken from Quezon City.

Saloma said the Philippine Genome Center and the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine found that three out of the five sequences studied in June contained the G614 strain, while all nine samples taken from Quezon City in July showed the mutated strain.

"It is imperative for us to widen our study and see whether if this reflects the mutational landscape in our country," she said.

G614 has almost completely replaced the first version named D614, making it the most dominant coronavirus strain circulating worldwide. International researchers found G614 to be more infectious, but local health officials are saying there is no direct evidence that it is transmitted more easily.

A global study published in the journal Cell in July said the new version seems to multiply faster in the upper respiratory tract  the nose, sinuses and throat, which would explain why it passes around more easily. But the bright side is that patients infected with the new strain of the coronavirus were not more severely affected, according to the study.

Saloma also assured the recently-detected G614 coronavirus mutation will not affect the quality of COVID-19 vaccines being created by pharmaceutical companies around the world.




Haiti - Diplomacy : 7 MoM signed with Turkey





Monday, Claude Joseph, the Minister of Foreign Affairs went to the airport to welcome and extend a warm welcome to his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu who came to Haiti as part of a 3-day tour which began on Sunday in Dominican Republic, before continuing Monday in Haiti to end this Tuesday in Venezuela.



Mevlut Cavusoglu had a meeting at the National Palace with members of the Moise-Jouthe Administration where the strengths of cooperation with Turkey were reviewed. At the end of this meeting, the two foreign ministers initialed 7 memoranda of understanding:



Memorandum of Understanding for the formation of the political consultation mechanism between the ministries of foreign affairs;



Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between Chancellery Diplomacy Academies;



Memorandum of Understanding on Disaster Management;



Memorandum of Understanding for Economic Cooperation;



Memorandum of understanding for cultural cooperation;



Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation on Archives;



Memorandum of Understanding for Technical Cooperation.



Regarding cooperation at the energy level, Claude Joseph said during a joint press briefing, that it had moved forward, promising to give more details at the appropriate time...



Mevlut Cavusoglu was also received in audience by President Jovenel Moise "I discussed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu, the bilateral relations between the two countries and the strengthening of cooperation, especially in the field of electricity. We also discussed many issues of common interest [...]" said Jovenel Moise on his Twitter account.



Note that the Turkish Chancellor did not come to Haiti empty-handed. He handed over 3 ventilation devices and medical equipment and supplies to help the Haitian Government in its fight against Covid-19.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The initiative could be useful in segments like motor insurance where loss ratios are high due to larger amount of claims

A working group set up by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) has recommended that a body to promote safety and loss prevention in the general insurance industry be set up.

This body will suggest ways to prevent losses to the non-life insurers. Here, customers could also be charged penalties in form of higher premium for violation of rules. This initiative could come handy in segments like motor insurance where loss ratios are high due to larger amount of claims.

"The recommended body could advise insurers on the framework for encouraging focus on improving safety and loss prevention in their organisations through a system of benefits and penalties in premium rates and terms and conditions of insurance policies," said the IRDAI working group report.

The 10-member IRDAI working group was set up in December 2019 to look into loss prevention and minimisation for non-life insurance players.

The working group in its report said the loss prevention body that is set up should focus on creating an environment of safety and loss prevention among industries, businesses, insurers and society.

This body would be funded by the insurance regulator and the general insurance companies.

Further, the report said this body should not be directly involved in commercial activities like risk inspection, risk management, project monitoring among others.

This report said this body will initially work in the areas of property and motor insurance.

In property insurance, activities like setting benchmarks and reviewing earthquake-resistant constructions and developing/reviewing a map on flood-prone risks and earthquake zones in India could be taken.

In motor insurance, the body will look into mapping high exposure accident spots across the country and collaborating with vehicle manufacturers on better safety aspects in vehicles. Apart from handling safety awareness campaigns, this body will also collaborate with insurers and police to reduce stolen vehicles and quick recovery of and disposal of stolen vehicles.

The industry stakeholders have time till September 4 to present their views on the working group recommendations. After this, the final guidelines will be released.
Not only Slovakia reports a shortage of honey due to weather changes.

In the picture: A bee meadow in the Bratislava Forest Park on August 1, 2020. (Source: TASR)

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Climate changes and this year's weather, especially long-lasting rainy and cold weather taking turns with heat waves, have caused the biggest drop in honey production in the last three decades for the Slovak beekeeping sector.

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This year's honey harvest reached only one-third of the average reported in the past, chair of the Slovak Association of Beekeepers Milan Rusnak told the SITA newswire.

The hives do not have sufficient flower nutrition and many are experiencing famine, he added for SITA.

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Related article Bees in southern Slovakia are dying en masse Read more

Beekeepers have recorded a significant decrease in agate, linden, flower, mixed, and also honeydew types of honey. They have already asked the Agriculture Ministry for financial support.

They expect that there will be a lack of honey in stores by the end of the year, also Christmas.

Not only Slovakia, but other countries across Europe have reported a shortage of honey and food for hives, SITA wrote.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:01:28|Editor: huaxia

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Palestinians sit around a fire during a power outage outside their house in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 18, 2020. A Palestinian official in the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company announced on Tuesday that the only power station in the Gaza Strip has completely stopped operation due to fuel shortage. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

GAZA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian official in the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company announced on Tuesday that the only power station in the Gaza Strip has completely stopped operation due to fuel shortage.

Muhammad Thabet, director of public relations in the company, told Xinhua in Gaza all the four turbines of the power station turned off as a result of Israel's decision to ban the fuel shipment to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing point between southern Gaza Strip and Israel.

He added that turning off the turbines obliged the company to adopt an electricity distribution schedule from three to four hours per day.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Energy Authority said in a press statement that the power station's closure "would negatively affect all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip." It also held Israel fully responsible for any disastrous consequences.

The Gaza Strip, home to more than two million Palestinians, needs 500 megawatts everyday. But the power station generates only 210 megawatts, while Egypt supplies Gaza with 30 megawatts and Israel with 120 megawatts.

Israel closed the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing with the Gaza Strip last week, except for the entry of humanitarian aid, in response to the launching of incendiary balloons from the coastal enclave into southern Israel. Enditem
18.08.2020 LISTEN

According to exclusive testimony obtained by Amnesty International, police officers in Abidjan apparently allowed groups of men, some of whom were armed with machetes and heavy sticks, to attack protesters demonstrating against President Alassane Ouattaras decision to run for a third term in office.

In a rare interview, a police officer who was on duty on 13 August in Yopougon district of Abidjan told Amnesty International said he was alarmed to hear his colleagues talk about how the armed men had helped police disperse protesters last week.

Two minivans (Gbakas) ferrying dozens of young men, some armed, were driven to two protest locations where the officer was present. At one location, a couple of men on a motorbike escorting the Gbakas approached the police officer-in-charge and after a brief conversation, the group of young men went into the neighbourhood unhindered and begun chasing after and dispersing protesters.

Our police source said within moments of the group of men entering the neighbourhood, one protester emerged with stab wounds saying he had been attacked by men on a motorbike.

The police officer said:

We were sent to an area of the district of Yopougon where we found barricades and a few young people chanting slogans against the third mandate. They were not armed. We did not intervene since there were not enough police officers. While we were trying to clear the roads, two Gbakas, one green and one yellow, full of young people, and a motorbike, arrived. Dozens of men, some of them armed with machetes and heavy sticks, got out from the vehicles. They were more than the protesters. The two men on the motorbike approached our chief and then the group of men entered the neighbourhood and started chasing the protesters.

Several videos posted on social media show a green Gbaka offloading the armed men, who then began to chase protesters in full view of police officers who watched passively without intervening.

The police officer told Amnesty International he had overheard other officers saying that armed men had helped police disperse protestors in other parts of Abidjan.

We were shocked and understood that their presence was not coincidental. Someone was apparently informing them of the areas where security forces were intervening. This is a very dangerous step and I am really worried. This reminds me of two past crises where militias were sowing terror among the population, he said.

Yesterday, at around 5:30 am, a witness told Amnesty International that as he left his house in the SIDECI area of Yopougon District, Carrefour SGBCI, he saw young, unarmed people had barricaded the road with tables. Shortly thereafter, a Peugeot 406, three other vehicles and a white Gbaka arrived ferrying dozens of men in plainclothes armed with machetes, knives and heavy sticks. These men got out of the vehicles and attacked the young people at the barricade. One of them was seriously wounded with a machete and was taken to Bethesda clinic. Police arrived shortly thereafter, found the armed men but did not arrest them.

The witness reported seeing more barricades in the Niangon Nord area of Yopougon. He also saw about seven motorbikes and three vehicles with men armed with machetes and sticks removing the barricades. The police were present but did nothing. When the police left, the armed men followed them in their motorbikes and vehicles.

The apparent collaboration of the police with groups of armed men, that are neither trained nor accountable, to manage protests is extremely worrying. It represents an alarming resurgence of the use of unofficial law enforcement agents in Cote DIvoire, where we have previously documented multiple human rights abuses by armed men in civilian clothes, and said Amnesty Internationals Director for West and Central Africa, Samira Daoud.

We call on the Ivorian authorities to immediately stop these armed groups of men from committing further crimes. The authorities must undertake a thorough, effective and impartial investigation into allegations of human rights abuses committed by these men, as well as the apparent police complicity. Those found responsible must be brought to justice in fair trials in ordinary civilian courts.

Scores arrested

On the night of 15 August, Pulcherie Gbalet, the head of Alternative Citoyenne Ivoirienne (ACI), a coalition of 40 civil society organizations which organized the protests, and two of her colleagues were arrested and taken to an unofficial detention centre at Sebroko in Abidjan. She was later moved to the Prefecture de Police where she is being questioned by the police.

On 13 August, armed men also attacked another member of ACI in Anyama-Adjame, some 10km from Abidjan while he was protesting. The man was later arrested by the police for protesting and released.

On the same day, the police arrested five members of the opposition party, GPS, while on their way to a rallying point for protestors in Abidjans Cocody area. Four of them are detained at the Central Prison of Abidjan (MACA).

According to Cote DIvoires Minister of Security and Civil Protection, General Vagondo Diomande, about 70 people were arrested between 10 and 14 August for disrupting public order, incitement to revolt, violence against law enforcement agents and destroying property.

We call on the authorities to release any person arrested solely for expressing their political views, or for organizing and participating in peaceful protests. The authorities must ensure that people are free to express their views without fear of reprisals, said Samira Daoud.

The Minister also confirmed that five people had been killed in various parts of the country during the protests; three in Daoukro, one in Gagnoa and another in Bonoua, and more than 100 people, including ten police officers and two gendarmes, were injured.

Escalating crackdown

Since 2019, peaceful assemblies organised by civil society organizations and opposition groups have been regularly banned and dispersed with excessive force by the police and gendarmerie.

On 26 June 2019, the country adopted a new Criminal Code which further undermines the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The code deems as unlawful assembly any public and non-armed gathering that may affect public order, overly broad descriptions with high potential for abuse.

The crackdown on protests is a blatant violation of the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The authorities in Cote DIvoire should be protecting, not punishing, opposition leaders, dissidents, journalists and human rights defenders, said Samira Daoud.

Background

On 10 August, Alternative Citoyenne Ivoirienne (ACI) informed the Minister of Territorial Administration and the Minister of Security of their intention to organize demonstrations in several cities on 13 August, to protest President Alassane Ouattaras decision to run for a third term. ACI received a confirmation receipt of the notification of planned protests.

On the eve of the protests, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Sidiki Diakite, announced that the protests were not authorized and claimed that his ministry had not been formally notified.
Christian wedding photographer cant be forced to work same-sex weddings, judge rules

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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.
The Bombay High Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to a social worker booked for obstructing revenue officers from creating a temporary shelter for migrant workers at a school in Shirur village, Thane district, on the condition that he will contribute 50,000 to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund.

Social worker Farukh Sattar Dalvi had moved the high court after the Kasara police booked him under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code for obstructing the tehsildar from creating a temporary shelter for 80 migrant labourers who had walked from the Vasai Virar area to their hometowns.

On April 5, 2020, the tehsildar of Shahapur and some other revenue staff were making preparations to create a temporary shelter at the school in Shirur, when Dalvi, along with several other persons, reached the spot and opposed the move.

The tehsildar alleged that Dalvi verbally abused and threatened her with dire consequences if they continued with the work, and so she was forced to lodge a police complaint against him.

The social worker had moved the high court after the district court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. He told the high court that he was apprehensive about the possible threat of exposure to the villagers from the migrant workers.

It is no doubt true that the applicant has attempted to deter the complainant from discharging her duty and, particularly when he considers himself to be a social worker, it was rather imperative on his part to assist the government agency in securing shelter for the migrants, justice Bharati Dangre said.

The judge, however, accepted that Dalvi acted on his genuine concern for the villagers and added that, as a responsible person and a social worker, he must contribute an amount of 50,000 to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund to aid the State government which is grappling with an unpredicted situation and coping with a grim and stressful scenario.

The high court has granted him bail on a personal bond of 25,000 on the condition that he will co-operate with the investigation and visit the Kasara police station on September 2, 3 and 4. He is supposed to submit the receipt of deposit made to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund when he visits the police station on September 2.
A man walks past graves of people who died during the 2005 bombing that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut - HANNAH MCKAY /Reuters

The United States has welcomed the conviction of a Hizbollah member for involvement in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompe saying the verdict proves the Shiite militant groups involvement in the assassination.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Tuesday found Salim Ayyash guilty of involvement in the Beirut bombing on Valentines Day 2005 that killed the former prime minister and 21 others, while acquitting three others.

"Hizbollah operatives do not freelance, Mre Pompeo said after the verdict. Ayyash's conviction helps confirm what the world is increasingly recognising  that Hizbollah and its members are not defenders of Lebanon as they claim to be but constitute a terrorist organisation dedicated to advancing Iran's malign sectarian agenda."

In a 2,641-page verdict, the UN-backed court in described Mr Ayyash and the three men it acquitted for lack of evidence as supporters of Hizbollah but said it found no evidence that the leadership of the group or the Syrian government were involved in the bombing.

The sons of Hariri also welcomed the verdict and said Hizbollah must face further consequences.

Speaking outside the court in The Netherlands, Saad Hariri, himself a former prime minister, said he accepted the verdict but that it was time for the Iran-backed movement to take responsibility.

"Hizbollah is the one that should make sacrifices today," he said. "I repeat: we will not rest until punishment is served."

The four men accused of the plot are being tried in absentia and are unlikely to ever serve time - -/AFP

Rafiks eldest son Bahaa Hariri noted that the court did not have the mandate to examine the culpability of the wider players involved.

"It was crystal clear to the court that this was a political assassination, it did not happen in a political vacuum, he told The Telegraph.

"My father was murdered because of his opposition to Syria's continued involvement in Lebanon's affairs."

Story continues

The verdict was met with disappointment by Hariri supporters in Beirut.

"I am very angry," said Sami Kara, complaining that after 15 years and roughly 800 million spent on the tribunal, it turned out "that one person carried out such a huge crime."

That money, he said, should have been spent on building power stations in Lebanon, where electricity cuts are common.

The tribunal was established to independently investigate and offer justice to victims of the attack, which wounded 226 people and plunged Lebanon into what was then its worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

But the trial was unable to present a clear picture of the bombing or who ordered it, even after hearing from 297 witnesses over 415 days of hearings since 2014.

The whereabouts of the accused are unknown and they were not in court to hear the verdicts.

The judges said others were involved in the conspiracy to carry out the bombing but they had not been identified.

"The trial chamber is of the view that Syria and Hizbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr Hariri and his political allies, however there is no evidence that the Hizbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr Hariri's murder and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement," said Judge David Re.

The judges said it was very likely that the decision to kill Hariri was only made after a February 2 2005 meeting during which participants had agreed to call for the immediate and total withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon."

Hariri and his close ties to the United States and Sunni Gulf states had been seen as a threat to Iranian and Syrian influence in Lebanon. He had resigned as prime minister before the bombing but remained a powerful figure, preparing to contest forthcoming elections.

Witnesses said the enormous truck bombing targeting Hariris convoy on February 14 2005 was like an earthquake that was felt across Beirut. DNA recovered from an unidentified young man led the court to conclude the bombing was a suicide attack.

Hizbollah did not recognise the tribunal, denied the charges and called the investigation an Israeli-backed plot.

"For us it will be as if they were never issued," the militant groups leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said of the verdicts last week.

A fifth defendant and alleged mastermind of the attack, Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine, was dropped from the case after prosecutors determined he died in Syria in May 2016 while fighting for the Damascus government.

The prosecution case largely relied on phone records allegedly showing the suspects planning and executing the bombing.

The judges accepted that the phone metadata proved a network of mobile users was spying on Hariri.

There was an unequivocal pattern of the network shadowing Mr Hariri, Judge Re said, describing it as beyond coincidence.

The aftermath of the 2005 explosion in Lebanon which killed Rafik Hariri and 21 others - -/AP

Mr Hariri was driving himself and then-minister of economy Bassel Fuleihan in the third car in his motorcade when the bomb detonated near the St George Hotel. Mr Hariri died at the scene while Mr Fuleihan later succumbed to his wounds. At least 220 people were wounded in the attack.

DNA recovered from an unidentified young male at the site led the court to conclude the bombing was a suicide attack.

There was no coordinated procedure to find missing victims in the days after the 2005 explosion, Judge Janet Nosworthy said. One family found their relative some 17 days later, only after they used their own money to hire sniffer dog teams.

Another victim was found the day afterwards after having survived for 12 hours and probably would have survived if hed received timely medical care, Judge Nosworthy said.

Lebanese will likely ask why no lessons were learned from this in light of the even larger Beirut explosion on August 4.

That explosion, attributed to the accidental detonation of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate improperly stored at the port, killed 178 people and left anguished relatives searching for loved ones in the absence of a centralised register of the missing.

The courts verdict had been delayed for two weeks following the recent blast and Judge Re asked the court to observe a minute of silence out of respect for the victims ahead of the hearing.

Rafik Hariri (L), a Sunni with close ties to the US, was seen as a threat to Iranian and Syrian influence in Lebanon - -/AP

Lebanons President Michel Aoun, a longtime Hizbollah ally, called on Lebanese to accept the verdict.

We must accept what is issued by the international tribunal, even if the late justice is unfair, his account tweeted ahead of the verdict.

The bombing has had a lasting impact on its victims, said Judge Janet Nosworthy. Fifteen and a half years later, the scars remain.
Representative image

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an ophthalmologist from a medical college in Bengaluru for allegedly being in touch with ISIS operatives, working to develop a medical and a weaponry-related applications to help terrorist cadres and furthering its activities in the country, officials said August 18.

Abdur Rahman, 28, working at M S Ramaiah Medical College, was taken into custody on August 17 in connection with the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) case being probed by the agency, they said.

The ISKP case was initially registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell in March, 2020, after the arrest of a Kashmiri couple -- Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh -- from Okhla Vihar, Jamia Nagar in the national capital.

The couple having affiliations with the ISKP, an affiliate group of ISIS, were allegedly involved in subversive and anti-national activities and were in touch with a member of the Abu Dhabi module of the ISIS, Abdullah Basith, who was arrested in a separate NIA case and lodged in Tihar jail.

"During interrogation, arrested accused Rahman confessed that he was conspiring with accused Sami and other Syria-based ISIS operatives on secure messaging platforms to further ISIS activities. He was in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured ISIS cadres in the conflict zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of ISIS fighters," NIA spokesperson Sonia Narang said.

The NIA has found that Rahman allegedly toured Syria and visited an ISIS medical camp in early 2014 for treatment of the terrorists for 10 days and returned to India.

After Rahman's arrest, the NIA carried out searches at three of his premises and seized digital devices, mobile phone, laptop containing incriminating material, Narang said.

Besides Rahman and the Kashmir couple, the agency had also arrested two Pune residents -- Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri -- for allegedly being part of the conspiracy to further the activities of ISIS/ISKP in India and to carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.
By Express News Service

MADURAI: Madurai should be made the second capital for Tamil Nadu, demanded State Minister for Revenue, Disaster Management and Information Technology R B Udhayakumar here on Sunday.

Weeks after Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan gave the assent to the States three-capital proposal, discussions over the idea of second capital for Tamil Nadu resurfaced among netizens with many proposing Madurai to be the second capital. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Udhayakumar in a meeting with the cadres of Madurai Rural West district unit of AIADMK passed a resolution demanding the same to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

Both the CM and the Deputy CM have won the trust of people from southern districts, he said, urging them to bring the dream of southern residents true by making Madurai the second capital.

"When Jammu and Kashmir was administrated as a State, it had two capitals. The important government offices in Gujarat have been established in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, given the fact that Gandhinagar is the capital even when Ahmedabad is the largest city. Andhra Pradesh is to have three capitals soon. Similarly, many countries including South Africa have more than two capitals for administrative convenience. In line with it, if Madurai is made the second capital, it would serve as a ground for opportunities and growth for all other southern districts," he said.

He further added that the district is well equipped with all infrastructures needed for a second capital including the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, 'soon to be established' All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Hospital, International Airport, road infrastructure connecting all southern districts and a harbour at a distance of 150 kilometres in Thoothukudi. "To establish an administrative set up, a minimum of 10,000 acres of land would be needed which could be also selected from the outskirts of the city, " he said.
Asian News International

The debate over the origins and molecular structure of 'Oumuamua continued on Monday with an announcement in the Astrophysical Journal Letters that despite earlier promising claims, the interstellar object is not made of molecular hydrogen ice after all.

The earlier study, published by Seligman & Laughlin in 2020  after observations by the Spitzer Space Telescope set tight limits on the outgassing of carbon-based molecules  suggested that if 'Oumuamua were a hydrogen iceberg, then the pure hydrogen gas that gives it its rocket-like push would have escaped detection.

But scientists at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) were curious whether a hydrogen-based object could actually have made the journey from interstellar space to our solar system.

"The proposal by Seligman and Laughlin appeared promising because it might explain the extremely elongated shape of 'Oumuamua as well as the non-gravitational acceleration. However, their theory is based on an assumption that H2 ice could form in dense molecular clouds," said Dr Thiem Hoang, senior researcher in the theoretical astrophysics group at KASI and lead author on the paper.

"If this is true, H2 ice objects could be abundant in the universe, and thus would have far-reaching implications. H2 ice was also proposed to explain dark matter, a mystery of modern astrophysics," Hoang added.

"We wanted to not only test the assumptions in the theory but also the dark matter proposition," Dr Avi Loeb, Frank B. Baird Professor of Science at Harvard and co-author on the paper.

"We were suspicious that hydrogen icebergs could not survive the journey  which is likely to take hundreds of millions of years  because they evaporate too quickly, and as to whether they could form in molecular clouds," added Loeb.

Travelling at a blistering speed of 196,000 mph in 2017, 'Oumuamua was first classified as an asteroid, and when it later sped up, was found to have properties more akin to comets.

But the 0.2 km radius interstellar object didn't fit that category, either, and its point of origin has remained a mystery.

Researchers focused on the giant molecular cloud (GMC) W51  one of the closest GMCs to Earth at just 17,000 light-years away  as a potential point of origin for 'Oumuamua, but hypothesize that it simply could not have made the journey intact.

"The most likely place to make hydrogen icebergs is in the densest environments of the interstellar medium. These are giant molecular clouds," said Loeb, confirming that these environments are both too far away and are not conducive to the development of hydrogen icebergs.

An accepted astrophysical origin for solid objects is growth by sticky collisions of dust, but in the case of a hydrogen iceberg, this theory could not hold together.

"An accepted route to form a km-sized object is first to form grains of micron-size, then such grains grow by sticky collisions. However, in regions with high gas density, collisional heating by gas collisions can rapidly sublimate the hydrogen mantle on the grains, preventing them from growing further," said Hoang.

Although the study explored destruction of H2 ice by multiple mechanisms including interstellar radiation, cosmic rays, and interstellar gas, sublimation due to heating by starlight has the most destructive effect, and according to Loeb, "Thermal sublimation by collisional heating in GMCs could destroy molecular hydrogen icebergs of 'Oumuamua-size before their escape into the interstellar medium."

This conclusion precludes the theory that 'Oumuamua journeyed to our solar system from a GMC, and further precludes the proposition of primordial snowballs as dark matter. Evaporative cooling in these situations does not reduce the role of thermal sublimation by starlight in the destruction of H2 ice objects.

'Oumuamua first gained notoriety in 2017 when it was discovered screaming through space by observers at Haleakala Observatory, and has since been the subject of ongoing studies.

"This object is mysterious and difficult to understand because it exhibits peculiar properties we have never seen from comets and asteroids in our solar system," said Hoang.

While the nature of the interstellar traveller is currently an unsolved mystery, Loeb suggests it won't remain so for much longer, especially if it's not alone.

"If 'Oumuamua is a member of a population of similar objects on random trajectories, then the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (VRO), which is scheduled to have its first light next year, should detect roughly one 'Oumuamua-like object per month. We will all wait with anticipation to see what it will find," said Hoang.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras on Tuesday was adjudged as the best centrally funded technical institute in the Education Ministrys Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu released the ARIIA rankings here in which IIT Mumbai and IIT Delhi bagged the second and third place respectively, while the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru stood fourth.

Punes College of Engineering was adjudged the best in the government or government-aided colleges category followed by PES college of engineering in Karnataka. Coimbatore Institute of Technology was placed third.

In the private or self-financed colleges category, the top position went to S R Engineering College in Warangal, Telangana while G H Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur ranked second.

Among private or self-financed universities, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Odisha bagged the top position while S R M Institute of Science and Technology in Tamil Nadu and the Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore ranked second and third respectively.

Mumbais Institute of Chemical and Technology and Chandigarhs Punjab University took the top two positions respectively in the government and government-aided universities category.

Among women-only higher educational institutions, Avinashlingam Institute for Home Sciences and Higher Education in Coimbatore bagged the top honour while Delhi-based Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women came second.

The ranking aims to promote innovation among Indian educational institutions, assess colleges, and varsities on criteria that include intellectual property generation, support for entrepreneurship, innovative learning method, technology transfer, and commercialisation among other aspects.

A total of 674 educational institutions participated in the rankings that were launched last year by the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education.
The National Chairman of the People's National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah says the leader of the party, Edward Mahama's decision to step aside as the partys presidential candidate will not affect the PNCs survival and fortunes in the 2020 general elections.

Dr. Edward Mahama announced his decision after meeting with the Chairman and Acting General Secretary on August 11, 2020.

Mr. Mornah told Citi News that the new leadership will fervently work to ensure the party's victory in the general elections, despite Dr. Mahama's decision.

The party did not die with President Limann and the party will not die with the exit of Edward Mahama. I am sure the new leadership that will take place from him will be motivated, they will be inspired, they will work assiduously to ensure that the legacy of Limann is maintained.

The National Secretariat of the People's National Convention (PNC) is yet to announce a date for the party's presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer ahead of election 2020.

There are suggestions that some outstanding issues Dr. Mahama has with the party's National Chairman and General Secretary had stalled efforts at holding a national congress ahead of the general elections.

The National Youth Organizer of the People's National Convention, Awudu Ishaq, has thus called on Dr. Mahama to immediately resolve all issues to pave way for the congress.

A former Bolgatanaga East MP, David Apasara, an importer, Samson Asaaki Awingobit and Rev. Samuel Adjei Debrah, an economist will be running for the flagbearer position.

---citinewsroom
A Huawei logo is displayed at a retail store in Beijing, China on May 27, 2019. Fred Dufour | AFP | Getty Images

Huawei could face a "near-total" cut-off from key semiconductors after the U.S. tightened restrictions on the Chinese firm's ability to obtain critical components, according to one group of analysts. The latest rule could be a huge blow for the technology giant, which was already facing limited options to procure the chips it needs. If Huawei isn't able to get access to the components it needs, billions of dollars of revenue is on the line from across its entire business. "The U.S. moves represent a significant tightening of restrictions over Huawei's ability to procure semiconductors. That puts into significant jeopardy its ability to continue manufacturing smartphones and base stations, which are its core products," Dan Wang, technology analyst at Gavekal Dragonomics, a research firm, told CNBC. Huawei was not available for comment when contacted by CNBC.

The details

In May, Washington amended the foreign-produced direct product rule (FDPR) requiring foreign manufacturers using American chipmaking equipment to get a license before they're able to sell semiconductors to Huawei. On Monday, the Department of Commerce took further action. It added 38 Huawei affiliates onto a blacklist called the Entity List. American companies are restricted from doing business with companies on the Entity List. And Washington further amended the FDPR to include instances where U.S. software or technology is the basis for a foreign-produced item that will be used in the "production" or "development" in any part, equipment or component produced, purchased or ordered by any Huawei entity on the blacklist. The amended rule will apply when any Huawei entity on the blacklist acts as a "purchaser, intermediate consignee, ultimate consignee, or end-user."

These designations are important as they essentially increase the scope of what comes under U.S. sanctions.

Huawei designs its own line of Kirin chips which go into its smartphones. It also designs a line of chips called Ascend which go into servers for its data centers that its fast-growing cloud computing division relies on. But the actual manufacturing is done by Taiwan's TSMC, which has already said that it will no longer ship chips to Huawei from mid-September. After the initial amendment to the FDPR in May, Huawei was already facing very limited options in procuring chips. The most viable, according to experts, was buying from Taiwanese firm MediaTek, which produces so-called "off the shelf" chips for smartphones that Huawei could buy. Obtaining semiconductors from Chinese firm Unisoc was also an option. As was potentially moving production to SMIC, China's largest contract chipmaker. However, all options had serious issues. For example, SMIC uses U.S. equipment to make chips while it is also significantly behind TSMC in terms of technology. But the latest move by the Department of Commerce is one of the toughest moves against Huawei yet and threatens to narrow the company's options even further. "The move is the latest and potentially most serious effort by the U.S. government to choke off the company's ability to obtain advanced semiconductors for all of its business lines," Eurasia Group said in a note on Monday. "A worst-case scenario, which appears increasingly likely, could amount to a near-total cutoff of semiconductors to Huawei, dealing a lethal blow to China's most important global technology company."

Business could 'unravel'
A Texas man has been charged with capital murder after allegedly going on a shooting spree in his neighborhood that left three people dead, including his ex-girlfriend, before being found hiding in the woods with a swastika drawn on his head.

Two more people were also wounded in the bloody 11am rampage at three houses in a rural subdivision just outside Dayton, about 50 miles northeast of Houston.

Michael Wettstein, 60, a resident of the cul de sac where the killings unfolded, was arrested after he was found hiding in a nearby wooded area, Liberty County Sheriff's Capt. Ken DeFoor said.

Michael Wettstein, 60 (left), has been charged with capital murder in a shooting rampage that killed three people, among them his ex-girlfriend, Misty Herndon, 38 (right)

All five shootings took place along Country Road 4901 in a rural subdivision located 50 miles away from Houston on Monday morning

Wettstein allegedly killed his neighbor Bruce Mercer, 59, for an unknown reason

He was discovered with a swastika drawn on his forehead and in possession of the shotgun and rifle used in the attacks, according to law enforcement.

According to the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, Wettstein first headed to the home of a woman who was identified by relatives speaking to KPRC as his ex-girlfriend, 38-year-old Misty Herndon, at 11am. The couple had recently broken up.

There, he allegedly shot her dog, before killing Herndon and her father, identified as 56-year-old Richard Lamm.

Wettstein's next stop was the home of Bruce Mercer, 59, also located on County Road 4901. Officials said he fatally shot the man for an unknown reason.

Wettstein allegedly got into an argument with Marvin Rumley, 66 (left), over his dog and shot the man in the back of the head. He also allegedly shot Rumley's daughter, Amanda (right)

This map shows the locations of the three shootings that all took place along Country Road 4901 outside Dayton, Texas

The 60-year-old suspect then went to the home of neighbor Marvin Rumley, 66, and his 32-year-old daughter Amanda, and got into an argument over their dog. In the course of the verbal dispute, Wettstein allegedly opened fire, shooting the man in the back of the head and his daughter in the throat.

The Rumleys both survived and were airlifted to a hospital in Houston. Their condition is unknown at this time.

By the time police responded to the scene, Wettstein had escaped. He was later found hiding in a nearby wooded area and surrendered to the officers without incident.

Neighbors reported that Wettstein was known for going around the subdivision and 'ranting' about unleashed dogs in the area, according to KFDM.

The sheriff's office has confirmed that Wettstein had previously called deputies for various complaints.

Jail records indicate that Wettstein was arrested on an assault charge in April 2019.
The Toronto Region Real Estate Board suspended its data feed to popular property listing site Bungol in early August, but two weeks later its creator says he still doesnt know what rules his company has violated.

Bungols Jack Zhang said real estate board suspended its listing feed to his site on Aug. 5, all but shuttering his site.

Bungol relies on the data so our product is effectively paralyzed right now and user base has plummetted, said Zhang.

In a statement to the Star on Tuesday, the real estate board didnt offer any details, saying only that it requires that all of its members comply with the TRREB By-Law, Rules, Policies and contractual obligations, and that it has commenced a process to review compliance and address any outstanding issues accordingly.

The real estate board said the issue is not related to Bungols posting of sold data  something that is done by thousands of the boards members that are known as virtual office websites, or VOWs

This is an internal process as per our statement, it added.

Bungol maps Toronto home listings, including their price history and other details such as listing expirations and suspensions. It attracts about 180,000 active users a month, according to Zhang, who launched the site in January 2018.

He said Bungols business model may be at issue rather than the data it posts. Although it is a licensed real estate broker and he is broker of record for Bungol, the site doesnt employ agents. Instead, it generates revenue by collecting referrals to other realtors  about 60 to 80 a month, according to Zhang.

Bungols website says it is terrified of TRREB and would have done whatever they told us to do.

If the real estate review takes three months it will severely injure the business, said Zhang. It it takes six months, the site is effectively dead, he added.

On Sunday, Bungol posted a notice on its site saying it faced a kafkaesque situation after TRREBs suspension.

We dont know exactly what breaches we made, says the notice. We tried asking them to tell us specifically what we are doing wrong so we can fix them, but they wouldnt give us any details.

Zhang told the Toronto Star he received another very threatening letter from the real estate board Monday afternoon, telling it to remove the web post before midnight or face legal action.

As of Tuesday afternoon the notice remained.

Realtor David Fleming of Bosley Real Estate said its possible that Bungol has breached the rules, but its not alone in fearing the real estate boards impact on its business.

I am terrified of TRREB. A lot of agents are afraid of TRREB because we dont get clear communication from them. We know that they have been fighting a long fight that none of us asked for, said Fleming, referring to a seven-year fight by the Toronto real estate board against a ruling by Canadas Competition Tribunal that said VOWs must be allowed to post sold prices online.

If TRREB took all the money they spent fighting the competition bureau and put that into developing a website that competes with Bungol and HouseSigma  it would have solved our problem, he added.

Correction - Aug. 19, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that misstated number of active users per month on Bungol. The previous version also misstated the number of referrals the site generates. Incorrect information was provided to the Star.
During a wide-ranging news conference on Tuesday, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said his department has made key arrests in an area experiencing high crime and identified the body found burning on a San Antonio highway last week.

Salazar said fingerprints were used to identify 33-year-old Micheal Delgado as the man who was found burning next to the access road near the 10300 block of U.S. 90.

Salazar initially called it a gruesome scene, saying Delgado had been dumped there before being set on fire. A passerby saw the fire soon after and called authorities.

Deputies havent released any other details, saying they are still looking for assistance in identifying those responsible for the killing. A reward is being offered for anyone with information by calling Crime Stoppers at 207-324-7867.

Over the last several months, deputies have increased directed patrols on the East Side in response to a growing number of shootings and violent crimes.

Salazar said over the last few weeks, 29-year old Keith Vaughn was arrested by BCSO and San Antonio police  one of the individuals Salazar said was responsible for a large number of crimes that have plagued the area recently.

Vaughn was charged on Aug. 13 with aggravated robbery and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Also charged for separate incidents were Adriana Harrison, 25, for deadly conduct on July 14 and 25-year-old Tranicce Drizzy Durst for deadly conduct on July 16.

We are excited to get some of people off the streets, Salazar said.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is warning borrowers of a scam targeting business owners who applied to an emergency coronavirus loan program.

The SBA said in an alert that malicious actors were impersonating federal officials the SBA Office of Disaster Assistance in order to collect personal information from small business owners. SBA officials said they believe small business owners who applied to the SBAs Economic Injury Disaster Loan program have been a primary target of the scam.

SBA borrowers, especially those who applied to the EIDL, should be on the lookout for phishing campaigns, officials said.

Officials noted that SBA only communicates via email from accounts ending in sba.gov, and nothing else. Borrowers are warned to be skeptical of any emails in which the SBA logo appears, and to check for the sba.gov address.

Scams have included attempts to collect personal information, access to banking accounts or to install ransomware or malware on the users computer or device.

The SBA said in the warning that it does not use third-party, non-government platforms to collect or follow small business owners online, and does not ask for fees or payment in order for small business owners to apply for financial assistance. Government employees do not charge for recovery assistance, officials noted.

The SBA recommended users be on the look out for coronavirus assistance-related emails containing the SBA logo, requesting personal information or containing attachments. Users should always double-check web addresses, confirm the application numbers in an email are correct, and avoid clicking on or opening any suspicious links or attachments.

If you suspect an email or other form of contact is an attempted scam, you can report it to the Office of the Inspector General online or by using the hotline 800-767-0385.

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A new BBC documentary has given a glimpse into the life of Britains youngest solo shepherdess Emma Gray, who last year became a mother for the first time.

The farmer, 34, who once wrote a book about her life as Britains loneliest shepherdess, married fireman Ewan Irvine, 41, in 2018 after meeting him four-years ago, and gave birth to their first son Len last year.

While Ewan is still learning the ropes, the pair manage to run a flock of 400 ewes, several cows and 20 border collie dogs of various ages on their remote Fallowlees Farm in Northumberland.

But rural living doesn't come without it's challenges, and on BBC2's This Farming Life, Emma confesses the couple struggle spending quality time together, teasing they'd once 'nearly divorced' while moving cows.

A new BBC documentary has given a glimpse into the life of Britains youngest solo shepherdess Emma Gray, who last year became a mother for the first time. She is pictured with husband Ewan Irvine, 41, and one-year-old son Len at Fallowlees Farm

'It's hard to get quality time,' admits Emma, 'We get lots of time like this which is quite testing of a relationship I think.

'It's quite difficult working together with stock like this. Like cows, we've nearly gotten a divorced when moving cows in the past.'

And while Ewan held some apprehension about his agricultural career, he now says he feels there's 'a bit of farming in everyone'.

'There has been some trepidation', says Ewan, 'Because it's not my career and I don't come from a farming background, but I'll try and do my best not to let anyone down.'

Emma once wrote a book about her life as Britains loneliest shepherdess, after a split with her fiance prompted her to take sole tenancy of Fallowlees Farm

He later adds: 'Maybe there's a bit of farming in everyone, from being hunter gatherers we went into farming and I reckon it's in our DNA.'

The documentary sees Emma temporarily leaving their home to compete in the English National Sheepdog Trials, leaving Ewan in charge of the Northumberland farm.

'It's a steep learning curve', he admits, 'I've been living with Emma for four years now and I'm a bit overwhelmed without Emma here, because I never know what to prioritise. Emma just instantly knows what needs to be done.'

He says: 'I'm slowly getting her to tell me and include me, because sometimes she thinks I should just know and guess. So yeah, I miss her when she's away. '

In the new documentary, which airs tonight at 9pm, Emma reveals how she and her husband Ewan are adjusting to life on the farm as a family

Emma hit the headlines 11 years ago, aged 23, when a split from her fiance prompted her to take sole tenancy of the National Trusts 150-acre Fallowlees Farm in Northumberland, making her Britains youngest solo shepherdess.

She later became the first woman to win the prestigious Northumberland Sheepdog Trials League in the contests four-decade history.

But rural life wasnt easy  she struggled to find a husband and penned a memoir of her lonely life on the farm in 2012, called One Girl and Her Dog.

Emma longed to find a match, but her search for love suffered a major setback when she broke her back in a near fatal quad bike accident in June 2016.

Emma took sole tenancy of the National Trusts 150-acre Fallowlees Farm in Northumberland 11 years ago, making her Britains youngest solo shepherdess

The shepherdess even appeared in The Sun that same year, revealing that she was looking for love in a photoshoot which encouraged potential suitors to contact her.

At the time she described her perfect date as a 'tall, rugged dog-lover who doesnt mind a bit of muck'.

Not only did Emma become the first solo shepherdess and sheepdog trial champion, she has since broken a world record, and made one of her border collie's canine royalty  after selling her for a world record 18,900 at auction.

She made 14,000 guineas, an old currency still traditionally used in some livestock bidding, after selling sheepdog Megan to USA buyer Dr Pamela Helton.

Emma made border collie Megan (pictured) canine royalty  after selling her for a world record 18,900 at auction

While similar farm dogs usually sell for around 2,000, the two-and-a-half-year-old fetched the huge sum because she comes from a family of champions.

Emma also set the previous record of 14,700 for sheepdog bitch Brenna a year ago.

It may not be too long until the family own another record breaking sheepdog, as the documentary also sees Ewan's dog Rita, the daughter of Brenna, give birth to her first litter of pups.

She made 14,000 guineas, an old currency still traditionally used in some livestock bidding, after selling sheepdog Megan to USA buyer Dr Pamela Helton

Ewan reveals: 'I'm really chuffed with her. 'She's done really well. We've got four now.

'You're so proud it's like children it's not quite as a exciting as when Len came but it's not far off'.

'You can't help but get a heart swell when you see a life being born.'

This Farming Life airs on BBC2 Tuesdays at 9pm and is available on iPlayer
An Allentown man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for running his drug dealing business out of a garage near McKinley Elementary School and his home near Cleveland Elementary School, according to court records and a news release from the U.S. Attorneys office.

Francisco Javi Cruz-Pica, 38, kept drugs, five handguns and six rifles at his garage in the 1100 block of Turner Street, court records say. He lived in the 900 block of Liberty Street. The news release says Cruz-Pica also had a machine gun.

Cruz-Pica illegally armed himself to the teeth as he flooded the streets of Allentown with drugs, said Michael J. Driscoll, special agent in charge of the FBIs Philadelphia division.

In January, Cruz-Pica pleaded guilty to an 11-count Indictment charging drug trafficking and multiple firearms offenses, the news release says. He committed these offenses while on supervised release for a previous felony firearms conviction in Puerto Rico. Police investigated him from April to August 2018.

This defendant clearly has no respect for the law or for the Allentown community, said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain.

I commend the Allentown Resident Office of the FBI and the Allentown Police Department on their investigation, which has enabled an effective prosecution by the U. S. Attorney and has resulted in a dangerous criminal being taken off the streets of our community, said Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allentown Resident Agency, the Allentown Police Department and the Lehigh County District Attorneys office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Lewis Fallenstein.

Cruz-Pica was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Schmehl.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Belarus' president rules out repeat election, warns country's existence at stake

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 9:31 AM

Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko has rejected calls for a new election, warning that foreign powers aim to destabilize the country, as former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya declared "readiness to become a national leader."

Lukashenko said on Monday that there would be no new presidential election despite calls from the opposition and anti-government protesters, the Belta news agency reported.

"You should never expect me to do something under pressure [A new election] won't happen," he was quoted as saying.

Shortly after official results showed the incumbent president had won a sixth consecutive term in the election last Sunday, violent clashes erupted between police and protesters opposed to the results. Official results showed the incumbent president won over 80 percent of the vote.

'NATO tanks rattling tracks at our door!'

Addressing a massive gathering of pro-government demonstrators in the capital, Minsk, on Sunday, the Belarusian president urged the nation to "defend your country, independence and families."

He said that Belarus would cease to exists as a country if authorities conceded to the demands for a new election. He warned that NATO was "rattling tank tracks at our doors."

"(NATO) tanks and jets are on standby within 15 minutes' reach of our borders. This is not for nothing. NATO forces are rattling tank tracks at our doors. Military power is building up on the western border of our country. Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and unfortunately our brother Ukraine, its leadership, are telling us to hold a new election," he said.

The Belarusian government has rejected allegations of vote-rigging in the presidential election, saying it has evidence of foreign interference in the internal affairs of Belarus.

UK rejects Belarus' election results

In related news, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said London did not recognize the results of Belarus' presidential election.

"The UK does not accept the results," Raab said.

He urged Lukashenko to launch an independent investigation into the dispute over the presidential election.

He claimed the election had been "fraudulent."

The Belarusian opposition, which claims vote-rigging, held a counter rally in Minsk on Sunday, following street protests over the past week.

Separately, former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said on Monday that she was ready to become a national leader.

"I am ready to assume the responsibility and act as a national leader in order for the country to calm down and enter the normal rhythm," she said in a video address posted on YouTube.

Tikhanovskaya, who fled to Lithuania following the presidential election after publicly denouncing the vote results, demanded the release of "all political prisoners" in the country and "to prepare as soon as possible the legal framework and the conditions to organize a new presidential election."

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Lukashenko in a phone call on Sunday that Moscow stood by the Belarusian leader's side, offering "comprehensive help" to Minsk if necessary.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Moscow was ready to provide Minsk with help in accordance with a collective military pact between the two countries.

The Kremlin added that foreign pressure was being applied to Belarus.

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LONDON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Multi-asset investment platform eToro has today launched a new cloud computing portfolio to give retail investors access to some of the most exciting tech companies in the world.

Sector breakdown of companies included in this portfolio. (PRNewsfoto/eToro)

Cloud computing underpins many of the technologies we use daily, including email, video streaming and social media. As the world retreated into lockdown this year, cloud services became increasingly important for companies big and small, and the sector is forecast to grow 17% worldwide in 2020 as a result. That growth is expected to continue, with analysts targeting a 14% compound annual growth rate for the sector globally over the next five years.

eToro's latest thematic portfolio will provide retail investors with exposure to 30 companies in sectors vital for driving that growth, including software as a service, healthcare, hardware, interactive media and infrastructure.

Dani Brinker, head of portfolio investment at eToro, comments: "Many of us rely daily on cloud computing services, whether that's to speak to friends, stream movies or work from home. This technology has quietly revolutionised our lives, with some experts suggesting it's already as important as utilities including electricity, gas and water. And it's only just getting started! Cloud computing is vital for many emerging technologies that are set to have a profound influence on the world, including self-driving cars, artificial intelligence and remote working.

"eToro is on a mission to simplify investing, making markets accessible and transparent. Our growing range of thematic portfolios enable people to invest in ideas they understand and use daily, such as digital retail, food tech and now, cloud computing."

Clients can invest in the cloud computing portfolio from as little as $1,000. The 30 companies in the portfolio include both major tech players that view cloud as a revenue contributor, as well as pure players with cloud computing at the core of their business, these include Google, IBM, Alibaba Group Holdings, Workday Inc, Twilo and VMWare.

Notes to editors

Visit our website for more information on the Cloud Computing Portfolio.

Sector breakdown of companies included in this portfolio:

Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1229838/eToro_Sector_breakdown_Infographic.jpg

About eToro

eToro was founded in 2007 with the vision of opening up the global markets so that everyone can invest in a simple and transparent way. The eToro platform enables people to invest in the assets they want, from stocks and commodities to cryptoassets. We are a global community of more than 14 million registered users who share their investment strategies; and anyone can follow the approaches of those who have been the most successful. Due to the simplicity of the platform users can easily buy, hold and sell assets, monitor their portfolio in real time, and transact whenever they want. www.etoro.com

Disclaimer:

eToro is regulated in Europe by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK and by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in Australia.

CopyPortfolios is an investment management service provided by eToro Europe Ltd., which is authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. Your capital is at risk. CopyPortfolios is a portfolio management product. CopyPortfolios should not be considered as exchange-traded funds, nor as hedge funds.

Past performance is not an indicator of future results.

SOURCE eToro

Related Links

http://www.etoro.com


The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Adrian Oros, announced that the discussions scheduled Tuesday in Cotroceni with the President of Romania concern the National Strategic Programme and the National Relaunch Programme, two topics that should have been the main topics of both the authorities and the farmers" if this year were not for the pandemic of COVID-19 and the drought.

"The problem of rectification will be in the Government, and in Cotroceni we are discussing the National Strategic Programme and the National Relaunch Programme, the two topics which, if it had not been for this pandemic and if it had not been for this drought, should have been the main subjects of both ourselves and the farmers, because it is very important. Unfortunately, this National Strategic Programme has been left out, in the shadow in terms of your attention, but which, in my opinion, has not lost its importance. It is vital how we now decide to finance Romania's agriculture in the next 7 years and how to allocate those amounts," said Adrian Oros, when asked what he would discuss at Tuesday's meeting with the Romanian president.The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR), Adrian Oros, held a press conference on the budget correction.President Klaus Iohannis will have a working meeting with Prime Minister Ludovic Orban and members of the Government at 15:00 on Tuesday at the Cotroceni Palace, announced earlier in the day the Presidential Administration.Deputy Prime Minister Raluca Turcan, Minister of Public Finance, Florin Citu, Minister of Economy, Energy and Business Environment, Virgil Popescu, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communications, Lucian Bode, and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Adrian Oros, will participate.At the end of the reunion, the president will make a press statement.
Angela Alsobrooks first read about Kamala Harris in Essence Magazine in 2009, when Alsobrooks was launching an underdog run for state's attorney in the Maryland suburb where she grew up.

Harris was making history as the first Black woman to serve as district attorney in San Francisco. Alsobrooks, a Democrat who was trying to accomplish the same feat in Maryland's Prince George's County, was impressed.

But what really wowed her was Harris's focus on restorative justice, which Alsobrooks began talking about on the campaign trail in Prince George's. When Alsobrooks defeated her opponents in a landslide, one of the first calls she received was from Harris. "I am here for you," she recalls Harris saying. "Anything you need."

Now, after more than a decade of mentorship, friendship and both women forging a series of political firsts, it is Alsobrooks vowing to do anything she can for Harris, a U.S. senator whose vice-presidential bid makes her the first Black woman and first Asian American to join a major-party ticket.

During a breakfast hosted by Maryland Democrats as part of the virtual Democratic National Convention, Alsobrooks hailed presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden for selecting Harris - saying the choice amounts to recognition that Black women have long been "the backbone and the moral compass of the Democratic Party."

Alsobrooks, who in 2018 became the first Black woman elected county executive of Prince George's, spoke in starkly personal terms about the racial reckoning underway across the country in the wake of George Floyd's death in the custody of Minneapolis police.

She told the story of her own great-grandfather, an unarmed Black man shot by a White sheriff's deputy in South Carolina in the 1950s. The sheriff's deputy instructed her great-grandfather to "dance," Alsobrooks said, and used a racial slur before shooting him the three times in the legs, then the abdomen.

The killing, which prompted Alsobrooks's family to flee to Prince George's, helped shape her desire to become a prosecutor. She says she sees the job as fundamentally about seeking justice - and believes Harris has always seen it that way as well.

Back during that 2009 campaign, Alsobrooks bought and read Harris's book, "Smart on Crime,"which she said made clear that Harris felt a responsibility not just to put people in prison, but to prevent them from getting there.

In San Francisco, she had implemented the programs to make it happen in a way Alsobrooks had not seen anyone else do.

On the campaign trail, Alsobrooks began promising to implement initiatives like Harris's "Back on Track," which allowed first-time, nonviolent felony drug offenders to join a program that provided education and job training instead of jail time.

Harris eventually heard about the Maryland candidate who kept citing her initiatives. When Harris called to congratulate her, Alsobrooks told Harris that she wanted to come to California to learn about programs like "Back on Track."

Harris welcomed her, Alsobrooks said. Over the course of several days, she set up meetings for Alsobrooks with the judge, prosecutors and participants in the program - and she checked in regularly over the years to see how the effort was going in Prince George's.

"She is the quintessential big sister," Alsobrooks, 49, said of Harris, 55.

Alsobrooks said Harris gave her advice, passed down from her mother, that has stuck with her over the years: "It's not as important to be the first at something as it is to perform the job with such excellence that you shall not be the last."

Alsobrooks returned to California in 2016 to campaign with Harris in her bid for U.S. Senate, riding around on a bus with Harris, her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif.

Two years later, when Alsobrooks was considering a run to become the county's first female political leader, she called Harris for advice. The county prosecutor and the U.S. senator met at a Mexican restaurant on Capitol Hill. Alsobrooks said Harris arrived with pen and paper and spent about two hours helping talk through strategy with her.

When Harris endorsed Alsobrooks before the 2018 Democratic primary, she praised her as "one of the bright, bright stars in our country."

Alsobrooks, who is seen by some Maryland Democrats as a potential gubernatorial candidate in 2022, said she has been surprised by attacks by some liberal activists on Harris's record as a prosecutor.

They have criticized Harris for preserving local authority when it came to investigating police shootings and officers wearing body cameras, and attacked Harris's policy on truancy, which she tried to combat by threatening fines or jail time for the parents of children whose children missed too many school days.

Harris has said that she regrets how the policy, launched when she was district attorney of San Francisco and expanded statewide when she was attorney general, was implemented.

Alsobrooks, too, sometimes faced questions about her time as prosecutor during her run for county executive.

As state's attorney, Alsobrooks also focused on truancy but took a different approach, sending prosecutors into middle schools with high rates of absenteeism to meet weekly with students. The classes that improved their attendance received rewards, including pizza parties; Alsobrooks said attendance rates dramatically improved.

She said she believes Harris has always been focused on the root causes of crime and wishes that critics would focus on pioneering programs like "Back on Track" instead of other parts of her record.

"I know the person they are describing is not the person I know and admire," Alsobrooks said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: In a swipe at its critics over the Facebook row, the BJP said on Tuesday that people whose political base has "shrunk like anything" seek to dominate discourse on these platforms and asserted that everybody regardless of his ideology has got the right to air his views there.

Senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi believes that any organisation that does not work to his liking is acting under the pressure of the BJP and the RSS.

A bitter war of words has erupted between the Congress and the BJP following a report in the Wall Street Journal claiming that Facebook ignored applying its hate speech rules to politicians of the ruling party in India.

Gandhi has accused the BJP and RSS of spreading "fake news" using Facebook and WhatsApp to influence the electorate, inviting sharp attack from the saffron party.

ALSO READ | Facebook 'interfering' with India's electoral democracy: Congress writes to Mark Zuckerberg

At a BJP press conference, Prasad, who is the Union law and IT minister, said it is for Facebook to decide what to do as far as the story in the Wall Street Journal is concerned.

He said that hundreds of pages of BJP supporters were also removed by Facebook.

"If the platform is public, then every Indian regardless of his ideology and commitment has got the right to convey his view. It is a hard fact we need to know that people whose political base has shrunk like anything seek to dominate discourse on these platforms," Prasad said.

Hitting out at Gandhi over his hate-speech barbs at the BJP, he said the Congress leader's comments during the Delhi assembly polls that youth will hit Prime Minister Narendra Modi with sticks in six months if he doesn't address the issue of unemployment in the country, was a "text book case of instigation for violence".

ALSO READ | Opposition steps up demand for JPC, accuses Facebook of inaction

Wasn't it a hate speech, the Union minister asked and also referred to Congress president Sonia Gandhi's call for "aar par ki ladai" at a public meeting to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in this regard.
Last summer I posted about the elegant little music streaming website, Poolside FM, described by one anonymous wag as sounding like "a collection of records curated by an 80s Floridian porn star." It looks like an 1980s era Mac desktop.

Now Poolside FM is available as a 1980s era Mac app and it has several additional channels to choose from: Indie Summer, Hangover Club, Tokyo Disco, and Friday Nite Heat.
Editor's note: Based on information provided by the U.S. Embassy in Lima.

Hoy celebramos junto a la Marina de Guerra del Peru @naval_peru el aniversario numero 100 de la primera Mision Naval de los Estados Unidos al Peru. ????????https://t.co/v3oAuAIbP9
We are proud to be helping IFB Solutions grow their core mission, said John Pence, President and founder of Sunrise. With Dynamics 365 and Sunrise, IFB Solutions now has a complete, scalable platform to sustain them for many years to come.

Sunrise Technologies, a global provider of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Applications and Cloud Services, announced today that IFB Solutions has selected Microsoft Dynamics 365 as its ERP solution and Sunrise as its implementation partner.

IFB Solutions is a nonprofit corporation that provides employment, training, and services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, IFB Solutions operates manufacturing facilities in Winston-Salem, Asheville, NC, and Little Rock, AR. IFB Solutions manufactures mattresses, office supplies, apparel, and prescription glasses for consumers, the U.S. military, and the U.S. government.

IFB Solutions will implement Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain as its core business application, along with the Sunrise 365 Supply Chain Solution. As a non-profit that provides jobs and opportunities to the blind and visually impaired, a key requirement for IFB Solutions was the ability to integrate accessibility tools with their choice of ERP system. The ease of integration to Dynamics 365, as part of Microsofts commitment to accessible and inclusive products, made the solution a perfect fit.

Dynamics 365 and Sunrise were great choices for us, said Rob Burgess, Chief Financial Officer at IFB Solutions. With Sunrise, we found a partner who understood our business and could provide the solutions we needed for future growth.

We are proud to be helping IFB Solutions grow their core mission, said John Pence, President and founder of Sunrise. With Dynamics 365 and Sunrise, IFB Solutions now has a complete, scalable platform to sustain them for many years to come.

About Sunrise Technologies

Sunrise Technologies is a premier global provider for Microsoft cloud-based solutions, backed by extensive industry expertise in Dynamics 365, Power BI, Fraud Protection and Azure for retail, apparel, fashion, consumer products, furniture and manufacturing companies. Sunrise delivers global, Tier 1, supply chain solutions and support that enhance Microsoft business applications for a lifetime. Plus, customers can hit the ground running with industry best practices, pre-built configurations and a proven methodology.

For additional information please contact:

Sunrise Technologies | sunrise.co

Susan Thompson

336.722.6741

info@sunrise.co

About IFB Solutions:

IFB Solutions is the largest employer of people who are blind in the United States. In addition to manufacturing, it operates nearly 20 office supply stores across the country and produces mattresses. IFB produces eyewear under its Twenty200 brand at its Winston-Salem lab and operates a retail location in Winston-Salem. IFB Solutions funds employee training and services as well as community programs through grants and private donations, making possible summer camps, afterschool programs and activities for children who are blind, and Community Low Vision services through its low-vision Centers across North Carolina and in Little Rock, Ark. ifbsolutions.org
The main exams for 2021 civil services will be conducted for five days beginning from 17 September, 2021

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released its annual calendar for the year 2021 on its official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in. The calendar for the year 2021 specifies the dates of various examinations to be conducted by the commission.

The schedule revealed that civil services prelims exam will be held on 21 June, 2021. As per a report by Hindustan Times, while the last date to apply is 2 March, 2021, the notification for the same will be released on 10 February. According to the calendar, the main exams for 2021 civil services will be conducted for five days beginning from 17 September, 2021.

For 2020, the UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination will be held on 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17 January 2021. Here is the direct link to go through the UPSC annual calendar 2021.

The calendar specifies that the dates of notification, commencement and duration of Examinations/ RTs are liable to alteration, if the circumstances so warrant. Hence, the dates can change in the future. The notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination, 2021 is going to come out on 7 October this year as the exam will be one of the first UPSC exams to be held in 2021 (21.02.2021).

As Times Now reports, many of the changes in the 2021 calendar have resulted due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While every year the prelims for civil services are held in the month of May or early June, for 2021, the dates have been pushed to late June. This years preliminary exams were also delayed due to the viral outbreak and are now set to take place on 4 October, 2020.
One in four older Americans had a virtual medical visit in the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of them by video, a new telehealth poll finds. That's much higher than the 4% of people over 50 who said they had ever had a virtual visit with a doctor in a similar poll taken in 2019.

Comfort levels with telehealth, also called telemedicine, have also increased. Back in 2019, most older adults expressed at least one serious concern about trying a telehealth visit. But by mid-2020, the percentage with such concerns had eased, especially among those who had experienced a virtual visit between March and June of this year.

Yet not all older adults see virtual care as an adequate substitute for in-person care, even in a pandemic, the National Poll on Healthy Aging findings show.

And 17% of people over 50 still say they have never used any sort of video conferencing tool for any reason, including medical care. While that's 11 percentage points lower than in the 2019 poll, that lack of experience or access could be a barrier to receiving care without having to leave home as the pandemic continues to surge in dozens of states.

Both the 2019 and 2020 polls were done for the University of Michigan's Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation with support from AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center. Both involved a national sample of more than 2,000 adults aged 50 to 80.

These findings have implications for the health providers who have ramped up telehealth offerings rapidly, and for the insurance companies and government agencies that have quickly changed their policies to cover virtual visits. Tracking change over time could inform future efforts, and highlights the need for much more research on concerns, barriers and optimal use of telehealth by older adults." Laurie Buis, Ph.D., M.S.I., a health information technology researcher at U-M who helped design the poll and interpret its results

"This has been an extraordinary time for the telemedicine movement, and these poll results show just how powerful this 'trial by fire' has been," says Jeff Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., associate director of the poll, health care researcher and a primary care provider who uses telehealth with his patients at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. "But our data also highlight areas of continued concern for patients that need to be addressed."

COVID-19 impacts

The poll finds that 30% older adults had ever participated in a telehealth visit by June 2020, perhaps reflecting changes in insurance coverage that began to take effect before the pandemic. But the figure for March through June suggests that much of the movement to telehealth visits resulted from states mandating reductions in elective and non-emergency health care during the first months of the pandemic, as part of "stay home" public health requirements aimed at reducing the spread of the virus.

Nearly half of those who had had a telehealth visit said that they had had an in-person visit canceled or rescheduled by their health care provider between March and June, and 30% said that a virtual visit was the only option when they called to schedule an appointment.

Awareness about the special risks of COVID-19 among older adults may have also played a role, as 45% of respondents said the pandemic made them more interested in telehealth. The percentage was higher among those who had had a telehealth visit in the past. But only 15% of the poll respondents who had a telehealth visit said that fear of the virus led them to request a telehealth visit, whether for a new concern or in place of a previously scheduled visit.

Among those who had telehealth visit this past spring, 91% said it was easy to connect with their doctor. One-third had their visits via a video connection from their phone, and another third carried out the video visit on a tablet or computer. In addition, 36% had an audio-only visit by phone, which the 2019 poll did not ask about.

Year-over-year change

The new poll asked older adults many of the same questions as the poll conducted in 2019. This allows for comparisons between the two years, such as the percentage who said:

They feel very or somewhat comfortable with video conferencing technologies: 64%, up from 53% in 2019

At least one of their health providers offer telehealth visits: 62%, up from 14% * They are interested in using telehealth to connect with a provider they had seen before: 72%, up from 58%

They are interested in using telehealth for a one-time follow-up appointment after a procedure or operation: 63%, up from 55%

They have concerns about privacy during a telehealth visit: 24%, down from 49%

They are concerned they would have difficulty seeing or hearing the provider during a video visit: 25%, down from 39%

But there was almost no change in the percentage who said they would feel comfortable seeing a provider for the first time via a virtual visit (about one in three would), and the percentage who felt that the quality of care in a telehealth visit was not as good (about two-thirds).

Moving forward

Physician groups, insurers, professional societies and organizations including AARP are monitoring the situation with telehealth, and in some cases advocating for the temporary changes in Medicare and Medicaid payment policy, and other relevant regulations, to become permanent.

In June, AARP Research released a report about older adults' awareness of and attitudes toward telehealth. AARP has also published resources to help older adults and their caregivers use telehealth services.

"It's clear from this study and AARP's research that older adults are increasingly comfortable with telehealth and are willing to use technology to interact with their health providers," says Alison Bryant, Ph.D., senior vice president of research for AARP, says. "As the coronavirus pandemic continues, telehealth has been a useful tool for older adults to access health care from the safety of their own homes, but we must be mindful that not everyone can access these services."

Meanwhile, Buis is leading a new COVID-19-related telehealth research interest group as part of a broader IHPI initiative to evaluate the impacts and appropriate use of telehealth as well as barriers. Buis is an assistant professor in the U-M Department of Family Medicine, which has pivoted to virtual care for many primary care appointments along with the rest of Michigan Medicine.

The National Poll on Healthy Aging results are based on responses from a nationally representative sample of 2,074 adults aged 50 to 80 who answered a wide range of questions online. Questions were written, and data interpreted and compiled, by the IHPI team. Laptops and Internet access were provided to poll respondents who did not already have them.
In what was another controversial discussion on amendments to the Laredo City Charter, City Council on Monday voted to place eight propositions on the November ballot. Aug. 17 was their deadline to make the final decision on these propositions.

Councilman George Altgelt again motioned to table all of these proposed amendments, citing a lack of meaningful public input. Earlier in the year council told the Charter Revision Commission that they would hold an election on these proposals in an off-year, like the state does. Then last month council decided to move forward with them this year after all. And members of the public have argued that the amendments council proposed are self-serving.

Councilman Merc Martinez said he was bothered by this assessment and noted that they had listened to numerous public comments. There was sparse attendance at the commissions meetings, and it is only vocal minority groups that are crying foul, Martinez said.

Altgelt also noted that according to the Policies and Procedures Manual, charter amendments need to be approved by a two-thirds vote on council, which is six council members.

Whether the mayor could cast the sixth vote in this case was a source of debate among council. Four years ago the charter was amended to clarify that the mayor has the right to vote, but another section of the charter contradicts this and says he can only vote in the case of a tie, which would be a fifth vote.

Mayor Pete Saenz decided to cast this sixth vote twice, which several council members argued was improper.

This led to one of the nine propositions, and arguably the most controversial, to be voted down. Saenz cast a vote opposed to Proposition E, which if approved by voters would have allowed a council member to potentially serve up to 12 years in office.

Below are the charter amendments council discussed and voted on. All propositions need approval from more than 50% of voters in order to effectively amend the charter.

Proposition A

Shall the City Charter be amended to provide that upon the conviction of a criminal offense, excluding a felony, by the Mayor or a City Council Member, a declaratory judgment action shall be filed with a district court of competent jurisdiction to seek a determination on whether the crime committed is one involving moral turpitude, and if it is so determined, a recall process shall be automatically triggered?

This passed, with council members Nelly Vielma and Vidal Rodriguez voting against.

Proposition B

Shall the City Charter be amended to require the Mayor to execute his/her veto power within the next two regularly scheduled Council Meetings?

This passed unanimously.

Proposition C

Shall the City Charter be amended to require any candidate filing an application for place on the ballot to submit a filing fee, or signature petition in lieu of the filing fee, with the City Secretary as prescribed by City Ordinance in accordance with the Texas Election Code?

This passed, with Saenzs sixth vote. Council members Rudy Gonzalez, Vidal Rodriguez, Merc Martinez, Marte Martinez and Roberto Balli also voted in favor.

Proposition D

Shall the City Charter be amended to provide that the Mayor, in addition to City Councilmembers, are excluded from the prohibition against participating in political activity while on duty, in uniform, or using city resources?

This passed with Altgelt opposing.

Proposition E

Shall the City Charter be amended to provide that a City Council Member who was elected through a special election to finish an unexpired term may serve the unexpired term in addition to two four-year terms?

Only five council members  Rodriguez, Merc Martinez, Torres, Marte Martinez and Balli  voted in favor. With the mayors vote in opposition, this proposition failed and will not be on the ballot.

Proposition F

Shall the City Charter be amended to provide that any proposed issuance of a bond valued at over 10% of the comprehensive budget, excluding those issued through the Enterprise funds, for capital improvement projects must be approved through a ballot referendum?

This passed unanimously.

Proposition G

Shall the City Charter be amended to provide that the minimum qualifications of the City Manager require a Masters Degree and no less than eight years experience in government, economic development, or related fields?

This passed with Saenzs sixth vote. Gonzalez, Merc Martinez, Torres, Vielma and Altgelt also voted in favor.

Proposition H

Shall the City Charter be amended to provide that the City Tax Assessor and Collector or his or her contracted designee shall be responsible for the assessment and collection of taxes levied by the City of Laredo?

This passed unanimously.

Proposition I

Shall the City Charter be amended to provide that all taxes due the City of Laredo shall be payable at the office of the City Tax Assessor and Collector, or at one or more other designated locations, and may be paid any time after assessments have been made final by the Council.

This passed unanimously.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for over 10,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Luminex Resources Corp. (TSX-V: LR; OTCQX: LUMIF), a Vancouver based precious and base metals exploration and development company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Luminex Resources Corp upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

Luminex Resources Corp. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "LUMIF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

Marshall Koval, CEO and Director, commented: "This is an important step for raising the profile and liquidity of the company outside of Canada. We look forward to welcoming new American investors as we advance our large scale Condor gold project in Ecuador and hope for drilling success with Anglo American and BHP, our world class copper partners."

Troutman Sanders LLP acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor.

About Luminex Resources Corp.

Luminex is a Vancouver based Canadian precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on the Condor Au-Cu project located in SE Ecuador, 30 km south of Fruta del Norte. The Company also has two separate earn-in agreements with BHP and Anglo American on its Tarqui and Pegasus A&B concessions in Ecuador. Luminex also holds several other early-stage exploration concessions in Ecuador.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

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Its a brave new world out there, and were all going to have to adapt. There are no limits to what our artists, technicians, actors, creators, musicians, dancers and designers can imagine to bring back live outdoor experiences for audiences stupefied by the isolation of the omnipresent screen. We all want to protect our national culture in its glorious diversity  but its the creative workforce who are really under threat at the moment. As the Red Alert campaign demonstrates, there are horrifying figures of up to 1m creative jobs at risk in an industry worth more than 100bn a year to the economy.  The Guardian
A leading medical school has said the way doctors are trained in Britain is inherently racist and it plans to make alterations to a curriculum that it says needs decolonising.

Dr Joseph Hartland, part of the team heading up the University of Bristol Medical School, has said long-established parts of the UK medical curriculum, such as teaching life-or-death clinical signs, are racist as they focus on teaching students how the signs present in white people.

Speaking to the BBC, Dr Hartland put forward the example of patients turning blue if short of breath, a sign which does not apply for people with dark skin.

"Historically, medical education was written by white middle-class men, so there is an inherent racism in medicine that means it exists to serve white patients above all others, he said.

"Essentially we are teaching students how to recognise a life-or-death clinical sign largely in white people.

Bristol University medical school is making changes to tackle "inherent racism" in the medical curriculum / AFP via Getty Images

Dr Hartland said that changes are being pushed for by students themselves, who are concerned about their ability to treat BAME patients in the NHS.

The medical school is also looking at addressing the gender issues in the curriculum, Dr Hartland wrote on Twitter.

He added: As a white man helping to lead changes that are driven by a commitment to decolonising our curriculum and taking an anti-racist approach I hope I can demonstrate good white allyship, but I am NOT sharing this for accolades. I dont deserve it. This work shouldnt need to be done.

The announcement comes after students at other medical schools called for change.

One black medical student in London has already launched an attempt to decolonise the curriculum, with the support of his university, in the wake of Black Lives Matter movement protests this summer.

Malone Mukwende, a second-year at St Georges, University of London, noticed he was often only being taught about the way illnesses presented on white skin.

He both felt alienated and worried that people with darker skin would not be diagnosed as a result of doctors failing to spot the signs of disease on their bodies, as they had not been trained to spot them.

Black Lives Matter protests took place around the world in June following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, US / AFP via Getty Images

The student decided to take matters into his own hands, creating a handbook for medics showing the way skin afflictions and other common physical reactions -including Covid-19 symptoms -look on black and brown skin.

The handbook, Mind the Gap, includes side-by-side images showing the way diseases present differently on dark and light skin, and highlights appropriate language for doctors to use.

It will be released, with the support of St Georges, in the coming months. In a statement, the university wrote: It was agreed that this was a very important issue and an essential part of decolonising the curriculum.

Mr Mukwende highlighted a recent petition calling for teaching clinical skills on black and brown skin that garnered more than 150,000 signatures, and said: The petition, Covid-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement all illustrate there is an urgent need for change.

The Medical School Council and the regulator, the General Medical Council, told the BBC they are putting plans in place to modify the current curriculum.
President Donald Trump said on Monday he would pardon a very, very important" person on Tuesday, but added it would not be leaker Edward Snowden or former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Doing a pardon tomorrow on someone who is very, very important," Trump told reporters on Air Force One. He declined to offer further details except to say it was not Flynn or Snowden, a former U.S. National Security Agency contractor now living in Russia who has been charged with leaking secret information.

On Saturday, Trump said he was considering a pardon for Snowden, who gave a trove of secret files in 2013 to news organizations that disclosed vast domestic and international surveillance operations carried out by the NSA.

Flynn twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russia's then-ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. The U.S. Justice Department has sought to dismiss the case against Flynn following pressure from Trump and his allies.

Last month, Trump used his presidential power to commute the sentence of longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
Nigeria is to take "urgent steps" following a viral video showing the forced closure of shops belonging to Nigerian traders in Ghana.



Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama made the announcement in a tweet, as he expressed his government's "dismay":



Nigerian Government has watched with dismay the painful videos of the forceful closure of the shops of Nigerian traders in #Ghana. Urgent steps will be taken. #StayHomeSaveLives #COVID19 @NigeriaGov @DigiCommsNG @ecowas_cedeao



It comes just months after a major diplomatic row in which a building in the Nigerian embassy compound in Ghana was demolished.



The video in question shows a Nigerian man speaking to security agents locking up his shop in Ghana. The man claimed in the video that he was asked to pay $1m (750,000) as tax.



Authorities in Ghana dispute this, saying foreigners are only allowed to open a business in Ghana if they invest $1m.



A pressure group, the Human Rights Writers Association, has called on the Nigeria government to retaliate against Ghanaian businesses in Nigeria.



Some Nigerians are questioning the rationale behind Ghana's imposition of conditions, considering agreements on free trade and movement reached by the regional body, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).







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.

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Everyone has an opinion on Finding Freedom, the newly released biography by royal family journalists Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie. The book delves into the drama afflicting Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex for years now and includes insider insight fans were dying to know. But despite all the revelations, its not an official biography.

The book touts itself as an insider look at the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs lives. Harper Collins said it goes beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghans life together, dispelling the many rumors and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle supposedly didnt contribute to the book at all. But at least one critic wonders if they secretly collaborated on Finding Freedom to covertly tell their story.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exited the royal family in March 2020

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were miserable for years before deciding to put their mental health ahead of their sense of duty. The pair announced theyd be stepping down as senior royals just after the new year in January 2020.

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, they wrote in the announcement on Instagram. 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.

The move came after months of feeling unsupported by the royal family, including their refusal to denounce the press and their alleged unfair treatment of Meghan. The couples final royal appearance occurred in March. They later moved to Canada before settling more permanently in Los Angeles.

One critic wonders if Finding Freedom is a secret autobiography

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

RELATED: Critic Explains Why Princess Dianas Biography Evoked More Sympathy Than Prince Harry and Meghan Markles Finding Freedom

Though Finding Freedom is being touted as an unauthorized biography, British journalist Tanya Gold puts forth the suggestion that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex secretly collaborated on the book. She claims there are a couple of reasons to think its true.

It is a book Harry and Meghan obviously endorse  and, I suspect, may have written passages of. It feels like autobiography, Gold wrote in an opinion piece for The New York Times. She points to highly specific details from the book, including a time Meghan was called out for wearing a nail polish shade which was deemed too dark. Or the time Catherine, Duchess of Sussex didnt offer Meghan a ride to the same street she was heading to.

Tiny moments like that added up to Meghan feeling like a total outsider who would never fit in. And the detail those scenes included makes Gold believe that Harry and Meghan contributed to the book in secret.

Finding Freedom is not a scathing commentary

One of the biggest clues Gold has for believing Finding Freedom could contain firsthand knowledge from Harry and Meghan is that it remains mostly polite to other senior royals while striving to stay honest.

No royals are explicitly abused in the book. Prince William and Catherine emerge as cold (when they are merely English) but nothing worse, Gold writes.

This restraint could point to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attempting to keep the peace with Queen Elizabeth and the rest just in case they want to come back to London one day. Its an unconfirmed yet interesting theory about where, exactly, all the insider info in Finding Freedom came from.
Bulls remained in control of D-Street on Tuesday pushing Sensex and Nifty higher by over 1 percent each despite mixed global cues. The S&P BSE Sensex rallied nearly 500 points while the Nifty50 closed with gains of more than 100 points.

Lets look at the final tally on D-Street  the S&P BSE Sensex rose 477 points to 38,528 while the Nifty50 closed with gains of 138 points to 11,385.

With the Nifty50 closing above its previous swing high placed near 11,370, experts suggest that the momentum is likely to continue.

"Indian benchmark indices kept gaining strength during the course of the day, as opposed to mixed global market cues. US-China political tensions and the uncertainties over the US stimulus package kept global markets on edge, Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services told Moneycontrol.

In India, investors took comfort in the expectation of government spending to offset the impact of the lockdown and the progress of the monsoon and its relation to the rural economy also improved sentiments. Gains were led by the banking index, he said.

Nair further added that with liquidity and expectations overcoming concerns about valuations, any consolidation in the markets has been bought into and this trend is expected to continue.

Sectorally, the action was seen in realty, banks, finance, consumer durables, and metals while mild profit-taking was visible in the healthcare space.

On the broader market front, the S&P BSE Midcap index closed with gains of 1.1 percent while the S&P BSE Smallcap index rose 1.3 percent.

Top Nifty gainers include names like JSW Steel, Kotak Bank, UltraTech Cements, and Grasim Industries.

Top Nifty losers include names like GAIL India, Cipla, Tech Mahindra, and BPCL.

Stocks & Sectors:

Sectorally, the S&P BSE Realty index rose 4 percent, followed by the S&P BSE Bankex which was up 2.1 percent, and the S&P BSE Finance index closed with gains of 1.8 percent.

Volume spike of more than 100% was seen in stocks like DLF, Grsim, Havells India, and Adani Enterprises.

Long Buildup was seen in stocks like Adani Enterprises, Indiabulls Housing, and Wipro.

Short Buildup was seen in stocks like BPCL, Page Industries, and GAIL India.

More than 180 stocks on the BSE hit a fresh 52-week high that includes names like Tide Water, SRF, Alkyl Amines, and APL Apollo.

Stocks in news:

KNR Constructions stock jumped 6 percent after the company announced its June quarter earnings.

Birlasoft share price surged over 14 percent after the company formed a global strategic cloud alliance with Microsoft.

GPT Infraprojects share price jumped over 10 percent after the company bagged a Rs 196.30-crore order for the Metro Railway project in Kolkata.

Vascon Engineers share price fell over 5 percent after the company reported consolidated net loss at Rs 37.3 crore against a profit of Rs 5.7 crore in the year-ago.

Share price of telecom companies ended mixed with the Supreme Court hearing the matter pertaining to the repayment of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues by telecom companies.

Technical View:

Nifty formed a bullish candle on the daily charts. The major trend is intact to positive and recent consolidation breakout could start the fresh leg of rally in the market.

It has to continue to hold above 11,250 zones to witness an upmove towards 11,500 and 11,600 levels while on the downside support exists at 11,200-11,150 zone, Chandan Taparia, Vice President | Analyst-Derivatives at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited said.

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sootchy, a mobile and desktop college savings platform, is launching this fall to help millions avoid crushing student debt through the gifting power of family and friends and the tax advantages of 529 college savings plans. With an enhanced gifting interface, Sootchy is designed to make it easy for underserved families to maximize community and reach their children's educational and financial goals.

A 529 plan is a tax advantageous option for families to save for their children's education, and can be used to pay tuition, fees and room and board at colleges, universities and trade schools across the U.S. For K-12 education, a 529 plan can pay up to $10,000 a year in private school tuition, and current college students or graduates can use 529 accounts to pay up to $10,000 in existing student loans.

Groundbreaking Features and AI Serve Parents and Professional Financial Advisers

Sootchy lets parents set up and manage a 529 account in their state in minutes, on their own and with guided help not available at most 529 plan websites. As a tax-advantaged educational accounts, the contributions grow tax-free.

An intuitive crowdfunding platform embedded in Sootchy lets parents and an extended network of friends, family and acquaintances contribute to a child's 529 college savings plan at the touch of a button. The crowdfunding features allow families and friends to set up paperless ongoing or one-time contributions as gifts for birthdays or graduations or to celebrate achievements.

Artificial intelligence maximizes the savings benefit for families. Over time, Sootchy uses artificial intelligence to suggest new ways friends and family can participate, based on the contributor's connection to the student and past activity.

For professional financial advisers, Sootchy offers a hassle-free and consolidated platform, removing the middleman to make a 529 savings plan more user-friendly and a must-have product for their clients. The financial adviser portal allows advisers to monitor client activity and provides regular prompts and goal setting for their clients.

Sootchy Can Break the Cycle of Student Debt for Underserved Families

College education is increasingly unaffordable and student debt continues to rise, causing a financial burden that can last decades. In fact, approximately 70 percent of college students are unable to afford college without taking out student loans, according to Marketplace. With a passion to make college debt-free through Sootchy, founder David Adefeso is determined to break the cycle.

"Student loan debt is preventing tens of millions of young Americansand especially those from underserved communitiesfrom fully achieving the American dream. Sootchy is a mobile platform designed to solve this dilemma," Adefeso said. "By investing minimal amountsjust $4 a month or $50 a year, for instancefriends and family members can set their loved ones up for success with fully funded college savings accounts. By following Sootchy's simple investing and gifting guidelines beginning at birth, a child's education fund can easily accumulate more than $100,000 by age 18."

Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Adefeso made his way to the United States in the early 1990s with an accounting degree and $250 in his pocket. He took the entire battery of CPA exams at 22, passing all four sections on the first trya feat nearly 9-in-10 fail. Making the most of his accounting experience, he worked three jobs to self-fund a Harvard MBA. Yet he still found himself more than $100,000 in debt after graduation at age 26.

Now as Sootchy's founder and head of The Pacific Group, a financial investment advisory firm, Adefeso wants to raise financial literacy and prevent American families from sacrificing their futures for education. Sootchy's crowdfunding-inspired approach makes college savings simple for parents, extended families, faith organizations and educational partners.

"The last 16 years of corporate and personal financial planning experience has opened my eyes to the serious financial problems American families experience. The answer is very simple. The No. 1 factor to achieve a college savings goal is to consistently contribute to a savings account," Adefeso said. "College should be a springboard to prosperity and opportunity, not a financial millstone. Sootchy is the affordable solution that allows parents to give their children the gift of a paid college education."

Sootchy will be available to download as a mobile and desktop app on iOS and Android devices. For more information, visit Sootchy.com.

About Sootchy:

Sootchy is a simple, user-friendly fintech app that allows families to save money for their children's education by opening 529 college savings plans, within minutes, right through the app. With a built-in, enhanced, gifting platform that lets family and friends contribute to children's 529 college savings plans and maximize their benefit, it can be especially helpful in underserved communities. Less than 30% of Americans know what a 529 plan is, and only 13% use them because they have traditionally been difficult to set up and manage, recent studies show. Sootchy's five-minute set up and easy-access money management tools simplify the process and make tech-enhanced financial planning, the power of community and tax-efficient incentives to combat student debt, now at a historic high of almost $1.7 trillion, accessible to all. Sootchy, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Learn more at Sootchy.com. Get social and follow @sootchyapp on Instagram and Twitter, facebook.com/sootchyapp and linkedIn.com/company/sootchyinc.

Media Contact:

Tanner Culbertson

Purpose Brand

620-213-2448

[email protected]

SOURCE Sootchy
Oregon added 20,500 jobs in July and the states jobless rate dropped to 10.4%, according to new data out Tuesday from the Oregon Employment Department. Thats down from 11.6% in Junes newly revised tally.

The pace of new layoffs has eased considerably, returning to pre-pandemic levels. Oregon has now added back about 40% of the jobs it lost early in the coronavirus outbreak.

But nearly 220,000 Oregonians were still out of work  2.6 times more than in July 2019. The rate of recovery seems to be slowing, too, with Oregon adding just about a third as many jobs in July as it did in June.

The national unemployment rate was 10.2% in July.

Oregons largest gains in July came in leisure and hospitality, a segment of the economy nearly obliterated last spring when the state shut down to contain spread of the coronavirus. With Oregon continuing to report hundreds of new coronavirus cases daily, though, hotels and restaurants arent likely to fully recover until the pandemic is contained.

Health care, social assistance and retail jobs continue rebounding, too. But in a worrisome sign, construction, manufacturing and information all cut substantial numbers of jobs last month.

Some prominent Oregon employers have continued cutting jobs in recent weeks, among them Nike, animation studio Laika and Portland ad agency Wieden+Kennedy. Precision Castparts, one of Oregons largest companies, has laid off 10,000 worldwide this year as orders for its aerospace products collapsed.

The ongoing coronavirus recession has been particularly hard on the unemployed because of Oregons struggles in paying benefits.

Tens of thousands of people are still waiting for their checks as the employment department wrestles with a huge volume of claims and an obsolete computer system that has utterly failed to keep up with the demand and is too rigid to adapt to recent changes in the benefits program.

Additionally, $600 in bonus payments for unemployed workers ended last month. Congress is deadlocked over whether to extend the payments, leaving hundreds of thousands of Oregonians in limbo with sharply reduced benefits.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
TOBYANTONY By

Express News Service

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the smuggling of gold via the diplomatic channel has found that the accused persons duped each other in the smuggling chain to augment their individual monetary gains. After interrogating Swapna Suresh for nearly 13 days, ED also found that she  along with two foreign nationals  received `3.6 crore as commission from the contractor for the Life Mission housing project. Swapna received huge commission from brokering various projects of the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram too.

The key persons in the network ventured forth to cheat each other as gold smuggling through the diplomatic channel ensured a solid profit. ED estimates that 164kg of gold was smuggled in total on 21 occasions since September 2019 before the gang was busted. In all instances, gold was brought through the Thiruvananthapuram airport, an ED officer told TNIE.

Rameez K T, who is the mastermind behind the smuggling of gold via the diplomatic channel, cheated Swapna, Sandeep Nair and Sarith P S. The deal was to give $1,000 as commission to Swapna, Sandeep and Sarith for smuggling each kilogram of gold. They also received `50,000 as additional remuneration for a successful smuggling bid, the officer said. However, to lower their commission, Rameez never revealed the exact quantity of gold smuggled on each occasion. Only persons appointed by Rameez were permitted to open the consignment at Sandeeps house.

Swapna took `1 cr from Life Mission contractor

IF 25kg of gold is smuggled, Rameez would tell Sandeep, Sarith and Swapna that only 15kg was smuggled, the officer said. At the same time, Swapna and Sarith got even on Rameez by claiming that gold arrived with the full knowledge of the UAE Consul General. The duo charged additional $1,000 dollars for each kilogram of gold claiming it to be the payment to the Consul General. The Consul-General was unaware of the smuggling attempts. But Swapna and Sarith made Sandeep and Rameez believe that an amount is paid as commission to the Consul General. After the Consul-General returned to the UAE in April this year, they paid $1,000 dollars to the Consulate in-charge claiming that they were bringing in duty- free goods on three occasions in June, the officer said.

In June last year, Sandeep and Rameez approached Swapna via Sarith to smuggle gold under the cover of diplomatic baggage. In July, two dummy consignments were sent to ensure that smuggling through the diplomatic channel is a safe route. On both occasions, Rameezs associates in Dubai videographed the packing of the consignment to take persons investing money in smuggling into confidence. The dummy packet reached Thiruvananthapuram intact, without any checking. On arrival, the consignment was cleared within an hour, an official said. After the 2018 flood, the UAE Consulate, on the insistence of Swapna, decided to donate money to Life Mission -- the Kerala governments welfare housing project.

The total cost for providing flats to over 120 families in Thrissur sponsored by the UAE Consulate under the Life Mission project was worth `18 crore. The land for the project was given by the Kerala government. Swapna, a high-ranking UAE diplomat and an Egyptian national in the UAE Consulate agreed to give the construction work to a contractor for a commission amounting to 20 per cent of the project cost. They received `3.6 crore as commission, with Swapna alone receiving `1 crore, an officer said. Sandeep, another accused in the case, had approached the construction company through its employee. The company held a meeting with a top UAE Consulate official.

The commission amount was fixed later in a meeting between the company representatives and the accused persons at a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram. Swapna also received commission worth around `70 lakh from companies which were given contracts to collect fees for the stamping of UAE Visa at the consulate. Swapna and the co-accused also received a commission for allotting the construction of the UAE Consulate in Hyderabad, an officer said. Swapna, who was very close to the Consul General with decisive power, resigned from the consulate expecting the current Consul General would be appointed as the Ambassador of UAE to another foreign Mission and she would receive an important position there.

Sivasankar is a traitor PWD Minister G Sudhakaran called M Sivasankar a traitor for misusing his freedom. The stink in CMO stops at Sivasankar. There is no problem beyond that, he said

Went abroad together M Sivasankar has admitted to the ED that he had travelled abroad with Swapna on a couple of times. Swapna had also hired a joint bank locker with a third person as per his direction.
To step up the watch on Covid-19 patients in home quarantine and ensure that mass gatherings such as marriages and parties are not taking place in such areas in the state capital, the government has comprised nigrani samitis (monitoring teams).

The city has 110 wards. We have constituted 140 mohalla nigrani samitis to keep a strict watch in their respective ward or locality. Each samiti will comprise 10 persons, including a corporater, a sanitation worker, an Asha activist and residents, said Mukesh Meshram, the divisional commissioner of Lucknow.

Nigrani samitis will act as a bridge between the district administration/health department and patients/localities. In the present circumstances, the samitis will have a crucial role to play, said Manish Bansal, the chief development officer (CDO) of Lucknow.

The CDO further said nigrani samitis were already active in rural parts of Lucknow. In rural pockets, the samitis are known as gram nigrani samitis. These samitis also keep tabs on Covid-19 cases in villages and maintain records of migrant labourers and patients in home quarantine, said Bansal.

There are over 100 such samitis functioning in the rural pockets of the state capital, he added.

However, the task is not as easy as it sounds, claims a corporater from Rajiv Gandhi ward of Gomti Nagarone of the most affected areas of Lucknow. So far, the state capital has reported more than 17,000 Covid-19 cases.

Arun Tiwari, an active member of the nigrani samiti of the Rajiv Gandhi ward, Gomti Nagar, said, Our ward has over 30 active Covid-19 cases at present. Its difficult to monitor people as most do not admit to feeling ill. We often have to use our own sources to gather reliable information to keep the administration and health officials informed.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) officials said the first task of the monitoring teams is to develop sources in the neighbourhood of Covid-19 patients to check that they stay indoors and do not venture out, which is also an offence.

The teams will also coordinate with surveillance teams and assist them in contact mapping, marking houses, coordinating with sanitisation staff to sanitise patients houses besides ensuring barricading at the patients houses, said Adil Ahmed Khan, LMC corporater from Tilak Nagar in Kundri Rakabganj.

Civic officials said the monitoring teams will also ensure a regular supply of medicine to patients besides admitting them to Covid care centres in case of emergency.

The teams duties also include keeping a check on mass gatherings and ensuring that the Covid-19 protocol is followed in localities.

The directive to set up nigrani samitis came in Julythe UP government asked the magistrates of districts to form Covid-19 vigilance teams in urban and rural pockets of their districts. Around one lakh surveillance teams were to be set up in the state by roping in government, private and anganwadi workers.
Defense Ministry Expanding Role In Iran's Auto Industry

Radio Farda August 17, 2020

Iran's defense minister says industrial companies his ministry controls have expanded their involvement with the local vehicle manufacturing sector with "over forty trillion rials" (about $950 million) in contracts.

Referring to the ministry's "increasing presence" in Iran's vehicle manufacturing sector, Brigadier General Amir Hatami told a news conference on Sunday, August 16, "The Islamic Republic President Hassan Rouhani has ordered the Ministry of Defense to have an active role in Iran's vehicle industry.

"The Ministry of Defense has no plan to launch car manufacturing production lines," Hatami said, but "it is active in auto parts production and is supplying forty vehicle parts."

The military is deeply involved in Iran's economy, and Rouhani vehemently objected in 2017 that Revolutionary Guards control a vast economic empire. But now the defense ministry seems to be also expanding its role.

On June 9, Amir Ali Hahizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' (IRGC) Aerospace Force, announced the formation of a joint IRGC-Ministry of Industry committee to let the military elite enter the local vehicle manufacturing sector.

According to Brigadier General Hajizadeh, the presence of the IRGC in the Iranian car industry was based on an "order" issued by the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

On May 6, Khamenei had issued what sounded like an order or permission to the military. "The mind that can manufacture a satellite can also produce a vehicle that needs only five liters (approximately 1.3 gallons) of gasoline to run for 100 kilometers (about 62 miles)," Khamenei said.

The presence of the military in the Iranian auto-making is rapidly increasing even though Khamenei had earlier issued another "order" calling on the IRGC and other armed forces to withdraw from activities unrelated to their mission.

Iran's automakers are not private companies and are directly or indirectly controlled by state entities.

Based on the International Organizations of Vehicle Manufacturers' data, Iran's car production in 2019 decreased by 25% compared with the previous year, reaching 821 thousand units, of which 770 thousand were sedans.

Despite the sharp decline, the local vehicle market, valued at $ 12 to $ 15 billion per year, is still one of the most essential and attractive productions and brokerage markets in the Iranian economy.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/defense- ministry-expanding-role-in-iran-s-auto -industry/30787727.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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A Tibetan woman jailed for 15 months for spreading word of a relatives public call for the release of Tibets Panchen Lama has been freed crippled and in failing health after serving her full term in prison, Tibetan sources said.



Dolkar, who was convicted in May 2019 of sharing news amid tight information curbs of the protest by her nephew Wangchen, was released on Aug. 15 and is now receiving medical care at her home in Sershul (in Chinese, Siqu) county in Sichuans Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a Tibetan source in exile told RFA.



Dolkar visited the hospital as soon as she was released on Aug. 15 because of her severe health condition, RFAs source said, citing contacts in Sershul and speaking on condition of anonymity.



While she was in prison she was tortured and made to lift stones and do other hard work, and her body is all bruised. Because she was not able to get treatment on time, her limbs are crippled and shes now immobilized, he said.



Shes now undergoing treatment at her home, the source said.



On May 8, 2019, authorities in western Chinas Sichuan province handed jail terms to Dolkar and her nephew Wangchen, who was sentenced to a prison term of four years and six months for shouting slogans calling for the release of Tibetan spiritual leader the Panchen Lama, who disappeared into Chinese custody as a child in 1995, sources told RFA in earlier reports.



Two other Tibetans, identified only as Lobsang and Yonten, were each fined 15,000 yuan (U.S. $2,211) and ordered to attend political re-education classes on issues of national security for six months, sources said.



Tibets Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was recognized on May 14, 1995 at the age of six by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lamathe reincarnation of his predecessor, the 10th Panchen Lama.



Tibetan tradition holds that senior Buddhist monks are reincarnated in the body of a child after they die.



Three days later, the young Panchen Lama and his family were taken away by Chinese authorities, who then installed another boy as their own candidate in his place.



Chinese authorities have meanwhile had difficulty persuading Tibetans to accept their candidate, Gyaltsen (Gyaincain, in Chinese) Norbu, as the official face of Tibetan Buddhism in China, and ordinary Tibetans and monks in monasteries traditionally loyal to the Dalai Lama have been reluctant to receive him.



Reported by Pema Ngodup for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Clockwise from top left: Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. flanked by public defenders Joe Cress and Alice Michel; Sacramento County Deputy Dist. Attys. Thienvu Ho and Amy Holland; victim Peggy Rex; and Judge Michael Bowman. (YouTube)

Some victims want to show how they overcame and healed.

Some still search for answers and reparation.

And others, unable to exact emotional revenge on their attacker, seek to humiliate him.

The victims of Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., the former police officer whose violent crimes through the 1970s and 1980s terrorized Californians across the state and earned him the moniker Golden State Killer, finally get their say in court with three days of impact statements that began Tuesday, leading up to his sentencing on Friday.

DeAngelo, 74, has admitted to killing 13 people, starting with a Visalia college instructor seeking to thwart the abduction of his daughter in 1975, and ending with the rape and murder of a teenage girl in Orange County in 1986. His plea deal includes 53 attacks on 87 victims in 11 counties, including 50 rapes, but leaves out two sexual attacks and a shooting that also have been blamed on him.

As his victims rose to speak Tuesday, they again and again told of their pain. They recounted how the once-shadowy figure they called an evil monster, a boogeyman, a soulless sadist and the devil had shattered their sense of security  and how his brutality had followed them, and their families, throughout their lives.

Some said they've long wondered why they were targeted, or how their lives may have turned out if they hadn't been.

But they also told of their recovery, how they had been able to summon the strength to serve and support others, to love their families fiercely and, ultimately, to confront their tormentor  still wearing a face mask in the courtroom but finally known to all. Several said they've even found it in their hearts or their faith to forgive him.

The hearing began with the first rape DeAngelo has admitted, that of Phyllis Henneman.

With Henneman unable to attend because she is ill with cancer, her statement was read by her sister, Karen Veilleux.

"I went to bed ... not knowing my life would change," Veilleux read, halting for a moment to choke back sobs.

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She described Henneman's years of anxiety and fear that followed her June 1976 rape.

"The roles have now been reversed," Veilleux concluded. "He deserves to spend the rest of his miserable life in prison. I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become."

Kris Pedretti was 15 when DeAngelo raped her in December 1976.

"He tormented me. And he told me over and over again he would kill me, and I believed him," she said. "At three different times that night, I thought I was going to die. I sang 'Jesus Loves Me' in my head as I waited to die. The next morning, Dec. 19, I woke up knowing I would never be a child again and, although I was truly grateful to be alive, I also felt that I had died."

Like many others, Pedretti sought to make DeAngelo squirm, invoking images of his own family suffering similarly.

"I would ask him, 'Do you feel any remorse for what you did to me? For the people whose lives you sadistically cut short, or to the years of pain for your victims and their families? Do you finally feel humiliated?'" she said.

Others glared at him, and several hurled repeated insults about his anatomy.

"Did his little penis drive him to be so angry all the time?" said Patti Cosper, delivering the impact statement for her mother, Patricia Murphy, who was 29 when she was attacked and repeatedly raped and sodomized in September 1976.

DeAngelo's gaze briefly flickered at the insult..

But his countenance, largely hidden by a white cloth mask, mostly did not break. He stared straight ahead, seated in a wheelchair between his public defenders, eyes fixed on the small assemblage of reporters allowed in the room and a point on the wall slightly above them.

"Some people are wired wrong, and DeAngelo is one of them," Cosper read. "Luck finally ran out for this messed-up human being  at least a poor excuse for one. ... He truly is an evil monster with no soul."

One woman, who identified herself only as Peggy, also was 15 when DeAngelo attacked her and her sister at their home in 1976. She was raped repeatedly and beaten.

"It hurt to brush my hair because he hit me so many times on the head," she said. Her hands were left numb for months because he had tied them so tightly.

Peggy said her "safety and security were taken away" that night and that, even decades later, "I still always look over my shoulder when someone approaches me from behind."

However, she also talked about finding a way in 2004 to forgive her rapist, "for me, for my peace of mind, so I could move forward." She described becoming an activist, speaking out at political rallies against rape and sexual attacks on women.

Sandy James spoke about how her late sister, Deborah Strouse, lived with constant fear of the man who raped her. She said DeAngelo's attack inflicted untold terror on her family.

"It saddens me to my core that my sister was not here to witness DeAngelos capture and incarceration," she said. "Instead, she went to her grave still haunted by the evil monster that invaded her life."

She told DeAngelo, "there are not enough ugly words to describe you," called him "a coward with no soul" and demanded to know how he could have committed "these heinous crimes."

James held up a picture of her sister.

"This is her face," she said. "Be a man. For once in your life, be a man. Look at her."

DeAngelo continued to stare blankly forward.

His slack expression in court hearings and his current use of a wheelchair have needled prosecutors, who on Monday asked a judge for permission to play in court jailhouse videos that showed that the 74-year-old inmate was both animated and agile. Judge Michael Bowman refused them.

At the start of the violence, DeAngelo served as a small-town police officer in Tulare and Placer counties. He became a father, married to a woman who became a prominent women's rights lawyer. He eventually was fired from policing after being caught shoplifting dog repellent, and he took up a quiet life as a truck mechanic in the Sacramento suburbs.

As part of a plea deal, DeAngelo is to be sentenced to 11 life terms without the possibility of parole, to be served consecutively, plus 15 life terms and eight years.

The extremity of requiring 11 life-without-parole sentences to be served back-to-back, though physically impossible, takes advantage of a 1979 California tough-on-crime law. And it puts DeAngelo in a rare criminal class that includes Mafia bosses and serial murderers, such as the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, who is serving 49 life sentences for 49 murders, plus 480 years.

Before the hearing, Pedretti said the prospect of delivering an impact statement was daunting.

But if she had her way, she said during the hearing, "DeAngelo would only be provided our impact statements as reading material for the rest of his days. DeAngelo must not be allowed to ignore what hes done for as long as he breathes."

She ended by addressing the judge, describing how she had grown and reached out to help other victims of sexual assault find their voices. She now hosts a Facebook group for victims of sexual assault who have not yet told their stories.

"The devil can keep you company in your prison cell as he gnaws away at whatever soul you have left, whatever life you have left," she told DeAngelo.
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Auburn police said they will begin taking a more proactive approach to enforce COVID-19 safety precautions following a lack of compliance in the community.

Over the past several months, police officials said Tuesday, they have focused primarily on educating the community on the statewide Safer at Home order. Over the past week, however, the department has received numerous complaints about the lack of compliance. Officers also have witnessed violations.

As a result, police said they now will begin stricter enforcement to include issuing non-traffic citations with fines.

On Sunday, police in Tuscaloosa took similar action after photos surfaced on social media of large crowds outside of bars with many of the patrons not wearing masks or social distancing. They issued 12 citations and made several arrests.

Auburn police issued this reminder:

- All businesses, government offices or other establishments open to the public should take all reasonable steps to protect their customers, constituents or guests by encouraging face coverings and maintaining six feet between individuals.

- All non-work-related gatherings of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between people from different households are prohibited.

- Bars and nightclubs should ensure that crowd size is capable of ensuring six feet between all patrons whether seated, playing games or otherwise.

- All individuals should wear a mask if they are within six feet of another person not from the same household.

As always, many of our citizens serve as an example in this effort, said Public Safety Director Paul Register. It is our desire that others will comply and help keep enforcement actions to a minimum. We greatly appreciate the publics cooperation as we work together to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in our community.
When it comes to telling the difference between a knockoff Chanel bag and the real deal, the devil is truly in the details. Is its stitching uniform and seamless? Does the grain have a soft leathery feel or a vinyl toughness? How close is its fastener to the embossed logo?

The difference can mean paying handsomely for someones expert forgery versus obtaining a fashion treasure  especially for brand addicts, vintage-hunters and investors looking for lower price tags.

These are things Somrutai Aon Sangchaiphum knows all too well as her eyeballs have studied thousands of bags over the past six years. The owner of SF Brandname, Thailands only second-hand luxury fashion shop, opened up about the delicate work of product authentication in a nation famous for the quality of its counterfeits.

It began with a single bag. Before Aon opened her shop in 2014, her teenage dream was to own a Balenciaga City bag. Her parents werent going to pay for it, so she had to save her allowance to purchase one second hand.

But, as everyone in the brand-addict circle knows, it never stops with that first taste. When the young girl with no job or parents credit card wanted her next luxury bag, her only choice was to resell the one she had.

I could sell the bag at the same price as when I actually bought it, so I thought of it as a usage profit and decided to make money out of reselling these things, she said.

Thats when she realized it could be a business opportunity for her.

Big Fake Business

Southeast Asia is no stranger to counterfeit goods and its black market for knockoffs of handbags, watches and electronics generate upward of $35.9 billion (THB1.1 trillion) annually, according to the UN Office of Drugs and Crime in 2019. Just last week, police arrested a 50-year-old Chinese man on the western outskirts of Bangkok with a warehouse filled with thousands of fake apparel and bogus bags imported from China. It had a market value of over THB100 million.

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The fake handbag and luggage industry was blamed for costing manufacturers EUR1.6 billion (THB59 billion) this year, according to a March report by online stats firm Statista.

While there are people who knowingly buy fake goods, most patrons are unwitting victims of fraud.

While some experts protect their knowledge, Aon believes in spreading the knowledge to make the public savvier consumers. Two years ago, she partnered her shop with four brand name experts to launch a consumer course on how to catch fakes. They were in part inspired by all the questions asked in collectors online groups.

There are so many posts in those groups each day asking a kind-hearted member to help them check whether the preowned items that they bought are authentic, she said. We can help some but not all, because there are so many. There are even people who have tried to resell duplicates at our shop, and they look very real these days. However, we have never missed one.

Spot the knockoff

Having seen copycats so indistinguishable from the real  sometimes only a scent can give them away  Aon said its best to see items in person for a thorough inspection. And, she insisted time and again, one should never, ever rely on just one feature for verification.

With that, the young expert laid out the basic guidelines to authenticate one of the worlds most popular bags, the Chanel Classic bag.

The price for the 10-inch Chanel Classic bag in caviar skin shoots up every year, she said. Last year it was priced at THB191,000 and now its around THB220,000 [US$7,000]. Thats why people buy the preowned, not the new ones. Its a shortcut to turn a profit. It takes 10 years for a newly bought Chanel Classic bag to be resold at a profitable price, and the bag has to be preserved in good condition.

To compare a real Chanel and high-grade dupe side-by-side, she suggested looking at four features: stitching, material, smell and detailing.

An authentic 10-inch Chanel Classic bag, at left with gold buckle, and a AAA-grade duplicate, at right with silver buckle.

First of all, as said at the start, the stitching of a real Chanel bag should be neat and slanted rather than straight, with minimal gaps between. The overall diamond pattern should look continuous and all in alignment. However, Aon said thats the least important feature to look at because its the easiest to copy.

In terms of material, she said the bags grained texture should feel leathery, as its made from pebbled calfskin and will grow softer over time. Copycats, on the other hand, are usually made from PVC leather and feel quite hard to the touch. She said it should have an authentic leathery scent, but thats something even the real material can lose over time.

After checking all of the outer shell, one should keep digging and study the detailing of the bag. According to Aon, typefaces and lettering are the Achilles heel of the forger.

Fonts of the bags hologram number and brand stamping are important details to look at, the preowned luxury maven said. Fonts in the stamping of the real Chanel are way thicker, looking especially at the R in the circle.

On the hologram sticker placed inside the bag, she describes that the code number should look digitally printed for a real bag while fakes are more likely to look stretched and typey. The stickers on authentic goods should have an X-crossed cut adhere well to the bag.

The letter R in the circle of a real bags stamping, at left, appears bolder in comparison to the R of the fake at right.

The hologram sticker of a real bag, at left, has a digital and blocky typeface, while the fake, at right, looks like it came from a typewriter.

The snap stud is tucked in close to the real Chanel logo, at left, and much higher on the fake at right.

The experts last tip is to look at the positioning of the snap above the brands embossed logo on the bags flap. She said the stud should be placed very close to the logo while it is much higher for the fake.

Authenticating high-fashion items is a complicated art that can lead to serious migraines, so the last recommended resort is to turn to technology. SF Brandname uses authentication devices by New York-based Entrupy, which claim to have a 99% success rate. Aon says her shop is the only in Thailand to use the tech. Authentication services there start at THB2,500 per bag.

Related

Fake Out! Fake cops run fake raid to steal fake designer goods

Why you shouldnt buy fake brand name products in Bangkok

Great Fakes! Thai woman in US arrested for buying designer handbags, returning knockoffs to the store

It Bag: Thai officials deny Balenciaga copied common Thai plastic bag

Louis Vuitton suing over Hangover II handbag fakery

This article, Fashion Police: Thai expert on how to spot fake designer bags, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The former head of Peyton Manning Childrens Hospital in Indianapolis has been selected as the next president of Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital.

Hossain Marandi was selected following a national search for the hospitals next leader. He replaces Bob Connors, who retired in January.

I am honored to have been selected to lead the nationally recognized Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital, Marandi said in a statement. I look forward to bringing my collective experiences to Grand Rapids and collaborating with other clinical leaders with the goal of continuing to provide exceptional care to families from across the region.

As president, Marandi will oversee the 234-bed childrens hospital, which has more than 300 pediatric physicians and 50 pediatric specialties and programs. In a news release, Spectrum called Marandi a lifelong advocate for children and a physician executive with more than 18 years of leadership experience at two childrens hospitals.

Prior to his time at Peyton Manning Childrens Hospital, Marandi worked at St. Josephs Childrens Hospital in Tampa, Florida. While there, he served as vice president of physician services and executive medical director.

Marandi beat out three finalists to be selected as the childrens hospitals next president. Dom Sanfilippo has served as interim president since Connors retired in January.

Spectrum spokesperson Rick Jensen declined to share Marandis salary and compensation. Marandi takes the reins in Grand Rapids in early September.

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Workstyle Reform in DX Centers transcosmos implements the measures to solve teleworking-related concerns, which allow employees to have the same working environment as they have in the office. Also, the company thoroughly takes preventive measures against Covid-19 when they work in the office.

transcosmos inc. hereby announces that its Digital Marketing Services Division under the DigitalE-CommerceContact Center Headquarters will implement "bring freedom of workstyle," an initiative for creating a workplace where employees can work safely and pleasantly. The initiative will apply to six nearshore centers across Japan under the division.

With the aim of preventing the spread of Covid-19 infetions, many companies are pushing measures to avoid the Three Cs, or Closed places, Crowded places, and Close-contact settings, such as the implementation of teleworking and staggered commuting hours. Placing top priority to employees' health and safety, the Digital Marketing Services Division at transcosmos has deployed a free address seating system to their office space in order to create a workplace that avoids the Three Cs. In parallel, the division also implemented a scheme that allows each employee to choose a workstyle that fits their lifestyle. Moreover, in order to solve concerns that are related to teleworking such as establishing and maintaining a stable network environment, adequate communication, and an opportunity to gain skills, transcosmos will fully implement the following measures so that employees will have the same working environment as they have in the office. In addition, transcosmos will thoroughly take preventive measures against Covid-19 when they work in the office.

 Covid-19 infection prevention & control measures

1. Ensure all employees check body temperature, wear a mask, and disinfect hands and various surfaces.

2. Ensure office seating arrangement avoids crowded spaces. Install crowded space monitoring systems.

Ensure social distancing and droplet precautions. Alert seating capacity limits.

3. Implement transcosmos Close contact alert system if there is any Covid-19 outbreak.

Visit below for "transcosmos releases a service to identify persons in close contact with Covid-19 patient in office" https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/company/news/200622.html

4. Set an always-on online meeting room

Set an always-on video conferencing system to maintain the operational structure in case of a Covid-19 outbreak.

 Applicable centers

The initiative will apply to the following nearshore centers under the Digital Marketing Services Division:

MC Center Sapporo, MC Center Hakodate, MC Center Sendai, MC Center Fukuoka, MC Center Naha, and MC Center Okinawa

 "Workstyle" at transcosmos nearshore centers



Provide opportunities for employees to become a leader of a large-scale digital marketing project, duties include holding client meetings and making proposals.

Enable employees to store data on cloud storage, use production equipment and network environment from home that are equivalent to ones available in the office.

Always-on Slack and Meet systems enable employees to communicate with their members, and hold team meetings regardless of their working patterns.

Offer regular online training sessions that fit each employee's objectives and skill level.

A wide range of working arrangements available including remote working, and working in centers.

Note: Available working arrangements may be limited subject to a project.

Placing the highest priority on health and safety of clients and all parties concerned, transcosmos will continue to strive to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infections. At the same time, the company will operate its businesses with a primary focus on providing employees with pleasant workplaces whilst adequately responding to the government's policies and action plans.

transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. In Japan and other countries.

Other company names and product or services names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 169 bases across 30 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services in 48 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment.

https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/
China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into wines imported from Australia in a major threat to the $6billion industry.

The 12-month inquiry, which could lead to huge tariffs, will look into whether Australian winemakers 'dumped' cheap bottles into China to drown out local producers between 2015 and 2019.

But Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said he was 'perplexed' by the move because Australian wines in China are expensive, and only cheaper than New Zealand's bottles.

The move comes after China threatened 'further action' last month when Canberra cancelled its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and extended visas for its residents.

Thousands fear they could be unfairly arrested under China's new national security law, but the policy only further inflamed tensions between Australia and the communist regime.

China has launched an anti-dumping investigation into wines imported from Australia in a major threat to the $6billion industry (pictured, a woman browsing wine in Beijing)

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said he was 'perplexed' by the move because Australian wines in China are expensive, second only to New Zealand wines. Pictured: The vineyards of Margaret River Wines in Western Australia

The investigation, due to end in August next year, has struck fear into the hearts of Australian wine makers, which send 37 per cent of their exports to China.

Shares in Treasury Wine Estates slumped about 19 per cent as news of the investigation emerged.

In May, China's anti-dumping investigation into Australian barley ended with an 80 per cent tariff on the crop, which effectively prevents Aussie farmers from selling it to their biggest market.

The federal government denies dumping and is fighting the tariffs.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham described the investigation into wine as 'a very disappointing and perplexing development'.

'Australian wine is not sold at below market prices and exports are not subsidised,' Senator Birmingham said.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is pictured meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping last year

'Australia will engage fully with the Chinese process to strongly argue the case that there are no grounds to uphold the claims being made.'

The senator said his counterpart in China is still refusing take his calls.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud also flatly rejected the dumping allegations and committed to working closely with industry figures to fight the claims.

Aussie wine exports 1. 37% to China worth $1.1bn 2. 15.3% to US worth $445m 3. 14.1% to UK worth $410m 4. 6.5% to Canada worth $188m 5. 3.6% to Hong Kong worth $104m Source: Australian Government for FY2019-20 Advertisement

The anti-dumping investigation is expected to run for a year but could last until February 2022.

China is also considering launching a countervailing duties investigation into whether Australian wine exports are receiving and benefiting from government subsidies.

Treasury Wine Estates, which imports premium brands such as Penfolds into China, said it would co-operate with the investigation.

'TWE's focus will remain on building premium and luxury brands, investing in the local operating model and team, and working with partners to enhance the wine category and grow our contribution to China,' the company said in a statement to the ASX.

Treasury Wine boss Tim Ford said only last week that he was worried about tension between Australia and China.

'Does it worry me? Of course it worries me,' he told The Australian.

'We saw it two years ago when we faced some operational challenges getting our product into China for a short period of time. We would hope that they don't happen in the future for sure.'

Police officers detain protesters during a rally against a new national security law on the 23rd anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 1

The extraordinary tariff on Australian barley exports is an apparent punishment for Scott Morrison's push for a coronavirus inquiry (pictured, a wet market in Guangzhou on May 4)

Australia exports $1.1 billion of wine to China, out of $2.9 billion total wine exports to the world. South Australia is by far the biggest wine exporter to China, with Treasury Wines leading the pack.

Almost 46 per cent of Queensland and Victorian exported wine goes to China. The figure is 41.5 per cent for WA, 43 per cent for SA.

China is Australia's largest trading partner, buying about a third of all exports worth $135billion a year.

Beijing and Canberra have been at loggerheads after Australia led global calls for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19, which first surfaced in China late last year.

China retaliated by slapping an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, suspending beef imports and telling students and tourists not to travel Down Under in an apparent attempt to damage the Australian economy.

Riot police pin down a protester during a demonstration following the passing of China's National Security Law on July 1 (pictured)

In June Scott Morrison said cyber-attacks by a state-based actor have increased dramatically in recent weeks and targeted 'all levels of government' as well as 'critical infrastructure'.

Security chiefs said the hackers are using the so-called 'spear-phishing' method to steal sensitive login details by sending scam emails, and carrying out regular 'reconnaissance' to find weak points in Australia's defences.

Intelligence sources said the attacker was China.

On July 9, Scott Morrison announced he is granting five-year visas with a pathway to permanent residency for students and skilled migrants from Hong Kong after China imposed draconian new laws on the territory.

Around 10,000 Hong Kongers who are already in Australia are able to apply for the extended visas but is no humanitarian immigration programme specifically for Hong Kong residents.

Scott Morrison (pictured in 2019 at the G20 summit) has pushed for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak

Riot police secure an area inside a shopping mall during a rally on July 21 in Hong Kong (pictured)

The Prime Minister has also suspended Australia's extradition treaty with the former British colony, meaning Hong Kongers accused of a crime by their home government will not be automatically deported from Australia.

Canada, the UK, the US and New Zealand have done the same.

The government is also planning measures to persuade Hong Kong entrepreneurs and businesses to relocate to Australia, with further details yet to be announced.

China's new national security law prohibits what Beijing views as secessionist, subversive or terrorist activities or as foreign intervention in Hong Kong.

Critics say it curtails freedom of speech and pro-democracy protesters have since been charged for holding flags, posters and pamphlets.
Bexar County Sheriff's Office

A 40-year-old man is accused of raping a 12-year-old girl at knifepoint and is facing an aggravated sexual assault charge in connection with the incident, according to an arrest affidavit.

Donald Hamilton was arrested Sunday after the girl told police that he had tricked her into getting into his SUV and sexually assaulted her, the affidavit said.
A tent encampment under the 101 Bridge on Alvarado Street near Echo Park. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

Even before the coronavirus crisis hit, cities across the nation were confronting a historic surge in homelessness as hundreds of thousands of Americans found themselves unable to afford rising rents.

Now, some of the millions who lost their jobs as businesses shut down to slow the contagion are in danger of eviction or foreclosure. Regardless of whether Congress and President Trump agree on a new relief package, the housing crisis is sure to remain severe in the months ahead.

In the primaries, former Vice President Joe Biden and his Democratic rivals released sweeping and costly housing proposals reflecting heightened voter concern about higher rents and the spread of homelessness, especially on the West Coast.

Trump has taken no major steps to relieve homelessness or expand the supply of low-cost housing. But a White House spokesman said the president deserved credit for revitalizing urban communities in part by "building the most inclusive economy in American history."





Donald Trump

Trump's signature housing initiative has been the repeal of a rule requiring communities to build low-cost units in neighborhoods where it can relieve racial segregation in housing. The rule, "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing," was issued under President Obama to enforce the Fair Housing Act, one of the landmark civil rights laws of the 1960s.

"I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood," Trump tweeted in July. "Your housing prices will go up based on the market, and crime will go down."

The Trump administration threatened last year to crack down on homelessness in California by tearing down encampments and sheltering the homeless in government facilities. Nothing came of it.

But Trump has approved increases in federal homeless assistance grants. The White House spokesman said Trump was also removing regulatory barriers that hinder construction of low-cost housing.

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Trump's 2017 tax cut included incentives to encourage developers to build projects in low-income neighborhoods known as "opportunity zones." The projects have included luxury housing. Among the applicants for the tax breaks are well-connected developers and investors such as former White House aide Anthony Scaramucci and the family of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Trump's campaign website includes no proposals on housing or homelessness that he would pursue during a second term, only a section on "promises kept."

Joe Biden

Biden has promised to reinstate the fair housing rule scrapped by Trump.

He has also pledged a sharp increase in Section 8 rent subsidies to ensure theyre available to all Americans whose income is low enough to qualify. He would allocate $5 billion for a tax credit to ensure that no family that is eligible for the subsidies would have to spend more than 30% of the household's income on rent.

Biden would establish a $100-billion affordable housing fund to finance the upgrading of housing for low-income Americans. He vowed to put $10 billion into tax incentives that encourage developers to build affordable housing in communities that need it the most.

Biden would also condition federal grants to localities on the elimination of zoning restrictions that limit development near public-transit centers or encourage suburban sprawl.

Biden has pledged $13 billion in spending to combat homelessness. His criminal justice proposals include a goal of ensuring housing for all formerly incarcerated individuals upon release from prison.
Ireland has tightened its restrictions in a bid to curb a surge in Covid-19 cases, with the countrys rate of growth the fourth highest in Europe.

The Government confirmed the new measures will be in place until September 13.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the country went from a weekly low of 61 cases earlier this year to 533 last week.

All outdoor events have been limited to 15 people, and indoor gatherings to six people, down from 50.

Weddings have been excluded from the updated restrictions.

This virus is relentless. We have seen a significant rise in cases across the country and are introducing new public health restrictions to protect lives, protect our health service and give our schools the very best chance of opening and remaining open 1/3  Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) August 18, 2020

After a lengthy Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the Government agreed that sporting events should be played behind closed doors with social gatherings before and after to be avoided.

Gardai may also be given new powers to tackle breaches of social distancing rules in restaurants, bars and private homes.

Restaurants and bars serving food can remain open but must close by 11.30pm.

People have been told to avoid public transport where possible and to wear face masks on private transport when households are mixed.

Those aged over 70 have been advised to limit their interactions to a small network for short periods.

Businesses are also being encouraged to advise staff to work from home where possible.

A further short to medium-term plan for the way forward will be published by the Government before September 13.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the harsh reality is that recent trends and the spread of the virus are very serious.

Expand Close Micheal Martin (Julien Behal Photography/PA) / Facebook

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We are not close to the level and pace of the spread of the virus earlier this year, but we are at a point where we need to recommit ourselves to key behaviours and to accept additional controls, he added.

The evidence is that a large number of people are acting as if the virus is no threat to them, or that its OK to take a few more risks, and many people seem to believe that if those they are socialising with have no symptoms, there is no problem.

If the current increase continues, it will be impossible to stop the spread of the virus to our most vulnerable and most compromised and the virus is as deadly today as it was before.

Mr Donnelly said 190 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed on Tuesday.

Were now seeing multiple clusters throughout the country, in peoples homes, in multiple workplaces and in a number of other social settings, he said.

Our 14-day cumulative cases per 100,000 population, a key measure looked at by NPHET (National Public Health Emergency Team), is now 26  thats come up from four.

Our five-day average of new cases is 116 new cases per day and rising.

He said the new measures are to protect the health services and jobs, and to get schools reopened.

He added: Looking at the facts and listening to the medical experts, we are at a tipping point.

Irelands rate of growth of new cases over the last two weeks is the fourth highest in Europe, and in the last two months weve gone from a low of 61 cases in one particular week to 533 cases last week.

Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn warned about the dangers of being in close contact with friends and family.

Its very natural that we feel safest when we are with those who we are closest to, whether thats at home, at work or at play.

However, with this disease that unfortunately is not always the case  62% of cases in the last 14 days have been linked to close contact with a confirmed case.

This means that we must be extra vigilant when socialising with our friends and family and we must not forget the safe behaviours that were so successful in flattening the curve through May and June.

This virus is not tired even if we are. The measures that have been recommended today place a lot of responsibility on each of us as individuals to make choices about how we behave and how we interact with one another.

But this is a collective problem and it requires collective action.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the people of Ireland are fed up and others are fearful.

He added: (The public) want the Government to work together, to work with agencies, to work together politically to help us tackle the crisis and avoid a worse one.

Its a very difficult political task because sometimes its hard to make judgment calls on actions when the possible consequences arent visible yet.

The new measures come following advice from NPHET which met on Monday.
Yahoo, for one, seems to be trying hard to circumvent California's tough privacy law, which requires allowing people to opt out from data sharing. (AFP/Getty Images)

There's so much to worry about right now, protecting your privacy shouldn't be another source of anguish.

Yet privacy  or lack thereof  remains one of the most important issues of our time as multibillion-dollar companies do all they can to gather and exploit user information worldwide.

Heck, it's such a crucial matter, President Trump has threatened to shut down TikTok in the United States, where it has more than 100 million users, because he says its data collection practices are a threat to national security.

I've been stewing on this since being contacted the other day by a West Hills mediator and lawyer named Marty Olinick, who was having difficulty understanding the privacy policies of various companies and how to exercise rights granted under California's privacy law.

"One site that's especially ridiculous is Yahoo, where you simply can't find a way to opt out," he told me.

Olinick, 76, added: "This should be something that's very easy to do. But I'm not going to waste a half-hour or more trying to figure it out."

Again, this guy's a lawyer, accustomed to documents containing dense prose and jargon. His past gigs have included overseeing deals to license music on behalf of major media companies.

If he's having difficulties, how hard are things for ordinary civilians who may not have an advanced degree or experience with the minutiae of content management?

"I think companies are deliberately making it as hard as possible," Olinick said.

I don't disagree. But I figured I'd better take a closer look at Yahoo's privacy practices to see what set him off.

Yahoo, in case you don't know, is now a subsidiary of Verizon Communications. Verizon purchased the long-ago search leader in 2017 and made it part of a division called Oath, which was renamed Verizon Media last year.

Verizon Media is also home to AOL, HuffPost, TechCrunch, Engadget and other digital brands Verizon has scooped up over the years.

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The Yahoo privacy policy includes the usual corporate pledges to respect and safeguard users' privacy. "Yahoo is committed to gaining your trust," it says.

The company has a funny way of showing that.

For example, Yahoo users have access to a "privacy dashboard" that ostensibly allows you to manage your preferences. If there's a direct link to the privacy dashboard from the company's privacy policy, it wasn't readily apparent to me.

Worse, the policy doesn't necessarily apply to all businesses controlled by Yahoo or Verizon. To see if they have different privacy policies, you're invited to click a link to affiliated companies.

When I did so, several times, I arrived at a page that said "UCMPRDAPP01333016712." And that's all it said.

Theres a link to "marketing preferences," but this takes you to a page asking if you're "sure you want to unsubscribe from all marketing communications and special offers from Yahoo."

Does that constitute an opt-out from data sharing? Does it unsubscribe you as well from pitches by Yahoo's marketing partners? Unclear.

Things get even more frustrating if you go the trouble of rooting around for the privacy dashboard and find a link to "Do Not Sell My Info," which one could reasonably expect will prevent Yahoo from selling your info.

Nope.

It takes you to a page asserting that "Verizon Media does not sell information that identifies you on its own, like your name or email address." In the next breath, though, it says that "we do share other identifiers with partners for product, service and advertising reasons."

The disclosure goes on to admit that "under the California Consumer Privacy Act, some of this sharing activity may be considered a 'sale' that you have a right to opt out of."

So Yahoo/Verizon says it will never, ever sell your information to others, except it may "share" it for "advertising reasons," and this sharing in fact may constitute a sale under the law.

You could get whiplash trying to parse a sentiment like that.

The California Consumer Privacy Act was intended to mitigate companies' attempts to strip people of privacy. Among other things, it ensures the right to find out what a company knows about you and how it uses this information.

The law, which took effect at the beginning of the year, also gives people the right to request that a business delete whatever personal information it holds and to opt out of having data sold to third parties.

Yahoo clouds this process by not offering a distinct means to opt out. Instead, users are given the choice to pick whether they "agree" or "disagree" with the statement "continue sharing under California law."

Presumably clicking "disagree" is opting out, but Yahoo/Verizon makes that ambiguous. Nor does it notify you after clicking "disagree" (which I had to do twice) that you have opted out of data sharing.

I relayed Olinick's experience and my own findings to Verizon.

A spokeswoman for the company, asking to be identified only as "a Verizon Media spokesperson," responded to most of the points, but only on background, which means I can't share what she said with you.

She didn't seem to appreciate the irony of insisting on her own privacy while addressing my privacy questions.

On the record, the Verizon Media spokesperson said that "privacy and trust are core values" for the company.

"We continue to build a privacy-oriented ecosystem and are reimagining the consumer experience, empowering users with transparency and control over how and when their data is used," she said.

California has the nation's toughest privacy law and things are still troublesome. This is unacceptable in a world that increasingly turns on digital transactions.

What's needed is a national privacy law similar to sweeping protections enacted a couple of years ago in Europe.

Among other provisions, Europe's General Data Protection Regulation requires that companies receive permission upfront before using or sharing people's personal info. And that consent must be easy to withdraw if a consumer so desires.

In the United States, the default setting is that companies can collect, use and share people's information without prior approval.

Here's what makes that ludicrous: It's your information. In most cases, a company is simply taking it without your explicit permission and doing as it pleases until you jump through hoops to get it to stop.

Tech companies, telecom companies, retailers, financial firms  they all do it. For big dogs like Google and Facebook, this is practically their whole business.

They make it seem like they're giving away cool stuff for free. In reality, they're vacuuming up as much user data as possible and exploiting it for moneymaking schemes such as targeted advertising.

Tell me again, Mr. President, why I should be freaked about TikTok.

If we're not willing to enact strict European-style privacy laws, at the very least we can make the opt-out process much, much easier.

I propose a one-stop shop for opt-outs similar to the do-not-call list maintained by the Federal Trade Commission.

A national opt-out list would allow people to easily state their privacy preferences on a one-time basis, rather than being forced to potentially contact thousands of companies individually.

It would then be up to U.S. businesses to make sure their sites reflect users' data collection wishes, just as telemarketers are required by law to make sure their records jibe with the federal do-not-call list.

And before companies whine that this would be too costly and time-consuming, I'll reiterate: It's not your information. If you can't respect the true owners' wishes, stay away from it.

California has taken bold steps to protect people, but Olinick's difficulties with Yahoo underline how imperfect even these measures are.

Our national politicians have proved themselves distinctly useless when it comes to keeping the American people safe from a deadly pandemic.

It doesn't seem like too much to ask that they at least spell out, and implement, privacy practices that put people, not corporations, first.
A number of former Love Island stars have reportedly been left outraged, after allegedly being snubbed from appearing in an upcoming reunion special.

The three-part special, said to be called Love Island: Where Are They Now?, was originally planned to be restricted to the top four contestants from each series, but exceptions have reportedly been made  sparking alleged feuds.

A source told The Sun: 'Those involved are very excited, but it has put a few noses out of joint among stars who havent been asked, especially those who think they are bigger names than those who have.

On the list: A number of former Love Island stars have allegedly been snubbed from appearing in an upcoming reunion special, which will include Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury

'Unfortunately things have got a bit nasty between some. At first it was just going to be the finalists from each series, but once exceptions started being made it really sparked anger and resentment.'

Among the former contestants expected to take part in the special are 2018 breakout stars and exes Megan Barton Hanson and Wes Nelson, and last year's runner-ups Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury.

Meanwhile, Montana Brown, who narrowly missed out on the finale in 2017 after she was dumped from the Mallorca villa with her then-beau Alex Beattie, is said to be included in the line-up of returning stars.

Star: Megan Barton Hanson has also reportedly been included in the line-up of returning stars

A source said: 'Its just not possible to have everyone on in three episodes  so unfortunately the reality is some people have had to miss out. A few of them have kicked off a bit about it, but thats just life. They can squabble among themselves all they want.'

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Love Island for comment.

Molly-Mae and Tommy are the only remaining couple from their 2019 series, and recently embarked on a trip to Crete, which had a few hair-raising moments.

On Sunday, Tommy jetted to Crete to be with Molly, with the couple sharing smitten snaps on Instagram after their reunion.

'Back with my babyyy', Molly captioned a sweet snap of her shirtless beau, while Tommy shared a selfie of the two cuddling, writing 'reunited at last.'

Rules: Despite initial reported rules that only the top four from each series would be featured, Montana Brown  who narrowly missed out on the 2017 final  is said to have been included

On Saturday, Molly-Mae claimed she and her holiday companions, including fellow Love Islander Maura Higgins, nearly died during a terrifying yacht trip.

The 21-year-old looked shaken after the shocking ordeal as she took to Instagram to detail the experience which Maura said left them 'petrified' and 'nearly vomiting'.

In a video shared by Molly-Mae, her sister and Jay can be seen pleading with the yacht operator to turn back over fears of their safety, as Maura huddled in a corner crying.

Molly-Mae wrote over the video footage: 'I've never ever seen my sister speak like this. She's only speaking like this because we asked over ten times for them to turn the boat around and they wouldn't.'

Going strong: Molly-Mae and Tommy are the only remaining couple from their 2019 series, and recently embarked on a trip to Crete, which had a few hair-raising moments

Explaining what had happened on her Instagram stories, Maura said: 'We got on this beautiful yacht today, well what we thought was a beautiful yacht, and we nearly died, that's the honest truth. Right, Molly?'

Molly-Mae reiterated what Maura was saying, as she added that she didn't 'know how [she's] here right now' after the incident.

Maura then said of Molly-Mae and her sister: 'They were petrified, and me and jay were nearly vomiting!'

After sharing the first video, Molly-Mae added a second which showed Maura, Molly-Mae's sister Zoe and hairdresser Jay look sick as they tried to keep calm in the situation, as her fellow Love Islander claimed the yacht crew were just 'going faster to where we wanted to go' rather than turn back.

Co-star: Tommy and Molly-Mae have been joined on their trip by former co-star Maura Higgins

She wrote over the Instagram story: 'Soooo many questions from everyone. I'll have to film a story time and explain the full morning but right now I'm just happy to be on solid ground.

'Basically the waves were that bad the boat was almost capsizing and the drivers didn't speak English. There were no life jackets.

'Baring in mind me and my sis are both fully qualified lifeguards. We were both fearing for our lives. Was meant to be a relaxing day.

'Sunbathing etc and look at the fear on their faces please. Maura in the corner crying.'

She then shared a clip from The Perfect Storm, claiming the huge tidal wave in the film was the only comparison she could make to what they had experienced.
T he Government U-turn on A-level results, which the Evening Standard called for yesterday, was the right decision, even if taken far too late after a week of farce and denial and a vast amount of distress.

It means that students are being awarded grades based on predictions, rather than on the flawed algorithm calculation. More will qualify for the university course of their choice as a result.

Of course Education Secretary Gavin Williamson should go and now  not that he will. The Prime Minister, currently staying silent on holiday, may want someone to carry the can when troubles undoubtably unfold as children try to return to school in two weeks.

To date he has shown ruthless efficiency when sacking those who oppose him or shunting the blame onto others  he gave the cabinet secretary the chop; Public Health England is being disbanded. Now the knives will be out for Ofqual.

Williamson, in contrast, is part of his loyal band, and although as a Prime Minister he wants others to take responsibility for their mistakes, he doesnt appear to want to apply it to his team. This is rapidly eroding trust in the basic competence of the government and its PM.

Weve had the failed attempt to fully reopen primary schools in June, chaos over test and trace, and ongoing confusion caused by ministers ever-changing quarantine policy. As this list indicates, this is not solely a question about the abilities of the Education Secretary or civil servants, because responsibility for the big decisions in government ultimately lies with the Prime Minister.

One of the biggest doubts about the PM has always been his lack of attention to detail and this entirely avoidable crisis over A-levels indicates that his leadership again lacks the forensic attention needed.

Politically, of course, he appears largely untouchable because of his hefty parliamentary majority but a public reckoning at the polls will eventually come. More importantly, its imperative for the national good that Mr Johnson ups his game immediately.

The other bad news is that yesterdays U-turn has left students wondering if the universities that offered them places still have room. It raises questions about why the universities couldnt have delayed filling courses, given how obvious it was that a potential upgrading might be needed.

Fashion pays the price

It comes, sadly, as little surprise that M&S is axing so many jobs, as losses, particularly in clothing and homeware, have hit the retailer hard.

What is being less reported on is the huge hit that London fashion businesses like M&S will take, not just from lockdown but as workers  too scared to return to offices having been terrified by the Government  will not need to spend money on work clothes.

Not just office-wear but the little sartorial extras for the socialising that occurs around commuting into a city that offers so much.

Today, Capita announced to its 2,000 London office staff that they need not return until 2021  ironic that it wants to keep the city empty when it runs the congestion charge.

If bosses keep adding to fears that face-to-face work is not necessary, we are going to keep seeing unemployment rise.

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Change will come, and we will never return to full office capacity, but this is not a revolution unfolding  it is devastation.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed this position to the American administration and it has not changed, it said. The peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates does not include any reference to arms sales and the U.S. has made it clear that it will always take strict care to maintain Israels qualitative edge.
(Newser)  Authorities in Texas have filed capital murder charges against the suspect in a scientist's apparently random murder. Bakari Abiona Moncrief, 29, has been charged with killing Sarmistha Sen, a 43-year-old mother of two and a cancer researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern, reports NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. Sen went out for an early morning jog in Plano on August 1 and never returned. Her body was later found near a creek, and police say she died of blunt-force injuries.

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Moncrief was arrested later that day for allegedly burglarizing a house in the neighborhood, and he was quickly named a suspect in Sen's death after being linked to DNA from both crime scenes, per CNN. No motive is known. When arrested, police say he said the same thing that was heard in Ring doorbell video from the burglary: "I ain't a coward." The family has set up a GoFundMe where donations will be directed to charities supported by Sen. Meanwhile, supporters continue to drop off pairs of running shoesSen was an avid joggerat a makeshift memorial near the site where she was killed. (Sen's husband struggled to make sense of the killing.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 03:56:22|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe on Tuesday further relaxed COVID-19 lockdown measures, a day after the country recorded a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 recoveries.

Addressing the media after a post-cabinet meeting, which was held virtually for the first time, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the new measures were meant to alleviate the plight of the public, which has been under tight lockdown restrictions since March.

Among the new measures, business operating hours, which were ending at 3 p.m., have been extended to 4:30 p.m., while a dusk-to-dawn curfew, which ran from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., has now been extended to start at 8 p.m. and end at 6 a.m.

Dedicated lanes for public transport buses at police road blocks will also be reserved to expedite clearance and passage, the minister said.

Immigrants who test negative for COVID-19 upon arrival in the country will now no longer be required to go in quarantine as was previously the case, but will instead be put on home quarantine.

The minister said the Cabinet had also approved guidelines to help families manage COVID-19 cases at home.

"Furthermore, in order to curtail the spike in infections, Zimbabwe requires a more robust testing regime. In this regard, the Cabinet directed that the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development, through the National University of Science and Technology, work on the production of PCR primers and viral transport media," the minister said.

As of Monday, Zimbabwe had recorded 5,308 COVID-19 cases, of which recoveries stood at 3,848 after a whopping 1,756 recoveries were registered in one day.

Of the 1,756 recoveries, 1,698 were recorded in the capital Harare.

Due to the high number of recoveries, active cases have drastically gone down to 1,325, while deaths are 135. Enditem
Exploration Recommended in Five New Areas of the structurally complex Property where deformation, folding, shearing and faulting have been mapped

VICTORIA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / GoldON Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:GLD) ("GoldON" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of an independent technical report (the "Report") on its Slate Falls gold-silver property that assesses the technical merit and economic potential of the project and recommends additional exploration. The Report was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is now filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR.

The 5,656-hectare Slate Falls property (the "Property") is located in the Patricia Mining Division of northwestern Ontario and lies within the southwestern extension of the Meen-Dempster Greenstone Belt between the Red Lake and Pickle Lake gold camps (see Figure 1).

Figure 1 - The Uchi Subprovince is host to several multi-million-ounce gold deposits (click on image to enlarge). Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property.

The Report is based on the compilation of all historical geological, geochemical and geophysical data into GIS referenced layers needed for methodical and diligent well-vectored exploration. The structural complexity of the Property and its relation to the known metal occurrences was interpreted and addressed by a competent structural geologist. The high-resolution heliborne magnetic survey completed earlier this year aided greatly in this structural interpretation and has identified new areas that need to be investigated further by prospecting, sampling and mapping.

Figure 2 - Slate Falls property geology and structural map with historical showings and areas recommended for follow-up

A Phase 1 exploration program is recommended that includes, but is not limited to, the areas referenced in Figure 2 above and summarized below:

The FTM Zone (traced for 500m) now appears to be associated with a fold axis proximal or along a felsic intrusive. This brittle environment crosscut by north northeast structures can provide important traps and pathways for mineralization and thus presents a horizon as a target with high merit.

Probable ultra-mafic bodies were better defined by the airborne magnetic survey and associated cross-cutting structural features make these lithologies conducive for possible re-mobilized Cu-Ni mineralization. Structurally damaged ultra-mafic bodies in the Uchi Subprovince are also important hosts for gold mineralization.

The extent of volcanic assemblages and possible F2 fold axes in the Scanes Pluton not previously mapped or recognized is also a target of high merit for gold, Ni-Cu- PGE or even VMS-type mineralization.

Gold mineralization associated at the Fly Zone in a sericite-amphibole schist in contact with an iron formation and associated structure is another target of high merit. Cross-cutting structural features should be investigated for sulphidation of magnetite, grunerite (amphibole) alteration and shear related quartz veining as a banded iron formation hosted gold deposit model.

Structures hosting polymetallic mineralization whether in volcanic packages or within syn-deformational felsic rocks such as the North Bamaji Pluton on the western side of the property should be investigated for a possible Archean-related Au-(Cu) porphyry model deposit.

"The Slate Falls project is an underexplored sleeping giant that has yet to reveal the source of the numerous high-grade showings identified across the ten-plus-kilometre Property," said Mike Romanik President of GoldON. "While our current focus remains on our Red Lake projects, we are looking forward to returning to Slate Falls and investigating these new areas using the modern-day exploration techniques that have been successful in discovering both precious and base metal deposits in other areas of the Uchi Subprovince."

Mike Kilbourne, P. Geo, an independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.

About GoldON Resources Ltd.

GoldON is an exploration company focused on discovery-stage properties located in the prolific gold mining belts of northwestern Ontario, Canada. Our current project portfolio includes four properties in the Red Lake Mining Division (West Madsen, Pipestone Bay, McDonough and Bruce Lake) and a fifth property in the Patricia Mining Division (Slate Falls). If you are an investor looking for exposure to the rising gold price, then GoldON is an explorer worthy of a closer look: tight share structure with a $10 million market cap, discovery-stage projects all in good standing, experienced management and advisors, and no debt with capital devoted to exploration not excessive salaries.

For additional information: please visit our website at https://goldonresources.com, you can download our latest presentation by clicking here and you can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GoldONResources.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Signed "Michael Romanik"

Michael Romanik, President

Direct line: (204) 724-0613

Email: romanikm@mymts.net

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: GoldON Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602030/GoldON-Files-NI-43-101-Technical-Report-on-100-Owned-Slate-Falls-Gold-Silver-Property
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement enables the continent to better meet its trade and economic development challenges, secretariat chief for the AfCFTA said Monday.

Speaking during the transfer of the secretariat building from the Ghanaian government to the African Union (AU), secretary general of the AfCFTA secretariat Wamkele Mene said Africa remained trapped in a colonial economic model with numerous challenges.

He said the fragmentation of African national economies into small pieces and the over-reliance on the export of primary commodities, among others, were some of the challenges to intra-African trade and the continent's economic development.

"Africa continues to be trapped in a colonial economic model, which requires that we aggressively implement the AfCFTA as one of the tools for effecting a fundamental structural transformation of Africa's economy," Mene said. "We have to take action now."

The implementation phase of the AfCFTA coincides with the year of Silencing the Guns, an initiative of the AU, providing an opportunity to focus on fast-tracking Africa's economic development objectives, he said.

Ghanaian Minister of Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen estimated that the operationalization of the AfCFTA would address challenges of small fragmented markets in Africa by creating a single market to create economies of scale.

"Africa will improve its terms of trade with the rest of the world by earning higher values for its exports through value addition," Kyerematen said.
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Among the three novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases reported in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam on Tuesday morning, one was the fourth member of a family to become infected and one had contact with a medical worker previously diagnosed with the disease.

Patient No. 982 is a 90-year-old man with a permanent address in Dien Ban Town, Quang Nam Province.

From July 17 to 20, he visited a private nurse for wound treatment. The nurse was later identified as patient No. 520 on July 31.

After the visit, he performed self-treatment at home and only came into close contact with his family members from July 20 to 30.

He first tested negative for the coronavirus on August 2 while being quarantined at a centralized center where his roommate, patient No. 721, tested positive four days later.

On August 13, he retested positive for the virus. He is now in stable health with no coughing or fever.

Patient No. 981 is a 31-year-old woman working for Bikini Bottom restaurant in Hoi An City, Quang Nam.

During her days off from July 13 to 16, she was hospitalized for a hand surgery treatment at Room 303 of the neurology department at Da Nang Hospital.

From July 17 to 25, this patient stayed at home and only came in direct contact with her family members and relatives after being discharged from the hospital.

On July 26, she came to have the suture removed at Hoi An General Hospital, where she was in close contact with a medical worker whose identity remains unknown.

Before being tested for COVID-19 and hospitalized at Quang Nam Central General Hospital on August 14, she had visited a local eatery between July 25 and 27 and a medical center for health declaration on August 1.

Patient No. 983 is a 15-year-old girl in Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam.

Three of her family members, including her parents and grandmother, had previously been diagnosed with COVID-19.

She had helped her father run a local vegetable stall at Hoa Xuan Market in Cam Le District in neighboring Da Nang City.

On July 12, she and her father visited her sick grandmother at Da Nang Hospital.

Before self-isolating at home, she had visited her mothers workplace between July 13 and 19 where she came into contact with many people.

On August 7, she was transferred to the quarantine area of the district health center and tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Vietnams COVID-19 tally stood at 983, with 472 full recoveries and 25 deaths as of Tuesday morning.

The country has registered 505 local infections since July 25, when Da Nang detected the first locally-transmitted case after 99 days with no community transmission in Vietnam.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
>>> Two more COVID-19 infections reported on August 17 morning



>>> Hai Duong applies additional urgent measures to prevent and control COVID-19



>>> Health ministry sends experts to help Hai Duong stamp out COVID-19

The blockades, which started from 0:00 on August 17, were imposed on Lane 10 on Tran Van Giap Street in the citys Thanh Binh Ward and a section of a residential area with a radius of 250m from house No. 88 on Mac Thi Buoi Street in Nam Sach Town, Nam Sach District.

Medical isolation has also been applied on the residential areas no. 2, 3 and 4 in Tan Binh Ward, Hai Duong City, as well as the entirety of Truc Tri Village in Quoc Tuan Commune, Nam Sach District.

The order will last for 28 days as the newly-detected COVID-19 infections in the locality live in or have visited all the areas mentioned above.

Regarding the close contacts of a Hai Duong COVID-19 patient, known as Patient no. 950, who visited Van Don in Quang Ninh Province and Sa Pa in Lao Cai Province, the whole group of 44 people in Van Don and 9 others in Sa Pa have showed negative test results for the coronavirus, according to local authorities.

In Da Nang, the epicentre of the new COVID-19 wave in Vietnam, the city People's Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho on August 16 requested the Thanh Khe District authorities to strengthen measures to drastically stamp out the new outbreak in Tam Thuan Ward, with three new cases discovered on August 15, related to a funeral of a patient who had been treated at Da Nang Hospital.

On the same day, the An Khe Ward in Thanh Khe District imposed a medical blockade on Tan An market in relation to a COVID-19 patient who is a trader at the market.

Da Nang has imposed medical blockades on several of its residential areas to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks from spreading in the community. (Photo: NDO/Anh Dao)

The Da Nang People's Committee has sent a request to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Da Nang City to support local residents facing difficulties due to COVID-19. Accordingly, for disadvantaged people who are in the local medical lockdown areas, they will be provided with 5 kg of rice per person for the 14-day isolation, in addition to food and necessities worth VND40,000 each day. For disadvantaged people in the community, they will receive 15 kg of rice per person each month, along with food and necessities (if any). Based on the actual situation, the city will consider using its budget to buy food to support its local residents.

In Dak Lak Province, the chairperson of the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee signed a document on August 16 to lift the medical lockdown on Buon Ma Thuot City from 0:00 on August 17, while also urging for maintaining drastic measures to fight against COVID-19.

The order lasted since August 2 after the Central Highlands province detected three COVID-19 infections. More than 10,000 people are under quarantine in Dak Lak to eliminate the risk of COVID-19 spread.

On August 16, a delegation from the Ministry of Health examined the epidemic prevention and control work at the General Hospital for the Northern Mountainous Area in Quang Nam Province. With the support from the Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital, the Quang Nam hospital has received, isolated and provided treatment for 95 patients, including those with serious underlying diseases, transferred from Da Nang Hospital.

The hospital has set up a separate isolation zone to treat these patients. With the help from the Bach Mai Hospital, the Quang Nam hospital has treated all patients well, including the seriously ill ones. To date, 70 patients have qualified for discharge.
Even with fewer travelers venturing out because of COVID-19, the journey to and from the airport and the car rental center can be difficult. Picking up your rental can take almost as long as a short flight.

I was unhappily reminded of that the other day at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport CRACF.

What is a CRACF? Its short for Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility. Think lots of rental cars.

My journey via shuttle bus from the rental facility to the airport terminal took 31 minutes. The bus wait was 20 minutes, and loading added another six minutes. The actual ride was five minutes. My flight to San Antonio was only 44 minutes.

Over the last decade or so, CRACF has become a buzzword among airport officials.

On ExpressNews.com: Wary Traveler: Hotels compete for guests with Lysol, partnerships

Airports get to charge rent to the car rental companies, something they cant do when each company has its own off-site lot.

The PR spin from airports is that they are getting rental car shuttles off the road, relieving traffic. I am all for clean air and less traffic.

The problem is the long shuttle waits  from transportation companies that generally hold exclusive agreements to provide service between the CRACFs and terminals.

My experience at various airports is that the lack of a CRACF is good news. With competing car rental companies  and no central facility housing them  each ones vans arrive every few minutes or so.

Avis knows that if it doesnt have enough buses, National or Hertz is going to steal its lunch. Maybe I shouldnt have mentioned Hertz, since it's in bankruptcy, but you get the picture.

But creating a monopoly for one shuttle company is a recipe for slow service.

Its just the nature of a monopoly  theres not much incentive to provide good service.

Travelers, however, can fight back in some cases. If theyre flying to the Dallas area, passengers can fly to Love Field on Southwest. At the smaller Love Field, compared to DFW, the competing rental car vans are usually waiting for you for the four-minute trip to the rental center.

On ExpressNews.com: The Wary Traveler: Joy in the seat pocket

Some airports, including Orlando International in Florida, Austin Bergstrom International and San Antonio International, have conveniently placed their car rental centers across the street from the terminal.

In those cases, the trip to the car rental center is as fast as you can walk or run. The airports are actually improving the rental car experience while collecting rent from car rental companies.

But be careful  changes do occur. At Tampa International Airport in Florida, the rental car center was across the street from the terminal. In the name of progress, its now a train ride away, adding another 10 minutes to get your rental car.

I may also may have bad timing. The bus to Terminal C at DFW pulled out just as I entered the bus platform during my recent trip.

When the next bus finally arrived, I asked: Why so long?

The driver maintained that buses run every five minutes and that it was all controlled by a dispatcher with GPS who made sure there was never a long wait.

He could not explain my 20-minute wait. It was an unexplained mystery of life! But this same thing has happened to me before at the DFW car rental facility and numerous others.

In fact, at other CRACF facilities, my experiences have been worse.

Before the pandemic, I encountered delays numerous times at McCarren International Airport in Las Vegas, waiting for the shuttle to the car rental center.

Long lines resulted in waits as long as 30 minutes in the Las Vegas heat. Add another seven minutes to load the bus and ten more minutes for the trip to the rental facility. I began to wonder why an Uber did not enter my mind.

My worse CRACF experience was several years back at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

It was 5:30 a.m. and my flight was at 7:15 a.m. The wait for the bus was more than 30 minutes. About 40 other travelers and I kept hoping the shuttle would arrive soon. When the bus finally came, the ride to the terminal took 10 minutes in a standing-room-only vehicle.

I made my flight, but just barely.

The absolute worst place to rent a car at a U.S. airport is Miami International Airport. The shuttle bus is not to blame because there is no bus.

Instead, its a long walk of 10 to 15 minutes on endless moving walkways. Its easy to get lost. This has happened to me several times.

Eventually, you end up at a train station for the trip to the consolidated car rental facility. With the wait for the train, you can easily add another 15 minutes to your journey to the CRACF.

One way to fight back is to learn the secrets of an airport you use a lot.

At DFW, while I was waiting 20 minutes for my shuttle bus to Terminal C, two successive buses marked terminal A appeared.

What I realized later was that there is an internal train that connects all the terminals at D/FW and runs every few minutes. All I had to do was jump on the Terminal A bus and then grab the internal train.

If I had thought ahead, I would have gotten to my gate sooner!

Randy Diamond covers tourism and the travel industry. To read more from Randy, become a subscriber. randy.diamond@express-news.net
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A news presenter of national broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) has apologized for saying that street hawkers are living like parasites on Ho Chi Minh City streets during live coverage.

The controversial comparison happened during the Finance  Business broadcast at 7:00 am Monday on VTV1 Channel, when anchorman Anh Quang was introducing a story on the economic impacts of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the tourist streets or those mainly serving foreign visitors in Ho Chi Minh City desolate, Quang said.

And when the streets are lifeless, how will the peddlers, who are living [as] parasites on these streets, survive?

The way Quang compared the street hawkers to the organisms stirred a furore from viewers.

In terms of word choice, the word parasite in this news story is used metaphorically by the anchorman. But unfortunately they chose an inappropriate word, said Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hiep, director of the Vietnam Institute of Linguistics.

The word parasite has a negative connotation. Describing a person as living parasitically on another means disapproving of that persons all play and no work lifestyle, he explained.

According to Hiep, saying so is both an insult to street vendors, who have to work very hard to make a living, and incorrect when it comes to the governments views on economic sectors and types.

Nguyen Ha Nam, chief of VTVs Editorial Secretary Board, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that news presenter Anh Quang had posted an official apology on his personal Facebook account on Monday.

The national broadcaster will also come up with a disciplinary action for Quangs error, Nam said.

First of all, I would like to apologize to viewers who watched the Finance  Business broadcast on August 17, 2020 on VTV1 Channel and to street vendors in Ho Chi Minh City, Quangs Facebook post reads.

While presenting this mornings news about the livelihoods of street vendors in Ho Chi Minh City during the COVID-19 pandemic, I read a sentence incorrectly, causing misunderstanding of the news content and unnecessary negative impacts."

This is completely my personal error in conveying information to the audience, while the original content of the report was meant to offer a perspective of sharing and showing sympathy for the street vendors who struggle to make a living, without any condescending tone.

"I have written a report on the issue and am waiting to receive a disciplinary measure from my agency.

Once again, I hope to receive forgiveness from the audience.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Message: Sitting with the questions about why there is suffering
A post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the European Union must made by October "at the latest, the EU has warned.

A spokesman for the EU Commission said that while the EU wants an "ambitious and fair partnership with the UK", a deal must be achieved by the end of October in order for it to be ratified in time.

On Monday a Downing Street spokesman said the Government is confident a deal will be made in September.

The comments came before negotiations between the UK and the EU are set to resume on Tuesday evening until Friday.

Speaking about the EU's hope that a deal can be achieved, an EU Commission spokesman said: The important thing to note  and I would point you first of all back to what Michel Barnier himself said in London at the end of the last round of negotiations  that, first of all, we want a deal, we want to have an ambitious and fair partnership with the UK, and that we must come to an agreement in October at the latest.

He added: This week and over the coming weeks we will remain constructive, we will remain engaged and respectful with the UK negotiating team in order to reach a deal.

Earlier this week, a No 10 spokesman said UK negotiators will continue to plug the gaps where any differences remain.

He added: There are many issues that will be discussed during this weeks round, not least level playing field, fisheries, trading goods and services, amongst others.

After the last round of negotiations in London last month, both sides admitted they were not yet close to a trade agreement.

The EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier said at the time that a deal looked at this point unlikely. The two sides had disagreed over fishing rights and and competition rules.

Mr Barnier said the UK had not shown a willingness to break the deadlock on either of these topics.

He said there was a risk of no deal being made, saying these issues were "at the heart" of the EU's trade interests.

They would need to make a deal by October "at the latest" so it could be ratified before the post-Brexit transition period - which the UK has ruled out extending - ends in December, he added.

His UK counterpart David Frost also said there were considerable gaps in these areas. However, he contended that a deal was still possible.

Best for Britain chief executive Naomi Smith said: The Government promised to deliver Brexit to unleash the potential of our whole country.

But without a comprehensive trade deal with the EU, potentially irreparable damage will be done to our economy by the double impact of coronavirus and Brexit.

The October deadline set by the EU means the clock is truly ticking on our Government to reach a deal that ensures jobs and businesses that survived the first wave of coronavirus arent lost at the turn of the year.

Additional reporting by PA media
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Union first, then public

Recently Gov. Phil Murphy lifted NJ Ttransit capacity restrictions, yet eight to 14 seats behind the driver are still cordoned off. At times, Ive been forced to take a seat in a crowd of passengers not wearing masks in the back of the bus. I could have waited for the next bus, but how many would be just as full, if not worse? I could be waiting to get home for a long time.

I called the NJ Ttransit complaint line several times but havent gotten a return call.

I questioned an NJ Transit manager in Atlantic City. He said its a union decision, overruling the governor.

So unions run this state, and not the governor?

Mary Connors

Tuckerton

Wear mask, reduce risk

Wearing a face mask can significantly mitigate the spread of COVID-19. So wearing a mask is the responsible action to take  it is not about freedom of choice, or a red state/ blue state issue.

I wear a mask to protect you, from me. You wear a mask to help protect me, from you.
The U.S. Space Force wants satellites and spacecraft to autonomously manage problems in space, and its seeking innovative startups to build the smart technology needed to enable space vehicles with such controls.

Thats the focus of the third annual Hyperspace Challenge, an Albuquerque-based program created by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base in partnership with the ABQid business accelerator run by CNM Ingenuity, which manages all commercial endeavors for Central New Mexico Community College. The partners are now recruiting companies from New Mexico and elsewhere to participate in this falls program, which begins in October.

Companies accepted into the accelerator will spend three months developing innovative technology that can provide military agencies and other government entities with secure, trustworthy, autonomous and automated solutions for space operations, said Hyperspace Challenge Program Director Roxanne Aragon.

We believe there are many new and emerging technologies out there that can help the government better achieve its mission in space, Aragon said. We want to reach out broadly to software, artificial intelligence and other technology companies for solutions.

The annual accelerator, which launched in 2018, pairs participating companies with government contractors to resolve critical issues, potentially leading to contracts to build new technology for the U.S. Department of Defense and other entities like NASA. The last two accelerators in 2018 and 2019 focused, respectively, on data analytics to manage reams of information received from space operations, and new technologies for small satellites.

Of the 24 startups that participated in the past two programs, 16 received government contracts after leaving the accelerator, generating more than $7 million in revenue for those companies.

We launched the accelerator under the assumption that startups need a better understanding of government needs and the DOD needs a better understanding of what commercial businesses can offer, said Matt Fetrow, director of AFRL NMs Technology Engagement Office. Its about making connections between innovative companies and government customers, and its been very successful.

Its part of a national effort by the Air Force and other defense-related agencies to more rapidly develop and acquire technologies that improve military capabilities by tapping into private sector ingenuity, in this case to help modernize the DODs space-related defense systems.

The application period for this years program is open through Sept. 10, with selected participants announced in late September. The program will be run completely online, culminating in a live pitch event on Dec. 3 where the companies will compete for cash prizes.

For more information, visit hyperspacechallenge.com.
By Del Quentin Wilber | Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON  A former CIA officer has been charged with providing secrets to China over the course of a decade in a case that a top Justice Department official described as coming straight from a spy novel.

The former CIA officer who was also an FBI linguist, Alexander Yuk Chung Ma, a 67-year-old resident of Hawaii, was arrested Friday in Hawaii and charged with conspiring to communicate national defense information to aid a foreign government, the Justice Department said. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

An FBI affidavit alleges an 85-year-old Los Angeles man, a relative of Mas and also a former CIA officer, acted as a conspirator but was not charged because he suffers from a debilitating cognitive disease.

This case demonstrates the persistence of Chinese espionage efforts, said John Demers, the assistant attorney general of the Justice Departments national security division. It shows the willingness to betray ones adopted country and colleagues  And it reads like a spy novel.

Ma, who was being held pending a hearing in federal court, could not be reached for comment.

The arrest is the latest in a series of criminal cases brought by the Justice Department against current and former U.S. government officials accused of supplying secrets to the Chinese government. At least four U.S. government officials have been sentenced in the last two years to prison for providing sensitive information to the Chinese government.

Court papers reveal a yearslong effort by Ma to provide secrets to the Chinese government. Born in Hong Kong in 1952, the affidavit says, Ma came to the U.S. in 1968 and eventually became a naturalized citizen. He joined the CIA in 1982 and became a case officer stationed overseas. He left the agency in 1989.

Mas spying started in 2001, the FBI affidavit said, when he and his Los Angeles-based relative met in Hong Kong hotel room with Chinese operatives and handed over a substantial amount of highly classified national defense information, including details about CIA operations and sources.

The FBI affidavit said the bureau possessed a videotape of the meeting. The video captured Ma counting $50,000 in payment from the Chinese operatives while his relative continued to provide classified information, the affidavit said. The FBI did not disclose how it obtained the video.

Ma kept in touch with his Chinese handlers and applied to be an FBI agent in the hopes of handing over more information, the affidavit alleges. But he was told he was too old to be an agent, so Ma changed plans and applied to become a contract linguist for the bureau in Hawaii. A day before starting the FBI job in 2004, he called an accomplice and said he would be working for the other side, the affidavit alleges.

Over the next six years, he downloaded, swiped and photographed sensitive information, the affidavit alleges. The handlers also sent him a photograph of five sources it wanted to identify. Ma forwarded the photo to his relative, who identified two of the sources, the FBI alleged.

Ma left the FBI in 2010. It is not clear why the FBI waited until January 2019 to conduct its sting operation. But the affidavit suggests the FBI had been tracking Mas activities for years, likely while he was still at the bureau.

In January of last year, an undercover FBI agent met with Ma. The agent was posing as a Chinese operative conducting an audit of how his government treated the former CIA officer and how he had been compensated. To prove his bonafides, the affidavit said, the agent played a videotape of the 2001 Hong Kong meeting. Ma bought the ruse, the affidavit said, and confirmed he had handed over classified information to the Chinese operatives in 2001 and had continued to work for them.

They met again two months later, with the undercover agent giving Ma $2,000 to acknowledge his work on behalf of China. Ma confirmed he had provided multiple items of valuable U.S. government information to Chinese operatives when he worked for the bureau, the affidavit says.

At a meeting Aug. 12, the affidavit alleges, the undercover agent gave Ma another $2,000. Ma counted the cash before putting it in his pants pocket. He told the undercover agent that he wanted the motherland to succeed, the affidavit said, and would be willing to continue to work for the Chinese government, perhaps as a consultant.
Officials from Myanmar's Union Election Commission sort ballots at a polling station in the central city of Mandalay, Nov. 8, 2015.

Some political parties in Myanmar have backed a call by Human Rights Watch for Myanmars national election body to revise broadcasting restrictions that they say prevent all parties from accessing state-owned media in the run-up to general elections in November.

Current broadcast regulations may harm freedom of speech for political parties which are required to obtain the Union Election Commissions (UEC) approval for televised speeches to the public on state radio and television, said the New York-based rights group in a statement issued Aug. 14.

The presidentially appointed UEC is responsible for organizing and overseeing the countrys elections and for vetting parliamentary candidates.

The political parties are allowed to broadcast their policies, opinions, and plans on state-owned radio and TV stations from Sept. 8 to Nov. 6, two days before the elections. The UEC has limited the broadcast time for each political party to 15 minutes.

But the broadcasts must be pre-approved by the UEC under broad and vague restrictions on what political parties can say, in what HRW said is a violation of international standards for protecting freedom of speech.

The UECs regulations hamstring the political opposition by effectively prohibiting any criticism of the government, existing laws, and the military, Linda Lakhdhir, HRWs Asia legal adviser, said in the statement.

Doing so strikes at the heart of political speech and campaigning, and seriously undermines the fairness of the electoral process, she said.

A transparent and independent body that is separate from the UEC should regulate broadcasting content during elections, and campaign material for broadcast should not need prior approval or be subject to undue limitation on topics allowed to be covered, HRW said.

Fighting with your hands tied

Members of some of the roughly 100 political parties that have put forward candidates to run for parliamentary seats at the national, state, and regional levels backed HRWs call.

Thein Tun Oo, spokesman for the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said that UECs restrictions make it difficult for parties to compete against the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The army-backed USDP lost to the Aung San Suu Kyis NLD in the 2015 election.

Members of ruling party are now brazenly campaigning for the election through their government officials, he said. Their power as the ruling government gives them many advantages over other parties. For the rivals, its like fighting with your hands tied.

Min Zeyar, vice chairman of Peoples Party, a relatively new political party set up by the 88 Generation student leaders from 1980s pro-democracy protests, said the UECs restrictions promote unfair and nontransparent practices.

Some restrictions imposed by the commission block equal opportunities and free speech for all political parties, he told RFAs Myanmar Service, adding that his party has called for fair treatment and speech for all parties.

The UECs policies prohibit content that could disturb security, the rule of law, the harmony of ethnic groups, or peace and stability in the country. The UEC also has banned speeches that disrespect the constitution and other laws, defame the military, tarnish the countrys image, or harm dignity and morality.

Political parties must also refrain from speeches that could incite students, government employees, or religious adherents to oppose the government.

'Same as before'

Monywa Aung Shin, secretary of the NLDs Central Information Committee, said that the election commissions broadcast rules do not give the ruling party, which enjoys broad support in Myanmar, any advantages and that the same regulations were imposed before previous elections.

All the materials to be used during the campaigning period after Sept. 8 require prior notification to be sent to the election commission, he told RFA. It is the same as before. I dont think these restrictions are biased or give advantages to the ruling party.

Kyaw Htin, program director of New Myanmar Foundation, an NGO that monitors elections, said the restrictions should not be imposed.

All the parties, regardless of whether they are the ruling party, opposition party, or ethnic minority parties, should have a level playing field in broadcasting their materials via state media, he said.

The unnecessary restrictions should be removed for the parties to broadcast their plans and policies, he said.

UEC officials told RFA that they could not comment on the issue on Tuesday.

Reported by Phyu Phyu Khine for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Kolkata, Aug 18(UNI) GoAir flight G8 7442, arrived from Kuwait with 173 passengers on board at 6:33 pm this evening after 44 days.

Sanitization of the terminal building before and after flight operations have done.

Social distancing norms are being followed by all staffs to ensure passengers safety at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Eventually, this is the first international charter flight following a gap of 44 days landed at Kolkata Airport. The last International flight that arrived at Kolkata Airport was from Dubai on July 5. Another flight from Dubai will land at Kolkata Airport tomorrow with above 150 passengers.
The acquisition of Sotrans Group will bring greater values and enhance the position of ITL Corporation

Dang Doan Kien, vice president of Investment Division at ITL Corporation said that, ITL Corporation's acquisition of Sotrans Group will be the perfect marriage pooling the capabilities of a leader in the aviation market and a leader in port, port logistics, and inland container depots. The combination of these two businesses will bring our customers the practical benefits and added values by our integrated, diversified, and cost-optimised Logistics services."

ITL Corporation was set up in 2020. After 20 years of development, it has become a leader in providing integrated logistics services in Vietnam and Indochina. In particular, ITL is leading aviation services in the Indochina region, representing more than 22 airlines and transporting goods on more than 300 flights every week. The company also supports local companies to develop their business to international markets with integrated logistics services, including air, sea, rail, ground, multimodal transportation, and customs clearance.

Sotrans Group was established in 1975. It is one of the leading companies in international freight forwarding, import-export freight forwarding, and multi-functional warehouse services in Vietnam with an area of over 230,000 square metres. In particular, Sotrans Group focuses on port and port logistics and owns a port system including Sotrans ICD, Sowatco Long Binh port, and Depot Sotrans My Phuoc. It is currently a leading expert in warehousing, port, and port logistics in Vietnam and the region.

ITL Corporation's goal is to bring the best integrated logistics services to our customers. We will also maintain the dual brands strategy to utilise the resources and strengths of the two businesses to better meet the diverse needs of customers in the market, contributing to the development of ITL customers as well as the economy of Vietnam," he added.

On the same note, Dang Vu Thanh, general director and member of the Management Board of Sotrans Group, said, We welcome ITL Corporation's investment in Sotrans Group and we are honoured to become a member of ITL Corporation. I believe that with the dual brand strategy and the combination of our assets, the networks, technology, and highly skilled human resources of the two businesses will create an integrated logistics corporation that can compete with large international brands, providing a full package of better products to our domestic and international customers and so contributing significantly to the development of the logistics industry in the country and in the region."

The successful merger with Sotrans Group, one of Vietnam's top 3 logistics services providers, is a result of a consistent investment strategy and the persistent pursuit of ITL Corporation's goals for the past five years. From now on, ITL Corporation and Sotrans Group are working as one towards the goal of National Champion and to affirm the position of ITL Corporation as a leader in integrated logistics solutions in Vietnam and the region.
United Nations experts have accused senior army and intelligence officials in Mali of deliberately obstructing a shaky 2015 peace accord, originally designed to reduce violence in the war-torn West African country.

The revelations appear in an expert report delivered to the UN Security Council on August 7, which AFP has obtained, and which come during a festering political crisis in the Sahel state.

Mali is currently in the grip of a deep political impasse between President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and a strident opposition movement insisting on his resignation.

But much of the popular anger in the impoverished country can be attributed to its brutal eight-year conflict, which first broke out in its restive north.

Ethnic Tuareg rebels captured much of the region in 2012, triggering a war that has since been taken over by jihadists and spread to central Mali, killing thousands of civilians and soldiers along the way.

But according to the UN report, top security officials in the country have "threatened and delayed" a key peace deal which many view as one of the few escape routes from Mali's cycle of violence.

Brokered in Algiers in 2015 between several armed groups and Mali's government, the deal provided for rebels joining the national army again, among other measures.

Its implementation has dragged on for years, however, despite international pressure for it to be fully applied.

The report pointed to "mistrust, burden and confusion" caused by the discrepancy between the government's statements and actions.

- Delaying tactics -

UN experts named former army chief of staff, Keba Sangare, as one of the men responsible for frustrating the deal, notably for "questionable decision-making" during a long-planned troop redeployment.

The Algiers accord provided for Malian troops reoccupying northern cities to be formed into mixed battalions of army regulars, former rebels, and pro-government militiamen.

Story continues

But in the buildup to the process last year, some former rebels were not assigned units, and others were mistakenly assigned units in the south, causing months-long delays.

In another blunder, the army failed to provide a group of soldiers with transport when travelling for duty in the north in September last year, exposing them to "major security risks," according to the report.

Twenty of these soldiers were abducted on a public bus and remain missing. Another four were detained by security forces in neighbouring Burkina Faso, but released this year.

"The abductions and detentions... marked the beginning of the government's planning errors and delaying tactics," the report said.

Sangare went on to be sacked for his failure to stop a massacre in the Fulani village of Ogossagou in central Mali on February 14.

That village had already been targeted in March 2019, when 160 people were killed in a suspected ethnically-motived attack.

Malian troops were deployed to the village after the first massacre. But in a fateful move, they left the area hours before the February attack.

A replacment unit failed to reach the village before some 35 defenceless residents had been killed.

Sangare, central Mali's military commander, had been "called numerous times and received messages informing him of the threat," the report said.

He had also given "a false assurance to his hierarchy" that troops would not depart the village before replacements had arrived.

- Intelligence meddling -

Mali's intelligence services also came under fire from the UN experts for their alleged role in seeking to weaken the 2015 peace agreement.

The UN experts said Malian intelligence had become an "institutional vector" of an "unofficial strategy aimed at obstructing through prolonged delay the implementation of the agreement."

One of the methods the experts described included financing individuals within a mostly Tuareg alliance of armed groups -- which had signed the 2015 peace agreement -- to foster splinter groups.

Intelligence agents also "fuelled internal divisions" within the Algiers accord's other main signatory, the alliance of armed groups known as the Platform, according to the report.

President Keita, who first came to power in 2013, has been coming under increasing pressure to resolve Mali's bloody jihadist conflict.

On Tuesday, thousands of people took to the streets in the capital Bamako to demand his resignation.

ah/mrb/eml/dl
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Post-Covid complications, like respiratory symptoms and an immunological response in children, are a "new dimension" and people have to be aware of them, a top official dealing with the pandemic said on Tuesday.

The caution comes as Union Home Minister Amit Shah was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here on Tuesday after he complained of fatigue and body ache -- four days after he tested negative for coronavirus.

Addressing a press briefing, Niti Aayog member and head of the national task force on Covid-19, V.K. Paul said: "Post-Covid sub-acute morbidities are a new dimension. Scientific and medical communities are keeping an eye on it. These things are happening to an extent. We will have to be aware that there may be some impact later too." Meanwhile, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan called the coronavirus situation in the country "reassuring", with the daily infection rate, as well as the fatality rate, having shown a downward trend in the last five days.

"In the context of pandemic, this is a short time, but we must be satisfied that the results are showing. Both the parameters show a satisfactory situation but there is no reason for us to slacken our guard. We must be alert," he added.

Alluding to vaccine development in the country, they said that one of the three vaccine candidates would enter the third phase of the pre-clinical human trials by Wednesday. However, they did not reveal the names of the vaccine.

India has currently three vaccine candidates for Covid-19 -- ChAdOx1, developed by Oxford University and manufactured jointly by the Serum Institute of India, Pune and AstraZeneca; Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, jointly developed with the Indian Council of Medical Research; and Zycov D by Zydus Cadila.

Paul refused to divulge the date of completion of vaccine development and issued a word of caution by asking people not to assume that any vaccine which is going for trial will be successful.

The announcement of status on the vaccine comes a day after the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration met five domestic Covid vaccine manufacturers on Monday to review the clinical trial stages of these vaccine candidates. The manufacturers included two whose products are not yet in the clinical trial stages in India.

"We spoke to vaccine manufactures and requested them to provide more clear cut data, information on their individual capacity and how they will pan out on time. We asked them how they can ramp up the capacity. This is a dialogue in motion. India has huge potential and capacity," Paul said.

Besides this, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare divulged that India had exported 23 lakh PPE kits in July and 15.7 lakh in August to countries like the UK, the US, the United Arab Emirates, Slovenia and Senegal.

India's coronavirus tally crossed the 27 lakh mark on Tuesday with 55,079 fresh cases in 24 hours, while the toll climbed to 51,797 with 876 more fatalities. The recovered patients are 2.93 times the active ones.

Only 25 per cent of the total cases are active. Death rate stands at 1.92 per cent, while the recovery rate is at 73.18 percent.

"Number of Covid-19 tests per day has gone up to nine lakh per day which is remarkable. Testing is the key to disease containment and reducing mortality and improving outcomes," Paul said, cautioning people not to be lax as the challenge has not subsided.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mexican agri-food exports rose 4.26% to $20.68 billion during the first half of the year, Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) reported.

The Mexican agri-food product with the highest demand in international markets was beer, with sales of more than $2 billion in that period, according to the Friday report.

Mexico's other top agri-food exports included:

Avocados, $1.8 billion.

Tomatoes, $1.4 billion.

Tequila and mezcal, $1.04 billion.

Sugar and sweeteners, $949 million.

Peppers and chiles, $873 million.

Exports of wheat registered the biggest jump, increasing 116% during the first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year. It was followed by pork, 43%; corn, 39%; coffee, 22%; and onion and garlic, 22%.

Avocados registered a 21% increase; followed by tomatoes, 19%; bakery products, 15%; and tequila and mezcal, 16%.

Mexico reaches an agri-food surplus of 19% in the first half of 2020, with year-over-year international sales increasing by 4.26%.

In monthly terms, agricultural exports registered an annual increase of 31.5% during June, compared to the same time last year, with $1.8 billion in sales.

"This is the highest monthly increase so far this year, due to the export dynamics of the agricultural sector and the demand for Mexican products in international markets," SADER officials said in a statement.

Mexico exported $472.3 billion worth of goods around the world in 2019. The majority of Mexico's exports are motor vehicles, auto parts, gasoline, computer chips, computers, liquefied natural gas, electrical machines and medical equipment.

Mexico's top trading partners in 2019 were, in descending order, the U.S., Canada, Germany, China, Brazil, Japan, Colombia, the United Kingdom, South Korea and the Netherlands.

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney.

More articles by Noi Mahoney

OOIDA, Teamsters call for probe of Mexican trucking industry

International trade at Texas ports falls sharply

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Pandemic rapidly accelerating e-commerce in Mexico

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Brogan Stewart demonstrates how territory home to hundreds of species of monkeys, apes and prosimians is being lost due to warming temperatures

Stewart began looking at the effects of climate change on primate habitats with spatial data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5, which estimates regional and seasonal temperature change per unit of CO2 emission, and range data of 426 separate primate species and subspecies, courtesy of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Using these figures, she was able to project the effects current and estimated future global temperature increases would have on the precise territories that were home to particular primate species, based on projected emissions of CO2.

Specifically, she looked at annual average temperatures to see if they would exceed the pre-industrial seasonal maximum temperature (PSMT), or if they already had. In other words, she wanted to see how much hotter future average temperatures in a particular range would be than its hottest temperatures before carbon emissions began warming the planet.

To do this, she created individual range maps for each of the 426 species and subspecies of primates. She then estimated temperature increases as a direct result of the amount of CO2 emitted, measured in billions of tons.

According to her calculations, a 2C increase in global average temperatures above pre-industrial levels  the ceiling affirmed by the Paris Agreement  would lead to more than a quarter of all species ranges experiencing temperatures higher than those of pre-industrial times. For eight per cent of species, their entire current range would be significantly hotter than in the pre-industrial past.

Thats where my assumption really gets its power, she explains. The maximum pre-industrial temperature under which these primates could function could have been a very brief period of time, for instance, the hottest week of the summer. But with this model, it becomes the average annual temperature.

Hot, lazy, dangerous days

While two-thirds of primates still live in habitats with average temperatures below their PSMT, one-third are living in ranges that have experienced higher temperatures. That can spell serious trouble, especially if their ranges are particularly small.

When it gets really hot, the primates need to rest in shade more. That means they cant forage for food or socialize and play as much as they should, she says. Their food supply could also be at risk, and seasonal changes in temperature can even affect their reproductive cycles.

She notes that nine species, several of them endangered and two critically so, are currently living in habitats that are entirely above their threshold temperature.

Her work has clearly impressed her supervisors. Turner says she is a superb young researcher exploring scientific questions in animal behaviour while making her research relevant to conservation and sustainability. This study models potential climate change impacts on our closest animal relatives, and Brogan is continuing to bring together primates and sustainability issues in her current PhD research."

Hoping to help

Stewart is well aware that the struggle to mitigate the effects of climate change is not the work of a single individual, but rather a collaborative effort that requires sharing knowledge among researchers. She hopes the 426 maps she created for this paper will be of use to future colleagues.

If someone is looking for specific data, I could send them my maps where I isolate different species in different areas, she says. It would be ideal if this research actually contributed to conservation efforts.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada Graduate Scholarships (NSERC-CGS), the Fonds de recherche du Quebec  Nature et technologie (FRQNT), Mitacs Globalink and the Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science provided funding for this study.



Read the cited paper: Climate change impacts on potential future ranges of non-human primate species.
Headliner

Murrays Cheese Bar and Murrays Cheese Shop

The West Village-based Murrays Cheese has had aging caves in Long Island City, Queens, since 2012. Now, not far from the caves, it has opened a satellite, a cheese shop and restaurant. At the moment, the restaurant has tables on the sidewalk, socially distanced, and theres waiter service for sandwiches, including a grilled cheese, a cheese board assortment and salads. For dinner, theres a half roast chicken with puttanesca sauce and cheesy polenta, and a risotto. The chef is Clare Malfitano. Next to the restaurant is the well-stocked cheese shop, where no more than three customers are permitted at a time. Both spaces were designed by David Rockwell. Murrays has also made some changes in Manhattan, moving its Mac + Cheese from 250 Bleecker Street to 264 Bleecker Street (Leroy Street).

28-30 Jackson Avenue (Queens Boulevard), Long Island City, Queens, 347-990-2134 for the shop, 347-990-2130 for the restaurant, murrayscheese.com, murrayscheesebar.com.

Opening

Kimika

Erika Chou, an owner of Wayla on the Lower East Side, is opening a spot that serves a combination of Italian and Japanese fare. The chef is Christine Lau, who worked at Bar Chuko Izakaya. Some of her fusion specialties are assorted grissini with Japanese seasonings like nori, heirloom tomatoes with tofu and shiso, a fritto misto prepared like Japanese kakiage, spaghetti dressed with various kinds of roe, and a crispy rice cake lasagna. The pastry chef, Clarice Lam, will be frying mochi bomboloni. The restaurants spacious outdoor seating area is surrounded by greenery.

40 Kenmare Street (Elizabeth Street), kimikanyc.com.

Three Peaks at Collective Retreats Governors Island

This outdoor restaurant, part of a lavish camping resort on Governors Island, has reopened. There is also Fire & Water, with a la carte dinners and an outdoor exhibition kitchen for watching chefs at work. A new Sunset Terrace bar has also been installed. (Opens Wednesday)

Collective Retreats Governors Island, 970-445-2033, collectiveretreats.com.

Temple Court on Ten

If your restaurant doesnt have the right configuration for sidewalk seating, perhaps you can move up to an outdoor rooftop. Thats what Tom Colicchio has done with his restaurant near City Hall. For the time being, its open for socially distant dinner and brunch.

10th floor, Beekman Hotel, 5 Beekman Street (Nassau Street), 212-658-1848, templecourtnyc.com.
An across-the-board buying helped the benchmark indices settle with over a per cent gains on Tuesday. The S&P BSE Sensex rallied 478 points or 1.26 per cent to settle at 38,528 levels while NSE's Nifty closed the session at 11,385 levels, up 138 points or 1.23 per cent. India VIX declined over 4 per cent to 20.43 levels.



HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries (RIL), ICICI Bank, and Infosys contributed the most to the Sensex's gains. UltraTech Cement (up over 3 per cent) was the top gainer on the index while Tech Mahindra (down over 1 per cent) was the biggest loser.



In the broader market, the S&P BSE MidCap index gained over 1 per cent to 14,656.68 levels while the S&P BSE SmallCap index gained 1.3 per cent to 14,154 points.



Shares of consumer durable companies, including household appliance manufacturers, witnessed sharp rally on Tuesday. The S&P BSE Consumer Durables index surged as much as 2.23 per cent during the trade. Butterfly Gandhimathi Appliances zoomed 15 per cent to Rs 157.90 on the BSE during the day.



Realty shares were in focus on Tuesday, with individual stocks gaining as much as 12 per cent on the NSE. The Nifty Realty index rose 4.42 per cent in intra-day deals, as compared to 1.2 per cent gain in the benchmark Nifty50 index. Sunteck Realty jumped as much as 12.29 per cent to Rs 239.80 per share. DLF, Brigade Enterprises, Indiabulls Real Estate, and Oberoi Realty gained in the range of 5-9 per cent, while Sobha Developers, Phoneix Mills, Godrej Properties, and Prestige Estate Projects rose over 2.5 per cent on the NSE.



Shares of SBI Cards and Payment Services hit fresh 52-week high, up 1.4 per cent, at Rs 815 on the BSE on Tuesday after the State Bank of India subsidiary raised Rs 500 crore via debt instruments.



Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man who spent the early few months of the pandemic raising more than $20 billion by selling stakes in his technology venture, is now on a shopping spree.The Indian billionaire is looking to acquire several local online retailers to help expand product offerings, people familiar with the matter said, as he races to build his e-commerce platform and compete against Amazon.com Inc.
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...
DETROIT, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) Awards has added the 2021 Ram TRX performance truck to its list of eligible vehicles for the 2021 awards.

"The Ram TRX  whose existence has been embargoed until today  completes our list of 46 eligible vehicles for 2021 NACTOY Car, Truck and Utility of the year Awards," said NACTOY president Gary Witzenburg.

NACTOY accepted vehicle entries from automakers later than usual this year to better accommodate an unusual product launch cycle impacted by COVID-19. Still, the pace of innovative product introductions from the industry has been intense.

"With 13 cars, four trucks and a mind-boggling 29 utility vehicles  many of them late-year launches  contending for these coveted awards, it will be another exciting and highly competitive year," Witzenburg said.

NACTOY's 50 jurors will conduct an initial vote to reduce this list of eligible vehicles to a more manageable number of Semi-Finalists on Sept. 28  about a month later than normal  to allow automakers with late entries more time to get NACTOY jurors into them for evaluation prior to that vote.

Jurors will continue to test and evaluate all eligible vehicles as they are made available through the rest of this year, including during an Oct. 5-8 annual comparison drive.

Semi-Finalists in each category will be announced in November at the LA Auto Show, Finalists in December and category winners in Detroit in January 2021.

To be eligible, vehicles must be all-new or substantially new and must be available at dealerships before the end of the year.

The Updated List of 2021 NACTOY Candidates with Additions:

Car of the Year

Acura TLX

Audi A8 L 60 TFSI e

BMW 330e and 330e xDrive

BMW 430i, 430i xDrive and M440i xDrive

Cadillac CT4/CT4-V

Genesis G80

Hyundai Elantra family (includes N Line and HEV)

Kia K5

Lexus IS

Mercedes-Benz E Class Sedan, All-Terrain, Coupe, Cabriolet

MINI Cooper SE

Nissan Sentra

Polestar 2

Utility of the Year

Audi Q5 55 TFSI e

BMW X3 xDrive30e

BMW X5 xDrive45e

Buick Encore GX

Cadillac Escalade

Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban

Chevrolet Trailblazer

Chrysler Pacifica

Dodge Durango

Ford Bronco Sport

Ford Mustang Mach E

Genesis GV80

GMC Yukon/Yukon XL

Honda CR-V Hybrid

Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Venue

Kia Seltos

Kia Sorento

Land Rover Defender 90 and 110

Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring

Mazda CX-30

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Nissan Rogue

Toyota Highlander

Toyota RAV4 Prime

Toyota Sienna

Toyota Venza

Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge

Truck of the Year

*Ram TRX

Ford F-150

Ford Super Duty

Jeep Gladiator Mojave

*Added to list

Spanish and French versions of this release will be available on NACTOY's website. For more information about NACTOY and its history: http://northamericancaroftheyear.org.

ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN CAR, UTILITY AND TRUCK OF THE YEAR

The awards are intended to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year. These vehicles are benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar. The organization gives out three awards. They are: "North American Car of the Year," "North American Utility Vehicle of the Year," and "North American Truck of the Year." The awards are unique because they are given by an independent jury of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada instead of being given by a single publication, website, radio or television station.

SOURCE North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year Awards (NACTOY)

Related Links

https://northamericancaroftheyear.org/


Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 04:28:10|Editor: huaxia

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Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (L) and Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides attend a joint press conference in Nicosia, Cyprus, on Aug. 18, 2020. Cyprus and Greece have agreed on joint action at the upcoming EU meetings to deal with Turkish activities in the eastern Mediterranean, which they consider to encroach on their rights, foreign ministers of the two countries said after talks here on Tuesday. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua)

NICOSIA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and Greece have agreed on joint action at the upcoming EU meetings to deal with Turkish activities in the eastern Mediterranean, which they consider to encroach on their rights, foreign ministers of the two countries said after talks here on Tuesday.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias paid a one-day visit to Cyprus during which he met with President Nicos Anastasiades and had talks at the Cypriot Foreign Ministry.

Anastasiades tweeted after talking with Dendias that they had "a highly productive meeting, discussing the common line of Cyprus and Greece to address the Turkish challenges and de-escalate the tension in the region."

Turkish survey and drilling ships accompanied by several navy ships are currently active in areas off the east and west shores of Cyprus, prompting Greece to deploy all its navy in the eastern Aegean and in areas between Cyprus and Crete.

Turkey says that it is active either within its own continental shelf which extends to the south past Cyprus and Crete to meet Libyan waters, or in areas licensed by the Turkish Cypriot state. The state is recognized only by Ankara.

The EU has scheduled a foreign ministers' meeting in Berlin next week to discuss action being prepared by EU foreign service and a special EU summit next month to examine EU-Turkish relations.

"We consider that developments in the region will decide to a large extent the future of Turkish-European relations," said Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides after talks with Dendias.

"If there is real willingness and will, dialogue can bring results... Cyprus is ready to discuss with remaining neighboring countries the demarcation of marine boundaries on the basis of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982," Christodoulides said.

Dendias said that Greece and Cyprus are taking and will take initiatives "which will avert fait accompli."

"The climaxing of Turkish aggressiveness is turning against EU and it has to be answered by a climaxing of European reaction to deal with it," Dendias said. Enditem
Jeff Boe saw a lot of weeds and an opportunity to get rid of them the goat-fashioned way.

So, who ya gonna call? Goat busters, or, in this case, Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch.

The goats owners, Max and Michelle Wade, saw several of their revenue-producing opportunities go away with the pandemic, so they had to get creative.

They werent unique in that aspect: NBC-TV news recently reported 300,000 small businesses have reluctantly closed their doors for good, surrendering to the novel coronavirus that has racked the world since March. Locally, two business owners have found ways to become innovative, keeping their doors  or gates  open and finding new customers.

It was my wifes idea, Boe said during a recent goat-grazing at his home in west Rio Rancho. She saw them on Facebook.

(Max has a daily presence on that social medium.)

They do a lot of things for the city, but given the COVID situation, not as much as they usually do. I wanted to support them.  The kids are stoked  they (usually remove weeds). If its my idea, I wind up doing it.

This summer, a herd of 30 goats was doing the weed removal.

This is our first time giving the goats something to do, said Claire Wade, Max and Michelles youngest child of three. Were trying to keep the business going.

Max said he was doubtful that the ranchs annual pumpkin patch near Santa Ana Star Center would take place this fall.

He some goats were used to remove weeds at a city park in Northern Meadows.

Weve got four jobs (lined up), he said. Every day were getting new interest.

That interest has also come from the New Mexico State Forestry Division, he said, which needs some of the Russian thistle removed from the bosque.

The Wades have a combination of goat-busters: Boer goats, Nigerian dwarf goats and Boer-Nigerian crosses, plus Saanen goats.

Max has learned this about tumbleweeds and goat heads here in New Mexico: It is theorized that tumbleweed (Russian thistle) seeds hitched a ride to the U.S. in bags of flax seed brought over by Ukrainian farmers. Once here, they set down roots, and became quite prolific.

They have become an iconic symbol of the American West, Max said. It is reported that, during the Dust Bowl, tumbleweeds sustained livestock and people, who seemingly brined and canned the tumbleweeds for winter food.

As glad as I am that it was a life source back then, I cant stand that nasty weed, he said. It warms my heart to see my goats devouring it.

To rid your property of weeds, contact the Wades on their Facebook page or by email at gallopinggoatgrazing@gmail.com.

Prices vary, Claire said, generally running $75 a day, but also dependent on fences needed to contain the goats on large parcels, and the number of days required.

That last thing can vary: The goats get distracted when there are people watching them work.
An injured cow was air-lifted to lower ground today as its 1,000-strong herd underwent its annual relocation to the lower Swiss Alps.

Each year, Alpine farmers drive their cattle from higher ground to the lower Alps in an event called the Bodenfahrt.

Today, around 1,000 cows were ushered down the hills at the Klausen Pass in Switzerland but one, which had suffered a minor injury, was transported downhill by a helicopter instead.

A slightly injured cow is flown by helicopter from the Klausen Pass due to its unfitness for the cattle drive (Almabtrieb), on the occasion of the 'Bodenfahrt', during which about 1,000 cows move to lower Alps today at Klausen Pass in Switzerland

Pictured: The slightly injured cow as it is transported to the lower Swiss Alps today during the annual Bodenfahrt event

Pictured: The slightly injured cow as it is transported to the lower Swiss Alps today during the annual Bodenfahrt event

Ambros Arnold, one of the farmers transporting the herd, told Swiss publication Limmattaler Zeitung, the method of cow transportation was an efficient 'short cut'.

Arnold added the experience may have been traumatic for the animal, due to it being lifted into the air so suddenly.

According to Limmattaler Zeitung, the method of transporting injured cows by helicopter prevents them being injured any further, and spares newly healed injuries.

The method is commonly used to transport injured cattle, Swiss radio station FM1 Today reported.
A group of Johns Hopkins University graduate students and alumni have received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its new fully transparent surgical face mask.

The privately owned medical supply company, ClearMask LLC, in a news release today, said its ClearMask is the worlds first FDA-cleared, fully transparent surgical mask that can be used in hospitals, clinics, schools, retail, hospitality, and other settings.

The company was established in 2017 when it started developing a transparent mask after their deaf co-founder experienced an adverse experience during her surgery. Traditional surgical masks blocked her providers faces, impeding effective communication and safety.

According to ClearMask, the mask meets ASTM level 3 requirements for fluid resistance and flammability, which offers a high level of protection for medical use in environments such as operating rooms.

ASTM is an international standards developing organization. Level 3 is defined as providing maximum barrier protection.

ClearMask said, In this disheartening time as the world fights against the COVID-19 pandemic, the ClearMask helps provide protection while bringing much-needed relief through a reassuring smile and familiar face among fear, confusion, and suffering.

In addition to blocking particles or droplets with its fully transparent, anti-fog plastic barrier, the ClearMask helps improve visual communication, which may help avoid costly errors and adverse outcomes. Transparent communication during the customer experience can be critical in establishing rapport and earning trust, while assuring safety as a priority.

The company describes the its mask as human-centered and said it is especially beneficial to people who can benefit from improved visual communication, such as children, older adults, deaf and hard of hearing people, and those who do not speak the same language. The ClearMask is well-positioned to join the fight against the current pandemic, said Allysa Dittmar, president of ClearMask.

The non-medical versions of the masks can be purchased in a box of 24 for $67. The medical grade box of 24 costs $87.

The non-medical masks, the company said helps to improve visual communication and provide protection at a lower price. The consumer masks have provided much relief to different communities in need, including state emergency management agencies and essential workers.

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SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, prpl Foundation announced the release 1.0 of its prplWRT software stack. prplWRT builds on the long standing OpenWrt stack, adding support for features required by service providers while leveraging open standards to unify low-level APIs. Focused on the requirements of carriers, prplWRT adds support for additional hardware, services, and management features common in the carrier's infrastructure.

"We are very pleased to see our prplWRT project reach this important milestone as it progresses toward deployment," said Robert Ferreira, President of the prpl Foundation. "The ecosystem needs such a platform-independent stack to converge and standardize software deployments on multiple CPE architectures."

By providing a common multi-platform stack, service providers can leverage the combined development efforts of manufacturers and their OEMs towards a stable, well-tested and regularly updated software platform. Combined efforts toward a common platform avoids redundant integration and verification efforts by each. The continuous addition of carrier-grade features emphasizes the long-term commitment of prpl and its members. It also paves the way for smaller industry players to deploy carrier-grade solutions.

This release of prplWRT builds upon the latest developments from OpenWrt and Linux ecosystems, as well as major device makers. prplWRT also supports standardized OCI-compliant runtime containers to help promote open industry standards. This benefits ecosystem partners, allowing them to easily incorporate their micro-services into an open CPE architecture and accelerate the service velocity required by service providers.

prpl starts from existing community projects and continuously adds on carrier-grade security, software hardening, QA, testing and features like DSL support, remote management clients (e.g., TR-069 or USP), etc. Future releases of prplWRT aim at enhancing gateway and router OEMs with a plug and play stack to support PON, Device Management and IoT. prplWRT enables a smooth transition from highly fragmented vendor-specific stacks, to a common baseline with open APIs and frameworks. This allows for high customization and differentiation without sacrificing security or updatability.

Several leading service providers, OEMs and technology vendors contribute to prplWRT including ADTRAN, CommScope, Intel, Iopsys, KAON, MediaTek, SoftAtHome, Verizon, and Vodafone. All project-related documentation and code can be accessed via the prpl git repository.

SUPPORTING QUOTES:

"We learned a lot from previous community projects which have been building modular frameworks for decades. By designing and developing along clear APIs with high coding standards, we make our software more portable and easier to maintain. Additionally, by agreeing upon an open source baseline across companies, and only working in patches on top of this baseline, all our software becomes more versatile and integration with other companies' products becomes a straightforward process."

-- David La Cagnina, Senior Product Line Manager, ADTRAN

"CommScope is committed to supporting our customers' unique vision and approach to deliver the future of connected services. Standards-based and open-source initiatives like prpl give service providers access to the latest software to help them go-to-market more quickly and efficiently. By adding key features to OpenWrt and providing a common API to seamlessly connect gateways to cloud services, prplWRT provides new options for differentiating services built on these common frameworks."

-- Ian Wheelock, Engineering Fellow, CommScope

"We see the first prplWRT release as an important milestone in the evolution towards open standards and APIs in the Gateway industry. At Iopsys, we remain committed to the OpenWrt community and the prpl Foundation. We believe that the projects supported by prpl are important to enable service providers to deploy new innovative services to broadband consumers around the world."

-- Joakim Bennerholt, CEO, Iopsys Software Solutions AB

"'Standardization' and 'Ecosystem' are two key words that best describe this important milestone. At KAON, we are confident that prplWRT will become the mainstream open-source operating system allowing CPE to become the home ecosystem's central hub. CPE is becoming a secure entry point allowing easy and efficient deployment of new features, while at the same time reducing and minimizing platform integration efforts. Fast time-to-market is the key to success which will bring major customer satisfaction!"

-- Carlos Santos, Head of Products in Europe, KAON

"Working toward a common platform for Service Providers and their OEMs is particularly important to MediaTek and our initiatives. By focusing on the needs of Service Providers, prplWRT's advantages will help drive new market opportunities and move us all closer to meeting the rising demand for technology innovation across both consumer and vertical markets."

--James C. Chen, Associate Vice President, Product Marketing, MediaTek

"Stimulation and support of an open source approach to CPE software is part of our company's mission. As a company wholly owned by telcos, we are delighted to see the industry moving towards carrier-grade CPE solutions based on standards, open APIs and open source. Open source improves quality as any source code is reused in many different environments and tested by many more users. The larger community also brings resources for a greater innovation potential. The first prplWRT release is an important milestone on this path."

-- Marc de Courville, VP Engineering, SoftAtHome

About prpl Foundation

prpl Foundation enables high-velocity, service-driven innovation on customer-premises equipment by harmonizing interfaces in open APIs and delivering open-source reference implementations of common infrastructure. The foundation welcomes new member companies with interests and resources to get involved in the work to further this innovation.

For more information, please visit: https://prplFoundation.org or https://git.prpl.dev/prplwrt/prplwrt/-/wikis/home

prpl Press Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE prpl Foundation

Related Links

https://prplfoundation.org


For more than 150 consecutive days, Muffin and Jamie Bernstein have used Facebook Live to broadcast a series of coronavirus awareness messages. Nightly, at 8:45 p.m., the Mid-City couple produces a self-styled talk show. They wisecrack while discussing the existential threat of coronavirus, criticizing the governments response and sharing random news items that have caught their attention. The show lasts for 15 minutes.

Just 200 or 300 people tune in a night. So the popularity of the series, which is called Every Night at 8:45 Muffin and Jamie Go Facebook Live may not be a threat to Stephen Colbert, but the appeal is broader than Muffin expected.

Its weird, she said. I felt like no one on earth would watch this. Now people say, It gives us so much hope and knowledge. 

Besides hope and knowledge, the Bernsteins are doling out laughs.

Each day has a different tongue-in-cheek theme: Silly Mask Sunday, Manic or Magical or Mischievous Monday, Traumatic Tuesday, Wild Wild Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, Funky Friday and Psychedelic Saturday.

On a recent Funky Friday broadcast, Muffin wore a golden gown with a plunging neckline and a shiny green wig. Jamie wore a zippered jumpsuit, despite the summer heat. Both wore weird wrap-around sunglasses. They recorded on their back porch, where lizards roamed the clapboards and squash vines climbed the stair rails.

The couple studies the breaking COVID-19 news before each show. Jaime reads from notes on index cards, like David Letterman. Muffin prepares large, easy-to-read prompts on notebook paper.

They say the neighbors have yet to complain about the 60 seconds of spirited pot-banging that brings every episode to a close.

Muffin and Jamie learned about the noisy cacerolazo (casserole) form of demonstration while vacationing in Spain, where they witnessed people on balconies rapping on pots as a plea for the independence of the Catalonia region.

When the coronavirus pandemic reached New Orleans, the Bernsteins began banging sauce pans each evening in solidarity with front-line workers and as a call for more coronavirus testing.

It was Jamies idea to broadcast their pot-banging and their commentary via his eponymous Facebook page. The first live show took place on March 12.

Jamie is a musician, an actor and a bartender at the Maple Leaf Bar. Muffin is a photographer and Dillard University art teacher. Jamie is from West Virginia; Muffin is from Lakeview.

Theyve been married for 12 years. The Bernsteins are mainstays of the Krewe of OAK, which, under ordinary circumstances, would be preparing for the annual Mid-Summer Mardi Gras parade.

Instead, there's the Facebook Live COVID show.

I think people think were funny, Muffin said. They watch us out of amusement. Do I feel like Im making an impact on the government? No. But am I providing 15 minutes of fun for friends? Yes.

My mom watches us because she misses us, Muffin added.

Missing people is part of the shows underlying reason for being.

Before the coronavirus, we didnt need to use Facebook, Jamie said. We could just go to the Maple Leaf and talk to our friends about what happened in the news. Now theres this vacuous space in everybodys consciousness.

Its easy to get lonely, Jamie said. But thanks to the nightly broadcasts, were all still part of each others lives.

Sometime during each show, the Bernstein's address the audience, assuring everyone, We love you and we miss you.

+25 This run-down New Orleans building was redecorated by local artists. Now, it's getting demolished. 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. Be

On a personal level, Muffin said, the shows allow her to release negative energy.

First and foremost, it gives me an outlet to get my sadness and anger out, she said. Plus, she said, the shared activity has brought the couple closer together during this stressful time.

So the show must go on, no matter what.

So far, the Bernsteins have never missed a night. When Jamie left town for a few days, Muffin soldiered on solo. When they traveled to friends wedding, they broadcast from the road.

In an era of maddening uncertainty," as Muffin put it, theres something reassuring about the nightly task. With everything else in flux, Jamie said, were held responsible for one thing.

Jamie said that in his view the show is like a repeated prayer for an end to the pandemic. Until the city reaches Phase 4 or a vaccine is in production, the couple pledges their nightly comic litany will continue.

We could be protesting every night for the next four years, Muffin said, which is a little bit terrifying for me. But terrifying or not, we cant quit, she said.
India: Hindu extremists beat handicapped pastor for following 'foreign God'

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Three Christians were brutally beaten by Hindu extremists angered by the believers acceptance of what they called a foreign faith and foreign God.

Pastor Ramnivas Kumar, who leads a church in Ranjitpur village, Bihar state, told Morning Star News that he and two other Christians were explaining the Gospel to two Hindu friends over tea at his house when they heard neighbors shouting outside the door.

They were hurling abuses at me, accusing me of accepting a foreign faith and following a foreign God, Kumar told the outlet.

When the pastor asked the Hindu extremists why they had intruded onto his property and were "hurling abuses" at him about his faith, they began beating him and the two other Christians who were at his house.

Kumar, who has an artificial leg, was unable to sufficiently defend himself from the attacks.

They started beating us with steel rods and wooden sticks. Both the brothers received blows on their heads, and they were soon bleeding profusely, the pastor said. I was also hit and could not control the mob from striking the four guests who were visiting us.

When asked by police to explain their actions, the assailants very tactfully flipped the matter and told the police that they were worried that four persons forced their way into Ramnivas Kumars house, and that they had come in time to rescue him from daylight robbery, the pastor recalled.

The police listened to their version but did not pay heed to us. Our pleas fell on deaf ears, he said.

The officers told Kumar that his four guests were outsiders, and they could be killed if they [had] entered someones house to commit robbery. After that, they arrested his two Christian guests based on the false accounts of their Hindu attackers.

The Christians were jailed until representatives of Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom India called the station chief and higher police officials in Bihar that night, urging them to take action against the Hindu assailants and not charge the innocent Christians. The two Christians were then released the next morning.

With the assistance of ADF India, the pastor petitioned the superintendent of police and other higher police officials, as well as the Human Rights Commission, for help. Authorities informed him that the case would be heard before the sub-divisional officer on Sept. 13, he said.

Kumar is no stranger to persecution. The pastor was disowned by his own family for embracing Christianity and has been attacked five times before, three violently, during five years of ministry in impoverished Bihar state.

Five village men in contact with the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayam Sevaksangh have turned his fellow villagers against him, saying he has defiled the village by accepting Christianity and attempting to spread a foreign faith, he said.

God knows that I cannot prevent them physically from attacking me, Kumar said, adding that police have turned a blind eye to previous attacks.



Eight out of 29 states in India have adopted anti-conversion laws that seek to prevent any person from converting or attempting to convert, either directly or otherwise, another person through forcible or fraudulent means, or by allurement or inducement.

However, such laws are often used by Hindu extremists as an excuse to harass Christians.

A recent report from United Christian Forum in India, a Christian organization that advocates on behalf of Christians in India, found that attacks on Christians and their places of worship in India continued to escalate in both number and severity in the early months of 2020, with 27 violent incidents reported in March alone.

According to UCF, these attacks took place in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Goa.

A separate report from Persecution Relief, which tracks anti-Christian persecution and harassment in India, reported 293 cases of Christian persecution in the first half of the year.

Persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA notes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJPs rise to power in 2014 emboldened Hindu militant groups to Indias harass the countrys Christian minority. According to the CIA World Fact Book, about 80% of India's population is Hindu.

The country is ranked at No. 10 on Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of the countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian.
OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP; and "Union Pacific" or the "Corporation") today announced the commencement of private offers to exchange certain of its outstanding notes and debentures as set forth in the table below for a combination of new notes due 2062 (the "New Notes") and cash (the "Exchange Offers"). The outstanding notes and debentures to be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offers are collectively referred to as the "Existing Notes."

The Exchange Offers are being conducted upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in an offering memorandum dated August 17, 2020 (the "Offering Memorandum"), and the related letter of transmittal. The Exchange Offers are only made, and copies of the offering documents will only be made available, to a holder of the Existing Notes that has certified its status as (1) a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") or (2) a person who is not a "U.S. person" as defined under Regulation S under the Securities Act (each, an "Eligible Holder").

The following table sets forth the Existing Notes that are subject to the Exchange Offers:

CUSIP Number Title of Series Reference U.S.

Treasury

Security Bloomberg

Reference Page Fixed

Spread

(basis

points) Approximate Aggregate

Principal

Amount

Outstanding (mm) Acceptance

Priority

Level Hypothetical Total Exchange

Price1,2,3 New

Notes

Amount Hypothetical

Cash Payment

















907818CX4 6.150% Debentures due 2037 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 113 $100 1 $1,000.00 $485.47 907818DS4 907818DT2 4.821% Notes due 2044 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 133 $199 2 $1,025.00 $325.07 907818DJ4 4.750% Notes due 2041 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 123 $237 3 $1,000.00 $330.66 907818DX3 4.850% Notes due 2044 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 123 $84 4 $1,000.00 $380.18 907818DU9 4.750% Notes due 2043 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 123 $189 5 $1,000.00 $357.21 907818EW4 4.500% Notes due 2048 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 123 $532 6 $1,000.00 $359.73 907818EV6 4.375% Notes due 2038 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 88 $750 7 $1,000.00 $297.49 907818DL9 4.300% Notes due 2042 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 108 $300 8 $1,000.00 $295.47 907818DP0 4.250% Notes due 2043 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 108 $325 9 $1,000.00 $295.75 907818FC7 4.300% Notes due 2049 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 113 $1,000 10 $1,000.00 $348.57 907818DZ8 4.150% Notes due 2045 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 113 $350 11 $1,000.00 $284.60 907818EJ3 4.050% Notes due 2046 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 113 $600 12 $1,000.00 $275.91 907818EF1 4.050% Notes due 2045 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 113 $500 13 $1,000.00 $273.55 907818EN4 4.000% Notes due 2047 1.25% due May 15, 2050 FIT1 113 $500 14 $1,000.00 $275.19

1. To be paid in New Notes and cash per $1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes accepted for exchange, subject to, in the case of the offers with respect to the 4.821% Notes due 2044 and the 4.300% Notes due 2049, adjustment as described in the sections entitled "Determination of the Total Exchange Price" and "Determination of the Exchange Price" in the Offering Memorandum. Hypotheticals shown for illustrative purposes only. Prices will be determined at 11:00 a.m., New York City Time, on August 31, 2020 (unless the Early Exchange Date (as defined below) is extended by more than two full business days, in which case a new date and time may be established with respect to the Exchange Offers) (such date and time, as they may be extended, the "Price Determination Date"). Cash payment includes $50.00 early exchange premium. Cash payment excludes accrued and unpaid interest, which will be paid in cash in addition to the Total Exchange Price (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) or the Exchange Price (as defined in the Offering Memorandum), as applicable.



2. See pages B-2 through B-4 of the Offering Memorandum for illustrative examples of the Total Exchange Prices and Exchange Prices for the Existing Notes, including the portions thereof payable in New Notes and cash.



3. For purposes of determining the principal amount of each series of Existing Notes that will be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offers, see the section entitled "The Exchange Offers" in the Offering Memorandum.

Union Pacific will make fourteen separate Exchange Offers to Eligible Holders in an amount that requires no more than an aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000 of New Notes be issued pursuant to the Exchange Offers (the "Exchange Offers Limit"). The amounts of each series of Existing Notes that are exchanged in the Exchange Offers will be determined in accordance with the Exchange Offers Limit and the priorities set forth in the "Acceptance Priority Level" column in the table above and as further detailed in the Offering Memorandum. Union Pacific reserves the right to increase the Exchange Offers Limit as provided in the Offering Memorandum.

The Exchange Offers are also subject to certain conditions, including the requirement that Eligible Holders tender and do not validly withdraw an amount of Existing Notes that requires the issuance of at least $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of New Notes in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offers.

Eligible Holders of Existing Notes that tender their Existing Notes prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 28, 2020, subject to any extension by Union Pacific (the "Early Exchange Date"), and are accepted will receive the Total Exchange Price, which will include an early exchange premium. Eligible Holders of Existing Notes that tender their Existing Notes after the Early Exchange Date and are accepted will receive the Exchange Price, which will not include any early exchange premium.

The Exchange Offers will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on September 14, 2020, unless extended or earlier terminated by Union Pacific (the "Expiration Date"). Tenders of Existing Notes in the Exchange Offers may be validly withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 28, 2020, subject to extension by Union Pacific (the "Withdrawal Deadline"), but not thereafter, except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by law.

The New Notes will mature on September 16, 2062, and will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the bid-side yield on the 1.25% U.S. Treasury Note due May 15, 2050 on the Price Determination Date (based on the bid-side price indicated on the Bloomberg Screen page FIT1 at such date and time), and (ii) 1.48% (148 basis points).

The New Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Therefore, the New Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.

This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The Exchange Offers are being made solely by the Offering Memorandum and related letter of transmittal and only to such persons and in such jurisdictions as is permitted under applicable law.

Documents relating to the Exchange Offers will only be distributed to holders of Existing Notes that complete and return a letter of eligibility confirming that they are eligible investors for the Exchange Offers. Holders of Existing Notes that desire to review the eligibility letter may visit the website for this purpose at http://www.dfking.com/unp or contact D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent for the Exchange Offers, at (212) 269-5550 or (800) 591-8238 (toll free) or by email at [email protected].

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at www.up.com.

www.up.com

www.facebook.com/unionpacific

www.twitter.com/unionpacific

Forward-looking Statements

This press release and related materials (including information in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us), contain statements about the Corporation's future that are not statements of historical fact. These statements are, or will be, forwardlooking statements as defined by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forwardlooking statements also generally include, without limitation, information or statements regarding: projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to the Corporation's and its subsidiaries' business, financial, and operational results, and future economic performance; and management's beliefs, expectations, goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information, including expectations regarding operational and financial improvements and the Corporation's future performance or results are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements. Important factors, including risk factors, could affect the Corporation's and its subsidiaries' future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Information regarding risk factors and other cautionary information are available in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2019, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 7, 2020, and the Corporation's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q which were filed with the SEC on April 23, 2020 and July 23, 2020. The Corporation updates information regarding risk factors if circumstances require such updates on Form 10-Q and its subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K (or such other reports that may be filed with the SEC).

Forwardlooking statements speak only as of, and are based only upon information available on, the date the statements were made. The Corporation assumes no obligation to update forwardlooking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forwardlooking information. If the Corporation does update one or more forwardlooking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Corporation will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forwardlooking statements. References to our website are provided for convenience and, therefore, information on or available through the website is not, and should not be deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein.

SOURCE Union Pacific Corporation

Related Links

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 18:43:32|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Recent armed violence coupled with heavy flooding have hampered aid delivery in eastern South Sudan, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday.

Wolde-Gabriel Saugeron, head of ICRC's sub-delegation in Bor, Jonglei state said that violence and natural calamities have uprooted thousands of people from their homes and left entire areas without access to medical care.

Saugeron said the international relief official expressed fears that those living in remote areas are at grave risk of malnutrition and disease, as some areas are impossible to reach due to flooding.

"After weeks of armed violence, the scale of the humanitarian impact on communities is emerging," he said in a statement issued in Juba.

"Our teams started to carry out assessments in places we can safely access, but heavy rains and flooding made some areas very difficult to reach by land or air. We are deeply worried for the sick and injured who are going without care," he added.

ICRC said 86 patients who suffered from gunshot wounds since June have been taken care of despite limitations occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Saugeron said people seeking refuge around Bor following armed violence and floods are also vulnerable to severe food insecurity and waterborne disease.

"Many are relying on humanitarian assistance to feed their families and do not have enough money to purchase food at the market," said Saugeron.

ICRC and the South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) has provided blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, buckets, kitchen sets, tarpaulins and soap to 840 families in Bor town during Aug. 4-12.

Most of them were women, children, and the elderly who fled attacks in Twic East, Duk and South Bor areas of Jonglei state and sought shelter in public spaces such as churches and schools in the state capital Bor.

Last week, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir declared a state of emergency in Jonglei state and the Pibor Administrative Area after flooding displaced 150,000 people in the eastern part of the country that has been ravaged by inter-communal conflicts over the years.

The UN has warned that 60,000 people in South Sudan were staring at hunger due to inter-communal violence in Jonglei and Pibor regions.

At least 6.5 million people, or more than half of the country's population, are already facing severe acute food insecurity and in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN. Enditem
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov has discussed cooperation in the field of cybersecurity and countering cyber threats with Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine Jennes de Mol, the NSDC apparatus reported.

"Touching upon the issue of countering modern threats to national security, Danilov stressed that 'today the cyber and biological spheres are becoming the forefront of the world confrontation, and in 5-7 years classical wars and nuclear weapons will fade into the background,'" the message says.

So, according to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the joint efforts of partners in cyberspace are yielding tremendous results, therefore, deepening practical cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands in countering cyber threats and repelling cyber attacks, in particular, from the Russian Federation, is extremely relevant and promising.

In turn, the Ambassador of the Netherlands noted the progress and achievements of Ukraine in the direction of building a powerful cybersecurity system and agreed that hybrid threats, in particular, cyber attacks on critical infrastructure and digital propaganda, are now coming to the fore, and the interaction of states in this direction is also necessary.

It is noted that the ambassador expressed readiness to expand and deepen cooperation with Ukraine in the field of cybersecurity, in particular, in the exchange of practical experience and the provision of expert support.
WASHINGTON, D. C. - Ohio Democrats in Congress want the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to examine whether financial institutions discriminate against minority student loan borrowers.

Spurred by a report from the Student Borrower Protection Center that found borrowers who attended community colleges and historically black colleges and universities sometimes pay higher student loan rates than those who didnt, U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge of Warrensville Heights and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty of Columbus introduced legislation that would require CFPB to assess the use of educational data by consumer lenders in their underwriting processes, publicize that assessment and report its findings and recommendations for addressing potential disparities to Congress.

A statement from Fudge called the bill she introduced last week the first step towards ensuring borrowers of color are treated fairly and equitably during the lending process. Fudge, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, called the practice shes trying to curtail educational redlining.

Addressing the underlying factors that worsen racial inequality and prevent marginalized communities from getting a fair shake is central to our nations reckoning on systemic racism, Fudges statement said. Racial and economic justice go hand in hand, which is why we must root out redlining and other forms of financial discrimination.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who serves as top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs, has also expressed concern about the Student Borrower Protection Center report. His committee asked several of the lenders it profiled to explain their lending practices, and issued its own report after hearing back from them.

Browns report found the lenders might be violating the Equal Credit Opportunity Act by considering the school an applicant attended and the applicants major to determine creditworthiness. The report also said the companies had inconsistent and often inadequate programs to ensure compliance with fair lending laws.

Last month, Brown joined Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California in a letter to CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger that urged the agency to take immediate actions to address potential violations by lenders who use educational data to make credit decisions.

The risk of discrimination arises because the lender is not evaluating the applicant based on their own characteristics, but instead based on the characteristics of other students at their school or who were in the same major or program, their letter said.

Browns office said it has not yet received a response to the letter, and the CFPB did not respond to a request for comment on the issue.

Affected lenders denied discrimination in their responses to inquiries from Browns committee. For example, New York-based Climb Credit, which Browns report dinged for considering an applicants major or program to determine creditworthiness, told the committee it rates loans l students based on students future potential earnings rather than their past.

We have no reason to believe our underwriting standards have a disparate impact on members of a protected class, wrote the company, which provides loans to students who attend vocational and career-advancing programs at partner schools to prepare for careers like cybersecurity, culinary arts, and heavy machine operation.

Climb Credit finds and partners with schools that prepare students for careers with strong earnings potential, it continued Our proprietary return on investment (ROI) calculation and diligence procedures ensure we partner only with programs that we have confirmed are delivering income boosting opportunities worthy of the educational investment being made by students.

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UGC exam news: Supreme Court today heard the petitions challenging the final-year examination guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The three-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan has reserved its judgment and sought written submissions from all parties within 3 days.

The UGC told the top court that UGC final year exams can be postponed but not cancelled. While representing the UGC, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also stated that states can consider pushing the September 30 deadline ahead but not cancellation of exams and that degrees cannot be conferred without conducting exams.

Solicitor General Mehta also mentioned that the Maharashtra government committee also recommends that the examinations shall be conducted.

Also read: JEE Mains Exam 2020, NEET Exams: SC quashes plea seeking delay, says 'life has to go on'

Before the hearing, petitioners filed a written submission before the apex court on Monday, stating that the UGC's call to conduct final year exams is violative of the UGC Act and Regulations. The petition filed by Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava mentions that the UGC final guidelines dated July 6, 2020 asking all universities to conduct exams till September 30 violates Section 12 of the UGC Act.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Arvind Datar stated how badly Maharashtra is hit by COVID-19, and thus, brought the issues related to conducting UGC final year exams in the entire state to focus.

Also read: PM Cares Fund money can't be transferred to National Disaster Relief Fund, says SC

After this, the bench also comprising Justices R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah explained the scope allocated to authority in the Disaster Management Act and mentioned "Only the authorities can decide what is in their welfare. Students are not competent enough to decide."

Justice Bhushan said that the arguments need to be raised in an all-binding manner and not in a state-specific way as the UGC is applicable across India. In addition to this, Justice Bhushan also stated that if there are different dates for different states, in that case, it can be said that the UGC is being discriminatory.

Also read: UGC Final Year Exam 2020: SC asks if Disaster Management Act can override UGC's notification
Residents of Melbourne can expect prompt services in unfortunate times from our professional & certified service technicians and staff.

The much-anticipated location means that Melbourne residents now have a wide variety of property restoration services available to them. Some of the services that Restoration 1 of Melbourne offer include water damage, fire & smoke damage, and mold remediation to name just a few.

What Melbourne Residents can Expect From Restoration 1

The team at Restoration 1 understands that home property damage can be a very stressful and difficult time for your family. In light of this, the company has built a reputation for delivering excellent service within a quick time frame. The talented team at Melbourne is available 24/7 and promises to be at your property within an hour or less of the time your call is logged or an online form is submitted via the website.

Residents of Melbourne can expect prompt services in unfortunate times from our professional & certified service technicians and staff. We are available year-round, 24/7 to provide quality services to keep you and your family safe, says owner Tamas Krisztian.

Each of Restoration 1s technicians are highly trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Using the most up-to-date practices and modern equipment and technology means that Melbourne property restoration is now in safe and capable hands.

When asked about what makes Restoration 1 different, Tamas replied, Restoration 1 uses equipment of the highest quality and implements extensive safety measures to guarantee a pleasant experience from start to finish. We are locally owned & operated to ensure a faster response time. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed!

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Special Focus on High Traffic Areas: The team will heavily sanitize additional high touch areas like desks, computers, door handles, and telephone handsets.

UBL Fogger: Finally a UBL fogger to get a lot of those areas that they cant physically hand-wipe.

With our Keep It Clean Program, we develop a program that is specifically designed for your type of business, well then create a schedule where we disinfect high-touch areas where harmful viruses and bacteria commonly linger, says Tamas. So, if your Melbourne home, office, school, hospital, doctors room, hotel, Airbnb, restaurant, or bar is in need of a deep clean, Restoration 1 is ready to assist.

Restoration 1 of Melbourne is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Find them 501 Oakmont Lane North, Melbourne TX 76112, or visit http://www.restoration1.com/melbourne

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Restoration 1 of Melbournes services include: Water Damage, Mold Remediation, Fire & Smoke Damage, Virus Disinfection, Sewage Cleanup, Odor Removal, Crawlspace Encapsulation, Sump Pump Cleanup, Storm Recovery, Flood Damage Cleanup, Emergency Water Removal, Biohazard Cleanup, Carpet Cleaning, Emergency Services, and Crime Scene and Trauma Cleanup.

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For more information about Restoration 1, visit http://www.restoration1.com.
Former Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, under suspicion over embezzlement dating from his time in power, was being questioned by police on Tuesday for a second day, one of his lawyers said.

The meeting came on the heels of a major government reshuffle and a parliamentary report on aspects of Aziz's 2008-19 tenure.

A security source on Monday said that Aziz went to the headquarters of the General Directorate for National Security (DSGN) after police went to his home, asking him to cooperate with investigators.

One of his lawyers, Taghioullah Aida, told AFP on Tuesday that Aziz "slept at the DGSN, where he still is, without the presence of his lawyer".

The interview with investigators "is still underway", Aida said.

The interest in Aziz stems from "major suspicions of maladministration and embezzlement of public assets", the security source said.

Aziz, a former general, seized power in the vast Saharan country in 2008.

He won elections in 2009, was re-elected in 2014 and stepped down in August last year, after Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, his former right-hand man and ex-defence minister, won elections.

Since his departure, Aziz has been kept at arm's length by Ghazouani.

In January parliament set up a commission of inquiry into his affairs and formally handed its report to prosecutors this month.

It was followed on August 9 by a government reshuffle that turfed out four former ministers whose names surfaced in the investigation, including ex-premier Ismail Ould Bedda Ould Cheikh Sidiya.

They have been "given the time they need to prove their innocence", said Adama Bocar Soko, in charge of the president's office.

Among the issues probed by the commission were the handling of oil revenue, the sale of state property in the capital Nouakchott, the winding up of a publicly owned food supply company and the activities of a Chinese fishing company called Pully Hong Dong, sources in parliament say.

Aziz failed to answer a call to testify before the commission in early July. Within weeks MPs approved a law to set up a High Court of Justice that would be empowered to try presidents and ministers in cases of "high treason".

The new prime minister, Mohamed Ould Bilal, was a minister several times under former president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who was deposed in the coup led by Aziz.

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Qatar's NAAAS Group has signed an agreement with China's Ningxia University and a Chinese company to introduce into the Middle East country digital water-saving irrigation technology and equipment developed by the university.

Ningxia University said on Friday that the project worth 1.26 billion U.S. dollars is an important part of the memorandum of cooperation previously signed by China-Arab States Technology Transfer Center and Qatar Free Zones Authority, which covers projects ranging from food production and water-saving agriculture to afforestation and ecological protection.

Nasser Hassan Al Jaber, chairman of NAAAS Group, said that the digital water-saving irrigation system is expected to achieve maximum use of water resources and promote quality agriculture in Qatar.

The system was developed by a team of experts from the College of Resources and Environmental Science of Ningxia University in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It includes technologies and equipment involving wind-solar-powered water extraction, underground seeping pipes and a control software system operated on smartphones.

"The system can remedy the defect of blind irrigation from the whole pipe, and save water in the uncultivated area," said Sun Zhaojun, dean of the college.

Use of surface drip-irrigation is common in Arab countries, but long-time exposure to the weather in dry areas always makes it easy for pipes to age, Sun said.

According to the university, the digital water-saving irrigation system has been used in Oman and Egypt, where it was proved to save over 22 percent of water and 26.6 percent of energy while irrigating industrial crops.

So far, the system has been applied over a total area of 575,733 hectares in northwest China and Arab countries, creating an increase in output value worth 1.84 billion yuan (264.9 million U.S. dollars) and a profit of 378 million yuan.

The university has trained 2,360 technicians from 23 countries and regions on the technology.
I dont know about you, but the world just seems busy. I find when I ask people the question, how are you doing?, 90% of the time the answer is: busy.

A common reason for our busyness is our work. The hustle culture of today continues to puzzle me. For those who arent familiar, hustle culture is obsessed with striving (NY Times). Its a culture that worships mantras such as sleep when youre dead, or rise and grind (Nike Ad).

Its strange because I think the concept of work ethic has become distorted in our modern-day and age. No longer is it associated with sustained effort in meaningful work, but rather just any work of long duration. Busyness has become a virtue.

#hustle

I think that one of the reasons for the proliferation of hustle culture is this age of start-ups that we live in.

Many of the billionaires today  Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Elon Musk  have all made their fortunes in these start-up companies which are characterized by outlandishly long work weeks. Take Elon Musk, for example, he works 85 to 100 hours week  two full-time jobs (Business Insider).

It surprises me that working excessive amounts is often praised. I just think that if we dedicated that amount of time to anything else besides work, it would be considered an addiction; and we would be encouraged to go to therapy!

Yet, somewhere along the line, society has decided that these tech giants are aspirational and that sacrificing your family life and social life for work is respectable.

Now, of course, many of these people I have mentioned have done great work. Microsoft, Tesla, they are all companies that have changed the world. Furthermore, Bill Gates continues to donate billions in philanthropic efforts. I dont deny any of this, nor discount it.

However, something that has been on my heart lately is that how we do something is just as important as why we do something. Ive found that I often use the reason I am doing something to justify how I am doing something.

The how is important

Ill give you an example. I am currently studying civil engineering at university. I put a lot of hours into my study because I want to be the best that I can be. Also, I want to set myself up for opportunities in the future that could make a difference in peoples lives.

But often Ill justify denying certain opportunities to volunteer, or to share my faith, or to do ministry because Im busy with university. Ill say to myself that when I finish university, I will have more time to read my Bible. Or, when I finish this assignment, I will have more time to spend praying.

However, the truth is that there is always going to be another assignment, there is always going to be another task. If I keep using that as my excuse, I will never actually serve in the way that I intend to, or in the way that God has called me too.

Many of us will similarly justify our work life. We might say that we are working hard for these years to save up and then use the money to do good. Now that is admirable, and I dont denounce that goal. However, we need to ask ourselves what are we doing in the meantime as well.

The truth is that Jesus died to reconcile ourselves to Him (Romans chapter 5, verse 10). He died so that we could have a relationship with Him, not so we would just work harder.

He died for our presence, not our productivity. Yet, often it is time spent with Him or serving Him that is sacrificed at the altar of our busyness.

I dont deny that certain seasons will require more hard work and more sacrifice of our time than others. During exam times, for example, I will have less time to dedicate to other things than usual. What is important is that we reflect on our overall pattern.

People like Bill Gates are fortunate. He is in a position now that he can leverage the hard work he has put in the past for good. However, not everyone is that lucky. The scary truth is that day that we tell ourselves will be the day that we start serving, it may never come.

The future is not guaranteed. So, we need to ask ourselves, if we died tomorrow, what would we have to show? Are we busying ourselves with things that have eternal value, or those things that will pass away when we die?

Making time

So where do we need to be spending more time?

If obsessive work or study is a constant in our lives, then we need to ask ourselves what we truly value, and whether we are giving these things the time we should. The truth is that we will always be busy. Therefore, we need to be intentional about making time for the things we value.

Even though Jesus was occupied with the important job in the world  reconciling mankind  He still took hours out to pray, to spend time with His Father (Luke chapter 5, verse 16; Mark chapter 1, verse 35). If anyone could have used the excuse of busyness, it was Jesus.

However, He knew that the how was just as important as the why. It is important for us too.
Multiple areas to be drilled as part of ongoing district expansion program

Map 1: Khundii Gold District Mineralized Zones

Khundii Gold District

Khundii Gold District

Map 2: Dark Horse Prospect

Bayan KhundiiPhase I Drilling Program Q3 2020: 8700m Testing Multiple Prospects on License

Bayan KhundiiPhase I Drilling Program Q3 2020: 8700m Testing Multiple Prospects on License

Map 3: Bayan Khundii Gold Deposit Resource Expansion Potential

Bayan KhundiiResources Available to Expand Mineable Pits

Bayan KhundiiResources Available to Expand Mineable Pits

Highlights1:

Drilling commenced at Bayan Khundii on Monday, August 17 with a second drill rig scheduled to be operating the week of August 24 Phase I includes ~ 8,700 metres of drilling at Bayan Khundii (BK) and Dark Horse The first drill rig is focused on BK with drill plans for ~ 4,800 metres in ~30 holes in areas within the economic pit, outside the economic pit and beyond the boundaries of the pit-constrained resource outlined in the BK Bankable Feasibility Study BK drilling will include follow up in two new shallow, high-grade discovery areas Striker SW: BKD-292 intersected 15 metres of 29 g/t gold including one metre of 353 g/t gold Midfield SE: BKD-288 results included 5.5 metres of 125.9 g/t, including 1 metre of 581.6 g/t gold The second drill rig will begin a Phase I, 10 hole, 1,200 metre program at the Dark Horse prospect Drilling will initially focus on the main structure and areas of recent trench results which included: 6 metres grading 8.8 g/t gold, including 1 metre of 50.8 g/t gold and 4 metres of 14 g/t gold, including 1 metre of 45.3 g/t gold, in KMT-01 and KMT-03, respectively An additional 2,700 metres (~15 holes) following up on initial results, will be drilled at BK and Dark Horse, completing Phase I by early October Phase II Program: ~9,000 metre program scheduled to begin in mid-October Details will be finalized following the review and interpretation of Phase I results from BK and Dark Horse, and will include Altan Nar and Ulaan drilling where targeting is currently in progress



HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Erdene Resource Development Corporation (TSX:ERD | MSE:ERDN) (Erdene or the Company) is pleased to announce commencement of drilling at its 100%-owned Khundii Gold Project licenses.



Story continues

We are very excited to initiate a major drill program in the Khundii Gold District, following up on the outstanding near-surface, high-grade gold intersections reported earlier in Q3, said Peter Akerley, Erdenes President and CEO. Our recent financing, led by Eric Sprott, provides us with the resources to advance our Bayan Khundii Gold Project towards development and to aggressively explore the broader Khundii Gold District, which offers tremendous discovery potential as demonstrated by our high-grade gold discoveries to date.

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1 Previous results in this release are stating apparent thicknesses



An 18,000 metre drill program is planned to be completed before year-end, with drilling now underway at Bayan Khundii and a second drill rig scheduled to arrive at Dark Horse next week, continued Mr. Akerley. The program is designed to test new areas in the district, add additional resources adjacent to current deposits and increase confidence in current resource areas, potentially adding to existing reserves at Bayan Khundii.

Drilling Highlights & Plans

[See plan view maps below]

The Khundii Gold District provides a multitude of exploration and development opportunities beyond the initial proposed open-pit development at Bayan Khundii. These opportunities include recent near-surface drilling successes and expansion opportunities within the Bayan Khundii deposit area, the new Dark Horse gold discovery and the identification of very high-grade gold in the Discovery Zone at Altan Nar, reported earlier in 2020. A brief overview of the main target areas and planned program is outlined below.

Bayan Khundii Deposit Area

Midfield SE and Striker SW: Drilling in Q2 2020 discovered very high grade, near-surface gold zones in both Midfield SE and Striker SW. Midfield SE intersections included 5.5 metres of 125.9 g/t gold, including 1 metre of 581.6 g/t gold in BKD-288, beginning 11.5 metres downhole, and 15 metres of 25.6 g/t gold including 1 metre of 338 g/t gold beginning at 14.9 metres downhole in BKD-274, located 40 metres north of BKD-288. In total, 16 of 18 holes drilled at Midfield SE in Q2 2020 intersected anomalous gold (0.2 g/t) mineralization within 25 metres of surface. This discovery is interpreted as the intersection of the stacked NW trending quartz adularia veins, with a N-S trending conceptual feeder structure. The Midfield SE structure has been traced over a strike length of at least 200 metres with Q2 drill testing only the northern 50 metres. The Phase I drill program will target this conceptual feeder structures southeast continuation which remains largely untested. As this area was classified as waste or low-grade stockpile material in the current resource, it has the potential to have a significant impact early in the project mine life. The possibility of parallel en-echelon features is demonstrated by another outlier of high-grade gold in BKD-118 which intersected 1 metre of 159 g/t gold located 200 metres east of Midfield SE and outside of the proposed pit.



At Striker SW, recent drilling intersected anomalous gold ( 0.2 g/t) in all 11 holes in a 100m x 50m area within 25 metres of surface. Hole BKD-290 intersected 20 metres of 5.9 g/t gold beginning 8 metres from drill collar, including one metre of 91.2 g/t gold, and BKD-292 intersected 15 metres of 29 g/t gold beginning 0.9 metres from drill collar, including one metre of 353 g/t gold. This program established continuity of this very high-grade zone in an area currently classified predominantly as low-grade or below cut-off grade material, that is scheduled to be mined in the first year of the Bayan Khundii development. Western continuity and potentially southern extensions of the Striker SW area will be tested in the current drill program.



Bayan Khundii  Extensions and Exploration Beyond Planned Pit: The Bayan Khundii Mineral Resource2 includes 521,000 ounces of 3.16 g/t gold Measured and Indicated (M&I) and 103,000 ounces of Inferred resources at 3.68 g/t gold. Within the M&I resource, a proven and probable open-pit reserve3 totals 409,000 ounces at 3.7g/t (see the full press release here). Several mineralized zones and exploration areas peripheral to the planned open-pit at Bayan Khundii host intervals of exceptionally high-grade (30 to 150 g/t gold intersections over 1 meter) gold-bearing veins. This provides significant potential growth of reserves with the development of the remaining M&I and Inferred resources and areas beyond the current resources. In addition, the reported resource is an open-pit constrained resource beyond which drilling has previously intersected significant gold mineralized zones. These areas will also be the subject of Phase I drilling to evaluate resource expansion.

Striker West and Southern Extension: Located approximately 210 metres west of the planned Bayan Khundii open-pit, drilling in 2019 confirmed and extended the Striker West target with the best intersection of this deposit area to date with 3 metres of 40 g/t gold at a vertical depth of 136 metres (BKD-265). Results from this hole also broadened the mineralized domain at shallow depth and outside the defined resource boundary with a 16-metre interval of 1.1 g/t gold, including 5 metres of 2.7 g/t gold, beginning only 28 metres from the surface. This area is open to the south, where BKD-266 was drilled in Q2 2019, approximately 250 metres west-southwest of the planned open-pit, and outside the currently defined resource boundary. This hole intersected a high-grade, one-metre interval of 51.9 g/t gold at a depth of 264 metres within a broad zone of silica-illite and magnetite altered volcanic tuff, suggesting a down-dip continuation of high-grade gold mineralization from the currently defined Bayan Khundii pit. The 2020 drill programs will seek to increase confidence in the high-grade core of Striker West and expand this zone to the south.

Dark Horse (Khar Mori)

The Dark Horse prospect, and by extension, the Altan Arrow prospect, 3.5 km north of the Bayan Khundii gold deposit, will be the subject of drilling in both the Phase I and II drill programs. The Dark Horse prospect covers an approximately 1.5 by 3-kilometre area, connected to the northwesterly adjacent Altan Arrow gold prospect. Previous drilling along the subsidiary structures south of Altan Arrow (within 300 metres of the Dark Horse target area) have provided the highest-grade intersections to date, including 24 g/t and 70 g/t gold over 2 metres (AAD-03 and AAD-12) within 75 metres of surface.



Initially, drilling will focus along the main structure at Dark Horse which exhibits a 1.3-kilometre gold in soil anomaly as well as areas of recent trenching successes which include:

6 metres grading 8.8 g/t gold, including 1 metre of 50.8 g/t gold on the main Dark Horse structure in trench KMT-01

4 metres of 14 g/t gold, including 1 metre of 45.3 g/t gold at KMT-03 on a structural intersection zone 850 metres east southeast of KMT-01

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2 Bayan Khundii Mineral Resource M&I consists of: Measured 171,000 ounces and 350,000 ounces Indicated. For details of the Mineral Resources see Khundii Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report, Tetra Tech December 4, 2019  SEDAR

3 Bayan Khundii Mineral Reserve consists of 166,000 ounces Proven and 244,000 ounces Probable

The main Dark Horse structure is characterized by gold in soil anomalism, very high gold grades in rock chip samples, residual quartz bodies, intense silicification and white mica alteration. The current interpretation of Dark Horse includes a series of structurally controlled gold mineralized comb quartz stockwork zones situated along or proximal to the dominant NE trending faults, where the NE structures are intersected by opposing NW trending. The intersection of these opposing structures may result in dilation zones, creating preferential conduits for fluid flow and subsequent gold deposition. These are all features characteristic of the Bayan Khundii deposit to the south. (see attached images).

As a large, untested gold prospect, Dark Horse provides significant discovery potential along strike of the main structure and at or near NE-NW structural intersections where several isolated but intense gold in soil anomalies are located, many of which contain high-grade gold in rock chip. The extent of drilling at Dark Horse in Phase II will be influenced by these initial results.

Altan Nar Gold Polymetallic Deposit

At Altan Nar, approximately 16 km north of the Bayan Khundii gold deposit, a growing gold and polymetallic resource provides a significant opportunity for growth. The current Altan Nar Gold resource includes 318,000 ounces of 2.0 g/t gold Indicated and 186,000 ounces of Inferred at 1.7 g/t gold in addition to significant silver and base metal content.

In early 2020 the company reported a high-grade discovery in the Discovery Zone (DZ), one of 18 high-priority targets along the 5.6-kilometre mineralized trend on its 100% owned Altan Nar project. Results included 23 metres of 17 g/t gold, 44.7 g/t silver, 0.75 % lead and 1.47 % zinc within a black, sulphide-rich epithermal breccia (TND-135) which targeted a previously untested area of the DZ high-grade core with additional holes providing further support for the continuity of high grades within the target zone. This proof of concept opened up multiple areas for targeted testing along the Altan Nar trend. Only a small portion of the Altan Nar licence has been drill tested, and 90% of the NI 43-101 Mineral Resource prepared by RPM Global in 2018 is within 150 metres of surface and contained mainly within 2 of the 18 targets with all zones open along strike and at depth. The Q1 2020 results demonstrate continuity in size and grade within the high-grade DZ core, providing confidence for future expansion. Wave Geophysics has recently completed a compilation project for Altan Nar, and interpretation work is underway to develop the next round of drilling expected to commence in Phase II of the 2020 program.



COVID-19 Precautions:

Throughout the 2020 field season, our team on the ground has worked to deliver an injury-free, effective field exploration program, rolling out increased preventive measures in response to COVID-19 risk. The Company has kept in place precautionary measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19. In the field, daily protocols are used to ensure basic hygiene, and daily briefing, induction and visitor reception procedures continue to include body temperature checks. Isolation facilities and personal protective equipment for emergency response have been prepared. Since late January, the Government of Mongolia has implemented a series of preventive measures in response to COVID-19, including limitations on public gatherings, suspension of in-person classroom learning, and international border controls. The most recent of these measures are currently in force until at least August 31, 2020. As of August 18, 2020, Mongolia has reported zero local transmissions of COVID-19 and zero deaths from the disease. All confirmed and reported cases to date have been amongst repatriated individuals.

Khundii Gold District

Erdenes deposits are located in the Edren Terrane, within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, host to some of the worlds largest gold and copper-gold deposits. The Company has been the leader in exploration in southwest Mongolia over the past decade and is responsible for the discovery of the Khundii Gold District comprised of multiple high-grade gold and gold/base metal prospects, two of which are being considered for development: the 100%-owned Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects. Together, these deposits comprise the Khundii Gold Project.

The Bayan Khundii Gold Resource1 includes 521,000 ounces of 3.16 g/t gold Measured and Indicated (M&I) and 103,000 ounces of Inferred resources at 3.68 g/t gold. Within the M&I resource, a proven and probable open-pit reserve totals 422,000 ounces at 3.7 g/t (see the full press release here ), providing significant potential growth of reserves with the development of the remaining M&I and Inferred resources4.

In July 2020, Erdene announced the results of an independent Feasibility Study for the Bayan Khundii Gold Project ( press release here ). The Feasibility Study results include an after-tax Net Present Value at a 5% discount rate and a US$1,400/oz gold price of US$100 million and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 42%. The Feasibility Study envisions an open-pit mine at Bayan Khundii, producing an average of 63,500 oz gold per year, for seven years, at a head grade of 3.71 g/t gold, utilizing a conventional carbon in pulp processing plant. Production is expected to commence in early 2022 based on the current project schedule.

Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metals in underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has interests in three mining licenses and two exploration licenses in Southwest Mongolia, where exploration success has led to the discovery and definition of the Khundii Gold District. Erdene Resource Development Corp. is listed on the Toronto and the Mongolian stock exchanges. Further information is available at www.erdene.com . Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information.

_____________________________________

4 For details of the Mineral Resources see Khundii Gold Project NI 43-101 Technical Report, Tetra Tech December 4, 2019  SEDAR

2 M&I: 171,000 ounces of 3.77 g/t gold Measured, and 349,700 ounces of 2.93 g/t gold Indicated

Qualified Person and Sample Protocol

Peter Dalton, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Senior Geologist for Erdene, is the Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. All samples have been assayed at SGS Laboratory in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In addition to internal checks by SGS Laboratory, the Company incorporates a QA/QC sample protocol utilizing prepared standards and blanks. All samples undergo standard fire assay analysis for gold and ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy) analysis for 33 additional elements. For samples that initially return a grade greater than 5 g/t gold, additional screen-metallic gold analysis is carried out which provides a weighted average gold grade from fire assay analysis of the entire +75 micron fraction and three 30-gram samples of the -75 micron fraction from a 500 gram sample.

Erdenes drill core sampling protocol consisted of collection of samples over 1 or 2 metre intervals (depending on the lithology and style of mineralization) over the entire length of the drill hole, excluding minor post-mineral lithologies and un-mineralized granitoids. Sample intervals were based on meterage, not geological controls or mineralization. All drill core was cut in half with a diamond saw, with half of the core placed in sample bags and the remaining half securely retained in core boxes at Erdenes Bayan Khundii exploration camp. All samples were organized into batches of 30 including a commercially prepared standard, blank and either a field duplicate, consisting of two quarter-core intervals, or a laboratory duplicate. Sample batches were periodically shipped directly to SGS in Ulaanbaatar via Erdenes logistical contractor, Monrud Co. Ltd.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Erdene cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the ability to obtain required third party approvals, market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE

Erdene Contact Information

Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO, or Robert Jenkins, CFO Phone: (902) 423-6419 Email: info@erdene.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErdeneRes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErdeneResource LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/erdene-resource-development-corp-/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCILs5s9j3SLmya9vo2-KXoA

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/20ba7fe1-f127-4a2d-988d-d2faec804c64

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3e5c178-8443-410b-996f-02b56368ba12

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bcd7b84b-0c2c-44d1-97f4-86aa0de92d66




Students of the Ghana School of Hygiene say they have boycotted their final examination over their outstanding allowances unpaid by government.

The students say the allowances have been in arrears since 2017 and government has reneged on multiple assurances to pay them.

On Monday the Chief Director at the Sanitation Ministry Noah Tumfo assured the students a committee is being put together to address their challenge after they besieged the premises.

But the students say they have no confidence in the assurance.

President of the Korlebu Teaching Hospital School of Hygiene Free heart Ampomah told Morning Starr that government is taking them for granted.

If these allowances are not paid, itll affect us because we have boycotted our exit exams. We have boycotted the exams because when we write the exams and exit, the monies wont be paid. If you are out of school you cant fight for the money, once you go out they wont pay us. Even those who finished eight and ten years have just been given their clearance, what is the probability that if I finish school Im going to get the job but if I get my allowance now I can start something with it, he said.

He added: We have decided to picket at the ministry until our monies are paid. Unless they come and brutalise us. President Akufo-Addo promised that he was going to pay our allowances and in 2017, they came for our data but to date, nothing has been paid. We are supposed to take GHc400 per month for 10 months.

---Starrfmonline
By Andre Vltchek

August 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Jimmy Lai, a billionaire media tycoon, based in Hong Kong, has been arrested, accused of sedition, criminal fraud, and collusion with foreign forces.

Lai, originally from the Chinese mainland, owns a right-wing tabloid Apple Daily. He is known for dutifully echoing media salvos that are being fired by Western governments and media outlets, salvos against Beijing and SAR administration, which in turn gained him in the West, of course, various flattering and unreal titles such as an outspoken pro-democracy figure in Hong Kong who regularly criticizes China's authoritarian rule (CBS News).

The Guardian reported:

The Hong Kong journalist association head, Chris Yeung, said the raid was horrendous, I think in some third-world countries there has been this kind of press freedom suppression, I just didnt expect it to be in Hong Kong, he told media.

Lies, of course. Obvious lies. A random internet search immediately returned results, headlines such as Spanish gendarmes raid premises of Catalan newspaper in search of referendum material.

Some kind of third-world countries is surely a racist, patronizing and derogatory expression, which is, shockingly, regularly used by the so-called pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. These activists are respectful only toward the Western powers, no matter what atrocities they are committing all over the world, and even at home.

Lai, as well as many of his colleagues, are actually racists, against their own country  China  and non-Western countries and races in all corners of the Planet.

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Their language and definitions would be, actually, unacceptable, even illegal, in such countries like the UK or the US. They manage to get away with their derogatory, patronizing and racist linguistics mainly because of the obedience of the mass media in the West, which is under strict orders not to criticize Hong Kongs anti-Beijing individuals, particularly leaders.

Colleagues from an influential publication The Grayzone reported on June 9, 2020:

A leading Hong Kong 'pro-democracy' figure, Jimmy Lai, has denounced nationwide protests in the United States against police brutality and systemic racism, which were sparked by the police killing of an African-American man, George Floyd. Lais views reflect a significant segment of the citys protest movement, who affirm the exceptionalist myth of the US as a beacon of 'freedom and democracy'.

Hong Kongs 'pro-democracy' activists have gone so far as to derail the efforts of an African-American woman who attempted to organize a Black Lives Matter demonstration in the city, accusing her of being an agent of the police and Communist Party of China.

Meanwhile, some leaders of Hong Kongs anti-Beijing opposition, such as Joshua Wong, have claimed to support the US protests and Black Lives Matter. However, these expressions of 'solidarity' ring hollow, given that, like Lai, these 'pro-democracy' leaders have also forged an alliance with the very US state and far-right politicians who have demonized and sought to brutally repress American protesters. In fact, Wong and his comrades have carefully avoided making any specific criticism of President Trump or any of their other sponsors in Washington.

Lai is clearly a right-wing individual and agitator. The form of democracy he has been preaching is, actually, something that serves exclusively the interests of his foreign patrons.

According to Lai, who met top Trump administration brass, on several occasions, Only Trump can save America.

His hatred toward US blacks and Native Americans is shocking.

The Grayzone wrote:

On June 2, Lai shared a video by Avi Yemini, a far-right YouTube personality and former Israeli army soldier, declaring that it was 'bloody disgraceful' to liken the 'riots in America' with Hong Kongs protest movement.

In the video, Yemini rattled off right-wing talking points, referring to the anti-racist protesters as 'antifa extremists' who are 'destroying everything that is American, in fact, everything that Hong Kongers are fighting to obtain.'

Lai expressed his gratitude to Yemini, writing 'thank you for speaking up for us #HKers.'

According to the Australian Jewish Democratic Society, Yemini has formed extensive ties to neo-Nazis such as the Soldiers of Odin and fascist agitators like Milo Yiannopoulis.

That is, of course, not at all surprising. From the 2014 Umbrella Revolution movement, until 2019/20 riots, I wrote in detail about alarming trends: The anti-Beijing activists have been demonstrating fanatical right-wing, even fascist tendencies. Their spite for the victims of Western imperialism and neo-colonialism has been absolutely shocking. They have been showing zero interest in social injustice in the US.

First, I thought that they simply did not know. Later I realized that they did not want to know. They wanted to belong to the group of the oppressors, not to the oppressed. Their desire has also been to be above China, to be considered as qualified to tell the Chinese mainland how to live, how to run the economy, and to ape Western political institutions and way of life.

Lai will be charged with some of the most terrible crimes a man can commit. Some of the most shameful, too. Many countries, attacked by the Western powers and the personalities like Lai, simply crumbled. China never will. China stands its ground, proudly, for its people. The new National Security Law helped. A man who did so much harm to his people has fallen.
Ivanhoe gains a formidable partner in its push to become a leading supplier of critical materials for the renewable energy revolution

Beijing, China--(Newsfile Corp. - August 18, 2020) - Robert Friedland and Yufeng "Miles" Sun, Co-Chairmen of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF), announced today that the company has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNMC), one of China's leading mining companies, to jointly examine exploration, development and acquisition of mineral projects, as well as production, smelting and logistics opportunities, on the African continent.

CNMC, headquartered in Beijing China, is a world leader in the development of nonferrous metal projects; with exploration, construction and engineering, mining, smelting and logistical operations spanning more than 80 countries and covering more than 40 nonferrous metals, including copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, silver, tantalum, niobium, beryllium, zinc and lead.

More than 20 years ago, China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Corp., the predecessor of CNMC, made the first international acquisition by a Chinese mining company with the purchase of the Chambishi Copper Mine in Zambia; an investment that was facilitated by Mr. Friedland. CNMC's continued development of the project led to the commencement of operations at the Chambishi Copper Smelter in 2009. Copper production from the Chambishi South East Ore Body began in 2018.

Among CNMC's diverse portfolio of projects is the Lualaba copper smelter near the city of Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which began commercial operations earlier this year. Lualaba is the first modern, large, pyro-metallurgical copper smelter built in DRC, and is approximately 45 kilometres from Ivanhoe Mines' Kamoa-Kakula copper joint venture. A new, dedicated highway directly connects Kamoa-Kakula and Kolwezi.

CNMC also recently began operations at the Deziwa Copper-Cobalt Mine, a joint-venture with Gecamines - the DRC's state mining company. Deziwa is approximately 35 kilometres east of Kolwezi.

"Our long-standing relationship with CNMC goes back decades to when Wu Jianchang was the general manager of China National Nonferrous Metals Industry Corporation - a pioneer industrial group specializing in the mining and metallurgy sector. Our good friends at CNMC are aware of the enormous challenges of discovering and building a new world-scale copper, nickel, zinc, or platinum-group metals mine. They also appreciate that 'grade is king' and that the DRC, and indeed all of Africa, has by far and away this planet's best potential for major, new, high-grade mineral discoveries," said Mr. Friedland.

"Our friends at CNMC also share our conviction that an environmentally-responsible and secure supply of critical metals for clean-air and clean-water technologies - such as copper, nickel, platinum-group metals, cobalt and vanadium - is one of the most important hurdles for humanity to overcome as we collectively embrace a sustainable, low-carbon-energy revolution."

"The time to act to address the looming shortfall in key, 'green' metals, is now. The strategic partnership with CNMC will provide significant opportunities for collaboration on mineral exploration, mine planning, development and acquisition of mineral projects, logistics and smelting - beginning with examining the synergies between the operations currently owned by our two companies," Mr. Friedland added.

Mr. Sun added, "In CNMC, we chose a partner who is not only truly complementary to Ivanhoe's existing operations, but also shares our long-standing view that Africa hosts the world's richest, long-life deposits of the critical metals that underpin clean-energy technology."

CNMC's Chairman Wang Tongzhou said: "CNMC is striving to become a world-class mining company, and Ivanhoe - one of the world's best and fastest-growing mining companies - is an excellent role model for us to learn from. I strongly believe that cooperation is the best way to achieving the goals of both companies."

"This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has engulfed the world and greatly impacted mining companies. In these challenging times, the need to work together is more pressing than ever. Building on the opportunities created by this agreement and championing the mutually beneficial alliance, I believe that the core projects of each of our companies will soon be realized. I also believe that this agreement will create new opportunities for cooperation, so that more projects can be successfully implemented in the future," Mr. Wang added.

Marna Cloete, President of Ivanhoe Mines, commented; "The team at Kamoa-Kakula has done a stellar job of keeping the development of the Kakula Copper Mine ahead of schedule, and we are confident in the team's ability to successfully complete the remaining phases of construction and commissioning, and bring Kakula into production less than a year from now. It is a great time to be partnering with CNMC; an internationally-respected miner that has an established track record of notable achievements in Africa and is familiar with our various stakeholders from Africa and China. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with CNMC that allows both companies to create value for all of our respective stakeholders."

Zhang Jinjun, CNMC's Vice President (centre left), and Peter Zhou, Executive Vice President and Chief Representative China of Ivanhoe Mines (centre right), exchange a gift after signing the strategic partnership agreement. Other attendees include (from left to right) Gao Shunqing, Chairman of CNIT (CNMC International Trade Ltd.); Qin Junman, Vice Chairman of NFC (China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd.); Zhu Jinghe, CNMC's Deputy Director of Investment and Mineral Exploration; Shawn Wang, Head of Investment & Business Development of Ivanhoe Mines China; Cathy Liu, Head of Operations of Ivanhoe Mines China; and Bruce Li, Project Coordinator of Ivanhoe Mines China.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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About CNMC

CNMC is a large, Chinese state-owned enterprise. It was established in 1983 and is headquartered in Beijing. In 2012, its core assets in Africa were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE:1258). Currently CNMC owns and operates the following assets:

Chambishi Copper Mine, Zambia

Luanshya Copper Mine, Zambia

Chambishi Copper Smelter, Zambia

Chambishi Leach Plant, Zambia

Deziwa Copper & Cobalt Mine, Democratic Republic of Congo

Lualaba Copper Smelter, Democratic Republic of Congo

Kambove Copper & Cobalt Mine, Democratic Republic of Congo

Panda, Huachin & Mabende Leach Plant, Democratic Republic of Congo

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal joint-venture projects in Southern Africa: the development of major new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and at the Platreef palladium-platinum-nickel-copper-rhodium-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC. Kamoa-Kakula and Kipushi will be powered by clean, renewable hydroelectricity and will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced. Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its wholly-owned Western Foreland exploration licences in the DRC, near the Kamoa-Kakula Project.

Information contacts

Investors Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834 Media Matthew Keevil +1.604. 558.1034

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62029
CAMARILLO, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ImmPACT Bio USA Inc., a company founded in the FutuRx incubator located in Ness Ziona, Israel, developing novel cell therapies for treating cancer, today announced the closing of a US$ 18 million equity financing round. The financing included OrbiMed, Johnson & Johnson Innovation  JJDC, Inc., Takeda Ventures, Inc., RM Global Partners (RMGP) BioPharma Investment Fund, Novartis Venture Fund, Bukwang Pharmaceutical, Hayan Health Networks, Inc., and JVC Investment Partners.

ImmPACT Bio USA Inc. is developing a novel set of engineered T-cell therapeutics that target loss of genes in solid tumors. The company was founded based on the insights of Prof. Gideon Gross (Migal Research Institute), who collaborated with Prof. Zelig Eshhar to design the first Chimeric Antigen Receptor technologies for T-cells (CAR T). While CAR-T drugs have provided meaningful breakthroughs for the treatment of some hematologic malignancies, little progress has been made in applying the technology to solid tumors. Such diseases are rarely characterized by the over-expression of tumor-selective antigens, but genomic analyses have revealed many mechanisms for loss of expression.

Founder Prof. Gideon Gross explains ImmPACT's origins by observing, "Engineered cells have progressed tremendously in lymphomas and leukemias, in large part because lymphocytes have very selective targets. We will need new targeting strategies to tackle solid tumors, as few selective targets have been discovered, and antigens are almost always shared by indispensable tissues." Prof. Gross ultimately realized that, "Many solid tumors demonstrate genetic losses due to abnormal chromosomal maintenance  a fact that can be utilized to design new types of cellular immuno-oncology drugs."

"We have built a world-class team and a promising pipeline to realize Prof. Gross' vision of targeting loss-of-gene features of solid tumors. We look forward to working with our investors to advance this pipeline and make the company a success," said Rick Kendall, Ph.D., CEO of ImmPACT Bio USA Inc.

About ImmPACT Bio

ImmPACT Bio USA Inc. is a cell therapy company aiming to develop potent and selective engineered T-cells for the treatment of solid tumors. The company was founded based on the research of Prof. Gideon Gross of the Migal Research Institute and has been incubated in the FutuRx incubator since 2017. The Company's technology enables targeting loss-of-gene features of solid tumor cells, sparing normal, healthy tissues.

SOURCE ImmPACT Bio USA Inc.
India's third Covid wave likely to peak on Jan 23, daily cases to stay below 4 lakh: IIT Kanpur scientist

Foreign journalists with visas to be allowed to come to India: MHA

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Aug 18: The government has allowed foreign journalists with valid visas to come to India along with family members.

A Home Ministry notification said the decision has been taken after considering the need for further relaxation of visa and travel restrictions for more categories of foreign nationals who want to travel to India.

Accordingly, in addition to the categories of foreign nationals who were already permitted to enter India, it has been decided to permit foreign nationals holding Journalist (J-1) visas and their dependents holding J-1X visas to enter India, the notification said.

If they have J-1 or J-1X visas, which have been suspended, such visas shall stand restored with immediate effect to facilitate their entry into India.

However, the home ministry said if the validity of such visas has expired, they may obtain fresh J-1 or J-1X visas, as the case may be, from the Indian missions or posts concerned.

It has also been decided that the existing restrictions on incoming passenger traffic into India through the immigration check posts will not apply in respect of these categories of foreign nationals, the notification said.

Amid coronavirus scare, Goa sees 12 times more flight movement

However, in respect of quarantine and all other health and COVID-19 related matters, guidelines of the Ministry of Health shall be adhered to.

SSR death probe: Rhea Chakraborty makes sensational claim | Oneindia News

The government has already allowed Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders from the US, UK, German and France, with whom India has signed ''air bubble'' arrangements, to visit India.

Other foreigners from these countries have also been allowed to avail Indian visa facility for business, medical and employment purposes.

The government has restricted travel of foreigners to India since March 25 when the coronavirus induced country-wide lockdown came into effect.
China has extended monetary aid to an NGO in Kathmandu to carry out a study on the motivation behind Nepalese youth joining the Gorkha regiment in the Indian Army. The study funded by China was conducted in the first week of June, with Chinese envoy to Nepal Hou Yanqi backing the financial cost bourn by the Nepalese NGO. In a report shared by news agency IANS, it was mentioned that the study commissioned to China Study Centre (SCC)  an independent non-government organisation cost the Chinese government 12.7 lakh Nepalese Rupees (almost Rs 8 lakh).

The study is supposed to give a comprehensive understanding of existing socio-cultural parameters that motivate Nepalese youth to join the Indian Army and will gauge social and economic impacts in different regions and their level of interest in joining foreign armed forces.

China funds study to understand why Nepalese youth want to join the Indian Army

Notably, there are seven Gorkha regiments currently operational in the Indian Army, giving employment to over 28,000 Nepalese citizens. The regiments have a collective total of 39 battalions. However, there used to be 11 regiments until Indian independence, following which, four regiments were given up to the British Army. While the Indian Army has the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 11th Gorkha regiments, the British Army has the remaining 2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th regiments.

Read | India-Nepal Border row: BRM stages unique postage stamp protest along border

The Gorkha regiments largely consist of youth from four tribes  Khas, Gurung, Limbus and Rais. And the recruitment of Nepali Gorkhas into the Indian Army stems from a long-standing Tripartite Agreement among three nations, India, Nepal and the UK signed in 1947.

Although the arrangement has existed for over 7 decades, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli kicked up a row during his visit to the UK where he demanded the agreement be made redundant and draft a new one. In line with the same incohesive reasoning, the NCP (Nepal Communist Party) along with the help of CPC (Communist Party of China) has conspired to launch an extensive '"awareness" campaign to stop the youth of Nepal from joining the Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army.

It is worth mentioning that the ties between both countries came under a strain after a strategically important 80-km road connecting Lipu Lekh pass with Uttarakhand's Dharchula was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 8.

Read | Nepal sends 'diplomatic note' after censoring Indian channels amid PM Oli's maneuvering

Border row between neighbours escalate amid new map

Nepal sharply criticised the inauguration of the road claiming that it passed through its territory, and in retaliation released new maps that now include territories that never belonged to them. The updation of the political and administrative map angered India which swiftly prompted its neighbour not to resort to any 'artificial enlargement' of its territory and 'refrain from any unjust cartographic assertion.'

While Nepal claims Lipu Lekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as theirs, official stamps released by the tiny Himalayan nation shows otherwise. And the only explanation to Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's behaviour is his newfound favour with China.

In a novel way to protest against #Nepals claim The Bharat Raksha Manch on Thursday came out with an envelope with the copy of a postage stamp, purportedly released by the Himalayan nation in 1954 printed on it, showing that the areas under dispute actually belong to India. pic.twitter.com/jIJWDWW7Fu  Suresh k Sharma  (@suresh_k_sharma) July 10, 2020

Read | Amid tensions with India, cable operators in Nepal ban all Indian news channels except DD

Read | Nepal's ruling communist party meet to decide PM Oli's future deferred again
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-15 04:21:28|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chile reported on Friday that the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the South American country has risen to 382,111, with 10,340 deaths.

According to the Health Ministry, in the previous 24 hours, tests detected 2,077 new cases and 41 more patients died of the virus.

Chilean health authorities said 355,037 people have recovered from the disease and 16,734 cases are considered active.

Chile is under a state of catastrophe declared months ago to better enforce lockdown and social distancing measures with the help of the army and police force, including a nighttime curfew.

Given a drop in new cases, the Chilean government has begun to gradually lift restrictions in the country in an attempt to reactivate the economy, though areas with a high level of new cases remain under quarantine. Enditem
Earlier this month Ms Braidotti raised her concerns with her local MP, Aged Care Matters director Sarah Russell and the federal regulator, The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Currently, the negative and positives continue to live within the same facility, with overstretched staff providing care for both the infected and uninfected while suited up in PPE, she wrote in an email to Dr Russell on August 7. A Japara spokesperson said it was working to best cohort its residents into negative and positive care areas. Cohort is a term which means keeping those who are COVID-19 positive in a separate space (wing, floor etc) to those who are COVID-19 negative to minimise infection.

We have the one wing where we are trying to cohort as many negative residents as we can, the spokesperson said. This area was the one wing at the home where we had no COVID positive residents at the outset, though we are still within the 14-day incubation period. All other wings have positive and negative residents. More than 80 residents and staff at Goonawara Aged Care Facility have been infected with COVID-19. Credit:Darrian Traynor Asked if the staff were quarantined so they only worked with COVID-19 positive or negative residents, the spokesperson said: No, due to the depleted workforce, staff are required to support the residents across the facility. All are wearing full PPE. The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services said Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT) had visited Japara Goonawarra a number of times to review cohorting, infection control and PPE practices. Six Australian Defence Force nurses were now working at the Sunbury nursing home and Western Health staff were also providing assistance. Personnel from South Australia had been brought in since August 10.

A range of support measures have been made available to support and stabilise the facility, a department spokesman said. A spokesperson for Age Care Minister Richard Colbeck said in order to reduce or stop the spread of COVID-19 at an aged care service, the public health unit recommends cohorting infected and non-infected residents into specific zones, and having dedicated staff for each zone. "In many instances the layout of the service supports the ability to cohort safely and effectively," the spokesperson said. "For example, services with different levels or wings, with single rooms and ensuites, are likely to be more conducive to effective cohorting." Loading Where this is not possible, the public health unit will consider all options to ensure the spread of infection is minimised, including transferring residents out of the facility if appropriate.

Aged care provider groups have called for all states and territories to commit to transferring COVID-positive residents to hospital after Queensland last week became the second state after South Australia to do so. Immediate transfer to the hospital of the first people in residential care diagnosed with COVID, is the best possible protection measure against the terrible tragedy we are seeing unfold in Victoria, Aged and Community Services chief executive Patricia Sparrow said. But Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson said the commission did not support a one size fits all approach to the management of outbreaks at residential aged care services. The best response to an outbreak is one which is deeply informed by the particular circumstances of that outbreak, she said. This included the extent of the initial exposure, the number of residents and staff testing positive in the first few days, the number and proportion of shared rooms and bathrooms, the occupancy level, the service layout, and the care needs of individual residents including any residents who, for behavioural or other reasons, would experience challenges in relation to self-isolation.
Policemen stand next to vehicles burnt down by the mob in Bengaluru.  AFP photo

Bengaluru: The special team investigating last week's riots at KG Halli have picked up a person, said to be a member of Al Hind, an organisation working against Sangh Parivar.

Though the police sources said that the arrested person was also involved in murder of RSS activist Rudresh in Shivajinagar few years ago, Home Minister Mr Basavaraj Bommai said that the investigation was in priliminary stages and could ascertain further details only after verification of facts.

The CCB team had raided the office of SDPI in Frazer Town on Sunday and seized a large haul of arms, including petrol bombs and daggers. This had led to the arrest of a person, who was said to have links with Al Hind. The mobile phone call details also revealed that he was in touch with most of the persons, who were coordinating with the people participating in riots, through WhatsApp messages.

CLAIM COMMISSIONER: Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mr B S Yeddyurappa held a high level meeting with the Home Minister, DG&IGP, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner and Chief Secretary.

During the meeting, it was decided that the government would approach the Karnataka High Court, seeking its permission to appoint a Claim Commissioner to recover the loss of damaged property from the accused.

The Chief Minister directed the City Police Commissioner Mr Kamal Panth to hold discussion with Advocate General Mr Prabhulinga Navadagi over approaching the Court.

The meeting also decided to appoint three Special Public Prosecutors for speedy disposal of the case and also invoke provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Goonda Act against the accused.

Mr Bommai also denied that the government was contemplating any other investigation into riots. "At the moment, CCB Joint Commissioner Mr Sandeep Patil is investigating the case and the police firing, which killed four people would be inquired by District Magistrate. Government is not contemplating any other investigations like CBI, Judicial inquiry of NIA in the case," he added.

NAVEEN TO JUDICIAL CUSTODY: Meanwhile, Naveen, whose post on facebook triggered the violence has been sentenced to 14 days judicial custody. The police produced him before the magistrate through video conference, when he was remanded to custody.
HOUSTON - (Aug. 18, 2020) - Bioengineers and surgeons from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) have shown that shielding stem cells with a novel biomaterial improves the cells' ability to heal heart injuries caused by heart attacks.

In a study using rodents, a team led by Rice's Omid Veiseh and Baylor's Ravi Ghanta showed it could make capsules of wound-healing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and implant them next to wounded hearts using minimally invasive techniques. Within four weeks, heart healing was 2.5 times greater in animals treated with shielded stem cells than those treated with nonshielded stem cells, the researchers found.

The study is available online in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Biomaterials Science.

Someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States. In each case, an artery that supplies blood to the heart becomes blocked and heart muscle tissue dies due to lack of blood. Hearts damaged by heart attacks pump less efficiently, and scar tissue from heart attack wounds can further reduce heart function.

"What we're trying to do is produce enough wound-healing chemicals called reparative factors at these sites so that damaged tissue is repaired and restored, as healthy tissue, and dead tissue scars don't form," said Veiseh, an assistant professor of bioengineering and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research at Rice.

Ghanta, associate professor of surgery at Baylor, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Harris Health's Ben Taub Hospital and co-lead author of the study, said prior studies have shown that MSCs, a type of adult stem cell produced in blood marrow, can promote tissue repair after a heart attack. But in clinical trials of MSCs, "cell viability has been a consistent challenge," Ghanta said.

"Many of the cells die after transplantation," he said. "Initially, researchers had hoped that stem cells would become heart cells, but that has not appeared to be the case. Rather, the cells release healing factors that enable repair and reduce the extent of the injury. By utilizing this shielded therapy approach, we aimed to improve this benefit by keeping them alive longer and in greater numbers."

A few MSC lines have been approved for human use, but Veiseh said transplant rejection has contributed to their lack of viability in trials.

"They're allogenic, meaning that they're not from the same recipient," he said. "The immune system perceives them as foreign. And so very rapidly, the immune system starts chewing at them and clearing them out."

Veiseh has spent years developing encapsulation technologies that are specifically designed not to activate the body's immune system. He co-founded Sigilon Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech company that is developing encapsulated cell therapeutics for chronic diseases. Trials of Sigilon's treatment for hemophilia A are expected to enter the clinic later this year.

"The immune system doesn't recognize our hydrogels as foreign, and doesn't initiate a reaction against the hydrogel," Veiseh said. "So we can load MSCs within these hydrogels, and the MSCs live well in the hydrogels. They also secrete the same reparative factors that they normally do, and because the hydrogels are porous, the wound-healing factors just diffuse out."

In previous studies, Veiseh and colleagues have shown that similar capsules can keep insulin-producing islet cells alive and thriving in rodents for more than six months. In the heart study, study co-lead author Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, a Rice bioengineering graduate student in Veiseh's lab, created 1.5-millimeter capsules that each contained about 30,000 MSCs. Several of the capsules were placed alongside wounded sections of heart muscle in animals that had experienced a heart attack. The study compared rates of heart healing in animals treated with shielded and unshielded stem cells, as well as an untreated control group.

"We can deliver the capsules through a catheter port system, and that's how we imagine they would be administered in a human patient," Veiseh said. "You could insert a catheter to the area outside of the heart and inject through the catheter using minimally invasive, image-guided techniques."

Veiseh said capsules in the study were held in place by the pericardium, a membrane that sheaths the heart. Tests at two weeks showed that MSCs were alive and thriving inside the implanted spheres.

More than 800,000 Americans have hearts attacks each year, and Ghanta is hopeful that encapsulated MSCs can one day be used to treat some of them.

"With further development, this combination of biomaterials and stem cells could be useful in delivering reparative therapy to heart attack patients," he said.

Veiseh said the pathway to regulatory approval could be streamlined as well.

"Clinical grade, allogenic MSCs are commercially available and are actively being used in patients for a range of applications," he said.

Veiseh credited Aghlara-Fotovat with doing much of the work on the project.

"She basically executed the vision," he said. "She developed the hydrogel formulation, the concept of how to package the MSCs within the hydrogel, and she did all the in vitro validation work to show that MSCs remained viable in the capsules."

Aghlara-Fotovat is co-mentored by Ghanta and worked in his lab at Baylor alongside research assistant Aarthi Pugazenthi, including assisting in rodent surgeries and experiments.

"What attracted me to the project was the unmet clinical need in (heart attack) recovery," Aghlara-Fotovat said. "Using hydrogels to deliver therapeutics was an exciting approach that aimed to overcome many challenges in the field of drug delivery. I also saw a clear path to translation into the clinic, which is the ultimate goal of my Ph.D."

"I think one of the things that attracts students to my lab in particular is the opportunity to do translational work," Veiseh said. "We work closely with physicians like Dr. Ghanta to address relevant problems to human health."

###

Study co-authors include Maria Jarvis, Sudip Mukherjee and Andrea Hernandez, all of Rice; and Pugazenthi, Christopher Ryan, Vivek Singh and Megumi Mathison, all of Baylor. The research was supported by an American Association of Thoracic Surgery Research Award, the Baylor College of Medicine Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (RR160047), the National Institutes of Health (1R01DK120459), a Rice University Academy Fellowship, the Emerson Collective and the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Research Training Program in Cardiovascular Surgery (T32 HL139430).

Links and resources:

The DOI of the Biomaterials Science paper is: 10.1039/D0BM00855A

A copy of the paper is available at: https://doi.org/10.1039/D0BM00855A

High-resolution IMAGES are available for download at:

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/08/0817_CARDIOREPAIR-saf59-lg.jpg CAPTION: Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, a bioengineering graduate student at Rice University, with a vial of stem cell-loaded capsules she formulated to repair damage caused by heart attacks. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/08/0817_CARDIOREPAIR-saf39-lg.jpg CAPTION: Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, a bioengineering graduate student at Rice University, with a vial of stem cell-loaded capsules she formulated to repair damage caused by heart attacks. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/08/0817_CARDIOREPAIR-sm422-lg.jpg CAPTION: Sudip Mukherjee, a postdoctoral research associate at Rice University, displays a vial of alginate capsules loaded with mesenchymal stem cells. A study on rodents found that a four-week treatment with the capsules repaired most of the cardiac muscle damage caused by a heart attack. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/08/0817_CARDIOREPAIR-ov86-lg.jpg CAPTION: Omid Veiseh is an assistant professor of bioengineering and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research at Rice University. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/08/0817_CARDIOREPAIR-ghanta-mug.jpg CAPTION: Ravi Ghanta is an associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of cardiac surgery at Houston's Ben Taub Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Baylor College of Medicine)

This release can be found online at news.rice.edu.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Daniele Bartolini, VCIs long-time Artist in Residence to premiere new interactive performance The Right Way

The Right Way

Rehearsal image of "The Right Way" by Daniele Bartolini

Rehearsal image of "The Right Way" by Daniele Bartolini

TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Villa Charities is proud to announce its Artist in Residence and Artistic Director of DopoLavoro Teatrale (DLT), Daniele Bartolini, has been invited to the upcoming Venice Biennale 48th International Theatre Festival. La Biennale di Venezia was founded in 1895 and is now one of the most prestigious and renowned cultural organizations in the world. La Biennale, which stands at the forefront of research and promotion of new contemporary art trends, organizes exhibitions and research in all its departments: Arts (1895), Architecture (1980), Cinema (1932), Dance (1999), Music (1930), and Theatre (1934).

This is an extraordinary validation of Bartolinis hard work, ingenuity, and artistic talent. As Villa Charities Artist in Residence since 2017, Bartolini and his DLT theatre group have developed a number of successful productions of immersive and innovative theatre, taking inspiration from our community and our very own Italian-Canadian stories, says Emanuele Lepri, Executive Director of Cultural Programming, Villa Charities Inc. We are proud to see that through a long-term cultural commitment we are now contributing to showcase Italian-Canadian talent in this prestigious international festival.

Bartolini will present his new interactive performance designed for one audience member at a time, titled The Right Way. The performance focuses on the theme of censorship, specifically on self-censorship, which emerged from the experience of Bartolinis immigration. The performance will premiere on September 15, 2020, with performances running until September 21, 2020.

This year's International Theatre Festival has invited a number of Italian artists to address a single theme with their work  censorship, says Bartolini. I decided to tackle this important theme with my personal life experience, which allows the audience to have a direct and not filtered experience with the material of the performance. It will create an alter ego character of an immigrant director who they embody during the show, each of them with their own sensibility.

Story continues

The audience members will take on the role of the protagonist, in this case a director who is given the opportunity to visit the brain and understand the perspective of someone who faces two very different landscapes: Italy and Europe, the one where he's coming from, and Canada and North America, the one where he lives and operates. The performance expresses this internal conflict of displacement and the audience falls down the rabbit hole of artistic fantasy and uncertainty emerging from the immigration experience while navigating this new environment.

The performance includes a virtual reality short movie, developed with locative immersive media projects company Toasterlab.

The cast of the performance includes Canadian physical theatre legends, Michele Smith and Dean Gilmour, who have collected a combined 37 Dora Mavor Moore Awards nominations; Italian-Canadian actor Maddalena Vallecchi Williams, who starred in the Villa Charities production The Nonna Monologues; Jamaican native writer and actor Joyce Powell; queer emerging actor and performance artist Sophie Brender; and long-time Bartolini collaborator immersive actor and interlocutor, Rory de Brouwer, who starred in DLT productions such as The Stranger and The Stranger 2.0: Above and Below.

The show has an original soundscape and set by DLT co-founder Matteo Ciardi. The Right Way is a co-production of DopoLavoro Teatrale with Italian theatre company Stazione Utopia and with the support of Villa Charities Inc.

For more information about the project visit this page:

www.labiennale.org/en/theatre/2020/theatre-performances/daniele-bartolini-right-way

The VR component includes a virtual installation by artist Franco Berti.

About Villa Charities Inc.

Villa Charities Inc. (VCI), is a registered charity and non-profit organization that enriches lives through experiences and services that honour Italian culture and heritage. For almost 50 years across the GTA, Villa Charities has provided cultural and educational programs and supported culturally sensitive long-term care and independent living apartments for seniors. VCI fulfills their mandate through a broad range of activities, services and facilities, both directly and in conjunction with its affiliates and independent organizations. Affiliates include Columbus Centre and Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery; Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged Inc. in Toronto; Villa Colombo Seniors Centre (Vaughan) Inc. Di Poce Centre; and Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartments Corporation/Casa Abruzzo Benevolent Corporation with apartments for independent seniors (Caboto Terrace, Casa Del Zotto and Casa Abruzzo). Each of these organizations is an integral part of the Villa Charities family with separate legal status and its own governance Board. For more information visit villacharities.com .

About Daniele Bartolini

Daniele Bartolini is a director, writer, curator and theatre deviser who immigrated to Canada from Italy in 2015. He is the artistic director of Toronto-based company DopoLavoro Teatrale (DLT) and also works as a solo artist. His practice focuses on what he calls audience-specific theatre. He often designs experiences where the audience is led in the exploration of the urban landscape, encountering performers emerging from the crowded streets. Daniele is the creator of the internationally acclaimed urban immersive show The Stranger. His work has been presented in Canada, India, England, Germany and Italy. Danieles show The Stranger 2.0: Above and Below has been nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore Awards as Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction. He is a recipient of the RBC Newcomer Prize and was a finalist of the Telus Newcomer Artist Award. Danieles new one-on-one performance The Right Way, will premiere at the Venice Biennale on occasion of its 48th International Theatre Festival in September 2020. He conceived a collection of urgent artistic responses to the pandemic through a variety of art forms titled We Were, We Are, We Will Be, a co-presentation of SummerWorks and Canadian Stage. The project is co-curated with Toronto-based producer and poet Luke Reece with whom he found a new curatorial entity, in response to the current times, called Mixtape Curations.

About DopoLavoro Teatrale

DopoLavoro Teatrale (DLT) is an international award-winning company founded in 2006 in Florence, Italy by Artistic Director Daniele Bartolini. DLT is dedicated to audience specific theatre, a form of interactive theatre developed by the company. DLT has been presented in Canada, England, Germany, Italy and India. DLT highlights include: The Stranger 2.0: Above and Below (presented with Istituto Italiano di Cultura and Community Sponsor Villa Charities Inc.), If on a Christmas Night (Villa Charities Inc., Toronto), Leonardos Last Supper (Villa Charities Inc., Toronto), Haunted Weather for a Stranger  First Experiment (Barfuss Theater Berlin; Germany), An Italian Christmas Carol (Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto, Canada), The Invisible City (SummerWorks Toronto, Canada), Off Limits Zone (Luminato Festival, Toronto, Canada), Unfinished (Khoj New Dehli, India). Past highlights: The Stranger (presented in Toronto, Canada at SummerWorks Festival, Mumbai at Thespo Festival, Sansepolcro, Italy at Kilowatt Festival, Vancouver, Canada at rEvolver Festival), That Ugly Mess (In the Soil Festival St. Catharines, Canada), Midway Along The Journey of Our Life (Summerworks Toronto, Canada), EveryTimeIStretchMyArm (Natura Dei Teatri, Parma, Italy), and K.i.t.e. (International Festival Fabric Europa, Florence, Italy). Daniele Bartolini is a recipient of the RBC Newcomer Art Access Prize and finalist of the Telus Newcomer Artist Award. The Stranger received a nomination for the Critics Award Premio Rete Critica from the Italian theatre magazine PaneAcquaCulture for the edition at the Kilowatt Festival. DLT is the current resident company at Villa Charities Inc. DLT was nominated for Outstanding Performance of an Ensemble at the 2019 Dora Mavor Moore Awards. The production of The Stranger 2.0 was nominated as Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Production at the 2020 Dora Mavor Moore Awards. DLT is presenting a new one-on-one creation at the Venice Biennale International Theatre Festival titled The Right Way. dltexperience.com

About Michele Smith

Michele received her Masters Degree in French Literature from the University of Aix-en-Provence in 1975 and studied at LEcole Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France from 1976-78. Over the last 40 years, as co-artistic director, she has created, directed, produced and performed in 44 productions in Toronto and has toured 11 countries around the world. Michele won 7 Dora Mavor Moore awards for her work on Chekovs Shorts and Chekovs Long. She is proud of her 10 years of teaching acting at Humber College.

About Dean Gilmour

Dean graduated from the University of Windsor with an Honours BFA degree in Dramatic Arts in 1976 and immediately traveled to Paris, France to attend the School of Jacques Lecoq. He has created, directed, and performed in 42 Theatre Smith-Gilmour productions and has performed his work in Toronto, across Canada and in 11 countries around the world. Dean has received 2 Dora Awards for Best Director, 2 for Best Actor, 2 for Best Production, and 1 for Best New Play for his work as actor, writer, and director in Chekovs Shorts and Chekovs LongsIn the Ravine.

About Maddalena Vallecchi Williams

Maddalena is a bilingual Italian-Canadian actor and producer, born in Toronto and raised in Rome, Italy. She is a graduate of the Acting Program at The National Theatre School of Canada (NTS). Maddalena wrote, starred and produced the teaser for her web series, La Professoressa - currently in development - which was selected for the Shorts Program of the 2019 Italian Contemporary Film Festival (ICFF) in Toronto. Maddalena works with filmmaker Bruce McDonald and his production company, developing feature films and TV series. Selected Theatre credits: The Nonna Monologues (DopoLavoro Teatrale/Villa Charities), Cassius in CAESAR (Wolf Manor Theatre Collective), Lanolin in The Listening Room (NTS), Gertrude in Hamlet (NTS), Sasha in Orlando (NTS). Selected TV/ Film credits: Sailor (Silent Tower), For Honor (Ubisoft), Sweet Affliction (Jess Lee), Ashram 69 (Triple 7 Productions), Cinderella (RAI  Italian Television).

For further information, please contact:

Laiba Fatima

MAVERICK

416-640-5525 Ext. 255

Laibaf@wearemaverick.com

Kathleen Sloan, CM

Director, Marketing and Communications

Villa Charities Inc.

416-789-7011 Ext. 309

ksloan@villacharities.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3aba837-7e8f-4dd5-b561-db0c58f5ed40




Welcome. Welcome. Welcome   to the second night   of the Democratic National Convention. This is a different kind of convention. This year   all of us are on the stage. And weve got a lot to say. The presidential election is the worlds most important job interview. At the end, we hire a leader to help us solve problems, create opportunities and give our kids better tomorrows. Thats a tall order this year, with the Covid-19 outbreak on a path to killing 200,000 people and destroying millions of jobs and small businesses. How did Donald Trump respond? Only when Covid exploded in even more states did he encourage people to wear masks. By then, many more were dying. When asked about the surge in deaths, he shrugged and said, It is what it is. At a time like this. the Oval Office should be a command center. Instead, its a storm center. Theres only chaos. Just one thing never changes: his determination to deny responsibility and shift the blame. The buck never stops there. Under our procedural rules, two Democratic candidates submitted nominating documents to our convention secretary for the office of president of the United States: Senator Bernie Sanders and Vice President Joe Biden. In a time when millions of people in the United States are looking for deep systemic solutions to our crises of mass evictions, unemployment and lack of health care, en el espiritu del pueblo, and out of a love for all people, I hereby second the nomination of Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont for president of the United States of America. I take powerful people up on my elevator all the time. When they get off, they go to their important meetings. Me, I just head back to the lobby. But in the short time I spent with Joe Biden, I could tell he really saw me, that he actually cared. Thats why I nominate my friend Joe Biden as the next president of the United States. Well now proceed to a roll call by states. As an Arizona Latina, I proudly cast our votes: 29 for Bernie Sanders and 51 for our next president, Joe Biden. The calamari comeback state of Rhode Island casts one vote for Bernie Sanders and 34 votes for the next president, Joe Biden. Delaware is proud to cast its 32 votes for our favorite son and our next president   our friend, Delawares Joe Biden. [music, Celebration by Kool and the Gang] [cheering] Im pleased to announce that Vice President Joe Biden has officially been nominated by the Democratic Party as our candidate for president of the United States. Thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart. Thank you all. It means the world to me and my family. Before Donald Trump, we used to talk about American exceptionalism. The only thing exceptional about the incoherent Trump foreign policy is that it has made our nation more isolated than ever before. Our country needs a commander in chief who takes care of our troops in the same way he would his own family. For Joe Biden, that doesnt need teaching. It comes from the experience he shares with millions of military families: sending his beloved son off to war and praying to God he would come home safe. You know, motherhood came to me in a way I never expected. I fell in love with a man and two little boys standing in the wreckage of unthinkable loss, mourning a wife and mother, a daughter and sister. How do you make a broken family whole? The same way you make a nation whole: with love and understanding, and with small acts of kindness, with bravery, with unwavering faith. The burdens we carry are heavy, and we need someone with strong shoulders. I know that if we entrust this nation to Joe, he will do for your family what he did for ours: bring us together and make us whole, carry us forward in our time of need, keep the promise of America for all of us. Great job. God love you, I dont know how you ...
This fall, the US will need to vaccinate huge numbers of Americans in the middle of a public-health crisis. It will also be a valuable dry run should a coronavirus shot arrive months later.

The annual US flu vaccine campaign has been cast into disarray by Covid-19, with people staying away from pharmacies, schools, offices, hospitals and other places where they typically get their shots. But with fears of a flu surge colliding with the coronavirus pandemic, health authorities are looking at how one vaccine effort can inform the other.

In Denver, public-health officials are trying to increase the number of adults who get the flu vaccine this year to 65% from 45%. To do it, theyre setting up strike teams that can go from school to school giving vaccines, vans that can stop at construction sites and inoculate workers, and doing outreach to hard-to-reach communities.

This whole model that were building can then be moved into Covid, said Judith Shlay a physician and associate director at Denver Public Health.

In Baltimore, the city has several vans it sends out to conduct Covid-19 testing, targeting high-risk residents. It will likely use those vehicles for flu vaccines and then Covid-19, City Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa said in an interview.

Our flu vaccine distribution will inform a Covid vaccine distribution, Dzirasa said.

The federal government has helped lead development of a vaccine, issuing more than $4 billion in contracts to drugmakers. The money is meant to speed production and cut financial risk for the most promising of the dozens of inoculations in development. President Donald Trump has said a shot could be ready by November, though other experts inside his government predict it will be well into 2021 before most Americans have access to one.

So far, federal health authorities have offered little detail about their plans for administering vaccines. The U.S. has said that it will likely rely on the private sector to distribute the shots, and last week extended a contract to health-care supplier McKesson Corp potentially worth more than $300 million. But the government has said almost nothing about who will get the shots first, where theyll be given, and how to make sure they get to hard-to-reach and vulnerable communities.

At least 170,000 people in the US have died of the virus, many of them as a new surge of cases has expanded outside the Northeast to other parts of the country. While new cases have fallen from last months daily high of almost 80,000, new outbreaks are being reported in schools and colleges as students return, forcing some to shut days or weeks after opening.

This week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans a call with health-care providers to discuss flu vaccination, along with guidance for delivering vaccines during the pandemic and operating large vaccination clinics held in satellite, temporary, or off-site locations.

In the meantime, local authorities are still awaiting clarity. We have not heard anything yet, Baltimores Dzirasa said.

The US has been consulting with experts and medical ethicists on Covid-19 vaccine allocation plans. The government plans to work with the existing medical-distribution network to get shots to the public, said a senior Trump administration official, with possible help from the Defense Department.

Never Done Before

There is no single national US flu vaccination campaign, per se. American and global health authorities pick the flu strains to target, drugmakers manufacture the shots, and theyre given by workplaces, schools, drugstores, local public-health departments, physicians and hospitals.

The federal government typically plays a role in financing and promoting the vaccines, but not in physically distributing them. This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has purchased 9 million doses of the adult flu vaccine, compared with 500,000 in a normal year.

The scale of the vaccination campaign needed for Covid-19 will be a daunting logistical challenge, said Howard Markel, a physician and historian of medicine at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Past efforts to vaccinate against pandemic threats have fallen short.

Weve never vaccinated an entire American population, he said in an interview.

In 1976, after an outbreak of swine flu at Fort Dix in New Jersey, the Gerald Ford administration planned a mass vaccination program to prevent a pandemic. They were held in large gymnasiums and public meeting places, said Markel, who recalled getting the shot when he was 16. It was really very much an assembly line.

The vaccination drive was dismantled after several cases of Guillen-Barre syndrome were identified in people who got the shots. A US review of the campaign in 2003 confirmed the increase in cases of the disease, which can cause a form of muscle weakness or temporary paralysis, though the exact biological link between the vaccine and the condition wasnt established.

In 2009, the H1N1 flu pandemic prompted another effort to quickly produce vaccines. Ultimately, only about 20% of the population got the shot, Markel said.

It is an enormous task, no question about it, Markel said.

Public-health officials will also have to overcome reluctance by some Americans to get a shot. An Aug. 7 Gallup poll found that one-third of people would not get a Covid-19 vaccine when its ready, even if it was free. And some Americans have rejected basic public health measures like wearing masks or social distancing, raising more questions about how willing they are to participate in a vaccine campaign.

Some vaccine infrastructure already exists. A surge in demand for Covid-19 tests had drugstore chains, states and cities set up sites where people could line up or drive through. And the H1N1 flu pandemic also provided a roadmap for mass vaccination, said CVS Health Corp. Chief Executive Officer Larry Merlo.

That was really the spark plug, Merlo said in an interview this month. The company is in planning sessions with officials for an eventual coronavirus vaccine, Merlo said.

A spokesperson for Walgreens, the next-largest US pharmacy chain behind CVS, said both existing testing and immunization infrastructure will support the future delivery of Covid vaccines.

Sanofi, the French drugmaker thats working with GlaxoSmithKline Plc on a coronavirus vaccine, said its been in touch with CVS and other drugstores about vaccination plans.

I would suspect that some of the blueprint that weve developed for flu immunization will also hopefully be a blueprint for Covid-19 vaccination, said Elaine OHara, Sanofis head of vaccines for North America.

Denver Plan

At Denvers public health department, Shlay said she began thinking about how to deliver Covid-19 vaccines back in June.

She knew childhood immunizations had dropped sharply since March, when Covid shut things down, and she thought her agency could build a model to get a Covid-19 vaccine to people who need it.

Under a $1 million grant from the CARES Act, the federal stimulus law to respond to the pandemic, her team has begun working on alternative flu vaccination strategies. The strike teams they are developing will be targeted at 84 schools where vaccination rates have slipped. And the agency is working with leaders from the Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American communities to bring flu-shot sites into neighborhoods.

Particular outreach will focus on uninsured and unemployed adults  some of the same people are more likely to be hospitalized if they get sick  along with essential workers and people who are homeless.

We are going to try to reach that group that people dont always think about, Shlay said.

There will be challenges making the switch to Covid-19. Early vaccines are expected to require two shots weeks apart, compared with a single flu dose. Health officials will have to keep careful registries of who has received which shots when, and make sure to reach people when their second doses are due. Theyll also have to handle the logistics of keeping vaccines refrigerated at the proper temperature.

A two-dose Covid vaccine will be much more complicated, Shlay said. Thats part of the reason Denver health officials are planning now. Covid has made us do things quicker than weve ever done before, and so we figure it out and we do it.
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.
Officials said Singh was asked about Rajput's income, investments, professional assignments, relationship with Rhea Chakraborty and others

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recorded the statement of K K Singh, father of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, in connection with a money laundering case probe linked to his son's death, officials said.

They said K K Singh (74), was questioned and his statement was recorded by the central probe agency on Monday.

Singh, a resident of Patna, had last month filed a criminal FIR with the Bihar Police against Rajput's friend and actor Rhea Chakraborty, her family and few others alleging they abetted his son's suicide.

Rajput (34), was found hanging at his Bandra (Mumbai) home on June 14.

Officials said Singh was asked about the information he has about Rajput's income, investments, professional assignments and relationship with Rhea Chakraborty and others.

Last week, the agency had also questioned Rajput's elder sister Meetu at its office in Mumbai.

The ED has also quizzed Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, father Indrajit Chakraborty, Rajput's business managers, chartered accountants, house helps, his friend and flat mate Siddharth Pithani in the case till now and their statements have been recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Some of Rajput's friends who were also his business partners have also been summoned by the agency for questioning next week, they said.

Rhea Chakraborty has been accused by Rajput's father of abetting his son's suicide. Her lawyer had said she is a law-abiding citizen and will cooperate with the ED probe.

On July 25, Singh had filed a complaint with police in Patna against Rhea Chakraborty, her parents (including mother Sandhya Chakraborty), Showik, Rajput's manager Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi and unknown persons accusing them of cheating and abetting his son's suicide.

The CBI had re-registered this FIR as a fresh case and named the same people as accused. Singh also alleged financial irregularities.

In the complaint, Singh alleged that an amount of Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from Rajput's bank account in one year to accounts of persons not known or connected to the late actor.
Movie theaters won't be able to reopen in New Jersey just yet.

A judge on Tuesday upheld New Jersey's order requiring movie theaters to stay closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, report Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

AMC Theatres and Regal Cinemas, which closed their locations across the United States in March due to the coronavirus crisis, last month filed a lawsuit against New Jersey's governor for not yet allowing them to reopen. They argued that they should be able to reopen the same way churches have and that the state was making "unconstitutional and unlawful distinctions" in violation of their First Amendment rights.

But Judge Brian Martinotti on Tuesday declined to issue an injunction that would let the theaters reopen, deciding that New Jersey is simply "promoting the significant governmental interest of protecting public health by keeping closed areas that present heightened risks for COVID-19 transmission."

This decision comes just days before both AMC and Regal are scheduled to begin reopening their theaters in areas of the U.S. where they're allowed to do so ahead of the planned September limited release of the new Christopher Nolan movie Tenet.

But in some states like New York and New Jersey, there's still no green light to reopen. Earlier this week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said a movie theater "poses a high risk" and that they're "not that high on the list of essentials." And New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), asked recently about when theaters might be able to reopen, said, "I honestly don't know. That is complicated."

More stories from theweek.com

Joe Biden is already planning a failed presidency

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slams NBC News for 'totally false and divisive' clickbait on her DNC speech

Percentage of Americans who say they'd get a COVID-19 vaccine declines 10 percent in 3 months


STOCKHOLM, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrolux today announced that Jan Brockmann, Chief Operations Officer and Executive Vice President of AB Electrolux, has decided to resign from his position to pursue an external opportunity.

Jan Brockmann will remain with the company until September 30, 2020. The succession planning has been initiated.

"I want to thank Jan for many important contributions during his 10 years with Electrolux. During his tenure, with a strong focus on developing a global approach to modularization and automation, Global Operations have driven outstanding efficiency, product quality and innovation at Electrolux," said Jonas Samuelson, President and CEO of the Electrolux Group.

Jan Brockmann joined Electrolux in 2010 as Head of R&D Major Appliances and has been part of the Group's management team since 2011, first as Chief Technology Officer and since 2015 in his current role.

For further information, please contact:



Electrolux Press Hotline

+46-8-657-65-07

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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Posted on August 18, 2020

We are collaborating with FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to identify misinformation and to ensure news consumers get the facts. This story first appeared on FactCheck.org.

Our major finding from the first night of the four-day 2020 Democratic National Convention is that it wasnt accurate to call it a convention at all. That word means coming together, and Democratic delegates stayed apart because of the still-spreading coronavirus disease.

It would have been more accurate to call the two-hour show the Democratic National Diaspora.

The two-hour infomercial on Aug. 17 was long on pre-recorded speeches, testimonials and musical interludes, but short on facts. Nevertheless, we found a few claims that merit a mention.

Analysis

$15 Minimum Wage Impact

Sen. Bernie Sanders claimed that raising the federally required minimum wage to $15 an hour would give 40 million workers a pay raise and push the wage scale up for everyone else. Thats debatable, and ignores the likelihood that many low-wage workers would find themselves priced out of the job market.

Sanders is once again citing a statistic generated by the Economic Policy Institute, which has backing from labor unions and advocates the $15 wage proposal. But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects a much less dramatic impact, and some probable costs.

CBO estimated most recently, in a report released in July 2019, that raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 would increase the wages of 17 million workers whose wages would otherwise be below $15 per hour. Thats 17 million, not 40 million.

CBO added, Another 10 million workers otherwise earning slightly more than $15 per hour might see their wages rise as well. Thats perhaps 10 million, not everyone else who would see a ripple effect.

And CBO also projected the probability that 1.3 million low-wage jobs would simply be lost, something Sanders ignores. (Here CBO admitted to a wide range of uncertainty among economists, putting the odds at 2 out of 3 that the actual number of jobs lost would fall somewhere between zero and 3.7 million.)

Pandemic Response Team

Actor Eva Longoria Baston, who served as a master of ceremonies for the night, left out some context when she said the Trump administration disbanded the pandemic response team that was given to them.

In May 2018, the Trump administration eliminated the National Security Councils Office of Global Health Security and Biodefense, which had been set up by the Obama administration in 2016 following an Ebola outbreak in West Africa. But as we have written, the dissolution of the office does not necessarily mean that the entire team was let go or that all of its functions ceased.

At the time, the Washington Post reported that Rear Adm. Timothy Ziemer, who had led the unit, abruptly departed under a reorganization effort orchestrated by former National Security Adviser John Bolton. An NSC spokesman told the Post that the administration remains committed to global health, global health security and biodefense, and will continue to address these issues with the same resolve under the new structure.

Writing in the Post earlier this year, Tim Morrison, former senior director for counterproliferation and biodefense for the NSC, argued that the office had not been dissolved. Instead, it was one of three units consolidated into the counterproliferation and biodefense directorate, given the obvious overlap between arms control and nonproliferation, weapons of mass destruction terrorism, and global health and biodefense.

Other ex-officials and experts believe the lack of a point person for a pandemic-specific response hinders the ability of the government to respond to such events. In a competing op-ed, Beth Cameron, the former senior director for the global health security and biodefense office, wrote in the Post that disbanding that directorate left an unclear structure and strategy for coordinating pandemic preparedness and response.

And the Center for Strategic & International Studies recommended restoring the global health security position on the NSC in a November 2019 report. It remains unclear who would be in charge at the White House in the case of a grave pandemic threat or cross-border biological crisis, the report reads, noting that such leadership is critical in navigating challenging political issues like quarantines and travel bans and in communicating to and reassuring the American public.

We take no position on whether it was an error to eliminate the post or restructure the team. But Longoria Bastons summary lacks the full context of what happened.

No Election Delay

In describing President Donald Trump as authoritarian, Sanders claimed that Trump threatened to delay the election. If it was a threat, it was a hollow one because the president has no legal or constitutional authority to delay the election, experts told us at the time.

Sanders is referring to a July 30 Trump tweet that suggested the 2020 election should be postponed. The president claimed that an avalanche of mail-in voting in 2020 would result in the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. Trump added, It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???

But Jerry H. Goldfeder, a lawyer who teaches election law at Fordham University School of Law, told us at the time that only Congress can delay the election. It is beyond remote that a divided Congress would postpone the election, Goldfeder said.

In an April 28 article in the New York Law Journal, Goldfeder explained: The U.S. Constitution explicitly provides that a presidents term is four years, and the new or re-elected president is sworn in at noon on January 20th. There is no provision or precedent for a sitting president to extend his term beyond then.  Congress alone has the authority to adjust this election timeline  provided there is sufficient time for either Biden or Trump to take the oath of office at noon on Jan. 20th.

Nevada Mail-in Ballots

Defending Nevadas decision to pass a new state law sending mail-in ballots to all active voters amid the coronavirus pandemic, Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada tried to put some bipartisan sheen on that decision by noting that the states Republican secretary of state has sought to dismiss the Trump campaigns lawsuit challenging it.

Trump has challenged us in court with a meritless lawsuit, Cortez Masto said, one that our Republican secretary of state has asked the judge to dismiss.

Its true that Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske asked a judge to dismiss the Trump campaigns lawsuit, but Cegavske opposed the law. At the time of the vote, Cegavske raised concerns about the cost of the changes, and she criticized Democrats for leaving her out of discussions and only allowing her to see a draft of the bill the day before the vote.

Despite her opposition to the new law, the Trump campaign named Cegavske as a defendant in the lawsuit, as she is the states top elections official. The lawsuit claims the new election law, which passed along partisan lines, would undermine the November elections integrity. The law was passed by the Democratic-controlled state Senate and Assembly, and the law was signed by Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak.

Now, however, Cegavske  who is being legally represented by the office of Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat  is asking a judge to dismiss the Trump campaigns lawsuit, arguing that the elections changes are the states decision to make and that the Trump campaign and Republicans who filed the suit dont have the legal standing to bring the lawsuit.

Social Security Payments

Longoria Baston also claimed that Social Security beneficiaries count on the post office to get their checks.

While some beneficiaries do still get paper checks in the mail, the vast majority of beneficiaries receive payments via direct deposit to a bank account or a prepaid debit card.

As of August, the Social Security Administration sent paper checks to 848,003 people who get either Social Security or Supplemental Security Income payments. Thats about 1.2% of the 72,193,592 people who received payments that month, according to official data.

Most beneficiaries have been required to receive their payments electronically since 2013.


Ryanair has led a further fall in European airline and tourism shares on the back of it announcing a cut to flight numbers and passenger capacity over the next two months.

The airlines shares  down by over 30% since January  tumbled nearly 8% as it said it would be reducing its flight capacity by 20% during September and October due to forward bookings having notably weakened over the past 10 days.

The capacity reduction covers a mix of lower passenger allowance and lower flight numbers. However, Ryanair said most of the cuts would result in reduced frequency on certain routes rather than total route closures.

It also said that the flight reductions would be heavily focused on countries where recent rises in Covid cases have led to increased travel restrictions; such as Spain, France and Sweden.

It said Irish routes will be affected too, without giving any firm details on affected routes.

Ryanair has urged the Government to include EU countries with lower or similar Covid case rates to Ireland in its so-called 'green list' of safe destinations, particularly Germany.

It said the green list hasnt worked and testing at airports and effective tracing are the only ways of allowing for safe air travel across the EU.

Ryanair said its capacity cuts for the next two months are unavoidable and blamed the low level of bookings on the Covid restrictions in a number of EU countries.

Airline stocks have suffered greatly since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Europe in the spring. They took a significant hit last Friday after the UK imposed fresh quarantine measures on travellers from France and other countries.

In latest trading, all were down again. Aer Lingus and British Airways owner IAG fell more than 5%; EasyJet shed 4.6%, Lufthansa was down nearly 4% and Air France-KLM fell just over 3%.

Lufthansa cabin crew, at the weekend, backed the German carrier's cost-saving plans.

Meanwhile, shares in holiday group TUI  which last week secured an extra 1.2bn in credit from Germanys state development bank, but also raised the need for more funds after suffering heavy losses  tumbled by more than 5%.
- Otieno was preparing to defend his PhD thesis on Tuesday, August 18

- He passed on while following Senate proceedings on Monday, August 17, afternoon

- His wife said Otieno was in good health and they had lunch together before she went to have a siesta as the don continued with his preparation

- When she woke up at around 3pm, she found the don had collapsed

Maseno University lecturer Jaspher Otieno collapsed and died on Monday, August 17, while in his house in Nairobi.

Otieno who was preparing to defend his PhD thesis on Tuesday, August 18, passed on while following Senate proceedings on Monday afternoon.

READ ALSO: Cleophas Malala arrest: Protests in Mumias as youths demand release of their senator

Maseno University lecturer Jasper Otieno collapsed and died while at home. Photo: Maseno University.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Familia Nairobi yalazimika kuishi kichakani baada ya kulemewa na kodi ya KSh 1,500

A family member who spoke to TUKO.co.ke on phone said the don was in good health and showed no signs of weakness.

He is reported to have spent the better part of his day preparing to defend his thesis and was in constant communication with a few of his colleagues.

His wife said Otieno was doing well from morning and they had lunch together before she went to have a siesta as the don continued to follow the Senate proceedings.

READ ALSO: Ronald Koeman: Barcelona reportedly choose Holland national team manager as Setiens replacement

When she woke up at around 3pm, she found the don resting on the chair. She tried to inquire from him about the Senate proceedings but he never responded.

It is at this point that she realised that he had passed on.

Otieno joined Maseno University in 2013 as a lecturer in the communications and media department and once served as the institution's Public Relations officer before relinquishing the post later.

He had also served as a lecturer at the Kenya Polytechnic, currently known as the Technical University of Kenya.

Otieno was married to two wives and had three children.

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
Mysuru: Mysuru is reporting over 600 COVID-19 cases every day. Alarmingly, 62.11 per cent of total COVID-19 cases -- 6915 cases -- so far have been reported in August alone. In the month of July, 3947 cases were reported, while the city just had 96 COVID-19 cases on May 31. So far, Mysuru has reported 11,132 COVID-19 cases, out of which 4059 cases are active.

Among 597 COVID-19 cases reported on Monday, 239 were contacts of those already infected, 197 had travel history and 144 cases had symptoms of influenza like illness without any contact with COVID-19 positive patients or travel history, indicating probability of a community spread.

Amid the rise in COVID-19 cases, the Mysore corporation has swung into action. With Ganesh Chathurthi ahead, Mysuru city corporation has ordered closure of the historical Devraja market from August 19 to 22. Alternate arrangements for sale of flowers have been made at Jeevarayanakatte Grounds (JK Grounds).

However, Covid fear did not deter people who rushed to the market to shop for fruits and flowers on Tuesday, after hearing news of its closure from Wednesday.

Moreover, expecting large number of people from other places at Chamundeswari temple atop Chamundi hills on Amavasya day, entry to the temple and Chamundi hills has been banned on August 19.

Meanwhile, former Union minister, BJP leader and Chamarajnagar MP V Srinivasprasad has tested positive for COVID-19 in Mysuru. His family members have taken Prasad to Manipal hospital in Bengaluru for treatment. As many as 30 BJP leaders, including State BJP Vice President BY Vijayendra had visited Srinivasprasad on Monday. Throat swabs of 17 people at his house have also been taken for tests.

Mysuru SP CB Rishyanth has also tested positive but doesnt have any symptoms and hence he is under home isolation.
HONOR enables a more intelligent and productive work and study experience for customers with attractive deals on a variety of trendy products and exclusive offers for students

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As students prepare to start a new school year around this back to school season, HONOR announced its "HONOR Back to School 2020" promotion to be hosted at hihonor.com from August 18th to September 6th 2020. As an important part of its all-scenario smart life strategy, hihonor.com aims to build a one-stop shopping experience by offering a wide range of HONOR products with superior logistical support, after-sales services, and VIP exclusive benefits.

The promotion is now available on HIHONOR United Kingdom, HIHONOR France, HIHONOR Germany, HIHONOR Italy, and HIHONOR Spain, bringing unrivalled discounts and exclusive benefits to customers in Western Europe.

Special Offers and Bundles for HONOR Fans

The "HONOR Back to School 2020" promotion starts with fantastic discounts and deals of all-time for many of HONOR's cutting-edge products ranging from smartphones, laptops to wearables. Offers and discounts may vary from country to country. A brief look as follows:

HONOR Back to School 2020 UK - Up to 50 Voucher

Customers can purchase an HONOR MagicBook 14 (originally at 549.99) now at 499.99, along with free accessories including a HONOR Bluetooth Mouse (value of 29.99) and an HONOR Router 3 (value of 79.99). For customers who purchase the trendy HONOR 9A (originally at 149.99), they will receive a 20 discount along with an HONOR Band 5 (value of 29.99) for free.

HONOR Back to School 2020 France - Up to 110 off

Customers will receive a 70 discount and a free bundle comprising an HONOR Sport Bluetooth Earphones (value of 69.90) and an HONOR Router 3 (value of 79.90) when they purchase an HONOR MagicBook 14 (originally at 599.90). Moreover, customers who purchase the HONOR 9X PRO will receive a free HONOR Band 5 (value of 34.90).

HONOR Back to School 2020 Germany -Up to 70 Voucher

Customers will receive a 70 discount when they purchase an HONOR MagicBook 14 (originally at 599.90), along with a free HONOR Router 3 (value of 79.90). Additionally, customers will receive a 20 discount and a free HONOR Router 3 (value of 79.90) when purchasing an HONOR 9A.

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A highly discounted bundle comprising an HONOR MagicBook 14 and HONOR 9A for 599.90. Customers who purchase only an HONOR 9A will receive a 20 discount, along with a free HONOR Router 3 (value of 79.90).

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Customers will enjoy a 40 discount, a free HONOR Bluetooth Mouse (value of 29.90) and a free HONOR Router 3 (value of 79.90), when purchasing an HONOR MagicBook 14 (originally at 599.90). Customers who purchase an HONOR 9A will receive a 20 discount, along with a free HONOR Router 3 (value of 79.90).

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for first 12 months. Music: for all products, one month membership for free.

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Game: 100 worth of Lords Mobiles in-game coupons for HMS phones.

From August 20th, HONOR Store App will be upgraded with an enhanced User Interface design. For more information, visit www.hihonor.com to check out the exclusive deals and benefits.

About HONOR

HONOR is a leading tech brand for global youth, born during the growth of mobile internet, and shaped by groundbreaking technology resulting from the company's unwavering focus on R&D investment. Embracing every possibility in the era of 5G and AI, HONOR aims to create an intelligent new world for youth by developing a smart living ecosystem and inspirational youth culture. HONOR will continue to set itself apart by discovering the fun in innovation, introducing a tech chic lifestyle, and offering a diverse and open online community for its ardent, growing fan base.

For more information, please visit HONOR online at www.hihonor.com or follow us on:

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bidadoo Inc. bidadoo treated us great and sold our equipment for a bigger return than we expected.

bidadoo, the largest and most trusted business and industrial auction service on eBay is expanding its sales and leadership team to meet the surge of online remarketing demand and activity. As further fueled by Covid-19, bidadoo has attracted a 188% growth in site traffic during this period. bidadoo is expanding deeper into new regions and markets. bidadoo is excited to announce the contributions and appointments of several key people in sales leadership.

A key component in this years rapid growth has been provided by the leadership of Mark Hanson, Vice President of Sales. Joining bidadoo in early 2020, Hanson came from Manitou Group where he led the North American operations as CEO. Prior to this, Hanson served as Vice President of Sales at Generac and Vice President Global Accounts at Terex. Hanson spent 10 years at Genie Industries / Terex Corporation, ascending from Regional Sales Manager to Vice President of North American Sales.

We are very pleased with Mark joining the bidadoo leadership team, driving customer success and market growth said Howard Hawk, President of bidadoo. He has been a great fit for our culture and has the vision and drive to create the worlds premier equipment buying and selling experience.

I am proud to be working on the bidadoo team says Mark Hanson. Our company and team are focused on providing customers with solid value, efficient remarketing solutions, and the best net returns for their equipment. We stand behind everything we do and sell and operate with a DNA of integrity in a market with massive growth potential.

Also key in driving customer success with bidadoo are Steve Gorman and Chris Markos. Both joined bidadoo recently and have played a significant role in bidadoos team and market growth this year.

Gorman is the new Region Manager - Sales for the Great Lakes region. Gorman is expanding opportunities for bidadoo in the transportation, heavy industrial, dealer, and rental segments. A heavy equipment auction industry veteran, Gorman brings decades of sales management experience gained at Equify Auctions, Iron Planet, and Ritchie Brothers to bidadoo.

bidadoo treated us great and sold our equipment for a bigger return than we expected. Steve Gorman was extremely professional from beginning to end. We will be using them again in the future. Jeff Allingham, President, Allingham Corporation.

Markos is the new Region Manager - Sales for the Gulf Coast region. Markos is expanding opportunities for bidadoo in the energy, oil and gas and industrial markets. In addition, Markos is rapidly expanding our depth in the general construction, contracting, and rental segments. With deep business development experience at Ritchie Brothers and Generac -- and as an intelligence officer in the United States Army -- Markos brings a wealth of leadership experience to bidadoo.

Propelled by the leadership, vision, and efforts of Hanson, Gorman, Markos and team, bidadoos growth is surging while we provide the highest net returns for our customers. To learn more about how bidadoo can help with your equipment remarketing requirements, please contact us at info@bidadoo.com / 1-877-bidadoo

About bidadoo

bidadoo is the largest and most trusted online auction service on the worlds largest auction marketplace, eBay. bidadoo provides professional remarketing for used construction equipment, rental and municipal fleets, trucks, and other capital assets. bidadoo is a global online remarketing company with Auction Service Centers across North America and bidders and buyers from around the world. bidadoo works with many of the largest equipment owners in the world including Sunstate Equipment, United Rentals, JCB, John Deere, H&E Equipment, Herc Rentals, Genie/Terex, Case, Takeuchi, Komatsu, The Boeing Company, City of Seattle and many municipalities and government agencies. With eBays 183 million registered users globally, bidadoo provides equipment sellers immediate access to the worlds largest online bidder and buyer base through our long term partnership with eBay. Check out our weekly online auctions at http://www.bidadoo.com.
Ukrainian low cost carrier SkyUp Airlines will introduce flights between Kiev and Belgrade this coming winter season. The carrier will run two weekly services between the two capital cities, each Tuesday and Friday, starting October 27. Operations will be maintained with the airline's Boeing 737-700 aircraft, which has the capacity to seat 149 passengers. Tickets are bookable through the company's website. SkyUp will become the first Ukrainian carrier to operate scheduled commercial flights to Belgrade since Aerosvit Airlines ended services between Kiev and the Serbian capital in June 2011 due to "technical reasons". The airline has since filed for bankruptcy.





SkyUp Airlines will fill the void left by Air Serbia which suspended flights to Kiev in March until the summer of 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Serbian carrier has maintained services to the Ukrainian capital on an off and on basis over the past few years. In 2014, Air Serbia cancelled plans to launch daily flights to Kiev due to instability in the country at the time. However, it introduced six weekly rotations between Belgrade and the Ukrainian capital in the summer of 2016, utilising leased equipment from Adria Airways, however, it lasted only a single season. It then rebooted the route in the summer of 2019 which was maintained until the start of Covid-19.




Medical drone giant, Zipline, has received commendations for its support to Ghanas fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.



The company, through its assistance in delivering COVID-19 samples to Noguchi and KCCR for testing, has brought lots of relief to many health facilities within their operational areas.



Narrating the gains made as a result of this intervention, the Director of Health Services for the Suhum Municipality, Dr Frederick Kwame Ofosu, says Zipline has been of tremendous support to the directorate since its opening in April 2019.



Particular mention for commendation is the support we have received during this COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, we were spending a minimum of 200 Ghana cedis to deliver just one sample to Noguchi. By the coming of Zipline, however, the Municipality has not spent any money on transporting COVID-19 samples to Noguchi. This has been a huge relief to the Municipality in terms of cost and speed of transporting these samples to Noguchi.



The company has since delivered about 3000 samples from the Omenako and the Mpanya distribution centres.



The Country Manager of Zipline, Mr. Daniel Marfo said, Its been, truly, exciting hearing the many positive stories we continue to receive on a daily basis from our partner health facilities. During this pandemic, for example, inasmuch as it was not our core mandate to deliver COVID-19 samples, we thought our expertise in delivering medical commodities in record time to health facilities could easily be leveraged in the transport of these samples for testing. This made us to quickly write to the required authorities for clearance to assist. We have since been in this fight together by deploying the worlds biggest medical drone delivery system to deliver samples to test centers for prompt tests. This is the first time a drone is being used to deliver such samples across the entire world.



Aside from the delivery of COVID-19 samples, Zipline has also assisted the government in the delivery of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to health facilities in the hard-to-reach areas. Gloves, nose masks, sanitizers and other protective wears are being successfully delivered from the Vobsi distribution centre across the North East Region.



In addition to this support, we continue to deliver essential medical commodities to health facilities from all our distribution centres. During this period, our services have become much more critical as it helps to reduce the human movement in transporting these medical commodities to health facilities. And of course, this is our primary mandate to which we remain highly committed to, Mr. Marfo said.







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
A swarm of the flies on the door of a house

Residents along the shore of Lough Neagh in Co Armagh are being terrorised by millions of flies that have been attaching themselves to properties and driving the owners mad.

Eamon Robinson from Maghery posted a video on Facebook showing the horrifying extent of the problem.

The small black flies - known as mayflies - swarmed on an outside door of his home in their millions as they gathered along the doorstep and up the walls.

It is believed that the hot and humid weather could be the main reason why the flies have yet to disperse.

The mayfly, which is common along the lough, gets its name as they normally gather and disappear all in the same month.

Local residents have been unable to open their doors or windows to try and cool down during the hot weather as the flies are attracted to the light.

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Speaking to the website Armaghi, Eamon explained that it is an issue he has had to deal with before but 2020 has been particularly troublesome.

"We normally get them bad in May as they are called the mayfly," he stated. "They come off the lough.

"The warm weather is the reason and at night they are attracted to the light.

"Obviously if you have a window open in the house with a light on the ceiling [it] will be swarmed with them too."

Local councillor Paul Duffy said the problem occurs right along the shore of Lough Neagh and believes the problem could be worse in Maghery due to its location between the River Bann and River Blackwater.

"It happens right along the lough and I have actually worked in and around there at different points of the year," stated the Sinn Fein councillor.

"Mayflies and things like that are just there in their millions every year. This happens every single year.

"It's not usual at this time of year because they usually start to filter away.

"The flies don't even seem to be that bad around Oxford Island (in Lurgan) but it could be down because they're in around the mouth of the Bann and the Blackwater.

"Temperatures tend to be a bit higher there too so that could be related."

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Mr Duffy added that local residents who want to enjoy a barbecue during the good weather simply can't as they are tortured by the buzzing pests.

"I know all about it as I'm a plasterer by trade and I actually went to pebbledash a house out there but we had to put it off for a couple of months because of the mayflies," he said.

"You were just dashing them clean into the walls.

"Even to go out for barbecues or anything when the good weather comes - you just can't because of the flies.

"Teams who play at the GAA club there would find that when they're close to the lough at certain times and they're trying to play, they are swatting the flies away more than watching the ball."
A group of Democratic state attorneys general are now in the final stages of preparing legal action against the Trump administration for recent cost-cutting changes made to the United States Postal Service, a lawsuit that one official said could demand a halt to any cutbacks that could impede mail-in voting.

As many as 10 state attorneys general are now involved, two state officials involved in the effort told ABC News. Among them is New Yorks Letitia James, who called recent changes at the postal agency deeply disturbing in a statement released Monday.

"I, along with numerous other state attorneys general from around the nation, are now swiftly examining every legal option to protect the postal service and Americans right to vote absentee, James said.

MORE: Mail-in voting rules in 46 states may leave some ballots uncounted, USPS warns

The suit is expected to mount two major constitutional challenges to the recent cutbacks, according to one of the officials, a state government attorney. States will assert that the federal government is trying to impede their constitutional right to oversee their own elections. And they will argue that the Trump administration is interfering with every Americans individual right to participate in the election.

The lawsuit will also argue that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy failed to follow administrative procedures when he made cuts to overtime and decommissioned equipment  steps the states will ask the courts to halt, the attorney said.

PHOTO: In this Aug. 6, 2020, file photo, New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, speaks during a news conference in New York. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters, FILE)

Some of the elected officials involved sought to hold back further details on the lawsuit, which the two sources said could land as early as Tuesday.

Im not going to give away our whole strategy, said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong on Monday morning on MSNBC. But we have a plan to address the service breakdowns that have already occurred.

The attorneys general from Connecticut and New York have joined a growing list of state leaders including those from Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Minnesota and Washington  all Democrats  in discussing how to sue the administration, sources said. Those conversations remain ongoing.

Story continues

Asked about the impending lawsuit, White House Deputy Press Sarah Matthews dismissed it.

Politically motivated lawsuits are not rooted in giving Americans the power of the vote," Matthews said in a statement to ABC News. "While Democrats are spreading baseless conspiracy theories about the Trump administrations assistance to the USPS to score political points, President Trump will continue to work to ensure the security and integrity of our elections.

The United State Postal Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

PHOTO: In this Aug. 5, 2020, file photo Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, left, is escorted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Carolyn Kaster/AP, FILE)

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat, said his office has been inundated with letters and calls raising concerns about the potential for cutbacks at the Post Office to impede voting.

Trump attacks on the postal service are designed to disrupt the election, Frosh said. They strike at the core of our democracy. That is bad enough, but he and DeJoy are also hurting innocent bystanders: Americans who are waiting for their medicine or their social security checks. This conduct is harmful, illegal and unconstitutional. We will take whatever steps necessary to protect Marylanders.

(MORE: Citing customer concerns, Postal Service says it will halt mailbox removals)

With more Americans expected to vote by mail in the upcoming election than ever before, Democrats have raised issue with a series of cost-cutting reforms enacted by DeJoy, a longtime Republican financier and Trump donor who was appointed in May.

Critics say those measures have slowed mail service, prompting questions about whether it is part of a concerted effort to undermine absentee voting -- a platform the president has repeatedly, and without evidence, said would lead to election fraud.

President Trump denied on Monday the he had attempted to slow mail service ahead of the election. "I have encouraged everybody to speed up the mail, not slow the mail," he said.

On Monday, House Democrats announced that DeJoy had agreed to testify before Congress on August 24.

(MORE: Amid outcry, postmaster general to testify before House)

Multiple states ready suit against Trump admin over mail-in voting fears originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
One hundred years ago today, Tennessee voted to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Some paperwork followed and eight days later, on August 26, women were guaranteed to right to vote. The politics behind this have now faded into history, but many remain relevant to us today  perhaps even more so. Heres what we often overlook: Some women once had the right to vote and then lost it. The first woman allowed to vote was Lydia Taft  or, in the official language of the times, the widow Josiah Taft. In 1756, with the French and Indian War underway, the town of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, held a town meeting to vote on whether to increase the towns contribution to the war effort. Only male property holders were allowed to vote, but Josiah Taft had been the biggest property owner in town. It was decided that out of respect to his legacy  and the practicality of the matter  that his widow should be allowed to vote. So she did. Lydia Taft voted in favor of appropriating more money for the war. After the revolution, states adopted new constitutions  and one by one they eliminated this loophole. Except New Jersey. New Jersey in 1790 voted to allow all free inhabitants to vote, regardless of gender. In 1807, though, New Jersey changed its mind  and took the right away. History doesnt always move in straight lines.

Virginia had a chance to be the first state to allow women to vote  again. In 1868, when Virginia was drawing up its post-Civil War constitution, presiding officer John Underwood urged delegates to extend the vote to women. He couldnt even get delegates to vote on what they regarded as an outlandish proposition. Instead, Wyoming became the first  in 1870, while still a territory. Its reasons for doing so werent the best. The Democrats who controlled the territorial legislature were upset that the U.S. Constitution now allowed Black men to vote. Wyoming decided the best way to dilute its already-small pool of Black voters was to allow women to vote. It seems odd because much of the West is quite politically conservative today, but in the 19th century the frontier was considered rather progressive  and a hotbed for womens suffrage. When Congress balked at admitting Wyoming to the Union in 1890 unless it dropped the provision for womens suffrage, the territorial legislature wired back: We will remain out of the Union one hundred years rather than come in without the women. Congress relented and Wyoming thus became the first state that allowed women to vote. Eight others followed  all in the West. Then the movement stalled. Womens suffrage advocates concluded the solution was not to fight state-by-state but to push for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Throughout the 1910s, womens suffrage was one of the biggest political questions of the day.

As with many other things  both then and now  Southern politicians were the biggest obstacle to progress. Aside from their natural conservatism, Southern politicians had a special fear about allowing women to vote  it would mean that Black women could vote. Theyd successfully disenfranchised as many Black men as possible, and presumably could do the same with Black women (and ultimately did). But they worried that a federal amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote would complicate matters. In his book Virginia: From Bourbonism to Byrd, historian Allen Moger quotes conservative Democrats who warned that the 19th Amendment would lead to overthrowing white supremacy, pure elections and the Democratic party. By pure, they meant pure white, and even then only certain types of white voters.

It was a Virginia congressman  Charles Carlin of Alexandria  who successfully bottled up a constitutional amendment in his House subcommittee. And it was a Virginian by birth  President Woodrow Wilson  who staunchly opposed womens suffrage until he decided it was politically convenient to support it. Another historical curiosity: Republicans were often more supportive of womens suffrage than Democrats. In 1916, Charles Evans Hughes became the first presidential candidate to back womens suffrage. That same year, the Virginia Republican Party  meeting in a convention in Roanoke  endorsed womens suffrage. The only problem was that Republicans didnt count for much outside the western mountains. Even when Congress finally voted out an amendment in 1918 and sent it to the states, all the Democrats who represented Virginia voted against it. Only C. Bascom Slemp of Wise County  the states lone Republican congressman  voted in favor.

Likewise, the handful of Republicans in the General Assembly were favorably inclined toward ratification, it was the Democrats who were generally opposed. One Republican  Del. Walter Robertson of Bristol  took the most radical position. He didnt see the amendment giving women the right to vote, he saw it as removing a prohibition to the natural right which women already possessed. The historians who wrote the recently published The Campaign for Woman Suffrage in Virginia note that this was one of the boldest recorded affirmations any Virginia politician ever made.

It also didnt count for much. The Democratic-controlled General Assembly rejected the 19th Amendment by wide margins  24-10 in the state Senate, 62-22 in the House of Delegates. Curiously, that same legislature then proceeded to set in motion an amendment to the state constitution to allow women to vote  28-11 in the Senate, 67-10 in the House. The rationale: With a change in the state Constitution, Virginia could more easily make sure they disenfranchised Black women. With a federal amendment, who knows what the federal government might do?

That state amendment never got acted on. Under the rules at the time, it would have to be voted on again in 1922. By then, the 19th Amendment was already ratified  without any help from Virginia. The amendment was a closer call than we might remember. The main hold-outs were in the South so proponents didnt have many places to go to get the 36th state necessary. They could have gotten it from Connecticut, which eventually voted in September 1920. But instead they got it from Tennessee. The vote in the House was tied until one legislator switched his vote. Harry Burn was just 25, the youngest member of the legislature. He also had in his pocket a letter from his mother beseeching him to vote yes. Burn changed his mind, and changed history.

He also was, yes, a Republican.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Piedmont Natural Gas is resuming standard billing practices in the coming weeks in its service territories in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, offering plans and flexible options to help customers who are behind on their utility payments. Service disconnections for nonpayment will continue to be suspended until October 2020.

"Piedmont's return to standard business practices reflects the hardships some of our customers still face," said Sasha Weintraub, senior vice president for Piedmont Natural Gas. "By offering flexible plans for past-due balances, we want to put our customers first and make it easier for them to get back on track."

Customers can sign up for payment arrangements now in South Carolina and Tennessee, and enrollment will be made available in North Carolina beginning in September. Options and information specific to each state are outlined at Piedmont's COVID-19 Response.

"We're asking customers with a past-due balance to contact us now to establish a plan and mitigate potentially more significant financial challenges in the future," said Mia Haynes, vice president of customer care for Piedmont Natural Gas. "In addition to the extended payment plans Piedmont is offering, customers can explore other financial support options from one of several nonprofit and community agencies in our service territories."

Haynes urges customers to visit piedmontng.com or call Piedmont at 800.752.7504 as soon as possible to learn about available resources and set up a payment plan for their past-due balance.

When the pandemic first began, Piedmont took swift action to help customers by suspending key credit processes, halting disconnections for nonpayment, and eliminating late payment fees and third-party fees for credit card and other payments. Since March of this year, Piedmont and its parent company Duke Energy have donated $6 million for COVID-19 relief efforts, offering support for our customers and communities.

Additional resources for financial support:

Business customers: piedmontng.com/Extension

Residential customers: piedmontng.com/ExtraTime

211.org



Helps customers find local community agencies providing assistance with a wide range of needs.



Share the Warmth



Assists families with their utility bills, no matter the source of energy they use.



Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)



Helps low-income households, with special attention to households that spend a high percentage of their total income on home energy.

Customers with past-due balances who do not contact Piedmont to establish a payment arrangement will be subject to disconnection for nonpayment. These customers will receive notices in their October bill specifying the earliest possible date their natural gas service could be disconnected for nonpayment.

Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, is an energy services company whose principal business is the distribution of natural gas to more than 1 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The company also supplies natural gas to power plants. Piedmont is routinely recognized by J.D. Power for excellent customer satisfaction, and has been named by Cogent Reports as one of the most trusted utility brands in the U.S.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2020 "World's Most Admired Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Piedmont Natural Gas media line:

877.348.3612

SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas

Related Links

http://www.piedmontng.com/


This week, mother Olga Freeman appeared in court charged with the murder of her disabled son Dylan.

The ten-year-old she shared with her ex-husband and celebrity photographer Dean Freeman was, a neighbour said, autistic, used a wheelchair and unable to speak. Neighbours said Freeman had been struggling to care for the severely disabled boy during lockdown.

His father was in Spain when the body was found. For many parents of disabled children, lockdown has proved incredibly difficult, with the services they rely on ripped away. One mother who knows this only too well is author Henrietta Spink.

Henrietta, 58, lives on the South Coast of England with husband, Michael, 63, an Islamic art expert and their two profoundly disabled sons Henry, 32, and Freddie, 28. Here, she shares her experiences of lockdown . . .

Henrietta Spink, 58, lives on the South Coast of England with husband, Michael, 63, and their two profoundly disabled sons Henry, 32, and Freddie, 28 (pictured together)

Watching your beautiful son beat his head against the kitchen wall in fury and frustration is almost unbearable.

It's happening a lot these days  in fact every time I tell Freddie that this outing or that trip has been cancelled because of coronavirus.

'Everything is shut,' I repeat until my voice is sore and I feel I am going completely mad. But still it doesn't sink in. How can it when Freddie flits effortlessly between toddler and teenager?

My son's a strapping 15 st, young man in his 20s, so there is nothing that I can do to physically stop him harming himself like this.

He's also severely autistic, so he doesn't understand why the world is suddenly so different and why all the routines he relies on have evaporated. No disco night, no theatre trip, no swimming club, no day centre. On and on it goes.

I've learnt that, when he beats his head against the wall, Freddie won't actually cause himself any irreparable damage. (The wall's a different matter.) Yet watching him do it ratchets up the already exquisite torture that characterises coping with a disabled child to almost unbearable levels.

And the awful truth is that I can see no end in sight.

Because families like mine have been the collateral damage of the corona crisis. Lifelines we relied on have been removed and we have been left to sink or swim. And we have no idea when  or indeed if  they will ever be returned to us.

Both my boys have complex needs. My oldest son Henry was born apparently normal, yet has never been able to walk or talk, suffers from epileptic seizures day and night, and is doubly incontinent.

Freddie was given a one per cent chance of survival at birth. A massive diaphragmatic hernia meant that his guts were crammed into his chest cavity.

He needed immediate surgery and, while on life support in a special baby unit, suffered a stroke. He has acute swallowing problems which have led to endless emergency hospital visits.

My sons' needs are too extreme and they are too physically big  Henry weighs 11 st  for us to manage ourselves. So for more than 20 years we have had teams of carers, up to four at a time, to help us.

But for every minute of lockdown I have lived in constant, paralysing fear that at any moment something would happen that would mean they were unable to return.

Those first few weeks I would wake in the night, shaking with fear, at how we would manage if one of our support network caught Covid-19. If we had had to self-isolate, there is no way we could have coped. We would have gone under.

I love my boys more than life itself. But the past few months have pushed me to the brink. I've never got as far as putting my head in the oven. But believe me I've come close.

Ms Spink described how it took two to push Henry's wheelchair while Freddie was so oblivious to danger he needed to be watched constantly

For more than 20 years Ms Spink and her husband (pictured together at their home in Cornwall) have had teams of carers, up to four at a time, to help them in caring for their sons

Having a severely disabled child is difficult and stressful at the best of times. We have had to fight tooth and nail for every scrap of help.

While we are grateful for carers, sharing our home with an army of strangers isn't easy. Then there's the sheer exhaustion  I haven't had an unbroken week's worth of sleep for more than 30 years.

Our house is impossibly cramped for eight adults. So we have always spent as much time as possible outside although getting anywhere is like moving a small army.

It takes two to push Henry's wheelchair, and Freddie is so oblivious to danger he needs to be watched constantly. We also rely on a network of clubs and groups to keep the boys stimulated and give them the social life Freddie craves.

So imagine what it is like now. The pandemic has stolen every shred of normality from our lives, shaken our support structure to the roots and left us horrifically isolated.

Between March and June, my husband Michael and I did not have a single night's respite  not a single second away from our sons.

Even now, the new 'normal' offers barely any let-up. Just this week we've learnt that the daytime club Freddie relies on still hasn't received instructions from the Government as to when  or if  it can reopen. The pressure is almost unbearable.

I am acutely aware that the past few months have been hugely stressful for everyone with children. I shudder to imagine what it has been like for all those families cooped up in tower blocks or banned from seeing beloved grandparents. But, believe me, conditions have been exponentially worse for those of us caring for disabled children.

I'm incredibly lucky because I have a wonderful, supportive husband who adores our boys every bit as much as I do. Words fail me when I try to imagine the strain of being a single mum.

Olga Freeman, 40, appeared in court charged with the murder of her disabled son Dylan (pictured together in the Barbican performing arts centre in London in 2018)

I'm a positive, resourceful woman but I honestly don't think I could have survived lockdown. It would have been the end of the world.

On top of coping with my own terror, there would have been the extreme isolation which magnified every worry.

Even though Michael and I act as a team, those first few weeks were hell on earth.

Being 24:7 with an autistic, non-verbal child who doesn't sleep is like living on top of a pressure cooker. Something has to blow.

Freddie is like a wilful toddler. Telling him that he couldn't leave the house more than once a day was like telling him the world had ended. He couldn't understand. He shouted and stamped his foot in frustration. It was very hard to watch.

As Henry has to use a wheelchair and we live in a very hilly area, we couldn't push him very far, so eight adults ended up cooped up in our four-bedroom cottage. It felt like sending someone with claustrophobia down a pothole.

Then there has been the terrible isolation. You may love your child to the end of the world but being alone with them every hour of every day would drive a saint mad.

Friends and a support network which dilute your feelings are vital to parents like us. We've learnt to savour every scrap of sociability. All those tiny interactions the rest of the world takes for granted become extra important  trips to Tesco, visits to the hairdresser, drinks with girlfriends.

To have them taken away has been utterly devastating.

Up until lockdown, Michael and I lived for our ten respite nights every month.

It wasn't just a chance to get an unbroken night's sleep  impossible with the boys, as Henry is prone to seizures, and Freddie is so hyperactive he rushes into our bedroom whatever the hour, demanding a story or to play on his computer  it was a lifeline.

Michael and I would go to London, where he runs his Islamic art business. As well as working, we could go to the cinema without the boys, see friends or dine out.

In short do the normal things other couples take for granted. It was ten long weeks before we were able to reinstate them.

But our pain is nothing compared to what Freddie's suffering.

Not only do autistic children crave structure but it is impossible to argue with them. I have literally wept tears of frustration while trying to explain to Freddie why he can't go to the disco on Friday evening.

'It's still shut,' I say as he looks utterly depressed and lost.

He's a great planner and loves having things to look forward to. So he is desperate for us to organise a holiday. Sometimes I'm tempted to do so even though I know the chances are that travel abroad or in the UK will still be impossible.

He had his heart set on going to see a T. Rex tribute band  he's a huge fan  next month. When I tried to explain the gig had been postponed until next year, he was utterly devastated.

Over the past few months not only has he been bashing his head against the wall with increasing frequency, he's also been picking holes in himself. He will get a tiny mosquito bite or a scratch and keep working away at it, day after day. It's a sign of his total agitation.

He's a really sociable, tactile boy so trying to explain to him why he can't hug anyone is terribly difficult, too.

If anything, Henry has been even worse affected.

We used to take him swimming four times a week. He loves being in the water as it's the only time he feels free. But most importantly it helped keep his limbs loose and built muscle.

Before lockdown, carers were able to help him transfer himself from his wheelchair to his bed. But now the lack of exercise is taking its toll on Henry's mobility.

For although our municipal swimming pool has reopened, new restrictions mean they can't offer him a suitable time.

He needs special equipment and can't simply join a free-for-all.

Henry's physical condition has deteriorated so badly that we need to use a hoist to get him into bed at night. And, as the hoist doesn't fit upstairs, he has to sleep in the dining room.

His left arm is now frozen through inaction and leaves him whimpering in pain. Imagine being stuck in a cramped airline seat on a long-haul flight. That is now Henry's life in a wheelchair day in and day out. No wonder his body is slowly starting to shut down.

It's devastating. And I see no end in sight.

In my darkest hours, I despair that things will ever get back even to the very constrained life we had come to consider normal before the coronavirus and lockdown.

Like all disabled people, my boys have come to accept so little from life. But that little means the world to them.

When you snatch it away and offer no hope in return, it's a tragedy waiting to happen.

As told to Tessa Cunningham
NORRISTOWN  A domestic violence incident in Springfield Township has landed a Philadelphia man in state prison.

David R. Washington, 39, of the 800 block of East Sharpnack Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 2 to 4 years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of strangulation in connection with an April 2019 incident at a residence in the 7800 block of New Street in the Wyndmoor section of Springfield Township.

Judge Thomas C. Branca imposed the sentence as part of a plea agreement. The judge ordered Washington to have no offensive contact with the victim and to complete a domestic violence counseling program as conditions of the sentence.

An investigation began about 7:30 p.m. April 15, 2019, when Springfield Township police responded to the New Street residence for a report of a domestic assault. The call came from a neighbor of the victim, according to court documents.

When police arrived at the residence, Washington answered the door and police noticed he was bleeding from the right side of his face, according to the criminal complaint filed by Springfield Township Police Officer Thomas Sweeney. Police also made contact with a woman in the residence.

The woman stated Washington showed up at the home to get some of his belongings.

When he arrived an argument ensued, which promptly escalated to a physical fight where Washington pushed (the victim) against the wall and began strangling her, restricting her ability to breathe, Sweeney alleged in a criminal complaint.

During the fight, Washington allegedly struck the victim with a closed fist several times and attempted to strangle her again, according to court papers.

When Washington attempted to strangle (the victim) on the second attempt, she picked up a glass candle and struck Washington on the side of the face, which caused him to stop fighting, Sweeney alleged. I observed bruising on (the victims) neck and face consistent with strangulation and being punched.

Another misdemeanor charge of simple assault was dismissed against Washington as part of the plea agreement under which he pleaded guilty to the most serious felony strangulation charge.
Photo: (Photo : YouTube/CBS Boston)

On Friday, the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) announced that they have found the bodies of a man and woman, both 21 years old, in a sunken car in Boston. Tatianna Morales of New Bedford is a mom to a two-year-old boy, and Djovany Pierre of Boston's Roxbury neighborhood is a dad to a nine-month-old daughter.

Reasons for death are unclear

The Massachusetts authorities are looking for answers to why their bodies are found inside a submerged car, about 40 feet below the water, in a Boston Harbor channel. The two were missing for many days. MSP said that they were inside an SUV in the Reserved Channel that leads to the harbor in the Boston Seaport. Their location was about 15 feet from the pier.

Morales' high school sweetheart and father of her young son, Yeison Giron, told Boston news channel WHDH his thoughts. He said that it does not make sense to him that the two drove down into the water for no reason. He noted that his beau was nor depressed nor suicidal; she was very happy.

See also: Father and Son Rescued Woman and Teen Floating in Sea for 15 Hours

Giron explained that Morales takes their son everywhere. He was thankful that she did not take their son that day in that car.

The WYCN said that on Tuesday, Morales had traveled to Boston from New Bedford to meet with Pierre. Morales' cousin, Reina Castro, told ABC affiliate WCVB that about three weeks ago, the two had just met through Facebook. She said that they were nothing more than friends.

Morales did not appear that evening

That evening, Morales was supposed to pick up her son after returning home but Giron said that she never showed up. It had caused him to worry. He told WJAR that every night, Morales would call and text him. He believes that she would never leave her son and disappear for a night.

See also: Truck Driver Dies After Safely Rescuing Children from School Bus Crash in Georgia [Heartbreaking Story]

Friends and family found Morales' Snapchat post on Tuesday, leading them to know her whereabouts. Nikki Ramos, Morales' friend, told WYCN that they were able to tell her location in the last video.

Dead bodies found

Around 12:30 on Friday, MSP received information that an SUV sunk earlier that week. The team was initially drawn to the Black Falcon Avenue area, between the Black Falcon Terminal and 88 Black Falcon Avenue. Many responded in search of the missing two young adults.

Eventually, MSP divers found the deceased bodies of a female victim and brought her body to shore. The divers had to hook tow cables to the SUV to extricate Pierre's body as a truck winched out the car.

See also: Mom Got Shot and Killed While Daughter Was Having Online Zoom Class

Up to now, no one still knows how the car fell into the water. The MSP said that they were still investigating the manner of deaths of the pair.

Giron arranged a GoFundMe page for Morales' funeral service. So far, it has raised $12,000, which Giron will use to cover son's college tuition. Meanwhile, a fundraising page for Pierre has already raised more than $2,000.
G avin Williamson today fought to shift the blame following the A-levels fiasco as he left the future of the 200,000-a-year exams chief in jeopardy.

The Education Secretary refused four times to express confidence in Sally Collier, the chief regulator in charge of a botched algorithm that downgraded pupils results unfairly.

The Cabinet ministers public withdrawal of confidence sent a signal that the highly paid official was being blamed for a shambles that led to last Thursdays A-levels being dramatically replaced with teacher assessed grades in a major U-turn yesterday.

Fighting for his own political survival in a round of media interviews this morning, Mr Williamson sought to scatter the blame as widely as possible.

His harshest words were for Ofqual which he said didnt deliver on the fair system expected, and which gave assurances that were not matched by robustness.

He said there had been broad political consensus backed by teaching unions and Opposition parties that moderating grades by computer was a fair approach and argued that similar U-turns made in the devolved regions meant that Scottish Nationalists, Labour in Wales, and the DUP and Sinn Fein leaders in Northern Ireland were in no position to point fingers at the Conservatives in charge at Westminster.

However, Mr Williamson admitted he only realised the severity of the problem for children whose hopes were unfairly dashed at the weekend. Mr Williamson apologised repeatedly this morning without admitting any personal culpability.

He also refused three times to say if he offered his resignation to the Prime Minister.

The Edcation Secretary being interviewed on Tuesday / Sky News

No 10 continued to express confidence in the Education Secretary, who made clear he intends to stay in his job over the coming year.

Privately, senior MPs say there are questions about Mr Williamsons grip and oversight, but they felt the U-turn had saved him from having to resign immediately.

His long-term future would depend, they said, on avoiding any more slip-ups in Thursdays GCSE results and Septembers reopening of schools after the Covid-19 closures  a priority fraught with difficulties.

Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the education select committee, told the Evening Standard that he would be looking for detailed explanations from Mr Williamson of how things went so wrong, especially given the committee issued a report on July 10 warning of exactly the problems that arose, including the penalising of bright pupils from poorer backgrounds.

We now need Ofqual and the DfE to publish minutes so we can find out what has gone on, he added.

Ms Collier has already attracted criticism for being a career official with no experience of working in education.

The Ofqual chief was criticised yesterday by former Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw for giving no interviews or statements to explain the situation during the past week of crisis.

Appointed chief regulator of Ofqual 2016, her previous roles include chief executive of Crown Commercial Service, managing director of the Government Procurement Service and director of procurement policy and capability at the Cabinet Office.

Getty Images

There was no sign of Ms Collier intending to resign this morning, nor of any hit-back from Ofqual. A source at the regulator said: The senior management leadership team are all committed to resolving the immediate issue over the next few days and delivering GCSE results on Thursday.

A desperate scramble for places at universities was triggered by yesterdays U-turn. Thousands of youngsters feared their places had been given away to others after they were awarded the wrong grades on Thursday. Students who now find themselves with higher grades could be asked to wait a year.

Universities pleaded for urgent support from the Government, and some warned they were already full, particularly with Covid-19 measures in place.

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Shadow universities minister Emma Hardy said Mr Williamson had created a massive headache for higher education. His delay in making this decision has meant that more and more places at university have been filled up, she told BBC Breakfast.
Faith vs safety in burials: COVID-19 remains in dead bodies for 9 days says Centre

PM Cares Fund need not be deposited in NDRF fund: Supreme Court

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 18: The Supreme Court had ruled that the PM Cares Fund money cannot be directed to be deposited in the National Disaster Relief Fund.

The court said that there is no impediment for citizens and corporates to deposit money in the NDRF and clarified that the PM Cares Fund is completely different from the NDRF.

The court rejected the plea that the Centre should have framed a fresh National Disaster Management Plan for COVID-19 instead of relying on the National Plan formulated in December 2019, which had talked about biological disasters.

'Prince of Incompetence: Nadda slams Rahul for his tweet on PM CARES

SC says funds from PM-Cares needn't be transferred to National Disaster Response Fund|Oneindia News

The court said that the funds from PM Cares Fund need not be transferred to the NDRF Fund. The individuals can contribute to NDRF voluntarily. The minimum standards of relief as issued prior to COVID-19 is good enough and there is no need for a fresh disaster relief plan, the Supreme Court also said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 11:08 [IST]
Korea Development Bank (KDB) Chairman Lee Dong-gull speaks during an online press conference at the bank's headquarters in Seoul on Aug. 3. Yonhap



By Lee Min-hyung



Korea Development Bank (KDB) Chairman Lee Dong-gull is likely to extend his term for another three years at a crucial juncture when he has to continue handling a series of pending issues  such as the ongoing deadlock in Hyundai Development Company's (HDC) planned acquisition of Asiana Airlines.



However, every time such a rumor has surfaced in recent months, Lee has repeatedly made it clear that he "has no interest" in serving another term and has been "under a lot of stress" while serving as chairman at the state-run lender. His three-year term expires Sept. 10.



But financial industry observers expect Lee to extend his leadership under the widespread view that no other experts can replace Lee in terms of handling major issues on corporate restructuring.



Even though his term finishes in three weeks, there have been no reports of possible candidates to take over his position. This also raises the likelihood of a term extension, as usually politicians and financial bureaucrats begin a tough competition to secure the post at the major state-controlled organization  and in most cases, possible candidates are discussed in the media a few months before the incumbent's term expires.



"I will work my best until early September, and am not considering anything after then," Lee said in an online press conference in June amid rumors over his term extension.



The occupant of the top position at the state-run lender is recommended by the chief of the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is finally appointed by the President. FSC Chairman Eun Sung-soo has also not ruled out the possibility of Lee serving a second term. In a recent meeting with reporters, Eun said "we still have time, so let's wait and see."



One crucial reason for retaining Lee is because it would be better for the incumbent chairman to continue dealing with the pending takeover in the aviation industry, which has been hit hardest by the pandemic.



The current impasse in talks between HDC and Kumho Industrial, the largest shareholder of the nation's second-largest airline, is particularly a most urgent task the KDB faces. As the main creditor of Asiana, Lee has exuded strong leadership by pressing HDC to close the deal as soon as possible.



Earlier this month, Lee stepped up criticism of HDC for dragging out the acquisition process, saying that it would have to take "all the blame and legal responsibility" for the possible breakdown of the deal on Asiana.



It leaves a question mark over who will be able to display such charismatic leadership in the area of corporate restructuring.



As aviation is one of the key industries teetering on the verge of collapse due to the global COVID-19 shock, chances are the government will likely persuade Lee to remain in office at least until the pandemic shock subsides and the operation of virus-hit industries is normalized.



This is a very rare move as only three other former KDB chairmen have served consecutive terms since the establishment of the lender in 1954, and Lee could be the first to serve a second term since 2000.



Lee is also standing at the center of normalizing operations at Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction. The KDB is the main creditor of the crisis-ridden construction arm of Doosan Group.



Doosan Heavy received emergency funds worth 3.6 trillion won from KDB-led creditors. Doosan Group is carrying out a series of painstaking self-rescue measures to salvage its construction firm.



The group-wide restructuring plan is still underway, so any leadership change at the main creditor will likely bode ill for Doosan Group which has remained cooperative with requests from the bank.



SsangYong Motor is another company KDB and Lee are paying keen attention to, as the automaker is on the verge of collapse due to its failure to attract capital from investors.



In January this year, Lee met with Mahindra Managing Director Pawan Goenka to discuss restructuring the cash-strapped carmaker. Mahindra is the biggest shareholder of SsangYong Motor.



But both sides failed to come to terms on providing financial support for the automaker. Mahindra urged the KDB to provide additional money for SsangYong, but Lee did not accept the call, saying the major shareholder needs to take more responsibility in salvaging the company.


LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- When a transaction occurs, businesses are required to either calculate and collect sales tax or, if the purchase is tax exempt, collect and validate the buyer's exemption status. With many suppliers selling to tax-exempt buyers and often using time-consuming manual processes to manage exemption certificates, Billtrust , the leader in B2B order-to-cash solutions, announced it has enhanced its industry-leading B2B order-to-cash suite by seamlessly integrating Avalara's CertCapture software into the Billtrust platform. By partnering with Avalara , a leading tax compliance software provider, Billtrust customers will benefit from an automated process to collect, validate, store and manage sales tax exemption certificates, eliminating manual work and creating a streamlined customer experience.

"Many businesses manually manage exemption certificates which can lead to audit and compliance issues," said Steve Pinado, Billtrust President. "For companies selling to tax-exempt buyers, Billtrust's integration with Avalara CertCapture provides easy access to compliance documents, ensuring proper credit account setup. This partnership gives our customers more value while helping them maximize their automation investment. It also demonstrates our commitment to partnering with high value companies to create the broadest number of seamless fintech ecosystem integrations."

With the onus on the buyer to enter information, the CertCapture integration creates one centralized exemption certificate management solution, helping bridge the gap between treasury, tax, credit, shared services, eCommerce, IT and operations to improve audit preparedness and drive compliance. Adding this functionality to the Billtrust platform expands its relevance and use among buyers and helps sellers continue to drive digital transformation with their customers.

"Billtrust customers will now benefit from control over sales tax exemption certificate management within their already-familiar platform," said Silvia Aguirre, CertCapture co-founder and VP, Certificate Management at Avalara. "CertCapture scales to fit business needs, and it's a quick and easy way to manage the exemption certificate process and be prepared for audits, long before they occur."

About Billtrust

Billtrust accelerates cash flow by automating credit decisioning and monitoring, invoice delivery, payment capture, cash application, and collections. Billtrust customers improve operational efficiency across the order-to-cash spectrum via a flexible and integrated cloud-based solution set. Finance executives and A/R specialists love and recommend Billtrust for the remarkable cost savings, ease-of-use, process efficiency, and improved customer satisfaction rates. For more information, visit Billtrust.com .

About Avalara

Avalara helps businesses of all sizes get tax compliance right. In partnership with leading ERP, accounting, ecommerce, and other financial management system providers, Avalara delivers automated, cloud-based compliance solutions for transaction tax, including sales and use, VAT, GST, excise, communications, lodging, and other indirect tax types. Headquartered in Seattle, Avalara has offices across the U.S. and around the world in Canada, the U.K., Belgium, Brazil, and India. More information at avalara.com.

SOURCE Billtrust

Related Links

http://www.billtrust.com


US Military Buildup in Poland Raises Tensions Along Russian Borders, Moscow Says

Sputnik News

17:37 GMT 17.08.2020

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US military buildup in Poland contributes to the escalation of tensions along Russia's western borders, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday, commenting on the signing of an agreement to increase the US military presence in Poland.

On Saturday, the United States and Poland signed an agreement on expanded defence cooperation, which lays the foundations for an additional increase of US military presence on the Polish soil. It is planned to increase the total number of US troops in Poland by 1,000, in addition to 4,500 troops already stationed there.

According to Zakharova, the document provides for the development of the advanced command and staff structure and combat training centres of the US Armed Forces, the creation of conditions for the deployment of troops and transport aviation units, unmanned aerial vehicles, special operations forces, as well as elements of support and logistics.

"We again draw your attention to the fact that US military buildup in Poland does not solve the security problem, on the contrary, it only exacerbates the already difficult situation along the western borders of Russia, contributing to the escalation of tensions and increasing the risk of unintentional incidents. The allegedly insignificant and rotational nature of the reinforcements is perceived only as attempts to distort reality  the implementation of the US-Polish agreement will qualitatively strengthen the offensive potential of the US forces in Poland," Zakharova said.

This agreement did not come as a surprise to anyone  thus, the agreements reached in 2019 by US President Donald Trump and his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, were formalized, she said.

"The agreed package of measures fully meets the guidelines of the latest NATO summits, which consolidated the course of 'containing' Russia, creating dividing lines and escalating tensions in Europe while refusing to work together to fulfil the task proclaimed in OSCE documents after the end of the Cold War  to form a common space of cooperation and trust on the continent," she stressed.

US military buildup in Poland is also contrary to the provisions of the NATO-Russia Founding Act, Zakharova said.

"These plans change the security environment in Europe and run counter to the provisions of the NATO-Russia Founding Act of 1997, which defines the overall goal of strengthening stability in the Euro-Atlantic region. It is also necessary to analyze how they correlate to the obligations enshrined in the founding act not to place additional 'significant combat forces' on an ongoing basis," Zakharova noted.

The United States once again shows its readiness, if its own interests require it, to give up not only obligations within the framework of multilateral instruments but also the opinion of most European states, she said.

"This completely discredits the statements of NATO officials that the alliance is a supplier of security and is interested in reducing tensions in Europe. And specific proposals from the Russian side on how to achieve de-escalation in the Russia-NATO contact areas remain unanswered," she said.

"We call on NATO member states to abandon their bets on confrontation with us and return to restraint in the spirit of the Russia-NATO Founding Act. It is also obvious that the need for a substantive and frank dialogue on problems in the field of European security, as well as the restoration of military contacts, is long overdue," she concluded.

A Sputnik

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Liquorland is set to undergo a major revamp of its tired red and yellow branding.

The Coles liquor chain is trailing the new look a concept store in Oakleigh Central Shopping Centre in Melbourne's southeast, in the hopes of attracting more upmarket shoppers.

If the pilot scheme is successful, the makeover is expected to be rolled out at its 743 bottle shops nationwide.

The Coles-owned bottleshop chain Liquorland has opened a new concept store (pictured) in Oakleigh Central Shopping Centre in Melbourne's southeast

If the trial scheme is deemed a success, Liquorland will undergo a major revamp of it's tired red and yellow branding nationwide

Liquorland has opted for a more elegant black and white look at the concept store to attract more upmarket shoppers

The changes come as Coles released it's full-year profit report on Tuesday, with sales bolstered by coronavirus-induced panic buyers.

The supermarket giant's net profit surged 4.7 per cent to $1.76billion in the 2020 financial year.

But despite the strong results, its liquor business is struggling to keep up with Woolworths discount chain Dan Murphy's and Aldi's rock-bottom import prices.

Rather than compete head on with their rivals, Liquorland is going for a more upmarket approach emphasising local wine producers and premium craft beer brewers.

Coles liquor business has been struggling to keep up with Woolworths discount chain Dan Murphy's and Aldi's rock-bottom import prices

Rather than compete head on with their rivals, Liquorland is going for a more upmarket approach emphasising local wine producers and premium craft beer brewers

In Oakleigh, the store's iconic but very dated red and yellow colour scheme has been replaced with a more elegant black and white 'topography'.

Coles told Daily Mail Australia in a statement that to give the store fresher feel there is also a more spacious layout with clearer pricing and signage.

'The store format focuses on simplified signage and seamless navigation to demonstrate specialist credentials (whisky, rum) and help customers find what they are looking for under 'Wine region', 'Beer district' and 'Spirits trail',' Coles said.

'Depending on customer feedback, we will trial in a number of additional locations to further refine the concept.'

The man behind the new-look image is recently appointed Coles Liquor chief executive Darren Blackhurst, who joined Coles in January after serving almost two decades with UK supermarket empire Tesco.

He also heads up Coles other alcohol chains First Choice Liquor Market with 61 stores, First Choice Liquor with 34 stores and Vintage Cellars with 85 stores.

Coles told Daily Mail Australia that to give the new store a fresher feel there is a more spacious layout with clearer pricing and signage
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an ophthalmologist working at Bengalurus M S Ramaiah Medical College - Abdur Rahman, who was developing a medical application for helping the injured ISIS cadres in the conflict-zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of ISIS fighters, according to a statement issued by the agency on Tuesday.

The NIA said Rahman (28), had even visited an ISIS medical camp in Syria in early 2014 for treatment of ISIS terrorists and stayed with Islamic State operatives for 10 days and returned to India.

A resident of Basavangudi in Bengaluru, Rahman was arrested on Monday in connection with the agencys probe against a Kashmiri couple - Jahanzaib Sami Wani and Hina Bashir Beigh, arrested from Jamia Nagar in Delhi in March this year.

This case was initially registered by Delhi Police Special Cell in March, 2020, after the arrest of Sami and Beigh. The couple was allegedly affiliated with the ISKP (Islamic State of Khorasan Province), which is a banned terrorist organisation and is a part of ISIS and were found to be involved in subversive and anti-national activities.

They were also found to be in touch with Abdullah Basith, who was already lodged in Tihar jail in another NIA case (ISIS Abu Dhabi Module), the NAI statement said.

During further investigation, NIA arrested two more accused - Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri, both residents of Pune, for being part of the conspiracy to further the activities of ISIS/ISKP in India and to carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, it said.

During interrogation, arrested accused Abdur Rahman confessed that he was conspiring with accused Jahanzaib Sami and other Syria-based ISIS operatives on secure messaging platforms to further ISIS activities. He was in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured ISIS cadres in the conflict-zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of ISIS fighters. Significantly, he had visited an ISIS medical camp in Syria in early 2014 for treatment of ISIS terrorists and stayed with Islamic State operatives for 10 days and returned to India, NIA said.

After arresting him, NIA carried out searches at three premises belonging to him in Bangalore with the assistance of Karnataka Police and seized digital devices, mobile phone, laptop containing incriminating material.

He will be produced before the NIA Special Court at New Delhi and NIA remand will be sought for his custodial interrogation, the agency said.
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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday that he would start moving some of the 13,000 homeless people he put into hotels back into shelters after receiving widespread complaints from residents and officials, but he gave no details on when the process would begin or how he would make sure people go where they are meant to.

Homelessness in New York City has been escalating since March and was made worse by residents fleeing and the NYPD's budget being cut, which dissolved its homeless outreach unit.

De Blasio - to avoid COVID-19 outbreaks in homeless shelters - quietly launched a program whereby the city paid 139 empty hotels to take some of the homeless in for $175 per person, per night, according to sources close to it. It cost the city, which is staring down the barrel of a $9billion deficit from the pandemic, $2million a day and it created pockets of unruliness and crime.

At the same time, ramshackle encampments have popped up all over the city. The NYPD is no longer intervening and homeless outreach programs are overstretched.

After widespread complaints, now de Blasio says he's going to reverse the plan to start moving them out of the hotels and back into shelters but he has given no set plan for how quickly he's going to do it, which hotels will be cleared out first or how he's going to ensure the homeless people - some of whom will likely resist being transferred - will actually go to the shelters and not set up more encampments on the already overflowing streets.

'We're now starting the process of reducing the reliance on hotels. And the more we can do that  and I think that's the big plan is make sure we can start to get people out of those hotels, relieve some of the pressure on those communities, but do it in a way that's really safe for everyone involved, and starting with those who are homeless,' he said at his press conference on Monday.

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Thousands of people were moved out of homeless shelters and into hotels, but despite the initiative, homeless encampments have been springing up across the city. Pictured: Homeless people setup encampments on Clarkson and Washington Street in lower Manhattan

Ramshackle encampments have popped up all over the city including here at Broadway and Franklin Street in Tribeca. Now, city mayor Bill de Blasio has promised to get homeless people back into shelters

New York authorities are to begin the process of moving homeless people who are currently staying in hotels back to shelters, but some are calling for more long-term solutions to the city's homeless crisis.

One homeless couple - Ladiee Warner and her husband - told the NY1 outlet that they are not interested in going back to a shelter and they'd rather live on the streets.

'The shelters I have been in, they are nasty, the staff is rude,' Warner said. 'People are fighting. People getting stabbed. It's dangerous things going on they don't take serious. It's safer on the streets than inside of there.'

Toni Hays, who with her family set up camp near Penn Station along one of the busiest streets in Manhattan, said: 'We move from this spot to back in front of the post office. Back and forth.

De Blasio has been widely criticized for his response to the pandemic and his handling of the homeless crisis in New York City

'The cops, they move us back and forth. The cops move us around a lot, because there is nowhere to sit really. Right now it's hard to get something on our own, because the rent is so expensive.'

Figures released in May 2020 show that in recent years, New York City has reached the highest levels of homelessness since the Great Depression, with almost 60,000 homeless people living in the city, and in 2019, over 130,000 men, women and children slept in the New York City municipal shelter system.

However, with many of the shelters either closed or running at a reduced capacity due to the coronavirus crisis amid fears of the virus spreading through the shelter system, many of the city's homeless were forced out on to the streets.

Despite city mayor Bill de Blazio's and the Department of Homeless Services' (DHS) initiative housing around 13,000 homeless people in a number of Manhattan's hotels, homeless encampments have still sprung up around the city, with many calling for better long-term solutions.

In July, it emerged that 139 of the city's hotels - which had been forced closed for months - had agreed to take in homeless people for $175 per person, per night as part of a scheme by the city to try to avoid a breakout of COVID-19 in homeless shelters.

But the initiative is costing some $2 million a night to house around 13,000 people (although the city will try to claim some of this back from FEMA), and outraging local residents in areas such as Chelsea and the Upper West Side who have said the streets have become more dangerous.

Some displaced people have been seen doing drugs, urinating and cat calling in the streets - which are free from tourists with a widespread travel ban due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The rise in crime in the city since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic has also been attributed to the homeless crisis by some residents. The mayor has previously blamed the rise on the coronavirus pandemic and authorities have blamed it on the release of people from jail to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

But pressure from residents has led to Mayor Bill de Blasio making a U-turn when it comes to the fate of the city's homeless and will now move thousands back into shelters.

De Blasio has said the process will begin immediately although the mayor did not provide an end date by which time all of New York's homeless would be out of city hotels and off the streets.

A homeless man passes a farmers market at Astor Place in Manhattan on Tuesday, August 17

A homeless man approaches a food truck at Astor Place on Tuesday, August 17

A woman sleeping at Astor Place in New York City on Tuesday

A homeless person naps with a can of beer nestled in their chest as others walk past in New York on Tuesday

The backtrack by De Blasio to move the homeless back into shelters comes after complaints over issues of 'quality of life' from those living in the neighborhoods affected. Pictures, a homeless man on 14th Street in Manhattan

Although no specific timeline to move the homeless back into shelters was given, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the city would start the process immediately, starting with those who are most vulnerable

New York's homeless community on Fifth Avenue have used furniture and junk abandoned by wealthy people fleeing the city during the pandemic to build a sidewalk camp

A homeless encampment along Broadway and Franklin Street in lower Manhattan sits abandoned as the city grapples with numerous make shift shelters popping up over recent weeks

A homeless person is pictures wandering the streets in Midtown Manhattan over the weekend. The mayor stressed that in order for the homeless to be moved out of hotels, the city would need to ensure that there is enough safe space in existing shelters

Pictured: A homeless person sets up an encampment on West 4th and 6th Avenue in lower Manhattan on Monday

NYPD WAS FORCED TO DISSOLVE ITS HOMELESS OUTREACH At the end of June, de Blasio championed an NYPD budget cut that took $1bn away from the force and pushed it through the City Council. It was in response to Black Lives Matter protesters who surrounded City Hall for days, demanding that the force be stripped of almost all of its funding. Among the cuts were that 1,100 cops who were meant to graduate from the police academy didn't. Overtime was also slashed. Another casualty was the Homeless Outreach division which consisted of 90 officers. They were all given jobs in the Department of Health instead. Advertisement

De Blasio's promise comes amid rising tensions of various 'quality of life' issues from residents living close to the hotels-turned-homeless shelters.

The mayor said that the city would 'make sure we can start to get people out of those hotels, relieve some of the pressure on those communities, but do it in a way that's really safe for everyone involved, starting with those who are homeless.'

'I've instructed all of them to address these issues as they come up and make sure that neighborhood residents see that these concerns are being addressed,' de Blasio noted.

The mayor stressed that in order for the homeless to be moved out of hotels, the city would need to ensure that there is enough safe space in existing shelters.

'We'll have more to say on that as the plans are more deeply developed and as we see what the health situation shows us,' he added.

More progressive politicians are calling on the mayor and New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo to find long-term humanitarian solutions to the city's homeless problem.

New York State Sen. Brad Hoylman has backed the state legislature's 'Home Stability Support' bill. The bill, yet to be scheduled for a floor vote, would help New Yorkers facing homelessness to pay rent.

'This is approaching a humanitarian crisis,' the Dem said according to the New York Daily News. 'If we don't dedicate the resources to the problem, there's no way out of it.'

Hoylman, whose district runs from Greenwich Village to Hell's Kitchen, was also critical of Governor Cuomo and de Blasio in their handling of homelessness, saying: 'Give people a plan and a sense of responsibility and civic duty. That's what I think is lacking.'

Meanwhile, Councilman Stephen Levin (D-Brooklyn), has called for a range of responses including more transitional housing units known as 'safe havens' with 'wraparound services' for people with mental health issues and those who struggle with substance abuse.

Levin proposed a bill that would require every homeless person to get their own hotel room, and while an effort to pass the bill failed in May, he still believes it's a worthy goal.

Council Speaker Corey Johnson, who supported the legislation and whose district includes Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen, said in a statement: 'While moving people from unsafe shelters to hotels is the right thing to do because of the pandemic, the city must work to ensure those experiencing homelessness get the services they need and that neighborhood concerns are addressed in a responsible way.

'There are no easy answers here,' he added. 'But the city can and must do more to both protect the most vulnerable and keep our neighborhoods safe.'

All kinds of furniture including sofas, office chairs and even fridges can be found out on the the streets in homeless camps

A woman is seen begging for money on the unusually quiet streets of Manhattan. The complaints about the rising homeless numbers have led to a U-turn by the mayor who had earlier suggested that those who were homeless could remain in hotel rooms until Covid-19 vaccine had been produced

Although the plastic bags may look like trash, they are the belongings of homeless people. Seen here along Fifth Avenue

There have been complaints from locals of urinating, loitering and drug-taking by homeless people on the streets

A man is pictured on Saturday, resting on the streets of the Upper West Side where hundreds of people complained

A homeless man is pictured sitting on a fire hydrant on 8th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan

New York's homeless community outside Port Authority on 8th Avenue. Residents have complained that crime is on the up but last month, de Blasio stripped the police force of $1billion in response to Black Lives Matter protests
Angela Merkel has ruled out easing coronavirus restrictions any further after a spike in infections in Germany.

The chancellor warned that the recent rise in cases had been caused by greater mobility and more personal contact.

And she warned there were people returning from high-risk holiday areas and clusters of private celebrations at which people were gathering in groups.

Urging people to stick to the rules, such as wearing masks, to ensure public life can be as open as possible, she said: For us, the priorities are firstly to keep economic life going as much as possible and to protect jobs  thats why we have stimulus programmes and secondly to make (running) schools and nurseries possible.

Germany last week recorded its biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases in more than three months, with more than 1,200 cases reported in 24 hours.

Increases over the past few weeks caused alarm among some virologists and politicians.

Ms Merkel said she did not think now was the time to ease restrictions any further, and said she was very thankful for fines being levied on people not wearing masks.

The good news is if we stick to the rules, a lot of public life is possible, she said on a trip to the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Recommended German Social Democrats name chancellor candidate to run after Merkel

If the numbers go back down, we can open up more. If they dont, or rise, we must ask what is needed and in any case a further easing of measures cannot take place now.

Germany has managed to keep the number of corona cases relatively low compared with many of its European neighbours but the number of confirmed cases reported on Tuesday rose by 1,390 to 225,404, the Robert Koch Institute said.

The country has suffered 9,240 deaths during the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University, ranking it 16th globally.

The chancellor said travellers returning from risk areas had to have a negative test or else go into quarantine.

This is not optional regulation  it is a must, she said.

A survey found last month Ms Merkels leadership is the most highly regarded in the world.
Regardless of the timeline, the benefit will be retroactive to Aug. 1, and all eligible claimants will receive back pay to that date once changes to the system have been put into production, Zumwalt said.

The state could not use its unemployment trust fund as a source for the states match because it is not an approved source, Zumwalt said.

The UI trust fund is paid into by employers, and the funding for the additional benefit had to come from state funds, Zumwalt said in an email. The fiscal impact for the $100 benefit from August to December is at least $325 million and currently there are no state funding sources that have this amount available for expenditure.

In order to qualify for Lost Wages Assistance program benefits, Oklahomans must prove they are unemployed or partially unemployed as a result of COVID-19, and the state must confirm that the individual is receiving at least $100 of underlying unemployment benefits from OESC.

Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico and Utah have been approved by FEMA for the program, according to FEMA news releases.

All six states will use regular unemployment insurance payments as their 25% match.
Pune:

Thousands of mourners gathered here as the mortal remains of gunner Saurabh Farate, who was killed in the Pampore attack on Saturday, were on Monday consigned to flames at his native place in Phursungi with full military honours.

Member of Parliament from Pune Anil Shirole and local leaders were among those who paid tributes to the martyr.

As soon as Saurabhs last journey began from his house, slogans like Saurabh Farate Amar Rahe and Jab Tak Suraj Chand Rahega, Saurabh Tera Naam Rahega rent the air.

The 33-year-old gunner, who served the Indian Army for 13 years, is survived by parents, wife, twin daughters and a brother, who too is in the Army.

According to Saurabhs father Nandkumar Farate, his son had come on a two-month leave in October to celebrate the first birthday of his twins and had left in December.

He said that before leaving for duty on Saturday morning, Saurabh had spoken on telephone with the family.

On Saturday, I received a call from his unit. However, the person on the other side gave incomplete information and only informed us that Saurabh was shot, said the bereaved father.

I then called up my younger son, Rohit, who too works in the Army in Jammu and informed him about the call. It was he who informed us about his (Saurabhs) martyrdom.

Three soldiers including Saurabh were killed in a militant attack on an army convoy at Pampore on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Saturday.

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New Delhi, Aug 18 : A Delhi court on Tuesday directed the city police to continue providing security to arms dealer Abhishek Verma, a witness in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, for a month and to also reassess the threat perception to him as well as senior advocate H.S. Phoolka.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjyot Singh Bhalla issued the directions to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) while hearing a case against former Congress leader Jagdish Tytler. It pertains to the alleged killing of three Sikhs at Delhi's Gurdwara Pulbangash in 1984, a day after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In an application, Verma, a witness in the case, told the court that the security cover provided to him was suddenly withdrawn by the police "without any prior notice or without re-evaluating the threat perception". Advocate Phoolka is representing the complainant in the case.

He sought a direction for reinstatement of round-the-clock police security cover and re-evaluation of threat perception to him and his family members.

The application further stated that he is constantly receiving death threats via calls and e-mails to pressurise him not to depose against Tytler. He said that sudden withdrawal of security has left his family members extremely "disturbed and distressed due to the fear".
In this screenshot from the DNCs livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Eva Longoria hosts the virtual convention on Aug. 17, 2020. (DNCC via Getty Images)

Are All Presidential Conventions Going to Be Infomercials Now?

Commentary

Had I not already finished all three seasons of the Israeli thriller Fauda on Netflix, I doubt I would have made it through even the first 2-hour segment of the virtual Democratic National Convention.

It was like watching an infomercial. For the first five minutes, when youre learning what the product is and sitting through one or two glowing testimonials from experts, it might be moderately interesting. But the last 1 hour and 55 minutes are like a quadruple dose of Ambien. Either youre dead asleep or long gone to another network.

I should have knownforewarned is forearmedafter I dialed in (on Zoom, of course; how else these days?) for the Democrats pre-convention press briefing the morning of Aug. 17.

Holding the briefing on behalf of the party were a white male, a white female, a black female, a black male, and a Hispanic female, but no Asian. For shame!

This embarrassing diversity miscue probably wasnt fatal, however, because I sensed that few members of the Fourth Estate had actually bothered to watch. As it turned out, almost all of what the briefers had to say, the order of events, was already in an email everyone received.

Further, when it came to substance, such as it was, all I heard for those 10 or 12 minutes, a harbinger of things to come, was endless blame of Trump for the pandemic. (Silly meI thought it had something to do with communist China.)

After that, the briefers called for questions. A longer-than-expected silence ensued, suggesting low attendance, when finally a lady reporter from ABCbless her heart, as we say in the Southchimed in with this toughie: What do you think the vice-presidents main points are going to be during the week?

The same gentlewoman, at a White House press conference, would have asked Trump the equivalent of When did you stop beating your wife? if past performance is any indication.

Virtual Convention

Not that I expect the Republican convention to be much better. Virtual is virtual and, as most online students can tell you, its a bore and a chore and doesnt add up too much.

It strikes me that one of the real outgrowths of the pandemicnot the Orange Man Bad palaveris that, as with education, we may be moving into the era of the virtual convention and all that entails.

People are used to living online nowa bad thing on balance, although a reality. Its a habit thats going to be hard to break, like clicking on Amazon when you need toothpaste instead of walking or driving to the store.

For the politicians, this maximizes control and minimizes risk (gaffes)something they will probably prefer, those who break through anyway, to going among the voters, pressing flesh, and kissing babies.

This control doesnt augur well for democracy, which functions best, and ultimately more fairly, with a bit of hurly-burly unpredictability thrown into the mix.

We need applause, not a curious silence at the end of speeches. We need an audience reacting, something that was curiously lacking from this virtual convention. Call it the human factor.

We are electing a humanno?not a cyborg, at least not yet.

So speaking of control and the human factor, or lack thereof, only an hour or two after I disconnected from Zoom, an email with selected verbatim quotes from that evenings speecheswhich, after all, were canned, even more than most infomercialsarrived in my inbox.

Most of quotes were variations on the theme of the aforementioned Orange Man Bad. And the transcripts were accurate, I saw that evening, when actress Eva Longoria hosted the festivities in a curiously bland manner seemingly designed not to offend anyone. With an entertainer, you would have expected a joke or two, but it was a determinedly humorless evening.

Only the most devoted, those already convinced, would want to watch this for four nights or even one to the end. It was weirdly disembodied, preaching to a choir without applause or even an amen.

Blaming Trump

Between the feel-good montages and cable news chit-chat, Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, warned us:

But while we were peacefully protesting, Donald Trump was plotting. He stood in front of one of our most treasured houses of worship and held a Bible for a photo op. He sent troops in camouflage into our streets. He sent tear gas into the airfederal helicopters, too. I knew if he did this to D.C., he would do it to your city or your town.

Kristin Urquiza, a woman who lost her father to COVID-19, informed us:

My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada assured us, Mr. President: Nevada is not intimidated by you.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former First Lady Michelle Obama were somewhat more restrained in their attacks.

Said Cuomo: Only a strong body can fight off the virus, and Americas divisions weakened it. Donald Trump didnt create the initial division. The division created Trump; he only made it worse. (This although Trump saved Cuomos bacon for months with ventilators and the rest. The president even arranged to convert the Javits Center in Manhattan into a hospital that somehow Cuomo never used.)

Obama put it this way: Her friend Joe, as opposed to Trump, lives a life the rest of us can recognize. (Like his son making millions off China and Ukraine? And how much was Michelles book advance exactly? Sixty-five million? Oh, well, this is an infomercial. We expect a little exaggeration.)

Everyone got his or her innings, mercifully short, especially Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), who was allowed 1 minute. However, the keynote speaker of the night, at all of 8 or 9 minutes, was Bernie Sanders himself, who didnt, as ever, mince words:

My friends, I say to you, and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election. The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake. We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president. My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine.

What was that price, I wondered? Maintaining a low tax rate for a renewed economic boom? Peace in the Middle East? Or, even worse, safety in our streets?

No matter. Its all, as I said, an infomercial. Bernies just a huckster for socialism with Biden a sub-huckster. Buy one, get two, and we add  free shipping! Our operators are waiting for your call!

One more thing: I would like to add, by way of urging the elimination of these infomercials, Democrat and Republican, after their one-time necessary appearance, that real, live conventions are great fun and are actually spirited events of some consequence. (You meet live people and talk to them.) I have attended threeMinneapolis, Tampa, and Clevelandin the press corps and can attest to it.

Roger L. Simon is an award-winning novelist, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, co-founder of PJ Media, and now columnist for The Epoch Times. Find him on Twitter and Parler @rogerlsimon.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
IIT Patna and Flipkart have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will help in creating industry-focused applied research in the field of AI, NLP and ML.

Flipkart on Tuesday announced a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna over research in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP).

IIT Patna and Flipkart have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will help in creating industry-focused applied research in the field of AI, NLP and ML. Flipkart says that as a part of this MoU, IIT Patna will undertake a number of programs such as joint research activities, writing research papers, organising seminars, internship and mentorship opportunities to name a few.

The academic collaboration is expected to bring real-world industry exposure to students and scholars of IIT Patna. It will also provide an opportunity to the faculty members to work closely with Flipkart on research projects. With this collaboration, the Indian e-retail company expects to foster an environment of collaboration in the areas of automation, AI, NLP and ML and help build critical national capabilities.

Notably, this is not the first time that Walmart-owned Flipkart has collaborated with universities in India over academic research. The e-retailer works with premier institutes in India such as Indian Institute of Science (IISC), IIT-Kharagpur, IIT-Bombay, IIT-Kanpur, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Kolkata and a few foreign universities like Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California and San Diego to develop technologies such as fashion recommendation, query understanding, attribute extraction, demand planning, product categorization, review helpfulness, supply chain management, fraud detection and next basket prediction. This, the company says has resulted in several research papers in world-class conferences in areas like information retrieval and knowledge discovery.

The aim behind this collaboration is to create industry-focused applied research which could help reach e-commerce to more consumers and sellers alike. With this MoU, we aim to establish deeper academia collaborations which could help students and the academia to leverage our data and platform knowledge to work on India specific e-commerce challenges, in addition to publishing research papers, Mayur Datar, Chief Data Scientist Flipkart said on the occasion.
A wedding reception in Maine is being blamed for an outbreak of 28 COVID-19 cases as the state's CDC office launches an investigation into whether the event that led to the cluster broke safety guidelines.

Officials said Monday that 28 Maine residents tested positive for the coronavirus after the wedding reception in Millinocket  the state's first outbreak linked to a social gathering.

About 65 people attended the indoor event on August 7 at the Big Moose Inn, according to Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) spokesman Robert Long.

Eighteen people who attended the reception and six others who had close contact with attendees subsequently tested positive, according to Maine CDC.

A wedding reception in Maine is being blamed for an outbreak of 28 COVID-19 cases as the state's CDC office launches an investigation into whether the event broke safety guidelines. The reception was held at the Big Moose Inn (pictured)

Eighteen people who attended the reception and six others who had close contact with attendees subsequently tested positive, according to Maine CDC. An additional four cases were later reported

'Maine CDC continues to conduct case investigations and contact tracing for guests, staff, and people who potentially came in close contact with confirmed cases during and after the event,' officials said in a statement.

And while the initial number of cases reported stood at 24, an additional four cases resulting from the event were later recorded by the Millinocket Regional Hospital.

Hospital officials said the case number is expected to rise as testing continues and pending test results are reported.

'All positive individuals have been notified directly and instructed to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days,' the hospital said in a statement.

'At this time all the individuals who've tested positive are currently being managed as out-patients; with no hospitalizations required,' the statement reads.

The hospital also announced that all elective procedures that can safely be postponed are being rescheduled so that health officials can ascertain the full extent of the exposure.

The Maine CDC was communicating with Big Moose Inn about the nature of the event and adherence to state requirements. A telephone message was left at the inn on Monday afternoon.

Millinocket Town Manager John Davis said Monday that he didn't have all the details about the outbreak, but said there was enough concern to close town hall and local schools as a precaution.

'We didn't want to take any chances,' he said.

It was the first outbreak tied to a specific social event in Maine, where most previous outbreaks have been tied to workplaces or congregant care settings, Long said Monday.

In Maine, more than 4,200 people have contracted the virus, including 29 additional cases reported on Monday. The number of deaths remained unchanged at 127 on Monday, the Maine CDC said. There are more than 5.4 million coronavirus cases in the US with 170,559 deaths

It's unclear if the owner of the Big Moose Inn could be cited if it's confirmed there were too many people at the reception.

The governor's executive orders put in place during the global pandemic limit indoor gatherings to 50 people if there's adequate space, while 100 people are allowed at outdoor events.

Attendees should also follow physical distancing guidelines and wear masks while not eating.

The orders also allow for a fine of up to $10,000, the governor's spokeswoman said.

In Penobscot County, where the wedding reception occurred, there are 192 confirmed cases and five deaths.

In Maine, more than 4,200 people have contracted the virus, including 29 additional cases reported on Monday.

The number of deaths remained unchanged at 127 on Monday, the Maine CDC said.

There are more than 5.4 million coronavirus cases in the US with 170,559 deaths.
From time to time in the course of history, the enemy of your enemy turns out to be Republican former Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

At the opening night of the Democrats' virtual national convention, nominally held in Milwaukee but actually held online due to coronavirus concerns, Kasich addressed his rival party in a taped segment to say that he was backing the Democrat Joe Biden for the presidency.

Im a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country," Kasich said in a video that showed him standing at a split in a gravel path, symbolizing two paths for the future. "Thats why Ive chosen to appear at this convention. In normal times, something like this would probably never happen. But these are not normal times.

In this screenshot from the DNCC's livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Republican, Former Ohio Governor John Kasich addresses the virtual convention. (DNCC via Getty Images)

Kasich added that, "there are areas where Joe and I absolutely disagree" but that "we can do better than what weve been seeing today, for sure. And I know that Joe Biden, with his experience and his wisdom and his decency, can bring us together to help us find that better way.

Addressing disenchanted Republicans and independents concerned that Biden might make a "sharp left" if they vote for him, Kasich assured them, No one pushes Joe Biden around."

Some left-wing Democrats had objected to Kasich receiving around four minutes of speaking time when other progressive party phenoms such as U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York were given only 60 seconds to speak. Kasich himself fanned those tensions in a pre-convention interview with BuzzFeed in which, decrying the "extreme" wings of the parties, he said that just "because AOC gets outsized publicity doesn't mean she represents the Democratic Party. She's just a part, just some member of it."

In a fundraising email sent before Kasich spoke, Ocasio-Cortez retorted, "An anti-choice, anti-worker Republican does not get to decide who represents the Democratic Party."

Story continues

But Kasich's presence, and that of other Republicans who spoke in the same segment, is a pitch to the crossover voters the Democratic Party is hoping to attract in its bid to reclaim the White House and the Senate.

Kasich (pronounced KAY-sick) was one of Trumps most dogged moderate adversaries during the 2016 GOP primary, pressing his case against the former reality TV star long after many of his career Republican counterparts were felled by the partys nativist insurgency. During the race, he praised globalism, free trade, and immigration expansion  issues of the kind of outward-facing GOP orthodoxy that Trump fully rejected during his successful bid to put "America First."

The terrible thing is Americans are faced  increasingly, I hear from people  with no choice, Kasich said in a 2016 MSNBC interview about the campaign shaping up between Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. They are not keen on Trump and they dont like Hillary either. Its a vexing situation.

Kasich, whose parents were postal workers, served in Congress for almost two decades before leaving public service in 2001 to work for the Lehman Brothers investment firm, which collapsed in the 2008 financial crisis. Two years later, he defeated incumbent Democratic Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to start his two terms in office as governor of the Buckeye State.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18)  As peasant activist Randy Echanis was laid to rest on Monday afternoon, another activist was gunned down in Bacolod City.

Zara Alvarez, who worked as a paralegal for human rights group Karapatan, was killed in a private village in the city at around 6:45 pm on Monday night.

Karapatan spokesperson Cristina Palabay confirmed on her Facebook post the killing of Alvarez, who was also the groups former campaign and education director.

The 39-year old Alvarez was a former political prisoner before serving in different capacities in the human rights group and as a research and advocacy officer of the Negros Island Health Integrated Program.

We will honor Zaras legacy as a passionate, selfless and dedicated human rights worker, by continuing the struggle for realization of peoples rights, said Palabay.

Alvarez was included in a list of more than 600 people tagged as terrorists in a proscription case filed by the Department of Justice in February 2018.

Her name and that of many others were stricken off the list, but the threats against her by alleged State forces continued, the Karapatan spokesperson.

National Union of Peoples Lawyers President Edre Olalia condemned the killing of Alvarez.

It seems vocal and effective human rights defenders, activists and critics are being slayed one after the other with brazenness and audacious impunity. The obvious intent is to sow terror. The grief and rage continues, he said.

Alvarez is the second activist killed in a span of two weeks after Echanis was found dead in a rented house in Novaliches, Quezon City last August 10.
LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands Prosecutors have provided insufficient evidence to prove a key claim in their case against three men accused as accomplices in the 2005 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, a judge said on Tuesday.

The judges are reading their decision at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon against four accused and have not yet pronounced their verdict.

While prosecutors had shown that suspects used cell phones to coordinate the attack, they did not sufficiently connect the suspects to a false claim made immediately after the attack by people who must have known Hariri would be killed.

The prosecution has therefore not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt (against three suspects) participation in the false claim of responsibility for the attack on Hariri," said Judge Janet Nosworthy.

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 heartbroken family of a teenage girl who died when the car she was travelling in smashed into a pole during a fast food run say they hold no grudge against the driver.

Alyssa Postle was with her friend on their way to KFC about 7pm on August 11 when the car veered off the road and slammed in Bray Park in Brisbane's north on August 11.

The 17-year-old suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to hospital. Her family turned off her life support on Friday.

Alyssa Postle (pictured) died after a horrific car crash in Bray Park in Brisbane on August 11

Cindy Postle has remembered her late daughter Alyssa (pictured together) as 'beautiful, caring and compassionate'

Alyssa's mourning family said they forgive the driver, who escaped with minor injuries and only got her license two weeks before the horror crash, Courier Mail reported.

'I'm upset, but that poor girl will have to live with this for the rest of her life,' her uncle Paul Clark said.

'Kellie (her mother) isn't doing real well, and Troy (her father)  well, Troy is a bit stronger.

'It's supposed to be our kids burying us, not us burying our kids.'

The 17-year-old suffered serious head injuries in the crash and had her life support turned off on Friday

Alyssa's mother Kellie Postle posted a heartfelt tribute to her daughter, remembering her as 'beautiful, caring and compassionate'.

'On the 14th of August our beautiful Alyssa was lifted away to heaven,' Ms Postle's post reads.

'She was a passenger in a serious car accident and suffered major head injury. Sadly, the crash triggered a fault that prevented blood and nutrients from entering her brain.

'Tragically, there was nothing that could be done and she was pronounced brain dead.

'The painful decision to remove the life support was done today and now she has officially passed on and may no longer be here with us, but she will always be with us spiritually and in our hearts.

'You are now in a better place. Alyssa was a beautiful, compassionate, caring, loving and strong young woman who had so much to live for and was taken far too soon.'

A Facebook fundraiser has been launched to raise money for the family after the teenager's death, with more than $62,000 raised.

Alyssa was completing her final year of school at the Christian Genesis School before her young life was cut short.

Staff and students were notified of the tragic news in a letter sent out by the principal on Friday afternoon.

The tight-knit Christian community came together to share their blessings and send messages of condolence to the family.

Alyssa (pictured with her family) was a year 12 student at Christian Genesis School, with many friends and family posted tributes to her online after her death

Tributes have been flowing in across social media for the 'beautiful person and amazing friend' while flowers adorn the crash site in a tragic memorial.

'All our love to you and the family. Our prayers are with you all during this difficult time. Alyssa may you spread your wings angel,' one friend said.

'Alyssa was a beautiful girl inside and out. Sending all of our love to the Postle family and to the other family also affected by this tragedy,' another friend wrote.

Others described the situation as 'unimaginable' and 'tragic', struggling to find the words to express their grief over the tragic loss.

'Devastating and heartbreaking, our thoughts and prayers are with the family, & those involved,' wrote another friend.

The year 12 student was rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Women's hospital in a critical condition after the smash.

A witness who was on the scene at the horror single car smash said it was a 'horrible accident.'
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Ukraine has summoned the Belarusian ambassador for consultations on deteriorating relations between the two countries.



Ukrainian Ambassador to Belarus Igor Kizim will be summoned to Kyiv "to assess the prospects of Belarusian-Ukrainian relations in the new reality, Kuleba said on August 17.



Kuleba said Ukraine takes issue first and foremost with the release of 32 Russian citizens detained near Minsk last month who had been accused of being mercenaries plotting to destabilize the situation in Belarus around the August 9 presidential election.



The Russian Prosecutor-Generals Office said on August 14 that the men had been released and returned to Russia and would not face criminal charges.



A 33rd man who was arrested with the others 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.



Kuleba said Minsk handed the men over to Russia despite the existence of legal and moral grounds to hand them over to Ukraine.



This step undermined trust between our countries and dealt a heavy blow to our bilateral relations, Kuleba said, according to Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.



The men had been identified as employees of the Russia-based Vagner private security contractor. Minsk claimed the men were in Belarus to conduct a color revolution as Belarusian President Aleyaksandr Lukashenka sought a sixth term as president. Moscow claimed the men were traveling through Belarus on their way to Istanbul before flying to a third country.



After the men were released, Lukashenka accused Ukraine of unfriendly actions against Belarus, said Kuleba, who also cited Russias statement on August 16 that it was ready to provide aid under the terms of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as a source of contention.



This combination of facts and actions, as well as events in Belarus related to the August 9 presidential election, radically changes the situation in Belarusian-Ukrainian relations, Kuleba said.



It is the first time Ukraine has resorted to such a step in its relations with Belarus, and we are doing it exclusively because of the unacceptable actions of Minsk, Kuleba said.

Current Time and pravda.com.ua
Denise Allan, mother of Charles Horvath, is shown at a September 2018 news conference at Kelowna RCMP headquarters with a photo of her son projected on the screen behind her.
Even the thought of the High Street without Marks & Spencer is too awful to contemplate. More than a mere shop, it is part of the warp and weft, the fabric of our lives.

But unless things change soon, it is becoming increasingly hard to see a happy future for the 136-year-old chain.

As M&S chairman Archie Norman has made no bones about telling shareholders, the company is on a burning platform and has no God-given right to exist.

He made those remarks two years ago, and the situation has severely worsened since, in part due to the pandemic.

Marks & Spencer's is locked in a battle for survival as coronavirus continues to hammer the high street. The chain is making a roll of the dice next month in a 750million deal with Ocado

Still, the company has a big roll of the dice next month, when it launches a 750million tie-up with Ocado to sell its food through the online delivery service.

I desperately hope this venture will succeed. For if it does not, the M&S we know and love could find itself broken up, under attack by corporate raiders or even a plaything for private equity barons.

Its sales growth figures are far behind rivals

Like the rest of the retail sector, its sales have been hammered by Covid and its share price has dropped like a stone. The reluctance to return to the workplace has led to a huge fall in purchases of smart office clothes, an M&S speciality.

But its decline extends way beyond the virus, which struck at what was already a sink-or-swim moment. M&S has been engaged in a string of failed attempts to reinvent itself for the past 20 years. Hopes have been raised, then cruelly dashed as a parade of bosses has come and gone.

Millions of pounds have been spent on golden hellos for new executives, all of whom were hailed as saviours until they left with their golden goodbyes. Endless clothing ranges have been launched, winning acclaim from fashion journalists but making little impact on Mrs Middle Britain who, oddly enough, found that she didnt fancy a pair of trendy gold hotpants.

The company has recruited celebrities including Holly Willoughby to help sell its stocks

Meanwhile, celebrities have been recruited to the cause, with everyone from Twiggy to Holly Willoughby, pictured above, plastered on billboards. Unfortunately, it is often still not getting the basics right and one worry is that the 7,000 job losses may mean poorer customer service. Part of the plan is for staff to be more flexible and to move around different departments.

But is that really a recipe for success? To put it bluntly, if women are shopping for a bra, we want to consult a middle-aged lady with a tape measure, not the bloke who slices the ham on the deli counter.

On the plus side, Mr Norman is one of the finest retailers in this country. If anyone can save M&S, he can. His deal with Ocado could be a stroke of brilliance. Lets hope so. But even if it is, it doesnt solve its problems with clothing. Have they ever thought a female CEO might be the way to get womens fashion right?

For all its troubles M&S is still a great British institution. But unfortunately, it has started to remind me of another: the Church of England. We all want it to be there, but many of us are just not inclined to go in very often. Unless this changes, we risk losing a store that, despite everything, has a special place in our affections.

The tie-up with Ocado has been heralded as a possible 'stroke of brilliance' for the chain

Optimists will point out that M&S has survived tough times in the past, including seeing off an aggressive takeover bid by Sir Philip Green 16 years ago. But its share price has halved to just over 1 since the start of the year.

Another bidder or a private equity player might be tempted to swoop. How sad it would be if our once-mighty M&S ends up as easy meat for a stock market predator.
CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Boeing Co (BA) will offer a second voluntary layoff package to employees to depart the company with a pay and benefits package, according to several reports citing a letter sent by the company's chief executive officer Dave Calhoun to the employees. The move will extend overall workforce reductions beyond the initial 10 percent target unveiled in April. In the letter to the employees, Boeing chief executive officer Dave Calhoun reportedly said that the voluntary layoff will be offered largely to staffers in the company's commercial airplanes unit, services division and corporate operation. The company did not provide the exact number of employees to be laid-off in the second round. In May, Boeing announced layoffs of about 6,770 U.S. team members, as part of its earlier plan of 10 percent reduction in its workforce. Citing the weak demand and delay in purchases of jets during the virus crisis, Boeing on April 29 had announced its plans to trim employee number by roughly 10 percent through a combination of voluntary layoffs, natural turnover and involuntary layoffs. The company then said deeper reductions would be there in certain areas, expecting more than 15% cut across commercial airplanes and services businesses, as well as corporate functions. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Cool new worlds found in our cosmic backyard

How complete is our census of the Sun's closest neighbors? Astronomers using NSF's NOIRLab facilities and a team of data-sleuthing volunteers participating in Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, a citizen science project, have discovered roughly 100 cool worlds near the Sun -- objects more massive than planets but lighter than stars, known as brown dwarfs. Several of these newly discovered worlds are among the very coolest known, with a few approaching the temperature of Earth -- cool enough to harbor water clouds.

Discovering and characterizing astronomical objects near the Sun is fundamental to our understanding of our place in, and the history of, the Universe. Yet astronomers are still unearthing new residents of the Solar neighborhood. A remarkable breakthrough was announced today, with the discovery of roughly 100 cool brown dwarfs near the Sun [1]. The new Backyard Worlds discoveries bridge a previously empty gap in the range of low-temperature brown dwarfs, identifying a long-sought missing link within the brown dwarf population.

"These cool worlds offer the opportunity for new insights into the formation and atmospheres of planets beyond the Solar System," said Aaron Meisner from the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab and the lead author of the research paper. "This collection of cool brown dwarfs also allows us to accurately estimate the number of free-floating worlds roaming interstellar space near the Sun."

This major advancement was made possible with archival data from the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) and the Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), which were made available through the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), all programs of NSF's NOIRLab. Large survey data sets were then made available to the Backyard Worlds volunteers using NOIRLab's Astro Data Lab science platform. The results, to be published in TheAstrophysical Journal, demonstrate the rapidly growing role of survey and archival data research in astronomy today.

Brown dwarfs lie somewhere between the most massive planets and the smallest stars. Lacking the mass needed to sustain nuclear reactions in their core, brown dwarfs resemble cooling embers. Their low mass, low temperature and lack of internal nuclear reactions make them extremely faint -- and therefore extremely difficult to detect. Because of this, when searching for the very coolest brown dwarfs, astronomers can only hope to detect such objects relatively close to the Sun.

To help find our Sun's coldest and nearest neighbors, the astronomers of the Backyard Worlds project turned to a worldwide network of more than 100,000 citizen scientists [2]. These volunteers diligently inspect trillions of pixels of telescope images to identify the subtle movements of brown dwarfs and planets. Despite the abilities of machine learning and supercomputers, there's no substitute for the human eye when it comes to scouring telescope images for moving objects.

The keen eyes of the Backyard Worlds volunteers have already discovered more than 1,500 cold worlds near to the Sun, and today's paper presents roughly 100 of the coldest in that sample. According to Meisner, this is a record for any citizen science program by a factor of about 20, and 20 citizen scientists are listed as co-authors of the study. A handful of these cool worlds -- which are among the very coldest brown dwarfs known -- approach the temperature of Earth. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope provided the brown dwarf temperature estimates [3].

Brown dwarfs are expected to cool as they age, passing from near-stellar temperatures down to planetary temperatures and below, fading all the while and eventually winking out. The new discoveries attest to this picture by uncovering elusive examples of brown dwarfs approaching Earth-temperature.

"This paper is evidence that the solar neighborhood is still uncharted territory and citizen scientists are excellent astronomical cartographers," said co-author Jackie Faherty of the American Museum of Natural History. "Mapping the coldest brown dwarfs down to the lowest masses gives us key insights into the low-mass star formation process while providing a target list for detailed studies of the atmospheres of Jupiter analogs."

Citizen scientist, Astro Data Lab user, and paper co-author Jim Walla added, Its awesome to know that our discoveries are now counted among the Sun's neighbors and will be targets of further research.

Alongside the dedicated efforts of the Backyard Worlds volunteers, NOIRLab's Astro Data Lab was instrumental in this research. The technical burden of downloading billion-object astronomical catalogs is typically insurmountable for individual investigators -- including most professional astronomers. "AstroData Lab's open and accessible web portal allowed Backyard Worlds citizen scientists to easily query massive catalogs for brown dwarf candidates," explained NOIRLab astronomer Stephanie Juneau, who helped introduce the citizen scientists to Astro Data Lab. Astro Data Lab also enables convenient matching between data sets from NOIRLab telescopes and external facilities, such as NASA's WISE satellite, that jointly contributed to these brown dwarf discoveries.

In addition to Astro Data Lab's making data accessible to the Backyard Worlds collaboration, archival observations by telescopes at two other NOIRLab Programs -- CTIO and KPNO -- were also key to this discovery. "Wide-area imaging from NOIRLab's Mayall and Blanco telescopes was also critical," explained Aaron Meisner. "To select only the very coldest brown dwarfs, we inspected deep images from a variety of sensitive astronomical surveys."

"It's great to see such thrilling results from NOIRLab's efforts to broaden participation in astronomy research," said Chris Davis of the National Science Foundation, the US agency that supports operations at the Kitt Peak and Cerro Tololo observatories and at CSDC. "By making archival data from NSF's Mayall and Blanco telescopes publicly available and easily accessible through CSDC, folks with a fascination for astronomy can make a real contribution to science and to our understanding of the Universe."

The approach of the Backyard Worlds project -- searching for rare objects in large data sets -- is also one of the goals for the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory [4]. Currently under construction on Cerro Pachon in the Chilean Andes, Rubin Observatory will image the visible sky from the southern hemisphere every three nights over ten years, providing a vast amount of data that will enable new ways of doing astrophysical research.

"Vast modern data sets can unlock landmark discoveries, and it's exciting that these could be spotted first by a citizen scientist," concludes Aaron Meisner. "These Backyard Worlds discoveries show that members of the public can play an important role in reshaping our scientific understanding of our solar neighborhood."

###

Notes

[1] The closest of these new discoveries is roughly 23 light-years away from the Sun. Many more of these brown dwarfs are in the 30-60 light-year distance range.

[2] Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 is hosted by Zooniverse.

[3] Complementary follow-up observations were also supplied by Keck Observatory, Mont Megantic Observatory, and Carnegie Institution for Science's Las Campanas Observatory.

[4] Rubin Observatory and Department of Energy (DOE) Legacy Survey of Space and Time Camera are operated by NSFs NOIRLab and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC).

More information

This research was presented in the paper Spitzer Follow-up of Extremely Cold Brown Dwarfs Discovered by the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 Citizen Science Project to appear in The Astrophysical Journal.

The team is composed of Aaron M. Meisner (NSF's NOIRLab), Jacqueline K. Faherty (Department of Astrophysics, American Museum of Natural History), J. Davy Kirkpatrick (IPAC, California Institute of Technology), Adam C. Schneider (School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University), Dan Caselden (Gigamon Applied Threat Research), Jonathan Gagne (Institute for Research on Exoplanets, Universite de Montreal), Marc J. Kuchner (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Adam J. Burgasser (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), Sarah L. Casewell (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester), John H. Debes (ESA for AURA, Space Telescope Science Institute), Etienne Artigau (Institute for Research on Exoplanets, Universite de Montreal), Daniella C. Bardalez Gagliuffi (Department of Astrophysics, American Museum of Natural History), Sarah E. Logsdon (NSF's NOIRLab), Rocio Kiman (Department of Astrophysics, American Museum of Natural History & Department of Physics, City University of New York), Katelyn Allers (Physics and Astronomy Department, Bucknell University), Chih-chun Hsu (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), John P. Wisniewski (Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma), Michaela B. Allen (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Paul Beaulieu (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Guillaume Colin (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Hugo A. Durantini Luca (IATE-OAC, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba-CONICET), Sam Goodman (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Leopold Gramaize (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Leslie K. Hamlet (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Ken Hinckley (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Frank Kiwy (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), David W. Martin (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), William Pendrill (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Austin Rothermich (Physics Department, University Of Central Florida), Arttu Sainio (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Jorg Schumann (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Nikolaj Stevnbak Andersen (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Christopher Tanner (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Vinod Thakur (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Melina Thevenot (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Jim Walla (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Zbigniew Wedracki (Backyard Worlds: Planet 9), Christian Aganze (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), Roman Gerasimov (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), Christopher Theissen (Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California San Diego), and The Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 Collaboration.

NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab), the US center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the international Gemini Observatory (a facility of NSF, NRC-Canada, ANID-Chile, MCTIC-Brazil, MINCyT-Argentina, and KASI-Republic of Korea), Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The astronomical community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on Iolkam Du'ag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawaii, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachon in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that these sites have to the Tohono O'odham Nation, to the Native Hawaiian community, and to the local communities in Chile, respectively.

Links

Contacts:

Aaron Meisner

Astronomer at NSF's NOIRLab

Cell: +1 650-714-8643

Email: ameisner@noao.edu

Peter Michaud

NewsTeam Manager

NSF's NOIRLab

Gemini Observatory, Hilo HI

Cell: +1 808-936-6643

Email: pmichaud@gemini.edu

Amanda Kocz

Press and Internal Communications Officer

NSF's NOIRLab

Cell: +1 626 524 5884

Email: akocz@aura-astronomy.org

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Forsyth County had its second-largest daily increase in COVID-19 related deaths on Monday, rising by four to a total of 60, state health officials reported Tuesday.

The largest daily death toll in Forsyth was five on June 3. The county also had four deaths reported on July 28.

Forsyth reported 40 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 5,601 as of noon Tuesday.

In August, new daily cases reported in Forsyth have ranged from nine to 65 after being at 88 as recently as July 31.

"A reasonable conclusion cannot be drawn off a couple days of data," Tony Lo Guidice, the county's assistant health director, said Monday.

"Well continue to work with the departments epidemiology section, the State Division of Public Health and our hospital partners to monitor trends over time and report the trends as accurately as possible."

Forsyth health officials said that 4,867 residents are counted as recovered and there were 674 residents with active cases. It's the lowest active case count since 623 on May 30.
Though there was no evidence of any agreement between the Russians and the Trump campaign to work together, there was clear coordination, said Senator Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with the Democrats and is a member of the Intelligence Committee.

The Russians were doing things to disrupt American democracy and help the Trump campaign and the Trump campaign was doing things to amplify and utilize what the Russians were supplying, Mr. King said in an interview. There may not have been an explicit agreement but they were both consciously pursing the same end, which was the election of Donald Trump. And for the Russians, the extra benefit was disrupting American democracy.

The president and his allies have long tried to discredit the government investigations into the 2016 election as part of a witch hunt intended to undermine the legitimacy of Mr. Trumps stunning election. Since the release of Mr. Muellers report, Attorney General William P. Barr and numerous Republican senators have recast the president as the victim of politically motivated national security officials in the Obama administration.

Releasing the report less than 100 days before Election Day, lawmakers hoped it would refocus attention on the interference by Russia and other hostile foreign powers in the American political process, which has continued unabated.

Members of Mr. Trumps own party led the Intelligence Committees work. Much of the investigation was overseen by Senator Richard M. Burr, Republican of North Carolina, but he temporarily stepped aside as the chairman of the panel in May because of a federal investigation into stock sales he made before the coronavirus pandemic began rattling the United States. He was succeeded by Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, though Mr. Burr voted to endorse the reports conclusions.

The report could have partisan benefits for Democrats, who were using their convention this week as a platform to portray Mr. Trump as unfit and incapable of being president. Andrew Bates, a spokesman for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., said the report showed the Russian government intervened in 2016 to help Donald Trump get elected and to undermine our democracy. Donald Trump welcomed it with open arms. They are working toward the same goals again this year, and Trump refuses to reject their assistance.

President Trump called the report a hoax, but a White House spokesman said it helped confirm what the president and his allies had long said  that there was absolutely no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
In 1776 as John Adams was participating in the Continental Congress, he received a letter from his wife.

Abigail Adams wrote, according to The Tribune in Scranton on Aug. 19, 1920, if  in the new laws  particular care and attention are not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound to obey any laws in which we have no voice.

This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote.

On Aug. 18, 1920, according to newspaper reports at the time, Tennessee became the 36th state to approve the 19th amendment giving it the 3/4 majority needed for it to become law.

According to history.com, The package containing the certified record of the action of the Tennessee legislature was sent by train to the nations capital, arriving in the early hours of August 26. At 8 a.m. that morning, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed it without ceremony at his residence in Washington. None of the leaders of the woman suffrage movement were present when the proclamation was signed, and no photographers or film cameras recorded the event.

That afternoon, Carrie Chapman Catt, head of the National American Suffrage Association, was received at the White House by President Woodrow Wilson and Edith Wilson, the first lady.

Former Governor of New York Alfred E. Smith, welcomes Carrie Chapman Catt, women's suffrage leader, on her triumphal return from Tennessee, last state to ratify the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, in New York, Aug. 27, 1920. Miss Catt carries a bouquet of blue and yellow flowers, colors of the National American Woman's Suffrage Association. (AP Photo)AP

The road to women being allowed to vote was a long one.

According to a history of the 19th amendment by the U.S. Senate, Women demanded political equality even before the nations founding, but not until 1878 did a member of Congress formally submit a proposal to amend the Constitution to allow women to vote.

The Senate debated what came to be known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment periodically for more than four decades.

Approved by the Senate on June 4, 1919, and ratified in August 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment marked one stage in womens long fight for political equality.

The Tribune on Aug. 19, 1920, included a story titled, Suffrage Struggle Dates Back to 1647.

Ratification of the suffrage amendment to the Constitution ends a struggle began in this country before the Colonies declared their independence. It will eventually enfranchise 25,000,000 women.

Woman suffrage first raised its voice in America in 1647 when Mistress Margaret Brent, heir of Lord Calvert, demanded a place in the legislature of the colony as a property holder of wide extent.

And in the days of the Revolution Abigail Adams wrote her husband John Adams at the Continental Congress which was framing the laws of the infant nation that if  in the new laws  particular care and attention are not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound to obey any laws in which we have no voice.

Organized work for woman suffrage began in the United States with the Womans Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y., in 1848 which was called by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, early leaders of Massachusetts and New York, in response to the indignation aroused by the refusal to permit women to take part in the anti-slavery convention of 1840.

HEC/30200/30267a.tif - Date based on date of photograph by National Photo Company with the title "When Tennessee the 36th state ratified, Aug. 19, 1920, Alice Paul, National chairman of the Woman's Party, unfurled the ratification banner ..." (MSS Div.) [In front of National Woman's Party headquarters, Washington, D.C.] AP

From the date of that convention the suffrage movement in the United States began the fight that lasted seventy years and ended with victory.

Another convention followed in 1852 at Syracuse, N.Y., at which delegates from Canada were present and it was there that Susan B. Anthony assumed leadership of the cause to which she devoted her life.

In 1869 the National Woman Suffrage Association, with Miss Anthony and Mrs. Stanton at its head was formed in New York and in the same year the American Woman Suffrage Association was organized in Cleveland with Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe as its leaders.

At first differing widely in policy, the National Association working to put a suffrage amendment through the federal Congress and its sister organization bending its efforts to convert the country state by state, the two associations later united under the name of the National Woman Suffrage Association.

The associations drive for the vote was led in turn by Mrs. Stanton, Miss Anthony, Dr. Anna Howard Shaw and Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the latter of whom is now its president.

The 19th amendment, which bears her name, was drafted by Miss Anthony in 1875 and was first introduced in Congress in 1878 by Senator A.A. Sargent of California; and it is in the same language that the new principle of the new law reads:

Article, Section 1: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.

Article, Section 2: Congress shall have power, by appropriate legislation, to enforce the provisions of this article.'

The amendment holds the record of being before the country longer than any other successful amendment to the Constitution. It was introduced as the 16th amendment and has been successively the 17th, 18th and 19th and has been before every session of Congress since its initial appearance.

During the first 35 years after its introduction into Congress, the amendment made practically no progress and until seven years ago it had not been debated on the floor for 30 years. But the campaign for the movement was slowly but steadily gaining ground in the states.

Meanwhile Miss Anthony made a test of the right of women to cast the ballot by going to the polls and voting. She was arrested and convicted and, though she refused to pay her fine, was never jailed. She became, however; the forerunner of the militants, who adopted the forceful tactics of the latter days of the campaign.

State after state gradually enfranchised its women citizens. Beginning with Wyoming in 1869, by 1919, sixteen states had given women the right to vote, and 14 states had presidential suffrage previous to ratification of the amendment.

Chairwoman Alice Paul, second from left, and officers of the National Woman's Party hold a banner with a Susan B. Anthony quote in front of the NWP headquarters in Washington, D.C., June 1920. The suffragettes are ready for the G.O.P. convention to seek support for the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. The other suffragettes are, Sue White, Mrs. Benigna Green Kalb, Mrs. James Rector, Mary Dubrow and Elizabeth Kalb. (AP Photo)AP

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US Democrats opened their nominating convention Monday with a show of unity behind Joe Biden and former first lady Michelle Obama delivering a scathing rebuke of Donald Trump as she urged voters to reject his politics of 'division.'

"Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country," Barack Obama's wife said in a keynote speech on the first night of a convention that has shifted entirely online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership, or consolation, or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division and a total and utter lack of empathy."

The pre-taped remarks came as unprecedented criticism by a former first lady of a sitting US president, painting him as a man who lacks the competence, character or decency for the job.

It was a potent message for voters who tuned in unsure of what to expect from a virtual convention that lacked the showstopping pizzazz and stagecraft of a live event.

With the Democratic Party poised to officially anoint the 77-year-old Biden as its nominee, Trump defied coronavirus concerns and staged a competing event in Wisconsin, the state where Democrats were supposed to hold their in-person convention.

The carefully choreographed opening for the four-day unifying gathering featured actress Eva Longoria as convention moderator.

"Every four years we come together to reaffirm our democracy," she said. "This year we've come to save it."

Dozens of speakers, including a host of Republicans opposed to Trump, offered a similar message.

In a poignant moment, everyday American Kristine Urquiza described how her father died from coronavirus after going out with friends when he believed the pandemic was not serious.

"His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that he paid with his life," Urquiza said.

- 'Truth and trust' -

Story continues

Obama also took pains to describe Biden as a "terrific vice president" she grew to know well during the eight years he served as her husband's number two.

"He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country," she added.

Biden "will tell the truth, and trust science," she said in a jab at Trump, who has been accused of repeatedly ignoring the advice of his scientific advisors on how to respond to the pandemic.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who challenged Biden for the nomination from the progressive left, also addressed the convention by videolink, and warned that Trump is "leading us down the path of authoritarianism."

"The future of our democracy is at stake," and electing Biden over Trump is an absolute necessity, he stressed.

"My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine."

- 'Crazy socialist policies' -

Trump flew on Air Force One meanwhile to Oshkosh, Wisconsin and delivered remarks to supporters gathered on the airport tarmac.

He accused Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris of seeking to enact "crazy socialist policies" and warned the 2020 election will be "the most dangerous" ever.

"The only way we're going to lose this election is if the election is rigged," added the president, who trails Biden in nearly all national polls as well as multiple battleground states.

The Democratic convention is taking place amid a furor over Trump's own efforts to limit mail-in voting.

Insisting without proof that it fosters fraud, Trump has threatened to block extra funding that Democrats say is urgently needed to allow the US Postal Service to process millions of ballots.

Obama addressed the controversy in her remarks, warning that Trump and Republicans were "lying about the security of our ballots."

Oshkosh, where Trump spoke, is about a 90-minute drive north of the Milwaukee arena where Democrats had intended to gather in a sign of eagerness to win back Wisconsin, one of multiple Democratic strongholds which flipped to Trump in 2016.

But the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed some 170,000 people in the United States, upended election campaigning.

Biden did not speak live on Monday, but he tweeted his support afterward.

"Tonight we saw that Americans are ready to come together, and that we the people can overcome these crises and emerge stronger than ever," he wrote.

While some speeches Monday were clearly pre-taped, Biden and Harris, 55, will address the convention live via videolink, according to the campaign.

Biden, whose poll leads over Trump remain significant, despite a slight tightening of the race, is hoping Harris -- the first woman of color on a major party's presidential ticket -- will invigorate Democrats.

On Wednesday, Barack Obama will speak, and Harris will have her spotlight moment before the convention culminates Thursday when Biden formally accepts the Democratic nomination and delivers his acceptance speech.

mlm/ft
ZAMBOANGA CITY  Eight villages in the southern Philippine province of Sulu are now free from the influence of the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf...
It was during a Fourth of July celebration years ago when former Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha knew Robert Huhta was going to make it as a cop.

Duscha had been handing more and more responsibilities to Huhta, a fairly quiet officer, without hearing any complaints. On that July day, Huhta was seated with several other officers by Lake Sacajawea when Duscha walked up and said: Youre in my chair. Get out.

No, Huhta replied.

I told him, Youre going to make it,  Duscha, 66 said in a recent joint interview with Huhta, 44. Because he had the guts to tell me no.

Duscha, the top cop at Cowlitz Countys largest law enforcement department for nearly a decade, hung up his cap and badge Thursday. He has passed the helm to former Police Captain Huhta, who will serve as interim chief while the City decides whether to hold a search for an outside candidate or to make Huhtas appointment permanent.

In his time as chief, Duscha led the department through major renovations of the police station, controversies surrounding the short-lived traffic camera system, efforts to hire five more officers and recent struggles regarding the citys homelessness problem.

Duscha admits it will be weird to be a regular citizen after wearing the departments badge for 42 years.

The hardest moments of his job have been the few times hes had to fire an officer for cause, Duscha said. Each time, he said, the officer acknowledged their misstep.

I feel bad for their family, and I feel bad for the officer, Duscha said. Thats a lot of lost sleep. Out of everything in my career, Im glad Ill never have to do that again.

Between the killing of Cowlitz County Sheriffs Deputy Justin DeRosier, a spate of difficult SWAT incidents and dealing with COVID-19, Duscha said the last two years have mentally been the toughest of his time as chief.

But hed already figured by last year that the time was right to retire, given his age and the length of his career.

Every cop knows when its time, and its time, Duscha said.

He plans to spend more time with his family and will continue working part-time through his consulting business. As COVID-19 subsides, hes looking forward to travelling more with his wife and children.

Hes earned his retirement and will be missed, Kelso Police Chief Darr Kirk said.

It is a long career, and long careers in law enforcement are not as common as they used to be, Kirk said. Chief Duschas seen more change in law enforcement than really anybody in this county. Hes adapted and recognized the changes that have taken place.

Duscha, who started in 2011, was the first chief chosen internally since Ed Bourdage, who retired in 1990. He hopes hes not the last.

Previous LPD chief Alex Perez predicted he would be the last of the three California imports to lead the department. Police guild members had expressed frustration over the years that those chiefs suffered from a lack of familiarity with the department that led to friction and morale problems.

Most of our contracts (with previous chiefs) went to arbitration because they argued about everything, Duscha said. They had a lot of grievances that went all the way to arbitration because they just couldnt sit down at the table and work things out. In the nine years Ive been Chief of Police, weve never had a contract go beyond City Hall. ... Our last (contract) took a total of four days to complete.

LPD guild legal counsel Mark Makler said the guilds relationship with Duscha has been one of mutual respect and professionalism and now Huhta is poised to continue that tradition.

While Huhta has strived for the Chiefs position since becoming a captain 10 years ago, hes wanted to be an officer since he was a kid.

In 1996, at the age of 19, he joined the department as a paid cadet, taking jobs from running the evidence room to investigating property crime cases.

I was hooked, Huhta said. There was zero doubt in my mind. I was doing everything I could ... so when I turned 21 I could be hired by LPD.

He worked his way through patrol, street crimes, community services, the Lower Columbia SWAT team and other roles, most recently coming to serve as deputy Incident Commander of the Countys COVID-19 response team.

Huhta says he loves police work and enjoys handling routine calls himself when he finds the time. Its something he and Duscha both stressed: A good chief cant be holed up in their office all day.

The City of Longview announced Huhtas appointment to Interim Police Chief in July. City Manager Kurt Sacha estimated at the time that the City will take roughly three to six months to determine if Huhta is the right fit for the role or if the City will conduct an outside search.

Training young officers to take the reins was one of his goals as Chief, Duscha said. He said hes 99.9% confident the City will keep Huhta as the Chief. If they dont: Ive already told the City Manager I will come back as a civilian and raise a big stink.

Roberts been my second-in-command for nine years, Duscha said. He is ready to go. He is ready to lead this department. ... I think once Im gone and hes running the department like I know he can, theyll take that Interim off.

Kirk agreed with Duscha on hiring internally and called Huhta the natural choice.

Huhta is extremely hard working, diligent, part of the community, and a great leader, Kirk said. He has worked in virtually every assignment in LPD during his career.  Hes been sort of at the forefront of every major incident Longview has had that I can recall in the past 10 years.

As Interim Chief, Huhtas goals include working more closely with behavioral and mental health organizations like Columbia Wellness, which could free up officers from responding to certain mental health-related calls. Thats a shift in strategy that has been suggested by both police advocates and critics, magnified by the current national reckoning over law enforcement spurred by the May killing of George Floyd.

I think out of this entire movement going on right now, thats one of the best things Ive ever heard, Duscha said.

When the state and feds cut funding for mental health ... that work got passed on to law enforcement, Huhta added. If someone is suicidal and armed with a gun in an apartment complex, theres a community safety aspect and law enforcement needs to be involved. But the enhanced partnership with behavioral health specialists is critical. And I think law enforcement across the country as a whole would support that.

Huhta will also have to grapple with the limited staffing that Duscha said has vexed the department for years. Department stability and employee wellness will be a pillar of his leadership plan, Huhta said.

LPD is a busy department and its short-staffed officers are pushed harder than other agencies, Duscha said. He said that has probably been the biggest headache for every chief at the agency in the last 20 years.

Somebody else coined the phrase ... Longview (PD), for better or worse, has been nicknamed the meat grinder,  Duscha said.

Between a supportive city council, city manager and citizens, Duscha said the department has been able to shift some things around and avoid losing any officer positions amid COVID-19 budget cuts.

Castle Rock Police Chief Scott Neves said Duscha and Huhta have both brought a spirit of cooperation among the countys law enforcement agencies.

Its huge because we havent had that in the past, Neves said. In the past (its) been disjointed, or (there have been) factions in the leadership throughout the county where agency heads didnt get along. That hasnt existed here with both Jim and Robert.

Neves called Duscha kind of the patriarch of the current chiefs group, and a personal mentor in his own law enforcement career. And Neves said Huhta is the natural selection for Duschas successor.

I worked multiple scenes with him as the SWAT commander, and have always found him to be level headed, a great decision maker, and (someone who) truly cares about the citizens and whats best for the communities.

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Centi, a Zurich, Switzerland  based Bitcoin SV payments processor, closed its first funding round.

The amount of the funding was not disclosed.

The round was led by headlined by Dr. Jurg Conzett, founder of Zurichs MoneyMuseum, and technology entrepreneur Calvin Ayre, founder of the Ayre Group and CoinGeek.

The company intends to use the funds to launch the system with an initial rollout planned with retail partners across Switzerland.

Founded by long-time Bitcoin advocate Bernhard Muller, Centi is a system that enables merchants to accept digital currency payments through existing Point of Sale (POS) infrastructure. By integrating with existing POS systems and acquirers and avoiding the need for additional hardware, it offer a streamlined solution for businesses to begin accepting Bitcoin SV payments.

Centi integrates into existing POS systems, no additional hardware is required, nor is additional staff training necessary. Payments are made by customers in BSV, but received by merchants in their local fiat currency, eliminating issues associated with accepting and accounting for digital currencies.

FinSMEs

18/08/2020
India's electricity generation in the first 15 days of August rose for the first time since early March, provisional government data showed, as the country opened up industries and lifted restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus. Power generation rose 2.6% in the first 15 days of August compared with the same period of last year, a Reuters analysis of daily load despatch data from federal grid operator POSOCO showed, compared with a 1.8% fall in July.

In the second half of last month, electricity generation declined 3.1%. Power use has picked up from previous months when India was under a strict lockdown, mainly because of higher demand in the northern states and rising consumption in the highly industrialized western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Industry and offices account for more than half of India's annual power use. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been citing electricity consumption to show there are "green shoots" in the economy. Seasonal factors including hot weather could have fuelled higher power demand.

Despite surging coronavirus cases and a rise in deaths to as many as 50,000 on Monday, most states have resumed nearly all industrial activity and removed tight restrictions on movement of people and goods. Rajasthan, India's largest state by area, saw a 15.7% growth in electricity use. Other states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh also saw an uptick in power demand.

Renewable energy generation, which fell by nearly a fifth in July, rose 2.3% in the first half of August. Solar-powered electricity production grew 19.3%, while wind-powered generation fell over 10%. Power generation from coal - India's primary source of electricity - rose 4.2% in the first fifteen days of August, the data showed.

Also read: IHCL, Tata Power team up for supply of solar energy to hotels in Mumbai
Two start-ups incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay have developed an alcohol-free steriliser that can keep surfaces free from bacteria and virus for 10 days.

Launched on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day on August 15, Avran is a virucide powered by nanotechnology.

It has been developed by Navork Innovations Private Ltd, a start-up working in the domains of nanotechnology, chemicals, textile, and material science, in association with Abstract Ideas, a design, and aesthetics start-up.

Avran is one of the products selected by the Union Ministry of Science and Technologys Department of Science and Technology under an initiative called the Centre for Augmenting War with coronavirus disease (Covid-19) health crisis (CAWACH).

The two start-ups, mentored by the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) at IIT-Bombay, came together to develop the product following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We have received a 1-crore grant from CAWACH for developing and marketing the product. Our first batch of sterilisers were dispatched on Monday, said Diptesh Mukherjee, an IIT-Bombay alumnus and a co-founder of Abstract Ideas.

Agastya Bouyant, incubated at IIM-Calcutta, that manufactures inflatables for cleaning of water surfaces of rivers and sea, too, was a part of the product development.

The steriliser is alcohol-free and a single spray can protect a surface from both virus and bacteria. The product has been tested at a laboratory that is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

The steriliser provides five levels of protection by providing a coating of nanoparticles, positively-charged molecular chains, antiviral and antibacterial film, nitrogen and halogen-based organic compounds (halamines) and naturally-occurring coconut and lemon extracts.

Our product can kill 99.999% virus and bacteria in five minutes only. The surface will remain bacteria and virus-free for 10 days, said Abhishek Sahgal, an alumnus of IIT-Delhi and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, and the co-founder of Navork.

Manufactured at IIT-Bombay and a facility in Taloja in Navi Mumbai, the sterilisers are high in demand, according to the founders.

The demand for the product is almost 10 times that we had estimated. Around 40% of our customers are distributors of medical supplies, 30% are companies established in the industry and the rest (30%) are the general public, said Sahgal.

A 250-millilitre (ml) spray bottle is priced at 240 and a 500-ml bottle is available for 360. While for a five-litre jar, the disinfectant is available for 1,750.

A patent for the technology was filed four months ago and the product will be available on e-commerce portals from September.
(Newser)  At the end of May, the family of Fred Allen McKinney, who died in 2015, started making some strange finds at his gravesite in Bentonville, Ark.: the carcasses of various animals, which the family initially believed had died after nibbling on fake flowers left in McKinney's memory. According to a probable cause report cited by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and KNWA, the family soon realized the animals' bodies were being left intentionally, per McKinney's granddaughter Shannon Noblesand now, after a bit of sleuthing, a neighbor, 79-year-old Joseph Stroud, with whom McKinney had a long-standing feud has been arrested. After their suspicions were raised, McKinney's family got the OK from the cemetery to set up game cameras at the gravesite. Their suspect soon started making new appearances, arriving in a grey Dodge Journey, dead animals in hand to place on the tombstone.

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The person was wearing sunglasses, as well as a woman's jacket and wig (KNWA has a picture). Nobles herself spotted Stroud leaving the cemetery on two separate occasions and recognized him as a neighbor her grandparents had feuded with. Cops say that when they went to Stroud's house to question him, they spotted a bath towel inside his grey Dodge Journey stained red with what "appeared to be blood." Stroud was arrested Aug. 10 and charged for defacing objects of public respect. He denies those charges and says he was at the cemetery visiting his wife's grave. McKinney's family says about 16 animal carcasses were left in totalas well as eight live baby possums left in a graveside vaseand that one of the animal's bodies left a brown stain on the headstone that can't be repaired. The cost to replace it is more than $2,500. Stroud's arraignment is set for Sept. 21. (Read more strange stuff stories.)
I think the best way to bring about change on the island is for us to have closer relations with the country that is 90 miles away, Bass said. My position on Cuba is really no different than the position of the Obama administration. As a matter of fact, I was honored to go to Cuba with President Obama. I went to Cuba with Secretary Kerry when we raised the flag. So there really isnt anything different.
With resounding voter approval this weekend for their purchase of East Jefferson General Hospital, LCMC Health officials now face the task of turning around the fortunes of a venerable Metairie institution that had slid towards financial insolvency in a shifting New Orleans health care market.

For years, the 420-bed east bank public hospital has won praise for the quality of its care while at the same time earning demerits for its grim financial situation. While other area hospitals joined larger networks, at East Jefferson losses crept into the millions of dollars per year and its bondholders threatened foreclosure if a private operator or purchaser couldn't be found.

Into that grim scenario stepped New Orleans-based nonprofit hospital operator LCMC Health, armed with an influx of cash and a strategic playbook it has used in other similar deals, such as those for New Orleans East Hospital, University Medical Center and West Jefferson Medical Center. The latter is Jefferson Parish's other public hospital, which LCMC leased in a deal that closed in 2015.

LCMC also operates Children's Hospital and Touro Infirmary.

The continued expansion has helped LCMC and Chief Executive Greg Feirn compete with Ochsner Health System and its ever-growing network of doctors and hospitals. The purchase of East Jefferson, which could close as soon as Sept. 30, would help extend LCMC's strategy of allowing its community hospitals to provide general care while also serving as a source of patients for its specialists.

And while operational changes are likely to take place behind the scenes, executives on Monday sought to assure patients and residents that there will be no disruption in the quality of care.

"They will still see the same team that they have seen before," EJGH Chief Executive Gerald Parton said of patients who come to the hospital. "We have worked hard with insurance companies to make sure there is no change in coverage."

Similar efforts are underway to create a smooth transition for employees, he said. LCMC has pledged to retain the hospital's staff. Employees won't have to fill out applications to work in the new company; just a single form giving LCMC permission to access their records will be needed, Parton said.

For Jefferson Parish, closing the sale allows officials to remove a financial albatross. In return for the hospital, the terms of the deal require LCMC Health to kick in $90 million that will be combined with EJGH's current reserves, which included $81 million in cash and short-term investments at the end of last year. The total will be used to pay off $135 million in bonds and will also go towards funding $50 million in pension obligations.

LCMC Health has also promised to spend $100 million in capital improvements over the next five years.

Once the deal is officially closed, LCMC officials will begin meeting in earnest with EJGH's medical staff and officers about what projects should be done first, said Feirn. Some of the money will be spent on technology upgrades and long-deferred maintenance. LCMC leaders will also sit down with officials from EJGH to figure out where the remainder can be best spent, he said.

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The goal will be to maintain a high quality of care while finding ways to trim costs that weren't available to EJGH as a standalone hospital. For instance, Parton said in February that moving one of EJGH's information systems to LCMC's subscription would save several million dollars per year.

If there was any doubt about the public's support of the plan, that was erased on Saturday. East bank voters in Jefferson Parish approved it by a historic margin, with "no" votes adding up to around 1,500, or 5% of the nearly 31,000 votes cast.

Given that there had been no significant organized opposition, voter approval of the deal was not a surprise. But the margin was, said Feirn.

"That had me smiling from ear to ear," he said. "To me, the 95% said we have a lot of confidence in the team at East Jefferson and at LCMC Health."

+5 Jefferson Parish voters overwhelmingly approve selling East Jefferson General Hospital By a huge margin, voters on the east bank of Jefferson Parish approved the long-sought sale of East Jefferson General Hospital, a venerable Me

Jefferson Parish Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken, whose district includes EJGH and who has been one of the deal's main champions, said the large margin was a gratifying sight.

"This was truly a mandate," she said.

The vote is the culmination of years of effort by parish government to divest itself of the hospital. It was first offered as part of a package deal with West Jefferson Medical Center nearly a decade ago.

In 2015, LCMC closed a deal to lease only the west bank hospital for around $500 million in rent and capital improvements. That left EJGH struggling in a market crowded with larger competitors. In 2018, talks with Nashville-based hospital operator HCA Healthcare Inc. broke down. Soon after, LCMC stepped in and began talks that were kept quiet until earlier this year, when the hospital's board approved the deal.
MILWAUKEE  Moments after former Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, a Republican, insisted that Joe Biden wouldnt turn sharp left, Sen. Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist, implored his supporters to vote for Biden because he would advance the progressive revolution.

The first night of the all-remote Democratic National Convention captured the ambitious extent to which Biden has designed his candidacy around being an innocuous alternative to President Donald Trump with unity-based appeals to a wide swath of the American political spectrum. And it has caused leaders with conflicting policy visions to view Biden as their ally.

Im sure there are Republicans and independents who couldnt imagine crossing over to support a Democrat," Kasich said. "They fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind. I dont believe that because I know the measure of the man."

About a half hour later, Sanders urged his supporters to vote for Biden as a candidate who will begin that fight on day one to make the country more equitable, more compassionate and more inclusive."

We need an unprecedented response  a movement, like never before, of people who are prepared to stand up and fight for democracy and decency  and against greed, oligarchy and bigotry," Sanders said. "And we need Joe Biden as our next president."

The tension between the two visions of Biden points to a challenge he would face if elected: Would he govern as a centrist, or fight to advance progressive causes?

The former vice president has blended an appeal to progressive goals with a unity pitch for conservatives and an emphasis on empathy and competence for moderates.

He has adopted a series of policy positions that would make him arguably the most progressive president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, drawing praise from Sanders and others on the left who are agitating for major change. At the same time, he has drawn upon his image as an institutionalist to pitch himself as someone who will work with Republicans to deliver results.

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Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a moderate and former presidential candidate herself, vowed Monday at the convention that Biden would seek common ground to reach higher ground.

With few exceptions, policy was put on the back burner on the first night of the Democratic convention, which blended notes of optimism and healing with an overarching plea to remove Trump from the White House and restore the soul of America.

This isn't about a Republican or Democrat. It's about a person: a person decent enough, stable enough, strong enough to get our economy back on track. A person who can work with everyone, Democrats and Republicans, to get things done, said Christine Todd Whitman, a former GOP governor of New Jersey and administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Donald Trump isn't that person; Joe Biden is.

Trump has pleaded with voters not to see Biden as a moderate, and said his fall rival is controlled by the left-wing voices in the Democratic Party.

"We're in a fight for the survival of our nation and civilization itself," Trump said Monday afternoon in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. "These are people that are seriously radical left. Joe Biden is nothing but their puppet.

Biden leads Trump by 8.4 points nationally, according to the FiveThirtyEight polling average.

NBC News national political reporter Sahil Kapur, right, interviews Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez in Milwaukee on Aug. 17, 2020. (Courtesy Sahil Kapur)

In some ways, the first night of the convention was a deliberate attempt by Democrats to hit pause on policy clashes until Trump is defeated.

The second night of the convention Tuesday will feature speakers from different wings of the party, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York  a favorite of the left  former President Bill Clinton, and Bidens wife, Jill Biden.

Download the NBC News app for alerts and all the latest on the Democratic convention.

There's nothing like an existential threat to focus the mind on what is important, and where we have differences that are minor in comparison with the existential differences, Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez told NBC News in an interview here late Monday after the opening night of the convention.

Perez said Democrats have had the intraparty conversation about policy in the platform document, which was followed by a spirited health care debate.

We're 90 percent or 85 percent of the way up the mountain and we're having a pitch battle on how to get that final 15 percent, he said. We understand that. And we understand that the other side wants to take us to the bottom of the mountain. I think people grasp that, and so it enabled us.
Germany's property market is a target for money-launderers. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The number of suspected money laundering and terrorist finance alerts received by Germanys central federal authority for receiving, collecting and evaluating suspicious activity reports surged by nearly 50% in 2019, according to the latest annual report from the federal Finance Intelligence Unit (FIU).

The FIU logged a record 114,914 suspected cases in 2019  an increase of 37,500 since 2018 and a twelve-fold rise since 2009.

The majority of cases of suspicious activity were flagged to the FUI by credit institutions  more than 103,000 reports. However, it saw increase in cases flagged by non-finance sector companies, including property agencies and casinos.

One problem for us is that the prosecution of money laundering is not traditionally well established in Germany, FIU boss Christof Schulte told Tagespiegel newspaper.

The FIU said that a third of the suspected cases in 2019 were domestic cases. In terms of suspected international laundering cases, there were many concerning France, including the opening of fraudulent accounts at German online banks.

READ MORE: Central bank expects very strong German economic growth this summer

Suspicious transactions were also flagged between Germany and the Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, the US, Italy, and the UK.

In its 2018 annual report, the FIU had stressed the Germanys property sector was extremely vulnerable to criminals washing their money through buying properties.

The anti-corruption charity Transparency International in 2018 urged Germany to tackle the mas sive money laundering issue in the countrys property sector. It said in a report that around 30bn ($35.7bn, 27.1bn)was laundered through German real estate in 2017, including by crime networks such as the Italian mafia.

The FIU attributes some of the increase in the number of reports it received in 2019 to growing automation at big credit institutions, and the impact of the Money Laundering Act.

The German parliament passed a number of anti-money-laundering laws towards the end of last of last year, including increasing oversight and restrictions on realtor companies, notaries, and auction houses.
NEW YORK  Michelle Obama delivered a passionate condemnation of President Donald Trump during Mondays opening night of the Democratic National Convention, declaring him in over his head and warning that the nations mounting crises would only get worse if hes reelected over Joe Biden.

Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country, she said. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us.

The former first lady, one of the nation's most respected women, was the headliner at the first presidential nominating convention of the coronavirus era. There was no central meeting place or cheering throng during the all-virtual affair. But it was an opportunity for Democrats  and some Republicans  to rally behind Biden, the party's presidential nominee.

Bernie Sanders, the progressive Vermont senator who was Bidens last standing rival during the primary, encouraged his loyal supporters to vote for the former vice president in November, arguing the nation cant survive another four years of Trump. He notably backed Bidens plan for tackling health care, one of their most substantive differences in the past. Sanders backs a Medicare for All plan while Biden has called for expanding the current Obamacare law.

But it was Michelle Obama, making her fourth convention appearance, who once again delivered an electrifying moment. Wearing a necklace that said vote, she tapped into her enduring popularity among Black voters and college educated suburban women  voters Biden will need to show up in force.

She issued a stark warning to a country already navigating health and economic crises along with a reckoning on racism.

If you think things possibly cant get worse, trust me, they can and they will if we dont make a change in this election, she said as she issued a call to action for the coalition of young and diverse voters who twice sent her family to the White House.

Biden will formally accept the nomination on Thursday near his home in Wilmington, Delaware. His running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, who is the first Black woman on a national ticket, speaks Wednesday night.

Leading up to that, Biden sought on opening night to demonstrate the broad ideological range of his supporters.

On the same night he was praised by Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist who championed a multi-trillion-dollar universal health care plan, Biden also won backing from Ohios former Republican Gov. John Kasich, an anti-abortion conservative who spent decades fighting to cut government spending.

My friends, I say to you, and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake, Sanders said as he endorsed Bidens health care plan.

Still, there were real questions about whether the prime-time event would adequately energize the disparate factions Biden hopes to capture.

Republicans face a similar challenge next week.

Trump sought to undermine the Democrats big night by hosting a political rally in Wisconsin, where Bidens party had originally planned this weeks convention. He called the Democrats event a snooze before it even began.

Mondays speeches were framed by emotional appearances from average Americans touched by the crises that have exploded on Trumps watch.

Philonise and Rodney Floyd led a moment of silence in honor of their brother, George Floyd, the Minnesota man whose death while in police custody sparked a national moment of awakening on racial injustice.

George should be alive today, Philonise Floyd said matter-of-factly.

Also speaking was Kristin Urquiza, an Arizona woman who lost her father to COVID-19, which has killed more than 170,000 Americans as of Monday evening.

My dad was a healthy 65-year-old, she said. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life.

And Rick Telesz, a Pennsylvania farmer, warned that Trumps trade war has had a truly a devastating effect on his farm before the coronavirus brought another blow with what he called misinformation coming from the countrys leadership.

My biggest concern is that if these trends continue with this type of leadership, I will be the last generation farming this farm, he said.

Democrats abandoned their plans for an in-person gathering in Milwaukee because of the pandemic. The unprecedented gathering is not only testing the bonds of the diverse Biden-Harris coalition but the practical challenges of running a presidential campaign in the midst of a pandemic.

At this moment, Biden sits in a stronger political position than Trump, who has struggled to expand his political coalition under the weight of his turbulent leadership and prolonged health and economic crises. But 78 days before votes are counted, history is not on the Democratic challenger's side. Just one incumbent president has been defeated in the last four decades.

Polls also suggest that Biden, a 77-year-old lifelong politician, is on the wrong end of an enthusiasm gap. His supporters consistently say they're motivated more by opposition to Trump, who is 74, than excitement about Biden. Democrats hope to shift that dynamic beginning with the convention.

The former first lady, whom Gallup determined was the nations most admired woman last year, wowed Democrats at the 2016 presidential convention by coining the phrase: When they go low, we go high. She insisted on Monday she was not abandoning that tack, explaining that taking the high road doesnt mean staying silent.

With no live audience for any of the speakers, convention organizers were forced to get creative in their high-stakes quest to generate enthusiasm. There were live appearances from speakers in Texas, South Carolina, Wisconsin and Michigan, but many of the speeches that aired Monday night were prerecorded.

Seeking to inject some family fun into an otherwise serious two-hour video montage, the campaign hosted drive-in viewing stations in six states, much like drive-in movies, where viewers could watch on a big screen from the safety of their vehicles. There were also many online watch parties featuring celebrities and elected officials to make the experience more interactive.

It wasnt clear how many people attended the parties. In most, only the speakers were visible on screen. In one watch party, Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren rallied progressives, many of whom had preferred Sanders over Biden.

We must do everything we can to energize and excite our base about the choice before us, Jayapal said

The Monday speakers included plenty of Democratic politicians: Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who is the highest ranking African American in Congress; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Alabama Sen. Doug Jones; Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and two former presidential contenders: Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sanders.

And beyond Kasich, there were three high-profile Republicans backing Biden who got speaking slots: California businesswoman Meg Whitman, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman and former New York Congresswoman Susan Molinari.

It was impossible to fully gauge America's interest in the all-virtual format on the first night. Broadcast TV networks are showing the final hour each night live, cable news is showing both hours and many viewers plan to stream from the rivals' websites or on social media.

Trump, as he often does, was ensuring he'd be a part of the conversation.

The Republican president made two swing-state campaign appearances on Monday, first in Minnesota and then in Wisconsin, which was to be the location for the Democrats' convention before the coronavirus outbreak.

Trump said he had no choice but to campaign during the convention in order to address voters in the face of what he described as hostile news media.

The only way were going to lose this election is if the election is rigged, Trump said in Wisconsin, raising anew with no evidence the specter of significant voting fraud.

___

By Steve Peoples and Michelle R. Price. Kathleen Ronayne contributed.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Snow may mix in late. Low 33F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Snow may mix in late. Low 33F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
The CFAP was created by the CARES Act, which Congress passed at the end of March, and it is designed to provide temporary relief to producers who have been hit by coronavirus-related declines in the prices of their products.

To make sure that they were able to provide this assistance to as many producers as possible, USDA initially paid 80% of what it owed to farmers and ranchers across the country. But as of the beginning of August, USDA had paid out only $6.8 billion of the $19 billion the program had made available.

The Aug. 11 announcement from USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue is welcome news. USDA will automatically issue the remaining 20% of payments to producers who have already been approved, and going forward, they will pay newly approved producers 100% of what they are owed once their application for the program is approved.

In so many ways, agriculture is the backbone of our states economy. Its success benefits all Nebraskans, in urban and suburban areas as much as in rural ones. And in the same vein, dense urban areas such as Omaha and Lincoln are crucial for the state as a whole.

The news of millions of dollars of federal transportation funding is great for Omaha, and the CFAP news is great for all of us. Even as we continue to make sacrifices to fight COVID-19, it is important to remember that good things are still happening for Nebraska.

Sen. Deb Fischer is Nebraskas senior member of the U.S. Senate.
Iran has reacted angrily to the United Arab Emirates' (U.A.E.) decision to normalize ties with Israel, a move that could increase pressure on Tehran amid suggestions by U.S. and Israeli officials that other Persian Gulf states could follow suit.

Iranian President Hassan Rohani blasted de facto U.A.E. leader Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayeds reported pledge, which follows a de-escalation with Tehran, as a huge mistake. Rohani also warned the U.A.E. against allowing Tehran's regional archenemy, Israel, to secure a "foothold in the region.

The Iranian armed forces chief of staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, meanwhile said Tehrans approach toward the U.A.E. will change as a result of the planned peace deal. The U.A.E., he said, will be held responsible if something happens in the Persian Gulf and if our national security is damaged.

Deeper cooperation between the Jewish state and Persian Gulf states and a potentially expanded Israeli presence in the region is seen by many in Tehran as a threat to Iran's interests and regional ambitions. Tehran is already under heightened pressure due to crippling U.S. economic sanctions and one of the worst outbreaks of the coronavirus in the Middle East, which has killed nearly 20,000 Iranians and infected more than 340,000, according to official figures.

The U.S. assassination in January of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' (IRGC) overseas Quds Force, who worked to expand Tehrans regional interests, was another major blow to the Islamic republic.

Undoubtedly, the most important parameter in reducing or increasing the security of the Israelis is related to reducing or increasing the pressure on Iran, Fereydoun Majlesi, a former diplomat and commentator on international affairs, told the Irdiplomacy.ir website in an interview.

We have frightened the Arabs and pushed them into Israeli arms.

Formal diplomatic ties with the U.A.E. could make it easier for Israel to spy on Iran, some Iranian media reports suggested, adding that the Jewish state could establish intelligence-gathering centers in Irans vicinity. The reports follow an unexplained explosion at Irans Natanz nuclear-enrichment facility in July and a series of recent fires and explosions throughout the country that have led to speculation about an Israeli role.

Other reports suggested that Israel could work to disrupt commercial ties between Iran and the U.A.E., which is among the Islamic republics top trading partners, according to Tehrans Chamber of Commerce.

Tehrans diplomacy has to make clear to the U.A.E. that it cannot regard a U.A.E. with ties with Israel with the same eyes as before, another Tehran-based analyst, Seyed Hadi Borhani, was quoted as saying by Iranian media. He called Israel Tehrans most important enemy.

He argued that Tehran should coordinate its response with other Arab and Islamic states while abstaining from taking unilateral action against the U.A.E.

Concerns about Iran are believed to have brought together Israel and the U.A.E., who have been quietly developing ties for years. The two countries announced last week that they would begin cooperating and normalizing ties in a deal brokered by the United States under which Israel has agreed to suspend its internationally opposed annexation of portions of the West Bank.

While he accused the U.A.E. of "betrayal," former conservative Iranian lawmaker Ali Motahari also blamed Tehran in part for "the U.A.E.'s relationship with Israel."

We have frightened the Arabs and pushed them into Israeli arms, the outspoken Motahari, who frequently criticizes official policy, said on Twitter.

Raz Zimmt, an Iran analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv, predicted Tehran would increase its subversive activities against the U.A.E. in response to the deal with Israel and could even threaten U.A.E. oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.

Zimmt, however, added that Tehran is unlikely to take measures that would jeopardize its long-term relations with the U.A.E. unless it feels that the implementation of the deal directly threatens Iranian security interests in the Gulf.

In recent months, tensions have eased between Tehran and Abu Dhabi.

Following attacks last year on tankers near the Emirati port of Fujairah, the U.A.E. did not accuse Iran, despite Washington's putting the blame squarely on Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in August that he had a frank and friendly video conversation with his Emirati counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed. He said the two sides had agreed to continue their dialogue, which he described as focused on COVID-19 and bilateral and regional ties.

More recently, the U.A.E. has sent several planes carrying medical supplies to bolster Tehrans fight against the spread of COVID-19.

The U.A.E. is a key trading partner of Iran and serves as a means in Iran's efforts to circumvent the economic sanctions. The past year has actually seen an improvement in the political ties between Iran and the U.A.E. amid growing recognition in the U.A.E. concerning the limits of relying on the U.S. and in the wake of its failures in Yemen, Zimmt told RFE/RL.

On August 16, the Emirati Foreign Ministry summoned Irans charge daffaires in Abu Dhabi in response to Rohanis speech, in which the Iranian president accused the U.A.E. of committing a treacherous act.

It said the speech was "unacceptable and inflammatory and had serious implications for security and stability in the Gulf region."

A day later, U.A.E. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said that the agreement to normalize ties with Israel was not directed at Iran.

"The U.A.E.-Israeli peace treaty is a sovereign decision not directed at Iran. We say this and repeat it. We do not accept interference in our decisions," Gargash tweeted.

If the agreement is signed, the U.A.E. will become the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, with diplomatic ties with Israel.

Iran does not recognize the state of Israel and is vocal in its public support of Palestinian groups.
The ruins of the giant grain silos stand amid the port of Beirut, devastated in the 4 August explosion.  UNHCR/Houssam Hariri

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, is in Beirut today, starting a four-day visit to support and listen to the plight of all those affected by the devastating blast a fortnight ago  people of Lebanon, migrants and refugees alike. This is the first field mission for the High Commissioner since the COVID-19 first wave lockdown and it is a reaffirmation of UNHCRs solidarity and commitment to stand by Lebanon.

Operations in support of Lebanese communities and refugees remain a top priority for UNHCR. Relative to its national population, Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees in the world.

Beyond the immediate and longer-term impact of the tragic explosion of 4 August, UNHCR is concerned about the combined effect of a severe economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. These three factors together are harming the most vulnerable and poorest parts of the population throughout the country.

After seeing the ongoing response in the most affected neighborhoods and meetings in the capital tomorrow, High Commissioner Grandi will dedicate the next days to review UNHCRs overall humanitarian response in other parts of the country.

UNHCR is scaling up its response to all communities affected by the blast in Beirut to provide immediate relief, shelter and protection support. Together with its partners, UNHCR is providing emergency shelter materials to those most in need among an estimated 200,000 households that were severely damaged in the explosions in Beirut. UNHCR is also conducting psychological first aid and other urgent measures for the protection of those affected.

Grandi will also visit northern Lebanon and the Bekaa, and notably the expansion of hospital bed and ICU capacity that we have put in place in public hospitals to face the COVID-19.

UNHCR is further scaling up this programme given that local hospitals are overwhelmed.

Grandi will visit Syrian refugees, who have been severely affected by the economic crisis and COVID-19 measures, living a razor-edge existence, struggling to make ends meet.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
New COVID-19 antigen tests that give easy and quick results are being used by some countries  but are they reliable?

Editors Note: This series is produced in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Millions of people around the world are being tested for the new coronavirus every day.

There are two main types of testing methods for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease: molecular testing, which detects the presence of the virus itself; and antibody tests, which look for past presence of the virus and a possible immune response to the infection.

To test for the virus itself, the most commonly used method involves a nasal or throat swab. The official name for this is the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It is a standard molecular testing technique that detects the genetic material of the virus in a respiratory sample obtained through the swab.

Getting results can take somewhere between 30 minutes and four hours.

Meanwhile, to test for antibodies, a serology test is used. This tests blood samples obtained from a finger prick. If the diagnosis is positive for antibodies, it shows that a person had been infected with the virus and has developed an immune response.

Antibodies are detectable in the blood usually about two weeks after an infection of COVID-19.

Using standard testing methods, both types of tests (molecular amplification, and serology) require technical expertise and some sophisticated equipment.

What is rapid testing?

Trained technicians are not widely available to conduct PCR tests, which means there are often insufficient numbers of people managing a large number of samples from patients.

Now, many companies are working to simplify and speed up the diagnostic process for detecting COVID-19 and other infections. Some are developing automated PCR machines that reduce the burden on technicians for whom the meticulous process of dealing with samples is time-intensive, while others are making easy-to-use paper tests to facilitate testing outside of laboratory settings. These are called rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs).

Earlier this month, scientists in Australia said they had devised a portable low-cost nasal swab molecular test that can diagnose COVID-19 in just 20 minutes.

When people say rapid diagnostic test they are usually talking about those that can be performed at or near the patients bedside, like the common pregnancy tests, and that can be simple enough to be run by a healthcare worker and [the] results determined visually, even by the patient in some cases, Dr Mark Perkins, team lead for laboratories at the WHO, told Al Jazeera.





Antigen detection tests

Enter the antigen test for COVID-19.

Antigens are molecules that stimulate an immune response. Antibodies are proteins produced in response to exposure to antigens.

These new rapid tests use a hand-held device to detect the presence of proteins from the virus in respiratory samples.

This testing technique is cheaper and faster than most PCR tests, giving a result within 30 minutes.

How does it work? A sample of bodily fluid is collected using a swab, and applied with a liquid onto a strip of special paper. The liquid travels along the paper, carrying the antigens with it. If a person is infected, bound antibodies on the paper capture any antigens and indicator dyes show the user where those were captured.

In May, the United States Food and Drug Administration authorised the emergency use of its first antigen test for COVID-19.

A healthcare worker writes the date on a rapid antigen detection testing kit after collecting swabs from residents during a check-up campaign to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in Ahmedabad, India [File: Amit Dave /Reuters]

Several states in India have ramped up mass testing with the introduction of rapid antigen test kits.

Perkins said these could potentially be a game-changer, facilitating early and easy detection of the virus, especially in developing countries.

If you live in a small town in a developing country, the chance theres going to be a PCR machine in your town is small, so this is why there is a push to develop other methods that are simpler and require less complicated machinery, he said.

But are they reliable?

Researchers at the WHO are continuing to evaluate these antigen detection tests for accuracy.

Perkins said his team has seen good data on at least four of the dozens of antigen detection tests being developed.

These antigen detection tests are recently developed and havent been tested widely, but so far they all tend to have relatively high specificity  that is 98 to 99 percent of the people who are tested positive actually have the infection and only one or two percent of them are falsely positive, Perkins said.

The real challenge is to ensure they are sensitive enough to detect essentially all infectious patients, he added.

However, there are limitations to the innovation and the WHO has urged further validation before such tools can be recommended.

The United Nations health agency said: Inadequate tests may miss patients with active infection or falsely categorise patients as having the disease when they do not, further hampering disease control efforts.

Follow Saba Aziz on Twitter: @saba_aziz
Sen. Bernie Sanders during a campaign rally. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont called on American voters on Monday to mount an "unprecedented response" at the ballot box and remove President Donald Trump from office.

"In response to the unprecedented set of crises we face, we need an unprecedented response  a movement, like never before, of people who are prepared to stand up and fight for democracy and decency and against greed, oligarchy, and authoritarianism," Sanders said at the Democratic National Convention.

He repeatedly emphasized his belief that Trump had authoritarian instincts, and he tore into the president for his response to the coronavirus and for the subsequent economic collapse.

Scroll down to watch key moments from Sanders' speech.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont urged Americans on Monday to mount an "unprecedented response" to vote President Donald Trump out of office.

"In response to the unprecedented set of crises we face, we need an unprecedented response  a movement, like never before, of people who are prepared to stand up and fight for democracy and decency and against greed, oligarchy, and authoritarianism," Sanders said during the Democratic National Convention.

The progressive firebrand called the 2020 election "the most important in the modern history of this country," adding, "The future of our democracy is at stake."

"The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake," he said. "We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president. My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine."

Sanders also tore into the president for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for the subsequent economic collapse.

Story continues

"How has Trump responded? Instead of maintaining the $600-a-week unemployment supplement that workers were receiving and the $1,200 emergency checks that many of you received, instead of helping small businesses, Trump concocted fraudulent executive orders that do virtually nothing to address the crisis while threatening the very future of Social Security and Medicare," Sanders said.

"But the truth is that even before Trump's negligent response to this pandemic, too many hardworking families have been caught on an economic treadmill with no hope of ever getting ahead," he added. "Together, we must build a nation that is more equitable, more compassionate, and more inclusive. I know that Joe Biden will begin that fight on day one."

The Vermont senator then contrasted Biden with Trump on both policy and demeanor.

"To heal the soul of our nation, Joe Biden will end the hate and division Trump has created," Sanders said. "He will stop the demonization of immigrants, the coddling of white nationalists, the racist dog whistling, the religious bigotry, and the ugly attacks on women."

Sanders dropped out of the 2020 presidential race in April following a lackluster finish in several key states on Super Tuesday and later contests.

He officially endorsed Biden days later, urging his supporters to make Trump a "one-term president."

Biden also praised Sanders and said he would need Sanders "not just to win the campaign, but to govern."

"You've been the most powerful voice for a fairer and more just America," Biden told his former competitor, adding, "You don't get enough credit, Bernie, for being the voice that forces us to take a hard look in the mirror and ask ourselves, 'Have we done enough?'"

Read the original article on Business Insider
Artistic redemption for Belgian king's 'dirty laundry' "I didn't become famous because of my artistic talent -- it was because I was the 'dirty laundry' of Albert II, and so it was kind of a shameful fame," Boel told AFP

After a lifetime of pain and a bruising legal battle, in January Delphine Boel finally won what she had always wanted: recognition that she is the daughter of former Belgian king Albert II.

But the victory was bittersweet for the 52-year-old artist, turning an unwanted media spotlight on a painful part of her life.

Albert, 86, acknowledged in January that he was Boel's father after a DNA test came back positive, ending a paternity battle that had dragged on since he abdicated in 2013.

"I felt shameful of just my existence," Boel told AFP in an interview in the upmarket Belgian seaside resort of Knokke.

"Just to remind you that I didn't become famous because of my artistic talent -- it was because I was the 'dirty laundry' of Albert II, and so it was kind of a shameful fame".

- 'Shame' -

Boel, who gives few media interviews, spoke to AFP at a retrospective exhibition of her work.

The interview comes a few weeks before a hearing at a Brussels appeal court, which has yet to rule on the legal consequences of Albert, who reigned from 1993-2013, accepting Boel as his fourth child.

After living in London from the age of eight with her mother Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps, Boel considers herself "Anglo-Belgian" and speaks flawless English with almost no trace of an accent.

She turned to art at an early age as "a good soothing medicine" and graduated from the prestigious Chelsea School of Art in 1991.

Her new exhibition in Knokke, which runs until September 13, draws on one of the darkest periods of her life, some five years ago when she was struggling through the courts and questioning whether to continue her fight.

She threw her feelings onto large canvases, with dark phrases referring to "shame" and "guilt" contrasted with bright-coloured abstract work with positive messages such as "love", "hope" and "be strong".

After an unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation in 2013, the year Albert handed the crown to his son Philippe, Boel began her court battle.

Story continues

- For the children -

Boel says Albert's decision to recognise her "definitely changed my life".

"First of all, I feel I'm taken more seriously. Two, I was heard and that made a big difference to me," she says.

"Number three, I found that to have justice being so healthy in Belgium was amazing."

The change of heart from the former king came only after a court ordered a DNA test and levied a fine of 5,000 euros ($5,500) a day for each day he refused.

Since 1999, the year a journalist revealed the existence of the then-king's secret daughter, born from his affair of nearly 20 years with de Selys Longchamps, Albert always denied his paternity -- even though he had been in contact with her when she was a child.

But despite her experiences, Boel remains a committed monarchist and found accusations to the contrary deeply painful.

"I was treated constantly as a sort of anti-royalist who was trying to demolish such institution and so on," she said.

"And I really suffered of that because it's not true. I am royalist."

But she is proud of having stood and fought for her identity -- both for herself and for her own children, aged 16 and 12.

"They used to be asked at school like, 'are you sure your mother is not just making this up? Are you sure she's all right in their head?'," she says.

"Now I'm so happy that nobody can ever tell them that again."

And she hopes her story will inspire others like her to keep searching to "find out who they are, their identity".

rmb-mad/pdw/gd
LAS VEGAS (AP)  The pageantry often associated with presidential conventions will be remade again as Democrats gather virtually for a second day.

The roll call vote of state delegations, which typically unfolds over several hours of fanfare, will instead be abbreviated Tuesday. And the keynote speech that has launched political careers in the past will be delivered by multiple speakers  without an adoring crowd cheering them on.

Coming off the heels of speeches from Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders calling for action and unity in Monday nights kickoff, the all-virtual convention continues Tuesday for two hours starting at 9 p.m. EDT. Though Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez is in Milwaukee, the convention host city, most party and elected officials, activists and musical acts will be appearing from livestreams and pretaped videos from around the country.

It all builds toward Joe Biden formally accepting the Democratic nomination on Thursday.

What to watch on the second night of the convention:

JILL BIDEN

Though Jill Biden is no stranger to the national stage after her husbands eight years as vice president, she will be introducing herself to Americans as a potential first lady in a prime-time speech. Biden, a longtime community college teacher, will close out the program making a pitch for her husband.

BUT FIRST, BILL

A speech from Bill Clinton is among the traditions that Democrats are including in Tuesday nights programming. The former president has spoken at every Democratic National Convention since 1980, including giving powerful addresses that made the case in 2012 for Barack Obama and in 2016 for his wife, Hillary Clinton. Bill Clinton is known for his ability to connect with a crowd, and while doing so, going well past his allotted speaking time. On Tuesday, hell have to make a compelling case virtually and wrap it up so Jill Biden can speak.

LEADERSHIP

The theme is Leadership Matters. Besides addresses from the nominees wife and Clinton, the night will feature speeches from former secretary of state and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, progressive favorite Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, who co-chaired the committee that vetted running mates for Biden and helped him decide to select California Sen. Kamala Harris.

Other speakers include those whove clashed prominently with President Donald Trump: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, who was fired by Trump early in his administration after she refused to defend his travel ban on residents of some predominantly Muslim countries.

KEYNOTE

The Tuesday night keynote speech can be a star-making opportunity. It's where a state senator from Illinois named Barack Obama become a household name. It's also where Julian Castro, then the mayor of San Antonio made his national debut in 2012 before going on to serve in the Obama administration and run for president in 2020.

Instead of giving the speaking slot to one up-and-comer, Democrats this year are dividing it up among a diverse group of 17 rising stars. They include Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, who was considered a contender for Biden's running mate; Nevada state Sen. Yvanna Cancela, the former political director for the powerful Las Vegas casino workers' union; Mayor Robert Garcia of Long Beach, California, who became the city's first openly gay mayor in 2014; Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez; and New Hampshire state Rep. Denny Ruprecht, who became that state's youngest lawmaker when he was elected in 2018 at age 19.

ROLL CALL

Instead of a traditional roll call vote, where Democrats from each state and territory boast about the place they're representing and announce how many delegates they have for the nominee, the party this year will formally nominate Biden with pretaped segments. The roll call will go alphabetically through the 57 states, territories and the Democrats Abroad delegation, meaning Alabama will lead off.

Youre going to see very iconic symbols of America embodied from every state, Perez said, calling it one of the weeks highlights.

For example, the plan is for Alabama to lead off the roll call from the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, site of the voting rights marches of 1965 and the Bloody Sunday encounter when state troopers beat and nearly killed civil rights icon John Lewis and other marchers. The late congressman, an Alabama native, died in July after representing Georgia in Congress for more than 30 years.

Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell, a Selma native, is expected to deliver her delegation's votes on Bidens nomination.

PARTY PLATFORM

Besides formally nominating the presidential candidate, the convention is where the party typically declares its rules and values by adopting a platform. This year, more than 4,000 Democratic delegates cast votes by mail on whether to adopt the platform. The rules and those results will be included in Tuesday night's program.

Among the rules is extending for another four years an overhaul of the nominating process that limits the power of superdelegates, keeping them from a vote on a first presidential nomination ballot if it is contested. Approving the extension now spares a new party chairman or Biden, if he's the incumbent, from having to litigate the issue again with the Bernie Sanders wing of the party.

TRUMP

While Joe Biden and the Democrats try to use the week of prime-time to build enthusiasm, Trump isn't going to cede the spotlight. The Republican president has plans for travel and political events to counter his rival's convention. On Tuesday, Trump will travel near the U.S.-Mexico border to Yuma, Arizona, to give a speech advertised to be about Bidens failures on Immigration and Border Security. He's also including some presidential business in his day, visiting Iowa in the aftermath of an unusual wind storm known as a derecho that hit there last week.

HOW TO WATCH

The program runs from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time. The DNC's official livestream is available online and via its social media channels. CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC and PBS will air the full two hours, while ABC, CBS, Fox News Channel and NBC will air the final hour, from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. The convention is also available to watch on Twitch, Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

___

Associated Press writer Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show the start time is 9 p.m. EDT, not EST.
Eurasian Partnership Mine Counter Measure Dive 2020

US Navy

From MC2 Sean Rinner

17 August 2020

Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 participated in exercise Eurasian Partnership Mine Counter Measure (EP MCM) Dive 2020 in Constanta, Romania, August 3-6, 2020.

EP MCM Dive 2020 is a multinational maritime exercise, between the United States, Romania, and Bulgarian Naval forces, designed to improve operational and tactical interoperability among the participating units. Exercises like EP MCM happen annually, bringing the experiences of different international EODs to the field. During the three days, they were able to learn from past events, share the newest tactics and demonstrate the most up to date technology available.

During the exercise, service members from each unit had the opportunity to discuss procedures in mine detection and the safe retrieval and shoring of the mines. The participating countries also covered the different ways of disrupting and safely detonating explosives.

"This exercise was a great opportunity to practice common procedures," said Cmdr. Mihai Iordache, executive officer, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Romania. "It also provided an opportunity to train to the current international context, such as asymmetric threats, that require appropriate responses in the maritime environment in order to render safe Maritime Improvised Explosive Devices."

During the operation, EOD technicians from Romania and Bulgaria worked with U.S. technicians to test new mine detection equipment, use detonation devices that allowed for the technicians to safely deactivate and later study mines and improvised explosive devices. They met their ultimate goals of making safe ordinance, saving more lives in the future and improve tactics, techniques and procedures, while cultivating better cohesion between allied forces.

"Exercises like EP MCM allow us to improve our interoperability with key NATO partners on the Black Sea." said an EOD technician first class. "During EPMCM, our team was able to use our advanced training and equipment to help teach EOD skills to our partners that proved valuable to all parties involved."

Their goals for the next exercise include using a larger variation of explosives, increasing the amount of ordinance used and the use of different types of charges. During exercise, the partnering countries worked together through team integration, which combined individual experiences to create newer and more effective methods to complete the mission safely.

"The greatest takeaway from EPMCM was the relationships we built," said, EODMU 8 platoon commander. "We do not have many engagements with our NATO partners in the Black Sea, so this exercise was valuable for all parties involved. Despite COVID-19 concerns, the Romanian Navy was able to safely execute the training objectives without jeopardizing training value," said the platoon commander.

Navy Expeditionary Combat Force Europe-Africa/Task Force 68 is responsible for providing explosive ordnance disposal operations, naval construction, expeditionary security and theater security efforts to Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. 6th Fleet.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Donna Hatchett

Winston-Salem

Voting against

I read The Readers Forum every day and when I read the Aug. 13 letter Look at the results, it immediately started me to thinking: Which issues am I going to vote for? After considerable thought I came to the conclusion that I would be better off deciding which issues I was voting against. The following is the result of those thoughts:

I am voting against removing the Second Amendment and taking away our guns. I am voting against legalized prostitution. I am voting against open borders. I am voting against tax increases. I am voting against one world government. I am voting against a cashless society. I am voting against government intrusion. I am voting against unlimited congressional term limits. I am voting against mail-in ballots. I am voting against unemployment. I am voting against a bad economy. I am voting against a socialist/communist government. I am voting against defunding our police forces. I am voting against allowing mayors and other town officials to order the police to stand down and allow looters to run wild in our streets. I am voting against all things I consider wrong for our great country.
The perspective of Becamex Binh Dinh Economic Zone

Notably, Binh Dinh has proposed the Ministry of Planning and Investment to add the $15 million high-end hospital with 300 beds located in Nhon Hoi Economic Zone.

The second project is a $250-million automoblie manufacturing plant with the annual capacity of 30,000-50,000 units located in Becamex Binh Dinh Integrated Township and Industrial Park.

Initially, Binh Dinh listed four projects calling for foreign investors, namely the $24 million Binh Dinh maternity-paediatric hospital, a $4 billion thermal power plant, a $75 million solid waste treatmet project, and a $100 million highway project.

However, to better fit its socio-economic development strategy as well as foreign investment target, the province proposed replacing the hospital and the highway project with the high-end hospital and the automobile plant.

Previously, in early June, Japanese car maker Mitsubishi Motors expressed its intention to build an automobile manufacturing plant in Binh Dinh, marking its second manufacturing facility in Vietnam.

Notably, at a working session with chairman of Binh Dinh Peoples Committee, Kenichi Horinouchi, general director of Mitsubishi Motors Vietnam said that Binh Dinh would be the destination of choice due to having a deep water port.

Furthermore, the province has ample land fund for developing plants to manufacture parts and components for the automobile industry.
Gangster Ejaz Lakdawala, a former associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who was arrested by Mumbai Police in January, has tested positive for Covid-19.

The anti-extortion cell (AEC) of the crime branch on August 8 had taken police custody of Lakdawala from Taloja jail, in connection with a fake passport case in which his daughter Sonia Lakdawala alias Sonia Shaikh is also an accused.

After his police custody was over, the gangster was supposed to return to Taloja jail. Since the state has made it mandatory for all new inmates to undergo Covid testing before being lodged in the jail, Lakdawala was tested a few days ago. His test result came positive. He was immediately admitted to GT Hospitals high-security ward. His condition is stable and he has no major Covid symptoms, said a crime branch officer.

All the AEC personnel who came in close contact with the accused have been asked to home quarantine, said a senior police officer.

It is not clear whether he contracted the virus in jail or while in police custody.

Lakdawala has been on Indias most-wanted list from 1998 when he escaped from Nashik jail. He was wanted in 27 cases of murder and attempt to murder and in 80 cases of threatening businessmen for extortion in Mumbai alone.

During his initial years, Lakdawala was among the close confidants of Dawood who used to provide logistical support to D-Company members in Mumbai for extorting money from Bollywood film producers and businessmen. But after Rajan split with Dawood, Lakdawala chose to work with Rajan. While on the run for years, he had stayed in Malaysia, Bangkok, South Africa and Canada.
BERLIN, Aug 18 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Tuesday about the situation in Belarus and made clear that the Belarusian government must avoid using force against peaceful protesters, her spokesman said.

"The chancellor stressed that the Belarusian government must avoid violence towards peaceful demonstrators, immediately release political prisoners and start a national dialogue with the opposition and society in order to overcome the crisis," Steffen Seibert said in a statement.

Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, faces the threat of European Union sanctions after a bloody crackdown on protests following what demonstrators say was his rigged re-election victory last week. He cites official results that gave him just over 80% of the vote. (Reporting by Michelle Martin Editing by Madeline Chambers)
Year 2021: Meet the CMs who Stepped Down, Returned to Power

Punjab will burn if Sutlej-Yamuna canal is built: Amarinder Singh to Centre

India

oi-Deepika S

Chandigarh, Aug 18: Opposing the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday warned that "Punjab will burn" if the state is asked to share water with Haryana.

At a meeting with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Punjab CM called SYL an emotive issue which could disturb national security.

The meeting was held on the directions of the Supreme Court, which asked the two CMs last month to discuss the completion of the SYL canal, which is in the works for several decades.

Punjab is reluctant to share water with Haryana and Rajasthan, saying it has nothing to spare.

Don't attack cops, write to me: Amarinder Singh on Punjab Congress row

"You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective," he told Shekhawat through video conference, according to a Punjab government statement.

SSR death probe: Rhea Chakraborty makes sensational claim | Oneindia News

"If you decide to go ahead with SYL, Punjab will burn and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also suffering the impact," he added.

Khattar and Shekhawat joined the meeting from Delhi.

The Haryana CM told reporters later that the two chief ministers will meet again on the issue.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 20:34 [IST]
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) today announced that its Power and Energy unit served as sole lead arranger on a $162 million financing for the East Blackland Solar Project in Travis County, Texas.

The financing was arranged on behalf of Recurrent Energy LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc. that functions as Canadian Solar's U.S. project development arm. An active player in renewable energy development, Recurrent has already developed more than 2.4 gigawatts of solar projects and is planning another 5 gigawatts to come.

East Blackland, also known as the Pflugerville Solar Farm, is a 144-megawatt (MW) alternating current solar project. Austin Energy, a publicly owned utility providing electrical power to the city of Austin, Texas, and surrounding areas, will buy electricity generated by the project under the terms of a 15-year power purchase agreement.

"This solar project will provide the Austin region with another valuable source of clean, renewable power. In addition, the construction and operation of the project will contribute to the region's economic growth," said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar. "We are pleased to work with the CIT team on this financing and leverage their expertise and agility to move this project forward."

In leading this financing, CIT extends its track record as one of the top renewable energy lenders nationwide, according to market research firm Inframation, an Acuris company. Earlier this year, CIT's Power and Energy business was recognized with a Stevie American Business Award for its success in financing renewable energy and battery storage projects.

"Recurrent Energy is well recognized as a top developer of renewable energy projects," said Mike Lorusso, managing director and group head for CIT's Power and Energy unit. "We were pleased to work them on this financing and proud to play a continuing role in supporting the expansion of renewable power throughout the U.S."

In connection with the financing, CIT is providing a package of cash management and capital markets services.

Power and Energy, part of CIT's Commercial Finance division, leverages its deep industry knowledge and expertise to offer comprehensive financing solutions for renewable and conventional power generation. The unit manages a large, diverse portfolio that includes investments in all asset classes across the energy sector.

About CIT

CIT is a leading national bank focused on empowering businesses and personal savers with the financial agility to navigate their goals. CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) is a financial holding company with over a century of experience and operates a principal bank subsidiary, CIT Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender). The company's commercial banking segment includes commercial financing, community association banking, middle market banking, equipment and vendor financing, factoring, railcar financing, treasury and payments services, and capital markets and asset management. CIT's consumer banking segment includes a national direct bank and regional branch network. Discover more at cit.com/about.

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The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has invited journalists who may not vote on Election Day due to work, to register for Special or Early Voting.



The association said such persons should send their name, Voter ID number, Code on ID card and their polling station to the Ghana International Press Centre by October 10, 2020.



The association in a press release to the Ghana News Agency said: Regulation 23, sub-regulation 2(a) of C. I. 94 states that the application for Special Voting shall be made no later than 42 days before polling day in the constituency of the applicant.



Journalists who want to benefit from this provision should, therefore, send their particulars to the GJA before the October 10 deadline to enable the EC to process their applications for Special Voting.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Michigans first Black lieutenant governor said Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have put forward the most progressive agenda when it comes to Black people, arguing they will work on behalf of minority communities if sent to the White House in November.

During a virtual watch party for the Democratic National Convention Monday, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said 2020 will live on in infamy due to its impact on Michigans Black community. The COVID-19 pandemic, which killed African Americans at a disproportionate rate, and the death of George Floyd while in police custody put a spotlight on racial inequities and systemic problems facing Black people as America prepares to select its next president.

When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared racism a public health crisis on Aug. 5, Gilchrist said he knows 23 people killed by the coronavirus. Gilchrist, who leads a task force on charged with tackling racial health disparities, noted that the pandemic has been especially difficult for people of color.

COVID-19 hit our state harder than almost any other state and hit the black community in our state, and the city of Detroit in particular, harder than almost any community in the country, Gilchrist said. The state of Michigan, thanks in large part to the fact that we have the most representative and diverse leadership team responding to COVID-19 in the United States of America ... we were the state that recognized that while racial disparities are not new, they have been exacerbated by this pandemic which kills people quickly.

Gilchrist also highlighted the economic impact on Black-owned businesses forced to close down due to the pandemic. He said federal resources distributed by the Small Business Administration did not flow to businesses owned by minority Michiganders, but highlighted state efforts to support Black-owned businesses.

This is the difference that can be made when you have leadership that not only values people and values our potential, but is willing to do the policy work to make it so, Gilchrist said. Thats what we have the opportunity to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris or president and vice president. They have put forward the most progressive agenda; when it comes to Black people when it comes to racial equity and inclusion; when it comes to investing in our community.

Harris, the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, is the first Black woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket.

Biden released a policy agenda to improve the lives of Black Americans earlier this year, which calls for investments in affordable housing, low-income schools, cleaning up pollution and improving infrastructure in minority neighborhoods, among other things.

Gilchrist highlighted Bidens commitment to making Historically Black Colleges and Universities and public universities tuition-free for households earning less than $125,000. He said the Biden administration would also build on job skills training programs implemented in Michigan.

Im proud to support that agenda to make sure that we are telling the story of that agenda and the impact that it will have on people in Michigan, and in the black community in particular, Gilchrist said. This vote that we have right now is a chance for us to decide the future that we want in our communities.

Joining Gilchrist for the virtual watch party was U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, retired Judge Greg Mathis and Jasmine Webb, a Democratic organizer in Wayne County. Each stressed the importance of registering to vote and securing an absentee ballot.

We as voters have to make a commitment to a vote on interests, Mathis said. Vote for student loan forgiveness, vote for increased opportunity for education. Those are the things people want to hear. Those are the things we must tell them, not just to vote because Biden and Harris are good people; they are. But we must tell them to focus their interest and give them the reasons why.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

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Political groups spend millions on ads to turn Michigan Republicans against Trump over coronavirus response

Coronavirus, racial protest response could undermine Trumps outreach to Black voters in Michigan

Trump campaign bus makes push for women voters in Michigan battlegrounds

In must-win Michigan, Trump campaign takes fight door to door as polls show Biden with strong lead
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to direct the Centre to transfer the contributions made to the PM CARES Fund for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan and comprising justices RS Reddy and M R Shah said that voluntary contribution can always be made to the NDRF as there is no statutory bar under the Disaster Management Act.

The verdict came on a PIL, filed by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation, seeking a direction that all the money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the COVID-19 pandemic should be transferred to the NDRF.

Reacting to the Supreme Court verdict on PM CARES, BJP President Nadda said it is a resounding blow to "nefarious" designs of Rahul Gandhi, his band of 'rent a cause' activists. He added that the verdict shows that truth shines despite "ill intent and malicious" efforts of Congress and its associates.

The Centre had on March 28 set up the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund with the primary objective to deal with any kind of emergency situation like the one currently posed by the COVID-19 outbreak and provide relief to those affected.

The prime minister is the ex-officio chairman of the fund and the ministers of defence, home and finance are its ex-officio trustees.
A former Tyrone GAA star charged as part of a major investigation into an encrypted phone network has again been refused bail after a court heard he is believed to be "a leader in a criminal group, with a significant role"

A former Tyrone GAA star charged as part of a major investigation into an encrypted phone network has again been refused bail after a court heard he is believed to be "a leader in a criminal group, with a significant role".

Peter Loughran is accused of being concerned with the supply of, and conspiring to possess, cocaine and herbal cannabis, as well as fraudulently importing cocaine.

It is also alleged that Loughran (45), of Tamnamore Road, Dungannon, conspired to transfer and convert cash and entered into an arrangement on the use or control of criminal property.

The alleged offending relates to dates between March 25 and June 15 this year.

Loughran was part of the 2003 Tyrone All-Ireland winning squad. He was arrested during a National Crime Agency swoop, triggered after an encrypted communication network known as EncroChat was breached.

He was refused bail in June and mounted a further application yesterday at Dungannon Magistrates Court on the basis others charged have all been released, although this was disputed by District Judge Peter King.

Defence counsel said: "My client was one of the first to be charged, and refused bail at first appearance and at High Court. Other defendants without records have been granted bail.

"There have even been defendants with records for heavy duty offences, including money laundering, who have been bailed. My client has minor motoring matters."

The defence added a 30,000 surety was now available, although "there was a lot of debate" among police and prosecution as to the legitimacy of these funds. Bank statements were provided to the court, indicating the funds are in the accounts of "ordinary, respectable, normal people".

"There is a substantial cash surety and his situation is identical to those already granted bail," they argued. "Given the massive delay expected, my client could be bailed with strict conditions."

Opposing this, prosecution counsel stated: "The disinclination with this defendant is flight risk. There is evidence he has a particular connection with Dubai, indicating discussions around accounts there and money being moved between him and one of his subordinates. That risk wasn't present to the same degree with the others."

The prosecution disputed the defence contention of "massive delay", and while phone analysis often slows proceedings, police already have the encrypted data and other devices are being fast-tracked through the cyber unit.

They added: "There is evidence of this defendant's role indicating he is a leader of a particular group, delivering drugs, collecting the money, and paying others to do drug runs for him. He has a significant role."

Judge King noted: "This is not the first application from this investigation I have heard. I'm more than aware of the evidential issues and genesis of the police and NCA investigation. While I am aware some defendants have been bailed, it's not the case of every single one."
North Korea Party Meeting FILE - In this Aug. 13 2020, file photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a ruling party meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea will open a high-profile political conference on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020 to discuss unspecified crucial crucial issues as it struggles to keep afloat a sanctions-ravaged economy hit further by a global pandemic and devastating flooding. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea will open a high-profile political conference on Wednesday to discuss unspecified crucial issues as it struggles to keep afloat a sanctions-ravaged economy hit further by its anti-virus efforts and devastating flooding.

The ruling Workers Party elite will determine a matter of crucial significance in developing the Korean revolution and increasing the partys fighting efficiency during Wednesday's plenary meeting of its Central Committee, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday. It didnt provide further details, including the agenda of the meeting.

The announcement of the meeting came as the United States and South Korea began their annual summertime military exercises, which have been scaled down this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

North Korean official media have yet to comment on this years drills, which mainly involve computer-simulated war scenarios. North Korea usually bristles at the allies combined training, which it describes as an invasion rehearsal, and has recently threatened to abandon stalled nuclear talks unless Washington discards what it perceives as hostile policies toward the North.

The ruling party officials also could discuss issues related to the economy and the partys organizational reforms. It remains to be seen whether party leaders will address the stalemated nuclear negotiations with the United States.

During the last plenary meeting of the party's Central Committee in December, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed deep frustration over diplomacy with the Trump administration and vowed to bolster his nuclear deterrent in response to gangster-like U.S. pressure. He also warned of unspecified shocking action and said his country would soon reveal a new strategic weapon to the world.

Talks between North Korea and the U.S. faltered after the collapse of Kim's second summit with President Donald Trump in February 2019, when the Americans rejected North Korea's demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

During a meeting of the partys political bureau last week, Kim said his country faces the dual challenge of fending off the coronavirus and repairing damage from torrential rain that lashed the country in recent weeks, destroying thousands of homes and nearly 100,000 acres of crops. Kim insisted North Korea will keep its borders shut and reject any outside help.

Story continues

Also last week, Kim sacked the premier of his Cabinet following an evaluation of economic performance. The partys political bureau also discussed setting up an unspecified new department in the Central Committee to help safeguard the dignity and interests of the state and people, KCNA said.

During the party meeting in December, Kim declared a frontal breakthrough against U.S.-led sanctions while urging his nation to stay resilient in a struggle for economic self reliance. But experts say the coronavirus crisis likely derailed some of Kims major economic goals by forcing the country into a lockdown that shut its border with China  the Norths major ally and economic lifeline  and potentially hampered his ability to mobilize people for labor.

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris on Tuesday met with South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young, Seoul's top point man on North Korea, and they reaffirmed the allies' commitment to resuming nuclear diplomacy with the North, Lee's ministry said.


BASEL (dpa-AFX) - Novartis (NVS) said Monday that it welcomed the decision by the US District Court for the District of Delaware to uphold the validity of the Gilenya or fingolimod dosage regimen patent.



The ruling also holds that the generic fingolimod product proposed by HEC Pharm Co. Ltd. and HEC Pharm USA in its Abbreviated New Drug Application will infringe the dosage regimen patent.



The ruling continues the injunction against the marketing and sale of this and other generics that was granted to Novartis in June 2019.



The dosage regimen patent with the associated pediatric exclusivity expires on December 25, 2027; however, Novartis has previously entered into settlement agreements with a number of manufacturers which had filed ANDAs to market a generic version of Gilenya and who were active in this litigation.



Under the confidential terms of the settlements, the ANDA filers will be able to launch a generic version of Gilenya on an agreed-upon date that is prior to the expiration of the dosage regimen patent.



In separate proceedings, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed an appeal of the Inter Partes Review decision from the US Patent and Trademark Office upholding the validity of the dosage regimen patent.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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A 10-month-old Chinese baby has tested positive for COVID-19 upon arriving in Japan two days after getting a negative result in her hometown.

The tiny girl landed in Tokyo with her mother on Sunday and was found to carry coronavirus by medical staff at the airport, according to a government notice.

It was the second similar case within five days. A young Chinese woman also tested positive for the infection in Japan last week after passing virus checks at a Chinese hospital.

The baby girl (not the one pictured) landed in Tokyo with her mother on Sunday and was found to have coronavirus by medical staff at the airport, according to a Chinese notice (file photo)

A Chinese woman also tested positive for the infection in Japan last week after passing the virus checks at a Chinese hospital. Pictured, tourists are seen at an airport in Tokyo on August 1

The unidentified baby and her mother are originally from north-eastern China's Yanbian, an autonomous prefecture bordering North Korea.

She had no fever and was being quarantined, said a statement released by her Chinese hometown. Officials did not mention her mother's condition.

In the social media notice on Tuesday, Yanbian authorities said that the child and her mother had returned to the prefecture's Yanji city from Japan last December.

It claimed that the pair had lived in the city since then and had no contact with any COVID-19 patients before needing to return to Japan this month.

The baby had no fever and was being quarantined, said officials from her hometown in China's Yanji. Pictured, a robot informs a child about virus rules at an airport in Tokyo on August 1

Officials noted that on August 14, the mother and daughter undertook nucleic acid testing, which can detect the presence of the novel coronavirus in a person's body, in Yanji.

They both received a negative result and got the green light to leave the country.

They travelled from Yanji to Harbin, a provincial capital, the next day and flew from Harbin to Tokyo on August 16, according to the post.

Upon arriving in Japan, medical workers at the airport gave the baby an antigen detection - a method to tell if a person is currently infected with the disease.

The result turned out to be positive, and the baby was isolated for medical observation in Japan, Chinese officials reported.

It is said that authorities of Yanji city and Yanbian prefecture have identified and quarantined 66 close contacts of the child. All of their nucleic acid testing results were reported to be negative.

China has reported 84,871 infections and 4,634 deaths since the virus was first detected in Wuhan in December last year. A resident of Nanjing is pictured riding on the street on August 5

Another international traveller from China was found to have COVID-19 last week after being declared virus-free by a Chinese hospital.

The Chinese woman, 20, tested positive for the infection in Japan on August 11.

Chinese authorities said she had received a negative report from a hospital in Nanjing two days earlier.

On the same day, a Philippine national, who had been living in China's Tianjin, was confirmed to have COVID-19 after returning to Manila.

However, officials of Tianjin did not confirm if the individual had undergone any testing before leaving China.

The news comes after a man in China was diagnosed with COVID-19 for the second time within four months.

The unnamed patient from China's north-eastern province Jilin tested positive for COVID-19 again on August 10 after he had been struck down with the infection in April and recovered.

A day earlier, officials announced that an elderly woman in Hubei, the former ground zero of the pandemic, had been diagnosed for the second time in the space of six months.

The Chinese National Health Commission has reported 84,871 infections and 4,634 deaths since the virus was first detected in the central city of Wuhan in December last year.

As of yesterday, the nation had 595 active cases, officials said.
Jennet Robinson Alterman is on it. A longtime womens rights advocate, she chairs the city of Charleston Commission on Women and sits on the board of the South Carolina-based Womens Rights and Empowerment Network.

She can readily rattle off names of the women statewide who led the charge in the states suffragist movement, which made the way for the ratification of the 19th Amendment. After securing its requisite 36 votes 100 years ago today on Aug. 18, 1920, it was officially added to the U.S. Constitution on Aug. 26.

When queried on the role of South Carolina suffragists in the historic event, she quickly, fastidiously let loose a steady stream of emails. Not unlike the women who turned the tide on voting rights, post haste she rallied experts, highlighted resources and called out salient, if sometimes sobering, facts.

She also urged an immediate viewing of the 2004 historic drama Iron Jawed Angels. By the time the film's ending credits rolled, the drift was clear. Suffragist Alice Paul was good and fed up with being barred from the right to vote and the protracted process toward claiming it. She and associates like Lucy Burns broke from the ranks of the established National American Woman Suffrage Association to form the more radical National Womans Party. The rest, as they say, is herstory.

Suffragism split

Along with engaging in strategic "front door" lobbying, the freshly minted, militant National Woman's Party unleashed both brash tactics and blunt-force purpose, going so far as to scandalize the general public by picketing the White House after the United States declared war on Germany in World War I. For their efforts, they suffered a world of acrimony and jail time.

Marjorie Spruill, a historian and professor emeritus at the University of South Carolina known for her work on the women's suffrage movement, was recently involved in a documentary produced by Nashville Public Television called "By One Vote" about women suffragists in the South.

"The National American Woman Suffrage Association ... worked for a very long time, and they are mostly responsible for the victory because of building support all over the country and getting so many states there," Spruill said, noting the ongoing debate of historians over which group led to the success. She feels it was a combination. "Then you have the radical fringe. Those activities actually make the powers that be cooperate more with the moderate groups."

Both groups find more than a few cohorts who were on the ground in South Carolina, shaking up cities like Charleston and Columbia and sending up flares in other places, too.

Sisterhood in SC

So who were these intrepid, indefatigable women? Many of the South Carolina names may register, as they were attached to women who held leadership positions throughout the city.

They followed in the footsteps of earlier advocates, like the Grimke sisters, Charlestons 19th-century duo aimed at abolishing slavery and getting the vote. On that note, according to Spruill, the earlier efforts combining anti-slavery and suffragism largely suppressed a visible role for Black suffragists in the later ones leading to ratification. White and Black women rarely joined forces, with Black women often instead working through churches and women's groups that did not tend to trumpet suffragism.

That being said, during Reconstruction, some preside over the historical record. The Rollin sisters, Frances Ann, Katherine, Charlotte, Marie Louise and Florence, gained tremendous influence. Born in Charleston to freed Black parents, they relocated to Columbia before spreading out to Northern cities, advocating in various locales.

Those individual triumphs paved the way for 1920, as did the role of women's clubs in South Carolina that supported education and social reform. These clubs were driven by women such as the Poppenheim sisters, Louisa Bouknight Poppenheim, a Vassar-educated women's rights advocate who was the second president of the South Carolina Federation and who was joined by her sister Mary in women's right efforts.

Charleston boasted a surprisingly radical showing. Susan Pringle Frost often led the charge. Best known for founding the Preservation Society of Charleston (then the Society for the Preservation of Old Dwellings), she was incensed that her status as a professional real estate developer did not afford her the basic right to vote.

According to Spruill, Frost started out in a relatively measured fashion. Founding the Equal Suffrage Leagues Charleston chapter in 1914, she ran meetings at her home on 4 Logan St., galvanizing a group of mostly women with some men, too, many of them holding high-profile positions throughout the city.

By 1917, she broke with them to align with the National Woman's Party, going so far as to head to Washington to join picket lines across from the White House, dramatically chucking the speeches of President Woodrow Wilson into bonfires, inflaming public outcry.

The three Pollitzer sisters, Carrie, Mabel and Anita, were in the fray, too. They were all in support of National Womans Party, dividing and conquering as suited their individual interest.

Carrie Pollitzer was instrumental in opening admissions for women students at the College of Charleston in 1918 (well behind University of South Carolina, which first opened its doors to a woman in 1895). At the College, President Harrison Randolph had demurred, saying that the school was without sufficient funds to build and maintain the necessary womens restroom. Pollitzer was said to have marched door to door to raising the money.

Mabel Pollitzer, a teacher at Memminger, homed in on school curriculum, championing issues like sex education for women and biology. She was also eventually a decades-long state chair for the National Womans Party.

Then there was Anita Pollitzer, who had left Charleston but returned regularly to work with her sisters on the effort, guided by her affiliation with Alice Paul. "They were very tight," said Spruill of the two. Anita Pollitzer eventually succeeded Paul as president of the National Woman's Party.

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"Anita Pollitzer is the South Carolinian who was most active at the national level," Spruill said. Her influence, incidentally, was felt outside of politics, too. She is said to have introduced photographer Alfred Stieglitz to the work of her friend and Columbia University classmate Georgia O'Keeffe, whom he later famously married.

Known for deploying her Southern charm to lobbying efforts, Anita Pollitzer traveled on behalf of the party, looking to lock down crucial votes. Those included the defining vote from a young Republican member of the Tennessee General Assembly by the name of Harry Burn.

The general understanding is that he received a communication from his mother before casting his vote, one that swayed him to a yay. Spruill shares another version.

"The Pollitzer family lore is that he changed his mind because he had dinner with Anita the night before," she said, citing a photograph taken on the steps of the Capitol building right after the victory with Anita shaking hands with Harry Burn.

Like Frost, Anita Pollitzer was no stranger to the White House picket lines. While there is no evidence that either Charlestonian ended up serving jail time, as did many of their fellow party members, she was instrumental in bringing to Charleston the "Prison Special" train campaign for its first stop.

For it, the women who had been jailed and mistreated and thereby gained public sympathy, hopped on a train, dressed up in replicas of prison attire. From city to city, they shared their stories, as well as their issues with President Woodrow Wilson.

Charleston Evening Post Editor Thomas R. Waring wrote of the event to editor William Ball. "They seem to represent the restlessness and the violence and the daring of the times and seem to fit in, somehow, with the general unrest. ... They seem to think Mr. Wilson is not sincerely for their cause but is only interested in his own fortunes."

Other prominent Charleston women embraced the suffrage movement, too. Mary Vardrine McBee had moved to Charleston and in 1909 founded the first all-female school in the state, Ashley Hall School, as she was keen to offer education opportunities for women in the South. She served as vice president of the South Carolina Suffrage Movement and was part of the League of Women Voters. There was also Laura Bragg, a cultural leader who rose to the top job at the Charleston Museum, who joined the ranks, as did famed Charleston Renaissance artists.

Columbia had a strong presence. Ida Salley Reamer served as chair of the Columbia League of Women Voters and Bertha Munsell served president of the South Carolina League of Women Voters.

And, in Aiken, there was Eulalie Salley, whom Spruill identified as one of the foremost figures of the movement and a successful businesswoman known for an early role in the development of Myrtle Beach. She was so intent on shepherding through the South Carolina ratification of voting rights long after the national victory, if for symbolic weight only, that she vigilantly stayed on it until it was finally signed in this state in 1969.

Far from finished

Like Salley, Jennet Robinson Alterman is quick to note that while the 19th Amendment was ratified 100 years ago, South Carolina was not among the Perfect 36, the states that produced the requisite number of votes to push ratification forward. She points also to that protracted process and its 1969 resolution.

Ever ready to illuminate, Robinson Alterman suggests a musical, Perfect 36, on the topic composed by South Carolinian Mel Marvin, the Broadway composer known for hits like Tintypes and Dr. Seuss How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical that has been made available for 100th anniversary celebrations.

In The Post and Couriers recently launched We the Women series, Ashley Hall Head of School Jill Muti shared sentiments on such slow boils.

"I can't believe it's only been 100 years. It's shameful in so many ways, and yet it's a product of the history of our nation," Muti said.

Melissa Moore, Lowcountry manager of Womens Rights and Empowerment Network, underscores how 100 years ago it was white women suffragists who were afforded most of the right to vote.

I think the route to voting rights has been messy and tarnished in the legacy of white supremacy," she said.

She also notes the fraught history. A lot of the Black women who were fighting for voting rights are written out of the story in many ways. ... We need to be fighting for everyone so you cannot be leaving any person out."

And the vote may be well established, but the gender roles remain. "There is this sense that when we give opportunity, it's somehow enough. And it's not."
(Photo : Satellite image 2020 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS) A view of the mouth of the Jakobshavn glacier in this satellite handout image from Greenland, July 9, 2016, provided by Maxar Technologies on August 14, 2020. (Photo : REUTERS/Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen) A fishing vessel sails in the ice fjord near Ilulissat, Greenland September 12, 2017. Picture taken September 12, 2017.

Greenland's non-ending problem in the issue of climate change has now begun to take an extra turn. It was recorded that the ice island has been losing 500 gigatons of ice per year. And 2020 is no exemption. In fact, today marks the time when Greenland reaches its past 'tipping point.' Here is what's happening now on Greenland.





What is happening now in Greenland?

USA Today reported on Monday, Aug. 17, about the devastating status of Greenland recently. Amid the pandemic, the ice island has suffered from the most terrible climate change in the world.

Ice glaciers on the island have now shrunk to its tipping point. In fact, even if the global warming miraculously ends sometime now, the ice sheets in Greenland will not change its status.

According to scientists, new research finds that the melting ice in Greenland is now 14% greater than the study between 1985 and 1999. This is approximately 500 gigatons of ice sheets per year.

"Glacier retreat has knocked the dynamics of the whole ice sheet into a constant state of loss," study co-author Ian Howat, an earth scientist from Ohio State University, said in a statement. "Even if the climate were to stay the same or even get a little colder, the ice sheet would still be losing mass."

What happens once Greenland is melted?

Most of the asked question about Greenland: what could happen once all its ice sheets melt instantly?

The Arctic ice sheet is the one that covers some parts of Greenland, and it is also considered as the second-biggest ice sheet in the world.

If Greenland continues to melt for the next years to come, the melted water will contribute to the sea-level rise worldwide. Especially in the Atlantic Ocean, which will soon travel in the world's oceans.

Scientists estimated that by the end of the century, global sea level is likely to rise at least one foot above 2000 levels.

There's still hope for Greenland?

Though the scientists have already concluded that Greenland may have already lost its hope to be revived in the future, physicist and climate scientist Stefan Rahmstorf from Potsdam University believes otherwise.

"Thus, Greenland ice loss is a real concern - already today it contributes a lot to sea-level rise," Rahmstorf wrote. "And Greenland does have a tipping point where the ice sheet becomes doomed to total loss. But the new paper by King et al. does not say anything about whether this has been crossed."

ALSO READ: Greenland Continues Melting! Climate Change Sheds 600 Billion Tons of Ice in 60 Days

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 17:33:38|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi said that over 20,000 workers had participated in the construction of the 156-km-long Lagos-Ibadan rail project.

The minister made the remarks at a public hearing in Abuja on Monday. He noted as well the railway contract agreement, between Nigerian government and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, was compliant with the local content law, addressing concerns raised by a government committee.

"We have over 150 Nigerians being trained as engineers in China. The Chinese have also built two training institutions for us, one at Idu and the other one is the Transportation University in Daura, Katsina State," he added.

The minister added that most materials for the project are locally sourced, bringing new job opportunities for the country's residents.

Yakubu Adogie, a liaison officer of the Lagos-Ibadan project told Xinhua earlier that the railway is expected to be put into operation this year. It will reduce the travel time between the two cities to less than two hours, easing traffic congestion and promoting economic development. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 18:30:40|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's domestically developed vaccine against the African swine fever is in progress and clinical trials of the vaccine will be expanded soon, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The vaccine, developed by Harbin Veterinary Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), has completed environmental release tests, which showed no clinical abnormal symptoms and no pathological changes among vaccinated pigs, according to the institute.

Since April, clinical trials of the vaccine have been carried out in three breeding bases in Heilongjiang Province, Henan Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Around 3,000 pigs received the vaccine.

So far, vaccinated piglets have grown normally and developed with no obvious adverse effects, with the immunization rates of the vaccination groups of varying doses all reaching above 80 percent, according to Tang Huajun, president of the CAAS.

The CAAS said it will accelerate productive tests and studies of the vaccine, expand clinical trials to finish related tests as soon as possible and start the application for safety approvals and vaccine registration according to legal procedures.

African swine fever, first described in Kenya in 1921, is a highly contagious viral disease found in swine with mortality rates approaching 100 percent. Over the past decade, the disease has spread through many countries, posing a serious risk of further expansion.

With no vaccine or treatment available, culling pigs is the most effective way of containing outbreaks.

Last October, Chinese researchers reported in the journal Science that they unraveled the three-dimensional structure of the African swine fever virus, laying a solid foundation for developing effective and safe vaccines against the disease. Enditem
Phuket police cleared in gambling den probe

PHUKET: The top five ranking police officers of the Phuket City Police and the Thalang Police have been cleared of any suspicion of intentionally allowing illegal gambling dens to operate in the jurisdictions following raids carried out by provincial officials late June.

crimepolicecorruption

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 18 August 2020, 09:00AM

No police were involved in carrying out the raids, which netted more than 80 gamblers. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

A probe to investigate the officers was launched after two gambling dens  one in Phuket Town and the other in Srisoonthorn  were raided on June 30.

The raids netted 87 people for illegal gambling. The gamblers and organisers were also charged under the Emergency Decree for forming an illegal gathering.

No police were involved in the raids, which were carried out by provincial officials.

Royal Thai Police deputy spokesman Col Krissana Phattanacharoen, in Bangkok, confirmed that the national police headquarters in Bangkok were notified of the raids.

It was also Col Krissana who revealed that Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Rungrote Thakurapunyasiri had already ordered the top five high-ranking officers at both Phuket City Police Station and Thalang Police Station to be immediately transferred to Phuket Provincial Police Station while the investigation was carried out.

If it is found that there is fault by the relevant officers, they will be prosecuted strictly according to the regulations, Col Krissana assured.

Maj Gen Rungrote yesterday (Aug 17) finally confirmed to The Phuket News that no police investigated in the probe were found to be involved in the operation of the gambling dens, or were found to have failed to perform their duties.

The investigators found these policemen to be clear of any wrongdoing in the gambling case. They were not negligent in their duties. They worked well and united together with the investigation that led to the raids. They were not unlawful or corrupt, he said.

They are now already back at work, in the same positions they had before, he added.

So you know, they work hard every day  but they are not able to watch everyone, everywhere, every second, Maj Gen Rungrote said.

Maj Gen Rungrote declined to explain the details of the investigation, such as which police conducted the internal investigation, or why the probe was launched in the first place.
RTHK: Michelle Obama urges ouster of 'the wrong president'

Former first lady Michelle Obama launched a blistering attack on President Donald Trump and urged Americans to elect Democrat Joe Biden in November to end the chaos she said had been created during the four years of Trump's presidency.

In an impassioned speech capping the first night of the Democratic National Convention, Obama said the Republican Trump "has had enough time to prove that he can do the job but had failed to meet the moment in a country reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, economic turmoil and racial injustice.

"Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy," she said, calling him the wrong president for the United States.

He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is, Obama said. "If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we dont make a change in this election."

Obama capped a long parade of speakers, including some of Trump's fellow Republicans, who gathered online to make the case for Biden at the start of his four-day nominating convention.

The harsh takedown by Obama, regularly cited in polls as one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, could generate the sort of voter enthusiasm some Democrats thought a virtual convention might lack.

Showcasing the broad spectrum of supporters united against defeating Trump, former Democratic presidential candidate and progressive Senator Bernie Sanders and prominent Republican John Kasich joined in with Obama.

"Joe Biden will end the hate and division Trump has created. He will stop the demonisation of immigrants, the coddling of white nationalists, the racist dog whistling, the religious bigotry and the ugly attacks on women," Sanders said.

The pandemic forced Democrats to overhaul the convention, largely eliminating the in-person gathering planned for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and turning it into two-hour, prime-time packages of virtual speeches and events from around the country.

It featured discussions with voters who described their struggles confronting the virus and coping with the slumping economy and healthcare.

The convention also highlighted a call for a broad reckoning over systemic racism and police brutality amid protests that broke out after the death of African American George Floyd in Minnesota under the knee of a white policeman.

Speaking from Houston, Floyd's brother Philonise Floyd introduced a moment of silence and honoured other Black victims of police violence.

"So, it's up to us to carry on the fight for justice. Our actions will be their legacies," Floyd said. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The executive appeared in court on Monday (Canada time) for a week-long battle as she offers new arguments to make her case that US requests for her extradition are inherently political. Is she right? "It is plain and obvious to the person in the street that this is Trump-orchestrated, that Ms Meng was a trade pawn in a Washington-Beijing trade negotiation," says Richard Kurland, a Vancouver-based lawyer who has followed the case closely. One key argument to emerge will centre on Meng's treatment at the Canadian airport. Despite a warrant put out for her immediate arrest once she landed, the Huawei executive was allowed to go through customs before facing a four-hour interrogation, a source says. Emails already unveiled in court show officials from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police knew what Meng was wearing on her flight, raising suspicions that US national security officials, rather than law enforcement, were "involved throughout the process". "There's no way they could know that other than from some sort of official in Asia who observed her entering the flight," a source says.

"Since those emails weren't turned over by Canadian officials we would assume it's a US official." In December last year, Huawei won a legal battle for the release of documents from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (the country's version of MI5) that would offer some insight into the communications Canadian officials had with US authorities. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rejected calls to bring the extradition trial to a close over concerns that a hasty move could "imperil" Canadians abroad. Credit:Bloomberg However, the release of those spy agency documents earlier this year came with "very heavy redactions". Huawei's lawyers have suggested that large sections of the documents that are blacked out could show orders from the US for the arrest. "It's argued that the redactions are more extreme than they ought to be," a source says, though Canada has argued that any move to reveal more information would compromise its national security.

Then there is the presentation delivered in Hong Kong. It is understood that, as part of evidence submitted by the US to Canada, two slides were left out that a source familiar with the matter claims "actually discussed the controlling relationship between Huawei and Skycom". A source says: "The version of the PowerPoint presentation that the US supplied to Canada... they only supplied certain slides." Why a couple of pages in a slide deck matter at all is a key part of Meng's defence. The US alleges she misled HSBC over the links to what it describes as an Iranian subsidiary. Meng says she did not. Her proof? The submission of "the entire PowerPoint presentation" in court filings in July. It was never my intention to be stuck here so long, but I suddenly find that a whole year has snuck by, and here I still am. Meng Wangzhou's letter in 2019 In a statement, HSBC said: "We are not a party to this case; so it's inappropriate for us to comment. We were legally compelled to provide certain information to the DOJ [Department of Justice], and HSBC responded factually to the DOJ's requests for information." Last month, HSBC, which has been accused by Chinese media of colluding with the US to "ensnare" Huawei, made a rebuttal of the claims against it with a post on social media app WeChat that said "the timeline of events in the Huawei case makes it absolutely clear that HSBC did not prompt the investigation of Huawei".

A key argument, centring on the US president, will emerge next year too, it is understood. Huawei lawyers will argue that comments made by Donald Trump about Meng's use as a bargaining chip in his run-ins with China constitute an "abuse of process". John Bolton, the former US national security adviser, claimed in his memoir published in June that at the White House Christmas dinner in December 2018, Trump remarked that Meng was like "the Ivanka Trump of China", offering support to an argument driven by Huawei. "The most flagrant comment Trump made was he would be willing to drop the prosecution against her if it got him better terms on a trade deal with China," a source said. Meng Wangzhou is the eldest daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei. Credit:Bloomberg Bolton has said he would be happy to testify under oath in the extradition case, but whether or not Huawei will have any success in the new legs of its arguments remains uncertain.

Already, the company has had one line of argument dismissed, after a court battle in May saw Meng's lawyers reason that the fraud she is accused of by the US doesn't stand in Canada because the country doesn't have similar sanctions against Iran. One source says it would be the equivalent of saying marijuana is legal in Canada, but it's not legal in the US, making a hypothetical extradition by Canada to the US unlawful as a result. Heather Holmes, a supreme court justice in British Columbia, ultimately rejected the argument. Meng has come up against more pressure since, after both she and Huawei were indicted by the US justice department in February this year with 16 new counts of racketeering and conspiring to steal US trade secrets. "Huawei's efforts to steal trade secrets and other sophisticated US technology were successful," the justice department said at the time. "Huawei was able to drastically cut its research and development costs and associated delays, giving the company a significant and unfair competitive advantage," it added.

With extradition cases sometimes taking upwards of 10 years in Canada, the jury is still out, but there will be many who will want it to come to a close sooner rather than later. Loading Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, has rejected calls to bring the extradition trial to a close over concerns that a hasty move could "imperil" Canadians abroad, including two who were detained by Chinese officials just days after Meng's arrest. There is no doubt that Huawei stands in the middle of a battle between the US and China, each nation attempting to sucker punch the other. Meng's fate hangs in the balance.
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has told an emotional story of how Government extended an extraordinary courtesy to him which enabled him travel to Senegal for the funeral of the son of his teacher and mentor.

Sheikh Ahmed Tijjanni Ibrahim Niass, who was Khalipha General of Faidatu-Tijjaniya Ibrahimiyya or world leader of Tijjaniya Ibrahimiyya, one of the biggest Islamic sects, died in Senegal earlier this month, and with Ghanas borders closed to normal commercial flights due to the coronavirus, the National Chief Imam was caught in a quandary and appeared set to miss the burial and funeral rites of the revered cleric, who was also married to the Chief Imams daughter.

Speaking at Fadama on Sunday during a special prayer session organized for the renowned Senegalese cleric, Sheikh Sharubutu emotionally revealed how the government came to his aid to make the seemingly impossible trip possible.

Sheikh Sharubutu said upon Dr. Bawumia hearing the difficult situation he found himself in, the Vice-President reached out to President Akufo-Addo, who released a special flight for him to make the emergency trip to Senegal with his delegation.

The National Chief Imam said considering the crisis the nation faced and the absence of commercial flights due to the closure of the countrys boarders he was quite certain he would miss the funeral.

He expressed his delight and appreciation to Dr. Bawumia and President Akufo-Addo for not only making the trip possible but also for the diplomatic courtesies he received upon his arrival in Senegal, where he said a delegation led by Ghanas Ambassador to Senegal met him at the airport in Dakar.

What the President and the government did has really touched my heart, Sheikh Sharubutu said on Sunday.

I could have just expressed my appreciation to the government but this gesture has really touched my heart and I want to publicly acknowledge and express my gratitude, Sheikh Sharubutu said.

---Daily Guide
The Ontario Select Yearling Sale has announced that its brand new website has been launched.

The address for the website is www.ontarioselectyearling.com.

The sale will be held on October 17 at Winbak Farm of Ontario in Inglewood, Ontario. The sale will be a one-day sale starting at 10:30 a.m. The time was chosen to allow attendees to travel to Woodbine Mohawk Park for the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals that will be held that evening.

The sale features 141 horses sired by top Ontario stallions including the following:

On sale day, in order to allow people who may not be able to attend a chance to follow along, a link for live auction video steam and current sales results will be provided on the website. The sale will also have phone bidding available. Potential sale attendees are encouraged to check the website for COVID-19 rules that will continue to be updated as needed before sale date.

The consignor page on the website allows potential buyers to set up appointments with individual consignors to see yearlings in person.

A catalogue request link allows people to request a catalogue be sent to their address. Those interested in a catalogue may also email [email protected] to be added to the mailing list. Catalogues are expected to be ready in mid-September.

(Ontario Select Yearling Sale)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 03:36:44|Editor: huaxia

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A policeman wearing a face mask stands guard at a checkpoint in Ramtha, Jordan, on Aug. 17, 2020. On Monday, 20 cases of COVID-19 were recorded, including 16 local infections, increasing the tally to 1,398, Health Minister Saad Jaber said in a press conference. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua)

AMMAN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Monday said it would not impose a lockdown amid the rise of COVID-19 cases.

On Monday, 20 cases of COVID-19 were recorded, including 16 local infections, increasing the tally to 1,398, Health Minister Saad Jaber said in a press conference.

Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh said there is no need for resorting to a lockdown as it may cause severe economic and social costs, but the area where the virus is reported will be isolated.

Adaileh said that 28 establishments have been closed and 51 fines and 22 tickets issued for violations of public health regulations.

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
N ervous shoppers made fewer trips to food stores the week after rules on mandatory face coverings were introduced, it emerged today.

Data from market research firm Kantar showed two million fewer trips to stores were taken after the rule was brought in in England on July 24. Those who dont wear a mask face a fine of up to 100, which will be reduced to 50 if people pay within 14 days.

Analysts said: The number of supermarket trips was two million lower than would have usually been expected in the week after the rule was adopted, and currently just over half of shoppers say they feel safe in stores. That suggests the public may need time to adjust to the new regulations, and they now have to plan ahead for every shopping trip.

The study showed shoppers made fewer trips to stores in the past four weeks than they did a month ago.

Since the Covid-19 induced lockdown began in March, shoppers have typically taken fewer trips to stores but haven bought more items. Online shopping has also boomed as shoppers stay at home  now accounting for 13.5% of all sales.

The Kantar research showed the grocery market grew 14.4% in the past 12 weeks  a slight decline compared with last month. Shoppers are gradually returning to some of their pre-lockdown habits, including visiting pubs and restaurants which reopened on July 4 and have seen a boost to trade from Chancellor Rishi Sunaks Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The scheme has led to a significant uplift in footfall at restaurants, cafes and bars, Kantar said. Alcohol sales continue to do well  up 28.3% over the past four weeks, booze is excluded from Sunaks scheme.

Britons spent 9.7 billion on groceries over the past four weeks makes - the lowest since February, but still considerably higher than pre-pandemic levels as food retail appears one of the few industries to gain revenues from the Covid crisis. Industry bosses argue the extra costs of implementing social distancing measures in stores and hiring extra staff to cover absent employees have eroded profits.

Charlotte Scott, consumer insight director at Kantar, said: Although the current average of 14 shopping trips per month per household is lower than it was last month, it is higher than in April and May, when lockdown rules were much tighter. So, while some consumers have shopped more often in the past month, the story varies in different parts of the country, with localised lockdowns and slower openings resulting in people making fewer trips in the North, the Midlands and Wales.

Morrisons was the fastest growing of the big four grocers over the last quarter  with sales up 16%, ahead of Tesco, then Sainsburys and Asda which, with Waitrose, was the only major grocer not to record double-digit growth.

Online specialist Ocado is the fastest growing UK grocer, with sales up 45.5% and a market share of 1.8%. The retailer is readying for divorce from Waitrose after two decades selling its products, instead it has set up a joint venture with Marks & Spencer. Iceland, Co-op, Lidl and Aldi all saw strong quarterly sales growth.
BAMAKO Malian soldiers mutinied outside the capital Bamako on Tuesday, the Norwegian embassy and a security source said.

The embassy has been notified of mutiny in the Armed Forces and troops are on their way to Bamako. Norwegians should exercise caution and preferably stay at home until the situation is clear," the Norwegian embassy said in an alert to its citizens.

Yes, mutiny. The military has taken up arms," a security source said.

A military spokesman confirmed that gunshots were fired at the base in Kati, on the outskirts of Bamako, but said he did not have any further information.

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
Everyone knows that were living in a politically charged time. It has never been so important for people to register to vote and express their opinion in the upcoming election. Aug. 18 of this year also marks the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the legal right to vote in 1920.

There are historical accounts of women being able to vote in the United States before the Suffrage movement. In 1776, New Jersey gave the right to vote to every free adult who met residence and property guidelines; this also included African Americans who met the requirements.

These rights were extended until 1807 when legislation was passed to limit voting rights to tax-paying white males. There were two reasons that its believed that the rights were limited. The first was that women tended to vote for the Federalist party and this was passed to increase the chances for Democratic-Republicans to be elected. The other reason is that there were several accounts of men dressing up as women so that they would be able to cast a second vote, so the restriction cut down on voter fraud.

The womens suffrage movement has a long history in the United States. In 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention was held to promote womens rights and voting became the focus of their fight. The first state to pass full rights for women to vote was Wyoming in 1869. Wyoming was also the first state to have a female governor, Nellie Taylor Ross was elected in 1924. Colorado, Utah and Idaho followed in the 19th Century and most states west of the Mississippi had joined the cause by 1918. Most of the states east of the Mississippi didnt pass womens suffrage until the 19th Amendment, when Tennessee was the last state to pass the amendment on Aug. 18.

The Glen Carbon Library is excited to offer exhibits created by the National Archives and the Smithsonian Institute on the 100th Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. Please come by to visit the library and check out the exhibit, which will be up through September. The library is open to the public from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m., Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday-Saturday. We ask that the 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. hour be reserved for those in high-risk categories.

Information for this article was taken from the exhibit, nps.gov and history.com

Christine Gerrish has worked in libraries since 2008 and been the Director of the Glen Carbon Centennial Library since 2016. Outside of the library, she is a member of Rotary, Kiwanis and Junior Service League
Two policemen have been arrested in connection with the escape of Sunday Shodipe, the prime suspect in killings that rocked Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan in Oyo State, an official has said.

The Commissioner of Police, Joe Enwonwu, told reporters this in his office on Monday.

Mr Shodipe, who was arrested in connection with the killings, had earlier been paraded in July along with two others.

However, the police later said Mr Shodipe escaped from its custody.

But, Mr Enwonwu while receiving the chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Oyo State Council, Ademola Babalola, in his office on Monday, said the inspector who was on duty when Mr Shodipe escaped and another policeman who released the key to the inspector have been detained by the police.

READ ALSO:

Mr Enwonwu, who said the officer who was in charge when Mr Shodipe escaped acted on his own, insisted that any officer found culpable in the escape would be punished accordingly.

As a matter of fact, the suspect escaped from police custody. So, the behavior of the inspector is best known to him. They did not tell me until after two days.

It was a sad incident. It could be a collusion or out of his carelessness.

We detained him on that day, we have tried him. We extended the the investigation to the person who gave him the key. The person that gave him the key is also in detention. There is possibility to extend the investigation.

Anyone that is found culpable would be punished. We have our own internal disciplinary measures.
(Natural News) Americas corporate, state-sponsored media spin machine is at it again trying to smear and malign independent media outlets that expose the ugly truth about what is really going on in communist China.

The latest attack comes from Axios, which has decided to go after The Grayzone by falsely accusing it of engaging in a classic Russian disinformation tactic with regards to its efforts at attempting to discredit Adrian Zenz, a researcher whose work has helped uncover the existence and scale of mass internment camps in Xinjiang.

The words in quotes come from Axois Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, who claims that the information published by Grayzone is false simply because a Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee says it is. This is hardly an argument, of course, and does not suffice as substantive proof of anything other than Allen-Ebrahimians own personal bias.

But this guilt-by-association accusation, along with many others, was published by Axios in an effort to taint the reputation of and discredit The Grayzone, which would seem to be doing actual investigative journalism, as opposed to what Axios continues to do.

Zenz, by the way, would seem to be something of a mainstream media darling, despite being a German anti-Semite, according to Grayzone editor Max Blumenthal, who issued a lengthy response to the Axios hit piece against him and his work.

According to Blumenthal, Zenz is a fraud and a Cold War ideologue whose dubious work is routinely used by Axios as evidence that the mainstream government narrative about China is factual. And when we say mainstream government narrative, we mean the deep state version of events that supports what Caitlin Johnstone describes as narratives which grease the wheels for war, regime change and military expansionism.

To say that this critical reporting shouldnt be happening is to say that journalism shouldnt be happening, Johnstone adds about Axios continued efforts to try to silence independent journalism.

Its saying that only the narratives approved by the U.S. State department and ODNI should be reported, narratives which all happen to facilitate the geostrategic agendas of the United States.

Coda Story is likewise engaged in spreading fake, pro-China news

Mainstream media outlets like Axios are also going after individuals on Twitter such as Carl Zha, Jerry Grey, and an Australia-based account with just a few thousand followers known as Xi Fan. These accounts are apparently a threat in their own right to the establishment narrative, otherwise they would simply be ignored.

Another mainstream news outlet known as Coda Story conducted an interview with both Zha and Grey that author and interviewer Isobel Cockerel deceptively edited in order to convey falsities about what these two individuals represent and promote. It is dirty journalism at its finest, in other words, and par for the course as the mainstream media continues its slide into total irrelevance.

In a healthy world, using dishonest manipulation to damage peoples reputations would cost a reporter their job, Johnstone writes. Instead, writers like Isobel Cockerel and Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian will be rewarded, elevated and offered many new opportunities for their willingness to twist the truth in order to stop people from speaking truth. They know this. Thats why they do it.

The end result of all this deception is that the public remains largely in the dark, and worst of all divided, as to what is really true. And as a society, we are thus unable to join together to fight the real problems that exist because the powers that be have trained us to fight among ourselves. And complicit in all of this is the fake news media, which keeps the charade going.

For more related news about mainstream media deception, be sure to check out Deception.news.

Sources for this article include:

CaitlinJohnstone.com

NaturalNews.com
The offices that remain open will no longer conduct road tests except for commercial drivers license and medical reassessments. All customers for the driver license offices will be asked to complete a wellness questionnaire provided by the state health officials to mitigate the potential spread of the virus in driver license offices, according to the release.

Customers who have appointments at the open offices can keep those appointments, except for driving tests, and will be given priority if they reschedule their appointments after offices re-open, according to a release from the state.

Appointments can be made by calling the DMV customer center at 919-715-7000, according to the release.

In addition, the DMV will postpone hearings for 30 days, with exceptions for insurance liability and safety responsibility hearings, which are conducted by phone, and salvage and special vehicle inspections will be conducted by appointment only, according to information from the state.

All the additional steps being taken do not apply to DMV License Plate Agencies, the state said.

To check the status of a DMV office, visit https://bit.ly/321eCoZ.
by Anand Prasert

Most Thais fear protests will be crushed. Thailand is not split: the old and young have the same wish for freedom. A small clique holds the country hostage. The time has come to transform the country along democratic lines. Some hope for dialogue between the authorities and protesters.

Bangkok (AsiaNews)  On Sunday, thousands of people, especially young students, staged another protest against the authorities in the capital. Some of them were arrested by the police.

Public pressure has been building up recently, partly because of the coronavirus pandemic, against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, who came to power six years ago in a military coup.

Prayuth has been at the helm of a civilian government since last year, but for his critics the election that formally ended military rule was rigged.

Protesters are calling for the government to resign, the end of the dictatorship, democratic constitutional reform, and a review of the role of the monarchy. In the country, the king is a sacred figure, and any offence against him is punished with jail time.

Here is one point of view expressed to AsiaNews.

Most people in the country have no voice, breath, strength, desire and cannot see any point in the recent student protests against the government. Most Thais are afraid that young people will be slaughtered once again like too many times in the past.

Most Thais stand with young students. They are the voice, breath, strength, and hidden hope of their parents and grandparents. What they heard behind domestic walls is now being shouted in the open.

For some analysts, two countries are facing off: the old and the young. But I think there is only one Thailand, where old and young have the same desire for freedom, power sharing and justice.

Yet a small clique has ruled for years, the very rich and powerful who do not want to listen to young students, the voice of the people.

A taxi driver told me the other day that these few powerful people consider the country their property; they have no notion of what is good for the people and are only pursuing their own interests in order to stay in power.

The students are calling for the government to be dissolved, new democratic elections held, a reform of the constitution that empowers the people, and that all institutions, including the monarchy, be under the authority of elected officials.

They also demand that dissidents no longer be persecuted or killed, as in the recent past. this would strip the crown and the military of their absolute power.

Although such a change seems impossible to achieve right now, people of good judgement believe that the time has come to transform Thailand along more democratic lines.

I pray that God will give wisdom and discernment to the authorities so that they will listen to the people speaking through the youth, and that they will engage in dialogue not only with the protesters, but also with the representatives of the people, the elders of the beloved youth.
We will continue to deal with Chinese PLA in firm, resolute manner: Army chief

Mosque converted into public toilet in China

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Aug 18: A public washroom has been constructed on the site of a demolished mosque in Atush of Xinjiang province in northwestern China.

According to the reports, the authorities had demolished two of three mosques there in a drive launched in 2016 to demolish Muslim places of worship, known as "Mosque Rectification" which is a small part of policies against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in China.

Amid coronavirus pandemic, US and China agree to double airline flights between them

In an interview conducted by Radio Free Asia (RFA), Uyghur neighbourhood committee chief from Suntagh village in Atush said the mosque was torn down in 2018. "It's a public toilet, they haven't opened it yet, but it's built," he added.

It is being said in the past few years, China has been hell-bent on breaking the spirit of Uyghur Muslims.

SC says funds from PM-Cares needn't be transferred to National Disaster Response Fund|Oneindia News

The campaign is part of a series of hardline policies which included carrying out the mass incarceration of 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in its internment camps across Xinjiang since April 2017.

Residents told RFA, that Azna mosque, another mosque in the area, had been converted into a convenience store that sells alcohol and cigarettes, which is considered against the religion in Islam. Only Teres Mosque currently stands in the area in poor condition.

Earlier, the Chinese police had imposed a dress code for Uyghur women, under which the Muslim women are not allowed to wear burqa.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 17)  Former Department of Information and Communications Technology undersecretary Eliseo Rio said so-called "gatekeepers" within the Inter-Agency Task Force have prevented measures to implement effective contact tracing efforts.

In a lengthy post on Facebook on Sunday, Rio recounted how he had proposed a way to improve measures to help stem the spread of COVID-19 in the country, but his proposal was thumbed down.

Rio said his proposal was for a system that would take in data from different sources for analysis, adding that it would have been built at no cost to the government.

"We were trying to operationalize the system, at no cost to the government, before we open up the ECQ on June 1... Unfortunately the gatekeepers in IATF never considered it, and we are now suffering the consequences," he said.

Rio said he brought up the issue because the same people were sill stopping contributions from "talented groups and individuals" which could help in addressing the pandemic.

"As a private citizen, I represent the Covid-19 Central Advocacy Group that would like to help in coordinating the efforts of the four Covid-19 czars assigned to Testing, Tracing, Treating and Isolation. We want to help in contact tracing, which at present is the weakest link in the three Ts -- Testing, Tracing and Treating in Isolation. Unfortunately, the letter offering our proposed contribution, free and for the public good, is being ignored by the gatekeepers. Maybe this public declaration to help will be more effective in attracting the attention of the IATF," Rio said.

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Monday, Rio said he saw that the government-backed contact tracing app StaySafe.ph had limitations and proposed a platform that would integrate all apps to supplement StaySafe.

He said DICT Assistant Secretary Manny Caintic, the head of the sub-technical working group whom he also called a "gatekeeper," could have approved apps to be used by the IATF, but stuck with StaySafe instead even if it has not been effective.

"In other words people are saying, mag-chismis [gossip] brigade na tayo for contact tracing. Imagine that. Because until now we have no effective app...Caintic must answer that. Why?" he said. <<>>

Caintic has yet to respond to Rio's claim.

In June, Rio said he was eased out from his position after he questioned the government-backed contact tracing app.

He said he had been in talks with COVID-19 response chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. to persuade the IATF to take a look at other contact tracing applications.

We actually need more players in the common interest of providing the contact tracing -- to be inclusive rather than exclusive, Rio said.

He said Galvez had proposed to the IATF for the National Task Force against COVID-19 to form an Information System Task Group which would assess COVID-19 contact tracing apps, among other things. The proposed task group would have been headed by Rio.

However, Rio said the IATF shelved Galvezs proposal.

Rio resigned from his post as undersecretary for operations in February, due to conflicting views with other officials in the agency, including the millions of pesos in confidential funds lodged with the DICT.

His resignation, however, was only accepted in May. When asked by CNN Philippines why President Rodrigo Duterte only accepted his resignation then, he laughingly replied, "I don't know nga, baka may nakabangga ako?"

[Translation: I don't know why, maybe I had a run-in with someone?]

Not only was this proposal of Secretary Galvez disregarded by IATF, I was eased out from the government at this crucial time with the President accepting my four-month-old resignation, Rio said.

The IATF adopted StaySafe.ph as the countrys official social-distancing, health-condition-reporting, and contact-tracing system that will assist in the governments response to COVID-19.

It was designed to help medical frontliners, local government units, private companies, as well as the national government, to monitor the health condition of residents and conduct more efficient contact tracing.

But Rio said StaySafe.ph, developed for free by software solutions company MultiSys, has failed as a contact tracing app.

Watch the interview here.
Stuart D. Baker, a longtime voice actor on Adult Swim's Squidbillies, has been fired for using offensive language to describe Dolly Parton after she voiced her support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Baker, who sometimes goes by the stage name Unknown Hinson, took to his Facebook to call the Jolene songstress, 74, a 'freak ti**ied, old Southern bimbo' and a 'sl**' who is 'forsaking [her] own race, culture and heritage' after she talked about the social justice movement during an interview with Billboard.

Squidbillies creators Jim Fortier and Dave Willis revealed Baker was canned on the show's Twitter on Sunday, saying: 'The views he expressed do not reflect our own personal values or the values of the show.'

No filter: Squidbillies actor Stuart D. Baker has been fired for making vulgar comments about Dolly Parton after she voiced her support for Black Lives Matter

'We're aware of the extremely offensive and derogatory social media posts made late last week by Stuart D. Baker.

'The views he expressed do not reflect our own personal values or the values of the show that we and many others have worked hard to produce over the past 15 years.

'For those reasons, production of Squidbillies will continue without Mr. Baker, effective immediately.'

Baker has voiced the role of the animated series' main character Early Cuyler since season one, which began in 2005.

Rude: Baker took to his Facebook to call the Jolene songstress, 74, a 'freak ti**ied, old Southern bimbo' and a 'sl**' who is 'forsaking [her] own race, culture and heritage' after she talked about the social justice movement during an interview with Billboard

Performer: Baker sometimes goes by the stage name Unknown Hinson. He's seen in 2019 above

The show has yet to announce if Baker will be replaced or written off the series.

Squidbillies follows the exploits of a family of squids living life in a rural Appalachian community in Georgia. It has aired over 100 episodes and was recently renewed for a third season.

Dolly opened up about the ongoing protests against police brutality and systematic racism in the US during a talk with Billboard, saying: 'People having to make themselves known and felt and seen.'

Axed: Squidbillies creators Jim Fortier and Dave Willis revealed Baker was canned on the show's Twitter on Sunday

'And of course black lives matter. Do we think our little white a**es are the only ones that matter? No!' Parton went on.

She also discussed her decision to change the name of the Dixie Stampede dinner attraction at her Dollywood theme park.

'As soon as you realize that [something] is a problem, you should fix it,' Parton said. 'Dont be a dumba**. Thats where my heart is. I would never dream of hurting anybody on purpose.'
Commemoration service of the victims of the Nazi dictatorship, in the Bundestag in Berlin

By Jeffrey Heller

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's president on Monday invited the United Arab Emirates' de facto leader to visit Jerusalem, praising his role in achieving a "noble and courageous" deal to normalise relations between Israel and the UAE.

Both countries announced on Thursday they would forge formal ties under a U.S.-sponsored deal whose implementation could recast Middle East politics ranging from the Palestinian issue to dealing with Iran, the common foe of Israel and Gulf Arabs.

The deal drew anger and dismay in much of the Arab world and Iran but a quiet welcome in the Gulf.

"In these fateful days, leadership is measured by its courage and ability to be groundbreaking and far-sighted," Israeli President Reuven Rivlin wrote in a letter to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

"I have no doubt that future generations will appreciate the way you, the brave and wise leaders, have restarted the discourse on peace, trust, dialogue between peoples and religions, cooperation and a promising future," Rivlin wrote.

"On behalf of the people of Israel and (me) personally, I take this opportunity to extend an invitation to Your Highness to visit Israel and Jerusalem and be our honoured guest," Rivlin said in the letter, which his spokesman released publicly.

The Palestinians have called the deal a "betrayal" by an Arab country that they have long looked to for support in establishing a state in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, lands Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

"I am hopeful," Rivlin's letter went on, "that this step will help build and strengthen the trust between us and the peoples of the region, a trust that will promote understanding between us all.

"Such trust, as demonstrated in the noble and courageous act, will set our region forward, bring economic well-being and provide prosperity and stability to the people of the Middle East as a whole."

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Palestine Liberation Organization official Wassel Abu Youssef condemned Rivlin's invitation, saying "the visit of any Arab official to Jerusalem through the gate of normalisation is rejected."

Any such top-level Arab visit could be politically explosive given Jerusalem's internationally disputed status.

Israel seized the eastern part of the city in 1967 and annexed it in a move that has not won world recognition. It considers all of Jerusalem its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of the state they seek.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Heller with additional reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
REDWOOD SHORES (dpa-AFX) - Oracle is reportedly in talks to acquire video-sharing app TikTok, owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance. Oracle is said to be working with a group of U.S. venture capital firms, to acquire TikTok's business in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Early this month, Microsoft had revealed that it has held preliminary talks with ByteDance, to acquire the widely popular social media app. President Donald Trump, who had already talked about banning the app in the U.S., has given time till September 15 to Microsoft for acquiring the short video app. Early this month, Trump had confirmed that if not taken over by any American company by mid-September, TikTok would be banned in the U.S., due to security reasons. He has also demanded that a 'substantial portion' from the sale should be paid to the U.S. treasury. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
At a time when self-reliance in the defence sector is a top priority for the government, army vice chief Lieutenant General SK Saini on Monday said developing indigenous capabilities to face security challenges was imperative because during crunch situations, technologies developed by other countries would either not be available or be at the cost of Indias strategic autonomy.

At a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) webinar, Saini assured the industry of the armys unequivocal commitment to the Make in India initiative and sought to dispel the notion that the force has an import bias. He said the army was more than ready to fight with locally produced equipment provided it passed stringent quality tests and manufacturers adhered to delivery timelines.

Saini said it was critical to equip the army with the best weapons and systems to fight its adversaries as heavy costs were imposed on the runner-up.

Also read: India seeks investments from UAE in infrastructure, defence

Self-reliance in defence production through advanced technologies and manufacturing capacity consolidated indigenously and expeditiously will be imperative for an effective and independent foreign policy, said former army vice chief Lieutenant General AS Lamba (retd).

The army is pursuing a raft of projects through the indigenous route including third-generation anti-tank guided missiles, upgrades of infantry combat vehicles, precision ammunition, tank ammunition, drone kill systems and a variety of radars.

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi covered the significance of self-reliance in the defence sector and steps being taken to attain the goal. He said the government had imposed an import ban on 101 types of weapons and ammunition  from missiles to transport aircraft and assault rifles to light combat helicopters --- to provide a push to self-reliance in the defence sector.

The military hardware on the negative import list, released by the government on August 9, includes assault rifles, sniper rifles, short-range surface-to-air missiles, beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, corvettes, missile destroyers, ship-borne cruise missiles, light combat aircraft, a variety of radars and different types of ammunition.

Speaking at the webinar, Raj Kumar, secretary, defence production, said the government was working on the second negative import list of defence items and it would be expanded periodically.

He said that the announcement of the first set of embargoed items on imports would accelerate the process of indigenisation.

Industry will also have to meet the needs of future wars with future products. The industry will now have to shoulder the responsibility of catering to the requirements of embargoed items domestically, a FICCI statement quoted Kumar as saying.

Kumar said the domestic defence industry would hold online interactions with the representatives of friendly countries to understand their defence needs, and country-wise profiles of weapons and systems they may require would be prepared to promote exports.

From raising foreign direct investment (FDI) limits in defence manufacturing to creating a separate budget for buying locally made military hardware and notifying a list of weapons/equipment that cannot be imported, the government had announced a raft of measures to boost self-reliance in the defence sector in May 2020.

Imports account for 60-65% of the countrys military requirements and it has signed contracts worth billions of dollars during the last decade for weapons and systems including fighter jets, air defence missile systems, submarine hunter planes, attack helicopters, heavy-lift choppers and lightweight howitzers.

India was the third-biggest military spender in the world last year after the United States and China, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) said in a report released in April.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 18, 2020) - Buckhaven Capital Corp. (TSXV: BKH.P) ("Buckhaven"), 1254688 B.C. Ltd. ("125") and the shareholders thereof, and Ag-Mining Investments, AB ("AG Mining") are pleased to announce the entrance into a letter of intent (the "LOI") dated August 17, 2020 (the "Effective Date"), which outlines the general terms and conditions of a proposed business combination by way of an amalgamation, arrangement, take-over bid, or other similar form of transaction, which will result in 125 and, in turn its subsidiaries, at the applicable time (or successor corporation, as the case may be) becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buckhaven or otherwise combining its corporate existence with that of Buckhaven (the "Proposed Transaction"). Buckhaven, after completion of the Proposed Transaction, is referred to herein as the "Resulting Issuer".

Buckhaven is a "capital pool company" that completed its initial public offering in June, 2019. The common shares of Buckhaven (the "Buckhaven Shares") are listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") under the stock symbol BKH.P. Buckhaven has not commenced commercial operations and has no assets other than cash. It is intended that the Proposed Transaction, when completed, will constitute the "Qualifying Transaction" of Buckhaven pursuant to Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSXV Corporate Finance Manual. Buckhaven was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and its head and registered office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia.

AG Mining and 125 are involved in the mining industry. 125 was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and its head and registered office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia. AG Mining is a Swedish investment firm and is the 100% owner of the San Bartolome silver operation in Potosi, Bolivia. Currently, AG Mining is processing ore from its own mining rights, and from ore purchased from independent, third party operators in Bolivia.

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The LOI was negotiated at arm's length and is effective as of August 17, 2020. The terms and conditions outlined in the LOI are non-binding on the parties and the LOI is expected to be superseded by a definitive agreement and other definitive documentation (the "Definitive Agreement") to be negotiated between the parties. 125 intends to close a private placement of subscription receipts for gross proceeds of US$10,000,000.

The LOI further contemplates that prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction, 125 and/or Buckhaven will complete a concurrent financing (the "Concurrent Financing") to raise gross proceeds of a minimum of US$15,000,000 and a maximum of US$40,000,000 through the issuance of subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts"). The price per Subscription Receipt will be determined in the context of the market, which shall be further disclosed in a forthcoming press release.

Immediately prior to the completion of the Proposed Transaction, Buckhaven may effect a share consolidation (the "Consolidation"). Buckhaven currently has issued and outstanding 3,530,000 pre-Consolidation common shares (1,380,000 pre-Consolidation common shares subject to escrow), 300,000 stock options and 100,000 broker warrants. The foregoing does not include securities to be issued pursuant to the Concurrent Financing.

There is no assurance that a Definitive Agreement will be successfully negotiated or entered into and there is no assurance that the Concurrent Financing will be completed.

Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, all directors and officers of Buckhaven, elected or appointed prior to the completion of the Proposed Transaction, shall resign and each of the directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer shall be nominees of 125. As a result of the Proposed Transaction, the Resulting Issuer will indirectly carry on the business of 125 and will change its name to such name as determined by 125 and as may be accepted by the TSXV and any other relevant regulatory authorities (the "Name Change"). In addition to the Name Change, Buckhaven will also seek the requisite corporate approvals to complete the Consolidation, to set the number of directors (being all of 125's nominees) and to elect such directors.

As the Proposed Transaction is an arm's length transaction, Buckhaven is not required to obtain shareholder approval for the Proposed Transaction.

In accordance with the policies of the TSXV, the Buckhaven Shares are currently halted from trading and will remain so until such time as the TSXV determines, which may not occur until completion of the Proposed Transaction.

Conditions to the Proposed Transaction

Completion of the Proposed Transaction will be subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, acceptance by the TSXV, if applicable pursuant to TSXV requirements majority of the minority shareholder approval, completion of the Concurrent Financing, approval of certain matters by the holders of the Buckhaven Shares, if necessary, and other customary conditions including:

receipt of all director, shareholder (if necessary) and requisite regulatory approvals relating to the execution of the Definitive Agreement in respect of the Proposed Transaction and as may be contemplated by the Definitive Agreement;

preparation and filing of a filing statement (the " Filing Statement ") outlining the definitive terms of the Proposed Transaction and describing the business to be conducted by Buckhaven following completion of the Proposed Transaction, in accordance with the policies of the TSXV; and

potential completion of the Consolidation of the Buckhaven Shares (ratio to be determined).

Where applicable, the Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Sponsorship

Buckhaven intends to make an application for exemption from the sponsorship requirements of the TSXV in connection with the Proposed Transaction; however, there is no assurance that the TSXV will exempt Buckhaven from all or part of the applicable sponsorship requirements.

Further Information

Buckhaven will provide further details in respect of the Proposed Transaction in due course by way of press release. However, Buckhaven will make available to the TSXV, all information including financial information as required by the TSXV and will provide, in a press release to be disseminated at a later date, required disclosure.

All information contained in this press release with respect to 125, AG Mining and Buckhaven was supplied by the parties respectively, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning such other party.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Filing Statement to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a "capital pool company" should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

For further information:

Buckhaven Capital Corp.

Santo Iacono - President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Director

Phone: 604-689-1428

1254688 B.C. Ltd.

Fraser Buchan, Director

Phone: 416-473-4099

Ag-Mining Investments, AB

Alberto Morales, Chairman

Notice on Forward Looking Information

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this press release. Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance, the entering into of the Definitive Agreement or the closing of the Proposed Transaction. Buckhaven cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the control of Buckhaven, 125 and AG Mining. Such factors include, among other things: the receipt of all regulatory approvals with respect to the Proposed Transaction and listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the TSXV; obtaining all third party consents and corporate approvals necessary to complete the Proposed Transaction, including approval of the Name Change and the Consolidation, as applicable; the receipt of an exemption from the TSXV sponsorship requirements; that no adverse material change in the business, affairs, financial condition or operations of 125, AG Mining and Buckhaven have occurred between the effective date of the Proposed Transaction and the closing date of the Proposed Transaction; that the Concurrent Financing is completed; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Buckhaven's final prospectus dated March 22, 2019 filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission, the Alberta Securities Commission and the Ontario Securities Commission and available on www.sedar.com.

Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, none of Buckhaven, 125 and AG Mining undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62045
Kelly, 53, who has been held without bond since his arrest in July 2019, was accused in a federal indictment in Chicago with conspiring with longtime manager Derrel McDavid and former employee Milton June Brown to rig his 2008 child pornography trial in Cook County by paying off witnesses and victims to change their stories.
Former Trump campaign associate Carter Page participates in a discussion in Washington in a May 2019 file photograph. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Judge Dismisses Carter Page Lawsuit against DNC, Law Firm Over Steele Dossier

A federal judge on Aug. 17 dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former Trump national security aide Carter Page against the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and prominent law firm Perkins Coie, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction in the case.

U.S. District Court Judge Harry Leinenweber tossed the defamation lawsuit out on Monday, ruling that the efforts by Page were based on baseless conjecture.

Page served as an informal foreign policy adviser to Trumps campaign during the 2016 election, and was accused of being a Russian asset and put under surveillance by FBI agents, who found no evidence of wrongdoing.

The suit alleges that Perkins Coie used its Chicago office to commission the salacious and unverified dossier authored by ex-British spy Christopher Steele concerning the presidents alleged links to Russia. It also accuses the DNC and Perkins Coie of defamation and effectively destroying his once-private life.

The dossier was funded by Hillary Clintons presidential campaign and the DNC through the Perkins Coie law firm, which retained the Fusion GPS firm. That firm retained Steele in April 2016 to produce negative information on then-candidate Trump.

On its face, the Complaint fails to establish an Illinois connection, the judge wrote in a court filing obtained by Politico. Plaintiffs claims consist entirely of out-of-state activity by out-of-state actors.

Leinenweber, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, wrote in his 10-page order that Pages lawsuit, which was filed in a federal court in Illinois, was not filed in the correct venue.

Although Plaintiffs describe Perkins Coie LLC as an Illinois LLC, it is actually a Delaware LLC managed from Washington, D.C., and registered to do business in Illinois, Leinenweber said.

Plaintiffs DNC arguments fare no better. Although Plaintiffs admit the DNC is a national committee incorporated and headquartered in Washington D.C., they argue that it is nevertheless at home in Illinois, the judge continued.

Leinenweber said both the law firm and the DNC do not have enough ties to the region to be sued there, and the events related to the defamation lawsuit had essentially no links to Northern Illinois.

The only potentially helpful claimthat Defendants orchestrated their relationship with Fusion GPS through Perkins Coies Chicago officeis baseless conjecture, the judge added.

The Democratic National Committee and Perkins Coie didnt immediately return a request for comment.

John Page, an attorney for Page in the lawsuit, said he was disappointed by Leinenwebers ruling.

This is far from the end of Carter Pages campaign to hold the DNC and Perkins Coie accountable for their role in what happened to him over the past several years, Pierce told Politico in a statement.

We are reviewing the opinion now, and we will be determining our next step soon. Carter Page does not quit, and neither does his legal team. We will not relent until justice is done, and until those who are responsible for the most brazen criminal conspiracy in American political history are brought to justice, he said.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Never before has hiding your face in public been so fashionable or lucrative for small businesses.

When the number of Covid-19 cases spiked and health advisories began to include wearing masks in public, production of personal protective equipment skyrocketed. A June report by Allied Market Research finds the global PPE market grew by more than $1.5 billion in the past 12 months, which includes the onset of the pandemic. It's predicted to increase to $33.4 billion by 2027, from $12.9 billion in 2019, with North America accounting for the lion's share of the uptick.

The report specifically cites the wearing of facemasks among the general public as a primary growth driver, which is all too evident in paging through any website with banner ads. The surge in interest has created dizzying opportunities for craftspeople and businesses.

If "masks" were a separate product silo at Etsy, they would constitute the third-largest sales category on the site (behind home goods and jewelry), at $346 million in the second quarter of this year. During the pandemic, 112,000 Etsy vendors have cashed in on mask sales, and four million people have visited the site exclusively to buy face coverings.

Of course, massive corporations are also capitalizing on the "It" pandemic product--from mass-producing the garments to plastering them with advertising messages.

Consumers can purchase high-end facemasks festooned with signature patterns and logos from the likes of Burberry, Gucci, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. Street fashionistas are snapping them up online, and startups like Muse Beauty, of Charlotte, North Carolina, sell the luxury-branded face coverings via Instagram. They're not cheap: Muse charges $65 to $100 per mask. In a similar development, e-commerce outlet Vistaprint on August 12 began selling masks designed by the graffitist Futura, Amsterdam-based graphic artist Pieter Janssen (a.k.a. Parra), and sculptor and painter Jen Stark of Los Angeles. Sized for kids and adults, selections from the Artist Collection go for $16 to $24 apiece.

Slightly downmarket, Burger King is using facemasks to reinforce a promotion announced last week. On August 10, the campaign kicked off with social media posts showing customers with face coverings that spell out food orders.

"To help ensure guests are staying safe during the pandemic, Burger King Belgium and Luxembourg created a competition for guests to share their favorite orders via comments on Facebook and Instagram," spokesperson Dara Schopp says. The company will select some of the funniest and best comments and give those guests personalized facemasks imprinted with their order. "This way, they don't even have to speak when going up to the counter or drive-thru window," says Schopp.

Asked whether Burger King would import the campaign to the U.S., Schopp did not reply.

One thing is certain, however: If the U.S. has any hope of a recovery soon, facemasks will have a big part to play.

Shana Olhava is well positioned to see continued benefits. The Seattle-based founder of Snug as a Mug, a coffee-cup-cozy maker, saw her fortunes skyrocket after she created a black prototype mask for her husband, upon which she painted the Punisher logo. After spotting an image of the mask on Olhava's Facebook page, a friend reached out with a request to sew some masks for nurses who were out of PPE at the time. Soon friends started making donations. On April 11, Olhava posted the masks for sale on her site.

"My only 'marketing' has been through Facebook and Instagram, and the only place I sell my masks is through my website," says Olhava, who notes that the word of mouth has also led to increased sales for her coffee cozies.

Since late March, the consumer appetite for masks has brought more than 10,000 new visitors to the Snug as a Mug website. Sales so far this year are up 1,706 percent over last year at this time. Revenue from April 1 through July 31 reached $9,000, accounting for 90 percent of Olhava's sewing business, which she conducts in addition to homeschooling her kids.
Letting go of a beloved handbag can be a painful process, but when it's badly stained, lost its shape or the handle's hanging on by a thread, parting with it often feels inevitable.

But rather than surrendering your favourite tote to landfill and splashing out on a new one, it's worth investigating if it's possible to restore it - and you could well end up quids in.

Charlotte Staerck, co-founder of Handbag Clinic, told FEMAIL that their treatments regularly add hundreds - sometimes thousands - of pounds to the value of leather bags or shoes in need of a bit of TLC.

And in an age where sustainability is challenging fast fashion, buying pre-owned and vintage is firmly back in vogue.

Rather than surrendering your favourite tote to landfill and splashing out on a new one, it's worth investigating if it's possible to restore it - and you could well end up quids in. Pictured: stock image

Handbag Clinic has restored over 40,000 bags for its direct clientele since launching in 2015, and also handles restoration work on behalf of several luxury brands including Jimmy Choo, Aspinal of London, Radley and the majority of the major auction houses, as well as Harrods clients.

Charlotte said she believes the pandemic has made a lot of people reconsider their values and question how they can enjoy fashion in a more responsible way.

'We have specialised in handbag restoration for over 12 years and, in recent months, we've seen a dramatic change in the way people engage with sustainable fashion,' she said.

'People have become much more conscious of the impact waste is having on the planet. Buying a pre-owned item and using it for another nine months can actually reduce its water and carbon footprint by 20 to 30 per cent.

'As well as the benefits to the environment, because we buy and sell pre-owned designer handbags we can easily identify the significant financial value restoration work adds, should they decide to sell it on and invest in something new.'

Charlotte said the team is able to take on all manner of challenges, from handbags burnt in fires or chewed by dogs to reconstructing the inside of vintage trunks or restoring satin-white wedding shoes.

Here she shares some of Handbag Clinic's most impressive restorations - and reveals the value giving it a revamp has added to its price tag.

CHANEL CLASSIC

 Slide me  This Chanel Classic was valued at approximately 1,200 prior to its restoration (left), but is now worth 2,795 (pictured right after)

Charlotte says: 'A Chanel restoration typically includes a full hygienic clean of the bag before preparing the leather for restoration: removing oils, repairing holes and strengthening corners before we begin with the colour matching process to create a bespoke leather colourant to restore the colour.

'We always colour match from the least used area of the bag as colours can change with heat or light contamination and general use. We then restore the colour using fine layers of airbrushed pigment and fine detailed brush work on corners and hard to reach areas.

'We then seal this colourant with the desired finish and re-plate the CC turn lock if necessary, with either 24 carat gold or a silver-based compound. Finally, the bag has a protection treatment applied to protect it against sun damage, liquid damage including ink, general wear and light scuffing.'

PRICE BEFORE RESTORATION: 1,200 PRICE OF RESTORATION: 375 PRICE AFTER RESTORATION: 2,795 (an increase of 1,595) Advertisement

BALENCIAGA CITY

 Slide me  This Balenciaga City bag looks brand new (right) whilst still maintaining its soft and supple aesthetic - and its value has gone up by 300. Pictured left before

Charlotte says: 'The Balenciaga City bag quickly went from cult status to classic, and has always been a firm favourite with fashion editors and celebrities. The soft goat and lambkin leather is one of the reasons it is so loved, but this leather can fade and wear quickly if not appropriately protected.

'The restoration process included a clean inside and out using our own patented products and solutions that remove stubborn stains, such as ink and oil, trapped in the leather. We strengthened and repaired the corners of the bag  a key area which shows sigs of wear and tear.

'We then mixed a bespoke colour matched to the least used and true original colour of the bag. The iconic buckle details were also touched up. We replaced the string from inside the handle which had become worn and frayed. The bag also underwent extensive conditioning and had a protective treatment.'

PRICE BEFORE RESTORATION: 395 PRICE OF RESTORATION: 385 PRICE AFTER RESTORATION: 695 (an increase of 300) Advertisement

HERMES BIRKIN

 Slide me  This Hermes Birkin was lovingly restored for 495, meaning its value increased by over double (pictured left before and right after)

Charlotte says: 'This iconic Hermes Birkin arrived at the Clinic with badly stained panels and worn handles.

'Our technicians used our expert restorative techniques to remove the staining and rejuvenate the bag.'

PRICE BEFORE RESTORATION: 4,000 (although it would only appeal to a savvy buyer with restoration in mind) PRICE OF RESTORATION: 495 (this includes collection from your home and delivery) PRICE AFTER RESTORATION: Up to 10,000 (an increase of 6,000) Advertisement

PRADA PLEATED TOTE

 Slide me  The client was reportedly astounded by the results  so happy their cherished bag had been given a second life she never dreamed possible. Pictured before left and right after

Charlotte says: 'This timeless bag had completely degraded and its owner would have thrown it away without a second thought, had it not been for its huge sentimental value. The bag was stolen and then found in a nearby wooded area a few days later and returned to the police.

'The original colour was putty grey but the colour was completely lost and the leather was damaged and heavily worn. Our technicians got to work on a full restoration. They managed to locate a tiny fragment of leather inside the bag that still had the original colour and created a colour match. The bag also underwent extensive conditioning and had a protective treatment.'

PRICE BEFORE RESTORATION: Unsaleable PRICE OF RESTORATION: 255 PRICE AFTER RESTORATION: 645 (an increase of 645) Advertisement

CHANEL GRAND SHOPPING TOTE

 Slide me  Having the structuring material restored on this Chanel Grand Shopping Tote made it look brand new (pictured left before and right after)

Charlotte says: 'In this particular example our technicians replaced the specialist stiffening material between the Chanel Grand Shopping Tote's front and back panels, restoring its natural support.

'This structuring material degrades over time through use and from the natural weight of the leather. Having this restored can make a bag look brand new.'

PRICE BEFORE RESTORATION: 1,100 PRICE OF RESTORATION: 395 PRICE AFTER RESTORATION: 1,995 (an increase of 895) Advertisement

HERMES BIRKIN

 Slide me  The large stain down the front of this bag rendered it unsaleable on the resale market - so its restoration added a huge 8,000 to its value

Charlotte says: 'This item came to us with a stain on the crocodile leather, which was carefully restored by our exotic specialist. They gently extracted the substance, which had penetrated the surface pores of the skin and then performed a professional colour match to the surrounding area.

'We then, using this special blend of exotic dyes, recoloured the area finishing with a specific polishing agent designed to restore the iconic shine on these leathers.'

PRICE BEFORE RESTORATION: Unsaleable PRICE OF RESTORATION: 395 PRICE AFTER RESTORATION: 8,000 (an increase of 8,000) Advertisement

CHANEL FLAP BAG

 Slide me  The restoration of this Chanel bag which was badly discoloured meant it increased in value by 1,195. Pictured left before and right after

Charlotte says: 'This highly coveted Chanel bag had lost almost all of its natural colour, not uncommon with the butter soft Nappa leather used on this brand. This leather is very natural, meaning it is prone to UV fade through outdoor use.

'After a full in-depth clean to remove any surface contaminants, we professionally restored the colour using natural balms and dyes to return the leather to its natural shade whilst maintaining its soft feel.

'The bag had its lining refreshed and finally we applied a nourishing protection cream to the leather; this adds the natural oils again and a barrier to the surface which defends against UV fade and liquid penetrating the leather avoiding staining.'

PRICE BEFORE RESTORATION: 800 PRICE OF RESTORATION: 375 PRICE AFTER RESTORATION: 1,995 (an increase of 1,195) Advertisement

VINTAGE LOUIS VUITTON VANITY CASE

 Slide me  The lining on this Louis Vuitton Vanity Case had completely come away; it was stained and had even been drawn on. Its renovation saw it increase in value by 1,695. Pictured left before and right after

Using a specialist tool, Charlotte told how the team re-plated all four corners on the case in 24 carat gold (pictured left before and right after)

Charlotte says: 'The lining on this Louis Vuitton Vanity Case had completely come away; it was stained and had even been drawn on.

'We started by removing the four corner pieces and cleaning the exterior.

Best buys on the pre-owned luxury and bag market Chanel Classic

Chanel Grand Shopping Tote

Hermes Birkin and Kelly

Louis Vuitton Neverfull

LV Speedy

LV Monogram

LV Damier

Mulberry Bayswater Advertisement

'We then glued down the exterior vachetta that had started to come away, re-securing it to the canvas.

'We then applied a de-greasing solution that removes contaminants from the vachetta, before nourishing the leather with our bespoke nourishing balm.

'Next we removed the interior leather lining and created bespoke new leather pieces using specialist card as a template and backing.

'Once secured with our own crafted glue, the iconic yellow stitch lines were added. We then handcrafted all original pockets and reattached the original vachetta, removing it stitch by stitch.

'Once the base was created, and the vachetta was ready to be attached, we slowly and carefully re-sewed the vachetta.

'We then rebuilt the interior, replacing the new pieces by hand whilst smoothing down every edge and corner to create a seamless finish.

'Using a specialist tool, we re-plated all four corners in 24 carat gold.

'This machine conducts electricity through the metal to re-plate and can only be carried out on conductive metals, such as those seen on this vintage Louis Vuitton and Chanel CC's.'

PRICE BEFORE RESTORATION: 1,300 PRICE OF RESTORATION: 355 PRICE AFTER RESTORATION: 2,995 (+1695) Advertisement
Police have rescued 41 emaciated dogs from a farm in Spain where they were being kept in 'terrible' conditions.

Officers were alerted to the farm, near Quintanar de la Orden in the central province of Toledo, by a local animal charity and arrived to find dozens of starving and dehydrated dogs in the 'unhygienic' building.

A woman who lived at the farm with her partner and was responsible for caring for the dogs has since been arrested and accused of animal abuse.

Police in Spain have rescued 41 emaciated dogs from a farm in Toledo where they were being kept in 'terrible and unhygienic' conditions

Police say it is not yet clear why she was keeping such a large number of dogs.

The animals had not been microchipped and also did not have legally-required paperwork on their health.

Officers say 29 of the dogs were so weak that they could not eat and had to be fed via IV drip, but all are now recovering.

The animals are being housed with local charities until they can be rehomed.

'Thanks to information given to us, it was possible to save the lives of 41 dogs who displayed serious symptoms of malnutrition, organic deterioration, physical weakening and dehydration,' police said in a statement.

'It is not clear why she had so many dogs which she kept in such terrible conditions,' the police spokeswoman said.

Officers said 29 of the animals were so weak they couldn't eat and had to be fed using IV drips, but that all are now recovering and waiting to be rehomed
Last year, she boasted that her bank balance had been boosted so much following her appearance on Love Island that her mother no longer needed to work.

And Anna Vakili appeared to be treating her mother to more perks of her increased wealth on Monday evening, when she and her sister Mandi took her for a night out at London eatery Amazonico.

The 30-year-old beauty wowed as she made her way to the venue in a deeply plunging black patterned minidress.

We are family: Anna Vakili, left, and her sister Mandi, centre, took their mother, right, for a night out at London eatery Amazonico on Monday

Standing tall in a pair of nude strappy heels, the star covered up with a beige shirt, while she accessorised with a black quilted leather handbag.

Wearing her honey brown locks in perfectly coiffed voluminous waves, the TV personality highlighted her good looks with a rich palette of makeup.

Meanwhile, Mandi caught the eye in a khaki jumpsuit, while their mother cut a glamorous figure in a black semi-sheer top with grey trousers.

Wow: Mandi caught the eye in a khaki jumpsuit, which was cinched at the waist with a cash belt

Sensational: The 30-year-old Love Island beauty wowed as she made her way to the venue in a deeply plunging black patterned minidress

In October, Anna, who returned to her pre-reality fame job as a pharmacist amid the COVID-19 pandemic, spoke about the perks of her newfound celebrity.

'Im very grateful for all of the things that have come my way, but the best thing about it is my mum doesnt have to work anymore, she told New magazine. There have definitely been more ups than downs.

Anna had been soaking up the sunshine in the French Riviera, making luxurious stops in Monte Carlo and Saint-Tropez last week.

During her trip she has shared a selection of sizzling bikini snaps of her making the most of the warm weather.

Glamorous: Their mother cut a glamorous figure in a black semi-sheer top with grey trousers

Success: Last year, Anna boasted that her bank balance had been boosted so much following her appearance on Love Island that her mother no longer needed to work

It comes after Anna shared a plethora of snaps and video clips of herself partying at hugely popular local restaurant L'Opera earlier last week.

Among the footage, Anna was seen holding onto the arm of a mystery man donning a white top, whose face she ensured wasn't shown on camera.

While his face wasn't shown, Anna panned the camera over their appetisers and main courses, showing that she was dining with one other person at the eatery.

On Monday Anna raised eyebrows when she shared bikini snaps of herself with the caption: 'The only pictures my man takes for insta are my ones' suggesting she may be enjoying her summer break with a new beau.

MailOnline contacted a representative for Anna Vakili for comment at the time.

Sizzling: Anna recently returned from a trip to the French Riviera, where she visited upscale hotspots Cannes and Saint-Tropez

Beau? Anna shared footage of herself enjoying a night out with a mystery man, whose face she ensured was kept away from the camera, earlier in the week
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A rapper who was jailed after filming the daughter of a Holby City actor dying from a party drugs overdose has had his manslaughter conviction quashed - after a Court of Appeal judge ruled prosecutors failed to prove she could have lived if he had called for help.

Drug dealer Ceon Broughton, 31, supplied John Michie's daughter Louella Fletcher-Michie with the hallucinogenic 2-CP at Bestival in Dorset but was freed today after his eight year sentence was overturned.

He was convicted after he shot harrowing footage of his younger girlfriend overdosing on his mobile phone for six hours, as she screamed 'This ain't acid. I was not expecting this'.

The videos had appalled former Taggart star Mr Michie and wife Carol, who had welcomed Broughton into their home and believed him innocent in the hours after Louella's death in September 2017.

He was so trusted he had even spent Christmas at the Michies' 1.2 million house in North London, worked with Louella's brother Sam and had been a guest at Mr Michie's 60th birthday dinner.

But in court the hostility between them was laid bare, with Mr Michie staring him down as he spoke from the witness box.

In heartbreaking evidence, he had declared 'I think Louella loved Ceon. I'm not sure he loved her. I don't know how you could ever say you loved someone if you left them to die in front of you'.

Later they unexpectedly met outside court proceedings and the father had told him 'you're evil, evil', sparking Broughton into a rage where he threw a coffee table across a room and attacked a water cooler.

Jurors at the 2019 Winchester Crown Court trial had sobbed as they viewed footage of Louella's distress as the effects of the drug showed her at one point trying to eat thorns.

Clips showed musician Broughton turn his iPhone on himself at one point to show him smiling and playing with a fidget spinner toy and also plugging his hoodie brand.

During one 50-minute video Louella had yelled: 'Make sure you're filming this. Put a camera on me now. You better be f****** recording Ceon. Don't f****** put this on YouTube.'

She had also repeatedly shouted for him to call her mum and when they were phoned the sound of their daughter overdosing was so harrowing they jumped in their car to carry out the 130-mile drive from London to the festival site in Lulworth Castle in Dorset. They tragically arrived too late to find her alive.

By 10.41pm that night footage showed Broughton holding Louella's severely scratched hand, with a still image taken by him at 11.24pm appearing to show her lifeless at his feet.

But Broughton's conviction was overturned after his barrister said prosecutors had 'failed to prove' that she would have survived had she received treatment by a certain point - the key point of the original case against him.

Ceon Broughton pictured with girlfriend Louella Fletcher-Michie, who died in September 2017

Timeline of the police probe into Louella Fletcher-Michie's death September 11, 2017: Louella Fletcher-Michie was found dead in a wooded area at Bestival at about 1am September 13, 2017: Ceon Broughton is arrested on suspicion of her murder and supplying a class A drug before being released under investigation February 23, 2018: Broughton is rearrested on suspicion of her manslaughter March 23, 2018: Broughton appears for the first time over the charge at Poole Magistrates' Court July 26, 2018: Broughton pleads not guilty to manslaughter at Winchester Crown Court February 4, 2019: Broughton's trial begins at Winchester Crown Court February 28, 2019: Trial jury begin their deliberations Advertisement

After the appeal hearing Broughton's lawyers said he remained 'devastated' by Louella's death.

In a statement, they said: 'The Court of Appeal has today found that Louella's death occurred not as a result of criminal negligence but was instead a tragic accident.

'Ceon remains devastated by her death.

'He has always wished that he could have done more to save her.

'He loved Louella and she him, but he knows that no words will ever be sufficient to convey his sense of responsibility for what happened or to begin to remove the pain that others have been caused.'

Miss Fletcher-Michie was found dead in woods at the edge of the festival site at Lulworth Castle on the morning of her 25th birthday on September 11, 2017.

Broughton, who raps under the stage name CEONRPG, was convicted in March 2019 of manslaughter by gross negligence and jailed for eight years and six months.

Jurors were told that instead of phoning 999, Broughton stayed in the secluded wooded area with Louella.

Prosecutors claimed he avoided going for help because 'didn't want to be arrested' while on a suspended sentence. A medical centre was nearby to the area where they were sitting.

But at the High Court in London today, Lord Burnett quashed the conviction, saying: 'In our view, this is one of those rare cases where the expert evidence was all that the jury had to assist them in answering the question on causation.

'That expert evidence was not capable of establishing causation to the criminal standard.

'Miss Darlow's final submission that at 9.10pm Louella was deprived of a 90 per cent chance of survival was an accurate reflection of Professor Deakin's evidence but, for the reasons we have explained, that is not enough.

'Put another way, if an operation carried a personal 10% risk of mortality, both patient and clinicians would be able confidently to say that the chances of survival were very high or very good but none could be sure.

'In respectful disagreement with the judge, we conclude that the appellant's main argument, that the case should have been withdrawn from the jury, is established.

'Applying the Galbraith test, taken at its highest, the evidence adduced by the prosecution was incapable of proving causation to the criminal standard of proof. The appeal against conviction for manslaughter must be allowed.'



Broughton (left, pictured in February 2019) has had his conviction overturned for the manslaughter of Miss Fletcher-Michie (right), who died after taking the drug 2C-P at Bestival

Broughton was so trusted by the Michie family he was invited to their family Christmas as well as John's 60th birthday

Footage of Louella and Broughton at Bestival joking around the day before she took the drug that would kill her

2-CP: The drug said to have the hallucinogenic properties of LSD with the stimulant effects of ecstasy 2-CP is said to have the hallucinogenic properties of LSD combined with the stimulant effects of ecstasy. But users have reported that its effects can be intense and uncontrollable. Broughton's barrister Stephen Kamlish QC quoted a report on 2-CP in which one user described taking it as 'physically and psychologically draining'. But Mr Kamlish told the jury that 'no-one has ever been known to die from taking this drug (2-CP) or taking an overdose'. After taking the drug, Miss Fletcher-Michie became disturbed, agitated and seriously ill, groaning, scratching her flesh and attempting to eat thorns. Professor Charles Deakin, a consultant in cardiac anaesthesia and intensive care, said the footage showed she was 'not aware of her surroundings' and became 'seriously unwell and in need of urgent medical care'. Prof Deakin said sedative drugs, breathing support and monitoring of blood pressure could have been used to treat Miss Fletcher-Michie at the scene. But Broughton, who later admitted to her brother Sam that he had 'bumped up' the dose, did nothing to help her and she was found dead by a steward in woodland just 400 yards from the hospital tent. The trial heard that Broughton supplied the drug to her after her own 'pills' had been confiscated by Bestival stewards. The Talk To Frank drugs awareness website states that the 2C family of drugs can make you 'energised and alert, extra aware of colours, sounds and smells and very sensitive to touch and sexually aroused'. But it warns: 'The more you take, the more intense and uncontrollable the experience will be.' Advertisement

The trial at Winchester Crown Court heard Broughton did not get help because he had been handed a suspended jail term a month earlier and feared the consequences.

At the appeal hearing, Broughton's barrister Stephen Kamlish QC argued the conviction was unsafe because prosecutors had 'failed to prove' that Miss Fletcher-Michie would have survived had she received treatment by a certain point.

He also argued Broughton's sentence was 'excessive' in any event.

Mr Kamlish QC told the Court of Appeal: 'The Crown cannot prove, now or at trial, that she would have lived had she been treated.

'What the Crown are arguing now is that by depriving the deceased of the chance of surviving via medical treatment she would have lived but that also means she might or might not have lived.

'That is hardly the correct text on which the Crown can prove causation. The appellant was trying to get help. So he cannot be described as criminally grossly negligent.'

He said Broughton had felt unable to leave Miss Fletcher-Michie alone in the woods while she was suffering a 'bad trip', and he had not realised she was at risk of death.

Mr Kamlish added: 'So in our submission when one looks at the learned judge's direction as to the ease or difficulty of obtaining help, if Louella could walk by herself it was difficult.'

He said Professor Charles Deakin addressed whether medical intervention could have helped at trial while other experts focused on the cause of death.

Mr Kamlish said the prosecution evidence did not prove causation against the defendant.

In her final moments captured on camera, Miss Fletcher-Michie said: 'My mum and dad, my brother and sister, I love you lot.'

Her mother, Carol Fletcher-Michie, said she 'dropped everything' and travelled with her husband to the festival site after making contact with Broughton and hearing her daughter in the background.

Broughton, from Enfield, North London denied but was convicted by the jury of manslaughter and supplying class A drugs.

His conviction for manslaughter was quashed. He did not appeal his conviction for supplying class A drugs.

Broughton previously admitted supplying drugs to Miss Fletcher-Michie at Glastonbury festival, in June 2017, and was in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed for possessing a lock knife and a Stanley knife blade.

Prosecutors told jurors during his trial that Broughton failed to take 'reasonable' steps to seek medical help for Miss Fletcher-Michie.

Harrowing footage shown to the court showed videos he had shot of her as she was under the influence of the drug.

The first was timed at 5.53pm, with the 50-minute clip showing Louella wildly hallucinating.

'This is the best trip I've ever f***ing had,' she repeatedly told the camera. 'I'm seeing colourful taxis Magical monkey riding the forest.'

Actor John Michie and his wife Carol Fletcher-Michie at Winchester Crown Court on February 27, 2019

Later she was seen shouting 'This is the happiest I've ever been. This is mad. I'm so happy, the best day of my life. I've taken acid before. This ain't acid. I was not expecting this.'

Broughton previously admitted supplying drugs to Miss Fletcher-Michie at Glastonbury festival, in June 2017, and was in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed for possessing a lock knife and a Stanley knife blade.

Prosecutors told jurors during his trial that Broughton failed to take 'reasonable' steps to seek medical help for Miss Fletcher-Michie.

They said he did not get help because he had been handed the suspended jail term a month earlier and feared the consequences.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, Mr Justice Sweeney and Mr Justice Murray gave their ruling this morning.

A representative for Mr Michie declined to comment.
Dear Dr. Fox: I read your recent article concerning the Dutch governments ban on future breeding of brachycephalic dogs and wondered about your opinion of breeding dachshunds. Their original purpose as badger hunters necessitated their long, low shape, but I doubt they are utilized for this purpose anymore. Their conformation is subject to many painful physical ailments and injuries. Should we stop breeding dachshunds? I happen to love them, but I do worry about their spinal issues.  N.W., Hyde Park, New York

Dear N.W.: You and I will be shunned at dog shows where these over-long and leg-deformed dogs of human creation are paraded. With their sprightly spirits, courageous natures and playful, devoted ways, many overlook these dogs vulnerability to spinal injuries.

Within every dog that has been genetically deformed through selective breeding, there is a captive dog-soul. They need to be liberated: There should be no more breeding of any kind of dog with extreme physical traits that can compromise health and well-being.
There were three big corporate shows playing on Tuesday in Australia - all of which featured China as the major protagonist. And each serves as a reminder of the vice-like grip it has on the prosperity of numerous Australian industries and the broader economy.

It was Beijing's decision to conduct an investigation into claims of Australian wine companies dumping products on Chinas shores that was the headline maker. In dollar terms, wine exports are only a $3 billion industry for Australia and China is the largest customer. But what the move lacks in economic importance to Australia it makes up in symbolism.

Australian wines on sale in Shanghai. Credit:Michael Smith

It represents yet another leg up in the escalating tensions between the two countries and stands as a warning to other Australian companies exporting to China, everything from food to vitamins, that they could easily become the next piece of collateral damage.

However, in terms of national importance BHP takes centre stage with the release of its near $US8 billion profit, anchored by booming iron ore exports to China. It follows an equally buoyant iron ore exported to China-led earnings report from Rio Tinto last week and based on current forecasts Fortescue will follow up next week with a booming profit - again thanks to China.
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

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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.
Davaindia is India's fastest growing retail chain of generic pharmacy powered by Zota Health Care Limited.

Inspired by the revolutionary campaign by our Prime Minister for Generic Medicines, the company launched its lowest-priced generic medical stores, by the brand name of Davaindia

The company has so far 550 stores across India with 15,000,00 happy customers and already signed up 444 new store agreements which will be operative soon. The company aims to spread its wings pan-India by opening new stores in every village, town, and city in the next two years' time.

More than 1500 drugs, ayurvedic, gym supplements, OTC, nutraceuticals, surgical, cosmetics and wellness products are available in the stores of Davaindia.

The company has signed up for 180 new stores in just one month. Due to the company's consistently successful performance, transparent practices, and quality support, the trust in the company has been steadily increasing. The company launched 50 new franchise stores in this month.

According to the Chairman of the company, Ketan Zota, the company is going to launch 450 new products simultaneously in the range of its wellness products in association with Khadi India (sponsored by the Khadi and Industry Commission of the Government of India). Khadi India will specially produce this range of products for Davaindia.

The company is also planning to add 250 new products soon to its existing range of products.

Elaborating further, the company's Managing Director, Moxesh Zota, said that the company offers two types of franchise stores, namely, a pharmacy store and a signature store. The company also plans to open its new range of ayurvedic and wellness store.

At a time when many people are looking for a new business, the company is motivated by the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme and plans to start this new type of store with a very small investment.

The company has recently launched its Android app so that customers can check the rate difference of generic medicine and branded medicine even while sitting at home. They can also check the nearby store of Davaindia. An app for Apple phones users will be launched soon.

Generic Medicine costs up to 90 per cent less as compared to branded medicines. Generic medicines are equally effective as branded medicines and consist of the same composition.

The company aims to reach as many people as possible with the benefits of over-the-counter medicines as the company maintains a low MRP of the existing medicines.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ukraine and Bangladesh plan to strengthen the economic component of bilateral relations and to open permanent diplomatic missions in both countries in the future.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhenii Yenin discussed this during a meeting with Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to Ukraine (concurrently) Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman on August 17, the Foreign Ministrys press service reported.

"The parties confirmed their readiness to strengthen the dynamics of Ukrainian-Bangladeshi dialogue, in particular, the intention to hold the second round of political consultations and the introduction of consular consultations. They also discussed a number of issues on the agenda of cooperation in trade and investment," the report says.

Taking into account the high rates of growth of bilateral trade and the opening of new promising areas of cooperation, the interlocutors expressed a common position on the advisability of mutual opening of permanent diplomatic missions in the future.

Yenin also proposed to organize a visit of representatives of the business circles of the Republic of Bangladesh to Ukraine in the future in order to study the conditions for joint investment projects.

The parties paid special attention to the importance of enhancing cooperation in such sectors as agriculture, mechanical engineering, production cooperation and education.

The deputy minister thanked the ambassador for his assistance in organizing evacuation flights for Ukrainian citizens amid the pandemic.

ish
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its order on a bunch of petitions seeking cancellation of final year examinations prescribed by UGC. The Court gave three days time to all parties to give written submissions of their arguments.

Before reserving orders, the bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah heard the petitioners. The bench heard Delhi, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Odisha before reserving orders.

Follow Supreme Court hearing live updates

The state of Maharashtra and UT of Delhi have cancelled the exams while Odisha, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Punjab have conveyed their inability to hold exams to UGC.

UGC represented by SG Tushar Mehta submitted at the end.

During the hearing, the Court remarked Under guise of NDMA state authorities cannot take decision with regard to standards of education. You can contend and argue that it is not possible or feasible to hold exams now. But to pass students based on earlier exams performance cannot be under your domain.

Court further stated if it was possible for Universities to dilute standards fixed by UGC. If that is permitted, every University will have a different system of passing students. You cannot dilute the standards.

For UGC, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that this is not a battle between Centre and state. He further pointed out that all public health precautions were taken before ordering for exams.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by students against the UGCs July 6 order to conduct final year exams by September 30. The UGC had by its July 6 order directed all 900 Universities across the country to conduct final year exams by September 30 either through online, offline or blended mode of the above two.

Earlier on Friday, August 14, the same SC bench had adjourned the matter for August 18. Arguing for petitioners, Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that prior notifications of UGC issued in April 15, May 1 and June 29 realized the pandemic situation and gave flexibility to universities to either conduct or not conduct exams. Now when pandemic is at its peak, how can UGC decide to hold mandatory exams when teaching has not been held.

Last week, the union home ministry had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that it has given relaxations to colleges and universities across the country and allowed them to open for conducting final-year examinations, in accordance with an order issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

On Monday, SC dismissed a plea filed by students to postpone the JEE Mains and NEET exams, due to the Covid- 19 situation.
Belarus opposition supporters gather in front of the MZKT plant of the heavy off-road vehicles during a rally in Minsk, on Aug. 17, 2020, after incumbent president rejected calls to step down in a defiant speech. (Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images)

Im Not a Saint: Lukashenko Offers to Hand Over Power After Referendum

MINSKAlexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, said on Aug. 17 he would be ready to hold new elections and hand over power after a constitutional referendum, an attempt to pacify mass protests and strikes that pose the biggest challenge yet to his rule.

He made the offer, which he insisted would not be delivered on while he was under pressure from protesters after exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she was willing to lead the country.

In a sign of his growing vulnerability, Lukashenko faced heckling and chants of step down during a speech to workers at one of the large state-run factories that are the pride of his Soviet-style economic model and core support base.

He faces the threat of European Union sanctions after a bloody crackdown on protests following what demonstrators say was his rigged re-election victory last week. He denies losing, citing official results that gave him just over 80 percent of the vote.

The EU is also preparing to send a message to Russia not to meddle after Moscow told Lukashenko it was ready to provide military help in the event of an external threat.

Russia is watching closely, as Belarus hosts pipelines that carry Russian energy exports to the West and is viewed by Moscow as a buffer zone against NATO. Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke twice over the weekend.

A former Soviet collective farm manager, Lukashenko used blunt language while speaking to workers on Aug. 17.

Weve held elections, he said. Until youve killed me, there wont be any new elections.

But he offered to change the constitution, an apparent concession that seems unlikely to satisfy protesters who say its something he has spoken about before.

Well put the changes to a referendum, and Ill hand over my constitutional powers. But not under pressure or because of the street, Lukashenko said, in remarks quoted by the official Belta news agency.

Yes, Im not a saint. You know my harsh side. Im not eternal. But if you drag down the first president youll drag down neighboring countries and all the rest.

He also said people could hold parliamentary and presidential elections after the referendum if that was what they wanted.

Video Address

Speaking in a video address from Lithuania, opposition politician Tsikhanouskaya urged security and law enforcement officers to switch sides.

I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period, Tsikhanouskaya said.

Her video was released as hundreds of employees from the state broadcaster BT went on strike, and several presenters and staff publicly resigned in solidarity with the protesters.

The strike came as protests spread to those normally seen as loyal to the 65-year-old president. Some police, a sitting ambassador, prominent athletes, and a former prime minister have also voiced solidarity with the protesters.

The state broadcaster showed re-runs on the morning of Aug. 17 before issuing a fresh news bulletin. Videos on social media suggested BT had at one point aired footage of an empty studio with white sofas, and music playing.

Reuters couldnt independently confirm that and the broadcaster couldnt immediately be reached for comment.

Factory workers waving flags and posters joined protesters to rally outside the building, which was being guarded by security forces.

We want to work honestly, we do not want to be forced to lie, TV host Oleg Titkov told Reuters.

Thousands of protesters had earlier marched to a factory where Lukashenko flew by helicopter to speak to striking workers. He got a rough reception.

Thanks, Ive said everything. You can (continue to) shout step down,' he said, struggling to be heard.

He then walked away as the crowd chanted Step down.

Media outlet Tut.By showed footage of Lukashenko confronting one worker, saying I will not beat you up before adding, If somebody provokes something here, we will sort it out in a hard way. So, man up.

Strike action hit Belaruskali, one of the worlds largest potash producers, partly shutting production, Russias TASS news agency cited a local trade union as saying. The state-owned firm, a key source of dollar revenue for Belarus, said its plant was still working.

European Union leaders will send a message of solidarity to Belarusian protesters during an emergency video conference on Aug. 19, while Britain condemned the violence used to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent presidential election.

By Andrei Makhovsky
Is Tom Cruise desperate for another big break that he wants to work alongside Reese Witherspoon?

According to the National Enquirer, the 58-year-old is eager to collaborate with Witherspoon to revamp his image.

She and his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman are close, since they both work on "Big Little Lies."

According to a source who spoke to the publication, "Tom's been very impressed with Reese's work and has approached her to work on something together."

Tom Cruise's alleged plan is to change his action star facade to something different.

Though the "Legally Blonde" star is said to have been flattered by the offer, the "Mission: Impossible" actor has been "laying it on a big thick," adding, "He's been acting like she's his best friend - which freaks her out because they barely know each other."

Cruise is allegedly jealous by Kidman's additional career boost after she teamed up with Reese Witherspoon for the hit HBO show.

Unfortunately, people close to Witherspoon warned her of the implications if she helped Cruise, saying it could rattle her friendship with the Australian-born actress.

"When Nicole finds out, she'll be gutted. She's confided in Reese about how miserable Tom made her, but business is business to Reese."

According to Gossip Cop, however, the entire story by the National Enquirer is fiction. Tom Cruise didn't contact Witherspoon about collaborating, and her friendship to Nicole Kidman isn't in danger because the entire thing is not true.

Looking at it now, Tom Cruise's career is looking just fine. The actor seems to enjoy working on action movies that he even does his stunts. More importantly, it may seem like the action is more for him than romance ones.

A few days ago, it was reported that he didn't allow anybody to run alongside him because it would make him slow down his running while filming. This only means he cares more about his image than anything else.

Currently, Cruise is working on "Edge of Tomorrow 2" and "Mission: Impossible 7."

When it comes to his ex-wife Nicole Kidman, the actress has been doing just fine even before she starred alongside Witherspoon on "Big Little Lies."

Kidman was even nominated for an Academy Award for "Lion" just before the HBO show aired.

Reese Witherspoon is also busy working on the highly-anticipated "Legally Blonde 3."

Her production company is also working on an adaptation of the bestselling novel, "Where the Crawdad Sings." Though she is busy with everything going on in her life, none of those projects involve Tom Cruise.

It was also reported that Gwyneth Paltrow is making a comeback movie with Tom Cruise to "reignite her acting career."

A source told the National Enquirer, "With Goop generating so much bad press, Gwyn's looking to get back into her comfort zone and relaunch her acting career."

"And what better way to make a splashy comeback than to reunite with Tom Cruise?"

Gossip Cop, however, has claimed that this story is bogus as well.

While Paltrow was last seen on the final "Avengers" movie, she is doing fine with her lifestyle brand. Each time, she has something unique to release, which shocks everybody.

It's weird and exciting at the same time.

READ MORE: Bye, Brad Pitt? Angelina Jolie Plans to Move to the UK With Their Children
An army court of inquiry on Tuesday began recording statements of witnesses in connection with the killing of three alleged militants in an encounter last month in Shopian in South Kashmir, following allegations by families in Rajouri area of Jammu region that as many of their kin were missing from the same place.

Srinagar-based defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia asked additional civil witnesses to depose before the court of inquiry.

According to sources, the inquiry is being headed by a Brigadier rank officer as the unit involved in the encounter was headed by a Colonel.

The incident took place on July 18 when the army claimed to have killed three militants at Ashimpora in the higher reaches of Shopian in South Kashmir.

However, little over two weeks thereafter, missing complaints were lodged by the families of three youths, working as labourers in apple and walnut orchards, who had disappeared from the same region and they had last talked to them on July 17.

Colonel Kalia in his statement said the high-level court of inquiry into 'Operation Amshipora' in Shopian was under progress.

"Statements of key witnesses are being recorded and progress is being monitored closely. Additional civil witnesses are being asked to depose before the court of inquiry," he said.

The spokesperson said DNA samples have been collected from Rajouri by the Jammu and Kashmir police and sent for matching with those of the alleged terrorists killed on July 18.

Col Kalia said the army is committed to ethical conduct of all Counter Terrorist operations.

"Cases where doubts are raised are investigated under due process as per the law of the land. Since the case is under investigation, further details will be shared periodically, as appropriate without affecting due legal process," he said.

The relatives of three youths, belonging to Dhar Sakri village in Kotranka of Rajouri area in Poonch, had lodged a written missing persons report in the local police station after they lost contact with them on July 17.

In their complaint, they informed the police that they had last spoken to the three, who were mainly involved in apple and walnut trading, on July 17 when the youths had informed their families that they had got a room at Ashimpora in Shopian.

The same place was the site of the encounter the next day and since then there has been no report about the three, the families said in their complaint.

The DNA samples of the family members of the three boys were collected in a government hospital at Rajouri on August 13 in the presence of a police investigation team sent from Srinagar.

Three boys, Mohammad Imtiyaz and Ibrar Ahmed, both residents of Kathuni mohalla of Dharsakri village of Rajouri, and Mohammad Ibrar, a resident of Tarkassi village of Rajouri, left their homes to work as labourers in Kashmir's Shopian and went out of contact with their families after July 17 late evening.

The father of Imtiyaz, one of the missing persons, was seen on social media pleading for a visit to Kashmir and exhuming the bodies of his son and others for a proper burial in Rajouri.

He even went on to say that if any of the three was remotely connected to militant organisations, he was ready to face the consequences.

The army has already initiated an inquiry into the 'encounter' carried out by its troops in Amshipora village of Shopian district.

Taking note of the social media inputs, the army instituted an investigation into the encounter.
The Telangana governments decision to ban Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations commencing August 22 in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic has run into stiff opposition from the festival committees and Bharatiya Janata Party.

A day after the state government announced that no permission would be given for public celebration of the festival by erecting Lord Ganesha mandaps (pandals) in every street of the city as was the practice in the past, the Bhagya Nagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi on Tuesday opposed the decision.

State minister Talasani Srinivasa Yadav appealed to the people in general and youth associations in particular not to erect Ganesh mandaps but confine the celebrations to their respective homes in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hyderabad commissioner of police Anjani Kumar also announced that no idol installation or any event would be held at public places and asked the people to perform Ganesh puja at home.

However, Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi general secretary Dr Bhagwanth Rao insisted that Ganesh mandaps could be erected in apartments, gated communities, function halls and bastis (colonies).

There is no need to take any permission from the police for installation of the idols, but mere intimation to the local police station is enough, he said and asked home minister Mohd Mahmud Ali to communicate the message to all the police stations.

Rao, however, appealed to devotees to strictly follow the Covid-19 guidelines at the pandals. At any point of time, not more than five persons would be present at the mandap maintaining social distance. Use of masks and sanitisers is a must, he said.

The Samithi also resisted the state governments proposal to ban the Ganesh Nimajjan (immersion of Lord Ganesha idols) processions this year. The centralised immersion procession of Lord Ganesha at the end of 11-day festivities is one of the biggest annual events of the city and draws thousands of visitors.

The government had been making massive arrangements for the centralised Ganesh Nimajjan procession up to Hussain Sagar lake every year, but due to Covid-19 pandemic, it has advised the organisers to restrict the programme to local areas.

However, Rao said a decision would be taken on Ganesh immersion procession only after ascertaining the number of Ganesh idols installed in the city. As per the traditions, immersion has to be done only in natural waters like rivers and tanks, but not in buckets and tubs as suggested by the government, he said.

The lone BJP lawmaker from Hyderabad T Raja Singh also strongly opposed the restrictions on Ganesh festivities.

There have been reports that the Covid-19 pandemic might continue till next year. Does it mean the government suggests that we stop praying and celebrating till then? he asked.

Singh, who represents Goshamahal assembly constituency in the city, also pointed out that the restrictions on Ganesh mandaps and the number of idols would hit the idol makers and artistes hard.

Accusing Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of minority appeasement, the BJP MLA wondered why the government had allowed Eid celebrations in a big way.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav



Thackeray on Tuesday held discussions with a group of eminent persons on ways of boosting the state's growth rate and reviving its economy which has been badly hit by COVID-19.

These eminent persons, including veteran banker Deepak Parekh and former bureaucrat Vijay Kelkar, are members of the Pune International Centre.

Thackeray held the discussions with the Centres president Raghunath Mashelkar, vice-president Kelkar, Parekh, Shami Mehta and other members via video-conferencing.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, also took part in the parleys.

According to an official statement, the chief minister stressed on initiating a dialogue with locals before any development work is undertaken and also underscored the need for transparency in carrying it out.

Without naming anyone, Thackeray said this did not happen earlier, but now on people will be taken into confidence and dialogue with them will be increased.

Our government will not go beyond the views of locals while bringing in any project. There is no meaning to a development which is coupled with protests and baton charges, the statement quoted the chief minister as saying.

The Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, that will connect Mumbai to Nagpur in Vidarbha, will give momentum to the states development, he added.

He reiterated that 24 townships will be developed along the 700-km expressway.

A network of industrial hubs will also be weaved along the expressway, benefiting the state, Thackeray added.

The chief minister emphasised on decentralisation of industries in Maharashtra, contending the state witnessed repercussions of concentration of industries in certain areas during the lockdown period.

He observed that industrial units in Mumbai, Pimpri- Chinchwad and Thane remained shut during the period, affecting production.

If industries are decentralised, production will continue in some or the other parts of the state, if such a situation (as triggered by COVID-19) is to arise in the future, the chief minister said.

Thackeray also called for changing the hire and fire work culture or else, he added, employment issues will crop up.

(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 play area at Ballinagar N.S. has been almost doubled in size to facilitate Covid-19 regulations thanks to funding provided by the local community lotto.

Work on the ambitious development, which will cost in the region of 30,000, commenced last Friday and will be completed in time for pupils and staff when the school reopens later this month.

The project is spearheaded by the school's Parents Association who undertook the work to ensure that pupils could adhere to social distancing guidelines and remain within their own class bubbles at staggered break times.

Chairman of the Parents Association, Aidan Minnock said the school and the association were very appreciative of the support from the community lotto, both tickets sellers and buyers.

Parents at the school are delighted with the project at this particular time but the extended yard will bring years of joy to children in the school long after the Covid pandemic has passed, said Mr Minnock.

As well as extending the school yard a new shelter has been provided for students for use during inclement weather conditions.

Mr Minnock paid tribute to the contractors carrying out the work, Tower Plant and Civil Engineering, a local company which came in with a very favourable quote given that it was a community initiative involving community funding.

He also extended thanks to fellow members of the Parents Association, the Board of Management, the Community Lotto, school Principal, Alan Plunkett and all the members of the teaching team.

Ballinagar N.S. reopens on August 26 next for junior infants and for all other classes on the following day, August 27.

The Ballinagar Community Lotto was founded some years ago and the proceeds are used to fund the local school and GAA club.

The venture receives support from people in the immediate as well as from neighbouring Cappincur, Daingean, Geashill, Tullamore and further afield.

The draw takes place each Monday night and a local lady was the lucky winner of the jackpot of 12,200 last Monday.
M ore than 70 workers have tested positive for coronavirus at a dessert factory in Nottinghamshire.

It was announced on August 7 that all 1,600 employees at the Bakkavor site in Newark would be tested for Covid-19 after 39 workers tested positive at the food factory.

The council said 701 workers have now been tested and 33 more cases had taken the total to 72, although 33 fully fit and healthy staff had returned to work after isolating.

Testing will continue until Wednesday to enable all 1,600 employees to be included.

Jonathan Gribbin, director of public health at the county council, said: Bakkavor have been very co-operative and we hope that the testing of their employees will allow us to find out more about where people are acquiring the infection.

However, we know that not all the cases in Newark are linked to Bakkavor so it is vital that people continue to follow the strict guidance to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 across the whole community.

People should follow social distancing guidance in full, including guidelines about car sharing, washing hands regularly, wearing face coverings, self-isolating and quickly getting a test if symptoms develop.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images

Shona Taylor, business director for desserts at Bakkavor, added: We understand the importance of the testing and I have been immensely proud of the management team and all the efforts that have been made to ensure we could deliver this for our colleagues.

The programme has been positively received, and colleagues have been supportive and reassured that every effort is being taken to ensure their safety.

It comes after staff tested positive at a sandwich factory and fruit distribution centre in the Midlands.

Greencore, a sandwich factory in Northampton, confirmed that some of its staff are self-isolating after several tested positive for Covid-19.

Meanwhile 10 members of staff tested positive for the virus at fruit wholesalers Fyffes in Coventry.

Additional reporting by PA Media.
By Trend

Uzbekistan is looking for innovative solutions to the challenge of economic and social reforms and has turned to the West, and in particular the US, to help meet these challenges, Information Officer of US Embassy in Tashkent Susannah Wood told Trend in an interview.

"In response, US Agency for International Development (USAID) has expanded its programming in the areas of rule of law, governance, judicial reforms, and strengthening civil society; preventing the spread of and improving treatment of tuberculosis; improving learning outcomes and expanding English language instruction to increase access to education and improve prospects for success in the global economy; and structuring the economy to be more in line with international standards," Susannah Wood noted.

The USAIDs partnership with Uzbekistan is improving and expanding quickly, and the assistance of US is strengthening Uzbekistans democratic and social policies that will have an impact for generations to come, the information officer added.

"The administration of Shavkat Mirziyoyev has made a concerted effort to implement a 'good neighbor' policy to build relationships with its four Central Asian neighbors plus Afghanistan. Uzbekistan has also been pursuing comprehensive economic reforms aimed at opening up its economy, boosting growth, expanding international relations, and creating favorable legal conditions for foreign direct investments. The countrys strategic geographic position, abundant with diverse natural resources, and sizable domestic market of 33 million people represent enormous potential for investment and growth," Wood stated.

She noted that Uzbekistans economic outlook, according to the World Bank, has significantly worsened as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, creating challenges for the market transition and significantly increasing the risk that poverty levels will rise.

The information officer stressed that USAIDs economic growth programs, as well as its assistance in rule of law, are helping improve the investment climate, making Uzbekistan more attractive for foreign businesses.

"Our agricultural development programs have led to the diversification of the agriculture sector toward higher-value commodities through the introduction of new technologies and innovative practices, and exports to new, premium international markets.," she said.

The US Agency for International Development is an independent agency of the US Federal Government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
--ION-Sei contributes to maintaining holistic health from the oral environment with high immunity--

Sanyei Corporation (Director: Masanori Teramoto)(JASDAQ:8119), based in Japan, stated, "The unique electric toothbrush, "ION-Sei", equipped with three patented technologies will be available globally from August 2020."

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005332/en/

Sanyei Corporation's brand, ION-Sei, will enter the global market! Following on from the success in the UK, Ireland and Germany, the electric toothbrush ION-Sei is launching in the US, equipped with its innovative patented ionic technology (Photo: Business Wire)

"ION-Sei" patented ionic technology effectively removes and controls the spread of bacteria on the teeth by coating your teeth with natural charge ions whilst brushing, which effectively and persistently suppresses the adhesion of the bacteria that causes plaque. ION-Sei is a trusted electric toothbrush recommended by dentists across UK, Ireland and Germany (*1).

Given the current lockdown situation, it is now more important than ever to maintain your oral hygiene, particularly in the oral cavity(*2), which is closely linked to the health of the entire body, helping to support the immune system by maintaining an environment in which viruses and bacteria cannot easily enter. Due to the current difficulty in visiting your dentist, excellent daily brushing habits are considered to be the key to preserving good health and are strongly encouraged whilst we are at home.

"ION-Sei" is a pioneering electric toothbrush that combines ionic technology with the natural elements of water and light to suppress the production of plaque, helping to reduce the risk of gum disease, decay and bacteria growth. ION-Sei have succeeded in protecting tooth enamel and reducing damage to teeth and gums by newly developing ion brushing that supports the gentle brushing of teeth and gums. The gentle brushing technique removes the need for harsh scrubbing which subsequently damages the tooth surface and enamel. In the pre-released UK and German markets, approximately 90% of customers have reported high satisfaction ratings.

ION-Sei supports the deep cleaning effects and comfort of gentle brushing with its innovative technology and multiple brushing modes, making ION-Sei unlike any other electric brushes on the market. In the first year of the global market, we will be aiming to sell 60,000 units to the consumer market.

Features of ION-Sei

Ionic Brushing

The ions generated by the patented technology effectively remove plaque and suppress the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Long-lasting smoothness with two approaches

Ions generated by patented technology ion-coat teeth and keep smooth teeth.

Gentle teeth and gum

Even 31,000 strokes, it is controlled not too strong mechanically. It makes gentle brushing on teeth and gums.

Stockist

Official EC shop: https://www.ion-sei.shop/shop/en/

UK/Ireland Retailer: Harrods, John Bell Croyden, Arnotts

Germany Retailer: Selected partner shop

USA

Official EC shop: https://ionseiusa.com/products/ion-sei-electric-toothbrush-with-ionic-technology?variant=33790392565895

Company Information

Established in 1946 and listed into Tokyo (JASDAQ) Stock Market in 1979, we, Sanyei Corporation, opened its first overseas base in Hong Kong in 1958. As one of the first Japanese companies to have adopted a business model that promoted global business, Sanyei provides seamless supply chain management both in name and reality and we take pride in being one of only a few leading companies engaged in the business of lifestyle-related goods.

Sanyei Corporation Site; http://www.sanyeicorp.com/eng/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005332/en/

Contacts:

Inquiry

Germany

Sanyei (Deutschland) GmbH

Oststrae 152 D-40210

Dusseldorf

Ms. Ayako Wasiliew

www.ion-sei.com

info@ionsei.com

UK/Ireland

RKM Communications Ltd

Work.Life, Waverley House,

9 Noel Street, London W1F 8GQ

https://rkmcom.com/

beauty@rkmcom.com

USA

Actus

19 West 44th Street, Suite

407 New York, NY 10036

Ms. Kay Matsuura

www.ionseiusa.com

info@ionseiusa.com
Stratovolcano 5426 m / 17,802 ftCentral Mexico, 19.02N / -98.62W(4 out of 5)1345-47, 1354, 1363(?), 1488, 1504, 1509(?), 1512, 1518, 1519-23(?), 1528, 1530, 1539-40, 1542, 1548, 1571, 1580, 1590, 1592-94, 1642, 1663-65, 1666-67, 1697, 1720, 1802-04, 1827(?), 1834(?), 1852(?), 1919-22, 1923-24, 1925-27(?), 1933, 1942-43, 1947, 1994-95, 1996-2003, 2004-ongoingDominantly explosive, construction of lava domes. Plinian eruptions at intervals of several centuries or few thousands of years, vulcanian and strombolian activity in intermittent phases.(tour to see the ongoing eruption of Mexico's most active volcano)

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Volcan Popocatepetl, whose name is the Aztec word for smoking mountain, towers to 5426 m 70 km SE of Mexico City to form North America's 2nd-highest volcano. The glacier-clad stratovolcano contains a steep-walled, 250-450 m deep crater. The generally symmetrical volcano is modified by the sharp-peaked Ventorrillo on the NW, a remnant of an earlier volcano. At least three previous major cones were destroyed by gravitational failure during the Pleistocene, producing massive debris-avalanche deposits covering broad areas south of the volcano. The modern volcano was constructed to the south of the late-Pleistocene to Holocene El Fraile cone. Three major plinian eruptions, the most recent of which took place about 800 AD, have occurred from Popocatepetl since the mid Holocene, accompanied by pyroclastic flows and voluminous lahars that swept basins below the volcano. Frequent historical eruptions, first recorded in Aztec codices, have occurred since precolumbian time.

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Health Defense (CHD) filed a lawsuit on Monday in San Francisco Federal Court charging Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, and three fact-checking companies with censoring truthful public health posts and fraudulently misrepresenting and defaming CHD. CHD, a non-profit watchdog group exposing wrongdoing and corruption in pharmaceutical and Telecom companies and public health agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), has also sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for wireless health concerns.

Register for Online press conference with legal team and key witness: Wed., 8.19.20, 3:00 p.m. ET

In its Complaint, CHD alleges that Facebook has insidious conflicts with Pharmaceutical companies and their captive health regulators, and is invested in telecom and 5G. Facebook currently censors CHD's page, targeting its purge against factual information about vaccines and 5G.

Facebook acknowledges censorship coordination with WHO and CDC. While earlier court decisions have upheld Facebook's right to censor content, CHD argues that Facebook's pervasive Government collaboration makes its censorship a First Amendment violation. Facebook censorship began at the urging of Congressman Adam Schiff, who in March 2019 suggested Facebook suppress and purge content critical of government vaccine policies.

The lawsuit also challenges Facebook's use of so-called "independent fact-checkers"who are neither independent nor fact-basedto create oppositional content on CHD's page, literally superimposed over CHD's original content. To further silence CHD's dissent against government policies and critique of Pharma, Facebook deactivated CHD's donate button and used deceptive technology (i.e. shadow banning) to minimize CHD's reach and visibility. In short, Facebook and the government colluded to silence CHD and its followers. Such tactics are fundamentally at odds with the First Amendment, which forbids Government from censoring private speechparticularly speech that criticizes Government policies or officials.

The court will decide whether Facebook's new Government-directed business model of false and misleading "warning labels," deceptive "fact-checks," and disabling a non-profit's donate button passes muster under the First and Fifth Amendments, the Lanham Act, and RICO. Those statutes protect CHD against online wire-fraud and false disparagement.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.: "This is an important First Amendment case testing the boundaries of government authority to openly censor unwanted critiques of government policies and pharmaceutical and telecom products on privately owned internet platforms."

MEDIA CONTACT: Mary Holland 845-445-7807

SOURCE Children's Health Defense

Related Links

http://www.childrenshealthdefense.org


The explosive Senate Intelligence Committee report released Tuesday contains images of correspondence between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin where the future president seeks to ingratiate himself with the Russian strongman and touts the 'beautiful women' at the Miss Universe pageant.

The images contain hand-written all-caps inscriptions in Trump's familiar hand, at a time when the report reveals he was seeking to bring the beauty pageant to Moscow and his family and subordinates were exploring real estate deals in Russia.

'THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN!' Trump wrote at the bottom of a June 2013 letter where Trump told Putin he had no doubt heard the news that the Miss Universe Pageant was coming to Russia.

A June 2013 letter from Donald Trump invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. Trump added a message about 'beautiful women' in his own hand

The letter dropped the name of the oligarch, Aras Agalarov, who Trump was partnering with in the venture.

'I want to take this opportunity lo personally invite you to be my guest of honor in Moscow,' Trump wrote the leader who the following year would get hit with heavy U.S. sanctions over the invasion of Crimea. 'I know you will have a great time.'

Trump then appended the line about beautiful women in his own hand. Although the line seems designed to entice Putin, according to other passages in the report a variety of people alleged having heard about Trump's encounters with women in Russia during his three known trips there.

An initial draft of the letter, furnished to a longtime Trump aide by British music publicist Rob Goldstone, also included a line stating Trump 'would also hope to meet privately with you during my stay in Moscow.' It got cut from the version included in the report.

The report examined Russian efforts to develop compromising information on people as well as its election interference efforts in 2016.

Trump said during his presidential election run in July 2016: 'I have nothing to with Russia. I have nothing to do with Russia  for anything.'

In an earlier letter, from December 2007, Trump declares himself a 'big fan' of Putin in a letter written during his first two terms in office.

All are penned on Trump Organization stationary.

Miss Venezuela 2013 Gabriela Isler poses after her win at final of the competition Miss Universe 2013 with Donald J Trump in Crocus City Hall in Moscow on November 9, 2013

Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote Trump following the Miss Universe event. 'It is a pity that we were not able to have our meeting, but I hope we will be able to talk during one of your upcoming visits to Russia,' he wrote

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the signing ceremony of a proclamation on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment during an event in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington Tuesday

Trump congratulated Putin on being named Time's 'Person of the Year'

Trump claimed the pageant 'turned down many competing countries in favor of Russia'

'Congratulations on being named Time magazine's "Man of the Year"  you definitely deserve it,' Trump wrote, after Putin was named Person of the Year. 'As you probably heard, I am a big fan of yours. Take care of yourself,' he concluded, with the 'big fan' sentence underlined.

It came at a time when Trump associate Felix Sater was exploring Trump real estate projects in Moscow. Trump's salutation was: 'With best wishes.'

The correspondence wasn't all one way.

Following the Miss Universe contest  which Putin did not attend, despite the letter campaign and what witnesses told the committee were conversations on how to bring about a Trump-Putin meeting that did not happen  Putin wrote Trump in Russian and sent a gift.

'Dear Mr. Trump, I would like to congratulate you and your colleagues on successfully holding the Miss Universe contest in Moscow. I hope that all the participants in this remarkable event will go home with good memories of their visit to the Russian capital,' Putin wrote. 'It is a pity that we were not able to have our meeting, but I hope we will be able to talk during one of your upcoming visits to Russia. Yours sincerely, V. Putin.

Enclosed was an image of a gift that Donald Trump Jr. gushed about in his own note to his father.

An English translation accompanied Putin's letter to Trump

The letters were included as the committee examined a variety of Trump Moscow real estate projects

'DAD - SEE ATTACHED FROM EMIN [Agalarov]  YOU ARE BEING SENT A GIFT FROM PUTIN!'

A September 2013 letter from Trump to Putin also sought to entice him to the Miss Universe pageant. He called it 'the biggest and most important pageant in the world.'

'It will be a great tribute to Moscow and Russia!' Trump gushed. 'We turned down many competing countries in favor of Russia,' he added. Then he issued an invitation: 'I want to take Ibis opportunity to personally invite you to be my Guest of Honor' at the November 9 pageant. 'Additionally, I will be arriving in Moscow a few days prior to the event and if for any reason you would like to meet with me, it would be my great honor.'

The report also details how Trump asked associate Felix Sater to accompany Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump on their own trip to Moscow to explore projects for his company.

'My kids are going there; I'd feel a lot more comfortable if you were there looking after them,' Sater told the committee Trump asked him.

Sater contacted a 'close friend' to get them a nearly private tour of the Kremlin.

'But then afterwards the curator and translator, once we finished going through some of the Museum-quality rooms, as we 're passing, the security guard says: That's the boss's room. And he opens it and he shows an office.'

At that point, Ivanka said: 'Can I sit down behind the chair?' Sater says he told the guard: 'Just trust me; she's the daughter of a VIP from the US.; what's she going to do, steal his pen?'

'And I convinced him to let her sit in the chair. She sat in the chair, spun around two or three times, said "Wow," walked out, and that was it. Then later we went to dinner,' he said.
Many of New Yorks museum leaders have taken pay cuts to offset some of the financial damage their institutions are suffering from their Covid-related closures. But at a time when museums are facing their most severe financial downturn in decades, one that has led some to make painful cuts in staff, critics are questioning whether such reductions go far enough.

At the Guggenheim, the director, Richard Armstrong, took a 25 percent cut in pay. But the group A Better Guggenheim  made up of current and former staff members  in a July 23 Instagram post called on Mr. Armstrong, who earned $1.4 million a year in compensation in 2018, to take a deeper cut instead of continuing to target the museums most vulnerable staff with furloughs.

In June, after the Asia Society considered furloughs that were later avoided, staff members complained in a letter to the board that the 50 percent pay cut taken by its president and chief executive, Josette Sheeran, who earned $937,000 in compensation last year, was insufficient.

A union leader who represents workers at the New Museum and other institutions said in an interview that it is difficult for museum workers to stomach layoffs when executive salaries still run so high.
The devastating long-term health effects of the coronavirus on some patients may force University Health System to build satellite hospitals across Bexar County in the next decade, freeing up beds at University Hospital and providing intermediate care in neighborhoods, the systems CEO told Bexar County commissioners Tuesday.

The number of people in San Antonio-area hospitals with the disease is about 600, less than half what it was last month, when acute care facilities were near capacity. UHS President and CEO George Hernandez, still worried about the potential for another spike in cases in the fall, said a long-term solution may be the creation of community hospitals where patients can recover after leaving University Hospital.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

One of the difficulties with having COVID, that none of the other (private) systems have, is that we only have one hospital, he said. We are very cognizant of the fact that we probably need, in the next five to 10 years, to develop community hospitals around Bexar County that address a lower acuity of patient.

On ExpressNews.com: Bexar elections chief encouraged to pursue safe-voting options

Commissioner Tommy Calvert has been an advocate of adding medical facilities in under-served areas of the county, such as the southwest and northeast quadrants, as part of a long-term response to the pandemic and a means of creating jobs. Damage to the lungs, heart, kidneys and other organs caused by COVID-19 is further fueling a need for more post-acute care options, Calvert said.

Because of COVID, long-term, theres going to be a lot more people that are going to have everything from kidney and liver and cardiac and pulmonary (diseases) and all kinds of long-term recovery issues, he said.

While giving a presentation to commissioners on a proposed fiscal 2021 Bexar County Hospital District tax rate, Hernandez, asked about the effects of COVID-19 on UHS, said the system will need more robust options for outpatient and post-acute care, including facilities where someone can go if they need to give birth or have an appendix removed.

When people are ready to discharge from the hospital, (they) can discharge into a facility that we own or control that is not a hospital, not as intense, closer to their home, that they could then transition from there to their home in a more reasonable, rational way, he said.

UHS is requesting that the tax rate, levied to help fund the system, remain at its current 27.6 cents per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2021. A public hearing on the rate will be held Sept. 1 at Commissioners Court.

The district projects a nearly 5 percent increase in total property values, which means more revenue would be collected with the same tax rate. But officials foresee continued demand for treatment of patients with COVID-19 and other difficulties, including legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act and cuts in disproportionate share hospital payments, which cover uncompensated medical care costs for low-income and uninsured patients.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the satellite hospital strategy is important to consider because of increasing reports that patients suffering severe symptoms of COVID-19 often have some life-long issues to deal with, particularly if you were on a ventilator.

He said the county also needs to improve its programs to control diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other health problems that have afflicted many of the more than 600 people in Bexar County who have died from the coronavirus.

Ive always thought weve never done enough in terms of  community preventive health issues. If we dont do that, were never going to be successful just offering critical care, Wolff said.

Commissioners also heard a presentation from UT Health staff and Post Acute Medical Specialty Hospital on treatment of patients with long-term COVID-19 and the effect on hospital bed capacity. They warned of a potential upcoming perfect storm of people affected by long COVID, requiring lengthy treatment and recovery, combined with a new wave of patients this fall suffering from COVID-19 or seasonal influenza.

Calvert said hes worried the county is now seeing the quiet before the storm. In an effort to contain the virus, the county will close its parks on Labor Day weekend.

Honoring Coleman

The commissioners decided to name the Bexar County Fire Marshals Office building on the South Side for Kyle Coleman, the countys emergency management coordinator who died from a heart attack related to COVID-19. Photos and mementos will be displayed at the building at 9810 Southton Road in tribute to Coleman, who died at his home July 14.

Wolff said he believed Coleman would be pleased with the steady progress the county has made in the past month, thanks in part to Colemans efforts to prepare the community for the pandemic.

We lost him right in the middle of the worst time, Wolff said.

Coleman, 69, worked for the county for 38 years in the Sheriffs Office and Office of Emergency Management. He has been credited with countless acts of service in response to emergencies, including the 1995 rescue of nursing home residents from a fire, and the recent coordination of drive-through testing, distribution of protective equipment and preparation for surge capacity during the pandemic.

On ExpressNews.com: Friends, co-workers pay final respects to Kyle Coleman

The commissioners approved an agreement with the city of San Antonio to expand refrigerated storage at the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office for 24 to 30 more bodies, in response to the pandemic and community growth. Now, the office has space to store 75 to 90 bodies.

They also voted to adjust a $5 million loan program to support businesses that was implemented in March and April, along with $250,000 in grants, using county funds. With the change, the interest-free loans of up to $25,000 will be converted to grants that do not have to be repaid.

The county issued a second wave of $6.5 million in grants to small businesses this summer, using federal assistance.

shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
China started an anti-dumping investigation into wine imports from Australia following a request from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association on behalf of the domestic industry last month, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.



The anti-dumping probe would look at imports of wine from Australia in containers holding two liters or less in 2019, the ministry said in a statement on its website, adding that it would also investigate any damage done to the Chinese wine industry from 2015 to 2019.

The probe is expected to end before Aug. 18, 2021, but may extend to Feb. 18, 2022 under special circumstances.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Wu-Tang really is for the children.

RZA, a founding member of the legendary rap group, has partnered with Good Humor to create a new ice cream truck jingle.

The new tune is meant to replace the current one set to the American folk song, Turkey In The Straw. The jingle has come under fire in recent years because the melody was used in minstrel shows in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and some versions of the song were changed to include hateful or racist lyrics.

I remember the days when I would hear that iconic ice cream truck jingle outside, and I would drop what I was doing to chase it down for a treat, RZA said of the old Good Humor jingle. When I learned about that songs problematic history this summer, I knew I had to get involved and do something about it. And I can assure you that this one is made with love.

Were dropping a different kind of track: a new ice cream truck jingle. Sound UP to hear why I collabed with @GoodHumor.

Check out the full track here: https://t.co/KTXx2Dd9xT #GoodHumorPartner pic.twitter.com/9SXxvuTGCu  RZA! (@RZA) August 13, 2020

While Good Humor senior director Russell Lilly said the company hasnt operated ice cream trucks since 1976, it wanted to partner with RZA to create a new jingle and be part of the solution.

RZA called his tune, which is available on YouTube, a new jingle for a new era and is encouraging all ice cream truck drivers to use the new song for free.

We wanted to make a melody that includes all communities, the artist said. Thats good for every driver [and] every kid.
Texas Democrats fought to expand access to mail-in ballots in the state to all voters during the primary runoff election, citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic in multiple lawsuits filed in state and federal courts.

Their efforts were blocked, meaning the normal rules for voting by mail were in place for the July election and extra safety precautions were in place at polling sites, including finger coverings for using the voting machines and social distancing for those waiting to vote.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, fought the effort to expand mail-in voting through the courts, where cases are still pending that could impact voting during the November election.

During an interview with Progress Texas, a liberal advocacy group, state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, said Republicans should support the expansion of mail-in voting because of the demographics of the partys supporters.

"In Texas, vote-by-mail overwhelmingly benefits Republicans," Wu said. "The average age of the Republican voter is like 20 years older than the average Democrat. It is a lot. Their average age is like 65, or something crazy high like that."

In Texas, state law allows people who meet certain criteria to apply to vote through the mail, which includes any person over 65 years old.

So, is Wus comparison accurate? Is the average Republican voter in Texas really 20 years older than the average Democratic voter?

Wu said he was aware of reporting to this effect, but did not have a source for the specific statistic he shared during the interview.

Looking to the voter rolls

In Texas, voters do not register with political parties and they are not required to have any affiliation with a party to participate in that groups primary election.

To check Wus statement about the average age of voters in each party, we turned to voter registration data available from the Texas Secretary of States office and different polls of likely voters in the state.

Derek Ryan, a voter data specialist and the former research director for the Republican Party of Texas, maintains a list of registered voters and, at PolitiFact Texas request, analyzed the ages of people who voted during this years Republican primary and Democratic primary.

"Based on this data, the average age of people who voted in the 2020 Republican primary election was 59.2 years old," he said. "The average age of people who voted in the 2020 Democratic primary election was 51.6 years old."

In 2018, Ryan found that people who voted in the Republican primary averaged 60.1 years of age and Democratic primary voters had an average age of 54.5.

Based on those figures, the average Republican voter was about 7.6 years older than the average Democratic voter in 2020 and about 5.6 years older in 2018.

Ryan did note that, while primary election data is the best way to identify Republican and Democratic voters, people who go to the polls in primaries tend to be older across the board compared with people who vote in general elections.

"But the Democrats appear to be doing a better job at getting younger voters to participate in their primary (Beto in 2018 and a competitive presidential primary in 2020 probably helped)," he said in an email. "I went back to the 2012 election cycle and the average age of a Democratic primary voter that year was 57 while the average age of a Republican primary voter was 59."

Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, conducted an analysis using polling data on political ideologies in the state. Both surveys he cited are representative of the states general population and do not reflect just those individuals who actually voted, the population Wu specified in his statement.

Using Harvard Universitys Cooperative Congressional Election Study, a national survey with state-level data, Rottinghaus said the average age of people who identified as Republicans in Texas in 2018 was 52 and the average age of people who said they were Democrats was 46  a 6-year age difference.

In 2016, the average age of Republicans was 54 and the average Democrat was 49. Thats a gap of 5 years.

Polling from Univision in partnership with the University of Houston showed a similar trend  although people were asked to identify their ideology, not a political party.

In 2018, Rottinghaus said respondents who said they were conservative or very conservative had an average age of 57, while those who said they were liberal or very liberal had an average age of 41  16-year age gap.

In 2016, conservative or very conservative respondents had an average age of 57, and liberal or very liberal respondents had an average age of 47  a 10 year difference.

Our ruling

Wu said that in Texas, the "average age of the Republican voter is like 20 years older than the average Democrat."

The most recent voter data shows that the average Republican voter was older than the average Democrat, but the age difference was far less pronounced than Wus statement, for which he did not have supporting evidence.

The average Republican voter in Texas was younger than Wu said and the average Democrat was older.

We rate this claim False.
After spending the weekend celebrating her 54th birthday in Las Vegas, Halle Berry was back at work in Southern California on Monday.

The Oscar-winning actress made 54 look like the new 34 as she sizzled during a photoshoot for Variety magazine in Downtown Los Angeles.

And the ageless beauty looked striking while lighting up the streets decked out in an assortment of stylish ensembles, for all passer-byes to see.

Working it: Halle Berry was back at work after celebrating her 54th birthday in Las Vegas over the weekend

Sizzling: The Oscar-winning actress struck a number of poses in a variety of outfits during a photoshoot for Variety magazine in Downtown Los Angeles on Monday

The workday included a number of wardrobe changes on yet another sunny summer day.

She put on a leggy display in a sexy animal-print minidress that consisted of various colors, including orange, black, white and brown.

Her lightened-brown tresses were worn long and flowing, with some added volume and a part in the middle.

Leggy: The Ohio native stunned in a sexy animal-print minidress that consisted of various colors, including orange, black, white and brown

Stunning: The actress made 54 look like the new 34 in the short-cut minidress

Glowing: The mother of two flashed a number of big beaming smiles during the shoot

For another look, she cut an elegant figure in a black button-down dress that was paired with a matching beret and heels, all the while her team of beauty experts primped to get things just right.

The number came down to about mid-thigh, which helped showcase her amazingly toned legs,

Giving an added touch of style, she wore pair of unique-large-rimmed glasses, that gave her a look of sophistication.

Showing diversity, Berry also stunned in a plunging white dress that oozed a summertime vibe.

She also had her locks styled long and flowing while wearing the soft number that came to just above the ankle region.

Chic: She cut an elegant figure in a black button-down dress

Beauty team: A team of beauty experts were on hand primping to get things just right

Flowing: Berry's tresses were styled long with added volume and a center part for much of the photoshoot

Riveting: Berry won the Academy Award For Best Actress for her performance in the romantic drama film Monster's Ball (2001)

One day earlier Berry, who turned 54 on Friday, took to her Instagram page and made a morning post from her hotel in Las Vegas to give thanks for all the birthday love she received.

'Waking up Vegas! Thank you for all the beautiful birthday wishes from my friends and my very supportive and loyal fans! You ALL helped to make my birthday extra special,' she captioned a photo of her legs and feet while stretched on a bed.

Turns out she was in Vegas, in part, to watch the mixed-martial arts fight card, UFC 252, featuring Daniel 'DC' Cormier on Saturday.

'Sinnin in Sin City #FightNight!' she captioned a snap of the Vegas Strip.

'I had the honor and privilege tonight to witness @dc_mma [Cormier] in possibly his last #MMA fight - one of the best to ever do it. His legacy will live on and on, and his career will forever be a shining example of what it is to be a true champion!'

Casual chic: Berry also stunned in a plunging white dress that oozed summertime style

Birthday weekend: Berry celebrated her 54th birthday, in part, by watching the UFC 252 mixed-martial arts fight card in Las Vegas Saturday night
YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Arayik Harutyunyan has asked school and university students to voluntarily self-quarantine or limit contacts as a precaution ahead of the planned reopening of schools and higher education institutions in mid-September.

In order to fully implement the educational process during the year, and to avoid new restrictions we are asking you, if possible, to ensure from September 1-14 a limitation of students contacts, a voluntary quarantine, so that we maximally break the chain of transmission of the pandemic and not bring the virus to schools, and also to help the healthcare system to further drop the number of [COVID-19] infections, Harutyunyan said in a statement addressed to parents and students.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced his resignation on Monday amid reports of friction with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and after coming under fire for his ties to a charity tapped to run a student grant program. Morneau said he would not run for parliament again and would instead seek, with the support of Trudeau, to become the next secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Trudeau had expressed confidence in his finance minister just last week. Morneau, 57, has been in the job since Trudeau's Liberals took power in late 2015. Morneau and his team have pushed back against other Cabinet ministers about how much pandemic funding was needed, including to what extent the post-lockdown recovery could be helped by investing in environmental projects, sources had told Reuters. 'While we didn't get everything right, I know the cost of inaction would have been greater,' Morneau said, before adding he met with Trudeau earlier 'to tell him I do not intend to run again in the next election'. Trudeau, who campaigned on a platform to tackle climate change, believes the 2021 budget should have an ambitious environmental element to start weaning the heavily oil-dependent economy off fossil fuels and he recently hired former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney as an informal adviser, aides say. Possible replacements for the key post are likely to be Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and President of Canada's Treasury Board Jean-Yves Duclos. In a statement, Trudeau thanked Morneau for his service over the past five years. Canada will vigorously support his bid to lead this important global institution that will play a critical role in the global economic recovery,' Trudeau said of Morneau's bid to head the OECD.
The life of Mountain Jews living in different parts of Caucasus, including Azerbaijan, is being showcased at an exhibition by Jewish artist Rami Meir, that kicked off at the State Museum of the East in Moscow this wee, Caspian News writes in the article Renowned Russian Museum Features Exhibit On Caucasus Mountain Jews.

The State Museum is one of the world's biggest centers for preserving and displaying artwork and cultural artifacts of Eastern peoples, including those from the Caucasus. The exhibition entitled "The History of One Nation, For The Entire World" will display 31 of Meir's artworks including paintings and wooden sculptures that reflect multiple aspects of the life of Mountain Jews living in the Caucasus and South Caucasus. The exhibition will take place from August 12 to September 6. A person who does not know his history does not know himself. Wisdom is perhaps the most valuable thing in the culture of Mountain Jews. You will find it in my paintings," said Meir, himself an Azerbaijani Mountain Jew.

Meir hopes his series will help restore the history of his people. By using books, old newspapers, pre-revolutionary postcards, old family photographs and by relaying the stories of his relatives and friends, he recreated a complete picture of the life, traditions and crafts of Mountain Jews. He also showcased the national costume made from specific fabrics and jewelry which features religious symbols. In addition to paintings, Meir's exhibition features wooden sculptures of Jewish subjects, reflecting the cultural and religious traditions of Mountain Jews, as well as carvings. Meir tries to build a connection between the past and the present of Mountain Jews through his one-of-a-kind exhibit.

"The Mountain Jews series uses an interesting technique of introducing the aesthetics of old staged photography into a painting. It is a little naive, but very sincere," Vera Pereyatenets, a well-known Russian art expert said.

Mountain Jews living in the Caucasus, where Muslim-majority Azerbaijan is located, can trace their roots to before the 5th century BC. Historical sources identify them as descendants of the Lost Tribes that left Israel after the destruction of the First Temple in 587 BC. Caucasian Mountain Jews, as they are called, have been living in Azerbaijan for around two millennia, since Jews from Persia and possibly the Byzantine Empire were thought to have moved northeastward and settled in the region.

In Azerbaijan, where 97 percent of the population is Muslim, the life of Persian Jews flourished mainly in the town of Red Village, the only all-Jewish town outside of Israel and the United States. The name of the village comes from the use of red tiles on many of the roofs. Around 4,000 Mountain Jews settled in this village, which is considered the worlds last surviving shtetl. A shtetl was a small town populated by Jews in Central and Eastern Europe before the Holocaust.

As of 2016, the Jewish population of Azerbaijan stood at 30,000. Azerbaijani Jews are not discriminated against and enjoy equal rights in society. There are three Jewish synagogues in the Krasnaya Sloboda settlement. While synagogues in Europe, the United States and Muslim-majority countries around the world require heavy security, this is not necessary for Azerbaijani synagogues. In fact, armed guards or high-tech security detail are hardly used.

In February, the Museum of the History and Culture of Mountain Jews opened in Krasnaya Sloboda. The museum is located in the Karchog synagogue, which was closed during the Soviet years and was restored to its original appearance prior to becoming a museum. The art center exhibits multiple items that have been donated by Jews living in different corners of the world including clothes, jewelry, ritual utensils, manuscripts, books and ancient household items.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Tuesday he will be filing suit this week against U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over in-progress services changes to the U.S. Postal Service that Shapiro said threaten to put at risk the states vote-by-mail system this fall.

Shapiro said his case is based on an argument that DeJoy is pushing through his reforms - which the postmaster has said are needed to modernize the service in the face of new business paradigms - without either a review by the Postal Regulatory Commission or a mandated public comment period that Shapiro says are required under federal statute.

By making his improper cuts in postal service now, Shapiro said his suit will allege, DeJoy runs the risk of directly interfering with Pennsylvanias administration of its vote-by-mail system in this falls general election, in violation of residents rights under the U.S. Constitution.

Ironically, as Shapiro was making his announcement, national wire services were reporting that DeJoy had unilaterally declared a moratorium on his reforms until after the November presidential election.

DeJoy said mailboxes and mail processing equipment wouldnt be removed and the operating hours at post offices wouldnt change.

Shapiro said that would have no immediate effect on his case, because he wants to see binding action to reverse those actions....

I guess I will say that Ill believe it when I see it... If the words that you cited are true, then hopefully the American people can breathe a sigh of relief, Shapiro told reporters when asked about DeJoys announcement. But his actions need to be binding both prospectively, as well as (with regard to) what has occurred in the past.

Our lawsuit alleges procedural changes from back in July that are already impacting the mail, Shapiro continued. So if DeJoy is willing to undo those changes he already made, make binding commitments not to make future changes and sow doubt about the way in which mail is delivered, particularly ballots, then well reevaluate where our lawsuit stands.

But until he takes those concrete steps, were full steam ahead in holding them accountable in court.

In June, DeJoy, a Republican donor and logistics company executive, took over as the new postmaster general and President Donald J. Trump tasked him with trying to make the Postal Service more profitable. Doing so would also squeeze businesses such as Amazon. Its chief executive, Jeff Bezos, has come under criticism from Trump because of the coverage the president has received from The Washington Post, which Bezos owns.

DeJoy cut overtime, late delivery trips that help complete all daily routes and other expenses that ensure mail arrives at its destination on time. The result has been a national slowdown of mail delivery.

In Harrisburg, for example, the postal service took steps in July to deactivate three of the local processing facilitys 40 high-volume sorting machines that typically are all used, three shifts a day.

It just makes you sick, said Kim Miller, president of the American Postal Workers Unions regional local. You figure that you work for the post office, and its every piece of mail, every day, to the public. And now we have mail sitting, not going out. We have trucks that are leaving empty, because the mails not ready.

On Monday, Miller said, that meant that 15 local post offices - most of them in Perry, Juniata and Mifflin counties - got no first-class mail for their carrier routes that day.

We never had a problem until DeJoy took over, she said.

It was not immediately clear if those sorting machines would be brought back on line in the wake of DeJoys announcement.

Across Pennsylvania, Shapiro alleged, DeJoys changes have already caused Pennsylvanians to see delays in receiving their mail, including in some cases going days without delivery of important letters, paychecks, or medications.

The changes at the Postal Service also come as the coronavirus pandemic has triggered a surge of interest in vote-by-mail options.

Election officials are bracing for the possibility that half of all voters nationally - or even more - will cast ballots by mail in November, even as Trump has continued to raise claims - without evidence to support them - that widespread vote-by-mail could lead to a fraudulent election.

In that vein, Trumps re-election campaign has already sued the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, seeking to prevent voters from returning their ballots at secure, county-operated drop boxes, Shapiro noted Tuesday.

Shapiro, speaking on a joint conference call with his Attorney General counterpart from Washington state, said he will be filing his case Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is making a similar case in federal courts there.

The state prosecutors actions come one week after postal service officials notified some 46 states across the country that, based on their current deadlines for voting by mail, the postal service would likely face problems ensuring that all mailed ballots would be received by elections officials in time to be counted.

In response to that warning, Gov. Tom Wolf has filed motions with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court asking it to move the states deadline for receiving mail ballots back to three days after the Nov. 3 vote, provided the ballots were placed in the mail before polls close on Election Day.

Wolf, in a separate conference call with reporters Tuesday, endorsed Shapiros action.

All of what were doing (in trying to administer this years election) is premised on the idea that the postal service will continue to do what theyve done, Wolf said. No more. But also, no less, than what theyve done in the past to make sure the mail goes through.
Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - Detained Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, a former Mauritanian president (2008-2019), has refused to answer questions from the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CEP), PANA learned on Tuesday from a well-informed source close to the investigators
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 09:32:11|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Three Nigerian soldiers were killed and two others wounded on Monday in an operation against an armed group in the country's central region, the military said.

Military spokesman John Enenche said an unspecified number of gunmen, believed to be bandits, were also killed during the operation at Tashan Kare in the state of Niger.

Enenche said the operation was part of an aggressive plan to rid the country's north-central region of criminal activities.

The troops fought against the armed bandits with "superior firepower," killing an unspecified number of them, "while others fled in disarray into the bushes," the spokesman added. Enditem
Liu Xiaoming WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images

China is warning the UK government to not host a pro-democracy activist who fled Hong Kong last week.

Sunny Cheung was expected to be arrested in Hong Kong before he fled to Britain.

He is now in the UK where he plans to rally support for pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

Activists in Hong Kong have been rounded up by police as part of a new security law imposed on the former British colony by China.

Boris Johnson's government has offered all Hong Kong citizens the chance to live in Britain.

However, China's ambassador to the UK said hosting Cheung was tantamount to supporting "anti-China" forces.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

China has warned the United Kingdom not to host a pro-democracy activist who fled Hong Kong last week to avoid arrest, warning that it would retaliate if Boris Johnson's government supported "anti-China" forces.

Twenty-four-year old Sunny Cheung fled to Britain last week after police in Hong Kong rounded up three young activists and seven others as part of a new security law imposed on the former British colony by Beijing, The Times of London reported.

Cheung, former spoksperson for the Hong Kong Higher Institutions International Affairs Delegation and prominent student activist, fled to the UK to rally support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. He was expected to face court for his role in a June vigil for victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre if he had stayed in Hong Kong. Cheung joined Nathan Law Kwun-Chung, another student activist who fled from Hong Kong to the UK last month, and Simon Cheng, who was granted asslyum in Britain after accusing Chinese authorities of torturing him.

China's ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming has warned the UK government against hosting Cheung. He said that doing so was tantamount to supporting "anti-China forces" and would "severely harm" London's already-strained relationship with Beijing, in comments reported by The Times of London.

Story continues

In an interview with Chinese state newspaper The Global Times, Xiaoming said Cheung sought to promote "Hong Kong independence" and undermine the "one country, two systems."

The Global Times states that Prime Minister Johnson's UK government "would be in serious violation of the basic norms governing international relations" if it provides refuge to Cheung.

HONG KONG, CHINA - 2020/07/12: Sunny Cheung seen speaking to his supporters outside a temporary polling station during an unofficial primary election held by pro-democracy parties. Chan Long Hei/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The row over Cheung is the latest episode in a dispute between the UK and China which began when President Xi Jingping's government imposed its new national security law on Hong Kong. The US and the European Union have opposed the move, which appears designed to curtail anti-government protests in Hong Kong.

The new law, which has seen hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong arrested, prompted Johnson's UK government to offer all Hong Kong citizens  some three million people  the chance to live and work in Britain via five years limited leave, which could then lead to full UK citizenship.

Prime Minister Johnson said the law breached the Sino-British Joint Declaration that the UK and China signed in 1984 by effectively putting an end to the "one country, two systems" agreement under which China promised to grant Hong Kong more freedoms than the mainland for 50 years from its return to Chinese control in 1997.

The UK government has estimated that as of February there were around 350,000 holders of British national (overseas) passports in Hong Kong, and 2.9 million people who could claim one.

Xiaoming last month warned the UK that China would take steps to stop recognizing British national (overseas) passports as valid travel documents, effectively banning Hong Kong citizens from leaving and moving to the UK.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ahead of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's infrastructure presentation this evening, scores of Ghanaians have taken to social media to commend the Nana Akufo-Addo government for its infrastructure delivery in three and half years in its first term of office.



Riding on the viral hashtag #NPPInfrastructureRecord on social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, beneficiaries of the massive projects in various communities across the country have flooded social media platforms with pictorial evidence of the projects executed by the Nana Addo-led government.



In some instances, excited locals shared selfie pictures of themselves at project sites, and also accompanied their pictures with gratifying words to the government.



Their commendations come way ahead of this evening's government's infrastructure presentation to the nation by Vice President Bawumia.



The Vice President is expected to speak extensively on the massive infrastructure investment made by the government of President Akufo-Addo since assuming office in 2017.



Infrastructure projects in key sectors such as education, health, roads, railways, water and sanitation, sports, and energy are expected to feature prominently in Dr. Bawumia's presentation.



The Vice President, supported by sector ministers, will give a breakdown of projects in each sector with complete data, pictorial evidence, and locations of the projects through a digital database for independent verification.



The presentation, which will start at 6:p.m. this evening, will be live on all major media networks across the country.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The NHS is preparing to spend up to 10billion outsourcing work to private hospitals in a bid to cut waiting lists.

Private hospitals are expected to take on some of the workload that has built up over the past few months as part of a four-year deal.

The outsourced work aims to cut waiting lists, which are forecast 'to increase as a result of Covid-19 interrupting and reducing NHS capacity'.

Waiting lists have soared to record levels during the Covid-19 pandemic as a result of thousands of non-urgent operations being cancelled.

Around 1.85million people have waited more than 18 weeks for routine treatment in England  the most since records began more than a decade ago.

Experts fear 10million people may be waiting for treatment by Christmas. A second wave will cause even more chaos in the NHS.

It comes amid concerns about delays to cancer care caused by coronavirus, which has led medics to warn survival rates will plummet.

Doctors said the NHS is facing 'worrying times' in the wake of the pandemic and that 'performance remains poor' in hospitals around the country.

The NHS is preparing to spend up to 10billion outsourcing work to private hospitals in a bid to cut waiting lists, it has been reported

Private hospitals have already been involved with tackling the Covid-19 crisis in the UK so far.

More than 8,000 private beds in England were bought in March at an estimated cost of 2.4million a day, in anticipation of NHS hospitals being overwhelmed.

But the health service's intensive care wards were not overrun during the peak of the pandemic and the majority of the private beds went unused.

The idea was to use private hospitals as 'Covid-free hubs' to take on the load of other care for vulnerable people, such as for cancer patients.

But consultants have warned few private hospitals are operating as Covid-free hubs and claim hundreds of the country's best doctors have been left 'twiddling their thumbs'.

Despite this, there have been talks about extending an agreement with private hospitals to relieve pressure on the NHS in case of a second wave this winter.

The 10billion figure emerged in a contract notice seen by the specialist publication Health Service Journal.

It said that the number was 'based on a potential upper value over a four-year period, actual value will depend on actual demand'.

Private providers have also been asked to register their interest in providing 'NHS inpatient non-elective care' by the end of the month.

It will include testing and MRI scans, inpatient and outpatient treatment for urgent planned care and cancer therapy.

NHS England said it would award a series of contracts to private hospital groups by November.

The NHS and the Treasury were reportedly stuck in an argument about the health service's demands for an extra 10billion to clear a backlog in surgery patients.

Sources last month said bosses were 'at complete loggerheads' as the NHS tried to return to normality.

BRITONS MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF SOME CANCERS THAN 15 YEARS AGO DUE TO THE PANDEMIC Britons are now more likely to die from some types of cancer than they were 15 years ago because of the coronavirus pandemic, shock research has suggested. Academics modelled what effect the disruption of cancer services will have by 2025. They found around 3,500 patients with four of the most common forms of the disease  breast, lung, bowel and oesophageal  could have their lives cut short. Death rates from bowel cancer are estimated to soar by up to 17 per cent because of delayed diagnoses  the equivalent of 1,445 to 1,563 patients. This would cause the five-year survival rate to drop to around 51.5 per cent  similar to levels seen in 2003, it was claimed. London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine scientists also revealed survival outcomes for breast and oesophageal cancer may drop to levels seen in 2005 and 2006, respectively. They modelled that breast cancer could claim 281 and 344 more lives, roughly an 8 to 10 per cent increase. There could be a six per cent (330342) and five per cent (1,235-1,372) rise in deaths from oesophageal and lung cancer, respectively. The research, published in Lancet Oncology, drew on NHS cancer registration and hospital data of more than 93,000 patients diagnosed in 2010-2012. They used this data to estimate the effect of delays in diagnosis on cancer survival for four main types of the disease. The model, which the researchers described as conservative, assumed the current drop off in referrals will continue for the next year. NHS hospitals must adhere to strict social distancing measures and services as they try to get back up and running. The researchers did not say what their findings would mean for the five-year survival rates in the study. The Sun newspaper is believed to have made the calculations. Advertisement

It comes after the Financial Times reported NHS England is considering an agreement under which it would book out a majority of private hospital beds for between eight months and two years.

Under this plan, individual agreements could be struck on a regional basis, limited to certain times of day, or cover only some specialities.

For example, all hip and knee replacements in a particular area of the country could be outsourced to private hospitals.

The paper reported the government is in discussions with the private healthcare providers about a new deal.

It is hoped the private sector will alleviate the backlog of 1.85million people who have been waiting longer than 18 weeks for routine hospital treatment in England  the highest number since records began in 2007.

The number of people waiting more than 52 weeks to start hospital treatment in England also rose to 50,536, according to NHS figures released last week.

It is the biggest year-long waiting list since February 2009. By contrast, only 1,089 had been waiting 12 months for treatment last June.

The number of patients admitted for routine treatment in hospitals in England was down 67 per cent in June compared to a year ago.

A total of 94,354 patients were admitted for treatment during the month, down from 289,203 in June 2019.

Thousands of non-urgent operations were cancelled during the peak of the crisis, in a desperate attempt to prevent Covid-19 from overwhelming the already struggling health service.

Medical imaging and cancer screening appointments have also slumped during the pandemic, which is expected to have a knock-on effect.

NHS England figures show that a total of 153,134 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in June 2020, down from 194,047 in June 2019 - a drop of 21 per cent.

This is the number of people referred to a cancer consultant by a GP for a first appointment.

Cancer treatment waiting times in England have soared to another record high. Only 93.7 per cent of patients in June were treated within a month of being told they needed drugs, surgery or radiotherapy.

Separate data showed only 12.9 per cent of patients diagnosed with cancer after a screening appointment got treated within the target time of two months.

For comparison, the rate was 85.8 per cent last June, and the target is 90 per cent.

Screening is mostly done on women and checks for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.

Death rates from bowel cancer are estimated to soar by up to 17 per cent because of delayed diagnoses, research by London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has shown.

This would cause the five-year survival rate to drop to around 51.5 per cent  similar to levels seen in 2003, and survival outcomes for breast and oesophageal cancer may drop to levels seen in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

Catching tumours in their earliest stage before they are able to spread around the body is critical to survival.

Macmillan Cancer Support called for the backlog of patients to be addressed to prevent cancer from becoming the forgotten 'C' in the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, Sara Bainbridge, the head of policy and influence at the charity, welcomed the news of the private sector.

She said: 'We have been calling on the government to ensure the NHS has everything it needs to tackle disruption in cancer care.

'Behind the backlog are real people waiting anxiously for diagnoses and treatment.

'There is a lot of work to be done so all patients get the tests and treatment they need. We need to see a timebound recovery plan that shows how the NHS will tackle the backlog.'

Peter Walsh, of the charity Action against Medical Accidents, said more patients could lose their lives due to the disruption than from Covid-19 itself, The Times reported.

He said: 'Cancer patients are a major concern, with research estimating up to 35,000 extra deaths, but other patients are at risk too.

'The failure [of the Government] to grasp the seriousness of this issue is deeply offensive.'

A government spokeswoman said: 'The NHS has continued to treat cancer patients as a priority. Anyone who needs treatment should come forward.'

They noted the Prime Minister recently said he would give a cash boost of 300million to upgrade A&E facilities at 117 NHS trusts.

But Dr Nick Scriven, of the Society for Acute Medicine which represents hospital doctors, said 'it will take more than a token cash injection to make up for years of neglect'.

Speaking in response to the NHS figures last week, he said: 'These are worrying times for the NHS given the threat of a second wave of Covid-19 in addition to all of the other pre-existing issues such as bed capacity, staffing, funding and social care provision.

'Performance remains poor and concerning and, with what we know will be a challenging winter ahead, it will take more than a token cash injection announced by the Prime Minister this week to make up for years of neglect.'

An NHS spokesman said: 'Tens of thousands more people will be able to benefit from quicker access to surgery and other procedures.

'As we move into the next phase of the NHS response to the pandemic, this new deal with the majority of independent providers is based more closely on activity, which will allow taxpayers to get best value from investment.'
Iran refutes US accusation of arming Taliban

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 17 August 2020 / 13:25

Tehran (ISNA) - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saeed Khatibzadeh has dismissed the baseless allegations made by the US secretary of state that Iran is arming the Taliban in Afghanistan.

In a statement on Monday, the incoming Foreign Ministry spokesman rejected the baseless allegations that the US state secretary has made against Iran on delivering weapons to the Taliban, saying, "What is going on in Afghanistan today is the result of the US' warmongering acts and interference in the affairs of Afghanistan."

"The accusations levelled by the state secretary of the United States is sort of shifting the blame onto others and an attempt to divert public opinion of the Afghan people from Washington's assistance to Daesh (ISIS)," Khatibzadeh added.

"The US has not yet given public opinion demands an explanation for the nature of the helicopters flying in the airspace of Afghanistan under the control of NATO for supporting Daesh," he added.

End Item

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Paramedics and civilians carry an injured person on a stretcher at Madina hospital after a blast at the Elite Hotel in Lido beach in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Aug 16, 2020. (Feisal Omar/Reuters)

Death Toll From Attack on Mogadishu Hotel Rises to 16

MOGADISHUAt least 16 people were killed in an attack on Sunday by the al Shabaab terrorist group at a seaside hotel in Somalias capital Mogadishu, a government spokesman said, as the Islamic extremists launched a similar assault on a Somali military base.

Sundays toll includes 11 victims and five assailants, Ismail Mukhtar Omar said in a tweet late on Sunday, adding, Security forces lost one, 18 people were injured.

Terrorists stormed the high-end Elite Hotel in Lido beach, detonated a car bomb, and then opened fire with assault rifles, the latest attack by al Shabaab, which has been battling the countrys central government since 2008.

Aamin ambulance services transported to hospitals at least 43 people injured in the attack, its head, Abdikadir Abdirahman, told Reuters on Monday.

The hotel is owned by Abdullahi Mohamed Nor, a lawmaker and former finance minister, and is popular with government officials and members of the Somali diaspora.

Al Shabaab wants to topple the central government and establish its own rule based on its own strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.

On Monday, five soldiers were killed after terrorists from the group launched a car bomb and gun assault on a Somali military base in the Goofgaduud area, more than 18 miles from the town of Baidoa in Somalias southwest.

Three soldiers were killed when a suicide car bomber rammed the gate to the base, Major Mohamed Aden, a military officer in Baidoa told Reuters.

Soldiers abandoned the base and al Shabaab terrorists entered it, planting a booby-trap bomb on the body of one of the dead men, he said. When soldiers came back to carry the dead, (a) bomb went off from the body of the dead soldier, killing two more soldiers, Aden added.

Al Shabaabs military operations spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters the attackers had killed eight soldiers, including the base commander.

Over the years, al Shabaab has waged its war through bombings and gun assaults on military and civilian targets like hotels and busy intersections in Mogadishu and across Somalia.

Al Shabaab has also carried out attacks in neighboring Kenya and Uganda as revenge for their military deployments in Somalia as part of a regional peace keeping mission.

Somalia has been embroiled in violence since 1991, when clan warlords overthrew leader Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on each other.

By Abdi Sheikh
Rating Action: Moody's withdraws LVGEM's ratings for business reasons

Global Credit Research - 17 Aug 2020

Hong Kong, August 17, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has today withdrawn LVGEM (China) Real Estate Investment Co. Ltd.'s B3 corporate family rating and stable outlook.

RATINGS RATIONALE

Moody's has decided to withdraw the rating for its own business reasons. Please refer to the Moody's Investors Service Policy for Withdrawal of Credit Ratings, available on its website, www.moodys.com.

LVGEM (China) Real Estate Investment Co. Ltd. (LVGEM) is a commercial and residential property developer and operator with a focus on urban redevelopment projects in Shenzhen.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.

The rating has been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent (s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.

This rating is solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.

Moody's considers a rated entity or its agent(s) to be participating when it maintains an overall relationship with Moody's. Unless noted in the Regulatory Disclosures as a Non-Participating Entity, the rated entity is participating and the rated entity or its agent(s) generally provides Moody's with information for the purposes of its ratings process. Please refer to www.moodys.com for the Regulatory Disclosures for each credit rating action under the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page and for details of Moody's Policy for Designating Non-Participating Rated Entities.

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Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.

Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.

The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.

Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.

Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.

The first name below is the lead rating analyst for this Credit Rating and the last name below is the person primarily responsible for approving this Credit Rating.

YuYing (Celine) Yang Asst Vice President - Analyst Corporate Finance 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 Franco Leung Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance 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.) JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350 Client Service: 852 3551 3077

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Qatar and Turkey have signed an accord to send military advisers and instructors for the armed forces of Libya's Government of National Accord, the UN-recognised GNA said.

"We have reached an agreement with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Qatar's (minister) Khaled bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah on tripartite cooperation to build a military institute for training," said the GNA's deputy defence minister, Salah al-Namrouch.

Both Sheikh Khaled, Qatar's minister of state for defence, and Akar were in Tripoli on Monday for meetings with the GNA's military and for talks on three-way military cooperation.

Under the accord between the three countries, Turkey and Qatar will send military advisers and provide training at their military academies for Libyan cadets, Namrouch said.

Also visiting Tripoli on Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned that Libya faces a "deceptive calm" since fighting stalled in June around the coastal city of Sirte.

Outside powers are "continuing to massively arm the country", said Maas, whose government has tried to broker peace in the war-torn North African country.

"In Libya at the moment we are observing a deceptive calm," he told journalists in Tripoli, seat of the GNA.

Libya has been in chaos since a Western-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive in April 2019 to seize Tripoli.

After 14 months of fierce fighting, the Turkish-backed pro-GNA forces expelled Haftar's troops from much of western Libya and pushed them eastwards to Sirte, a gateway to Libya's rich oil fields and export terminals.

While the GNA has also been supported by Qatar, Haftar has had the backing of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Indian foreign secretary Harsh Shringla met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka on Tuesday to deliver a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he began a previously unannounced visit aimed at boosting bilateral ties.

Both sides were tight-lipped about Harsh Shringlas two-day visit, with the external affairs ministry saying in a brief statement after the foreign secretary landed in Dhaka and that his trip was meant to discuss and take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest.

People familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity that Shringla had carried a personal message from PM Modi which he handed over during a one-on-one meeting with Sheikh Hasina at her official residence on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bangladeshi premier greatly appreciated PM Modis gesture of sending a senior official to touch base, convey his message and see how the two sides could take their relationship forward, said one of the people cited above.

The people described the meeting as excellent and said the issues discussed were enhancing connectivity, revival of the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, cooperation on countering the virus, including joint work on therapeutics and a vaccine, and the joint commemoration of Mujib Barsho or the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh and the father of Hasina.

There was a proposal to convene a virtual meeting of the joint consultative commission at the level of the foreign ministers to oversee the relationship, especially bilateral projects. A proposal for creating a travel bubble for business, official and medical travel was also discussed, the people said.

Security-related issues of mutual interest also came up at the meeting, and Sheikh Hasina spoke about the issue of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and their possible safe repatriation, the people added.

Bangladesh has called on India several times in recent years to use its influence with Myanmar to facilitate the repatriation of Rohingya refugees. Bangladesh currently hosts almost one million Rohingya, who fled a crackdown by the Myanmar military.

This is Shringlas first trip abroad since the Covid-19 outbreak. It is also the first visit to Bangladesh by a senior Indian official since travel restrictions were put in place due to the pandemic.

On the Bangladeshi side, Hasina has not met anyone from abroad in the past few months. She has also held meetings with very few people within the country.

Harsh Shringla, who earlier served as the Indian envoy in Dhaka, is also expected to meet foreign minister AK Abdul Momen and minister of state for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam. He will meet foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday.

Also Read: Sheikh Hasina at helm, India-Bangladesh economic cooperation sets a new milestone

The visit comes at a time when India is shoring up relations with key neighbours amid a dragging border standoff with China. In recent weeks, India has unveiled a $750-million aid package for the Maldives, extended a $400-million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka and handed over 10 railway locomotives to Bangladesh as part of efforts to strengthen connectivity.

Hasina expressed her gratefulness for the supply of the locomotives, the people said.

Foreign secretary Momen told the media in Dhaka that he intends to discuss the conducting of trials in Bangladesh of a Covid-19 vaccine expected to be produced by India.

The Serum Institute of India plans to produce the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine if ongoing trials are successful. Momen said he will make an offer to Shringla about conducting trials for the vaccine in Bangladesh when they meet on Wednesday. He said a similar offer had already been made to Britains AstraZeneca.

The Oxford University vaccine is seen as one of the most advanced and promising in the world, and has entered its third phase of trials, during which it is being tested on thousands of volunteers.

Different producers in India are dealing with the commercial side of the vaccine. We have been discussing with everyone about the availability of probable Covid-19 vaccinesso we will also discuss it with the Indian side, Momen said.

Shringlas visit also comes against the backdrop of reports that China is set to provide a loan of nearly $1 billion to Bangladesh for a project to maintain the level of the Teesta river during the dry season. Reports have cited Bangladeshi officials as saying that China has agreed to finance the Teesta river comprehensive management and restoration project.

Ties between the two sides have been under strain since last year, when Bangladeshi leaders were irked by comments from BJP leaders about deporting illegal migrants from Assam. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the implementation of the National Register of Citizens also hit ties. Bangladesh PM Hasina had questioned the need for CAA during an interview earlier this year.

Hasina visited India last October, while Modis planned visit to Bangladesh in March to participate in events marking the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was called off due to the pandemic. The two leaders have spoken on phone several times this year, most recently in May.

After taking over as foreign secretary in January, Shringla visited Dhaka in March. Shringla had met Hasina during his last visit to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh foreign minister Momen recently described bilateral ties as rock solid and said they couldnt be compared with the relations with China.

We must not compare the relationships...our ties with India are historic, rock solid. It is a blood relation, while economic issues mainly [determine] our relations with China, he had said.

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The most serious evacuation notices have been lifted for a wildfire that broke out last week in the Columbia River Gorge, and firefighters continue to mop up the blaze.

The Mosier Creek fire, located near its namesake community between Hood River and The Dalles, is now 75% contained. The blaze remains less than 1,000 acres, fire officials said Tuesday, and all Level 3 (go) evacuations have been lifted.

Lesser evacuation notices are still in effect.

Officials urged the public to avoid areas burned by the fire unless absolutely necessary because of firefighting traffic and potentially harmful fire-weakened trees and burned roots. Some roads are restricted to local access.

The fire, which started Wednesday, destroyed eight homes and 28 other structures. Its cause is unknown, but officials believe it was likely human-caused.

Gov. Kate Brown on Monday visited the site of the blaze, visited a fire line and met with a family whose home was destroyed.

Id like to thank the incredible men and women on the frontlines fighting to protect the homes and livelihoods of so many in Wasco County, Brown said in a news release. We must continue to remain vigilant and do all we can to prevent additional wildfires, especially since 90% of all wildfires this season are human caused.

She added that hot, dry conditions are expected to continue in Oregon.

Over the weekend a wildfire in Bend scorched scores of vehicles at an auto wrecking facility. Acres of vehicles were hollowed out, with windshields melted onto steering wheel frames and molten metal littering the ground in now-hardened pools.

The Indian Creek fire has also grown to 9,000 acres after being reported midday Sunday along U.S. 20 at Jonesboro. The blaze is burning in priority sage-grouse habitat on private, state and Bureau of Land Management lands.

And the Crane fire, which started Sunday southeast of Lakeview, covers about 1,900 acres.

Firefighters on Monday also battled a new fire south of Hood River near the community of Odell. The blaze was stopped at 1.6 acres, which officials said was a major success.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
participants drawn from farmer groups including the peasant farmers association and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture has been trained to focus on traditional, agroecological and organic farming to reduce the effects on the climate.

The participants at a two day workshop organized by the Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) and funded by Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa and the 11th Hour project at Techiman of the Bono East Region were taught on the practice of organic farming which is more essential on less production of toxic chemicals that poses am harmful to the climate.

On traditional farming, farmers were urged to use local and simple tools instead of sophisticated ones, less application of agro-chemicals, practicing of compound farming among other things to reduce the generation of harmful substance into the atmosphere which may affect the climate.

At a field visit by the farmers to some demonstrating farms in Techiman, the farmers undertook the need to practice agroecology which includes organic farming which is environmentally friendly for indigenous farming, the rest include conservational Agriculture, mixed farming and maintaining indigenous species.

The farmers at a group work were urged to desist from conventional and industrial farming as it was harmful to the environment, poses danger to the farmer, low sustainability, capital intensive, high rate of effects on the climate, involves heavy farm equipment and over dependency among other things.

Mr Bernard Guri Executive Director for CIKOD noted that the training was aimed at building the capacity of farmers in the fight against climate change and promoting food security in the region and the country at large.

Mr Guri mentioned that the climate was depleting and a complete change in the atmosphere posing danger to food production as the rains are no longer predictable for farmers, indicating that the situation was worrying which warrant the need for farmers to support the move.

He charged the participants to take the training seriously and impact it to others so as to champion the course together.

Nana Ameyaw Menu National Vice President of the Peasant Farmers Association and participants told the GNA that the training has put farmers in the light as to how they would contribute in fighting climate change by building climate resilient moves to reduce the effects.

He calls on the Ministry of Agriculture extension officers to support farmers with the needed knowledge in good Agriculture practices in order to be able to produce healthy food for consumption and export.
Peterborough Police may be asking city council for a bit more than $27 million to patrol the city in 2021, an increase of 2.43 per cent compared to this years operating budget.

At a meeting on Tuesday the Peterborough Police Services Board will consider asking council for $27,033,150 as its operating budget for 2021, which is $640,937 more than the 2020 budget (which was $26,392,213).

The board will also consider asking council for a further $1.5 million in capital funding for 2021, which could be supplemented with a further $43,213 from police reserves.

Every year at this time the police board approves a sum it will request from the city to fund the force the following year. Council doesnt decide right away; the request becomes part of budget deliberations in November.

The actual cost to operate the service is about $31.3 million, according to a report to the police board, but the once revenues are factored in  grants from the provincial government, for instance, and fees  the city will be asked for $27 million.

Almost all the full $31.3 million cost to run the service  $28.2 million of it  goes to pay personnel, states the report.

The rest goes toward area such as contracts, for example (1.3 million) and supplies ($510,000).

Capital costs next year are expected to be $1,543,213 this year, up from just over $1 million this year.

The top-priority item in the capital budget for 2021 is body and dashboard cameras, which are expected to cost $201,000.

The operating increase is more than city council will want to see: earlier this summer, it voted to set a 2.18 per cent increase guideline for the 2021 city police budget, even though city staff had recommended 2.43 per cent as a maximum.

Meanwhile Coun. Dean Pappas, the finance chair, said in July hed received 50 letters from citizens and up to two dozen daily phone calls from citizens asking that police be defunded.

The police board has received some letters asking for the defunding of police, and others from citizens asking that budgets remain intact.

One letter to Coun. Gary Baldwin, the police board chair, will be reviewed by the police board at a meeting on Tuesday; it was released to The Examiner with the name removed.

It states that the 50 emails that Pappas has said hes received asking to defund police hardly represent my community and smack of not-Canadian thinking.

Please consider publicizing your informed thoughts, distanced from the influence of social media and a small newspaper (The Examiner) whose bias should not go unchallenged, states the letter to Baldwin.
Europe is one of seven continents that comprise the Earth. Here are some interesting things you should know about this particular land mass.

1. The Origins of "Europe"

There are several theories as to the precise origin of the word "Europe." One of the most popular is that the European continent takes its name from a Phoenician princess named Europa who was kidnapped by the god Zeus. According to ancient Greek linguists, the princess's name may stem from Eurys and Ops, roughly translated to "wide, broad" and "eye and face." Put together these terms signify something "wide-gazing" or "broad of aspect." Some historians do not believe that Europe's name came from the goddess Europa, and instead believe that the term "Europe" was used to describe the view the Greeks had of its broad shores.

2. Europe's First Hominid Inhabitants

It's believed that human beings' ancestors first inhabited the European continent around 38,000 BCE during the period known as the Upper Paleolithic age. Scholars and historians believe that the first Europeans who settled throughout the region had travelled to the area from parts of western and central Asia. During this period Europe was mostly populated by Neanderthals who are considered to be the distant cousins of modern human beings, not our direct ancestors. Neanderthals were a hominid species that lived during the Ice Age some 120,000 to 35,000 years ago. Now extinct, Neanderthal populations predated the arrival of early humans to Europe which is thought to have taken place approximately 40,000 years ago.

The Mediterranean shoreline. Some historians believe the name "Europe" came from the description of its wide shores in ancient Greek. Image credit: Maksimilian/Shutterstock

3. Europe's Worst Pandemic (So Far)

Between 1346 and 1353 the world was ravaged by first the outbreak of the Black Death ( Bubonic plague). Europe in particular suffered devastating losses during this period. Also referred to as the Plague or Pestilence, this deadly pandemic swept across the globe killing up to 60% of the entire population residing in Europe. In total this ruthless epidemic is believed to have claimed anywhere from 25,000,000 to 75,000,000 lives.

4. Land Mass, Population, and Borders

According to figures from Worldometer, there are about 747,696,000 people living on the continent of Europe in 2020. This number represents about 10% of all human beings currently inhabiting planet Earth. Europe is widely regarded as a multicultural continent with a population density that's currently estimated to be approximately 188 people per square mile. Despite only occupying a total land area of 3,931,000 square miles (10.18 million km) Europe is the third-most populous continent on the planet behind Asia (4,646,446,00) and Africa (1,345,058,000).

European Union flags along with the flags of its 27 members at the 2018 EU summit. Image credit: Alexandros Michailidis/Shutterstock

Due to an array of factors such as geography and political considerations, the exact number of European nations is difficult to determine with most counts varying anywhere from 44 up to 51. Part of the confusion is that some countries such as Russia, Georgia, and Turkey straddle both continental Asia and Europe and are considered to be part of the Eurasian supercontinent. It's interesting to note that despite the fact that in 1993 a large coalition of European nations came together to form the European Union, not all European countries agreed to be part of this economic and political union. Presently the European Union is made up of 27 member states.

5. Prominent Cities

The five most populous cities in Europe are:

1. Istanbul, Turkey (15,519,267)

2. Moscow, Russia (12,506,468)

3. London, United Kingdom (9,126,366)

4. St. Petersburg, Russia (5,351,935)

5. Berlin, Germany (3,748,148)

Rounding out the top ten most populous urban population centers are Madrid, Spain (3,223,334), Kyiv, Ukraine (2,950,800), Rome, Italy (2,860,009), Paris, France (2,148,271), and Bucharest, Romania (1,883,425).
(Natural News) German parents whose children are suspected of being infected with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) are being threatened with fines and even jail time if they dont quarantine their children in their own rooms.

In the city of Bruchsal, in the southwest state of Baden-Wurttemberg, dozens of fourth-graders were sent home after a teacher was found to have caught COVID-19. Meanwhile, in the town of Dreieich near Offenbach, a kindergarten was shut down after a child of pre-school age tested positive for the coronavirus.

In both cases, the children brought a note from the local health authority that ordered the parents to not only make their children wear a mask at home but also instructed them to completely isolate the child from other family members during the two-week quarantine period, mealtimes included. (Related: A town in Germany prevented 40% of coronavirus infections by masking up.)

Your child must avoid contact with other household members in the household by ensuring that there is a separation in time and space, reads a letter from authorities to one family. No meals together. Your child should preferably be alone in a room separate from other household members.

Should parents be found to be disobeying these orders, the note warned that the children could be forcibly removed by authorities and quarantined in an isolation facility.

Order criticized by pro-family organizations

A number of pro-family organizations in Germany have criticized local governments for their reactions, saying that these infringe on parental rights.

The non-governmental organization Families in Crisis, through its spokesperson Diane Siegloch, stated that the orders amounted to cruelty and were a threat to the wellbeing of children.

Siegloch pointed to regulations in the neighboring country of Denmark, where parents were explicitly encouraged to have physical contact with their children  to hold and hug them for comfort while they were under quarantine.

Heinz Hilgers, head of childrens lobby group Kinderschutzbund, wrote that the orders were disproportionate and unacceptable. He argued that regular quarantine requirements already put families in a difficult situation without them.

We have been made aware of a case of one 8-year-old whose parents were explicitly told that the child would be removed from the home, if they refuse to comply with the isolation order, he wrote.

He also expressed alarm over threats to remove children from their families. The parents can and should be included in any coronavirus quarantine measures affecting their children, Hilgers said.

Meanwhile, Hedwig von Beverfoerde, founder of Demo fur Alle and leader of pro-family demonstrations in Germany, compared the letters to actions from totalitarian regimes, including Nazi Germany.

Such measures exceed every measure and are otherwise known from totalitarian states, such as, at one point, Nazi Germany, East Germany, China or North Korea, von Beverfoerde said.

Local authorities claim they were misunderstood

Reacting to the outrage, local authorities claimed that they were misunderstood and that there were no concrete plans to remove any children from their families without their parents consent.

We simply wanted to make sure that children do not spread the virus, wrote Offenbach health authorities in a statement.

Obviously parents may still look after their children, their press release reads. It is necessary to find realistic ways to ensure this. For example, it is preferable to minimize contact among siblings as much as possible.

Lawyer Arndt Kempgens explained that under German law, children may only be removed from their legal guardians and taken into custody in extreme instances when there is an extreme threat to the childrens health and safety and all other measures have failed.

Offenbach authorities also suggested that their information leaflet had been intentionally misunderstood, stating that they were simply required by law to mention the penalties.

We are obliged to mention the possibility of a fine if quarantine regulations are violated, they explained. But of course parents can and should tend to their children.

The local authorities have since stated that theyre now reaching out to affected families to explain the legal situation and address any concerns they may have.

Follow Tyranny.news for more on how governments are enacting draconian measures to supposedly fight the coronavirus.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

DW.com
Photo: The Canadian Press

With only weeks until classes resume, a new survey suggests the majority of Canadian parents plan to send their kids back to school  but most would want classes cancelled if there is a new COVID-19 outbreak in their community.

The survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies is the latest to take parents' temperature as provinces prepare to reopen schools after sending children home this spring when the pandemic arrived.

The results suggest many parents are torn, with 66 per cent of respondents with children admitting they were worried about children returning to school but 63 per cent saying they planned to send their kids anyway.

Yet 69 per cent also felt all classes should be suspended and learning shifted back to home if there is a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in their community, with 19 per cent saying classes should continue and 12 per cent unsure either way.

The online survey of 1,510 Canadians over age 18, including 385 parents with school-aged children in their households, took place Aug. 14-16. An internet poll cannot be given a margin of error because it is not a random sample.

The results underscore the nervousness and sensitivities around the planned reopening of school, says Leger president Jean-Marc Leger, with many parents supporting the return of classes but ready to shut it down again at the drop of a hat.

"People are nervous," he said. "It's a very sensitive question."

The survey also found strong support among respondents with children for requiring certain protections to be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at schools, including 76 per cent who said students should have to wear masks.

The result was not broken down by whether masks should be required for only high school students or students in both high school and elementary. Some provinces such as Ontario are requiring masks for students in certain grades but not others.

Eighty-four per cent of respondents with kids said teachers and school staff should be required to wear masks while 75 per cent supported temperature checks for children and 71 per cent wanted screening questionnaires.

"People are saying: 'Okay, we agree. We support the government's initiative. But at the same time, you should ensure that the rules are respected at school,'" said Leger.

Parents were more divided over what to do if a student or teacher in their kid's class tested positive for COVID-19.

While 24 per cent reported they would keep their kids home from school indefinitely, 35 per cent said they would keep them home for at least 14 days while 33 per cent indicated they would follow the advice of their school on next steps.
New Delhi/Raipur, Aug 18 : A public opinion poll in native languages of Chhattisgarh is being held to seek a people's solution to the ongoing Maoist violence in central India.

The 'New Peace Process' (NPP), an initiative headed by Shubranshu Choudhary, a peace and human rights activist who has been working with tribals in Chhattisgarh for decades, is conducting a public opinion poll in Gondi, Halbi and Hindi languages over phone on the Maoist violence.

The poll began on the 74th Independence Day.

In a statement, the NPP said the poll was aimed at finding out how many people in central India believe that the resolution of the violence between Maoists and the police in Chhattisgarh is dialogue and how many believe that the solution is military and police response to the violence perpetrated by Maoists.

Anyone in Chhattisgarh can give a missed call on a phone number (7477 288 444) and provide their opinion. On giving a missed call, the caller will get a call back from another number and the computer will talk to the caller in Hindi, Gondi and Halbi languages. Callers can also record their views in detail in the three languages. The phone number will remain open till October 2, this year and the result of this poll will be announced at 'Break the Silence' e-rally of the NPP on Gandhi Jayanti.

The NPP also initiated a selfie competition on the topic of "Bastar Mange: Freedom from violence" on the Independence Day. Participants were encouraged to take their selfies on the subject and upload it on various social media platforms. On October 2, in Break the Silence E-rally of the new peace process, winners will be rewarded for the best selfie slogan.

Convener of the NPP, Shubhranshu Chaudhary told IANS that they are also starting a series of meetings called "Chaikle Maandi". Gondi's word "chaikle maandi" means "meeting for peace and happiness". In these meetings, victims of violence from both sides will be invited and their opinion about possible solutions to end the Maoist violence in Central India, will be sought. Based on their opinions, further programs will be prepared, Chaudhary said.

According to government statistics, in the last 20 years, more than 12,000 people have been killed in the Maoist violence, including 2,700 policemen.

"There is a strange silence here about this almost daily violence that needs to be ended soon. We hope that for the first time in the opinion poll in Gondi and Halbi with Hindi on the phone, the tribals living in far-flung villages will also be able to express their views which were not there earlier as they were unable to express themselves well in the mainstream languages.

"People living in the city can express their views on the Internet based social media, while the villagers in their dialects by phone." The new peace process had earlier organized the Shanti Pad Yatra from Andhra Pradesh to Bastar in October 2018 at the launch of the year-long 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In February-March 2019, they took a cycle Yatra from Bastar to Raipur for the rehabilitation of the displaced tribals from Bastar. They are also working to get the right of Abujhmadias under the forest rights.
The Marine Corps is using its smaller-than-normal Australia rotation to test how it might dispatch tiny teams armed with unmanned tools to collect intel during future operations.

A Marine RQ-21A Blackjack surveillance drone made its first flight Down Under this month. The Marines are deployed to Australia's Northern Territory as part of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin.

It marked the first time the Hawaii-based Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 has deployed with the new Blackjack drone.

Read next: Fake News Is Wreaking Havoc on the Battlefield. Here's What the Military's Doing About It

During the exercise, the Marines were timed as they packed into two Humvees to reach a launch point. First Lt. Trevor Ellingson, an unmanned aircraft system officer, described the exercise in a Marine Corps news release about the flight.

"We made our detachment as small as possible to get the mission accomplished," Ellingson said. "Out here, we're training to be fast, agile -- to be able to set up, get a bird in the sky as fast as we can, and tear down quickly."

The drone was in the air within 70 minutes, 1st Lt. Matthew Tatarka-Brown, another unmanned aircraft system officer, said in the news release, adding that they're always aiming to be quicker.

By setting up a remote "spoke site," Marines can launch and operate the Blackjack from the back of a Humvee. The site also extends the aircraft's range by another 150 nautical miles from its hub, Tatarka-Brown said.

Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger's planning guidance, released to the force last summer, said the Corps will use unmanned systems to "reduce exposure of our most expensive platforms and reduce exposure of Marines wherever possible."

The Blackjack has a line-of-sight range of 55 nautical miles, according to Boeing.

It's a valuable source of accurate, real-time intel to the U.S. and its allies, the Marine news release states.

"We're able to be that eye in the sky for long periods of time, providing battlefield situational awareness, pattern of life, whatever our joint force commander is looking for," Ellingson said.

Marine Rotational Force-Darwin will be in Australia until October. The normally six-month rotation was delayed by two months due to the coronavirus pandemic. The size of the rotation was cut back to about 1,000 Marines.

The Marine Corps for the first time last year deployed 2,500 people Down Under as part of a years-long buildup of forces there. The rotations began in 2012 to counter China's rising influence in the region.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: There Are Now 2,500 US Marines in Australia After Years of Buildup
A Chinese diplomat attends a press briefing after China deposited the instrument of accession to the ATT, July 7, 2020. /CGTN

China on Monday attended the Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) as a state party for the first time and called for strict arms control mechanisms in a written statement submitted to the meeting.

The sixth Conference of States Parties to the ATT was convened by written procedure on Monday and is expected to last until Friday.

In its statement, China made proposals on further strengthening the ATT and urged countries to refrain from selling arms to non-state actors and to stop interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign countries through arms sales.

China advocated strengthening the interaction and coordination of conventional arms control mechanisms within the UN framework and actively supported the UN in playing a central role in conventional arms control.

In a phone call with president of the conference Federico Villegas and head of the ATT secretariat Dumisani Dladla, Chinese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for Disarmament Affairs Li Song said China supported strict management of military exports and urged state parties to take a "prudent and responsible attitude" toward the issue and enhance crackdowns on illicit arms transfers.

Li also reiterated his country's support for global arms trade governance, saying it is an important step to safeguard regional and international peace and stability.

China's participation in the ATT, according to Li, shows its determination and sincerity in supporting multilateralism and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China joined the ATT after permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun deposited the instrument of accession with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in July.
If you happen to see a young man walking about the Midland Municipal Cemetery around sunrise, don't be surprised. Justin Frost is just pursuing his passion.

"When I work the night shift (at Dow), I get out of work and sometimes I walk around here for an hour or two and just look at (headstones)," Frost told the Daily News last week while cleaning headstones at the Midland cemetery. "I like to walk around and see the names and remember the stories I've heard (about people of the past).

"I can't stay away from this place," he admitted.

The 31-year-old Midlander's devotion to keeping headstones in good condition has led him to start his own business called "Past Preservation."

"The honest-to-God truth is, if I didn't start a business doing it, I'd probably be doing it from the shadows, anyway," he admitted. "I come out (to the cemetery) probably three times a week, anyway."

Frost even brings his 6-year-old son, Levi, and 2-year-old daughter, Dawsyn, along sometimes to help.

"They love to help me do this," Frost said. "My daughter says, 'Daddy, I'm going to do it.' My son likes to spray (the headstones) with the sprayer. It's a lot of fun."

Frost's wife, Casi, is happy to see him and their children bond this way.

"He's getting them doing something, and teaching them respect (for their ancestors)," Casi said. "It's cool to watch our kids learn something. Its a good thing for them to spend that time together."

Casi admires her husband's enthusiasm for this new endeavor, even though it's not her favorite thing to do.

"He's pouring his heart and soul into this," she said. "Hes passionate about it. I completely support him in everything that he's doing. I think its really great.

"I don't particularly love to go out to the cemetery, but I will support him in it," Casi added.

It started with genealogy

Frost grew up in the Midland area and attended St. John's Lutheran School, Central Middle School and Midland High School.

As a kid, he developed an appreciation for his ancestors after learning his family has roots in Midland going back many generations. This eventually stirred in Frost a keen desire to explore his heritage further.

"I started doing my genealogy (a few years ago), and I used to go over and talk to my grandpa (Harold Frost)  (which) I still do  about the ancestors that are gone," Frost explained. "He told me my third great-grandfather (great-great-great-grandfather Leonard Frost) came here by 1870.

"Years ago, (when I was) a kid, we got these shirts that said 'First family of Midland.' We were in that group of Midland pioneers," Frost noted. "(My grandpa) told me that Leonard was buried in the Midland Cemetery. I found his grave and (that of) my third great-grandmother (Eunice Frost)."

But while visiting his ancestors' graves last spring, Frost was dismayed at the discoloration of some of the headstones due to mold and mildew.

The best answer to the problem, it turned out, was rather expensive. But Frost was all in at this point.

"I talked to a friend of mine and he said, 'You can clean those up pretty easily,'" he said. "I found this stuff called D/2 Biological Solution. I started ordering it on Amazon at like 82 dollars a gallon and went crazy with it. I think I ordered like seven gallons over a couple months and started cleaning my family's (head)stones."

Frost said D/2 is the only cleaning solution that's used by national cemeteries, including the one at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.

"It's the only thing I'll use because of that. It's as close to pH-neutral as you can get, so it's neither acidic nor basic. The great thing is, it will absorb into the stone."

The problem with many headstones, according to Frost, is that people clean them with bleach or other household cleaners. While these can be very effective at cleaning, they can also eat away at the stone over time. Bleach contains chlorine, which leaves a salt deposit that begins to eat away at the stone and turn it into sand.

"Salt gets into the stone and solidifies. It fills all the pores of the stone and it will start to chip the stone away, just from pressure," Frost said.

But by applying the D/2, he has been able to restore the color without worrying about corrosion.

"The D/2 will get into a stone and get rid of the mold and dark spots," Frost said. "My wife's great-great-grandfather's stone was gray. Now it's (back to the original) red."

Passion turns into a profession

Restoring headstones of ancestors gives Frost a great sense of satisfaction, and he's happy to spend as much time as is necessary to do so.

"I find, especially with older stones, it's a labor of love. You don't want to be too aggressive with it and ruin (the stone). (Leonard Frost's) stone, it took five months to get it looking like it is now. That's because I wouldn't use a brush. Aggressive brushing is just bad.

"Now, my third great-grandfather's stone is preserved and will be here in another 100 years for my great-great-grandchildren to see," Frost said.

And if he could restore the original color of his own relatives' headstones, Frost wondered if there might be a demand for this kind of work by others as well.

"I decided maybe there is a market for this, with so many cemeteries and gravestones that are not taken care of. And there's a lot of people that don't know how to (clean them)," Frost said.

So he created a Facebook page called "Past Preservation."

"I've been putting pictures up there of stones that I've (cleaned)," he said.

Anyone who would like to find out more about Frost's services can leave him a message on the Facebook page or call him at 989-750-8516.

His hope is to do work in Midland, Bay, Gladwin, Saginaw, Isabella and Gratiot counties.

"I'll clean stones for anybody," Frost said.

From reading a book, he learned about the Bethany Lutheran Indian Mission Cemetery in St. Louis in Gratiot County.

"We contacted the St. Louis Historical Society and they had no qualms (about us cleaning the headstones), so we just did it. We felt it needed to be done for historical significance," Frost said.

Frost said he has a few mentors in his work, including Floyd Andrick, Catherine Sias and Linda Hess-Fisher. He also gets guidance from a Facebook group called "Cemeterians," and hopes to become affiliated with the non-profit group Cemetery Conservators for United Standards.
A woman who practised knife fights with her jihadist brother as he plotted a terrorist attack in London has been spared jail after a judge said she acted out of 'misguided loyalty'.

Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 29, was last month jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years after planning a gun, knife and van massacre in the capital.

He was arrested after unwittingly revealing to undercover police officers his plans to target popular tourist attractions, including Madame Tussauds, the gay Pride parade and an open-top sightseeing bus.

The former Uber driver also bragged about deceiving an Old Bailey jury which cleared him of a sword attack on police outside Buckingham Palace in August 2017.

His sister Sneha Chowdhury, 26, knew he was training with wooden swords, practising knife fighting and rehearsing beheading attacks at the family home in Luton, a Woolwich Crown Court trial heard.

Mohiussunnath told her he had 'looked at bare (a lot of) terrorist sh** on the internet' and planned on 'doing another attack'.

Sneha was convicted in February of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism between April 13 and July 3 2019 following a trial alongside her brother.

Judge Andrew Lees said he had decided to take the 'exceptional' step of suspending her prison sentence, imposing a 60-day rehabilitation requirement and notification order, after finding she does not 'present a risk or danger to the public'.

Sneha was today handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Mohiussunnath Chowdhury (pictured right), 29, was last month jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years after planning a gun, knife and van massacre in the capital. Sneha Chowdhury (left), 26, was today handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, for failing to tell police about an imminent attack

One of the images Mohiussunnath Chowdhury had drawn is shown above. It is a cartoon of a terrorist shooting a police officer

'I accept you were subject to controlling behaviour by the male members of your family,' the judge told her. 'Nevertheless, your relationship with your brother is very close.

'There is no evidence that you shared or had any interest in his extremist views. I accept you didn't do what you should've done out of a misguided loyalty to your brother.'

The defendant, dressed in black, was supported by her husband and cousins in court.

She sobbed in the dock, smiled, then hugged her family members and barrister after she walked free from the courtroom.

Her brother was befriended by four undercover officers, posing as like-minded extremists, after he was freed from Belmarsh prison when jurors cleared him in December 2018 of slashing police with a sword outside the Queen's London home while shouting 'Allahu Akbar'.

The evidence gathered led to convictions for engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, collecting information likely to be useful to someone preparing an act of terrorism and disseminating terrorist publications.

Mohiussunnath Chowdhury bragged about deceiving an Old Bailey jury which cleared him of a sword attack on police outside Buckingham Palace in August 2017. A police image of the sword used during the incident outside Buckingham Palace in London is pictured above

Handout file photo photo issued by Metropolitan Police of a handwritten note, shown at Woolwich Crown Court, relating to the trial of Sneha Chowdhury and Mohiussunnath Chowdhury

Pictured is a Metropolitan Police handout of a knife, shown at Woolwich Crown Court, relating to the trial of Mohiussunnath Chowdhury

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC said Sneha Chowdhury knew her brother had bought training equipment and was planning to launch another terrorist attack, with conversations between the pair captured in secret recordings.

Chowdhury told her he had 'looked at bare (a lot of) terrorist sh** on the internet' and planned on 'doing another attack'.

Mr Atkinson said: 'Ms Chowdhury was aware of his training, that it was training relating to violence, the use of weapons, in particular a knife or sword, and a further attack by him was imminent.'

He said there was no evidence she had extremist views, and she acted out of 'loyalty to her brother rather than a shared ideological position with him'.

Marion Smullen, defending, described her as a 'perfectly normal young woman' who had been studying education at Brunel University in the hope of becoming a teacher.

She had also been working part-time at Sainsbury's and hoping to marry her now husband, as well as acting as a carer for her bipolar mother, the barrister said.

Ms Smullen told the court her client had twice given evidence for the prosecution at an Old Bailey trial and the retrial at which he was acquitted.

She added: 'This is a wholly extraordinary case - somebody who had never put a foot wrong before her brother came back to live in the house after he was released from Belmarsh.'
A computer science professor at The University of Texas at Arlington is working with researchers to develop a process by which data points in multiple graph layers of a very large dataset can be connected in a way that is both highly scalable and will allow analysts to look at it in greater depth.

Sharma Chakravarthy and his colleagues from the University of North Texas and Penn State University received a three-year, $995,871 grant from the National Science Foundation for the research. UTA's share is $373,868.

UTA students also are assisting in the research, including doctoral student Abhishek Santra and several master's students in the computer science program under Chakravarthy's guidance.

The team is using a process known as network decoupling. Efficient algorithms convert large datasets into individual layers that are connected. With this approach, layers can be chosen arbitrarily for analysis. The analysis results preserve semantics and structure and make it easy to create visualizations of the data and results, enabling analysts to picture how the layers of data fit together with greater ease.

The project comprises three parts:

modeling to determine how to make the process work;

finding the most efficient way to analyze the representation produced; and

representing the data graphically.

"Multi-layer network decoupling allows us to make sense of a huge number of datapoints and look at the data in many different ways," Chakravarthy said. "It's not a new model, but our approach to its analysis is new. The results are customizable to the needs of the researcher and are more actionable, tangible and easier to understand. Down the road, we'd like to try fusing different types of data, such as video and audio, with the structured data."

Chakravarthy and his colleagues have tested their process on several datasets. One is a COVID-19 dataset that looks at the number of cases in every county of the United States on a given day, then again two weeks later. Using their multi-layer approach, each county is a node and can be analyzed by characteristics such as how it compares to adjacent counties in terms of numbers of cases, then modeled as a graph. This can show trends in terms of geography, spread and other useful information.

Another is the location of automobile accidents, where each accident is a node and can then be analyzed by time of day or year, weather and other characteristics to determine potential causes and related safety issues.

A third is the Internet Movie Database, better known as IMDb, where they could look at every actor's movies and connect them to directors and other actors and see trends such as which groups of actors certain directors cast in their movies and other types of interactions.

"Big data analysis is difficult because of the immense amount of information involved in each dataset and the complex embedded relationships," said Hong Jiang, chair of UTA's Computer Science and Engineering Department. "The ability to categorize massive datasets efficiently so the data becomes useful and accessible is very important, and Dr. Chakravarthy and his colleagues have applied a creative framework to an existing model or representation that will yield better, deeper results."

###

- Written by Jeremy Agor, College of Engineering
The Michigan House of Representatives unanimously adopted House Resolution 303 this week, sponsored by state Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn), urging Congress and the President of the United States to immediately send humanitarian aid to Lebanon in response to the catastrophic port explosion in Beirut. HR 303 identifies medical supplies, medication and emergency funding as critical to addressing the aftermath of the blast that killed more than 150 people, wounded more than 5,000 and destroyed port infrastructure responsible for roughly 60 percent of Lebanons imports, including food resources.

In addition to an ongoing economic collapse and global pandemic, this catastrophic incident has served to exacerbate an already challenging and dire situation for people of Lebanon, said Hammoud. Like so many other Michigan residents, I still have family living in Lebanon who shared horrific stories. Images of a bride being blown over by the force of the blast during her wedding photoshoot, a father shielding his son from danger, and countless others still shake me to my core. We must heed this call for help and lend a hand, and Im proud to have had so many of my colleagues join me in urging the federal government to step up and do their part as global citizens.

House Resolution 303 received broad, bipartisan support with over 80 representatives signing on as co-sponsors.

Source: Abdullah Hammoud
I was on holiday with a friend last year in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. Its a beautiful old city with a surprisingly cosmopolitan feel to it, from fabulous restaurants to great little bars.

One of those, located on an old cobbled street, had a big window at the front while inside it was dark but candle-lit, making it especially beautiful on a cold winters day. It was incredibly inviting.

As I walked in and my eyes began to adjust, I could see it could seat around a dozen people  a few stools at the bar and three or four small tables with beautiful wooden chairs.

The woman behind the counter came around and gave us the drinks and food menu  small nibbles, cheese and cured meats, olive and rosemary bread with olive oil, you know the sort of thing.

Read More

We stayed for two glasses of wine, had some food and moved on.

For me, it was the perfect pub experience.

In Venice last year, I went to a pub where fishermen and traders sat, sipping drinks at the end of the day. This pub was a bit edgier, meant for locals and not a drop-in like me.

However, everyone was having something to eat with their drink.

In Madrid three years ago, I visited the famous Bodega de la Ardosa bar, where I sipped Spanish beer and ate tapas.

Pubs in so many European cities are places where civilised eating, drinking and chatting are the order of the day.

To see the video footage of what happened in Dublin city centre pub Berlin D2 shows us just how pathetic and messed up our relationship with alcohol is.

Dont get me wrong  Ive been out on mad nights, Ive been that sozzled soldier shouting: Shots. Shots. Shots.

Ive been the Irish girl living in London, asking the bartender at 10.30pm: What do you mean, last orders?

The scenes from Berlin D2, regardless of Covid-19 guidelines being drop-kicked out the door, highlighted our need for crazed, excessive drinking to make a gathering the best craic ever.

But thats what we do, eh? Weve embraced the bottomless brunches and other such gimmicks in recent years to make the alcohol flow at a frenzied rate during the day as well as at night.

While a spotlight was shone on idiots ignoring the guidelines in Berlin D2, it also showed up the way we drink.

On Saturday, I stopped at The Old Royal Oak, a fabulous pub in Kilmainham, and stuck my head in to see how it looked.

There were people sitting at tables, well distanced from each other, chatting, eating and drinking.

The barman came out for some fresh air.

He told me it had been hard work, a lot harder than he had imagined, and they were going to do a trial run to see if it worked.

I really hope it does.

Covid-19 is changing the way we consume alcohol. If food helps to reduce mindless guzzling, that wont be a bad thing.
The city of Pasadenas efforts to get residents counted in the U.S. Census this year are getting a boost from a trio of young YouTubers.

Soon, billboards around town will feature the likenesses of LaloRacer1 and The Princess Squad urging folks to fill out the Census form.

The efforts are part of the Pasadena Counts campaign, which is designed to get residents to fill out the 2020 US Census. The last date to fill out the census is Sept. 30.

Im honored to have the help of these talented, young entrepreneurs, Mayor Jeff Wagner said. An accurate U.S. Census count is crucial for Pasadena because it helps with federal funding of our infrastructure business growth and the Pasadena Independent School District.

INTERNATIONAL STAR: Pasadena teen YouTuber is an inspiration to other immigrants worldwide

Pasadenas city planning director, Deanna Schmidt, has said that federal Community Development Block Grant funding, which supports RIDES program for low-income seniors and those with disabilities, could be hurt if the city is under-represented.

Pasadenas response rate so far is 56.2 percent. The Texas response rate is 58.9 percent, and the national response rate is 63.8 percent.

The YouTubers are products of Pasadena.

The Princess Squad are sisters Princess Thi and Princess Pham, whose subscribers number more than 700,000. Their kid-friendly videos feature toy reviews, their shopping exploits and various other tips. The duo has pitched in to help the Pasadena community before, donating 4,000 toys plus food and other items for Burnett Elementary Schools annual Winterfest in 2017 the wake of Hurricane Harveys devastation to the area.

LaloRacer1 is Eduardo Verastegui, who graduated from Dr. Kirk Lewis Career & Technical High School in May. He, too, had hundreds of thousands of subscribers to his videos, which cover a variety of topics. He often touches on gaming and his experiences adjusting to life as an American teenager.

DO YOUR PART: It took 2 minutes to complete the census I've put off for months

He also talks about dealing with online bullying and talks about living with Goldenhar Syndrome, a rare birth defect that causes abnormal physical development.

Verastegui, who emigrated to the United States from Mexico in 2013, said that he learned about the Census in high school and wanted to give something back to Pasadena.

Working in the school public relations department, I learned about the importance of Census efforts to ensure that programs such as free and reduced lunch, special needs and many other school programs do not get cut or reduced by the lack of federal funds, he said. As a direct product of Pasadena ISD myself, I feel compelled to give back to a district that gave me so much throughout my six years as a student.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Even after extended deadline, half of Houston households are still missing from 2020 census

Pasadena spokeswoman Laura Branch Mireles suggested the bloggers be used after observing her two sons YouTube viewing habits.

We had been considering using billboards to promote Census participation but wanted something that would grab viewers attention and this new generation of celebrities was the perfect fit, she said. I actually got the idea for using YouTube creators by watching how my sons and their friends followed and subscribed to certain channels. Its a new kind of celebrity but clearly one with a lot of influence.

The city hopes that using the three in their advertising campaign will get the attention of younger Pasadenans.

YouTube creators are extremely influential to Generation Z and even Millennials, Mireles said. Pasadena has a lot of multigenerational households, and the hope is that our younger residents will be inspired by these YouTube celebrities to respond to the census or encourage their parents to do so.

Verastegui stressed that the Census is a breeze to complete.

The Census is very easy to fill out and does not violate the privacy of any individual currently living in the U.S., he said. We can all benefit collectively from doing so through health, housing, educational, and many more services.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic taking hold, Pasadena had made an effort to get its residents to fill out their Census forms.

The citys Complete Count Committee had been working hard and making great progress, but when the pandemic began, efforts understandably took a big hit, Mireles said. Were using these last couple of months to really make a marketing push.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A Syracuse man convicted of having two illegal guns in a backpack and later rioting with a large crowd on Fathers Day four years ago has been arrested again, Solvay police said Monday.

David Herndon, 28, was sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center after two Solvay police officers heard several gunshots, then found a loaded gun in the car Herndon was riding in early Sunday.

Solvay police arrested Herndon and 32-year-old Rachelle Riggs, also of Syracuse, on three felony weapons possession charges after a traffic stop shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday, Solvay police Lt. Derek Osbeck said.

Herndon, who was released from state prison in March, was a passenger in the vehicle. He and Riggs told police they had just left SX Hookah Lounge, 1441 Milton Ave., and headed down Charles Avenue.

Solvay Police Sgt. Carl Hill and Officer Bruce Berg were about two blocks away, investigating a complaint in the 300 block of Charles Avenue when they heard three to four shots fired from the area of Milton and Charles avenues  near the SX Hookah Lounge, Osbeck said.

Shortly after they heard the gunshots, Hill and Berg saw a car speeding toward them on Charles Avenue, he said.

The driver, later identified as Riggs, appeared to have spotted the police officers and turned around, Osbeck said. The officers stopped the vehicle in the 100 block of Charles Avenue, he said.

The officers approached the vehicle with their guns unholstered because they had just heard gunshots, Osbeck said. When they approached the vehicle, the officers saw a loaded 9 mm semi-automatic handgun on the floor of the vehicle, Osbeck said.

Although Solvay police do not know if that gun was used to fire the shots the officers heard, they say Herndon and Riggs both have prior weapons convictions  plus, Herndon is on parole and Riggs is on probation  so they were both arrested, Osbeck said.

Solvay police charged both Herndon and Riggs with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a firearm, all felonies.

The officers believe the shots they heard came from outside SX Hookah Lounge. When they arrived there, Hill and Berg observed a large crowd that was not following social distancing rules, Osbeck said.

This isnt the first time Solvay police have had issues at SX Hookah Lounge, Osbeck said. There have been loud gatherings, fights and shots fired, he said.

Weve made tons of arrests from people leaving there, he said. Once again (early Sunday), there were a ton of people there. Weve been having difficulty with getting people at that location to social distance. "

Herndon and Riggs were both arraigned and sent to jail. Herndon remained in jail Monday night; Riggs had posted bail, police said.

Herndon, who also is facing a parole violation, is being held without bail. He was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of rioting and a felony weapons possession charge in November 2016.

Those charges stemmed from two different arrests. Herndon was first arrested May 23, 2016, after Syracuse police responded to gunfire and found two illegal handguns in a backpack in the 600 block of Gifford Street. One of the guns was stolen in Georgia, police said.

Herndon was charged with felony weapons possession  punishable by up to 15 years in prison  but made bail while awaiting trial.

Then, on June 19, 2016, Herndon was part of a large crowd at a Fathers Day barbecue-turned-riot near Skiddy Park and the James-Geddes housing complex.

Syracuse Police Officer Kelsey Francemone, the first officer on the scene, heard shots and ran toward the sound. She shot and killed Gary Porter. A grand jury later cleared the officer of any wrongdoing.

After the shooting, a crowd attacked police officers with bottles, rocks, trash and part of a bicycle and a female sergeant was also attacked and bitten.

Ten people were charged with inciting a riot.

Herndon was later heard threatening to spray police officers with bullets from guns that he threatened to have, prosecutor Kerry Buske said at the time.

He was later charged with felony rioting.

A judge gave Herndon four years on the initial weapons charge. His punishment for the riot charge was folded into that.

He was released to parole on March 12.

Herndon is scheduled to answer the new charges Friday in Solvay Village Court, records show.

Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook
Q. What can I do if the executors and trustees are uncooperative, non-communicative, and hostile?

 Trouble brewing

A. Executors and trustees are fiduciaries.

A fiduciary is defined in Blacks Law Dictionary as a person having duties involving good faith, trust, special confidence, and candor towards another.

Executors are tasked with many duties, including collecting the assets of the decedent, paying claims against the estate and distributing bequests and the estate among the beneficiaries, said Gary Botwinick, an estate planning attorney and chair of the wills, trusts and estates group at Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost & Botwinick in Denville.

In carrying out his/her duties, an executor is required to act in the best interests of the estate and must engage in the expeditious and efficient settlement and distribution of the estates assets, without awaiting involvement from the court, he said.

The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled, and the recently enacted New Jersey Uniform Trust Code now requires, that both an executor and a trustee, as fiduciaries, owe a duty of undivided loyalty to the best interests of the beneficiaries, Botwinick said.

A fiduciary is also required to inform the beneficiaries of matters known that materially affect the trust or estate, he said.

The fiduciary, at the request of any beneficiary, also has an obligation to make a full disclosure as to the status of the trust  or within certain time parameters, an estate  and its administration, Botwinick said.

Most importantly, when a beneficiary believes that a fiduciary may have violated any duty, such beneficiary has a right to call him/her to account and may seek an order of the court directing a formal accounting of the fiduciarys actions, he said. Upon application by a beneficiary, if the court determines that the fiduciary has violated one or more duties, that fiduciary may be removed. Among the reasons for removal of a fiduciary is mutual hostility if the same materially interferes with the administration of the estate or trust.

But, he said, not everything would mean grounds to remove a fiduciary.

For example, a mere disagreement between the beneficiary and a fiduciary as to the manner in which the fiduciary carried out one or more duties wouldnt be enough. Neither would resentment by a beneficiary of a fiduciarys authority or antagonism by the fiduciarys personality.

The courts power to remove a fiduciary is to be exercised sparingly, and a beneficiary should keep in mind that courts are reluctant to remove a fiduciary without clear and definite proof of fraud, gross carelessness or indifference, Botwinick said. Nonetheless, if a beneficiary believes that a fiduciary is not acting in accordance with his/her duties, the court may exercise its authority, short of removal of the fiduciary, to expedite a smooth process of estate or trust administration.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
YEREVAN -- A key witness in the criminal case against the leader of Armenias main opposition party has rejected allegations of vote-buying in the 2017 general elections.

In June, Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian, who is also a wealthy businessman, was stripped of his parliamentary immunity from prosecution and indicted on vote-buying charges he rejects as politically motivated.

The National Security Service (NSS) had earlier announced that it had found evidence incriminating Tsarukian following a search of the offices of a construction company as part of a separate case.

In an interview with RFE/RL on August 17, Vazgen Poghosian, the owner of the Yerevanshin construction company, acknowledged he had received a hefty amount of money from Tsarukian ahead of the 2017 vote.

However, he insisted that the 90 million drams (about $185,000) mentioned by the NSS was intended to cover the costs of the BHK election campaign  not to buy votes.

All these expenses were [connected to] organizational work  to rent offices, pay people for two months, buy fuel, pay for electricity, water, and sewage, [and] pay for other costs, the 68-year-old businessman said.

Poghosian also rejected a claim by the NSS that he had provided information to law enforcement officials about the alleged vote-buying.

I have no problems with Tsarukian. All this is a lie.... Tsarukian and I have known each other since 1990. I built his business premises, his casino. I laid the foundations of the church he built. I built all that, and I was paid very generously, he said.

Poghosian is accused in a separate case of giving a bribe to a former chairman of the Urban Development Committee.

As a candidate for the bloc led by Tsarukian in the 2017 elections, Poghosian won a seat in the National Assembly, but he later gave up his parliamentary mandate.

A Yerevan court in June rejected a petition by investigators to arrest Tsarukian in the vote-buying case. Prosecutors have appealed the decision.

Two former BHK lawmakers, Abraham Manukian and Vanik Asatrian, have been charged in the same case. Only Asatrian is under arrest.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For its comprehensive efforts to keep employees safe and informed through the coronavirus pandemic, California Water Service Group (Group) (NYSE: CWT) has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie Award in the fifth annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers Most Valuable Employer for COVID-19 Response category.



The Stevie Awards for Great Employers recognize the worlds best employers. More than 700 nominations were submitted in 2020 for consideration in Human Resources-related categories, and this year, the organization added categories specific to coronavirus response efforts.

The utility earned this distinction for going above and beyond steps such as providing personal protective equipment, increasing cleanings, and offering additional time off that were expected of employers. Through its Emergency Operations Center and in collaboration with its unions, Group provided centralized support to the essential workers in its 22 California districts and regions in Hawaii, New Mexico, and Washington, with measures such as:

Closing Customer Center lobbies to the public even before quarantine measures began

Hosting daily Zoom check-ins for EOC team members and leaders of each department, district, and region; along with weekly calls with President and CEO Marty Kropelnicki and outside experts for all employees

Supporting employees mental and emotional wellness through customized employee Context and Calm presentations; Upside, a weekly newsletter of things team members experienced to lift each others spirits; its confidential, peer-to-peer Critical Incident Response Management team; and its professional phone counseling service

Cross-training employees to learn different job functions and enhance their expertise, while supporting business continuity

Securing industrial-sized toilet paper for each employee, as store shelves were empty

Telling employees stories publicly to support all of their work to keep customers water safe and uninterrupted and to assist their communities

The coronavirus pandemic reminded us of our shared humanity. We arent a pipe company; we are a people company," Kropelnicki said. "We appreciate the Stevie Awards for recognizing the efforts we took to keep our essential workers safe and informed, so we could keep tap water flowing to our customers and continue providing quality, service, and value to our communities during this unprecedented time."

About California Water Service Group

California Water Service Group is the parent company of California Water Service, Washington Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, CWS Utility Services, and HWS Utility Services. Together, these companies provide regulated and non-regulated water service to more than 2 million people in California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii. California Water Service Groups common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CWT. Additional information is available online at www.calwatergroup.com.

Media Contact

Yvonne Kingman

ykingman@calwater.com

310-257-1434




Opinion Article

18 August 2020

Hotels have gone through many changes over the years. However, one thing that has barely changed is the industry's attitude towards room distribution.

The way in which hotel rooms are sold today, and have been for the past 20 years, has remained relatively the same. With the current model the guest journey is essentially made of a few specific moments. The consumer begins by choosing a hotel and stay date and receives a list of rates. These rates correspond to combinations of room types and rate plans and each combination has a price. Similarly, both the room type and rate have their own attributes attached such as max guest capacity, whether it has a view or a balcony, cancellation policies and/or the inclusion of certain features like meals or prepaid Wi-Fi. However, customers are not searching for those specific attributes, rather they filter the results to find the best specific room type and rate for their needs.

The problem with this model is that it leaves little control to the guests. Booking a hotel room is nearly a completely passive, top-down process. For example, within a single room type category some rooms offer impressive views while others are located near attractive hotel amenities such as pools or a fitness center, and others still are technically larger based on their location within the property. These are all attributes that guests value, but they are unable to choose during the room type driven booking process.

However, a concept known as attribute-selling model, or ABS for short, has generated buzz in hospitality circles in recent years. At its core, it is a different way of bundling/unbundling hotels services into multiple smaller units, each one with their own inventories and costs, allowing guests to search specific characteristics and book a room that matches their preferences.

The concept of selling by room categories was really cemented in the industry with the advent of self-service, OTA room bookings. In the old days, you could call a hotel and ask for specific room attributes. The person on the other line would use their knowledge of the property to offer you a room to match your preferences and they would then give you a rate. If you accepted, then, you were done with the booking. When OTAs came along - or online booking in general - you had a user with no knowledge of the property needing a way to understand the differences between the rooms. Room types were the most rudimentary way to explain the hotel. In addition, when OTAs came into power after September 11, 2001, travel was down and there was a rate war to attract guests. Travelers became focused on finding the lowest priced room possible. Room type categories offered a way to zero in on price, though at the expense of the real list of individual room attributes.

ABS, on the other hand, is a buyer-led process focusing on consumer choice. The concept of room types is eliminated and hoteliers break down their product bundles into individual services. If a guest is looking for a room, for example, a King Size bed with a sea view, and a balcony, the system will price each attribute separately and add an incremental price to the chosen base room rate. As the consumer creates their own product the hotel is not limited to a hard inventory count of a specific room type but can assign and re-assign rooms as long as those single attributes are available, creating a much larger inventory bucket. When booking, the customer creates their own product and pays for exactly what they want. Ultimately, with ABS, travelers are no longer limited by imprecise groupings of rooms, shifting from a few room types to a more targeted search that matches each room to a traveler's preferences.

ABS seems revolutionary, yet is nothing new. Other industries already allow customers to personalize, take for example, Nike. With Nike, customers can choose how they want their sneakers, from the color of the flash on the side, to color cotton of the seam sewn in to create a one-off personalized pair. But it is the airline industry who has led the way in the implementation of the attribute-based selling.

Not so long ago, if you needed to travel by air, whether on holidays or for business you just booked the airline ticket that was needed to get to where you wanted to go, no questions asked. Similar to booking a room in a hotel, certain assumptions were made about what was included in the price - your seat, baggage, and perhaps some refreshments. Fast forward to the mid to late noughties, when airlines introduced the ABS model. Now when purchasing a ticket, what you are really buying is just a seat on a plane - anything else that has any value was, and still is, sold as an added item. Rather than a bundled solution each item such as baggage fees, travel insurance, speedy or priority boarding, onboard meals, advanced seat selection, additional frequent flier mileage points etc. are now sold as added extras in addition to the seat cost. Some airlines in particular (ultra-low-cost carriers) have mastered the art of unbundling air travel services.

While there might have been some furor in the beginning most consumers now are generally comfortable with, if not prefer, buying travel services a la carte rather than as a "bundled" or "all-in" traditional fare as it allows them to tailor and personalize their ticket to their needs. Not surprisingly, the selling of service in this way has become an extremely profitable source of revenue for airlines and has ballooned into a massive business. Last year, airlines raked in almost $110 billion in revenue globally from the sale of added services, with five of the largest U.S. airlines - American, Delta, United, Southwest and Alaska - forecasting a total of around $29.1 billion alone. Ancillary revenue now represents 12.2% of global airline revenue.

With much attention being drawn to this concept, hoteliers are starting to recognize benefits. ABS-driven shopping and room allocation lets hotels maximize the aspects that each individual values most. Attributes that individuals are neutral or negative about can be sold to others with different preferences and/or hotels would be able to up-sell guest rooms based on the demand for specific amenities. Either way, by better matching customer needs with property amenities - that they're happy to pay a premium for - offers hotel owners a substantial revenue upside.

While the hospitality industry is in the early stages of adoption and practical application with hotel systems needing to be significantly modernized in order to start selling collections of specific guest-desired attributes instead of rooms and rates, there is little doubt that ABS distribution systems can contribute to increased profits for the hotel industry while providing a more personalized and better experience for guests.

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ABOUT ROOMDEX

ROOMDEX automates, monetizes and ultimately simplifies the hotel room upgrade process by putting the power of choice in the hotel guest's hands. Founded early 2020 by Jos Schaap, Pierre Boettner and Denis Bajet, 3 industry veterans (Ex. MICROS (now Oracle Hospitality), StayNTouch, Shiji and Nor1) who together bring over 90 years of hotel software experience around integrations, PMS, revenue management, BI, mobile, self service and upgrade optimization software. The first product "Room Upgrade / Upsell Optimization", will deliver high margin revenue and ROI to hotels in LOW and in high occupancy periods. ROOMDEX has signed its first clients and is launching early Q4 2020. Find more about ROOMDEX on www.roomdex.io or subscribe to our mailing updates here.
A farming family have been praised as invaluable for helping children in Dorset make a safe return to the classroom.

Stuart and Tessa Casely have been opening up the doors of Gore Farm, Sherborne to pupils whose education has been interrupted by the pandemic.

Youngsters at Trent Youngs CE Primary School have benefited from the learning opportunities offered by the farm, which is part of the Ernest Cook Trust educational charity.

But in the past months the 400-acre farm has become more crucial than ever, paving the way for the school to operate again thanks to the efforts of its farmers.

They have been hosting groups of children several times a week, freeing up space at the school to make social distancing easier  to the delight of the primary.

Sherril Atkins, headteacher at Trent Youngs CE Primary School, said: The help from the Gore Farm Team has been invaluable in helping us deal with the challenges of the last few months.

Not only has Gore Farm hosting a group of children each day enabled us to reduce risk by increasing the time the children are outside learning, but the activities have played a part in helping children settle back into school.

"Having the opportunity to learn about sustainability, farming and the countryside first-hand is also important," she said.

The farm is only a short walk from the school - located within the local learning area - so the partnership is within government guidelines.

And children who visit experience every aspect of the working farm, learning where their food comes from and how it is made.

Stuart Casely, of Gore Farm said: By welcoming children back onto the farm weve helped the school create the space they need as well as continuing adding variety to their learning.

Were incredibly proud to have risen to this challenge to safely welcome back Trent Youngs School and maintain this really special aspect of the childrens education.
MOGADISHU, Somalia - Two Somalia soldiers were executed Tuesday after being convicted of raping a 10-year-old boy who died from the bleeding, officials say.

The executions of the two soldiers in Baidoa town in southwestern Somalia follows a hurried trial which convicted the two soldiers of raping the boy in July after luring him into an isolated area. There were no immediate details about the trial proceedings.

The executions also come amid mounting public pressure on the authorities of Southwest State after reports of two other cases of rapes of young boys emerged, angering local residents who are demanding justice.

The two soldiers who were executed Tuesday had confessed to the crime, according to Southwestern provincial/regional information minister Ilyas Said Ali. The minister also confirmed the arrests of more people in connection with the other two rape cases.

Somalis on social media have urged authorities to bring perpetrators of the attacks to justice. Rape suspects often avoid prosecutions in this Horn of Africa nation, where the justice system remains weak.

Traditional elders often try to settle rape cases through talks among elders representing the perpetrator and the victim, but local activists subsequently urged the suspects to face trial under a tough new law against sex crimes.

Under the new law, those found guilty of rape can be jailed for up to 10 years without the option of a fine. However, some of them could face the death penalty.

Somalia is trying to build a functional government after years of lawlessness and an insurgency by Islamic extremists.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 18 : The southern state of Kerala on Tuesday reported a record 1,758 new coronavirus cases, with Thiruvananthapuram district accounting for over one fourth of this figure, even as the state's total cases neared the 50,000-mark.

After getting bouquets for its fight against the coronavirus in the early days of pandemic, Kerala seems to be facing an uphill task on this front.

Health Minister KK Shailaja said in a statement here on Tuesday that 1,758 new corona positive cases were detected, the highest single-day increase in the state.

At present there 16,274 active cases, while 31,394 patients have been cured of the disease.

"On Tuesday, 1,365 patients were cured. Of the 1,758 new cases, Thiruvananthapuram district had the highest share at 489. Likewise, 1,641 persons are local infectees and here too the capital district led with 476," said Shailaja.

At present, 1,65,564 persons are under observation at various places, including 13,633 in various hospitals. There are 565 corona hotspots in the state.

The weekly cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday has now been postponed to Saturday, as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and seven of his Cabinet colleagues are in isolation after a visit to plane crash site at the Karipur airport on August 8.
A spike in the number of Covid-19 cases, the verdicts in the Al-Hariri assassination trial, and problems in forming a new government all spell trouble ahead for Lebanon, writes Hassan Al-Qishawi in Beirut

Decimated by two explosions that destroyed extensive areas of the capital Beirut earlier this month, Lebanon is now facing a sudden second wave of the coronavirus pandemic as well as the verdicts in the investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri in 2005.

Such developments, when added to the radically reduced powers of Lebanons now caretaker government after its resignation in the wake of the Beirut explosions, spell further trouble ahead for an already crisis-stricken country.

The number of people testing positive for Covid-19 has dramatically spiked since the Beirut explosions, while protests continue against Lebanons ruling class across the country. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has refused to resign, saying that this would lead to a total vacuum of power in the country as the cabinet has already resigned.

Hamad Hassan, minister of health in the caretaker government, said on Monday that there was a sense of revolt in the country and demanded that a brave decision be taken to shut it down for two weeks.

Hassan suggested that the army should take control of hospitals that refuse to admit Covid-19 patients in the current state of emergency.

At an earlier news conference, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that more than 50 per cent of hospitals and medical facilities in Beirut were out of service due to the devastating port explosions.

Richard Brennan, acting regional emergency director for the WHOs Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, said that after evaluating 55 hospitals and medical centres in the Lebanese capital, we now know that more than 50 per cent of them are out of service.

Brennan added that three major hospitals in Beirut had been completely shut down and three others were operating well below capacity. He also warned about the dangers of not correctly following safety procedures in hospitals, which could facilitate the spread of Covid-19.

Lebanons Ministry of Health announced six deaths and 439 newly confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country this week, bringing the total number to 8,881.

The Egyptian field hospital that has been set up in Beirut has played a key role in recent days in receiving patients that have not been able to access other hospitals in the capital as these are no longer admitting critical cases.

Lebanon is now facing the phantom of hunger after earlier virtual bankruptcy and the destruction of the port of Beirut in the explosions, including the silo where vital wheat supplies were stored.

Moves are afoot to form a new government to help to end the crisis, with the country facing two main options. A national-unity government including all the Lebanese political forces could simply continue the sectarian politics that have destroyed the country over recent years, and it is unlikely that the protesters who have been demonstrating for the last year against this system will accept one.

The second option, much less likely, would be an interim national-salvation government bypassing the current political elite and drawing up new foundations for future elections. This could have the trust of the international community and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), vital if Lebanon is to receive the emergency financial aid it needs.

France supports the first option, which would require Saad Al-Hariri, son of assassinated former prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri, to form a national-unity government excluding former minister Gebran Bassil, who has antagonised many in the opposition.

However, Washington has suggested that Nawaf Salam, an ambassador and judge who has served as Lebanons permanent representative to the UN and the Lebanese judge on the international tribunal investigating Al-Hariris assassination, should form a new government.

Salam is also backed by Saudi Arabia, and he could form a government of independents and technocrats that did not include either the Lebanese Shia group Hizbullah or the Free Patriotic Movement.

But for many Lebanese, the exact composition of any new government has been pushed off the agenda as the protests that have toppled two governments over the last year are continuing, with many activists intending to remain on the streets until there is real change.

Another potential problem awaiting Lebanon is the outcome and repercussions of the trial of Al-Hariris alleged assassins, who include Hizbullah members. Should they be found guilty of the assassination, this could escalate the tensions even more.

The tribunal delayed the scheduled 7 August verdicts due to the explosions in Beirut, and the Future Movement did not build up a campaign before them. Its leaders did not appear on television, and there were reports that the movement had no plans to move onto the streets.

We do not want action on the streets, or mayhem could develop, said one Freedom Movement MP. We dont want revenge or sectarian strife, or for the verdicts to trigger domestic clashes. Our goal is justice and for the culprits to be punished.

The tribunal has cost more than $600 million since its creation, and the controversy over it is expected to deepen after the verdicts are issued in the shadow of a Lebanese government that is detested by many in Lebanon and the recent visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Lebanon that will have put more pressure on the countrys ruling class.

Macron did not mention Hizbullah by name during his visit, however, and he did not implicate it in what he described as the political, economic, financial and moral crisis in Lebanon.

The four Hizbullah defendants disappeared in 2011 when they were indicted, and they are being tried in absentia. Should they be found guilty of the assassination, the Netherlands tribunal will likely issue international arrest warrants for them.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AL-HARIRI VERDICT: Salim Ayyash, one of the four men accused of killing former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri was found guilty by the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) on Tuesday.

Ayyash, a member of Hizbullah, was found of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, murdering Al-Hariri and 21 others and attempting to murder 226 more in the suicide car bombing on 14 February, 2005. The three other defendants, who have been tried in absentia since 2014, were acquitted by the STL.

The trial chamber is of the view that Syria and Hizbullah may have had motives to eliminate Mr Al-Hariri and his political allies, however there is no evidence that the Hizbullah leadership had any involvement in Mr Al-Hariris murder and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement, said Judge David Re, reading a summary of the courts 2,600-page decision.

The trial centred on the alleged roles of four Hizbullah members in the suicide truck bombing that killed Al-Hariri. Prosecutors based their case largely on data from mobile phones allegedly used by the plotters to plan and execute the bombing.

The killing of Al-Hariri, one of Lebanons most prominent Sunni Muslim politicians, caused outrage across the country.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Deer Horn Capital Inc. (CSE: DHC) (the Company or Deer Horn), announces that its 51% Indigenous partner Cheona Health Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated August 6, 2020, with Impact@RESOLVE, LLC (IMPACT) of Washington, DC and Tokimus Biotech Inc. of Houston, Texas to help distribute Covid-19 test kits from South Korea into the United States. Distribution will be targeted initially to disadvantaged communities that are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19.



IMPACT is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RESOLVE Inc., a diversified NGO established in 1977 that forges sustainable solutions to critical social, health and environmental challenges. IMPACT is a social enterprise that operates under the mandate to help launch impact enterprises aligned with the philanthropic mission of RESOLVE. As part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IMPACT is working to bolster the capacity of communities, the private sector, civil society, institutions and governments to prepare for and respond to public health, environmental, and economic emergencies by supporting social enterprise activity in this area, including scaling production of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies including test kits.

Under the MOU, IMPACT will work with its broad-based networks to get equipment to first responders, communities in need, institutions and others. When Tokimus makes sales in these networks, a portion of those sales will go to fund IMPACTs social enterprise efforts. Tokumis will pay commissions to Cheona Health when products are sold.

When a crisis like Covid-19 hits, we mobilize our networks, said RESOLVE President and CEO Stephen DEsposito. This agreement with Tokimus and Cheona Health aligns perfectly with our mandate to rapidly develop, test, deploy, and scale creative solutions to help tackle urgent problems like critical resource shortages.

Tokimus Biotech was founded by a group of medical practitioners and importers dedicated to providing fairly-priced, quality disease testing kits and other medical products in North America. Recognizing the unmet need for fast and reliable Covid-19 testing, Tokimus is importing FDA/EUA-approved diagnostic test kits from leading, high-capacity manufacturers in South Korea. The imported testing kits are varied and include RT-PCR (DNA/RNA) lab-based kits as well as POC (point of care-Antibody) tests. Tokimus is registered with the US FDA as a direct medical importer, and it has also obtained other third-party clearances through various Korea biomedical entities such as TUV, CE Mark, and ISO type designations.

From the beginning, weve focused our medical supply chain on South Korea, said Tokimus President & CEO Patrick Riggs. We have developed exclusive supply agreements with some of South Koreas leading medical device manufacturers. Their pricing is fair, and their quality and standards are rigorous and exceptional.

Cheona Health, led by Indigenous leader Allen Edzerza, was formed to help Indigenous communities achieve better health and well-being. Cheona Healths focus is to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in Canada and facilitate convenient and effective testing for the disease. Cheona Healths first step in this mission is to supply safe, fast and affordable FDA-approved Covid-19 test kits to Tribal communities.

The combined power of IMPACT, RESOLVE, Tokimus and Cheona Health will be formidable in the fight against Covid-19, said Deer Horn President and CEO Tyrone Docherty. Not only are we harnessing the power and reach of an NGO like RESOLVE that was able to quickly scale a PPE response to Covid-19 with companies like Cisco and Coca-Cola and governors in the US, were working with Allen Edzerza, one of Canadas most respected Indigenous leaders. Add to this Tokimus network of diversified medical device companies in South Korea, and you have a perfect combination to get crucial, high-quality Covid-19 testing into disadvantaged communities that need it urgently.

Under a separate agreement, Tokimus and Cheona Health are working to import Covid-19 test kits from South Korea into Canada. The two companies expect to begin importing test kits and Personal Protection Equipment into both Canada and the United States.

Tokimus Korea-based biomedical providers are established commercial entities listed in ratings companies of S&P, D&B and Bloomberg. The companies are registered and approved by the FDA, and other countries regulators with products sold in 11 other countries (including Korea/USA). Tokimus has initiated processes to comply with regulatory requirements to make sales in Canada, including general registration under MDEL (Medical Device Export License). Specific product registration review of each test is being conducted by Health Canada.

RESOLVE is currently working with Deer Horns Indigenous partner Cheona Metals to restore salmon habitat impacted by mining in British Columbia and Yukon Territory under the Salmon Gold label. You can learn more about the Salmon Gold initiative here , and also in RESOLVEs News Release from August, 2019.

About Deer Horn Capital

Deer Horn Capitals unique business model is based on leveraging diverse partnerships to generate revenue and value. Working with Indigenous peoples, NGOs, governments and industry, Deer Horn explores for metals in British Columbia and helps indigenous communities grow and thrive through various industrial, social and environmental ventures.

Deer Horn proudly adheres to and supports the principles and rights set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in particular the fundamental proposition of free, prior and informed consent.

On behalf of the board of directors of

Deer Horn Capital Inc.



Tyrone Docherty

Tyrone Docherty

President and CEO For further information please contact:



Tyrone Docherty

604.789.5653

tyrone@deerhorncapital.ca

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking information

All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Companys control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated event.


Gov't, Seoul City to file complaints against conservative pastor Jun



By Bahk Eun-ji



The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Sunday it plans to file a complaint against Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon, a conservative pastor who led mass demonstration in downtown Seoul, Saturday, for allegedly obstructing the government's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.



The government's move came as dozens of people who have been infected with the virus were believed to have been connected to Jun's church, Sarang Jeil Church.



On Saturday, more than 10,000 people participated in an anti-government demonstration in Gwanghwamun Square, which was led by far-right and Christian groups, including Jun's church, despite the city government banning mass gatherings over coronavirus concerns.



The health ministry's move came three hours after President Moon Jae-in warned of strict responses to such unlawful acts by some church members who have hampered the country's efforts to contain the virus.



"It is an unforgivable act that threatens the lives of the people and ruins efforts of the whole country to contain the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus. It is a clear challenge to the national disease control and prevention system," Moon wrote on his Facebook page.





The government will enforce "stern and strong measures even by resorting to compulsory means," Moon said. "We are at a critical juncture, as a large number of new cases are expected to be reported for some time. Please follow the government's quarantine measures thoroughly. The government will trust the people and do its best to overcome the difficulties," he said.



The Seoul Metropolitan Government said the city will file a comlaint against Jun on Sunday.



"Despite being the main figure responsible for quarantine measures, Jun violated the self-quarantine rule. He even deliberately delayed the diagnostic tests of believers by spreading false information," said the city's Acting Mayor Seo Jung-hyup during a press briefing at Seoul City Hall, Sunday.



Jun reportedly claimed that the COVID-19 infections among his church members seem to have been caused by "virus terrors by outside forces." A total of 4,066 members are required to take the virus tests, but the authorities have only reached 669 of them, according to the city government.



According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the country added 279 new cases, including 267 domestic cases, Saturday, taking the nation's total caseload to 15,318. It was a surge from 166 new cases the previous day, and the first time the country reported more than 200 new daily cases in five months, the KCDC said.



The high number of new cases was linked to Sarang Jeil Church which saw a total of 249 cases as of Sunday afternoon, according to the government.



The sudden spike in numbers made the quarantine authorities raise their alert over the weekend and ordered a tightened social distancing guidelines for Seoul and the metropolitan area for two weeks which went into effect from Sunday.



According to the new guidelines, sporting events were banned from having on-site spectators. Public libraries, galleries and museums were ordered to close down. Schools and kindergartens will keep the attendance rate at one-third, except for high school senior classes which can allow two-thirds of its students at a time to come to school.



The quarantine authorities warned this could lead to another outbreak, following one involving Shincheonji Church of Jesus in February in Daegu.


Panaji, Aug 18 : It was the turn of the ruling BJP on Tuesday to embarrass the Opposition leaders, with their photos along with a small-time Bollywood actor Kapil Jhaveri, who was arrested on Sunday for organising a rave party from where drugs worth Rs 9 lakh were also seized.

After the Congress on Monday accused Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Co-operation Minister Govind Gaude of having close links with Jhaveri, following photos of the arrested actor which emerged on social media with the politicians, the BJP on Tuesday struck back with photos of the same person with Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

"What about these photos where Jhaveri is seen with Kamat and his former OSD Prakash Velip, when the former was CM? What were the linkages between them and Jhaveri?" BJP state spokesperson Dattaprasad Naik said on Tuesday.

Twenty three persons, including three foreigners in possession of drugs, were arrested following a Crime Branch raid in the early hours of Sunday at a posh villa complex in Anjuna beach village, where the rave party was held.

Jhaveri, who was one of those arrested, is currently in police custody.

Sawant in a statement on Monday had clarified that his photo with Jhaveri was taken soon after he took over as Chief Minister last year, when the actor called on him, after seeking a formal appointment.

Dattaprasad Naik, during the press conference on Tuesday said that the police raid in fact was proof that there were no linkages between Jhaveri and the state BJP leadership.

"Police have been given a free hand. If there was no free hand there would have been no raid on this rave party in which 23 persons were arrested," Naik said.
River City Company has named Emily Mack as the economic development nonprofits new president and CEO. Ms. Mack will begin her new position in early September and will have the opportunity to work with outgoing leader Kim White during a brief transitional period.



"Emily Mack brings a wealth of experience to the role," officials said.

Since 2016, Ms. Mack has served as the director of the Department of Metropolitan Development, DMD, for the City of Indianapolis. The DMD serves as the local government agency that leads and oversees all city planning, economic development and incentives, large-scale redevelopment projects, real estate transactions, the City of Indianapolis land bank and distribution of grants from the U.S.

Department of Housing & Urban Development. Ms. Mack oversaw the DMDs 70 full-time employees and an annual operating budget of $70 million.Over the past three decades, River City Company has been instrumental in transforming Downtown Chattanooga into a thriving, vibrant urban center. Im thrilled to have the opportunity to lead such an incredible organization and to be part of the next phase of downtown's growth, said Ms. Mack. I look forward to collaborating with the business and philanthropic community, the City and especially the neighborhoods, so together, we can envision and reignite downtown as a place for all Chattanoogans to live, work, play and love.The River City Company search process began in mid-April when 11-year CEO Kim White announced she would be stepping down in September. The search process attracted over 100 candidates and concluded in mid-August.On behalf of the River City Board, I want to welcome Emily Mack to Chattanooga as the new leader for the River City Company. She brings a wealth of experience tied to the vitality of strong downtowns, said Tom Griscom, River City Company board chair. Also, the 11 years that Kim White has led the River City Company has spurred new developments and improvements in our community.Ms. Mack is River City Companys sixth CEO in its 34 years of operation. She has also served in roles for the City of Indianapolis in the Department of Neighborhood Services and the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission. Additionally, Ms. Mack has worked in the private sector for CORE Planning Strategies in Indianapolis along with a position as the real estate development manager for Downtown Indy, a nonprofit organization developing, managing and marketing Downtown Indianapolis similar to River City Companys role for Downtown Chattanooga.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global machine tools market size is expected to reach USD 104.86 billion by 2027, according to a new study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 4.0% over the forecast period. The growing demand for high-speed and efficient machining, particularly from the incumbents of the automotive and aerospace and defense industries bodes well for the growth of the market. Continued advances in manufacturing and processing technologies are also encouraging manufacturing companies to invest in the latest, advanced manufacturing techniques, thereby driving the growth. The rising demand for machine tools equipped with smart controls to facilitate unmanned operations, particularly from the metal processing industry, would play a crucial role in driving market growth.

Key suggestions from the report:

The growing adoption of laser machines in the fabrication of automotive seats and door panels is expected to drive the segment growth

The CNC segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR over the forecast period as manufacturers are introducing new products that can simultaneously perform multiple operations, such as drilling, cutting, turning, facing, and grinding

The indirect sales channel segment is poised to witness remarkable growth owing to the presence of a huge number of indirect distributors such as Ellison Technologies and Absolute Machine Tools, Inc.

The aerospace and defense segment is anticipated to register a significantly high CAGR on account of the increasing adoption of CNC machine tools in the aerospace and defense industry

The Europe regional market is anticipated to exhibit a significantly high CAGR owing to the rising demand for machine tools to manufacture automotive parts, such as gearboxes and brakes, particularly for electric vehicles.

Read 150 page research report with ToC on "Machine Tools Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Lathe, Milling, Laser, Grinding, Welding, Winding), By Technology (CNC, Conventional), By Sales Channel, By End Use, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/machine-tools-market

The growing demand for multi-axis systems is anticipated to emerge as a key trend over the forecast period. Multi-axis systems provide the capability to manufacture extremely complex parts required in the automotive and aerospace and defense industries. Several vendors have started offering innovative 5-axis machining systems. For instance, in November 2018, DMG Mori Co., Ltd. launched two new 5-axis systems, namely DMU 200 Gantry and DMU 340 Gantry, which can be used to machine automotive parts, such as tailgate and shock mount.

In the construction industry, machine tools are used in operations, such as broaching, hobbling, and drilling. The construction industry is growing in line with the growing demand for commercial spaces, which in turn, is expected to drive the demand for machine tools used in the construction industry. On the other hand, the rising demand for precision engineering in the development of semiconductors and medical equipment is also expected to drive the growth of the market. Various software companies are collaborating with machine tool manufacturers to provide simulation software for the CNC machines. For instance, in October 2018, Doosan Corporation signed a partnership with CAMplete Solutions, Inc. As part of the partnership, Doosan Corporation's CNC machines would be equipped with CAMplete Solutions, Inc.'s verification, post-processing, and simulation software.

Grand View Research has segmented the global machine tools market based on type, technology, sales channel, end-use, and region:

Machine Tools Type Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Lathe Machines



Milling Machines



Laser Machines



Grinding Machines



Welding Machines



Winding Machines



Others

Machine Tools Technology Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016  2027)

Computer Numerical Control (CNC)



Conventional

Machine Tools Sales Channel Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Direct



Indirect

Machine Tools End-use Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Automotive



Aerospace & Defense



Construction Equipment



Power & Energy



Industrial



Others

Machine Tools Regional Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



The U.S.





Canada



Europe



The U.K.





Germany



Asia Pacific



China





India





Japan



Latin America



Brazil



The Middle East & Africa (MEA)

& (MEA) List of Key Players of Machine Tools Market

AMADA Co., Ltd.



CHIRON Group SE



DMG MORI



Doosan Corporation



Georg Fischer Ltd.



HYUNDAI WIA CORP.



JTEKT



Komatsu Ltd.



Makino



Okuma Corporation.

Find more research reports on Sensors & Controls Industry, by Grand View Research:

Riveting Tools Market  The global riveting tools market size was valued at USD 206.8 million in 2018 and expected to register a CAGR of 4.5% from 2019 to 2025. Growing infrastructure development & construction industry are drive the demand.

The global riveting tools market size was valued at in 2018 and expected to register a CAGR of 4.5% from 2019 to 2025. Growing infrastructure development & construction industry are drive the demand. Household Hand Tools Market  The global household hand tools market size was valued at USD 4.1 billion in 2018. The market growth is attributed to shifting consumer behavior and preferences for do-it-yourself (DIY) trend.

The global household hand tools market size was valued at in 2018. The market growth is attributed to shifting consumer behavior and preferences for do-it-yourself (DIY) trend. Downhole Tools Market  The global downhole tools market size was estimated at USD 3.57 billion in 2017. Rising E & P activities in deep-sea bed associated with drilling and completion efficiencies is driving the demand over the forecast period.

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Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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A new Japanese restaurant is coming to Newark, and we arent talking sushi or ramen.

Go! Go! Curry!, a New York-based Japanese curry chain, is opening its first New Jersey location this summer. The restaurant will serve make-you-own curry bowls featuring different sauces, proteins like pork and chicken katsu, shrimp, sausage and tempura.

The chain gets its name from former New York Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui, who came to the Bronx from Japan in 2003 and won Most Valuable Player in the 2009 World Series. The number 5 is pronounced go in Japanese, and Matsui wore No. 55 throughout his career. Matsui is from the Kanazawa region of Japan, which is also where the restaurants curry originates. Special dishes at Go! Go! Curry! include the Home Run, the Grand Slam and the World Champion, a further tribute.

The fast-casual, affordable Japanese curry specialty restaurant chain serves hearty and comforting Kanazawa-style curry that features thick, umami-rich curry sauce, and energy-boosting katsu (cutlet), the company said in a press release. Since its landing on U.S. soil in 2007, it has attracted American palates and its business has steadily grown.

Japanese curry differs from Indian and other Asian curries in its consistency  its closer to a stew than a soup. The dish features a dark and thick curry sauce over short grain rice and a side of shredded cabbage, all topped with a protein  typically a fried pork or chicken cutlet known as katsu. Go! Go! Curry! boasts that curry is more popular in Japan than ramen or sushi.

Go! Go! Curry! currently has eight New York locations as well as shops in Houston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Newark location will be at 1 William St., on the same block as Prudential Center.

The opening date has not been set, but due to coronavirus restrictions the restaurant will be offering only takeout and delivery at its launch.

However, once indoor dining is permitted, customers will be able to enjoy a wonderful dining experience in the high-ceilinged, spacious, and relaxing dining room, the press release said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com.
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - The authorities in Botswana have dismissed claims that the recent elephant mortalities are due to deliberate poisoning by government to protect farmers crops
WASHINGTON  A sprawling report released Tuesday by a Republican-controlled Senate panel that spent three years investigating Russias 2016 election interference laid out an extensive web of contacts between Trump campaign advisers and Russian government officials and other Russians, including some with ties to the countrys intelligence services.

The report by the Senate Intelligence Committee, totaling nearly 1,000 pages, provided a bipartisan Senate imprimatur for an extraordinary set of facts: The Russian government undertook an extensive campaign to try to sabotage the 2016 U.S. election to help Donald Trump become president, and some members of Trumps circle of advisers were open to the help from an American adversary.

The report drew to a close one of the highest-profile congressional inquiries in recent memory, one that the president and his allies have long tried to discredit as part of a witch hunt designed to undermine the legitimacy of Trumps stunning election nearly four years ago.

Like the investigation led by the special counsel, Robert Mueller, who released his findings in April 2019, the Senate report did not conclude that the Trump campaign engaged in a coordinated conspiracy with the Russian government  a fact that Republicans seized on to argue that there was no collusion.

But the report showed extensive evidence of contacts between Trump campaign advisers and people tied to the Kremlin  including a long-standing associate of onetime Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, Konstantin V. Kilimnik, whom the report identifies as a Russian intelligence officer.

The Senate report for the first time identified Kilimnik as an intelligence officer. Muellers report had labeled him as someone with ties to Russian intelligence.

Democrats highlighted those ties in their own appendix to the report, noting that Manafort discussed campaign strategy and shared internal campaign polling data with Kilimnik, and later lied to federal investigators about his actions.

Democrats also laid out a potentially explosive detail: that investigators had uncovered information possibly tying Kilimnik to Russias major election interference operations conducted by the intelligence service known as the GRU.

The committee obtained some information suggesting that the Russian intelligence officer, with whom Manafort had a longstanding relationship, may have been connected to the GRUs hack-and-leak operation targeting the 2016 U.S. election, Democrats wrote. This is what collusion looks like.

The assertion was a sign that even though the investigation was carried out in bipartisan fashion, and Republican and Democratic senators reached broad agreement on its most significant conclusions, a partisan divide remained on some of the most politically sensitive issues.

The Senate report said that the unusual nature of the Trump campaign  staffed by Trumps longtime associates, friends and other businessmen with no government experience  presented attractive targets for foreign influence, creating notable counterintelligence vulnerabilities.

The Senate investigation found that two other people who met at Trump Tower in 2016 with senior members of the Trump campaign  including Manafort, Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son  have significant connections to Russian government, including the Russian intelligence services.

The report said that the connections between the Russian government and one of the individuals, Natalia Veselnitskaya, were far more extensive and concerning than what had been publicly known.

Since the release of Muellers report, Attorney General William Barr and numerous Republican senators have tried to discredit the special counsels work  dismissing the investigation into the 2016 election as Russiagate.

Releasing the report less than 100 days before Election Day, lawmakers hope it will refocus attention on the interference by Russia and other hostile foreign powers in the U.S. political process that has continued unabated.

The report is the product of one of the few congressional investigations in recent memory that retained bipartisan support throughout. Lawmakers and committee aides interviewed more than 200 witnesses and reviewed hundreds of thousands of documents, including intelligence reports, internal FBI notes and correspondence among members of the Trump campaign. The committee convened blockbuster hearings in 2017 and 2018, but much of its work took place in a secure office suite out of public view.

Portions of the report containing classified or other sensitive information were blacked out.

The Intelligence Committee released four previous volumes on its findings over the past year. The first focused on election security and Russias attempts to test U.S. election infrastructure, and included policy recommendations to blunt future attacks. The second provided a detailed picture of Russias use of social media to sow political divisions in the United States.

Lawmakers then produced a study of the response by the Obama administration and Congress in the highly partisan run-up to the 2016 election. Most recently, they found that a 2017 intelligence community assessment, assigning blame to Russia and outlining its goals to undercut American democracy, had been untainted by politics and was fundamentally sound despite attacks on it by Trumps allies.

The committee focused its work on intelligence and counterintelligence matters. It did not investigate attempts by Trump to hinder the work of federal investigators.

The report arrived in a fraught political moment, particularly for Republican senators on the panel who signed off on it and thus may find themselves at odds with Trump and other influential figures in their party. Since Mueller finished his work, Republicans close to Trump have sought to recast the president as the victim of politically motivated national security officials in the Obama administration.

The Justice Departments independent inspector general has found that law enforcement officials had sufficient basis to open the Russia investigation and acted without political bias.

But two other Senate panels, the Judiciary and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees, are conducting investigations premised on picking apart aspects of the special counsels inquiry. And though they have not disputed Russias interference, they have decidedly turned the partys focus away from the actions of a hostile foreign power toward the workings of the investigation it spawned, arguing that Mueller should never have been appointed and that the FBI should have dropped any inquiry involving the Trump campaign long before he was.

The Justice Department is doing a similar post-mortem. Barr told a congressional committee last month that he was determined to get to the bottom of the grave abuses involved in the bogus Russiagate scandal. He has appointed a criminal prosecutor, John H. Durham, to review the investigation and the actions of intelligence and law enforcement officials trying in 2016 to understand the Kremlins interference and possible links to Trump associates.

Much of the Intelligence Committee investigation was overseen by Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., but he temporarily stepped aside as the chairman of the panel in May because of a federal investigation into a rush of stock sales he made before the coronavirus pandemic began rattling the United States. As they watched a similar House investigation over Russian interference splinter under partisan bickering and Trump attack Mueller, Burr and Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the committee, worked steadily to ensure they could come to an authoritative bipartisan conclusion. Burr voted to endorse the final conclusions.

The findings are expected to broadly echo Muellers report on Russian election interference released publicly in April 2019.

That report documented attempts by Moscow to undermine confidence in the electoral process and sway the election toward Trump by hacking and dumping Democratic emails and engaging in sophisticated manipulation campaigns using social media.

After years of work, Mueller found dozens of contacts between Trump associates and Russian-connected actors, evidence that the Trump campaign welcomed the Kremlins attempts to sabotage the election and expected it would benefit electorally from the hacking and dumping of Democratic emails.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Ten people who helped rescue passengers from an Air India Express flight from Dubai that crashed at the Kozhikode international airport on August 7 tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday when Kerala saw the highest single-day spike of 1,758 new cases, officials said.

Around 80 of the locals who took part in the rescue operations, were already under quarantine after some of the injured passengers tested positive for Covid-19. Last week the Malappuram district collector, police superintendent and 23 senior officials tested positive for the virus. Later, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and seven of his cabinet colleagues had gone into quarantine because they interacted closely with district officials during their visit to the crash site.

Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri had lauded the timely intervention of the local people who took more than half of the 190 passengers to hospitals.

Tuesdays spike of 1,758 cases took Keralas Covid-19 tally to 47,827 while six more casualties took the death toll to 176.

Amid rising cases, the Kerala government has decided to strengthen surveillance but many experts said the state has to concentrate more on mitigation now. It also tweaked its test protocol and decided to conduct more antigen tests and limit RT-PCR tests.

RT-PCR tests will now be done for patients with severe respiratory problems or people coming from containment zones.in other states or countries.
Regulatory News:

Publicis Groupe S.A. (Paris:PUB):

The text of the overview of the share buyback program authorized by the shareholders at their Combined General Meeting of May 27, 2020 is a free translation from the French language and is supplied solely for information purposes. Only the original version in the French language has legal force.

Pursuant to Articles L. 225-209 et seq of the French Commercial Code, Articles 241-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF Autorite des Marches Financiers), Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 of April 16, 2014, Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1052 of March 8, 2016 and the market practices accepted by the AMF, this overview contains information on the objectives and terms of the Publicis Groupe S.A. share buyback program in accordance with the authorization granted by the shareholders under the 20th resolution adopted at the Combined General Shareholders' Meeting dated May 27, 2020.

Issuer: Publicis Groupe S.A., a French Joint stock Company with a Management Board and a Supervisory Board, with share capital of 96,285,195.20 euro and its registered office at 133 avenue des Champs-Elysees, 75008 Paris, France, registered with the Paris Trade and Companies Registry under number 542 080 601.

Stock Exchange: Euronext Paris.

LEI: 2138004KW8BV57III342.

ISIN: FR0000130577.

Number of shares and fraction of capital held directly or indirectly by the issuer

As of May 31, 2020, the Company's share capital was made up of 240,712,988 shares of which 3,305,198 were held by the Company, representing 1.37% of its capital.

Allocation of equity held on May 31, 2019 according to objectives

- 400,000 shares allocated for encouraging the secondary market or liquidity of Publicis Groupe S.A. shares pursuant to a liquidity agreement;

- 23,328 shares allocated for payments or exchanges in connection with external growth transactions; and

- 2,881,870 shares allocated to allow allotment or sale of shares to employees and/or corporate officers of the Company and/or its Group.

Characteristics of the 2020-2021 share buyback program

Buyback program objectives

The objectives of the program authorized by the shareholders at their General Shareholders' Meeting of May 27, 2020 (20th resolution) are as follows:

- Allotting or selling shares to employees and/or corporate officers of the Company and/or of its Groupe, in accordance with the requirements and procedures prescribed by applicable regulations, in particular as part of a plan for sharing in the Company's expansion, by allotting free shares or granting stock options, or through company savings plans or inter-company savings plans, or by any other method of compensation in shares, in accordance with legal requirements;

- Delivering shares to honor obligations in connection with instruments or securities that may confer entitlement to equity rights, whether by redemption, conversion, exchange, presentation of a warrant or by any other means conferring entitlement to the allocation of ordinary shares in the Company;

- Conserving and subsequently delivering shares as a means of exchange in merger, spin-off or contribution transactions, or as a means of exchange, payment or other means in the case of external growth transactions;

- Encouraging the secondary market or the liquidity of Publicis Groupe S.A. shares through the intermediary of an investment services provider acting pursuant to a liquidity agreement and in compliance with market practices accepted by the AMF (as modified, where applicable);

- Cancelling all or part of the shares thus acquired, in accordance with legal provisions in force, and pursuant to authorization granted by the 23rd resolution of the May 29, 2019 Combined General Shareholders' Meeting.

This program is also intended to enable the Company to trade in its own shares for any other purpose or any other market practice that is currently authorized or accepted or may be authorized or accepted in the future by the laws and regulations in force. In such a case, the Company will inform its shareholders by issuing a press release.

Maximum number of shares that may be acquired

The maximum number of shares that can be purchased during the buyback program must not exceed 10% of the shares making up the Company's share capital on the date of each repurchase. This percentage will apply to the share capital as adjusted to reflect transactions affecting the share capital carried out subsequent to this General Shareholders' Meeting. When shares are redeemed to promote liquidity in accordance with the requirements of the General Regulation of the AMF, the number of shares taken into account to calculate the 10% limit is equal to the number of shares purchased, less the number of shares resold during the authorization period

The number of shares purchased with a view to their retention or future delivery in connection with merger, spin-off or contribution transactions will not exceed 5% of its share capital of the Company.

Maximum purchase price

The maximum unit purchase price will be eighty-five (85) euro, excluding acquisition costs, it being specified that this price will not apply to share buyback used for allocating free shares to employees and/or officers of the Company and the Groupe or when they exercise stock options.

The Company's total amount used for share buyback under this authorization will not exceed two billion forty-three million seven hundred fifteen thousand ten (2,043,715,010) euro net of costs.

In the event of a change in the par value of shares or any transaction having an impact on shareholders' equity, the General Shareholders' Meeting has delegated to the Management Board the power to adjust the aforementioned purchase price in order to take into account the impact of such transactions on the share price.

Redemption terms and conditions

The Company will be entitled to purchase its own shares, and sell or transfer shares redeemed, directly or through an investment service provider, in one or more transactions, at any time and by any means authorized by the regulations in force, or that may come into force in the future, on regulated stock markets, multilateral trading facilities (MTFs), through systematic internalizers or over the counter, and, notably, by buying or selling blocks of shares (without limitation on the portion of the buyback program that may be carried out in block transactions), sale and repurchase agreements, through takeover bids or securities exchange bids, by using option mechanisms, derivative financial instruments, warrants or, more generally, securities granting entitlement to shares in the Company. The Company may also be entitled to hold and/or cancel shares redeemed, subject to authorization by an Extraordinary General Shareholders' Meeting, in compliance with applicable regulations.

The General Shareholders' Meeting granted the Management Board all powers, including the right to sub-delegate its authority, as permitted by laws and regulations and in accordance with the Company's Articles of Incorporation, to determine the modes and conditions of implementation, to allocate or reallocate the shares acquired to the various objectives in view in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, to execute all instruments, enter into all agreements, carry out all formalities, and, more generally, to do everything necessary to implement of the 20th resolution.

According to the 23rd resolution adopted by shareholders at their General Meeting of May 29, 2019, shareholders authorized the Management Board, for a period of 26 months, to decrease the share capital should the need arise, by cancelling, in one or more transactions, within the limit of 10% of the share capital as authorized by law (it being specified that limit applies to the Company's capital which will, if necessary, be adjusted to take into account transactions affecting it after this General Shareholders' Meeting) for periods of twenty-four months, of all or part of Publicis Groupe S.A. shares acquired under the share buyback programs authorized by the General Shareholders' Meeting.

Program term

The program was authorized for a period of eighteen months as from May 27, 2020, i.e., until November 27, 2021.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005498/en/

Contacts:

Publicis Groupe S.A.
President Nana Akufo-Addo said decisions on the re-opening of international flights will be tied to the ability of airport medical personnel to test all arriving passengers for coronavirus.

In his 15th address to the nation, Akufo-Addo said the ability of health officials at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to test all passengers arriving on scheduled international flights will determine whether or not the airport can re-open by 1 September 2020.

The Ghanian president said in a statement: I know many still ask when our borders, especially our international airport, Kotoka International Airport, will be opened. Under my instruction, the Ministry of Aviation, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airports Company Limited have been working, with the Ministry of Health and its agencies, to ascertain our readiness to reopen our airport".

Follow all the latest coronavirus-related news in Africa via our dedicated live blog

President hopes to open KIA by 1 September

Akufo-Addo added that prior to opening borders, he wants to ensure that every single arriving passenger will be tested for Covid-19 to prevent any further spread of the infection.

All Ghanaian borders have been closed and international flights stopped since March, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The president also added that, until further notice, Ghana's air, land and seas borders will remain closed to passenger transport.. However, "special dispensation will continue to be given" to bring stranded Ghanaians back home, where they will be subjected to the mandatory quarantine and safety protocols.
Bridges across the Chicago river are raised to control access into downtown in Chicago on Aug. 12, 2020, after widespread looting broke out early Monday in the city. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Chicago Homeowners Complain of Violence Hazards, Consider Leaving, Property Manager Says

Homeowners in Chicagos downtown and upscale neighborhoods no longer feel safe in the city and are pondering moving out, a leader of a major Chicago real estate management firm says.

The homeowners we represent do not feel safe, said Steven Levy, president of Sudler, a firm that counts more than 100 condominium associations among its clients, including in lakeshore neighborhoods of Hyde Park, Gold Coast, and Edgewater. He spoke on behalf of over 22,000 homeowners and some 38,000 residents in an Aug. 12 letter to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Much like you, one of my primary duties is to ensure the well-being of the residents I represent, he said. That responsibility has been made exponentially more difficult in recent months due to the lack of responsiveness and support from the City of Chicago.

Chicago is experiencing a surge in violent crime, with murder and shootings up about 50 percent so far this year (data to Aug. 9) over last year (pdf).

While Chicago has long struggled with a high crime rate, the violence has mostly been concentrated in the West and South Side neighborhoods. Many of the downtown and North Side areas have traditionally experienced very little violent crime, allowing a sizable middle class and affluent population to maintain their urban lifestyle with a sense of security. Levys letter indicates that this perception is now fading.

Residents across the city are adjusting their daily routines out of fear, Levy said.

Theyre avoiding neighborhood walks after 6:00 pm. At night, they dont stand too close to their windows or dare to enjoy their outdoor balconies or terraces. Their children, who will likely be homebound for the remainder of the year, are forced to play indoors because local parks and playgrounds have been inhabited with litter, vandalism, and crime. This is not a way to live, and I cant fault homeowners when they tell me theyre considering leaving Chicago.

Neither Levy, nor Lightfoot responded to request for comment, but on Aug. 14, the mayor announced a police-community initiative to prevent any more bouts of looting. The plan includes rapid response deployments of police to looting incidents (pdf). The city also formed a 250-cop unit specifically to respond to large gatherings such as protests.

On the other hand, the city recently disbanded its anti-gang and anti-gun units as well as teams formerly used to deploy to areas with frequent shootings.

The city budget, already laden with massive debt and torpedoed by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, could suffer yet another blow from resident flight, since the rich and the middle class, who are most able to pack up and leave, usually carry the lions share of the tax burden.

Levy said the safety issues affect his staff too, from property supervisors to doormen, janitors, and valet staff.

Their abilities to do their jobs have been impeded by recent events, he said.

Staff have fearfully traveled through downtown in the middle of looting sprees just to report to their shifts on time. Theyve dragged dumpsters in front of doorways as additional blockades, rehearsed and implemented lockdown procedures, called 911 on repeat, and for some, have been face-to-face with criminals threatening violence. And in the aftermath, following hours of destruction, our staff have swept up broken glass in the early hours of the morning before responding to dozens of worried calls from residents.

Levy called on Lightfoot to fulfill her duty of ensuring the well-being of all Chicago residents.

Without an immediate change, Im concerned that homeowners will flee, he said. Properties will stand vacant, businesses will fail, and the Chicago we both know will be a shell of what it once was and what it could be.
The Israeli military said they launched an airstrike attack on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, saying it was in retaliation to a rocket targeted at the Israeli territory by Palestinian militants.

The army said it bombed Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, including a military compound belonging to one of the special arrays belonging to the militant group.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza since 2007.
In excerpts of her remarks released ahead of her taped speech, Obama said Biden was a 'terrific vice-president' during the eight years he served as her husband's No 2

Milwaukee: US Democrats opened their unprecedented online nominating convention Monday with a show of unity behind Joe Biden, as former first lady Michelle Obama said the party's presidential candidate "knows what it takes" to lead the nation out of the crisis.

With the Democratic Party poised to officially anoint the 77-year-old Biden as its nominee, President Donald Trump defied coronavirus concerns and staged competing events in Wisconsin and neighboring Minnesota.

But at 8:00 pm (0100 GMT Tuesday) Wisconsin time, Americans tuned in to what appeared to be a carefully choreographed opening for the four-day unifying confab.

"Every four years we come together to reaffirm our democracy," the convention's moderator, actress Eva Longoria, said in the opening moments.

"This year we've come to save it."

Barack Obama's popular wife Michelle was given the primetime slot on the opening night of the convention, which was to have been held over four days in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but which is now taking place almost entirely online because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

In excerpts of her remarks released ahead of her taped speech, Obama said Biden was a "terrific vice president" during the eight years he served as her husband's number two.

"I know Joe. He is a profoundly decent man guided by faith," she said.

"He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic, and lead our country," the former first lady said.

"He will tell the truth, and trust science," she said in a jab at Trump, who has been accused of repeatedly ignoring the advice of his scientific advisors on how to respond to the pandemic.

If we want to end the chaos and divisionand keep alive the possibility of progress on the issues we hold dearweve got to vote for @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris like our lives depend on it. Register today by texting VOTE to 30330. https://t.co/xPu5o0SYLJ  Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 18, 2020

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who challenged Biden for the nomination from the progressive left, was also due to address the convention, which is being live-streamed, on Monday.

"This election is the most important in the modern history of this country," Sanders said in prepared remarks.

"The future of our democracy is at stake," he said. "The future of our planet is at stake."

Electing Biden over Trump is an absolute necessity, he stressed. "My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine."

'Large-scale Venezuela'

Trump flew on Air Force One meanwhile to Mankato, Minnesota, and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and delivered remarks to supporters gathered on the airport tarmacs.

Speaking in Oshkosh, Trump accused Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris of seeking to enact "crazy socialist policies."

"This is the most dangerous election we've ever had," Trump said. "This will be a very large-scale Venezuela if they win."

"The only way we're going to lose this election is if the election is rigged," added the president, who trails Biden in nearly all national polls as well as multiple battleground states.

The Democratic convention is taking place amid a furor over Trump's own efforts to limit mail-in voting.

Insisting without proof that it fosters fraud, Trump has threatened to block extra funding that Democrats say is urgently needed to allow the US Postal Service to process millions of ballots.

Democratic Party chairman Tom Perez said the convention would push back against Trump's "assault on our democracy" by highlighting efforts to protect voting by mail.

Oshkosh, where Trump was speaking, is about a 90-minute drive north of the Milwaukee arena where Democrats had intended to gather in a sign of eagerness to win back Wisconsin, one of the multiple Democratic strongholds which flipped to Trump in 2016.

But the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed some 170,000 people in the United States, upended election campaigning.

The Democratic convention and the Republican event, which begins on 24 August, will be held virtually, without the usual roaring crowds and confetti.

"We may be physically apart, but this week Democrats are coming together from across the nation to put forth our vision for a better America," Biden tweeted.

Live and curated content

The experimental convention format will allow speakers to address American voters unfiltered  largely shorn of the usual overwrought stagecraft and screaming delegates.

Biden and Harris will address the convention live via video link, while other speeches will be "a mix of live and curated content," the campaign said.

Biden, whose poll leads over Trump remains significant, despite a slight tightening of the race, is hoping Harris  the first woman of color on a major party's presidential ticket  will invigorate Democrats.

The California senator, former prosecutor, and daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants is 55 and brings relatively youthful energy to the ticket.

Tuesday will see addresses from former president Bill Clinton and Jill Biden, the nominee's wife.

On Wednesday, Barack Obama will speak, and Harris will have her spotlight moment before the convention culminates Thursday when Biden formally accepts the Democratic nomination and delivers his acceptance speech.
Turkey has once again taken an anti-India stand on Kashmir, based on Pakistani lines, and the Turkish media has begun the use of new terminology for Jammu and Kashmir from August 5. It has started using the term Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)"--a term that was propped up by Pakistan.

On August 4, just a day before the first anniversary of the abrogation of articles 370 and 35-A, Pakistan asked its people to start using the term.

However, this is not the first time that Turkey has taken the Pakistani side on the nomenclature. Previously, the Turkish media was using the term India Occupied Kashmir (IOK) for Jammu and Kashmir and later, under Pakistani pressure, it began to use the terms of India Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) and Azad Kashmir. This step was opposed by India and they lodged their opposition with the Turkish national news agency Anadolu Agency, an agency run by the Turkish Government.

Consequently, the agency began to use the internationally accepted terms of India administered Kashmir and Pakistan administered Kashmir. Pakistan reached out to its friend and convinced it to use the names of both the sides of Jammu and Kashmir as per Pakistan's nomenclatures. As a result, Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed the Anadolu Agency to take a reverse gear and start using the terms--IOJK and Azad Kashmir.

The use of the new term by Turkey, just after a day of its coinage by Pakistan, highlights the strong coordination between the two countries. It was indeed not an instantaneous step, but a pre-planned one.

"When other Islamic countries refrained from commenting on the issue of abrogation, Turkey came out openly to support Pakistan and oppose Indias move and continues to trouble India on it. It indicates that the division between Islamic countries is further widening up, with most of the countries supporting Indias stand that Jammu and Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and other international players should refrain from interfering in it, said Indian Security officer deployed in the Center Security establishment.

The use of new terminology on Jammu and Kashmir in consonance with Pakistan is definitely one of those rewards by Turkey to Pakistan in return for latter's support to Erdogan's aspirations of becoming the Caliph of Muslim Ummah and help to Turkey for creating an alternative organisation to the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).

Resorting to Pakistani terminologies and abstaining to use internationally accepted terms is a blot on Turkish diplomacy, besides being a direct attack on Indias sovereignty. It is also a move of clear messaging to communicate that Turkey has rallied its unconditional support to Pakistan and shall continue to take anti-India steps in the times to come.
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HARARE, Zimbabwe A Zimbabwean magistrate Tuesday barred Beatrice Mtetwa, a top human rights lawyer, from representing a jailed journalist and ordered that she be prosecuted for comments posted on a Facebook page run by an American filmmaker.

Magistrate Ngoni Nduna also said he will forward his ruling to the Law Society of Zimbabwe for possible further punishment of the lawyer.

Mtetwa was representing Hopewell Chinono, an investigative journalist who has reported alleged government corruption on Twitter and has been in jail for more than three weeks on accusations of mobilizing an anti-government protest.

Prosecutors in Chinonos bail case last week asked the magistrate to order Mtetwa to step down, arguing that she had posted on a Facebook page called Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law proceedings that were held in camera.

The allegedly offensive posts called on the international community to speak out against Chinonos imprisonment.

Chinono told the court that Mtetwa had nothing to with the page. He said it was administered by an American filmmaker who produced a documentary by the name of the Facebook page, where people regularly post on human rights issues in Zimbabwe.

On Tuesday, the magistrate agreed with the prosecution and also ordered that Mtetwa should be charged with contempt of court.

Mtetwa has over the past decades represented dozens of journalists, human rights campaigners and opposition leaders accused of plotting against the government. She also frequently speaks against human rights abuses in the troubled southern African country.

She has been arrested, detained and allegedly assaulted by police in a pattern of harassment and intimidation.

Mtetwa said Tuesdays ruling was meant to instill fear in human rights lawyers and could have the chilling effect of dissuading young lawyers from taking on human rights issues.

The intention is to stop us defending a certain type of client it means the right to legal representation has been severely curtailed and it has been curtailed by the courts, she told reporters outside the court. She said she will appeal the ruling.

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
Westmoreland, N.Y.  Police are warning of large gatherings in Oneida County after a man was assaulted at a party Monday night.

The Oneida County Sheriffs Office said deputies responded to a reported fight at 4691 Route 233 just after midnight. A gun may have also been involved in the incident, though no guns were found at the scene.

Sheriffs deputies said there was a large amount of people at the scene and one male who was reported to have been beat up by several individuals. He was treated on the scene by emergency responders and then transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Several people on the scene said information about the party was sent out via Snapchat, similar to other large parties happening in wooded areas in the region in recent weeks. More than 200 people, mostly between 16 and 25 years old, have attended the parties, according to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol.

Maciol said the gatherings can be dangerous because of multiple reports of larceny, assault, robbery, weapons possession and underage drinking, in addition to concerns about the coronavirus. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has limited gatherings in New York state to no more than 50 people to slow the spread of Covid-19, though restaurants and wedding venues may be able to admit more, up to 50% capacity.

Several people at Mondays party were reportedly at the previous parties where fights and other crimes occurred, Maciol said. NewsChannel 9 reports its been alleged that some of those individuals have local gang affiliations.

New York State Police and the Kirkland Police Department also responded to the scene. The property owner was initially on scene, Maciol said, but deputies were unable to locate them after the scene was secured.

The incidents remain under investigation.

Sheriffs deputies are asking the public to be on the lookout for large parties happening, and to call 911 or the sheriffs office at 315-736-0141. Tips submitted to Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers are kept confidential.
By Ayya Lmahamad

The Azerbaijani government is taking measures to improve water supply in the country.

New sub-artesian wells will be drilled in the villages of Fizuli to improve irrigation in the district, Azertag reported on August 18.

With the commissioning of new sub-artesian wells, over 200 hectares of arable land in the region will be provided with irrigation water.

Fourteen sub-artesian wells will be drilled in 9 settlements with the population of 15,373 people in line with the presidents April 2020 order On additional measures to improve irrigation water supply to the arable land in Fizuli region and meet the needs of the population in drinking water.

Sub-artesian wells have already been drilled in Ahmadbayli, Ashagi Kurdmahmudlu, Yuxari Kurdmahmudlu, Karimbayli, Shukurbali villages and in the 11-ci Qayidish settlement in Fizuli. Sub-artesian wells will soon be drilled in three more villages.

In the past five years, 55 new sub-artesian wells have been drilled in parts of Fizuli that have been liberated from the Armenian occupation.

It should be noted that in the government session on July 23, President Ilham Aliyev urged the government to take measures to eliminate the water shortage problem in the country. Furthermore, on July 28, Ilham Aliyev signed the Order on additional measures to ensure the efficient use of water resources in the country.

Azerbaijani Melioration and Water Industry OJSC announced earlier its plans to drill 18 sub-artesian wells in Sheki in 2020 to improve irrigation water supply to arable lands and farmlands used for planting greenery in 15 settlements with the population of over 116,00 people and to meet residents drinking water demands.

Drinking water supply and sewage system of western Gazakh region is also being reconstructed. The project in Gazakh will allow access to water and sanitation services for 26,000 people in the region. In addition, the project envisages supply of drinking water to Agkoynak, Garapapag, Huseynbeyli and Dag Qasaman villages of Gazakh and Agstafa regions in the future. Overall, 45,000 residents will benefit from the project.

Seven of the 12 sub-artesian wells to be drilled in Agstafa region, will provide Gazakh region and surrounding villages with sustainable drinking water. A 4-kilometre section of a 9-kilometre main water pipeline has been laid from the spring to Gazakh.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Unification Minister Lee In-young elbow-bumps with U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris during Harris' courtesy visit to the ministry in Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



In talks with U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris, Tuesday, Unification Minister Lee In-young proposed that a South Korea-U.S. working group be revamped to facilitate improvements in inter-Korean relations and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula.



Ambassador Harris responded that the U.S. strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation and would find ways to continue this through the working group that he believes has played "an important role in creating a more secure and stable environment."



Lee's proposal came as the entity coordinating North Korea-related issues has been under fire from South Korean liberal politicians and activists for allegedly "hindering progress" in inter-Korean ties due to its "excessively harsh" standards adopted on the North. They have called for restructuring its operation or even dismantling it.



"By readjusting or reorganizing the working group, it should be directed toward improving ties between South and North Korea and expediting peace efforts on the peninsula," Lee told Harris during their first meeting, held at the ministry in Seoul as part of the ambassador's courtesy visit to the new minister. Lee took office in July.



"There have been pros and cons of the working group. However, if we upgrade it, concerns that the group is preventing inter-Korean projects could be eased. To this end, we have to upgrade the group into a 2.0 version.



"Ushering in a new era for the working group 2.0 with Ambassador Harris, I am looking forward to closely communicating and cooperating with the United States."



Harris said, "As Minister Lee said, and echoed by the foreign minister, the South Korean ambassador to the U.S., and the special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security, the working group is an efficient mechanism and we look forward to working closely together and pursuing this important work."



He added: "And I look forward to understanding more fully the parameters of working group 2.0."



Their meeting carried extra significance beyond the courtesy visit as the Moon Jae-in administration is adopting a harder drive for inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation with the Kim Jong-un regime, separate from Pyongyang's halted denuclearization talks with Washington.



In line with President Moon's drive for independent policies toward the North, Lee has not wasted any time and has begun pushing the government's pitch for resuming long-suspended tours to the North on an individual basis. A South Korean tour program to a resort on Mount Geumgang was halted in 2008 after a female South Korean tourist was shot dead there by a North Korean guard.



The unification ministry's stance on individual tourism is that it is not subject to international sanctions imposed on the totalitarian state for its nuclear and missile programs, because it would not involve bulk cash transfers unlike group tours.



In addition, Lee, a long-time advocate of engagement with the North, is pushing for "small-scale trading" with the North to expand cross-border exchanges, which he has pitched as a "creative" way to avoid violating sanctions on the North.



According to him, small trading would involve bartering South Korean rice and drugs for North Korean water and liquor and would also avoid violating sanctions as it also does not involve sending bulk cash to the North.



However, Harris has said that such plans need to be discussed through the South Korea-U.S. working group to avoid misunderstandings related to the sanctions.



Lee has not completely denied the function that the working group has played in effectively resolving matters related to sanctions on the North. But he said during his National Assembly confirmation hearing last month, "We'll distinguish issues that require discussion by the working group from those that do not, and promote the latter first."


Representative image

The Indian governments production linked incentive (PLI) scheme, which offers incentives to companies engaged in manufacturing mobile phones and specified electronic components in India, has drawn huge interest from global and local original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). If that interest translates into action, it will help India attract investments that would otherwise have gone to China.

India is now the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world after China and about 300 million phones were assembled here in 2019 alone. The number of mobile phone manufacturing/assembling plants in the country has increased from just two in 2014 to around 100 in 2019. Now, with manufacturing companies looking to have another unit outside China, India could well be one of the beneficiaries.

Global OEM and component manufacturers are increasingly choosing to set up or extend their base in the country. Domestic brands have also got a boost. The large number of applicants for the PLI scheme says it all, Jaideep Ghosh, Chief Operating Officer, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. told Moneycontrol.

Notified on April 1, the PLI scheme aims to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in mobile phone manufacturing and electronic components, including assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) units.

It offers incentives of 4-6 percent over five years, with FY20 as the base year, to companies that manufacture in India. The incentives are applicable with effect from August 1, 2020.

ALSO READ: The absolute dominance of China in Indias smartphone market

Making a beeline for India

Global players such as Wistron, Pegatron, Foxconn and Hon Hai from Taiwan, Samsung from South Korea, as well as companies from Germany and Austria have applied for benefits under the PLI scheme so far.

Foxconn Hon Hai, Wistron and Pegatron are contract manufacturers for Apples iPhones.

Indian companies such as Lava, Dixon, Micromax, Padget Electronics, Sojo, UTL and Optiemus have also applied for benefits under the PLI scheme.

Industry body India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), which represents top mobile phone makers, including Apple, Foxconn, Wistron and Lava, anticipates mobile phone companies will increase device production in the country to around Rs 27.5 lakh crore under the PLI scheme, well above the government's expectation of over Rs 11 lakh crore.

The government is wooing companies to manufacture products here through its Make in India programme. Samsung, Apple, Oppo and Vivo are some companies looking to expand their presence in India.

According to Counterpoint Research, smartphone shipments in June bounced back after weak April/May sales and the anti-China sentiment has led to a massive surge in sales of Samsung phones.

Counterpoint estimates that Samsung captured 27 percent market share in Q2 (calendar year), given the lack of non-Chinese alternatives (81 percent of shipments in Q1 were from Chinese brands).

A clear China alternative

Nangia Andersen LLP believes that the timing of these guidelines is significant as it can act as a catalyst in the governments efforts to promote India as an alternative to China in becoming a global manufacturing hub for electronics manufacturing.

These schemes shall also provide immense support to the Prime Ministers appeal to structure economic revival in India by making the economy self-reliant, i.e., Atmanirbhar. The schemes would also provide a fillip to sagging investment sentiment in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. These schemes focus on the entire supply chain not limited to electronics component/mobile phone manufacturers and bring plastics and other metal component players within its ambit, said Nangia Andersen LLP.

The PLI scheme comes at a time when global supply chains are being redrawn, giving a small window of opportunity to reshape the supply of manufactured goods to the world.

We have a deep gap in manufacturing capacity for higher tech goods, but that gap can be narrowed through concerted policy initiatives such as PLI. We must have patience with the journey though and welcome opportunities for assembly shops for global manufacturers till the associated supply capacity builds up over time. All manufacturing economies have taken similar steps: the pathway to excellence in deep-tech and sector expertise starts with what I call the screw-driver economy where low-cost assembly shops pave the path for scale and hence economies of scale over time, Utkarsh Sinha, Managing Director, Bexley Advisors, a boutique investment bank firm told Moneycontrol.

According to Sinha, the PLI scheme is a particularly effective policy initiative, which gives a direct, cost-based incentive to manufacturers to relocate to India.

This needs to be coupled with innovative sops on component import and product export duties to truly lower the barriers for manufacturing. Further, policymakers have to focus on implementation and fast-track dispute resolution to ensure beneficiaries of such an initiative do not get tangled in red-tape, Sinha added.

Smartphone manufacturing opportunity for India

India is the second-largest smartphone market globally with 150 million smartphone shipments in 2019 (11 percent of total global smartphone shipments).

The country still has about 350 million feature phone users, who eventually may upgrade to a smartphone given that the handset replacement cycle for Indian smartphones is less than two years. This would likely keep the demand for smartphones in India high.

Intense competition among smartphone players has led to a consolidation in the last three-four years. The dominant entity is Xiaomi, with 30 percent market share in Q1, followed by Vivo with 17 percent and Samsung at 16 percent.

Chinese players controlled about 81 percent of the smartphone market as of Q1. Local Indian handset players are almost non-existent with about two-three percent of market share. Even Apple has a small presence in India with just a 2 percent share.

ALSO READ: Indias biggest smartphone company is Chinese

According to BofA Global Research, the average selling price (ASP) of smartphones in India was $160 in 2019 up 2.5 percent from $156 in 2018. It expects the ASP to come down in 2020 in part because of the Covid impact.

The US-China global trade war has positive implications for handset manufacturing in India. According to Counterpoint, China lost assembly of about 200 million handset phones to India and Vietnam last year. Over time, it is expected that a part of handset manufacturing operations may further shift to India and Vietnam.

Here, an advantage India has over Vietnam is its huge domestic market, with a population of over 1.3 billion, and a growing number of data users. Besides, logistically, India is better placed to transport phones to African and other Middle Eastern countries.

In India, the increase in assembly of handsets has led to value addition in handset manufacturing increasing from 10 percent in 2017 to 17 percent in 2018. This is expected to increase to 25 percent in the coming years. According to Counterpoint, of the $14 billion worth of components used in mobile phones, roughly $1.4 billion were locally sourced in 2018.

I have been a keen observer of the mobile phone manufacturing landscape in India over the past fifteen years, having been part of some of the industry initiatives. The pace at which this industry has grown in the past few years is unprecedented and encouraging, said Ghosh of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.

Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer now, going by its results on Thursday, said that Chinas days as the worlds factory are over and India will be part of its manufacturing ecosystem.

Indian firms rush in to scale up

Hoping to ride the anti-China sentiment, which worked in Samsungs favour in Q1, Indian firms, which do not have a big presence right now, are trying to leverage this opportunity and racing to scale up their investments.

Dixon Technologiesa contract manufacturer of lighting, televisions, mobile phones and home appliances for Xiaomi, Samsung, Voltas, LG, Flipkart and Foxconn, has submitted two applications under the PLI scheme for mobile phones and has signed a contract with a large brand. It is in discussions with another large brand for a manufacturing contract.

In July, the company delivered 2.5 million phones. It has also started manufacturing smartphones for Samsung.

The management expects manufacturing to start from FY21 if the PLI applications are approved on time. It would take about four months to launch the manufacturing facility.

Under PLI, margins would be better than the current rate. Working capital requirements would be minimal and, in turn, RoCEs would also be better than the current run-rate, said Emkay Research, in a note to its clients, with a buy rating on the Dixon Technologies stock. RoCE stands for return on capital employed.

Micromax eyes comeback; Lava looks at a revamp

Home-grown smartphone maker Micromax plans to invest Rs 500 crore on expanding local manufacturing and research and development (R&D) operations as it targets a comeback in Indias smartphone market. The PLI scheme will help Micromax compete better with Chinese rivals.

Lava International Limited, an Indian mobile phone manufacturer, was number one in the feature phone market in India until last quarter and is now planning to revamp its smartphone portfolio to increase market share. The company is in the process of finalising its business plans to make fresh investments and comply with the requirements of the PLI scheme.

Our investment in manufacturing and design is Rs 200 crore till now. PLI will enable growth in the export business. It will help us in competing with products from other companies in the global market. Savings will be ultimately passed to the end customer, Sanjeev Agarwal, Lavas Chief Manufacturing Officer, told Moneycontrol.

The current capacity of our manufacturing plant is 40 million phones per annum. During the scheme period we are planning to increase this by three times, he added. Lava is working to establish the complete ecosystem for mobile manufacturing, including design, the supply chain and manufacturing. All Lava phones in the market are mostly designed in India.

In the supply chain, the company's major focus is on localisation to increase local value addition, enable employment generation and contribute towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, said Agarwal.

Chinas loss is not entirely Indias gain

In an effort to reduce their reliance on China, companies are going for a China-plus-one strategy and looking to set up shop in countries that can offer them good value propositions.

Whether there will be a significant shift in electronics manufacturing from China to India is difficult to ascertain. While some shift in investments from China may happen considering the prevailing geopolitical situation, there are other contenders in South Asia,said Ghosh of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.

From that perspective, Vietnam is well placed, particularly since it has strong trade agreements with Korea and the European Union. India does not have similar agreements.

Vietnam has emerged as a manufacturing hub for smartphones. Samsung has been leveraging the countrys capabilities and more than 50 percent of the smartphones manufactured by Samsung in Vietnam are being exported. LG, Nokia and, recently, Apple, have moved their facilities to Vietnam. For India, the anchor companies are Samsung, Foxconn and Apple.

According to Ghosh, the PLI scheme is a clear differentiator in attracting investments in the electronics manufacturing sector and enhancing mobile device exports.

Made in India, for the world

India is a very attractive destination for players from China and Taiwan as India is trying to encourage companies to manufacture in India under the Make in India program. The duty differential has been a major factor in attracting companies to manufacture components in India.

India offers a huge domestic market opportunity. Samsung was able to make the most of the anti-China sentiment because there are currently not many alternatives to Chinese players. It has established high-capacity assembly lines, partly in anticipation of strong export demand. About 65 percent of its units are shipped to destinations such as the UAE, Russia, South Africa, etc. Even other players such as Apple and Xiaomi, are starting to export handsets.

All this has helped Samsung fulfil the huge demand during the pandemic. It was the first company to come back to 100 percent capacity in India.

(Piyush Pandey is a senior journalist based in Mumbai.)
Oumuamua, a recently-discovered cigar-shaped object of extrasolar origin, is not made of molecular hydrogen ice after all, according to a new study by astrophysicists from the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).

Oumuamua was discovered by the University of Hawaiis Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in October 2017, more than a month after it passed its closest point to the Sun.

Subsequent detailed observations conducted by multiple space- and ground-based telescopes detected the sunlight reflected off the objects surface.

Large variations in its brightness suggested that Oumuamua is highly elongated and up to 275 m (900 feet) in its longest dimension.

Oumuamua also experienced a small but persistent acceleration that could not be explained simply by the Suns gravitational pull.

Theories about its origin include everything from being a planetary fragment to an alien light probe.

Recently, Yale Universitys Professor Gregory Laughlin and Dr. Darryl Seligman from the University of Chicago proposed that Oumuamua was made out of molecular hydrogen ice.

Their modeling implied that the interstellar object is approximately 100 million years old, and, assuming a speed of 30 km/s, that it was produced in a giant molecular cloud at a distance of 5,000 parsec (16,308 light-years).

However, their study did not consider the destruction of hydrogen ice in the interstellar medium, but only through evaporation by sunlight.

Dr. Thiem Hoang of KASI and Professor Avi Loeb from the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics were curious whether a hydrogen ice-based object could actually have made the journey from interstellar space to our Solar System.

We wanted to not only test the assumptions in the theory but also the dark matter proposition, Professor Loeb said.

We were suspicious that hydrogen icebergs could not survive the journey  which is likely to take hundreds of millions of years  because they evaporate too quickly, and as to whether they could form in molecular clouds.

The most likely place to make hydrogen icebergs is in the densest environments of the interstellar medium.

These environments are both too far away and are not conducive to the development of hydrogen icebergs, Professor Loeb said.

An accepted astrophysical origin for solid objects is growth by sticky collisions of dust, but in the case of a hydrogen iceberg, this theory could not hold together.

An accepted route to form a km-sized object is first to form grains of micron-size, then such grains grow by sticky collisions, Dr. Hoang said.

However, in regions with high gas density, collisional heating by gas collisions can rapidly sublimate the hydrogen mantle on the grains, preventing them from growing further.

Although the study explored destruction of hydrogen ice by multiple mechanisms including interstellar radiation, cosmic rays, and interstellar gas, sublimation due to heating by starlight had the most destructive effect.

Thermal sublimation by collisional heating in giant molecular clouds could destroy molecular hydrogen icebergs of Oumuamua-size before their escape into the interstellar medium, Professor Loeb said.

This conclusion precludes the theory that Oumuamua journeyed to our Solar System from a giant molecular cloud, and further precludes the proposition of primordial snowballs as dark matter.

Evaporative cooling in these situations does not reduce the role of thermal sublimation by starlight in the destruction of hydrogen ice objects.

The teams paper will be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

_____

Thiem Hoang & Abraham Loeb. 2020. Destruction of molecular hydrogen ice and Implications for 1I/2017 U1 (Oumuamua). ApJL, in press; arXiv: 2006.08088

This article is based on text provided by the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
JPMorgan, an investment bank and financial services holding company, has hired former British Finance Minister Sajid Javid as a senior adviser for the company headquartered in New York. Javid resigned in February after a fall out with Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a cabinet reshuffle, which Rishi Sunak taking up his role. While Javid remains a Conservative lawmaker in the UK, he will be working as a member of JPMorgans advisory council for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

A bank spokesperson announced the hiring of Javid, saying the company looks forward to drawing upon his in-depth understanding of the business and economic environment to help shape our client strategy across Europe". Javid worked in business and finance before being elected to Britains parliament and became a Vice President at Chase Manhattan Bank. He later moved to Deutsche Bank in London and left the company as a Senior Managing Director in 2009 to formally join politics as a Conservative leader and became a parliamentarian from Bromsgrove in 2010.

Read: Canada's Finance Minister Bill Morneau Resigns Amid Charity Probe

Read: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Voices Support For Finance Minister Despite Controversy

Saw Brexit deal through

Born to Pakistani parents, the British politician served the UK government as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills from May 2015 until July 2016. Javid was also Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from April 2014 to May 2015 and previously he was both the Economic and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. He was a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee from June to November 2010. He remained Chancellor of the Exchequer for a crucial period, from July 24, 2019, to February 13, 2020, as the country was struggling to finalise a Brexit deal. The United Kingdom exited the European Union during his tenure and was in favour of even a no-deal Brexit if needed and was ready to draw on a full armoury of economic policy.

Read: Beirut Blast: Lebanese Judiciary To Quiz Former Finance Ministers About Explosion

Read: UK Finance Minister Says Brexit Deal Negotiation Possible In September

(Image credit: AP)
TikTok also announced an alliance with music distribution platform UnitedMasters, to build on a trend of the platform being a way for musicians to be discovered by posting short-clip videos. (Photo | Pixabay - iXimus)

San Francisco: TikTok has stepped up its defence against US accusations that the popular video app is a national security threat, denouncing what it called rumours and misinformation about its links to the Chinese government.

The video-snippet sharing service launched an online information hub on Monday after President Donald Trump gave its Chinese parent firm a 90-day deadline to divest TikTok before the app is banned in the United States.

A previous executive order, prohibiting US entities from doing business with TikTok, will take effect 45 days after August 6.

On a web page titled The Last Sunny Corner of the Internet, TikTok maintained it was setting the record straight about the platform.

TikTok has never provided any US user data to the Chinese government, nor would it do so if asked, the company said in the post.

Any insinuation to the contrary is unfounded and blatantly false.

US user data is stored here, with a backup in Singapore, according to TikTok.

The company, owned by China-based ByteDance, also launched a new @tiktok_comms Twitter account to address issues in real time.

As tensions soar between the worlds two biggest economies, Trump has claimed TikTok could be used by China to track the locations of federal employees, build dossiers on people for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.

The US leader early this month also ordered a ban on the messaging app WeChat, which is used extensively in China.

On Friday, Trump signed a separate executive order for ByteDance to sell its interest in Musical.ly, the app it bought and merged with TikTok in 2017, citing national security.

TikTok said the US action risks undermining global businesses trust in the United States commitment to the rule of law, which has served as a magnet for investment and spurred decades of American economic growth.

TikTok also repeated its intention to pursue all remedies available to us in order to ensure that the rule of law is not discarded.

Software giant Oracle is weighing a bid to join Microsoft in the race to acquire part of TikTok, Bloomberg reported early Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

It has preliminarily approached companies including Sequoia Capital to join a bid for the apps operations in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the report said.

China meanwhile Monday slammed Washington for using digital gunboat diplomacy in the TikTok case.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Monday said TikTok had done everything required by the US, including hiring Americans as its top executives, hosting its servers in the US and making public its source code.

But the app has been unable to escape the robbery through trickery undertaken by some people in the US based on bandit logic and political self-interest, Zhao said at a regular press conference.

TikTok separately Monday announced an alliance with music distribution platform UnitedMasters, playing to budding artists and their fans despite US steps to bar the popular app.

The deal to integrate UnitedMasters into TikTok promised to build on a trend of the platform being a way for musicians to be discovered by posting short-clip videos.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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Philadelphia (August 18, 2020: 7:00 AM EST) - According to a new study published today in BMJ Quality & Safety, many hospitals in New York and Illinois were understaffed right before the first surge of critically ill Covid-19 patients. The study, "Chronic Hospital Nurse Understaffing Meets Covid-19," documented staffing ratios that varied from 3 to 10 patients for each nurse on general adult medical and surgical units. ICU nurse staffing was better but also varied significantly across hospitals.

New York City, an international gateway to the US with three major international airports and the early epicenter of the Covid-19 surge in the US, had the poorest average hospital nurse staffing on the eve of the Covid-19 medical emergency.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that the workload had adverse consequences on nurses and on patient care. One third of patients in New York state and Illinois hospitals did not give their hospitals excellent ratings and would not definitely recommend their hospital to family and friends needing care.

"Half of nurses right before the Covid-19 emergency scored in the high burnout range due to high workloads, and one in five nurses said they planned to leave their jobs within a year," said lead author Karen Lasater, PhD, RN, an assistant professor and researcher at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing). "It is an immense credit to nurses that in such an exhausted and depleted state before the pandemic they were able to reach deep within themselves to stay at the hospital bedside very long hours and save lives during the emergency," continued Lasater.

"It is very important for the public to take note that in this large study of nurses practicing in New York and Illinois hospitals, half of nurses gave their hospitals unfavorable grades on patient safety and two-thirds would not definitely recommend their hospital to family and friends," said CHOPR Director Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, a senior researcher and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. She noted that nurses have been rated in the Gallup poll as the profession most trusted by the American public for past 18 consecutive years.

The researchers surveyed all registered nurses (RNs) holding active licenses to practice in New York state and Illinois during the period December 16, 2019 to February 24, 2020, immediately prior to the Covid-19 medical emergency. Hospital nurses reported on the number of patients assigned to them to care for at one time. These nurse reports were linked to Medicare patient-reported outcomes for the same hospitals. They studied 254 hospitals throughout New York state and Illinois, including 47 hospitals in the metropolitan New York area (the five NYC boroughs plus Nassau and Westchester counties).

Policy debate on safe nurse staffing standards

Both New York state and Illinois have pending legislation requiring hospitals to meet minimum safe nurse staffing standards--no more than four patients per nurse on adult general medical and surgical units. The study found that most hospitals in both states currently do not meet these proposed standards, nor do they even meet the safe nurse staffing standard of five patients per nurse set by legislation in California 20 years ago.

"This study provides an important public service by documenting in real time and in states debating current nurse staffing legislation actual hospital nurse staffing levels--information not now easily accessible to the public--and the adverse consequences of such great variation in an essential component of hospital care--nursing," said Maryann Alexander, PhD, RN, coauthor and Chief Officer, Nursing Regulation at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

The study's authors conclude:

there is no standardization in nurse staffing in NY and IL hospitals;

the majority of hospital nurses in these states were burned out and working in understaffed conditions immediately prior to the surge in critically ill Covid-19 patients;

understaffed hospitals pose a public health risk;

pending legislation in NY and IL may result in hospital staffing more aligned with the public's interest;

the Nurse Licensure Compact also offers a solution and may ease the strain on hospitals.

More study findings...

Mean staffing in adult medical and surgical units in NY and IL hospitals varied from 3.36 patients-per-nurse to 9.7 patients per nurse and in ICUs from 1.5 to 4 patients per nurse.

Each additional patient per nurse significantly increased the proportion of both patients and nurses giving unfavorable hospital quality and safety ratings, after differences in hospital characteristics such as teaching status, size, and technology availability were taken into account.

Half of nurses were burned out, 31 percent were dissatisfied with their jobs, and 22 percent intended to leave their jobs within a year.

Half of nurses gave their hospitals an unfavorable grade on patient safety, a third gave unfavorable ratings on prevention of infections, and 70 percent would not definitely recommend the hospital where they worked to a family member or friend.

65 percent of nurses reported delays in care were common because of insufficient staff and 40 percent reported frequent delays in care due to missing supplies including medications and missing or broken equipment.

The study was carried out by the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in partnership with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Funding for the study was from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the National Institute of Nursing Research/NIH, and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.

###

Study Citation

Lasater KB, Aiken LH, Sloane DM, French R, Martin B, Reneau K, Alexander M, McHugh MD. (2020). Chronic Hospital Nurse Understaffing Meets COVID-19: An Observational Study. BMJ Q&S. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-011512

About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is one of the world's leading schools of nursing. For the fifth year in a row, it is ranked the #1 nursing school in the world by QS University and is consistently ranked highly in the U.S. News & World Report annual list of best graduate schools. Penn Nursing is currently ranked # 1 in funding from the National Institutes of Health, among other schools of nursing, for the third consecutive year. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, & Instagram.

About the National Council of State Boards of Nursing

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a non-profit organization based in Chicago whose US members include the nurse regulatory bodies in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four US territories. NCSBN administers the national registered nurse licensure and other exams and led the development and implementation of the Nurse Licensure Compact that allows a nurse to have one multi-state licensure and practice in the other 34 states that to date have passed the Nurse Licensure Compact.

About the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics

Since 1967, the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn LDI) has been the leading university institute dedicated to data-driven, policy-focused research that improves our nation's health and health care. Penn LDI connects all twelve of Penn's schools, the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia through its more than 300 Senior Fellows. See more at ldi.upenn.edu and on Twitter @PennLDI.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The value of steel export from Turkey to Georgia grew by 0.6 percent in the first seven months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, having stood at $68.2 million, the Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend.

In July 2020, Turkey exported steel in the amount of $12.6 million to Georgia, which is 0.9 percent less than in July 2019.

Steel export from Turkey to international markets dropped by 16.4 percent from January through July 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, and amounted to $7 billion.

Meanwhile, Turkeys steel export made up 7.8 percent of the country's total export over this period.

In July 2020, Turkey exported the steel worth $1 billion to foreign markets, which is 15.4 percent less compared to the same month of 2019, the ministry said.

Turkeys total steel export in July 2020 made up 7 percent.

Over the past 12 months (from July 2019 through July 2020), Turkey exported the steel worth $12.4 billion abroad.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Children arriving on boats over the English Channel are being held by the Border Force in a migrant processing centre after local authorities ran out of capacity.

Kent County Council had warned for months that it did not have the resources to safely house the rising number of young asylum seekers crossing to Britain.

But officials said that promises made by the Home Office had not materialised even as the government hailed new agreements with France and created the post of clandestine Channel threat commander.

This is a huge challenge for Kent, but a relatively small challenge to solve nationally, and should have been resolved before now, said Roger Gough, the leader of Kent council.

The stark reality today is that, despite my conversations with the Home Office alerting them that Kent expected to reach safe capacity to meet its statutory duty of care this weekend, 13 new arrivals in the last two days has now tipped the balance and the council simply cannot safely accommodate any more new arrivals.

The Home Office said unaccompanied children arriving in Dover would be kept at the Kent Intake Unit before being placed with social services.

A recent government job advert said the unit consisted of a large room designed to hold up to 58 detainees, a smaller room for families and areas for searches to be carried out.

The purpose of the facility is to detain people who attempted to gain entry into the UK without detection, it added.

Most detainees will be present in the holding room for no longer than 36 hours.

When asked by The Independent, the Home Office would not comment on whether the unit had exceeded its stated capacity, or say how many adults and children were being kept there.

It would not say what conditions children were being kept in, whether they had facilities to sleep and wash or how long they would be kept there for.

 Ex-child refugee Gulwali Passarlay criticises Tory MPs who called for action against 'invading migrants'

Bridget Chapman, of the Kent Refugee Action Network, said children could not be legally detained for more than 24 hours unless there were exceptional circumstances.

Kent County Council have been flagging for months that this is an issue and the government has not done anything to rectify the situation, she told The Independent.

Were really, seriously concerned about this and we have many questions.

Recommended Priti Patel was warned that policies were increasing Channel crossings

Ms Chapman said issues included whether children would be safe, how they were being separated from adult strangers and if they have access to education, social workers and legal advice.

The Border Force does not have the skills, expertise or facilities to give children the service they need, she added.

If we are talking about children being held in some kind of detention facility for potentially months, that is unacceptable. None of this should be happening, its chaos.

Ms Chapman said many of the young people arriving in Kent on dinghies are Kurdish and have come from Iraq and Iran, with some saying they are fleeing conflict, Isis and other Islamist groups, and forced conscription.

Some have described being threatened or attacked by people smugglers, and ordered into unsafe boats if they tried to refuse.

More than 4,000 migrants have made it into the UK so far this year after completing the voyage across the English Channel, with at least 597 arriving between Thursday and Sunday.

Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise Show all 12 1 /12 Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise French police officers and gendarmes stand by tents during the evacuation of the Grande Synthe migrant camp, northern France, on September 17, 2019. Francois Lo Presti/AFP/Getty Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise French gendarmes walk by tents during the evacuation of the Grande Synthe migrant camp, northern France, on September 17, 2019. Francois Lo Presti/AFP/Getty Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise French police officers move migrants on from a camp in Dunkirk, France, 17 September 2019. Care4Calais/PA Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise French police officers move migrants on from a camp in Dunkirk, France, 17 September 2019. Care4Calais/PA Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise A bulldozer at work as French police officers move migrants from a camp near Grande-Synthe, Dunkirk, 17 September 2019. Help Refugees/PA Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise Police officers moving migrants from a camp near Grande-Synthe, Dunkirk, France,17 September 2019. Help Refugees/PA Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise Migrants at the Espace Jeunes du Moulin gym in Dunkirk as people awaited eviction from the camp 12 September 2019. Steve Parsons/PA Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise Aran Quader, 6, and his sister Yaran, two, at the Espace Jeunes du Moulin gym in Dunkirk on 12 September 2019, days before refugees were evicted. Steve Parsons/PA Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise Hamdren Quader 32, with his wife Xalat, 26, and children Kajhan, 8, Aran, 6, and Yaran, two, at the Espace Jeunes du Moulin gym in Dunkirk, France, on 12 September before refugees were evicted from the camp days later. PA Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise A bulldozer at work as French police officers move migrants from a camp near Grande-Synthe, Dunkirk, 17 September 2019. Help Refugees/PA Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise Police officers moving migrants from a camp near Grande-Synthe, Dunkirk, France, 17 September 2019. Help Refugees/PA Hundreds evicted from French refugee camp amid Channel crossings rise Police officers moving migrants from a camp near Grande-Synthe, Dunkirk, France, 17 September 2019. Help Refugees/PA

An official report warned last year that the governments approach was not reducing boat crossings, and instead driving migrants to take more dangerous routes, and pushing them into the hands of criminal groups.

Bella Sankey, director of Detention Action, described the situation in Kent as a "scandal" and said it "should be a source of deep shame for this government".

"It is deeply worrying that this entirely preventable situation has occurred, she added.

"The home secretary has spent the last few weeks trashing the UK's proud record of helping the world's most vulnerable and trying to turn this situation into a Trumpian culture war.

"Priti Patel needs to show some moral leadership and quit the playground politics."

Mr Gough said he had made a direct appeal to the home secretary for support in May, and had an encouraging meeting with immigration minister Chris Philp.

But Kent Council Council said that despite subsequent meetings with Home Office officials and public warnings about its capacity, promised actions have not materialised.

(Getty)

The local authority has found homes for more than 1,500 unaccompanied child asylum seekers since 2014, and that the failure of a discretionary National Transfer Scheme aiming to distribute them between different councils created an impossible strain.

Sue Chandler, Kent County Councils lead for childrens services, said that if every other council in the UK accepted just two or three child asylum seekers its capacity would be reduced to safe levels.

She added: To ensure that any recurrence of this inconceivable situation is avoided in the future we are appealing to the Home Office to mandate the existing National Transfer Scheme, or provide alternative central government incentives.

The Home Office said that of the 960 children moved under the scheme, a third were taken from Kent, and councils hosting young asylum seekers would receive more funding.

A spokesperson added: This is an unprecedented situation and we continue to work closely with the Department for Education and local government on provision for unaccompanied minors.

Unaccompanied children arriving in Dover are being cared for in the Kent Intake Unit before being placed in appropriate social services care."
We can indeed. But it is a fascinating movie, with grand insights into the way the power dynamics of a totalitarian state are repeated at the personal level, and deeply personal insights into human desires, fears and frailties.

"It happened," she confirms, adding that the entire interrogation scene  co-starring an "actor" who was indeed a former KGB interrogator  lasted about three hours. "It was really difficult. But believe me, the drinking scene with Olga was difficult too. I think we can agree this is not a feel-good movie."

The drinking was real, and so too the sex. Most shockingly, an interrogation scene in which Natasha is coerced into inserting a bottle into her own vagina was also, as Oertel puts it, "not staged".

Natasha rules her domain with an iron fist, leavened with flirtations with the scientists and military officers who are her customers, and occasionally softened by the offer of friendship to her junior worker Olga (Olga Shkabarnya). But Natasha is a fickle friend, forcing Olga to get riotously drunk with her even though she'd rather go home, wrestling with her, screaming at her, and then again reaching out tenderly.

But at what cost to the cast? There have been stories of actors feeling they were unreasonably manipulated and exploited by Khrzhanovsky, though it should be said these have not come from main cast members.

Oertel insists that at all times the actors had control over what they did in front of a camera. They always knew when they were being shot  in the case of Berezhnaya, the interrogation scene came about a year into her involvement in the project  and they always had the right to turn to the camera and say "stop" at any time they felt uncomfortable. "The last decision, 'Am I willing to go through this or not,' is always the actor's," she says. "It was normally when people got bored in scenes, not the really difficult emotional scenes. That's the truth."

The bond between a make-up artist and an actor is always intimate, says Oertel, and that's part of what led Khrzhanovsky to invite her to London to work on the post-production, and ultimately to share directing duties. And nowhere was that intimacy more evident, or more necessary, than after those harrowing scenes.

"On a normal shoot, when you wrap everyone goes home; this was completely different," she says. "When we had a wrap it was normally 3 or 4 in the morning, because we did a lot of night shoots, all the technical crew would go home but all the directors, assistant directors, all the actors, would stay for at least two or three hours longer, because when you have someone who has gone through these kinds of scenes you cannot just say, 'OK, thank you very much, now go and have a couple of hours of sleep.' They need someone to speak to, you need someone to bring them back to the real world. We did care, a lot."
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Soon after the legal team of Rhea Chakraborty issued a statement in response to the allegations levelled against her in connection with the death of her ex-boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput, the legal team of the deceased actor said that such a defence is like 'Chor Ki Daadi Mein Tinka' which translates to 'a mole in the thief's beard'.

Speaking to the media here, senior advocate Vikas Singh said, "Why is she giving clarifications on Aaditya Thackeray? He is not a part of our complaint. Her mentioning him is like the Hindi saying 'Chor ki Daadi Mein Tinka'." He further questioned as to how can Rhea give a clean chit to herself. "How can she say that nothing has come out in the ED probe. The investigation is still underway," he said.

Singh further alleged that the late actor's kin had on February 25 only said that there is a threat to his life but the police didn't take any action.

"Aggrieved by the same, the family approached me and then an FIR was registered," Singh said, while adding that Rhea first left the home, then Sushant's sister came in.

"Why did she leave SSR in such a bad state? Why did she block him? On one floor, SSR used to sleep and on the other floor people were partying," the senior counsel said.

He added that such a statement from Rhea and her legal team right before the verdict of the Supreme Court is just an attempt to get 'sympathy'.

"These statements are a mere attempt to seek sympathy, but the whole problem is that this is unfolding the actual truth which they are attempting to hide. The judges of the apex court won't be affected by such statements," Singh said.

He also said that Sushant's sister Priyanka was close to him and the allegations regarding molestation were mere tactics to remove Priyanka from the late actor's life.

"After tarnishing Sushant and Priyanka's relationship, Rhea also changed his charted accountant. She took control of all his accounts, a lot of money was transferred from his account," he said.

Earlier in the day, the legal team of Rhea detailed the entire incident pertaining to the previous allegation made by the actress that it was Priyanka, the sister of the late actor, who had molested her after getting drunk, and the incident had caused a rift between the siblings.

"In the initial months of their relationship, when Rhea had visited Sushant's house, his sister Priyanka and her husband Siddharth were living with him. One night, in and around April 2019, Rhea and Priyanka had gone out to a party. Priyanka consumed copious amounts of alcohol and was behaving inappropriately with men as well as women at the party. So, Rhea insisted that they return to Sushant's home.

"Upon returning, Sushant and his sister continued drinking alcohol while Rhea retired for the night as she had a shoot the next morning. Rhea was asleep in Sushant's room when she suddenly awoke to find Priyanka had got into bed with her and was groping her. Rhea was extremely shocked and demanded that she leave the room immediately.

"Subsequently, Rhea herself left the house. Thereafter, Rhea informed Sushant as to what had transpired, and Sushant got into an argument with his sister regarding the same. That due to the aforesaid incident, the relationship between Sushant's family and Rhea had been strained since inception. Even after his death when a list of 20 people was made to attend the funeral, Rhea's name was not included in the list and hence excluded from attending the funeral," said Rhea's lawyer Satish Maneshinde.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
Tokyo, Aug 18 : The Japanese government said that a second disaster relief team will be dispatched to Mauritius this week to help respond to a fuel oil leak from a Japanese bulk carrier off the coast of the island-nation.

In a statement on Monday, the Environment Ministry said the team consists of seven experts including officials from the National Institute for Environmental Studies, reports Xinhua news agency.

They will leave Japan on Wednesday to help clean up oil and assist in grasping the environmental damage of the incident.

The first team, consisting of four experts from the Japan Coast Guard and one official each from the Foreign Ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has already started relief activities last week.

The second team will be sent at the request of Mauritius and carry with them items such as sorbents to deal with oil spills, the ministry added.

The Panama-flagged bulk carrier Wakashio ran aground on July 25, according to Nagashiki Shipping Co., the owner of the ship.

The operator of the vessel, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., has said more than 1,000 tonnes of oil have leaked from it, triggering a state of environmental emergency in the Indian Ocean island nation.
Govt jobs in MP to be reserved for state youth: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Bhopal, Aug 18: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Tuesday that his government would take steps legally to ensure that the public sector jobs are reserved only for the youth of the state.

MP govt jobs: Reserved for state youth, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan | Oneindia News

The CM held a meeting with his ministers and senior officials through video conferencing. ANI while quoting the CM said, "ur government has taken an important decision today. We will be taking necessary legal steps so that government jobs in Madhya Pradesh are only given to the state's youth."

Madhya Pradesh CM Chouhan discharged from hospital after recovering from COVID-19

Chouhan had said in his Independence Day speech that preference would be given to local youth for government jobs in the state. He also said that the government was preparing a single database so that people of the state do not have register separately for each scheme.

We will put in place a mechanism that would ensure employment to local youth on the basis of their marks sheets in Class 10 and 12.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 14:29 [IST]
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Madras Fertilizers on Tuesday said it will take three to five months to comply with the requirements and directions of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board due to the countrywide lockdown.

Madras Fertilizers Chairman U Saravanan told The New Indian Express that the company has written to the state Pollution Control Board saying they will comply with all the directions in the next three to five months.

"MFL is already having an ammonia sensor at Urea Prill Tower. Also as per the directions of TNPCB, additional ammonia sensors were procured and installation at strategic locations will commence shortly as soon as the installation team arrives from Guntur. Initially there was a delay by the vendor in mobilizing material from Guntur due to COVID-19 and the countrywide lockdown," said Saravanan.

He said that MFL has placed a purchase order to Vasthi Instruments on May 20 for supply, installation and commissioning of ammonia sensors with delivery period of 12 weeks.

"Since MFL comes under the Essential Commodities Act, our plants were reopened on June 16, with prior information to the TNPCB, to meet the fertilizer demand of farmers especially in Tamil Nadu and other states in the south," he said.
Premier Blaine Higgs has called a provincial election, the first that will be held in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, for Sept. 14.

Higgs visited Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy at Government House in Fredericton on Monday afternoon and asked her to dissolve the legislature. She agreed.

Speaking to reporters outside, the Progressive Conservative leader almost immediately created confusion when he refused to rule out suspending the election in the event of a major COVID-19 outbreak  something he lacks the power to do.

"Sure," Higgs said when a reporter asked whether circumstances in the pandemic might lead him to "delay, cancel or modify" the election.

If there were an outbreak that were untraceable, "it would be a discussion with Public Health to say, 'have we got this or is this a concern to put a halt [on it]?'"

Two weeks ago, the province's chief electoral officer, Kim Poffenroth, told a committee of MLAs that she would not be able to stop a campaign once it began, even in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.

"There's very little I can do," she said. "The election has to go, and we make it happen. That's what it is."

The only way to stop an election would be if someone were given the power through amendments to the Elections Act, she said at the time.

With the legislature now dissolved for the campaign, that can't happen.

Elections New Brunswick spokesperson Paul Harpelle said Monday that Poffenroth "is not sure under what authority the premier would be able to suspend an election. She knows for certain the Elections Act does not give her the authority to postpone the election."

CBC

Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers said the premier's confusion over the legal authority to halt the campaign is another reason it was a mistake to call an election before the end of the pandemic.

"The very nature of your question  shows the irresponsibility of having called this election," he said.

Story continues

Higgs said Monday that "I would guess" the election could be stopped under the province's COVID-19 emergency order proclaimed under the Emergency Measures Act.

But the Elections Act says a snap election must last 28 to 38 days, and its "time periods" are exempt from the Emergency Measures Act.

WATCH | New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs announces provincial election:

"I would suggest that if we had an outbreak, and if it was a concern to Public Health, we would find a way to manage safely," Higgs said, saying there was no need to "hypothesize on all kinds of things happening" because a severe outbreak is unlikely.

But the PC leader, who has won widespread praise and popularity of his handling of the pandemic and New Brunswick's low case numbers, acknowledged he hadn't checked whether he had the legal authority to stop an election once it was underway.

"I am not looking to stop or suspend, and I did not go asking the question, 'Could we stop or suspend?' If I need a legal answer on that, that's fine, I can get that. However, logic will prevail if we have a safety issue in this province."

Jacques Poitras/CBC News

Higgs called the election three days after the Liberal opposition pulled out of four-party negotiations on a proposal from Higgs that would have allowed his government to stay in power until October 2022 or until the end of the pandemic.

The Liberals said that would hand too much power to Higgs and urged him not to go to the polls until the pandemic is over.

All four parties with seats in the legislature spoke to reporters Monday about the start of the campaign, including about how the election will unfold differently because of COVID-19.

Higgs said PC candidates will not campaign door to door and will not leave paper material in mailboxes.

Vickers said he is planning to run in the riding of Miramichi, where he is from. He had planned to run in a byelection this fall in Shediac Bay-Dieppe, but scheduled byelections are replaced by the general election.

Vickers confirmed the Liberals are talking to former PC cabinet minister Robert Gauvin, who quit the Tories in February, about running as a Liberal in Shediac Bay-Dieppe.

People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin urged voters to support his party to ensure no party wins a majority for the second straight election. "Minority government is good government," he said.

Green Party Leader David Coon rejected the idea of NDP Leader Mackenzie Thomason of an agreement in which each party would not run candidates in ridings where the other is strong, to help elect progressive MLAs. "I see no rationale for that," he said, vowing the Greens would have candidates in all 49 ridings.

Higgs is seeking to become the first premier of New Brunswick to win re-election since Bernard Lord in 2003.

He took office in 2018 after Liberal premier Brian Gallant's government failed to win the confidence of the legislature in the wake of an inconclusive election.

Standings in the legislature when it was dissolved Monday were 20 PCs, 20 Liberals, three Green MLAs, three People's Alliance MLAs and one independent. Two seats were vacant.
WESTFIELD  Masks will be required of all students and staff when they return to their school buildings in the hybrid reopening model, and the local policy, which follows state and federal guidelines, will be strictly enforced.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Health have set guidelines for school administrators across the country and strongly suggest face coverings be used by staff and students in schools to control the spread of COVID -19.

In Westfield, School Committee members discussed the use of face masks in schools and on buses if students return to buildings. Monday evening was the first reading of the policy, and no vote was taken.

According to the proposed policy, any student not wearing a mask will be sent to the building principal who will consult with a parent to discuss if an exception is appropriate. Under the plan, students who have a legitimate medical issue and cannot wear a mask must provide documentation from a healthcare provider.

Committee member Diane Mayhew said students will be removed from the classroom if they do not comply with the rule.

Superintendent of Schools Stefan Czaporowski told the committee the policy affects all students from kindergarten through grade 12 while they are on school grounds or in buses. He also said masks will not be required while eating lunch or when students are outside with enough room to practice social distancing. Students will be given mask breaks outdoors.

In other business, the School Committee discussed the hybrid learning model for Westfield Technical Academy students who must be physically in attendance for shop week while completing academic week remotely.

WTA Principal Joseph Langone and Czaporowski said there is no other option for shop week but to have students in the building, but it was noted at a previous meeting that the shops are large enough for successful social distancing.

Shop week will be person, Langone said. Thats just the nature of what we do. I know it will be problematic for some people, but thats just the way it is. Im confident that the overwhelming majority of people will understand. They have to honor the reality that we cant give someone what were not equipped to give.

Students must complete a certain number of hours to work towards licensure in their shops, he added, which became a problem when schools closed in March and will require those affected to make up the hours.

Aviation students will be allowed under the Federal Aviation Administration to make up work remotely.

Related:
A 58-year-old mom who worked at a Missouri state park lost her life after contracting a rare, untreatable virus from a tick bite. In the wake of her loss, her family has shared her story to warn others to be more vigilant when they are spending time outdoors.

Tamela Wilson worked at the Meramec State Park in Missouri for more than a decade. She routinely removed ticks from her body and thought nothing of it until her health went into rapid deterioration three days after tick removal in late May 2017.

She literally couldnt even pick up her phone, Wilsons daughter, Amie May, told CBS News. She had no strength. My sister had been calling her and couldnt get ahold of her.

Wilson, an assistant superintendent at the state park, claimed that she was cognizant of the phone ringing but could not summon the strength to pick it up.

When she visited the primary care doctor, she was misdiagnosed with a urinary tract infection and sent home with antibiotics. However, 24 hours later, severe headaches, diffuse pain, and a red rash that covered her body alerted Wilson to a more serious situation. After a few tests, she was told that she had a low white blood cell count and thus was admitted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

All blood tests for tick-borne illnesses came back negative. They told us [] they were hoping it would leave her system, May recalled. They would continue treating her symptoms and hope everything would go away on its own.

Wilson then developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in hospital, compromising her immunity. The debilitating rash also spread to her mouth, making it impossible for the 58-year-old to talk or eat. Im a nurse and Ive never seen anything like Id seen my mothers mouth, May said.

Her blood work was then expedited to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which was able to confirm the Bourbon virus, a rare tick-borne illness that presents with similar symptoms to other tick-borne diseases.

Ticks are known to also spread Lyme disease and infections such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Heartland virus, and Powassan virus. However, there is still very little known about the survival rate of the Bourbon virus as it was only identified in 2014. Wilson was only the fifth patient to go on record as testing positive for the Bourbon virus.

Additionally, there is no known treatment and no vaccine for the virus currently, and doctors can only treat the symptoms, which include fever, tiredness, rash, headache, other body aches, nausea, and vomiting, according to the CDC.

As for Wilsons health through the course of being in the hospital, her condition only rapidly declined.

The doctors were beside themselves, Wilsons father, Geoff, told Fox 6 Milwaukee. They said its a medical mystery.

Tragically, Wilsons family witnessed their loved one lose her battle on June 23, 2017, after three weeks in the ICU. By sharing her mothers heartbreaking ordeal, May hopes that others will learn how to avoid, identify, and remove ticks to help prevent the same thing from happening in the future.

I was somebody, like, I didnt really give much attention to a tick bite, May lamented, according to CBS. You get a bite, pull it out, and go about your business.

You dont think about complications coming from a tick bite, she continued. Thats whats scary about this one; you dont know if youre gonna make it or not.

(Illustration  Marlon Boenisch/Shutterstock)

Dr. David Warren, a hospital epidemiologist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, stresses that prevention is the best defense when it comes to tick-borne diseases. Wear long pants and long sleeves in the woods, he advised, according to KMOV4, wear insect repellent with 20 percent DEET, and always perform a careful tick check of your body when returning indoors.

On Wilsons second death anniversary in 2019, her daughter chose Ha Ha Tonka State Park to create a childhood family photo of her mother that been had taken and framed in 1985. In addition, May was happy to know that there was some research done to save other peoples lives in the future who might get the Bourbon virus.

I hate that shes gone but knowing her death can be the result of something so great is just amazing, May said, according to Missourian Publishing Company. She was amazing in life and amazing in death as well. Im so glad I shared her story after her passing. I knew something wonderful would come from it.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
Three states hold primaries Tuesday. Overview and live results for some of the more interesting races is below, along with a link to all contested congressional primaries in each state.

Polls Close (Eastern Time)

Your individual polling place may have different hours. Do not rely on this schedule to determine when to vote.

7:00 PM Florida (ET) 8:00 PM Florida (CT) 9:00 PM Wyoming 12:00 AM Alaska (AT) 1:00 AM Alaska (HT)

In Florida, all but congressional districts 1 and 2 in the state's Panhandle are in the Eastern Time Zone. (AT) is Alaska Time, (HT) is Hawaii-Aleutian Time.

Results by State

Alaska

Senate: Incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan is seeking a 2nd term; he has no primary opposition. The likely Democratic nominee is actually an independent, orthopedic surgeon Al Gross. In Alaska, non-Democrats are allowed to compete for the party's nomination.

Sullivan is favored in the general election - most forecasters have the race as 'likely Republican'. However, Gross has been competitive in fundraising and trailed Sullivan by only five points in an early July poll.

House: At-large Rep. Don Young (R) is the longest-serving member in the U.S. House. First elected in a 1973 special election, he is seeking a 25th term. 2018 brought one of Young's tightest reelection contests. He prevailed by 6.5% over Alyse Galvin, an independent who ran as a Democrat. Galvin is back for a rematch with Young, although both must first win their respective primaries, which they are expected to do.

All Alaska Results >>

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Florida

House: The Sunshine State's 27 districts are closely divided - 14 Republicans and 13 Democrats. In terms of the general election, only a handful of races look to be somewhat competitive in November. However, there are a number of interesting primaries to watch.

District 3: A large field of hopefuls is looking to succeed retiring Rep. Ted Yoho in this fairly safe Republican district in the north-central part of the state. Yoho's former Deputy Chief of Staff, Kat Cammack is among the frontrunners; she led with 25% support in a recent poll. Several other candidates polled between 10-15%, including Judson Sapp (15%), James St. George (13%) and Gavin Rollins (11%). However the survey was only of 290 people, 20% of whom said they were undecided.

District 13: Democrat Charlie Crist is seeking a third term in this Tampa Bay area district. While it's not clear how much of a threat he'll face in November - most forecasters see the race as 'Likely Democratic' - there is a spirited factional primary for the Republican nomination. Amanda Makki is being supported by top House Republicans, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Opposing her is Anna Paulina Luna, the favorite of Trump-aligned Republicans such as Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-01). Also competitive in the race is George Buck, who was the party nominee here in 2018. He lost to Crist by 15 points in the general election.

District 15: Freshman Republican Ross Spano seems to be the most endangered incumbent in Tuesday's primaries. Spano, who is under investigation for campaign finance violations, is being challenged by Lakeland Commissioner Scott Franklin. A recent poll had the race statistically tied. There is a three-way primary on the Democratic side.

Looking ahead to November, the election in this district, which sits between Tampa and Orlando, may be among the more competitive. Spano won by 6 points in 2018. Most forecasters rate it 'Leans Republican'.

District 19: Republican Francis Rooney is retiring after two terms. This southwestern coastal district includes Ft. Myers and Naples. It is a conservative area - Rooney won here by 25 points in 2018 - so Tuesday's GOP primary winner will likely be the next representative. A recent poll showed four candidates closely-grouped at the top of this nine-person field: Casey Askar, Byron Donalds, Dane Eagle and William Figlesthaler.

District 21: Despite being the home of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, this Palm Beach-area district is safely Democratic. Lois Frankel was unopposed for a fourth term in 2018.

The GOP primary has attracted some attention with a colorful group of prospective nominees. From the Washington Post: "The six people competing in the Aug. 18 primary include a former burlesque dancer and wild animal exhibitor who did business in the same circles as Tiger King Joe Exotic; a Palm Beach neighbor of Mar-a-Lago who is supported by QAnon believers; and Laura Loomer, a far-right commentator and anti-Islam activist who calls herself the most banned woman on the Internet and who once handcuffed herself to the front door of Twitters office in New York. Theres also an ex-cop, a nuclear engineer-turned college professor and a retired investigator for the IRS."

District 26: Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell flipped this district - the southernmost in the continental United States - in 2018, winning by 2 points over incumbent Republican Carlos Curbelo. Most forecasters see a competitive general election again this year; it is the only district with a consensus rating of toss-up. Mucarsel-Powell has no primary opponent. On the GOP side, the frontrunner is Carlos Gimenez, who is the mayor of Miami-Dade county.

All Florida Results >>

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Wyoming

Senate: Mike Enzi (R) is retiring after four terms in the Senate. A field of 10 is competing in Tuesday's Republican primary to take his place. In this deep-red state, the winner will almost certainly be the state's next Senator. The frontrunner is Cynthia Lummis, who served four terms as the state's at-large U.S. Representative before retiring in 2016. She was succeeded in the House by Liz Cheney who notably decided not to pursue the open Senate seat.

While unlikely to find much success in November, six are competing for the Democratic nomination.

House: Rep. Liz Cheney (R) should have little trouble in her primary and is expected to easily win a 3rd term in November.

All Wyoming Results >>
Finds GFL has Obfuscated its Executives' Failures and Highly-Questionable Relationships, Including CEO Patrick Dovigi's Connections to What Observers Have Dubbed "Organized Crime"

Makes the Case that GFL is an Opaque, Unsustainable Roll-Up of Roll-Ups Failing to Grow Free Cash Flow and Failing to Provide an Accurate Depiction of its Leverage

Highlights Aggressive Accounting and Reporting of Revenue, EBITDA, Cash Flow, Adjusted EPS and Capex  Pointing to Financial Control Issues Overlooked During GFL's 2020 IPO led by Underwriters JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs

Underscores Belief that H1 2020 Adjusted Free Cash Flow is 60% Lower Than it Appears on the Surface

Spruce Point  Which has a Proven Record of Exposing Governance and Financial Lapses at Canadian Companies and Industrial Roll-Ups  Estimates 100% Downside Risk to GFL's Shares

NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC ("Spruce Point"), a New York-based investment management firm that focuses on forensic research and short-selling, today issued a 107-page report entitled "Green for Life, Red for Losses" that outlines why shares of GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE: GFL and GFLU and TSX: GFL) ("GFL" or the "Company") face 100% downside risk. The full report can be downloaded and viewed at www.sprucepointcap.com.

Based on an extensive forensic analysis and holistic review of GFL's accounting practices, financial controls and reporting, and corporate governance, Spruce Point believes that without access to new capital, the Company's shares are worthless and likely uninvestable for institutional investors . GFL's executives have not only fostered what appears to be an extremely aggressive and opaque business model, but they have either deliberately concealed, or inattentively omitted, past failures and questionable business connections. Our report's textual and visual evidence shows that Chief Executive Officer Patrick Dovigi has obfuscated his connections to what some observers have dubbed "organized crime" figures. We have also discovered that former General Counsel and current Senior Vice President Joy Grahek has failed to disclose her role advising Philip Services Corporation ("Philip Services"), which was a dual-listed roll-up of metal and industrial businesses that collapsed, was pursued by the Ontario Securities Commission, settled $80 million in shareholder claims, and was described as a "house of cards" and "one of the great unprosecuted frauds in Canadian business history."

Spruce Point's assessment of GFL's accounting and financials leads us to believe that the Company's true leverage is understated by an aggressive reporting of revenue and EBITDA. This is evidenced by the Company making financial restatements without explanation and by minimizing its material weaknesses of financial controls. We also believe GFL's depiction of its debt is understated by at least C$460 million. By our estimate, GFL's staggering C$5.6 billion in total debt and its ongoing financial losses make it reliant on new capital to sustain itself  never mind its prospective growth via an increasingly expensive acquisition strategy. Given that a meaningful portion of GFL's stock is pledged as collateral for loans, we contend there is a real risk that the stock may collapse and the Company's auditor may not sign-off on its financials after reviewing the evidence included in our report .

A high-level overview of some of the detailed findings in Spruce Point's 107-page report includes:

Mr. Dovigi and GFL executives have ties to controversial individuals, including parties that have plead guilty to breaking various laws and been dubbed "organized crime" figures. Spruce Point's report shows that GFL's Securities and Exchange Commission and SEDAR filings were modified to omit Mr. Dovigi's connections to parties that have faced regulatory infractions, legal issues and allegations of securities fraud. Our research also lays out a web of Mr. Dovigi's first-degree and second-degree connections that we believe should be alarming to investors.

report shows that GFL's Securities and Exchange Commission and SEDAR filings were modified to omit Mr. Dovigi's connections to parties that have faced regulatory infractions, legal issues and allegations of securities fraud. Our research also lays out a web of Mr. Dovigi's first-degree and second-degree connections that we believe should be alarming to investors. GFL currently uses Campus Auto Collision & Heavy Equipment Refinishing ("Campus Auto Collision") for its vehicle and equipment refurbishment. Photographic evidence in Spruce Point's presentation shows that this commercial relationship reconnects Mr. Dovigi with Claudio Villa , who plead guilty to dumping toxic soil in 2015 when he was an owner and Director of Earthworx Industries ("Earthworx"). The soil, which came from GFL, was reported to have been "contaminated with heavy metals, with elevated concentrations of lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc exceeding Environmental Protection Act standards." 1 GFL was also charged with violating the Environmental Protection Act, but those charges were dropped and only Earthworx and Mr. Villa faced legal repercussions and fines.

presentation shows that this commercial relationship reconnects Mr. Dovigi with , who plead guilty to dumping toxic soil in 2015 when he was an owner and Director of Earthworx Industries ("Earthworx"). The soil, which came from GFL, was reported to have been GFL was also charged with violating the Environmental Protection Act, but those charges were dropped and only Earthworx and Mr. Villa faced legal repercussions and fines.

Mr. Dovigi was previously a Director of No Good TV ("NGTV"), a now-bankrupt company that involved individuals such as Andy DeFrancesco (tied to Aphria and Fareport Capital scandals), Romeo DiBattista Jr. (tied to Fareport Capital scandal) and Frank Mersch (settled with the Canadian securities regulators for misleading statements). 2 NGTV's Chief Financial Officer was previously the Vice President of Finance and Administration at Simon Marketing, which was the company involved in the mafia-linked McDonald's Monopoly scandal featured by HBO in a documentary. 3

(tied to Aphria and Fareport Capital scandals), (tied to Fareport Capital scandal) and (settled with the Canadian securities regulators for misleading statements). NGTV's Chief Financial Officer was previously the Vice President of Finance and Administration at Simon Marketing, which was the company involved in the mafia-linked McDonald's Monopoly scandal featured by HBO in a documentary.

GFL also obscures the role of Paul ("Paolo") Borrelli, a former executive and current employee according to GFL's phone records. Mr. Borrelli is connected through social media to Antonio Borrelli , who was convicted of attempted murder. Antonio is the nephew of Peter Scarcella , who Canadian police have noted "is one of Toronto's top mob figures."

, who was convicted of attempted murder. Antonio is the nephew of , who Canadian police have noted GFL is a poorly-organized and opaque roll-up of roll-ups that has grown through an unsustainable acquisition strategy. Department of Justice ("DOJ") approvals are now required to further its haphazard U.S. expansion efforts. Spruce Point believes GFL has amassed $6.5 billion of goodwill and intangibles through expensive acquisitions. We find examples of GFL touting what appear to be highly-questionable deals that have ultimately yielded operational or financial challenges due to shoddy pre-acquisition diligence or poor post-acquisition execution. We believe our research illustrates that GFL is simply a financially motivated investment scheme that failed multiple times to go public and has investment parallels to Philip Services, a scandalous roll-up that went bankrupt.

believes GFL has amassed of goodwill and intangibles through expensive acquisitions. We find examples of GFL touting what appear to be highly-questionable deals that have ultimately yielded operational or financial challenges due to shoddy pre-acquisition diligence or poor post-acquisition execution. We believe our research illustrates that GFL is simply a financially motivated investment scheme that failed multiple times to go public and has investment parallels to Philip Services, a scandalous roll-up that went bankrupt. In one case, GFL bought a company that itself acquired 60 companies, making GFL a roll-up of roll-ups.



In an extreme case, GFL bought Rizzo Environmental before U.S. authorities indicted its CEO for fraud.



GFL's current U.S. expansion efforts, including purchases of assets from Waste Management/ADS and WCA Waste Corporation, require DOJ approval. We believe this adds increased regulatory risk to investors, yet sell-side analysts give GFL full credit for successful completion as if these cross-border transactions have already been approved.

GFL employs an aggressive accounting and reporting approach when it comes to revenue, EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, Adjusted EPS and its assets  pointing to financial control issues being minimized.

Spruce Point's report shows that GFL's initial prospectus for its 2020 public offering discussed a material weakness of financial controls, which is a troubling issue for a Company founded more than 12 years ago. The Company ultimately removed the material weakness statement and suggested it was addressed. However, Spruce Point finds evidence that GFL has restated both revenue and EBITDA without any explanation by pulling from "intercompany" revenues.

report shows that GFL's initial prospectus for its 2020 public offering discussed a material weakness of financial controls, which is a troubling issue for a Company founded more than 12 years ago. The Company ultimately removed the material weakness statement and suggested it was addressed. However, finds evidence that GFL has restated both revenue and EBITDA without any explanation by pulling from "intercompany" revenues.

Spruce Point also finds accounting anomalies tied to operating cash flow ("OCF") and capital expenditures ("capex"). In total, Spruce Point estimates that cash burn (OCF - capex) is 60% more than depicted by GFL.

also finds accounting anomalies tied to operating cash flow ("OCF") and capital expenditures ("capex"). In total, estimates that cash burn (OCF - capex) is 60% more than depicted by GFL.

Spruce Point also has concerns that GFL may be misrepresenting capex requirements of its latest planned acquisition of WCA Waste Corp for $1.2 billion . A recent Moody's credit report shows WCA's capex margin is 15% vs. 10.5% depicted by GFL, an $18 million discrepancy.

also has concerns that GFL may be misrepresenting capex requirements of its latest planned acquisition of WCA Waste Corp for . A recent Moody's credit report shows WCA's capex margin is 15% vs. 10.5% depicted by GFL, an discrepancy. GFL's financial targets are unlikely to be achieved and its premium valuation reflects dubious numbers promoted by historically perilous underwriters like Barclays, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. Spruce Point believes that GFL is uninvestable to institutions given its numerous financial issues, and questions why underwriters like Barclays, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase (who have designated "reputational risk" committees) continue to promote this risky stock to investors.

believes that GFL is uninvestable to institutions given its numerous financial issues, and questions why underwriters like Barclays, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase (who have designated "reputational risk" committees) continue to promote this risky stock to investors. Based on extensive research in our report and conversations with former GFL employees, Spruce Point contends that GFL is unlikely to stem its cash burn and turn a profit any time soon  especially as it continues a torrid acquisition pace.

contends that GFL is unlikely to stem its cash burn and turn a profit any time soon  especially as it continues a torrid acquisition pace.

Spruce Point finds that sell-side analysts appear to have universally ignored GFL's financial control issues pertaining to unexplained revenue restatements, capex anomalies and understated debt burdens. We question how analysts can take GFL's word that it is growing organically (with little data to verify) and can continue to acquire (yet overpay for acquisitions) while improving margins (despite evidence of wasteful spending and operational mishaps).

finds that sell-side analysts appear to have universally ignored GFL's financial control issues pertaining to unexplained revenue restatements, capex anomalies and understated debt burdens. We question how analysts can take GFL's word that it is growing organically (with little data to verify) and can continue to acquire (yet overpay for acquisitions) while improving margins (despite evidence of wasteful spending and operational mishaps).

Spruce Point also believes analysts and market data providers have failed to capture the impact of GFL's tangible equity units ("GFLU") in the valuation, and that the ICE index has misclassified the security as a "preferred" instrument.

Please note that the items summarized in this press release are expanded upon and supported with data, public filings and records, and images in Spruce Point's full report. As a reminder, our full report, along with its investment disclaimers, can be downloaded and viewed at www.sprucepointcap.com.

Spruce Point Capital has a short position in securities tied to GFL and stands to benefit if its share price falls.

About Spruce Point

Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC is a forensic fundamentally-oriented investment manager that focuses on short-selling, value and special situation investment opportunities. Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, CRD number 288248.

Contact

To contact Spruce Point, please reach us online.

1 The Iron Warrior, "Leafy Thoughts: Earthworx Convicted and Fined for Providing Contaminated Soil to Sheep Farm," March 18, 2015. (link)

2 Securities and Exchange Commission filing (Amendment No 5. to Form S-1) dated July 21, 2006.

3 CNBC, "How the 'McMillions' scammers rigged McDonald's Monopoly game and stole $24 million," February 9, 2020. (link)

SOURCE Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC

Related Links

http://www.sprucepointcap.com


DALLAS, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trigild, a Dallas and San Diego-based fiduciary services, commercial real estate, and hospitality firm, has recently formed a partnership with East Coast-based fiduciary firm, IVL Group. Trigild managing partners, Chris Neilson and Scott Head, proudly welcome Ian V. Lagowitz and IVL Group to the Trigild team.

"Ian is held in tremendous regard in the receivership industry, especially along the East Coast. We look forward to the industry knowledge and network that Ian and IVL Group will bring to our team," said Chris Neilson. Scott Head added that, "IVL Group's 25 years of experience paired with Trigild's 40 years of experience will have a lasting impression on the commercial workout and court appointed receivership space. We welcome IVL Group as they join us in continuing a legacy of innovation and a track record of success for clients spanning coast-to-coast."

Ian Lagowitz comments, "IVL Group has respected Trigild for many years now, and we look forward to a long-lasting, effective partnership with the Trigild team." The IVL Group founder also adds, "Both companies have a history of steadfast success, and IVL Group's East Coast relationships combined with Trigild's breadth of work nationwide is sure to bring new and exciting things to our industry."

Ian Lagowitz founded IVL Group, where he has been involved in nearly 1,000 receivership, fiduciary and trustee appointments over the course of his 25-year real estate career. He is well versed in bankruptcy recovery, having been involved in disposing hundreds of retained assets from bankruptcy sales, reviewing approximately 10,500 proof of claims, and handling cures and assumptions for the transfer of operating leases.

In addition to his specialization in asset management and distressed assets, he is highly experienced in property evaluation, leasing, sales, redevelopment, brownfield redevelopment, mergers and acquisitions, institutional work-outs, asset recovery and property management.

The Trigild and IVL Group partnership will bring unmatched industry knowledge, widespread national reach, and invaluable experience to the fiduciary space.

About Trigild

Headquartered in Dallas and San Diego with a nationwide presence, Trigild is a leading fiduciary services, commercial real estate, and hospitality firm committed to maximizing value for its clients. Trigild helps owners, investors and lenders meet both long and short-term objectives in the following industries  Bankruptcy / Receivership, Commercial, Multifamily, and Hospitality / Enterprise. Trigild is where service meets expertise, where complex problems meet innovative solutions and where our passion turns your problems into possibilities.

With 40 years of property management, asset management, receivership and bankruptcy experience, Trigild has maximized value for thousands of assets in industries including commercial real estate, multifamily, and hospitality. From building value through property management for investors to solving complex problems for lenders, Trigild applies experience and depth of knowledge to every assignment.

www.trigild.com

Press Contact:

Caroline Deaton

Slant Partners

[email protected]

615.957.6744

SOURCE Trigild
Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, who was next in line to head the poll panel, resigned on Tuesday. He will join the Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) as vice-president in September. Lavasa, who would have retired as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in October 2022, would be the second election commissioner to step down from the poll panel before the completion of his term.

The last time an election commission put in his papers was in 1973 when CEC Nagendra Singh was appointed a judge in the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

Lavasa, a career bureaucrat, joined as Election Commissioner on January 23, 2018, and being senior most on the poll panel would have become CEC in April 2021 after the term of incumbent Sunil Arora ends. His exit puts his colleague Sushil Chandra next in the line of succession.

An MBA degree from Southern Cross University in Australia, and MPhil in Defense and Strategic Studies degree from the University of Madras, Lavasa, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre, retired as Finance Secretary.

As per the provisions of the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991, an EC or the CEC can tender his or her resignation addressed to the President.

ADB appoints a vice-president for a term of three years, which can be extended by another two years. The ADB president heads a management team comprising six vice-presidents. "Lavasa has a long and distinguished career in the Indian civil service," ADB had said in a statement in July citing his bureaucratic career.

"He has extensive experience in public-private partnerships and infrastructure development at the state and federal levels, with deep knowledge on public policy and the role of the private sector." Lavasa led the Indian delegation in the climate change negotiations for the Paris Agreement and was instrumental in finalizing India's nationally determined contributions, which included a major role of the private sector.
To some, it meant the world. To others, it was just a nice thing to have. Some marched and rallied, started organizations, and even withheld sex from their husbands until they agreed to support the effort. Others really didnt care all that much.

Today, on the 100th anniversary of American women getting the right to vote, some still dont care.

I was a newbie legislator on the 75th anniversary of womens suffrage in 1995, and one of my aides had arranged a visit for me with a resident of a nursing home in Jersey City, then known as the Jewish Home & Hospital. We made a big deal of it.

This lady had voted back in 1920, I was told, and was willing to talk about it with me and media representatives. Everyone made a fuss about the event. The nursing home provided balloons, crepe paper, and a cake in a top floor auditorium. The room was crowded with residents in chairs, wheelchairs, even on stretchers.

Administration and the nursing staff sent several representatives. A few reporters and photographers listened to me recap the lead-up to women getting the vote 50 years after African-American men were able to vote. I also talked about the importance of the womens vote in every election.

Then came the big moment when the woman whod cast her first vote in 1920 talked about it -- but her memories were a little vague. She was friendly and pleasant, however, so all the reporters and cameramen got nice quotes.

Afterward, we had cake, chatted a bit, and started saying our goodbyes. Just before we left I asked her, And by the way, who did you vote for, Harding or Cox?

She thought a minute, said she didnt really remember, and added, Whoever my Daddy told me to vote for, I guess.

What a letdown! I was glad the reporters had already left and saddened that such a memorable moment in history had been so mishandled. I grew up with the right to vote, took it for granted, and never missed an opportunity to express my opinion on who should govern my city, county, state and nation.

In 2016 only about 61 percent of eligible nationwide voters cast ballots. Despite all the noise of the Trump-Clinton campaign, almost four of every ten voters couldnt be bothered. Sadly, thats about average.

In New Jersey in 2018, 53.7 percent voted in gubernatorial and legislative elections, up from 35.8 percent four years earlier, and a lot better than in 2010 when only 30.9 percent went to polls or cast absentee ballots. Hudson County was a bit under average in 2016 when only 57 percent of registered voters cast ballots here.

Yet everywhere you go, people are talking about Donald Trump. Passionately. They love him or hate him. Either way they hold nothing back as they discuss the latest thing hes said or done, threatened or promised. Either hes the best thing that ever happened to this country or the worst.

But when it comes time to reelect him or not, where will all these people be? Itll be quick and easy to vote by mail and only a bit of trouble to visit a polling site. Maybe youll have weeks to do either. Definitely you will have time between receipt of your mail-in ballot and when it has to be returned. And if pending legislation is passed soon, youll also have several days in which to find a polling place, don a mask, and cast your ballot.

Please do that. Whatever the outcome, itll be an election youll never forget.

A former assemblywoman from Jersey City, Joan Quigley is the president and CEO of North Hudson Community Action Corp.

Send letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com.
Uralchem seeks information disclosure in U.S. courts amid Togliattiazot case

 flickr.com/ Togliattiazot

15:00 18/08/2020

MOSCOW, August 18 (RAPSI) - Fertilizer producer Uralchem has initiated a disclosure procedure in the U.S. courts in order to file further claims related to the fact of damage caused by the theft of Togliattiazot profits through a fraudulent scheme involving the Swiss offshore company Nitrochem Distribution AG, according to the companys official statement.

The procedure initiated under Section 1782 of Title 28 of the U.S. Code allows obtaining evidence in support of lawsuits outside the United States.

On November 22, 2019, the Connecticut District Court found Uralchem's arguments justified and granted the application for receipt of information on Nitrochems Distribution AG historical transactions through UBS Stamford. The court further granted the disclosure motion lodged by two related entities  UBS Financial Services and UBS Group AG. The information obtained from UBS has led to the identification of a number of highly suspicious money transfers between Nitrochem Distribution AG and foreign offshore companies with no apparent links to the chemical industry.

Since the transfers were carried out through six banks in New York, Uralchem JSC also requested disclosure of information about those transactions from the New York banks. The Southern District Court of New York granted this motion on May 18, 2020.

The information disclosed by UBS shows that only in 2009-2013 Nitrochem Distribution AG (a company which allegedly is not affiliated in any way with Togliattiazot and the Makhlais family, according to the defense in a fraud case in Russia) transferred large sums of money (more than $ 12 million) through a New Jersey bank to Lawton Lane Chemical associated with Sergey Makhlai, one of the persons controlling Togliattiazot. Lawton Lane Chemical does not disclose the grounds for receiving the funds. In the opinion of Uralchem, these circumstances may indicate that Nitrochem Distribution AG shared the profit (obtained from the resale of Togliattiazot products) with persons controlling Togliattiazot, to the detriment of Togliattiazot and its minority shareholders.

In order to identify the actual beneficiaries of these payments, Uralchem has filed a corresponding request to disclose information on transactions with Lawton Lane Chemical accounts that have been completed to date. However, the Justice of the Peace in New Jersey denied the disclosure, considering that the requested evidence was not necessary for the Russian proceedings. At the same time, the court made its ruling through a simplified procedure, refusing to hold hearings, which made it impossible for Uralchem company to rebut Lawton Lane Chemical's objections in an adversarial process. The fertilizer producer believes that the Justice of the Peace made a number of factual errors in his decision, went beyond his discretion and incorrectly applied the norms of established practice for applications under Section 1782. An appeal has been filed and will be considered in the near future.

The information collected as part of the disclosure procedure in the United States is additional evidence that the persons controlling Togliattiazot used to divert profit to the detriment of the company and its minority shareholders, and it can be used in further legal proceedings for reimbursement of damage, the statement reads.
Captain Amarinder Singh

Chandigarh: Urging the central government to be cautious on the SYL issue, which had the potential to disturb the nations security, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday reiterated the need for a Tribunal to make a fresh time-bound assessment of the water availability, even as he sought complete share of water for his state from the total resource available, including from River Yamuna.

You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective. If you decide to go ahead with SYL, Punjab will burn and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also suffering the impact, Captain Amarinder told the Centre, during a Video Conference with Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

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Capt Amarinder Singh

The Chief Minister later described the meeting as `positive and cordial and said the Union Minister seemed to understand Punjabs viewpoint.

Punjab remains at risk from all ends, said Captain Amarinder, pointing to Pakistans continued attempts to foment trouble and to try and revive the separatist movement through the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organisation. The water issue could further destabilise the state, he warned.

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Punjab had a right to Yamuna water, in which it did not get a share at the time of 60:40 division of assets with Haryana during the states division in 1966, the Chief Minister said, even as he expressed his willingness to sit across the table with his Haryana counterpart ML Khattar to discuss the `emotive issue.

He also suggested that Rajasthan be involved in discussions on the SYL Canal/Ravi-Beas waters issue as it was also a stakeholder.

SYL

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It was decided during the meeting that the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana will meet

in Chandigarh, on a date to be fixed later, for further talks on the issue, and will then go to the Union Minister again.

Putting forth Punjabs stand during the VC, Captain Amarinder said it was necessary to set up a Tribunal for fair adjudication of the water availability, and pointed out that the water sharing proposed by Eradi Commission was 40 years old, while international norms require a review every 25 years to ascertain the status.

Noting that there had, in fact, been no adjudication or scientific assessment of available Punjab River waters till date, the Chief Minister said that BBMB had reported that availability of Ravi-Beas water had come down from the estimated 17.17 MAF in 1981 to 13.38 MAF in 2013.

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Despite being a non-basin state and having a smaller population as well as lesser cultivated land area, Haryanas total availability of river water stood at 12.48 MAF as against Punjabs 12.42 MAF, he noted.

Capt Amarinder Singh

He pointed out that trans-basin transfer of water can only be allowed from a surplus basis to a deficit basis, and, as of today, Punjab is a deficit state and could not therefore be asked to transfer water to Haryana.

Captain Amarinder said he had taken a concerted decision to terminate all water agreements back in 2004 to save Punjab from burning, amid reports that violence could erupt in the state in protest.

The situation had aggravated since then, he said, adding that 109 of the states 128 blocks had officially been declared `dark zones. Pointing to the melting glaciers, he urged the central government to take the climate change effects into account.

The situation was likely to worsen with China constructing dams in their territory, warned Captain Amarinder, adding that this would lead to water shortage even in Satluj river.

Capt Amarinder Singh

Why would I not agree to give water if we had it, he said, adding that certain areas of south Haryana were in fact part of the erstwhile Patiala estate and he personally had special love for the region.

The Chief Minister recalled that he had suggested construction of water storage dams in Himachal Pradesh for collecting water so that the flow of water into Pakistan could be checked. He urged the Union Minister to consider the suggestion.

The Union Minister was of the view that carriers could be constructed and SYL could also be completed and kept ready while discussions on water sharing continue and the final formula could be decided later.
Last two bodies from Samui ferry sinking retrieved

THAILAND: The bodies of the last two people missing after a ferry capsized off Koh Samui island on Aug 1 have been retrieved.

disastersdeathmarinetransportweather

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 18 August 2020, 04:38PM

Divers from MS Service Co work to retrieve the bodies of the last two people missing after Raja 4 ferry capsized off Koh Samui island on Aug 1. Photo: Supapong Chaolan.

Divers from MS Service Co, a company hired by Raja Ferry Plc to search for the missing and salvage the ferry, found the bodies trapped between lorries still chained to the sunken ferry in a search yesterday (Aug 17). It was not possible to retrieve them immediately because of the strong undercurrent.

They resumed the operation this morning and managed to bring the bodies up from the water at 8:50am.

The bodies were of Chaichan Laosap, 47, the driver of a 10-wheel lorry, and Tiwakorn Vacharit, 18, a crew member of the sunk ferry. They were taken by boat to Koh Samui for a post-mortem examination at Koh Samui Hospital.

Raja 4 ferry capsized in a heavy rainstorm between Koh 4 and Koh 5 islands, about 2 nautical miles from Koh Samui, heading for Don Sak pier on the mainland. It was carrying 16 people, a pick-up truck and three 10-wheel lorries laden with compressed garbage blocks and electronic waste.

In an initial search, 11 people on board the ferry were safely rescued, leaving five missing. Three of the missing were found dead in the first days of the search and the last two were found trapped between lorries on the submerged ship today.

The Panja Lucky Clean Environmental Co, which has been contracted to dispose of Koh Samuis garbage, gave a token amount of B20,000 each to the families of the five people who died in the incident. The money was handed over through Thirapong Chuaychu, the Koh Samui district officer.

Wichawut Jinto, the Surat Thani governor, said he had instructed the provincial social security office, the office of disaster prevention and mitigation, and Raja Ferry Plc to work out compensation for the bereaved families.

He had also ordered the search ended and the closure of the the search and rescue command centre, which was located at the Samui naval station of the 2nd Naval Area.

Raja Ferry sources said the operation to salvage Raja 4 ferry would begin on Aug 28. The operation was expected to take about three weeks.
After four years of President Trump, Mrs. Obama said, some might ask, Does going high still really work?

My answer: Going high is the only thing that works, she said, because when we go low, when we use those same tactics of degrading and dehumanizing others, we just become part of the ugly noise thats drowning out everything else.

Acknowledging the many obstacles voters are likely to face  not only the risk of contracting the coronavirus, but the Trump administrations efforts to hinder mail-in voting  Mrs. Obama delivered a detailed call to action.

Vote in person if you can, she said. Request your absentee ballot tonight, submit it immediately, and then get your friends to do the same. Dont stay home, as many did in 2016, because you think your vote doesnt matter or because youre not fully satisfied with Mr. Biden.

If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can, she said. And they will if we dont make a change in this election.
Senate President Pro Tempore, Sen. Louise Lucas speaks during debate on the Senate floor at the Virginia Capitol on March 8 , 2020, in Richmond. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Virginia State Senator Faces Felony Charges in Monument Destruction

A Virginia state senator is facing felony charges related to her involvement in a June protest near a Confederate monument in Portsmouth, Virginia, officials said.

Democratic state Sen. Louise Lucas was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and injury to a monument in excess of $1,000 during the June 10 incident, Portsmouth Police Chief Angela Greene said Aug. 17 during a news conference.

On June 10, a Confederate monument was vandalized and broken apart by Black Lives Matter demonstrators. In the incident, a protester was seriously injured when a piece of the statue fell on him.

Police have since been compiling evidence, including video footage, from that demonstration, Greene said.

WAVY10 obtained police body camera footage of Lucas at the scene, telling police, Im telling you, you cant arrest them.

The department also charged three NAACP representatives and a Portsmouth school board member.

What is important to note is that of all the incidents that occurred across our nation, our incident was the only incident that resulted in a man being gravely injured, Greene said, according to WAVY.

So it is my hope that my community truly understands that at no point did any member of the Portsmouth Police Department condone the felonious acts that occurred on June 10.

Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam criticized the decision on Twitter.

The statues on the Confederate monument are covered in graffiti and beheaded after a protest in Portsmouth, Va., on June 10, 2020. (Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

A police tape marks off a fallen statue from the Confederate monument in Portsmouth, Va., on June 10, 2020. (Kristen Zeis/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)

Its deeply troubling that on the verge of Virginia passing long-overdue police reform, the first Black woman to serve as our Senate Pro Tempore is suddenly facing highly unusual charges, he wrote on Aug. 17.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia says the charges against Lucas and several others should be dropped, claiming theyre an overreach because they werent approved by a prosecutors office.

Lucass attorney, Don Scott, told WAVY-TV that she will fight the charges. Previously, Lucas told local media outlets that she did nothing wrong.

Consequently, theyre doing what they always do, which is they weaponize the criminal justice system against black leadership, and thats what theyre doing this time. Were gonna fight it vehemently, were gonna fight it vigorously, he said.

Lucas was described by WAVY-TV as a key power broker in Virginias state Senate, joining the chamber nearly 30 years ago. The charges were filed as lawmakers were set to vote and debate on criminal justice reforms in the state legislature.

Greene said that individuals conspired and organized to destroy the monument as well as summon hundreds of people to join in felonious acts, Politico reported.

The acts not only resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the monument, but also permanent injury to an individual, she said.

The protest was part of civil unrest, riots, looting, and vandalism that occurred across numerous U.S. cities in the wake of George Floyds death in May.
Manila: A powerful and shallow earthquake struck a central Philippine region on Tuesday, killing a police officer and prompting authorities to warn people against returning to their damaged homes.

The shallow earthquake struck the Samar region of the Philippines on Tuesday. Credit:USGS

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake hit about 5 kilometres south-east of Cataingan coastal town in Masbate province at a depth of about 21 kilometres at 8.03am, Manila time, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

A retired police officer died when he and his family were trapped when their house collapsed, while a woman was injured in the town near the epicentre, police said.

A hospital and a sports complex being used as a COVID-19 quarantine centre, as well as a public market, a public attorney's office, seaport, and houses of light materials were damaged, authorities said. Roads and bridges were cracked in Cataingan, according to Rino Revalo, a Masbate provincial administrator, and initial images of the quake aftermath.
They have been given lessons on how to change oxygen cylinders, check blood pressure, body temperature and a few other basics of treating a patient

Migrant workers recovering from coronavirus have been inducted by the West Bengal government as members of "Covid-19 warriors club" to provide a healing touch to people undergoing treatment for infection in different hospitals in the metropolis, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Forty-nine migrant workers cured of the deadly disease have been enrolled in the club to assist patients admitted to hospitals for virus. They hail from Birbhum, Coochbehar, Purba and Paschim Medinipur besides Murshidabad, he said.

They are given a monthly honorarioum of Rs 15,000, he said.

"The primary job of these COVID-19 warriors is to keep up the morale of the patients currently undergoing treatment in the coronavirus wards in hospitals by sharing with them their own stories of recovery.

"These men also provide updates to the relatives of those being treated," he said.

Before pressing them into service, the cured migrant labourers were imparted training for at least seven days about safety measures while assisting a patient at the COVID-19 wards, the official said.

"They are basically providing non-medical services mainly through counselling. They also play a role in raising awareness about the contagion among the patients, their relatives and others," the official said.

They have been given lessons on how to change oxygen cylinders, check blood pressure, body temperature and a few other basics of treating a patient, he said.

Currently these 49 COVID-19 warriors are working in different hospitals in the city, including the state-run Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute at Rajarhat, MR Bangur Hospital, the official said.

All of them have been put up at the Youth Hostel at Salt Lake stadium.

The state government plans to set up similar clubs in other districts too, the official added.

Roping in of Covid-19 club warriors besides boosting manpower to attend the coronavirus persons in different hospitals in city is also aimed at de-stressing those being treated for the virus.

Lakhs of migrant workers returned to their native places in West Bengal by trains, buses while some cycled back home from different parts of the country due to pandemic and also loss of jobs. Many of them tested positive later
(Natural News) Ever since federal law enforcement officers were forced by local and state Democrats to leave Portland, the citys situation has taken a turn for the worse. On Saturday, August 15, Portland police officers came face to face with rioters who were chanting slogans like Every city, every town, burn the precinct to the ground and Kill a cop, save a life.

During the 80th consecutive night of rioting in Portland, the evenings assemblies got heated when a group of about 30 people showed up to counter-protest, show their support for law enforcement and rally against the presence of Antifa and Black Lives Matter in Portland.

The police were eventually able to disperse the rioters, despite the latters efforts at maintaining a cohesive shield wall.

PPB (Portland Police Bureau) endured chants of Quit your job! and Kill a cop, save a life!

By around 9:30 p.m., a group of violent rioters made their way to the Penumbra Kelly building in the North East Portland neighborhood. The building is used by both the PPB and is the home of the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office.

Several motorcycle officers tried to briefly block their march, but there were too many people in the still growing mob and they were forced to fall back.

When the group arrived, the police could hear them chanting No cops, no KKK, no fascist U.S.A. Most of the group were dressed in black, and many of them were holding large wooden shields with a black fist on the front  the symbol of the Black Lives Matter movement. With the people holding the shields in the front line, the mob stood their ground next to the entrance of the buildings parking lot. (Related: BREAKING: Antifa terrorists in Austin, Portland just received a large cache of weapons in preparation for coordinated multi-city TET offensive against America.)

The PPB warned the rioters to stay off the Penumbra Kelly buildings property and to not engage in any criminal activities. The mob seemed to heed the words of the PPB, as they remained where they were and resorted to merely chanting slogans at the officers, such as Quit your job! and Kill a cop, save a life!

By 10:30 p.m., however, the wall of shields moved up several feet into the entrance of the parking lot despite repeated police warnings to not enter the property or risk being arrested for trespassing.

By 11 p.m., a group of counter-protesters showed up to rally in support of law enforcement. Many of the counter-protesters were wearing American Wolf clothing, a Washington-based conservative group. At this point, the mob started getting aggressive. Harsh words were exchanged between the two groups, and several fireworks were fired at the Penumbra Kelly building.

The criminal actions of the rioters escalated as time went on. By 11:30 p.m., the rioters with the shields moved several feet closer to the building, more fireworks were set off and several people trespassed on the property. There were also people spray painting the building and the surveillance cameras, and police reports said that the mob threw eggs at them and shone green lasers at their eyes.

Shield wall of rioters shattered by law enforcement

At 11:57 p.m., the PPB declared the gathering to be a riot and told the violent mob to head west and disperse. Most of the rioters did not listen, and by 12:03 a.m., the police were forced to use crowd control munitions like stun grenades and tear gas. After the grenades were thrown, several PPB officers charged at the rioters with the shields, which made the lines of the mob instantly break and fall apart, causing most of them to retreat in disarray.

Many of the now disorganized rioters ran south. PPB officers chased them down on foot, and several patrol cars followed them. The two groups stopped near Laurelhurst Park, where the PPB officers rallied and formed a defensive line to keep an eye on the rioters as they scattered. The bureau officers fired several more tear gas rounds into the crowd before retreating at 12:15 a.m., satisfied that the mob had been dispersed.

Several more clashes would occur between the rioters and the PPB. As soon as the officers retreated, the rioters would come back to reform and try to march on the Penumbra Kelly building again. This forced the PPB to return to disperse them before retreating once more. These clashes ended by around 2 a.m. when much of the crowd finally dispersed and the PPB called it a night and returned to the building.

A press release from the PPB stated that they made 11 arrests during that night, on allegations ranging from criminal mischief and rioting to interfering with or assaulting an officer. However, it remains to be seen if any of these charges will stick given the inclination of the new liberal Multnomah County district attorney to not press charges and let criminals go free.

Police reports also state that they received more than 60 emergency calls during the length of the riot all over the city. Call types ranged from theft, vandalism, suspicious activity, hazards, hit and run, burglary, violation of restraining order, alarms, stolen cars, harassment and many others, read the bureaus press release.

The wave of engineered rioting is causing police departments to divert most of their resources, causing crime rates in cities such as Portland and Chicago to skyrocket. Learn more about these incidents at Rioting.news.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

TheEpochTimes.com

OregonLive.com

KGW.com
They recently put their marital issues behind them on a family vacation in the Dominic Republic, after the pair were said to have held crisis talks about their future amid Kanye West's controversial run for presidency.

But now Kim Kardashian has returned to Los Angeles without husband Kanye, 43, - who remains at his ranch in Wyoming - fueling speculation that the pair are leading increasingly separate lives.

Children North, 7, Saint, 4, Chicago, 2, and 15-month-old Psalm are said to be at home with their mother Kim, 39, while Kanye stays in Wyoming because it's 'where he wants to live' a source has told PEOPLE.

Leading separate lives? Kim Kardashian West has returned to Los Angeles while Kanye West remains in Wyoming (Pictured above with children North, 7, Saint, 4, Chicago, 2, and Psalm, 1)

Their source claims Kim is 'happy to be back' in LA, saying that 'it's hard traveling with the kids for such a long time.'

The source adds: 'Kim still seems focused on making her marriage work. She is pretty quiet about her exact plans for the future, but for now she seems okay with Kanye living in Wyoming.

'He is moving ahead with the presidential campaign. This is a decision that no one can change his mind about.'

Happy solo: A source has said that Kim, 39, is happy to be back in LA while Kanye staying in Wyoming

However, another source close to the couple tells DailyMail.com that they were 'never living apart' adding: 'He does a lot of work in Wyoming and she works in LA. They're focused on their family now and rarely talk politics.'

Kanye - who suffers from bi-polar disorder - caused huge controversy in July when he went on a series of Twitter rants that included accusing Kim of having an affair with rapper Meek Mill, as well as claiming they once considered having an abortion.

Kim was then seen in tears as she held crisis talks with Kanye in Wyoming, which was the first time they had been seen together since disastrous first campaign rally in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Staying in LA: Kim - pictured this month with daughter Chicago - is said to be OK with Kanye staying in Wyoming

Staying in Wyoming: On Tuesday, Kanye was pictured visiting a Chick-Fil-A in Wyoming and posed with fans

Friends in fried places: Kanye revealed that he had lunch with Chick-fil-A chairman, president and CEO Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-A vice president Bubba Cathy, as well as Steve Harvey

The couple appeared to patch things up while on their vacation to the Dominican Republic, while daughter North is said to have spent some alone time with her father Kanye in Wyoming this past week, before returning to LA to be with Kim.

Over the weekend, Kim was seen at Kanye's Sunday Service event in Wyoming, and posted a video on social with the caption, 'Guess what's back?!?!'

The positive message appeared to suggest the family vacation did the family the world of good, a source close to the couple adds to DailyMail.com that their children 'loved' the time away.

Kanye tweeted about the event too, making it clear that his team had made sure there were safety guidelines.

Proud dad: Kanye West was quite the doting father Monday in a sweet photo with his oldest child North, as they enjoyed some quality time in a gorgeous setting

He is risen: Kim Kardashian supported husband Kanye West this weekend, as his popular alternative church event Sunday Service returned for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, set against a gorgeous Wyoming backdrop

'Praise God. We would like to thank our staff for making sure all Covid safety guidelines were followed today during Sunday Service at our West Mountains family ranch in Wyoming,' he tweeted.

The married couple certainly appear to be in a better place than they were last month, following Kanye's controversial comments around his run for presidency.

In one of his many outbursts during his July campaign rally, Kane shockingly revealed that he and Kim had considered aborting their daughter North, who is now seven, before he got a 'message from God'.

However, later that month he apologized to Kim on Twitter saying: 'I would like to apologize to my wife Kim for going public with something that was a private matter,' adding: 'I did not cover her like she has covered me. To Kim I want to say I know I hurt you.'
H arry Hill has revealed he was invited back to his old job as a doctor during the peak of the pandemic in the UK.

The comedian, 55, initially trained as a neurosurgeon and worked at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary before pivoting to comedy.

In an interview with Radio Times, Hill - real name Matthew Hall - said he had been asked to return to work at the NHS Nightingale Hospital.

In the early days of the pandemic, it was all melting down radiators to make ventilators, the country pulling together and so on, he said.

Celebrities make a show of thanks for frontline NHS key workers 1 /9 Celebrities make a show of thanks for frontline NHS key workers Daniel Craig and Phoebe Waller-Bridge were among stars featuring in celebrity show of thanks to the NHS NHS/Twitter PA PA PA PA PA Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge was among stars who join in a show of thanks for NHS workers on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis NHS/Twitter

Id had a few drinks so I filled out the form and got an email back saying someone would contact me about my return to work.

I broke out in a cold sweat.

With his previous medical speciality being respiratory emergencies, Hill was asked to work at the Nightingale, a role that did not eventuate due to the travel time from south to east London.

In the end it came down to them saying I could maybe do track and trace calls on the phone, he said, which also never came to be.

Hill broke through in comedy in the 90s, winning best newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1992.

He is known for his comedy series TV Burp, and has narrated the home video series Youve Been Framed since 2004.

Read Harry Hill's full interview in the latest issue of Radio Times.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa  When President Donald Trump visits Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. Gov. Kim Reynolds wants to impress on him the extensiveness of the impact of last weeks hurricane-force storm that caused at least $4 billion in damages to homes, businesses and crops.

Just the impact, she said about what she wants Trump to see when he is on the ground in Iowa.

Trump called the governor Aug. 11  the day after the storm  but it was so early on that we didnt have a full comprehension of the enormous amount of destruction and damage. Every day, we just continue to see more and more.

On Monday, Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Iowa that triggered the release of federal funds to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm in 16 counties, including Linn and Johnson.

I just approved an emergency declaration for Iowa, who had an incredible windstorm like probably theyve never seen before, the president told reporters on the White House South Lawn before boarding Marine One for a Midwest trip. It really did a lot of damage.

Reynolds filed the request for an expedited presidential major disaster declaration Sunday seeking nearly $4 billion  including $3.77 billion to cover crop damage in 36 Iowa counties hit hard Aug. 10 when a derecho with hurricane-grade wind gusts destroyed or extensively damaged an estimated 3.57 million acres of corn and 2.5 million acres of soybeans.

Besides destroying or extensively damaging at least 8,273 homes at an estimated costs of $82.7 million, the storm also caused $100 million in damage to utilities struggling to return power to tens of thousands of customers still without.

The wide-ranging extent of the damage  Reynolds has included 27 counties in her state disaster declaration  is what she wants to impress upon the president.

Its hard to imagine when we talk about a derecho ... its such a rarity to happen in the Midwest, she said.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Pete Gaynor called his tour Monday of the local storm damage eye-opening in many ways. However, he declined to compare it with other disasters because every disaster is unique.

For those who have never had a disaster before, this is the most catastrophic thing thats happened in their lives, Gaynor said.

The states disaster declaration application also sought $45.3 million in public assistance for Iowans in the storms path. However, that assistance to individuals and households is not included in the presidents declaration and remains under review.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments, according to the declaration.

Were already seeing additional counties that as they are doing their cleanup and assessment are starting to ask for additional assistance, said Reynolds, who toured areas of Linn County with Gaynor. Those counties will be requesting state disaster aid, she said, and will be added to the presidential major disaster declaration.

She praised local officials and heroic efforts of state employees to gather the information needed for the presidential disaster declaration.

We have it now, Reynolds said. Lets move forward and get the power back on, lets get the debris removed, lets work with Iowans who need the additional resources, and start moving into recovery.

Reynolds defended her administrations approach to asking for federal help almost a week after the storm struck.

Asked about a two-day turnaround for an emergency declaration after a tornado hit Parkersburg in 2008, she explained that declaration was not as far-reaching as a major disaster declaration. Later, the state sought a major disaster declaration, which was approved as well as federal aid for recovery from historic flooding in Cedar Rapids and elsewhere.

Details of Trump's visit  including just when and where in Cedar Rapids  have not been yet disclosed.

A White House official said the president will meet with Reynolds, and also with state and local officials and Iowans affected by the storm.

President Trump is committed to supporting Iowas communities and farms as we begin to restore, rebuild and revitalize those communities impacted by this tragic natural disaster, the White House said in a statement.

Inside 185th members mobilized to assist with derecho cleanup. LOCAL A3

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19 patients are declared free of Covid-19 in Hanoi, August 18, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Son.

Vietnam declared 59 patients free of Covid-19 on Tuesday, bringing the number of active cases down to 438.

Of the patients, 19 were repatriates treated in Hanoi while others are domestic cases recorded in epicenter Da Nang, its neighbor Quang Nam and the nearby Thua Thien-Hue.

The repatriated patients are 18 men from Equatorial Guinea and another from Bangladesh, aged between 28 and 54. They were treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, which also cured three in the Equatorial Guinea group from malaria.

The Hanoi hospital has been on the frontline of Covid-19 fight in Vietnam, having treated 249 patients. It still has 31 patients.

In Quang Nam, 11 recoveries are three men and eight women, between 19 and 64 years of age.

Five of the six patients in Hue still stay at Hue Central Hospital for treatment of other comorbidities.

Of the 23 patients recovering in Da Nang, four are kidney patients and have been transferred to another hospital to resume their dialysis.

Since July 25 when community transmission returned to Vietnam, Da Nang has recorded 350 infections and 76 of them have recovered.

So far, Vietnam has recorded 983 infections, 520 recoveries and 25 deaths, including one confirmed Tuesday morning.
Perhaps more significantly, the judges ruled that while Hariris assassination was clearly motivated by political factors  and almost certainly by indications that he was planning to throw his support behind calls for the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon  it was not possible to conclude who ordered his death.
(TNS)  New Mexico State Sen. Michael Padilla of Albuquerque said Monday that he hopes to propose legislation next year establishing a state agency to take the lead on expanding broadband internet service in New Mexico  a key recommendation of legislative analysts.The new office would be empowered to coordinate efforts now scattered across at least seven state agencies.Padilla, a Democrat, said he is weighing whether the new broadband office would report directly to the governor or to the Cabinet secretary of information technology. But its clear, he said, that something must be done to expand internet service and reduce costs.We are hearing loud and clear that broadband is just as important as air for our people here in New Mexico, Padilla said in an interview Monday.The importance of high-speed internet service has come into particular focus during the coronavirus pandemic as New Mexicans turn more heavily to distance learning and telehealth programs that require online video conferencing. Broadband, Padilla said, is also critical to economic development.New Mexico lags the nation in access to broadband, according to analysts for the Legislative Finance Committee. In a report to lawmakers Monday, the analysts said about 77% of the states households had a broadband subscription in 2018, about eight percentage points below the national average.Legislative analysts also said New Mexico lacks coordination and oversight of broadband development efforts, with responsibilities spread among the Public Regulation Commission and state departments for public education, transportation, information technology and other agencies.The state and federal governments funded about $325 million in broadband projects in New Mexico over a recent four-year period, analysts said, but without having one agency in charge to track the money and ensure accountability.Unlike New Mexico, the analysts said, model states with high rates of broadband access have a lead agency established in law with a director appointed by the governor.Members of the legislative Science, Technology and Telecommunications Committee heard a report on the issue Monday.Padilla, the chairman, said he has been working on legislation to improve coordination and accelerate the states broadband development for about a year and half. The new agency, he said, could pay for itself by reducing the cost of broadband through bulk-price agreements and working to secure federal funding and private investment.In the Nov. 3 election, Padilla faces Republican Mary Kay Ingham in Senate District 14, which covers much of the South Valley and southwestern Bernalillo County.
A man, who is still recovering in hospital after being shot by police, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly slashing a male officer across the face with a knife.

A bedside hearing will be conducted in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on Wednesday for the 25-year-old accused, who was shot multiple times by the injured police officer's partner.

The scene of the police shooting in Upper Mount Gravatt on Brisbane's southside on August 5. Credit:Nine News Queensland

It will be alleged police visited the man's home on Hillgrove Road in Upper Mount Gravatt on Brisbane's southside as part of a routine matter to serve him with legal documents.

The man has been accused arming himself with a knife and lunging at the two police officers about 5pm on Wednesday, August 5.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The number of job seekers from Turkey in Ukraine massively increased 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 Ukraine through ISKUR to find work soared by 112.2 percent compared to the same period of 2019, said the agency.

As reported, 312 Turkish citizens visited Ukraine via ISKUR over the specifying 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
Job Title: Livelihoods

Assistant  Cash Programme

Organization: Danish

Refugee Council (DRC)

Duty Station:

Uganda

Reports to: Base Manager

About US:

The Danish Refugee

Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on

all aspects of the refugee cause in more than 36 countries throughout the

world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons

(IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of

forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC

works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct

for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

Job Summary: The Livelihoods Assistant  Cash programme

will support the Livelihoods Officer in the implementation of cash based

intervention in Nakivale refugee settlement. He/she will be responsible for

project implementation, monitoring and reporting on cash based intervention in

accordance with DRC programme guidelines and procedures.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Sensitize the community about cash-based interventions



Conduct assessment of needs and capacities of community

for cash based interventions



Follow procedures and guidelines in implementation of

cash-based interventions, and support in developing learning for improved cash

strategies



Facilitate designing as well as implementation of

beneficiary selection process



Assess potential risks to recipients for cash based

interventions and work with protection and other colleagues to ensure risk

mitigation is integrated into programming



Identify skills and knowledge gaps related to community

based interventions among Livelihoods Field extension workers and address them

through training and capacity building



Liaise with other sectors to ensure coordinated

implementation of cash based interventions



Ensure that cash based interventions are implemented in

accordance with project design and within the approved budgets, and in

accordance with DRC policies and strategies including adherence to the recommended

standards and commitments to accountability and quality.



Write work plans for cash based interventions



Write timely quality; weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannual

and annual reports



Contribute to the formulation of project proposals on cash

based intervention



Develop key relationships with other cash actors to

develop joint learning.

Staff

development and management



Uphold DRCs international code of conduct.



Any other duty as may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The

ideal applicant for the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Livelihoods

Assistant  Cash Programme job must hold a bachelors Degree in social sciences and business related

course.



Two years of experience working with community development

and livelihoods, preferably in a refugee setting



Proven experience in cash based programming



Proven experience managing community dialogues and working

directly with beneficiaries



Competence using information technology including

experience with word-processing, spreadsheets and database software.



High integrity and willingness to conduct her/himself

transparently and open to scrutiny.



Strong empathy skills and genuine care and respect for

needs of others especially female refugees and people with special needs.



Ability to respect and maintain confidentiality.



Excellent organizational skills, ability to determine

priorities and attention to detail a must.



Demonstrated interpersonal skills, sound judgment,

planning and team building and facilitating skills.



Ability to work in a multicultural context as a flexible

and respectful team player.



Willingness and capacity to work in the field and travel

frequently to project sites when needed.



Desirable



Experience of working with UN or Non-Governmental

Organizations.



Commitment to humanitarian principles and values.



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Languages: Fluency in English and local language

a plus (especially Kiswahili)





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Chief minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray has sought an action plan for eminent economists and scientists to revive the state economy, which is facing a severe crisis following the Covid-19 lockdown. The economists, in a video interaction with the CM on Tuesday, also suggested several measures for economic revival that included concessions for various sectors.

The ongoing financial crisis has already led the state government to declare a 67% cut in its spending for developmental works this fiscal year. To revive the economic situation, Thackeray had called for the interaction with various economists and scientists associated with Pune International Centre.

Deepak Parekh, chairman, HDFC, who also participated in the interaction, said that it is necessary to provide concessions in taxes and other charges for revival of the real estate sector. He said the sector should be given three months waiver from stamp duty; ready reckoner rates should be changed, and charges against of use of a plot should be reduced considering the current situation.

Parekh further suggested that all taxes should be recovered only after completion of a housing project.

Ajit Ranade, economist, said that the Maha Mumbai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Raigad should be revived by bringing in fresh projects. He said that robotics, telemedicine, information and technology (IT) and export-oriented projects can be set up on the 5,000-acre plot acquired for SEZ. He said the state has also acquired 10,000 acre of land for the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (Mihan), and similar kinds of initiatives can be taken to bring new projects there too.

Another economist, Vijay Kelkar suggested that the Nanar refinery project should be started which will bring jobs for 1 lakh people and an investment of Rs 3 lakh crore. He said that the Chembur refinery project can also be shifted from Mumbai and the plot can be properly developed.

Responding to the suggestions, Thackeray asked for a time-bound action plan from the economists that will be prepared after further discussions with senior officials.

The chief minister said that there should be complete transparency while bringing in any new projects. There should be a dialogue with locals and the state over the project. Thackeray said he did not believe in development that requires force, responding to the suggestion to start the Nanar refinery project.
Germanys 2020 grain harvest will fall below average for the third year in a row as farmers grapple with extreme weather conditions, the DBV farmers association said on Tuesday.

The grain harvest this year is expected to amount to 42.4 million tonnes, down from 44.3 million tonnes a year earlier, and almost 5% below the average for the years 2015 to 2019, the association said in its final harvest estimates.

DBV president Joachim Rukwied said: 2020 was the third year in many places marked by extreme weather conditions, which threatens the existence of some farms.

Depending on the region, farmers are facing significant harvest losses due to extreme drought, night frosts in May or mice appearing en masse, Rukwied said.

The DBV called for the state to subsidize multi-peril insurance for farmers to insure against weather-related yield losses and to introduce a tax revenue reserve.

Germany is the European Unions second largest wheat producer after France and in most years the EUs largest producer of rapeseed, Europes main oilseed for edible oil and biodiesel production.

Germany will harvest about 21.1 million tonnes of winter wheat in 2020, down from 22.8 million tonnes last year due to a decline in the area under cultivation, the DBV said.

Germanys 2020 winter rapeseed harvest improved on the previous year, rising to 3.3 million tonnes from 2.8 million tonnes in 2019.

In France, the EUs largest wheat producer, the crop has fallen by about 25% on 2019 to around 29-30 million tonnes, with yields damaged by spring drought and sowings reduced by torrential autumn rain.

(Reporting by Caroline Copley Editing by Michelle Martin)

Topics Profit Loss Europe Agribusiness Germany
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 16:57:07|Editor: huaxia

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HAIKOU, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- South China's Hainan Province has ordered the suspension of all ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait starting Tuesday evening as a typhoon approaches.

The ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait are to be halted starting 7 p.m. Tuesday, while train services into and out of the tropical island will also be suspended, the Hainan maritime safety administration said Tuesday.

Typhoon Higos, the seventh typhoon of the year, was about 530 km east of the city of Wuchuan, Guangdong Province, at 2 p.m. Tuesday. It is expected to make landfall in the western coastal part of Guangdong on Wednesday.

The typhoon was forecast to bring heavy rains to the provinces of Hainan, Guangdong, Yunnan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to the Central Meteorological Station. Enditem
Filmmaker Nishikant Kamat passed away at the age of 50 after battling with liver cirrhosis for two years. Kamat is best known for directing film 'Drishyam'. Kamat had multiple organ failure and was admitted to AIG Hospital in Hyderabad on July 31.

Kamat was suffering form liver cirrhosis for the past two years. Kamat, who also made the action film Force and the Irrfan Khan-led Madaari, died at 4.24 pm.

The news of the director's death was confirmed by actor Riteish Deshmukh on Twitter. He wrote, "I will miss you my friend. #NishikantKamat Rest In Peace."
High-ranking military officers disciplined

The Party Central Committees Inspection Commission issued disciplinary measures against several military officers at its recent 47th session.









At the 47th session of the Party Central Committees Inspection Commission (Photo: VNA)

The session was held in Hanoi from August 11 to 13 under the chair of Tran Cam Tu, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the commission.



The commission found that Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Thanh, former Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and former Commander of Army Corps 4; Lt. Gen. Tran Xuan Ninh, former member of the Standing Board of the Party Committee and former Vice Commander of Army Corps 4; Col. Mai Van Hao, former member of the Standing Board of the Party Committee and former Deputy Chief of Staff of Army Corps 4; and Col. Phan Van Tien, former Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and former head of Army Corps 4s logistics department, had violated the principle of democratic centralism, work regulations, and legal regulations on land management and use.



Meanwhile, Col. Nguyen Xuan Dong, former Vice Secretary of the Party cell and former head of the technique - technology division; Col. Pham Bao, former Vice Secretary of the Party cell and former head of the division for economy - planning; and Col. Nguyen Tuan Anh, former Vice Secretary of the Party cell and former head of the finance - accounting division of Army Corps 15, had committed violations and revealed shortcomings while advising on and organising the implementation of production and business tasks, along with land investment, management and use.



Col. Nguyen Van Giang, former Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Military Medical University, revealed shortcomings in the management and use of the schools dormitory, according to the Inspection Commission.



The commission decided to issue warnings to Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Thanh, Lt. Gen. Tran Xuan Ninh, Col. Mai Van Hao, Col. Phan Van Tien, and Col. Nguyen Van Giang, and reprimanded Col. Nguyen Xuan Dong, Col. Pham Bao, and Col. Nguyen Tuan Anh.



As for Nguyen Van Quan, member of the Standing Board of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee and head of that committees organising board, the Inspection Commission held that while serving as a member of the Party Committee, Secretary of the Party unit and Chief Prosecutor of the Provincial Peoples Procuracy, he violated the principle of democratic centralism, work regulations, Party regulations, and State laws on directing the settlement of an asset misappropriation case, thus hampering the investigation, prosecution, and trying of the case and negatively affecting the prestige of the Party organisation and himself.



The commission decided to give Quan a warning.



During the session, it also looked into and made decisions on other important matters.
A longtime stalker who has a disturbing obsession with WWE star Sonya Deville broke into her Florida home Sunday in a failed attempt to take her as a hostage, authorities said.

Phillip Thomas II, of South Carolina, traveled hundreds of miles to the victims home in Tampa to commit a crime he had planned for eight months, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office.

The 24-year-old parked his car at a nearby church late Saturday night, walked to her property, cut a hole in the patio screen and stayed there for about three to four hours, watching and listening through the windows, the sheriffs office said in a news release.

The professional wrestler, whose real name is Daria Berenato, went to bed just before 3 a.m. Sunday, prompting Thomas to make his move, police say.

Thomas went into the house through the back sliding glass door, which immediately set off the alarm, authorities said. Thats when Berenato looked out the window and saw the man on her property.

She and her guest fled the home in a car and called 911 before Thomas could get near them, according to the release.

Deputies arrived moments later and caught the suspect still inside the house with a mace, duct tape, plastic zip ties and other items, the sheriffs office said.

Thomas allegedly confessed to traveling to Tampa to take the victim as a hostage.

Authorities did not name the woman, but the home that was broken into belongs to Berenato. The 26-year-old New Jersey native, who also stars in the reality show Total Divas on E!, thanked the sheriffs office in a tweet Sunday night.

Thank you everyone for your love and concern, she wrote. A very frightening experience but thankfully everyone is safe. A special thank you to Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office for their response and assistance.

Thomas was charged with aggravated stalking, armed burglary of a dwelling, attempted armed kidnapping and criminal mischief.

Sheriff Chad Chronister said the case couldve had a much different outcome if it werent for the alarm.

Our deputies are unveiling the suspects disturbing obsession with this homeowner who he had never met, but stalked on social media for years, he said in a statement. Its frightening to think of all the ways this incident could have played out had the home alarm not gone off and alerted the homeowner of an intruder. Our deputies arrived within minutes and arrested this man who was clearly on a mission to inflict harm.



Nelson Oliveira of the New York Daily News wrote this story.

2020 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Armenian Official Defends Pashinian's 'Quick' Congratulatory Message To Lukashenka

By Harry Tamrazian August 17, 2020

A senior Armenian official says Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's congratulatory message to Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka on his disputed reelection was in line with the agenda of Armenia's peaceful 2018 revolution.

Armen Grigorian, the secretary of Armenia's Security Council, said in an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service on August 16 that decisions like the one to congratulate Lukashenka are taken on the basis of a "comprehensive risk assessment."

Pashinian immediately came under criticism from his political opponents and human rights activists in Armenia for sending "quick" congratulations to Lukashenka on August 10, hours after Belarus's Central Election Commission published the preliminary results of the vote, triggering large-scale opposition protests against "rigged elections."

Only a handful of world leaders have congratulated Lukashenka on his disputed election win. Among them are Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's leader Xi Jinping. The European Union has said it does not recognize the results, and the United States has expressed deep concern over the election results and the unrest.

"Security-related and other major decisions have grounds, they are not born out of thin air," Grigorian said, speaking on the Sunday Analytical Show by RFE/RL's Armenian Service. "In general, a complete risk assessment is made, and a decision is taken in the interests of the Republic of Armenia."

Pashinian, who came to power as a result of widespread anti-government protests in May 2018 and earlier spent nearly two years in prison after being convicted of organizing mass disturbances during 2008 postelection protests, has refused to comment on criticism of his congratulations to Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus since 1994.

Grigorian, who was one of the leaders of the 2018 street protests that brought down the government, said that the protest movement's leaders had announced that there would be no changes in Armenia's foreign policy agenda.

"In other words, [Pashinian's] message is completely in line with the agenda of the revolution. It ensures the continuity of the agenda of the revolution," he said.

Armenia is a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization, both of which include Belarus.

Lukashenka's main challenger, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who left Belarus for neighboring Lithuania, refused to recognize Lukashenka's victory, calling on her supporters to stage protests to seek an election rerun.

At least two people have been killed, hundreds have been injured, and thousands arrested in the government crackdown against protesters in Belarus.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenian-official- defends-pashinian-s-quick-congratulatory- message-to-lukashenka/30787910.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Billionaire Meg Whitman was among four Republicans to endorse Joe Biden for president on the opening day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

The DNC is taking place online this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and in a pre-recorded segment on Monday Ms Whitman shared her support for the presumptive Democratic nominee.

The 64-year-old businesswoman said: Im a longtime Republican and a longtime CEO. And let me tell you, Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business, let alone an economy.

Joe Biden, on the other hand, has a plan that will strengthen our economy for working people and small-business owners. For me, the choice is simple. Im with Joe.

The current CEO of short-form streaming platform Quibi was one of four Republicans who spoke at the convention on Monday in support of Mr Biden and against president Donald Trump, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Former New Jersey governor Christine Whitman and former Staten Island representative Susan Molinari joined the businesswoman in delivering short messages on Monday, before former Ohio governor John Kasich outlined why he is endorsing Mr Biden for president.

Mr Kasich, who unsuccessfully ran in the Republican presidential primary in 2016, told those watching the convention livestream: Im a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country. Were being taken down the wrong road by a president who has pitted one against the other.

The 68-year-old added: Joe Biden is a man for our times, times that call for all of us to take off our partisan hats.

Ms Whitman, who was the Republican candidate for the governor of California in 2010 and served as a senior member of Mitt Romneys presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, has now backed the Democratic candidate in the last two presidential elections against Mr Trump.

The businesswoman backed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election and claimed at the time that Donald Trumps demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character.

Ms Whitmans appearance at the convention surprised Sterling Clifford, who served as the spokesperson for Democrat Jerry Browns successful 2010 race against the businesswoman in California.

Mr Clifford told the Times: I would not in a million years have imagined seeing Meg Whitman at a Democratic convention, but I also never imagined Id be buying extra stamps to try and save the postal service in the midst of a global pandemic.

The world is full of surprises, I guess.
Tourism council says 10 million earmarked for Costa Maya

Costa Maya, Q.R.  The Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council has announced a 10 million peso promotion package for the greater Costa Maya area. Dario Flota Ocampo, director of the state tourism council, said that once the tourism markets open, promotions will be broadcast in panoramic media and across television channels.

In a virtual press conference, the director of the Consejo de Promocion Turistica de Quintana Roo explained that the Gran Costa Maya includes destinations in the southern part of the Mexican Caribbean from the limits of the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve to the border with Belize, passing through Mahahual, Bacalar, Ichkabal and Chetumal.

He noted that the area will be promoted in Belize since last year, more than 500,000 visitors from Belize arrived in the southern part of the state. He also noted that to date, the entire state is behind by more than 4.6 million national and international tourists due to the C-19 pandemic.

Flota Ocampo stressed that by this time last year, from January to July of 2019, Quintana Roo had already counted more than 8 million visitors. This year, he said, they are still optimistic to end with a 60 percent hotel occupancy rate, which, he admits, depends on the color of the epidemiological light.

For now, he emphasized that tourist activity has been reactivated to a nearly 30 percent rate adding that 70 percent of hotels are ready for the winter season in regards to health protocols and their gradual reopening.

He also noted that from April to July of this year, nearly 5,000 travel agents have participated in webinars with airline and tour operators promoting the region.
Silverdales newest cafe Relish & Rollick opened last month realising a lifelong dream for its owner Tallie Downey.

When I heard Magnolia Kitchen was moving I felt it was the right time to start my own cafe, she says. Im so excited to have my own place at last.

Although the cafe is a new venture, Tallie is no stranger to making and selling food.

She has been catering for weddings and corporate events for years, and regular visitors to Aucklands Night Markets will be familiar with her mouth-watering desserts. Up until now she has been working out of a commercial unit in Albany.

But this business has now moved into the premises next door to the cafe, providing a convenient second kitchen for the cafe creations. Between the two business, Tallie employs three bakers and two baristas.

Everything in the cafe is cooked on site and the ever-changing menu reflects what is in season, what people are asking for and what Tallie feels like cooking.

Im big on taste and I dont cut corners. Its good old-fashioned food with a contemporary twist.

Tallie spent her early childhood in Papua New Guinea where her father ran Isuzu Motors and her mother had a hair salon. But she credits her much-loved Nana, from Ahipara, for her passion for food.

At Nanas house, breakfast started with juice and cereal, and wasnt finished until youd eaten a cooked breakfast. Lunch was a sit-down affair and she did all her own preserves. There always seemed to be something cooking on the stove or in the oven.

Tallie wants to bring that same sense of warmth and homeliness to her cafe, while keeping prices affordable. She says her customers so far have been a nice mix of generations, tradies and professionals.

Special care has been taken to source a boutique-roasted coffee called Velvet, which donates a percentage of its earnings to the Sheldrick Wildlife.

Trust.You can really taste the difference and people often comment on it. The support and feedback from the community has been amazing.
D onald Trump has been blocked at the 11th hour from enforcing a new regulation that would roll back health care protections for transgender people.

Federal Judge Frederic Block put a halt to the regulation a day before it was due to come into effect on Tuesday.

He found that the regulation violates the Supreme Court's landmark ruling that extends federal civil rights law to gay, lesbian and transgender workers.

Mondays preliminary injunction from the US District Court judge bars the Trump administration from enforcing the regulation until the case can be heard in court and decided..

When the Supreme Court announces a major decision, it seems a sensible thing to pause and reflect on the decisions impact, Judge Block wrote in his order, suggesting the agency may want to reconsider.

Donald Trump launches 2020 re-election campaign - In pictures 1 /36 Donald Trump launches 2020 re-election campaign - In pictures President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet supporters at a rally where the president formally announced his 2020 re-election bid AP A supporter holds a placard during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump formally kicking off his re-election bid in Orlando, Florida Reuters A man holds up a sign as the crowd waits for US President Donald Trump to arrive at a rally at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida to officially launch his 2020 campaign AFP/Getty Images Protestors hold up anti President Donald Trump signs during a rally AP White House senior advisors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner react as U.S. President Donald Trump formally kicks off his re-election bid with a campaign rally in Orlando, Florida REUTERS A supporter dances to music at a rally where President Donald Trump announced his 2020 re-election bid AP Supporters of President Donald Trump cheer as he arrives to speak at his re-election kickoff rally AP Kimberly Guilfoyle (right) and Donald Trump Jr. arrive at a rally for US President Donald Trump, to officially launch the Trump 2020 campaign AFP/Getty Images A supporter poses for photo before U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign kick off rally at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida REUTERS US Vice President Mike Pence speaks with US President Donald Trump at a rally to officially launch the Trump 2020 campaign AFP/Getty Images First lady Melania Trump speaks to supporters at a rally where President Donald Trump formally announced his 2020 re-election bid AP A woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty protests against President Trump outside a rally where Trump officially launched his re-election campaign Getty Images Opposition groups protest against President Trump outside a rally where Trump officially launched his re-election campaign Getty Images A supporter of US President Donald Trump demonstrates outside the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida AFP/Getty Images Supporters of US President Donald Trump hold placards near the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida AFP/Getty Images Opposition groups protest against President Trump outside a rally where Trump officially launched his re-election campaign Getty Images Donald Trump launches his re-election campaign at a rally in Orlando, Florida Reuters Donald Trump greets First Lady Melania Trump as he takes the stage for the official launch of the Trump 2020 campaign at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida AFP/Getty Images Thousands of supporters gathered at the rally Reuters Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trump, Lara Trump, Eric Trump, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Donald Trump Jr. arrive at a rally for US President Donald Trump, to officially launch the Trump 2020 campaign, at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida AFP/Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump and press secretary Sarah Sanders hug at a campaign kick off rally at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida REUTERS U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign kick off rally at the Amway Center in Orlando Reuters Protesters attend a rally against US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images A woman protests against President Trump outside a rally where Trump officially launched his re-election campaign Getty Images Members of the Proud Boys face off against anti-Trump protesters outside a rally where President Trump officially launched his re-election campaign Getty Images Opposition groups protest against President Trump outside a rally where Trump officially launched his re-election campaign Getty Images Opposition groups protest against President Trump outside a rally where Trump officially launched his re-election campaign Getty Images

Since HHS has been unwilling to take that path voluntarily, the court now imposes it.

The HHS health care rule was seen as a signal to President Donald Trumps social and religious conservative supporters that the administration remained squarely behind them after the shock of the Supreme Courts 6-3 decision, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was nominated by Mr Trump.

An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex, Mr Gorsuch wrote. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what (civil rights law) forbids.

In a tweet, Mr Trump called that horrible & politically charged and compared it to a shotgun blast in the faces of conservative Republicans.

The HHS rule sought to overturn Obama-era sex discrimination protections for transgender people in health care. Similar to the underlying issues in the job discrimination case before the Supreme Court, the health care rule rests on the idea that sex is determined by biology.

The Obama-era version relied on a broader understanding shaped by a persons inner sense of being male, female, neither or a combination.

The lawsuit against the Trump administration rule was brought by an advocacy group, the Human Rights Campaign, on behalf of two transgender women. One of the plaintiffs is an army veteran and the other a writer and activist.

Judge Block dismissed as disingenuous arguments from HHS that its rule was legally valid, and wrote that the agency acted arbitrarily and capriciously in enacting it.

HHS said it was disappointed by the judges decision.

He was nominated to the federal bench by former president Bill Clinton.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.
Patients, including those who are Covid-19 positive and on oxygen support at the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, were shifted to various hospitals in Bengaluru on Monday night as the medical facility was short of oxygen supply, official sources said.

Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar tweeted that as soon as he came to know about the shortage of oxygen at the KIMS, a private hospital, directions were issued to shift patients by ambulance to Victoria, Bowring and Rajiv Gandhi hospitals in the city.

For the treatment of critical patients, 20 huge oxygen cylinders have been sent to the KIMS, Sudhakar said.

According to official sources, nearly 50 patients, including those coronavirus positive, have been shifted.

The KIMS said in a statement that due to shortage of liquid oxygen from the manufacturing company, authorities were informed about the situation and requested for arrangements of liquid oxygen from other suppliers.

We have anticipated that low oxygen volume hypoxic crisis may occur for oxygen dependent patients, it said.

For damage control and on precautionary measures, we plan to shift all oxygen-dependent patients to various government and private hospitals.

During this crisis, all government officials and authorities immediately responded to our call and supported us by joining hands with the management for saving the lives of the patients. We are indebted for their kind co-operation, it added.
One of the most challenging aspects of running a business is getting the word out about your product or service. You may be sitting on something that is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but if people dont know about it, they cant buy it.

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Linking News is a white label press release distribution service that gets your press releases published on hundreds of top tier media outlets, including ABC, NBC, FOX, USA Today, MarketWatch, Bloomberg, Business Insider, Buzzfeed, the Associated Press, Yahoo, and many more.

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Amazingly, the basic idea behind a press release has not changed much over the last century. A press release is still an official statement created by a business or organization and issued to news outlets for the purpose of informing the public about something noteworthy, whether thats an upcoming event, an innovative new product, or a new business undertaking. What has changed is how entrepreneurs and businesses make use of this tool.

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Image credit: Linking News

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Free Webinar | August 19: How to Make Low Cost PR & Promotion Work for You

Kylie Jenner's Removal from Forbes' Billionaires List Underscores the Basic Rules of PR



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/18/2020 -- A new business intelligence report released by HTF MI with title "Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Insights, Forecast to 2025" is designed covering micro level of analysis by manufacturers and key business segments. The Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Market survey analysis offers energetic visions to conclude and study market size, market hopes, and competitive surroundings. The research is derived through primary and secondary statistics sources and it comprises both qualitative and quantitative detailing. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Hershey, Godiva Chocolatier, Lindt & Sprungli, Russell stover & Ghirardelli Chocolate.



What's keeping Hershey, Godiva Chocolatier, Lindt & Sprungli, Russell stover & Ghirardelli Chocolate Ahead in the Market? Benchmark yourself with the strategic moves and findings recently released by HTF MI

Get Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ : https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1397287-global-sugar-free-chocolate-market-2



Market Overview of Global Sugar-Free Chocolate

If you are involved in the Global Sugar-Free Chocolate industry or aim to be, then this study will provide you inclusive point of view. It's vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Applications [Supermarket, Convenience Store, Online Sales & Other], Product Types [, 100% Sugar Free Chocolate & No Added Sugar Chocolate] and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.



This study mainly helps understand which market segments or Region or Country they should focus in coming years to channelize their efforts and investments to maximize growth and profitability. The report presents the market competitive landscape and a consistent in depth analysis of the major vendor/key players in the market along with impact of economic slowdown due to COVID.



Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:

Historical year  2014-2019

Base year  2019

Forecast period**  2020 to 2026 [** unless otherwise stated]



**Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players.



The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below:

The Study Explore the Product Types of Sugar-Free Chocolate Market: , 100% Sugar Free Chocolate & No Added Sugar Chocolate



Key Applications/end-users of Global Sugar-Free ChocolateMarket: Supermarket, Convenience Store, Online Sales & Other



Top Players in the Market are: Hershey, Godiva Chocolatier, Lindt & Sprungli, Russell stover & Ghirardelli Chocolate



Region Included are: North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Central & South America, Brazil, Rest of Central & South America, Middle East & Africa, GCC Countries, Turkey, Egypt & South Africa



Enquire for customization in Report @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1397287-global-sugar-free-chocolate-market-2



Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report:

 Detailed overview of Sugar-Free Chocolate market

 Changing market dynamics of the industry

 In-depth market segmentation by Type, Application etc

 Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value

 Recent industry trends and developments

 Competitive landscape of Sugar-Free Chocolate market

 Strategies of key players and product offerings

 Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth

 A neutral perspective towards Sugar-Free Chocolate market performance

 Market players information to sustain and enhance their footprint



Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1397287-global-sugar-free-chocolate-market-2



Major Highlights of TOC:

Chapter One: Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Industry Overview

1.1 Sugar-Free Chocolate Industry

1.1.1 Overview

1.1.2 Products of Major Companies

1.2 Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Segment

1.2.1 Industry Chain

1.2.2 Consumer Distribution

1.3 Price & Cost Overview



Chapter Two: Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Demand

2.1 Segment Overview

2.1.1 APPLICATION 1

2.1.2 APPLICATION 2

2.1.3 Other

2.2 Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Size by Demand

2.3 Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Forecast by Demand



Chapter Three: Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Market by Type

3.1 By Type

3.1.1 TYPE 1

3.1.2 TYPE 2

3.2 Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Size by Type

3.3 Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Forecast by Type



Chapter Four: Major Region of Sugar-Free Chocolate Market

4.1 Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Sales

4.2 Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Revenue & market share



Chapter Five: Major Companies List



Chapter Six: Conclusion



Complete Purchase of Latest Version Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Study with COVID-19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1397287



Key questions answered

- What impact does COVID-19 have made on Global Sugar-Free Chocolate Market Growth & Sizing?

- Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Global Sugar-Free Chocolate market?

- What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Global Sugar-Free Chocolate market?

- What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global Sugar-Free Chocolate market?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.
Pro-life lawmakers urge Trump admin. to end IRS abortion tax deduction

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More than 100 U.S. senators and representatives have written to the Department of the Treasury to end tax breaks in the IRS code for abortion.

Presently, the IRS allows abortion expenses to be tax-deductible as a "medical expense."

Abortion is not healthcare. Any procedure where a successful outcome is the death of a living human being  born or unborn  is not healthcare, a letter signed by 23 senators, including Sens. Mike Braun, R-Ind., and James Lankford, R-Okla., along with 80 representatives reads.

The lawmakers noted that abortion was a crime in virtually every state when the deduction for medical care was first enacted in the Revenue Act of 1942. However, shortly after Roe v. Wade, the IRS imposed on the then-three-decade-old statute a meaning of medical care that would have been unthinkable to the 77th Congress that enacted it.

The members of Congress requested Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to take swift action to issue new regulations to protect innocent human life by ending tax breaks for abortion under the guise of medical care.

They urged the IRS not to consider abortions (except when the mothers life is physically endangered) to be medical care. The IRS should not treat premiums for health insurance that covers such abortions as medical care, unless in compliance with the laws separate accounting requirements for coverage of non-medical care.

In a press release, Rep. Warren Davidson from Ohio said, Abortion is not health care and it should not be recognized as such by the IRS.

Davidson called the 1973 IRS decision controversial, and said, taxpayers should never be forced to subsidize abortion, according to Pregnancy Help News.

Every human life from the moment of conception is invaluable, Braun said. Taking the life of an unborn child through abortion is certainly not health care and should not be treated as such.

Many pro-life organizations, including March for Life, Susan B. Anthony List, Family Research Council, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Concerned Women for America, Americans United for Life, Heritage Action and Students for Life of America have endorsed the letter.

In March, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., blasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Democrats for seeking to include a possible way to guarantee federal funding for abortion into the coronavirus economic relief plan. While schools are closing and hospitals are gearing up, Speaker Pelosi is waging unnecessary culture wars, Sasse told National Review in a statement.

Sasse was referring to a report in The Daily Caller, in which White House officials anonymously said that Pelosi attempted to secure a funding stream of up to $1 billion for reimbursing laboratory claims.

According to the officials, the provision would set a precedent of health spending without protections outlined in the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal tax dollars from paying for abortions.
Unearthed interview of former British spy sheds light on how the overthrow of PM Mohammed Mossadegh unfolded.

A recently discovered transcript of an interview with a British intelligence officer who played a leading role in the 1953 coup that restored powers to the shah of Iran claims that Britain was the driving force behind the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh.

On the anniversary of the UK-US-led coup detat that removed Irans democratically elected leader, an interview with Norman Darbyshire  head of the MI6 spy agencys Persia station in Cyprus at the time  was published.

In his account, Darbyshire said Britain had convinced the US to take part in the coup.

Darbyshires comments came from an interview with the creators of an episode of 1985 British series End of Empire. His interview was not used directly in the programme, as he did not want to appear on camera.

The transcript, long forgotten, was recently unearthed during the making of a new documentary called Coup 53, scheduled for release on Wednesday, the 67th anniversary of the coup.

Darbyshire died in 1993. The transcript of his interview was published on Monday by the National Security Archive at George Washington University in the United States.

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Even though it has been an open secret for decades, the UK government has not officially admitted its fundamental role in the coup. Finding the Darbyshire transcript is like finding the smoking gun. It is a historic discovery, Taghi Amirani, the director of Coup 53, was quoted by the Guardian newspaper as saying.

The coup  known as Operation Ajax  eventually succeeded on August 19, 1953. Mossadegh was tried and kept under house arrest until his death 14 years later.

Mossadegh is sentenced to three years solitary confinement by a military court in Tehran in December 1953 for acting against the shah [File: AP]

The classical plan

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi appointed Mossadegh as prime minister in 1951 after he won the backing of the Iranian parliament.

MI6 and the US Central Intelligence Agency then convinced the shah to back a coup against Mossadegh in 1953.

The plan would have involved seizure of key points in the city by what units we thought were loyal to the shah  seizure of the radio station etc  The classical plan, Darbyshire said.

Mossadegh had nationalised the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and MI6 believed Soviet-backed communists would eventually take over the government, according to Darbyshire.

I really do believe it, because Mossadegh was a fairly weak character, the spy said. [O]nce you get highly trained members of the communist party in, it doesnt take long. We didnt share the American view that he was acting as a bulwark against communism  We thought he would be pushed by the communists in the long run, said Darbyshire.

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Cold feet

The US was initially uninterested, and Britain did not want to move without Washington.

In the early months of [19]53 ..] we thought we had enough military units to mount something, but London started getting cold feet, he said in the interview.

Unfortunately, the head of SIS [MI6] at the time, General [John] Sinclair knew about as much of the Middle East as a 10-year-old, Darbyshire added.

When Dwight Eisenhower became president of the US in January 1953, Washington came on board. The next task was to convince the shah, then still young and inexperienced, to back the coup.

Darbyshire said he persuaded the shahs sister, Princess Ashraf, to fly from Paris to Tehran to talk the reluctant monarch into supporting the coup. We made it clear that we would pay expenses and when I produced a great wad of notes, her eyes alighted, he said.

Mohammed Mossadegh is helped to a car on being released in August 1956 after three years of imprisonment on treason charges [File: AP]

Darbyshire said Mossadeghs removal was inevitable.

They would have wanted to oust Mossadegh regardless of whether he would have signed an agreement favourable to the British, he said. Eventually they would have been forced to have considered getting rid of him to prevent a Russian takeover. I am convinced that was on the cards.

The coup cost 700,000 pounds. I know because I spent it, Darbyshire said.

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Sequence of tragedies

The removal of the democratically elected Mossadegh  who had implemented policies favourable to workers and the poor  and his replacement by the Western-backed absolute power of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi set the context for the anti-American sentiment that followed the 1979 Iranian revolution and the mutual mistrust and resentment that continue to affect relations between Tehran and Washington.

The coup that overthrew Mossadegh and his National Front cabinet was carried out under CIA direction as an act of US foreign policy, conceived and approved at the highest levels of government, other documents obtained by George Washington Universitys National Security Archive said.

Pahlavi, a close US ally, was toppled in the 1979 revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran was declared, its leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini making hostility towards the US a cornerstone of Irans foreign policy. The most immediate traumatic expression of that hostility was a hostage crisis that saw a group of Iranian students take control of the US embassy in Tehran and hold 52 Americans captive for 444 days.

Iranians truly believe that if it werent for the CIA, the shah would never have been brought to power, former CIA operative Robert Baer told Al Jazeera. And they believe that the CIA continues to operate as an evil force in their country.

The coup was the beginning of a sequence of tragedies that dog the US and its allies in the Middle East today.
US choppers attack Syrian army checkpoint in Hasakah, kill soldier

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 10:08 AM

The US military has carried out an airstrike in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah, killing a soldier and injuring two others.

Syria's official news agency SANA reported that the US airstrike targeted an army checkpoint near Tell al-Zakhab, southeast of the city of Qamishli in Hasakah.

The airstrike reportedly took place after the government checkpoint refused passage to a US patrol that tried to break into a zone controlled by the Syrian Army.

Two helicopters are said to have conducted the attack.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based monitoring group, claimed that two soldiers were killed in the aerial attack.

In the past, local people in Syrian towns and villages have repeatedly denied passage to US convoys and forced them to return to their illegal bases in areas controlled by Kurdish militants.

The US has been conducting airstrikes and operations against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from Damascus or a United Nations mandate.

The US military and its allies in the occupation of Syria have repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians.

The US dispatched new deployments to the Syrian provinces of Hasakah and Dayr al-Zawr following President Donald Trump's October decision to keep hundreds of US troops in Syria to "secure" the country's oilfields which Syrian troops have yet to retake from militants.

Syria and its allies in the war on terrorism have said US attempts to control Syria's oilfields are "illegal" and amount to "robbery."

The Arab country has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 03:29:15|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Monday strongly condemned a terrorist attack that took place on Sunday at the Elite Hotel in Somalia's capital of Mogadishu, which reportedly killed at least 16 people and left many others injured.

"This brazen attack targeted civilians, including government workers, peacefully enjoying their Sunday evening, causing many casualties," the UN special representative for Somalia, James Swan, said.

"This savagery has no place in the country being built by Somalis and it merits the strongest condemnation," he added.

In recent months, the extremist group al-Shabab, which claimed responsibility for the attack, has been increasing its assaults across the country.

The latest attack involved a car bomb at the seaside hotel, reportedly followed by an intense gun battle between the terrorists and Somali security forces.

According to news reports, more than 200 people were rescued, and five assailants were counted among those killed.

"This abhorrent attack should not and will not deter Somalis, and the entire United Nations family in Somalia reaffirms its commitment to and solidarity with all peace-loving Somalis in the face of such violence," said the special representative.

News reports detailed that after a car bomb exploded at the gates of the hotel on Lido Beach, a popular destination on the seafront, militants swarmed the hotel's compound and engaged with security forces in a four-hour gun fight.

According to media reports, Ismael Mukhtar Omar, the spokesperson for the Somali Information Ministry, said that Somali special forces stormed the grounds and rescued more than 200 people from inside the hotel. Meanwhile, Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo hoped for quick recovery to all the citizens who have been injured, and called on all Somalis "to stand with their brothers."

The United Nations in Somalia expressed "its deepest condolences" to the victim's families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Enditem
Kamala Harris does not want to be the president of the United States. She wants to be the queen of the post-constitutional remnants of what used to be the United States. On first reading, this might seem like a hysterical and overblown claim, but its actually quite easy to support. All one has to do is read the description of the presidents duties in Article II of the Constitution and compare it with anything and everything Harris has ever said she would do if she found herself occupying the post; the two simply do not match up. In fact, judging by her own words and deeds, she would be much more suited to life as a 17th-century European monarch. Her real ideological allies are neither Bernie bros nor Biden boosters. Theyre the Stuart kings of England  that loathsome dynasty that ruled over the Western-most isles of the Old World during the 1600s. Harriss utter disdain for legislative checks on executive power and her autocratic disposition toward the machinery of the state make her and these long-dead white men birds of a feather when it comes to statecraft. 332 years after the Glorious Revolution, she is on a one-woman mission to Make Tyranny Great Again.

During a CNN town hall in April of last year, the prospective Democratic v.p. had the following to say about her attitude toward Congress, the supreme Article I branch of the Federal government:

Upon being elected, I will give the United States Congress a hundred days to get their act together and have the courage to pass reasonable gun-safety laws. If they fail to do it, then I will take executive action.

When Joe Biden pointed out to his future running mate that American presidents dont have the authority to do anything like this, Harris responded by laughing the Constitution of the United States off in the style of Joaquin Phoenixs Joker. Hey, Joe, she shot back, Instead of saying no we cant, lets say yes we can!

Charles II was a big believer in yes we can, when we was used in the royal sense. The Militia Act of 1662 gave him the authority to disarm persons dangerous to the peace of the kingdom. Charless heir, James II, availed himself of this authority often to disarm potential enemies of his rule, particularly after a rebellion was raised against him when he ascended the throne in 1685. When James was deposed during the course of the Glorious Revolution, the English Parliament drew up a Declaration of Right that enshrined the right to bear arms. A century later, this language was lifted verbatim by James Madison and written into the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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Harriss propensity for gun-grabbing alone would make her a worthy latter-day heir of the Stuarts. But her threats at the town hall were only indirectly aimed at law-abiding gun-owners; Congress was her primary target. In this respect she resembles James IIs grandfather, James I. During a meeting with the Spanish ambassador in 1614, the latter expressed a similar exasperation at the legislatures unwillingness to do his bidding:

The House of Commons is a body without a head. The members give their opinion in a disorderly manner; at their meetings nothing is heard but cries, shouts and confusion. I am surprised that my ancestors should have permitted such a body to come into existence.

Replace The House of Commons with The Article I Branch and my ancestors with the Founders and Harriss views appear to be indistinguishable from the kings.

In matters of taxation and public spending, Harris is a woman after Charles Is own heart; the two share a passion for eminent domain, of all things. Under Charless reign, landowners were fined for all encroachments made by their ancestors into royal forests since the reign of Richard I, more than four centuries earlier. This allowed the king to make use of land that had long since passed into private hands for his own purposes. Last year, Harris announced a $100 billion housing plan that would do something similar, albeit to less medieval ends and in a more sophisticated way. The plan is essentially a policy love child of eminent domain and affirmative action. It aims to close the gap in household wealth between white and nonwhite Americans by providing up to 4 million households with $25,000 toward the down payment on a home. By design, it would unilaterally alter the racial composition of various areas of the country using the public purse. Needless to say, more minority homeowners would be an unqualified boon to the country, but this is just about the most authoritarian and economically disastrous means of pursuing that goal: a return to the sort of policy scheme that helped cause the great recession of 200709.

In his book Inventing Freedom: How the English-Speaking People Made the Modern World, Daniel Hannan observes that the conflict between the Stuarts and their subjects turned on three great issues: money, religion, and power. Weve discussed the first and the last of these issues, but surely there can be no tenable comparison drawn between Kamala Harris and the Stuart dynasty as far as religion is concerned? The Stuart kings were, after all, either Catholics themselves or sympathetic toward their Catholic subjects, while Harriss anti-Catholic bigotry has been well-documented by my colleague Alexandra DeSanctis. But there are, in fact, worrying parallels between Harris and her ideological ancestors in this area, too, and they are neither spurious nor superficial. On the contrary, they testify to a ruthless pursuit of personal advantage that holds even the most sacred aspects of human life in contempt.

In 1670, Charles II negotiated a secret treaty with Louis XIV of France. As part of that treaty, Charles agreed to make a public confession of Catholicism in exchange for 2 million crowns, a promise he eventually kept on his deathbed. This crude and self-interested transaction with the institutional Catholic hierarchy, which was anxious at that time for Protestant Britain to return to the Roman fold, has its own sinister parallel in the public life of Senator Harris.

As a young prosecutor, Harris specialized in dealing with sex crimes and child abuse. She made much of this specialty in campaign literature during her dubious ascent up the greasy pole of California politics. But as a report in The Intercept outlines, survivors of clerical sex abuse in San Francisco have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that Harris refused to take action against Catholic priests accused of sexual assault during her tenure as the citys district attorney. The Church was one of the citys most powerful political institutions when she took office in 2004, and many survivors were left with the impression that the ambitious young D.A. was wary of incurring its political wrath. Harriss predecessor as district attorney, Terence Hallinan, had aggressively pursued allegations of sexual assault made against local priests, prosecuting cases from years earlier that had only just come to light and undertaking a large-scale probe into the widespread sexual misconduct of clergymen. Six months before Harris was elected to succeed him, a Supreme Court decision nullified a California state law that had eliminated the statute of limitations on child-molestation charges. The focus was then shifted by victims to civil cases and to a broader attempt at publicly shaming predators who had been protected by the Church. Harris didnt actively assist in any of those cases and turned down repeated requests by the survivors lawyers to access the personnel files assembled by her predecessor. Doing dirty informal deals with the Catholic Church to get ahead turns out to be yet another trait that Harris and the Stuarts have in common.

The natural conclusion many will draw from this litany of political horrors is that we are once again facing a Flight 93 election  that Donald Trump is all that stands between us and the abyss. This, I submit, is incorrect. If you pick up any decent history of the Glorious Revolution, you will find that the conflict preceding its events wasnt primarily between James II and another claimant to the throne; it was between the king and Parliament. The Glorious Revolution was a battle between the legislative and the executive branches of government, with the House of Commons effectively electing a king in William III who would leave legislators alone to govern. The practical lesson Americans should take from this is that we need to care about congressional supremacy a lot more than we currently do.

As long as the political engagement of Americans is limited to voting in a presidential election, they will not be citizens in the true sense but courtiers and kingmakers, desperately striving to have some say in which man or woman they are ruled by instead of ruling themselves. We have already strayed dangerously far in this direction by turning the presidency into the kind of office that would appeal to someone such as Harris in the first place. According to all the great traditions of Anglophone liberty, Americans should go to the polls knowing that the most important choice they have to make is who will represent them in the House, followed by who will represent them in the Senate, and, last of all, who will preside over the federal government and execute the laws that Congress passes. At the moment, these priorities are completely inverted. Who gets your vote for president this year matters a lot less than anything and everything you can do to restore the proper Tocquevillian order of American liberty, in which local allegiances matter most.

There are many reasons that this order has been upended, and the biggest among them is Congresss collective-action problem. Conservatives can often be quite difficult to engage on the subject of congressional gridlock. Whenever one mentions it to folks on the right, the response is often gridlock is what the Founders intended, or building consensus is supposed to be difficult. There is an element of truth to this, of course. The Constitution is, as Greg Weiner calls it, Madisons metronome, built to keep stable republican self-government ticking along at a sustainable pace. But the fact remains that we have made legislating far more difficult than even Madison intended. He was the first to keep a roll of representatives, making it easier for him to cut deals with them as needed. Alexander Hamilton believed pork-barrel spending to be indispensable to effective statecraft. The bottom line is that there is too much transparency in Congress now for deals to be done. Faced with this level of sclerosis in the body politic, impatient voters turn to the branches of government that can provide outcomes efficiently when they act on their own: the executive and the judiciary. Restoring Congresss ability to give effect to the will of the electorate will likely mean repealing many of the transparency and anti-corruption reforms that it has undergone in recent decades. An Article I branch with earmarks, pork, and Senate hearings in which no cameras are permitted would be far more likely to deliver for voters and thus weaken the imperial presidency.

Im aware that such proposals are unlikely to inspire many. No politician will ever be greeted at a rally by a stadium full of voters chanting, SMOKE FILLED ROOMS! SMOKE FILLED ROOMS! But shifting our concern as a nation toward the rehabilitation of Congress is the best way to guard against neo-Stuartist presidential aspirants such as Harris in the long term. The best result we could possibly hope for in this years presidential election is one in which so many Americans have refused to vote at the top of the ticket that whoever wins is forced to follow Congresss lead, rather than the other way around. Though this is, of course, never going to happen, someone should still point out that it would be best for the country, both because it would and because neither of the party nominees is fit to run a village post office, never mind the worlds most storied republic.

So whatever your political persuasion, the best thing you can possibly do this year is to phone up your senators and your representative, preferably at least once a week, and instruct them that no matter which party holds the White House, they must grow a backbone and stop acting like a craven lickspittle of the executive branch. This country is only going to function properly if we start to care a little bit less about the parties and a lot more about the branches of government. The only sure way to avoid handing executive power to megalomaniacs such as Kamala Harris in the future is to shrink the presidency so drastically that holding it no longer appeals to them.

Donald Trump, Im afraid, is the last person on earth who would be enthusiastic about that project. He himself has been guilty during his term of many of the imperial abuses outlined above, including an irresponsible affection for eminent domain. The Republican Partys transformation into a cult of personality over the last four years is evidence enough that it cannot save us from kings and queens, and doesnt really want to. Only Congress can do that, and only we can save Congress. When evaluating congressional candidates in your district this fall, ask them if their commitment to the independence of the legislature outstrips their commitment to defeating or reelecting Donald Trump. If they cant answer in the affirmative, they dont deserve your vote.

More from National Review
KATHMANDU: Nepal and China could soon announce new height for Mount Everest, located in Nepal and Tibet and usually said to be the highest mountain on earth. A draft MoU  Memorandum of Understanding was exchanged between the two countries last month.

The Draft MoU between China's Ministry of Natural Resources and Nepal's Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation (MOLCPA-Nepal) is titled the joint announcement of 'height of mount Zhumulangma/Sagarmatha'.

The Article 1 of the MoU states, "According to the joint statement between the People's republic of China and Nepal on October 13, 2019, the parties shall jointly announce the heigh of mount Zhumulangma/Sagarmatha" with "date and details about the form of the announcement" to be discussed by both.

While the Draft does not specifically say joint measurement but does mention collaboration in mapping. Article 5 of the draft calls on Beijing and Kathmandu to 'shall establish a communication mechanism to promote the joint collaboration on various activities on surveying, mapping and geoinformation management.'

Last year, Nepal mounted an expedition to measure the mountain. This year, China sent an expedition for the same purpose. It is believed that China is keen on the expeditious announcement by both countries on the new height of the highest mountain on the planet.

The Article 4 of the draft document calls for both countries to 'jointly conduct scientific research and engineering cooperation' in the fields of 'Topographic mapping, geographic information system' the region of Mount Everest.

The current elevation of mount Everest is 8,848 m, recognised by India, China and Nepal. It was established by an Indian survey done in 1955. The development is expected to raise eyebrows globally, even as Nepal and China come close to each other.
Kabul, Aug 18 : Fourteen rockets hit a diplomatic district and other neighbourhoods of Kabul on Tuesday injuring a total of 10 people, as Afghanistan marked its 101st Independence Day, a spokesman of the Interior Ministry confirmed.

"At 9.36 a.m. 14 rounds of rockets were fired from two sedans from Police District 8 and Police District 17 into the city centre. Most of the rockets hit residential houses, injuring 10 people," Xinhua news agency quoted Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian as saying in a tweet.

Local media footage showed several vehicles and houses damaged by the rocket explosions and initial reports found that rockets struck Police Districts 1, 2, 10, 9, and 16.

The blasts sent columns of thick smoke into the sky in several locations and triggered panic.

The capital police have arrested two suspected terrorists from Police District 17 after the rocket attack, according to Arian.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Afghanistan on Tuesday marked the 101st anniversary of its independence from British occupation amid the worsening security situation.

At an official celebration to commemorate the day, President Ashraf Ghani laid a wreath at the Independence Minaret on Tuesday morning inside the country's Defence Ministry compound after inspecting guards of honour.

The President paid tribute to security forces who have sacrificed their lives for peace and security as the country, especially Kabul, has witnessed waves of terror attacks by the Islamic State (IS) outfit and Taliban insurgents over the past few months.

Since the signing of a Taliban and US peace agreement in late February, Afghan leaders, including Ghani, have frequently demanded the Taliban to reduce violence.

The militants, however, have intensified attacks.
In May, the group received emergency financial guarantees from the Norwegian government. Photo: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Swedish government announced on Tuesday that it rejected a state credit guarantee for struggling airline Norwegian Air (NAS.OL).

The countrys debt office, which runs the government support programme, said that the credit can only be granted to airlines that were financially viable on the last day of 2019.

Shares fell 5% on Tuesday morning.

Norwegian Air indicated the decision would not have an immediate impact on the carrier, according to Reuters.

READ MORE: European stocks dip as US expands Huawei sanctions

In May, the airline received emergency financial guarantees from the Norwegian government, after it raised cash from its owners and forced creditors to convert parts of the debt to equity.

Norwegian Airs July passenger volume fell by 90.4% on the year, after the coronavirus pandemic and global lockdowns saw most of its fleet grounded. It flew only 356,093 passengers during July 2020, compared to 3.7 million in the previous year.

Norwegian Air's shares over the last five days. Image: Yahoo Finance

After COVID-19 forced the budget carrier to limit its operations to domestic Norway flights, using only eight aircrafts, it has begun to fly more widely in Europe due to the relaxing of lockdown restrictions. Its transatlantic operations are still on hold.

In June, the group said it would claim compensation from US plane maker Boeing (BA) after it cancelled orders for 97 aircrafts, following the grounding of the 737 MAX and for engine issues on its 787 Dreamliner jets.

Norwegian Air also filed a legal claim seeking compensation for the companys losses following the grounding of the 737 MAX and the return of pre-delivery payments related to the aircraft.

READ MORE: Turbulent times ahead for airlines as UK travel quarantine restrictions kick in

The European budget airline revolutionised transatlantic travel after it sprung on the scene in 2012 with a multi-year order for up to 372 planes, of which 222 were from Boeing (BA) and 150 from Airbus (AIR.PA).

After rapid growth and expansion Norwegian Air became Europes third-largest budget airline and the biggest non-US carrier serving New York and other major US cities, which caused it to accrue debts and liabilities totalling about $8bn (6bn) by the end of 2019.

Norwegian Air cannot appeal the Swedish debt office's decision.
Councilman Gil Cedillo speaks at a meeting at Los Angeles City Hall in 2017. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles City Councilman Gil Cedillo wants to stop local hotels from being used by private security firms to house and detain migrant children or families, saying he was appalled by a recent report that a Chinatown hotel had been used for that purpose.

Cedillo introduced a proposal Tuesday to bar or suspend the certificate of occupancy  a document that confirms a structure is in compliance with building codes  for any hotel that is used for detaining migrant youth or families.

Doing so, his spokesman Conrado TerrazasCross said, would prevent such hotels from being able to operate.

"We don't want anybody to ever think this is OK in the city of Los Angeles," Cedillo said. "This is a sanctuary city and that has to mean something ... We are not participating in the horrific, draconian policies of Donald Trump."

Implementing the proposal would require the entire council to vote to ask city lawyers to draft an ordinance, which would be returned to the council for approval.

Federal officials have increasingly been using hotels to detain migrant families and unaccompanied children under the Trump administration, in what critics have referred to as a "shadow system" that lacks important safeguards.

Lawyers for one Guatemalan teen told The Times in May that their 16-year-old client, an asylum seeker, had been shuttled from city to city and hotel to hotel, repeatedly cut off from contact with her attorneys. The growing practice under cover of the COVID-19 pandemic has alarmed immigrant advocates who say the facilities are not designed for them and risks additional trauma, the Associated Press reported.

This week, the New York Times reported that a Best Western hotel in Chinatown  which is part of the council district represented by Cedillo  was one of several hotels used by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to detain migrants during the 2020 fiscal year.

The newspaper also identified a Quality Suites in San Diego and other hotels operated by major chains in Texas, Arizona, Florida and Washington state, citing government data and court documents. ICE told the New York Times that the children were being adequately cared for at the hotels.

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The Best Western chain said that its branded hotels are independently owned and operated, but said the Chinatown hotel had confirmed it is not providing accommodations to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees. When asked whether migrants had been detained there previously, Best Western said it was "not aware of any evidence to support the allegation that individuals were detained at the hotel in 2020."

A front desk employee reached Monday at the Best Western Plus Dragon Gate Inn said the hotel had been closed since April and declined to provide any further information.

The American Hotel & Lodging Assn., when asked about the proposal from Cedillo, said in a statement that hotels "are not intended or equipped to serve as detention centers or for detaining people."

"We are concerned about recent news reports of hotel rooms being used in this manner and we encourage hoteliers to be vigilant against suspicious booking tactics that may be used to disguise the true purpose of a reservation," the association said.

Cedillo was skeptical that hotels would not realize that rooms were being booked for detainees. "It seems incumbent upon the hotel  or any business  to be concerned about who they're working with," the councilman said.
New research from a European group of smell disorder experts, including Prof Philpott at the University of East Anglia, shows how smell loss associated with Covid-19 infection differs from what you typically might experience with a bad cold or flu.

The new study published today is the first to compare how people with Covid-19 smell and taste disorders differ from those with other causes of upper respiratory tract infections.

The main differences found are that, although Covid-19 patients also lose their sense of smell, they can breathe freely, do not tend to have a runny or blocked nose, and they cannot detect bitter or sweet tastes.

These findings lend weight to the theory that Covid-19 infects the brain and central nervous system.

The research team hope that their work could help develop smell and taste tests for fast Covid-19 screening - in primary care and emergency departments.

Lead researcher Prof Carl Philpott, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "The loss of smell and taste is a prominent symptom of Covid-19, however it is also a common symptom of having a bad cold. We wanted to find out exactly what differentiates Covid-19 smell loss with the kind of smell loss you might have with a cold and blocked-up nose."

The research team carried out smell and taste tests on 10 Covid-19 patients, 10 people with bad colds and a control group of 10 healthy people - all matched for age and sex.

Prof Philpott said: "We wanted to see if their smell and taste test scores could help discriminate between Covid-19 patients and those with a heavy cold.

"We know that Covid-19 behaves differently to other respiratory viruses, for example by causing the body's immune system to over-react, known as a cytokine storm, and by affecting the nervous system.

"So we suspected that patterns of smell loss would differ between the two groups.

"We found that smell loss was much more profound in the Covid-19 patents. They were less able to identify smells, and they were not able to identify bitter or sweet tastes. In fact it was this loss of true taste which seemed to be present in the Covid-19 patients compared to those with a cold.

"This is very exciting because it means that smell and taste tests could be used to discriminate between Covid-19 patients and people with a regular cold or flu.

"Although such tests could not replace formal diagnostic tools such as throat swabs, they could provide an alternative when conventional tests are not available or when rapid screening is needed - particularly at the level of primary care, in emergency departments or at airports.

"This research also shows that there are altogether different things going on when it comes to smell and taste loss for Covid-10 patients, compared to those with a bad cold.

"It has previously been suggested that the Covid-19 virus affects the central nervous system, based on the neurological signs developed by some patients. There are also similarities with SARS, which has also been reported to enter the brain, possibly via smell receptors in the nose.

"Our results reflect, at least to some extent, a specific involvement at the level of central nervous system in some COVID-19 patients.

"It is particularly interesting that Covid-19 seems to particularly affect sweet and bitter taste receptors, because these are known to play an important role in innate immunity.

"More research is needed to see whether genetic variation in people's bitter and sweet taste receptors might predispose them to Covid-19, or conversely, whether Covid-19 infection changes how these receptors function, either directly or through a cytokine storm - the over-reaction of the body's immune system."

###

This research was led by the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc (Belgium), Universite catholique de Louvain (Belgium) in collaboration with researchers at University of East Anglia/The Norfolk Smell and Taste Clinic at the James Paget University Hospital (UK), Aristotle University (Greece), Acibadem Taksim Hospital in Istanbul (Turkey), Biruni University (Turkey) and University Hospital of Foggia (Italy).

'Comparison of COVID-19 and Common Cold Chemosensory Dysfunction' is published in the journal Rhinology on August 19, 2020.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aerendir Mobile Inc., in collaboration with two academic labs from San Francisco State University and the University of California, Riverside, has found evidence that profoundly challenges the Privacy Paradox. The Privacy Paradox is a phenomenon used to explain the inconsistency between an individual's intentions to protect their privacy and how they actually behave online. The theory propels the account that consumers are comfortable giving up a certain degree of privacy (i.e., sharing data) in exchange for personalized products and better user experiences.

Based on Aerendir Mobile's research published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, the privacy paradox is no longer a tenable position because more than 90% of all users, regardless of demographics, would like their private data to be private again. Consumer's apparent acceptance is due to the fact that they have no real choice because few companies offer privacy-preserving services. Without choice, no one can claim broad acceptance. To those who would argue that no one could prove this was a forced choice, Aerendir Mobile measured the emotional response of participants from this set of studies in a very strict and validated manner, and the writing is on the wall. There are feelings of hostility, disgust, anger, and other negative emotions towards what is starting to be known as "Surveillance Capitalism," a term coined by Harvard Professor Shoshana Zuboff. Was it the result of Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal? No, all data were collected two years before Facebook was called to testify in front of the US Congress.

Aerendir Mobile proudly announces that it has already performed several follow up studies concerning privacy-enhancing technology, ethical consumer engagement, and giving users control over how to use and share data has only begun. We will likely enter an era where online Privacy rights will be defined, and some business models will need to be adapted to prevent user's rejection.

It is time to build First Amendment Rights at the code level across the Internet and IoT.

About Aerendir Mobile Inc.

Aerendir Mobile Inc. is the developer of a neural tapping technology based on mobile devices that allows for a next-generation AI-powered authentication, identification, encryption and bot segregation platform. Among the first two products available are a foolproof authenticator and a neural anti AI-bot. Aerendir's products use its patented NeuroPrint technology to extract a unique proprioceptive signal from micro-vibrational patterns found in the user's hands, using the existing hardware found in today's mobile devices. Aerendir's solution can be embedded in any device or active surface to capture a biometric reading from any muscle in the body. Aerendir's code can function at all levels of integration from binary libraries, OS and firmware to SoC/ASIC. Aerendir's biometric technology is designed to put security back in the hands of the individual. For more information, please visit www.aerendir.info.

Contact: Laura Kamphaus, +1-858-344-7942, [email protected]

SOURCE Aerendir Mobile Inc.

Related Links

https://www.aerendir.info


Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 19:16:54|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Agnes Tjongarero has appointed an appeal committee for sport on Tuesday, as clearly stipulated in the Namibia Sport Act 2003.

The appeals committee will be spearheaded by legal practitioner, Ruth Herunga, who is the chairperson while the other two members on the appeal committee are Marius Kudumo and Donovan Zealand.

The appeal committee will serve on the board for a period of three years.

"Article 35 of the Act clearly stipulates that three people should be appointed based on three qualifications, legal qualifications, expertise in sport and experience in administrative matters," Tjongarero told the appeal committee.

The last time sport in Namibia had an appeal committee was in 2012.

Zealand said although his team has an uphill battle to overcome challenges facing sports, he is eager to contribute to the good welfare of sport in the country.

"We all know about the challenges sport is currently facing, however, we will try our level best," said Zealand. Enditem
In his Democratic National Convention speech, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said the coronavirus pandemic has taught Americans a "critical lesson  how vulnerable we are when we are divided and how many lives can be lost when our government is incompetent."

Cuomo slammed President Trump and his administration's response to the coronavirus, saying it was "attacking us for months before they even knew it was here. We saw the failure of a government that tried to deny the virus, then tried to ignore it, and then tried to politicize it." New York was hit hard by COVID-19 in the spring, and Cuomo accused the federal government of watching his state "get ambushed" and "suffer" because of its "negligence."

The country's "collective strength is exercised through government," Cuomo continued, and it is "in effect our immune system. Our current federal government is dysfunctional and incompetent. It couldn't fight off the virus  in fact, it didn't even see it coming." That doesn't mean things can't turn around, though; Cuomo said America can "still rise to the occasion. We can put our differences aside and find commonality." Government and leadership matter, and both determine "whether we thrive and grow or whether we live and die," he added.

Cuomo said this is why he is backing former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. He is a "leader as good as our people," Cuomo declared. "A leader who appeals to the best within us, not the worst. A leader who can unify, not divide. A leader who can bring us up, not tear us down."

More stories from theweek.com

TV networks are reportedly afraid of giving the RNC too much airtime, so they cut the DNC's time short too

Bill Clinton is getting sidelined at the DNC

Cuba Gooding Jr. accused of rape in lawsuit


The Grand Rapids Griffins have re-signed forward Tyler Spezia to a one-year contract.

Spezia, a 27-year old LAnse Creuse High School graduate, appeared in 22 games with the Griffins last season, contributing six goals and three assists for nine points while posting 18 penalty minutes. Spezia, a third-year pro, including three pro tryout stints with the Griffins during the 2018-19 campaign, has 11 points (7-4-11) and 18 PIM in 30 career games with Grand Rapids.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound forward also played in 21 games for the ECHLs Toledo Walleye last season, recording 20 points (10-1020) and 26 PIM. A native of Clinton Township, Mi., Spezia has played in 79 career regular season games for the Walleye since 2018-19, accounting for 59 points (21-38-59) and 62 PIM. He was Toledos top-scoring rookie with 39 points (11-28-39) in 58 games two seasons ago and tied for 19th in the ECHL during the 2019 Kelly Cup Playoffs with 12 points (3-9-12) in 24 games as he helped the Walleye advance to the Kelly Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Spezia played four seasons (2014-18) at Bowling Green State (WCHA), where he collected 72 points (34-38-72), 103 PIM and a plus-34 rating in 147 games. A two-time selection to the WCHA All-Academic Team, Spezia produced a career-high 10 goals as a sophomore and senior and tied for second on the club with a career-high 30 points as a junior.
For Kristin and Ilya Shapiro, the Covid pandemic has created new tensions. Lately, the spouses have argued about Mr. Shapiros travel schedule: Ms. Shapiro doesnt like that it creates child-care headaches. But Mr. Shapiro says its important to his work as a Washington, D.C., think tank director, and offers emotional respite too.

I would be lying if I said there havent been tears, says Ms. Shapiro, a 37-year-old attorney. She is confident they will make it through together. But for now, their stress level is high. This has been a very difficult period, she says.

Even in the best of times, marriage and relationships are hard work. But the pandemic has produced a pressure cooker inside homes, straining even strong partnerships and, experts say, likely breaking others. Families are cooped up, with spouses trying to work while also taking care of their kids. Job losses, caring for at-risk elderly parents, arguments over whats safe, and disagreements over school reopening are all taking a toll.

Where there was a crack, there is now a rupture, says Kathryn Smerling, a family therapist in New York City. Dr. Smerling says she has gotten about 20 calls for appointments from couples in the past four months, compared with a handful in the same period a year ago.

Susan Myres, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, which represents 1,600 members nationwide, says she expects new divorce filings to increase somewhere between 10% and 25% in the second half of this year. For much of the lockdown, most state courts werent processing divorce filings or struggled to manage case flow, so it isnt currently possible to assemble meaningful nationwide statistics, she says. But anecdotally, she says, member attorneys have received more queries than normal since March.

More than one-quarter of adults said they know a couple likely to break up, separate or divorce when the coronavirus pandemic ends, according to an Ipsos poll of 1,005 people conducted at the end of July. In White Plains, N.Y., divorce attorney Leslie Montanile says her what-if callsfree consultations for clients putting out an initial feelerhave totaled 20 in the past four months compared with about three in that time last year.

Sodoma Law, a family law practice based in Charlotte, N.C., consulted with 263 new clients on divorce issues from April to July compared with 217 clients in that same period a year ago, says Nicole Sodoma, founder and managing principal of the firm. Summertime is usually when separating parents make the transition to two households, giving themselves time to acclimate before the school year begins. But courts have either been closed or backed up, she says, and many clients have felt stuck. Its added stress to an already stressful situation, she says.

In some cases, tensions can mount into violence. The National Domestic Violence Hotline says total contactscalls, texts and online chatsincreased 9% to more than 62,000 in the period from mid-March to mid-May, compared with the same period a year earlier.

When couples have external stress, it affects how they interact with each other, says Paula Pietromonaco, a professor emerita at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who wrote a recent analysis on the potential impact of Covid-19 on marriages for American Psychologist. Interactions become less constructive. People are likelier to blame their partner.

Dr. Pietromonaco says research has demonstrated the toll that outside stresses can take on a couples relationship. One recent study published in the Journal of Family Psychology observed 414 newlywed couples. Spouses who experienced greater external stress, from work stressors to financial problems, had lower relationship satisfaction than couples with fewer external stressors.



Read the whole story: The Wall Street Journal
Nasir El-Rufai

Nasir El-Rufai, the Kaduna State Governor has said his administration will install closed-circuit televisions in the southern part of the state as part of efforts to strengthen security forces and restore calm in the crisis-torn communities.

The governor made this known in a statement after meeting with the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Revd. Supo Ayokunle, and other CAN leaders in Kaduna yesterday.

The statement titled, Let Us Unite to Build a Constituency for Peace in Kaduna State partly read, Since last month, the state government and security agencies have been working to contain an upsurge in violence and needless killings in parts of the state. We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives in a totally unnecessary frenzy of communal attacks, reprisals and revenge.

While we mourn the dead, our immediate focus remains to stop the cycle of attacks and reprisals. We remain committed to ending the legacy of violence that has blighted the state for 40 years, needlessly taken many lives and curtailed the life chances of others.

We will continue to support the security agencies to restore calm in the affected communities. Over the last five years, we have invested heavily in the security sector. We have consistently provided vehicles and other logistics support to the security agencies that are deployed in the state.

We are also addressing the technology side of security, through the procurement of drones, the award of contracts to install CCTVs in phases in Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria metropolitan areas, build a command and control centre and establish a forensic laboratory.
Lilly Wachowski confirmed a popular fan theory earlier this month when she acknowledged that The Matrix trilogy, which she wrote and directed with sister Lana Wachowski, was in fact a transgender allegory. Im glad that it has gotten out that that was the original intention, the filmmaker said in a video for Netflix Film Club.

In a new interview with Yahoo Entertainment, the series star Keanu Reeves reacted to Wachowskis revelation, admitting he was unaware of those particular deeper meanings.

I never spoke to Lilly about that, she never conveyed that to me, Reeves told us during an interview promoting the new instalment of whats now his other sci-fi trilogy, Bill & Ted Face the Music, where he was joined by costar Alex Winter (watch above).

I think The Matrix films are profound, and I think that allegorically, a lot of people in different versions of the film can speak to that. And for Lilly to come out and share that with us, I think is cool.

Read more: Laurence Fishburne not asked back for Matrix 4

Fans have speculated about what gender identity intentions the Wachowskis had in mind for the series, which kicked off with 1999s The Matrix and was followed by 2003s The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, since at least 2012 when Lana came out as transgender. Lilly followed suit in 2016.

Keanu Reeves in 'The Matrix' (Warner Bros.)

Some of the more prevalent theories pointed to the fact that Reevess hero lives a double life as computer programmer and hacker, that his chosen name is Neo, and that the red pill that awakens reality within the Matrix could symbolise red oestrogen pills.

Im glad people are talking about The Matrix movies with a trans narrative, Lilly said in the Netflix video. I love how meaningful those films are to trans people and the way that they come up to me say, Those movies saved my life. Because when you talk about transformation, specifically in the world of science fiction, which is just about imagination and world-building and the idea of the seemingly impossible becoming possible, thats why it speaks it to them so much.

Story continues

Read more: Bill & Ted writers reveal origin of characters

Reeves began filming the upcoming sequel The Matrix 4 in San Francisco in February, but the production was shut down due to the coronavirus in mid-March.

Asked if the newly confirmed themes will manifest in the sequel, which is being directed by Lana only (from a screenplay she wrote with Aleksander Hemon and David Mitchell) and slated for release in 2022, Reeves said this:

I dont know. I think itll be open to interpretation, he laughed.

Bill & Ted Face the Music is coming to UK cinemas soon.
KYIV -- Media watchdogs have called on Ukrainian authorities to investigate intimidation and attacks against journalists from Skhemy (Schemes), a joint investigative project by RFE/RL and UA: Pershy television, after one of their cars was torched.

The International and European federations of journalists said in a statement on August 18 that a campaign of harassment and intimidation, including suspected surveillance and arson attacks, was aimed at "muzzling" the journalists' investigations.

The day before, the car of one of the team members was set on fire outside Kyiv, which investigators said was caused by "an external ignition source." No one was hurt in the incident.

"It is essential that investigative journalists can freely and critically report on corruption and wrongdoing of state officials," IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said in the statement.

"Surveillance and the attack against this team are worrisome blows against press freedom that can't go unpunished. We stand in solidarity with the victimized journalists and call on the authorities to protect them from these attacks," he added.

A similar statement from the Committee to Protect Journalists urged Ukrainian authorities to find the perpetrators of the torching of the and "hold them to account."

Skhemy reporters were recently working on a story revealing how the transport of high-level state officials is breaking traffic rules.

During the production of the program, the journalists repeatedly voiced concerns about being under surveillance.

Skhemy reporter Mykhaylo Tkach said earlier in August that he believed he had found signs of surveillance in his apartment.

"Authorities also must thoroughly investigate the surveillance allegations" made Tkach, said Gulnoza Said, the CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator.

"By reporting on corruption, investigative journalists at Schemes are doing an important service for the public, and the authorities should ensure their safety," Said added.

RFE/RL acting President Daisy Sindelar has expressed distress over the arson attack, saying that while no one was injured, the broadcaster remains "concerned that this incident appears aimed at intimidating RFE/RL's reporters and contributing to a threatening environment for journalists across Ukraine."

"Schemes is an award-winning investigative team whose work is vital to the public interest of all Ukrainians. We urge Ukrainian authorities to ensure that our colleagues can work safely and without fear," she added in a statement on August 17.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has strongly criticized ICICI Bank for allowing Peoples Bank of China to invest in the bank despite strong sentiments prevailing in the country against China and its anti-India policies.

The CAIT said that this is a second such instance of a Chinese bank trying to make inroads into the Indian banking system.

The People's Bank of China had earlier this year made an investment in HDFC Bank. "The CAIT has asked Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman to direct both ICICI & HDFC Bank to return the investments by Chinese bank," a statement said.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that it seems quite clear that China has designed a well planned strategy to make an intrusion into the Indian banking sector which is quite well regulated and is very important for the financial health of the country.

Even though the Government had introduced a mechanism to check the foreign portfolio investments, there is nothing concrete yet from the RBI to restrain and control the funding coming in from China.

CAIT National President B.C. Bhartia has said that this sudden interest of China into India's banking sector raises an alarm bell for the entire banking sector and the Reserve Bank of India, being the custodian of India's banking sector must now be on high alert to closely monitor this sinister strategy of China which in the long run can be detrimental to the nation.

"Certainly, the present investments might be small but we should not forget that its a part of strategy of China," he added.

In matter of exports of Chinese goods to India, China started the first year in 2001 with only $2 billion of exports to India which has risen up to $70 billion in 2019. A whopping increase of 3500 per cent and in the same way, China must be looking at country's financial and banking sectors.

Both CAIT leaders have urged Sitharaman to take immediate cognizance of this entire matter and devise a policy framework to thwart China's plans and protect the sovereignty of the banking system as also advise the RBI to take necessary steps immediately.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
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A brand new motorway junction that cost 50 million to build has not even opened yet because developers have not built a link road to it.

The M49, in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, was dubbed the most expensive dead end when it was not finished late by 2019 when it was supposed to be.

It is nearly nine months later and almost no traffic use the motorway because any vehicles that do end up at a fenced off dead end.

The 49 was supposed to link a distribution park, used by firms including Amazon, Tesco, Lidl, Next, DHL and The Range, to the motorway network.

The M49 (pictured) is missing a link road that it supposed to be a network that connects vehicles to a distribution park

When drivers reach the dead end they reach a fenced-off area from which they can see Amazon's warehouse but not be able to drive to it.

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council told the BBC it was 'working to influence' the developers, Severnside Distribution Land and Delta Properties, to build the link road.

One man who lives in the nearby village Pilning said lorries use an A road instead of the motorway.

The 50 million motorway has almost no traffic on it as it simply leads to a fenced off dead end

The new junction would be the only one on the short M49 - which links the M5 at Avonmouth with a bridge that crosses the River Severn.

A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council told MailOnline: 'Now that Highways England has constructed the new junction, the responsibility for building the link road, which will provide access to the junction and the wider network lies solely with the landowner, Delta Properties.

'We have been working to influence and help facilitate construction of the link road and have been in contact with both the landowner and major employers in the area, seeking to ensure that the link is constructed in a timely manner.'
Charles Leclerc is coming under fire for completing two full laps of the Spanish GP after unbuckling his seatbelts.

When his Ferrari shut off on lap 37 in Barcelona, Leclerc undid his belts in anticipation of getting out the stricken car - only for it to re-fire.

He then drove two full laps of the circuit - often surpassing 300kph according to Germany's Bild newspaper.

"It was too late to continue because I had already undone my seatbelts," Lerclerc is quoted as saying. "That's why I had to go back to the pits."

Former driver Christian Danner criticises the 22-year-old.

"Apart from the fact that it is grossly negligent to continue driving like that, it is forbidden," he said.

"In my opinion it should be punished."

(GMM)
MaxFlow Technology pioneered by Medela generates vacuum with micro-vibrations for increased milk flow and optimal performance

Closed system pump offers 10 pre-programmed vacuum settings and simple, intuitive control

Available through major U.S. and Canadian retailers online in August; available to moms through insurance in September and WIC in October

See how Medela, the #1 recommended breast pump brand*, has redefined a legacy to deliver trusted performance with the new Pump In Style with MaxFlow. The New Pump In Style has the new Medela exclusive Max Flow technology with hospital performance in a highly effective yet easy to use breast pump, with closed system. Woman. Mom. Teacher. Insert Hero Name. The New Pump In Style with MaxFlow is designed for hardworking moms everywhere. Get everything you need to pump at home or away, including cooler bag, stylish carry bag, and battery pack for convenient pumping. The New Pump In Style with MaxFlow is highly effective, yet easy to use and clean. Comfortable, intuitive, hardworking, with advanced motor designed to pump more milk in less time. New Pump In Style with MaxFlow technology is clinically proven to increase milk volume. Medela's pre-programmed pump settings based on extensive research in breastfeeding and pumping, take the guesswork out for more effective pumping to help moms when she needs it most. The New Pump In Style with MaxFlow is inspired by our hospital-grade Symphony breast pump to advance milk efficiency, comfortable pumping, and intuitive control for a perfect on-the-go portability.

MCHENRY, Ill., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medela, the No. 1 mom-recommended breast pump brand*, today announced the launch of the NEW Pump In Style with MaxFlow Technology double electric, personal-use breast pump in the U.S. and Canada. Featuring a hospital-performance, a closed system and intuitive control panel, Pump In Style combines the trusted performance moms expect from Medela with exclusive new unique technology and a modern design.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8759951-medela-new-pump-in-style-breast-pump/

"Parents today are busy, and even more so in a COVID-19 quarantined world. They balance jobs, childcare, potential homeschooling and many other responsibilities, and these hardworking parents deserve a simple product that makes their lives easier," said Melissa Gonzales, executive vice president of the Americas for Medela. "Redefining the breast pump that has supported millions of moms for nearly 25 years, during National Breastfeeding Month in the U.S., is an exciting milestone for Medela and an opportunity to honor moms with a highly effective, high performing and easy-to-use breast pump that works as hard as they do. During these difficult economic times, we wanted to introduce how we've reimagined the #1 breast pump chosen by moms and recommended by doctors** to support the breastfeeding families who need to access a high quality breast pump through insurance, WIC and our retail partners."

The Hardworking Pump for the Hardworking Mom

The Pump In Style with MaxFlow Technology is designed for moms who pump several times a day and need a highly effective breast pump to maintain their supply. Whether at home or at the office, running errands or enjoying family time, the NEW Pump In Style combines Medela's deep knowledge and years of research to deliver hospital performance, an easy-to-use interface, comfort and reassurance.

Performance: Innovative vacuum mechanism combines Medela's research-based 2-Phase Expression technology with a NEW MaxFlow technology, generating a vacuum with micro-vibrations to increase and optimize milk flow. A clinical pilot study compared MaxFlow technology with standard breast pump technology, revealing that MaxFlow removes higher percentage of available milk faster than other breast pumps, a significant benefit for moms seeking to build and maintain their milk supply 

Innovative vacuum mechanism combines Medela's research-based 2-Phase Expression technology with a NEW MaxFlow technology, generating a vacuum with micro-vibrations to increase and optimize milk flow. A clinical pilot study compared MaxFlow technology with standard breast pump technology, revealing that MaxFlow removes higher percentage of available milk faster than other breast pumps, a significant benefit for moms seeking to build and maintain their milk supply Easy-to-Use Interface: Intuitive controls allow for simple pump operation and easy experience finding Maximum Comfort Vacuum level. With fewer parts and large openings, it is also easier to clean compared to the previous version

Intuitive controls allow for simple pump operation and easy experience finding Maximum Comfort Vacuum level. With fewer parts and large openings, it is also easier to clean compared to the previous version Comfort: Two sizes of PersonalFit Flex breast shields with soft rim and oval shape for better fit and effective, yet comfortable pumping. The flex shields are another award-winning innovation added to this pump designed to help mom extract 11.8 percent more milk faster

Two sizes of PersonalFit Flex breast shields with soft rim and oval shape for better fit and effective, yet comfortable pumping. The flex shields are another award-winning innovation added to this pump designed to help mom extract 11.8 percent more milk faster Reassurance: Closed system prevents milk from entering the Y-tubing and pump motor, providing confidence in hygiene and quality of expressed milk. The new tube design eliminates tangling issues and simplifies the connection for double or single pumping

To ensure that all moms have access to continue feeding their babies with breast milk for longer, the new Pump In Style with MaxFlow Technology will be available through insurance plans beginning in September. Medela's new Pump In Style with Max Flow will be available through major distributors that provide breast pumps through insurance, including Aeroflow Breastpumps, Byram Healthcare, Edgepark, and Medline @ Home; additional breast pump distributors will come online in October and November. Families who qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will be able to access Pump In Style with MaxFlow technology in October.

The NEW Pump In Style with MaxFlow Technology retails for U.S. $199.99 to $249.99 SRP. It is available now for U.S. shoppers online at Amazon, Target.com, Walmart.com, BuyBuyBaby.com and in-store at Target, and it will be available in Buy Buy Baby Stores in October and at Walmart in November. For Canadian shoppers, the Pump In Style will be available for purchase beginning August 28 on Amazon.ca, Walmart.ca, BabiesRUs.ca and BuyBuyBaby.com, for $375 CDN.

For more information, visit Medela Pump In Style with MaxFlow.

About Medela

With headquarters in Barr, Switzerland, and a U.S.-based manufacturing and development facility in McHenry, Illinois, Medela supports millions of moms and babies and patients in more than 100 countries all over the world. As the #1 breast pump brand*, Medela provides the best in research-based breast milk feeding products and clinical education to support moms' breast milk feeding journey. The company is fully dedicated to supporting mothers so that they can provide breast milk to their baby for as long as they choose. For more information, visit www.medela.us/breastfeeding.

*IQVIA, using ProVoice Survey; September 2019-August 2019

** IQVIA ProVoice Survey; Nov 2017-Oct 2018. Medela 2018 U.S. Breast Milk Feeding Report. Medela 2017 Managed Markets Pulse Study.

Medela Clinical research: Data on file; 2020.

SOURCE Medela LLC
Russia rejected US anti-Iran text after 19 months of negotiation: State Dept. official

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 7:55 PM

Russia "refused to negotiate" an anti-Iran text proposed by the US ahead of Washington's embarrassment at the UN Security Council over extension of an arms embargo on Tehran, says a State Department official.

"The United States has for the last 19 months sought to foster dialogue and discussion with Russia and other Security Council members on extending the UN arms embargo," the State Department spokesperson told US News on Monday. "Russia has repeatedly, and puzzlingly, claimed there is no legitimate basis to discuss extending the UN arms embargo at the UN Security Council, and has refused to negotiate on any of the texts we proposed."

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official further claimed that Washington has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for a global summit on Iran because it finds the Security Council "the best place to have discussions" on the issue.

"The United States believes strongly that the Security Council is the best place to have discussions related to extending the UN arms embargo, and we have the benefit of 13 years of Security Council precedent on our side," the spokesperson said in an email.

This is while US President Donald Trump has reportedly told aides he would like to meet with his Russian counterpart in person before the 2020 presidential election in November.

The US faced an embarrassment at the Security Council Friday after even its allies  Germany, France, and Britain  refused to throw their support behind Trump in extending the arms embargo on Iran, set to be lifted in October under the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

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MELBOURNE/BENGALURU BHP Group on Tuesday said it expects most major world economies except China to bear the brunt of a coronavirus-led downturn this year, reporting a 4% drop in annual profit that missed analysts estimates.

While miners have seen green shoots emerge from an economic pickup in the worlds top metals user, as well as a boost in infrastructure spending, the risk of new virus outbreaks around the world threatens to undermine growth, BHP said.

The warning came as BHP reported underlying profit attributable from continuing operations for the year ended June 30 that fell to $9.06 billion - below estimates of $9.42 billion, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

With the exception of China, the worlds major economies will contract during the 2020 calendar year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," Chief Executive Mike Henry said in a statement.

Henry added that the potential for fresh waves of coronavirus infections in key markets was weighing on the demand outlook for 2021 at the worlds largest listed miner.

Not too many surprises in there," said portfolio manager Andy Forster of Argo Investments in Sydney. Maybe a touch under expected, and the dividend a bit below."

Shares fell by as much as 1.3% before trimming the drop to 0.3% at A$39.75, by 0203 GMT, compared with a 1% rise in the broader index

The profit miss was in contrast to rival Rio Tinto , which last month rode its iron ore-rich portfolio to beat profit estimates and touted a very steep V-shaped" recovery in China.

It declared a final dividend of 55 cents per share, down from 78 cents a year earlier, but still in line with its payout ratio.

BHP also announced asset divestments and executive leadership changes - that will see top management evenly split by gender - as Henry, who officially took the reins in January, puts his stamp on the business.

The miner said it is looking at options including a demerger or sale of thermal coal assets, as it favours energy-rich metallurgical coal in its portfolio given a lower-carbon future.

These include its Australian Mount Arthur operations, 80% of its BHP Mitsui Coal joint venture, and one-third of the Cerrejon mine in Colombia. Japanese trading house Mitsui had no immediate comment.

It also said it was looking to sell off its Bass Strait oil and gas stake, though that was not down to any environmental agenda, Henry told an analyst call.

He said BHP was bullish on oil because it has profitable prospects for at least the next decade and is open to acquisitions near existing assets.

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Israel warned Hamas Tuesday it was risking war by failing to stop incendiary balloon attacks from Gaza, as fuel shortages in the Palestinian enclave caused by Israels blockade caused widespread blackouts.

Israels army earlier on Tuesday said its fighter jets had hit underground Hamas infrastructure, and linked the strikes to explosive and arson balloons launched from Gaza.

The strikes came as visiting Egyptian security officials strove to defuse more than a week of heightened unrest that has included rocket and incendiary device attacks from Gaza and daily Israeli reprisals.

Israels President Reuven Rivlin issued a warning to Hamas during a visit to communities near the Gaza border hit by the unrest.

Terrorism using incendiary kites and balloons is terrorism just like any other, Rivlin said in a statement.

Hamas should know that this is not a game. The time will come when they have to decide if they want war they will get war, said Rivlin, who holds a largely ceremonial post in the Jewish state.

Israeli defence minister and alternate prime minister Benny Gantz said Hamas is playing with fire, and vowed to make certain the fire is turned back on them.

No casualties were reported in the latest Israeli airstrikes.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.

Despite a truce last year backed by Egypt, the UN and Qatar, Hamas and Israel clash sporadically, with Palestinian incendiary balloons or rocket or mortar fire drawing retaliatory Israeli strikes and civil sanctions.

A Hamas source told AFP the Islamists had held talks with the Egyptian delegation in Gaza on Monday before it left the territory for meetings with the Israelis and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

The delegation was expected to return to Gaza after those talks were concluded, the source added.

 Complete shutdown 

In response to persistent balloon attacks, Israel has banned fishing off Gazas coast and closed the Kerem Shalom goods crossing, cutting off deliveries of fuel to the territorys sole power plant.

The plants spokesman Mohammed Thabet announced its complete shutdown on Tuesday after its fuel ran out.

Power had been in short supply even before the shutdown, with consumers having access to mains electricity for only around eight hours a day.

That will now be cut to just four hours a day using power supplied from the Israeli grid.

For the rest of the time, those Gazans who can afford it rely on solar panels, or generators, which also need fuel.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the electricity crisis was a crime against humanity, for which Israel must answer.

We will work with all our force to break the siege, he said.

Gaza security sources and witnesses said Tuesdays strikes hit Hamas lookout posts at Rafah in the south of the territory and Beit Lahia in the north.

Israeli police said Tuesday that a balloon came down in the yard of a home in the town of Sderot, which is within walking distance of the Gaza border and a frequent target for attack.

It caused some damage but no casualties, a police statement said.
By Keita Nakamura, KYODO NEWS - Aug 17, 2020 - 13:06 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan's economy in the April-June period shrank an annualized real 27.8 percent from the previous quarter, the sharpest contraction on record, as economic activity was restricted under a state of emergency during the novel coronavirus outbreak, government data showed Monday.

The preliminary data on gross domestic product, the total value of goods and services produced in the country, correspond to a 7.8 percent decrease on a seasonally-adjusted quarterly basis, marking negative growth for the third consecutive quarter, according to the Cabinet Office.

Comparable data are available since the April-June quarter of 1980. But a Cabinet Office official said the latest figure is considered the largest contraction on record, even dating back to 1955, the earliest point at which the government can track reference values.

Before the emergence of the pandemic, Japan's economy was already on the back foot due to the U.S.-China trade spat and a 2 percentage point consumption tax hike last year. Damage to the economy widened during the pandemic after the central government declared a state of emergency in April.

Local governments asked residents to stay at home and nonessential businesses to suspend operations under the emergency declaration, which was first issued on April 7 for Tokyo and six other prefectures and for the entire nation later. It was lifted for all 47 prefectures by late May.

Many analysts have forecast that Japan's economy will rebound by over 10 percent in the July-September period from the current quarter in real terms on an annualized basis, given the gradual resumption of economic activity after the end of the virus emergency.

Analysts believe it will take at least a few years for the economy to bounce back to its pre-pandemic level.

The latest figures, far exceeding the previous record of an annualized real 17.8 percent contraction in the January-March quarter of 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis, was worse than the average forecast by private-sector economists of a 26.59 percent shrinkage.

Economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a press conference that the "severe outcome" was due to the state of emergency, saying, "We'll get the economy back on a growth track from rock bottom in April and May, led by domestic demand."

Nishimura also said that government policies to support companies and households such as universal 100,000 yen ($940) cash handouts "underpinned the economy" and minimized the GDP contraction in the reporting quarter compared with other developed countries whose economies shrank an annualized real 30 to 60 percent.

Taro Saito, executive research fellow at the NLI Research Institute, said that Japan's result would have been worse had it implemented hard lockdowns as seen in U.S. and European cities, especially as the Japanese economy had slumped even before the pandemic.

The Japanese economy shrank an annualized 7.0 percent in the October-December period, hit by the consumption tax hike from 8 percent to 10 percent in October and the fallout from a devastating typhoon. In the January-March period, the economy contracted 2.5 percent as the virus started spreading in the country.

"We can't say the situation of Japan's economy is better than others," Saito said. "In the long run, deterioration in the employment and income circumstances and (weak) corporate earnings will significantly weigh on the economy."

In the reporting quarter, private consumption, which accounts for more than half of the Japanese economy, sank 8.2 percent from the previous quarter, with spending on trips, eating out and shopping significantly down amid stay-at-home requests, the Cabinet Office official said.

The plunge in consumer spending was also the steepest on record, surpassing a 4.8 percent drop in the April-June period of 2014, following the previous consumption tax increase from 5 percent to 8 percent on April 1 that year.

Exports of goods and services, including spending by foreign tourists, slumped 18.5 percent. Global demand for products such as cars and auto parts was dampened during hard lockdowns in many major cities abroad, and the number of inbound visitors nosedived due to tight international travel restrictions to curb the virus spread.

Meanwhile, imports posted a relatively limited drop of 0.5 percent, as solid imports from China helped offset a decline in those from the United States and European countries.

Private capital expenditure, another key pillar of domestic demand, fell 1.5 percent, while private residential investment slid 0.2 percent, as the pandemic raised uncertainty over the business outlook.

Public investment was up 1.2 percent, supported by expenditures to build infrastructure to prepare for natural disasters in the future, while government spending declined 0.3 percent.

In nominal terms, or unadjusted for price changes, Japan's economy contracted 7.4 percent in the quarter, or by an annualized 26.4 percent.

Japan last saw GDP shrinkages for three straight quarters from October-December 2010 through April-June 2011, affected by weak private consumption and a massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's northeastern region in March 2011.

The Cabinet Office is scheduled to release the revised GDP data for the second quarter of 2020 on Sept. 8.
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The Madras High Court (HC) on August 18 dismissed petitions seeking reopening of Vedanta's Sterlite copper plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

The High Court upheld the Tamil Nadu government's order of May 2018, which directed the closure of Vedanta's facility.

13 people were allegedly shot dead by the police on May 22, 2018 during a protest against the plant. The state government shut down the plant six days later, alleging violation of environment laws.

The judgment was pronounced on August 18 by a Division Bench of Justices TS Sivagnananam and Bhuvani Subbaroyan.

The Madras HC also declined a request by Senior Advocate Aryama Sundaram for Vedanta to maintain status quo for a few weeks, legal news website Bar & Bench reported.

Vedanta's counsel in a statement said the company is "shocked" by the judgment and will be taking taking legal remedies.

"Since we have always believed that this is a completely knee jerk reaction by the government and closure was only for political reasons. It's a very retrograde step for the country that we are importing billions of dollars of copper from China when in point of fact we would have been self sufficient as a country. In fact, we are especially aggrieved since there was never any notice ever given to us for any kind of pollution prior to this closure order and we would definitely be taking our remedies as available in law," Vedanta's counsel said.

In February 2019, the Supreme Court had set aside the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that permitted reopening of the plant.
After Huge Minsk Opposition Rally, Has Lukashenka Run Out Of Political Options?

By Tony Wesolowsky August 17, 2020

The contrast between the images couldn't have been starker.

More than 200,000 people flooded central Minsk on August 16 in the biggest outpouring of opposition yet to Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka following his disputed reelection for a sixth term on August 9.

Hours earlier in the Belarusian capital, Lukashenka, in power since 1994, attracted a gathering a fraction of the size, with many in attendance reported to be state workers who were told either show up or find another job.

As labor strikes widen amid other protests, analysts say Lukashenka is running out of options to defuse the crisis and could resort to even more forceful measures, possibly emboldened by vague promises of support from longtime ally Russia.

"Lukashenka is not going to make concessions at this stage," explained Arsen Sivitski, director of the Minsk-based Center for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies. "And probably will try to manage the crisis by force, introducing a state of emergency or even martial law."

Already, some 7,000 people have been detained by police across Belarus in the postelection crackdown, with hundreds injured and at least two killed as police have used rubber bullets, stun grenades, and, in at least one instance, live ammunition. Hundreds of those held and subsequently released spoke of brutal beatings they suffered in detention, much of it documented and splashed across social media. Thousands remain in custody.

During a visit to a factory in Minsk on August 17, Lukashenka made vague offers to share power and tinker with the constitution, but struck a defiant, almost belligerent tone to a skeptical audience.

"You will not live to see the day I do anything under pressure," Lukashenka told the workers, some of whom shouted "Step down!" and "Leave!"

Lukashenka added that there will be no new election "until you kill me."

Lukashenka also said Belarus would "die as a state" if a rerun of the election were to take place, flatly rejecting the opposition's primary political demand.

Later in the day, however, he speculated that new parliamentary and presidential elections could be held if a new constitution were adopted by a national referendum.

The opposition has not been calling for a new constitution.

Lukashenka's visit to the factory comes after some of the country's biggest state-run industrial plants were hit by protests and walkouts last week. More strike actions, including by state television employees, are planned for this week, further eroding Lukashenka's support.

Opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya -- who left for Lithuania most likely under pressure from the authorities, who are holding her husband in custody -- appears to be growing bolder as Lukashenka's support appears to slip. In a fresh video message on August 17, the 37-year-old Tsikhanouskaya declared she was ready to become a "national leader" in order to restore calm, free political prisoners, and prepare for a new election.

Tsikhanouskaya, who reluctantly entered the race after her husband, a popular vlogger, was barred from running, has said that where votes were properly counted, she won 60 to 70 percent of the vote, rather than the 10 percent she was allocated by the official vote tally.

She's already said she was initiating the creation of a "Coordination Council" for a potential transition of power and called on the international community to help mediate.

Whether Lukashenka would be willing to talk to Tsikhanouskaya or her surrogates appears doubtful. In his address to supporters in Minsk on August 16, Lukashenka said the opposition would "crawl like rats out of a hole" if they were not suppressed this time.

"You came here so that for the first time in a quarter-century you could defend your country, your independence, your wives, sisters, and children," he said.

Lukashenka also claimed a NATO buildup of forces on Belarus's western borders, something immediately rejected by the military alliance.

Now Looking East?

As he faces growing pressure, Lukashenka, who just weeks ago accused Russia of sending mercenaries to Belarus to stir up trouble, is turning to Russian President Vladimir Putin for help.

The two spoke by phone on August 15 and 16, and after the second call the Kremlin said Russia was ready to assist Belarus in line with a military pact that both countries have signed if need be. It was not clear what form such aid would take.

On August 17, Belarus started military exercises near the Astravets nuclear power plant, close to the border with Lithuania, which has protested the construction of the Russian-designed atomic station.

Besides providing Tsikhanouskaya with refuge, Vilnius, whose historical ties to Belarus date back centuries when both were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, has been among the loudest critics of the Belarusian vote and subsequent crackdown.

According to Interfax, which cited the Belarusian Defense Ministry, the exercises, involving artillery and missile divisions, will last from August 17 to 20.

More ominously, photos and videos uploaded to social media suggested that unmarked Russian military vehicles could be moving in the direction of Belarus.

Writing on Twitter, Julian Ropcke, a journalist and conflict analyst, said, "The Putin regime is gearing up efforts to intervene in its neighboring country."

None of these reports has been independently confirmed. Before seizing control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, Russian forces without insignias or other markings were deployed at strategic sites. Although Putin initially denied it, he later acknowledged their presence.

'This Is The End'

As pressure to step down grows, many analysts predict Lukashenka will take even more repressive measures to maintain his grip on power.

Seviaryn Kviatkouski, a Belarusian analyst, said no one could have predicted the course events have taken in Belarus. "I not only watch, but I visit the city center often," he told Current Time, a Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. "And I want to say that, of course, no one, least of all the authorities, could have predicted what has happened."

"You have to understand that the people won't give in. This is it; this is the end. You are now watching the end of the Lukashenka regime," Kviatkouski predicted. "I am only afraid of one thing -- that perhaps he can still give the order for some executions, for some terrible things."

Sivitski of the Center for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies said Lukashenka's position is eroding as the protests grow, especially with the growing number of workers joining strike actions. "The protest agenda has already transformed significantly," he told RFE/RL in an e-mail.

"A few days ago the main motivation behind the protests was injustice and the bloody brutality of the security apparatus. Now it has clear political goals: demand for Lukashenka's resignation and new presidential elections."

What happens next could largely depend on what the so-called "siloviki" -- police, army, and other security forces -- do. Some have already resigned, with several posting videos on social media showing then trashing their uniforms.

"I say it again: it depends on the security forces," Kviatkouski explained. "That is, how much will they drag out this drama? Either they will go over to the side of the people, or they will simply become neutral, or they will nevertheless start some kind of mass repression with executions, or other horrors."

In any event, the postelection protest movement has changed Belarus, whether Lukashenka is able to remain in office or not, wrote Lizaveta Merliak, the international secretary of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union, in a commentary. "If Lukashenka is able to hold on to power, he will be compelled to turn to an even more repressive rule, as millions of dissidents need to be forced into obedience," Merliak wrote.

"In the summer of 2020 the whole world, not without some surprise, is seeing a new country on the map of Europe," she said. "Not a Belarus asleep with apathy, but a Belarus whose people are seized by determination to win freedom and democracy."

RFE/RL's Belarus and Russian services and Current Time contributed to this report

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/after-huge-minsk- opposition-rally-has-lukashenka-run-out-of- political-options-/30788525.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), first president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk notes that First Prime Minister of independent Ukraine Vitold Fokin will help to establish interaction both with the residents of Donbas who live in the territory uncontrolled by Ukraine, and with those living now in the rest territory of the country.

"Fokin as well as Reznikov, will be First Deputy Head of the Ukrainian delegation. His main task, both President Zelensky and Head of the President's Office Yermak emphasized it, is interaction and coordination of negotiations between civil society institutions, between citizens of Ukraine who live on uncontrolled territories, and those residents of Donbas who live in the rest territory of Ukraine, and there are already about 1.5 million people. Many people have also moved abroad," he told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

Kravchuk said that in order to move forward, it is very important to know not only the opinion of the "leaders of these armed formations" [on the territory of ORDLO], or political forces, or the opinion of the Russian Federation, but it is needed to know what they think and what they want those people who lived in the territory of Donbas before the war, and were forced to move from there.

"Vitold Fokin is responsible for that issue. As he is a resident of Donbas, from the age of 16 he worked in mines, served as prime minister of Ukraine, was a participant in Belovezhsk negotiations. Fokin knows Donbas and these people well, he has many contacts there. I think that in this case his capabilities and ability for such a calm, compromise and analytical approach will be useful for this issue. Today I submitted a proposal to the President of Ukraine that Vitold Pavlovych Fokin be appointed as First Deputy Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group," Kravchuk said.
Two US-based law firms have announced independent investigations to build securities-fraud class-action lawsuits against HDFC Bank Ltd. The investigations by Rosen Law Firm and Schall Law Firm follow allegations that Indias largest private sector lender may have issued materially misleading business information to its investors.

In separate press releases issued on Sunday night, Rosen Law Firm and Schall Law Firm said they are preparing securities lawsuits on behalf of HDFC Bank shareholders.

On 14 July, Mint reported that HDFC Bank is looking into the alleged improper lending practices in its vehicle financing arm previously led by Ashok Khanna. The allegation was that the bank had forced its car loan customers to purchase a vehicle tracking device. Following this news, HDFC Banks American depositary receipt price fell by $1.37, or 2.83%, to close at $47.02.

According to the law firms, HDFC Bank reported its financial results for the June quarter, missing analysts earnings estimates and reporting a deterioration in its asset quality.

On 6 August, The Print reported that credit information bureau Experian Plcs Indian unit told the Reserve Bank of India that HDFC Bank has been late in providing details of its loans, including the repayment status of its millions of retail borrowers.

The law firms have sought information from HDFC Bank shareholders who are looking to recover losses in the banks securities. We were unaware of any such development (class action lawsuit) till we heard about it from the media a little earlier today. We are getting details of it, said a spokesperson for HDFC Bank. Well examine it and respond to it as appropriate. Prima facie, it does look frivolous as we believe we have been transparent in our disclosures.

Suresh Ganapathy, an analyst at Macquarie Securities, doesnt expect the lawsuits to pose a challenge to the lender. The bank has already taken corrective steps by firing the people who were involved in the alleged mis-selling, he said. Amit Tandon, founder and managing director of Institutional Investor Advisory Services, a proxy advisory firm, said unless there is clarity, the benefit of doubt should be given to the bank. Unless there is some more clarity, I will give the benefit of doubt to the bank. We are, after all, living in a time where it is not always possible to recognise or quantify conditions (at the time of filing accounts), said Tandon.

Both Rosen Law Firm and Schall practise securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation.
Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Fort Smith, Arkansas for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 3 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more.

According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Fort Smith, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Fort Smith with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs.

The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Fort Smith. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Fort Smith, Arkansas please visit https://www.help.org/drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-fort-smith-ar/

2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Fort Smith, Arkansas (in alphabetical order)

Compassion Center

3618 West Roosevelt Road

Little Rock, Arkansas 72204

501-296-9114

Harbor House

615 North 19th Street

Fort Smith, AR 72914

479-785-4083

Hearts of Hope Church & Ministry

108 Highway 71 North, Suite 104

Alma, AR 72921

479-430-7371

ABOUT HELP.ORG

Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/.
The chair of Parliament's economics committee, Tim Wilson, has suggested the positions of senior AMP executives may be untenable as politicians from both sides of the aisle called for the wealth manager to take action over cultural problems and sexual harassment allegations.

AMPs board was locked in meetings on Tuesday afternoon where the position of the firm's second most senior executive, Boe Pahari, was discussed.

Economics committee chair Tim Wilson said AMP's culture and practice would be probed. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The company's chief executive Francesco De Ferrari is expected to appear before the House of Representatives' economics committee chaired by Mr Wilson next month to face questions about its culture and handling of sexual harassment complaints.

"The current situation raises questions about internal probity and accountability, as well as whether they are investigating matters appropriately and promptly which should guide decision making about whether any executive's position is tenable," Mr Wilson said.
LOS ANGELESOdile Toys founders Benjamin Jay and Chloe Gagnon are launching an IndieGoGo campaign in support of their flagship sex toy, Odile, a butt plug dilator.

The product is already in the manufacturing process, and will be delivered to early bird customers who participated in our crowdfunding campaign by late October 2020, Jay said.

Odile anal sex toy, invented by Jay and Gagnon, aims to make anal sex more comfortable and pleasurable. With its proprietary technology, Odile is designed for easy insertion and safe, gentle and pain-free dilation that works for beginners and advanced users alike.

Odile features a 1-inch (2.5 cm) wide shaft with a rounded, profile tip end to ease insertion, medical-grade silicone exterior for maximum comfort, and flared with a wide base to keep Odile safely anchored outside the anus. Once inserted, users can turn the black key located at Odile's base, which slowly increases the girth of the shaft millimeter by millimeter to a maximum of 1.5 inches (3.9 cm) of girth at the user's preferred pace.

The IndieGoGo campaign is now live and accepting orders. Those interested in donating or submitting orders may click here. The campaign, which began Aug. 15, will last 60 days, with the first round of product deliveries arriving by late October.

Odile Toys was created when Jay and Gagnon realized the niche of toys made for anal dilation was lacking in products that could deliver real results.

For many years, I was frustrated by the products on the market for anal dilation, Jay said. A lot had been done, and I respect what mainstream anal sex toy companies have offered, but for me it was not efficient enough. Good anal sex requires good anal dilation first, and I believe that the sex toys on the market for anal dilation are not doing the job properly.

Jay found typical market offerings, like butt plug sets and inflatable devices, inferior for myriad reasons, saying traditional triple plug kits with small, medium and large-size toys generally ask consumers to size-up too quickly, which isn't comfortable or safe for the sensitive tissue of the anus and rectum. Additionally, standard plug designs often thin out near the base of the plug, reducing dilation at the sphincter where Jay says it's needed most.

Inflatable butt plugs are, according to Jay, similarly problematic, as they can leak air or even burst inside the anus. Even when functioning properly, the balloon effect of inflatable anal toys can be ineffective or uncomfortable for new users.

I thought that the perfect anal dilation had to be done by one single product that was easy and comfortable to use, and once inserted inside the anus allowed the user to control precisely and gradually its girth and dilates equally the whole anus, Jay said. I wanted a 'sexy' sex toy that allows the user to focus only on pleasure and was something that all genders would want to use.

For more information, visit the company's IndieGoGo campaign website. Early bird orders will receive a special discount.

Odile Toys is on Instagram at @OdileToys and on Facebook @OdileToys.

For wholesale or retail inquiries, visit OdileToys.com or e-mail [email protected].
PARIS French Champagne producers decided Tuesday to put unprecedented limits on the quantity of grapes theyll harvest this year in hopes of propping up prices and containing damage from the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result, record amounts of grapes may need to be destroyed or sold to distilleries at discounted prices. But for the Champagne Committee, the influential group that represents 16,000 vintners around Frances Champagne region, thats the price to pay for saving their luxury business.

Vintners in Champagne country will only be allowed to collectively harvest 8,000 kilograms of grapes per hectare this season, or the equivalent of 230 million bottles for the whole region, according to Tuesdays decision. That is 21% less than the amounts allowed last year.

Like the organizations that coordinate policies for oil-producing countries, the Champagne Committee regulates the size of the grape harvest each year to avoid the kind of excess production that would cause bottle prices to plummet.

But this years discussions took on unprecedented importance after the industry collectively lost $2 billion in sales because of virus lockdown measures.

The pandemic flattened the fizz for Champagne and the celebratory mood that drives the business: weddings were canceled, first-class flights grounded and restaurants and night clubs shuttered around the world.

Champagne revenues this year have already fallen by a third, a plunge unmatched in living memory. Producers expect about 100 million bottles to be languishing unsold in their cellars by the end of 2020, and some predict the crisis could last for years.

Champagne, the wine of joie de vivre, of conviviality and celebration, is particularly affected by the global economic crisis linked to COVID-19, the committee said in a statement announcing what it called unprecedented measures to limit the damage.

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
Ukraine, which recorded its first case of COVID-19 on 3 March 2020, has been hard hit by the pandemic and its consequences. At the time of writing, there were 92,820 cases and 2,089 people had died (source: World Health Organization).

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has been responding to the crisis since it began, documenting human rights violations, and speaking out on behalf of those in the most vulnerable situations.

Nigora Sachdeva is Head of the Kramatorsk Field Office for the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

How has COVID-19 affected your work?

The COVID-19 crisis has added another layer of complexity to our work in Ukraine. However, we continue to gather first-hand information, talk to victims and witnesses of human rights violations and conduct offline and online monitoring.

To conduct our interviews, we use the telephone or the internet more than before. When the situation allows us to be physically present on the ground and to keep a safe distance, we continue to do so. Recently for example, we went to two places along the contact line in eastern Ukraine  the delineation between armed group-controlled territory and Government-controlled territory - to monitor the simultaneous release of conflict-related detainees under the Minsk agreements. Similarly, we continue to conduct field trips to monitor issues with freedom of movement at entry-exit crossing points across the contact line, following the introduction of quarantine measures.

What is UN Human Rights doing to protect the rights of people during this epidemic?

We continue to bring the voices of civilians affected by the conflict to decision-makers and international partners through our reports, communication activities and advocacy efforts.

At the field level, we are documenting human rights violations. We also continue to gather information through our network of contacts with local activists, civil society organisations, local authorities and the military.

We are paying more attention to those in the most vulnerable situations, including people in places of detention, older persons, homeless people, Roma and persons with disabilities. These groups are likely to be disproportionately affected by the crisis and at risk of being forgotten. The information we gather is shared with national stakeholders and international partners so that decision-makers can base their decisions on our information and change the situation for the better.

As an example, we identified a problem with the spread of COVID-19 in penitentiary institutions in Ukraine and reached out to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and to the self-proclaimed 'Donetsk people's republic' and 'Luhansk people's republic.' Our advocacy letters and guidance notes, supported by public communications on possible measures to mitigate the spread and impact of the virus on the facilities and inmates, hopefully contributed to better preparedness of the penitentiary system.

What are the main human rights issues at stake in Ukraine in the COVID-19 response?

In Government-controlled parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where I work, COVID-19-related restrictions on freedom of movement remain one of the most serious problems for the local population, especially for civilians crossing the contact line that separates government-controlled and armed group-controlled territories. This affects the enjoyment of the rights to health, food, family life and social security of these individuals.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, over a million individuals were crossing the contact line in both directions each month. Since the end of March, when all crossing points were effectively closed, this figure shrank to several hundreds. Together with our international and national partners, we have been advocating for facilitation of crossings on humanitarian grounds, and to a structured reopening of crossing points when the epidemiological situation allows. Since mid-June, our advocacy started to bear fruit: crossing points started to reopen and hundreds of civilians began to cross per day. It is still well below pre-pandemic figures, and the process of crossing is complicated and tiresome, but it is already a huge relief to those who ultimately managed to cross.

Other issues that are of concern are not region-specific and affect the whole country. Quarantine measures have hit those who were already in vulnerable situations the hardest. For example, members of the Roma community have told us about the deterioration of their already limited access to an adequate standard of living, including access to water and sanitation, food, healthcare, and social security. The vulnerability of women and girls to gender-based violence has increased due to an erosion of their financial independence and quarantine-imposed confinement. This negative impact is particularly painful for those living in isolated communities and along the contact line in eastern Ukraine. Furthermore, homeless people face a significant challenge accessing even basic facilities and resources during the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 quarantine measures are also having a big impact on the administration of justice: in some instances, legal proceedings that were already protracted may be further delayed, and many people do not have access to legal recourse due to quarantine restrictions.

Biggest challenges and lessons learned thus far during the pandemic?

The biggest challenges in my work during the pandemic remains the limited face-to-face interactions with victims and witnesses of human rights violations, access to detention facilities, and to isolated settlements along the contact line. Despite numerous calls for a ceasefire, the conflict in eastern Ukraine remains active and we regularly receive reports of civilian casualties and damage to civilian objects. We observed several spikes in hostilities and civilian casualties when the pandemic reached Ukraine. Though we do not think they were directly related to the pandemic, we are still concerned that with all attention being swamped by COVID-19, the need for continued protection of civilians in the conflict zone might become less visible. We therefore need to invest additional efforts into our protection advocacy.

One of the key lessons learned is that we can continue to do our work by using technology creatively. The close contacts that we established prior to the pandemic are also of great help to ensure that we continue to receive information on human rights violations and can advocate for victims' rights.

Why is it important to stand up for human rights during this pandemic?

The pandemic has shown us that all societies have vulnerabilities, and demonstrated how interconnected we all are. Any solutions to the COVID-19 crisis will have to be inclusive and will require a concerted effort from all States and individuals. We have a daunting challenge at hand, but also an opportunity to put our differences aside and work on this together, while ensuring full respect for, and protection of, human rights.

In the region where I work, as in many regions in Ukraine and around the world, we remain one of the last avenues people can turn to when human rights violations occur. We are usually the first to identify people in vulnerable situations and advocate for their rights to ensure that no one is left behind. If everyone  the Government, civil society, and private sector  put human rights front and centre of this crisis, we would have a chance to foster a more inclusive societal COVID-19 response, not only in the region where I work, but also throughout the world.

18 August 2020


A group of boats flying flags in support of president Donald Trump created waves large enough in a Portland river that they caused a boat to sink with people onboard.

On Sunday, more than 20 boats flying flags in support of the president sped down Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, as part of the Trump Boat Parade that took place that day, according to the Daily Mail.

Boats flying flags for Mr Trump have increased over the last few months as a way for supporters to rally for his 2020 presidential campaign, while observing social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In footage shared to social media the boats were shown causing large waves to form as they sped down the river on Sunday.

The waves caused trouble for one boat, which took on too much water and started to sink, as the people onboard repeatedly screamed for help.

One man was seen jumping off the boat, as the vessel took on more water, while others attempted to hold on to their possessions.

The boat then sank completely and broke apart, as the people onboard were forced to swim in the choppy waters to stay afloat, while nearby vessels raced over to try and help them.

They were then eventually helped onto a nearby boat, as only remnants of their vessel were still visible floating in the river.

A spokesman for the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office told the Mail that river patrol deputies responded to the incident, but that the family had already climbed onto the other boat by the time they arrived.

The spokesman added that no one was injured in the incident and confirmed that the boat that sank was not part of the parade.

Thousands of the presidents supporters took part in Trump Boat Parades over the weekend, as an estimated 2,000 gathered in Clearwater, Florida, in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record of 1,180 boats in a single parade, that was recorded in Malaysia in 2014.

The gatherings took place in states across the US, including Delaware, New Jersey and Alabama.

Video footage of the Clearwater parade will be reviewed by Guinness officials to decide whether a new record has been set, but organiser Cliff Gehart told Fox 13 that 1,600 people registered and paid to be a part of the event.

He added that people came from Palm Beach, Orlando and South Carolina to attend the Clearwater event to represent Trump and to support his effort.
This is the devilish allure to hate. Its an everymans drug, injected into the bloodstream of anyone who feels they need the fix again and again. This is the paradox about hatred. It demands our time and attention like any other addiction. It takes considerable effort to keep it ablaze in our mind. It consumes those who choose to feel it, act upon it, and spread it like an arsonists wildfire.
Xavier Reyes, cofounder of Alta Public Schools, shows what a classroom would look like at Academia Moderna, a charter school, when the Huntington Park campus is allowed to reopen. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

New back-to-school shoes, but no recess to run around. Decorative Zoom backgrounds instead of artwork newly stapled on bulletin boards. Freshly waxed floors with no students to scuff them up.

A new school year like no other begins Tuesday in Los Angeles when some 500,000 students are expected to sign on and show up at a distance  and for many, at a disadvantage  devoid of the traditional in-person joy of seeing friends and teachers.

Campuses are deserted except for a skeleton staff, but some 30,000 teachers from 1,400 schools will fire up their computers from home, virtually beckoning children to participate in online learning as they test their first daily schedule since mid-March, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced campuses to close.

At the time, educators  in L.A. and throughout the state and the nation  abandoned campuses almost overnight, leaving many families without computers or internet for weeks and exacerbating the academic divide that separates those with resources from those with fewer advantages, including low-income Latino and Black families.

"We have had months to prepare for online school in the fall," said Pedro Noguera, dean at the Rossier School of Education at USC. "The question is: Are we ready? Beyond access to technology and the internet, we will soon see if teachers know how to deliver meaningful instruction to the broad range of students. ... We serve large numbers of students with special needs, who are still learning English, and who reside in challenging home environments. The majority of these kids need the support that schools provide. We will soon see if they can provide the support needed remotely."

Unlike some school systems, L.A. Unified says it has enough computers and internet hot spots for all  but anxieties remain, fueled in part by the loss of familiar fall rituals.

Jordan Powell, 5, has new shoes and expected to wear them on his first walk into kindergarten at Baldwin Hills Elementary. The isolation of the pandemic has been hard; going to school, like for his older brothers, was something he'd been excited about. Instead, he'll start the school year at home on an iPad.

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The longer weve been at this, the tougher its been not being around any kids his age and being confined to the house, said his mother, Tunette Powell.

L.A. Unified will offer a predictable regimen with regular interaction among classmates online. School will start at 9 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m.  shorter than a traditional day but a change from the spring, when there was no mandated scheduling. Except for independent charter schools, which set their own schedule, this week ramps up gradually for students  with something akin to a schoolwide assembly on Tuesday, a brief meet-the-teacher on Wednesday and regular instruction on Thursday.

Academia Moderna, a charter elementary school in Huntington Park, wants to reinforce the notion of routine. Last week, staff members lent school desks along with computers. They also had backpacks filled with pencils, crayons, notepads and other learning materials. And just to drive the point home, they handed out a free school uniform for use at home.

Long stretches at a computer worry Maria Isaeva, whose daughter, Anna, is entering first grade at Gardner Elementary School in Hollywood. Last year, after campuses closed, Anna worked off only paper packets.

She's not patient and I will have to be in front of her all that time and he will not let me," she said, referring to a 2-year-old in a stroller. "Thats what Im afraid about.

Like everyone else, Isaeva had been greeted cheerfully by Principal Karen Hollis, who wore a mask as well as a face shield and had covered her hair with a bandanna or scarf. She spoke fluent Spanish as needed; other staff members helped parents who spoke Russian, Georgian or Korean.

Byata Dikker, who like her husband is a chef, was concerned about child care.

"Im having a little bit of struggle," Dikker said. "We have two businesses that we run. Its just putting us in a really weird space to not have a resource. Either one of us shuts down the business and stays with the kids, or we pay for child care which is $25 an hour every day."

School board member Nick Melvoin, who was at Gardner, repeated often that L.A. Unified was working on solutions. Teachers, he noted, will have access to district-provided child care because they are classified as essential workers during the pandemic. Many low-income district parents also are essential workers, and it should soon be feasible to expand free child care for them as well, he predicted.

In East Los Angeles, parent Rebecca Meneses on Monday felt a surge of optimism after she picked up computers, a hot spot and school supplies at First Street Elementary.

Meneses had been touched by annotations left for her daughter, Sabrina, by her soon-to-be kindergarten teacher.

There were these hand-packed squares and notes on big gray papers in this math journal that the teacher wrote out, Meneses said. I know the district has had its problems, but its little things like that that make me appreciate the teachers and make me think were going to be OK.

Most of the Monday action in L.A. Unified was via Zoom, in the homes of teachers and administrators who were going through training. Like parents, they had technology issues, too.

A start-of-session video in a training for substitute teachers would not play, so a coordinator switched quickly to calming breathing exercises. They may have helped, but a snap poll still showed that more than half the subs on the Zoom did not feel ready for the new year to begin.

At a Zoom for Marshall High School in Los Feliz, staff members on Monday brainstormed on meeting students' social and emotional needs.

A lot of what we picked up on was that kids were basically sleeping in until 2 in the afternoon," said Emily Dillon, a school psychiatric social worker. "A lot of the kids I talked to said that they were feeling depressed because they could not figure out how to create their own habits and self-care routines.

The Marshall team discussed setting up help sessions with students. The team also talked about setting aside time to assist parents with the district's technology platform, called Schoology.

I don't think that everyone's going to be connected, said Karla Alvarado-Goldberg, another psychiatric social worker.

For teachers at Patrick Henry Middle School in Granada Hills, coordinator Karen Shane got things going with an appropriate greeting: "Welcome back to a new and unusual year.

As an unintended icebreaker, teachers traded tales of marginal connectivity. Technology teacher Darren Abraham reported that his cable company is so strained that "it doesn't matter what you're paying"  service is still slow.

One teacher had to return a dysfunctional hot spot; more hot spots for teachers are on order and should be arriving soon, the assistant principal reported. A couple of teachers experienced technology glitches during the meeting, but others clearly were pros.

Math teacher Kwasi Gee won praise for a Zoom background with a murky black-and-white noirish feel. He declined to explain. Linda Haley's background put her somewhere in outer space. Devon Woods sat in front of a lovely painting of sunflowers.

Session leader Shane, fresh off a crash course in Schoology, had nearly all the answers but summoned help from colleagues when needed.

Near the end, during a pause, English and history teacher Wendi Davis had something to say: "I miss everyone of you and seeing you every day."

Officials this year are trying to run all educational activities  within reason  through a common platform to track student work and collect data districtwide. In the spring, educators had limited data on what students accomplished after campuses shut down. Many lacked data on when students had attended online classes.

That should change; state regulations now mandate taking online attendance and providing state-required minimum instructional minutes.

"My biggest concern is the technology and whether it will handle the load of all of the district students and teachers logging on simultaneously," said Patrick Henry Principal Maria Elena Rico-Aguilera. "My hope for the coming school year is that teachers can connect and form bonds with students, and students form bonds with peers. Learning cannot happen if we are not meeting students social emotional needs."

Powell, whose son has the new shoes, has two older sons, Joah, 9, and Jason Jr., 11.

In the spring, Joahs computer never worked, the technician at his school couldnt fix it and Powell said she was not able to get through on the districts telephone help line, causing him to miss out on learning.

Theres a part of me that gave up on the inside at the end of the last school year because I was just so overwhelmed, she said.

Powell can only hope that the district has developed a learning system that will work, but that won't solve all her problems.

She works from home in a job that keeps her busy with video meetings throughout the day, yet she'll also have to help her youngest son navigate kindergarten.

She wants to be hopeful and excited. But its not easy.
ISTANBUL  Turkish medical professionals are worried Turkey may lose control of the coronavirus outbreak as the country passed the grim milestone of a quarter million cases this week.

Official figures showed 1,263 more people were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 251,805 since the novel coronavirus reached Turkey in March. New daily cases have been above 1,000 every day since Aug. 4. They were last at these levels at the end of June.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Monday most of the new cases were easily treatable but the number of those who are seriously ill for whom treatment is difficult is rising.

Turkey ended a partial lockdown at the beginning of June in an effort to kickstart economic activity. On Tuesday, the Interior Ministry said it would step up inspections of businesses, transportation, beaches, wedding halls and other facilities to make sure they are complying with rules on hygiene, mask-wearing and physical distancing.

The current situation in our country shows we are on a rising trajectory [and] without having brought the first wave under control, the outbreak is starting to get out of control, the Turkish Medical Association said in a press statement Tuesday.

The jump in COVID-19 cases means Turkey is fast approaching the second peak in the first wave, the Turkish Thoracic Society said on Friday. Insufficient testing, changes in hospital admission criteria and overworked health workers were contributing to the rise in cases, it said, and reported that some provinces are seeing shortages of drugs.

Activities that do away with social distancing, such as weddings, tests, public transportation, congregational worship and touristic travel have become the norm. Fighting the pandemic has been relegated to personal responsibility, the Thoracic Society said in a statement.

In a striking example of the risks of mass gatherings, 35 people contracted COVID-19 last month at a wedding in the Black Sea town of Ordu after a sick guest from Istanbul shared her makeup with 20 other attendees, local media outlets reported this week.

Turkish scientists published a letter in the medical journal The Lancet at the weekend saying a requirement by the Health Ministry that researchers first get government approval for studies into the coronavirus in Turkey was hampering research. A lack of transparency by the Health Ministry and a refusal to collaborate was leading to tension between the government and scientific groups, the letter said.

It also said Turkeys noncompliance with World Health Organization classifications likely means it is undercounting coronavirus deaths. Turkey does not count patients who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms but test negative for the virus. The Thoracic Society said the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test only identifies 40% of cases.

Istanbul alone had nearly 2,000 unexplained deaths between March 11 and July 5, when researchers compared deaths to the average between 2016-2019 and excluded those confirmed to have been caused by virus, the researchers wrote.

A rise in cases in the central city of Konya is due to patients who have tested positive refusing to self-isolate and continuing to mingle socially and go to work, the head of the local physicians chamber said. Funerals and prayers at mosque were also contributing to the rise, he said.

Last week, the Interior Ministry said it was establishing neighborhood inspection teams comprised of prominent local figures to monitor people who are required to self-isolate, either because they have tested positive or were in contact with someone who has. The ministry said it these teams would inform authorities if people broke quarantine rules. Electronic monitoring may also be used, it said in a circular.

The leftist Peoples Democratic Party criticized the governments prioritization of the economy over workers health. It submitted a parliamentary motion to bar a closed-circuit working system in which some major Turkish manufacturers have set up camps where workers are required to stay between shifts. At least one factory still had a coronavirus outbreak.

This violates human rights and the constitution. Workers are essentially forced to stay apart from their homes and families and work day and night, which is on par with slavery conditions, lawmakers wrote, according to an emailed statement on Monday.

The Turkish Medical Association urged public health officials to take additional measures to limit the spread so that schools can open for in-person instruction as planned on Sept. 21. The association welcomed the governments decision last week to delay the start of classes for the countrys estimated 18 million primary and secondary students by three weeks at a time when the number of COVID-19 cases are increasing in an uncontrolled way.

The Health Ministry's coronavirus advisory board is not currently considering new social distancing restrictions, some of its members told Sozcu newspaper on Tuesday. But some provinces were already introducing new curbs on senior citizens, such as barring them from markets, funerals or public transportation during peak hours.

Meanwhile, another health scare hit the Black Sea town of Trabzon. Authorities on Tuesday placed a neighborhood under quarantine and two people were hospitalized after eating meat from an animal infected with anthrax.
The first attempts to form a permanent English settlement on modern-day North America began in the late 1500s. Here's the Wikipedia summary of events:

The English, led by Humphrey Gilbert, had claimed St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1583 as the first North American English colony by royal prerogative of Queen Elizabeth I. Roanoke was second. The first Roanoke colony was established by governor Ralph Lane in 1585 on Roanoke Island in what is now Dare County, North Carolina, United States. Following the failure of the 1585 settlement, a second colony led by John White landed on the same island in 1587, and became known as the Lost Colony due to the unexplained disappearance of its population.

The spooooooky mystery began when White returned to England for supplies in 1588; got delayed by the Anglo-Spanish War; and didn't make it back to Roanoke Island until 1590, at which point  no one was there. The entire settlement  100-plus people, and their belongings  were just gone without a trace. Except for one telling detail: the word "CROATOAN" carved into a palisade.

Cue Roanoke-inspired horror stories in the work of writers like Stephen King and Harlan Ellison, and in media such as American Horror Story and even Batman and X-Men comics.

But now the truth has finally been revealed, thanks to the relentless efforts of an archaeologist named Scott Dawson. After excavating soil throughout the islands in and around Roanoke, Dawson and his team have gathered sufficient evidence to show that those lost inhabitants  shacked up with the Indigenous people on nearby Croatoan Island. Just like they fucking said they did.

From The Virginian Pilot:

Records from Jamestown also helped Dawson understand more about the tribes' political structure. The evidence shows the colony left Roanoke Island with the friendly Croatoans to settle on Hatteras Island. They thrived, ate well, had mixed families and endured for generations. More than a century later, explorer John Lawson found natives with blue eyes who recounted they had ancestors who could "speak out of a book," Lawson wrote. The two cultures adapted English earrings into fishhooks and gun barrels into sharp-ended tubes to tap tar from trees.

Sure, this was two centuries before America officially became "America." But it's a depressingly perfect microcosm of colonialist attitudes: the leader of a European settler expedition who cannot fathom the idea of other white people consensually intermingling with Native Americans, and thus creates a skewed historical narrative that gets passed down for centuries when he could have just looked at the god damn facts in front of him.

'The mystery is over': Researchers say they know what happened to 'Lost Colony' [Jeff Hampton / The Virginian Pilot]

Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Rapper Kanye West, who is now also an aspiring presidential candidate, shared the first glimpse of his brand Yeezy's new sunglasses on Twitter. The sunglasses look pretty unconventional and in fact look like a hairband.

The Twitterati were left confused and amused owing to the appearance of the West's sunglasses from the latest Yeezy-Gap partnership and started reacting to it in the comments section.

Some people compared these unconventional sunglasses to hairbands and others to Cyclops from the X-Men comics. But most of the people were left puzzled as to how one could see through the sunglasses.

Take a look at some of the reactions:

I used to do this with my goody headbands back in the early 80s. Along w paperclips on my fingertips as long nails lol @fatrabbits5 DollaBill725 (@DollaBill725) August 15, 2020

how do they work Cryptic (@CrypticNoOne) August 15, 2020

Can they see?  (@NYYDJ2) August 15, 2020

Based off Inuit and Yupik snow goggles? pic.twitter.com/fLrETQj2OF Rodknee #BLM (@RodneyE_) August 16, 2020

Aint that a headband? Shy The Last Targaryen (@thatguyshy20) August 15, 2020

Lets give credit where credit is due yall #StarTrek pic.twitter.com/dgGcXddZUf Jeremiah Haze (@JHaze87) August 15, 2020

Hair bands for eye wear lol she may have a hard time seeing in those #getsomesleep Wash Your Freakin Hands (@purplevivi) August 15, 2020

West shared several pictures of the sunglasses with product details. However, the company is yet to make an official confirmation about it.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has announced the government will scrap Public Health England (PHE) and form the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) in its place.

Hancock said the shake-up is needed to strengthen public health amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But what do the changes actually mean? Here, Yahoo News UK explains all...

What was PHE?

PHE was a government agency formed in 2013.

Its wide range of responsibilities included protecting the nation from public health hazards; preparing for and responding to public health emergencies; supporting local organisations carry out screening and immunisation programmes; reducing health inequalities; and encouraging people to lead healthier lifestyles.

Why was it scrapped?

Some argued its scope was too wide.

However, with the government under constant scrutiny over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, ministers like Hancock have been accused of making PHE the scapegoat for Downing Streets perceived failings during the outbreak.

Matt Hancock announced Public Health England will be axed during a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank on Tuesday. (PolicyExchangeUK/YouTube)

Criticising PHE on Tuesday, Hancock said: While we have some of the best public health science in the world we did not go into this crisis with the capacity for a response to a once-in-a-century scale event.

Responding to the announcement, shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said scrapping PHE is a desperate politicised attempt to shift blame.

The UK has the fifth-highest coronavirus death toll in the world, at 41,369 as of Monday.

What will replace PHE?

The National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP).

This, Hancock said, will have a single and relentless mission: protecting people from external threats to this countrys health.

What does that mean?

The health secretary said the NIHP will be dedicated to the investigation and prevention of external threats such as pandemics, infectious diseases and biological weapons.

Hancock spoke of a national body operating at a local level by working with councils directors of public health, as well as the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Previously, PHE had four regions: north of England; south of England; Midlands; and east of England and London.

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The NIHPs immediate task, Hancock said, will be to deal with the nations COVID-19 response, including boosting testing capacity and improving the much-maligned NHS Test and Trace system (more on that below).

In the longer term, Hancock said the NIHP is needed as disease control infrastructure that gives us the permanent, standing capacity to respond as a nation and the ability to scale up at pace.

PHE scrapped its testing and contact tracing programmes in March, at the beginning of the pandemic, due to a lack of capacity.

Though the government eventually introduced its own testing and contact tracing systems, this was after infections had peaked.

The UK compared unfavourably to countries such as Germany and South Korea, which already had large capacity to successfully monitor and manage their outbreaks from the very beginning.

Who is leading the NIHP?

It will be Baroness Dido Harding, a Conservative peer who was appointed to lead the NHS Test and Trace scheme in May.

Since then, the government has faced serious questions about the programmes effectiveness. According to the latest figures, 48,625 people (18.5%) who had been identified as close contacts to people who tested positive for COVID-19 were not reached and told to self-isolate.

Baroness Harding and Matt Hancock at a Downing Street press conference in June. (10 Downing Street via AP)

In 2015, Baroness Harding was the chief executive of TalkTalk when the telecoms giant suffered a massive cyber attack as hackers accessed 157,000 customers details, including bank account numbers. The breach ultimately cost the company an estimated 77m.

Before that, she held senior roles at Sainsburys and Tesco.

A jockey and racehorse owner, she has also served on the board of Cheltenham Racecourse.

Baroness Harding will lead the NIHP on an interim basis while the government does a global search for a permanent leader.

Watch: What is a recession?

Coronavirus: what happened today

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), John Kumah, says there is nothing wrong with the Akufo-Addo administration taking credit for the newly commissioned greenhouses and entrepreneurship and innovation centre.

Mr. Kumah argued that any government that completes abandoned or projects started by a previous administration must be credited for it.

His comments come on the back of concerns from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the projects which were implemented by Youth Enterprise Support (YES) under the Mahama administration have not been acknowledged by the Akufo-Addo administration.

But speaking on the Point of View on Citi TV, Mr Kumah maintained that most of the project was spearheaded under the current administration.

He, therefore, said accusations by the NDC that the current government has stolen the projects are not justified.

All the 75 greenhouse projects were started by President Akufo-Addo. The Former YES CEO left office in May [2017] and I took over so any work done between January and May [2017] was done under President Akufo-Addo. So whoever executes the projects takes the credit because government funds it anyway.

The project was funded by EXIM bank and it is government of Ghana money so it is nobodys project. We are talking about the time of execution and it is happening under President Akufo-Addo.

John Kumah further criticised the NDC for not giving due credit to President Akufo-Addo for the completed project.

He said the attitude of the NDC is impeding the socio-economic progress of the country.

If the NDC had completed all these greenhouse projects, they would have commissioned it when they were commissioning their artistic impression. I am disappointed in those in the NDC who are using words like deception and thievery and all that and refusing to give credit to President Akufo-Addo.

Because if we dont complete a project, these same people will say we have abandoned the project, when you complete a project under you they say you have stolen it and deceived the public. We dont even know if the NDC are interested in the development of Ghana.

The Greenhouse projects

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, August 13, 2020, commissioned 75 greenhouses and an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre, at Dawhenya, constructed by the Ministry of Business Development and the NEIP.

The greenhouses can produce 4,500 tonnes of tomatoes annually, bringing in a yearly revenue of some GHS 11 million, and employing a total of 230 people.

Already, vegetables from this farm are being sold at Shoprite, Farmers Market, Eden Tree, amongst others.

---citinewsroom
To hold the first set of elections in India in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic  particularly the Bihar assembly polls  the Election Commission of India (ECI) is finalising guidelines with restrictions on public presence at campaign rallies, in door-to-door political outreach, in polling booths, and inside counting halls, to ensure strict social distancing, four officials familiar with the decision-making process told HT.

The contours of ECIs new plan for elections in the new normal are being adopted even as political parties have offered varied suggestions to the constitutional body, from deferring polls altogether to holding them in one phase, from reverting to ballot papers to allowing physical (and not just virtual) rallies, and from increasing the limits on poll expenditure by candidates to exempting those expenses incurred while enhancing Covid-19 precautions.

State election officials, too, have passed on their inputs to ECI.

While elections have taken place in other countries since the pandemic, including in Sri Lanka recently, elections in India have only been confined to polls to the Rajya Sabha and legislative council seats, which involve a limited set of voters. Experts believe that the election paradigm adopted for Bihar will have significant implications for political contests, and have a medium-term impact since other state elections are due in the middle of 2020.

ECI, which reviewed suggestions received from political parties on Friday for conducting elections to the 243-member Bihar assembly (its term ends in November) and subsequently held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a wide-ranging organisational framework, is likely to issue the guidelines over the next three days. Elections to the Samastipur parliamentary constituency and 56 assembly constituencies (across eight states) elsewhere are also scheduled to be held from September, officials familiar with the matter said.

The guidelines will broadly centre around three primary subjects  polling stations, counting halls and public meetings, said an ECI official who did not wish to be named. For example, in the counting hall we used to have 14 tables, now we have slashed the number to seven.

Physical rallies

A key area of concern for political parties is rallies, which have traditionally served as a key political tool for mobilising voters and communicating messages by leaders. With the pandemic and the push towards digital campaigning, parties have expressed concern that the direct interface with voters, especially those who lack digital access, will get affected if physical rallies are not allowed.

Also read| Covid-19 patients, elderly can vote in elections via postal ballot: All you need to know

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is part of the ruling dispensation in Bihar, has asked the poll panel to allow physical meetings and rallies in rural and semi-urban areas since voters may not have access to mobile devices and the internet, people familiar with the matter said. In its submission to ECI, the party has said that all party workers, campaigners and leaders must have the Aarogya Setu app downloaded on their phones at all times, and adequate social distancing has to be maintained during roadshows and processions. In case, physical rallies are permitted, the party has suggested having enclosures with limited seating, separate exit and entry points, and use of sanitisers and thermal scanners at all points of entry and exit.

Other parties such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and a BJP ally, the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP), too have said that till physical rallies are allowed, elections must not take place.

Arguing that digital campaigning and virtual rallies allow the ruling party an upper hand because these cost more money, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have also demanded public meetings.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

According to the first ECI official quoted above, public meetings may be allowed but strictly monitored. If a ground has been designated for a public meeting, then the administration will have to ensure that only the number of people who can be admitted keeping social distancing in mind are permitted inside. Circles to mark the appropriate distance should be drawn. The number of riders that can accompany the leader will also be limited.

On the same issue, a second official said, We are not saying that parties cannot have physical rallies. They will just have to follow all social distancing norms or the rally will be shut down.

Door-to-door campaign

The Congress has also sought permission for house-to-house campaigns, people aware of the details said. In its submission to ECI, the party said, We are in favour of an election based on face-to-face campaign where the candidate and party workers can meet the voters.

A third EC official said that suggestions such as limiting door-to-door campaigning to a maximum of five people have also been made. All those doing door-to-door campaigning must give their phone numbers so that if any one tests Covid-19 positive, effective contact tracing can be done, he said, adding that special arrangements would also have to be made for those living in containment zones.

The commission is also considering allowing online submission of nomination forms by candidates to make the process easier, said the first ECI official.

Poll expenses

Another area of concern for parties is poll expenses. The BJP has suggested that the limit on expenditure should be increased for the candidates, or alternatively all expenditure which is borne on purchasing equipment to safeguard against Covid-19 be exempted from being charged to the candidates account. There have been other suggestions on how there should be new limits on social media expenditure of parties given the increased reliance on digital medium due to the pandemic.

But, as of now, the poll body is not considering imposing additional financial limits on the amount spent by political parties on online campaigning, officials said. Social media campaigning was always allowed, even before the pandemic. Expenditure limits that exist will apply, the first official quoted above said. Political parties do not have a limit on the expenditure, but a candidate is allowed to spend a maximum of 28 lakh, including all election costs.

The commission has already issued directions that the number of electors per polling booth will be limited to a maximum 1,000 compared with 1,600 earlier. A number of auxillary polling stations will be created to accommodate the voters. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on June 27 told HT that 36,000 polling stations will be created in Bihar.

Other suggestions

The Congress, the RJD and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen have also demanded that the commission should revert to using the ballot paper so that voters are not susceptible to the infection while pressing the buttons on the electronic voting machines (EVMs). This demand, officials indicated, is unlikely to be met.

The BJP has also sought changes to the model code of conduct to bring into its ambit new methods of campaigning in an election. The commission should issue a direction that no person in jail custody either due to conviction for commission of any offence or being an under trial prisoners be permitted to participate in the poll campaign in virtual mode, the party said in a submission to ECI. This is widely seen as a move to ensure that RJD leader Lalu Prasad, currently serving a sentence after being convicted, cannot campaign virtually.

There is also an emerging view that bypolls in some states should be postponed even further. HT, on August 14, had reported that the chief secretaries of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat, and the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Kerala, had written to the commission, citing rising Covid-19 cases and heavy rains, to consider deferring the by-polls.

In case of a state like Kerala, where assembly elections are due in April next year, it has been suggested that it does not make sense to hold bypolls, said a fourth ECI official.

The EC on June 17 had decided not to notify the law ministrys amendment to the Representation of People Act, 1951, that would have allowed those over the age of 65 to use postal ballots. Five key opposition parties, however, had then written to CEC Arora to reconsider the move.

Former CEC SY Quraishi said the framework of the ECI seems very sensible. These are all good suggestions considering the Covid-19 pandemic, Quraishi told Hindustan Times. The EC has been assessing the situation on the ground and has been consistently monitoring how elections have been conducted in other countries as well.

Quraishi added that while deferring by polls is easy, postponement of the Bihar elections would lead to a constitutional crisis.

One or two by polls deferred doesnt make much of a difference to the functioning of the assembly. However, if assembly elections are deferred, Presidents rule will have to be imposed. That can only be done under two circumstances which constitute an emergency  external aggression and internal rebellion.

Quraishi also said that the EC should consider capping expenditure by political parties on campaign.
Microsoft on Monday set dates for nudging Internet Explorer (IE) toward the grave and for ending security support of the original circa-2015 Edge browser.

Neither announcement was unexpected. Microsoft reduced IE  notably the final edition, IE11  to second-rate status more than four years ago, when it halted development of the browser. And once the Redmond, Wash. developer released a stable, production-grade version of its reworked Edge, the one built with technologies from the Google-dominated Chromium open-source project, it was only a matter of time before the company axed the legacy Edge.

The earlier version debuted alongside Windows 10 in July 2015.

Although Microsoft bundled the announcements into a single post to a company-run blog, each end-of-support decision  one regarding IE11, the other the 2015 Edge  was aimed at separate, if sometimes overlapping, constituencies.

One year to IE11's 'degraded experience' with Microsoft 365

Ironically, the hammer will fall lightest on IE11: Only the browser's ability to connect with Microsoft 365 applications and services will be affected by the impending deadlines.

Here's what will happen and when.

The Teams web app will stop supporting IE11 starting Nov. 30.

All remaining Microsoft 365 apps and services will no longer support IE11 beginning Aug. 17, 2021.

(Microsoft is using Microsoft 365 as a generic label; the same deadlines will obviously hold for the apps and services provided by Office 365, the older and less expensive software subscription.)

The support stoppage will not be a clear-cut matter, Microsoft explained, essentially saying that IE11 may continue to connect with and operate on such apps as Teams and services as SharePoint, past the set deadlines. Instead, the end of support will result in a gradual decline of functionality. Think of it as IE11 entropy.

"After the above dates, customers will have a degraded experience or will be unable to connect to Microsoft 365 apps and services on IE11," Microsoft wrote. "For degraded experiences, new Microsoft 365 features will not be available or certain features may cease to work when accessing the app or service via IE11."

While the vague explanation will immediately have customers confused  Will IE11 connect to the app or not?  it's in keeping with how Microsoft typically defines end of support. However, one moment of clarity came when Microsoft confirmed that the cutoff also applies to the IE Mode baked into Chromium Edge.

"Using Internet Explorer mode in the new Microsoft Edge will not help to extend IE 11 access," Microsoft said. That make sense, since what IE mode does is call up designated sites using IE's Trident engine rather than Edge's Chromium.

Old Edge gets risky in March

The second announcement Monday centered on the original Edge, which Microsoft tagged as "Legacy" to separate it from the newer browser based on Chromium.

Here's what will happen and when to Edge Legacy on the desktop.

The 2015 browser will receive its final security update on March 9, 2021.

This deadline carries more certitude. After that date  a little less than seven months from now  vulnerabilities found or reported in Edge Legacy will not be patched by Microsoft. The browser will continue to work as before, but running it will come with some risk as users won't know whether unfixed flaws exist that criminals could exploit.

"Now that we've shipped the new Microsoft Edge, and upgraded most of our Windows 10 customers to the new browser, we're ending support for the Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop app," Microsoft said.

In June, Microsoft began replacing Edge Legacy with Chromium Edge on some PCs, avoiding those powered by Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education and Windows 10 Workstation Pro, as well as devices running Home or Pro that are managed by the organization's IT.

Microsoft cited the fact that it had "upgraded most of our Windows 10 customers to the new browser" as the reason for quashing Edge Legacy's security support.

Customers wedded to Legacy Edge who have not been automatically upgraded by Microsoft to Chromium Edge  a firm that relies on Windows 10 Enterprise, for instance  will have to adopt a different browser by March 9, 2021, to avoid potentially-risky surfing. Naturally, Microsoft wants those customers to grab Chromium Edge. To that end, it offers FastTrack assistance free of charge to customers with 150 or more paid Windows 10 Enterprise licenses.
In an interview with the Associated Press on Monday, the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said he does not play the role of postman between the two diametrically opposed countries with close ties to Iraq.

Al-Kadhimi who will be visiting the United States on August 20 to meet with President Donald Trump made the remark in response to an AP question on whether he was carrying any messages from Tehran following his recent visit to Iran.

We do not play the role of postman in Iraq, the U.S.-backed prime minister said.

Al-Kadhimi assumed office in May and made his first official visit to Tehran on July 21 where he met with the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani. This was also Khamenei's first meeting with any foreign dignitary in person since the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic in Iran in February.

In the interview with AP, the Iraqi Prime Minister has stressed that Iraq "will still need cooperation and assistance at levels that today might not require direct and military support, and support on the ground" to combat terrorism.

In his visit to the Islamic Republic, Al-Kadhimi was accompanied by a large delegation consisting of the ministers of foreign affairs, oil, energy, financial affairs, planning, defense and health as well as his security adviser Qasim al-Araji.

The Iraqi Prime Minister's visit was also the first high-level since Iran's Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani and top Iraqi militia leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, were killed in a U.S. targeted attack in Baghdad on January 3 and Iran's retaliatory missile attacks on two bases in Iraqi soil that hosted U.S. troops on January 8.

In their meeting in Tehran, the Iranian Supreme Leader told Al-Kadhimi that Iran "will strike back at the United States" for Soleimani's killing.

Iraq owes $5 billion to Iran for imports including natural gas and electricity but due to U.S. sanctions cannot pay its debt to Iran through banks. The money which Iran has dire need for is currently kept in a special account in Iraq.

Al-Kadhimi's government faces many challenges including putting an end to the precarious activities of militant Shiite groups. His promise to bring arms under the authority of the state has pitted his government against militia groups supported by Iran such as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) better known as Hashd al-Sha'abi who have continued to make threats against their political rivals and operations against the government military bases and offices.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  As the end to the COVID-19 pandemic remains nowhere in sight, and the crisis continues to create an impact on almost all countries in the world, Globe and partner organizations aim to help cities and municipalities weather this pandemic.

Some cities have become epicenters which intensified the spread and transmission of the virus with their dense population and transport networks. In the Philippines, local government units play a crucial role in stopping the spread of the respiratory disease.

In line with this, Liveable Cities Philippines and the League of Cities of the Philippines, in partnership with Globe Telecom and KonsultaMD, are gearing up for the third session of the Liveable Cities Labs that will focus on Digital Transformation in a Post-GCQ World: Building Healthy Cities and Municipalities.

In order to equip LGUs and stakeholders further, the session will provide additional and timely information from experts on how to address the challenges in the new normal. Cholo Tagaysay, chief operations officer of KonsultaMD, will join Sacha Bootsma, technical officer on health emergencies of World Health Organization (WHO); Dr. Eric Tayag, director of knowledge management and information technology service of the Department of Health (Philippines); and Dr. Gia Sison, head of Women's Wellness Center of Makati Medical Center.

KonsultaMD is a subscription-based telehealth service that is available 24/7, allowing access to skilled and licensed Filipino doctors who can provide safe medical assessment and advice on basic healthcare and proper medication. It is operated by Global Telehealth, Inc., a joint venture of 917Ventures, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, and Mexicos Salud Interactiva.

The panel will discuss best practices and experiences on how a city or municipality and its people can work together to strengthen its community-based health services throughout the pandemic, and to move to recovery and beyond to fully create healthy and resilient cities.

Likewise, the webinar will also underscore how new solutions through the use of innovation and technology can help in beating the pandemic.

The Liveable Cities Labs is a series of webinar sessions to gear up cities with knowledge and insights for designing better solutions for their communities. The third Liveable Cities Lab on Building Healthy Cities and Municipalities will be held on Aug. 19 (Wednesday), from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Interested parties are encouraged to sign up at bit.ly/LCC3HEALTH.
The mother of an American woman who was tortured and had all her teeth pulled out before she was beaten to death with a rock in Mexico say she wants her daughter's killers to pay as the FBI steps in to help find those responsible for the gruesome murder.

The body of 23-year-old Lisbeth Flores was found on August 11, two days after she traveled from Texas to visit her boyfriend. She reportedly walked across the Veterans International Bridge to the border town of Matamoros.

On the same day, she also spoke to her mother on the phone and said she would return home that night.

A Mexican government official told DailyMail.com that Flores' body was located on a grass field next to a construction site.

Crime scene images leaked on social media showed Flores' body lying face up and wearing her bra, pants and shoes.

Mexican investigators found a rock next to the woman, and authorities said she died from blunt-force trauma to the head. Law enforcement investigators reported that a part of Flores' scalp had been removed and that her teeth were taken out by force.

No suspects or motive has been identified by Mexican authorities, and the FBI confirmed to DailyMail.com it was assisting them in investigating the murder.

Mexico's Consul in Brownsville, Texas, told DailyMail.com the mother of Lizbeth Flores has received assistance from a local funeral home to cover the cost of repatriating her daughter's remains back home. The 23-year-old woman was found dead in Matamoros, Mexico, on August 11. The FBI also told DailyMail.com it will be helping with the investigation

'Losing a child is like having your heart ripped out,' Flores' mother Maria Rubio said during an interview with Telemundo.

'I feel very sad for what they did to my daughter. How they left her is what pains me. The pain that my daughter went through there at that time is what pains me.

'She was young, she had many things ahead of her and more because she had two children,' Rubio said. 'And I want those who did that to my daughter, each one who participated in her death, I want them to pay.'

Flores' mother said she is trying to repatriate her daughter's body with the help of a Texas funeral home.

Juan Carlos Cue Vega, Mexico's Consul in Brownsville, Texas told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that the Mexican government had previously offered Maria Rubio assistance in returning Flores back before a local funeral parlor stepped in to help the grieving family.

Vega also said that the funeral home was awaiting clearance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to bring back the body.

A concerned Rubio filed a missing person's report with the Brownsville Police Department on August 10 when Flores failed to come back home.

Authorities is Matamoros, Mexico, remove the body of Lizbeth Flores, a 23-year-old American woman killed last week

Lizbeth Flores, a mother of two children from Brownsville, Texas, was killed last week while visiting the Mexican border city of Matamoros. She walked across the Veterans International Bridge to allegedly visit her boyfriend August 9 and was found next to a construction site August 11

As of Tuesday, Matamoros officials had not announced any arrests or motives behind the tragic incident.

It is unknown if a local criminal group or cartel was involved with Flores' killing.

In recent years, Matamoros and other neighboring border cities in the state of Tamaulipas has been subjected to a spike in violent incidents involving the Cartel del Noreste [Northeast Cartel] and its murder squadron, the notorious Tropa del Infierno [Gang from Hell].
CEO Dave Johnson said, "We are excited about our robust portfolio growth and look forward to a continued positive trajectory."

The new additions to Aimbridge's managed portfolio represent the full range of hospitality verticals. Highlights include the full service Hilton Boston Downtown Faneuil Hall, extended stay Hyatt Place and Hyatt House dual brand property in Chicago, a unique conversion of the historic Cook County Hospital, destination resort The Murieta Inn & Spa with luxury style, and the select service Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam-North Riverside, The Netherlands - the largest Holiday Inn Express in Europe.

Aimbridge Hospitality, which merged with Interstate Hotels & Resorts in late 2019, has worked tirelessly to create new procedures and initiatives to confront the challenges the year has presented, including cost containment measures, mutually beneficial brand partnerships, new strategies to drive revenue, and the formation of a nonprofit entity, Aimbridge Aid, aimed at providing financial assistance to its employees.

"The growth to our portfolio reflects the benefits of Aimbridge's scale to owners and our operating acumen across all of the verticals," added Aimbridge's Global President Mike Deitemeyer.

About Aimbridge Hospitality LLC

Aimbridge Hospitality is the leading, global, third-party hotel management company operating branded full service, select service, luxury hotels, destination resorts, convention centers and lifestyle hotels. Aimbridge merged with Interstate Hotels & Resorts in 2019, and now represents a premium portfolio of more than 1,400 branded and independent properties in 49 states and 20 countries. Aimbridge is based in Plano, Texas and has additional corporate offices in Atlanta, Calgary, Fargo, Puerto Rico, San Clemente, Scottsdale, Toronto and Washington D.C. Aimbridge's International Division, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, has supporting offices spread across Europe in Amsterdam, Birmingham, Glasgow and Moscow.

For more information on Aimbridge Hospitality, please visit www.aimbridgehospitality.com and connect with Aimbridge on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Aimbridge Hospitality

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has explained why it organised a virtual colloquium on COVID 19.

The colloquium was organised last week by JAMB, the Nigerian Defense Academy and PREMIUM TIMES and discussed the various measures adopted by the authorities to reduce the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.

The registrar of the board, Ishaq Oloyede, said JAMBs desire not to do the wrong thing led it to organise the colloquium that was held on the theme: Appropriateness or Inappropriateness of some Pharmaceutical and non-Pharmaceutical Measures and Protocols Against COVID-19.

What brought JAMB into this was that we wanted to buy disinfectant tunnels for all our offices and when there were doubts, we needed to bring intellectuals together to find the right path, he said.

Mr Oloyede explained that the Disinfectant Booths or Tunnels, whereby chemicals are sprayed on individuals, has become a common sight in public buildings.

As well much as the use of these devices has been canvassed by several agencies, there have been vociferous arguments against their deployment by other individuals and bodies, he noted.

Recently, while the Federal Ministry of Education was persuading educational institutions to install body disinfectant tunnels as the government looks at the possibility of the full resumption of schools, the Ministry of Aviation, following the resumption of flights, on the other hand, was dissuading the use of the same Disinfectant Tunnels at the nations airports, he said.

According to Mr Oloyede, the contentious issues discussed by experts at the colloquium ranged from recommended duration for hand washing, the effect of alcohol-based hands sanitisers, the use of face masks and face screens, among others.

He said these necessitated the assemblage of experts to educate Nigerians on the appropriateness or otherwise of the measures.

Issues JAMB tabled

Mr Oloyede said another issue was the advisory issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending 40-60 seconds of handwashing for effective cleaning while the NCDC, on its part, recommended 20 seconds of handwashing.

Some professionals have also argued that handwashing with soap alone is not completely effective without the additional use of alcohol-based sanitisers, while some experts have argued that one can serve in place of the other, he said.

The registrar said the questions agitating the minds are: Is it harmful to use too much sanitisers on the hand? What is the effect of face/nose masks on breathing? This is especially true for those with respiratory issues or those who are advanced in age, he said.

He said all those were some of the contentious issues addressed by the colloquium.

The board said experts such as the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Obi Adigwe; the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu; the Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mohammed Haruna; and other respected intellectuals in related fields drawn from the various tertiary institutions in the country spoke at the event.

During the colloquium, presenters underscored the need to adopt necessary safety measures in view of the deadly nature of the virus. They all posited that in trying to safeguard the lives of the people, it is important that appropriate measures are clearly defined and implemented so as not to compound the situation by further endangering the lives of the public, the weekly bulletin reads in parts.

COVID-19 Tunnel (PHOTO CREDIT: Ezekiel Oyero)

The bulletin also showed that Mr Sani Aliyu, who delivered a paper at the colloquium, commended the Board, National Defense Academy and Premium Times for the thoughtful and intellectual engagement.

Submissions

In his presentation, Mr Aliyu took participants through the activities of PTF since its inauguration as well as measures it had put in place to protect Nigerians.

In his submission on Disinfectant Sprayers/Tunnels, Mr Aliyu argued against their use, saying there is no scientific basis for the deployment of the devices in public places as a preventive measure against the pandemic.

Mr Aliyu also said the views that the use of face masks reduces oxygen in the body has not been validated scientifically.

The PTF Coordinators view was corroborated by many of the participants who asserted that spraying of chemicals on the human body through the chemical disinfectants employed will do more harm than good.

Other views at the JAMB forum

The Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI, Mohammed Haruna, however, offered a contrary opinion on the potency and efficacy of disinfectant sprayers especially with regard to food-grade disinfectants.

He said the arguments by Mr Aliyu were also not backed by clinical evidence.

NASENI is the manufacturer of disinfectant sprayers.

Mr Haruna said many countries, including China, the birthplace of the virus, India, Saudi Arabia and Russia had adopted Disinfectant Tunnels to reduce the spread of the virus.

He also said the position of WHO as canvassed in its advisory on the product could be reviewed in the future as the body had been on record reversing some of its decisions.

Similarly, the Deputy Managing Director, Consultancy Services, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Labaran Salihu, in his presentation on the nature and chemical composition of disinfectants, said spraying individuals with disinfectants is not recommended under any circumstance.

He said doing so could be physically and psychologically harmful and would not reduce an infected persons ability to spread the virus through mucous droplets, saliva or body contact.

Office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board

He said the installation of walk-through decontamination chambers featuring UV, chemicals or a combination of both, should be discouraged to avoid unnecessary exposure to harmful radiation and chemicals.

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He said frequent exposure of the skin and eyes to disinfectants over a long period of time would certainly cause unpleasant consequences on the health of an individual, depending on their age and health condition.

The only preventive measure, for now, to prevent and slow down the transmission of the virus, in the absence of a certified vaccine, is to be fully aware of the virus and how it spreads. Use of face mask, social distancing, washing of hands with soap or surfactants and disinfecting them with alcohol-based items regularly and avoid touching ones face as currently employed, offer the best safeguards. Disinfecting suspected surfaces and materials could also prove useful, the weekly bulletin quoted Mr Salihu as saying.

EDITORS NOTE: The above article was first published by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board in its weekly newsletter edition of Monday, August 17, 2020.
Egypt mediators enter Gaza following Israel's intensified military strikes

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 5:46 PM

Egyptian mediators have entered the Gaza Strip in an effort to reduce tensions and prevent a new cross-border conflict following Israel's increased aerial and artillery attacks.

The delegation from Egypt --which has long served as a mediator in Gazaentered the impoverished Palestinian enclave on Monday at around midday local time.

Hamas said the Egyptian delegation headed straight for meetings with the Palestinian resistance movement's officials after entering the territory.

The visit comes as the Israeli military has intensified its attacks on the Gaza Strip, with its tanks pounding several positions in the besieged enclave.

The Israeli military claimed in a statement earlier on Monday that the attacks came in response to incendiary balloons sent from Gaza to the occupied territories on Sunday evening as well as protests along the fence separating the enclave from the occupied territories.

The Israeli regime every so often launches strikes against positions in the blockaded enclave, accusing resistance groups there of launching attacks.

Flying fiery kites and balloons has become a new mode of protest by Gazans since March 2018, when the Tel Aviv regime began a crackdown against anti-occupation demonstrations near the fence separating Gaza from the Israeli-occupied territories, killing and injuring many people.

Hamas vowed to step up its resistance against the Israeli military after two children were injured during nighttime Israeli strikes on Gaza on Friday.

Also on Sunday, Israel tightened its naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. It also banned fuel shipments from entering the Kerem Shalom crossing between the southern Gaza Strip and the occupied territories until further notice.

In a statement released on Monday, the Palestinian Power Authority said the only functioning power plant in the Gaza Strip will shut down by tomorrow morning if no fuel is imported through Israeli-controlled crossings.

Palestinians living in Gaza suffer regular blackouts as a result of fuel shortages, with electricity being provided for less than 12 hours a day. Power supply deficit in the coastal enclave is over 75 percent.

Monday's development also comes as Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached a deal that will lead to full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two sides, in an agreement apparently brokered by US President Donald Trump.

Anger is boiling in the Middle East and elsewhere over the agreement, with Palestinian leaders describing it as a "stab in the back" of the Palestinians by an Arab country.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli land, air and sea blockade since June 2007, which has caused a decline in the standard of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.

Israel has launched three major wars against the enclave, killing several thousand Gazans and shattering the impoverished territory's already poor infrastructure.

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By PTI

NOIDA (UP): Coronavirus vaccine should not be protected with a patent right and be made accessible to all, Bangladesh Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus said on Tuesday.

Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, also called for the creation of a social business pharmaceutical company for the benefit of people and society at large.

"The new world needs a check-post where fossil fuels and plastics etc. do not get through and take tough decisions as it is the right time to do so," he said in a webinar organised by Amity University, Noida.

"The corona (virus) vaccine should not be protected with a patent right, should have no commercial ownership and be made accessible to all," Yunus said, according to a statement.

During a discussion on the role of social business in the post-COVID world, he stressed the need for ensuring that the planet is handed over to the next generation in a much safer condition.

Noting that people have to be creative during these times, he said the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the weaknesses of society and the informal sector with the mass exodus of migrant workers, stopping the economic engine.

He said society was "rushing to a disaster and destruction" before the pandemic struck and people should collectively ensure that they do not return to "the old world".

"Global warming and wealth concentration were affecting at an alarming rate like a ticking time bomb. The global lockdown made the train moving towards destruction stop and now society should not go back to the old world," he said, according to the statement.

He also stressed the need to rebuild and redesign institutions as well as the thought process in the light of "social businesses" during the session moderated by Aseem Chauhan, Chancellor of Amity University, Rajasthan.
MONTREAL - Each long-term care home in Quebec will have a single person responsible and accountable for its response to COVID-19, Health Minister Christian Dube said Tuesday as he moved to shore up the vulnerable sector ahead of a potential second wave of the novel coronavirus.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL - Each long-term care home in Quebec will have a single person responsible and accountable for its response to COVID-19, Health Minister Christian Dube said Tuesday as he moved to shore up the vulnerable sector ahead of a potential second wave of the novel coronavirus.

Health-care staff will also be prevented from working in more than one seniors centre and unknowingly carrying the virus into multiple facilities, the health minister said.

Speaking to reporters in Quebec City, Dube said the government was giving itself six weeks to execute the multi-pronged action plan he announced Tuesday that he said will ensure a swifter, more nimble response if cases rise again.

Many of the measures to be put in place by the end of September are aimed at avoiding a second disaster in the long-term care sector, which accounted for the bulk of the province's 5,727 deaths attributed the virus.

A key component of the plan is to name a manager who will lead each of the province's roughly 400 long-term care homes. Quebec Premier Francois Legault has said that at the beginning of the pandemic, one person was often responsible for multiple long-term care facilities, creating confusion and diffusing accountability.

The new managers, who will each be assisted by an infection-control specialist, will be responsible for ensuring government directives are followed. "I don't want any more excuses that it's not clear," Dube said.

He promised that managers who do not follow directions would face consequences, although he did not say what they would be.

Dube stressed that the existing managers of long-term care homes were not responsible for the failures of the first wave, which exposed the weaknesses of a system he described as fragile and under-resourced.

Rather, he said, many managers were unable to respond to the pandemic due to a combination of staff shortages, lack of training and infection control, and directives that were unevenly applied, all of which he expects the new plan to address.

"The elected officials as well as the managers will be accountable," he said. "But what we want to do with the action plan, with the amounts we're talking about, is to have managers and elected officials to work with the right tools."

Dube's strategy also includes rapid mass testing, maintaining access to surgeries, and ensuring the province has enough medical equipment to cover a potential second wave.

"With the virus, our best weapon is agility and speed," he said.

Dube also announced an additional $106 million for public health, which will allow regional health establishments to hire some 1,000 full-time workers to help with contact tracing, infection control and administering an eventual vaccine.

The government has already hired 10,000 orderlies, who are expected to enter the workforce in the next few weeks.

Seniors Minister Marguerite Blais said Tuesday many of the elements of the action plan will have a lasting positive effect on the long-term care sector. She said the government will present a longer-term policy on the seniors facilities this fall.

Meanwhile, Quebec reported on Tuesday 46 new COVID-19 cases and six additional deaths linked to the novel coronavirus.

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The number of hospitalizations remained unchanged at 145 while the number of people in intensive care increased by two to 27.

Quebec has been by far the hardest-hit Canadian province, with 61,252 COVID-19 infections since the beginning of the pandemic.

While new cases have been declining in recent weeks, Dube warned the virus is still circulating in the province.

He said the current "period of calm" was not a sign the virus was gone, but rather a chance to prepare for a likely rise in infections in the fall.

Dube said Quebec has successfully contained recent outbreaks, suggesting the province is better prepared to move quickly if a second wave comes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2020.
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Linkedin Allison Lampert and Jamie Freed (Reuters) Montreal/Sydney  Tue, August 18, 2020 14:07 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ec603a 2 News Airlines,Airport,COVID-19,coronavirus,quarantine,pandemic,travel Free

Airlines and airports will ask a UN-led task force meeting on Tuesday to recommend countries accept a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of travel as an alternative to quarantines that have decimated demand for travel, according to a document seen by Reuters.

The industry wants the task force to make the recommendation for passengers traveling from countries with high COVID-19 infection rates when it meets on Tuesday to review guidelines for international travel amid the pandemic.

"A test prior to departure could reduce the risk of importation by up to 90 percent, enabling air travel to be opened up between a large number of countries without a quarantine requirement," said the proposal from Airports Council International (ACI) and airline trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The push for testing comes as the industry's hopes for a recovery were dealt a blow last week when Britain reintroduced quarantines on travelers from France and the Netherlands.

Airlines are forecasting a 55 percent decline in 2020 air traffic, according to IATA, which reported 85 percent of surveyed travelers expressed concerns about quarantine.

"We don't support across-the-board mandatory testing," IATA medical adviser Dr. David Powell told Reuters. "But if there are situations where there is a higher risk in the country of origin and it can avoid the need for quarantine, then we certainly support that and advocate for that concept."

Read also: Indonesian travelers enjoy convenience of COVID-19 testing at airports

The proposal calls for the use of PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) tests conducted outside of airports.

The task force did not raise testing as an alternative to quarantines in May when it recommended a uniform approach toward reviving flights, but it could do so after Tuesday's meeting.

The International Civil Aviation Organization was not immediately available to comment.

Powell said the 48-hour period recommended by IATA and ACI was up for discussion and said it could make sense for some travelers to take a second test upon arrival at their destination.

While task force recommendations are voluntary, ICAO guidelines are typically adopted by its 193-member countries.

Requiring testing raises cost issues for travelers, given airlines are unlikely to bear the approximate $200 expense. The sector faces up to $314 billion in lost revenue in 2020, according to ICAO forecasts.
New Zealand Explains Latest COVID-19 Tax Reliefs

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

18 August 2020

New Zealand's Inland Revenue Department has released a special report explaining in detail the tax relief measures in the COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Act (No 2) 2020.

The four taxation matters included in the new Act introduce amendments to:

The powers for the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to vary due dates and deadlines;

Support the implementation of the research and development loan scheme;

The ability for the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to remit use-of-money interest for some provisional taxpayers; and

The qualification periods for the in-work tax credit.

The first measure enables the Commissioner of Inland Revenue greater flexibility in providing relief by modifying due dates, timeframes, or other procedural requirements for taxpayers impacted by COVID-19.

Where taxpayers comply with a modified timeframe or requirement made under this power, they will be treated as if they complied with the relevant requirement that is set in legislation. It is effective from March 17, 2020, in relation to requirements arising from this date.

The second measure is intended to support businesses to continue research and development programmes at risk in the current economic conditions.

The research and development loan scheme is open to all research and development-performing businesses regardless of size. However, businesses are required to prove that they have suffered a significant loss in revenue or lack access to finance. The research and development loans scheme applies similar eligibility criteria to those used for the COVID-19 wage subsidy scheme. The loan can only be spent on research and development activity, and businesses are required to account for this.

Amendments to the Income Tax Act 2007 ensure that expenditure funded by the loan scheme is subject to the normal income tax deductibility rules and that the loan does not affect a person's entitlement to research and development tax credits. Without the amendment, expenditure funded through the research and development loan scheme would likely be ineligible for the tax credit, contrary to policy intent.

The third measure allows Inland Revenue to remit use of money interest (UOMI) accrued on an amount of terminal tax payable for the 2020-21 tax year where the taxpayer failed to pay the relevant portions of the amount by the provisional tax dates because their ability to reasonably accurately forecast their residual income tax has been significantly adversely affected by COVID-19. It will apply for UOMI accrued for the 2020-21 tax year.

Finally, amendments to the Income Tax Act 2007 will allow families to continue to receive the in-work tax credit (IWTC) for a period of up to two weeks when an earner transitions between jobs, are unpaid for a period, or leave their employment.
The manager of Joe Biden's presidential bid said on the first day of the Democratic National Convention that the campaign will have the "largest voter protection effort that has ever been conducted on a presidential campaign" as President Donald Trump continues to stoke a postal crisis.

"We are looking at a very sophisticated and complex, multipronged approach across every level that's available to us," Jennifer O'Malley Dillon said in an interview Monday with The Washington Post. "That certainly includes litigation. That includes, certainly, political coordination and legislative efforts."

O'Malley Dillon said in key states like Arizona, where a majority of voters participate by mail, the Biden campaign is working to "make sure they know they've got to get that application and their ballot in early, as early as possible to give the post office the time that it needs."

"I feel very confident that we are going to be able to execute our strategies and reach out to voters," she said. "I am also very confident that Donald Trump is going to do everything that he can to try to stand in the way. And we're going to ensure that we have the resources and the focus to stop that."

"We are doing the work to ensure that we are minimizing the chaos," she said.

Alongside O'Malley Dillon, veteran election lawyers, including Robert Bauer, are working with the campaign to promote voter education about mail-in voting and counter the president's claims.

Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, warned supporters last month that he believes Trump will try to "indirectly steal" the election by making a case against mail-in ballots.

O'Malley Dillon's comments come amid mounting pressure on the U.S. Postal Service and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a former logistics executive and Republican fundraiser. House Democrats have demanded that he testify at an emergency hearing next Monday along with Robert Duncan, the chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors, accusing them this weekend of pushing "dangerous new policies that threaten to silence the voices of millions."

In recent days, DeJoy's changes at the agency have reduced mail deliveries and overtime hours, resulting in massive mail backlogs that have delayed critical communications and packages, including prescription drugs.

The Postal Service also sought to eliminate hundreds of high-speed mail sorting machines this month and remove public collection boxes in states including California, New York and Pennsylvania, causing an outcry. The USPS described the mailbox removals as routine, though it pledged to cease the practice until after the election following the public backlash.

DeJoy's push has sparked intense scrutiny in part because of Trump, who last week said he opposed offering election aid to states - and emergency money for the Postal Service - to restrict Americans from voting by mail. Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that mailed ballots invite voter fraud.

The president is being backed by a bustling Republican operation in 15 states to monitor voting locations and ensure a heavy GOP presence at polling sites.

Trump's reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee are working together to recruit 50,000 volunteers to serve as "poll watchers," according to advisers to both groups, with $20 million set aside for courtroom fights, underscoring the legal arsenal at the party's disposal.

In the interview Monday, O'Malley Dillon also sketched out her vision of the fall campaign and shed light on how she sees the political map. The strategist previously served as deputy campaign manager for President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, among other senior roles in Democratic presidential politics.

"We start with the states that are on the map that we feel pretty confident in, but we really need to do the work - those are the Virginias, the New Hampshires, the Colorados," O'Malley Dillon said. "In '08 and '12, those were really strong battleground states. They are still battleground states, but we are heavily favored. Some people might call them safe states. I certainly don't believe that. I believe that we have to do the work to ensure that we continue to maintain our support there."

The next group of states on her radar is the "sort of traditional swing state list," including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina and Arizona, where "we obviously don't have to win all of them," she said. But she sees Biden as "competitive across the board."

Arizona, in particular, is a priority, O'Malley Dillon said, noting that "the campaign staff kid me because I talk about it so much."

"It has never really, truly been a battleground state at the level that it is. And some of that's because of the trends over the last several cycles. Some of that's because of the important work that's been done on the ground," she said.

Arizona's Democratic Senate candidate, Mark Kelly, she added, "is really running an incredibly strong campaign. We're going to work very closely with him."

The Deep South and states such as Georgia, which have been coveted by recent Democratic presidential nominees but remained largely out of reach, are targets as well, with the Biden campaign hoping to be lifted by increased support and participation from Black and Latino voters.

"I think 2020's the year, I think for sure, whether, you know, we're talking about Florida, whether we're looking at Georgia," O'Malley Dillon said, recalling her work for Democrat Stacey Abrams's near-miss Georgia gubernatorial campaign in 2018. "These are states that are really changing demographically over year after year. They are states where there's just stronger electoral population in support of Democrats. That continues to trend in our direction."

But traveling to some of those states is still a challenge because of the coronavirus pandemic and safety concerns, complicating the Biden campaign's attempt to make inroads in places that have leaned Republican in recent cycles.

O'Malley Dillon said the campaign is mulling how to proceed logistically, in terms of travel by the former vice president or by Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., whom Biden announced last week as his running mate.

"Or job is to meet with and show up to voters wherever they are. So I am far less concerned about the travel restrictions as I am making sure that we are spending the time and building community and connection and engaging with voters during this time of crisis," she said. "We've thought about how do we reach voters while not putting them in harm's way or our teams or our volunteers in harm's way? How do we ensure that we make connections and we have quality conversations?"

Digital expansion is part of the answer, O'Malley Dillon said. But so are old-school phone calls to undecided voters.

"Phone calls are much more prevalent and more successful," she said. "I know we're seeing this in polling. More people are responding."
NEW YORK: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will likely travel to New York on Thursday to seek a return of all UN sanctions on Iran and meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, diplomats and a UN official said. To trigger a return of the sanctions, the United States will submit a complaint to the 15-member UN Security Council about Iran`s non-compliance with the nuclear deal, even though Washington quit the accord in 2018.

Pompeo will likely meet with Indonesia`s UN Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, the Security Council president for August, to submit the complaint, diplomats said. Pompeo is also due to meet with Guterres, a UN official said. In response to what the United States calls its "maximum pressure" campaign - a bid to get Iran to negotiate a new deal - Tehran has breached several central limits of the 2015 deal, including on its stock of enriched uranium.

But diplomats say the sanctions snapback process will be tough and messy as Russia, China and other countries on the Security Council challenge the legality of the US move given that Washington itself is no longer complying with what Trump called the "worst deal ever" and has imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran.

The United States had threatened to use the sanctions snapback provision in the nuclear deal after it lost a bid in the Security Council on Friday to extend an arms embargo on Tehran, which is due to expire in October.

Once Washington submits its complaint about Iran to the Security Council, the body has 30 days to adopt a resolution to extend sanctions relief for Tehran or else the measures will automatically snapback. Any attempt to extend the sanctions relief would be vetoed by the United States. The US mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
August 18 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment being ratified, granting women the right to vote in the United States. Though this anniversary is a celebrated milestone in American history, the reality is that not all women were able to immediately exercise their right to vote as racial discrimination kept Black women, and Black Americans in general, from voting. In fact, it wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 45 years after the 19th amendment was passed, that the federal government made it illegal to disenfranchise a person based on race. As America continues to deal with a global pandemic, as well as racial unrest in the country, exercising the right to vote in the 2020 election has never been more important, though ongoing acts of voter suppression still deny many people their right to vote today. CNBC Make It caught up with five young women who will be voting for the first time in the 2020 election, to get their insight on what the 19th amendment means to them, why it's important for them to make their voice heard at the 2020 polls and the social and political issues they've been paying close attention to this year.

Alliyah Logan, 18

Alliyah Logan, 18-year-old youth advocate from Bronx, New York. Photo credit: Alliyah Logan

Alliyah Logan is a Jamaican-American youth advocate from Bronx, New York who served as a former teen advisor for Girl Up, an organization founded by the United Nations Foundation to support the leadership development of young women. This fall, she will be a freshman at Smith College in Massachusetts. What does the 19th amendment mean to you and how important is it for you to exercise your right to vote in the 2020 election? This is such an important election, especially for women, and it's important for everyone to be fully engaged. For me, when I think about the 19th amendment, I think about the foundation of women's rights and some sort of equality in America. And the reason why I say foundation is because there's a lot of work that needs to be done. So when I think about 100 years ago and the environment of that time, I wouldn't have been able to be as accepted in the movement as I am today. And I think it's because [the suffrage movement] was viewed as being predominantly White.



When you look at it, White women were really primarily only advocating for voting rights, whereas Black women, Native American women, [Hispanic] women and other groups of women of color were advocating for so many other things like racial justice and class justice. So for me, looking back 100 years, I saw that there was just one narrative of stories that were valued at that time. And now, 100 years later, we're seeing that there are still so many more measures that need to be done to ensure that we're not only advocating for the voting rights of women, but also using that energy to advocate for other issues that women of color face, especially Black women, when looking at racial injustice and class injustice. What are some of the issues you're fighting for and policies you're paying close attention to when voting in this election? I think for me, the first thing is racial justice. I think even if you look at this summer in general in terms of the George Floyd protest, it's extremely important that our nominees are pushing for racial justice in America because we need national leadership who can make sure our voices are heard in policy decisions. And, we need national leadership supporting us and saying that Black people deserve human rights and human decency when it comes to interacting with police and many other things. Another very important issue for me is health care. When looking at the impact of Covid-19 we see how it impacted all people in general, but it more heavily impacted the Black community and Native American community just because of systematic oppression. So for me, establishing a universal health plan that all people can have access to is very important. Also, education is important and making sure that young people from K- 12 have access to equitable education that is free of harm and is free of policing in schools. I think young people need to be in environments that are safe and empowering and that really uplift their spirits and I don't think the current education system does that.



Lastly, there are a lot of people in America living in areas that are considered food deserts or have food insecurity and this is not an issue that a lot of people speak on because a lot of people don't recognize how inherently violent it is to not have access to healthy foods. This is a very important issue that we need national leadership on and it's from the impact of years of red lining and years or systematic racism that made people move into these communities that are impacted by poverty.

Rebecca Fairweather, 18

Rebecca Fairweather, rising freshman at University of California, Santa Barbara. Photo credit: Rebecca Fairweather

Rebecca Fairweather is an 18-year-old Latina activist from Queens, New York who plans to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara in the fall. She's also a former teen advisor for Girl Up. What does the 19th amendment mean to you and how important is it for you to exercise your right to vote in the 2020 election? The 19th amendment has always been incredibly important to me. I remember first learning about the 19th amendment in middle school and it's kind of mind boggling to me that that happened a hundred years ago and we're still continuing to fight for equality today.



As an 18-year-old, it kind of feels a little weird to be voting on this anniversary in a time where so many injustices are still being brought to light every single day. But, I'm voting on the 100th anniversary knowing that my generation is stepping into the voting booth and that's so powerful to me. I know that the future will be in good hands because of it. What are some of the issues you're fighting for and policies you're paying close attention to when voting in this election? I've been cultivating a list for years now and definitely climate change is a big thing for me. I think it should be acknowledged regardless of your political party because it is real and it is happening and we need to get a hold of it quickly. Something that's also very important to me is women's rights and women's access to healthcare. As a woman who suffers from endometriosis, birth control and reproductive healthcare are so important to me and knowing that it could be taken away is so scary.

Amore' Daniels, 19

Amore' Daniels, 19-year-old student at Spelman College. One time use: Amore' Daniels

Amore' Daniels is a 19-year-old computer science major at Spelman College who will be voting for the first time this year in Georgia. What does the 19th amendment mean to you and how important is it for you to exercise your right to vote in the 2020 election? The 19th amendment is very important and I think it's important for me to exercise my voice and my right to vote because historically [Black people] didn't always have that opportunity. What are some of the issues you're fighting for and policies you're paying close attention to when voting in this election? When it comes to this election there are several issues that I'm considering, including women's rights. Although this is the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment, women are still fighting for freedom and equality in terms of human rights and equal pay. Another issue I'm paying attention to is police brutality. I know that the system of policing was founded upon racist ideologies and we can see some of that in the way that police enforcement operates today. I would say another issue I'm focused on is reparations. I would like to think that the right candidate would understand that descendants of those who built this country simply don't want an apology for what has happened in the past, but we would like acknowledgement from the country that allows us to move forward and have success and progress as a community.

Denisse Alvarado, 19

Denisse Alvarado, 19-year-old student at Oregon State University. Photo credit: Denisse Alvarado

Denisse Alvarado is a rising sophomore at Oregon State University who is majoring in computer science with a minor in business. What does the 19th amendment mean to you and how important is it for you to exercise your right to vote in the 2020 election? I think the 19th amendment is really important and I think women, just as much as everyone else, need to be able to exercise their voice by voting. And you know, voting is the way we use our voice to change the policies that are affecting us. Though we are not certain where we will be in the future, it is a guarantee that whoever is elected into office will make choices and implement policies that will impact our lives. So, we need to speak up and have a say, especially in this upcoming election, because at the end of the day, if you're not voting for your own interests and standing up for your own beliefs then who will. What are some of the issues you're fighting for and policies you're paying close attention to when voting in this election? The issues that are really important to me are gender-based violence, workplace equality and educational equity. So, the sexual abuse and human trafficking that has been happening and the gender-based violence that has been manifesting in various ways in the lives of women around the world is a really important issue and I feel like we need to focus [more] on it. Workplace equality is also important. I read a report the other day that for every 100 men promoted to management, only 72 women were promoted and that number is even lower for women of color and Latinas like myself. I believe that female representation at senior level roles and in senior leadership needs to increase. And though we have seen a little bit of change, I still think that we have so much left to do and so much more we need to do to break these glass ceilings. Also, educational equity is so important because education plays a major role in providing work opportunities and I feel like from an early age boys and girls are stereotyped by teachers and educated according to their gender-based attributes.

Eugenie Park, 18

Eugenie Park, rising freshman at Wellesley College. Photo credit: Eugenie Park
Alabama Audubon is looking for those willing to buy specialty car tags that celebrate - and ultimately help protect - the states wild birds.

Available to only Alabama residents, the Protect Our Birds tag will generate money to support the conservation and outreach efforts of Alabama Audubon, which is celebrating 75 years of service.

Theres never been a better time to be enjoy birds, or a more important time to support bird conservation, Alabama Audubon Executive Director Ansel Payne stated in a press release. This new specialty license plate is an exciting way to do both.

Designed by students at UAB Bloom Studio, the Protect Our Birds license plate features an adult red-shouldered hawk perched in a longleaf pine  species that are familiar to birdwatchers throughout Alabama.

But before production of the plates can begin 1,000 commitments to buy them must be made by July 31, 2021. Once commitments have been made, the Alabama Department of Revenue will begin producing and distributing the plates.

Those interested in getting a tag can make a commitment to buy directly with the State of Alabama at alaudubon.org/get-the-tag or they may request that Alabama Audubon cover the $50 commitment-to-purchase fee. Details of both options are available at alaudubon.org/tag.

For each $50 plate issued, Alabama Audubon will receive $41.25, which will be used to support the mission of promoting conservation and a greater knowledge of birds, their habitats, and the natural world.

Founded in 1946 as the Birmingham Audubon Society, Alabama Audubon monitors bird species, protects habitat, and connects people with nature. Committing to purchase a Protect Our Birds tag is a win-win for Alabamas birds and the drivers who love them, Payne says.

For more information contact Audubon at info@alaudubon.org, or call 205-719-3678 ext 1.
BEIJING - The staff of the Chinese consulate in Houston that was ordered shut by the U.S. government has returned to China.

Wearing face masks because of the coronavirus pandemic, they were greeted on the tarmac by Foreign Minister Wang Yi after disembarking from a chartered Air China flight in Beijing on Monday night.

You have resolutely safeguarded the core interests, the dignity of the country and the legitimate rights of Chinas overseas institutions under very difficult, even dangerous, conditions, he said.

The U.S. abruptly ordered China to close the consulate last month, alleging it was the centre of a network that collected intelligence, tried to steal intellectual property and harassed the families of Chinese dissidents while trying to coerce them to return to China.

Three days later, China ordered the U.S. consulate in Chengdu to close in retaliation. The tit-for-tat closures were seen as a significant escalation in the deterioration of ties between the two countries over a range of issues, including trade, technology, security and human rights.

Read more about:
FARMINGDALE, NY  Beer is still flowing from the taps of Lithology Brewing Company, despite a year as challenging as they come for small business owners. Manny Coelho, who co-founded the Farmingdale watering hole in 2015, has been forced to brew up a series of adjustments to whatever the coronavirus pandemic has thrown his way.

Once outdoor and indoor seating returned in New York's coronavirus reopening plan, Lithology's financial situation improved, Coelho said. But while there was an initial surge of traffic to the brewery, the amount of customers has since been inconsistent. Due to COVID-19 and the resulting needs to social distance and wear masks, 2020 business numbers are incomparable to those of 2019.

"Theres days where its not that busy and we shouldnt have that many people on, and we have to send someone home early," Coelho told Patch. "It seems like were struggling a little bit. Then the next day, its good. We cant predict anything anymore. We cant even look at last years numbers or what the trend was last year, because there is no trend right now."



Currently, the shop's capacity allows for 30 to 40 people. However, a scorcher or rain-filled day is all but guaranteed to be a bad day for business, Coelho said. Recently, farmers markets in Seaford and Rockville Centre have helped Lithology sell its brews and reach new consumers. Seaford runs Saturdays and Rockville Centre on Sundays; both from 7 a.m. to noon.

Delivery and takeout sales have declined since June, but Coelho said those transactions "definitely" saved the brewery after a state shutdown of in-store service at bars and restaurants went into effect in March. The brewmaster began delivering his wares  something he hadn't done before  with the help of his niece. Delivery runs are still made on Thursdays through Saturdays, but the volume of orders has decreased. At a time when delivery and takeout were the only options, though, making the adjustment kept the lights on. It also ensured Coelho still made a living.

Story continues

"Since Im an owner, and Im the full-time owner here, this is my only means of income," Coelho, who's part of a four-person ownership group, said. "If I wasnt working, then I dont know where I would be right now. The deliveries definitely helped with my salary, as well as paying bills."

Coelho has watched his staff fall from four to zero  excluding himself  and eventually grow to six. The business had to let go a full-time salesperson and bartenders once the COVID-19 restrictions were enacted. Coelho, who was alone, halted brewing production, packaged whatever was in the fermenting room, and sold it. That's when he hired his niece to help him make deliveries. Once phase two of the state's reopening launched June 10, he rehired the original staff and added two new employees.

Having successfully navigated the shutdown period, a new series of obstacles has cropped up.

"The biggest challenge is not getting burnt out," Coelho said. "Every day, we have new rules and new guidelines. The first thing was, How are we going to keep everybody safe? How are we going to keep our employees, get them back and feeling comfortable to work here, and to also work for, obviously, less tips, because 50 percent less occupancy means less people here. Less ability for them to make even more money."

The co-owner expressed gratitude for the personal protective equipment provided by Nassau County and the town of Oyster Bay. With it, Lithology was able to follow state guidelines and keep everyone safe, both staff and customers. Yet, Coelho finds himself having to constantly pivot due to ever-changing guidance from New York officials.

"Ive been running on, Whats today going to bring? I adjust, I move on, we panic for a moment, we calm down, we take a breath, we step back and we look at what we need to do, see whether its worth it, then move on. Were just tired. It feels like anybody who is working is working harder than theyve ever worked before. Unfortunately, theres people who just arent working. But those who are working or doing double time, triple time.

"As a business owner, you dont really go home and shut off. Its just a continuing, not sure what tomorrows going to bring us. Is tomorrow going to be another shutdown? Am I going to have to get all these people to go home? Send my employees home, and then Im going to go back to doing everything by myself again just to keep the lights on? Were not sure."



Manny Coelho, co-founder of Lithology Brewing Company in Farmingdale, said things have been unpredictable throughout the coronavirus pandemic. (Credit: Michael DeSantis/Patch)

The scenario of possibly having to secure another Paycheck Protection Program loan is also in the back of the brewer's mind. The Lithology ownership corps wouldn't want to take on a loan it wouldn't be able to pay off, so options would need to be weighed.

"It turns your passion into just a business," Coelho said. "Its all about numbers now, and its hard to find something great behind that. I love what I do. I love that I get to make what Ive loved to do for years. During this pandemic, youre seeing...youve got to still pay bills. Things become about numbers and less about the passion."

In July, Gov. Andrew Cuomo mandated that bar and restaurant patrons must be served food with alcohol. For many bars, it has to be something "substantive," like a sandwich or soup. As a manufacturer, Lithology has remained able to offer a bag of chips, Coelho said. However, the brewery has still turned to help from fellow Farmingdale merchants.

Le Petit Cafe, a fellow Main Street business, makes empanadas, pita chips with hummus and specialty donuts crafted with Lithology's beer for the brewery to sell. Grub from Whiskey Down Diner and Dark Horse Tavern is available at Coelho's shop. Lithology also collaborated with Main Street Pizza Company during the coronavirus shutdown to offer pizza kits.



Oodles of support has also come from a loyal customer base, which Coelho said means "everything." Without their support, Lithology might have served its last brewski.

"My message to them is, Thank you. From the bottom of our hearts. From the bottom of our pint.' From everything, we appreciate them and think about them all the time. We cant wait until were allowed to have more people here, so we can have the big party that we want to have and invite everybody that ordered from us online and kept us going, and give them a pint or two free; on the house  just to hang out with us. We thought that would be sometime now, and its not. Well keep pushing it. Thats still in the back of our minds, that were going to have that party."

Lithology Brewing is at 211A Main St., Farmingdale. Beer can be ordered off its website.

This article originally appeared on the Farmingdale Patch
by Pierre Balanian

The historical heart of Beirut was destroyed in the port explosions, and there is the risk of the destruction of the cultural heritage. The devastated parts are relics of the Ottoman tradition and of the first contact with the French West. The campaign of the Ministry of Archaeological Heritage together with Unesco. But there are jackals who are taking advantage of the desperation of the inhabitants. Temporary homes are being prepared for the 300,000 homeless. "It will take years" to rebuild. Our "In aid of devastated Beirut" campaign.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The two explosions that tripped through Beirut port on 4 August devastated half of the city. In addition to the irrecoverable losses of human lives, of missing and injured, there is also the risk of losing the Lebanese cultural heritage.

But first , the good news: the historical artifacts of the National Museum, which houses the first glass in history, invented by the Phoenicians, are safe. However, the artefacts that were kept in the buildings underground deposits, which were flooded due to burst pipes, were lost.

The damaged historic buildings in neighborhoods near the port will need to be rebuilt. These buildings date back to the late nineteenth century and bear witness to the end of the Ottoman Empire and the beginning of French colonialism. A curious fact: the political and armed turmoil in Lebanon today seems to be taking up the thread of the Franco-Turkish struggle. It leads not only to Libya, but also to the Aegean Sea, between Turkey and Greece and for hegemony in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, where there are extensions of submarine gas deposits.

The neighborhoods of Jemeyze, Sursok, Mono, date to that period. In this place, already in the mid-nineteenth century, the Jesuits arrived with their schools, hope and culture in an era of Ottoman decay. Those neighborhoods were the gateway to the West, the heart of what would become the hub of Lebanese Francophonie, to the detriment of the Turkish and Arabic languages. Intellectuals, artists, the bourgeoisie close to colonial power were born in these neighborhoods.

The explosions tore apart entire facades of traditional houses; until the eve of the disaster they housed pubs, restaurants, artisan workshops, art galleries. In this part of the city the young people had their nightlife, and they are the same young people we see today active in cleaning the streets, clearing rubble, visiting the inhabitants, distributing aid.

There are 300,000 homeless displaced people: they now know that it will take a long time before they will regain possession of their homes because it is not just a question of rebuilding, but also of restoring.

About forty volunteers from the Lebanese University restoration institute, under the supervision of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and UNESCO, are assessing the damage and planing what to do. Among the more than 1700 damaged buildings and houses, they have counted 600 historic buildings of cultural value that should be restored to their initial state, and they ensure that nothing is thrown away: tiles, pieces of wood, shreds of tiles, everything is brought collected and secured.

However, Sarkis Al Khouri, director general of the ministry of archaeological heritage, shares his concern: The restoration work will require 300 million dollars and the government will certainly not be able to guarantee this sum. We started a campaign based on donations, we turned to Unesco and Icrom; Some associations such as Alif and Ecomos have also joined us, but help from the whole world is needed ".

Meanwhile, there is no shortage of jackals They take advantage of the desperation of the inhabitants left homeless and in need of money, proposing to buy their real estate at bargain prices, for future billion dollar investments. Possessed by despair, by the desire to leave the country that has become the graveyard of their dreams, many owners sell to these intermediaries. To put an end to this phenomenon and save the national heritage, the Ministry of Commons and the Municipality of Beirut together with the Governor of the capital have issued an ordinance banning the purchase or sale of real estate damaged by the explosions.

For now, the biggest expense is to protect the roofs with plastic drapes, to prevent the late summer rain from damaging the buildings further.

Beirut wants to regain its splendor. Meanwhile, the homeless are worried about where to stay. They would like to get their homes back as soon as possible, while trying to secure temporary housing.

Sarkis admits that "it will take years, as there are ceilings that had frescoes that should also be restored just as they were". In short, a long story, an endless story for a Lebanon always hanging between destruction and reconstruction.

In support of the people of Beirut and Lebanon, in support of Caritas Lebanon, AsiaNews has decided to launch the "In aid of devastated Beirut" campaign. Those who want to contribute can send donations to:

- PIME Foundation - IBAN: IT78C0306909606100000169898 - Institution identification code (BIC): BCITITMM -

Clause: "AN04 - IN AID OF A DEVASTATED BEIRUT"

- through the AsiaNews website under "DONATE NOW"
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attends 13th summit of worlds NA female heads

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attended an online summit of the worlds NA female heads held on August 17 under the theme of womens leadership at NAs in the time of COVID-19 and post-pandemic recovery.





National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan at the event (Photo: VNA)







On behalf of the Vietnamese NA, Ngan said Vietnam always pushes up priorities on agenda and initiatives related to women and girls, especially in the global health crisis worsened by natural calamities and climate change.



Vietnams successful holding of a special ASEAN summit on the empowerment of women in the digital era manifests the countrys strong commitment in the acceleration of gender equality and empowerment of women.



The leader stressed that the work is always a consistent policy of the Vietnamese State., and pointed out that there are still many things to do in this work.



She proposed perfecting the framework of policies and laws to further push up the work, called for further attention and resources to realise gender equality in the society, and stressed the need to intensify parliamentary and law-making activities for women to cope with the pandemic and boost their leading role in emergencies.



Multi-lateral cooperation should be further broadened through legislative and executive channels so as to help raise resources, share experience and implement the gender equality towards achievement sustainable development goals, Ngan concluded.
Former Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann will be among the speakers at the Republican National Convention.

Sandmann, who confirmed the news Tuesday afternoon on his Twitter page, will speak at the convention next week, joining a lineup that includes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Pennsylvania congressional candidate Sean Parnell, school safety activist Andrew Pollack and a variety of others.

Sandmann found himself at the center of a controversy after his face was depicted across social media as he stared at Native American protester Nathan Phillips.

He has recently settled lawsuits with The Washington Post and CNN.

The lawsuits follow a nationwide firestorm of controversy involving Covington Catholic High School students during the January 2019 march. The students were attending an annual March for Life trip, which coincided with an Indigenous Peoples March.

Viral videos show students from the all-boys high school involved in the incident with the Native American elder during their trip to the nation's capital. The videos sparked a social media firestorm, with many calling out the boys for their treatment of the elder.

But a lengthier video was released in later days that appears to show a different story.

Video: CNN confirms in January lawsuit settled with student Nick Sandmann

An independent, third-party investigation  commissioned by the Catholic Diocese of Covington  found the students made no offensive or racist statements toward Phillips or anyone who was with him that day.
In a terribly shameful incident, a sadhu reportedly attempted to rape a minor boy at his ashram in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya district. According to a report by News 18 Hindi, the sadhu also tried to cut off the child's private parts for resisting the sexual assault.

The report further adds that the 14-year-old boy managed to free himself from the sadhu and ran away from the ashram. The sadhu has been identified as Ramsevak Das.

Also read: While India Celebrated Independence, Heinous Rape Crimes Were Reported From Across The Country

Twitter

The minor boy is a student of Sanskrit at one of the ashrams and informed his local guardian of the sadhu's doing. The guardian contacted the police after finding out about the incident.

A complaint has been filed against the sadhu by the child's relatives. The accused sadhu was then taken into custody by the local police.

Reportedly, the accused lured the boy to his ashram where he allegedly forced him to have sexual intercourse with him. When the child resisted, the sadhu attempted to chop off the boy's private part but luckily, he managed to flee from the spot.

Also read: Rape Of 14-Yr-Old In Delhi's COVID-19 Facility Shows How Vulnerable They Are Even In A Pandemic

TOI (Representational Image)

In Ayodhya, there are hundreds of ashrams where boys are taught religious scriptures. The young boy was also a student at one of the ashrams. The day the incident occurred, the boy went to get water from the Saryu river and met Ramsevak there who then lured him into his ashram.

Jagrak (Representational Image)

Sexual crimes against anyone should be punishable and regardless of who does it, the punishment should be stern and have significant consequences.

Also read: Andhra Man Convicted For Rape And Murder Of A Minor Sentenced To Death
An asteroid the size of a car flew within 1,830 miles of the Earth this weekend  but NASA astronomers did not spot it until after it had passed on by.

The space rock  which experts have dubbed '2020 QG'  now holds the record for the closest known fly-by of our planet that didn't result in an impact.

It passed over the Southern Hemisphere the same distance away from the surface of the Earth as the drive from Copenhagen, in Denmark, down to Malaga, in Spain.

Scroll down for video

An asteroid the size of a car flew within 1,830 miles of the Earth this weekend  but NASA astronomers did not spot it until after it had passed on by (stock image)

The asteroid was first spotted by the Palomar Observatory in California some six hours after it had made its closest pass of the Earth at around 9pm, local time on Saturday (5am Sunday BST) and was already heading back further into outer space.

'The asteroid approached undetected from the direction of the sun,' NASA Center for Near Earth Object Studies director Paul Chodas told Business Insider.

'We didn't see it coming,' he continued.

According to astronomers, the space rock passed by at around 7.7 miles per second (12.7 kilometres per second)  or some 27,720 miles per hour.

Fortunately, even if 2020 QG had been on a collision course with the Earth, it would mostly likely have been nothing to worry about.

According to NASA, the space rock is likely between 618 feet in diameter  meaning it would have probably disintegrated as it entered the Earth's atmosphere, with only tiny fragments standing a chance of reaching the ground.

'Yesterday's close approach is closest on record, if you discount a few known asteroids that have actually impacted our planet,' Dr Chodas told Business Insider.

Newly-discovered asteroid ZTF0DxQ passed less than 1/4 Earth diameter yesterday, making it the closest-known flyby that didn't hit our planet.@renerpho

Simulation: https://t.co/a81R100OwV

Higher-res GIF: https://t.co/4Wxn0YNpVb pic.twitter.com/SMtVRbjYOA  Tony Dunn (@tony873004) August 17, 2020

The asteroid was first spotted by the Palomar Observatory in California, pictured, some six hours after it had made its closest pass of the Earth and was already flying off into outer space

2020 QG is similar in size to another asteroid which did enter the Earth's atmosphere  the 912 feet in diameter '2018 LA', which reached us on June 2, 2018.

This space rock burnt up over Africa  and if any tiny fragments did impact the ground, no damage or injuries were reported.

For comparison, the Chelyabinsk meteor that exploded above Russia in mid-February 2013  shattering windows of thousands of buildings over a large area and hospitalising 112 people  would have been at least ten times larger in size.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, the Confucius Institute U.S. Center, Inc. (CIUS) received a letter from the U.S. Department of State designating CIUS as a foreign mission under United States law. (Official response here)

We would like to make it clear we are more than happy to work with the State Department and their request for more information surrounding our organization the same way we were during the GAO's investigation last year. Much of the information requested is either already publicly available or has been offered to the State Department multiple times in the past in a good faith effort to be transparent. We have also made multiple attempts to open our organization to the press to show that we, as a predominantly American staff, are committed to transparency.

Sadly, we have been seldom taken up on our offers to show the work we're doing and to allow our American students speak to their educational experiences through not only our organization, but also the independent, university-controlled Confucius Institute programs across the country. The fact that Mr. Pompeo's press release's tone is incongruent with the actual formal correspondence of the State Department with our office illustrates this disconnect between their genuine concern and political opportunists trying to win a news cycle.

"Apparently, we are living in a time where teaching a foreign language is seen as a political act by some people," said Gao Qing, Director of the Center. Although according to the State Department's official letter to our office, "the CIUS Center is not involved in diplomatic or consular activities, and its employees are not considered government officials or representatives," they decided to move forward with this decision anyway.

As ironic as it sounds, our small team of mostly American staff is still being defined as a "foreign mission," said Erik Eging, a communications associate with the organization. "We are not a headquarters for American Confucius Institutes, but a small office in Washington, D.C. devoted to global education services and intercultural opportunities for American communities. People unhappy with a foreign government are taking out their frustrations on a language and cultural exchange program. While we understand their concerns, we will get a lot closer to addressing them by building bridges between our international communities through language and cultural exchange."

To learn more about the Confucius Institute and how the programs operate, visit www.ciuscenter.org.

MEDIA ALERT: To set up an interview or for more information, contact the CIUS Center at [email protected]

The Confucius Institute U.S. Center is a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes the value of mutual understanding between the US and China through language education and cultural exchanges. Confucius Institute programs are operated independently by host colleges and universities to prepare the next generation of leaders through language, arts, culture, and educational travel experiences. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @CIUSCenter.

SOURCE Confucius Institute U.S. Center

Related Links

http://www.ciuscenter.org/


Sassnitz, Germany: Israeli fighter jets have landed in Germany for the first time in a display of the two countries' strong ties more than 75 years after the end of the Nazi Holocaust and as the German military is struggling with signs of rising far-right sentiment in its ranks.

Beyond the symbolism, the co-operation is a chance for Germany's outdated armed forces, which are considered a critical component of NATO, to learn from Israel's highly trained fighter pilots. For the Israeli military, it is an opportunity to learn about NATO techniques and train in new air spaces, expanding its ability to carry out operations on different types of terrain.

Escorted by two Eurofighter jets of the German air force Luftwaffe, three Israeli F-16 jets arrive at the Noervenich airbase in Dueren, Germany, on Monday. Credit:DPA/AP

"After the crime against humanity that was the Shoah, it is a moving sign of our friendship today that we are flying side by side with the Israeli air force for the first time in our history," Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, the head of the German air force, said in a statement, using the Hebrew word that refers to the Holocaust.

German pilots have twice travelled to Israel for joint manoeuvres in recent years, but this is the first time the Israelis are taking part in such exercises on German soil and over German air space. The first of six Israeli air force F-16 fighter jets touched down yesterday on Monday, Tuesday AEST, at the Norvenich air base in western Germany, where they will hold joint training exercises over the next two weeks.
A lawyer for some of the Sandy Hook school shooting victims families accused Remington Arms on Tuesday of using its new bankruptcy case to try to wipe out their lawsuit over how the company marketed the rifle used in the massacre.

A lawyer for Remington denied the allegation during a phone conference call presided over by a federal bankruptcy court judge in Decatur, Alabama.

Also Tuesday, the judge, Clifton Jessup Jr, denied the families request to create a committee, comprised of people who are suing Remington over the use of its products, that would have a say in the bankruptcy proceedings. The judge, however, allowed one lawsuit plaintiff  not the Sandy Hook families  to sit on the main committee of unsecured creditors.

David Elsberg, a lawyer for the families, said Remington is trying to rush an auction of its holdings, leave the families out of the process and has not included their lawsuit or other lawsuits over its products in the new bankruptcy case it filed late last month. He said the bankruptcy case is so new that many people who may have claims against the company may not even know about the case.

A sign is posted on an electricity pole outside a house near Sandy Hook Elementary School, nearly two weeks after a gunman shot dead 20 students and six adults, in Newtown, Connecticut December 27, 2012 [File: Adrees Latif/Reuters]

The families have grave concerns about the speed, the breakneck speed, that the debtors (Remington) are setting up for the sale, Elsberg said. There wont be, there simply cant be, a full and fair process unless this high-speed train that were on slows down.

Despite the bankruptcy case being filed only last month, Remington  the nations oldest gun maker, based in Madison, North Carolina  already is planning to sell off its holdings in a September 17 auction. The company has a plant in Huntsville, Alabama.

It is the companys second bankruptcy filing in two years. Remington, weighed down by lawsuits and retail sales restrictions following the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012, listed assets and liabilities of between $100m and $500m, and between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors, in its new case.

A gunman using a Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle made by Remington killed 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012.

A Remington 870 Express 12 gauge shotgun [Joshua Lott/Reuters]

A survivor and relatives of nine victims of the shooting are suing Remington in Connecticut Superior Court, saying the company should have never sold such a dangerous weapon to the public and alleging it targeted younger, at-risk males in marketing and product placement in violent video games. The lawsuit has been put on hold because of the bankruptcy case. Remington denies the lawsuits allegations and said it is immune from being sued under federal law.

Jessup on Tuesday approved a schedule for the September 17 auction that allows the Sandy Hook families and others to object to the sale by September 1. He dismissed the families objection to the schedule.

Nancy Mitchell, a lawyer for Remington, told the judge that Elsbergs comments about the company trying to rush the process and exclude the families were not true.

A lawyer for the United Mine Workers of America union also expressed concerns Tuesday about retired Remington workers losing their benefits because of the bankruptcy. Jessup allowed a union representative to sit on the unsecured creditors committee, but as an ex-officio member with a voice but no vote.

The judge also gave a spot on the committee to the parents of a Montana teenager who died in 2015 from a gunshot wound from a Remington rifle  giving lawsuit plaintiffs a voice and vote. Sharon and Randall Teague are suing the company, saying their son was carrying the hunting rifle at their Seeley Lake home when it fired accidentally because of a defective design and killed him.

Remington, in court papers, has denied the Teagues allegations and questioned whether their sons death was a suicide.
THE GOVERNMENT has announced a new development for Limerick Institute of Technology's campus, as part of a series of major capital projects to increase student capacity nationwide.

Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris announced that there will be an increase of 8,000 additional student spaces across the country, thanks to a programme to deliver 11 new higher education buildings.

The minister stated that a tender process will commence for a new applied sciences and IT building at the Moylish campus in the first quarter of 2021.

There will be two "bundles" that will be put out to tender under the Public Private Partnership programme.

Projects are located in the TU Dublin Tallaght and Blanchardstown campuses; in CIT and IT Tralee, which will merge to create the new Munster Technological University in January 2021; in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dun Laoghaire; and in Athlone Institute of Technology.

The LIT project forms part of the second bundle in 2021. These projects are located in WIT and IT Carlow, which are part of the consortium seeking to establish a Technological University for the South East; in GMIT and Letterkenny IT, which are part of the Connacht Ulster Alliance; and in Limerick IT which has formed a consortium with Athlone IT.

The projects are being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, which recognises that investment in education is central to achieving a strong, future-proofed economy, balanced across the regions, and a just society in which all citizens are enabled to fulfill their potential.

Minister of State and Limerick TD Niall Collins welcomed the announcement:

"The decision to progress these PPP is very positive news for the third level sector. Ongoing investment is critical and must be sustained. In particular I am very pleased that the LIT proposal has progressed and will go to tender in early 2021. The ongoing development of the LIT campus is a high priority for me which I will continue to drive and support in our new Department of Further and Higher Education.

Minister Harris said that this is a "key milestone" in the Government's programme for investment in the higher education sector.

Such investment has never been more important. The higher education sector, and within that our new Technological Universities and our Institutes of Technology, have an essential role to play in driving recovery across Irelands regions and in preparing for the opportunities and challenges of a changing economy.

The new infrastructure to be delivered under this Programme will enhance the campus environment for students and staff, and support strengthened partnerships with industry. The buildings will have a strong focus on supporting practice-based learning, including laboratories, workshops and studios. They will also have significant flexibility to adapt to changing teaching and learning needs, and to support hybrid and remote learning.

The bundles will be procured by the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science as Approving Authority. The Higher Education Authority is the Sponsoring Agency for the Programme.

As with other PPP projects in the education sector, the contract type envisaged is a Design, Build, Finance and Maintain (DBFM) contract. The successful tenderer for each of the bundles will construct the buildings using private finance, and will then operate and maintain the buildings over a period of 25 years. Payment by the Department will be by way of monthly Unitary Charge payments over the 25 year operational period, which will start when construction has been completed.
'The report sets out immediate changes to the nursing home sector.' (stock photo)

Major government investment in the nursing home sector is expected to be recommended in an expert panel's review.

The report, which will be published today, is also understood to call for an overhaul of clinical governance in nursing homes.

This section of the report will involve examining the role played by nurses and doctors in providing care for older people residing in nursing homes.

The report makes 86 recommendations in total and several will require significant government funding. The Cabinet will have to discuss the elements of the report that will need State investment.

The recommendations in the report will be overseen by an implementation group. It is unclear when the recommendations will be fully implemented.

The report sets out immediate changes to the nursing home sector, which the Government will be advised to move on as soon as possible.

It also highlights medium-term goals and sets out structural changes to the health service that will benefit nursing homes.

The report was ordered by former health minister Simon Harris and will be published by his successor, Stephen Donnelly.

The expert panel is chaired by Professor Cecily Kelleher, principal of the College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, UCD.

She is joined by Professor Cillian Twomey (a retired geriatrician); Petrina Donnelly, group director of nursing at RCSI Hospital Group; and Bridget Doherty, representing the public interest.

In its interim report, the panel said it received 40 written submissions through the public consultation process, along with another 50 submissions from nursing homes, and an additional 25 from groups involved in the industry.

It also examined HSE data related to nursing homes and the spread of the virus.

Nursing homes were the epicentre of the pandemic in Ireland in the early months of the outbreak.

The majority of Covid-19-related deaths were of people living in nursing homes.

The Government introduced widespread and regular testing for nursing home staff to stop the spread of the virus in the setting.

There have been calls for an investigation into the high number of deaths in care facilities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 18

By Elnur Baghishov  Trend:

About 30 trillion rials (about $714 million) will be spent on the construction of production and landscaping facilities in Ardabil Province (northwestern Iran) by the end of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2021), Iranian Vice president and Head of the Planning and Budget Organization of Iran Mohammad Bagher Nobakht said, Trend reports citing the organizations website.

Nobakht emphasized that of these funds, 20 trillion rials (about $476 million) will be spent on the improvement of 52 manufacturing enterprises whose construction is unfinished in Ardabil Province.

The official added that more than 11,200 people will be employed with the commissioning of these enterprises.

In addition, 10 trillion rials (about $238 million) will be spent on 12 landscaping facilities in the province, he said.

The vice president noted that the Ardabil-Mianeh railway is the focus of the Iranian government, and it will be commissioned in the next Iranian year (starts March 21, 2021).

The construction of Iran's Ardabil-Mianeh railway began in 2015. The 175-kilometer-long railway has 62 tunnels with a length of 23.8 km.
Please dont let this happen to anyone else.

Thats what John McCall has to say after COVID-19 restrictions on who can come to Canada meant his children were unable to be with their mother when she died Aug. 10 at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

The federal government announced Friday that Canada and the U.S. agreed to keep the border closed for another month. Despite increased pressure from families like McCalls and others, Ottawa has yet to loosen the limits on who is allowed to enter the country.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said in an interview he knows that many people are in heartbreaking situations and he sympathizes with them.

He said he is reflecting on whether more exemptions need to be made as the government seeks to meet its twin objectives of commitment to family reunification and protecting public health.

The measures that weve put in place at the border are helping to reduce the spread of the virus and that is saving lives, he said.

We have to balance both of these important objectives and commitments and we will do that.

McCall had been trying for months to get his adult children up from the U.S. to care for their ailing mother Donna, who lived in Madoc.

Urgent requests to the Immigration Department for some kind of exemption to the existing rules went unanswered.

So, the McCalls decided to do what they said, in retrospect, they should have done many years ago  apply for Canadian citizenship for the kids.

Donna was Canadian, John is American, though his family has roots in the area they now call home.

While immigration officials did eventually put a rush on Canadian citizenship papers for the two children, the documents didnt make it time: Donna died Aug. 10.

John McCall said he knows his isnt the only case where border restrictions are keeping families apart in life-or-death situations.

My only goal now is to say, please dont let this happen to anyone else, he said, dissolving into tears.

Their son Ian, 33, said that before COVID-19, his family had gone back and forth across the border with ease, and while theyd talked about getting their citizenship, it just didnt seem urgent.

He said hes not angry the restrictions are in place, but wishes officers had shown more leniency while there was still time.

Saying goodbye to your mother over video chat isnt something anyone should have to go through, he said.

There are no words to describe how hard it is, he said.

When the border initially closed back in March, there were very limited exceptions to who was allowed in, beyond Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Those restrictions were eased in June to allow for some relatives to enter, a move Mendicino pointed to in the interview as proof of the governments commitment to family reunification.

Adult children of citizens, like the McCalls, were not on the list. Mendicino did not explain why when asked on Friday.

Others caught in limbo include people whose common-law relationships dont meet the definition of those that is set out in immigration law.

Many affected people have banded together into an advocacy group that held a press conference on Parliament Hill last Wednesday demanding change.

Theyve also tabled a petition in the House of Commons with more than 5,300 signatures.

We ask that a timetable and plan be developed to safely reunite our families, said David Poon, a Regina doctor whose partner is stuck in Ireland.
In a keynote speech on July 24, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo effectively overturned nearly 50 years of US engagement with China and set course for an aggressive confrontation with Beijing. He denounced the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in McCarthyite terms and called for the victory of the free world over tyranny. In rejecting the policy of containment, Pompeo in essence dismissed the notion of a new cold war in favour of a hot onethat is, the slide towards military conflict.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Credit: Chinese foreign ministry)

Pompeos demagogic speech has clearly prompted deep concerns in the Chinese leadership. There have been significant responses by Foreign Minister Wang Yi in a lengthy interview with the state-owned Xinhua news agency on August 6 and by former Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in a long essay published in the Global Times on August 7. In the CCP hierarchy, Yang is formally the top foreign policy official.

Both officials appeal for an end to US-China tensions, as well as dialogue, continued engagement between the two countries and peaceful coexistence, while pointing to the dangers of a deepening confrontation. Peaceful coexistence was itself a Cold War term used by the Soviet Union which collaborated with US imperialism to contain tensions, defuse wars and conflicts, and stave off another world war.

Wang warned that relations between the countries were facing the gravest challenge since the establishment of diplomatic ties in the 1970s. He said that the root cause lay with some American politicians who are biased against and hostile to China and smeared China with fabrications in what amounted to a new McCarthyism. Ultimately, they want to drag China and the US into renewed conflict and confrontation and plunge the world into chaos and division again, he declared.

Wang called on the US to stop acting with arrogance and prejudice and to enter into a constructive dialogue. He declared that China was ready to restart talks with the US at any level, in any area and at any time. All issues can be put on the table for discussion. The conciliatory message was not so much directed to the Trump administration, but to the Democrats, and more broadly to US allies in Europe and Asia, in an attempt to wind down rapidly escalating tensions.

However, Chinese pleas to Washington are likely to fall on deaf ears. The root cause of the reckless US anti-China campaign does not lie with particular politicians but is the response of the American ruling class to its historic decline, now accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that the US confrontation with China was initiated by the Obama administration, and that Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden is attacking Trump for being soft on Beijing signifies that the dominant sections of the American ruling class regard China as the chief threat to US global dominance.

Moreover, Pompeo is conducting a concerted campaign, above all in Europe, to line up US allies in the war drive against China. Last week he made the third of three forays into European forums in two months, addressing the Czech parliament in a speech that focused on China, which he characterised as a greater threat than Russia and denounced for its campaigns of coercion and control. Directly appealing to anti-communism, Pompeo called on the assembled politicians to back Washingtons punitive campaign of sanctions and economic penalties against Beijing.

In his Xinhua interview, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang, while appealing for dialogue, nevertheless made clear that Beijing would not compromise on what it regarded as core issuesincluding Chinese sovereignty in Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, where the US is again winding up its cynical human rights campaigns.

Wang also pointed to the utter hypocrisy of the Trump administrations unsubstantiated allegations of spying, including by Chinese tech giants such as Huawei. Ridiculing US calls for a coalition of clean countries that exclude Chinese technology, he pointed to the revelations of whistleblower Edward Snowden about US spying on an industrial scale. In stark contrast to China, he said, the US is behind such scandals as PRISM and ECHELON. It conducts wire-tapping and mass surveillance around the globe, and these wrongful acts are already an open secret.

In his lengthy essay, Chinas top foreign affairs official Yang Jiechi also pointed to the accelerating global crisis, writing that the once-in-a-century major shift in the world landscape is picking up speed. Instability and uncertainties in the international situation are growing markedly.

Yang reviewed at length the development of US-China relations since US President Richard Nixons landmark visit to China in 1972 that established a de facto alliance against the Soviet Union. He emphasised the benefits to the US that had flowed from the relationship, economically, as the CCP leadership turned to capitalist restoration and opened up to foreign investment, and, on the world stage, advancing US interests, such as by pressuring North Korea.

At the same time, Yang repeated the somewhat muted criticisms of some US politicians who out of arrogance and ignorance, have acted in violation of the UN Charter and basic norms governing international relations, and have willfully and blatantly interfered in the internal affairs of other countries. He declared that the attempts to drive a wedge between the CCP and the Chinese people were doomed to failreflecting no doubt a sensitivity in the Chinese leadership to the mounting social tensions at home.

The responses by Chinas top two foreign affairs officials signify a somewhat more conciliatory tone from Beijing. While President Xi Jinping has not responded to Washingtons anti-China campaign with the same degree of vitriol as Trump officials, he has nevertheless reacted to US punitive measures in kind. In the US this has led to denunciations of Chinese aggression and expansionism.

Within Chinese ruling circles, Xi has come under fire for failing to defuse tensions with Washington and take action to end the trade war between the two countries. In the lead-up to an annual seaside retreat of top Chinese leaders and party elders at Beidaihe, some press reports speculated that Xi would come under pressure even though he has removed the limits on his term of office and his supporters dominate leading party bodies. The secretive two-week retreat has just concluded. As usual, no official statements or comments were issued.

Nevertheless, perhaps to mollify Xis internal critics, the Chinese response to Pompeos speech and continued punitive measures against Chinese companies has been rather low-key. Xu Qinduo, a commentator for the state-run China Radio International, was cited in the New York Times as saying: Theres a reflection that we should not let nationalism or hotheadedness somehow kidnap our foreign policy. Tough rhetoric should not replace rational diplomacy.

The New York Times last week noted that other prominent Chinese officials had also repeated the call for dialogue, including Cui Tiankai, the ambassador to the US. The senior Chinese diplomat had accused American politicians of telling lies to smear China, but also called for steps to prevent relations from spiraling out of control over the next several months.

The CCP leadership has no progressive answer to US war driveappeals to US imperialism that will quickly prove futile, go hand in hand with an arms race with Washington that can only end in disaster for humanity. Far from being socialist or communist, the CCP represents the interests of a tiny ultra-rich layer and is incapable of making any appeal to the working class, either at home or internationally. Facing a mounting social crisis domestically, the regime uses police state measures to suppress any opposition.

At the same time, the Trump administration continues its anti-China provocations virtually on a daily basis. Last week, the State Department announced that it was classifying the US headquarters of Confucius InstitutesChinese government educational and cultural organisationsas a foreign mission, thus requiring it to declare its property and personnel. Already a number of Chinese media organisations in the US have been branded as foreign missions, limiting their operations.
The government is going to overhaul the countrys outdated planning system, according to an announcement from the Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary.

While the reforms are targeted almost exclusively towards housing for people, rather than new agricultural housing, it does include provisions to free up commercial and former farm buildings for housing as well.

The White Paper on planned changes aims to transform a system that has long been criticised for being too sluggish in providing housing for rural families, key workers and young people.

The reforms allow for more building on brownfield land, which would include a group redundant farm buildings in the correct zone.

Three categories of land

The paper sets out a new zoning system with 3 categories of land:

1. Growth: Land suitable for growth will be approved for development while plans are being prepared, meaning new homes, schools, shops and business space can be built quickly and efficiently, as long as local design standards are met.

2. Renewal: these areas will enable much quicker development where it is well-designed in a way which reflects community preferences.

3. Protected: Development on Green Belt land will continue to be restricted as it is now with policy remaining a decision for local authorities as they prepare their plans.

The reforms are overdue because fewer new dwellings are built in Britain than any other European country. Small building firms cite the planning process and its associated risks, delays and costs are their main challenges.

The government aims to reduce red tape and costs for builders by extending the Permission in Principle to major developments by giving more access to a fast track route to secure the principle of development for housing.

This would mean that planning permissions would be agreed in principle in Growth zones without a full planning application, unless the local planning authority objects.

The use of this principle with Permitted Developments to convert redundant farm buildings into dwellings has been widely used on farms over the last five years.

The paper also wants to help local planning authorities to better understand who controls land in their area and to assist builders identity land suitable for development.

This could possibly mean more planning authorities and developers approaching farmers and producers inviting them to sell land for development.

Rural Powerhouse campaign

The White paper follows a Rural Powerhouse campaign from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) which aims to boost productivity to rural areas.

The CLA says that a restrictive and inefficient planning system is harming the potential of the economy in rural areas.

It leads to wasted expenditure and unrealistic demands; out-dated perceptions of the economy in rural areas; and decision-making that seems to fly in the face of rural interests.

CLA President Mark Bridgeman said: We have a fantastic opportunity to simplify the planning system and unlock a new wave of investment in the countryside.

Planning reform can be an important ingredient to boost economic development in rural areas and help the recovery.

"Rural office locations may become more attractive in the light of the coronavirus experience; if that is the case, the planning system needs to be able to respond quickly to emerging demand.

In the short term, local planning authorities may want to free up vacant office and commercial space for new uses (such as for residential, affordable and sheltered housing). Again, this requires a flexible and fast-planning process.

Unfortunately, the archaic laws that determine what and where we can build have held back economic development in rural areas. Now is the time for change.

He pointed out that major economic and technological trends have provided new incentives to invest in rural areas, at the same time more people are seeking a better life in the countryside - something which Covid-19 has only increased.

This could not only increase the population of rural areas, but also bring with it a wealth of experience and expertise, human and social capital.

Farmers are seeking to capitalise on this growing trend, but they must have a planning system to be able to do so.

What recommendations does the paper make?

The paper makes recommendations to adapt the planning system to respond to the current and future needs and opportunities of the rural economy. These include:

 Encouraging greater use of the Permission in Principle application process in rural areas, including those that require rural development grant aid applications;

 Allowing permitted development rights for new-build affordable housing for rent on rural exception sites;

 Reducing the ten-year restriction to five years for all permitted developments rights;

 Removing the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for all new farm buildings

 Requiring local authorities to factor current and emerging technological development into their assessments.

 Funding planning authorities to conduct Housing Needs Assessments in any community not allocated housing in the local development plan;

 Amending the National Planning Policy Framework so that it accepts the need for new housing in designated landscapes and promotes the conversion of roadside barns to residential use;

 Resourcing the planning system so that it is fit for purpose by either simplifying the system so it can be delivered within existing constraints, or increasing resources so the system works as intended; and

 Undertaking a comprehensive review of Green Belt planning policy so that it delivers certainty for farmers.

The government is encouraging feedback from farmers and others through its consultation on the proposed measures by 29 October.
Norways oil fund, as the worlds biggest sovereign wealth fund is commonly known, lost US$21 billion (188 billion Norwegian crowns) in the first half of 2020, as the fund returned a negative 3.4 percent in volatile markets.

The US$1-trillion Government Pension Fund Global, the fund which has amassed wealth from Norways petroleum revenues over the past 25 years, saw negative returns from its equity investmentsthe majority of its investmentsin most markets, the fund said in its half-year 2020 report on Tuesday.

The funds equity investments returned -6.8 percent, investments in unlisted real estate returned -1.6 percent, while fixed-income investments returned 5.1 percent.

As at the end of June, a total of 69.6 percent of the funds value was invested in equities, 2.8 percent in unlisted real estate, and 27.6 percent in fixed income.

There were major fluctuations in the equity market in this period. The year started with optimism, but the outlook of the equity market quickly turned when the Corona virus started to spread globally, Deputy CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management Trond Grande said.

Even though markets recovered well in the second quarter, we are still witnessing considerable uncertainty, Grande noted.

The worst performers among the funds equity investments were oil and gas companies, with a return of -33.1 percent.

This was due mainly to a slide in oil prices in the first quarter as a result of both weak demand on account of the pandemic and an increase in supply from Saudi Arabia. Low gas prices and refining margins also weighed on the sector, according to the managers of the Norwegian fund.

Among individual stocks, the funds investments that made the most negative contributions were in Royal Dutch Shell and in financial services companies HSBC Holdings PLC and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

This year, Norway is set to use a record amount from its fund to counter the economic slump from the COVID-19 pandemic and low oil prices.

The government of Western Europes largest oil producer called for using 4.2 percent of the estimated value of the fund at the beginning of this year. Norway has rarely used more than 3 percent of the Government Pension Fund Global.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Linkedin Shadine Taufik (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 15:35 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ece0b5 4 Art & Culture feminism,woman,woman-leader,colonialism,history,social-change,feminist Free

One main criticism of the feminist movement in Southeast Asia is its exclusivity, which has been dominated by the perception of the white, liberal biological female.

During the Isyarat Feminisme Dekolonial (Gesture of Decolonial Feminism) session of the Etalase Pemikiran Perempuan(A Window to Womens Thoughts) online feminist festival, which ran from July 24 to 26, Indonesian feminists brought this criticism into a discussion.

Led by writers Martha Hebi, Erni Aladjai, Citra Hasan and anthropologist Rhidian Yasminta Wasaraka, this session addressed the various experiences of women across the Indonesian archipelago.

The topics covered varied greatly, providing insight into different viewpoints and methods of cultural preservation.

Martha exposed the fragile state of the feminist movement in Sumba, brought about by years of patriarchal domination in social systems and ongoing feudalism, while Erni presented her findings through Project Ramuan Nenek, a compilation of methods of womens post-birth body care, from the traditional practices of different regions of Indonesia.

Other topics included Rhidians presentation of the Papuan Korowai peoples and the sensationalization and exoticization of their culture forged by Western media, as well as an introduction to Citras organization, Sirkulasi Kreasi Perempuan (Womens Creation Circulation), a Medan-based community within which women express themselves through art and literature.

The panelists highlighted that it was important for feminism to be contextualized within the framework of non-Western values and experiences in order for it to be inclusive and applicable to women regardless of racial, socioeconomic or bodily differences.

In defining decolonial feminism, moderator and organizer Intan Paramaditha took a look at issues lingering within mainstream feminism.

Intan explained that universal feminism sees womens experiences as uniform, and does not acknowledge the power relations between the different backgrounds of the individuals that encompass it, giving rise to colonialism under the guise of female solidarity.

There are power relations and different privileges between first-world and third-world feminism, or even within the context of Indonesia alone, between urban Java, or Medan, she stated.

Meanwhile, another session, titled Perempuan Meretas Sastra (Women Hacking Literature), discussed the issue of exclusivity and marginalization of women in the field of literature.

The written arts have remained Java-centric and hetero-patriarchal in nature, excluding minority groups, and erasing or discriminating against their contributions. This gatekeeping has led to a literary world devoid of many feminists works and opportunities for female creatives.

Discussing this were five female writers; Raisa Kamila, Sartika Sari, Isyana Artharini, Indah Darmastuti, and Lily Yulianti Farid.

Isyana noted that the works of female Indonesian writers were often publicly perceived as thematically monolithic, or inflexible, solely and simply covering female problems. She explains such authors are treated as a new phenomenon, due to the lack of publication and contextualization of historical pieces.

From that comes the assumption that what is written is domestic, personal, specialty, and do not talk about big problems or important and universal. However, reading these works, I know that these domestic and personal writings have become a way for women to respond to the times, and criticize the social values that prevailed at the time, she said.

A deeper look into womens issues within the literature was presented in the Bongkar Kata (Deconstructing Words) session, which discussed how words may affect a general way of thinking.

During the Bongkar Kata session, moderator Cecil Mariani talked about the importance of questioning the undertones of words, as to not misinterpret, as to not be conducive to an oppressive and inaccurate power play of the general populations perception.

Sometimes we assume words through personal bias, public opinion, or solely from the definition of a particular authority that we do not question anymore. And then, unconsciously are repeatedly trapped and make the same mistake of perpetuating this, Mariani said.

Deconstructing words can also deconstruct ones way of thinking, the condition of society, how the social structure works and the building of reality.
The Red Sox are set to add first base prospect Triston Casas to their 60-man player pool, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports. Hell head to their alternate site. As Cotillo notes, Bostons pool is at capacity, so itll have to make a corresponding move once Casas is officially part of it.

Now 20 years old, Casas became a member of the Red Sox when they drafted him 26th overall in 2018. Last season, his first full campaign in the minors, Casas held his own with a .256/.350/.480 line and 20 home runs between Single-A and High-A (all but seven of his 500 plate appearances came at Single-A). Once he joins Bostons player pool, Casas will be eligible for a trade before the Aug. 31 deadline, but thats a moot point here, as Cotillo writes that the teams goal in calling him up is to aid in his development.

In other Red Sox moves Monday, they activated lefty reliever Josh Taylor from the injured list, optioned righty Chris Mazza and placed infielder Christian Arroyo on the IL, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe tweets. Taylor, who was strong as a rookie in 2019 but hasnt pitched this year because of a positive coronavirus test, should be a welcome addition for a struggling club with a deeply flawed pitching staff. As for Arroyo, whom the Red Sox claimed via waivers from the Indians on Aug. 13, his IL placement (retroactive to the 14th) was done to give him more time to join his new club as he goes through coronavirus protocols.
From opioids and antipsychotics to antidepressants and anxiety medicines, study looks at prescriptions among community-dwelling older adults with dementia

Nearly three-quarters of older adults with dementia have filled prescriptions for medicines that act on their brain and nervous system, but aren't designed for dementia, a new study shows.

That's despite the special risks that such drugs carry for older adults -- and the lack of evidence that they actually ease the dementia-related behavior problems that often prompt a doctor's prescription in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. In fact, some of the drugs have been linked to worse cognitive symptoms in old adults.

The study looks at several classes of psychoactive drugs, including ones that the federal government has actively encouraged nursing homes to limit using in residents with dementia. The new study suggests a need to reduce prescribing to people living at home with dementia, too.

In all, 73.5% of the study's community-based population filled at least one prescription for an antidepressant, opioid painkiller, epilepsy drug, anxiety medication or antipsychotic drug in a one-year period, according to Medicare prescription records.

The percentages generally were even higher among women, non-Hispanic white patients, people in their late 60s and early 70s, and people with low incomes.

The study is published in the journal JAMA and based on data from 737,839 people with dementia, and is the first large-scale study of prescription-filling patterns for psychoactive medications outside of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Nearly half of those in the study received an antidepressant, which might be prescribed to try to counteract the withdrawal and apathy often seen in dementia, says lead author Donovan Maust, M.D., M.S., a geriatric psychiatrist at the University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. Unfortunately, antidepressants don't treat this aspect of dementia, he says.

Even so, the study shows antidepressant prescribing at nearly triple the rate for older adults overall.

Meanwhile, for each of the other drug types studied, nearly a quarter of the adults with dementia filled at least one prescription.

"As a nation we have a goal of keeping dementia patients living in the community as much as possible. But the use of these medications appears to be as high for them as it is for those who are in nursing homes," says Maust, who specializes in helping patients with dementia-related behavioral issues at Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center. "Clinicians and caregivers may need more support to provide non-drug based approaches to prevent or address the symptoms that these medications are probably being prescribed for."

Known risks

None of the drug classes studied has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for use in dementia, and Maust says that evidence for their off-label use is slim.

But all of the drugs are associated with special risks to people in their 60s and older, including falls or dependence that could lead to withdrawal. Most are included on the list known as the Beers criteria, which identifies medications with extra risks for all older adults, not just those with dementia.

While there is limited evidence that antidepressants help people with dementia, Maust notes that someone who had depression before they developed dementia might benefit from staying on a drug that worked for them in the past.

And while there is little evidence of benefit, all these medications have side effects. For example, some people starting a new antidepressant can experience nausea or feel a little "jittery." Unfortunately, a person with dementia might have difficulty articulating such side effects to the loved one who takes care of them. Instead, they may appear more agitated - leading to another prescription medication to calm them.

While the current study doesn't look at polypharmacy - the use of multiple psychoactive drugs by the same patient - Maust is exploring this issue further in the Medicare data.

The long haul

Maust notes that, of the 29% who received opioids, they most often filled just one or two short-term prescriptions, which may indicate treatment of an injury or acute pain.

But those receiving other drugs tended to fill multiple prescriptions in the year that Maust and his colleagues studied. This included epilepsy drugs that are sometimes prescribed as substitutes for antipsychotic drugs, or to treat chronic pain.

Taking these drugs for months on end is especially risky, says Maust. "A brain that has dementia is doing its best to function as well as it can," he explains. "If we add a psychotropic medication into the mix it may not be a helpful thing - and it comes with risks."

One bright spot in the data, Maust says, is that only one in five of the dementia patients studied had filled a prescription for an antipsychotic medicine such as Abilify, Seroquel or Risperdal. Because of the safety risks associated with antipsychotics, they have received a lot of regulatory attention and professional guidelines such as the "Choosing Wisely" for physicians urge caution.

On the other hand, this class of drugs has more evidence than the others that it actually helps some patients with behavioral problems such as aggression. "So it is worrisome that all the other classes -- which have less evidence of benefit -- are all prescribed more widely," says Maust.

Better education needed

In addition to helping caregivers and clinicians understand both the lack of evidence and the elevated risks that come with psychoactive medications, and to learn the non-drug caregiving strategies they can use to reduce behavioral issues in the person they're caring for, Maust notes they may just need better education about the disease itself.

Accessing support services through local, state and federal agencies, including Area Agency on Aging programs, and nonprofits such as the Alzheimer's Association and AARP, could help caregivers too, he says.

"Apathy and withdrawal, and a tendency to get agitated, are common symptoms of dementia," he says. "And as much as health care providers want to help these patients and their family caregivers, these medications are just not helpful enough to justify this amount of prescribing."

###

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Healths National Institute on Aging, grant R01AG056407. In addition to Maust, the study's authors are U-M's Julie Strominger, M.S., Julie Bynum, M.D., Kenneth Langa, M.D., Ph.D., Lauren Gerlach, D.O., M.S., Kara Zivin, Ph.D., and Steven Marcus, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania. Maust, Langa and Zivin are members of the VA Center for Clinical Management Research; they and Bynum and Gerlach are members of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.
PKK militants claim to have shot down Turkish helicopter in Iraq

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 5:53 PM

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) claims to have shot down a Turkish helicopter and damaged another in northern Iraq.

The militant group announced in a statement on Monday that the attack, which was conducted in retaliation for the death of one of its commanders last week, took place over the Zagros Mountains in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq.

The militants had "been able to score a direct hit and shoot down a Turkish helicopter," the PKK claimed in the statement, adding, "Ten minutes after the shooting-down of the first helicopter, our forces hit another one... forcing it to flee."

The mayor of Kani Massi district, located in Dohuk Governorate in Kurdistan region and close to the Turkish border, confirmed that a Turkish helicopter had crashed nearby.

The PKK said the shooting came as a response to a Turkish drone strike on August 11 that killed Akid Karzan, one of the militant group's top commanders, as well as two high-ranking Iraqi officers.

It was the first time that members of the Iraqi government troops have been killed since Turkey launched a cross-border operation in mid-June against the Kurdish militants in the mountainous terrain of northern Iraq.

At least five civilians have been killed since the Turkish military started its ground campaign, dubbed Claw-Tiger Operation, against PKK positions in northern Iraq on July 17; and Claw-Eagle Operation, the air campaign, two days earlier.

The strike prompted Iraq to summon the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad for the third time in two months.

Militants of the PKK  designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union  regularly clash with Turkish forces in the Kurdish-dominated southeast of Turkey attached to northern Iraq.

A shaky ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015. Attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since.

More than 40,000 people have been killed during the three-decade conflict between Turkey and the autonomy-seeking militant group.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the nullification of Douye Diris election as the governor of Bayelsa State.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal had sacked Governor Duoye Diri following a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) which argued that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the election.

The tribunal said it found merit in the petition and consequently nullified the election and ordered INEC to conduct a bye-election in the state within 90 days.

Reacting to the nullification of the election, the INEC said it may respond to some of the issues raised by the tribunal when it is availed of the full judgment of the case.

The INEC national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee, Festus Okoye, stated this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, August 17, in Abuja.

Okoye said that the ANDP nomination for the election was invalid while the party did not exercise its right guaranteed in the Fourth Alteration to the constitution by filing its suit within 14 days of the accrual of the said right.

He also said that ANDP was one of the political parties that signified its intention to contest the Nov. 16, 2019 Bayelsa governorship election.

According to him, the party conducted party primaries and submitted the name of one Peter David as its Deputy Governorship candidate.

As at the time of the submission of the name of the said candidate, he was 34 years old, contrary to Section 177(b) of the constitution that makes it mandatory for a candidate for such office to attain the age of 35 years to be eligible to contest the election.

In the candidates statutory declaration of age and affidavit attached to his form, the party stated that he was born on Feb. 10, 1985. On Sept. 13, 2019, the commission wrote to the party drawing their attention to the constitutional age requirement of 35 years for Governorship/Deputy Governorship candidates as stipulated in Section 177(b) of the constitution. The commission also informed them of the invalidity of their nomination for the Nov. 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State. On Sept. 27, 2019, the commission informed the party that the deadline for the submission of nominations as provided for in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the commission on May 16, 2019 was Sept. 9, 2019.

The commission also informed the party that since they did not submit valid nomination, they couldnt validly substitute any candidate. Consequently the name and logo of the party did not appear and was not reflected in the ballot paper. It is pertinent to note that the party did not exercise its right guaranteed in the Fourth Alteration to the constitution by filing its suit within 14 days of the accrual of the said right as the issues canvassed are pre-election issues. However, the commission may respond to some of the issues raised in the judgment of the tribunal when we are availed of the full judgement and the reasons for the judgement, Okoye said.

Douye Diris nullification came two days after a three-member panel of the tribunal dismissed three petitions challenging his election as governor.
Magpies have started their swooping season early this year and are set to be even more aggressive because they are threatened by people wearing face masks.

Birdlife Australia's national public affairs manager, Sean Dooley, said the birds would not be able to recognise people they had previously identified as a friend or threat.

'A magpie may know you and know that you're okay, but when you're wearing a mask they may not be able to recognise you,' Mr Dooley told 3AW.

Mr Dooley claimed magpies could recognise and remember up to 100 individual people through facial recognition.

Magpies may target people in masks during swooping season (magpie swooping a cyclist pictured). Attacks have begun after the birds started breeding ahead of schedule

He explained magpies would not be able to tell people apart and could swoop anyone wearing a mask that they associated with bad experiences.

'If they're seeing more than 100 people a day and they can't work out who is who they will just start to target those types of people.

'It might be the colour of the mask that makes them go for you,' Mr Dooley explained.

Deborah Kelly, Manager of Animal Welfare and Wildlife at the South Australia Department of Environment, said magpies had begun swooping earlier than usual.

Dr Kelly explained that magpies usually attack in spring but could be swooping ahead of schedule due to a sudden change in temperature.

'We've certainly had reports of magpies swooping, we don't normally expect that until around mid September,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

At least 280 magpie attacks (swooping magpie pictured) have been recorded since June

At least 280 magpie attacks have been reported across Australia since mid June, according to the Magpie Alert website.

'It does seem to be early this year... it's really hard to know what the triggers are, in most birds it's things like increase in day lengths or in temperatures,' Dr Kelly said.

The early swooping indicated that a warmer winter had tricked some magpies into nesting and becoming protective earlier than usual.

THE AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE The Australian Magpie is one of the world's most complex songbirds It can be found across Australia and lives near trees and open areas The magpie is black and white and feeds on insects and larvae Magpies will often perform a loud flute-like song in pairs or groups The birds are known to become aggressive during their breeding season and attack humans or animals near their nests Advertisement

'Normally they start warbling around mid-August to say they're getting ready for breeding season.

'Then about three weeks after that, when they've got eggs, that's when they'll start swooping,' she explained.

Magpies will most often swoop when they feel threatened and want to protect the young in their nest.

'It's usually a six-week period and they don't all do it at exactly the same time, so any particular pair might swoop for six weeks between September and November.

'They're just defending their nests and telling you to go away and it's a very effective way to do it,' Dr Kelly explained.

Dr Kelly warned if had you encountered an aggressive magpie in a particular spot it would most likely return to the same location this year.

'They always go back to the same site so if you had a swooping pair last year you can bet your bottom dollar they're going to be back again this year.'

Dr Kelly also said to be on the lookout for a 'double-whammy' swooping season.

'If they lose the chicks then they'll often nest again, so they can nest twice if it's a prolonged breeding season,' she explained.

Australians were advised to avoid eye contact and detour around magpie territories whenever possible.

Experts advised avoiding eye contact, walking, travelling in groups and wearing a hat or helmet through magpie territory (bird swooping warning sign in Brisbane pictured)

'If you're riding a bike have a flag on top, they'll usually go for the tallest point, you can also have an umbrella if you really need to,' Dr Kelly explained.

The majority of attacks this year have been on cyclists and walkers.

As magpies are native to Australia, those affected by the swooping are not able to take any action which may harm the birds or disturb their nests.

The South Australian Department for Environment and Water also advised travelling in groups, wearing a hat or helmet and walking rather than running to avoid being swooped.
By Jessica DiNapoli and Ross Kerber

NEW YORK/BOSTON (Reuters) - Justin Danhof has used annual shareholder meetings to question companies on social issues for the last nine years.

His conservative think tank, the National Center for Public Policy Research, owns just a few shares in each of about 150 companies and takes advantage of its shareholder status to grill executives on issues ranging from gay rights to boardroom diversity.

This year, Danhof often found himself ignored, as companies held their shareholder meetings remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked investors to submit their questions online. Danhof said his questions on topics such as companies' dealings with China or restrictions on financing gun makers were answered in only 13 of the 27 virtual shareholder meetings he and his representatives attended.

"Companies used the crisis to set up question-and-answer sessions that are a joke," Danhof said. His success rate was much higher when he could sit near a microphone or in a CEO's line of sight during in-person gatherings, he added.

Danhof is not alone. Investors faced obstacles, such as not being able to ask questions or not having their inquiries addressed, about 55% of the time in a sample of 88 virtual shareholder meetings held this year and reviewed in a Hebrew University of Jerusalem study published this month.

The researchers did not provide such figures for in-person shareholder gatherings in previous years but estimated that this year's virtual meetings had significantly increased the number of dodged questions.

To be sure, virtual shareholder meetings have been welcomed by many mom-and-pop investors, who would have otherwise had to travel to a company's headquarters to attend amid the pandemic.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc, the top technology vendor to companies for these events, said it helped run 1,494 virtual shareholder meetings this year, up from 326 last year, preserving a key ritual in the corporate calendar.

Story continues

Yet many activists focused on environmental, social and corporate governance issues say the digital format can make it hard for them to hold companies accountable, given that Wall Street's big institutional investors get access to top executives all year long.

"Companies should not use the pandemic as a cover for silencing their investors," New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who administers the state's roughly $194 billion pension fund, said in a statement to Reuters. He said he wanted companies to use virtual meetings as a supplement to in-person shareholder gatherings, not a replacement.

Questions avoided this year ranged from online auctioneer eBay Inc declining to name directors who did not attend its online meeting to drug maker AbbVie Inc avoiding an inquiry on whether it would raise the cost of drugs during the pandemic.

"As long-term investors, we were disappointed our question wasn't answered by AbbVie," said Kate Monahan, shareholder engagement manager at the Friends Fiduciary Corporation, which invests roughly $480 million based on religious Quaker values.

She said she also posted her question on social media to attract attention but has yet to receive an answer from AbbVie.

Abbvie did not respond to a request for comment. An eBay spokeswoman said the company's shareholder meeting was well attended by its board, and that it focused on questions more relevant to its business "out of fairness to other shareholders."

Shareholder advocacy groups, including the Council of Institutional Investors (CII), last month asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to look into the issue, including companies avoiding questions or not allowing shareholders to speak during virtual meetings.

An SEC spokesman declined to comment. The securities regulator issued guidance in April instructing companies to be clear about how shareholders "can remotely access, participate in, and vote" in online meetings.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund, overseen by DiNapoli, voted against the re-election of directors sitting on the governance committees of AT&T Inc and Berkshire Hathaway Inc's boards this year for restricting investor participation at their virtual meetings.

Berkshire Hathaway did not respond to requests for comment. An AT&T spokeswoman said via e-mail that its decision this year to tweak the format of its shareholder meeting, allowing the company to read comments on proxy proponents' behalf, "lets us efficiently address the matters to be voted and then move on to additional content."

A spokesman for the fund said it will vote against directors of companies that do not meet CII's standards for virtual shareholder meetings.

Proxy advisory firm Glass, Lewis & Co, which many funds turn to for advice on how to cast their shareholder votes, is considering recommending against directors at companies that ran this year's virtual meetings poorly, its head of research and engagement Aaron Bertinetti said.

TECHNICAL GLITCHES

The snubbing of the activists has not always been intentional. As the pandemic spread in the spring, some companies had to switch to virtual meetings with little notice, resulting in technical glitches.

"The technology is just catching up with the need to make virtual meetings the best in class," said Lawrence Elbaum, a partner at law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP, who often works with companies challenged by activists. He added that investors can also contact companies through investor relations and by writing letters any day of the year.

Some activists argued, however, that public pressure on companies at shareholder meetings is more successful in triggering change. They pointed to oil major ExxonMobil Corps move in 2018 to provide investors with a report on the impact of climate change after shareholders won a high-profile vote at its annual meeting the previous year.

"Virtual meetings provide another tool for companies who don't like dissent to shut it down," said Doug Chia, the president of corporate governance consulting firm Soundboard Governance LLC.

(Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York and Ross Kerber in Boston; Additional reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston; Editing by Greg Roumeliotis and Cynthia Osterman)
US officials said on Tuesday "the ball is in Russia's court" over the extension of a nuclear disarmament treaty between the two countries but admitted they remained "far apart" on a number of issues.

The New START treaty, which limits each side to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads, is due to run out in February.

On Tuesday US and Russian delegations ended two days of talks in the Austrian capital Vienna as part of ongoing discussions over a replacement for the deal.

"There are some areas of convergence between Russia and the United States but we do remain far apart on a number of key issues," the leader of the US delegation Marshall Billingslea told reporters.

"The ball is now in Russia's court.

"We are willing to contemplate an extension of New START but such an extension will only occur if we can... address significant concerns we have with the Russian build-up of its unconstrained capabilities," Billingslea said, referring to weapons not covered by the current deal.

He also said verification and transparency measures in the deal would have to be improved.

Billingslea reiterated the US position that any future treaty would have to be multilateral with room to include China.

The US has expressed concern at what it calls Beijing's "secretive crash nuclear build-up".

However, China has shown no interest in taking part.

The US and Russia between them still hold more than 90 per cent of the world's nuclear weapons, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also attended the talks in Vienna and said after they ended on Tuesday that the two countries' "priorities at this stage differ significantly".

"Russia stands for an extension of the START Treaty, but is not ready to pay any price for that," Ryabkov said, in comments shared by the Russian mission in Vienna.

Billingslea indicated that no dates had been discussed for any further talks.

Some observers fear New START could fall by the wayside like several other international agreements, in line with Trump's "America First" foreign policy.
NEW YORK and LONDON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Factor, the leader in next-generation solutions for complex legal work at scale, today announced a significant new investment to be provided by Carrick Capital Partners (Carrick), an investment firm focused on software and software-enabled businesses with over $1B in assets under management. As part of the deal, Carrick would be multiplying their original investment to become the majority shareholder of Factor. The deal, expected to close by October 2020, represents one of the biggest net new investments in the global legal solutions market.

Company officials said the infusion of capital will allow Factor to immediately expand its presence in the global marketplace and accelerate its development of innovative, large-scale, customized, legal solutions for clients in the Enterprise, Life Sciences and Financial Services sectors. Factor will also draw upon Carrick's proven track record of growing technology-enabled services businesses. Carrick's increased investment in Factor comes at a time of transformative change and rapid growth in the legal solutions market. Alternative providers are disrupting the traditional law firm model, and corporate law departments continue to look for help solving increasingly complex legal and business problems that require advanced technology and process expertise on a massive scale.

"Our move to become majority shareholder of Factor was a strategic decision based on the company's unique track record of delivering differentiated solutions to the legal market," said Jim Madden, Co-Founder of Carrick and Founder of business process outsourcing (BPO) provider Exult. "With their vision, deep domain expertise, and gold-plated client list, the Factor team combines sophisticated expertise, technology adoption and business process optimization with a nuanced understanding of how lawyers and business leaders think. Their singular focus on bringing legal innovation to more complex work is unique in the market. With lots of players focused on the commoditized bottom, Factor has a huge growth opportunity in the much larger sphere of more complex work. Rather than innovating around the periphery, they are helping GCs and businesses where they need it most."

The announcement is the latest milestone in a journey that began more than a decade ago when Factor, then part of Axiom, began offering corporations a combination of efficient, technology-enabled legal managed services and expert legal resourcing. In a strategic move, the company successfully spun off from Axiom last year, rebranded to Factor, evolved its core enabling infrastructure and has gained strong market momentum.

The new investment by Carrick follows a series of recent significant business achievements by Factor.

In early 2020, the Factor brand launched with a deep focus on bringing process efficiency and tech-enablement to more complex, transactional work like contract negotiations.

Factor will retain the powerhouse leadership team assembled since the hiring of new CEO Varun Mehtaformer founding team member and CRO of Clutch Groupas well as senior executives from Accenture, Mercer and EY Law. Axiom Founder and Knowable CEO Mark Harris will remain as Factor's Chair of the Board.

founding team member and CRO of Clutch Groupas well as senior executives from Accenture, Mercer and EY Law. Axiom Founder and Knowable CEO will remain as Factor's Chair of the Board. Factor has since shown sustained market momentum with huge client wins and new logos across Financial and Technology clients. This includes the single largest regulatory mandate in Factor's history for one of the world's largest banks.

Factor has developed strong partnerships in the legal ecosystem, including legal technology providers, and Magic Circle law firm Allen & Overy, focused on helping large banks transition away from LIBOR.

"Carrick has already demonstrated it is a committed and trusted partner of ours," said Varun Mehta, CEO of Factor. "The new chapter in our partnership with Carrick positions us to bring new client solutions to the market at unprecedented scale, and fuel even faster growth than we achieved in our first six months as a rebranded company. Factor has the geographic reach, domain expertise and financial backing to provide our clients with the industry's most innovative solutions. We fully expect to leverage this investment into larger opportunities, and more focus on our customers and our mission in transforming the way legal solutions are delivered for General Counsels and the companies they serve."

About Factor

Factor, formerly Axiom Managed Solutions, is the leader in next-generation solutions for complex legal work at scale, ranging from deadline-driven regulatory projects to long-term managed services. Factor combines expert legal resourcing and market know-how with the process efficiency, smart legal technology, and data-driven project management of New Law to bridge a huge gap in the market. The company is comprised of more than 500 lawyers, legal specialists, technologists, and process consultants with offices in New York, Chicago, London, Belfast, and Poland. Factor is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. For more information, go to https://www.factor.law/or LinkedIn.

About Carrick Capital Partners

Headquartered in San Francisco and Newport Beach, Carrick Capital Partners is a growth-oriented investment firm that utilizes ABV (Approach to Building Value) to operationally scale fast-growing, technology-enabled businesses. Carrick adds value by taking a concentrated approach and dedicating significant resources post-investment. Leveraging decades of experience, Carrick helps scale great companies that deliver excellent returns for investors, stimulating economic growth and positively impacting the industry landscape. Working directly with CEOs and entrepreneurs, Carrick fulfills a vital need for investment capital and growth expertise. For more information, please visit http://www.carrickcapitalpartners.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute forward-looking statements regarding Factor Law Inc.'s business, financial condition, and prospects. Words such as will, continue, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements in this press release. Although forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the good faith judgment of management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known to management. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this press release.

Media Contacts

Erin Harrison (U.S.)

Plat4orm

[email protected]

Nick Jones (U.K.)

Plat4orm

[email protected]

SOURCE Factor

Related Links

https://www.factor.law


Navein Darshan By

Express News Service

Hip hop Tamizha Adhi, who has been busy acting in and composing for films in the last couple of years, has returned to his roots with a new independent album titled Naan Oru Alien. Along with his friend Jeeva, he came up with the brand, Hip Hop Tamizha, in 2012. An enthusiastic Adhi shares over a phone call that the initial plan was to come up with Hiphop Tamizha 2 this year. Though we have been releasing at least one independent single every year, the plan of releasing a full-fledged album was still unrealised. We thought we would do that early this year, but then coronavirus intervened.

So, we put HHT2 on hold and have come up with something entirely new, relevant to our current scenario. He goes on to explain the name of the album, Naan Oru Alien. I am proud to be a Tamizhan, but if society is going discriminate people with labels like Tamizhan, Kannadiga or something else, I would rather stay away from the toxicity and identify myself as an alien. The six track-album has come out to positive reception, which Adhi says is both heartening and surprising. The music label is happy with the numbers and we have always wanted to turn independent music into a viable business model. The success of Naan Oru Alien has taken us a step closer to that goal.

He recalls the time when they started out as independent musicians. We have nobody to look up to, and had to find our own way. Later, we thought we could bring about swift change, but realised that a strong music ecosystem needed to be created first. Adhi states that his recent initiative, Underground Tribe, a platform for independent musicians from all over the State to exhibit their talent, is a significant step in achieving this vision.

We have started to curate exceptional talent. I see my younger self in a lot of the new artistes. In a few years, I am confident that this forum will give rise to performers even bigger than Hiphop Tamizha. The Latin hiphop industry reached its present popularity only in recent years. If they can make it, so can we! Hiphop Tamizha is also involved in Tamizh research and the pair came up with a research documentary named Tamizhi, last year.

Initially, I was impulsive and emotional when it came to Tamizh, says Adhi. I was proud to be someone who was speaking the worlds oldest language. Slowly, I felt I needed to validate this emotion with facts. So purely out of love for Tamizh, we started work on Tamizhi, an initiative that probes into the history of the language. Adhi and his team, who remain involved in the research, have plans to come up with one more documentary and to compile all their work and publish it in detail as a book. Tamizh has among the richest heritages in the world. I am grateful for what our forefathers have contributed to the language. But this isnt enough.

We must do more to sustain the momentum and take Tamizh to future generations, he adds. Criticism is an inevitable consequence of fame. Adhis recent tweet advising people to drink nilavembu kashayam, has come in for some criticism. I just echoed the recommendation of the Ministry of Ayush. I even posted a video to make sure people didnt take my recommendation in a wrong sense.

Adhi says he isnt one to hesitate about apologising, should any mistake be on his side. Club Le Mabbu Le came out in 2012 and received criticism for being misogynistic. I had grown up in a close and conservative circle in Coimbatore. When I came to Chennai, the cultural differences overwhelmed me. After the criticism the song received, I felt bad though, and apologised.

Does all this attention intimidate him? I would say I am thankful, he quickly replies. I would be a nobody without all this love and recognition. I have reached a space where I understand haters are inevitable. But I am happy that their percentage feels insignificant compared to the ones who value our work. I steer the conversation towards his upcoming work in cinema and ask if he is a part of the Thani Oruvan sequel. We havent been officially approached yet, but I am positive that Raja anna will call us once the film gets a proper launch. Adhi shares that the audience can expect a Hiphop Tamizha directorial in the future too, and lets out that script work is underway. He will also be seen playing the lead in an upcoming Sathya Jyothi production venture. I treat every opportunity of mine as my last. I tell myself that if I falter with one, Ill plummet straight down. So I try to give it all I have, he signs off.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched another attack over a report by a foreign publication alleging that Facebook overlooks hate speech by leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in order to protect their business prospects in India.

We cannot allow any manipulation of our hard-earned democracy through bias, fake news & hate speech. As exposed by @WSJ, Facebooks involvement in peddling fake and hate news needs to be questioned by all Indians, Gandhi tweeted.

He also posted the letter his party has written to Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, calling for a time-bound high-level probe into the allegations his companys India team overlooked hate comments by BJP leaders.

KC Venugopal, Congress general secretary (organisation), wrote the letter to Zuckerberg referring to the Wall Street Journal report, which alleged that Facebooks India policy head Ankhi Das provided the Bharatiya Janata Party with favourable treatment on election-related issues.

The Congress accused Facebook India of interfering with the countrys electoral democracy and also demanded a probe into the conduct of Facebook India leadership team, and their operations.

The opposition is up in arms over allegations that Facebook, the social media company, has been lenient while censoring content that amounts to hate-speech by members of the BJP.

Gandhi, who has been targeting the Centre every day over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the state of the countrys economy and the standoff with China in Ladakh, on Sunday alleged that the BJP and its ideological parent the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh control Facebook and WhatsApp in India. They spread fake news and hatred through it and use it to influence the electorate. Finally, the American media has come out with the truth about Facebook, Gandhi tweeted.

On its part, the ruling party launched a counter attack on Gandhi and the Congress, saying it had no locus standi to question the BJP given previous allegations of opposition party having used online platforms to influence elections in India.
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on Monday that the Trump administration is willing to support funding for the U.S. Postal Service if it accompanies a package of coronavirus stimulus measures.

Speaking to reporters while aboard Air Force One, Meadows added, however, that he has not spoken to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Senate Democratic Leader Schumer about coronavirus relief in more than a week.

"We are making progress at least in a conceptual way, but there (have) been no real discussions between the four negotiators," Meadows told reporters.

He said U.S. President Donald Trump was ready to provide funding for the Postal Service along with additional, limited support for small businesses and workers, if a more comprehensive deal remained elusive.

"The President is very clear he is willing to provide money for the post office as long as it is included in some other skinny measure if we cant agree to a larger deal, he said.

(Reporting by Alex Alper and Katanga Johnson; Editing by Chris Reese and Nick Zieminski)
The relatives of police officers and soldiers taken as prisoners of war by the Arakan Army in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state call for their release at a press conference in Mandalay, Aug. 17, 2020.

The families of 11 police officers and military soldiers detained by the rebel Arakan Army in western Myanmars Rakhine state pleaded for the release of their loved ones on Monday, saying they have heard no information about the men and are suffering economic hardship.

The Arakan Army (AA) told RFA all detainees were being treated well and repeated the ethnic armys stance that the government army must release detained ethnic Rakhines before the prisoners of war can be freed.

The detained police and troops were captured in a pair of dramatic raids by the AA in two townships at the center of the 20-month conflict in Rakhine, where the armed force is fighting for autonomy for its ethnic group in their historic homeland on the Bay of Bengal in western Myanmar.

The AA attacked the Thazin Myaing police outpost in rural Rathedaung township in late May, capturing six policemen and three of their family members, and resulting in four deaths, the Myanmar military and local residents said at the time. The AA later released the two women and a child.

In late October 2019, the rebel army seized nearly 60 passengers aboard a ferry near Buthidaung township, including police officers and Myanmar soldiers.

Some escaped during a helicopter attack, while the AA later released the civilians. However, some of the police officers and soldiers are still being detained.

Their relatives, who held a news conference on Monday in the central city of Mandalay, said they have not heard any news about the abductees for nearly 10 months and requested their immediate release.

They also said they are suffering financial hardship because their husbands are not receiving their salaries while they are in the hands of the AA.

We havent heard any news about my son yet, said Tin Tin Nwet, mother of one of the men who is being held.

We were surviving on his salary when he was serving as policeman, but we are in trouble now, she said. We want state leaders to know about us.

Pyae Pyae Nyein, the wife of policeman Aung Tun Thu who was detained during the AAs attack in the Thazin Myaing police outpost, also said her family is having difficulties making ends meet.

As he is the head of family, we all depend on him, she said. Now, we are having difficulties surviving. We dont want to be ignored and we want the truth about them. We want them to get back home safely.

Alive or not?

Shwe Zin, one of the two women the AA released following the attack on the police outpost, said that rebel soldiers told them that they would free their husbands after talking with authorities, but that didnt happen

We havent heard any news about them since then, she said.

Thae Ei Zar, the wife of Police Captain Zaw Thu, said her family wants to know whether the police officer is still alive.

We havent received his salary since he was detained, she said. We want to know whether he is still alive or not.

AA spokesman Khine Thukha told RFA that he could not say exactly how many prisoners of war the force is now holding because it is a security issue.

We have been taking good care of all the prisoners we have, such as prisoners from fighting and others detainees because they are related to the police and the military, he said.

We have already said repeatedly in our statements that we will release the prisoners if the government army releases the ethnic Rakhine whom the military has detained, although they are innocent.

RFA could not reach Myanmar military spokesman for comment.

Fighting between the Myanmar military and the AA since December 2018 has left dozens of civilians dead and displaced about 200,000 others.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
If the first night of this year's virtual Democratic National Convention reminded us of anything, it is that America has two major center-right political parties. In any European country, Democrats would be the ruling neoliberals in a longstanding governing coalition with Christian Democrats or the least radical of the former communist parties.

This is why the evening's proceedings began with American flags, religion, and the Founding Fathers. There were prayers and a group reading of the Preamble to the Constitution. Children recited the Pledge of Allegiance, complete with "under God." Sen. Bernie Sanders stood in front of a folksy backdrop of split logs and shamefacedly explained that a vote for the party of which he is not technically a member would not mean a vote for single-payer health care or any of the other causes for which he has stood over the course of his long political career.

You would not get this impression watching the coverage on Fox News. On Laura Ingraham's program, which immediately followed the conclusion of the night's proceedings with appearances from Eric Trump and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, viewers were told about the "radical socalist agenda" that had apparently been announced, perhaps in a secret off-camera meeting with George Soros and Xi Jinping. At one point Cruz suggested that Sanders himself would be appointed secretary of state in a Joe Biden administration. (He has about as good a chance as he has of being named the next CEO of Goldman Sachs.) The host herself explained, if that is the right verb, that "we are going to lose the free market."

Eventually Dinesh D'Souza, the right-wing author who was once caught traveling with a woman he introduced as his fiancee while his actual wife was at home with their daughter, appeared to decry the iniquity of Biden's interview with a rapper published earlier Monday: "It's amazing that a presidential candidate would elevate Cardi B like this."

There is certainly something amazing about all of this.

More stories from theweek.com

Bill Clinton is getting sidelined at the DNC

Colin Powell, Cindy McCain become latest Republicans to join DNC and endorse Biden

Kamala Harris' Secret Service code name reportedly reflects her groundbreaking nomination


Mumbai, Aug 18 : Actress Ankita Lokhande wants to reiterate her love for her mother, going by her new social media post on Tuesday.

Ankita has been in the limelight lately for the solidarity she has shown to the family of her late former boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput in their fight for justice after his death. Her posts lately have also reflected that fact.

Tuesday's Instagram post, however, was for her mother Vandana Phadnis. "I love u maa @vandanaphadnis," she wrote.

Her fans and followers sent love. The comments section was full of heart emojis. One user wrote: "You are truly very beautiful", while another said: "Love u mam".

On August 8, Ankita had shared a picture of Sushant's mother, late Usha Singh, saying that she believes mother and son are together now. In the picture, Ankita is seen holding a photo frame with the image of Sushant's mother in it.

"Believe you both are together," Ankita had captioned the picture.

Earlier this month, Ankita shared a picture on Instagram to announce the birth of twins in her family.

"Our family rejoices -- a new life's begun, Our circle is richer with the birth of these TWINS. WELCOME Abeer and Abeera," she wrote while sharing a picture of herself with the newborn twins. In the social media post, Ankita beams with joy as she poses with the newborns sleeping in her arms.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
Iran Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh on Tuesday derided the US over fabricated seizure of Iranian oil tankers, saying Washington aims to "produce a victory for itself."

Zangeneh made the remarks in an encounter with reporters on the sidelines of a Majlis commission meeting this morning.

Neither the ship, nor the cargoes belong to Iran, said the minister adding that the cargo had been delivered to Venezuela on international trade scheme of Freight on Board of the ship at sea (FOB).

United States has actually seized Venezuela's assets not Iran's, Zangeneh said.
Emirates will resume passenger flights to Warsaw from September 4, starting with a twice-a-week service, and increasing to three-a-week from October 7.

The resumption of flights to Warsaw will expand Emirates current network to 75 cities in September, offering travellers in the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific convenient connections via Dubai to the Polish capital.

The airline has been gradually restoring its network connectivity, working closely with international and local authorities to responsibly resume passenger operations to meet travel demand, while always prioritising the health and safety of its customers, crew and communities.

On the Dubai-Warsaw route, Emirates will deploy its spacious, wide-body Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offering seats in First, Business and Economy class. Flight EK179 to Warsaw will depart Dubai at 08:10hrs on Fridays and Sundays, and the return flight EK180 will depart Warsaw at 15:00hrs. An additional flight service on Wednesdays, will be added to the route from October 7.

Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community, Covid-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from, said the statement. - TradeArabia News Service
Norway security operatives say the suspect has handed to a foreign power information that could harm national interests.

Norway's security police on Saturday, August 15, detained a Norwegian citizen in Oslo and pressed espionage charges.

The individual, who has worked with the DNV GL AS classification firm, is being accused of handing to a foreign power sensitive information that could harm national interests, Bloomberg reports citing NTB

The indictment is based on meetings the suspect had with Russian intelligence operatives, the report says referring to a police source.

The suspect has denied the accusation, as per his lawyer.

PST pagrep lrdag 15. august en norsk borger i Oslo. Mannen er siktet for a ha overlevert informasjon til fremmed stat som kan skade grunnleggende nasjonale interesser,  123 og  124. Han blir fremstilt for varetektsfengsling i Oslo tingrett mandag 17. august kl 1500.  PST (@PSTnorge) August 17, 2020

"The man is accused of having handed information to a foreign state that could harm basic national interests," the Norwegian Police Security Service tweeted on Monday, August 17.

Read alsoEU ambassadors agree on sanctions against Russia, China for cyberattacks  journalistDNV will fully cooperate with police in what its spokesman says is a "very serious matter."

What is DNV GL

DNV GL is a classification society and advisor for the maritime industry, the technical advisor to the oil and gas industry, also delivering testing, certification, and advisory services to the energy value chain including renewables and energy management. It is a provider of digital solutions for managing risk, as well as improving safety and asset performance for ships, pipelines, processing plants, offshore structures, electric grids, etc.

Russian spies: other cases

Three diplomats at the Russian Embassy in Oslo were identified by newspaper Aftenposten in May 2020 as having ties to Russia's military intelligence agency known as GRU, earlier accused of murder and poisonings in addition to spying, while Norway's police security agency PST claims the "real number" of intelligence agents operating in Norway "is much higher."

Also in May 2020, the SBU security service of Ukraine pressed espionage charges against the GRU operative for recruiting the then-deputy chief of protocol of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, thus inciting him into treason.

In July 2020, a U.S. sailor was charged for leaking classified information to a Russian national, according to DailyMail.

Prague police in the Czech Republic in July 2020 arrested a Russian diplomat over the illegal purchases of live ammunition, including for sniper rifles.
Shares price of Vedanta Ltd fell over 6% intra day today after Madras High Court on Tuesday refused to allow the reopening of south Indian copper smelter, lawyers for Vedanta and the government said, more than two years after it was shut over pollution concerns.

Share price of Vedanta Ltd fell over 6.06% to Rs 120.2 against previous close of Rs 127.95 on BSE.

Vedanta share is trading higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages. The share has lost 12.3% in one year and fallen 17% since the beginning of this year.

In a month, the stock has gained 16%. Total 14.59 lakh shares changed hands amounting to turnover of Rs 18.42 crore on BSE. Later, the share closed 1% lower at Rs 126.55 on BSE. In May 2018, police killed 13 people protesting against pollution from the smelter. A week after the bloodshed, the Tamil Nadu state government ordered the smelter shut citing pollution.

Madras High Court dismisses plea to reopen Vedanta's Thoothukudi Sterlite Copper plant

Vedanta has consistently denied accusations of pollution, and a lawyer for Vedanta said on Tuesday the company plans to challenge the Madras High Court judgment in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, benchmark indices closed higher for the second straight day on heavy buying in shares of heavyweights such as Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. Sensex closed 477 points higher at 38,528 and Nifty gained 138.25 points or 1.23 per cent to end at 11,385.
Huang Wenjie, a 58-year-old military doctor who was involved in the fight against SARS in 2003, volunteered to combat the COVID-19 epidemic in the Huoshenshan Hospital, Wuhan, when the outbreak in China was at its peak.

(Photo/Chinanews.com)

"I have gained certain experience from combating SARS and I feel obliged to go to the battlefield against the COVID-19 epidemic as a soldier," Huang said.

Huang had been studying the diagnosis and treatment of lung-related infectious diseases since 1995 and is now a chief physician of respiratory medicine at the General Hospital of the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

After entering the Huoshenshan Hospital in February, Huang and the other team members not only treated patients, but helped improve the facilities in the wards. Using his previous experience in studying and treating respiratory diseases, he led the team in analyzing pneumonia cases, providing targeted measures and trying to increase the cure rate.

Despite being well-prepared, Huang would often feel discomfort in his chest and shortness of breath due to the intensive workload and the heavy protective clothing he had to wear.

He considers it important to communicate with and examine the patients so as to learn about their conditions and come up with scientific and targeted treatment formulas.

As a cure for COVID-19 has not yet been developed, the priority for the doctors is to deal with the symptoms, maintain the normal functioning of the patients' organs and enable the patients to defeat the virus through their own immunity, Huang pointed out.

For 23 years, Huang has been keeping notes on the latest respiratory cases and diagnostic criteria from magazines. In addition to his sense of diligence, he is also adept at noticing the little details in his work.

While at Huoshenshan Hospital, Huang once received a report from a nurse that the nucleic acid tests of 22 patients out of the total 30 had come back positive. As he was very familiar the patients conditions, he believed there was something wrong with such a high ratio.

After checking the records and monitors, he was able to locate the problem in sampling and requested another round of nucleic acid tests. It turned out that only one of the 30 patients was positive for COVID-19.

Huang would also teach young doctors while making the rounds of the wards and share related materials with them via e-mail.

"Passing on medical knowledge to others is also one way of saving lives," Huang said, who considers it his responsibility to disseminate knowledge and ethics to doctors.
In an interview with RFE/RL today, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan said schoolchildren will go to class with face masks and stated that the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport envisages splitting big classrooms into two in order to make it possible for schoolchildren to maintain social distancing.

Earlier today, the minister had called on schoolchildren, university students and parents to restrict interactions or self-isolate in the period between September 1 and 14, if possible.

The minister added that schoolchildren will have classes for six days instead of five. This is very important. The week is being extended so that schoolchildren spend as little time at school as possible, and this will significantly reduce the spread of the virus. There will also be a problem with food. Buffets and cafeterias wont operate, and the ministry is trying to find solutions, but one of them is to make sure children spend as little time at school as possible, he said.

When asked what will happen if two children with COVID-19 are detected in class, the minister said if the ministry sees that the virus spreads after testing, classes wont be held in the particular classroom.

Harutyunyan added that these measures will be implemented at public and private schools.
 Flash

The Japanese government said on Monday that a second disaster relief team will be dispatched to Mauritius this week to help respond to an oil leak from a Japanese freighter that ran aground offshore last month.

According to the Japanese Environment Ministry, the team consists of seven experts including officials from the ministry and the National Institute for Environmental Studies. They will leave Japan on Wednesday to help clean up oil and assist in grasping the environmental damage of the incident.

The first team, consisting of four experts from the Japan Coast Guard and one official each from the Foreign Ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has already started relief activities last week, said the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The second team will be sent at the request of Mauritius and carry with them items such as sorbents to deal with oil spills, the ministry added.

The Panama-flagged bulk carrier Wakashio ran aground on July 25, according to Nagashiki Shipping Co., the owner of the ship.

The operator of the vessel, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., has said more than 1,000 tons of oil have leaked from it, triggering a state of environmental emergency in the Indian Ocean island nation.
Washington: Describing Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan as endangered minorities, a resolution introduced in the US Congress has sought to resettle these persecuted religious communities from the war-torn country to America. Introduced in the House of Representatives last week by Congresswoman Jackie Speier and co-sponsored by seven others, the resolution supports refugee protection for Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, noting the systematic religious persecution, discrimination and existential danger faced by members of these communities.

Sikhs and Hindus are indigenous but endangered minorities in Afghanistan, numbering approximately 700 out of a community that recently included over 8,000 members, the resolution said.

The resolution supports resettling Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan in the US under the United States Refugee Admissions Programme pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Expressing concern for the safety of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, the resolution condemns all terrorist attacks, religious persecution and discrimination against members of these communities in the war-ravaged country.

Noting that Islamic militants attacked a gurdwara in Kabul on March 25, killing 25 worshippers, including a four-year-old girl, the resolution said that the terrorists made further attempts on the lives of the survivors before and after the funeral ceremony held for the victims.

The resolution also mentioned the suicide bombing carried out by Islamic State-Khorasan in Jalalabad on July 1, 2018, which took the lives of 19 people, including leaders of Sikh and Hindu communities.

These acts of violence follow a greater pattern of targeted violence against Sikhs, Hindus, and other religious minorities in Afghanistan in recent years, it said.

According to the resolution, the Department of State and US Commission on International Religious Freedom have documented systemic discrimination against Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, including restrictions on religious practices, illegal seizure of property, the inability to send their children to public schools due to harassment, judicial bias against religious minorities, and constitutional limitations on the political rights of religious minorities.

The former Taliban-led government routinely persecuted and discriminated against the Afghan-Sikh community, restricting their funeral rites and forcing the community to publicly identify themselves by wearing yellow armbands, it said.

The resolution rued that President Donald Trump has proposed resettling up to only 18,000 refugees for 2020, in contrast to the Obama administrations proposal of 1.1 lakh refugees for fiscal year 2016.
IPS officer Rakesh Asthana on Tuesday took charge as the new Director General (DG) of the Border Security Force that guards India's fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh. A 1984-batch Indian Police Service officer of Gujarat cadre, Asthana (59) was handed over the baton of the about 2.65 lakh personnel-strong force by ITBP DG S S Deswal in the morning at the BSF headquarters at Lodhi Road, a force spokesperson said.

Deswal, his batchmate from the Haryana cadre, has been heading the BSF in an additional capacity since March 11 after the then DG Vivek Johri was transferred to head the Madhya Pradesh Police. The new DG was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by a column of troops before he took charge, the spokesperson said.

Asthana is the 27th chief of the force and is expected to hold office till July next year, his scheduled date for retirement from service. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Monday issued orders for the appointment of Asthana, who has been serving as the DG of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) till now apart from heading the Narcotics Control Bureau in an additional capacity.

As per the ACC order, Asthana will continue to hold the NCB charge. The police officer has served in various capacities in Gujarat Police apart from serving in various ranks of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Asthana, while serving as the special director of the CBI in 2018, had a bitter feud with his senior and CBI Director Alok Verma as they both levelled allegations of corruption against each other. Both the officers were later removed from the central probe agency by the Union government and Asthana was subsequently cleared of the charges.

The new DG, officials said, met senior officers and was briefed about the operational situation at the two borders soon after he took charge. The BSF is primarily tasked with guarding Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh apart from rendering a variety of duties in the internal security domain of the country. PTI NES SKL

RDM.
Regulators and environmental groups in North Carolina says theyve reached a tentative agreement regarding a lawsuit with the Chemours Co. over so-called forever chemicals flowing into the Cape Fear River.

The Fayetteville Observer reported Thursday that the proposed deal would address pollution from contaminated groundwater on Chemours property.

But the main supplier of drinking water in the Wilmington area said it was not included in the negotiations. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority said it knew nothing of the proposed deal until it was contacted by the state earlier in the day.

The parties in the suit are the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, the Cape Fear River Watch environmental organization and Chemours.

The company is required to remove 99% of the PFAS contamination.

PFAS are used to make many consumer and industrial products. Theyre known as forever chemicals because they are slow to break down. Researchers say theyre a threat to human health.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Pollution North Carolina
In two recent one-on-one interviews, Douglas Familia shared what he has learned throughout his career as a funeral director

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / Douglas Familia was recently featured in two exclusive interviews with Kivo Daily and Thrive Global. He spoke primarily about what makes him passionate about his career as a funeral director.

With over 30 years of experience in the funeral industry, Douglas Familia is the funeral home manager and director of Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapels, Parkside Memorial Chapels, and Forest Park Funeral Home, all in Queens, New York.

In his interview with Kivo Daily, Douglas Familia shared that working in the funeral industry is extremely fulfilling for him, as he can help people through one of the most difficult times of their lives, as they cope with the death of a loved one.

He also explained how the funeral industry is changing over time, with the implementation of webcasting and live streaming at funerals for family members across the country.

In his interview with Thrive Global, Mr. Familia said that people interested in getting into the funeral industry should spend time at funeral homes, either working or volunteering, to see if the career is for them. He noted that funeral homes are usually always in need of help, so reaching out to those within your community would be a start.

Finally, Douglas shared some advice for readers.

"Funeral directing for years has been very old-fashioned, very traditional, and very reluctant to change. Recently Webcasting and other live electronic methods of streaming funeral services have been incorporated and have been very helpful when you have families spread out all over the country who cannot attend, or people who are reluctant to join in person because of the pandemic" said Douglas Familia.

"The hardest obstacle is getting people to face their own mortality and think about making funeral plans ahead of time that will ease the burdens on their family. Whenever a person has made funeral pre arrangements, the family is so thankful that the person did that."

About Douglas Familia

A New York native, Douglas Familia is a funeral director with over 30 years of experience in the industry. He began his studies in Criminal Justice. One of his close friends' fathers owned a funeral home in New York and after having the opportunity to see the process of funeral preparation from start to finish, Douglas decided to change course and study Mortuary Science. He is currently the funeral home manager and director of three funeral homes in the Queens, New York area, including Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapels, Parkside Memorial Chapels, and Forest Park Funeral Home. The funeral homes are nonsectarian and can meet the religious requirements and customs specific for all faiths.

Contact:

Douglas Familia

(914) 804-3225

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-familia-915484192/

SOURCE: Douglas Familia

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602213/Douglas-Familia-Featured-in-Two-Exclusive-Interviews
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The Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on August 17 slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for accusing it of "orchestrating" the Shaheen Bagh protests against the citizenship law. The BJP said the ruling party in Delhi was "shocked" with the prospect of "losing" support among the Muslims.

The blame game between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi came up a day after several Muslims from Shaheen Bagh, a centre of protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, joined the BJP on August 16.

The AAP on Monday alleged that the entire Shaheen Bagh protest was "scripted" by the BJP, whose leadership "dictated" each and every move of the agitators for electoral benefits in the Assembly polls earlier this year.

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged that the BJP's campaign for the Delhi election centred around the Shaheen Bagh protests and it was the only party that benefited from the controversy surrounding the agitation.

The AAP is "shocked" as its "votebank politics" is under threat with Muslims from a CAA protest area joining the BJP, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta told PTI.

"AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal kept mum when the Shaheen Bagh protest was on. His party councilor is the main accused in the Delhi riots and now his party leaders are accusing that the CAA protest was planned by us," Gupta said.

"They are shocked that Muslims are joining the BJP and, therefore, their votebank politics is under threat," he said.

Several Muslims from Shaheen Bagh joined the BJP at the offfice of the Delhi unit of the party on Sunday.

Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar Chaudhary also slammed the ruling AAP, saying its leaders were "diverting" attention of the people from crises like the coronavirus pandemic and their financial problems because of the lockdown.

"Kejriwal and his party leaders should tell Delhi people how they were trying to help people during the pandemic instead of indulging in the blame game with the BJP over Shaheen Bagh," Chaudhary told PTI.

BJP leader Nighat Abbas, who was instrumental in joining of several Muslims from Shaheen Bagh to her party, despite getting their votes in the Assembly polls, "AAP leaders were scared as many Muslims from Shaheen Bagh joined the BJP".

The Delhi BJP chief claimed that the Muslims in the country had come to realise that the CAA issue was "raised to scare them although it did not affect them".

"Kejriwal and his party should tell the people what they said when anti CAA protest was going on in Shaheen Bagh," Gupta said. "He and his party leaders did not say anything about it."

"Why are they telling lies now even after winning Assembly elections?" Gupta asked.
In the past 24 hours, India's COVID-19 count has risen to 27 lakh mark and the death toll has crossed the 50,000 mark. India has surpassed three crore COVID-19 tests so far.

With a spike of 55,079 cases and 876 deaths in the last 24 hours, Indias COVID-19 count reached 27,02,743 on Tuesday, according to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. The countrys COVID-19 count includes 6,73,166 active cases, 19,77,780 discharged/migrated patients. With 876 deaths, the toll due to the disease has risen to 51,797.

The death toll had breached the 50-thousand mark on Monday, according to the Ministry. Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state from the infection with 1,58,705 active cases while 4,17,123 patients have been discharged/migrated. The toll in the state due to the disease has risen to 20,037.

Tamil Nadu has 54,019 active cases, 2,78,270 discharged/migrated patients and 5,766 deaths. Andhra Pradesh has a total of 85,945 active cases while 2,01,234 patients have been cured/discharged/migrated and 2,650 patients have succumbed to COVID-19.

Also read: Pandit Jasrajs last rites performed in New Jersey

Also read: Facebook issues statement after opposition rakes up bias theory

Delhi, on the other hand, has 10,823 active cases while 1,37,561 cured/discharged/migrated and 4,196 fatalities. Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that the number of total samples tested for the infection have reached 3,09,41,264 upto August 17. The ICMR on Tuesday said that 8,99,864 samples were tested yesterday.

Maharashtra continues to be the worst affected state from the infection with 1,55,268 active cases 4,28,514 patients have been discharged/migrated while 20,265 deaths due to COVID-19. As many as 8,493 new COVID-19 cases and 228 deaths were reported in the state today; 11,391 patients discharged. The total positive cases in the state rise to 6,04,358.

Tamil Nadu has reported 5,890 new COVID-19 cases and 120 deaths on Monday taking the total number of cases to 3,43,945 including 5,886 deaths and 54,122 active cases in the state.

Andhra Pradesh reported 6,780 new COVID-19 cases, 7,866 recoveries, and 82 deaths on Monday, taking the state tally to 2,96,609 including 84,777 active cases. A total of 2,09,100 patients have been recovered and 2,732 people have died so far, as per the state health department.

Delhi has reported 787 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 1,53,367. The national capital also registered 740 recoveries today. The total number of cases includes 1,38,301 recovered or discharged or migrated cases, 10,852 active cases, and 4,214 deaths.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a conversation via video conference, with state convenors of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to discuss the opening of Oxygen Jaanch Kendra in villages across the country.

Talked with all the state convenors of Aam Aadmi Party today and discussed the opening of Oxygen Jaanch Kendra in more and more villages across the country. As citizens of the country, it becomes our duty to protect more and more people from corona in this difficult time, Kejriwal said in a tweet attaching pictures of his conversation with the party convenors.

As many as 422 new COVID-19 cases were reported from Jammu and Kashmir; 81 from Jammu division and 341 from Kashmir division, taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory to 28,892 while death toll stood at 548.

Kerala government on Monday informed that a total of 1,725 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in the state, taking the total number of active and recovered cases to 15,890 and 30,009 respectively.

Meanwhile, 118 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Manipur including 24 personnel from Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). The total number of cases in the state stood at 4,687 including 1,216 central security personnel. The recovery rate is 58.33 per cent.

Total active cases in the state stand at 50,893 while the death toll has reached 2,515. A total of 1,04,808 patients have been discharged to date. Gujarat reported 1,033 new coronavirus cases and 15 deaths on Monday, taking the total number of reported cases to 79,816 including 14,435 active cases, 62,579 recoveries, and 2,802 deaths.

Mizoram health department said that the total number of cases rose to 789 cases in Mizoram, including 372 cured cases, 417 active cases, and no death.

As many as 1,492 new COVID-19 cases and 51 deaths were reported in Punjab. The total cases in the state rose to 32,695 including 862 deaths and 20,180 patients discharged while active cases stood at 11,653.

Also read: Amid Rahuls BJP controls FB to BJPs Losers who crib retort, Cong demands JPC probe in charges
Two Brick police officers saved a semi-conscious woman from drowning in the Metedeconk River after she spent about an hour stranded in the waterway popular with boaters, authorities said Monday.

The rescue came after the woman went missing around 9 p.m. Saturday when a boater she was with lost sight of her swimming during high winds and the strong current, according to Brick police. The boater called 911, bringing the U.S. Coast Guard, the New Jersey State Police and township responders.

Officers John Alexander and Eric Haugh, using a police boat, were searching an area where she was last spotted when they heard a faint call for help, police said. The officers quickly found the woman struggling to keep her head above water.

They threw a life ring to the woman, but she was too weak to grab it, according to authorities. Haugh positioned the boat down current from her while Alexander took off his police gear to jump in for a water rescue.

The currents brought the woman to the side of the police boat and the officers were able pull her aboard, police said.

Alexander kept her awake and provided first aid while Haugh piloted the boat back to Eagle Point, where emergency crews were waiting.

Authorities said she was listed in stable condition at an area hospital being treated for acute aspiration pneumonia and respiratory failure.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
On Monday, the US BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security) within the Department of Commerce has announced that it will further limit Huawei from accessing US chips. According to the press release, Huawei has been able to circumvent the ban by purchasing American components through third-party companies.

The US Department of Commerce will ban 38 companies all directly affiliated with Huawei across 21 countries, which have been used to go around the US ban that the Trump Administration extended through May 2021, according to the BIS.

As we have restricted [Huaweis] access to U.S. technology, Huawei and its affiliates have worked through third parties to harness U.S. technology in a manner that undermines U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. This multi-pronged action demonstrates our continuing commitment to impeding Huaweis ability to do so.  US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross

The affiliate companies listed are all branches of Huawei that operate outside of China including design and Huawei Cloud centers, as well as some of its R&D centers throughout Europe.

Everything in the press release was intentionally meant to limit Huawei from doing business with the United States big tech companies. In fear that the Chinese Communist Party will direct Huawei to fulfill a scheme against US officials or US citizens.

According to APNews earlier this month citing a Huawei executive, the Chinese telecom giant is running out of processor chips and will have to eventually cease production of its high-end Kirin processors.

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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 15:45 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ecfbac 1 National AGO,Attorney-General-Office,Indonesia-Corruption-Watch,ICW,MAKI,Masyarakat-Anti-Korupsi-Indonesia,Indonesian-Anti-Corruption-Community,PJI,Persatuan-Jaksa-Indonesia,Indonesian-Prosecutors-Association,djoko-tjandra,bank-bali-case,pinangki-malasari Free

Anticorruption activists have expressed their disapproval of the legal assistance made available by a prosecutors association for Pinangki Sirna Malasari, a prosecutor who was arrested for allegedly accepting bribes in connection with graft convict Djoko Tjandra.

Pinangki was named a bribery suspect last week following an investigation by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) into her alleged meetings with Djoko when the latter was still on the run in neighboring countries last year. She was suspected to have accepted about US$500,000 in bribes, though the AGO did not specify who she got it from.

The AGO confirmed on Monday that Pinangki was still a prosecutor and a member of the Indonesian Prosecutors Association (PJI) despite her suspect status, and thus, she would receive legal assistance from lawyers appointed by the association, kompas.com reported.

Antigraft watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana said Pinangki's alleged meeting with Djoko, then an AGO fugitive, had tarnished the image of the institution itself and, therefore, she "does not deserve legal assistance" from the PJI.

The AGO itself has declared Pinangki guilty of committing an ethics violation by going on nine international trips to Singapore and Malaysia in 2019 without permission, during which she allegedly met with Djoko.

Given the alleged violations, Kurnia said that providing Pinangki with legal assistance would contradict the PJI's rules of association and internal bylaws (AD/ART).

Read also: Napoleon Bonaparte among two police generals named graft suspects in Djoko Tjandra case

"The AD/ART stipulates that PJI aims to defend and assist its members who face legal issues related to their professional duties. However, what the prosecutor Pinangki did was not related to her duties and profession, because the meeting was held without her superiors approval and it was with the fugitive, Kurnia said.

There is a term the blue wall of silence' in the United States when law enforcers stay silent or protect their colleagues who are involved in illegal practices. We don't want that to happen.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Anticorruption Community (MAKI) coordinator Boyamin Saiman said the prosecutor's organization should not provide legal assistance to Pinangki because of ethical reasons, arguing that she got entangled in the case not because of her duties but because she had violated her duties as prosecutor.

"Pinangki should find herself a lawyer instead of getting the PJI assistance, he said.

Boyamin, however, conceded that assistance from the PJI was not legally problematic as the association did not represent the AGO, but it was an organization in which Pinangki was a member.

Pinangki has been removed from her post as an official in the planning bureau under the AGOs assistant attorney general.

Djoko, a convict in the high-profile Bank Bali corruption case, was arrested in Malaysia on July 30. He had been at large for 11 years after fleeing Indonesia a day before the Supreme Court sentenced him to two years in prison and ordered him to pay Rp 546 billion (US$54 million) in restitution.
In continuation of Operation Sahel Sanity, the military offensive to wipe out armed bandits from North West, troops deployed at Forward Operation Base Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State on 15 August 2020 after a painstaking undercover operation successfully smashed a notorious illegal arms smuggling syndicate.

The syndicate specialize in massive arms supply to bandits in the North West from across the international borders.

Consequently, the trio of Alhaji Adamu Alhassan, Salisu Adamu and Abdullahi Sani (all Nigerien citizens) were intercepted by the eagle-eyed troops at Dantudu in Mailailai District of Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State with 6 AK 47 Rifles, 3 AK 47 Rifle magazines and 2,415 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition deceptively concealed in various parts of their vehicle.

A statement by Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko, Acting Director, Defence Nadia Operations said, Preliminary investigation reveals that the dangerous consignment was meant for some bandits in Isah LGA of Sokoto State which could have led to loss of thousands of innocent lives but for the swift interception by the vigilant troops.

However, one of the arrested arms supplier, Alhaji Adamu Alhassan who is diabetic and hypertensive experienced seizure and gave up the ghost while he was being rushed to the hospital.

Nevertheless, investigation of the other 2 accomplices continues in order to track and arrest all those in the chain of the heinous activity in collaboration with other intelligence and security agencies from our neighboring countries, he said.

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The Senate Intelligence Committee released the fifth and final volume of its report on the Russia investigation on Tuesday, concluding that Russia attempted to influence the Trump team but also that the FBI gave unjustified credence to the Steele dossier.

The committee found that Russia took advantage of the Trump teams relative inexperience in government, opposition to Obama administration policies, and Trumps desire to deepen ties with Russia to pursue unofficial channels through which Russia could conduct diplomacy. However, the report concludes that the Trump-campaign did not collude with Russian operatives to win the 2016 election.

Over the last three years, the Senate Intelligence Committee conducted a bipartisan and thorough investigation into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election and undermine our democracy, acting committee head Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) said in a statement on Tuesday. No probe into this matter has been more exhaustive.

Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), a member of the committee, said that the U.S. should now move to focus on future threats to the country.

Its now time to shift our focus to the many national-security threats facing our country instead of re-litigating the 2016 election, Cotton said in a statement. Just because Russia failed this time doesnt mean it wont keep trying.

The report detailed the vulnerabilities of several Trump-campaign officials, including former campaign manager Paul Manafort as well as George Papadopoulos, to exploitation by Russian intelligence. Manafort is currently serving a 7.5 year prison sentence for various fraud charges.

In March 2016, Manafort directly and indirectly communicated with pro-Russian oligarchs in Ukraine, including Russian national Konstantin Kilimnik.

On numerous occasions, Manafort sought to secretly share internal Campaign information with Kilimnik, the report states. Taken as a whole, Manaforts high-level access and willingness to share information with individuals closely affiliated with the Russian intelligence services, particularly Kilimnik and associates of Deripaska, represented a grave counterintelligence threat.

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As for Papadopoulos, the report states that he was not a witting cooptee of the Russian intelligence services, however he presented a prime intelligence target and potential vector for malign Russian influence.

While the report found substantial evidence of Russian attempts to meddle in the 2016 elections, it concluded that the Trump-campaign did not actively collude with Russian operatives. Additionally, the report is highly critical of deeply troubling actions taken by the FBI during their investigation into alleged collusion, particularly their acceptance and willingness to rely on the Steele Dossier without verifying its methodology or sourcing.

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Gavin Williamson has said sorry for the A-level results fiasco as he faced calls to resign as education secretary.

The government made a major U-turn on Monday by announcing that A-levels and GCSE grades would be based on teachers predictions.

It followed anger from students, and others, about the downgrading of 40% of A-level grades by exams regulator Ofqual using a controversial algorithm.

Labour said the governments handling of exam grades had been incompetent, while Tory MP Robert Halfon, chair of the education select committee, described it as a fiasco.

The governments U-turn, which was announced in time for the announcement of GCSE results in England on Thursday, brings the nation into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which will all use teacher-predicted grades.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson faces calls to resign as he apologised for the confusion over school exam results. (PA)

Thousands of students will now receive increased grades but questions remained unanswered about how many of them will get into universities, which have had a temporary cap on places scrapped.

On Tuesday, Williamson refused to answer questions on whether or not he would resign. He apologised to young people who are anxious about their futures.

Im incredibly sorry for the fact that this has caused distress, he told Sky News.

But the right thing to do was when it was clear that the system wasnt delivering what we believed, and been assured that it would do, and the fairness that we all expect it to deliver and we all had confidence and belief that it would deliver, then further action had to be taken.

Thats what I did, thats the decision that I took and thats what we did yesterday, he added.

He claimed the government had put children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds "at the heart" of its grades system.

That was something that Ofqual, working with partners, was absolutely clear that in all the actions would ensure that that wouldnt happen, he said.

He added: At every stage, both the DfE and Ofqual in terms of the development of a moderated grades system have actually put the issue of making sure that children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are at the heart of what it does.

Story continues

Read more: A-level students take legal action against Ofqual

Earlier this month, Scotland had its own school results U-turn after its exam body lowered about 125,000 estimated grades.

The downgraded results were later withdrawn and replaced with original teacher estimates, a move affecting 75,000 pupils.

Students mounted fierce protests over the A-levels results controversy. (PA via AP)

Williamson said that when challenges emerged in the Scottish exams system, the Government wanted to put a more robust system in place.

He told Sky News: Going back a number of weeks obviously weve constantly worked with Ofqual and weve put challenge, consistent challenge, within the system to have reassurance that this is a system that would work and be fair.

Obviously when we saw the Scottish system and the challenges there, working with Ofqual we wanted to put a more robust and stronger appeal process into the system.

Thats why we brought forward the triple lock that we put in place before the launch of the exams systems.

Asked on BBC Breakfast if he would resign, Williamson said: What were doing is were focusing on delivering the grades for those children.

Were making sure that were going to make sure that all schools are returned and Im absolutely determined over the coming year that Im going to be delivering the worlds best education system.

When asked when he first became aware of the problems with the Ofqual algorithm, Williamson said: "Well, it became apparent that there were challenges within the algorithm when we were seeing the results directly coming out and then over the weekend.

"We'd got concerns before when we saw what had happened in Scotland, we wanted to have a more robust system put in place."

We must now learn the lessons from what has happened with the exam results. Id like to see the minutes of every conversation between the DfE and @ofqual and find out how much this has cost the taxpayer so that it can never happen again. pic.twitter.com/kkg3zpMowa  Robert Halfon MP -Working Hard for Harlow- (@halfon4harlowMP) August 18, 2020

However, Williamson still faced criticism from both his own MPs and further afield.

Earlier, writing in The Sun, Halfon said: "This is a mega mess. But it is better to right something that is wrong than proceed with disaster."

He wrote it was blue-collar workers who gave the Tories the thumbs-up at the last general election, but it was disadvantaged kids who were let down by bungling bureaucrats in this marking chaos. This must never happen again.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Conservatives' handling of the situation "sums up their handling of this pandemic  incompetent".

He wrote in the Daily Mirror: "At a time of national emergency, this is no way to run a country.

"The Tories' incompetence is holding Britain back from recovery."

Tory chairman of the Commons education select committee, Robert Halfon, described the handling of A-level results as a 'mega mess'. (PA)

The algorithm was meant to moderate the process of awarding grades, preventing teachers awarding what the exams watchdog described as "implausibly high" marks to pupils.

But it came under fire over its perceived unfairness and the way it particularly appeared to penalise bright children from disadvantaged schools.

Ofqual's chairman Roger Taylor admitted the regulator had gone down the "wrong road" and apologised.

Students who were awarded a higher grade by the moderation process will be allowed to keep it, but for many pupils the shift to teachers' predictions will see their grades improve.

Read more: A-level students react after government U-turn

Shadow universities minister Emma Hardy told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday: "Well, I know if I was in charge of the government he certainly wouldn't be in my team, but that's a matter for Boris Johnson.

Labours shadow Northern Ireland minister Louise Haigh said Williamson must resign, while the Liberal Democrats education spokeswoman Layla Moran told BBC News: This government is utterly incompetent. Gavin Williamson must go.

Students have also called for Williamson to step down.

This has been handled terribly and with poor preparation. It is clear that Gavin Williamson should resign, said 18-year-old Stanley Lewis, of Edgware, north-west London, who has had doubt cast on his desire to study at Cambridge University.

Gavin Williamson was sacked as defence secretary by former PM Theresa May over leak about Huawei's involvement in the 5G network. (SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

The exams U-turn puts Williamsons cabinet role in jeopardy for the second time in his career.

Williamson was sacked as defence minister in May 2019 by then prime minister Theresa May following an inquiry into a leak from a National Security Council meeting about Huaweis involvement in the 5G network. He denied leaking the information.
MUMBAI: Actor Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer Satish Maneshinde asserted on Tuesday (August 18) that the Bihar Police have no jurisdiction in Sushant Singh Rajput death case and therefore the actress will not submit to an illegal investigation.

"As per law, Bihar Police ought to have registered a zero FIR and transfer the probe to Mumbai Police. Bihar Police has no jurisdiction in the case. Rhea will not submit to an illegal investigation," Rhea's lawyer Satish Maneshinde said.

"The Bihar Police registered the FIR on the same day that the complaint was received, despite a delay of over 40 days. The Bihar Police arrived in Mumbai without ever summoning my client to cooperate with their investigation. There were several newspaper articles quoting the advocate of the complainant as having stated that the Bihar Police were hesitant to register the FIR but did so at the behest of the political leadership in Bihar," he stated.

"My client has not shied away from cooperating with any investigating agency till date, but she is entitled to a fair and impartial investigation by an agency which has jurisdiction to investigate the case. The manner in which the proceedings were instituted and being conducted in Bihar made it appear unlikely that she would receive a fair treatment," her lawyer added.

He asserted that 'comments made during the last hearing on the case on August 11 in the Supreme Court make it evident that this has become more about politics than truth. "Unwanted and irrelevant submissions are being made. A number of politicians are taking advantage of the case on eve of elections in Bihar," Maneshinde added.

He also spoke about allegations made against Aaditya Thackeray in connection with the case asserting Rhea did not know or ever met the Shiv Sena leader. "Neither has she ever spoken to him telephonically or otherwise; although she has heard of him as the leader of the Shiv Sena."

For the unversed, Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his Bandra Pall Hill residence on June 14.
Kerlogue Nursing Home in Rocksborough says one person has tested positive, while Mooncoin Residential Care Centre in south Kilkenny said a member of staff had also contracted the virus.

Both nursing homes are engaging with the HSE and relevant authorities to implement appropriate measures and to provide medical care to all residents.

It comes as new restrictions may be placed on older and vulnerable people, including in nursing homes, as the Cabinet holds an unscheduled meeting to consider public health recommendations this afternoon.

Concerns have been raised by leading public health experts that the Governments approach to managing the spread of Covid-19 is moving towards one of age segregation.

Nursing home reform

Later today will see the publication of a report by the Covid-19 Nursing Home Expert Panel, in which the group will make a number of recommendations to the Health Minister to ensure all precautions against the spread of the virus in nursing homes are taken.

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The last time the panel met was in June, when the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said the Covid-19 pandemic laid bare the absence of planning for healthcare provision in nursing homes.

It called for a new approach to manage care for older people in nursing homes, as well as urgent preparatory planning to prevent seasonal influenza outbreaks in such facilities.

The IMO said the pandemic highlighted the need for a new, more collaborative system of care for older people supported by adequate resources, suitable policies and governance structures.

In advance of the panel's new report today, a nursing home owner has called for a radical overhaul of the system, with Oaklodge Nursing Home owner Diarmuid ODalaigh saying homes should adopt a care village model in order to improve both independence and infection control.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Environmental groups are suing the Tennessee Valley Authority over long-term partnership agreements signed by local power companies that receive electricity generated by the nations largest public utility.

A lawsuit filed in Memphis federal court Monday claims the 20-year deals signed by more than 130 companies lock the power distributors into exclusive, never-ending contracts with the TVA and will forever deprive distributors and ratepayers the opportunity to renegotiate with TVA to obtain cheaper, cleaner electricity, the Southern Environmental Law Center said in a statement.

Protect Our Aquifer, Energy Alabama and Appalachian Voices also allege the deals hurt the ability of local power companies to use renewable power from sources outside the TVA.

TVA is the nations largest public utility, providing power to more than 10 million people in parts of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia.

TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said 141 of 153 local power companies have agreed to the deals voluntarily.

Nobody is being forced to sign up for anything, Brooks said Tuesday. All the local power companies have a choice whether they want to sign up for this long term partnership.

TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash said during a Board of Directors meeting in November that the deals carry a 3.1% monthly rebate on wholesale power rates. Lyash said the local companies could pass on those savings to their customers, invest in infrastructure and give companies flexibility to receive some of their power through locally sourced options.

The deals replace existing agreements of varying lengths, or follow expiring ones. Contracts require a 20-year notice to terminate, and they renew automatically each year, the plaintiffs lawyers said.

TVA officials say many smaller utilities have agreed, as have larger ones, including Nashville Electric Service.

But TVAs biggest customer, Memphis, Light, Gas & Water, has not signed a long-term deal. The Memphis utility is exploring other power generation options, including alternate suppliers. Memphis has been a TVA customer for 85 years and represents about 10% of TVAs revenue, Lyash has said.

The suit also alleges that the contracts could have significant effects on the environment, including influencing TVAs decisions to invest in energy resources, increasing greenhouse gases and other pollution, and increasing water usage across the Tennessee Valley, the statement said.

MLG&W plans a Wednesday meeting to discuss the TVA decision. A consultant report says the Memphis power company could save as much as $122 million per year by joining the MISO transmission system, which delivers power across 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba.

However, the TVA option provides a somewhat higher level of reliability, the Siemens Industry Inc. report said.
Minister of Finance Bill Morneau rises in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 11, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Finance Minister Bill Morneau Resigns

OTTAWAThe only finance minister to serve under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suddenly resigned Monday night, saying someone else should guide the country through a long and bumpy economic recovery from the COVID19 pandemic.

Bill Morneau said he had considered leaving his role as finance minister for some time, adding that he never intended to run for a third term as an MP.

The path to an economic recovery could take years to play out, and Morneau said the government needed a finance minister who wanted to stick around for the long haul.

During a hastily called news conference on Parliament Hill, Morneau said he had tendered his resignation to Trudeau in the morning, and that he was also stepping down as the Liberal MP for his riding of Toronto Centre.

Its really important for someone to want to be in this political role for the next period of time and that period of time will be very challenging, he said Monday evening. So that is what Im sure the prime minister is reflecting on as he thinks about the next finance minister.

Morneau said he is putting his name forward as a candidate to be the next secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Trudeau, in a statement issued Monday as Morneau was speaking, said Canada would vigorously support Morneaus efforts to take on the new role.

Morneau has been finance minister since late 2015, when the Liberals returned to power with a majority government. He remained in the job after the 2019 federal election, when the Liberals were reduced to a minority government.

For several weeks, opposition parties have been calling for Morneaus resignation over allegations that he had a conflict of interest in the WE Charity affair. Bloc Quebecois Leader YvesFrancois Blanchet had even threatened to try to trigger an election this fall if Morneau and Trudeau didnt resign.

Morneau and Trudeau are both facing investigations by the federal ethics watchdog for taking part in talks to hand WE a contract to run a studentvolunteer program for youth whose summer job opportunities vanished with the pandemic. Both have familial ties to the organization.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulates Minister of Finance Bill Morneau following the fall fiscal update in the House of Commons in Ottawa, on Nov. 21, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

One of Morneaus daughters works for the organization, another has spoken at its events and his wife has donated $100,000. Morneau also revealed last month that he had repaid WE some $41,000 in expenses for trips he and his family took in 2017 to view two of its humanitarian projects in Ecuador and Kenya.

The recent news that Mark Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, is helping to advise Trudeau on the postpandemic economic recovery had fuelled speculation that Morneau was about to be replaced.

Last week, Trudeau tried to shut down that speculation by taking the unusual step of issuing a statement to say he had full confidence in Morneau and that reports of policy clashes between them were false.

Morneau denied on Monday that Trudeau had asked him to resign.

On Monday, Trudeaus statement also highlighted the way they had worked together, especially during the COVID19 pandemic.

Every step of the way, Bill and I have worked closely together, along with our team of cabinet ministers and caucus members to help Canadians navigate this challenging time, Trudeau said.

Our number 1 priority has been supporting Canadian families and businesses the best and fastest way possible. Thanks to his unwavering leadership and commitment to service through the pandemic, our government has laid the groundwork for a strong economic recovery.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said in a statement that Morneaus resignation was further proof of a government in chaos and consumed by scandal.

At a time when Canadians are worried about their health and their finances, Justin Trudeaus government is so consumed by scandal that Trudeau has amputated his right hand to try and save himself, Scheer said.

Similarly, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Morneaus resignation comes just when people need a steady and reliable government with many worried about paying the bills in coming months resulting from the current economic crisis.
The historic former Barbara Jordan Post Office is being redeveloped to include a six-acre rooftop farm and park with panoramic skyline views of Houston.

Lovett Commercial is developing the space, calling it POST Houston with plans to include experimental shopping options, an international food hall, coworking offices, and a music venue, according to the website.

DISCOVERY GREEN UNVEILS NEW TREE-LINED ALLEY: Discovery Green unveils new tree-lined alley with 70 LED light fixtures

The special event space, which is part of Skylawns rooftop park and farm, is unlike anything ever seen before in the city of Houston, Frank Liu, president of Lovett Commercial, said in a press release. We are working with one of the most talented landscape architecture firms in the country to ensure that we are creating a one-of-a-kind, standout rooftop park, and farm that is going to become a top destination in our city.

The long-abandoned building was once the bustling hub of Houston's U.S. mail system where many were able to apply for their passports.

Located at 401 Franklin St., the space will host open-air weddings and other events, according to Lovett Commercial.

According to a Houston Chronicle article, Houston-based Lovett purchased the 16-acre former post office in 2015 with plans "to incorporate a monument to Jordan, who died in 1996, into the property."

"Jordan was a Houston native who was the first Black woman from the South elected to Congress," stated the Houston Chronicle article.

Currently under construction, POST Houston is expected to open early next year, providing Houstonians with bigger and better things to look forward to in 2021.

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A final journey: Actor James Nesbitt (centre) carries his father James Srs casket outside the family home in Castlerock, Co Derry, yesterday. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt has paid tribute to his sisters for looking after their father until his death.

James Nesbitt Sr died last Friday, aged 91. He was the former headmaster of a primary school in Lisnamurrican, near Broughshane in Co Antrim.

Prayers and tributes were said outside the family home in Castlerock, near Coleraine, Co Derry, before his burial at Downhill.

Nesbitt described his father as a "great listener" and said that shortly before his death he had been writing a history of his life.

"You can imagine how long that took," he told mourners.

"He was also planning for his funeral and he wrote, 'I would like to dedicate this reading to all those, paid or unpaid, family or strangers, who have cared for me in my years of affliction. I suppose I am a rather elderly, widowed, orphan'.

"This reading, to my mind, sums up Dad. Dad bled love.

"I want to thank all who have been in Dad's life - his beloved wife and my mother May, and his sisters, his daughters and nieces and his friends, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all those who he adored and loved. Dad was so proud of Margaret, Kathryn and Andrea. They cared for him and loved him, he adored them and was so proud.

"It wasn't always easy and Kathryn probably saw that more than most as she dedicated so much of the last year of her life to looking after him.

"There's no hierarchy of grief. Margaret, Kathryn and Andrea will miss Dad terribly and they will miss him because they loved him."

A song by Harry Connick Jr was played as the cortege passed mourners lining the route to the burial.
Golpe in Mali. Il presidente Keita e il premier Cisse sono stati arrestati, lo ha annunciato uno dei capi dei militari ammutinati.

"Il presidente Ibrahim Boubacar Keita e il premier Boubou Cisse sono sotto il nostro controllo", ha detto uno dei leader militari che ha preferito rimanere anonimo.

Il militare ha anche precisato che i due sono stati arrestati nella residenza di Keita nella capitale del Paese dell'Africa occidentale.

Un altro funzionario dell'esercito ha aggiunto che i due sono stati portati su un veicolo blindato a Kati, la citta vicino alla quale si trova la base militare da cui e partito l'ammutinamento. E la notizia e stata confermata anche dal governo maliano, che ha fatto sapere dell'arresto del presidente e del premier per mano di alcuni "militari ribelli".

Questa mattina erano circolate notizie di alcuni militari arrabbiati che avevano preso armi alla base di Kati e avevano iniziato a sparare in aria, il ministero della Difesa aveva smentito un ammutinamento.

Il presidente francese Emmanuel Macron e stato il primo a condannare il colpo di Stato in corso e ne ha parlato con i presidenti della zona, il nigeriano Mahamad Issufu, l'ivoriano Alassane Ouattara e il senegalese Macky Sall, facendo sapere che "segue da vicino la situazione e condanna il tentato ammutinamento in corso". Ma anche Onu, Ue e Unione Africana hanno chiesto l'immediato rilascio dei prigionieri. Le Nazioni Unite hanno anche convocato una riunione urgente del Consiglio di Sicurezza.

 Riproduzione riservata

(Unioneonline/L)
By PTI

KOLKATA: A senior professor of Visva-Bharati in Bengal's Birbhum district said a group of miscreants ransacked his house early on Tuesday, hours after varsity authorities decided to shut down the institute in the wake of the violent protests on its campus.

Biplab Lohachowdhury, the head of the university's journalism department, also said that he has filed a police complaint, and written to the registrar of the institute to intimate him about the incident.

A senior police officer in Birbhum said an FIR has been lodged in the case, and the matter was being looked into.

In his letter to the registrar, Lohachowdhury claimed that a group of motorbike-borne miscreants attacked his house at Simantapally in Santiniketan.

"They opened the gate, broke window panes and hurled abuses at me for supporting the university in its decision to build a fence around the Poush Mela ground," he said.

ALSO READ | Don't want any construction on Visva-Bharati University's Pous Mela ground: CM Mamata Banerjee

The professor also said that the miscreants were aware of all that had transpired during a meeting of varsity authorities on Monday, and made references to the discourses he had with others.

"I am not scared, but quite astonished at the fact that they knew about all that happened inside," he wrote.

Trouble had erupted on the Visva Bharati campus on Monday as a large number of people ransacked the university's properties, protesting against the institute's decision to construct a boundary wall around the Poush Mela ground.

Nine people were arrested following the incident, according to the police.

Varsity authorities shut down the institute indefinitely following the mayhem.

The institute however, said that the decision would not affect the admission process, examinations and other emergency services.
MEXICO CITY - At first glance, they seem like an odd couple.

Yet Turkey, a Mediterranean power that often chafes at what it calls Western interventionism, and Venezuela on the Caribbean, rich in oil and gold but in perpetual crisis and under U.S. sanctions, have a few things in common.

There is an economic relationship; the murkier aspects have attracted the scrutiny of the U.S. Treasury Department. There is solidarity in their anti-U.S. rhetoric, even if the United States is a key trading partner of Turkey. The personal relationship between the leaders of Venezuela and Turkey is warm, partly forged by mutual words of support during domestic attempts to force them from power.

The alliance was on display Tuesday when Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Caracas to sign agreements and mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

No sanctions, or blockade, or any type of situation will stop us from continuing to deepen our fundamental relationship and especially our economic and commercial relationship, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said in a joint news conference with Cavusoglu.

The Turkish diplomat, who visited the Dominican Republic and Haiti before arriving in Caracas, said his meetings in Venezuela focused on agriculture, construction, tourism, education and medical assistance. Despite the pandemic, the trade volume between Turkey and Venezuela tripled in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2019, Cavusoglu said without giving a specific figure.

We should keep going, the Turkish foreign minister said. He told Arreaza that Turkish Airlines intended to be the first carrier to restart flights to Caracas when you open your airport.

Venezuelas main international airport closed to commercial passenger traffic because of the pandemic, but the number of airlines operating there had dwindled for years as the country descended into crisis. The economy deteriorated, political conflict and human rights abuses escalated, millions fled Venezuela and U.S. sanctions virtually paralyzed its flagship but already ailing industry, oil.

Along with Russia and China, Turkey is among a small number of lifelines for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has fended off efforts by U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido to oust him. The U.S. has made it increasingly hard for those countries to do business with Venezuela, last week seizing the cargo of four tankers for allegedly transporting Iranian fuel to Venezuela. Iran said the U.S. had no right to confiscate the shipment in international waters.

The U.S. Treasury Department has also expressed concern about Venezuelan gold that it says was flown to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

From early 2018, as foreign exchange reserves dried up, Venezuela started selling gold to pay contracts, including some for a food distribution network that was exploited in a corruption scheme allegedly run by Maduro associates, the department said.

A Turkey-based company run by Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman linked to Maduros circle, purchased goods in Turkey on behalf of Venezuelan clients, marking up prices before being sold back to Venezuela, the department said last year.

Saab was arrested in June in Cape Verde while on his way to Iran and is fighting extradition to the U.S. Maduros government said the businessman was on a humanitarian mission to Iran to buy food and medical supplies.

Maduro, who peppers speeches with socialist rhetoric, says U.S. pressure amounts to a coup attempt. His personal relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took off when he quickly expressed solidarity after Erdogan survived a coup attempt by part of the Turkish military in 2016. Erdogan returned the favour when Guaido, his movement now idled, was campaigning strongly against Maduro.

Still, Turkey is operating within U.S. constraints. Last year, the major Turkish bank Ziraat stopped working with Venezuelas central bank because of American sanctions.

Hence, punitive measures by the United States that increase the cost of Turkeys relations with Venezuela could potentially push Erdogan to scale back his support for Maduro, even as he continues to criticize U.S. policy on Venezuela, wrote Imdat Oner, a former Turkish diplomat. In an analysis for the Washington-based Wilson Center, he described the relationship between Turkey and Venezuela as an alliance of convenience.

Read more about:
New cases of COVID-19 in Michigan numbered 477 on Tuesday, the second day they were under 500 and third day under 600, the state announced.

This followed two out of three days at the end of last week with the new cases topping the 1,000-mark.

The number of new confirmed cases topped 12,000 for the month of August, and the seven-day average dipped to 701 on Tuesday, its lowest mark since Wednesday, Aug. 12.

The state did report 15 new deaths tied to a COVID-19 infection, though seven deaths came from a recent review of vital records.

The update in Michigan came as the worldwide total was about to reach 22 million cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, and deaths were about to reach 776,000. The U.S. was nearing 5.5 million cases with more than 171,000 deaths. Michigan remained 18th in the nation in terms of total cases  103,402 of confirmed and probable cases  and just ahead of Maryland.

In terms of confirmed infections, Michigan has 93,661 cases and 6,340 deaths.

On Tuesday, Wayne County, excluding Detroit, added the most cases, with 90 newly confirmed cases pushing the areas total to 14,536  the zone with the most infections.

Macomb County had the next highest new number of cases, with 69 pushing the total to 11,070.

In Macomb County, Executive Mark Hackel tweeted that face masks can be obtained by residents.

Free face masks are available for Macomb County residents through the #MaskUpMichigan campaign, Hackel said, noting they are for families in need. To make a request, please reach out to @_mcaction, the Macomb Community Action, at 586-469-6999, or via MCA@macombgov.org.

Oakland County added 57 to reach 13,208, and Tuesday was likely the last day or so Oakland County trailing the city of Detroit.

Detroit added just 12 cases to reach 13,253. In recent weeks, new cases in Detroit have trended lower, generally between 20 and 30, which the suburban counties have added near or more than 100.

Also in southeastern Michigan, Washtenaw County added 10 to reach 2,348 and Genesee County added 11 to reach 3,046.

In western Michigan, Kent County added 34 to reach 7,150, the hardest hit county outside of Metro Detroit.

In the Thumb, Saginaw County added 20 cases to reach 2,078. In mid-Michigan, Isabella County added two to reach 201, while Clare County to the north added two to reach 81. Meanwhile, Gratiot County added one to reach 149.
EDWARDSVILLE  A man with a long history of stealing from banks pleaded guilty Monday to one count of identity theft and was sentenced to the 24 months he has already served in prison for other crimes.

Paul B. Pupa, 66, of Chicago, was originally charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing more than $500 from Bank of Edwardsville in Wood River. Bail in that case was set at $70,000.

He was also accused of using a fraudulent identifications card to obtain the money. That case was charged on April 3, 2018.

He was also accused of two other counts of identity theft for allegedly using bank account information of two people to obtain more than $2,000 in each case. Bail in those cases was set at $70,000. All the alleged Madison County crimes were committed on March 8, 2018.

Pupa wrote the Madison County courts several times where he was serving a sentence in the Robinson Correctional Center as a result of a previous case. He claims he was not given a speedy trial in Madison County and asked that the Madison County cases be dismissed.

Pupa has served time in prison for five different crimes in five different Illinois counties.

He was convicted of forgery in McHenry County in 2018. He was also convicted of defrauding a financial institution in May 2018 in Warren County, and convicted of forgery in DuPage County at that same time. He was also convicted of using a fictitious identifications in Cook County and convicted of theft by deception in Coles County.

In exchange for his guilty plea Monday, prosecutors allowed him to plead to one county of identify theft and dropped three other charges. Pupa told the court on Monday that he has a masters degree in electrical engineering.
On Monday, Nigeria recorded 417 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 49, 485.

Of these, more than 36, 000 have recovered and discharged after treatment in the countrys 36 states and federal capital, Abuja.

Three deaths were recorded from the virus in the past 24 hours pushing the total number of confirmed deaths from the virus to 977.

This was disclosed by the NCDC, the agency heading Nigerias national response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the dangerous pneumonia-like disease that has spread to over 200 countries, infecting more than 21 million.

According to the NCDC data, almost half of the COVID-19 cases on Monday (207) were from Lagos, Nigerias commericial nerve centre that is also the countrys epicentre for the virus.

Nigeria has been reporting daily cases below 500 for more than a month now.

The 417 new infections are from the following 17 states:

Lagos-207

Kaduna-44

Ondo-38

Abia-28

Anambra-21

Plateau-20

Bauchi-13

Oyo-9

Ebonyi-9

Delta-7

Edo-7

Enugu-6

Niger-3

Gombe-2

Ogun-1

FCT-1

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Kano-1

With more than half of the daily tally on Monday, Lagos further extended its lead on the infections tally to over 17, 000, about a third of the countrys total.

Flight Resumption

The NCDC update came barely hours after Nigerian authorities announced plans to reopen the nations airports to international flights.

Earlier on Monday at the bi-weekly Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, announced that international flights would resume on August 29.

He said the flight operations would commence in and out of two airports; the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

President Muhammad Buhari had in March ordered the suspension of international flights to curb the influx of imported cases of the COVID-19 virus in the country.

While local flights were also suspended, they resumed about a month ago as the country struggles to balance reopening its economy with fighting the deadly virus.

WHO warning

As Nigeria among other African countries begin to reopen land borders and air space, the World Health Organisation warned against a surge in imported infection.

The first coronavirus in Nigeria was imported by an Italian traveller in late February. Since then, nearly 50, 000 cases have been reported in the West African nation.

It was after reporting its first case that Nigeria suspended flights from countries with high COVID-19 transmission.

This has affected the free flow of passengers and goods, thereby having a negative impact on the countrys economy.

Some other African countries including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania and Zambia have resumed commercial flights.
Residents of a Swiss town got a bit of a shock when it started snowing particles of a fine cocoa powder after the ventilation system at a chocolate factory malfunctioned.

The Lindt & Spruengli company confirmed local reports on Tuesday that there was a minor defect in the cooling ventilation for a line for roasted cocoa nibs in its factory in Olten, between Zurich and Basel.

The nibs, fragments of crushed cocoa beans, are the basis of chocolate.

Combined with strong winds on Friday morning, the powder spread around the immediate vicinity of the factory, leaving a fine cocoa dusting.

The company says one car was lightly coated, and that it has offered to pay for any cleaning needed  but hasnt yet been taken up on the offer.

Recommended Polish motorway is covered in chocolate as tanker truck overturns

Factory production was able to continue as normal and the company says the particles were completely harmless to people or the environment.

The ventilation system has now been repaired.

AP
The former first lady, known and loved for her style which often champions small brands, delivered a speech on August 17 for the first night of the Democratic National Convention, wearing a custom-made necklace that spelled out the word vote.

During the broadcast she said: We have got to vote like we did in 2008 and 2012. We've got to show up with the same level of passion and hope for Joe Biden. We've got to vote early, in person if we can."

Along with her speech, in which she spoke about the importance of the upcoming election, calling Donald Trump the wrong president for our country, viewers were drawn to her jewellery which made a simple, yet powerful statement, and many took to Twitter to share their adoration of it.

Its a custom-made piece made by a Black-owned, Los Angeles-based jewellery brand ByChari, that was founded by designer Chari Cuthbert and launched in 2012.

The female-run company makes handmade pieces in minimal, stylish designs that can be worn every day, and can also be shipped to the UK.

The original spaced letter necklace Obama wore is made in two sizes, small and large, and comes in 14k yellow, rose, or white gold and you can customise your own style using up to 10 letters. According to the ByChari website, production for a custom made necklace will take three to four weeks.

You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

Spelling out the word 'vote', Michelle Obama's necklace was a call to action (ByChari)

The large necklace costs 295 and the small style is 220, but if you want to make even more of a statement, you can also get the diamond version for 665, which has encrusted letters that can be mixed and matched with a gold necklace.

If you wanted to get your hands on your own letter necklace, weve picked four similar styles to shop now.

Suetables

This Katelyn custom letter necklace (Suetables, 220.27) is a Canadian-based brand that also makes delicate pieces that are easy to wear. It also ships to the UK too.

Decorate your decolletage with this dainty letter necklace (Suetables)

Even Meghan Markle is a fan, having worn two zodiac charm necklaces from the brand, representing her son Archies zodiac symbol, Taurus and husband Harrys, Virgo, for an appearance on "Good Morning America" in April this year.

Its letter necklace style is made in white gold, yellow gold, rose gold and sterling silver, which can be decorated with up to seven letters of your choice.

Made in Toronto, wed recommend snapping it up now as production also takes three to four weeks.

Etsy

Dont worry if you dont have the budget for either of the above necklaces, as Etsy has much more affordbale options, like this initial name necklace (Etsy, from 15.89).

You can also add in symbols as well as letters with this design (Etsy)

Pick from gold, silver or rose gold for the chain and letters, and you can pick up to nine letters, and also include symbols such as a heart, hashtag, ampersand (&) or a cross.

Depending on how long you want it to hang, its available in a 14, 18, 18 or 20-inch chain.

If you want to play with fonts, this space letter necklace (Etsy, 16.99) offers a slightly different take on the popular style.

You don't need to break the bank to copy Michelle Obama's style (Etsy)

It also offers the option of up to nine letters to spell out your word of choice and is available in gold, silver and rose gold on a cable style chain.

Adinas Jewels

Available in silver or gold, this block name necklace (Adinas Jewels, 136) will allow you to emulate Obamas style for around half the price, and the clear cubic zirconia stones in each letter emulates the look of diamonds without the hefty price tag.

Update your jewellery wardrobe with this cubic zirconia necklace (Adina's Jewels)

The chain is made from sterling silver and coated with gold vermeil and is 16.5 inches in length.

You can pick a maximum of eight letters, all in uppercase block letters to decorate your chain with, whether you want it to feature your name, or take inspiration from the former first lady and create a call to action on yours.

IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing.
Second Quarter 2020 Net Loss of $396,000 ($0.11 loss per diluted share) v. Net Income of $584,000 ($0.16 per diluted share) in Prior Year Period

Second Quarter 2020 EBITDA, As Adjusted was a loss of $324,000 ($0.09 loss per diluted share) v. earnings of $630,000 ($0.18 per diluted share) in Prior Year Period

Six Months 2020 Net Loss of $376,000 ($0.11 loss per diluted share) v. Net Income of $654,000 ($0.18 per diluted share) in Prior Year Period

Six months 2020 EBITDA, As Adjusted was a loss of $238,000 ($0.07 loss per diluted share) v. earnings of $751,000 ($0.21 per diluted share) in Prior Year Period

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hauppauge, New York, August 18, 2020 - Orbit International Corp. (OTC PINK:ORBT) today announced results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2020.

Second Quarter 2020 vs. Second Quarter 2019

Net sales were $5,765,000, as compared to $6,911,000.

Gross margin was 18.8%, as compared to 32.4%.

Net loss was $396,000 ($0.11 loss per diluted share), as compared to a net income of $584,000 ($0.16 per diluted share).

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, fair value adjustment on contingent liability and stock-based compensation (EBITDA, as adjusted) was a loss of $324,000 ($0.09 loss per diluted share), as compared to EBITDA of $630,000 ($0.18 per diluted share).

Six Months 2020 vs. Six Months 2019

Net sales were $11,617,000, as compared to $13,403,000.

Gross margin was 24.6%, as compared to 29.3%.

Net loss was $376,000 ($0.11 loss per diluted share), as compared to net income of $654,000 ($0.18 per diluted share).

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, fair value adjustment on contingent liability and stock-based compensation (EBITDA, as adjusted) was a loss of $238,000 ($0.07 loss per diluted share), as compared to EBITDA of $751,000 ($0.21 per diluted share).

Backlog at June 30, 2020 was $21.8 million as compared to $21.9 million at March 31, 2020 and $20.8 at December 31, 2019.

Mitchell Binder, President and CEO of Orbit International Corp. commented, Our net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $376,000 compared to net income of $654,000 from the prior comparable period. Our loss for the current period was a result of an anticipated reduction in productivity and a corresponding reduction in sales during the current second quarter, as a result of changes we made to our manufacturing operation in response to the PAUSE executive order issued by the Governor of New York State to safeguard the health and safety of our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes included the implementation of split shifts which had the effect of reducing hours by our manufacturing employees and support personnel. In addition, we closed our facility for several days in April to keep our employees home during the height of the pandemic in New York State. Despite the reduced hours worked, we maintained compensation levels for all our employees during the period. Consequently, our low gross margin is reflective of these inefficiencies that began at the end of the first quarter and continued though substantially all of the second quarter. Beginning in June 2020, we continued with our split shifts but returned to our normal working hours and we expect our efficiencies to improve during the remainder of the year barring any unforeseen circumstances related to the pandemic.

Mr. Binder continued, In particular, our reduction in productivity led to a reduction in sales in the current year second quarter from our Orbit Electronics Group (OEG) as compared to the first quarter. This reduction in sales was slightly mitigated by increased sales from our Orbit Power Group (OPG) during the current quarter due to an increase in the shipment of CAATS units. As previously mentioned, CAATS units have a lower gross margin than our other products. In addition, sales from both the OEG and OPG decreased during the current six months ending June 30, 2020 as compared to the prior comparable period. Finally, also because of the pandemic, our selling, general and administrative costs decreased during the quarter due to decreased selling costs as well as the cancellation of all trade shows. We expect these decreased costs will continue into the third quarter and possibly through the end of the year.

Mr. Binder added, On May 5, 2020, we announced that we closed on a $1,606,000 loan (Loan) from Peoples United Bank under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act). Under the terms of the CARES Act, PPP loan recipients can apply for and be granted forgiveness for all or a portion of such loans based on the use of such loan proceeds for payment of payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent and utilities. As previously mentioned, we have made several changes throughout our organization to deal with the health and safety of our employees and productivity has suffered as a result. In addition, bookings and revenue have been impacted, particularly at our OPGs commercial division, whose customer base has been especially hurt by the pandemic, and Q-Vio, which is also experiencing delays for most of its commercial and industrial opportunities. Despite these challenges, the PPP Loan has enabled us to preserve our workforce with full employment and will hopefully mitigate the impact resulting from the inefficiencies created by the pandemic.

Mr. Binder continued, Our backlog at June 30, 2020 was approximately $21,824,000 compared to approximately $20,834,000 at December 31, 2019, an increase of 4.8% . The increase in backlog from year-end of $990,000 was obtained despite a decrease in CAATS backlog in excess of $2,500,000.

David Goldman, Chief Financial Officer, noted, At June 30, 2020, our cash and cash equivalents aggregated approximately $4.4 million, an increase of $1,611,000 as compared to the cash balance at March 31, 2020. This increase was primarily related to the receipt of our PPP loan during the current quarter. Our tangible book value per share at June 30, 2020 was $4.41 which compares to $4.52 at March 31, 2020 and $4.57 at December 31, 2019 (Note: tangible book value per share does not include any additional value for our remaining reserved deferred tax asset) To offset future federal and state taxes resulting from profits, we have approximately $9.0 million and $0.7 million in available federal and New York State net operating loss carryforwards, respectively.

Mr. Binder concluded, Because our revenue is tied to the delivery schedules specified in our contracts, it often is difficult to judge our performance on a quarterly basis. We endured a very difficult period beginning in mid-March that lasted through most of the second quarter. During that timeframe, when it became evident that the pandemic was going to affect our business, our Board of Directors decided to suspend our share repurchase program as well as our future quarterly dividend payments. It remains very difficult to predict the full extent of what the short and long-term impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our business. Like many companies throughout the world, our operating performance suffered. With the receipt of the PPP loan and barring any further adverse effects of COVID-19, we believe that our financial condition will not be adversely affected, our efficiencies will be restored in the second half of 2020 and, based on our delivery schedules, revenue and operating performance should improve.

Orbit International Corp., through its Electronics Group including its new Q-Vio subsidiary, is involved in the development and manufacture of custom electronic device and subsystem solutions for military, industrial and commercial applications through its production facility in Hauppauge, New York. Orbits Power Group, also located in Hauppauge, NY, designs and manufactures a wide array of power products including AC power supplies, frequency converters, inverters, uninterruptible power supplies, VME/VPX power supplies as well as various COTS power sources. The Company also has a sales office in Bradenton, FL.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. The Company was classified as an essential business by New York State and therefore was exempt from the states mandate that all non-essential businesses close their business locations until further notice. In addition, as a member of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), the Company is mandated by the Secretary of Defense to continue to provide the essential products and services required to meet national security commitments to the Federal Government and the U.S. Military. The Company remains open while following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to best protect our employees. At this time, the length and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic is still unknown.

Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company including, statements regarding our expectations of Orbits operating plans, deliveries under contracts and strategies generally; statements regarding our expectations of the performance of our business; expectations regarding costs and revenues, future operating results, additional orders, future business opportunities and continued growth, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Federal securities laws. Although Orbit believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved.

Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond Orbit International's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact Orbit International and the statements contained in this news release can be found in Orbit's reports posted with the OTC Disclosure and News service. For forward-looking statements in this news release, Orbit claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Orbit assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT

David Goldman

Chief Financial Officer

631-435-8300

(See Accompanying Tables)





Orbit International Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share data)



Three Months Ended

June 30,



Six Months Ended

June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net sales $ 5,765 $ 6,911 $ 11,617 $ 13,403 Cost of sales 4,681 4,671 8,760 9,474 Gross profit 1,084 2,240 2,857 3,929 Selling general and administrative 1,432 1,658 3,149 3,269 expenses Interest expense 3 - 3 - Investment and other expense (income) 30 (13 ) 52 (24 ) (Loss) income before taxes (381 ) 595 (347 ) 684 Income tax provision 15 11 29 30 Net (loss) income $ (396 ) $ 584 $ (376 ) $ 654 Basic (loss) earnings per share $ (0.11 ) $ 0.16 $ (0.11 ) $ 0.18 Diluted (loss) earnings per share $ (0.11 ) $ 0.16 $ (0.11 ) $ 0.18 Weighted average number of shares outstanding: Basic 3,511 3,551 3,517 3,552 Diluted 3,511 3,556 3,517 3,557



Orbit International Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended

June 30,



Six Months Ended

June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 EBITDA (as adjusted) Reconciliation Net (loss) income $ (396 ) $ 584 $ (376 ) $ 654 Interest expense 3 - 3 - Income tax expense 15 11 29 30 Depreciation and amortization 23 24 46 45 Fair value adj-contingent liability 31 - 60 - Stock-based compensation - 11 - 22 EBITDA (as adjusted) (1) $ (324 ) $ 630 $ (238 ) $ 751 EBITDA (as adjusted) Per Diluted Share Reconciliation Net (loss) income $ (0.11 ) $ 0.16 $ (0.11 ) $ 0.18 Interest expense 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Income tax expense 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 Depreciation and amortization 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 Fair value adj-contingent liability 0.01 - 0.02 - Stock-based compensation - 0.01 - 0.01 EBITDA (as adjusted), per diluted share (1) $ (0.09 ) $ 0.18 $ (0.07 ) $ 0.21





(1) The EBITDA (as adjusted) tables presented are not determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management uses EBITDA (as adjusted) to evaluate the operating performance of its business. It is also used, at times, by some investors, securities analysts and others to evaluate companies and make informed business decisions. EBITDA (as adjusted) is also a useful indicator of the income generated to service debt. EBITDA (as adjusted) is not a complete measure of an entity's profitability because it does not include costs and expenses for interest, depreciation and amortization, income taxes and stock-based compensation. EBITDA (as adjusted) as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly named measures reported by other companies.





Six Months Ended

June 30, Reconciliation of EBITDA, as adjusted,

to cash flows used in operating activities (1)

2020

2019 EBITDA (as adjusted) $ (238 ) $ 751 Interest Expense (3 ) - Income tax expense (29 ) (30 ) Fair value adj-contingent liability (60 ) - Net change in operating assets and liabilities 74 (1,397 ) Cash flows used in operating activities $ (256 ) $ (676 )



Orbit International Corp.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

June 30, 2020

(unaudited) December 31, 2019





ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,379,000 $ 3,569,000 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts 3,114,000 2,851,000 Inventories 10,798,000 10,542,000 Contract assets 621,000 632,000 Income tax receivable - 306,000 Other current assets 366,000 265,000 Total current assets 19,278,000 18,165,000 Property and equipment, net 367,000 273,000 Right of use assets, operating leases 715,000 923,000 Goodwill 905,000 905,000 Deferred tax asset 834,000 834,000 Other assets 31,000 31,000 Total assets $ 22,130,000 $ 21,131,000 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 1,895,000 $ 1,436,000 Accrued expenses 888,000 919,000 Notes payable, PPP loan 714,000 - Lease liabilities, operating leases

Contingent liability 465,000

174,000 453,000

148,000 Dividend payable - 36,000 Customer advances 131,000 225,000 Total current liabilities 4,267,000 3,217,000 Notes payable, PPP loan, net of current portion 892,000 - Contingent liability, net of current portion

Lease liabilities, operating leases 301,000

296,000 268,000

531,000 Total liabilities 5,756,000 4,016,000 Stockholders Equity Common stock 361,000 361,000 Additional paid-in capital 17,667,000 17,667,000 Treasury stock (569,000 ) (380,000 ) Accumulated deficit (1,085,000 ) (533,000 ) Stockholders equity 16,374,000 17,115,000 Total liabilities and stockholders equity $ 22,130,000 $ 21,131,000




The launch of the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Israel is critical, the official believes.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna says Ukraine is ready to guarantee uninterrupted supplies of food and raw materials to other countries, as well as to expand exports of agricultural products to Israel against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We understand that the spread of coronavirus around the world has a negative impact on the global economy. That is why today we should look for common ways to intensify economic and investment cooperation between our countries," the Cabinet's press service quoted Stefanishyna as saying on August 17.

In these circumstances, the launch of the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Israel is critical, according to the official.

"At that, we reaffirm our readiness for further cooperation in the agricultural sector with Israel and the sustainable export of Ukrainian agricultural products to the Israeli market," Stefanishyna added.

"We reaffirm our readiness for further cooperation in the agricultural sector with Israel"

WTO statement

In April 2020, Ukraine supported a statement made by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on ensuring open and predictable trade in agricultural and food products during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ukraine-Israel FTA developments
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) questioned two BBMP corporators, including a former mayor, for more than five hours on Tuesday over the riots that broke out in DJ Halli and KG Halli on August 11.

R Sampath Raj, DJ Halli (ward 47) corporator and a former mayor, and Abdul Rakeeb Zakir, the corporator of Pulakeshinagar (ward 78), appeared at the CCB headquarters after being served notices on Monday to appear for questioning over their suspected involvement in fanning the riots, police said. The notices were served after the CCB detained Sampaths nephew and personal assistant Arun.

Sampath is suspected to have called up some members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) from Aruns phone. Police believe the riots were orchestrated by the SDPI. A senior police officer said that Sampath was expecting the Congress ticket from the Pulakeshinagar assembly constituency in the 2018 election, but the party fielded R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, who had come from the JD(S).

In the same elections, Sampath contested from CV Raman Nagar but lost to the BJP candidate. He thought he had a better chance in Pulakeshinagar and harboured differences with Akhanda. The riots were triggered by an offensive post uploaded to Facebook by Akhandas nephew, P Naveen.

Sampath and Zakir showed up at the CCB headquarters around 10.20 am and left around 4.30 pm. Investigators havent yet ruled out their involvement in the violent protests. CCB sleuths seized the corporators phones but gave them SIM cards. The phones have been sent for forensic analysis. The cops want to determine if they had deleted anything.

A senior CCB officer suggested that the corporators didnt give satisfactory answers to the questioned posed to them. While Sampath was interrogated by Assistant Commissioner of Police Gautham, Zakir was grilled by ACP, Jagannath Rai. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime-2) K P Ravi Kumar, too, questioned them. The corporators may be called again for questioning once their phones are back fro the forensic analysis.

Speaking to newspersons, the corporators claimed they were innocent. They said they had answered all the questions asked by the CCB officers and that they had nothing to with the riots.
17.08.2020 LISTEN

The new normal has exacerbated the need to speed up digitalization in Ghanas financial services industry. The World Bank opines that access to less expensive financial service is crucial in reducing poverty and boosting economic growth and this has become more critical as Covid-19 pandemic lingers.

More so, the financing needs for millions of formal and informal Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in developing economies amounts to almost USD $8.1 trillion or about 40% of GDP while about a fifth of adults in developing economies are saving through a formal financial institution compared to more than half in high-income Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) economies.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, 21% of adult population own a mobile money account and can access financial services such as digital lending and insurance.

In Ghana, the MSMEs contribute about 70% to GDP and account for about 92% of businesses according to the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER). Access to affordable credit remains one of the bottlenecks for MSMEs and hinders their productive capacity and makes them uncompetitive. To respond to the myriad of challenges facing MSMEs including access to finance, the government has established the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) and Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) among others to boost growth in the sector. These institutions have since deployed Digital Financial Services (DFS) enabled by Fintechs and Telecommunications companies to lower cost, increase speed, security, transparency and allow for more tailored financial services that serve the individuals and businesses.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to negatively impact businesses and livelihoods, DFS can strengthen accountability, improve the efficiency of disbursement and eventually evaluate the impact of government interventions. On 19th May, 2020, President Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo launched a GH 600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) Business Support Scheme (BSS) which is intended to cushion these businesses in the midst of the pandemic.

The government in its 2020 Mid-Year Budget review added GH 150 million to the scheme. At present, CAP funds are disbursed through Vodafone cash-a mobile money platform. Despite the enormous benefits of DFS, it comes with its risks which include, data privacy, unauthorized disclosure, misuse of personal data and hacking.

The use of Application Programming Interface (API) has become paramount in the financial services industry; an API is a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. Open API developments have allowed DFS providers to access data from different public and private systems to improve the speed and reduce the cost of providing DFS without compromising safety and reliability.

In my bid to explore the DFS industry, I posed these questions to Pngme-a unified financial data API provider.

What role can Pngme play in setting and maintaining API standards in Ghana?

Last month, Pngme joined Open Banking Nigeria, a not-for-profit initiative that is building a set of open APIs standards for the Nigerian financial services industry. As a member of Open Banking Nigeria, Pngme plays an important role in the design of sandbox environments, data types, authentication, expansion types, and other testing tools. In Ghana, the company plans to play a similar role by collaborating with banks, other financial institutions, and critical regulatory stakeholders to develop common API standards and promote the adoption of Open Banking . Open banking will play a critical part in furthering financial inclusion throughout Ghana.

What services does Pngme offer?

Pngme is the unified financial data API for financial institutions and developers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company gives financial institutions and developers the tools they need to create innovative products for their users. Pngme simplifies traditional and non-traditional financial data that can be accessed through the companys APIs. The company has a suite of developer tools that enable financial institutions and developers to access a single source of truth on new and existing users and develop innovative financial products that reach more individuals and businesses.

The company was founded in 2018 with the goal of providing developers and financial institutions with access to best-in-class financial data infrastructure. The company lowers the risk of investing in and adopting financial data infrastructure technology, often the most costly part of developing innovative financial products and serving new customer segments. Pngme believes, that access to user-permissioned financial data is paramount in order to close the $5.2 trillion dollar finance gap affecting 200 million MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises) globally, and Pngmes platform can help close that gap. Open Banking standards are a critical piece of that financial data infrastructure.

What will be the impact of API on Ghanas financial services industry?

As banks and financial institutions expand into branchless banking in Ghana, open banking API platforms that leverage traditional and alternative data can help lower the risk of lending and allow the financial service industry to reach more credit-worthy customers. Based on early results, Pngme has been able to build a more transparent and cost-effective financial data collection pipeline, increasing the quantity of qualified borrowers an institution is able to serve. It is the firm believe of the company that, the API economy will have a positive impact on Ghanas financial service industry and will enable institutions to efficiently assess their borrowers credit risk profiles, price borrowers loans more accurately, scale their loan disbursement functions, and develop innovative products to better serve their customers.

What will be the ideal regulatory framework in the API industry?

Pngme believes that, a well-established regulatory frameworks are important in reaping the full potential of such platforms. In Ghana, building these frameworks will require public and private collaboration so that financial institutions can better use APIs to broaden and enhance their services, increase automation, and strengthen security at scale. Based on our interactions with Open Banking Nigeria, which would be transferable in the case with Ghana, setting up certifications are an integral part of a regulatory framework as this would allow application or services to be built in accordance with published API specification and create efficiencies across the ecosystem.

How secure will data be on PNGMEs platform?

Pngmes platform leverages unique sources of consumer financial data to optimize the lending products and services of its customers. As the platform relies on user-permissioned data, Pngme takes privacy and security measures to ensure full compliance with local regulations that govern the collection, management, storage, and training of consumer data in all jurisdictions in which the companys customers and partners reside.

The company has taken a proactive approach to compliance, which has involved conducting an in-depth review of the regulatory environments in all of the countries of operation. In Ghana, the team has conducted a legal analysis of legislative articles in areas of financial and personal data protection to build a data management infrastructure to incorporate the highest standards of data privacy and security imposed by regulators.

Pngmes API platform includes a multi-tiered approach to protecting a users data. As data is collected, it is stored in an encrypted environment and secured by a layer of authentication mechanisms. Hence, when a partner authenticates within the system when using the API, they are able to only view data from users they are authorized to see. This multi-pronged approach helps maintain privacy for the user and ensure appropriate compliance.

In conclusion, the time is ripe for Ghana to speed up digitalization in the financial services industry. The cleaning up of the financial sector which commenced in 2017 has positioned the industry to adopt new technologies to spur growth. Regulatory bodies, players, and other stakeholders in the value chain should position themselves to embrace API to deepen financial inclusion in the country whiles bridging funding gap in the MSMEs sector.

Author

Emmanuel Amoah-Darkwah

[email protected]
Monday, August 17, 2020 at 9:40PM

Embed from Getty Images

In the ongoing battle between Epic Games and Apple, the developer said that Apple has threatened to cut it out of the App Store entirely by revoking its developer account. The move will mean Epic can no longer make apps for Apple, which means it will lose access to iOS users. According to the developer, Apple has given Epic until August 28 before it removes its developer accounts, which also means they can't publish updates to current apps on the store.

On top of that, Epic makes the Unreal Engine software that many iPhone and Android games use to add realistic graphics and physics to their titles. The company seeks an injunction to "preserve the status quo" and allow Epic to continue to sell apps, including Fortnite, on the Apple App Store. Epic claims Apple's move to revoke its accounts represents an "existential threat" to Unreal Engine, and that the company is "attacking Epic's entire business in unrelated areas."

"Then when Epic sued Apple to break its monopoly on app stores and in-app payments, Apple retaliated ferociously," Epic Games lawyers wrote in a Monday filing. "It told Epic that by August 28, Apple will cut off Epic's access to all development tools necessary to create software for Apple's platformsincluding for the Unreal Engine Epic offers to third-party developers, which Apple has never claimed violated any Apple policy."

The escalation of this legal battle began a week before when Epic released a new direct payment mechanism for Fortnite designed to bypass Apple's payment system, which the company says is against its policy. Epic did the same with Google and sued the company when it pulled Fortnite out of the Play Store.

Source: CNBC
CHICAGO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), one of the world's largest exchange holding companies, announced the successful launch of its Mini Cboe Volatility Index futures, which began trading on Cboe Futures Exchange (CFE) on Sunday, August 9 at 5:00 p.m. CT with the opening of CFE's global trading hours session.

Trading volume in the new Mini VIX futures contract (ticker symbol: VXM) totaled nearly 127,000 contracts during the first week. The launch of the new product was off to a strong start, with more than 25,000 total contracts traded on Monday, August 10 and trading continued to be active throughout the week, reaching a high mark of more than 32,000 total contracts on Friday, August 14. Approximately 23,000 contracts, or 18% of total volume traded in the week, occurred during CFE's global extended trading hours.

Trading Day Global Trading Hours Volume Regular Trading Hours Volume Total Volume Monday, August 10 4,800 20,331 25,131 Tuesday, August 11 2,126 13,888 16,014 Wednesday, August 12 6,459 16,034 22,493 Thursday, August 13 3,693 27,128 30,821 Friday, August 14 6,018 26,457 32,475

Arianne Criqui, Head of Derivatives and Global Client Services at Cboe Global Markets, said: "We are pleased with the successful launch of Mini VIX futures and encouraged by the strong customer participation we've seen early on. Trading volume has been solid and market quality  in the form of liquidity and tight spreads  has been excellent, reflecting the demand from market participants for additional tools tracking the VIX Index to gain broad market volatility exposure. Our customers have long turned to VIX futures as the preferred volatility management tool, and we believe the manageably sized, cost-effective Mini VIX futures could gain similar traction among a broad base of investors."

CFE's new Mini VIX futures contract shares the same contract terms as the standard VIX futures contract, but is 1/10th the size of the standard contract. The design of the mini contract provides similar utility as the standard contract, but its smaller size requires less capital to achieve the same exposure. Additionally, Mini VIX futures provide investors additional flexibility and precision in volatility risk management.

With the launch of the new smaller sized contract, Cboe aims to meet investor demand for a wider variety of tools to gain direct exposure to the VIX Index, as well as the growing interest in small-sized contracts for derivatives trading. The new contract builds on the success of VIX futures and further expands Cboe's suite of volatility products, offering new trading opportunities for market participants to construct their own views on volatility or to tailor their own volatility strategies using Mini VIX futures.

The utility of the Mini VIX futures contract is expected to appeal to a broad set of market participants, including Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs), Futures Commission Merchants (FCMs), proprietary trading firms, institutional investors and sophisticated retail investors, and may provide opportunities to hedge a portfolio, employ strategies in an effort to generate returns from relative pricing differences, or express a bullish, bearish or neutral outlook for broad market implied volatility.

Introduced by CFE in 2004, VIX futures (ticker symbol: VX) provide market participants with opportunities to trade their view of the future direction of the expected volatility of the S&P 500 Index. VIX futures also help enable market participants to trade a liquid volatility product based directly on the VIX Index, helping them manage risk, generate alpha or diversify a portfolio. VIX futures are designed to reflect the market's estimate of the value of the VIX Index on various expiration dates in the future, thus providing market participants with a variety of opportunities to implement their views using volatility trading strategies. Since their launch in 2004, a total of 491.1 million VIX futures contracts have traded at CFE1.

In the coming months, Cboe expects to provide a Mini VIX futures user guide and to host webinars about Mini VIX futures. For additional information on CFE's Mini VIX futures, including contract specifications, potential strategies and product disclosure, visit: www.cboe.com/vixfutures.

About Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE) is one of the world's largest exchange holding companies, offering cutting-edge trading and investment solutions to investors around the world. The company is committed to defining markets to benefit its participants and drive the global marketplace forward through product innovation, leading edge technology and seamless trading solutions.

The company offers trading across a diverse range of products in multiple asset classes and geographies, including options, futures, U.S., Canadian and European equities, exchange-traded products (ETPs), global foreign exchange (FX) and volatility products based on the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX Index), recognized as the world's premier gauge of U.S. equity market volatility.

Cboe's subsidiaries include the largest options exchange and the third largest stock exchange operator in the U.S. In addition, the company operates one of the largest stock exchanges by value traded in Europe and is a leading market globally for ETP listings and trading.

The company is headquartered in Chicago with a network of domestic and global offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia, including main hubs in New York, London, Kansas City and Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.cboe.com.

CBOE-C

CBOE-EF

Cboe, Cboe Volatility Index, CFE, and VIX are registered trademarks and Cboe Global MarketsSM and Cboe Futures ExchangeSM and Mini VIXSM are service marks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. Standard & Poor's, S&P, and S&P 500 are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC, and have been licensed for use by Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

It is important for market participants to understand the following before trading Mini VIX futures: Mini VIX futures are complicated financial products that are suitable only for sophisticated market participants. Mini VIX futures involve the risk of loss, which can be substantial and can exceed the amount of money deposited for the futures position. Market participants should put at risk only funds that they can afford to lose without affecting their lifestyles. Before transacting in Mini VIX futures, market participants should fully inform themselves about the characteristics and risks of Mini VIX futures, including in particular those described at www.Cboe.com/MiniVIX. Mini VIX futures market participants also should make sure they understand the product specifications and the methodologies for calculating the underlying VIX Index and the settlement values for Mini VIX futures.

Futures trading is not suitable for all investors and involves the risk of loss. That risk of loss can be substantial and can exceed the amount of money deposited for a futures position. You should, therefore, carefully consider whether futures trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances and financial resources. You should put at risk only funds that you can afford to lose without affecting your lifestyle. For additional information regarding futures trading risks, see the Risk Disclosure Statement in Appendix A to CFTC Regulation 1.55(c).

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates do not recommend or make any representation as to possible benefits from any securities, futures or investments, or third-party products or services. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. is not affiliated with S&P. Investors should undertake their own due diligence regarding their securities, futures and investment practices. This press release speaks only as of this date. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. disclaims any duty to update the information herein. Nothing in this announcement should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any securities or futures in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this communication constitutes tax, legal or investment advice. Investors must consult their tax adviser or legal counsel for advice and information concerning their particular situation.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, make no warranty, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, any warranties as of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, completeness or timeliness, the results to be obtained by recipients of the products and services described herein, or as to the ability of the S&P 500 index to track the performance of its strategy, and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies or errors. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates have not calculated, composed or determined the constituents or weightings of the securities that comprise the S&P 500 index and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies or errors.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.

1Through August 17, 2020

SOURCE Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Related Links

www.cboe.com


Night and weekend curfew in Jammu and Kashmir 2022: Know guidelines, rules: What is allowed, what is not

J&K operation: Security forces kill 3rd militant, an LeT 'commander' who shot dead BJP leader Bari

India

pti-Deepika S

Srinagar, Aug 18: Security forces on Tuesday gunned down a third militant, a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) ''commander'' who was involved in the killing of BJP leader Waseem Bari in July, in Jammu and Kashmir''s Baramulla district in their operation carried out after ultras shot dead two CRPF jawans and a policeman on Monday, officials said.

The militant has been identified as Usman, a foreigner and a commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), police officials said.

The three militants have been killed in the encounter that took place on Monday in the orchards area of Kreeri in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, they said.

Two Army jawans, who were injured on Monday in the gun fight, have also succumbed to the injuries, they said.

The encounter began after the LeT militants carried out the attack on a naka party of the forces at Kreeri which left two CRPF jawans and a Special Police Officer (SPO) of Jammu and Kashmir policeman dead.

Alert security forces avert major tragedy in Jammu and Kashmir

Immediately after the attack, the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. They chased the ultras and killed two of them including Sajad Haider -- a top commander of the LeT outfit in north Kashmir.

SSR death probe: Rhea Chakraborty makes sensational claim | Oneindia News

Incriminating materials including two AK rifles and three pistols were recovered from the site of the encounter, they said.

The police said Haider and Usman were both top commanders of the outfit and Usman was involved in the killing of BJP leader Bari and his father and brother in July this year.
Representational picture

The Parliamentary standing committee on labour was informed that many states such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Chhattishgarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are yet to come on board the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' mechanism.

While 24 states and Union Territories are already on board, 12 are yet to extend support. Some states have sought the co-existence of the hybrid system, under which a ration card holder is entitled to lift his/her share using either the old or new system. But other states want improved internet connectivity before the system is rolled out, The Financial Express reported.

"West Bengal has not opted for the One Nation, One Ration Card mechanism. Chhattisgarh has also complained about the connectivity issue. A number of other states have also said that connectivity is not smooth in their respective states," panel chairman Bhartruhari Mahtab said.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Track this blog for all the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic

The Centre had earlier said by March 31, 2021, all states will be added to the scheme.

The One Nation, One Ration Card is a central government initiative that would allow eligible beneficiaries to avail food grains they are entitled to, under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country. They would be able to do so without the need to obtain a new ration card for the new location.

"The government aims to achieve 100 percent coverage by March 2021," the Finance Minister said.

Ration card holders, who are eligible for subsidised food grains, can buy up to 5 kgs of rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grains at Rs 1/kg per month as mandated under the National Food Security Act passed in 2013.
Four of the five Churchlands Senior High School students who bashed a man so severely he was put in an induced coma will spend their first night in detention after being sentenced on Tuesday.

The boys spotted Matthew Henson, who they suspected had stolen shoes from a friend, on a bus heading to Stirling train station about 1.30pm on February 13.

Matthew Henson sustained severe head injuries and was placed in an induced coma .

Formulating a plan to "get back at him", the boys followed the victim to the train platform, where one of them ran up behind him and fly-kicked him.

Mr Henson fell face-first onto the platform, with the group of boys kicking and stomping on his face and head. One of the boys then stole Mr Henson's shoes, while another removed a bag from his unconscious body.
Ronan Lynch runs The Swan Bar, which has been closed for five months, on Aungier Street

A Dublin publican whose premises has been closed for more than five months has labelled the scenes witnessed in Berlin D2 over the weekend as "absolutely appalling".

Ronan Lynch, who runs The Swan Bar on Aungier Street, has voiced his anger at the blatant disregard for public safety at an event that happened in the Dame Lane restaurant on Saturday afternoon.

"I've been a publican since I was 26, I'm a third-generation publican but it's been in the family since 1937.

Messing

"The day I got my licence, my dad turned around to me and said, 'from here on in, you've got to run this pub in a responsible manner - no messing'.

"I've been closed for five months now and seeing something like that, where there's a total disregard for the people on the premises, is hard to see.

"That's not what the majority of publicans do. I've never seeing anything like that in any pub I've ever been in.

"I just don't get it and in the current climate, it's totally irresponsible."

He said for those 3,500 publicans who remain closed due to Covid regulations, the hedonistic scenes sent out entirely the wrong message, especially given the hard work that has been done to try to reopen those businesses.

Berlin D2 is not a licensed premises, but does hold a restaurant licence.

"There are guys all over Ireland running little country pubs in towns and villages that are still closed, they're all doing the best that they can and this is absolutely disgraceful," he continued.

"To see this kind of carry on when they're all closed is unacceptable. To run your business in that manner is bananas."

He said the nature of the event showed a "cavalier disregard" for what the Government was trying to achieve during the crisis. "That model in the current environment is just disgraceful," he continued.

He said there was "real frustration" among publicans whose businesses have been forced to stay closed, with real fears now that the Government will not let them reopen at the end of the month as they make schools a priority.

Challenging

Mr Lynch, who's also Chairman of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), is running a #supportnotsympathy campaign with the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) calling on the Government for meaningful subsidy packages as the bills need to be paid.

"It's just going to be really challenging," he said.

"There's no tourists or office workers in town and things are only half open."

He said more support is needed for publicans whose mortgage moratoriums will come to an end soon and who are facing into a tough winter.
On a phone call, President Vladimir Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed recent issues as well as the ongoing situation in Libya writes Asharq Al-Awsat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the conflicts in Libya and Syria in a telephone call on Monday.

The Kremlin said that the two leaders, focused mainly on the crisis in Libya, where they back opposing sides, highlighting the need to make real steps towards a sustainable ceasefire.

The Turkish presidency said Putin and Erdogan also discussed a dispute between Turkey and Greece over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, saying they emphasized the importance of continuing close cooperation and dialogue.

The Kremlin said they agreed to step up anti-terrorism efforts in Syria, after reports on Monday that a Turkish-Russian joint patrol was hit by a blast in the Idlib region. The Turkish presidency said Putin and Erdogan agreed to continue dialogue through diplomatic and military channel on Syria.

The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
American is running 14 cargo-only domestic flights, including several from DFW to Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Kahului in Hawaii. All of the cargo-only flights will be on Americans widebody Boeing 777 and 787 jets.

Cargo traffic only goes so far to help American recover from dismal traffic numbers. Thats because airlines are actually losing cargo revenue. Despite hundreds of cargo-only flights between April and June, Americans cargo revenue dropped by 41% in the second quarter.

Thats because those normal passenger flights are often loading up with cargo, such as U.S. mail and other shipments.

Its not a problem specific to American.

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics said international air cargo shipments were down 5% in June compared to the year before. The drop was the biggest in flights between the U.S. and Europe. Most travel between the U.S. and Europe has been shut down by a combination of government restrictions and a lack of demand from consumers.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A man shot in the chest last weekend on Syracuses South Side is expected to survive, police said.

The 23-year-old man was shot Sunday evening in the 3200 block of South Salina Street. He was rushed to Upstate University Hospital in critical condition.

The man is now expected to survive, said Sgt. Matthew Malinowski, Syracuse Police Department spokesman, on Monday.

The shooting was reported at 8:16 p.m. Sunday. Police, the Syracuse Fire Department and American Medical Response responded.

Police have asked anyone with information about the shooting to call (315) 442-5222 or use the Syracuse PD tips app.

Staff writer Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com.
On May 22 a single zebra mussel was found in Candlewood Lake  the first of its kind to have been sighted in our waters and, worst case, possibly the precursor of others in hiding, as has been the experience of literally thousands of water bodies across our nation. Without the serious and committed engagement of our boating public, municipal leaders, legislative representatives, and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, it can yield devastating results. Hence, our common challenge: Will this single mussel finding provide the accelerant to become Candlewoods watershed moment as we seriously commit to fending off these dangerous pillagers?

I monitor the online press daily to stay abreast of zebra and quagga mussel developments nationally  their inroads into our lakes and rivers, state and local attempts at preventing and controlling their spread, and the after-effects of derailed ecosystems, blighted beaches, clogged boat intakes and jammed props, constricted pumping systems, and the many millions being spent annually to contain and prevent entry. The picture they paint is not pretty. But dont trust me; check out the excerpts below from two articles posted to TwinCities.com, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Both articles are sobering and offer insights of just what we are up against if we continue to rest on our laurels, oblivious to the reality encroaching around us and its potential for transforming Connecticuts Crown Jewel into a wasteland. Ive cited sections of these intertwined articles below (italics added for emphasis) to help us comprehend the threats aftermath and muster the will, courage and resources to act before its too late:

Beneath the serene waters of Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes, a war rages. It pits armies of invaders bent on establishing colonies against a dwindling force of native lake dwellers. The invaders  at least 56 organisms not native to the Great Lakes  have infiltrated the lake over the decades, most of them arriving stealthily  The tenacious zebra mussel has cost Great Lakes industries billions of dollars over the past two decades  Damage: unfathomable.

Nor do most people comprehend the staggering scale of whats happening beneath the waves: The quagga mussel devastation of Lake Michigan is so profound it is hard to fathom.  The mollusks now stretch across the bottom of Lake Michigan almost from shore to shore, piling on top of one another with densities exceeding 35,000 per square meter. People might still think of Lake Michigan as an inland sea full of fish. Its now more accurate to think of it as an exotic mussel farm.

So what? Heres what: We wear shoes while swimming or risk stinging, razor-sharp shell cuts. We buy exotic farm-raised tilapia instead of local fish. We turn up our noses and walk away from beaches fouled by rotting seaweed slicks triggered by the mussels and laced with their carcasses. We dont even notice the millions of extra dollars in utility bills weve paid to keep water pumping to our faucets.

Think about it. Aquatic invasive species (AIS) left to their own devices are now overrunning water bodies across this nation. Others have had the unfortunate job of tackling the initial invaders and of perfecting defensive strategies to keep these marauders at bay. As a result, we now know what is required to prevent and control incursions. Overland transport and entry of AIS are made possible via a human link  hitchhiking on our vessels, our trailers, our recreational equipment, our bathing suits, even our pets. We know the source, the means of carriage, and what needs to happen if we are to stem the spread. But are we collectively up to the task of making prevention happen? It wont come easily.

Without your help and commitment to prevention and that of other boaters, Candlewood Lake could end up in the same quagmire now experienced by the Great Lakes. Think prevention, be proactive, and rigorously practice the Clean - Drain - Dry protocols described on the Candlewood Lake Associations web site (candlewoodlakeauthority.org). Preventive actions are also needed by our state legislators and DEEP agency staff, as well as our municipal and lake leaders.

Together we can control our lakes destiny and leave a lasting legacy. Lets indeed make this single zebra mussel finding a Candlewood Lake Watershed Moment and secure that legacy!

Jim McAlister of New Fairfield is a founder of the Candlewood Watershed Initiative.
Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered on a Thai island in 2014. (PA)

The parents of a murdered British backpacker have welcomed the king of Thailands decision to spare the killers the death penalty.

Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015 after being found guilty of murdering David Miller, 24, from Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk.

They were found dead in Thailand on a beach on the island of Koh Tao in September 2014.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, also known as Win Zaw Tun, were sentenced to death for the murder of Mr Miller and the murder and rape of Miss Witheridge.

Read more: A-level students take legal action against Ofqual

But in a review, their sentences have been commuted to life imprisonment to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and to show his clemency.

Ian and Sue Miller said in a statement: "We are grateful to His Majesty the King of Thailand for showing his clemency to the murderers of our son David.

The couple have campaigned against the death penalty.

"Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo finally admitted to the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge and the murder of our son.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, who murdered two British backpackers, have had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. (AP)

"The final admittance of their guilt has allowed this act of clemency to become possible.

They said it had brought an end to a "lengthy and disturbing period" in which social media activists had tried to influence public opinion and the Thai courts.

"But in the end the truth has been revealed," the couple, from St Helier, said.

Every moment we miss our son. Our thoughts are also with the Witheridge family and the tragic loss of their daughter.

Read more: 2 million jobs will be lost as furlough scheme ends

"We hope that these two murderers will now spend a very, very long time in jail where they cannot harm other families and will have time to reflect on the consequences of their acts."

Ian, left, and Sue Miller, right, with their son Michael outside a Thai court, say they are grateful their son David's killers will not be executed. (PA)

The kings pardon decree, published on Friday, applies to all death-row inmates in Thailand.

It was published to mark the kings birthday on 28 July and to illustrate the kings clemency.

Mr Miller, a civil and structural engineering graduate, and Miss Witheridge, a student at the University of Essex, were bludgeoned to death.

The mens murder convictions were upheld in a court of appeal in 2017 and in the Thai Supreme Court in 2019.
Yep, THAT Montell2099 x Netsky collab teased at Rhythm & Vines over New Years and played in a bunch of Netsky's lockdown livestreams is finally getting an official release!

Netsky revealed on social media that 'Mixed Emotions' featuring Montell2099 would be arriving Friday in a teaser video featuring shots of Auckland as well as his guest appearance at the iconic New Years festival.

Check out the tease below.
Japan share market finished session mixed on Tuesday, 18 August 2020, as yen appreciation against greenback amid U. S.-China political tensions and the deadlock in the negotiations for a Covid-19 stimulus package in the United States dented investors' risk appetite and fuelled profit taking.

At closing bell, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average declined 45.67 points, or 0.2%, to 23,051.08. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose 1.03 points, or 0.06%, at 1,610.85.

Total 16 issues of the 33 industry category of Topix index dived into negative territory, with Mining, Air Transportation, Iron & Steel, Insurance, Banks, and Nonferrous Metals issues being notable losers, while Other Products, Retail Trade, Foods, and Services issues were notable gainers.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing continued to weigh on investor sentiments. U.

S. President Donald Trump's administration announced Monday a further tightening of restrictions on Huawei, aimed at limiting the Chinese telecommunications giant's access to commercially available chips. That development came after Trump issued an executive order Friday forcing China's ByteDance to sell or spin off its U. S. TikTok business within 90 days.

Shares of airline companies declined, with Japan Airlines down 1.9% and ANA Holdings down 1.7% after the International Air Transportation Association said that global air traffic will not return to levels before the coronavirus pandemic until 2024.

Fujifilm Holdings gained 0.7% after the company said that its unit Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies will manufacture Novavax's coronavirus vaccine candidate in the UK, starting in early 2021.

CURRENCY: The Japanese yen traded at 105.54 per dollar after strengthening from levels above 106.4 against the greenback yesterday.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Last year, airports in Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati were cleared for operation, management, development through public-private partnership model

New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation will place a proposal for "further" privatisation of airports before the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.

In the first round of privatisation under the Narendra Modi government, the airports in Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati were cleared for operation, management and development through the public-private partnership (PPP) model in February 2019.

Subsequently, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had in September 2019 recommended to the Civil Aviation Ministry to privatise airports in Amritsar, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Indore, Raipur and Trichy.

In a webinar on Tuesday, Puri said, "We are going to the Cabinet tomorrow for further airport privatisation. We have got many more airports lined up, dozens of them, and the 100 new airports we will build between now and 2030."

The AAI, which works under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, owns and manages more than 100 airports across the country.

Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports  Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati - after a competitive bidding process in February 2019.

Adani Enterprises signed the concessionaire agreement with the AAI for three airports  Ahmedabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow  on 14 February, 2020. It is yet to sign the concessionaire agreement for the other three airports.

In June this year, the AAI gave three more months to the Adani group to take over the management of the airports of Ahmedabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow due to the COVID-19 scenario.

This means the Adani group, which was expected to take over the operations, management and development of the three airports by 12 August, can now take over the airports by 12 November.

Around 94,000 passengers travelled through domestic flights on Monday, Puri said at the aforementioned webinar organised by industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Prior to COVID-19 pandemic, around 3 lakh passengers per day travelled domestically in India, he said.

"By the time we reach Diwali, we would be 50-55 percent of our pre-COVID figures. By the end of the year, we will revive civil aviation to pre-COVID levels," he mentioned.

After a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown, India resumed domestic passenger flights on 25 May, albeit in a curtailed manner. Currently, airlines in India are permitted to operate 45 percent of their pre-COVID domestic flights.

International passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country.

However, since July, India has signed separate bilateral air bubble agreements with countries like the US, the UAE, Germany and France under which airlines of both the countries in a pact can operate international flights with certain restrictions.

The aviation sector has been hit hard due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March this year, all airlines in India have taken cost-cutting measures like pay cuts, leave without pay and firings of employees.
Norwegian Air Sweden AB has application for credit guarantee denied

The Swedish National Debt Office has decided to reject the application by airline company Norwegian Air Sweden AB for a state credit guarantee under the guarantee programme for airlines.



The Debt Office is mandated by the Government to issue credit guarantees for new loans to airlines that, on 1 January 2020, had a Swedish licence to conduct commercial aviation operations and that have their main operations or are domiciled in Sweden.

The provision of guarantees shall be carried out in accordance with Ordinance 2011:211 on loans and guarantees (the guarantee ordinance) and according to certain specific conditions set out in the Government's mandate.

Norwegian Air Sweden AB (Norwegian) has applied to be able to receive a Swedish credit guarantee within the framework of the aviation guarantee scheme.

The Government's mandate stipulates that a guarantee may only be granted to the airline companies that are assessed to have been financially viable on 31 December 2019.

The Debt Office's assessment in regard to Norwegian is that as of 31 December 2019 there was a very high risk that Norwegian would not be able to fulfil its financial commitments and that the company was not deemed capable then of managing further indebtedness. Therefore, the company has not been considered financially viable as of 31 December 2019. Accordingly, Norwegian's application has been denied.

In accordance with the guarantee ordinance, the Debt Office's decision cannot be appealed.

Read more on the Debt Office's website: The Debt Office's support measures to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus

Contact

Press telephone: + 46 8 613 47 01
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 22:20:55|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A 42-year-old Zimbabweam woman was arrested after being found in possession of 496 units of explosives, said the South african police.

The police said they arrested suspect on Monday morning during a routine operation on the N1 between the Beitbridge Border Post and Musina.

"Preliminary probe conducted by police members at the roadblock indicated that the explosives allegedly belonged to the woman who was a passenger in the said vehicle, and were apparently smuggled into the country across the borderline," said Police Spokesperson Motlafela Mojapelo.

He said the suspect will appear in court on Wednesday.

In July, a Zimbabwean woman was sentenced to 10 years behind bars in South Africa for smuggling 1.2 million rand (about 69,300 USD) worth of explosives.

Some of the explosives were reported to be used by criminals to blast the automated teller machines of some banks while others were used in illegal mining. Enditem
Politicians, scientists, and industrialists wished speedy recovery to Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw who has been tested positive for coronavirus.

The 67-year-old entrepreneur said on Monday that she has tested positive for COVID-19.

"I have added to the COVID count by testing positive. Mild symptoms n I hope it stays that way," she tweeted.



I have added to the Covid count by testing positive. Mild symptoms n I hope it stays that way. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (@kiranshaw) August 17, 2020 Replying to her tweet, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "So sorry to hear this, @KiranShaw. We need you hale and hearty soon! Be well, my friend." So sorry to hear this, @KiranShaw. We need you hale & hearty soon! Be well my friend. Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 17, 2020 Business tycoon Anand Mahindra wrote, "I'm not worried Kiran. Your energy & positivity is more infectious than the virus". Im not worried Kiran. Your energy & positivity is more infectious than the virus. anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 18, 2020 Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO) messaged Shaw saying, "Get well soon". Get well soon Soumya Swaminathan (@doctorsoumya) August 17, 2020 Industrialist Naveen Jindal replied to Shaw's tweet saying, "Wishing you a speedy recovery. Take care". Wishing you a speedy recovery. Take care Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) August 18, 2020 Naveen Tewari, CEO of InMobi wrote, "Wish you become asymptomatic soon and recover from this at the earliest". Wish you become asymptomatic soon and recover from this at the earliest. Naveen Tewari (@NaveenTewari) August 17, 2020 Former Minister of Revenue of Karnataka, RV Deshpande also wished a speedy recovery to the Biocon's head. Deshpande tweeted, "hocked to hear this! Wishing you a speedy recovery dear @kiranshaw! Praying for your good health". Shocked to hear this! Wishing you a speedy recovery dear @kiranshaw! Praying for your good health R V Deshpande (@RV_Deshpande) August 18, 2020

In July, this year, Biocon got approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to use Itolizumab on COVID patients. It is a drug that the company already has in the market and is used to treat patients with psoriasis, a debilitating skin ailment.

Also read: Biocon CMD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tests positive for coronavirus
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 22:36:21|Editor: huaxia

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KIGALI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) on Monday launched an automatic disinfection gate at its office in Rwandan capital city Kigali, as the Rwandan government plans to install such gates at the entrance of all public facilities to contain further spread of COVID-19.

These gates will strengthen the government of Rwanda's efforts to prevent further spread of the virus among the population and they will be placed at entrances of all public places, especially markets, hospitals and government buildings, said director general of RBC Sabin Nsanzimana while launching the gate.

They are also able to detect body temperature of people who go through it and whether they wear face masks, said Nsanzimana, adding that they will greatly contribute to quick temperature screening, disinfection and reduce the risk of virus transmission since people will be disinfected before entering public facilities.

The gate is equipped with non-contact temperature sensor, auto-sanitizer dispenser and disinfectant sprayer, according to him.

Rwanda on Monday closed two major markets in Kigali for a week due to an increase of COVID-19 cases in the city's Nyarugenge district, especially in the two markets.

The ministry of health said the 253 positive cases reported in the country from last Friday to Sunday are mostly from the two markets.

Rwanda on Monday evening reported 87 new infections and 13 recoveries, bringing the total cases to 2,540, with 1,661 recoveries and 8 deaths. Enditem
Even by the somewhat raucous standards of cable news, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper's interview with pillow company executive Mike Lindell on Tuesday afternoon was particularly tense.

During the segment, which launched an avalanche of commentary on social media, Cooper challenged the MyPillow founder on his support of a plant extract, oleandrin, which he has been lobbying the Trump administration to approve as a possible therapeutic for coronavirus.

Cooper likened Lindell to a "snake oil salesman" and asked, "How do you sleep at night?"

At one point in the interview, Lindell told Cooper, "you're in my prayers," and accused the CNN anchor of "calling (him) names."

Lindell met with President Donald Trump in July to discuss the potential use of oleandrin and arranged for a biopharmaceuticals executive whose company makes it to get a White House meeting, the Washington Post reported last week; Lindell later joined the company's board. When asked about the extract on Monday, Trump said, "We'll look at it." (Lindell serves as the Minnesota state chairman for the president's re-election campaign.)

The interview started off contentiously. "You don't have a medical background," Cooper said. "You're not a scientist. Yet you're claiming this substance, which has not been studied in any meaningful way, can cure covid. And you have a financial stake in the company. You would profit from it if this is being sold widely. Morally, is that right?"

Lindell said he was told to bring potential therapeutics to the White House's Coronavirus Task Force and recommended the drug after receiving a call from someone who said "he had an answer to the virus," which Lindell then passed along to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, who is a member of the task force.

"You are telling people that this cures covid," Cooper charged. "You have no studies to prove it."

Lindell said he's been taking oleandrin since April, along with over 100 members of his family and friends. "This thing works," he said. "It's the miracle of all time. ... It saved my family and friends' lives."

In response to Cooper's skepticism about the compound, Lindell charged that Cooper "misconstrued because the media is trying to take away this medical cure that works for everybody."

Cooper also pressed Lindell on controversies that his company, MyPillow, has faced, including a 2016 class-action settlement over a false advertising claim. (A MyPillow spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment about the CNN interview.)

"I guarantee I would not be taking medical advice from you, sir," Cooper said. "I can promise you that. ... I appreciate you being on. Honestly I just think it's shameful what you're doing."

The interview quickly lit up Twitter, with ample criticism lobbed at Lindell for his comments, and, to a lesser degree, to CNN for hosting Lindell for an interview. "The question is why CNN is giving this guy airtime," one user wrote.

Lindell's claims about oleandrin were quickly rebutted by Cooper's next guest, Dr. Jake Deutsch, an emergency room physician who called the MyPillow CEO's comments "extremely scary to me."

"We're really talking about a highly toxic substance," Deutsch said. "A small amount of consumption of this plant can be fatal. ... It's more likely that somebody would die from taking oleander than from covid."
New Delhi:

Twitter is buzzing with News alerts from India and rest of the world.

NIA files charge sheet in NIA Special Court against senior commanders of JeM for their involvement in Pathankot Attack. Chargesheet filed against JeM Chief Masood Azhar, JeM Dy Chief MA Rauf Asghar, Shahid Latif, launching commander & Kashif Jan, main handler.

Here are the latest updates from the micro-blogging site in one scroll -

#11:03

Russia's ambassador to Turkey has died after being shot in Ankara, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman- AP

#10:55 PM

#US StateDepartment condemns killing of Russian Ambassador to Turkey

#10:51 PM

Russian ambassador to Turkey dies of gunshot wounds



#9:41 PM

Till now there were certain category of exemptions which were existing, and those who were receiving old currency notes in exempted areas: FM



#9:30 PM

Those who deal in the digital or a banking transaction mode their income will be presumed to be 2 percent less, that is, 6 percent: FM Jaitley-ANI



#8:56 PM

President Pranab Mukherjee clears the appointment of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar as next Chief Justice of India

#8:18 PM

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde convicted by French court over tycoon payout



#7:30 PM

Cyrus Mistry pulls out of shareholder meetings of five listed Tata Group firms.



#7:24 PM

Elvis Gomes to be AAP Chief Ministerial candidate for Goa elections

#6:40 PM

CBI files charge sheet against former Delhi Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar in the ongoing corruption case against him

#6:20 PM

Submitted memorandum seeking aid of Rs 22573 crores for restoration and reconstruction: O Panneerselvam, TN CM after meeting PM regarding aftermath of cyclone Vardah



#6:10 PM

Rs 30 lakh seized in 2000-rupee notes in two separate searches in Nashi PTI



#6:00 PM

Candidates qualifying NEET would be eligible for All-India Quota and other Quotas under the State Govts/Institutes @JPNadda

#5:10 PM

IM co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, Pakistani national Zia-ur-Rahman and 3 others awarded death penalty by special NIA court in Hyderabad-PTI

# Govt to provide enhanced infrastructure, logistical facilities at border posts where women personnel are posted: Rajnath Singh

#4: 44 PM

5th test: India declare at 759 for 7. Total lead of 282 over England. Karun Nair not out on 303- ANI



#4:42 PM

Karun Nair is only the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple century- ANI



#4:36 PM

India vs England: Test Series, Chennai Test, Karun Nair slams triple century



#4:24 PM

India v England, 5th test: India pass their highest ever Test score of 726

# 4:16 PM

Priyanka Chopra to be brand ambassador of Assam Tourism for two years; state government

# 3:54 PM

Our fight against Narendra Modi is political, don't raise 'murdabad' slogan against him; RSS uses such language, not Cong: Rahul- PTI

# 3:05pm

'Money looted from a cash van in Delhi's Pandav Nagar area'

#2:58 PM

Pakistan cinemas resume screening of Indian films, over 2 months after it was suspended due to tensions following Uri attack.

# 2:42pm

India vs England, 5th Test: Karun Nair hits his maiden double century - ANI

# 2:40pm

EPFO fixes 8.65% interest on EPF deposits for 2016-17, 0.15% lower than last fiscal - PTI.

# 2:14 PM

Haryana Govt seeks time to file report in the alleged Murthal Gang rape case. Hearing deferred till January 19 2017 - ANI.

# 1:40 PM

PM Narendra Modi addresses Parivartan Rally in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh - ANI

#1:05 PM

Dilsukhnagar(Hyderabad) blast case: Arguments over in NIA's special court, sentence to be pronounced later in the day - ANI

#1:00 PM

Kolkata:Officers of UBI bank in Metiabruz questioned by ED,after finding 9 suspicious accounts with deposits of Rs6.6 cr, CBI registers case - ANI

#12:55 PM

Delhi: Crime Branch team reaches JNU to conduct enquiry in connection with missing student Najeeb Ahmed(ANI)

#12:50 PM

Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Fire breaks out in Signature Tower in Sarkhej Chokdi. 50 people rescued by fire department so far -ANI

#12:46 PM

If accounts are not KYC compliant credits may be restricted up to a 50,000 subject to conditions governing the conduct of such accounts: RBI - ANI

#12:45 PM

No limit on quantity or value of specified bank notes tendered for payment & deposit under Taxation & Investment Regime for PMGKY 2016 - ANI

#12:40 PM

Old Rs 500/1000 notes in excess of a5000 into bank a/c will be received for credit only once during remaining period till Dec 30,'16 - ANI

#12:30 PM

For non KYC account deposit of an amount exceeding Rs 5000 shall be made only once per account until December 30th 2016: Ministry of Finance - ANI

#12:20 PM

Chhattisgarh: 6 Naxals arrested during a joint operation of Police and Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) in Bijapur district - ANI

#12:10 PM

UN Security Council to vote on resolution on Syria's Aleppo - AP

#12:00 PM

NGT questions Uttarakhand Govt on issue of relief & rehabilitation of villagers residing inside Rajaji National Park, asks to file proper response- ANI

#11:48 AM

Total 597 people died due to grief post former TN CM Jayalalithaa's demise, a3 lakh aid will be given to each families: AIADMK - ANI

#11:20 AM

NIA files chargesheet in NIA Special Court against senior commanders of JeM for their involvement in Pathankot Attack - PTI

#11:10 AM

Earthquake tremors of 3.4 magnitude felt in Uttarkashi,Uttarakhand at around 10 AM - PTI

#10:43 AM

India vs England, 5th test, Chennai: Karun Nair hits his maiden test century

#10:05 AM

Namkun (Ranchi, Jharkhand): Tributes being paid to Gunner Shashikant Pandey, who lost his life in Pampore Attack- ANI

#9:55 AM

Satna (Madhya Pradesh): Truck rams into vehicle carrying school students, 6 children injured; admitted to hospital for treatment - ANI

#9:20 AM

TN CM O.Panneerselvam arrives in Delhi, will meet PM Narendra Modi later today - ANI

#8:45 AM

Tamil Nadu people suspect Sasikala Natarajan & her family might have done something in Amma's death; need justice: Sasikala Pushpa, Expelled AIADMK MP

#8:40 AM

Right from day she(Jayalalithaa)was admitted till she was declared dead, CBI must conduct judicial enquiry-Sasikala Pushpa on writ petition in SC - ANI

#7:40 AM

Wreath laying ceremony of gunner Saurabh Farate, who lost his life in Pampore Attack, underway in his hometown - ANI

#7:35 AM

Family mourns as mortal remains of gunner Saurabh Farate, who lost his life in Pampore Attack, brought to his hometown - ANI

#7:02 AM

24 trains running late, 5 rescheduled and 1 cancelled due to foggy weather - ANI

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In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Uttar Pradesh government has once again deferred the date for the signing of a key pact for the Rs 29,650-crore Jewar airport project with its developer, according to an order. The state government had in June extended till August 17 the date for the signing of the concession agreement with Zurich Airport AG amid travel restrictions due to the global outbreak of COVID-19.

The Switzerland firm had emerged as the highest bidder to develop the Jewar airport on the outskirts of Delhi in Gautam Buddh Nagar district of UP, outbidding competitors like Adani Enterprises, DIAL and Anchorage Infrastructure Investments Holding in November 2019.

"The timelines for the execution of the concession agreement are extended for a period of 45 days from the date of start of scheduled commercial international flights between India and Malaysia and India and Switzerland (whichever is later), plus the period of mandatory quarantine in India, or October 15, whichever is earlier, a state government order stated on Monday.

The government also extended till March 31, 2021 the date for bid validity and bid security of the project for all three bidders, including Adani Enterprises and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), according to officials. The bid validity and bid security date of Adani Enterprises and DIAL was set to expire on October 24, while the Zurich Airport's was valid till October 26, Shailendra Bhatia, Noida International Airport Limited's nodal officer for Jewar Airport, told PTI.

The three serious bidders had deposited a security fee of Rs 100 crore each at the time of bidding, Bhatia said, but made it clear that Adani Enterprises or DIAL are now out of bidding race as developer for the Greenfield airport.

Also read: Flight movements at Goa airport rise at least 12 times amid COVID-19 crisis
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Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2020-2030

A recent market study published by Future Market Insights (FMI) on the Veterinary Imaging Market including global industry analysis for 2015-2019 & opportunity assessment for 2020-2030, delivers a comprehensive assessment of the most important market dynamics. After conducting a thorough research on the historical as well as current growth parameters of the market, growth prospects are obtained with utmost precision.

Veterinary Imaging Market: Segmentation

The global Veterinary Imaging Market is segmented in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present a complete market intelligence approach to the reader.

Product Type Equipment

Software

Imaging Reagent Application Cardiology

Orthopedics

Neurology

Oncology

Others Animal Type Small Animal

Large Animal End-User Veterinary Clinics

Veterinary Hospitals

Veterinary Institutes and Research Centres Geography North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia

Oceania

Middle East and Africa

For more insights into the Market, request a sample of this report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-12368

Report Chapters

Chapter 01  Executive Summary

The report initiates with the executive summary of the Veterinary Imaging Market, which includes a snapshot of key findings and statistics. It also includes market size and revenue distribution of market segments of the market.

Chapter 02  Market Overview

Readers can find the detailed segmentation of the Veterinary Imaging Market in this chapter, which will help them understand the basics of the market.

Chapter 03  Key Market Trends

This chapter highlights the key trends impacting the growth of the Veterinary Imaging Market over the forecast period. It also helps reader to understand both - supply side and demand side trends of the market.

Chapter 04  Key Success Factors

This chapter explains the key macroeconomic factors that are expected to influence the growth of the market during the forecast period. It also highlights the major forecast factors that will shape market growth. Besides, it provides key dynamics of the market, which include the drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

Chapter 05 - Global Veterinary Imaging Market Volume Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast, 2020-2030

This section explains the global market value analysis and forecast for the market during the forecast period along with the historical market and opportunity analysis of the future. Readers can also find the absolute opportunity for the current year (2020), and an incremental opportunity for the forecast period (20202030)  both  volume-wise.

Chapter 06 - Veterinary Imaging Market  Pricing Analysis

This section highlights the global market pricing analysis. It helps readers to understand the pricing variation of the market in various geographies.

Chapter 07  Global Veterinary Imaging Market Demand (in Value or Size in US$ Mn) Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast, 2020-2030

This section explains the global market value analysis and forecast for the market during the forecast period along with the historical market and opportunity analysis of the future.

Chapter 08  Market Background

This chapter explains the key macroeconomic factors, drivers, restraints, and opportunity analysis along with current COVID-19 impact that are expected to influence growth of the Veterinary Imaging Market over the forecast period. Moreover, in-depth information about the market dynamics and their impact on the market have been provided in the successive section.

Chapter 09  Global Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, By Product Type

This section explains the global market value analysis and forecast for the Veterinary imaging during the forecast period. It includes a detailed analysis of the historical Veterinary Imaging Market, along with an opportunity analysis of the future. Readers can also find the absolute $ opportunity for the current year (2020), and an incremental $ opportunity for the forecast period (20202030).

Chapter 10  Global Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, by Application

Based on application, the market is segmented into cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, oncology, and others. In this chapter, readers can find information about the key trends and developments in veterinary imaging and market attractiveness based on application.

Chapter 11  Global Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, by Animal Type

This chapter provides details about the Veterinary Imaging Market based on animal type, and has been classified into small animal and large animal. In this chapter, readers can understand the market attractiveness based on animal type.

Chapter 12  Global Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, by End-User

This chapter provides details about the Veterinary Imaging Market based on end-user, and comprises veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, and veterinary institutes and research centres. The readers can understand the market attractiveness based on end-user.

Chapter 13  Global Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, by Region

This chapter explains how the market will grow across various geographic regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, South Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Chapter 14  North America Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter includes a detailed analysis of growth of North Americas Veterinary Imaging Market, along with a country-wise assessment that includes the U.S. and Canada. Readers can also find the regional trends, and market growth based on the application and countries in North America.

Chapter 15  Latin America Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the market in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the Rest of Latin America. Along with this, assessment of the market across target segments has been provided.

Chapter 16 Europe Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the market in Germany, the U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Russia, and the Rest of Europe are included in this chapter.

Chapter 17  South Asia Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the Veterinary Imaging Market in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and rest of South Asia.

Chapter 18  East Asia Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter highlights the growth of the market in East Asia by focusing on China, Japan & South Korea. This section also help readers understand the key factors that are responsible for the growth of the Veterinary Imaging Market in East Asia.

Chapter 19  Oceania Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter highlights the growth of the Veterinary Imaging Market in Oceania. It also helps readers understand the key factors that are responsible for the growth of the Veterinary Imaging Market in Australia and New Zealand.

Chapter 20  MEA Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides information about how the Veterinary Imaging Market will grow in GCC Countries, South Africa, Turkey and the Rest of MEA during the forecast period.

Chapter 21  Key and Emerging Countries Veterinary Imaging Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This section delves deep into Veterinary Imaging Market for key and emerging countries. Readers can understand the market value and volume by product type, animal type, application, and end-user for key countries.

Chapter 22  Market Structure Analysis

This chapter highlights the tier structure analysis, market concentration analysis, and company share analysis along with sales footprint analysis of key players operating in Veterinary Imaging Market.

For Information On The Research Approach Used In The Report, Request Methodology@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-12368

Chapter 23  Competition Analysis

In this chapter, readers can find a comprehensive list of all the prominent stakeholders in the Veterinary Imaging Market, along with a detailed information about each company, which includes company overview, revenue shares, strategic overview, and recent company developments.

Some of the market players featured in the report are Diagnostic Imaging System, Inc., Merry X-Ray, Carestream Health, Heska Corporation, Fujifilm Holding Corporation, Medical Imaging/IMCO, Inc., BCF, GE Healthcare, and Esaote SpA.

Chapter 24  Assumptions and Acronyms Used

This chapter includes a list of acronyms and assumptions that provides a base to the information and statistics included in the Veterinary Imaging Market report.

Chapter 25  Research Methodology

This chapter helps readers understand the research component methodology followed to obtain various conclusions as well as important qualitative and quantitative information about the Veterinary Imaging Market.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena to congratulate him on his reappointment.

Jaishankar said he looked forward to working closely with Gunawardena to take their partnership to greater heights. "Called up to congratulate Sri Lankan FM @DCRGunawardena on his reappointment. Look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to greater heights. #NeighbourhoodFirst," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Gunawardena was reappointed the foreign minister in Sri Lanka's new Cabinet that was sworn in last week.

Image credits: PTI
WASHINGTON  President Barack Obama, who burst into national politics with a memorable convention speech in 2004, will use remarks Wednesday to slam a "cynical" effort by his successor to limit mail-in voting and will argue that the nation's democracy itself is on the line in the November presidential election.

Obama's highly anticipated address, to be delivered live on the third night of the Democratic party's virtual convention, will outline why Biden possesses "the experience and character" to lead the country through dueling economic and public health crises that he will argue "the current administration has blundered into," an aide said.

"President Obama will highlight the cynical moves by the current administration and the Republican Party to discourage Americans from voting," Obama spokeswoman Katie Hill said, referring to President Donald Trump's criticism of states that are expanding vote-by-mail in response to the coronavirus pandemic. "Hell make a pointed case that democracy itself is on the line  along with the chance to create a better version of it."

Obama will speak to the pared-down convention in the 10 p.m. ET hour Wednesday, two nights after former first lady Michelle Obama. Party insiders hope that the former president  among the most popular politicos in America  will fill the role of validator-in-chief for his former No. 2, reassuring voters that Biden will usher in a sense of "normalcy" after four years of Trump.

"Right now President Obama's role, primarily, is to remind Americans what a stable and thoughtful administration looks like," said Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky.

Obama is, of course, no stranger to the format and venue. He arrived on the same stage in 2004 as fresh-faced Senate candidate from Illinois who delivered one of that convention's more memorable speeches.

The event established him as one of the nation's great orators and helped catapult him to the White House four years later. But he now faces a different task: Holding together a leftward lurching Democratic Party while selling the country on the stability of a Biden presidency at a time of national crisis.

Story continues

He also has to be careful to not give Trump any ammunition, Democrats said.

'Not a good picture:' The DNC and RNC may further complicate stimulus talks

More: Trump to campaign in battleground states as Democrats embrace Joe Biden

"The first thing in this convention is to not hand them something," said former Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, who also made Obamas short list of potential running mates in 2008. "I would be surprised if President Obama did anything that really became a lightning rod."

Hill said the former president's remarks would take listeners through firsthand accounts of Biden's role as vice president during the administration, including his oversight of the 2009 stimulus that helped lift the U.S. out of the Great Recession and his work on expanding health care insurance through Obamacare.

Trump, who votes absentee himself, has railed against states embracing universal mail ballots  that is, automatically sending a ballot to every registered voter. But only a small number of states use that approach, and Trump has repeatedly conflated that system with those in use in states like Michigan.

Democrats accuse Trump of trying to sow doubt about the election results.

Democrats are road testing an unprecedented national convention this week as the coronavirus pandemic curbs the pomp and sense of excitement campaigns usually build around the formal nomination of a presidential candidate. Though the glitzy stage performances and balloon drops of past years are missing, the event will nevertheless steer the party's path as the Democratic faithful coalesce around Biden.

Michelle Obama may have set the tone with her blistering review of Trump's first term during her address on the convention's first night.

"Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country," she said in an address that Trump later mocked because it was taped rather than delivered live. "He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment."

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2012.

Ushering in a 'new era'

Obama left office in 2017 with an almost 60% approval rating, and he has maintained his appeal on the left as Trump slams him nearly every day. When asked which president in their lifetimes has done the best job, 44% of Americans chose Obama as their first or second pick compared with 33% for Bill Clinton and 32% for Ronald Reagan, according to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey.

A CBS News/YouGov poll this week found 92% of Democrats are eager to hear Obama at the convention, compared with 91% who said the same of Biden or his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris. The same CBS survey found 63% of Democrats want to hear liberal superstar Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., compared to roughly 58% who said the same of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Yarmuth, chairman of the House Budget Committee, said the party must use this week's convention to calm anxieties about what Democrats plan to do if they prevail in the fall.

Are you registered to vote?: Check your status or register online now

"I'm not sure I want everybody out there talking about Green New Deals, and that type of thing, but if we take over the government this is where the country needs a comfort level," he said.

"We're going to be under a lot of pressure to talk about reparations, universal basic income (and) Medicare for all," he added. "And what Obama can do is, ironically, reassure people we are not going to go off the rails  even though we may."

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden walk through the Capitol ahead of President Donald Trump's inauguration in 2017.

Obama, party leaders say, must demonstrate Democrats can still connect with Rust Belt voters even as the convention is likely to elevate debates around liberal demands: From looser immigration rules to tighter environmental controls to address climate change.

Thats part of the reason Democratic operatives predict Obama will look to deliver an aspirational address, touting Biden as a traditional candidate who can dial back the drama of the past four years, inch the party toward a more progressive path and begin to heal racial wounds that have continued to resurface during the Trump presidency.

In other words, Democrat strategists say, classic Obama.

"Hes not an attack dog. I would leave that to another night and speaker, said veteran Democrat Donna Brazile, who has worked on many presidential campaigns. The former president can help set the first few pages in a new era by highlighting why America cannot afford four more years of disruption, diversion and deceit."

But Hill promised that Obama's speech won't spare Trump, and that the former president, "will highlight the cynical moves by the current administration and the Republican Party" to thwart Americans from voting.

"Hell make a pointed case that democracy itself is on the line  along with the chance to create a better version of it," she added.

Obama will carry forward how urgent the fall election is but also seek to contrast with the current White House occupant in terms of calling on all Americans who believe in a more generous and more just country, Hill said.

President Barack Obama hugs Vice President Joe Biden during funeral services for Biden's son, Beau Biden, in 2015.

Reigniting the bromance

Democrats have long framed the Biden-Obama relationship as something like the Hollywood formula for the buddy cop movie: An interracial pair with noticeably different temperaments and styles forging a friendship as they move through a thickening plot.

Together they carry closely synced messages to different constituencies. That was evidenced in a video released by the Biden campaign last month that featured the two palling around before launching into a "socially distanced" conversation in which they accused Trump of refusing to take responsibility for anything during the pandemic.

We were different in age, different in background, his politics were a little bit different than mine, but it was precisely those differences that I thought made him ideal, Obama said during a recent podcast interview with former adviser David Plouffe. What we shared (were) some core beliefs. ... And as a result, I had a basic trust in him."

Despite the affection, which former aides say is genuine, there have been cracks in the bromance, some of which have been brought back to the fore in recent weeks.

Biden's description of Obama in 2007 as the "first sort of mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean" is the kind of racial gaffe that has hounded him for years  including this year, when he has drawn fire for his insensitive comments at a time when the nation is grappling with the death of George Floyd, protests and violence in major U.S. cities and Trump's remarks supporting symbols of the Confederacy.

More: 'Are you a junkie?' Biden bristles when reporter asks him about cognitive test

Others have pointed to Obama's relatively quick embrace of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the 2016 presidential race, musing aloud in June of that year whether anyone had ever been "so qualified" for the job. Since leaving office, Obama has kept mostly out of view, and that has meant a less visible role for him on the Biden campaign trail, even before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

Obama aides have said the former president has remained less visible in part to avoid creating a target for Trump.

Antoine Banks, a University of Maryland political scientist, predicted that Obama's role in the 2020 campaign will be the most consequential for a former president. But there's a risk with the approach, Banks warned: Relying on Obama's popularity and mass appeal with the party too much could mean overshadowing the current candidates.

"Trump will criticize him and say, 'he's not on the ticket' so they have to balance this where they get people mobilized but still understand Biden and Harris are the candidates," Banks said.

Trump and other Republicans have been eager to suggest a rift between the two men, while at the same time painting Biden with Obama's more controversial moves. Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh pointed to a report in The New York Times last year that, citing anonymous sources, asserted Obama had told Biden he didn't have to run for president if he didn't want to.

Murtaugh argued that the speech would "just remind everyone that Obama and Biden presided over the slowest economic recovery since the Great Depression."

That's a line Trump has used frequently, dating back to before the 2016 election. Independent fact checkers have found there is data to back up the claim, when measured by the average rate of annual economy growth. But economists also point out that the recovery that began under Obama was the longest in modern U.S. history.

Biden aides, meanwhile, disputed the Trump campaign's characterization of the record.

"The Obama-Biden Administration took the reins during what was, until recently, the worst downturn since the Great Depression  and turned it into the longest streak of private sector job growth on record," said Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates.

"Trump's failed leadership has plunged the strong, growing economy he inherited into the deepest recession in generations and cost nearly 170,000 Americans their lives," he added.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden arrive for the inauguration of President Donald Trump in 2017.

Return to normal

Democrats insist that the party's internal ideological squabbles over health care, immigration and the environment will be eclipsed by a shared determination to deny Trump a second term.

If that's true, several said, the most important thing Obama can confer on Biden during the convention and in the weeks ahead is a sense that the former vice president would restore comity to American politics.

"President Obama is still widely viewed as the most gifted messenger of the Democratic agenda in America," said Democratic strategist Joel Payne, who worked on Clinton's 2016 campaign. "The most important thing he can do in this moment is remind voters of contrast between his presidency and the first four years of the Trump presidency."

Another benefit Obama could provide is to remind people of the work Biden undertook on the administration's behalf for eight years.

Voters know who Biden is but they may not know Obama tapped him to administer the 2009 Recovery Act, which helped stimulate the economic recovery. Obama also frequently turned to Biden, who had deep friendships on both sides of the aisle after nearly four decades in the Senate, to close major deals with Republicans.

So this is one of the best chances of the cycle to give people some color and dimension as to who Joe Biden is and what he stands for, all from the mouth of the most trusted character witness on the planet, said Teddy Goff, a Democratic strategist who ran Obamas digital operation in 2012.

A clear split emerged during the Democratic primary between candidates such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sanders, who pressed Biden to defend healthcare and immigration policies espoused by the Obama administration. Banks, the political scientist, noted that most voters aren't as focused on nuanced policy debates and argued that Obama's speech would likely play well in both wings of the party.

"Obama is able to craft a message to make people feel comfortable that he cares about these groups and these issues, but he isn't going to be pushing these far-left issues," he predicted. "Obama is all about looking to the future and lifting up all boats."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Obama to make case for Biden, rally young voters at DNC on Wednesday
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran called the former IT Secretary M Sivasankar a traitor for misusing his freedom and the governments trust in him. The minister said Sivasankars removal has set everything right at the Chief Ministers Office.The stink in the Chief Ministers Office stops at Sivasankar. There is no problem beyond that, the minister told reporters during a news conference in an apparent move to shield Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan from the gold smuggling scandal.

Livid over dragging the government into the controversy, Sudhakaran said Sivasankar did not deserve any mercy. However, Sudhakaran said there was no proof that Sivasankar was involved in gold smuggling or other crimes though the onus of proof is on Central government. Sudhakaran said the government took action against the former principal secretary to the chief minister for violating the code of conduct of a civil servant and for making wrong appointment. According to him the bureaucrats friendship with the gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh was shameful.

The minister denied that the government approved a commission `1 crore to Swapna for the construction of apartment under the Life Mission. The minister criticised a section of IAS officers for their questionable behaviour. In the month of Ramayana, the UDF and the BJP have demonic thoughts while targeting the chief minister. They have the false hope that rumours and personal attacks would bring down the government, said Sudhakaran.

According to him, Keralites keep their mind and body pure during the holy month by discarding demonic thoughts. The minister did not hide his annoyance over the controversies affecting the governments chances for a second term. The minister said that the LDF would plan campaigns against the allegation raised by the opposition.

NIA to quiz accused trio again

Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will seek the custody of Sarith P S, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, the key accused persons in the gold smuggling case, again. The decision was taken after NIA received a report from C-DAC which analysed the mobile phones and laptops of the accused persons. A petition will be filed for the same at the NIA Court in Kochi soon. Earlier, NIA had interrogated them in custody for 11 days.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 03:44:08|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A total of 10 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in an operation by the Iraqi security forces in northern Iraq, the Iraqi military said on Tuesday.

A force from the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), backed by the Iraqi and international coalition aircraft, conducted an operation in Qara-Chokh Mountain near the town of Makhmour, some 60 km southeast of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, the CTS said in a statement without saying when the operation was carried out.

The operation resulted in the killing of 10 IS militants and the destruction of nine caves used by the extremist militants, the statement said.

The operation came as the IS militants have intensified their attacks on the security forces and civilians in the formerly IS-controlled Sunni provinces.

The security situation in Iraq has been improving since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the IS militants across the country late in 2017.

However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Enditem
South Jacksonvilles board of trustees will discuss applicants to fill a trustee vacancy during a special meeting tonight in Village Hall.

Of three people who expressed interest in the job, Village President Harry Jennings said Monday that he intends to nominate Megan Werries, a manager with Zumbahlen, Eyth, Surratt, Foote and Flynn accounting firm.

She has an MBA, a degree in accounting, and one of the four tests done for her CPA, Jennings said. Shes very impressive. I think shed be a great asset.

Jennings declined to name the other applicants but said he wasnt familiar with any of the three before the position came open.

Trustee Greg Nelson, who has been on the village board since 2017, resigned in June to take a new job that doesnt allow him to hold public office, Jennings said. Nelsons term expires in 2021.

Jennings said his nomination doesnt guarantee Werries will get the vote of the board.

But, if the board  including trustees Paula Belobrajdic-Stewart, Jason Hill, Tom Jordan, Dick Samples and Todd A. Warrick  agrees with Jennings recommendation, the village should have a new trustee by nights end.

Assuming there are no objections to that name, well have the confirmation vote afterward, Jennings said.

Trustees will meet in closed session to discuss the board vacancy before confirming any decision about the appointment during a Zoom meeting at 6:30 p.m. Those wishing to attend can call 312-626-6799 and use meeting ID 965 0589 4556.
Next in line with the USAF stealth bomber series is the B-21 which has a lot of improvements compared to its predecessor. Recently, tests of B-21 avionics and other systems revealed that the stealth bomber is working well.

Now more than ever, the development of the B-21 is getting high priority from Washington. Aspects like the airframe are getting done, as well as the testing of its avionics and software, with a related subsystem on a prototype aircraft according to Breaking Defense.

Mark Esper, Defense Secretary, said that despite challenges of getting the components for it, the B-21 Raider is on track. The head of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO), Randy Walden, remarked that progress is steady on the project.

He added that progress on the software that will be used to fly the plane and all the integration is going steady. These remarks were given in a conference at the Mitchell Institute.

Walden added that the first jet to be tested is almost done, with every component needed to complete the first craft of its kind. Next will be flight testing of the prototype. All the aspects of the design to manufacturing the components are getting perfected when the prototype increases production.

Critical for the plane's performance is the task of designing and testing the subsystems, with agile software tools that will seek out the flaws and correct them.

General Timothy Ray, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said that the B-21 will be ready for service by 2025. The Department of Defense is not giving an exact date when the plane will be operational and capable.

Also read: US & Israeli F-35s Become SAM Killers After UAE-Israel Deal Formed From Iran's Threats

The Air Force also mentioned the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, that was affected by the concurrence of the production and the development of other systems.

Richard Aboulafia, a long-time aircraft analyst for the Teal Group, says that it is a promising approach. There have been instances when some aspects of building, testing systems, and redesigning did not work out so smoothly like the B-1 program. Some bugs need to be worked out with agile software development.

In 2011, David Venlet, Vice Admiral and head of the F-35 JSF development, mentioned the concurrency that occurred during the program as a miscalculation. This was revealed by Mark Gunzinger, director of future aerospace concepts and capabilities assessments.

The Breaking D said that the F-35 development differed from the B-21 because it was more of integration compared to invention. Getting to lessen the costs and time involved in other relevant developments is vital too. Some examples to consider are other factors like how developed tech is, including parts for other weapon systems. Compared to the F-35 or the B-2, the B-21 is more developed at this stage.

According to Walden, the B-21 program office is using another method, DevSecOps, which adds all kinds of software to the system. As the B-21 avionics software is tested, there are still bugs to fix before the final flight.

Related article: U.S. Navy's Weapons: F-35 Lightning and Super Hornet Adds Tactical Layers to Win

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
She jetted off to the Turks and Caicos islands last week to help her sister Kylie Jenner celebrate her 23rd birthday.

And Kendall Jenner shared some stunning behind-the-scenes photos from her trip to Instagram on Monday, including a scintillating snap in which she showed off some underboob.

The 24-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star looked deep in concentration as she showed off a skimpy black crop top that barely preserved her modesty and was tied off over her bust.

Back in black: Kendall Jenner, 24, showcased her trim figure and a bit of underboob in a black crop top with a mini skirt and a cowboy hat in throwback photos from her Turks and Caicos vacation posted to Instagram on Monday

Kendall covered her dark locks with a black cowboy hat and showcased her flat tummy over a sheer black mini skirt.

The model has been open about her love of horses in the past and even received a pony as a Christmas present when she was 12, so it was fitting that she got to enjoy some horseback riding while on vacation.

Another photo showed her looking majestic atop a horse as it trotted at the edge of the surf with a picturesque sunset behind her.

Kendall was dressed in a different black crop top and long dark pants, and a video posted to her Insta Stories at the same time showed her galloping down the beach on the horse.

Horse girl: Kendall has been open about her love of horses, and she looked majestic while riding one in the surf

'Rum punch with my name on it': She included a snap of a tasty beverage sitting on the sand

'Rum punch with my name on it,' Kendall captioned her post, referencing a photo of a tasty beverage waiting for her on the sand.

The model highlighted her astounding figure in other bikini photos from her getaway.

She showed off her pert backside in a photo taken from aboard a small boat that contrasted her dark blue string bikini with the aquamarine water.

In another dusk photo, the 5ft10in beauty showed off her long legs while relaxing in a hammock just off the beach.

Stunning: She showed off her pert backside in a photo taken from aboard a small boat that contrasted her dark blue string bikini with the aquamarine water

Setting sun: In another dusk photo, the 5ft10in beauty showed off her long legs while relaxing in a hammock just off the beach

Though Kendall and her younger sister Kylie appeared to have had a great time in Turks and Caicos, the two broke California's non-essential travel ban for the trip.

'You can travel for urgent matters or if such travel is essential to your permitted work. Even though businesses around the state are opening up, avoid traveling long distances for vacations or pleasure as much as possible. This is to slow the spread of the coronavirus,' the order reads.

Neither Kendall nor Kylie have shared evidence of 'urgent matters' related to their trip, and flights to the islands are around nine hours from Los Angeles.

The order also says people returning to California after traveling abroad must quarantine for 14 days, though both Kylie and Kendall were spotted out at Nobu Malibu on Saturday.

Going their own way: Kendall and Kylie broke California's non-essential travel ban for the trip, and neither quarantined for 14 days after returning

Meet-up: The two were spotted on Saturday at Nobue Malibu with Kendall's rumored boyfriend Devin Booker; pictured August 13 in Orlando, Florida

The sisters dined at the swanky Japanese restaurant, a favorite of the KardashianJenner clan, with Kendall's rumored boyfriend Devin Booker.

The Phoenix Suns shooting guard have reportedly been dating for months prior to the dinner date.

They were previously seen dining together at Nobu back in June, and in April the two allegedly took a road trip through Arizona.
A study from early in the global coronavirus pandemic that evidenced the benefits of using steroids to combat COVID-19 in severely ill patients could have saved lives, according to the University of Huddersfield researchers involved.

Dr Hamid Merchant and Dr Syed Shahzad Hasan assessed the results of using corticosteroid such as dexamethasone on hospitalized COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on respiratory support.

By mid-April they had found that the proportion of COVID-19 patients who died in the steroid group was significantly lower compared to those who did not receive corticosteroids, a t28 percent compared to 69 percent.

Their research has now been published in the Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine following a lengthy period of scrutiny and peer review.

The Huddersfield academics' work highlights the issues involved in scrutinizing scientific evidence, as well as costs involved in research and the UK's preference for evidence-based practice.Oxford University's RECOVERY trial came to similar conclusions as the Huddersfield researchers in mid-June, leading to the UK government's decision that dexamethasone could be made available to patients, a move subsequently taken around the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had, early in the pandemic, recommended that steroids should not be used to combat COVID-19 due to perceived risk of delayed coronavirus clearance.

Despite warnings from WHO,various global bodies acknowledged the mortality benefits of using steroids on COVID-19 patients with ARDS, such as the National Health Commission & State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NHC), Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC), and the National Institute of Health (NIH).

What this shows is that providing evidence is not cheap. It comes at a very high cost; itnot only costs time and money but may even cost precious lives. The background of the pandemic highlights this, it's something that we have known for years but unfortunately has been thrown into sharp relief by coronavirus." Dr Hamid Merchant.

"There is always a dilemma of the risks versus the benefits of evidence-based practice in a medical emergency," says Dr Hasan."The WHO advice confused a lot of people and many countries stayed away from using steroids due to risks of diminishing immune response."

Dr Merchant adds that,"The benefits of using steroids outweighs the risks.There is a risk that the immune system may go down and there is a possibility of delayed viral clearance from the body, but this is a risk worth taking if it saves lives."

Their work has now been published in the Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine following peer review. The other authors in the study included Toby Capstick, a consultant pharmacist on respiratory medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Syed Tabish Zaidi, Associate Professor in Pharmacy at the University of Leeds, Chia Siang Know, a clinical pharmacist from Malaysia,FaizanMazhar, a researcher from Italy and Raees Ahmed, a consultant pulmonologist in Texas, USA.

The UK was among countries that steeredaway fromusing steroids until confirmed by a randomized controlled trial, but those that did not found using steroids helped to keep death rates from COVID-19 relatively low.

The UK is now using its stockpile of 200,000 doses of dexamethasone.
NEW DELHI: Top commanders of the Indian Navy will extensively deliberate on the evolving maritime security architecture in the region during a three-day conclave beginning August 19 amid border tensions with China in the Ladakh sector.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to address navy brass on the opening day of the conference on Wednesday.

The Indian Navy has deployed a range of its frontline warships and submarines in the Indian Ocean region to send a clear message to China following escalation of the border dispute. A major focus of the conclave will be to review the Indian Navy's operational readiness as well as issues relating to India's security interests in the Indo-Pacific, a region where China has been rapidly expanding its military presence, officials were quoted as saying by PTI.

"The conference assumes greater significance in the backdrop of recent events on our northern borders, coupled with the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19," the Indian Navy said in a statement.

The naval commanders would also deliberate on ensuring tri-services synergy as well as functional reorganisation within the Navy to improve efficiency, it said, adding the conference would also discuss the larger security imperatives in the Indo-Pacific. The Navy said the conference would provide the higher naval leadership a forum to discuss conduct of operations, sustenance and maintenance of assets, procurement issues, infrastructure development and human resource management within the ambit of the "new normal" resulted by the pandemic.

It is the first naval commanders' conference since the institution of Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

"The conference would discuss upon the ways to optimise joint planning structures, tri-service synergy, and operational readiness, as also functional reorganisation within the Indian Navy to improve efficiency," the Navy said.

Officials said all possible security challenges that the country may face including from China and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean Region will be deliberated upon at length at the conclave, they added.

The Indian Ocean, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy, is critical to India's strategic interests. Over the years, the region has witnessed increasing Chinese presence.

China has constructed the deep-sea Gwadar Port in southern Pakistan and a naval base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.

In the last few weeks, the Navy has significantly expanded its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region, positioning a plethora of warships and submarines following the Galwan Valley clash with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed.

Over the years, the Indian Navy's focus has been on enhancing combat efficiency and improving operational readiness and these issues will be discussed in detail, the officials said, adding that measures to ensure safety, continued training, and checks and balances on crew proficiency aboard the front-line warships will also be reviewed.
Victims of the Troubles are being denied pensions they indisputably deserve amid an apparent deliberate attempt to "stymie" the scheme for political reasons, a High Court judge insisted today.

Mr Justice McAlinden warned that delays blamed on Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill for not designating a department to oversee compensation payments will not be tolerated.

His final verdict in legal challenges by two victims to the continued failure to introduce the scheme will be delivered on Friday.

Read More

Jennifier McNern lost both legs in an IRA bomb attack on the Abercorn Restaurant in Belfast city centre in March 1972.

She is seeking to judicially review Northern Ireland's Executive Office over the continued impasse.

Proceedings have also been brought by Brian Turley, one of the so-called 'Hooded Men' detained and subjected to special interrogation methods by the British military in the early 1970s.

Even though legislation was passed for the pension scheme which should have opened for applications in May, it remains in limbo due to a dispute over eligibility for payments.

Under new guidance anyone convicted of causing serious harm during the Troubles would be ruled out.

Sinn Fein claims the British government policy is discriminatory and could unfairly exclude thousands of people within the republican communities.

During the two-day hearing the judge repeatedly indicated that Ms O'Neill, the party's most senior representative in the Executive, is ignoring the rule of law by her stance.

He again emphasised: "An argument in relation to who is entitled to compensation is being used as a reason to delay compliance with a statutory duty.

"In doing so individuals who no-one disputes are entitled to claim these pensions, such as Ms McNern who was blown up on March 4, 1972, losing both legs, she has to wait and be kept out of her pension because of a political dispute over who should and should not be entitled to these pensions.

"I cannot think of any other circumstances which would cry out more clearly for a declaration from the court of unlawful behaviour than this scenario."

The Deputy First Minister made it clear in correspondence to the Secretary of State that she will not designate a department to run the scheme because of concerns about the eligibility criteria, he pointed out.

"What we are dealing with here is a quite clear and obvious legal requirement, which appears to have been disregarded for political ends," Mr Justice McAlinden said.

"That seems to be the fundamental striking at the principle of the rule of law, and that's something the court cannot ignore and the court cannot tolerate.

"The court must declare unequivocally the primacy of the rule of law."

Michael Humphreys QC, for the Executive Office, contended Ms O'Neill had acted in her capacity as Vice President of Sinn Fein.

But Mr Justice McAlinden responded that her position within the Stormont administration, and the obligations to comply with the law, cannot be ignored.

The system was supposed to be in place nearly three months ago, he stressed.

"The only sensible interpretation of what is happening here is that there's been a deliberate decision to try and stymie this scheme because there's a fundamental disagreement (over) who can and cannot apply for pensions," the judge said.

"You cannot mess about and delay taking that step because of a disagreement in terms of who is entitled to apply for compensation."

Despite efforts made by officials to comply with the law, he said the only remaining barrier is the refusal to assign the scheme to a department.

Rejecting any suggestion of an unlawful delay, Mr Humphreys told the court there was no specific date in the relevant regulations.

The barrister also highlighted progress made in securing 2.5m of funding for IT systems and administrative work.

"That is not (consistent) with a body that has thumbed it's nose at the legislation or doesn't believe a scheme should be implemented," he added.

Following closing submissions, Mr Justice McAlinden confirmed: "I will give my judgment in this matter on Friday morning."
Grixsen Brewing, launched seven years ago in Southeast Portlands lower eastside industrial district, announced its closure Saturday.

In an Instagram post, the brewpub cited complications, much like those of many others in the community, as the reason for its difficult decision.

Grixsen in the post said the last day of service would be Sunday, Aug. 23. It will be open from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Co-owner Scott Petersen told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday that for the foreseeable future, were going to be shut down and in the future try to find something new.

We dont want to make a sorry story about ourselves because were just the latest ones, and its affecting everyone, he said. For us, the things that are affecting so many other people are affecting us, and we essentially have to control our losses.

The economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has put the squeeze on breweries across Oregon. Base Camp Brewing of Southeast Portland last week became the most high-profile brewery to close its doors, though owner Justin Fay said he hopes conditions improve so the Buckman neighborhood brewery can reopen.

Late last week, 7-year-old Salem Ale Works also announced it would close because of the economic impact of the pandemic, saying the shutdown was permanent. And Portlands The New School beer and cider site reported 3 Sheets Brewing & Taproom in Albany is also closing.

Like Base Camp, Grixsen hopes to reopen at some point.

Our hope is that as a community we can all get through these tough times and once the dust settles we can give it another shot, the Instagram post said.

In the meantime, Grixsens Instagram post indicated the owners would try to continue brewing beer, encouraging the public to stay tuned as we try to get that ironed out.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

The idea for Grixsen came together eight years ago, when homebrewer DJ Moxley was an intern at Petersens marketing company and asked to put his beers on the office tap. Along with Kurt Gritman, the three founded Grixsen  a combination of their three names  as a small brewery and taproom.

Grixsen soon expanded into a neighboring space. The team built one of the areas most striking brewpubs, creating a visual gem with open-beam high ceilings and old-growth timber repurposed into tabletops and other accents. Modern-industrial custom metalworks graced the space, with rolling bar-table frames and a 600-pound lighting truss above the length of the bar.

There, Grixsen served Moxleys beers -- classic pub style beers with a Northwest twist, along with experimenting with other styles, such as barrel-aged beers, farmhouses and lagers.

The operations mission extended beyond beer, as well. Moxley, a graduate of Gonzaga University, brought a Jesuit ethic and a conscientious approach to Grixsen.

Its a really important value for us to give back to the community in any way we can, Moxley said during an interview last year. Whether thats creating a space for everyone to come together and have a unique time and express ideas, or its letting charities use the back room for free, or donating part of our profits to nonprofits, like weve been doing since we opened.

In its Instagram post this weekend, the brewery thanked current and past staff for helping us with creating Grixsen.

We would also like to say thank you to all of our family, friends and customers who have been a huge part of our journey, the post said. We hope that you can come down and share some socially distanced laughs, pints, and cocktails with us during our final days.

Petersen said the closure has been difficult on the founders and the staff.

Its been really tough, he said. If you were to ask us where its at and what we feel, we built that place from the ground up, late nights, working hard, and thats really emotional for us, in terms of letting that go.

The hard part is its not a conclusion we dreamt of or thought would happen.

-- 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.

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A Houston mans appeal of a 2000 murder conviction hit a road bump this week when his attorney withdrew from his case, citing allegations that his client improperly tried to influence two witnesses who are central to his defense.

State attorneys who are fighting the appeal uncovered several phone calls Lamar Burks made from the Harris County Jail, where they say he instructed third parties to tell the witnesses how they might approach their testimony at an upcoming hearing, according to a motion filed July 31. In one of the conversations, he suggested that key witness Randy Lewis skip the hearing by claiming he was ill with COVID-19, prosecutors said.

Prosecutor Joshua Reiss said the developments cast major doubt on Burks case, which gained support from high-profile civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump after Burks alleged a federal agent coerced false testimony from a witness. Burks, now 47, was sentenced to 70 years in prison for the 1997 murder of Earl Perry, who was found dead in a Cavalcade parking lot after a dice game.

If I were a third party who had stuck my neck out for Lamar Burks and now confronted with evidence that he attempted to influence witnesses, it would give me pause as to what I had committed myself to, said Reiss, who is chief of the post-conviction writs division at the Harris County District Attorneys Office.

Its uncommon that someone would be so blatant and obvious in influencing the witness, he said.

Several days after receiving the July 31 filing, Burks attorney, Michael Wynne, said the motion raised some serious issues. He had already tried twice to recuse himself from Burks case, including once where he said he could no longer ethically represent his client because he believed Burks opened himself up to perjury claims.

What they say is obviously of concern to me, Wynne said in early August.

But after hearing the phone call recordings, Wynne on Aug. 7 filed a third time to remove himself from the case, he said in a video court hearing on Tuesday. State District Judge Greg Glass signed off on the motion.

Wynne said he did not know Burks was making those calls. He declined further comment.

Burks appeal - his third - first gained traction when his attorney accused disgraced Drug Enforcement Agency Agent Chad Scott of bullying a witness to offer false testimony, resulting in Burks conviction. His case finally saw heightened interest, including from Crump, who is most recently representing the family of George Floyd.

Burks had appealed his case after Scott was indicted in New Orleans on a slew of federal charges, including perjury and falsifying evidence in an unrelated case. He did the same sort of thing in Burks case, Wynne had said, offering Lewis  the key witness  a plum deal in exchange for telling the story he wanted him to tell. Lewis has since recanted.

But in recent months, Wynne tried to get out of the case entirely. At one hearing, Burks made a sworn misrepresentation to the court regarding a purported ethical conflict of a previous attorney, according to court documents. Wynne sought to withdraw from the case after that statement, also saying he couldnt ethically assert Burks actual innocence claim.

Burks also refused to sign a document that stated the facts were true, under the penalty of perjury, Reiss said.

State prosecutors later heard the recordings, where Burks allegedly discussed an upcoming evidentiary hearing on June 23. Lewis and Scott, the DEA agent, were on Burks witness list and could have possibly testified.

In one of the phone calls, Burks offered to prevent a press conference that would embarrass Scott prior to his upcoming federal trial if Scott would agree to withhold testimony during the June 23 proceeding in Burks case, prosecutors claim.

My attorney Ben Crump and members of Black Lives Matter have been planning a news conference and protest [sic] Mr. Scott arrives in Houston, Burks said in the call, according to court documents. This will no doubt place Mr. Scott in a negative light. To avoid a media circus I propose an agreement. Please consult with Mr. Scott about invoking his Fifth Amendment right via remote video hearing to be kept under seal.

If Scott agreed to keep quiet, it would kill the whole case, Burks said.

In another call, Burks told a third party that he would pay for an attorney to represent Lewis in a hearing if Lewis falsely told the court he contracted COVID-19, according to the states motion.

Tell that (racial epithet) to tell my lawyer that he got coronavirus and cant do nothing no more, Burks said in the recording. He will testify when he recovers.

Burks then called a public relations consultant and told them that Lewis has COVID-19, the motion states.

Reiss has asked the appeals court to pause proceedings until the state files evidence of witness tampering in trial court.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
(Natural News) The FBI was told Carter Page was a U.S. intelligence agency source months before the agency began keeping that information from the secret court that authorized spying on him and nearly a full year before the agency altered documents to claim otherwise.

(Article by Mollie Hemingway republished from TheFederalist.com)

Federal charging documents against Kevin Clinesmith, the top FBI attorney who was expected to plead guilty today to altering documents, show that the FBI withheld in three separate spying applications the fact that Page had served as an operational contact who helped an agency believed to be the CIA investigate suspected Russian intelligence figures for five years. For the fourth application, the agency didnt just hide that fact, but deliberately falsified evidence to claim he was not a source.

Inspector General Michael Horowitz already revealed that Clinesmith had deliberately falsified evidence in his sprawling 434-page report on FBI malfeasance in the anti-Trump spy campaign. The 5-page charging document signed by U.S. Attorney John Durham summarizes the incriminating facts of the case and demonstrates the broader corruption of the process used to illegally spy on Page, a Trump campaign affiliate.

The New York Times, one of the corporate media outlets that helped the FBI weaponize its conspiracy theory that President Donald Trump had conspired with Russia to steal the 2016 election, claimed that the deal to plead guilty showed no evidence of a broad anti-Trump conspiracy among law enforcement officials.

In fact, contrary to the unsubstantiated assertion from the Times, the charging documents highlight that all four of the applications to spy on Carter Page painted a false picture of the Trump affiliate. While the fourth application included outright falsified evidence regarding Page helping the CIA during the relevant time period, the other three withheld that information even though it was known to the Crossfire Hurricane team within days of opening an investigation on the Trump campaign and months before the first application to spy on Carter Page was granted.

Contrary to the New York Times reporting that Clinesmiths deception was not part of any wider misconduct, Inspector General Horowitzs report shows otherwise. We found that, although this information [of Pages cooperation with the CIA] was highly relevant to the FISA application, the Crossfire Hurricane team did not engage with the other agency regarding this information, he wrote. He further noted that the factual basis supporting probable cause to spy on Page relied upon Pages contacts with known Russian intelligence officers, along with since-debunked claims made in four portions of the Steele dossier, a collection of drunken brainstorming and unsubstantiated gossip that was used as part of an anti-Trump operation of the Hillary Clinton campaign. Page, a Naval Academy graduate who was accused in the media of sedition against his country, had candidly discussed those contacts with an FBI asset and the CIA had told the Crossfire Hurricane team that on August 17, 2016. Horowitz listed this failure to inform the spy court of these facts that undermined their probable cause claim as the first of 17 major omissions and errors that corrupted the FBIs spying on the Trump campaign.

1. Omitted information from another U.S. government agency detailing its prior relationship with Page, including that Page had been approved as an operational contact for the other agency from 2008 to 2013, and that Page had provided information to the other agency concerning his prior contacts with certain Russian intelligence officers, one of which overlapped with facts asserted in the FISA application;

The Justice Department already admitted that two of the application renewals were illicit. Informed observers speculate the first application and first renewal to spy on the Trump ally may suffer the same fate. Durhams charging document, along with the exhaustive IG report, show that Clinesmiths deception was part of a broader conspiracy against Page.

In fact, as critical as Horowitzs report was toward Clinesmith for maliciously and willfully altering the documents used to justify spying on Page, he highlighted the errors of others, including Case Agent 1, thought to be FBI agent Steven Somma, as well. When Case Agent 1 was explicitly asked in late September 2016 by the Attorney assisting on the FISA application about Pages prior relationship with this other agency, Case Agent 1 did not accurately describe the nature and extent of the information the FBI received from the other agency, Horowitz wrote.

Case Agent 1 was primarily responsible for some of the most significant errors and omissions in the FISA applications, Horowitz wrote, highlighting as well Sommas mischaracterization of Steeles prior reporting as credible, the failure to note that Steeles reporting of a well-developed conspiracy of cooperation between Trump and Russia was contradicted by statements from George Papadopoulos, the failure to note Steeles reporting of communications between Paul Manafort and Carter Page was disputed, the failure to note that Steeles claim of Page meeting with Russian businessman Igor Sechin and Russian official Igor Divyekin was disputed, the failure to note DOJ official Bruce Ohrs discrediting comments on Steeles election reporting, and the failure to note that Steeles sub-source Igor Danchenko disputed Steeles reporting. Horowitz said he did not find his explanations for so many significant and repeated failures to be satisfactory.

Somma was also the agent who handled Stefan Halper, the individual who was identified as spreading some of the false information about Mike Flynn, Trumps National Security Advisor who was illegally targeted by the FBI and ousted as a result of a high-level criminal leak campaign against him.

Some Mistake

Another falsehood uncritically parroted by the New York Times reporter Adam Goldman, who was previously awarded a Pulitzer for his role in spreading the damaging Russia collusion theory, was that Clinesmith had merely made a mistake while trying to clarify facts for a colleague. The claim, pushed in the second paragraph of the story, is highly at odds with the litany of facts laid out in the Horowitz report and the charging document.

The Crossfire Hurricane team had already been notified by the CIA on August 17, 2016, of Pages assistance in Russian-related matters. Page himself had told the FBIs Confidential Human Source of his assistance to the CIA, and that had also been reported back to the FBI. But only when Page publicly stated that hed been a U.S. intelligence source did the FBI revisit the issue, just before the third and final application renewal was set to be filed.

Clinesmith told Horowitz it was a big, big concern from both [the Office of Intelligence] and from the FBI that we had been targeting [an individual with a prior relationship with the other agency], because that should never happen without us knowing about it. He said the Crossfire Hurricane team was spun up about this concern, and that if it were true, they would need to provide that to the court

because such information would drastically change[] the way that we would handle  [the] FISA application.

Others at the FBI told Horowitz that the issue of whether Page was a source or not was very important especially if he was being tasked to engage Russians, then it would absolutely be relevant for the Court to know  [and] could also seriously impact the predication of our entire investigation which focused on [Pages] close and continuous contact with Russian/Russia-linked individuals.

Clinesmith contacted the CIA to seek additional information and then altered the information he received to claim Page was not a source.

When Clinesmith contacted the CIA, he specifically wrote, We need some clarification on Carter Page. There is an indication that he may be a [digraph] source. This is a fact we would need to disclose in our next FISA renewal (we would not name the [U.S. government agency] of course). He asked if Page was a source in any capacity and if he is, what a digraph was or what type of source Page was. Digraph refers to the two-letter code used to describe operational contacts of the agency.

When the CIA official responded, she did so with a list of documents that the agency had provided the Crossfire Hurricane team previously, including the August 17 memorandum that laid out how Page was an operational contact for the agency. The CIA doesnt use the term source, she later explained. She also explained what the digraph was and why the CIA encrypts the person providing reporting to the agency.

Clinesmith thanked her for the information and said it answered his question. Clinesmith then claimed to his supervisor that Page was a U.S. subsource of a source, and later claimed that was how he interpreted the CIA liaisons response in an alleged phone call with her. He claimed that during this alleged phone call, she said Page was not a source. The liaison strongly disputed this claim, citing her email that stated the opposite, that Page was a U.S. person who had provided direct reporting to the other U.S. government agency in the past. The liaison also said that the reason she offered, in her email, to assist in providing language for the FISA application was because she was telling the OGC Attorney that, using the FBIs terminology, Page had been a source for the other agency. The liaison also stated that she saw no basis for the OGC Attorney to have concluded, based on their communications and the August 17 Memorandum, that Page never had a direct relationship with the other agency.

And to top it all off, she also said she did not recall having any telephone discussions with the OGC Attorney on this issue, according to Horowitz.

Clinesmith requested a phone call with the Office of Intelligence attorney and they spoke for a half hour. At the end of the call, he forwarded an email but removed the initial inquiry about whether Page was a source. Clinesmith said he didnt recall why he left out important context, including the portion of the email asking Is Page a source in any capacity? After the email, the Office of Intelligence attorney said they could drop the matter and Clinesmith said it was music to my ears.

Clinesmith and the Supervisory Special Agent 2 exchanged instant messages on the matter on June 19, 2017. The agent asked for an update on whether Page was a source. Clinesmith told him, falsely, that the code used to indicate that Page was a source just meant that he was a masked USPER caught up in communications with a real source and that even that communication was closed as unhelpful. He said that when he told the Office of Intelligence Attorney, they agreed it need not be addressed in the FISA application renewal. Clinesmith also falsely claimed that the CIA confirmed explicitly he was never a source. He added, at least we dont have to have a terrible footnote. The supervisory Special Agent said interesting they say not a source. We thought otherwise based on the writing  and asked Clinesmith if he had it in writing. Clinesmith said hed forward it.

At that point, Clinesmith forwarded the falsified document, a crime to which he was expected to plead guilty today.

Clinesmith said he falsely stated that the CIA had confirmed explicitly that Page wasnt a source because it was just shorthand for his alleged discussion with the CIA liaison.

The Supervisory Agent said he understood Clinesmiths comment about not having to draft a terrible footnote to mean the team wouldnt have to explain late in the process how they just now come to determine that [Page] was an asset of the [other agency] and probably being tasked to engage  [with] Russians which is  why we opened a case on him. He told Horowitz that he understood Clinesmith to be saying, that the opticwould be terrible if the prior FISA applications were dubious in light of a relationship between Page and the other agency, and the FBI was only becoming aware of that relationship in the third renewal application and after Pages public statements.

All this and more was characterized by New York Times report Adam Goldmans sources as a mere mistake to which Clinesmith for some reason pleaded guilty.

In large part because of their role as co-conspirators in the Russia collusion hoax, the media move to downplay the facts surrounding the hoax even when they must be conceded, such as when individuals involved plead guilty to crimes, or when reports from independent investigators catalogue 17 major errors and omissions.

That all four the applications to spy on Page failed to include the key exonerating information of his role as a source to U.S. intelligence is major news, even as the Pulitzer winners try to pretend otherwise.

Read more at: TheFederalist.com and FBICorruption.news.
Bengaluru: The slow and steady surge of SDPI in Karnataka is slowly threatening the minority vote bank of Congress in the state. However, at the moment, SDPI is also playing into the hands of individual politicians, without contesting in some of the key constituencies. This is happening at a time when the JD(S) is losing its grip on minority voters, who are consolidating in favor of Congress.

Right now, SDPI is strong in Mysuru, Mangaluru and Bengaluru, where it has made its presence felt in local elections. Last year, there was an attack on Congress MLA Tanvir Sait, representing Narasimharaja constituency in Mysuru. The attacker was a SDPI activist and his party had given tough fight to Sait in the last two elections, polling 29,667 (2013) and 33,284 (2018) votes respectively.

Even during last year's violence in Mangaluru, SDPI hand was visible. However, the Congress had to take all the blame for the violence.

In Bengaluru, SDPI had fielded candidates in Sarvajna Nagar, Pulikeshinagar and Chickpet constituencies in 2013, where it polled 11,161, 5431 and 4821 votes respectively. In 2018, it contested only in Chickpet, where it polled over 11,700 votes. Interestingly, in both the elections, SDPI did not contest in Shivajinagar and Chamarajpet, which are Muslim dominated areas. However, after R Roshan Baig resigned from Congress to join BJP, the SDPI did field its candidate in Shivajinagar. However, it did not really divide the Muslim votes.

The Bengaluru riots did rake up a war of words between Baig and BZ Zameer, another Muslim leader of the Congress. When Zameer visited the house of a police firing victim, Baig said that Zameer was fostering and supporting SDPI in Bengaluru. Zameer, through a series of tweets questioned how SDPI fielded a candidate during 2019 by-elections, while it was silent for so many years in Shivajinagar when Baig was contesting.

CORPORATORS QUIZZED AND ASSOCIATE ARRESTED

Meanwhile, investigation into last week's riot is taking curious turns with the police summonning two Congress Corporators -- Sampath Raj and AR Zakir Hussain -- for interrogation and taking Sampath Raj's close associate Arun into their custody.

Meanwhile, KG Halli JD(S) leader Wajid Pasha has confessed that he was among those instigated the riot, and that he was constantly in touch with Arun, a close associate of Raj.

The investigating officers have found out that two mobile phones belonging to Arun were completely engaged during the violence. The police are questioning Arun to know if he was using both the phones during the violence. They are also trying to verify if Raj was the one using Arun's phone to be in touch with rioters.
Minsk: Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, said on Monday he would be ready to hold new elections and hand over power after a constitutional referendum, an attempt to pacify mass protests and strikes that pose the biggest challenge yet to his rule.

He made the offer, which he insisted would not be delivered while he was under pressure from protesters, after exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanovskaya said she was willing to lead the country.

People at a rally in Minsk on Monday hold a flag with a portrait of presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanovskaya. Credit:AP

In a sign of his growing vulnerability, Lukashenko faced heckling and chants of "step down" during a speech to workers at one of the large state-run factories that are the pride of his Soviet-style economic model and core support base.

He faces the threat of European Union sanctions after a bloody crackdown on protests following what demonstrators say was his rigged re-election victory last week. He cites official results that gave him just over 80 per cent of the vote.
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YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian team of servicemen has departed for Moscow to participate in ''International Army-games-2020'' competition from August 23 to September 5. The competition will tale place in Russia and Belarus.

ARMENPRESS reports the solemn opening ceremony of the Army-games 2020 will take place on August 23. The competitions will take place in Kostroma, Saratov, Penza and Brest.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY)(OTC PINK:LKMNF)(FRA:LKY) ("Lucky" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has recommenced field exploration work on its 100% owned Fortuna Property. Fortuna comprises approximately 55,000 hectares in a known mineralized zone in southern Ecuador.

Lucky's CEO, Mr Adrian Rothwell stated: "Lucky Minerals is excited to commence field exploration on the Fortuna Project and, in particular, on the newly defined Shincata Gold Trend on the property. The Company expects this initial program to be for a three-month period, and critical to defining drill targets."

The Shincata Epithermal Gold Trend

The exploration program for the next three months will focus on a northeast trending Miocene volcanic belt known as "The Shincata Gold Trend" that is host to the El Mozo epithermal gold deposit and includes several anomalous areas through the Fortuna 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 concessions. This trend extends for approximately 22 kilometres from Fortuna 10 in the SW to Fortuna 1 in the NE. See the map linked below.

Three exploration crews have started reconnaissance field geological work to assess known areas with the highest potential for the occurrence of gold mineralization, and into areas that have never previously been explored by the Company.

One crew has been deployed to the northern area of Fortuna 1, where a large gossanous area of hematite and jarosite has been identified by satellite imagery.

The second crew has been deployed to the Fortuna 4 concession where anomalous gold in stream sediments and rock chips has been outlined from previous field work. Each field crew consists of a senior geologist, a junior geologist and a field assistant.

The third field crew consists of an experienced prospector and a field assistant. This crew will traverse into the central area of Fortuna 1 concession. Other work will include prospecting along the deeper incised creeks in the Fortuna 8, 9 and 10 concessions, and examining some quartz veins up to 1.50 meters true width previously identified in early 2018. This later work will be focused on the Fortuna 4 and 5 concessions and target epithermal and intrusive gold type targets.

The Company's geological team is led by Mr. Victor Jaramillo, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., Exploration Manager for Lucky Minerals.

Image: Shincata Epithermal Gold Trend with location of El Garo area in Fortuna 1 and the south Fortuna 10 anomalies. El Mozo epithermal deposit shown just south of Fortuna 10. Also is the location of the El Buitre porphyry target area.

El Garo Target

Exploration crews have discovered in the Fortuna 1 concession a large alteration area (called El Garo) measuring approximately 1.2 km long by approximately 600 meters wide, this area remains open in all directions. It is characterized by vuggy silica, hydrothermal breccias with a silica matrix, jarosite and also alunite impregnations all typical of epithermal gold systems.

Lucky Exploration Manager, Victor Jaramillo, P.Geo., stated "The discovery of a large area of altered volcanics in the "El Garo" area (Fortuna 1), with quartz veinlets, hydrothermal breccias, areas of clay alteration, strong silicification, jarosite, hypogene alunite and vuggy silica, are all good indications of a precious metal epithermal type system never before recognized in this area. With only a few days of field work completed, we are excited to continue mapping and extending the area, including doing Terraspec analysis to determine alteration minerals and extend rock sampling throughout the area".

Image: Hand specimen from El Garo area of a hydrothermal volcanic breccia (Fortuna 1). It is silicified, with silica flooding in the matrix and alunite impregnations.

Image: El Garo Area outcrop of vuggy silica and boxwork type cavities with limonite and alunite in Fortuna 1.

South Fortuna 10 Soils

Other work will include a grid soil sampling program on the southernmost area of the Fortuna 10 concession. This area lies approximately 1.5 kms north of the El Mozo epithermal gold deposit, and field mapping has identified a 3.8 km x 1.8 km area of residual soils and scattered fragments of silica vein float. Rock grab samples have returned anomalous geochemical results for silver, arsenic, antimony, barium and bismuth. These are typical pathfinder elements generally associated to epithermal gold mineralization at depth and will be followed up with the grid soils and geophysical testing.

Image showing area of residual soils in the Fortuna 10 concession. Approximately 1.5 kms South is the El Mozo Gold Deposit.

Image showing soil grid lines (green) in Fortuna 10

Work on Fortuna 8, 9, and 10

During February 15th to March 15th, Lucky Minerals' geological staff completed an initial phase of field reconnaissance work on the Fortuna 8, 9, and 10 concessions, along the northeast trending Shincata Epithermal Gold Belt.

Image: Geochem (Stream Sediments) on Fortuna 2, 3, and 6 and 11, also showing El Garo and El Mozo.

Compilation of work 2007-2019.

In the above image to the left, a cluster of anomalous gold in stream sediment samples is shown. This area will require follow-up work to explore for the source of the gold.

The open area between the Fortuna 4 and 9 concessions lies along the drainage of the Shincata River which has seen extensive alluvial gold mining. This river originates from the Fortuna 1, 3 and 4 concessions. This river follows a NE structural trend that is parallel to the Miocene volcanic belt that hosts El Mozo gold deposit.

About Lucky

Lucky is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna and Emigrant Projects.

The Company's Fortuna Project is a royalty-free 550 km2 (55,000 Ha, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concession. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, gold belt in southern Ecuador. Lucky has a memorandum of understanding on Fortuna with First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum") whereby First Quantum is able to earn up to 70% of copper targets.

The Emigrant Creek Project covers a 15 km2 area in an intensely altered and mineralized porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum system in southern Montana.

Covid-19 Safety Protocols

After a country wide two-month shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The government approved new health and safety protocols for the transportation of workers to and from mine sites.

The company has presented all the necessary protocols required by the national government for the restart of activities and has imposed every action in coordination with national and provincial authorities. These protocols comply with national and international safety standards which were adopted to protect the health and safety of the communities surrounding the Fortuna project, as well as our team working in the field. Lucky has commenced field work consisting of prospecting, geophysics and geochemical testing to confirm drilling targets.

Lucky Minerals has strict rules in place for all workers arriving to and from field sites. All personnel will be tested upon arriving and leaving and be tested every two weeks. All personnel are housed in separate and private accommodations and are isolated from the community. There are no more than three workers per vehicle.

Qualified Person:

Victor Jaramillo, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., Lucky's Exploration Manager and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Fortuna Project for Lucky Minerals and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Adrian Rothwell"

Chief Executive Officer

Further information on Lucky can be found on the Company's website at www.luckyminerals.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting Adrian Rothwell, President and CEO, by email at investors@luckyminerals.com or by telephone at (866) 924 6484.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Properties and Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labor relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations also include risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE: Lucky Minerals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602178/Lucky-Minerals-Begins-Field-Exploration-Program-on-Fortuna-Ecuador
An Australian man serving time in Bali's most notorious prison for drug offences has had his sentence reduced as part of Indonesian Independence Day celebrations.

Brendon Johnsson, 45, was arrested with Indonesian girlfriend Remi Purwanto, also 45, at their Kuta home in August 2018.

Johnsson was found with 11.6 grams of cocaine and sentenced to five years and four months in Kerobokan Prison.

Brendon Johnsson (pictured right) was sentenced to five years and four months in Kerobokan Prison along with his Indonesian girlfriend Remi Purwanto (pictured left)

Johnsson (pictured) and Purwanto were both sentenced to nearly six years in prison

Johnsson and Purwanto were initially facing a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and the possibility of a death sentence.

Under Indonesian drug laws, anyone found to be dealing more than five grams of cocaine can be hit with the maximum penalty.

But thanks to Indonesia's tradition of slashing jail time on August 17 - the day the nation became independent from the Dutch - the drug traffickers both had three months knocked off their sentences.

According to Johnsson's stepfather Ashley Robinson, who has received an Order of Australia medal for his charitable work, the time his stepson has served in jail has actually been positive.

Johnsson (pictured left) and Purwanto (pictured right) are pictured immediately after being arrested

The Sunshine Coast man was found to be in possession of about $3,000 worth of cocaine

Johnsson and Purwanto were pictured in orange suits and balaclavas in August 2018

Johnsson has freed himself from drug addiction and is now looking to teach a concrete rendering course in Kerobokan Prison to help local inmates learn the skill.

Mr Robinson said at the time it was heartbreaking to see loved ones go to jail, but he hoped Johnsson's imprisonment had a 'silver lining' because he is now drug free for the first time since he was 16 - more than 27 years ago.

'He's in prison, but he is a different person. He's thinking clearly  he's going to the meetings, he's doing everything right and we're really proud of him as a family,' Mr Robinson told reporters outside Denpasar Court after sentencing.

'He's got to pay the price for what he's done. He's just got to put his head down now and do his time and be a good prisoner and be productive in there.

'I hope that people watching in Australia know that you cannot, do not do stupid things like Brendon did here because there are consequences and he's got to pay the price.'

Prosecutors suggested that Johnsson and Purwanto had been dealing drugs in the Kuta area for about five years before their arrest

Johnsson's stepfather Ashley Robinson said imprisonment was a 'silver lining' because he is now drug free for the first time in more than 27 years (Johnsson pictured at his trial)

A total of 13 packets of cocaine were discovered when Bail authorities raided their Kuta home

Prosecutors suggested that Johnsson and Purwanto had been dealing drugs in the Kuta area for about five years before their arrest.

Their operation was uncovered when police raided a boarding house where a woman was found with a packet of cocaine in her pocket, along with two packets in a sanitary pad package and one packet in a pillow.

The woman confessed she had bought the drugs from Purwanto, which led the police to raid the couple's beachside home.

Along with the prison sentence, the pair were also fined more than $80,000 each.

Johnsson and Purwanto accepted the penalty and did not appeal the conviction.

Johnsson (pictured centre) and Purwanto (pictured left) are seen drinking cocktails
Britain would 'run out of food by the end of the week' if it was reliant on just British-produced food, according to a new study.

On Friday 21 August, the country would notionally have run out of food if the public had only eaten British food from 1 January 2020.

Dubbed self-sufficiency day, the NFU said without imports the UK would not be able to get through to the end of the year without running out of food.

The country's self-sufficiency has declined over recent years and farmers are calling for politicians to take this fact seriously.

Research from City Universitys Centre for Food Policy shows that Britain now imports 93 percent of its fruit and 47 percent of vegetables.

Professor Tim Lang told The New European: A country that has low self-sufficiency puts itself at risk of any geopolitics and we are in exactly that sort of uncertainty now.

"The world is facing extreme pressures from people, food, climate and landmass. Britain is still acting as though [it has] an empire. It doesnt; Britain is assuming others will feed [it].

Minette Batters, president of the NFU added: Covid has stretched everything to the limit and we have to take a different line on food security and the amount of food that is produced here.

Its the perfect storm of events. This self-sufficiency day sends a message to the government for the need to really prioritise food.
Citizenship, the situation in the Nineveh plain and the Christians affected by the explosions in Lebanon at the center of the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chaldean patriarch. For the auxiliary bishop of Baghdad, the reconstruction of houses and employment are the priorities. Listen to the voice of the young people demonstrating. Al-Kazemi's affection for Pope Francis.

Baghdad (AsiaNews) - The return of Christians to Iraq, aid for the repatriation of those who emigrated to Lebanon and were also affected by the tragic 4 August explosion, citizenship as a common basis for coexistence, the emergence of the new coronavirus.

These are the priorities that emerged in the recent meeting between the Chaldean patriarch, Card Louis Raphael Sako, and Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, shared by Msgr. Basilio Yaldo, auxiliary of Baghdad and close collaborator of the cardinal.

The prelate confirms: "A nice and cordial meeting with a person we have known for a long time, since he was head of the secret services and who has already received us on more than one occasion".

Msgr. Yaldo continues: After greeting us the premier expressed great satisfaction for this meeting which is a source of courage and support, because it comes from the head of the Catholic Church, and is an incentive to continue the work . The Prime Minister "asked to convey his greetings to Pope Francis and, speaking of the pontiff, he praised his simplicity, humility and charisma ... he has great affection for the Pope".

Going deeper into the details of the meeting between Card Sako and Prime Minister Al-Kazemi, the auxiliary of Baghdad underlines that "we talked about the return of Chaldean Christians from Lebanon and all Iraqis in general". They too, like all the population, were hit by the double explosion that gutted part of the capital and it is the task of the Iraqi authorities "to help those who want to return to their homeland. We too as a Church, together with the government, want to contribute and encourage their return, which has become an even greater urgency after this disaster ".

Together with the Iraqis of the diaspora, the Chaldean leaders are concerned about "Christians in Iraq: to keep the community and our faith alive we need to guarantee responses in terms of reconstruction of homes and employment, above all for the young people. Many have finished their studies, but are out of work. The government must do more for them, we told the premier and his collaborators that the voice of the protesters must be heard.

Since October 1st, the nation has been the scene of a vast movement against government and authority. The demonstrations, forcibly repressed by the police, led to the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, but the demonstrators - regardless of ethnic, confessional or religious distinctions - are aiming at the overthrow of the entire political class. The clamp down strengthened in late November, following the double assault on the Iranian consulate in Najaf, and caused a total of over 450 deaths and 20,000 injuries.

Protests, economy, unemployment, coronavirus emergency "which represents the most important challenge for the country today" as confirmed by Msgr. Yaldo, are unresolved issues. "It is essential to guarantee space for Iraqi entrepreneurs and businessmen who have made their fortunes abroad. We need to encourage them to invest in their country, come back and contribute to its development and wealth that's why we told the government to launch appeals to the people of the diaspora and invest in their return .

Finally, Patriarch Sako and the Prime Minister addressed the issue of the Christians of the Nineveh plain, who fled in the summer of 2014 following the rise of the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis) and the projects needed to ensure their safe return.

With this government - says Msgr. Yaldo - we have more hope, because there is evidence of good will even in a context that remains difficult. He said he intends to act as peacemaker and promote safe coexistence projects even in the most controversial areas ".

To do this, he concludes, they must boost citizenship as the basis for a common coexistence. A theme that is close to the heart of the Chaldean patriarch and even the premier said he wanted to support it, because we are all Iraqis. As a symbol of unity, we have proposed to play the national anthem in every event, conference or initiative at the state level ".
An elderly man is fighting for life after being brutally attacked with a mirror broken off his car.

Emilio Lombardi, 84, suffered serious head and facial injuries after being set upon in Cannington, in Perth's southern suburbs, on Sunday evening.

The man left his home on Henry Street East at about 7pm to investigate a disturbance happening outside his property when he was assaulted.

Two men believed to be aged between 25 and 30 then beat Mr Lombardi with a mirror broken off his car.

Disturbing pictures show the elderly man with a broken nose, black eye, numerous deep cuts and blood spattered all over his shirt, pants and hands.

Emilio Lombardi, 84, was assaulted outside his home in Cannington in Perth on Sunday suffering gruesome injuries (pictured)

Mr Lombardi left his home on on Henry Street East at about 7pm to investigate a disturbance happening outside his property when he was assaulted

Mr Lombardi's neighbour described the gruesome scenes he was faced with after hearing the commotion outside.

'I went to see what's going on and there was all blood along the front of the patio,' one neighbour told 7News.

'I looked inside and there's blood and guts inside the house.

'He's just a hell of a nice guy, grows veggies out the back, brings them over to us, just one hell of a guy.'

Acting Detective Sergeant Alexandra Hill said a weapon was used in the 'cowardly, disgusting and appalling act'.

'This is an 84-year-old man who's lived in this suburb for 40 years ... and been brutally assaulted in his front yard,' she told a press conference.

'They are horrific, horrific injuries that this man has sustained to his face. People should be able to feel safe in their own homes.'

Det-Sgt Hill said Mr Lombardi's family were 'shaken up' by the brutal assault.

'They are devastated ... It's been a very long week for them,' she said.

Mr Lombardi was found by police before being taken to Royal Perth Hospital by ambulance where he is awaiting surgery in intensive care.

He remains in a critical condition.

Mr Lombardi's neighbour (pictured) described him as 'just a hell of a nice guy'

Acting Detective Sergeant Alexandra Hill said a weapon was used in the 'cowardly, disgusting and appalling act'

Det Sgt Hill said there appeared to be no motive behind the brutal bashing.

The victim's ute, which was left with a smashed window and bloodstains, is being used in the police investigation.

There were at least five other reports of damage and disturbance on the night of the man's assault.

They were reported on Derisleigh Street, Henry Street, Burge Way, Railway Parade and Central Terrace from between 6pm and 8pm.

Detectives have launched an investigation into the incident and urged anyone who was in the area or has CCTV or dashcam footage of the assault to come forward.
LONG BEACH, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Technology and Internet of Things (IoT) company, Smarter Building Technologies (SBT) Alliance, hosted an interactive contact tracing webinar on June 17, 2020, at 2:00 PM Eastern (11:00 AM Pacific). This timely webinar pulled together industry experts and technologists to explore the concept of contact tracing and how today's IoT technologies can foster healthy environments. Speakers provided meaningful insights, tips, and best practices for businesses currently planning their reopening strategy as a result of COVID-19-related closures.

"COVID-19 has ushered in a whole new world of unknows for businesses of all shapes and sizes. With new health requirements, such as contact tracing and social distancing becoming the new normal, understanding how these new guidelines impact your business, employees, and customers is paramount. That's why we've gathered an all-star team of industry experts who shared essential best practices and explored how today's technology advancements can help ease the transition to a post-COVID workplace."  Kevin Martin, VP Marketing, SBT Alliance

Businesses of all sizes were encouraged to attend this free virtual event. Attendees provided lively discussion during the Q&A session with industry experts from the IoT controls manufacturing space, technologists, and health professionals.

Those who could not attend are encouraged to view a recording of the event here: Webinar Recording: Contact Tracing & Your Business: How Today's IoT Technologies Can Foster Healthy Environments

Key Topics Covered:

Understanding what contact tracing is and is not, and what's needed for it.

What contact tracing and social distancing mean for your business.

Whether or not IoT technologies can advance regulatory compliance.

What the future holds for the health, safety, and security of employees & customers.

Post-show attendees will hear from industry experts, including:

Kerri Barton , Maine Medical Center, Fmr. Epidemiologist Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

, Tanuj Mohan , CTO & Co-Founder, Enlighted

, Tony Garcia , CTO, SBT Alliance

, Shane Acernese , CSO, SBT Alliance

About SBT Alliance: Smarter Building Technologies Alliance is a technology-focused IoT integration partner for small, medium, and Fortune 500 organizations. Committed to building smart spaces through the Internet of Things (IoT), SBT Alliance guides customers to a digital future without breaking the bank. Learn how we achieve there at www.SBT4IOT.com.

Kevin Martin

Smarter Building Technologies Alliance, Inc

1-800-832-2943 Ext. 704

[email protected]

SOURCE Smarter Building Technologies Alliance, Inc.

Related Links

https://sbt-alliance.com


A file photo of Cai Xia, a former professor at the Chinese Communist Party's influential Central Party School, who was expelled from the CCP on Aug. 17, 2020 after issuing public criticism of top leaders.

Cai Xia, a retired professor of the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, following recent public criticism of CCP chief Xi Jinping, was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party with her pension stripped on August 17 for serious violations of political discipline of the Party. Widely known as one of the Hereditary [Second Generation] Red, descendants of founding members or important figures of the CCP, Cai Xia told RFA that she has no intention to remain on board with the current CCP leadership and is happy to be back with the ranks of the people. In an interview with Jane Tang of RFAs Mandarin Service late on Monday, the 68-year-old Cai discussed attitudes toward Xi Jinping within the CCP, under a system in which party members also face authoritarian surveillance, and shared updates of another elite critic of Xi, real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang, who was detained by the CCP last month.

RFA: The Central Party School claimed that you were expelled from the Chinese Communist Party because you have seriously violated CCP discipline. How did you learn of the decision? What is your response to the decision?

Cai Xia: They had spoken (with me) at 10 on Monday morning. I was not aware of the decision prior to the conversation. During the communication they read two decisions to me: One, my expulsion from the Chinese Communist Party, and two, my pension has been stripped. The conversation lasted for less than nine minutes. They did not say anything more. I said I will appeal the decision. I may have held a different political point of view, but you cannot take away my pension.

I have worked for my entire life, for more than 40 years. The pension is my right. What you have done is a violation of human rights. I have no objection to the expulsion from the party. I was already prepared for that to happen; it was just a matter of sooner or later.

RFA: As a former professor of the CCP Central Party School, you are now expelled from the party. Do you ever regret criticizing the CCP leader, calling him a "gang boss" who is continuing on this path down to the end, and for saying that Chinas only way out is to have a new leader?

Cai Xia: No (regrets). When the country makes wrong decisions on critical issues, the party must be responsible. The top leader of the CCP must shoulder the responsibility--not to mention nowadays there is no democratic decision-making process within the party. Xi Jinping is calling all the shots on major issues. I call him a gang boss because there is no transparency, and there is no decision-making mechanism. When different opinions surface, coming from people like me, they can expel you from the party and take your pension away.

As for other individuals in the party, they can use measures like what they have done with Ren Zhiqiang: that is, to accuse him of corruption. They (the Communist Party) use this tactic to silence those who are critical of the party. How does this look like a modern political party? So, he (Xi) deserved it when I called him a gang boss. He only talks about democracy as lip service, but fundamentally he has no idea about what democracy is.

RFA: What is the sentiment within the CCP that Xi Jinping faces these days? If someone like you, who was once so loyal to the Party and who has studied the CCP for decades, is now stepping forward to express your criticism, is there strong opposition to him within the Party? Are there channels for CCP members to express their opinions?

Cai Xia: Between 2001 to around 2006, there were active discussions within the CCP, because everyone hoped, through theoretical studies, to promote intra-party democracy, to solve issues of political system reform in China, and to promote the perfection of the socialist economy system and of the market economy.

However, after he (Xi Jinping) took office, the room for discussion has gradually shrunk. For instance, I was invited to be a special research advisor of the National Society for Party Building Studies (NSPBS). They would consult with us for yearly research topics, which are distributed across the CCP, for party members to conduct research. At the end of the year, we would review the research papers and identify the good works.

In 2013, Intra-Party Democracy was not included in the list of research topics, and I raised the question of why it was not included. Ever since the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2002, fundamental democracy within the party has been an area of focus. The hope was that through progressive development of fundamental intra-party democracy, the CCP could promote democracy in the party and reform, and then the Party could further improve the countrys political environment. In 2014, there was still no mention of the Intra-Party Democracy system. No one commented about this. Eventually, the explanation was, It was a decision from the top.

RFA: You may have observed a major shift in the CCP's direction since 2008 and that the momentum began picking up speed since Xi took office. What were the critical reasons that prompted you to speak up now?

Cai Xia: The initial trigger was the passing of (Wuhan coronavirus whistle-blower) Dr. Li Wenliang. I signed the petition calling for freedom of speech after Li Wenliang died. The Central Party School called me for a conversation. Then there was the imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. I was of course furious about it, so I wrote an article to express my view on the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

I did not expect the recording of the private conversation to be leaked, though. (Originally) I did not intend to make it public, so I was very blunt in that talk. I pointed out that what the CCP has done is against the human civilization and that Xi Jinping is the biggest fool of all who made a very foolish decision. Once the recording was leaked, the school made a point to call me and ask, Did you make those comments? And I said, Yes.

We all know there is an (unspoken) rule: You can criticize the Chinese Communist Party, but you must not criticize Xi Jinping. After my comments (went viral), I knew it would be difficult for me to go back (to China). I did not intentionally leave China to be in the United States.

RFA: Within the Chinese Communist Party, what is the volume of calls for a new leadership?

Cai Xia: First, I want to make it clear that it is not an organized movement but more of a commonly shared sentiment. And it is not a new idea that only started today. We already discussed it when we entered the second half of the phase I of the US-China trade war. Not only was the 2018 Constitution amendment a mistake, on some levels, it was also a crime. What (Xi) has done has brought the entire country backwards more than a century.

RFA: In your opinion, do you think Xi is likely to be replaced in the next few years?

Cai Xia: For the moment, it is hard to tell. I think it is unlikely to depend solely on the CCP, because he (Xi) has broken up the entire party. There is no room and atmosphere to allow normal exchanges of opinions among people, so it is not possible for it to happen.

He has a tight grip on everyone. The advanced surveillance technology is not only utilized in monitoring Xinjiang and Tibet, but it is also applied to monitor CCP members as well as mid- and high-level officials. Around 2013, Xi Jinping also announced a policy that forbids the formation of any alumni associations or hometown associations; additionally, gathering after work is also not allowed. He was worried that such gatherings may provide room for cliques or political factions to grow within the Party.

Not only is normal socialization forbidden, but he also requires everyone to be debriefed on what has happened under their own roofs. It is never stipulated in any laws, but you should know better. If you fail to report as required, then it proves that your Party Spirit is weak.

Some practices within the party are not laid out in black and white, but he claims that these are the norms of the party, and we shall see whether your actions demonstrate strong Party Spirit, and whether you conform to the norms. Can you imagine language like this coming from a modern political party? Rhetoric that is usually heard in gangs and in the underworld is now prevalent within the Party.

RFA: In the short run, do you plan to return to China?

Cai Xia: Of course not. Under the current circumstances, how can I go back? I would be thrown into jail as soon as I got back.

RFA: Are there any updates on Ren Zhiqiang?

Cai Xia: A while ago I heard that Ren wanted to defend himself in court, and it was entered into the procuratorate for review. However, up until now, the attorney retained by his family has not been able to meet Ren. In other words, no one from the outside has seen him since he was disappeared and arrested. As good friends of Ren Zhiqiang, we are very worried and concerned about his safety.

RFA: Does the case of Ren's forced disappearance serve as a warning to silence outspoken critics like you?

Cai Xia: Indeed. Therefore, all my friends are telling me, Do not come back. If you come back to Beijing, then you will be put in jail like Ren Zhiqiang.
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Linkedin Winarno Zain (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 08:35 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066eaae1c 3 Opinion state-budget,2021-state-budget,government-debt,Sri-Mulyani,COVID-19,pandemic Free

This is a precarious time for all governments as they seek to prepare their budgets. They do not know when the disastrous pandemic will end, and they do not know what the final shape of the world economy will be after being swept by the pandemic, a severe recession, the highest levels of debt and bankruptcies on record and deglobalization.

Without knowing the full outcome of these developments, the credibility of the budget will be in doubt, as the spending plan is likely to be based on shaky assumptions.

In preparing its 2021 draft state budget  which President Joko Jokowi Widodo submitted to the House of Representatives on Aug. 14  the government was realistic enough to acknowledge these uncertainties. Even amid the talk of a recovery next year, government expenditure is projected to increase by only Rp 9 trillion (0.3 percent) to Rp 2.74 quadrillion (US$185 billion) in 2021, perhaps the smallest expenditure increase on record. With such a tiny increase and with lower deficits (from 6.3 percent of GDP to 5.5 percent of GDP) it is hard to see the 2021 budget as a fiscal stimulus. It is also not supportive of the projected growth of 4.5 to 5.5 percent.

The government has resigned itself to the fact that after huge tax cuts, tax relief and tax incentives, and amid low commodity prices, it cannot expect the recovery of its revenue to pre-COVID-19 levels any time soon. It projects tax revenue to total Rp 1.48 quadrillion in 2021, which is lower than in 2018 and 2019.

But amid these uncertainties, one thing is certain: the Indonesian governments debt will soar to unprecedented levels in 2021.

Read also: Indonesias 2021 state budget draft: What we know so far

Total government debt as of June 2020 stood at Rp 5.26 quadrillion (32.7 percent of GDP). Given the planned government bond issuance in the second half of 2020, the debt will increase to Rp 6.16 quadrillion (38.3 percent of GDP) by the end of 2020. In the 2021 proposed budget, the government projects its debt financing to be Rp 1.14 quadrillion, which will further raise government debt at the end of 2021 cumulatively to Rp 7.3 quadrillion, or 41.4 percent of GDP. Although this is still lower than the legal ceiling of 60 percent of GDP.

Amid the 5.32 percent economic contraction in the second quarter of 2020, total Indonesian foreign debt rose to $408.6 billion by the end of June, an increase of $9 billion.

Although that level of debt is the norm in many countries, for Indonesia it could have political ramifications, making the government more vulnerable to sharp criticisms and the political noise created by opposition parties.

The soaring government debt is one of the major factors affecting the economy, not only because of its impact on market confidence, but also because of the rising cost of its interest.

The interest paid by the government on its debt will soar to 2.2 percent of GDP in 2021, from an average of 1.7 percent of GDP in the last decade. As more funds will be allocated for debt servicing, expenditure for other growth supporting sectors, such as infrastructure, will be constrained.

The jump in interest costs is not only due to the increase in the nominal amount of debt value but also due to the higher yields on Indonesian government bonds, which are far higher than the costs Indonesias peer will have to pay on their debts (bonds)

As of July, the yield on 10-year Indonesian government bonds was 6.83 percent, the highest among emerging countries, except for Ukraine and South Africa. At the same time, the bond yield in Thailand was 1.22 percent, Malaysia 2.59 percent and the Philippines 2.74 percent.

The reasons for this wide gap, which reflects the level of confidence of investors in the economy, are not entirely clear as of now. It may have to do with the Indonesian capital market, which is still underdeveloped, lacking depth and sophistication. It may have to do with the credibility of the financial regulators. Or it may have to do with governance issues within the public and private sectors.

The government should find out if there is something fundamentally wrong with the Indonesias economic fundamentals.

To ease the governments debt burden, Bank Indonesia (BI) and the Finance Ministry have agreed on a cost sharing scheme whereby BI has agreed to bear some of the governments interest cost from the $40 billion debt monetization scheme this year. According to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, BI might bear Rp 35.9 trillion of the total burden. If realized, this would be a huge burden for BI, because according to BIs 2019 financial statement, its operational surplus in 2019 was Rp 48 trillion, a decline from Rp 67 trillion in 2018.

The added burden will narrow the distance between BIs surplus and deficit in its operations and if things get worse, BIs operations could be in deficit, which would erode its capital. In that case, the government would have to inject capital into BI to maintain its statutory capital of Rp 3.7 trillion. Therefore, BI and the Finance Ministry should be very careful in managing the debt monetization scheme, as the monetary policy will face credibility issues with the market and rating agencies.

Because of the soaring debt, the government should ensure that its debt will be deployed to produce the best results in fighting the spread of the virus and in pulling the economy into recovery next year. Unfortunately, the government has been overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crisis, and it is having difficulties implementing stimulus programs, which are mostly financed by debts. If this cannot be settled, then the sustainability of the governments debt will be called into question.

***

The writer is an economist and commissioner at a publicly listed oil and gas services company.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Oracle has entered the race to buy the US arm of social video app TikTok from Chinese owners ByteDance - along with Microsoft and Twitter, insiders claim.

The software giant has held talks with ByteDance, and is seriously considering buying the app's operations in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, according to the FT.

The race to take control of TikTok in the US follows a threat from President Donald Trump to shut it down unless an American firm takes ownership by mid-November.

Trump claims there is 'credible evidence' that TikTok poses a security threat, something the firm flatly denies, calling the claim 'rumours and misinformation'.

Microsoft is thought to be the current frontrunner to buy the app from its Chinese owners - with the possibility of them taking control in Europe and India as well.

No financial details have been revealed about the sale, but it is thought the Microsoft deal - which could include all global TikTok operations - may be worth $50 billion.

TikTok is reportedly planning to sue the Trump administration over the president's executive order banning the Chinese app from the US (file photo)

TikTok is currently the fourth most popular app on the Apple App Store, the sixth most popular on the Google Play Store and the 7th most downloaded app of the last decade despite not launching until 2016.

Oracle are believed to be working with US investors including General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital - both of which already have a stake in TikTok owner ByteDance.

TikTok expert Timothy Armoo, the 25-year-old CEO of Fanbytes and founder of the first UK TikTok influencer house, says Oracle buying the service makes no sense.

'The deal makes zero sense when seen from a business lens but starts to make more sense when you consider Larry Ellison [Oracle chairman and chief technology officer] is an open Trump supporter and a friend of the President,' Armoo said.

He said as Oracle is an enterprise company there will be some wins in terms of access to data and cloud solutions - but nobody in the Oracle senior team had likely ever thought or cared about TikTok.

'This rumour has little commercial sense behind it,' Armoo said, adding that the two firms serve massively different demographics and cultures.

ByteDance is said to be opposed to selling any assets beyond those in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, insiders claim.

Twitter also held early-stage discussions with ByteDance but there were concerns over whether they could finance any deal for the popular app, the FT reported.

The talks of a TikTok buyout saw gains of $95 billion added to Microsoft's worth, bringing its total value to more than $1.6 trillion

The ByteDance headquarters in Beijing, China is pictured on August 7. According to insiders there is a lot of code-sharing between ByteDance products so separating US operations could take years

Mr Trump vowed to ban TikTok in the US after a recommendation from the Committee on Foreign Investment - a panel that vets foreign transactions in the US.

The move would require ByteDance to divest TikTok's US operations within 90 days.

CHINESE-OWNED APP TIKTOK IS AMONG THE MOST POPULAR SOCIAL PLATFORMS TikTok is a Chinese social media app where users can live stream, create short videos and music videos and Gifs with a host of functions. TikTok's tagline is 'Make every second count'. It was the most downloaded app in the US in 2018 and the world's fourth most downloaded app in 2018, ahead of Instagram and Snapchat. TikTok is known in China as Douyin where it was launched in 2016 and then made more widely available around the world in 2017. Douyin is still the version of the app used in China, available to download separately to TikTok. Most children use the app to film themselves lip-syncing to chart hits. It offers users a raft if colourful modification and editing tools including overlaying music, sound, animated stickers, filters and augmented reality (AR) for creating short videos. The Beijing based social network has more than 500 million active users and the company is now worth more than $75 billion (58 billion). Advertisement

The president claimed the US has 'credible evidence' that Chinese-owned ByteDance was using TikTok to breach US security - something the firm has denied.

TikTok has stepped up its defence against US accusations that the popular video app is a national security threat, denouncing what it called 'rumours and misinformation' about its links to the Chinese government.

On a web page titled The Last Sunny Corner of the Internet TikTok maintained it was setting the record straight about the platform.

'TikTok has never provided any US user data to the Chinese government, nor would it do so if asked,' the company said in the post.

'Any insinuation to the contrary is unfounded and blatantly false.'

It adds that US user data is stored in the US with a backup in Singapore.

As tensions soar between the world's two biggest economies, Trump has claimed TikTok could be used by China to track the locations of federal employees, build dossiers on people for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.

TikTok said the US action 'risks undermining global businesses' trust in the United States' commitment to the rule of law, which has served as a magnet for investment and spurred decades of American economic growth.'

TikTok also repeated its intention to 'pursue all remedies available to us in order to ensure that the rule of law is not discarded.'

ByteDance is also reportedly planning to sue the Trump administration over the president's executive order banning the Chinese app from the US - but nothing has been filed with any US court to date.

Separating the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand TikTok operations from the global system won't be an easy problem to solve, according to ByteDance insiders.

This is in part because they all share a single back-end system, so would require that to be split off while still allowing global TikTok users to connect.

There would also need to be an audit of all of the code and servers that run TikTok - something that could take months or even years to complete, experts claim.

The other major problem facing any potential sale is that ByteDance shares code between TikTok and other products it publishes - so that would need to be unwound.

'The details of a potential split would be complex to say the least. Microsoft, or whoever purchases TikTok, would need to audit all of the code, servers, business contracts, processes, and even employees before they make any substantial changes,' security expert Patrick Jackson told the South China Morning Post.

No details of pricing, or how any deal with a US firm will work, have been revealed.

Oracle are said to be interested in taking the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand operations - enough to meet Mr Trump's requirements and satisfy ByteDance.

The race to take control of TikTok in the US follows a threat from President Donald Trump to shut it down unless an American firm takes ownership by mid-November

Oracle founder Larry Ellison has openly supported Donald Trump, and his decision to enter the race for TikTok has given ByteDance an alternative to Microsoft.

The app, which has had two billion downloads in 2020 alone, has become one of the most important platforms for influencers and content producers - with many brands also now using the social media app to promote their products.

WHAT DOES MICROSOFT STAND TO GAIN FROM BUYING THE US ARM OF TIKTOK? TikTok's catchy videos and ease of use has made it popular, and it says it has tens of millions of users in the U.S. and hundreds of millions globally. Its parent company, ByteDance acquired Shanghai-based video app Musical.ly in a $1 billion deal in 2017 and relaunched it as TikTok the following year. In its statement, $1.5 trillion company Microsoft said it may invite other American investors to participate on a minority basis in the purchase of TikTok. Financial terms were undisclosed. ByteDance was valued at as much as $140 billion earlier this year. Any deal with Microsoft to buy TikTok could be worth billions of dollars. It could also expose the company, which already owns Xbox, LinkedIn and Skype, to tech savvy teens. Advertisement

Sources have suggested ByteDance could choose to just 'walk away' from the US market and remove TikTok operations completely.

This is based on the understanding that China-only sister app Douyin earns the bulk of revenue for ByteDance - rather than the global TikTok.

However, it is believed that ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming is reluctant to take that action as it could significantly slow the global growth of TikTok.

The US isn't the only country investigating the Chinese-owned service. India has banned TikTok from operating in the country and France has launched a probe into how it collects data.

While Microsoft is the frontrunner to buy the social media service, its employees aren't thrilled at the idea, with a majority calling the move 'unethical'.

A survey of staff which asked them for their opinions on the merger found 63 per cent were opposed with just 18 per cent in favour.

Posting on an internal company social network called Yammer, staff said it feels like 'we're not doing the right thing' by entering into the negotiations.

No specifics have been revealed about the Oracle deal, beyond that the firm is in talks to buy the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand operations.

China slammed Washington for using 'digital gunboat diplomacy' in the TikTok case.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Monday said TikTok had done everything required by the US, including hiring Americans as its top executives, hosting its servers in the US and making public its source code.

But the app has been 'unable to escape the robbery through trickery undertaken by some people in the US based on bandit logic and political self-interest,' Zhao said at a regular press conference.

TikTok is still working to expand and offer new services - it announced an alliance with music distribution platform UnitedMasters.

The deal to integrate UnitedMasters into TikTok promised to build on a trend of the platform being a way for musicians to be discovered by posting short-clip videos.

It will allow creators on the Chinese video sharing app to directly distribute their music to streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
The timing of the works will be respected, and this major project will be divided into several stages over a period of about two years.

Despite an extremely quiet period during the lockdown, it has not been possible to renew the tarmac of Luxembourg Airport's runway. This due to the complexity of the project as well as the calls for tender made at the European level.

Minister for Mobility Francois Bausch made a point of providing some clarifications in his answer to a parliamentary question by Pirate Party MPs Marc Goergen and Sven Clement.

Usually, about 6,300 air movements are recorded on average at Luxembourg Airport. During the state of emergency, this number dropped drastically to 1,100 in April and 1,700 movements in May.
Lebanese citizens have over 100 skilled worker options to choose from if they wish to immigrate to Canada.

How to immigrate to Canada from Lebanon Lebanese citizens have over 100 skilled worker options to choose from if they wish to immigrate to Canada.

How to immigrate to Canada from Lebanon Lebanese citizens have over 100 skilled worker options to choose from if they wish to immigrate to Canada.

How to immigrate to Canada from Lebanon Lebanese citizens have over 100 skilled worker options to choose from if they wish to immigrate to Canada. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Lebanese immigration to Canada began in 1882.

There are now an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 people of Lebanese origin living in Canada, according to the Canadian government.

Over the past five years, about 1,800 Lebanese citizens have immigrated to Canada each year.

The main way for Lebanese nationals to immigrate to Canada is as skilled workers.

Under Canadas current Immigration Levels Plan 2020-2022, the country is targeting the admissions of at least 340,000 new immigrants per year. The coronavirus pandemic makes it unlikely that Canada will achieve this target in 2020. However, Canada has continued to select new skilled workers throughout the pandemic.

About 60 per cent of new immigrants arrive to Canada as skilled workers.

Canada evaluates skilled workers based on criteria such as their age, education, language skills, and work experience.

Due to their high levels of human capital, Lebanese citizens have an advantage when submitting skilled worker applications.

One such reason is the strong English and/or French language proficiency of Lebanese citizens. English and French are Canadas two official languages.

Express Entry

Under Express Entry, immigration candidates can earn up to 290 points for their official language skills. This is more than 50 per cent of the points that a candidate typically needs to successfully obtain a permanent residence invitation through Express Entry.

Express Entry is Canadas main program for skilled workers. Interested candidates need to be eligible for one of the three programs operated under Express Entry. If you have not worked or studied in Canada before, you will most likely need to be eligible under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).

If you are eligible for the FSWP, you can submit your Express Entry profile onto the Canadian governments website. Submitting a profile is free, but candidates need to incur some expenses to take an English and/or French language test, and also to get their educational credentials assessed.

Every two weeks, the Canadian government invites Express Entry candidates with the highest scores to apply for permanent residence. The Canadian government then aims to process completed permanent residence applications within six months.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada has maintained its bi-weekly Express Entry draws and has been inviting successful immigration candidates who currently live overseas. This is due to the Canadian governments recognition that immigration will be critical to Canadas economy after the pandemic.

Find out if you are eligible for Express Entry

The PNP and Quebec

There are two other major skilled worker options for Lebanese skilled workers.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) enables Canadas provinces and territories to nominate skilled workers that meet their economic needs. If you have the occupational profile and/or strong French-language skills, you can obtain a permanent residence nomination from one of the nine provinces and two territories that operate the PNP. You can apply to a PNP stream directly. The best thing to do is to submit an Express Entry profile (if you are eligible) since this gives you more options. While in the Express Entry pool, you can either get a permanent residence invitation from the Canadian government directly, or from a province or territory under the PNP.

Provinces such as Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia look to select skilled workers who speak French, and successful Lebanese applicants will find strong Lebanese communities in such provinces.

The third major option for Lebanese nationals to consider is Quebecs skilled worker system. Unlike the other options, Lebanese candidates who apply to immigrate to Quebec need to speak French.

When you add all of Canadas skilled worker options together, Lebanese citizens have over 100 immigration programs that are available to help them obtain Canadian permanent residence.

Get a free skilled worker immigration assessment

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
PHNOM PENH  Adidas, Puma, Nike, Gap and H&M have backed a letter addressed to Cambodias Economy Minister Aun Pornmoniroth, expressing concern over the countrys plans to build new coal power plants which they feel betray their own environmental sustainability drives.

Sent on the day that Cambodia became partially suspended from the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement, August 11th; the letter warns that the south east Asian nation, which relies heavily on its garment manufacturing industry, could fall out of favour with brands and retailers if it fails to align with the values of an increasingly sustainability-minded customer base.

Electricity decisions made today will lock Cambodia into a future that appears to be the opposite of global and regional trends and less attractive to our industry, it reads. Countries that today prioritise renewable energy and a green future will avoid wasting money on outdated technologies that will soon be obsolete and expensive.
A Zimbabwe court on Tuesday ordered a top rights lawyer be barred from representing a prominent journalist because she allegedly ran Facebook pages critical of the country's justice system.

The magistrate court in Harare ruled that Beatrice Mtetwa -- an internationally acclaimed lawyer who has been at the forefront of defending the country's human rights activists -- be removed from representing award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin'ono.

Chin'ono faces charges of inciting violence for his role in promoting protests against corruption in late July that were banned and led to a government crackdown on dissent.

The state accused Mtetwa of writing contemptuous letters to the country's magistrates and high courts, and of running Facebook pages that denigrated the courts.

"In view of the submissions by both the state and the defence, the disqualification of the lead counsel Beatrice Mtetwa as requested by the state be and is hereby granted," ruled magistrate Ngoni Nduna.

The posts undermined public confidence in the courts, the magistrate said.

"The picture portrayed a biased justice system and the world was invited to an outrage over abuse of human rights," he added.

Mtetwa denied any knowledge of the Facebook pages.

She said the government was leading a "personal" attack against her with a "chilling effect" on other lawyers.

"The idea is to say to human rights lawyers: if you represent such a client we will come after you," Mtetwa told reporters outside court, adding that her team would challenge the decision.

"The right to legal representation has been curtailed by a court which is supposed to be supporting that right."

Mtetwa had served as the lead counsel for Chin'ono, who helped expose a multimillion-dollar corruption scandal involving the procurement of coronavirus protection gear and test kits.

The journalist has been in jail since he was arrested by armed police at his house in Harare on July 20.

Story continues

Chin'ono had encouraged the public to join the July 31 anti-government protests via Twitter.

The protests were then banned, and around 20 activists who held demonstrations in their neighbourhoods were arrested and have since been freed on bail.

Those arrested included internationally acclaimed writer and Booker Prize nominee Tsitsi Dangarembga.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to order transfer of money from the PM Cares Fund to the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), saying both are entirely different kinds of donations.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan held that PM Cares Fund are about voluntarily donations to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and the budgetary allocations are in the form of a public trust.

On the other hand, NDRF is a statutorily created fund, which has nothing to do with the PM Cares Fund, noted the court.

It added that people are free to make donations in either of the two, and that the government, in its discretion, can also transfer money from PM Cares to NDRF.

Deciding a plea regarding the PM Cares and other aspects relating to the pandemic, the court also gave a thumbs up to the government for having its 2019 National Plan in place.

The bench held there is no need for a new plan in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and that the plan in place can take care of all the exigencies.

It further said the standards of minimum care laid down under the 2019 National Plan are sufficient to take care of the latest public health emergency.

The Supreme Court order is a big relief for the central government, which was repeatedly questioned by the Opposition over the manner in which PM Cares was set up and lack of transparency in its spendings.

On March 28, Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund was established with the primary objective to deal with any kind of emergency situation like the one currently posed by the Covid-19 outbreak and provide relief to those affected.

The Prime Minister is the ex-officio chairman of the fund and the defence, home and finance ministers are its ex-officio trustees.

The plea by NGO CPIL had claimed the PM Cares Fund is allegedly in contravention of provisions of the Disaster Management Act.

An audit of the NDRF is being conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) but the government has said the audit of the PM CARES Fund will be done by private auditors, the petition had cited.

It was also pointed out that all CSR contribution benefits are given to the PM Cares Fund and they are denied to the state disaster relief funds.
Indias COVID-19 deaths topped 50,000 on Monday, five months after the country reported its first, as migrant workers poured back into major cities in hopes of finding work after the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Hundreds of migrant workers from the countryside who had left the capital, New Delhi, in droves after losing their jobs in a nationwide lockdown in March returned in buses on Monday and were made to wait in lines for rapid COVID-19 tests.

Those who tested positive were sent to quarantine centres while the rest were allowed to leave the citys busy inter-state bus terminus with their luggage. Almost all of them wore masks or covered their nose and mouth with scarves or handkerchiefs, though in the countryside such virus-fighting measures have become tough to enforce and the infection rate has surged.

The worlds second-most populous country recorded 57,981 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, lifting the total to 2.65 million, while an additional 941 deaths raised the overall death toll to 50,921.

India is only the third country, behind Brazil and the United States, to record more than two million infections, but it has a relatively low case death rate of 1.9 percent, compared with the world average of 3.5 percent.

India conducted more than 730,000 tests for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the state-run Indian Council for Medical Research said.

The governments stated goal is to run one million tests a day, though experts say the rate is still too low for a sprawling country of 1.3 billion people. Fears are also rising about Indias heavy reliance on rapid antigen tests that have a high rate of false negatives.

India has been recording at least 50,000 new infections a day since July 30 as the disease has spread from major cities like Mumbai and Delhi into the impoverished hinterlands of densely populated states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
One more person has died of Covid-19 and 190 new cases of the virus have been diagnosed, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has confirmed.

This latest fatality brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland to 1,775.

Newly confirmed cases of coronavirus jumped from 56 on Monday to 190 on Tuesday. There are now 27,499 confirmed cases after four confirmed cases were denotified by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

Of the new cases, 111 are women, 76 are men, and 75% of the new cases are aged under-45.

Seventy-five cases are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case while 14 cases were spread in the community from unknown sources.

Kildare has the highest number of new cases with 48, followed by Dublin with 46, Tipperary with 38, Limerick with 20, and Clare with 7.

The rest of the 31 cases are in Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow.

The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to prevent further spread.

Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health, said: As we learn to live with this disease, we need to strike a balance between enjoying our lives and behaving responsibly. By reducing our social contacts and following the public health advice we can suppress this virus.

We have seen #covid19 case numbers rising across the country this week. We must do all we can to avoid a return to where we were in March & April. Social distancing applies to all age groups - wherever you are this weekend please keep your distance. #holdfirm  Dr Ronan Glynn (@ronan_glynn) August 14, 2020

To keep our shops, hotels, restaurants, and sporting activities open, we need every household to play its part and every workplace and organisation to provide a safe environment so that we can protect our loved ones, safeguard the most vulnerable, protect our health services, and ensure children get back to school in the coming weeks.

Older people asked to comply with restrictions while positive cases found predominantly among young people

Dr Gabriel Scally warns Ireland that the country could be entering into an "age-related apartheid" Picture: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

Dr Scally was commenting on the suggestion that older people would be asked to comply with further restrictions to prevent the transmission of the virus hours before the Government announced that they should restrict their movements, limit the number of people they see outside the home to six and only shop at designated times.

However, recent cases were predominantly among young people while older people were doing their best to dodge this deadly virus, he told Newstalks Pat Kenny show.

I can see how stopping house parties would be valuable," Dr Scally said.

"But I do have a kind of a worry that we're heading into some sort of an age-related apartheid approach to Covid-19.

Dr Scally said that widespread and efficient testing must be central to the Governments strategy.

"Individual measures may make a difference, but let's get the strategy right and at the core of that has to be the testing. Testing is absolutely crucial and seeing those times drift out to four days is really unacceptable at this stage of this terrible virus.

Testing times should be much closer to 24 hours with wider local testing, he said, saying that less intrusive saliva testing was coming down the line.
Following the detection of its first omicron case Saturday in Haidian district of Beijing, the Chinese capital locked down certain communities and office buildings just weeks before the Winter Olympics and the Lunar New Year holiday. The city opened 30 emergency testing points in Haidian on Monday as it rushes to contain the spread

Jan 19, 2022 05:37 PM
SPRINGFIELD  The number of people suffering from COVID-19 has been declining over the past two weeks, leaving city officials thanking residents for being vigilant and urging them to continue wearing masks, washing their hands and keeping at least six feet from everyone.

Data shows there was an average of 4.2 a day per 100,000 people over the past 14 days. Baystate Medical Center in Springfield is currently treating 14 cases with one person in a critical care unit, which is nearly a 50% drop from the week before. Mercy Medical Center has 4 COVID-19 patients, one of them in critical care.

Our trend continues to be good, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said. For an urban center, we are only a quarter-point away from being from a green zone and thats quite a testament to my cabinet heads.

Last week state officials put out a new system of ranking communities from high to low risk based on the number of cases they have over the past 14 days. The highest risk, which has eight or more cases per 100,000 people daily is labeled as a red community, those between four and eight daily cases are marked in yellow, which is where Springfield is, those with fewer than an average of four daily cases per 100,000 are marked as green and those with fewer than five total cases in the 14 days are left white.

The trends in the virus are changing as well. Baystate is starting to see more cases in younger people and treatments are improving. In the spring one of every four patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were serious enough to have to be treated in critical care, now that is dropping to about 1 in 15, said Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health.

The statewide numbers of infections are also decreasing, said Dr. Robert Roose, chief medical officer for Mercy Medical Center.

Here in Massachusetts we have shown a science and data-driven approach along with everyone in the community adhering to the public health recommendations seriously, in fact, does work, he said.

Keroack agreed, but said the virus could quickly get out of control again if people do not maintain adherence to handwashing, keeping physical distance and wearing masks.

The drop in cases in Springfield means medical health officials can concentrate on communities where the concentration of COVID-19 is higher. Currently Holyoke and Granby are in the high-risk, or red, category, he said.

Testing continues at both hospitals. The city has also set up testing at a variety of places such as the Martin Luther King Community Center, the New North Citizens Council and Zanetti School and has tested 432 people over the past week. AMR ambulance has also confirmed it will be doing testing for the city, said Helen Caulton-Harris, director of Health and Human Services for the city.

The number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 has increased due to the testing, but that helps everyone to stay safe because the city also works to notify anyone that a patient has had contact with so they can quarantine for 14 days or until they are tested, she said.

The heads of both medical centers said they are concerned about their testing supplies and the ability to get test results quickly. They are also stockpiling masks and other protective equipment to prepare in case there is a surge.

Baystate Health has been doing about 800 tests a day and while it has the capacity to do 1,000, medical officials continue to scrounge for testing supplies because they know more will be needed as schools and businesses continue to re-open, Keroack said.

As a country, we are still way behind as terms of supplies, said Roose, who added Mercy Medical Center now can do between 400 and 500 tests daily.

The two doctors also urged people to get flu shots when they become available. Although Keroack predicted it would be a mild flu season because hand-washing, social distancing and masks also prevent that disease from spreading, he said no one is certain how severe it will be.

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Poll: Massachusetts voters dwell on COVID-19 but stand by Baker
F ormer First Lady Michelle Obama has slammed Donald Trump as the "wrong president for our country" as she urged Americans to "vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it".

In remarks at the Democratic National Convention, Mrs Obama offered a sharp rebuke of the Trump presidency, telling viewers he has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head.

He cannot meet this moment, she told the convention on Monday, held online due to Covid-19.

She added that if you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can.

Donald Trump at a rally in Wisconsin / AFP via Getty Images

Mrs Obama emphasised the need for all Americans to vote, making reference to the voters who stayed home in 2016 and helped deliver Mr Trump victory that year, even as he lost the popular vote.

Weve all been suffering the consequences, she said.

In contrast, she described Mr Trumps Democratic presidential rival for the November election, Mr Biden, as a profoundly decent man who knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country.

Mrs Obama said a lack of empathy in leadership was having an impact on the children of America.

Michelle Obama to launch new podcast

She said: "They see our leaders labelling fellow citizens enemies of the state, while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists.

"They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protests for a photo op."

Former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders also unleashed a scathing attack on Mr Trump, suggesting that under him authoritarianism has taken root in our country.

The Vermont senator said Mr Trump had proved incapable of controlling the coronavirus outbreak, coping with its economic fall-out, addressing institutional racism in the US and tackling climate change.

Nero fiddled while Rome burned, Mr Sanders said. Trump golfs.

Mr Sanders, who finished second in the Democratic primary behind Mr Biden, struck a more optimistic tone when he thanked supporters who voted for him in 2016 and 2020 for helping to move the country in a bold, new direction.

He called on his backers, as well as those who supported other 2020 Democratic primary contenders or Mr Trump four years ago, to unite behind Mr Biden.

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My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine, he said.
Bhubaneswar, Aug 18 : The Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) on Tuesday contributed Rs 250 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) for supporting the state government's efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

OMC Chairman Sanjeev Chopra handed over the cheque to Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy at Lok Seva Bhavan here. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was present on the occasion, said an official statement.

The OMC had earlier donated Rs 500 crore to the CMRF in March 2020 to support the state's efforts to control the pandemic.

The state-owned entity had also transferred Rs 250 crore as the interim dividend for the financial year 2019-20.

This apart, Rs 100 crore was contributed to the CMRF in February 2020.

The Corporation is also funding 10 standalone Covid-19 Hospitals in eight districts across the state, the statement said.
They were once members of a select club of Republican governors with White House aspirations.

But after former Gov. John Kasich of Ohio crossed party lines to endorse Joseph R. Biden Jr. for president  a key moment on the first night of the Democratic convention  he became a pariah in the Republican Party, former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said.

In an appearance Monday night on ABC, Mr. Christie played down Mr. Kasichs ability to siphon off Republican voters from the party in the November election.

He said it was telling that not a single Republican governor endorsed Mr. Kasich for president in 2016 once the Republican primary field had narrowed to Donald J. Trump, Senator Ted Cruz and Mr. Kasich.

The reason they didnt endorse him is because hes a backstabber and hes an untruthful guy, Mr. Christie said. So tonight Republicans are going to look at that and go, You can have him. On top of all that, Ive worked with John a lot. Hes exhausting. Joe Biden is going to be getting calls from John Kasich. Hes going to want to change his phone number.
ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Archima Solutions has launched ArchiMeta Studio  the only definitive 360-degree view of Salesforce object schema on the market. Salesforce administrators, developers and data architects can use this tool to generate data dictionaries, consolidate or migrate orgs, and streamline overlapping scrum team development.

ArchiMeta Studio features include:

Field-level usage statistics and field attribute details

Caching mechanism to improve offline work and performance

Complete look at field dependencies across apex, formula references, email templates, layouts and more

Multiple authentication methods

Connection to multiple Salesforce instances with flexible organization method

CSV and fully formatted Excel schema documents

Compound searching to better locate objects and fields

"This must-have tool was inspired by one of our clients who approached us with some Salesforce schema challenges. Upon confronting those challenges, Archima realized that many people can greatly benefit from the solutions we developed," said Managing Director Chris Thompson. "Salesforce schema is often scattered throughout an org environment, costing companies a lot of time and money to manage and analyze metadata that may ultimately be stale. Now, there's a central location for this information as well as an ability to make real-time decisions about your Salesforce MetaData."

Archima is currently providing a 30-day trial for ArchiMeta Studio. After Salesforce professionals provide a description of their metadata challenges, Thompson and his team will assign specific IT experts to them based on their needs, personality, skill level, industry-based knowledge and operations atmosphere. This will allow for tailored internal processes and high-touch customer service.

For more information and a video demonstration, visit https://archimasolutions.com/archimeta-studio/. If you are a media representative who is interested in a free, guided demonstration, call Archima's Agency of Record, Spiro & Associates, at (239) 481-5511.

About Archima Solutions

Founded in 2017, Archima Solutions is a Salesforce professional services firm of highly productive subject matter experts, technologists and specialists. Teams pride themselves on successful Salesforce implementations, managed and strategic staffing services  all tailored solutions for optimizing customer-related initiatives. This ranges from a user-friendly approach to the ability to reach business targets in a quicker way. Archima is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia. Call (201) 431-7552. Online at ArchimaSolutions.com.

CONTACT:

Kaitlin Sherman, Spiro & Associates

(239) 481-5511, Ext. 225

[email protected]

SOURCE Archima Solutions

Related Links

https://archimasolutions.com


Uttar Pradeshs minister of state for health Atul Garg said on Tuesday he has tested positive for the coronavirus disease and asked those who met him to get tested for Covid-19.

I had my RTPCR test on August 15, which came negative, but I tested positive in the repeat test at 9 oclock last night, Garg tweeted in Hindi.

Whoever met me between August 16 and 18, should ideally get the test done. For any kind of help, you can talk to me or my colleague Rajendraji, Ajay Rajput too! he added.

Two ministers from the state, Kamal Rani Varun and Chetan Chauhan, recently succumbed to the viral disease and more than a dozen have tested positive for Covid-19.
Actor Naseeruddin Shah voiced his opinion on the ongoing outsiders vs insiders debate after Sushant Singh Rajput's sudden demise, and slammed the celebrities, who have been using the tragedy to voice their frustrations regarding the film industry. While Naseeruddin Shah refrained from taking any name, we feel his indirect attack was at Kangana Ranaut.

In an interview with India Today, the Iqbal actor said that the whole debate is absolutely sickening, and he did not follow it. Shah further added that he felt deeply grieved when Sushant died. Even though Shah did not know him personally, he felt that he had a bright future, and it was a waste of a life.

Speaking about the hullabaloo around Sushant's death, Naseeruddin Shah said, "I did not bother to follow the nonsense that's being spouted by a whole lot of people. Every person who has any little frustration in his mind, in his heart, about the commercial industry, has been vomiting it out to the press. It is absolutely disgusting. I mean, keep these complaints to yourself, no one is interested."

An Angry Taapsee Pannu Blasts Kangana Ranaut For Taking Advantage Of Sushant Singh Rajput's Death!

He further added, "No one is interested in the opinions of some half educated starlet who decides to take it upon herself to, you know, get justice for Sushant. If there is justice that needs to be done, I think we need to have faith in the process of the law and if it is none of our business, I think we should not concern ourselves with it."

Well, if you're following the debate on Sushant and nepotism from the beginning, you must know that it's Kangana who reignited the much controversial topic on the internet. Going by Shah's interview, it's easy to assume that he's clearly not on her side!
Peopletrail Introduces a new AI-Powered Social Media Background Screening Product Peopletrails AI-powered social media software tool examines employees and candidates who have exhibited undesirable behavior online.

Peopletrail, a leading US-based consumer reporting agency, providing advanced background checks and pre-employment screening solutions globally, announces a new AI-powered social media background screening product for small and medium-sized businesses.

As a leading consumer reporting firm, Peopletrail makes ordering a background check more secure, accessible, and flexible for our clients. Peopletrails AI-powered software tool examines employees and candidates who have exhibited undesirable behavior online. This new system analyzes both text and images from a subject's social media profiles.

Almost every candidate you come across will have a sizable imprint on social media. Usually, this appears in the form of a variety of accounts over several platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and many more. These social media accounts serve as a valuable resource for gaining information about an applicants attitude, beliefs, and behavior. You can learn a lot about checking a candidates social media activity.

The sheer depth of this information makes it necessary to use the services of a background screening company like Peopletrail. It can be difficult, and in some situations even illegal, to dig for information about a potential candidate and base hiring decisions on that information. It can be very easy to violate state and/or federal laws if you are unaware of compliance rules and regulations.

Professional background screening services, like Peopletrail, can help you navigate the compliance landscape while attaining necessary and relevant information about a candidates behavior and beliefs.

For more information about Peopletrail's Social Media Screening product, please visit:

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Peopletrail is a leading provider of pre-employment screening, criminal background checks, tenant screening, drug screening, ATS integration, & corporate security solutions. Oracle Gold Partner & PBSA accredited, only Peopletrail combines superior customer service through dedicated account managers with ecient, state-of-the-art technology integration to deliver on-demand, accurate and timely consumer reporting results

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Russia became the first country to register its COVID-19 vaccine for public use on August 11 when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country had developed the worlds first vaccine against COVID-19.

However, on unexpected lines, the market did not show exuberance on Russia's claim of finding a vaccine.

After Russia's vaccine was announced on August 11, the market witnessed profit-booking on the next three consecutive sessions.

Does it indicate that one should take money off the table when a final, widely-accepted vaccine arrives?

The majority of respondents of a social media poll, conducted by Moneycontrol, is of the view that one should remain invested in the market even at that point.

In a poll, conducted on Twitter, 40.7 percent of the respondents said that one should invest more in the market when a COVID-19 vaccine arrives. However, there was a significant number of respondents who favoured profit-booking.

On Linkedin, 53 percent of respondents favoured investing more while 31 percent chose booking profits.

Market experts have been of the view that the market will remain in an uncertain territory unless clarity emerges on a COVID-19 vaccine which is the biggest threat for the market and the economy across the world.

The Indian markets have rallied by almost 50 percent from the levels of 7,500 since March bottom. One of the reasons for the rally was that markets were expecting a medical solution to the problem in the form of a vaccine in the near future.

There are various promising vaccines in the works including one by Moderna and another by the University of Oxford both of which are in stage 3 trials and are expected to be available by the beginning of 2021.

Then why did the market not make merry when Russia announced a vaccine?

Amar Ambani, Senior President and Head of Research  Institutional Equities, YES Securities pointed out that the rally in the market was underpinned by fiscal and monetary stimulus and occasional correction is a normal phenomenon.

"The market was moving up due to global stimulus, fiscal and monetary, and that is continuing. Having run-up a lot, it is just taking a pause. It is not related to the Russian Vaccine at all, so you cannot link the two simplistically," said Ambani.

Besides, there are still concerns over the effectiveness of the Russian vaccine as phase-3 trials are yet to be conducted.

"Concerning the Russian vaccine, some people still doubt the claims as they skipped the last phase of trials. Secondly, even if it is effective, no one knows how soon and how quickly it will be available. And, if it works also, will it have a lifelong impact or you need to administer it every year," said Ambani.

"So, there is a lot of unknown. It is not simplistically linked. But even without a vaccine, the market was looking top-heavy. We believe the Nifty could still run up to 12,000 levels before a meaningful correction takes place, Ambani said.

Jyoti Roy, DVP- Equity Strategist at Angel Broking also pointed out that there are still concerns on the vaccine as phase-3 trials are yet to be conducted.

"The Russian President announced that a Russian healthcare regulator had approved the vaccine, renamed Sputnik V, on the 11th of August. However, there are concerns over the vaccine as phase-3 trials are yet to be conducted. Therefore, given concerns over the Sputnik V vaccine, market reaction was relatively lukewarm," Roy said.

Roy believes that it would be premature to state that a vaccine launch may be the best opportunity to exit.

"We believe that a quicker than expected solution to the COVID-19 crisis in the form of a vaccine will allow economic activities to normalise sooner than expected. This will lead to strong earnings growth in FY22 which coupled with retail, FII and domestic institutional flows can provide upsides to markets from the current levels," Roy said.

"On the flip side, if the COVID-19 situation were to deteriorate from here then the economic recovery will be slower than what is being baked in by the markets. In such a case, we may see an increase in market volatility down the line," said Roy.

Experts are of the view that the market may see a significant correction in case of a surprise or a shock as at present, the market seems to be looking at how to live in a COVID-19 world and how different the world will be after the pandemic is over.

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Concerns about infections traced to a church in northern Seoul have fanned fears of a massive outbreak, as cases continued to spread across South Korea at an alarming rate Tuesday.



The country reported 246 more new coronavirus cases, raising its total caseload to 15,761, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of new cases identified in the past five days came close to 1,000.



Among the new infections, those linked to Sarang Jeil Church ballooned to 319 in less than a week since the first case was reported on Aug. 12. With the latest figure, it has emerged as the country's second-biggest cluster infection after the fringe religious sect Shincheonji, in which 5,214 were infected.



But the number, which includes cases identified before noon Monday, is feared to further rise. Of the 2,000, or roughly half of the church's 4,000 members who were screened for the new coronavirus, 16 percent have tested positive.



Authorities suspect the clusterinfection has worsened as some church members were in close contact with each other, such as sleeping and eating at the church, and taking part in a mass Liberation Day rally in central Seoul.












Rating Action: Moody's downgrades Chaparral Energy's PDR to D-PD on bankruptcy filing

Global Credit Research - 17 Aug 2020

New York, August 17, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") downgraded Chaparral Energy, Inc.'s (Chaparral) Probability of Default Rating (PDR) to D-PD from Ca-PD. Chaparral's other ratings were affirmed, including its Corporate Family Rating (CFR) at Ca and senior unsecured notes rating at C. The Speculative Grade Liquidity (SGL) rating remains unchanged at SGL-4. The outlook remains negative.

Downgrades:

..Issuer: Chaparral Energy, Inc.

.... Probability of Default Rating, Downgraded to D-PD from Ca-PD

Affirmations:

..Issuer: Chaparral Energy, Inc.

.... Corporate Family Rating, Affirmed Ca

....Senior Unsecured Notes, Affirmed C (LGD5)

Outlook Actions:

..Issuer: Chaparral Energy, Inc.

....Outlook, Remains Negative

RATINGS RATIONALE

Chaparral filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 on August 16 resulting in the downgrade of its PDR to D-PD.[1] Chaparral's Ca CFR and C senior unsecured notes ratings reflect Moody's view on potential recovery under the instruments. Shortly following this rating action, Moody's will withdraw all of Chaparral's ratings. Please refer to the Moody's Investors Service Policy for withdrawal of Credit Ratings available on its website, www.moodys.com.

Chaparral, headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is an independent exploration and production company in Oklahoma.

The principal methodology used in these ratings was Independent Exploration and Production Industry published in May 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1056808. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

Story continues

For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.

For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.

The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.

These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.

Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.

The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.

REFERENCES/CITATIONS

[1] Form 8-K (SEC) 17-Aug-2020

Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.

Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.

Jonathan Teitel, CFA Asst Vice President - Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Steven Wood MD - Corporate Finance Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653

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WSU Bleeds Purple to Support Annual Blood Battle

August 18, 2020

OGDEN, Utah  The Weber State University Student Association Service Team will host the annual American Red Cross Blood Battle Aug. 24-28 in the Shepherd Union Ballrooms from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This event pits WSU against Utah State University in a friendly competition to find out which community can donate more during the five-day blood drive.

The event is open to all, including students, faculty, staff and community members. Donors will receive a Blood Battle T-shirt while supplies last and a $5 e-gift card to Amazon. All successful donations will also be screened for COVID-19 antibodies during the post-donation process.

As a COVID-19 safety precaution, participants are required to schedule an appointment to donate. To reserve a spot or learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can support Weber State by using the sponsor code: BleedPurple.

Teresa Martinez, Center for Community Engaged Learning program coordinator, said the Blood Battle is a significant event because it raises awareness about a lifesaving resource and it helps supply hospitals and patients with the blood products they need.

Blood drives like these are arguably more crucial than ever before because of the ongoing pandemic, Martinez said. We understand why people might be wary to leave their homes to donate blood, so we are taking every precaution we can to ensure safety for every donor. We hope our Weber State community will join this friendly competition to donate as much blood as possible and make a difference. Plus, who wouldn't want to beat Utah State while helping the community?

According to the Red Cross, right now, blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. Blood donors help avoid delays in lifesaving medical care for patients.

Blood is an essential resource used for cancer treatments, surgeries and other serious medical issues. Red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days, so donations are constantly needed.

Many fellow students I have talked with have wanted to do something for our community to help during these difficult times but have been at a loss as to how, said Kylee Strate, WSUSA service team American Red Cross Chair. The Blood Battle is the answer to that. While the last few months have been full of cancellations, this WSU tradition is still happening. Our success depends on the participation of our Wildcats. We bleed purple and we can make a difference.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
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Officials said 33 buildings had been destroyed, including at least a dozen homes.



LOS ANGELES (AP)  A rare summer thunderstorm brought lightning that sparked several small blazes in Northern California on Sunday and stoked a huge forest fire that has forced hundreds of people from their homes north of Los Angeles.

More than 4,500 buildings remained threatened by the wildfire, which was burning toward thick, dry brush in the Angeles National Forest. Firefighters already battling the blaze in steep, rugged terrain in scorching heat faced more hurdles Saturday when hundreds of lightning strikes and winds up to 15 mph pushed the flames uphill.





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Joe Allen Restaurant has revealed a brand new virtual concert to help raise funds for both itself and arts charity Acting for Others.

The virtual event, being streamed on Saturday 5 September, will feature an all-star tribute to hit West End musical The Witches of Eastwick, with Joanna Riding, Caroline Sheen and more returning to the hit show.

You can stream via their YouTube page.

Also in the concert (being presented on YouTube) are Stephen Ashfield, Lizzie Bea, David Bedella, Michael Cashman, Michelle Collins, Drew Jaymson, Ria Jones, Claire Machin, Claire Moore, Grant Neal, Martin Ramsdin, Harriet Thorpe, Sally Ann Triplett, Gareth Valentine, Gok Wan, Shona White and Debbie Wileman.

Added to the line-up are Malinda Parris, Peter Joback and Jordan Luke Gage.

The evening will see musical performances from shows such as Sunset Boulevard or Sweeney Todd. In addition, the restaurant is offering the chance to win a week's holiday in Lake Como for anyone who donates more than 100.

General manager Cathy Winn said: "While the government's pledge of 1.57 billion is fabulous, it hasn't been paid out yet, which means theatres/performers/musicians/crew etc are still struggling massively. Also, although this is a generous amount, it's put into perspective when you realise that the lack of panto this year could collectively drain the theatre industry nationwide of around 90 million.

"Our wonderful friends Ben and Colin feel so strongly about this they reached out and offered use of their amazing apartment in Lake Como for one week as a raffle prize as they, like us, believe the theatre and Joe Allen go hand in hand and are truly precious and we must fight to save them! So, let's join together, watch a fantastic show, roll the dice on a glamorous Italian holiday and celebrate all things fabulous, it's about time we had something to look forward to!"

You can donate via their gofundme page.
World Humanitarian Day is celebrated every year on August 19 across the world. The international day sheds lights on humanitarian personnel and people who have lost their lives in order to support various humanitarian causes. The day is designated by the United National General Assembly. Having said that, here is the World Humanitarian Day 2020 theme, history, meaning and significance.

World Humanitarian Day Theme 2020

Every year the United National General Assembly celebrates the international day with a new theme. The theme changes every passing year. For the year 2020, World Humanitarian Day sheds light around the pandemic crises.

According to the United Nations organization, ''Aid workers are overcoming unprecedented access hurdles to assist people in humanitarian crises in 54 countries, as well as in a further nine countries which have been catapulted into humanitarian need by the COVID-19 pandemic". It throws light on those who are affected by the pandemic crisis and pays tribute to the workers who have relentlessly been working to fight the virus.

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World Humanitarian Day: Meaning and history

The day is the outcome of the works of the foundation started by Sergio Vieira de Mello along with his family working with international ambassadors like France, Switzerland, Japan, and Brazil in Geneva and New York to steer the draft resolution via the United Nations General Assembly.

The UN established World Humanitarian Day to remind people of the death of Sergio Vieira de Mello and his co-humanitarians in a bombardment of Baghdad headquarters of the United Nations.

According to the United Nations, ''This day was designated in memory of the 19 August 2003 bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killing 22 people, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly formalized the day as World Humanitarian Day'.'

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Ahead of #WorldhumanitarianDay, shout out to all the #RealLifeHeroes who show solidarity and humanity in this unprecedented time pic.twitter.com/JVpNfYHRLp  UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) August 16, 2020

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World Humanitarian Day: Significance and celebration

Humanitarians make up for a massive number of the crowd who put their lives at risk in order to support various other humanitarian causes and save other people. They are widely noted to be the ones who first respond to such world crises and be the last ones to leave. They are known for strengthening global humanitarian responses.

People across the world celebrate the day by creating awareness about the cause. People support various campaigns that help people affected by various humanitarian crises. Various private and other co-corporations sponsor various campaigns.

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The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party engineered the northeast Delhi riots by instigating Hindus and provoking Muslims at the Shaheen Bagh protest, drawing a sharp rebuttal from the saffron party.

IMAGE: A view of a burnt shop following the riots in North-east Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Delhi BJP said the AAP is on the "backfoot" and is trying to change the narrative by alleging that the BJP instigated Hindus. But the actual story is something else, the party said.

Addressing a press conference, AAP spokesperson and MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that the BJP leaders provoked people of both the communities which led to the communal violence in northeast Delhi on February 24, leaving 53 people dead.

"Two days back when the key functionaries of the Shaheen Bagh protest joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, it exposed the fact that on one side, the leaders of the saffron party were spreading hatred among the Hindus and on the other, their other leaders were spreading hatred among the Muslim protesters of Shaheen Bagh. This way a script was prepared and the riots took place in Delhi," Bharadwaj claimed.

Communal violence had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after clashes between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.

Several members of the minority Muslim community from Shaheen Bagh area, which was the centre of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in New Delhi, joined the BJP on Sunday.

Bhardwaj demanded a thorough probe against the Muslim community from Shaheen Bagh area who joined the BJP.

"The Aam Aadmi Party demands that a thorough probe should take place against the 50 people who have joined the BJP and were also the organisers of Shaheen Bagh protest.

"Police should check the records of these people, find out with which BJP leaders they were in touch with, what kind of instructions the BJP leaders have given them and other issues. The police should also probe the role of these people in organising and continuing the Shaheen Bagh protest," he said.

Bhardwaj further alleged that the Delhi police under the BJP was silent when clashes erupted between anti-CAA and pro-CAA protesters which led to the riots.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana said AAP is on back foot so now they are trying to change the narrative by alleging that the BJP instigated Hindus. However, the actual story is something else, he said.

"I think Saurabh Bharadwaj is confused, yesterday he himself admitted that anti-India slogan was chanted at Shaheen Bagh. Then when the BJP revealed Manish Sisodia's (Delhi Deputy Chief Minister) video supporting Shaheen Bagh, now they are on back foot. So now they are changing the angle that BJP instigated Hindus, but the actual story is something else," Khurana claimed.

He further claimed that AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan provoked Muslims.

"On one hand, the Delhi police has already given a clean chit to BJP leaders Pravesh Verma and Kapil Mishra over so called Hindu instigation. So my suggestion to Saurabh is to get his facts cleared first," Khurana said.
NEWTOWN  A bankruptcy judge has given gunmaker Remington permission to sell off its company at a mid-September auction, but not before the promising nine Sandy Hook families suing the company that hed listen to their arguments for keeping the lawsuit alive.

Specifically, the judge will hear arguments next week on the families motion to investigate Remingtons motives for seeking bankruptcy protection.

The Sandy Hook families suspect ... that (Remingtons) financial position has in fact been improving, and that a desire to avoid continuing costs associated with litigating the Sandy Hook wrongful death action, as well as the potentially significant liability associated therewith, were major factors motivating the commencement of these cases, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families wrote Monday in federal bankruptcy court in Alabama. Discovery will allow the Sandy Hook families to test these vague assertions of financial need and provide the court with the full picture of (Remingtons) financial picture.

Judge Clifton Jessup Jr.s concession to the families came during a busy day in bankruptcy court for the nations oldest gunmaker, which is beset by lawsuits, debt and slumping retail sales.

Remington is the maker of the AR-15-style rifle used in the 2012 shooting of 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

The Alabama judge denied two other motions by the Sandy Hook families  to include themselves on the list of Remingtons creditors, and to postpone the Sept. 17 auction date the company sought.

The families have been scrambling to regain the pretrial momentum they had against Remington before the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 27 and left them off its list of creditors.

(Remington) began considering a sale of their business just three weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Remington defendants petition, the families lawyer argued in a court document. It was their last hope of preventing the Sandy Hook wrongful death action from proceeding to trial.

The lawyer is referring to Nov. 12, when the nations highest court refused to hear Remingtons appeal of a Connecticut Supreme Court ruling, which effectively sent the Sandy Hook lawsuit to trial in 2021.

An attorney for Remington denied the allegation that it was trying to wipe out the lawsuit by seeking bankruptcy protection during Tuesdays hearing in Alabama, the Associated Press reported.

The developments in Remingtons bankruptcy come as the families were preparing to question Remington executives under oath about matters that company attorneys called improper and invasive.

But since late July, all the pretrial procedures have been on hold while the bankruptcy case plays out.

Now the families are focusing on Remingtons motives for seeking bankruptcy.

In particular, the families are asking the Alabama judge for the right to investigate Remington bankruptcy documents and interview Remington executives about company finances and insurance coverage.

The Sandy Hook families discovery requests are limited, seeking information directly related to (Remingtons) business operations, financial conditions, and assets, as well as information necessary to establish whether wrongdoing has occurred, the families attorney argued in court papers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Another major clinical trial is underway in the global race for a COVID-19 vaccine _ with researchers this time planning to pay participants hundreds of dollars in Palm Beach County.

The experimental vaccine, called AZD1222, was developed by AstraZeneca in conjunction with the University of Oxford. The drug arrived Monday morning to the campus of the JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, and the first 10 patients for the study will start the process Tuesday morning. The vaccine is one of just five that are in the crucial stage of Phase 3 testing, according to Dr. Larry Bush, lead immunologist on the trial.

The study, conducted by JEM Research Institute, is the latest in a number of trials underway across South Florida.

Moderna, which is conducting the largest U.S. trial, drew attention last month when Vice President Mike Pence arrived at the University of Miami to kick off that first large-scale clinical trial of a potential vaccine. Moderna has four South Florida sites recruiting participants _ two in Miami-Dade, one in Broward and one in Palm Beach.

The goal of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca trial is to gauge whether the vaccine is effective while proving safe. People who have not already been infected with COVID-19 would benefit from the preventative effects of the vaccine, said Bush, who is participating in the Oxford University/AstraZeneca trial. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," he said.

There are just four locations in Florida where AstraZeneca is holding trials, according to Bush.

Trial participants can receive up to $1,000 over the entire period of the study. Each visit will result in $100 compensation and the trial averages nine visits, although some may have one or two fewer or additional visits.

Dr. James Goldenberg said it will depend on a variety of factors such as the exact number of visits.

Phase 3 vaccines have met two criteria in moving forward: They've been proven to produce antibodies, and they've been checked for safety. The next step is to make sure it can prevent people from getting COVID-19.

Bush said about 1,100 people took part in Phase 2 of testing for this drug. Researchers hope to test about 31,000 people in the U.S., U.K., Brazil and South Africa. About a third of them will receive a placebo.

The doctors who administer the shots will not know whether they're administering a real shot or a placebo, Bush said. The vaccine does not contain a live COVID-19 virus in it, only the virus's protein, he said. "You cannot get COVID-19 from this vaccine," Bush said.

In recent months, public health officials have called the spikes in coronavirus cases in South Florida alarming.

Less than two weeks ago, Florida became the second state to top 500,000 COVID-19 cases. But there have been some hopeful signs lately. On Monday, the state reported its lowest number of new cases in two months. There were 2,678 new cases reported, or the lowest number since June 17.

Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner toured the frigid-cold medical office after having his temperature taken and answering a series of screening questions. He asked questions of the researchers and touted the county's response to the pandemic.

"Every metric is on the decline," Kerner told reporters while touring the facility Monday.

Doctors walked the office in lab coats and nurses donned purple scrubs while preparing for the administration of vaccines and placebos the following day.

The building itself is a rented medical office that resembled most doctors' offices. When participants arrive, most will go straight to observation rooms. With 10 participants scheduled for the first day, the waiting room will offer plenty of space for physical distancing.

The vaccine itself was stored in a locked room marked with biohazard safety posters. Reporters and television news crews were not allowed to photograph or even see the vials of the vaccine. Two rooms across the hall with similar safety notices on the doors would be where the vaccine is mixed prior to being administered.

Researchers are looking for study participants who may be more vulnerable to COVID-19, such as elderly people, as well as health care or food workers who interact with the public. Expected side effects of the vaccine include pain or tenderness, redness and swelling at the site of the injection. More generally, patients may expect a fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, nausea and vomiting.

There are many people who won't eligible to take part. They include: People who are under 18, who have received an experimental vaccine before, have knowingly had COVID-19, are on an immunosuppressant, have an uncontrolled medical condition, have been hospitalized in the last few months or whose medication has changed.

Lisa Marton, 53, signed up to participate. She applied online and was screened by phone.

"They asked a lot of questions," said Marton, of Boca Raton. "But so did I."

"I'm a big believer in vaccines," she said.

___

Austen Erblat of the Sun Sentinel wrote this story. Sun Sentinel staff writer Cindy Krischer Goodman contributed to this report.

(c)2020 Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Visit the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at www.sun-sentinel.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New Update: 14:11 pm IST

Google Pay issue is finally resolved and is now finally available on the Play store in India.

"The issue has been fixed. All users should be able to discover the Google Pay app on the Play Store again," Google Pay India tweeted.

Original story:

Last night, Android phone owners, couldn't find the Google Pay on Play store to install the app. Several people took to Twitter and tagged the Google Pay India handle for a response.

Taking note of the complaints, the company acknowledged the issue. It is affecting only a limited number of users and added that Google is working on the matter to get it fixed soon.

"Some users might not have been able to discover the Google Pay app on the Google Play Store today (August 17). We are aware of this temporary issue and are working on fixing it." Google Pay India tweeted in the late night.

It can be noted that a few days ago, Google Pay along with PhonePe and other payment platforms had temporarily stopped working due to the State Bank of India (SBI)'s server issue.

But, we are not sure if the disappearance of Google Pay on the Play store is related to the aforementioned issue.

Here are some of the tweets by users complaining on Google Pay missing on Play store:

@GooglePayIndia @GooglePay dear sir / mam, Google pay for personal use not found in play store (India).if there is already installed in mobile (android) are not work properly (like payment to person with the help of mobile contact)  Advocate Madhur Jain (@MadhurJ77308904) August 17, 2020

@GooglePayIndia why google pay removed from Google play store??  AWDHESH MAURYA (@MauryaAwdhesh) August 17, 2020

Google Pay (formerly known as Tez ) is one of the most used digital wallets in India, and the userbase has grown fast since its debut in 2017. Currently, it is a joint-leader with PhonePe and commands close to 40-percent market share in India.

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.
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.
Family Traced as Source of Victorias Second Virus Wave

About 90 percent of Victorias current COVID-19 cases can be traced back to a family of four who quarantined at a Melbourne hotel, an inquiry has heard.

Department of Health and Human Services epidemiologist Charles Alpren has confirmed the states deadly second wave is attributable to outbreaks at the Rydges on Swanston and Stamford Plaza hotels.

Approximately 99 percent of current cases of COVID-19 in Victoria have arisen from Rydges or Stamford, Alpren told the states hotel quarantine inquiry on Aug 18.

However I cannot be very precise in the number or proportion to have arisen from each outbreak separately.

It is likely that the large majorityI said in my statement approximately 90 percent or moreof COVID-19 infections in Victoria can be traced to the Rydges Hotel.

Alpren said the Rydges outbreak started with a family of four returning from overseas on May 9 and moved into the hotel on May 15 after displaying coronavirus symptoms.

By May 18, all four had tested positive.

A week later, a hotel staff member and two security guards were diagnosed with COVID-19. It is not clear who was the first of the three to contract the virus.

By mid-June, a total of 17 workers at the hotel and their close contacts had tested positive.

In his witness statement tendered to the inquiry, Alpren said the family was approved to walk outside their room, during which time they were accompanied by security guards.

Nursing staff also visited their room on May 18 after a contamination issue.

But no cases have been identified from either of the events, Alpren said.

Transmission could have occurred directly from the family to staff or through contamination with virus of surfaces in the hotel with which staff then had contact with, his statement reads.

At the time of the Rydges outbreak, there were very few other cases of COVID-19 in Victoria and just 19 people had died from the virus.

The states death toll now stands at 351, with 7274 cases active.

Another outbreak also emerged at the Stamford Plaza, which was traced back to a man who returned from overseas on June 1 and a couple who returned on June 11.

A worker at the Stamford Plaza was the first to show symptoms on June 10 and tested positive on June 14.

Some 46 workers at the hotel and their close contacts were found to have caught COVID-19.

Alpren found no links between cases at the Rydges and cases at the Stamford Plaza.

Having analysed the genomic sequencing of 5395 active cases, Alpren said 3594 could be linked to the Rydges hotel.

The outbreak is also linked to another 24 clusters.

Alpren said the department has seen no evidence of any other transmission outside the hotels, excluding three exceptions.

Thats not to say that there are no other transmission events that could be there. But because there are very few people now coming into Victoria who potentially offer new sources of importation of the virus, it is less and less likely, he said.

It comes after an expert on Monday described advice on personal protective equipment given to security staff at the hotels as inappropriate and inaccurate.

Infectious disease expert Lindsay Grayson said security guards should have been wearing eye protection, gloves, a gown and mask when interacting with returned travellers or handling objects belonging to them.

The inquiry continues on Aug. 20 with hotel guests and workers expected to give evidence.

Benita Kolovos in Melbourne
MIAMI, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's first Elective Resource Agency, Era of Travel (EoT), is reinventing how travel agents do business. By providing access to the best travel partners and some of the highest commissions available, agents now have the opportunity to revive the industry built on their knowledge, competency and customer care.

Borne out of the pandemic and spearheaded by tourism veterans, the new model consolidates the most lucrative aspects of the hard-hit travel market. With tourism bracing for a 60%-80% decline by the end of the year, EoT takes a proactive approach that rewards those working hard to keep the industry thriving. By allowing agents to keep 100% of their commissions, EoT ensures agents make a minimum of 10% more each year, while enjoying the flexibility to run their businesses as they see fit.

"Our goal is to reignite the industry and we believe the best way to do that is to empower agents," says David Black, Founding Member and Director of Partnerships. "Agents make all the difference in the world of travel - they bring expertise, history and a true understanding of what a traveler wants. We also see it as an opportunity for professionals from other industries to take this time to begin a new career or make some extra cash."

As an Elective Resource Agency, EoT's model is an evolution in the travel industry, based on giving freedom to the agents to do business. Unlike many traditional travel agencies, agents will have the ability to choose how and where they book in terms of systems, booking engines and other technologies, along with working with any suppliers they feel are right for their clients.

In addition to the agency, EoT runs a thriving travel club, 1Club, designed to deliver qualified leads to agents who want them. For a low monthly fee, EoT agents will get access to the 250,000 1Club members, all of whom are avid travelers.

Era of Travel is a first-of-its-kind agency. The company offers transparent pricing, which is an annual investment, currently discounted to $399, for travel agents and tiered pricing for travel agencies with multiple sub-agents. There are no additional monthly membership fees, aside for a $49 access fee to 1Club. In addition to EoT's 100% commission, preferred partners offer agents up to 20% commission, which is higher than the industry average. Most importantly, it offers access to the best industry suppliers and to 1Club members who are required to use EoT designated travel agents to receive 1Club benefits, making them excellent leads.

"We are working diligently to connect the best travel agents with the best travel providers," continues Black. "That is how we deliver the very best traveler experience."

To learn more about Era of Travel visit www.eraoftravel.com.

Media Contact:

Emily Morrow

786-534-6759

[email protected]

SOURCE Era of Travel

Related Links

http://www.eraoftravel.com


Amid border tensions with China on the Ladakh front, the Indian Air Force (IAF) Force has deployed home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas along the Pakistan border.

"The LCA Tejas was deployed by the Indian Air Force on the western front close to the Pakistan border to take care of any possible action by the adversary there," government sources told ANI.

This is a significant achievement for the indigenous fighter aircraft programme considering LCA is Indias first indigenous fighter aircraft.

The first LCA Tejas squadron, 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) based out of Sulur under the Southern Air Command, was deployed in an operational role there, a source said.

The indigenous Tejas aircraft had been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech, where he had stated that the deal to buy the LCA Mark1A version was expected to be completed soon.

While the first squadron of the planes is of the Initial Operational Clearance version, the second 18 Squadron 'Flying Bullets' is of the Final Operational Clearance version and was operationalised by the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria at the Sulur airbase on May 27, ANI reported.

The Indian Air Force and the defence ministry are expected to finalise the deal for the 83 Mark1A aircraft by the end of this year. In view of the Chinese aggression on the borders, the IAF had deployed its assets all along the borders with both China and Pakistan.

The forward airbases of the force have been equipped to take care of situations along the western and northern fronts and have seen extensive flying operations in the recent past, including both daytime and night operations.

With inputs from ANI
Election 2020 Critics Slam Myanmar Pro-Military Parties Meeting With Army Chief

Military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing attends a commissioning ceremony for new naval vessels on Dec. 24, 2019. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

YANGONA meeting at which 34 Myanmar political parties including the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) sought the military chiefs help on electoral matters has drawn widespread criticism as a dishonest move aimed at increasing the militarys involvement in politics in the run-up to Novembers general election.

After requesting a meeting since February, representatives of the parties on Friday met with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to discuss their concerns about the election. During the meeting, the parties asked the military chief to replace the chairman and members of the Union Election Commission (UEC), saying they no longer had trust in the body, and asked for assurances that they would be able to count on the senior generals help if the Nov. 8 election turned unfair.

However, the move has met with widespread disapproval and even condemnation.

Sai Leik, general secretary of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), said the parties are taking the wrong approach.

If they think the UEC is biased and unfair, they should discuss it directly with [the commission], he said.

If that did not resolve the problem, he said, the parties should raise the issue in Parliament or request a meeting with the President.

Gumgrawng Awng Hkam, the vice chair of the Kachin State Peoples Party (KSPP), agreed. He said concerns about the election or any political issue should be raised with the President, not the army chief.

They should speak up if they dislike the UECwe dont like it eitherbut they shouldnt seek help from the military chief, who doesnt have the final say on it [legally]. The military shouldnt interfere in the issue, as once they do, there cant be fairness, he added.

Fridays meeting was organized by the former ruling partyand military proxythe USDP. A majority of the parties that participated are pro-military USDP allies not currently represented in Parliament. They also reiterated to the army chief their desire for the government to convene the military-dominated National Defense and Security Council meeting.

Daw Noe Noe Htet San, vice chair of the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS), said she saw Fridays meeting as an effort to expand the militarys role in politics.

She said the parties requests to the military chief showed their reliance on the army and their willingness to work with it in politics, putting them at odds with the pro-democracy parties.

Myanmars pro-democracy parties have continually called for the full removal of the military from the political arena to allow democracy to flourish and the establishment of a democratic federal union in the country.

The countrys powerful military retains its leadership role in politics under the undemocratic 2008 Constitution and continues to wield considerable power. The charter reserves 25 percent of all parliamentary seats and control of three important ministriesDefense, Border Affairs and Home Affairsfor the military.

If the political parties are willing to build a federal democratic union, their actions and words should match democratic norms and standards. If not, it would be hard to believe they actually have that desire, Daw Noe Noe Htet San said.

During the meeting, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing urged the parties to choose good candidates who understand the Tatmadaws role in national politics along with a few other requirements. Replying to the parties concerns, the senior general said there is nothing that he wouldnt dare to do for the country.

I am brave enough to do anything. Anything that could have a negative impact on the country, the people and the future of the military [is my concern]. Im following everything, one of the participants quoted the senior general as saying.

Awng Hkam from the KSPP voiced concern over the military chiefs choice of words, which have been interpreted by many critics as threatening a coup.

I worry about his assertion that he is willing to do whatever is necessary. It is true that there is nothing that he wont dare to do, but no one should go against democratic standards, he said.

U Min Zeya, vice chair of the Peoples Party established by the 88 Generation Students group, also said the military chiefs choice of the word dare sounded like a challenge.

Such a word shouldnt be used at a time when we are moving toward democracy. The meeting, seeking his help and the answers, did not support the establishment of a federal democratic union.

Additional reporting by Zin Linn Htet

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President Donald Trump now has a 42 percent job approval as commander in chief, a slight increase from his job approval rating of 38 percent in June.

The poll was conducted by Gallup to gauge Trump's performance for the month. So far, this means that more people think Trump is doing an excellent job running the country, the Newsmax reported.

There is, however, an overwhelming portion of Americans who did not give Trump job approval for issues such as the coronavirus health crisis and race relations. These two issues are at the center of the political debates leading up to the November presidential election.

Only 37 percent of the poll respondent said they were happy with how Trump handled race relations, while 62 percent did not approve.

As for the coronavirus, only 36 percent of those polled said they approve of Trump's response, while 63 percent did not agree.

The Hill noted that Trump's coronavirus response rating has fallen at a steady rate since March. Back then, it was at the height of 60 percent as states started to shut down.

Deaths related to the coronavirus have topped 170,000 in the U.S. as of Monday.

Higher Than June Job Approval

Trump's overall job approval rating has risen from what it used to be in June. Back then, two surveys showed the figure at a rate below 40 percent.

This new survey was taken after Trump came back to having semi-regular news briefings on the coronavirus. Aides have told Trump before that having him in said briefings may help him in the polls against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

The latest survey also showed that more independents approve of Trump compared to late June and early July. Before, only 33 percent to 34 percent of independents said they approved of Trump during that time.

Now, that job rating jumped by five points. It is sitting at a 39 percent job approval from independents.

Biden and Trump are nearly closing the gap between their job approval ratings. The lead that Biden has had significantly narrowed since June, according to a new CNN poll.

The former vice president still has an advantage over the president on some top issues, though. His choice of California Sen. Kamala Harris also proved to be a good move, as it led to positive reviews.

What Could This Mean for Trump's Campaign?

In less than three months, voters will have to cast their ballots on whether Trump gets another term in the White House.

While his job approval shows slow and small improvements, it remains lower than the 50 percent mark that has been a critical indicator for reelection.

To get his ratings up, Trump will have to work on having better efforts for race relations and the coronavirus. It has been the most important problem in Americans' eyes, and he has a lot of work to do.

His campaign may also work towards a second term if the country's economy comes to an extent where it shows clear signs of recovery.

Trump and his team will have to work on the key issues where he has been seen struggling with earlier this year.

The poll surveyed 1,031 Americans from July 30 to August 12. It has a margin of error of four percentage points.

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The United States and Colombia will coordinate with each other for the new investment in rural areas of the South American country. On Monday, the officials said that Colombia's president gave support for the U.S candidate to lead the Inter-American Development Bank.

According to Reuters, Robert O' Brien, the U.S National Security Advisor said in an interview with the local newspaper, El Tiempo, the investment will use $5 billion in private funds for rural areas over three years.

O'Brien said in a video statement with Duque, "This initiative will focus on key elements of the 21st Century growth in Colombia, the rule of law, security, infrastructure, rural development, and democracy."

On Monday, it was announced that Colombia would be a part of a pilot program that gives incentives to the near-shoring of the U.S, businesses as part of a broader U.S strategy. The special adviser of the U.S. President Donald Trump for the Western Hemisphere, Mauricio Claver-Carone, was on the visit.

In Duque's bid to lead the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Duque repeated Colombia's support for Claver-Carone, which set to choose a new head next month. Citing concerns on having an IDB leader from the outside region, many Latin American countries called for a vote delay.

Duque said, "I want to reaffirm the support Colombia has given to the candidacy of Mauricio Claver. You have presented a clear plan to invigorate the recovery of Latin American economies."

On Monday, the U.S revealed a Western Hemisphere strategy focused on security, countering China's influence and economic growth. The U.S. National Security Council officials said that the plan aims to encourage the companies from America to move manufacturing facilities and supply chains to China and go back to the Americas.

The strategy also wants to maintain pressure on rulers in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela. Trump seeks to build support for his "re-election" campaign even if Democrat Joe Biden is said to lead in national polls. The re-election campaign of President Trump this year increased outreach to Latinos.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration previously announced that the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) invests more than $29 million to provide broadband service to underserved rural areas in Oklahoma. The investment is part of the $100 million funds for the Reconnection Pilot Program through the CARES Act, as per USDA.

The U.S Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said, "The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now - as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require broadband."

Perdue added that he is proud of the rural communities who have been working day in and day out to produce the food and fiber America depends on. Perdue believes that America needs rural communities more than ever during the health crisis to expand access to the critical infrastructure, which will help ensure that rural America will prosper for the years to come.

Pioneer Telephone cooperative will use a $24.2 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to connect 44, businesses, 595, farms, 4,480 people, and two fire stations in rural Oklahoma. The grant targets a high-speed broadband internet in Ellis, Dewey, Blaine, and Kingfisher counties. Also, Cimarron Telephone Company will use a $5.4 million grant to deploy FTTP network to connect three businesses, 107 farms, and 746 people to high-speed broadband internet in Osage and Pawnee counties.

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Multiple wildfires are burning in Napa and Sonoma counties. Cal Fire is referring to them collectively as the LNU Lightning Complex. The biggest fires are:



Hennessey Fire: Located near Hennessey Ridge Road and Chiles Pope Valley Road, east of St. Helena

10,00 acres burned

Gamble Fire: Centered around Berryessa Knoxville Road, west of the town of Brooks

10,000 acres burned



15-10 Fire: Located near Putah Creek Bridge and Berryessa Knoxville Road

8,000 acres burned

Markley Fire: Near the Monticello Dam

2,500 acres

Spanish Fire: Near Spanish Flat

1,000 acres

---

LATEST NEWS: Aug. 18, 8:45 p.m. The LNU Lightning Complex fire is now at 32,025 acres and zero percent contained, according to an evening status report from Cal Fire.

"Extreme fire behavior with short and long range spotting are continuing to challenge firefighting efforts," Cal Fire said.

Three structures have been destroyed. A further 1,900 are currently threatened.

The full status report can be seen here.

Aug. 18, 5 p.m. An evacuation order was issued for all of Steele Canyon Road from Highway 128, including the Berryessa Highlands subdivision.

Find fire updates on the Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Twitter feed.

Aug. 18, 3 p.m. More evacuations were issued for a series of fires burning in Napa County Tuesday afternoon.

Residents in the following area are being told to leave immediately:

 From Moskowite Corner to Wooden Valley Road, including the community of Circle Oaks.

 Atlas Peak from the Bubbing Well Pet Cemetary at 2462 Atlas Peak Road to the dead end.

 From Loma Vista Road / Soda Canyon Road to the dead end.

Aug. 18, 2:45 p.m. Nichelini Winery in St. Helena shared Tuesday afternoon its facilities are threatened by a wildfire burning in the region.

"The fire continues to be close but Cal Fire is amazing and working very hard to keep us safe," the winery shared on Facebook. "Thank you to those who are working so hard to make sure we can exist for another 130 years."

The winery, founded in 1890, is one of the state's oldest. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

CalFire

Aug. 18, 2 p.m. An evacuation order was issued Tuesday afternoon for the intersection of Butts Canyon Road and Snell Valley Road to Spanish Valley, including the Berryessa Estates. A warning was also issued for Butts Canyon Road from the Lake County line to James Creek.

See below for all evacuations related to a series of three wildfires in Napa County. The fires are now being referred to as the Lightning Complex.

Aug. 18, 7:30 a.m. Firefighters battled flames in three separate Napa County wildfires overnight and on Tuesday morning Cal Fire released updated information on containment and the amount of acreage burned.

The Hennessey Fire east of St. Helena is now 2,700 acres with zero containment. One structure and two outbuildings were engulfed in flames overnight and 205 homes are threatened.

The Gamble Fire, near Berryessa Knoxville Road west of Brooks, grew from 600 acres on Monday to 5,000 acres Tuesday morning. A third blaze, the 10-15 Fire, has consumed 4,500 acres near Putah Creek Bridge and Berressa Knoxville Road.

All three fires have zero containment. Nearly 500 crew members are on the scene of these conflagrations as well as 57 engines, 18 bulldozers and 13 water tenders, according to Cal Fire.

The Hennessey and Gamble fires may have started by lightning strikes amid a rash of thunderstorms in Northern California Monday, but the definitive cause is under investigation.

The Hennessey Fire ignited in the 60 block of Hennessey Ridge Road in Rutherford and was reported at 6:40 a.m. Monday, Cal Fire spokesperson Will Powers said.

The Napa County Sheriff's Office has issued mandatory evacuation orders for the following areas:

--Highway 128 from Lower Chiles Valley Road to Monticello Road

--Highway 128 from Chiles Pope Valley Road to Lower Chiles Valley Road

--Chiles Pope Valley Road from Highway 128 to Lower Chiles Valley Road

--All of Hennessey Ridge Road

Evacuation warnings are in effect for the following:

--Highway 128 at Silverado Trail to Chiles Pope Valley Road, including the Pritchard Hills Area

--Highway 128 at Lower Chiles Valley Road to Turtle Rock

An evacuation center is set up at Crosswalk Community Church at 2590 First St. in Napa. (Find evacuation updates on the Napa County Sheriff's Office Nixle page.)

Chiles Pope Valley Road, Sage Canyon Road and Highway 128 are closed in the area, which is east of Lake Hennessey, Powers said.

For updates on the blazes, check the Cal Fire website.

MORE WILDFIRE COVERAGE:

6 buildings destroyed, 1,527 threatened by River Fire near Salinas

Napa County wildfires trigger more evacuations, winery threatened

San Mateo County brush fire triggers evacuations

'Evacuate immediately': More Sonoma residents told to leave homes

Deer Complex fires at 1,450 acres, 0 percent contained

Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
Which is not to say the movie, written and directed by Mark Amin (an Iranian-American, as it happens), doesnt have its engaging points. Okeniyi has a strong presence that conveys a genuine moral authority. It stands in stark relief against the movies consistently cartoonish portrayals of the white slavers. And Shields journey  which, given the gravity of the movies subject, flirts weirdly with the picaresque  moves with dispatch. Shields eventually lands in Browns militia.

Cromwell portrays Brown as both a cagey strategist and an unreasonable but necessary risk-taker, righteous and common-sensical, save for his eagerness to sacrifice himself and his followers.

Emperor

Rated PG-13 for violence, language, themes. Running time: 1 hour 39 minutes. Rent or buy on iTunes, Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.
Highlights- Harvest volume of 23 910 tonnes, up 10% from Q2 2019 (21 802 tonnes)- Earnings impacted by low market prices due to effects of Covid-19, amounting to NOK 211 million vs Q2 2019- Margin in Finnmark still impacted by winter ulcers- Continued cost reductions in BC. Shetland somewhat impacted by lower survival rate- Group total of 20 sites ASC certified at quarter end, 36% of net production- Successful completion of senior unsecured Green Bond issue of NOK 1 billion- Construction of RAS facility and approval of licenses in Newfoundland according to plan- First members of the new sales organization appointed- New guidance of 95 000 tonnes (100 000) in 2020 due to reduced growth in Finnmark caused by lower than average seawater temperatures in addition to market adjustmentsCovid-19The Covid-19 pandemic continued to impact the market situation also in the second quarter. The escalation of the pandemic and measurements taken by governments around the world to address the situation, have caused uncertainties for producers, processors and end consumers. Nevertheless, despite the challenging circumstances, demand for Atlantic salmon remained strong and Grieg Seafood has been able to maintain efficient operations throughout the quarter.Financial resultsThe Grieg Seafood Group harvested 23 910 tonnes GWT in Q2 2019, compared to 21 802 tonnes in Q2 2019.Average realized price during the quarter was down compared to the second quarter last year, mainly driven by lower market price impacted by market turbulence related to Covid-19, in addition to lower prices achieved on downgraded volumes in Finnmark. The reduction is partly offset by the 10% higher harvest volume.Total revenues during the quarter amounted to NOK 1.4 billion, down from NOK 1.5 billion in the second quarter of 2019.Farming cost during the quarter increased from the same quarter last year. The increase is mainly related to negative currency effects and increased cost per kilo in Rogaland due to lower harvest volume.Group's EBIT before fair value adjustment of biological assets ended at NOK 3 million during the quarter, down from NOK 302 million in the second quarter of 2019, where reduced prices and increased costs amounts to some NOK 211 million and NOK 95 million of the decrease respectively.Commenting on the Group's performance, CEO Andreas Kvame, said:"The second quarter of 2020 was impacted by the continuous effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to our fantastic employees, I am proud to state that Grieg Seafood has been able to maintain efficient operations throughout the quarter. Employee safety and wellbeing is our priority, and we have kept in place all HSE measures implemented at the beginning of the pandemic to reduce the risk of Covid-19 outbreaks as much as possible.We have particularly seen disruptions in the US market due to Covid-19, which is mainly supplied by our British Columbia region. However, lower prices in the US have been matched by improved biology, lower costs and increased competitiveness in BC.In Finnmark and Rogaland, the underlying biology remains strong. However, due to low seawater temperatures during the winter and spring, we have experienced reduced growth in Finnmark. Based on this external factor in combination with expectations of low market prices in the short term, we have decided to optimize production, utilize our existing licenses and postpone some harvest to 2021.In Shetland, cost has remained high during the quarter, due to few synergies between our operations on the Shetland isles and Skye in Scotland.In our new Newfoundland region, the first eggs were put into the hatchery in July, according to schedule. First harvest is expected in 2022/23.While we are in the middle of a pandemic, we have not set our commitments to sustainability on hold. Reducing our environmental footprint and improving fish welfare are key factors to achieve our financial and operational targets. Over the last months, we received ASC certification on two new sites, and we strengthened our greenhouse gas reduction target. With Brazilian soy in our feed, we are also concerned about the increasing deforestation rates in the country. We are committed to use our market power to push towards an end to soy-related deforestation where we source soy, the Brazilian Cerrado biome."Strategic prioritiesImproving sustainability is key to increasing our profits. By focusing on reducing our environmental impact and improving fish welfare, we aim to increase harvest rates and reduce production cost.We aim to provide our shareholders with a competitive return on capital invested and have set a ROCE target of 12%. Our investments reflect our growth strategy: digitalization, post-smolt, biosecurity and fish welfare, including continuous evaluation of expansion opportunitiesDigitalization in salmon farming includes applying advanced sensors, big data, artificial intelligence and automation, to support better farming decisions. Post smolt improves biosecurity, survival rates and allows for a more efficient farming cycle, while expansion opportunities will allow for improved flexibility, biosecurity and fish welfare.With a strict focus on biosecurity and fish welfare, Grieg Seafood aims to achieve strong biological performance through the implementation of a broad range of technological and operational initiatives, including large smolt, GSF Precision Farming and other preventive operational measures aimed at combating sea lice and algae. The group targets an average survival rate in seawater above 93%.OutlookIn the short term, operational efficiency and biosecurity are the top priorities in Grieg Seafood.The salmon market will continue to be impacted by the Covid-19 situation adding uncertainty and putting pressure on prices in the short term. However, Grieg Seafood see limited impact on operations due to the Covid-19 situation.The contract share for the Norwegian operations will increase in the second half of 2020 with prices well above current spot prices. Estimated contract shares for the third quarter is 63 per cent and 5 per cent for Norway and the UK, respectively, with full year estimates of 32 per cent and 8 per cent.In 2019, a total of 25.2 million smolt with an average weight of 190 grams was stocked to sea, with the aim of harvesting 100 000 tonnes in 2020. However, during winter and spring low seawater temperatures in Finnmark have impacted growth.Due to the limited growth in combination with expected sluggish market prices in the short term, Grieg Seafood has decided to postpone some harvest to 2021, reducing expected harvest volume to 95 000 tonnes for 2020.In the third quarter, expected harvest volume is 21 400 tonnes, with the following area distribution:Rogaland: 5 300 tonnesFinnmark: 4 500 tonnesShetland: 5 600 tonnesBC: 6 000 tonnesGrieg Seafood maintains the long-term harvest volume target of 150 000 by 2025.Results presentationCEO Andreas Kvame and CFO Atle Harald Sandtorv will present the results by webcast today, Tuesday 18 August at 08:00 CEST.The presentation and subsequent Q&A will be held in Norwegian and can be followed at www.griegseafood.com or at https://channel.royalcast.com/webcast/hegnarmedia/20200818_1/An English transcript of the presentation will be made available at www.griegseafood.com within a few days after the presentation.For further enquiries, please contact:Andreas Kvame, CEOCell phone: +47 907 71 441Atle Harald Sandtorv, CFOCell phone +47 908 45 252About Grieg SeafoodGrieg Seafood ASA is one of the world's leading salmon farmers, targeting 95 000 tonnes of harvest (GWT) in 2020. Our farms are in Finnmark and Rogaland in Norway, British Columbia and Newfoundland in Canada, and Shetland in the UK. Our headquarter is located in Bergen, Norway. Grieg Seafood ASA was listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange in June 2007. More than 800 people are employed by the Company globally.Sustainable farming practices are the foundation of Grieg Seafood's operations. The lowest possible environmental impact and the best possible fish welfare drive economic profitability. Towards 2025, we aim to harvest 150 000 tonnes, to achieve cost leadership in each region and to evolve from a pure salmon supplier to an innovation partner for selected customers.To learn more, please visit www.griegseafood.com.This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Political parties should bury their differences and shed double speak on the issue of data sovereignty and right to privacy; to come up with solutions to the problems of social media platforms being largely unregulated and unchecked said KN Govindacharya, a former Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary and an RSS ideologue on Monday.

Speaking in the backdrop of the controversy stoked by an article in the Wall Street Journal that alleges that Ankhi Das, public policy director, Facebook, for India, South and Central Asia, had opposed action against BJP leaders accused of hate speech; Govindacharya said a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe as demanded by the Congress should be used as an opportunity to address fundamental and systemic problems.

Instead of trading accusations the political parties will do well to address the basic question of accountability and work on creating a mechanism for drafting the necessary laws for doing so. They speak one language in power and another when in the opposition, he said.

Govindacharya, who has been leading a campaign seeking regulation of social media platforms and has filed a petition in the Delhi high court (HC) for rules to make companies such as Facebook and Google establish their servers in India, has also been pushing for fast tracking the Personal Data Protection Bill to make internet technology companies pay more taxes.

In 2014, he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call off his meeting with Facebooks co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, until issues such as data protection, taxation and user privacy are not resolved.

Parties should not replace conviction with convenience. They should use the JPC to address the concerns of right to privacy, the selective and biased approach to taking down content; there have to be curative solutions, he said.

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The owners of La Casa de las Titas apartments in Velez-Malaga have applied for a licence to extend the existing building to incorporate two further properties.

La Casa de las Titas first opened in 2008 with eight holiday apartments and in 2010 the family-owned company acquired two more buildings, including the neighbouring nineteenth-century Casa Pastor, which is located on the corner of Plaza del Carmen in the town's historic centre. This listed property has features of artistic value such as wall paintings and wrought-iron fittings.

The family is now waiting for the licence to carry out the renovation and extension project whose plans were drawn up by the architect behind Velez-Malaga's historical centre protection and reform plan (PEPRI), Salvador Garcia.

With a planned investment of one million euros, the scheme will include the creation of 10 new apartments as well as a function room, incorporating the two neighbouring nineteenth-century buildings.

The family claimed that the current Casa del las Titas can't meet visitor demand at popular times of the year or cater for large groups.

They added that while in summer most guests are Spanish, at all other times of year bookings mainly come from foreigners and in particular German and UK visitors.

The company also runs dramatised evening tours of Velez-Malaga in which actors dress up as historical characters to explain the town's story.
Kindness can come from the unlikeliest of quarters as an alms seeker from Madurai, Tamil Nadu proved after he donated Rs 90,000 to the state coronavirus relief fund.

Poolpandiyan, who lives on alms from other people, decided to donate Rs 90,000 of his savings to the Government of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund. Impressive as it is, this is not the first time that Poolpandiyan has donated money toward the state's COVID-19 relief fund.

Previously, the Madurai resident had donated Rs 10,000 in May to help the state fight the pandemic.

Tamil Nadu: Poolpandiyan, an alms seeker in Madurai, today donated Rs 90,000 towards the state #COVID19 relief fund. He says, "I am happy that the District Collector has given me the title of a social worker."In May this year, he donated Rs 10,000 towards the same cause. pic.twitter.com/UzA9EVUBWf ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2020

Following the generous donations, the man has been dubbed a social worker by TN state authorities as well as observers on social media.

Speaking to ANI, the generous man said, "I am happy that the District Collector has given me the title of a social worker."

The warm gesture won many hearts online.

This is not the first incidence of generosity and kindness that has come surfaced since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. In April, a little girl from Hyderabad donated her entire pocket money savings to fight COVID-19. The 11-year-old girl also managed to raise over Rs 9 lakh to help the needy after she saw a video of an old man breaking down due to huger and hardship at the peak of the migrant crisis.

As of Monday, Tamil Nadu has a total of 338,000 total coronavirus cases and 5,766 deaths.
Lukashenka's Pleas To Factory Workers Met With Jeers, Not Cheers

By Michael Scollon August 17, 2020

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka helicoptered in to a firestorm on August 17 in an effort to rally industrial workers following a major show of force by the opposition the night before.

But instead of saving his political skin, he walked away from the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Factory (MZKT) vowing not to hold a repeat of the recent election that gave him a sixth-straight term and resulted in nationwide protests "until you kill me."

Videos of the event showed hundreds of workers on the grounds of the major heavy-duty truck manufacturer drowning out the president's words with heckling, boos, and chants of "Leave!"

Speaking outside the plant just hours after his main rival in the disputed August 9 election, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, called for a fresh vote and said she was prepared to lead the country through a transition, Lukashenka took a hard line.

"We held elections already," he told the workers. "There will be no other elections until you kill me."

He slightly modified this position later the same day, saying Belarus could hold a new presidential election after the country adopted a new constitution.

His trip to MZKT was also marred by scenes of confrontation with his audience, including one in which he approaches workers and promises he won't beat them before shouting at one person filming the encounter: " Be a man! There is a crowd of you, and I am alone! Put down your phone!"

The opposition, which says Lukashenka rigged the presidential vote and is demanding he step down, amassed a crowd in the Belarusian capital on August 16 that dwarfed a pro-presidential rally earlier in the day.

Unlike the nightly protests that followed the contentious vote, the August 16 demonstrations were not marred by bloody police crackdowns and mass detentions.

The opposition has called for factory workers, a traditional source of support for the long-serving authoritarian president, to join a general strike -- adding to the instability that has crippled the country's economy in recent months.

Seeking to head off walkouts like those seen at factories around the country earlier, Lukashenka traveled to MZKT and another industrial powerhouse, the Minsk Auto Factory, apparently with an eye toward showing he was willing to compromise.

The independent media outlet Tut.by published a transcript of much of Lukashenka's back and forth with workers in which he indicated he was willing to share power and said that a new constitution, to be approved by a national referendum, was possible.

But things got heated early when workers, dismayed by official election results that had Lukashenka winning with 80 percent of the vote, peppered him with questions, asking how that was possible considering the obvious support for his rival and why no election observers were allowed.

Lukashenka doubled down by asking, "Guys, tell me, how can you falsify 80 percent of the vote?" The crowd answered with a collective scoff.

Asked when his promise of a new constitution would be delivered, Lukashenka insisted he would not be pressured to leave early.

"Yes, I'm not a saint," he said. "You know my toughness. You know that if there was no toughness, there would be no country. But you know what I am willing to do and what I am not. You know that I will not harm your children and that I will not give away the country to anyone."

Soon after, dissatisfied workers began shouting "Leave!" -- a frequent chant by protesters calling for the president's resignation in the wake of the election.

Eventually, the chants drowned out Lukashenka's attempts to respond to accusations that he was lying, forcing him off the podium.

"Thanks, I said everything," he concluded. "Now you can shout 'Leave.'"

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/lukashenka-s- pleas-to-factory-workers-met-with- jeers-not-cheers/30788630.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Choi Jae-sung, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, arrives for a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae's press center, Monday. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



Choi Jae-sung, President Moon Jae-in's new senior secretary for political affairs, is already stirring concerns over Cheong Wa Dae's sincerity toward cooperative politics.



Charged with a timely mission to improve relations with the National Assembly, Choi was took his current post during a recent reshuffle of the presidential office due to his strong ties with the President. But his first briefing at Cheong Wa Dae Monday has caused a rift with the main opposition United Future Party (UFP).



The former four-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) made remarks that were seen as blaming the UFP for the failure to arrange a meeting among the President and leaders of the ruling and opposition parties on Aug. 21 as suggested by Cheong Wa Dae.



"On Aug. 13, as the new senior secretary for political affairs, I delivered the President's intention to invite the party leaders during a courtesy call to Kim Chong-in, chairman of the UFP's emergency committee. But the UFP said that they were not able to accept the proposed date," Choi said during a briefing, Monday.



It is rare for a presidential secretary to give a briefing on the reason for the failure of a proposed meeting.



During a meeting with the main opposition's interim leader, Choi reportedly suggested a three-way meeting among the President, DPK Chairman Lee Hae-chan and Kim.



But the UFP hit back at Choi's briefing some hours later, saying they had never received an official invitation.



"We have not received an official invitation from the presidential office," UFP spokeswoman Rep. Kim Eun-hye said. "They make it seem as if it is our fault that the meeting was not achieved."



The presidential office has received criticisms that the sudden proposal for talks was aimed at reversing the negative public sentiment toward the Moon administration and Cheong Wa Dae. Recent polls have shown that the job approval rating for the President has fallen below 40 percent amid various policy failures and unilateral pushes for contested bills.



But Choi stressed that the President has been and will always be open for communication with the opposition. "President Moon said in his opening speech at the Assembly on July 16 that he would expand communication with the National Assembly, including the resumption of a permanent consultative body on state affairs among the ruling and opposition parties and the government," Choi said.



On Tuesday, Kim told a local daily that he would be willing to meet the President, but with conditions that he would meet the President exclusively, there should be detailed agenda items to discuss and the meeting needs to produce detailed achievements.



Choi then said, "It is very fortunate that the UFP leader has said that he could have a dialogue with the President as part of efforts to give hope to the people during these difficult times. We would like to start discussing the form and topics of the meeting with the UFP with an open mind."



But Cheong Wa Dae did not elaborate whether it would accept the condition of an exclusive meeting.


A group of employees from Absa Bank Ghana known as Lions Pride has brought smiles to the children of the Great Mission International Home in Teshie, through the donation of essential items to support the upkeep of the orphanage.



The items donated by the team include, foodstuff, sanitizers, detergents and toiletries as well as mattresses.



Speaking at an event to present the items, Mr. Listowel Agbeli, Regional Manager at Absa Bank Ghana and leader of the team indicated that the donation came from the generosity of Absa employees within the Accra-Tema, Eastern and Volta regional zone of the bank known as the Lions Pride.



According to Mr. Agbeli, the kind support to the Great Mission Home is part Absa Banks Force for Good agenda, which entreats us to play a vital role in supporting communities and Ghanas development.



As a team, we therefore decided to voluntary contribute a little quota to support the society in order to make the world would a better place for the less fortunate, especially in these era of Covid-19, he said.



Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Claude Agyin-Asamoah, Head of Customer Network at Absa Bank Ghana, expressed his excitement at the compassionate gesture shown by the employees of the bank.



As a bank we have committed over GHC 2 Million towards direct COVID-19 relief initiatives, including donations to the National Trust Fund, frontline workers and health facilities. We have also supported our customers with payment holidays. It is therefore, heartening to see our colleagues coming together to support the community in their own special way



Receiving the items, Mr. John Nyavor, Chief Executive Officer of the Great Mission International, expressed his gratitude to the employees of Absa Bank for their support to the orphanage.



We are grateful to you for your kind gesture and also for spending time with the children. This is a true demonstration of your commitment to the communities around you and we deeply appreciated your support.



The Great Mission International Home takes care of over 300 orphans. Most of the children who passed through the orphanage are in tertiary schools and some

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday appealed people to avoid crowding during the Ganesh festival and follow guidelines about the height of idols and their immersion.

The festival, which in normal times brings lakhs of people on roads in a city like Mumbai, will begin on August 22 under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thackeray was speaking at a review meeting with top officials through video conference where Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope were also present.

"The forthcoming Ganeshotsav which comes against the backdrop of COVID-19 crisis should be celebrated peacefully, keeping social responsibility in mind," Thackeray was quoted as saying in an official statement.

"Care should be taken to avoid crowding and it should be ensured that the disease does not spread," he 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

So far, people from all religions have cooperated with the government during festivals during lockdown, the chief minister noted. "Guidelines (issued by the state home department) say that the height of idols installed by sarvajanik Ganesh mandals (groups which celebrate the festival in public) should be (maximum of) four feet and that of idols installed at home be two feet.

"While following this guideline, no processions should be taken out before installing and immersing idols to avoid crowding," he said.

Ganesh mandals should facilitate online 'darshan' of idols, Thackeray said.

He also instructed the authorities to increase COVID- 19 testing, control test charges and ensure that test reports are made available at the earliest.

As vaccine is not available yet, wearing masks, cleaning hands and observing discipline is the only solution for now, the chief minister said.

Home minister Deshmukh asked the police to keep an eye on mischievous videos on social media.

He also asked local government bodies to create a maximum number of artificial ponds to avoid crowding during immersion of idols.

Divisional commissioners, district collectors, chief executive officers of zilla parishads, municipal commissioners and district police superintendents attended the meeting.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
Private hospital operators are pushing for the age at which Australians are penalised for not signing up for health insurance to be raised, after the latest official data showed a further decline in the number of people with hospital cover.

Health funds are backing the call for the lifetime health cover loading - which adds two per cent to premiums for every year without cover after age 30 - to instead kick in at 35, while calling on the federal government to ensure any change is fair to those already paying the loading.

APHA chief Michael Roff says Australians should not be penalised for failing to sign up for health insurance by age 30. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The latest Australian Prudential Regulation Authority data released on Tuesday showed that 28,567 fewer Australians had hospital cover on June 30 compared with three months earlier, leaving 56.4 per cent of the population without insurance.

Australian Private Hospitals Association chief executive Michael Roff said the loading was deterring Australians from signing up for health insurance after their 31st birthday and was "overdue for review", suggesting the age could be lifted, the amount of the penalty lowered or an amnesty period introduced.
Some of the world's most popular islands experienced a spike in Covid-19 cases after reopening to tourists this summer. Now, governments are adding restrictions that range from outright tourist bans to increased testing and quarantine requirements, while other islands are indefinitely postponing plans to reopen.

U.S. Virgin Islands bans tourists for one month

As of Wednesday, hotels, villas, Airbnbs, charter vessels and "similar businesses" in the U.S. Virgin Islands cannot accept new guests or make reservations from leisure travelers for a period of 30 days. For those there, the island atmosphere is about to change. All nonessential businesses, including bars and nightclubs, have been ordered to close, and restaurants cannot offer dine-in services. Weekend beach access has been restricted.

New rules follow the U.S. Virgin Islands return to "stay at home" status, the country's fourth (out of five) most restrictive reopening phase. M Swiet Productions | Moment | Getty Images

"When we announced our Covid-19 alert system in May, I indicated at that time that we would retreat back to a more cautious state of alert if conditions warranted," Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said during a press conference on Aug. 13. "Unfortunately, we have arrived at that point this week." Overall numbers remain low, but Covid-19 infections in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which includes St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, have doubled since last month. Total cases: 760

Bahamas welcomed, then banned, then re-welcomed travelers

The Bahamas had been open to tourists less than three weeks when 49 new cases of Covid-19 prompted Prime Minister Hubert Minnis to announce that only travelers from Canada, the U.K. and the EU could enter. The decision mostly affected Americans, who had made up more than 78% of the islands' stopover visitors as of 2016. The restriction lasted mere days, however, as the country announced on July 24 it was reversing its decision in favor of updated requirements and a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all visitors. The government also imposed a weekend lockdown from July 22 to 24. At that time, the Bahamas had 274 Covid-19 cases. Total cases: 1,329

Cayman Islands extends its border closure

On Aug. 7, the Cayman Islands announced its borders will stay closed until at least Oct. 1. The decision was based on the rate of infection in other countries  particularly the United States  according to a press statement from the country. Total cases: 203

Visitors, who travel to the Cayman Islands for the beaches and scuba sites, won't be able to go this summer. EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER | E+ | Getty Images

Other Caribbean and Atlantic islands: Antigua, Bermuda and St. Lucia reopened this summer and have kept new infections relatively low. Jamaica is stable, though an upward trend in new cases is emerging. Others have not been so lucky. Puerto Rico, Aruba and Turks and Caicos experienced a rapid increase in new infections in August, resulting in Aruba and Turks and Caicos being removed from the U.K.'s travel corridors list.

Bali's reopening is iffy

Except Cambodia, Southeast Asia is closed to international travelers, so the region has kept close tabs on Indonesia's plans to reopen Bali to foreign tourists on Sept. 11. Those plans now appear tentative at best. Last week, Indonesian Minister Erick Thohir, who oversees the country's coronavirus task force, said that due to concerns over new outbreaks, the reopening schedule is under review.

The popular town of Ubud (shown here) and the rest of Bali opened to domestic tourists on July 31. Francisco Goncalves | Moment | Getty Images

Bali opened to domestic travelers on July 31. At that time, the island had around 3,300 total cases. As of Aug. 15, 724 more cases have been confirmed. After the Philippines, Indonesia has the second highest number of Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia. Total cases: 4,024 (as of Aug. 15)

French Polynesia is open  but there's a catch

While French Polynesia remains open to tourists, the country is experiencing a spike of Covid-19 cases. After the South Pacific islands reported just two cases in all of June and July, French Polynesia has confirmed 104 cases in the past two weeks. The country has been open for just over a month; it reopened to tourists (and abolished quarantine requirements) on July 15. Cases have been confirmed in Tahiti, Mo'orea, Bora Bora and Rangiora, despite requirements that travelers produce negative polymerase chain reaction Covid-19 tests before arriving. From Aug. 12 to 25, nightclubs must remain closed, and masks are required in restaurants, bars, shops and other public areas. Total cases: 211

The Maldives is surging

More than 3,000 foreign tourists, mainly from the U.K. and the U.S., visited the Maldives since it reopened on July 15. Unfortunately, the country experienced a surge in coronavirus cases several weeks later. The island nation has had 1,730 new cases since the start of August, which means around 30% of its total cases stem from the past two weeks alone. The first confirmed Covid-19 case in the country was on March 7. Total cases: 5,909

Hawaii's reopening is likely delayed

Hawaii was on schedule to reopen on Sept. 1 until the island of Oahu experienced a spike in new cases this month. The state's reopening had already been postponed from Aug. 1, due to an increase in cases in the continental U.S.

A rise in cases on the island of Oahu is threatening to derail Hawaii's Sept. 1 reopening plans. Laszlo Podor | Moment | Getty Images
Businessman from the United Arab Emirates Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor said he was already in talks with Israeli airline Israir on establishing direct flights between Israel and the UAE.



In an interview with Israels Channel 13, Habtoor, a billionaire real estate tycoon and philanthropist, confirmed his company was in talks with Israir.



"Thats true, my team and the Israeli team, there were talks this afternoon approaching each other regarding commercial airline and charters for tourists," he said.



"Definitely, my team is negotiating and I hope we will reach an agreement to benefit both the Israeli company and the UAE," the tycoon said.



"The United Arab Emirates, I call it the land of opportunity and this is a chance for the Israeli business people and for the tourists who would like to visit, we have variety. It is a very, very rich country," Habtoor said.
GREENWOOD, Colo., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ANANDA Scientific Inc., a biotech pharma company, today announced that John Suh, previously CEO of LegalZoom, has been appointed to ANANDA's Board of Directors as its new Executive Director.

"We are very pleased to welcome John as Executive Director of the ANANDA Board of Directors," said Mark J. Rosenfeld, M.S., Ph.D., ANANDA Scientific's Chief Executive Officer. "John's experience in growing successful technology companies will add a valuable new perspective to guide ANANDA in its pursuit of rapid growth as an innovative biotech company."

"John's creative thinking and entrepreneurial expertise is exactly what is needed by ANANDA to drive significant shareholder value from the robust clinical development program that the company has put in place," said Sohail Zaidi, ANANDA's new President.

John Suh was the CEO of LegalZoom from 2007 to 2019, and a member of its Board of Directors from 2005 to 2019. As a skilled and accomplished C-suite executive, he joined LegalZoom soon after its founding and grew the company to a market value of more than $2 billion at his departure, making it one of the largest private internet-based companies in the world. During his tenure, LegalZoom was named to the list of Top 100 Most Valuable Startups in the World by Business Insider in 2011 and The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2012.

"ANANDA's pioneering research program, its intellectual property estate, and participation in multiple clinical trials uniquely position the company for success. I look forward to supporting their stellar team to pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in the biotech industry," said John Suh.

Before LegalZoom, John Suh was CEO of Studio Direct, the internet division of Li and Fung, a worldwide supply chain manager of US and EU branded products. Previously, he had co-founded and served as CEO of the Castling Group, an incubator that helped launch leading e-commerce businesses such as jcrew.com, hifi.com, and barneysny.com.

ABOUT ANANDA SCIENTIFIC

ANANDA is a research-focused biotech company that employs patented delivery technologies to make cannabinoids and other plant derived compounds highly bioavailable, water soluble, and shelf-life stable. The company focuses on producing effective, premium quality nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. ANANDA is pursuing human clinical trials for pharmaceutical approval of its patented delivery technology to address therapeutic targets of significant public health importance. Consistent with its strong research-based data, the company also has a growing pipeline of nutraceutical over-the-counter products. The company has successfully launched these products in the US and the UK, with expansion into additional markets such as the EU, China, Australia and Africa planned for the near future. The company is expanding its research base through multiple sponsored research agreements with universities to diversify its technology portfolio.

Contact for ANANDA Scientific:

ANANDA Scientific Media Relations

Media Inquiries

303-317-5551

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ANANDA Scientific Inc.
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News and Triblive/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter.

By Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA

Waking up on June 14, Colleen Moskov couldnt remember what had happened the night before. She had blacked out from another episode of binge drinking, a frequent occurrence over the past six months. But that morning, Moskov decided shed had enough.

She called Avenues Recovery Center near her Maryland home, hoping to start treatment immediately. The facility said it was full, but there was an opening at one of its Pennsylvania locations, near Scranton. The 28-year-old packed her bags and headed north.

When she arrived, the staff asked if she had been in contact with anyone who had tested positive for COVID-19 or if she had a cough, and they took her temperature.

Then she was admitted. To Moskovs surprise, no one asked her to get tested for COVID-19 or to quarantine as a new patient.

Over the next month, none of the staff she encountered wore a mask or tried to keep six feet apart, she said. Clients who relapsed and spent days in the greater Scranton area  recently a hotbed of coronavirus cases  were allowed to re-enter without any quarantining. Cleaning products were in short supply, and guest speakers were invited to the facility almost daily.

It was like COVID-19 didnt exist there, Moskov said.

And its not the only treatment facility said to be flouting basic coronavirus protocols. Staff and residents at a handful of facilities across Pennsylvania told Spotlight PA they fear a lack of protective measures could endanger their recovery  and their lives.

Of the states approximately 800 treatment facilities, 115 have reported COVID-19 cases to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, which licenses them. Since March, the agency has received 170 complaints about facilities failing to implement protective measures.

So far, however, the state has issued zero citations.

In many instances, addiction advocates and treatment providers said that while facilities are making an honest effort to implement precautions, they struggle without specific guidance from state and federal authorities. They also face challenges getting staff and clients to consistently wear masks, and dont have access to rapid testing needed to keep the virus out while still letting new patients in.

Ultimately, patients are left to battle two monsters at the same time  the coronavirus pandemic and the addiction epidemic  with many forced to choose between going to treatment and risking getting the virus, or staying at home and struggling with substance use alone.

Moskov said her entire stay at Avenues Recovery Center at Lake Ariel was marred by worries of contracting the virus, or worse, bringing it home to her husband and 1-year-old daughter at the end of treatment.

I didnt want to drink anymore, and stopping on my own hadnt worked, Moskov said. But the constant tension between some of the patients and some of the staff over COVID-19 was distracting to my treatment.

Colleen Moskov worried that the lack of COVID-19 precautions at Avenues Recovery Center in Lake Ariel, Pa., would lead her to contract the coronavirus or bring it home to her husband and 1-year-old daughter.

Fear of COVID-19  and retaliation

Pennsylvanias drug and alcohol department, like many other state licensing agencies, has not issued specific COVID-19 guidelines for treatment providers. Instead, it refers facilities to state and federal guidance, including Health Secretary Rachel Levines mask order.

But clients told Spotlight PA that some facilities arent even following those basic rules.

Interviews with four patients from Avenues at Lake Ariel, along with a review of photographs taken inside the facility, revealed a host of problems. A bag of facemasks sat by the front desk, clients said, but was largely untouched. Some visiting speakers took them, but staff and most patients never wore them, even at group therapy sessions where dozens of people sat close together. The thermometer used to check incoming staff and clients temperatures often malfunctioned, and one patient who felt feverish said he was told not to worry, it must be allergies. Social media posts show at least two staff members at the facility have had COVID-19.

When Moskov and a few other patients raised concerns about the lack of precautions to the clinical director, he dismissed them.

He said, Were you worried about COVID-19 when you were getting drugs off the street? Moskov recalled.

In a statement, Avenues Recovery Center said it follows all national and state recommendations, including screening staff and clients before they enter the facility, regularly cleaning the building, and mandating sick staff stay at home until cleared by the health department.

Avenues has gone above and beyond to try to provide high quality substance abuse treatment in the safest environment possible, the statement said. Our staff take the responsibility of client care seriously, understanding that what we do matters.

Erica Mortimer, director of quality assurance, cast doubt on concerns raised by clients, saying, It is not uncommon for clients in active addiction to distract attention away from their own behavior by altering facts and manipulating situations to serve their purpose.

Several individuals in treatment told Spotlight PA they were reluctant to raise concerns publicly or file complaints in anticipation of exactly this kind of response. They worried people wouldn't believe them, staff and management at the facilities might retaliate, and judges or probation officers would misconstrue their fears as an attempt to avoid court-mandated treatment.

I wish I could choose not to go in person and just do telehealth, said one client who attends outpatient services at a Gaudenzia facility in Norristown as part of a drug treatment court mandate. But I dont want to get sanctioned by the court for not doing what theyre asking.

The client said group therapy often involved 20 people in a room, most without masks. Chairs were placed close together and books, pens, and other items were passed around  despite Narcotics Anonymous guidelines discouraging that.

In a statement, Gaudenzia said that since mid-March, all staff and clients have been required to wear masks in common areas and groups have been limited to 12 people. Management has done two unannounced visits to check for compliance, and the facility has had no COVID-19 cases, the statement said.

However, two people familiar with the program said the protocols were only enforced in late July, after Spotlight PA contacted Gaudenzia.

Rather than issue citations, the state drug and alcohol department educates facilities and helps them overcome obstacles, Secretary Jennifer Smith said in an interview. The facilities are marked compliant as long as theyre making an effort.

Its pretty rare in my experience to come across a provider who is just belligerent and absolutely insisting that they dont want to follow the protocols, Smith said. They usually want to, but in a lot of cases, there are real barriers.

Facilities struggle with masks, testing

In Pennsylvania, treatment providers have pointed to challenges accessing personal protective equipment, getting insurance companies to reimburse telehealth, and finding space to isolate COVID-positive individuals from others. Many facilities are running low on funds, as they are admitting half as many clients as usual but are also hiring more staff to cover for employees who are out sick or need to care for family members.

But the state can only offer limited help. It has no dedicated coronavirus funding for these facilities and a finite stockpile of masks to share among healthcare providers, including nursing homes. Instead, the drug and alcohol department has a list of COVID-19 resources on its website and has been trying to connect facilities with suppliers to acquire protective equipment.

Providers say its far too little. Across the nation, addiction experts are calling out a lack of support and guidance for treatment centers during the pandemic.

There are essentially no specific guidelines other than to act with safety around people who are at risk for developing COVID, said Paul Earley, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Its particularly concerning, he added, since individuals with substance use disorder are at high risk for contracting COVID-19 and are also more likely to spread the virus to others.

Every state should be taking action now to help support this population, Earley said. From something as simple as dropping off a case of N95 masks to providing financial support to figuring out how to help with safe housing, there are myriad needs that our industry has that not only serve the addiction population but the population at large.

The society has created its own guidelines to help fill the void. It advises providers to screen patients by phone and in-person, practice social distancing, quarantine newly admitted patients, and divert people to telehealth when possible.

Above all, it emphasizes the use of masks.

Wearing masks is the single most important thing we do to prevent COVID transmission, Earley said.

Many treatment providers across Pennsylvania agree, but said its not always easy to get clients to comply.

Vince Mercuri  executive director of The Open Door of Indiana, Pa., an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment facility and mental health crisis line  said he often has to stop clients in the hallway and ask them to put on a mask. He wears his own any time he steps out of his office to encourage similar behavior.

In residential treatment, social distancing and wearing masks become even more difficult, said Michael Watterson, executive director of ARC Manor Addiction Recovery Center in Kittanning.

It is their home and it feels overwhelming to keep masks on every time they are not in their own room, he said.

Ideally, Watterson would like to test every patient for COVID-19 before theyre admitted. But as testing demand across the nation has soared, labs have become backlogged and it can take days or even weeks to get results. Its not practical to keep someone quarantined for up to a third of their treatment, waiting for those results, Watterson said. Even isolating clients for a day or two has been so distressing that some have left against medical advice, he said.

Rapid testing, which produces results in as little as 15 minutes, could solve the issue. But right now, its not widely available in Pennsylvania  a concern raised by nearly all patients, staff, and management interviewed for this story. (The state recently announced a $1 million investment in a Lehigh Valley company that aims to develop rapid tests by the end of the year.)

Widespread testing with quick results was key to mitigating a COVID-19 outbreak at the Kirkbride Center in Philadelphia. After six patients showed symptoms of the coronavirus in early April, the facility enlisted the help of a local hospital to test everyone on that unit.

By early May, 46 patients at Kirkbride had tested positive. They were all isolated at a city quarantine site, preventing the virus from spreading to hundreds of other patients, said Fred Baurer, Kirkbrides medical director.

Since then, Kirkbride has instituted a universal mask policy, educated patients about social distancing, and kept new admissions apart from other patients. From mid-May to mid-June, Kirkbride only had two positive cases, and none have been recorded since.

Across the border in West Virginia, the Valley HealthCare System has been using rapid testing to ensure all patients are COVID-negative before entering their residential programs. The facility connects patients with nearby rapid testing sites and can also transport them there, said Gerry Schmidt, chief operations officer of the system and former president of NAADAC, a national association for addiction professionals.

As the pandemic lingers, its crucial that patients feel safe coming to treatment, Schmidt said, especially with overdose deaths rising nationwide.

It would be difficult to immerse yourself in a treatment program where you didnt feel safe, regardless of how bad your addiction is, he said. But when facilities take proper COVID-19 precautions, it shows clients that we care.

We care about them, we care about the general public, and we care about each other.

100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate.
NEW DELHI: Jamia students Asif Iqbal Tanha, who was arrested by Delhi Police in May this year in connection with anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) violence at Jamia Nagar in the national capital in December 2019, has reportedly made some shocking revelations during interrogation.

From what Asif Iqbal told during interrogation to the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, it seems that the Delhi riot was completely a premeditated conspiracy. Its entire script had already been written, which was carried out under the cover of the democratic opposition.

The accused told police that when the CAA Bill was passed by Parliament, he found them as anti-Muslim. To oppose the Bill, he joined the students of Jamia University. Asif Iqbal is a third-year student of BA in Persian language and is also a member of the 2014 Student Islamist Organization (SIO). He is currently in judicial custody in a case related to communal violence during protests against CAA in northeast Delhi in February.

He revealed that on December 12, he along with 2,500-3,000 people lead a candle march at Gate No 7 of Jamia University. A day later, on December 13, Sharjeel Imam gave a provocative speech calling for 'chakka jam' (road blockade). Asif confesses to instigating people to start riots over CAA in Delhi.

He said that many organisations supported them when they took out 'Gandhi Peace' march from Jamia Nagar to Parliament. He said the march was called 'Gandhi Peace' so it appears acceptable to everyone.

He said that Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) was formed after the violence in Jamia that included members associated with organizations like AISA, JSF, SIO, MSF, CYSS, CFI and NSUI.

Making key disclosures on the funding, he said that AAJMI was also with JCC in this movement. "Funding to the movement was received from AAJMI and PFI," Asif told police.

He also claimed that former JNU student Umar Khalid asked him to hold 'Chakka Jam' during the visit of US President Donald Trump to India in February this year. Asif said that he along with Miran Haider, a PhD student of Jamia Millia Islamia, and Jamia coordination committee media coordinator Safoora Zargar took part in anti-CAA protests and blocked roads.

Communal clashes broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : India's indigenous helicopters were pressed into service to rescue people and extricate skimmed oil from the Japanese-owned cargo ship MV Wakashio in Mauritius.

The bulk carrier vessel, MV Wakashio, ran aground on July 25 on a reef at Pointe d'Esny in Mauritius close to its ecologically sensitive reserves and prominent tourist destinations. On August 7, the Mauritius government declared the incident a national emergency and soon after sought help from India.

HAL's indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv and Chetak helicopters were pressed into service to carry out the rescue operations.

R. Madhavan, CMD, HAL said, "Time and again the indigenous Dhruv helicopter has proven its capabilities. Our helicopters were extensively utilised for search and rescue operations in the past as well." HAL helicopters flew non-stop from dawn to dusk till all the survivors on board were safely rescued.

A total of 210 cargo operations and 270 winch operations were undertaken by the HAL choppers towards salvage and rescue missions so far.

Image Source: IANS News

The Chetak helicopters were used primarily for winching survivors. The ALHs flew continuous missions to get the international salvage team on board the ship to contain the spill.

The HAL helicopters have flown 110 hours till now and rescued 600 persons from and to MV Wakashio.

The spill is close to two environmentally protected marine ecosystems and the Blue Bay Marine Park reserve. Nearby are a number of popular tourist beaches and mangrove plantations. Mauritius had to declare a state of environmental emergency.

A crack in the hull of the ship expanded earlier this week, leading to the ship splitting into two halves.

Dhruv is indigenously designed and developed by HAL for the military as well as civil applications.

The utility version of the Dhruv helicopter can be used for VIP travel, commuter, search and rescue, emergency medical service, underslung load, disaster relief, and offshore operations.

Dhruv helicopter is suitable for increased payload at higher altitudes and is in operation with all the three service wings.

More than 240 helicopters are operational with the Indian armed forces clocking more than 2,70,000 flying hours. India has also dispatched over 30 tonnes of technical equipment and materials to Mauritius to help the island nation.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Donald Trump admitted his decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was made largely for Evangelical Christians, a community staunchly supportive of his presidency.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on Monday, the president also suggested that the evangelicals were more enthusiastic about his decision than Jewish people.

And we moved the capital of Israel to Jerusalem. Thats for the evangelicals, Mr Trump told supporters at Wittman Regional Airport on Monday, as Democrats prepared for the first night of the partys virtual convention.

You know its amazing ... the evangelicals are more excited about that than Jewish people. Thats really right, its incredible, the president added, to raucous applause from the crowd.

The president also visited Mankato, Minnesota on Monday as he attempted to counter attacks coming from the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

Mr Trump in December 2017 formally recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital, a decision that broke with decades of US foreign policy towards the region, provoking mixed reactions on Capitol Hill, and international condemnation.

Announcing the move, which led to deadly protests on the ground in the West Bank, Mr Trump said he acted in the best interests of the United States of America and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinian.

This is a long-overdue step to advance the peace process and to work towards a lasting agreement, the president said, in a video message played at the May 2018 inauguration of the embassy in Jerusalem.

Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital. Acknowledging this as a fact is a necessary condition for achieving peace, he added.

Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the decision as a historic landmark. But Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas interpreted the move as the US making a declaration of withdrawal from its role in the peace process.

 Donald Trump announces opening of US embassy in Jerusalem

While Trump claimed his decision was motivated by peace, political commentators and analysts largely agreed that the president had one eye on the evangelical Christian community, many of whom backed him in the 2016 presidential race and whose votes will likely play a key role in Novembers poll.

There is a small but not insignificant group of evangelical Christians in the US who believe Trump has been chosen by God to advance the kingdom of God on Earth; Israel is a key issue for many of these voters.

Earlier this year, Joe Biden said he would keep the US embassy in Israel should he be elected to the White House.

During Mondays rally, the president also launched into another broadside on Obamas legacy, before attacking Mr Biden, who will be formally nominated on the second night of the DNC, which continues on Tuesday night, with speeches from former president Bill Clinton and New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The president sought to paint Mr Biden as weak on China, an issue that is becoming increasingly important in the election, as privacy concerns grow over social media firm TikTok, and the telecoms company, Huawei.

Hes going to get tough on China, sure, Trump said in a sarcastic tone. If we dont get elected, China will own  mark my word. Well, I hope youre not going to be able to test it out, okay? China will, China will own the United States, he added.

In front of a crowd of around 1,000 supporters, Mr Trump, who has attempted to position himself as the jobs candidate, said the faltering US economy, tanking due to the Covid-19 pandemic, would rebound if he was re-elected.

He also repeated false claims that the upcoming election could be rigged as he appeared to lay the ground for a potential defeat in two months time.

The only way were going to lose this election is if the election is rigged, he said.

Well behind in a host of major polls  including in swing states that he needs to win  Tump travels to Yuma, Arizona, on Tuesday and Bidens home town of Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Thursday.
Wilfredo Lee/AP

American Airlines is making a few changes to their facial covering policy, following new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC said facial coverings with one way valves or vents allow air to get through holes in the material and can actually contribute to the spread of coronavirus, so effective Aug. 19, they will no longer be allowed when flying with American, the airline said in a press release.
Saad Hariri may be understandably motivated by the natural desire to bring to justice his fathers killers [Getty]

Dead or alive, Americas J.F. Kennedy and Lebanons Rafiq Hariri conjure up thoughts of conspiracy. Who really so meticulously and masterfully staged the slaying of Lebanons Premier Rafiq Hariri in 2005? Is Hezbollah being framed for a Lee Harvey Oswald destiny?

Today, Lebanon is perched on a precarious precipice, a return to the savagery of civil strife  perhaps condemning the ingenious Lebanese people to a Hobbesian existence: where life may be short, brutish and nasty.

The Court of History

Things are not straightforward in Lebanon, for polity labours under the burden of history. In particular, the court of history will harshly judge the countrys masters of politics. By the 1989 Taif Agreement, many of these politicians and their movements were given a coup de grace, unburdening them of their misdeeds and absolving them of their crimes. It was the National Reconciliation Agreement  deftly brokered by the Saudis  which ended the 15-year-civil war during when atrocities of all kinds were committed by locals and foreigners.

Maybe this is at the core of the Lebanese miasma: the many guilty parties that committed crimes during the civil war were recycled for the post-war task of governance and reconstruction. A decision which was undoubtedly at the expense of the Lebanese people, denying them a fresh start without the cabals of leaders who executed a war that spared no community, no religion, and de-sacralised the state and legality.

Just as there are questions today about the killing of Rafiq Hariri, there are unanswered questions and an absence of justice in the killing of former Premier Rashid Karami. The same goes for President Rene Moawad, or President elect Bashir Gemayel, and Kamal Jumblatt. That, in addition to the atrocities committed by the Christian Kataib of the Lebanese Forces at Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila, there was also the suffering and atrocities of Damour, Tell Azzatar and the Krantina. So too does justice remain unanswered for the ordinary Lebanese citizens, women in particular, who were victimized widely and by all the warring factions.

This is what makes the STL an oddity in Lebanon, atrocities that far outweigh the Hariri assassination  and murders on par with it  will never face justice. This is not to detract from Hariri, a figure larger than life and a philanthropist par excellence. Acknowledging Lebanons bloody past is an important task in order to situate justice in a wider context that does not shorten history: the killing fields of Lebanon began way before 2005.

No warring party in the Lebanese civil war can claim innocence.

Bellemares Court

News of a possible indictment against Hezbollah a few months ago caused a significant stir in Lebanon and Middle East region as a whole. The symbolism of a joint visit by Syrias Assad and the Saudi monarch to Beirut was not a good omen.

In addition, Shaykh Hassan Nasrallah was essentially forced into addressing the public himself through two long live televised sessions, the first of which was on the 9th of August 2010. Maybe what Nasrallah presented was partly a speech of crisis, but its value to Hezbollah was worth every moment spent out of his hiding.



Nasrallah often emerges in the definitive moments that have shaped Hezbollahs rise to power  Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, various high profile prisoner swaps, the summer 2006 (thirty-three day) Israeli indiscriminate bombing campaign, and several key addresses lambasting pro-American allies in the region (such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia).

Hezbollah and Arab public opinion

Nasrallahs vindication speeches, coupled with previously classified footage, specifically on the 9th of August seemed to have impacted greatly on the Arab public. Most notably his suggestion of raising the possibility of Israeli involvement in the murder of Hariri.

Shaykh Sayyid Nasrallahs first televised speech on August 9, where he presented alleged classified information about a possible Israeli connection with the murder of Rafiq Hariri [EPA]

Though he had no answers, his questions of why Israel is excluded from the STLs investigations fed suspicion about the STLs work and the evidence that might have been fabricated by so-called false witnesses. The speeches struck a chord with a majority of Arab citizenry and the Lebanese in particular. Nasrallahs words sowed doubts about the STL as an impartial and apolitical instrument of justice.

Many of the heavy weights of Lebanese politics, as well as Sunni leaders, have rallied behind Hezbollah. Even morbid enemies of Hezbollah, such as Marwan Hamada, are not happy with the hypothesis of an indictment against Hezbollah. Furthermore am investigative judge has issued 33 arrest warrants against various Lebanese figures, including allies of Premier Saad Hariri.

Regional implications

Saad Hariri knows that he is expendable as far as Syria goes. Nasrallah is a folk hero in Syria where his pictures decorate walls and windows of all kinds. Hezbollah has been conducting a war by proxy which could one day convince the Israelis to return the Golan heights to Assad. Hezbollahs stock will continue to be high for the foreseeable future, both politically and publically in Syria. Conversely Saad Hariri does not enjoy such reverance. Cynically it could be alledged, that his public declaration of Syrias innocence of any involvement in his fathers death, was to court favour.

Saad Hariri may be now investing all of his political bets on an indictment against Hezbollah. He should however hedge his bets. Lebanese President Michel Suleiman voiced doubts about the STLs credibility in his UN speech last month. Maybe his statement divulges the fear that the rush to seek justice at all costs may unhinge the future of Lebanons social peace.

Saads dilemma

In any other country, a Premier whose fathers murder is being investigated would step down until the courts hand down their judgement. Yet Hariri and Hezbollahs shared spotlight of opportunities and perils may gauge Hariri towards public interest; a personal agenda and mourning should be secondary in the case of a clear clash of interests.

The Lebanese governments agreement with the STL is now an international matter that may not be revoked. If he chose, as Hezbollah would like him to, Saad Hariri can discredit the STL. Yet Hariri may be waiting for the moment of truth. Perhaps only then will he choose to grant a pardon to the guilty individual or individuals.

The question is whether he should wait and prove his leadership before the indictment. Doing this would grant him political immortality, but at the heavy cost of upsetting international allies.

As for Hezbollah, it is feeling undue pressure over possible indictment. Statements by Hezbollah high-ranking cadres such as Minister Nawwaf Moussawi perhaps prematurely reveal panic. The party may no longer be hopeful that the Saudis or others could succeed in stopping the STL. But the writing is on the wall, which could mean that Hezbollah may not co-operate any further with the STL.

Hezbollah will not accept conviction it believes is based on false claims and evidence. An indictment no matter how insignificant or limited would by implication, mean that whoever pressed the button was acting on instructions from above. This development would be catastrophic for the future and standing of a formidable political party.

A legacy of resistance

Hezbollah has red lines: its resistance is not up for grabs. In its own rhetoric, what Israel and the US could not get by force in 2006 will not be granted to them by default through the STL. Even if the STL indicts Hezbollah, the bulk of the Arab public will not subscribe to the verdict. Like in Kennedys case, there will always be question marks about the real culprit or culprits.

Hezbollah cares not for political power. Its political values and objectives have more to do with liberating Palestine and Jerusalem than gaining seats in the Lebanese parliament. Its second political manifesto revealed to the world last year, affirms this political philosophy. What the world should fear is an indictment that condemns Hezbollah to the political wilderness.

Hezbollah is capable of pragmatism, and Nasrallah has done a great deal to turn a band of religious zealots into master politicians, contesting power at every level and through legal, democratic and constitutional channels. Hezbollah would be the biggest loser if it were to be dragged into a civil war or a sectarian showdown with the Sunnis. It enjoys wide following in lebanon and the wider Arab World.

Indeed, since it is assured of its innocence, even if an indictment is issued against Hezbollah, it will not turn it into a villain. Its own truth should be pursued with zest, zeal and through legal and political means.

In the big scheme of things, especially when justice does not seem to be clear-cut, bending the law so that Hezbollah does not have to break it may not be a bad investment in the future of Lebanon.

The STL failed to strike when the iron was hot. An indictment coming five years later after the killing may not be enough to either impact on the party indicted or to absolve the STL itself from inconsistencies and confusion: pointing the finger at Syria first but without issuing an indictment.

Lebanon was murdered for 15 years during a vicious civil war; it was murdered when Hariri and other compatriots were killed, and it was murdered again when the Israelis dropped thousands of tons of bombs on Lebanon during 2006. It would be a shame to murder it once more by butchering a process of justice whose outcome is not assured.

A rush to judgement may prove calamitous for all.

Dr Larbi Sadiki is a Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics at the University of Exeter, and author of Arab Democratisation: Elections without Democracy (Oxford University Press, 2009) and The Search for Arab Democracy: Discourses and Counter-Discourses (Columbia University Press, 2004).

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Last fall, Google hired Taylor, who served as chief of staff for Kirstjen Nielsen, the former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and with now-acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf. Taylor joined Google to work on government affairs and national security issues, but it caused a stir among lawmakers and employees, some of whom had actively protested their company's relationship with the government and its policies.

"What we saw  week in and week out, after 2 years in that administration  was terrifying," Taylor said in the video released Monday. "The president wanted to exploit the Department of Homeland Security for his own political purposed and to fuel his own agenda."

Taylor appeared in an anti-Trump ad Monday and backed Joe Biden for president, drawing the president's ire on Twitter on Tuesday morning. Taylor will use his time off to engage in more political activity, according to a source familiar with the situation. He'll then continue a new role he recently took after he returns to Google.

Miles Taylor, President Donald Trump's former homeland security chief of staff and current Google staffer who became a controversial figure within the company for his work on Trump's child separation policies, is taking a leave from Google until after the presidential election.

In July, the company and Taylor agreed on transitioning him off of a general national security role and into a position that focuses on security policy for things like artificial intelligence, the source told CNBC. Last week, they agreed he'd take a leave of absence so that he could pursue personal political activity ahead of the election, the source said. His leave of absence is effective until Nov. 4, the day after Election Day.

Google declined to comment.

Since Taylor joined the company, employees have expressed concern about him at all-hands meetings, where executives defended his hiring and downplayed his involvement in DHS policies. That came a few months after more than 1,000 Google employees signed a petition demanding that Google abandon bids or potential bids with U.S. Customs and Border Protection contract. A couple of months later, Democratic congressional leaders scolded Google CEO Sundar Pichai for hiring Taylor, whose team had supported Trump's executive order to ban travel to the U.S. from Muslim countries and DHS' family separation policies.

In an op-ed in The Washington Post published Monday, Taylor tried to distance himself from the Trump administration's decision to separate immigrant families entering the country, despite the fact he worked closely on the policy, as BuzzFeed news previously reported.

On Tuesday, Trump attacked Taylor on Twitter, claiming he did not know his former staffer. Pictures of the two men together quickly surfaced on Twitter in response.

Just before Taylor took leave last week, he changed roles to U.S. lead for advanced technology and security strategy, where he'll focus on driving Google's agenda related to AI, quantum computing, cybersecurity and emerging digital threats, according to the source. Previously, his role was overseeing Google's national security policy efforts, including Google work related to the defense, law enforcement and security.

Taylor's transition comes ahead of a tumultuous U.S. election, where Trump is seeking a second term against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Tech companies and their staffers have found themselves in the line of fire as both sides  particularly the Trump administration  launch public attacks against them in recent weeks ranging from allegations of bias to antitrust violations.

Among Taylor's claims Monday were that Trump withheld funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Californians dealing with the fallout from wildfires because the state didn't support him and because it wasn't a base for him "politically." He also claimed Trump wanted to push the boundaries on border policies for the purpose of scaring off potential violators. "He didn't want us to tell us it was illegal anymore because he knew  and these are his words  he had 'magical authority,'" he is seen saying in the video.

"Even though I'm not a Democrat and disagree on key issues, I'm confident that Joe Biden will protect the country and I'm confident he won't make the same mistakes as this president," Taylor's video concluded.




UW School of Nursing Graduate Combines Education and Military Training in Battling Pandemic

Capt. Stephen Russell, along with his wife, Trina, poses during a recent holiday military ball. Russell, a UW Doctor of Nursing Practice Program graduate, is providing inpatient care to COVID-positive patients at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Maxwell, Born to Be Wild Photography LLC)

A recent graduate of the University of Wyomings Doctor of Nursing Practice Program has gone from providing health care to U.S. Army soldiers at Fort Bliss, Texas, to the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Capt. Stephen Russell, who graduated from the program in UWs Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing in 2017, completed his initial Army training in 2018 and was transferred along with his family to Fort Bliss. There, his work as a nurse practitioner was in primary care -- annual wellness visits, sick-call visits and helping soldiers maintain medical readiness for deployment.

Then, in March 2020, medical facilities around the country began feeling the full brunt of COVID-19 infections.

In March, I volunteered and was assigned to participate in the standing up of a Respiratory Virus Evaluation Center (RVEC) to assist with COVID testing and treatment at Fort Bliss, Russell says. The RVEC serviced all active-duty soldiers and dependent family members who were prescreened as eligible for COVID testing.

On July 13, in support of a request by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the Department of Defense, he was deployed to Houston as a part of the departments ongoing COVID operations, supporting our whole-of-government response efforts.

As part of an 86-person Army Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force, I have been providing inpatient care to COVID-positive patients at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, where we have established an inpatient COVID ward, Russell says. The work has been challenging, but the team here has been phenomenal. I have been doing my part to assist with the team effort as I learn from all of the incredible Army nurses and physicians on the team supporting the civilian hospital staff. There are some true experts here, and I do what I can to support them.

An important component of the education students in the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing receive is to learn and experience the benefits of interdisciplinary medical practice and how to implement that training in their career fields. The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursings staff and faculty, along with the vast scope of curriculum offered, also work to ensure all graduates are equipped to use critical thinking and to be ready to flourish in their careers and continue to advance their nursing skills.

The University of Wyoming Doctor of Nursing program is directed at preparing advanced-practice nurses to provide primary care in an outpatient setting. This being said, the critical thinking skills, self-directed learning approach, clinical experiences and fundamental medical knowledge gained at UW have been a solid foundation to build on as I grow to meet the new demands the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to our citizens, says Russell, who spent time growing up in Cheyenne and Scottsbluff, Neb.

UW learned of Russells work amid the COVID-19 pandemic through an email from his father, John Russell, who works in logistics and purchasing at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. I thought UW would like to know what one of their grads was doing, John Russell wrote.

Sherrill Smith, dean of the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, says the school takes great pride in learning about the success of its graduates, especially at a time when graduates of the UW College of Health Sciences are in many cases working in the trenches, dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are proud of our UW alumni who are supporting the health care needs of our communities, especially now during a global pandemic, Smith says. We love hearing stories like Stephens that highlight how our graduates are prepared to make a difference wherever they may be.

To learn more about the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program offered through the Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, visit www.uwyo.edu/nursing/programs/dnp/index.html.
Students over the age of 2 will be required to wear face coverings for nearly the entire school day under Pennsylvanias universal mask order, according to a Department of Education memo released this week.

There will be a limited number of instances in which students will be allowed to remove their face coverings, according to the memo. These include while eating or drinking, or during an activity that makes mask-wearing unsafe. Students can also take their masks off during 10-minute face-covering breaks.

For the safety of students, staff and families and to avoid community spread of COVID-19, students and staff are considered to be members of the public who are congregating in indoor locations. As such, they are required to adhere to this Order, the Department of Education said.

The order is in effect for students, staff and teachers. It also applies to student athletes whenever they are not actively engaged in a game or workout.

Health officials recommended school districts enforce mask-wearing on school buses, in addition to during the school day.

Students can only opt out with documentation showing they have a medical or mental health condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, according to the memo.

Masks will be a requirement until Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine deems it is safe to loosen the restriction, education officials said.

Pennsylvanias universal mask order, which went into effect July 1, mandates masks be worn in any public setting. At the time, Gov. Tom Wolf said mask-wearing could be a requirement in Pennsylvania until a coronavirus vaccine is available.

Health officials last month urged teachers and staff to set a good example while acknowledging the challenges of receiving universal student compliance.

Given that children and adolescents may experience challenges in effectively adhering to recommendations, it is critical that staff set a good example for students by modeling behaviors around physical distancing, face coverings and hand hygiene, the Department of Health said.

The state is also asking schools to follow social distancing guidelines and limit the interactions between groups of students.

Each school district was required to submit individual safety proposals, but the states face mask and social distancing guidelines apply across the Commonwealth.

More information on the phased reopening of Pennsylvania schools is available on the Department of Healths website.

READ MORE:

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 18:10:21|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran's foreign minister said that the U.S. "miscalculations" in major international issues resulted in its global failure, Press TV reported on Tuesday.

The latest defeat for the United States was the UN Security Council's recent move to reject its draft resolution on the extension of a UN arms embargo against Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a televised interview on Monday night.

The UN Security Council vote once again proved that even the dead body of the Iranian 2015 nuclear deal, or the JCOPA, could defeat the United States, Zarif said, adding that "the reason is the member states of the council feel that Washington is standing against the global community by killing the JCPOA and the UN Security Council Resolution 2231."

The Americans' failure at the UN Security Council showed a victory for the Iranian nation, he added.

On Friday, UN Security Council rejected the U.S.-drafted resolution to extend the current arms embargo against Iran which had been presented by the United States who unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018. Enditem
Blake Patrick Anderson will join the cast of the upcoming outdoor Hair concert shows by the Thames.

The actor, known for his performances in Be More Chill (and also for recent web concert, entitled Wine) will join a cast including Matthew Croke (Aladdin), Danielle Fiamanya (The Color Purple), Jordan Luke Gage (& Juliet), Grace Mouat (Six), Millie O'Connell (Be More Chill), Jodie Steele (Heathers) and Layton Williams (Everybody's Talking About Jamie).

Arlene Phillips will direct the outdoor concert staging of award-winning rock musical from 4 to 6 September  with a brand new matinee show added for the final day, with all tickets for other performances now sold out.

The concert show has musical direction by Katy Richardson, design by David Shields, lighting design by Andrew Exeter and sound design by Dan Samson.

The piece has book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado with music by Galt MacDermot, and tells the story of a group of anti-war, politically active, long-haired hippies in the 1960s. It has numbers including "Good Morning, Star Shine", "Let the Sunshine In" and "Aquarius".

It features as part of the Turbine's outdoor season  you can find out more here.
For all their obvious similarities, language learning apps will often each take unique approaches to teaching a foreign tongue. Or, in the case of many services, a whole bunch of foreign tongues.

While some providers give you access to training across overwhelming menus of more than 150 different languages, the people behind the Busuu Language Learning system have settled on only 12. English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, Russian, and Arabic. That's it.

While that comes as an obvious disappointment for those with their heart set on learning Fijian, Lithuanian or Tok Pisin, the creole-based language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea, Busuu's focus on the fundamentals has paid off, with more than 100 million learners worldwide.

Crafted by an in-house team of education and linguistic experts, Busuu has fashioned more than 1,000 fully optimized lessons aimed at getting new speakers proficient in the four main language skills  reading, writing, listening, and, of course, speaking. So unlike language systems that only focus on spoken word training, Busuu gives you a well-rounded immersion in all aspects of your new language.

One of Busuu's strongest advantages is that massive 100 million-strong community, which allows students to advance their learning through practice directly with native speakers around the world. For example, you can send off written work in your new language and get a native to critique you almost instantly.

Meanwhile, Busuu has also crafted their service to couple that old-school, one-on-one personal training method with all the advantages of a high-tech world. In addition to personalized study plans, the speech recognition features in the Busuu app allows you to practice your pronunciation of keywords and phrases by copying a native speaker and getting immediate feedback.

Busuu has also partnered with McGraw-Hill Education to validate their language learning. Once you're successfully passed their mastery exam after core stages of your training, you'll receive an official level certificate awarded by McGraw-Hill.

With app access available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices, you can always find a way to fit the Busuu program into your busy schedule. There's even an offline mode so you can keep up with your studies even without an internet connection.

With a lifetime subscription to Busuu Language Learning's Premium Plus package, you can learn as many or as few of the 12 core languages as you want. A $450 value, this offer is now 64% off, just $89.99.
Death Valley, California, may have recorded the hottest temperature in world history

Posted on 18 August 2020 by Guest Author

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters

Death Valley, California hit an astonishing 129.9 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4C) at 3:41 p.m. PDT Sunday, August 16, 2020, which was rounded to 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the final report from NOAA.

According to weather records experts Christopher Burt, who wrote the comprehensive weather records book Extreme Weather, and Maximiliano Herrera, who tweets under the Twitter handle Extreme Temperatures Around the World, the observation may be the hottest reliably recorded temperature in world history, breaking the 129.2 degrees Fahrenheit readings at Death Valley in 2013 and in Kuwait in 2016.

Cautions about the record

Herrera and Burt are cautious about accepting the new record set at the Furnace Creek Visitors Center in Death Valley. The measurement came in mid-August. But extreme high temperature records are much easier to set in July, which is the hottest month of summer. Also concerning was the fact that Sundays temperatures at Furnace Creek showed some odd jumps during the day. (See the raw high-resolution data here by choosing a time up to six days in the past from the drop-down menu, then choosing Decoded Data.)

However, there were some relevant wind direction changes at Furnace Creek that occurred during these temperature jumps, bolstering the idea that the temperature changes were real. The National Weather Service noted that transient high cirrus clouds may have played a role in the temperature changes. Further support for the 130 degrees Fahrenheit reading at Furnace Creek came from the nearby Stovepipe Wells site in Death Valley, which peaked at 125 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday. That site, which lies in a cooler part of the valley and is 200 feet higher in elevation, is typically three to five degrees cooler than the Furnace Creek site.

The Greenland Ranch USWB weather shelter in Death Valley, California, site of the official world record extreme temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit on July 10, 1913. Photo is the oldest known photograph of the weather station (circa late 1910s to as late as 1921) and is looking west. (Image credit: NWS Las Vegas archives via Chris Burt)

The official world record will remain 134F

If Sundays observation passes an investigation (instrument calibration, etc.) then, yes, this a new reliably measured global extreme heat record, Burt wrote by email.

But the observation will not count as an official world record. In 2013, the World Meteorological Organization officially decertified the official all-time hottest temperature in world history, a 136.4 degrees Fahrenheit reading from Al Azizia, Libya, in 1923. (Burt was a member of the WMO team that made the determination.) After the abandonment of the Libya record, the official world record was given to a 134 degrees Fahrenheit measurement taken at Death Valley on July 10, 1913.

However, this record has been strongly disputed by Burt and Herrera.

The old Death Valley record from July 1913 is 100% bogus (not just 99.9% such), as are all other temperature readings of 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher from Africa in the past, Burt said.

Burt wrote a detailed 2016 blog post at Weather Underground challenging the 1913 record at Death Valley, explaining that official readings of 134, 130, and 131 degrees Fahrenheit taken on July 10, 12, and 13, 1913 were likely the result of an inexperienced observer. In order for the 1913 Death Valley record to be decertified, though, an official World Meteorological Organization investigation committee would have to be assembled to look into the matter, a years-long process for which there is currently no motivation.

The only other temperature of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit officially recognized by the World Meteorological Organization is a 131-degree reading at Kebili, Tunisia, set July 7, 1931, which is considered to be Africas hottest temperature.

Burt disputed this record: I mentioned to the WMO about the Kebili temperature of 131 degrees Fahrenheit back in 2012, when asked what I thought the next hottest temperature in Africa (after Al Azzia) might be, since that was the only temperature over 130 degrees Fahrenheit that had an actual date attached to it. However, the Kebili record is even more bogus than even the Al Azzia record, and I said so. Kebili is a relatively cool spot in Tunisia (an oasis) and never since the 1930s ever again recorded a maximum temperature above 118 degrees Fahrenheit. The WMO wanted something for their Africa section at that time, and somehow the 131 degrees Fahrenheit made it into the database with no consideration of its validity whatsoever. Nowhere in Africa has any reliably observed temperature been measured above 126 degrees Fahrenheit.

A weird weather day in California

Another argument supporting Sundays 130 degrees Fahrenheit measurement at Death Valley was the unusual weather setup over California.

Im coming around to thinking that this 129.9 reading just might be for real, Burt said. For one thing, the weather today in California has been unique. All kinds of strange local weather occurred. In fact, the folks at most of the states National Weather Service offices are saying there has never been a day like today in recorded history in the state: all kinds of weird dynamics at work and the models just cant handle the details.

Yale Climate Connections contributor Bob Henson had these observations on Sundays weird weather in California: Among the strange developments over the weekend in California were a highly unusual round of pre-dawn thunderstorms in the Bay Area on Sunday, with only scant rain but profuse lightning that started multiple new wildfires. More than 4,800 lightning strikes were recorded in California on Saturday alone. Also on Saturday, a fire-based thunderstorm (pyrocumulonimbus) in Lassen County spawned what appear to be multiple fire whirls and fire tornados, as indicated by radar and documented in photos and videos. The storm prompted what is apparently the first-ever NWS tornado warning related to pyrocumulonimbus. It will take further study to establish how many vortexes developed and how many might have been fire whirls (smaller-scale, shorter-lived spin-ups akin to dust devils) versus more unusual fire tornadoes, which extend up into a pyrocumulonimbus and which can generate surface winds of more than 100 mph.

These events are related to an infusion of moisture from the tropical northeast Pacific, some of it from ex-Hurricane Elida, coupled with one of the strongest, hottest upper-level domes of high pressure ever recorded across the western United States in August. When such air is forced to descend, it warms up even more, which can lead to record-setting temperatures at the surface.
Joe Biden hosts a panel talk during the convention on Monday: Reuters

The Democratic National Convention takes place this week, with Joe Biden set to accept his nomination as the Democratic candidate before taking on President Donald Trump in the 2020 US election.

That acceptance speech will come on Thursday 20 August, following a completely virtual four-day event which begins on Monday 17 August, and can be watched here.

It promises to be a convention like none other, having been postponed, cancelled and moved online amid concerns around safety and coronavirus, which has killed 170,000 Americans to date.

The presumed Democratic party candidate for president, Joe Biden, will also see his rivals in the Democratic primary contest give their backing to his bid for the White House.

They include Senator Kamala Harris, who on Wednesday is due to accept her nomination as the Democratic vice presidential nominee, after she was announced as Mr Bidens running mate less than a week ago.

What happens at the convention?

Not unlike the Republican convention in ordinary times, the Democrats event is traditionally a mixture of rallies, working sessions and elections, with delegates from the 50 states and non-state territories and districts convening in one place to determine the partys platform and pick their candidates for president and vice president.

In 2020, however, working sessions will largely take place online  with participants able to tune-in and watch the proceedings from across the United States. Meanwhile, a considerably slimmed-down speaking schedule will see two-hour packages delivered by star speakers including former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, among other high-profile Democrats and personalities.

Who to watch and when

On Monday , you can expect to see speakers from across the American political spectrum, with at least one Republican starring alongside progressive Democrats such as Senator Bernie Sandors before former first lady, Michelle Obama, headlines the first night of the convention.

Story continues

Senator Amy Klobuchar

Former Ohio Governor John Kasich

New York governor Andrew Cuomo

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer

Senator Bernie Sanders

Former first lady Michelle Obama

On Tuesday , New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will speak at the convention, providing young and progressive voters with a voice among more mainstream speakers and Mr Biden, who is sometimes at odds with younger Democrats. Tuesday will also seen former president Bill Clinton provide the warm-up to Mr Bidens wide, Dr. Jill Biden, who could become the first lady after November.

Minority leader Chuck Schumer

Former secretary of state John Kerry

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Former president Bill Clinton

Dr. Jill Biden

On Wednesday , a host of women speakers will provide the warm-up to Kamala Harris accepting her nomination as the 2020 Democratic vice presidential candidate, when she will formally become the first black and south Asian woman to stand on the ticket of a major party in the United States. That speech will then be followed by former president Barack Obama.

Senator Elizabeth Warren

House speaker Nancy Pelosi

Former secretary of state Hilary Clinton

Senator Kamala Harris

Former president Barack Obama

On Thursday , Mr Biden will be at the centre of the online event as he accepts the partys nomination in a speech traditionally viewed as the starting gun on the final sprint towards Novembers election. And, without an in-person event, that acceptance speech will be made from Mr Bidens home state of Delaware.

Senator Cory Brooker

Fomer South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg

California governor Gavin Newsom

Andrew Yang

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden

Spectacle

Apart from the selection of the party platform and the partys candidates for president and vice president, the convention also serves as a means to rally supporters and solidify support for the candidates ahead of the November general election.

In 2020, that will come in the shape of completely online performances from Leon Bridges, The Chicks, Common, Stephen Stills, Jennifer Hudson and Billie Eilish (on Wednesday), who will entertain those watching the event.

Monday night will also see a virtual youth choir with members representing all 57 states and territories as singing the United States national anthem from remote locations across the country.

How to watch

The conventions programming takes place between 9 - 11pm EDT ( 1  3am GMT the next day) Monday to Thursday this week, and can be watched online here.

Read more

Joe Biden says Democrats could hold virtual convention
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By Andrei Makhovsky and Polina Nikolskaya

MINSK/MOSCOW (Reuters) - When protests erupted after the disputed election in Belarus, Anna Koval transformed the office of the travel agency she runs in central Minsk into the headquarters of a volunteer operation helping casualties of a police crackdown.

Her group of around 10 people, some of them doctors able to provide first aid, coordinated on social media as best they could amid an internet blackout to tip each other off about the location of protesters in need and risks on the ground.

"They (the police) were really arresting ambulance staff, doctors, seizing medicine...," the 39-year-old said by phone from the Belarus capital, describing the first three nights after the Aug. 9 presidential election as "terrifying."

Alexander Lukashenko, the veteran leader who is the target of the protests, on Tuesday praised law enforcement officials for their "impeccable service".

One night, Koval helped treat five injured protesters. Some demonstrators were too scared to go to hospital fearing police retribution, she said. In several cases, Koval had doctors sent to protesters' homes.

"They stitched them up at home."

Police detained more than 6,000 people in the first few days of protests and fired rubber bullets and tear gas. Dozens of protesters and police officers were injured in the clashes and two people died.

Reuters spoke to several volunteers from similar groups that sprang up amid a groundswell of public anger against Lukashenko.

There has been a lull in violence between police and protesters, but tensions are high as the opposition demands Lukashenko cedes power while the leader of 26 years remains in his post.

Koval's group is now collecting food and personal hygiene products and distributing them to people in hospital and, with the help of the Red Cross, to those in jail, she said.

"My volunteering isn't about helping the new politics. My volunteer work is about helping people.

Story continues

"I broke down when the first shot rang out. When the first shot sounded, it hit me and literally the very next day this headquarters was organised," she said.

Koval wants what she described as the climate of fear in Belarus to end.

"I'm not scared, I'm a free person. I want to live in a country that is just as free, and to openly show my face," she said. "And maybe other people will see me and my guys, and will act like me."

(Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Pizza Express will shut 73 of its restaurants across Britain with the potential loss of 1,100 jobs in a bid to stay afloat in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown, the chain has announced.

The company, which currently has around 454 restaurants in the UK, said on Tuesday it has finalised a proposal to reduce its restaurant and rental costs via a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

It said that although the majority of its restaurants were profitable before lockdown was imposed, earnings had been declining across the Pizza Express estate for the last three years.

Up to 1,100 jobs could go at Pizza Express as it announced plans to shut 73 stores (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

It added that the reduction in revenue caused by the enforced closure of all restaurants, the cost of reopening and the UK's uncertain economic future meant its rental costs were no longer sustainable.

Pizza Express, which is majority owned by Chinese firm Hony Capital, also confirmed it had hired advisers from Lazard to lead a sale process for the business.

It said it would hold a virtual meeting for its creditors on September 4 to seek approval for the measures set out in the CVA.

THE FULL LIST OF PIZZA EXPRESS RESTAURANTS CLOSING Aberdeen, Belmont Street Aylesbury Barnstaple, Three Tuns Biggleswade Billericay Birmingham, Corporation Street Birmingham, Mailbox Bournemouth, Post Office Road Bramhall Bristol, Berkeley Square Bristol, Regent Street Bromsgrove Bruton Place Charlotte Street Chippenham Dalton Park Darlington Dudley, Merry Hill Earl's Court, Earls Court Road Edinburgh, Holyrood Formby Fulham Palace Road Glasgow, Princes Square Glossop Gosforth Grantham Halifax Hampstead Hatch End Hereford Heswall Ipswich, Lloyds Avenue Leeds, Crown Street Leeds, Horsforth Ludlow Lymington Melton Mowbray Midhurst Milton Keynes Moseley New Brighton Newcastle Newport, Isle of Wight Newport, South Wales Northallerton Nottingham, Goosegate O2 Finchley Orpington Oxford, Oxford Castle Poole Port Solent Ramsgate Reading, St Mary's Butts Scarborough Sheffield, Devonshire Street Sheffield The Moor Shirley Southport, Old Bank Stafford Staines Stoke Stourbridge Sudbury Torquay Uxbridge Wakefield Walsall Wapping Wardour Street Weston-super-Mare Whiteley Village Whitstable Wrexham Advertisement

Zoe Bowley, Pizza Express's managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: 'Unfortunately, the impact of the global pandemic has meant that we have had to make some incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term.

'Today we have confirmed that 73 of our pizzerias are proposed to close permanently.'

Ms Bowley said that in most cases, the stores selected for closure are near to another Pizza Express that has already reopened or will be reopening soon.

She added: 'Our focus is on our people whose jobs are impacted and we will be doing everything we can either to redeploy them or to support them in finding roles elsewhere.

'Hard as this process is, it will protect the jobs of over 9,000 of our colleagues and provide a strong footing for Pizza Express to meet future challenges and opportunities.'

Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: 'These situations are never easy, particularly now for the retail, hospitality and leisure businesses on our high streets at the sharp end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

'Property owners, however, need to take into consideration the impact on their investors, including the millions of people whose savings and pensions are invested in commercial property, as they vote on any CVA proposal.'

The news comes after Marks & Spencer announced it would axe 7,000 jobs as part of a further shake-up of its stores and management in the face of the coronavirus crisis.

The London-based retail giant revealed the bulk of the cuts would be made across its stores, hitting around 12 per cent of its 60,000 shop-based staff, as well as a smaller number of support centre and regional management workers.

M&S, which employs 85,000 people worldwide, expects a 'significant' number of roles will be cut through voluntary departures and early retirement.

The group said it will also create some jobs through investing further in online warehousing and its new ambient food warehouse.

M&S had already begun a significant restructuring before the pandemic hit, shutting under-performing stores and boosting its online sales.

The coronavirus outbreak has now accelerated those plans.

The job losses add to many thousands already announced across the retail sector as the pandemic wreaks havoc on Britain's high street, with department store chain Debenhams last week announcing another 2,500 staff cuts.

It brings the total number of cuts and roles at risk in Britain's battered retail sector to more than 41,000.

According to figures compiled by the PA news agency, the retail bloodbath has claimed or put under threat at least 41,391 UK jobs since the lockdown in late March.

Almost 100 more workers are also set to lose their jobs at Bombardier's aircraft manufacturing plant in Belfast.

The company announcement of 95 potential redundancies comes two months after it announced more than 600 jobs were to be lost at its operations in the east of the city - 400 core staff and 200-plus contractors.

It has been predicted some 6.5 million jobs in total will go in the UK because of the coronavirus disaster.

It has led to calls for a targeted support scheme for the sector amid concerns the Government's action will not be enough to save jobs or specifically help or retrain those in retail who have lost their roles.

The Government's furlough scheme for workers comes to an end in October and while it has launched the back to work bonus, offering firms 1,000 for every furloughed staff member a business retains, there are fears there will still be thousands more retail jobs axed.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled his Plan for Jobs in the summer statement alongside a 15% cut in VAT to add to the 100% business rates relief already available for eligible businesses.

It comes as M&S revealed total sales in its hard-hit clothing and home arm plunged 29.9 per cent in the eight weeks since shops reopened.

Store sales fell 47.9 per cent but online surged 39.2 per cent. It said sales declines were improving but that it was 'clear that there has been a material shift in trade'.

It comes ahead of a new partnership between M&S and Ocado, set to launch next month.

The venture will see M&S products become available on the online supermarket from September 1.

With online sales surging amid lockdown, the partnership is expected to be a significant boon to the business.

The news comes after Marks & Spencer announced it would axe 7,000 jobs as part of a further shake-up of its stores and management in the face of the coronavirus crisis

A spokesman said: 'Whilst it is too early to predict with precision where a new post-Covid sales mix will settle, we must act now to reflect this change.'

The group said the pandemic had shown staff can work 'more flexibly and productively' and are able to multi-task and move between food, clothing and home departments.

The group's latest jobs cull follows 950 jobs job losses announced just last month across store management and head office roles.

But it insisted there were no further updates on stores closures as it ploughs on with an ongoing review of its shop estate.

Chief executive Steve Rowe added: 'As part of our Never the same again programme to embed the positive changes in ways of working through the crisis, we are today announcing proposals to further streamline store operations and management structures.

'These proposals are an important step in becoming a leaner, faster business set up to serve changing customer needs and we are committed to supporting colleagues through this time.'

In May, Mr Rowe revealed plans for his Never the same again restructure overhaul as he warned some shopper habits had 'changed forever'.

Its latest trading update showed a mixed performance across stores, with those in newer out-of-town locations almost back to pre-Covid sales levels, but town centre shops and some shopping centres still 'heavily impacted' by social distancing.

Reacting to the news, Lucy Powell, Labour's shadow minister for business and consumers, said: 'These job losses are devastating for the workers involved yet they also tell a much bigger story about the threat to our high streets.

Almost 100 jobs to go at Bombardier's aircraft manufacturing plant in Belfast Almost 100 more workers are set to lose their jobs at Bombardier's aircraft manufacturing plant in Belfast. The company announcement of 95 potential redundancies comes two months after it announced more than 600 jobs were to be lost at its operations in the east of the city - 400 core staff and 200-plus contractors. Bombardier announced the further redundancies on Tuesday afternoon. 'Following our June announcement of a workforce reduction as a result of extraordinary industry interruptions and challenges caused by Covid-19, we have completed another review of our Belfast requirements for all our aircraft programmes,' the company said. 'In light of additional softening of market demand for the remainder of this year and through 2021, we regret to confirm that we must make a further downward adjustment to our workforce levels. 'An additional 95 Bombardier core employee jobs in Northern Ireland are at risk of redundancy. The company will be lodging a formal HR1 redundancy notice with the Department for the Economy, following which there will be a 30-day consultation period when we will explore every opportunity to mitigate the number of redundancies. 'We deeply regret the impact this will have on our workforce and their families, but it is essential we align our business with current market realities to ensure we have a sustainable long-term future.' The job losses announced in June were part of Bombardier plans for 2,500 redundancies across its worldwide aviation operations. At the time, it cited an anticipated 30% drop in sales of its jets. Before June's announcement, Bombardier employed around 3,300 core staff in Belfast. Advertisement

'The scale of job losses was not inevitable but the incompetence of this Government means we're now seeing wave after wave of redundancies and store closures.

'Labour has called for a hospitality and high streets fightback fund to support businesses in distress and to save jobs now. Ministers must change course.'

Freddy Khalastchi, business recovery partner at accountancy firm, Menzies LLP, said: 'The scale of these cuts demonstrates that M&S means business. This is not just about cost cutting, it is about repositioning the business for growth in a market that has demonstrably changed for good.

'Consumer shopping habits have transformed during the pandemic.

'As a result, many bricks and mortar retailers have been forced to take drastic action to rightsize their business models by stripping away superfluous layers of management and back office support services.

'Coming on top of 950 job losses announced last month by the retailer, this development is a significant step that may well encourage others to bring forward radical restructuring plans in the next few months.'

Julie Palmer, partner and restructuring expert at Begbies Traynor, said: 'This M&S announcement will rock the retail sector.

'But the reality is that the moves M&S is having to make will likely be echoed across the retail sector for brands that have not undergone huge structural change before the pandemic lockdown.

'This is a huge transformation for the brand that is being rolled out. And one that is needed because consumers have become used to the convenience of shopping during lockdown.

'The movement of shop floor jobs to warehouse jobs, stronger emphasis on logistics and a greater wealth of talent that can support the online offering will be where the jobs in retail start to appear.

'The increase in technology in the workplace to streamline organisations will also become more commonplace as retail moves towards its future structure.

'This change may seem drastic, but it has been on the cards for a long time and the coronaconomy has forced the hand of the leadership to accelerate the process. M&S needs to survive and bending to the consumer demand is the way to do that. Hopefully this will strengthen the company for the future.'

It comes as almost 100 more workers are set to lose their jobs at Bombardier's aircraft manufacturing plant in Belfast.

The company announcement of 95 potential redundancies comes two months after it announced more than 600 jobs were to be lost at its operations in the east of the city - 400 core staff and 200-plus contractors.

Bombardier announced the further redundancies on Tuesday afternoon.

The job losses announced in June were part of Bombardier plans for 2,500 redundancies across its worldwide aviation operations.

Around 14,000 jobs could also be on the brink at Debenhams.

Plans to liquidate the business are being drawn up in case other options for saving the company  such as selling it  fall through.

If the ailing department store chain collapses  and all 14,000 jobs are lost  it would be the single biggest cull of the coronavirus crisis.

This would bring the total number of potential UK job losses to more than 180,000 since the pandemic began  adding to misery hitting firms from Virgin Atlantic to NatWest, British Gas-owner Centrica and luxury car maker Aston Martin.

British Airways has so far announced the largest cull, signalling that it may have to cut as many as 12,000.

The likes of Laura Ashley, Cath Kidston and Oasis are among the other big-name brands that have collapsed this year.
The superlatives could apply to most any prominent high school athlete: Talented, driven, possessed of a slavish work ethic.

In this instance, they are directed at one of New Mexicos more obscure  but decorated  athletes, yet someone whose high school sport isnt sanctioned in her home state.

Our muscles dont show, equestrian Rylee Shufelt says with a chuckle. Its hard to tell people that we are athletes. (But) its a very stressful sport.

The Cleveland High senior  who recently transferred from La Cueva  recently verbally committed to Texas A&M, one of fewer than 20 Division I universities (including New Mexico State) in the country that offer equestrian as a sport.

Shufelt, who turns 18 on Aug. 31, has been showing horses since she was 4. Her grandfather owned a ranch and was first to put her into a saddle.

I was on the little pony (when I first started showing), she said. Im gritting my teeth and kicking him because he was very lazy. It is the funniest picture.

Fast-forward nearly 14 years, and Shufelt is one of the more accomplished equestrian high school athletes in the country. Her list of awards and show titles is an enormous compilation.

Shufelt has shown all over the country, from Pennsylvania to Kentucky to Colorado to Florida to California.

She likes to win, she likes to get after it, said her father, Pete Shufelt. That was always encouraging. Shes definitely very competitive. Shes always been that way, ever since she was 4 years old.

She began modestly, often showing at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds as a young girl.

My dad loved that I had such a passion for horses, she said. I never wanted to be out of the saddle. Id cry when we had to go home.

But equestrian is a complex endeavor. It is first and foremost an expensive undertaking; Shufelt herself trains often in suburban Denver, where the horses she shows are housed.

There are other horses here in the North Valley, where shell return in a couple of weeks. She is spending this week and next at shows in southern California.

Then she and her trainers will drive the horses back to the Denver area, and then Shufelt will fly home from there.

All the while, she has begun her senior year of high school online, with Cleveland. The transfer from La Cueva makes her education smoother, as she said being at Cleveland will allow her to do her classes online but still be considered a true high school student. La Cueva, she said, did not offer such an arrangement for all her classes.

In addition to the high cost (the family declined to talk specifics) of the sport, Shufelt faces other hurdles, like the health of her horses, as her best ride has been unavailable to her for the last two years due to injuries. Plus there is the heavy travel involved as two of her three trainers live in the Denver area and the third in California.

Shes very dedicated, very driven, very focused, said her mother, Gina. Its taught her so many life lessons, and it is really going to be advantageous for her in the long run.

Shufelt will compete as an equestrian junior through the end of the calendar year; next year she becomes an amateur as shell be 18. But shes been showing in larger equestrian classes since she was 11, and she often competes against older riders, including professionals.

We have been very successful, and fortunate to have nice horses that have gotten me to the top, she said.

She also credited her father for her passion.

He pushed me to be the best, she said. He really taught me to strive for as much as I can, and if I have goals, to try and reach them. You cannot do this sport if you do not have the heart for it.

To that end, it was Shufelt who put herself into the mainstream for college attention, and in A&M, she said, she found a match. She also was looking at Georgia, Baylor and TCU. There are, with so few colleges that offer this sport, limited scholarship opportunities.

Since there are so many of us in the equestrian community, youre like a needle in the haystack, Shufelt said. You have to stick out.

Shufelt admits she is most at home in the saddle, where riders are judged on how well they execute the course and how they ride. And there is also the symmetry a rider has with their animal.

You want to make it look effortless, she said. If you can do that, you can most likely win.  Horse and rider are connected. And if you can execute the course along with it, youre golden.

Being on, and around horses, has, Shufelt said, been her true calling. Maybe not forever, but it has filled her youth with some wondrous times.

Its my purpose in life, she said.
Brokers must leverage comprehensive solutions and industry resources that provide them with a competitive advantage in todays competitive medical professional liability insurance space.

Conventus Inter-Insurance Exchange, a medical professional liability insurance company entirely owned and governed by New Jersey physicians and located in Woodbridge, NJ, is proud to announce the launch of its modern and easy-to-navigate website, providing physicians, practice administrators, and brokers with valuable resources for their clinical and business operations.

With a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing physician practices in the state of New Jersey, Conventus focuses the new website on providing easy access to information and tools that help physicians and their teams with the daily challenges of managing a practice. Many resources are made available exclusively to Conventus insured members, but there is still plenty of publicly available knowledge for physicians, practice administrators, and brokers to digest.

Considering the medical professional liability insurance space is crowded in New Jersey, it is crucial for successful brokers to stand out by demonstrating value beyond just standard insurance offerings, states Amy Berezein, President of Conventus. Brokers must leverage comprehensive solutions and industry resources that provide them with a competitive advantage in todays competitive medical professional liability insurance space.

The website features innovative and educational solutions to help physicians, practice administrators, and brokers navigate todays rapidly changing healthcare environment. The Knowledge Center is organized into logical components to enable users to acquire the information that they need as quickly and effectively as possible.



Clinical Resources provide valuable information and tools designed to help practices address clinical issues, enhance patient safety, maximize office workflow, and find solutions for measuring and realizing efficiencies in the office.

Operational Resources help busy medical professionals keep their practices current on the latest regulations impacting operations.

Compliance Resources provide comprehensive service support, training, and policies/procedures focused on the development of corporate compliance programs, such as OSHA, HIPAA, and Fraud and Integrity.

Value-Based Care and Quality Payment Program resources support practices implementing processes to succeed in their transformation to value-based care.

Webinar Resources are online educational programs to help practice teams understand emerging risks and learn practical mitigation strategies.

The Conventus 24/7 Practice Advice Hotline is an exclusive, confidential, and free hotline for insured members and their staff to receive real-time advice and consultation.

Educational Briefs include risk alerts and e-newsletters focused on providing up-to-date information on current healthcare trends and key issues that impact physician practices.

eLearning allows for online Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) approved courses for more than 25 specialties.

Dedicated to being more than just a medical professional liability company, the Conventus redesigned website demonstrates the organizations pride in partnering with physicians, practice administrators, and brokers to build a better future for New Jerseys physician practices.

About Conventus

Conventus Inter-Insurance Exchange supports the best interests of New Jerseys physician practices. As one of New Jerseys largest professional liability insurers, formed and governed through an alliance of physicians, we uniquely understand the complexity of running a successful practice. Our sole purpose is to help independent physicians and practice administrators succeed in todays rapidly changing healthcare environment.
The Australian share market finished session higher on Tuesday, 18 August 2020, as investor sentiment boosted up on reports of further decline in COVID-19 cases in Victoria and NSW, encouraging signs for a coronavirus vaccine and the central bank's minutes showed some optimism around its economy.

At closing bell, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index added 46.98 points, or 0.77%, to 6,123.36. The broader All Ordinaries was up 50.19 points, or 0.81%, to 6,268.73.

The RBA August meeting minutes revealed that board members believe the worst of the global contraction caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has passed, but considerable uncertainty remains. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) does not see a need to further ease policy for now as its measures were working "broadly as expected" with a recovery underway in most of the country, its August policy meeting's minutes showed.

Aiding sentiment, lower Covid-19 cases were reported in Victoria and New South Wales and Australia is now set to mark its lowest one-day rise in infections in a month.

Materials and resources were up, with Rio Tinto gaining 1.1% and Fortescue Metals Group advancing 1.3% as iron ore futures extended gains on upbeat demand prospects in top steel producer China. BHP fell by 0.5% after handing down an underwhelming set of full year results. Net profit fell by 4% to US$7.95bn. The final dividend of US$0.55 was a 30% decline on last year.

Gold miners were up, with Regis Resources and Norther Star Resources up around 5% as the yellow metal touched its highest level in nearly a week.

Evolution Mining gained 2% after announcing it has resumed operations at its Red Lake Gold Mine in Canada.

Banks and financial were lower. Westpac (WBC) lost 2.3% after deciding to scrap its interim dividend which it usually pays to investors in June or July. WBC deferred the decision a couple of months ago due to COVID-19 uncertainty. WBC handed down a $1.32bn cash profit between April and June, which was mostly driven by lower than expected bad and doubt debts in the quarter. The other three big banks also ended in the red.

Healthcare stocks climbed. CSL surged 4.4% after the biotech company said it is considering its capacity to produce multiple vaccines.

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) finished 14.3% lower on media reports suggesting China has kicked off a probe into the alleged dumping of Australian wine into the Chinese market.

CURRENCY NEWS: The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.7236 after yesterday's rise from below $0.72.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The fate of a fragile 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers hinges on the result of the US presidential election in November, not a planned US bid this week to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Tehran, said several Iranian officials.

When Iran agreed to sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear program, Tehran warned that it would no longer stick to the deal if any of the parties sparked a so-called snapback of sanctions at the UN Security Council, a backstop included in the accord in case Iran stopped complying.

US President Donald Trumps administration plans this week to use that snapback provision, even though it quit the deal in 2018 and the move is opposed by the remaining parties to the accord - Germany, Britain, France, Russia, China and Iran.

But despite Tehrans declaration five years ago, three senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Irans leadership is determined to remain committed to the nuclear deal, hoping that a victory by Trumps political rival Joe Biden in the Nov. 3 presidential election will salvage the pact.

Right now the decision is to remain in the deal even if Americans make their biggest mistake of triggering the snapback mechanism, said a senior official, on condition of anonymity, who is involved in the discussions about Irans nuclear policy.

We will be still here, but Trump might not be at the White House in a few months, the official said.

Biden has said he would rejoin the nuclear deal, but only if Iran first returned to compliance. The accord was agreed by former US President Barack Obamas administration, when Biden was vice president.

A second Iranian official - a former nuclear negotiator - said Iran was technically and politically ready to quit.

But we have to be smart and not to fall in the U.S. trap which wants to push Iran out of the deal, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Enormous Leverage

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has described the next few weeks and months as critical for the nuclear deal.

To trigger a return if all UN sanctions on Iran the United States will submit a complaint to the 15-member Security Council about Irans non-compliance with the nuclear deal.

In response to what Washington calls its maximum pressure campaign - a bid to get Iran to negotiate a new deal - Tehran has breached several central limits of the 2015 deal, including on its stock of enriched uranium.

But diplomats say the snapback process will be tough and messy as Russia, China and other countries on the Security Council challenge the legality of the US move given Washington itself is no longer complying with what Trump called worst deal ever and has imposed strong unilateral sanctions on Iran.

A European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the US move to spark a return of all UN sanctions would risk destroying the nuclear deal, but it will be a completely contested procedure so the snapback will have no effect, it will not be recognized by others.

The United States argues it can trigger the return of the sanctions because it is still named as a participant to the nuclear deal in a 2015 UN Security Council resolution that enshrines the agreement.

A second European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the overwhelming majority of the international community believe the United States cannot trigger snapback.

Outgoing US Iran envoy Brian Hook said on Tuesday that the nuclear deal, while well intentioned, had failed to deter Iran.

We have put in place enormous leverage for a (Trump) second term to get the kind of outcomes that were going to need, he told a United Against Nuclear Iran think tank event.
Data watchdog Elizabeth Denham is working from home - 4,500 miles away from her office

One of Britains most senior public servants has been working from home during the coronavirus pandemic - 4,500 miles away in her native Canada.

Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham has been based on the other side of the Atlantic for the past two months, in a time zone eight hours behind her staff in London.

The 180,000 per year official, who is responsible for data transparency and privacy, is not due back until next month and faces the possibility of having to quarantine for 14 days.

She is reported to have returned to Canada to help her mother after she was injured in a road accident.

It came as it was revealed just one in seven civil servants at the ministry reporting directly to Boris Johnson have returned to the office.

The number of employees back at the Cabinet Office could even be as few as one in ten, a Freedom of Information request by the Daily Mail disclosed.

Her office insists Miss Denham is working as normal, having lived in Canada since June. But industry experts are calling on the data watchdog to resign.

Consultant Tim Turner, who revealed her whereabouts in a blog post, pointed out that her absence has coincided with a number of data protection issues such as the A-level grade algorithm and the test and trace app.

He said: This is a time for the commissioner to be completely on top of data protection regulation in the UK.

At a time of crisis and uncertainty, Elizabeth Denham has abandoned her staff with no formal plans to return.

Her office said last night that Miss Denham, pictured, will work from her home in the UK from 7 September.

An FOI response did not reveal where in Canada she was living but confirmed she was in the Canadian Pacific Time Zone, which includes parts of the province of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, plus the whole of the Yukon.

An FOI response did not reveal where in Canada she was living but confirmed she was in the Canadian Pacific Time Zone, which includes parts of the province of British Columbia (city of Vancouver pictured) and the Northwest Territories, plus the whole of the Yukon

Lifelong civil servant who took on Brexiteers and Facebook Elizabeth Denham was appointed UK information commissioner in 2016 after serving in a similar role in Canada. And in the past four years she has made a mark on British politics and the way the internet is policed. In 2018 the married mother-of-four blasted Facebook, saying Mark Zuckerberg's behemoth had passed a tipping point of unlawful behaviour and spoke of her appetite for confrontation. Appointed Information Commissioner in Britain in 2016, the history graduate has successfully lobbied for the maximum fine her office can impose to be raised from 500,000 to several million. She made her mark by fining TalkTalk 400,000 for security failings and hit Facebook with a 500,000 bill for its role in the Cambridge Analytica saga. She also moved against the Leave.EU campaign and its backers and in March fined Vote Leave 40,000 for sending unsolicited text messages. Advertisement

On August 4, around 10 to 15 per cent of staff at the Cabinet Office travelled into work, the Mail revealed.

This woeful total comes despite pleas from the Prime Minister for people to stop working from home in a bid to boost the economy.

It follows fears that city centre shops and restaurants  which rely on footfall from office workers  face ruin if more employees do not return.

Last month the Mail revealed that just one in five of the 430,000 civil servants had returned to work by the end of July.

Critics say that unless Whitehall officials start to return, it will be hard to persuade the general public to go back.

Now we can reveal that the situation is even worse at the Cabinet Office  which contains more than 8,000 civil servants responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

The department includes employees working for Mr Johnson in No 10 but the Government said the number of staff at work in Downing Street was much higher than the Cabinet Office average.

In its response to the FOI request, the department said as of August 4 between 864 and 1,297 Cabinet Office staff are currently working in the office which equates to between 10 and 15 per cent.

The Mail also asked when all staff will be back in, to which the department replied: We are consulting closely with employees and we are ensuring our workplaces are Covid-secure. We cannot confirm dates at this time.

Dominic Cummings told aides last month that it would not seem right if Mr Johnson was calling on voters to return to work while his own officials were staying at home.

Despite this, on A-level results day a Mail audit found just 3 per cent of civil servants were seen turning up at the Department for Education.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: The civil service has got to lead the way. Getting back to the office is vital for the economy but if civil servants dont, then other people cant be expected to.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: Getting back to the office is vital for the economy but if civil servants dont, then other people cant be expected to.

The number of employees back at the Cabinet Office, located at 70 Whitehall, could even be as few as one in ten
At the budget revision, the government has earmarked substantial funds for drought-affected farmers, President Klaus Iohannis announced on Tuesday at a press statement delivered at the end of his meeting at the Cotroceni Palace with Prime Minister Ludovic Orban and several ministers.

"The Romanian farmers are in dire need of support. We know very well that on top of the problems caused by the pandemic, our farmers are facing difficulties caused by the drought that has been going on since spring. To come to their help, we are working on two important directions. To support the farmers, the government has earmarked at the budget revision substantial funds for the drought-affected farmers," Iohannis said.
A retired Chinese professor of the country's top political school has revealed that President Xi Jinping is facing widespread opposition within his own party.

Cai Xia, who had taught democratic politics at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, also accused President Xi of 'killing a country' and leading China into 'disaster' in an interview with the Guardian.

Ms Cai made the remarks after being expelled from the Chinese Communist Party for allegedly calling President Xi a 'mafia boss' and his party a 'political zombie'.

Cai Xia (left), who had taught democratic politics at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party before retiring, has accused the Chinese President Xi Jinping (right, pictured in 2019) of 'killing a country' and leading China into 'disaster' in an interview with the Guardian

Speaking to the Guardian, Ms Cai claimed that many wanted to leave the ruling party due to sweeping discontent.

She noted that few dared to speak out due to fears of retaliation.

Ms Cai was kicked out of the nation's Communist Party on Monday, according to her former employer.

She is the third prominent figure in recent months to be disciplined after criticising the country's government and its leader.

The school, which trains rising officials destined for promotion, announced in a statement that it had rescinded Ms Cai's Communist Party membership and retirement benefits for making remarks that 'had serious political problems and damaged the country's reputation'.

The notice on the school's website did not specify the remarks.

Ms Cai is the third prominent figure in recent months to be disciplined after criticising President Xi and his party. The other two are professor Xu Zhangrun and tycoon Ren Zhiqiang,

Two Chinese political watchers, however, pointed to comments believed to be made by Ms Cai in a recording leaked online in June, arguing that replacing Xi as party chief would be the first step to saving the party from itself.

In the recording heard by Reuters, a woman identified as Ms Cai by fellow academics called Xi a 'mafia boss' who turned the party into his personal tool, and a 'political zombie.'

'If the Politburo Standing Committee has any sense of responsibility to the people, the country and the party, they should call for a meeting to replace Xi,' she said.

It was unclear where, when or to whom she was speaking.

Ms Cai could not be reached for comment.

Xu Zhangrun (left), 57, accused President Xi of ruling 'tyrannically'. Beijing police detained the former law professor of distinguished Tsinghua University in July for 'soliciting prostitution'

In this file photo taken on December 3, 2012, Chinese real estate mogul Ren Zhiqiang poses for photos in his office in Beijing. Ren, former chairman of a state-owned real estate company, publicly criticised Xi's handling of the coronavirus pandemic before being investigated

Ms Cai is the grand-daughter of a revolutionary fighter and taught for four decades at the party school, giving her a solid 'red background'.

China has cracked down on dissent in recent years.

Last month, a law professor at Beijing's Tsinghua University who criticised Xi and the party was detained by police and then fired. The professor, Xu Zhangrun, is seeking to clear his name by overturning a prostitution charge brought against him by police, his lawyer has said.

Also last month, Ren Zhiqiang, who had been the influential chairman of a state property company, was ousted from the Communist Party after he called Xi a 'clown'.
People wearing protective masks make their way at a business district in Tokyo

By Tetsushi Kajimoto

TOKYO (Reuters) - A third of Japanese firms are reassessing using offices after a sharp drop in their utilisation in August from a year ago, as 65% of firms allowed or encouraged employees to work from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, a monthly Reuters poll showed.

Many workers in Japan, and elsewhere in the world, began telecommuting as the coronavirus spread and governments imposed restrictions on businesses and movements to contain it.

Some 62% of firms in the Reuters Corporate Survey said office utilisation fell 10-20% in early August from a year ago, while 25% said it had decreased 30-50% and 9% said it had more than halved over that period.

The survey showed firms were giving workers more flexibility during the pandemic and were starting to rethink the traditional office in a possible departure from the long hours and packed commutes that have come to symbolise Japan's strong work ethic.

"Reviewing office workspace would boost social benefits as a whole as it helps ease the commuters' ordeal and resolve office shortage," a manager of a paper and pulp maker wrote in the survey on condition of anonymity.

Until the start of 2020, there was growing demand for office space in Tokyo from firms seeking to expand or upgrade, but the vacancy rate has worsened for a fifth month running in July.

The survey showed 33% of Japanese firms were reviewing or considering re-examining office utilisation.

Out of those, 48% were considering establishing satellite offices - the most popular choice - while 33% were thinking about downsizing by cancelling leasing contracts and 10% were eyeing shared workspaces.

In July, IT solutions company Fujitsu Ltd unveiled a plan to halve its office space in three years, allowing flexible hours for roughly 80,000 workers - many of whom would work from home - under a "new normal".

The corporate survey, conducted for Reuters by Nikkei Research between Aug. 3-13, polled 495 big and midsize non-financial firms, with some 220 answering the questions.

Story continues

The survey also showed firms resisted the concept of "workation" or telecommuting from resorts and rural areas, with nearly two-thirds of firms saying they were not considering it.

U.S.-CHINA TENSIONS

Asked about the souring relations between the United States and China, 46% of Japanese firms said U.S. sanctions against China would hit their profits.

Relations between the world's two largest economies have deteriorated sharply in recent months as they engage in a tit-for-tat round of sanctions over trade, Hong Kong and China's handling of the coronavirus.

One-fifth of Japanese firms said they were moving or considering shifting their businesses, operational bases and supply chains out of China, Japan's largest trading partner.

A vast majority of those considering it would move operations to other parts of Asia, the survey showed.

Asked whether Japanese firms had been pressed to choose between U.S. and Chinese markets in the current context, an overwhelming majority of Japanese firms answered no.

If they were forced to choose, 62% said they would favour the U.S. market over China's.

"When considering profits solely, China is attractive. But there are many sources of concern such as information control," a ceramics maker manager wrote in the survey.

(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa)
House Majority Whip James Clyburn told Yahoo News on Tuesday that he is not one bit reassured by Postmaster General Louis DeJoys promise that cost-cutting measures will be postponed until after the November election so that mail-in ballots are delivered on time.

DeJoy is set to appear in Congress on Friday to face lawmakers who are demanding answers about the service cuts, which have hit rural Americans particularly hard and raised questions about how voters will be able to receive and return mail-in ballots. A Trump donor, DeJoy said Tuesday that he was pausing his efforts to reduce costs at the Postal Service to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail.

Clyburn, a longtime congressman from South Carolina, said he remains alarmed by the Trump administrations reluctance to spend more money on the Postal Service and is not convinced by DeJoys assertion.

As Maya Angelou says, When someone tells you who they are, believe them the first time, Clyburn said in an interview with Skullduggery, a Yahoo News podcast. Hes shown us who he is and Im going to believe him.

Clyburn noted that the cuts at the Postal Service took place after DeJoy met with Trump in the Oval Office. For months, Trump has been loudly and baselessly deriding the mail-in voting system as rife with fraud.

The president said it himself: If we let them use the mail to mail in ballots well lose. The president said that so I dont know why all of a sudden people are going to think that this announcement changes things. ... This presidents got very low regard for the Constitution, Clyburn said.

Clyburn also said that he has recently visited post offices in parts of South Carolina and realized how deeply attached rural Americans are to them.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The post office is enshrined in our Constitution, Clyburn said. I call it the thread, the major thread, that holds the fabric of this country together.

The congressman said he is working to get additional funding for the post office to send first-class prepaid ballots to voters, saying that without them the requirement to use first-class mail acts as a sophisticated poll tax.

Story continues

Clyburn, a longtime member of the House, also told Skullduggery that he had recommended Biden select Sen. Kamala Harris in private conversations before she was picked. Clyburn  whose endorsement of Biden helped catapult him to the Democratic nomination  had long pushed the former vice president to select a woman of color, but had not previously publicly expressed a preference for a specific candidate.

The majority whip said that while Biden was disappointed when Harris attacked him on the debate stage because the former vice president felt so close to her, Biden nonetheless overlooked the moment and selected her as his running mate. Clyburn said it took some time for Bidens closest confidants to warm to Harris because of the attacks, but that is behind everyone now.

You always have a problem when you like somebody and all your friends dont like them, Clyburn said. I think he was working through that, but I dont think he ever had any problem with Kamala as a person.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
However, the reopening of one of the world's busiest land crossing was tightly controlled with only a maximum of about 2,060 people allowed to cross daily on both sides.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, that led to Malaysia shutting the border on March 18, more than 300,000 people travelled between the two countries daily via the two bridges connecting Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.

Out of these were some 100,000 Malaysians who commute to and from Singapore for work or study, and now many are stranded.

Malaysia and Singapore jointly formulated two sets of COVID-19 travel protocols: "Reciprocal Green Lane" and "Periodic Commuting Arrangement."

Under RGL, only 400 people are allowed per week, while for PCA, quota is 2,000 a day.

The two countries have declared the coronavirus outbreak in their respective countries as under control.

Malaysia has to date recorded over 9,200 with 125 fatalities, and Singapore has reported more than 55,000 cases and 27 deaths.
Night 1 of the Democratic National Convention is in the books. Ready for Night 2?

The proceedings are almost entirely virtual, and just like last night, you can watch them on a wide variety of platforms.

Big names speaking on Tuesday include Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, though Mr. Clinton and Ms. Ocasio-Cortez will have only brief slots. Scroll down for a full list of speakers.

How to watch

The convention will air from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time every day, Tuesday through Thursday. There are several ways to watch:

The Times will stream the full convention every day, accompanied by chat-based live analysis from our reporters and real-time highlights from the speeches. You can download our iOS or Android app and turn on notifications to be alerted when our live analysis starts.

The official livestream will be here. It will also be available on YouTube , Facebook , Twitter and Twitch .

ABC , CBS , NBC and Fox News will air the convention from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night. C-SPAN , CNN , MSNBC and PBS will cover the full two hours each night.

Streams will be available on Apple TV , Roku and Amazon Fire TV by searching Democratic National Convention or 2020 DNC, and on Amazon Prime Video by searching DNC.

The convention will air on AT&T U-verse (channels 212 and 1212) and AT&T DirectTV (channel 201). It will also air on Comcast Xfinity Flex and Comcast X1 (say DNC into your voice remote).

You can watch on a PlayStation 4 or PSVR through the Littlstar app.

If you have an Alexa device, you can say Alexa, play the Democratic National Convention.

Whos speaking
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 05:56:25|Editor: huaxia

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GAZA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement vowed on Tuesday to use all possible means to end an Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.

Fawzi Barhoum, the movement's spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that Palestinian people, all factions and political powers, including Hamas, "will never accept keeping this siege imposed on the Gaza Strip."

Barhoum added that "altogether we will work on joining a battle with the enemy (Israel) using all power, means, and tools to defy the siege and end it."

"Tightening the siege, banning fuel and construction materials, and closing the sea for fishing are all crimes against humanity, which double the suffering of our people in Gaza," said Barhoum.

Barhoum made his comments in response to the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip after the sole power station stopped operation on Tuesday due to the lack of fuel.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Energy Authority said in a press statement that the power station's shutdown would worsen the power shortage in Gaza.

Israel closed the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing with the Gaza Strip last week, except for the entry of humanitarian aid, in response to the launching of incendiary balloons from the Palestinian enclave into southern Israel. Enditem
Peruvian healthcare workers visited an impoverished indigenous community on the outskirts of the nation's capital on Monday to test them for COVID-19 and check on their overall health.

The Shipibo community consists of 250 families that live in overcrowded and precarious conditions on the banks of the heavily polluted Rimac River near Lima.

Last May, when authorities entered the community and tested the population, the number of infected was alarming.

More than 70% of the population was carrying the virus.

Authorities immediately put the community on lockdown, and no one was allowed to enter or leave for weeks.

Several deaths were reported within days due to COVID-19.

These Shipibo people have settled in an area known as Cantagallo.

When the first tests were conducted in May, the settlement became an epicentre for coronavirus, in a country already considered to be one of the most-infected in Latin America.

On Monday the Peruvian government sent a contingent of 30 healthcare workers under the supervision of the Ministry of Health to Cantagallo.

Now health authorities are hoping for a reprieve in the amount of infected within this indigenous community that was created in 2001 when 14 families moved there from the Peruvian Amazon basin and settled on the river banks near the Peruvian capital.

Since then, hundreds of more families have followed.

The Ministry of Health is supporting more than 1,000 Anti-Covi-19 Committees throughout the country to strengthen the frontline response and organise the community for protection and prevention.

The Shipibos in the Amazon are thought to number 20,000.
Older and vulnerable people are to be told to limit their time outdoors again and family gatherings indoors will be reduced to just six people under the National Public Health Emergency Team's (Nphet) plan to try stall the resurgence of Covid-19.

Ministers must today decide whether to reverse major parts of their plan for reopening the country.

Just two weeks ahead of the scheduled reopening of schools, health chiefs are warning that vulnerable people will need to limit the time they spend outdoors. The rise in cases over the past two weeks is having a knock-on effect on numbers being treated for the virus in hospitals.

As a result, older people will be asked to restrict their movements and avoid congregated settings under new advice from public-health experts.

Nphet has also recommended that only six people should be permitted in a home from three separate houses in a bid to clamp down on house parties and outdoor home gathering should be reduced to 15 people.

Read More

People who can work from home will also be asked to do so for the coming weeks. The Cabinet will meet to discuss the recommendations today.

Meanwhile, there are serious concerns in Fine Gael over the severity of Covid-19 restrictions being recommended by Nphet.

Cabinet ministers are becoming increasingly frustrated with Nphet advice on the pandemic as they believe it is out of kilter with advice being put forward by public-health experts in other EU countries. Increasing frustration over Covid-19 restrictions is expected to play out when the Cabinet meets today. Fine Gael ministers are expected to push for less restrictive measures despite the increase in new cases.

A Cabinet source said there were concerns at the highest ranks of Cabinet that Nphet had "departed from the European mainstream in the severity of their advice" as they are "under pressure from academic commentators as opposed to solid science".

"Many countries have similar incidence or much higher incidence of Covid to Ireland and have schools open and bars open, international travel within Europe is allowed, as are gatherings of up to 5,000 people," the source said.

The senior minister also raised concerns about the interaction between Government and Nphet since Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan and was replaced by Dr Ronan Glynn.

"When Tony was there none of the letters were written without being discussed or agreed with government first," the source added.

Another Cabinet source said a split had emerged in Nphet over the strictness of recommendations being put forward for Government to rule on. The Cabinet will meet for the first-time in two weeks today to discuss the latest round of advice from the public-health experts with new cases of the coronavirus continuing to mount up in recent days.

The last two major decisions on Covid were taken through incorporeal cabinet meetings where ministers are called and asked to agree to a memo.

Today's Cabinet meeting was scheduled late on Monday after Nphet informed Health Minister Stephen Donnelly of their latest round of advice. Only a Cabinet sub-committee meeting had been organised for this morning until the advice was received.

Nphet was asked by the Government to hold an emergency meeting yesterday after more than 200 new cases were recorded on Saturday. The new recommendations are aimed at stamping down on house parties, protecting older people and lessening the number of people travelling to work who don't need to.

Despite growing public concern over the rise in new cases, Nphet did not hold a press conference after their meeting and the Department of Health said they would not be informing the public of the advice until today at the earliest. It comes as the number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 has risen, stoking new fears that the upsurge in infection is leading to an increase in serious illness.

There were 21 confirmed cases in hospital yesterday morning, up from 13 at the weekend and eight of these patients were in intensive care.

The trend in patients hospitalised with the virus over three days is the highest rise since mid-June.
Boston Celtics' Daniel Theis, left, defends against Sixers center Joel Embiid (21) during the first half on Monday. Read more

KISSIMMEE, Fla.  In this podcast, Keith Pompey dissects the 76ers performance in Mondays 109-101 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round matchup. He says Joel Embiid needs to get more shots and Matisse Thybulle must play more minutes.
Honda F1 boss Toyoharu Tanabe says it is possible the 'party mode' ban will be postponed.

In Barcelona, it emerged that the FIA intends to ban the way some engine manufacturers - notably the dominant Mercedes team - are able to significantly 'turn up' their engine power particularly in qualifying.

Tanabe said the details of the ban are not yet decided.

"It depends on the content of the regulations and the monitoring," he told as-web.jp when asked if the ban will help or hinder Honda.

"If you say that Mercedes will lose something, then Honda may say that's good for us. But at this point, I'm not sure."

FIA race director Michael Masi says the plan is to get the proposed technical directive up and running ahead of the next race in Belgium.

"The details are under consideration, and Honda is part of those discussions," Tanabe said.

"We will talk about the regulations, how they are monitored, what the manufacturers think - like 'I can do this but the monitoring is impossible'.

"If the opinions of the teams and manufacturers match, it will be from Belgium," said the Japanese. "If we don't achieve that, it could be postponed."

(GMM)
Yachona Muhammad, a 46-year-old aide at Forest Hill HealthCare Center in Newark, was forced to look for a second job after her hours were suddenly slashed to as few as three days a week in July.

My hours got cut because of the pandemic, she said. Budget cuts.
BAY CITY, MI  Free from prison for little more than a week, a Bay City man found himself behind bars once again after he was accused of smashing the windows of a South End McDonalds and trying to rob the employees.

About 12:06 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16, police responded to a call of an argument at the 7-Eleven at 900 Cass Ave. By the time officers arrived, the man they were looking for had walked to the nearby McDonalds at 2200 Broadway St., said Bay City Public Safety Capt. Nathan Webster.

The man, later identified as Jeremy D. Donald, 40, had been acting strangely while inside the 7-Eleven before getting into an argument with someone in the parking lot, police said. At one point, he entered a womans vehicle and tried taking her keys, Webster said.

When Donald got to the McDonalds, he threw a landscaping brick through one of the windows, Webster said. He then went inside and demanded the employees give him money, which he later told police he planned on using for drugs, Webster said.

While inside the eatery, Donald broke another window, Webster said.

Police and Bay County Sheriffs deputies arrested Donald inside the McDonalds. No one was injured in the incident, Webster said.

Due to his appearing to be under the influence of a drug, Donald was taken to McLaren Bay Region hospital for assessment, Webster said. Upon being discharged from the hospital, Donald was lodged in the Bay County Jail.

On Monday, Donald appeared from the jail via Zoom before Bay County District Judge Mark E. Janer for arraignment on single counts of armed robbery, carjacking, breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny, and malicious destruction of a building between $200 and $1,000. The first two charges are both punishable by up to life in prison.

Janer set Donalds bond at $100,000 cash only.

The Michigan Department of Corrections paroled Donald on Aug. 6. He was to be on parole for one year.

Records show a Bay County judge had sentenced Donald to two to six years in prison on Jan. 10, 2019, on convictions of assaulting police and larceny in a building. Donalds criminal record includes convictions of unarmed robbery, retail fraud, and larceny in a building.

Donald is to appear for a preliminary examination on Sept. 2.

Read more:

Bay City working with Midland Street businesses after shooting, other incidents

Suspect in Wayne County quadruple homicide in custody

Police identify Saginaw woman killed in boat crash on Saginaw River
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A photographer has travelled across Britain to capture derelict buildings in all their decaying grandeur for a series of eerie 'time capsule' images.

Simon Sugden, from Bradford in West Yorkshire, has visited more than 70 abandoned sites over the past decade to photograph former asylums, empty Victorian baths and disused country homes - many of which were left untouched for years.

The images, featured in Derelict Britain: Beauty in Decay, include several chilling photographs of an abandoned hospital in Lancashire, in which the figure of Christ is seen hanging over a mortuary slab where dead flowers are laid.

In another foreboding photograph, a body fridge and trolley are seen inside the Newsham Park Hospital in Liverpool - an asylum which has been empty since 1997.

Mr Sugden also captured snapshots of derelict mills, old peoples' homes and disused breweries, where he found tins of food still inside cupboards and old clothes tucked away in drawers.

The former chef, 53, said: 'I think there is real beauty in capturing buildings in this way, although at times it can be quite sad to see the peeling paint and curtains hanging off the wall.

'Some places appear to have just been sealed and locked up and it was a time capsule inside, with food still in the cupboards and clothes hung up.'

Photographer Simon Sugden, 53, has travelled to more than 70 derelict sites across Britain over the past decade to capture 'time capsule' images of abandoned locations. Among them is Birmingham's Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath, which opened in 1907 and served the community for over a century. The baths remain open in part, but Mr Sugden was able to photograph a pool which has been empty for years

The former chef also visited the mortuary of a disused hospital in Lancashire, where the figure of Christ was seen hanging over a mortuary slab where dead flowers are laid

In another image, Mr Sugden captured the interior of an abandoned medical room inside a nunnery in North Wales. A table is seen standing at the centre of the room below a light as shards of glass litter the ground from broken windows

He also photographed the staircase inside the Pool Parc Asylum near Ruthin in Wales. The Grade-II listed manor house, which features gothic-inspired architecture and is surrounded by dense woodland, is said to be one of the most haunted houses in Wales

A old bed is seen still with sheets on top inside a manor house in North Yorkshire. Mr Sugden explained that within some of the sites he visited, he found tins of food still in cupboards and clothes tucked away inside drawers

Dodgems are seen sat inside a fairground at Shipley Glen, West Yorkshire more than 15 years after the Edwardian attraction closed for good. The pleasure ground, next to Shipley Glen Tramway, had opened between March and September for decades before the closure. Other attractions had included the historic aerial glide - which dated back to the 1930s - which was pulled down in 2004 after English Heritage revoked its protected status

Mr Sugden also travelled to an abandoned farmhouse in Snowdonia, where portraits and oil lamps still remained on the mantlepiece in a 'time capsule' after the property was left empty

He also captured the interior of a derelict mill in West Yorkshire, with grand columns marking a walkway to the left and right of which employees would have worked. A solitary chair is seen in the centre of the eerie image

In another foreboding photograph, a body fridge and trolley are seen inside the Newsham Park Hospital in Liverpool - an asylum which has been empty since 1997. It was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1874 before closing down in the late 1990s, remaining abandoned since

Mr Sugden also gained access to the former Odeon cinema in Bradford, where he snapped images of its main foyer and staircase. The cinema was the third largest in Britain when it opened in 1930. It closed in 2000. A project is currently underway to redevelop the site

An abandoned storeroom is seen inside a disused tool factory in Sheffield. Lengths of plywood are seen littering the ground at the empty site with newly exposed redbrick captured on the right

The disused boardroom of the Drummond Mill in Bradford, which Mr Sugden said was 'like stepping back in time'. The industrial complex originally contained a spinning mill, a warehouse, a spinning shed, and an engine house with chimney but was largely destroyed by a fire in January 2016. The factory had been opened by James Drummond & Son in 1886

Mr Sugden also snapped the Art Deco styling inside an old bank in Manchester, where marble wall features and columns can be seen alongside stunning ceiling decoration
Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders spoke on inaugural day as US Democrats kick off mostly virtual four-day convention.

Democrats kicked off their digital nominating convention in the age of COVID-19, featuring a star-studded list of speakers addressing a national prime-time audience.

Each of the four nights will feature a combination of two hours of pre-recorded video and two hours of live events in a convention that is like none before.

Presumptive nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, leads President Donald Trump by double digits in many opinion polls, although some polls suggest the race is tightening.

Democrats are turning up the heat on Trumps attempts to cut the US Postal Services funding as coronavirus rages throughout the country, making mail-in ballots necessary for a safe election.

Here are the latest updates:

Monday, August 17

03:11 GMT  Michelle Obama says Trump is the wrong president

Michelle Obama called out Trumps failings while highlighting her own experience with Biden during her keynote address to the DNC, saying the US needs a leader who can empathise with those who struggled financially or lost loved ones during the pandemic.

Biden, who has unexpectedly lost loved ones and knows what it is like to sit with an empty chair at the dinner table, can do that, Obama said.

Trump, she said, is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment  It is what it is.

Michelle Obama: "It is what it is." pic.twitter.com/93V9kJZrHT  Brandon Wall (@Walldo) August 18, 2020

Obama called on people to vote in record numbers to elect Biden, who will restore decency to the US.

So if you take one thing from my words tonight, it is this: If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can and they will if we dont make a change in this election  We have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it.

02:48 GMT  Sanders calls on supporters to back Biden

Senator Bernie Sanders spoke, thanking the millions of people who supported his campaign and calling on them to unite behind Biden, saying Trump is leading the US down the path of authoritarianism and that, if he is re-elected, all the progress we have made will be in jeopardy.

We need Joe Biden as our next president.

Sanders and Biden disagreed on a number of issues, the senator cited Bidens support of a $15 minimum wage, funding universal pre-kindergarten childcare programmes, and ending private prisons among other commonalities to rally his supporters behind Biden.

Clear message from @SenSanders to his supporters: The struggle for socialism continues; it cant be won in this election, but it can be lost for a generation unless Trump is defeated and democracy preserved.  Tony Karon (@TonyKaron) August 18, 2020

One of Sanderss signature policy proposals was Medicare for All or universal healthcare, which Biden has not endorsed, but Sanders said Bidens policy proposals, including reducing prescription drug prices, will greatly expand access to healthcare.

02:10 GMT  Republicans voice their support for Biden

Several former elected officials  all Republicans  voiced their support for Biden during the DNC.

In normal times, this would never happen, former Ohio Governor John Kasich, a lifelong Republican, said in a video, but these are not normal times.

Kasich, a longtime political adversary of the president said Trump is dividing the country, calling on fellow Republicans to help elect Biden to unite the US.

John Kasich: "I'm sure there are Republicans and Independents who couldn't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat. They fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind. I don't believe that because I know the measure of the man. Its reasonable, faithful, respectful."  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 18, 2020

Kasich said there are points on which he and Biden disagree, and that while many Republicans may have difficulty crossing the aisle to support him, the stakes in this election are greater than any in modern times, Kasich said.

01:50 GMT  Governor Andrew Cuomo compares virus to Trump

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose political stock has risen thanks to his handling of the coronavirus, addressed the DNC by calling out Trumps stewardship during the pandemic.

Our nation is in crisis, and in many ways, COVID is just a metaphor, Cuomo said. A virus attacks when the body is weak and when it cannot defend itself. Over these past few years, Americas body politic has been weakened.

.@AndrewCuomo, thank you for your leadership and the example youve set for all Americans during this pandemic. #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/Ir11a1vJQs  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 18, 2020

Only a strong body can fight off the virus, and Americas divisions weakened it, Cuomo continued, Trump didnt create the initial division. The division created Trump; he only made it worse.

01:42 GMT  George Floyds brother leads moment of silence

Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, the Black man whose death in police custody in Minneapolis in May helped spark a nationwide protest movement, addressed the DNC.

Speaking from his home in Texas, Floyd said the movement was a fitting legacy for our brother. But George should be alive today. Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Ahmaud Arbery should be alive today. Eric Garner should be alive today. Stephon Clark, Atatiana Jefferson, Sandra Bland  they should all be alive today.

Before leading a moment of silence for those who lost their lives, Floyd said: George had a giving spirit. A spirit that has shown up on streets around our nation, and around the world  people of all races, all ages, all genders, all backgrounds  peacefully protesting in the name of love and unity.

01:06 GMT  Convention kicks off with talk of unity in the face of Trump

The first-ever Democratic National Convention kicked off with actress and activist Eva Longoria focusing on the coronavirus, the spread of which has been blamed largely on the Trump administration.

The tragedy has affected us all, Longoria said, citing the more than 170,000 people who have died due to COVID-19.

Here we go! Check it out tonight to learn and be inspired for the future of our country! https://t.co/GIf7neWRVo pic.twitter.com/be1QAYktsu  Eva Longoria Baston (@EvaLongoria) August 18, 2020

Four years under the Trump administration has left us diminished and divided, Longoria said, but the difficulties have also brought the US together.

The convention then went to a montage of people reading the preamble of the US Constitution, where the words We the people lead to a group singing the opening lines of the national anthem.

00:11 GMT  Sanders to plead for unity

Senator Bernie Sanders, a political independent who is the leader of the Democratic Partys ascendent left wing, will call on all Democrats to unite under the Biden campaign.

We have got to beat Trump, an authoritarian who is trying to undermine American democracy. But it is not good enough just to defeat Trump. We need to create a new America and a government and an economy that works for all and not just a few.  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 17, 2020

Sanders came in second during the primaries and looked poised to win the nomination before numerous candidates dropped out in an unprecedented show of moderate unity.

However, Sanders will ask everyone who supported other candidates in this primary to come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president.

23:38 GMT  Michelle Obama: Biden a profoundly decent man

Michelle Obama, wife of former President Barack Obama, will extol Bidens character and record.

I know Joe, Obama will say, according to a video excerpt of her pre-recorded remarks. He is a profoundly decent man guided by faith. He was a terrific vice president. He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country.

A major talking point of the Biden campaign  especially since Kamala Harris was named as his running mate  has been Trumps handling of the economy during the coronavirus pandemic, which pushed the US into the deepest economic recession since the Great Depression.

The US economy, also during the Trump administration, previously saw one of the strongest economic growth periods in its history, growth Biden and Harris say the Obama administration was responsible for.

23:10 GMT  Trump says he will accept nomination from the White House

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he would accept the Republican nomination for a second term during a live speech at the White House next week, confirming plans that made Democrats accuse him of politicising the White House, a national symbol.

Trump last week told the New York Post he would probably accept the Republican nomination from the White House lawn, calling it a place that makes me feel good.

Speaker Pelosi says President Trump accepting the GOP nomination from the White House is something that should be rejected right out of hand. Its a diversion, and that is what he is, a master of diversion. pic.twitter.com/GUJWHnEw68  MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 5, 2020

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said during an interview on MSNBC that for the president of the United States to degrade once again the White House as he has done over and over again by saying hes going to completely politicise it, is something that should be rejected right out of hand.

23:01 GMT  Former senior Trump official endorses Biden

A former high-ranking official in the Trump administration says he would back Biden as the US is less secure under Trump.

Miles Taylor, who served at the Department of Homeland Security between 2017 and 2019, including as chief of staff, said he witnessed the damning results first-hand of what he called Trumps personal deficiencies.

I can attest that the country is less secure as a direct result of the presidents actions, Taylor wrote in an op-ed published in the Washington Post on Monday.

Biden is expected to accept the Democratic nomination this week, leading to his showdown with Trump in November.
LONDON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The government has assured furniture manufacturers in the Commonwealth of Dominica that they will benefit from its housing programme. Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and other high-ranking government officials revealed this after meeting with the manufacturers last week. This initiative will see around 250 homes added to Dominica's housing stock over the next few weeks.

Since 2018, Dominica's Housing Revolution has built over 1,000 homes, and there are 150 homes currently under construction. The Revolution aims to make thousands of affordable and weather-resistant homes for Dominicans using funds generated from the island's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. Alongside building homes, the project is also constructing a new community centre, health centres and a hospital.

In the recent 2020-2021 budget address, Prime Minister Skerrit revealed that CBI would enable the addition of 450 more homes to the initiative. The leader stated: "Commitment to housing the nation is unparalleled anywhere in the world, we have continued to transform and improve the housing conditions of thousands of our citizens. The people of Dynamic Dominica will be properly housed, and our national housing and property stock will be amongst the highest quality and most hurricane resilient in the Caribbean."

Established in 1993, Dominica's CBI Programme is the strongest within the economic immigration industry. The Programme enables foreign investors to acquire the island's citizenship after investing in the country. There are currently two investment routes available: a one-time contribution to the government fund or buying into selected real estate options. National development projects in a variety of sectors are funded by the revenue generated from the government fund. At the same time, investors who choose the real estate route have an array of international brands to choose from including Hilton and Marriott.

Once passing all the necessary due diligence checks, successful applicants gain access to a range of benefits spanning from increased global mobility to the ability to pass Dominican citizenship down for generations to come. Dominica's CBI Programme is recognised as the best in the world for offering second citizenship for three consecutive years by the annual CBI Index  a report conducted by the Financial Times' Professional Wealth Management magazine.

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With US diplomatic efforts on a Libya ceasefire intensifying, the questions loom of who would sign and would it hold

The US ceasefire plan for the Sirte-Jufra line appears to be gaining diplomatic traction among European powers to whom it is an opportunity to regain the initiative after Turkish influence in the West and Russian influence in the east eclipsed other stakeholders in the Libyan conflict. Meanwhile, Ankara and Doha continue to build up their military and political support for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

On Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas made an unannounced visit to Tripoli to push for peace. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Qatari Defence Minister Khaled Bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah were also in the country. Three met separately with chairman of the Presidency Council Fayez Al-Sarraj and GNA Minister of Defence Fathi Bashagha.

Before his meeting with Al-Sarraj, Maas told journalists that he had come to Tripoli to talk about ways out of this very dangerous situation and urged the creation of a demilitarised zone in Sirte. He also warned of the deceptive calm that Libya is experiencing at the moment and that might lure some into complacency while outside powers continue to massively arm the country while holding firm to their preconditions for a ceasefire.

The German foreign minister said that Germany and European and international partners were prepared to support a political settlement to the Libyan crisis which, he feared, could spiral out of control in the event of military escalation. He also indicated that, after Tripoli, he planned to visit the UAE to meet his counterpart there, adding that Germany expects the UAE to use [its] influence in a constructive manner and in the spirit of the Berlin Process.

During his meeting with Maas, Al-Sarraj said his government had no objection to a ceasefire after it studies all its details and the guarantees necessary to prevent a repetition of the aggression. Asserting that the GNA was the first to commit to the Berlin Process, he recalled that he had signed the Russian-Turkish sponsored ceasefire agreement in Moscow on 12 January while Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar had refused. He warned of continued amassment of forces on the other side, referring to the Russian Wagner Group and growing numbers of mercenaries.

GNA Minister of the Interior Fathi Bashagha, in his meeting with Maas, urged Germany to include the Wagner Group in the European sanctions list. He underscored the GNAs preconditions for a ceasefire. Referring to eastern forces, he said that all mercenaries and militias must leave Sirte and Jufra and the National Oil Company must be allowed to resume oil production as a first step in a peace process in which war criminals will have no political future. He said that he had given Maas files documenting the crimes perpetrated by the militias and mercenaries belonging to Haftar.

Maas, while in Tripoli, also met separately with Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) Mustafa Sanalla, reiterating Germanys support for efforts to restore oil production. During the meeting, the economic and environmental damages resulting from the blockade and the risks arising from them were discussed in relation to public safety, especially due to the militarisation of facilities and the presence of foreign mercenaries inside them, read a statement posted on the NOC website.

The meeting also addressed the importance of financial transparency in parallel with the restoration of security arrangements, the need to evacuate oil facilities of mercenaries and all manifestations of military presence, making them demilitarised buffer zones so that NOC employees can perform their work without jeopardising their lives, and not to use oil as a political bargaining chip, sparing it from military conflict.

In his meetings with the Turkish and Qatari defence ministers while Maas was in Tripoli, Al-Sarraj discussed the amassment of eastern forces at the Sirte-Jufra front, programmes for building the defence and security capacities of GNA forces, and mechanisms for coordinating between the three countries defence ministries, according to a statement released by Al-Sarrajs office. Following the meeting, Akar and Al-Attiyah visited the Advisory Command Centre for Defence Cooperation and Training that Ankara established as part of its military intervention on behalf of the GNA.

In a speech to Turkish military elements in Tripoli, Akar said that Ankara would continue to work to realise its objectives in a lasting ceasefire in Libya and to preserve Libyan unity, peace and security. He reiterated his governments support for the GNA and praised Qatars support for it as well.

In eastern Libya, the House of Representatives in Tobruk reiterated the exclusive right of the House or its delegates to represent the Libyan people. In a statement released Sunday, the House added: Any claim to the contrary is a crime punishable under current Libyan law in accordance with recognised criminal terms. The statement was a response to attempts on the part of a group of Western based political forces to secure foreign support for the creation of new entities to take part in the political dialogue scheduled to convene shortly. A Fezzan Council was created for this purpose three weeks ago and is said to have received European support.

The House of Representatives, in its statement, cautioned against the folly of pursuing any action, motivated by narrow transient considerations, that could jeopardise the integrity and unity of the state or render any inch of Libyan land vulnerable to foreign occupation and the return of colonialism under new guises. According to the statement, lawmakers were currently deliberating a bill that would authorise whatever actions necessary against any state, foreign entity or company, or regional or international organisation that deals with or recognises anybody that does not belong to an official institution of the Libyan state.

The House of Representatives has been increasingly divided since April 2019 when Field Marshal Haftar launched the military operation to secure control of Tripoli and oust the GNA. Turkish military intervention on the side of the GNA reversed the tide of that war.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Lyric Farrell, the 2-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in a Massachusetts town in December and died a few days later, had a subdural hematoma on her brain, authorities said as the childs mother was arraigned on a manslaughter charge Tuesday.

Shaniqua Leonard, 29, of Whitman, was arraigned in Brockton Superior Court Tuesday. In addition to manslaughter, she was also charged with reckless endangerment of a child. Leonard pleaded not guilty to both charges, the Plymouth District Attorneys office said.

Leonard was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail and will have to wear a GPS monitoring device if bail is posted. She cannot have contact with her other children and must abstain from drug and alcohol use. Leonard will also undergo mental health screenings, the district attorneys office said.

Authorities received a call on Dec. 28, 2019, around 12:02 a.m. for a report of an unresponsive child at 863 Washington St. Apt. 3 in Whitman.

Police and firefighters responded and took Lyric to Brockton Hospital. She was then flown to Boston Childrens Hospital after the brain injury was discovered.

Lyric was taken off life support on Dec. 31 around 3 p.m., the district attorneys office said.

WCVB reports the child had been recently returned to her mother from foster care by the state Department of Children & Families.

The charges allege that the 2-year-old was demonstrating signs of medical distress and was in need of immediate medical attention that Leonard failed to obtain, the district attorneys office said.

An autopsy by the states medical examiner determined Lyric died as a result of complications from blunt force trauma to her head.

Farrell was observed to have a subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hematoma and hemorrhaging of her optic nerve and retina, authorities said. Doctors indicated that the injuries could not have been caused as Ms. Leonard claimed to investigators; by the child banging her own head.

Leonard called a social worker hours before calling 911 on Dec. 28 and said Lyric was hitting her head and acting odd, WCVB reports.

Leonard is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 22.
Seputeh MP claims minister flouted quarantine rule on returning from overseas

PARLIAMENT | Lawmaker Teresa Kok claimed that Plantations and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali had gone to Turkey on a personal trip in early July but did not undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine for those returning from overseas.

"The plantations and commodities minister went to Turkey from July 3 to 7, and on (July) 13 he came to Parliament," Kok (Harapan-Seputeh) alleged in the Dewan Rakyat today.

"We know that everyone who goes overseas and comes back must be quarantined for 14 days, but now a cabinet minister has not followed this rule," she added.

Malaysiakini has contacted Khairuddin (above) for comment.

When quizzed on her allegations, Kok told Malaysiakini that she had been informed of the matter by her sources.

For the dates mentioned by the DAP lawmaker, the government had enforced mandatory home quarantine for Malaysians returning from overseas.

Last week, an elderly woman was jailed one day and fined RM8,000 after pleading guilty to breaching her home quarantine by dining out.

Meanwhile, a restaurant owner linked to the Sivagangga cluster was sentenced to five months jail and fined RM12,000 or violating the home quarantine requirement.

The home quarantine exercise, however, was abandoned effective July 24 due to non-compliance. Returning Malaysians will now spend 14 days at hotels designated as quarantine centres.

Speaking in the Lower House, Kok said that action should be taken against Khairuddin either by the Health Ministry or by Parliament.

Lee Boon Chye (Harapan-Gopeng) then said if the allegation was true, it was highly irresponsible as Turkey has almost 250,000 cases of Covid-19 and close to 6,000 deaths.

RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) then sought a ruling for action against Khairuddin for exposing Parliament's premises to the virus and for not complying with the Health Ministry's standard operating procedures.

Deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon then asked Rayer to submit his complaint in writing for further action.
Former Homeland Security Chief of Staff Miles Taylor, who supports Democrat Joe Biden, said Tuesday that President Donald Trump asked 'third grade'-like questions at a hurricane briefing and encouraged the head of the department to teargas migrants at the southern border.

Talking to CNN's Jake Tapper Taylor recalled Trump's line of questioning when he was being briefed on Hurricane Florence in September 2018, which would ultimately cause the death of 52 Americans.

'He said, "do the hurricanes always spin in this direction?"' Taylor recalled being asked by the president. 'He meant counterclockwise, now that's called the Coriolis effect, same thing that causes toilets to spin the other direction in Australia, a follow-up question he also had.'

Taylor had told Tapper that the president often had trouble focusing on the subject at hand.

'He was just marveled at the way that hurricanes spin, in a way a third grader might learning about Earth science,' Taylor spoke of that particular experience.

Miles Taylor (right), the former chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security, told CNN's Jake Tapper (left) that President Donald Trump asked if hurricanes always spin in the same direction during a briefing in 2018

Taylor, who appeared in an ad Monday for Republican Voters Against Trump, also told Tapper that Trump called up the DHS secretary to tell her he 'loved' the imagery of migrants being teargassed at the U.S.-Mexico border

Miles Taylor, the former DHS chief of staff who endorsed Joe Biden earlier this week, produced a thumbs up, Oval Office picture of himself with President Donald Trump after the president tweeted that he didn't know him

Trump hammered Taylor in a Tuesday morning tweet. Trump said he didn't know the aide but he was 'said to be a real "stiff"'

The ex-DHS official, who worked at the department from 2017 to 2019, also told the CNN anchor that he wasn't surprised when the federal government teargassed Black Lives Matter protesters leading up to Trump's June 1 photo-op in front of St. John's Church.

The U.S. Park Police denied 'teargas' was used, though shells that contained the component generally described as teargas were found by news crews at the scene.

Taylor said the controversy reminded him of an incident at the border that involved migrants charging at a border station, forcing agents to use 'limited teargas.'

'When Donald Trump saw that on TV he actually thought what we were doing was starting just to gas migrants across the border as a tactic,' Taylor recalled. 'In fact he immediately called the secretary of Homeland Security to say, this is great, I love what you're doing, keep it going.'

Trump had mistakenly thought DHS' policy was to teargas migrants, Taylor recalled, instead of it being 'a safety measure in that one moment for officers.'

'I think that tells you a lot about the president's character and that's why I think this is a character election,' the former official went on.

He reminded Tapper that he had been a 'lifelong Republican' until making the decision to back Biden.

'At the end of the day, the man with his finger on the nuclear trigger is a man whose mind is not on his job on a daily basis,' Taylor said.

Echoing a sentiment shared Monday night by former first lady Michelle Obama, Taylor said Trump 2.0 would only be worse.

'There are poeple serving very close to the president that have told me verbatim we should expect "shock and awe" if the president wins a second term,' Taylor said. 'You will see a flurry of executive orders, you will see a president pull out of foreign alliances, you will see a president aligned with dictators around the world.'

Taylor's comments to Tapper came in the hours following his pledge to provide a drip, drip, drip of anecdotes about his time in the administration leading up to the November presidential election.

The former official also said others who worked under Trump planned to follow his lead.

Earlier Tuesday, Taylor had tweeted a picture of himself with Trump after the president denied knowing him.

Trump tweeted Tuesday morning that Taylor was a 'DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE' who I 'do not know (never heard of him),' and went on to complain that the media is embracing Taylor with 'open arms.'

'Said to be a real "stiff,"' Trump also offered. 'They will take anyone against us!' he railed.

Taylor, who was featured Monday in an ad put out by Republican Voters Against Trump, then produced a picture of him alongside Trump in the Oval Office, where they're both giving the camera a thumbs up.

He served at DHS between 2017 and 2019 and said he 'witnessed the damning results firsthand' of Trump's 'personal deficiencies.'

'Alas, I'll take the bait,' Taylor captioned his tweet. 'Haven't forgotten you though!'

'I guess the only way to prove it is to tell some stories,' he continued.

'Maybe until the election. What do you think?' Taylor warned Trump.

The ex-staffer also promoted an appearance on 'Good Morning America' on his Twitterfeed, where he said, 'the president hasn't heard the last of us.'

'Me speaking out yesterday, you could think of it as an opening salvo,' Taylor told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos. 'And I'm not going to be mentioning any names yet but the president can expect that in the coming weeks and months leading up to the election he's going to hear from more people that served in his administration and he's going to hear more of them give the same testimonies that I gave, which is that he's ill-eqipped to hold the office that he has and that a second term would be more dangerout than a first term.'

In an ad released Monday, Taylor endorsed Biden, marking the first night of the virtual Democratic National Convention.

Taylor claimed in the ad, released by Republican Voters Against Trump, that the president wanted to hold FEMA aid from California during the devastating wildfires there because the state voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016

'Even though I'm not a Democrat, even though I disagree on key issues, I'm confident that Joe Biden will protect the country and I'm confident he won't make the same mistakes as this president,' Taylor said in the ad.

Taylor also said in the video that Trump directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to withhold disaster funds from California during devastating wildfires there because the state voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

'He told us to stop giving money to people whose houses had burned down from a wildfire because he was so rageful that people in the state of California didn't support him and that politically it wasn't a base for him,' Taylor claimed.

The former DHS employee also wrote in a Washington Post op-ed published Monday that America is so divided due to Trump's presidency.

Anonymous, an author of an op-ed and book trashing Donald Trump, is urging in a new '2020 election edition' version of its preface to 'A Warning' that the president be voted out of office

'I can attest that the country is less secure as a direct result of the president's actions,' Taylor wrote. 'Today the nation has fewer friends and stronger enemies than when Trump took office.'

The Anonymous author who wrote a 2018 op-ed and 2019 best-selling book trashing the president and who said they served as a senior Trump administration official also endorsed Biden on Monday.

In a new preface of Anonymous' book 'A Warning,' the individual calls on voters to throw the president out of office this November.

The new preface is part of the '2020 election edition' of the book.

The new preface will be released Tuesday, but was obtained early by Politico.

The author says a second term for Trump 'unbound will mean a nation undone,' and they claim it will result in 'a continued downward slide into social acrimony, with the United States fading into the background of a world stage it once commanded, to say nothing of the damage to our democratic institutions.'

Monday night's Democratic National Convention also featured four Republicans' endorsements of Biden.

John Kasich, a 2016 GOP primary rival of Trump's and the former governor of Ohio, told fellow Republicans that he believed Biden, if elected, wouldn't become too liberal.

'I'm sure there are Republicans and independents who couldn't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat, they fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind. I don't believe that,' Kasich said. 'Because I know the measure of the man - reasonable, faithful, respectful and you know, no one pushes Joe around.'

Kasich was preceded in the program by former GOP New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former New York Rep. Susan Molinari and former GOP California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard who now runs Quibi.

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich asked his fellow Republicans to cross party lines and vote for Joe Biden

Former GOP New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman talked about how she's been a 'lifelong Repubilcan,' but now she's supporting Joe Biden over President Donald Trump

Quibi CEO Meg Whitman, who ran as a Republican for California governor in 2010, ridiculed Trump's business acumen

Rep. Susan Molinari talked about how, as a New York lawmaker, she's known Trump for years and it's been 'disappointing and lately so disturbing'

'What am I doing here? I'm a lifelong Republican. My parents were introduced at a Republican National Convention by their parents,' Todd Whitman said.

But she said she was compelled to vote for a 'person decent enough, stable enough, strong enough to get our economy back on track.'

'A person who can work with everyone,' she continued. 'Donald Trump isn't that person. Joe Biden is.'

Meg Whitman briefly belittled Trump's business acumen.

'And let me tell you, Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business let alone an economy,' she said.

While Molinari, who had represented New York City in the House of Representatives, talked about how she knew Trump for most of her political career.

'So disappointing and lately so disturbing,' she uttered.

As for Biden, Molinari called him her 'friend.'

'He really is a good man,' the lawmaker-turned-Google lobbyist said.

When it was Kasich's turn the camera hovered over the former Ohio governor as he literally stood at some crossroads in Westerville, Ohio, situated outside of Columbus and the former site of a Democratic debate.

Kasich's point: that Trump had taken the country 'down the wrong road.'

'It's a path that's led to division, disfunction, irresponsibility and growing vitriol,' Kasich said.

The former GOP governor pleaded with Republicans to cross party lines.

'Yes, there are areas where Joe and I absolutely disagree. But that's OK, because that's America,' he said.

He praised Biden for being a 'good man' and a person who had shown him respect over their 30-year relationship.

'Joe Biden is a man for our times,' Kasich said. 'Times that call for all of us to take off our partisan hats and put our nation first for ourselves ... and our children.'

Prior to the appearances of the four Republicans, the Trump campaign had lashed out and called them a number of names.

Kasich, the campaign said, was a 'sore loser.'

Molinari a 'swamp creature,' who had lobbied for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Trump campaign also noted that Meg Whitman and Christine Todd Whitman had already voted Democratic once - selecting Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016.
The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee's final report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election has concluded the Trump campaign chairman's contacts with Kremlin-linked individuals posed a "grave counterintelligence threat."

The report released on August 18, the fifth and final one from the Republican-led committee, also found that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the hacking of the Democratic Party and the leak of information to damage Hillary Clinton and her presidential campaign against then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The Senate panel called the 1,300-page report "the most comprehensive description to date of Russia's activities and the threat they posed," describing Russia as engaged in an "aggressive, multifaceted effort to influence, or attempt to influence, the outcome of the 2016 presidential election." The bipartisan investigation lasted almost 3 1/2 years.

"Moscow's intent was to harm the Clinton campaign, tarnish an expected Clinton presidential administration, help the Trump campaign after Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee, and undermine the U.S. democratic process," the report states.

It also found that WikiLeaks played a key role in Russia's effort to influence the election to help Trump, and that the website "very likely knew" it was assisting a Russian influence effort, the committees report says.

While Russia's GRU military intelligence and Wikileaks released hacked Democratic Party documents, the report found the Trump campaign sought to use the Wikileaks hacks to aid the campaign.

"Staff on the Trump campaign sought advance notice about WikiLeaks releases, created messaging strategies to promote and share the materials in anticipation of and following their release, and encouraged further leaks," the report says.

"The Trump campaign publicly undermined the attribution of the hack-and-leak campaign to Russia and was indifferent to whether it and WikiLeaks were furthering a Russian election interference effort," according to the report.

The panel does not come to a final conclusion about whether there is enough evidence that Trump's campaign coordinated or colluded with Russia, leaving that open to interpretation by Republicans and Democrats.

A group of Republicans on the panel submitted "additional views" to the report saying that it should state more explicitly that Trump's campaign did not coordinate with Russia. But Democrats on the panel submitted their own views, arguing that the report clearly shows such cooperation.

Former special counsel Robert Mueller concluded in a report issued in 2019 that Russia interfered in the election, but that investigation did not charge any Trump associates with conspiring with the Russians.

The Senate investigation also examined issues of interest to Trump that were not explored by Mueller. Those include the FBI's reliance on a dossier of opposition research compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele whose work was financed by Democrats.

Senator Marco Rubio (Republican-Florida), the committee's acting chairman, said in a statement that the committee was troubled that the FBI had been willing to use the dossier "without verifying its methodology or sourcing" as it applied for secret surveillance warrants.

The Senate panel lays out close contacts between Trump associates and the Russians, describing in particular how Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort had deep connections to Russia and Russian-aligned oligarchs in Ukraine.

The report notes how for years Manafort worked closely with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian whom the FBI suspects has ties to Russian intelligence. The panel unequivocally states that Kilimnik was a Russian intelligence officer and that Deripaska coordinated with the Russian government to conduct influence operations abroad.

Prior to joining the Trump campaign in March 2016 and continuing throughout his time on the campaign, the report said Manafort directly and indirectly communicated with Kilimnik, Deripaska, and the pro-Russian oligarchs in Ukraine.

In addition, the panel said Manafort "on numerous occasions" shared campaign information with Kilimnik and that he also discussed a peace plan for eastern Ukraine that benefited Russia.

Even after the election, Manafort coordinated with Kilimnik and other individuals close to Deripaska, "in an effort to undertake activities on their behalf," the panel said.

Among other things, Manafort worked with Kilimnik to undermine evidence that Russia interfered in the election, the report says, including spreading the unproven idea of Ukrainian election interference.

"Taken as a whole, Manafort's high-level access and willingness to share information with individuals closely affiliated with the Russian intelligence services, particularly Kilimnik and associates of Oleg Deripaska, represented a grave counterintelligence threat," the panel said.

With reporting by AP and Reuters
Digital tyranny is more contagious than COVID-19 as Albion College announces that all students will be tracked digitally, confined to the campus and subject to specimen collection at any time. Students can be expelled for violations.  TN Editor

A Michigan college is requiring students to download a phone application that tracks their location and private health data at all times in an attempt to protect them from the coronavirus.

Albion College, located in Albion, Mich., is one of the first schools in the country to tackle contact tracing. The school is working to create a COVID-bubble on campus, and asking students stay within the schools 4.5-mile perimeter for the entire semester; if a student leaves campus, the app will notify the administration, and the student could be temporarily suspended.

The move comes as universities grapple with how to reopen safely amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Several schools including Harvard University have shut down their campuses entirely, while the University of California system will provide the majority of classes online with a selection of hybrid options. Other schools, such as Boston University, are resuming in-person learning with masks and social distancing guidelines alongside virtual learning supplements for those who dont feel comfortable returning.

Albions reopening plan has sparked blowback from students and parents who are expressing concern about what they view as an invasion of privacy. A father of an Albion student said that he is upset that he must choose between keeping his daughter home from school or signing off on a university-sanctioned invasion of privacy.

The school wants my daughter to sign a form consenting to specimen collection and lab testing, he told the Washington Free Beacon on condition of anonymity. I have a ton of concern with that. Why is the state of Michigans contact tracing not enough?

Though students are required to remain on campus, professors and administrators are not. When asked about this potential loophole in its COVID-bubble, the school declined to comment.

Rising senior Andrew Arszulowicz said that he is upset with both the mandatory use of the app and the manner in which students are being treated. I feel like I am being treated like a five-year-old that cannot be trusted to follow rules, Arszulowicz told the Free Beacon. If the school believes masks work  why are we not allowed to leave if they work? It does not make sense to me.

Albion is planning to offer in-person learning only, and students who refuse to comply with the contact-tracing program will be forced to defer for a semester or a full school year.

Coronavirus testing will be required upon arrival to campus. Its unclear how many follow-up tests the university will mandate throughout the 14-week semester, but the results be stored on Albions tracking app.

Returning students must also sign a form authorizing the disclosure of their test results to the county, state, or any other governmental entity as may be required by lawthough the school told the Free Beacon that state and county officials are not collecting information from the app.

Read full story here
The COVID-19 pandemic has become a golden opportunity for e-commerce trading floors, as well as social networks such as Facebook. However, the country has lost billions of dong in tax revenue due to e-commerce

as there are no specific regulations on the sector.

Online sales on Facebook. During the pandemic, owners of e-commerce floors earned more money as people have to stay at home and work online.  Photo enternews.vn

During the pandemic, owners of these platforms have seen business increase as people stay at home and spend more online.

Streaming platforms are also becoming more popular, including Iflix of Malaysia, WeTV of China and Netflix from the US.

In Vietnam, Netflix started providing services from early 2016 with packages ranging from VND180,000 to VND260,000 per month. The total number of paid subscribers in Vietnam has reached over 300,000, meaning Netflix could earn hundreds of billions of dong from the country. However, most Netflix subscribers in Vietnam register to use the service and pay fees online or by credit card.

Nguyen Duc Huy, Deputy Chief Officer of the General Department of Taxation, told Tien Phong (Vanguard) Newspaper that Netflix has not set up a branch in Vietnam yet. This enterprise has not done the necessary procedures to obtain a license to provide online TV services in the country, leading to tax losses. However, the tax industry does not have specific sanctions for this case.

Deputy head of Hanoi Taxation Department Vien Viet Hung told the newspaper that more individuals are earning an income from YouTube, Facebook and app markets such as the Google Playstore and iOS Appstore. According to Circular 92/2015/TT-BTC guiding the implementation of the Law on Value Added Tax (VAT) and Personal Income Tax (PIT) for resident individuals having business activities, individuals with income from a business with turnover from VND100 million a year or more must pay tax. Individuals receiving income from Facebook, Google and YouTube are classified as business individuals, paying tax at the rate of 5 per cent VAT and 2 per cent PIT.

The department identified more than 1,100 individuals operating in software, electronic services and online games had a total income of VND4.8 trillion in the last three years (2016-19). Of which one person had an income of up to VND140 billion. As of July 24, more than 100 individuals registered, declared and paid more than VND10 billion in PIT and VAT on total revenue of more than VND151 billion. However, the department assessed that the proportion of individuals earning income from e-commerce activities voluntarily implementing tax obligations was still low.

Dang Ngoc Minh, deputy director of the General Department of Taxation said the tax industry has co-operated with relevant agencies to control the money flow transferred from abroad to local organisations and individuals. At the same time, through inspections, the General Department of Taxation has collected a huge amount of tax.

In Hanoi, since 2017, the tax department has reviewed and sent SMS notifications to 13,422 Facebook accounts involved in online sales. Up to now, over 2,000 individuals have registered and were issued with a tax identification number used to declare and pay taxes. The total taxes and fines collected from this type of business totalled more than VND22.7 billion.

For organisations and individuals with incomes from foreign social networks (Google, Facebook, YouTube), through data from joint-stock commercial banks, there were more than 18,300 opening accounts at banks with a total income of VND1.46 trillion.

The total amount of tax, fines and late payment interest collected from accounts on foreign social networks was about VND14 billion.

He said the department is inspecting service providers selling through e-commerce. They collected a list of 9,510 cases of business activities on the e-commerce floors provided by a firm with the total amount arising from withdrawals of VND211 billion.

For house rental activities, specifically organisations and individuals posting information through foreign websites, the tax authority has reviewed 483 addresses. Of which, 107 organisations have paid about VND9.4 billion while 68 individuals have paid VND634 million.

Minh said, in 2019, the General Department of Taxation inspected and discovered that one individual received VND41 billion from Google for providing advertising services on a game, but had not declared or pay tax. The inspection team retrospectively collected and fined more than VND4 billion.

In order to properly and fully manage and collect taxes from organisations and individuals in e-commerce and online services, he said that the tax department will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Information and Communications to identify taxpayers. They would also collect data from shipping companies, intermediary apps, banks and e-wallets to determine cash flow. The General Department of Taxation would thus better manage taxes for organisations and individuals. VNS

COVID-19 pandemic advances Vietnams digital transformation The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated Vietnams digital transformation as the government, ministries, localities, and businesses have effectively applied IT in both epidemic prevention and production.
BEIJING - China suffered a double blow Wednesday of flooding and landslides from unusually heavy seasonal rains and a typhoon that came ashore on its southern coast.

Five people were missing in Yunnan province in the southwest after a landslide destroyed two houses, the official Peoples Daily newspaper said.

In Sichuan province, 21 vehicles parked in a square in Yibin city fell into a hole after the road beneath them collapsed in the middle of the night. No one was injured, according to media reports.

Flooding has left more than 200 people dead or missing in China this year and caused $25 billion in damage, authorities said last week.

Typhoon Higos drenched Hong Kong overnight before making landfall in Zhuhai, a city in Guangdong province, in the morning with maximum sustained winds of 126 kilometres (78 miles) per hour, Chinas National Meteorological Center said.

It weakened to a tropical storm as it moved west toward the neighbouring Guangxi region. More than 65,000 people were evacuated, schools were closed and many fishing boats returned to port along the coast, according to Chinese media reports.

Power was knocked out in Meizhou city in northeastern Guangdong province on Tuesday night after trees fell onto power lines, the electric company said.

The worst of the flooding appeared to be over in Sichuan, where the emergency level was lowered Wednesday morning and the toes of a famous Buddhist statue re-emerged as waters receded, news reports said.

It was the first time in at least 70 years that water had reached the foot of the Leshan Giant Buddha, a 71-meter (233-foot) -tall statue carved into the side of a mountain in the eighth century.

Emei Mountain, a nearby tourist site, reopened to visitors after being closed for nearly three days.

The sprawling Chongqing municipality saw its worst flooding since 1981. Water covered roofs in low-lying areas of the historic town of Ciqikou, which was closed to tourists because of the rains from Tuesday evening.

On the Yangtze River, the inflow of water into the reservoir behind the massive Three Gorges Dam hit a record 72,000 cubic meters (2.5 million cubic feet) per second, state media said. The inflow is expected to peak Thursday at 76,000 cubic meters per second, the Ministry of Water Resources said.

On Tuesday, President Xi Jinping visited hard-hit Anhui province, where the 13 sluice gates of the Wagnjiaba dam had been opened, flooding farmland and forests to prevent more extensive damage downriver.

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Security personnel check the temperatures of people entering a market, while enforcing social distancing, in Penang, Malaysia, on May 29, 2020. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP via Getty Images)

Infectious COVID-19 Mutation Detected in Malaysia

A mutation of the CCP virus that is believed to be more infectious than the original strain that first emerged in Wuhan, China, has been detected in Malaysia, health authorities said Sunday.

The D614G mutation that has become increasingly common throughout the United States and Europe, was discovered by the Malaysian Institute for Medical Research in four CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus cases from two clusters in the country, Malaysias Health Ministry Director General Noor Hisham Abdullah said Sunday.

It is found to be 10 times easier to infect other individuals and easier to spread, if spread by super spreader individuals, he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

What the D614G Mutation Means for Covid-19 Spread, Fatality, Treatment, and Vaccinehttps://t.co/OhjK1QFiHk  Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) August 15, 2020

Neighboring Philippines, meanwhile, has detected the COVID-19 mutation in a number of samples of the virus. The country is currently studying to determine whether the D614G strain, which has also been found in recent outbreaks in China, is more infectious than the original strain, D614.

Philippines Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a virtual briefing Monday that while the mutation is said to have a higher probability of transmission or infectiousness, there is still not enough evidence to say that it will happen, Bloomberg reported.

The mutation was discovered by scientists as early as February, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has asserted that there is no solid evidence to suggest the strain has led to more severe disease.

A June study by researchers in the United States suggested that the D614G strain can significantly increase its ability to infect cells. The mutation increased the number of spikes on the CCP viruswhich is the part that gives it its distinctive shape. Those spikes are what allow the virus to bind to and infect cells.

The numberor densityof functional spikes on the virus is four or five times greater due to this mutation, said Hyeryun Choe, one of the senior authors of the study.

Experts at Scripps Research suggested that the study may explain why early outbreaks in some parts of the world did not end up overwhelming health systems as much as other outbreaks in New York and Italy.

The researchers say that it is still unknown whether this small mutation affects the severity of symptoms of infected people, or increases mortality.

The researchers conducting lab experiments say that more research, including controlled studieswidely considered a gold standard for clinical trials, needs to be done to confirm their findings from test tube experiments.

Paul Tambyah, senior consultant at the National University of Singapore and president elect of the U.S.-based International Society of Infectious Diseases, said that a mutation is not likely to alter a virus enough to make potential vaccines less effective.

The mutant affects the binding of the spike protein and not necessarily the recognition of the protein by the immune system, which would be primed by a vaccine, he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
RESTON, Virginia, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel today announced appointment of Justin Siberell as president for the Europe and the Middle East region.

In his new role, Siberell will be responsible for overseeing company's relations in the region, supporting Bechtel's four business units as they deliver projects and pursue new opportunities. He will be based in the company's London office.

"Justin's knowledge and experience will serve our company and our customers well as we build partnerships and explore future opportunities in the region and across the globe," said Stuart Jones, Bechtel manager of Regions and Corporate Relations.

Siberell joins Bechtel after a distinguished 27-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service, most recently as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain. From 2012 to 2017, Siberell held key roles in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism, including heading the bureau as Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism. He also served in the State Department's Executive Secretariat, the Bureau for Near Eastern Affairs, and on the staff of the National Security Council at the White House. Siberell's career included postings as a member of U.S. diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Panama.

Siberell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of California at Berkeley and is a graduate of the U.S. State Department's Arabic Language Field School in Tunis, Tunisia.

About Bechtel:

Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.

Bechtel serves the Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Oil, Gas & Chemicals; and Mining & Metals markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com

Media contact:

Iva Zagar

izagar@bechtel.com

tel. +1-713-235-3088

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Oyo State Police Command has arrested an inspector and one other officer, over the escape of the suspected serial killer in Akinyele area of Ibadan, Sunday Shodipe.

KanyiDaily recalls that the police had on Sunday announced that the 19-year-old suspected serial killer had escaped from their custody while undergoing trial on August 11, 2020.

Speaking on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Nwachukwu Enwonwu, revealed that two policemen had been arrested over the escape.

He disclosed this when the chairman Mr Ademola Babalola led members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council to Enwonwu to protest Shodipes escape on Monday evening.

The journalists demanded explanation on how such a suspected criminal escaped without any punitive action taken on those culpable among men and officers of the command.

Enwonwu, who welcomed Babalola and his team to his office, disclosed that an inspector and one other officer, whose identities he failed to reveal, have been arrested, saying they were currently undergoing orderly room trial.

He said the proceedings for their involvement had started yesterday morning, assuring reporters and the public that there would be no cover-up.

Enwonwu, during the meeting with Oyo NUJ, assured people of Oyo State that the police would do everything to ensure the re-arrest of the suspect.

We will do everything to ensure that Oyo State is crime-free, he said.

KanyiDaily had reported that the escape of the suspect attracted several condemnations from many citizens in the community after a fresh murder was suspected to be committed by the same killer in the Akinyele area of Ibadan.
ALBANY - The city saw another day with multiple homicides after two teenagers were killed and two other men were wounded within eight hours on Monday as a rise in gun violence continued.

The violence stretched across the city, with two shootings in the South End and a third in Arbor Hill. Ninety-seven people have been shot this year, and 13 people have been killed, with nine of those deaths the result of gunfire.

During Monday evenings Common Council meeting, Public Safety Committee chair Kelly Kimbrough said he would be calling an emergency committee hearing for Aug. 21 to discuss a plan to combat the recent gun violence.

Councilman Jahmel Robinson, who represents the Fifth Ward, said in an interview on Tuesday that people he spoke with in the past few weeks told him they just wanted to feel safe in their own homes. A number of shootings during the day had parents worried about letting their children outside, he said.

Were at a point where the shootings are not just occurring at night, he said. Were in a very dangerous place and a very dangerous position.

A 19-year-old was shot and killed around 10 p.m. Monday on Moore Street near Saint George's Place, just hours after a 17-year-old was shot and killed in a car after leaving the funeral of another homicide victim. The 19-year-old was struck in the arm and torso. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where he later died, police said Tuesday morning.

Ten minutes earlier, police learned another man had walked into Albany Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound. The 22-year-old victims injuries are not considered life-threatening.

It was not immediately clear if either of the shootings were connected to a broad daylight shooting of the 17-year-old on Southern Boulevard. None of the victims of Mondays violence have been identified. No arrests have been made.

The teen and a 25-year-old man were ambushed by men in another vehicle, who unleashed a volley of shots.

On Monday, Police Chief Eric Hawkins said the homicide was not random and that the car was targeted. City and law enforcement officials said the two were shot after leaving a funeral Monday.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The funeral for Zy'Quaveone M. Mayo, the 18-year-old who was killed in an Aug. 8 shooting at First and Quail streets, began late Monday morning at Graceland Cemetery on nearby Delaware Avenue.

Councilman Derek Johnson, who represents the Second Ward, said he believed the violence stemmed from long-standing inequities in the city that hadnt been addressed. He said the city isnt providing resources that give young people an avenue away from violence, as well as ways to deal with the trauma they experience growing up around violence.

The source for our numbers to be staggering the way they are is because theres really nothing for anybody to do, he said.

Mike Goodwin contributed to this article.
South Africas government is warning that the coronavirus crisis could cost the jobs of 400,000 workers  and that is just in the tourism industry.

South Africas government has warned that the coronavirus crisis could cost the jobs of 400,000 workers  and that is just in the tourism industry.

Five months of lockdown restrictions are being eased but the tourism industry could take years to recover.

Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller has more from Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Linkedin Christopher Walljasper and Nigel Hunt (Reuters) Chicago, United States/London, United Kingdom  Tue, August 18, 2020 19:20 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ee14f5 2 Environment coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,climate-change,food-waste Free

Clint Parry ransacked every kitchen cupboard and scoured all corners of his fridge during lockdown in Detroit, hunting for lost ingredients and leftovers to whip up meals.

The 33-year-old is one of many people across the world to have embraced thriftiness and cut down on food waste during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to experts. They say the new habits, if maintained, will provide a major boost in tackling another global crisis: climate change.

"We are using virtually all of our leftovers, where we used to waste food because we would forget to pack it and just pick up fast food on a lunch break," said Parry, who is married and works as a master model builder at Legoland in Michigan.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that a third of the world's food is wasted every year. Forests are cleared, fuel is burnt and packaging in produced just to provide food which is thrown away. Meanwhile, rotting food in landfills releases more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

As a result, food waste is responsible for around 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a similar amount to road transportation.

"The next crisis will be the climate crisis and the best thing you can do as a consumer is reduce food waste," said Toine Timmermans, program manager for sustainable food chains at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Household food waste in Britain, to take one country, fell significantly in the early phase of the lockdown in April with just 14% of four key items - bread, chicken, milk and potatoes - thrown away, according to research by environmental group WRAP, which conducted thousands of interviews.

Pre-lockdown, an average of 24% had been wasted.

Waste had begun to rebound by June, with a second WRAP survey putting waste of those products at 18%, but remained significantly below pre-lockdown levels.

"Although people are reporting wasting more food as restrictions lift ... the positive news is that 70% of people want to maintain their new-found food management behaviors in the long term," said Richard Swannell, director at WRAP Global which works with governments to reduce food waste.

"This is an encouraging sign that people are taking this opportunity to adopt less wasteful habits in life after lockdown."

Plan more, cook more

Food security has been a major concern during the pandemic as consumers panic-bought basic goods, migrant workers struggled to get to the fields, meat-packing plants shut, and farm goods produced for shuttered restaurants rotted.

But the lower household food waste has been one bright spot.

Out of necessity, consumers have become more organized in planning menus, developed new cooking skills, checked their cupboards and fridges more before they shop and found better ways to use up leftovers, according to food waste experts.

"What people have been forced to do during the pandemic is plan ahead because they're now shopping less frequently," said Dana Gunders, executive director at ReFED, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing wasted food across the United States.

"They're being forced to cook more and build those cooking skills."

Laura Brooks, a stay-at-home mother of five in Weymouth, Massachusetts, said she had developed useful habits during the lockdown that she would keep.

"I think as things go back to normal, I may continue with less frequent shopping trips. When I go more often, I find that the new produce pushes the old produce out of sight and things get wasted more easily," she added.

Increased frugality could prove a valuable habit in the economic and unemployment crisis caused by the pandemic; Gunders said a family of four in the United States was estimated to throw out food worth about $1,800 a year.

Too good for the bin

A survey from Germany's Food and Agriculture Ministry also showed consumers had started to show more concern about wasting food during the coronavirus crisis.

The government had launched an anti-food waste campaign called "Too good for the bin" before the crisis, urging the public not to automatically throw food away after the sell-by date but to smell and taste it to see if it was still in good condition.

The ministry's survey, undertaken during the pandemic, found that 91% of German consumers questioned were now checking food after its sell-by date and not automatically throwing it away.

This compared to only 76% in a similar survey in 2016.

Food waste is not restricted to the home but it is the biggest source in many countries.

The European Union has published a study estimating that 53% of food waste was in households and 11% in production, with the balance in areas such as processing and retailing.

China's President Xi Jingping said this month that the amount of food wasted in China was "shocking", prompting many local governments to launch related campaigns.

For Parry in Detroit, and many others, thrift is here to stay.

"Our food costs have definitely gone way down, since we are not buying out when we have perfectly consumable leftovers in the fridge at home," he said.
Representative image

From Australia's Prime Minister saying that the country will manufacture 'promising' coronavirus vaccine to SinoPharm saying the Chinese vaccine will be ready by the end of December, here are all the latest updates on a potential COVID-19 vaccine and its candidates.

Australia to manufacture 'promising' coronavirus vaccine and give free to citizens: PM Scott Morrison

Australia has secured access to a "promising" potential coronavirus vaccine, the prime minister announced Tuesday, saying the country would manufacture it and offer free doses to the entire population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia had reached a deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to receive the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with Oxford University.

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

Coronavirus vaccine will be ready by December-end, says Chinese company SinoPharm

The head of a major state-owned Chinese pharmaceutical company said its coronavirus vaccine will be commercially available by the end of the year.

Liu Jingzhen, the chairman of SinoPharm, told a Chinese Communist Party newspaper that the vaccine would cost less than 1,000 yuan ($140) and be given in two shots, 28 days apart.

Serum Institute of India to begin Phase 2 trials of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine this week

The Serum Institute of India (SII), which has partnered with AstraZeneca for manufacturing the potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, will start Phase 2 human clinical trials of the candidate this week.

The SII has been permitted for conducting Phases 2 and 3 human clinical trials of the candidate in India. To run the trials, the SII has selected 10 centres across the country.

Indian Govt panel meets representatives of leading domestic manufacturers

The national expert group on vaccine administration for COVID-19 met representatives of leading domestic manufactures, including Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila, on August 17 to take inputs about the present stage of various candidate vaccines as well as their expectations from the government, the Union Health Ministry said.

The meeting was mutually beneficial and productive, the ministry said.

"It provided the national expert group with inputs about the present stage of various candidate vaccines being developed by indigenous manufacturers as well as their expectations from the Union government," the statement said.

Brazil approves human trials for potential Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

Brazil's health regulator Anvisa on Tuesday said it had approved human clinical trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical subsidiary Janssen.

Brazil is the second-worst hit country for coronavirus cases and deaths after the United States, leading many vaccine developers to seek out clinical trials there.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine candidate is the fourth to be approved for human trials in Brazil, Anvisa said in its statement.

Pakistan gives go-ahead to Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial

Pakistan's drug regulator greenlit the country's first Phase 3 clinical trial for a potential COVID-19 vaccine, which is being developed by China's CanSino Biologics (CanSino) and Beijing Institute of Biotechnology.

The trial is slated to begin next month, according to an official who will coordinate the exercise.
You may remember Carlos Slim. He was a few years ago the largest shareholder of the New York Times. Recently, he sold some of his investment but still holds a lot of the stock.

Mr. Slim is a very wealthy man and often criticized by the left for being so rich. At the same time, all of my friends in Mexico say his companies are great to work for, and "Don Carlos," as they call him, takes good care of his people.

This week, Mr. Slim made a big announcement. He is getting into the COVID-19 business but not for profit. This is from my friends at Pulse News Mexico:

The London-based biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed an agreement with Mexicos Carlos Slim Foundation on Wednesday, Aug. 12, to produce a covid-19 vaccine in both Mexico and Argentina to be distributed without economic profits throughout Latin America. The experimental coronavirus vaccine, labled AZD1222, which was licensed by AstraZeneca from the University of Oxford, is currently in large-scale Phase III clinical trials and is considered one of the international frontrunners in the race to produce a viable vaccination against covid-19. Initially, the nonprofit Slim Foundation  founded by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim  will produce 150 million doses of the vaccine to be distributed throughout the region, except in Brazil, where AstraZeneca has a pre-existing agreement with the Jair Bolsonaro government to distribute the new medication.

This is great news and another example of how the private sector is the answer for so many of our problems. Down in Latin America, public budgets are dry, and health care resources are down to the last drop, as a friend from Colombia told me last week.

Cheers for Mr. Slim. Of course, the hysterical left will find another reason to criticize him, but this is a man who gets things done.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.

Image credit: Agencia Brasil via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service said it will shelve its controversial cost-cutting initiatives until after the November election, canceling service reductions, reauthorizing overtime and suspending the removal of mail-sorting machines and public collection boxes.

Tuesday's reversal comes hours after at least 21 states announced plans to sue the mail service and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, arguing that policy changes widely blamed for mail slowdowns will interfere with their abilities to conduct elections.

DeJoy is poised to address those issues at a Senate hearing on Friday, then go before a House panel on Monday with Robert Duncan, the chairman of the USPS board of governors.

Tensions reached a crescendo Thursday when President Donald Trump said he would block funding for the Postal Service in an attempt to hobble its ability to process mailed ballots. Last month, the USPS notified 46 states and the District that their deadline requirements for voters to request and cast ballots were "incongruous" with its service standards, and encouraged local election officials to use first-class postage, which costs 55 cents per item and arrives in two to five days, on election mail rather than third-class postage, which costs 20 cents and takes three to 10 days, as had been the practice for years.

DeJoy's announcement Tuesday did little to quiet those concerns, or address questions about reported backlogs at processing plants or delays in home delivery. Democratic lawmakers continued to press postal officials for answers about the policies and elaborate on the agency's preparedness to collect election mail.

"Postmaster General DeJoy cannot put the genie back in the bottle," Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., who chairs the House subcommittee responsible for postal oversight, said in a statement. "Sunshine in the form of public pressure has forced Mr. DeJoy to completely reverse himself. While this is a victory for all voters and every American that relies on the USPS, congressional oversight cannot be interrupted. If Mr. DeJoy has nothing to hide, he will come to Congress with answers to our questions about the service disruptions that have defined his tenure as Postmaster General. Accountability is the cornerstone of our democracy."

"Our fight against them is working," Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, said during an online panel Tuesday afternoon, referring to DeJoy and USPS. " . . . It shows that the public pressure we are putting on them is working."

DeJoy, a former logistics executive and Trump ally, took office in mid-June and swiftly ushered organizational changes, cracking down on overtime hours and banning extra trips by postal carriers trying to ensure on-time mail delivery. Since then, mail service gaps have been reported in localities across the country, ensnaring prescription medications and election mail during some midsummer primaries.

The Postal Service also planned to take 671 mail-sorting machines, roughly 10 percent of its inventory, offline to cut costs, and had in recent days removed, relocated and replaced public mailboxes in a number of states including Oregon, Pennsylvania, California, Ohio, Montana and Arizona. DeJoy also reshuffled the agency's top ranks, removing or reassigning 33 executives.

Democratic lawmakers have been taking DeJoy to task over those changes, with several calling for him to resign. Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb launched an investigation into those changes last week, along with DeJoy's financial portfolio.

"I came to the Postal Service to make changes to secure the success of this organization and its long-term sustainability," DeJoy said in a statement Tuesday. "I believe significant reforms are essential to that objective, and work toward those reforms will commence after the election.

"In the meantime, there are some long-standing operational initiatives - efforts that predate my arrival at the Postal Service - that have been raised as areas of concern as the nation prepares to hold an election in the midst of a devastating pandemic. To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded."

DeJoy said he would expand the agency's leadership task force on election mail to include labor union leaders and industry associations. Mail processing equipment and mailboxes "will remain where they are" and service hours will not change, he said. "We will engage standby resources in all areas of our operations, including transportation, to satisfy any unforeseen demand," he added.

"The Postal Service is ready today to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives this fall," he said. "Even with the challenges of keeping our employees and customers safe and healthy as they operate amid a pandemic, we will deliver the nation's election mail on time and within our well-established service standards. The American public should know that this is our number one priority between now and election day."

Democrats in both chambers began clamoring for hearings after Trump said he wanted to withhold funding from the Postal Service to attempt to hobble its ability to process election mail.

On Tuesday, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows blamed many of the delays on decisions made during the Obama administration. "President Trump at no time has instructed or directed the post office to cut back on overtime, or any other operational decision that would slow things down," he said.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump had their absentee ballots delivered to Palm Beach election officials, just in time to be counted in Florida's primary election on Tuesday, the second time this year he has voted by mail in the state. The couple designated someone to pick up their ballots from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office in West Palm Beach on Aug. 12. The ballots arrived back at the office on Monday, according to Ashley Houlihan, an attorney for the supervisor's office.

Democrats have alleged that DeJoy, a former Republican National Convention finance chairman, pushed through policies that have caused dysfunction in the mail system and could wreak havoc in the presidential election.

Republicans have largely dismissed those allegations, saying DeJoy needed to take decisive action to cut costs at the long-beleaguered agency, which is carrying $106.9 billion in debt.

"Postmaster General DeJoy has nothing to be ashamed of," Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said in a statement. "The Postal Service has been in dire straits long before Mr. DeJoy's leadership and he rightfully took action to improve its efficiency and operations to better serve the American people."

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, will gavel the Friday hearing remotely, and is expected to press DeJoy on whether the Postal Service truly needs the $25 billion in emergency funding that the House has pushed.

The Trump administration has started backing away from its hard line stance against any postal aid, signaling over the weekend it would be willing to approve $10 billion.

Senate Democrats - including the party's presumptive vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris of California, and Sen. Gary Peters, who launched his own investigation of mail delays last week - are poised to grill DeJoy on his connections to the Trump White House.

DeJoy has given more than $2 million to the Trump campaign or Republican causes since 2016, according to the Federal Election Commission, including a $210,600 contribution to the Trump Victory Fund on Feb. 19. He has given more than $650,000 to the Trump Victory Fund and more than $1 million to the Republican National Convention.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in March attempted to leverage an emergency coronavirus loan to the Postal Service that would allow the White House to approve the next postmaster general, along with higher package rates - long a misplaced target of Trump's anger.

The announcement also leaves unanswered DeJoy's plans for the agency's long-term finances. The Postal Service has $15 billion in the bank, plus a $10 billion loan from an early round of coronavirus relief spending as a backstop. That's more cash on hand than it had at the start of the pandemic, when the agency forecast it would run out of money in October.

Since then, volume declines in first- and second-class mail - USPS's most profitable products - have been smaller than anticipated. Package volume, meanwhile, has skyrocketed, up 55 percent in the last week of July from the year-ago period. That has put off financial calamity until at least spring 2021, and could sustain the agency for another year, according to recent projections.

"This is totally a perception issue that the postmaster general is addressing. He and his board of governors," Meadows said. "But any logistical operational concerns in terms of getting mail as quickly as possible to its destination will be addressed through overtime pay. And there's more than enough money in the bank account."

Beyond that, however, its financial picture is murkier: If consumer habits endure past the pandemic and e-commerce continues to surge, the Postal Service will be in desperate need of new machinery to process those items and new trucks to carry them. It also will see fiercer competition from the likes of Amazon, FedEx and UPS, which have used gains during the pandemic to expand their own shipping networks. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

Trump, who was touring the U.S.-Mexico border in Yuma, Ariz., on Tuesday incorrectly suggested that higher package prices on Amazon, which contracts with the Postal Service on "last mile" deliveries from distribution centers to consumers' homes, would solve the agency's financial problems. Instead, postal finance experts say, such a strategy would bankrupt the USPS faster by chasing business away to private-sector rivals.

"Amazon will pay for the cost of the post office," Trump said, incorrectly. "Amazon should pay for it. Then you'll solve problems . . . I don't want to lay people off."

Despite DeJoy's announcement, a group of Democratic attorneys general said they were proceeding with multiple lawsuits against him and the Postal Service, saying it was essential to obtain court orders to permanently halt service changes that have led to fears that November's election could be disrupted.

"A tweet or a statement or a press release is one thing. We need to see binding action to reverse these changes," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at an afternoon news conference.

So far, 21 states have signed onto the suits, including one filed Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Washington state. The states argue that the Postal Service broke the law by making operational changes without first seeking approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. They also argue that the changes will impede states' ability to run free and fair elections. The Constitution gives states and Congress, not the executive branch, the power to regulate elections.

The states are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

"We're trying to stop Trump's attacks on the Postal Service, which we believe to be an attack on the integrity of the election. It's a straight up attack on democracy," Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, a Democrat, said in an interview. "This conduct is illegal, it's unconstitutional, it's harmful to the country, it's harmful to individuals."

Problems at the Postal Service have caused particular anxiety this year as many people planned to vote by mail rather than risk exposure to the coronavirus by waiting in lines and lingering inside polling places.

Democrats fanned out to post offices across the country on Tuesday in a "Postal Day of Action," turning up at post offices in states including Florida, California, and Colorado on Tuesday in defense of the mail system and the electoral process.

"I think this is the scariest and most important election of my lifetime," said Leslie Bouwman, 75, a retired social worker from St. Petersburg, Florida.

Bouwman was among more than 50 people gathered Tuesday in front of St. Petersburg's historic Post Office to protest Trump's handling of the Postal Service. Protesters carried signs such as "U.S. Mail Not For Sale" and "Stamp Out 45."

In Colorado, Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat, toured a post office in Aurora as part of his effort to determine whether mail slowdowns are systemic in his district.

"This is a fundamental part of life, and our community and our seniors really rely on this service," he said. "It's real and it's immediate and if people don't get their medication on time they feel it, if a veteran isn't getting a disability check on time they feel it."

Crow said the issue could be particularly acute in his district, home to 70,000 veterans, Buckley Air Force Base and a large veteran's hospital.

In downtown Denver, alongside a cavernous post office with glass block windows, Rep. Diana DeGette, a Democrat, said that more than 12,000 constituents have emailed, called, and sent handwritten letters to her office with concerns that mail delays could severely impact their ability to receive paychecks or medications. The onslaught amounts to three times more contacts than she's received on any other issue this year, including impeachment.

Illinois Democratic Reps. Sean Casten, Bill Foster and Lauren Underwood said they would back legislation in the House to rein in DeJoy's changes, and wanted answers in his testimony about his relationship with Trump.

"He owes the American people some answers," Underwood said. "Why was he willingly participating in a politically motivated exercise to disenfranchise voters, to limit the reliability of a trusted institution?"

Demonstrators over the weekend held rallies in front of DeJoy's homes in the District of Columbia and Greensboro, N.C., demanding he rescind the new policies. Protesters in Washington banged pots and pans at 8 a.m., Saturday, to "wake up" the postmaster general to problems in his agency, and left letters tacked to the building's front door.

Florida Democrats Rep. Charlie Crist and Rep. Kathy Castor decried the Trump administration's attempt to undermine the Postal Service.

"I believe this is outrageous for the administration to stand in the way of the delivery of the mail to the people of America," Crist said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Joshua Partlow, Seung Min Kim, Tony Romm, Christopher Ingraham, Erin Chan Ding, Lori Rozsa, Jennifer Oldham and Jared Leone contributed to this report.
A delegation of the UK Ministry of Defense headed by Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace has started an official visit to Ukraine, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported.

The main purpose of the visit of foreign partners is to demonstrate military and political support to Ukraine and study the aspects of the implementation of bilateral agreements in the context of the development of Ukrainian-British cooperation in the defense sphere, the report said.

Defense Minister Andriy met the foreign delegation at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

During the official meeting of the delegations, the parties are expected to discuss the priorities of defense cooperation between the two countries and topical issues of mutual interest.

The British delegation and representatives of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry honored the memory of Ukrainian defenders who were killed in combat, courageously performing their military duty during the Anti-Terrorist Operation and the Joint Forces Operation in eastern Ukraine. They also laid flowers at the Bell of Memory monument.

According to the British Embassy in Ukraine, since 2015, British instructors have trained more than 18,000 servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces under the Operation Orbital program.

According to the report, the training process is mutually beneficial, as the British military is studying the experience of their Ukrainian colleagues.

In 2018, Britain expanded the mission's scope of operations and began training Ukrainian Navy and Marine personnel. In 2019, Britain extended the mission for another three years - until March 2023.

op
LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Instead of its long-running annual new teachers lunch, Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is pivoting this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and will host a virtual lunchtime forum to discuss the challenges the upcoming academic year poses for public and private schools.

They also will touch on how this will impact local businesses and their employees.

Chamber officials invite members to pack or purchase a lunch and join the hourlong discussion at noon Thursday (Aug. 20).

Scheduled panelists are Michael Barnes, superintendent of the Lakewood City Schools; KC McKenna, principal of St. Edward High School; and Brian Sinchak, president of Lakewood Catholic Academy. Moderator will be Michael Daso, chairman of the chambers board of directors and a financial consultant with Equitable Advisors.

The program is free, but registration is required. Visit lakewoodchamber.org for a registration link. The event is limited to 100 participants.

Festival time: Dont forget -- this weekend is the St. Mary Romanian Festival.

Because of the health crisis, the church is unable to host its traditional festival, but event organizers have decided to change the format to a drive-thru event where visitors can purchase their favorite homemade Romanian foods.

The drive-thru festival will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 21 and noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 22 on the church grounds, 3256 Warren Road in Clevelands West Park neighborhood.

The limited menu will offer stuffed cabbage, chicken paprikash, the popular mamaliga (polenta baked with cheese), sausage and sauerkraut, grilled mititei (Romanian burgers), elephant ears and special pastries.

Event organizers said all appropriate safety precautions are in place for the preparation and drive-thru serving process. Call 216-941-5550 for more information.

Area students have earned honors scholarships from Cuyahoga Community College.

Tri-C scholars: Four high-achieving students from Sun Post-Herald communities have been selected for Cuyahoga Community College Honors Program Fellowships, which offer them scholarships to cover tuition, fees and books.

Local scholarship recipients are Sarah Eifel and Nina Thrall of Fairview Park and Andrew Griffin and Benjamin Mitchell of Lakewood.

They signed commitment letters with Tri-C during a recent virtual ceremony. Each scholarship -- funded by donors to the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation -- is valued at up to $5,120 per academic year.

Tri-Cs seventh fellowship class features 54 students with at least a 3.5 grade point average and outstanding ACT/SAT scores. By entering the scholarship program, they commit to being full-time students, maintaining a high GPA and earning a degree from Tri-C within two years.

This is the largest fellowship class since Tri-C began the program. The previous high was 46 students in 2018.

These gifted students chose to come here because they understand the power of a Tri-C education, said Karen Miller, the colleges provost and chief academic officer. I look forward to celebrating their success at Spring Commencement in 2022.

The honors fellowship places special emphasis on academic planning, mentoring and portfolio building to reflect student work. Smaller honors class sizes also ensure specialized attention for students.

The program is designed to support eventual transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelors and other advanced degrees. Previous Honors Program Fellows amassed numerous academic honors on their way to earning associate degrees from Tri-C.

For information on the Honors Program Fellowship, including eligibility requirements, contact Rebecca Stolzman at 216-987-4713 or rebecca.stolzman@tri-c.edu.

Season finale: The last program of this years Virtual Front Porch Concert Series will take place at 7 p.m. Friday (Aug. 21) on LakewoodAlives Facebook page. The Light of Day Band will perform.

Sponsored by Bentley Wealth Management of Raymond James, the 2020 Front Porch Concert Series features eight musical performances hosted virtually.

The series finale is presented by Lion and Blue and brings to the stage The Light of Day Band, a talented Cleveland-based funk, jazz and R&B group.

Now in its 10th year, the popular music series is taking on a different format to ensure health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit LakewoodAlive.org/FrontPorchConcerts for more information.

Trash and treasures: Olmsted Historical Society will host two more Trash and Treasure Sales from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 20) and Aug. 27 in the Event Barn on the grounds of the Frostville Museum complex, 24101 Cedar Point Road, North Olmsted, in the Rocky River Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks.

Shoppers are reminded that face masks are required and social distancing is to be observed.

No Taste this year: Another popular summer event is a casualty of the ongoing health crisis.

The Taste of Lakewood, traditionally a June event, was postponed to Sept. 20 this year, with the expectation that health conditions would improve by fall. However, event organizers said it was determined that it would be unsafe to host such a large event this year, so they decided to cancel the 2020 Taste.

In the meantime, please support our local restaurants and merchants as they continue to deal with the impact of this pandemic, they said.

Skills upgrade: Cuyahoga County Public Library is offering sessions to help area residents improve their employment skills virtually during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mastering Virtual Interviews will be offered at 11 a.m. Aug. 26. Register online at attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/4488364 Residents can learn which companies in Northeast Ohio are doing virtual interviews, which platforms they are using and how to prepare themselves for an interview.

Since 1976, CCPL has helped adults at all stages of their working lives acquire the skills employers want, find jobs and transition to new careers through its Cuyahoga Works: Job & Career Services program.

Call 216-475-2225 to schedule a free virtual appointment with one of the librarys professional career counselors.

For more information, visit cuyahogalibrary.org.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted and West Park for the A Place in the Sun column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.

Read more from the Sun Post Herald.
A hydroelectric pumped storage facility housed in a hollowed-out Scottish mountain is to benefit from a 1 million ($1.32 million) upgrade to improve its efficiency.



Drax Group's Cruachan Power Station, also known as the "Hollow Mountain," has a capacity of 440 megawatts and is able to provide power to over 90,000 homes.

Its turbine hall, which is home to four generators, is based one kilometer within Ben Cruachan, a 1,126 meter mountain in the Scottish Highlands. The site was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965, with its final two turbines coming online in 1966 and 1967.



In an announcement Monday, Drax explained that the site's programmable logic controller computer system would be replaced, with a company called ITI carrying out the works over a period of three years.

"The existing control systems have served the power station well, but due to evolving technology have become obsolete and inefficient to support," ITI said in its own announcement, which was also issued on Monday.

ITI explained it would "undertake the design, documentation, implementation, test, installation and commissioning of the upgraded control systems for all four units aimed at providing a robust and resilient solution that will support the station for years to come."



According to Drax, the Cruachan station uses reversible turbines to take water from Loch Awe, a 41 kilometer long freshwater loch, or lake. In order "to store excess power from the grid", the turbines pump this water to an upper reservoir on the side of the mountain.

"The stored water is then released back through the turbines to generate power quickly and reliably when demand increases," the business adds. The site can produce power in under a minute when required.

Its ability to store excess energy was especially useful earlier in the year, Drax said, when coronavirus lockdown measures led to a drop in electricity demand. This drop in demand took place during a period of high wind power generation in Scotland, which created a surplus.

As renewable energy capacity expands, storage systems will become increasingly important. This is because while sources of energy such as the sun and wind are renewable, they do not promise a constant stream of power.

"Cruachan plays a critical role in supporting renewable energy in Scotland and stabilising the electricity grid," Ian Kinnaird, head of hydro at Drax Group, said in a statement.

"As the country continues to decarbonise, the station's flexibility has never been more important" Kinnaird added. "This upgrade will ensure the Hollow Mountain can deliver the fast, flexible power that hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses rely on for many decades to come."
The case of Bless Amedegbe, the man who instigated the public on social media to burn the house of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and also kill Police officers enforcing COVID-19 measures has been adjourned to September 24.



This was after Mr Yaw Dankwah, the defence counsel had prayed an Accra Circuit court for a shorter date to enable him go through documents served on them by the prosecution.



According to Mr Dankwah it would also enable them to either object or accept some of documents of the prosecution.



The court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh granted defense counsel's prayer and adjourned the matter.



Amedegbe has been granted bail in the sum of GH100,000, with two sureties.



The Court ordered that one of the sureties must be a public servant earning not less than GH1,000 cedis a month.



The 24 year-old security man, aka Don Dada Bless, is facing a charge of and assault on a public officer as well as False Communication, contrary to Section 76(1) of the Electronic Communication Act, 2008 (Act 775).



He has, however, denied the offences.



Amedegbe, is said to have taken the action because he believed the global pandemic was a hoax.



At the previous sitting, Detective Sergeant Frederick Sarpong told the Court that the complainant was an operative of the Bureau of National Communication, National Security; whiles Amedegbe resides at Maamobi in Accra.



Sergeant Sarpong said in April this year, after the President announced the restriction of movements order in the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas, Amedegbe took video shots of himself and circulated same via YouTube and WhatsApp Platforms, inciting the public to defy the Presidents Executive Orders on the lockdown.



The Prosecution said the accused described the Presidents social distancing directive as a result of the COVID-19 as a hoax, claiming the President was going to allow telecommunication companies to install 5G network, which would cause deaths.



According to the Prosecution, he consequently, incited the public to rise up against the President and set his house ablaze.



He said Amedegbe, in his self-made video, also incited the public to kill any police officer executing COVID-19 duties.



The prosecution said on May 12, this year, Amedegbe, who was being tracked, was arrested.



He said in his investigation cautioned statement, the accused admitted having made and circulated the misleading video on his WhatsApp and YouTube platforms.

Source: GNA









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At least one person has died after a 6.6-magnitude earthquake shook a central Philippine region on Tuesday, damaging houses and sending residents fleeing from their homes.

The Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology said the quake, which struck at 8.03am local time (12.03am GMT), hit southeast of Masbate province at a depth of 21km.

The seaside town of Cataingan, which sits several kilometres west of the epicentre in the Samar Sea, was left particularly battered.

There are a lot of damaged houses, said staff sergeant Antonio Clemente in Cataingan, home to about 50,000 people. It was really strong, he added.

Roads and bridges in the coastal town were also left cracked. Isagani Libatan, a Cataingan resident, said he was on his way to his aunts house for breakfast when his motorcycle suddenly swayed from left to right as the ground jolted.

I thought it was my tyre but people suddenly streamed out in panic from swaying houses then we lost power, Mr Libatan told the AP by telephone, pausing briefly as he felt another fairly strong aftershock.

Police colonel Joriz Cantoria of the Masbate provincial police said in an initial report that a retired police officer had died after being hit by a collapsed wall in his home.

Mr Cantoria also reported damage to Cataingans port and the public market.

A volunteer looks at the cracks on a road in Cataingan after the quake struck (AP)

Masbate is conducting search and retrieval operations, Mr Cantoria confirmed.

So far at least 14 aftershocks have been recorded by the Philippine seismology office, with the strongest registering at a magnitude of 3.5.

An injured man is treated by a Bureau of Fire Protection officer in Cataingan (AP)

The Philippines lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the worlds earthquakes occur. Its also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year, making it one of the worlds most disaster-prone countries.

A magnitude 7.7 quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines in 1990.

Additional reporting by agencies
There is a good chance that Istanbul will return to the calendar of Formula 1 before 2020. What started as a rumor is taking more and more shape and earlier on Tuesday it was 'announced' that the circuit will return, only an official statement is still missing. If it is indeed a circuit for the 2020 calendar, then Alexander Albon is happy with it.

Istanbul is a solid circuit

He was asked during the online Red Bull press event in Spain what his thoughts are on returning to Istanbul. He said that he was very excited, he also had a compliment about Liberty Media and Formula 1, which is looking for suitable circuits to complete the calendar.

"Its looks really cool. Im excited", Albon starts. "I think Liberty en Formula 1 are doing an amazing job choosing these kind of circuits. I dont know if its coincidence or they just choosing them because their the one that are open to races, but its a proper circuit."

"Obviously Mugello, Imola, Turkey, were going to some of the best circuits in the world. Im all for it. I think that kind of triple, quadruple left handers will be easy flat with these cars. I think it will be fun", said the Red Bull Racing driver, who is clearly looking forward to the already confirmed and possibly additional races.
People enjoy one of Orange County's most popular beaches in Huntington Beach, Calif., on June 14, 2020. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)

More Power Outages Expected as OC Battles Sweltering Heat

Sporadic power outages are expected to strike Orange County throughout the next few days as California continues to battle a record-setting heat wave.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Aug. 17 that the states energy demand in the coming days would likely be substantially greater than over the weekend of Aug. 15 and Aug. 16, when the power drain caused outages throughout California.

In the next few days we are anticipating being challenged as it relates to all of these conditions that precipitated at once in this historic moment, Newsom said during an Aug. 17 press conference.

The governor warned Californians on Aug. 17 to be prepared for more rolling blackouts over the next 72 hourswhich he called very likelyas the state struggles to meet demand for electricity during a historic, record-breaking heat wave.

Californias Independent System Operator (CAISO)which controls roughly 80 percent of the states power grid by overseeing Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and San Diego Gas & Electricmandated a statewide flex alert through Aug. 19.

Residents and businesses were urged to conserve energy from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. by keeping thermostats at 78 degrees, cutting the use of major appliances, turning off lights, unplugging electrical devices, closing blinds to block sunlight, and using fans when possible.

CAISO said Aug. 17 the days flex alert had been effective. Statewide rolling blackouts that could have affected nearly 1 million households were averted thanks to reduced demand due to consumer conservation and cooler than expected weather, CAISO said.

We are grateful to families and businesses across the state that answered the call to reduce electricity use during a crucial time on the grid, said Steve Berberich, president and CEO of CAISO.

This heat storm is not over, and we still expect exceedingly hot temperatures [on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19]. With continued help from California residents in conserving energy, much like today, we can reduce the risk of power outages.

Excessive heat watches remain in effect throughout Orange County, and local municipalities from Laguna Beach to Irvine have encouraged residents to do their part to conserve energy.

Officials in Anaheim told The Epoch Times that the roving outages will have less impact in their Orange County city because they rely on their own utility service, Anaheim Public Utilities.

Anaheim is still a part of the state grid but relies less heavily on it, Lauren Gold, the citys communications specialist, told The Epoch Times in an email. This will allow the region to limit outages, if necessary, to a 15-minute duration.

Weve been encouraging residents to conserve energy during the peak hours if they are able, and also letting them know that outages may be likely to occur and to be prepared if they do happen, Gold said.

We also are directing residents to our website to see if their block number is coming up, so they can know if theyre next for outages if they are mandated.

Anaheim City Councilwoman Denise Barnes told The Epoch Times that the city is currently monitoring the regional gridand it appears there is sufficient capacity to handle demand, with around an 11 percent margin.

But Barnes said the city has a plan in place in case the demand for energy pushes the grids limits.

If a transmission or other regional power issue occurs, we may be required to shut off power to random electrical circuits with very little notice. These controlled, rotating outages are ordered to prevent wide-scale power outages, Barnes said.

Newsom issued a state of emergency on Aug. 14, identifying the current rising temperatures as an Extreme Heat Event and calling for all state agencies to operate consistent with the direction of the Governors Office of Emergency Services.

He signed a proclamation temporarily allowing certain utilities and energy users to use backup energy sources to relieve pressure on the grid during peak times.

Newsom also wrote a letter on Aug. 17 to representatives of CAISO, the California Public Utilities Commission, and the California Energy Commission addressing the unacceptability of the abrupt power outages that occurred on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16.

The letter called on the companies to review the assumptions and procedures that led to the stages first rolling blackouts since 2001.

These blackouts which occurred without prior warning or enough time for preparation, are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nations largest and most innovative state, Newsom said in the letter.

Residents of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties were among the 132,000 customers who experienced the first rotating power outage on Aug. 14. The outage lasted approximately an hour, according to Southern California Edison.

The second rotating outage lasted for 15 minutes later on Aug. 14, affecting around 70,000 customers.

CAISO first declared a Stage 3 Electrical Emergency on Aug. 14, initiating rotating power outages throughout the state due to high heat and increased demand. On Aug. 15, CAISO reported the additional loss of a 470-megawatt power plant and 1,000 megawatts of wind power, exacerbating the problem.

This is not the last record-breaking historic heat dome and experience that we will have in the state, in the region, in the nation, or in our hemisphere, in our lifetime. This is exactly what so many scientists have predicted, Newsom said.

I am ultimately accountable, and will take responsibility to immediately address this issue and move forward to make sure that it simply never happens again here in the state of California.

City News Service contributed to this report.
China President Xi Jinping

A former professor at China's elite Central Party School has accused the country's President, Xi Jinping, of "killing a country", and has claimed that many people would want to "withdraw" or "quit" the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

According to a report by The Guardian, Cai Xia, who taught at the higher education institution for top Chinese officials, said under Xi, the CCP is "not a force for progress for China" but is in fact an "obstacle in China's progress".

"I believe I am not the only one who wants to leave this party. More people would like to withdraw or quit this party," Xia told the newspaper in an interview.

"I had intended to quit the party years ago when there was no more room to speak and my voice was completely blocked," Xia added.

Xia was on August 17 expelled from the party after an audio recording in which she is purportedly heard criticising Xi was leaked online in June.

According to The Guardian, she is no longer in China.

The school said in a notice that Xia had "damaged the countrys reputation" by her comments and they were full of "serious political problems".

Xia told the newspaper that there is widespread opposition against Xi within the party but few dare to speak out. The Chinese premier's "unchecked power", she said, has led to inevitable mistakes, including the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xia also asked, during the interview, why Xi waited until January 20 to announce the outbreak of coronavirus in China when, according to a party magazine, he had met the Politburo on January 7 to discuss response to the virus.

"If he knew on January 7, why did it take until January 20 to announce the outbreak? In other words, the fact that people were concealing the news from him is the result of the system. But when he knew the situation on January 7, he did not make it public or mobilise resources. So shouldnt he bear responsibility?" Xia said, adding that Xi has "made the world an enemy".

"At home, all these big issues are left to him to decide. In other words, whether it is a domestic or international issue, it is very difficult for others to restrict him. It is inevitable that his judgement and decisions will be mistaken," Xia said.

"Those within the party have experienced the last 20, 30 years and they understand which direction is right and which is a dead end," Xia said while speaking about the discontent within the party, particularly within her generation of party officials.

"We are among a group of cadres who started in our posts after reform and opening. So that is why I say everyone is very clear about what is happening," Xia added.
The University of Notre Dame announced Tuesday that it is canceling in-person classes for at least two weeks following a spike in coronavirus cases.

Why it matters: Notre Dame is the second prominent university to announce this week that it would revert back to remote learning, following the the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Tuesday. The reversals underscore the challenges facing colleges and universities as more students are set return to campus.

Between the lines: As was the case with UNC, most of the COVID-19 infections at Notre Dame have been linked to off-campus parties.

The nearly 12,000 students that returned to Notre Dame were all tested before arriving on campus on Aug. 10, and just 33 tested positive, according to the Journal.

Through Monday, 147 of the 927 students who had shown symptoms tested positive for the virus  a sharp uptick in the positivity rate.

What they're saying: Our contact-tracing analysis indicates that most infections are coming from off-campus gatherings, said University of Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins. Students infected at those gathering passed it on to others, who in turn have passed the virus on to others, resulting in the positive cases we have seen.

For your sake and the sake of our community and for continuing our semester on campus, please observe health protocols and avoid behavior that puts yourself or others at risk, Jenkins added.

Go deeper: College reopening plans already challenged by the coronavirus
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-17 23:47:45|Editor: huaxia

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Representatives attend the 19th meeting of Myanmar's Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Aug. 17, 2020. A total of nine points were agreed at the 19th meeting of Myanmar's Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) held in capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday, a senior official told the press conference. (Xinhua/Zhang Dongqiang)

NAY PYI TAW, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- A total of nine points were agreed at the 19th meeting of Myanmar's Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) held in capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday, a senior official told the press conference.

"The meeting made nine points of agreement related to the Union Peace Conference including the substitution of UPDJC's members, the division of responsibilities for them, the rules and regulations to be followed at the conference," said U Zaw Htay, spokesperson of President's Office.

The submission of the Union Accord Part III, the reports of Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) and Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM) to the Union Peace Conference were also involved in the agreement, he added.

At the meeting, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as chair of National Reconciliation and Peace Center, said that the Union Accord Part III that will be signed at the fourth meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference is an initial step for the long-awaited federal union, national development, national reconciliation and peace as well as democratic transition.

The officials from the government, military and parliament, the representatives from the ethnic armed groups and political parties were present at the meeting.

The 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference was held in August 2016, May 2017 and July 2018, respectively.

So far, 10 ethnic armed groups have signed the NCA with the government since it was initiated in October 2015. Enditem
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Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP

About 1,100 protesters who were wrongfully detained at the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto will receive compensation from the citys police force after a historic C$16.5m (US$12.5m) settlement in a class-action lawsuit.

Under the settlement, which was announced late on Monday, each claimant will receive between $5,000 and $24,700, depending on the nature of their detention. They will also have their G20 protest-related records expunged.

Related: More than 1,000 people detained during G20 summit in Toronto can sue police

Thousands of protesters travelled to downtown Toronto to protest against the convening of the G20 summit. The causes were numerous  anti-globalization, anti-poverty, pro-environment, pro-gay rights  and the protests leading up to the 2627 June summit were peaceful.

During the summit, however, police cars were set on fire and a small band of masked protesters incited vandalism and violence.

The police responded by encircling more than a thousand people  including peaceful protesters, onlookers and journalists  at various locations then carried out mass arrests. At one point, hundreds were kettled in a torrential downpour and left to shiver in the cold.

Video footage at the time also showed officers using excessive force, teargas, pepper spray and rubber bullets against protesters.

At the makeshift detention centre, detainees were strip-searched. In 2014, Vice reported that the police trained surveillance cameras on the strip search rooms.

Ontario court judges later found that the polices actions contravened the protesters civil rights, specifically their Charter rights to expression and peaceful assembly.

Supt David (Mark) Fenton  one of only a handful of officers, and the only senior officer, held responsible for the polices actions at the G20 protest  said he chose to conduct mass and indiscriminate arrests in an attempt to take back the city. His punishment resulted in the loss of 60 paid vacation days.

Story continues

The settlement comes after 10 years of intense court proceedings and difficult negotiations according to the class-action groups website.

As part of the settlement, Toronto Police Services are required to make a public statement regarding its role in the G20 affair. That statement will only be released when the court approves the settlement in October.

Toronto police were also required to make a public commitment about how it will better handle protests in the future.

Those details, found in the settlement document, include changes to containment and detention procedures.

Sherry Good, a representative of the complainants, said she was still troubled by her memories of what happened.

The terrifying way in which I and 400 others were suddenly and arbitrarily surrounded and held by riot police on a street corner for four hours in a freezing downpour changed forever the way I look at police, and continues to give me chills.

I believe that this settlement agreement does bring about some justice, and I hope, and I think, that our freedom of expression rights will now be better respected for a long time to come, she said in a statement.
"There is no such thing as an accident," Napoleon Bonaparte once said. "Only a failure to recognize the hand of fate." Leaving aside the emperor's own ignominious fate (squalid exile on a remote island in the South Atlantic), any growth-focused, get-'er-done entrepreneur on the Inc. 5000 would surely have a bone to pick with Bonaparte: There are accidents, and what determines your future comes down to how quickly and creatively you respond to them. Here, four cases of inspired innovators who turned a mishap into millions.

Post-its: The Heaven-Sent Office Supply

The story behind the Post-it is actually a tale of three compounded accidents. In 1968, Spencer Silver, a chemist at 3M, wanted to create an incredibly strong adhesive but--and there's no gentle way to put this--he bombed miserably. The adhesive he eventually concocted could hardly have been more feeble.

Ever the optimist--or opportunist--Silver saw an upside: It was pressure sensitive and restickable. Stick it you-know-where, said the 3M brass. Where it stayed for six years. Until Arthur Fry, a fellow 3M scientist who couldn't seem to keep his bookmark in his church-choir hymnal, had a moment of divine inspiration: Silver's restickable adhesive, he thought, might hold his spot without damaging the book's pages. As Silver and Fry developed what they envisioned as a breakthrough bookmark, they started using the sticky notes around the office in what Fry later described as "a whole new way to communicate," which they shrewdly realized had even more potential than their original idea. Oh, and the signature Post-it yellow? It was selected by neither great gut instinct nor almighty focus group; it was the only color paper the lab next door could spare.

Microwave Oven: Total Meltdown

Percy Spencer was conducting an experiment when the candy bar in his pants pocket suddenly--and weirdly--melted. The Raytheon engineer had been trying to improve radar, and posited that microwaves had caused the candy to warm, soften, and create the embarrassing situation in his trousers.

Now what? Spencer could have turned his inventor's mind to creating a heat-resistant candy bar wrapper or a fast-acting stain remover, but instead he focused his attention on snacks. He tested popcorn. He tested eggs. (While observing the fast-cooking effects of Spencer's microwaves, a skeptical co-worker literally got egg on his face.) In 1947, Raytheon unveiled the first microwave oven--the Radarange. It flopped spectacularly. Big as a fridge and more expensive than the average car, the microwave oven languished until 1967, when a countertop version debuted. After that, the market heated up: Today, some 90 percent of American households own a microwave.

Super Glue: Another Sticky Situation

It was 1942, and every American chemist worth his or her NaCl was helping the war effort. Harry Coover's team at Eastman Kodak was no exception. Their goal: a compound to be used in clear-plastic rifle sights. Unfortunately, the concoction Coover created had one problem: It stuck fast to everything it touched. The adhesive was unceremoniously sidelined. But nine years later, Coover and a colleague, Fred Joyner, revisited the sticky formula while working on another military project and found it useful as a quick-drying, insanely strong glue. It was not-so- cleverly called Eastman #910, then not-so-cleverly rebranded as Eastman 910, and then licensed by a company that not-so-cleverly re-rebranded it Loctite 404 Quick Set. Eventually, Super Glue emerged, as did a competing cousin, Krazy Glue.

Coover's super sticky glue would eventually find a military use, too: In Vietnam, combat medics used his adhesive as a stitchless suture. In 2010, with more than 450 patents under his belt, Coover received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Obama.

Saccharin: The Upside of Dirty Hands

If you were in the hunt to create an artificial sweetener, chances are you wouldn't start with a dark, viscous coal-tar derivative used for treating psoriasis and preserving railway ties. And indeed, when post-doc chemistry student Constantin Fahlberg was mucking about with coal tar in a Johns Hopkins University lab one night in 1878, sweetening was far from his mind.
Alsobrooks said Harris gave her advice, passed down from her mother, that has stuck with her over the years: Its not as important to be the first at something as it is to perform the job with such excellence that you shall not be the last.
"Rega io non me la sento di salire in paese", "Alla fine effettivamente e grave", "Evitiamo, stiamocene per i fatti nostri. Con le mascherine", "Almeno hanno chiuso le discoteche", "Non capisco perche le avevano riaperte".

Sono stralci di conversazioni, riportati dal Corriere, tra i ragazzi della Roma bene, i giovani del quadrante Nord della Capitale, preoccupati per il focolaio di coronavirus scoppiato dopo una festa in un locale di Porto Rotondo il 9 agosto.

Erano piu di 500 le persone, in gran parte romani, quasi tutti senza mascherine. L'indagine epidemiologica dell'unita di crisi della Regione Sardegna e in corso, pare che il virus sia arrivato da fuori, da Ibiza o dalla Croazia, dove diversi ragazzi erano stati prima di fare tappa nell'Isola.

"Chi c'era faccia il test", si scrivono i ragazzi, indicando nelle chat i nomi di amici tornati positivi dalle vacanze. Con la chiusura delle discotece e la risalita dei contagi iniziano a preoccuparsi anche loro. Ed e scattata la corsa ad effettuare i tamponi.

Il primo ad ammettere la positivita e Lorenzo Palazzi, il dj romano tra i protagonisti della serata. "Ero in perfetta salute e condizione fisica, privo di febbre o sintomi legati al Covid in entrambe le serate in cui ho suonato l'ultima settimana. Il 14 agosto mi e stato comunicato che persone con le quali ho avuto contatti in diversi locali e situazioni (Porto Cervo e Porto Rotondo risultavano positivo. Il 15 sono andato a fare il tampone, positivo. Ora sono in quarantena, asintomatico".

Poi lo sfogo: "E' ingiusto indicare me o il nostro staff come portatori del virus in altre zone, i focolai sono dilagati in tutta Italia, basta attendere qualche giorno". La lista potrebbe allungarsi, visto che il giovane dj aveva pubblicizzato altri eventi, uno in Toscana altri a Roma.

 Riproduzione riservata

(Unioneonline/L)
Sudan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Haidar Badawi Sadiq today told Sky News in Arabic that Khartoum is conducting talks with Jerusalem, stating that Sudan aspires toward a peace agreement with Israel  a relationship of equals built upon Khartoums interests. Sadiq noted that both countries "will gain from a peace agreement," adding, "We look at an agreement of this kind through the interests of Sudan without sacrificing our values and principles." Sadiq also hailed the Israel-United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreement as courageous.

The Aug. 13 announcement on Israel and UAE normalizing relations generated a swirl of rumors, with the Israeli press busy guessing which Arab/Muslim country would be next in line for renewal or establishment of ties. Sudanese and Israeli officials hinted that both countries are viewing a similar rapprochement. On Aug. 16, Israel's Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen said Bahrain and Oman could soon follow the UAE in recognizing the State of Israel, adding, "In my assessment, there is a chance that already in the coming year there will be a peace deal with additional countries in Africa, chief among them Sudan." The statement today by Khartoum pushes Sudan to the top of the rapprochement list.

Senior Israeli officials were quick to react to Sadiqs statement. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi tweeted, "The announcement by the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights the fundamental change that is taking place in the Middle East in general, and in Sudan in particular, 53 years after the Khartoum Conference in which Sudan called for no recognition of the State of Israel." In a second tweet, Ashkenazi emphasized that "Israels diplomatic activity led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continues to create further important opportunities such as the connections between Israel and Sudan."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also responded quickly, saying, Israel, Sudan and the entire region will benefit from the peace agreement, and together they can build a better future for all the peoples of the region. We will do everything necessary to make this vision a reality.

Sudan served in the past as a route for Iran to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip. In 2012, Sudan blamed Israel for a blast in a Khartoum military factory. But those were the days of toppled President Omar al-Bashir, and Sudan is a different country now on many levels.

Last February, while visiting Uganda, Netanyahu met secretly with the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdel Fatah al-Burhan. The meeting was reported only after it took place. Still, the fact that Netanyahu met with an army man and not with the civil prime minister raised some eyebrows in the international community over Khartoums motivation for rapprochement with Israel. Assessments back then said Khartoum is mainly interested in Israeli military and intelligence capabilities.

Sudan is still listed by the United States as a country that sponsors terrorism. As such, it is subjected to different sanctions. Haim Koren of the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center, who served as ambassador to Egypt and as Israels first ambassador to South Sudan, told Al-Monitor Khartoum has been working on ties with Israel for quite a while. "The Sudanese are interested in getting out of the list of countries supporting terrorism. They have been discussing this for a long time both with us, Israel and with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo," says Koren. An expert on the region, Koren says Khartoum is interested in development programs in smart agriculture and water management, among other projects of the kind that Israel excels in and is operating in other African countries. "More so, they are interested in gaining legitimacy vis-a-vis the West. They want to join the camp of the good guys,'" says Koren.

Yet for the moment it seems that Sudan prefers to remain prudent. Just a few hours after the publication of the interview with Sadiq, and following large public exposure, Sudans acting Foreign Minister Omar Qamar al-Din Ismail denied that Khartoum was negotiating an agreement with Israel, and stated that the Sudanese government was surprised by the claim by his spokesman. Nevertheless, Sudanese sources told the press that mediated deliberations between Jerusalem and Khartoum have been going on for months now. An Israeli diplomatic expert confirmed that to Al-Monitor.

Editors' note: Aug. 18, 2020. This article has been updated since its initial publication.
Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre is disputing a recent report that the district is ignoring medical advice with regard to starting the school year.

In a statement critical of the Sugar Land Suns recent coverage of a staffing shortage announced last week after a group of Fort Bend ISD teachers and employees declined to report for campus duty out of fear of exposure to COVID-19, Dupre responded to claims trustees and administrators ignored warnings from medical experts of potential widespread outbreaks and told trustees it was not safe for students and teachers to return to in-person learning due to Fort Bend Countys high rate of infection, which was described as uncontrolled.

Related: COVID-19 testing sites expand in Fort Bend County

I am disappointed to see that once again the Houston Chronicle has misrepresented our actions regarding the start of school. The reopening of school is a complex process that requires careful review of data, information, expert opinion, and every detail is vital in the decision-making process. For the media to misrepresent the nuance of what was said by one expert and to claim that it was completely disregarded is irresponsible, Dupre wrote in a statement posted to the district website Wednesday, Aug. 12. To clarify, Fort Bend ISD is starting school virtually on Monday for the vast majority of our students. We do have a very small number of students in our special education program who, with permission from their parents, will have their personalized special services delivered to them in a face-to-face environment, with strict CDC-recommended safety protocols in place.

In addition, we have a limited number of students who will receive their virtual instruction in one of our Learning Centers, again with permission from their parents and with safety protocols in place.

Related: Oakbend Medical Center in Richmond expands services, surgical procedures

During the July 20 school board meeting, members of the districts medical advisory committee answered questions from trustees as plans were being finalized for the start of the new school year.

When Trustee Kristin Tassin asked if it was safe for special education students and teachers to return to the classroom, Fort Bend County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Jacqueline Minter said it wasnt recommended as the countys COVID-19 infection rate had advanced to high level and urged caution as many special needs students are also often medically fragile, she said.

When asked if the districts proposed safety protocols were adequate, Dr. Sapna Singh, a pediatrician representing the Fort Bend Medical Society, shared her concerns.

At this time with this amount of uncontrolled community spread, theres no amount of hand sanitizer, masking up, isolating, social distancing, temperature checks, screening at the front door that can prevent a teacher who is asymptomatic, who does not know theyve been exposed, from coming into a classroom and potentially developing symptoms two or three days from now, she said and questioned the protocols for contact tracing and if a testing program would be implemented at each school with immediate results allowing school officials to identify which classrooms would need to be sent home to self-quarantine.

When contacted to ask if the district had implemented campus testing and other details related to safety protocols, Fort Bend ISD Director of External Communications and Media Relations Amanda Bubela shared details of the districts guidelines.

We have protocols in place regarding exposure and contact tracing. Any staff members or students who exhibit symptoms, or may have been exposed to a positive case of COVID 19 Fort Bend ISD should not report to work or campus. In the event of a positive case or a possibility of exposure, a district and campus COVID response team will be notified to assist in contact tracing to notify anyone who may have been in close contact and requires self-isolation or quarantine, in accordance with the CDC guidelines. Human Resources and this COVID Response team will also provide direct guidance on when it is safe for the individual to return to work or school, Bubela said via email. These protocols are aligned with the CDCs guidelines that define close contact  so based on the students and/or staff members interactions with individuals, the team would work identify other individuals, groups or classrooms that would need to isolate or self-quarantine.

In the statement posted online, Dupre voiced his appreciation for district employees.

I could not be more proud of what our thousands of teachers and staff have done to prepare for the new school year. But it is important to recognize that we are also dealing with unprecedented challenges, Dupre said. It is unfortunate and harmful when the media does not tell the whole story. Safety is our top priority and we will continue to do everything we can and we will use every bit of information to make decisions that protect our students, staff and community.

Students logged on for the first day of virtual school Monday, Aug. 17. A group of approximately 440 special education students are scheduled to return to the classroom on Monday, Aug. 24. A group of 1,100 students are scheduled to begin online learning at Elementary Learning Centers on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and Secondary Learning Centers on Monday, Aug. 24.

knix@hcnonline.com
The media has an important role to play in reminding young people of their sense of belonging and the many achievements of their country

Young people across Egypt have gone through political, social and economic turmoil over the past ten years and since the 25 January Revolution. Many may have decided to work in Asian or European countries or to look for opportunities in the Gulf. However, the majority have decided to stay and to help rebuild their country hand-in-hand with the government.

However, there has been some debate about what sort of sacrifices the younger generation may be willing to make for their country and their sense of belonging. But what is meant by a sense of belonging? Should we define it as having to do with belonging to a certain culture, geographical space, or work, family and surroundings?

The media can play an important role in clarifying such questions, and films in particular can have important effects on young people. Last year, the film Al-Mamar (The Passage), an Egyptian blockbuster that swept the Arab world and was based on the true story of Egyptian commandos during the War of Attrition (1967-1970), had a profound effect on many young people.

It was the first time I had seen a film that represented this period of time that my generation did not live through, said Rowan Mohamed Ali, 21, a student at the College of Language and Communication in Alexandria.

For Alis generation, there has never been a wartime film produced by Egyptian cinema that has kept young people glued to their seats in the way this film did. She remembers watching Al-Tareek ila Eilat (The Road to Eilat, 1993) as a child, but she was not as fascinated, she said. Al-Mamar, on the other hand, a film made with a budget of LE100 million, represents breathtaking war scenes entangled with human stories and an action-packed narrative.

The film touched us and moved us. The gorgeous visuals, the powerful acting and the overriding plot made the whole experience awe-inspiring, Ali said. Many of us watched the film in the cinema several times without ever feeling bored.

For this reason, Ali decided to focus on Egyptian military achievements for her graduation project. When Covid-19 made this difficult, she and friends delved into what gives people their sense of belonging.

We divided the sense of belonging into place, job, culture and traditions, Ali said.

Then we launched a social media campaign that reached almost 10,000 followers in less than three months. We engaged many young people in their definition of a sense of belonging as we heard their opinions and stories, too, she added.

Alis graduation project Thalathat Ahrof Sakena (Three Arabic Letters) refers to Msr, or Egypt, and addresses young peoples sense of identity. It investigates young peoples social problems in order to address what some have seen as a sense of disconnectedness, or an underlying deterioration in the joint discussion of societal issues.

What makes many young people want to emigrate is one question that may come to minds when inquiring about youths sense of belonging. According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), the number of Egyptians abroad has now reached almost 10 million, and Egypt is one of the worlds largest sources of emigrants, with six to eight per cent of the population living abroad. Ironically, it is also one of the largest receivers of immigrants, with some five million living on its territory.

It is paradoxical to see people coming into the country for better opportunities and others fleeing abroad looking for better opportunities, said Maram Fawzi, a young researcher who lived almost ten years of her childhood in Saudi Arabia. I decided to return to my country and go to university here, and I will live my life in Egypt, Fawzi said.

I always had a strong sense of belonging in Alexandria and Egypt as a young child. I always waited for the holidays to come so I could go back to my country, she added.

Fawzi said that social media influencers could have a great impact on youth, and they might imitate them and regard them as role models. Such influencers may have millions of followers, making them a double-edged sword as their content is not controlled on social media.

Karima Mohamed, a writer, joined Fawzi and Ali in their powerful sense of belonging. She said that social media campaigns could also help to remind young people of their culture, their language, their civilisation, their history and their love for their country.

When we watched the television series Al-Ikhteyar (The Choice) in Ramadan, we were overwhelmed, Mohamed said. We lived the stories, characters, plot and setting. It was an amazing work of art.

The series is based on the true story of thunderbolt forces commander Ahmed Saber Al-Mansi martyred at the Burth Square checkpoint in Rafah in 2017. It explores the heroic operations executed by the Egyptian army since 2014 in the region, uncovering many operations and giving an insightful look into events in Sinai and the war on terrorism. It represents many great victories that we should all be proud of.

More and more people are trying to join the military as a result, Mohamed added.

Everyone wants to fight terrorism, now that the series has revealed the naked truth of the terrorists bloodthirstiness and treachery, she added.

Youssef Raafat was one of the rising stars of Al-Ikhteyar and played the role of martyr Mahmoud Sabri, one of the soldiers that died with Mansi. A lot of teenagers in Egypt did not have much sense of the armys engagement in fighting terrorism before the series came out. Now, more and more young people are joining the army to express their patriotism and serve their country, Raafat told Al-Ahram Weekly.

Raafat has also had roles in Casablanca (2019) and Kalabsh (2017) and said that such productions had challenged stereotypes untouched for years. Made to high standards of cinematography and screenwriting, they could engage young people very effectively, he added.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Tuesday nights episode of Counting On begins with some heartbreaking news from Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo. But it ends with the couple enjoying a special moment with their closest loved ones after a devastating loss. In the August 18 installment of the TLC reality series, Jinger opens up about her miscarriage while Jeremy plans a huge surprise for his wifes birthday.

Jinger Duggar opens up about miscarriage

RELATED: Jinger Duggar Said 1 of Her Younger Sisters Helped Her the Most Through Her Miscarriage

On the August 11 episode of Counting On, Jinger and Jeremy excitedly announced to her family that they were expecting a second child. Unfortunately, the couples happiness was short-lived. That night, Jinger began experiencing some spotting. The next day, she called her mom Michelle Duggar for some advice. Then, she and Jeremy went to the doctor, where they got the bad news that Jinger was having a miscarriage.

We went in and they tried to check for a heartbeat, but they couldnt find one, a tearful Jinger says in the episode. They did an ultrasound and said that we had lost the baby.

Jeremy Vuolo plans a surprise party for Jinger

Jeremy Vuolo and Jinger Duggar | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Discovery Channel

RELATED: Critics Slam Counting On Star Jinger Duggar for Giving Advice on Being Single

Dealing with the loss of the pregnancy was very difficult, Jeremy said, especially for Jinger. With her 26th birthday coming up shortly after the miscarriage, he decided to plan an extra-special celebration for his wife.

Shes been through a lot in the last few years. Weve moved different places, weve had a little child  and then the miscarriage happened, he said. I just wanted to celebrate Jinger with some of her closest friends and family.

To make Jingers birthday unforgettable, Jeremy planned a surprise party for her. The guests included not only their friends in California, but also some out-of-town guests.

Jinger gets supports from her mom Michelle Duggar

With the help of some friends, Jeremy pulled together the party without Jinger suspecting a thing. He even recruited some unexpected guests. Jingers parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar flew in from Arkansas for the occasion, along with her sisters Jessa and Jana Duggar and brother-in-law Ben Seewald.

In the upcoming episode, Jeremy takes a blindfolded Jinger up to the door a friends house. She has no idea whats inside. After seeing two of her siblings, Jinger is overwhelmed. Her joy is even greater when her mom and dad make an appearance.

Not only is her family on hand to celebrate Jingers birthday, but theyre also able to provide some support as shes going through a tough time. The gesture clearly means a lot to Jinger, especially since her mom had a similar experience of miscarrying her second pregnancy.

It was so helpful having my mom there talking with me about the miscarriage given that shes been through the same thing a couple of times, Jinger said. Those words really bring a lot of comfort and even some closure.

Counting On airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on TLC.

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Everytown for Gun Safety, the group co-founded by former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, is launching a $5 million TV ad buy in Iowa and North Carolina this week, marking the first major round of spending from the organization in Senate races this year.

The group, which promotes stricter gun laws, announced earlier this year it would spend at least $60 million on elections in 2020, with a focus on flipping Republican-held Senate seats. Iowa and North Carolina represent two of the most critical states in the country for determining which party controls the Senate next year, and both have seen massive investments in TV ads from outside groups in both parties.

The ads start running Tuesday and are negative spots criticizing GOP Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. They aren't specifically about gun control measures, but rather accuse both senators of being beholden to "special interests" including the "gun lobby" and the insurance industry. Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund is spending nearly $3.2 million on TV and digital platforms in North Carolina, and nearly $2.2 million in Iowa.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., attends a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on police use of force and community relations on on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, June 16, 2020 in Washington. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Pool via AP)

"Last year, we saw historic movement on gun safety from the U.S. House, but without gun safety champions in the Senate and changing the composition of that chamber, the House legislation will just continue to collect dust on [Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell's desk," Charlie Kelly, Everytown's senior political adviser, said in an interview.

Everytown endorsed 11 Democrats in Senate races earlier this year, including Cal Cunningham in North Carolina and Theresa Greenfield in Iowa, along with challengers in other critical battlegrounds.

The group's ads in Iowa and in North Carolina have similar themes. In the North Carolina spot, a narrator says lobbyists "got what they wanted" from Tillis. In Iowa, the ad riffs on Ernst's famous ad from her 2014 campaign in which she said she would go to Washington to "make 'em squeal."

"She said she'd go to Washington and make them squeal. Joni Ernst broke that promise to Iowa and made the special interests her top priority," a narrator says in the ad.

Brendan Conley, a spokesman for Ernst, in a statement called Bloomberg an "anti-farmer billionaire" and said that the ad campaign showed Greenfield "is already in his liberal special interest pocket."
Author William Kamkwamba to discuss K-State common book in Sept. 30 virtual lecture



Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020

MANHATTAN  William Kamkwamba  the author of Kansas State University's 2020 common book, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind"  will give a virtual lecture for students, faculty, staff and community members.



The event will occur at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, through livestream. Visit the K-State First Book website for the livestream link and connection information. The event is free and open to the public.



Kamkwamba's best-selling memoir tells the true story of human inventiveness, following dreams and improving community.



"This is the right book for 2020  the story of a young man facing a life-threatening social calamity and finding an ingenious way to use his gifts and strengths to make things better for his community," said Greg Eiselein, professor of English and director of K-State First. "The lineup of K-State First Book programming this year, with William Kamkwamba's talk as our signature event, is truly impressive. I hope all K-Staters get a chance to attend one or more of the exciting programs that have been planned."



During the lecture, Kamkwamba will extend the story behind "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" to share what has happened in the years since the book's publication and discuss low-cost, high-impact projects currently in development for communities around the world.



"We hope that students will read the book and be inspired to find the solutions to problems they see in their community," said Tara Coleman, coordinator of the K-State First Book committee and associate professor at K-State Libraries. "In the book, while older people looked around and felt hopeless, the protagonist William thought outside of the box and took items that other people were discarding or ignoring and turned it into energy. We want to see K-State students do the same."



Kamkwamba's talk is co-sponsored by K-State First Book, K-State Libraries and the English department's student honorary society, Sigma Tau Delta, among others.



"We're looking forward to centering voices of color whenever possible this fall, starting with William Kamkwamba's own story and his online public presentation on Sept. 30," said Karin Westman, chair of the K-State First Book PR/events committee and department head of English. "We are grateful to our programming partners for contributing a great slate of events, so we can explore connections between 'The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind' and our experiences at K-State, in Kansas and around the world."



Programming partners for the 2020 common book include the College of Agriculture, the Beach Museum of Art, the Global Food Systems Initiative, the Staley School of Leadership Studies and USD 383.



In addition to Kamkwamba's lecture, many other virtual programs during the fall semester will celebrate the 2020 common book. View a full list of virtual events and find livestream information at k-state.edu/ksfb.



Other events include:



 Beach Museum of Art's common work of art, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3. Livestream link will be available on the K-State First Book website.



 "Resilience and Perseverance: How Engagement Transforms Lives" panel discussion, noon Thursday, Oct. 1. Livestream link will be available on the K-State First Book website.



 "Perspectives of the Global Food System: From Kansas to Sub-Saharan Africa" panel discussion, noon Thursday, Oct. 22. Livestream link will be available on the K-State First Book website.



 "Diversity in Kansas Farming" panel discussion, Date and time to be announced. Livestream link will be available on the K-State First Book website.




Eileen Markenstein, the president of the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery and a fixture of Jersey Citys cultural scene, died Monday. She was 62.

Her husband, Aart Markenstein, said she died of a heart attack.

Markenstein, who was born and raised in Jersey City, had a successful career in finance, ultimately rising to become a vice president at Morgan Stanley. But after her retirement in 2006, she became known as the woman behind the revival of the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery, transforming the run-down land along Newark Avenue into an unlikely cultural hub.

On Tuesday, tributes to Markenstein poured in over social media, a testament to her impact in her native Jersey City. In a statement, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop hailed Markenstein as a fixture of the city.

What a loss, he said. We need to pay Eileen the same respect she did for thousands of people by remembering them and recognizing them as valued members of the community.

In a series of Facebook posts, Jersey City council members paid their respects to Markenstein. Ward C Councilman Richard Boggiano called her one of the finest persons who cared so much about Jersey City, and Ward E Councilman James Solomon wrote that the cemetery is a space that honors our past and nurtures our present due to her tireless efforts. Heights councilman Yousef Saleh thanked Markenstein for your tireless service to the Jersey City community.

Markenstein, whose maiden name was Carr, attended the now-closed St. Aloysius High School. While she was a student there, she met her future husband when her older brother invited him over for a jam session in her parents basement.

She walked in and (said), Whos this guy playing my piano? Aart remembered.

The two were married in 1981. Later, the couple formed a band, World Without End, which recorded an album called City of Dead.

The albums modest success allowed the couple to tour Germany and the Netherlands in 1996. But by that time, Markensteins career in finance was taking off. She worked at Republic National Bank of New York and Quick & Reilly before being hired by Morgan Stanley in 1998, where she rose to the position of vice president and fiduciary audit director.

Her whole thing was not letting anybody misappropriate funds from a trust fund or anything, Aart Markenstein said. Thats basically what this is all about  protecting peoples money and investments.

By 2000, Markenstein had an office in the south tower of the World Trade Center. The pressures and travel demands of the position forced the couple to eventually stop playing music seriously, but her lifelong love of music may have saved her life: on September 11, 2001, she and her husband were in Bermuda for the Bermuda Jazz Festival.

Health issues forced her to take an early retirement from Morgan Stanley in 2006 but she later dove into a new project: revitalizing the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery, where her parents and grandparents are buried.

Before she took over the cemetery, the 6-acre patch of land was neglected and overgrown. Financial records were in disarray and roughly a $100,000 had gone missing.

It was horrible, Michele Egar, a trustee on the cemeterys board, said of the dilapidated property. You couldnt see a hundred feet in front of you.

Markenstein got the finances in order and organized volunteer cleanups of the land. To raise funds, the board organized events: concerts, memorials, tours, even screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

She founded Jersey Citys first 4-H club and brought in goats to clear the brush and weeds from the cemetery grounds, which inspired the cemeterys annual Goatstock music festival. 2020s Goatstock took place (with social distance) on Friday.

Under Markensteins leadership, Egar said, the cemetery has become more than just a burial ground: its a cultural space  one whose events draw people from across the city.

She made them turn around and look, Egar said. She impacted everybody.

By 2010, Dancing Tony Susco began hosting shows at the cemetery, including Ghost of Uncle Joes  a Halloween celebration in which costumed musicians would impersonate their musical heroes every fall.

Eileen Markenstein was the face of the cemetery, its patron saint, its unyielding champion, and its biggest cheerleader, said Jim Testa, a Jersey Journal columnist and editor of JerseyBeat.com.

She leaves a vacuum that may be impossible to fill, and Jersey City a sadder, emptier place.

Markenstein will be buried Saturday in the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery.
U.S. President Trump speaks at Mankato Regional Airport during campaign travel to Mankato, Minnesota

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Monday he has rejected a Pentagon proposal to cut military healthcare by $2.2 billion.

Politico reported https://politi.co/2E5GqQS on Sunday that Pentagon officials working on Defense Secretary Mark Esper's cost-cutting review of the U.S. Defense Department had proposed slashing military healthcare by $2.2 billion.

"A proposal by Pentagon officials to slash Military Healthcare by $2.2 billion dollars has been firmly and totally rejected by me. We will do nothing to hurt our great Military professionals & heroes as long as I am your President," Trump said in a tweet https://bit.ly/2Czf2dk.

The cut proposed to the military health system over the next five years came as part of an effort by Esper that started last year with the goal of eliminating inefficiencies within the Pentagon's coffers, Politico reported.

Politico also said, however, that senior defense officials had argued that such cuts would have hurt the healthcare of millions of military personnel and their families amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

About 9.5 million active-duty personnel, military retirees and their dependents rely on the military health system. The military's government-run healthcare network operates hundreds of facilities around the world.

Reuters reported last week that Trump had privately discussed with advisers the possibility of replacing Esper after the November election following a growing number of differences between them.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue)
This is the shocking moment a man jumps onto a whale shark and attempts to ride the animal by clinging onto its dorsal fin in the Red Sea.

The stuntman, named locally as Zaki Al-sabahy, was filmed sitting on the bow of a yacht as he eyed up the sharks swimming close to the port city of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.

When one of the docile animals sidled up to the boat, Mr Al-sabahy leapt onto its back, gripped the animal's dorsal fin and slung his legs around its midriff.

The practice of riding whale sharks is well known and similar footage has emerged before, despite it being discouraged by scientists and conservationists.

The stuntman, named locally as Zaki Al-sabahy, was filmed riding the animal's back in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Although shocking, the act is not particularly brave because the whale shark is a completely harmless animal

Mr Al-sabahy was with two friends who filmed him and uploaded the footage to social media.

One of the men can be heard shouting, 'Careful, it can swallow you,' as Mr Al-sabahy hangs onto the dorsal fin.

The huge animals are extremely rare to see in the Red Sea, and many people commented on the man's stunt.

Many were impressed by the video, one user commented: 'A brave man, God saves him.'

But others were highly critical of 'their reckless behaviour' for terrifying the animal.

The huge animals are extremely rare to see in the Red Sea, and many people commented on the man's stunt.

The Saudi authorities have made no comment on the incident.

The whale shark, the world's largest fish, is listed as 'endangered' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List due to the impacts of fisheries, by-catch losses and vessel strikes, along with the animal's long lifespan and late maturation.

Despite their size, whale sharks are not dangerous and younger animals are known to play with scuba divers.
UAE-Israel agreement total departure from Arab consensus: Palestinian PM

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 3:17 PM

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has denounced a recent agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel to open formal diplomatic ties as Abu Dhabi's total departure from the Arab consensus over the resolution of the Palestinian issue.

Speaking at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting in the central occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday, Shtayyeh slammed the pact as a blatant departure from the Arab consensus that any normalization of ties with the Tel Aviv regime has to come in the context of resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and an overall peace deal, Arabic-language Donia al-Watan online newspaper reported.

Israel and the UAE on August 13 reached a deal that will lead to full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two sides, in an agreement apparently brokered by US President Donald Trump.

Shtayyeh said the Palestinian leadership is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss issues affecting the Palestinian cause, including the recent UAE move, stressing, "The [Palestinian] government will continue to confront annexation bids and settlement plans."

"Talking about Palestine and what it either accepts or rejects is an entirely Palestinian affair," he added.

He also said the "expansion of UAE's arsenal with US-made weapons should not come at the expense of al-Quds and Palestine."

'Agreement with Israel in violation of UAE's constitution'

Meanwhile, Abbas Zaki, a member of the central committee of the Palestinian Fatah movement, said that Abu Dhabi's decision to normalize relations with Israel contradicts the UAE constitution.

Speaking in an interview with local Arabic-language al-Najah television network, Zaki described the UAE-Israel normalization agreement as "an earthquake that deeply affected the Emiratis, because their constitution does not allow what [Crown Prince Mohammed] bin Zayed [Al Nahyan] did."

He added, "The UAE law prohibits, imposes penalties and orders imprisonment for those who praise Israelis."

Zaki then described bin Zayed's move as "the beginning of the New Middle East project."

He added that the normalization agreement "contributed to the collapse of the international front that rejected Israeli plans to annex Palestinian territories [in the occupied West Bank], and to the non-recognition of Palestine as a state by 25 countries."

Yemeni political parties: Normalization encourages Israel's aggressive policies

Furthermore, Yemeni political parties have condemned attempts by a number of Arab countries to establish full normal relations with the Israeli regime, reiterating their firm support for the Palestinian cause and nation until they restore all their legitimate rights and establish an independent state on the entire Palestinian territories.

The parties said in a joint statement on Sunday that efforts are being made towards normalization with the Tel Aviv regime, without resolution of the Palestinian issue in a fair manner that would restore the full rights of Palestinians in accordance with the so-called Arab Peace Initiative and international agreements.

The so-called Arab Peace Initiative, which was proposed by Saudi Arabia, calls on Israel to agree to a "two-state solution" along the 1967 lines and a "just" solution to the Palestinian refugee issue.

The statement added that such bids "will encourage the aggressive policies of the Zionist regime and will violate the provisions of the international law, not to mention it is a departure from the Arab consensus and decisions made by the Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and United Nations institutions. It will have negative repercussions on peace and stability in the Arab world and the Middle East region."

The Yemeni parties underlined that Palestine is the pivotal issue of the Arab and Muslim world, and serves as a compass for freedom-loving people of the world.

They also called for reconciliation of Palestinian factions and stronger Arab and Muslim solidarity in the face of collusion and conspiracies against the Palestinian cause.

Under the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Israel has allegedly agreed to "temporarily" 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.

Israeli and UAE delegations will meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements covering sectors, including investment, tourism and direct flights and the opening of reciprocal embassies, according to the accord.

Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv on Saturday signed the first business deal since the accord. Emirati APEX National Investment company and Israel's Tera Group will cooperate on research and development related to COVID-19, including a testing device.

Anger is boiling in the Middle East and elsewhere over the agreement, with Palestinian leaders describing it as a "stab in the back" of the Palestinians by an Arab country.

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From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

Marriage ceremonies, or weddings, are among the most important events in the lives of many people. The COVID-19 health crisis has severely affected weddings and damaged the multi-billion dollar industry that supports them.

Because of the virus, many couples in the United States and around the world have had to postpone The Big Day -- another way of saying wedding.

But now that some areas have eased rules on public gatherings, plenty of couples are ready to say, I do! However, they may need to wear a face mask when they say it. And that has led to some problems.

Many couples are not willing to have a pandemic-looking wedding party. So, they are not willing to follow restrictions on large gatherings -- like wearing face masks, limiting the number of guests and social-distancing.



In early July, Reuters also reported that wedding venues in Turkey had re-opened, but with restrictions. Guests temperatures were taken upon arrival. Tables had to be separated. And everyone -- including the bride and groom -- had to wear masks.

The marketing research company KPMG says that families in India spend an estimated $50 billion on weddings every year. The market in the U.S. is also huge, worth more than $72 billion a year.

To make couples happy, some places, or venues, in the U.S., are not following coronavirus safety restrictions. And this may be putting wedding industry workers at risk.

Wedding planners, photographers and musicians are just some of the people who earn money from wedding parties and related events. The pandemic quickly put a stop to their earnings.

So now, as more couples are getting married, those employed in the wedding industry have little choice but to work. Recently, some have begun sharing stories of health risks.



One of them is Susan Stripling, a photographer from New York. She reported recently that some venues are not following guidelines on masks or limiting the number of wedding guests.

In Chicago, photographer Cherie Schrader told The Associated Press (AP) she felt tricked. Before taking a wedding job, Schrader had been told that all safety guidelines would be followed. Yet when she showed up for a July wedding, she found 165 unmasked people indoors and no signs of social distancing.

It looked like a normal wedding pre-COVID, she said.

Alexis Alvarez of Chicago works as a wedding planner. She said her bridal parties have reduced the number of guests to help with social distancing. They are also asking guests to wear masks.

She told the AP, The reality is guests that dont feel safe attending events  arent going to.

Alvarez uses other safety measures at her weddings.

Tables are spaced farther apart than usual. When possible, people are grouped by family. To avoid crowd issues, she advises some couples to hold separate celebrations with smaller groups of people at different times.



The face mask issue

Some couples argue that face masks will ruin the memories of their Big Day. Other couples are giving guests the choice to wear or not to wear a face mask. Still others are wearing beautiful face masks that match the wedding gown.

In Turkey, Biricik Kiziltas, a bridal gown designer, makes beautiful masks for the brides.

Brides are already feeling sad, and they have no excitement, she told Reuters, so we tried to make something to cheer them up.

Wedding planner Lynne Goldberg is organizing a December wedding party for 200 guests. The venue will be the home of the brides parents in upstate New York.

Goldberg says the couple and their families do not want the pandemic to affect their wedding plans. So, there will be no face masks and no social distance warnings at the wedding.

Planning a wedding for 200 guests while social distancing is difficult, Goldberg said, but doable. But asking 200 guests to not wear masks, she added, is crazy.



Alexis Alvarez said she understands that face masks in photos and videos may ruin the look for many couples.

The big question everyone needs to be answering right now, she said, is -- whats the moral responsibility?

Weddings causing COVID-19 outbreaks remain rare. But they do happen.

Back in early June, Reuters reported that a wedding party in Iran likely caused an increase in coronavirus infections. President Hassan Rouhani made this claim on state television, the story explained.

Reuters reported last month that Australia had banned singing, dancing and mingling at weddings. Health officials did this after an increase in COVID cases were reported.

And thats the Health & Lifestyle report.

Im Anna Matteo.

And Im Bryan Lynn.

Anna Matteo wrote this story with additional reporting from Reuters and the Associated Press. George Grow and Caty Weaver were the editors.

Quiz - Getting Married during a Pandemic Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

couple  n. two people who are married or who have a romantic or sexual relationship

pandemic  medical noun : an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world

guest  n. a person who is invited to a place or an event as a special honor

bride  n. a woman just married or about to be married

groom  n. a man who has just married or is about to be married

photographer  n. a person who takes photographs especially as a job

cheer up  phrasal verb

crazy  adj. unable to think in a clear or sensible way

moral  adj. considered right and good by most people : agreeing with a standard of right behavior

mingle  v. to move around during a party, meeting, etc., and talk informally with different people
BAMAKO Gunfire was heard on Tuesday at an army base outside Malis capital Bamako as diplomatic and security sources said a mutiny was under way.

?Local residents and security sources said there was gunfire at the army base in Kati, about 15 km (9 miles) outside Bamako, where a mutiny in 2012 led to a coup detat.

Yes, mutiny. The military has taken up arms," a security source said.

The scale of the mutiny was not immediately clear. A European diplomat said a relatively small number of members of the National Guard, apparently angered by a pay dispute, had seized a munitions depot but were reported to have since been surrounded by other government troops.

A French military source said discussions were taking place between Malis army command and the mutineers.

A Malian military spokesman confirmed that gunshots were fired at the base in Kati, but said he did not have any further information. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keitas office could not be reached for comment.

Government ministry buildings were evacuated, a government official said, and gunfire was heard near the prime ministers office, according to a security source.

The offices of state television ORTM were also evacuated, said Kalifa Naman, a senior ORTM official. There have been no reports of any attack on state TV, which was still broadcasting prerecorded programming.

A Bamako resident said armed men had shut down access to two bridges across the Niger River within the city. It was not immediately clear who the armed men were.

The mutiny comes amid Malis worst political crisis since the 2012 coup that toppled then-President Amadou Toumani Toure and contributed to the fall of northern Mali to jihadist militants.

Keitas opponents have led mass protests since June calling on him to resign over what they say are his failures to restore security and address corruption.

At least 14 people have been killed in the protests, according to the United Nations and human rights activists.

Regional powers are worried that any prolonged unrest from the protests could derail the fight against Islamist militants in the region, many of whom are centred in Mali. Their presence has rendered large areas of the centre and north of Mali ungovernable.

Keita had hoped concessions to opponents and recommendations from a mediating delegation of regional leaders would help stem the tide of dissatisfaction, but the protest leaders have rejected proposals to join a power-sharing government.

The French and Norwegian embassies in Bamako urged their citizens on Thursday to stay at home.

Because of serious unrest this morning, Aug. 18, in the city of Bamako, it is immediately recommended to remain at home," the French Embassy said.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Washington, Aug 18 : A former Central Intelligence Agency officer has been arrested on charges of conspiring with a relative to spy for China, according to the Department of Justice (DoJ).

In a statement on Monday, the DoJ said that Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, who was arrested on August 14 and has been charged, is accused of divulging classified national defence information to Chinese intelligence officials, reports the BBC.

A naturalised US citizen born in Hong Kong, Ma is due to appear in court on Tuesday and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.

According to the Department statement, Ma, who began working for the CIA in 1982, left the agency seven years later and worked in Shanghai before moving to Hawaii in 2001.

Prosecutors accuse Ma and his relative, who also worked for the CIA, of spying for China over the course of a decade in a scheme that began with meetings in Hong Kong in March 2001.

The two are accused of sharing information "about the CIA's personnel, operations, and methods of concealing communications" with the Chinese intelligence service.

In Monday's statement Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said: "The trail of Chinese espionage is long and, sadly, strewn with former American intelligence officers who betrayed their colleagues, their country and its liberal democratic values to support an authoritarian communist regime.

"Whether immediately, or many years after they thought they got away with it, we will find these traitors and we will bring them to justice." This is the latest arrest in a string of cases against former intelligence officers, said the BBC report.

Last November, another former CIA officer, Jerry Chun Shing Lee, was sentenced to 19 years in prison for conspiring to spy for China.

In May 2019, Kevin Mallory, another former CIA agent, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, after being convicted of conspiring to transmit US defence secrets to China.
New Delhi: Markets closed higher for second day on Tuesday led by gains in heavy weights amid positive global cues and sustained foreign fund inflows.

The BSE Sensex closed 477.54 points or 1.26 per cent higher at 38,528.32, while the NSE Nifty surged 138.25 points or 1.23 per cent to 11,385.35.

Major gainers in the Sensex pack were Ultrachem, Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, HDFC Bank, Asian Paint, Titan, Axis Bank, Maruti, ONGE, IndusInd Bank and RIL, rising upto 3.34 percent. On the other hand, major losers were Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, Bajaj Auto, Power grid, Sun Pharma, NTPC, ITC, and M&M, falling upto 1.10 percent.

Foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 332.90 crore on a net basis on Monday, provisonal exchange data showed.

Bourses in Shanghai and Hong Kong ended on a positive note, while Tokyo and Seoul were in the red. Stock exchanges in Europe were trading with significant gains in early deals.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.37 per cent lower at USD 45.20 per barrel.

In the forex market, the rupee settled 12 paise higher at 74.76 against the US dollar.

In the previous session on Monday, the 30-share index settled 173.44 points or 0.46 per cent higher at 38,050.78. Likewise, the NSE Nifty ended 68.70 points or 0.61 per cent up at 11,247.10.
President Donald Trumps plan to offer a stripped-down boost in unemployment benefits to millions of Americans amid the coronavirus outbreak has found little traction among the states, which would have to pay a quarter of the cost to deliver the maximum benefit.

An Associated Press survey finds that as of Monday, 18 states have said they will take the federal grants allowing them to increase unemployment checks by $300 or $400 a week. The AP tally shows that 30 states have said theyre still evaluating the offer or have not said whether they plan to accept the presidents slimmed-down benefits. Two have said no.

The uncertainty is putting some families finances in peril.

Tiana Chase, who runs a community game room and store in Maynard, Massachusetts, said the extra $600 she and her partner had been receiving under the previous federal benefit helped keep them afloat after the pandemic caused many businesses to shutter.

For the past few weeks, shes been getting less than $300 in unemployment. If thats boosted by another $300, its going to be a lot tighter, but at least I can vaguely manage, she said. I can cover my home expenses.

Many governors say the costs to states to receive the bigger boost offered by Trump is more than their battered budgets can bear. They also say the federal governments guidelines on how it will work are too murky. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, called it a convoluted, temporary, half-baked concept (that) has left many states, including Pennsylvania, with more questions.

New Mexico was the first state to apply for the aid last week and one of the first to be announced as a recipient by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But Bill McCamley, secretary of the states Department of Workforce Solutions, said its not clear when the money will start going out, largely because the state needs to reprogram benefit distribution systems to make it work.

People need help and they need it right now, McCamley said. These dollars are so important, not only to the claimants, but because the claimants turn that money around, sometimes immediately to pay for things like rent, child care, utilities.

In March, Congress approved a series of emergency changes to the nations unemployment insurance system, which is run by state governments.

People who were out of work got an extra federally funded $600 a week, largely because the abrupt recession made finding another job so difficult. The boost expired at the end of July, and recipients have now gone without it for up to three weeks.

With Democrats, Republicans and Trump so far unable to agree to a broader new coronavirus relief plan, the president signed an executive order Aug. 8 to extend the added weekly benefit, but cut it to $300 or $400 a week, depending on which plan governors choose. States are required to chip in $100 per claimant to be able to send out the higher amount, something few have agreed to do, according to the AP tally.

Trumps executive order keeps the program in place until late December, though it will be scrapped if Congress comes up with a different program. It also will end early if the money for the program is depleted, which is likely to happen within a few months.

Governors from both parties have been pushing for Congress to make a deal, even after previous talks for a sweeping new coronavirus relief bill, including an unemployment boost, broke off earlier this month.

When Congress finally reaches an agreement, I have every reason to believe ... there will be a more robust deal that is struck, said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who has been noncommittal about accepting Trumps plan.

One reason for the states hesitancy is that they fear they will go through the complex steps required to adopt Trumps plan, only to have it usurped by one from Congress, according to a spokeswoman for Republican Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon.

So far, most states that have said they are taking Trump up on his offer have chosen the $300 version. Some have not decided which plan to take. In North Carolina, for instance, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has pushed for the $400 plan, but Republican lawmakers have not committed to kick in a share of state money for that.

Mississippis Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has spurned the deal altogether, saying its too expensive.

State leaders who say they cant afford to chip in point to the widespread closure of businesses, which has hammered government tax revenue. But they also acknowledge that they need the help, as a record number of claims have left their unemployment trust funds in rough shape.

Most states expect to exhaust their funds and need federal loans to keep paying benefits during the recession. So far, 10 states plus the U.S. Virgin Islands have done so, including California, which has borrowed $8.6 billion. Another eight states have received authorization for loans but had not used them as of last week.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is among governors who are critical of Trumps approach but decided to take the deal anyway. As I say, dont look a gift horse in the mouth, Newsom said last week.

The federal Department of Labor reported last week that 963,000 people applied for unemployment benefits for the first time. It was the first time since March that the number dropped below 1 million. The government says more than 28 million people are receiving some kind of unemployment benefit, although that figure includes some double counting as it combines counts from multiple programs.

State unemployment benefits on their own generally fall far short of replacing a laid off workers previous income.

Chris Wade, who lives in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, is a server at a high-end restaurant. He was laid off in March when dine-in restaurants were closed in the state. While hes since returned, hes working only a few shifts a week and his unemployment checks are reduced by the amount hes paid.

The now-expired $600 weekly unemployment supplement came out to about the same as his familys rent, he said. When his first check came in April, he was eight days behind on rent, but with the help, hes been able to keep paying since then.

The extra money, no matter what they give me, is all going to rent anyway, or other bills, said Wade, 45. Every dollar actually counts.

___

Follow AP reporter Geoff Mulvihill at http://www.twitter.com/geoffmulvihill.

___

AP statehouse reporters across the U.S. contributed to this report.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 19, 2020 - 00:58 | All, World, Japan

Mauritius has arrested the captain of a Japanese freighter that spilled oil after it ran aground off the Indian Ocean island nation last month, local authorities said Tuesday.

The male captain, an Indian national, was arrested along with a Sri Lankan crew member on suspicion of negligence in operating the vessel. They appeared in court the same day.

Including the captain, the multinational crew is comprised of three Indians, one Sri Lankan and 16 Filipinos, who were recruited to navigate the ship by its owner Nagashiki Shipping Co., an Okayama Prefecture-based company. All evacuated safely and are unharmed.

According to local media reports, several members of the crew said the vessel had navigated closer to the island in order to use Wi-Fi before the grounding occurred. Police are currently investigating the claim.

The Mauritius government said last week that it will seek compensation from the owner of the Japanese freighter over the oil leakage.

Nagashiki Shipping has said it will deal "in good faith" with the issue of compensation.

The Panama-flagged bulk carrier Wakashio, operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., was carrying a total of some 3,800 tons of fuel oil when it ran aground on July 25. More than 1,000 tons of oil began to leak from the vessel on Aug. 6 when one of the five fuel tanks cracked.

The freighter was en route to Brazil from China via Singapore when it ran aground near Pointe d'Esny, an area designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Ari Zoldan accompanies Mr. Adam Ladjadj who is the CIO for His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nehayan.

The Private Investment Group today announced the appointment of Mr. Ari Zoldan to its board of advisors. Mr. Zoldan will be responsible for cross-border transactions and building bridges between Israel and The United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Adam Ladjadj who is the CIO for His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nehayan accompanies Ari Zoldan on the board.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven states consisting of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain.

"We are delighted to have Ari Zoldan on our board of advisors," said Mr. Alastair Lidel, CEO and Founder of The Private Investment Group, a financial firm with offices in Dubai and Monaco. "His vast experience in media and business development will leap-frog us deep into the Israeli market.

On August 13th, 2020 IsraelUnited Arab Emirates relations were formally established when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recognized Israel as a state, and the two countries cemented public diplomatic and economic relations.

Abu Dhabis Economic Vision 2030 is leading the way towards diversification. The goal is to increase investment in industrial and other export-oriented sectors, including heavy industry, transport, petrochemicals, tourism, information technology, telecommunications, renewable energy, aviation and space, and oil and gas services.

"I am honored to be working with such a prestigious and well-established firm headed by Mr. Alastair Lidel and Mr. Adam Ladjadj. Working together will get the company to new heights and deepen the Israel-United Arab Emirates relationship" said Ari Zoldan, CEO of New York-based, Quantum Media Group, LLC.

About Ari Zoldan

Ari Zoldan is the CEO of Quantum Media Group, LLC, a global marketing and media company based in New York City. As an on-air TV personality, Zoldan can be seen regularly on FOX News, CNN and CNBC covering technology, business and innovation. He is a frequent source for journalists and is quoted regularly in major media outlets. He holds press credentials on Capitol Hill and the United Nations and is a member of The National Press Club in Washington, DC. He is one of the few selected individuals to hold the position as an "IBM Watson Futurist."

About The Private Investment Group

The Private Investment Group is a global company with a presence in over 25 countries, where the organization works to bring investment and business development that will be mutually beneficial for all stakeholders.

The Private Investment Group works with companies and projects from seed level to Series C and beyond, helping them to gain access to new markets, raise capital, and form strategic partnerships in both private and public sectors.

The company works with thousands of investors around the world helping to fulfill mandates and bring diversification to their portfolios. It is also partnered with Sovereign Wealth Funds throughout the world, Single and Multi-Family Offices, VC Funds and U/HNWI.

Media Contact: Max Stern-Storch

Email: max.sternstorch@gmail.com
The churchs leader, Jun, said in an interview with a Christian media outlet that his church is a victim of a virus terror by an outside force. Health officials said they were experiencing difficulties testing church members because of rumors that authorities rig test results to come out positive.
Beginning on August 26 with Christopher Nolans ingenious sci-fi thriller Tenet, the rest of the year boasts high-profile releases that can only be enjoyed on the big screen.

Prepare to gasp, screen, sob and whoop with delight as we reignite our enduring love affair with the cinema-going experience

1. Tenet (out August 26, UK & Ireland)

From Director Christopher Nolan. #TENET, coming to theaters. Watch the new trailer now. pic.twitter.com/qKoPRyHcLE  TENET (@TENETFilm) May 22, 2020

It has been 10 years since British writer-director Christopher Nolan gleefully twisted the minds of audiences with his high-stakes espionage thriller Inception starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hardy. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture and deservedly took home golden statuettes for sound, visual effects and Wally Pfisters stunning cinematography.

Nolans new adventure, which is shrouded in secrecy, is the first major studio blockbuster to storm multiplexes since the pandemic and promises another jaw-dropping feast for the senses. Shot on 70mm film and Imax, Tenet follows a tenacious and highly skilled operative (John David Washington from BlacKkKlansman) as he attempts to avert Armageddon.

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A Russian oligarch (Sir Kenneth Branagh) is connected to a mystery that can only be solved by abandoning preconceived ideas about the linear flow of time. Robert Pattinson and Sir Michael Caine co-star.

2. The New Mutants (out September 4)

One year after Dark Phoenix failed to reenergise the X-Men film franchise, director John Boone and co-writer Knate Lee draw a journey inside the minds of five young people with extraordinary abilities in The New Mutants.

Dr Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga) brings these gifted patients to a secret institution, claiming she can cure them if they accept treatment under her care. The five volunteers include Danielle Moonstar aka Mirage (Blu Hunt), who harnesses other peoples fears to create illusions, Illyana Rasputin aka Magik (Anya Taylor-Joy), younger sister of Colossus who can amplify her psychic abilities to devastating effect, Rahne Sinclair aka Wolfsbane (Maisie Williams), who metamorphoses into a werewolf, Sam Guthrie aka Cannonball (Charlie Heaton), who can project himself forward at jet speed, and Roberto da Costa aka Sunspot (Henry Zaga), who can channel solar energy.

As these five so-called mutants share stories about when their powers manifested, they begin to doubt the sincerity of Dr Reyes actions.

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3. The Kings Man (out September 16)





Emboldened by the commercial success of the outrageous James Bond-esque caper Kingsman: The Secret Service and 2017 sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle, both loosely based on a comic book series by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, director Matthew Vaughn steps back in time to the early 1900s for a rollicking prequel that traces the origins of the worlds first independent intelligence agency. A group of civilised but merciless operatives will do whatever it takes to defeat greed and corruption.

When the worlds worst tyrants and criminal masterminds including Grigori Rasputin (Rhys Ifans) and Erik Jan Hanussen (Daniel Bruhl) hatch a plot to wipe out millions of innocent souls, the debonair Duke of Oxford (Ralph Fiennes) and his son Conrad (Harris Dickinson) lead he charge to avert a devastating world war.

The gentlemen are accompanied on their daredevil mission by high skilled nanny-turned-code breaker Polly (Gemma Arterton) and their bodyguard Shola (Djimon Hounsou).

4. Wonder Woman 1984 (out October 2)





Released in 2017, the first big screen outing for Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman drew uncomfortable yet vital attention to gender imbalance behind the camera when it became the highest grossing film of all time by a solo female director.

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Patty Jenkins returns to helm of the eagerly anticipated sequel, working from a script she co-wrote with Dave Callaham and Geoff Johns, which relishes the dubious fashion choices and toe-tapping music of the 1980s.

At the end of the first film, Amazonian warrior Diana Prince embraced her destiny as Wonder Woman but lost her sweetheart, dashing American pilot Steve Trevor, in the climactic melee.

In the next chapter, Diana is reunited with Steve and seeks to make her mother Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) proud by using her strength to protect mankind.

Unfortunately, she faces a new threat from slippery media mogul Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and archaeologist Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig), who is reborn as the super-powered Cheetah.

Diana may need more than her golden lasso and bulletproof bangles to vanquish these formidable adversaries.

5. Black Widow (out October 28)





The cataclysmic events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame revealed the fate of many original members of the superhero dream team including Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Steve Rogers aka Captain America (Chris Evans) and Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

For this stand-alone mission, director Cate Shortland concentrates on events directly after Captain America: Civil War, which were sparked by the political manoeuvres of US Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt).

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Natasha finds herself distanced from the rest of the Avengers flock and haunted by her past. She returns to her training ground, The Red Room run by Dreykov (Ray Winstone), and reunites with surrogate father Alexei Shostakov aka Red Guardian (David Harbour) and fellow black widows Melina Vostakoff (Rachel Weisz) and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). They agree to fight alongside Natasha to defeat dark forces that intend to bring her down.

6. No Time To Die (out November 12)





Daniel Craigs fifth and final mission as James Bond was one of the first high-profile films to push back its original April release date in response to the Covid pandemic, choosing a prime berth in November to leave audiences shaken and stirred by spectacular action sequences shot on location in Italy, Jamaica, Norway and the UK.

Set five years after the events of Spectre, No Time To Die begins with Bond (Craig) retired from active duty, trying to salve deep emotional wounds with the help of his psychiatrist lover, Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux). Good friend Felix Leitner (Jeffrey Wright) ushers 007 back into the fold, reuniting the spy with M (Ralph Fiennes), Q (Ben Whishaw), Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and a ballsy new 00 agent, Nomi (Lashana Lynch).

They face a sadistic and terrifying adversary, Safin (Rami Malek), who knows how to burrow beneath Bonds skin and exploit his most deeply rooted fears.
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich

Former Ohio governor and presidential candidate John Kasich didn't dance around the elephant in the room on Monday night when he described himself as a "lifelong Republican" who would nonetheless vote for Joe Biden in the November election against President Donald Trump.

"These are not normal times," he said.

Kasich's pre-recorded appearance during the Democratic National Convention on Monday night symbolized a small but vocal number of Republicans who have distanced themselves from Trump in recent months and have said they'll vote for Biden despite their disagreement with the Democratic candidate on a range of policies.

To emphasize his point, Kasich, 68, delivered his pre-taped remarks standing at the corner of a literal crossroad.

Im a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country," Kasich said. "Thats why Ive chosen to appear at this convention. In normal times, something like this would probably never happen, but these are not normal times.

Kasich, who served as Ohio's governor from 2011 to 19, ran for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2016 before conceding to Trump.

RELATED: The Biggest Political & Celebrity Names You'll See at This Week's Democratic National Convention

Tony Dejak/AP Former Ohio governor and 2016 Republican presidential candidate John Kasich

He infamously elected not to vote for either Trump or Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016; instead, he said he wrote in Sen. John McCain's name on his ballot.

Ahead of Monday night's speech, Kasich told The New York Times that wouldn't happen again in 2020 and that's why he was declaring his support for Biden.

I wasnt going to vote for somebody else, he said. I just wasnt going to do it this time. I did it the last time. You know, I had always been hopeful, even after the convention and after the election, that perhaps we would see a change in the president, but we just never have. I happen to think its the soul of our country that is being damaged, and thats what Im concerned about.

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Charlie Neibergall/AP Former Ohio governor and 2016 Republican presidential candidate John Kasich

The former leading GOP lawmaker was one of four Republicans to speak out against Trump and voice support for Biden on Monday night. Kasich appeared along with former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former Mitt Romney presidential campaign adviser and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman and former New York Rep. Susan Molinari.

Many of us cant imagine four more years going down this path, Kasich said Monday.

His pre-recorded speech was followed up by a montage of Republican voters who said they would also be voting for Biden. (Trump, in response to such discontent, has often touted his large approval from the conservative base.)

RELATED: What to Know About the Unprecedented, Virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention

We can all see whats going on in our country today and all the questions that are facing us, and no one person or party has all the answers," Kasich continued on Monday. "But what we do know is that we can do better than what weve been seeing today, for sure. And I know that Joe Biden, with his experience and his wisdom and his decency, can bring us together to help us find that better way.

Kasich also noted that he and Biden disagree but "thats okay, because thats America," adding: "Whatever our differences, we respect one another as human beings, each of us searching for justice and for purpose."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-17 20:09:36|Editor: huaxia

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The child Mazen who suffers from hydrocephalus and acute malnutrition sits in a wheelchair near a hut in Abs District in Hajjah province, Yemen, Aug. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Mohammed ALwafi)

A Yemeni father is faced with a painful dilemma of whether to treat his critically-ill child or to feed his 10-member family.

HAJJAH, Yemen, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- In a camp for the displaced by war in Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah, the father of Mazen is facing a painful choice.

Should the use the little money from selling his small land to treat Mazen who had fallen seriously ill and save his life or to buy food and save the lives of his 10-member family?

Six-year-old Mazen suffers from hydrocephalus and acute malnutrition as his stick-like legs are so wasting away that he could not walk any more.

Ibrahim Kidysh pushes wheelchair of his son Mazen who suffers from hydrocephalus and acute malnutrition in Abs District in Hajjah province, Yemen, Aug. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Mohammed ALwafi)

Lying on a wooden bed in his family's hut in the Bani Hassan area of Abs district, Mazen keeps staring down at the sandy floor as if his swollen eyes could dig a hole for him to escape from the severe pain.

"In early 2015, just a few weeks after the war erupted, I took him to hospitals in the neighboring province of Hodeidah and then we travelled to the capital Sanaa, where a hospital charged me 13,000 U.S. dollars for treating my son," Ibrahim Kidysh, father of Mazen, told Xinhua.

"I do not have this large amount of money, so I went back with my son to our village to sell my agricultural land to try to make up the money... but the price was very low," he said.

Not far away from the hut of the family of Mazen, a small hospital provides some health services for the displaced and the residents of the villages.

Ibrahim Kidysh holds legs of his son Mazen who suffers from hydrocephalus and acute malnutrition in Abs District in Hajjah province, Yemen, Aug. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Mohammed ALwafi)

"The fluid in the skull of Mazen is increasing night and day and he urgently needs life-saving surgery, which is not available here," Mohammed Saif, a doctor, told Xinhua.

Part of the northern areas of Hajjah Province, including the district of Abs, is under control of the government forces, while the Houthi rebels control much of the province.

Yemen has been wrecked 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.

The war, which has lasted more than five years, has killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, and displaced more than 3 million others.

The 10-member family of Mazen is merely one of the 1,200 displaced ones living in dire conditions in the northern part of Hajjah Province, according to local authorities in Abs.

Conflict has caused the collapse of Yemen's health and agricultural system, triggering what the United Nations describes as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

Photo taken on Aug. 14, 2020 shows the child Mazen who suffers from hydrocephalus and acute malnutrition in Abs District in Hajjah province, Yemen, Aug. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Mohammed ALwafi)

The UN aid agencies estimate that more than 20 million Yemeni people are just a step away from starvation and nearly 80 percent of the population completely rely on international humanitarian aid for survival.

In July, UNICEF warned that the number of malnourished children in Yemen could rise to 2.4 million by the end of this year with a shortfall in humanitarian funding.

"We had lived safely in our home in Haradh district, but our life changed a few months after the arrival of the violent battles ... We left everything behind and ran for our lives," the father of Mazen lamented.

The mother said her son's disease emerged five years ago when he got an acute fever and they could not rush him to the hospital because of the raging battles around the village between the government forces and the Houthis.

"Since then I have noticed that the size of his head is increasing abnormally and his health is deteriorating," she told Xinhua. 
MILWAUKEE  Former first lady Michelle Obama was the headline attraction Monday night at a Democratic National Convention that will showcase a long list of women with marquee roles in politics, from Kamala Harris to Nancy Pelosi to Elizabeth Warren to Hillary Clinton to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Those names underscore the far greater prominence of women in the Democratic Party compared with the GOP, a gender gap that also extends to the voting behavior of Americans and to public opinion about President Donald Trump.

The partisan gender gap is especially wide in Wisconsin, some pollsters say, where the DNC was originally scheduled to happen. And it has widened in Wisconsin to the point where women now account for two out of every three Democratic voters in the state, according to polling this year by the Marquette Law School.

While Trump has been winning men in Wisconsin by an average of nearly 10 points in polling this summer, he has been losing women by nearly 20.

More: Michelle Obama says Trump is the 'wrong president for our country'

The gender gap this time could be enormous, said political scientist Kathleen Dolan of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who studies gender and politics.

It could be bigger this time than it was last time, which might help get people over the idea that the gender gap last time was because Hillary Clinton was a woman. It was because women are more likely to be Democrats in this country, Dolan said.

Craig Gilbert is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinels Washington Bureau Chief and longtime political writer.

Biden will carry the female vote, but by how much?

There is no doubt that Joe Biden will carry female voters in Wisconsin and nationally this fall. The only question is by how much, and whether his edge among women will be offset by Trumps edge among men.

Democrats hoping to expand their edge with female voters added three Republican women (and moderates) to their roster of convention speakers Monday night: former New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman, former GOP congresswoman Susan Molinari (who was the keynote speaker at the 1996 Republican National Convention), and business executive and former California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, who backed GOP presidential candidates in 2008 and 2012 but switched to supporting Democrat Clinton in 2016 after Trump won his partys nomination.

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More: 'Enough is enough': Grieving daughter blasts Trump's coronavirus response in DNC speech

Molinari praised Biden's record on issues important to women, and called Trump "so disappointing and lately so disturbing."

Christine Whitman called Biden a person "decent enough, stable enough and strong enough to get our economy back on track," saying "Donald Trump is not that person." Meg Whitman said, "Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business let alone an economy."

I think COVID has emphasized particularly for women voters how high the stakes are  women especially, because we are oftentimes the primary caregiver and scheduler and now virtual educator, and many (are) also working, said Democratic consultant Tanya Bjork of Wisconsin, echoing a major theme of the convention, including Monday night's program  Trumps handling of the pandemic. I think the lack of response to COVID is really going to hurt Trump with women.

Gender gap pronounced in the suburbs

Suburban voters are one key target.

The gender gap in the Trump-Biden race is bigger among suburban voters in Wisconsin than it is among urban or rural voters, partly because the suburbs are a more competitive partisan battleground.

In one urban-suburban-rural breakdown used by the Marquette poll, Trump leads Biden this year by 21 points among suburban men but trails Biden by 19 points among suburban women  a staggering disparity.

The Trump campaign organized a three-day Women for Trump bus tour in Wisconsin last week, touting the presidents record on jobs and tax cuts and keeping families safe.

Are you registered to vote?: Check your status or register online now

But Trump has been dogged by low ratings among female voters throughout his presidency, fueled by the pre-existing gender gap as well as his rhetoric and personal history and leadership style.

Those ratings have varied a great deal among different categories of female voters, reflecting other dividing lines in American politics.

For example, during the combined years of his presidency, Trumps job rating among blue-collar white women (those without college degrees) in Wisconsin has been 44% approval and 51% disapproval, based on polling by the Marquette Law School. This is a huge slice of the Wisconsin electorate (almost 30% of all registered voters) that is fiercely contested by both parties.

(Top from left) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former first lady Michelle Obama. (Bottom from left) Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Kamala Harris.

But his rating is much lower among white women with college degrees (a more Democratic group): 32% approval and 65% disapproval.

More: Prominent Latinos criticize Democrats for lack of representation at DNC

It is lower still among Hispanic women: 23% approval and 71% disapproval.

And it is rock-bottom among African-American women: 8% approval and 87% disapproval.

Black women are the most loyal members of Democratic Party, so (Biden's) choice of a Black woman just makes sense from that perspective, said Milwaukee congresswoman Gwen Moore, referring to the selection of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate over a long list of other female politicians that included U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.

Harris will speak Wednesday night.

Baldwin is scheduled to speak Thursday night.

Moore delivered welcoming remarks Monday night.

A key Dem target: white married women

Moore said that if her party can make serious inroads among white married women this year (a GOP-leaning voting group), it will be the last gasps of breath for Trumps re-election bid.

Dolan, the political scientist, said she expected Democrats to make two kinds of appeals to women at this weeks convention  one based on health care and child care and pocketbook issues and everyday economic hardships facing women and families, and one based on fairness and equity and Trumps tone and rhetoric about women.

In her remarks Monday night, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer introduced herself as the person Pres. Trump calls "that woman from Michigan," before decrying his handling of the pandemic.

(Editors Note: Screen grab from Democratic National Convention video stream) Former First Lady, Michelle Obama delivers the keynote address to viewers during the Democratic National Convention at the Wisconsin Center.

Michelle Obama's impassioned appeal

But it was former first lady Michelle Obama who occupied center stage Monday night, delivering an impassioned appeal to Americans to participate in this election, a personal testimonial to Biden, and a blunt indictment of Trump.

More than 150,00 people have died and our economy is in shambles because of a virus this president downplayed for too long," she said.

Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos and division or a total and utter lack of empathy, she said.

More: Read Michelle Obama's full keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention

"So let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can," she said at another.

"Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is," she said, invoking Trump's own recent words about the casualties of the pandemic.

Said Obama:

"If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we dont make a change in this election."

Dolan said one political challenge facing Democrats this fall is mobilizing low-propensity female voters (such as younger women) who dont always participate in elections. The former first lady Monday night blamed Trump's victory in part on voters who stayed home in 2016, saying, "four years ago, too many people chose to believe that their votes didnt matter."

More: Trump embraces CNN poll showing him closing in on Biden, but recent surveys show ex-VP ahead

As for Republicans, Dolan said, the gender gap poses a particular challenge: because women outnumber men in the electorate, Republicans need to carry male voters by a higher margin than Democrats carry female voters.

That is not whats happening in the polls in Wisconsin and nationally right now.

In fact, while Democrats point to the pandemic as hurting Trump among women, the polling suggests it has actually hurt Trump more among men.

The growth of Bidens lead in Wisconsin this summer since the coronavirus hit has come not because Bidens big lead among women has gotten bigger (it has held pretty steady), but because Trumps lead among men has gotten smaller  from about 18 points earlier this year to about 5 points in July and August, the Marquette polling shows.

The bottom line is that the Trump-Biden race in Wisconsin and elsewhere will not be decided by the size of the gender gap. Trump's defeat of Clinton in 2016 featured a very large gender gap. It will be decided by whether Trumps strength with men outweighs Bidens strength with women.

Craig Gilbert has covered every presidential campaign since 1988 and chronicled Wisconsins role as a swing state at the center of the nations political divide. He has written widely about polarization and voting trends and won distinction for his data-driven analysis. Gilbert has served as a writer-in-residence at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Lubar Fellow at Marquette Law School and a Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan, where he studied public opinion, survey research, voting behavior and statistics. Email him at craig.gilbert@jrn.com and follow him on Twitter: @WisVoter.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Michelle Obama, DNC lineup of women underscores gender gap in politics
Norwegian flag in front of the city hall building in Oslo.

Norway's huge pension fund  the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world  reported negative returns for the first half of the year on Tuesday, citing "major fluctuations" in equity markets.

The Government Pension Fund Global said it returned -3.4% for the first six months of 2020, equivalent to -188 billion kroner (-$21.3 billion).

"There were major fluctuations in the equity market in this period. The year started with optimism, but the outlook of the equity market quickly turned when the Corona virus started to spread globally," Deputy CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management Trond Grande said in a statement.

"However, the sharp stock market decline of the first quarter was limited by a massive monetary and financial policy response."

The fund's total market value at the end of the six months was 10.4 trillion kroner, with 69.6% invested in equities, 27.6% in fixed income and 2.8% in unlisted real estate.

Its equity investments fell -6.8% and its real estate returned -1.6% over the first half, although its fixed-income investments rose by 5.1%.

According to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, Norway has the largest wealth fund in the world, when ranked by total assets, followed by the China Investment Corporation and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

The fund, which saves revenue from the oil and gas industry, is worth roughly three times Norway's annual gross domestic product and is pivotal to the Nordic country's finances.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The number of job seekers from Turkey in Uzbekistan notably decreased 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 Uzbekistan through ISKUR to find work dropped by 59.9 percent compared to the same period of 2019. Thus, 131 Turkish citizens visited Uzbekistan 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
A young child has left a heartfelt letter on their fence for the postman who helped them keep in touch with their beloved grandmother during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The handwritten note was left outside the home in Brighton in Melbourne's south- east on Tuesday, along with a special treat of Allen's Freckles lollies.

The letter thanked the postman for delivering letters from their grandmother, who is based in Queensland.

The heartwarming letter was left on the home of a Brighton home in Melbourne's south east on Tuesday with a special treat of Allen's Freckles lollies

'Dear postman, these lollies are for you,' the letter read.

'I want to say thank you for delivering all my letters from my grammie.'

'My grammie lives in Queensland and I miss her very much.'

Australia Post shared the image to its Instagram page, thanking their workers for helping families keep in touch during COVID-19 and border closures.

'A sweet treat awaited one lucky #Postie this morning in Brighton from a very special customer who wanted to thank the local #Postie for delivering letters to a much-missed Grammie,' they wrote.

The initiative comes from a group called The Kindness Pandemic which boasts 500,000 members.

The aim is to perform acts of kindness during lockdown.

'These posts have shown that communities love and cherish their local postie,' an Australian Post spokesperson told 7News.

'From hand-drawn pictures, notes of thanks, boxes of chocolate and refreshing beverages, people around Australia have expressed their gratitude to local posties who have kept delivering for Australia.'
Aziz Taher/Reuters

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon based in the Hague has found one of the four members of the Iran-backed militia and political party Hezbollah guilty of the 2005 car bomb assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others. The verdict was delayed by two weeks due to the catastrophic explosion on August 4 in Beirut that killed nearly 200 and injured more than 6,000.

Riots in the Rubble: Beirut Explodes in Violence, Protesters Gassed After Deadly Blast

Only Salim Ayyash was found guilty of assassination by truck bomb. The other defendants, Hussein Oneissi, Assad Sabra, and Hassan Merhi were acquitted of a barrage of charges including conspiracy to commit a terrorist attack and international homicide with explosives. A fifth man, Mustafa Badreddine, was killed in Syria in 2016, after which charges against him were dropped.

Presiding Judge David Re read from a 2,600 page ruling with more than 13,000 footnotes. He said that neither the leadership of Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim group, was guilty of the murder, nor was the government of Syria, which had been accused of masterminding the plan by many Lebanese who launched violent protests that led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country shortly after the assassination.

At the time Hariri was killed, he was Lebanon's most prominent Sunni politician. In delivering the verdicts, Re said that while Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr. Hariri, and some of his political allies, there was no evidence that the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariri's murder, and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement in it.

The long-awaited verdict comes against the backdrop of a nation on its knees as Lebanon struggles to cope with the massive explosion that ripped apart Beirut and killed nearly 200 people and left a quarter of a million homeless. Just what detonated 2,750 metric tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate squirreled away in an unguarded port warehouse is at the heart of an investigation that now includes American investigators who arrived last weekend. But the blame for why it happened is pinned on the government, which ignored warnings that the stockpile could destroy Beirut for six years.

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Much has changed in the geopolitical landscape since the 2005 attack. At the time, many Lebanese blamed Syria for the massacre, which set off widespread protests that led to the withdrawal of Syrian forces who had been in Lebanon for more than three decades. Both the Syrian government and Hezbollah political party and militant group deny involvement. The court in the Hague was not approved by the Lebanese parliament, and many will not accept the decision.

Hariri's son, Saad, followed his fathers footsteps, leading a pro-Western coalition and serving three terms as prime minister, resigning in January after protests against economic strife crippled the nation. He led the government that ignored pleas to secure the ammonium nitrate that blew up two weeks ago.

Former consultant for the defense Omar Nashabe said recently that the trial means little. This tribunal is doomed to fail because of the lack of consensus, Nashabe said.

Writing for the Carnegie Middle East Center, Michael Young said the verdicts will seem like little more than a postscript to an out-of-print book. He said that those who allegedly carried out the investigation risk almost nothing.

"The U.N. investigation was glowingly referred to once as a mechanism to end impunity, Young wrote. It has proven to be exactly the contrary.

What makes the verdict in such an important historic case so poignant today is that in 2005, the attack that also injured 220 people is considered a watershed moment for Lebanon that "changed everything" at the time, including all the missteps that led to the recent explosion that injured more than 6,000.

In 2011, when the indictments were formally handed down, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said they never would be handed over, even in 300 years, instead calling the investigation and trial a plot by Israel and the U.S. as an an aggression against us and our holy warriors.

The international trial has been divisive. Jamil Sayyed, the head of Lebanese security at the time of the attack who was detained for four years over potential involvement, told Al Jazeera this week that the international investigation was a dirty political game from day one.

Also speaking to Al Jazeera, lawyer Peter Haynes, who represents victims in the Hariri assassination case, instead says the international probe identified plainly criminal behavior in the same way many international investigations do, and I don't think it is in any way illegitimate.

The delivery of this delayed justice for what was, until two weeks ago, the deadliest explosion to rock Beirut this millennium, is lost on no one, especially the thousands of Lebanese who feel forgotten.

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Italy's highest court has ruled that parents do not have to support their children financially for life.

A part-time music teacher, who had found it tough to find work that appealed to him, had been successful arguing in court for the past five years that it was his parent's responsibility to support him financially.

In his first case, a local court agreed that the 35-year-old could rely on his parents for expenses as the 18,000 he earned from his part-time job was not enough to live on. They also agreed with his claim that he had the right to a job in line with his education and ambitions.

In a later hearing, a higher court reduced the monthly stipend from 300 to 200, the Times reported, but added that the judge had no issue with the concept.

However, in a landmark case, Italy's Supreme Court has reversed the decision, ruling that parents are not responsible for their children's financial situation for life.

A part-time music teacher, who had found it tough to find work that appealed to him, had been successful arguing in court for the past five years that it was his parent's responsibility to support him financially. (Pictured: File photo of a woman handing cash to her son)

Maria Cristina Giancola, who passed judgement on the case, said that young Italians should be working towards gaining financial independence, adding that parental support is not open-ended.

According to the Times, the court ruled that the 35-year-old needed to 'reduce his adolescent ambitions'.

The court added that his lengthy and ineffective job hunt did not help his case.

The man's father, who was divorced from the 35-year-old's mother, had also returned to live with his own mother at the age of 60.

He had shuttered his ironmonger's shop, but the father was not relying on his mother for financial support, the court added.

Maria Cristina Giancola, who passed judgement on the case at the Italian Supreme Court (pictured), said that young Italians should be working towards gaining financial independence, adding that parental support is not open-ended

Last year, official statistics showed that almost 65 per cent of Italians between the ages of 18 and 34 lived with at least one parent, the Times reported, while 36 per cent of students over the age of 18 were also living at home.

The ruling has proven controversial in Italy, with some welcoming the landmark decision and others citing the country's labour market as a problem for younger Italians.

Luca Barbareschi, an actor and father of six, said he thought the decision was a good move, but that it would take 30 years before the effects of the case were felt.

'I have been saying for years that children need obstacles and that they need to learn how to get by on their own,' he said.

The online newspaper Quotidiano.net said that the contemporary job market meant that young people were having to invent roles rather than just search for jobs.

'It's true that our kids stay at home for longer than their European contemporaries,' it said.

'But it's also true that the labour market is more complex and difficult than it was for previous generations.'

According to European statistics database Eurostat, Croatia has similar rates of stay-at-home adult children to Italy, whereas in Scandinavia, the amount of adults living at home is below 10 per cent.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at the Democratic National Convention Monday evening that the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. is a "man-made threat by our own negligence."

The big picture: The New York governor has drawn national attention for a take-charge approach to the coronavirus that contrasted with Trump's, mixing an unapologetic, pragmatic, action-oriented approach with emotionality. He has the potential to reach centrist voters and male voters.

What he's saying: "We know that our problems go beyond the coronavirus. COVID is the symptom, not the illness. Our nation is in crisis. And in many ways, COVID is just a metaphor," Cuomo said.

"Now, we need a leader as good as our people. A leader who appeals to the best within us, not the worst. A leader who can unify, not divide. A leader who can bring us up, not tear us down. I know that man, I've worked with that man. I've seen his strength, I've seen his pain, and I've seen his heart. That man is Joe Biden."

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more details from Cuomo's speech.
Although 10 years have passed since the Iraqi government started laying the groundwork for the al-Faw grand port in southern Iraq, the project is still far from completion.

Iraqi minister of transportation Nasser Hussain Bandar said Aug. 15 that his ministry is planning to sign a contract with the South Korean company Hanwha for resuming the al-Faw project.

"This stage includes the construction of five berths, deepening the sailing channel for the port, which we requested to be from 19 to 21 meters [52 to 69 feet], and establishing the infrastructure for five berths," said Bandar, "The first stage also includes the construction of a tunnel to connect with the port with Khor al-Zubair, and a strategic road linking the Iraqi border with Kuwait."

However, this does not mean the port will be ready in the near future; while much of the delay has had to do with financing, part of the problem also has to do with border disputes between Iraq and its neighbors in the Persian Gulf.

Iraq is trying to reach agreements with Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to resolve these disputes. This is seen as an important step for completion of the project, which would give Iraq the ability to host giant seagoing vessels. However, Iraq's neighbors may not see the completion of the port as being in their interests because it could take away some of their business.

On July 24, Kuwait rejected Iraq's request to join tripartite negotiations between Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iraq's failure to complete the al-Faw port project likely would make Iraq more reliant on Kuwaiti ports.

Iran, meanwhile, is pushing Iraq to move forward on a connection to link Iran's national railway with Iraq's; this, joined up with Syria's railway, would eventually connect Iran to the Mediterranean Sea at Syrias port of Latakia. Some say this might make Iraq more reliant on Iranian ports in the northern Gulf.

In his recent visit to Iran, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi was urged by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to finish the railway connection between the Iranian city of Shalamche and Iraqs city of Basra; there are 40 kilometers (25 miles) to go.

Basra province has four other main ports, including Abu Flous, Khor al-Zubair, al-Maqal and Umm Qasr; however, their water depths and berth lengths are limited and cannot accommodate the increasingly large tankers. What makes al-Faw important is that it would be able to host giant ships.

The al-Faw project was designed to receive ships of more than 100,000 tons, which need greater water depths and port berth lengths than are available with Basras existing ports.

If built as planned, the al-Faw grand port would be one of the worlds 12 largest. It is the sole Iraqi port on the open sea.

Al-Faw port will help to grow Iraq's economy and increase commercial traffic, which will achieve four times what Iraq collects financially from other ports combined, said Asaad al-Rashid, project director the grand port project.

He added, The main purpose of the port is to load and unload containers. The port includes dozens of berths to meet local demand for the next 30 years; in addition to that, the container terminals of the port will include bulk berths and general cargo berths.

The first step of the projects stages included building the eastern breakwater; the construction contract for that was won by the Greek company Archirodon in 2013. The contract for the western breakwater was won by South Koreas Daewoo later the same year.

Although much progress has been made on the breakwaters, the overall project has been almost stopped due to financial hardship.

Rashid told Al-Monitor, Our initial plan was to complete the first stage of the port by 2024 in case everything goes well and smoothly." He said there have been financial shortages of $3 billion to $4 billion.

While some say the port project may not be economically necessary or feasible, others say it is.

A civil servant who works in the Transportation Ministry said on condition of anonymity, Neighboring countries such as Kuwait and Iran opposed the project and they put pressure on the Iraqi government to stop the project or at least make the work go slowly. The government gave flimsy excuses that the financial issue is the big challenge to hold off work on the project." The civil servant said if this truly was the case, why didn't the government pursue financing from the big companies who have interest to work on it.

Rashid disagreed with the idea that external intervention had affected the continuity of the project, saying what delayed the work is mostly internal matters. He said that because al-Faw is an Iraqi port, there is no need to have any deal with any other country to proceed with its development. He added, The work was moving slowly for various reasons: unstable soil, financial shortages and the security situation in 2014 when the Islamic State invaded the northwest of Iraq.

He said the port's huge size and depth will serve the economy in a positive way, and allow increased trade, reduce the distance and the time from the source of the cargo to the destination by transporting the goods through big vessels with no need to go to the ports of neighboring countries to make the transshipment to other vessels, which cause a loss of time and money.

Sarkawt Shamsulddin, a member of the Future bloc in the Iraqi parliament, said, In the last 17 years Iraqi politicians worked to drain the wealth of the country and compromised for neighboring countries for personal and economic gains for their groups.

He said, It is important to know that neighboring countries cannot do anything if there are no local politicians to do it for them. Al-Faw is a project that enables Iraq to be stronger economically but it will benefit regular Iraqis more than the business politicians.

Shamsulddin added, The ruling elite does not want to build huge projects such as al-Faw because they are thugs and kleptocrats.

The al-Faw grand port plan also includes many other projects that would boost Basra's economy and improve the daily lives of the province's people.

The blueprint calls for power and water plants and factories. All this is important for the province, which suffers from unclean water, power shortages and high youth unemployment.

Since 2011, Basra and other Iraq's provinces have witnessed protests for various reasons; joblessness was the primary concern. The unemployment rate in Basra increased to 12% in 2019, according to the latest survey.

Ahmed Makki, 35, a jobless man from al-Faw, said, The project could change my life, but unfortunately the project is not finished yet. I have been waiting for years to get a permanent job as part of it.

Getting a job in Iraq is like the American Dream. I am just a one among tens of thousands of Iraqis who graduated from university and have been shocked by the successive governments corruption and incapability, Makki added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 18:05:34|Editor: huaxia

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QINGDAO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A leading Chinese expert has urged the public to get a flu shot no later than October, warning of the possibility that COVID-19 may collide with the upcoming seasonal flu.

Wang Chen, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, made the remarks at the annual meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology.

If a patient is infected by both the flu and COVID-19, it will complicate diagnosis, increase the difficulty and cost of isolation, and require more resources, said Wang, adding that the mortality rate may also rise notably.

He added that timely and large-scale flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent coinfection.

Wang said the best time to get a flu shot is before the end of next month and no later than October.

According to experts with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China's peak flu season is in December and January. It takes two to four weeks for humans to develop antibodies after flu vaccination. The antibodies are expected to provide protection for six to eight months. Enditem
TDT | Manama

Doctors on the frontlines draw their strength and dedication from God first, along with the support and assistance of the Bahraini community, Bahrain Medical Society (BMS) president Dr Ghada Al Qassim has said. The solidarity of our society acts as the ultimate driving force that supports doctors in their fight against COVID-19; which in turn, contributes to the swift return of normal life, Dr Al Qassim explained.

One could not stress enough on the importance of following the national guidelines set by the Bahraini authorities. This without a doubt is a national duty that falls on each member of this respected society. She added: Support shouldnt be simply theoretical or through slogans in the media, but should be driven by a sense of responsibility for the safety of the whole community.

Not only that, but such support should be reflected in ones commitment to follow all precautionary measures set by the National Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus, aiming to prevent the transmission and spread of the disease.

In light of this, BMS expressed its strong approval of all actions and precautionary measures implemented by the COVID-19 taskforce, specifically those in regards to religious gatherings and occasions. On behalf of all BMS board members, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for Team Bahrain, which has ensured that the country leads the race in fighting this deadly pandemic, following the highest standards set by World Health Organisation.

Dr Al Qassim went on to explain that the pandemic has already lasted for a long time and comes with implications and challenges to all sectors within the community. Yet, there still remains hope, especially with the recent development of clinical trials for an inactivated vaccine.

It is crucial to continue imposing precautionary measures to fight the virus, and work hand in hand with the general public to prevent gatherings, be it for religious or social purposes, she said. This is an imperative step to ensure that the efforts and sacrifices doctors and medics have made since the beginning of the crisis are not simply wasted.

Bahrain has witnessed many incidents of the virus outbreaks during family gatherings and other similar occasions, in which one person transmits the infection to dozens of people, leading to a vast increase in death cases. Dr Al Qassim underlined that such situations could be prevented if the general public abides by all governmental guidelines.

She went on to commend the contributions of NGOs, government organisations, companies, and banking and commercial sectors in showing full commitment to precautionary measures. The BMS president noted that Bahrains COVID-19 efforts fully comply with WHO requirements and have received international appraisal and recognition from many countries, and that these accomplishments must not be underestimated. It is crucial to do all that is possible to prevent such situations from occurring in the Kingdom, and we can only do this with your everlasting support.
Russian Ambassador in Cairo Georgiy Borisenko says his country and Egypt are working towards completing the Dabaa nuclear power plant within a decade

Last month Georgiy Borisenko presented his credentials to President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi as Moscows ambassador to Egypt. Except for a period in the 1970s, Cairo and Moscow have enjoyed stable, and at times very close, relations since they were established, first with the USSR on 26 August 1943, and then with the Russian Federation following the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991.

Since President Al-Sisi came to power in 2014, Egyptian-Russian rapport has been generally very positive.

Today our relations are on a positive track and we want to keep it that way. We want to work together and cooperate Egypt and Russia are like-minded states our two presidents have good chemistry and they have been giving a push to relations, Borisenko said in an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly.

I think we are good partners. We have strategic relations  in 2018 our two countries signed an agreement to establish a comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation.

Borisenko lists the projects that he says reflect the close cooperation between Cairo and Moscow, including a major purchase of Russian train carriages by Egypt. In total 1,300 carriages: 34 have arrived already and the rest should be sent to Egypt by 2023.

There is the nuclear power plant at Dabaa. The project was delayed because of coronavirus but construction work has already started and we are hoping to finish and have the power plant operating within ten years. Russian staff from Rosatom are already doing research on site.

Rosatom, the Russian State Atomi Energy Corporation, is building the nuclear power plant.

Borisenko also stresses Russian commitment to the Russian Industrial Zone (RIZ) in Port Said. An agreement was signed in 2018 after three years of negotiations, and was approved by President Al-Sisi in 2019. Though it remains largely a paper construct, Borisenko says 30 Russian companies have already expressed interest in being part of RIZ.

Because this is a business to business operation there are still a few matters to discuss, details about economic feasibility, he says.

Borisenko is fully aware of the differences in relations between Cairo and Moscow now and in the 1960s heyday of ties between Egypt and the Soviet Union. Todays relations are not the exclusive preserve of state institutions but encompass independent bodies working in the economic and cultural fields.

Before 1991, a government agency in Moscow undertook the translation of hundreds of titles from Russian literature into Arabic, volumes that were made available in the Egyptian market at low cost. When the scheme ended, the flow of Russian texts in Arabic dried up.

We are very committed to cultural cooperation and there is no reason why, in the future, a company will not find such a project interesting and worthwhile. This is the way to do things now, says Borisenko.

Unlike books, the flow of Russian tourists to the shores of the Red Sea had been increasing exponentially. Before the downing of a Russian flight over Sinai in October 2015 three million Russian tourists had been arriving annually. In 2019, the figure had fallen to 150,000 tourists who arrived in Egypt from Russia through a third country.

In the wake of the crash Russia banned charter flights to Egypts Red Sea resorts.

This attack happened eight weeks after the beginning of our work in Syria against the terrorist groups and we know it was meant to hit us for the work we had started in Syria, says Borisenko.

Acknowledging that Russian tourists would love to return to the beaches of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh, Borisenko says the return of Russian charter flights to Egypts resorts still awaits security clearance.

Several Russian security teams have inspected revisions to security measures at Egyptian airports and Russian flights to Cairo resumed in 2018. Suspended during the coronavirus pandemic, Russias ambassador to Egypt expects them to resume in a matter of weeks. There is, however, no firm date set for the resumption of charter flights to the Red Sea resorts.

The last visit of a Russian security team to the Red Sea to inspect the measures at the airports took place in January. Later this year the security teams are expected to resume their work in the hope of allowing Russian tourists to return.

Security is central to Egyptian-Russian cooperation. Cairo and Moscow are working on a new international convention combating cybercrime which Borisenko says we are hoping to finalise by 2022.

Egypt and Russias intelligence communities cooperate closely to prevent and combat terror, and the two capitals consult extensively over Libya where Moscow has been working with Turkey to secure a ceasefire around Sirte and Jufra.

This week Borisenko exchanged views with Egyptian officials at the Foreign Ministry on Libya.

I cannot say when this will be done, but I can say that we have been working on this for eight weeks and both sides in Libya are observing the existing frontlines, he says.

Since the start of the talks between Turkey, which supports the Government of National Accord (GNA), and Russia, which supports the Libyan National Army (LNA), neither side has moved from the positions they occupied two months ago.

Borisenko does not acknowledge the role of Russian mercenaries working for Wagner on the ground in Libya.

There is no company under the name Wagner registered in Russia as far as I know. If there are some Russian citizens doing some work in Libya it is an individual matter, he says.

The trouble in Libya, he argues, is essentially about weakened state bodies and the presence of foreign fighters.

Egypt has been uncompromising in its rejection of any advance further east by the GNA, and is concerned about the unchecked presence of Jihadists in Libya and the potential for those Jihadists to cross the border into Egypt and possibly move east into Sinai where Egyptian security bodies have been fighting terrorist groups for five years.

The Russian ambassador blames the theory of former US president George W Bush to democratise the Middle East for the situation in Libya. The US administration of Barack Obama then worked with other Western capitals to continue these schemes, he adds.

Moscow had little if any sympathy for the Arab Spring and the calls for democracy that spread in 2011. It was the Western policy of supporting the calls, Borisenko argues, that caused the current situation in Syria.

I clearly remember when [former US secretary of state Hillary] Clinton [and her successor John] Kerry tried to convince our Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov not to hit Jabhat Al-Nusra, he says.

The US objective at the time, he argues, was to get the militant group to help the moderate opposition overcome the rule of Bashar Al-Assad. Yet today, he says, there are few moderate opposition groups left, but a great many terrorists.

After five years of fighting on the side of the Al-Assad regime, Borisenko insists Russia is not in Syria to support any particular political figure but rather to support the rule of international law that should not allow for any foreign forces to impose their will on Syria.

Syria has to be reunited, its infrastructure has to be rebuilt and it has to be governed from Damascus.

Borisenko acknowledges that Syria and Libya continue to offer space for foreign fighters and terrorist groups whose activities threaten not just the two countries but also neighbouring states.

He argues that creating job opportunities and bringing stability could help rehabilitate some of the combatants but there will still need to be a firm security confrontation because many will refuse to simply lay down their arms.

The need to be firm in combating terrorism is, Borisenko underlines, something to which Moscow and Cairo are unequivocally committed.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that jobs under the state government will only be for people from Madhya Pradesh.

Chouhan said that legal changes for this would be introduced soon.

BCCL

"The state government has taken a crucial decision today. Government employment in the state would only be open for people from the state. We are putting in place the necessary legal framework for it. The resources of Madhya Pradesh will only be for the residents of the state," Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

An official statement quoted Chouhan as saying that students of the state will be taken in government services and "necessary statutory provisions will be made to ensure this".



The announcement came days after Chouhan said while addressing the Independence Day event that preference would be given to local youths for government jobs in the state.

"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," Chouhan said.

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In May 2020, a survey conducted by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) had found that Madhya Pradesh's unemployment had rate increased 15.1 percentage points, rising to 27.5% which was even higher than the national average of 23.5%.

In fact, the number of youths unemployed in the state has been on the rise constantly and in 2019 alone over seven lakhs were added to the list.

In December 2019, the then chief minister Kamal Nath had informed the assembly that the number of registered unemployed educated youth in Madhya Pradesh has grown by seven lakh within a year to 28 lakh while about 34,000 youth got jobs in the same period.

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The number of registered educated unemployed in MP in October 2018 was 20,77,222 and in October 2019, it is 27,79,725, Kamal Nath had said.

Though the unemployment figures for 2020 is not available yet, given the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout, it is highly likely that more educated youths in Madhya Pradesh have become unemployed.

This is bad news for the Chouhan, who assumed office amid the pandemic after toppling the Kamal Nath government.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18)  The Philippines hit 169,213 cases of the coronavirus disease on Tuesday, the Department of Health reported.

The agency announced 4,836 new infections, with 61 percent or 2,959 logged in Metro Manila, which will ease into a more relaxed community quarantine status starting Wednesday.

Other top reporting areas in terms of new cases are Laguna with 321, Cavite with 220, Rizal with 185, and Bulacan with 145, according to the latest bulletin.

These four provinces are likewise set to loosen its restrictions on Wednesday, after being placed under a two-week modified enhanced community quarantine along with the countrys capital region.

The DOH also listed 182 new survivors of the disease, raising the number of recoveries to 112,861. Meanwhile, the death toll is now at 2,687, with seven new deaths.

Around 32 percent of the national case count  or 53,665 patients  are active cases or currently ill, the DOH said.

According to the World Health Organization, more than half of the Philippines' COVID-19 cases are from the 20 to 40 years old age group, describing the working sector as the "driving force" of the coronavirus pandemic.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire noted last week that the bulk of the cases in the country are from the "productive age group" of 20 to 59 years old  with over 70,000 coming from the 20-39 age group. The DOH also recently reported clusters of COVID-19 transmission in workplaces.

READ: Majority of new COVID-19 cases in PH come from 20-40 age group; WHO calls it 'concerning'

Among Filipinos abroad, the Department of Foreign Affairs added 25 more to the tally of infections, which went up to 9,933. It also said another 16 were cleared of the disease, bringing recoveries to 5,860. The death toll still stands at 726.

The global case count has reached 21.9 million, including some 774,000 deaths and 13.9 million recoveries, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
South Africa: Department lifts quarantine at some Limpopo FMD sites

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has lifted the quarantine on nine locations affected by foot and mouth disease in Limpopo.

The department is pleased to announce that quarantine has been lifted on nine locations, with 10 properties remaining under quarantine. Our veterinary Services are continuously working with the affected farmers to resolve the remaining 10 farms, and good progress is being made in this regard, said the department in a statement on Tuesday.

In addition, the department said Botswana has lifted the ban on export of live cattle from South Africa.

The import conditions for export of cattle to Botswana have been revised and a health certificate has been agreed upon. Foot-and-Mouth (FMD) specific import conditions include isolation of animals for at least 30 days whilst preparing for export under supervision of the Veterinary Authority and testing for FMD during this time.

The agreed upon conditions were provided to the Provincial Veterinary Services and potential exporters are advised to contact their local state veterinarian to familiarise themselves with the requirements for exporting cattle to Botswana.

The department said most trade partners have retained the negotiated agreements for safe commodities.

Updated information has been supplied to the veterinary authorities to provide assurances on the continued safe trade of commodities.

The department emphasised that FMD is not contagious to humans.

FMD is not contagious to humans and the meat from animals that have recovered from the disease is safe for human consumption. Permission was granted to nine feedlots for the safe slaughter of animals from affected premises at two abattoirs designated for this purpose.

This process said the department, is continuing and more than 11 000 animals from farms under quarantine have been safely processed. Once all animals on affected properties have been slaughtered, quarantine can be lifted and the farming operations can resume.

Precautions

The department advised livestock owners and traders to take buyer beware precautions and to maintain basic biosecurity measures on their farms.

These measures will also prevent outbreaks of other contagious diseases in your animals, including Brucellosis in cattle and African Swine Fever in the case of pigs, it said.

Farmers were also warned to only buy animals from known and proven sources and insist on a veterinary health declaration before animals are brought onto your farms.

The department also advised traders to place new arrivals in isolation until they are satisfied with the animals health status.

It also warned against the moving of animals that show signs of disease as well as buying animals from unknown origins, or buying animals originating from known infected areas.

The department has warned traders not to allow visitors and buyers to have contact with animals without proper disinfection of their hands, shoes and anything that could transmit the virus.

Survey

Once the process of resolving all affected premises has been concluded, the department will embark on a general surveillance strategy in the areas affected by the January 2019 and November 2019 outbreaks. Going forward, the outcome of this survey will determine the process of regaining international FMD free zone status, said the department.

The FMD outbreak in Limpopo started in November 2019 and 19 locations tested positive for FMD.

The last positive location was reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (also known as OIE) on 26 February 2020 and no new positive locations have been identified since.

In most of the affected locations, more than six months have passed since the last clinical cases, which is a very encouraging sign that the outbreak was successfully controlled.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Sudanese protestors in the capital Khartoum on Monday called for "justice" and "peace" as they marked the one-year anniversary of a transitional government following the ouster of long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir.

Large crowds marched through the government district of the capital Khartoum, some burning tyres, before police fired tear gas to break them up, an AFP journalist said.

Clashes erupted at the end of the rally when an adviser to Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok came out to collect a letter written by the demonstrators, who demanded that the head of the government receive it personally.

"We came to demonstrate to put pressure on the government to speed up the reforms, because after a year, we're not satisfied," said Mohammad Omar, a 20-year-old student.

"The police use tear gas against us when it's our right to demonstrate. It's unacceptable."

Bashir, currently on trial over the military coup that brought him to power, was overthrown by the army on April 11, 2019 after a wave of mass protests against his three-decade, iron-fisted rule.

On August 17, 2019, after weeks of intense negotiations, the military rulers and protest leaders signed a "constitutional declaration" under which a sovereign council of six civilians and five military figures will govern for a transitional period.

However, demonstrators said the government had not fulfilled its promises.

"I am here to protest because we want to see the goals of our revolution achieved," said 22-year-old Sawsan Mohammad.

Protesters called for justice for those killed during the demonstrations against Bashir and military rule, and several carried flags and banners bearings slogans including "Justice", "Peace", "Reform the security sector" and "The people are still suffering".

Sudan's transitional government has been pursuing a string of reforms, seeking to rebuild ties with the US, boost its international standing and rescue its ailing economy.

But demonstrators say action has been too slow.

Prime Minister Hamdok outlined in a statement on Monday his transitional government's achievements over the past year, including negotiations with multiple rebel forces.

However, he also acknowledged the challenges.

"Issues of justice... remain one of the most important tasks we face," Hamdok said in the statement.

"The state apparatus must be rebuilt, and civil service must... be modernised to be in the service of citizens".

Hamdok has made finding a peace deal with rebel groups a priority, in order to bring stability to the restive regions of Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
When Israel was brought into the global debate on anti-black racism, it was through a discussion of parallels between the treatment of African Americans and Palestinians, and very little consideration was given to the lives of the almost 200,000 black people within Israel itself. Race in Israel can be loaded with many of the same, often deadly, implications as in the United States: last month, a court acquitted two men, Israel Defence Forces soldier Yaakov Shimba and Israel Prisons Service officer Ronen Cohen, who in 2015 shot an Eritrean asylum seeker, Haftom Zarhum, believing him to be a terrorist. Zarhum was then badly beaten by a mob, and later died in hospital.

East African refugees like Zarhum began arriving in Israel via its border with Egypt in 2005, fleeing the civil war in Sudan or the totalitarian regime in Eritrea. Today its estimated that 23,140 Eritrean and 6,466 Sudanese citizens constitute 91 per cent of all asylum seekers in Israel. Their perilous passage involves crossing the Sinai desert, where Bedouins kidnap, torture and ransom Africans. According to the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, 7,000 refugees are survivors of torture in the Sinai.

When I arrived in 2008, Taj Haroun, formerly head of the African Students Organisation in Israel, tells us from his office in south Tel Aviv, Neve Shaanan (the main area of settlement for African asylum seekers) was like the red light district of Amsterdam. I havent been there but thats what I heard; a lot of prostitutes. When I arrived all the streets were like that. Today, this is a business hub. The house prices have gone up as well. So its become a very successful business hub for asylum seekers and Israelis, especially for the ones that own places. Its a very good business, and they dont want the asylum seekers to go. No one talks about this.
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'The new video stuff': Hitchcock ISD has first day of school virtually

STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Students are seen on a tablet as Stewart Elementary fifth-grade teacher Jashaina Williams runs through a lesson in her empty classroom at the school in Hitchcock on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News A miniature paper marker bearing a students name stands on an empty desk in a fourth grade classroom at Stewart Elementary School in Hitchcock on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Math posters hang on a wall as Stewart Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Stephen Steinbauer runs through a virtual lesson with students at the school in Hitchcock on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Stewart Elementary fifth-grade teacher Jashaina Williams writes out a lesson on a clear board while preparing to record a session in her empty classroom at the school in Hitchcock on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Stewart Elementary fifth-grade teacher Jashaina Williams works out a lesson on a clear board while preparing to record a session in her empty classroom. at the school in Hitchcock on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Small paper markers bearing students names rest on empty desks in a fourth grade classroom at Stewart Elementary School in Hitchcock on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News Stewart Elementary fifth-grade teacher Jashaina Williams writes out a lesson on a clear board while preparing to record a session in her empty classroom at the school in Hitchcock on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020.

HITCHCOCK

The first days of school typically are spent getting to know one another; teachers have new students, students have new classmates.

Thats about all that has been typical as Galveston County school districts start a new academic year virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monday was the first day of school for the Hitchcock Independent School District, and teachers and students spent the day easing into the current normal.

The school day has been good, and I got to meet new people, Stewart Elementary fourth-grader Alex Tobar said via a teleconferencing app on teacher Terry Dunnes laptop. Ive been adjusting good to the new video stuff.

Schools ended last school year conducting virtual learning, so its not an entirely new concept, but a major change has been the incorporation of different apps into the lesson plan.

For us, its the first day, so were using Flipgrid a lot, Stewart Elementary fourth grade teacher Adrian Moy said. Were using that to do get-to-know-you activities. Theyre able to video themselves and answer three questions I had posted for them. Im also allowing them to go to one of their classmates and do a video comment back to them.

Jamboard, an interactive whiteboard; Padlet, which allows users to post notes on a digital wall; and Flipgrid, a video message board through which teachers can post questions and students can post their responses, are among the web apps being utilized to help facilitate virtual learning.

I had no idea all those different things were out there, and theyre so user-friendly, and theyre what kids respond to, Hitchcock ISD Superintendent Travis Edwards said. Itd be one thing to record yourself teaching a lesson, but thats not effective. Its about how we can use the instruction and use the program to facilitate the instruction. Its almost like a video game.

When teachers arent teaching live, theyre recording lessons to be viewed later by their students. All the technology also has teachers doubling as IT troubleshooters for parents and students having problems with any of the programs.

Today and tomorrow are kind of get-to-know-you days, and then we start teaching on Wednesday, so we hope all the hiccups are kind of done by Wednesday, Stewart Elementary Principal Lisa Fain said.

Faculty members spent the summer learning the aforementioned apps and training on how to best teach students through teleconferencing, and all things considered, the first day went about as smoothly has could have been hoped, Edwards said.

Weve ironed out a lot of the wrinkles already, Edwards said. The teachers went through it like they were a student, and did it from the teachers side.
The Trump campaign signaled its intent to seize on the Democrats decision to embrace Black Lives Matter, suggesting that the movement shows contempt for the police. After Bowser spoke, the campaign tweeted, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was proud of protesters painting DEFUND THE POLICE on the city street. She refused to remove it. Joe Biden and his party show nothing but disrespect to law enforcement.
Judges at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Tuesday convicted the lead suspect in the 2005 bombing that killed former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Reading a summary of a 2,600 page decision, Judge David Re said Salim Jamil Ayyash had been found guilty of homicide and committing a terrorist act over the deaths of Hariri and 21 others.

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Almost two weeks ago, the Austrian foreign ministry issued a warning against travel to Spain with the exception of the Balearics and Canary Islands. The Austrian government has updated its advice, and the same warning now applies to the Balearics but not to the Canaries.

This new measure, which will come into effect from Monday next week (24 August), will mean that travellers from the Balearics will have to present a negative coronavirus test on their return to Austria or be subject to a mandatory quarantine at home.

If Austrian citizens cannot immediately submit a negative test on return, they will be given 48 hours to take a test. In the meantime, they will have to isolate.

The Austrian government has also declared Croatia to be a risk.
Many foreigners in Vietnam have joined hands with local people in the fight against COVID-19 since the recent second outbreak began in late July.

Wayne Worrell presents face mask to a woman (Source: VNA)

Wayne Worrell, 54, a British teacher living and working in Vietnam for more than 10 years, and some of his friends decided to conduct a campaign to present free face masks to others to help raise awareness about protecting their health and the health of the entire community.

He said that when Hanoi reported its first case of infection, who had returned from the hotspot Da Nang, he went out and saw many people not wearing face masks. He thought he had to do something to raise public consciousness.

Worrell and his friends, including Vietnamese and foreigners, made a collage of many small pictures showing them wearing face masks to spread a message of how important face masks are.

The collage made by Wayne Worrell and his friends (Photo courtesy of Worrell)

After the collage was shared widely on social networks, he thought about other practical measures to adopt, and contacted medical supply and equipment providers about his idea of distributing face masks in the community.

Hoang Thi Nhu Phuong from the P&U Vietnam Joint Stock Company, which is providing free face masks for Worrells campaign, said that after listening to his initiative the company decided to provide thousands of face masks to fight COVID-19.

On the first day of the campaign, Worrell and his friends walked around the streets of Hanoi handing out nearly 300 face masks and reminding people to wear them when going out.

Chelsea Ann Kerbaugh, an American involved in the campaign, said there are many foreigners living and working in Vietnam and they are keen to join hands with local people.

Of a similar mind, Daina Raiskuma from Latvia, who owns a cafe in Hanoi, said she joined the campaign because she believes its a significant effort. No matter who you are or where you come from, as long as we are united, small efforts together make a big difference, she said./.VNA
Lebanon's president Michel Aoun, an ally of Hezbollah, is dismissing theories that the vast explosion that hit his city was caused by a Hezbollah weapons cache, as quote, "impossible."

But, he says, all possibilities will be investigated.

Lebanese authorities are still probing what caused the huge amounts of ammonium nitrate - which had been warehoused unsafely for years at the port - to detonate in a mushroom cloud.

Although, last week, a Reuters security source said the spark appeared to be caused by a welding accident made by workers sent to secure the facility.

Speculation has abound though, ranging from theories that it was a deliberate attack to the presence of a Hezbollah arms depot.

Aoun is an ally of the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

He told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that the Shi'ite group did not store weapons at the port - echoing comments by Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah earlier this month.

Nasrallah has said that the group would wait for results of the investigation.

But if it turns out to be an act of sabotage by Israel then it would, quote, "pay an equal price."

Israel has denied any involvement in the blast.

Hezbollah has fought several wars with Israel and is classified by the United States as a terrorist group.

Aoun has said the probe is investigating whether neglect, an accident or so-called "external interference" caused the explosion.

And that he wanted to, quote, "avoid being accused of not having listened to every voice."

At least 178 people were killed, and swathes of the city have been destroyed.
Things were dire in April when the Canadian military was called in to care for residents in Ontario long-term-care homes hard hit by COVID-19.

By the time the soldiers left in July, as the exit report released last Friday states, the most horrific conditions in four homes were fixed. Residents were routinely eating three meals a day and their soiled diapers were changed more often in two more homes. And only a few bugs remained in another home.

Thats certainly better than residents not eating, languishing in soiled diapers, and being overrun by cockroaches. But what an incredibly low bar it is.

Surely we want, and should be able to expect, far more for our vulnerable seniors living in long-term-care homes.

And even now, after months of military assistance and extensive political attention to the problems in Ontarios nursing homes, the military still cautions that a few concerns around staffing remain.

Those relate to clinical skills and standards of care  often connected to training, expertise, and experience with new staff who were mobilized in short order, Brig. Gen. Conrad Mialkowski says in the report.

This is particularly important because its not just a pandemic issue, and its most certainly not exclusive to these few homes. It comes down to longstanding difficulties in attracting and maintaining staff, which is directly related to the low pay and challenging working conditions in a great many long-term-care homes across Ontario.

Troublingly, those are the very issues that the Ford government has not yet addressed even as it pats itself on the back that the situation in extremely troubled homes has been stabilized.

Certainly many of the problems the military encountered, including COVID-19 positive patients wandering the halls or residents being force-fed in a rushed manner, were made worse by the pandemic. Families who normally provide a great deal of daily care to their loved ones werent allowed inside for months.

But the core of the problems stem from long-standing underfunding and understaffing at these homes, along with incredibly lax government regulations and oversight. That has nothing to do with COVID-19 and everything to do with political choices.

So it is not a given, as the military report states, that Ontario is well equipped to address any of these issues from this point forward.

The Ford government still needs to take steps to prove thats the case.

It can do that by upgrading the government commission into long-term care to a proper public inquiry. Ontarians need a far broader and more transparent review than the government is currently pursuing.

Its not enough to focus narrowly on COVID-19 and preventing future outbreaks. We need to address everything from how homes are funded, staffed and operated, to how the different delivery models affect outcomes for residents  not just in a pandemic, but all the time.

We know six of the seven homes where residents were in such dire straits that the military was deployed in order to preserve life are for-profit facilities. And we know that while COVID-19 hit the entire long-term care sector hard, deaths in Ontario have been concentrated in for-profit care homes.

That makes it more than a little galling that for-profits have seen fit to pay dividends to their shareholders during the crisis.

Indeed, as the Star reported on Sunday, the largest operator of private nursing homes in Canada, Extendicare, paid out more than $10 million in dividends to its shareholders since April while at the same time taking $21 million from the public pursue under the pandemic wage subsidy program.

Surely Extendicare should have invested those funds in its care homes and most especially those that were hard hit by the coronavirus and exposed as physically inadequate and badly understaffed.

That a company like Extendicare chose not to do that is one of the reasons why so many people are rightly demanding a broader review into long-term care to ensure a better system going forward.

Its time the Ford government listened.
Actress and activist Eva Longoria moderated the first night of the virtual Democratic National Convention. (DNCC via Getty Images)

Call it an unconventional convention, or a sign of the times. The first all-virtual Democratic National Convention answered the question of how to launch a party ticket during a pandemic Monday night with two hours of programming that looked nothing like the conventions of the Before Times.

The first of four nights dedicated to the nomination of former Vice President Joe Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris, it was part telethon, part Zoom meeting and part outdoor concert, pasted together with awkward segues and underpinned by a dire sense of urgency.

If you take one thing from my words tonight, it is this: If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can  and they will if we dont make a change in this election, said the night's keynote speaker, former First Lady Michelle Obama, in an impassioned speech about the future of the nation. If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it.

Obama's unusually direct words about the man who currently resides in the White House (You simply cannot fake your way through this job, she said. Being president doesnt change who you are, it reveals who you are) and her willingness to step into the political arena to get him out of office echoed the resolve expressed by just about everyone during the conventions opening night.

Hosted by Eva Longoria, the production included live and taped testimonials from political leaders such as Bernie Sanders, who inexplicably stood in front of a pile of firewood; musical performances that included a duet by Pose star Billy Porter and rock icon Stephen Stills; and video moments with regular folks reacting to Sanders' and Obama's speeches from their homes. But the Democratic Party's telethon for a country in crisis successfully reflected the moment. In fact, a traditional convention may have felt even stranger given the odd times we're living through.

Story continues

A COVID-19 death toll of 170,000, an economic downturn, systemic racial injustice, uprisings against that injustice, the rise of white supremacy, global warming and everything else that keeps us up at night and asleep midday: Conventioneers cheering in goofy hats would been downright inappropriate for a messy year like 2020.

It's gotten bad enough that even lifelong Republicans chimed in to explain why theyll be voting for Biden. Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich said, In normal times, something like this would probably never happen. But these are not normal times. Im proud of my Republican heritage ... but many of us cannot imagine four more years going down this path." Former governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman, former New York congresswoman Susan Molinari and businesswoman Meg Whitman, who ran for governor of California in 2010, also expressed their desire to vote blue in November.

The made-for-TV convention, as CNNs Anderson Cooper called it, was peppered with the unpredictable aspects of live TV and video conferencing. Pixelating, tiling computer camera interviews ran back-to-back with ungainly moments of dead air between segments, missed cues and stagehands accidentally walking in front of the camera.

But the message was clear from folks like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who sang Bidens praises. It was time to rise up and save our democracy, and this message was repeated over and over again. No mystery why Bruce Springsteens The Rising was the evening's recurring soundtrack, bleeding into nearly every transition.

Biden and Harris appeared Monday, but not prominently. They have the rest of the week for that. Monday was just a teaser of whats to come, and it was some of the testimonials of the People  as in "We the People," which amounted to the first night's slogan  that proved the most indelible.

Kristin Urquiza, who lost her father to the coronavirus, delivered a powerful account of his passing that indicted the president for downplaying the seriousness of the disease. In the process she captured, as did Obama's own lacerating speech, one other advantage of the telethon in our living room's: the intimate power of direct address.

There are two Americas: the one Donald Trump lives in and the one my father died in, she told us. One of last things my father said to me, is he felt betrayed by Donald Trump... When I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my dad.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo turned his Democratic convention speech into an extended metaphor in which he compared President Trump to the coronavirus.

We know that our problems go beyond the COVID virus: COVID is the symptom, not the illness, Cuomo said in a live speech broadcast without a physical audience. Our nation is in crisis, and in many ways COVID is just a metaphor.

A virus attacks when the body is weak, when it cannot defend itself, Cuomo continued. Over the past few years Americas body politic has been weakenedOnly a strong body can fight off the virus, and Americas divisions weakened it. Donald Trump didnt create the initial division, the division created Trump: he only made it worse.

Cuomo went on to compare the countrys government to an immune system, and blamed the federal government for failing to contain coronavirus. With over 32,000 coronavirus deaths, New York has suffered the highest death toll of any U.S. state during the pandemic.

The speaker following Cuomo, Kristin Urquiza, compared Trump to a preexisting condition, blaming the president for her fathers death from coronavirus.

My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life, Urquiza said. One of the last things that my father said to me was that he felt betrayed by the likes of Donald Trump. And so, when I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my dad.

More from National Review
In erasing their own fingerprints from Mossadeghs removal, the U.K. also scrubbed from the record one of the events most important players, a shadowy figure named Norman Darbyshire. Following a trail that includes visits with Mossadeghs family, poring over a trove of documents at Washingtons National Security Archive and discovering a gold mine in the form of an old television documentary, Arimani and editor Walter Murch transform Coup 53 before our eyes from a personal essay to an illuminating political history and finally to a brilliantly self-referential exercise in documentary filmmaking (the Post-it notes that festoon the teams office offer a candid glimpse of just how difficult seamlessness is to pull off).
Rarely in times of peace has a Middle Eastern country expanded its military, political, economic and cultural power beyond its borders as far away and at such a rate as Turkey has in recent years.

Three decades ago Turkeys soft power remained deeply contingent upon preserving its bonds with the Western world while its militarily leverage was capable of operating only closely to NATO.

Now, Turkeys military bases, outposts, navy and drones are churning out state-of-the-art combat weaponry across the Middle East, the Arabian Gulf, the horn of Africa and North Africa and beyond.

Turkish political, economic and cultural power is also evident across the Turkic-speaking countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, as well as in some key Muslim nations like Pakistan.

From northern Syria to Libya to Qatar and Somalia, Turkey has been active in building its military presence while aggressively seeking to advance its political and economic influence through diplomacy and investment.

Yet, nowhere has the Turkish military been able to operate with greater intensity and with fewer restrictions than in northern Iraq, gaining from the political chaos there following the US-led invasion of the country in 2003.

While Ankaras strong-arm tactics in recent years have raised fears in many countries in the region about Turkeys rising influence, a combination of historical, geopolitical and security factors may indicate that Turkeys escalation in Iraq could spill over into a wider conflict.

Even before the Turkish drone attack last week on an Iraqi military convoy that killed two army commanders, Turkey had been carrying out incursions in northern Iraq, claiming that the porous border provided a retreat for the Kurdish anti-government rebel group known as the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party.

Turkey began its hot-pursuit operations against the PKK as early as 1988, but it only built a permanent presence in northern Iraq in early 1992 in tandem with its cross-border campaigns to counter the rebels.

Nearly three decades on, Turkeys massive military presence in Iraq has gone beyond its declared aim of the pursuit of the PKK to establishing a long-term military presence in northern Iraq.

On 11 August, a Turkish air raid in northern Iraq killed two commanders of Iraqs border guard and their driver, marking the first Iraqi troop deaths since Turkey launched cross-border operations in the region.

Iraqi officials did not give details about the assault, but local media said the Turkish drone strike had targeted the officers while they were meeting with PKK guerrillas to try to calm tensions in the mountainous district of Sidakan north of Erbil.

The Iraqi government blasted the strike as blatant Turkish aggression against Iraqs sovereignty and territory and called on Ankara to stop all its military operations in the region.

Iraqs Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad twice over the attack to relay a strongly worded message of protest against the aggression to his government.

The Foreign Ministry also said the Iraqi government had cancelled a planned visit by Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar to Baghdad scheduled on 13 August.

Turkey rebuffed Iraqs protests and announced it would continue its military operations in Iraq, which it said were necessary for border security no matter where they may be.

Turkey has long attacked the PKK, which it labels as a terrorist group and accuses of using the rugged terrain of northern Iraq as a rear base to wage attacks inside Turkey.

But Turkeys aspirations in northern Iraq could surpass by far the goal of neutralising terror threats against Turkey in order to secure long-term strategic interests, most importantly creating more geostrategic advantages as a new regional order is taking shape.

Even before the recent killing of the Iraqi commanders, Ankara was making major strides into northern Iraq, pushing Baghdad to face an unwanted foreign military force on its sovereign territory.

In 2015, Turkey established a military base in the town of Bashiqa near Mosul where some 5,000 troops were sent to support and train Sunni Muslim allies after Islamic State (IS) group militants seized the province.

Ankara has since maintained its presence in Bashiqa, which now includes dozens of tanks, despite the expulsion of IS militants from Mosul and repeated protests from the Iraqi government.

In June, Ankara launched a new ground offensive dubbed Operation Claw-Tiger that saw Turkish troops advancing deeper into Iraq. Its Defence Ministry said the operation was supported by warplanes, attack helicopters, artillery and armed and unarmed drones.

Later, the Turkish military launched another double ground and air offensive into northern Iraq named Operation Claw-Eagle that Ankara said was in response to increasing harassment and attempts to attack Turkish military bases in the area.

Turkey has announced its neutralising of scores of PKK rebels in its operations in northern Iraq, but there has been little information from independent sources about the activities of the Turkish troops in the region.

However, a map issued by Turkeys Directorate of Communications last month showed 37 Turkish military bases and advanced outposts in northern Iraq, including four in Erbil, Duhok, Soran and Zakho and others on the Makhoul Plateau some 200 km north of Baghdad.

In many of its campaigns Iraqi civilians have reportedly been killed, houses destroyed and sometimes villages completely levelled by Turkish bombardments or air-raids.

Turkeys military buildup in Iraq comes as part of its increasing efforts to extend its power well beyond its borders, with troops on the ground and drones and navy frigates loitering in the airspace and off the coasts of several countries.

But while Turkeys display of military power elsewhere is intended to play a bizarre game of chicken, its involvement in Iraq could be more dangerous and could indicate that Ankara might be sleepwalking into a new war.

The underlying factors are the combustible situation in Iraq, where multiple non-state actors and proxies are competing with a fragile Iraqi state and a variety of regional and international powers to control the country.

As long as these factors hold, the possibility of the Turkish buildup escalating into a broader confrontation between Turkey and Iraq will endure, and this hazardous prospect will be put to the test over the next few months.

Therefore, it is possible to imagine a scenario in which Turkey is trapped in a broader war in the strategic, yet troubled, region of northern Iraq with its soft and porous borders.

There is already a cold war rhetoric emerging, with this kind of twitch and grunt reflecting a nationalistic spiral on both sides of the border.

Iraq has taken steps to protest against Turkeys belligerency, including in a diplomatic campaign to seek support from Arab and foreign nations and the suspension of a visa programme with Turkey that had granted entry permits at border crossings for Turkish visitors.

Iraqi officials have also signalled that they will sever imports from Turkey, Iraqs second-largest goods supplier with exports to Iraq amounting to $13 billion. Iraq has already suspended plans to open a second crossing with its northern neighbour that Turkey had hoped would bolster bilateral trade to some $20 billion a year.

Iraqi political groups have stepped up their rhetoric against Turkey, demanding more proactive diplomacy by their government and retribution for what they have termed as Ankaras repeated aggressions.

The Iraqi army has also warned that a military option is on the table. The Joint Operations Command has the capacities and the military potential to defend the countrys security and sovereignty once orders are given, Tahseen Al-Khafaji, an Iraqi army spokesman, said in a statement.

As the crisis unfolds, Turkey has remained unapologetic, and it has vowed to continue its operations deep inside Iraq, raising fears that Ankara may be planning to establish safe havens in northern Iraq similar to those in Syria.

In this regard, it continues to use water from the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, which descend from the Turkish mountains, directly impacting water flows into Iraq and hence increasing the pressure on the country.

Moreover, Ankara continues to host and assist disgruntled Iraqi Sunni Arab politicians in a bid to meddle in Iraqs internal affairs through playing the sectarian card and increasing Sunni-Shia tensions.

Ankaras defiance, however, is in line with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans policy in Iraq, which goes beyond fighting the PKK to advancing his agenda for Turkey to be an unstoppable power in the Middle East.

While Turkeys aggressive role in the wider Middle East is largely about this power struggle, its ambitions in Iraq remain more expansionist and even imperialistic.

Indeed, Erdogan has been sending signals that the fate of northern Iraq will be a serious interest for Turkey as long as Iraq remains unstable and its future hangs in the balance.

Erdogan has in the past invoked the Misak-i Milli (National Pact), a 1920 Turkish document that claimed large parts of northern Iraq that used to be called the Mosul Velayet, or province, under the former Ottoman Empire.

Many in Turkey believe that the Mosul Velayet, which includes the Erbil, Sulaimaniya and Kirkuk provinces in Iraq today, was unduly cut off from the remaining territory of the former Empire, now making up todays Turkey, and they aspire to see it connected back to the Turkish homeland.

Wars usually start with a spark, and Turkeys aggressive interventions and ambitions in Iraq have been stockpiling and could provide the trigger.

Iraq may be unsettled politically, socially and militarily, but that does not mean that Iraqis will surrender to Turkeys military posturing or let it take the reins in terms of remapping their country.

While war-torn Iraq remains in the great power tussle at a disadvantage to Turkey, which is the second-largest military force in NATO, Turkey may well confront a resurgent Iraqi patriotism if it tries to climb the ladder of escalation in the region.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question during a news conference on parliament hill in Ottawa on Aug. 18, 2020. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Parliament Prorogued, Confidence Coming On Throne Speech, Says Trudeau

OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Gov. Gen. Julie Payette to prorogue Parliament, promising to come back with a new throne speech next month to reset his Liberal governments agenda in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trudeau announced Parliament will return Sept. 23, which is two days after the House of Commons was initially scheduled to resume sitting after having reduced operations this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The move will reset the legislative agenda, shutting down committeesalong with their probes of the WE Charity controversyand clearing away any unfinished work or bills left on the order paper.

Trudeau says the pandemic has created the need for a long-term plan for recovery, and says the throne speech will be a roadmap to rebuilding the economy and address fundamental inequities in society that were laid bare by the pandemic and shutdown.

The move comes less than 24 hours after Bill Morneau announced his resignation as finance minister and as Liberal MP for Toronto Centre. A mini-cabinet shuffle at Rideau Hall Tuesday afternoon saw Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland appointed Canadas finance minister, the first woman named to the high-profile post.

Freeland will continue serving as deputy prime minister in addition to taking on finance, but New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc will take over from her in the intergovernmental affairs portfolioa job he held during the Liberal governments previous mandate.

Trudeau says the throne speech delivered eight months ago had no inkling that a pandemic would cause a global economic crisis, and a new speech is needed to offer a long-term plan for rebuilding.

The throne speech will also prompt a confidence vote, which will offer an opportunity for opposition parties to test their plan in the House of Commons, Trudeau said.

Trudeau said he absolutely plans to fight the next election as Liberal leader.

The Conservatives are set to reveal the winner of their leadership race this weekend.

Trudeau also says his Liberal government will release thousands of pages of documents related to the WE controversy that had been turned over to the House of Commons finance committee.

That committee demanded the documents as part of its investigation into whether Trudeaus relationship with WE Charity influenced the governments ill-fated decision to have the organization run a federal student-volunteer program.

Both Morneau and Trudeau are facing investigations by the federal ethics commissioner for not recusing themselves in the WE Charity deal, given their close family ties to the organization.

As the minister of finance, Freeland will help shepherd the government through the biggest economic recovery since the Great Depression. The government has not yet tabled a 2020 budget, because plans to do so in March were upended by the pandemic.

A fiscal snapshot released in July was a bare-bones look at the pandemic relief programs thus far, but provided few details about how the government intends to move out of the crisis.

That plan will come in the throne speech and either a fall economic statement or a budget, which Trudeau is looking now to bring in this fall. A cabinet retreat is scheduled for Sept. 14.

Earlier Tuesday, Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said Morneau was just taking the fall for the government and that Trudeau is the one who should resign.

Poilievre said he did not have hope that Freeland replacing Morneau would mark a change in policy or direction for the Liberals.

Regardless, though, of how you play musical chairs, we still have the same corrupt and incompetent prime minister ahead of the same corrupt and chaotic government.

Poilievre sidestepped questions about whether the Tories would try to trigger an election this fall, saying they want to uncover the full story of the WE controversy so Canadians know all the details before they go to the polls again.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet last week said he would bring a non-confidence vote himself if Trudeau, Morneau and Trudeaus chief of staff Katie Telford do not all resign. He said Tuesday a throne speech could just make doing so easier, though he also left the door open to supporting it.

Speaking to his MPs at a caucus retreat in Bonaventure, Que., Blanchet said the party would vote against a throne speech if it does not contain greater health transfers to the provinces, substantially more help for Quebec seniors, and aid to agricultural producers in supply-managed sectors.

The New Democrats have been using their position in the minority Parliament to help Trudeaus Liberals pass emergency aid legislation, while negotiating changes. The NDP are now asking for a $12-billion investment in child care, including an immediate $2 billion investment so parents can go back to work.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says this will remain the NDPs focusfor now.

If the Liberal government continues to focus on helping their close friends instead of helping people  then well have to look at all options, he said Tuesday in Vancouver.

Morneau insisted his decision to leave was based strictly on the fact that he doesnt intend to run for re-election and his belief that the finance minister must be someone around for the long, hard road to recovery ahead.

He said he intends to run to be the next secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Both Trudeau and Morneau have close family ties to the WE organization have apologized for not recusing themselves from the decision to select WE Charity to administer the multimillion-dollar program. WE backed out of the deal in early July, citing the controversy.

Morneau compounded the controversy by revealing WE Charity had paid over $41,000 in expenses for family trips to see its humanitarian projects in Ecuador and Kenya. Morneau repaid the charity just hours before disclosing the trips during testimony before the Commons finance committee last month.

The federal ethics watchdogs investigation into whether Morneau violated the Conflict of Interest Act will continue despite his decision to quit.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 13:02 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ec0f96 1 National defense-ministry,defense-policy,university,students,Education-and-Culture-Ministry,military-reserve-component,TNI,Indonesian-Military Free

The Education and Culture Ministry will allow university students to enlist in the military reserve component program proposed by the Defense Ministry, only if they are willing to voluntarily participate in the program.

The education ministrys higher education acting director general, Nizam, said the enlistment was stipulated in Law No. 23/2019 on the management of national resources for state defense.

If they meet the requirements, the students will be awarded not only a graduation diploma but also a rank as a commissioned officer in the reserve force. However, it is voluntary, Nizam said on Monday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

In 2019, the Defense Ministry introduced the military reserve component program that aimed to recruit a total of 25,000 people aged 18 to 35. The reserves could be deployed to strengthen the Indonesian Military (TNI) in dealing with military threats, according to the 2019 law.

The law also stipulates that the enlisted personnel are required to undergo basic military training for three months.

Read also: Military reserve looks to millennials despite criticisms

Previously, Deputy Defense Minister Wahyu Sakti Trenggono proposed a plan to allow university students to join basic military training as part of the reserve program for a whole semester or six months. Their participation in the program could be included in their semester credit system (SKS), he went on to say.

Later on, we will have millennials who are not only creative and innovative but who can also foster their love for the nation in their daily lives, Wahyu said on Sunday.

Nizam added that the education ministry had facilitated students in joining the military reserve component program through the Kampus Merdeka (Freedom Campus) policy, which gives universities greater freedom to establish new programs.

We will also work with the Defense Ministry to hold leadership and state defense programs, said Nizam.

Human rights activists had slammed the military reserve component program, arguing that civilian militarization would result in human rights violations. They also raised concerns about regulations stipulating that reservists may face a maximum of four years imprisonment if they refused to answer a call to service. (trn)
Blue Planet Investment Trust Plc - Annual Financial Report & Notice of AGM

18 August 2020

Blue Planet Investment Trust plc (LSE: BLP)

Annual Financial Report (year to 30 April 2020); Notice of 2020 AGM

Blue Planet Investment Trust plc (LSE: BLP) announces that the following documents have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and are available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism:

* Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 30 April 2020, which contains the Notice of Annual General Meeting (The 'Annual Report and Accounts')

* Form of Proxy

Copies of the documents referred to above were posted to shareholders on August 18, 2020

The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at 17 Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 5EL at 11:00am on 22 September 2020.

A copy of the Annual Report, Notice of AGM and Proxy Card is also available from: www.blueplanet.eu

For further information, contact the Company Secretariat, Blue Planet Investment Management Ltd, on 0131 466 6666 or info@blueplanet.eu

END
Mink on two farms in Utah have become the first in the United States to test positive for the coronavirus, state and federal officials announced on Monday.

Five animals on the farms tested positive for the virus, but many more are believed to be infected because of a recent upswing in the number of mink deaths on the farms, Bradie Jill Jones, a spokeswoman for the Utah Department of Health and Agriculture, said. Typically, two or three mink die per day on a farm, she said.

Producers began to worry early last week when those fatality rates shot through the sky, Ms. Jones said. The owners of the two farms, which officials declined to identify, contacted a veterinarian who alerted agriculture officials.

Samples from the mink were tested at the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, officials said. Later, those results were confirmed by tests performed at the United States Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
Rating Action: Moody's assigns B3 rating to Pike Corporation's senior notes and a Ba3 rating to its new revolver and term loan

Global Credit Research - 18 Aug 2020

Approximately $1.039 billion of debt securities affected

New York, August 18, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") assigned a B3 rating to Pike Corporation's ("Pike") proposed $500 million senior unsecured notes. The proceeds from the note offering will be used to pay down borrowings on its first lien term loan. Moody's also assigned a Ba3 rating to Pike's proposed $169.7 million revolver that expires in August 2025 and its $336 million first lien term loan due July 2026. At the same time, Moody's upgraded the $33.3 million revolver that matures in March 2022 and will remain outstanding after this refinancing to Ba3 from B2. Moody's also upgraded the existing $109.7 million revolver due July 2024 and the existing term loan due July 2026 to Ba3 from B2. The rating on the existing term loan and the $109.7 million revolver will be withdrawn upon completion of the refinancing. The instrument ratings are subject to the close of the note offering and the completion of the credit facility amendment and term loan refinancing. Moody's affirmed Pike's B2 Corporate Family Rating (CFR) and B2-PD Probability of Default Rating. The rating outlook remains stable.

"The affirmation of Pike's B2 corporate family rating reflects its recent strong operating performance, cash flows and debt reduction, but also considers its periodic acquisitions and shareholder dividends and the likelihood its credit metrics will remain commensurate with its rating." said Michael Corelli, Moody's Senior Vice President and lead analyst for Pike Corporation.

Assignments: ..Issuer: Pike Corporation

....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Assigned B3 (LGD5)

....Gtd. Senior Secured 1st Lien Revolving Credit Facility, Assigned Ba3 (LGD2)

Story continues

Upgrades: ..Issuer: Pike Corporation

....Gtd. Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility, Upgraded to Ba3 (LGD2) from B2 (LGD3)

....Gtd. Senior Secured 1st Lien Revolving Credit Facility, Upgraded to Ba3 (LGD2) from B2 (LGD3)

....Gtd. Senior Secured 1st Lien Term Loan B, Upgraded to Ba3 (LGD2) from B2 (LGD3)

Affirmations:

..Issuer: Pike Corporation

.... Corporate Family Rating, Affirmed B2

.... Probability of Default Rating, Affirmed B2-PD

Outlook Actions: ..Issuer: Pike Corporation ....Outlook, Remains Stable RATINGS RATIONALE

Pike Corporation's B2 Corporate Family Rating reflects its limited geographic and end market diversity since it mostly provides engineering, maintenance, repair, replacement and upgrade work for electric utilities. It also incorporates its customer concentration, moderate scale and the competitive nature of the utility and telecommunications services sectors. Pike's credit profile is supported by favorable industry fundamentals as utilities continue to focus on replacing aging infrastructure, modernizing and expanding the electricity grid and outsourcing more engineering and construction services to third parties. The company's master service agreements also support relative revenue stability.

Pike's operating performance and cash flows have remained strong in 1H20 and Moody's expects this trend to continue supported by utilities spending on grid modernization and expansion, resiliency initiatives, and repair and maintenance of aging infrastructure including electric distribution and transmission lines. The coronavirus outbreak has recently spread more rapidly in regions where Pike operates and could have an impact on its 2020 operating performance. The rapid and widening spread of the outbreak, deteriorating global economic outlook, and asset price declines are creating a severe and extensive credit shock across many sectors, regions and markets. The combined economic and credit effects of these developments are unprecedented. However, the company's work is considered an essential service and to date there has not been a material impact on the demand for its services as its utility and telecom customers complete their capital spending programs. We expect the company to continue to generate moderately improved operating earnings, which should enable it to maintain credit metrics that support its B2 corporate family rating. Its metrics may even be strong for the rating in the near term due to the use of a sizeable advance payment on a large transmission project to pay down debt, but could weaken over the next two years due to cash outflows on this project or potential acquisitions or shareholder dividends. The company paid a $60 million shareholder dividend in August 2020 which was funded by cash on hand and a portion of the advance payment and has distributed funds to shareholders for two consecutive years.

Pike plans to use the proceeds from its proposed $500 million senior unsecured notes to pay down borrowings on its first lien term loan. The proposed refinancing will extend the maturity of $500 million of Pike's debt to August 2028 from July 2026 and will free up secured borrowing capacity, but it will also raise the company's annual interest costs by more than $10 million and significantly reduce its pre-payable debt.

Pike is expected to maintain a good liquidity profile. It had $27 million of cash and $121 million of revolver availability as of June 28, 2020. The company borrowed $100 million under its revolver as a protective measure to preserve financial flexibility in March 2020 in light of general economic and financial market uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, but the company repaid these borrowings during the second quarter. The revolver matures in two stages with $33.3 million expiring in March 2022 and the remaining $109.7 million expiring in July 2024. Pike plans to upsize the second tranche of the revolver by $60 million to $169.7 million and to extend the maturity to August 2025.

The stable ratings outlook reflects our expectation that Pike will continue to benefit from favorable industry dynamics and good customer relationships. It also assumes the company will maintain credit metrics that are commensurate with its B2 corporate family rating.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS

Pike's ratings could be upgraded if the company increases its scale and geographic diversity and strengthens its cash generating ability as evidenced by FFO/debt increasing to more than 17.5%, while maintaining good margins and a leverage ratio (debt/EBITDA) below 4.0x.

A downgrade could occur if deteriorating operating results, debt-financed acquisitions or shareholder distributions result in the company's leverage ratio being sustained above 5.5x, or FFO/debt sustained below 12.5%. A weakening of its liquidity profile could also result in downward pressure.

Headquartered in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Pike Corporation provides installation, repair and maintenance and storm restoration services for investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative electric utilities and telecommunications companies in the United States. The company provides engineering and design services and constructs and maintains substations, underground and overhead distribution networks and transmission lines. The company is privately owned by Eric Pike and a significant customer with Eric having majority ownership and voting control. Revenue for the twelve months ended June 28, 2020 was approximately $1.6 billion.

The principal methodology used in these ratings was Construction Industry published in March 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1061454. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.

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The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.

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But fraternities and sororities have been especially challenging for universities to regulate. Though they dominate social life on many campuses, their houses are often not owned or governed by the universities, and have frequently been the site of excessive drinking, sexual assault and hazing. That same lack of oversight, some experts say, extends to controlling the virus. Even on campuses that are offering online instruction only, people are still living in some sorority and fraternity houses.

Fraternity and sorority homes have long functioned as a kind of no-fly zone for university administrations, said Matthew W. Hughey, a professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut who has studied Greek life and social inequality on campuses. The structure thats already been set up makes them harder to control when it comes to the transmission of disease.

Among the 25 fraternity houses hosting students over the summer at the University of Washington, 15 of them suffered a coronavirus outbreak in the last week of July. At least 165 students of the 1,000 living there tested positive for the virus. Students quarantined within their fraternity houses, sometimes designating an entire floor for infected students. Across two of the facilities, 45 out of 65 students tested positive.

And at the University of Southern California, where classes  all held remotely  started on Monday, administrators have traced two outbreaks to fraternity houses over the past month, according to Dr. Sarah Van Orman, the universitys chief student health officer. In mid-July around 45 people tested positive for the virus, most of them members of fraternities or sororities. And last week 15 people were found to be infected, some of them fraternity members and others who lived nearby.

Its very challenging for everyone during this time, but we know particularly for young adults who crave connection, who crave being together, Dr. Van Orman said.

Some members say they are making the appropriate sacrifices, like not holding the social events that many look forward to as a way to relax, form friendships and recruit new members.
Warsaw celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw in which the Polish army, with the support of its allies - the Ukrainian People's Army - defeated the Bolsheviks.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna attended the official ceremony. In a conversation with Ukrinform's correspondent, she spoke about the prospects for cooperation with Poland, including in the security sphere, the initiative of the Lublin Triangle, and Ukraine's possible involvement in settling the situation in Belarus.

Question: Olha Vitaliivna, you met with Head of the National Security Bureau of Poland Pawel Soloch during your visit to Warsaw. What was the focus of the meeting? What are further prospects for cooperation?

Answer: We discussed possible interaction in the context of combating hybrid threats. This was the leitmotif of our meeting, as Mr. Soloch pays great attention to this issue. Kyiv has already reaffirmed a high level of military cooperation with NATO not only through military exercises, but also through the provision of the world's largest aircraft to transport cargoes of the Alliance. This dialogue will expand and be filled with new opportunities as part of the partnership. In particular, the Ukrainian military and civilian personnel will be able to work as special officers in NATO agencies. However, Ukraine's truly unique role as a participant in the Enhanced Opportunities Program should be to organically structure Ukraine's experience in combating hybrid threats. This applies to information attacks, cybersecurity, data protection and exchange, countering hostile information campaigns, propaganda, and so on. In cooperation with the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, we want to build institutions that will summarize this experience and, accordingly, develop tools for resilience to these hybrid threats. I think Poland will be one of our main allies in gaining this experience and implementing it under the Enhanced Opportunities Program.

Question: Did you discuss the events in Belarus?

Answer: Yes, we did. I noted Poland's special role in initiating an active response to the events in Belarus not only by individual countries, but also by the EU. For my part, I believe that Ukraine can play an important role in the peaceful settlement of this confrontation and in ensuring fair and free elections in Belarus. In any case, Minsk is a strategic partner of Ukraine, and we are ready to make every effort to continue to do so.

There is also an understanding that Ukraine, Poland and NATO countries must work together to strengthen security in the Black Sea. We discussed this issue, as well as the steps we can take together to advance this understanding in NATO. As this is my personal priority in office, we discussed Ukraine's involvement in the NATO reflection process for the next ten years. I hope that Ukraine will take its rightful place in a new NATO strategy, and at least that will determine not only the strategy of the North Atlantic Alliance, but also the strategy of Ukraine for the next ten years.

Question: A few weeks ago, Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania launched a new political initiative - the Lublin Triangle. What are the prospects for Ukraine's participation in this format? What does it open up for Ukraine?

Answer: This is a natural process. Such regional alliances will eventually be formed with other countries as well. Ukraine has moved to the "top league" in terms of dialogue with the EU. Our ambitions and opportunities are growing. Evidence of this is the launch of the Lublin Triangle initiative to which Ukraine is an equal party. Accordingly, we are talking not just about support, coordination of positions, but about building strategies on issues of common interest. We are talking about regional cooperation, including military cooperation, the promotion of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine. The fact that the Lublin Triangle was established at the level of foreign ministers is a sign of a high level of a common understanding of foreign policy challenges. Therefore, coordination will also be high here.

The more Ukraine grows economically and the more transformations take place inside Ukraine, the more ambitious and stronger our dialogue with partners will be. Such initiatives are evidence that Ukraine is becoming a full player on the international stage.

Question: Ukraine is actively discussing the question of whether it is expedient to continue to hold meetings of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, given the recent events in Belarus and Minsk's unfriendly statements and actions against Kyiv.

Answer: The events are unfolding quite quickly. We have been closely monitoring the situation, including in the context of continuing negotiations in Minsk. A regular meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group is scheduled for August 18. Belarus has played a significant role in initiating and supporting the negotiation process. However, as I have already said, the situation is dynamic. On the one hand, the protesters who were detained earlier, including three Ukrainian citizens, have been released. At the same time, the decision was made to extradite mercenaries from the Wagner private military group to the Russian Federation, and all of this requires proper response measures from us.

Question: What are the priorities of Ukraine's relations with Poland? In what areas is it necessary to pay the most attention?

Answer: In general, the dynamics of Ukraine's relations with Poland are at a very high level. I would like to mention three priority areas. First, this is an interaction on Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO. There is a direct interest of the Polish side here, because European integration is, first of all, economic opportunities and trade.

Secondly, this is security cooperation and security in the Black Sea... Here our Euro-Atlantic direction is becoming increasingly important, given Russia's growing military presence, the expansion of illegal control over certain parts of the Azov and Black Seas.

Importantly, I am not tired of emphasizing the significant role of our diplomatic missions, including the Embassy of Ukraine in Poland, in disseminating truthful information about historical events, including those that took place a hundred years ago. The current celebrations on the occasion of the Battle of Warsaw are an important element in restoring historical justice and the truth about Ukraine's role in the history of Europe of which our country has long been a part.

Therefore, the restoration of historical memory is a very important process that is developing between Ukraine and Poland at a very high level.

Yuriy Banakhevych, Warsaw

Photos provided by the press service
In an age of ascendant strongman leaders, President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus is suddenly looking surprisingly weak. As protests against his rule have grown and intensified over the last week, the man known as Europes last dictator turned in desperation on Monday to the once reliably loyal workers at a tractor factory. But instead of being showered with their support, he was shouted down with chants of Go away! Go away! Until he claimed a landslide victory on Aug. 9 in a fraud-tainted election, few leaders appeared stronger and more ...
Australian Law Enforcement Vows to Disrupt Illicit Drug Supply Chains After Large Bust

Australian law enforcement authorities have vowed to keep working together to disrupt criminal activity as they did over the weekend when they seized hundreds of kilograms of drugs from a vessel off the coast of New South Wales.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Eastern Command Justine Gough said: Our ability to work together using the resources and expertise of each of our agencies has again prevented the importation of illicit drugs into our community.

We are committed in our efforts to identify and disrupt illicit drug supply chains and cause maximum damage to organised crime business models, she said.

The Coralynne is examined in Balmain, Australia. (Australian Federal Police)

NSW Police State Crime Commander, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, said organised criminal syndicates should see the weekends arrests a warning.

 If you wish to take advantage of the community through illegal activity in NSW, law enforcement agencies in Australia will work together to dismantle your operation, Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

Law enforcement authorities board The Coralynne off the coast of Newcastle, Australia on Aug. 15, 2020. (Australian Federal Police)

On Aug. 15, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), NSW Police Force (NSWPF), and the Australian Border Force (ABF) investigated a foreign vessel heading into Australian waters after receiving intelligence on Aug. 11.

The ABF Maritime Border Command (MBC) tracked the vessels progress.

The AFP released details of the incident in a media release on Aug 18:

MBC, with the support of law enforcement partners and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), observed an Australian commercial fishing vessel, the Coralynne, approaching the foreign vessel and making an alleged at-sea transfer of illicit drugs bound for Australia.

Law enforcement authorities arrest members of the Coralynnes crew on Aug. 15, 2020. (Australian Federal Police)

The Coralynns three crew were arrested in the raida Hong Kong citizen aged 40, and two Australian males aged 27 and 32. They appeared before the court on Aug. 17 and were refused bail.

Investigators will allege the drugs were stored in the engine room.

The alleged engine room of the Coralynne (Australian Federal Police).

Authorities towed the vessel to Balmain on Aug. 16 for further forensic examination.

Investigators from the AFP, NSWPF, and ABF have also executed search warrants in the Sydney suburbs of Chatswood, Zetland, and Glenbrook in connection with the investigation.
: As heavy rain washed away low-lying shanties and submerged cars in Jaipur last Friday, the staff at the historic Albert Hall museum was busy in a different rescue operation. As water started filling the museum, housekeeping officials and guards hopped the stairs to the museums basement to get to a 2,400-year-old Egyptian mummy encased in a glass chamber.

Standing in waist-deep water and using the lights from mobile phones and torches, the staff broke the glass and carried the mummy to a drier area of the museum. The ancient mummy is our most delicate antique and since a display in 2016, it has been extremely popular with local and international visitors, said Rakesh Cholak, the museum superintendent.

With timely intervention, we saved it from the slush and water that badly affected almost 17,000 artefacts in our store and display areas, he said.

Jaipur received 132mm of rainfall on Friday. The rainwater, which inundated streets, entered the museums windows and corridors starting from its Moti Dungari Road side, and submerged several historical items such as Japanese pottery, ancient statues, Buddhist paintings, photographs, brassware, arms and armour, and wooden art, among others.

According to officials of Albert Hall museum, the mummy , Tutu, a female member of a priests family, dates back to Egypts Ptolemaic era (322 BC to 30 BC). It was found in the Akhmin area of the ancient city of Panopolis in Egypt more than 300 years ago.

This mummy, one of only six in India, was gifted by the Museum of Cairo for an exhibition in Jaipur organised by then king of Jaipur state Sawai Ishwar Singh in 1887. In 2011, three experts from Egyptian Ministry of Culture came to conserve the mummy and concluded that the mummys skeleton was in very good condition after conducting sterilisation all the items to wipe out microbes.

The mummy is invaluable, said Cholak.

While the mummy was saved, the rainwater left its mark on the coffin, and accompanying paraphernalia of about 200 items, such as Pharaonic idols and lockets, the superintendent said.

Besides artefacts, thousands of documents and files were drenched, and have been strewn around the floors of the museum for drying, officials said. We have put up huge fans and halogen lights and kept the documents out for drying, said Cholak, adding that the exact assessment of the damage and restoration may take months.

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Facebook has been accused of 'actively promoting' Holocaust denial on its platform, in a new report by a British think-tank.

Researchers from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, which works to counter extremism, found that people who had 'liked' Holocaust denial content on Facebook were directed to more of the same by the site's algorithm.

The system is known as the 'snowball' method, which directs people to related content.

In the case of Holocaust denial content, 'Facebook actively promotes further Holocaust denial content to that user,' the authors wrote.

Mark Zuckerberg, pictured in February 2020, has said that Holocaust denial is offensive to him

The Facebook founder, however, has refused to remove Holocaust denying content

They found that 366,000 people were actively engaging with Holocaust denial content, by following 36 Facebook pages.

And, while Holocaust denial also proliferates on Reddit, Twitter and YouTube, the researchers found that Facebook was more stubborn in its refusal to block the content than other social media platforms.

'Facebook, which has been unwilling to recognize Holocaust denial as a form of hate speech against Jews, has a small but well-established and ideologically diverse community of Holocaust deniers on its platform,' the authors concluded.

'Twitter has previously acted against accounts engaged in Holocaust denial.

'Facebook executives, on the other hand, have explicitly rationalized allowing Holocaust denial on their platform.'

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is Jewish, has previously spoken about his own struggle with moderating a subject like Holocaust denial on Facebook.

'I'm Jewish, and there's a set of people who deny that the Holocaust happened,' he said in July 2018.

'I find that deeply offensive.

'But at the end of the day, I don't believe that our platform should take that down because I think there are things that different people get wrong.'

Facebook say posts and pages will be removed if they violate hate speech policies

Facebook has long been criticized for policies that allow Holocaust denial.

A 2009 article by TechCrunch's Michael Arrington called the company 'stubbornly proud' of its stance after Brian Cuban, brother of billionaire investor Mark Cuban, criticized the company for 'promoting and encouraging hatred.'

'The mere statement of denying the Holocaust is not a violation of our terms,' a Facebook spokesperson told ABC News at the time.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement after Zuckerberg's 2018 comments that Holocaust denial is a 'willful, deliberate, and longstanding deception tactic by anti-Semites that is incontrovertibly hateful, hurtful, and threatening to Jews.'

The authors of the ISD report used as evidence a letter from Joel Kaplan, Vice President for Global Public Policy at Facebook, sent in 2019 to the chairman of the US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad.

The letter explained that Facebook would not remove 'lies or content that is inaccurate  whether it's denying the Holocaust, the Armenian massacre, or the fact that the Syrian government has killed hundreds of thousands of its own people'.

Zuckerberg is pictured testifying in July before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law on 'Online Platforms and Market Power'

Kaplan explained that 'this is because we do believe that people should be able to say things on Facebook that are wrong or inaccurate, even when they are offensive'.

A Facebook representative told Business Insider: 'We take down any post that celebrates, defends, or attempts to justify the Holocaust. The same goes for any content that mocks Holocaust victims, accuses victims of lying, spews hate, or advocates for violence against Jewish people in any way.

'We also remove Groups and Pages that discuss Holocaust denial from recommendations and references to it in search predictions.

'While we do not take down content simply for being untruthful, many posts that deny the Holocaust often violate our policies against hate speech and are removed.'

Facebook acknowledged that 'striking the right balance between keeping people safe and allowing free speech is difficult and we know many people strongly disagree with our position.'

The company concluded: 'We are constantly developing and reviewing our policies and consulting with organizations around the world to ensure we're getting it right.'
In 2019, more than 30,000 pilgrims came to the town to celebrate the 5780th Jewish New Year.

Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has backed a motion by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to limit foreigners' trips to the town of Uman during Rosh Hashanah celebrations this year.

This was reported by the Interior Ministry's press service.

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov noted that "from 30,000 to 50,000 Hasidim come to Uman from different countries every year to celebrate, conduct various religious rites and visit holy places during three days." According to him, this format of a mass event during the pandemic poses great risks of the spread of the virus not only amid participants in the event, but also local residents.

"We respect the national traditions of different peoples and religious communities, and every year we do everything to ensure the highest security standards. However, in recent weeks, Ukraine has recorded a spike in confirmed coronavirus cases. A similar situation is observed in other states. This makes the governments of those countries re-impose tighter quarantine restrictions. We've heard reports by the relevant ministers at a government meeting and come to the conclusion that the epidemiological situation in the country and in the world is not favorable for mass events, especially when foreigners are involved," Avakov said.

The minister added that his ministry had reached a similar agreement with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, who decided that an annual procession to mark Christianization of Kyivan Rus would not be held amid the pandemic. Therefore, he said he hoped for the Hasidic religious community's understanding.

Read alsoUkraine's MFA: Cabinet doesn't give permission for pilgrimage of thousands of Hasidim to Uman

Avakov also noted that his ministry would ensure all technical measures needed to implement the quarantine-related restrictions in Uman.

At the same time, the United Jewish Community of Ukraine says yesterday's proposal by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, supported by the Ukrainian government, to introduce technical restrictions on the entry of foreigners into Uman does not yet constitute a complete ban on the pilgrimage of the Bratslav Hasidim. Technical restrictions are yet to be explained by Ukraine authorities, the report says, adding that a certain number of pilgrims have already allegedly arrived in Uman.

The organization has called on mass media to refrain from speculation on the topic and confusing the audiences by claiming that the pilgrimage has been fully banned.

Celebration of Rosh Hashanah in Uman: What is known
RALEIGH, N.C. - One of two men convicted in the murder of Michael Jordans father in 1993 will be released from prison in three years, state officials said Tuesday.

The N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission announced in a three-paragraph statement that it has granted parole to Larry Demery, who is to be released in August 2023, news outlets reported.

The 2023 release date arises from a portion of Demerys parole agreement stipulating he will take part in a program which provides scholastic and vocational help to prepare him for life after he is released from prison, said Greg Thomas, spokesman for the N.C. Department of Public Safety.

A spokeswoman for Jordan declined comment on Tuesday.

During their trial, prosecutors used testimony from Demery to identify Daniel Green as the triggerman in the deadly robbery of James Jordan early on July 23, 1993. Jordans body was found 11 days later in a South Carolina swamp and identified using dental records. Demery and Green were both 18 at the time.

Green said previously that he and Demery were both at a cookout when his friend left to meet someone for a drug deal. He said Demery returned hours later looking shaken and asking him to help dispose of Jordans body in the swamp. Green has said Demery told him he mistook James Jordan for a drug connection and shot him after an altercation.

The state presented evidence at trial that James Jordan was killed in his red Lexus as he napped along the side of an access road off U.S. Highway 74 in Lumberton near Interstate 95. Prosecutors had said the motive was robbery.

Green admitted to helping Demery dump the body off a bridge into a swamp just over the state line in McColl, South Carolina. The two men later rode around in the Lexus for several days, making calls from the car phone.

A jury decided on a life sentence plus 40 years for Demery after he pleaded guilty in 1995 to first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. He was resentenced in 2008 after an error was found in his initial sentencing. Demery then received a life sentence, making him eligible for parole.

A judge sentenced Green to life in prison for murder during the commission of a robbery and 10 years for conspiracy to commit robbery. The sentences were to be served consecutively.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling the House back into session over the crisis at the US Postal Service, setting up a political showdown amid growing concerns that the Trump White House is trying to undermine the agency ahead of the election.

Ms Pelosi is cutting short lawmakers' summer recess, with a vote expected on Saturday on legislation that would prohibit changes at the agency.

President Donald Trump's new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, has sparked public outcry over delays, new prices and cutbacks just as millions of Americans will be trying to vote by mail.

"In a time of a pandemic, the Postal Service is Election Central," Ms Pelosi wrote in a letter to colleagues. "Lives, livelihoods and the life of our American Democracy are under threat from the president."

The decision to recall the House, made after a weekend of high-level discussions, carries a political punch. Voting in the House will highlight the issue after the week-long Democratic National Convention nominating Joe Biden as the party's presidential pick.

Earlier on Sunday, Democratic lawmakers demanded that leaders of the Postal Service testify at an emergency oversight hearing, relating to mail delays, on August 24.

The House Oversight and Reform Committee said it wants to hear from Mr DeJoy and from the chair of the Postal Service board of governors, Robert 'Mike' Duncan.

With heightened scrutiny of its operations, the Postal Service is requesting a temporary pre-election rate increase, from mid-October through to Christmas.

The agency said on Sunday that it would stop removing its distinctive blue mailboxes through to mid-November following complaints from customers and members of Congress that the collection boxes were being taken away.

"Given recent customer concerns, the Postal Service will postpone removing boxes for a period of 90 days while we evaluate our customers' concerns," Postal Service spokeswoman Kimberly Frum said.

House Democrats are likely to be in session next Saturday, said a Democratic aide, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Mr DeJoy, a major Republican donor and ally of the president who took control of the agency in June, has pledged to modernise the money-losing agency to make it more efficient, and has eliminated most overtime for postal workers, as well as imposing restrictions on transportation.

Mr Trump said last week that he was blocking a $25bn (21.05bn) emergency injection sought by the Postal Service. The money for the post office is intended to help with processing a surge of mail-in ballots. Funding requests have been tied up in congressional negotiations over a new coronavirus relief package.

"What you are witnessing is a president who is doing everything he can to suppress the vote, make it harder for people to engage in mail-in balloting at a time when people will be putting their lives on the line by having to go out to a polling station and vote," said Senator Bernie Sanders.
T hree men have been charged with drugs smuggling after 189 million worth of cocaine was seized from a small fishing boat off the coast of New South Wales.

The joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), New South Wales police (NSWPF) and the Australian Border Force (ABF) began after a tip-off from New Zealand authorities about a suspicious vessel that did not have a fishing permit.

The ABF tracked the Chinese trawler when it entered Australian waters last Tuesday but it took an unusual route towards Lord Howe Island and was seen zigzagging through waters as it moved towards Newcastle.

While on its route, a large amount of cocaine with an estimated street value of $250 million (189m) was allegedly transferred from the trawler to a small boat called Coralynne."

On Saturday, the NSWPF Marine Area Command vessel Nemesis intercepted the smaller boat off the coast of Newcastle.

The moment Australian authorities intercepted a drug-filled fishing vessel off the NSW coast near Newcastle. The AFP, @nswpolice and @AusBorderForce investigation has led to the arrest of three men and seizure of hundreds of kgs of cocaine.



Read more: https://t.co/tB9sL7bhNU pic.twitter.com/uCKcRc4yMP  AFP (@AusFedPolice) August 18, 2020

The crew  a 40-year-old man from Hong Kong and two Australian men, 27 and 32  were screened and tested for Covid-19 by NSW Health before undergoing decontamination by NSW Fire and Rescue Hazardous Material Response Unit.

They have since been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug  a crime that carries a life sentence behind bars.

Two of the men were also charged with failing to disclose their identity.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Eastern Command Justine Gough said: Our ability to work together using the resources and expertise of each of our agencies has again prevented the importation of illicit drugs into our community.

We are committed in our efforts to identify and disrupt illicit drug supply chains and cause maximum damage to organised crime business models.

NSW Police State Crime Commander, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said that NSW Police and its law enforcement partners would continue to use all available resources to disrupt criminal activity.

Organised criminal syndicates should see this weekends arrests as a warning, that if you wish to take advantage of the community through illegal activity in NSW, law enforcement agencies in Australia will work together to dismantle your operation, Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

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He added: The efforts of officers, including those from the Marine Area Command, to tackle 3.5 metre swells to ensure this illicit cargo didnt reach our shores and those we alleged are responsible were put before the courts should be commended.

Investigations are ongoing both in the local region and internationally.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18)  The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that an anonymous tip cannot be a sole basis to conduct a warrantless search of a vehicle.

The Constitution does not allow the end to justify the means, the high court said in a decision dated June 16 and released only on Tuesday.

The SC said an accused is assumed to be innocent unless proven guilty by the state. Moreover, in the process of gathering evidence, the rights of the accused should still be respected that is also protected by the Bill of Rights under the countrys Constitution, it said.

If his rights will be violated then the evidence collected should be excluded, it also said.

Under Section 2 of the Bill of Rights no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

The SC ruling is related to a case in 2014 involving authorities who arrested an alleged drug dealer after an anonymous phone call.

The Court said it recognizes the role of critical actions to eradicate the use of illegal drugs in the country, but this cannot be done through violation of peoples rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. The governments actions against illegal drugs should be matched with its goal to maintain and defend the Constitution, it added.

In 2014, Jerry Sapla was arrested by the police in Kalinga after authorities received a phone call in the morning of Jan. 10, wherein a concerned citizen claimed that the accused will be transporting marijuana to Roxas, Isabela.

The police immediately coordinated with the necessary officials to form teams for the arrest of Sapla.

In the afternoon, the Regional Public Safety Battalion hotline received a text message informing them that Sapla was carrying a blue sack. It also described his attire and the plate number of the passenger jeepney he boarded.

At a checkpoint at the Talaca command post, Sapla was interrogated and arrested after the policemen saw four bricks of suspected dried marijuana leaves. The accused denied it and said he had no baggage at the time.

In 2017, Sapla was found guilty of violating Section 5 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. He was thrown behind bars, and was asked to pay a P5 million fine.

However, the questionable search and seizure operation done by the police officers led the Supreme Court to order the immediate release of Sapla.
A high-level Court of Inquiry into Operation Amshipora in Shopian in Kashmir which the army had claimed that three terrorists were killed on July 18 is under progress, the defence PRO said in Srinagar on Tuesday.

Statements of key witnesses are being recorded and progress is being monitored closely. Additional civil witnesses are being asked to depose before the Court of Inquiry. Concurrently, DNA samples have been collected from Rajouri under the aegis of JKP and sent for matching with the terrorists killed on July 18, 2020, he said

He said the army is committed to ethical conduct of all counter terrorist operations.

Cases where doubts are raised are investigated under due process as per the law of the land. Since the case is under investigation, further details will be shared periodically, as appropriate without affecting due legal process.

Bodies of the three men killed in Shopian were buried in Baramulla after being listed as unidentified.Three families from Rajouri who had reported their sons missing from the night of July 17 have alleged that they had been killed Amshipora village in Shopian in a fake encounter and passed off as terrorists.

Last week, a J&K police team from Shopian led by a deputy superintendent of police had collected DNA samples from the families of the missing men in Rajouri. All three were related to each other and, according to their family members, had gone to Shopian to work in apple orchards. They hired a room in a Shopian village close to a Rashtriya Rifles camp before they went missing, the families have said.

After the purported encounter in an orchard, the bodies couldnt be identified and the men were described by the army. as militants. Weeks after, when three families from Rajouri filed a missing report, and identified the pictures of the men who were killed, the police began investigating the case.

All mainstream political parties have demanded a high-level probe into the encounter.
CHICAGO  Navy Pier will close to the public until further notice after Labor Day, its operator announced Tuesday, as the financial costs of the coronavirus causes one of Chicago's most-visited tourist attractions to shutter for this year.

Depending on the status of COVID-19 pandemic, Navy Pier could re-open as soon as the spring of 2021, according to a statement from Navy Pier Inc., the private nonprofit that runs the publicly owned site.

While this was a very difficult decision for the organization, it was a necessary one to proactively ensure the long-term success of one of Chicagos most treasured and important civic institutions and the communities it serves, said Marilynn Gardner, the president and chief executive officer of Navy Pier Inc.

This decision will also help preserve the future of the many on-site businesses, which continue to face hardships of their own as a result of the pandemic," Gardner said. "The temporary closure will allow the Pier and its partners to reduce its operational expenses and support efforts to limit COVID-19 cases as we move into the fall and winter seasons.



More than 70 local small businesses on the pier will have their operations halted, according to pier officials. All outdoor areas, including the docks and Polk Bros Park, located between the pier and Lake Shore Drive, will also be closed.

WBEZ, the public radio station that has a 99-year, rent-free lease for its offices and studios on the pier, will remain open, according to the statement.

From March 16 to June 10, the pier was closed to the public by state and local public health orders. Since its reopening, attendance is down by more than 80 percent. The pier's money-making Ferris wheel and other attractions have stayed closed.



Meanwhile, the cancellation of the trade shows, events and banquets normally booked at the pier has also cut into revenue. Last year, the pier generated about $60 million in revenue.

"The loss of these earnings has been devastating to the organizations budget, resulting in a projected deficit of $20 million in 2020," pier officials said in a statement. "Navy Piers short-term closure will help limit further losses for the organization, as well as the businesses that are housed at the Pier."

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Visitors at Navy Pier have been required to wear masks and practice social distancing since the pier reopened to the public on June 12 following the expiration of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's modified stay-at-home order. (Jonah Meadows/Patch)

Earlier this month, representatives of Navy Pier Inc. said the organization has cut the compensation it pays its top executives since the coronavirus closures, including reducing its CEO's over $541,000 annual salary. Tuesday's statement did not specify how many more positions would be furloughed or eliminated.



"Navy Pier will continue to implement cost reductions, including adjustments to staffing and/or employee work schedules, as well as changes to services provided by outside contractors," it said. "The timing and announcement of these adjustments will be based upon the financial status and needs of the organization."

RELATED: Navy Pier Faces $20 Million In Losses, Potential Closure



The agency created by the state to manage Navy Pier and McCormick Place, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, granted a 15-year, $1-per-year lease to Navy Pier Inc. in 2011.

Since then, the administration of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel diverted $55 million worth of tax increment financing earmarked for blighted areas to cover the cost of renovating the pier, a joint Better Government Association and Crain's Chicago Business investigation found.

The pier's 2019 operational budget did not include any additional taxpayer contribution from the state or city, according to its statement. It said its revenue was divided between 27 percent from tenants, 23 percent from attractions, 20 percent from parking fees, 13 percent from private events, 11 percent from corporate and philanthropic support and 6 percent from miscellaneous other activities.

Pier officials have used the public-private arrangement to argue the organization should be free from transparency requirements that apply to public bodies. After the pier's nonprofit operator refused to comply with public records laws in 2014, the Better Government Association filed a suit seeking to have it declared a public body. In 2018, a Cook County judge ruled in favor of the watchdog group, but the pier operator's appeal remains pending.

First envisioned by architect Daniel Burnham, the creator of the Plan of Chicago, as a "people's pier," Navy Pier opened in 1916 at a cost of $5 million in public money  the equivalent of nearly $119 million in today's dollars. During World War II it served as a training center for the U.S. Navy, and it later functioned as a campus for the University of Illinois at Chicago before being redesigned as a tourist destination in 1995.

This article originally appeared on the Chicago Patch
The medical contingent of the Chinese peacekeeping force to Lebanon take the Hippocratic Oath on May 8, 2020, the 73rd World Red Cross Day. (Photo by Huang Shifeng)

By Huang Shifeng

BEIRUT, Aug. 18 -- Brigadier General LuisJesus Fernandez Herrero, Sector East Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), issued a letter of commendation on August 16 to the 18th Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to Lebanon to express gratitude for the medical support. This is the third commendation letter received from the UNIFIL Sector East Commander during the contingents one-year mission period.

The 18th and 19th Chinese medical contingents to Lebanon held a peacekeeping mission handover ceremony on the same morning. Brig. Gen. Herrero, together with the commanders of more than ten troop-contributing countries, including Spain, Brazil, Indonesia, and Serbia, and representatives of the Lebanese government troops attended the ceremony.

In his speech, Brig. Gen. Herrero made a strong pitch for the outstanding performance and extraordinary achievements of the Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent, and expressed sincere gratitude for their contribution to the UNIFIL Sector East.

He believes that the Chinese peacekeepers not only provides high-quality medical services to the UNIFIL troop-contributing countries but is also the most trustworthy partner in the completion of peacekeeping missions. He said: "The humanitarian assistance provided by Chinese peacekeepers to Lebanon fully demonstrates that China is a peace-loving country."

The then UNIFIL Sector East Commanders Brigadier General Rafael Colomer Martinez Del Peral and Brigadier General Marcos Llago Navarro had respectively issued a commendation letter to the 18th Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to extend their heartfelt thanks for their quality services in November last year and this April.

It is learnt that the 18th medical contingent consists of 30 service members, mainly responsible for such tasks as daily medical security, emergency medical rescue, and evacuation of the sick and the wounded for more than 4,000 military and civilian personnel in UNIFIL Sector East. It also offered humanitarian medical assistance to local Lebanese people within its available resources.

At present, the UNIFIL has a total of more than 10,000 peacekeeping troops and nearly 1,000 civilian personnel, deployed in Sector East and Sector West.
The first virtual convention opened on Monday night with a gathering (of sorts) featuring a diverse roster of Democratic Party loyalists, members of the old guard, ascending stars, former 2020 contenders and even some Republicans.

Over four days, Democrats are set to deliver an overriding message of unity -- one that they hope will carry through to November and bring voters of all stripes into the big tent party.

MORE: DNC 2020 Live: Former Democratic rivals for president rally behind Biden

Dominating the night, which is framed around the three major crises that continue to grip the nation ahead of the 2020 election -- the coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing economic downturn the virus has sparked and the national reckoning over racial injustice -- is the party's push to contrast President Donald Trump and presumptive nominee Joe Biden.

PHOTO: Healthcare workers facilitate tests at a drive-in COVID-19 testing center at M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism on Aug. 11, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Biden, the speakers consistently argued, is the only one who can lead the country out of chaos and divisiveness.

This year's festivities are a sharp departure from conventions of the past, which are historically daunting productions planned years in advance and known for raucous crowds of party loyalists packed inside a convention hall. But the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically minimized the nominating celebration's footprint in Milwaukee -- with major programming taking place remotely across the country.

The convention's climax comes on Thursday, when Biden officially accepts the party's nomination at his 12th convention, marking the start of the general election season. On Wednesday, the party is set to make history, nominating the first Black person and first woman of Indian descent as a vice presidential candidate: Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.

Here are 5 takeaways from the night:

Joe Biden, the healer

At the heart of Biden's campaign to oust Trump is a call to restore the soul of the country, and it was the thematic thread connecting every speech, taped video and montage at the first night of the convention.

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House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., whose endorsement in late February helped propel Biden to the nomination, called Biden "an adopted son of South Carolina," arguing that the differences between Biden and Trump could not be more clear.

"We will need a president who sees unifying people as a requirement of the job, a president who understands the true meaning of community and how to build it through trust and humility," Clyburn said. "We need a president who understands both profound loss, and what it takes to bounce back.That's why I stand with Joe."

PHOTO: John Kasich speaks at The City Club of Cleveland, in Cleveland, Dec. 4, 2018. (Tony Dejak/AP, FILE)

Another longtime friend of Biden, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, delivered both a personal appeal for Biden's candidacy and an implicit, blistering critique of Trump.

MORE: DNC 2020 Live: Republicans come out in support of Biden

"We need a leader as good as our people. A leader who appeals to the best within us, not the worst. A leader who can unify, not divide," Cuomo said. "I know that man, I've worked with that man. I've seen his talent. I've seen his strength. I've seen his pain and I've seen his heart... Joe Biden can restore the soul of America, and that's exactly what our country needs today."

Night 1 focuses on coalition's flanks

Beyond the virtual format, the convention balanced an ideological labyrinth, embracing the progressive wing of the party and Republicans disillusioned by the president.

The focus of the night wasn't entirely on the party's base, but instead on the flanks that could broaden the coalition Biden is seeking to build.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., the progressive stalwart and last of the 2020 candidates to exit the race, cited the progress his insurgent movement has made, suggesting that the priorities that once seemed radical only years ago, are now considered "mainstream." He also turned to all the reasons why his loyal backers must line up behind Biden, telling his base that while he and Biden are very different, he knows the former vice president "will move us forward."

"Joe supports raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour," Sanders said. "Joe will also make it easier for workers to join unions, create 12 weeks of paid family leave, fund universal pre-K for 3 and 4-year-olds and make child care affordable for millions of families... While Joe and I disagree on the best path to get universal coverage, he has a plan that will greatly expand health care and cut the costs of prescription drugs."

Sanders also underscored the stakes of the election.

"Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Trump golfs," he said, a sharp jab at the president. "We must come together, defeat Donald Trump, and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president. My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine."

And Sanders wasn't alone.

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who ran for the Republican nomination against Trump in 2016, had one of the more controversial speeches of the night with his presence roiling some on the left, and brought one of the most unique pitches for Biden to voters on the fence.

Kasich, who crossed party lines to appear at the Democratic convention, was not alone in his stance, but he was the most high-profile Republican speakers, and reflected the breadth of Biden's efforts in courting voters.

"I'm sure there are Republicans and independents who couldn't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat," Kasich said. "They fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind. I don't believe that because I know the measure of the man. It's reasonable, faithful, respectful, and, you know, no one pushes Joe around."

Michelle Obama steps off sidelines, into political spotlight

Former first lady Michelle Obama, who has strayed away from outright shows of politics, took aim at Trump by name, wrapping the first night of Democratic programming with a 20-minute speech to rally voters.

In speaking to Americans and potential voters, Obama said she understands the distaste many across the country have for politics, but that a "moral foundation" is missing from the White House.

"I am here tonight because I love this country with all my heart, and it pains me to see so many people hurting," she said. "Barack and I have tried our best to instill in our girls a strong moral foundation to carry forward the values that our parents and grandparents poured into us. But right now, kids in this country are seeing what happens when we stop requiring empathy of one another. They're looking around wondering if we've been lying to them this whole time about who we are and what we truly value."

PHOTO: Protesters hold signs outside the Minneapolis 1st Police precinct during a demonstration against police brutality and racism on June 13, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images)

Obama's focus in the lead up to the election centered around voter engagement and registration-- while quietly denouncing and subtly the president and his time in the Oval Office. Monday night she chose a more direct path, highlighting what she sees as failures by the president: an economy in shambles, the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have died from the coronavirus pandemic and racial inequity which has plagued the nation for years.

"Because whenever we look to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy," she said. "So let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is."

She wrapped up her speech with a key phrase spoken by those who endorsed Biden: "I know Joe. He is a profoundly decent man, guided by faith. He was a terrific vice president. He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic, and lead our country -- and he listens. He will tell the truth and trust science. He will make smart plans and manage a good team and he will govern as someone who's lived a life that the rest of us can recognize."

An eye on November

Democrats sought to highlight Americans affected by Trump's presidency as part of their effort to leverage the convention to recruit swing voters ahead of the general election.

Between speeches from political mainstays throughout the Democratic party, everyday workers were given an opportunity to speak on their experiences throughout the last three-and-a-half years of the Trump presidency -- including the last few months of the coronavirus pandemic -- and underscore why they are now getting behind Biden.

The DNC tapped Kristin Urquiza, who lost her father earlier this summer to COVID-19.

PHOTO: Moderator Eva Longoria introduces Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, on screen, during the first night of the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 17, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)

"He had faith in Donald Trump. He voted for him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear, that it was okay to end social distancing rules before it was safe, that if you had no underlying health conditions, you'd probably be fine," she said of her father, who passed away at age 65.

"After five agonizing days he died alone, in the ICU, with a nurse holding his hand. My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that he paid with his life. I am not alone," she added.

Democrats test the virtual format

As the convention found its rhythm throughout the night, the event was not without adjustments and slight technical challenges as the organizers interspersed live speeches and taped pieces.

Some live speakers began slightly too early, some of the segments featured blurred videos, but nevertheless, the party persisted through it all.

MORE: 2020 Democratic National Convention Viewer's Guide: Biden anchored in Delaware, a virtual nomination and history to be made

For most of the night, the convention's organizers were juggling hundreds of feeds, broadcasting live videos from living rooms, rooftops, stages and balconies across the nation.

The first night of speakers, some of which were in real time, were also mixed in with pre-recorded remarks and montages featuring frontline workers, small business owners and an array of voters.

"Hey, everybody, how are you? Thanks for doing this," Biden told social justice activist Jamira Burley, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, and author Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, who all appeared on separate screens during a pre-recorded discussion on racial injustice - a scene that underscored just how much has changed for this year's convention.

This report was featured in the Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast.

"Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.

5 key takeaways from 1st night of Democratic National Convention originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot might have a Cabinet reshuffle thrust upon him. With one of his ministers in a coma in hospital and another recently appointed chief of the Rajasthan unit of the Congress, he will have to undertake an expansion not just to fill the vacancies in the council of ministers but also to accommodate the claims of the rebels.

The maximum number of ministers Gehlot can have is 30. Right now he has 22: Of these, Bhanwarlal Meghwal is critically ill in hospital, and Govind Singh Dotasra has been made chief of the Congress in Rajasthan. Three ...
A number of Albertas Ministers, MLAs, and Premier Jason Kenney gathered at The Track on 2 to compete in the United Conservative Party Derby on Friday, August 14.

Drivers, trainers, and the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) worked with officials prior to the race day to train them on the basics of driving Standardbred horses and how to safely compete with their field mates.

Six races with fields of two to four horses were drawn, with finalists chosen to compete against Premier Kenney in the final race. Some of the winners included Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Devin Dreeshen with honourable mentions for Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women Leela Aheer, Minister of Transportation Ric McIver, Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides, and Minister of Treasury Board and Finance Travis Toews.

The final race featured drivers Kenney, Toews, Dreeshan, and RJ Sigurdson. Premier Kenney dominated the field and made it to the wire with a strong lead over his fellow officials.

Socially-distanced spectators could make fun wagers on each race, with all of the proceeds going to the Lacombe and District Family and Community Support Services, the Performance Standardbreds organization and the ASHA Benevolent Fund.

(ASHA)
CARY, N.C., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Many new college students stress over finding classrooms, residence halls, cafeterias and other campus landmarks. It is even more challenging for students with blindness. That could be changing thanks to a new resource from analytics company SAS. Using SASGraphics Accelerator , students with visual impairments or blindness can explore a growing library of maps that already includes 35 college campuses across the United States.

Maps present the real world in small, easy-to-digest pieces to help users travel, explore and learn about an area from the safety of their home. Maps are also used to build concepts such as mental mapping, spatial relationships and other critical orientation-related skills.

SAS, working with Perkins School for the Blind, is bringing these capabilities to people with visual impairments. With SAS Graphics Accelerator, a free browser extension that transforms graphs and charts into sound, users create non-visual digital maps that contain points of interest such as intersections, bus stops, buildings and other landmarks.

Diane Brauner, Manager of Perkins' Paths to Technology website and an Orientation & Mobility Specialist, uses the maps to prepare students for life on campus.

"I've been able to use digital maps like these to acclimate incoming college students to their campus in advance," said Brauner. "The maps increase the mobility, confidence and safety of students with visual impairments as they navigate their new environments."

Using a map of Elon University she created using the SAS Graphics Accelerator, Brauner conducted a remote Orientation & Mobility lesson with Victor, an incoming freshman, to help him learn about the North Carolina campus before his arrival.

"It gave me a better mental map," said Victor. "For instance, I hadn't grasped how some streets related to each other. Now I understand how campus is laid out, what I need to find and where I'm going."

Help from the crowd

The Map Repository currently includes maps from schools including Brown University, Carnegie Mellon, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Johns Hopkins, North Carolina State, Texas Tech, UCLA, University of North Carolina, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, among many others.

SAS plans to crowdsource maps for the hundreds of other colleges and universities around the world, which will be housed on Perkins' Paths to Technology site and can also be posted on a school's website or shared with students via email. Campus accessibility resource personnel, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists and other people familiar with the needs of people with visual impairments are encouraged to create and submit maps to the repository  but anyone can contribute .

Enabling insight without sight

The scale of the maps can range from a city block, to a campus, to an entire metropolitan region. Users can pan around the map, zoom in or out, understand the name of nearby points as well as the bearing and distance of each point from the current virtual location.

Students with visual impairments or blindness explore the maps using a "virtual cane" supported by a pair of headphones or earbuds and controlled with a keyboard, joystick or standard gamepad controller.

The campus maps will help high school, college students and campus visitors with visual impairments or blindness to:

Navigate a campus efficiently and effectively.

Take a virtual tour of campus as they navigate the college selection process.

Orient themselves to campus before they arrive for their first semester.

Plan new routes of travel at the beginning of each semester.

Communicating distance and location through sound

SAS Graphics Accelerator, a tool for making data visualizations accessible to people with visual impairments, uses sonification to convey distance, direction and orientation. For instance, the relative distance of an object from the user's virtual location to the end of her virtual cane is indicated using pitch. Nearby objects are indicated using high pitch, while more distant objects are signaled by low pitch. The user can zoom in and out by changing the length of their virtual cane.

The tone for each object is panned between the left and right speakers based on the object's bearing off due north. Objects that are due north and south from the user's virtual location are perfectly balanced between the left and right speakers or earbuds and differentiated using synthesized sound. Objects to the north are not synthesized, whereas objects to the south have a slightly metallic sound. Sound coming from the right and left speakers indicate objects that are due east and west, respectively.

In addition to the sonification described above, the user can choose to hear a verbal description of each object. The verbal description can include the label of the object, the distance to the object, and the bearing of the object. For example, the user might hear "bus stop, 100 Campus Rd, 183 yards north" to indicate the location of a bus stop and its side of the street.

The user can quickly move around the map by panning due north, south, east or west. They may also jump to any object they encounter with their virtual cane or search the entire map for an object and then jump to it.

Ed Summers, Director of Accessibility at SAS, led the creation of SAS Graphics Accelerator. "This product was built by the blind for the blind," said Summers, who is visually impaired. "With the ability to make charts and graphs consumable to people with blindness, geospatial data is a natural application for SAS Graphics Accelerator."

Applications go well beyond college campuses

Mapping possibilities exist well beyond higher education. In fact, the repository already includes a map of San Francisco tourist attractions, famous lighthouses and Civil War battlefields.

"We started with college campuses to address a common need among young students with blindness," said Summers. "It's exciting to consider what the crowd will come up with, whether it's theme parks, city attractions or walking tours. We're just getting started."

About SAS

SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2020 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contact:

Trent Smith

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919-531-4726

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SOURCE SAS

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Authorities in Patna have advised people not to bathe in the various ghats of the Ganga after it crossed the danger level at Gandhi Ghat and other places in Bihars capital city on Tuesday evening.

The river was flowing about 21 cm above the danger level of 41.76 metre at Hathidan in Mokama and 11cm above the red mark at Gandhi Ghat in Patna.

The water-level of Ganga has risen 5cm in the last 12 hours at Gandhi Ghat, which has a danger level of 48.60 metres, said a water resources department official. He cautioned that the river might rise in days to come along its course in Bihar.

Heavy discharge in the Sone river in the range of 57,000-60,000 cusec from Indrapuri barrage at Dehri is fuelling the surge in the Ganga which is also being fed heavily from north Bihar rivers like Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, Kosi and Mahananda at different points.

Bihar is facing unprecedented discharge of water from Nepal side due to heavy rains in catchment areas of Gangas tributary. Sustained heavy release of water in Burhi Gandak has rendered its left embankment at Bela Chamrahi in Begusarai vulnerable. Teams of engineers along with local people are working overtime to protect it, said water resources development minister Sanjay Kumar Jha.

Lauding the role of the locals in helping the department to carry out flood fighting work, the minister said that a timely alarm from local people about a breach in the embankment at Kaluaghat on the Bagmati river had prevented the embankment from being washed away.

We have deployed an early warning system to take preventive steps on embankments, said Jha.

The minister also said that the officials failed to understand the gravity of the situation on Gandak and hence the embankments were damaged.

Citing chief minister Nitish Kumars demand for a national-level policy on silt management, which was also taken up during PM Narendra Modis meeting with the chief ministers, Jha said that heavy release of silt in Ganga and its tributaries had exposed Bihar to recurring floods.

Although we have proposed a lot of measures to check silt in various rivers by resorting to heavy plantation on their banks, a national-level approach for silt management is the need of the hour, he said.

Jha said various studies carried out on the problem of silt in the Ganga basin have abundantly made it clear that the state would continue to grapple with floods until the Farakka barrage is rebuilt with new technology to deal with heavy deposit of silt in the river.

Ganga water takes around 8-9 days to reach Farakka from Patna, which earlier took three days, said Jha.

Meanwhile, rivers like Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Khiroi and Ghagra continue to flow above the danger level at different places in Sitamarhi, Samastipur, Darbhanga and Siwan.

So far, more than 81.59 lakh people in 1,312 panchayats of 130 blocks of 16 districts have been hit by the floods. The current spell of floods has claimed 25 lives across the state, the disaster management department said in a press note.

The floods in Bihar have impacted Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur districts the most, with 20.61 lakh people and 19.18 lakh people affected, respectively. In East Champaran district, over 10 lakh people were hit.

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Delving into the rich trove of information contained in the digital Helen Keller Archive, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) today announced the official launch of a series of free lesson plans designed to teach middle and high school students about using digital and physical archives, the difference between primary and secondary sources, and how to use them appropriately in scholarly projects. A third lesson plan, released today  the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment  focuses on Helen Keller's advocacy for women's right to vote.

Using the digital archive, AFB has created fully accessible online lessons focused on Keller's life, her role in American history, and the use, function, and value of digital archives. The goals of the project include modeling best practices in digital accessibility, making education more inclusive, and teaching principles of research to middle and high school students. AFB also worked with teachers, curricula writers, and academics to make this project a reality.

Aligned with Common Core curriculum standards, each lesson contains a review of the lesson as a whole, as well as teacher and student activity pages. This enables teachers to guide students in using digital archival collections while discovering Keller's work as a leading author, activist, and advocate.

"It is important for young students to learn about disability history," said Helen Selsdon, AFB archivist. "We want students to have a real understanding of how Helen Keller, a deafblind writer and activist, was incredibly engaged in the world and social issues."

Thanks to funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, AFB pioneered one of the most accessible digital collections in the world with the 2018 launch of the Helen Keller Archive, which was both developed by and extensively tested with people with disabilities. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic demonstrating the vital role of distance learning resources, these lesson plans ensure the inclusion of blind, deaf, hard-of-hearing, low vision, and deafblind students, as well as bringing Helen Keller's role in disability history to a global audience.

The first two lesson plans in the series were launched in June: Introduction to Digital and Physical Archives and Primary and Secondary Sources. Using the digital Helen Keller Archive, these two lessons challenge students to consider what an archive is, the value of historical materials, the differences between physical and digital archival collections, and how to analyze a document. Students learn how to use the Browse and Search functions and to independently dig into fascinating primary sources. Throughout all these tasks, students learn about Keller's extraordinary life as a leading advocate for people with disabilities, a fighter for women's rights, and her battles for social and civic equality.

These free lesson plans were possible thanks to funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Humanities New York.

About the American Foundation for the Blind

Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that creates a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired. AFB mobilizes leaders, advances understanding, and champions impactful policies and practices using research and data. AFB is proud to steward the Helen Keller Archive, maintain and expand the digital collection, and honor the more than 40 years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB. Visit: www.afb.org

SOURCE American Foundation for the Blind

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The government expects mobile phones worth Rs 11 lakh crore will be made in the country in the next five years

New Delhi: Smartphone maker Samsung is planning to produce mobile phones worth Rs 3.7 lakh crore in India over the next five years, according to government sources.

The company has discussed its plan with senior officials in the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

People aware of the discussion said the company will be manufacturing smartphones worth Rs 2.2 lakh crore, priced above Rs 15,000 per unit, under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

"Samsung is now planning to make mobile phones worth USD 50 billion (Rs 3.7 lakh crore) in the next five years. Out of this, smartphones worth USD 30 billion will be produced under the PLI scheme," an official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

Samsung did not respond to a query sent on the matter.

Apart from Samsung, major global players Wistron, Pegatron, Foxconn and Hon Hai and Indian companies such as Lava, Dixon, Micromax, Padget Electronics, Sojo, UTL and Optiemus have applied for benefits under the PLI scheme.

The government expects mobile phones worth Rs 11 lakh crore will be made in the country in the next five years.

According to estimates of the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), mobile phone companies will increase device production in the country to up to Rs 27.5 lakh crore under the PLI scheme.

At present, mobile phone production in the country is estimated to be over Rs 2 lakh crore per annum, employing around 5-6 lakh people.

The government expects to attract Rs 1 lakh crore investments in the sector and sees manufacturing revenue potential of Rs 10 lakh crore by 2025.

It had notified three schemes on April 1 for the promotion of electronics.

These were schemes for manufacturing of electronic components and semiconductors, modified electronics manufacturing clusters (EMC 2.0) scheme, and production-linked incentive scheme for large scale electronics manufacturing.

Samsung has been bullish on the government's Make in India initiative. It has set-up the world's largest mobile phone factory with an annual handset production capacity of up to 12 crore units in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the ICEA, the total mobile phone market in India has crossed Rs 2 lakh crore in terms of value.

Samsung led India's mobile phone market with 24 per cent share in the April-June quarter, according to research firm IDC.
ESCONDIDO

Mayor to deliver State of City address

The Chamber of Commerce and the City Council invite the community to Mayor Paul McNamaras State of the City address on Feb. 27 at the Conference Center of the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Free to attend, but register for the program, which starts at 8 a.m. Breakfast costs $20 and starts at 7:30 a.m. Reserve breakfast by 5 p.m. Feb. 22. Register to https://bit.ly/2GFl2kD. Sponsor tables are $500 for 10 people and include breakfast. Contact Chris Cochran at chris@escondidochamber.org.

Local company helps renovate aquarium

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Integrated Aqua Systems Inc., an aquatic systems and equipment supply company, recently played a major part in the $4 million renovation of the Roundhouse Aquarium in Manhattan Beach. IAS designed and built innovative life support systems as well as a custom chilling system for 14 oceanic tanks, two freshwater tanks and a wrap-around touch tank. IAS was challenged to create life-support systems in limited space, and solved the problem with its BioSump design specifically tailored for extreme space constraints. The BioSump combines disinfection, temperature control, and mechanical and biological filtration in one small, energy-efficient footprint. The aquarium re-opened late last year and provides free admission to roughly 300,000 visitors yearly. Visit www.integrated-aqua.com.

FALLBROOK

Women in Networking event coming up

The Women in Networking (WIN) group of the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce will gather at 5 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Silvergate Retirement Residence, 420 Elbrook Drive. Cost is $10 prepaid (includes light appetizers). Bring your own beverage. RSVP to Jackie Toppin with payment at (760) 728-5845.

NORTH COUNTY

SDCCU offers free blood pressure checks

With February being American Heart Month, San Diego County Credit Union supports Live Well San Diegos Love Your Heart initiative by hosting free blood pressure screenings at several locations on Valentines Day. Free screenings are being held at SDCCU locations in Encinitas, San Marcos, Scripps Ranch or Vista from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. today. Last years Love Your Heart event helped more than 36,000 people get to know their blood pressure numbers. Visit LoveYourHeartSD.org; visit www.sdccu.com.

OCEANSIDE

Dental office holds mini car show fundraiser

Tri-City Childrens Dentistry, a pediatric dental practice, is opening an office at 2420 Vista Way, Suite 10. A ribbon-cutting will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 22, followed by a celebration from 3-7 p.m. with food from Chronic Tacos, raffle prizes and a mini car show. Various vehicles will be on display, with proceeds from each appointment booked benefiting the late actor Paul Walkers charitable organization, Reach Out WorldWide, which supports global disaster relief. The dental practice will donate a portion of all appointments and procedures that are booked at the grand opening. Members of ROWW, including Walkers brothers Caleb and Cody, will appear at the office to promote their March 22 FuelFest cars-and-concert event in Anaheim. Call (760) 724-1102 or visit www.tricitychildrensdentistry.com.

Please send items to laura.groch@sduniontribune.com at least 10 days before events.

laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
A man from Waterford is currently being detained in Amsterdam after being stopped in Schipol Airport over an 18-year-old charge.

James Croke was travelling to Stockholm from Dublin to secure a business deal and had a connecting flight in Amsterdam.

He was stopped at the airport and arrested by officials who told him that he had an outstanding charge from 2002 for allegedly kicking somebody.

He had been living in the country from 1998 to 2002.

The Dutch police asked me for my passport and I duly complied and gave them the passport, he told WLR FM, a local radio station in Waterford.

Then they asked me for my boarding pass for my connecting flight to Sweden.

Then they came back and said, 'Youre under arrest and you must go to a detention centre', he said.

According to Mr Croke, the charge alleges that he kicked somebody 18 years ago.

I asked them what the problem was and they said that they knew nothing other than there was a note on the system that there was a charge against me that I must do six weeks in Schipol.

The only information that Ive been given is that they allege that Ive kicked somebody in August 2002, he said.

For the last week, theyve no name for who I allegedly kicked, they have no details other than to say that there was a charge put against me in 2003 when i had already returned to Ireland.

He said that he has travelled to the Netherlands since leaving the country in 2002.

I came back to Holland in 2007, there was no issues. I flew in, I flew out.

I was back here again for business meetings in 2008, I flew in, I flew out, no problems.

He said that he cannot remember the alleged incident and left the country in good standing.

It was 18 years ago, I remember that I left this country in good standing with people.

To the best of my knowledge, I left this country in good standing with people, he repeated when pressed further.

He said that it is very hot in the detention centre in 34 degree heat and that there are few coronavirus measures.

The heat is extreme. From the moment I came here, there is no face masks and no gloves. The water in the taps here is almost lukewarm its unbearable to drink.

You can order cold drinks but youve to wait a week through the system, he said.

When contacted, the Irish embassy in Amsterdam said that the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland would comment.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that consular assistance is being provided and that the department is aware of the case.

A press secretary for the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs referred Independent.ie to the ministry of Justice and Security for comment.

A spokesperson for Minister for Justice and Security Ferdinand Grapperhaus said that individual cases cannot be commented on and referred Independent.ie. to the ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Delhi High Court Tuesday directed the Delhi University to expeditiously declare results of final year undergraduate students who have obtained admission in foreign universities for higher studies.

Besides expediting results, the varsity was also directed by the high court to create an e-mail ID on which students can send their requests along with the details of the foreign university where they have secured provisional admission so that a request letter can be addressed directly by the Delhi University (DU) to the concerned foreign varsity. DU shall also give an assurance to the foreign university that the result of concerned students will be communicated at the earliest, a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and S Subramonium Prasad said.

The division benchs order came after it was informed by the counsel for the DU that a single judge of the high court had on July 7, passed an order relating to results of students who were obtaining admission in post graduate courses in foreign universities.

The single judge in its order had said, In so far as undergraduate courses are concerned, where students may obtain admission to post graduate courses in foreign universities, students may write an e-mail to the Dean (Examinations) informing him of the said admissions, in which case, efforts would be made to expedite the results of such courses. The said e-mails may be sent by the earliest at dean_exam@du.ac.in. The division bench directed the varsity to adhere to the direction issued by Justice Prathiba M Singh in the July 7 order.

The Tuesdays order was passed by the division bench in continuation of its Mondays order in which it was directed that the new e-mail ID shall be created by the DU within one week and information in this regard shall be publicised on the website of the varsity, duly copied to all the colleges.

The students will furnish the necessary details relating to their admission, their e-mail ID, the e-mail IDs of the concerned foreign university and the designation of the official to whom such a request letter is required to be served. In the affidavit to be filed by the Delhi University, it shall indicate the cut-off date by which the results will be declared for all streams of final year courses, it said.

The bench noted that senior advocate Sachin Dutta and Mohinder Rupal, representing the DU, did not inform it on Monday about the July order passed by the single judge.

The July order was brought to the benchs notice late Monday evening after which it again listed the matter on Tuesday.

The university counsel conceded in the court that it was an error on their part in not pointing out the July 7 order and said the error was bonafide and they will adhere to the directions of the earlier order.

The Mondays order was passed after advocate Amir Singh Pasrich, appearing for several students, submitted that the students who have secured admission in foreign universities find themselves in a bind in the absence of any provisional certificate issued by DU.

He said DU shall issue a letter to the concerned foreign universities explaining the circumstances in which the examinations of the final year students have had to be postponed so that the concerned students can get a sufficient buffer period to furnish their provisional certificates to the universities. Advocate Manik Dogra, representing another student, said though the University Grants Commission (UGC) has extended the timeline for conducting the final year examinations to the end of September this year, it has not issued any advisory to the central universities for accommodating those students whose examinations are likely to be concluded by the end of September.

As a result, their academic careers may be jeopardised as they are expected to furnish the provisional certificates to the concerned universities by the first week of September and that UGC shall take steps at the earliest to issue a fresh advisory in this regard to all the central universities, he said.

The high court had on Monday directed the DU to commence from September 14, physical examination for final year undergraduate students and to work out modalities for stay and transport of disabled students who had left the national capital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It had asked the varsity to verify the number of students belonging to persons with disability (PwD) category, who were left out of online Open Book Examination (OBE) or could not attempt it due to any reason and would sit for physical examinations.

The high court was hearing pleas by law student Prateek Sharma and National Federation of Blind seeking to set up effective mechanisms for visually impaired and other students with disabilities so that educational instructions can be given to them properly and teaching material is provided to them through online mode of teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The online OBE for final year undergraduate students commenced from August 10 and will end on August 31.
South Africa: Mamabolo assures action on payment of contract nurses

Acting Gauteng Health MEC Jacob Mamabolo has assured nurses who were appointed on COVID-19 contracts that their salaries will be processed by the end of August.

This follows reports, which surfaced over the weekend alleging that 80 COVID-19 contract nurses at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital had not been paid their July salaries.

The hospital is located in Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria.

Mamabolo said he has since directed the department to compile a consolidated report on COVID-19 human resources related issues at all facilities by the end of this week, to ensure that health workers are not inconvenienced any further.

The Gauteng Department of Health has appointed over 681 nurses during this financial year to augment its workforce as part of COVID-19 response in the province. A total of R500 million has been budgeted for contracting various categories of workers across all institutions, inclusive of all categories of nurses, said the MEC on Tuesday.

Mamabolo said it is unacceptable that workers have not been paid.

It is simply unacceptable that workers are not paid. We cannot expect frontline workers to lead the fight against COVID-19 while on the other hand we are letting them down in terms of their remuneration, he said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A paedophile teacher who is morbidly obese won't spend a single day in jail - because it would cost up to $40,000 to transport him interstate.

Peter John O'Neill, 61, is at home in Canberra while he awaits sentencing. He is in a wheelchair, requires a full-time carer and has been deemed unfit to travel by the court.

Chief Justice Alan Blow said in a previous hearing he was limited to handing down a suspended jail sentence as there was no point in placing O'Neill under home detention as he cannot leave anyway, according to The Mercury.

O'Neill pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault and one count of penetrative sexual abuse of a young person and is due to be sentenced on August 25.

Former students expressed their anger in a Facebook group called Old Dominic Scholars: 'I couldnt care less how sick this filth is  his final days should be in jail,' one man said.

Peter John O'Neill is in a wheelchair, requires a full-time carer and cannot shower on his own (stock image)

Former students from Dominic College in Tasmania are furious Peter John O'Neill, 61, (pictured in school yearbook) won't go to jail because he is morbidly obese and unfit to travel

'Nothing will give back what he took, but he must pay in some way,' wrote another.

Defence barrister Greg Barns SC said a medical charter aircraft to transport his client would cost between $25,000 to $40,000 in a previous court hearing.

The 61-year-old cannot serve time interstate for Tasmanian crimes, has no money to pay a fine and cannot perform community service due to his medical conditions.

Rachel Grguervic, who left Dominic College in 1989 said: 'If he doesnt go to jail and just dies quietly, he doesnt deserve that. I dont get why these bastards get bloody protected all the time.'

Ms Grguervic previously told The Mercury ONeill wasnt just a paedophile but a physical and emotional abuser.

'I was told that I was fat and dumb, that Id never amount to anything, no-one would ever love me. If you werent concentrating he would hit your fingers with a ruler.'

Baden Daly had a history of abuse before he attended the school and said he was physically and emotionally traumatised by O'Neill, who would hit him and put him down.

'To end up with him as a teacher, for him to do it all over again when I thought I was safe, it was traumatic.

'I dont think an apology really cuts it,' he said.

Former students of Dominic College in Tasmania (pictured) have posted to a Facebook Group, with one saying, 'Nothing will give back what he took, but he must pay in some way'
SPRINGFIELD - The driver of a car that struck and killed Reanne Burke as she was in a Longmeadow crosswalk in 2017 pleaded guilty last week to reduced charges and was sentenced to probation.

Olumuyiwa Olapinsin of Bloomfield, Connecticut, entered a guilty plea in Hampden Superior Court on a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He was sentenced to two years probation, ordered to serve 100 hours of community service, and is allowed to drive only for employment purposes for the duration of his probation.

Olapinsin was originally charged with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation and a crosswalk violation.

He was driving the car that on the morning of Aug. 19, 2017, struck and killed Burke as she crossed Williams Street near Grassy Gutter Road. Burke, a 60-year-old oncology nurse, was out for a walk to get some exercise.

Olapinsin remained at the scene and called 911. He was described in police reports as distraught when officers arrived on scene.

He told police at the time that he saw Burke on the side of the road and slowed down. He saw her stop on the side of the road and believed she was going to stop, but as he started to go again, she stepped into the road and he struck her.

An investigation by the state police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Team determined he was traveling 27 mph at the time of impact.

Olapinsins lawyer, David Hoose said the fact prosecutors dropped the vehicular homicide charges speaks to the strength of the case against Olapinsin.

Karen Nystrom, the sister of Burke, said the process to this point has been long, difficult, and frustrating for the family. She emphasized that her sister was in a crosswalk and that Olapinsin acknowledged seeing her before hitting her.

She said her sisters life had worth, personally and professionally, and her death deprives her family and her patients of her company and care.

In the witness impact statement she presented to the courts at sentencing, Nystrom wrote Deep down, I know it was an accident. However, it was one that could have been avoided. There were no mitigating factors and plenty of reasons to exercise reasonable caution. But the past cannot be undone, and I know in my heart my sister would not want a young persons life ruined.

Since the crash, Longmeadow has installed a raised crosswalk and pedestrian crossing lights at the Williams Street and Longmeadow Street crosswalks.
ENDEAVOUR ANNOUNCES FETEKRO INDICATED RESOURCE MORE THAN DOUBLES TO 2.5 MILLION OUNCES

1.3Moz Indicated resources added  $7.50/oz discovery cost  Updated PEA due Q4-2020

FETEKRO PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:

Indicated resource for the Lafigue deposit has grown by 108% to 2.5Moz at 2.40 g/t Au, based on 0.5g/t cut-off grade

Potential to be Endeavours highest grade operation with +2.0Moz at grades above 3.50 g/t Au based on a higher cut-off grade of 1.5 g/t Au

As 97% of the total resource is classified in the Indicated category, no further drilling is required to classify it to reserve status

Very low discovery cost of $7.50 per Indicated resource ounce

Significant exploration potential remains as the Lafigue deposit is open at depth and along strike and over a dozen nearby targets have been identified

20,000 meters of additional drilling will be initiated in Q4-2020 with the goal of testing Lafigue remaining extensions and nearby targets

Metallurgical testwork indicates gold recovery >95%, with a significant portion recoverable by gravity

An initial PEA based on the previously announced 1.2Moz Indicated resource already demonstrates robust project economics including a pre-tax NPV 5% of $372m and an IRR of 37% at a $1,500/oz gold price with life of mine AISC of $697/oz

An updated PEA based on the new 2.5Moz Indicated resource is due in Q4-2020

Abidjan, August 18, 2020  Endeavour Mining (TSX:EDV) (OTCQX:EDVMF) is pleased to announce a 108% increase in Indicated resources to 2.5Moz at an average grade of 2.40 g/t Au at the Lafigue deposit, part of the Fetekro greenfield exploration project in Cote dIvoire, as shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Lafigue Mineral Resource Estimate Evolution

AS AT AUGUST 31, 2019 AS AT JULY 31, 2020 

AU CONTENT On a 100% basis Tonnage Grade Content Tonnage Grade Content (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) Measured Resource - - - Indicated Resources 14.6 2.54 1,190 32.0 2.40 2,471 +108% M&I Resources 14.6 2.54 1,190 32.0 2.40 2,471 +108% Inferred Resources 0.9 2.17 60 0.8 2.52 66 +10%

Mineral Reserve Estimates follow the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") definitions standards for mineral resources and reserves and have been completed in accordance with the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Reported tonnage and grade figures have been rounded from raw estimates to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate. Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Resources were constrained by MII Pit Shell and based on a cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au. Endeavours stake of the Fetekro property is not considered to be material to the issuer and therefore Endeavour does not expect to issue a technical report nor file a PEA following this press release.

Story continues

In addition, Endeavour is pleased to announce that an initial Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), based on the previously announced 1.2Moz Indicated resource, has already demonstrated robust project economics, as shown in Table 2 below. An updated PEA based on the updated 2.5Moz Indicated resource is expected to be published in Q4-2020.

Table 2: Initial PEA Highlights

TOTAL LIFE OF MINE Gold contained processed 1.0Moz Average recovery rate 95% Gold production 0.95Moz Cash costs $592/oz AISC $697/oz Upfront capital cost $268m Pre-tax NPV 5% based $1,500/oz $372m Pre-tax IRR based $1,500/oz 37%

Sebastien de Montessus, CEO, commented: We are thrilled with this resource update as it validates that Fetekro has the potential to become another long life and low cost cornerstone asset for Endeavour. Moreover, we are pleased with the value generated from our exploration efforts as we have spent a total of $19 million at Fetekro over the past three years which resulted in a discovery cost of $7.50/oz per Indicated ounce.

We believe that Fetekro has the potential to be a quality project, given its exploration potential and an already defined large-scale open pittable deposit with straightforward metallurgy, high gold recovery, located close to existing infrastructure and requiring only minimal relocation. With more than 2.0 million ounces at grades above 3.50 g/t Au, it would make it our highest-grade mine, in a country where we have successfully built two mines in the past decade.

We are excited about the organic growth potential that this project offers within our portfolio and look forward to the updated PEA results later this year. In parallel, we remain focused on our short-term objective of deleveraging the balance sheet and initiating a sustainable dividend.

Patrick Bouisset, Executive Vice President Exploration and Growth said: We are very excited by these latest results at our Fetekro exploration project, with the Lafigue deposit more than doubling its Indicated resources in less than 12 months. We believe there is significant potential for additional ounces to be added at Lafique, which remains open at depth and along strike, through drilling in the coming year, as well as testing additional targets in close proximity to Lafique.

On a broader note, we are also extremely pleased with our Company-wide exploration results. Since the launch of our strategic exploration plan in late 2016, we have added over 8.3 million ounces of Indicated resources and remain on track to reach our very ambitious target at least 10 million ounces of Indicated resources before the end of 2021.

ABOUT THE LAFIGUE DEPOSIT

As shown in Figure 1 below, the 65% owned Fetekro greenfield exploration project, is located in north-central Cote dIvoire, approximately 500km from Abidjan, within the northern end of the Oume-Fetekro Greenstone Belt. It is located next to existing infrastructure, including sealed roads and power.

Figure 1: Simplified Map of the Fetekro Property Showing Lafigue





Exploration program overview

Endeavour began exploration at Fetekro in March 2017, with the Lafigue deposit as the primary target. The Lafigue deposit is located on the north eastern side of Fetekro permit and extends over an area 2.2km long by 1km wide.

A maiden resource was published on October 29, 2018, with an updated resource published on September 3, 2019. Since then, nearly 78,000 meters of drilling have been completed. The drilling campaign was designed to further extend the economic mineralization at the south end of Lafigue North, to upgrade existing Inferred resources to Indicated status and to drill geotechnical holes.

The recent drilling program comprised 11 diamond drill (DD) holes totalling 2,458 meters, 145 reverse circulation (RC) holes totalling 31,511 meters and 138 combined RC/DD holes totalling 44,019 meters (34,245 meters pre-collared RC and 9,774 meters DD).

The Lafigue resource estimate now encompasses a mineralized area extending over 2km long by 1km down dip with the deposit remaining open at depth and along strike.

As shown in the Figures 2 to 5, extension drilling was very successful in confirming our previous geological interpretation of the mineralization and in intersecting additional and multiple stacked gold zones sub-parallel to the main gold-bearing structure, in under-explored areas that were located outside the 2019 Indicated pit shell. Drilling also confirmed the southwestern extension of the above trend where mineralization is occurring above a 150 meters depth. Furthermore, drilling demonstrated the continuity of grade and thickness of mineralized veins at depth.

Figure 2: Lafigue Geological Interpretation and Selected Best Intercepts Per Area

Best selected intercepts since November 2019 (true width uncapped):

LFRCDD20-720: 3.0m at 3.50g/t Au, and 7.0 at 14.64g/t Au, including 1.0m at 7.30g/t Au, including 1.0m at 21.43g/t Au

LFRCDD20-737: 6.9m at 3.29g/t Au including 1.0m at 15.16g/t Au, and 9.8m at 3.31g/t Au including 1.0m at 23.82g/t Au and 23.6m at 2.70 g/t Au including 1m at 14.26g/t Au, including 1.0m at 19.19g/t Au

LFRCDD20-825 : 3 .9m at 2.81g/t Au, and 10.6m at 1.54g/t Au, and 10.3m at 8.95g/t Au, including 1.1m at 26.12g/t Au, including 1.0m at 53.50g/t Au, and 11.4m at 3.67g/t Au

LFRCC20-846: 13.8m at 3.24 g/t Au, including 1.0m at 22.83g/t Au

LFRCDD20-887 : 11.8m at 6.31g/t Au, including 1.0m at 34.00g/t Au, including 1.0m at 11.55g/t Au, including 1.0m at 16.24g/t Au, and 2.9m at 2.17g/t Au, and 4.9m at 6.98g/t Au, including 1.0m at 17.23g/t Au, including 1.0m at 10.81g/t Au

LFRCDD20-890: 4.9m at 4.28g/t Au, including 1.0m at 14.85g/t Au, and 10.1m at 5.36g/t Au, including 0.8m at 19.22g/t Au

LFRCDD20-898: 2.9m at 7.78g/t Au, and 3.9m at 6.55g/t Au, and 9.9m at 6.84g/t Au, including 1.0 at 17.14g/t Au, including 1.0 at 33.60 g/t Au, and 2.9m at 7.43g/t Au

LFRCDD20-917 : 15.7m at 8.83g/t Au, including 1.0m at 102.10g/t Au

LFRCDD20-922: 6.6m at 8.72g/t Au, including 0.9m at 45.00g/t Au

LFRCDD20-933: 3.9m at 6.28g/t Au, including 1.0m at 11.88g/t Au, and 23.6m at 2.31g/t Au

Drill hole intercepts are calculated using a minimum composite grade of 0.5g/t Au, a minimum composite length of 2m, a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au, and a maximum internal dilution length 1m. Full drill results, including dip, azimuth and location of the drill holes, are available by clicking here.

Figure 3: Section 320645E Lafigue North

Figure 4: Section 320405E Lafigue North

Figure 5: Section 319875E Lafigue North

Lafigue Geology

The Lafigue deposit is hosted by a Birimian volcanic complex affected by a transpressive deformation and intruded by granodioritic bodies and quartz-porphyry dykes. The mineralization is mainly controlled by an ENE-trending brittle-ductile thrust fault dipping 15 to 45 SSE. The shear bands are localized preferably at the edges of a granodioritic intrusive or at a basalt/gabbro interface and crosscuts the main regional foliation. The mineralization has been recognized over 2km along an ENE axis and the down dip extension has been demonstrated over 1km so far.

Mineralization is mainly hosted by a network of quartz veins. The succession of hydrothermal events associated with C-plane fracture phases and thrusting resulted in the formation of two ore-bearing, quartz-carbonate-tourmaline-(chlorite-biotite-pyrrhotite-pyrite-gold) in echelon extension vein generations. The textural and geochemical (minor elements and boron isotopy) features of the distinct tourmaline generations highlight the micro-scale record of fault-valve processes leading to the overall gold endowment of Lafigue deposit.

The lodes generally occur on lithological or structural discontinuities, typically at the granodiorite edges, on C-planes or re-opening early Quartz-Carbonate veins. At the deposit scale, the lodes show pinch and swell figures both laterally and longitudinally with thicknesses up to 40 meters.

Lafigue Resource

A sensitivity analysis performed at gold prices between $1,300/oz and $1,700/oz demonstrates the robustness of the Lafigue Indicated resource due to its high grade mineralization, as shown in Table 3 below.

Table 3: Lafigue July 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate

Tonnage Grade Content (Mt) (Au g/t) (Au koz) INDICATED RESOURCE Based on a gold price of $1,300/oz 30.3 2.44 2,381 Based on a gold price of $1,500/oz 32.0 2.40 2,471 Based on a gold price of $1,700/oz 32.8 2.38 2,513 INFERRED RESOURCE Based on a gold price of $1,300/oz 0.7 2.60 56 Based on a gold price of $1,500/oz 0.8 2.52 66 Based on a gold price of $1,700/oz 0.9 2.45 73

No Measured resources have been estimated. Mineral Resource estimates follow the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") definitions standards for mineral resources and reserves and have been completed in accordance with the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Reported tonnage and grade figures have been rounded from raw estimates to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate. Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Resources were constrained by MII $1,500/oz Pit Shell and for sensitivity purpose by MII $1,300/oz and $1700/oz pit shells and based on a cut-off of 0.5 g/t Au.

The Lafigue resource is considered to be high-grade in nature. The Lafigue Indicated resource amounts to 2.5Moz at a grade of 2.40 g/t Au based on a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au and 2.0Moz at a grade of 3.50 g/t Au based on a 1.50 g/t Au cut-off grade.

OTHER NEARBY TARGETS

Several exploration targets have been identified in a 10km radius from Lafigue but, until now and due to the high priority given to Lafigue, very little exploration drilling (only 7,050 meters) has been done on them.

Endeavour expects to initiate a 10,000 meters drilling campaign during Q4-2020, testing Target 2, to the east, and Target 1 and 4, which are located to the south of Lafigue. Additionally, the strong gold in-soil geochemical anomalies (>500 ppb) located in the central area and Target 12 will be followed up with RC reconnaissance drilling.

The western targets identified in the 2018-2019 campaign will be further explored in a dedicated exploration program during the 2021 campaign.

Figure 6: Fetekro Plan Map with Exploration Targets

INITIAL PEA HIGHLIGHTS BASED ON PREVIOUS 1.2Moz INDICATED RESOURCE

An initial Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), based on the previously announced 1.2Moz Indicated resource, was completed earlier this year by Endeavour and Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd ("Lycopodium"), with inputs from specialist consultants (see the Appendix for full details).

The initial PEA demonstrated a viable project with a total life of mine gold production of 0.95Moz at an AISC of $697/oz over an 8-year mine life. An updated PEA is underway to evaluate the economic potential of the updated 2.5Moz Indicated resource and further refine the capital and operating costs is expected to be published in Q4-2020.

A summary of the results of the initial PEA is included in Table 4 below:

Table 4: Fetekro Project Initial PEA Highlights

OPERATION TYPE Mine Type Open Pit Mill Type 1.5Mtpa Gravity / CIL Plant RESOURCE M&I Resources 14.6Mt at 2.54 g/t Au for 1.2Moz Inferred Resources 0.87Mt at 2.17 g/t Au for 0.06Moz LIFE OF MINE PRODUCTION Mine life, years 8 Strip ratio, W:O 7.35:1 Tonnes processed, Mt 13.14 Grade processed, Au g/t 2.38 Gold contained proccessed, Moz 1.0 Average recovery rate, % 95 Gold production, Moz 0.95 Average annual production, koz/pa 119 OPERATING COSTS Cash costs, $/oz 592 AISC, $/oz2 697 CAPITAL COST Upfront capital cost, $m 268 ECONOMICS (BASED ON $1,500/oz) Pre-Tax Returns NPV 5%, $m 372 IRR, % 37 Payback, years1 1.73 After-Tax Returns NPV 5%, $m 272 IRR, % 32 Payback, years1 1.80

1Payback period calculated starting from production start 2Based on a gold price of $1,500/oz

The results of the financial model demonstrate the potential for a project with positive economics and low cash costs. The project economics are robust, with an attractive NPV and IRR being generated across a range of gold prices, as shown in Tables 5 and 6 below.

Table 5: Gold Price Sensitivity  Pre-tax

Gold Price $1,300/oz $1,500/oz $1,800/oz Pre-tax NPV 5% $223 $372 $588 Pre-tax IRR 26% 37% 53% Payback years1 2.36 1.73 1.31



Table 6: Gold Price Sensitivity  After-tax

Gold Price $1,300/oz $1,500/oz $1,800/oz After-tax NPV 5% $159 $272 $436 After-tax IRR 22% 32% 46% Payback years1 2.61 1.80 1.35

[1] Payback period calculated starting from production start

The economic analysis was carried out assuming a corporate tax rate of 25% and no tax holiday. Royalty rates were based on the sliding scale model in Cote d'Ivoire in which government royalty rates increase from 3.5% to 4.0% above a spot gold price of $1,300/oz, and from 4.0% to 5.0% above a spot gold price of $1,600/oz.

Mining Operations

Snowden completed a preliminary pit optimization, mine design and schedule using parameters derived from a similar mine operated by Endeavour in Cote dIvoire. The assumptions included that the deposit will be mined by a contract miner using a conventional truck and excavator fleet with a final pit depth of 200 meters.

Processing Operations

The free milling nature of the Fetekro mineralized material with high gravity gold and gravity tail cyanidation recoveries recommend processing via a conventional gravity / CIL treatment plant. Based on the previously announced 1.2Moz Indicated resource, Endeavour nominated a fresh mineralized material processing capacity of 1.5Mtpa. The proposed flowsheet comprises a conventional primary crush / SABC (SAG mill, ball mill and pebble crushing) grinding circuit to prepare the mineralized material for gravity gold recovery and leaching.

Metallurgy

Metallurgical testwork has been completed by ALS Metallurgy, Australia. On the basis of treating Fetekro fresh and blended mineralized materials via gravity and direct cyanidation, ALS Metallurgy recommends an overall gold recovery of 95.8% based on the median of the variability testwork results after allowing for likely soluble gold loss. The consistently high gold extractions from the Fetekro mineralized materials and robust treatment flowsheet proposed suggest that no further metallurgical testing is required to define a processing flowsheet for capital cost estimation.

A total of 36 samples were selected to cover the range of gold mineralization styles with high grade coarse gold intercepts as well as examples with disseminated low grade gold. The samples also provided examples of the oxide and fresh weathered states and different host lithologies.

The testwork indicated that the gold is free milling with very high gravity / leach extractions. A mineralogical investigation indicated that much of the gold occurred as free grains and there was not any significant impacts from pyrrhotite oxidation or cyanide consumption. The testwork also indicated that there are few deleterious elements for gold leaching with low levels of base metals and arsenic. The high gravity gold content resulted in a reasonable degree of assay variability even in the calculated heads following gravity gold recovery and leach extraction.

Cyanidation tests were conducted on the master composite at different grind sizes following gravity gold recovery to evaluate the effect of grind size on gold extraction. Leaching was rapid for all grinds following high gravity gold recoveries with the bulk of the gold dissolution occurring within four to eight hours. The mineralized material appeared to be relative insensitive to grind with a 1% difference in gold extraction over the size range tested. A 106mm P 80 grind was selected for design and further testing following an economic evaluation of optimum grind size. This grind had similar gold extraction and lower operating costs than the finer grind sizes.

Leach optimization testing indicated that high gold extractions were achieved with air only sparging, relatively low cyanide dosing and high fresh mineralized material slurry densities (up to 55% solids w/w). Variability testing was conducted and resulted in a decision to maintain a higher free cyanide excess concentration and 36-hour leach residence time to improve the robustness of the flowsheet.

Operating Cost Summary

A preliminary operating cost estimate was completed, based on an average life of mine throughput of 1.5Mtpa, with operating costs summarized in Table 7 below.

Table 7: Fetekro Life of Mine Operating Unit Costs

UNIT COSTS Open Pit Mining & Rehandling $2.82/t mined Processing $16.37/t processed G&A $4.88/t processed

Capital Cost and Infrastructure Summary

Lycopodium completed a preliminary capital cost estimate for the processing plant using an EPCM contractor. The estimate was prepared using recent data from similar West African projects with adjustments for the scale of the operation and specific major equipment items. The initial PEA capital cost estimate is summarized in Table 8 below.

Table 8: Fetekro Initial PEA Capital Cost Estimate

DESCRIPTION CAPITAL ($m) Processing Plant 51 Reagents & Plant Services 12 Infrastructure 65 Mining 21 Contractor and Construction Distributables 20 Management Costs (inc Vendor Reps) 18 Owners Project Costs (inc Working Capital) 30 Contingency 51 Total 268

The capital cost includes a 15km all-weather unsealed road plus 9km of on-site roads, an overhead power line and grid connection, a full back-up power station on site, costs for water harvesting and storage, accommodations for 220 employees and security personnel, tailings and fuel storage. There is no major village relocation required.

Endeavours stake of the Fetekro property is not considered to be material to the issuer and therefore Endeavour does not expect to issue a technical report nor file a PEA following this press release.

NEXT STEPS

An updated PEA based on the updated 2.5Moz Indicated Resource is expected to be published in Q4-2020

A 20,000 meters of additional drilling is scheduled to start in Q4-2020 with the following objectives: Extend the known mineralization beyond the edge of actual pit Testing nearby targets for further rapid resource growth



LAFIGUE RESOURCE MODELLING

The statistical analysis, geological modelling and resource estimation were prepared by Kevin Harris, CPG. Mr. Harris is Endeavour Mining's V.P. Resource Manager and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

The Fetekro Lafigue resource model was developed in Geovias Surpac software. A total of 26 mineralized zones were defined from the current drilling data and geologic interpretations across Lafigue South, Center, and North areas. The gold assays from the drill holes were composited to 1.0 meter intervals within the mineralized wireframes and capped from 15 g/t to 30 g/t Au. Spatial analysis of the gold distribution within the mineralized zone using variograms indicated a good continuity of the grades along strike and down dip of the mineralized zones.

Density was measured in 2282 core samples within the various rock types then averaged within the model by the weathered zones. The laterite density is 2.0, the saprolite density is 1.80, the transition is 2.4, and the fresh rock is 2.80.

The gold grade was estimated using ordinary kriging constrained within the mineralized domains. The grade was estimated in multiple passes to define the higher confidence areas and extend the grade to the interpreted mineralized zone extents.

The grade estimation was validated with visual analysis and comparison with the drilling data on sections and with swath plots comparing the block grades with the composites.

The mineralized domains were classified into indicated and inferred resource classifications, depending on the sample spacing, number samples, confidence in mineralized zone continuity, and geostatistical analysis. The indicated classification was generally applied to blocks within the mineralized zoned defined by a minimum of seven samples from at least three drill holes with a 50-meter search. The inferred classification is defined by a minimum of three samples within a 75-meter search from two drill holes.

The resource was constrained by a $1,500 pit shell and 0.50 g/t cut-off. The Whittle pit shell optimization assumed a base mining cost of $2.50/t, and $2.75/t for oxide mineralised zones, $3.25/t for transition mineralised zones and $3.75/t for fresh rock mineralised zones, mining recovery of 95%, mining dilution of 10%, pit slope of 40o, recovery of 96% of the gold in the oxide, 95% in the transition and 94% in the fresh, and processing and G&A cost of $19.85/t in the oxide and $21.17/t in the transition and fresh.

ASSAYS AND QUALITY ASSURANCE / QUALITY CONTROL / DRILLING AND ASSAY PROCEDURES

The Reverse Circulation drill program samples were collected on a 1-meter interval using dual tube, a percussion hammer and drop centre bit. The material passes through a cyclone which is thoroughly cleaned after every sample by flushing the hole. Samples were split at the drill site using a 3-tier riffle splitter with both bulk, laboratory and retained duplicate samples weights and moisture recorded. Representative samples chips for each interval were collected with a spear, sieved and retained into chip trays for reference.

Drill core (PQ, HQ and NQ size) sampling intervals are selected by LMCI geologists and cut in half with a diamond blade saw at the project site. Half of the core is retained at the site for reference purposes. Sample intervals are generally 1 meter in length.

All samples are transported by road to Bureau Veritas (BV) in Abidjan (Cote dIvoire). Every laboratory sample is secured in poly-woven bag ensuring that there is a clear record number of the chain of custody. On arrival at the lab, the entire sample is weighted, dried and crushed to <2mm (70% passing) and 250gr pulverize to 75m (85% passing). Samples are analyzed for gold using standard fire assay technique with a 50-gram charge and an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. Blanks, field duplicates and certified reference material (CRMs from Geostats Pty Ltd) are inserted by LMCI geologists in the sample sequence for quality control and to ensure there are a suite of QC samples in each fire assay batch.

The sampling and assaying at Lafigue is monitored through the implementation of a quality assurance  quality control (QA-QC) program. This QA-QC program was audited by International mining consultant in 2019 and consequently designed to follow industry best practices.

Full drill results are available by clicking here.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and compiled by Silvia Bottero, Professional Natural Scientist, VP Exploration Cote dIvoire for Endeavour Mining. Silvia Bottero has more than 18 years of mineral exploration and mining experience and is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The resource estimation was completed by Kevin Harris, CPG, VP Resources for Endeavour Mining and a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Martino De Ciccio



VP  Strategy & Investor Relations

+44 203 640 8665



mdeciccio@endeavourmining.com Brunswick Group LLP in London



Carole Cable, Partner

+44 7974 982 458

ccable@brunswickgroup.com







Vincic Advisors in Toronto



John Vincic, Principal



(647) 402 6375





john@vincicadvisors.com





ABOUT ENDEAVOUR MINING CORPORATION

Endeavour Mining is a multi-asset gold producer focused on West Africa, with two mines (Ity and Agbaou) in Cote dIvoire, four mines (Hounde, Mana, Karma and Boungou) in Burkina Faso, four potential development projects (Fetekro, Kalana, Bantou and Nabanga) and a strong portfolio of exploration assets on the highly prospective Birimian Greenstone Belt across Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Mali and Guinea.

As a leading gold producer, Endeavour Mining is committed to principles of responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to its employees, stakeholders and the communities where it operates. Endeavour is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the symbol EDV.

For more information, please visit www.endeavourmining.com .

Corporate Office: 5 Young St, Kensington, London W8 5EH, UK

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" including but not limited to, statements with respect to Endeavour's plans and operating performance, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of future production, future capital expenditures, and the success of exploration activities. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", and "anticipates". Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions and credit availability, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Endeavour operates. Although Endeavour has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Please refer to Endeavour's most recent Annual Information Form filed under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting Endeavour and its business. AISC, all-in sustaining costs at the mine level, cash costs, operating EBITDA, all-in sustaining margin, free cash flow, net free cash flow, free cash flow per share, net debt, and adjusted earnings are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standard meaning under IFRS, further discussed in the section Non-GAAP Measures in the most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis.

APPENDIX

Table 9: Fetekro Initial PEA Contributions

Initial PEA Report Section Contributors Resource and Geology Endeavour Mining Snowden, Optiro Metallurgy and Process Plant Lycopodium Infrastructure Knight Piesold, Lycopodium, Endeavour TSF and Water Management Knight Piesold Environmental and Social Impact Endeavour Process Operating Cost Estimate Lycopodium, Endeavour Capital Cost Estimate Lycopodium, Knight Piesold, Endeavour Risks and Opportunities Lycopodium, Endeavour Project Implementation Lycopodium, Endeavour Financial Evaluation Endeavour





Attachment




The work we do at council is all affected by staff, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor said. We set the policy for the city and the staff performs it for us. What we have done now in our selection is perhaps one of the most important things we do as council members because the chief executive officer of the city does carry such weight and importance to the functioning of the municipal organization and the community as a whole. Im glad were moving forward in inviting four candidates to come back to us to interview.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied reports that he gave the Trump administration a green light to sell F-35 fighter jets to the UAE as part of a normalization deal announced last Thursday.

Why it matters: U.S. law requires the administration to consult with Israel before selling arms to any Arab country to ensure Israel can maintain its qualitative military edge. It must also report to Congress on the matter.

This morning, Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that the normalization deal included a secret clause, approved by Netanyahu, about F-35 sales to the UAE.

Between the lines: Israel's status as the only Middle Eastern country to possess the most advanced fighter aircraft in America's arsenal currently gives it a clear technological advantage over other militaries in the region.

Netanyahus office responded with a statement, saying, The peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates does not include any reference to arms sales and the U.S. has made it clear that it will always take strict care to maintain Israel's qualitative edge."

The prime minister's office did confirm, however, that the U.S. had been in talks about arms deals with Arab countries including the UAE in the weeks prior to the normalization deal.

The statement said Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed his opposition to the sale of advanced weapons to Arab countries, including those who have peace deals with Israel.

According to the statement, Netanyahu "was explicit in Israel's opposition to the sale of F-35s and other advanced weaponry to any country in the Middle East" during a July 7 meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman.

Netanyahu sent a letter the next day, via Friedman, to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterating that "Israel's position remains unchanged even following the reaching of peace agreements," per the statement.

Behind the scenes: Netanyahu said at a meeting of the security cabinet today that he will object to any future sale of F-35 jets by the U.S. to the UAE, and will also convey those objections to Congress, ministers who attended the meeting tell me.

Netanyahu opened the cabinet meeting with a long speech, and denied that the normalization deal included any understandings about U.S. arms sales to the UAE.

Netanyahu read aloud to the ministers his July 8th letter to Pompeo, and emphasized a portion in which he wrote that Israel's objections would stand even for countries that moved from being rivals to being partners."

He responded to one minister's question by saying he would speak to leaders in Congress to convey those objections.

He was then asked if there was any chance the White House had promised F-35s to the UAE despite his opposition, and said: I dont think so."

A White House official denied there was a secret clause in the UAE-Israel normalization deal about arms sales to the UAE.

The prime minister's office declined to comment on this report.

Go deeper: How the Israel-UAE deal came together
Amidst tensions with China, why the Indo-Japan ACSA agreement is important

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 18: A much anticipated summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe is scheduled to take place next mont.

The summit would witness the signing of the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA). The meeting that comes at a time when India and china are locked in a face-off is likely to take place on September 10.

At the end of the bilateral summit meeting in Tokyo between the two leaders in 2018, both countries agreed to begin formal negotiations on the ACSA. This would allow the Indian military and the Japan Self Defence Force to use each other's bases for logistic support. "The two leaders welcomed the joint exercise between each of the three services and the commencement of negotiations on the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which will enhance the strategic depth of bilateral security and defense cooperation," the joint statement read.

Japan records its worst GDP amid COVID-19 crisis

The ACSA would permit the Indian Navy access to a Japanese base in Djibouti. The Japan Maritime Self Defence Force would be permitted to use India's military installations on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located in the Indian Ocean.

SC says funds from PM-Cares needn't be transferred to National Disaster Response Fund|Oneindia News

The ACSA was first discussed during the annual India-Japan Defence Ministerial Dialogue held at New Delhi in August 2018. It was also on the agenda of the Indian National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval and his Japanese counterpart, Shotaro Yachi held at New Delhi in September 2018.

The joint statement by the Prime Ministers also said, "recognizing that enhanced exchanges in expanding maritime domain awareness (MDA) in the Indo-Pacific region contributes to regional peace and stability, they welcomed the signing of the Implementing Arrangement for deeper cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)."

The meeting of Modi and Abe is important also in the context with the tensions with China. The issue regarding the Chinese would figure in the talks. The expansion drive by China is not just limited to Ladakh. It has also caused concerns for Japan over the ownership of the Senaku Islands. Abe too is under pressure from his Cabinet to take a tough stance on China.
In what reporters and researchers are calling an information miracle, Ontario has finally made it possible to look up civil and some criminal cases online  a task that could previously only be done in person, at the courthouse in the city where the case had been filed.

Attorney General of Ontario Doug Downey shared the new online tool on Monday, as part of a pandemic-driven push for increased remote access to the courts and reducing the need for in-person visits to courthouses.

Its awesome, Downey said in an interview. Its the kind of thing youd expect to have in a modern justice system.

The search function, which is open to the public  including journalists and self-represented litigants  and works on mobile devices, will be part of a more accessible, responsive and resilient justice system, he said.

The search function comes as the ministry launches a pilot program for a cloud-based document sharing and storage software called Caselines, and as courts embrace the use of Zoom to conduct entirely remote hearings and allow remote access to in-person trials for some justice system participants. Most court documents are also now being filed electronically, either directly to courthouses or through the ministrys justice services portal, which expanded to allow 400 more civil and family court documents earlier this month.

The ministry has also hired PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct a $471,000 study of court operations at the Superior Court of Justice. The study, which is underway, represents a direct path toward additional actions to support justice innovation and to modernize Ontarians interactions with the justice system from end-to-end, including moving more services online, a spokesperson for Downey said.

The ministry is also working to take the Landlord and Tenant tribunal online, Downey said Monday.

The need for an online case search tool became apparent when the public terminals used to search court cases were inaccessible due to courthouse closures in the first months of the pandemic, Downey said.

The new search function allows the public to search for civil cases and for criminal cases at the Superior Court level by name, and displays limited information about the case including the amount of the lawsuit, the next court date and the date the lawsuit began. The search can be done province-wide  unlike at the public courthouse terminals, which restrict searches to the courthouse location.

However, the online tool doesnt provide access to the court documents themselves, unlike in parts of the United States and in British Columbia, where court records can be accessed online, sometimes for a fee. And unlike on the public terminals, it is not possible to see what documents, if any, have been filed in civil matters.

Downey said there is potential for more information, including documents, to become available in the future. The current tool was designed to provide online access as soon as possible.
TCN News

Coimbatores Jamaat-e-Islami Hind celebrated the 74th Independence Day of India with great fervour at the campus of Hidhaya Islamic College for Women in Karumbukkadai.

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P.S. Umar Farook, President of Coimbatore chapter of Jamaat had presided over the event and hoisted the national flag in presence of Moulavi M.M. Mohammed Ismail Imdhadhi and State Secretary of Rabidathul Ulema Forum. Special arrangements were made because of the COVID-19 pandemic with all the participants and office bearers as well as the cadres followed social distancing and wore masks throughout this event.

The Jamaat President spoke on the significance of being a citizen of the country that celebrates unity in diversity while pointing out the selfless sacrifices made by Muslims in the construction of the country. He also stated that as a proud citizen of this country we should not only divulge in the past sacrifices but should also partake in the present in terms of the nations development and prosperity. He concluded by reiterating that every Indian should distance himself from divisive factors and should safeguard the notion of unity in diversity.

The event concluded with the National Anthem and playing Saare Jahan Se Achcha.
TOKYO, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Japan K.K., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) is pleased to announce that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase I/II study of Telixs renal cancer diagnostic imaging product TLX250-CDx (89Zr-girentuximab) in Japan.



The objective of the study, termed the ZIRDAC-JP ( Zir conium D osing a nd C omparison in Japan ) study is to confirm the safety and tolerability, as well as sensitivity and specificity of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with TLX250-CDx to detect clear cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC) in Japanese patients. The patient population for the ZIRDAC-JP trial has been selected to be identical to the global Phase III ZIRCON trial, with comparison to surgical resection (histology) as standard of truth. The study has been carefully designed in consultation with the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) to collect the necessary data to potentially bridge to the ZIRCON study by confirming that dosing and pharmacology in Japanese patients is consistent with the rest-of-world experience.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Japan K.K. President, Dr. Shintaro Nishimura stated, The ZIRDAC-JP study is the first commercially sponsored clinical trial in Japan in which a zirconium-based diagnostic agent has been studied. Dosing the first patient in the ZIRDAC-JP study represents a significant first step for the Japanese nuclear medicine community to deliver benefit to Japanese cancer patients and to pave the way for the future use of theranostics in Japan. Wed like to express our appreciation to Dr Nakaigawa, the studys principal investigator at Yokohama City University Hospital, the investigators and the study team for their excellent collaboration, and most importantly the patients who will participate in this trial.

Mr. Masahiro Tanaka, Director of the Medical Division of JFE Engineering Corporation stated, We are very pleased to have contributed to the successful initiation of the ZIRDAC-JP study with the investigational drug manufactured by JFE Engineering at our Yokohama cyclotron facility. Our centralized manufacturing capabilities will provide the patients and medical community with flexible and convenient access to this novel radiopharmaceutical and will provide the pharmaceutical industry with a significant commercial opportunity.

About the ZIRDAC-JP Study

ZIRDAC-JP ( Zir conium D osing a nd C omparison in Japan , NCT04496089) is a Japanese multi-centre Phase I/II study that will recruit approximately 40 patients in total. The objectives of the study are to determine the safety, tolerability, radiation dosimetry and pharmacokinetics / pharmacodynamics (Phase I), and the sensitivity and specificity of TLX250-CDx PET imaging to detect clear cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC) compared to histologic ground truth determined from surgical resection specimens (Phase II).

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of diagnostic and therapeutic products using Molecularly Targeted Radiation (MTR). Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with international operations in Belgium, Japan and the United States. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage oncology products that address significant unmet medical needs in prostate, kidney and brain cancer. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX). For more information visit www.telixpharma.com .

About JFE Engineering Corporation

JFE Engineering is continuing to accelerate the globalization of its engineering business and supply leading-edge technologies to countries around the world. JFE Engineering is committed to creating the foundation for life and a better standard of living through innovation in energy, construction and healthcare. For more information, please visit www.jfe-eng.co.jp .

Telix Japan Contact

Dr. Shintaro Nishimura

President & Chief Operating Officer

Telix Pharmaceuticals Japan K.K.

E: shintaro.nishimura@telixpharma.com

W: www.telixpharma.com
Does getting Covid-19 once give the patient immunity to the disease? If so, how long does it last? Is the immunity robust enough to fend off the pathogen even in a highly contagious space? And, does the level of protection vary depending on how strong or mild the infection was?

At least four studies over the past few weeks have offered deeper insights into these crucial questions about how the bodys immune system responds to the Sars-Cov2 once it has been infected by and cleansed of it.

The studies, to answer the questions above in order, indicate that -- yes, a person once infected may be immune to reinfection; this protection may last for at least 3-6 months; the immune system is likely remember the virus to offer protection in a highly infectious situation; and the level of protection may be strong even if the infection was mild.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

These answers are crucial because they will determine if vaccines will work to bring about a collective immunity that will stay long enough to return the world to the pre-pandemic period.

Research suggests the pathogen behaves in a manner similar to other viruses, allowing the human body to identify it, fight it, and remember it, irrespective of the nature and intensity of the illness.

The first indication of this was in a study published on July 24 by researchers from Wuhan, who followed the first of 349 people to be infected and develop symptoms in the central Chinese city where the virus was discovered. Our data indicates sustained humoral immunity in recovered patients who suffer from symptomatic Covid-19, suggesting prolonged immunity... titers (antibody levels) stabilised at relatively high levels over the six months observation period, said the researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan.

Also read: Flu season will be a test run for the USs biggest-ever vaccine campaign

The second was submitted to the journal Cell on August 11 by researchers from Sweden, Denmark and the UK, who  in an analysis of samples from people in European hot spot areas  showed that people exhibited robust memory T-cell responses months after infection, even in the absence of detectable circulating antibodies specific for Sars-CoV-2. This, they added, indicated a previously unanticipated degree of population-level immunity against Covid-19.

The third came on August 14, in a study by University of Washington and Seattles Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center. It found that having antibodies (they had likely recovered from a previous disease) protected three crewmembers while the virus infected 104 of 122 people on a fishing vessel over an 18-day voyage. This suggests that neutralising antibodies are a correlate of protection for Sars-CoV-2, Alexander Greninger, the assistant director of UW Medicine Clinical Virology Laboratory told HT on Sunday.

The latest was reported on August 15, offering a second confirmation: people with mild symptoms had memory cells that could recognise the virus later. We found that recovered individuals developed Sars-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody and neutralising plasma, as well as virus-specific memory B- and T-cells that not only persisted, but in some cases increased numerically over three months... said researchers from University of Washingtons department of immunology.

Also read: Health department to use 3500 kits for testing industrial workers

In this study, the researchers tested 15 people who had Covid-19, once between the first 20 days since they had the disease and for a second time around 86 days later, when the researchers found stable levels of B and T memory cells.

T- and B-cells and antibodies are among the two main features of the complex immune system. While antibodies bind to viruses and neutralise them, T-cells and B-cells are responsible for producing antibodies, creating helper cells, and turning into killer proteins that gobble up any cell that is infected. Once an infection is beaten, 90% of T-cells and B-cells die off, while the remaining linger on as memory cells that can quickly multiply into antibodies, helper cells and killer cells.

While they are yet to be peer-reviewed, the first, second and fourth papers establish that the immune defences behave like they should with the Sars-Cov-2, while the second offers the closest sign yet that these may be enough to prevent a subsequent infection. UW professor Greninger, however, added that more studies with bigger groups may be needed to conclusively determine that antibodies can prevent reinfection.

Experts said that in addition to these studies, circumstantial evidence from China, where the outbreak first began around 9 months ago, too points to long-lasting immunity.

Immunity must be quite long because China is not reporting reinfection cases. They admitted the problem in December but there are signs that it may have started in August. So the people who got infected in this time do not appear to be getting it for a second time, said T Jacob John, the former head of virology department at Christian Medical College, Vellore.

John added that he believes that both kinds of antibodies  binding as well as neutralising need to be studied, and that T memory cell levels are expected to stay on for long.

The ability for the immune system to succeed against the virus and remember it for future encounters is crucial since there have been past viruses that interfere with the very defences of the human body. The virus that causes measles, for instances, has the ability to wipe out memory cells and make people vulnerable to infections they have had in the past. The dengue virus is known to cause a complication in which binding antibodies are not enough to neutralise it, leading to a situation where it can lead to severe infection. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) goes straight for the immune system.

Researchers involved in the above studies said this success of the immune system is crucial for vaccines to work. The development of vaccines against Sars-CoV2 would be greatly facilitated by the identification of immunological correlates of protection in humans, the researchers involved in the fishing vessel outbreak study noted, before elaborating their findings that showed that antibodies correlated with protection from infection.

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With the coronavirus spread across the country, tens of millions of Americans are expected to vote by mail this fall. On Tuesday, in response to mounting criticism that cuts could derail voting by mail, DeJoy said they would be postponed until after the election. Regardless of who wins in November, Trumps board and its postmaster general will still be running the Postal Service for several years.
BPSC Recruitment 2020: Bihar Public Service Commission releases 84 vacancies for lecturers; apply on bpsc.bih.nic.in

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) released the recruitment notice for Polytechnic lecturers in various departments on Monday on its official site bpsc.bih.nic.in. Interested candidates, who are eligible to apply, can start applying once the registration window is open from 19 August, 2020. The application process will go on till 7 September and candidates can fill up the form by visiting the official site of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in. An extra four day window has been kept open for the payment of the application fees, so candidates can complete their payment on or before 11 September, reported Hindustan Times. The last date for collecting the receipt of the BPSC recruitment application is 18 September, 2020. There are 84 vacant posts available for Lecturer under the BPSC recruitment drive 2020, with 29 jobs up for grabs as lecturer for Chemistry, 28 for Economics, and 27 for Physics. All of the candidates must be within the age of 21 and 65, as on 1 August, 2020. However, certain age relaxation for reserved category candidates is there. Educational Qualification: In order to apply, a candidate must have a Masters degree in related fields with first class or equivalent at Bachelors or Masters level. Hence if one candidate is applying for the post of Physics lecturer, they must hold a Masters Degree in Science (Physics) subject. According to Careers360.com, the recruitment process will be based on the candidates academic background and a subsequent interview. General and OBC candidates need to submit Rs 750 for application, while for SC/ ST/ Bihar Female candidates the fees is for Rs 200. All of the candidates must be within the age of 21 and 65, as on 1 August, 2020. However, certain age relaxation for reserved category candidates is there

FP Trending August 18, 2020 18:03:17 IST

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) released the recruitment notice for Polytechnic lecturers in various departments on Monday on its official site bpsc.bih.nic.in. Interested candidates, who are eligible to apply, can start applying once the registration window is open from 19 August, 2020. The application process will go on till 7 September and candidates can fill up the form by visiting the official site of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in. An extra four day window has been kept open for the payment of the application fees, so candidates can complete their payment on or before 11 September, reported Hindustan Times. The last date for collecting the receipt of the BPSC recruitment application is 18 September, 2020. There are 84 vacant posts available for Lecturer under the BPSC recruitment drive 2020, with 29 jobs up for grabs as lecturer for Chemistry, 28 for Economics, and 27 for Physics. All of the candidates must be within the age of 21 and 65, as on 1 August, 2020. However, certain age relaxation for reserved category candidates is there. Educational Qualification: In order to apply, a candidate must have a Masters degree in related fields with first class or equivalent at Bachelors or Masters level. Hence if one candidate is applying for the post of Physics lecturer, they must hold a Masters Degree in Science (Physics) subject. According to Careers360.com, the recruitment process will be based on the candidates academic background and a subsequent interview. General and OBC candidates need to submit Rs 750 for application, while for SC/ ST/ Bihar Female candidates the fees is for Rs 200. For more details, candidates can refer to the official notice sent out by the commission separately for the vacancies in the Physics, Chemistry and Economics department.

Updated Date:
Lightfoot made the comments on MSNBC Tuesday morning after being asked about criticism from President Trump about her decision to raise the bridges. At a Wisconsin event on Monday, Trump said Lightfoot literally raised up the drawbridges to prevent hordes of rioters from ransacking the city.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Amid the ongoing tension on the borders with China, the Indian Navy's top brass will hold a three-day meet here from Wednesday to review the force's operational preparedness and deliberate upon the course to be steered in the future.

The Navy said that the Naval Commanders' Conference 2020 is scheduled to be held August 19-21. The conference is the apex level event for interaction between the top naval commanders.

India Navy chief, Admiral Karambir Singh, with the chiefs of the naval commands and other top officers, will have deliberations on the course ahead, as well as material, logistics, human resources, training and administrative activities undertaken during the year.

The Conference assumes greater significance as it comes against the backdrop of recent events on the northern borders, coupled with the unprecedented challenges posed by Covid-19 and would provide the higher naval leadership "a forum to discuss conduct of operations, sustenance and maintenance of assets, procurement issues, infrastructure development, human resource management, etc within the ambit of the new normal established by the pandemic", the Navy said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to address the Naval Commanders on the opening day and interact with them. The conference is also a forum for interaction of naval commanders with other senior government officials.

As this is the first Naval Commanders' Conference since the institution of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the conference would discuss ways to optimise a joint planning structures, tri-service synergy, and operational readiness, as also functional reorganisation within the navy to improve efficiency.

In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), the top naval officials would also undertake deliberations upon the larger security imperatives in the Indo-Pacific region.
On the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment of the US constitution, which granted women the right to vote, Harris also becomes the third woman to be selected as a major party vice presidential candidate after Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Sarah Palin in 2008. With less than 90 days until the election, Harriss selection is bound to excite many Democratic voters and bring intense ...

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Hopewell Chinonos lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa accuses the government of leading a personal attack against her.

A Zimbabwe court has ordered that a top rights lawyer be barred from representing a prominent journalist because she allegedly ran Facebook pages critical of the countrys justice system.

The magistrate court in the capital, Harare, ruled on Tuesday that Beatrice Mtetwa  an internationally acclaimed lawyer who has been at the forefront of defending the countrys human rights activists  be removed from representing award-winning journalist Hopewell Chinono.

Chinono faces charges of inciting violence for his role in promoting protests against corruption in late July that were banned and led to a government crackdown on dissent.

The state accused Mtetwa of writing contemptuous letters to the countrys magistrates and high courts, and of running Facebook pages that denigrated the courts.

In view of the submissions by both the state and the defence, the disqualification of the lead counsel Beatrice Mtetwa as requested by the state be and is hereby granted, ruled magistrate Ngoni Nduna.

The posts undermined public confidence in the courts, the magistrate said.

The picture portrayed a biased justice system and the world was invited to an outrage over abuse of human rights, he added.





Mtetwa denied any knowledge of the Facebook pages.

She said the government was leading a personal attack against her with a chilling effect on other lawyers.

The idea is to say to human rights lawyers, If you represent such a client we will come after you,' Mtetwa told reporters outside court, adding that her team would challenge the decision.

The right to legal representation has been curtailed by a court which is supposed to be supporting that right.

Mtetwa had served as the lead counsel for Chinono, who helped expose a multimillion-dollar corruption scandal involving the procurement of coronavirus protection gear and test kits.

The journalist has been in jail since he was arrested by armed police at his house in Harare on July 20.

Chinono had encouraged the public to join the July 31 anti-government protests via Twitter.

The protests were then banned, and around 20 activists who held demonstrations in their neighbourhoods were arrested and have since been freed on bail.

Those arrested included internationally acclaimed writer and Booker Prize nominee Tsitsi Dangarembga.
The governments of Ukraine and Israel urge pilgrims who plan to take part in the festive events on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah in Ukraine to refrain from visiting Uman town (Cherkasy region).

"On the initiative of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Rosh Hashan acquired the status of a national holiday in Ukraine. However, this year the epidemic situation in Ukraine and Israel, as well as in the whole world, unfortunately, does not allow traditionally celebrating this holiday. Guided by the recommendations and warnings of the Health Ministry of Ukraine and Israel, we urge all pilgrims who plan to take part in the current festive events on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah in Ukraine to refrain from visiting Uman town due to the threatening epidemic situation," the Ukrainian and Israeli governments said in their common statement released on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

By the way, for those who do decide to visit Uman, the governments said that lockdown in Ukraine applies to all public events and must be strictly observed.

"We hope for understanding and sincerely believe that next year we will be able to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and other holidays together without any restrictions," the officials said in the statement.

As reported, on August 17, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that the government supported the decision to restrict foreigners from visiting Uman (Cherkasy region) for the period of Rosh Hashanah celebrations in 2020.

In addition, according to Avakov, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reached a similar agreement with representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, who refused to hold the procession due to the pandemic.

Uman Mayor Oleksandr Tsebriy threatened to block the entry for Hasidim for the period of Rosh Hashanah due to the situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) and said that he would go to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss this issue.

Earlier, the participants of the interdepartmental meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine came to the joint opinion that the arrival of tens of thousands of Hasidic pilgrims to Uman to celebrate the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah in the traditional format in 2020 is impossible due to the epidemiological situation in Israel, the ban on mass events in Ukraine , the need to create a large number of places for observation and the complexity of law enforcement control over the observance of the self-isolation regime by the pilgrims.

Later, the Israeli Ministry of Health called on Kyiv officials not to allow the Hasidim pilgrimage to Uman on the Rosh Hashanah holiday in 2020.

In 2019, more than 30,000 pilgrims arrived in Uman to celebrate the 5780th Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), which is celebrated from the evening of September 29 to the evening of October 1.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: In a freak accident, a 3-year-old boy died after he tripped over a wire and a television set fell over him, when he was trying to pick up a mobile phone placed near it, at Selaiyur on Sunday.

Police said, The victim is the son of Balaji, a resident of Annai Sathya Nagar, who owns a grocery shop. Balaji was at his shop and his wife was busy doing household chores, when their son Kaviyarasu who was playing with his siblings tried to pick up a phone lying near the television stand. When he neared the space, he tripped over the wire and the TV fell over him.

On hearing the cries of the boy, the mother rushed him to the Chromepet Government Hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead. Selaiyur police registered a case and further investigation is on.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 09:55:20|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria will resume international flights on Aug. 29 after months of shutdown, Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika announced Monday.

The resumption of international flights would be similar to that of domestic flights, Sirika said.

Residents and citizens should be patient while the ban on international flights remains in force, the minister said, adding that the protocols and procedures for the resumption would be announced in due course. Enditem
Hyderabad: Raja Singh, the lone BJP MLA from Telangana and apparently in the centre of a row over social media giant Facebook's policy on hate speeches, has rejected allegations he makes communally loaded posts online, asserting he only works in the national interest.

He said his official FB page had been "hacked and blocked" in 2018 but that there has been no response from the police on a complaint filed by him on the matter so far.

In a report published last week, US newspaper Wall Street Journal had cited interviews with unnamed Facebook insiders to claim one of its senior India policy executives intervened in internal communication to stop a permanent ban on a BJP MLA from Telangana after he allegedly made communally charged posts.

Incidentally, Singh, known for his pro-Hindutva views, is the only saffron party legislator from the southern state.

In a video released on Monday, Singh said, "I am being projected in such a way that I am the most dangerous in the entire world (like) he (Singh) says something on social media, then something or the other happens. I would like to tell the media that I am a person who works in national interest. Cite one example where I could be blamed for any social strife," he said.

He claimed many social media accounts have been opened across the country in his name and said it was not possible for him stop all those people.

He said he cannot be held responsible if somebody shared or posted something.

"My official Facebook account was hacked and blocked in 2018," he said, adding he lodged a complaint with the police in this connection but that there has been no reply so far.

He never posted any inflammatory speeches on his official social media accounts, Singh contended.

Alleging there were many in the country who made inflammatory speeches, including AIMIM leaders in Telangana, he said nobody initiated action against them. He sought to know why he was being targeted and said it was 'wrong.' The legislator said he would continue to work in the national interest.

A slugfest had erupted between the Congress and the BJP following a report in the Wall Street Journal claiming that Facebook ignored applying its hate speech rules to politicians of the BJP.

Seizing on the report, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had accused the BJP and RSS of spreading "fake news" using Facebook and WhatsApp to influence the electorate, triggeringa sharp counter-attack from Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who reminded the opposition party of the Cambridge Analytica issue. Congress and the CPI (M) have demanded a probe by a joint parliamentary committee into the issue.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 18:33:26|Editor: huaxia

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Medical staff of Wuhan No. 1 Hospital gesture to bid farewell to medics from Guangdong Province before their departure from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has sent greetings to medical workers across the country ahead of China's Medical Workers' Day.

Noting that medical workers are a vital force in advancing the cause of healthcare, Xi said since the COVID-19 outbreak, a great number of medical workers have raced against time and fought tenaciously against the virus at the frontlines.

They have made significant contributions in fighting the epidemic, and demonstrated the noble spirit of giving priority to saving lives with total devotion and ultimate love, Xi added.

A doctor helps a recovered COVID-19 patient with rehabilitation training in a ward of Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Xi called on medical workers to adhere to the people-first approach, uphold medical ethics, strive to excel professionally and make new contributions to advancing the Healthy China initiative and improving people's health and well-being.

Xi also urged Party committees and governments at all levels, as well as the entire society, to care for medical workers and foster a sound social environment that respects the medical profession. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 13:53:03|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) has been going all out to help the government-led response to the oil spill in the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius, a UN spokesman said Monday.

The UN is "providing technical support on the impact assessment and environment protection, also focusing on affected communities," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at a regular noon briefing.

In late July, a Japanese freighter ran aground offshore in Mauritius and began leaking oil. Soon, the oil spill became so large that it was visible from space.

For its part, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has geared up some of its initiatives to immediately allocate 200,000 U.S. dollars to address the impact of the spill, while mobilizing funding from different environmental protection schemes, said Dujarric.

Also, the International Maritime Organization, the UN Environment Programme and the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have deployed an oil spill expert to support the government, he added.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization is supporting the public health response, while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is assessing the risks to communities. Besides, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has provided forensic investigation and legal support, while the Oceanographic Institute under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is helping with remote mapping, with the UN satellite imagery and analysis, the spokesman said.

In addition, the regional IOM director, Charles Kwenin, arrived in Mauritius on Monday on behalf of the United Nations' Regional Directors for Eastern and Southern Africa to offer high-level support and solidarity to the government, and to help assess the situation and support the UN team, said Dujarric.

The Mauritian government has closed off the coastal area of the eastern part of the island, where thousands of civilian volunteers worked for days trying to minimize damage to the Mahebourg lagoon and protect marine wetlands polluted by the spilled fuel.

A team of UN experts arrived in Mauritius on Aug. 11 to aid efforts to prevent the oil spill from further damaging its pristine environment.

The island nation of some 1.3 million people relies heavily on tourism, which had already taken a severe hit due to travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Enditem
Ever since the Coronavirus pandemic hit India, students have been confined to their homes and are using online classes to keep up with their curriculum.

However, a teacher at the government primary school in Bhutaramanahatti in Belagavi taluk has made teaching a more interactive and visual experience for his students.

As reported by The Hindu, Basavaraj Sungari is using new tools to create 3D content for his videos.

Sungari used basic editing tools on his mobile and desktop to create videos in Kannada for his students. Some of the topics include biology, chemistry and physics.

According to him, he uses a mobile app called Arloopa to embed his videos with 3D objects or videos that use augmented reality content. Such tools are used by young people to develop games. But I found them useful in creating content that can be easily understood by rural students, he told The Hindu.

In one of his videos, you can see Sungari explaining about Asian elephants with the animal appearing virtually beside him. One can see the elephant walking and moving like in real life.

In other videos, Sungari has used 3D models of planets, sun, moon and other celestial objects to explain orbits and Earths relative distance to the sun.

 Facebook_Basavas1

However, he has mentioned that these virtual classes cannot replace traditional classrooms. He also mentioned that some rural students miss out on his virtual classes due to lack of access to smartphones.



He has also requested local community leaders in the villages if they can donate used smartphones or money to acquire smartphones for students.

Source: The Hindu
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the state would burn if Punjab is forced to share water with Haryana when the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal is completed and the dispute between the two states would turn into a national problem.

You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective. If you decide to go ahead with the SYL, Punjab will burn and it will become a national problem with Haryana and Rajasthan also suffering, he said after a tripartite meeting with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Shekhawat on Tuesday.

The meeting was held on the direction of the Supreme Court, which had asked the Centre on July 28 to mediate between the two states on the long-pending water dispute. The meeting did not yield any breakthrough. We held a meeting on SYL canal in view of the Supreme Court order. Both the Chief Ministers of Haryana and Punjab expressed their views and we will soon hold a second round of talks, Shekhawat said after the meeting.

Singh urged the Union government to be cautious on the SYL issue and reiterated the need for a tribunal to make a time-bound assessment of the water availability. He also sought complete share of water for Punjab from the total resources available, including from the Yamuna.

He said Punjab had a right over Yamuna water as it did not get its due share when Haryana was carved out of the state. Describing the talks as cordial, he said he was his willing to sit across the table with his Haryana counterpart to discuss the emotive issue.

The Punjab chief minister also suggested that Rajasthan be involved in the discussions on the SYL canal and Ravi-Beas waters as the desert state was also a stakeholder. Haryana, which gets 1.62 million acre feet water from the Ravi and Beas rivers, stuck to its stand of getting 3.5 MAF from both the rivers and stressed that this was absolutely non-negotiable.

Hoping for an amicable solution, Khattar said: We maintained our stand that SYL should be constructed. The Supreme Court too had said that. We will again meet soon and discuss this issue. The SYL canal has been a contentious issue between the two neighbouring states. It is meant to allow Haryana to draw its share of water from Ravi and Beas.
In Ontario, the rate of new COVID-19 infections is at its lowest levels in four months. Thats the good news.

The not-so-good news is that of new infections  there were 132 in the 24-hour period between Sunday and Monday  those with the greatest share continue to be people between the ages of 20 and 39, even as overall numbers of new cases continue to drop. Its a trend that began 12 weeks ago and shows no signs of abating now that all areas of Ontario are in Stage 3 of reopening.

There are two possible reasons for this, says Raywat Deonandan, associate professor and epidemiologist at the University of Ottawa: one, older people are better protected now, so in comparison younger people now account for a higher proportion of cases; and two, younger people are being more social in unsafe ways.

Its commonly felt that young people have a lower appreciation for risk  we see it in other public health behaviours, like speeding and drug use  particularly true for younger men. And the Ontario data do suggest that COVID is now mostly a young male thing, Deonandan said.

As well, young people have a much higher need for social contact. We all understand this. The combination of a rampant infectious disease, low risk perception, and high desire to mingle is a recipe for greater transmission in this age group.

Cases in young adults climb

Provincial data shows that following the spike in mid-April of new coronavirus cases among people aged 80 and over, the 40 to 59 age group accounted for the largest percentage of confirmed cases for the next several weeks. But when late spring turned to summer, the percentage of infections in people aged 20 to 39 began to climb, hitting more than 40 per cent in early June, a threshold above which it has remained.

While those aged 20 to 39 represent the largest group affected by COVID-19, its important to note that the actual number of infections in this category are still decreasing. Its just that they are decreasing at a slower rate than other age groups.

In general, 20- to 39-year-olds tend to be more social, probably the most social group other than children interacting with each other at school, which is not a current factor in transmission in Ontario, said Todd Coleman, an epidemiologist and assistant professor in health sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University.

But that alone doesnt explain why this age group is seeing a higher percentage of cases than others, he said.

It could be a number of things, more relaxed social distancing compared to other age groups, hanging out with friends again. It could be that this group are more represented in employment settings where they are more likely to come into contact with others. I really doubt that theres one singular explanation, Coleman said, cautioning that its not clear if a possible lack of use of personal protective equipment in this age group could be playing a role.

Cumulatively, there have been a total of 42,809 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in the province, according to the Stars tally of public health units. Most of those cases have affected people between the ages of 20 and 59, with women making up a higher proportion of overall cases in the over-40 age groups.

The rolling seven-day average of new cases now sits at 84 cases per day over the last week, the lowest seven-day average Ontario has seen since a mid-April peak of nearly 600 daily.

Rocky Mountain High

Alberta continues to have the highest number of active cases of COVID-19 in the country based on population  234 cases per million people  with Quebec and Manitoba in second and third with 181.8 and 168.2 cases per million respectively.

The higher trend in Alberta is partly due to the fact that the province of 4.4 million has decided to stay open as long as active cases in regions of the province are below 50 per 100,000 people, a liberal cap that has also been adopted by other countries including Germany, says Jim Kellner, an infectious disease expert and professor at the University of Calgarys Cumming School of Medicine.

Alberta also has universal testing, meaning anyone can be tested even without symptoms, which could account for the higher proportion of cases.

Like many places across the country, Alberta has seen an increase of cases in young adults aged 20 to 39, says Kellner. And many more cases are appearing in Edmonton, which didnt have much spread at the beginning of the pandemic compared to Calgary, a travel hub.

But the impact to health care in the province remains low, says Kellner, which is another reason the province is staying open.

Currently there are 45 people in hospital with the virus and only 10 in the ICU.

Deaths there total 224, a rate of 5 per 100,000, which is much lower than the average in Canada of 24 per 100,000, a number driven by the higher number of deaths in Ontario and Quebec, says Kellner.

The U.S. has had a little over 50 deaths per 100,000, he says, and in the U.K., that number is more than 70 per 100,000.

Kellner though is concerned about contact tracing, which has been effective in the province but is becoming harder as people are out and about and not staying close to home like they were at the start of the pandemic.

Until recently, the province had around 400 medical students who were contributing to contact tracing but they have since gone back to school, says Kellner.

Although Quebec has the second highest proportion of cases based on population, the province reported 55 new cases Monday, the fourth day in a row that cases have been less than 100, according to media reports. Patients in hospital number 145 with 25 of those in the ICU.

Ontario is sixth, with 62.4 active cases per million people. Thirty-two people are in hospital with the virus, 16 of those in ICU.

Coleman, of Wilfrid Laurier University, says increases of cases in provinces that initially seemed to have the virus under control should serve as a lesson to us all.

I think there may be some slight confusion that reopening means no more social distancing and I think the messaging needs to be a little bit more firm and concrete that we still need to be on guard for this, he said. We still need to employ practices that help prevent this from passing on. And not be calm and relaxed and think this is completely gone from circulation.

Chatham-Kent has highest COVID rates in Ontario

Outbreaks of COVID-19 among farm workers and temporary foreign workers employed in local greenhouses are under control in Chatham-Kent but the virus is still spreading due to close contact with confirmed cases.

The area has the highest number of weekly cases of the virus in the province based on population  37 per 100,000.

The majority of close contact cases have occurred within families, including 12 cases related to a boating trip involving multiple families. There have also been some cases in the Low German-speaking communities.

A spokesperson for Chatham-Kent Public Health notes the outbreak in those communities is a regional trend occurring not only in the Chatham-Kent area but in Windsor-Essex, Oxford-Elgin, Huron-Perth, Haldimand-Norfolk and Niagara Region.

Travel outside the province is also accounting for a number of cases in the C-K public health unit, including one where a resident returning from Florida was charged under the Quarantine Act for not isolating.

Windsor-Essex has the second highest rate of weekly cases, 12 per 100,000 people, with continuing outbreaks in the agri-farm and manufacturing sectors.

And the Southwestern Public Health Unit, which covers Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas, is third with 11 cases per 100,000.

Cases there started to rise in mid-July, says Cynthia St. John, the CEO of Southwestern Public Health, due to spread in some workplaces, family clusters and large social gatherings.

We have continued to emphasize the need to stay two metres apart from others and to get tested even if displaying only a single symptom, said St. John in an email, as both the lack of physical distancing and a reluctance to test may have contributed to the surge in cases.

Of Ontarios 132 new cases reported Monday, most were in Toronto (32), Ottawa (19), Peel Region (18) and Hamilton (16).

With files from Ed Tubb
It is the first such deal for Australia, and Morrison said his government was also in talks with 'many parties around the world.'

Sydney: Australia has secured access to a "promising" potential coronavirus vaccine, the prime minister announced Tuesday, saying the country would manufacture it and offer free doses to the entire population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia had reached a deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to receive the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with Oxford University.

"The Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in the world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian," he said.

"If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians."

The Oxford vaccine is one of five globally in Phase 3 efficacy trials, and researchers hope to have results by the end of the year.

It is the first such deal for Australia, and Morrison said his government was also in talks with "many parties around the world" over other potential vaccines as well as supporting local scientists in their efforts.

The country is yet to reach a final agreement with AstraZeneca on the cost, and a local manufacturer has not been locked in.

However, Australia has signed an Aus$25 million ($18 million) agreement with American medical technology company Becton Dickinson to buy 100 million needles and syringes to administer the doses.

Although none of the coronavirus vaccines under development has proved its efficacy yet in clinical trials, at least 5.7 billion doses have been pre-ordered around the world.

Five vaccines  three Western and two Chinese  are in Phase 3 efficacy trials involving thousands of people, including the Oxford vaccine.

AstraZeneca has also signed agreements to provide doses to the US, Europe and Brazil.

Another deal struck by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, would see India manufacture the Oxford vaccine for distribution in 57 low- and middle-income countries.

First shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine created by Western laboratories have often been snapped up by the United States.

Morrison said Australia remained "committed" to ensuring early access to the potential vaccine for Pacific countries and regional partners in Southeast Asia.

Earlier this month he called on nations to share potential vaccines, saying any country that discovered one and did not make it available globally "would be judged terribly by history".

Australia has recorded almost 24,000 cases of COVID-19 and 438 fatalities to date.

Early in the pandemic it was considered among the most successful at curbing the virus's spread until an outbreak in Melbourne, the country's second-biggest city, that authorities struggled to contain.

The outbreak -- which was traced back to two hotels being used to quarantine travellers returning from overseas -- has ravaged aged-care homes in the city, causing dozens of deaths.

An overnight curfew, mandatory mask-wearing and the shutdown of non-essential businesses now appear to be bringing the virus under control, with the number of new daily cases falling below 300 in recent days.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tapped Chrystia Freeland to be Canada's first female finance minister on Tuesday as an ethics scandal that clipped her predecessor's wings reverberates through the government.

Freeland received a standing ovation after being sworn in at a small ceremony in Ottawa.

Guests socially distanced, wore face masks and Freeland greeted Trudeau with an elbow bump after taking the oath of office, telling reporters that it was "about time that we broke that glass ceiling."

The prime minister later announced the suspension of parliament until September 23, when his minority government will lay out a new direction and test its support as confronts the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We do not want an election," Trudeau said, "but it's obvious that the Throne Speech we gave eight months ago (outlining the government's agenda) is no longer relevant for the reality that Canadians are living and that our government is facing."

"We need to reset the approach of this government to build back better," he said, "and we need to present that to Parliament and gain the confidence of Parliament to move forward on this ambitious plan."

Freeland, 52, has held key posts in the Liberal government including deputy prime minister -- a role she keeps -- and foreign minister, as well as leading free trade talks with the US and Mexico.

The former journalist, first elected in 2015, takes on the top finance job as Canada goes through its worst economic crisis since the Second World War.

"I think all Canadians understand that the restart of our economy needs to be green, it needs to be equitable (and) it needs to be inclusive," she said.

After five years in the post, Bill Morneau -- under pressure from opposition parties -- announced his surprise resignation from politics late Monday.

The temporary shutdown of parliament effectively ends committee inquiries into the WE Charity scandal dogging the Liberals.

Story continues

"It seems like the government is trying to press the reset button, and try to perhaps, put the charity affair behind them and get a fresh start with the electorate," Stephanie Chouinard, a politics professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, told public broadcaster CBC.

- Charity questions -

In recent weeks, local media had reported a growing rift between Trudeau and Morneau on how to reboot the Canadian economy weakened by the new coronavirus pandemic, as the government budget deficit ballooned to more than Can$340 billion (US$257 billion).

Morneau was also being investigated by Canada's ethics commissioner over his ties to the WE Charity tasked with distributing pandemic relief to young Canadians.

Trudeau too is being probed over his family ties to the charity, which paid his wife, brother and mother for speaking engagements.

Both Trudeau and Morneau apologized last month for the affair, saying they erred in not recusing themselves from discussions about awarding the roughly Can$500 million contract to WE Charity to distribute student scholarship funds.

Morneau faced calls to step down after he revealed he had only recently paid back more than Can$41,000 in travel expenses to the charity, where one of his daughters works, for humanitarian trips he and his family took in 2017.

The scholarship program has been cancelled but the controversy remains.

In his final public remarks as an MP, Morneau denied that his departure was linked to the scandal. But opposition parties remain skeptical, saying he was made a scapegoat.

"We all know it was the scandal that brought Mr. Morneau down," Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said.

The Bloc Quebecois and New Democratic Party accused Trudeau of "throwing his finance minister (Morneau) under a bus."

Bloc leader Yves-Francois Blanchet vowed to try to topple the government and trigger snap elections, but he would need the support of at least two other parties to do so.

The Tories are set to elect a new leader this week, while the New Democrats and Greens have rejected going to the polls in the midst of a global health crisis that has claimed the lives of more than 9,000 Canadians.

Opinion polls show the Liberals have been damaged by the scandal, but are still positioned well for an early election.

amc/st
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:28:10|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel's leading airline El Al announced on Tuesday that it has extended flight suspension until Sept. 30.

The company made the decision even though Israel began to gradually open its skies to international flights on Sunday as part of easing the strict restrictions imposed for months to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Passengers arriving from 20 countries with low morbidity are no longer required to enter a 14-day quarantine, while Israelis may fly to Bulgaria, Greece and Croatia without a quarantine obligation upon arrival and return.

El Al said in a statement that its extension of flight suspension is due to the continued restrictions on arriving passengers from most countries.

This includes quarantine obligation for returning Israelis and an entry ban for most foreign citizens.

Accordingly, the company decided to extend the unpaid leave period for more than 6,000 employees.

Currently, the company only operates a limited number of cargo flights. Enditem
People party on a rooftop in Kips Bay as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on August 1, 2020 in New York City.

The World Health Organization warned Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic is now being driven by people in their 20s, 30s and 40s who don't know they are infected.

Most of the young people either never developed symptoms or had mild symptoms, Dr. Takeshi Kasai, WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific, said during a news briefing. "This increases the risk of spillovers to the most vulnerable: the elderly, the sick, people in long-term care, people who live in densely populated urban areas" and rural areas with limited health care.

Kasai said world leaders and the public must "redouble efforts" to stop the virus from moving into vulnerable communities. "We are encouraged to see many countries in the region already adopting new tactics that help minimize the social and economic consequences of Covid-19 and show how we can cope with it for the foreseeable future," he said.

Scientists are still learning why the disease develops into a severe illness in some individuals but not others, like some young people.

The coronavirus has infected nearly 22 million people worldwide and killed at least 774,600 as of Tuesday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Earlier this month, the WHO published an analysis of 6 million infections between Feb. 24 and July 12 and found that the share of people between ages 15 and 24 rose to 15% from 4.5%.

In the U.S., state health officials say more young people are ignoring social distancing measures and contracting the virus at a higher rate. Vice President Mike Pence warned in June that roughly half of the new cases in the U.S. at the time were people under the age of 35, particularly in Florida and Texas.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, has said that doctors are seeing "more and more" complications with Covid-19 in young people. He urged young Americans to not take the coronavirus lightly, saying doing so could propagate the pandemic.

"You have to have responsibility for yourself but also a societal responsibility that you're getting infected is not just you in a vacuum. You're propagating the pandemic," Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in an interview on July 16.

Fauci has also said he's never seen a single virus have such a wide range of symptoms.

Some people have no symptoms while "some get mild symptoms and some get symptoms enough to put them at home for a few days. Some are in bed for weeks and have symptoms even after they recover, others go to the hospital, some require oxygen, some require intensive care, some get intubated and some die," he said June 23.

Even though cases are high in the U.S. and other parts of the world, there's still a chance to bring the virus under control, the WHO has said.

The WHO recommends that people wear masks as a way to slow the spread of the virus. The agency also recommends people wash their hands regularly, maintain their distance from others and avoid going to crowded places. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention, but call by telephone in advance if possible and follow the directions of your local health authority, the WHO said.
The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has said that over 20,000 workers were engaged for the ongoing construction of Lagos-Ibadan rail project.

This, he said was in compliance with the local content law inherent in the $1.6 billion contract agreement between Nigeria and China.

Mr Amaechi said this at a public hearing in Abuja, Monday, while responding to concerns by the House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements that local content was not observed in the course of the project.

He said, There are over 20,000 Nigerian workers employed for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project, only 560 of the workers on that project are Chinese, adding that most materials for the project were locally sourced except for those that were manufactured outside Nigeria.

We have over 150 Nigerians being trained as Engineers in China. The Chinese have also built two training institutions for us, one at Idu and the other one is the Transportation University in Daura, Katsina State, Mr Amaechi said.

The minister also said that only a contract of $1.6b was awarded by the present administration in the Ministry of Transportation as against the allegations by the committee chairman, Nicholas Ossai, that there was a $33 billion contract awarded by the present administration.

READ ALSO:

Mr. Chairman, there is no $33bn contract in the Ministry of Transportation. What we have is $1.6b awarded by this government for Lagos-Ibadan, for which the Chinese government is providing $1.2b and we are providing the remaining $400m.

Mr Amaechi restated that the coastal rail project may not sail through if the House committee continues its investigations on the project before the loan is granted.
Fears Australian holidaymakers would face hefty fines if they didn't leave Bali by August 20 have eased after Indonesian immigration announced it would allow tourists an extra month to be granted new visas.

The Indonesian Institute in Perth has been lobbying for the extension of emergency visas granted to stranded Australians in Bali, as many faced being caught in a complex web of Indonesian bureaucracy or pay skyrocketing costs to come home.

A passenger being welcomed at Denpasar airport in Bali after the resort island reopened its borders to tourists on July 31. Credit:AP/Firdia Lisnawati

The institutes Ross Taylor said many of the 3000 Australian short-stay visa-holders in Bali had sought a six-month social visa, which required a local sponsor and meant stepping around the usual laws of immigration; so it does take you into a slightly murky, complex world.

People, I understand, are going to where the accommodation is and get to know the people at the hotel, saying: Look is there someone where we pay you X amount of dollars, would you agree to be an authority that gives us the letter you need? Dr Taylor said.
Wearing a face covering lowers the risk of spreading Covid-19 to others through speaking and coughing, new research suggests.

Speaking and coughing without face protection exposes people nearby to droplets carrying the virus that could otherwise be stopped by wearing a mask, according to the study.

Researchers found someone standing two metres from a coughing person with no mask is exposed to 10,000 times more droplets than someone half a metre from someone coughing and wearing a covering.

Lead researcher Dr Ignazio Maria Viola, of the University of Edinburghs School of Engineering, said: We knew face masks of various materials are effective to a different extent in filtering small droplets.

However, when we looked specifically at those larger droplets that are thought to be the most dangerous, we discovered that even the simplest handmade single-layer cotton mask is tremendously effective.

Therefore wearing a face mask can really make a difference.

Scientists at the university compared the number of droplets that landed on a surface in front of a person coughing and speaking without and with a surgical mask or a basic cotton face covering.

Tests were carried out on people and a life-sized anatomical human model connected to a machine that simulates coughs and speech.

(PA Graphics)

They add that the findings, published on a non-peer reviewed preprint server, could have implications for social distancing measures.

Professor Paul Digard, of the University of Edinburghs Roslin Institute, said: The simple message from our research is that face masks work.

Wearing a face covering will reduce the probability that someone unknowingly infected with the virus will pass it on.

According to the scientists their results contrast with previous research that suggested masks are less effective.

However, these studies also measured small droplets  known as aerosols  which can remain airborne for hours.

(PA Graphics)

How much virus transmission takes place by aerosol is still not known, but the team cautions that if it is found to be significant, the new findings overestimate the protective effects of face coverings.

Story continues

However, for bigger droplets carrying the largest amount of virus, masks are extremely effective in reducing spread to the immediate surroundings, researchers say.

Dame Ottoline Leyser, chief executive, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), said: The Covid-19 pandemic is a crisis that has impacted virtually everybody. In these extraordinary circumstances we have seen the value of rapid and collaborative research in supporting our response to the crisis.

Watch video below

The findings published today from a study led by researchers at the University of Edinburgh and co-funded by UKRI support the growing body of evidence that face coverings reduce Covid-19 transmission via respiratory droplets.

Research into Covid-19 is obviously a relatively new field, with the science still evolving. New information about the virus plays a crucial role in informing policy makers and the public.

The study was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the European Commission and Japan Student Services Organisation.
As world leaders gathered in Toronto a decade ago they were at first met by largely peaceful demonstrators pressing for action on climate change, and Indigenous and gay rights. But a small group of protesters smashed windows, looted shops and burned police cars in the main shopping district.

At first the police did nothing, but then about 20,000 officers from a variety of forces began making arrests, often violently. Most of those detained, a later, independent inquiry found, were peaceful or even just bystanders. Others were taken from homes without warrants, the report said.

The inquiry determined that the police had acted outside of the law.

That was in 2010, at the meeting of the Group of 20 in Toronto. On Monday, the citys police force reached a multimillion dollar settlement in a class action brought by the demonstrators.

Canada had never seen anything like what happened at the G-20 summit, and hopefully it never will again, Murray Klippenstein, one of the two lawyers who led the class action, representing about 1,100 people, said in a statement.
Children in Haiti returned to school on Monday after five months of school closures.

President Jovenel Moise said in late March that the country was closing all schools, airports, factories and seaports after two patients tested positive for COVID-19.

The densely populated nation of roughly 11 million people has registered 7,879 cases of COVID-19 infections, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

Outside of the school grounds of Sisters of Charity of Saint-Louis, some children were seen walking in close proximity to other children and adults without face masks outside.

Meanwhile, Jean-Marc Charles, Director of the National Lycee de Petionville, distributed masks to children in a classroom, where all the children wore face masks.

The impoverished country is limited in resources as it fights coronavirus.

According to the United Nations, some 35% of Haitians lack basic drinking water services and two-thirds have limited or no sanitation services, making it extremely difficult for people to regularly wash their hands as recommended to deter the spread of the coronavirus.
On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do

Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there...
As workers across Belarus take strike action after disputed August 9 presidential elections, President Aleksandr Lukashenkos government is on the brink of collapse. Factories across the country were on strike yesterday, after hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in the capital, Minsk. Lukashenko was booed as he spoke at a Minsk tractor factory, combining threats and apparent attempts to reach out to the right-wing, NATO-backed opposition parties supporting candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

Amid calls for a nationwide general strike, workers at dozens of industrial firms walked off the job yesterday. These firms included the Minsk Tractor Plant, the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, the Belarusian Metallurgical Plant, Naftan (chemical and petroleum products), GrodnoAzot (chemical goods), the Belarusian Railways, the Minsk Metro, the Belarusian Automobile Plant, the Minsk Automobile Factory, the Minsk Electrotechnical Factory, Terrazut (windows and doors), Belaruskali (fertilizers, mining and processing), Belteleradiokompania (telecoms).

They were joined by striking healthcare workers, teachers, miners, state television employees, oil workers, textile workers, and others from key industries. Social anger is mounting at Lukashenkos handing of the coronavirus, which he previously dismissed as a psychosis. It has infected nearly 70,000 people so far in Belarus. Lukashenko blithely told Belarusians to drink vodka and stay positive.

Strikers are demanding Lukashenkos ouster and the holding of new elections. Trying to address strikers at the tractor factory yesterday, Lukashenko faced cries of, Get out!the slogan that now predominates in the countrys large, socially-disparate demonstrations.

Lukashenko, who raised this weekend the deployment of paratroopers against strikers, replied that for his opponents to remove him, they would have to kill me. In a nationalist tone, he claimed his authoritarian rule and his disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic were all a defense of the Belarusian nation: You know my harshness. You know that if I had not been harsh, there would be no country.

Lukashenko also signaled, however, that he might consider Tikhonovskayas calls, earlier that day, for him to conduct dialogue with the opposition, adopt a new constitution and hold new elections. Tikhonovskaya hoped this would ensure that the country returns to calm and normalcy.

At the Minsk tractor factory, Lukashenko declared, We need to adopt a new constitution. You would need to ratify it at a referendum, and then, under the new constitution, if you want, have parliamentary elections, presidential elections, and elections for the local officials.

The NATO powers are intervening in an effort to ensure the eruption of working class anger remains under the control of the right-wing opposition, which currently dominates the protests with promises of free and fair elections, democracy, and an end to state violence to Belarus.

Tikhanovskaya, who fled Belarus after denouncing the election result, is now under the protection of the government of Lithuania. Along with the other Baltic states, it is demanding that Lukashenko subordinate himself to a national council of reconciliation that would negotiate terms for the holding of new elections.

Lukashenkos concessions to the opposition come amid signs of collapsing support for his rule within the state machine. The Interior Ministry apologized late last week for violent attacks on protesters and began releasing some imprisoned demonstrators. There are reports that members of the OMON, Belarus paramilitary internal security forces, dropped their weapons in response to appeals from protesters.

The latest NATO head of state to speak on Belarus was French President Emmanuel Macron, who is despised at home and internationally for his brutal police repression of the yellow vests. He declared, The European Union must continue to mobilize itself alongside hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who are peacefully protesting for their rights, liberty and sovereignty.

The EU, having announced that it will not recognize Lukashenkos claimed election landslide and condemned the Belarusian government for its violent attacks on peaceful protesters, is pushing forward Svetlana Tikhanovskaya as the winner. She declared Monday that she is prepared to return to Belarus to serve as a national leader. The same day, the German government confirmed that it is in regular communication with Tikhanovskaya.

Press reports indicate that the US government, which in a staggering display of hypocrisy has condemned Lukashenko for police violence, is deciding whether to push for a deal between him and the opposition and press them to break with Russia; or whether to bring down Lukashenko and orchestrate regime change in Minsk as part of the ongoing NATO military build-up across Eastern Europe aimed at Russia.

According to an August 12 story in Foreign Policy, disagreements within Congress over US policy on Belarus center on whether to continue with its pre-crisis plans to continue restoring diplomatic relations with the country.

One reason for the confusion in Washington is doubtless that several leaders in the Belarusian opposition have close ties with Moscow. Viktor Babariko ran Belgazprombank, a bank owned by Russian state-controlled firm Gazprom, until last May. Valery Tsepkalo, a businessman who had longstanding ties to the Belarusian regime before becoming an opposition politician, fled this April to Russia after he was barred from running for the presidency.

The critical question facing workers in Belarus is to struggle independently of and against all the factions of the post-Soviet capitalist kleptocracy, and their international allies. Lukashenko took power in 1994 amid the economic collapse triggered by the Stalinist regimes restoration of capitalism and its dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, the opposition speaks for a dissident faction of the same corrupt oligarchy that emerged from the Stalinist bureaucracys theft and plundering of state assets during capitalist restoration.

Despite being commonly portrayed in anti-Russian media as Putins unswerving ally, Lukashenko has a long history of trying to balance between Russia and Western imperialism. In 1996, he started creating free-market economic zones across the country, ensuring private foreign companies tax-free access to its low-wage workforce. As of 2020, 270 corporations had set up shop in these areas. In the mid-2000s, Lukashenkos government implemented budgets cuts and privatizations in order to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan.

The average monthly wage is just $500, among the lowest in Europe. A freeloaders tax introduced in 2015 fines those without jobs for more than six months. If the fine is unpaid and the person continues to be unemployed, the individual faces a six-month jail sentence. Experts estimate that the poverty rate, which the government claims stands at just 5 percent, is actually closer to 20 percent.

In mid-April, Belarus Finance Minister Maxim Yermolovich announced that Belarus had turned to the IMF to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic and would receive a $500-900 million loan. Major budget cuts are to follow, amid a raging pandemic.

The various bankers, businessmen and political operatives in the anti-Lukashenko opposition do not represent the grievances of the working class, but the continuation of the same policies that led to the disastrous handling of the pandemic and the upsurge of working class anger.

All the political forces operating in Belarusthe official opposition, the EU, the United States, Ukraine, and the Russian regimeare terrified by the eruption of the longstanding economic and social grievances of the Belarusian working class. Mass strikes in Belarus are all the more alarming to the bourgeoisie, as the same causes are driving growing strikes and protests across Europe and beyond. The NATO countries, including above all the United States, have also responded to the pandemic with naked contempt for workers lives.

Obtaining the necessary resources to fight COVID-19, stopping the NATO war drive against Russia and establishing a regime that safeguards democratic rights, require a common, international struggle of the working class for power, based on opposition to the political settlement that emerged from capitalist restoration in the Soviet Union. This means a turn towards the Trotskyist movements socialist and internationalist struggle against Stalinisms nationalist and counter-revolutionary legacy in the former Soviet Union and internationally.
ICICI Bank

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China's central bank, People's Bank of China, was one of the investors in ICICI Bank during the private lender's recent Rs 15,000 crore capital raising, despite

This comes even as India and China continue to exchange barbs over border issues that had led to India amending its FDI norms and taking a closer look on Chinese money pouring into Indian entities.

People's Bank of China (PBOC) was on the list of 357 institutional investors who subscribed to the qualified institutional placement (QIP), injecting Rs 15 crore into ICICI Bank, Business Today reported.

The list included Government of Singapore, Morgan Investment and Societe Generale, as well as domestic mutual funds, insurance companies, and global institutions.

Also Read: ICICI QIP | Singapore central bank largest investor, nets 11% of Rs 15,000 crore issue

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Experts quoted in the report say that the investment by a Chinese bank in ICICI Bank does not pose a threat since the banking sector is highly regulated.

PBOC was on the Indian government's radar recently after it raised its stake in mortgage lender HDFC to slightly over 1 percent during the quarter that ended on March 31, 2020.

PBOC cut their stake later, since it was not mentioned in HDFC's shareholding disclosure for the June quarter.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Stockholm, Sweden  Tue, August 18, 2020 12:09 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ebbb04 2 Science & Tech Sweden,China,TikTok,media Free

Sweden's public broadcasters Swedish Television (SVT) and Swedish Radio (SR) said Monday they have banned staff from using the video-sharing app TikTok on their work phones for security reasons.

"SVT's IT security department has found that the TikTok app discloses more information than what is considered necessary" to the app's Chinese owner Bytedance, SVT wrote on its website.

"SVT has therefore decided that employees are not allowed to have the TikTok app on their work phones."

Staff were informed of the decision by email.

Earlier this month, Swedish Radio took a similar decision, because the app "does not meet the security requirements we have on our work tools, such as work-issued phones," SR spokesman Claes Bertilson told AFP on Monday.

TikTok has around one billion users, primarily teens who make and share short videos, often set to music.

Read also: Trump orders ByteDance to divest interest in US TikTok operations within 90 days

But the platform has become the focus of geopolitical tensions.

In late June, India announced it was banning 59 Chinese apps including TikTok following a surge in anti-China sentiment in the wake of a Himalayan border clash.

In the US, President Donald Trump has claimed TikTok could be used by China to track the locations of federal employees, build dossiers on people for blackmail and conduct corporate espionage.

Trump has banned TikTok from operating in the US and ordered its owner ByteDance to sell its interest in the Musical.ly app it bought and merged with TikTok.

China on Monday meanwhile slammed Washington for using what it called "digital gunboat diplomacy".

Topics : Sweden China TikTok media
SiriusXM and emergency tech company RapidSOS are partnering to provide first responders more data in the event of a car crash, the companies announced today. SiriusXM technology that connects drivers to speak with 911 dispatchers is already part of 10 million cars in North America, according to a statement. With RapidSOS, 911 dispatchers will now get critical crash information without having to speak with vehicle occupants.

Uber, Waze and other companies have also partnered with RapidSOS to share customers locations and crash data with 911 dispatchers. Under the SiriusXM/RapidSOS partnership, first responders will receive customers locations as well as a description of the vehicle, whether airbags were deployed, crash impact data, the number of people in the vehicle and contact information of occupants. RapidSOS users with linked accounts can also choose to share important medical information. All data will be sent securely and with user consent, according to the statement.

Occupants will still be able to speak with 911 dispatchers. However, the direct transmission of the data is important, because relying only on verbal communication takes longer and has a greater risk of error.
Two health experts have questioned the suggestion that there will be further restrictions for the over-70s.

Immunologist Dr Tomas Ryan, associate professor of biochemistry in Trinity College Dublin has said that shielding doesnt work and that the Government is losing control of the situation with regard to Covid-19.

He told RTE radios Today with Sarah McInerney show that the testing and tracing system had fallen down and was getting slower.

The length of time between noticing symptoms and tracking contacts needed to be 72 hours, but at present it was an average of four days.

There needed to be a complete overhaul of the Governments Covid-19 strategy, he said.

File photo of an elderly man. Picture: PA

Geriatrician Professor Rose Anne Kenny, also of Trinity College, told the same programme that she had concerns about any moves to restrict the movement of older people.

Fresh air and movement were critical to boost the immune system and older people had more vulnerable immune systems.

It doesnt make sense to suggest that such people not be active, nor did selecting a chronological number.

I dont see how that will resolve things. There needs to be improved testing and tracing.

Dr Ryan added that there needed to be increased commitment from all of society to measures such as limited contacts, hand hygiene and the immediate reporting of any symptoms.

This is what living with the virus is and we have to get used to it.

Public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally has warned that Ireland is heading into an age-related apartheid approach to dealing with Covid-19.

The number of cases in Ireland was going in the wrong direction, he told Newstalks Pat Kenny show.

Somethings got to be done.

It was notable that recent cases were predominantly among young people, he said while older people were doing their best to dodge this deadly virus.

Dr Scally said he did not known what gain there might be from further restrictions for older people.

I can see how stopping house parties would be valuable. But I do have a kind of a worry that we're heading into some sort of an age-related apartheid approach to Covid-19.

Dr Scally added that he would like to see what the Governments strategy is going to be. He said he had seen a strategy for loosening lockdown and removing restrictions, but not for specifically dealing with the virus. He said he wanted to see what the Governments plan was going to be for the next six to nine months.

Individual measures may make a difference, but let's get the strategy right and at the core of that has to be the testing. Testing is absolutely crucial and seeing those times drift out to four days is really unacceptable at this stage of this terrible virus.

Testing times should be much closer to 24 hours with wider local testing, he said.

Dr Scally said that less intrusive saliva testing was coming down the line.
Representative image

The Supreme Court (SC) has reserved its order in the students' plea against against University Grants Commission's decision to make final-year exams compulsory. This plea is against UGC's July 7 decision asking institutes to conduct final year exams by September 30.

SC has asked all the parties to give a note on their submissions within the next three days. The hearing has concluded.

A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan is hearing the matter. During the hearing, Justice Bhushan questioned whether the final semester examinations can be skipped by students.

"If there is a direction of UGC, the university cannot dilute it. If one university dilutes it, every other university will act in the same manner," said Justice Bhushan.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for UGC said that many universities have conducted their examinations already. He added that while the universities can ask for an extension of the September 30 deadline, these entities do not have the right to confer degrees without conducting examinations.

Senior advocate KV Vishwanathan appearing for the Delhi government said that there is a divide between rich and poor students and that the latter may not have access to technology to write online exams.

Odisha government said in the hearing that considering the COVID-19 situation, it will be impossible to hold exams right now. Similarly, Kishore Datta, Advocate General of West Bengal argued that these are exceptional circumstances and that the situation in every state is different.

In his submissions on behalf of Maharashtra government, senior advocate Arvind Datar said that there are practical difficulties in conducting the exams in the state, especially since it is the worst-affected by COVID-19.

He added that UGC can lay standards for conducting exams but cannot force examinations to be held. He also cited the April UGC guidelines where states were given the right to decide on the exams depending on the situation.

Responding to this, Justice MR Shah said that UGC is not conducting exams and that it upto the universities.

Also, Justice Bhushan added that only the authorities will be able to decide students' welfare and that students are not 'competent' enough to decide.

Datar explained that not holding the exams would not be a dilution. He added that when it comes to the non-professional courses, students have already completed five semesters out of six and that there is the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) system.

However, Justice Bhushan responded saying that not all universities in India follow the semester system.

Students had sought cancellation of the examinations citing health concerns due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Also Read: What is the plea in SC against the UGC all about?

On August 13, UGC in its reply to the affidavits filed by the Delhi and Maharashtra governments said the cancellation of final year exams is not in students' interests and that this would 'irreparably' damage the future of these students.

Further, the ministry of home affairs also said in its affidavit that exams were permitted for final year students taking into account the academic interests of these candidates.

In another reply to the government of Odisha , UGC has said that any decision to cancel exams by a state government would violate UGC guidelines and also impact the standards of higher education.

The governments of Delhi and Maharashtra had filed an affidavit in the apex court that they will not be conducting examinations due to the coronavirus outbreak.

On July 7, UGC said the end-term examination for all final-year students would have to be mandatorily held by the end of September 2020 in offline (pen & paper), online or blended mode. This was opposed by several state governments like that of Maharashtra, West Bengal as also by final-year university students.

SG Tushar Mehta said in the July 27 hearing that out of 818 universities in India, 209 have already completed the examinations while 394 are in the process of completing the examinations. He added that 35 universities have not reached final year exams.

On July 30, UGC had informed the SC that if students are unable to appear for the examinations by September 30, he/she will be given an opportunity to appear at a specially conducted exam at a later date.

However, the 31 lead petitioners in the SC case refused to accept this reply and said that the UGC's response does not take into consideration the hassles faced by students if exams keep getting postponed. The petitioners had also said job prospects and future admission opportunities for students will be hampered.
Then that person must sanitize his or her hands and answer several questions from front-office staff before entering the building. They must always be wearing a mask on campus and stay 6 feet apart when possible.

There have been some hiccups, like issues found on every first day of school, and some have been out of the school systems control. NCEdCloud, which allows students and teachers across North Carolina to log in to get to their work for the day, was down Monday morning, which prompted a statement from the company hosting the service.

There were a few problems with too many students being registered to be on buses when they were actually riding in cars, or others thinking they were in a different cohort than they were, but officials said Monday was mostly smooth sailing.

KCS Superintendent Chip Buckwell said there were just 11 students in grades K through 8 who arrived at school without a mask. They were, of course, given one the moment they walked onto school property. According to KCS Transportation Supervisor Beryl Torrence, not one of those incidents occurred on the district buses. Each student who boarded a bus Monday morning or afternoon had the required mask.
Living in a huge airport isnt easy, the sound of planes taking off and landing alone is deafening, but one for stubborn Japanese farmer its the only place worth living in.

Takao Shitos family has been growing vegetable on the same farm for over 100 years. His grandfather was a farmer, his father as well, and now he has taken on the same mantle, only things are a bit different for him than they were for his ancestors. Where before the Shito farm was part of a village of around 30 families surrounded by open fields, today it stands alone in the middle of Narita Airport, Japans second largest airport. Jets fly over his head 24 hours a day, and his only way to and from the farm is through underground tunnels. Most people would be dying to move away, but not Takao Shito. He has been fighting to keep his farm for over two decades and even refused an offer of over $1.7 million for his land.

These are pieces of land farmed by three generations for nearly a century, by my grandfather, my father and myself. I want to continue living here and farm, Shito told AFP, a couple of years ago.

Takaos father, Toichi, was one of the most fervent of a handful of farmers who had been hindering Governments plans to expand Narita Airport since the 1970s. Most of the other farmers in the area had been convinced to sell their lands by financial incentives, but Toichi Shito wouldnt budge for all the money in the world. His conviction marked Takao as a child, and when the old farmer passed away at the age of 84, he quit his job in the restaurant business and returned to the family farm to continue the fight.

Takao Shito has constantly been involved in legal battles to stop authorities from forcefully drive him off the land that his father has been farming for over 100 years ever since he returned home. Its tiring, as is the farming itself, but he has no intention of backing down. His struggle has become a symbol of civil rights, and hundreds of volunteers and activists have rallied to support him over the years.

I got offered a cash settlement on the condition I leave my farm, Takao told the BBC. They offered 180 million yen ($1,687,320). Thats 150 years worth of a farmers wages. Im not interested in money, I want to continue farming. I never considered leaving.



Narita Airport is Tokyos main international gateway and handles around 40 million passengers and 250,000 flights a year. Its second runway was supposed to pass through Takao Shitos land, but because of the legal problems, it now basically encircles it. The airport has been buying up land from other less stubborn farmers, but Shito remains a thorn in its side.

According to an article by the Answer Coalition, the Chiba Local Court pronounced an unjust decision which allows compulsory execution of Takaos lands on December 20, 2018, but the very next day, he won another court decision which ordered a temporary stop to the process of compulsory execution until the trial in the Tokyo Higher Court began, the following year.



Takao Shito is still tending to his organic farm in the middle of Narita Airport, and selling fresh produce to about 400 customers. The Covid-19 pandemic hasnt affected him negatively, if anything, it made living in one of the largest airports in the world easier. The drop in air traffic has made the air cleaner and his home quiter.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 04:39:21|Editor: huaxia

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People carry the coffins of firefighters who were killed during the explosions in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is mobilizing 35 million U.S. dollars for its emergency response to the most vulnerable Lebanese, refugees and migrant households in the capital.



UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The damage toll in Lebanon following the Beirut blast is rising as the United Nations and partners continue their assessment, now reporting more than 290,000 people who have been left jobless, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

The statistics showed that an estimated 220,000 people have lost their jobs from the beginning of the October financial crisis while 70,000 people can no longer work because of the Aug. 4 explosion, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The figures did not include those who lost jobs because of COVID-19.

Medical workers are seen at a Qatar-aided field hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

At least 2,000 doctors have been either injured or their clinics destroyed, Dujarric said, putting the total number of buildings damaged at 40,000, including 3,000 residential structures severely damaged.

As for the COVID-19 toll, he said that as of Sunday there were 8,881 cases in the country with 102 deaths.

The UN Relief and Works Agency said there have now been eight deaths from the disease among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

People are seen at a Qatar-aided field hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is mobilizing 35 million U.S. dollars for its emergency response to the most vulnerable Lebanese, refugees and migrant households in the capital.

The agency said its aid stockpile in the country was not affected by the explosion, making available to the Lebanese Red Cross and other partners shelter kits, blankets, plastic sheeting, mattresses and other critical items for survivors.

Photo taken on Aug. 14, 2020 shows damages at the Port of Beirut in Lebanon. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

In a related development, the spokesman said the Spanish contingent of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), operating in the mission's East Sector has donated firefighting equipment to the Lebanese Civil Defense.

The donation to seven Civil Defense centers will help up to 175,000 people living in the Marjayoun district, southeast of Beirut, where the contingent is headquartered. 
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday called President Donald Trumps changes to the United States Postal Service illegal and a means to rig the 2020 presidential election.

In a series of tweets posted Tuesday, Healey said she is suing the Trump Administration for its modifications to the USPS.

It has come to this.



Donald Trump is trying slow down the Postal Service to rig the election. We are suing to stop him.  Maura Healey (@MassAGO) August 18, 2020

Last week, Trump candidly acknowledged during an interview with Fox Business Network that he is trying to block funds to the USPS to make it more difficult to process mail-in ballots.

Less than an hour after Healeys tweets, according to the Associated Press, the Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he would suspend his initiatives until after the election to avoid even the appearance of impact on election mail.

Healey hinted that a lawsuit may be coming last week. On Tuesday, she made it clear, she would be suing the Trump Administration to ensure free and fair elections in the fall.

Like many of this Administrations policies, its changes to USPS are illegal, Healey said in a tweet. Modifications to the Postal Service with a nationwide impact on mail service must be submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission. Trump cant just wake up and unilaterally disrupt our mail system.

Like many of this Administrations policies, its changes to USPS are illegal. Modifications to the Postal Service with a nationwide impact on mail service must be submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission.



Trump cant just wake up and unilaterally disrupt our mail system.  Maura Healey (@MassAGO) August 18, 2020

On Tuesday, the Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin announced that 950,000 mail-in ballots have already been requested in the state with about 150,000 already returned. The deadline to return ballots is 8 pm. on Sept. 1.

The USPS announced on Friday that it plans to remove high-volume mail-processing machines in hundreds of locations across the country. Almost all 50 states, including Massachusetts, could be at risk of voters not getting their ballots back to election offices in time.

Nine machines were removed from Bostons Dorchester Avenue post office, APWU Boston Local 100 president Scott Hoffman, told WGBH News on Monday. John Flattery, president of APWU Central Mass Local confirmed that three pieces of sorting equipment were removed from Ashburnham, near the New Hampshire border as well as Worcester, Franklin and Sturbridge, accordion to the Associated Press.

DeJoy is expected to appear in front of Congress this week to discuss the changes to the post office.

Healey called on residents in Massachusetts to take steps to ensure mail-in ballots are counted.

Dont lose faith in our election or the Postal Service, Healey said. Dont let Trumps attempt to sow chaos and undermine your belief in democracy. Votevote early if you can. I promise you this: your ballot will be counted.

And we need YOU.



Don't lose faith in our election or the Postal Service. Don't let Trump's attempt to sow chaos and undermine your belief in democracy. Votevote early if you can.



I promise you this: your ballot will be counted.  Maura Healey (@MassAGO) August 18, 2020

Galvin said people can vote in person if they havent already voted by mail, even if they applied for a mail ballot. Early voting in the state primaries begins August 22.

Galvin also believes in-person polling stations will be safe. Social distancing will be observed at all polling locations and early voting sites. Poll workers will be equipped with PPE, the secretary of states office said.

In July, a new law was passed in Massachusetts to allow all registered voters to cast their ballot by mail in any 2020 election with no excuse needed.

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Mystery no more: Spain's ex-king, Juan Carlos, has been in UAE since August 3 FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Spain's former king, Juan Carlos, leaves after attending the funeral ceremony of Luxembourg's Grand Duke Jean at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg

MADRID (Reuters) - Former Spanish king Juan Carlos, who left Spain under a cloud of scandal, has been in the United Arab Emirates since Aug. 3, a royal household spokesman said on Monday, putting an end to an international guessing game over the 82-year-old's whereabouts.

Juan Carlos had said on Aug. 3 he would leave Spain after controversial aspects of his past private life came to light, but did not say where he was going.

"King Juan Carlos has told the royal household that he went to the Emirates on Aug. 3, and he remains there now," the spokesman said.

The once-popular king abdicated in favour of his son Felipe in 2014 after a tax fraud case involving members of the royal family, as well as an ill-judged elephant hunting trip at a time when Spaniards were struggling with a deep recession.

After leaving the throne, he took a step back from public life. But controversy mounted, culminating with a move by Spain's Supreme Court in June to open a preliminary investigation into his involvement in a high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia.

Switzerland's La Tribune de Geneve newspaper reported Juan Carlos had received $100 million from the late Saudi king. Switzerland has also opened an investigation.

The former monarch is not formally under investigation and has repeatedly declined to comment on the subject. His lawyer has said he remains at the Spanish prosecutor's disposal.

While he was King, Juan Carlos benefited from full judicial immunity, though he can be prosecuted for any wrongdoing done since he abdicated.

Justice Minister Juan Carlos Campo said the former king would return to Spain to respond to judges if required.

"I'm convinced that when justice calls him, he will attend," Campo said.

Spanish daily ABC reported 10 days ago that Juan Carlos had travelled on a private plane to Abu Dhabi from the Spanish city of Vigo. Some media had speculated he was in the Dominican Republic or Portugal.

(Reporting by Isla Binnie and Inti Landauro; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Peter Graff)
A student who 'predicted' the exams crisis in an award-winning piece of writing she penned last year says she now feels like she has 'fallen into her own story'.

Jessica Johnson, 18, from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, won an Orwell Youth Prize Senior award for her dystopian story A Band Apart in 2019.

It was inspired by what she described as the 'inequality between schools in the UK, whether it be between the North and the South or state and independent', and saw students sorted into bands based on social status according to an algorithm.

After GCSE and A-Level exams were cancelled this year due to Covid-19, regulator Ofqual dismissed teachers' predicted grades for their pupils in favour of an algorithm which calculated them largely based on the school's performance in previous years, thereby penalising students at low-performing institutions in poor areas.

Jessica Johnson, 18, from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, won an Orwell Youth Prize Senior award for her dystopian story A Band Apart in 2019

Nearly 40 per cent of results - 280,000 - were downgraded, sparking a chaotic race for university places.

Jessica, who attended Ashton Sixth Form College, saw her English A-Level downgraded from an A to a B. It meant she was then rejected by the University of St Andrews and denied her 16,000 scholarship.

She said it was 'ironic' to become 'a victim like one of her characters'.

Speaking to the BBC, Jessica explained: 'I wrote about the myth of meritocracy and it was about an algorithm that split people into bands based on the class that they were from.

Jessica, who attended Ashton Sixth Form College, saw her English A-Level downgraded from an A to a B. It meant she was then rejected by the University of St Andrews and denied her 16,000 scholarship

'I feel like that is quite ironic, I've literally fallen into my own story... I feel a victim of it.'

She added that she had done a lot of extra-curricular work to boost her application and was given a scholarship on the basis of her achievements.

'It just felt like all of that [has] been taken away from me because of the place I live and the college I attend,' Jessica said.

Yesterday government ministers announced a U-turn and agreed to allow A-Level and GCSE results in England to be based on teachers' assessments. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson apologised to students and parents affected by 'significant inconsistencies' with the grading process amid calls for him to resign or be sacked.

Jessica now hopes her university's decision is reversed, and said she is 'glad they made the change'.

'I think it would have been unfair if (Northern) Ireland, Scotland and Wales made the change and we didn't, so I'm very glad,' she said.

She questioned why the change had taken so long, coming four days after results were released on Thursday.

'It should have been changed a few days ago to be honest,' she added. 'It's caused a lot of stress and anxiety that it didn't need to by making us wait.'

Gavin Williamson last night said the Government would expect universities to try to 'build as much capacity' as possible so students could make their first-choice offers  although detailed plans do not yet exist

Universities have now been thrown into chaos as 55,000 pupils scramble for the remaining places, amid fears that even next year's cohort could be affected.

The industry's main umbrella body said universities were seeking 'urgent clarification' on how to accommodate students they had earlier refused because of A-level results downgrades.

55,000 pupils who were rejected by their first choices had signed up for other institutions - and could now want to return to their desired university if their grades are bumped up by the U-turn.

Roughly 30,000 accepted a place at their second choice university, while an additional 80,000 are holding out for appeals.

However a number of top universities such as Bristol and Liverpool, has already indicated some students may have to defer, causing possible long term consequences for next year's cohort.

Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council told the Financial Times that this could impact upon pupils due to sit exams in 2021.

He said: 'There could be a stack of students who have deferred, who have these gloriously high A-level grades and the poor 2021 (A-Level) students who've missed a significant amount of their course are going to have to compete.'

It is thought that up to 1,500 potential Oxbridge students could miss out on going to one of the ancient universities.

The Russell Group, who represent the top institutions in the UK, has warned that any increase in admissions risked 'stretching resources'. And that some universities would not be able to take on more students due to safety restrictions put in place to stem the Covid-19 pandemic.
Watch: Ancient Mummy saved in Jaipur from museums basement after heavy rain

An ancient Mummy, 2400-year-old, was rescued from the basement of Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur following heavy rainfall. The Mummy was kept in the basement of the museum in a glass chamber. Following heavy rains of August 14 in Jaipur, the museum staff rushed to the basement to rescue the Mummy. The staff reportedly broke the glass chamber and shifted the Mummy to a drier place. The staff saved the Mummy but the coffin, accompanying paraphernalia was affected by muddy water. Almost 17,000 antiquities were affected by rainwater. Museum authorities have installed huge fans and halogen lights for drying the documents. The Mummy has been on display in the Jaipur museum since 2016. The Mummy is of Tutu, a female member of a priest family dating from Egypt's Ptolemaic period (322 BC-30 BC). It was imported by the ruler of Jaipur, Sawai Ishwar, from Cairo in 1887. Watch the video for more details. ...read more
The DOJ has charged a 15-year veteran of the CIA with selling US secrets to China  after he accidentally revealed his spying to the FBI, according to NBC News  which notes that The method prosecutors said they used to get him to reveal the nature of his espionage was worthy of a spy novel itself.

Court documents said 67-year-old Alexander Yuk Ching Ma of Honolulu was charged with violating U.S. espionage laws. Prosecutors said he joined the CIA in 1967 then served as a CIA officer until he retired from the agency in 1989. For part of that time he was assigned to work overseas in the East-Asia and Pacific region. Twelve years after he retired, prosecutors said Monday that Ma met with at least five officers of Chinas Ministry of State Security in a Hong Kong hotel room, where he disclosed a substantial amount of highly classified national defense information, including facts about the CIAs internal organization, methods for communicating covertly, and the identities of CIA officers and human assets. NBC News

Following his departure from the agency, Ma became a Chinese linguist in the FBIs Honolulu field office, where he allegedly used his access to highly classified information to copy or photograph sensitive documents concerning the United States guided missile and weapons systems, as well as other sensitive information he passed along to his Chinese handlers, according to the charging document.

Ma was caught after the FBI arranged a meeting with an undercover officer claiming to be from a CCP operative investigating how Ma had been treated, including the amount he had been compensated by the Chinese government.

The allegedly traitorous spook was captured on video counting $2,000 in cash given to him by the operative, who told Ma that it was to acknowledge his efforts for Beiing.

Ma, a Hong Kong native, said on tape that he wanted the motherland to succeed, and admitted to providing classified information to Chinas Ministry of State Security.

We wonder if he knew Dianne Feinsteins spy of 20 years?
Unnikrishnan S By

Express News Service

T'PURAM: Nearly three months after the government dumped American company Sprinklr over the data breach controversy, the state-owned Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) has come up with its own application called 'Koode' to collate the details of people under observation for Covid-19 on a daily basis.

The self-reporting app would not only lessen the burden on health workers of house visits but also help authorities analyse better. The launch of 'Koode' comes at a time when quarantine management and contact tracing are stretching the resources available and the people involved are increasingly getting

exposed to the virus.

Close to 1.5 lakh people are under home isolation at present and Health Minister KK Shailaja has warned of a spike in cases through August and September. Using 'Koode', people in home quarantine can update local authorities about their health condition daily for a period of 28 days.

"The app's tag line is 'one day, one minute' as it follows a simple procedure. People have to either tick the boxes or enter yes or no to a list of questions," an officer told The New Indian Express.

The voluntary disclosure helps the authorities know when a person develops symptoms and act accordingly. The secretaries of local bodies, medical officers of Public Health Centres, district collectors, district medical officers, district police chiefs and station house officers will be able to view the data entered in the form of dashboards.

The app is patronised by the National Health Mission (NHM-Kerala), LSG Department, IT Department and the Kerala State IT Mission. The web application was pilot tested in two panchayats and it would soon be spread to all local bodies. A mobile application will be available in Google Play Store soon.

CLICK HERE FOR COVID-19 LIVE UDPATES

With the government backing off from its deal with Sprinklr, the authorities lacked an intelligent quarantine management system. Koode, however, is slightly different compared to the dashboard provided by Sprinklr.

"The Sprinklr dashboard was designed for big data analysis at the state level while Koode is for real time management of data at the local body level," said the officer.

He said the scope of the application could be expanded to add complex analytical tools. The data will be stored on the servers of C-DIT at the data centre. It took two months for the government to cancel the agreement with Sprinklr after the Opposition and privacy rights activists criticised the deal for its lack of transparency and conditions of data handling.For GraphicsFour ways to self-report on 'Koode'.

1. Web application

2. Interactive voice response system (IVRS) - 9072390724

3. Mobile application

4. Telegram (social media application)
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 18:58 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ee0e84 1 Business 75th-Indonesia-merdeka,75th-indonesian-independence-day,bank-indonesia,central-bank Free

After Bank Indonesia (BI) issued a special commemorative Rp 75,000 (US$5.08) bill on Monday, enthusiastic citizens stormed to the central banks website to take their share of the available quota.

By Tuesday morning, the appointment slots available at pintar.bi.go.id for the public to exchange their money with the new bill at the BI headquarters in Central Jakarta and BI representative offices across Java were all full up until Sept. 3.

Early this morning I accessed the website to register for the exchange at the Semarang branch office [in Central Java] but the quota was full, father of two Toni Rendra told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

In practical terms, my wife will probably need [the Rp 75,000 bill] the most since she depends a lot on bills when shopping at traditional markets, he added.

The exchange schedule after Sept. 3 is not yet accessible, but citizens wishing to purchase the special bill -- issued to commemorate Indonesia's 75th Independence Day -- still have other opportunities since the registration process is opening gradually in two stages.

The first stage is from Monday at 3 p.m. until Sept. 30. The places of exchange include the BI headquarters and 45 representative offices in all provinces.

The second stage is from Oct. 1 until completion. The exchange will be available at the BI headquarters and representative offices, as well as designated banks.

BI Deputy Governor Rosmaya Hadi said in a press conference on Tuesday that as many as 68,051 citizens had registered for the exchange via the website, which is equivalent to 97 percent of the quota available for the first 10 days of exchange.

She said the remaining 3 percent was available at representative offices in the provinces of Papua, West Papua and Gorontalo as well in Sibolga in North Sumatra, Lhoksemauwe in Aceh, Ternate in North Maluku and Mamuju in West Sulawesi.

Rosmaya said BI would provide a quota of 300 of the Rp 75,000 bills per day for the BI headquarters and 150 bills per day for each representative office.

The central bank, she added, deliberately divided up the exchange schedules with a limited number of bills in each period so that people would not flock to exchange centers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

We have calculated how [the citizens] should exchange [the money]; the schedule, the duration, so we can still follow COVID-19 protocols, Rosmaya said.

She acknowledged the publics enthusiasm for the commemorative bill since its launch, saying that BI would reevaluate the exchange timelines.

BI has set a limit of one bill per citizen. In total, it will release 75 million of the Rp 75,000 bills.
File photo



A new report by Sahara Reporters has claimed that some public secondary schools in Imo State are reportedly charging students N2,000 per subject to provide them with answers to questions in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

The school owners met with students before the commencement of the examination where they informed them that they would provide the answers if each student paid N2,000 per subject.

A relative of the students, who spoke with our correspondent, said the schools claimed that majority of the students might fail because of the Coronavirus lockdown and unpreparedness for the examination.

The relative also said the school claimed that the money would be given to each invigilator monitoring the examination.

The school management held meetings with their students and it was agreed they pay the N2,000 to settle WAEC invigilators to give them way for exam cheats.

School principals in public secondary schools in Imo State are charging WAEC students N2,000 per subject as sorting fees to settle WAEC invigilators.

They said the money will be to allow their students to engage in exam malpractices in the various subjects because of their unpreparedness for the exams caused by COVID-19 closure of schoolse since March 2020, the relative said as he pleaded anonymity.

The relative stated that some schools in the rural area of the state wire collecting a lesser fee from the students.

Other public secondary schools in rural areas are paying N1,500 against N2,000 paid in urban public schools.

The schools came up with the plan so they can collect money from the students.

The public schools are to generate over N300,000 per day and the maximum they will give WAEC invigilators will be N50,000 while the balance will be for the school management, he added.

The examination, which started today, August 17, is scheduled to end on September 7, 2020.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 launch brought with itself a number of surpises, among which was the also the announcement that the company will be start supporting some of its devices for 3 years with major Android updates -- a move that matches the Google's policy with the Pixel lineup.

And after making that announcement, the company has gone ahead and revealed the list of devices that will be getting this support for three major Android updates during their life cycle. The complete list was revealed in a blog post the company in which it confirmed 38 devices that will be getting Android updates through "3 generations". This is quite interesting as at the time of the initial announcement, it was believed that it will only be the flagships such as the S20 and Note 20 series phones that will be given this treatment of three years of updates.

Apart from these two line-ups, Samsung will also be making a number of other Galaxy smartphones available for updates.

"Samsung is committed to supporting our users to fully enjoy the latest mobile experiences while they are using Galaxy devices," said Janghyun Yoon, Senior Vice President and Head of Software Platform Team, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. "As people hold onto their devices for longer, we are working to bring secure protection and exciting new features to the devices already in their hands. By supporting up to three generations of Android OS upgrade, we are extending the lifecycle of our Galaxy products and making a promise that we will provide a simple and secure mobile experience that takes advantage of the latest innovations as soon as they are available."

Here's the full list of Samsung smartphones and tablets that will get major updates for three years.
PC maker Lenovo on Tuesday said the demand for personal computers grew 40-50 per cent in the last two months as compared to the year-ago period. The contribution of gaming PCs to its consumer segment may almost double this year, a top company official said.

Lenovo CEO and MD Rahul Agarwal told PTI that online classes are driving sales of laptops in the consumer segment where students want devices with high computing power that they can use for studies as well as playing games. "Consumer market is now growing at a much faster pace than pre-Covid-19 times. If we look at ...
Health official: 'We want to ramp up access to testing'
I t feels like a lifetime ago that Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust (MVT), first submitted a report to the Government on just how devastating Covid-19 might be for the live music industry. That was on March 9 and since then, Davyd and his staff have been instrumental in the battle to save the UKs grassroots venues from falling into oblivion.

Were on day 158 and we havent had a day off yet, he says. There are challenges every day of the week. The weekend has completely evaporated.

Were talking soon after the road to recovery for the nations music scene took its latest turn. As of August 15, venues are allowed to host indoor gigs again, provided the audiences are socially distanced and owners follow a series of Covid-secure guidelines. The easing of restrictions came a fortnight later than expected  the initial plan for an August 1 reopening was postponed after an increase in coronavirus infections in England  and while it represents "progress", Davyd says, for many small venues, the situation is still an impossible one.

With the restrictions [the Government is] announcing, only 11 per cent of venues are actually able to open in anything like a financially viable process, he says. Its like, youve got the permission to do this, but with the restrictions youve got, you cant really make it work. Nearly 600 out of the 900 venues that we represent cant do this because of the physical layout of the building.

It means many venue owners across the country will remain stuck in this anxious purgatory of not being able to host gigs, with little indication of when they might be able to. Davyd says that while a lot of his energy has gone into providing financial support to these troubled owners, 50 per cent of our energy just goes into tackling the human catastrophe.

Sam Fender plays the UK's first major socially distanced gig 1 /14 Sam Fender plays the UK's first major socially distanced gig PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA

Were dealing with people who are not only potentially losing their livelihoods or the place they love, or the place thats been their whole lives in some cases, Davyd says. We also have venue owners and operators who live in their venue. When you talk about the ladder of problems they might have, sitting at the top is that they, frankly, could become homeless.

Its got a bit better in the last month, since weve started to get where we want it to get to. But certainly during April, May and June, I dont think a day went by when I didnt hear somebody on the phone who was very close to the edge, normally in tears, extremely concerned about whether they would make it through.

While no-one could have predicted exactly how the pandemic would affect the music scene, Davyd was earlier than most in ringing the alarm bell. He describes MVTs close-knit network of venues as an early warning system. By March 9, when Davyd submitted that first report, two weeks before the nationwide lockdown began, gig attendances had already dropped by 60 per cent. Davyd recounts the story of one venue that hosted a gig on the day lockdown was formally announced. More than 250 tickets had been sold but, on Government orders, not a single person turned up.

It was a desperate situation, but few others have done as much to support beleaguered venues than Davyd and his staff. In April, MVT launched the #saveourvenues movement, which kick-started crowdfunding campaigns for venues across the country. More than 1.15m has been generated through MVTs national crowdfunder, with plenty more donated to fundraisers run by individual venues.

Its been a catalyst for numerous other money-raising initiatives, too, from live-stream gigs to charity beer launches. Most recently, Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner donated his guitar as the top prize in a raffle.

Were basically living off the energy of other people, I think, Davyd says. Every day you get up and somebody has done something else amazing. The support has been jaw-dropping. Just even thinking about it makes me quite emotional.

Still, the money raised by MVT only goes so far. A hefty portion of Davyds time has gone into working with the Government in order to secure greater support. There have been frustrations  in June, the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden issued a five-step plan for reopening venues but fell short of confirming funding. MVT hit back by issuing a tongue-rather-furiously-in-cheek version of the roadmap, telling the Government to get out of the way and cough up the money. Still, despite any differences theyve had, Davyd is keen to praise the absolutely outstanding staff team at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Whenever they had to tell us something, they would always phone. It wasnt ever delivered to us as a kind of decision from on high. When the venues were being closed, I got a personal phone call.

That solid working relationship has borne fruit. Venues have already applied for the first round of aid  the Emergency Grassroots Music Venue Fund  which is expected to be distributed in the coming week. This money should sustain venues until they can access the larger 1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund, with further announcements on that set for early October.

Davyd says he is waiting to hear the results of applications for the Emergency Grassroots Music Venue Fund, but that with money given to MVT by the Mayor of London, in addition to the #saveourvenues kitty, we should be able to step in and prevent the loss of London venues.

And while things are still very precarious, Davyd says, were probably the closest weve been to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel  even if we cant actually quite see it yet. Were aware there is some light, and were just starting to get a flicker of it in the periphery of our vision.

Helping hand: Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner has donated his Fender Stratocaster, pictured, to help fundraise as part of the #saveourvenues campaign / Getty Images

That probably sounds a little bit bleak, but so much of this hinges on what happens with the Emergency Grassroots Music Venue Fund, what happens with the Culture Recovery Fund and, of course, as always, what happens with the virus. If infection rates start back up, wed be back in a very dark place again.

So while significant uncertainty remains, there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic after months of gloom. After our interview, Davyd is due in a Government meeting to look at Step Five of the roadmap  in other words, how to get venues back to full capacity. That feels positive, he says.

And when indoor concerts do start up again, Davyd has a clear message for gig-goers. I think theres an opportunity here, at the end of this, to really reconnect people with exactly what a cultural experience means to them, and how much theyre missing it, and how much they value it. I dont want people to forget that.

Everybody who took part in the #saveourvenues campaign, as soon as their local venue reopens, I want to see them down there. I want to see them remembering exactly what that experience means to them.
Coca-Cola China and its bottling partners will continue to expand investment in local supply chains to improve efficiency, ensure supply, and serve domestic consumers' demand.

The beverage giant achieved good second-quarter results in the Chinese market, despite the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, and continues to set up new factories and production lines in China to meet evolving consumer needs.

In the second half of 2020, Swire Coca-Cola, a bottler of Coca-Cola, plans to put six new production lines into operation, with a total investment of 250 million yuan (about 36 million U.S. dollars) and an additional annual output value exceeding 1.7 billion yuan.

Swire Coca-Cola also plans to add a plastic bottle production line to its plant in central China's Hubei Province, which is expected to go operational in May 2021.

In addition, COFCO Coca-Cola Beverages Ltd., another bottling partner of Coca-Cola, has started building its first factory in China's southwestern province of Guizhou.

With an estimated investment of 270 million yuan, the new facility, scheduled for operation by the end of 2021, will start with two advanced PET soda production lines with an annual capacity of 170,000 tonnes.

"We believe the second quarter will prove to be the most challenging of the year; however, we still have work to do," said James Quincey, chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, adding that the company will continue to adjust and accelerate its strategies in the fast-changing landscape.

Besides launching new production lines, the company has also accelerated digital transformation in China in the face of the surging demand for online shopping since the outbreak of the epidemic.

Coca-Cola China has been working closely with online shopping and services platforms such as Meituan Dianping and JD.com this year to tap the potential of online consumption.
Further cases and clusters of Covid-19 have been confirmed in a number of food processing facilities and nursing homes in recent days, prompting calls for greater vigilance against the virus.

Food producer Glanbia confirmed that four workers at its dairy processing plant in Ballitore in Co Kildare tested positive for the virus.

The plant remains operational and the company said it had taken a number of actions, including wider testing among staff, following confirmation of the cluster.

The cluster follows confirmation of 29 cases of Covid-19 at Walsh Mushrooms plant at Golden, Co Tipperary on Monday, which employs 170 staff and has temporarily closed.

A small number of Covid-19 cases have also been confirmed at two nursing homes in the south-east - one case was confirmed at the Mooncoin Residential Care Centre in south Kilkenny and another at Kerlogue Nursing Home in Co Wexford.

Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland Tadgh Daly said the recent increase in community transmission was concerning and there was no room for complacency on Covid-19.

To see 200 new cases on Saturday last set alarm bells off for everybody, and the nursing home sector is no different. In the teeth of the pandemic community transmission was the biggest predictor of nursing home cases, Mr Daly said.

So when community transmission rises our concern is the impact that could have on nursing homes.

We need to maintain vigilance and we cant in any way be complacent and think that the virus has been defeated because it is clearly not, Mr Daly said.

The serial testing of nursing home staff for the virus, which is in place until the end of August, was working, he added.

Cases are being picked up so the serial testing is critical really and the quick turnaround time of test results is vital for nursing homes. The question now is how long will serial testing go for on or should it go on for? Mr Daly said.

There is no single element that will contain or defeat the virus but serial testing is a significant part of the armoury, he added.

Given the rise in Covid-19 outbreaks and clusters in congregated settings, the HSE is expected to roll out serial testing at food plants and direct provision centres.
The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko speaks during a visit to No 3214 Unit of the Internal Troops of the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs two weeks before the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday said Minsk had deployed armed units on its western borders in response to statements by foreign governments about the situation inside the country.

In a televised meeting, Lukashenko said the units were on full alert and ready to fulfill their obligations.
A former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed how the late former United States Ambassador in Nigeria, Walter Carrington, warned him not to return to Nigeria in 1995 to avert his arrest for alleged involvement in a failed military coup by the Sani Abacha military government.

Mr Obasanjo made the disclosure in his condolence message to the family of the envoy who died Tuesday last week.

Mr Carrington was appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1993 as ambassador to Nigeria, a position he held until 1997. He died last Tuesday.

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He had deep ties with Nigeria. He married into a Nigerian family and had lived in three Nigerian cities since the late 1960s.

In a condolence message circulated by his spokesperson, Kehinde Akinyemi, Mr Obasanjo said during Mr Carringtons tenure as ambassador, he helped the move to democratic rule in Nigeria, having met the country under military rule.

Mr Obasanjo also revealed how the deceased offered him political asylum in the US during the days of the dictator, Mr Abacha, in 1995.

Mr Obasanjo was implicated that year in a failed military coup and thrown into jail until Mr Abacha died in 1998.

He was later released from prison and shortly after in 1999 was elected the first president of Nigerias Fourth Republic.

Indeed, I recall, sometime in 1995, that on one of my trips to Copenhagen to attend the World Social Summit as Human Development Ambassador of the United Nations Development Programme, I received the most touching of the warnings, pieces of advice and offers to me from Amb. Carrington. He called me in Copenhagen and told me categorically that I was going to be arrested on returning home and, therefore, advised me not to return home.

But he did not stop it there, he offered me political asylum by his government in the US. That was both touching and assuring, but I decided that tempting and assuring as the offer was, I would not take it. I came back and was arrested and imprisoned by Abacha. No doubt, his generous assistance to my family while I was a political prisoner makes me forever indebted to him.

When I was in prison, he was one of the few foreign Ambassadors who regularly visited my wife to encourage her and to find out how I was doing in prison. I can proudly say he was a true friend and brother.

Consoling the widow of Mr Carrington, the former president stated that her husband was devoted to something greater than he was.

He was committed to improving humankind through the fairness, kindness, optimism and intelligence he brought to bear on all his undertakings, and through the righteousness, humanness and harmony he promoted in the US as a human rights activist and indeed across the world, he wrote in his message.

Walter wasnt just a pride to America and Americans, he was also a pride to all the people of African descent. His involvement in the many causes in Africa cannot be overemphasised. He was always looking out for his kinsfolk both at home and abroad.

It is right that people from around the world at this point in time have been generously pouring encomiums on your late husband. I am, therefore, using this medium to add my voice to theirs in recognizing his outstanding commitment and devotion to the advancement of humanity.

He then prayed that God would grant the Carringtons the fortitude to bear the loss of their patriarch.
Sir,

In light of emerging conflicts with borderless extremist organisations, and new found wealth, African defence budgets have soared by 65 per cent since 2004, according to The Economist, greater than any other region in that time frame. Almost without fail, since the onset of the Cold War era, ballooning defence budgets are often indicative of impending crises, not only in terms of violence but also in the cessation of civil liberties and international instability. How prepared is the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to deal with the insurgency troubling Mozambique?

To ameliorate this, the sale of arms must follow a strict and discriminatory guideline. This is why the international community must be cohesive and cognisant, even apprehensive, as Mozambique embarks on her war on terror. Unfortunately, the profit margin for manufacturing in the lucrative arms market is quickly establishing a place in Africa. The aforementioned economist divulged that four major European arms manufacturers have set up African subsidiaries. These will no doubt become economic booms but they carry with them the latency of war.

Ahead of time, we should seek to understand the Islamic State modus operandi if we are to anticipate and predict challenges ahead. This understanding, hopefully shared among the milieu of African politics, will be indicative of a circumspect and deliberate course of action to repel extremist behaviour in the SADC region. A strong internal defence approach combined with precisely defined and rigidly tailored tactical excursions, targeting only locally substantiated objectives, should be the tenets of this nascent conflict. The global community needs to facilitate such equitable actions as well.

Concern

Another area of concern that could exacerbate the insurgency in northern Mozambique is the high unemployment rates in the SADC region. The unemployed youth are easy targets and recruits for radical militant groups. As observed by Chancy Dzama, often with poor education radical militant groups appeal to the youth in poverty as they are seen as the only viable route to leave poverty. Yet such poor young people are just pawns and expendable in conflicts. Invariably, it seems to me, certain criteria must be met before a nation can hope to flourish; security, stability, transparency, accountability and the development of businesses and infrastructure. While these guidelines are by no means exclusive of one another, nor strictly chronological in implementation, however, some semblance of this order is necessary, especially considering the familiar detachment of government policies to the populations they manage. This is why Malawi should consider sending its military to its borders with Mozambique just to make sure security measures are adhered to.

Strides

Some strides have been made in anticipation of incautious military action. The UNs Forward Intervention Brigade, where Malawis MDF is a participant and African Union Peacekeepers have had success in presenting a unified front. Mutual policing will be fundamental in preventing atrocities associated with militant groups.

The SADC region is no more immune to the threats from terrorism than any other regions. Terrorism and other forms of violence, which pose security threats, have become one of Africas major challenges. Some of these domestic ideologically-inspired violent groups handle periodic bouts of murderous mayhem. Most of these extreme groups have attracted ample media attention. It is suggested that a range of socio-economic and political conditions in Africa have given birth to criticism and disputes that have been utilised by revolutionary individuals to vindicate their choice to violent activities. Nature has revealed that people who are subjected to unjust and undue treatment act violently in response, although sometimes the directs of the aggression are misplaced.

Mphatso Kampeni
Australia has lifted a line from Hotel California in its view of those who want to travel abroad: "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave".

Our government stands apart from most democratic regimes in barring its citizens from departing without an exemption in the era of COVID-19. "I have a passport, am not a criminal and believed I lived in a democracy" is not deemed a reasonable excuse for jetting off.

With borders closed and bans on overseas travel, Australians aren't going anywhere soon. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Even New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern allows her citizens to leave the country without demanding a bureaucrat decide whether they are worthy of a leave pass.

Like Australia, New Zealand has a "do not travel" advice. It is similar to warnings issued by Canada, Britain and the United States Centre for Disease Control. Like Australia, the vibe of the warnings is that you shouldn't be heading off unless your travel is essential. But none of those countries appears to demand its citizens beg for the right to depart. The UK actually exempts 70 countries from its do-not-travel warnings.
The world's biggest wealth fund said it's eager to get clarity on who will lead it, after a botched recruitment process to find a new chief executive triggered a political storm that's still playing out.

Norges Bank Investment Management on Tuesday revealed a 188 billion kroner ($29.4 billion) loss for the first half of 2020. The result caps a turbulent period that's been overshadowed by a CEO succession drama.

The giant investment vehicle has landed at the centre of a political uproar after a London-based hedge-fund manager, Nicolai Tangen, was picked as its new CEO. Credit:AP

"It's now been almost a year since Yngve Slyngstad announced his resignation" as the fund's CEO, Trond Grande, his deputy, said by phone after a press conference in Oslo. "Everyone's looking forward to getting clarification and a new leader in place."

"This situation has come on top of the challenging handling of a pandemic," he said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) warned on Monday that millions of Californians could lose their power amid rolling blackouts.

A heat wave is putting stress on the state's electric grid, as sweltering Californians rely on their air conditioners and fans to stay cool. The California Independent System Operator runs the grid for most of the state, and Steve Berberich, its president and CEO, said on Monday California is short about 4,400 megawatts. The body issued a statewide flex alert through Wednesday, asking all residents to conserve energy from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day.

Rolling blackouts were last used in the state two decades ago, and Berberich said about 3.3 million homes might briefly lose their power on Monday to ease pressure on the grid. This is "unacceptable," Newsom said, and the next several days will be "very challenging." He promised to free up additional energy and also investigate why there is such a massive shortage.

The heat wave gripping California is bringing with it extreme temperatures, with Los Angeles International Airport, Oxnard, and Palmdale all reporting record highs on Sunday. A strong high-pressure system centered over Arizona is causing the heat, the Los Angeles Times reports, with relief only found within a few miles of the coast.

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Six women who have well-established backgrounds in finance were appointed by Pope Francis to oversee the Vatican's finances, making them the most senior women ever to serve there.

With Thursday's appointment, the Council seats six women who are Great Britain's former Labour Party minister Ruth Kelly, Leslie Jane Ferrar, Germany's Charlotte, Kreuter-Kirchhof and Dr. Marija Kolak, Spain's Eva Castillo Sanz, and Maria Concepcion Osakar Garaicoechea.

The Vatican's Council for the Economy seats 15 members was previously occupied by all male members in which they review budgets and balance sheets of all of the offices of the Holy See which is the central administration of the Catholic Church in Rome, the papel diplomatic network abroad, and the sovereign Vatican City state in Italy.

Pope Francis is known as the most progressive pope compared to his predecessors especially with his recent determination to make more progressive advancements. A few months ago, Pope Francis also appointed a female Italian lawyer, Francesca Di Giovanni, as undersecretary for multilateral affairs in the Secretariat of State. In addition, back in 2017, a female Italian art historian Barbara Jatta became director of the Vatican Museums, one of the world's preeminent art collections.

"Pope Francis...has affirmed that the Catholic Church needs more women in leadership positions. In the Vatican and the Roman Curia, he is gradually preparing the ground," Vatican News said in 2019.

In 2010, only 17% of Holy See and Vatican City employees were women but it grew to 22% in 2019.

"We must move forward without fear to include women in advisory positions, also in governance. The place of women in the church is not just as functionaries...Women's advice is very important," Pope Francis told Vatican officials last November.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday appealed people to avoid crowding during the Ganesh festival and follow guidelines about the height of idols and their immersion.

The festival, which in normal times brings lakhs of people on roads in a city like Mumbai, will begin on August 22 under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thackeray was speaking at a review meeting with top officials through video conference where Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope were also present.

"The forthcoming Ganeshotsav which comes against the backdrop of COVID-19 crisis should be celebrated peacefully, keeping social responsibility in mind," Thackeray was quoted as saying in an official statement.

"Care should be taken to avoid crowding and it should be ensured that the disease does not spread," he said.

So far, people from all religions have cooperated with the government during festivals during lockdown, the chief minister noted.

"Guidelines (issued by the state home department) say that the height of idols installed by sarvajanik Ganesh mandals (groups which celebrate the festival in public) should be (maximum of) four feet and that of idols installed at home be two feet.

"While following this guideline, no processions should be taken out before installing and immersing idols to avoid crowding," he said.

Ganesh mandals should facilitate online `darshan' of idols, Thackeray said.

He also instructed the authorities to increase COVID- 19 testing, control test charges and ensure that test reports are made available at the earliest.

As vaccine is not available yet, wearing masks, cleaning hands and observing discipline is the only solution for now, the chief minister said.

Home minister Deshmukh asked the police to keep an eye on mischievous videos on social media.

He also asked local government bodies to create a maximum number of artificial ponds to avoid crowding during immersion of idols.

Divisional commissioners, district collectors, chief executive officers of zilla parishads, municipal commissioners and district police superintendents attended the meeting.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. In order to fulfill the COVID-19 requirements of the State of Emergency Commandant of Armenia with better conditions for tourists, Tourism Armenia Association and Prom-Test laboratories have signed a memorandum of understanding to improve the testing experience of tourists. The document was signed by Tourism Armenia Association Chair Syuzanna Azoyan and the Chief of staff of Prom-Test laboratories Sevada Ginoyan.

In the framework of the MOU:

sampling will be carried out in a place of self-isolation of the tourist,

the results will be automatically emailed to the tourist and the tour operator,

the patients will have a 50% discount on lab testing,

discounts will be also applied for the sampling and other services,

these privileged conditions will be also applied for accompanying and service staff.

Reminder: according to the decision of the State of Emergency Commandant of Armenia, during current state of mitigating conditions, those who arrive to Armenia must be self-isolated for 14 days. The isolation period can be reduced due to negative test results.

I am certain that with continuous smart and coordinated work, Armenia will overcome this unexpected challenge the tourism industry is facing. Regardless when we will have the first tourist flow, we need to be ready to provide up-to-date information to our international partners and to provide favorable conditions for the B2B community, noted Tourism Armenia Association Chair Syuzanna Azoyan.

Tourism Armenia association is a union of the leading incoming travel companies which provide the majority of the organized tourist flows to Armenia.

Prom-Test ensures the fastest COVID-19 test results in Armenia, within 6 hours. As a result of quality control carried out by the Commandant, the laboratory is 100% compliant with the demands. It is one of the two laboratories that was in cooperation with the Ministry of health, from the initial stage of COVID-19 testing in March and April due to the need to increase the number of tests.

The Ministry of Health has investigated our laboratories capacity. As a result of positive evaluation due to accordance with standards, an agreement was signed to provide testing and medical examinations. The services were provided to the government free of charge. Later, with the instruction of the Ministry of Health, Prom-Test was included in the list of companies that have the right to carry out PCR tests, noted the Chief of Staff of Prom-Test LTD Sevada Ginoyan.

Prom-Test laboratories, founded in 1998, is a pioneer in a field of numerous researches and innovations in Armenia. The Prom-Test is the official representative of Abbot Diagnostics and cooperates with leading laboratories in Netherlands, Hong Kong and the US.
Portland police are seen in riot gear in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

District Attorney Vows to Prosecute Those Behind Brutal Assault in Portland

Victim released from hospital

The prosecutor in charge of Portland condemned the brutal violence that took place on Aug. 16 and vowed to punish those responsible.

According to witnesses, Black Lives Matter activists punched and kicked multiple people near a rally.

Assaults will not be tolerated in our community. The videos recently posted to social media that show a person being violently pushed to the ground from behind and another person being kicked in the face are extremely concerning. The actions depicted in these videos are universally rejected as wrongand the actions are illegal. I condemn this violence, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said in a statement to news outlets.

Assaults on community members and police officers undermine everything our community is doing to bring meaningful and lasting change to the criminal justice system and beyond. My office is coordinating with law enforcement regarding their investigations into this type of assaultive behavior. Assaults and other violent crimes will be prosecuted when the evidence supports such action. If you have information on these or other crimes, please contact the Portland Police Bureau or Crime Stoppers of Oregon, he added.

In a separate statement, the Portland Police Bureau said officers are investigating what happened. The bureau asked anyone with information to call detective Brent Christensen at 503-823-2087 or email him at Brent.Christensen@portlandoregon.gov.

Witnesses said the night of chaos began when Black Lives Matter protesters grew upset with a male for filming them in the vicinity of the Justice Center, a county building. They forced him to leave and soon assaulted him.

Warning: Video contains violent imagery and crude language.

#BLM & #antifa militants violently assault man after car accident in downtown Portland. This kick to the head came after several heavy blows from fists. pic.twitter.com/pyLWFOniSF  Kalen From Scriberr (@FromKalen) August 17, 2020

When others tried intervening, they were assaulted as well.

Thats when a white male driving a truck stepped in. On foot, he tried to protect an individual from being assaulted by a mob, and the group turned on him. The man got back into his truck, sped away, and crashed into a tree.

The mob quickly moved to the truck, prevented the man from reentering the vehicle after he exited it, and began beating him on the street. No police officers were on site.

Portland is in the midst of an unprecedented chain of near-nightly violence that police say started on May 28.

Fifteen people were arrested over the weekend, but eight of them will likely have their charges dropped under a new policy Schmidt announced last week, a decision that prompted Oregon state troopers to withdraw from the city. The others were charged with assault or attempted assault of a police officer.

Portland Mayor and Police Commissioner Ted Wheelers office sent a statement to news outlets on Monday night. I denounce all violence, including the assaults that were filmed and posted to social media last night. The work this community and others nationally are doing towards criminal justice reform and racial justice are in an effort to make our communities safer. Assaults like these make our community less safe, the statement said.

Kalen DAlmeida, a reporter with Scriberr News who was filming during the mayhem, told The Epoch Times that it does not appear things are going to end anytime soon.

They want total abolishment. They dont want any prisons. They dont want any police. Theyre just going to keep going, thats what I think. And its not going to be pretty, he said.

Adam Haner resting at home in an undated photograph published on Aug. 17, 2020. (Adam Haner Fund/GoFundMe)

Victim Released

The white man who was beaten by the mob of primarily black individuals was rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

In a GoFundMe fundraiser, Brian Haner said the victim is his brother. Adam Haner has been released from the hospital and is resting at home, his brother said.

Hoping this money will help Adam get things together for his life after the attack he suffered, Brian Haner wrote.

I know he will need repairs, or to replace the truck that was wrecked. He is going to need time to recover from his injuries as well. Plus replace things that where stolen from his pick-up that night.

Citing video footage of the what happened, Brian Haner said that his sibling was attacked for trying to help someone.

This is going to be an awakening experience for my brother in so many ways, he said. Hes always been cynical about the world at large, but has always been someone willing to step up and speak up to help someone being treated unfairly.

Correction: This story was updated with clarification on the district attorneys new policy.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : As India celebrated its 74th Independence Day, ApnaMask, a non-profit initiative and volunteer group by StartupsVsCovid, rolled out a campaign "I am a Corona Soldier".

The campaign aims to recruit a robust force of 'Corona Soldiers' who can protect the country against coronavirus with a very simple and light-weight weapon -- a mask. The Corona soldiers will commit to wearing a mask every time they step out and will encourage others to do the same.

'I am Corona Soldier' campaign collaborates with Army veterans Lt. Col. MK Sinha (Retd), a Kargil war hero, and Major Gaurav Arya (Retd), who are calling upon people to become corona soldiers by wearing a mask.

The campaign plays out on the website where people can register and become a 'Corona Soldier'. Equipped with a simple mask, 'Corona Soldiers' can take the responsibility to spread the message and recruit more 'Corona Soldiers' by inviting them to join the force through social media.

The campaign that went live on August 15 has already recruited Olympic medallist Mary Kom, badminton star Saina Nehwal, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, as well as actors Bipasha Basu, Mouni Roy, Diana Penty, Keerthi Suresh and many more.

The campaign has been conceptualised on the basis of the findings of a recent study by ApnaMask.org that examined the awareness of preventive guidelines among Indians as well as their motivation behind compliance.

The findings revealed that while awareness about masks and practicing social distancing is quiet high among Indians, compliances for the same is as low as 44 per cent. Inconvenience is the primary reason for the drop in compliance.

#ApnaDeshApnaMask supports the government's mission to spread awareness around the importance of wearing a homemade mask and maintaining hygiene.

The campaign is building awareness and educating 1.3 billion people to adopt the trend of making masks at home and wearing them, every time they step outside.
This March 2018 photo shows Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., left, accompanied by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, right, speaking before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on election security on Capitol Hill in Washington. Read more

WASHINGTON  The Trump campaigns interactions with Russian intelligence services during the 2016 presidential election posed a grave counterintelligence threat, a Senate panel concluded Tuesday as it detailed how associates of Donald Trump had regular contact with Russians and expected to benefit from the Kremlins help.

The panel's almost 1,000 page report, the fifth and final one from the Republican-led Senate intelligence committee on the Russia investigation, describes in detail how Russia launched an aggressive, wide-ranging effort to interfere in the election on Trump's behalf. It says Trump associates were eager to exploit the Kremlin's aid, particularly by maximizing the impact of the disclosure of Democratic emails that were hacked by Russian military intelligence officers.

The findings released Tuesday mark the culmination of a bipartisan probe that produced what the committee called the most comprehensive description to date of Russias activities and the threat they posed. The investigation spanned more than three years as the panels leaders said they wanted to be as thorough as possible in documenting the unprecedented attack on U.S. elections.

The findings echo to a large degree those of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation, with the reports unflinching characterization of furtive interactions between Trump associates and Russian operatives contradicting the Republican presidents claims that the FBI had no basis to investigate whether his campaign was conspiring with Russia. Trump has called the Russia investigations a hoax.

While Mueller's was a criminal probe, the Senate investigation was a counterintelligence effort with the aim of ensuring that such interference wouldn't happen again.

The report was released as two other Senate committees, the Judiciary and Homeland Security panels, conduct their own reviews of the Russia probe with an eye toward uncovering what they say was FBI misconduct during the early days of the investigation. A prosecutor appointed by Attorney General William Barr, who regards the Russia investigation with skepticism, disclosed his first criminal charge on Friday against a former FBI lawyer who plans to plead guilty to altering a government email.

Among the more striking sections of the report is the committee's description of the close professional relationship between former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik, whom the committee describes as a Russian intelligence officer.

Taken as a whole, Manaforts high-level access and willingness to share information with individuals closely affiliated with the Russian intelligence services, particularly Kilimnik, represented a grave counterintelligence threat, the report says.

The report notes how Manafort shared internal Trump campaign polling data with Kilimnik and says there is some evidence that Kilimnik may have been connected to the Kremlins operation to hack and leak Democratic emails, though it does not describe that evidence. In addition, the report says that two pieces of information raise the possibility of Manaforts potential connection to those operations, but what follows next in the document is blacked out.

Both men were charged in Mueller's investigation, but neither was accused of any tie to the hacking.

A Manafort lawyer, Kevin Downing, said Tuesday that there is information that was sealed at the request of Muellers team that completely refutes whatever the intelligence committee is trying to surmise. He added: It just looks like complete conjecture.

Like Mueller, the committee reviewed a meeting that Trumps oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., took in June 2016 with a Russian lawyer he believed to have connections with the Russian government with the goal of receiving information that he expected would be harmful to Clinton.

The Senate panel said that it assessed that the lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, has significant connections to the Russian government, including the Russian intelligence services, as did another participant in the meeting, Rinat Akhmetshin. The panel said it uncovered connections that were far more extensive and concerning than what had been publicly known, particularly regarding Veselnitskaya.

The report also found no reliable evidence for Trumps longstanding supposition that Ukraine had interfered in the election, but did trace some of the earliest messaging of that theory to Kilimnik. It said Russian-government proxies were consistently spreading overlapping false narratives which sought to discredit investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.

The committee said that messaging campaign lasted from to at least January 2020  after the House had impeached Trump for pressuring Ukrainian officials to investigate the family of Democrat Joe Biden, who is now Trumps general election opponent. During that effort, some Republicans, including Trump, argued that Ukraine was meddling, not Russia.

The report purposely does not come to a final conclusion, as Mueller did and as the House intelligence committees 2018 report did, about whether there is enough evidence that Trumps campaign coordinated or colluded with Russia to sway the election to him and away from Democrat Hillary Clinton, leaving its findings open to partisan interpretation.

A group of Republicans on the panel submitted additional views to the report saying that it should state more explicitly that Trumps campaign did not coordinate with Russia. They say the report is an important contribution to the historical record that shows the Russian government inappropriately meddled in our 2016 general election in many ways but then-candidate Trump was not complicit.

The acting GOP chairman of the panel, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, signed on to that statement but the chairman who led the investigation, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, did not. Burr stepped aside earlier this year as the FBI was examining his stock sales.

Burr, who submitted the report before he stepped aside, often faced criticism from his GOP colleagues for working with Democrats on the probe and for calling in sensitive witnesses, such as Trump Jr.

Another Republican member of the panel, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, also did not sign on to the GOP statement.

Democrats on the panel submitted their own views, saying the report unambiguously shows that members of the Trump campaign cooperated with Russian efforts to get Trump elected.

Maine Sen. Angus King, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats, did not sign on to that statement, saying he believed the report should be bipartisan. But he said in an interview that he believes the report is a warning.

The report is not a hoax, King said. Its just one more set of facts thats hard to ignore.

Mueller concluded in his report issued last year that Russia interfered in the election through hacking and a covert social media campaign and that the Trump campaign embraced the help and expected to benefit from it. But Mueller did not charge any Trump associates with conspiring with Russians.

The Senate investigation also delved into areas of great interest to Trump that were not explored by Mueller. Those include the FBI's reliance on a dossier of opposition research compiled by a former British spy whose work was financed by Democrats.

The committee did find faults with aspects of the FBIs investigation, particularly with regard to its handling of opposition research on Trumps ties to Russia that was compiled by a former British spy, Christopher Steele, whose work was funded by Democrats.

The committee found that the dossier joined a stream of intelligence and investigative reporting about Russian election interference even though the FBI never fully explored the credibility of its allegations. A separate investigation by the Justice Departments inspector general also faulted the FBI for errors and omissions related to the Steele dossier as it applied for court permissions to secretly wiretap a former Trump campaign adviser named Carter Page

Rubio said in a statement that the committee was troubled that the FBI had been willing to use the dossier without verifying its methodology or sourcing as it applied for secret surveillance warrants against a former Trump campaign adviser.
Australia has secured access to a promising coronavirus vaccine, the prime minister announced Tuesday, saying the country would manufacture it and offer free doses to the entire population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia had reached a deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to receive the Covid-19 vaccine it is developing with Oxford University.

If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians, he said.

The Oxford vaccine is one of five globally in Phase 3 efficacy trials, and researchers hope to have results by the end of the year.

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Body cameras for state police, a new cabinet position for equity and inclusion in state government, a portal for state-level diversity statistics.

Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, announced a series of strategies Aug. 18 to improve Indianas record on racial equity.

Black lives matter, and so do Black livelihoods, he said, crediting Martin University President Sean Huddleston for the Black livelihoods addendum.

Every frontline Indiana State Police trooper will have a body camera by the spring of 2021, Holcomb said. That would mean the two largest law enforcement agencies in the state  Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the state police  would have body cameras by next year.

Holcomb said a third party will conduct a top-down review of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy  which is where almost all Indiana police are trained  to modernize the training and make any necessary changes to use of force, de-escalation and implicit bias training.

Holcomb will add a cabinet position for a chief equity, inclusion and opportunity officer to focus on eliminating barriers in state government. That includes setting a goal for Indiana to have the lowest infant mortality rate among Midwest states by 2024.

Indiana is currently one of the worst states in the country for infant mortality, and the rate for Black babies was almost three times that of white babies in 2017, according to data from the Indiana State Department of Health.

Holcomb said he has directed the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and Department of Workforce Development to work together to adjust policies and programs that can create more opportunities for people of color.

Holcomb also said the states next secretary of education  a position appointed by the governor  must recruit more minority teachers. About 93% of K-12 teachers in Indiana are white, according to data from the Indiana Department of Education, and about 4% are Black or African American.

A data portal will show were Indiana stands in numerous categories when it comes to racial equity, Holcomb said. It will include everything from graduation rates to foster care placement to incarceration and recidivism.

Well put our cards on the table face up, he said.

Holcombs announcements came a day after Dr. Woody Myers, Holcombs Democratic challenger in the November gubernatorial election, released a three-minute ad that was in part about his experiences with racism as a Black man.

Holcomb said he cant put himself in a Black persons shoes or fully appreciate the everyday indignities and slights, but he appealed to the U.S. Constitutions commitment to the ideal that everyone is created equal, although both blatant and subtle racism have been steady features in the countrys  and states  history.

We have an opportunity to acknowledge those past wrongs, learn from our history and admit where we come short in our ideals, he said.

Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announces new initiatives to help improve racial equity in Indiana on Aug. 18.
Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday denied reports that his governments historic agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) included a potential US sale of F-35 fighter aircraft to the UAE in exchange for the Gulf countrys recognition of the Jewish state.

Israel did not change its consistent positions against the sale to any country in the Middle East of weapons and defense technologies that could tip the balance of military power in the region, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.

Netanyahus statement came amid rumors that a secret clause in the agreement allowed the UAE to purchase the advanced fighter jet, which only Israel possesses in the region as part of a US policy favoring Israels military superiority in the region.

The prime ministers office firmly shot down the claim Tuesday, saying he and Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer repeatedly made clear to US officials their opposition to the sale of F-35s to other Middle Eastern countries in recent months.

The peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates does not include any reference to arms sales, and the US has made it clear that it will always take strict care to maintain Israel's qualitative edge, the statement released by Netanyahus office read.

Citing anonymous US and Emirati sources, Israels Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported Tuesday that the Trump administration offered the UAE a giant sale of US F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and advanced drones in order to sweeten the deal.

Al-Monitor could not independently verify Yedioth Ahronoth's reporting. A State Department spokesperson declined to comment on potential or pending arms sales before they are formally notified to Congress.

Why it Matters: Though the reports remain unconfirmed, the UAE has urged Washington and Israel in the past to allow it to buy advanced US weaponry. President Donald Trump is known to push US weapons sales in discussions with foreign leaders, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Israel already helps the UAE upgrade its US-made F-16 fighters, saving the Gulf country large sums it would otherwise spend on new US weapons systems.

American presidential administrations are obligated to notify Congress and discuss with Israeli officials prior to selling advanced weapons to Middle Eastern countries. The latter rule is part of Washingtons policy of maintaining Israels qualitative military edge, or QME, in the region.

Congress has barred major US weapons sales to the UAE over the Gulf countrys involvement in Yemens civil war, though the administration has been skirting that freeze without proper procedures, a recent watchdog report found.

The Trump administration is under pressure to sell US arms in the region, both from its own ideology and increased deals by Russian and Chinese firms.

The Trump administration last month changed its interpretation of an international agreement so that it could sell armed drones to governments abroad in order to compete with Chinese manufacturers who sell to the United States' Gulf partners like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Whats Next: Trump adviser Jared Kushner hinted yesterday that there is still more work to do on the UAEs agreement with Israel.

Netanyahu has said the agreement only stipulated a temporary halt to his plans to annex parts of the West Bank, though UAE officials are reportedly banking on Trump losing the November US presidential election in hope that a Joe Biden administration would make Netanyahus concession permanent.

Yossi Cohen, Israels Mossad chief who was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the deal, met with the UAEs national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The pair discussed security cooperation, mutual interests in the region and ways to solidify the new agreement, WAM, the UAEs state news agency said.

Know More: Danny Zaken explores the economic motives behind the UAE-Israel deal, and Al-Monitors Ben Caspit looks at what the agreement means for the wider region moving forward.
Agence France-Presse

The melting of Greenland's ice cap has gone so far that it is now irreversible, with snowfall no longer able to compensate for the loss of ice even if global warming were to end today, according to researchers.

"Greenland's glaciers have passed a tipping point of sorts, where the snowfall that replenishes the ice sheet each year cannot keep up with the ice that is flowing into the ocean from glaciers," said a statement from Ohio State University, where several authors of a study published 13 August in Communications Earth and Environment are based.

Climate change is having a devastating effect on the world's glaciers, with the ice melt posing a threat to millions of people around the world.

Alarming reports about the ice melt on the vast Arctic island  which is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet  have multiplied in recent years.

Eighty-five percent of the surface of Greenland, an island of two million square kilometres or four times the size of France, is covered in ice.

"The study confirms results from a lot of other studies ... that the combination of melt and calving of icebergs explains the large amount of ice lost from Greenland over the last couple of decades," Ruth Mottram, a climatologist at Denmark's Meteorological Institute told AFP.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the ice cap lost around 450 billion tonnes of ice per year, which was compensated by snowfall, the scientists said after analysing 40 years of data.

But the ice melt has accelerated this century, climbing to 500 billion tonnes and it is no longer sufficiently replenished with snow.

"The Greenland ice sheet is losing mass at accelerated rates in the 21st century, making it the largest single contributor to rising sea levels," the study said.

The melting ice actually causes more ice to melt, as the meltwater that collects on the ice sheet absorbs more of the Sun's radiative force than snow and ice do  snow and ice reflect sunlight back into space.

In addition, the loss of ice exposes the permafrost, or frozen soil, which when thawed releases powerful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping heat.

Therefore the melting ice is not just a symptom of global warming, it is also becoming a driver of global warming.

Tipping point debate

While researchers are in agreement that the Greenland ice melt is worrying, not all agree that it has reached a 'tipping point'.

"We don't know how much greenhouse gas concentrations will rise," Mottram said.

The published results show that "even if we stabilised temperatures (and greenhouse gas emissions) at the present level, the ice sheet would still continue to melt, but only until the size of the ice sheet is once more in balance with the climate," she said.

As the ice sheet is rapidly losing mass in contact with the ocean, once the ice loses contact with the water the massive ice discharge will stop.

Meanwhile, a recent study from Britain's University of Lincoln concluded that Greenland's ice melt alone is expected to contribute 10-12 centimetres to the world's rising sea levels by 2100.

The UN's IPCC climate science advisory panel said in 2013 it expected sea levels to rise 60 centimetres by the end of the century.
With Australia's hopes for a return to a normal life dependent upon wide take-up of a COVID-19 vaccine if and when it becomes available, it is no suprise that an argument for mandatory vaccination has been put forward.

Philosopher Tim Smartt from the University of Notre Dame cites our acceptance of restrictions on our personal liberty, such as forced restrictions on our movement and quarantine, as a potential green light for governments to consider such a policy.

Return to a normal life is resting on the discovery of a vaccine. Credit:

The main goal of mandatory vaccination is to ensure community vaccine coverage that results in a herd immunity level high enough to interrupt transmission of the COVID-19 virus. We don't yet know what level of coverage is needed  it could be 40 per cent, 60 per cent or 90 per cent.

Before we think about mandatory vaccination as a policy lever to achieve high coverage, there are other effective, less coercive ways we could try which do not have the negative consequences mandatory vaccination brings. If we can get our systems of vaccine delivery and communication right, then we know Australians will trust in good science  after all, childhood immunisation sits at the right target goal of 95 per cent.
In a far-reaching account of Russia's efforts to compromise the 2016 presidential election, the Senate Intelligence Committee offered new details Tuesday on the roles played by Donald Trump's campaign advisers and their willingness to take advantage of a Kremlin-directed attempt to undermine the candidacy of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Across nearly 1,000 pages, the Republican-led Senate panel not only documented the interactions of Trump campaign officials with Russian contacts but faulted the FBI, in part, for providing a "veneer of credibility" to an uncorroborated dossier that sought to disparage Trump in the run-up to the 2016 election.

Paul Manafort (and Konstantin Kilimnik)

Trump's former campaign chairman was singled out for some of the harshest criticism by the committee, which cast the high-flying political consultant as "a grave counterintelligence threat."

For the first time, the committee unequivocally identified Manafort business associate Konstantin Kilimnik as "a Russian intelligence officer." The committee's assessment of Kilimnik went further than an investigation of Russian election interference prepared by Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller.

Before joining the Trump campaign in March 2016, Manafort "directly and indirectly" communicated with Kilimnik, according to the Senate report, and "on numerous occasions, Manafort sought to secretly share internal campaign information" with the Russian operative.

Read it yourself: Senate Intelligence Committee report, more on Manafort and Kilimnik pages 158-169

After dual convictions on financial fraud charges in Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, arising from the Mueller investigation, Manafort was sentenced to more than seven years in prison. In May, he was released to home confinement because of the risk posed by the coronavirus pandemic in federal prison.

Roger Stone (and WikiLeaks)

Story continues

Stone, the self-described political dirty-trickster, gets his share of attention in the Senate report, but it is not likely to please Trump, his longtime friend.

The Senate report found that Trump spoke with Stone about back-channel efforts to communicate with the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks about the release of emails stolen by Russian hackers that were damaging to Clinton and the Democratic National Committee.

Trump told Mueller's team, in written responses to investigators' questions, that he did not recall discussing WikiLeaks with Stone.

"Despite Trump's recollection, the committee assesses that Trump did, in fact, speak with Stone about WikiLeaks and with members of his campaign about Stone's access (to the group) on multiple occasions," the report said.

Read: More on Stone, Trump and WikiLeaks pages 222-251

Stone was convicted of lying to Congress about his interactions with the Trump campaign and Wikileaks. He was set to begin serving his 40-month sentence when Trump granted him clemency.

Donald Trump Jr. (and Trump Tower)

Senate investigators say Donald Trump Jr. was looking for "derogatory information."

Russia's effort to influence the campaign, the Senate panel concluded, extended to Trump's family and the base of the real estate development enterprise: Trump Tower in New York.

Senate officials concluded that in a meeting June 9, 2016, (page 332) with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya at Trump Tower, "it was the intent of the campaign participants in the meeting, particularly Donald Trump Jr., to receive derogatory information that would be of benefit to the campaign from a source known ... to have connections to the Russian government."

Investigators "found no reliable evidence that information of benefit to the Trump campaign" was provided during the meeting.

There also was no evidence that Trump had advance knowledge of the meeting.

Nevertheless, investigators concluded that the offer of information was part of a "broader influence operation targeting the United States that was coordinated, at least in part, with elements of the Russian government."

Christopher Steele (and the FBI)

The FBI's investigation into Russian interference did not escape scrutiny from Senate investigators.

The committee seized on the bureau's handling of a dossier, prepared before the 2016 election by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, that purported to document Trump's activities and associations in Moscow.

The FBI, including the bureau's leadership, considered the unverified information as "extremely sensitive and potentially relevant to ongoing investigations." Senate investigators concluded that Steele's reporting was "assigned credibility based on flawed understanding of his past work with the FBI."

"The dossier joined a stream of intelligence and investigative reporting about Russia's attempts to interfere in the 2016 elections," even though the FBI "never fully explored the allegations in the dossier or Steele's trade-craft," the senators said.

Senate investigators said the FBI's efforts to investigate the allegations in the dossier were focused largely on identifying Steele's source network. Though the bureau attempted to corroborate the dossier's contents, the Senate panel concluded that effort was "lacking in both thoroughness and rigor."

Trump and his allies in Congress have repeatedly used the discredited dossier as a bludgeon to disparage the Mueller investigation and the Senate inquiry.

More: Start reading on the origins of the Steele dossier on page 846

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senate intel panel offers playbook on Russian interference in 2016
Authorities in Turkeys financial capital Istanbul harassed and briefly detained a group of Uyghurs who gathered on the citys iconic Taksim Square wearing T-shirts with images of missing relatives back home in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), group members said.

The nine Uyghurs were posing for group photos on Monday afternoon when they were approached by police who demanded that they delete the images and turn their T-shirts inside-out to obscure the information about their family members, according to Jewlan Shirmemet, a Uyghur student in Istanbul who organized the gathering.

News of the rare incident of Uyghurs being targeted by Turkish authorities, which went viral on social media, has prompted concerns over Chinas growing influence in Turkey. Many of the more than 50,000 Uyghurs who live in Turkey fled there to escape persecution in China, and Uyghurs traditionally view the country as a refuge and advocate for their rights.

We posed for a photo in our T-shirts in front of the [Republic Monument] statue in Taksim Square when the police came and said we had to delete our photos, so we deleted them, Shirmemet told RFAs Uyghur Service.

Later, when we were leaving, they told us we had to either take off the T-shirts or wear them turned inside out, and then they made us leave, said the activist, who is campaigning for the release of his mother from a five-year prison sentence for allegedly aiding terrorists.

Shirmemet and others told RFA that police gave the need to investigate the family backgrounds of those gathered at the square as an excuse for holding them and interrupting their photo.

RFA also spoke with Alimjan Turdi, who believes his seven missing family members are likely detained in the XUARs network of internment camps where authorities have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities since April 2017.

Turdi said the group had just began taking photos on Taksim when police came from every direction, telling members to produce identification and explain what they were doing.

We told them we were there to take a photo, and they said it was illegal for us to pose for a photo wearing our shirts, he said.

They pulled us all aside, took our ID cards, and kept us there for an hour and a half, questioning us. Eventually they told us that we had to turn our shirts inside out before we left, that we werent allowed to leave with our shirts on the right way.

Turdi said that as the group left, people on the street kept pointing out to us that we had our shirts on inside-out.

I have put a lot of hope in the Turkish government and in the country, and Im very sad that this happened  They insulted us. I will never forget this. I will make sure that this story stays in my familys history, one generation to the next.

RFA spoke with an employee at the Taksim Police Station who said he had no knowledge of the incident and referred further inquiries to a public security division of the neighboring Beyoglu District Police Station. Repeated calls to that station went unanswered.

After leaving Taksim Square, the group attempted to find a reporter at the offices of Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) to share their story but were not permitted to enter the building or meet with any employee of the national broadcaster, group members said.

Uyghurs wearing T-shirts with images of missing relatives pose for a photo in front of the Republic Monument on Taksim Square in Istanbul, Aug. 17, 2020. RFA Video testimony

In a video testimony posted to social media in Turkish after the days events, Mirzaehmet Ilyas said that he and others had simply gathered on the square to take a photo in honor of their missing relatives.

We didnt shout slogans and we didnt demonstrate, but the police made us turn our shirts inside-out as a way of forcing us out of Taksim, he says in the video.

It was humiliating. Were not criminals  Is it a crime that were searching for our parents? Even on Turkish soil, we are unable to raise our voices against China. Truly, this is a disgrace.

He also expressed disappointment that the group had failed to meet with anyone from TRT.

[We were disappointed because] no one was there, firstly, and secondly, because we werent able to share our grief with others, he said.

We all stood out there for a while, but then someone came and told us that they werent taking anyone [inside]that normally they would accept people but now they arent. They told us to call the central offices, and then we left.

It was not immediately clear if the group was unable to enter the building because of the dangers associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

The incident on Taksim Square marked the groups third organized gathering while wearing their T-shirts, following one on Istanbuls Beyazit Square and a demonstration in front of the Chinese consulate.

During the latter event, which took place on Aug. 14, Shirmemet read a formal statement before attempting to deliver a written request to consulate staffers on behalf of himself and 10 other Uyghurs, calling on the Chinese government to release their family members. The consulate reportedly refused to accept the request.

In response to the police encounter on Taksim, Turkish legal scholar and professor Dr. Ilyas Dogantweeted that forcing someone to turn their shirt inside-out is discriminatory and a repression of the freedom of speech.

This matter will immediately be explored through legal avenues, he added.

Growing ties

Analysts have noted that the relationship between Turkey and China is increasingly growing closer and stronger, a trend that has negative ramifications for Uyghur activists, who say they are facing greater restrictions than ever before.

In February 2019, Turkeys Foreign Ministry issued a rare statement of criticism of China by a majority Muslim nation, demanding that authorities close the internment camps in the XUAR. During a trip to China in July last year, however, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged security cooperation with Beijing and said that residents of the XUAR live happy and prosperous lives under Beijings rule, according to Chinese state television.

A 2017 extradition treaty signed between Beijing and Ankarawhile not ratifiedwas submitted by Erdogan for consideration a year ago to the Grand National Assembly (TBMM). Observers fear it specifically targets Uyghurs in the majority Muslim nation for forced repatriation to China.

The Turkish government had long refused to extradite or deport Uyghurs back to China, but that changed in June last yeartwo months after the treaty was submitted to parliamentwhen Turkey sent several home via Tajikistan, including a woman named Zinnetgul Tursun along with her two toddler daughters.

A month later, Tursuns sisterwho lives in exile in Saudi Arabialearned from her mother in the XUAR that her sibling had disappeared and that the family had no information about what had happened to her, before warning her to end further communication.

Reported by Azigh for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Elise Anderson. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has sidestepped questions over his dealings with media mogul Kerry Stokes about a controversial decision to exempt one of his companies from a tightening of the state's domestic gas reservation policy.

Mr Stokes' Seven Group Holdings owns the biggest shareholding of Beach Energy, which has a stake in the Waitsia project in WA's Mid West region.

WA Premier Mark McGowan. Credit:Hamish Hastie

The Mitsui and Co and Beach Energy Waitsia joint venture is the only project exempt from changes to the gas reservation policy, which will ban the export of onshore gas extracted in WA to overseas or eastern states customers in an effort to bring down energy prices.

On Monday, shares in Beach Energy jumped 6.8 per cent after Mr McGowan made the announcement and the company posted strong yearly results, which increased the value of Mr Stokes' stake in the company by about $65 million.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 02:46:52|Editor: huaxia

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BAMAKO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse have been arrested by the soldiers who started a military mutiny near Bamako Tuesday morning, local media Malijet reported.

According to the media website, the president was arrested at his residence in Sebenicoro.

African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on his social media account condemned the arrest of the president, the prime minister and other members of the Malian government, calling for their immediate release.

According to Xinhua correspondent in Bamako, the national television ORTM has stopped normal broadcasting. Enditem
The not-for-profit trade trade group the Oregon Brewers Guild has announced a quarterly collaboration beer series kicking off with State of Excitement. This hazy IPA was brewed at Portland's Baerlic Brewing in collaboration with 27 other Oregon brewers. Funds from the sale of State of Excitement and future releases will support the guild, who recently lost one of its directors partially due to loss of funds during the pandemic.

More from the press release sent out by the guild:

Collaborations are a little different right now, but I suppose just about everything is, said Baerlic Beer Co. Brewer Stephen Helwig, who led the charge on brewday. Fortunately, the modern miracle of the internet helped us to communicate, stay organized, and craft a damn delicious beer that shows off the best ingredients Oregon has to offer.

The 6.5 percent hazy IPA includes Crystal, Cascade, Amarillo, Idaho 7 and Triumph hops donated by Crosby Hop Farm, Goschie Farms and Yakima Chief Hops; malts donated by Mecca Grade Estate Malt and Skagit Valley Malting; the Barbarian/Juice yeast strain combo, pitched in by Imperial Yeast; and printing, cans and packaging donated by Rose City Label, Craft Canning and WCP Solutions. State of Excitement No. 2 will be available for purchase at each of the particiatping breweries and all of the proceeds benefit the Oregon Brewers Guild, and its efforts to protect and promote the states craft beer industry. Like many organizations, the Guild has experienced financial turmoil as all of its annual events have been canceled due to COVID-19.

We're honored to have the opportunity to support the Oregon Brewers Guild during this challenging time, says Crosby Hop Farm CEO Blake Crosby. OBG is a leader in driving education, guidance, and connection for the Oregon brewing industry and its stakeholders. We expect this project to resonate with craft beer drinkers across the state and contribute to the continued excellence that OBG represents nationally.

Brewers communicated via email and met via Zoom meetings to determine the style of beer and formulate the recipe. Participating breweries include: Allegory Brewing, Baerlic Beer Co, Barsideous Brewing, Bend Brewing Co, Bevel Brewing, Breakside Brewery, Brewery 26, Buoy Beer Co, Deschutes Brewery, Gateway Brewing, Gigantic Brewing, Heater Allen Beer, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Laurelwood Brewing, Leikam Brewing, McMenamins, Ninkasi Brewing, Sasquatch Brewing, Stickmen Brewing, Three Mugs Brewing, Threshold Brewing & Blending, Unicorn Brewing, Von Ebert Brewing, Weekend Beer Co, Wild Ride Brewing, Wolf Tree Brewing, and Yachats Brewing.

The Oregon beer industry has been built on community coming together for the love of craft beer, says Christina LaRue, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. This project is an exciting way to bring our brewers and industry partners together, even if only virtually for now, to celebrate that community through the art of collaboration. Stay tuned for two additional beers this year.

The State of Excitement collabs, launched in February for Zwickelmania, will now be released four times a year, and sold at participating breweries. State of Excitement No, 3 will be a fresh hop beer released in the fall.

About the Oregon Brewers GuildThe Oregon Brewers Guild is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and protect the states craft brewing industry and the common interests of its members. Founded in 1992, the Oregon Brewers Guild is one of the nations oldest craft brewers associations.

Website:OregonCraftBeer.org

Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @OregonCraftBeer
The Madras high court on Tuesday rejected a plea from mining giant Vedanta for allowing reopening of its Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, which has been closed since May 2018 over pollution concerns.

Accepting the state pollution control board's stand that the firm's operations were behind pollution, the court said safeguarding the environment received primacy and economic considerations could have no role to play in such matters.

The company described the verdict as "temporary setback" and said it would look into all legal options available to it, while political leaders and others welcomed the judgement.

A division bench of Justices T S Sivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan upheld the orders of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, directing closure of the unit in May 2018.

It had on January 9 this year reserved orders on the matter.

The court, in its 815-page judgement, dismissed a batch of writ petitions from Vedanta and others challenging closure of the unit, which was at the centre of massive violent protests over pollution concerns.

"We are inclined to accept the stand taken by the TNPCB to hold that the increase in the levels of TDS, chloride, sulphate and total hardness are all attributable to the petitioner's operation and therefore the order of closure cannot be stated to be on account of speculation," the verdict said.

Also, the past conduct of the petitioner is consistent with the conclusion that they have not complied with mandatory rules and regulations and only attempted compliance under the threat of judicial orders of closure or intervention.

Hence the firm "cannot be allowed to run a highly polluting red category industry, when the petitioner is oblivious to ecological sensitivities, especially after having polluted the area substantially over the past 22 years of its operation," the court said.

The shocking reality is that for the substantial period of the time from 1995 till 2018, the petitioner was operating without valid consent to operate.

They were operating either on account of orders passed by courts/tribunal or by stating that application for renewal of consent was pending.

Rejecting Sterlite's argument that if their plant was shut, the requirement of copper in India cannot be met, and that it would be a great blow on the economy, the court said when the economy was pitted against the environment, only the latter aspect received primacy.

"Therefore, economic considerations can have no role to play while deciding the sustainability of a highly polluting industry and the only consideration would be with regard to safeguarding the environment for posterity and remedying the damage caused."

On Sterlite Copper's stand that local people wanted the plant to continue, the court said such submissions deserved outright rejection as it pointed to the compilation filed by TNPCB contianing details of complaints against the petitioner not only from the public, but also political parties and MLAs.

"As per the report of the Government of India - National Clean Air Programme dated January 10, 2019, giving a list of most polluted cities in the Country, in Tamil Nadu, Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) is the only District which finds place in the list of most polluted city in Tamil Nadu."

These statistics revealed by the Government of India clearly showed that the averment made by the petitioner that Tuticorin is safer than Chennai is to be rejected as being unsubstantiated.

The court said it was of the clear view that the petitioner has not been able to establish that the impugned decisions were malafide or on account of extraneous or political considerations.

Also, the impugned orders cannot be said to be devoid of reasons, as the Government Order, while endorsing the closure order of the Pollution Control Board, directs permanent closure and sealing of the unit and has referred to the mandate cast on the State by the Constitution and bearing in mind the larger public interest.

The court traced the prolonged litigations involving the company since its inception and quoted several Supreme Court judgements throughout the verdict.

Vedanta had approached the high court in February 2019, seeking to reopen the Sterlite plant which was closed following a May 23, 2018 order issued by the TNPCB in the backdrop of violent protests against the unit which left 13 people dead in police firing on May 21 and 22.

It had filed the petition in the high court as suggested by the Supreme Court, which had on February 18, 2019 set aside the National Green Tribunal order that allowed opening of the Sterlite Plant.

Several people hailed the high court judgment in Tuticorin in southern Tamil Nadu by distributing sweets and bursting fire crackers.

Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam welcomed the ruling, saying it reflected the thoughts of crores of people.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M K Stalin said he bowed before the court for its judgement.

He urged the government to pass a Cabinet resolution welcoming the judgment and file a caveat petition in the Supreme Court in case Vedanta files an appeal.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Vaiko said the judgement has done justice and hailed it as "a huge win" for people's agitations.

"Without compromising even a little, I myself have argued against the plant before the tribunal, the high court and the Supreme Court," he said and recalled his party's "26-year-long struggle against the plant.

State secretaries of Communist Party of India-Marxist and CPI, K Balakrishnan and R Mutharasan, Pattali Makkal Katchi founder leader S Ramadoss also urged the government to fight the matter in the apex court if the firm went on an appeal and ensure the plant's permanent closure.

Sterlite CEO Pankaj Kumar told reporters in Tuticorin, "We will look at all legal options available to us."

Associate Vice President D Dhanavel said the judgement was "disappointing" and a "temporary setback."

To a question, Kumar said: "There may be a possibility of lay-off," adding the plant has been shut for over two years.

Dhanavel said "our company has continuously taken efforts to protect jobs of all to the possible extent, despite closure. But now with this setback, that (safeguarding jobs) will be a challenge...we will discuss this and take further steps considering the welfare of employees."

In its arguments during the hearing, Vedanta had claimed that the closure order was nothing but 'naked discrimination' against the company and a knee-jerk reaction of the state to 'appease' a section of public with vested interest after 13 protesters were killed in the police firing.

Rejecting the charges, the state government had submitted that it has full authority and powers to shut down a factory when it causes a serious threat to the environment and ecology.

The Sterlite unit had flouted many rules, which amounted to violation of statutory provisions, warranting closure of the factory, it had told the court.
The agreements reached during the negotiations with a British delegation are aimed at strengthening the security and defense capabilities of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran said this at a briefing with Secretary of State for Defense of the United Kingdom Ben Wallace, who is on an official visit to Ukraine, the Defense Ministrys press service reported.

According to Taran, the negotiations were fruitful and effective. The main attention was paid to the discussion of relevant issues of mutual interest, namely the assessment of the security situation in eastern Ukraine and in the Azov-Black Sea region, trends and prospects of its development and ways to respond to emerging threats.

We also discussed the state and prospects for the implementation of defense reform, issues of Euro-Atlantic integration in the context of maximizing the use of new instruments of defense and military cooperation, which Ukraine received with the status of NATOs Enhanced Opportunities Partner. The priorities of Ukrainian-British military cooperation were also identified, where the key issue is the development of combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Navy with the participation of the United Kingdom, Taran said.

The defense minister stressed that all the issues discussed and the agreements reached are aimed at strengthening the security and defense capabilities of Ukraine, increasing the operational and combat capabilities of the Armed Forces, and ensuring peace and well-being of Ukrainian citizens.

Taran thanked the British partners for their continued support of Ukraine and fruitful bilateral cooperation.

In turn, Ben Wallace thanked the Ukrainian side for the close cooperation of the defense ministries in many areas.

ish
The Chinese government has banned Air India from operating international flights to Hong Kong for two weeks after 11 people were tested positive in the last Delhi- Hong Kong flight on August 14.

Air India had to cancel its Hong-Kong flight on Monday after the airline was informed about certain restrictions. Return flights to India were cancelled as well.

Speaking to the Times of India, an Air India official stated that the reason for restrictions were still unknown which led to the cancellations of the flights on Monday. The move is expected to affect thousands of Hong Kong citizens who are currently stranded in India.

#FlyAI : #ImportantUpdate Due to restrictions imposed by Hong Kong Authorities, AI 310/315, Delhi - Hong Kong - Delhi of 18th August 2020 stands postponed. Next update in this regard will be intimated soon. Passengers may please contact Air India Customer Care for assistance. Air India (@airindiain) August 17, 2020

Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that Hong Kong continued to prohibit flights from India, as the coronavirus pandemic spreads around the world. It said national carrier Air India has applied for permission with the Hong Kong authorities to operate flights.

Civil aviation access is a matter of reciprocal bilateral arrangements, the ministry tweeted. As far as flights to and from Hong Kong are concerned, the problem is that HK [Hong Kong] is not allowing flights from certain places of origin including India. Air India has applied for permission with the authorities.

Also Watch:

The ministry also said India is discussing a bilateral air bubble with Kuwait. New Delhi already has bilateral agreements with countries like the United Arab Emirates, United States, Germany and France to operate flights.

Significant progress made on aviation access between India and Kuwait, the ministry had tweeted. Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation and President of Directorate General of Civil Aviation-Kuwait had useful and productive discussions on several issues related with bilateral access between our two countries which will be resolved soon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani and its people on the eve of the country's Independence day. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, PM Modi said that India supports its pursuit for a just society free from the menace of terrorism.

PM Modi tweeted, "Independence Day greetings to President Ashraf Ghani and the Afghan people! India supports Afghanistan's aspiration to shape its own destiny for a better future, and its pursuit for a just society free from the menace of terrorism."

Independence Day greetings to President @ashrafghani and the Afghan people! India supports Afghanistan's aspiration to shape its own destiny for a better future, and its pursuit for a just society free from the menace of terrorism.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 18, 2020

Afghanistan celebrates its Independence Day on August 19.
A strain of the coronavirus thriving in Europe, the US and parts of Asia has a specific mutation which makes the virus more infectious but less deadly, an expert believes.

The variation in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the agent which causes Covid-19, is called D614G.

Paul Tambyah, senior consultant at the National University of Singapore and president-elect of the International Society of Infectious Diseases, said evidence suggests the proliferation of the D614G mutation in some parts of the world has coincided with a drop in death rates, suggesting it is less lethal.

'Maybe that's a good thing to have a virus that is more infectious but less deadly,' Dr Tambyah told Reuters.

Pictured, a graph showing the recent number of cases and deaths of COVID-19 in the United States. It shows that the number of deaths is on a downward trend recently from a spike in late April but cases spiked much later, in mid-late July. It is unknown if this is due to the new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus but it is possible, according to Dr Paul Tambyah

Cases in the UK have been slowly rising since a trough in early July (pictured). Dr Tambyah suggests the D614G strain of coronavirus is more infectious, but less deadly

Pictured, UK coronavirus death toll as of yesterday August 17. It shows a declining trend in mortality. It is unknown which strain each individual dies of, but D614G, which is believed to be more infectious and less deadly than the original version, is thought to be dominant in the UK

Experts believe pockets of New York and London could have 'herd immunity' from Covid-19 Herd immunity against Covid-19 could be closer than scientists first thought and as little as 10 per cent of people may need to be infected for the virus to fizzle out, experts say. It means pockets of London and New York and countries like India may already be immune to the life-threatening disease, should a second wave hit. Cases may not rise so dramatically as they did during the first peak of the pandemic earlier this year because the disease has run out of room to spread, or the disease may be less severe if immunity is short-lived, scientists believe. Previously it's been speculated 60 to 70 per cent of the population would need to suffer Covid-19 or be vaccinated to gain 'herd immunity' status. But that would be devastating and cause millions of deaths, which is why Britain quickly dropped the controversial strategy in March. And scientists still do not have any firm proof as to how long immunity actually lasts once a person has fought off Covid-19, mainly because it is still shrouded in secrecy and has only been known to exist since the start of the year. Modelling studies have started to suggest that a far lower threshold is needed to achieve herd immunity  with researchers believing it could be between 10 and 43 per cent. The calculations account for swathes of people who are less likely to get infected. Immunity among the most socially active people could protect those who come into contact with fewer people, scientists say. Advertisement

Tambyah said most viruses tend to become less virulent as they mutate.

'It is in the virus' interest to infect more people but not to kill them because a virus depends on the host for food and for shelter,' he said.

Scientists discovered the mutation as early as February and it has circulated in Europe and the Americas, the World Health Organization said.

The WHO has also said there is no evidence the mutation has led to more severe disease.

On Sunday, Malaysia's director-general of health Noor Hisham Abdullah urged greater public vigilance after authorities detected the D614G mutation in two clusters.

Sebastian Maurer-Stroh of Singapore's agency for science, technology and research said the variant has also been found in the city-state but that containment measures have prevented large-scale spread.

Malaysia's Noor Hisham said the D614G strain detected there was 10 times more infectious and that vaccines currently in development may not be effective against this mutation.

But Tambyah and Maurer-Stroh said such mutations would not likely change the virus enough to make potential vaccines less effective.

'(The) variants are almost identical and did not change areas that our immune system typically recognise, so there shouldn't be any difference for vaccines being developed,' said Maurer-Stroh.

In June, doctors in Italy claimed the coronavirus has weakened and become a shadow of the disease that rapidly spread around the world at the tart of 2020.

The medics claimed the infection - which has now killed almost 750,000 people - is much less lethal than it was and 'no longer clinically exists'.

These claims were based on findings that patients had much smaller amounts of the virus in their system, compared to samples taken during the peak of the crisis in March and April.

However, these claims were contentious and savaged by other academics, with one calling the statements 'bulls***'.

Professor Brendan Wren, Professor of medical microbiology at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the drop in death rates due to COVID-19 infection could be attributed to many factors such as improved awareness and treatment of the disease.

'Without undertaking comparative analyses in appropriate infection models between the mutant D614G and the parent strain, it is not possible to correlate the emergence of this mutant with less disease severity,' Professor Brendan Wren said in response to Tambyah's comments.

Previous research by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute in Florida offers a potential explanation for the virus's altering traits.

They found the mutated version D614G has four to five times more 'spikes' that protrude from the viral surface, allowing it to latch onto human cells.

ACE-2 receptors have a shape which matches the outside of the coronavirus, effectively providing it with a doorway into the bloodstream, scientists say

These so-called S spikes are crucial in how the virus invades a cell. They trick receptors called ACE2 on the surface of human cells into binding with the virus.

This opens the door for the coronavirus to infect the cell where it thrives, multiplies and wreaks havoc.

Mutation may have made virus more vulnerable to vaccines The D614G coronavirus mutation made the virus more infectious. Bt it may also make it more vulnerable to vaccines, researchers believe. D614G, increases the number of 'spikes' on the surface of the virus and makes them more stable, allowing the virus to more efficiently break into and infect cells. The mutation will not pose problems for vaccines now in clinical trials, however, because the extra spikes retain the targets for the 'neutralizing antibodies' the vaccines are designed to induce. Those targets, called receptor-binding domains, or RBDs, are the places where the spike attaches itself to the cells it infects. With more spikes, there are more RBDs for the antibodies to bind to in order to neutralize the virus. 'The gain in infectivity provided by D614G came at the cost of making the virus more vulnerable to neutralizing antibodies,' the researchers wrote in a paper posted on medRxiv. Advertisement

However, the original coronavirus which first jumped into humans had a spike which often snapped off when trying to fuse with the receptor.

The mutated strain, they say, is more robust and less likely to snap, making it better at infecting cells.

Although the mutation makes the virus better at infecting cells, it does not appear to make it any more potent or deadly.

This, researchers suggest, could be because the spike had nothing to do with the virus's ability to reproduce - to replicate - once it was inside the body.

The process of reproduction, and using the body's resources to achieve this, is how the coronavirus causes illness and happens when the pathogen is already inside a cell and is an independent process to initial infection.

Researchers in the UK and US had in May noted that the mutated version of the virus had become 'the dominant pandemic form in many countries', including the then- hotspots of Italy, the US and the UK.

They said it was first found in Germany in February and had since become the most common form of the virus in patients worldwide - it appears to force out the older version whenever they clash.

Viruses mutate naturally all the time and it is not usually cause for alarm but should be studied in case they change so much they become unrecognisable to the body and immunity from a first infection cannot protect against them, as is the case with flu.

A study done by scientists at the University of Sheffield and Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, found that the original virus made up the vast majority of all Covid-19 infections in China, and Asia as a whole, and also seemed to be the first version of the virus to appear in the countries they studied.

However, the mutated version started to appear soon after in Europe and North America in particular, before going on to take over as the dominant virus.

Scientists have been focusing much of their research on understanding the interaction between the glycoprotein viral spike and the ACE2 receptor.

It is hoped that a deep understanding of this will allow either therapeutics or a vaccine to be created which can help cure or prevent COVID-19.

For example, specific points on the spike are the landing sites for the ACE2 receptor, and spotting these allows researchers to try and inhibit them, so the virus can not latch on to human cells.

Investigations into other coronaviruses found that these sites, known as receptor binding domains, are completely different to the virus's closest cousins.

In dozens of other coronavirus circulating in bats, none had the same sites and would therefore be very unlikely to bind to ACE2, rendering them harmless to humans.

In fact, high-resolution images reveal the spike on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 is 97 per cent identical to the spike on the coronavirus it most closely resembles, called RaTG13, which is found in bats.

However, the slight differences make SARS-CoV-2 far more stable and 1,000 times more infectious in humans.

Genetic analysis found the SARS-CoV-2 virus is unique, and evolved around 70 years ago, but never before made the jump from bats to humans.
Monica Sager didnt see her boyfriend for four months after she moved back into her childhood home in Pottstown, Pa., in March. She also didnt go to any friends houses or social events.

Now, her parameters have started to shift. Her boyfriend visited from New York over the Fourth of July weekend, and in August she will move into an apartment with roommates in Worcester, Mass., when she returns for her senior year at Clark University.

Ms. Sager, 21, knows that social distancing is key to keeping Covid-19 from spreading. And shes been talking with her roommates about how they can entertain responsibly. But she cant ignore her need to be around friends.

Im getting antsy. I really want to see people, she says.

Covid-19 cases among the 18-to-29-year-old age group are rising, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They accounted for 27.1% of U.S. cases in July. The groups share in cases has been climbing every month since April.

As a result, young adults are getting tagged as irresponsible. But many scientists argue that scolding wont help. They say the impulse among adolescents and emerging adults to break away from family and interact more with peers is part of normal development. Socializing and seeking new experiences is how they forge their identities.

Exploring is a neurobiological mandate, says Judith G. Edersheim, founding co-director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Law, Brain & Behavior and an assistant professor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She says the questionable behavior that correspondingly occurs is a necessary part of growing up. In most instances, they dont set out to do risky things. Its that theyre programmed to do these things.

Research shows that adolescents, loosely defined as those in the developmental period ranging from age 14 to 26 years (depending on the function being measured) are biologically driven to seek new experiences. When children are born, their brains arent fully formed. The brain creates a large amount of synapses, or neural links, between cells. During adolescence these synapses get cut back, or pruned: The brain eliminates the connections that arent important. One way the brain determines whats important and whats not is through real-world experiences and how frequently synapses are used, which is why independence is crucial for development.

At the same time, dopamine levels reach a lifetime peak in adolescents. Dopamine supports motivation and reward-driven learning, which drives them to value immediate gratification over future gains, which can lead to risky decisions. Motivation is influenced by rewards like novelty, thrills and the presence of peers. As a result, something that hits multiple rewards buttons can be particularly enticingsuch as the opportunity to attend a party that will be viewed by friends on social media, Dr. Edersheim says.

Studies show that adolescence is a period in young peoples lives when their social environment and interactions with peers are important for brain development, mental health and developing a sense of self. Lack of peer contact may interrupt this and might have long-term detrimental effects, says Livia Tomova, a postdoctoral researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology who co-wrote a paper called The Effects of Social Deprivation on Adolescent Development and Mental Health, published in The Lancet in June. She says young adults crave social interaction like a starving person craves food. Social rewards are a strong motivator, she says.

The Covid-19 pandemic is exacerbating these biological cravings, says Hannah Schacter, an assistant psychology professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. Adolescents normally fulfill their need for peer contacts at school. Schools also provide behavioral guidance and a place for discussing emotional distress. Suddenly they have to find other ways to get their needs met, she says.



Read the whole story: The Wall Street Journal
By Lambert Strether of Corrente

Gawd knows, I ought to be writing about the Democrat National Convention, whose opening night is tonight, but I cant even. (Please direct any comments on that topic elsewhere, not here.) Rather, Im going to hoist a long comment by Amfortas the hippie, for a few reasons. First, I want to make certain that Amfortas gets all the professional-quality advice that the NC commentariat can give him regardng one of those legal/financial/bureaucratic/ethical questions that so often come up, and not just in the lives of old codgers like me. Second, the refraction of class through family relations (and family relations generally) must surely be of interest to many readers. Third, I find two questions of vocabulary, one positive (the meaning of gaslit) and one negative (the absence of a word for the tactics of crapification) intriguing as well. I am not going to handle these topics in order; rather, Im going to post Amfortass comment, and add footnotes to it. So things may seem a little circuitous and out of order!

Amfortas takes a link to The New Republic as his starting point: The Real Pandemic Gap Is Between the Comfortable and the Afflicted. Here for our purposes is what I think is the key paragraph:

But theres a divide thats been more difficult to talk about [than the divide between the billionaire class and the rest of us]: The one between Americans earning about the median income or less and Americans who earn two or three times that wage. Life is vastly different for people who earn $30,000 and people who earn $300,000not on the same scale as the distance between the average American and Jeff Bezos but distinct nonetheless. Life is also significantly different between people who earn $30,000 and people who earn $130,000.

Needless to say, life is also vastly different for those who earn $30,000, and those who earn so little they dont file taxes; that divide, at that level, is the context for Amfortass comment. But before hoisting it, just let me expand a bit on the Comfortable and the Afflicted near-cliche in TNRs title. It comes from the pioneering American columnist Peter Finley Dunne, whose persona, Mr. Dooley, is often paraphrased as follows:

The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

However, thats not what Dunne actually wrote. Rather, in Dunnes rendering of Irish-American dialect, he has Dooley say:

Th newspaper does ivrything fr us. It runs th polis foorce an th banks, commands th milishy, controls th ligislachure, baptizes th young, marries th foolish, comforts th afflicted, afflicts th comfortable , buries th dead an roasts thim aftherward.

Of course, newspapers dont do all those things, although they do sometimes think they can or should. And likewise with bloggers! However, comforts th afflicted, afflicts th comfortable is something we can do, because words alone can do those things (especially in the Naked Capitalism comments section). With that, let me hoist Amfortass comment (to which I have added capitals and lightly repunctuated, apologies if need be, but Id be driven crazy otherwise, and to which, as I said, I will add notes in square brackets, thus: [0]):

My stepmom has been calling me every 3-4 days since my dad died mostly for comfort[1], which I provide as best I can (I am far from skilled at such social graces). Today, she was apparently into politics and sounded just like my mom, and just about any other person I know of that age cohort that isnt dirt poor[2]. The launch pad was what this life insurance policy would do to me and mine. Ive determined that it will be counted as income for the month I get it, and assets thereafter[3] Most certainly kicking wife off Medicaid[4], and causing us to spend 10k up front for regular insurance through the school. Stepmom is a retired school admin person, and in the same teacher systems as wife, but apparently got in when things were good because she denied that there could be any problem getting insurance through a school. Direct quote: Everythings fine[5] (I actually bit my tongue). For wife, school insurance would cost us a quarter of her income, at least. What with premiums, copays, deductibles and the threat of them not paying would always be there[6]. All of that info is from the school person who handles all that as well as the financial gal at the oncology clinic. I did not get it from infowars, lol. But this is denied as even a possibility[7] We must be doing something wrong[8]. So I tell the brief version of my 6 1/2 year struggle to get a hip. And again: It doesnt happen that way. But this is my dads widow, and I didnt want to yell at her. This right here is one of the most crazy-making features of our current situation and has been for a long while now: this total denial that anything is wrong with the world and that the Dems are decidedly not on the side of the poor and the disabled. You must have done something wrong is the excuse Ive heard for most of my adult life From the insane crusade against me by the cops, back when (That doesnt happen, you must have been beaten by someone else (!!!)) to the incredible Kafka hoops wife had to crawl through to get certified to teach Spanish in Texas[9]. To my own difficulties getting a hip. All of these require a not soundbite-friendly narrative, due to the esoteric nature[10] of each of those things. If youve never tried to get certified for Spanish, you cant know. Similarly for poor people programs, and for being terrorized by cops. Each of these narratives challenges so many sacred cows that its near impossible to educate anyone about it who isnt there already Ironically, especially Democrat voting PMC types. Everythings fine. The impossibility of successfully navigating any of those systems from within them[11] is totally lost on so many folks. Wifes Spanish cert and my hip felt more like accidents than anything As if whatever beakwetter[12] sitting in the works had got their fill and allowed us to pass. Of course, stepmom hasnt been poor since the 50s Certainly not since she met dad and she lives in Clear Lake, and never sees a poor person unless theyre cleaning the pool or mowing the yard[13] and those are all brown people with little Englishand one doesnt talk to them, merely points[14]. Sorry for the rant, but it has to go somewhere[15].

NOTES

[1] Not affliction.

[2] Discussions of politics between family and friends can be extremely difficult, and I am not sure how to handle them, other than keeping silence (which is fine until I hear something I just cant let go (and am not nearly enough of a Buddhist to practice non-attachment)). I didnt speak freely to a friend for a good six months after election 2008, and nearly lost the friendship altogther. Id be interested to hear from readers who have the social graces to handle this situation better than I did, especially considering that the 2008 zeitgeist, crazed as we then thought it, was mild compared to todays.

[3] Alert reader griffen comments:

Something worth researching more is how that insurance policy is treated for tax purposes. This was many years back, but when Dad passed I dont believe my Mom was required to pay or treat the proceeds as taxable income. That was North Carolina, & I strongly suspect dad paid for it with AT funds. Given the mid 80s work environment in small town USA and such.

Do we have any tax experts in the readership who can clarify? Both for Federal and State (Texas) taxes? Certainly this seeming good fortune afflicts Amfortas, so it would be a mitzvah to comfort him (see e.g. 2 Cor 1:4).

[4] Alert reader Noone from Nowheresville comments:

Yep, each state has their own asset and income limits for Medicaid plus clawbacks. Even some lovely lovely different rules for different ages too. Makes complexity even more complex. Ask now for an estimate. Its absolutely not taboo, given your familys medical situation. Youll absolutely need to plan for it and most likely spend it all in one month. Possibly pre-paying expenses like property taxes and other monthly bills. Extra food stock., etc. Perhaps set up an irrevocable funeral account trust. (know the rules on this one for your state) Make sure you keep every receipt showing how it spent. Nothing which could be considered asset purchase under the states Medicaid asset rules. Nothing which increases the value of any current assets under the Medicaid asset rules like the funky trailerhouse. Make sure any lawyer you use is well-versed in Medicaid rules, not just a great lawyer.

Here again comforting Amfortas in his affliction would surely bring good karma to the comforter.

[5] I dont think either stepmom or Amfortas has this meme in mind:

But maybe they did!

[6] Its important to liberal Democrats that the recipients of governmental largesse be worthy, and they employ themselves in setting up complex systems of eligibility requirements that to make that determination.

[7] This is the first vocabulary question. We need a word for the denial of Amfortass reality by a person who, by virtue of their class position, has never had to experience what Amfortas experiences. Alert reader Diptherio suggests a term for this denial:

I believe the term is gaslighting. Sorry youve got to deal with it. I dont think Id have the strength not to scream at her.

I disagree. Gaslighting comes from the movie Gaslight (starring Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, and Joseph Cotton, directed by the great George Cukor, and Angela Lansburys screen debut). Gaslight is a psychological thriller, and gaslighting is the mechanism used by the villain:

The term originates in the systematic psychological manipulation of a victim by her husband in Patrick Hamiltons 1938 stage play Gas Light,[4] and the film adaptations released in 1940 and 1944.[5] In the story, the husband attempts to convince his wife and others that she is insane by manipulating small elements of their environment and insisting that she is mistaken, remembering things incorrectly, or delusional when she points out these changes. The plays title alludes to how the abusive husband slowly dims the gas lights in their home, while pretending nothing has changed, in an effort to make his wife doubt her own perceptions. The wife repeatedly asks her husband to confirm her perceptions about the dimming lights, noises and voices, but in defiance of reality, he keeps insisting that the lights are the same and instead it is she who is going insane. The term gaslighting has been used colloquially since the 1960s to describe efforts to manipulate someones perception of reality.

I first encountered the term gaslighting back in the days of Bush the Younger, who used the color-coded threat level terror alerts to gaslight the American voters in the run-up to election 2004. However, I dont think that Amfortass stepmom  unlike George W. Bush  is a murderous sociopath. She is not, I think, denying Amfortass reality in order to manipulate him; she is simply impervious to any reality other than the reality that exists within her own class bubble. Theres a lot of that going about just now, but I cant think of a word for this embubbling process. Readers, especially including Amfortas, can you? Ideally the word should not sound like it was cooked up in a post-Modernist lab, and should be one or two syllables (unless theres a precise word in a foreign language, in which case, and especially if its German, take as many syllables as you like). If you can come up with a candidate, please use it in a sentence.

[8] This is my second vocabulary question. The feeling that We must be doing something wrong is pervasive in a system that Kafka-eque depends on complex eligibility requirements (which often overlap, as in Amfortass case.) The complexity is a form of crapification at the tactical level  other countries, for example, avoid the complexity of premiums, copays, deductibles by making health care free at the point of delivery, even for the unworthy  and the feeling of wrongness is a mental signal of some kind, the feeling that one is about to be caught in a trap. (And surely it is a trap that if you accept a one-time payment of $10K, you lose your health insurance forevermore, and pay taxes on it into the bargain.) And our political economy is full of such traps (indeed, one might urge that predatory precarity is the sad and existential position of so many PMCs, because they make their living setting and building traps  take the health insurance industry. Please!  instead of doing productive work. But I dont have a word for the tactics of crapification. Booby traps? Banana peels? Pitfalls? Dark patterns? Hooks? Snags? Gaffes? Land mines? Same rules of engagement as above.

[9] More [crapification tactics] (insert real word here).

[10]. They are only esoteric to the embubbled (?) who have not experienced them.

[11] More [crapification tactics] (insert real word here).

[12] Beakwetter. From Godfather II:

Don Fanucci : Young man, I hear you and your friends are stealing goods. But you dont even send a dress to my house. No respect! You know Ive got three daughters. This is my neighborhood. You and your friends should show me some respect. You should let me wet my beak a little . I hear you and your friends cleared $600 each. Give me $200 each, for your own protection. And Ill forget the insult. You young punks have to learn to respect a man like me! Otherwise the cops will come to your house. And your family will be ruined. Of course, if Im wrong about how much you stole, Ill take a little less. And by less, I only mean  a hundred bucks less. Now dont refuse me. Understand, paisan? Understand, paisan? Tell your friends I dont want a lot. Just enough to wet my beak . Dont be afraid to tell them!

Beakwetter is a lot better than gatekeeper, because it makes the economic relation central.

[13] Thats hardly fair. Somebodys got to clean the granite countertops!

[14] A mini-field report on class relations, right there.

[15] I dont feel that Amfortas needs to be sorry. This was a terrific rant, and hopefully productive and fun for readers.

* * *

In a normal post, Id put the Conclusion before the notes, but here we are. I hope there are some subject matter experts out there who can provide comfort for Amfortas (see text and footnotes at [3] and [4]). I also hope that there are some readers who are more clever than I am right now, who can solve the vocabulary puzzles in [7] and [8]. Then we can go out and afflict the comfortable with them.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Beijing, China  Tue, August 18, 2020 14:00 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ec5b86 2 World Sinopharm,China,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-vaccine,pandemic,price,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

A potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by a unit of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) could cost no more than 1,000 yuan ($144.27) for two shots, state media on Tuesday quoted chairman Liu Jingzhen as saying.

Sinopharm has said its experimental vaccine could be ready for public use by the end of this year. It has entered a late-stage human test in the United Arab Emirates to gather proof of efficacy for final regulatory approvals.

"It will not be priced very high. It is expected to cost a few hundred yuan for a shot, and for two shots it should be less than 1,000 yuan," Liu told the Guangming Daily newspaper.

Governments and drugmakers around the world are in a frenetic race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 200 candidates are in development, including more than 20 in human clinical trials.

Moderna Inc said earlier this month that smaller volumes of its experimental vaccine have been priced at $32-$37 per dose.

Last month, the US government struck a deal for an experimental vaccine being developed by Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE that secures enough to inoculate 50 million Americans for about $40 a person.

Sinopharm's Liu did not mention whether China's state-backed nationwide insurance program would cover some of the vaccine costs for consumers, or whether it could be included in the country's free vaccination scheme.

China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a Sinopharm unit, has moved two vaccine strains using the same method into human trials. Its plants in Wuhan and Beijing combined could make over two million doses of the drug annually.
Following days of mounting public pressure, U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy said Tuesday he would halt all operational changes hes made to the postal service in recent months, including major cutbacks, until after the November election.

Mail delays caused by the pandemic have reportedly worsened across the country since President Donald Trump appointed DeJoy, a new postmaster general with no previous experience in the field.

DeJoy has made sweeping cutbacks, including dismantling mail sorting machines and cutting overtime for employees since taking over the service. Staffing and overtime pay for postal workers have also been reduced. The cutbacks impacted Houston residents, especially in the last two weeks, according to local lawmakers who have heard from hundreds of constituents.

In his announcement DeJoy said equipment will remain in place, no processing facilities will be shuttered and that overtime has, and will continue to be, approved as needed. The postmaster said he made the decision to defer any changes until after November in order to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail.

Houston Democratic congressional delegates, three of whom held press conferences across the region Tuesday, said the postmaster generals move did not satisfy their demands. Legislation is needed to ensure the postal service can continue to operate at full capacity beyond November, they said.

What hes proposing is not acceptable, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said. We need the changes to be reversed in totality forever. And thats what the legislation is about.

Jackson Lee said a bill aimed at saving the postal service will be proposed Saturday. The legislation would include funding for a $25 billion emergency COVID-19 relief loan and require the post office to permanently cease and desist from making cutbacks. The loan amount was requested by the postal services board of governors two months ago.

On HoustonChronicle.com: From businesses to brides, mail delays already impacting Houston

Previous legislation that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives would have provided the loan to the postal servvice. Trump has said he would block the funding.

U.S. Sen. Cornyn, R-Texas, supported a $10 billion loan to the postal service in the CARES Act. The senator is open to additional relief, according to his office.

Theres bipartisan support for the post office, but it does definitely need reform, Cornyn said at an event in Amarillo Tuesday.

Protestors rallied at Cornyns Houston office Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, said DeJoys announcement raises more questions than it answers.

The real question is, will those words really mean action? she said during a press conference at the postal sorting facility on Aldine Bender Road. Will they put all those blue boxes back where they were? Will they put back the machines that theyve already pulled out? Will they continue to give the workers the overtime that they need to get the job done?

The iconic blue mailboxes have been removed in Oregon, New York and other states.

Echoing the sentiments of Garcia and others, Shawn Boyd, a regional administrative assistant for the National Association of Letter Carriers, said he was encouraged by DeJoys announcement, but added, I want to hear more.

Specifically, he said, he wants to know if plans already being implemented are being rolled back or if the postmaster is ceasing to continue to make further cuts.

A matter of life and death

Jackson Lee said she will help oversee an investigation of DeJoys actions.

We need to know whether there have been any civil rights violations or criminal acts taking place, she said.

Delays in postal service have especially impacted seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and others who receive life-saving medications in the mail, Jackson Lee said.

Katy Jewett, a 40-year-old Houston resident with stage 4 breast cancer, is one of those people. Jewett and others attended the congresswomans press conference Tuesday at a post office on Almeda Road.

Jewetts monthly shipment of a critical medicine that promises to help her live another 11 months wasnt delivered in time, she said. The closest pharmacy that carried the new, fairly rare treatment was in Fort Worth. So she drove eight-hours round-trip to get it.

I made the drive, but some men and women cant, she said. They cant afford to take the time off work or pay for a specialized delivery service. And they shouldnt have to be expected to.

U.S. Army veteran Sgt. Dudley Boudreaux said he is supposed to get his chemotherapy pills to treat stage 4 prostate cancer in the mail in seven to 10 days. But it has recently taken up to a month to get his medication, he said.

Because Boudreaux gets his prescriptions filled through the Veterans Affairs office, the process is much more complicated to get emergency treatment when his medication does not come in.

You cant just go to the VA without an appointment, he said.

Impact on voting

The threat the post office situation posed for peoples right to vote is dire, U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, said Tuesday.

The post office is part of the system that allows people to get their ballots timely cast, he said. We must do all we can to allow people to vote and not be in a position where they might contract this virus.

Postal workers reported at the Aldine Bender postal sorting center that about 15 sorting machines were recently removed from the plant, said Jabir McKnight, an aide to Jackson Lee. The machine requires two people to operate, but because staffing has been reduced, there is currently one employee working the remaining machines at the processing plant, McKnight said.

In his annoucement, DeJoy said he will expand an election task force to enhance our ongoing work and partnership with state and local election officials in jurisdictions throughout the country.

The task force will help ensure that election officials and voters are fully supported by the Postal Service, the postmaster said.

Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said his office is working with local postal officials to ensure every mail-in vote is delivered and counted in a timely manner this fall.

Do not be discouraged, he said. We need you to cast your ballots and have your voices heard.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Sydney, Australia  Tue, August 18, 2020 10:46 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066eb6d76 2 Business BHP,coal-business,mining-companies,Australia,coking-coal,thermal-coal Free

Mining giant BHP said profits fell four percent in the year ending in June, as the Anglo-Australian firm signaled a transition away from the intensely polluting thermal coal market on Tuesday.

The company reported annual net profit of just under US$8 billion, versus $8.3 billion in the year before.

Recently installed chief executive Mike Henry noted a "year marked by the challenges" linked to civil unrest in Chile  the world's largest producer of copper  and the coronavirus pandemic.

Henry also predicted a rocky path ahead.

"We expect most major economies will contract heavily in 2020, China being the exception," he said.

The company also confirmed a long-hinted shift away from the coal-for-electricity market.

"To further enhance our portfolio for value, risk and returns, we intend to concentrate our coal portfolio on higher quality coking coals," the company said in a statement.

BHP added that it was "looking at options to exit" two thermal coal projects in Australia and one in Colombia.

Coking coal is primarily used to make iron and steel and has not been the primary focus of the effort to reduce the impacts of climate change.

BHP's own operational greenhouse gas emissions again rose.

Rivals Rio Tinto and Anglo-American have announced similar shifts away from thermal coal.

Henry, a long-time employee, was tapped to take over the top job from January 1, 2020.

A Canadian, he joined the global resources company in 2003 and led its Australia minerals operations since 2016.
The Humanitarian and Development Agency of the Catholic Church in Ghana in a bid to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable in society especially in this coronavirus, pandemic era has put in place measures to help reintegrate and resettle head porters in the cities popularly known as Kayayei.

Kayayei in the cities of Accra and Kumasi have been worst impacted by Covid-19 as most of them have lost their means of livelihood due to either lockdown or general economic downturn.

According to the Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo We will provide practical support to those (Kayayei) who would make the decision to move like transport, temporary livelihood (food) and first aid in health like National health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration, he told the writer in an interview.

To help restore hope to these vulnerable ones, Mr. Akologo noted that Caritas Ghana is partnering with other Organizations in Northern Ghana, to provide them with skills training while ensuring that there is small credit support as start up for those who have already learned a trade and want start-up support.

As part of efforts to contribute to the alleviation of hardship on the populace and to contribute to the national response to Covid-19 pandemic, Caritas Ghana with support from STAR-Ghana Foundation organised a Stakeholders dialogue meeting in Kumasi on August 13, 2020 to discuss ways to reintegrate and resettle the vulnerable poor especially head porters in cities, who have been mostly hit by the pandemic.

Dialogue Meeting in Kumasi

It was held in collaboration with Kumasi based Street Children Project and the Tamale based African Development Organization on Migration (AFDOM) to facilitate services for these Kayayei through their resettlement and reintegration.

The first dialogue meeting was held for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs,) NGOs and Media Organizations in Northern Ghana in July to discuss the matter. There was the need for a follow-up meeting with same groups in Ashanti Region, as most of the Kayayei are in Kumasi city.

However, the Kumasi dialogue meeting provided an interface between the MMDAs in Northern Ghana and their Colleagues in Ashanti Region to explore how they could more effectively coordinate their response and action.

The meeting at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi City was attended by 60 participants made up of five Chief Executives of MMDAs. These comprised of the Kumasi, Asokwa, Oforikrom, Asokoro Mampong, Old Tafo Assemblies all in the Ashanti Region.

In attendance also were ten beneficiaries of the SCP made up of nine girls and a boy who were formerly on the street of Kumasi until they met SCP, and are currently under the sponsorship of SCP in either formal education or skill training.

There also representatives from eight partner NGOs as well as six media houses

Speaking at the sideline of the meeting, Mr. Akologo said the Kayayei would be linked up with Government's available Covid-19 support programmes at the District level.

He added that This is why we are facilitating dialogue meetings with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the North and their Counterparts in Southern Ghana to explore ways to collaborate to facilitate the provision of these services to the head porters and other displaced vulnerable populations.

Hope for Kayayei

At the Kumasi dialogue meeting, Catholic Nun, Sr. Olivia Umoh who is the Director of Street Children Project (SCP), highlighted some efforts being made to bring hope to the Kayayei in Kumasi. She noted that they were being trained in skills while they are also provided with shelter and food.

There are many street children being catered for 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, dressmaking, hairdressing among others, all at the SCPs expense, she said.

Catholic Priest who is the Development Co-ordinator of Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi, Fr. Joseph Asante was of the opinion that government should implement child rights laws and policies that sought the good welfare of children to curb streetism in the country.

Earlier Caritas Ghana interventions

Following the outbreak of the pandemic in Ghana, the Catholic Church through the Caritas Ghana Office has embarked on many humanitarian gestures with the provision of food items and financial supports to many vulnerable including Kayayei.

On May 2, this year, Caritas Ghana with support from Star Ghana Foundation made presentations to some victims of demolitions at Old Fadama, a slum area in Accra, by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly. Each displaced family mostly Kayayei and okada riders received a token amount ranging between GHc100 to GHc200 totaling GHc20, 000.

Old Fadama is a slum area in Accra which has been renamed City of God by the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra to replace what is popularly known as Sodom and Gomorrah. The "City of God Project" is one of the several social service interventions provided by the Church.

The "City of God" is the name adopted by the Church. It is home to over 150,000 slum dwellers mostly poor and vulnerable who are scrap dealers, okada (commercial motorbike) riders, and head porters also known as Kayayei.

Prior to the demolition on April 15, 2020, hundreds of residents of Old Fadama, were rendered homeless after fire had engulfed some parts of the slum destroying hundreds of structures leaving over 800 people in the slum homeless.

Averting Streetism

On stringent measures that could be taken to forestall the vulnerability of the street porters, Mr. Akologo told the writer that Ghana has laws to regulate streetism and these laws must be enforced.

He noted that To do this, Government Agencies need good collaboration with Care Homes who can take these street children for temporary shelter or even on a long-term basis to provide them with skills training.

We also need to urgently reform our care system in Ghana to incorporate some useful cultural dimensions. I believe the Ghanaian family system can be used to provide home-based care for displaced children., he added.

This, according to Mr. Akologo, is why, for instance, the Catholic Church encourages families to adopt orphaned or displaced children to give them family-based training instead of leaving them to Orphanages.

The situation of streetism is a compelling call for policy response, he stated, saying that in my view, innovative forms of social protection policies and Programmes are needed from Government as a response.

Star Ghana Foundation Support

Caritas Ghana received funding from STAR-Ghana Foundation to implement a five-month programme of activities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic from April to August 2020.

The implementation framework is an Interfaith collaboration involving diverse faith-based organizations of Muslim, Ahmadiyya, Protestant, Pentecostal, and Charismatic Christian groups under the FAITH in Ghana Alliance.

According to Mr. Akologo The Advocacy component of the programme is to facilitate government responsiveness to critical needs of vulnerable populations who have been impacted by Covid-19.

In this regard, the main focus has been on monitoring the social protection component of the Government of Ghana Covid-19 Alleviation Programme at the Local Government level, he added.
Development Agreement Improves Current Liquidity and Establishes Foundation for Future Growth

MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / Kisses from Italy Inc. (OTCQB:KITL), a U.S.-based restaurant chain operator, franchisor, and product distributor (the "Company"), today reported financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2020.

Highlights:

Quarterly revenue of $300,921, up 85% from $162,429 in the quarter ended June 30, 2019. Revenue in the 2020 period includes $291,585 in franchise sales compared to no franchise sales in the 2019 quarter; and $9,336 in food sales in the 2020 quarter ended June 30, 2020 compared to $119,082 in food sales in the quarter ended June 30, 2019. The Company's restaurants were closed for most of the second quarter ended June 30, 2020, due to Covid-19 restrictions in the jurisdictions in which they operate.

Net loss of $1,905,849 for the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared to a net loss of $142,286 in the three months ended June 30, 2019. The increased net loss is primarily attributable to $1,981,939 in stock-based compensation expense in the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared to no stock-based compensation in the three months ended June 30, 2019. Net cash provided in operating activities was $114,458 during the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to net cash used of $(175,614) during the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Cash on hand at June 30, 2020 increased to $281,993 compared to $26,841 on December 31, 2019.

Working capital which is defined as current assets minus current liabilities, was a positive $64,057.

Entered into a multi-unit development agreement with Demasar Management Inc., to open and operate up to 100 Kisses from Italy Italian restaurants in Canada. Received a non-refundable fee under the development agreement of $291,585.

Partnered with Oberfeld Snowcap, a leading Canadian developer for the Company's strategic franchise expansion for site selection across Canada.

On July 23, 2020, the Company announced the full re-opening of all corporate-owned restaurants which are currently allowed to operate with capacity restrictions.

"The Company has weathered an extremely challenging environment in the restaurant industry caused by COVID-19 which has caused some of our competitors to become insolvent. We believe that due to our low overhead structure, and through cost-cutting measures, we were able to offset the loss of revenue and loss of gross margin at our restaurants in the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2019. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, we believe that we have positioned the Company to emerge from this difficult period stronger, with excellent partnerships. This includes Demasar Management, our Canadian franchise development partner as well as Oberfeld Snowcap, a prominent Canadian retailer which will lead our site selection facilitating Demasar's franchise build-out of the Kisses from Italy brand", commented Kisses from Italy's co-founder, co-CEO and CIO, Claudio Ferri.

About Kisses from Italy Inc.

Kisses from Italy Inc. is a U.S.-based restaurant chain operator, franchisor, and product distributor with locations in North America and Europe. The Company offers a quick-service menu and a unique take on traditional Italian delicacies with an All-American flair. Kisses from Italy offerings include sandwiches, salads, Italian roasted coffee, coffee-related beverage, and an array of other products. The Company currently operates four corporate-owned stores. It successfully commenced operations in May 2015 with the opening of its flagship location in Ft. Lauderdale at 3146 NE 9th St. This was followed by three additional sites across the greater Ft. Lauderdale/Pompano Beach area. The Company recently opened its inaugural European location in Ceglie del Campo, Bari, Italy in October of 2019. Kisses from Italy Inc. trades on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol "KITL".

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected, including statements related to the amount and timing of expected revenues and any payment of dividends on our common and preferred stock, statements related to our financial performance, expected income, distributions, and future growth for upcoming quarterly and annual periods. These risks and uncertainties are further defined in filings and reports by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Among other matters, the Company may not be able to sustain growth or achieve profitability based upon many factors including, but not limited to, general stock market conditions. Reference is hereby made to cautionary statements set forth in the Company's most recent SEC filings. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant expenses in the expansion of our existing and new service lines, noting there is no assurance that we will generate enough revenues to offset those costs in both the near and long term. Additional service offerings may expose us to additional legal and regulatory costs and unknown exposure(s) based upon the various geopolitical locations where we will be providing services, the impact of which cannot be predicted at this time. Additionally, the ultimate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our company's operations continues to evolve, is highly uncertain, and subject to change.

Contact Information:

Kisses from Italy Inc.

305-423-7129

info@kissesfromitaly.com

SOURCE: Kisses from Italy Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602175/Kisses-from-Italy-Announces-Second-Quarter-2020-Financial-Results
VICTOR, Idaho, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kate's Real Food (KRF), the wholesome, all-natural energy bars made from organic ingredients, and named the "Best Little Energy Bar in America" by Forbes, are now available in even more Whole Foods Markets across the country, including Washington, DC, Denver, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Columbus, Richmond, Baltimore, and Seattle. The addition of these stores means tremendous company growth, and reflects high consumer demand for Kate's bars nationwide. To facilitate this rapid growth, the company has partnered with a vertically integrated manufacturer located in Bedford, PA.

Whole Foods is an integral part of Kate's strategy, to reinvent and disrupt the energy bar category. Kate's expansion in additional Whole Foods Markets highlights consumer demand for organics, the fastest growing sector of the U.S. food industry. Kate's bars are a perfect fit for Whole Foods as a clean-label, USDA organic product, validating the company's leadership within the organic snacking segment.

"Legacy brands are on the downturn," said Kate Schade, Founder of Kate's Real Food. "We are excited to be working with Whole Foods during a time when consumer snacking habits are shifting and the demand for nutrient rich options are on the rise. It's so natural to feel aligned with a company who shares our same values: high quality foods and relationships that nurture each other's growth."

KRF makes six delicious, energy bars with real ingredients and no artificial sweeteners. Each one is USDA certified organic, gluten free, non-GMO, and sweetened with organic honey. Filled with real, whole food, including organic oats, organic nut butters, and organic fruit such as apricots and cherries providing vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants your body needs.

Visit your local Whole Foods Market today and look for Kates' Real Food, and for more information visit katesrealfood.com .

About Kate's Real Food:

Our story began with Kate, in search of the next adventure. To support her busy lifestyle, she needed an energy bar that tasted great and was made from organic ingredients. When she couldn't find one, she decided to make her own. Kate's Real Food is still committed to fueling adventures with organic, great-tasting products. Today, they can be found nationally at REI, Amazon, and Backcountry.com, and regionally in Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Walmart, Central Market, Market of Choice, Huckleberry's, and Raley's.

Media Contact:

Sarah Steinwand

[email protected]

720.299.9888

SOURCE Kate's Real Food

Related Links

https://katesrealfood.com


Demonstrators gathered for the 82nd consecutive day on Monday in Portland, meeting at a park before marching on the Portland police union headquarters.

Portland protesters have held events for nearly three months following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police to rally against police brutality and anti-Black racism.

Crowds have diminished since the early days of the protests and since federal officers that had been policing the protests made themselves scarce. But smaller crowds have turned their ire toward a rotating set of targets thats included police precincts and the Portland Police Association office on North Lombard Street. Many activists view the union as a roadblock to the reforms they demand.

A group of about 200 marched on the union building shortly after 10 p.m. There, people milled about in the street while protest cars blocked traffic on Lombard Street and music and speeches blared over a loudspeaker. Occasional chants broke out. Some were spray painting the plywood that now encases the building.

Minutes before 11 p.m., Portland Police officers announced over a loudspeaker that people might be trying to force entry to the building. Protesters were warned to move away from the building to allow officers to check.

Police said officers in a vehicle equipped with the loudspeaker were targeted with a powerful green laser. About two dozen officers arrived and formed a line near the buildings side entrance.

Cease attempts to enter or damage the PPA building.



Move away from the building so officers may check the building.



Failure to follow this order may subject you to the use of crowd control agents, including, but not limited to tear gas and/or impact weapons.  Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) August 18, 2020

Officers learned someone had broken through a plywood covering and shattered a window, according to police. The person tried to cause water damage to the building using a hose, according to police.

Officers removed the hose. A damage estimate wasnt immediately available.

The line of officers retreated minutes later. Someone in the crowd threw a bottle as police left, while police released smoke and fired pepper balls.

Joey Gibson, the leader of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer, briefly appeared at the protest, drawing the attention of about 30 protesters. They briefly argued, but the arrival of police interrupted the exchange.

Letha Winston, the mother of a 27-year-old man fatally shot by Portland police in 2018 after he had shot and wounded two others in a downtown Portland parking lot, spoke at 11:45 p.m., urging the crowd to march through the residential neighborhoods rather than sitting outside the PPA building. Sitting down aint getting justice, she said.

Some in the crowd considered marching, but most stayed near the Portland Police Association building. Shortly before 1 a.m., a crowd of about 75 remained.

No one was arrested during the demonstration.

Demonstrators gathered for the 82nd consecutive day on August 17, 2020, in Portland. A march started at Kenton Park in North Portland and ended at the Portland police union headquarters.Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian

Police have responded forcefully at times to these roving protests, often declaring the assemblies unlawful in response to thrown objects or lasers pointed at police officers. Police often push protesters away from the buildings, making arrests and deploying crowd-control munitions.

On two previous occasions, protesters have broken into the police union and lit fires, though they were quickly extinguished in both cases.

A protest held downtown on Sunday took a violent turn as a group restrained and beat a driver who sped away from one crowd only to crash his truck nearby. Video showed the man was sitting on the ground when one person kicked him in the head, leaving him unconscious and bleeding in the street. The man was hospitalized with serious injuries but expected to live, police said. No arrests had been made in the incident.

Linneas B.G., a regular at the weeks of protests, was at Kenton Park on Monday night. He said he thought the night might get more heated after the events of the night before, adding that it was awful that the man was attacked, but that protests remains necessary.

Ive been doing it every day because I think its important, he said. Ive been protesting since the day I was born.

Sundays assault occurred as an otherwise peaceful protest unfolded blocks away at the downtown Justice Center. Police were seen only briefly, pushing crowds away from the buildings garage door so vehicles could enter.

Winston also addressed a crowd of demonstrators early Sunday night, imploring protesters to keep marching and demanding change.

The day before, on Saturday, a pro-police demonstration ended in a report of a gun fired by a motorist leaving the demonstration, which police said they were investigating. No one was injured by gunshots.

Police also said they were investigating reports that someone threw an explosive device that detonated near the corner of Southwest Fourth Avenue and Main Street. The explosion can be heard on a video posted to Twitter. People in the video are heard shouting that the device was thrown from a black GMC SUV.

Explosive devices were thrown at protesters and some members of the press in Laurelhurst Park a week earlier in the waning hours of the protest. No one was injured in either incident.

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The Supreme Court will pronounce on Wednesday its verdict on a plea by actress Rhea Chakraborty who seeks the transfer of a first information report (FIR) lodged against her by the father of her former boyfriend and late actor Sushant Singh Rajput from Patna to Mumbai.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the investigation of this case from Bihar Police on August 5 and is now pursuing the charge of abetment of the late actors suicide against Rhea and her family members. Sushants father KK Singh in his complaint mentioned about Rs 15 crore transaction from his sons accounts and suspected Rhea of blackmailing his son and seizing control of his bank documents and credit cards.

A single judge bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy will deliver the verdict at 11 am. The judgment was reserved on August 11 after the Court heard the lawyers appearing for Rhea, Sushants father, Bihar government, Maharashtra government and CBI.

The keenly awaited verdict will decide whether the FIR being investigated by CBI against Rhea, her parents, brother, and two associates can continue or the same should be transferred to Mumbai Police. Rhea stated in her petition that Bihar Police could not have registered the FIR on July 25 against her and her family as the incident (of Sushants death) took place in Mumbai. The 34-year old actors body was found lying in his Bandra flat on June 14.

Also read: Mumbai police receive forensic audit report of Sushant Singh Rajputs bank accounts

The Bihar Police and KK Singhs lawyer claimed that the late actor, being unmarried, his father will stand to acquire his finances being the legal heir and hence the consequences of his death will affect his father, whose place of residence is Patna. This will give Bihar Police the jurisdiction to lodge and investigate the offence.

The CBI maintained that the only FIR in relation to late actors death is the one being probed by it as the Mumbai Police is only inquiring into the cause of his death based on an accidental death report. For its part, the Mumbai Police has submitted its entire investigation records to the Court in a sealed cover. The state even alleged politics behind the lodging of FIR at Patna claiming that a news report suggested chief minister Nitish Kumar to have pressurized the police to register the case.

Also read: Rhea Chakrabortys financial transactions clear, nothing incriminating, says her lawyer

Amid the legal tangle involved in this case, heightened media attention and sensationalizing of the case has been another ground for Rhea to demand transfer of the case to Mumbai. In her last submission to the Court, Rhea said that the Court could use its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to order a CBI probe but allowing the same based on transfer of the case from Patna to Mumbai will be without jurisdiction and contrary to law. Incidentally, soon after Sushants death, Rhea tweeted demanding CBI probe and tagged Union Home Minister Amit Shah on her tweet.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy (2nd R) arrives for a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on August 5, 2020.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will testify Friday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as lawmakers speak out against his overhaul of the U.S. Postal Service.

The hearing, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. ET before the Republican-led panel, will mark DeJoy's first time directly answering questions from Congress about the post office, which has come under intense scrutiny in the runup to the 2020 presidential election.

"I am pleased to have secured an oversight hearing on Friday with Postmaster General DeJoy in order to address urgent questions on the Postal Service delays that are causing massive disruptions across the country," Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said in a statement Tuesday.

"As Ranking Member on the only Senate Committee with oversight of the Postal Service, I will continue pressing for answers on Mr. DeJoy's recent directives and their impacts on all Americans, who rely on the Postal Service for prescriptions, running their small businesses, voting and other crucial purposes."

DeJoy's cost-cutting measures at the ailing government agency reportedly include crackdowns on making late delivery trips and cuts to overtime pay and have led to claims of widespread mail delays.

Democrats have raised concerns that the changes made by DeJoy, a major donor to Republicans and committees supporting President Donald Trump's reelection, could impact the November election, where the coronavirus pandemic is expected to lead more Americans than ever before to cast their ballots by mail.

DeJoy has also come under fire for his business investments, which some Democrats say could pose conflicts of interest.

CNN reported last week that DeJoy continues to hold at least $30 million in holdings in his former company XPO Logistics, which is a United States Postal Service contractor. The New York Times, citing financial disclosure forms, reported on Monday that Dejoy received $1.2 million to $7 million in income last year from XPO Logisitics.

DeJoy was selected in May by the USPS Board of Governors, all of whom were appointed by Trump. DeJoy is reportedly the first postmaster general in nearly two decades who has not been a career employee of the agency.

Trump has repeatedly railed against so-called universal mail-in voting, claiming without evidence that it will lead to massive fraud and a "rigged" election. He has drawn a distinction between absentee voting  a system he has reportedly utilized as president  and the efforts by some governors to send out ballots to all eligible voters.

At the White House on Tuesday, Trump claimed again that widespread mail-in voting will lead to "a disaster the likes of which our country has never seen."

"It'll end up being a rigged election or they will never come out with an outcome. They'll have to do it again," Trump said. "And nobody wants that, and I don't want that."

Polls show Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to vote for president by mail, according to a recent Change Research/CNBC poll of likely voters in battleground states.

A spokesman for Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, the Republican chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., cheered the announcement of the hearing. "I am pleased that immense pressure from Senate Democrats and the American people have forced Senate Republicans to confront Postmaster General DeJoy's ongoing sabotage of the Postal Service that threatens the integrity of our elections and delays vital services," Schumer said in a statement.

Schumer on Monday had pushed Johnson to schedule a hearing with DeJoy after the House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., announced that the postmaster general would testify before her panel next week.

Robert Duncan, chairman of the USPS board, which selected DeJoy in May, will also testify before the House committee.

Peters was one of seven senators who sent a letter Monday urging the Postal Service's Board of Governors to reverse DeJoy's changes to the agency. That letter noted that if DeJoy refuses to cooperate with their proposed reversal, the board has the authority to remove him.
Pastor Levi Lusko on living out God-given purpose, managing anxiety in a year of 'testing'

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In a culture defined by anxiety, toxic habits, and information overload, Pastor Levi Lusko is urging Christians to quiet the noise and take ownership of their God-given purpose.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Lusko, the lead pastor of Fresh Life Church, a multisite church in Montana and Utah, said he believes the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing millions to confront fissures in their lives  and most dont know how to do so in a healthy way.

This time is exposing what maybe was already there all along: Toxic habits, unhealthy patterns of thinking, numbing medications, living on adrenaline and coffee, two hours of sleep, the 38-year-old pastor said. Were chronically overloaded, overwhelmed, and lack a margin lifestyle. In this cultural moment, were overstimulated by screens and stimulants.

Soldiers don't get PTSD when they're overseas; they get it when they get home because everything settles down and then their body starts to feel the miles and the physical and psychological abuse they've been put through, he continued. The reason there's such high divorce rates right now, anxiety is through the roof, online pornography is rampant, is because a lot of us have lived at unhealthy levels for years. We just haven't slowed down long enough to feel our feelings.

Lusko speaks from experience. The bestselling author, husband, and father has for years battled anxiety, night terrors, and panic attacks  tendencies he told CP hes had to declare war on and fight through, with Gods help.

These feelings and thoughts are normal and understandable, he said. We have within all of us, at different times, storm clouds of emotions that are powerful and challenging. But the Bible says we've never been given any temptation that we can't win in, and that includes the battle of anxiety and panic.

Its not going to be easy or instant, but [it is possible] if you're committed to bettering yourself and trusting God and leaning into some positive choices, Lusko said. Its like a muscle: It may take some time, maybe even counseling, perhaps even seeking medical help, definitely leaning into the community of God's people at church in a small group, but you can win this.

In his new book,Take Back Your Life: A 40 Day Interactive Guide to Thinking Right So You Can Live Right, Lusko challenges readers to identify their internal battles and offers practical, Scripture-based tools to help them practice self-control and embrace the unique role God has created for them.

The first book I ever wrote was about grief and hope and finding peace in the most difficult things you face, Lusko said. My third book was about self-management and emotional intelligence. This book is an interesting nexus between the two. Whether it's an external circumstance or an internal battle, we all at times can feel like we've been swept downriver by things we have no power to control.

According to Lusko, Take Back Your Life is an interactive, devotional, journal-type book meant to be read through 40 days, whether individually or with a small group. The book includes both Bible teaching and what the pastor described as a breathe, think and live section, where readers can take a deep breath, take inventory, ask difficult questions, and pray through guided prayers.

If you take the right steps, you can take back your life and live right so that you can be the best version of yourself that you were born to be: Like Christ, the light of Jesus shining in your eye, healed and healthy, so you can help heal other people, he said.

A huge part of living right is thinking right, Lusko told CP, adding: I get a lot of pushback when I talk about that, because I think there's such an overreaction in Christian circles because of positivity, or just mind over matter."

"Look," he added, "Im not saying the solution to every problem is mind over matter; Im saying that the Bible says time and time again that what happens in your mind really does matter.

The Through the Eyes of a Lion author said that our minds are a little bit more like TVs than we may realize, explaining: If I'm sitting on an airplane and the flight movie is something that's toxic, I don't have to watch it because I have a remote control attached to the armrest and I can change the channel.

A lot of people end up unnecessarily in a victim mentality because we watch whatever is on the channel in our mind when we really can change the channel. And the Bible says not only do we have permission to change the channel, we actually have orders to do so, he said, citing Colossians 3:2, Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5, and Proverbs 23:6-7.

We can acknowledge the thought happened, and then change the channel. We cant delete thoughts, but we can replace them, he told CP. So Im going to put in something positive and praiseworthy. Ive found that, when it comes to anxiety and panic, its helpful to ask: Where did this come from? What triggered it? Was it a feeling before it was thought, or was it a thought before it was a feeling? That helps you to understand how best to attack it.

In his book, Lusko identifies ways to deal with different temptations differently. He explained, for example, that thoughts that originate in the mind must be handled differently than thoughts that originate in the feelings.

The pastor added that sometimes, its necessary to thought block and pray the blood of Jesus over it. However, that practice isnt as helpful for thoughts that originate in the feelings, he said.

If you wake up overwhelmed with fear, its not necessarily the best to try and combat it with truth when it's a wave of emotion, he said. You have to start by saying, That's a real fear, that's a real feeling. I'm going to let that pass. Its a fight or flight response triggered in a part of my brain that can't be rationally communicated with, so I'm just going to deep breathe, relax my muscles. I'm going to believe that God's peace is going to overwhelm me as I keep my thoughts stayed on Him.

Lusko explained that theres a difference between taking inventory and assessing feelings versus allowing those feelings to control you.

I have a friend who likes to say, Feelings are tremendous indicators, but terrible dictators, he said. We need to use feelings as an indicator light. So if I feel overwhelmed and overloaded and overtaxed that should be an indicator light that tells me, maybe there's something wrong.

This year has tested everyone, Lusko told CP. He noted that throughout Scripture, the number 40 refers to testing, adding, I don't think it's a mistake that 20 plus 20  which is the year we're in  is 40.

I'm hoping that this book will help people to pass that test, he said. Take Back Your Life is all about coming to a place where you have self-control, where alcohol, online spending, or whatever vice you have, isnt controlling your life. Its only when you have self-control that you can actively offer control of yourself to the Holy Spirit.

We have one short life that is racing by us, Lusko concluded. We need to do everything Jesus wants us to do so that we can hear Him say to us, Well done, good and faithful servant at the end.
As the country confronted with the severest situation of COVID-19, the U.S. should make greater efforts than any country in the world to cope with the pandemic. Surprisingly, it seems that such normal logic doesnt exist in the minds of certain U.S. politicians, as they only focus on maintaining hegemony, and repeatedly resort to the same old trick of buck-passing.

For months, instead of doing what they should to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and save lives, American politicians, including U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and Peter Navarro, director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, have been pretty busy with updating their China-bashing playbooks, trying every means to relate the novel coronavirus to China so as to channel American peoples flames of fury over incompetent leadership of their country in coping with the COVID-19 to China.

In an interview a few days ago, Navarro even brazenly claimed that America will be able to rebound quicker from the pandemic if all of the negative sentiments directed inwardly were instead sent toward the Chinese government.

How ridiculous is that!

Certain politicians in the U.S. have maliciously spread discriminatory wording regarding COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak, attempting to make China a target of public criticism by repeatedly calling the novel coronavirus the Wuhan virus and China virus.

In fact, such bald-faced false accusation and frame-up have been denounced by more and more far-sighted personages around the world, who have stood up courageously to reveal with facts and data the real purposes of these political farces put on by the U.S. politicians.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 has always been a card played by the U.S. government only to cover up its own mistakes, pointed out Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale University.

To blame China for this pandemic is to rewrite the history of Covid-19 and to marginalise the failings of western nations, said Dr. Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of medical journal The Lancet, in a signed article published on The Guardian on August 3.

The bigotry of Pompeo and the like is obviously beyond remedy. Their self-deception and despicable tricks are bringing endless troubles upon their own country as well as the world.

At present, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. has topped 5 million, while the countrys death toll from the disease surpassed 160,000.

However, such severe epidemic situation still failed to attract the attention of certain politicians in the U.S. Instead of performing their duties in the fight against COVID-19 by trying to bring the pandemic under control and save peoples lives, they have devoted themselves to various political shows.

Politicians viewed the pandemic as an opportunity to seize power and partisan interests, and this came at the cost of the lives of countless American people, pointed out U.S. political scientist Francis Fukuyama in his article published on the website of U.S. magazine The National Interest in May.

American politicians risk making a dreadful mistake by escalating tensions with China, said U.S. economist Jeffrey Sachs, noting that a geopolitical Cold War with China would threaten global security in an already tumultuous period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its beyond doubt that efforts to cope with COVID-19 would end up getting nowhere if they were based on selfish political calculation, racial discrimination, and national origin discrimination.

What these U.S. politicians have done has served the world as an example of what not to do and helped the international community see more clearly about who is right and who is wrong.

As the Chinese often say, True gold does not fear the test of fire. With deep-rooted integrity and a broad mind, China has always upheld the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind and lived up to the responsibility of a major country in fighting the pandemic together with other countries and jointly tiding over the tough time.

Since the onset of the outbreak, China has reported information about COVID-19 to the international community and shared with various parties its experience in the prevention, control and treatment of the disease in an open, transparent, and responsible manner and in accordance with the law.

China has always been supportive of and welcomed the efforts of scientists from various countries to carry out scientific research on the origin and transmission routes of the virus around the globe.

China was the first country to invite the World Health Organization (WHO) to dispatch experts for the discussion on tracing the origin of the virus. Two experts of the WHO have come to China between July 11 and August 2 and had discussions with Chinese experts on scientific research cooperation regarding the origin of COVID-19.

As an old saying in China goes, God helps those that follow the right path, and people help those who are trustworthy.

Certain politicians in the U.S. had better quit their political trick of distracting American people from the problems of their own government and really shoulder their responsibility for protecting their people and make their country live up to the responsibility of a major country by promoting global cooperation in fighting the pandemic with the international community.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)
KABUL  Afghan officials say at least 10 people were wounded after a series of rockets hit residential and diplomatic areas in Kabul as the country celebrated the 101st anniversary of its independence.

The Interior Ministry said on August 18 that a total of 14 rockets were fired from two vehicles and that two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said those wounded in the attacks included four children and one woman.

One of the rockets landed in the presidential palace compound, wounding six members of President Ashraf Ghani's guard of honor, officials were cited as saying.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, which took place as the United States is withdrawing troops while trying to usher in peace talks between the Taliban and the Western-backed government in Kabul to end nearly 19 years of war.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he wasn't aware of the attacks.

The Islamic State extremist group's affiliate that operates in Afghanistan has interrupted national celebrations in the past with rocket fire.

Reports said the rockets were fired shortly after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani laid a wreath at the Minaret of Independence at the Defense Ministry to mark the end of Afghanistan's 1919 War of Independence, also known as the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

Fought between Afghan and British-Indian forces, the conflict reestablished full Afghan independence after decades of British control over Afghan foreign policy.

With reporting by dpa, Reuters, and AP
Roads To Kazakh Village Closed After Alleged Interethnic Clash Among Residents

By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service August 17, 2020

Kazakh police have blocked all entrances to the village of Baydibek-biy after an alleged interethnic incident, local media reported, citing eyewitnesses and local residents.

Authorities are also urging villagers not to leave their homes following the clash on August 16, the Vlast news website reported from Baydibek-biy, home to both ethnic Kazakhs and ethnic Chechens.

Local officials, however, denied reports of the incident in Baydibek-biy, where the two groups have previously clashed, most notably in 2007 when three people died in the violence.

"There is no interethnic clash in [Baydibek-biy]. No police are deployed there and the village remains open," the regional police office told local media.

Some 50 people were detained in the 2007 violence that began with an argument between two young men  an ethnic Chechen and a Kazakh -- in a local billiard hall. The dispute quickly turned into a clash involving at least 180 people.

Baydibek-biy, previously known as Malovodnoye, is located some 70 kilometers northeast of Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan.

The Central Asian nation, which has more than 100 ethnic groups, has seen a rise in interethnic conflicts in recent years.

In February, clashes between ethnic Dungans and Kazakhs left 11 people dead near the town of Kordai in the southern Zhambyl Province. Thousands of ethnic Dungans fled across the border to Kyrgyzstan during that conflict.

Previous ethnic tensions in Kazakhstan include a clash between ethnic Kazakhs and Tajiks in the Turkistan provincial village of Bostandyk in February 2015.

Authorities often try to downplay the ethnic element in such conflicts and seek to attribute them to "social issues."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/roads-to-kazakh- village-closed-after-alleged-interethnic-clash- among-residents/30787979.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Editor's note: Nuel Nnaya, a public affairs commentator, writes on the leadership skills of late Keniebi Okoko, urging leaders in the Niger Delta to emulate the politician, especially for his massive impact in the region in a short time.

Read below:

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The region known as Niger delta in Nigeria comprises nine states with about 31 million people of more than 40 ethnic groups, the region has the highest deposit of mineral resources, but has been entangled in conflicts, political violence and undulating leadership over the years.

The enthronement of democracy in 1999 has not yielded much of the anticipated dividends in the region, as socio-economic developmental benefits have come in crumbs and trickle to the governed, compared to the outlandish self-aggrandisement of some entrusted with the privilege of political stewardship. Its such a sad narrative, which could still be reversed, given that the people remain hopeful of finding truly capable leaders via the polls, exemplifying an unflinching faith in democracy.

Late Keniebi Okoko hailed for his leadership skills while alive. Photo Credit: Okoko media

Source: Facebook

Indeed it would have been refreshing to witness the emergence of a rare kind of leader from the most recent electoral opportunity in the region, precisely Bayelsa state, in the person of late Pastor Keniebi Okoko, who took time to evaluate the needs of his people; groom himself; project innovative solutions and finally decided against all odds to vie for the seat of power, to enable him bring about a transformation, that only a visionary can engineer.

Okoko, a highly successful Harvard-trained business mogul, not only lost out in the primaries to politicians with more established bases, even though he proved to be a worthy opponent. He later bowed out of the biggest stage of all  life, when he took a chance on science to undergo a medical surgery in a Lagos hospital, which went sideways. Keniebi dazzled his supporters and opponents by his noble display of gallantry in defeat when he collapsed his campaign team into that of his opponent who picked the slot ahead of him in the party primary and eventually emerged governor. A man of peace, Keniebi understood the meaning of leadership for the benefit of the people, by not toeing the usual stance of two elephants fighting as long as only the grass suffers. As a philanthropist, Keniebi donated food items to the old and less privileged people for years and gave relief materials to flood victims in the state. An astute promoter of wealth creation, he was an advocate of industrialisation and envisioned rapid industrialisation for the state, as he told PDP members of the states legislature while highlighting his plans for the state.

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As a successful 41-year-old youth, Keniebi maximised every opportunity to canvass for youth empowerment through purposeful leadership, seeing the best even in people considered as dregs of society. Keniebi also had a clear understanding of the challenges of the education sector and was keen on repositioning the sector as part of his human capital development plan.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng.

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A paramilitary policeman guards outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 12, 2013. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

Chinese Academic Disciplined After Criticizing Xi and Communist Party

Beijing authorities announced on Aug. 17 that Cai Xia, who taught politics at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) before her retirement, was disciplined for making remarks with serious political problems and that damage the countrys reputation.

She was expelled from the Party and had her retirement benefits revoked.

The announcement about her expulsion on the schools website did not give further details about what remarks got her in trouble.

But in June, an audio recording of Cais speech at a private gathering of Party elite was leaked onlinein which she called current Party leader Xi Jinping a mafia boss.

With the control of the knife target and the barrel of a gun [phrase referring to police and military], and then the system itself, 90 million CCP members are reduced to tools used by Xi as slaves, she had said.

In the 20-minute-long audio recording, Cai also criticized the Party itself, calling it a political zombie. She said that the Partys communist system has reached the end of the road. This system must fundamentally be abandoned, she said.

Later on Monday, Cai responded to the expulsion in another leaked audio, saying that she was happy to be expelled by the Party and can be truly with the people now. She said, I think we must adhere to principles as human beings, and I will not live like a dog for those retirement benefits.

Cai currently lives in the United States. She is the granddaughter of a former high-ranking CCP officialwhat is commonly known in China as a Party princeling.

Chinese authorities have cracked down on dissent in recent months.

Last month, a law professor at Beijings elite Tsinghua University who criticized Xi and the Party was detained by police and then fired. The professor, Xu Zhangrun, is seeking to clear his name by overturning a prostitution charge brought against him by police, his lawyer has said.

Also last month, Ren Zhiqiang, who had been the influential chairman of a state property company, was ousted from the Communist Party after he called Xi a clown.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:39:46|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israel opposes any sale of F-35 warplanes to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite that the two countries had agreed to normalize ties, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday.

"The historic peace agreement between Israel and the UAE did not include Israel's consent to any arms deal whatsoever between the United States and the UAE," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

According to the office, Netanyahu has expressed this position to the U.S. administration several times, including in July during a conversation with U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and later in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu was explicit in Israel's opposition to the sale of F-35s and other advanced weaponry to any country in the Middle East, including those with peace agreements with Israel," the statement read.

The statement came after Yediot Aharonot, one of Israel's largest daily newspapers, reported on Tuesday that the White House plans a "giant" deal to sell F-35 war jets to the UAE.

Last Thursday, Netanyahu, UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and U.S. President Donald Trump announced Israel and the UAE have agreed to normalize ties. Enditem
When James Alvarez thinks about the last conversation he had with his pregnant wife, Yesenia Aguilar, he feels bittersweet that it was about something so simple as curtain rods.

We were on our evening walk and she was like, So, do you think single or double rods would work better? Alvarez told TODAY Parents.

James Alvarez and Yesenia Aguilar were walking in Anaheim, California, on Aug. 11, 2020, when an alleged DUI motorist struck and killed Aguilar. (Courtesy James Alvarez)

Seconds later, Aguilar, 23, was fighting for her life on an Anaheim, California, sidewalk after a motorist suspected of driving under the influence of drugs, lost control of her SUV.

"By the time we saw the car coming towards us, it was too late," Alvarez revealed. "I remember looking at my wife laying there and thinking This is a nightmare. Let me wake up. Please let me wake up now.'"

Alvarez performed CPR on Aguilar before she was rushed to UCI Medical Center, where she died from her injuries. At the time of her death, she was 35 weeks pregnant.

Doctors were able to save the couples daughter, Adalyn Rose, who was delivered after an emergency C-section on August 11. Though the newborn remains in the neonatal intensive care unit, Alvarez said she is now breathing on her own and he was able to hold her for the first time on Monday.

James Alvarez did skin-to-skin with his

My daughters birthday is the same day I lost my wife and that just tears me up, Alvarez said.

Courtney Fritz Pandolfi, 40, was charged with murder in the death of Aguilar. According to the Orange County District Attorneys Office, Pandolfi had three prior DUI convictions.

This is beyond shocking and it is absolutely reprehensible. There is no reason why a 23-year-old mother is dead and her daughter will grow up without ever seeing her mother smile or hearing her voice, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer told TODAY Parents in a written statement. This was 100 percent preventable. This woman knew the consequences of driving under the influence and she did it anyway.

Suspected DUI Courtney Fritz Pandolfi. (nbclosangeles.com)

James Alvarez and his wife, Yesenia Aguilar, who was 35 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. (Courtesy James Alvarez)

Alvarez and family members will celebrate Aguilar's life at a small private funeral on Wednesday. Aguilar who Alvarez describes as the "happiest and most loving woman" worked as a cast member at Disneyland but was studying to become a cosmetologist.

There are no words for how much I miss my wife. She was my world, Alvarez told TODAY Parents. But I have to be strong for our daughter, she's a miracle. I have to keeping fight for her."
Sierrena Taylor-Seals expected to take out thousands of dollars in student loans to earn her education degree from UW-Madison.

She recently learned, however, that the universitys School of Education will foot her tuition bill as long as she teaches in a Wisconsin school for her first few years after graduation.

I was just super excited and super grateful, she said of the email that landed in her inbox a few weeks ago.

A new program announced Tuesday aims to address a host of problems contributing to Wisconsins teacher shortage: declining enrollment in teacher education programs, high turnover among early-career educators, too few teachers of color in the classroom and chronic gaps in hard-to-fill subjects or geographic areas.

Known as the Teacher Pledge and funded entirely by private donors, the program forgives some or all of students loans after they teach in a Wisconsin school for four years. Those working in what the state Department of Public Instruction defines as a high-need district or subject area fulfill their obligation in three years.

The initiative covers the cost of in-state tuition, fees and testing certification. For Wisconsin residents, that essentially translates to a full-tuition scholarship. Out-of-state students still need to cover the difference in tuition rate.

Undergraduates complete their teacher education in their junior and senior years on campus, so theyre potentially still on the hook financially for their first two years of schooling, depending on what other scholarships and financial aid are available. For those seeking masters degrees, like Taylor-Seals, the Teacher Pledge covers the in-state tuition rate of the entire program.

The program can also cover additional costs, such as books or living expenses, for students with more financial need.

There are many teacher loan forgiveness programs across the country, but most others apply to specific programs or student groups.

We think this is the only program of its kind in the United States, School of Education Dean Diana Hess said.

Between 2015 and 2019, nearly 60% of the schools teacher education graduates went on to teach in a Wisconsin school, she said.

Hess hopes the Teacher Pledge pushes this percentage up and potentially becomes a model for other universities or states. She also aims for the program to recruit more diverse students to enter the teacher workforce.

A report published over the summer by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum found that the gap between the states increasingly diverse student body and the overwhelmingly white teacher base has widened over the past decade. Black and Hispanic students respectively made up 9% and 12% of Wisconsins K-12 student population in 2019, but only about 2% of teachers last year were Black and just under 2% of teachers were Hispanic.

Taylor-Seals, who is Black, grew up in Milwaukee and attended a high school on the citys north side that serves mostly students of color. She remembers the school struggling to find science teachers.

I noticed a lot of inequities between my school and others in Milwaukee, she said. I didnt understand why. I wanted to do something about it and wanted it to be more fair.

Education policy courses during Taylor-Seals time as an undergraduate at UW-Madison piqued her interest in pursuing teaching. She graduated with an English literature degree this spring.

After Taylor-Seals earns her masters teacher certification next summer, she plans to teach English at a Milwaukee high school.

A severe shortage

One way to measure the extent of the staffing crisis is to look at the number of teachers working in classrooms who are not professionally trained for their position. Across the state in the 2018-19 school year, nearly 3,000 emergency teaching licenses were issued, up from just over 1,000 licenses in 2012-13.

The most serious shortage, Hess said, is in special education, although science and bilingual teachers are also in high demand. Geographically, Milwaukee remains a hard-to-recruit area, but rural districts also face challenges.

Hess worries the COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate the problem even more. She spoke to a superintendent last week whose district includes many teachers eligible for retirement. The learning landscape right now, with instructors concerned about teaching face to face and also struggling to adapt to an online teaching model, may push out some from this age group a few years before they had planned to leave the classroom.

Key to the Teacher Pledges approach is incentivizing educators early in their careers to stay on the job for at least three or four years. The profession historically includes many who leave after just a year or two.

Reducing students debt load also alleviates some of the financial stress facing early-career teachers, most of whom draw small starting salaries.

One of the things we want to do here is literally improve the standard of living for teachers, Hess said.

Education professor Nick Hillman, who runs a research lab on campus studying college access and affordability, will lead an examination of the Teacher Pledge program, which is expected to support more than 1,500 students during the next five years.

The $18 million secured to fund Teacher Pledge is part of a broader $40 million donor initiative leading up to 2030, when the school marks its centennial celebration. The initiative known as Impact 2030 also includes increasing other student scholarships and starting a new faculty fellowship program.

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BRIDGEPORT  Derrick Siberon was sentenced Monday to 15 years for killing his 10-month-old son, five years after he was first investigated by police for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl.

Prosecutors on Monday expressed exasperation at documented mismanagement of the Police Departments former Youth Bureau that they said forced them into a plea bargain they were not happy with.

Siberon, 33, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree sexual assault in the death of his son in March  roughly five months after pleading guilty to the sexual assault. The plea was part of a deal that will result in two concurrent 15-year sentences  followed by 20 years of probation  for Siberon.

Police Chief Armando Perez previously admitted the department had mishandled not only the Siberon case but at least two others, but blamed the problem on earlier administrations. In 2018, he dissolved the troubled Youth Bureau and retired its head. The Detective Bureau now investigates all serious crimes including those involving children.

After a previous sentencing for the sexual assault, on Monday state Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo sentenced Siberon for the death of his infant son.

Cases such as these are sometimes tricky if brought to trial and I am going to assume that was present here in terms of proving injuries? the judge asked, to which Senior Assistant States Attorney Colleen Zingaro nodded in agreement.

Siberon, who viewed the proceeding by video conferencing from his cell in the basement of the Fairfield County Courthouse, had no comment. With credit from his arrest, he could be free in 12 years.

His lawyer, Assistant Public Defender James Pastore, declined comment.

The victims did not appear in court for the sentencing hearing.

Siberons case was the first of three cases that brought to light the inability of the Youth Bureau to investigate serious felony cases involving children.

Although members of the Police Departments former youth bureau began their investigation of the alleged sexual assault in April 2015, they didnt send the rape kit to the state lab for DNA processing until April 2017, when Siberon was being investigated for his sons death, according to the arrest warrant.

On April 26, 2015, the girls mother and her boyfriend went to the Police Department to complain that her daughter had been sexually assaulted by Siberon, a family member.

The girl was subsequently taken to St. Vincents Medical Center where a rape kit was done, the affidavit states. The kit, in which DNA evidence is collected from the victim, was submitted as evidence to the Police Department property room.

On April 29, 2015, the girl gave a detailed description of the alleged sexual assault by Siberon during an interview at the Center for Family Justice including using anatomical drawings to illustrate what she said happened to her, the affidavit states.

Nothing more was done in the case until April 26, 2017, when Detective Harper sent the rape kit to the state lab. At that time, the affidavit states that Siberon was under investigation in his sons death two days before and Siberon admitted being in the girls home but denied sexually assaulting her.

On May 25, 2017, Siberon was charged with first-degree manslaughter and risk of injury to a minor in connection with the death of his son, who died as a result of head injuries, according to the autopsy report.

On Dec. 22, 2017, the affidavit states the state police lab identified Siberons DNA in the rape kit taken from the girl.
The first White House picketers were suffragists. Through a world war and a flu pandemic, they held up signs with slogans like, Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty?

They wanted to be the first thing the president saw every morning and the last thing he saw at night, said Veronica Chambers, the lead editor on a Times project commemorating the 100th anniversary of womens suffrage.

A century ago today, the United States ratified the 19th Amendment, enshrining a womans right to vote in the Constitution. But the decades-long struggle didnt end there. For years after 1920, many women, including Native Americans and Chinese immigrants, were not able to vote. And for many others, especially African-Americans, casting a ballot was extremely difficult.

Many historians talk about the suffrage movement continuing at least until 1965, when the Voting Rights Act passed, Veronica said. The timeline of how long women in the U.S. have had political power and independence is not as long as we tend to think it is.
Cambridge International promised to issue the new results as soon as possible and urged schools to inform their students of their grades based on their teachers predictions.

The Egyptian government and students enrolled in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) programme have praised Cambridges move to reverse a controversial decision that had downgraded students test results.

Cambridge International had been strongly criticised after it said on its website that the grades of less than half of IGCSE students worldwide were changed from the marks predicted by their teachers in each subject, most of them to a lower grade.

In Egypt, students on social media argued that they received lower grades than those expected by their teachers, adding that their grades were even inconsistent with those of other classmates, which would obstruct them from entering the colleges they want.

We have decided that grades we issue for the June 2020 series will not be lower than the predicted grade submitted by the school, Cambridge International wrote after the backlash, ending a few days of disappointment that threatened to erode trust in the global programme.

Cambridge added that grades higher than the predicted marks would still be recognised.

Cambridge International promised to issue the new results as soon as possible and urged schools to inform their students of their grades based on their teachers predictions. It added that it would inform schools of updates on 19 August.

A few hours after Cambridge Internationals decision, Minister of Education Tarek Shawki wrote on his Facebook page that he had previously sent a formal letter on behalf of Egypt to the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), which is in charge of regulating qualifications, examinations and assessments in England, to protest the unfair grades Egyptian students had received, adding that the British sides response was fast and fair.

Shawki wished the 2020 IGCSE students a bright future and thanked Ofqual for the speedy achievement of justice.

Over the past few days, students started many hashtags on Twitter and Facebook calling on the government to support their call for fair grades.

We are asking for fairness and justice, which is any student's right, said Twitter user Shahd, using the hashtag: justice_for_igcse_students.

Another user used a hashtag translated as Egyptian_appeal_to_Higher_Education_Ministry, saying the IGCSE was always a fair system compared to other educational systems, but after June 2020, they proved otherwise.

After Cambridges decision was reversed, parents on a Facebook page named Egypt complaint against Cambridge unfair results June-2020 praised the move and thanked Cambridge for listening to students feedback.

What happened with Cambridge, Edexcel and Oxford is a lesson to our sons/daughters in their early life to learn to never give in to injustice, Marwa Mounir, one of the parents, wrote.

Before Cambridge International had issued its response to the backlash, Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon decided last week to allow students whose results were downgraded to go with the grades predicted by their centres.

What happened this year?

Teachers in IGCSE centres worldwide were asked to send predicted grades; these are the grades assessed by teachers and approved by heads of departments for each student, based on the results of the exams and other assignments and tests over the course of each of the three years included in the programme, starting from year 10.

Teachers also hand a rank order, simply by putting each group of students in numbers starting from 1, according to activity and performance over the year, which means that 1 is the most secure from being downgraded, and 2 is less secure, and so on.

Exam boards received the teachers predictions for each student and, as usual, were set to conduct the final step, known as the standardisation process; this is when Cambridge International awards grades by combining data from the school with other data," including historical school performance data, according to Cambridge International.

This means centre-assessed marks can be different from the final grade awarded by Cambridge.

This year, Cambridge International said it changed the results of less than half of students, with most of these downgraded.

On 11 August, Cambridge International said, Predicted grades for June 2020 were higher than historical school performance data for the last three years, which is understandable, as teachers want to see their students succeed.

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Trump is pressuring Chinas ByteDance to sell its video-sharing app TikTok in the US, saying it poses a security risk.

Oracle Corp has held preliminary talks with TikToks Chinese owner, ByteDance, and is seriously considering buying the apps operations in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Monday.

Oracle is working with some US investors that already have a stake in ByteDance, including General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital, the newspaper reported, citing people briefed about the matter.

ByteDance and TikTok did not have a comment on the FT report, while Oracle declined to comment to the Reuters news agency.

US President Donald Trump last week ordered ByteDance to divest the US operations of the video app within 90 days, ramping up pressure on the Chinese company over what he said are concerns about the safety of the personal data it handles.

Reuters reported earlier this month that Twitter Inc had approached ByteDance to express interest in acquiring the US operations of TikTok, while US software giant Microsoft, a rival to Oracle, was still the favourite to clinch a deal.

Ticking down to Trumps deadline

Microsoft has been in talks with ByteDance to buy TikToks operations in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with a September 15 deadline set by Trump for an agreement.

The Financial Times said on Monday that Microsoft has also seriously considered a bid to take over TikToks global operations beyond the nations it outlined earlier in August.

Microsoft is particularly interested in buying TikTok in Europe and India, where it was recently banned by the Indian government after border tensions with China, the newspaper said.

But ByteDance is opposed to the idea of selling any assets beyond those in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, according to the report.

General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital were not immediately available for comment.
Aug 17 (Reuters) - Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said he had "serious concerns" over the tactics used in the arrest of a 25-year-old protester on Saturday, after the detention led a crowd of demonstrators showing up at the mayor's home on Sunday.

Matthew Cartier, 25, was arrested on Saturday at a Black Lives Matter protest. A video cited by CBS News https://cbsn.ws/322PrCe showed armed officers putting Cartier into an unmarked van; police say he interfered with public safety.

Local media footage showed a crowd gathering outside Peduto's home on Sunday, carrying signs with slogans such as "Defund the Police".

The crowd of about 150 marched to outside the mayor's house after rallying in Mellon Park, according to local media reports https://bit.ly/3iOu0Mc.

Police said Cartier was arrested because he stepped in front of cars, tried to direct traffic and blocked an intersection used for hospitals and the University of Pittsburgh.

He was charged with failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways and other public passages. Cartier was released on recognizance bond Sunday.

"We did it with the tactics and tools necessary to do it safely for not only the individual being arrested, for the public at large and for the protesters their selves," an official from the Pittsburgh Police told the media.

The American Civil Liberties Union said on Sunday that officers were "in clear violation of their own guidelines."

"The ACLU of Pennsylvania has never suggested that the snatch-and-stash arrest of a peaceful demonstrator is ever acceptable," Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said in a statement.

Protests against racism and police brutality have spread across the United States and around the world after the May 25 death of George Floyd, an African-American man, who was killed when an officer knelt on his neck for about nine minutes.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
DENVER, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its strategic vision to simplify and modernize insurance distribution, Vertafore today announced a slate of new products to help carriers transform their agent experience, streamline insurance distribution, and unlock the power of data to uncover avenues for growth and profitability.

The new offerings include RiskMatch for Carriers, Commercial Submissions, and Sircon for Carriersthe industry's only purpose-built, end-to-end set of solutions for carriers to manage their agency and producer relationships.

Vertafore is presenting its new solutions to the marketplace during the first day of Carrier Week event as part of its virtual Summer of Accelerate, powered by NetVU, being held August 1820.

"We know that the best way for carriers to grow their business and differentiate themselves in the market is to make it as easy as possible for agents to do business with them," said Steve Cox, Vertafore's general manager of distribution and compliance management. "When carriers offer modern, real-time technology, it's only natural for agents to turn to those carriers that deliver the most friction-free experience. To that end, we're bringing together best-of-breed solutions to facilitate maximum efficiency and connectivity between carriers and agencies, enabling both to give the end-insured the real-time service they expect."

To deliver on its vision for carriers, Vertafore's three-spoke strategy includes InsurTech innovations for the entire insurance distribution channel.

Powering distribution management

Traditionally, carriers have been forced to cobble together disparate solutions to manage the most essential components of their distribution channel: onboarding, compensating and ensuring the compliance of their producers and agencies.

Vertafore is solving that challenge with the introduction of Sircon for Carriers, a real-time, digital experience that addresses the entire lifecycle of the carrier/agency relationship through a comprehensive, insurance-focused portfolio of products:

Sircon  Onboarding & Self-Service to bring on new agents and get them quickly authorized to sell a carrier's insurance products

Onboarding & Self-Service to bring on new agents and get them quickly authorized to sell a carrier's insurance products Sircon  Compensation to empower carriers to create compelling, bespoke programs that drive agents to sell products that support a carrier's growth strategy

Compensation to empower carriers to create compelling, bespoke programs that drive agents to sell products that support a carrier's growth strategy Sircon Producer Central to help carriers ensure agents stay compliant with ever-changing state rules and equip carriers to expand into new products and new regions

Transforming agency-carrier relationships

Carriers that aim to be a partner of choice with the independent agency channel need solutions make it easier for agents to connect with them and exchange more data in real time. Vertafore's latest offerings to support better these interactions include:

Commercial Submissions, the industry's first platform that solves the manual headache of commercial insurance submissions. Through real-time connectivity, automated data exchanges, and less redundant data entry, Commercial Submissions will reduce the time carriers and agents spend on commercial applications by up to 30% and enable businesses to bind coverage in minutes rather than days or weeks.

Personal lines rating APIs to allow carriers to surface industry-leading PL Rating in any platform of their choice to quickly identify markets for out-of-appetite risks.

Integrating Book Roll into PL Rating, to enable carriers to access and rate in-appetite business within an agency's book.

Unlocking the power of data

Carriers need meaningful insights to grow their business and intelligent information management and workflow solutions to simplify management of customer information. To that end, Vertafore announced:

The launch of RiskMatch for Carriersthe only data and analytics solution of its kind to help carriers benchmark their performance, act on growth opportunities and earn more of the business they want from agents. The solution is available to carriers as a data feed and can be used to augment data lakes that they may already have in place or combined with existing data to run other analyses.

The availability of ImageRight Online and upcoming enhancements to the ImageRight web client functionality. These solutions provide carriers the flexibility to work anytime, anywhere while driving real productivity gains.

Summer of Accelerate's Carrier Week provides roadmap for growth

Designed exclusively for the carrier community, Summer of Accelerate Carrier Week is three full days of essential content to help attendees capitalize on the move toward agency and distribution modernization and better serve the end-insured. In addition to new Vertafore product features and enhancements, attendees will hear from leading carriers and brokers on current industry challenges and where they're investing to tear down barriers to mutual growth.

To learn more about Vertafore's new carrier initiative or to register now for Carrier Week, visit www.carrierweek.com.

About Vertafore

For more than 50 years, Vertafore, the leader in modern insurance technology, has built and supported superior Insurtech solutions to connect every point of the distribution channel. Vertafore's agency management, ratings, regulation, compliance, data and analytics, and connectivity products streamline workflows, improve efficiency and drive productivity for more North American insurance professionals than any other provider  including more than 20,000 agencies, over 1,000 carriers and 23 state governments. Through a continual focus on operational excellence, development of innovative solutions, and alignment with key industry partners, Vertafore is leading the way for customers of all sizes by delivering results that make a difference. For more information about Vertafore, visit www.vertafore.com.

2020 Vertafore and the Vertafore logo are registered trademarks of Vertafore. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Liz Reilly

SSPR

[email protected]

SOURCE Vertafore

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- World Food Program USA (WFP USA) has named Gabriella Morris to be its Chief Philanthropy Officer. Morris, currently Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Interim Chief Development Officer at UNICEF USA, will officially join the organization on September 8, 2020.

"I am very pleased to welcome Gabriella to our senior leadership team," said Barron Segar, World Food Program USA President and CEO. "As we continue our dynamic growth, Gabriella will be critical to delivering on our mission to significantly increase our revenue and expand our partner base. She is tremendously accomplished and will be a valuable asset as we raise critical funds to fight global hunger."

In her current role at UNICEF USA, Morris oversees the Corporate Partnerships, Global Cause Partnerships and Foundations teams, responsible for developing and executing strategic objectives for fund and partnership development, donor relations and strategic alignment with UNICEF's programmatic objectives and global mandates. Under her leadership, strategic partnerships contributed more than $400 million in cash and in-kind FY 2020 revenue. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President of the UNICEF USA Bridge Fund, an innovative impact investment fund which fast-tracks lifesaving assistance to children in need by accelerating donor commitments to UNICEF.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve World Food Program USA as its Chief Philanthropy Officer," said Morris. "I am deeply committed to the U.N. World Food Programme's mission of delivering lifesaving food and resources to hungry families and look forward to building support and engaging partners in this pivotal mission."

Prior to joining UNICEF USA, Morris was with Prudential Financial for 26 years, serving in various senior legal, philanthropic and community relations positions. As President of The Prudential Foundation and Vice President of Community Resources for 17 years, she directed Prudential's philanthropy, impact investments, employee volunteerism, community relations and business diversity outreach functions. Before joining Prudential, Morris practiced law at The Southland Corporation and Baker & Botts. She earned her law degree from the University of Texas.

World Food Program USA (WFP USA) is the recognized leader in America's pursuit to end global hunger, inspiring citizens to do everything in their power to create a zero-hunger world. We work with U.S. policymakers, corporations, foundations and individuals to generate financial and in-kind resources for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to feed families in need around the world and to develop policies necessary to alleviate global hunger. To learn more about our mission, please visit us at www.wfpusa.org .

SOURCE World Food Program USA

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Every investor in South Jersey Industries, Inc. (NYSE:SJI) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. Companies that used to be publicly owned tend to have lower insider ownership.

South Jersey Industries isn't enormous, but it's not particularly small either. It has a market capitalization of US$2.4b, which means it would generally expect to see some institutions on the share registry. In the chart below, we can see that institutions own shares in the company. We can zoom in on the different ownership groups, to learn more about South Jersey Industries.

See our latest analysis for South Jersey Industries

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About South Jersey Industries?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that South Jersey Industries does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at South Jersey Industries' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in South Jersey Industries. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 14% of shares outstanding. The second and third largest shareholders are The Vanguard Group, Inc. and State Street Global Advisors, Inc., with an equal amount of shares to their name at 10%.

Story continues

We did some more digging and found that 9 of the top shareholders account for roughly 51% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of South Jersey Industries

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that South Jersey Industries, Inc. insiders own under 1% of the company. It is a pretty big company, so it would be possible for board members to own a meaningful interest in the company, without owning much of a proportional interest. In this case, they own around US$15m worth of shares (at current prices). Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 14% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over South Jersey Industries. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for South Jersey Industries (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
In composing my new book, Unmasking Obama: The Fight to Tell the True Story of a Failed Presidency, I thought hard about whether I should address the question of Barack Obama's sexuality.

Two considerations persuaded me to pursue the issue. One was the no-holds-barred media treatment of the sex life, real and imagined, of Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh. The second was the fact that despite Obama's early feint to the center, his presidency was something of a golden age for gay America. A May 2012 Newsweek cover story, in fact, dubbed Obama "the first gay president."

Understandably, the fear of offending the black church made Obama initially cautious about championing the LGBT cause, but there may have been another reason for his restraint. Obama faced rumors that he himself was gay. No subject made those close to Obama more nervous.

College girlfriend Alex McNear, for instance, redacted a section of a letter she shared with Obama biographer David Garrow, thinking Obamas reflections on homosexuality too explosive." Her concern was understandable.

In his early twenties, Obama had written to McNear that he viewed gay sex as an attempt to remove oneself from the present, a refusal perhaps to perpetuate the endless farce of earthly life. Obama continued, You see, I make love to men daily, but in the imagination. My mind is androgynous to a great extent and I hope to make it more so." This passage did not make the hardcover edition of Garrows 2017 book, Rising Star.

In the less "inclusive" days of the early 1980s, no straight guy I know would ever have thought to make such an admission, especially to a "girlfriend." Only after McNear sold the Barack Obama letters to Emory University in 2016 was Garrow able to access the original and even then with some difficulty. Garrow, a Pulitzer Prize-winning civil rights historian, included the passage above in the paperback version of his book. No one noticed.

Given the admitted bisexuality of Obama's Hawaiian mentor, Frank Marshall Davis, and Obamas mental indulgence in the same, the honest critic has to think hard about this excerpt from Pop, a poem Obama wrote about Davis while in college.

Pop takes another shot, neat / Points out the same amber / Stain on his shorts that Ive got on mine / and / Makes me smell his smell, coming / From me. A therapist who blogged under the label Neo-Neocon hesitated to call the interaction outright sexual abuse, but she imagined it at the very least a boundary violation. She explained, This child feels invadedperhaps even taken overby this man, and is fighting against that sensation."

After Obama announced for the presidency in 2007, a fellow named Larry Sinclair fueled rumors about Obamas sexuality when he went public with his allegations of a two-day coke and sex romp with the then-married Obama in 1999. Fearless, if nothing else, Sinclair then booked space at the National Press Club in June 2008 to detail his reputed relationship with Obama.

From the beginning, the mainstream media, including the responsible right, pretended Sinclair did not exist. The actual work of extinguishing Sinclairs credibility was left to the internet's leftist hitmen. As soon as Sinclair announced plans for the press conference, they launched an internet petition drive demanding the Press Club deny Sinclair its stage.

To its credit, the National Press Club refused to buckle. Sinclair held his conference. In watching it years later, I am impressed by how well Sinclair understood Obamas hold on the media. If you asked a question about a black man who chose to run for president, he observed, All of a sudden youre called a racist, a bigot.

A genuine character, Sinclair acknowledged up front the various crimes he had committed in years past. He wanted to take that cudgel away from the media. Sinclair then explained in exquisite detail the nature of his alleged 1999 interaction with then-state senator Obama.

He provided dates, the name of the hotel, the name of the Muslim limo driver who arranged the assignation, the specifics of their sexual interlude, as well as insights into the menacing phone calls he received from Donald Young, a member of Reverend Wrights church and an alleged lover of Obamas.

More than once during the question and answer period, reporters asked Sinclair, given his tremendous credibility problem, why they should take him seriously. In turn, Sinclair asked the reporters to do your jobs and find facts. He provided them several useful leads and challenged them to follow up. Sinclair specifically asked the reporters to check Youngs phone records. He believed Obama to be complicit in the choir members December 2007 murder, a crime that remains unsolved to this day.

True to form, Politico quickly moved to discredit Sinclair. Its editors headlined their article from the day of the press conference, Obama accuser has long rap sheet. In an aside that Trump or Kavanaugh might find amusing, Politico refused to publish Sinclairs outlandish allegations because they were unsubstantiated. Wired, meanwhile, ran an article celebrating those leftist bloggers who succeeded in getting Sinclair arrested on an outstanding Delaware warrant just as he was leaving the Press Club.

As should be obvious, the media had stunningly different standards for Sinclair and, say, Stormy Daniels or Christine Blasey Ford. The same media that insisted we believe the women were not at all inclined to believe the men, at least not this man.

The same media that insisted love is love saw something inherently distasteful in Sinclairs tale of consensual gay sex. The messenger in this case had to be attacked, exposed, eliminated as a threat, and that he was. To this day, few have ever heard of Sinclair. Fewer still have heard of the late Donald Young.

In fact, so quickly were Sinclairs allegations trashed and burned, John Heilemann and Mark Halperin did not even mention Sinclair in their comprehensive look at the 2008 campaign, Game Change.

Yes, Obama did have girlfriends. In his memoir Dreams from My Father he wraps them up into one white composite girl but tells his half-sister Auma, There are several black ladies out there whove broken my heart just as good. Obama, however, does not devote a sentence to any of these imagined black ladies, and his future biographers failed to locate a single one.

Obviously, too, Obama got married. His memoir, Dreams from My Father, culminates in his wedding to Michelle. Yet he seems to have chosen Michelle with the same political calculation that he chose his church, a way of rooting himself in the African-American community. As with all previous relationships, this tale of courtship is strikingly devoid of any reference to love, sex, or romance.

At his most passionate, Obama says of Michelle, "In her eminent practicality and Midwestern attitudes, she reminds me not a little of Toot [his grandmother]." That description must surely have warmed Michelle's heart, but that may have been the best Obama could do.

Jack Cashills new book, Unmasking Obama: The Fight to Tell the True Story of a Failed Presidency, will be published on August 18.

Image credit: Amazon, author
Oyo State Government on Tuesday announced a shift in the date for the Common Entrance examination into its Schools of Science from August 19 to September 1.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said in a statement that the shift was due to a clash of the examination date with the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

He said the students were expected to write Economics and Agricultural Science in the WASSCE timetable at the initial date slated for the common entrance examination.

Mr Olaleye stated that the date for the screening test for placement of pupils in terminal classes in public and private primary schools into Junior Secondary School 1(JSS1) in Oyo State had also been shifted.

He noted that the new date would be from August 20 to 22 due to another clash of the date of the exercise with another WASSCE subject.

All parents and guardians are advised to note these changes and prepare their wards for the exercise at the stipulated periods, with strict compliance with the States COVID-19 protocols, the commissioner said.

(NAN)
Cellpay, an authorized national payment center Jasani believes, "Some could argue a contribution of our growth is also a by-product of consumers embracing the convenience of companies such as Amazon and Uber."

Zulie Venture Inc., (Cellpay) ranks 5th on the 2020 Inc Magazine's fastest-growing private company list as one of America's fastest-growing bill payment processing companies with an astonishing three-year growth of 25,358%. The list represents an in-depth look at the most successful companies within the American economy's most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.

Founded in 2016, Cellpay is a family-owned, direct to consumer business currently processing over 100,000 payments per month. Parvez Jasani, founder and CEO, has over 15 years of experience in the IT and telecom industries.

"We are thrilled to be recognized by the Inc. 5000 list. Being listed in the top 10, along with other successful companies, is an honorable achievement for Zulie Venture Inc (Cellpay). There is no single course you can follow or investment you can take to guarantee this kind of spectacular growth. We are thankful to all our customers, partners, and employees for their continued collaboration and support. We are eager to see what the next year has in store for us," says Jasani.

As digital technology increases with consumer demand, the telecom utility services firm offers its customers secure, convenient, and hassle-free ways to make payments. Consumers can also choose to make payments for family and friends. Payments are processed instantly, and customers have 24/7 web and phone access. Jasani believes, "Some could argue a contribution of our growth is also a by-product of consumers embracing the convenience of companies such as Amazon and Uber."

The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. "The companies on this year's Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business. 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," says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk

Zulie Ventures Inc (Cellpay) is topping imprints in the telecommunications service industry. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known brands gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31,, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.'s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections and community to build great companies. 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 5000 gives 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. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. For information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com

About Zulie Venture Inc

Cellpay is an authorized national payment center. We provide our customers with excellent service while delivering secure, convenient ways to make wireless payments. For more information, visit cellpay.us
Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, said he would be willing to hand over power after a referendum, in an apparent bid to pacify mass protests and strikes posing the biggest challenge to his 26 years in office.

He made the offer yesterday, and insisted it would not be delivered on while he was under pressure from protesters, after exiled opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanouskaya said she was willing to lead the country.

In a sign of Mr Lukashenko's growing vulnerability, he faced chants of "step down" during a speech to workers at an industrial plant.

Russia has told Mr Lukashenko it is ready to provide military help to Belarus in the event of an external threat. Mr Lukashenko faces the threat of European Union sanctions, after a bloody crackdown on protests following what demonstrators say was his rigged re-election victory last week.

He denies losing, citing official results that gave him just over 80pc of the vote.

Mr Lukashenko told workers there would be no new presidential election - something the opposition wants - until he was killed. He also offered to change the constitution, an apparent concession that's unlikely to satisfy protesters. "We'll put the changes to a referendum, and I'll hand over my constitutional powers. But not under pressure or because of the street," Mr Lukashenko said, in remarks quoted by the official Belta news agency.

"Yes, I'm not a saint. You know my harsh side. I'm not eternal. But if you drag down the first president, you'll drag down neighbouring countries and all the rest."

Speaking by video from Lithuania, opposition politician Ms Tikhanouskaya urged security and law enforcement officers to switch sides, saying they would be forgiven if they did so now.

"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period," she said.

She called for the creation of a legal mechanism to ensure a new presidential election could be held. Her video was released as Interfax reported that employees from the state broadcaster BT has gone on strike, after several presenters and staff publicly resigned last week in solidarity with the protesters. The broadcaster was showing re-runs yesterday morning before issuing a fresh news bulletin.

Protesters marched in Minsk to a factory where Mr Lukashenko flew by helicopter to speak to striking workers, to a rough reception.

"Thanks, I've said everything. You can (continue to) shout 'step down'," he said, struggling to be heard above demands he quit. As he walked away the crowd chanted "Step down".

The media outlet Tut.By reported that workers at Belaruskali, one of the world's largest potash producers, had threatened to stop production. The state-owned firm, a key source of dollar revenue for Belarus, said its plant was still working.

Ms Tikhanouskaya is a former English teacher who has become a leading opposition figure. She fled abroad last week, saying it was for the safety of her children, but released videos calling for anti-government protests to continue.

The unrest has spread to those normally seen as loyal to the president, as workers from large state factories staged walkouts and some police, journalists from state media, and an ambassador also came out.

The Kremlin said on Sunday President Vladimir Putin had told Mr Lukashenko that Moscow was ready to assist Belarus in accordance with a collective military pact, if necessary, and external pressure was being applied to the country.

EU leaders will send a message of solidarity to Belarusian protesters during an emergency video conference tomorrow.

Britain joined a chorus of Western condemnation. "The world has watched with horror at the violence used by the Belarusian authorities to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent Presidential election," UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite Private Networks (UPN), a leading provider of high-capacity, fiber-based communication networks is pleased to announce a major network expansion in the San Antonio metro area.

The 210-mile route will create a diverse ring around the metro, traversing IH10W and the 281N corridors, as well as throughout downtown and the major medical centers. Customers will now have access to dark fiber or lit services that are scalable from 100 mbps to 100 gbps, as well as a suite of other products.

The new large-count fiber network will support several anchor customers including a fiber-optic network for a large multi-site school district and fiber to the tower projects for a major wireless carrier.

"UPN already has a significant presence in Texas, and San Antonio is a continuation of our commitment to serve the entire state," said Clayton Brown, Regional Sales Director at Unite Private Networks. "Our metropolitan optical ethernet (MOE) rings will cover the entire city, are survivable in the event of a fiber cut, and will connect back into our core network. We're thrilled to extend our network infrastructure into San Antonio and are looking forward to working with the business community."

"Strong fiber infrastructure is critical to San Antonio's ever-growing cyber, tech, bioscience, and manufacturing sectors. We're excited to welcome Unite Private Networks into our business community as both a key part of our ecosystem, and also as new corporate citizens," said Sean Attwood, vice president of tech development for the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation.

About Unite Private Networks: UPN provides high-bandwidth, fiber-based communications networks and services to schools, governments, carriers, data centers, hospitals, and enterprise business customers across a 21-state service area. Service offerings include dark and lit fiber, private line, metro-optical Ethernet, Internet access, data center services, and other customized solutions. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, UPN has been providing customer focused communications solutions since 1998. For more information on UPN, please visit www.uniteprivatenetworks.com , or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Brandi Tubb

816-903-9400

[email protected]

SOURCE Unite Private Networks

Related Links

http://www.uniteprivatenetworks.com


EDMONTONThe mayor of Edmonton says hes concerned and disappointed about a rise in COVID-19 cases in and around the Alberta capital.

Health officials say there are 593 active cases in the Edmonton zone. Five areas within the zone are on a watch list.

Alberta Health has said that watch status means regions have gone over a particular threshold for cases, but no additional measures are taken.

Were reaching out to (Alberta Health Services) to get more details on this rise in cases so we can help protect communities most at risk, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Alberta Health on Monday reported 177 cases for Friday  103 were new and 74 were added from previous dates, 86 new cases on Saturday and 96 on Sunday.

Also Tuesday, the province said officials were aware of a dozen COVID-19 cases connected to a religious gathering in a hamlet in northwestern Alberta. The event was held in Deadwood, Alta., from July 30 to Aug. 2.

In a statement, an Alberta Health spokesperson advised anyone who attended or has been in close contact with someone at the gathering needs to book a test online and monitor for symptoms.

Health officials in northern British Columbia issued an alert Monday saying they had linked 17 novel coronavirus cases of their own to the same event. Twelve of the cases were due to attendance at the event and five were believed to be from secondary exposures.

Another 24 people identified as close contacts are in self-isolation.

Most of the cases are in the Fort St. John area, but the exposure alert applies to all of northeast B.C.

In central Alberta, a meat-processing plant sent more than a dozen employees home after a worker tested positive for the virus last week.

The employee at the Olymel facility in Red Deer, Alta., was sent home and told to get tested after showing symptoms of COVID-19 on Aug. 11, a company spokesman said.

Richard Vigneault said the positive test results came in two days later and, as a result, 13 other employees who were at risk of exposure were sent home for testing.

Vigneault said the company expects the test results in the coming days.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2020

Read more about:
Coronavirus antibodies may protect against a second infection, according to a 'remarkable' study. (Getty Images)

A remarkable study suggests coronavirus antibodies do help to ward off a second infection.

Antibodies are immune-fighting proteins that circulate in the bloodstream after an individual has overcome a pathogen (a bacterium, virus or other microorganism that can cause disease).

Although these help to prevent an infection taking hold for a second time, concerns have been raised about how effective or long lasting they are when it comes to the coronavirus outbreak.

With vaccines only beneficial if they trigger an immune response, many worry fleeting immunity may hinder a much-wanted immunisation programme.

Read more: Coronavirus linked to onset of type 1 diabetes in children

New research has raised hopes, however, after scientists from the University of Washington analysed a small coronavirus outbreak on a fishing vessel off the coast of Seattle.

Out of the 122 passengers, 104 (85%) went on to test positive for the infection.

Only three individuals had the coronavirus before setting sail, none of whom caught the pathogen again during the trip.

Blood tests revealed they had neutralising antibodies, which protected against reinfection.

A student wears a mask in Rotterdam. Antibodies are immune-fighting proteins that circulate in the bloodstream after an individual has overcome an infection. (Getty Images)

Antibodies protect against reinfection

When the immune system encounters a pathogen, cells work to create antibodies.

These are specific to each virus and lock onto its surface, neutralising or marking it for destruction by other immune cells.

When a pathogen is encountered for a second time, the immune system ramps up production of these weapons, preventing the virus from taking hold again.

This is the principle behind vaccines; exposing an individual to a harmless amount of an infection that allows the immune system to recognise it if it were to later invade the body.

Concerns have been raised as to how long coronavirus antibodies last, with one study also suggesting 8.5% of patients do not produce them.

Read more: Russia's coronavirus vaccine has 'rather little detail'

To learn more, the Washington scientists looked at an outbreak on a fishing vessel with a high attack rate  the proportion of people who became ill after exposure.

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One hundred and twenty of the 122 passengers were tested for the coronavirus before and after departure.

Over an average follow-up period of 32 days, 104 of the passengers tested positive for the infection after the vessel docked.

The three who tested positive before the vessel set off were later found to have neutralising antibodies in their bloodstream, with none showing signs of a bona fide viral infection or any symptoms during the localised outbreak.

The presence of neutralising antibodies from a previous infection was therefore significantly associated with protection against reinfection, wrote the scientists.

Students wear masks in Rotterdam. Concerns were previously raised about how effective or long lasting coronavirus antibodies may be. (Getty Images)

Very good news for vaccine development

The results have been published preliminarily at Medrix online, not in a peer-reviewed journal. Nevertheless, experts are enthused by the research.

This is a very significant finding, said Professor John Edmunds, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

It suggests neutralising antibodies can protect against infection. This has not been previously demonstrated in humans.

The numbers are small and we dont know how long any protection might last, so some caution needs to be applied.

Read more: Chronic fatigue emerging as coronavirus complication

However, if these results are confirmed and backed up by similar studies, then it opens up the possibility of allowing people who have neutralising antibodies to start to return to normality with some degree of safety.

It is also very good news for vaccine development as if a vaccine induces neutralising antibodies then it implies that it might be protective.

Professor Danny Altmann, from Imperial College London, agreed and described the research as a remarkable, real-life, human experiment.

In short, its good news, he added. Who knew immunology research on fishing boats could be so informative?

Professor Jonathan Ball, from the University of Nottingham, called the study really interesting, but stressed further investigation is required.

This gives us important insight into the type of immunity that might protect from future infection, he said.

What it doesnt tell use is whether or not past exposure can protect against serious disease in those people lacking detectable neutralising antibodies. Both are relevant to vaccine design.

This is not the first time hopes of an immune response have been raised amid the pandemic.

In July, scientists from the University of Oxford found their vaccine induced strong antibody and T-cell immune responses up to day 56 of the ongoing trial.

T-cells are another aspect of the immune system.

Helper T-cells stimulate antibody production and assist in the development of killer cells, which directly destroy body cells that have already been infected by a pathogen.

T-cells also send out messages that instruct the rest of the immune system to ramp up its response.

Professor Sarah Gilbert, lead researcher of Oxfords vaccine development programme, previously said antibodies and T-cells work together and are completely complementary.

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By Bill Hughes

Aug. 17, 2020 | WESTERN KENTUCKY

By Bill Hughes Aug. 17, 2020 | 03:24 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY

Since Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear recommended last week that schools wait until September 28 to begin in-person classes, most schools have set their schedules and some have already started, but a handful will decide this week.



The McCracken County school board will hold a special meeting today at 5:30 to discuss a number of proposed options. Last week their superintendent endorsed Beshear's recommendation for the in-person delay.



Carlisle County will also meet tonight. Marshall County's school board will meet on Thursday, as will Fulton County.



Seven school districts in the Jackson Purchase and LBL area have said they will follow Beshear's recommendation and have only virtual classes. However, ten districts have already started in-person classes or have announced that they will soon.



Here is a list of school districts and where they stand:



Ballard County - In-person classes beginning August 31, some virtual instruction available August 26

Caldwell County - Virtual classes only beginning August 24

Calloway County - In-person classes beginning August 24

Carlisle County - School board meeting Tuesday evening

Community Christian Academy - Already conducting in-person classes

Crittenden County - In-person classes beginning August 25

Fulton Independent - Virtual classes beginning September 8

Fulton County - School board meeting Thursday evening

Graves County - School board meeting Monday evening

Hickman County - In-person classes beginning August 24

Livingston County - Virtual classes began Monday

Lyon County - Virtual classes beginning August 24

Marshall County - School board meeting Thursday, Superintendent recommended in-person classes

Mayfield Independent - School board meeting Monday evening

McCracken County - Superintendent announced virtual classes beginning August 24, but school board is meeting Tuesday evening

Murray Independent - Virtual classes beginning August 24

Paducah Independent - Virtual classes on August 24, then hybrid instruction with alternating days starting August 27, then in-person classes for all starting September 4.

St. Mary - In-person classes beginning August 24

Trigg County - Virtual classes beginning August 31
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: On the first day after the relaxation of norms on August 17, the Greater Chennai Corporation approved a total of 14,355 e-passes. The data takes into account e-passes approved from 12 am on Monday until 12 am on Tuesday.

This includes 11,608 people who have been granted e-passes to come to Chennai from other districts in the state. In comparison, Chennai Corporation data in June shows that an average of merely 1500 people a day were granted e-passes to come from other districts in the state to Chennai.

Similarly, on Monday, 1072 people were allowed entry into Chennai from other states. In June for instance, an average of around 150-200 people were being allowed entry a day.

In addition, 1264 people were granted e-passes to come by flight and another 17 by train.

On Monday, Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash warned city residents against frivolity when applying for e-passes. He said that e-passes for travel within the state would be auto-generated and made into a hassle free system.

Its hereby advised to all citizens to make use of this facility only for genuine purposes, he had said.

The move is based on Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamis announcement that e-passes would be issued instantly for those looking to travel within the state as long as they apply using valid Aadhaar or ration card details.

Earlier, e-passes were approved after intense scrutiny by the district administration or Chennai Corporation officials only for three reasons -- marriage of close relatives or self, funerals of close relatives and medical emergencies.
HARTFORD, Conn. - Floyd Welch, who was credited with saving the lives of fellow sailors during the attack on Pearl Harbor, has died in Connecticut. He was 99.

Welch died peacefully at his home in East Lyme on Monday, his family said.

Welch, who was born in February 1921 in Burlington, Connecticut, was serving aboard the USS Maryland on Dec. 7, 1941, when the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor came under attack by Japan.

Welch has said he was coming out of the shower on that Sunday morning when he heard the first alarm and later the loud explosions of bombs and torpedoes. When he came on deck, he saw the raging fire and the overturned USS Oklahoma next to the Maryland.

He helped pull survivors from the Oklahoma out of the water. He and others then climbed onto the Oklahoma, where they heard tapping coming from inside the ship.

By using blueprints of the Oklahoma, so as not to burn into a fuel void, we began the long and extremely difficult process of cutting holes through the bottom steel plates of the Oklahoma, he wrote in a remembrance of the battle. When we could see the planes coming, we would try to find cover. We would cut near where we heard the trapped crewmen tapping. In all, I believe 33 men from the Oklahoma were rescued through these holes.

The attack killed more than 2,400 people, including 17 from Connecticut, according to the Pearl Harbor visitors bureau.

Floyd served on the Maryland for the entire war, earning numerous honours, including American Defence Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with three stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the United States Navy Constitution Medal.

His was just a remarkable story of bravery, discipline and dedication, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said. He lived the word hero in his actions, not just words and gave it real meaning. He was a hero, not just in his dedication and bravery, but also in the result of his actions, which was to save lives.

After leaving the Navy in January 1946, Welch worked as an alarm installer, a farmer and a milkman, before opening a construction company, Welch & Son, which built road infrastructures, foundations, and drainage systems throughout the Northeast.

Welch, who served for a time as an officer in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, was a guest of honour in 2016 at the 75th Pearl Harbor Survivors Memorial Ceremony in Hawaii.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, six children, 13 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

The family said a private graveside funeral service is planned.
The recent record temperature of 130 Fahrenheit in Death Valley California is possibly the new heat record worldwide.



Hottest in Death Valley?

Last August 16, 2020, Sunday, the region of Death Valley in California recorded its possibly highest heat reading ever at 130 Fahrenheit or 54.4 Celsius. It was recorded by the NWS or the National Weather Service, and if it is accurate, this is the hottest summer temperature in the area, higher by 3F from the previous record.

This would thus count as the hottest recorded temperature in the Death Valley US National Park area within the last one hundred years, and possibly among the highest temperatures recorded worldwide.



It may just be only one of the record high temperatures, and some are contesting if it is the highest overall. This is because the World Meteorological Organization has reported that the record temperature ever reached was 134 F, which was published last July 10, 1913. This was recorded at the Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley.

According to Christopher Burt, who checked the claim in 2016, the accuracy of the 134F measurement is in doubt, as reported in the Weather Underground.

In 1931, in Kebili, Tunisia, a record temperature was also claimed, which was reported to be 131F. According to a report, however, this claim is also in doubt.

READ: 10,000 Die Each Day from Fossil Fuel Air Pollutants



Second Highest Record and Other Reports

A temperature that has been recognized to be accurate counts as the second-highest temperature in the Death Valley region. This was reported at 129F, which was registered last July 1 in 2013. The new temperature measurement this year, if accepted and confirmed, will be considered the first to surpass this one.

In the Southwest region, more local records were reported last Sunday. In particular, the average temperature recorded in one of the largest cities in the US is Phoenix, Arizona, with a sweltering summer registering an average July temperature of 99F, according to a report by KTAR.com. Los Angeles also reported high record temperatures.

READ ALSO: Ice Sheet Loss in Greenland is Now Irreversible

These records have been showing what scientists have always feared that worldwide climatic conditions are continuously getting worse at a disturbingly rapid rate.

A particularly striking example is the wildfires plaguing the Arctic region for two consecutive years now, which prompted scientists to speculate that we are now entering a worldwide "fire regime." Such a situation was anticipated to occur only around the year 2050, as stated by even the most negative models predicting climate change.



Effects of the H eatwave

The measurement of 130 F was taken at precisely 3:41 PM PDT. According to The Los Angeles Times, a heatwave reported in the region has triggered a lot of wildfires and power outage incidents in the American Southwest region.

Authorities have provided ample warning to the public regarding the hazards brought by the heatwave. Areas on high alert include the National Park in Death Valley, the Mojave Desert and National Preserve, the Owens Valley, the Morongo Basin, and San Bernardino County's River Valley in Upper Colorado.

READ NEXT: Genome Study: Woolly Rhino Extinction Linked to Climate Change, Not Human Hunting

Check out more news and information on Global Warming on Nature World News.
WESTPORT  The Board of Education unanimously approved reopening schools in a hybrid model, although the details of the elementary schools plan remains in flux.

In an effort to address parents concerns, the districts administration proposed splitting elementary students into two groups that would alternate mornings and afternoons throughout the week. The original plan had students stay in a morning group or afternoon group until midway through the year before switching.

But more than 50 parents emailed the BOE during a school board meeting Monday opposing the idea and highlighting challenges working parents could face.

Im strongly opposed to the newly proposed split elementary schedule, Benjamin Craig, a Westport resident, wrote. I strongly prefer students remain in either a.m. or p.m. for multiple months at a time rather than switch back and forth throughout the week.

Craig said the proposal would be inequitable to parents who work full-time and had limited childcare assistance.

This proposal also makes it difficult for the students to establish any sort of consistency and expectations as children will be going to school at different times at different days in the week, he said.

Superintendent Thomas Scarice said a survey would be sent to parents to better understand what the preferences would be for families.

Were trying to project as to what would be best for families with all different kinds of needs, Scarice said.

As far as instruction, the district believed two hours and 45 minutes of in-person learning was still key, he said.

But BOE member Lee Goldstein questioned if the survey would take the final decision out of the educators hands.

My understanding was that this was what our principals  our elementary principals  thought was the best, she said. I would rather defer to them. But if youre telling me that the more important thing on this is community feedback, I can hear that, but I want to know if this is a strict referendum.

Goldstein said she didnt know how the administration would be able to prioritize the needs of one family against another.

If were doing a referendum, we do a referendum, she said. But if were choosing what our educators want, then we should stick with what our principals recommended.

Scarice said a plan will be presented by the end of the week and officials were trying to make it equitable for families.

Theres not a strong preference as long as all those educational conditions would be met, but we do want kids to have equity of a.m. and p.m., he said.

dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com
Sarah Ketterer (Trades, Portfolio), the CEO and fundamental portfolio manager of Causeway Capital Management, recently released the firm's portfolio updates for the second quarter of 2020, which ended on June 30.





Causeway Capital Management was founded in 2001 by Ketterer and Harry Hartford. The Los Angeles-based firm chooses stocks from among large and mid-cap companies in developed markets around the world. Their screens use quantitative, value-oriented metrics and a "risk score" to find potential investment opportunities. After screening, the investment team chooses the stocks that have the most favorable risk-adjusted returns, price-earnings ratios and dividend yields.

Based on the above criteria, the firm's biggest buys for the quarter were Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (NYSE:JLL) and Coca-Cola European Partners PLC (NYSE:CCEP), while its biggest sells were Linde PLC (NYSE:LIN) and Manulife Financial Corp. (NYSE:MFC)

Jones Lang LaSalle

Causeway Capital's biggest new buy for the quarter was Jones Lang LaSalle. The firm established a position of 589,971 shares in the company, impacting the equity portfolio by 1.10%. Shares traded for an average price of $103.08 during the quarter.

Based in Chicago, Jones Lang LaSalle is a commercial real estate company that also provides a range of investment management services. It buys, builds and invests in a variety of assets ranging from real estate to banking and technology.

On Aug. 18, shares of Jones Lang LaSalle traded around $98.14 for a market cap of $5.08 billion and a price-earnings ratio of 12.4. According to the Peter Lynch chart, the stock is trading below its fair value.

GuruFocus gives the company a financial strength rating of 6 out of 10 and a profitability rating of 8 out of 10. The cash-debt ratio of 0.13 is lower than 67.21% of competitors, but the Altman Z-Score of 2.39 indicates financial stability. The company has a three-year revenue growth rate of 8.6% and a three-year earnings per share without non-recurring items growth rate of 14.6%.

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Coca-Cola European Partners

The firm also upped its stake in Coca-Cola European Partners by 1,294,229 shares, increasing the position by 41.11% for a total holding of 4,442,140 shares. The trade had a 0.88% impact on the equity portfolio. During the quarter, shares traded for an average price of $39.22.

Coca-Cola European Partners is a U.K.-based multinational bottling company that produces, distributes and markets Coca-Cola (KO) products primarily in Europe. It is the largest Coca-Cola bottling partner in terms of revenue.

On Aug. 18, shares of Coca-Cola European Partners traded around $40.86 for a market cap of $18.74 billion and a price-earnings ratio of 19.42. According to the Peter Lynch chart, the stock is trading slightly above its fair value.

5f788bf5402920d669f05619100f38dd.png

GuruFocus gives the company a financial strength rating of 4 out of 10 and a profitability rating of 7 out of 10. The Altman Z-Score of 1.68 indicates the company could be in danger of bankruptcy without raising additional liquidity, but the interest coverage ratio of 10.26 shows it can pay its short-term debt. The company has improved its margins in recent years, with the operating margin of 12.88% outclassing the industry median of 6.82%.

dbeba0dda556bb0907c410045e5c0d10.png

Linde

The firm cut its position in Linde by 1,523,283 shares, or 37.95%, leaving a remaining holding of 2,490,923 shares. The trade had a -4.21% impact on the equity portfolio and brought the position down from the firm's largest holding to its third-largest holding. Shares traded for an average price of $192.72 during the quarter.

Based in Dublin, Ireland, Linde is an industrial chemicals and engineering company. It produces specialty gases, including atmospheric gases such as oxygen and argon and process gasses such as carbon dioxide and acetylene.

On Aug. 18, shares of Linde traded around $247.32 per share for a market cap of $129.93 billion and a price-earnings ratio of 58.59. According to the Peter Lynch chart, the stock is trading significantly above its fair value.

a86b271bd3ff0eb1a51fc4bce7f51cd4.png

GuruFocus gives the company a financial strength rating of 6 out of 10 and a profitability rating of 8 out of 10. The Altman Z-Score of 2.74 and the interest coverage ratio of 13.64 indicate the company is able to comfortably meet debt obligations. The return on invested capital has dropped below the weighted average cost of capital in recent years, meaning the company is losing value for shareholders.

2db4a60537649a5b2801f9da7722da2e.png

Manulife Financial

The firm sold out of its 16,584,151-share stake in Manulife Financial, impacting the equity portfolio by -3.32%. During the quarter, shares traded for an average price of $12.57.

6c72a1f04abc42cc3536bfcda8ec7d92.png

Manulife Financial is a multinational insurance company headquartered in Toronto. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia and as John Hancock Financial in the U.S., the company provides financial advice, insurance and wealth management solutions.

On Aug. 18, shares of Manulife traded around $14.92 for a market cap of $28.79 billion and a price-earnings ratio of 10.14. According to the Peter Lynch chart, the stock is trading below its fair value.

793b75974be65f99e39fdd2d9a42f024.png

GuruFocus gives the company a financial strength rating of 5 out of 10 and a profitability rating of 5 out of 10. The cash-debt ratio of 1.95 is higher than 52.68% of competitors, though the interest coverage ratio of 4.42 is lower than the industry median of 12.76. The company's earnings have grown since falling in the 2008 recession, with a three-year revenue growth rate of 14.9% and a three-year EPS without NRI growth rate of 25.2%.

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Portfolio overview

As of the quarter's end, the equity portfolio contained positions in 79 stocks and was valued at $5.55 billion. The firm made eight new buys, sold out of 14 stocks and added to or reduced its positions in several other holdings for a turnover ratio of 5%.

The firm's top holdings were Baidu Inc. (BIDU) with 13.13% of the equity portfolio, Ryanair Holdings PLC (RYAAY) with 10.09% and Linde with 9.51%. In terms of sector weighting, the firm was most invested in communication services, technology and industrials.

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Disclosure: Author owns no shares in any of the stocks mentioned. The mention of stocks in this article does not at any point constitute an investment recommendation. Portfolio updates reflect only common stock positions as per the regulatory filings for the quarter in question and may not include changes made after the quarter ended.

Read more here:

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On Election Day in 1872, nearly 50 years before women gained the right to vote, Susan B. Anthony walked into a polling site in Rochester, N.Y., and cast her ballot. A federal marshal later showed up at her door to arrest her for wrongfully and willfully voting. She was ultimately tried and fined $100.

On Tuesday, the 100-year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote, President Donald Trump announced he would pardon Anthony.

One of the most prominent leaders in the fight for women's suffrage, Anthony spent decades traveling the country, giving speeches, petitioning Congress and publishing a suffragist newspaper. Alongside Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Anthony formed the National Woman Suffrage Association and organized the first Woman Suffrage Convention in Washington. When the 19th Amendment passed, more than 14 years after her death, it became widely known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment.

But other aspects of Anthony's legacy have stirred debate among historians and advocates. Conservatives have long celebrated Anthony, saying she was fervently antiabortion. The Susan B. Anthony List, a nonprofit organization in her name, focuses on promoting and supporting antiabortion politicians. But others reject this interpretation of the suffragist's views, claiming the Susan B. Anthony List "hijacked Anthony's name and fame to promote their own cause."

After appearing at Tuesday's event at the White House, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, celebrated the "sweet moment," tweeting that Anthony "fought for the rights of all, including the unborn."

Anthony, who was born into a Quaker family in Massachusetts, was an anti-slavery activist from a young age. But in recent years, and particularly after the George Floyd protests, Anthony and other suffragist leaders have been called out for excluding Black Americans in their fight for voting rights.

She withdrew her support for the 15th Amendment, which gave Black men the right to vote in 1870, reportedly saying, "I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ever work or demand the ballot for the Negro and not the woman."

But Ann Gordon, a former Rutgers University professor and editor of "The Selected Papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony," disputed that interpretation of Anthony's words, and rejects the idea that she was racist. Anthony was "recognized by Black activists, male and female, as a leading advocate of a right to vote," for all citizens, Gordon said. She worked closely with Frederick Douglass and Ida B. Wells, and frequently met with leaders in Black churches and with Black students on college campuses.

Still, many say she didn't do enough to advocate for Black voting rights. Raquel Willis, a Black transgender activist and communications director for the Ms. Foundation for Women, tweeted Tuesday, "It makes sense that Trump would pardon Susan B. Anthony, a white feminist who didn't mind turning her back on Black folks."

"We must hold the complexities of the fight for progress in this country even when it means looking at your faves in a different way," she added. "Your momentary discomfort is nothing compared to the 100 years of pretending this was an accomplishment for all women."

Gordon disapproved of the president's pardon for other reasons - she believes Anthony would not have wanted it.

"It assumes something about Susan B Anthony's attitude toward her conviction," Gordon said. When requesting a pardon, "you're asking someone to pardon you for something you did wrong. That implies she believes she did something wrong, and she didn't."

Anthony's conviction was a point of pride for her, Gordon said, a symbol of the lengths to which those in power wanted to prevent women from voting.

The pardon also sends the message that Anthony was the most important suffragist, said Allison Lange, an associate professor of history at the Wentworth Institute of Technology, "and that's a message that I don't agree with."

There's a reason why Anthony's face is perhaps the most recognizable among suffragists. She was one of the few who spent substantial time and money distributing portraits of herself, Lange said. She borrowed the strategy from anti-slavery activists such as Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, who aimed to shape an image of black leadership that challenged racist and sexist stereotypes.

She voted in the 1872 election with other women in her hometown of Rochester. They believed their right to vote was protected by the 14th Amendment, which defined U.S. citizenship.

Her arrest, and the subsequent highly publicized trial, helped spread her message to an even larger audience, according to "The Trial of Susan B. Anthony for Illegal Voting," by Douglas Linder. She embarked on a speaking tour across the surrounding counties, giving a lecture titled "Is it a Crime for a Citizen of the United States to Vote?"

"I stand before you tonight, under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote," she said in a speech. "It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen's right, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the national Constitution, beyond the power of any state to deny."

At her trial, a judge directed a jury to return a guilty verdict without deliberation. Before giving her sentence, the judge asked Anthony if she had anything to say. She did, and delivered what Gordon called "the most famous speech in the history of the agitation for woman suffrage."

The proceeding, she said, had "trampled under foot every vital principle of our government." She said she had been denied justice under "forms of law all made by men," "failing, even, to get a trial by a jury not of my peers."

The judge sentenced her to pay a fine of $100. Anthony refused, promising to "never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty."
* Brazil's real recovers from 12-week low * Stimulus hopes bring cheer to Mexican peso * U.S., Colombia to bring $5 bln in investment to rural areas * Chile's Q2 GDP plunges, but mining industry grows; peso up (Updates prices throughout, adds comments) By Susan Mathew and Shreyashi Sanyal Aug 18 (Reuters) - Brazil's real rose on Tuesday after Economy Minister Paulo Guedes put to rest speculation about his imminent departure, while Mexico's peso resumed its winning streak as the country's president said an economic recovery plan would be unveiled in two weeks. Against a sinking dollar, Brazil's real firmed 0.4%, recovering from its lowest level since May. The Bovespa stock index was headed toward its best day in three weeks, aided also by upbeat earnings from retailer Magazine Luiza. Guedes, who is the Brazil government's remaining "super minister," said late on Monday he had the full confidence of President Jair Bolsonaro. Speculation was rife that political pressure for more public spending could force him to quit, sending Brazil markets well into the red on Monday. The country has seen a slew of ministerial resignations in the past few months over differences with the administration, increasing political uncertainty and with it doubts about the future of reforms in the country. Lower house speaker Rodrigo Maia on Monday said he is confident congress will approve tax reform this year. "He (Guedes) wants to maintain the spending cap which limits annual government spending, while there are demands to abandon it this year due to the crisis. That means times remain tough for BRL," said You-Na Park-Heger, forex and emerging markets analyst at Commerzbank. "It is mainly the ailing national finances that cause concern amongst central bankers so that they see the possibilities of an expansionary monetary policy as limited." Brazil had registered 3.4 million cases of the disease and more than 108,000 related deaths as of Monday. In Mexico, the peso rose 0.2%, up for the fifth time in six. The plan to revive the economy from the coronavirus pandemic would target sectors like construction and energy, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday. Crude exporter Colombia's peso edged lower as a bounce faded from news on Monday of the United States working with the country on an investment initiative of up to $5 billion in private funds for rural areas over three years. A surge in copper prices, meanwhile, helped investors look past a 14.1% plunge in GDP of the red metal's top exporter, Chile. The country's peso tracked its best session in a month as the data showed mining remained a bright spot, with the industry growing 1.6% despite the pandemic. Argentina's peso, returned from an extended weekend to plumb to new lows, even as creditors reaffirmed their support for the government's amended bond restructuring offer, which was filed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. Key Latin American stock indexes and currencies at 1943 GMT: Stock indexes Latest Daily % change MSCI Emerging Markets 1105.52 0.51 MSCI LatAm 2006.53 1.3 Brazil Bovespa 102124.24 2.54 Mexico IPC 39045.73 -0.61 Chile IPSA 4010.99 -0.74 Argentina MerVal 46516.04 -4.185 Colombia COLCAP 1157.61 0.38 Currencies Latest Daily % change Brazil real 5.4725 0.41 Mexico peso 22.1186 0.22 Chile peso 794.8 1.53 Colombia peso 3783.91 -0.10 Peru sol 3.5657 0.34 Argentina peso (interbank) 73.3900 -0.31 Argentina peso (parallel) 129 2.33
India's biggest traders' body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has strongly criticised ICICI Bank for allowing People's Bank of China to invest in it despite strong anti-China sentiment in the country. The CAIT said the Centre should devise a policy to thwart China's plans to protect the banking system's sovereignty.

The CAIT's reaction came after BusinessToday.In today reported that People's Bank of China had emerged as one of the investors in ICICI Bank's Rs 15,000 crore capital raising exercise, which ended last week. The Chinese bank signed a cheque of Rs 15 crore for the private bank under the qualified institutional placement.

Also read: People's Bank of China buys into ICICI Bank amid 'Boycott China' movement

The traders' body said this was the second instance when a Chinese bank was trying to make inroads into the Indian banking system after People's Bank of China announced investment in HDFC Ltd in March this year. The body urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to direct both the private lenders to return the investments.

Also read: Has People's Bank of China sold entire stake in HDFC? Here's what we know

China's central bank had increased its stake in HDFC Ltd to over 1 per cent in March. The investment, though a small one, had created a flutter in the market. After a lot of hue and cry over the investment, the government had tightened foreign portfolio investment rules, especially on investments coming from neighbouring countries, including China.

Also read: Bank of China's 1% in HDFC: Should we fuss?

CAIT Secretary General Mr Praveen Khandelwal said China had designed a well-planned strategy to enter into the Indian banking sector.

"Even though the government had introduced a mechanism to check the foreign portfolio investments, there is nothing concrete yet from the RBI to restrain and control the funding coming in from China," he said.

CAIT National President BC Bhartia said China's sudden interest in India's banking sector was a strong alarm bell for the banking sector and the RBI.

"Certainly, the present investments might be small but we should not forget that it's a part of China's strategy. In matter of exports of Chinese goods to India, China started the first year in 2001 with only 2 billion dollar of exports to India, which rose up to 70 billion dollars in 2019," Bhartia said.

The government has tightened the noose around Chinese investments in India, especially in the public sector, after the Galwan Valley border clash in June. Over 100 mobile apps, including popular Chinese video app TikTok, have also been banned, citing threats to India's national security over alleged links to the Chinese government.

Also read: Another blow to China! 24 companies plan to shift production units to India
Kathy Roth-Douquet is the CEO of Blue Star Families and a Marine Corps spouse.

This past June marked the two-year anniversary of the tragic death of Brandon Caserta, a United States Navy petty officer who took his own life at his base in Norfolk, Virginia.

Unfortunately, suicide is not a new phenomenon among active-duty service members. But there are actions that lawmakers can take to help those struggling with mental health issues -- and work to prevent future tragedy.

According to the most recent U.S. Department of Defense Annual Suicide Report (ASR) from 2019, Caserta was one of 325 active-duty service members and one of 68 sailors who died by suicide in 2018. The report also found a five-year increase in the suicide rate for active-duty troops -- jumping from 18.5 to 24.8 suicides per 100,000 members. We have yet to see the 2019 data, but we mustn't wait on numbers to act.

After his death, Caserta's parents and friends discovered personal notes in which Brandon attributed his suicide to persistent hazing and bullying from members and leaders of his Navy helicopter squadron. Brandon's parents, Patrick and Teri, believe their son saw no options for getting medical care or mental health services, given that his chain of command was aware of the bullying and was allegedly even part of their son's harassment.

Governing bodies are trying to address the issue. In October 2018, the Defense Department enacted a requirement for the ASR to increase reporting, transparency and accountability for the department's suicide prevention efforts. Its goals included implementing policy guidance and a special governance body; standardizing and advancing data and research; and partnering with other groups across the nonprofit and private sectors. The plans also increased focus on working with some of the military's most vulnerable -- young service members and members of the National Guard, along with family members who struggle as well.

While this is a step in the right direction, there's a core missing piece that needs to make its way into Congress' Fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

Military spouses are all too aware of the challenges that come with addressing mental health issues for service members. A spouse of an active-duty service member participating in Blue Star Families' 2019 Military Family Lifestyle Survey explained, "No soldier with career aspirations will reveal true physical or mental health issues under the current system. No one. It is the number one reason we have injured soldiers, chronic pain, and unresolved mental instability, which leads to suicide."

Part of what's missing from the federal response is anonymity -- an effective method for members to seek help without fear of retribution from their command units. It is an issue brought to light in the investigation of Caserta's death, and it is backed up by data year after year.

In the 2019 MFL Survey, troops and spouses revealed that concerns about potential impacts on a service member's career were the most common reason for not seeking mental health treatment for those who had seriously considered suicide or had attempted suicide in the past year -- and that spans across active-duty, National Guard and Reserve family respondents.

The Brandon Act, introduced in June by Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and named in honor of Caserta, would require the DoD to establish a standard phrase that service members can use anonymously to initiate a mandatory and immediate mental health evaluation referral, while receiving confidential evaluations without notifying their commands. The act was successfully included in the House's version of the NDAA but has yet to be included in the final NDAA.

In our fight to reduce suicide among service members and support the mental health and well-being of our active-duty, Reserve, National Guard and veterans, it is critical for the Brandon Act to be included in the final fiscal 2021 NDAA. We are halfway there: We must call upon Congress to act and finish the job in order to protect those service members who sacrifice for us.

-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
New Zealand authorities have ruled out a link between Auckland's growing coronavirus cluster and a Melbourne cold storage facility, as the country's infections rose by 13 more community cases on Tuesday.

Over the weekend, New Zealand Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the investigation into the source of the Auckland outbreak - which has still not been identified - was examining whether the virus had arrived on packaging at an Americold food storage facility in Mt Wellington, Auckland, from an Americold facility in Melbourne.

New Zealand's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Credit:Getty Images

Genomic sequencing was conducted to see if the Auckland strain of the virus was similar to cases linked to the Melbourne site.

Bloomfield said on Tuesday a final report into that possible route of transmission through chilled surfaces would be completed shortly "but it seems clear now that the possibility is being ruled out from that investigation".
The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) announced that it will be hosting Xperience AI summit from 1st-4th September 2020 in partnership with the Telangana AI Mission. A first of its kind platform to bring together the diverse stakeholders in Indias AI ecosystem and build an action plan on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can augment Indias revival, potential and growth plan. The announcement was made at a virtual conference in the presence of Honble Minister of Electronics and IT, Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad and other stalwarts like Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary IT&C, Telangana, Rishad Premji, Chairman, Wipro, UB Pravin Rao, Chairman, NASSCOM, and, Krishnan Ramanujam, President, TCS. At this event, Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the NASSCOM report titled, Unlock Value from Data and AI: The Indian Opportunity.

In these unprecedented times, as the country starts to unlock its economy, it has become critical that coordinated action is taken to enhance data and AI capabilities at scale across all sectors in the country.

Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, Minister of Law & Justice, Communications, Electronics and IT, Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, said, AI has become a strategic lever for economic growth across nations and will continue to be one of the most crucial technologies of the future. Digital India has reimagined how our government connects with citizens and accelerated deployment of AI and other emerging technologies will help further this objective. In order to harness its full potential, India needs to embrace AI innovation and regulation with an open, inclusive, principal-based and a collaborative mindset.

Sharing her thoughts at the launch, Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM, said, The NASSCOM Report on Unlocking Value from Data and AI is an action plan that can help India emerge stronger from the Covid crisis. Data and AIs true potential emerges from its ability to drive transformation across multiple sectors through a diverse range of applications. The report articulates the key structural steps that India needs to take to realise the value of this opportunity.

The action plan and report has been reviewed by industry leaders including Mr N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, Mr Rishad Premji, Chairman, Wipro, Mr UB Pravin Rao, Chairman, NASSCOM and Mr Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India. The recommendations were also presented to the Honble Prime Minister.

According to the report, if India acts quickly, it can become a leader in building a holistic data utilization and AI effort, especially as countries emerge from the pandemic and global economic slowdown. A coordinated program across all 5 building blocks (strategy, data, technology stack, talent and execution) is required to capture the opportunity. The three key interventions needed to create a vibrant data economy in India include  1. Identify datasets of national importance with each ministry with specific use cases 2. Launch program to create a marketplace of data and derived assets and 3. Establish a central agency for defining and enforcing data standards.

The report also showcased that, in the near term, data and AI could support governments and businesses for effective COVID-19 response and economic recovery.

The report also highlights the importance of building an AI innovation ecosystem and to seek greater participation from the private sector and entrepreneurs.

Speaking about the findings of the report, Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, said, The adoption of data and AI is increasingly becoming a differentiator for business success. AI today is driving large scale digital innovation and transforming every industry critical to economic growth. India has the potential to become a global hub for data and AI. The moment is now, to support and grow a vibrant AI ecosystem in India.

The Xperience AI summit scheduled from 1-4 September will witness curated discussions on four key themes  Build AI from and for India, Scale AI Adoption in India, Indias AI Policies, Thought Leadership in AI. Additionally, deep dive sessions will be organized to for developers to understand latest trends in AI technologies and use cases.
MC Lyte has cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce from husband John Wyche after a three-year marriage.

The Brooklyn, New York native, 49, put in the divorce papers Monday in a Los Angeles court in her parting from Wyche, a businessman and Marine Corp veteran, TMZ reported.

The Grammynominated artist and Wyche initially tied the knot three years ago in an August 2017 wedding on the shore of Montego Bay, Jamaica at the Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort.

It's over: MC Lyte , 49, has cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce from husband John Wyche after a three-year marriage. The couple was snapped in June of 2017

'Its incredible so many people came out to support our union. We are starting out with a strong foundation,' Wyche told Essence about the event, which was populated by around 100 guests. 'A few months into getting to know Lana I knew I wanted this woman as my wife .'

The musical performer, whose full name is Lana Michelle Moorer, initially crossed paths with the veteran thee months earlier on the site Match.com, The Blast reported.

'What can I say, except thank you Lord!!,' Lyte said, according to the outlet. 'It's been a long time, this single life, and I thank you all for your prayers and kind words of hope

'God has sent me true love. For all of you waiting on LOVE - don't give up - keep God first and he will see that you meet your match.'

Beaming: The well rounded entertainer posed at the 2018 BET Awards in Las Vegas

Underrated: MC Lyte has cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce from husband John Wyche after a three-year marriage

She added to the publication: 'One day when we're talking and I looked into his eyes. It was so much honesty and truth in his eyes. My biggest thing with dating was to be vulnerable. And with him, I could totally let go and be myself.'

MC Lyte has been a stalwart in the genre for more than three decades, first making her debut in 1986 with the track I Cram to Understand when she was 16-years-old.

She's since gone on to Grammy nominations in the years 1994 and 2004.

MC Lyte has also done steady work in front of the camera on shows such as S.W.A.T., Tales, In Living Color and Moesha. In film, she's appeared in movies including the Girls Trip, Civil Brand and Sylvie's Love.
"At Heritage, I had so many resources and wonderful teachers and staff that provided me with the environment to really grow as a student," said Sophia Zheng, AHS '20. "With the study habits and collaborative skills I built during high school, I am eager to continue my studies at M.I.T. and beyond," she added. Sophia is planning to major in Computer Science when she attends M.I.T. this fall.

Annabella Lugo, AHS '20, completed the Pre-Law Program at American Heritage and will be studying Political Science and Psychology at Yale University. "American Heritage School helped me realize my potential in public speaking through numerous opportunities, such as Speech & Debate, Model UN, Mock Trial, and Moot Court," Annabella stated. "The Honors Legal Studies program opened my eyes to my passion  criminal justice reform and human rights law  topics I plan to research in college. With the support of the school, I am confident I received the training necessary for a successful career in advocacy."

American Heritage's facilities contain high-level resources and technology enabling students to exceed their potential. In the Upper School, over 300 courses are offered, including 28 Advanced Placement classes, 135 honors classes, and 75 fine arts classes. Pre-professional programs are offered in medicine, law, engineering, biomedical engineering, computer science, and business. Classes are taught daily by expert doctors, attorneys, judges, engineers, computer scientists, and business executives, giving students the opportunity to explore career opportunities and experience college-level courses not normally available in a high school setting.

American Heritage School alumni are notable leaders in their chosen fields who are generating positive differences in the world. They repeatedly attribute their success to the strong education they received at American Heritage. American Heritage School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory school in South Florida serving PK3  12th grades.

SOURCE American Heritage School

Related Links

http://www.ahschool.com


This article by Jeff Schogol originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues.

Iran may have paid Taliban-linked militants to carry out at least six attacks against U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan last year, CNN's Zachary Cohen first reported on Monday.

U.S. intelligence officials believe a foreign government paid "bounties" to the Haqqani network, a terrorist group led by a senior Taliban official, to carry out an attack just outside Bagram Airfield in December that resulted in a lengthy battle, according to CNN, which cited a "Pentagon briefing document."

The document did not name which foreign government allegedly paid the bounties, but CNN was able to independently verify it is Iran, Cohen reported.

Despite the risk that the Iranian payments could lead to further high-profile attacks on U.S. and coalition forces, the National Security Council advised in March that the Trump administration to not respond in order to avoid endangering U.S.-backed efforts to negotiate a peace agreement with the Taliban, CNN reported, citing an internal memo.

Task & Purpose was unable to reach a Taliban spokesman for comment on Monday.

The revelation about the possible Iranian bounties come after earlier media reports that Russia may have offered money to Taliban-linked militants to attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan, including one such attack in April 2019 which left three Marines dead.

Both Russia and the Taliban have denied those allegations.

Defense Department spokesman Army Maj. Rob Lodewick provided Task & Purpose with a statement on Monday that did not directly address whether the U.S. military believes Iran paid money to the Haqqani network to attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"The Department of Defense does not disclose timelines or discussions surrounding internal deliberations and intelligence briefings," Lodewick said. "With that being said, the administration has repeatedly demanded, both publicly and privately, that Iran cease its scourge of malign and destabilizing behavior throughout the Middle East and the world. While the United States, its NATO allies and coalition partners are working to facilitate an end to 19 years of bloodshed, Iran's inimical influence seeks to undermine the Afghan peace process and foster a continuation of violence and instability."

The United States and Iran have been locked in a cold war since the 1979 revolution that ultimately brought Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power, replacing the U.S.-backed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

The 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq brought the conflict between the two countries to boil. The Defense Department believes that Iran is responsible for the deaths of 603 U.S. troops in Iraq from 2003 until 2011.

More recently, the United States launched an airstrike in January that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, formerly head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the former commander of Kata'ib Hezbollah, a key Iranian proxy in Iraq.

Both sides came close to war after Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases hosting U.S. troops. A total of 110 U.S. troops at Al-Asad Air Base were ultimately diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury.

In April, President Donald Trump tweeted that he had ordered the Navy to "shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea" just after Fox & Friends had reported that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy boats had engaged in dangerous maneuvers around Navy and Coast Guard vessels in the Persian Gulf.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also publicly blamed Iran for a May 31, 2019 car bomb attack in Kabul that wounded four U.S. service members. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Iran has provided weapons to the Taliban since at least 2007, including small arms, explosives, and rockets, a Pentagon spokeswoman told Task Purpose in November.

At the time, a Taliban spokesman denied that the group was getting any assistance from Iran.

"Propaganda in this regard is a defamation effort that we have always categorically rejected," Zabihullah Mujahid told Task & Purpose in November. "Our struggle is proceeding with the support and backing of our own nation and we do not need the aid of foreign countries."

More articles from Task & Purpose:

 Here is the Democrats plan for the military if Biden wins in November

 Civilian airport evacuated after live missile found just sitting inside shipping container

 That one scene in 'Iron Man' that captures the irony of the US military's role in comic book movies
During a visit to Midland on Monday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn addressed the tight races on the ballot in November, including his own against Democratic challenger M.J. Hegar, and said the most important factor for voters will be which party is better able to rebuild the economy following the COVID-19 crisis.

Cornyn visited the West Texas Food Bank Monday to discuss how funding from the CARES Act has been used by the nonprofit. Following a tour of the facility and press conference, he spoke to the Reporter-Telegram in an interview about the November elections.

When asked about polls showing President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden neck-and-neck in Texas, Cornyn attributed the close race to anxiety over the coronavirus and subsequent economic downturn.

The single most important thing that I think about, and perhaps Im not alone, is whos best prepared to lead the country in rebuilding our economy after weve been through the recession  I dont think its Mr. Biden, he said.

Bidens selection of U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris as a running mate is also significant, particularly in the Permian Basin, Cornyn said, because of her stance against fracturing and public comments saying she would support a fracturing ban.

He said a ban on fracturing would be a death knell for the oil and gas industry in Texas and chiefly in the Permian Basin.

Texans understand what has given us the best economy in the world. Before this virus, we were the envy of the nation, Cornyn said. And now were hurting, theres no question about it. Well come back but they (Texans) understand its not by embracing these anti-fossil fuel policies.

Regarding his own Senate race, Cornyn said his team was prepared for a competitive election after Sen. Ted Cruz narrowly beat Democrat Beto ORourke by 200,000 votes in 2018.

Out-of-state funding for Hegar by the Democratic Party has added an extra challenge to campaigning, Cornyn said, and so has a surge in registered voters in Texas.

He said as many as 11.5 million voters are expected to vote in the November election, compared to 8.3 million in 2018 and 4.7 million in 2014, the last time Cornyn was up for re-election.

In other words, I'm going to have to get more votes this time to win than my opponent and I got combined in 2014, he said. A lot of folks have moved to the state  and so, weve got to tell our story and were in the process of doing that.
Belarus crisis: Top UN official concerned over torture allegations

17 August 2020 - In the wake of ongoing electoral-related unrest in Belarus, the top UN official in the country has requested an urgent meeting with authorities focused on the issue of human rights, according to a statement from her offic

Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, UN Resident Coordinator, has expressed serious concern over allegations of torture and other ill treatment of people, including minors, who were detained after demonstrations connected to elections held on 9 August.

"Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment are absolutely prohibited and can never be justified," she said in a statement issued late last week.

'Deeply troubling' testimonies

While welcoming the release of many detainees on Thursday, Ms. Kazana-Wisniowiecki said testimonies about their treatment in custody are "deeply troubling", adding that "if confirmed, these reports would point to systemic problems in the management and oversight of detention facilities in Belarus."

Thousands of people were arrested in protests that erupted across Belarus after preliminary results for the election showed President Alexander Lukashenko had secured a majority of the votes, giving him a sixth term in power.

UN reactions and recommendations

Senior UN officials have been monitoring the ongoing situation.

On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said torture allegations must be investigated, while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, earlier condemned the violent response to the demonstrations.

The Secretary-General's Special Representative on Violence against Children has also expressed deep concern over the torture and mistreatment allegations.

Najat Maalla M'jid recounted a "particularly shocking" case in which a 16-year-old boy was allegedly beaten while in detention, resulting in brain injuries. The teenager reportedly was hospitalized and put in an induced coma but has since regained consciousness.

"Special Representative Maalla M'jid welcomes the release of a large number of detainees on the night of 13 August, but recalls that detention of children should only be used as a measure of last resort, for the shortest period possible and that legal support should be provided to all children in contact with the justice system", according to a statement issued on Friday.

Assistance and access

The UN Resident Coordinator has requested an urgent meeting with Belarus's Minister of Interior to discuss human rights concerns and to offer broader UN support and other assistance, according to the statement.

Ms. Kazana-Wisniowiecki has also requested that the UN visit two detention facilities in the capital, Minsk, to see conditions there.

The authorities also are urged to take immediate measures to prevent any instances of torture or other ill treatment in detention.

Support and accountability

Meanwhile, detainees and those released from custody should receive adequate medical care, including rehabilitation and psychosocial support, she added.

The specific needs of children and young victims of torture or other ill treatment, or who have witnessed violence, also should be addressed.

"As we receive increasing numbers of reports of torture and other ill-treatment, it will be important to ensure that when possible these are well documented, also to allow for the prompt, thorough and impartial investigation of and future accountability for such acts," said Ms. Kazana-Wisniowiecki.

"Timely medical examinations will be crucial in this regard, alongside the important work of human rights organizations gathering information on these cases".

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Only a break in stride has been able to defeat Mr Finlay Ridge in his young career and that record will be put to the test Tuesday evening at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park as Gold Cup and Saucer Week racing continues.

The 10-dash card has a 7 p.m. start time featuring the Atlantic Sires Stakes for two- and three-year-old trotters.

The two-year-old trotters gather in the lone $15,780 Atlantic Sires Stakes Meridian Farms  P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association division in race 3.

Mr Finlay Ridge will leave from the second tier in the field of nine with Clare MacDonald at the lines of her trainee that she co-owns with fellow Bluenosers Arnold Rankin and Ian Tate. The Armbro Barrister colt has won his past three starts with his only defeat coming in his career debut where he ran at the start and finished third.

A Little Go Go is second choice from post 3 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell while Fireball Friday (Corey MacPherson) will look to overcome post 8 from the Myles Heffernan, Jr., stable.

The three-year-old Atlantic Sires Stakes event is in race 7 for a $15,400 pot.

Mabou Ridge, the full-brother to Mr Finlay Ridge, is the morning line choice with post 7 for trainer/driver MacDonald and owner Rankin of Antigonish, N.S.

Newly minted Summerside Raceway track record holder Tequila Tuesday will retain the services of Marc Campbell in the race bike from the Heffernan stable and will leave from the dreaded eight hole. Go With Her has knocked on the door of those top colts every week this season and Brodie MacPhee will again steer her from post 6.

Race 1 is the Joe Smallwood Memorial for a $1,850 pot with Ableway the morning line favourite from post 3 for driver Steven Shepherd and owner/trainer Carl Bagnall of Stratford.

Howmac Blaze (MacPherson) is the favourite in the race 4 Cathy Gormley Memorial from the Michelle Myers stable of Cardigan.

(CDP)
Arizona School District Forced to Cancel All Classes After Teachers Stage Sickout

A public school district in Arizona was forced to scrap plans to reopen Monday after more than 100 teachers and staff members staged a sickout, calling in sick for the day.

The J.O. Combs Unified School District, located in the Phoenix metropolitan areas southeastern outskirts, said in a letter to families that it had to cancel all in-person and online classes originally scheduled for Monday due to insufficient staffing levels.

We have received an overwhelming response from staff indicating that they do not feel safe returning to classrooms with students, Superintendent Dr. Gregory Wyman wrote. In response, we have received a high volume of staff absences for Monday citing health and safety concerns.

The 109 Combs teachers and staff who called in sick account for nearly 20 percent of the districts 600-member staff, reported The Arizona Republic, citing a district spokesperson.

At this time, we do not know the duration of these staff absences, and cannot yet confirm when in-person instruction may resume, Wyman wrote, adding that despite the situation, breakfast and lunch services will still be available to elementary students who wish to pick up their meals at school.

The Combs board of education decided in a 3-2 vote last week to reopen school buildings for in-person learning. Wyman explained in an earlier statement that the decision was based on the data benchmarks released by Arizonas health department, as well as tremendous feedback from families who expressed a strong need for their children to return to the classroom.

The Arizona Department of Health Services unveiled three benchmarks to guide school reopening. Schools are recommended to reopen in a limited capacity when their countys rate of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people drops below 100 per week for two weeks or observes a two-week consecutive decline in cases. The percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 within their county must also fall below 7, and the percentage of hospital visits caused by COVID-like illness must fall below 10 for two weeks.

The Arizona Education Association, which represents some 20,000 public school employees across the state, have fought against plans to reopen schools for in-person learning over the past weeks, arguing that returning to classrooms will putting teachers health in jeopardy.

In-person instruction should be delayed until at least the end of the first nine-weeks of the school calendar, the teachers union said in a statement. To maintain supports for students and our community during this pandemic, districts shall receive at least the same level of federal, state, and local funding as they did the previous year.
Hong Kong: Chun Yeung Estate intake explained

The Government today announced that the intake for Blocks 4 and 5 of Chun Yeung Estate will commence gradually at the end of the month.

It handed over the two blocks, Chun Sze House and Chun Wu House, to the Housing Authority earlier.

Due to the rapid deterioration of the COVID-19 epidemic and the severe situation over the past few weeks, the significant increases in both the number of confirmed cases and the number of close contacts of confirmed cases have resulted in a huge demand for quarantine facilities, the Government said.

To safeguard public health, the Government considers it necessary to continue using Blocks 1 to 3 as a quarantine centre.

During the period when Blocks 1 to 3 of the estate are being used as a quarantine centre, the Department of Health will adopt strict quarantine management measures, which include restricting people under quarantine to stay inside quarantine units.

If they have medical needs, they will be taken to a hospital by ambulance from the quarantine centre. They are not allowed to come into contact with anybody other than the quarantine centre staff and medical personnel.

The Housing Department will separate the quarantine centre and the remaining parts of the estate, including Blocks 4 and 5, and the Chun Yeung Shopping Centre with tall partitions.

There are also separate pedestrian and vehicular entrances and exits at Blocks 4 and 5 for residents' access to the estate through separate channels.

The Government said these measures can effectively prevent people and vehicles going to or leaving the quarantine centre from entering or exiting the premises of Blocks 4 and 5. Thus, the two blocks are suitable for accommodation.

It will closely monitor the developments of the epidemic situation and review the number of quarantine facilities available, and will cease the use of Blocks 1 to 3 of the estate as a quarantine centre as soon as practicable.

It estimated that the three blocks should be able to cease being used as a quarantine centre by the end of this year when 2,000 quarantine units located in Phase 3 of Pennys Bay Quarantine Centre come into operation.

The Government will then clear and thoroughly disinfect the relevant units before handing them over to the Housing Authority. The authority estimated that it may need a few months to carry out a considerable amount of restoration work and the intake of the prospective tenants may commence gradually at the beginning of the second quarter of 2021 at the earliest.

The Government said it understands the disturbance to prospective tenants caused by the latest changes to the intake schedule of the three blocks, adding it will actively consider providing further relief for the affected eligible prospective tenants under the Anti-epidemic Fund.

It said since Hong Kong is facing a new wave of COVID-19 infections, the quarantine centre located in the estate has been playing a vital and irreplaceable role.

The Government thanked all prospective tenants for their patience and understanding.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
E' morto a 97 anni Cesare Romiti, il manager di ferro, uno dei grandi protagonisti del capitalismo italiano del '900. Uno dei manager piu potenti della storia italiana.

Figlio di un impiegato delle Poste, si laurea in scienze economiche e commerciali e muove i suoi primi passi da manager a Colleferro, nel gruppo Bombrini Parodi Delfino.

Nel '70 viene chiamato in Alitalia, prima direttore generale, poi ad. Dal '74 entra in Fiat, sono gli anni di maggiore forza dei sindacati, della crisi energetica, del terrorismo. Si occupa di risanare finanziariamente l'azienda, rafforza gli insediamenti in Italia e ne sviluppa la dimensione internazionale, contribuendo, tra gli altri, alla realizzazione dello stabilimento brasiliano e Belo Horizonte, ancora oggi uno degli impianti automobilistici piu grandi al mondo.

Nel 1976 diventa ad, e il 14 ottobre 1980, dopo 35 giorni di scioperi, arriva la marcia dei 40mila quadri della Fiat in piazza contro il sindacato.

Gli scontri con i sindacati sono all'ordine del giorno, e Romiti nel 1980 annuncia il licenziamento di 14mila dipendenti, con lo stabilimento di Mirafiori che viene bloccato per oltre un mese. Fiat torna a fare utili, poi arriva la Guerra del Golfo e inizia la crisi per l'azienda automobilistica.

Nel 1991 Romiti arriva a un passo dall'acquistare Chrysler (operazione che sara portata a termine da Sergio Marchionne). Quando nel 1996 Gianni Agnelli lascia la presidenza di Fiat per diventarne presidente onorario, la guida passa proprio a Romiti, che ci resta per soli due anni.

Dal '98 al 2004 e presidente di Rcs. Negli anni 2000 diventa azionista di Impregilo e con la privatizzazione di Aeroporti di Roma entra nel business delle Infrastrutture.

In politica non ci e mai entrato: "Anche se avessi il desiderio di farlo non ne sarei capace, dico sempre quello che penso". Ma una tentazione l'ha avuta, si e presentata nelle vesti di Berlusconi che gli offri di candidarsi a sindaco di Roma contro Walter Veltroni. Lui rifiuto e il Cav ripiego su Tajani.

 Riproduzione riservata

(Unioneonline/L)
2019 Swedish thriller will screen at SBS on Demand.

This is a 9 part series.

Hel (Josefin Asplund) receives an invitation to visit her estranged twin Siri at an exclusive residential sanatorium set against the idyllic setting of the Italian Alps. Tension soon rises when Hel refuses Siris plea for help in taking care of some business by swapping places with her for a few days.

Much to her horror, Hel wakes up the next day to find Siri gone. She soon realises that Siri isnt coming back, and that the clinic is far from a place of recovery. Hel is now trapped in a waking nightmare in which no one is who they seem to be and everyone believes that she is Siri.

Surrounded by the most predatory and manipulative people imaginable, escape is now only the second order of business, the first is simple  survival.

Thursday, 27 August on SBS On Demand. New episodes continue nightly.

Corrected.
Dr. Chantler and Ms. Hickey will help implement several strategic Fibers & Composites growth initiatives, and were excited to welcome them to the Michelman team.

Michelman invests in its Fibers & Composites business segment by adding two new associates to better anticipate and serve its customers needs in the Reinforced Plastic Composites market.

James Chantler, Ph.D., joins Michelman as its new Global Technology Director for Fibers & Composites. Dr. Chantler, a glass fiber industry veteran, has held several positions, including Business Manager, Global Research Manager, and Material Development Engineer for PPG Industries, Reichhold, and GAF. He was the Research & Development Director for Nippon Electric Glass (NEG-US), where he led the strategy for new product development, intellectual property, and global product transfer & integration. His industry knowledge and technical expertise will allow Michelman to broaden its fiber sizing and surface technology portfolio and help the composite industry achieve increased performance, and accelerate the adoption of new and novel concepts.

Ms. Lauren Hickey joins Michelman as its Global Marketing Manager for Fibers & Composites. She has spent over 20 years in senior marketing positions such as Business Manager, Senior Global Marketing Manager, and Global Director of Marketing & Product Management for companies such as Invacare Corporation, PolyOne, and Americhem Inc. She will use her plastics and polymer material product portfolio management experience to direct our efforts with reinforced plastic composites.

According to Andrew Michelman, Michelmans Chief Business Development Officer and EVP for Fibers & Composites, We have led the industry with our fiber sizing and surface modification solutions for years, consistently bringing both value and leading innovation. We continue to differentiate ourselves as the Interface Experts and help fiber producers and composite manufacturers produce stronger, lighter, and more durable composite parts. Dr. Chantler and Ms. Hickey will help implement several strategic Fibers & Composites growth initiatives, and were excited to welcome them to the Michelman team.

Michelman invites you to learn more about Hydrosize, the companys versatile line of fiber sizing that allows customers to tailor the surface chemistry of reinforcement fibers to the chemistry of the matrix resin, thereby optimizing the interface adhesion between the polymers and fibers.

About Michelman

Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials for industry, offering solutions for the coatings, printing & packaging, and fiber & composites markets. The companys surface additives and polymeric binders are used by leading manufacturers around the world to enhance performance attributes and add value in applications including wood and floor care products, metal and industrial coatings, paints, varnishes, inks, fibers, and composites. Michelman is also well-known as an innovator in the development of barrier and functional coatings used in the production of consumer and industrial packaging and paper products, labels, and commercially printed materials. Michelman serves its customers with production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, product development and technical service centers in several major global markets, and a worldwide team of highly trained business development personnel.
A married couple who brandished guns at anti-racism protesters at their home will appear at the Republican party convention this month, according to reports.

Lawyers Mark and Patricia McCloskey gained Internet fame in June after they were filmed pointing firearms at activists from the front step of their house in St Louis, Missouri.

They were later charged over the incident and said they took out their guns because they were scared of the protesters.

Mr McCloskey will give a speech at the Republican party convention later this month, a lawyer for the couple said told the New York Times.

A screengrab from a video of Mark McCloskey and his wife Patricia as they point guns at Black Lives Matter protesters in St Louis, Missouri / Daniel Shular via Eurovision/AFP

Ms McCloskey will not speak but will appear by her husband's side, the couple's lawyer added.

The event, which has been hugely cut back due to coronavirus, will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, from August 24 to 27.

The purpose of the event is to renominate Donald Trump officially for the Republican presidential candidacy, and rally support.

Mr McCloskey's speech in favour of the President is set to be part of a live video presentation, rather than an in-person address.

No official line-up for the event has yet been announced.

AP

The couple were charged with unlawful use of a weapon, which can carry a four-year jail sentence, after pointing their guns at a crowd of protesters on their way to St Louis mayor Lyda Krewson's house.

They said the anti-racist marchers had broken through their front gate. Demonstrators said the gate was already open.

A police report said: "When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police."

The charges against the McCloskeys were later dropped, after Attorney General Eric Schmitt called them a "political prosecution" that could have "a chilling effect on Missourians' exercising the right to self-defence".

REUTERS

Mr McCloskey said he did not regret his actions.

He told Good Morning Britain that if he hadn't brandished his gun, his "house would have been burned".

"I do not regret my actions," said Mr McCloskey. "I felt that if we did not take the action that we did, the house would have been stormed, we would have been killed, the house would have been burned.

"I'm still scared by it. You've got to take into context what this alleged protest was allegedly about and that was to ask the Mayor to resign for publicly exposing the addresses of people who opposed her policy or were in favour of defunding the police - whatever that means.

"These protesters - if that's what you want to call them - have now disclosed my private information to the entire world."

Mr McCloskey said, after the images of him and his wife was shared online, he has received "hundreds of death threats".
More people needed to donate blood stem cells

The number of people signing up to donate blood stem cells during the coronavirus pandemic has dropped by almost half.

The charity DKMS has found less than one percent of UK adults have joined the register since March.

It expects a spike in new blood cancer cases because of a delay in diagnoses caused by the crisis.

54-year-old Gary Kirby from the Isle of Man had been registered as a donor for 6 years before he got the call to help save a life during lockdown:

Media

Gary Kirby
A tradie has been found dead in his jail cell, just a month after he was accused of trying to drown a two-year-old girl in a bathtub.

Alex Clements, 24, of Campbelltown, was arrested on July 13 after he allegedly attempted to kill the toddler, who was not his biological child.

Police charged him with attempted drowning with intent to murder and alleged he abused the child on at least two occasions in April and May.

Clements was discovered dead in a Parklea Correctional Facility jail cell at about 3pm on August 12, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Campbelltown man, Alex Clements (pictured) was found dead in a Parklea Correctional Facility jail cell on August 12, one month after being arrested for allegedly trying to drown a two-year-old girl

Clements (pictured) was arrested at a home in Sydney's south-west in July after he allegedly attempted to kill the toddler between January and July this year

NSW police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

He was due to appear in court in September where police were also going to allege he 'physically abused' the child and a woman on a number of occasions between January and July of 2020.

A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia Clements was found unresponsive at about 3.10pm.

'He received immediate treatment by medical staff but passed away at approximately 3:24pm,' the spokeswoman said.

'Corrective Services NSW and NSW Police are investigating. All deaths in custody are subject to a coronial inquest.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the coroner for comment.

As a privately owned corrections facility the operator, MTC  Broadspectrum, will also be charged a financial penalty for the 'unnatural death of an inmate'.

In July this year, a former colleague of Clements' said he had been looking for work in recent months after only getting out of prison on unrelated domestic violence offences last year.

'He told me he got out of jail last year and I got him some work,' the tradie, who did not want to be named, told Daily Mail Australia.

'Then I sent him some more numbers to see if he could get some more work.

In a recent Facebook post Clements told friends he was experiencing some 'personal issues', but did not elaborate on what he was referring to.

Police will allege the 24-year-old abused the child on at least two occasions in April and May this year by trying to drown her in the bath
The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics said international air cargo shipments were down 5% in June compared with the year before. The drop was the biggest in flights between the U.S. and Europe. Most travel between the U.S. and Europe has been shut down by a combination of government restrictions and a lack of demand from consumers.
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HALIFAXA Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge on Monday handed two special constables with Halifax police suspended sentences with three years probation in the June 2016 suffocation death of an inmate at the citys detention centre.

A jury found booking officers Daniel Fraser and Cheryl Gardner guilty of criminal negligence last November in the jail cell death of Corey Rogers. A medical examiner determined Rogers died of suffocation while lying in a cell with a spit hood covering his mouth as he appeared to be vomiting.

In an oral ruling, Justice Kevin Coady said that in this case, the goals of denunciation and general deterrence can be met without incarceration.

This is not a sentence that must reflect specific deterrence, said Coady. Neither special constable Fraser or special constable Gardner need to be deterred from committing further offences. They have lived prosocial lives and will continue to do so in the future.

Coady said society didnt need protection from the two defendants, adding there was nothing to suggest they are in need of rehabilitation.

While he concluded that Fraser and Gardner were in positions of trust and authority in relation to prisoners in their care, Coady said that factor had limited application in this sentencing.

These offences usually involve ... a higher degree of blameworthiness than is apparent in this case, the judge said. Both Fraser and Gardner will also be required to complete 200 hours of community service within 18 months of the judges decision.

The Crown had asked for two-year prison sentences, while both defence lawyers had asked for suspended sentences with conditions.

Neither defendant would talk with reporters outside the courtroom, but defence lawyer Joel Pink expressed satisfaction with the judges decision, saying it aligned with the facts in the case.

Even though it was a terrible accident that occurred on this particular night, you can see where the (police) department in my opinion failed to train the officers properly, Pink said. As a result, it was just a terrible accident that could have happened at any time to anybody.

Pink said there are plans to appeal the jurys verdict.

The victims mother, Jeannette Rogers, had called for a strict sentence. She told the court during the sentencing hearing last week that living every day without her son was like a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

She told reporters she was disappointed and hurt by the judges sentencing decision.

I am angry that they got a suspended sentence. I dont think that was appropriate, Rogers said. Im not out to destroy someones life even though theyve destroyed mine, however, I do feel that they should have gotten some jail time. To me, it says that Coreys life was not worth anything.

Rogers said she hoped there would be an appeal of the sentence by Crown attorney Chris Vanderhooft.

Vanderhooft, a Manitoba prosecutor brought in for the case, appeared in court via video link. He has 30 days to appeal and said in an email he wouldnt comment until he had a chance to review the decision.

During the trial, the jury was shown video of Rogers, 41, heaving in a cell while wearing the spit hood. The mask prevents prisoners from spitting on guards, but also comes with instructions warning against leaving it on a highly intoxicated person who may vomit.

Rogers was arrested hours before his death outside a Halifax hospital where his wife had given birth to their child the day before.

Trial evidence indicated he was extremely impaired after rapidly drinking half a bottle of whisky and that police saw him consume the liquor. The arresting officers testified they placed the hood on Rogers face after he was spitting in the police car on the way to the station.

Fraser and Gardner were charged in 2017 after an investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team  Nova Scotias police watchdog agency.

In his ruling, Coady noted that they had lived under a cloud for more than two years, adding that absent their conviction, they have lived unblemished lives.

The possibility of incarceration has, no doubt, taken its toll on both defendants, the judge said.

Read more about:
A former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, is involved in a dirty fight with a Nigerian woman he had a romantic relationship with, and at some point told the police the woman assaulted him inside a hotel room in Abuja.

The woman, whose name is Chinyere Amuchienwa, is from Imo State. She lives in Lagos where she deals in luxury items.

Mr Ohakim, 63, was governor from 2007 to 2011. He lost the election in 2019 when he contested again for the seat in Nigerias South-East.

He has been married for 39 years to Chioma Ohakim, a lawyer. They have five children and grandchildren.

In a petition dated January 20, which he sent to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Mr Ohakim said, On Saturday, January 18, 2020, Miss Chinyere physically assaulted me. She deceived me and lured me with a meeting request. I subsequently invited her to my hotel room at BON Hotel, Asokoro and she arrived at about 20:15 p.m.

Directly I opened the door quite innocently, pandemonium took over, she bounced on me grabbing me by my shirt with all her strength and gave me a violent push.

Mr Ohakim continued, As I staggered to recover, she rushed for my phone on the table and a struggle ensured (sic). Directly I retrieved the phones from her she immediately rushed to grab something from her bag which I strongly suspected to be a gun.

Mr Ohakim said he ran outside his room, shouting for help.

The incident, he said to the police, could be confirmed from the hotels CCTV.

He said he immediately filed a complaint at a police station in Asokoro against his estranged mistress.

The former governor told the police that Ms Amuchienwa is a 56-year-old divorcee.

He said Ms Amuchienwa has been his friend whom he lavishly extended a lot of favour to and that she was even involved in his failed 2019 governorship election campaign, but that the relationship went sour and since then she has been threatening to blackmail and destroy him.

He said he was completely terrified and wanted the police chief, Mr Adamu, to intervene in the case.

He promised in his petition to provide specific evidence to the police to back up his allegations against Ms Amuchienwa.

Mr Ohakim described himself to the police as one who holds the traditional titles of Ogbujingidi of Igbo land and the Otumba Tomitope of Yoruba land, including other 51 chieftaincy titles across Nigeria, besides being a former governor of Imo state, a businessman and a defence and security contractor.

READ ALSO:

The police responded to Mr Ohakims petition and asked him to report at the force CID for an interview on June 1. They requested him to bring along specific evidence he said he had, including any other useful information that could help in the police investigation.

The police letter was signed by Abdulkadir Jimoh, a commissioner of police.

The former governor and his estranged mistress reported at the force headquarters and were both interviewed by the assistant inspector-general of police in-charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau.

Ms Amuchienwa told PREMIUM TIMES, Saturday, that Mr Ohakim did not tender any supporting evidence or call any witness during the police interview, an assertion this newspaper could not verify.

Mr Ohakims phone number returned cannot receive call at the moment when this newspaper tried repeatedly to reach the former governor over the weekend.

A text message sent to his phone line was also not delivered at the time of filing this report.

PREMIUM TIMES, Saturday, contacted Emmanuel Ohakim, a brother to the former governor, but the call was switched off immediately our reporter finished introducing himself. He did not call back or pick subsequent calls from the reporter.

Ms Amuchienwa, on her part, tendered some documents to the police to counter Mr Ohakims claims.

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Mr Ohakim, through his lawyers, J. N. Egwuonwu & Co., wrote to the inspector-general of police on July 20 requesting copies of the documents tendered by Ms Amuchienwa, including her account statement with Access Bank, which the lawyers said she claimed she used to transfer some money to Mr Ohakim.

Patrick Agu, a lawyer in the chambers, promised to get back to PREMIUM TIMES on the status of the case and to also let the paper know if the documents tendered by Ms Amuchienwa were released to them. But he did not call back. He did not also pick subsequent calls from the reporter.

Ms Amuchienwa, in her response to PREMIUM TIMES questions, admitted she was in a relationship with the former governor.

I am an adult and I am entitled to date anybody I choose to, she said.

Ms Amuchienwa, however, said the quarrel between her and Mr Ohakim was about some money she said the former governor took from her and was yet to pay back.

She also said Mr Ohakim visited her shop in Lagos and carted away designers suitcase, bags, shoes, and other luxury goods, which he has allegedly refused to pay for.

Mr Ohakim, in his petition, addressed this claim by Ms Amuchienwa. He said he got the items as gifts from her.

Two or three times she travelled out, she bought some gift items for me purely unsolicited and in reciprocal to mine. Items such as coffee, perfume, bag and shirt, he said.

Those were not gifts, but things Mr Ohakim picked on credit, Ms Amuchienwa said.

Ms Amuchienwa, during her interview with PREMIUM TIMES, called Mr Ohakim a scammer.

I kept asking (Ohakim) every day, What do you do for a living? The day I knew he was a scammer was the day he made a voice note and mentioned that he took my $200,000.

Ms Amuchienwa sent the voice note to PREMIUM TIMES via WhatsApp, but this newspaper has not been able to verify if the voice is that of Mr Ohakim.

On the incident at BON Hotel, Abuja, Ms Amuchienwa disputed the claims by Mr Ohakim.

She said she was invited to the hotel by the former governor and that she accepted the invitation because she thought it was about the money he was allegedly owing her.

I was invited to the hotel, the appointment was made (since) last year when I said I would not see him anymore. And its still based on the money Ohakim is owing me. We dont have any reason to meet anymore, we dont even have any communication anymore.

Ms Amuchienwa said Mr Ohakim snatched her phone, ran out of the hotel room with it when she declined to sit down with him.

She said she walked down the stairs to the hotel reception and reported the incident to the hotel officials.

Shortly after, police officers from the Asokoro police station visited BON Hotel on Mr Ohakims prompting.

All the items in her handbag, she said, were poured out at the reception and no gun was found as alleged by Mr Ohakim.

Both Mr Ohakim and Ms Amuchienwa were subsequently interviewed at the Asokoro police station over the incident.

Ms Amuchienwa said she declined a ride from the former governor when both of them were done and were about leaving the station.

Mr Ohakim in his petition to the police chief, Mr Adamu, said Ms Amuchienwa, accompanied by people he suspected to be hired thugs, used a vehicle to barricade the entrance to his residence in Abuja in May last year.

Ms Amuchienwa told PREMIUM TIMES the allegation was false.

She said she went only with a driver to Mr Ohakims residence, met with his orderly and peacefully asked if he (Ohakim) had left her money with him.

Ms Amuchienwa also responded to Mr Ohakims allegation that she could not account for over N100 million she received from him for the prosecution of the 2019 governorship election campaign in Ideato North Local Government Area, Imo state, where she was the co-ordinator.

She said the former governor could not provide any evidence or witness to substantiate the allegation when the police at the force headquarters requested him to do so.

They asked him (Ohakim), you said you gave her N100 million, how did you give it to her? He said he was the one who carried it (in cash) to her. Nobody was there? No signature? Ms Amuchienwa told PREMIUM TIMES.

I have never asked him for N700 million (as he is claiming in his petition), she said. I dont blackmail. All I want is for Ikedi Ohakim to give me back my money.

She, however, declined to mention the total money Mr Ohakim was owing her.

Ikedi (Ohakim) brought land document and showed to me, he said the land belonged to him. The land is on the airport road in Lagos, he even took us there. He said he was waiting for payment from the buyer of the land and that when they pay him he would be able to pay (me my money).

It was when this trouble started that we discovered the land didnt belong to Ikedi Ohakim. It is this land he has been using to scam me.

The witnesses who are aware that I gave him money have volunteered their statement to the police, Ms Amuchienwa said.

PREMIUM TIMES asked Ms Amuchienwa if she did not consider that Mr Ohakims wife could have been at home when she went to meet Mr Ohakims orderly.

Is he married? Why do you people want me to get into that point? Is Ikedi Ohakim married? she responded.

Ms Amuchienwa said Mr Ohakim gave her a fake diamond ring as an engagement ring.

The former governor, in his petition to the police, confirmed he bought a very expensive diamond ring for Ms Amuchienwa. He, however, said the ring was just a gift to her and that he bought it in response to a request from her.
Moriah LeFreres mother says the 17-year-old doesnt remember the moment a suspected drunk driver crashed his Jeep head-on into the front of the small driving-school sedan the teen was operating Thursday evening in Slidell, crumpling the cars front end like aluminum foil.

She doesnt remember the flames from the mangled engine or the smoke that filled the cars cabin as she and her driving instructor, Susan Schwaner, sat unconscious in the front seats of the wrecked vehicle.

She cant quite recall the man who climbed into the car through a back door and unbuckled the women as two other men pulled them out to safety while others extinguished the flames.

But Allison LeFrere, 44, has been able to piece together the details of the horrific crash from photos of the wrecked vehicles and conversations with some of the good Samaritans who rescued her daughter.

Thank God shes still with us, Allison LeFrere said Monday in a telephone call from her daughters New Orleans hospital room.

Moriah LeFrere suffered a broken femur, a broken right foot and her jaw was fractured in two places in the crash, which occurred in the roundabout at the intersection of Brownswitch Road and Robert Boulevard in Slidell.

Schwaner was more seriously injured, with a broken pelvis, ribs, wrist and femur, relatives said in a message posted to the fundraising website GoFundMe.

Slidell police arrested Jarrod Sciacca, 34, who is believed to have been speeding at 50 to 60 miles per hour while impaired when he crashed into the car LeFrere was driving, authorities said. He was booked with two counts of first-degree negligent injuring, driving while intoxicated, driving with a suspended license and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

What drives a person to intoxicate themselves in the middle of the day like that? Allison LeFrere asked. Its sad. Its a sickness. He needs help, obviously.

The LeFrere family managed to track down most of the people who rescued Moriah LeFrere and Schwaner. Theyve not been able to identify one man who was photographed carrying their daughter away from the burning car.

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I cant say thank you enough. So many people were so concerned that they stopped their lives, stopped what they were doing, jumped out of their cars and just went to their aid, Allison LeFrere said. Words cant really express how grateful we are.

Both Schwaner and Moriah LeFrere have a long road to recovery. Schwaner, a mother of three and grandmother of two, is looking forward to the time when she can resume teaching, her relatives said.

LeFrere, a senior at Slidell High School, had a rod and pins put into her broken leg while her foot is in a boot. Shell have limited movement with her jaw and no solid foods for the next six to eight weeks.

But Moriah LeFrere is in good spirits, according to her mother.

She said, I really want pizza. I want pizza so bad, Allison LeFrere said, laughing while quoting her daughter.

She as been keeping a vigil by her daughters side at the hospital. Coronavirus restrictions mean her father, Joe LeFrere, 45, can't enter the facility. Instead, he chats with them via Facetime from the hospitals parking lot.

The family has been through a roller coaster of emotions since Moriah LeFrere was injured.

There are moments of anger to see my baby hurting, Allison LeFrere said. She cant walk. She cant eat or swallow, and theres nothing I can do to help her. Then I think about the fact that shes alive and all the people that came to her aid and that gives me so much peace."

Friends and family members have set up a GoFundMe account for Moriah LeFrere to help cover the costs of her medical bills. A separate GoFundMe account has been set to defray the costs of Susan Schwaner's recovery.

The public can also donate blood in Moriah LeFrere's name at any location of the The Blood Center.
A coronavirus vaccine that is safe and at least 50% effective would be a "game changer" in battling the pandemic, according to a doctor who is serving as an investigator for Moderna's clinical trials.

"Developing vaccines against respiratory virus is incredibly difficult. If you think about the flu vaccine that we use every year, it's only about 40% to 60% effective," Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University said Tuesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

The Food and Drug Administration indicated last month it would authorize a coronavirus vaccine as long as it is safe and at least 50% effective. Dr. Stephen Hahn, the agency's commissioner, said at the time it would be "unrealistic" to expect a vaccine to be 100% effective.

A vaccine that is 50% effective means it would reduce the average person's risk of coronavirus infection by 50%.

"A 50% efficacy would be transformative. It's much better than zero, which is what we have right now," del Rio told CNBC. "So I think it'd really be a game changer if we get a vaccine with 50% or greater efficacy."

Dr. Anthony Fauci said, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, said earlier this month that scientists hope a vaccine to prevent the coronavirus would be at least 75% effective. But the White House health advisor said 50% to 60% efficacy also would be acceptable.

"You've got to think of the vaccine as a tool to be able to get the pandemic to no longer be a pandemic, but to be something that's well controlled," Fauci said Aug. 7 during a question-and-answer session with Brown University's School of Public Health.

Del Rio said widespread inoculation of a vaccine, even one with 50% efficacy, would help the U.S. achieve so-called herd immunity  the point where enough people have antibodies to fight off the virus and therefore significantly curtail its spread in a population.

"Between the people that have been infected plus the people that you've vaccinated, at 50% you would get there," said del Rio, a professor in the infectious disease division of Atlanta-based Emory's medical school. He also is co-director of the Emory Center for AIDS Research.

It is possible people who receive a coronavirus vaccine  should it receive regulatory approval  may still get infected, del Rio noted. However, being vaccinated could reduce the risk of severe illness from Covid-19, he said.

"One of the theories is that you may still get infected but you will not develop complications. You will not end up in the hospital. You will not end up in the ICU," said del Rio. "And that I think also would be quite transformative because you will definitely decrease the morbidity and mortality of the disease."

Del Rio is an investigator for Moderna's potential coronavirus vaccine. The Massachusetts-based biotech firm began its late-stage human trials last month. The National Institutes of Health has been working alongside Moderna, which was the first company to begin human trials in the U.S. in March.

Moderna has received commitments worth up to nearly $2.5 billion from the U.S. government to aid its vaccine development. Through Operation Warp Speed, the government is providing billions of dollars to various companies that are working on a vaccine.

As part of those deals, companies are ramping up manufacturing capacity to expedite the deployment of a vaccine, should it prove safe and effective. Del Rio said that is the right strategy.

"So if everything goes well, you may be talking about March or April of next year where you can say, 'OK, we've got a vaccine and we've got plenty of doses to start giving out to people,'" said del Rio.
Russias announcement that a fast-tracked COVID-19 vaccine is registered there, with plans for quick distribution in the general population this fall, is being condemned by scientists worldwide.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Russias announcement that a fast-tracked COVID-19 vaccine is registered there, with plans for quick distribution in the general population this fall, is being condemned by scientists worldwide.

Findings from scientific studies of this vaccine, named "Sputnik V," are not available. Large safety and efficacy trials are only now getting underway. But despite only two months of preliminary testing in people, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the vaccine "quite effective" and its received regulatory approval.

In other places, notably the United States, China and the European Union, even as researchers rush to develop vaccines, they continue to publish studies of these vaccines at a more measured pace than is happening in Russia.

As an epidemiologist who studies vaccine hesitancy and vaccine-preventable disease, Im concerned about this news from Russia. After essential workers and high-risk groups are vaccinated, I would want to be among the first in line for an approved COVID-19 vaccine, but the medical research system must make sure any vaccine is safe and effective before distributing it to the population at large.

Clinical trials have a valuable role

Before any drug, vaccine or medical device is licensed for use in the general population, it needs to go through several rounds of large-scale testing. These studies are designed to make sure the intervention is safe and effective, and to understand what the appropriate dosage will be.

Under normal conditions, the research required to bring a vaccine to market can take decades. For example, before the HPV vaccine was licensed in the U.S. in 2006, a phase III clinical trial enrolled 18,644 participants in 2004-2005, a phase II clinical trial had enrolled 1,113 participants in 2000, and the laboratory studies that led to a vaccine candidate had been published in the early 1990s.

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, scientists around the globe are focusing their efforts on developing a COVID-19 vaccine. Theyre working at an unprecedented pace to move through the necessary clinical trials to end up with a safe and effective vaccine. One of the most time-consuming parts of clinical trials is enrolling participants, and pharmaceutical companies have sped up this process by lining up volunteers early, obtaining important baseline data from them even before a vaccine candidate is available.

Problems if the vaccine is released too early

Carefully conducted clinical trials are necessary to identify any problems with the vaccine. For example, studies of a new type of measles vaccine in the early 1990s found that it was detrimental to baby girls, and so it was never licensed to the general population. The existing measles or measles-mumps-rubella vaccine available in the U.S. and other countries is highly safe and effective.

It could also be that the vaccine is not effective in some categories of people. Phase I and II clinical trials have small sample sizes and may not include individuals from high-risk groups. For example, a recently published phase II clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine excluded obese people, those with chronic diseases and pregnant women. However, these are all groups that should be able to get the vaccine in the future. More studies, including phase III trials, are necessary to discover if the vaccine works in the general population. Preliminary results should be available by the end of 2020.

The concern is that by introducing the vaccine early, without adequate testing of safety, effectiveness and dosing, the population may be presented with a vaccine which is not safe or not effective, and with little information on which vaccine schedule is best.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn has said the FDA will not "cut corners" in approving a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. despite an accelerated program, dubbed Operation Warp Speed.

Rushing to market

But is there ever an ethical reason to release a vaccine early, even without going through all phases of clinical trials?

Although it would be wonderful to get a vaccine into the population quickly, there could be substantial downsides if researchers and manufacturers cut corners. Imagine a vaccine that often had serious side effects that werent caught in small trials before it was widely administered.

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An untested vaccine wouldnt just harm the people vaccinated. If negative perceptions about the safety or efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine spread throughout the population, it could limit how many people are willing to get the shot and could therefore perpetuate disease transmission.

Trust in vaccination programs is crucial. Russia, in fact, provides an important historical example. In the 1990s, trust in the countrys public health system rapidly decreased, and rates of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination fell as a result. A large outbreak of diphtheria then spread through eastern Europe, leaving over 4,000 people dead.

Hasty rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine could prime people not only to distrust the COVID-19 vaccine, but also to doubt vaccination and public health systems as a whole.

Vaccinations should be developed by impartial scientists and evaluated by nonpartisan government officials. By cutting red tape, procedures can be prioritized and sped up, but they must not be skipped.

Abram L. Wagner is a research assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtual KubeCon EU -- StackRox, the leader in container and Kubernetes security, today announced it has launched operations in EMEA to provide global customers with local access to its Kubernetes-native security capabilities. Led by cloud and cybersecurity veteran, Richard Olver, vice president, international, StackRox, the company's go-to-market expansion into the region is being fueled by the accelerated adoption of DevOps and DevSecOps practices, particularly across Europe, as well as increased demand for container and Kubernetes security solutions. Olver is joined in StackRox EMEA leadership by Malte Isberner, Managing Director of StackRox GmbH. Over the past year, StackRox has seen significant growth in demand in Europe for the Kubernetes-native security capabilities it delivers through the StackRox Kubernetes Security Platform.

According to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), 50 percent of back end developers in Western Europe, and even more in Eastern Europe and Russia, have adopted containers as part of their organizations' DevOps practices, with the majority adopting Kubernetes as their orchestrator of choice. Accordingly, StackRox has seen a surge in demand from customers across Europe, adding a number of new clients in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, and Switzerland.

"We serve a demanding audience of insurance and banking customers, protecting, and securing their customers' interactions, so securing our platform is essential to maintaining their trust. Enabling visibility across our entire container and Kubernetes landscape, along with the ability to harden the environment, is crucial to protecting that customer data," said Jeroen Starrenburg, CEO of Onegini, an innovator in consumer identity and access management. "StackRox gives us a low-friction, Kubernetes-native way to secure the cloud-native, Kubernetes-orchestrated infrastructure and applications at the heart of our security platform. With out-of-the-box policies and controls across build, deploy, and runtime, StackRox makes delivering on our security needs significantly less burdensome and our business more agile."

As StackRox expands in EMEA, Olver will oversee the growth of company's strategic partnerships and sales efforts as it engages new employees and customers across geographies and industries to propel its rapid revenue growth. StackRox's current EMEA customer base includes cloud-native innovators in SaaS, mobile security, online gaming, FinTech, and eCommerce industries, among others.

"DevOps, and more recently DevSecOps, has emerged as the dominant operational focus for innovative companies in Europe, driving rapid adoption of cloud-native technologies and Kubernetes. We're also seeing immense growth potential for the cloud-native stack in neighboring regions like the Middle East and Africa as digital transformation accelerates globally, "said Olver. "The adoption of these practices and technologies requires a new take on security. The Kubernetes-native approach StackRox has developed is extremely transformative in its ability to enable security and IT teams to operationalize container security. We're thrilled to be making the StackRox Kubernetes Security Platform available to a wider set of global users to create secure systems that foster faster application development and innovation."

According to IDC, investments in cloud infrastructure in the EMEA region are expected to continue expanding despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming an increasingly large share of the IT market. Businesses in the region are finding more business value created through cloud adoption as well as added cost savings, development efficiency, and security gains from cloud-native technologies like containers and Kubernetes. The business benefits of cloud-native are amplified through StackRox's Kubernetes-native approach to security, which protects cloud-native apps across the full application development life cycle  build, deploy, and runtime  using Kubernetes's declarative data and built-in controls for better security, lower operational costs, and reduced operational risk. As a result, customers are able to bridge security and DevOps practices and enable security as code.

As a technology partner of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microsoft Azure, and Red Hat, the StackRox Kubernetes Security Platform is also available globally on all major cloud marketplaces.

To learn more about StackRox, please visit https://www.stackrox.com/.

About StackRox

StackRox helps enterprises secure their containers and Kubernetes environments at scale. StackRox delivers the industry's first and only Kubernetes-native container security platform that enables security and DevOps teams to enforce their security and compliance policies across the entire container life cycle, from build to deploy to runtime. The StackRox Kubernetes Security Platform integrates with existing DevOps and security tools, enabling teams to quickly operationalize container and Kubernetes security. StackRox customers span cloud-native companies, Global 2000 enterprises, and government agencies. StackRox is privately held and headquartered in Mountain View, California. To learn more, visit www.stackrox.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Press Contact

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Lumina Communications

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SOURCE StackRox

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SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ThePersecuted.org is releasing information on the South Korean government's response to South Korea's latest coronavirus outbreak. An illegal anti-government rally this weekend attended by hundreds of members of Sarang Jeil Presbyterian Church became the catalyst for South Korea's latest coronavirus outbreak. The government is now scrambling to contain this outbreak, which authorities characterize as a " much bigger crisis than Shincheonji. " President Moon Jae In called the church's actions an "unpardonable act against the safety of the people" and he has vowed to "take decisive actions, including coercive measures" against the church and its leader, Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon.

President Moon Jae In

Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon is the incumbent president of the Christian Council of Korea, an alliance organization representing a large number of the country's evangelical churches. In the past months, Pastor Jeon has been a vocal opponent of President Moon Jae-In, holding rallies against the president and calling for his impeachment. The members of his church, 4,000 member Sarang Jeil Presbyterian Church, have been gathering for church services for the past several weeks, despite government orders to the contrary. In the midst of this, a huge coronavirus outbreak has occurred, and Pastor Jeon himself tested positive for the virus.

In February, Shincheonji Church's Daegu branch made headlines when a huge outbreak occurred there. Although very few health orders had been given in the time leading up to it, as soon as the outbreak occurred all services and meetings were closed as the church attempted to comply with government orders. However, because of delays in producing a full membership list for contact tracing, South Korea's Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae pressed charges against the church. This resulted in the jailing of three church leaders as well as the church's 90-year-old chairman Mr. Lee Man-Hee; all of whom are now awaiting trial for "murder by wilful negligence" for allegedly contributing to COVID-19's spread. A tax probe was also launched to push forward the removal of church property and nonprofit licenses.

Shincheonji Church has not met since the outbreak first occurred in February.

In contrast, Sarang Jeil Presbyterian Church has continued to hold church services and political rallies opposing President Moon Jae-In. These gatherings are what culminated to produce the unfortunate outbreak of this past week. Pastor Jeon had told members that God would heal them at the church services if they had been infected, and not to get tested for COVID-19 until their rallies were over . 2500 of their congregation was tested, and 457 of those were confirmed to have the virus. 800 members could not be reached.

Although the two outbreaks have been compared, the way the government responded to this latest outbreak was markedly different to the way it responded to Shincheonji's. Pastor Jeon Kwang hoon is currently released on bail for previous charges of flouting COVID-19 health orders in March. In contrast, Chairman Lee Man Hee of Shincheonji has been detained and his appeal was denied. Unlike the case of Shincheonji's outbreak, no further action has been taken against the Sarang Jeil church or its leadership by the government. No warrants for arrest have been issued nor investigations launched, and there have been no reported cases of public discrimination.

ABOUT THE PERSECUTED:

ThePersecuted.org is a news source dedicated to the factual research and analysis of human rights violations. For more information, visit ThePersecuted.org.

FOR INFORMATION:

Mary Oliver

Phone: (718) 962-9794

Email address: [email protected]

SOURCE The Persecuted
The Lufthansa Group on Monday expressed confidence that air travel demand to and from India remains high despite the COVID-19 lockdown disruption, as it welcomed the bilateral air bubble agreement which allowed Germany's largest airline to resume flights from India last week.

George Ettiyil, Lufthansa Group's Senior Director for South Asia Sales, said the airline is offering more than 40 flights from Frankfurt and Munich to Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore until the end of August, beyond which it hopes to formally apply for inbound flights to India in consultation with Indian authorities.

For India, one of our most important international markets, we are seeing positive developments after it was more or less cut off from the rest of the world since mid-March, said Ettiyil, in reference to the coronavirus lockdown which grounded flights in March.

"Since travel demand to and from India remains high, we will formally apply for inbound flights to India beyond August in due time and will be in close consultation with Indian authorities concerning this," Ettiyil said. "In this context it is important to note that our flights to and from India are relief flights and not regular flights. They address the continuing need for essential travel to and from India, bringing people together again and to support the travel needs of businesses", he said.

In an effort to open up more flights, India has struck bilateral air bubble arrangements allowing travel to and from certain countries including Germany, the US, UK and France.

The Lufthansa Group has been making use of the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (RT-PCR test) at German airports, which helps detect acute infection linked to coronavirus, as part of this gradual resumption of flights.

Since July, Lufthansa has been offering Indian customers a convenient option at Frankfurt and Munich airports to test for coronavirus on short notice. These PCR coronavirus tests only require a throat swab and are certified by German health authorities, said Ettiyil, who is hopeful that such tests would be adopted at more airports around the world, including India.

He said: Both coronavirus test centres at our hubs in Frankfurt and Munich provide customers the opportunity to avoid being quarantined upon arrival in Germany, with a negative coronavirus test in their hand. Results are usually available within four to five hours after testing and are linked to the customer's flight ticket.

"This also makes it easier to travel safely to other countries worldwide that accept a certified PCR coronavirus test, thereby avoiding quarantine. That is why having PCR corona test centres like the ones in Frankfurt and Munich at airports worldwide, including India, are seen as a key factor to restore international travel.

The airline industry has been particularly hard-hit as a result of the coronavirus lockdown the world over, with the Lufthansa Group reporting an 80 per cent drop in revenue in the second quarter of the year in financial results released earlier this month.

We are experiencing a caesura (break period) in global air traffic. We do not expect demand to return to pre-crisis levels before 2024. Especially for long-haul routes there will be no quick recovery, said Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, in reference to the results.

We are convinced that the entire aviation industry must adapt to a new normal. The pandemic offers our industry a unique opportunity to recalibrate: to question the status quo and, instead of striving for growth at any price', to create value in a sustainable and responsible way, he said.

As one of Europe's largest airlines, the group is seeing the first signs of recovery on some tourist routes during what is a summer holiday period in Europe and is keen to highlight the safety aspect of flying.

It is important to mention that the risk of contracting the virus during a flight is very low. This is also due to all Lufthansa Group aircraft being equipped with state-of-the-art hepa filters that continuously clean cabin air: all recirculated air is filtered and cleaned of impurities such as dust, bacteria and viruses, explains George Ettiyil.

Start flying and say hello to the world again there is no safer way to travel than on an aircraft, he adds.

Also read: AGR case: SC asks govt, 'should Jio pay for spectrum deal with RCom?'

Also read: Paytm a distant third behind Google Pay, PhonePe in UPI payments
Representative image

Indias urban-rural divide is a theme that attracts policy analysts and the laity alike. It is precisely this divide, which will ensure that the Covid-19 pandemic is going to stay in India for a longer period than any other country on this planet.

Urban hagiographers have in recent months filled up copious columns of newspapers and taken hours of broadcasting time to announce the merits of social distancing and how much the country has changed for the better. The permanent use of masks, sanitary gloves, quality family time spend at home and celebrities waxing eloquent on their daily routine, are the some of the common themes pursued for the benefit of the eager-eyed reader or viewer.

At best, these can be described as urban chimeras. Step out of the National Capital region (NCR) and modern surroundings, and it is good old Bharat: social distancing is unheard off as people gather in huddles for their morning and evening gossip minus any basic protection, societal occasions are celebrated with gusto and petty businesses  best epitomised in goods-laden small mini-trucks ferrying thousands of passengers in close physical proximity  represent what is euphemistically called 'real India'.

This writers trip last week between Delhi and Allahabad, en route Lucknow, Rae Bareli and Kunda, was an eye opener. It is difficult to believe that the prevailing discourse about newly acquired safety norms, that pours relentlessly out of popular media discourse, are wholly alien to the hundreds and millions who inhabit the small suburban towns and villages. No wonder the numbers of those infected in India are rising faster than any other country, even if casualty figures remain low.

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

An average Indian family has five members and 40 percent of all homes have only one room. "In rural India, the concept of social distancing does not exist. A vast population does not wear masks. Only the few educated ones do, points out Badri Narayan, Professor at the Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute, Allahabad, who is also a social historian and cultural anthropologist. "Social distancing is only possible if you have a large house," he adds.

Follow this link to catch the latest on Coronavirus pandemic in India

In UP villageslike many in Indiapeople often live as a community with many families sharing a single water source and working together on farms and fields. In local markets or haats, shoppers stand within touching distance of each other, as was evident in the small villages in Rae Bareli and Kunda.

According to the National Sample Survey (NSS) 76th Round Report, over 78% of Indian households live in a single-floor house; only about 40% of dwelling units have good ventilation. Importantly, an average rural household46 sq metre of dwelling area in allhas just about two living rooms. Under such conditions, maintaining social distancing for an extended period in a country of 130 crore plus people, is asking for the moon.

Add to it Indias population density of 464 per sq km - in China, the world's most populous country, it is 153 and in the US it's just 36  social distancing is a pipedream. It also gives credence to frequent speculation that the numbers of those inflected by the corona virus have been vastly underreported in the country.

In the interior rural areas, there is no fear of the pandemic - infact, far from it. Satya Dubey, a small farmer in a village on the outskirts of Allahabad or Prayagraj (as it is now called) is utterly mystified with the song and dance being created about the virus. Working in a lush paddy field, he is convinced that Covid-19 is a rich man's disease because it came to India from abroad. "There is no problem in the villages. In Prayagraj, there are very few cases. This is an urban phenomenon, he says, without batting an eyelid.

What is true is that UPs rate of testing is far lower than the national average of 3.8 per thousand and that is a cause of concern. Dr VK Monga, Chairman of IMA Hospital Board of India, told a news agency last month that all signs point to the disease now spreading to rural areas. This is a bad sign. It now shows a community spread, he says, setting alarm bells ringing.

The spread of the disease has been made particularly widespread because of the migrant workers who live in congested slum areas or roadsides, often with no access to clean drinking water or toilets. Most are dependent on daily wages.

Also Read: Coronavirus outbreak: Insurers receive just 1,000 death claims despite rising COVID-19 toll

Which gets us to the central question of the effectiveness of the information, education and communication (IEC) campaign, an approach that attempts to reinforce a set of behaviour to a target audience regarding a specific problem in a predefined period.

The importance of health education has been increasingly realised during the last three decades. Its aim is to bring about a change in health behaviour in such a manner that harmful health practices are given up while good ones are reinforced. The current pandemic must be its ultimate touchstone. Apparently, despite the best efforts of all concerned, only a well-informed public is the key to its success. That, sadly, is not the case in rural India where nearly 69% of India resides.

An editorial in monthly health journal Patient Education and Counselling, written by Arnstein Finset et all, hits the nail on the head. The current COVID-19 crisis is a unique situation. Not in the history of mankind has a widespread pandemic been met with such extensive and invasive action from political authorities and the healthcare community.

Ranjit Bhushan is a senior journalist based in Delhi.

However, the communication around the measures taken can be improved in many casesA situation like this requires a broad, interdisciplinary responseEffective health communication is a key factor in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. Alas, the point to be asked is whether such interface has been possible in a vast, underdeveloped state like UP? The answer, in all probability, is No.
A fan Twitter account that reposted paparazzi photos of Ana de Armas has been deactivated.

The account @ArmasUpdates achieved viral fame by tweeting out paparazzi photos of the 32-year-old Knives Out star, who is often pictured with her boyfriend Ben Affleck, 48.

The account made news back in April when the actress blocked it on Twitter.

It's gone: A viral Twitter account that posted paparazzi photos of Ana de Armas, 32, with sarcastic captions has been deactivated. The account reguarly posted photos of her with her beau Ben Affleck, 48; shown in September 2019 in Toronto

The account regularly posted photos, presumably without permission, and included sarcastic captions about Ana's day-to-day life, including her walks with her dogs.

She doesn't seem to have appreciated the humor when she blocked it months ago, though the accounts creator told Paper in April that he was a fan of the actress.

'I never meant for my tweets to be mean-spirited or insulting,' said AJ, who was described as a 23-year-old Texan.

'It was quite the opposite. I started to notice the tweets I made were making the rounds on Twitter and going viral in different places, which leads me to believe that someone that knows her notified her or her management team about the posts. I understand if she or they took it the wrong way, but it was always with good intentions,' he explained.

Not a fan: Ana previously blocked the account in April, though its creator claimed it was all in good fun in an interview with Paper; pictured with Ben Affleck in April

Different interpretations: 'I never meant for my tweets to be mean-spirited or insulting... I understand if she or they took it the wrong way, but it was always with good intentions,' said AJ, a 23-year-old Texan; shown in June

The admin, who called himself a 'dedicated cinephile,' originally wanted to spice up photos of Ana's daily routines with his humorous captions.

'Theres only so much you can say about her leaving the house everyday without it getting boring,' he contended.

'I had to spice it up for the sake of my account. I wanted to have fun and was playfully teasing the aspect of their showy dog walks. I love how she doesnt care that paps are outside her house and shes going to serve a look no matter what, even if that means just going to pick up her dogs poop,' he continued.

'I provided some lighthearted sarcasm in my posts towards her and Ben due to the fact that they were always outside and not following safety precautions in this pandemic that we are currently experiencing.'

AJ was presumably referring to Ana and Ben's lack of mask use on most of their walks, but LA County's mask orders allow residents to go for solitary walks or other recreation without masks as long as they're able to socially distance, as the two actors regularly do.

Violation: The account may have been deactivated by Twitter because it regularly posted copyrighted photos without permission; shown July 1

Seemingly in solidarity with Ana, the official Knives Out Twitter account also blocked @ArmasUpdates.

It's unclear why the account was deactivated, but it's regularly use of copyrighted photos without permission may have led the social media platform to remove it.

Ben and Ana first met during the filming of the Adrian Lynedirected erotic thriller Deep Water, which is based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith and stars Ben as a jealous husband who murders the men his adulterous wife gets close to.

The film, a remake of the 1981 French thriller Eaux Profondes starring Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Louis Trintignant, is currently set for a November 13 release date.

The two took their relationship public in March when they were seen enjoying a vacation in Costa Rica and Ana's native Cuba.

The couple both have a busy schedule ahead of them.

Lovestruck: Ben and Ana met filming the Adrian Lynedirected erotic thriller Deep Water. They went public in March by enjoying a vacation in Costa Rica and Ana's native Cuba

Ana will star as Marilyn Monroe in an adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates' acclaimed novel Blonde, and she'll also appear in the next Bond film, No Time To Die, which will be released on November 20.

Ben will likely have to record some new audio for Zack Snyder's director's cut of Justice League, which will premiere on HBO Max next year.

He was in the midst of filming his supporting role in The Last Duel for director Ridley Scott, which marked his first screenwriting collaboration with Matt Damon since they won Oscars for their Good Will Hunting screenplay.

It was also announced that he'll be directing and starring in a remake of the classic film Witness For The Prosecution.
Hong Kong: Govt to raise US sanctions with WTO

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said today that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will address sanctions imposed by the US with the World Trade Organization.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, Mrs Lam said the sanctions, especially those involving trade, are totally unjustified.

Hong Kong is a separate member of the World Trade Organization. To be mistreated by another member of the World Trade Organization breaches the rules and regulations of this international body. So we will take up with the World Trade Organization against those sanctions.

When asked if the Hong Kong SAR Government can still do overseas promotion work with sanctions imposed on government leaders, Mrs Lam explained that other resources can be utilised to market the city.

Since taking office in 2017, I have not been to the US. I had been planning (to go), but I have not been to there, partly because in 2016, as the Chief Secretary I had done a very extensive US official trip covering three cites - San Francisco, New York and Washington DC.

Without a physical visit by the leader of the Government doesnt mean that we could not do overseas promotion work. We still have three economic and trade offices in America and we have our InvestHK arms which will be very happy to introduce Hong Kongs strengths, especially in the Greater Bay Area, in the financial services to US companies interested in setting up their business in Hong Kong, and we can also work through the chambers.

Mrs Lam emphasised that while the US sanctions imposed on her will be an inconvenience in her personal affairs, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to do what is right for the country and Hong Kong.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
NAPA VALLEY, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Joseph Wagner, a fifth-generation winemaker and Napa Valley native, is embarking on his newest venture with Quilt & Co., a tasting room and lounge in the heart of downtown Napa. Despite the recent pandemic and current limitations in place for tasting rooms, Wagner believes the community is resilient and is pushing forward with the Quilt & Co. opening, giving locals and future tourists something to look forward to. Located next to Wagner's restaurant Avow, the Quilt & Co. tasting room will pay homage to Wagner's Napa Valley Quilt Wines as well as the other wines in his portfolio, including Belle Glos, Boen, Elouan, and small-batch experimental wines bottled exclusively for Quilt & Co. The new tasting room opens August 27th at 807 Main Street in downtown Napa, California.

Beginning today, guests can visit www.QuiltAndCo.com to schedule their reservations for a bespoke tasting experience in downtown Napa. In-person offerings include wine flights, sharable charcuterie boards and food and wine pairings in collaboration with Quilt & Co.'s sister restaurant next door, Avow. For those eager to experience Wagner's newest passion project and are unable to visit in-person, guided virtual wine tasting experiences with a Quilt & Co. staff member are available for groups or individuals.

Born and raised in Napa Valley, Joseph Wagner and his Napa Valley Quilt wines embody the characteristics and values of the region. Wagner designed the Quilt & Co. tasting room to be a pivotal experience allowing consumers the chance to immerse themselves into his signature style, all in one place. His unique blend of fierce independence, curiosity, and focus are what make his wines stand out in the crowd, and guests are invited to explore them through various tasting opportunities that best suit their interests.

Whether guests are visiting Napa or are local and looking for something exciting to enjoy, Quilt & Co. is committed to providing a relaxed and sophisticated experience. With the perfect pairing of location, ambience and wine, Quilt & Co. is another demonstration of Wagner's commitment to his hometown. It is a non-traditional tasting experience within the ever-changing vibrancy that is downtown Napa. For those who want to continue the experience beyond the tasting room and lounge, the Quilt & Co. Wine Club offers two ways to join, plus exclusive members-only benefits including waived tasting fees, complimentary food options, access to the Quilt & Co. lounge, membership discounts, and more. In addition to Joseph's wines, unique keepsake items will be available for purchase to help visitors enjoy and remember their Quilt & Co. experience.

"I created Napa Valley Quilt wines to celebrate the rolling patchwork of vineyards that embody the Napa Valley quilt," shared Joseph Wagner. "Having grown up in Napa, I wanted Quilt & Co. to serve as an expansion of that celebration into a physical tasting room in historic downtown Napa. We look forward to welcoming guests and sharing the unique character of this world-class wine region that I am lucky to call home through this exceptional new experience.

"I've always believed that when folks are exploring wine, they should go with their palate. My goal is that Quilt & Co. will provide wine lovers a chance to experience our wines in an enjoyable, relaxing, and informative setting with the guidance and support of our talented team," added Wagner.

Raised within the day-to-day of Caymus Vineyards (founded by the Wagner family in 1972), Joseph Wagner has spent his entire life farming grapes, learning the art of winemaking, working with his hands, and looking ahead. His passion, natural talent and encouragement from his father led him to create his first wine in 2001, the award-winning Belle Glos Pinot Noir. In 2006, Joseph began crafting Meiomi, an industry-shaking Pinot Noir with bold and robust flavors uncommon in Pinot Noirs at the time. The brand gained so much recognition that it soon became the focal point of the largest non-asset wine sale in history, a deal Wagner made to fund his dreams and aspirations to start his own company while expanding into the hospitality industry with Avow and now Quilt & Co.

Quilt & Co. will open its doors initially in accordance with social distancing guidelines with reservation-only appointments. Those interested in experiencing the Quilt & Co. tasting room are invited to visit www.QuiltAndCo.com to secure their reservations.

About Quilt & Co.

Located in the heart of downtown Napa, the Quilt & Co. Tasting Room & Lounge is a passion project of fifth-generation winemaker Joseph Wagner, who was born and raised in the Napa Valley. This tribute to the character of the Valley, Wagner's signature winemaking style, and the resiliency of the Napa Community opened Summer 2020 and is a place to experience his full portfolio of wines: Belle Glos, Napa Valley Quilt, Boen, Elouan, and more. Joseph's wines have been cherished throughout the world since 2001, and his unique blend of fierce independence, curiosity, and focus are what make them stand out in the crowd. Guests are invited to explore Joseph's wines through various tasting opportunities and by appointment, Thursday through Sunday, 11am  6pm. Book your next Quilt & Co. experience at www.QuiltAndCo.com.

SOURCE Quilt & Co.

Related Links

https://quiltandco.com


Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 22:41:20|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A set of commemorative coupons marking the 600th anniversary of the Forbidden City, the now Palace Museum, were issued on Tuesday.

On the obverse of the coupon is the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian) in front of a bird's eye view of the entire imperial compound, while the reverse depicts a dragon from the Nine-dragon Screen (Jiulong Bi), a porcelain screen standing in the courtyard outside the Gate of Imperial Supremacy.

The coupons were jointly issued by the Palace Museum and the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.

This year marks the 600th anniversary of the Forbidden City, an imperial palace of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, based on which the Palace Museum was built in 1925. Enditem
MLO, AE Jobs; Training, Marketing, Compliance Tools; MI Industry Snapshot; Strong Housing Numbers

Last night I was a hero! I rescued some beer that was trapped in a bottle. All of our lives are changing, and thank you to Lydia O. for sending along, Six Key Takeaways From Pandemic Data on American Households. (From mortgages to mental health) People are out protesting in person against voting in person. Others accuse President Trump of using government email and government mailing lists to campaign for office, in this instance using HUDs distribution list for an opinion piece. Loan officers are talking about a recent email from the NMLS. In a week the State Regulatory Registry (SRR), which manages NMLS on behalf of state agencies, will conduct a survey to obtain input from current, state-licensed mortgage loan originators (MLOs). Through this survey, which will be open for four weeks, SRR will gather information from state licensed MLOs regarding their roles, responsibilities, and job functions, and will use the information to update the National Test. Just be thankful that you dont work for a utility: Due to an aging power grid, climate change, and shareholder budget issues, the United States now claims the title of having more power outages than any other developed country.



Lender and Broker Products and Events

Home Point Financial is one of the fastest-growing lenders in America, and the company is quick to point out that its rapidly increasing numbers are a byproduct of all the success that its wholesale and correspondent partners are achieving, themselves. Home Points partners arent bashful about their affinity for the nations second-largest wholesale lender, either. From Nick Hunter, President & COO of River City Mortgage: [Home Point] is not strictly a 9-to-5. Ill get emails from our rep late at night sometimes. I know thats not customary and its not necessarily expected, but you feel like they care about us as an account, and also our customers. It really does feel like a partnership, that were aligned in the same direction and walking the same path together. To learn more about Home Point and to become a TPO partner, click here.

Technology is wonderful, but all the automation, AI, and other systems cannot account for the person to person nature of the mortgage transaction. Eventually, someone will be engaging with the borrowers individually. Mortgage Sentinel leverages secret shopping to protect lenders from the inherent risks that these interactions create. Through our proprietary reporting and analytics, we help originators grow their sales revenue, improve their training, and reduce compliance risk. Learn more at www.mortgagesentinel.net. Or, see us live at #NEXTSUMMER20s virtual Technology Showcase on August 25.

For the third consecutive year, Total Expert has been named to the elite Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Total Experts end-to-end solution combines intelligent automation with human connection, empowering mortgage lenders to maximize production and create customer-for-life relationships. The fintech company behind the first fully integrated experience platform purpose-built for mortgage lenders also claimed the spot for 3rd fastest-growing company in their home state of Minnesota, and one of the top 40 fastest-growing software companies in the nation. Read the full announcement here.

Future-proof your business. Learn what it takes to be able to respond to market conditions, regulatory changes, and rising consumer expectations with swift action. Forward, Blends virtual summit, brings together industry leaders and Blend executives and partners to unpack tactics lenders can use to master digital agility. Reserve your spot at the September 22-23 summit.

XINNIX is seeing amazing year-to-date-results across their suite of Performance Programs for both experienced loan officers and new mortgage professionals. For months, weve been talking about XINNIXs New Talent Solutions like the award-winning ORIGINATOR Program for new retail loan officers and SOAR, which builds new mortgage operations professionals in as little as 10 days. Year-to-date, ORIGINATOR students are averaging 5.4 applications in their first 30 days of business. Even in todays high-volume market, experienced loan officers are proving they can still be more productive. Year-to-date, XINNIX EDGE students are seeing an average 56% increase in applications while IGNITE students have seen an average 353% increase in face-to-face" meetings (even while working from home). Schedule a call today with a XINNIX Account Executive for more information on how your team could see results like these.

KBW came out with analysis of recent results and predictions for several players in the private mortgage insurance business as we move into through the third quarter of 2020. Although much of this information has already been mentioned in this Commentary, it is good to hear KBWs analysts discuss the news.

Radians June delinquency metrics saw a higher default-to-claim rate assumption on new defaults in Q2, which caused an earnings miss. This was due to a generally more conservative approach versus the other MIs which used lower default-to-claim rates versus their pre-COVID assumptions. Management reminded investors there is plenty of judgment that goes into the analysis. The company also added that the credit outcomes through this cycle should be very similar for all the MIs given the legacy books are so small now, so the bulk of the industry's insured portfolios are fairly similar vintages. Lastly, while there have been analogies made between COVID and natural disasters, the company reasoned that the broader economic impact from COVID is likely to be much longer in duration. Higher incurred losses also reduced the profit commission contribution to net earned premiums.

MGIC reported a miss driven by higher loss provision. Cumulative loss expectations remain roughly unchanged, though the market sentiment on credit names still appears uncertain. The July delinquency rate ticked down from June. MGIC used a 6.6 percent default-to-claim rate on new notices, down from 9.0 percent last quarter. Management explained the use of a lower claim rate assumption as attributing some benefit to borrower financial positions from being able to defer payments for 12 months via the forbearance option. 67 percent of the delinquency inventory at quarter-end and 80 percent of the new notices during 2Q were forbearance-driven. Absent the forbearance option, management noted the assumed claim rate would have been higher.

NMI Holdings operating beat was driven by lower credit losses and lower operating expenses. PMIERs excess capital jumped to $609 million from $158 million last quarter, benefiting from the equity raise and new debt during 2Q, while an ILN transaction post-quarter-end should increase that further. The delinquency rate rose from 0.38 percent at March 31 to 2.90 percent at June 30 and again to 3.78 percent at July 31. Forbearance-driven delinquencies comprised 87 percent of the delinquent inventory in June. Because of the interpretation of two missed payments, NMIH's July 31 data corresponds to June 30 data from the other MIs. Given that a couple pf other MIs have also reported July 31 delinquency rates that declined slightly from June 30 levels, NMIH's delinquent inventory should improve slightly in August. The company used a 7 percent default-to-claim rate assumption on new defaults in 2Q, which is lower than pre-COVID because of their expectation that forbearance, repayment modification, and other assistance programs will allow borrowers to avoid foreclosures and ultimately lead to higher cure rates. Management expects to increase the reserve for forbearance-driven defaults as they age, though likely not to the same extent as pre-COVID defaults. It appears all the MIs are still fine-tuning their approach to this subject.

Essent missed earnings expectations, driven by higher loss provision, partially offset by higher net earned premiums, higher other revenue, and lower operating expenses. PMIERs excess capital dipped to $1.1 billion (77 percent cushion) from $1.2 billion (9 percent cushion). Capital levels benefited from the June equity raise. Essent's IIF growth compares to the aggregate of the 5 MIs to report so far of +7 percent quarter over quarter annualized and +9 percent year over year. The average premium margin ticked down slightly. The company maintained its quarterly dividend, which should trigger a fairly neutral reaction given the broad range of expectations on provisioning for loans in forbearance. Currently, management is not planning to increase reserves for each forbearance-driven delinquencies simply because they age from the 2-3-month bucket to 4-6 months, etc.

Arch MI released its quarterly Housing and Mortgage Market Review report, which examines why housing remains a bright spot amid the uncertain economy as COVID-19 is fueling demand for homes and price growth. Dr. Ralph DeFranco, the Global Chief Economist at Arch Capital Services Mortgage Group, explains in the report why housing and market data during this economic recession is different from the 2008 financial crisis. With low inventory and record low mortgage rates, consumers are flooding the housing market amid the pandemic, which could keep home price growth positive for the year.

Per Dr. DeFranco, the pandemic is boosting housing demand for homes with additional room for home offices, gyms, and remote learning. Increasingly, buyers are looking for primary or second homes located outside big cities, but still within driving distance of their workplaces. They are leveraging historically low mortgage rates to buy properties with more indoor and outdoor space. 2020 began with a large housing shortage, pushing home prices up in all 50 states over the past year, with the fastest growth occurring in Idaho, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The slowest growth rate in home prices occurred in Hawaii, Illinois, North Dakota, Alaska, and Iowa.



Capital Markets

We received a decent bit of good news yesterday, though MBS and Treasuries spent the trading day retracing some of Fridays pullback rather than actually paying attention to the news. Actually, Im not so sure the news was so good, but everything is relative in 2020, so Im all about silver linings. Domestically, stimulus talks continued in Washington, as House Speaker Pelosi called members back from August recess, but agreement still appears a September hope. The Trump administration will tighten restrictions on Huawei and will prevent it from obtaining semiconductors without a special license, as well as restricting another 38 of its affiliates in 21 countries from accessing commercially available chips in an effort to limit adoption of the company's 5G tech. Despite Washingtons decision, and the cancellation of the August 15 trade meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials due to scheduling conflicts with no new date set, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro said the China trade deal is on track during a CNBC interview.

As far as economic releases went, we had a few after the release of yesterdays commentary. The August NAHB Housing Market Index came in well above expectations, and was also above Julys reading. Unfortunately, the August Empire State Manufacturing Survey, which was already expected to drop from July, declined well beyond expectations. The Mortgage Bankers Associations (MBA) latest Forbearance and Call Volume Survey revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased by 23 bps to 7.21 percent of servicers portfolio volume as of August 9, 2020. According to MBAs estimate, 3.6 million homeowners are in forbearance plans. Whats the opposite of a silver lining? A lead one? Federal Housing Administration mortgages, the affordable path to homeownership for many first-time buyers, minorities, and low-income Americans, now have the highest delinquency rate in at least four decades.

Todays economic calendar is just about done and dusted. Weve had July housing starts (+22.6 percent) and building permits (+18.8 percent). Later this morning brings Redbook same store sales for the week ending Aug 15. The Desk is scheduled to conduct just two MBS FedTrade operations, the only day with two operations on the current schedule, starting with $2.821 billion UMBS30 2 percent and 2.5 percent followed by $766 million UMBS15 2 percent and 2.5 percent. We begin the day with Agency MBS prices up/better a few 32nds and the 10-year yielding .68 percent, unchanged from yesterdays closing despite the powerful housing numbers.

Employment and Transitions

Newfi Wholesale is looking to expand our sales team that can offer Fully Delegated Jumbo, Non-QM, Agency, Government both FHA and VA, loan programs. Newfi Wholesale is seeking skilled Wholesale Regional Account Executives for established territories in select geographic areas which are San Francisco Bay Area (East Bay, South Bay) and LA/Ventura County, CA. Newfi Lending is reshaping the mortgage experience through a combination of proprietary technology and innovative product offerings. Our headquarters are located in Emeryville, CA. We are utilizing virtual interviews and onboarding processes and have successfully hired new Team Members. It is an incredible time to join a company with passion for growth and culture. Contact Steve Abreu with resumes or for more information and visit our website.

Thrive Mortgage is expanding again while also continuing to smash production records and closing speeds. Adding to its high-level production talent, Thrive is pleased to announce the additions of Ben Hawkins, Branch Manager in Wilmington, NC, and Steve Hebeisen, Branch Manager in Shreveport, LA. Both Ben and Steve are bringing extensive industry expertise as well as top-performing teams to Thrive. The Operational Support my team and I receive at Thrive is outstanding! stated Hawkins. There is a high degree of care and concern for each client we serve, and it comes through in everything we do. Hebeisen added, Making a transition to a new organization is always daunting, much less during our current environment. But the folks at Thrive made it more seamless than anything Ive ever experienced. If youd like to learn more about available growth opportunities at Thrive, please visit join.thrivemortgage.com or reach out to recruiting@thrivemortgage.com.

Embrace Home Loans, a top-ranked national mortgage lender, is actively recruiting loan officers, underwriters, and loan processors to meet the growing demand for its mortgage products. Embrace has seen its production increase 100 percent so far this year. Embrace is hiring in three origination channels. In Direct-to-consumer, Embrace is hiring mortgage loan officers and mortgage loan associates to add to its current team in Middletown, RI, the companys headquarters. In the Financial Institutions Group, Embrace is adding more loan officers to its partnership program for banks and financial institutions. In its Retail channel, Embrace is aggressively hiring retail loan officers in its current branch footprint along the East Coast. The company is also considering strategic growth by opening branches in new markets along the East Coast. In addition, Embrace is seeking branch-based processors, remote underwriters, and closers to be located in Middletown. Visit Embraces Careers Page to learn more.

Congratulations to Jim Wilson who was recently appointed President & CEO of Northeast Home Loan to oversee all aspects of Northeast Home Loans mortgage banking activity, a wholly owned subsidiary of Passumpsic Bank headquartered in Vermont.
US President Donald Trump has elevated America's ties with India and solidified the growing partnership between the two countries in ways not seen in any previous administrations, the White House has said. The US president will continue to build this critical partnership in the years to come, it asserted.

"President Trump has prioritised US-India relationship and worked to expand all facets of the partnership over the last three-and-a-half years," a senior administration official from the National Security Council of the White House told PTI on Monday. "Given the two countries' democratic foundations and their mutual interests in rebuilding the global economy following COVID-19, diversifying global supply chains, and ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open, President Trump will continue to build this critical partnership in the years to come," the official said.

"The Trump Administration has elevated the US relationship with India and solidified our growing partnership in ways not seen in any other US administration," the official said, noting that the president has enabled India to become the first non-treaty ally to be offered an armed MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System.

"During President Trump's historic visit to India February 24-26, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the relationship to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Modi was also one of the first foreign leaders to visit the White House after President Trump took office on June 26, 2017," the official said.

The senior official noted the two leaders have also spoken side-by-side at two major events "Howdy, Modi" in September 2019 in Houston, Texas, before a crowd of over 55,000 and again at "Namaste, Trump" in February 2020 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to address a crowd of 110,000 people.

"These gatherings boosted our people-to-people ties and highlighted the warm personal relationship between the two leaders," the official said. Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy prioritises closer cooperation between the United States and India to secure a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, said the official.

"We have boosted quadrilateral consultations among the United States, India, Australia and Japan, with the four foreign ministers meeting for the first time in September 2019," the official said. "President Trump has strengthened all aspects of US-India security and defence cooperation to build a comprehensive, enduring, and mutually beneficial defense partnership," the official said.

Under the Trump Administration, the United States has become the second-largest arms supplier to India, growing from virtually no arms sales a decade ago to more than USD20 billion today, the official said, adding that earlier this year, the US and India concluded USD3 billion in defence sales, including MH-60R naval helicopters and additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

"To bolster India's role as a net provider of security in the Indo-Pacific, the Trump administration has lifted restrictions on the provision of sensitive defence technology, enabling India to become the first non-treaty ally offered an armed MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System," the official said.

"As global leaders with vibrant democracies, the United States and India have cooperated to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. US and Indian pharmaceutical companies have collaborated to expand global supplies of critical medicines and are cooperating on vaccine development," the official added.

In a separate statement, Al Mason, co-chair for the Trump Victory Indian American Finance Committee, said Trump has elevated India's stature on the world stage, and asserted that credit also goes to Prime Minister Modi. "Of course, due credit also goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his skilled policy towards the US. The India-US relationship has been rock solid. Kudos to the brilliance of both Trump and Modi for cementing the bond between India and US," Mason told PTI.

Also read: US Elections 2020: Donald Trump never intervened in Kashmir issue, says campaign team
 Flash

China urges Canada to immediately release Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou and let her return to China safely, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday.



"We once again urge Canada to take seriously China's solemn position and concern, immediately release Meng Wanzhou and let her return to China safely," spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily press briefing.

Zhao made the comments when answering a reporter's question that the Supreme Court of British Columbia will hold a hearing on the Meng Wanzhou case on Aug. 17 local time to discuss the disclosure of evidence and information.

"China's position on the Meng Wanzhou case is consistent and clear," Zhao said. "The evidence that has been made public reveals clearly that the United States and Canada have abused their bilateral extradition treaty and arbitrarily took compulsory measures against a Chinese citizen, which severely violates the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese citizen," Zhao said.

He said that the intention of the United States is to oppress Huawei and other Chinese high-tech firms, and Canada is its accomplice. "This is a serious political incident. This is not only China's view, but also a conclusion shared by the rest of the international community including insightful people in the U.S. and Canada."

The Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its citizens and enterprises, and support Chinese enterprises and individuals in safeguarding their rights and interests through legal means, Zhao said.
Dr V K Paul, member - health, Niti Aayog told reporters on Tuesday that the government would review its guidelines for testing to make it available on a on-demand basis for the general population even as the daily number of tests crossed a record of nearly 900,000 tests. We will review the guidelines looking at the capacity and access to people. We are almost there.

We have to make sure resources are used for the very best purpose. Frivolous use is not desirable, Paul said. Even as India inches closer to three million cases, the daily increase over the last five days ...
To the Editor,

Following is a letter I sent to Postmaster General DeJoy, copying President Trump:

I am appalled by not only your appointment to the position of Postmaster General, but the actions youve taken in your present position. This is corruption at its highest level. Following are justifications for my opinion:

1) Your appointment was purely political as a big donor to Mr. Trump. You have no experience that would qualify you to do this important job.

2) You have tens of millions of dollars invested in Post Office competitors. That is certainly conflict of interest.

3) You have disallowed overtime, making first-class mail delivery slower. This back-up in mail delivery will continue, making delivery slower and slower. People depend on first-class mail on-time delivery.

4) Removal and dismantling of sorting machines that can sort 35,000 pieces of mail per hour. This, too, will delay mail. How many postal workers would it take to sort 35,000 pieces of mail per hour?

5) Removal of mail boxes, making it inconvenient for people to utilize Post Office services.

I can only interpret these actions as an effort to interfere with the American publics right to mail in their ballots for the upcoming election. Also, I am sending this letter to be printed as a letter-to-the-editor in some local newspapers.

Karen Wilson

Alton
Stand-up comedian Yang Mengqi. [For China Daily]

It's no joke being a woman stand-up comedian. In any other walk of life you would be judged a failure if people laughed out loud at your work. But all joking aside, one Shanghai comedian is making a success of it.

Working as a sales director in the daytime, Yang Mengqi (also known as Norah Yang) does stand-up at various clubs and pubs at night in Shanghai. She performs both in English and Chinese.

In a world of stand-up comedy dominated by men, the 32-year-old admits the journey was exactly a belly of laughs.

"Compared to our male counterparts, women comedians face greater challenges," Yang says. "We have to handle some topics, which are considered-in the traditional point of view-indecent for a woman to speak of, in a smart way."

She hopes that more women can show their talent onstage.

Breaking into the spotlight in late 2016, Yang has performed hundreds of shows across China, the United States, Thailand and Japan. She has opened for big-name touring acts, including Mark Normand and Kate Willett. She attended the 2018 San Francisco Comedy Competition.

She has gone viral on social media after participating in the ongoing season of Rock and Roast, a show to promote stand-up comedy culture.

A judge on the show, Li Dan, commented that her act "brings a sense of oppression", claiming she spent too much time talking about her education background and decent job.

Li's comments on Yang have been a hot topic on Zhihu, a Chinese equivalent of Quora, which has been viewed more than 1 million times.

Stand-up comedian Yang Mengqi performs in Shanghai. [For China Daily]

Some netizens commented that good humor should be self-deprecating, reducing distance between the comedian and the audience.

Although shocked at the time, Yang reflects on her performance and says: "The biggest problem was that it failed to make people laugh."

In her later shows, she used Li's comment as her material to laugh at herself. She joked that in many people's eyes, she is a very arrogant Shanghai native, whose daily image is with an identification card in her left hand, a graduation card in her right and property ownership certificates on her waist.

If you cannot get enough of the Amazon's breakout comedy The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Yang's story is definitely what you expect to read.

Like Maisel, Yang has an idyllic life-born in Shanghai, in a supportive family, been to good schools and a well-paid job. She found her hidden talent after a heartbreaking breakup.

Getting her bachelor's degree in English linguistics and literature in Fudan University in Shanghai in 2010, she graduated from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business in the US for her master's degree in management studies in 2011. Then she worked in Hong Kong for about five years, where she went to her first stand-up show live in English. She came back to work in Shanghai in 2016.

The art form impressed her. When she and her boyfriend broke up, it was like a catalyst that motivates her to explore her hidden talent in stand-up comedy.

"I wanted to break up with the old me and stand-up came to my mind," she says.

Her first English stand-up show at the Shanghai's Kungfu Komedy Club failed to make the grade.

"As the only woman comedian, it lasted five minutes with most of the audience being male and foreign. In the first four minutes there was no laugh," Yang remembers.

But the club's owner, Andy Curtain, who is an Australian comedian, encouraged her to come back onstage, believing in her talent.

"It is really important for comedians, especially women, to have someone to encourage them when they first enter the industry," she says, adding that although new comedians come every week, women are easier to drop.

Since then, she has been frequently showing up in nightclubs and bars, but didn't tell her parents what she was up to.

At the beginning, they were worried, "but now they support me. They have inspired more than half of my jokes", Yang says.

But they still think it is not a good career for a woman and may scare men away, because the traditional path expected to be taken by most Chinese women in their 30s is to find a husband and start a family.

But for Yang, "a man who really appreciates me will understand my career, which makes me shine".

Dating back to the 1800s, stand-up comedy has been a popular art form in Europe and North America. Still a new thing in China, open mic nights first emerged in big cities, like Beijing and Shanghai, in 2009.

The successful stand-up comedy shows, such as 80's Talk Show and Rock and Roast, have seen comic style grow roots in China, attracting many young fans. The performance by humorist Joe Wong, born in Jilin province, at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, has inspired Chinese comedians to bring Chinese humor into the American-style art form.

As a bilingual comedian, Yang gradually gets her own observation and understanding about the difference between English and Chinese stand-up comedies.

"For English and Chinese, it is similar in the topics, such as difference between men and women, conflicts between old generation and young, and regional differences," Yang says.

However, the cultures behind is different, she adds.

One example she explains about the difference is her routine about "ironman". Her joke goes like, "If China stopped exporting iron, there will not be Ironman, there will only be man." It works for English speakers, but not for a Chinese audience, according to Yang.

British online newspaper The Independent described her performance as "there's an international quality to her comedy, coupled with levels of calm and confidence that belie her youth".

For Yang, comedy comes first. In her future plan, she wants to quit her sales director job and focus on her comedian career.

(Source: China Daily)
Armed violence in Burkina Faso has internally displaced a record one million people in the country over the past year and a half, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and crop failures due to climate change, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

This is a 1000% increase of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the country since January 2019, when there was approximately 87,000 displaced people, Tom Peyre-Costa, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Central and West Africa spokesman tells RFI.

There have been 184 attacks against civilians since the beginning of 2020, according to the Burkinabe Council for Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation (CONASUR). And the country suffered more jihadist attacks than any Sahelian country in 2019, according to the International Crisis Group.

This is also combined with climate issuesinsufficient rainfall, and obviously the pandemic, which is exacerbating the needs of the people, adds Peyre-Costa.

He said that there are not substantial health statistics because of few opportunities for people to take Covid-19 tests, but the socio-economic impact countrywide is devastating.

The crops are not being harvested because people are being displaced or there are no crops because of the lack of rainfall, the prices of goods and food are rising, and the markets are being closed due to restrictions, says Payre-Costa.

He maintains that some 10% of the population do not have enough food, which is about two million people.

The worst pockets are in the north, in the Sahel region, Boucle de Mouhoun, but also in the center-north, and the East, he says, adding that it is the biggest increase in the West Africa Sahel region.

More violence has hit the eastern part of the country over the last 15 days, as armed men burnt down 16 schools.

Obviously the needs are exacerbated in Mali and Niger, but in terms of new displacement, Burkina Faso is skyrocketing, he adds.

While the government and humanitarian organisations are working to help those in need, Payre-Costa says that NRC has only had 30% of their response funded, which is not enough.

This 1 million number should really be a wakeup call for the international community about the daily violence against civilians, he says.
Appello a segnalarsi per effettuare un tampone per il coronavirus per circa 200 persone che hanno frequentato la discoteca "Il Colle di Alseno", in provincia di Piacenza, nella sera tra il 14 e il 15 di agosto.

Proprio quella notte, infatti, si trovava nel locale una ragazza appena rientrata da Malta e risultata poi positiva al Covid-19.

A comunicarlo le autorita sanitarie di Parma e Piacenza, che hanno poi precisato come si tratti, in realta, di una "decisione precauzionale".

"Si tratta in tutto di circa 200 persone, alcune residenti nella nostra provincia, altre nel piacentino - spiega Silvia Paglioli, direttore Servizio Igiene e Sanita Pubblica dell'Ausl di Parma - Grazie alla collaborazione del gestore del locale che ha diligentemente tracciato tutti i titolari dei biglietti di ingresso, abbiamo la lista di chi era in discoteca tra il 14 e il 15 agosto. Stiamo contattando i residenti a Parma e provincia tramite e-mail e al telefono. L'invito a sottoporsi a tampone e una scelta presa in via precauzionale, considerato anche che numerose persone ci hanno contattato preoccupate".

 Riproduzione riservata

(Unioneonline/v.l.)
From a certain vantage point on a certain graph, Michigans coronavirus curve looks close to flat.

When you look at the seven-day rolling average of new COVID-19 cases, Michigans graph took a dip in early June, after the stay-at-home orders had been in place for some time. Then it slowly climbed back up and looks to hit a plateau by late July or early August.

From Aug. 1 until Aug. 13, the seven-day rolling average of new cases stayed between 648 and 760, a variation of fewer than 100 cases. Thats less variable than the seven-day averages were in July, when it varied by 407 cases over the month, or June, when it varied by 199 cases.

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The Supreme Court will pronounce judgment on Wednesday on actor Rhea Chakrabortys petition for transfer of FIR filed against her alleging abetment of actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death to Mumbai. Chakraborty, in her petition to the apex court, had sought the transfer of case from Patna to Mumbai jurisdiction. The judgement will be given by a bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy at 11 am.

Accusing Rhea of abetting his sons suicide, KK Singh, Rajputs father, filed an FIR in Patna on June 25 against her, her parents (including mother Sandhya Chakraborty), Showik, Rajputs manager Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi and unknown persons accusing them of cheating and abetting his sons death. Singh has also alleged financial irregularities and siphoning off Rs 15 crore in his sons bank account in one year to an unknown persons account, who is not known or connected to the late actor.

Also read| Rhea Chakrabortys financial transactions clear, nothing incriminating: Lawyer

Challenging the jurisdiction of the Bihar police in the matter, Rhea in her petition, had sought the transfer of case from Patna to Mumbai stating that the alleged crime took place in Mumbai and the power to look into the matter was with the Mumbai police. CBI took over the probe on August 5 on a request by the Bihar police.

The 34 -year-old Bollywood actor was found dead in his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14. The Mumbai police found the cause of death to be asphyxia due to hanging and filed an accidental death report (ADR), but is yet to register an FIR in connection with the death.

Rajputs death sparked a tussle between Maharashtra and Bihar police, with both authorities running to secure power to investigate the case, with the former arguing that Bihar completely lacks jurisdiction in the matter.

Amid the legal tangle involved in this case, heightened media attention and sensationalizing of the case has been another ground for Rhea to demand transfer of the case to Mumbai. In her last submission to the Court, Rhea said that the Court could use its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to order a CBI probe but allowing the same based on transfer of the case from Patna to Mumbai will be without jurisdiction and contrary to law.

Also read: Rhea Chakraborty releases statement: Sushant Singh Rajputs sister groped me, familys allegations fabricated

Incidentally, soon after Sushants death, Rhea tweeted demanding CBI probe and tagged Union Home Minister Amit Shah on her tweet.
Appalachian Power Co. is defending what critics call an improper accounting practice used to justify its request for a rate increase.

The company exercised its statutory rights in December 2019 pursuant to the plain and unambiguous text of the law that was in effect at the time, it said in a filing Friday with the State Corporation Commission.

In seeking to raise base rates  which would amount to a 6.5% increase for residential customers and a 5% overall hike  Appalachian listed the costs of the early retirement of coal-fired power plants to offset its earnings in 2019.

That brought the utilitys return on equity over a three-year period to below the 9.4% rate authorized by the SCC, which in turn allowed it to seek a rate increase. But opponents pointed out that the shutdowns actually occurred in 2015 and 2016, before the 2017 beginning of a three-year period on which a rate increase is based.

Witnesses for the Virginia Attorney Generals Division of Consumer Counsel called the practice unconscionable in prefiled testimony with the SCC, saying it would lead to an unjustified increase for ratepayers.

The SCC is scheduled to hold a hearing starting Sept. 14 on the rate increase, which would take effect early next year if approved.

In July, the Virginia Poverty Law Center  one of nearly a dozen participants in the regulatory case  asked the commission to rule in advance of the hearing whether a law passed this year prevents Appalachians accounting practices.

No such ruling is necessary, the utility responded last week, in part because the rate increase proposal was filed in March, well before the July 1 effective date of the new law. Supporters say the law should apply retroactively to prevent exactly what Appalachian is trying to do.

However, the utility noted its intention to list the costs of early retirements of coal plants in the triennial reporting period to its independent auditor and in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notably, neither the Companys independent auditors nor any federal commissions have found the impairment to be incorrectly determined or unreasonable, Appalachians filing states.

The coal plants, including ones in Giles and Russell counties, could have kept operating, but Appalachian determined it would be too costly to make changes that were required to bring them into compliance with new environmental regulations.

In an unrelated action Friday, the SCC sent a letter to state lawmakers that provided a sample of what is owed to utilities by customers who have been unable to pay their bills because of financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 16, the SCC ordered utilities not to cut off the service of those customers until further notice. While the move was intended to offer temporary protection for consumers, it does not absolve them of the debts.

The amount owed to Appalachian, which has about 500,000 customers in the western part of the state, was $20.8 million.

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Keynote addresses at the Democratic National Convention over the years have turned previously little-known names into party stars. Future Texas Gov. Ann Richards and future President Barack Obama were keynote speakers early in their careers.

This year, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden selected not one, but 17 rising stars from across the country as keynote speakers sharing a virtual stage Tuesday.

One of them is Pennsylvania State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a North Philadelphia native and the only Black and LGBTQ person elected to the state legislature. Instead of speaking live before thousands, hell watch his prerecorded remarks while sipping tequila at home with his fiance.

Kenyatta is one of several speakers with local ties who will take the virtual stage this week, with the convention once planned for Milwaukee going online-only because of the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle, who represents Northeast Philadelphia, and Conor Lamb, who represents a Trump-friendly district outside Pittsburgh, also will deliver short speeches Tuesday as part of the Rising Stars keynote.

Former New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman, a Republican who backs Biden, spoke Monday night. On Thursday, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Delaware Sen. Chris Coons are slated.

We asked Kenyatta, 30, a Temple University graduate and longtime community activist, about the political career thats led him to his moment. The conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Howd you get into politics?

I was living on Woodstock Street, and I was 11 or 12 years old, talking about all the issues I saw on the block. Ill never forget my mother  my mother was a tough black woman ... and she said, Well, boy, if you care so much, go do something about it. So I ran for junior block captain. If you go down to Woodstock, the little sign the city put up, A junior block captain cares for this block, is still there.

 READ MORE: Michelle Obama warns at DNC that Donald Trump is in over his head

How would you describe your political career since?

Its not lost on me that every time I walk into the House chamber, Im one of the youngest members, one of only two members who openly identifies as LGBTQ, the only one who is a person of color. I grew up in a working family, so I come in with a perspective that is not common in the place that I work.

So often, working people and young people, were asked to work on other peoples campaigns, were asked to wait our turn, but I think the time for turns is over.

Is Joe Biden a working person? Tell me why you chose to back Biden shortly after he got into the race.

That is one of the reasons. He grew up in a very working-class family; he was the poorest member of Congress. He is someone who I felt really possessed the character, confidence, and compassion that we needed in this moment.

 READ MORE: Pa. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta to fellow lawmakers: You can boo but its true! | Jenice Armstrong

Yes, I have an incredibly progressive voting record. There are areas where I would support a more aggressive approach, but I think one of the things I love about Joe Biden is that he really listens. I introduced a bill called Philips Law, about a young boy in my district, 11 years old, who died by suicide. Suicide prevention is deeply emotional to me. [The bill] would require schools to report a ratio of how many mental health professionals we have per student. I talked to Biden about this in New Hampshire.... He made it part of his LGBTQ plan.

Do you have political aspirations beyond Harrisburg?

Im getting a bunch of people identifying a bunch of different things I could run for, but theres no other role I could imagine. I went to school at Temple, my parents met on campus, and because we moved a lot, Ive lived in almost every section of the district. I dont know if theres a role that would be as fulfilling as representing literally the community that raised me.

Youve been very involved in the Biden campaign and theyve highlighted your support. What message do you think theyre hoping you get out to voters?

Its something Ive been saying over and over  leadership matters. Good government matters. And were in a position right now where there has been a vacuum of leadership. Across the country you see young people at [the] state and local level, congressional, stepping up and filling the void that has been left by the president, and I think Joe Biden is going to be able to fill that void.

You, Boyle, and Lamb are all speaking. Thats a pretty robust showing from Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is an important state, and I think [Biden] understands, that and he picked a cross-section of people who, in their own different ways, represent communities dealing with those challenges. We have a really big mess on our hands, from the way that Trumps trade wars bankrupted dairy farmers to the way his racism, sexism, homophobia has affected marginalized groups, to the very real continued progress we need on gun violence and police reform.

Pre-recording a speech isnt quite the same as walking onto a huge convention stage. How are you feeling?

I dont know if Ill ever get over the fact that a poor, black, gay kid from North Philly is about to be on this stage. And obviously its a bunch of us and its prerecorded, but I think thats the reality  there isnt just one future leader, there are a bunch of people at all different levels of government who are stepping up to do a bunch of different things.

My hope is that I can be the role model that I didnt have growing up. That theres some gay kid watching somewhere whos like, You know what ... I can do that too.
By 2022, the Bosch plant in Eisenach intends to cover its own power requirements with PV systems and the exclusive purchase of electricity from wind power.

Renewable energies are one of the key levers on the road to climate neutrality. That is why Bosch is expanding its own power generation at its locations and, in the long term, will purchase electricity from renewable sources.

To this end, the technology and services company is concluding three exclusive long-term contracts for photovoltaic (PV) electricity with the suppliers RWE, Statkraft, and Vattenfall. Despite the current challenging situation caused by the corona pandemic, Bosch is continuing to pursue its climate protection plans with determination: Climate change never stops - and neither do we. We want to achieve our ambitious goal of no longer leaving a CO footprint by the end of the year, says Volkmar Denner, CEO of the Bosch Group. This is an ambitious goal, but  according to Bosch, all 400 Bosch locations worldwide are to be climate-neutral by the end of the year  the German locations have been climate-neutral since the end of 2019, according to the company.

Increasing energy efficiency

In order to achieve CO 2 neutrality, Bosch is investing not only in renewable energy supplies, but above all in energy efficiency at its locations. For example, the company intends to further improve the ecological quality of CO 2 's carbon footprint by 2030 with the help of these two measures. As a short-term lever, Bosch also purchases green electricity from existing plants and compensates unavoidable CO 2 emissions with selected climate protection measures. We are making faster progress with our measures than expected, said Denner. Bosch intends to significantly increase the percentage of renewable energies in consumption. Bosch intends to achieve this with the three new long-term contracts for PV electricity. In 2019, the company will have emitted a total of around 1.94 million tons of CO 2 worldwide  around a third less than in the previous year.

The climate goals of Bosch.

100,000 MW/h from new photovoltaic parks

With the three plants planned by the contractual partners RWE, Statkraft and Vattenfall, Bosch intends to produce an annual volume of more than 100,000 MW/h from 2021 onwards - equivalent to the annual electricity requirements of up to 30,000 private households. Under optimal PV conditions, the maximum generation capacity is sufficient to cover the entire electricity requirements of the plants in Feuerbach, Homburg, and Bamberg simultaneously, calculated on an hourly basis. The long-term contracts replace part of Bosch's green electricity purchases from existing regenerative plants and run for between 12 and 16 years. Supplies from Statkraft already began in May.



The Bosch Group is also aiming for such long-term contracts outside Germany. In Mexico, for example, the company already covers up to 80 percent of its electricity needs with New Clean Power. Many of the Bosch locations there receive electricity from a newly constructed wind farm operated by the energy group Enel, which produces around 105,000 MW/h per year. The cooperation with Enel has been concluded for a period of 15 years.

Covering energy requirements with in-house power generation

In addition to the activities on renewable energy sources, Bosch is increasing its own power supply: The company currently generates around 60,000 MW/h per year from almost 50 PV systems at its own locations. At the Bosch site in Nashik, India, the largest plant of its kind in the Indian automotive industry has been built. Overall, the volume of electricity generated by the company's own regenerative power supply is expected to grow to 400,000 MW/h by 2030. A photovoltaic system at the Bosch plant in Hemaraj, Thailand, with an annual power generation of 1,300 MW/h is scheduled for completion in 2020.

Stationary fuel cell Wernau.

Bosch also operates projects for energy generation in the fields of hydropower and biomass. New approaches such as heat and electricity from hydrogen are also part of the energy supply. Last year, for example, the prototype of a stationary fuel cell developed by Bosch was put into operation at the Homburg and Bamberg locations. The fuel cell covers peak demand for electrical energy.



In Salzgitter, Bosch is working together with the Fraunhofer Institute and other companies based there to set up a hydrogen center, the Hydrogen Campus, which is funded by the city and state of Lower Saxony. In addition, a fuel cell pilot plant based on SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) technology was put into operation at the Bosch training center in Wernau at the end of June.



A flagship project is under construction in Thuringia: By 2022, the Bosch plant in Eisenach plans to cover its own electricity needs with PV systems and exclusive use of electricity from wind power. It also plans to minimize its energy requirements with a sophisticated energy management system based on artificial intelligence.
NAIROBI, Kenya  The captain of the ship that ran aground in Mauritius and spilled about 1,000 tons of oil into the Indian Ocean has been arrested, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

The captain, Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar, was arraigned in a district court in the countrys capital, Port Louis, on the charge of endangering the safe navigation of a vessel, an offense under Mauritian maritime laws.

Mr. Nandeshwar, an Indian national, was arrested alongside the chief officer of the ship, Tilak Ratna Suboda, a Sri Lankan. The two were taken into police custody and will appear again in court on Aug. 25, Ilshad Munsoor, Mr. Nandeshwars lawyer, said in a phone interview.

The island nation of about 1.3 million people is still grappling with how to protect its world-renowned coral reefs and crystal-clear lagoons after the spill.
BAKU  An activist of Azerbaijan's opposition Popular Front Party (AXCP) has been released from prison after completing a four-year sentence on charges he claimed were politically motivated.

Upon his release on the morning of August 18, Fuad Ahmadli told RFE/RL that his arrest was part of ongoing attacks by the authorities on AXCP members.

Asked about his time behind bars, Ahmadli said, It wasnt that difficult. He added that he felt proud for coming through it.

Ahmadli was arrested in August 2016 and charged with stealing the personal data of clients of the mobile operator Azerfon, where he worked at the time.

The following year, the Baku Court for Serious Crimes tried and found him guilty of giving to a third party illegally obtained personal data from a mobile operator's clients.

"By handing down this unfair and ordered-from-above verdict, you are adding yourselves to history's dark pages," Ahmadli told the court after his verdict was announced on June 16, 2017.

Critics of Azerbaijans longtime President Ilham Aliyev's government say authorities in the oil-rich Caspian Sea state frequently seek to silence dissent by jailing opposition activists, journalists, and civil society advocates on trumped-up charges.

Dozens of activists from the AXCP were detained or arrested on administrative or criminal charges following a rally in Baku on July 14.

Late in the protest, a group of people briefly stormed into the parliament building before they were removed by police.

After that incident, prosecutors launched a widening criminal investigation against some alleged participants.

Critics claim that the case is part of an effort by the authorities to eliminate political dissent in Azerbaijan.
South Africa's University of Witwatersrand on Monday started the second COVID-19 vaccine trial in the country, said the institution.

Shabir Madhi, Executive Director of the South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (VIDA) at Wits and the Faculty of Health Sciences Dean-elect, will lead the Phase 2 trial of the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine, which is produced by US-based biotech company Novavax.

Madhi said the trial will enroll up to 2,904 volunteers aged 18-64 years and evaluate if the nanoparticle S-protein, in the COVID-19 vaccine protects against the disease in these age group.

"The major motivation for COVID-19 vaccines being evaluated at an early stage in South Africa is to generate evidence in the African context on how well these vaccines work in settings such as our own. This would enable informed decision-making when advocating for the adoption of this or other COVID-19 vaccines in African countries, once they are shown to be safe and effective," said Madhi.

He is also leading the South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial launched on June 23, in association with the University of Oxford and the Jenner Institute.

"Participating in the clinical development of these vaccines at the outset will assist in advocating for South Africans to be amongst the first in line to access these life-saving vaccines, once they become available," he said.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded Novavax a 15 million USD grant towards the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy trial in South Africa.

The South African study is part of a larger, global clinical program to evaluate NVX-CoV2373, including a larger Phase 3 studies with approximately 30,000 participants, to be launched throughout the world.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Cataingan, Philippines  Tue, August 18, 2020 15:00 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ecb0a6 2 SE Asia Philippines,earthquake,natural-calamities,natural-disaster Free

At least one person was killed and 43 injured when a 6.6-magnitude earthquake shook the central Philippines on Tuesday, sending residents fleeing their homes and damaging buildings and roads.

The shallow quake struck southeast of Masbate Island in the Bicol region at 8:03 am (0003 GMT), the US Geological Survey said.

"There are a lot of damaged houses," said Staff Sergeant Antonio Clemente in Cataingan, a town of about 50,000 people on the impoverished island several kilometers west of the epicenter in the Samar Sea.

"It was really strong."

Local radio station reporter Christopher Decamon said he saw emergency workers pull the body of a man from the rubble of a three-story house on the outskirts of Cataingan. The man's wife escaped unharmed.

The earthquake "was really strong. Our people were broadcasting at the time but they just ran out of the building," Decamon told AFP by telephone.

Police confirmed the man's death. Sixteen people were also injured in the town.

In nearby Palanas, at least 27 people were injured after being hit by falling objects or when their motorbikes crashed as the ground moved in the town, Chris Adique, a municipal disaster officer, told DZBB radio.

None were in a critical condition, he added.

Search and rescue efforts were still under way in the region.

The quake struck as the archipelago battles surging numbers of coronavirus infections, with more than 164,000 cases and restrictions on movement that vary across the country.

A lockdown affecting a quarter of the population, including the capital Manila, will be eased Wednesday.

"These natural disasters are a part of our lives and we always recover," said Harry Roque, spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte.

"People should not worry about getting relief assistance. They will be provided."

Palanas police chief Captain Alvin Guerina told AFP that several patients, including a pregnant woman about to go into labor, were evacuated from a hospital as a precaution in case of aftershocks.

So far, at least 24 aftershocks have been recorded by the Philippine seismology office, with the strongest registering at 3.8 magnitude.

'Dizzying'

A video posted on Facebook and verified by AFP showed light damage to a food market in Cataingan.

Overturned buckets and small fish were scattered on the ground and chunks of cement had fallen from a pillar. People stood outside on the street.

Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon tweeted photos taken by his colleagues showing buildings in Cataingan with corrugated iron roofs fallen in.

Other photos taken in nearby Uson town show a sealed road with a large crack across it.

The quake was felt hundreds of kilometers away.

In the city of Iloilo about 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Masbate in the neighboring Visayas region, residents ran out onto the streets.

"It was strong, dizzying," police Colonel Eric Dampal told AFP.

"Almost everyone inside buildings rushed to the streets."

The Philippines is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

A 6.8-magnitude quake struck the southern island of Mindanao in December, killing at least three people, injuring dozens and damaging buildings.

It hit as the island was still recovering from a string of deadly quakes in October.
Kanpur police have launched a plasma donors group to supplement donations at the newly set up plasma bank at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College (GSVM medical college) here.

The initiative was launched in the wake of poor response to the plasma bank which received a mere five units of plasma between July 15 and August 10. So far, 73 policemen (including 26 PAC jawans) have been infected and 42 who recovered are eligible for donation and will do so, soon, said Dr Anil Kumar, SP, Kanpur West.

Our efforts to motivate the public seem to be working as people are now volunteering to donate plasma. Hopefully, their number will increase, said Dr Lubna Khan, head of blood bank at GSVM medical college.

The plasma therapy is effective in moderate cases and prevents patients from going into a critical state, she said, appealing to the public to donate plasma.

As of now, only one policeman, inspector Satish Chandra Sahu, has donated plasma which helped two patients recover from the infection.

Since March 23, when the first Covid-19 case was reported in a Nawabgunj residential colony, the city has added 10,107 infections and close to 6,000 people have recovered. Half of those who recovered can donate plasma as per the protocol while the rest can do so once their quarantine period is over.

DIG, PAC, R L Verma said 26 jawans currently under treatment at L1 Covid-19 hospital would also be among the donors.

Deputy SP Ajay Kumar, who was transferred to Faizabad last week, said,Before leaving on new assignment, I will donate plasma at the blood bank. Everyone who has recovered should do this. In May, Kumar had tested Covid positive and had to be put on ventilator before he beat the infection.
Weve known from the beginning how the end will arrive. Eventually, the coronavirus will be unable to find enough susceptible hosts to survive, fading out wherever it briefly emerges.

To achieve so-called herd immunity  the point at which the virus can no longer spread because there are not enough vulnerable humans  scientists have suggested that perhaps 70% of a given population must be immune, through vaccination or because they survived the infection.

Now some researchers are wrestling with a hopeful possibility. In interviews with The New York Times, more than a dozen scientists said that the threshold is likely to be much lower: just 50%, perhaps even less. If thats true, then it may be possible to turn back the coronavirus more quickly than once thought.

The new estimates result from complicated statistical modeling of the pandemic, and the models have all taken divergent approaches, yielding inconsistent estimates. It is not certain that any community in the world has enough residents now immune to the virus to resist a second wave.

But in parts of New York, London and Mumbai, India, for example, it is not inconceivable that there is already substantial immunity to the coronavirus, scientists said.

Im quite prepared to believe that there are pockets in New York City and London which have substantial immunity, said Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. What happens this winter will reflect that.

The question of what it means for the population as a whole, however, is much more fraught, he added.

Herd immunity is calculated from the epidemics so-called reproductive number, R0, an indicator of how many people each infected person spreads the virus to.

The initial calculations for the herd immunity threshold assumed that each community member had the same susceptibility to the virus and mixed randomly with everyone else in the community.

That doesnt happen in real life, said Dr. Saad Omer, director of the Yale Institute for Global Health. Herd immunity could vary from group to group, and subpopulation to subpopulation, and even by postal codes, he said.

For example, a neighborhood of older people may have little contact with others but succumb to the virus quickly when they encounter it, whereas teenagers may bequeath the virus to dozens of contacts and yet stay healthy themselves. The virus moves slowly in suburban and rural areas, where people live far apart, but zips through cities and households thick with people.

Once such real-world variations in density and demographics are accounted for, the estimates for herd immunity fall. Some researchers even suggested the figure may be in the range of 10% to 20%, but they were in the minority.

Assuming the virus ferrets out the most outgoing and most susceptible in the first wave, immunity following a wave of infection is distributed more efficiently than with a vaccination campaign that seeks to protect everyone, said Tom Britton, a mathematician at Stockholm University.

His model puts the threshold for herd immunity at 43%  that is, the virus cannot hang on in a community after that percentage of residents has been infected and recovered.

Still, that means many residents of the community will have been sickened or have died, a high price to pay for herd immunity. And experts like Hanage cautioned that even a community that may have reached herd immunity cannot afford to be complacent.

The virus may still flare up here and there, even if its overall spread is stymied. Its also unclear how long someone who has recovered may be immune, and for how long.

Virus-Resistant Communities?

The coronavirus crashed this years Purim celebrations in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods of New York City, tearing through the parades and masquerades in Brooklyn on March 9 and 10.

Schools and synagogues soon shut down to quell the spread, but it was too late. By April, thousands in the Brooklyn communities were infected, and hundreds had died.

Its like a black hole in my memory because of how traumatic it was, said Blimi Marcus, a nurse practitioner who lives in Borough Park, which was hit hard by the virus.

But all that has changed now, Marcus added: The general feeling is one of complacency, that somehow weve all had it and were safe.

Is it possible that some of these communities have herd immunity? In some clinics, up to 80% of people tested had antibodies to the virus. The highest prevalence was found among teenage boys.

But people at clinics are more likely to be showing symptoms and therefore more likely to be infected, said Wan Yang, an epidemiologist at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health in New York. Random household surveys would probably find lower rates  but still well above the 21% average reported for New York City, she said.

Researchers in Mumbai conducted just such a random household survey, knocking on every fourth door  or, if it was locked, the fifth  and took blood for antibody testing. They found a startling disparity between the citys poorest neighborhoods and its more affluent enclaves. Between 51% and 58% of residents in poor areas had antibodies, versus 11% to 17% elsewhere in the city.

The lowest-income residents are packed tightly together, share toilets, and have little access to masks. These factors contributed to a silent infection spread, said Dr. Jayanthi Shastri, a microbiologist at Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai who led the work.

Most researchers are wary of concluding that the hardest-hit neighborhoods of Brooklyn, or even those in blighted areas of Mumbai, have reached herd immunity or will be spared future outbreaks.

But models like Brittons hint that its not impossible. Other researchers have suggested, controversially, that herd immunity can be achieved at rates of immunity as low as 10% or 20%  and that entire countries may already have achieved that goal.

Criticism trailed Sunetra Gupta, a theoretical epidemiologist at Oxford University, after a widely circulated interview in which she said that London and New York may already have reached herd immunity because of variability among people, combined with a theoretical immunity to common cold coronaviruses that may protect against the new one.

That could be the explanation for why you dont see a resurgence in places like New York, she said.

Most experts reject that notion. Several studies have shown that certain immune cells produced following infection with seasonal coronaviruses may also recognize the new coronavirus.

But where is the evidence that its protective? asked Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida.

These cities have not returned to pre-pandemic levels of activity, other experts noted.

We are still nowhere near back to normal in our daily behavior, said Virginia Pitzer, a mathematical epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health. To think that we can just stop doing all that and go back to normal and not see a rise in cases I think is wrong, is incorrect.

A second wave might also hit groups or neighborhoods that were spared by the first, and still wreak havoc, she said. Immunity is a patchwork quilt in New York, for instance: Antibodies were present in 68% of people visiting a clinic in the Corona neighborhood of Queens, for instance, but in just 13% of those tested at a clinic in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn.

But another group, led by mathematician Gabriela Gomes of the University of Strathclyde in Britain, accounted for variations within a society in its model and found that Belgium, England, Portugal and Spain have herd immunity thresholds in the range of 10% to 20%.

At least in countries we applied it to, we could never get any signal that herd immunity thresholds are higher, Gomes said. I think its good to have this horizon that it may be just a few more months of pandemic.

Other experts urged caution, saying these models are flawed, as all models are, and that they oversimplify conditions on the ground.

Jeffrey Shaman, an epidemiologist at Columbia University, said it wasnt clear to him that Gomes model offered only one possible solution. And he was suspicious of the big ranges among the four countries.

I think wed be playing with fire if we pretended were done with this, Shaman said.

The new models offer food for thought, he and other experts said, but should not be used to set policy.

Mathematically, its certainly possible to have herd immunity at these very, very low levels, said Carl Bergstrom, an infectious disease expert at the University of Washington in Seattle. Those are just our best guesses for what the numbers should look like.

But, he added, theyre just exactly that, guesses.

Imperfect Immunity

But what about immunity at levels lower than those needed for herd immunity?

Definitely the disease would not spread as well if it gets back into New York, said Joel Miller, a mathematical modeler at La Trobe University in Australia. The same level of behavior change will have more effect on the disease now than it did four months ago.

Thinking of a city or country as composed of subgroups, demarcated by age, race and level of social activity, might also help governments protect those with the least immunity.

That perspective also might help put a renewed focus on groups who require the higher levels of immunity, because of greater exposure levels and other inequities, including Black and Latino residents, said Dr. Manoj Jain, an infectious disease expert at Emory University. Thats where this info is very useful, he said.

The models also suggest a vaccination strategy: Rather than uniformly vaccinate all groups, governments could identify and immunize those most likely to be exposed in superspreader events.

Getting those people vaccinated first can lead to the greatest benefit, said Dr. Michael Mina, an immunologist at Harvard University. That alone could lead to herd immunity,

Vaccination schemes for other pathogens have successfully exploited this approach. For example,ne wyork when children were given the pneumococcal vaccine in the early 2000s, rates of bacterial pneumonia in the elderly rapidly dropped because of a herd effect.

Vaccines that offer just 50% protection are considered to be moderately effective, but at that efficiency, even a low herd immunity target would require that a large proportion of the population be immunized, Bergstrom noted.

If there are early reports of side effects that may scare away some people, he said, wed do well to start thinking about all that now.

Back in Brooklyn, fewer than 1% of people tested at neighborhood clinics over the past eight weeks have had the virus. But there are still handfuls of cases, Marcus said, adding that her 10-year-old niece was in quarantine because a counselor at her day camp had tested positive.

Sometimes thats all you need, right? she said. Im still hoping we dont see what we had in March and April, but Im not so sure that weve seen the end of it.

Apoorva Mandavilli@c.2020 The New York Times Company
Dr. Anthony Stephen Fauci, born December 24, 1940, is a renowned American physician and immunologist. Serving as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and one of the leading members of the Trump administration's White House Coronavirus Task Force addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, he is one of the world's leading experts on infectious diseases. During the early stages of the pandemic, The New Yorker and New York Times described Fauci as one of the most trusted medical figures in the United States.

As a physician with the National Institutes of Health (N.I.H.), Fauci has served American public health in various capacities for over 50 years and has been an advisor to every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan. He has made contributions to HIV/AIDS research and other immunodeficiency diseases, both as a scientist and as the head of NIAID at the N.I.H. Fauci is one of the world's most respected and cited scientists in scientific journals and and the science community globally.

His expertise and scientific background are beyond question, but he has been frustrated because his advice is constantly ignored. He has a clear understanding of the preventive measures needed and how to treat coronavirus patients, but his advice has not been implemented in its true spirit. Although he is sincere and loyal to the American people, unfortunately, his expert opinion has been cast aside, and the Trump administration has politicized the pandemic.

Anthony Fauci (front), director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), speaks during a press conference on the coronavirus at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, March 4, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

He said that he was "not pleased with how things are going." (New York Times). "The country is not where it should be in terms of staving off the pandemic," Dr. Fauci said. "Bottom line is, I'm not pleased with how things are going," he told ABC News journalist Deborah Roberts at a National Geographic panel.

Describing himself as "quite exhausted," Dr. Fauci said that the disparities between the ways different states were handling the situation were keeping the country from bringing it under control once and for all. In 40 years of leading efforts against HIV, Ebola and other viral disease outbreaks, Dr. Fauci said he had never experienced the rancor that has colored the national conversation on the coronavirus, which he said "has taken on a political tone like nothing I've ever seen."

As a result, the U.S. has become the worst-hit country in the world, with the highest number of coronavirus cases: 5,529,789, and fatalities: 172,606. Meanwhile, President Trump continues to publicly give misleading statements regarding cure and preventions, against Faucis advice, which has led the nation into a great deal of suffering.

In fact, the Trump administration has not taken the challenges of the pandemic seriously and instead focused on seeking to gain political mileage out of the crisis. This is despite being supported by professionals like Dr. Fauci and many others, whose recommendations are based on scientific facts and could have played an instrumental role in fighting the pandemic.

In contrast, the Trump administration focuses on blaming, bashing, and trying to place responsibility on China in a bid to win compensation. It has all been politically motivated, while a media war has been launched and a narrative built against China.

Instead of addressing the core issue, the Trump administration has been fighting on the political front, and as a result, an immense number of lives has been lost. There were two approaches to fighting COVID-19: implementing a comprehensive lockdown, as China and some other countries have done, overcoming the pandemic with minimum loss of human lives, but heavy economic losses. The second approach is a liberal one, where people are left to make their own choice. Countries that followed the second approach suffered massive losses in human lives, but less on the economic front. To me, the most precious thing in this universe is human life, which once lost, cannot be recovered. Financial losses are reversible and can be won back through hard work and improved policies.

However, Pakistan opted for an innovative approach: the "Smart Lockdown," which resulted in minimal loss of human lives and slight losses on the economic front. The Pakistani model has been hailed globally as a role model for the rest of the world to follow.

The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People's Daily Online.

Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected]
KYIV. Aug 18 (Interfax-Ukraine)  More than 40 professional medical associations are preparing to revive the Federation of Public Medical Associations of Ukraine, which was set up in 1998, for involvement of the medical community in the settlement of many important issues related to development of the healthcare system.

President of the Federation of Public Medical Associations of Ukraine Viacheslav Kaminsky said during a press conference hosted by Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday that the first congress of the federation will be held in Kyiv on August 28.

"We want to unite efforts for cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada, relevant parliamentary committee, Health Ministry and professional doctors' associations in order to receive the right to participate in the development and introduction of common standards of providing medical assistance, social protection of medical workers," he said.

According to Kaminsky, the organizations which had founded the federation current form its base.

"There were 54 of them at that time, and today these are 41 active organizations. The federation is undergoing modernization and is open for all professional medical unions," he said.

The federation will focus, in particular, on important issues related to career guidance, vocational training and employment of medical workers, in particular abroad, as well as introduction of a contest system for professional and career development, support for the development of medical science, practice and medical education, coordination and regulation of alternative methods and models of private medicine through the creation, introduction and development of a public and state licensing system for medical activities.

Kaminsky also said the federation will be involved in the introduction of the mechanism of individual licensing for doctors, adding that this is not the key area of its activities.

"Today, there are a lot of important issues. The issues of licensing or re-certification of doctors are not the basic ones," he said.

Member of the Federation of Public Medical Associations of Ukraine Mykola Prodanchuk, in turn, said "the federation has set the task to not only support its members  professional associations  but also to provide its maximum assistance to the adoption and introductions of the law on self-organization of medical professions."

Member of the Federation of Public Medical Associations of Ukraine, Ukrainian MP of the 8th convocation Iryna Sysoyenko said the federation as a non-governmental organization, which unites public professional organizations, "will start discussions on the future law with the medical community."

She also said the federation will suggest creating a register of medical errors.

"This information is invaluable as this is data on which training of doctors and medical workers must be based and developed. Unfortunately, Ukraine does not have such a register so far," she said.

Secretary General the Federation of Public Medical Associations of Ukraine Andriy Tkachenko said the federation will use international experience in its activities.

"All activities of the federation will be based on the principles of internationals norms and standards," he said.
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - AUGUST 11: A secure ballot drop box stands at a Stamford library for people to drop off their Connecticut 2020 presidential primary ballots on August 11, 2020 in Stamford, Connecticut. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order allowing all registered voters to vote absentee in the August 11, 2020 primary. Connecticut has also experienced fallout from the recent tropical storm, which knocked out power to half of the state at its peak. President Trump has been critical of the absentee ballot process saying it contributes to voter fraud. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

At this moment in our nation's history, we are grappling with the duality of progress vs. regression. This is a juxtaposition that I, as a young Black woman growing up in West Philadelphia in the aftermath of the war on drugs, have always dealt with. It's a reality in which one of the greatest lies has been projected to people like me - young people, people of color, and those living at the very margins of society - who are trying to dream of a different life than the one we were born into.

We are told by the news cycle, pop culture, political propaganda, and our everyday lives that if we just work hard, go to school, and be "good," we can reach the American dream. But that false narrative totally negates the deliberate ways in which our society and its institutions have constructed barriers to our success. These barriers have created handicaps for generations of Black and brown communities (Bruce's Beach, Black Wall Street, Seneca Village, and Rosewood are just a few examples), preventing them from being able to fully participate in this society.

My family included.

As the first in my family to graduate from high school and college, I am by no means the smartest of my siblings, but rather the luckiest - as I was lucky to have made it out of a community often wrapped in a feeling of hopelessness, poverty, and crime. Unfortunately, my story is a reflection of people all over this country who are struggling to survive off the crumbs society throws at them. People hoping they will be lucky enough to overcome racism, violence, economic inequalities, and inadequate education in a world that doesn't celebrate or value their differences.

Over the last 15 years, working with and advocating for those directly impacted by America's negligence and disdain, I have witnessed the systemic ways our society has successfully limited the upward mobility of communities already historically placed at a disadvantage. This can be seen through the lack of resources, community investment, or generational terror perpetuated by our "justice" system. It should come as no surprise that people in American cities in every corner of this country are calling for the defunding and dismantling of these systems - systems that have only been shown to cradle the wealthy and affluent while punishing and shaming the poor for daring to ask for help.

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There can be no unity unless everyone starts participating in the fight for the liberation of others, especially those who don't look like you.

We are less than three months out from the first presidential election of the decade, and while every election has much at stake, I can't help but recognize this unique moment of consciousness we find ourselves in. One in which more people are starting to understand that the world as we know it is by design, and that those most vulnerable can redesign a world that puts them at the center of change.

There have been many calls for unity at a time of great racial unrest, skyrocketing unemployment, homelessness, children in cages at the border, and manipulations on our political system, all in the midst of a global pandemic. But that call can't overlook the real harm inflicted or the people waiting for justice on the edges of our society. There can be no unity unless everyone starts participating in the fight for the liberation of others, especially those who don't look like you. And voting is a crucial step in that fight.

Voting is not a silver bullet for change; it's a tool within our toolbox that we have to weaponize in order to actualize the change we need. The person elected as our next president will be a reflection of our values and the world we hope to create. Be brave enough to take responsibility for the role you play - listen, learn, embrace being uncomfortable, and make your voice heard because that's when the real change happens.

Jamira Burley is a social justice activist and impact strategist, working at the intersection of community, policy, and social impact. The views expressed are her own.
Manlius, N.Y.  All Who Wander, a tiny bar with a big reputation as a craft beer destination, is making a short trip to a new location this fall.

The four-year-old bar is taking over the spot at 145 E. Seneca St. in Manlius that has been home to Ironwood Pizza since 2012. Ironwood, which had been closed since April, announced recently it has shut down for good.

All Who Wander plans to reopen in the former Ironwood spot by late September, said Dan Chapman, who owns the bar with Joe Ori. It will remain a beer-centric place, Chapman said.

Chapman and Ori officially closed All Who Wanders current location in the plaza at 315 E. Fayette St. (behind the Swan Pond) last Friday. It had been open only for curbside pick-up since the coronavirus pandemic hit Central New York in March.

In its new location, the bar will also get a slightly new name: A.W. Wander.

We really want to put a nuance, a new version of the name, to separate us from the original location but still keep the connection, Chapman said. Besides, he said, most people just called it Wander anyway.

The key benefit to the move is space. All Who Wander had occupied a tiny 400-square-foot spot that crowds a bar with 12 taps and a few tables where customers drank their beers and ate the sandwiches on the menu.

The new space is at least six times larger, Chapman said, with a bar area and dining room. Its also more visible than the space in the back of the plaza.

The new A.W. Wander will continue to offer hard-to-find craft beers, but will likely increase to 16 taps. Theres also more refrigerator and keg space.

The bar features beers from brewers like Singlecut Beersmiths, Suarez Family and Sloop Brewing, along with many of the other smaller craft brewers around Upstate New York. It will continue to host can drops, in which brewers bring special releases for limited sales, Chapman said.

The bar has always offered cans, including mix-and-match 4-packs, to go, but will likely expand that side of the business in the future, Chapman said.

One change for A.W. Wander will be the food. They are keeping the wood-fired oven that was Ironwoods centerpiece, and are negotiating with a chef to run it.

The pizza menu will likely be streamlined compared to Ironwood, Chapman said. Hes not sure if they will bring back the sandwiches that have been featured at All Who Wander.

Were still going to focus on the beer, as we always have, he said. But the oven gives us a new way to approach the food, and well take advantage of that."

Ori once worked as the bar manager at Ironwood, and the two places had an amicable relationship, with staff frequently directing customers to each others locations. (Ironwood also had a decent beer selection).

There was a lot of overlap between the two places, Chapman said. And Manlius isnt really a big place. Well keep it comfortable and family friendly, part of the community.

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Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday opposed the bail pleas of activist Sudha Bharadwaj and poet-activist Varavara Rao , arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case, in the Bombay High Court.

Eighty one-year-old Rao has been undergoing treatment at the Nanavati Hospital in the city since July 16 after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Additional Solicitor General, Anil Singh reminded the court that Rao had been denied bail on merit on previous occasions by the HC. He added that this was a case in which the petitioner was involved in anti-national activities. He (Rao) was shifted from JJ Hospital to Nanavati Hospital, one of the best super speciality hospitals in the city, at the familys request. Jail authorities are taking best care in prisons.The NIA also said authorities at the Byculla prison, where Bharadwaj is lodged were capable of attending to her medical needs.

After hearing arguments from the NIA, the HC, however, directed the state prison authorities to permit Raos family members to contact him through video call and directed the Maharashtra government to submit the latest health report of the Bharadwaj.
Angela Merkel used a press conference to warn the crisis is not over - Federico Gambarini/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Germanys highest-selling newspaper has accused Angela Merkels government of scare tactics in its handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Even as Mrs Merkel called on Germans to follow restrictions amid concerns over rising infections on Tuesday, Bild newspaper accused her government of damaging the country with its warnings of a second wave.

This has nothing to do with reality. There is no sign of the much-invoked second wave' in hospitals. The hospitalisation rate is lower than ever. So put an end to the scare tactics! the newspaper wrote in an editorial.

It is not the task of those in power to fuel fear, but to ensure normality. This mood of alarm is damaging our country.

So far Germans have united behind Mrs Merkels handling of the crisis, and the veteran chancellor has seen her popularity restored to the heights she enjoyed before the 2015 migrant crisis.

But the criticism from Bild may be a sign that the mood is changing amid warnings of new restrictions.

Mrs Merkel used a visit to western Germany on Tuesday to warn that the crisis is not over. We are in the middle of the pandemic. The virus is still there even if it is not visible. There is no vaccine yet, nor is there a drug, she told a press conference.

FILES - View of German newspaper publish...FILES - View of German newspaper publisher Axel Springer's Berlin headquarters taken 11 January 2006. Springer said 31 July 2006 that second-quarter profits declined as a result of the start-up costs connected with the launch of a new daily in Poland. Nevertheless, the group, which publishes the mass-circulation daily Bild, said it was confident with regard to the full-year outlook. AFP PHOTO JOHN MACDOUGALL (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images) - JOHN MACDOUGALL/ AFP

We have doubled the number of cases across Germany in the last three weeks. In my view there can be no further easing of restrictions yet.

The number of new infections rose by more than 1,400 for the third time in a week on Tuesday. But government critics say that is because more tests are being performed  and point to the fact the proportion of positive tests has remained steady, at around 1 per cent.

The number of coronavirus patients requiring hospitalisation has dropped to its lowest level since the beginning of the crisis, with just 228 in intensive care, compared to more than 3,000 in April.

In public, Mrs Merkel has remained measured. But in a conference call with senior party officials on Monday she is said to have warned that Germany risks disaster if it loosens restriction any further.

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She gave her backing to moves by regional governments to impose fines on those who do not comply with requirements to wear masks in shops and on public transport.

Business leaders have warned a second lockdown could be disastrous for the economy, and so far Mrs Merkel has stopped short of calling for one.

But there were unconfirmed reports Jens Spahn, the health minister, was pushing behind the scenes for annual carnival celebrations to be called off this winter.

Publicly, Mr Spahn said this week he wants to prioritise keeping schools, nurseries and shops open in the event of any new restrictions.
At the start of this year, images of deserted streets in the Chinese city of Wuhan seemed remarkable to a world not yet familiar with the realities of lockdowns and social distancing.

This week, another set of photos from Wuhan went viral on social media, showing just how our world has flipped on its head.

The pictures showed the city's Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park hosting an electronic music festival Saturday. Thousands of bathers, many of them preferring inflatable rubber rings over masks, were squeezed into the water as a DJ took the poolside stage.

It would be an arresting sight in any country dominated by social distancing this year. But in Wuhan, it carried particular resonance: the first place hit by COVID-19 before the coronavirus escaped into the world, infecting almost 22 million people and killing some 775,000.

The vast majority of China's 4,634 reported coronavirus deaths have come in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. The city's 11 million people saw one of the world's strictest lockdowns, which ended in April. International governments and experts have accused Chinese officials of acting too late and even attempting to cover up aspects of the virus's early onset, something Beijing has denied.

Though there have been questions regarding the transparency and accuracy of figures out of China, there have been no recorded cases of community transmission in Wuhan since May.

The Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park is owned by Happy Valley, Chinas leading theme park operator.

Image: People watching a performance as they cool off in a swimming pool in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on Aug. 15, 2020 (AFP - Getty Images)

To try to boost tourism, Hubei's culture and tourism department has been offering free entry to 400 sites across the province. The water park's HOHA music festival runs every night from July 11 to Aug. 30.

Attendees needed to make an appointment on the WeChat app, to show that they are from a "low risk" area and register with Hubei's health authority.
James Middleton has said he 'owes his dogs his life' in a new interview about his battle with depression.

The Duchess of Cambridge's brother, 33, recently appeared on BBC's Sunday Live to speak about his struggles with mental health and how his dogs  particularly his black cocker spaniel Ella  have helped him.

The entrepreneur has five dogs - Golden Retriever Mabel and four black Spaniels called Ella, Zulu, Inka and Luna - who he has often credited with helping him through his struggles.

In a clip shared on his Instagram page yesterday, James explained: 'For me, during troubled times and good times, they're my consistent....I would go so far as to say that I owe Ella my life, and she doesn't know that.'

James Middleton, 33, shared a clip from an interview online in which he said he 'owes his dog Ella his life' and called his pets 'a consistent

Sharing a clip of the interview online yesterday, James wrote: 'Dogs dont just change lives...they save them.

'I had an honest conversation with Sean Fletcher for BBC's Sunday Live program with Pets As Therapy talking about how dogs can change lives in so many different ways.'

In the clip, James introduced five of his pups to the presenter before adding: 'They're a very, very loyal companion.'

He explained how one of his dogs had been central in giving him confidence in seeking help.

Kate Middleton's brother has previously spoken out about how his dogs - Luna, Inka, Ella and Mabel - helped him through his mental health battle (pictured, with his fiancee Alizee Thevenet)

James said: 'I got this diagnosis and Ella came to all of my therapy sessions, which I was reluctant to go from the start.

'But with her by my side, I really became confident in understanding that I had a mental illness.'

And responding to a comment from an Instagram follower, James called his dogs 'the best prescription.'

Pets As Therapy is a national charity founded in 1983 which 'enhances health and wellbeing in the community through the visits of trusted volunteers with their behaviourally assessed animals,' according to its website.

The entrepreneur called his animals 'very, very loyal' and said they had been 'consistent during troubled times and good times'

Sharing a clip of the interview online, James said his dogs had not only changed his life but saved it

After being assessed, James and his beloved dog Ella are volunteers as well as his fiancee Alizee Thevenet and his pet Golden Retriever Mabel.

In May, James revealed how his dogs were his 'medicine' amid his mental health battle as he opens up about how his pets have helped him with his therapy.

'From my own experiences with suffering with mental health and depression and anxiety, it was over the last three or so years that I've really discovered how much animals were actually helping me. I didn't really immediately realise.

'Over time Ella came to all my therapy sessions and various other events and she was that person that actually I could talk to but without being judged. She was a very good listener, she distracted me from various things.

James during a reading at his sister The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding to Prince William in 2011

'And that's when I thought, actually there's something here and discovered Pets As Therapy and straight away managed to get an assessment and Ella was signed up not that long after.

He added: 'And ever since then... I truly believe animals are medicine and they really are incredible for our own wellbeing.'

When speaking about the times he had suicidal thoughts, James previously said to The Telegraph that he 'needed a way out' but couldn't bear to leave his family or dogs.

He particularly credits one of his Cocker Spaniels Ella for being with him during the toughest of times.

The entrepreneur, who has been frank about his struggles with mental health in an effort to raise awareness around the topic, has nine dogs (pictured)

As a result, Ella and James both volunteer with the Pets As Therapy charity and Ella is a fully fledged therapy dog for PAT.

James has also opened up about his depression in an interview with The Mail when he said his depression was like 'a cancer of the mind'.

He said that he suffered in silence as his mental health deteriorated and described feeling like he was a 'complete failure' as his depression spiralled.

James immersed himself in recovery and underwent nearly a year of cognitive behavioral therapy where his family attended some of the sessions.
An Ekiti State high court, Ado Ekiti division, has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Dele Ojo, to death by hanging for murder.

The judge, Abiodun Adesodun, while delivering the judgment on Monday, said the accused was guilty of the offence.

The circumstances of this case doesnt allow for recommendation of clemency to the governor on behalf of the accused, he said.

Therefore, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.

May the Lord have mercy upon his soul.

The offence was committed on September 13, 2018, at Iroko Ekiti in Ijero LGA of Ekiti State.

Mr Ojo was accused of murdering one Ajayi Adewole, contrary to Section 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap.C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

During the trial, a witness, who was with the deceased when he was killed said the accused had been stealing the yams of the deceased for a long time in the farm.

He said on the fateful day, they laid wait at the farm to arrest the thief.

According to the witness, Mr Ojo arrived the farm at night with a hunting lamp, pretending to be a hunter.

READ ALSO: READ ALSO:

The alleged thief, however, turned to the yams in the farm and started uprooting them, the witness added.

Mr Adewole, who was the farm owner, identified him and shouted his name, but he reacted by shooting him at a close range, the witness said.

Mr Adewole was later rushed to Ijero Ekiti Specialist Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The prosecutor, Wale Fapohunda, who is also the state attorney general, while proving the case, called four witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer and a medical doctor.

Other exhibits tendered include a dane gun, photographs of the deceased, five tubers of yam, accused confessional statements among other documents.

The accused testified in his own defence through his lawyer Yinka Oyeleke, but he did not call any witness.
In this episode, national editor Tory Maguire is joined by national affairs editor Rob Harris to discuss the impact of the coronavirus restrictions on border communities.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked the states to find solutions for the rural communities denied access to health, work and school amid the growing cross-border problems.

Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage.

Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe to The Sydney Morning Herald or The Age.
Technology giant Oracle is said to be in negotiations to buy TikTok, as it seeks to outbid Microsoft in the race to acquire the viral social media platform.

Oracle has held preliminary talks with TikToks Chinese owner, ByteDance, and was seriously considering purchasing TikTok's operations in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand The Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Oracle has been working with a group of US investors that already own a stake in ByteDance, including General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital, according to the report.

Oracle is reported to be in negotiations to buy TikTok. Credit:Bloomberg

TikTok's future hangs in the balance after United States President Donald Trump ordered the shut down of the short video app if it is not sold to a US company by mid-November.
Ex-Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz slept overnight at national police headquarters in Nouakchott on Monday, and was being questioned by police for a second day on Tuesday, seemingly with regard to allegations of embezzlement during his tenure in office.

Aziz "slept at the DGSN, where he still is, without the presence of his lawyer, Taghioullah Aida, one of his lawyers told AFP newswire, adding that questioning is still underway.

The former president went to the headquarters of the General Directorate for National Security (DSGN) on Monday. Police had come to his home to ask him to comply with the corruption probe.

A parliamentary report came out earlier this month, investigating alleged economic malfeasance by the president. Aziz had refused to cooperate before going into the DSGN offices Monday.

The report looked into oil revenue kickbacks, selling state property in the capital, selling a food company and awarding fishing contracts to a Chinese fisheries company.

Although President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani was formerly Azizs top associate, the current president has stayed away from his former boss.
It wasnt the most obvious spot for a flag that people usually buy to make a big statement. But there it was, peeking out from the inside wall of a garage, the white Trump 2020 lettering just visible from the street in this suburban Charlotte neighborhood.

From the front porch, Tiffany Blythe, a stay-at-home mom, said that she and many of the people she knows would be voting for President Donald Trump in November  but that many of them were nervous talking about it. And that hesitation is why Blythe doesnt trust the polls that are now forecasting losses this fall for Trump and other Republicans in North Carolina and beyond.

Im not buying it, Blythe said. There are a lot of silent voters, and more will come out before the election. I think a lot of states are turning red from blue, but you dont hear about that in the media.

The belief that Americans arent getting the real story about Trumps chances for reelection has taken hold among many of his supporters. For Trump loyalists, it is an appealing story and one with some validity: The news media, which largely failed to anticipate Trumps victory in 2016, are undercounting his voters, many of whom are even more reluctant today than they were four years ago to declare themselves in his camp.

Trump makes this argument often; on Saturday evening, he told reporters that we have a silent majority the likes of which nobody has seen. One of his pollsters, John McLaughlin, has even put a name to this supposed flaw in the data, predicting that the hidden Trump voter will prove the news media wrong.

But the idea that there are substantial numbers of Trump voters who will emerge from hiding on Election Day, large enough to sway the outcome, is not supported by the latest public opinion research  or by a proper understanding of what happened in past elections where the voter surveys were off, said pollsters who work for Republican and Democratic candidates.

This does not mean that Joe Bidens lead, with the most recent national polls putting him ahead by as much as 10 points, wont tighten. And public opinion experts said there is growing evidence that Americans across the spectrum have become more skittish about sharing their political preferences outside a trusted group of like-minded people. But it would be a huge leap to conclude that the countrys tense political dynamics are causing people to lie to pollsters in large enough numbers to explain Trumps poor standing.

There are many people who are voting for Trump who are in environments where its politically untenable to admit it because hes become so toxic, said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster. But Im still not convinced that not telling your business associate or the people in your Rotary Club or the people in your country club is the same thing as not telling a pollster.

The possibility that Americans are hiding their true intentions from pollsters has provided an irresistible sense of intrigue to presidential elections before, even though there are few confirmed examples where it made a difference. Political experts compare such speculation to the quadrennial predictions of a brokered convention, which has not occurred since 1952.

In 2008, there were questions about whether support for Barack Obama was being inflated in the polls by people who didnt want to say they werent supporting him. That did not happen.

Four years ago, some suggested there might be a similar phenomenon at work with Trump supporters who were too embarrassed to reveal themselves. And when Trump won by squeaking out victories in a few battleground states, his backers argued that shy voters were a reason the polls missed his strength in those places.

The idea that people lie, its an interesting theory, and its not like its completely off-the-wall, said David Winston, a pollster who works with congressional Republicans. But its obviously a very complicated thing to try to prove, because what do you do? Ask them, Are you lying?

Winston said that many proponents of the theory about hidden Trump voters rely on what is known as the Bradley effect, named after Tom Bradley, the former mayor of Los Angeles who lost the 1982 California governors race despite polling consistently ahead of his white opponent. Among political scientists, the theory that emerged to explain the gap between the polls and the election results was that white voters were worried about appearing racist if they did not say they were supporting Bradley, who was Black.

But some have questioned the validity of the Bradley effect, including Blair Levin, one of Bradleys former advisers, who has argued that Bradley lost because of a complicated mix of factors, among them a robust Republican absentee voting campaign and an unpopular gun control initiative on the ballot, both of which turned out a surge of Republican voters.

If voters were indeed afraid of voicing their support for the president, Winston said, other numbers in the poll would reflect that, like seeing an uptick in the percentage of undecided voters rather than a rise in support for Biden.

It would not be people saying they are voting for Biden, he said, but that theyre undecided.

While the effects of a hidden Trump vote are certainly overstated by the presidents allies, that does not mean that no evidence exists that polls are missing some of his voters. A small percentage of his support is probably being undercounted and has been in the past, public opinion experts said. And in states like North Carolina, where the margin of victory could be narrow, the undercount could make a difference between a poll being right or wrong.

We assume the race will tighten, and as that happens, the size of the shy Trump vote could very easily come into play, said Neil Newhouse, a Republican who led Mitt Romneys polling in 2012.

In 2016, Newhouse said that Trump tended to score 2 or 3 points higher in phone surveys when respondents were asked to press a button to record their preferences rather than talk to a live person. In postelection polling, when he asked people if they had ever been unwilling to talk about their vote, 35% of Trump voters said yes. And they tended to be women from Democratic-leaning counties.

Newhouse has picked up further evidence of such reluctance recently. In polls he conducted late last month in North Carolina and Iowa, he found that one-quarter to one-third of voters answered yes when asked if they knew someone who is voting for Trump but would not say so to anyone but their closest friends.

This totally confirms the notion of shy Trump voters, Newhouse said.

But, he added, if polls are undercounting some Trump voters  a group that tends to be uniquely expressive and adamant about their support for the president  no one can say by how much.

And in any case, pollsters said they have corrected one of the biggest mistakes they made in 2016, when they failed to account for the high numbers of voters without college degrees who turned out, many of whom voted for Trump. And they are including a larger pool of possible voters in surveys  not just people who say they are likely to vote, as pollsters often do  because they anticipate historic turnout.

One variable that public opinion experts are still grappling with is how the polarized political climate is affecting the accuracy of their work. Recent research has shown that conservatives fear they are more likely than moderates and liberals to be targeted for being honest about their political beliefs, although self-censorship appears to be rising among most Americans.

In a survey conducted last month by the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, 77% of conservatives said they felt unable to share their political opinions because others might find them offensive, an increase from 70% who said so in 2017. Among liberals, 52% reported those concerns, compared with 45% three years ago; among moderates it was 64% versus 57% previously.

Interviews with voters like Blythe suggest the unease over political speech has become highly politicized.

I see Democrats not protecting our freedoms, and that includes freedom of speech, she said.

Still, Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster, said what really explains Trumps low standing is not flawed methodology but rather the presidents inability to expand his coalition.

The problem for the Trump campaign is not the silent Trump voter but the disappearing Trump voter, Garin said. And there are a lot more disappearing Trump voters than there are silent ones.

The flip side of that dynamic  people who did not vote for Trump in 2016 and who have now become supporters  is barely a factor.

Among Clinton voters, it is less than 5%, Garin said.

Henry Olsen, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, has noted another warning sign in the data for anyone holding out hope that a hidden pocket of voters will save Trump: There arent many people backing a third-party candidate right now who could potentially switch to the Republican ticket. Olsen said in an email that while some conservative voters often park themselves with the Libertarian candidate in the months before an election, many eventually come home to the Republicans.

But the Libertarian Party candidate, Jo Jorgensen, is registering minuscule support in the polls now compared with the high single-digits that Gary Johnson, the partys 2016 nominee, was seeing at this point four years ago.

Still, among Republicans in North Carolina, none of these facts seem to dent their confidence or convince them that they should worry about polls showing Trump losing to Biden  or others that have the states Republican senator, Thom Tillis, behind his Democratic opponent, Cal Cunningham.

Tim Moore, the Republican speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, said, Heres the thing I wonder: If you think about how divided we are as a country, how polarized the two sides are at the national level when it comes to the presidential race, how many people are truly undecided?

Moore believes that voters who say they are undecided today will decisively break for Trump and help him win the state.

In Blythes suburban Charlotte neighborhood, many people who answered the door were willing to say they supported Trump for reelection. But when asked for their names, few of them agreed.

Id like to keep my friends, one woman said.

At another residence down the street, a man who opened the door barely enough for a reporter to hear him say he was voting Republican joked, Dont burn down my house.
A federal judge in California disappointed a law firm suing Travelers Insurance over coronavirus lockdown related business interruption claims in refusing to remove its case to state court and denying its request for a dismissal or stay of a countersuit by Travelers.

However, U.S. District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez in Los Angeles did not end the legal challenge for the insurer over business interruption claims. He combined the law firms suit and insurers countersuit into one case for future pleadings.

Travelers is seeking a declaratory order that the business income losses claimed by law firm Geragos & Geragos related to the COVID-19 pandemic are not covered by its policies.

The law firm sued in April 10 over Travelers denial of its business interruption loss claims. The firm has argued that the order of a shutdown of nonessential businesses by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti constituted a prohibition of access to its premises that should trigger coverage under the policy and provide coverage for current and future similar civil authority closures of commercial buildings in California.

Travelers says a pandemic or virus is not a covered loss under the policies. The insurer insists there is no coverage for G&Gs claimed losses because any suspension of G&Gs operations was not caused by direct physical loss of or damage to property at the law firms premises. In addition, the insurer says the presence of coronavirus on a surface would not cause physical damage to that surface.

Further, Travelers argues, there is no coverage under the civil authority provision because the governmental orders were not due to direct physical loss of or damage to property at locations, other than described premises, that are within 100 miles of the described premises.

Judge Gutierrez ruled that the litigation would remain in federal court as preferred by Travelers. G&G had argued that its suit should be in state court due to a lack of diversity. However, the judge said diversity exists given Travelers is an out-of-state insurer and G&G is based in California. The judge rejected the law firms adding Mayor Garcetti as a defendant in an apparent attempt to defeat diversity. The judge rejected the law firms adding Mayor Garcetti as a defendant in an apparent attempt to defeat diversity. The judge found that G&Gs complaint identifies no dispute with the mayor and seeks no relief from the mayor.

On April 20, Travelers filed its countersuit on May 15, the disputes were moved to the federal court on grounds of diversity jurisdiction.

A Travelers spokesperson said the insurer is pleased with the decision to continue in federal court.

The judge found no reason to exercise the courts discretionary authority to dismiss the Travelers filing seeking a declaratory order.
Lawmakers Seek to Nix Bias in Wording of California Ballot Measures

Before almost every election in California, the wording of ballot measure titles, summaries, text, and rebuttals is enough to leave the most politically astute voters feeling confusedeven duped, say two state legislators.

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) and Sen. Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) told The Epoch Times that state ballot measure texts and summaries are so skewed, many voters have no idea what they are truly voting for or against on election day.

The problem, they say, is that in California the authority and responsibility to write fair and impartial ballot titles and summaries rests with the attorney generala partisan political office. The attorney general crafts the wording in a way that leads voters in the desired direction.

Kiley called the practice terrible and said it amounts to election fraud.

The attorney general has a history of doing this. He has really just completely manipulated the language in a way that likely changes the whole outcome of the vote, Kiley said.

Its time we finally protect the integrity of our elections by putting a neutral nonpartisan official in charge of writing the ballot language.

Several lawsuits have been filed against Attorney General Xavier Becerra in the past few weeks for his wording of ballot measures as November elections approach.

Kiley and Melendez want to avoid further legal actions and hand over the authority for wording ballot measure titles and summaries to the nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office (LAO). Theyve proposed legislation, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 7 (ACA 7), to do that.

A file photo of California Assemblyman Kevin Kiley. (Courtesy of Kevin Kiley)

Attorney General Xavier Becerra has denied his wording is biased. His office sent The Epoch Times court rulings in five cases as evidence. In those cases, the plaintiffs alleged Becerras wording was biased, but the court decided in Becerras favor.

In a sixth case, the court ruled partially in favor of Becerra, but ordered an amendment clarifying the description.

The Attorney Generals Office told The Epoch Times that they follow state mandates and take that responsibility seriously.

Under California law, it is our job to issue official titles and summaries describing the chief purpose and points of every proposed initiative submitted in compliance with procedural requirements, the office stated in an email.

Kiley introduced a previous version of the bill in 2017. At the time, former Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor testified the LAO was capable of writing nonpartisan ballot titles and summaries.

His successor, Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek, agrees. Petek told The Epoch Times in an Aug. 13 email that his office is capable of doing the job.

While our office does not take positions on legislative bills, my view is that we have the capability to write ballot initiative titles and summaries, he wrote.

Ruth Weiss, director of legislative oversight for Election Integrity Project, California (EIPCa), told The Epoch Times via email that her nonpartisan watchdog group strongly supports the move.

We are absolutely in favor of transferring the duty and responsibility of writing ballot initiative titles and summaries from the Attorney Generals Office to the nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office. It is a move that is long overdue for the benefit of ballot clarity and election fairness, Weiss wrote.

Melendez and Kiley said theyve been stonewalled on ACA 7; the Democrats, who hold super majorities in all levels of the state government, have left the bill to die in committee.

They wont even allow their members to vote on it, and they can hold bills in the Rules Committee forever, Melendez said.

So far, there are no takers for ACA 7 among elected Democrats, but Melendez said that could change if constituents call their legislators to demand reform.

The elections code is very clear.  It says you have to give a true and impartial statement on the purpose of the measure, and its not supposed to be used as an argument or to create prejudice for or against a measure, Melendez said.

Gas Tax Repeal or Road Repairs Repeal

One of the court cases the Attorney Generals Office highlighted concerned the wording of Proposition 6 on the 2018 ballot.

Prop. 6 proposed a repeal of the Road Repair and Accountability Act. The Act, also known as Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), increased fuel tax to raise funds for road repairs. Its title on the ballot began with Eliminates certain road repair and transportation funding.

Critics of the wording said it emphasized a repeal of road repairs instead of a repeal of the fuel tax. Proponents of Prop. 6 advertised it as a Gas Tax Repeal.

Travis Allen, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, challenged the language of Prop. 6 in court and won the case.

However, an appellate court struck down the lower courts decision. The appellate court opinion stated: If reasonable minds may differ as to its sufficiency, the title and summary prepared by the Attorney General must be upheld  because all legitimate presumptions should be indulged in favor of the propriety of the attorney-generals actions.

Only in a clear case should a title and summary prepared by the Attorney General be held insufficient.

Melendez called the gas tax repeal a fiasco that was still pretty fresh in peoples minds.

A lot of people felt duped on how it was written, and they were, she said. When the State Attorney General is writing the ballot titles and summaries in a way that really sways the opinions of voters, you cant get more sinister than that.  Its not his job.

This year, Propositions 15 and 22 are among those that have come under scrutiny for their wording.

Prop. 15s description says the measure increases funding sources for public schools. The wording was opposed by business and anti-tax advocates, because the measure calls for a large hike in commercial property taxes, but the description does not clearly state it is a tax increase.

Prop. 22 is described as exempts app-based transportation and delivery companies from providing employee benefits to certain drivers. The measure, if approved by the majority of California voters on Nov. 3, would carve out an exemption in the controversial Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5), which broadly limits freelance work.

Proponents of Prop. 22 have sued Becerra for the wording. They argue his wording emphasized the pro-AB 5 side concerning worker benefits, and downplayed the anti-AB 5 side regarding limitations on the gig-economy.

They say an earlier title, Changes employment classification rules for app-based transportation and delivery workers, was less biased, and allege Becerra changed it to sway voters.

Recent editorials in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose-Mercury News, and San Diego Union-Tribune all have questioned the impartiality of the Attorney Generals descriptions.
The state House on Monday approved a joint agreement made over the weekend by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative Republicans on back-to-school roadmap, and Michigans teachers unions are on board  for the most part.

The legislation  House Bills 5911, 5912 and 5913  lets local districts decide whether to offer in-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic, but requires districts to maintain minimum levels of teacher-student interaction in virtual settings. Each bill passed by at least 40 votes, and now heads to Whitmer with expectations shell sign them into law.
TDT | Manama

A Bahraini man was sentenced to five years behind bars by the Fourth High Criminal Court yesterday for selling BD100 worth of drugs to a secret informant. The Court additionally fined the man BD1,000 for the same charge. The defendant was caught while in the act last February selling a bag of methamphetamine, a drug locally known as shabu.

A piece of hashish was also found in his possession. The deal with the defendant was arranged by the Anti-Narcotics Department in the Interior Ministry, which employed a secret informant to contact the defendant. The informant communicated with the man and agreed to meet at a certain location, where undercover policemen waited.

The defendant handed over the bag and collected the money from the informant, while the policemen looked on. A few minutes later, the police took the man by surprise and arrested him. In the interrogation of the Public Prosecution, the man confessed to the charges against him.

The court decided to impose a maximum punishment against the defendant, as per Article 66 of the Penal Code, which states: Where several offences are committed for one purpose only and where they are so closely related, they shall be regarded as a single offence which shall be subject to the harshest penalty.
In its haste to pass the recent Police Accountability Act, or PAA, Gov. Ned Lamont and his allies in the General Assembly have awarded a $2 million no-bid contract to a Virginia company  with the fiscal note accompanying the legislation incorrectly stating that the provision has no fiscal impact.

Under the PAA, all law enforcement agencies in Connecticut must be accredited by 2025 by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., or CALEA, headquartered in Gainesville, Va.

CALEAs accreditation process is impressive, and its standards are high. But the same standards can be achieved without duplication of effort or high cost through Connecticuts own Police Officers Standards and Training Council (POSTC)  which is itself a CALEA accredited training academy.

Connecticut currently offers its own version of accreditation through POSTC. These standards can meet (or exceed) CALEA mandates at no additional cost to state taxpayers.

At last count, POSTC regulates all 92 municipal police departments in Connecticut. POSTC also regulates numerous state law enforcement agencies, including those at universities (such as Yale University and UConn), environmental police (DEEP) and the state capitol police.

Twenty-three law enforcement agencies in Connecticut maintain CALEA accreditation, along with their POSTC credentials. Under the newly passed PAA, approximately 130 law enforcement agencies in Connecticut would be regulated by CALEA.

CALEA charges a fee for accreditation and re-accreditation based on the size of the law enforcement agency. For agencies with up to 24 full-time employees, the cost is $8,475; for those with 25 to 199 full-time employees, the fee is $11,450; and for those with 200 to 999 full time employees, the fee is $16,125.

As of October 2016, Connecticuts municipal police departments ranged in size as follows:

19 departments employed 100 or more police officers;

53 departments employed 50 or fewer officers;

14 departments employed fewer than 20 officers.

That means an average-sized law enforcement agency in Connecticut would be charged $11,450 in order to be accredited by CALEA.

The 130 police departments multiplied by (on average) $11,450.00 equals $1.48 million.

Even annual re-accreditation incurs hefty costs. Again, CALEAs fees vary, but on average an accredited agency would owe CALEA a sum in the range of $4,065 per year.

The 130 police departments multiplied by (on average) $4,065.00 equals $528,000 per year.

In the first year of accreditation (2025), CALEA would reap a $2 million windfall from Connecticut  without a bid or even a written proposal.

The Police Accountability Act has handed what appears to be a completely unwarranted rebuke to the POSTC accreditation process and standards. As of Dec. 31, 2024, POSTC will cease to provide any accreditation services; it would be a welcome (but surprising) development if its budget were reduced to reflect the curtailment of its services.

Connecticuts people deserve an explanation: Why did the General Assembly and governor decide to outsource a state service, which was free of charge to police departments, and award it to an out-of-state company that charges towns and cities thousands of dollars per year?

Those who legislated (and signed) PAA in haste have simply added another unnecessary expense to municipal budgets  all to mandate a credential thats available at no cost here in Connecticut. Its time to take another look, and reform a law riddled with unintended consequences and hidden costs.

Frank Ricci ( @frankriccidc )was the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case Ricci v. DeStefano and a retired battalion chief & union president of New Haven Fire Fighters. Currently he is an advisory board member of Fire Engineering Magazine and serves as a senior strategist for Yankee Institute.
Under mounting pressure from Democrats, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced Tuesday he will suspend several cost-cutting initiatives in an effort "to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail."

Asked at a campaign event in Arizona if he had any role in DeJoy's decision, President Donald Trump, who has railed against mail-in voting and demanded the Postal Service be more efficient, would not directly answer.

Instead, he praised DeJoy. We have a good man, the head man," he said. "This has been going on for a long time, but I have a much better idea. The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

DeJoy's announcement comes as more than 20 state attorneys general are forging ahead with at least two lawsuits against the Trump administration and the U.S. Postal Service, among others, arguing the service broke the law by making operational changes without seeking approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission and that the changes impede on states' abilities to run free and fair elections.

The suits will assert that DeJoy failed to follow required administrative procedures when implementing sweeping cuts to service, rendering them unlawful.

One alleges that DeJoy instituted the changes at the post office "...following repeated statements from President Trump evincing a partisan political motive for making it harder to vote by mail...," according to a copy obtained by ABC News.

PHOTO: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, center, leaves the Capitol after meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.,and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Aug. 5, 2020. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images)

The coordinated effort by Democrats aims to block the Postal Service from making any moves that could impede the flow of mail-in ballots in states that are relying on them for an efficient election in the face of pandemic fears, according to Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who are spearheading the effort.

Despite DeJoy's reversal Tuesday, Ferguson and Shapiro say they need more than his word -- and will push forward for legal assurances.

Story continues

We need more than a statement, we need binding agreements. The Postmaster Generals statement, while positive, does not address the operational changes put in place in July at the heart of our lawsuit, Shapiro said in a statement. Therefore, well continue to press our case through the legal process and hold DeJoy accountable going forward beyond the election.

"The law requires that changes at the U.S. Postal Service that cause a nationwide impact in mail service must be submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission," Ferguson said in a press release. "The commission then evaluates the proposal through a procedure that includes public notice and comment."

DeJoy's announcement came just after he agreed to testify at a Senate hearing on Friday and again next Monday before House lawmakers.

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued a statement Tuesday afternoon noting that while he welcomes the news, he still has many unanswered questions.

"I will keep pressing the Postmaster General for answers through my investigation and at Friday's Senate hearing. Given how much the American people are relying on the Postal Service during these challenging times, the Postmaster General should not making any changes that put mail delivery at risk before the election or for the duration of the Coronavirus public health emergency," Peters said.

MORE: Postmaster general agrees to testify before Senate, House lawmakers amid mail-in voting firestorm

DeJoy, a longtime Republican donor, has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks for enacting a series of measures meant to streamline the Postal Service, which has long suffered financially.

But critics say those measures have slowed mail service, and with more Americans expected to vote by mail in the upcoming election, the changes have prompted questions about whether they are part of a concerted effort to undermine absentee voting -- a platform the president has repeatedly, and without evidence, said would lead to election fraud.

MORE: Amid political controversy, postmaster general's stock holdings come under renewed scrutiny

Congressional Democrats had demanded that he stop the service-related cutbacks and on Tuesday, DeJoy announced he would halt many of those initiatives -- including approval of overtime for mail carriers and halting the removal of mailboxes and mail-sorting machines -- until after the election.

"Even with the challenges of keeping our employees and customers safe and healthy as they operate amid a pandemic, we will deliver the nation's election mail on time and within our well-established service standards," DeJoy said in a statement. "The American public should know that this is our number one priority between now and election day."

PHOTO: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy departs from a meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in the Capitol, Aug. 5, 2020. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)

Taking a position contrary to Trump -- who has said the Postal Service is a "joke" and ill-equipped to handle "millions and millions of ballots" -- DeJoy said it's fully capable of handling the expected surge in mail-in ballots this year and will do so regardless of any additional funding from Congress.

MORE: Former Trump DHS official backing Biden warns Trump more will speak out

In the middle of a live POLITICO interview, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was slipped a note from an aide informing her of DeJoy's move to suspend the operational changes until after the election.

"Well, he should," Pelosi said, without skipping a beat. "They felt the heat. And that's what we were trying to do is to make it too hot for them to handle."

She later called DeJoy's decision a "necessary but insufficient first step in ending the president's election sabotage campaign."

"This pause only halts a limited number of the Postmaster's changes, does not reverse damage already done, and alone is not enough to ensure voters will not be disenfranchised by the President this fall," Pelosi said in a statement.

She also noted the House will still go ahead with a vote on Saturday on a bill designed to reverse those operational changes DeJoy says he's now suspending and provide $25 billion in support.

PHOTO: In this Aug. 5, 2020, file photo Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, left, is escorted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Carolyn Kaster/AP, FILE)

Ronald Stroman, the deputy postmaster general until he resigned his post in June after the announcement that DeJoy had been picked to take over the Postal Service, said Tuesday that DeJoy's statement raises further transparency concerns and produces more questions than answers on what he is actually suspending.

"He says retail hours at postal offices will not change. The question becomes, have you already changed hours, and are those hours then going to be reversed? Or are you saying that you're going to be at status quo for today? That is a question that is simply not answered by the statement," Stroman said in a conference call organized by the left-leaning Democracy Fund, according to audio obtained by ABC News.

"It goes on to say that mail processing equipment will remain as it is, will remain where they are," he continued. "Well, if you've already dismantled some of that equipment or removed it, the fact that it's remaining as it is doesn't mean that you're going to reassemble that equipment, or return it to the extend that it's been removed."

MORE: Multiple states ready suit against Trump admin over mail-in voting fears

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, who signed on to one of the lawsuits, said he didn't think DeJoy's response was "even close to sufficient," calling his comments "a lot of vague assurances that don't give me any comfort at all."

"If he's really going to do these things, we can settle the lawsuit in 15 minutes," Frosh said. "He can agree to do these things and have the court approve it."

PHOTO: Mail-in ballots for the 2016 General Election sit in bins at the Salt Lake County Government Center, in Salt Lake City, Nov. 1, 2016. (Rick Bowmer/AP, FILE)

One lawsuit to stop the cuts is expected to be filed in Washington late Tuesday and will be joined by 13 other states including Wisconsin, Nevada, Minnesota and Michigan, according Ferguson. It will name DeJoy, Trump and the Postal Service as defendants.

A second suit is expected to be filed within the next day in Pennsylvania, Shapiro said, and will name DeJoy and the Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan as defendants.

Separately, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday she would be filing a suit in New York.

No Republican attorneys have joined in on the effort involving more than 20 states, Shapiro said, but he has heard from numerous who are "deeply concerned" about the status of the post office.

Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings -- citing widespread delays and reports the disruptions are designed to disenfranchise voters -- announced publicly she was one of the attorney generals joining a lawsuit.

"In any other era, under any other administration, it would be unthinkable to appoint a megadonor to deliberately break one of America's oldest public services  but corruption has become the new normal. I'm not standing for it, and neither are my fellow Attorneys General," Jennings said in a statement.

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal also confirmed his state would be "part of a multistate effort to stop political interference in an apolitical institution."

"We expect to file a lawsuit in the next few days -- one of several lawsuits that state attorneys general are bringing to safeguard our democracy," Grewal said in a statement. "Voting by mail is safe, secure, and reliable. We intend to keep it that way."

ABC News' Ben Gittleson, Mike Levine, Mariam Khan, Stephanie Wash, Allie Pecorin and Luke Barr contributed to this report.

This report was featured in the Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast.

"Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.

As states threaten lawsuits, postmaster general suspends mail-handling changes until after election originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
On the next episode of "Axios on HBO," Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly tells Axios chief financial correspondent Felix Salmon that the Boeing 737 MAX, which was recertified to fly this week after experiencing two fatal crashes, is "a great airplane" and that its software issue has "easily been addressed."

Catch the full interview and much more on Monday, November 23 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT on all HBO platforms.
The United Nations and the African Union (AU) have condemned the detention of Malis president and other top government officials by mutinous soldiers in an apparent coup attempt and demanded they be freed urgently.

I strongly condemn the forced detention of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, the Prime Minister [Boubou Cisse] and other members of the Malian government, and call for their immediate release, the chairman of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said in a statement.

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He also denounced any attempt at unconstitutional change while urging the mutineers to cease all use of violence.

Faki called on the 15-nation West African ECOWAS bloc, the UN and the entire international community to combine their efforts to oppose any use of force to end the political crisis in Mali.

Fakis statement came shortly before UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the detentions of the government officials and demanded their immediate release.

According to a UN spokesman, Guterres called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali.

Popular insurrection

One of the leaders of the mutinying soldiers told AFP news agency that the president and the prime minister are under our control after being arrested at Keitas residence in the capital, Bamako.

Keita and Cisse were being held at an army base in the town of Kati, where an earlier coup originated in 2012 that toppled then-President Amadou Toumani Toure and contributed to the fall of northern Mali to fighters.

The detentions on Tuesday come amid opposition protests calling for Keitas arrest that have rocked the crisis-torn country since June.

A spokesman for the opposition coalition behind the demonstrations said the detention of Keita was not a military coup but a popular insurrection.

IBK did not want to listen to his people. We even proposed an alternative but he responded with killings, Nouhoum Togo, spokesman for the M5-RFP coalition, told Reuters news agency, referring to Keita by his initials.

Keitas opponents blame the president for Malis economic woes, perceived high-level corruption and the failure to contain a worsening security situation that has rendered vast swathes of the country ungovernable.

Although dissatisfaction over the countrys woes has been simmering for a while, the spark for the continuing political crisis was a decision by the Constitutional Court in April to overturn the results of parliamentary polls for 31 seats, in a move that saw candidates with Keitas party get re-elected.

The protests turned violent earlier last month when three days of clashes between security forces and protesters killed at least 14 people in the worst political strife Mali has seen in years.

Opposition supporters react to the news of a possible mutiny of soldiers in the military base in Kati, at Independence Square in Bamako, Mali [Rey Byhre/Reuters]

Condemn in the strongest terms

Other nations around the world, including France, a former colonial power in Mali, condemned the mutiny.

The Elysee Palace said in a statement that President Emmanuel Macron had spoken to Keita, along with the leaders of Niger, Ivory Coast and Senegal, and condemned the attempted mutiny under way. It did not say when that conversation occurred.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said his country had received information about the detentions of Keita and Cisse, RIA news agency reported without providing further details.

He also said, according to the media outlet, that Moscow is concerned about the events in Mali.

The European Union also released a statement about the events unfolding in Mali, rejecting all unconstitutional changes.

The European Union condemns the attempted coup detat under way in Mali and rejects all unconstitutional change, the blocs diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
New Delhi:

Facing attack from opposition parties, government justified the appointment of Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the army chief superseding two commanders, insisting that his operational experience and "general dynamism" tipped the scales in the officer's favour.

The defence ministry sources also asserted that selection of army chief is the sole prerogative of the government and it is based purely on merit, irrespective of the Corps to which the officer originally belonged.

The "outstanding" track record of Lt Gen Rawat, an Infantry officer, as Commanding Officer of 19 Division in J&K and his familiarity with the functioning of the Army Headquarters and MoD were cited by the ministry as the reasons for his selection for the top position.

The ministry sources said all officers in the panel of officers in the rank of army commanders are competent and the most suitable is selected "However, it must be emphasised that the prerogative of selecting the most eligible from the panel is that of the government," sources said.

However, mounting an attack on the Centre over the issue, Congress and the Left asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spell out the "compelling reasons" for it even as BJP hit back saying they should not politicise an issue related to defence forces.

Congress leader Manish Tewari slammed the government for "playing with institutions" and doing politics in the army even as he wondered if it was "whimsical cherry picking".

CPI leader D Raja also questioned the government's move and said appointments whether in the army, judiciary or those of CVC, acting CBI director and to Central Information Commission have become controversial.

BJP condemned Congress for its attack on the government over the army chief's appointment, saying there should be no politics on defence forces and asserted that Lt Gen Rawat has been elevated keeping in mind the current security scenario.

Lashing out at the opposition party, BJP said Congress politicising the appointment of the army chief shows its "frustration" after it has been pushed to the "margins" of national politics following successive electoral defeats.

BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said the opposition party should not reach a premature conclusion and wait for an appropriate time.

"If any party has flouted the democratic norms most, it is the Congress party. BJP has always adhered to democratic norms," he said. Congress and the Left have questioned the appointment of the new army chief by superseding two officers, asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spell out the "compelling reasons", and wondered if it was "whimsical cherry picking".

(With inputs from PTI)

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested an ophthalmologist for his alleged links with the banned terrorist outfit Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). He has been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Abdur Rahman, a 28-year-old doctor with an M.S. from Ramaiah Medical College in Bengaluru, has been accused of using his knowledge of medicine to help ISIS terrorists.

"He was in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured ISIS cadres in the conflict zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of ISIS fighters," said an NIA statement.

NIA officials raided three premises in Bengaluru after Rahman's arrest and seized digital devices, a mobile phone and a laptop containing what the probe agency said was incriminating material. Rahman will be produced in a Delhi court and the NIA will seek further custody to interrogate him.

The agency officials said Rahman in 2014 had visited an ISIS medical camp in Syria for treatment of ISIS terrorists and stayed with them.

"During interrogation, arrested accused Abdur Rahman confessed that he was conspiring with accused Jahanzaib Sami and other Syria-based ISIS operatives on secure messaging platforms to further ISIS activities," said the NIA.

The MS Ramaiah college, where Rahman was a student and a junior resident, was taken aback by questions regarding one of their faculty members.

Confirming that Rahman had just completed his MS Ophthalmology course in July, the college fought shy of being aware of his activities.

"He was admitted to the college in 2017 under the government quota, through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (conducted by the state government). The college is not aware of his activities outside the campus," it said in a press release.

Rahman appears to have been a merit student. Not only was he able to get into a government quota seat in a top private college, he had also completed his MBBS in the state's most sought-after medical college in Bengaluru. He had graduated with an MBBS from the Bangalore Medical College and Research Insitute -- a government-run institute -- in 2014 and had got into the postgraduate programme three years later.

Incidentally, 2014 was also when he had apparently visited Syria, according to NIA authorities.

Rahman came under the scanner after the NIA arrested two Pune residents earlier in the case. Pune student Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and gym owner Nabeel Siddick Khatri were allegedly in touch with ISKP accused Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh from Okhla Vihar in Delhi's Jamia Nagar area.

As per investigators from the NIA and the Delhi Police, the couple had links with ISKP and were found to be involved in "subversive and anti-national activities". They were also found to be in touch with Abdullah Basith, who was already lodged in Tihar jail in connection with the ISIS Abu Dabhi Module of NIA.

(With inputs from Deepa Balakrishnan in Bengaluru)
The city of Flint and a local Michigan business group have agreed to pay $40,000 to settle a lawsuit over the handcuffing of a seven-year-old boy with ADHD at an after-school program in 2015.

Cameron McCadden was a second grade student attending the YouthQuest program on October 12, 2015 when he kicked a cart and ran onto the bleachers and the police were called.

The child, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was placed in handcuffs and was forced to remain that way for more than an hour because the officer didnt have the key.

In 2018 his mother Crystal McCadden, through the ACLU, filed a lawsuit against the Flint Police Department and the Flint-Genesee Chamber of Commerce, which runs the after-school program, for police use of excessive force against the child.

The city of Flint, Michigan and the Flint-Genesee Chamber of Commerce will pay a $40,000 settlement to Cameron McCadden, the seven-year-old boy with ADHD who was arrested in October 2015 for kicking a cart and running on bleachers during his after school program

In the incident Cameron was placed in handcuffs and was forced to remain that way for more than an hour because the officer didnt have the key

On Friday the lawsuit closed with a $40,000 settlement for the family, which will be used to create a fund to 'help address Cameron's needs'.

In 2018 his mother Crystal McCadden, through the ACLU, filed a lawsuit against the Flint Police Department and the Flint-Genesee Chamber of Commerce, which runs the after-school program, for police use of excessive force against the child

The family shared the 2015 video showing Cameron, then just four feet tall and weighing 55 pounds, calmly sitting on a bench with his hands cuffed behind his back as police waited for the keys to the cuffs to be delivered to school.

In the clip Crystal is heard saying: 'You put my kid in handcuffs and you don't even have the keys to get him out.'

The settlement agreement will also see new policies adopted by the after-school program and Flint Police Department.

They include no physical restraint or intervention except as a last resort at the after-school program, as well as no school officer involvement except in imminent danger, required documentation of physical restraint and notice to parents, and training for staff regarding disabilities.

'What happened to Cameron is highly alarming and we dont want any other child in Flint to have a similar experience,' Mark Fancher, a staff attorney for Racial Justice Project of the ACLU of Michigan said in a statement.

The family shared video showing Cameron, then just four feet tall and weight 55 pounds, calmly waiting with his hands cuffed behind his back as police wait for the keys to the cuffs to be delivered to school

'We have been greatly encouraged by the willingness of the after-school program and the Flint Police Department to, as part of this settlement, give high priority to the protection of very young children, and to recognize that the role of police officers does not include tasks best performed by educators, counselors, therapists and other trained professionals,' he added.

The police departments juvenile offender policy will be revised to encourage officers to limit police involvement at schools to criminal offenses and not discipline issues, use alternatives to arresting juveniles, involve parents when possible and use the lowest level of enforcement for elementary school children.

Flint and the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce are each paying $20,000, according to a settlement filed last week in federal court.

'We are happy to have put this behind Cameron so he can move on with his life,' Jonathan R. Marko, one of the attorneys who represented Chrystal McCadden and her son said.

Crystal McCadden says she was never informed of any rule at the YouthQuest program that her son violated or given an explanation as to why he was handcuffed.

According to the lawsuit the boys behavior was 'consistent' with his disability which makes it 'difficult for him to focus, maintain attention, control his behavior, follow directions, and stay seated.'

Before the settlement, a federal judge had dismissed former Police Chief Tim Johnson from the lawsuit, according to MLive.com.
Launches of brand-new implements have been somewhat thin on the ground this year, but Pottinger have just kept on rolling, with news of major products coming thick and fast from the Austrian company's marketing team.

The latest announcement is of a new range of trailed stubble cultivators which start where the present range of 'Synkro' machines leave off, displacing the old flagship Synkro T3 model and ushering in clean-sheet designs that have been specifically engineered for towing rather than being mounted.

Called the Terria range, there are many themes on the basic concept of providing several banks of winged tines mounted to a rigid frame running parallel to the ground.

Pneumatic

The frame is supported by pneumatic depth wheels at the front and a full-width roller at the rear which may be one of the several types available, although it is expected that the pack ring roller will be a popular choice in Ireland.

There will also be a choice of widths and number of tine banks with the designation of the model referring to the combination - thus the largest, the Terria 6040, is 6m wide with four rows of tines, while the smallest is the 4030 with a 4m working width and three rows of tines.

In addition to the tines and roller there is a row of concave discs running at a fixed height between them which are there to level the soil surface before packing.

Working depth is adjusted through simultaneous lowering and raising of the depth wheels and roller with a range of 5-35cm.

The angle of engagement of the winged tines can also be selected from one of two positions to suit the intensity of cultivation required and ground conditions.

Breakback protection is provided by springs or an optional hydraulic system.

All the soil engaging parts are arranged symmetrically to ensure a straight pull. This is particularly important when using an auto guidance system. It also reduces overall wear and allows for more efficient operation.

A narrower tine of 40mm is available as an option, and the hard-wearing Durastar Plus tungsten steel is likely to be the material of choice, with over 90pc of Pottinger cultivators so equipped here in Ireland already.

Another improvement over the old Synkro T3 trailed model is the fitting of hydraulic ram on the drawbar, which acts to transfer weight to the rear of the tractor and ensures that ground contours in the direction of travel are more readily followed.

This means that when encountering an undulation the cultivator rises over it rather being pulled through it, ensuring constant working depth and less fuel burnt by the tractor.

Power requirements are estimated as being 200hp-plus for the 4m variants and around 300hp for the 6m models, although it is all highly dependent on soil conditions.

The company tells us that they will be available in Ireland from next spring, with one already sold to a grower in Wexford.
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - The Tunisian forum for economic and social rights in an opened letter to Tunisian President Kais Saeid Monday called for the establishment of a national strategy on migration that preserves the rights and liberties of migrants
The history tells us, how sanctions failed. But why is it still continues





The use of economic sanctions has throughout history been an integral component of the foreign policy of most nation-states. As a blunt tool of diplomacy, the concept of sanctions has been around at least from the time of the ancient Greeks, when Athens imposed a trade embargo on its neighbour Megara in 432 B.C. Since then, there has been a long history of countries blockading their enemies to compel a change in behaviour.













In the late nineteenth century, economic sanctions were generally used during times of war and took the form Export controls on strategic supplies and blockades against targeted countries. But how did this tactic morph into todays targeted or smart sanctions  measures such as arms embargoes, asset freezes, and travel bans on key individuals and organizations? They may be more humane and high-tech than a flotilla at sea, but are sanctions any more effective today than they were 2,400 years ago? The history tells us, how sanctions failed.





Guest of this episode of The New Normal is Alena Douhan. Alena Douhan is a professor of the Department of International Private and European Law, Belarusian State University. Her research is focused on the law of international security, application of sanctions by states and international organizations, status of individual in International law, Human Rights in Cyber-Age, law of international treaties. She was appointed by the Human Rights Council, as the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. She took her office on 25 March 2020.





She talked to Nilantha Ilangamuwa, former editor of Sri Lanka Guardian from her residence in Minsk, Belarus








World Travel owner Sherry Blair is used to details.

Her Jacksonville travel agency wants to ensure the best for its clients.

As people begin to travel more and an industry cut deeply by the COVID-19 pandemic begins to reemerge, those details have become more crucial.

Its not just in things such as what are the best places to visit in Rajasthan, India, or where it is possible to bobsled in Jamaica, but now includes finding out if a destination has quarantine requirements for visitors or where coronavirus outbreaks pose a risk.

For example, she said someone traveling to Jamaica must have a negative coronavirus test within five days of traveling. Places like Peru have suspended international flights and others, like Uruguay, allow travelers only for family reunification reasons.

It can be tough because the rules change frequently.

The Illinois Department of Public Health released a map that can help indicate the safety of travel to various states. Florida, Missouri and Texas are among the 17 states designated as higher risks as of Tuesday. Similar guidance is available for international travelers on the State Department website.

To help inform residents where they might be at greater risk of being exposed to COVID-19 when they travel, [the state] has launched a map that clearly shows states and other countries where case rates are elevated, said Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Ezike said staying home is the best way to avoid exposure, but we know that it may not be possible to avoid all travel.

Blair said a travel professional can provide much more detail than the map for those who have to travel.
The fourth season of Netflix's hit sci-fi series Stranger Things has been on hold since March amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

And star Gaten Matarazzo has been keeping busy with a summer job at restaurant on New Jersey's Long Beach Island.

The 17-year-old actor's reps confirmed, to the Hollywood Reporter, that he is working alongside family members at the eatery and has been spotted by fans despite wearing PPE during his shifts.

Staying busy: Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo has been keeping busy with a summer job at restaurant on New Jersey's Long Beach Island, his reps confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter (pictured in January 2020)

Matarazzo is said to wear a hat and face mask during his shifts, but with the success of Stranger Things fans have still spotted him.

The show, that premiered on the streaming platform in 2016, was watched by 64m people in the first four weeks after season three was released in July 2019.

Before the pandemic shutdown Hollywood productions in March, the show's fourth season was expected to air later this year.

Hit show: The show, that premiered on the streaming platform in 2016, was watched by 64m people in the first four weeks after season three was released in July 2019

Last month, it was reported the show will resume production on the upcoming season in September, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Bosses of the hit Netflix sci-fi drama confirmed that production will continue in Georgia, US.

The state hopes to lead the way in reigniting the film and TV industry after the long hiatus forced by the coronavirus pandemic.

Making a return: Last month, it was reported the show will resume production on the upcoming season in September, according to The Hollywood Reporter

But with the virus showing little sign of slowing down in the US currently, this date could get pushed back.

John Rooker, owner of Atlanta Metro Studios, said: 'Georgians want to get back to work and show that we can not only beat this virus but be leaders in this industry to hopefully encourage America to get back to work.'

The show's stunt coordinator Hiro Koda also revealed that social distancing could make the signature action sequences much harder to film.

He told ComicBook: 'As far as social distancing, we can separate ourselves and work in and out of set in waves, instead of everybody on set at once. That's easier to control.

What's in store: Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers (above January 19) shared the series 4 teaser trailer in February

'Everybody can wear masks and gloves and whatever, but the actors can't, they have to take the masks off. They've got to be in close contact.'

Season four has yet to reveal a release date, but the shows creators, the Duffer Brothers, have teased episode one's title: The Hellfire Club.

In March, David Harbour, 45, revealed season four was supposed to be coming to Netflix in early 2021.

Alive and... not so well: David Harbour will be coming back for season four of the hit Netflix show

Taking part in an Instagram Live Q&A, the TV star, who plays Hawkins police chief Jim Hopper in the series, said: '[Season four was] supposed to come out early next year, I think, although I don't have authority on this.'

The show is about a fictional town called Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s; season one focused on the disappearance of a young boy and the investigation of it as the town deals supernatural events occurring.

Matarazzo also stars in the series alongside David Harbour, Millie Bobbie Brown, Winona Ryder, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton and Caleb McLaughlin.
The Southern California SEO market is different from most globally because of its size. SEO campaigns for neighborhoods and suburbs can have as much competition and opportunity as a national campaign might for a different vertical or topic.

SEOblog.com, a fast-growing website providing the latest SEO news, tips and resources and helping business owners connect with leading SEO agencies, has released its exclusive 2020 ratings naming the best SEO companies in Los Angeles.

SEOblog analysts determined the 15 best SEO companies in Los Angeles based on dozens of key quantitative and qualitative factors. SEOblog industry experts examined each digital marketing agencys website, industry experience, market presence, client list, portfolio, expert certifications and authorship among other factors in its ranking system.

The Southern California SEO industry is unique in that its a very competitive region for SEO, said Elizeth Shah, NITRO PLUG Digital Marketing vice president of business development. Thats why its such an honor to be named one of the top SEO companies in Los Angeles.

SEOblog has provided an in-depth view of companies in a particular city or focus area on various directory pages to help business owners find the expert help they need to grow. This was a new, free offer added by SEOblog in 2019.

Los Angeles has several of the nations top SEO agencies that provide a very competitive digital marketing landscape.

The Southern California SEO market is different from most globally because of its size, said Coalition Technologies president Jordan Brannon. Not only are our clients competing for the attention of millions of local customers, we're competing with hundreds more SEO agencies. SEO campaigns for neighborhoods and suburbs can have as much competition and opportunity as a national campaign might for a different vertical or topic. It's no surprise that this competition results in many of the world's best SEO companies having their headquarters in Los Angeles.

Evlyn Huayek, a project manager at LikeSocialBiz, also said the LA SEO market is challenging.

California has the largest number of residents in the United States and the most diverse population, Huayek said. These make the SEO experience unique and necessary for businesses to grow, expand and achieve their maximum potential.

SEOblog.com rankings are updated regularly as the market shifts and new players emerge. SEOblog.com has published more than 2,300 agency listings with more added every day. There is no fee to participate, and the website welcomes all qualified agencies to apply.

SEOblog.coms 15 Best SEO Companies in Los Angeles in 2020:

Coalition Technologies, SEO Noble, Websites Depot, RevLocal, NKP Medical, webVDEO, Kobe Digital, Hawke Media, Wpromote, The Ad Firm, LikeSocialBiz, RN01, NITRO PLUG, Los Angeles Web Design and Just Digital.

Link: https://www.seoblog.com/best-seo-companies/los-angeles/

About SEOblog.com

SEOblog.com is a leading thought leadership site with a rich history of publishing educational and informative articles about SEO and digital marketing topics. In early 2019, SEOblog.com answered the call from buyers of digital marketing services that lacked unbiased, informative online resources and launched a comprehensive directory to highlight the best SEO companies in the United States -- https://www.seoblog.com/best-seo-companies/. SEOblogs mission is to connect businesses with qualified digital marketing agencies while also offering further SEO education, best practices and industry trends.

SEOblog.com is a one-stop shop for educational SEO and digital marketing content, research, ratings and reviews for the best agencies in each local market across the United States. The website will be increasing its coverage of U.S. SEO agencies and accepting more guest blog posts in the coming months. Contact SEOblog if youre interested in getting involved.
Tuesday will bring back the sticky air after a one day hitatus. A cold front Wednesday will bring a few showers and storms before a return to clean, crisp air and warm temperatures for the rest of the week.

+4 Climate change links stronger storms to Jersey Shore, but not more South Jersey has been the landing spot for three tropical systems in the past decade. While 

The rain showers that were around for much of the night will be over early Tuesday morning. Well have a mix of sun and clouds with some fog and morning lows ranging from 65 to 70 degrees. Well be in between the low pressure that brought rain showers Monday night and another one that will arrive Wednesday.

High temperatures Tuesday will be around 80 in Ocean City and the shore, with mid-80s on the mainland. Thats seasonable for this time of the year but the dew points will be around the sticky 70-degree mark, so it wont be as comfortable as Monday was. Still, all outdoor work or projects will be good and that trip to the beach will be better than Monday, as we have a lesser risk for rip currents.

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Temperatures will fall into the 70s during the evening. A few spots will hit minor flood stage, but it will not be like the past two nights. Lows will fall in the upper 60s come Wednesday morning as we cloud up late.

Find your high tide times here In South Jersey, Atlantic Ocean high tides are within a half hour of each other. However, ba
Hogs Close with Triple Digit Gains Barchart - 30 minutes ago Front month lean hog futures ended the session $0.70 to $2.07 stronger. April was up the most, which reduced the spread to May to $4.62. Feb hogs are now a $9.05 discount to April. USDAs National Average... HEG22 : 82.300s (+0.86%) HEK22 : 95.975s (+1.72%) KMG22 : 93.325s (-0.96%)

Corn Closed Double Digits Higher Barchart - 30 minutes ago Corn prices rallied on Wednesday ending the session back above the $6 mark. For old crop, the session ended 10 3/4 to 11 cents in the black but went home 4 cents off the highs. New crop prices closed 7... ZCH22 : 610-4s (+1.83%) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.9707 (+1.89%) ZCK22 : 611-0s (+1.83%) ZCZ21 : 588-6s (+0.77%) ZCPZ21US.CM : 5.7930 (-0.49%)

Triple Digit Strength for Wednesday Cattle Barchart - 30 minutes ago Live cattle prices rallied $0.87 to $1.50 during the Wednesday session. Central Stockyards weekly FCE auction sold none of the 3,580 head listed. Bids were capped at $137-$138. USDA had cash sales activity... LEG22 : 138.550s (+0.64%) LEM22 : 138.475s (+1.02%) GFF22 : 161.400s (-0.03%) GFH22 : 165.625s (+0.12%)

Shootin' the Bull Swift Trading Company - 1 hour ago Packers are included in the aspects of no one having had the opportunity to buy replacement inventory at a lower price. As well, if they begin to adhere to the inflationary aspects further, they will...

Crude Closes Higher as IEA Raises its Global Crude Demand Forecast Barchart - 1 hour ago February WTI crude oil (CLG22 ) on Wednesday closed up +1.53 (+1.79%), and February RBOB gasoline (RBG22 ) closed up +2.52 (+1.04%). WTI crude oil and RBOB gasoline prices Wednesday extended Tuesday's... CLH22 : 85.15 (-0.76%) RBH22 : 2.4463 (-0.62%)
Back in 2012, President Barack Obamas advisers routinely referred to Michelle Obama as the most popular political figure in the country  and many thought her rousing and resonant speech at the Democratic convention in Charlotte that year was the apex of that very non-virtual event.

Eight years later, aides to Joseph R. Biden Jr. (many of them former Obama White House hands) feel pretty much the same way about a woman whose wildly successful memoir, Becoming, transformed the one-time corporate lawyer into an international cultural icon.

That is why they chose Mrs. Obama to anchor the first night of the first-ever Zoom convention, a prime-time keynote that is expected to garner as much attention among the party faithful as any on the four-night bill, apart from the speeches by her husband and Mr. Biden.

It is likely that she will use the slot to call out President Trump directly and forcefully, a shift in tone from her previous approach, said one Democrat familiar with the planning.
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran on Tuesday denied reports it paid Taliban fighters to target U.S. forces and allies in Afghanistan.

In a statement carried by Iranian media, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh called the claims entirely false and said the U.S. tries to hide its miscalculations in Afghanistan by resorting to propaganda.

On Monday, media reports said U.S. intelligence agencies assessed that Iran offered bounties to Taliban fighters for targeting American and coalition troops in Afghanistan.

Iran sees the U.S. forces presence in neighbouring Afghanistan and Iraq as a threat on its doorstep and routinely calls for their departure.

Read more about:
Apple will be put into a very difficult situation if it is forced to remove WeChat from its App Store, a threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to a survey on China's Twitter-like social media platform Weibo, about 95 percent of 1.2 million people that responded said they would switch to an Android smartphone over an iPhone rather than give up WeChat if it were banned.

Last Thursday, Trump signed an executive order that would block all transactions involving WeChat in 45 days. Although the order didn't specify the scope of the ban, many analysts predict that Apple and Google will be required to remove the WeChat app from their App Stores.

But WeChat, the hugely popular messaging app developed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, is not any other app for Chinese users. It has 1.2 billion users worldwide, most of whom in China. And for most of them, it's a "digital necessity," the go-to app for everyday business and personal communications, shopping, payments, email, web browsing, etc.

Apple has spent years building China into a 44 billion U.S. dollars growth driver. In the second quarter of 2020, the company's revenue from the Chinese market accounted for over 15 percent of its total.

In his latest report, TF International Securities analyst Kuo Ming-chi estimated that global iPhone shipments could drop by 25 to 30 percent if Apple is forced to remove WeChat from its global app store. Besides, the annual shipments of other Apple hardware devices, including AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac, will be revised down by 15 to 25 percent.

Tencent executives said on a post-earnings conference call on Wednesday that they believed the U.S. ban may only apply to WeChat in the U.S. and should not affect its Chinese version, known as Weixin. But they added they were still seeking clarity from the U.S. government.

American users have rushed to install the WeChat before it could disappear from the app stores. They have also turned to QQ, as the ban did not specifically cover this product, according to Sensor Tower data.

In the U.S., WeChat app downloads rose by 41 percent in a six-day average from the week prior to the U.S. ban announced last Thursday, and QQ downloads have tripled in the past week.
Singtels Latest Business Update: 3 Things You Should Know

Singtel was recently in the news again when its share price plumbed a new decade-low.

Shares of the telecommunication company fell to a 12-year low of S$2.16 on 22 September on heavy volume.

The last time it closed below this level was way back in October 2008, during the depths of the Global Financial Crisis.

According to Singtels website, more than one million Singaporeans own shares of the company.

And Bloomberg data states that an investor who had been holding on to Singtels shares since its IPO in 1993 would have enjoyed a total return of 55.3% assuming all dividends were reinvested.

If we calculate the annual return for the group over the past 27 years, this works out to be a compound annual growth rate of just 1.6%.

Sadly, this level of return cannot even beat inflation rates of around 2% to 3%.

With COVID-19 still spreading rapidly around the globe, the pressure will continue to build for Singtel in the near-term, thus dampening its earnings outlook.

Editors Note: This article was originally published on 18 August, and has been updated for new information.



Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SGX: Z74), or Singtel, has just released its first-quarter fiscal year 2021 business update.

The telco seems to be suffering from the same issues that are plaguing its close competitor, StarHub Ltd (SGX: CC3).

The groups share price has already plunged by 30% year to date.

If conditions do not improve for Singtel, its share price may continue to languish as its business continues to face challenges on all fronts.

Despite the tough conditions, the blue-chip company plans to roll out its 5G network after winning the 5G licence in Singapore.

Here are three things investors need to know about the groups latest earnings.

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Hit on all fronts

Singtel saw its operating revenue decline across all its four core divisions.

For the consumer side, Singapore and Australia saw declines of 21.6% and 13.3% year on year, respectively.

Group Enterprise revenue slipped 4.5% year on year to S$1.4 billion, while Group Digital Lifes revenue fell sharply by 49% year on year to S$153 million.

The main reason for the weak performance was the shutdowns caused by COVID-19 in both Singapore and Australia.

Travel and movement restrictions, as well as closures of physical retail stores and malls, led to lower roaming and prepaid mobile revenues and equipment sales.

Furthermore, there was also intense price competition that resulted in a halving of the groups operating profit.

The enterprise business was impacted by a variety of reasons, including weak business sentiment and lower mobile connections amid reduced customer engagements.

Group Digital Life saw a steep revenue drop from the liquidation of HOOQ, while Amobees revenue plunged due to a cutback in advertising expenditures by corporates.

Weakening ARPU

On the local front, mobile service revenue declined by 27.2% year on year.

The good news is that Singtels total number of mobile customers grew slightly year on year by 1.1%, from 4.24 million to 4.26 million.

Data usage levels also rose 8.8% year on year from 4.6 GB to 5.0 GB, reflecting increased reliance on data for communications during the pandemic.

Despite the positive stats, average revenue per users, or ARPU, fell significantly.

Prepaid ARPU fell by 30.8% year on year from S$17 to S$12 per month, while post-paid ARPU declined by 27.8% year on year.

As ARPU is a measure of the revenue generated by each user, these declines show that Singtel has not managed to monetise its customer usage as investors would expect an increase in data usage to translate to an increase in ARPU.

Slight respite from associates

To be sure, there was some respite from Singtels stable of associates.

These associates span a variety of regional countries such as Indonesia (Telkomsel), Thailand (AIS and InTouch), the Philippines (Globe) and India (Airtel).

Post-tax contributions improved slightly for these regional associates, increasing by 5.6% year on year to S$267 million.

Weaker performances from Telkomsel, AIS and Globe were offset by higher mobile ARPU in India.

Investors should also note that Singtel took on a net exceptional charge of S$364 million for Airtel, consisting of additional provisions relating to the Supreme Court of Indias ruling for the adjusted gross revenue matter, along with related taxes.

A dilution gain of S$550 million from Singtels reduced interest in Airtel helped to mitigate this charge somewhat, though this means that Singtel now has a smaller stake in its associate.

Get Smart: A tough road ahead

With the pandemic not letting up in the near-term, Singtel faces a tough fiscal year ahead.

The telcos shares provide a trailing 12-month dividend yield of around 5.2% after the group slashed its final dividend from S$0.107 to S$0.0545 back in May.

If Singtels business continues to remain under pressure, it may end up cutting its fiscal year 2021 interim dividend too.

Investors need to be mindful that conditions may not improve anytime soon, and that the dividend yield may also fall in tandem with a possible reduced dividend.

Although Singtel is committed to building out its 5G network, this will entail higher levels of capital expenditure.

While this may boost the telcos prospects in the longer-term, it may put further pressure on its cash flow in the interim.

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Samsung India recently announced the pre-booking of their newest flagship Galaxy Note20 series smartphones. To incentivise customers, Samsung is announcing an upgrade bonus of up to Rs. 5000 when customers pre-book either the Galaxy Note20 or Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G and exchange their old smartphone with a cracked screen.

To avail the offer, interested customers must first sign up on the My Galaxy app. The offer will be available on the top banner after which the user will be prompted to Check now for eligibility. Fill in the details and the app will automatically generate the best quote for the damaged device. Customers can accordingly visit the nearest Samsung Store with the damaged device and facilitate the upgrade to a new smartphone with the dealers assistance. The offer will be available on all models including Samsung and other smartphones and is valid till August 31, 2020.

To refresh your memory, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra features a 6.9-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display with 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by Exynos 990 SoC. The Galaxy Note20 on the other hand features 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED Plus Infinity-O display and is powered by the same processor as the Note20 Ultra.
As school buildings in some states begin to reopen in various capacities, many teachers who are at higher risk for severe complications from COVID-19 are hoping they wont have to go back .

But there are big questions around who qualifies for a medical exemption from returning to the physical classroom.

People who are older than 65 are at higher risk for serious illness due to COVID-19, as are those who are obese, have serious heart conditions, or have Type II diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that people who have immune deficiencies, have asthma, have Type I diabetes, are smokers, or are pregnant might also be at increased risk for serious illness, although the evidence is more limited.

Districts are now tasked with deciding which conditions to prioritize and trying to accommodate as many teachers as they can while still maintaining staffing levels for the students who are on campus. In some cases, that has proved to be impossible, and district leaders have had to either decide to keep school buildings closed or find alternate ways to accommodate teachers without keeping them home.

In the meantime, teachers who have a high-risk condition or are otherwise vulnerable, and those who live with someone who is high-risk, are left waiting anxiously to hear how they will be protected when they go back to school. So far, about half of the 600 districts in Education Weeks database , which is not nationally representative, have opted to provide some form of in-person schooling this fall, including five of the 25 largest districts.

Ive been holed up in my house since March and have been very careful, said Margee, an 8th grade teacher in Colorado with asthma. It just made me very, very nervous to think Ill be exposed to 120 students and their families.

Margee, who asked that her last name be withheld, got a doctors note for her asthma and requested to work remotely. Her district, which plans to begin in-person instruction in October, approved her request. She will be working from home the whole year, teaching the students who opted to stay home. Shell be delivering instruction on a new platform, but shes relieved to not have to worry about potential exposure.

Id rather deal with unfamiliarity than feeling unsafe, she said.

Forty-three percent of teachers said they personally have a physical condition believed to make people more vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus, a nationally representative Education Week Research Center survey found. And an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that about 1.5 million teachersnearly one in fourhave health conditions that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 complications.

In New York City schools, the nations largest district that is set to welcome students back into school buildings on Sept. 10 for a few days a week, about 15 percent of teachers have applied for medical exemptions to work from home. The district is still finalizing staffing details.

For some districts, requests for accommodations have created staffing challenges. In Elizabeth, N.J., for example, more than 400 teachersabout a fifth of the districts workforcereported that they needed special consideration for health-related risks and could not teach in person. The sheer volume of accommodations forced the school board to vote to begin the school year remotely.

There would be insufficient staff to open safely in person with that many teachers unavailable for in-person instruction, said district spokesman Pat Politano in a statement provided to NJ.com . It became a mathematical impossibility.

Reasonable Accommodations

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. Reasonable accommodations entail modifying or adjusting the work environment to allow the individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of the position or allowing the employee to take earned paid leave or unpaid leave.

For teachers who have a disability that puts them at higher risk for serious illness due to COVID-19, which could include conditions like asthma or diabetes, reasonable accommodations could mean smaller class sizes, receiving access to N-95 masks, being reassigned to a position that involves less contact with others, being given temporary leave, or working remotely altogether. Whats reasonable will depend on what a teachers individual condition requires, says the National Education Association, the nations largest teachers union, and for many high-risk teachers, remote work is the safest option.

However, employees arent guaranteed to get the exact accommodation they request. If the requested accommodation would pose an undue hardshipdefined in the law as an action requiring significant difficulty or expensethe employer must try to identify another way to accommodate the employee.

Kaitlyn, an elementary teacher in Texas who asked for her last name to be withheld, has a rare blood disorder and had her spleen removed at a young age, leaving her with a compromised immune system. Her school district is starting the school year remotely but plans to begin in-person instruction in September.

Due to health concerns, Kaitlyn requested to be in as little contact with students as possible, hoping to work remotely. But her partner teacher is also immunocompromised and requested to work from home as well. Administrators said both of them couldnt be remote, and since Kaitlyns partner teacher submitted her paperwork first, she is the one who will be teaching remotely.

Instead, the district is giving Kaitlyn a teachers assistant and an office. Kaitlyn will teach in person for half the day and teach via webcam from her office for the rest of the day, while the assistant will be in the classroom with the students to facilitate and manage behavior.

Its going to be a little weird. ... I would prefer it if everyone was online for quite a while, she said.

Still, the district has reduced our class sizes as much as they can, and theyve been very accommodating, she said. Theyre doing the best they can to help me be healthy, which I really appreciate.

Up to Districts

In Georgia, where schools across the state have already started the year with mostly in-person learning, some districts have told teachers that letting them work remotely would be too great of a burden on their operations, said Lisa Morgan, the president of the Georgia Association of Educators, a professional group of teachers in the state.

Educators are being asked to come back into the classroom in what is in many cases an unsafe situationmasks are not required, social distancing is impossible because class sizes have not been reduced, and the only option educators are being given when the accommodations are being denied is to resign, she said. They are being asked to make the choice between their safety and their careers.

There are especially few options for teachers who have a high-risk family member, Morgan said. The ADA does not cover employees who live with someone who has a disability or high-risk condition. Forty-six percent of teachers said a member of their household has a physical condition that puts them at risk, according to the EdWeek survey.

District leaders say they will try to accommodate those employees if possible. Many districts have created tiered systems for requesting to work from homepriority is given to those who are at high risk, followed by those with high-risk family members. Teachers who feel uncomfortable returning are then given exemptions if there are still spots available.

Also, a health condition that puts a teacher at higher risk for COVID-19 complications isnt always the same as an ADA-recognized disability, which means its often left up to the district on how to handle those requests for accommodation. For example, simply being older than 65 is not a disability.

Pregnancy itself is also not considered a disability, although conditions resulting from pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, may qualify as disabilities under the ADA. About 77 percent of teachers are women, and many are in prime childbearing years .

Much remains unknown about COVID-19 and pregnancy. One study found that pregnant women with COVID-19 were more likely to end up in intensive care units and need ventilators than non-pregnant women, but they were not more likely to die.

Dr. Aparna Sridhar, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California Los Angeles school of medicine, said in an email that at this time, all pregnant women, regardless of trimester, should take precautions to prevent infections. She said pregnant teachers who have additional risk factors should consult their obstetricians for accommodation guidelines, and those should be communicated to school management.

Taking Time Off

In some cases, teachers who have not been able to secure an accommodation are considering not coming back to work at all. Some are retiring early, resigning, or taking unpaid leave.

Some districts have also offered their teachers an unpaid, job-protected leave of absence. For example, the Springdale, Ark., school district offered any employee who was uncomfortable going back to school the opportunity to take an unpaid leave of absence. Forty-eight employees accepted that option, which guarantees them a job next fall. Of those, 26 were certified staff, including teachers. The district has 2,950 total employees.

The Family Medical Leave Act also allows employees who have been at their job for at least a year to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected time off. This can be used if the employee has a serious health condition that makes it impossible to perform the essential functions of his job, or if the employee needs to care for a spouse, parent, or child with a serious health condition.

However, FMLA can only be used once in a 12-month period, so employees who already used itor are planning to use itto care for a new baby will be ineligible.

Employees who are quarantined based on either a government order or the advice of a healthcare provider and those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are eligible for two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

That federal law also gives employees two weeks of paid sick leave at two-thirds pay if they need to care for someone who is quarantining. Employees can also take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at two-thirds pay to care for a child whose school or child-care provider is closed or unavailable due to COVID-19. (These leave provisions are set to expire on Dec. 31.)

However, the reduced pay will be a barrier for many teachers. Morgan said that in one Georgia district, more than 700 teachers initially expressed interest in the extended family leave, but when they learned the details, only one teacher chose to apply.

Most people cant afford a 33 percent cut in pay, she said.

Teachers who feel like their request for an accommodation has been unfairly denied also have the option to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or with their local union, the NEA says, adding that there could also be grounds for possible litigation. The NEA has also recommended that local affiliates with collective bargaining rights add language to their contract about ensuring teachers safety, and that educators in states without collective bargaining rights form health and safety committees to try to add similar language to school policies.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: A 27-year-old man who posted fake content on Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao stating that he was infected by Covid-19, was arrested by the Hyderabad Cyber Crime police on Monday. The arrested person is Panyala Raju who hails from Lambadipally village, Malyala mandal, Jagtial district. He was staying in Saudi Arabia when he posted the content on Facebook. A few days back, police took up a case suo motu that Panyala Raju was spreading fake news through FB with a morphed image of the CM.

He said that KCR had been infected with Covid-19 and this had been confirmed by Gandhi doctors. The intent of this false information was to create panic among the public, police said. A lookout circular was issued against Panyala Raju and he was detained by Immigration authorities at Mumbai airport. The accused was brought to Hyderabad and produced in court for judicial remand.
An Arizona man, who broke into an aquatic center, died early morning on Monday after he was trapped in a support structure for a water slide for more than an hour. Police said they have a hard time to locate the 32-year-old man.

According to the police officer who was patrolling the area near the Eldorado Aquatic and Fitness Center in Scottsdale, he heard a faint voice calling for help at around 12:20 a.m.

Sgt. Brian Reynolds realized that after 15 minutes, the calls were coming from the inside of the aquatic center.

In a news conference, police spokesman Kevin Watts said it took an hour for the police to pinpoint the location of the man inside the aquatic center.

Reynolds said the pipe, where the man was found, is in an expansive outdoor area, and so it acted in effect like a megaphone. He noted that this made it difficult at first to locate the man's location.

Based on the initial investigation, the man entered the locked facility by climbing over a high fence and then crawling inside the large cylindrical steel center support for the water slide. Unfortunately, he got trapped in the support structure.

"It wasn't an easy feat. It took some work to get down in there, which obviously would not be the first place that people would be looking to find someone because of the difficulty," said Watts in a report of NBC News.

Police officers and firefighters tried to help the man get out of the structure immediately. They were in contact with him for an hour and a half until he became unresponsive.

At around 2:18 a.m, the man was declared dead. It took several hours for the police officers and firefighters to dismantle the structure to get the man's body out.

Police said the man had been identified, but his name was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
CANBERRA, Australia  Australia has announced a deal to manufacture a potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

Under the deal, every single Australian will be able to receive the University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for free, should trials prove successful, safe and effective, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement Wednesday.

Morrison said the Oxford University trial was in a phase-three stage and more work was needed to prove its viability.

If this vaccine proves successful, we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians, Morrison said.

Morrison later suggested an Australian-manufactured vaccine would be shared with the country's neighbors, but offered few details.

He said hed recently discussed vaccines with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.

Australia will also play an important role in supporting our Pacific family, Morrison told reporters.

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HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:

 Germanys Merkel against relaxing of virus rules

 WHO: Herd immunity requires effective vaccine

 South Africa loosens coronavirus restrictions

 Paris mandates masks at all workplaces. The mandate takes effect Sept. 1 after a surge of coronavirus cases.

 New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gained a national following through his management of the coronavirus pandemic. Now hes writing a book about it.

 Britain rates of depression doubled among adults during lockdown. The Office for National Statistics says 19.2% of adults were likely to be experiencing some sort of depression in June.

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 Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

SPARKS, Nev.  Thousands of students began returning to northern Nevada classrooms or the first time since March with masks, social distancing and other precautions to help guard against the spread of COVID-19.

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Others cranked up their laptops from home Tuesday in Reno and Sparks where the Washoe County school district is using a combination of in-person and distance learning.

The scheduled start of the new school year in Reno-Sparks was delayed a day over concerns about unhealthy air quality driven by smoke from a nearby wildfire.

The states largest school district doesnt open until next week in Las Vegas, where it will be having only remote instruction.

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RALEIGH, N.C.  Health officials have identified a COVID-19 cluster at another North Carolina university.

A statement from North Carolina State University confirmed on Tuesday that Wake County health officials identified of COVID-19 cases at off-campus housing east of the Raleigh, North Carolina, campus.

The school said several people who have tested positive as part of this cluster have been identified, including some who are N.C. State students. Contact tracing has been initiated with direct communication to anyone known to have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the school.

The school said reports indicated a party or some type of gathering was hosted at the location on or around Aug. 6. The notice said it was not known how many people were at the gathering, but encouraged anyone who attended to visit their personal healthcare provider or Student Health Services.

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SANTA FE, N.M. -- Its too early to say whether a COVID-19 vaccine  once available  will be mandatory for certain people in New Mexico, but Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is indicating that health care workers, educators, nursing home residents and emergency responders could be among those required to be inoculated.

Acknowledging uncertainties about the availability and effectiveness of a vaccine, the Democratic governor said she expects a debate over mandating certain groups of people to accept the vaccine.

Her comments came during a recent briefing as pharmaceutical companies race to have a vaccine ready by early next year.

New Mexico has seen its daily COVID-19 case counts improve. On Tuesday, an additional 79 cases were confirmed, bringing the statewide total to nearly 23,580 since the pandemic began.

The governors administration has authority under a 2003 state law to issue vaccine orders during a declared public health emergency. The Albuquerque Journal reported that those who decline a vaccine for reasons of health, religion or conscience can be ordered to isolate or self-quarantine under the same law.

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EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State University is going online for the fall and is encouraging students to stay home, the schools president announced Tuesday, as schools across the nation struggle to control coronavirus outbreaks.

Classes had been scheduled to begin Sept. 2 on the schools East Lansing campus.

Given the current status of the virus in our country  particularly what we are seeing at other institutions as they re-populate their campus communities  it has become evident to me that, despite our best efforts and strong planning, it is unlikely we can prevent widespread transmission of COVID-19 between students if our undergraduates return to campus, President Samuel L. Stanley said in a news release on the universitys website.

The move to online learning is just for undergraduate students at the moment. The colleges of Law, Human Medicine, Nursing, Osteopathic Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and all graduate programs will receive details at a later time, according to the university.

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ATLANTA  Georgias governor has announced new spending plans for federal COVID-19 aid to schools.

Gov. Brian Kemp made the announcement Tuesday as the states newly confirmed infection numbers continue to fall but remain the highest per capita in the nation.

The Republican Kemp says he will allocate more than $65 million of the $105 million he controls. Of that money, at least $17 million will subsidize daytime supervision for students whose school systems are providing all-virtual instruction.

Families with incomes of 85% or below of the statewide median would be eligible for subsidized slots, if parents are working or attending college or job training.

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BATON ROUGE, La.  Louisiana should start issuing checks for $300 in weekly federal coronavirus unemployment aid next week. But as many as 87,000 people on state unemployment may not be eligible for the federal assistance.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday the state expects to receive federal funds by the end of this week to start paying out the enhanced federal unemployment benefits offered by President Donald Trumps executive order.

Next week is when we believe that we will be issuing these checks, the Democratic governor said.

About 417,000 people in Louisiana are expected to be eligible for the federal unemployment aid.

The Edwards administration says people will receive three weeks of payments at once, retroactive to Aug. 1. The money comes on top of weekly state unemployment benefits that max out at $247.

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame University has canceled in-person undergraduate classes for two weeks after a spike of coronavirus cases that occurred since the semester began Aug. 10.

University president the Rev. John Jenkins said Tuesday he decided against sending students home after consulting with health care experts. Instead, the university is imposing restrictions on student activity, including limiting access to dormitories to residents and barring students from major gathering places on campus.

Jenkins said there have been 147 confirmed cases of coronavirus on campus since the start of classes.

It is very serious and we must take serious actions, Jenkins said in an address to students and staff.

Tuesdays action by Notre Dame follows the decision by officials of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to switch to remote learning starting Wednesday.

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BATON ROUGE, La.  Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says he will reject an emergency plan for the fall elections because it doesnt expand mail-in balloting options for people quarantined because of the coronavirus pandemic or those at greater risk to serious harm from COVID-19.

The decision announced Tuesday by the Democratic governor will block the plan offered by Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin. The proposal needs backing from both the majority-GOP Legislature and Edwards to take effect.

Ardoin says the plan was developed to win support from Republican lawmakers.

If lawmakers and Edwards cant reach an agreement, the issue may get settled by the courts, where a federal lawsuit over fall voting plans is pending.

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ISLAMABAD  Pakistans drug regulatory agency has approved final-phase testing of a Chinese-made vaccine against coronavirus in this Islamic nation where the new virus has caused 617 deaths since February.

In Mondays statement, the state-run National Institute of Health said the approval to carry out advanced clinical trials for potential COVID-19 was granted by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan. It said the phase-3 clinical trials for a candidate vaccine against the new virus will be conducted at the countrys main health facilities.

It said the vaccine was produced by CanSinoBio, a China-based vaccine developer and Beijing Institute of Biotechnology.

Pakistan, which has witnessed a steady decline in fatalities from the new virus, reported only 15 new COVID-19 deaths and 617 new cases in the past 24 hours. It has reported 289,832 cases since February when the first infection was detected in the country.

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CHICAGO  Chicagos Navy Pier is closing again until next spring because attendance has been so low during the coronavirus pandemic.

The tourist spot began reopening June 10, but officials say theyre only seeing about 15% to 20% of the usual crowds during whats generally the busiest time of year. Pier president and CEO Marilynn Gardner says the closures will help limit losses.

Also Tuesday, Chicago officials added Iowa and Kansas to its list quarantine list and removed Wisconsin and Nebraska. People from those states who travel to the city are expected to quarantine for two weeks or face possible fines.

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BOONE, N.C.  The top administrator at Appalachian State, which is part of the University of North Carolina system, posted a campus-wide letter Monday night outlining factors favoring school opening after faculty passed a vote of no-confidence mainly over the coronavirus response. The vote was held shortly after the systems flagship university in Chapel Hill was shut down.

Appalachian State Chancellor Sheri Everts wrote that 27 of more than 2,000 mostly residence hall students tested last week were diagnosed with the virus. She noted there is 86% of isolation and quarantine space available and more can be utilized if needed. Campus and city police will be monitoring for large parties and violators will be referred to a student conduct board, she said.

Active cases on the Boone campus increased from 39 on Monday to 58 on Tuesday. Everts said she is encouraged by the numbers so far but its up to members of our university and the greater community to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Everts declined to comment about the faculty senate vote.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio  All Ohio high school sports can go forward this year, with an option for some fall sports like football to be delayed until the spring if schools wish, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday.

Our order provides best guidance to play sports as safely as can be played in the era of COVID-19, DeWine said.

The governors order prohibits spectators at events other than family members or individuals close to the athlete, with final decisions on those people left up to schools. DeWines decision comes as practice is underway at some schools and suspended at others out of concerns over spreading the coronavirus.

Dozens of states nationwide have delayed fall sports, and at least 15 wont play high school football this autumn, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Amid questions over mask-wearing requirements in schools, Gov. Tom Wolfs administration is trying to make it clear that masks are to be worn practically at all times by students in Pennsylvanias school, drawing complaints that school leaders must again change their preparations.

The administration this week released additional guidance that Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said Tuesday clarifies the states intentions for mask-wearing in schools as they prepare to reopen in the coming days and weeks.

Masks must be worn in school, even when students and educators are six feet apart, Levine said.

But with some private or career technical schools already open, school officials say it is another frustrating change in guidance. They say they had previously been told that students and educators could remove their masks in the classrooms if they were at least six feet apart.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has tightened the governments recommendations for reining in the spread of the coronavirus, warning that if the country does not control new infections the Netherlands could go back to square one.

Rutte gave people very, very, urgent advice not to hold parties at home and to limit events like birthday celebrations and other private house gatherings to a maximum of six people. However, the Dutch government did not impose any new mandatory restrictions.

Ruttes comments came after the Dutch public health institute announced that there had been just over 4,000 new confirmed virus cases in the Netherlands over the last week, around the same number as the previous week.

Virus cases have been on the rise since the Netherlands removed most of its coronavirus restrictions on July 1. Students returned to high schools in the countrys north this week for the first time in months without requirements for face masks or social distancing.

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WASHINGTON  President Donald Trumps payroll tax deferral would provide workers with a modest bump in take-home pay the rest of this year, but theyd face a big tax bill next year when repaying the money.

Thats according to an analysis Tuesday by a coalition of major business groups calling the policy unfair to workers and unworkable for employers.

A worker making $75,000 a year would get nearly $179 more every two weeks for the rest of this year. But that same worker would owe about $1,610 next year. A worker making $35,000 would get about $83 more biweekly the rest of this year and owe just over $750 next year.

The more than 30 business groups behind the analysis, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, want the Trump administration to make it optional for employers to offer workers a deferral of their Social Security payroll taxes. Or the group requests Congress permanently forgive repayment.

Trump says hes ordered the tax deferral to boost an economy stricken by the coronavirus.

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PARIS  France will mandate masks in all workplaces, from the Paris business district to factories in the provinces.

The Labor Ministry says the mandate takes effect Sept. 1. It makes France one of the few countries in to require workers to wear masks on the job, though theyre routinely worn in many Asian countries and increasingly required in public places.

The move came after Frances daily infection count increased past 3,000 over the weekend for the first time since May. The number of virus patients in hospitals, intensive care units and nursing homes is starting to inch up again.

France currently has among the highest infection rates in Europe. It already requires masks in public indoor spaces such as restaurants and many areas outdoors.

France has more than 256,000 cases of the coronavirus and more then 30,400 deaths, seventh highest in the world.
New prebuilt automations, machine learning and natural language processing enhancements, and ELT capabilities simplify and accelerate data and process flow across the enterprise

SnapLogic, provider of the #1 Intelligent Integration Platform, today announced new enterprise automation capabilities that empower employees across the business to quickly and easily connect applications and data, streamline workflows and processes, and deliver exceptional experiences for customers, partners, and employees. For workers in marketing, finance, HR, IT, or any line of business, these new innovations from SnapLogic including prebuilt, end-to-end process automations; ELT (Extract, Load, Transform) features and a quick-start solution for faster data warehousing; and an intuitive, visual interface powered by machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) accelerate productivity, data-driven decision making, and business outcomes.

Leading organizations are embracing the cloud, data, and AI to rethink and rewire their businesses. Manual, repetitive tasks are being replaced by automated, digital ones. Data flows freely and business processes run without interruption. Skilled workers are freed up to focus on strategic projects that deliver real business value. As a result, these organizations can see around corners, flex and adapt as needed, and run faster in order to scale up and seize the moment, especially in times of rapid change.

"Automation makes possible what every organization wants: a single source of truth for data-rich decisions; agile innovation that delivers products and services to market faster; exceptional experiences for customers, partners, and employees; and amazing business results higher revenue, profit, market share, and competitive standing," said Gaurav Dhillon, CEO at SnapLogic. "Our new enterprise automation capabilities enable organizations to unlock the power of their applications and data to deliver on the promise of the agile, connected, data-driven enterprise."

"Organizations are increasingly investing in intelligent automation initiatives to accelerate business transformation and ensure resilience in these times of rapid change," said Neil Ward-Dutton, VP of AI and Intelligent Process Automation at IDC Europe. "Process and data automation can drive radical improvements in employee productivity, customer experience, business process efficiency, and operational intelligence."

New Innovations Power Data-driven Teams

With SnapLogic's self-service, AI-powered integration platform, IT teams as well as business users across every business function from marketing to finance to HR can use the low-code solution to connect apps and data and automate workflows and processes. New product innovations being rolled out today and through the end of the year automate mundane, rote activities while augmenting workers with digital intelligence and data-enriched processes that enable them to work smarter and at greater scale.

These new innovations include:

New Prebuilt Automation Journeys : New prebuilt, out-of-the-box automation journeys unify all the applications and data that make up a complete business process, such as hire-to-retire, quote-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and customer 360. The SnapLogic platform learns, understands, and connects to all of an organization's underlying systems, streamlining flows and processes, automated in their construction, with rich AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities layered on top, leading to faster, data-enriched outcomes.



For example, SnapLogic, together with its partners, will deliver a prebuilt automation journey for the employee onboarding process. By bringing together all the applications, systems, and processes needed to on-board a new employee everything from benefits enrollment to payroll processing to laptop provisioning to user ID and system access, and more organizations can deliver a fast, seamless, productive experience for the new hire and HR teams alike.



Likewise, a prebuilt solution unifying applications and data across the customer journey will follow. For example, in the 'Buy' stage of the customer journey, key processes including sales quote approval, contract generation, invoice processing, and more can and should be automated. With integrated systems and automated processes driving a connected customer 360 strategy, marketing and sales teams can focus on delivering a superior customer experience.





: New prebuilt, out-of-the-box automation journeys unify all the applications and data that make up a complete business process, such as hire-to-retire, quote-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and customer 360. The SnapLogic platform learns, understands, and connects to all of an organization's underlying systems, streamlining flows and processes, automated in their construction, with rich AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities layered on top, leading to faster, data-enriched outcomes. For example, SnapLogic, together with its partners, will deliver a prebuilt automation journey for the employee onboarding process. By bringing together all the applications, systems, and processes needed to on-board a new employee everything from benefits enrollment to payroll processing to laptop provisioning to user ID and system access, and more organizations can deliver a fast, seamless, productive experience for the new hire and HR teams alike. Likewise, a prebuilt solution unifying applications and data across the customer journey will follow. For example, in the 'Buy' stage of the customer journey, key processes including sales quote approval, contract generation, invoice processing, and more can and should be automated. With integrated systems and automated processes driving a connected customer 360 strategy, marketing and sales teams can focus on delivering a superior customer experience. New NLP-powered Flow Interface : A new, intuitive, visual flow interface guides non-technical business users through the integration and automation of end-to-end business processes. With these new flows, the platform captures the user's intent and leverages Iris AI's capabilities to build automations rapidly in just a few hours, without the user needing to have any knowledge of application endpoints, schemas, or data transformations.



New NLP capabilities, expanded ML features, and automated endpoint data discovery will further simplify and accelerate business process automation. The new flow interface will enable data-savvy business users with no previous integration experience to easily automate business processes and quickly access data without having to rely on IT, while fully within parameters set by IT governance.





: A new, intuitive, visual flow interface guides non-technical business users through the integration and automation of end-to-end business processes. With these new flows, the platform captures the user's intent and leverages Iris AI's capabilities to build automations rapidly in just a few hours, without the user needing to have any knowledge of application endpoints, schemas, or data transformations. New NLP capabilities, expanded ML features, and automated endpoint data discovery will further simplify and accelerate business process automation. The new flow interface will enable data-savvy business users with no previous integration experience to easily automate business processes and quickly access data without having to rely on IT, while fully within parameters set by IT governance. New ELT Snaps : Available immediately, new ELT Snaps accelerate the integration and movement of large volumes of complex data whether in the cloud, on-premises, or in hybrid environments into a cloud data warehouse and provide customers flexibility to leverage its compute power for data transformations. This increased flexibility allows customers to distribute data transformation workloads across the SnapLogic platform and cloud data warehouses for better resource utilization and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).





: Available immediately, new ELT Snaps accelerate the integration and movement of large volumes of complex data whether in the cloud, on-premises, or in hybrid environments into a cloud data warehouse and provide customers flexibility to leverage its compute power for data transformations. This increased flexibility allows customers to distribute data transformation workloads across the SnapLogic platform and cloud data warehouses for better resource utilization and lower total cost of ownership (TCO). New 'Fast Loader' Solution: Available immediately, this new quick-start solution from SnapLogic helps enterprises load data from multiple cloud and on-premises applications and data sources into their cloud data warehouse by up to 20 times faster. Whether moving batch, real-time, or event-based data, a new wizard-based interface and sophisticated parallel loading capabilities make data warehouse loading fast and easy. This solution is available to new customers for free, up to one million rows of data per month. To learn more about this new Fast Loader solution and to get started today, click here.

Customer Quotes

"With SnapLogic's easy-to-use, low-code environment, we're able to eliminate one-off integrations and speed up critical business processes, while driving operational efficiencies and considerable cost savings," said Travis Pendleton, Data Warehouse and iPaaS Architect at enterprise identity governance provider SailPoint. "Case in point: we were able to automate service processes that eliminated 30% of our helpdesk workload, a significant result."

"Delivering a great customer experience starts with engaged, productive, happy employees," said Harsh Desai, Enterprise Architect at Denny's, the leading full-service restaurant chain. "The SnapLogic integration platform enables us to build fast, secure integrations across dozens of HCM, ITSM, and other applications to automate all stages of the employee journey, from recruiting and onboarding, to growth and development, to promotions, through to separation from the company. By seamlessly connecting our HR systems and optimizing the end-to-end employee journey, we're setting the stage for our thousands of dedicated employees to deliver engaging customer experiences that drive loyalty and revenue."

"Our business requires the secure and fast movement of quality data across the firm," said Chris Throop, Global Head of Data Science at international commodities company Castleton Commodities International LLC. "With SnapLogic, we're able to quickly and easily move large volumes of complex data from numerous apps and sources securely into our cloud data warehouse, helping us analyze business-critical information in real-time so we can make data-driven decisions and take fast action."

About SnapLogic

SnapLogic powers the automated enterprise. The company's self-service, AI-powered integration platform helps organizations connect applications and data sources, automate common workflows and business processes, and deliver exceptional experiences for customers, partners, and employees. Thousands of enterprises around the world rely on the SnapLogic platform to integrate, automate, and transform their business. Learn more at snaplogic.com.

Connect with SnapLogic via our Blog, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005256/en/

Contacts:

Scott Behles

SnapLogic

scott.behles@snaplogic.com

+1 415-571-4462

Cameron Burke

Kaizo for SnapLogic

snaplogic@kaizo.co.uk

+44 (0)203 176 4700
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hailed the announcement of a strategic partnership between the Haitian and Turkish Governments, including an energy agreement between the Haitian Government and Karpowership, an energy company that builds and operates floating power plants.

Foreign Minister Claude Joseph, and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the field of electricity, at an event held in Port-au-Prince. Haiti's Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, Central Bank Governor Jean Baden Dubois and Presidential Energy Advisor Dr. Evenson Calixte were also in attendance.

At a roundtable with Karpowership's Chief Commercial Officer, Zeynep Harezi, Foreign Minister Joseph also announced a plan by the Turkish energy company to provide power through their floating power plants, called Powerships. The electricity is intended to fill an immediate need following rolling blackouts in areas including Cap Haitien. This initial contract is part of a Memorandum of Understanding, giving Haiti the option to switch from heavy-fuel oil to a 20-year LNG to Powership project

Haitian President Jovenel Moise has been working to boost energy production in the country in the face of opposition from monopolies and special interests, and today's announcement is a major breakthrough for Haiti's energy production capacity.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said:

"Turkey wishes to boost cooperation with Haiti in all possible areas, such as energy and construction. To strengthen the legal basis of our bilateral cooperation, today I am happy to sign seven important agreements, including an economic cooperation agreement which will establish a joint economic commission between Haiti and Turkey."

Haitian Foreign Minister Claude Joseph said:

"This strategic partnership between the Haitian Government and the Government of Turkey is an important piece of a plan to solve Haiti's long-running and devastating energy crisis. This is a significant milestone for our country, and in simple terms, will help ensure many more Haitians will have access to electricity.

"I am confident that Powerships can offer a swift and meaningful step forward in filling our current, severe gap in power supply.

"President Moise will continue working to deliver on our promise to power up the entire country. This is urgent, we will not allow time or funds to be squandered as occurred in the past."

SOURCE Presidency of Haiti
A woman with alopecia asked her boyfriend to shave her head after her hair began falling out for the fourth time, but was left 'speechless' and teary-eyed when he also shaved his own hair off.

Eva Barilaro, 23, was told she has alopecia universalis, an autoimmune disease causing loss of hair, in September 2010 when she was 13 years old.

She had spent months growing her hair, but it began falling out for the fourth time in May.

Eva, from Monaco, was at first 'convinced' it would grow back but then asked her boyfriend Damien Fabre, 26, to shave her head.

He initially 'refused' saying she looked 'too beautiful', but when she said she 'couldn't stand seeing it fall anymore' he agreed and they filmed the emotional moment to send to her family and friends.

Eva Barilaro, from Monaco, has alopecia and asked her firefighter boyfriend Damien Fabre, 26, to shave her head after her hair began falling out in May

An emotional video shows Damien turn the clippers on his own head after shaving his girlfriend's head, leaving a stunned Eva, 23, in tears at his supportive gesture

In the video, Eva's firefighter boyfriend shaves her head with their neighbour's hair clippers.

But as Damien finishes, he immediately turns the clippers on his own head in a heart-warming moment.

He shaves down the centre of his head as Eva bursts into tears at his supportive gesture.

Damien hugs Eva and kisses her as she watches teary-eyed before turning to help him shave the rest of his head.

Eva said Damien told her that he was 'just like you now' as she was stunned at his decision.

Eva said: 'My first reaction was to try to stick the fallen hair back on his head as I didn't want him to be bald too.

'But he had already drawn a highway in the middle of his head. I was confused with all the emotions possible mixing up at the same time.'

Eva, who is a business law graduate from the Paris Institute of Political Studies, said she was 'speechless' when Damien decided to shave his head.

Eva was told she has alopecia universalis, an autoimmune disease causing loss of hair, in September 2010 when she was 13 years old and underwent four years of high dosage cortisone treatment. Pictured, Eva with Damien in his firefighter uniform

Eva, pictured with Damien, had been growing her hair for months before it started to fall out for the fourth time. After she shared the tear-jerking video on TikTok she received floods of supportive messages, making her realise she was not alone and it was 'OK to be sad'

She said: 'At night I took the time to hug him and thank him with all my heart to make him understand that what he did was the best proof of his love for me. I felt that from now I will never ever be alone. We were forming a team.'

Eva underwent four years of high dosage cortisone treatment when she was was first told she had alopecia, which she said had 'nearly the same consequences' as chemotherapy.

After posting the video on TikTok, people began reaching out to Eva and asking her how she felt which, after a mixture of emotions, she said helped her understand it was 'OK to feel sad and not as strong as usual'.

She added: 'Indeed, seeing myself bald in the mirror is something daily for me, so I was a bit upset when people started to ask me how I was feeling.

'It was my daily basis, I felt like people where only starting to realise my daily life wasn't as easy as they thought. Indeed, I never stop smiling, I wear beautiful scarves or very natural wigs, it becomes normal for them... never for me.

'So when the video became viral, it hasn't been so easy. It was reviving many souvenirs and things I had dug deep down.'

Eva said at first she did not feel anything, as being bald is familiar to her, leaving her surprised when relatives started asking her how she was doing.

Eva, who studied business law in Paris, is urging others with alopecia to speak out about their experiences so nobody else has to feel alone. Pictured, Eva with Damien

She said: 'I thought it's been 10 years that I wake up in the morning seeing my face in the mirror like that. So why people ask me how I feel now... this is what made me realise that it was ok to be sad.

'Even though I am very surrounded, I am always alone in front of my mirror. People tend to forget that if it's normal to them, it will never be normal to me.

'Society imposes stereotypes to which we should fit, but I believe these stereotypes don't exist at all. To me, 'different' doesn't exist. We are all unique, with our specificities, our proper stories... it's not about being different, because no one is alike.'

She is encouraging other people with alopecia to talk about their experiences so that nobody feels alone again, adding that 'we all deserve to be listened to' and to be loved.

Eva said: 'Whatever you specificities are as a unique person, you deserve to be loved. And to be loved you need to learn to accept yourself, to love yourself as the unique and beautiful person you are.'

The emotional moment was filmed on May 7 in Eva and Damien's shared home in Monaco.
Chennai, Aug 18 : As many as 5,850 Covid-19 patients were cured and discharged in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday even as 5,709 more persons tested positive for coronavirus, the Health Department said.

The total patients cured and discharged from different hospitals in Tamil Nadu has now gone up to 289,787. The corona cases now total 349,654 in the southern state.

With 121 more Covid-19 fatalities, the state's death toll increased to 6,007.

Taking into account the cured patients and the death toll, the active cases in Tamil Nadu are now 53,860.

The number of corona-infected children in the age group 0-12 in the state went up to 16,834.

State capital Chennai continued to head the infection tally, with 1,182 more persons testing positive for the virus. Its total stands at 119,059.
Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

 Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attended an online summit of the worlds NA female heads held on Monday under the theme of womens leadership at NAs in the time of COVID-19 and post-pandemic recovery.

 Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with Malaysian authorities to verify an incident in which a Vietnamese fisherman was killed during a confrontation with the Malaysian coast guard.

Society

 Vietnams Ministry of Health confirmed one imported COVID-19 case and six community-based cases in Hanoi, Hai Duong Province, and Quang Nam Province on Tuesday morning. The countrys tally is now at 983, with 467 recoveries and 24 deaths.

 A tropical depression entered the East Vietnam Sea on Monday night and is expected to strengthen into a storm within the next 24 to 48 hours, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

 Torrential rain inundated multiple streets and resulted in heavy congestion during rush hour in Hanoi on Monday evening.

 Authorities in the northern province of Hai Duong have decided to lock down multiple residential areas from 0:00 Tuesday following the detection of four locally transmitted COVID-19 cases.

Business

 More than 21,200 businesses in Ho Chi Minh City had been dissolved due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as of July 31, chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong stated at a meeting on Monday.

 Vietnams consumption of steel in the first seven months of 2020 fell by 9.6 percent year-on-year to 12.37 million metric tons, while production output was down by 6.9 percent year-on-year to 13.7 million metric tons, according to the Vietnam Steel Association.

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade recently sent a letter to oppose several contents in Indonesia's draft conclusions of an anti-dumping investigation on color-coated steel sheet products imported from Vietnam and China.

World news

 More than 22 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 while almost 14.7 million patients have recovered from the disease worldwide, the Vietnamese health ministry said, adding that over 776,800 have lost their lives to the virus.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- iStar (NYSE: STAR) (the "Company") announced today that it has agreed to sell at par $400 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.50% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026. The closing of the offering of the senior unsecured notes is expected to occur on September 1, 2020, subject to customary conditions.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering, together with cash on hand, to redeem the $400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 5.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 and to pay related premiums, fees and expenses.

BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan, Barclays, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are the joint book-running managers for the offering. The notes will be issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement that was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the offered notes, nor shall there be any sale of the notes in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

The redemption of the Company's 5.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 will be made solely pursuant to a redemption notice delivered pursuant to the applicable indenture, and nothing contained in this press release constitutes a notice of redemption of the Company's 5.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022.

The notes will be offered by means of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus for the offering. Electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus for the offering may be obtained for free by searching the SEC online database (EDGAR) on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus for the offering may be obtained by contacting the joint book-running managers at the following addresses or telephone numbers:

BofA Securities

NC1-004-03-43

200 North College Street, 3rd Fl.

Charlotte, NC 28255-0001

Attn: Prospectus Department

[email protected]



J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

1-866-803-9204 Barclays Capital Inc.

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

[email protected]

1-888-603-5847 (toll-free) Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor

New York, NY 10014

Attn: Prospectus Department

[email protected]

1-866-718-1649

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

Attn: Prospectus Department

[email protected]

1-212-902-1171



* * *

SOURCE iStar Inc.
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo says Walter Carrington, a former United States ambassador to Nigeria, offered him asylum in the US before h...

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo says Walter Carrington, a former United States ambassador to Nigeria, offered him asylum in the US before he was arrested by the regime of Sani Abacha, the late military dictator.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Carrington, who died last week, as US ambassador to Nigeria.

Although Carringtons tenure ended in 1997, the diplomat did not stop showing interest in Nigeria till he died.

In a statement on Tuesday, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjos spokesman, said the ex-president sent a condolence letter to the family of the late ambassador through Arese, wife of the deceased.

According to Akinyemi, Obasanjo said Carrington helped in easing the move to democratic rule in the country, having met Nigeria under the military rule, which had run consecutively for over a decade.

He said Carrington was one of the responsible, mature and respected voices to take Nigeria out of the unwholesome situation it found itself.

Indeed, I recall, sometime in 1995, that on one of my trips to Copenhagen to attend World Social Summit as Human Development Ambassador of the United Nations Development Programme, I received the most touching of the warnings, pieces of advice and offers from Amb. Carrington, Obasanjo wrote.

He called me in Copenhagen and told me categorically that I was going to be arrested on returning home and, therefore, advised me not to return home. But he did not stop it there, he offered me political asylum by his government in the US. That was both touching and assuring, but I decided that, tempting and assuring as the offer was, I would not take it. I came back and was arrested and imprisoned by Abacha. No doubt, his generous assistance to my family while I was a political prisoner makes me forever indebted to him.

When I was in prison, he was one of the few foreign Ambassadors who regularly visited my wife to encourage her and to find out how I was doing in prison. I can proudly say he was a true friend and brother.

The ex-president added that Carrington devoted his life to humanity through the fairness, kindness, optimism and intelligence he brought to bear on all his undertakings, and through the righteousness, humanness and harmony he promoted in the US as a human rights activist and indeed across the world.

He said ex-US ambassador was not just a pride to America and Americans, but also to the people of African descent.

He came to Nigeria with love, ate and drank Nigerian delicacies and drinks, showed a significant demonstration of oneness by walking the aisle to tie the nuptial knot outside nationality bounds with one of our illustrious daughters and that is you, and he was loved and appreciated by the people through giving him a Yoruba name Omowale and naming a street after him in Victoria Island, Lagos, Obasanjo wrote.

We celebrate his life well spent in the service of humanity and we will continue to project his principles and values in contributing to governance, security and sustainable development of the African continent. His legacies will live on and continue to touch many lives and generations to come. Indeed, it gladdens my heart to know not only Nigeria and Africa, but many nations around the world had a friend in him.

Life is not about how long you spend but how well you live to serve humanity, Amb. Carrington lived well and successfully by making unique contributions to make the world a better place than he met it.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun dismissed as "impossible" the chance that a vast explosion in Beirut`s port this month was caused by a blast from a deposit of Hezbollah arms, but said that all possibilities would be investigated.

Lebanese authorities are probing what caused massive amounts of ammonium nitrate warehoused unsafely for years at the port to denotate in a mushroom cloud on August 4, killing 178 people, injuring 6,000 and destroying swathes of the city.

Aoun, an ally of the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, told Italian daily Corriere della Sera in an interview published on Tuesday that the group did not store weapons at the port, echoing comments by Hezbollah`s leader earlier this month.

"Impossible, but serious events like these light up spirits and imagination," Aoun said when asked about people advancing the hypothesis, but added that "even this lead will be investigated".

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has denied accusations that his heavily armed movement had weaponry warehoused at Beirut port. He has said that the group would wait for results of the investigation but if it turns out to be an act of sabotage by Israel then it would "pay an equal price".

Hezbollah, which exercises sway over government in Lebanon, has fought several wars with Israel and is classified by the United States as a terrorist group.

Israel has denied any involvement in the blast.

Aoun has said the probe is looking into whether neglect, an accident or "external interference" caused the blast.

"Although it seems that (it) has been an accident, I want to avoid being accused of not having listened to every voice," Aoun told the Italian daily.

He said that many people claimed seeing airplanes fly by the port just before the blast and, although "not very credible", they should be listened to.
A former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim is reportedly at loggerheads with one Chinyere Amuchienwa who is rumoured to be his longtime girlfriend.

According to a report by Premium Times, Ms Chinyere and the ex-governor are in a messy fight at the moment that the Nigerian police have had to step in.

Chinyere Amuchienwa who runs a luxury store in Lagos claims the ex-governor bought luxury things from her on credit and he is yet to pay. She also accused the ex-governor of giving her a fake diamond ring to engage her. Ohakim also accused her of not being able to account for a N100m he gave her for a political project.

Its an exclusive report by Premium Times, read the full report immediately after the cut.

Ohakim, 63, his married to wife, Chioma for 39 years and have grandchildren.

A former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, is involved in a dirty fight with a Nigerian woman he had a romantic relationship with, and at some point told the police the woman assaulted him inside a hotel room in Abuja.

The woman, whose name is Chinyere Amuchienwa, is from Imo State. She lives in Lagos where she deals in luxury items.

Mr Ohakim, 63, was governor from 2007 to 2011. He lost the election in 2019 when he contested again for the seat in Nigerias South-East.

He has been married for 39 years to Chioma Ohakim, a lawyer. They have five children and grandchildren.

In a petition dated January 20, which he sent to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Mr Ohakim said, On Saturday, January 18, 2020, Miss Chinyere physically assaulted me. She deceived me and lured me with a meeting request. I subsequently invited her to my hotel room at BON Hotel, Asokoro and she arrived at about 20:15 p.m.

Directly I opened the door quite innocently, pandemonium took over, she bounced on me grabbing me by my shirt with all her strength and gave me a violent push.

Mr Ohakim continued, As I staggered to recover, she rushed for my phone on the table and a struggle ensured (sic). Directly I retrieved the phones from her she immediately rushed to grab something from her bag which I strongly suspected to be a gun.

Mr Ohakim said he ran outside his room, shouting for help.

The incident, he said to the police, could be confirmed from the hotels CCTV.

He said he immediately filed a complaint at a police station in Asokoro against his estranged mistress.

The former governor told the police that Ms Amuchienwa is a 56-year-old divorcee.

He said Ms Amuchienwa has been his friend whom he lavishly extended a lot of favour to and that she was even involved in his failed 2019 governorship election campaign, but that the relationship went sour and since then she has been threatening to blackmail and destroy him.

He said he was completely terrified and wanted the police chief, Mr Adamu, to intervene in the case.

He promised in his petition to provide specific evidence to the police to back up his allegations against Ms Amuchienwa.

Mr Ohakim described himself to the police as one who holds the traditional titles of Ogbujingidi of Igbo land and the Otumba Tomitope of Yoruba land, including other 51 chieftaincy titles across Nigeria, besides being a former governor of Imo state, a businessman and a defence and security contractor.

The police responded to Mr Ohakims petition and asked him to report at the force CID for an interview on June 1. They requested him to bring along specific evidence he said he had, including any other useful information that could help in the police investigation.

The police letter was signed by Abdulkadir Jimoh, a commissioner of police.

The former governor and his estranged mistress reported at the force headquarters and were both interviewed by the assistant inspector-general of police in-charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau.

Ms Amuchienwa told PREMIUM TIMES, Saturday, that Mr Ohakim did not tender any supporting evidence or call any witness during the police interview, an assertion this newspaper could not verify.

Mr Ohakims phone number returned cannot receive call at the moment when this newspaper tried repeatedly to reach the former governor over the weekend.

A text message sent to his phone line was also not delivered at the time of filing this report.

PREMIUM TIMES, Saturday, contacted Emmanuel Ohakim, a brother to the former governor, but the call was switched off immediately our reporter finished introducing himself. He did not call back or pick subsequent calls from the reporter.

Ms Amuchienwa, on her part, tendered some documents to the police to counter Mr Ohakims claims.

Mr Ohakim, through his lawyers, J. N. Egwuonwu & Co., wrote to the inspector-general of police on July 20 requesting copies of the documents tendered by Ms Amuchienwa, including her account statement with Access Bank, which the lawyers said she claimed she used to transfer some money to Mr Ohakim.

Patrick Agu, a lawyer in the chambers, promised to get back to PREMIUM TIMES on the status of the case and to also let the paper know if the documents tendered by Ms Amuchienwa were released to them. But he did not call back. He did not also pick subsequent calls from the reporter.

Ms Amuchienwa, in her response to PREMIUM TIMES questions, admitted she was in a relationship with the former governor.

I am an adult and I am entitled to date anybody I choose to, she said.

Ms Amuchienwa, however, said the quarrel between her and Mr Ohakim was about some money she said the former governor took from her and was yet to pay back.

She also said Mr Ohakim visited her shop in Lagos and carted away designers suitcase, bags, shoes, and other luxury goods, which he has allegedly refused to pay for.

Mr Ohakim, in his petition, addressed this claim by Ms Amuchienwa. He said he got the items as gifts from her.

Two or three times she travelled out, she bought some gift items for me purely unsolicited and in reciprocal to mine. Items such as coffee, perfume, bag and shirt, he said.

Those were not gifts, but things Mr Ohakim picked on credit, Ms Amuchienwa said.

Ms Amuchienwa, during her interview with PREMIUM TIMES, called Mr Ohakim a scammer.

I kept asking (Ohakim) every day, What do you do for a living? The day I knew he was a scammer was the day he made a voice note and mentioned that he took my $200,000.

Ms Amuchienwa sent the voice note to PREMIUM TIMES via WhatsApp, but this newspaper has not been able to verify if the voice is that of Mr Ohakim.

On the incident at BON Hotel, Abuja, Ms Amuchienwa disputed the claims by Mr Ohakim.

She said she was invited to the hotel by the former governor and that she accepted the invitation because she thought it was about the money he was allegedly owing her.

I was invited to the hotel, the appointment was made (since) last year when I said I would not see him anymore. And its still based on the money Ohakim is owing me. We dont have any reason to meet anymore, we dont even have any communication anymore.

Ms Amuchienwa said Mr Ohakim snatched her phone, ran out of the hotel room with it when she declined to sit down with him.

She said she walked down the stairs to the hotel reception and reported the incident to the hotel officials.

Shortly after, police officers from the Asokoro police station visited BON Hotel on Mr Ohakims prompting.

All the items in her handbag, she said, were poured out at the reception and no gun was found as alleged by Mr Ohakim.

Both Mr Ohakim and Ms Amuchienwa were subsequently interviewed at the Asokoro police station over the incident.

Ms Amuchienwa said she declined a ride from the former governor when both of them were done and were about leaving the station.

Mr Ohakim in his petition to the police chief, Mr Adamu, said Ms Amuchienwa, accompanied by people he suspected to be hired thugs, used a vehicle to barricade the entrance to his residence in Abuja in May last year.

Ms Amuchienwa told PREMIUM TIMES the allegation was false.

She said she went only with a driver to Mr Ohakims residence, met with his orderly and peacefully asked if he (Ohakim) had left her money with him.

Ms Amuchienwa also responded to Mr Ohakims allegation that she could not account for over N100 million she received from him for the prosecution of the 2019 governorship election campaign in Ideato North Local Government Area, Imo state, where she was the co-ordinator.

She said the former governor could not provide any evidence or witness to substantiate the allegation when the police at the force headquarters requested him to do so.

They asked him (Ohakim), you said you gave her N100 million, how did you give it to her? He said he was the one who carried it (in cash) to her. Nobody was there? No signature? Ms Amuchienwa told PREMIUM TIMES.

I have never asked him for N700 million (as he is claiming in his petition), she said. I dont blackmail. All I want is for Ikedi Ohakim to give me back my money.

She, however, declined to mention the total money Mr Ohakim was owing her.

Ikedi (Ohakim) brought land document and showed to me, he said the land belonged to him. The land is on the airport road in Lagos, he even took us there. He said he was waiting for payment from the buyer of the land and that when they pay him he would be able to pay (me my money).

It was when this trouble started that we discovered the land didnt belong to Ikedi Ohakim. It is this land he has been using to scam me.

The witnesses who are aware that I gave him money have volunteered their statement to the police, Ms Amuchienwa said.

PREMIUM TIMES asked Ms Amuchienwa if she did not consider that Mr Ohakims wife could have been at home when she went to meet Mr Ohakims orderly.

Is he married? Why do you people want me to get into that point? Is Ikedi Ohakim married? she responded.

Ms Amuchienwa said Mr Ohakim gave her a fake diamond ring as an engagement ring.

The former governor, in his petition to the police, confirmed he bought a very expensive diamond ring for Ms Amuchienwa. He, however, said the ring was just a gift to her and that he bought it in response to a request from her.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
India Reynolds has revealed she feels her 'sexiest' on holiday as she discussed her experience with body confidence in a new interview.

The Love Island star, 29, looked as radiant as ever as she slipped into a white bandeau bralet in images uploaded to Instagram from her trip to Mykonos on Monday.

The model admitted that while she struggled with her image when she was younger, she now focuses on maintaining a healthy mental state and declared 'confidence comes from within'.

At her best: India Reynolds has revealed she feels her 'sexiest' on holiday as she discussed her experience with body confidence in a new interview

Turning up the heat, the reality star wowed in her strapless bikini top, which she teamed with matching trousers and a wide-brimmed straw hat.

The online influencer rounded things off with gold jewellery and mirrored shades as she treated herself to wine at Greek restaurant Principote.

In a recent interview with new! magazine, the stunning vegan touched on building confidence during her decade-long career in modelling.

Catching the eye: The Love Island star, 29, looked as radiant as ever as she slipped into a white bandeau bralet in images uploaded to Instagram from her trip to Mykonos on Monday

'Confidence comes from within': The model admitted that while she struggled with her image when she was younger, she now focuses on her healthy mental state (pictured last year)

She told the publication: 'I'm really body confident now, but when I was younger, not so much. I've modelled for over 10 years and it's changed so much from when I first started off, as the models were really different to now.

'It's definitely given me more confidence in just being myself, rather than trying to look like someone at the casting next to you. [I feel my sexiest] when I've been on holiday and I've got a tan or when I've been working out.'

India also admitted she used to compare herself to 'skinnier' models and would 'want to change a thousand things', but confessed she 'doesn't focus' on her insecurities anymore 'because you only get one body'.

'No hard feelings': The TV star revealed she's no longer in contact with her ex-boyfriend Ovie Soko, 29, after finishing in third place on last year's Love Island (pictured last year)

The 'lucky' brunette - who exercises three to four times a week - went on to praise her 'good boobs', and insisted there's 'so much more to life than bothering about whether you're two pounds heavier or lighter'.

Elsewhere in the interview, the TV star revealed she's no longer in contact with her ex-boyfriend Ovie Soko, 29, after finishing in third place on last year's Love Island, but claimed there's 'no hard feelings' between the former couple.

India has since launched a range of sizzling lingerie sets for 'all shapes and sizes' for Pour Moi after criticising trolls last month who mocked fellow Love Islander, Molly-Mae Hague's appearance.
JERSEYVILLE  An additional charge related to a fire at a mobile home in Fieldon was filed against a Jersey County man recently accused of hitting a woman in the head with a shovel.

Jon G. Deneef, 34, was charged Aug. 12 with criminal damage to property/fire/explosives/$500-$10,000, a Class 4 felony. On Aug. 3 he had been charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony.

The latest charge stems from allegations that on Aug. 1 he damaged a mobile home owned by another person by setting a fire. It was also noted that the mobile home was given as his address.

The additional charge was based on Deneefs actions on the same night of the prior charged event, said Jersey County States Attorney Ben Goetten. The defendant admitted to carelessness extinguishing a cigarette in the residence that started the blaze and ultimately destroyed the structure. The statute allows for recklessness as an element, which does not require we prove intent.

The previous charge stems from allegations that he hit a woman in the head with a shovel on the same day.

Bail on the previous charge had been set at $25,000. The latest charge had no bail set.

In an unrelated matter, Mike Wilson, 53, of Harrisburg, Illinois, was charged Aug. 10 with unlawful possession of controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.

According to court documents, on Aug. 7 he was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $5,000.
MOSCOW -- On the evening of August 16, as hundreds of thousands rallied across Belarus calling for the ouster of its authoritarian leader, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the Conflict Intelligence Team, a Russian investigative outfit, posted an alarming report.

Don't make too much of it (yet), the group wrote on Twitter. But two convoys of unmarked trucks identical to Russian riot police/National Guard vehicles were filmed 400km from the Belarusian border, driving south from St Petersburg.

The investigative group cited eyewitness accounts in a follow-up Facebook post, but did not give any evidence of troop movements or clarify whether any convoy crossed the border.

Nevertheless,the online reaction to claims of possible Russian military intervention in a western neighbor appeared to bolster a widespread fear driven by memories of earlier regional crises: that Moscow was willing to use force to shore up support for an embattled pro-Russian leader.

Crisis 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.

Amid the speculation, many drew parallels to Russias intervention in Ukraine in 2014, where a disputed Moscow-backed referendum paved the way for its forcible annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and military support for the ongoing pro-Russia insurgency in parts of Ukraines east. Now, images of alleged Russian Army convoys trundling across Belaruss eastern border triggered memories of similar scenes in Ukraine.

But despite Russias importance as a traditional ally to Belarus, whose economy Moscow has been instrumental in propping up, few analysts in Russia expect the Kremlin to repeat the Ukraine scenario. With tens of thousands joining peaceful protests across Belarus and popular support for Lukashenka plummeting, Russia has little to gain from sweeping in to help him suppress the unrest.

To invest in using force against a friendly population that doesnt want it may be too risky, even for Putin, Aleksandr Baunov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, told RFE/RL.

The protests in Belarus, unlike those in Ukraine, are not fueled by anti-Russia sentiment. Russia risks changing that if it seeks to forcibly stamp them out.

It would change the mind of the population, Baunov said of a Russian attack. It would mean to be worse than Lukashenka -- because at least Lukashenka is a local.

But neither can Moscow sit back and watch from the sidelines. On August 15, as events spiraled out of his control, Lukashenka announced to officials that he would call Putin, saying the protest movement -- which he claims is orchestrated by foreign governments -- was a threat not only to Belarus but to Russia, too.

For Moscow to back a losing side, it would need too many forces. That would include a huge occupying army.... I dont think thats something the Kremlin is ready for.

The leaders held two phone calls over the weekend, according to readouts issued by the Kremlin and Lukashenkas government. But it was the second conversation, on August 16, that apparently coaxed Moscow into citing the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a defense bloc comprising six former Soviet states pledging to defend each other in case of foreign attack.

Couched in diplomatic language, the statement issued by the Kremlin on August 16 promised only a readiness to render the necessary assistance to resolve the challenges facing Belarus, and never mentioned the Belarusian president by name.

Artsyom Shraybman, a Minsk-based political analyst, said Russia has made clear in all its statements that it will only intervene under the framework of the CSTO in the event of foreign aggression  despite Lukashenkas claim that Moscow would send help at Belaruss first call. And Moscows lack of references to Lukashenka specifically suggest its aware of the extent to which his popularity has plunged.

For Moscow to back a losing side, it would need too many forces, Shraybman said in an interview with the Russian independent television channel Dozhd. That would include a huge occupying army that would come to deal with partisan warfare. I dont think thats something the Kremlin is ready for.

In the end, most analysts agree, the Kremlins official statements fell well short of any concrete pledges of military assistance to shore up Lukashenkas beleaguered government.

They just acknowledged that there are some troubles and that Russia is aware of what is happening and that its committed to dialogue, Yekaterina Schulmann, a Moscow-based political scientist, said in a phone interview. Which is all very nice, but it can apply to any political regime and certainly to any president of Belarus.

Faced with an unpalatable military intervention as the only way of ensuring Lukashenka remains president -- amid continuing protests and a steady trickle of defections from his government -- Moscow seems to be leaving room for various outcomes, including his replacement by an opposition-backed candidate.

With the likelihood increasing of a power transition in Belarus, Moscow is likely to engage behind the scenes in dialogue with the West over the countrys future -- playing a role in overseeing a political transition along with EU member states and ensuring that its core interests are protected in the process.

I do think that Russia will feel itself entitled to be one of the mediators, or the main one, Schulmann said of possible international discussions. But I dont think its so invested in Lukashenka personally.

In the end, pragmatism is likely to win the day -- in the corridors of the Kremlin and those of international bodies. But for Putin, who has stamped out many protest movements throughout his 20 years in power and railed repeatedly against Western-backed revolutions, footage from Belarus of a stumbling strongman heckled from all sides is anathema.

Lukashenka is holding on for now -- and Moscow is watching closely to see how he handles the crucial days to come, ready to draw appropriate lessons from whatever outcome they bring.

Its not true that Russia supports every autocrat that needs to be supported, Schulmann said. But what Russia wouldnt like to see is the direct overthrow of an existing power by riotous masses. This would make for a bad picture.
This Aug. 5 photo shows Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, left, being escorted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office on Capitol Hill in Washington. Read more

WASHINGTON  Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will testify at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Friday about the U.S. Postal Service's vote-by-mail financial requirements, according to two people familiar with the decision.

It will be DeJoy's first opportunity to publicly answer lawmakers' questions about the nation's embattled mail service, which is experiencing delays as a result of policies DeJoy implemented cutting overtime and eliminating extra trips to ensure on-time mail delivery. DeJoy and USPS board of governors Chairman Robert M. Duncan are also set to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Monday.

Clamors from Democrats in both chambers for hearings with DeJoy grew over recent days after Trump said he wanted to withhold funding from the Postal Service to attempt to hobble its ability to process election mail.

Democrats have alleged that DeJoy, a former Republican National Convention finance chairman, is taking steps that are causing dysfunction in the mail system and could wreak havoc in the presidential election.

Republicans brush off those allegations, saying DeJoy must take decisive action to cut costs at the long-beleaguered agency.

A USPS representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Postal Service is in the process of removing 671 high-speed mail-sorting machines nationwide this month, a process that will eliminate 21.4 million items per hour's worth of processing capability from the agency's inventory.

On Thursday and Friday, it began removing public collection boxes in parts of California, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Montana. The agency said Friday that it would stop mailbox removals, which it said were routine, until after the election.

And White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that it would also halt sorting-machine removals.

Meadows also said the White House is open to Congress passing a stand-alone measure to ensure the U.S. Postal Service is adequately funded to manage a surge in mail voting in November.

"The president of the United States is not going to interfere with anybody casting their votes in a legitimate way whether it's the post office or anything else," he said.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., the Senate committee chair, will gavel the Friday hearing remotely, and is expected to press DeJoy on whether the Postal Service truly needs the $25 billion in emergency funding that the House has pushed. The Trump administration has backed away from its hard line stance against any postal aid, and signaled it could be willing to approve $10 billion. The agency has $15 billion in cash and another $10 billion it can access in a Treasury loan. Analysts of its finances say that is more than enough liquidity for the Postal Service to make it through the November election. The Postal Service's own estimates say it has enough cash on hand to survive through at least March.

Senate Democrats  including the partys presumptive vice-presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, who launched his own investigation of mail delays last week  are poised to grill DeJoy on his connections to the Trump White House.

DeJoy has given more than $2 million to the Trump campaign or Republican causes since 2016, according to the Federal Election Commission, including a $210,600 contribution to the Trump Victory Fund on Feb. 19. He has given more than $650,000 to the Trump Victory Fund and more than $1 million to the Republican National Convention. Democrats in both the House and Senate have labeled his selection patronage from the Trump administration.
To the Editor:

Re Variety of Voices Helps Democrats Open Convention (front page, Aug. 18):

This convention met the moment with a brilliantly produced confirmation of all the elements Michelle Obama iterated in her talk. The absence of a noisy, distracting background of conventioneers was a bonus allowing us to focus on the panorama of participants and the words of the presenters.

It was personal and patriotic, and it spoke to me. I hope that it spoke to millions of Americans who will vote to save our Constitution and reinstate our democracy.

Ellen Nelson-Larson

Danville, Calif.

To the Editor:

All elections are about three things: getting out your supporters, persuading the undecideds and creating as much doubt as possible in the minds of the opposition.

The Democratic convention opener on Monday did a good job on Task 1, but did little or nothing on Tasks 2 and 3.
Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Arconic Corporation (NYSE:ARNC).

Return on Equity or ROE is a test of how effectively a company is growing its value and managing investors money. In short, ROE shows the profit each dollar generates with respect to its shareholder investments.

Check out our latest analysis for Arconic

How Is ROE Calculated?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Arconic is:

13% = US$147m  US$1.2b (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2020).

The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. That means that for every $1 worth of shareholders' equity, the company generated $0.13 in profit.

Does Arconic Have A Good ROE?

One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see Arconic has a similar ROE to the average in the Metals and Mining industry classification (11%).

roe

So while the ROE is not exceptional, at least its acceptable. Although the ROE is similar to the industry, we should still perform further checks to see if the company's ROE is being boosted by high debt levels. If a company takes on too much debt, it is at higher risk of defaulting on interest payments. You can see the 3 risks we have identified for Arconic by visiting our risks dashboard for free on our platform here.

How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity?

Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used.

Story continues

Arconic's Debt And Its 13% ROE

Arconic does use a high amount of debt to increase returns. It has a debt to equity ratio of 1.10. There's no doubt its ROE is decent, but the very high debt the company carries is not too exciting to see. Debt does bring extra risk, so it's only really worthwhile when a company generates some decent returns from it.

Conclusion

Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt.

Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. It is important to consider other factors, such as future profit growth -- and how much investment is required going forward. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Heres a look at whats new or notable in home video. Movies and TV series are available on streaming sites such as iTunes, Amazon and Vudu unless otherwise noted.

New  Rent it

Tesla: This biopic of inventor Nikola Tesla, best known for his innovations with electricity, looks like a music video and messes with conventions. Eve Hewson (Cinemaxs The Knick), as philanthropist Anne Morgan, is both part of the story at the turn of the 20th century and also outside it, serving as a present-day narrator.

Ethan Hawke stars as Tesla. Other familiar faces in the cast are Kyle MacLachlan (Thomas Edison) and Jim Gaffigan (George Westinghouse).

Opens Friday in theaters, on streaming services and cable on demand.

More Information Also streaming New movies "The August Virgin": Spanish drama follows an actress through a few eventful summer days in Madrid. Friday via outsiderpictures.us. "Chemical Hearts": "Riverdale's" Lili Reinhart stars in a high school romance as a girl working to overcome a personal tragedy. Friday, Amazon Prime. "Stage Mother": Jacki Weaver ("Animal Kingdom") stars as a small-town Texas church choir director who inherits her late son's San Francisco drag bar and decides to keep it running. Friday on streaming services and cable on demand. TV series "Lucifer": The hybrid horror/police procedural series returns, with Lucifer (Tom Ellis) departing hell to play cop in L.A. Season five premieres Friday on Netflix. Recently released movies "Queen & Slim": An awkward first date turns into a life-altering drama when the couple is stopped by a policeman on their way home. "Get Out's" Daniel Kaluuya and newcomer Jodie Turner-Smith star. Saturday on HBO Now and HBO Max. Vintage movies "Beauty and the Beast": Emma Watson is Belle in the live-action version of the beloved musical. Saturday on Disney+. See More Collapse

Notable  Rewatch

Train to Busan: This South Korean zombie movie  an instant classic on its release in 2016  begins, as these things do, with a small leak in the biotech district. The sickness spreads faster than the high-speed train where most of the action is set, leaving people barely enough time to think, let alone plan.

Still, alliances are formed, sacrifices are made and a workaholic father makes amends to his little girl as the train races from Seoul to Busan. A sequel, Peninsula, opens Friday in theaters.

Streaming now on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Notable  Binge watch

Perry Mason: The horror series Lovecraft Country just premiered on HBO. Bingers can ignore it for the time being to gobble up Perry Mason, which wrapped its eight-episode first season a week ago.

The Depression-era mystery delivers both top-flight production and pulpy thrills. Its an origin story  Mason (Matthew Rhys) starts out as a hard-drinking investigator on a kidnapping case gone terribly wrong. The series real hero is Della Street (Juliet Rylance), who gets her boss where he needs to be: by the defendants side in court.

Season one streaming now on HBO Now and HBO Max.

Also: Tatiana Maslany plays Sister Alice, an evangelical preacher whose church is central to Perry Masons first case. Shes best known for the British sci-fi series Orphan Black, and all five seasons are streaming now on Amazon Prime.

Jim Kiest is the arts and entertainment editor for the San Antonio Express-News. To read more from Jim, become a subscriber. jkiest@express-news.net | Twitter: @WeekenderSA
Google has requested permission from the FCC to secretly test next-generation 6GHz Wi-Fi in several states across the United States. The company has asked the regulatory body to keep the specifics of the test under wraps, saying that if subject to public disclosure, would cause significant commercial, economic, and competitive harm.

Google proposes to conduct experimental propagation testing in the 6GHz band to produce technical information relevant to the utility of these frequencies for providing reliable broadband connections, the company writes. Its unclear exactly what Google is trying to test, though.

The company expects the tests to take up to 24 months. It has requested permission to test in 26 cities across 17 states. Those include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

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Google wants to conduct tests in only one or two cities in most of the states. However, in its home state, California, it plans to test in seven cities, including Los Angeles, the home to Googles Venice office, and San Bruno, where YouTube has its headquarters.

Google wants to test in the 6GHz band

The FCC voted to open up a section of the 6GHz band for unlicensed use in April this year. The idea was that this would usher in faster Wi-Fi. While many big tech companies welcomed the decision, some voiced concerns as well. Notably, AT&T said that this opens up risks of interference with the existing infrastructure.

Google is wary of these fears and promises to conduct tests without harmful interference to other authorized users. The company may even limit to indoor operation in some areas to avoid interference if need be. It would conduct tests in the 5650 MHz to 7125 MHz range.

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There are a number of possibilities for what Google might want to test in the 6GHz spectrum. The spectrum could be used for 5G, vehicle-to-vehicle Wi-Fi communication, IoT, and more. 6GHz Wi-Fi would also allow for significantly faster and more reliable connections.

Wi-Fi 6E routers, that might run at 6GHz, are expected to come later this year. However, given Googles expected time frame to complete the tests, it appears to be planning for something more than that.

The mention of broadband in the filing suggests it has something to do with wireless internet. The filing names Andrew Clegg as the technical contact. Clegg leads Googles Citizens Broadband Radio Service spectrum sharing efforts.

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Perhaps, Google is working on future internet services using the 6GHz spectrum, possibly under its Fiber WebPass banner. There are many speculations and were curious to know what it might be. Hopefully, well get to know a little more about it in the coming months when Google begins the secret tests.
Hon. Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, Former Energy Minister on Monday 17th August supported the NPP Ophan Constituencies in the Eastern Region with brand new motor bikes.



All the Ophan Constituencies in the region received 2 motor bikes each.



During a short handing Over ceremony which took place at the Residence of the Regional Minister in Koforidua, Hon. Boakye Agyarko assured the NPP in the Eastern Region and the National Level of his maximum support to see victory for the ruling NPP in the December 2020 general election.



He continued to say that, the 4 more years to do more for Ghanaians is a great agenda that they must all work hard to achieve that since the NPP can not deliver Ghana into the hands of the NDC again to come back to cause more damage to the Economy.



Hon. Boakye Agyarko aside the motor bikes he presented also declared his decision to support all the Ophan Constituencies Parliamentary candidates around the country with 1000 pieces of campaign posters as his way of supporting their campaigns.



Hon. Boakye Agyarko concluded with a caution to the beneficiaries to take good care of the motor bikes as well as any other support that will come to the Constituency levels during this election season since if care is not taken, the Party leadership will keep spending huge resources every election season which is not good in managing the affairs of the Party.



The Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Kingston Akumeng Kissi and the Regional Minister, Hon. Eric Kwakya Darfour led the Regional Executive and the Parliamentary Aspirants from the beneficiary Constituencies to receive the donation.



Mr. Kingston Akumeng Kissi on behalf of the benefiting Constituencies expressed their heart felt appreciation to the former Minister of State for this all important support and for all the other supporters he has given the Party in the Eastern in the past and for all he keeps doing for them in the Eastern.



Chairman Kissi assured Hon. Boakye Agyarko that this support will motivate them to work hard to take all the 6 Ophan Constituencies in the Eastern Region during the up coming elections.

Source: peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Indian foreign secretary Harsh Shringla flew to Dhaka on Tuesday for a previously unannounced visit, during which he is expected to convey a special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, people familiar with the developments said.

This is Shringlas first trip abroad since the Covid-19 outbreak. It is also a senior Indian officials the first visit to Bangladesh since travel restrictions were imposed due to the pandemic.

Shringla, who earlier served as the Indian envoy in Dhaka, is carrying a message from Modi for Hasina, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. He is also expected to meet foreign minister AK Abdul Momen and foreign secretary Masud bin Momen.

A brief statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs after Shringla arrived in Dhaka said the foreign secretary was on a visit to Bangladesh from August 18-19 to discuss and take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest.

Hasina visited India last October, while Modis planned visit to Bangladesh in March to participate in events marking the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was called off due to the pandemic. The two leaders have spoken on the phone several times this year, most recently in May.

Ties between the two countries have been under some strain since last year, when Bangladeshi leaders were irked by comments from BJP leaders about deporting illegal migrants from Assam. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the implementation of the National Register of Citizens also affected ties, and Hasina had questioned the need for CAA during an interview earlier this year.

India has taken several steps in recent weeks to improve connectivity with Bangladesh, including handing over 10 railway locomotives last month. This was done days after the first container train made its way from India to Bangladesh and the first shipment of goods was sent from Kolkata to Tripura via Chattogram port.

After taking over as foreign secretary in January, Shringla visited Dhaka in March. Shringla had met Prime Minister Hasina during his last visit to Bangladesh.
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chili Piper, the leader in Inbound Revenue Acceleration, today announced that it has raised $18 Million in Series A funding led by Base10 Partners with participation from Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused venture fund, and Flashpoint Venture Capital. TJ Nahigian, General Partner at Base10, will join the company's Board of Directors. With this new capital, Chili Piper plans to invest in product capabilities to enable remote sales teams to work more effectively and respond to buyer behavior instantly. The company also plans to expand its sales and marketing efforts to address the $100B+ CRM market and serve customers worldwide.

Founded in 2016 by a husband and wife duo, Alina and Nicolas Vandenberghe, Chili Piper started solving the frustrations of calendaring or scheduling between sales representatives and potential customers, and has evolved into a full suite of solutions to connect inbound opportunities to sellers instantly. Chili Piper Meetings synchronizes buyer and seller calendars allowing appointments to be booked instantly with ease -- keeping reps busy and buyers on track to close. It also enables buyers to be connected to available reps via voice or video instantly ensuring a continuous buyer experience and journey.

"Our product suite at Chili Piper is the beginning of a major evolution in how people connect with customers. Since Salesforce moved customer data to the Cloud, we are connecting cloud collaboration to sales force automation--we call this Instant Inbound." said Nicolas Vandenberghe, CEO and co-founder of Chili Piper. "We are excited to partner with both Base10 and Gradient, both experts in automation and AI, to further invest in our goal to connect buyers and sellers instantly."

"While software has eaten the world, automation is the practice of putting that software into the hands of the next generation of workers. Chili Piper perfectly fits our thesis around leveraging software and cloud solutions to automate tedious tasks," said TJ Nahigian, General Partner at Base10 Partners. "We see the next generation of sellers demanding solutions to instantly connect them to buyers and shortening the time to close. In a more remote working world, we're always connected and our go-to-market software solutions should take advantage of this new phenomenon."

Customers of Chili Piper include Fortune 500 enterprises such as Intuit and Hewlett Packard and startups such as Zenefits and Monday.com. These customers leverage Chili Piper's instant inbound solution daily across thousands of sales representatives.

"Salesforce.com has failed to meet the needs of the modern seller. Inputting data into Salesforce is difficult, tedious, and feels archaic." said Darian Shirazi, General Partner at Gradient Ventures. "Chili Piper's Instant Inbound solution transforms the modern seller experience allowing reps to instantly book meetings with customers, input sales activity directly through GSuite, and focus on closing deals without switching between your CRM and inbox. We're excited to partner with Nicolas and Alina on their journey to make the buyer's journey instantly gratifying."

We are very impressed by the progress achieved by the team since our seed round. Chili Pipers mission of enabling remote sales is very timely given the global shift in working and sales patterns and we are confident that this round will fuel the further expansion of its market leading enterprise software suite, said Michael Szalontay, Flashpoint Managing Partner.

About Chili Piper

Founded in 2016, Chili Piper is the leader in Inbound Revenue Acceleration, with a mission to reinvent the system of action for revenue teams - their calendar and inbox. Chili Piper automates the antiquated processes in scheduling and email that cause unnecessary friction and drop-off in the sales process  resulting in increased productivity and conversion rates throughout the funnel.

Companies like Square, Twilio, QuickBooks Intuit, Spotify, and Forrester use Chili Piper to create an amazing experience for their leads, while converting double the amount of leads into held meetings. Chili Piper is a fully distributed company leveraging global talent with employees in 40 cities across 15 countries. To learn more, visit https://www.chilipiper.com/

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Gradient Ventures is Google's AI-focused venture fund - investing in and connecting early-stage startups with Google's resources, innovation, and technical leadership in artificial intelligence. The fund focuses on helping founders navigate the challenges in developing new technology products, allowing companies to take advantage of the latest techniques so that great ideas can come to life. Gradient was founded in 2017 and is based in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit www.gradient.com.

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Flashpoint (https://flashpointvc.com/) is an international technology investment firm that manages equity and debt funds. Flashpoint VC invests in international software companies with proven business models, launched by founders originating from Central and Eastern Europe, Israel, Baltics, Finland and the CIS. It focuses on B2B/B2C SaaS solutions in the initial revenue stage (Series A). Flashpoint team includes 21 professionals working at local offices in Budapest, London, Riga, Tel Aviv and Warsaw.

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The organiser of an illegal lockdown party in Manchester which saw police officers pelted with missiles has claimed she only invited 20 people to the gathering that got 'out of hand'.

Charlene Proham, 27, was today banned from hosting anyone at her home and slapped with a 100 fine after police identified her as the organiser of the illegal rave in Gorton on August 15.

Police were forced to call for back-up after being pelted by objects as they tried to shut down the illegal event last week which was attended by more than 100 people.

After she was identified as the owner of the house, Ms Proham was also made the subject of a closure order on her property, which bans anyone from entering her house for at least three months.

She was warned that she could be sent to prison if she were to breach her order.

During a hearing at Manchester Magistrates' Court, Ms Proham said she had only invited 20 of her friends to the gathering and claimed to be 'annoyed' when hundreds of people turned up.

Charlene Proham (pictured outside her house), 27, was identified by police as the organiser of illegal rave in Gorton, Manchester, on August 15

Shocking images on Snapchat showed hundreds of revellers defy social distancing measures as they attended the party

Ms Proham said: 'Over 100 people showed up at the house, some that I didn't even know. My house is trashed and things got taken.

'Obviously I am sorry but it really was out of my hands, I never planned for that many people to show up.

'The police came and said we had an hour to close the party down. They said people were throwing missiles but they weren't.

'Police came back after an hour and by that point the party was all wrapped up.'

During the hearing an order was made on behalf of Greater Manchester Police that the premises be subjected to a closure order.

The order means nobody except the occupant is allowed inside the property.

When asked if she had any issue with that, Ms Proham told the court: 'I look after my mum who has dementia, she lives in Hulme.'

However district judge Mark Hadfield said: 'You can go and visit her, rather than making her come all that way to your home address in Gorton.'

Ms Proham replied: 'I suppose so, yeah.'

Judge Hadfield said: 'As a result of a gathering on August 15, serious nuisance was caused to members of the public including your neighbours, as well as serious disorder as there was an incident outside, adjacent to your property so I find there are grounds for making that order. I make the order against you.

During a hearing Ms Proham said had only invited 20 of her friends to the gathering before it got 'out of hand'

The event organiser (pictured outside her home) said she didn't think it was fair that she was fined

'I have no reason to punish you at all and hope there will be no further problems of this nature, if you happen to breach this order, this will put yourself in a very serious position where you could be sent to prison for breaching the order.'

Speaking on her doorstep Ms Proham later said: 'It's difficult as now I can't have anyone in my house for three months but I'll just have to go and visit my family at their house.

'I don't think it's fair that I have been fined when you see parties like this happening all the time.

'But obviously it was my house and I do take responsibility for that.'

Following the party, shocking footage caught on Snapchat showed ravers flouting social distancing measures as they attended the illegal party.

During the footage, hundreds of people danced to the loud music with drinks in their hands and defied social distancing measures.

Officers arrived to the scene after receiving numerous complaints from residents on the street.

Hundreds of revellers (left and right) were filmed dancing at an illegal lockdown party in Gorton, Manchester, on August 15

Following the scenes Superintendent Helen Caldbeck said: 'This illegal house party was a blatant breach of legislation and meant that needed resources were pulled from the force.

'Even worse was the fact on attendance, our officers were met with such hostility, with missiles were thrown at them.

'We want to be clear that the issuing of an FPN, as well as imposing an anti-social behaviour closure notice, is just the first step in our action and we are working unreservedly to ensure that all possible lines of enquiry are followed up.

'We have officers reviewing CCTV and other evidence with a view to identifying others responsible.

'The people of Greater Manchester deserve better and quite frankly they're being let down by the selfish few who are shamelessly breaching the very guidance and legislation that is there to protect us.'

'If anyone has any information about this I'd urge you to get in touch to us via 101, or report it online.'
Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad ( www.bintai.com.my ) is an investment holding company headquartered in Malaysia with operations throughout South-East Asia, China, and the Arabian Gulf Region

) is an investment holding company headquartered in Malaysia with operations throughout South-East Asia, China, and the Arabian Gulf Region Upfront development payment

100% funding for commercial registration of Ii-Key- SARS-CoV-2 prophylactic vaccine against COVID-19 in Malaysia

Licensing fees upon approval

Potential $150 million in GNBT revenues for vaccine sales in Malaysia

MIRAMAR, Fla., Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generex Biotechnology Corporation (www.generex.com) (OTCQB:GNBT) today announced that the company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bintai Kinden Corporation of Malaysia for the development and commercialization of the Ii-Key-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus vaccine. The Ii-Key-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is designed as a Complete Vaccine that has the potential to induce the T-Cell and antibody immune responses that can provide protective immunity with long-lasting immunologic memory against SARS-CoV-2 in a highly specific manner to ensure safety.

With this agreement, Bintai has agreed to pay Generex up-front development fees and back-end licensing payments, and will pay 100% of the funding required for the commercial development of the Ii-Key-CoV-2 vaccine including laboratory work, manufacturing, regulatory filings and the clinical development program for regulatory approval of the vaccine in Malaysia. Additionally, upon approval of the Ii-Key-CoV-2 vaccine in Malaysia, Generex will earn royalties on sales of the vaccine with potential revenues of up to $150 million.

Under terms of the agreement, Generex and Bintai have agreed to collaborate and have developed a strategy towards the rapid development of the Ii-Key-CoV-2 vaccine with three primary goals:

1. Streamline the Vaccine Development Process

The development program will simultaneously implement different stages of development and production, so the vaccine can be developed at a faster rate.

2. Conduct Clinical Trials Globally

Generex and Bintai agree that the development of a vaccine for COVID-19 should not be a race for high income countries, so clinical trials will be conducted in as many countries as possible to enable the best chance of finding a vaccine that is safe, effective and affordable for everyone. This multi-country approach will ensure that the efficacy of the vaccine is generalizable or suited to the native population and to further obtain commercial license for sale of Ii-Key-SARS-CoV-2 Peptide Vaccine from the Malaysia Ministry of Health and other health authorities around the world.

3. Build Global Manufacturing Capacity

Bintai and Generex agree that the vaccine manufacturing should serve not only as an essential element of a vaccination program for each country, but also as an economic stimulus, as many countries shift their focus to rebuild their economies following the inevitable economic shutdown as the battle of the global pandemic continues.

The legal contracts for the licensing and development agreements, currently being mutually drafted by the Generex and Bintai legal teams, are expected to be finalized and signed in the coming days. Generex will file an 8K report with the SEC upon signing of the official contract.

Generex CEO, Joseph Moscato said, We are excited and proud to have Bintai as a partner to develop our Ii-Key-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine against COVID-19. Our Complete Vaccine has the potential to generate both a cellular (T-Cell) and humoral (antibody) response to ensure immune system memory and long-term immunity from COVID-19. Our partners in Malaysia have recognized the true potential of the Ii-Key technology to activate the T-Cell response as part of any successful coronavirus vaccine that enables long-term immunity. Further, our proprietary vaccine development process is designed using computational vaccinology and immune system screening program to identify specific target regions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that can neutralize the virus without generating the off-target effects that lead to the terrible complications of COVID-19. This deal also leverages Bintais expertise in industrial engineering and construction to provide the manufacturing capability that can produce the billions of doses of vaccine that will be necessary to immunize a global population.

Mr. Moscato continued, I would like to personally thank the Bintai organization for their commitment to develop a safe, effective, and universal vaccine against COVID-19 for the benefit of Malaysia. We are optimistic that our partnership with Bintai can help to solve this COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged the worlds health and economies.

About Generex Biotechnology Corp.

Generex Biotechnology is an integrated healthcare holding company with end-to-end solutions for patient centric care from rapid diagnosis through delivery of personalized therapies. Generex is building a new kind of healthcare company that extends beyond traditional models providing support to physicians in an MSO network, and ongoing relationships with patients to improve the patient experience and access to optimal care.

About NuGenerex Immuno-Oncology

NuGenerex Immuno-Oncology, a subsidiary of Generex Biotechnology, is a clinical stage oncology company developing immunotherapeutic peptide vaccines for cancer and infectious disease based on the CD4 T-Cell activation platform, Ii-Key. NuGenerex Immuno-Oncology (NGIO) has been spun out of Generex as a separate public company to advance the platform Ii-Key technology, particularly in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. NGIO is currently engaged in a Phase II clinical trial of its lead cancer immunotherapeutic vaccine AE37 in combination with pembrolizumab (Mercks Keytruda) for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. The company has also turned its Ii-Key technology on infectious disease, responding to the coronavirus pandemic with a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development program.

About Bintai Kinden

With over 40 years of specialist engineering and construction experience, Bintais unique combination of extensive regional experience and local knowledge has made them the regions international contractor of choice. Headquartered in Malaysia, Bintai Kinden has expanded operations regionally throughout South-East Asia, China and the Arabian Gulf region.

As multi-disciplined, building and industrial service engineers and specialists, Bintai works in all the major market sectors, from commercial buildings to industrial complexes, designing, installing and commissioning systems that include the full range of engineering services.

Looking beyond todays frontiers, Bintai Kinden is confident that it has the resources, technical expertise and progressive mindset to consolidate its position globally. The integration of research, management, marketing and sales that transcends organizational borders enables Bintai Kinden to capitalize on synergistic potential and benefits of scale.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release and oral statements made from time to time by Generex representatives in respect of the same subject matter may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by introductory words such as "expects," "plan," "believes," "will," "achieve," "anticipate," "would," "should," "subject to" or words of similar meaning, and by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements frequently are used in discussing potential product applications, potential collaborations, product development activities, clinical studies, regulatory submissions and approvals, and similar operating matters. Many factors may cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements, including inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of risks and uncertainties, some of which are known and others of which are not. Known risks and uncertainties include those identified from time to time in the reports filed by Generex with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which should be considered together with any forward-looking statement. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results or events, and one should avoid placing undue reliance on such statements. Generex undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Generex claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements that is contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.

Generex Contact:

Generex Biotechnology Corporation

Joseph Moscato

646-599-6222

Todd Falls

1-800-391-6755 Extension 222

investor@generex.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 11:46:47|Editor: huaxia

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Former first lady of the U.S. Michelle Obama speaks in a frame grab from a video feed of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, being held virtually amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, as participants from across the country are hosted over video with the control center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the United States, Aug. 17, 2020. The almost entirely virtual 2020 U.S. Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday night. During the four-day event, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will accept the nomination and California Senator Kamala Harris will be nominated for his running mate. (2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The almost entirely virtual 2020 U.S. Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday night.

During the four-day event, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will accept the nomination and California Senator Kamala Harris will be nominated for his running mate.

The quadrennial event's host city this year -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- will not see tens of thousands of people gathering for the occasion like in previous years, since the COVID-19 pandemic has forced convention organizers to scale back the event by moving most of its activities online, with each of the four nights' events being broadcast from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

Originally, the in-person convention with the number of attendees expected to be around 50,000 was planned for July, but organizers postponed it due to safety concerns during the pandemic.

The nominal main venue in Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Center, is being used for announcing voting results and as a control center to coordinate the livestreaming feeds, keeping the number of people on-site below 250 following an ordinance by city authorities that also requests the wearing of masks in indoor and outdoor public places.

Guest speakers for the inaugural day, including former first lady Michelle Obama, and Bernie Sanders, senator from Vermont and Biden's last rival during the Democratic primaries, were to address a series of challenges facing the nation, including the coronavirus pandemic, the economic recession, and the persistent racial injustice and inequity most recently exposed by the death of black man George Floyd in the hands of white police in May.
Bengaluru, Aug 18 : Premier Indian Institute Science (IISc) Professor Biman Bagchi has been selected as the 2021 recipient of the Joel Henry Hildebrand Award in theoretical and experimental chemistry of liquids, sponsored by ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, an official said.

"This is a prestigious award in the area of liquids and glasses. The American Chemic Society (ACS) national awards programme is designed to encourage the advancement of chemistry in all its branches and to support research in chemical science and industry," said the city-based institute in a statement here.

The 66-year-old Bagchi is biophysical chemist, theoretical chemist and an Amrut Mody Professor at the solid state and structural chemistry lab in the over century-old renowned institute.

A chemistry graduate from Kolkata's Presidency College in 1974, Bagchi obtained master's degree in chemistry from Calcutta University in 1976 and went to the US where he did PhD from Brown University, an Ivy League institution at Providence in Rhode Island in 1980. He also did post-doctoral studies at James Franck Institute of the University of Chicago.

Bagchi returned to India in 1984 and joined the IISc as a lecturer where he has established the Bagchi research group.

IISc Director G. Rangarajan congratulated Bagchi for being selected to the prestigious award in the field of chemistry.

Announcing the selection in Washington DC, ACS senior manager Felicia Foxworth Dixon said in an e-mail on Monday night that the award would be presented to Bagchi at the society's spring 2021 national meeting and expo in San Antonio in Texas on March 23, 2021.

Names of the 2021 ACS national award recipients will be published in the August issue of "Chemical & Engineering News", and announced in C&En News besides in ACS Twitter handle.

Noted chemistry professors Bob Zwanzig, Casey Hynes and Hans Andersen were the recipients of the award in the past.

"The ACS awards are designed to encourage the advancement of chemistry in all its branches, to support research in chemical science and industry and to promote the careers of chemists,a said Dixon on the occasion.
Passengers wearing facemasks as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19 walk through arrivals at St Pancras International station in London on Friday after travelling on a Eurostar train from Paris (AFP)

ONLY those who were sensible enough to opt for a staycation did not get their holidays wrecked.

Oh, to think that just a year ago we could fly endlessly around the globe. And now taking even a short holiday is like a complicated military manoeuvre, where every possibility has to be measured and prepared for.

Just a fortnight ago, people were told to travel abroad to European countries with which the UK had air bridges. As holidays typically end by the beginning of September, Brits rushed off to Italy, Greece, Spain and France.

Now comes the ruling that France is a no-go, as is Spain, which has seen a second wave of infections. If you have been or are in France and get delayed in returning, then you face a fortnight of quarantine at home upon return.

This means kids will miss opening days of school. That is, in case the schools open at all. The Teachers Union is not sure if their members or their pupils will be safe. But not to worry.

Pubs are open and restaurants have been cheered up by Rishi Sunaks scheme of meals at half-price if you eat out.

As the old rock song said: We need no education. Cheap meals is all we need! But whether this will be enough to ensure that restaurants will survive is difficult to say -- as the subsidies cannot last for too long.

Each society has its own way of dealing with Covid-19. In India we have families bonding even more and the sale of noodles and pasta is shooting up as people home-cook. And many feel it is time to bring back the joint family. But in London it is difficult to keep anyone at home while the pubs continue to overflow.

LIKE others, the royal family too have opted for a staycation. The Queen, 94, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, headed off to Balmoral, their Scottish castle where the weather is, if anything, more severe than in Windsor, where they were isolating themselves.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also chosen Scotland for his holidays but that is more because he knows that there is yet again a rising demand in Scotland for independence.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister (like chief minister) managed the Covid episode much better than Boris did for England and is likely to win the elections in Scotland. So we are bracing for yet another referendum on Scottish independence.

EVEN so the government in Scotland did not do better than England when it came to exam results of school leavers waiting to go to universities. Teaching was disrupted due to lockdowns. Schools tried teaching online but as usual the private schools did better than state funded schools.

Proper examinations could not be held. So they had mock exams in many parts of the country. The students also have teachers assessments to send forward with their university applications. With no proper exams, what would the final grades be?

If anything worse than the pandemic policy can be imagined, we have had it. The Scottish Education Authority used an algorithm which resulted in massive downgrading of students. There was such a furore that the minister had to apologise and rescind the results.

Better decisions are awaited and students feel cheated and angry. So they will appeal. With only four weeks left before the university admissions are decided, an unhappy holiday is what students can look forward to.

For young people all over the world, 2020 has brought huge uncertainty.

THERE are many reasons to celebrate or commemorate August 15 which is also Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, but it gets celebrated much less than the Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

In India it is rarely mentioned, though one of the most crucial land battles, that in Kohima, took place in India, which Japan lost and then retreated from Southeast Asia. It means a lot in Australia and New Zealand but not in other places which should commemorate it.

THE one good news among many sad ones is that theatres are about to reopen. In a dramatic gesture, Andrew Lloyd Webber volunteered to be a test case for the Covid-19 vaccine because like many, he thinks that until there is a vaccine the problem of social distancing will trouble theatres.

He had to close the long-running Phantom of the Opera (which I saw it for the first time 20 years ago), but no doubt he will rebound with something else. But even with their capacity reduced to one-third of normal, venues like Bridge Theatre and the National will open in the autumn.

Bridge would show a new play by David Hare and later it will revive Talking Heads by Alan Bennet.

The National will open only the Olivier Theatre with a new one-person play Death of England: Delroy. It is an unusual play about racism written by two black playwrights. Art galleries are also reopening.

Tate Modern has opened as has the National Gallery. The British Museum and the British Library are back but with limited capacity. Perhaps by Christmas, life may, finally, be merry again.
Ashok Lavasa, who was next in line to head the poll panel, on Tuesday resigned as Election Commissioner and would soon be joining the Asian Development Bank as vice president, sources said.

Lavasa, the sources said, has sent his resignation to Rashtrapati Bhavan and has requested to be relieved on August 31.

He would be joining the Philippines-based ADB sometime in September, they added.

He was named the bank's vice president last month.

"The ADB has appointed Ashok Lavasa as Vice-President for Private Sector Operations and Public-Private Partnerships," the multilateral lending agency had said in a statement last month. "He will succeed Diwakar Gupta, whose term will end on August 31."

Lavasa, who would have retired in October 2022 had he become the Chief Election Commissioner, is the second election commissioner to step down from the poll panel before the completion of his term.

The last time an election commission put in his papers was in 1973 when CEC Nagendra Singh was appointed a judge in the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

His resignation comes at a time when the Election Commission is preparing to hold Bihar assembly polls amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lavasa, a career bureaucrat, joined as Election Commissioner on January 23, 2018, and being senior most on the poll panel would have become CEC in April next year after the term of incumbent Sunil Arora ends.

Lavasa still has over two years left in his term at the Election Commission of India and as CEC, he would have conducted assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa, among other states.

His premature exit puts his colleague Sushil Chandra next in the line of succession.

According to the provisions of the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991, an EC or the CEC can tender his or her resignation addressed to the President.

Lavasa had made headlines during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when he gave a dissenting note to the Election Commission of India giving a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on allegations of violating the Model Code of Conduct.

Three members of the Lavasa family including his wife had come under the scanner of the income tax department for alleged non-declaration of income and disproportionate assets.

The family members had denied the allegations.

An MBA degree holder from Southern Cross University in Australia, and MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies degree from the University of Madras, Lavasa, a 1980 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre, also worked as finance secretary.
Lock Haven University in Clinton County has announced the availability of testing for COVID-19 on campus for students and staff.

Testing for symptomatic students will be available at the campus health center, which is operated by UPMC.

Additionally, the university announced that LHU will be making available more broad-based asymptomatic testing, to be conducted by PCMA, a professional medical practice, for students living on or off campus, students who may be coming to campus for limited face-to-face instruction, and for all employees, according to a news release.

The testing will be free and voluntary. Results will be available in 48 hours. Testing also will be available at the Clearfield campus, according to the universitys news release.

Tests will be done at the beginning of the semester and then periodically through random sampling of the population.

This will help us monitor and address potential infection, make informed decisions about our operations and better protect the campus and greater community, said university president Robert Pignatello.

A quick facial-recognition temperature screening will be provided at the entrance to all academic buildings, the rec center, PUB, Fairview Suites and Campus Village.

Classes start on Aug. 24. The university is using a combination of in-person and online classes. All classes will be online after Thanksgiving. A limited number of students will be permitted to live on campus with only one student per room.

The university on its website said it has had one staff member test positive for COVID-19. That staff member was last on campus on July 6 and did not come in contact with any other staff or students.

Before arriving on campus, students and staff are being given a survey to determine if they had any potential exposure to COVID-19.

Students and staff also are receiving a welcome kit that includes two face coverings, a no-touch tool, hand sanitizer, a COVID-19 symptom checker and health resource cards.

Everyone on campus also will receive a social contract that outlines expectations for students, faculty, and staff to follow to ensure the health and safety of our campus community.

The university said health science department retiree, Dr. Beth McMahon will serve as the universitys COVID coordinator.

All information about the universitys plan to address the coronavirus pandemic can be found here.

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Houston-area new-home sales volume and prices continued on an upward track in July for the second straight month as mortgage rates fell to historic lows, according to HomesUSA.com.

The sales of new homes, based on a 12-month rolling average, totaled 1,411 in July in the area, up from 1,373 in June, according to HomesUSA.com. The average new home price in the Houston region was $348,543 in July, up from $347,120 in June.
(Natural News) After outlawing firearms possession by citizens, New Zealands government is now exploiting its power monopoly to roll out mandatory quarantine camps for people who might be infected with COVID-19. And some people will never be allowed to leave those camps, the NZ Prime Minister insists.

The new medical fascism rules will ensnare family members of people who test positive for COVID-19, even though nearly all the testing being conducted around the world is unreliable and routinely produces false positives. Its now clear that the coronavirus pandemic is being weaponized by globalist-minded bureaucrats to enslave the masses in preparation for a global vaccine depopulation initiative.

Dr Askley Bloomfield says the mandatory quarantine will apply to both new cases and, if necessary, close family members who might be at risk, reports Great Game India. New Zealands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in a Facebook live video explained in detail how each and every activity will be monitored in these camps and those that refuse to be tested would be forced to stay in the camps for a longer duration.

Ardern explains that if you refuse to be tested, you will be indefinitely imprisoned and never allowed to leave the quarantine camp:

We are quarantining everyone. Now we are also mandating testing. That makes us the most stringent in the world. There are countries that are requiring self-isolation; were taking it a bit further.

If anyone moves into a common area or is getting some fresh air, which is all monitored no one can do that on their own. They can only leave or be in a space to get a little bit of fresh air if they are supervised, because of course its a quarantine facility.

We have put in millions of dollars into supporting that to happen.

I have a number of questions about people refusing  what do we do if someone refuses to be tested. Well they cant now. If someone refuses in our facilities to be tested, they have to keep staying. So they wont be allowed to leave after 14 days. They have to stay on for another 14 days.

Behold the face of an evil tyrant who imprisons people over fake COVID-19 tests:

Quarantine camps are actually death camps in the making

Six months ago, nobody living in the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand could have imagined mandatory, authoritarian quarantine camps where prisoners arent allowed to leave unless they submit to mandatory testing via fake (rigged) COVID-19 testing kits that produce nearly all false positives.

Yet today, this has become reality in New Zealand, just as we long warned would happen.

Now, the next step is the gentle art of turning these quarantine camps into death camps.

Thats whats slated for humanity next, and New Zealand is the testing ground to determine if anyone will resist the global death camps that will run extermination ovens 24/7 to eliminate as many human beings as possible.

As part of this genocide against humanity, various governments and universities are already turning people against each other by offering rewards for those who turn in anti-maskers. Soon, those programs will be enhanced to catch anti-vaxxers, who will of course be arrested, thrown in FEMA camps and systematically executed. All the executions will be counted as COVID-19 deaths in order to keep the scamdemic momentum going, pretending like all the dead bodies are people who died from the coronavirus. (When you see many of the bodies with their heads missing, youll know it isnt covid.)

If humanity does not rise up soon, billions will be exterminated

I called for ending the initial lockdowns after just one month, which was mid-April, 2020. And while I continue to support voluntary wearing of masks, I strongly oppose mask mandates and vaccine mandates.

Yet now, weve seen genocidal governments engage in all the following activities in order to try to worsen the pandemic:

Theyve put non-infected people in the same hospital rooms (or nursing homes) as sick people, deliberately causing cross-infections and deaths (which is only possible, by the way, if the virus is real, so those who claim there isnt a virus arent well informed).

Theyve killed tens of thousands of people in America alone with ventilators that dont even treat the underlying problem.

Theyve actively faked testing data to deliberately over-state the number of infections that were detected.

Theyve now classified asymptomatic infections as cases and spread irrational alarm over mere infections even when those people arent actually sick.

Theyve gone to extraordinary lengths to censor and hide the truths about treatments that actually work, such as hydroxychloroquine, and theyve criminalized people who were offering chlorine dioxide as experimental substances worthy of further research.

Theyve used the fake plandemic to push for unlimited cheat-by-mail schemes in the hope that they can steal the 2020 elections through mail-based ballot harvesting fraud.

Despite these heinous crimes against humanity, the fast majority of human beings have utterly failed to rise up against the globalist criminals who are carrying out their plans to mass exterminate most the human race. Like sheep to the slaughter, most human beings censor themselves and say nothing as their entire future is being demolished right in front of them.

If humanity fails to rise up soon, this will be the end of the world as we know it. Global economies are being deliberately wrecked beyond the point of no return, and the worlds people are about to reach a psychological breaking point beyond which only lies madness and despair.

Humanity must either rise up now or surrender to mass global euthanasia via vaccines and engineered famine, for thats exactly what the globalists have in mind for us all. (See my article on the government-engineered food collapse thats now under way.)

New Zealand isnt an aberration; its the testing ground for death camps to be deployed across the globe. And if you run a contact tracing app on your phone, you are painting a giant target on your forehead, openly allowing genocidal globalists to track you, kidnap you and process you in their death camps, where there is no escape.

THINK ABOUT IT: If they had any real plan to restore human society and a global economy, would they be gutting it right now and pushing hundreds of millions of people into homelessness and destitution, all to save a tiny fraction of the population from dying? The Case Fatality Rate of the coronavirus has plummeted due to viral host adaptation and improved nutrition among the masses, to the point where the death rate no longer justifies any of these draconian lockdown actions.

So why do they continue?

Answer: Because the lunatics in charge never really had a plan to restore freedom in the first place. You are now their prisoner, and they will lock you down, inject you, swab you and eventually kill you if you dont comply.

Welcome to the 2020 Orwellian nightmare, brought to you by all the obedient sheeple who wanted fringe voices censored because they didnt want to be scared with stories about evil globalists. Now, those very same sheeple are about to be euthanized. And even when they are being killed, they still wont understand whats happening to them.

Just like sheep.
Messages for Broken Women and for Those Walking Alongside Them: a powerful and thought-provoking collection of wisdom and guidance designed to assist readers in confronting a wide variety of lifes greater challenges. Messages for Broken Women and for Those Walking Alongside Them is the creation of published author, Patsy Welch.

Welch writes: Since these words seemed to have helped those who were down and out and needed to find their way in a difficult world in the homeless shelter in Dallas, Texas where I ministered for almost ten years, I want to share them with other women who are broken and wanting to rebuild their lives on the principles of Gods Word. Those who walk this journey with them will also find help, encouragement, and joy in these messages. To God be the glory!

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Patsy Welchs new book is a collection of heartwarming messages that were delivered by the author to women in a homeless shelter over the course of a ten-year ministry.

Each message is replete with hope, joy, and encouragement and delivered with consummate compassion, understanding, humor, and faith in the ability of Gods Word to help rebuild lives broken or afflicted by trauma, tragedy, or any of lifes lesser but nonetheless trying struggles.

View a synopsis of Messages for Broken Women and for Those Walking Alongside Them on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Messages for Broken Women and for Those Walking Alongside Them at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Messages for Broken Women and for Those Walking Alongside Them, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
BATTENVILLE  On the 100th anniversary of New York's passage of the 19th amendment Tuesday, state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced the purchase of a tavern next door to the Susan B. Anthony house in Washington County - a move that guarantees that the suffragettes home will become a major historic site.

Tuesdays announcement, outside of the newly purchased Stoops Hotel and its surrounding four acres that the state bought for $136,000, will allow the state to create a small parking lot and a visitors center for an Anthony complex. And the historians and state representatives, who have been working to save both the dilapidated childhood home of Anthony for decades, couldnt be more pleased.

I am so excited, said Debi Craig of the Washington County Historical Society who said she has been fighting for the house for 50 years. Something is finally happening with the house after all these years. The fact they are buying the tavern too is absolutely phenomenal.

Commissioner of Parks Eric Kulleseid said that Anthony learned many life lessons on the banks of the Battenville River, where the home and tavern rest, that guided her lifes work for womens suffrage and let to the 19th amendment that granted white, and in some states, Black women the right to vote. (Black women were still subject to state voting regulations.)

It reinforced in her a strong moral sense of social justice, which she carried with her the rest of her long life, said Kulleseid who also noted that Anthony was a Quaker, an abolitionist and an advocate for temperance.

The large brick home, built by her father in 1833, was home to Anthony from age 6 to 19.

She was born in Adams, Mass., and came to Battenville, a hamlet of Greenwich, when her father, Daniel Anthony, was offered a job managing its cotton mill in 1826. In addition to housing his wife, Lucy, their six children and his in-laws, the Reads, Daniel Anthony's home also added and opened a school inside the house for his children and those of workers from the mill to attend.

A nationwide financial crisis in 1837 found Anthony's father losing his mill job. They lost the house, and eventually moved to Rochester in 1845.

State parks acquired it in a foreclosure sale for $1 in 2006. By that time, the home, which was always in private hands, was already compromised with damage to its roof and foundation. It was also infected with black mold. Since the spring, the state, with funding from state Sen. Betty Little and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, has been stabilizing the home.

Despite the stabilization, there was still a question of how it could become a historic site as its on a blind curve on a narrow stretch of state Route 29. There is also no land for parking.

Stoops Tavern, which Craig said the Anthonys would have never visited as alcohol was served there, is the answer. Still, Kulleseid said it will be "a couple of years" before the site will be officially open.

Little said that without Anthony, she would have never been able to run for office. She also admitted too that she feared the house would never open to the public.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"There were days I never thought this would happen, even when we had the money," she said. "Things were shaky...but I'm so glad you were able to buy this property."

Woerner, who also fought for the site, said Tuesday's announcement is "a dream come true" and a boost to heritage tourism in Washington County.

"To create a site that will inspire other women, to inspire young girls to achieve their greatest dreams, to know that because of the work of Susan B. Anthony did, we empowered women to earn a living, to become a professional, to keep their children if they get divorced," Woerner said. "What she stood for is so fundamental to what it means to be a woman in society today. It's a great privilege to have this site in Washington County. ... It's both an economic story and a cultural story."

Craig said once the home and tavern are open, she imagines a woman's suffrage trail that starts at Anthony's birthplace in North Adams, Mass., with stops into Greenwich, then Johnstown where fellow suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born, and then moving onto Canajohaire, Seneca Falls and Rochester, where Susan B. Anthony spent the later - most activist years - of her life.

"I always thought it would make a lovely ladies vacation," Craig said.

Note: This story was amended to note that while the 19th amendment does not mention race, many Black women were not able to vote in many states.
Click here to read the full article on SPIN.

On Monday afternoon, Ronald Washington and Karl Jordan, Jr. were arrested in connection with the murder of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay. Washington is currently in federal prison, serving time for a robbery. Jordan was arrested on Sunday (Aug. 16).

Later on Monday evening, both Jam Master Jays (born Jason Mizell) former bandmate Darryl DMC McDaniels released a statement about the arrests.

More from SPIN:

Although this latest news opens up a lot of painful memories for all of us who knew and loved Jam Master Jay, Im relieved to hear that 2 suspects have been arrested and charged with his murder. Its been a difficult 18 years not having him around while knowing that his murderers were not yet indicted for this heinous crime. I commend NYPD, NYC Detectives, Federal Agents and all the law enforcement who were involved in this case, for not giving up and working to bring justice for Jay, DMC said in a statement obtained by SPIN. I realize this is a first step in the judicial process, but I hope Jay can finally Rest in Peace. My love to Jays wife Terri, his sons, his family, his friends, and all of his fans. #JMJForever

The Mizell family released their own statement in a tweet as well.

First and foremost, we want to thank everyone who has reached out in support of our family today. We appreciate your kind thoughts and words. Upon hearing this news, we have mixed emotions; we truly hope that these indictments are a solid step towards justice being served in the murder of Jay, the Mizell family said.

We realize that there are other families out there who have lingering pain who continue to wait for their own closure, and we pray that this case gives them hope, the statement continued. In spite of all the tragedies weve seen this year alone, we take comfort in our family, our faith and in times ability to heal all. We can only hope that this news brings awareness to the fact that Black lives do matter. We ask that everyone please respect our familys privacy as this case moves forward through the judicial system. Thank you.

Story continues

Jam Master Jay Forever pic.twitter.com/iwiuucbz0Z  RUN DMC (@OfficialRunDMC) August 18, 2020

According to the indictment, which was obtained by SPIN, two of the 10 felony counts against the suspects are for Mizells murder, the other eight are solely related to the distribution of cocaine. Count one is for the Murder of Jason Mizell While Engaged in Narcotics Trafficking; count two states that the defendants, together with others, with malice aforethought, did unlawfully kill Jason Mizell, also known as Jam Master Jay.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest guitarists of all time, click here.
After a gap of almost five months amid Coronavirus outbreak, protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act are back on the streets of Assam. This time, protestors did not only demand the repealing of CAA, but also the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020.

Thousands of agitators, who gathered under the guidance of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) warned of more intense protests in the future.

READ | Ministry Of Home Affairs Seeks 3 Additional Months For Framing CAA Rules

The AJYCP supporters also demanded the release of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi, who was arrested for his alleged role in the violent anti-CAA protests that rocked the state last year. He is being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

"We will not stop till the CAA and EIA are repealed. It is also unfortunate how this government has vindictively kept Akhil Gogoi inside jail just to derail the anti-CAA movement," AJYCP's Guwahati unit president Pradip Kalita said while participating in a human chain in the Narengi area of Assam.

READ | Khurshid, Malviya Take On CAA Debate In New Book

In Dibrugarh, hundreds of demonstrators were detained by police as they assembled to form a human chain, an official said. A protestor taking part in a human chain before the historic Nagaon College said: "We will not accept the CAA and EIA. We have been protesting against the CAA since 2016, but this government has not listened to us."

The Morigaon town also witnessed protests as the members of All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and a few tribal student groups joined AJYCP in forming a long human chain. "The Assam government has failed to protect its people. We cannot accept the diktat of Delhi. They have to repeal these two," a protestor said. Human chains were formed across many cities and towns in various districts, including Dhemaji, Darrang, Nalbari and Biswanath.

READ | 'EIA Notification Should Be In Consonance With Rights Of Tribals': Chhattisgarh CM Objects

About CAA and EIA draft

The contentious CAA seeks to provide Indian citizenship to minorities such as Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis who migrated to India on or before December 31, 2014, from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

On the other hand, the draft EIA Notification 2020 seeks to replace the EIA Notification 2006. The draft intends to bring in amendments such as the post-facto grant of approval, exemption of several large industries from public hearings and reducing the time for public consultation to 40 days from 45 days.

It also proposes to permit industries to submit just one compliance report a year rather than two along with increased validity of the environment clearances for mining and river valley projects.

READ | Draft EIA 2020 Anti-democratic, Fascist In Nature, Says Cong Leader Jairam Ramesh
FP Trending

The first operational flight with astronauts aboard SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed according to a statement released by NASA. While the mission was set to launch in late September, the date has now been pushed to 23 October 2020.

According to a NASA statement dated 14 August, the new date for the SpaceX Crew-1 mission was scheduled to "accommodate spacecraft traffic" for the rotation of Soyuz crewmembers currently in space, and to suitably "meet the needs of the International Space Station".

Under the agencys Commercial Crew Program, four astronauts will be flying to the ISS for a six-month mission.

The Crew Dragon craft would be flying with the Falcon 9 rocket and the launch will be taking place from the Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Three NASA astronauts  Crew Dragon commander Michael Hopkins, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Shannon Walker will be joined in the mission with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission specialist Soichi Noguchi. It will be the first mission, NASA said, to reach the space station after the completion of NASA certification. It will follow the successful Demo-2 mission that flew astronauts to the ISS and back.

The launch will take place once the astronauts aboard the orbiting space station depart the ISS or return to Earth. So, the Crew-1 mission will begin only post the arrival of NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Also, it will follow the departure of NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner from the ISS.

While the mission awaits some data reviews and certification, the delayed time frame, as per the space agency, will buy some time for a "crew handover" with the upcoming NASAs SpaceX Crew-2 mission, scheduled to launch next spring.
U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued 12 immigrants who were lost as they tried to enter the country illegally throughout the Laredo Sector, authorities said.

The first incident was reported Sunday evening. The Jim Hogg County Sheriffs Office reported to agents from the Hebbronville Station that two individuals were lost in a ranch southeast of the town.

Agents quickly located the two men, who were determined to be immigrants from El Salvador who had crossed the border illegally.

A second case unfolded later that evening. Agents assigned to the Freer Station were notified of a group of eight individuals who were lost in the brush west of Freer. Authorities responded to locate the individuals, who were immigrants from Mexico and Guatemala who were in the country illegally.

A third incident occurred Monday morning, when agents from the Zapata Station received a report from the Zapata County Sheriffs Office of a lost individual north of the town, close to U.S. 83. Agents responded and located a Mexican citizen who had crossed the border illegally.

The final rescue occurred later that morning. The Jim Hogg Sheriffs Office contacted the Hebbronville Station regarding a lost individual in the brush southwest of Hebbronville. Agents responded and located a woman needing medical attention because she did not have medication for a health issue.

Authorities determined that she was an immigrant from Honduras who was in the country illegally. A Border Patrol EMT evaluated the woman.

To report suspicious activity such as human or drug smuggling, download the USBP Laredo Sector app or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ESChat today announced the addition of Push-to-Talk (PTT) over satellite to the ESChat communication ecosystem. In partnership with Thales Defense & Security, Inc., the companies have integrated ESChat into the ThalesLINK line of products, specifically Thales MissionLINK and VesseLINK. ThalesLINK systems provide global communications coverage using Iridium Certus broadband services.

Satellite connected ESChat users are able to communicate with ESChat broadband PTT users on commercial and private broadband wireless networks, who typically use ESChat on Android and iOS smartphone and tablet devices. The satellite connected ESChat users can also communicate with all other devices within the ESChat ecosystem, including traditional Land Mobile Radios (LMR), Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) dispatch centers and call logging and recording systems

Push-to-Talk over satellite has always been a challenge, due to the high latency nature of satellite communication networks. The companies recognized that the capabilities of the upgraded Iridium satellite constellation combined with modifications in the ESChat architecture, enable a reliable solution for PTT over satellite.

Satellite connected ESChat operates over standard Android smartphone and tablet devices that are connected through ThalesLINK WiFi. ESChat also runs on the Thales SureLINK Ruggedized POE powered IP Handset, which is an available accessory for the ThalesLINK system.

Applications for Push-to-Talk over satellite include over ocean freight, passenger shipping, remote mining, search & rescue, and military battlefield communications.

The ThalesLINK system provides coverage anywhere in the world. ThalesLINK systems operate using Iridium Certus broadband services enabled by a network of 66 interconnected satellites that provide truly global coverage, and are weather-resilient.

"Combining ESChat with a ThalesLINK system, we are now able to connect the most latency sensitive network components over satellite, providing reliable PTT communication with excellent voice quality, and able to operate anywhere in the world," said Josh Lober, President of ESChat. "Satellite connectivity has long played a role in our ecosystem, though only in connecting elements that are more tolerant of latency issues. The new integration with Thales is a game changer for connecting PTT end users across the globe without requiring terrestrial infrastructure."

"We're very excited about our partnership with ESChat. We believe that our solutions will enable Push-To-Talk users worldwide to achieve more, faster. We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with ESChat that will ultimately empower our customers to achieve their biggest ambitions," Brian Aziz, Vice President Satcom Solutions at Thales Defense & Security, Inc.

About ESChat:

ESChat (www.eschat.com) is the leading solution for carrier independent Secure Push to Talk (PTT) over LTE communications. ESChat includes AES-256 encrypted PTT voice and multimedia (text and image) messaging. ESChat also provides live and historical (bread crumb) tracking and mapping. ESChat is approved for U.S. military operational use by the Defense Information Systems Agency ("DISA"). ESChat is a FirstNet Certified solution, and enhanced by Quality of Service, Priority and Preemption ("QPP") available to FirstNet subscribers. ESChat also supports Quality of Service ("QoS") and RAN priority enhancements on the Verizon Wireless and AT&T commercial networks.

Used by all branches of the U.S. Military, as well as federal, state and local public safety agencies, ESChat is able to operate over and across any wireless network, including all commercial carriers, private 3G/4G/5G networks and WiFi. ESChat supports standards-based interoperability with LMR radio networks, including P25 via the native Inter RF Subsystem Interface ("ISSI") protocol and DMR via the native Inter Application Interface Specification ("AIS") protocol. ESChat also supports interoperability via RoIP to all LMR radio networks, regardless of radio technology or operating frequency band.

For more information, please visit www.eschat.com .

SOURCE ESChat

Related Links

www.eschat.com


Iraqs Ministry of Interior said Aug. 4 that the father of a 9-year-old girl in Basra province was arrested for committing violence against her and severely injuring her.

In the absence of any law assisting domestic violence victims and punishing perpetrators, cases of domestic violence have surged in Iraq since the coronavirus began and with the subsequent curfew. Meanwhile, no progress has been made regarding the domestic violence bill amid disagreements over its provisions in parliament.

Progress would require the enactment of the bill; some Islamist parties and clerics reject or oppose some of its provisions under the pretext that it would split Iraqi families.

In a strange demonstration, dozens of women went out on Aug.17, in the capital, Baghdad, denouncing the "anti-domestic violence" bill that other women are seeking to pass. This demonstration was affiliated with the Islamic Virtue Party, which is considered one of the most prominent opponents of the legislation.

In an attempt to meet activists demands that parliament make the bill a law, the government said Aug. 4 that the council of ministers voted on it and referred it to parliament for a vote.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, the head of Iraqs Al-Amal Association and advocate for the law Hanaa Edwar said, The Islamic Virtue Party is still [leading] the campaign against the bill, although it does not have more than six or seven seats in parliament. They are using their loud voice against the law as electoral propaganda to win the common peoples votes, as they did in the past elections.

We have been in constant contact with the speakership of the house that is in favor of passing the law, as well as with the parliamentary women's affairs committee and other relevant committees, she added. We will carry on the advocacy campaign with parliamentarians for the various political forces to schedule the bill for a reading as soon as possible. This is added to the various activities designed to raise awareness and educate the community on the need and importance of the law in order to protect victims of domestic violence and prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes and bring about social and family stability.

Iraqs civil society activists seek to add amendments criminalizing domestic violence by defining the different forms of domestic violence, including physical, moral, sexual and economic violence, and binding the government to open domestic violence shelters and set up a family court.

Activists are pressuring the government through the social media sphere, campaigning for the law and using the hashtag #Domestic_Violence_Law. In contrast, accounts said to be affiliated with extremist Shiite Islamist parties used the hashtag #Domestic_Violence_Law_is_rejected.

Those opposing the draft law sought to correlate it with prostitution, family disintegration and declining Iraqi values. Yet there is nothing in the bill that contradicts Sharia.

Hussein al-Oqabi, a parliament member with Al-Nahj bloc, which is affiliated with the Islamic Virtue Party, indicated that the domestic violence bill in general gives the government extensive authority to meddle in the familys private affairs, referring to the shelters.

Speaking to the press, he noted that most of the things put forward in the domestic violence bill are criminal offenses already criminalized in the Penal Code No. 111 of 1969 in force. He suggested resolving "family problems according to Iraqi customs and traditions because reporting violence will lead to societal discord.

The mechanism for the post-violence stage is one of the disputed provisions between civil society activists and Islamic parties. While the parties want things to be resolved through family reconciliation, civil society wants the abusing party to be held accountable and the abused to be protected.

There are very few domestic violence shelters in Iraq. According to Human Rights Watch, [victims of violence] are often sheltered in women's prisons, which is behind including a provision on setting up new shelters in the draft law.

Al-Monitor learned of a woman who fled from her family to Istanbul a few days ago after her family and the judiciary failed to help her find justice, as she was a victim of her husbands abuse for six years. This being said, the absence of a domestic violence law is what will break up families, not the opposite.

The Kurdistan Regional Government's parliament ratified a domestic violence law in 2011 and established battered womens shelters. Yet 15 Iraqi provinces have remained without a law in this regard while perpetrators of violence against women are punished under the Penal Code of 1969.

Nevertheless, Article 14 of the Penal Code, which Islamic parties cling to, entitles the husband to beat his wife, the father to beat his children and teachers to beat their students to discipline them. So far, one can say that violence in Iraq is codified and protected by the law.

Parliament member Rizan Al-Sheikh, an advocate for the law, told Al-Monitor that the efforts designed to prevent the enactment of the domestic violence law or the addition of articles that would be helpful for the victims are void of any motive to protect women and are designed to keep the victims subject to violence.

She added, Some are scared, worried and give a bad image about everything related to women's protection. This law protects the victims and does not call for family disintegration or for deviating from Iraqi traditions and customs. It is nothing more than a protective law.

The enactment of the law that stipulates setting up shelters, family courts and family welfare does not seem easily achievable. The struggle to legislate this law has been going on for nearly a decade, and it is obvious that the Shiite Islamic parties that reject some of its provisions are powerful.

The enactment of this law does not seem possible during the current parliamentary cycle or even the next one in the event that the parties opposing it continue to have the majority of votes. Their voice will continue to resonate as long as the organizations seeking its ratification are not represented in parliament.
Vietnam comes out on top at chip design contest in Japan

Two teams from Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) won first and second prizes at the 14 th Large Scale Integrated (LSI) Design Contest held in Okinawa, Japan from January to March.

The first prize went to Fetel07 team, consisting of Nguyen Phu Khanh and Tang Phuong Dung from VNU-HCMC University of Science.

Second prize went to Kitten team with Nguyen Pham Hoang Dung and Huynh Quang Trung, from University of Technology and University of Science, respectively.

The third prize belonged to Three Sun team from the host country, Japan.

Initiated in 1997, the international LSI contest is held annually for graduates and postgraduates from universities and colleges in the Asia Pacific region, aiming to foster talent in chip design.

The winners will be granted scholarships to further their studies and research in Japan. Last year, Tran Thi Hong, member of the Vietnamese first-prize team, received a post-graduate scholarship from Kyushu Industrial University.
Eldorado Aquatic & Fitness Center. AZ Family

A 31-year-old man identified by the Scottsdale Police Department as Ryan Kelly died on Monday after breaking into an outdoor aquatic center and getting stuck in a water slide support pipe.

Police said in a statement sent to Insider that the man was found after a patrol officer heard faint calls for help near the Eldorado Aquatic and Fitness Center around 12:30 a.m.

Despite efforts from the police and fire departments, the man died before officers could access him.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A 31-year-old man in Scottsdale, Arizona, died on Monday after breaking into an outdoor aquatic center and getting stuck in a water slide support pipe, authorities said.

The Scottsdale Police Department said in a statement that the man, identified to Insider by police as Ryan Kelly, broke into the Eldorado Aquatic and Fitness Center around 12:30 a.m., and he was found trapped by a patrol officer in the area who had heard "faint calls for help" from inside the water park.

After about an hour of searching, the officer found Kelly, whom officers described as "transient," inside a large, hollow, steel support pipe holding up a water slide structure.

Police said Kelly had climbed over a fence to gain access to the aquatic center, then became stuck by crawling inside the pipe. It remains unclear how exactly he climbed into the support pipe or why he did so.

The patrol officer called for back up, but he and others who joined on scene, including a team of firefighters, had limited verbal contact with Kelly as they tried to rescue him.

"He soon became unresponsive and was tragically determined to be deceased," the police statement said. "It then took several more hours to dismantle the structure to the point that the body could be recovered."

According to AZ Family, responders had to take apart parts of the water slide's super structure.

"It wasn't an easy feat," police spokesman Kevin Watts said. "It took some work to get down in there, which obviously would not be the first place that people would be looking to find someone because of the difficulty."

Story continues

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner is working to determine Kelly's cause of death.

Eldorado remained closed on Tuesday, according to its website.

Read the original article on Insider
No plan to sell stake in Jaguar Land Rover, says Tata Motors

Tata Motors has categorically denied any plans to sell its stake in the British brand Jaguar Land Rover, and said the British marque's business continues to do well even in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest speculative come after such reports in Indian media about Tata Motors passenger car business in India, which, according to reports was to be sold off as it remained unprofitable for the company.

Tata Motors had earlier issued a statement terming the reports baseless and untrue. The latest report makes the reporting motivated. Tata Motors has issued a clarification on the JLR speculative as well.

Unconfirmed and unsubstantiated reports have been published by some media alleging that Tata Motors may sell stake in Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).

Tata Motors categorically denies and dismisses any such intent. Jaguar Land Rover is and remains a key pillar of Tata Motors and the wider Tata Group.

We recently announced our results for Q1 and have indicated that we are maintaining solid liquidity despite the Covid-19 pandemic and expect to be cash positive from Q2 onwards.

Jaguar Land Rover business remains strong as it transitions to new electrified, autonomous and connected technologies to support its Destination Zero ambition, Tata Motors stated in a website release.

The reports come after failed bailout talks between Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel with the UK government, leaving both firms to rely on private financing to overcome the impact of coronavirus on business.

Talks for an emergency funding fell through as Jaguar Land Rover did not qualify for taxpayer support, the Financial Times reported.

Jaguar Land Rover also was unwilling to accept decarbonisation requirements that would have forced the automaker to accelerate its programme of vehicle electrification and phase out the diesel cars that still make up most of its fleet, the Financial Times said, citing a source with knowledge of the discussions.

The bailout plan, titled "Project Birch," had been authorized by UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak in May to rescue companies that are seen as strategically important, with the Treasury saying it may step in to support crucial businesses on a "last resort" basis after other options run out.

The report, citing a source familiar with the matter, said that the funding scheme became infeasible for Tata as it imposed strict conditions on any lending.

"Tata Steel remains in ongoing and constructive talks with the UK government on areas of potential support," Tata Steel said in an emailed statement.

The UK Treasury said it would not comment on individual companies.

Tata bought JLR from Ford Motor in 2008.

Jaguar Land Rover increased its savings target for this year to 2.5 billion pounds ($3.3 billion) after booking a 413 million-pound pre-tax loss for the quarter that ended in June.

The automaker has entered into agreements with lenders in China for a secured term loan facility of 5 billion yuan ($704.5 million), its first debt financing in China.

Former Renault CEO Thierry Bollore will replace Ralf Speth as JLR boss on Sept. 10. Speth, who turns 65 in September, will retire from the post and become the automaker's non-executive vice chairman.
A spokeswoman for Ms Hennessy said all workers who contracted coronavirus at work were entitled to claim for workers compensation, and that WorkSafe had so far accepted all claims by healthcare workers with a confirmed coronavirus diagnosis. Dr Benjamin Veness, however, said it wasnt always possible for healthcare workers to show precisely where they had acquired coronavirus infections, even though the workplace was a high-risk setting and likely to be the source. "From the perspective of someone who works in hospitals, there are so many opportunities to get infected there," he said. "Healthcare settings are poorly ventilated, are full of sick and sometimes behaviourally-disturbed patients and contain many staff moving about in close proximity to other people." He said it was crucial that healthcare staff with COVID-19 should not have the added stress of not knowing if their WorkCover claim would be successful.

The Western Australian government recently passed legislation setting a presumption that all healthcare workers who acquired coronavirus had been infected at work. Nurse Rhonda Milner is among the healthcare workers affected by coronavirus, acquiring it at a Werribee aged care home. Forced to spend 23 days in isolation, she went more than four weeks without pay. "I live by myself so it has been desperately lonely," said Ms Milner, who has recovered but has started a WorkSafe claim because of possible long-term impacts. "[Its] a very unknown disease, and we dont know whats going to happen to us six months down the track." WorkSafe figures show that, despite the thousands of infections, only 81 healthcare workers with coronavirus have made successful compensation claims.

Loading It comes as the recent petition to federal Health Minister Greg Hunt from healthcare workers saw hundreds of individual complaints from Victoria. One doctor said they were asked not to wear a surgical mask while seeing patients. Another said that as a senior doctor they were told they should only wear the minimum protective equipment required, so as not to send an unwanted example to junior staff. "It was stressed that consultants especially should not wear PPE above the grade determined for the patient encounter, as others take cues from consultants," they said. A nurse said they were forced to tape surgical masks to their face, while another said three nurses on their ward had tested positive, and they were only provided with surgical masks to care for suspected COVID-19 patients.

Dr Leah Kaminsky runs a doctors surgery in Elwood and said while GPs were expected to be "heroes" in the fight against coronavirus, many felt scared and unsupported. The clinic has received about a dozen high-grade masks from the local GP division, but Dr Kaminsky said there was no fitting offered for the masks and the clinic had been left to source its own plastic visors, goggles and gowns, often at inflated prices. At times, they had relied on donated goods, including masks and gloves from a local beauty therapist who had gone out of business. She said while her concerns had led her to rely more on phone consultations, some patients needed to be seen face to face  and some still presented with coronavirus symptoms, despite screening. "Its like Russian roulette, I just dont know who is going to walk in," she said.

Australian Medical Association Victoria president Julian Rait said he was still hearing hospitals were lagging behind in providing critical protective gear such as N95 face masks, higher-grade masks recommended for caring for coronavirus patients. "There are still pockets, like Peninsula Health, where there are issues with stock," he said. Frankston Hospital, which is run by Peninsula Health, is grappling with a coronavirus outbreak, with some staff saying they haven't been given access to N95 masks despite repeated requests. Peninsula Health chief executive Felicity Topp said that Frankston Hospital was experiencing an increased number of positive COVID-19 cases. Peninsula Health declined to comment on whether all staff were given access to N95 masks, and did not respond to requests about how many infections had been detected.
<! Malam Wada Maida: NAN chairman in sudden death >

Malam Wada Maida, Chairman, Board of Directors of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is dead.

A member of his family, Lawal Sale Maida, said Maida died in Abuja on Monday. He was aged 70.

He was not ill when he died Monday night. He went to the office as usual in Abuja after returning from Katsina. He signed checks for his newspaper Peoples Daily and didnt betray any sign of illness.

He just slumped on his chair, while at home at about 8pm.

His family thought he was sleeping. By the time they found out otherwise, it was already too late. He was rushed to the hospital, but doctors certified him dead on arrival.

On Sunday, he travelled to Katsina to see his family and returned to Abuja early on Monday.

Maida, former Editor-in-Chief and later Managing Director of NAN, was one of the pioneer editors of the agency and served as various times as its Regional Editor in Kaduna, Political Editor and London Correspondent.

He was Chief Press Secretary to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari when he became military Head of State on 1 January 1984.

After the Babangida coup in July 1985, Maida returned to NAN to become its Editor-in-Chief for eight years.

Maida, from Katsina State, was appointed NAN Managing Director in 1994 and served in that capacity for nine years before he bowed out in 2003.

Until his death, he was a member of the Executive Board of the International Press Institute and also a shareholder of Media Trust Limited.

NAN Acting Managing Direct0r, Mr Dele Ojo, while reacting to Maidas death, described the news as shocking and devastating.

It is difficult to believe this news. It is very devastating. God knows best, Ojo said in a telephone interview.

Related
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Tuesday, Aug. 18, and one woman has got San Francisco covered  every inch of it. Heres what you need to know to start your day.

A new round of thunderstorms moved through San Francisco and into the North Bay on Monday as heat advisories, excessive heat warnings and wildfires continued across the region.

Residents in parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, and Napa counties were under mandatory evacuation orders Monday as firefighters battled a series wildfires sparked by lightning storms.

California electric grid managers scrambled to both explain and reckon with the rolling blackouts over the weekend. Slightly lower temperatures and lower demand allowed the outages to be called off Monday, but another set of blackouts may be in store for Tuesday evening.

Inland regions of the Bay Area will see record or near-record temperatures, with 95 to 108 degrees expected through Wednesday night. But while the individual temperatures are eye-popping, the cumulative impact of several days of heat is making problems worse, Aidin Vaziri reports.

 Almost always a human fingerprint: Warming global temperatures making heat waves more common, more intense. Coming up: Sign up for MicroClimates, The Chronicles new climate change newsletter.

 California fire map: Information about wildfires burning across the state.

 Tips for coping with rolling blackouts: How to prepare and stay safe

The Throughline

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Emile DeWeaver has been counting his blessings during the pandemic. The 42-year-old has a good job and he can work remotely, from a place in East Oakland he shares with four housemates. He can pay his rent and even has a handful of chickens in his backyard, in a small coop next to mature lemon and orange trees that pop with fruit.

But all of this would have been impossible if he hadnt been freed from San Quentin and a 67 years-to-life sentence. Hes one of only a few hundred Californians in the last decade who have had their criminal sentences commuted by the governor. But DeWeaver tells reporter Jason Fagone theres tens of thousands of others in Californias 35 prisons who could be safely returned to their communities.

Calls to cut Californias prison population have grown more urgent during the pandemic, as coronavirus outbreaks kill incarcerated people and staff and strain hospital resources.

The solution to this problem is simple yet radical: Release 50,000 people. The state has the power. The main obstacle is political. Read more on what mass decarceration would mean for the state.

Non-capital crimes: Court considers releasing San Quentin inmates who are vulnerable to COVID-19 .

More Throughline: Do you have what it takes to be a contact tracer?

And now an excellent guide to the city

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

1,200 miles of roads. Hundreds of miles of trails. Hundreds of staircases. Robin Cohn has now run all of San Francisco.

Heather Knight was there when Cohn crossed the makeshift finish line to mark her completion of the ultra-comprehensive run of San Francisco. She talks to Cohn about why its been quite a wonderful adventure and why she decided to take on the challenge in the first place.

Around the Bay

Craig Lee / The Chronicle 2006

 Speed things up: Venerable San Francisco dim sum restaurant Ton Kiang to close after a 42-year run.

 Condos out, North Bay in: The coronavirus continued reshaping the Bay Area housing market last month, Kathleen Pender writes.

 Fifth & Mission podcast: Back to school is Mission Impossible for working moms.

 Republicans against Trump ad: Rageful Trump wanted to cut off California fire aid because the state wasnt his base, ex-aide says.

 Pack a lunch for the kitchen table: S.F. schools beef up distance learning on first day back.

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.

 Fall into the...: Most San Francisco Gap stores close permanently, including Market Street flagship.

 Tough hours, no community spread: Keeping trouble out of WNBAs wubble was the goal for Bay Area doctor.

 So early 2020: Remember Trumps impeachment? Democrats arent going there at convention.

Chronicle Food + Wine

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Across San Francisco during the pandemic, the business lunch scene is slowing down  and dressing down. The Vault, at the bottom of a Financial District building that once housed Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley traders and bankers, has switched out its $50 steaks and $19 shrimp cocktails for plastic cups and lobster boil.

At Waterbar, Managing Partner Pete Sittnick has gone from wearing a suit and rubbing elbows with city officials to wearing jeans and sometimes a Hawaiian shirt and serving young families and Millennial diners.

But Sittnick said he doesnt mind the new, more quiet lunch landscape. Read more.

More from Chronicle Food:

 San Francisco restaurant ordered to take down controversial domes.

 Michelin Guide to award restaurant stars in California  based on pre-pandemic dining.

 Can free fridges tackle food insecurity and poverty porn? Two mutual aid orgs challenge status quo.

Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact Brown at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com.
Nearly three-quarters of coronavirus-infected people have no symptoms on the day they are tested for the disease, government data has revealed.

Only 28 per cent of people who tested positive for the disease in a random swabbing sample admitted to having any symptoms.

The other 72 per cent were completely unaware they were carrying the coronavirus, having reported no symptoms  which include a fever, cough or a loss of taste and smell.

The findings, published by the Office for National Statistics today, shed light on the severity of asymptomatic spread of the disease  people who unknowingly pass the disease around because they have no idea they are infected.

Several studies have shown asymptomatic transmission accounts for up to 80 per cent of Covid-19 spread. The new data is one of the largest studies, involving around 50,000 people.

The findings suggest the 1,000 Covid-19 cases being officially diagnosed each day in Britain account for just a fraction of the true number of infections, and the true tally is at least three times higher  in line with other estimates.

The findings also enforce the importance of contact tracing, which aims to rapidly quarantine all individuals who have been in touch with a confirmed case before they have the chance to spread the disease.

Other data from ONS today revealed Asian people are up to five times more likely to catch the coronavirus than white people.

Only 28 per cent of people who tested positive for the disease in a random swabbing sample admitted to having any symptoms. The other 72 per cent were completely unaware they were carrying the coronavirus (pictured)

Participants in the ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey were tested with antigen tests, which can only tell a person if they have the virus currently.

Over the duration of the study, more than 195,000 swab tests have been carried out in a sample representative of the entire UK population.

The data today is based on swab tests undertaken in an eight-week period between 8 June to 2 August and does not cover care homes or hospitals.

The symptoms respondents were asked to report were fever, cough and loss of taste or loss of smell - the three 'tell-tale' signs of the virus.

They also were asked to report a shortness of breath, headache, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, muscle ache, fatigue, or a sore throat.

Fewer than a third (28 per cent) of people who tested positive for the virus reported having any of the symptoms, ONS said.

ASIAN PEOPLE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO CATCH COVID-19 Asian people are up to five times more likely to catch the coronavirus than white people, according to data from a government-run surveillance scheme. An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report released today revealed seven out of 1,510 Brits identifying as Asian swabbed positive for Covid-19  a rate of around 0.46 per cent. For comparison, the rate was 0.12 per cent for white people. The ONS concluded the risk was slightly higher than the percentage difference and that Asians were 4.8 times more likely to test positive. No cases were diagnosed in any other ethnic groups in England between June 8 and August 2, which is when the data relates to. But the body claimed black Britons were twice as likely to be diagnosed, based on older figures. Results of antibody tests  which tell if someone has had the disease in the past  showed a similar discrepancy between ethnicity, with just 4.8 per cent of white people testing positive for the substances. In comparison, the rate was around 10.8 per cent for Asians and 9.5 per cent for Black Britons. Numerous reports have found black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in Britain face a higher risk of dying if they catch coronavirus than white people. Experts can't pinpoint exactly why this is the case, but it could be down to the fact ethnic minorities are more likely to be poor, use public transport more often and work in public-facing jobs - all three of which make them more prone to interacting with strangers and catching the disease. Epidemiologists have previously told MailOnline that some communities which do not speak English as their first language were not following social distancing rules as stringently because public health messaging was not reaching them. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, and Gabriel Scally, professor of public health at the university of Bristol, said there had been a 'breakdown in communication' and that 'language barriers were certainly an issue'. Advertisement

The rest (72 per cent) didn't have any evidence of any symptoms at the time of their swab test, or at the subsequent tests later.

ONS said that the findings suggested that there was a 'potentially large number' of asymptomatic cases of the virus.

The report added that it is important to note that symptoms were self-reported rather than professionally diagnosed, so some people may have not noticed they were ill.

Only 165 people in the sample had tested positive, so the team cannot be entirely confident in their results because they were working with small numbers.

False positives, people without the disease who tested positive in error, could have an effect on the results, the ONS said.

But still, the researchers said the findings suggest at least 64 to 78 per cent of infected people did not have symptoms.

Commenting on the findings, Professor James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute at the University of Oxford, said: 'This release is very informative.

'It suggests around 70 per cent of infected people have had no symptoms. Whilst this is good news since for the vast majority Covid-19 is not a serious illness, it makes it much harder to spot its spread.'

Kevin McConway, an emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, said: 'The data do tend to indicate that being infected without having noticeable symptoms is likely to be common.'

Dr Andrew Preston, a reader in microbial pathogenesis at the University of Bath, said today's data adds to a growing body evidence that shows 'a significant proportion of people infected with SARS-CoV2 are asymptomatic'.

He told MailOnline: 'Asymptomatic infection creates a major problem for infection control, people can quite unknowingly be carrying the virus.

'Another unknown is the contribution of asymptomatically infected people to transmission of the virus to other people.'

If people without symptoms do not cough, it may be theorised they expel virus-laden droplets less.

But Dr Preston said: 'Forceful expiration by other means such as singing or shouting appear to be effective mechanisms for spreading the infection (e.g. the high incidence among some choir groups), so it is by no means certain that asymptomatically infected people are less able to spread the disease.

'And of course, someone asymptomatically infected, even if they shed less virus, are unlikely to isolate and thus over the course of their infectious period could interact with a lot of other people.'

Dr Preston said it is not precisely clear what makes one person become become ill while another shows no sign of disease. But evidence suggests older people and those with underlying co-morbidities are more likely to show symptoms.

The data from ONS suggest thousands of infected Britons are not getting tested for Covid-19 because they are unaware they have it.

Although anyone can get a test on the NHS, it is unlikely they would come forward unless they either had symptoms that concerned them, or a friend, relative or colleague had been diagnosed, prompting a check.

Government surveillance schemes, such as that ran by ONS with the Department of Health, are the only way to dig deeper into understanding how many people in the UK have really been infected.

Separate data released by the ONS says that around 3,800 people are getting infected each day in England alone. Twenty-eight per cent of that figure is around 1,000  which is roughly how many cases are being confirmed by the Department for Health each day.

Various studies have tried to work out how many cases of Covid-19 are silent, producing worryingly high estimates.

Evidence is starting to show transmission from asymptomatic and presymptomatic patients accounts for between 40 to 80 per cent of Covid-19 cases.

One comprehensive review of 17 studies concluded more than half of people infected with the coronavirus caught it from someone before they showed symptoms, known as presymptomatic.

It takes an average of six days before a person develops the tell-tale signs of Covid-19. But in those days prior to symptoms, patients are infectious and can still pass the deadly virus onto others.

Academics in Ireland said between 33 and 80 per cent of cases caught the virus from people who would have had no idea they were even infected.

They warned presymptomatic transmission alone can cause the virus to spread uncontrollably and 'sustain an epidemic of its own'.

Controlling the spread of the virus between unsuspecting victims is crucial for keeping on top of the disease when lockdowns are eased, the team said.

It hinges on the success of contact tracing, which involves identifying all individuals who have been in close contact with a confirmed case.

Those people would in theory be isolated, even if they do not have symptoms, so it's not possible for them to pass the virus on to others during the early stage of infection.
Several weeks ago, I received an anonymous email from a writer who so well shared my conservative, and I pray, my Christian beliefs that I included it in an opinion piece on Chattanoogan.com under the appropriate heading, Ill Sign This Letter. Now another comes along. This one is also unsigned, yet it is now going viral on Facebook with literally thousands of likes and shares. What is most surprising is that it exactly represents my feelings about our country and its leadership on both the national and state level right now in its each and every sentence.

Because I have been a writer for a real long time, you should know that every article I post on Chattanoogan.com gets picked up by the big search engines like Google News, Yahoo, Bing and others.

I never requested this should happen, nor received a nickel for such notoriety, but it has increased my incoming emails from around the country to such a point I cannot physically respond to the flood of responses that blesses my computers inbox each day. I read as many as I can and appreciate the fact somebody takes the time to share their beliefs with me. Really, I do.

I try to read the replies and, as I have often remarked, my detractors are far-and-away my best teachers because they force me to think, to question myself, to see from both sides of lifes river. But, every day, I end up being the same person who writes an opinion. (Yeah, opinions are like elbows; everybodys got a couple and I relish the fact there is such a difference among us.)

An Internet friend, whom I have yet to meet but who has become a beloved friend to me in recent years with his mischief and what he shared, sent the Facebook post to me, and please know I was moved by its calm, down-to-earth appeal:

* * *

(NOTE: Roy, I did not write the essay or commentary that is about to follow, but I copied it from the Facebook timeline of a long-time friend. She has said she also copied it, but the point I want to make is that I agree with and support every comment and point that is made in this statement. This is where I stand. If you feel so moved, I suggest that you forward it, but that's up to you.)

* * *

THIS IS GOING VIRAL ON FACEBOOK

In just three months, it will be over. The U.S. Presidential election, I mean. Not the end of the world, but maybe the end of our nation, as we have known it. No, I will not be voting for Biden.... I am not voting for a man. I am not rallying for a personality. I am not pushing a person. At this point, I am voting for one thing and one thing only. I am voting for the principles for which this country has stood since its founding. I am voting for Constitutional government.

I am voting for a strong and viable military. I am voting for a vibrant economy. I am voting for the right to keep and bear arms. I am voting for the freedom to worship. I am voting for the ability for anyone to rise above their circumstances and become successful. I am voting for my children and grandchildren to be able to choose their own path in life, including how and where their children are educated.

I am voting for our borders to be open to everyone who enters under our law and closed to everyone who would circumvent or ignore the law. I am voting for the Electoral College to remain in place, so that a few heavily populated liberal centers do not control the elections. I am voting for a Supreme Court that interprets the Constitution rather than rewrites it. I am voting to teach history, with all of its warts, not erase it or revise it.

Now, there are some things I am voting against. I am voting against open borders. I am voting against a rampant welfare system that enslaves its recipients. I am voting against socialism, in all of its forms, including health care, redistribution, reparations, economics, governmental control, pedophilia, and criminal releases, etc. I would rather pay for prison reform then see the criminals released to repeatedly commit the same crimes!

So, although I dont give blanket approval to everything our President has done or said in the past, I do support him as our President! I am not voting against Joe Biden, but I am voting against everything that the party backing him and propping him up stands for. It is not the Democratic Party of the past.

Three months is all we have.

(And, yes, this is what I believe.)

* * *

On Sunday I wrote a story on the horrifying 80 straight nights of unbridled riots in Portland. I predicted a riot would break out Saturday night, this after my story was written earlier in the day. (A National Embarrassment, Aug. 16). On Monday I wrote another about Portland (The Morning After Aug. 17) about the riot that most indeed did occur on the West Coast on Saturday after the Oregon State Police had vacated the city. Now we learn on Sunday night there was more of the same mayhem in the city that will not prosecute those who have been arrested in the first 80 days of rioting. On Sunday night the driver of a truck was pulled from his vehicle and savagely beaten. The near-unconscious man was left in the middle of the road and ordered not to move. It was then he was kicked in the head in such a horrifying way that yesterday the victim was said to be in critical condition in a Portland hospital.

* * *



On Sunday night there was a third shooting in the Woodlawn neighborhood in Portland in the last few weeks. In July there were 99 shootings in Portland, three times the number a year ago. Also, for the past three nights numerous 911 calls did not get a police response.

royexum@aol.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 16:17:01|Editor: huaxia

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An honor guard takes part in the celebration marking the 101st anniversary of the country's Independence Day in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Aug. 18, 2020. Afghanistan on Tuesday marked the 101st anniversary of its independence from the British occupation amid the worsening security situation. (Photo by Rahmatullah Alizadah/Xinhua)

KABUL, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan on Tuesday marked the 101st anniversary of its independence from the British occupation amid the worsening security situation.

At an official celebration to commemorate the day, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani laid a wreath at the Independence Minaret Tuesday morning inside the country's defense ministry compound after inspecting guards of honor.

The president paid tribute to security forces who have sacrificed their lives for peace and security as the country, especially Kabul, has witnessed waves of terror attacks by the Islamic State (IS) outfit and Taliban insurgents over the past few months.

Earlier in the day, 10 civilians, including four children and a woman, were wounded after a barrage of rockets struck several locations in Kabul.

Since the signing of a Taliban and U.S. peace agreement in late February, Afghan leaders, including Ghani, have frequently demanded the Taliban to reduce violence.

The militants, however, have intensified attacks.
Times Guest Columnist

Reliability. A great virtue that is noble, indeed, but sorely lacking among many of our leaders today, particularly leaders in our highest levels of government. The new leader of the U.S. Postal Service is Louis DeJoy, and his new policies and personnel shake up within the U.S. Postal Service has caused a national outcry regarding the lag and unreliable delivery of daily mail.

DeJoy is a millionaire executive from North Carolina and former president of LDJ Global Strategies. He has no experience in the mail delivery industry. He is a huge donor to the Republican Party and Trump. Yet, with no experience in the mail delivery industry, DeJoy was appointed on May 6, 2020 to oversee one of Americas biggest employers and venerable government agencies. Since DeJoys appointment, many American citizens and political leaders from both parties have become dissatisfied with the delay in daily mail delivery.

The U.S. Postal Service noble mission is to provide the nation with reliable, affordable, universal mail service its leadership has been derelict in its reliability to deliver mail, but under DeJoys leadership, America isnt getting reliable deliveries its been accustom to.

Prior to DeJoys appointment, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Postal Service was reliably delivering daily mail. Since DeJoys appointment, daily mail delivery across the country became noticeably sluggish, drawing the ire of Americans and government leaders.

I reached out to DeJoy to request an interview and I was told by Dave Partenheimer, Manager-Media Relations/Spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service, that Mr. DeJoy is not available for an interview at this time but Mr. Partenheimer was gracious enough to provide his comments to honor my interview request.

DeJoy has taken a public shellacking from pundits and critics that hes a Trump appointee. DeJoy was appointed by the Board of Governors of the Postal Service, under the law the Postmaster General serves at the pleasure of the Governors of the Postal Service, a group that is bipartisan by statute and that evaluates the performance of the Postmaster General in a nonpartisan fashion, Partenheimer stated.

The Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service were all appointed by Trump and they appointed DeJoy. The Board of Governors are:

Robert M. Duncan. Chairman, Board of Governors (former Chairman of the Republican National Committee)

John M. Barger. Member, Board of Governors (Investment Finance Executive)

Ron A. Bloom. Member, Board of Governors (Investment Banker)

Roman Martinez IV. Member, Board of Governors (Investment Banker)

Donald L. Moak. Member, Board of Governors (Public Affairs/Advocacy Executive)

William D. Zollars. Member, Board of Governors (Transportation Executive)

Over the past weekend, I asked Americans from across the country for their feedback on the sudden sluggish delivery of daily mail and most of their comments were biting criticisms.

I truly believe that the slow up/cessation of mail delivery and the placement of the new Postmaster General are totally, directly related to the election. I went 5 days without receiving mail, -C. Hines.

Mike, there are no if, ands or buts about it, its happening now in real time right under our noses. The question is, What are we going to do about it? And its not just mail-in ballots at issue here, its the tens of thousands of newly registered voters who may be waiting for registration cards, -K. Lampkins.

I am a retired letter carrier and am actively involved with the union. There is a major shakeup coming from Trumps newly appointed Postmaster General, -D. Raynor.

I work at the Post Office and we get our mail out each day. The trailers are loaded and get to the stations on time. Im not sure what is happening at the stations but the work floor is clear of mail each day, -P. Richardson.

Yes, I have experienced this slowdown, in that I receive my medication from the Veterans Administration by mail, and just recently, I have noticed that normal 3-5 days prescription refills are taking 5-10 days, so I have to call in my orders earlier, otherwise Ill run out before I get my refill, -J. Hall

For the first time in 33 years I am worried I am concerned for the future of the mail delivery, the careers of 700,000 employees and for the service that we provide the American public everyday, said Kenny Montgomery, Union President-National Association of Letter Carriers.

I have lived through severe snow storms, the ice storm of 1991, 2020 pandemic, riots, hurricanes, etc. the list goes on and on and through all these issues and all of these national or local emergencies the mail still went through. With the hiring of a single individual who has never had anything to do with the postal service and has zero postal experience, we are now seeing days where mail does not show up.

Calling the postal service to complain will do nothing you need to go further and contact Congress.

Many people do not believe that the appointment of DeJoy and the extreme lag in national daily mail delivery are coincidental. Some believe the throttling down of daily mail delivery is political hijinks perpetrated by Trump and his political supporters to muddle with the November election. To be clear however, and despite any assertions to the contrary, we are not slowing down Election Mail or any other mail. Instead, we continue to employ a robust and proven process to ensure proper handling of all Election Mail consistent with our standards, Partenheimer said.

On Aug. 6, 2020, the Associated Press reported, Lawmakers from both parties are calling on the U.S. Postal Service to immediately reverse operational changes that are causing delays in deliveries across the country just as big volume increases are expected for mail-in election voting.

Is DeJoy just a Trump crony serving at the behest of the President? Partenheimer said the notion that the Postmaster General makes decisions concerning the Postal Service at the direction of the President is wholly misplaced and off-base.

Some experts urge those that will be voting by mail-in ballots to personally deliver their completed mail-in ballots to their local Board of Elections Office to ensure timely reliable delivery. Otherwise, roll your dice with DeJoy and his team.

Rev. Michael Robinson is Senior Pastor, Greater Enon Missionary Baptist Church in Philadelphia. He is a resident of Lansdowne.
As our nation reckons with our past and considers our future, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness challenges students to ask critical questions about what it means to be an American.

Today the Bill of Rights Institute (BRI) announces a new, free U.S. History digital textbook, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: A History of the American Experiment. In a nation grappling with its past, and student learning disrupted by COVID-19, this resource improves access to high-quality curriculum and encourages civil discourse and critical thinking among young people.

The digital resource embeds modular content created by BRI, a leading civics and history education nonprofit, within OpenStax Tutor, a research-based learning platform created by OpenStax at Rice University. OpenStax has saved students nearly a billion dollars in textbook expenses since 2010, and its Tutor homework and assignment platform increases student engagement and provides valuable learning analytics for instructors. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: A History of the American Experiment is the first free, comprehensive open educational resource aligned to the College Boards Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH) standards.

As our nation reckons with our past and considers our future, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness challenges students to ask critical questions about what it means to be an American, said BRI President David Bobb, Ph.D. Difficult questions of historyand civicsare at its core. Its goal is for students, guided by their teachers, to understand their role in helping the nation live up to our founding ideals. The Bill of Rights Institute is pleased to partner with OpenStax to make this digital resource available free of charge to hundreds of thousands of teachers and more than 15 million secondary school students nationwide.

OpenStax is pleased to provide high school teachers and students across the U.S. with a free blended learning tool that aligns to Advanced Placement standards, while including rich content that deepens their critical thinking skills, said Richard Baraniuk, founder and director of OpenStax and Rices Victor E. Cameron Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. With the unprecedented shift to online learning this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, free, digital, easy-to-use and effective teaching and learning resources are more critical than ever before.

Written and edited by nearly 100 distinguished scholars from top universities and historical organizations, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness takes a point-counterpoint, inquiry-based approach to the study of U.S. history. It includes 150 primary source documents that help students learn about perspective, bias, and how to evaluate evidence.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, school budgets are constrained, and teachers throughout the nation are challenged to find appropriate digital resources for teaching their students.

Jessica Culver, a social studies teacher for 17 years at Ozark High School in rural Arkansas, helped pilot Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. She said, Schools finances are tight right now and textbooks are a giant expense, even at a tiny school. So, I think people are hearing about resources like Life, Liberty and are realizing that this is the wave of the future and its so much more valuable than a physical textbook.

To learn more about Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, visit https://billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/free-us-history-resource/.

About the Bill of Rights Institute

Established in 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute supports secondary school teachers of American history, civics, and social studies, one in four of whom nationwide use BRI curricula in the classroom and participate in BRI professional development programs. BRIs team includes a full-time staff with more than 100 years of combined classroom experience, academic partners, and classroom teachers who serve as co-creators of BRIs curricula. Over its 20+ years of nonprofit operation, the Bill of Rights Institute has received funding from more than 15,000 individuals, corporations, and foundations, including more than 4,500 individuals and 50 foundations in the last two years. For more information, visit https://billofrightsinstitute.org/.

About OpenStax

OpenStax is committed to improving access to quality learning materials. As an ed tech initiative that is part of Rice University and supported by philanthropic foundations, OpenStax provides free college and Advanced Placement textbooks that are developed and peer-reviewed by educators, as well as low cost, personalized courseware that helps students learn. For more information, visit http://OpenStax.org.
A start-up which aims to use cutting-edge technologies to help farmers improve crop yield has raised 250,000 to launch its first product.

Earth Rover, a crop scouting system which predicts the size and timing of harvests, has raised the funding from MEIF Proof of Concept & Early Stage Fund, managed by Mercia.

The system is suitable for crops such as broccoli and lettuce, and is currently being trialled at Polybell Farm in Doncaster, one of the UKs leading organic vegetable producers.

Earth Rover uses cameras fitted to a tractor to scan the plants and measure their growth as the vehicle passes through the fields on routine farm operations.

The data is then analysed using artificial intelligence (AI) housed in a supercomputer on board the tractor.

Earth Rover, which is based in Shropshire, aims to provide growers with more accurate predictions to help them produce the right number of crops.

It also has an aim to help farmers plan their harvesting labour requirements.

The start-up will initially target growers in the UK and Spain, which has a year-round season.

The company, which has been funded so far through angel investment and by a contract with the European Space Agency, is also working on robotic systems for herbicide-free weeding and harvesting.

The MEIF funding will be paid in two tranches over the next 12 months subject to commercial milestones and will allow the company to fund current trials and bring the product to market.

David Whitewood, CEO of Earth Rover, said technologies such as AI and robotics had revolutionised manufacturing in recent years.

However, he explained agriculture had suffered from a lack of investment - something which 'still relied on traditional techniques'.

"At a time when we face the challenge of feeding a growing population with limited land and labour supplies, it is time for agriculture to undergo the same transformation.

"At Earth Rover we aim to play a leading role in the digitisation of farming to make the industry more productive and sustainable, Mr Whitewood said.

David Baker, investment manager at Mercia, said the funding would help the company prove its value and launch into the market.

He said: "Vegetable growers routinely overplant crops due to the difficulty in predicting yields and the need to fulfil stringent contracts with supermarkets.

"This pushes up costs and means that much of the crop simply rots in the fields, creating additional carbon emissions.

"We believe Earth Rovers system could help increase crop yields by 5 per cent and reduce costs by a similar amount."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:02:15|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian parliament in a general session approved on Tuesday a deal demarcating maritime borders with Greece, state-run TV reported.

Egyptian and Greek foreign ministers have signed a maritime demarcation deal for establishing an exclusive economic zone between the two countries on Aug. 6.

"The deal copes with Egypt's legal and constitutional systems," according to the report.

It added that the deal will partially determine the maritime borders between the two counties in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and further consultations between them will be run on completing the demarcation process.

The report added that in case any of the two parties seek to sign an economic zone deal with a third country sharing the maritime borders with the two countries, it shall inform the other party ahead of signing any deals.

"If natural resources, including hydrocarbons, are found in the economic zone area, a new deal should be initiated on how to utilize these resources. Any related disputes should be settled via diplomatic ways," the report read.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said earlier that the deal allows both Egypt and Greece to maximize the use of available resources in the exclusive economic zone between them, particularly the potential oil and gas reserves.

However, the deal caused tensions between Greece and Turkey as it hit another maritime border agreement in the Mediterranean Sea between the governments of Turkey and Libya in Tripoli in 2019. Enditem
Mr Emmanuel Tutu, a 43-year-old businessman and Assemblyman for Alavanyo Abehenease/Agoxoe Electoral Area in the Hohoe Municipality, has died in a motor accident.



The deceased, who was on his way to Hohoe, crashed into a tipper truck and died on the spot.



Mr David Anku Boateng, the Assemblyman for Alavanyo Wudidi Electoral Area, confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).



Eyewitnesses said the deceased tried to overtake two trucks when the incident happened.



They said the trucks had produced so much dust that the deceased could not see the second truck and crashed into the back of one of them in an attempt to avoid the dust.



The witnesses said the driver of the truck drove off unaware of the accident.

A friend of the Assemblyman said money retrieved from the accident scene was handed over to the police.

Mr Joseph Chris Dzumador, the Presiding Member of the Hohoe Municipal Assembly, said a friend confirmed the sad news to him.



The body of the Assemblyman was deposited at the Hohoe morgue.



The deceased, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Coordinator for the same Electoral Area, was survived by a wife and five children.

Source: GNA









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Five days a week, Lori Cash leaves her house when it's still dark out to get to her job at the Depew Post Office in upstate New York.

Cash, a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service, is responsible for opening post office doors and greeting the waiting delivery trucks at 2:30 a.m.

These days, her early morning work schedule isn't what's causing her to lose sleep, she said. Instead, Cash is troubled by the dramatic changes she has witnessed at the Postal Service, which she said are forcing unprecedented delays in mail delivery.

"In all the years that I've been with the Postal Service, I've seen many changes. I've seen changes in operation. I've seen changes in delivery standards. But I've never seen any mail delay," said Cash, president of the American Postal Workers Union Western New York Area Local 183.

"That has always been our cardinal rule, is to not delay the mail. So to have someone come in and all of a sudden tell us we're not going to deliver all the mail every day is a complete change in the culture that we were taught from day one," she said. "I've never seen anything like it."

Related: During his testimony, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is likely to be asked about why he banned overtime work and extra routes taken by postal carriers to deliver the mail on time.

Cash and other postal workers say there have been concerning and potentially catastrophic changes in mail delivery since Louis DeJoy took over as postmaster general in June.

In his two months on the job, DeJoy  a longtime Republican donor and ally of President Donald Trump's who held no positions in the Postal Service before his appointment  has overseen major operational changes that he said are aimed at cutting costs and increasing efficiency.

Related: When is the deadline to register to vote? Can I vote by mail without an excuse? Everything you need to know about casting a ballot in the 2020 election.

Story continues

Among the changes: elimination of overtime and instructions to postal workers to set out on their routes even if it means mail arriving later is left behind at distribution centers.

According to postal workers who spoke with NBC News, the changes have upended the mail delivery system and significantly delayed the delivery of items, including express mail.

"If the mail doesn't make it to the dock, it doesn't get on the truck," said Daleo Freeman, president of the American Postal Workers union in Cleveland, who joined the post office ranks in 1994. "So we've had mail that has been left in the plants. Then they get it on the truck the next day. "

IMAGE: Michael Cinelli (Courtesy Michael Cinelli)

Michael Cinelli, a driver for the Postal Service in Long Island, New York, has seen similar delays.

"The way they're stopping it, the mail's just not making it to transportation," said Cinelli, who is a shop steward for the union. "It's just staying where it is. It comes in and it just does not make it."

Cash said a significant number of express mail items, which the post office promises customers will be delivered by noon the next day, aren't arriving on time as a direct result of the new mandates.

Freeman said he isn't certain what the motive for the delays is.

"Maybe it's because of the mail-in balloting. Or maybe it's because [DeJoy is] trying to make sure that they continue on their path to try to privatize the people's post office," Freeman said. "The proof is in the pudding. That's what's I've been telling people. And his actions are speaking."

Cash said she is extremely disheartened to see the number of longtime customers coming to her post office asking where checks and other valuable pieces of mail are.

"We have many more inquiries at the window of customers looking for their packages, wondering why it's taking so long for a package to get just a state or two away, wondering why they're mailing letters or mailing their bills and they're getting there a lot later than they used to get there," she said.

IMAGE: Daleo Freeman (Courtesy Daleo Freeman)

The postal workers NBC News spoke with insist that if the operations hadn't been overhauled this summer, handling mail-in ballots wouldn't be a problem this fall.

"We process more than a billion holiday cards every year," Cash said. "So if we can get those holiday cards through every year and almost all of them are delivered on time, we can handle the election ballots. The problem we're going to have is, you know, Postmaster DeJoy obviously is on this track to make changes right up to the election. So can we handle it? Yes. Is he trying to stop us from handling it? Yes."

Download the NBC News app for breaking news and alerts

The postal workers say that, beyond the election, they are most concerned about what the erosion of the Postal Service could do to Americans in rural communities who rely on it heavily for critical deliveries, from mail orders to medications.

"I think everyone is feeling the pain of, you know, why are we doing this? Why are we cutting service? And why are we causing such turmoil to our customers?" Cash said. "Everybody is fundamentally watching the beginning of the dismantling of the Postal Service."

Freeman said he hopes postal workers will be given the resources to best perform the duties they take so seriously.

"We want to just do our jobs to the best of our ability and be given the resources to do that," he said.
WILLIAMSPORT  A Lycoming County judge has told the woman who twice ran over her boyfriend killing him that you need to mature and grow up.

Judge Nancy L. Butts Tuesday used immaturity to describe Fallon Mae Davis, 23, as she sentenced her to 2  to 5 years in state prison.

Davis has never admitted she caused the death of Luke Austin Beatty, 25, because on Feb. 20 she pleaded no contest to an involuntary manslaughter charge.

A no-contest plea does not require admission of guilt and all Davis said that day was that she did not dispute the evidence outlined by First Assistant District Attorney Martin Wade.

She chose to remain silent before being sentenced and Butts noted she did not give her version of what happened the night of Aug. 25, 2018, to the preparer of the pre-sentence report.

The prosecutions version of what happened that night was:

Davis and Beatty visited bars in Williamsport and were intoxicated when they reached the residence they shared along Route 14 in the Trout Run area.

An argument developed/ Davis left the house, got into her car and Beatty stood in front of it with his hands on the hood.

Davis drove forward, knocking Beatty down and causing him to become trapped under the car.

She accelerated but could not get over the body so she backed over Beatty until her car was free. She then backed down the driveway and called a friend but not 911.

Beatty suffered multiple injuries and was burned on the abdomen from being trapped under the engine.

A state trooper testified at Davis preliminary hearing she claimed in an interview she thought her car got hung up on was a stick that Beatty might have placed there to keep her from leaving.

She also contended she got out, looked under the car but saw nothing and then proceeded to back up, the investigator said.

About a dozen of Beattys family and friends attended the sentencing, many of whom described the impact the senseless tragedy has had on them.

It cuts deep she hasnt accepted responsibility, one said. Another criticized Davis for not providing aid to Beatty or calling 911 immediately.

Many were upset with Davis comment when she entered her plea that she was doing so just to move on with her life. Beatty does not have a life to move onto, they pointed out. Every time she applies for a job they will know she killed some guy, Wade said.

He cited the respective way friends and family expressed their grief while struggling to awake from a nightmare that was real.

A number of them had seen the body in the driveway, as it was not immediately removed because it was considered part of a crime scene.

Input from the family was a factor in developing the plea agreement, Wade said.

Davis also was charged with third-degree murder but the prosecutor said there was no assurance of a conviction to that charge that requires proof of malice.

Butts commended the speakers for the compassion they showed in expressing themselves.

She explained the sentence was the maximum and the standard range in the guidelines for involuntary manslaughter for an individual that lacks a criminal record is 3 to 12 months.

Charges of homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle had been dropped prior to Davis preliminary hearing in 2018.

They were not appropriate due to incident occurring on private property not a public highway, then District Attorney Kenneth Osokow explained.
The team attained its first promising results years ago using a single type of meganuclease that proved effective in cutting the herpes virus DNA, but the results were short-lived. The virus could rely on the infected cells own DNA-repair programs  which dont distinguish between viral genes from their own  to fix the break most of the time.

But over time, the researchers found that they could eliminate up to 90% of the latent virus by using a mix of two or three different meganucleases. It is simply harder to repair two breaks than one. With more tinkering, the results continued to improve.

A workhorse of gene therapy

The researchers also refined their methods of transporting the molecular scissors to targeted nerve cells. From the beginning, Jerome and his team have relied on a harmless, hollowed-out virus that is drawn to the surface proteins of nerve cells. Called an adeno-associated virus vector, or AAV, it is the little workhorse of gene therapy. In this case, it is used to ferry to the infected nerve cells genetic instructions that cause them to make those meganucleases.

We inject the AAV vector, and it finds its way, Aubert said.

Latent herpes viruses lurk in clusters of nerve cells called ganglia, and researchers have found that some ganglia are harder to reach than others. Over the years, they discovered that some AAV strains are better suited than others to find specific types of nerve clusters, and this has helped them fine-tune the selection of these delivery viruses to match infected cells in different places.

In their mouse experiments, the team continued to improve their results, nudging them up to a 95% reduction in herpesvirus infection in one prominent nerve cluster using a selection of two different meganucleases carried by three different flavors of AAVs. By selecting vectors that are primed for harder-to-reach nerve clusters, the group expects to continue improving their ability to eradicate the virus.
Contested races for mayor and city council will take place throughout coastal Alabamas fastest growing cities where issues revolving around growth and planning are becoming top issues.

The most intriguing races can be found in the Eastern Shore cities of Baldwin County, where a new mayor will be elected to Daphne and incumbent mayors face challenges in Fairhope and Spanish Fort. The city of Foley will also elect a new mayor. In Mobile County, the highlights include crowded races for mayor in Prichard where nine people are vying for mayor and in Chickasaw, where five people are competing for citys top election post.

The municipal elections throughout coastal Alabama are among the hundreds being held in cities big and small around Alabama on August 25. Runoff elections, if needed, are set for Oct. 6.

The city of Mobile will hold its city elections in 2021.

Here are some of the highlights:

Daphne is coastal Alabamas second-largest city with over 26,500 residents and voters will decide on a new mayor on August 25. Dane Haygood has been the citys mayor since he was appointed to the position in February 2013, following the death of Bailey Yelding Jr. Two of the three candidates are business owners, and another is a longtime volunteer for the city.

The candidates include: Steve Carey, an Air Force veteran and owner of CertaPro Painters in coastal Alabama; Robin LeJeune, co-owner of Market by the Bay and an eight-year member of the Daphne City Council; and Selena Vaughn, who has spent the past 14 years volunteering and working on city committees.

The three candidates, on Friday, participated in a candidates forum in which they each touted their platforms and positions on issues.

-Carey said if hes elected, he wants the city to undergo a comprehensive, long-term strategic plan for the entire city that includes area parks and the rapid development occurring east of the city. He also supports more transparency and better communication, such as broadcasting all public meetings online. He also said he would be supportive of more city money going toward assisting Daphnes schools, or backing a special tax district like what Fairhope and Spanish Fort did last year to support the schools within the city limits.

-LeJeune said he supports expanding city programs for youth and senior citizens and wants to empower city employees and volunteer groups by creating better relationships with city departments. He said he has trusted relationships with volunteer groups and the council to help the city move forward on Day 1. He touted a vote he made against a controversial rezoning plan in 2019, which he said would harm the charm of out downtown area.

-Vaughn said that nothing is more important to the city than infrastructure and she said improving the strained public works department is her No. 1 priority. She said that the city needs to undergo an evaluation to determine if there is a need for more employees, and she believes the citys salaries and wages need to be examined to make sure their equitable. Vaughn is also a backer of improving the citys bayfront, which she calls an underutilized asset.

Only two of Daphnes seven council seats are being contested. LeJeunes District 6 seat will be a competition between Benjamin Harris and Wesley Wright. In District 5, incumbent councilman Ron Scott faces Amber Smith.

In Fairhope, incumbent Mayor Karin Wilson faces three challengers in what is shaping up as an intriguing battle in Alabamas fastest growing city since 2010.

Wilson shocked coastal Alabama in 2016, when she defeated four-term incumbent Tim Kant to become mayor. Wilson, who owns Page and Palette  an independent bookstore in the citys downtown  is running a campaign called Promises Made. Promises Kept. She is touting her record on managing the citys rapid growth, its sewer system and infrastructure.

Her opponents include John Manelos, who served 28 years working in corporate security and crisis management; Sherry Sullivan, the director of governmental affairs and economic development at Riviera Utilities and Annette Sanders, an educator and former principal of Palmer Pillans Middle School in Mobile.

The race offers some political intrigue. Sullivan was the former director of community affairs in Fairhope for over 16 years when she was fired by the mayor shortly after Wilson was elected to office. Sullivan then filed a claim against the city alleging wrongful termination and defamation by Wilson.

Three of Fairhopes five council seats will be contested: Incumbent Council President Jack Burrell faces Deb Hopkins in the Place 1 race, incumbent Councilman Robert Brown faces Howell Gibbens in Place 4, and incumbent Councilman Kevin Boone faces Joshua Gammon in Place 5. Councilman Jimmy Conyers is running unopposed in Place 3, and Corey Martin is running unopposed in Place 2. Jay Robinson, who is the current councilman in Place 2, is not seeking re-election.

In Spanish Fort, incumbent Mayor Mike McMillan will seek a third term in office and is being challenged by three people: Jeffrey Batley, David Westerfield and Rebecca Cornelius. Three of the citys five council seats are being contested: Incumbent Councilman Clewis (J.R.) Smith faces Mark Cauley in Council District 4; Steve Gibson faces Carl Gustafson Jr. in Council District 2; and Shane Perry, Wanda Finch and Earby Markham square off in Council District 3.

The Foley mayors race is open after longtime Mayor John Koniar, who has been in the seat since 2006, opted not to seek re-election. Ralph Hellmich, a member of the Foley City Council and the mayor pro-tem since 2012, faces off against libertarian Aaron Bika. Two of the councils five districts feature competitive races: Incumbent Councilman Wayne Trawick faces Barry Hughes in Council District 1, and Richard Dayton faces Ralph Eastburn for the Council District 3 race for the seat currently occupied by Hellmich.

The mayors of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, both who were first elected in 2008, also have competition. In Gulf Shores, Robert Craft will seek a fourth term in office. Hes being opposed by John Bays Jr. Four of the citys council seats are also being contested, and all four incumbents are seeking re-election. Incumbent Councilman Joe Garris will face Bill Coyne and Edward Rease in Place 1; Incumbent Councilman Gary Sinak faces Nan Hedgspeth and Michelle Stancil in Place 2; Incumbent Jason Dyken faces Tim Clayborn and Angie Swiger in Place 4; and Incumbent Councilman Steve Jones faces Cheryl Connell in Place 5.

In Orange Beach, Tony Kennon seeks a fourth term against Dan Hayes. Two of the councils five seats will be contested: Incumbent Councilwoman Annette Mitchell faces Joe Cardwell in Place 1 and incumbent Councilwoman Joni Blalock faces former police chief Joe Fierro.

The mayors of Robertsdale and Bay Minette will also have competition. In Robertsdale, Charles Murphy will seek an eighth term as mayor when he faces off against Roger Booth and Tim Brown. In Bay Minette, Bob Wills will seek a third term as mayor as he goes up against Harry Still III.

In Mobile County, the race for Prichard mayor is almost assured to head for a runoff. Nine people including incumbent Mayor Jimmie Gardner and City Councilman Lorenzo Martin are vying for the citys top elected seat. Also running is former Mayor Ron Davis, Quinn Austin-Pugh, Linda English Burse, Rodney Tyreese Clements, Reginald Davis, Gabriel Sebastian Dortch, and Charles Harden. All five council seats are also being contest: In District 1, four people are vying for the seat currently held by Martin: Joseph Giles Sr., Marshall Hunt, James Damien Lynum and Annie Williams; in District 2, incumbent Councilwoman Serveria Campbell Morris faces Alexis Bell and Stephani Johnson-Norwood; in District 3, incumbent Councilman Derrick DI Griffin faces Mario Yow Sr. and Mario Cannon; in District 4, incumbent Councilwoman Samantha Richardson faces Fisher Depolean Boykin, Chikesia Clemons and George McCall Jr.; and in District 5, incumbent Councilwoman Ossia Edwards faces Kalla Etheredge.

Another crowded mayors race is occurring in Chickasaw, where five people are running for an open seat: Barry Broadhead, Derrick Jones, Robert McFall, Phillip Smithers, and William Bill Vallon.

Some cities in Mobile County will not have any contested races, such as Chickasaw and Dauphin Island. Saraland almost did not have a municipal election as well as Mayor Howard Rubenstein and four of five council seats are uncontested. But in Council Place 4, eight people are vying for an office that has been held for decades by the retiring Paul Stanley.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : With the political crisis finally resolved in Rajasthan and the Congress constituting a three-member committee to deal with the issues in the state unit, the party has acted by replacing the general secretary in-charge of the state. However, challenges still lie ahead with MLAs from the Sachin Pilot camp now demanding a bigger role in the government.

The party has assigned Ahmed Patel, K.C. Venugopal and Ajay Maken to look into the affairs of the state unit. The committee will be meeting all the stakeholders soon to deliberate on the issues and sources said that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is set to meet party interim chief Sonia Gandhi.

"We would not like to comment on the issue and BJP has made a mockery of the democratic process and has got a befitting reply" said Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, when asked for a response.

The ministers in the Pilot camp who rebelled were sacked by the Chief Minister including then Deputy Chief Minister Pilot himself, but later after the recent truce, the party had to find a way to accommodate Pilot's loyalists, said sources.

Sonia Gandhi on Sunday replaced state party in-charge Avinash Pande with Maken but the party tried to play it down.

"Organisational change happens in the party and Avinash Pande has done a good job in Rajasthan affairs," said party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate.

The Rajasthan government has vacancies so MLAs from both camps are expecting a place in the Cabinet.

Prior to the rebellion, Pilot, Ramesh Meena and Vishvendra Singh were ministers but in the new situation, the Pilot camp is expecting a bigger share in the Gehlot government and plum portfolios. Former Deputy Chief Minister Pilot is expected to meet the committee members and explain his side of the story.
M&M unveils the all-new Thar, bookings to start on 2 October

Mahindra & Mahindra unveiled the 2020 Thar, an enhanced edition of the iconic off-roader SUV, on Independence Day. The launch and bookings of the new Thar will start on 2 October, Mahindra said.

Thar is an icon. There were many aspects that were intrinsic to its character. We retained them and at the same time, we also addressed some of the customer requirements. We built it with modern conveniences and made it really safe, said Ramkripa Ananthan, chief designer of automotive business, M&M.

The classic proportions of the Thar had to be changed. Mahindra increased the track to 1,820 mm to liberate more space inside the cabin. The company has unsized the tyres, and now Thar sits on R18 (255/65) tyres. Thars wheelbase has been increased for easier ingress and egress.

The new Mahindra Thar gives two engine options  2.0-litre mStallion petrol engine and the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine. The petrol engine can churn out 152 PS of power and a peak torque of 320 Nm. The diesel engine can churn out 131 PS of power and offer a peak torque of 300 Nm.

It comes in 6-speed manual transmission as well as 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission, with the 4x4 powertrain as standard.

The 2020 Thar boasts of a 3rd-gen chassis, which Mahindra claims to be of greater rigidity for superior off-roading capability. In addition, the 6-seater off-roader has a water wading ability of 650 mm.

The horizontal hood has also been raised to meet pedestrian safety. The new Thar features unique wheel arches - trapezoidal at the front and circular at the rear with faux skid plates added to both ends.

The new Mahindra Thar will come with hard-top and soft-top roofs, along with other features like LED daytime running lamps, alloy wheels, LED tail lamps

The all-new Thar flaunts a retro-modern cabin with all-new dashboard, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, multi-colored TFT MID in the instrument cluster, all-new roof-mounted speakers and steering mounted controls.

The interiors of the new Thar are washable, which adds to its offroading capabilities

The 2020 Thar is set to be the new flagship offering from the SUV maker and is expected to be more upmarket than before. Also expected is a wide range of engine options to go with the heavy-duty off-road gear that the Thar is best known for.

The new Thar will come in two trim options AX and LX and will be available in six colour options with two new shades - Mystic Copper and Galaxy Grey.

The Thar off-roader SUV, the successor to Mahindra's popular MM540, has been one of the most iconic SUVs in India and it is the spiritual decedent of the Made-in-India Willys Jeep. The update to the Thar comes after 10 years, although it has been in development for a few years now.
Amber Vannatter

MUNCIE, Ind.  An Indiana woman is facing multiple felony charges after she allegedly admitted to harming an infant who had been left in her care, police said.

Amber Nicole Vannatter, 20, is accused of inflicting friction burns on the baby girl's torso and face by holding her against a running treadmill and burning the child with a cigarette lighter.

Vannatter told authorities she had abused the child "because she was depressed and the baby was crying," Muncie police Detective Kris Swanson said.

Vannatter, of Fort Wayne, reportedly had been visiting with the child's mother, who left her daughter in Vannatter's care when she went to work about 3 p.m. Friday.

About 9:30 p.m., Vannatter drove the injured baby, about a year old to her mother's workplace and gave the child to her mother, according to police.

Fact check: Mask-wearing not connected to child trafficking

The baby was later taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, where she reportedly received treatment in the emergency department.

Vannatter was arrested and booked into the Delaware County Jail about 4 a.m. Saturday. She was charged with neglect of a dependent, battery resulting in serious bodily injury to a person less than 14, and battery on a person less than 14.

She was being held under a $60,000 bond.

Video: Indiana state worker retires at age 102

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press in Muncie, Ind. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Indiana woman accused of burning friend's baby with treadmill, lighter
CLEVELAND, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Please join Freedonia Group's Kent Furst as he moderates a panel discussion with speakers from Avery Dennison, Huntsman, HB Fuller, and Mactac. The live, virtual discussion will take place on Monday, August 24 at noon through Adhesives & Bonding Expo Connect.

Read more here: https://www.adhesivesandbondingexpo.com/conference/sessions-overview/

According to the site, "The Foam Expo Connect and Adhesive & Bonding Expo Connect live sessions will cover the latest industry trends, foam and adhesive processing and application requirements, as well as, testing and validating foams and adhesives. With more than sixteen sessions and virtual round table topics spread over five days, Foam Expo Connect is bringing together the key stakeholders in the foam and adhesive industries covering the most up-to-date content, including industry requirements post COVID-19, balancing cost-efficiency with sustainability and more. View the full live sessions agenda below and sign-up to receive more information about the virtual event here."

About The Freedonia Group  The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is a leading international industrial research company publishing more than 100 studies annually. Since 1985 we have provided research to customers ranging in size from global conglomerates to one-person consulting firms. More than 90% of the industrial companies in the Fortune 500 use Freedonia Group research to help with their strategic planning. Each study includes product and market analyses and forecasts, in-depth discussions of important industry trends, and market share information. Studies can be purchased at www.freedoniagroup.com and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

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Linkedin Camille Bas-Wohlert (Agence France-Presse) Copenhagen, Denmark  Tue, August 18, 2020 15:36 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ecebab 2 Environment Greenland,climate,climate-crisis,environment Free

The melting of Greenland's ice cap has gone so far that it is now irreversible, with snowfall no longer able to compensate for the loss of ice even if global warming were to end today, according to researchers.

"Greenland's glaciers have passed a tipping point of sorts, where the snowfall that replenishes the ice sheet each year cannot keep up with the ice that is flowing into the ocean from glaciers," said a statement from Ohio State University, where several authors of a study published August 13 in Communications Earth and Environment are based.

Climate change is having a devastating effect on the world's glaciers, with the ice melt posing a threat to millions of people around the world.

Alarming reports about the ice melt on the vast Arctic island -- which is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet -- have multiplied in recent years.

Eighty-five percent of the surface of Greenland, an island of two million square kilometers or four times the size of France, is covered in ice.

"The study confirms results from a lot of other studies ... that the combination of melt and calving of icebergs explains the large amount of ice lost from Greenland over the last couple of decades," Ruth Mottram, a climatologist at Denmark's Meteorological Institute told AFP.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the ice cap lost around 450 billion tonnes of ice per year, which was compensated by snowfall, the scientists said after analyzing 40 years of data.

But the ice melt has accelerated this century, climbing to 500 billion tonnes and it is no longer sufficiently replenished with snow.

"The Greenland ice sheet is losing mass at accelerated rates in the 21st century, making it the largest single contributor to rising sea levels," the study said.

The melting ice actually causes more ice to melt, as the meltwater that collects on the ice sheet absorbs more of the Sun's radiative force than snow and ice do -- snow and ice reflect sunlight back into space.

In addition, the loss of ice exposes the permafrost, or frozen soil, which when thawed releases powerful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping heat.

Therefore the melting ice is not just a symptom of global warming, it is also becoming a driver of global warming.

Read also: Siberian heatwave, early Greenland ice melt worry researchers

Tipping point debate

While researchers are in agreement that the Greenland ice melt is worrying, not all agree that it has reached a 'tipping point'.

"We don't know how much greenhouse gas concentrations will rise," Mottram said.

The published results show that "even if we stabilized temperatures (and greenhouse gas emissions) at the present level, the ice sheet would still continue to melt, but only until the size of the ice sheet is once more in balance with the climate," she said.

As the ice sheet is rapidly losing mass in contact with the ocean, once the ice loses contact with the water the massive ice discharge will stop.

Meanwhile, a recent study from Britain's University of Lincoln concluded that Greenland's ice melt alone is expected to contribute 10-12 centimeters to the world's rising sea levels by 2100.

The UN's IPCC climate science advisory panel said in 2013 it expected sea levels to rise 60 centimeters by the end of the century.
Research published this week in Earth System Dynamics reports that the most sensitive climate models overestimate global warming during the last 50 years.

Three scientists from the University of Exeter studied the output of complex climate models and compared them to temperature observations since the 1970s.

Recent developments in cloud modelling have produced models that portray very large sensitivity to rising greenhouse gas concentrations.

A subset of models even showed that a doubling of CO2 could lead to over 5C of warming, questioning whether the goals of the Paris agreement are achievable even if nations do everything they can.

The lead author of the study, PhD candidate Femke Nijsse from the University of Exeter, said: "In evaluating the climate models we were able to exploit the fact that thanks to clean air regulation, air pollution in the form of climate-cooling aerosols have stopped increasing worldwide, allowing the greenhouse gas signal to dominate recent warming."

The amount of warming that occurs after CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere are doubled is called the equilibrium climate sensitivity.

The study found that based on the latest generation of climate models the equilibrium climate sensitivity is likely between 1.9 and 3.4 C.

Co-author Mark Williamson, of Exeter's Global Systems Institute, added: "Global warming since 1970 also provides even better guidance on the rate of climate change in the future.

"We find a likely range for the 'Transient Climate Response' of 1.3-2.1oC, whether we use the latest models or the previous generation of models."

The new study is only one piece of the puzzle.

A recent review paper found that low estimates of climate sensitivity can be excluded because they are, in general, not consistent with climate changes in Earth's past.

Co-author Professor Peter Cox explains the significance of these findings: "It is good to see that studies are now converging on a range of equilibrium climate sensitivity, and that both high and low values can be excluded.

"For over forty years, climate scientists have tried to pinpoint this quantity and it seems that we're finally getting close."

###

The research was supported by the European Research Council ('ECCLES' project).
[Read the full transcript of Michelle Obamas keynote address.]

Michelle Obama, the former first lady, delivered an impassioned speech about empathy, values and the need to vote at all costs in November as she closed out the first night of the Democratic National Convention, praising the partys nominee, Joseph R. Biden Jr., as a profoundly decent man and urging Americans to see President Trump as clearly in over his head.

Whenever we look to this White House for leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get is chaos and division and a total lack of empathy, Mrs. Obama said in a speech that was deeply critical of the current administration.

Let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country, said Mrs. Obama, who normally criticizes the president in veiled terms. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us.

It is what it is, she said.

Mrs. Obama, the keynote speaker on the first of four nights of her partys unprecedented virtual convention, blamed Mr. Trumps victory in 2016 on voter apathy that year and warned that Republicans are currently working to tamper with the election.
The Akwa Ibom government has reopened livestock markets which were shut down across the state on May 11, for commercial activities.

Emmanuel Ekuwem, the Secretary to State Government (SSG) who made the announcement in a statement in Uyo on Tuesday, said the reopening took effect from 6am on Tuesday.

He said opening of the markets followed an agreement reached by the livestock dealers and the state government on the procedure for reopening of the livestock markets.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government, on May 11, placed a ban on cattle, goats and rams from being moved into the state to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Mr Ekuwem, who is also the Chairperson of the states COVID-19 Management Committee, said the agreement was reached by the livestock dealers association with the government, subject to the extant COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.

READ ALSO:

Governor Udom Emmanuel directed that livestock markets earlier closed as a part of the COVID- 19 restrictions, be reopened for commercial activities, Mr Ekuwem said.

He advised the dealers and the general public to adhere strictly to the Akwa Ibom Government/ Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)/World Health Organisation (WHO) COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.

The SSG outlined the guidelines and protocols to include, proper use of face masks at all times within the markets and provision of facilities for hand washing and personal hygiene.

He also said that they should maintain social distancing and provide proper sewage and other waste material disposal mechanisms.

(NAN)
I always said that John Kasich would make a great vice president  for Hillary Clinton. He is a failed liberal and Republican In Name Only.

As Ohio governor, Kasich raised taxes, destroyed school funding and failed to position Ohio to pull out of its long-term economic quagmire. As a Republican, I take no blame for these failures. I would never vote for Kasich.

In 2014, we had a choice to vote for John Kasich or his Democrat opponent, Ed FitzGerald, who had not had a regular Ohio drivers license for at least five years when Westlake police found him on a Saturday in 2012, in a car with a woman who was not his wife at 4:30 a.m.

The choice was easy for me. I voted for FitzGerald.

Judy K. Zamlen-Spotts,

Chesterland
(Alliance News) - Sajid Javid has accepted a role with US bank JP Morgan Chase & Co.

The member of Parliament, who quit as UK chancellor of the exchequer earlier this year, has been appointed senior adviser on the bank's advisory council for Europe, the Middle East & Africa.

The bank would not disclose Javid's salary but confirmed it would be a paid position.

Javid dramatically exited the Cabinet in February this year following a power struggle with the prime minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings.

He refused to fire his closest aides and install candidates chosen by Number 10, and was swiftly replaced by his former protege Rishi Sunak.

The role with JP Morgan marks a return to Javid's roots a he worked for the bank throughout the 1990s before joining Deutsche Bank AG.

He was reportedly earning GBP3 million a year when he turned to politics in 2009, being elected to the Worcestershire constituency of Broomsgrove.

A spokesman for JP Morgan said: "We are delighted to welcome Sajid back to JP Morgan as a senior adviser, and we look forward to drawing upon his in-depth understanding of the business and economic environment to help shape our client strategy across Europe."

The bank would not discuss Javid's hours, saying only that the role would be ring-fenced from his work as an MP.

As well as chancellor, he has previously served as culture secretary, business secretary and home secretary but JP Morgan said no privileged information from his time in office would be shared with the company.

Javid's new job has already been approved by the UK's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which regulates new jobs for former ministers and senior civil servants.

He is not the only politician on the 12-strong council a former prime minister of Finland Esko Aho and former Italian economy and finance minister Vittorio Grilli also have seats.

By Tess de la Mare, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Former Staten Island Republican Rep. Susan Molinari gave a 30-second statement during Monday nights Democratic National Convention criticizing President Donald Trump and supporting Joe Bidens candidacy for president.

Ive known Donald Trump for most of my political career, Molinari says in the beginning of the video clip.

So disappointing, and lately so disturbing, she continued.

The convention was held remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Molinari goes on to say that she has gotten to know presidential hopeful Biden and has worked with him on issues about women, particularly women in business and violence against women.

She said that shes proud to call him a friend and supports him in the upcoming presidential election.

Hes a really good man and exactly what this nation needs at this time, she said.

MOLINARI BACK IN SPOTLIGHT

Molinari has mostly been behind the scenes in the political world since leaving her congressional role in 1997 for a stint in broadcast television.

She has, though, consistently backed Republican presidential candidates over the years, including George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, often supporting candidates with TV appearances as a commentator.

Her work has mostly been as a consultant and a lobbyist.

A founder of the Susan Molinari Strategies LLC consulting firm, Molinari previously worked for Bracewell and Giuliani LLP, and was also chair and CEO of the Washington Group.

She later was hired by Google and served as their chief lobbyist in the role of vice president for public policy from 2012 to 2018.

Molinari also represented the South Shore in the City Council and was the Councils minority leader.

Molinari, who was the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention in 1996, spoke with other Republicans  former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman  during the We The People Putting Country Over Party segment.

More than a dozen GOP members have publicly endorsed Biden, including former Bush Administration Secretary of State Colin Powell, former cabinet members, party chairs, and also Anthony Scaramucci, Trumps White House communication director for two weeks.

GWENN CARR ASKS BIDEN FOR POLICE REFORM

Gwenn Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, had a brief conversation with Biden during the DNC where she asks Biden to make sure that police brutality does not become a forgotten topic if he is elected.

Im sure the words of George Floyd I cant breathe were not new to you and they echo in your mind every day in the last six years when your son died, Biden said to Carr via video.

Carr said the uprising against police brutality which started after Garners death needs to continue.

We cant let things settle down. We have to go to the politicians and we have to hold their feet to the fire because otherwise the uprising wont mean a lot, Carr said.

She continued: Im asking that if you become president that you make sure we get national, state and local laws, especially when it comes to police brutality because thats an age old problem.

Biden said he believes people are ready.

We have to keep pushing, we cant let up, Biden responded.

MICHELLE OBAMA, OTHERS ALSO SPOKE MONDAY NIGHT

Biden will formally accept the nomination on Thursday near his home in Wilmington, Delaware. His running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, who is the first Black woman on a national ticket, speaks Wednesday night.

Trump sought to undermine the Democrats big night by hosting a political rally in Wisconsin, where Bidens party had originally planned this weeks convention. He called the Democrats event a snooze before it even began.

Mondays speeches were framed by emotional appearances from average Americans touched by the crises that have exploded on Trumps watch.

The Monday speakers also included plenty of Democratic politicians: Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who is the highest ranking African American in Congress; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Alabama Sen. Doug Jones; Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and two former presidential contenders: Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Bernie Sanders.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama made her fourth Democratic National Convention appearance and spoke Monday night.

Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country, Obama said. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us.

-- Associated Press material was used in this report.

FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:45:58|Editor: huaxia

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YANGON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities busted a total of 1,380 kilograms of methamphetamine (ice) being transported to abroad in Rakhine state, said a release from the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) on Tuesday.

Acting on a tip-off, bags filled with ice worth 31.74 billion kyats (over 22.67 million U.S. dollars) were seized from a vessel anchored near the mouth of Maungdauk creek in Kyeintali town on Sunday afternoon.

According to the testimonies by the suspects who fled the scene and were captured later, the ice was to be transported to Malaysia's territorial waters located in maritime boundary between Malaysia and Indonesia, the committee's release said.

Further investigation is underway to bust the drug trafficking chain, the release said. Enditem
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, continued their gaining streak for the second straight session on Tuesday on the back of surge in buying in banking, cement, realty and media stocks despite mixed global cues. Extending previous session's rally, the BSE Sensex ended 477 points higher at 38,528 and Nifty added 138 points to settle at 11,385. On Monday, Sensex had gained 173 points to close at 38,050 and Nifty had added 81 points to end at 11,259. Among the index heavyweights, UltraTech Cement was the top gainer, followed by Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank, Asian Paints, Tata Steel, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank. On the flip side, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech and Bajaj Auto were among top losers. On the sectoral front, all the indices, barring pharma, ended in green with realty, media and financials indices rallying between 2-4 per cent.

"Indian benchmark indices kept gaining strength during the course of the day, as opposed to mixed global market cues. US-China political tensions and the uncertainties over the US stimulus package kept global markets on edge. In India, investors took comfort in the expectation of government spending to offset the impact of the lockdown and the progress of the monsoon and its relation to the rural economy also improved sentiments," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

"Gains were led by the banking index. With liquidity and expectations overcoming concerns about valuations, any consolidation in the markets have been bought into and this trend is expected to continue," he added.

As major corporate earnings announcement have already been out, investors will keep an eye on domestic and global events along with developments on coronavirus front, which will set trigger for the stock market.

Here's what you need to know before share market opens on August 19.

Earnings announcements and macro data

More than 100 companies are set to announce their quarterly earnings this week, which mostly includes midcap and smallcap stocks. The important companies whose results will be declared this week include Punjab National Bank, CSB Bank, Union Bank of India, Muthoot Finance, Oil India, Ruchi Soya Industries, Indian Overseas Bank, and Rossari Biotech.

Traders will also keep an eye on the minutes of the RBI monetary policy panel meeting which will be released on August 20. The foreign exchange reserves data will be released on August 21. On the global front, the US will release FOMC minutes on August 19, followed by Initial Jobless Claims on August 20, and Markit Manufacturing PMI Flash and Existing Home Sales on August 21.

Global cues

Globally, European markets closed lower on Tuesday on concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and rising tensions between the US and China. Meanwhile, US stocks were trading higher as investors awaited further developments on economic relief and US-China trade relations. Apart from this, the upcoming OPEC meeting will be closely watched.

Coronavirus cases

The Indian equity market has been under pressure as the country struggles to contain COVID-19, which is impacting economic activities. India's tally has crossed 27 lakh mark with a spike of 55,079 cases on Tuesday, as per the Union Health Ministry data. The total number of recoveries rose to 19,77,780 pushing the recovery rate to 72.17 per cent. On the other hand, COVID-19 related fatalities in India have climbed to 51,197 with 876 people succumbing to the disease in a span of 24 hours.

AGR hearing

Telecom stocks, Vodafone Idea and Airtel, will continue to remain in focus as the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on the issue of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues from telecom companies to Wednesday. The three-Judge bench led by Justice Arun Mishra on Tuesday heard arguments from Reliance Jio pertaining to the sale of the spectrum by the bankrupt companies RCom and Aircel. The apex court had earlier indicated that entities using the spectrum must discharge the AGR dues.

Rupee movement

Tracking positive cues from equity market, the Indian rupee closed at a one-month high against the US dollar. The local currency ended 13 paise higher at 74.76 against the US dollar, against its previous close of 74.89. The Indian unit was also supported by sustained foreign fund inflows coupled by weak US currency.

Also Read: Sensex ends 477 points higher, Nifty at 11,385; realty stocks rally

Also Read: Coronavirus in India: 55,079 new cases reported; COVID-19 tally climbs to 27 lakh
It is shocking to know, that Radcliffe had never visited India earlier, never read about or studied India until he was assigned the task. He was given just 5 weeks to complete the assignment. Arriving in India on July 8th 1947 he spent two weeks in bed recovering from 'Delhi Belly'( a bad case of dysentry).





by Gurvinder Singh





Rich in every aspect, India is a land that has always been coveted by every power and wealth hungry empire and despot. Empires came and went plundering what they could, but it was the wily British who institutionalised it for exploitation.













It was the 'Jewel in the crown' of the British Empire, and every effort was made to retain, expand its hold on India.





The Great Game nowadays means something else today but in 1830 it was the rivalry between Russia and the British for control of all lands that could impact British trade





In 1830 the Muslim Ottoman Empire was visibly in terminal decline and the Russian Empire was in ascendant. The British feared the invasion of India by Russia and the loss of its lucrative trade,





The British lost the 4 major wars it fought with the Sikhs and the Afghanistan and eventually Afghanistan became a buffer state between the two empires.





Pushed by the Americans a reluctant Britain had to give up its colonies and set the lands free after the end of the second World War.





Britain now fretted that if they vacated India, because nothing could then stop a victorious and strong Russia confident after its achievements in World War II from simply marching into India.





Britain wanted to retain bases with troops and equipment in India to prevent such an eventuality. Both flatly turned that request down.





On the other hand Muhammad Ali Jinnah an astute man with a much better understanding of geopolitics readily accepted the request unconditionally. He offered the British an unconditional support and bases if they appointed him the first Prime Minister of independent India





There was however, a small problem, Jinnah's voice had almost no say in the Congress party. The problem was easily solved, partition India into a Hindu majority Secular India and a Muslim majority Pakistan and appoint the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Pakistan is the area that was contiguous with Afghanistan and where Britain wanted to have bases and troops, thus create an openly pro British buffer state.





The die was cast, now to implement the plan. The British government had given a mandate to Mountbatten to grant India independence by July 1948.





The plan had a problem. British intelligence had reliable information that Muhammad Ali Jinnah was suffering from tuberculosis and unlikely to survive another year.





Then there was the question, 'what if the people of India and Pakistan decide to reunite?' After all barring the occasional riot the people of all religions and communities within British India lived in relative harmony.





So not only was partition essential to post independence British plans but to do so in such a manner that they would remain bitterly divided for a long time.





The demarcation of the boundary between India and Pakistan was given to two teams of eminent lawyers uninformed, unadvised and unsuitable for the great task as boundary commissions. The notorious and ill fated demarcated line came to be known as the Radcliffe line





Sir. Cyril Radcliffe an English lawyer was summoned and assigned the job of trisecting most of India. He was appointed chairman of the two boundary commissions (One for Bengal and one for Punjab).





It is shocking to know, that Radcliffe had never visited India earlier, never read about or studied India until he was assigned the task. He was given just 5 weeks to complete the assignment. Arriving in India on July 8th 1947 he spent two weeks in bed recovering from 'Delhi Belly'( a bad case of dysentry).





Radcliffe merely rubber stamped a plan that had been given to him by British authorities. We shall never know for certain, because Radcliffe destroyed all papers and records related with the decision of partition and he never spoke about it for the rest of his life.





Independence was granted at midnight on 15th August 1947. Then the exact map was announced on 17th August 1947.





India had been partitioned into 626 parts. India, East Pakistan, West Pakistan and 623 independent kingdoms. It was a disaster for the Indians.





Many Indians found themselves on the wrong side of the boundary and now prey to violent gangs intent on spreading terror, looting, raping and destroying.





Mountbatten who had promised law and order in the transition was inactive and silent. He let India burn, which many suspect was deliberate or gross incompetence.





It seems evident, that the wily British had deliberately created a mess. They had the mischievous intent, to create enough long lasting problems in the Indian sub-continent. Was it to pave the way for Britain's return to rule and dominate India once again sometime in the future? No one knows.





Another clear indication of Britain's mischievous agenda was how the [British Army officer Major William Brown] the commandant of Gilgit Scouts supposedly went against wishes of his own British government guidelines and staged a coup against the Maharaja of Kashmir.





Brown hoisted the Pakistani flag on 2nd Nov 1947 and announced the accession of Gillgit to Pakistan.





For his impudence and disobeying the promise of the British government to Indian leaders, Brown was awarded the Order of the British Empire by a grateful British Crown in July 1948.





.Though Louis Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India had time till June 1948 to complete the partition and grant India freedom, he used a butcher's knife to tear out the soul of a people bound by centuries old shared culture and history.





Unclassified Russian documents reveal that Russia never had plans to invade India.





Pakistan by becoming a key partner of the Americans and British, evolved into a footstool for any power that would pay it mercenary fees and give it international support for all its mischief and terrorist activities.





Pakistan never learnt to exercise independence and remains independent only in name. Pakistan is now a failed State dependent only on a Communist China which is slowly sucking out whatever vitality that is left.





Interesting Links:





[Line of division - REAL AND IMAGINED](https://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060924/spectrum/main1.htm) ~ Kuldip Nayar





[The Jewel in the Crown (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jewel_in_the_Crown_%28TV_series%29) - Wikipedia





[The Great Game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Game) - Wikipedia





[Why the British left India?](https://www.guruwonder.in/blog/why-the-british-left-india) - Guru Wonder





[The Great Game Replayed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZhNIudJGng&t=1869s) - Indian Ambassador KC Singh





Note:





It was clear that a strong non aligned India had to be contained and what better than to give it a permanent headache in the form of Pakistan and 526 independent kingdoms. As Churchill hoped, that in a few decades, Indians would be begging the British to return and once again take charge of India.





Gurvinder Singh is a widely travelled and experienced former industrialist who devotes his life to awaken himself and by association others to make the world a better place. He can be contacted by email Guruwonder@gmail.com and web site www,guruwonder.in
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18) Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday denied the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation lost billions of pesos to various forms of fraud, as he reiterated the current administrations zero tolerance policy for corruption.

Duque, who attended the Senate Committee of the Wholes third inquiry on the embattled agency, refuted claims about PhilHealths supposed 154-billion loss, saying there is no such finding in the latest annual report published by the Commission on Audit.

I have clarified this before with the Blue Ribbon committee last year But I will repeat it to set the record straight. There is no such thing as a 154-billion loss, Duque told the chamber in response to allegations of systemic corruption in the agency.

In fact, I am presenting it to you this June 10, 2020 letter from the COA chairman confirming that there is no such finding in the published COA annual audit reports, he added while presenting a copy of the report.

Duque stressed that he also has zero tolerance for fraud and corruption, adding that he had coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation in the past to look into possible cases of irregularities in PhilHealth.

Earlier this month, the Senate, along with the House of Representatives and other bodies from the executive and judiciary branches, launched a separate investigation into fresh allegations against the state health insurer, including the supposed corruption involving some of its officials.

Duque assured that the government has yet to release funds for PhilHealths controversial 2.1-billion information and communication technology project, noting that it was still in the proposal stage.

We need to assure that any release of government money will be scrutinized in detail, said Duque, who has held various posts in the agency since 2001.

Duque godfather of PhilHealth mafia?

Despite these pronouncements, a former PhilHealth official argued it should have been easy for Duque to discover the alleged anomalies, given he has years-long connection and institutional knowledge on the agency.

Former anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Keith even tagged Duque as the godfather of the PhilHealth mafia, claiming the Health Secretary himself approved the appointments of its members.

Duque, however, refuted the claim, calling the allegation baseless and "malicious.

More corruption?

In the same hearing, two officials from the agency confessed that they made a mistake in informing the Senate about the model of IT systems they planned to procure.

Senior Vice President Chief Information Officer Jovita Aragona and IT Department Acting Senior Manager Calixto Gabuya initially insisted at last week's Senate hearing that they proposed to purchase a model worth P348,000 per unit.

But as Senator Ping Lacson pointed out, that was debunked by the winning bidder and official documents that revealed PhilHealth sought a model that was cheaper at P62,000 per unit.

Lacson warned the two officials that he would cite them for contempt for lying to the Senate panel if they do not admit they did not tell "the whole truth." Aragona and Gabuya conceded.

The budget for the proposed IT project underwent scrutiny in past Congressional probes, with officials and lawmakers slamming the overpriced proposal and the bloated allocation for PhilHealths IT equipment and software. The agency had denied irregularities in the budget proposal.

COA also said it has been facing difficulty getting required documents from PhilHealth on its contracts despite extending the deadlines.

Plan 5 million

Senator Grace Poe raised a different corruption allegation, tracing back to Duque's supposed involvement in the 2004 presidential elections.

Poe asked regional vice president Dennis Adre to explain the agencys '"Plan 5 million." Adre said the agency, led by Duque as president and chief executive officer that time, distributed five million free PhilHealth cards to help then presidential candidacy of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Adre told Poe that Arroyos rival, the late Fernando Poe Jr., also her father, was then leading by five million votes in the surveys so they decided to issue five million free PhilHealth cards. Duque was temporarily unavailable online during this exchange.

Senator Risa Hontiveros later brought up the issue again asking Duque to confirm the event, which the secretary "strongly" denied.

He added that cases filed against him on the matter were already dismissed by the Ombudsman.
Eleven nonprofit organizations will receive grants from The Mind Trust to fund the creation of Community Learning Sites for families who need access to e-learning supervision and support during the school week.

The Mind Trust is investing $200,000 in School Community Partnership awards to help nonprofits cover expenses related to staffing, wireless infrastructure, meals, personal protective equipment and facility usage.

The Community Learning Sites will open no later than Aug. 24 and operate until at least Oct. 16. At least 500 students who are impacted by virtual learning will be able to register for this free assistance.

Community Learning Sites will follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as well as mask and social distancing mandates put in place by Marion County and the state of Indiana.

In addition, The Mind Trust is seeking community members who are interested in becoming e-learning facilitators. Facilitators will be matched with a nonprofit organization, work with small groups of students and receive at least $15 per hour from their assigned organization.

Those who would like to donate to help fund this initiative to serve more children and families can donate at themindtrust.org/donate. A donation of $100 will support one student for one week.

Community Learning Sites are:

Chaney Microlearning Center, far east

Christamore House, near west

Cornerstone Lutheran Church Indianapolis, in partnership with Shepherd Community Center, east side

Crossroads AME Church, midtown

Edna Martin Christian Center, east side

Freedom Academy Inc. (The Reset Center), far east side

Hawthorne Community Center, west side

Kids Inc., in partnership with Shepherd Community Center, south side

Ralph Waldo Emerson School 58, in partnership with Shepherd Community Center, east side

Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, midtown

Westside Missionary Baptist Church, northwest side

For more information and to register, visit CommunityLearningSites.org.
Sanjay Dutt's wife Maanayata Dutt on Tuesday issued a statement informing about the preliminary treatment of the Bollywood actor and requested everyone to stop speculating the stage of his illness. Dutt was diagnosed with Stage-3 lung cancer on August 11 and is expected to fly to the US for treatment soon.

She said that Sanjay Dutt "will complete his preliminary treatment in Mumbai", adding that "we will formulate further plans of travel depending on how and when the COVID situation eases". "As of now, Sanju is in the best hands of our esteemed doctors," she said.

"I request everyone, with my folded hands, to stop speculating the stage of his illness and let the doctors continue to do their work. We will update you all regularly with his progress," she also added.

Calling the actor 'the heart and soul of our family', she said that though their "family is shaken up" but "we are determined to fight tooth and nail. With God and your prayers on our side, together we will overcome, and emerge as winners".

To all of Sanjus fans and well wishers, I cant begin to thank you for the love and warmth you have shown him all these years.

Sanju has been through many ups and downs in his life, but what has kept him going through every tough phase has always been your adulation and support. And for this, we will always be grateful. We are now being tested through yet another challenge, and I know, the same love and warmth will see him through this time as well.

As a family, we have decided to face this with positivity and grace. We are going to go about our life as normally as possible, with a smile, because this will be a tough fight and a long journey. And, we need to do this for Sanju, without any negativity setting in.

In these trying times, unfortunately, I have been unable to be by his side in the hospital, due to my home quarantine which ends in a couple of days. Every battle has a torchbearer and someone who holds the fort. Priya who has worked extensively over two decades with our family-run Cancer foundation, and who has also seen her mother battle this illness, has been our incredible torchbearer, while I will hold the fort.

For those asking, Sanju will complete his preliminary treatment in Mumbai. We will formulate further plans of travel depending on how and when the covid situation eases. As of now, Sanju is in the best hands of our esteemed doctors .

I request everyone, with my folded hands, to stop speculating the stage of his illness and let the doctors continue to do their work. We will update you all regularly with his progress.

Sanju is not only my husband and father to our children, but he has also been a father figure to Anju and Priya, after losing their parents.

He is the heart and soul of our family.

While our family is shaken up, we are determined to fight tooth and nail. With God and your prayers on our side, together we will overcome, and emerge as winners.

Sanjay Dutt, 61, was hospitalised due to breathing problems and discharged from the hospital on August 10. Later, he revealed that he is taking a sabbatical from work for medical treatment. However, he didn't reveal about his ailment. On August 11, he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

On the work front, Sanjay Dutt has several movies in the pipeline, including 'Torbaaz', 'KGF: Chapter 2', 'Sadak 2', 'Bhuj: The Pride Of India' and 'Shamshera'. 'Sadak 2', also starring Pooja Bhatt, Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur, is slated to release on August 28.
"The Lupus Foundation of America's Career Development Award plays such an important role in filling the need for more lupus-focused researchers by supporting young scientists at such a pivotal time in their careers  ensuring that they have mentorship during their research, and providing funding that can be difficult to obtain at such an early career stage," shared Karen H. Costenbader, MD, MPH, Chair of the Lupus Foundation of America's Medical-Scientific Advisory Council.

The 2020 recipients are:

Ellen Cody , MD  Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

, MD  Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins, PhD  Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Kinnett-Hopkins, PhD  Feinberg School of Medicine Nicholas Li , MD, PhD  The Ohio State University

, MD, PhD  The Laura Whittall , MD  University Health Network

The grants support young scientists at a crucial time in their career  as they forge their career path. This year, three grantees will be focusing their studies on lupus-related kidney disease (lupus nephritis), an incredibly important area of lupus research. Each grantee works with an established clinical scientist as a mentor, ensuring that grantees have the support and guidance needed during their research.

"The focus of the Career Development Award on young scientists at the beginning of their careers allows experienced mentors like myself to work with very intelligent and driven investigators while guiding them in their studies. The grant also ensures the future of lupus research is bright and increases the likelihood of new breakthroughs," shared Brad H. Rovin, MD, FACP, FASN, Director of Nephrology, Professor of Medicine and Pathology, The Ohio State University, and member of the Lupus Foundation of America's Medical-Scientific Advisory Council.

The 2020 Career Development Award recipients are committed to advancing the field by studying the following important areas of lupus research:

Ellen Cody , MD , will use the Renal Activity Index for Lupus (RAIL), developed to assess the levels of biomarkers in the urine that cause kidney inflammation, to determine active, controlled, improved or absent lupus nephritis across all age-ranges. This study may lead to a tool that doctors can use to better diagnose and monitor lupus nephritis without requiring invasive kidney biopsies.

, will use the Renal Activity Index for Lupus (RAIL), developed to assess the levels of biomarkers in the urine that cause kidney inflammation, to determine active, controlled, improved or absent lupus nephritis across all age-ranges. This study may lead to a tool that doctors can use to better diagnose and monitor lupus nephritis without requiring invasive kidney biopsies. Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins, PhD, aims to develop, test and evaluate a progressive home-based, four-month, exercise program for increasing physical activity, which is helpful for managing symptoms like fatigue in people living with lupus. The goal of her research is to decrease fatigue in inactive people with lupus based on social cognitive theory principles of behavior change and motivational interviewing.

aims to develop, test and evaluate a progressive home-based, four-month, exercise program for increasing physical activity, which is helpful for managing symptoms like fatigue in people living with lupus. The goal of her research is to decrease fatigue in inactive people with lupus based on social cognitive theory principles of behavior change and motivational interviewing. Nicholas Li , MD, PhD , will evaluate the complement system, a mechanism which normally protects the body from injury and infection but in lupus nephritis can harm the kidneys. Measurement of its components in the urine of patients with lupus nephritis will be tested as a marker of kidney complement activity, which could provide a way to match lupus patients with a treatment that directly blocks the pathway to injury of the kidney.

, will evaluate the complement system, a mechanism which normally protects the body from injury and infection but in lupus nephritis can harm the kidneys. Measurement of its components in the urine of patients with lupus nephritis will be tested as a marker of kidney complement activity, which could provide a way to match lupus patients with a treatment that directly blocks the pathway to injury of the kidney. Laura Whittall , MD, will measure the blood levels of IFN-alpha and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), which induce IFN-1 genes  an inflammatory marker that is typically higher in patients who do not respond to lupus nephritis therapy. The study aims to determine if blood levels of IFN-alpha and NETs at the time of a kidney flare in patients with lupus nephritis can be used to predict the response to treatment.

Learn more about the Gary S. Gilkeson Career Development Award and its 2020 grantees, here.

Additionally, the Lupus Foundation of America with support from the John & Marcia Goldman Foundation will be providing the second year of funding for the 2019 Career Development Award recipients, who have made significant progress in their research.

About the Lupus Foundation of America

The Lupus Foundation of America is the national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world's cruelest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, we lead the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Learn more about the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org.

Contact:

Mike Donnelly

[email protected]

(202) 349-1162

SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America

Related Links

http://www.lupus.org


Alisha Rahaman Sarkar By

Online Desk

Ever since severing ties with his family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a son of the Sangh. So in his adulthood, when he sat down to write letters, he addressed it to Jagat Mata or Mother Goddess.

The man, who enjoys the most powerful position in the country, had an arduous childhood. At the age of 17, Modi walked out of his marriage and took a journey to the Himalayas in search of answers. Modi had once revealed, "I was undecided, unguided and unclear. I didn't know where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it. But all I knew was that I wanted to do something."

The two years in the Himalayas, Modi confessed, left a tremendous impact on him. Even his office, when he took charge in 2014, looked akin to a monk's cave.

The Prime Minister joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1971 and while a young adult, developed a habit of laying down his fears and anxieties on paper to calm his wandering mind.

The crafted words in the form of letters addressed to the Mother Goddess, gives an insight into the early days of Modi's life.

Letters to Mother, published by Harper Collins, is culled from those pages of his diary that did not meet its fate in flames.

The letters that survived are from December 1986. Three years later, the Rajiv Gandhi government would be overthrown by a united opposition. This would play its part in paving the way for the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, to gain a historic mandate 25 years on.

Modi writes in the foreword that for years he would jot down his thoughts and feelings every night for years, but periodically burn them to ashes. However, one night, his colleague from the RSS intervened and asked him to save his writings.

Translated from Gujarati, Bhawana Somaaya, makes the words read like poignant verses.

"Mother liberate me from doubts, disappointments

From fears and anxieties

From triumphs and defeats

From possessions, from loss

Free me from all forever"

The book is testimony to the drastic change that Modi has gone through in the three decades of his life while in the BJP.

Vulnerable and raw verses mirror the person that the 36-year-old Modi was - a man who had qualms about the world. Now, before us stands a Prime Minister who only boasts of airstrikes, nationalism and bravado. Oh, the chutzpah!

The young Modi sought to unravel the purpose of his life, the meanings of his dreams, the futility to dream a dream. Two years later, he was inducted into the Gujarat cadre of the BJP and perhaps there, he found his raison d'etre.

His worlds come laced with a sense of melancholic patriotism, but as Camus said: "such melancholy in no way changes reality". How true!

Although the right-wing despises India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Modi's Letters to Mother surprisingly holds an eerie resemblance to Letters from a Father to His Daughter that Nehru had written in prison.

The book comes with a declaration from Modi that "this is not an attempt at literary writing. All of us are entitled to self-expression..."

Indeed, Prime Minister.

Letters to Mother: Translated from the Gujarati

Author: Narendra Modi

Translation: Bhawana Somaaya

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 95

Price: Rs 299
Myth 5: Someone living with a mental illness is more likely to commit a crime or be violent | A mere 7.5 percent of violent acts are committed by people experiencing symptoms of mental illness, according to Bulthuis. More often than not, individuals with mental health issues are not violent. Someone with a mental illness is actually nearly 4 times more likely to be a victim of crime.(Representative Image)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case of money laundering against Chinese national Charlie Peng also known as Luo Sang, for allegedly running a Rs 1,000 crore hawala racket using shell companies.

The case is registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Income Tax (I-T) Department on August 11 said it conducted search operations at various Chinese entities including two dozen premises of Peng and some of his alleged associates.

The ED has taken cognisance of the tax department evidence and action and a Delhi Police Special Cell FIR against Peng before filing the criminal case of money laundering against him.

Peng is currently being questioned by the tax department apart from central intelligence agencies. Heres all we know about him:

> Sources cited by PTI said Peng allegedly holds a fake Indian passport from Manipur after marrying an Indian national there. He also holds some fake Aadhaar cards, which were found during the raids against him.

> Tax officials said he created a "web of sham companies to launder hawala funds to and from China" in the past two-three years with a front show business of medical and electronic goods import-export.

> Peng was earlier arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in September 2018 on charges of fraud and forgery and was allegedly running an illegal money changer.

> The I-T department and the ED, sources said, are also probing allegations if Peng was "bribing" some Tibetans living in Delhi for getting some work done from them.

Also Read: I-T officials raid premises of Chinese entities, target hawala deals with Indian affiliates

> Peng, 41, lived in Delhi's Dwarka region and to his neighbours was a north-eastern man with plenty of money, Hindustan Times reported.

> Peng, the HT report said, fled China by trekking from Tibet to Nepal, where he lived as a monk for six years, before leaving for India, where he became a garment trader.

> In the September 2018 case, an informant tipped inspector Sanjay Gupta about a Chinese national who forged papers to live in India and may be engaging in anti-national activities. He was picked up within an hour from a Tibetan refugee settlement.

> As per police records in the report, Peng was born in Tibet in 1978. He fled to Nanjing in China at age eight with one Li Peng and ran an auto spare parts business. He moved back to Tibet when he was 18.

> During the 2018 investigations, Peng told police he came entered Nepal on foot with six other Tibetans in 2009 with motive to travel to India. He entered India in 2014 from Kathmandu by bus.

> Once he began his import-export business in India, he gained faith with Chinese exporters as he knew Mandarin.

> He shifted his business from Dwarka to Gurugram in 2016 when his business grew and opened a company called Sunhara Bird  which is on paper a financial planning firm.

> Police found Peng operated a money exchange business from his Gurugram office and had accounts (using fake documents) with ICICI Bank and IndusInd Bank which held at least Rs 20 lakh and Rs 70,000 respectively.

> Peng is currently out on bail in the forgery case and was posing as an importer-exporter. The Central Bureau of Direct Taxes said they linked Peng in relation to concerns with Rs 100 crore bogus advances from shell companies.
Michelle Obama is making an impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention urging people to turn up to vote on November 3.

The former first lady drew a deep contrast between the state of the nation when she and husband president Barack Obama left the White House in 2017, and its current divisions and crises.

Trump has shown a "total and utter lack of empathy," Mrs Obama said, her voice quivering with emotion.

Then, invoking her famous "when they go low, we go high" speech from the 2016 Democratic convention, she noted: "Lets be clear - going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty. Going high means taking the harder path. It means scraping and clawing our way to that mountain top.

"Going high means standing fierce against hatred while remembering that we are one nation under God, and if we want to survive, weve got to find a way to live together and work together across our differences."

"And going high means unlocking the shackles of lies and mistrust with the only thing that can truly set us free: the cold hard truth.

"So let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is."

Its the kind of speech you rarely hear from a former first lady. Obama, who rarely steps into the political fray, set up an almost dystopian view of America, with images of "torch-bearing white supremacists"; children who were being "torn from their families and thrown into cages" and "pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protestors for a photo-op."

But this, she noted, was the reality of the past four years, and the very reason to put Biden in office "if we have any hope of ending this chaos."

"I know Joe," she said. "He is a profoundly decent man, guided by faith. He was a terrific vice president. He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic, and lead our country. "
KATY, TX / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / Neutra Corporation's (OTC PINK:NTRR) is setting plans on opening of a second CBD manufacturing site in Texas. The company is currently acquiring more equipment into the existing facility increasing its capacity.

The second site will join Neutra's Katy plant, which came online in the spring of this year. Opening two new production facilities within months of each other represents a major accomplishment for the company, according to Neutra CEO Sydney Jim.

"We've made tremendous progress in 2020," Jim said. "Despite a global pandemic, an economic shutdown and a national unemployment spike, we've held fast to our long-term vertical integration plans. Our success is a tribute to Neutra's staff and leadership, as well as those who had faith by investing in our growing enterprise."

The opening of the Katy facility in April enabled Neutra subsidiary VIVIS to roll out three new hemp-based CBD products. Neutra expects a second manufacturing site could aid in the efficiency of the operation and lead to a higher capacity and a solid product line expansion.

COVID-19 and the resulting economic shutdown has not slowed demand for hemp-based CBD products. According to market research group Brightfield, 40 percent of CBD users said they have increased their consumption in recent months. Prices from premium products have fallen, making quality offerings, such as those sold by VIVIS, more affordable for a greater number of buyers. VIVIS hemp-based products are tested by a third-party lab for purity and potency - a key differentiator for VIVIS in the market.

To learn more about these and other VIVIS hemp-based CBD products, visit the company's website at http://viviscbd.com.

About Neutra Corp.

Neutra Corp. (NTRR) is an early-stage research and development company with a focus on bringing modern healthy living solutions to a multibillion-dollar market. Cutting-edge technologies within the nutraceuticals, food and drug, and environmental purification sectors are creating a new kind of world culture-one where in which consumers are demanding access to products that promote health and stave off potential health dangers. One of the nutraceutical sub-markets is the new thriving hemp-based CBD market, in which the Company intends to participate. For more information, visit the Company's website at http://www.NeutraInc.com.

NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking information 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, including statements that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipate" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Neutra Contact:

Sydney Jim

888-433-4033

info@neutrainc.com

SOURCE: Neutra Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602036/Neutra-Readies-For-Potential-Second-Production-Facility-to-Meet-Growing-Hemp-based-CBD-Demand
Bengaluru, Aug 18 : In wake of two incidents of oxygen-dependent coronavirus patients being shifted at midnight to different hospitals due to supply disruptions, the Karnataka government on Tuesday said that it is working to set up oxygen plants at all hospitals in the state.

"We are taking measures to establish oxygen plants at all hospitals across the state. We are in contact with private firms which supply liquid oxygen... the Principal Secretary, Industry Department is in touch with them," Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar said.

On Tuesday, the minister visited the Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), which shifted all of its oxygen dependent coronavirus patients to other hospitals as it ran out of liquid oxygen late on Monday night, and reviewed the hospital's infrastructure and treatment facilities for coronavirus patients.

"There are some issues with the supply of oxygen to hospitals as there is a huge demand. I have directed the officials to make necessary arrangements to ensure adequate supply of liquid oxygen to all hospitals in the state," Sudhakar said.

This was the second such case following a similar incident in the C.V. Raman hospital in Indiranagar from where 17 patients were shifted to other hospitals.

"As the number of cases have increased, there is a scarcity of oxygen at all the hospitals. KIMS has also faced that situation yesterday (Monday) and patients were shifted to Bowring and Victoria hospitals immediately," said Sudhakar, adding that the demand for oxygen rose by 4-5 times due to the pandemic.

KIMS hospital has a liquid oxygen plant but it is receiving only half the supply due to the rising demand.

"I have instructed officials to ensure adequate supply of liquid oxygen to all government hospitals and medical colleges," he said.

Oxygen shortage problems are, however, not seen yet seen in the districts as coronavirus cases were not as high as in Bengaluru, which is the state's epicentre of the pandemic with the maximum cases and deaths.

Due to the demand, the price of oxygen has also risen, and Sudhakar said that the government will regulate prices, if needed, at the state level.

"For regulating the cost in case of vendors from other states, we may have to approach the Central government," he added.

Sudhakar also said that he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help set up more liquid oxygen plants in the state when he last interacted with him in a video conference.
WASHINGTON  At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, former first lady Michelle Obama told party members that when they go low, we go high.

After four years of President Donald Trump, she came back to give it to them straight.

If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me they can; and they will, if we dont make a change in this election, Mrs. Obama told her party in a blunt and emotional appeal that capped the first night of the Democrats convention.

The former first lady outlined dire stakes for the election ahead, declaring President Donald Trump in over his head and the wrong president for our country. Warning of possible voter suppression, she told Americans they must vote for Joe Biden in numbers that cannot be ignored if they want to preserve the most basic requirements for a functioning society.

The scathing assessment was delivered in the last and longest speech in Democrats experiment with a virtual convention in the coronavirus era, a spot Mrs. Obama earned through her overwhelming popularity in her party.

She delivered her remarks in a casual setting  a living room, with a Biden campaign sign on the mantle  and identified as much with the beleaguered voters of America as the lineup of politicians that preceded her in the program.

You know I hate politics, she said, before diving into a speech that appealed to both her longtime fans in the Democratic coalition and a broad audience shes drawn since leaving the White House and becoming a bestselling author.

The president has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head, she said. He cannot meet this moment.

It is what it is, Mrs. Obama said  echoing a remark Trump made recently about the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus.

Citing the pandemic, the flagging economy, the political unrest thats broken out nationwide over systemic racism and what she described as Americas lack of leadership on the world stage, Mrs. Obama said the nation is underperforming not simply on matters of policy, but on matters of character.

In contrast, Mrs. Obama said, Biden is a profoundly decent man who knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country. She recounted how Biden has prevailed through the personal tragedy of losing his first wife, baby daughter and adult son and said Biden will channel that same grit and passion to help us heal and guide us forward.

Republican Donald Trump succeeded President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in 2017 and has tried to undo many of Obamas achievements on health care, the environment and foreign policy, among others.

On Monday, before the event, Trump took a dig at the former first ladys coming speech, noting that her remarks were prerecorded and that his own speech at the Republican National Convention next week will be live.

Who wants to listen to Michelle Obama do a taped speech? he said at a rally in Wisconsin.

Mrs. Obama, who leads an effort to help register people to vote, spoke about the importance of voting in the Nov. 3 election, which will take place amid a pandemic that has killed more than 170,000 Americans and infected more than 5 million in the U.S.

Wearing a necklace that spelled out the word Vote, she noted Trump lost the popular vote but still won the White House, and weve all been suffering the consequences.

Her remarks came as debate rages in Washington about U.S. Postal Service changes that are delaying mail deliveries around the country, and amid legal battles in several states over access to mail-in ballots. Mrs. Obama issued a call to action to those who sat out the last election: Now is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games, she said.

We have got to grab our comfortable shoes, put on our masks, pack a brown bag dinner and maybe breakfast too, because weve got to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to, she said.

In keeping with the virtual nature of the convention, Mrs. Obamas remarks were recorded before Bidens announcement last Tuesday that he had chosen California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Her speech was the fourth Democratic convention address by Michelle Obama, who first introduced herself to the nation during her husbands groundbreaking campaign in 2008. She spoke again in 2012 to urge voters to give him a second term.

Michelle Obama returned to the convention stage in 2016, backing former first lady Hillary Clinton over Trump, who had spent years pushing the lie that Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. and was ineligible for the presidency.

She spoke of the code her family lives by: Our motto is, when they go low, we go high.

This time Obama put an asterisk on that 2016 rallying cry.

Lets be clear: going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty, she said. Going high means taking the harder path.

___

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report from Oshkosh, Wis.
After a hiatus of a few months owing to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the international team of scientists and conservationists continued its ambitious programme to save the northern white rhino from extinction: On August 18, 2020 they harvested ten eggs from the last remaining two individuals, Najin and Fatu, in the third-ever ovum pickup procedure in northern white rhinos, at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. With great support from the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the team from the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) and Czech Safari Park Dvur Kralove overcame substantial challenges to perform this important procedure in such critical times. Preparations for the next steps in the programme - the generation and transfer of embryos - are underway, ensuring that everything is done to make the best possible progress to save the northern white rhino from the brink of extinction.

"The progress made so far in the northern white rhino assisted reproduction project is very encouraging, and we look forward to the transfer of the already developed embryos into southern white rhino surrogate females here at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. This project should galvanise the world's attention to the plight of endangered species and make us avoid actions that undermine law enforcement and fuel demand for the rhino horn," says Hon. Najib Balala, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife.

Germany's Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek: "Biodiversity forms the foundation of our very existence. But it is increasingly threatened by the destruction of natural habitats, environmental pollution and climate change. The northern white rhinoceros has become a symbol for our joint efforts to fight the loss of biological diversity. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research supports this rhino conservation work through the funding it provides for the BioRescue project, which is part of the Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity. We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from the Kenyan government as partners in our efforts to save the northern white rhino. Thanks to the tremendous commitment shown by all involved, we now have the chance to save this animal from the threat of extinction."

Twelve months after the ground breaking first "ovum pickup" in August 2019 and eight months after the second, the team repeated the procedure with northern white rhinos Najin and Fatu on August 18, 2020, at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The animals were placed under general anaesthetic and ten immature egg cells (oocytes) - two from Najin and eight from Fatu - were harvested from the ovaries using a probe with a movable needle guided by ultrasound. The anaesthesia and the ovum pickup went smoothly and without any complications. The oocytes were airlifted immediately to the Avantea Laboratory in Italy. In the coming days they will be incubated and matured and fertilised with sperm from already deceased northern white rhino bulls - hopefully leading to viable northern white rhino embryos that will be stored in liquid nitrogen alongside the three embryos generated during the previous procedures.

This procedure was conducted several months behind the original schedule of BioRescue, the international consortium led by the Leibniz-IZW and partially funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the project and its partners: travel restrictions and contact prohibitions prevented work from taking place in European zoos and Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Partner organisations such as Safari Park Dv?r Kralove and Ol Pejeta Conservancy faced - and continue to face - an existential threat as they largely depend on tourism. In several ways, the current COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented threat to wildlife conservation. It is the hope and the will of all partners of the northern white rhino rescue programme to continue its mission against the odds. Since the northern white rhino offspring that will hopefully arise from the programme shall grow up in the company of Najin and Fatu and Najin is approaching old age, there is no time to lose.

Preparations for the next steps of the mission are underway. The plan is to select a group of southern white rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy from which a female would be selected to serve as surrogate mother for the northern white rhino embryo. Additionally, the partners agreed on the procedure of sterilising a southern white rhino bull. This bull, which has already produced many offspring, is crucial to indicate oestrus and to create an ideal hormonal environment in the potential surrogates. To achieve the best possible results for work with pure northern white rhino embryos, the team relies on experience from similar embryo transfer procedures in southern white rhinos that have been performed in order to address reproduction challenges in European zoos.

QUOTES

Thomas Hildebrandt, Head of BioRescue project, Head of Dept Reproduction Management, Leibniz-IZW "As scientists we are used to fundamental challenges and to finding entirely new approaches to problems. Pushing boundaries is essentially what we are trying to achieve with the advanced assisted reproduction technologies and stem cell associated techniques in BioRescue. Still, we were hit hard by the impact of the corona virus pandemic and had to clear many obstacles to resume our work. On the other hand, this time of crisis shows the importance of our mission: We always regarded BioRescue as not only focused on creating new offspring of one single species, but rather as a first milestone in repairing severely disturbed habitats in Central Africa. Re-introducing a giant grazer back into these habitats will help rebuilding the natural resilience of these ecosystems and significantly decrease the risk of new pandemics."

Cesare Galli, Director of Avantea "It is important that we do not lose the momentum initiated in August last year with the production of the first embryos. Such complex procedures require continuous practice to be successful at all levels from oocyte collection to fertilisation embryo culture and freezing. It is a great news that the work has resumed. Time works against us as the oocytes that are not harvested will be lost physiologically anyway so we must try to do as many collections as possible in absolute safety and we know that we can achieve that with the high skilled team working in BioRescue. But collecting oocytes in Ol Pejeta is only the tip of the iceberg. A lot of work is taking place behind the scenes in European zoos to be able to establish the first pregnancy with southern white rhino embryos as this will be instrumental before we thaw and transfer any northern white rhino embryos."

Jan Stejskal, Director of International Projects, Safari Park Dvur Kralove "It is promising that our team was able to harvest eggs today, especially from Najin. We have to be mindful that her age and general health condition might not allow us to collect eggs anymore in the future. In order to save the northern white rhinos it would be really beneficial to produce embryos from Najin, not only from Fatu as we succeeded after the previous procedures."

Richard Vigne, Managing Director, Ol Pejeta Conservancy "At Ol Pejeta, despite the existential threat that is posed by the ongoing COVID pandemic, we are immensely proud to be continuing our work to save endangered species. As well as supporting the work to save the northern white rhino, we are working with our partners to safeguard East Africa's single largest population of black rhino, as well as numerous other threatened species. It is work that is becoming more and more important as the human race continues to ravage the natural world, and we very much hope that our efforts keep drawing attention to the threats posed to biodiversity across the globe."

Brig (Rtd) John Waweru, Director General, Kenya Wildlife Service "We are delighted that this partnership gets us one step closer to prevent extinction of a species. This is particularly touching given there is no remaining male of the species in the world".

Barbara de Mori, Director of the Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation and Animal Welfare - University of Padua "As scientists we have a strong ethical responsibility to do whatever is in our possibilities to save the North White Rhino from extinction and to give a chance to Naijn and Fatu to raise their offspring. The race against time has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and now we have to try to regain the lost time. As in previous procedures on the Northern White Rhino females a detailed ethical assessment of all major steps before, at and after the intervention were regularly performed in order to assure the welfare of the animals involved and to gain a high quality of research results. The next steps of the mission will be ethically monitored with care, the aim is to get offspring very soon."

Sebastian Bohl, Vice President, Global Head of New Businesses, Fertility, Merck "After eight long months, it's fantastic to see this ambitious endeavor to save the Northern White Rhino take next steps. As we think of the challenges ahead, we feel very proud to continue to be in this together with Project BioRecue as a long-term partner, providing our technology, expertise and experience in fertility to their important work. We know any journey using assisted reproductive technologies can have ups and downs and just how important it is to give these embryos the best chance of success."

###

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife (MoTW) is responsible for overall policy direction on tourism and wildlife in Kenya. http://www.tourism.go.ke

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is the principal government institution that conserves and manages wildlife for Kenyans and the world. It also enforces related laws and regulations. http://www.kws.go.ke

German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) http://www.bmbf.de/en/index.html

The Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research (IZW) is an internationally renowned German research institute. It is part of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. and a member of the Leibniz Association. Our goal is to understand the adaptability of wildlife in the context of global change and to contribute to the enhancement of the survival of viable wildlife populations. For this purpose, we investigate the diversity of life histories, the mechanisms of evolutionary adaptations and their limits, including diseases, as well as the interrelations of wildlife with their environment and people. We use expertise from biology and veterinary medicine in an interdisciplinary approach to conduct fundamental and applied research - from the molecular to the landscape level - in close dialogue with the public and stakeholders. Additionally, we are committed to unique and high-quality services for the scientific community. http://www.izw-berlin.de

Ol Pejeta Conservancy is the largest black rhino sanctuary in east Africa and is the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees. It is also home to the last two northern white rhinos on the planet. Ol Pejeta's cutting-edge wildlife security includes a specialised K-9-unit, motion sensor cameras along its solar-powered electric fence, and a dedicated Rhino Protection Unit. http://www.olpejetaconservancy.org

Safari Park Dvur Kralove is a safari park in the Czech Republic. It's one of the best rhino breeders outside of Africa and the only place where the northern white rhino bred in human care - both remaining females, Najin and Fatu, were born here. Dvur Kralove Zoo coordinates efforts to save the northern white rhinos. safaripark.cz/en/

Avantea is a laboratory of advanced technologies for biotechnology research and animal reproduction based in Cremona, Italy. Avantea has over twenty years of experience and the know-how in assisted reproduction of livestock developed through years of research conducted in the biomedical and animal reproduction fields. http://www.avantea.it/en/

The University of Padua in Italy is one of the oldest in the world, celebrating 800 years. Its Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science is developing leading research and education in the field of wildlife conservation and welfare with a special focus on ethical assessment and evaluation of research projects and educational programs. http://www.bca.unipd.it

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 57,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices - the company is everywhere. In 2019, Merck generated sales of  16.2 billion in 66 countries. Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials. http://www.merckgroup.com/en
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued new guidance Friday requiring employees to wear face coverings or face shields in private or public office spaces.

New state guidance released last week also required increased use of masks at child care facilities. The new guidance around face coverings comes at the same time that the Occupational Safety and Health division (Oregon OSHA) is working to adopt a new temporary rule to ensure workplace safety amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Brown has expanded the states face covering mandate multiple times since July. She initially announced that Oregonians would be required to wear face masks while inside public spaces before mandating that individuals wear face coverings outside when social distancing couldnt be maintained and announcing that the guidance applied to children ages 5 and older and people exercising inside a gym.

The new face covering guidance requires individuals to wear face coverings in any area within an office where six feet of distance cannot be consistently maintained, including in hallways, bathrooms, elevators, lobbies, break rooms and other common spaces.

However, many scientists now believe the virus spreads in aerosolized form, can linger in the air for hours and can travel distances significantly farther than six feet. A study released this month found that the virus traveled in infectious form 16 feet in a hospital room.

Some Oregon employers, including those with public office settings, did not require face coverings until recently. And in some cases rule changes did not come until after a coronavirus outbreak.

The Oregon Employment Department began requiring employees to wear masks at its call centers and claims processing facilities in July after coronavirus outbreaks infected 13 employees and forced the department to shut its Gresham facility.

Oregon OSHA also proposed a new temporary rule Monday that would require all employers within the state to adopt specific safety measures. The rule includes requirements around social distancing, face coverings, barriers between workers, cleaning practices and information sharing. It also includes specific mandates for high-risk working environments, including a requirement that employers conduct COVID-19 exposure risk assessments.

The rule remains in draft form and Oregon OSHA is accepting public feedback on the new rule until Aug. 31. If adopted, the rule would go into effect by mid-September.

While the requirements in Oregon OSHAs new temporary rule mirror many of the guidelines already issued by Brown and the Oregon Health Authority, Aaron Corvin, a spokesman for Oregon OSHA, said the new rule would provide greater clarity and predictability for employers and workers and ensure that workers are protected against retaliation by explicitly and clearly laying out the rules under the Oregon Safe Employment Act.

Oregon OSHA has been inspecting workplaces over coronavirus complaints since March, but the new rule could make Oregon OSHAs enforcement activity more straightforward, Corvin said.

The Early Learning Division also released updated guidelines last week for child care and early education facilities operating amid the pandemic. The new rules go into effect Sept. 1.

The new guidelines require all child care providers, staff members and children in kindergarten or older to wear face coverings. The guidance says that children ages 2 or younger should not wear masks and makes mask exceptions for children with medical conditions or disabilities.

The guidelines also allow for increased group sizes at child care facilities based on the reopening phase that a county has been approved for. The guidelines previously required child care facilities to split children into stable groups of no more than 10.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg

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The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has sanctioned Rs 115 cr to the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (IIT) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS) to set up a technology and innovation hub (TIH) on computer vision and augmented and virtual reality (CV and AR-VR), said a release.

The TIH at IIT Jodhpur, named as iHub Drishti, is being incorporated as a section-8 company with the initial seed funding from the DST. The five verticals that iHub Drishti will focus on are dependable computer vision for autonomous systems, bio and medical imaging for healthcare and ecological sustainability, and intelligent multimedia platform for digital learning, computer vision, and AR-VR for Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence-driven augmented and virtual reality applications.

Prof Santanu Chaudhury, director, IIT Jodhpur, who chairs the hub governing board said: The iHub Drishti will engage in application directed research and translation of research outcomes to products and processes in collaboration with academic and industrial partners from India and abroad.

He said the centre will support and nurture start-up ecosystems, operate upskilling and reskilling programs and intend to enable and drive appropriate technology interventions in the relevant areas by the state and central ministries. It will host teams of faculty members, research scholars, developers, and scientists who will work towards achieving the targets of the hub, the director said.

iHub Drishti project director Prof Mayank Vatsa said the hub will create an ecosystem in and around the thematic areas and building collaborations with other TIHs to foster the overall growth and development of CPS technologies.

iHub Drishti will create state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities that will cater to the national need. In five years time frame, iHub Drishti will become the anchoring agency for technological innovations in the areas of Computer Vision, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, he added.
New Delhi: The death of a student in Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru has shocked the premier institute, which issued a statement on Wednesday (August 18) to expresses condolences to the family and friends of the student.

The IISc said, "We are deeply saddened to report the death of a student in IISc by suicide. We express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the student, who was pursuing an MTech degree at the Department of Computational and Data Sciences."

"The mental wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff is of serious concern to us and we have provided facilities and wellness resources which include 24x7 emergency call service for anyone needing to talk to a mental health professional, 24 x 7 online counselling and support, one-on-one counselling with counsellors and psychiatrists on campus, and other Resources and links hosted by IISc's Wellness Centre," it added.
Henry Hammond ought never have been released onto the streets of Melbourne to kill and now could be free in a matter of years, if not months.

It's a cliche often overused by media in a state that has become accustomed to killers being cut loose by a broken justice system.

Only this time, it literally happened.

Melbourne woman Courtney Herron was so savagely bashed by Henry Hammond that the mortician could not put her broken body back together.

John Herron and his daughter Courtney in happier times. She was savagely murdered by Henry Hammond, who was found not guilty through mental impairment

A lonely spot to die: The body of Courtney Herron was found bloody and beaten between these logs. It is a lonely and cold spot off the beaten track. Courtney's life had been tough and her ending was anything but happy

A young Courtney Herron. She was brutally murdered by Henry Hammond, who will not face justice over the shocking crime

Just months earlier, Hammond had been left on the footpath of Melbourne's gritty streets by the authorities Victorians pay to keep them safe.

The homeless son of wealthy investment banker Murray Hammond had been gifted a lucky break after another savage attack on a woman.

On Monday, Hammond was declared not guilty over the horrific murder of Ms Herron.

Hammond had pleaded not guilty by mental impairment earlier this year.

It's a legal defence put up by monsters within Victoria's Supreme Court with some regularity.

Two others accused of the savage murders of women are now going through the court on the very same plea. Legal reasons prevent Daily Mail Australia from detailing the cases.

Bourke Street killer James Gargasoulas, whose horrific rampage left six dead in January 2017, tried it on and failed.

But unlike his, Hammond's plea was not opposed by the Office of Public Prosecutions director Kerry Judd, QC.

Ms Herron's body was found in between logs by three dog walkers in Royal Park in Parkville in May, 2019.

Hammond had smashed her head in during a frenzied attack which lasted close to an hour.

The brute was supposed to be behind bars serving a 10-month sentence over the August 2018 assault of another woman.

But a month before he would kill Ms Herron, he was released on a Community Correction Order after successfully appealing to the County Court that his imprisonment was 'manifestly excessive'.

Courtney Herron was beaten to death in an attack that went for almost an hour. Her father John Herron has been denied justice

John Herron (centre) embraces his daughter Courtney (left) in happier times

John Herron has slammed prosecutors for failing to chase justice for his daughter

THE STEPS THAT PUT A KILLER BACK ON THE STREETS December 17, 2018: Henry Hammond is sentenced to 10 months and 14 days over a savage attack on a woman Hammond had bashed and strangled the woman and threatened to kill her She only escaped by gouging his eyes Hammond had previous offences from NSW related to domestic violence April 1, 2019: Hammond had been behind bars for 231 days when he won an appeal in the County Court of Victoria Judge John Carmody re-sentenced Hammond to time already served and added a community corrections order May 25, 2019: Courtney Herron meets Hammond in Melbourne and treats him to dinner. Security footage from the Fitzroy restaurant shows the pair happily engaged in conversation. The pair join a group of Ms Herron's friends and smoke ice together. Friends video their conversation because they were 'acting strangely'. May 26, 2019: Hammond and Ms Herron go for an early morning walk in Royal Park, before he beats her to death with a branch and buries her in piles of leaves and branches. Dog walkers find Courtney Herron's mangled body at 9.25am May 28, 2019: Henry Hammond is charged for Ms Herron's murder following a series of tip offs sparking a manhunt in Melbourne's CBD Hammond tells police he recognised the 25-year-old from a past life. He says he killed her in an act of revenge for killing his wife May 31, 2019: Thousands attended a silent vigil organised for Ms Herron September 16, 2019: Hammond is due to be assessed by a forensic psychiatrist December 18, 2019: Hammond pleads not guilty to murder at Melbourne Magistrates Court January 7, 2020: Ms Herron's father John speaks up about his daughter's death: 'She died unnecessarily. 'She had the world at her feet.' July 21, 2020: Hammond is transferred to a mental health facility after a court agreed he was unfit to stand trial August 17, 2020: A judge finds Hammond is not guilty of murdering Ms Herron because he has schizophrenia Advertisement

Judge John Carmody had released him into the care of Corrections Victoria in the hope he could be managed and obtain drug and mental health treatment.

Hammond's millionaire father had made a whirlwind trip from Sydney to Melbourne to pledge his support for his wayward son and promised he would find him a temporary home.

Two-and-a-half hours later, dad boarded a plane back to Sydney.

Mr Hammond told the court: 'I just (want) Henry to enjoy his life and you know, dont hurt anyone ever again.'

Victoria's prisons are full of the homeless who often remain behind bars well past their release dates because they have no fixed address of which to be released.

The OPP had assured Judge Carmody Hammond was not only suitable for the community order, but that appropriate monitoring would be in place.

Corrections Victoria had approved Hammond for the order despite him having no stable accommodation.

A well-placed source within Victoria's justice department told Daily Mail Australia the entire saga should be independently reviewed.

'It's highlighted a series of failures across the board,' he said.

A spokeswoman for Corrections Victoria refused to respond to Daily Mail Australia's questions, instead directing inquiries to the County Court of Victoria.

Ms Herron's devastated father, John Herron, told Daily Mail Australia his daughter's soon-to-be killer was dumped on Flinders Lane, in the heart of Melboune's CBD, and forgotten.

'Because his parents had money, his defence and the appeal was privately funded,' Mr Herron said.

A former Victorian Legal Aid lawyer himself, Mr Herron said Hammond would never have been funded by the taxpayer to launch an appeal over the savage domestic violence offence.

Three weeks before Hammond's release from jail, he refused to participate in a psychiatric assessment.

Mr Herron said that's one of several monumental blunders that ultimately saw the ice-fuelled Hammond go onto become a killer.

A crime he will never face justice over, Mr Herron said.

'I can't believe he could be released without a psychiatric report in the County Court,' Mr Herron said.

'Then he got released to no fixed address.'

At Hammond's court hearing in April last year, Judge Carmody was told Hammond's previous address had been 'the sand dunes at Byron Bay'.

'He was released back onto the street. No fixed address,' Mr Herron said.

Courtney (left) and John Herron in happier times

A young Courtney Herron (right) frolics in the trees with her friend Kalinda Brown (left)

Mr Herron, who is himself a criminal lawyer, accused the OPP of abandoning his daughter by consenting to her killer's 'not guilty' plea without a fight.

The decision followed defence and prosecution psychiatric reports on Hammond's mental state supplied by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health.

'The Gargasoulas case was identical to this guy. He had been on a three day ice binge and schizophrenia, but the judge deemed him fit to stand trial,' Mr Herron said.

'The reason we are here is because the (Director) of Public Prosecutions put up the white flag a year ago. That's the only reason.'

Mr Herron said Hammond was an experienced conman when it came to faking mental illness and had been determined not to return to jail following a previous bad experience.

Hammond had convinced doctors he had believed he was the Norse God Odin and that he feared Ms Herron - a woman he had only just met - was possessed and would kill him.

Courtney Herron in another happy snap provided by her father John

Henry Hammond, a 27-year-old homeless man, was charged with Courtney's murder. He was found not guilty without a fight

'I believe he's scamming for a couple of reasons,' Mr Herron said. 'All of a sudden when he's in trouble he bangs on about "Odin's possessed me" ... he knows he's done it and he's gone: "I'd rather do it in the psyche ward, I'm not going to plead guilty, no way". I know a criminal and I know this guy is scamming.'

Mr Herron said while a lot of money had been spent on keeping Hammond out of jail, none had been spent on getting him treatment for his supposed mental issues.

'Ice is an issue with him. He took ice three times a day and killed my daughter yet supposedly that wasn't a determining factor,' Mr Herron said.

Hammond had been on an ice bender in the weeks leading up to the horrific execution of Ms Herron.

'Just like Gargasoulas. He's just sitting there waiting to kill someone,' Mr Herron said.

'And now the state is spending more resources to make the whole thing go away then actually prosecuting the case.'

Mr Herron said Gargasoulas and Jill Meagher's killer Adrian Bayley - who was free on parole when he raped and murdered Melbourne woman Jill Meagher in 2012 - were prosecuted to the full extent of the law because they were poor.

'They were from the wrong side of the tracks. This guy isn't. If he was from Broadmeadows, he would have been doing much longer sentences for his first offences in Victoria - he's got NSW priors against women. He would still be in jail now as we speak,' Mr Herron said.

'He's rolled the dice and it's come in his favour. He was on a hiding to nothing. He went straight to a judge only trial. It was carefully calculated and the white flag went up.'

In letters seen by Daily Mail Australia, OPP director Kerry Judd, QC expresses frustration with Mr Herron's objections to her acceptance of Hammond's not guilty plea.

'I appreciate that you do not accept my decision and accept that this has had a profound effect on you and your family, but I do not have any further information to provide to you,' she wrote on August 11.

The OPP had not responded to Daily Mail Australia at time of going to publication.
RTHK: Belarus leader bemoans 'attempt to seize power'

Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday accused the opposition of attempting to seize power in the wake of mass protests against disputed presidential elections in which he claimed victory and a sixth term.

During a meeting of his security council, Lukashenko said the opposition's creation of a Coordination Council was "an attempt to seize power," according to the state-run Belta news agency.

"They demand nothing more and nothing less: to transfer power to them," Lukashenko said.

Belarus's security forces brutally dispersed massive street demonstrations that erupted in the wake of the August 9 presidential vote which the opposition said was rigged to ensure Lukashenko's victory.

The authoritarian leader's closest rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya fled to neighbouring Lithuania after declaring victory in the vote and announced the creation of the Coordination Council to ensure the transfer of power.

Lukashenko warned that the authorities would take "adequate measures" against opposition figures who participated in the council, saying that any response would be taken within the limits of the law.

Yet the Belarusian leader has come under fire from EU governments and rights groups for arresting nearly 7,000 demonstrators who took to the streets to protest the elections, with many detainees complaining of inhumane treatment and torture in detention centres.

Lukashenko also accused the opposition of preparing to cut ties with Minsk's most powerful ally, Russia, which has said it is ready to intervene in post-election turmoil if needed.

He said the opposition wanted to tear up the "union state" agreement with Moscow linking their economies and militaries and suggested they were planning curbs on the use of the Russian language and on Russian businesses.

Tikhanovskaya ally Maria Kolesnikova denied the opposition wanted to rupture any existing agreements between Minsk and Moscow.

"We see Lukashenko's claims as an attempt to manipulate and deceive," she said in comments carried by the Interfax agency. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:39:32|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- African countries should leverage on robust bilateral ties with China to boost action on COVID-19 pandemic and hasten growth of the continent's manufacturing sector, experts said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a virtual forum in Nairobi, the experts from Africa and China noted that Africa's COVID-19 battle and the quest to leapfrog its manufacturing sector, will gain immensely from strategic cooperation with China.

Peter Kagwanja, CEO of Africa Policy Institute (API), a Nairobi-based pan-African think-tank, emphasized China's contribution to the anti-COVID-19 war across Africa and efforts to revive the manufacturing sector.

"Beijing is collaborating with all 54 African countries to fight the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure sustainable development and job creation," said Kagwanja.

More than 40 African and 15 Chinese scholars participated in the virtual conference with the title of "enhancing China-Africa cooperation on fighting COVID-19 and promoting manufacturing", organized by API and the Chinese Embassy in Kenya.

Kagwanja said that policymakers, diplomats and scholars attending the two-day summit will explore innovative ways to boost Sino-Africa industrial cooperation and hasten post-COVID-19 recovery.

"Africa and China need to scale up their cooperation in industrialization and manufacturing as a necessary step towards post-COVID-19 recovery agenda," said Kagwanja.

Without a doubt, China's investment in Africa is key to post-COVID-19 economic recovery," he added.

Zhao Xiyuan, charge d'affaires of Chinese Embassy in Kenya, said that COVID-19 has presented an opportunity for robust Sino-Africa cooperation to fight the disease and restore livelihoods.

"China and Africa are both shouldered with the arduous tasks of combating the pandemic, stabilizing the economy and improving people's well-being," said Zhao.

He said that the Chinese government, enterprises and charities have been on the frontline of the anti-COVID-19 war in Africa through provision of critical supplies like masks, goggles and testing kits.

"China has also shared its anti-COVID-19 experience with African countries through sending expert groups, holding expert video conferences, training local medical staff, and helping to draw up preventive plans," said Zhao.

He said that China-Africa industrial cooperation that is anchored on the Belt and Road Initiative will boost post-pandemic economic recovery in the world's second-largest continent.

Bruno Linyiru, secretary of trade in Kenya's Ministry of Trade and Enterprise Development, said that Africa stands to gain from cooperation with China in the fields of health, manufacturing, trade and technologies in order to realize recovery from ravages occasioned by COVID-19.

"The post-COVID-19 recovery and growth in Africa can be achieved through promoting manufacturing and trade that are key pillars of China-Africa cooperation," said Linyiru.

Li Xinfeng, executive vice president of the China-Africa Institute, said that Beijing's proactive engagement with Africa during the early days of COVID-19 pandemic averted a crisis in the continent's healthcare system.

He said that the long-standing bilateral partners should explore new strategies to boost cooperation in health and manufacturing sectors beyond the pandemic. Enditem
Ana Morales Becerra, a single mom from Michoacan, Mexico, once described her former home as a calm place in the middle of a cartel war. With so many narcos in her neighborhood, in the city of Uruapan, she felt sure that no one would dare to come in to rob her. But still, she always felt uneasy as her daily routine  working two jobs and taking care of her kids  was punctuated with trucks full of armed people passing by.

The tipping point came, however, when narco trucks started following her children. No more! she remembers saying. Im leaving. Fleeing cartel violence, sexual abuse and death threats, she left her home to seek a fresh start in the United States. Last October, she arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, with her four children, very little money and no place to stay.

But seeking asylum, which Morales Becerra thought would be a relatively fast process, turned out to be an administrative tar pit that would strand her and her family for months while they waited for a judge to decide their fate. I didnt know we would have to go through all this process, she said. With their lives on hold, and no access to formal jobs or school, they have been living at the Embajadores de Jesus shelter, just three miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, for almost a year.
PHILIPSBURG:---- Two staff members at the Prison have tested positive for COVID-19. The staff members have had no direct contact with inmates, and therefore pose no immediate threat to prisoners. Additionally, the management of the prison has launched its contingency plan of acquiring more personnel in order to avoid any disruption of the house of detention operations.

On Saturday, August 15, 2020, a staff member reported having COVID-19 related symptoms to the management of the Prison and House of Detention via telephone. This staff member took precautionary measures, remained at home, and informed the management that theyd visited the doctor, and had tested positive for COVID-19 by Collective Prevention Services (CPS). The staff member has been advised by CPS to remain in quarantine, and per protocol, contact tracing has begun. Inmates of the prison do not have direct contact with this staff member. Per protocol, it is strictly mandatory for all staff members and guards of the prison to sanitize their hands and use a facemask at all times when at work.

Prior to this, on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, a guard who works stationed outside of prison contacted management while at home. The guard informed his superior via telephone, that he felt ill, and experienced COVID-19 related symptoms. Per protocol, the individual was asked to contact CPS and take precautionary measures by remaining at home and later tested positive for COVID-19.

CPS has begun contact tracing to identify persons in close contact with the staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19. Management of the prison and CPS contacted workers who have possibly been in contact with their colleagues. They have been asked to take precautionary measures, including remaining quarantined at home and monitoring their symptoms, while they wait to be tested.
Seven out of 10 adolescent girls faced problem in procuring sanitary pads during the lockdown in Rajasthan, reveals a study by a non-government organisation (NGO).

It is deeply worrying that a large number of young female adolescents have had zero access to sanitary napkins during the lockdown, said Poonam Muttreja, executive director, Population Foundation of India (PFI), which carried out the rapid assessment among 1,000 people across Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Things need to change at the ground level. The government needs to distribute sanitary napkins through the ASHA and ANM workers network. It takes tremendous convincing on the part of frontline workers to encourage and educate school-going girls to use sanitary napkins, she added.

Muttreja said the unmet need of adolescent girls is bound to have an adverse effect in the coming months. The unavailability of sanitary napkins can push up the worrisome school drop out rates for girls. This could impact the young girl psychologically as well as lead to health issues, she said.

The idea behind the study was to understand the level of knowledge of the young population (15-24 years) regarding Covid-19; how it has impacted their lives and mental health, and their needs and priorities.

The survey gave several critical insights into some of the worst fears that health care experts have had about adolescents during the lockdown, Muttreja said.

The main areas of impact were the effect on mental health; sources to obtain information on Covid-19; increase in workload at home and increase in unmet need for sanitary napkins since schools were shut.

The other findings in Rajasthan were that 23% of the total respondents listed schools as a reliable source of information on Covid-19. The school administration worked in disseminating information about the pandemic. A whopping 84% said that TV was the main source of information on Covid-19

The study also revealed that 33% of young adolescents in Rajasthan witnessed an increase in tension and fights at home during the lockdown.

Two out of every 10 adolescents that PFI spoke with felt depressed due to the lockdown. The study further revealed that many feelings of anxiety or depression could be traced to economic uncertainty, the inability to move outside and socialise, and fears of the virus itself.
Devon Scholl, 28, beat his father Todd Scholl, 52, for six minutes on Wednesday outside their Allentown home after they argued about a ride to Montgomery County that the father refused due to a broken brake light, city police say in court papers.

Todd Scholl died the next day in a hospital, and Devon Scholl was charged Monday, police say.

Todd Scholl, of the 700 block of North Eighth Street, was in the front seat of a silver Honda CR-V and had been working on the vehicle about 6 p.m. Wednesday when Devon Scholl got out of the front passenger seat, walked around the vehicle and struck his father, police said after viewing surveillance video of the incident.

Devon Scholl then walked away, but as his father got out of the SUV, Devon Scholl charged at him and hit him several times in the head, knocking him back into the vehicle, police said. Devon Scholl walked away several times, only to return to the attack, striking his father in the head and the body, police said.

The assault continued for six minutes, police said.

An investigator saw three surveillance cameras on the Scholls home. A neighbor said that Todd Scholl told them they record and that if they would ever need video footage of the block to come to the house, police said. Investigators got a warrant and took the recording storage device, which revealed the assault, police said.

A witness told investigators that she saw Devon Scholl hit Todd Scholl about six times in the body and four times in the head after the father refused to drive his son to Souderton, about 25 miles away, police said.

Todd Scholl and the witness then left and went to the 1300 block of Liberty Street in the city, police said. Todd Scholl complained of head pain and about 10 p.m. was helped to bed, police said. About 1 a.m. Thursday, Todd Scholl was vomiting blood and convulsing, police said.

He was unresponsive and about 3 a.m was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, police said.

He died there that day from blunt force head trauma, Lehigh County Coroner Eric Minnich said Tuesday. An autopsy was performed on Saturday, and the death was ruled a homicide, Minnich said. A doctor told police that Todd Scholl suffered a traumatic brain injury, court papers say.

Devon Scholl was arraigned Monday night before District Judge Karen C. Devine on charges of aggravated assault, which is as felony, and involuntary manslaughter and simple assault, which are both misdemeanors, records show. He was held in lieu of 10% of $100,000 bailm and his preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled 8:30 a.m. Monday before District Judge Patricia M. Engler.

Devon Scholl is represented by the Lehigh County Public Defenders Office, but a specific attorney was not listed in court papers.

Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.

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Nothing could be more terrifying for a new parent than an infant that stops breathing or becomes unresponsive.

But a donation from Horizon Bank should empower more new parents to handle that harrowing situation.

The gift from Michigan City-based Horizon Bank, which has more than 80 branches across Indiana and Michigan, enabled the American Heart Association to give more than 20 Infant Hands Only CPR Kits to Family Birth Center at Franciscan Health Michigan City.

I am extremely proud of Horizon Banks donation to the American Heart Association to support of their COVID-19 efforts. This donation was crucial for the community during this time and will directly impact LaPorte Countys medical front lines, said Rachel Saxon, president and senior trust officer of investments of Horizon Bank and an executive leader with the American Heart Association.

The kits come with accompanying lifesaving educational materials in Spanish and English. They provide a refresher on how to perform CPR while the kits themselves include a video demonstration and a mannequin on which new parents can practice chest compressions, checking airways, giving breathes, and providing infant choking relief.
SPRINGFIELD  Police have arrested a 25-year-old Chicopee man accused of driving at a city police officer, who then shot at the suspect.

Nathan LeBlanc, 25, was arrested in Chicopee on Monday afternoon. He was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police and with several motor vehicle offenses, said Ryan Walsh, police spokesman.

Police under the direction of Lt. Julio Toledo had been conducting special details to crack down on drag racers in the city over the weekend when LeBlanc allegedly attempted to run over the officer.

An officer on the detail spotted a Honda speeding on Main Street and attempted to stop the driver, who refused to pull over. Later, at about 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, the officer spotted the same driver on Main Street near the intersection of Sheldon Street, Walsh said.

When he attempted to stop him, the driver put his car in reverse and attempted to elude the officer, nearly hitting other cars. The officer exited his cruiser and ordered the driver to stop. The man put his car in drive and veered toward him. The officer who had no way to escape and was in danger of being pinned by the car shot through the windshield at the driver, Walsh said.

The driver was not hit by the bullet and the officer turned in his service weapon, as is policy any time police discharge their gun, and the departments Internal Affairs Bureau is conducting an investigation. An initial examination of footage from the officers body camera shows the officer had nowhere to go and the shooting is believed to be justified, Deputy Chief Steven Kent said.

When the car was caught on camera, the license plate attached was not registered to the car. Detectives investigating the crime were able to identify the suspect as LeBlanc and learned his car was in Chicopee.

Chicopee Police, at the request of Springfield Police, located LeBlanc and had his car towed. LeBlanc was booked at the Chicopee Police Department and then transferred to the custody of Springfield Police, Walsh said.

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Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court (SC) on August 18 adjourned the hearing pertaining to the repayment of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues by telecom companies, to August 19. A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra, S Abdul Nazeer and MR Shah heard the case, CNBC-TV18 has reported.

In the last hearing yesterday, pointing out that Jio is earning revenue by sharing RComm spectrum, the court had sought the government'position on making Jio liable for RComm's AGR dues on account of the spectrum sharing.

The top court had in October 2019 upheld the expanded definition of AGR as given by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Vodafone Idea owes balance dues of around Rs 50,399 crore, while Bharti Airtel's outstanding amount is Rs 25,976 crore. On August 10, the court had asked the government to prepare a plan for recovery of dues from telecom companies under insolvency.

SC observations:

>> ( In response to Salve) There are huge dues payable, how can we let it go? We had directed payment within a certain period, government is seeking 20 years, what if companies go into insolvency. We are fully conscious of the scope of proceedings, we will not exceed our power. In 20 years, all kinds of manipulation and legal filings can take place, we can't allow like this. You may raise technical points, but no technicalities will come in our way in enforcing recovery of AGR dues.

>> How did RComm claim to have assets of over Rs 35,000 crore, whereas now the fair value is just a little over Rs 10,000 crore? How has there been a dramatic fall in value of assets of RComm?

>> How did RComm continue with IBC even after payment of Ericsson dues?There was no separate move by R.Comm under Sec 10 to submit itself to IBC.

>> How are spectrum dues operational dues, when it is the very basis of telecom operations. Spectrum is not a manufacturing input, cant be treated as such. Under the revenue sharing regime currently in place, spectrum dues cant be dealt as an operational dues.

Senior advocate Harish Salve to SC:

>> (For Reliance Jio and SBI) There can be potential differences between the DoT, Committee of Creditors (CoC) for RComm in the IBC Case.

>> (For RComm CoC) RComm insolvency was triggered by Ericsson, could not have been withdrawn even if Ericsson has paid. CoC has accepted a resolution plan, it envisages auction of RComm spectrum subject to DoT nod.

>> Would be premature to decide if spectrum can be sold or not under IBC. Only when the RComm resolution applicant moves DoT for spectrum sale,

should the issue be decided at that stage.

>> UVARC, the top bidder for RComm, is not fronting for anyone. In fact, Jio has submitted that they are not interested in bidding for RComm. UVARC's equity comes from public sector banks and public sector insurance cos.

>> These proceedings before SC are not apt for deciding claims of the government as a creditor in the RComm insolvency. There isn't even a well crystalised policy on the issue of sale of spectrum under IBC at this stage.

>> Spectrum sharing took place between various operators after DoT allowed sharing under 2015 guidelines. Jio was looking to buy RComm soectrum, prior to insolvency proceedings, subject to DoT approving the spectrum sale.

>> There is no question of one operator paying the AGR dues of another operator. Jio has already paid the relevant Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC).

>> Jio has already paid AGR as per the spectrum shared, no dispute. Additional customer and additional revenues on account of shared spectrum will reflect as a part of AGR, has been accounted for computing payable license fee, SUC dues. Jio has paid Rs 195 crore in AGR dues. This figure is the total AGR dues payable by Jio.

>> (For RComm) The government has allowed sale of spectrum under DoT's trading guidelines. Trading guidelines require DoT nod for sale of spectrum, not seeking to bypass DoT nod.

>> Under tripartite license agreement, govt has recognised the idea of spectrum as security to be used by telcos to raise funds from banks. (Tripartite agreement between govt, telco and banks)

>> By recognising the spectrum as security, DoT has acknowledged that spectrum can be assigned, otherwise banks would not get a farthing. PSBs would only be lend if security is allowed that can be monetised.

>> Only at the stage of resolution applicant seeking DOT nod, will the issue of spectrum sale under IBC will arise. This stage has not come as yet, issue of spectrum sale under IBC should be decided at the relevant stage.

>> Once the R.Comm insolvency was initiated, it had to continue even after payment of Ericsson dues. Only way to exit is if 90 percent of dues claimed by creditors are satisfied, not possible to do. CoC is even seeking for clawback of the Rs 570 crore paid to Ericsson.

>> Have not claimed spectrum as an asset, have only claimed the right to use spectrum as an asset.

Disclosure: Reliance Industries Ltd., which also owns Jio, is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.

>> Any claim, even if contractual, made by the govt is no higher than a tax demand. Even a tax demand is subservient, to the dues of financial creditors. Waterfall mechanism is clearly laid down by the parliament.
BERLIN A court in western Germany has convicted a 60-year-old Turkish citizen of membership in the banned Kurdish militant group PKK.

The dpa news agency reported Tuesday that the Koblenz regional court sentenced the man, whose name wasnt released, to two years and six months imprisonment for membership in a foreign terrorist organization.

Prosecutors accused the defendant, who lives in Germany, of organizing propaganda campaigns and soliciting donations for the PKK.

The group, whose acronym stands for Kurdistan Workers Party, began an insurgency against Turkey in the mainly Kurdish southeast in 1984 and the conflict has killed tens of thousands of people.

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
Silver Price Forecast Overview:

Silver prices have stabilized after rebounding at trendline support from the coronavirus pandemic low in March. The fundamental backdrop remains solid given the persistence of negative real yields.

The recent plunge in silver prices appears to be a function of a crowded market, not the end of the rally. The relationship between silver volatility and silver prices has deteriorated, however.

Recent changes in sentiment suggests that silver prices are on neutral footing  consistent with the technical outlook examining silver prices within a range.

Silver Prices Stabilize After Reaching Key Support

Silver prices are churning higher after a shocking performance last week, whereby the worst performance in nearly a decade was posted amid an uptick in US Treasury yields. But a look beneath the surface suggests that the selloff was a function of a crowded market, not necessarily a sign that the rally is finished.

Its worth reflecting on the fact that the US Treasury 2-year yield gained +9.2-bps when silver prices fell by -6.6% last week; whereas it gained +15-bps during through early-June, only triggering a -2.4% drop in silver prices. Like with gold prices, that there was a deeper pullback in silver prices this week amid a more restrained rise in US Treasury yields relative to June suggests that the long silver trade was overcrowded.

Weve been steadfast with the bullish fundamental argument for silver prices for several months now, and those conditions undergirding the argument have not changed. It has been and remains the case that the base case scenario of expansion fiscal and expansionary monetary policies will an environment for falling real yields, which historically has been beneficial to precious metals like silver prices. These factors should continue to enhance the negative real yield argument that has been fueling gold and silvers rallies in recent months.

Silver Prices and Silver Volatility Remain in Sync

While both gold and silver are precious metals that typically enjoy a safe haven appeal during times of uncertainty in financial markets, the scale and scope of the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has shifted investors focus from the positive nature of silvers safe have appeal during times of crisis to the negative nature of silvers economic uses during an historic collapse. While other asset classes dont like increased volatility (signaling greater uncertainty around cash flows, dividends, coupon payments, etc.), precious metals tend to benefit from periods of higher volatility as uncertainty increases silvers safe haven appeal.

VXSLV (SILVER VOLATILITY) TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY PRICE CHART (MARCH 2011 TO August2020) (CHART 1)

Silver volatility (as measured by the Cboes gold volatility ETF, VXSLV, which tracks the 1-month implied volatility of silver as derived from the SLV option chain) was trading at 64.64, off the recent highs but without a corresponding drop in silver prices (a good omen). The 5-day correlation between VXSLV and silver prices is -0.30 and the 20-day correlation is 0.74. One week ago on August 11, the 5-day correlation was 0.35 and the 20-day correlation was 0.92.

Its important to consider the pullback in silver volatility without the corresponding dip in silver prices. As weve explained previously, given the current environment, falling silver volatility is not necessarily a negative development for silver prices, whereas rising silver volatility has almost always proved bullish; in the same vein, silver volatility simply trending sideways is more positive than negative for silver prices.

SILVER PRICE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: WEEKLY CHART (JUNE 2013 TO AUGUST 2020) (CHART 2)

Silver prices have experienced a high degree of volatility in the first half of August, but the sharp swings establishing higher highs as well as maintenance of the daily 21-EMA suggest that technical momentum remains bullish. After achieving the 38.2% retracement of the 2011 high to 2020 low range at 26.2233, it now appears that silver prices have carved out a sideways range between 23.4452 and 29.8588. To this end, that silver prices rallied into the consolidation amid a long-term bottoming effort suggests that a bull flag has formed; a topside breakout above 29.8588 is favored.

SILVER PRICE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (AUGUST 2019 TO AUGUST 2020) (CHART 3)

The silver price selloff in early-August amid US Treasury yields meagerly ticking higher (relative to the rise in June) is a sign that a crowded market provoked nervous traders and weaker hands (hopefully) take profit and rebalance their portfolio holdings. Yet as real US yields hold near all-time lows (2-year and 10-year TIPS), the fundamental argument for higher silver prices remains robust. As such, we have little reason to sow doubt on the ongoing bullish breakout.

Silver prices are holding above their weekly 4-, 13-, and 26-EMA envelope, with the weekly 4-EMA serving as critical support last week. But perhaps more importantly, silver prices are holding above the 38.2% retracement of the 2011 high to 2020 low range at 26.2233, which also constitutes key support back from 2011 and 2012 on multiple occasions. Psychologically, holding above 26.2233 will signal confidence in silvers longer-term bottoming prospects.

IG Client Sentiment Index: Silver Price Forecast (August 18, 2020) (Chart 4)

Silver: Retail trader data shows 85.46% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 5.88 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 6.11% higher than yesterday and 2.51% lower from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 5.75% higher than yesterday and 15.78% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests Silver prices may continue to fall.

Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger Silver-bearish contrarian trading bias.

Read more: US Dollar Bear Flag Breakout Begins - Key Levels for DXY Index

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Currency Strategist
Religious schools sue Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom over school closure order

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A group of private religious schools representing different faith traditions have filed a lawsuit against California Gov. Gavin Newsom over a recent school closure order.

The suit was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California and requests injunctive relief from the state order on schools.

Listed plaintiffs include three Los Angeles-based Jewish schools, Yeshiva Rav Isacsohn Toras Emes Academy, Samuel A. Fryer Yavneh Academy, and Gindi Maimonides Academy; two Christian schools, Montebello Christian School of Montebello and Saint Joseph Academy of San Marcos; and a group of parents.

A copy of the lawsuit was emailed to The Christian Post by Becket, a religious liberty law firm that as of Monday is not actively participating in the litigation.

At issue in the lawsuit is a state order that closes both public and private schools in California as part of the state's continued lockdown in response to the novel coronavirus.

Plaintiffs bring this particular suit to advance their rights as religious schools, parents, students, and educators to choose  again, consistent with sound science, data, and their own individual circumstances  to hold in-person religious education in a manner consistent with their faith, the suit states in part.

Our laws are clear that government shall make no law abridging the free exercise of religion. Laws that treat religious institutions, including schools, unequally must be narrowly tailored to minimize the burden they place on a fundamental right. Parents have the right to direct the education of their children in the religious setting of their choice.

The plaintiffs also take issue with how, while religious schools are closed, California still allows similarly situated entities, such as camps and childcare facilities, to conduct in-person operations.

Tens of thousands of childcare facilities are open for business in the same jurisdictions where religious schools are prevented from opening, continued the lawsuit.

Defendants made no effort to discern whether a more tailored, individualized approach to school opening would achieve the same public health outcome while being more protective of fundamental religious liberties.

Sebastian Petz, superintendent of Montebello Christian, told ABC News' Los Angeles affiliate that allowing his school to open was vital to the community.

Public schools will always be around. They have state funding, said Petz. We do not, so if we don't open our doors, there's a good chance that we may never be able to serve our low-income, poor, minority families going forward for the rest of our existence.

As states and school boards debate how to hold classes amid the pandemic, some private schools have argued that they should be exempted from orders shutting down public schools.

Earlier this month, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued an emergency order clarifying that private schools were exempt from shutdown orders for public schools.

His order came in response to an attempt by Montgomery County officials to prohibit in-person classes for both public and private schools until at least Oct. 1.

Over the last several weeks, school boards and superintendents made their own decisions about how and when to reopen public schools, after consultation with state and local health officials, Hogan said in a statement last month. Private and parochial schools deserve the same opportunity and flexibility to make reopening decisions based on public health guidelines.
In response to the current health crisis, the TAWANI Foundation, TAWANI Enterprises philanthropic organization, has donated $1.8 million so far to various organizations to help support COVID-19 relief efforts in Illinois. The donations address the urgent needs of Illinois organizations and partners for immediate and significant philanthropic contributions to help alleviate costs and sustain local and state organizations heavily impacted by the global pandemic.

The TAWANI Foundations mission has always been to create a broader world of good, says Susan Rifkin, Chief Operating Officer of Philanthropic Activities at TAWANI Enterprises. During these uncertain times, we believe it is our responsibility to help protect those most impacted by the consequences of this virus and to continue making a difference in our communities.

Some organizations the TAWANI Foundation has made donations to include: Greater Chicago Food Depository, Howard Brown Health Center, One Fair Wage Emergency Fund, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, NAMI Chicago, Bunker Labs, and the Children First Fund. These donations reflect the foundations efforts in giving to a diverse group of organizations tackling various overlapping issues such as mental health, food shortage, homelessness, and childcare.

Additionally, the TAWANI Foundation donated 5,600 ViriMASKs to the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs that will be distributed throughout different veterans facilities for use by healthcare professionals.

The Chicago based TAWANI Foundation was founded from a philanthropic and entrepreneurial spark by Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired). As the world is faced with the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Col. Jennifer Pritzker stands with the global community, and in support of her cousin and Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzkers efforts to help limit the spread of the virus and ease the related economic hardships Illinois communities continue to face.

This global pandemic has demonstrated the need for collaboration and leadership across all sectors and goes above and beyond partisan politics, states Col. Jennifer Pritzker. We need to rely on one another and come together as a community to move forward in solving the problem for Illinois and the world. Im proud of the TAWANI Foundation team working hard to make a positive difference in the many communities in which we live and work.

To learn more about the TAWANI Foundations ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit http://www.tawanifoundation.org.

Photo credit: YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

###

About TAWANI Foundation

Founded in 2002 by notable philanthropist and entrepreneur Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), TAWANI Enterprises philanthropic organization, the TAWANI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that provides support in the areas of arts and culture, historical preservation, health and wellness, LGBT and human rights, education and environmental initiatives. TAWANI Foundations vision is to make a sustained and measurable difference for organizations that focus on enriching knowledge, improving health and wellness, and promoting scientific understanding  all with a common goal of making a positive, long-term impact on individuals, communities and the culture itself. To learn more, visit http://www.tawanifoundation.org.
With a squadron of nurses and the potential to test thousands of arrivals a day, this is Heathrow's new Covid-19 detection area.

It is hoped the multi-million pound facility will bring an end to the 14-day quarantine rule that is destroying the travel industry.

Unveiled exclusively in today's Daily Mail, it will soon be used to carry out swab tests on arriving passengers, with results emailed to them in seven hours.

Travellers would then test themselves at home a few days later. If they pass both checks, they could be allowed to leave quarantine early and return to normal life.

Heathrow bosses hope passengers who prove negative could be freed within five to eight days after landing, and ultimately only three. However that decision lies with ministers and the entire scheme requires Government approval before it can begin.

The tests, which are identical to the swabs used by the NHS, would be booked online and cost 150. It is hoped this could fall to 50 a passenger  with a state subsidy. The programme is based on double-testing systems already operating in Germany and Iceland.

Heathrow's new Covid-19 detection area will soon be used to carry out swab tests on arriving passengers, with results emailed to them in seven hours (pictured: Jo Roberts, 36 from Oxfordshire is swabbed by nurse Natasha Owen, 33 at Heathrow T2's new testing facility)

Travellers would then test themselves at home a few days later. If they pass both checks, they could be allowed to leave quarantine early and return to normal life (pictured: nurse Natasha Owen, 33 from London gets ready to swab passengers)

If initial trials are given the green light by the Department for Transport, Heathrow hopes to switch to just one test on arrival with no need to quarantine at all if passengers are negative.

The facility at Terminal 2, which has been developed by logistics firms Swissport and Collinson, was finished off last week following a six-week design and installation process. It has been kitted out with 24 booths for swab tests, each of which will be staffed by a nurse.

Families will be tested together, reducing waiting times. Anyone who chooses not to have a test, or who proves positive, would be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Writing in the Mail today, Heathrow chief executive John HollandKaye warns a failure to introduce airport testing will plunge the economy into terminal decline and leave the UK reliant on European ports to access global markets.

Experts at Collinson cite evidence from the Channel Islands suggesting that quarantine-free arrivals do not lead to a spike in cases of Covid-19. In July there were 17 active coronavirus cases in Jersey, of which 13 were caught at the border out of 20,061 tests on arrivals.

The programme is based on double-testing systems already operating in Germany and Iceland (pictured: left, Heathrow T2's new cover testing facility; right, nurse Natasha Owen, 33 from London gets ready to swab passengers)

Heathrow bosses hope passengers who prove negative could be freed within five to eight days after landing, and ultimately only three. However that decision lies with ministers and the entire scheme requires Government approval before it can begin (pictured: nurse Natasha Owen, 33 from London gets ready to swab passengers)

As of today in Jersey, there are just seven active cases  of which six were caught in arrivals testing  suggesting the influx of passengers did not lead to a spike.

Experts also point out that double testing has been backed by experts on the Sage committee of scientific advisers.

The heads of BA, Virgin Atlantic, TUI and EasyJet yesterday wrote to ministers to urge them to take up airport testing  or risk losing vital trade routes.

BA boss Alex Cruz said: 'We believe a UK testing protocol based on the German model would stimulate significant demand while protecting public health.

'It would play a critical role both in supporting US-UK connectivity but also in safeguarding connections with key European and other global markets.'

Pictured: Heathrow T2's new cover testing facility which passengers can book an appointment at to be tested airside before baggage reclaim

Industry expert Paul Charles added: 'If the Government wants to save jobs and prevent travel operators collapsing, then ministers have to introduce a world-class airport testing strategy to rebuild confidence in people travelling. Quarantine is simply not working.'

Airport testing has the backing of several senior Tory MPs. Henry Smith, who chairs the cross-party Future of Aviation Group, said: 'Germany and France are up and running with airport testing as an alternative to quarantine and until Britain also introduces testing we'll be at a competitive disadvantage.'

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: 'Arrivals from nonexempt countries must quarantine for the full 14 days, whether they get tested or not, as the incubation period for the virus means they may pose a risk to other passengers, loved ones and close contacts.

'Work is ongoing with clinicians, the devolved administrations and the travel industry to consider if and how testing could be used to reduce the self-isolation period, but any potential change would need to minimise the chance that positive cases are missed, and maximise compliance with self-isolation rules.'

It is feared that Croatia will be put on the quarantine list tomorrow, joining France, Spain and other tourist destinations.

JOHN HOLLAND-KAYE: Here's one test that Ministers mustn't fail - to get people back to work, Britain needs to reopen its borders safely and allow those who don't have Covid to travel freely

By John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow Chief Executive for the Daily Mail

Two months ago, I warned a health pandemic could turn into an unemployment pandemic unless the Government kickstarted the economy. Now with 730,000 people newly unemployed, that is becoming a reality.

Britain is a small island, a trading nation, which has punched above its weight in global markets. The country relies on a global economy to take its physical and service exports and to bring tourists here  and a huge slice of our exports go through Heathrow.

Domestic demand cannot support 33million people in work, or the fifth largest economy in the world. That is a position that cannot be taken for granted. If the country's borders remain closed, the economy will shrink further, young people will be out of work and global competitors will rub their hands.

To get people back to work, Britain needs to reopen its borders safely, by allowing those who don't have Covid to travel freely.

After imposing a blanket quarantine on all markets, the Government made a strong start by introducing a risk-based approach to reopening borders. Countries with low Covid levels were designated as 'green' or 'amber' (mainly EU countries) and passengers could travel from them without quarantine.

JOHN HOLLAND-KAYE: Two months ago, I warned a health pandemic could turn into an unemployment pandemic unless the Government kickstarted the economy. Now with 730,000 people newly unemployed, that is becoming a reality (pictured: Heathrow T2's testing facility)

JOHN HOLLAND-KAYE: To get people back to work, Britain needs to reopen its borders safely, by allowing those who don't have Covid to travel freely (pictured: nurse Natasha Owen, 33 from London gets ready to swab passengers)

Passengers from 'red' countries (the UK's main non-EU trading partners such as the US, Canada and Singapore) were still required to quarantine.

Since then, Spain, France and other countries have been put on the red list, leaving British holidaymakers to play 'quarantine roulette' and sending Britain's trade prospects heading backwards. Millions more British jobs are now at risk. We urgently need a process that ensures those without Covid can travel freely.

For months, Heathrow has been calling for the Government to introduce testing as an alternative to quarantine. A single test is not considered accurate enough, so initially at least a double test would be required.

Heathrow is ready to support this provided the Government sets clear guidelines for a second test and changes regulations to allow passengers who provide two negative tests to leave quarantine early.

We have worked closely with aviation services company Collinson and logistics firm Swissport to ensure such a testing procedure can be in place. If the Government is serious about protecting the economy, this is exactly what should be done.

Had the Government done so after the Spanish crisis, a plan could have been in place for those caught up in the French problems last weekend. It is not too late to save people returning from Greece, Croatia or Italy the inconvenience of 14 days at home.

JOHN HOLLAND-KAYE: Unless the Government acts now to protect UK trade by reopening the UK's borders safely, the country faces terminal decline (pictured: Heathrow's testing facility)

Over 30 nations have started airport trials, including in Germany where they have been offering free tests on arrival since early August.

The French started trialling a double test in early June and have since moved to a single test. This week Iceland announced a two-step process with passengers tested on arrival and followed up five days later.

Without a clear testing regime in place here, we risk losing our global hub status to airports such as Frankfurt and Charles de Gaulle, meaning that an independent UK will be reliant on European ports to access global markets.

Britain will be a vassal state of the EU when it could have been a centre for global trade. The Job Retention Scheme ends in October. If the Government doesn't act now to restart the economy, millions more jobs could be lost in the next few months.

The transition period ends in December. If trade with long haul markets is not reopened, 'Global Britain' will soon be 'Little Britain'.

For generations, Britain has enjoyed a first-world quality of life and almost full employment, based on global trade. This position now hangs in the balance.

Unless the Government acts now to protect British trade by reopening the UK's borders safely, the country faces terminal decline. The Government must do everything it can to avoid that prediction becoming a reality.
The Palestinian leadership has vocally opposed the recent UAE-Israel rapprochement, demanding a reversal of the decision or at a guarantee that no other Arab country will follow suit.

The Palestinians have called for urgent meetings of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, both of whom have unanimously and repeatedly supported the Saudi-headed Arab Peace Initiative. The UAE move to normalize relations before Israel commits to withdrawing from all Arab territories occupied in 1967 violates the most important clause in the plan.

The Palestinian leadership has reached out to its Islamic rivals, who agreed to coordinate public protest activities under the Palestinian flag. A meeting was scheduled for the evening of Aug. 18 at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, and the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leadership expressed willingness to discuss strategies to counter the UAE move.

A large public gathering has been planned for on Aug. 19 near the Palestinian village of Tormus Aya, and all Palestinian factions, including those that support the PLO as well as those that support the Islamist movements, have vowed to attend.

Jibril Rajoub, head of the Fatah Central Committee, has been spearheading the Palestinian protests. He held a joint press conference in July with his Hamas counterpart in Beirut. Rajoub, who spent 19 years in Israeli prisons, has strong relations with the opposition Islamic movements and they have expressed public support and respect for him.

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the US presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, have repeatedly talked about the potential influx of Muslims that will fly to Israel to pray at Al-Aqsa, Islams third holiest mosque. Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussein issued a religious edict reiterating an earlier fatwa forbidding Emiratis to visit and pray at Al-Aqsa.

A visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque under Israeli security protection would be very bad optics for the UAE. With Israeli extremists making unwelcome visits to Al-Aqsa with Israeli security guards during non-prayer hours, a visit by UAE citizens under the same protection would invoke unflattering comparisons.

The Palestinian leadership, which recalled its ambassador from Abu Dhabi, has vowed to boycott the Dubai Expo scheduled for October 2021.

Protesters have burned photos of Emirati Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Zayed, calling him a traitor to the Palestinian cause. Critics call the deal a knife in the back of Palestinians and say that it runs contrary to what his father, the late Zayed bin Sultan, founder of the UAE and a strong supporter of the Palestine cause, would have done.

There are signs the Palestinian leadership, which had given lukewarm support to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, will change course and fully support the movement. A BDS statement against the UAE move was featured prominently on the website of the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa. The Palestinian press is tirelessly covering local, regional and international opposition to the UAE's actions.

But amid the displays of resistance, there is concern about the potential high costs to Palestinians working in the Emirates.

Ironically, the Palestinian sentiments against the UAE has dented support for renegade Fatah leader Mohammad Dahlan, who is based in the Emirates. While Dahlan has not been seen or heard from during the current crisis, his name has been besmirched nevertheless and his Palestinian opponents seem to feel vindicated.

The UAE move has complicated the Palestinian leaderships strategic options. President Mahmoud Abbas, who has consistently opposed what he calls the militarization of protests and has spoken out publicly against what he called the amateur Hamas rockets, has focused all his efforts on the diplomatic track and the Arab Peace Initiative. With this dent in the Arab consensus around the plan, it is unclear whether the Palestinian efforts can stop a domino effect of other countries like Bahrain, Oman, Morocco and Sudan from following in the UAE's footsteps.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi has held a phone call with his Omani counterpart, who also called Fatahs Rajoub, but so far it seems unlikely that any other Arab country will make a move before the US presidential election.

The Palestinian response has been highly visible but it is unclear what real options are available to the Palestinian leadership at a time of inter-Arab strife and division. The various Palestinian parties insist that Israel must work with the Palestinians themselves no matter what a faraway emirate does.
The City of Winnipeg is hiring help to control invasive mussels, due to the risk the molluscs could interfere with its drinking water supply.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Winnipeg is hiring help to control invasive mussels, due to the risk the molluscs could interfere with its drinking water supply.

A request for proposal calls for a consultant to create a detailed design for an invasive mussel control system at the Shoal Lake aqueduct intake facility in Ontario, as well as a preliminary design to protect Winnipegs Deacon reservoirs.

PHIL HOSSACK / FREE PRESS FILES The City of Winnipeg is hiring help to control invasive mussels.

"Zebra and quagga mussels have been introduced into North American waterways and are invasive mussels known for their bio-fouling capabilities (which can damage pipes) As such, the likelihood of their introduction into Shoal Lake has increased," the RFP states.

Tim Shanks, manager of water services, said city officials have not yet detected these invasive species at Shoal Lake. But Shanks said Ontario officials did once trap a larval-stage zebra mussel at the lake and its "likely" the invasive species will wind up there.

Shanks said the city has a chlorination system that could control the invasive species, but it has been in place since the 1990s and should be updated to ensure the best and most cost-effective strategy is in place.

"The existing system is dated and if we had to run it all the time to protect against zebra mussels, we would want to improve it The intent is to find some efficiency improvements and some savings, to just make sure were doing it the best way possible," said Shanks.

While invasive mussels shouldnt affect water quality, they could significantly damage the infrastructure that ensures a steady water supply, if left unaddressed, he said.

"They physically attach to the inside of pipes and to the walls of facilities and gates and they clog things up (And) the water supply to the city is drinking water, its fire protection, its everything. So we have to prepare."

Shanks said the consultants strategy would guide future construction on a new or updated system. It would also require a further city budget approval and likely wont be built until at least 2023, he added.

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For the Shoal Lake intake, the consultant is required to compare at least two potential chlorine dosing options for invasive mussel control, including cost estimates and how long each might last.

Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of councils water and waste committee, said the preparations are an important way to protect an essential service.

"Its a core responsibility of the city, by any definition. We need a secure water supply," said Mayes (St. Vital).

The deadline for proposals is 12 p.m. Oct. 8, while the city expects to award the contract by Jan. 6, 2021.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
Sushant Singh Rajput's untimely death has reignited the nepotism debate and favouritism in the Bollywood industry. Since then, "fans" have voiced their anger on social media. Their cries to bring "justice" to the late actor coincided with the release of Mahesh Bhatt's upcoming project Sadak 2, the trailer of which is en route to becoming the second-most disliked video on YouTube.

The movie which stars Alia Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt, and Aditya Roy Kapur in the lead roles has been heavily panned ever since the first look was launched. But once the trailer was dropped on YouTube, things got a bit nasty. The disgruntled "fans" took over to the video-sharing platform, downvoting the movie trailer more than 11 million times in a span of a week. The video is only behind YouTube's Rewind video which has 18 million dislikes, while Justin Bieber's "Baby" is only inches ahead with 11.6 million dislikes at #2 spot.

But the furious netizens didn't stop at that.

The makers of Sadak 2 dropped the track Tum Se Hi from the film on India's 74th Independence Day. The song portrays the proclaimed love between Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapurs characters in the film.

Ankit Tiwari has composed and voiced the song. The lyrics are penned by Shabbir Ahmed.

Following a similar pattern, the song about love soon turned into a display of hate as Sushant Singh Rajput "fans" once again thronged the comments section of video, criticising the "nepo kids" and downvoting the video.

As of now, Tum Se Hi has been "disliked" over a million times on YouTube and could very well enter the infamous list of top-50 disliked videos on the platform.

"The hate is not for aditya and ankit , but love  for Sushant..."

"Love you susant singh Kon kon sushant singh Sir ko miss kr rha hai, (sic)"

"Sushant Singh Rajput said, "The Industry will Collapse One day." The Day has arrived."

"Ham chate Hain ki ye movie sabse jyda anlike Karne Ka record tor de, (sic)."

"Release it as an album instead of in a movie, you'll get more likes and love."

"What a beautiful song but it should be for Sushant with some changes & love."

Ankit Tiwari, who leant his voice for the song, also commented on the viral video and wrote: "This song is very close to my heart, had put in special efforts to make it special for all you people out there in love. This song is very special was inspired by my beautiful daughter Aryaa. Celebrating Tum Se Hi. Celebrating Love."
Joe Biden (Left) and Donald Trump

Former Vice President Joe Biden has gained a lead of nine-point margin nationally against President Donald Trump, according to a CNN national survey released on August 17.

The CNN Poll of Polls, conducted by SSRS, revealed that Biden is supported by 51 percent of registered voters nationwide, while Trump garnered support from 42 percent voters.

Biden is set to accept the Democratic nomination later this week.

Earlier, the CNN poll released on August 16 found Biden leading Trump 50 percent-46 percent among registered voters, within the survey's margin of error.

The survey included the six most recent national telephone polls measuring the views of registered voters for the upcoming US election.

Out of six, only two polls were conducted entirely after Biden announced California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Biden scripted history on August 12 by selecting Harris, an Indian-American and an African-American, as his running mate in the election on November 3.

Bidens move has earned him generally positive reviews, according to CNN, as 52 percent of respondents called it an excellent or pretty good pick, including 82 percent of Democrats.

As many as 54 percent of Americans approved Biden's choice of Harris, with 86 percent of Democrats approving of the pick in the Washington Post/ABC News poll.

While, voters voice their approval of Harris, they are also signalling their disapproval with Trump in recent polls. In the CNN poll, 42 percent of US citizens approve and 54 percent disapprove of the President.

Other surveys also showed the similar outcome. In the Washington Post/ABC News poll, his rating stands at 43 percent approve to 55 percent disapprove. The NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds 44 percent of registered voters approving of the President, with 53 percent disapproving, while the Fox News poll shows Trump's rating among registered voters at 44 percent approve to 54 percent disapprove.
Naval sailors help the rescued crew members board Frigate Changzhou.

By Shen Yang, Yang Zhe

BEIJING, Aug.18 -- The PLA Navys guided-missile frigate Changzhou (Hull 549) rescued a civilian ship that caught fire in East China Sea on the evening of August 9.

Frigate Changzhou was on a patrol mission in a certain area of the East China Sea at about 8:10 pm that day when noticing a civilian ship on fire. Upon receiving approval from the superior, it quickly adjusted the course and maneuvered towards the civilian ship. After arriving nearby, the sailors found that the ship was full of flames and thick smoke, and some people had fallen into the water, which made the situation very critical.

The on-board search and rescue team, together with the medical team, quickly took actions. They laid a climbing net on the gunwale, threw life buoys and launched the lead wire to guide the people in water to approach the gunwale climbing net. All the 14 people who fell into the water were rescued at around 9 p.m.

Subsequently, the Frigate Changzhou organized medical staff to conduct health checks and psychological counseling on the rescued, and provided them with cloth, food and accommodation. After the remaining fire being extinguished and all the possible hidden dangers eliminated, Frigate Changzhou evacuated that sea area.

It is learnt that the civilian ship was the "Brother Yuanyang" offshore fishing boat from Wenzhou City of east Chinas Zhejiang Province. "Naval sailors gave us a second life," said one rescued person gratefully.
With almost 90 percent of population seeking employment in states other than their place of residence having returned to their homes, the Supreme Court in June asked states to prepare a roadmap for providing jobs to the returning migrant population in the home state itself.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that his government will bring in laws to ensure that the government jobs in state are reserved only for the local youth.

MP govt has taken an important decision today. We will be taking necessary legal steps so that government jobs in Madhya Pradesh are only given to the state's youth: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan pic.twitter.com/8fG9djcFo5  ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2020

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 government scheme separately. It is likely that the extended use of same database will be to ensure domicile of candidates applying for jobs.

The first announcement about this was initially made during an Independence Day function in the state, when Chouhan had said: "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."

"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.

These developments come in the backdrop of a long-standing insider-versus-outsider row where politicians often target the migrant working population, especially from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, for 'taking away' jobs meant for the locals.

The debate further gained strength in the wake of the migrant crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the country to shut down for months, leaving poor migrants no option but to walk back to their villages from mega cities that are often a hub of employment for rural youth from multiple states.

The crisis reignited the debate on lack of gainful employment in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, from where people often travel to other states in search of work.

Chief ministers of several of these states have unveiled plans to provide more jobs to local people.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath formed a high-level committee to figure out to figure out returnee workforce can be given jobs; Bihar has taken steps to create employment for 20 lakh people; MP too has relied on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Emplyment Mission to employ those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

The issue was raised in the Supreme Court also as the unprecedented crisis unfolded days after a national lockdown was imposed.

With almost 90 percent of population seeking employment in states other than their place of residence having returned to their homes, the Supreme Court in June asked states to prepare a roadmap for providing jobs to the returning migrant population in the home state itself.

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 percent to 27 percent.

The government's decision to make government jobs in state exclusive to local population is seen as a major development in the whole migrant crisis versus job creation debate as till now applications were sought from all over the country. Any citizen of India who met the required eligibility criteria could apply for jobs, irrespective of their domicile status. Recently, the notification for hiring of jail guards and technical apprentices in Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company Ltd also invited applications from across India.

With inputs from PTI
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Government's handling of the A-level results crisis was 'incompetent'

Thousands of students now face scramble for remaining university places amid fears many will have to defer

He repeatedly refused to say if he had offered his resignation to Boris Johnson over A-level results debacle

Gavin Williamson signalled he intends to stay as Education Secretary despite mounting calls for him to quit

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Gavin Williamson's attempt to defend his handling of the A-level results chaos was at risk of unravelling today after it emerged a committee of MPs had raised the alarm in July.

The Education Secretary said this morning he first became fully aware of the extent of the problems with the grading system at the weekend.

But the Education Select Committee warned last month that the proposed method of using an algorithm to calculate grades could cause 'significant problems' and 'might hurt the disadvantaged'.

MPs are now demanding to see Department for Education minutes from official meetings to see exactly when ministers became aware of potential problems.

Mr Williamson yesterday announced a humiliating U-turn as the Government said grades will now be based on teachers' assessments rather than the controversial algorithm developed by regulator Ofqual.

The algorithm resulted in almost 40 per cent of grades issued being lower than teacher predictions, prompting widespread pupil and parent anger.

Mr Williamson has insisted he intends to stay on as Education Secretary long into the future despite growing calls for him to quit over the fiasco.

One Tory MP told the Telegraph the 'vultures are circling' but the Education Secretary is a 'master of finding someone else to chuck under a bus'.

Mr Williamson has attempted to deflect the blame for the situation onto Ofqual as he said the Government had been assured that the algorithm 'would stand scrutiny' and that the regulator 'didn't deliver'.

Meanwhile, he also appeared to hint that the regulator's boss, Sally Collier, could be made to carry the can for the debacle as he failed to express confidence in her performance.

Mr Williamson has apologised for the 'distress' caused by the the situation as tens of thousands of pupils face an uncertain future with universities now trying to find them places on courses which could already be at capacity.

The Education Secretary said this morning he was 'incredibly sorry' but repeatedly refused to say whether he had offered his resignation to Boris Johnson.

But signalling his intention to dig in amid mounting calls for him to resign, Mr Williamson said he is 'absolutely determined over the coming year that I am going to be delivering the world's best education system'.

Government sources said Mr Johnson values loyalty and that Mr Williamson has been with the PM 'from the start'. Many Tory MPs therefore believe that Mr Johnson will not be 'bounced' into getting rid of the Cabinet minister.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the A-Level results row 'sums up' the Government's 'incompetent' handling of the coronavirus pandemic. 'At a time of national emergency, this is no way to run a country,' he wrote in The Mirror.

Yesterday's change in tack also applies to GCSE results - due to be released on Thursday - with pupils now set to be awarded either their algorithm-adjusted or teacher estimated grades, whichever are higher.

Gavin Williamson, pictured in Whitehall today, repeatedly refused to say whether he had offered his resignation to Boris Johnson over the A-level results debacle

'Stretched' universities face being overwhelmed by A-level U-turn as up to 55,000 students scramble to get back into their first choice Universities have been thrown into chaos after the Government's exam results U-turn as 55,000 pupils scramble for the remaining places, amid fears that even next year's cohort could be affected. The industry's main umbrella body said universities were seeking 'urgent clarification' on how to accommodate students they had earlier refused because of A-level results downgrades. Some 55,000 pupils who were rejected by their first choices had signed up for other institutions - and could now want to return to their desired university if their grades are bumped up by the U-turn. And roughly 30,000 accepted a place at their second choice university, while an additional 80,000 are holding out for appeals. However a number of top universities such as Bristol and Liverpool, has already indicated some students may have to defer, causing possible long term consequences for next year's cohort. Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council told the Financial Times that this could impact upon pupils due to sit exams in 2021. He said: 'There could be a stack of students who have deferred, who have these gloriously high A-level grades and the poor 2021 (A-Level) students who've missed a significant amount of their course are going to have to compete.' Advertisement

The row over Mr Williamson's handling of the A-level results came as:

The U-turn plunged universities into chaos as 55,000 pupils scrambled for the remaining places, amid fears that even next year's cohort could be affected.

The Education Secretary was savaged by the British press as he was accused of overseeing a 'fine mess' and was described as a 'clown'.

Labour wrote to Mr Williamson, posing him 15 key questions about what the U-turn will mean for students' life chances.

The boss of UCAS admitted that while universities would try to help as many students as possible get a place many would likely be forced to defer.

There was confusion over exactly when pupils will get their grades after the Department for Education said centre assessment grades would be issued on Thursday but official results would not be released until next week.

Mr Williamson had originally said that the Government would not change its stance over the algorithm issue as anger grew following the release of A-level results last week.

But pressure mounted on him to change the policy as students protested in Whitehall and in the Education Secretary's constituency.

Despite yesterday's U-turn, Mr Williamson posed for pictures in his Department for Education office in an apparent sign that he is confident of remaining in post.

Mr Williamson was repeatedly asked this morning during an interview on BBC Breakfast whether he had offered his resignation to the Prime Minister but he would not be drawn.

He said: 'I spoke with the Prime Minister, explained the situation, the fact that we needed to move to centre assessed grades because it was the fairest system and the right system to do.

'But my focus is making sure that every student gets the grades that they deserve, making sure that we deliver the return of all children back to school in September.'

Pushed again on whether he had offered his resignation or if he intended to, Mr Williamson suggested he wants to stay in the role for the long term.

'What we are doing is we are focused on delivering the grades for those children,' he said.

'We are making sure that we are going to make sure that all schools are returned and I am absolutely determined over the coming year that I am going to be delivering the world's best education system, the improvements and reforms that we have made over the last 10 years, they need to be built on.

'Clown' Gavin Williamson is savaged by the British press over A-level and GCSE exams 'farce' Gavin Williamson was today savaged over the A-level and GCSE exams 'farce' by the British press which called for the Education Secretary to be sacked and described him as a 'clown'. The Daily Mail used the headline 'Another fine mess', with a cartoon of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Mr Williamson as Laurel and Hardy, saying it was a 'humiliating climbdown' for the Education Secretary. Politics expert Tim Bale said the last time a front page mocked up a PM and a high-profile minister as the duo with 'Another Fine Mess' as the headline was John Major and Norman Lamont after Black Wednesday in 1992. The Daily Star published a mock advertisement for the Education Secretary, saying: 'Are you a moron who couldn't organise a booze up in a brewery?' along with the hashtag #PromotedBeyondHisCompetence. The Times told how Jonathan Slater, permanent secretary at the Department for Education, could be ousted over the chaos - but Mr Johnson has 'no intention' of sacking Mr Williamson and 'expressed confidence' in him. Meanwhile the Guardian said the decision 'followed days of mounting anger among Conservative MPs and alarm among students', adding that the climbdown will overturn 2.3million A-level grades. The Telegraph went in on how Mr Williamson blamed Ofqual for the chaos, and that his announcement on the dramatic U-turn yesterday 'came after 24 hours of mounting pressure from Tory backbenchers'. The Sun gave the Government an F grade for Farce, saying that A = Anger, B = Balls-Up, C = Chaos, D = Dunces, E = Errors and U = U-turn. The newspaper also told how yesterday's U-turn followed an 'outpouring of fury'. The Express called the U-turn a 'victory for common sense' and said it followed a ''deafening outcry'. The newspaper also said youngsters were 'relieved' by the decision and described it as a 'dramatic turnaround'. Advertisement

'That is what our focus is. That is what my focus is on. And that is what the Prime Minister's focus is on. That is what I am going to be doing.'

Mr Williamson again apologised to students as he said: 'As someone who went to a comprehensive school, who went to a sixth form college, I am not going to be sat there when the evidence is there that there are problems action has to be taken and that is what we did yesterday.

'Of course, as you can absolutely imagine, I am incredibly sorry for the distress that this has caused for those youngsters.'

Meanwhile, the Education Secretary suggested that Ofqual was to blame for the results fiasco.

He told Sky News: 'We had every confidence because of the extensive consultation and broad consultation that we'd sort of done in terms of the development of the system that what had been developed by Ofqual would be something that would stand scrutiny and would have the robustness that wasn't the case in the Scottish system.'

He later went even further as he said Ofqual 'didn't deliver' over the A-level results calculation process after exams were cancelled because of the coronavirus crisis.

Speaking to LBC, the Education Secretary said he had worked 'very closely' with Ofqual, which had aimed to ensure there was 'fairness' and 'transparency' in this year's grading system.

When it was put to him that Ofqual had 'failed', Mr Williamson said: 'We ended up in a situation where Ofqual didn't deliver the system that we had been reassured and believed that would be in place.'

Asked if he had confidence in the regulator, Mr Williamson said: 'It is quite clear that there have been some real challenges in terms of what Ofqual have been able to deliver.'

And asked if he had confidence in the chief regulator, Ms Collier, Mr Williamson said: 'Our focus and what I expect from Ofqual is to ensure that they deliver the grades that youngsters need over ... this week and over the next few weeks and ensure that the appeals process is properly managed and people get the grades that they've worked towards and that they deserve.'

Mr Williamson said the fall-out from the A-level results U-turn was a 'tough moment'.

'But at every stage I know that every action that we've taken, we've taken those actions in order to act in the best interests of students and preserving the integrity of the system, making sure that students get the fair result,' he said.

The decision to change approach came after Mr Johnson, who is on holiday in Scotland, held a conference call with Mr Williamson and officials yesterday morning.

A level students celebrate outside the Department for Education in London after it was confirmed that candidates in England will be given grades estimated by their teachers, rather than by an algorithm

The graph above shows the proportion of GCSE students achieving an A/7 grade or higher since 2008 according to data from exams regulator Ofqual, with the CAG (Centre Assessment Grade) in 2020 expected to result in grade inflation of 12 percentage points overall

Mr Williamson posed for pictures in his Whitehall office yesterday in an apparent sign that he was confident of keeping his job

A jazz-loving ex-journalist who flunked his A-Levels and a career civil servant with no previous education experience: The people running the exam regulator Ofqual Roger Taylor was the senior figure who first apologised for the A-Level fiasco yesterday. But the Ofqual chairman did not mention that he too suffered underwhelming A-Level results - albeit through his own lack of hard work. He and chief executive/chief regulator Sally Collier have been thrust into the firing line amid the fury over the exam grades handed out to students. But neither of them can boast a long career in education. Roger Taylor Sally Collier Former Financial Times journalist-turned businessman Mr Taylor has been in the post since 2016. Last year he told the Times Education Supplement that 'lack of application' among other issues saw him flunk A-Levels including Latin and Greek at the 39,000-per year private King's School in Canterbury. But he was handed a reprieve when he was handed a place at Oxford anyway, after passing its entry exam. After leaving the FT in 2000 he set up Dr Foster, which produced a guide to hospitals based on death rates. The Department of Health brought a 12million stake and he later sold it. Before becoming Ofqual chairman he sat on its audit and risk assurance committee. Last year he led a study which warned that algorithms had the potential to cause 'real harm'. The study was carried out by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), which he ran. Ms Collier has spent her entire career within the public sector. Before joining Ofqual in April 2016 she worked as chief executive of the Crown Commercial Service, managing director of the Government Procurement Service and director of procurement policy and capability at the Cabinet Office. In her first speech in post she told the audience: 'I have been in office eight weeks ... and most of you in the room have probably been in this sector a lifetime or parts of lifetime ... 'Many of you will know I dont come from the education sector; I was a CEO of a large commercial buying organisation, of which there are more similarities than you might think actually.' And the 200,000-per year executive wrote an open letter to students, parents and teachers in April, saying: 'Please be reassured that the grades you get this summer will look exactly the same as in previous years, and they will have equal status with universities, colleges and employers, to help you move forward in your lives.' Advertisement

Mr Williamson today insisted Mr Johnson had not lost his temper during the call.

'The Prime Minister is a very, very even-tempered person and certainly didn't lose his temper with me,' the Education Secretary said.

'He recognised this was the right thing to do, he agreed with me that it was the right thing to do, that's why we did it.'

The U-turn means that universities are now frantically trying to figure out how to allocate places to pupils who may have been turned down when their initial grades were not good enough last week.

Experts have warned that some 55,000 students might now try to switch back to institutions that rejected them.

Mr Williamson acknowledged that universities face challenges as he said the Government has set up a task force to look at how capacity can be increased this year and next year.

'We recognise some of the real challenges that universities face,' he told the BBC.

'We know that there's a clear expectation that is on universities for them to welcome in so many youngsters who have achieved those grades. We're working with those universities to ensure that they're able to welcome as many youngsters to them as possible.'

Mr Williamson added: 'We're going to have a record year of the number of people who are going to university and we'll work with the sector to ensure they have as much capacity.'

The Government has lifted the cap on student numbers for universities to allow them to increase admissions.

Mr Williamson said this would enable universities to access greater funding, telling LBC: 'By actually lifting the student number caps it can be an unlimited number of places that universities will be able to recruit to.'

Tory MPs had warned Downing Street they were ready to go 'on the warpath' unless ministers remedied the situation.

But many do not believe that the debacle will cost Mr Williamson his job in the Cabinet.

David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, told The Times: 'Different MPs have seen different priorities. Some wanted to see us hold the line on grade inflation, others wanted us to relax it. There is not a monolith of Tory MPs calling for the head of any secretary of state.'

Another Tory MP told the newspaper: 'This is a government that will never be bullied into anything. I expect to see [Mr Williamson] there in the next week and the next week. The Prime Minister is not going to be bounced.'

However, there remains considerable Tory anger over the Government's handling of the results row, especially after it emerged MPs had warned in July of the potential for the algorithm to cause chaos.

Robert Halfon, the Conservative chairman of the Education Select Committee, described the situation as a 'mega-mess'.

Asked who is to blame for the problems in the exams system, he told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'We need to find that out. I'd like to see the minutes of everything that has gone on.

'We warned in our Education Select Committee report that was published in early July that there would be significant problems with this and it might hurt the disadvantaged.

'We urged Ofqual to widen the appeals process and publish their model, this so-called algorithm, so it could be subject to scrutiny. They refused to do this.

'I think we should see the minutes from Ofqual and what's gone on with the Department for Education (DfE), I also think we should find out how much this has cost the taxpayer just so that we make sure that this never happens again.'

He added: 'What has happened has been a mega-mess and I really feel sorry for all the pupils and students and parents across the country who've had so much anguish over the past week through no fault of their own.'

On Sky News this morning Mr Williamson said he had first become fully aware of problems with the algorithm at the weekend.

He said: 'Well, it became apparent that there were challenges within the algorithm when we were seeing the results directly coming out and then over the weekend.

'We'd got concerns before... when we saw what had happened in Scotland, we wanted to have a more robust system put in place.'

Shadow education secretary Kate Green has written to Mr Williamson with 15 questions to answer about the results chaos, including asking when students will receive their new grades and whether there will still be a free appeals process.

Students hold placards as they protest outside of the constituency office of Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, as he faced pressure to resign

Backlash as BTECs are left out of results rethink BTEC students were left in limbo last night after they were ruled out of the Government's exam results U-turn. Ofqual chairman Roger Taylor confirmed that A-level and GCSE grades would now be calculated on teachers' assessments  but said the change did not apply to BTECs. Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has vowed to fight for BTEC students to be included in the new policy. Mr Burnham has threatened to sue the Government over its handling of the exams crisis and he said he would pursue the legal action unless another U-turn was made. At present, BTEC students across the country still face being left with grades calculated by a computer algorithm. As each BTEC qualification is worth fewer UCAS points than an A-level, the impact of a downgrade is even more severe on BTEC students. The intervention from Mr Burnham comes after many students complained they have still not found out their final results despite expecting to receive them last Thursday. Exam board Pearson, the UK's largest awarding body for qualifications including BTECs, A-levels and GCSEs, admitted that there have been significant delays for hundreds of BTEC results. Advertisement

She welcomed the Government having 'finally reversed its position' after mounting calls from students, teachers and Conservative MPs.

'However, the confusion of the past few weeks, and delay in making these important decisions, mean there are now important outstanding issues on which students, parents and institutions need urgent clarity,' she added.

Whether students who have accepted an offer based on their moderated grades can switch institutions and how universities will be supported by the move to scrap the temporary limit on places were also among her queries.

She called for Mr Williamson to confirm no universities will be 'allowed to fail financially' as a result of the changes and for the Cabinet minister to set out the position relating to BTEC students' grades.

In a statement, the Labour frontbencher said: 'This was a welcome and necessary change in policy, but we should never have been in this position as the government has had months to get this right.

'The delay and chaos accompanying means that students, families, and education providers have no answers to essential questions.'

Shadow universities minister Emma Hardy said that the delay in making the U-turn has caused a 'massive headache' for teachers.

She told BBC Breakfast: 'His [Mr Williamson's] delay in making this decision has meant that more and more places at university have been filled up.

'Many students have gone ahead and accepted their second-place offers or other offers, or in fact got offers that maybe in the past they wouldn't have actually been entitled to.

'This has created a massive headache for our entire universities system. It's so frustrating because it's something that could have been avoided.'

A timeline of the Government's A-level results debacle March 18: Schools are closed and exams cancelled as the UK grinds to a halt under the coronavirus lockdown March 20: Ministers say Ofqual and exam boards will work out a system for judging grades amid fears from parents that their children could lose out. July 11: MPs on the Education Committee warn that the calculated grades system could unfairly punish disadvantaged and minority students because of the way it is calculated. August 4: Scottish Higher results are released, with around 100,000 grades - a quarter of the total - marked down under a plan put in place by Nicola Sturgeon's SNP administration August 11: The Scottish Education Minister John Swinney U-turns under pressure from Tories and Labour and says predicted grades will be used instead of the algorithm. August 11: Ministers in England decide that pupils will be able to appeal against their grades, in some cases using mock exam performance, just two days before the English results are released. August 13: Almost 40 per cent of A-Level results in England are downgraded by Ofqual's algorithm, sparking widespread fury and demands for a U-turn. August 15: Ministers say that it will fund appeals against the marks handed out, in a bid to quell to anger. August 15: Ofqual withdrawals its appeal criteria just hours after publishing it, pending a review. August 17: Mr Williamson announces that A-Levels and GCSEs due to be unveiled on Thursday will be calculated using predicted grades, amid calls for his resignation. Advertisement

What grades can now be used and will I still get into my first choice university? Answers to your questions after A-level and GCSE U-turn chaos

by Mark Duell for MailOnline

Students in England have been told their A-level grades will now be based on teachers' assessments - if they were higher than the moderated grades they received.

GCSE students who are anxiously awaiting their results on Thursday can also opt for grades based on their teachers' estimates rather than the controversial algorithm devised by exams regulator Ofqual.

The Government's U-turn comes after Ofqual revealed that nearly two in five (39.1 per cent) A-level grades in England were reduced from teachers' predictions.

Here is a breakdown of what the decision means for students:

What was the original plan?

After exams were cancelled, Ofqual, the exam regulator, asked teachers to submit grades for students and list them in order of ability. However, it was apparent that many had been overly optimistic. It was decided that more reliance would need to be placed on statistical modelling  or 'standardisation'. This led to the algorithm which was used to calculate grades.

Why was this controversial?

A huge proportion of teachers' predictions were deemed useless. A school's performance in previous years played a greater role  reducing 40 per cent of A-levels, and an even higher proportion of GCSEs. The system penalised students at low-performing schools in poor areas. Its aim was only to preserve existing trends  including educational inequality.

A group of students at Norwich School react as they receive their A-Level results last Thursday

What has now changed?

Before yesterday's U-turn, Ofqual loosened its strict criteria on appeals, saying schools could challenge results.

But the onus on schools to submit evidence that their grades were wrong meant the row deepened. The Scottish government was first to U-turn, promising to restore the original teacher predictions.

Westminster came up with a 'triple lock' guarantee, meaning pupils could fall back on mock exam grades or take fresh papers in October. But after a weekend of confusion, it announced England would also allow teachers' grades.

How will they get new grades?

Guidance is yet to be issued by the Department for Education, but it is assumed that boards will send out new exam certificates in the coming days for A-level students. The Government has said GCSE results will not be delayed, so they should also reflect teachers' grades.

Which grades can now be used?

A-level and GCSE students in England will now be able to use their centre assessment grades (CAGs) - the grades submitted by schools and colleges to the exam boards - if they are higher than the moderated grade.

Teachers were told to submit the grades they thought each student would most likely have received if they had sat the papers, after this summer's exams were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Exam boards moderated these grades to ensure this year's results were not significantly higher than previous years using an algorithm created by England's exams regulator.

Students can keep their calculated grade from exam boards, but if their schools' original estimated grade was higher then they can also use that result.

Students receive their A-level results at City Academy Hackney in East London last Thursday

What were the issues with moderated grades?

Critics complained that Ofqual's algorithm - which was used by exam boards to make the adjustments - had penalised pupils in schools in more disadvantaged areas, while benefiting those in private schools.

Head teachers reported that schools and colleges with larger cohorts saw more of their students' grades downgraded, while those with smaller cohorts did not appear to be as affected.

Politicians and education unions called on ministers to scrap the unfair model and revert to teachers' estimated grades to ensure students could progress into higher education and employment.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has admitted that the algorithm produced more 'significant inconsistencies' than could be rectified through an appeals process.

Can appeals still be made on the basis of mock exams?

Last week, Mr Williamson gave a 'triple lock' pledge that students could use the highest result out of their calculated grade from exam boards, their mock exam or sitting the actual exam in the autumn.

But following the decision to allow teachers' grades to be used instead, the Education Secretary has said mock exam results will not be a key part of the appeals process for A-level and GCSE students in England.

Students who are unhappy with both their calculated grade and centre assessment grade will still be able to sit exams in the autumn.

Further details and guidance on how appeals can be processed have still not been published.

The Ucas deadline for applicants to meet their offer conditions is September 7, leaving exam boards only a matter of weeks to issue outcomes of appeals.

Students wearing face masks take part in a protest in London over A-level results on Saturday

Will universities be able to admit students who now have the grades?

The Government has said it will remove temporary student number controls - introduced this year to stop over-recruitment due to Covid-19 - to remove potential barriers to students being able to progress.

Ministers have called on universities to be as flexible as possible when looking at who to admit on to a degree course, adding that they expect institutions to honour all offers made and met.

But some institutions have already raised concerns about a lack of capacity, staffing, accommodation and facilities if numbers increase - especially at a time when universities are trying to be Covid-secure.

Students who have now secured their first choice following the Government's announcement may be asked to defer their place by a year if there is no space left on their preferred course.

The Government said students who have accepted an offer will be able to release themselves if they have another offer reinstated.

What will happen with BTEC students' grades?

Students have called for urgent clarity on how BTEC students will be affected by the announcement.

Mr Williamson said the Department for Education (DfE) is working with BTEC awarding body Pearson and he is hopeful that the change will be extended to the vocational qualifications.

What is happening in the other devolved nations?

Last week, the Scottish Government was forced into a U-turn after a backlash about the moderation system used there. Students complained after more than 124,000 test results were brought down.

It was announced that the lower results would revert to the grades estimated by pupils' teachers.

Less than a week later - just four days after A-level results were awarded in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - the devolved administrations also announced they were moving to teacher-assessed grades.

Most A-level and GCSE students will be given grades predicted by teachers in Northern Ireland following an outcry from teachers, parents and pupils.

Like elsewhere in the UK, Welsh pupils will now be awarded results on the basis of teacher assessments rather than an algorithm for grading A-levels and GCSEs.
Apparently a star can sneeze.

That is what happened to Betelgeuse, the red supergiant star that marks the armpit of Orion the Hunter, according to Andrea Dupree, associate director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. She and an international team of astronomers described that conclusion in a paper published this week in Astrophysical Journal.

Betelgeuse, one of the brightest and most prominent stars in the winter sky, began dramatically and mysteriously dimming in the fall of 2019, dwindling to less than half its normal brightness. By February 2020, it was the faintest that it had been since measurements began more than 150 years ago, according to Dupree.

The dimming was obvious to everyone when looking at the constellation Orion, she said. It was very weird. Betelgeuse was almost missing,

Some astronomers and excitable members of the public wondered if the star was about to explode as a supernova. Such aging stars are notoriously cranky and moody, sputtering out bursts of gas and dust as their cores evolve and change.

Something like that was happening to Betelgeuse last year, Duprees team now reports. Observations in ultraviolet light with the Hubble Space Telescope revealed gobs of dense hot gas shooting out through the upper parts of atmosphere of Betelgeuse at speeds of 200,000 miles an hour, almost like a sneeze, Dupree said.

At the same time a robot telescope called Stella  the STELLA Robotic Observatory, in Tenerife, Spain  recorded the surface of the star pulsating outward, helping to propel the hot gas.

The surface of Betelgeuse, like that of the sun, is covered with big blobs of rising and falling gas, called convection cells, that transmit energy from the interior. We suspect that there was a confluence of a big convective cell on the surface and also the outward radial velocity that acted together to eject this material, Dupree said in an email.

Radial velocity measurements showed that the surface, or photosphere, was moving out during 2019. From May to August, Betelgeuse was near the sun and out of view, she said: And in September we saw this bright hot dense material moving out from the southern part of the star.

Once the gas had gone a few million miles from the star, it cooled into a dust cloud that obscured the southern part of Betelgeuse.

In an email, Edward Guinan of Villanova University, who has been tracking Betelgeuse, called the new Hubble data fantastic, and said Duprees theory was a good working hypothesis. He added: But I dont entirely agree that the Mystery is now solved.

He noted that alternative explanations could explain the dimming: giant sunspots, perhaps, or gigantic rising convection cells tens of millions of miles across, radiating away their heat and energy and then cooling, turning over and sinking again.

Adding to the mystery is that Betelgeuse, after regaining its normal luminosity this May, has started to dim again. Betelgeuse has long been known to vary in brightness  although not so extremely as this year  in accordance with a 420-day cycle of pulsation in its size, so this new fading is occurring early, for reasons unclear.

That the star will eventually blow up is certain. Betelgeuse, sometimes pronounced beetle-juice, and also known as Alpha Orionis, is at least 10 times and maybe 20 times as massive as the sun. If it were placed in our solar system, its fiery gases would engulf everything out to Jupiters orbit.

The star is a so-called red supergiant in the last violent stages of its evolution. It has already spent millions of years burning primordial hydrogen and transforming it into the next lightest element, helium. That helium is burning into more massive elements. Once the core of the star becomes solid iron, sometime within the next 100,000 years, the star will collapse and then rebound in a supernova explosion, probably leaving behind a dense nugget called a neutron star.

Whatever Betelgeuse is going to do, it might have already done; we are just waiting for the news. The star is some 725 light-years away, so the light visible from Earth today, whether rising or falling, left the star around the year 1300.

No one knows how a star behaves in the weeks before it explodes, Dupree said. And there were some ominous predictions that Betelgeuse was ready to become a supernova. Chances are, however, that it will not explode during our lifetime. But who knows?

Guinan said: I am really looking forward to seeing what the star will do this season. It will be fun to see.
The court heard that Muchero told Mr Thomas that they were in a position to pay a once off US$34 134 on the forex auction on behalf of his fuel firm. Acting on the said misrepresentation, Mr Thomas, through his company deposited $3 413 140 into three separate bank accounts belonging to Billion Enterprises Limited, 2 Biltrex Limited and Borgov (Pvt) Limited.
Student discouraged from science study in her teens set to graduate with first class degree

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Aug 18th, 2020

A student discouraged from studying science in her teens is set to graduate from university with a first-class degree  and has been shortlisted for a national award.

Paige Tynan, from Llandyrnog in Denbighshire, was told when preparing for her GCSEs that she should not take the higher level papers in her GCSE science exams  and, despite fighting to secure the right to sit them, found her confidence knocked as a result.

However, since beginning her studies at Wrexham Glyndwr University, Paige has discovered a love for Forensic Science  and in particular Forensic Anthropology; has been shortlisted in the inaugural Wales STEM Awards; and has presented her work virtually at a major UK conference  where she was selected for a special award.

Paige is now hoping to use her story  and her love of science  to inspire young people to consider STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects and to follow their interests in higher-level study.

She said: When I was told that Id fail my science GCSE exams if I sat the higher tier papers, it was a huge knock to my confidence  and I dont think I really overcame the loss of confidence until I finished this year with a first-class honours degree.

I did fight to sit the higher tier papers, and I did end up doing better than I would have sitting the foundation papers  but my confidence had already been knocked.

Despite the discouragement she had received in her teens, and despite not having a science-related A-level, Paige chose to study Forensic Science at Wrexham Glyndwr University  beginning her degree with a Foundation year.

Despite facing challenges in her studies, Paiges tutors worked to ensure she was receiving the support she needed.

This included a referral to Glyndwrs Inclusion Services team, which led to a diagnosis of dyslexia  meaning the team could give her tailored support to help her build upon her strengths.

Paige added: I have been aiming high since I got my extremely late dyslexia diagnosis, halfway through second year. I didnt want it to define me academically  and I now had the support to get me to where I wanted to be.

My experience has contributed heavily to my aspirations to become an educator, so that I can give students entering STEM pathways the same sort of support that I received at Glyndwr  so that they, too, can reach their full potential.

During her studies, Paige discovered a particular love for Forensic Anthropology  and , shortly after completing her degree, she was among dozens of people presenting research at the British Association for Forensic Anthropologys most recent virtual conference  where delegates picked her research for an award.

The British Association for Forensic Anthropology is something I have been a member of throughout my undergraduate degree, she said.

I am quite keen to become a Certified Forensic Anthropologist over the next couple of years.

The conference was open to all members of the association  thirty research posters were submitted and around 200 delegates attended. There was some really great research on display.

I entered a poster based on my dissertation research project, which looked at the effects of body size on the rate of cadaver decomposition in the UK.

When I found out that I had won the Delegates Choice Award I was absolutely made up  especially because I am hoping to continue my studies at Glyndwr through doctoral study. It was great to know that my research was disseminated effectively and that people had enjoyed reading it.

As well as the award from the Association, Paige has also found herself shortlisted  alongside Amy Rattenbury, the Programme Leader for Forensic Science at Glyndwr  in the upcoming Wales STEM awards.

The awards celebrate those who are championing and making a difference in STEM subjects across the country.

Paige said: said: I think its a good achievement to be shortlisted  and to go from so many to the final three. Its quite exciting really and a good recognition of my work.

Amy added Im very pleased to be nominated for this award  and to see Paige nominated too.

Im always keen to do whatever I can to inspire more female training and development in an area which has been traditionally male-dominated, and everything which helps to promote STEM careers, particularly to women, is hugely important.

To see Paige shortlisted for the rising star award is a perfect example of how hard work, determination and a supportive environment can really transform the journeys of so many of our students here at Glyndwr.

I am extremely proud of all our students who have completed their studies this year and many, like Paige, are already going on to do great things with their research.

More about studying Forensic Science at Wrexham Glyndwr University can be found here.
The FIR against Facebook India's public policy director Ankhi Das was filed by journalist Awesh Tiwari, who is named in a separate FIR filed by Das in Delhi

The public policy director of Facebook India, Ankhi Das, along with two others, has been named in a first information report filed by Raipur-based journalist Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.

The Chhattisgarh Police has said that the FIR was registered in Raipur based on the complaint of Awesh Tiwari, who is the state bureau chief of a local news channel, for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

As per The Quint, the FIR has alleged that Das had pressured her employees to not take down several hate speech posts prior to the Lok Sabha elections. This was done to make political gains in the Indian market.

The other two named in the FIR are Ram Sahu, a resident of Mungeli in Chhattisgarh, and Indore resident Vivek Sinha. An investigation is underway and further action will be taken accordingly, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav told PTI.

All three have been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 295(a) (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 505(1)(c) (with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit an offence against any other class or community), 506 (criminal intimidation), 500 (defamation) and 34 (common intention), he said.

Ankhi Das is Facebook's Director, Public Policy, India, South, and Central Asia.

Tiwari lodged the case after he was named in a complaint by Das to Delhi Police, alleging that she had been receiving threats to her life through online posts.

In the FIR, Tiwari alleged that on 16 August he had put up a post on his Facebook account related to an article published in The Wall Street Journal. The WSJ reported that Facebook refused to apply hate speech rules to certain BJP politicians, while the social media giant has asserted that its policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation.

According to Tiwari, he had put up a post on Facebook on Sunday after the WSJ report. There were comments over the facts of the story, which was published in the newspaper, read his complaint, accessed by Hindustan Times.

He further said: "Two Facebook users, with names Sahu and Sinha, jumped in to defend Das and commented on his (Tiwari's) post that she (Das) is a Hindu and she is talking in the interest of the faith. Sahu then allegedly posted derogatory and communally sensitive photographs and also threatened him."

Tiwari also said he had been receiving threat messages and calls on WhatsApp after his post, claiming to destroy him.

He alleged that Das, Sahu, and Sinha were trying to defame him by spreading religious hatred due to which his life is under threat and he is living in constant fear.

The journalist has also submitted screenshots of the threat messages received on his mobile phone to the police.

On Monday, the Delhi Police had registered a case based on a complaint by Das, where she said that has been receiving "violent threat to her life", officials said. In her complaint, Das alleged that several people were issuing "threats, making sexually coloured remarks and defaming her" through online posts.

Tiwari has denied the allegations that Das has levelled against him in the FIR in Delhi. He told The Quint that he had never contacted Das nor has he ever threatened against her.

I do not know why I have been named in the complaint. I got to know about it from other colleagues. This is a very important issue and I had simply posted points from the report that was originally published by the Wall Street Journal, Tiwari told The Quint.

With inputs from PTI
The mother of a 2-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in Whitman, Massachusetts and later died has now been indicted on a manslaughter charge, according to prosecutors in Plymouth County.

Shaniqua Leonard, 29, of Whitman had been originally charged with reckless endangerment of a child but she is now facing the upgraded charge of manslaughter in Brockton Superior Court. Authorities said she was also indicted on the endangerment charge.

The Plymouth District Attorneys Office said a grand jury handed up the indictment late Monday.

The district attorneys office said the upgraded charge reflects the results of an autopsy conducted by the states medical examiner and an investigation by Whitman and Massachusetts State Police, but no further information was given.

WBZ reported that a police report in the previous endangerment charge said Lyric died from a non-accidental traumatic head injury.

The television station also reported Leonard called 911 on the night of Dec. 28, 2019 and told police she had put her children to bed. It was hours later that she discovered Lyric unresponsive.

Authorities received a call on Dec. 28 around 12:02 a.m. for a report of an unresponsive child at 863 Washington St. Apt. 3 in Whitman.

When police and firefighters arrived on scene, they rushed the child to Brockton Hospital. The little girl was then flown to Boston Childrens Hospital in critical condition.

Lyric was taken off life support on Dec. 31 around 3 p.m., the district attorneys office said.

WCVB reports the child had been recently returned to her mother from foster care by the state Department of Children & Families.

Leonard, according to the television station, maintained that her daughters wounds were self-inflicted. The mother called a social worker hours before calling 911 on Dec. 28 and said Lyric was hitting her head and acting odd, WCVB reports.

Authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Leonard on Monday after the indictment. She was arrested and will appear in Brockton Superior Court Tuesday.
Russia Could Step In to Help Embattled Belarus Leader Amid Massive Protests, Accusations of Rigged Election

By Charles Maynes August 17, 2020

Russia indicated it was ready to provide military assistance to embattled Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko  even as massive crowds marched in protest to an August 9 election protesters say was rigged in favor of the longtime Belarusian leader.

A Kremlin statement said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko agreed to "comprehensive assistance to maintain security in Belarus" on the basis of an existing joint security agreement during phone talks Sunday.

The Russian offer comes as Lukashenko has increasingly looked to Moscow to help maintain support for his suddenly flagging 26-year hold on power.

In a speech before several thousand loyalists in central Minsk Sunday, Lukashenko claimed his enemies  whom he labeled "rats"  were working with NATO to overthrow his government and steal an August 9th election he insists he won with over 80% of the vote.

"Just look outside the window! Tanks and planes are a 15 minute flight from our borders," said Lukashenko in his speech.

"Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and our native Ukraine, their leadership are ordering us to hold new elections," he added. "We don't have to be Europe's toilet!"

NATO issued a statement saying there were no extraordinary military exercises taking place near the Belarusian border.

'March for freedom'

If Lukashenko was looking to rally his base, the effort was quickly eclipsed by a competing event held by his opponents a few hours later.

Tens of thousands  conservative estimates put protesters numbers at 200,000  swarmed the city center in what appeared to be the largest gathering in Belarus since the fall of the Soviet Union. Other large rallies took place in cities across the country.

Demonstrators were heeding a call from Lukashenko's primary election opponent, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, to join in a "March for Freedom."

While many believe she was the true winner of the August 9 election, protesters' anger also continues to stem from a crackdown in the days following the vote that saw unarmed demonstrators arrested and beaten.

Uncertainty Hovers Over Belarus as Thousands Hit the Streets Again

Key factories across the country announce work stoppages until Lukashenko resigns  in several cases rejecting entreaties to return to work from plant directors loyal to government

Demonstrators on Sunday held up pictures of welts and bruises  or simply offered their own damaged bodies  as evidence of violence handed down by Lukashenko's security forces.

Police detained nearly 7,000 people  with hundreds injured and at least two deaths reported. A number of protesters have disappeared.

"We know the struggle is not over yet, but we feel that truth is on our side, said Ilya Halishevich, 39, a business analyst, reached by VOA during the march.

Halishevich noted he had never seen so much white and red  the colors of old Belarus Democratic Republic flag now adopted by the opposition as a symbol of resistance.

Once again Sunday, drivers blared their horns incessantly  a staple of the protest that has come to signify disgust with Lukashenko's rule.

Meanwhile, workers from several key factories  a former base of support for Lukashenko  began work stoppages Monday with the demand that the Belarusian leader resign.

Moscow's role

With Lukashenko's hold on power looking increasingly in jeopardy, attention shifted also to the Kremlin and concerns over a Russian intervention.

Would President Putin risk a repeat Russia's armed incursions into neighboring Ukraine in 2014? Georgia in 2008?

Observers in Moscow voiced their doubts  for now  noting that while the Kremlin was similarly determined to keep Belarus in its sphere of influence, Putin's loyalties to Lukashenko only ran so deep.

The two leaders are known to not care for each other's company and their relations have been hampered by recent disagreements over issues ranging from gas prices, to the coronavirus, and a long-stalled talks over formation of a union state.

"There won't be any armed intervention," said political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky, during his program on Echo of Moscow radio.

"But the threat of an intervention is an active bargaining chip in the hands of Vladimir Putin," he added, noting the Russian leader could use the threat of force to help shape post-Lukashenko Belarus "peacefully" in negotiations with the West.

Meanwhile, others suggested the uprising in Belarus differed fundamentally from other colored revolutions in the region.

"The protest movement has managed to increase its support base without resorting to that foreign policy metric so common to the post-Soviet space: "Freedom with Europe versus slavery with Russia,"' writes Alexander Baunov of the Moscow Carnegie Center.

"There is no discernible anti-Russian bent to the protests as yet, and this saves Belarusians from having to make a premature and, in many ways, artificial choice," added Baunov.

Exiled politician Valery Tsepkalo  a would-be challenger to Lukashenko in the election who fled to avoid arrest  announced he had been making the rounds in talks with lawmakers from Russia, the European Union, and the US to gain backing for Tikhanovskaya's election victory.

Meanwhile, Tikhanovskaya  the political novice who only entered the election after authorities arrested her husband, a political blogger, to keep him from participating  released a video on Monday in which she said she was ready to assume the mantle as national leader until new elections could be held.

"I don't have and never have had any illusions about my political career," said Tikhanovskaya.

"I never wanted to become a politician, but fate placed me on the frontline in the battle against arbitrary injustice."

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Syracuse, N.Y.  Murders and shootings have increased this year in Syracuse, but most other crimes have plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard analysis of Syracuse Police Department crime data.

Serious crimes  called Part I crimes  have dropped 8% this year vs. 2019 and 23% compared to a five-year average, the analysis shows. Part I crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault (which includes shootings), larceny, burglary and stolen vehicles.

Many crimes are way down in 2020 vs. a five-year average: Robberies decreased 45%, larcenies down 35% and stolen vehicles dropped 23%.

But shootings and homicides have increased.

Homicides in Syracuse are up 11% compared to the five-year average and 33% compared to last year. Gang violence has been cited by local authorities as one cause.

Shootings have soared; 127 people have been shot this year, more than in all of 2019 (102). During the last five years, Syracuse has averaged 129 shooting victims per year, according to state data. In fact, more people have been shot through early August this year than were shot six of the last nine years.

Large cities across the country are seeing similar trends in crime  homicides are up while most other types of crime have declined during the coronavirus pandemic.

People changed what they were doing in a big way, in that they stayed home a lot more, said University of Pennsylvania law and economics professor David Abrams. That reduced the number of targets of crimes, especially violent crimes.

A Wall Street Journal analysis recently showed that 36 of the countrys 50 biggest cities have seen spikes in homicides. A study commissioned by the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice found that 27 of the nations largest cities have seen a 37% increase in murders year over year.

Abrams, who is tracking the pandemics impact on crime, said the likely reason for the fall in crime is that more serious crimes require a victim and shutdown orders limited the number of people out of their homes.

In his research, Abrams used mobility data that Google pulled from cell phones. Each of the 23 cities for which Abrams has mobility data saw big drops in people going to retail centers, work, grocery stores and using public transit. Abrams made the crime and mobility data publicly available.

Central New York saw similar drops in people going out at the onset of the pandemic.

It kind of makes sense, Abrams said. Its this reduction in opportunity for crime that I think explains a lot of it.

After lockdown restrictions started to ease in mid-May, homicides increased in Syracuse. Seventeen of the citys 20 homicides have happened since May. In the last five years, the city has averaged about nine homicides from May through August.(Theres still about one-third of the month left.)

Experts said this year is unusual because homicides and other crimes, particularly aggravated assault, typically increase together.

But across the country, the data has diverged and the reason is unclear, said Ojmarrh Mitchell, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Arizona State.

The increase in homicides can likely be attributed to more intimate crimes where the perpetrator knows the victim, like in domestic violence and violence between rival groups, according to Mitchell.

I think because of disruptions in peoples lives with the pandemic and the lockdowns, theyre under more stress. We dont like it when our daily routines are interrupted, Mitchell said. We find it stressful.

Add the stress of the pandemic to the little slights that these groups trade back and forth using various mediums and you have a recipe for more violence between rival groups, he said, although he added more data needs to examined.

Mitchell likened some homicides, particularly those tied to domestic violence, to an aggravated assault thats escalated and gone horribly wrong.

In June, an argument over social distancing at the Syracuse Community Health Center turned into a homicide when a couple waited for Chennal Price-Green to leave the center and stabbed her to death, police said.

One of the most prominent homicide this year was that of Chariel Osorio, 17, which happened on June 20 at a party of hundreds of people on the Near West Side that was interrupted by a shootout among gang members.

Police have attributed the shooting, which injured eight other people, to gang violence.

Weve seen a lot of retaliatory shootings, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick believes the shootings arent coronavirus- or stress-related, calling them gang related and characterizing the motives for the shootings as trivial and nonsensical.

After a particularly brutal weekend in which there were 13 shots fired calls, nine people were injured by gunfire and three died, Syracuse police chief Kenton Buckner attributed the rise in shootings to drugs, gangs and personal disputes.

Mitchell, the professor at Arizona State, said the national increase in homicides will likely be short-lived and will recede to normal levels once the pandemic subsides.

This years increase in homicides in Syracuse comes after three years of fewer homicides annually compared to 2016 when there were 31 homicides, the most in the last 30 years.

Because the trends have only persisted for a few months, Abrams and Mitchell said drawing any conclusions on why the trends are happening is difficult.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.
President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that he discussed with Prime Minister Orban and members of the Government the drawing up of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, noting that there are several important sections of motorway prepared to be included in projects with European funding.

"This is the plan we are preparing to attract the European funds negotiated a few weeks ago, which are necessary for the recovery of the economy. The Government is currently working on identifying the projects that will be included in this programme and is in constant dialogue with the European Commission so that all the proposed projects are finally eligible, i.e. can be financed from these funds. The Government's efforts at the moment are focused on infrastructure. Romania needs a lot of infrastructure and I'm talking mainly about motorways and railways. The roads are very important in this phase. And in this area I can say that we are very advanced. We have several important sections of motorway prepared to be included in projects proposed for European funding," President Iohannis said in a press statement at the Cotroceni Palace.

On Tuesday afternoon, the president held a meeting with Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, Deputy Prime Minister Raluca Turcan, as well as other Cabinet members at the Cotroceni Palace. Also attending were the Minister of Public Finance Florin Citu, Minister of Economy, Energy and Business Environment Virgil Popescu, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Lucian Bode, and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Adrian Oros.
Korean films are revitalizing theaters. Given that the industry was affected by the pandemic, the film creators never give up. It started off with the zombie genre movies "Alive", "Peninsula", then to suspense and action "Steel Rain 2: Summit" and "Deliver Us From Evil", all of which attracted more than two million viewers within five days after release.

Recently, "The Golden Holiday" decided to postpone it's opening after the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the metropolitan area. But with the health and safety restrictions implemented, theaters are ready to open new blockbuster films.

Here is the list of upcoming movies to dominate the cinemas in the second half of 2020.

"Space Sweepers"

Starring Song Joong Ki, Kim Tae Ri, Jin Sun Gyu, and Yoo Hae Jin, this futuristic film, set in 2092, is about a crew of space junk collectors in a spaceship. The crew of the Victory ship discovered a humanoid robot named Dorothy, known to be a weapon for mass destruction. It's helmed by the director of "A Warewolf Boy" and "Phantom Detective", who made his previous films known abroad, Jo Sung Hee. The film will be released on September 23. As per recent reports, the cast moved their press conference online due to the pandemic.

"Sinkhole"

Starring Cha Seung Won, Lee Kwang Soo, Kim Sung Kyun, and Nam Da Reum, this is a comedy film that revolves around a man who bought his own house after 11 years. A newly built home falls into a sinkhole with its neighboring residents trapped. Directed by Kim Ji Hoon who directed previous movies such as "Sector 7" and "The Tower", the production completed filming in 2019 and to release it later this year 2020.

"The Night of The Undead"

Starring Lee Jung Hyun, Kim Sung Oh, Seo Young Hee, Yang Dong Geun, and Lee Mi Do, this is a sci-fi comedy thriller of a couple, whom the wife realized that she will then be an object for a murder by her own husband. It's directed by Shin Jung Won paired with screenwriter Jang Hang Joon, and has been confirmed to be released in September.

"Hero"

Starring Jung Sung Hwa and Kim Go Eun with many more supporting actors, and directed by Yoon Je Kyun, "Hero" talks about fight of freedom. It depicts the story of An Jung Geun, a Korean Independence activist. It's the first Korean film with original adaptation of a musical-drama to the screen. According to reports, it's for release on Chuseok season, December 2020.

"Diva"

Starring Shin Min Ah and Lee Yoo Young, directed by Jo Seul Ye, "Diva" is a mystery-thriller movie that tackles two good friends who meet an accident. The other aspiring athlete went missing while diving diva Lee Yoo Young lost her memory. Once she slowly recovers, she remembers strange things about her friend. It's set for release in September 2020.

"Pawn"

Starring Sung Dong Il, Ha Ji Won, Kim Hee Won, and Park So Yi, "Pawn" is a heartwarming story of a man who will gamble on anything to support his family. It's directed by Kang Dae Kyun and to be released in September 2020.
By Mike Hastie

August 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " -

August 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - I took these photographs on the night of August 13, 2020.

It was the night that I and a few others got trampled by the charging cops. I took these 4 pictures before my body hit the pavement. I wanted to send these out because they are all story telling images that have come out of the non-stop resistance against police aggression and brutality that have plagued America since the beginning of corporate power against regular everyday people. And, if you happen to be a person of color in America, you have a spotlight on your very existence. When George Floyd was executed by a white police officer on May 25, 2020, all hell broke loose.

There is a whole new generation of Americans who have decided that non-stop resistance is the only way to confront the lethal power structure that is bound and determined to tattoo obedience on their very souls. That relentless longevity of energy is being acted out in Portland, Oregon like no other city across this nation. This has really become a profound awakening of historical precedence. The Black community only represents 6% of the population in Portland. Most of the demonstrators have been predominately young white people who are strong supporters of Black Lives Matter. There has been some very effective Black leadership that has guided many of the demonstrations.

I am also seeing a strong white leadership coming to the surface. Not only are they supporting BLM, but they are also identifying with their struggle for survival. Many of them are seeing themselves as victims of a tragic system of violent capitalism that is draining hope in their stressful lives. They are young anti-fascists and anarchists who are sick of the world they have inherited. They have very little respect for the so-called  Boomer  generation, with the likes of Clinton, Bush and Trump.

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They see blithering narcissistic monsters who have destroyed their future with terminal unbridled greed. These young people are going head-on with the police and the power structure they protect. I am going to say this very slowly: These young people have their entire lives ahead of them, and they see a grim future, and that is why they are so fucking angry. They are yelling at the cops to go fuck themselves and the lethal drug injection rules they enforce. These kids are serious, and they stand their ground with great courage. It is amazing how many of them have come up to me and thanked me for what I said when I confronted the Feds in that video that went viral. They simply identify with me, and that gave them validation. These young people take great risks every night when they confront the police with their lies. They have such a mistrust for a political system that suffocates them on a daily bases. They look at the horrifying effects of climate change, war after war, extreme income inequality, and a president who is gutting the EPA, and at the same time is so dangerous that he is killing countless Americans across this country with his lack of leadership involving the Coronavirus Pandemic.

So, there they are on the front lines every night with their armor on, lined up on the street with their shields side by side. Many of them have been injured by the police, who throw flash-bang grenades, fire so-called non-lethal projectiles that have the potential to kill you, fire tear gas canisters with choking consequences, use pepper spray up close that completely debilitates you, throw people to the ground, often hitting them with batons, and arresting people at random. You got to teach these kids a lesson, let them know who is in charge. And, while this is all going on, the American Empire of Elders is using our military to kill and steal all over the world.

Corporations cant make a killing off of peace. And to think, President Donald Trump called these Portland protesters a beehive of terrorism. Keep in mind these kids may not have their whole lives ahead of them. Maybe thats why they are on the front lines every night.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is currently testing wearable robotic exoskeletons, developed by SuitX, an American company specialised in bio-technology and exoskeletons for medical and professional uses.



Dewa intends to use exoskeletons for staff performing manual tasks such as manufacturing, construction, assembly, wiring, loading/unloading, automotive workshops, and other uses. This aims to protect them, boost productivity and enhance accuracy.



Dewas initiative to test wearable robotic exoskeletons supports our strategy to adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as AI and robotics. This supports the Dubai 10x initiative, which mandates the Government of Dubai to be a global leader that is 10 years ahead of all other cities through government innovation and the reformation of traditional work mechanisms, said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa.



Al Tayer pointed out that using this technology in fieldwork supports Dewas vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation, and its strategy to employ the latest smart technologies and innovative quality solutions to enhance employee happiness and make fieldwork seamless, efficient and productive.  TradeArabia News Service
In a significant achievement for the indigenous fighter aircraft programme, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas on the western front along the Pakistan border in view of the tensions with China on the Ladakh front.

IMAGE: Light combat aircraft 'Tejas' performs during the Indian Air Force Day celebrations at Hindon Air Force Station on the outskirts of New Delhi. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

"The LCA Tejas was deployed by the Indian Air Force on the western front close to the Pakistan border to take care of any possible action by the adversary there," government sources told ANI.

The first LCA Tejas squadron, 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) based out of Sulur under the Southern Air Command, was deployed in an operational role there, the sources said.

The indigenous Tejas aircraft had been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech where he had stated that the deal to buy the LCA Mark1A version was expected to be completed soon.

While the first squadron of the planes is of the Initial Operational Clearance version, the second 18 Squadron 'Flying Bullets' is of the Final Operational Clearance version and was operationalised by the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria at the Sulur airbase on May 27.

The Indian Air Force and the Defence Ministry are expected to finalise the deal for the 83 Mark1A aircraft by the end of this year.

In view of the Chinese aggression on the borders, the IAF had deployed its assets all along the borders with both China and Pakistan.

The forward airbases of the force have been equipped to take care of situations along the western and northern fronts and have seen extensive flying operations in the recent past, including both daytime and night operations.
Chinese internet stocks were rallying again Tuesday.

The KWEB China internet ETF, which holds stocks such as JD.com and Alibaba, was up more than 1% by the middle of the session and added to a more than 4% gain over the past two days. The ETF was boosted by a better-than-expected quarter for JD.com a day earlier.

Mark Tepper, president of Strategic Wealth Partners, expects more gains for the group even as U.S.-China tensions ratchet higher.

"What investors need to do is just tune out the noise related to some of these tensions and focus more on the underlying fundamentals of the companies," Tepper told CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Monday. "Think about where you want to be in U.S. stocks  Facebook, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple  all those internet names, you want to be in the same space in China."

Tepper highlights e-commerce company Alibaba specifically as a solid way to play the Chinese tech space.

"That's our play on the growing middle class in China. Basically you're getting all the businesses that Amazon has at a discount. You're getting e-commerce, cloud, AliPay, delivery. They're growing even faster than Amazon in a place with four times as many people with a slightly more attractive multiple," said Tepper.

Alibaba is set to report earnings on Thursday. The stock was on watch after President Donald Trump over the weekend said he was considering banning certain Chinese companies in the U.S. Tepper says the risk of any action against Alibaba such as delisting the stock from U.S. exchanges does not look to be feasible.

Bill Baruch, founder of Blue Line Capital, says Alibaba recently broke out above a rising trend line that should take the stock as high as $290.
Faced with jittery citizens, increasingly pissed-off Democrats in Congress, and impending lawsuits from a large group of state attorneys general, the U.S. Postal Service today said that it would temporarily back off on the controversial policy changes that have led to a collective freakout about whether the Trump administration is actively attempting to sabotage the upcoming election by hampering mail-in voting. Unfortunately, the agencys statement left it unclear whether it would actually reverse any the moves it has already made, or simply halt additional changes, making it difficult to tell whether it was announcing a substantive backtrack or simply making a PR play.

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The Postal Service has been embroiled in controversy thanks to a number of recent cost-cutting measures imposed by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a former logistics executive and major Republican donor, that have led to reported mail backlogs around the country. Shortly after being appointed earlier this year, DeJoy put new restrictions on overtime, potentially making it harder for carriers to complete their routes, and instructed truck drivers to leave mail behind in processing centers rather than take the (sometimes additional) time to ensure all of it was delivered. DeJoy also began decommissioning 10 percent of the agencys letter-sorting machines, according to a grievance filed by the American Postal Workers Union, while post offices around the country have reportedly started cutting back their hours. (There was an outcry over reports that mailboxes were being removed, though that may have been an overblown reaction to a normal policy sparked by a poorly contextualized viral photo.)

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Though USPS insisted that some of these moves had been put in motion before DeJoys tenure, they have led to quite a bit of public anguish among Democrats worried about the upcoming elections, especially after the president said he was specifically blocking additional funding to the Postal Service because he did not want universal vote by mail. The House has called an emergency hearing for later this month, where DeJoy has agreed to testify, and this week, state attorneys general across the country said they were readying suits challenging the service cuts.

With all of this scrutiny intensifying, the Postal Service says it will be putting its changes on ice, at least until after the election. In his statement today, DeJoy said he would pause some long-standing operational initiatives to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail. Specifically:

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I want to assure all Americans of the following: - Retail hours at Post Offices will not change. - Mail processing equipment and blue collection boxes will remain where they are. No mail processing facilities will be closed. - And we reassert that overtime has, and will continue to be, approved as needed. In addition, effective Oct. 1, we will engage standby resources in all areas of our operations, including transportation, to satisfy any unforeseen demand.

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The statement was, at best, mildly reassuring. I think it raises more questions than it provides answers, Ronald Stroman, the former deputy postmaster general who is now a senior fellow with the Democracy Fund, said on a press call during the afternoon. A few questions he pointed out:

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 The statement says post offices hours will not change. But what about locations where hours have already been cut? Will those be reversed?

 It says processing equipment and mailboxes wont be moved. But what about machines that have reportedly already been removed or disassembled?

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 It says overtime will still be approved as needed. What does that even mean?

The key question, Stroman told reporters, was simply whether the Postal Service plans to process all of the mail it receives at its plants each day, send it to post offices, and deliver all of the mail, all of the ballots that it has received that day, as opposed to leaving them.

When I forwarded some of those questions on to USPS, the agencys spokesman told me I dont have anything additional to pass along at this time. Theyll presumably have to provide answers sometime soon, however: The state attorneys general say they are still going ahead with their lawsuitsincluding one that was filed Tuesday afternoonwhich argued that USPS service changes didnt go through the proper process of public notice and approval by the agencys board of governors. So far, 21 states are on board. Were trying to stop Trumps attacks on the Postal Service, which we believe to be an attack on the integrity of the election. Its a straight-up attack on democracy, Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh told the Washington Post.

Shockingly, that vague press release didnt fend them off.
A lesbian couple with 220,000 social media followers have sparked an online row after offering a vial of donor sperm in a prize giveaway.

YouTube stars Allie and Sam, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, posted an image of themselves holding a sign reading 'donor sperm giveaway', telling their Instagram fans they'd partnered with a leading sperm bank to offer the prize.

While some lesbian couples hoping to become parents praised the competition, others suggested that it turned pregnancy into a 'commodity', with one writing: 'Imagine telling a child that they came from an Instagram giveaway.'

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Canadian influencers Allie and Sam announced that they've partnered with US-based sperm bank Fairfax Cryobank to offer their 220,000 social media fans a vial of free donor sperm

The couple asked fans to like, tag friends and follow them to be in with a chance of winning the donor sperm, which would normally retail at between $500 and $1,000

A vial of donor sperm currently costs between $500 and $1,000, with additional IVF treatment often running into the thousands.

Allie and Sam, who have recently also endorsed watch straps, pet food and a household sweeper, announced their latest unique commercial venture on Sunday, telling their followers: 'We are so, so excited to be partnering with to (hopefully!) help one of you grow your family!'

To be in with a chance of winning the vial, the couple asked entrants to follow them, like the post and tag friends, saying the winner would receive one vial of donor sperm from US-based sperm bank Fairfax Cryobank.

Opinion was quickly divided, with many reacting positively, saying that donor sperm was expensive to buy and they'd welcome the chance to start a family with a free vial.

The unusual giveaway has divided opinion on social media. While many were baffled by the prize, lots of lesbian couples said starting a family was expensive and the prize was a good idea

One Instagram follower, emtxylor90, wrote: 'My fiancee and I are looking to start a family. However, with the ridiculous prices fertility clinics charge its looking very slim.'

Another user, untilwereghosts, penned: 'We just started our IVF process. This would be a dream/big time saving in the already huge bill.'

However, others railed against the idea of giving sperm away as a competition prize.

On Twitter, @ovoxhelen wrote: 'Theres so many things about this thats incredibly concerning. the fact that people in the comments are seriously trying to win this giveaway blows my mind.'

The couple, who met six years ago on Tinder and wed in September 2019, regularly endorse products including watch straps, dog food and a household sweeper

@valeriefinnigan added: 'It's the commodification of pregnancy and babies that I find problematic.'

@jakewhosagirl added: 'Imagine telling a child that they came from an instagram giveaway.'

The couple, who met six years ago on Tinder, document their lives together on social media, sharing videos of their wedding in September last year, moving house and discussing their plans to start a family of their own.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 16:04:32|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- More than two months have passed, but Chinese doctor Zhao Mengwen still felt exhilarated when recollecting how a nine-month-old Sierra Leonean infant infected with COVID-19 was saved.

"The nine-month-old baby, Ola, was one of three orphans who suffered from different levels of congenital malformation and malnutrition, and had developed severe COVID-19 symptoms before they were transferred to the hospital," said Zhao, a doctor of the Chinese medical team based in the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, one of the specialized hospitals to receive COVID-19 patients in the West African country.

"Their conditions were rather critical. All of them coughed continuously and struggled to breathe, and the nine-month-old infant also had two bedsores on his head," said Zhao, adding that doctors concluded that the three severe cases required combined therapies and intensive care following a joint consultation.

"We intensified the anti-infection treatment and enhanced nutritional support to their bodies step by step in the meantime. Their diseases were in remission gradually," said Zhao, adding that the patients fully recovered weeks later on May 29.

"All of the medical staff were exhilarated to see the kids discharged from the hospital, and we also gathered to donate some food and medical supplies to help them get through these trying times," Zhao added.

When the first COVID-19 case was confirmed on the African continent on Feb. 14, China, despite being ravaged by the virus then, rushed to help its African brothers by unreservedly providing medical supplies, sharing experience, as well as sending expert teams.

CHINA'S TIMELY SUPPORT

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, China sent a total of 148 medical workers to 11 African countries as of June 2, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

Furthermore, 46 Chinese medical teams already stationed on site are also mobilized to help African nations contain the pandemic, and nearly 1,000 Chinese medical personnel have been working in Africa for a long time, according to China's National Health Commission.

Since March, massive medical supplies donated by the Chinese government, companies and individuals have also been distributed to about 50 African countries and regions.

The timely donations, including face masks, disposable protective clothing, forehead thermometers as well as other equipment, have helped alleviate the continent's shortage of medical supplies in the face of the epidemic.

The Chinese government has provided Guinea with anti-epidemic supplies several times since Guinea reported the first COVID-19 case on March 13, said Bouna Yattassaye, deputy director of the National Health and Security Agency of Guinea.

In addition, the Chinese medical team in Guinea helped the African country hold multiple video conferences, according to Yattassaye. Guinea medical experts and Chinese anti-epidemic experts had in-depth exchanges, providing important reference information for Guinea to formulate its epidemic prevention strategies.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies and individuals are also making their own contributions. For example, Jack Ma, Chinese tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, has donated three batches of medical supplies to 54 African countries via the Jack Ma and Alibaba foundations.

According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa rose to 1,108,837 as of Sunday, while the death toll climbed to 25,337, with a relatively low mortality rate of 2.3 percent.

AFRICA'S GRATITUDE

Chinese medical workers are shuttling back and forth on the continent to race against the virus, which has won admiration from local officials and medical staff.

Namibian Health and Social Services Minister Kalumbi Shalunga said China has shown solidarity with Namibia in the African country's response to COVID-19.

"Our doctors and Chinese doctors have been able to work together via virtual media so that the Chinese doctors can share their experience in tackling COVID-19," said the minister.

Alex Makupe, chief superintendent of the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) in Zambia and director for clinical care of Zambian Health Ministry, thanked the 21st Chinese medical team to Zambia.

With China's support, "UTH staff have tapped into interventional radiology and continued to provide quality health care services to the Zambian people," said Makupe.

Cavince Adhere, a Kenyan international relations researcher, said that when the novel coronavirus arrived in Africa, fear and panic gripped the continent.

"China has made significant epidemic control strides to flatten the curve of community transmissions of COVID-19. Because of the proven dexterity of the Chinese system to manage the pandemic, it is no surprise that African countries look to China to help the continent," said Adhere.

Karim Kabineh, chief of the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, expressed his gratitude to Chinese doctors' contribution to the country's battle against the virus, saying "together with Chinese doctors in the frontline, we firmly believe we will win this fight."

LASTING CHINA-AFRICA FRIENDSHIP

"Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened medical cooperation between China and Africa," said Adhere.

"Increasing dialogues, exchanges and policy coordination between African and Chinese medical experts gave the continent a huge head start in controlling the pandemic," said Adhere.

Besides the medical teams working in different African countries, China also sent experts to Africa CDC.

The specialists played a critical role in shaping the continent's response to the disease.

The past months have also witnessed the pairing between leading Chinese hospitals and their African counterparts.

"The collaboration has not only reinforced the longstanding partnership between China and Africa in the medical field. The new impetus brought about by the pandemic also provides a strong springboard to further broaden and cement Sino-Africa ties," said Adhere.

Since 1963, more than 22,000 Chinese health professionals have been sent to Africa to support local programs, having benefited about 220 million patients, according to Chinese Ambassador to Togo Chao Weidong.

"The joint efforts to combat COVID-19 illustrate the enduring relationship between China and Africa," said Adhere. Enditem
When the shelter-in-place orders shut down Saul's Restaurant and Delicatessen in March, owner Peter Levitt never doubted the Berkeley institution's future.

In fact, the time off gave him the opportunity to enhance the customer experience by starting to bake fresh bagels inside the Shattuck Avenue restaurant.

Since reopening a few weeks ago, Saul's bakes bagels all day long. Customers can now walk up to the newly installed sliding door pickup window and order some fresh, authentic bagels at any time of the day.

The restaurant's lower volume of food orders due to the pandemic gave Saul's kitchen the capacity to start baking their bagels.

"Most of the day, you can buy a bagel at Saul's that'll be either still warm or just finish cooling down in its peak window," Levitt said. "We can now provide this peak experience."

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Levitt said that most bagels sold at Bay Area bagels shops could be considered day-old bagels since they are baked overnight hours before the store opens.

"A bagel is best about an hour after it's out of the oven and then for the next two hours," explains Levitt. "And then it's a day-old bagel."

"One of the key things is when you bite into it, if you listen carefully, you should hear a little crunch, a little cracking of the skin," Levitt said. "That, to me, is the peak bagel experience."

Previously Saul's had their bagels baked overnight and delivered to the store in the morning baked by Berkeley bagel maker Dan Graf. He still mixes and shapes the organic bagels for Saul's, but he now delivers them unbaked to proof in the restauant's fridge until they are ready to be boiled and baked.

Saul's first bagel bake is right before it opens daily at eight in the morning. A second batch is available around eleven and a third bake in the afternoon.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Levitt decided to not advertise his bagels as "New York-style" because he notes that you can easily buy a mediocre bagel in New York City. "Too big, out of proportion, not crunchy, not special in any way," he notes with disdain.

"If you do your research, you find that until the 1970s most bagels were four, maybe five ounces," Levitt explains. When Jewish Immigrants moved from the Lower East Side of Manhattan to the suburbs he continues, their meat and bread portions grew more substantial, typical for most Americans. Today many bagel shops in America offer six or seven-ounce bagels.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

"I haven't experienced a peak bagel experience on a seven-ounce dough bagel," he noted. "For me, it's all about the smaller it is, the crustier it is. The crustier it is, the better it is."

Levitt believes the crunch is so essential to the bagel experience that he has told his staff to make sure the bagels are cooked long enough, to a golden brown color, even erring on the side of slightly overbaking them. He said Graf is always on call to observe Saul's cooking staff and make sure they prepare the bagels correctly.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

The response to the bagels has been overwhelming noted Levitt, especially on Saturday or Sundays. However because Saul's bakes only up to 96 bagels per bake, they might not always be able to fulfill large orders.

"We're not a bagel shop, so we can't produce thousands of bagels," he said. "We're just as much producing pastrami and briskets and all the other food on the menu. So we can't just have people come up and order thirty bagels, thirty-six bagels, twenty-four bagels, and assume that they will be available."

To handle the weekend demand, Levitt limits orders to six bagels. Saul's can fulfill a dozen or two dozen bagel orders during the week. Still, Levitt recommends calling ahead or ordering online to ensure the order is ready when the customer arrives.

Even if it is five o'clock in the evening and they sell out of fresh bagels, Levitt said Saul's would bake a smaller batch of fresh bagels, a dozen at a time, just in case a customer is looking for fresh bagels for dinner.

"Its unprecedented in the bagel business to get bagels late in the day made fresh," he explains.

He said that any of the day-old bagels that have not been sold are also available to customers for two dollars instead of three dollars.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

Although Levitt is excited to finally offer fresh bagels, it is just one of the many unique challenges operating a business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since reopening, Saul's had two employees who tested positive for COVID-19 and had to quarantine. Levitt has been getting regular COVID testing, along with his staff, to ensure employee and customer safety.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

"It's enough of a challenge for any restaurant this size to worry about COVID inside amongst ourselves," Levitt said. "Anyone that tells you that they are not worried or haven't had a problem, I wouldn't trust them."

But despite all the challenges the pandemic has placed on Saul's, Levitt will not waiver from his commitment to baking bagels fresh.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

"Because bagel making is so essential to who we are, an Ashkenazi Jewish deli, this should be the standard that I want this organization to adhere to going forward," he explained. "If it ultimately means giving up a section of the dining room for bagel ovens there, so we don't have this capacity problem, so be it. That's the way it should be."

"There is no excuse to not boil and bake our own bagels," Levitt added.

_____________

Online Photo Editor Douglas Zimmerman oversees SFGATE's Instagram and covers the Bay Area soccer scene on SFGATE's Beautiful Blog. View his latest stories .
MINSK Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, awarded medals for impeccable service" on Tuesday to law enforcement officials who have helped him crack down on protesters demanding he step down in the 10 days since an election they say was stolen.

In an effort to clamp down on strikes that have hit some of the countrys most important factories, the government also issued a message to managers of state-run plants telling them to ensure workers fulfil their duties or be disciplined.

Lukashenko is under the biggest pressure of his 26-year-rule, with no sign of an end to the protests and strikes over the election, which the president says he won with 80 percent of the vote but protesters say was blatantly rigged.

At least two protesters have been killed and thousands detained in the post-election crackdown. Many of those detained have complained of punishment beatings, cramped conditions and starvation rations.

Opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya says she was the rightful winner.

Tsikhanouskaya, who emerged as the consensus opposition candidate only after a number of others, including her husband, were jailed or barred from standing, has fled abroad, issuing calls via the internet to her followers to rise up.

Hundreds of protesters chanting shame" gathered at a theatre in Minsk on Tuesday in solidarity with its director, who was fired for speaking out in support of the opposition.

They were due later to converge on a prison where Tsikhanouskayas husband has been detained since the end of May. Tuesday is his birthday.

ROTTEN SYSTEM"

All of this outrageous, unfair lawlessness shows us how this rotten system works, where one person controls everything," Tsikhanouskaya said in a video on Tuesday.

One man has kept the country in fear for 26 years. One man stole the choice of Belarusians," she said.

Attention is firmly focused on how Russia will respond to the biggest political crisis facing an ex-Soviet neighbour since 2014 in Ukraine, when Moscow intervened militarily after an allied leader was toppled by public protests.

Of all former Soviet republics, Belarus is the closest to Russia culturally, politically and economically, with a treaty that proclaims the two countries part of a union state" with a Soviet-style red flag. But President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko have had a difficult personal relationship.

European officials privately say the situation in Belarus is different from that in Ukraine six years ago, in part because the Belarus opposition is not necessarily seeking to loosen ties with Russia, merely to get rid of Lukashenko.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron both spoke to Putin by telephone on Tuesday. The Kremlin said Putin warned both of them against foreign meddling in the affairs of Belarus.

The European Union is gearing up to impose new sanctions on Balrus officials over the crackdown, while also searching for ways to promote a negotiated solution.

Swedens foreign minister Ann Linde spoke by telephone with the Belarus minister of foreign affairs, Vladimir Makei. Linde offered to visit Minsk in her role as incoming chair of the OSCE, a security body that includes both Western countries and former Soviet states, and often mediates in the region.

The protests over the election have been further fuelled by public anger over Lukashenkos handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which he has dismissed as a psychosis, and economic grievances affecting swathes of Belarusian society.

The president was heckled by factory workers on Monday and has faced opposition from people normally seen as loyal. The Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia and four other diplomats have resigned in support for the demonstrators.

A coordination council pushed by Tsikhanouskaya to facilitate a transition of power was due to meet in Minsk later on Tuesday for the first time.

(Additional reporting by Natalia Zinets in Kyiv; Writing by Matthias Williams and Peter Graff; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Gareth Jones)

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 Eastern Ontario Regional Network is looking for federal and provincial support to provide ultra-fast gig internet to homes and businesses in the Peterborough County region through a $1.6 billion public-private partnership.

According to a statement from EORN, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the crisis in rural internet access, impacting businesses, student learning, health care and government services.

The project aims to fix the issue with an inclusive solution that assures the region recovers from the pandemic, supports economic growth and helps build vibrant communities for the long term.

This would be a game-changer for eastern Ontario to attract and retain businesses and residents, and to compete globally over the long term, stated City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham, chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus.

An internet speed of one gigabit per second would provide seamless, reliable connectivity to support and meet growing demand over the long run, according to the statement, and support real-time data sharing needed for smart technologies.

Demand for broadband is growing exponentially. Half-measures and baby steps wont get us there. We need a long-term solution, stated Peterborough County Warden J. Murray Jones. The EORN Gig Project is a lasting investment in our prosperity.

To fund the project, EORN would seek funding from the federal and provincial governments, along with loans from the Canada Infrastructure Bank and private sector.

The Canada Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission announced both a 50 megabyte per second download and 10 megabyte per second upload internet speed as a minimum basic service level, the statement said.

Without additional public investment, its unlikely that parts of eastern Ontario would reach these service levels before 2030.

The average global broadband speed in 2020 was 92 megabytes per second and is projected to reach 110 megabytes per second by 2023, according to the Cisco Annual Internet Report.

Asking rural customers to settle for the minimum level of service when urban residents and businesses currently enjoy far greater speeds is just not acceptable. Our residents and businesses need to be on the same playing field as those in towns and cities, Jones stated.

The EORN Gig Project anticipates future needs for an investment that would last a generation by delivering speeds 20 times the minimum standard. The project has the potential to serve as a model for regions across Canada, according to the statement.

More information about the EORN Gig Project is posted at eorn.ca/en/projects/broadband-phase-2.aspx.
While inside the home, the man asked the woman for a bucket. She went outside to get the bucket and when she returned, she thought there was something not right about the situation and told the man to leave.
Lets Help Students, Not Destroy the Real Estate Market

Commentary

Were likely to either hear many proposals meant to aid the working poor or read about such proposed programs in the Democratic National Committee documents that come out of the partys convention this week.

Some of the proposals may include a $15,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers and also some sort of wealth-transfer to help the working poor for when rent costs are more than 30 percent of a persons monthly earnings, ideas that were first outlined by Joe Biden in February. For this article, well set aside all the problems surrounding COVID-19 if the federal government chooses to incent people to live in high-rent zones rather than allowing the labor and housing markets to continue incenting people to move from city centers into lower-cost, less-densely populated geographies.

Instead, it would be strongly preferable to see policy proposals on both sides of the aisle created to encourage increased education and better job prospects. A few years ago, I heard a great National Public Radio story about an out-of-state student who completed six years of education at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley: four years to get his bachelors degree in art and then two more years to earn his masters degree in art (I think he was an aspiring sculptor).

During that periodpresumably when he was 18 to 24 years oldhe accumulated $250,000 in debt.

I believe government should be in the business of creating market structures through which competition feeds innovation and drives down consumer prices. Thats why Teddy Roosevelt, a Republican, busted the trusts (broke up the major monopolies) including Standard Oil Co., one of the most powerful companies in the world at that time.

In 2010, outstanding student loan balances were $760 billion; in 2020, student loan balances have rocketed to $1.6 trillionan 86 percent increase!

Enter the concept of fraudulent conveyance. If a knowledgeable lender lends money to a business and that business subsequently declares bankruptcy as a result of that debt burden, then that lender, who it is deemed should have known betteris said to have fraudulently conveyed that borrower with too much debt. If that happens, an equity investor, for example, might be able to convince a bankruptcy judge not to allow the borrower to get paid back the money he lent and instead allow the equity investor to retain ownership of the business.

My question is, how is it that a financial aid officer representing a major university can decide to facilitate a loan of $250,000 to a sculptor who has never earned any money as a sculptor? Why isnt UCBerkeley responsible to repay that loan? Why is that student responsible for that loan? And why is that student not able to reduce that debt through the bankruptcy process?

Now, dont get me wrong. I personally remember the rampant fraud being knowingly committed by mortgage borrowers during the 2005 to 2007 U.S. property bubble. People signed documents with data they knew their mortgage originators had just made up. People were borrowing 105 percent of property values, and bought boats and flat-screen TVs with the proceeds.

The problem eventually reached proportions of creating true social disorder. It unraveled when it finally also created financial disorder. The Great Recession exploded starting in the fall of 2008.

I am not suggesting borrowers are not partially culpable. I dont know anything about the prospective sculptor. Im also not suggesting in any way that universities are not places where The Arts should be encouraged. The Arts are lasting signs of Great Civilization. However, it seems to me, that donors should be funding The Artsnot students who almost certainly will never have enough income to be able to service such a ridiculously high debt burden and also have enough income to afford for home ownership, family formation and participation in civil society.

During these weeks of political conventions, I would like to see proposals to fix the extremely broken system whereby adults representing major institutions are continued to allow to lend too much money to people who in many cases were still considered children just one year earlier.

Of course, most families probably know enough about debt they should probably be held partly responsible for not working harder to point out the idiocy of borrowing such vast sums of money.

And, also of course, the Law of Unintended Consequences means we probably cant hold universities responsible for what has already been done.

And also, we need to devise solutions for students currently in school.

But with all that: fraudulent conveyance at universities seems as widespread as the fraud that was allowed by many homeowners who knew what they were doing in 2005 to 2007.

I, for one, would like to see proposals so that it stops.

Tim Shaler is a professional investor and economist based in Southern California. He is a regular columnist for The Epoch Times, where he exclusively provides some of his original economic analysis.
OTTAWAJustin Trudeau says he remains on the fence about sending his three kids back to school this fall, and a new survey suggests he is not alone as many parents are nervous about the resumption of classes while COVID-19 remains a threat.

The prime minister shared his uncertainty during a news conference on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, only weeks before classes in Ontario and much of the rest of the country are set to resume after being suspended in the spring due to the pandemic.

Like so many parents, thats something we are in very active discussions on, Trudeau said outside the House of Commons, where he announced that Parliament was being prorogued after a small cabinet shuffle.

We are looking at what the schools plans are, were looking at class sizes, were looking at how the kids are feeling about wearing masks. All my friends as parents are asking these same questions.

A new survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies suggested the majority of parents plan to send their kids to school, but that most would want classes cancelled if there is a new COVID-19 outbreak in their community.

Those results suggested many parents are torn, with 66 per cent of respondents with children saying they were worried about children returning to school but 63 per cent saying they planned to send their kids anyway.

Yet 69 per cent also felt all classes should be suspended and learning shifted back to home if there is a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in their community, with 19 per cent saying classes should continue and 12 per cent unsure either way.

The online survey of 1,510 Canadians over age 18, including 385 parents with school-aged children in their households, took place Aug. 14-16. An internet poll cannot be given a margin of error because it is not a random sample.

The results underscore the nervousness and sensitivities around the planned reopening of school, says Leger president Jean-Marc Leger, with many parents supporting the return of classes but ready to shut it down again at the drop of a hat.

People are nervous, he said. Its a very sensitive question.

For his part, Trudeau said the federal government is making infrastructure money available for provinces to help retrofit schools and other public buildings to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. But he also acknowledged the concern many parents are feeling.

I know that lots of parents are going to be watching carefully what their local school boards plans are, he said. There is a lot of reflection in a lot of households, including mine, as to whats going to happen when September rolls around.

The Leger survey also found strong support among respondents with children for requiring certain protections to be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at schools, including 76 per cent who said students should have to wear masks.

The result was not broken down by whether masks should be required for only high school students or students in both high school and elementary. Some provinces such as Ontario are requiring masks for students in certain grades but not others.

Eighty-four per cent of respondents with kids said teachers and school staff should be required to wear masks while 75 per cent supported temperature checks for children and 71 per cent wanted screening questionnaires.

People are saying: OK, we agree. We support the governments initiative. But at the same time, you should ensure that the rules are respected at school, said Leger.

Parents were more divided over what to do if a student or teacher in their kids class tested positive for COVID-19.

While 24 per cent reported they would keep their kids home from school indefinitely, 35 per cent said they would keep them home for at least 14 days while 33 per cent indicated they would follow the advice of their school on next steps.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 16:42:57|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's newly sworn-in government will create a database to store information on its nationals working abroad, local media citing a State Minister reported Tuesday.

State Minister of Foreign Employment and Market Diversification Piyankara Jayaratne, while assuming duties, told local media that a database of information on citizens working abroad would help the government provide relief to migrants and their families during emergencies.

Thousands of Sri Lanka citizens working abroad, especially in West Asian countries, have been unable to return home due to travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sri Lankan government has been working with foreign governments to ensure the safe passage of such workers back to the country. Enditem
The French boy who was thrown from the Tate Modern viewing platform while on holiday has been able to return home for a weekend for the first time since the atttack, his parents have revealed.

The boy was six-years-old when autistic teenager Jonty Bravery hurled him from the attraction's 100ft gantry on August 4 last year.

He spent a month in hospital in the UK before being discharged to France.

The latest update on a GoFundMe page, which has raised more than 240,000 for the boy's medical treatment, included comments from the boy's parents who said he had returned home 'just for a weekend'.

They also said their 'little knight' had his first holiday since the incident and had been taken to the seaside where 'he was able to build sandcastles with a friend'.

Jonty Bravery executed his planned attack when he was allowed on an unsupervised trip to the art gallery. The victim, a French boy, survived the 100ft fall, but suffered life-changing injuries - including a bleed on the brain and multiple broken bones - and remains in a wheelchair

The boy remains in a wheelchair 'most of his day' but is able to walk a few metres with support and has even begun to climb steps.

His parents said his breathing and memory have improved enough that he has begun to try singing 'and to learn to read, little by little'.

Bravery, who has autism and a personality disorder, was a 'looked after child' under the care of Hammersmith and Fulham Council at the time of the incident, after which he told horrified onlookers social services were to blame for the atrocity.

Jonty Bravery was jailed for life for attempted murder when he threw a six-year-old boy from the Tate Modern viewing gantry

He later admitted attempted murder and in June was sentenced to 15 years in prison at the Old Bailey.

Bravery was in council care but 'frequently assaulted' his carers and had been arrested for attacking them, the Old Bailey heard.

Yet he was considered safe to go by himself on a day trip to London, where he hurled the French schoolboy off a 100ft balcony and then smirked to the youngster's distraught father: 'I'm mad.'

Bravery had researched the easiest way to kill someone in advance of the incident, on August 4 last year, and had 'searched for the most vulnerable child' at the gallery , a court today heard.

He told detectives that he had planned the attack to get on the TV news and later told medical experts he felt 'undestructable' (Sic) and 'on top of the world' after throwing the boy off the viewing platform.

He later claimed he had heard voices in his heard telling him to 'kill people' and said he 'wanted to be on the news' so that people - 'especially his parents' - could see it was a 'mistake' not to put him in hospital.

Emergency crews attending a scene at the Tate Modern art gallery on August 4, 2019

The council has since ordered a serious case review into the incident, which is due to be published in the autumn.

In a victim impact statement read during a sentencing hearing, the victim's parents described Bravery's actions as 'unspeakable'.

They said: 'Words cannot express the horror and fear his actions have brought upon us and our son who now, six months on (at the time of the victim impact statement), is wondering why he's in hospital.

'How can one explain to a child that someone deliberately tried to kill him?

'How can he now ever trust mankind?'
Mark and Patricia McCloskey stand in front of their house holding firearms as activities walk through the gated neighborhood in the Central West End of St. Louis, Mo., on June 28, 2020. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

St. Louis Couple Seen Waving Guns at Black Lives Matter Protesters Will Appear at GOP Convention

The couple from St. Louis who waved guns as Black Lives Matter demonstrators trespassed on a private street will partake in the Republican National Convention next week.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey will endorse President Donald Trump for reelection and will appear on the RNCs virtual program, said the Trump campaign. They were previously featured in a Trump campaign-related event.

Joel Schwartz, one of the lawyers for Mark and Patricia McCloskey, told NPR on Tuesday the couple will speak. Its not clear what day.

Albert Watkins, another lawyer for the McCloskeys, told NPR that there has been ongoing contact with the White House. Watkins said they will be joining through a video link.

The pair face felony charges after brandishing firearms when protesters marched through the couples neighborhood to Democratic St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewsons house.

Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat, launched an investigation into the couple last month over the incident. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, also vowed to pardon the couple if they are convicted.

It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in nonviolent protest, she said in a statement at the time.

The couple, via attorneys, said they armed themselves because they felt threatened by the protesters. Video footage of the incident went viral.

Armed homeowners Mark and Patricia McCloskey, stand in front their house along Portland Place to confront protesters marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewsons house in the Central West End of St. Louis, Mo., on June 28, 2020. (Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

I didnt care what color they were, Mark McCloskey told CNN about the demonstration that happened in late June. I didnt care what their motivation was. I was frightened. I was assaulted.

He also said that demonstrators yelled obscenities and threatened them. According to a police report obtained by the Epoch Times, When the victims observed multiple subjects who were armed, they then armed themselves and contacted police.

Schwartz, their lawyer, previously added told news outlets the First Amendment right of every citizen to have their voice and opinion heard must be balanced with the Second Amendment and Missouri law, which entitle each of us to protect our home and family from potential threats, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

He previously said that based upon Missouri law and the Castle Doctrine, the McCloskeys were 100 percent within their rights.

Mark McCloskey and his lawyers also alleged the Black Lives Matter demonstrators broke down the gate to their private street, although this has been disputed by protesters. However, later pictures showed that the iron gate was damaged.

I believe in my heart of hearts that the only thing that kept those mobsters, that crowd, away from us is that we were standing there with guns, Mark McCloskey told the Post-Dispatch.

Isabel Van Brugen and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Paradise Greens and Turf, an artificial grass company that serves the Phoenix metropolitan area and other regions of Arizona, announced they're now offering an upscale line of artificial wall displays called Calico Greens . These customizable panels can be installed indoors or outdoors, and feature unique and realistic designs that mimic the colors, shadings, dimensions and movement of real plants.

"We're excited to offer Calico Greens' luxurious line of artificial wall displays that bring life into any space," said Charlie Ferer, owner of Paradise Greens and Turf. "Calico Greens offers the most realistic plant on the market, so it's perfect to use when decorating an interior office, a residential space, or to add a visually appealing design element to the exterior of an office building, hotel or other commercial space. Plus, these panels are perfect for climates like Arizona since each product in the line is UV-protected."

There are six types of panels offered in single panels that connect for easy installation: Del Mar, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma, Monterey and Napa. Each one is fire-rated, suitable for all indoor and outdoor environments and has a three-year warranty. Additional benefits are that the panels are easy to install, lightweight enough to promote free flow of air and require no maintenance.

While affordable, the quality is first-rate and the panels bring any space to life, so they're perfect for high-end spaces like wineries, hotels, condominiums, offices, wedding venues, upscale residences and more.

Learn more about Calico Greens at calicogreens.com/products , or call Paradise Greens and Turf at (480) 586-0655. You can also see the product in person by visiting Paradise Greens and Turf's design center located in the Scottsdale Airpark at 8321 East Gelding Drive.

ABOUT SYNLawn

SYNLawn is the largest manufacturer and unrivaled innovator of artificial grass in North America. As part of the SportGroup Holding family of companies, SYNLawn, along with sister surfacing brands - Astroturf, Rekortan, APT and Laykold - delivers the best products available on the market. SYNLawn's product offerings also include Calico Greens, an upscale line of artificial wall displays. SYNLawn's turnkey network of 100 distributors seamlessly combines environmental stewardship with industry-leading innovations. Manufactured in Dalton, GA, SYNLawn uses bio-based ingredients, such as soy and sugarcane, and consumer-conscious additives such as antimicrobials to meet customers' wide range of needs. With more than 200,000 residential and commercial installations, the company is raising the bar for global synthetic turf standards and transforming the idea of grass. For more information visit www.SYNLawn.com and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Pinterest and YouTube .

Media Contact:

Mackenzie Smith

[email protected]

877.703.3824 x106

SOURCE SYNLawn

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 09:42:24|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian military authorities on Monday said the country remains committed to providing troops and resources to different missions across the world, and maintaining its rightful place in global peace support operations.

"The armed forces of Nigeria is willing and ever ready to continue to contribute its quotas to peace support operations in the sub-region, in the continent and even globally, as part of our contribution to entrenching global peace and security," Nigerian defense chief Gabriel Olonisakin said at the defense headquarters in Abuja.

Olonisakin said it has become noticeable that in the recent past, the country's contribution to global peace support operations had dwindled drastically for some reason.

"As it were, there was a time that Nigeria was one of the largest contributors to peacekeeping operations around the world," he said, adding that efforts are ongoing to scale up the country's contribution to peace support operations as well as collaborate effectively with development partners across the world. Enditem
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18)  Officials of 45 hospitals with pending fraud cases were called to attend the next House probe on controversies surrounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor said during the joint hearing of the House Committees on Public Accounts and on Good Government and Public Accountability that these hospitals have outstanding fraud cases from 2013 to 2018.

"We want to know the nature of the cases and understand how fraud is committed in PhilHealth," Defensor said Tuesday.

"Fraud, to my mind, is committed with the hospitals. We have to understand how it is being done," he added. "For example, sa pneumonia, dapat may x-ray. Paano kung may usapan and hindi na ini-require?"

[Translation: For example for a case of pneumonia, an x-ray must be conducted. What if there was a collusion and it was not required anymore?]

Among the hospitals mentioned were Abra Provincial Hospital, Baguio General Hospital, Divine Word Hospital, Butuan Doctors Hospitals and College Inc., and Quezon City Eye Center.

Defensor said not all of the hospitals to be summoned are part of the 51 health care institutions who had separate violations involving the interim reimbursement mechanism or the IRM, as mentioned in Monday's hearing.

During that hearing, it was bared that hospitals with pending resolution on their cases had received a total of 1,493,554,124 from the IRM program.

The IRM, an emergency fund advanced to hospitals in case of "fortuitious events" such as floods and typhoons, was suspended last week due to numerous irregularities.

PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales himself claimed that no healthcare system can ever be "fraud-free." Hospitals may have also been colluding with patients to "upcase" simple health diagnosis such as cough or colds to more complicated illnesses to get funds from the agency, he reasoned.

The joint panel earlier bared overpayment and other fraudulent schemes in the agency have caused estimated losses of up to 153.7 billion in 2013 to 2018.
Nationals frontbencher Andrew Gee has predicted the government will wind back proposed university fee hikes for mental healthcare and social work courses following his extraordinary public criticisms of the sweeping funding overhaul.

Mr Gee, the Regional Education Minister, last week called for a raft of changes to the shake-up, which would dramatically raise fees for some courses and slash them for others, criticising fee hikes for some key disciplines as a "glaring and potentially detrimental design flaw". He also warned a $5000 tertiary access payment to help regional students relocate could cause them to abandon country universities in favour of the city.

Nationals minister Andrew Gee said the response to his intervention had been "overwhelmingly positive". Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

The nation's peak university representative body, Universities Australia, has also detailed its objections to the overhaul for the first time, warning the sector's funding could be unilaterally slashed by the government under the current legislation.

In his first interview since issuing a statement criticising his government policy, Mr Gee said the response to his intervention had been "overwhelmingly positive" from the sector, community and fellow MPs.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent medicine and other supplies to a flood-hit region in North Hwanghae Province, state media reported Monday.

Locals received them "with applause and cheers," the official Rodong Sinmun daily claimed.


Australian MP Supports Recognition of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides

Michelle Rowland. Federal Member for Greenway and Shadow Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland has joined the the Joint Justice Initiative of the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian by signing an affirmation of support for their calls for Australian recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.

The February 2020 launch of the Joint Justice Initiative at Australia's Parliament House featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC), which declares Australia's recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides as a priority on behalf of their communities.

Rowland was first elected to Parliament in 2010 and has risen to become one of the most respected political performers for her party. The former Deputy Mayor of Blacktown has spoken in parliament and during commemoration events, honouring victims of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.

In 2013, Rowland told an Armenian Genocide Commemoration event in Sydney: "Today I acknowledge the tragic events of 1915 and affirm my commitment to never forget what happened to the Armenian people who were effectively eliminated from the homeland they had occupied for nearly 3,000 years... I want to end this speech by noting that Australia's first major international humanitarian relief effort was in fact to help Armenian orphans from the genocide."

Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director, Haig Kayserian welcomed the support of Rowland on behalf of the Joint Justice Initiative.

"On behalf of the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities, we are thankful to Ms. Michelle Rowland for her principled support for our joint cause of achieving Australian recognition and justice for the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides, which was committed by the Ottoman Empire during World War I," said Kayserian.

"Ms. Rowland has joined what is a growing caucus of supporters urging Australia to the path of the righteous nations who urge Turkey to stop denialism."

The Joint Justice Initiative has so far announced the support of Rowland, Senator Paul Scarr, Tony Zappia MP, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator Hollie Hughes, Senator Rex Patrick, Mike Freelander MP, Senator Eric Abetz, Senator Larissa Waters, Senator Pat Dodson, Jason Falinski MP, Josh Burns MP, John Alexander MP, Senator Andrew Bragg and Bob Katter MP, with a promise of more announcements to come.

On 25th February 2020, over 100 Federal Australian parliamentarians, diplomats, departmental officials, political staffers, academics, media and community leaders were treated to cultural performances, food, wine and brandy, as well as the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which affirmed that the signatory public affairs representatives of the three communities were jointly committed to seeing Australia recognise the Turkish-committed Genocide against the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian citizens of the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
TORONTO, Aug. 17, 2020 /CNW/ - Premier Ford delivered an appreciative message to as many as 1,500 municipal delegates attending the 2020 AMO Conference today. The three-day Conference is being delivered online for the first time, due to COVID-19.

"Over the past six months, municipal governments have made dramatic changes to keep communities safe, and to promote economic recovery," said AMO President Jamie McGarvey. "AMO has helped them through its advocacy work, and it has taken its important annual conference online. Through this virtual meeting format, governments large and small are coming together and working together to serve people better."

Premier Ford announced that the envelope and structure of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) would remain unchanged for 2021  guaranteeing $500 million of critically important funding for municipalities, particularly in rural and northern communities. Earlier this week his government released the first phase of its commitment to deliver $4 billion in federal and provincial assistance to municipal governments, hard hit by COVID-19 and related costs.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark will address the conference on Tuesday. Other speakers include NDP Leader Andrea Horwath (Leader of the Official Opposition), new Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, and Minister of Infrastructure, Laurie Scott. AMO's first ever Women's Leadership Forum is also scheduled for Tuesday.

2020 is an election year for AMO's Board. Results will also be announced on Tuesday and Conference delegates will hear from a newly-elected AMO President on Wednesday.

The conference program features more than 40 speakers, sessions and workshops, covering topics such as COVID-19, municipal services and economic recovery; long-term care; broadband internet quality and coverage across Ontario; diversity, equality and women in leadership; building strong relationships with Indigenous communities; and climate change. Program details are available at www.amo.on.ca.

Municipal staff and elected officials across Ontario are using the opportunity to have more than 460 online delegation meetings with provincial ministries. Provincial ministers will also answer questions submitted by municipal elected officials in three separate Ministers' Forums.

Registered media have access to the entire conference online. Registration is available via the 2020 AMO Conference Info Booth. We ask for patience as requests for access are processed.

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 444 municipal governments. AMO supports and enhances strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system.

Follow AMO on Twitter, @AMOPolicy, and use the official conference hashtag #AMOConf20

SOURCE Association of Municipalities of Ontario

For further information: Brian Lambie, AMO Media Contact, 416-729-5425, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.amo.on.ca


Kerala's Kumbalangi to be first synthetic pad-free village in India

How Kerala Police CCSE under Cyberdome is fighting crimes against children

Death toll in Kerala landslide goes up to 61, nine still missing

India

oi-Deepika S

Idukki, Aug 18: Three more bodies were recovered from the landslide site at Pettimudi in the high range Idukki district on Tuesday, taking the toll to 61, officials said. Nine people are still missing.

The remains of a six-year-old boy and a 57-year-old man were recovered while one body is yet to be identified and nine more bodies have to be retrieved.

Two Ground Penetrating Radars (GPR)s from Chennai along with a four-member team joined the search operations by Tuesday afternoon, Idukki collector H Dinesh told PTI.

The radars have been broughtfrom the Institute of Oceanography, he said.

The help of the dog squad was also used for search operations earlier, but due to inclement weather, their services are not being utilised now, sources said.

Kerala government takes over church amid resistance from followers

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire force, police and forest officials are jointly engaged in the search operations.

SSR death probe: Rhea Chakraborty makes sensational claim | Oneindia News

A massive mound of earth and slush triggered by heavy rains had flattened a row of 20 oneroom "row houses" of tea plantation workers made of tin and asbestos sheets which accommodated at least 82 workers at Pettimudi in Rajamala on August 7.

Twelve people were rescued.

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Story first published: Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 22:06 [IST]
Michelle Obama, the former first lady, delivered an impassioned speech about empathy, values and the need to vote at all costs in November as she closed out the first night of the Democratic National Convention, praising the partys nominee, Joe Biden, as a profoundly decent man and urging Americans to see President Donald Trump as clearly in over his head.

Whenever we look to this White House for leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get is chaos and division and a total lack of empathy, Obama said in a speech that was deeply critical of the current administration.

Let me be honest and clear as I possibly can. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country, said Obama, who normally criticizes the president in veiled terms. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us.

It is what it is, she said.

Obama, the keynote speaker on the first of four nights of her partys unprecedented virtual convention, blamed Trumps victory in 2016 on voter apathy that year and warned that Republicans are currently working to tamper with the election.

We have to vote for Joe Biden in numbers that cannot be ignored. Because right now, folks who know they cant win fair and square at the ballot box are doing everything they can to stop people from voting, she said. These tactics are not new. But this is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games with candidates who have no chance of winning. We have go to vote like we did in 2008 or 2012. We have to go show up with the same level of passion and hope.

She urged people to vote early, request their ballots in the mail as quickly as they can  maybe tonight, she said  and be willing to stand in line all night if we have to to vote on Election Day.

One of the most popular figures in Democratic politics, Obama sounded at times like she was having a frank and personal conversation with voters whom she came to know  and who came to know her  during her eight years as first lady. She acknowledged that not everyone would be open to hearing her message, raising the issue of her race, gender and political affiliation. But she also seemed to be trying to reach out to some of those people by noting that she disliked politics herself.

Now, I understand that my message wont be heard by some people: We live in a nation that is deeply divided, and I am a Black woman speaking at the Democratic convention, Obama said. But enough of you know me by now. You know that I tell you exactly what Im feeling. You know I hate politics. But you also know that I care about this nation. You know how much I care about all of our children.

Repeatedly returning to her concern for young Americans and the theme of empathy, Obama warned that children are becoming disillusioned about the nations professed ideals and wondering if weve been lying to them this whole time about who we are and what we truly value.

They see our leaders labeling fellow citizens enemies of the state while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists, Obama said. They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages, and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protesters for a photo op.

She also struck an optimistic tone during her prime-time appearance, embracing a positive view of Americas future despite its recent setbacks, even as she has acknowledged a recent struggle with a form of mild depression in the midst of the pandemic and a period of unparalleled political polarization in the country.

We still are a compassionate, resilient, decent people whose fortunes are bound up with one another, she said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The promise of America, she said, was the ability to work and overcome by those who wanted more for themselves and their children. Theres a lot of beauty in that story. Theres a lot of pain, too, and a lot of struggle and injustice and work left to do, she said. And who we choose as our president in this election will determine whether or not we honor that struggle.

I know Joe, Obama said. He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country. And he listens. He will tell the truth and trust science. He will make smart plans and manage a good team. And he will govern as someone whos lived a life that the rest of us can recognize.

Emphasizing Bidens personal tragedies  the loss of his first wife and a daughter and, later, a son  Obama said they had imbued Biden with a deep sense of empathy and kindness.

Joe knows what its like to struggle, which is why he gives his personal phone number to kids overcoming a stutter of their own, she said. Life is a testament to getting back up and he is going to channel the same grit and passion to pick us all up, to help us heal and guide us forward.

Obama, a lawyer, had spent much of her time in recent days working on the speech at her familys home on Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, and had told friends that she viewed it as her major contribution to the 2020 race.

It was the fourth convention keynote speech for Obama. She was chosen to anchor the first night of the Democratic convention for a reason  she has repeatedly polled as the countrys most admired woman.

Even so, she emphatically beat back suggestions from supporters this year that she should make herself available to be chosen for vice president, despite an organized effort to draft her as well as Bidens assurance that he would pick her in a heartbeat.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Equipment vendors and carriers have talked a great game about 5G's promise. Its ability to handle the high-density wireless environments created by IoT deployments and provide gigabit speeds to smartphones has been trumpeted from the rooftops.

But it's important to realize that the most eye-catching capabilities of 5G technology aren't here yet, as many of them depend on the 5G New Radio (NR) technology operating at high, millimeter-wave frequencies, which isn't yet widely available. Nor are the vast majority of endpoints currently on the market able to communicate on those sorts of networks.

However, private 5G technology  which takes advantage of the new features designed for 5G and deploys them in enterprise networks, rather than as carrier services  is quietly making inroads into the marketplace. 5G mobile backhaul transport equipment is expected to become a $3 billion market by 2024, according to recent research by the Dell'Oro Group.

Backhaul is an overlooked part of the problem set that 5G is designed to solve, since 5G is primarily thought of as an endpoint connectivity technology. Farpoint Group principal Craig Mathias said that users might be more likely to see 5G backhaul deployed by enterprises as part of a setup where both infrastructure and end users are connected via the same 5G access points. "5G is not about augmenting wire," he said. "It's about replacing it."
It is our aspiration that the state-of-the-art automated warehouse we are creating will provide the scalability and flexibility the business needs to achieve even greater growth over the next decade.

Global intralogistics innovator Dematic has announced a flagship new contract with Reitan Distribution A/S in Horsens, Denmark. Reitan Distribution A/S supplies groceries to more than 900 stores throughout Denmark, including more than 340 of the chain's own REMA 1000 stores and convenience stores including 7-Eleven.

One of Denmarks largest and fastest growing discount grocery chains, REMA 1000 has achieved remarkable growth in recent years, currently accounting for 15.5% of the Danish grocery market. Today, Reitan Distribution A/S serves 340 REMA 1000 stores in total in Denmark. Dematic was tasked with designing a high-performance automated solution to facilitate and enable increased delivery frequency and service levels to stores, while supporting Reitans growth strategy over the next few years.

Reitans current logistics centre at Marsalle is approximately 57,000 square metres. In recent years, the business has grown to such a degree that it has become necessary to expand in the form of new and more modern storage facilities. The extended warehouse will add a further 30,000 square metres and will include high bay pallet storage. Measuring 26 metres at its highest point, it will be the largest commercial facility built in Horsens for many years.

Built adjacent to the existing warehouse with a bridge between them, the new facility  purpose-designed to house Dematics automation solution  will run for 21 hours a day, six days a week and serve over 400 dry goods orders a day. Approximately 130,000 cases will be picked, packed and distributed every day from the new system, with robotic systems handling a significant proportion of daily operations. The automation solution will increase the delivery frequency of the 600 most popular products to the REMA 1000 grocery store franchisees and reduce overall costs by improving operational efficiency.

Reitan cares deeply about the wellbeing of its employees. It is of vital importance for them to provide a warehouse environment with optimal ergonomics to retain and recruit staff. An example of this is the ergonomic palletising stations, designed collaboratively with a team of employees from Reitan and an independent consultant specialising in optimal work conditions.

Ole Thomsen, Logistics Director at REMA 1000, said: This project is all about providing better service for merchants, an improved customer experience and creating optimal working conditions for employees to achieve higher efficiency.

From the beginning of the process Dematic showed a strong understanding of our business imperatives. This is a company which combines innovation with quality and reliability, backed by a long-standing global track record. As a result, we were convinced they were the right partner for REMA 1000.

Commenting on the partnership Thorsten Beck Hansen, Director of Sales, Nordics, at Dematic, said: REMA 1000 has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Like everyone in the grocery space, REMA 1000 needs to invest now to stay ahead. It is our aspiration that the state-of-the-art automated warehouse we are creating will provide the scalability and flexibility the business needs to achieve even greater growth over the next decade.

Once complete, the new facility will include automated pallet storage, automated case depalletising, buffering, a picking system, as well as semi-and fully automated palletising technology.

Dematic will deliver all of this under a new multisite warehouse management system (WMS), which not only executes complex fulfilment with all the new automated equipment but also orchestrates movement of inventory between the old and new facilities, as well as the delivery of all order pallets to a new dispatch area.

This is expected to more than double the productivity of Reitans warehouse, while simultaneously making significant improvements to working conditions for warehouse operatives.

Andy Blandford, Dematics Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Northern Europe concluded: This collaboration marks the beginning of a long-lasting professional relationship. We look forward to working closely with the REMA 1000 team to help them realise their full potential in the constantly evolving grocery industry.

The new warehouse facility is expected to commence operations by early 2023.

Further information about Dematics capabilities are available at dematic.com.

About Dematic

Dematic is an intralogistics innovator that designs, builds and supports intelligent, automated solutions for manufacturing, warehouse and distribution environments for customers that are powering the future of commerce. With engineering centres, manufacturing facilities and service centres located in more than 25 countries, the Dematic global network of 10,000 employees has helped achieve more than 6,000 worldwide customer installations for some of the worlds leading brands. Headquartered in Atlanta, Dematic is a member of KION Group, a global leader in industrial trucks, supply chain solutions and related services, and a leading provider of warehouse automation.
Dancing With The Stars has announced the pros who will be battling it out for the Mirrorball Trophy on season 29 of the competition series.

The show unveiled the list of names on Good Morning America on Tuesday, where it was also revealed season 29 will be premiering on ABC on September 14, 2020.

Among the new and returning names is Britt Stewart, the show's first-ever Black female pro dancer.

Dancing With The Stars has announced the pros who will be battling it out for the Mirrorball Trophy on season 29 of the competition series

Sharna Burgess, Keo Motsepe, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Jenna Johnson, Emma Slater, Pasha Pashkov, Cheryl Burke, Peta Murgatroyd, Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Gleb Savchenko, and Sasha Farber are the returning pros appearing this season.

Britt and Pasha's wife Daniella Karagach will be the first-time pros hitting the ballroom floor.

In addition to the big names, the show also revealed the safety guidelines it will be implementing in order to keep the cast safe from COVID-19.

The show is having all pros - including those married to a fellow DWTS dancer - live apart in order to prevent an elimination of dancers and their celebrity partners in the event someone become sick.

Safety first: In addition to the big names, the show also revealed the safety guidelines it will be implementing in order to keep the cast safe from COVID-19

Breaking down barriers: Among the new and returning names is Britt Stewart, the show's first-ever Black female pro dancer

DWTS vets: Sharna Burgess and Valentin Chmerkovskiy are among the stars returning to the ballroom floor

Returning champion! Alan Bersten, who won last season of DWTS with Hannah Brown, is also back

Back on the ballroom floor: Peta Murgatroyd and Gleb Savchenko are among the big names who will be back

Emma, who is married to Sasha, joked about the new rule to GMA: 'It's going to be bliss - I mean it's going to be terrible.'

'It's going to be so different because we can't actually interact and even prep with each other, which is something completely different, but we're doing everything we can to keep safe. There's going to be a lot of FaceTiming.'

As for the celebrities who will be hitting the ballroom floor, a list of names will be announced at a later time.

Let's dance: Keo Motsepe is among one of the DWTS vets returning to the show

Light on their feet: Jenna Johnson, who will be headed for season 29, competing with Adam Rippon

Looking good! Cheryl Burke will also be competing for the Mirrorball Trophy

Shall we dance? DWTS vet Brandon Armstrong has been announced as one of the season 29 dancers

Dancing partner: Sasha Farber and his wife Emma Slater will have to live separately as part of the COVID-19 guidelines (Farber pictured with Ally Brooke)

You spin me right round! Pasha Pashkov competed with Kate Flannery in 2019

So far, The Bachelorette vet Kaitlyn Bristowe is the only celebrity known to be competing at this time, however DailyMail.com has also exclusively learned Cheer star Jerry Harris is in talks to join the line-up.

While judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli will all be returning, hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews will not, with Tyra Banks recently announced as their replacement.

Tyra, who will be the show's first solo Black female host, previously told GMA of her new gig: 'I like breaking those doors down, so that we don't have any more firsts.

'But it's nice to be first, so that you can open that door and let so many other people in after you - so I'm excited.'

Are you ready? Jenna Johnson will also be back for season 29

New face: Pasha's wife Daniella Karagach is among one of the fresh faces joining the pro league

She's in! Tyra Banks will be the show's first solo Black female host
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant speaks during a press conference at Parliament House on Aug. 5, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Sydney Quarantine Hotel Guard COVID Positive

A security guard at a Sydney quarantine hotel has tested positive to COVID-19, but health authorities are playing down the likelihood a Victorian-style breach of the program.

Genome sequencing has linked the guards infection to a returned traveller who was in quarantine at the Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay and tested positive on Aug. 2.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant says the guard worked at Sydneys Flemington Markets and Parramatta Local Court while infectious.

The guard also worked at the Marriott on Aug. 3, 4, 7 and 8 but was not infectious at the time and developed symptoms on Aug. 11.

The exact nature of how that infection could have been acquired is a matter thats under intense investigation, Chant said on Aug. 18.

It comes as the inquiry into Victorias bungled hotel quarantine program heard 99 percent of the states current COVID-19 cases can be traced back to the Rydges or Stamford hotels.

At the time of the Rydges outbreak, there were few other cases of COVID-19 in Victoria and just 19 people had died from the virus.

Melbourne is now living under tough stage four lockdown restrictions and the states death toll is 351, with 7274 cases active.

But Chant says what has occurred in NSW is not a breach and the strain identified in the guard is different to the Crossroads Hotel cluster and other outbreaks in Sydney that are linked to Melbourne.

We havent had evidence to date of other cases but, let me tell you were not going to leave any rock unturned in terms of our search for confirming there are no further cases linked to (this) single case.

I think its important that we keep a perspective on this, she told reporters.

Close contacts of the guard have been identified and placed in to isolation. None have tested positive to the virus.

Casual contacts are being advised to monitor for symptoms.

All police and security guards at the Marriott have also been tested, with the officers returning negative results.

Authorities are waiting on results for half of the security guards.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker said the quarantine program had accommodated 47,000 returned travellers since March 29 with no community transmissions.

What has occurred over the last couple of days is no doubt concerning, she said.

It comes as the state recorded three new cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to 8 p.m. on Aug. 17, the lowest daily number in more than a month.

They were diagnosed from 13,736 tests in the 24-hour period, compared with 10,806 tests and seven positive cases in the previous 24 hours.

Two of the new cases, from southwest Sydney, were locally acquired. The other is a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.

One of the locally acquired cases is a close contact of the funeral gatherings cluster, bringing the total cases associated with that cluster to 73.

The other local case is from a growing number with no known source, which is concerning authorities.

By Tiffanie Turnbull in Sydney
Portland State University will join eight institutions as part of a new National Science Foundation-backed research team tasked with investigating how brains interact with their surrounding environment.

The team, known as NeuroNex: Communication, Coordination, and Control in Neuromechanical Systems (C3NS), received at total of $8 million in funding from the NSF over the next five years to conduct this research -- $901,000 of which was awarded to PSU. C3NS is one of four international interdisciplinary teams receiving $50 million in NSF funding.

NeuroNex was created with the objective to establish international research partnerships and accelerate the next generation of neuroscience. The teams, which include 70 researchers from the U.S. the United Kingdom and Germany, will develop new theories and tools to better understand the brain.

At Portland State, we will be testing theories of mammalian neural system organization on simulated animals and on our robot, Muscle Mutt, with close collaborators at Case Western Reserve University, Northwestern University, Emory University, and the University of Jena (Germany)." Alexander Hunt, NeuroNex co-principal investigator and head of PSU's Agile and Adaptive Robotics lab

PSU will also work collaboratively to develop a modeling framework synthesizing their knowledge with other researchers studying fruit flies and sea slugs as part of NeuroNex.

"This project seeks to understand how nervous systems of all animals provide effective control in the dynamic and uncertain environments in which we live," Hunt said.

The impacts of this research will have broad impacts on both health and robotics, Hunt said.

"By better understanding how the nervous system works, we will be able to better investigate motor disorders that disrupt locomotion and balance, such as Parkinson's," Hunt added. "For robotics, we will be able to apply what we learn to develop control systems with more adaptive behavior."
The West Africa regional body, Ecowas, has condemned what it called a mutiny in Mali and has called on soldiers to return to their barracks.



This comes after gunfire erupted inside a military base near the capital Bamako.



Ecowas reiterated its opposition to any unconstitutional change of power.



It is not yet clear how many soldiers took part in the incident which according to some reports was fuelled by a pay dispute.



The unrest coincides with opposition calls for more protests demanding the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita.



There is widespread anger at the worsening security situation with jihadist and communal violence on the increase, corruption and the mismanagement of the economy.

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.

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New Delhi, Aug 18 : Lenovo on Tuesday launched three new premium gaming laptops in India that promise superior performance, better keyboard technology, advanced thermal efficiency and visual experience.

Legion 7i starts at Rs 1,99,990, Legion 5Pi begins from Rs 1,34,990 and Legion 5i starts at Rs 79,990.

Legion 7i and Legion 5i are available on Lenovo.com and will reach other online and offline retail channels this week, the company said, adding that Legion 5Pi will go on sale across all platforms later in the month.

While the laptops target avid gamers who prioritise competitive e-sports gaming, content creators and professional artists, one can also use the options to switch to different modes for less heavy-duty tasks, thereby helping them to get better battery life.

"We have a software called Lenovo Vantage. For people who are not into gaming and do not need all the performance of the CPU and GPU together, they can switch to a quiet mode simply by pressing a couple of buttons. This reduces the fan speed and also gives you a better battery life," Shailendra Katyal, Executive Director and Head of Consumer PCs and smart devices (PCSD), Lenovo, told IANS.

Weighing just 2.2kgs, the Legion 7i is built for consumers appreciating high performance and premium style in gaming laptops.

The flagship device comes with colour-accurate IPS display and full-HD resolution that supports high dynamic range.

Legion 7i ensures high visual accuracy with the Adobe sRGB colour gamut and Dolby Vision with 500 nits of panel brightness.

It also has four-sided narrow bezels with 85.6 per cent screen-to-body ratio.

The device provides the latest NVIDIA G-Sync technology with 144Hz refresh rates.

Lenovo said the Legion 7i TrueStrike keyboard is built to withstand heavy long-term use.

The laptop houses an "intelligent" cooling system called the ColdFront 2.0.

Lenovo said the Legion 7i offers up to eight hours of battery life.

The laptop promises excellent speed with up to 10th Gen Intel Core i9 H-Series mobile processor, and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER GPU with Max Q graphics.

The GPU is powered by the NVIDIA Turing architecture.

"Since its launch, Legion has been successful in addressing the large dual-use consumer segment that uses these PCs for serious gaming, as well as several heavy-duty tasks," said Rahul Agarwal, CEO and Managing Director, Lenovo India.

"In a short span of two years, Legion is already the number two gaming PC brand in India with 23.5 per cent market share in Q1 FY2021." Both Legion 5Pi and 5i retain most of the features and smart attributes of the flagship Legion 7i.

Both the devices are powered by the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H processor.
Properly handling the boundary dispute with India but safeguarding Chinas territorial integrity is part of President Xi Jinpings blueprint for Beijings major country diplomacy, the Chinese foreign ministry has said.

In an analysis of Xi Jinping on Governance and Politics, the ministry indicated that maintaining peace and tranquility along the boundary with India is as important as stabilising the maritime situation in the South China Sea (SCS) where Beijing is entangled in disputes with multiple littoral states over the ownership of islands, reefs and the surrounding seas.

The analysis by the ministry also hailed the new model of informal meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi.

There was no mention of the ongoing friction with India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, which has plunged bilateral ties to the worst low in decades.

The ministry, quoting Xi, said China will resolutely safeguard Chinas ...sovereignty, territorial integrity, and maritime rights and interests, steadily advance the consultation process of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, stabilise the maritime situation, properly handle border disputes between China and India, and maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.

Published by the Chinese foreign ministrys Communist party committee in Mandarin in the party mouthpiece, Peoples Daily, the analysis claimed that Chinas relation with regional powers like India has improved.

Relations with neighbouring countries continue to improve. For regional powers, the leaders of China and India have created a new model of bilateral exchanges at annual informal meetings, leading the two countries to deepen strategic mutual trust, properly manage differences, and stably develop bilateral relations, the analysis said.

It was referring to the two informal summits between Modi and Xi held in Wuhan in 2018 and in Chennai in 2019.

The Chinese government analysis avoided referring to the ongoing discussions between India and China to resolve stalemate in the troop disengagement process in eastern Ladakh.

India had rejected Chinas contention that disengagement has been completed at most locations along their disputed border, and called on Beijing to work sincerely for complete de-escalation and full restoration of peace along the LAC.

The new analysis comes a week after the foreign ministry had said in a statement that maintaining peace along the disputed boundary and deepening strategic trust with India is one of Chinas diplomatic priorities.

For the China-India relationship, the two sides should jointly safeguard peace and security in the border areas and maintain a steady and sound development of bilateral ties, spokesperson Zhao Lijian had said.

Responding to a query about Chinas future diplomatic priorities as the Covid-19 pandemic impacts the world, Zhao was briefly outlining Beijings plans for the way ahead in bilateral ties with the US, Russia, EU, Japan, and India.

The current analysis also looked at Beijings ties with the US, Russia, the European Union, Japan, South Korea besides Latin America, Africa and Central Asian countries.

The ministry said that since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, held in October 2017, Xi had travelled for 2,15,000 km and visited 27 countries.

In the direction of Northeast Asia, General Secretary Xi Jinping made a historic visit to North Korea. The top leaders of China and North Korea met 5 times, it said.

In context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, China, under Xis guidance as per the ministry, provided or is providing medical material assistance to more than 150 countries and international and regional organisations, and has sent 32 medical expert teams to 30 countries.

Last month, the Chinese foreign ministry had inaugurated the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy research centre, which aims to coordinate resources to conduct comprehensive, systematic, and in-depth study, interpretation, and promotion of Xis thinking.
Leidschendam (Netherlands): Judges at a UN-backed tribunal said on Tuesday that there was no evidence that the leadership of the Hezbollah militant group or Syria was involved in the 2005 suicide truck bomb assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Sketching the complex political backdrop for the assassination, Presiding Judge David Re of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon said that in the months before his death, Hariri was a supporter of reducing the influence of Syria in Lebanon and that of Hezbollah in Syria.

He said judges who studied reams of evidence in the trial of four Hezbollah members accused of involvement in the bombing were "of the view that Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr Hariri, and some of his political allies."

But he added that there was no evidence that "Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariri's murder, and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement in it." Re was speaking as he delivered the final judgments in the trial.

The court was not expected to rule on either Hezbollah or Syria as the tribunal can only accuse individuals, not groups or states. The verdicts were delayed by nearly two weeks as a mark of respect for victims of another devastating explosion - the detonation of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at Beirut's port.

The August 4 blast killed around 180 people, injured more than 6,000, left a quarter of a million with homes unfit to live in and plunged a nation already reeling from economic and social malaise even deeper into crisis.

Re started the hearing with a minute's silence to start the hearing to honor victims of the blast and their families as well as those made homeless by the port blast. He was reading a summary of the written judgment that runs to more than 2,600 pages with some 13,000 footnotes.

Guilty verdicts could compound tensions in the tiny country. Hariri was Lebanon's most prominent Sunni politician at the time of his February 14, 2005, assassination, while the Iran-backed Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim group.

The trial centered on the alleged roles of four Hezbollah members in the suicide truck bombing that killed Hariri and 21 others and wounded 226 people. Prosecutors based their case largely on data from mobile phones allegedly used by the plotters to plan and execute the bombing.

Without the phone data there would be no case against the four suspects, Re said, as he began explaining the complex investigation into the telecom networks prosecutors say the suspects used.

Re said that the telecom evidence in the case was "almost entirely circumstantial." However, another judge, Janet Nosworthy, later said that judges had ruled that four different networks of mobile phones "were interconnected and coordinated with each other, and operated as covert networks at the relevant times."

During the trial, which started in 2014 and spanned 415 days of hearings, the tribunal in Leidschendam, near The Hague, heard evidence from 297 witnesses.

Initially, five suspects were tried, all of them Hezbollah members. Charges against one of the group's top military commanders, Mustafa Badreddine, were dropped after he was killed in Syria in 2016.

The remaining suspects are Salim Ayyash, also known as Abu Salim; Assad Sabra, Hassan Oneissi, who changed his name to Hassan Issa and Hassan Habib Merhi. They are charged with offenses including conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.

If they are convicted, hearings will be held at a later date to determine their sentences. As the UN-backed court has no death sentence, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.

None of the men is every likely to serve time as Hezbollah has vowed not to hand over any suspects. Prosecutors and defense lawyers can appeal the verdicts.

The assassination was seen by many in Lebanon as the work of Syria, a charge Damascus denies and which the judges now say was not borne out by evidence in the trial.

Some Lebanese see the tribunal as an impartial way of uncovering the truth about Hariri's slaying, while Hezbollah, which denies involvement, calls it an Israeli plot to tarnish the group.

Hariri's son Saad, himself a former prime minister, is attending the day-long delivery of the judgment and was one of four victims present in the courtroom for the hearing.

On Tuesday morning, the Saudi-owned satellite news channel Al-Arabiya prepped viewers for the verdict, showing a slick 3-D reenactment of the bombing.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah last week insisted on the innocence of the suspects regardless of the verdicts. ?For us it will be as if they were never issued,? he said of the verdicts.

Abed Itani, a supporter of the Hariri family in the Beirut neighborhood of Tareeq al-Jadideh, said: "We have been waiting for the truth for 15 years and God willing today the truth will be made public. All what we want from the world and the Lebanese state is for those who carried out this explosion to be punished in accordance with justice."
Julia Szlakowski, the woman  the alleged victim  who should be at the centre of AMPs sexual harassment scandal, has seized control of the conversation about men, power and capital.

For the past few weeks, AMP Capital's chief executive and alleged sexual harasser Boe Pahari has had all the running on this.

All the airtime, all the self-congratulatory chat about how well the business is doing post-Hayne. Entire articles are devoted to how much money he can make for the company and how quickly, with nary a mention of Pahari's corporate behaviour. Now Pahari, doubling down, has appointed himself as chairman of the company's "Inclusion and Diversity Council". Does this man, do his colleagues, have no shame?

On Monday, Szlakowski shared her despair at the way in which AMP has framed the allegations. Not serious. Lower level breaches. Nothing to worry about. But reading the detail is scary.

Pahari pursued her over months. According to her account, he insisted she visit London, he messaged her repeatedly, he changed her hotel booking even though she made it clear she didn't want to stay in London.
The Syndicate

The Syndicate Photos provided by publicist/Salon

In October 2014, SWAT team officers and DEA agents kicked down the doors of 32 people around Denver, all members of a massive marijuana-smuggling ring. For almost five years, the group had fooled regulators overseeing Colorado's medical marijuana industry by operating seemingly legitimate growhouses, all the while trafficking its harvests out of state using cars  and skydiving planes.

Yep, skydiving planes.

In his new podcast "The Syndicate," journalist Chris Walker goes beyond some of the case's flashy details, speaking to both the members of the criminal organization and the law enforcement agents who took them down, and uncovers how the push for legal marijuana in some states actually drives up black market demand nationally.

Walker spoke with Salon about how long he waited to report this story, how the members of "The Syndicate" gamed the medical marijuana system, and what it would take for federal legalization to actually work.

Tell me a little bit about how you became acquainted with the story that's presented in "The Syndicate." You were living in Colorado when the major drug bust happened, right?

Right, so in 2015 when this group was busted, or at least a grand jury indictment was handed down, I was working as a staff writer for the second largest newspaper in Denver, which is actually an alternative weekly. This press conference made a splash. I mean, it was the largest pot bust in Colorado since the state had legalized recreational weed in 2012. And it was just shocking the size and scale of this black market operation.

They were using skydiving planes to ship pot out of state. It was a collection of all these college friends and their family members that came from Minnesota to Colorado to hide undercover in the legal market. So they got plenty of attention at the time, there was a big press conference at the Colorado Attorney General's office, and every outlet in Denver and many around the country, as well, covered this story.

Story continues

But there were limitations. At that time, there were 32 court cases that came out of this, and the state of Colorado wanted to make sure that it could successfully prosecute each of those cases without additional media coverage marring their legal cases.

So, the state's stayed tight-lipped about this for about four years, but I knew that I if I could ever get access to some of the operatives who were allegedly involved in this group, as well as get the law enforcement side, it would just be a fascinating insight into how black market groups operate. Moreover, it would answer this main question in my mind, "If Colorado had a seemingly thriving legal market, why would you take risks to set up this massive black market operation?"

Right. I think there's this misconception that in an era of increased marijuana legalization that there's less "need" for a black market, or that smuggling is on the decline  but what is the reality of the situation?

Right, so the reality of the situation is that weed is still illegal at the federal level, and not all states have legal weed. There are some states that just don't have a legal market, so by definition, the only place where you can buy cannabis in those states is "the black market."

But that's not to say that there isn't also a thriving black market in states that have legalized weed. That's a whole other set of issues. I mean, California is experiencing problems on that front because weed is so heavily taxed there that many people are still choosing to use their street dealer rather than buying it a dispensary. So there are well-established markets in both states that have legal cannabis and in states that don't.

Well  and you address this in the podcast  but what is the reality like for someone who is growing illegally who wants to start growing legally? It's not as simple as walking down to the county clerk and getting a permit.

So in many states, including Colorado where this story is based, they've actually handed down a lot of control over the cannabis industry to local municipalities and cities. Then there is state involvement as well. There are decisions and various powers given to authorities to award licenses depending on what the municipality's comfort level with how many pot shops they'll allow and how many grow facilities they will allow. Cannabis is a big business and there's a lot of consumer demand for it, so the competition for a limited number of licenses is really stiff.

And what we're seeing right now is a sort of corporatization in the cannabis industry and big Wall Street-backed companies that are starting in multiple states. We're seeing multimillion dollar bidding wars for the limited licenses that come up in the new markets. So the idea of being a small "mom and pop" operation and starting from humble roots  pardon the pun  is just not feasible in many places.

One of the questions that is raised in "The Syndicate" is about how the medical marijuana system can be gamed, like it was by the alleged ringleader Tri Nguyen. Could you talk some about that?

This really gets to why many of these group members originated in Minnesota and came to Colorado, which had a legal market. So, let's start from the standpoint of someone trying to start a large, illegal marijuana grow. If you're doing that in a state like Minnesota, you have a couple options. You can try to do it outside, but that's seriously exposed and easy to see from the air. You could try to do it inside, but that requires huge amounts of electricity and then you have to deal with the huge amount of waste that comes with harvesting cannabis. You'd have to be continually hiding that from, you know, even like your local garbage collector.

So, in Denver, there are over 600 cannabis cultivation facilities. That's just in the city of Denver alone.

And they [the members of "The Syndicate"] were also taking advantage of an antiquated law in Colorado called the caregiving program. The state of Colorado expanded the program in 2008 and quickly registered so many caregivers that the state couldn't really monitor what each and every one of them was going.

Under the caregiving program, they could grow up to 500 plants. So what this group did is they all registered as caregivers and then pooled all their pot together. They had paperwork that was official and signed by the state of Colorado. And they did have registered patients as well, but they were using all their allotted plants to really grow for the black market and ship it out of state.

And then in conjunction with what I was saying earlier, too, they could establish their warehouse right next to the hundreds of legitimate ones that are spread throughout the city.

On that note, you mentioned that you knew early on that you wanted to speak with people on both sides  you know, growing and distributing, and then on the law enforcement side. What did it look like when you were trying to gain access to some of these people?

So, the law enforcement side, that's easier to answer. I approached the Colorado Department of Law. It was a fairly impressive investigation. I mean, it thoroughly dismantled this group. They figured out pretty much every person who was involved in it for a span of four years. So I approached the state and say, "Hey, I can tell you spent a lot of resources and time on this investigation, and I want to help you spotlight the work that you did, and also find out what this says about the black market."

Colorado was on board, but they wanted to wrap up all their court cases before revealing more information at the time. Pretty much every other reporter in Denver had moved on from the story. They'd covered the bust, but they were on to other things. So, I had to wait until April 2019 for all the court cases to be concluded. The reason for that is that one personally actually went on the lam and it took until 2019 to locate him in North Carolina and prompt extradite him back to Colorado.

But once that happened, I was able to see a lot of evidence that existed around this case that I knew existed, but was sealed to me before  which included about 100 hours of recorded interrogation tape with 20 tapes.

Then approaching alleged members of this group was a whole other path that I had to go down. I spent considerable time trying to get in touch with each and every person. You some, some people didn't want to talk about this, some people believe they were subjected to overzealous law enforcement and some people, you know, wanted to just sort of address the errors of their pasts and express remorse for what they had done.

Every single person was different,so those conversations were always interesting for me to test out. You know, how can I work with this individual to get their story out there in a respectful, but also truthful way, to make sure that I wasn't getting spun as well?

Was that a fear of yours? I mean, how did you balance wanting to spotlight the work law enforcement did, while also giving voice to people on the other side of this bust  all without feeling like either side was playing you?

Yeah, it's tough because I feel like in these situations, the truth always lies somewhere in between, right? Law enforcement would certainly tell this story one way. Then if you only had the perspective of the drug smuggling group, it would be skewed in another direction. I had to make a lot of decisions about what was a fair way to portray certain situations.

Here's an example. The show covers some pretty dramatic SWAT raids that happened when the group was busted. This is a part of the story that is told very differently depending on who you talk to. On the drug smuggler side, it was a horrific experience, having a SWAT team bust through your windows and explode flash bangs in your home and terrorize your family. Then on the law enforcement side, it's like, "Oh, well, this is absolutely justified because these people are so dangerous."

The truth is probably somewhere in between in that it was probably overzealous on the side of the SWAT team, but there was probably some justification in that these guys were involved in a pretty shady underworld.

Well, and something that I found interesting about this reported podcast is that there are a lot of flashy details  like, skydiving drug mules, buried bags of cash, partying, cocaine. It sounds like a movie. How much of that was present in the initial media coverage surrounding "The Syndicate" drug bust?

Some of those details did come out in the initial media coverage and press conference around the bust in 2015. Because the state of Colorado is just as savvy as anyone else about garnering media attention, they knew that they could probably get more coverage of their investigation if they talked about the fact like "Oh, by the way, they were also shipping up to 900 pounds of per trip on these skydiving planes."

For me as a journalist that specializes in narrative stories, I feel like some of those details are necessary if you're really going to delve into a lot of policy angles and bigger picture questions about the law and justice in the United States. You need some of those more cinematic elements to just kind of coax your audience into some of the more intellectual questions that arise from these types of stories.

What are some of the policy issues that you're hoping people maybe do consider if they're listening to "The Syndicate"?

I think the first and most immediate one, or the most obvious one, is just this question of federal legalization. Would we have as much black market activity, and would a group like this have been able to pull off the feat they did, if we had just across-the-country legal cannabis? The answer is probably no.

I mean, I do some editorializing at the end of this show. I think it is an argument for taking cannabis off the schedule of drugs, or at least getting it out of Schedule I drug classification at the federal level.

Polls show that two thirds of Americans favor recreational pot and around 80% favor medical marijuana. That's just like a massive wave of support for federal legalization, which could immediately tackle part of this problem.

But even if you were to do that, then this is returning the conversation again to states like California and, to some extent, Colorado. Legalizing weed nationally is just not going to solve the problem overnight. You still need to make sure that consumers can find weed in conveniently available locations. This has happened in Canada, for instance, where there are jurisdictions with just no pot shops, so everyone in that jurisdiction who wants to buy weed has to get it from a black market dealer, right?

And then even if you have legal dispensaries, you'll also need to ensure supply and then also have a competitive price. If there is a huge markup, the vast majority of buyers are still going to turn to the black market because they're just like, "No, I'm not willing to pay twice as much to get weed from a dispensary."

So, all of which to say, federal legalization is a step towards combating some of these problems, but it's a long road ahead. There's a lot of considerations that need to be carefully weighed to make sure we can slowly chip away at the black market.

New episodes of "The Syndicate" debut every Tuesday. You can listen to the first three episodes here or listen in the player below.

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A feminist pro-democracy uprising is taking place in Belarus, yet the leadership that Canadas self-proclaimed feminist prime minister and foreign minster should be taking to support them, has thus far been limited to expressions of concern.

Led by three women, Belarusians have braved the threat of violent repression to rally for their freedom and democracy since May. Despite credible claims of mass electoral fraud, Belaruss dictator Aleksander Lukashenka claimed yet another electoral victory last week, extending his 26-year rule, for another five years.

The results in electoral precincts that refused to falsify election results, demonstrated a very different picture where opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, won by up to 80 per cent.

Far from respecting the true outcome of the election, Lukashenka has instead engaged in a campaign of violent and often arbitrary repression aimed at suppressing thousands of Belarusians who have taken to the streets to call for new and transparent elections.

Over the past week, over 6,000 demonstrators have been arrested and at least two have been killed. Reports of mass torture and human rights abuse in Belarusian prisons have been posted on social media. On the streets of Minsk, videos show police randomly stopping cars (often intentionally crashing into them), dragging passengers out onto the streets and beating them with batons. The crackdown can only be described as savage.

Tikhanovskaya was forced to flee Belarus to neighbouring Lithuania, after being threatened and coerced into reading a statement calling on Belarusians to accept the grossly fabricated official outcome of the election.

Last Wednesday, hundreds of women dressed in white, formed solidarity chains in a mass demonstration in support of Tikhanovskaya, and all the women who have led the Belarusian pro-democracy movement. On Sunday, nearly 200,000 Belarusians took to the streets of Minsk to demand Lukashenkas resignation.

Without a firm Western response to address the violence in Belarus, Lukashenka may intensify repression while receiving encouragement to do so from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently facing large protests in Russias Far East. The possibility that the Kremlin may exploit the ongoing crisis to intervene directly in support of Lukashenka cannot be discounted, nor can the possibility that Putin may decide to seize all, or some part of Belarus in that process.

In contrast, a free and democratic Belarus would almost certainly seek closer integration with Europe and the West, contributing to a more unified and stable Eastern European region.

In either case, the outcome of this crisis will have long-term security consequences for the region, NATO and Canada.

One would assume that the uniquely feminine nature of the Belarusian pro-democracy uprising would offer a perfect opportunity for Justin Trudeau and Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne to put Canadas much touted feminist foreign policy into practical and bold action. So far, they have not.

Backstopped by that feminine foreign policy, Canada should be co-ordinating within the G7, and with the EU, to apply Magnitsky sanctions against Lukashenka, his electoral chief Lidia Yermoshina, who has overseen mass electoral fraud in every Belarusian election since 1994, and those responsible for violent repression Belarusians have endured this past week.

Canadas experience and connections supporting Ukrainian reform since 2014, would serve Belarusians and our regional allies well. Canada should work with the EU to help organize a western summit on Belarus and co-ordinate international support to ensure the transparency of any new, rerun, presidential election.

Canada should also be working closely with NATO allies in Lithuania, whose foreign minister, Linus Linkevicius, has taken on much of the heaving lifting to support the Belarusian opposition, to co-ordinate support for civil society groups, and to ensure channels of communication with the western democratic world remain open, including the internet.

Finally, Canada must call for an immediate investigation into the Lukashenka regimes electoral fraud, criminal abuse of human rights  including in the UN and OSCE  and at the International Criminal Court.

Ultimately, it is in Canadas foreign policy and national security interests to support the people of Belarus in their struggle for a free and democratic future. Belarusians are currently facing mass human rights abuses from a state unwilling to recognize the true results of the election. Canada needs to stand firmly with them.
New Medical Oncologist/Hematologist to practice in Sarasota County

Chief Executive Officer Nathan Walcker; President & Managing Physician Lucio Gordan, MD; Medical Oncologist Kristen Gonter-Aubin, DO

Chief Executive Officer Nathan Walcker; President & Managing Physician Lucio Gordan, MD; Medical Oncologist Kristen Gonter-Aubin, DO

Fort Myers, Fla., Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) welcomes medical oncologist and hematologist Kristen Gonter-Aubin, DO. She is seeing patients at the FCS Englewood office at 714 Doctors Drive, Englewood, FL and at the FCS Venice Healthpark location at 836 Sunset Lake Blvd, Suite 101, Venice, FL.

After earning her medical degree from Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Kristen Gonter-Aubin, DO completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Louisville. While there, she was appointed chief resident and participated in the Internal Medicine Steering Committee as vice chair. She was then awarded a fellowship in hematology/oncology from Moffitt Cancer Center through the University of South Florida, where she was named chief fellow.

Prior to joining FCS, Dr. Gonter-Aubin held various roles at the University of South Florida, where she served as a member of the Hematology/Oncology Fellow Committee, the Program Evaluation Committee and the Resident Advisory Committee. She has presented at conferences including the Moffitt Clinical Symposium and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, where her abstract was published in Blood.

Were excited to welcome Dr. Gonter-Aubin to FCS. She will undoubtedly be a tremendous addition to the Venice and Englewood communities and to our patients, said FCS CEO Nathan Walcker.

FCS President & Managing Physician Dr. Lucio Gordan said, Dr. Gonter-Aubin comes to us with outstanding clinical leadership skills, as demonstrated through her educational and professional careers. I am delighted to welcome her to FCS.

###

About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com)

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Recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with a national Clinical Trials Participation Award, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. In the past four years, the majority of new cancer drugs approved for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials with Florida Cancer Specialists participation.* Trained in prestigious medical schools and research institutes, our physicians are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report.

Florida Cancer Specialists has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research, cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatments, including targeted therapies, genomic-based treatment, and immunotherapy. Our highest values are embodied by our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians and staff.

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CONTACT: Shelly Glenn Florida Cancer Specialists (770) 365.6168 SGlenn@FLCancer.com Michelle Robey Florida Cancer Specialists (813) 767-9398 Michelle.Robey@FLCancer.com




CAIRO  The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, organized a major celebration on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of an armed forces for Libya on Aug. 10 in the Abu Rawash area west of the Egyptian capital Cairo.

Although the LNA is less than a decade old  founded in 2011 after forces forces aligned to the National Transitional Council defeated the army of Moammar al-Gadhafi  Hifter has sought to present it as the only legitimate armed forces, and thus the successor of the Libyan army founded in 1940 to liberate the country from the Italian occupation.

The ceremony was attended by LNA spokesperson Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Mesmari, Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdul Hadi al-Hawaij, LNA director of the Moral Guidance Department Brig. Gen. Khaled al-Mahjoub, Libyan parliament member Mohammed al-Abani, a number of Libyan tribal sheikhs, several figures affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Defense and various Egyptian parliament members.

In a speech during the celebration, Mesmari stressed the need for Turkey to leave Libya's political and military scene, indicating that this commemoration is a clear message to the conspirators and to the colonialists that [the Libyans] will not neglect their land and their dignity nor the Arab world.

The celebration featured a video depicting the depth of Egyptian-Libyan relations and how the LNA defeated the Italian invasion and regained all the areas Italy had controlled in Libya during its colonization.

Brig. Gen. Khaled Okasha, head of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor over the phone that the celebration of the LNAs 80th anniversary has clear indications, especially at this time when the conflicts between Turkey and Egypt are raging on several axes, most notably regarding the Turkish intervention in Libyan affairs, not to mention the Syrian and Iraqi affairs, which Egypt rejected in an official statement issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On July 18, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement expressing its rejection of Turkish political and military interference in Arab affairs, be it in Iraq, Syria or Libya.

Okasha said, Ankara insists on exploring gas in the Mediterranean in Greeces economic zones, which is also rejected by Egypt, especially after it signed an agreement to demarcate the maritime borders between Egypt and Greece on Aug. 6, to define areas of influence in the eastern Mediterranean after discovering large quantities of gas in that area.

He pointed out that the political and military conflict in Libya harms Egypt and affects its national security because Libya is located on the western borders of Egypt, stretching over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). This is why Cairo is trying hard to reunite the Libyan diaspora and reach a political consensus that brings the Libyan parties together around one table, in order to reach an understanding and end the conflict that has been going on since 2011, Okasha said.

He stressed that holding this celebration in Egypt represents a warning to the Turkish side, which further complicates the conflict in Libya, where Turkey has been helping Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Fayez al-Sarraj, and bringing terrorists and mercenaries in from Syria to confront the LNA and the Libyan people.

He noted that Egypt presented the Cairo Declaration initiative on June 6 in a bid to calm the situation and reach a political solution; the initiative included a cease-fire and the dismantling of militias.

Okasha added that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warned on June 20 against crossing the Sirte-Jufra red line, and it has not been crossed by the Sarraj forces or Turkey since then  which shows how important and effective the Egyptian role is in supporting the LNA.

Meanwhile, Egyptian parliament member Mustafa Bakri, who attended the celebration, told Al-Monitor over the phone that this commemoration from the heart of Cairo and the great media coverage that it had clearly indicates the strength of extended relations between Egypt and Libya.

Libya is an integral part of Egyptian national security, and Egypt always calls for peace and only a fair peace that guarantees the withdrawal of Turkish forces and the dismantling of extremist militias and terrorist groups they support, he noted.

Bakri pointed out that this celebration in Cairo holds many nods, namely that Egypt supports the LNA in its battle against the militia government and against Turkish intervention in Libya, stressing that Turkey is trying to practice a policy of aggression and seeks to seize the wealth of Libya, but Egypt will not let that happen.

He noted that Cairo will put an end to Turkish intervention by supporting the LNA and the Libyan people, indicating that the Egyptian army is ready for any combat missions outside its borders, as Sisi himself stated.

Bakri said that the monument in the Abu Rawash area was built in 1956 to commemorate the establishment of the LNA in 1951 to resist the Italian occupation at that time. He added that 80 years ago, specifically in August 1940, the Abu Rawash area witnessed the first gathering of Libyan mujahedeen, and that was the nucleus of establishing the LNA in its current form.

Ayman Samir, an expert in international relations and a researcher at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor that this celebration sends clear messages that the LNA and the Egyptian army are inseparable, and this was confirmed by the presence of a number of Egyptian army leaders and Egyptian parliament members as well as leaders of the LNA, the Libyan minister of foreign affairs and tribal sheikhs.

Samir said this aims to show a unified vision and common destiny between Egypt and Libya in the face of Turkish military intervention in Libyan territories.

He noted that the presence of senior government figures and military leaders from Egypt and Libya at the ceremony clearly shows that Egypt has always been and will always be the closest to Libya, and that the Egyptian government and the Egyptian army stand behind Libya to protect its capabilities and wealth, and to clearly and unequivocally support the Libyan people and the LNA.
TUESDAY'S DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION LINE UP Mayor of Milwaukee, Wis., Tom Barrett James Roosevelt Jr. and Lorraine Miller give the report of Credentials Committee Barney Frank and Maria Cardona give the report of the Rules Committee Julie Chavez Rodriguez and Dennis McDonough give the Credentials Committee report Keynote Address by 17 rising stars in party: Stacey Abrams, Tennessee State Senator Raumesh Akbari, Rep. Colin Allred, Rep. Brendan Boyle, Nevada State Senator Yvanna Cancela, f ormer State Rep. Kathleen Clyde, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Pennsylvania State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, South Carolina State Senator Marlon Kimpson, Rep. Conor Lamb, Michigan State Rep. Mari Manoogian, Texas State Rep. Victoria Neave, Navajo President Jonathan Nez, Georgia State Rep. Sam Park, New Hampshire State Rep. Denny Ruprecht, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin Actress Tracee Ellis Ross Former Acting AG Sally Yates Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Caroline Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador, daughter of President John F. Kennedy Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy Former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter Former President Bill Clinton Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez Bob King, former President of the United Auto Workers Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Senator Chris Coons Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester Roll Call Across America Activist Ady Barkan Former Secretary of State John Kerry Dr. Jill Biden Performance by John Legend Advertisement

The second night of the Democratic National Convention will combine the party's past famous names with its new, rising young stars and end the evening with a performance by singer John Legend.

Former President Bill Clinton and the party's former nominee John Kerry will share the virtual stage with new national sensation Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jill Biden, the woman who hopes to follow Michelle Obama as first lady but has the herculean task of following her convention speech, which has become a new rallying cry for Democrats in this election year.

The party will also take care of business at hand: the roll call of delegates which will lead to the formal nomination of Joe Biden as the Democrats' choice to take on President Donald Trump this fall.

Like the first night, much of the programming was pre-recorded after party switched to a fully virtual convention given the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, meanwhile, will spend Tuesday in Iowa, examining damage from the derecho, and in Arizona, where he will discuss border security.

The theme of the Democrats' second night is 'Leadership Matters' and the speakers are likely to mirror the addresses of the first night with their attacks on Trump's qualifications to be president while touting Biden's credentials to be commander in chief.

Most of the speeches, like the first night, will be pretaped, and pressure will be on for one of the contenders to match the draw and energy of Michelle Obama, who unleashed on President Trump in her Monday address.

Leading Tuesday's call-to-arms will be Bill Clinton, who has spoken at every Democratic convention since 1980. He memorably made the case for his wife Hillary Clinton in 2016 and for Barack Obama in 2012 - being so effective in his arguments Obama dubbed him 'the secretary of splaining stuff.'

But Clinton, who had an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky when he was president and has been accused of sexual misconduct by other women, will be in the convention spotlight for the first time since the #MeToo movement has gripped the country.

Clinton, who is three years younger than Joe Biden, also has ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison while awaiting trial on additional charges. The former president rode Epstein's private jet in 2002 but had denied having a close relationship with him and said he knew nothing about Epstein's behavior with young girls.

That baggage he carries and the party's shift toward new leadership resulted in a limited role for the former president on Tuesday: he's been allotted five minutes and his speech was pre-recorded at his home in Chappaqua, N.Y.

But the biggest viewership of the night could be for Ocasio-Cortez, who only gets 60 seconds to speak but has captured young Democrats with her social media presence and her passion for the environment.

Jill Biden will use her convention speech to introduce herself to voters and will speak live from the high school classroom in Wilmington where she used to teach

Bill Clinton has spoken at every Democratic National Convention since 1980 but this year's speech comes under the shadow of the #MeToo movement

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of the rising Democratic stars who will speak on Tuesday night

The traditional keynote address - which happens on the second night of the convention and has launched many political careers - will look different at this year's convention.

A group of 17 rising stars within the party - including former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, Pennsylvania Rep. Conor Lamb and Texas Rep. Colin Allred - will give a join address meant to showcase the party's 'diversity of ideas and perspectives.'

The traditional keynote address will be different Tuesday night with a group of 'rising stars' within the party - including former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams - will speak

Also speaking in that group are Nevada state Senator Yvanna Cancela, the former political director for the powerful Las Vegas casino workers' union; Mayor Robert Garcia of Long Beach, California, who became the city's first openly gay mayor when he was elected in 2014; Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez; and New Hampshire state Rep. Denny Ruprecht, who became that state's youngest lawmaker when he was elected in 2018 at age 19.

Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, who ran the Justice Department for the first 10 days of the Trump administration - until the president fired her for refusing to carry out his travel ban order - will speak. She also warned the Trump administration that then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had not been truthful about his contacts with Russian officials.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who hopes his party retakes control of that chamber in November's election, will also speak.

As will Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, who co-chaired the committee that vetted running mates for Biden.

The official roll call of the states will be a mix of live and pre-taped speeches. It will be much shorter than occurs at a live convention, when states are called out one by one in the convention arena to declare who their delegates are supporting.

The roll call goes alphabetically, meaning Alabama will lead off.

Rep. Conor Lamb is also among the 17 people giving part of Tuesday's keynote address

The state's delegates will speak from the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, site of the voting rights marches of 1965 and the Bloody Sunday encounter.

Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell, a Selma native, is expected to announce her delegation's votes for Joe Biden and invoke the memory of the late civil rights leader John Lewis.

A mix of lawmakers and activists will speak for their states and use their time to highlight Biden's support on a range of policy issues - including LGBTQ rights and gun safety.

For Florida, gun safety activist Fred Guttenberg will talk about Biden's compassion in the wake of his daughters murder in Parkland mas shooting and his commitment to defeating the NRA.

For Virginia, Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who criticized Trump at the 2016 Democratic convention, will lead the delegation.

For Wyoming, Judy and Dennis Shepherd will discuss Bidens support for LGBTQ Americans in the wake of their son Matthews murder.

And D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will issue a call for DC statehood during the roll call.

Pete Buttigieg will announce Indiana's delegation for Biden while Amy Klobuchar will announce Minnesota's.

Closing out the night will be Jill Biden, followed by a musical performance from John Legend.

While her name is familiar to many, the would-be-first lady will use her time to introduce herself to voters.

The second evening will close out with a performance from John Legend

Bill Clinton spoke for Barack Obama at the 2012 Democratic National Convention - being so effective in his arguments Obama dubbed him 'the secretary of splaining stuff'

Bill Clinton bowed to Barack Obama after the former president spoke on Obama's behalf at the 2012 convention

Jill Biden, seen with Joe Biden at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, will close out Tuesday night's speeches

Jill Biden will follow in the footsteps of Michelle Obama, who attacked Donald Trump as 'the wrong president for our country' and 'clearly in over his head' in her speech to the Democratic National Convention on Monday night

The teacher - she taught English composition at Northern Virginia Community College while serving as second lady - will speak from the high school classroom in Wilmington where she once taught. And her speech will be live.

'Teaching is not what I do. It's who I am. I'll be giving my convention speech tonight from my former classroom. Brandywine High School. Room 232,' she tweeted on Tuesday morning.

Biden, who has two masters degrees and a doctorate in education, said she hopes to continue teaching while being first lady.

Her speech will follow Michelle Obama's keynote address on Monday night, where the former first lady did not mince words in harsh assessment of Trump's presidency.

'Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is,' she said.

Trump shot back Tuesday morning, sarcastically thanking Obama for her 'kind words' and calling it a 'very divisive speech, extremely divisive.'

The president has shown he's not above going after spouses. In the 2016 Republican primary, he attacked Heidi Cruz, the wife of his rival for the GOP nomination Ted Cruz, for her looks.

While he has not yet targeted Jill Biden, he has made Hunter Biden a frequent target.
Two million fewer supermarket visits were made than expected after face coverings became compulsory in shops, analysis has revealed.

Footfall in stores and grocers has been steadily climbing since the peak of the pandemic, with each household currently averaging 14 trips per month.

But the mandating of masks disrupted this upward trend in the last week of July and stopped hundreds of thousands from going to the shops.

Charlotte Scott, consumer insight director at Kantar, which carried out the research, said: 'The number of supermarket trips was two million lower than would have usually been expected in the week after the rule was adopted, and currently just over half of shoppers say they feel safe in stores.

'That suggests the public may need time to adjust to the new regulations, and they now have to plan ahead for every shopping trip.'

Grappling with fears of a second spike as they continued to unlock sections of the economy, ministers made face coverings compulsory in shops on July 24.

Two million fewer supermarket visits were made than expected after face coverings were made compulsory in shops, analysis has revealed (shopper wearing a mask in Waitrose in July)

Kantar also found that of the Big Four, Morrisons pulled in the most customers in the 12 weeks to August 9, followed by Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda.

And shoppers are spending less on each trip they make to supermarkets, buying 9.7billion worth of goods over the past four weeks, the lowest level since February.

Ms Scott said: 'The relaxing of rules across much of the country means shoppers are less inclined to stock up their cupboards with regular large trips.

'That has seen average spend drop below 25 for the first time since March. However, at 24, it is still a world away from the pre-Covid average of 19 per trip.'

Shopping trends are shifting towards healthier options, with sales of vitamins and minerals up 34 per cent, herbal teas up by 19 per cent, and nuts up 21 per cent, although this was offset by alcohol sales rising 28.3 per cent over the past four weeks.

Online food shopping hit another new record in the four weeks to August 9, with 13.5 per cent of all sales now ordered online, Kantar said.

Ocado has been the biggest winner with growth of 45.5 per cent over the 12-week period, although it still only accounts for 1.8 per cent of the entire grocery sector.

A shopper wearing a face mask inside a Tesco supermarket branch in Wimbledon last month

Ms Scott added: 'With the country officially entering recession last week, atypical behaviours are likely to continue. During a recession we would generally expect shoppers to manage their spend more carefully.

'Early evidence suggests that most are not yet choosing to trade down, with brands and premium own-label lines currently performing well; however, price cuts have increased compared with July as some people look for opportunities to save.'

She also suggested the exclusion of alcohol from the Government's Eat Out To Help Out scheme, to encourage consumers back into restaurants, helped keep in-store sales up during the period.

Morrisons was the fastest-growing Big Four retailer, with sales up 16.0 per cent, driven by a particularly strong performance from its supermarket stores - accounting for 10.2 per cent of the market.

Tesco's market share fell 0.4 percentage points to 26.6 per cent, Sainsbury's share was 14.9 per cent, down 0.5 percentage points this month, and Asda lost 0.6 percentage points, taking it to 14.3 per cent, according to Kantar.

Elsewhere, Iceland was the second fastest-growing retailer at 29.2 per cent, with its share increasing to 2.4 per cent.

Co-op increased its share to 7.1 per cent, with growth of 22.4 per cent. Lidl remained steady at 5.9 per cent, while Aldi and Waitrose both lost 0.2 percentage points, taking them to 7.9 per cent and 4.7 per cent respectively.
ERS Step up COVID-19 Safeguarding Measures

The Elderly Residential Services have stepped up their contingency plans and implemented a series of measures to safeguard residents in the light of the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases in the community and neighbouring countries.

The decision to step up was taken during yesterdays meeting of the Civil Contingency Council chaired by the Minister with responsibility for civil contingencies Samantha Sacramento.

In addition to internal ERS procedures on COVID-19, all precautionary measures have been taken alongside GHA and Public Health recommendations.

These precautionary measures include:

 Residents excursions to public places in the community will cease. An exception will be made for independent residents. PPE must be worn and comply with the HMGoG Golden Hour scheme.

 Residents will be swabbed more frequently; now every 2 weeks instead of every 4 weeks

 Visiting hours will be reduced to 4-6pm, with a maximum of 2 visitors per resident per day.

Exceptions will be made for relatives of residents reaching end of life care.

The ERS kindly requests that families comply with these measures to protect their loved ones against COVID-19, which could have catastrophic consequences to vulnerable residents and service users. ERS says it will be constantly reviewing the number of positive cases in the community and follow recommendations from Public Health.
Seems like ByteDance's TikTok has too many takers in the US. After Microsoft and Twitter, tech giant Oracle is now in talks with the China-based company to acquire the US operations of TikTok. US President Donald Trump had given an ultimatum to TikTok to sell off its US business within 90 days else he will shut down the app in the country.

As per the Financial Times report, Oracle has been considering has been in talks with Bytedance regarding TikTok's US operations. If reports are to be trusted, Oracle is seriously considering taking over TikTok's US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand operations. The report also revealed that Oracle already owns a stake in ByteDance.

Bytedance and Oracle are yet to comment on this piece of news.

Earlier, Microsoft in a statement had announced that they are in talks with Bytedance and US government to acquire the US operations of TikTok. However, a Financial Times report later revealed that Microsoft is not only eyeing the US operations but also planning to take over the global operations of the short video platform. Microsoft, however, is yet to issue an official statement about its plans to acquire the global business of the ByteDance-owned short video platform.

Apart from Microsoft, Twitter was also in talks with Bytedance regarding a potential deal. However, the experts had stated that it would be practically impossible for Twitter to acquire a company like TikTok within 45 days as it does not seem to possess the kind of financial backing. A report stated that One of Twitter's shareholders, private equity firm Silver Lake, was interested in funding a potential deal.

US President Trump had earlier signed an executive order barring transactions with ByteDance. "The spread in the United States of mobile applications developed and owned by companies in the People's Republic of China continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States," the executive order reads. "At this time, action must be taken to address the threat posed by one mobile application, in particular, TikTok."

TikTok, however, wasn't expecting Trump to take such a drastic step. In response to Trump's order, TikTok had said in a statement, "We are shocked by the recent Executive Order, which was issued without any due process. For nearly a year, we have sought to engage with the US government in good faith to provide a constructive solution to the concerns that have been expressed. 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 Trump Administration is looking at the possibility of extending the limits for the length of tiebacks in the Gulf of Mexico to allow operators to connect more wells to existing oil and gas platforms, the director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Scott Angelle, told Reuters.

The BSEE is currently is reviewing the policy that limits the length of the tiebacks to within 25  30 miles from existing offshore platforms, Angelle said.

The bureau is examining if there could be a policy change that can make subsea tiebacks and investment into the Gulf of Mexico bigger, broader and bolder for the next decade, BSEEs director told Reuters.

The bureau also reviews if platforms in the Gulf of Mexico are being used to their full potential, the official said, noting that The last thing we want to do is have an asset of the American people that is stranded and left behind.

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico saw its crude oil production hit a record high last year, at an annual average of 1.897 million barrels per day (bpd), EIA data shows. The monthly production record was 2.045 million bpd in August 2019. After the price crash in March and April this year, crude oil production from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico slumped to 1.613 million bpd in May 2020, according to the latest available EIA data.

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico is better prepared now to ride out the oil crisis than it was in the 2015-2016 downturn, as 82 percent of oil production has a short-run marginal cost  operating costs, taxes, and royalties  of US$10 a barrel Brent, Wood Mackenzie said in June this year.

The Gulf of Mexico is now nimbler and leaner and more resilient, the consultancy said in research.

Despite the lower costs and leaner operations compared to the previous crisis, the Gulf of Mexico will not remain unscathed by this years price collapse as companies have cut budgets and recalibrated exploration and sanctioning plans. According to WoodMac, capital expenditure (capex) by Gulf of Mexico operators is expected to drop to US$7.4 billion this year, down by 22 percent or US$4 billion from 2019.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 779,000 people worldwide.

Over 22 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some national governments are hiding or downplaying the scope of their outbreaks.

Since the first cases were detected in China in December, the United States has become the worst-affected country, with more than 5.4 million diagnosed cases and at least 171,687 deaths.

Latest headlines:

New cases trend down while deaths increase, says FEMA memo Global COVID-19 cases surpass 22 million CDC to start surveying nation's wastewater WHO warns younger people are 'driving' COVID-19 spread in Asia Pacific US reports under 40,000 new cases for 1st time since June

Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Please refresh this page for updates.

10:03 p.m.: New cases trend down as deaths increase, FEMA memo says

New COVID-19 cases in the U.S. continue to decrease week-over-week, but new deaths are back up, according to an internal FEMA memo obtained by ABC News.

In the last week, there were 358,071 new confirmed cases, down 2% from the previous seven-day period, the memo said. There were 7,463 deaths -- up 3.6% compared to the previous week.

The national test-positivity rate was 6.1%, down from 7% for the prior seven-day period.

Areas of concern include Louisiana, which had 15 hospitals reporting no ICU beds available despite a continued decrease in hospitalizations from Aug 1-11, according to the memo. In Oklahoma, more than 6% of all COVID-91 cases statewide were within the health care industry, the memo said.

9:31 p.m.: Global COVID-19 cases hits 22 million

The number of people with COVID-19 worldwide surpassed 22 million Tuesday night.

Story continues

According to Johns Hopkins University, there were 22,046,135 confirmed cases shortly after 9 p.m.

Since July, the number of global cases has increased by one million approximately every four days. In June, it was approximately every week, and in May it was approximately every 10 days.

7:13 p.m.: CDC to initiate surveillance program on America's wastewater

The federal government plans to start surveying America's wastewater to better understand the spread of COVID-19 in communities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that they are creating a national database on wastewater data. The agencies are asking state and local health departments to conduct tests on their own and submit the data in a portal, which is currently under development.

The data generated by the surveillance system "will help public health officials to better understand the extent of COVID-19 infections in communities," the CDC said.

CDC has said previously that COVID-19 doesnt show up in pools or hot tubs, but it has been detected in untreated wastewater.

5:32 p.m.: Patriots to play first two home games without fans

The New England Patriots will not have any fans in attendance during their first two regular-season home games "in the interest of public safety," team officials said Tuesday.

The Massachusetts Reopening Advisory Board is not permitting Gillette Stadium to host fans through the end of September, officials said.

That affects its home opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13 and a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 27.

Officials said the stadium will prepare to safely host fans later this fall based on guidance from the reopening board.

The announcement comes a day after defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs said they will start its season on Sept. 10 with its stadium at 22% capacity.

3:15 p.m.: No large gatherings if we want schools to reopen, Birx says

Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, said asymptomatic spread at large gatherings is hurting the ability to reopen schools across the country and asked the public to follow proper social distancing guidelines to open the "pathway forward."

"What does social distancing mean? It means that we're asking every citizen to not have large gatherings in their backyards until we have an effective vaccine," Birx told reporters in Missouri during a briefing on Tuesday. "We know there's amazing asymptomatic spread."

Birx continued, "We all want to believe our family members, our neighbors couldn't possibly have COVID. I can tell you across the United states they do," citing "parties in Texas where 150 out of 150 people were infected, an outdoor party."

"If we decrease community spread in this common sense pathway forward, we can have the schools open, we can have the universities and colleges open, we can have the sports teams, but we all have to do our part to get these cases down, no matter where you live in the United States," she added.

2:45 p.m.: University cluster traced to off-campus party

A cluster of active cases at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville has been traced back to an off-campus party that took place last week, school Chancellor Donde Plowman said on Tuesday.

According to information on the university's website, there are 66 students and nine employees who have tested positive for COVID-19, with another 270 in self-isolation.

The university has seen a rise in cases the last 6 days -- on Aug. 12 there were 28 COVID-19 cases and 150 people in isolation.

Plowman implored students to cooperate with efforts to conduct contact tracing.

"If students do not cooperate, you could be expelled, so just listen to that very carefully," Plowman said.

Classes for the fall semester at the university are scheduled to start on Wednesday.

11:49 a.m.: New York state adds Alaska, Delaware to travel advisory list

Two more states have been added to New York's coronavirus travel advisory list, which mandates a 14-day self-quarantine for individuals who have traveled from those states.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that Alaska and Delaware meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory. Delaware was removed from the list earlier this month but was re-added on Tuesday.

No areas have been removed from the list, which now includes 33 states that Cuomo says have "significant community spread."

The states are Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin

11:31 a.m.: WHO chief warns against 'vaccine nationalism'

The head of the World Health Organization is warning against what he calls "vaccine nationalism," saying that sharing supplies is in each country's national interest.

"We have learned the hard way that the fastest way to end this pandemic and to reopen economies is to start by protecting the highest risk populations everywhere, rather than just the populations of some countries," Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's director-general, said at a press conference Tuesday. "No one is safe until everyone is safe."

"It's critical that countries don't repeat the same mistakes," he added. "We need to prevent vaccine nationalism. And for this reason, WHO is working with governments and the private sector to both accelerate the signs through the ACT Accelerator and ensure that new innovations are available to everyone, everywhere."

The allocation of vaccines through the WHO's Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator is slated to be rolled out in two phases, according to Tedros. In the first phase, vaccines will be allocated proportionally to all participating countries simultaneously to reduce overall risk. In the second phase, consideration will be given to countries in relation to threat and vulnerability.

PHOTO: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, July 3, 2020. (Pool/Reuters)

Tedros noted that front-line workers in health and social care settings will be prioritized because they are essential to treating and protecting populations and also come in close contact with people in age groups at the highest risk of dying from COVID-19.

"For most countries, a phase one allocation that builds up to 20% of the population would cover most of the at-risk groups," he said. "If we don't protect this highest risk people from the virus everywhere and at the same time, we can't stabilize health systems and rebuild the global economy."

Dozens of potential vaccines for the novel coronavirus are undergoing clinical trials around the world. Last week, Russia became the first country in the world to officially register a COVID-19 vaccine and declare it ready for use. However, Moscow approved the drug before completing its final Phase III trial, and no scientific data has been released from the early trials so far.

11:07 a.m.: Over 2,000 students in Georgia school district under quarantine

More than 2,000 students in a single Georgia school district have been ordered to self-quarantine this month, as dozens of COVID-19 cases were confirmed in various schools.

Georgia's Cherokee County reopened its schools on Aug. 3, welcoming back 30,000 students for in-person learning. Since then, at least 2,221 students and 47 staff members from more than a dozen schools have been placed under mandated two-week quarantines, according to data published Tuesday on the school district's website.

PHOTO: Supporters of the Cherokee County School District's decision to reopen schools to students during the coronavirus pandemic rally outside the district's headquarters in Canton, Ga., Aug. 11, 2020. (Dustin Chambers/Reuters)

More than 150 students and staff who had quarantined earlier are now eligible to return to school, the data shows.

So far, three high schools in the district have been forced to temporarily close due to the growing clusters of cases among pupils and staff.

10:30 a.m.: New Zealand's prime minister claps back at Trump

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has clapped back at U.S. President Donald Trump for saying her country is experiencing a "big surge" in COVID-19 cases, calling his comments "patently wrong."

"I think anyone who's following COVID and its transmission globally will quite easily see that New Zealand's nine cases in a day does not compare to the United States' tens of thousands, and in fact does not compare to most countries in the world," Ardern told reporters at a press conference Tuesday.

"Obviously, it's patently wrong," she said of Trump's remarks.

PHOTO: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament, Aug. 17, 2020, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The American commander-in-chief made the comments Monday during a campaign rally in Minnesota.

"Do you see whats happening in New Zealand? They beat it, they beat it, it was like front-page news because they wanted to show me something," Trump told the crowd of supporters. "Big surge in New Zealand, you know its terrible, we dont want that."

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, New Zealand has reported fewer than 1,700 diagnosed cases of COVID-19 with at least 22 deaths, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Last week, after going 102 days without local transmission, the country of 5 million people recorded a cluster of new cases in Auckland, its most populous city.

Meanwhile, the United States is by far the worst-hit nation with well over 5 million diagnosed cases and more than 170,000 deaths.

9:10 a.m.: Gov. Cuomo writing a book about pandemic

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is writing a book about his experiences leading the state through the coronavirus pandemic and interacting with the Trump administration.

The Crown Publishing Group, an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group, announced Tuesday that Cuomo's book, "American Crisis," will be published on Oct. 13, three weeks before Election Day.

PHOTO: The cover of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's book, 'American Crisis: Leadership Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic.' (AP)

"In his own voice, Andrew Cuomo chronicles in 'American Crisis' the ingenuity and sacrifice required of so many to fight the pandemic, sharing his personal reflections on 40 years in government and the decision-making that shaped his political policy, and offers his frank accounting and assessment of his interactions with the federal government and the White House, as well as other state and local political and health officials," Crown said in a statement. "Real leadership, he argues, requires clear communication, compassion for others, and a commitment to truth-tellingno matter how frightening the facts may be."

New York City was once the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. In an excerpt from his upcoming book, which Crown released to the media, the Democratic governor discusses fear.

"If you dont feel fear, you dont appreciate the consequences of the circumstance," Cuomo writes. "The questions are what do you do with the fear and would you succumb to it. I would not allow the fear to control me. The fear kept my adrenaline high and that was a positive. But I would not let the fear be a negative, and I would not spread it. Fear is a virus also."

8:26 a.m.: 'Cases are falling,' says Adm. Brett Giroir

Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said the country is indeed seeing a drop in coronavirus infections, with the number of new cases decreasing by about 22% since the third week of July.

"We know that's a real number because hospitalizations have also gone down 24%, so those things track," Giroir told ABC News in an interview Tuesday on "Good Morning America."

PHOTO: Adm. Brett Griroir, assistant secretary for health and human services, appeared on 'Good Morning America' on Aug. 18, 2020. (GMA)

Currently, around 825,000 COVID-19 tests are being conducted in the United States per day. The nation has the capacity to carry out almost 50 million tests in August, and that's expected to ramp up to nearly 90 million in September, according to Giroir, who is a medical doctor and a key member of the White House coronavirus task force

"Cases are falling, and we know that's true. We have plenty enough testing to know that," he said.

7:58 a.m.: FDA warns popular COVID-19 test could be inaccurate

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning of "a risk of false results" with a widely-used COVID-19 test.

The federal agency issued an alert Monday to clinical laboratory staff and health care providers using Thermo Fisher Scientific's TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit, a molecular assay for the detection of the novel coronavirus from respiratory specimens. The FDA said issues related to laboratory equipment and software used to run the popular test could lead to inaccuracies.

PHOTO: TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit. (Thermofisher)

The agency advised clinical laboratory staff and health care providers to "implement promptly the software updates and the updated instructions for use" from the company.

"The FDA is working with Thermo Fisher Scientific and our public health partners to resolve these issues," the agency said in a statement Monday. "The FDA will continue to keep clinical laboratory staff, health care providers, manufacturers, and the public informed of new or additional information."

ABC News has reached out to Thermo Fisher Scientific for comment.

7:14 a.m.: Finland's prime minister to be tested after experiencing 'mild' symptoms

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced Tuesday that she will be tested for COVID-19 after experiencing "mild respiratory symptoms."

Marin wrote on Twitter that she will be working from home while she awaits her test results.

PHOTO: Finish Prime Minister Sanna Marin makes a statement as she arrives for the fourth day of a summit with European Union leaders at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium, on July 20, 2020. (Francisco Seco/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

As of Tuesday afternoon, Finland had reported at least 7,752 cases of COVID-19 with 334 deaths, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

What to know about coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the U.S. and worldwide: Coronavirus map

6:39 a.m.: UNC-Chapel Hill shifts to remote learning within a week of starting classes

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Monday that it will suspend in-person classes after seeing the COVID-19 positivity rate on campus rise almost fivefold.

The public research university in the town of Chapel Hill, about 25 miles from Raleigh, held its first day of class just one week ago after welcoming students back into its residence halls the week prior. Although residence halls were at less than 60% capacity and fewer than 30% of total classroom seats were taught in-person, the school said the COVID-19 positivity rate on campus increased from 2.8% on Aug. 10 to 13.6% on Aug. 16.

PHOTO: Students wait to enter Woolen Gym on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Aug. 17, 2020. (Julia Wall/The News & Observer via AP)

As of Monday morning, the university said it has tested 954 students so far, and 177 were in isolation and 349 were in quarantine, both on and off campus. Most students who have tested positive for COVID-19 "have demonstrated mild symptoms," according to a letter to the university community from chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz and executive vice chancellor and provost Robert A. Blouin.

"Effective Wednesday, August 19, all undergraduate in-person instruction will shift to remote learning," Guskiewicz and Blouin wrote. "Courses in our graduate, professional and health affairs schools will continue to be taught as they are, or as directed by the schools. Academic advising and academic support services will be available online. Our research enterprise will remain unchanged."

"Due to this announcement as well as the reduction of campus activities, we expect the majority of our current undergraduate residential students to change their residential plans for the fall," they added. "As much as we believe we have worked diligently to help create a healthy and safe campus living and learning environment, the current data presents an untenable situation."

5:21 a.m.: WHO warns younger people are 'driving' COVID-19 spread in Asia Pacific

The World Health Organization warned Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic is "changing" in the Asia-Pacific region, where younger people are now the ones "driving its spread."

"What we are observing is not simply a resurgence; we believe it is a signal that we have entered a new phase of the pandemic in the Asia Pacific," Dr. Takeshi Kasai, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, said at a virtual press conference. "The epidemic is changing. People in their 20s, 30s and 40s are increasingly driving its spread."

PHOTO: People wearing face masks walk across a traffic intersection in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, Japan on Aug. 17, 2020. (Hiro Komae/AP)

Various countries in the region, including Australia, the Philippines and Japan, are reporting rising numbers of people under the age of 40 contracting the novel coronavirus, according to the WHO.

"Many are unaware they are infected with very mild symptoms, or none at all," Kasai said. "This can result in them unknowingly passing on the virus to others."

4:50 a.m.: Walgreens coding error causes under-reporting of 59,000 test results in Texas

The Texas Department of State Health Services tells Corpus Christi ABC affiliate KIII that Walgreens Pharmacy reported experiencing a coding error, causing the under-reporting of some 59,000 COVID-19 test results statewide.

The coding error has now been corrected, according to KIII, but counties across Texas will likely see their COVID-19 statistics change as the data dump is set to take place.

PHOTO: Shoppers enter a Walgreens store in Los Angeles, California, on June 24, 2019. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

A Walgreens spokesperson told ABC News that the company has worked "closely" with Texas officials on COVID-19 testing efforts and "immediately assessed the reporting issue" when they learned of it on Monday.

"There was a discrepancy between state requirements for coding and what was being delivered," the spokesperson said. "Our physician network partner, who is responsible for reporting COVID-19 test results to the state, has been working diligently with local officials and the problem has been rectified."

The spokesperson noted that the issue did not affect the accuracy of the test results nor the timely reporting of test results to patients.

As of Monday, the Lone Star State had reported at least 542,950 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 10,034 deaths, according to a count kept by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

3:35 a.m.: US reports under 40,000 new cases for 1st time since June

There were 35,112 new cases of COVID-19 identified in the United States on Monday, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

It's the first time since June 28 that the country has reported under 40,000 new cases in a single day. Monday's case count is also well below the record set on July 16, when more than 77,000 new cases were identified in a 24-hour reporting period.

An additional 445 coronavirus-related deaths were also recorded Monday.

PHOTO: Health workers provide COVID-19 testing on a street in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 14, 2020. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)

A total of 5,443,162 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and at least 170,548 of them have died, according to Johns Hopkins. The cases include people from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C. and other U.S. territories as well as repatriated citizens.

By May 20, all U.S. states had begun lifting stay-at-home orders and other restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The day-to-day increase in the country's cases then hovered around 20,000 for a couple of weeks before shooting back up and crossing 70,000 for the first time in mid-July.

However, week-over-week comparisons show that the nationwide number of new cases has continued to decrease in recent weeks, according to an internal memo from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, obtained by ABC News on Sunday night.

ABC News' Alexandra Faul, Anne Flaherty, Josh Margolin, Christine Theodorou and J. Gabriel Ware contributed to this report.

CDC to start surveying nation's wastewater originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A man with a cinderblock tied around his neck stood on the roof of his burning home, prompting an overnight standoff with the police in Delaware County.

He was finally taken into custody at 3 a.m. today after a five-hour standoff in Folcroft, Action News 6 ABC is reporting.

The incident started as a fire call around 10 p.m. Monday in which authorities say the man, who appeared to be in his mid 30s, set fire to his own house, reports indicate.

Fire crews got the flames under control, but police saw the man on his roof, and the flames soon started again, reports indicate.

He could be heard swearing while pacing back and forth and had a rope around his neck with a cinder block tied to it. Reports indicate witnesses saw him pour a liquid, thought to be gasoline, all over himself.

Officers placed an airbag on the ground in case he decided to jump, and after hours of negotiations, the SWAT team used bean-bag rounds to knock him down, Action News 6 is reporting.

Two neighboring homes were damaged by smoke.

It was not immediately clear was incited the incident, but Folcroft Police Chief Bill Bair told Action News 6 there was a possible dispute in the home that night, and they were aware of a road-range incident involving the man last week.

The mans name has not yet been released, but authorities say he will be facing numerous charges, including arson. He will also undergo a mental-health evaluation, as well.

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The SWIFT project is moving full speed ahead in Niagara, its executive director says  and its something that cant come quick enough for West Lincoln Coun. Albert Witteveen.

SWIFT  an acronym for Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology Inc.  is non-profit regional broadband service that subsidizes construction of open-access, high-speed internet in underserved rural areas.

This is vital in places like West Lincoln, Witteveen said. In agriculture, weve moved into the 21st century with things like robotic milking and technology to monitor the environment with smartphones where you are raising animals.

If we want to stay on the cutting edge, we need the technology.

The other thing thats come to light recently is the disadvantages rural students face when they are trying to learn online. Ive heard from students who say it just cant come fast enough.

Barry Field, executive director of SWIFT, said the non-profit is in the procurement phase of its Niagara project.

SWIFT has 14 RFPs (requests for proposals) for new projects in southwestern Ontario, including Niagaras, and he expects all to close before the end of the year.

Niagara  along with Caledon, Waterloo, London and Windsor  is one of the contributing members of SWIFT. Lincoln Coun. Rob Foster is the local representative on the board.

Field said the capital contribution from Niagara Region is $1 million. Its money that was set aside by the municipalitys last term of council.

That local contribution will generate $13.3 million in investment when federal and provincial governments kick in about $8.9 million and the internet service providers supply about $4.1 million through the RFP process.

Field said the investment will end up servicing an estimated 3,122 premises in rural Niagara using 172 kilometres of fibre-ized technology.

Field said the budget could grow and serve more premises depending on how the RFP process shakes out. Internet service providers typically pay about one-third of the budget in a SWIFT project.

The agency estimates there are about 41,000 km of underserved road in southwestern Ontario area it serves. It would cost $2.6 billion to service it all.

We dont have $2.6 billion, Field said. We have $210 million. We are trying to solve that problem by stretching that money as far as it will go to solve as much of the problem as we possibly can.

Field said SWIFT estimates there are about 6.8 of unserved premises in Niagara per kilometre of rural roadway. That not an attractive density for telecom companies.

To be frank, the telecoms want to be building in areas where there are high population densities, Field said. They want economies of scale where they can make a lot of money. Typically, they wont go into these rural areas on their own without subsidies.

Field said wireless companies are trying to to the job.

They can be hit or miss, Field said. There are some excellent wireless companies, but there is also some spotty service.

The CRTC has set a universal service objective of every Canadian having access to 50 megabits of download and 10 megabits of upload speed by 2023.

Most urban centres have speeds of 1,000 megabytes for downloads and 1,000 megabytes for uploads available, he said.

If everything works out, construction projects in Niagara will start in 2021, Field said.
REUTERS

Following a massive cybersecurity breach that affected thousands of Canadian CRA accounts, experts say that a behavioural shift in how the public approaches cybersecurity is important, but institutions need to take the lead.

The CBC first reported the series of cyberattacks that compromised the personal information of 11,200 accounts. The hackers targeted the Canada Revenue Agency and GCKey, an online portal through which Canadians are able to access employment insurance and other benefits.

The hackers obtained information through credential stuffing, a type of attack where attackers obtain username and passwords that have been used on other websites, acting chief information officer for the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Marc Brouillard, said during a press conference.

Annette Butikofer, chief information officer at the CRA, said the agency was impacted on three separate occasions. She added that the hacked accounts have temporarily been revoked and individuals affected will get a letter from the CRA that will tell them how they can regain access to their accounts.

Onus is on organizations: Cavoukian

Ann Cavoukian, former information and privacy commissioner of Ontario, said that the CRA should have been more responsible for ensuring their systems are up to date so attacks like this didnt happen.

You cant put this on the individuals by saying they have crummy passwords, she said. To expect individuals to regularly change their passwords and make it difficult, thats just not going to happen. I think the CRA has to devise stronger systems.

One way to do this would be implementing end-to-end encryption, a type of secure communication that would prevent third-parties from being able to access data.

If systems are not encrypted, hackers are going to jump all over it, Cavoukian said. Why the heck doesnt the CRA elevate the level of security and protection by encrypting the data to make it much more difficult [for hackers]?

Story continues

Shared Services Canada said in an email that GCKey is an end-to-end encrypted service, and that the service itself was not compromised.

In the press conference, Brouillard said that systems did not include two-factor authentication because the system has to include security measures that are accessible by all Canadians.

We are constantly evaluating our security posture and addressing issues, adding mitigations. This is an ongoing challenge, he said. Two factor- authentication systems would have prevented this, [as well as technology] where you are required to have a key or device. But that is something that is challenging, not everyone can have those things. We also have to worry about making our systems accessible and easy to use.

Brouillard noted that the government is looking into different technologies where multi-factor is available and they are encouraging Canadians to adopt the practice.

Sumit Bhatia, director of communications and knowledge mobilization with Ryersons Cybersecure Catalyst told Yahoo Finance Canada that the lack of clarity on what cybersecurity protocols the CRA uses is concerning.

Im assuming that like any other company when a breach takes place, theres some sort of an audit that happens. And then theres some consideration placed on how they would share what their cybersecurity best practices are, he said.

We dont have two-factor authentication and that just leads to believe that theres still work to be done on their side with regards to how they manage security.

Bhatia says that changing technology in a government system takes time, and that one change could impact an entire system dramatically.

These organizations are using legacy systems and they have to plan out a roll out in a way where one piece does not have a major impact on others, he said.

Attacks like this are also an indication that people need to be made aware of their role and responsibility in dealing with public systems and thats where evolution becomes a priority.

Bhatia also added that while the CRA needs to implement stronger technology, in the long term Canadians need better cybersecurity education that starts at the grade school level.

We are talking about a cultural shift and by that, I mean about living in an era where security cant be an afterthought like it was a few years ago, he said.

We are teaching six-year-old kids to learn how to code, how are we not making sure that every time they are taught about technology, or how to use a phone, laptop, or iPad, but we are not starting the discussion about security?

The RCMP has confirmed it will be investigating the attacks but has not released any information in terms of who is responsible.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief.
SpaceX celebrated its 100th successful launch Tuesday morning, sending 58 Starlink satellites into orbit aboard the Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral.

Along with the internet beaming devices were three SkySat observational satellites owned by Planet Labs, a private Earth-imaging company.

Falcon 9 is the first reusable rocket designed to take cargo and passengers into orbit, and today's rocket was flying for a record sixth time.

Today's launch marked SpaceX's 92nd Falcon mission.

It is the second for Starlink this month and the 11th since the program began in May 2019.

There are now 600 Starlink satellites in orbit - part of SpaceX's plan for a global high-speed internet service.

The Falcon 9 has completed 92 missions altogether, according to SpaceX. Scorch marks from previous flights were still visible at takeoff

The Falcon 9 blasted off at at 10:30am EDT from Florida's Cape Canaveral.

A backup launch date had been scheduled for Wednesday in case of inclement weather.

The booster rocket, designated B1049, dropped off eight minutes after takeoff. It then rendezvoused with SpaceX's Of Course I Still Love You floating drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

Two smaller drone ships, Ms. Chief and Ms. Tree, were deployed to recover Falcon 9's two-part nose cone.

The payload launched shortly after 10:30 am EDT aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9, the first reusable rocket designed to take cargo and passengers into orbit and beyond. A backup launch had been scheduled for Wednesday if the weather was inclement

SpaceX celebrated its 100th successful launch Tuesday morning, sending 58 Starlink satellites into space from Cape Canaveral. They will join more than 600 others already in orbit to form a global high-speed internet service

Ms. Tree caught one half in its net, SpaceX reported, though the other half could still be recovered.

Deployed all at once, the 58 Starlink satellites will now slowly disburse and join the more than 600 others already in orbit.

Initial internet service using the network in the United States and Canada is expected later this year, CBS reports.

The booster rocket, designated B1049, was flying for a record sixth time. It dropped off eight minutes after takeoff and rendezvoused with SpaceX's Of Course I Still Love You floating drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean

After astronomers complained the satellites were reflecting sunlight and interfering with their observations, SpaceX added a 'sunshade' to mitigate their impact.

Also onboard the rocket were three of Planet's SkySat satellites, which join three others the company sent into space aboard the Falcon 9 in June.

In a blog post last week, Planet Labs VP Mike Safyan said taking advantage of SpaceX's 'rideshare' program' allowed the company to get its satellites in the air much faster than a dedicated launch would have.

And splitting the payloads over two launches meant getting them into position faster, Sayfan added, 'which results in Planet's customers benefiting from these enhanced products much sooner than any other provider can offer.'

Also on board were three SkySat satellites owned by Planet Labs, which join three others the company sent into space aboard the Falcon 9 in June. Planet VP Mike Safyan said SpaceX's 'rideshare' program' allowed the company to get its satellites in the air much faster than a dedicated launch would have

SpaceX's next big mission will be launching the SAOCOM-1B satellite for Argentina's space program, slated for late August at the earliest.

It will be the first launch to utilize the polar launch corridor since 1960, according to NASA.

More Starlink launches are expected, along with the launch of the SXM-7 and GPS-III-SV04 satellites and the first operational mission for Crew Dragon, tentatively slated for on or after October 23.

This summer a small number of people who expressed an interest in trying the Starlink broadband service are expected to be given access to the network.

The firm estimates it will need at least 800 satellites to offer a full service, but now with the new batch, the amount has increased enough to start beaming a signal down to customers on Earth.

The company are currently going through the 'regulatory' process that includes applying for a telecom licence in Canada allowing it to provide commercial services.

SpaceX plans to launch at least 2,200 satellites over the next five years in order to offer a global broadband service covering even the most remote areas of the world.
Thirteen people will redraw Michigans electoral boundaries before the 2022 election.

The Secretary of States office hired Rehmann LLC, a Saginaw-based accounting firm, to randomly select 13 Michigan residents to serve on the states first Redistricting Commission, charged with drawing new district lines for representatives in Congress and the state legislature. The selections were made in a livestreamed drawing Monday, Aug. 17.

The commissioners, picked from a list of 180 finalists, are from across the state and include an even number of Republicans and Democrats. Each commissioner will make $40,000 and is required to travel to at least 15 public hearings. They cant hold partisan elective office at the state, county, city, village or township level for five years.

The commission is being assembled as a result of a November 2018 ballot proposal, Proposal 2, which passed with support from 61% of voters. Redistricting was previously handled by the Michigan legislature and approved by the governor, which, Proposal 2 supporters pointed out, allowed politicians to set their own district lines.

Applications were posted publicly and sent to the state legislature. Republicans and Democrats from the House and Senate each struck five applicants, for a total of 20, from the selection pool.

The commission must have its first meeting by Oct. 15. All meetings held by the commission must be posted, livestreamed and open to the public.

Each selected commissioner expressed in their applications a desire to serve their community and country.

Of the 13 commissioners chosen, two identify as Black, one person identified as Middle Eastern and the rest all identified as white. The ages of commissioners range between 28 and 73, with only one person being under the age of 30.

M. Carlo Rothhorn

M. Carlo Rothhorn, a 48-year-old white Democrat living in Ingham County, said in his application that he applied to become a redistricting commissioner because he loves the democratic process.

I grow when serving others. I look forward to it, Rothhorn wrote.

Rothhorn said in his application he affiliates with the Democratic Party because he believes we are stronger together, especially when we support each other financially.

Historically, this has most aligned with the Democratic Party but I am aware of deep Republican roots in my step-fathers family and I appreciate it more with each passing year, Rothhorn said.

Erin Wagner

Erin Wagner, a 54-year-old white Republican living in Charlotte, applied to be a commissioner because she believes in the process and would like to make sure that the districts are drawn in such a way as to be representative of those who live in those districts.

Wagner said she affiliated with the Republican Party because it better supports her views.

However, I have voted across party lines at times when I (felt) as if the candidate is a better fit for the position.

Anthony Eid

Anthony Eid, a 28-year-old Middle Eastern man living in Orchard Lake, joined the commission to be more involved in the political process in an unbiased, unpartisan, evidence-based way.

Serving on this committee will help further this goal, Eid said in his application.

Eid said he doesnt affiliate with either major political party because there are candidates in each party that he supports for different reasons.

It is important to look at individuals instead of teams during our political process, Eid said.

Juanita Curry

Juanita Curry, a 72-year-old Black woman from Detroit, pastors at Esthers House Ministries Christian Center and joined the commission to serve her community.

I would like to get a job where I can be of good service to my community as well as help my church in the process, Curry said. I am a honest, trustworthy candidate for this position.

Curry said she affiliates with the Democratic Party, but doesnt try to convince others to join her in her political views.

I am merely affiliated with this particular party due to their views and opinions and my agreements with most of them, Curry said.

She has worked as a U.S. Postal worker, as a foster care worker and an administrative assistant. She went to Wayne County Community College and Wayne State University.

Douglas Clark

Douglas Clark, a 73-year-old white man from Rochester Hills, applied to join the commission because its important to insure a fair and impartial redistricting in Michigan.

Strong personal characteristics that I can bring to the commission are objectivity, an ability to work with others and an honest and sincere approach to addressing issues of the commission, Clark said in his application.

Clark affiliates with the Republican Party because he believes the party supports smaller federal government. He isnt active in the party.

James Decker

James Decker, a 59-year-old white man from Fowlerville, joined the commission because he believes citizens are polarized and disengaged.

People tend to get their information and opinions from sound-bytes on radio or T.V. We need to work to put aside preconceptions, naivety and prejudices to consider other points of view, Decker said in his application. As a society, it is easier to complain and castigate and much harder to work and find solutions to problems. I prefer to solve problems.

Decker isnt affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties. He has voted either way in previous elections based on individual candidate qualifications.

As I have moved through my life from single man to married man to father, and hopefully someday grandfather, the only certainty is that nothing is black or white but lots of shades of gray so I think you can be conservative fiscally and socially, or liberal in your attitudes and those thoughts will always change based upon the circumstances at hand, Decker said. A little flexibility goes a long way.

Brittni Kellom

Brittni Kellom, a 34-year-old Black Democrat from Detroit, applied for the position because she believes in the power of everyday citizens to effect change in the places in which they live.

I believe in the type of innovation that comes from both collaboration and holding space for others, Kellom said.

Kellom chose not to answer why she is affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Cynthia Orton

Cynthia Orton, a 55-year-old white woman from Battle Creek, applied to join the commission because she takes voting very seriously.

I would like to participate in the process of making sure individual votes count and that elected officials represent the will of the majority of their constituents, Orton said in her application.

Orton is affiliated with the Republican Party because she agrees with its principles.

However, I dont vote along party lines. I vote for individuals that I believe will best represent what I feel is best for our community and country, Orton said.

Orton said elected officials must be trustworthy and honorable.

I also believe those who are elected need to work with others, no matter their differences, to build the best possible future for our country, Orton said.

Related: 13 commissioners randomly selected to draw new district lines for Michigan House, Senate, congressional seats

Janice Vallette

Janice Vallette, a 68-year-old white woman from Highland Township, applied to join the commission because she feels it is important that all votes are counted and not wasted.

I do not think the district line should be manipulated to favor one party over another, Vallette said. The districts should be as fair as possible.

Vallette isnt affiliated with either major political party.

I look at the issues and then research the candidates for their opinion on them. I then vote for the candidate who has opinions closest to mine, keeping in mind which issues are the most important to me, Vallette said.

Rhonda Lange

Rhonda Lange, a 48-year-old white woman from Reed City, applied for the commission because she thinks its a way to serve her community and the state.

I have most of my adult life considered myself an independent, however, I have a tendency to agree with a lot of conservative/Republican views, Lange said.

Dustin Witjes

Dustin Witjes, a 31-year-old white man from Ypsilanti, applied for the commission because he has a strong urge for public service.

I want to ensure that the districts in the great state of Michigan have been drawn not to favor any party, Witjes said.

Witjes is affiliated with the Democratic Party and primarily votes for Democrats, but has voted for individuals all across the ballot in the past.

Related: Michigan redistricting commission could be model for other states, SOS says

Richard Weiss

Richard Weiss, a 73-year-old white man from Saginaw, said in his application that he wanted to join the commission because I am an American.

Believe it is my duty to do this if chosen, Weiss said in his application.

Weiss isnt associated with either major political party because he votes for the person who I believe will do the best for the U.S.A.

Steven Lett

Steven Lett is a 73-year-old white man from Interlochen who didnt answer why he wanted to join the commission, nor why he isnt affiliated with either major political party in his application.

A list of all the finalists and their applications can be found here.

Read more on MLive:

6,000-plus applied for redistricting commission as of June 1

250,000 voters mailed redistricting commission applications

Application window opens for redistricting commission

Want to draw Michigans next political district map
Ghana will soon launch a sex offenders register to maintain names of persons convicted of sexually related offences as pertains elsewhere in other jurisdiction.

This is according to the Director of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent, Owusuaa Kyeremeh.

This register will not only help fight pervasive sexual misconduct in society but will also be a deterrent to multiple sex offenders.

In Ghana, generally we document all convicts. There is a procedure that we go through. We do not have one specifically for rape convicts but what we intend doing is on the drawing board. We want to establish a register for rape convicts, people who have been convicted of rape so that it will be something that we can easily refer to.

For now, we do not have sex offenders register on its own but then all the convicts within Ghana document them at the CID headquarters but now going forward, the Police Service is of the view that it is time we get sex offenders to register so we can easily cross-check and find out so if someone is going to look for a job we can always refer to that so it is on the drawing board and hopefully in the nearest future we will have it in Ghana.

In 2019, conversations about sexual harassment were triggered in Ghana after two lecturers of the University of Ghana  Dr. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Paul Butakor were accused of sexual harassment.

The two were implicated in a BBC documentary with regards to their alleged sexual harassment of female students.

The two, Prof. Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Butakor were subsequently hauled before the University's Anti Sexual Harassment Committee to assist with internal investigations.

They were interdicted in October 2019, right after the BBC report and subsequently suspended for a few months without pay.

---citinewsroom
By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 17, 2020 | 04:48 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY

McCracken County Clerk Julie Griggs says the election agreement between Governor Andy Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams will be good for voters.On August 14, Beshear and Adams announced a bipartisan agreement to allow Kentuckians to exercise their right to vote in the November Election while protecting their health.Some of the plan's details include absentee ballots, early voting beginning October 13, and election day voting which will include a voting super-center.Griggs told West Kentucky Star that she is pleased with the plan.She said, "It gives the best of all worlds for the voters. If they choose to vote by absentee mail in ballot they can, if they want to vote early in person they can, or if they want to vote in-person on election day they can. It's going to be really good for the voters."Griggs said she had previously hoped to open up in-person voting on October 1. However, under Beshear's plan, in-person voting will open up across the state on October 13.According to Griggs, the voting super-center was a surprise although she feels that the idea may be the way of the future."To have one centralized voting locating for anyone in the county to come vote at, it's not really any different than what we did for the primary since we only had the one voting location," she said.Although nothing is written in stone just yet, Griggs believes that McCracken County's voting super-center will be located at the McCracken County courthouse.Aside from the voting super-center, she said they are aiming to have around 11 precincts open for the General Election."We're trying to strategically place them throughout the county on all ends. We're trying to go through and put precincts together according to which city or county they're in, which state representative's district they're in, or which school district they're in." Griggs said. "We're going to be combining about 54 precincts into about 11."You can learn more about the General Election agreement at the links below.

On the Net:
Darak, where desert meets sea, added to Iran's National Heritage list

07/22/20

Source: Tehran Times

The coastal village of Darak in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan has recently been inscribed on the National Heritage list, CHTN reported. Located between the two important port cities of Chabahar and Bandar Abbas, Darak is one of the few places in the world where the sea and the desert meet. Darak or Darag in the local language means settling along the sea.



Darak Village

The beach and the amazing village, along with the Oman Sea, are tourist destinations where sand dunes, palm trees, and blue sea in a frame together create fantastic scenery.



Hiking, swimming, and photography are among the best activities tourists could enjoy while traveling to Darak Beach. It is known for its extraordinary beaches and has a pristine shoreline.



The landscape of the Pozm Tyab Gulf was also added to the National Heritage list, provincial tourism chief Alireza Jalalzai said on Monday.



Pozm Tyab Gulf is one of the beautiful natural sights in southern Iran, which its fishing port is the local people's source of income.



One of its main attractions is the view of the sunset on its rocky and sandy beaches, which attracts several domestic travelers to the pristine beaches.

Sistan-Baluchestan was previously shunned by potential foreign and domestic travelers though it is home to several distinctive archaeological sites and natural attractions, including two UNESCO World Heritage sites, namely Shahr-e-Soukhteh (Burnt City) and Lut desert, parts of latter is situated in Kerman province.



For mainstream Iranians, the name of Sistan-Baluchestan was conjuring up stories of drought, desiccated wetlands, and dust storms. On the international scale, foreigners may consider it a reminiscent of the big red blot on the Iran safety map.



In ancient times, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Baluchistan region provided a land route to the Indus Valley and the Babylonian civilizations. The armies of Alexander the Great marched through Baluchistan in 326 BC on their way to the Hindu Kush and on their return march in 325 experienced great hardships in the region's barren wastes.
Days after Russia introduced a COVID-19 vaccine, the Indian embassy in Moscow is reportedly in contact with the medical research institute that has developed Sputnik V vaccine.

Sputnik V has been developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology along with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

According an Indian Express report, the Indian Mission is engaging separately with the Russian side through its embassy in Moscow. We are now awaiting the safety and efficacy data of this vaccine for COVID-19, the source told the publication.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 11 announced that his country has developed the world's first vaccine against COVID-19 that works "quite effectively" and forms a "stable immunity" against the deadly disease, as he disclosed that one of his daughters has already been vaccinated.

The Sputnik V vaccine consists of two shots that use different versions of adenoviruses -- virus types some of which cause the common cold -- that the manufacturers have engineered to carry the gene for the surface protein, or spike, of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19.

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 vaccine has not been tested in Phase 3 or larger clinical trials.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the vaccine approved by Russia is not among the nine that it considers in the advanced stages of testing.

WHO and partners have included nine experimental COVID-19 vaccines within an investment mechanism it is encouraging countries to join, known as the Covax facility. The initiative allows countries to invest in several vaccines to obtain early access, while theoretically providing funding for developing countries.

We don't have sufficient information at this point to make a judgment on the Russian vaccine, said Dr Bruce Aylward, a senior adviser to WHO's director-general.

(With inputs from PTI)
With fewer than 80 days to go before the US presidential election, it looks like Joe Biden's race to lose.

Yet, as Democrats gather online to nominate him as their party's choice to challenge President Donald Trump on November 3, many fear Mr Biden may do just that - due to factors almost entirely out of his control.

The former vice president and his allies have every reason to feel bullish. Polls show the Biden campaign has built an expansive lead in nearly every battleground state that Mr Trump won narrowly in 2016, as the Republican's approval numbers tumble amid the coronavirus pandemic. For the first time in a decade, retaking the Senate - and full control of Congress - is within sight.

Yet interviews with more than a dozen Democratic officials, activists and voters reveal deep anxieties that Mr Trump will make voting as difficult as possible during the pandemic, and should he lose the vote, he won't accept its outcome.

Mr Biden himself has called it his biggest fear. Former President Barack Obama sounded the alarm on Friday, saying on Twitter the Trump administration is "more concerned with suppressing the vote than suppressing a virus".

Mr Trump has railed against voting by mail for months, proclaiming without evidence that it will lead to fraud, and on Thursday he all but acknowledged he was blocking Democratic demands for additional funding for the post office because of his opposition to mail-in voting.

"We can't predict what's going to happen other than the closer we get to the election, the more desperate Mr Trump and his campaign will become," said Rodell Mollineau, an adviser to Unite the Country, a political-action committee that backs Mr Biden.

Tim Murtaugh, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, said the president wants a "free and fair" election, adding that it is Democrats who are inviting "chaos and the very real possibility of fraud" by trying to expand voting by mail.

Democrats and voting-rights groups say mail-in voting can help protect voters from the coronavirus, and that a failure to guarantee that option during the pandemic will disenfranchise millions of Americans, especially the poor and African-Americans who tend to vote Democratic.

Some say Mr Biden's commanding edge in the polls only makes them more nervous. They worry that increasing cases of Covid-19 could keep voters away from polling stations, particularly if Mr Biden is perceived as coasting to an easy win.

"If Biden is up by 10 points, how likely are you to risk your life to pull that lever?" Stefan Smith, a former digital strategist for Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign, has asked.

At about this time in 2016, then Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton had around a five-point lead in various polls and still lost the election, partly due to the first decline in African-American turnout in 20 years.

Democrats fret that the race has become overly focused on Mr Trump's handling of the pandemic. This tactic leaves him vulnerable to a sudden shift in the country's fortunes, such as the economy improving greatly in the run-up to the election or a coronavirus vaccine becoming available.

Mr Biden has taken a more cautious stance than Mr Trump on reopening the economy and repeatedly emphasised the need to follow public-health guidelines.

He will accept his presidential nomination virtually from his home state of Delaware, while Mr Trump plans visits this week to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

The Trump campaign, by contrast, says it is knocking on one million doors a week.
With no signs of de-escalation at the border, the government is mulling further action against China on the economic front. China's Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) is reportedly still holding forward positions on Pangong Tso and Gogra-Hot Springs area of Ladakh.

The apex China Study Group (CSG) held a meeting on August 17 to discuss the PLA action on the ground in Ladakh and its military posture in occupied Aksai Chin region of Tibet, said a report by Hindustan Times.

The CSG, comprising Indias senior-most ministers, military leaders and bureaucrat, is the body that recommends the countrys course on the action with China.

"The Indian Army has been asked to remain in forward positions along the 1597 km LAC in Ladakh," the report said, quoting officials.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

While China wants India to normalise diplomatic relations on an as-is-where-is basis, the Modi government firmly believes that anything short of status quo ante in the Ladakh sector is unacceptable.

Also Read: With eye on China, India looks to increase barriers on imports from Asia

China has repeatedly said that the PLA is well within its own perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh. Thus, it is holding on to the positions at both Gogra-Hot Springs, as well as the green top of finger four feature of Pangong Tso lake.

Meanwhile, China on August 17 said that it will continue to work with India to enhance political mutual trust, properly manage their differences and jointly uphold the "big picture" of bilateral relations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said this at a regular briefing when a Western media journalist sought China's reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that the Indian armed forces have given a befitting reply to those challenging the country's sovereignty.

Modi, in his 74th Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort, 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.

In pics | India-China trade relation: A look at trade between the two countries

Responding to the question, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao said that we have noted Prime Minister Modi's remarks.

As two neighbours and emerging major countries each with a population of over one billion, the growth of China-India relations will not only benefit our two countries and peoples but also add stability and positive energy to peace and prosperity of the region and the world at large, he said.

"Mutual respect and support between China and India is the right path and serves the long-term interests of both countries," Zhao said.

Also read: India-China spat | Chinese firms said to be hit by new import hurdles

"China will continue to work with India to enhance political mutual trust, properly manage differences, strengthen practical cooperation and jointly uphold the big picture of bilateral relations," the spokesman added.

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.
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday urged the Centre to look at the contentious Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal issue from the national security perspective. His remarks came after a meeting, convened by the Jal Shakti ministry, to discuss the issue. It was also attended by the Haryana CM and Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective. If you decide to go ahead with Sutlej Yamuna Link, Punjab will burn and itll become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also suffering from the impact, Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The meeting, held through video conferencing, followed the Supreme Courts direction to the Centre on July 28 to mediate between the two states to discuss the completion of the SYL Canal which has been in the works for many decades..

The Punjab CM has sought complete share of water for his state from the total resources available, including from river Yamuna.

Today there was a meeting between Haryana, us and the minister of water resources. I told them that after the division of Punjab in 1966, all assets of ours were shared on a 60:40 basis, except water, because they included the water of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej but not Yamuna.

I have suggested that they should include the water of Yamuna also and then divide it on a 60:40 basis, Singh said.

Haryana chief minister ML Khattar, who along with Shekhawat, joined the meeting from Delhi, said that both the CMs expressed their views on the issue and a second round of talks will be held soon.

Haryana has stuck to its stance that its share of 3.5 million acre feet (MAF) in the Ravi and Beas waters and the completion of the canal are absolutely non-negotiable. At present, Haryana gets 1.62 MAF of Ravi and Beas waters. Punjab on the other hand is furthering an argument that the volume of water available in its rivers has drastically reduced over the years.

(With inputs from agencies)

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If it cannot address systematic human rights abuses on the continent, what really is the purpose of the African Union?

On May 29, just four days after George Floyds death in police custody, African Union Commissions Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat issued a scorching statement condemning the Black mans murder  at the hands of law enforcement officers and reaffirmed the African Unions rejection of the continuing discriminatory practices against Black citizens of the United States of America.

A few weeks earlier in April, following the news of the Chinese governments mistreatment of Africans living in the city of Guangzhou, Mahamat summoned Chinas ambassador to the African Union, Liu Yuxi, to express the bodys extreme displeasure with anti-African racism in the country.

Taken on their own, despite admittedly not making much difference on the ground, the African Unions public condemnation of racial discrimination and police brutality targeting Black people in China and the US could be seen as a reaffirmation of the continental bodys stated commitment to promoting universal human rights.

The Unions actions  or rather, its careless inaction and passivity  in Africa, however, tells a completely different story.

On March 27, the first day of South Africas COVID-19 lockdown, two police officers assaulted 56-year-old Petrus Miggels in Cape Town. He died shortly after that beating. His only crime was allegedly breaking the countrys strict lockdown rules by purchasing alcoholic drinks from a nearby shop.

Following Miggels sad and mystifying demise, the African Union not only failed to launch an investigation, it did not even issue a simple statement of condemnation.

This disturbing act of police brutality, it seemed, was not worthy of the AUs attention.

Why would the AU condemn Floyds death in Minneapolis, but wholly disregard Miggels suspicious death on the Cape Flats? Why would it express extreme concern about the maltreatment of Africans in China, but fail to caution South Africa for killing one of its own citizens, in broad daylight, under the guise of implementing COVID-19 lockdown rules?

Police brutality and abuse of power in South Africa, after all, is as systematic, widespread and deadly as it is in the US.

South Africans reportedly lodged 42,365 criminal complaints against the police between April 2012 and March 2019. Amongst others, the reports included allegations of rape, torture, assault and murder.

Still, despite the severity, consistency and enormity of the complaints, South Africa has avoided being investigated or publicly rebuked by the African Union to this day.

The African Union was similarly passive in the face of growing human rights abuses in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Earlier this month, the small and perennially troubled southern African country was accused of stifling dissent after forcefully crushing an anti-corruption demonstration planned for July 31 and arresting scores of journalists and activists who criticised the government for the economic collapse, deepening poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses in the country.

The situation swiftly deteriorated to the extent where, on August 6, South Africa announced its decision to appoint two special envoys to Harare to help resolve difficulties that the Republic of Zimbabwe is experiencing.

The Zimbabwean authorities responded to the news with fury, and in an explosive news conference accused the South African government of being completely out of order. Pointing out South Africas own despicable human rights record, especially its brutal response to the 2012 Marikana miners strike which resulted in the deaths of dozens, they urged their neighbour to refrain from intervening in Zimbabwes internal affairs.

On August 7, as the situation in Zimbabwe became one of the main discussion topics on the continent, the African Union finally felt the need to say something on the issue.

In an official statement, Mahamat urged Zimbabwe to uphold the rule of law allowing for freedom of the media, freedom of assembly, freedom of association and the right to information, and welcomed South Africas decision to appoint special envoys to the country.

In his restrained rebuke of the Zimbabwean government, Mahamat also stated that Harares actions are a breach of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

While the issuing of such a statement would have been appropriate in the face of a similar crisis in a country outside Africa, where the Union is not able or expected to lead the way in countering human rights abuses, it was not sufficient or acceptable in the context of Zimbabwe.

When it comes to systematic human rights abuses committed by delinquent member states like Zimbabwe, the African Union has a duty to do more than issue empty statements. It must take swift action, and where need be, institute strong disciplinary measures. If it does not, or cannot, what really is the African Unions current role in Africa?

In September 2019, for example, when Egypts President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ordered a massive crackdown on anti-government protests, the Union said or did nothing to help the people of Egypt defend their most basic human rights.

Had the African Union stepped in to help restrain el-Sisis tyrannical madness, had it urged its member states to break ranks with Egypts illiberal regime and denounce its actions, it could have saved thousands of innocent people from ending up in prison. And, perhaps even more crucially, such groundbreaking actions, even if they failed to convince el-Sisi to change his repressive ways, would have signalled to other African leaders that the Union would not hesitate to take action if they abuse African citizens.

But, as the recent surge in cases of police brutality, unlawful arrests and questionable deaths in Uganda, Mali, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe demonstrate, Africas leaders are unmoved by the African Unions authority and impressive charters. The organisations supposed ability to translate the heaps of signed declarations and agreements that it routinely refers to in press statements into implementable and sustainable policy and actions has proved tremendously limited.

The African Unions timid, imbalanced and disorganised approach to promoting democracy and human rights is allowing oppressive regimes to operate with impunity on the continent. The Union must establish a robust surveillance system to monitor systemic repression and police brutality in member states or risk becoming irrelevant to the development of democracy in Africa.

It is great to see the African Union taking a principled stance against human rights abuses outside Africa, from China to the US, but until it actually takes action against abuses on its doorstep, it cannot justify its existence and avoid becoming irrelevant.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) - Democrats formally nominated Joe Biden for president on Tuesday, vowing his election would repair a pandemic-battered America and put an end to the chaos that has defined Republican President Donald Trump's administration.

The second night of the party's four-night national convention, under the theme "Leadership Matters," featured elder statesmen like former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, rising stars of the Democratic Party as well as prominent Republicans, who made the case that Biden would return integrity to the White House and normalcy to American lives.

Biden's wife, Jill, an educator, delivered the headline speech from a Delaware high school where she once taught, offering a deeply personal account of how their love helped him heal after his first wife and infant daughter were killed in a car accident.

"I never imagined at the age of 26 I would be asking myself, 'How do you make a broken family whole?'" she said. The answer, she said, is the same for a broken nation: "With love and understanding."

"If we entrust this nation to Joe, he will do for your family what he did for ours: bring us together and make us whole," she said.

Throughout the evening, Democratic leaders contrasted Biden's long experience with what they described as Trump's deadly mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak and his willingness to corrupt democratic institutions.

"At a time like this, the Oval Office should be a command center," Clinton said in a prerecorded video. "Instead, it's a storm center. There's only chaos. Just one thing never changes - his determination to deny responsibility and shift the blame."

With the four-day convention largely virtual due to the coronavirus, delegates from around the country cast votes remotely to confirm Biden as the nominee in a coast-to-coast roll call that drew instant raves on social media.

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In clips that showcased the party's diversity, Democrats explained why they were supporting Biden while putting their own state-specific spin on the proceedings, from a calamari appetizer in Rhode Island to a herd of cattle in Montana.

After hearing from his home state of Delaware, which went last in his honor, Biden appeared live alongside Jill Biden to thank the party for nominating him, more than three decades after his first unsuccessful run for the White House.

"Thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart," said Biden, who will deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday. "It means the world to me and my family."

RISING STARS, REPUBLICANS SPEAK

The program started by showcasing some of the party's rising politicians. But rather than a single keynote speech that could be a star-making turn, as it was for then-state Senator Barack Obama in 2004, the convention featured 17 Democrats in a video address, including Stacey Abrams, the one-time Georgia gubernatorial nominee whom Biden considered for a running mate.

"America faces a triple threat: a public health catastrophe, and economic collapse and a reckoning with racial justice and inequality," Abrams said. "So our choice is clear: a steady experienced public servant who can lead us out of this crisis just like he's done before, or a man who only knows how to deny and distract."

As they did on Monday's opening night, Democrats featured a handful of Republicans who have crossed party lines to praise Biden, 77, over Trump, 74, ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Cindy McCain, widow of Republican Senator John McCain, spoke in a video about her husband's long friendship with Biden. Trump clashed with McCain, who was the Republican nominee for president in 2008, and the president criticized McCain even after his 2018 death.

Republican former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a retired four-star general who endorsed Biden in June, was one of several national security officials who spoke on the Democrat's behalf.

"He will trust our diplomats and our intelligence community, not the flattery of dictators and despots," Powell said. "He will make it his job to know when anyone dares to threaten us. He will stand up to our adversaries with strength and experience."

Democratic former Secretary of State John Kerry attacked a Trump foreign policy he called "incoherent."

"When this president goes overseas, it isn't a goodwill mission, it's a blooper reel...America deserves a president who is looked up to, not laughed at," Kerry said.

Without the cheering crowds at the in-person gathering originally planned for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, TV viewership on Monday was down from 2016. But an additional 10.2 million people watched on digital platforms, the Biden campaign said, for a total audience of nearly 30 million.

Aiming to draw attention away from Biden, Trump, trailing in opinion polls, held a campaign rally in Arizona, a hotly contested battleground state that can swing to either party and play a decisive role in the election.

Trump called Biden's immigration plan "radical" and "extreme," continuing his effort to portray Biden as a puppet of left-wing agitators. In a statement on Tuesday night, campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said Biden's nomination means "his supervisors from the radical left are now formally in charge."

Biden's vice presidential pick, Senator Kamala Harris, will headline Wednesday night's program along with Obama.

The Republican National Convention, also largely virtual, takes place next week. Trump will give his acceptance speech at the White House, despite criticism he is politicizing the presidential residence.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, Katanga Johnson and Alexandra Alper in Washington, Michael Martina in Detroit, and Trevor Hunnicutt in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Howard Goller)
Two toxicology experts in Judge Barry Steelmans courtroom expanded on the topic of retrograde extrapolation during Justin Whaleys motion hearing on Monday. Whaley is facing vehicular homicide charges after his vehicle crashed into another car and claimed the lief of James Brumlow in 2018. Whaley was allegedly intoxicated during the incident; however, a blood draw was not taken until four hours after the crash.

The former EMT was arrested after the wrong-way crash on Highway 111 on July 3, 2018.

Because of this, the state had to extrapolate based upon the results, which led them to charge him with driving under the influence. Defense attorney Lee Davis has asked for the results of the blood draw to be suppressed, saying that level of extrapolation is unreliable and should not be admitted as proof. Prosecutor Christ Post brought in ETSU professor Kenneth Ferslew of the William L. Jenkins Forensic Center to discuss why the blood draw results should be admitted.

If we believe the story, he was drinking from 9 p.m. to midnight or 1 a.m. in the morning, according to the evidence youve provided to me, Professor Ferslew said. So then he went to bed, then woke up and drove to the event. So the event is at 5:40 in the morning. Ive got four additional hours in there after the drinking event. Were in elimination by all studies Ive ever seen, since were way past where maximum absorption has occurred.

The witness said that the body begins breaking down and processing alcohol from the moment it enters the body, but that as a person drinks, the amount of alcohol being broken down is outpaced by the amount coming in. When people drink more, then thats when their blood alcohol content goes up. But after alcohol is no longer consumed, then the blood alcohol level goes down in a linear fashion. The professor used a whiteboard and markers to illustrate his point.

However, after a certain level, the decline in alcohol is no longer linear. For the TBI, that level is 0.02 gram percent concentration. Professor Ferslew told Judge Steelman that if the police had waited even 15 minutes longer, then the results would have been unusable. As it stands, the results of the draw were right on the border of what is admissible.

They are 99.73 percent confident by statistical analysis that blood has a 0.02 gram percent concentration in it, the expert witness said. The variation, or measurement uncertainty, is in the third decimal at 0.002, so if you want to take the uncertainty and calculate it in, that means 99.7 percent of 100 measurements go from a range of .0198 to .022. Thats why they report to that low number and now lower.

By operating under the assumption that the level was at 0.02 percent at the time of the draw, the TBI used retrograde extrapolation to figure out that Whaley was intoxicated when the crash occurred.

Your previous testimony was had the police taken this blood sample taken 15 minutes later, in your opinion this would have been reported as a negative, attorney Davis said. So were right on the very line of what is reportable.

Attorney Davis then brought on his own toxicology expert, who disagreed with the prosecutions decision to use the blood draw as evidence. Jimmie Valentine believes that once a persons BAC levels were that low, then one could not draw results from it once information was extrapolated.

What hes talking about is when you get into this non-linear portion, if youre at 0.02, youre alright, Mr. Valentine said. I dont agree with that. I think that when you get into these really low BAC levels, youre in the non-linear portion of the curve. So what happens when you try to to any retroactive extrapolation, its just a wild guess at that point. Youve either overestimated or youve underestimated, and you just dont know.



The defense also had issues with the state not knowing the precise amount of alcohol Whaley consumed that night. Witness testimony said the defendant had consumed six glasses of various kinds of bourbon. However, those glasses were anywhere from one to three ounces.



Mr. Valentine told the court that just having one sample taken at such a murky time was not scientific. He said that in other states, two or even three samples are taken over the course of several hours.

If we give the benefit of the doubt, hes below 0.02, so that puts us right in this non-linear portion of the curve, Mr. Valentine said. Using this retrograde extrapolation is just not very scientific at this juncture. Its best used when you have multiple samples from different times, so you can be sure.

The two experts argued with one another over this idea, but in the end the judge decided he would need time to review what was said before coming to a decision.

It was very helpful testimony today from both sides, and it was very educational to the court, Judge Steelman said. It was a privilege, really, to hear such learned individuals in this field. Well try to decipher it and make a decision about what the jury will hear on Sept. 21.
They may not be super spreaders, but a cohort of Canadians who are skeptical of the countrys pandemic response are making it harder for public health officials to keep everyone else safe, an Angus Reid study finds.

Meet the cynical spreaders.

The survey, conducted online in early August and sampling 1,511 Canadian adults, has a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points. The survey sorted respondents into categories according to how likely they were to obey pandemic public health guidelines.

There is good news. The survey found the vast majority of Canadians  83 per cent  were either consistently committed to all ways of stopping the spread of the coronavirus, or committed to some methods, like washing hands and physical distancing, but not others, like keeping social circles small.

But the rest, representing almost 18 per cent of the population, are the so-called cynical spreaders, who flout coronavirus rules and are more likely to distrust the government officials setting them.

Cynical Spreaders have been and continue to be the primary concern of public health officials, a portion of the survey report reads. This group flouts guidelines, socializes with larger groups (including strangers) and shuns mask usage.

In western Canada, at least 29 confirmed COVID-19 cases have now been linked to an Alberta prayer event, called It Is Time Canada, which went forward despite coronavirus concerns because, as the organizer put it, God will protect us.

The survey found the problem group shared other characteristics too. They were much more likely to be young adults below the age of 35. They are most likely to live in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. And theyre more likely to be men than women.

The cynical spreaders include roughly a quarter of men surveyed between the ages of 18 to 54. Women under the age of 35 were just as likely to be cynical spreaders, but the numbers went down for women in the older age bracket  13 per cent of women aged 35 to 54 were in the cynical group.

Cynical spreaders also accounted for 31 per cent of people who voted Conservative in the 2019 federal election, while they comprised eight per cent of Liberal and NDP voters.

Three out of 10 live in Alberta or Saskatchewan.

While Cynical Spreaders acknowledge and praise the efforts of front-line health workers throughout the pandemic, this is as far as it goes, the report reads.  Just half of this group (52%) say their provincial chief public health officer or premier have done a good job, while closer to one-quarter say the same of Canadas Chief Public Health Officer, Theresa Tam, and the Prime Minister.

Public health officials and government leaders have been trying new ways to reach out to the cynical spreader group  especially young people whose indoor gatherings have been connected to outbreaks, especially in Canadas West.

In B.C., where people under the age of 39 make up a disproportionate number of new infections, and modelling suggests a fall second wave could exceed the case numbers from last March, Premier John Horgan said theyve been having trouble reaching a young crowd that feels immune to the virus.

Horgan issued a public call-out last week, in which he specifically asked Deadpool, a superhero character played by Ryan Reynolds, and B.C.-born actor Seth Rogen for help in getting out the message about physical distancing to the young people whom officials could not easily reach through official channels.

Of all Canadian regions, the lowest proportion of cynical spreaders is in Ontario, at just 12 per cent. The report authors connected the low rate of non-compliance with coronavirus rules to the severity of the outbreak in that province.

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Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Gold Road Resources Limited (ASX:GOR) as an investment opportunity by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Gold Road Resources

Is Gold Road Resources fairly valued?

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$139.7m AU$134.3m AU$131.7m AU$130.9m AU$131.2m AU$132.3m AU$134.0m AU$136.1m AU$138.5m AU$141.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x4 Est @ -1.86% Est @ -0.63% Est @ 0.24% Est @ 0.85% Est @ 1.27% Est @ 1.57% Est @ 1.77% Est @ 1.92% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 8.5% AU$129 AU$114 AU$103 AU$94.6 AU$87.4 AU$81.3 AU$75.9 AU$71.1 AU$66.7 AU$62.7

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$885m

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The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.3%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$141m (1 + 2.3%)  (8.5% 2.3%) = AU$2.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$2.3b ( 1 + 8.5%)10= AU$1.0b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$1.9b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$1.7, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 22% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

Important assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Gold Road Resources as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.032. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Gold Road Resources, we've compiled three important aspects you should consider:

Financial Health: Does GOR have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does GOR's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
During an emotional address on the first night of Democratic National Convention, Kristin Urquiza, whose father died of COVID-19, directly blamed President Trump for her familys loss.

My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life, said Urquiza. The coronavirus has made it clear that there are two Americas: The America that Donald Trump lives in and the America that my father died in.

Mark Anthony Urquiza passed away on June 30 in Arizona, after weeks of battling with the virus. Kristin Urquiza wrote a scathing obituary for her father, in which she blamed politicians for an inadequate response, later blaming Republican Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona for allowing businesses to reopen too soon.

Mark, like so many others, should not have died from COVID-19, wrote Urquiza. His death is due to the carelessness of the politicians who continue to jeopardize the health of brown bodies through a clear lack of leadership, refusal to acknowledge the severity of this crisis, and inability and unwillingness to give clear and decisive direction on how to minimize risk.

Kristin Urquiza of San Francisco speaks during the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)

Urquiza invited Ducey to attend the funeral, but he declined. Former Vice President Joe Biden sent Urquiza a letter of condolence that led to her speaking spot in the opening night of his nominating convention.

The family bonds that Mark spent his life strengthening are meant for times like these, Biden wrote in the July 21 letter. Theyre meant for you to lean on, to share some of those burdens that are terribly difficult to bear alone. And theyre meant to continue to grow in your love and care for one another, no matter the adversity.

At Monday nights virtual event, Democrats began a theme that is likely to continue over the course of the four-day convention: Hammering Trump on the White Houses coronavirus response as they attempt to contrast him against his opponent in the November general election. Approximately 170,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, more than in any other nation.

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Read more from Yahoo News:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 01:28:43|Editor: huaxia

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TIRANA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Albania's value of exports in July reached 25 billion Albanian lek (around 239 million U.S. dollars), registering a slight increase by 6.2 percent compared to the previous month, but decreasing by 11.6 percent year-on-year, National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) reported on Monday.

According to INSTAT, in July the trade deficit amounted to 32 billion Albanian lek, decreasing by 0.3 percent year-on-year and increasing by 9.9 percent compared to the previous month.

The effects of COVID-19 pandemic in Albania are reflected in the value of exports in the first seven months, which amounted to 150 billion Albanian lek, decreasing by 16.8 percent year-on-year

In the January-July period, trade deficit was 178 billion Albanian lek, down by 9.9 percent compared with the same period of 2019, INSTAT said.

During the period, countries with which Albania has had the highest increase of exports, compared to the same period of 2019, are Germany (10.1 percent), Serbia (8.1 percent), and France (29.9 percent). Meanwhile, a decrease in exports in this period was registered with Italy (23.4 percent) and Spain (10.8 percent).

According to INSTAT data, the Albanian economy shrank by 2.5 percent in the first quarter. (1 U.S. dollar = 104.5 Albanian lek) Enditem
Reliance Retail has bought a 60% stake in pharma marketplace Netmeds' parent firm Vitalic for about $83.2 million, it said today, as Indias largest retail chain looks to expand into new categories and compete more closely with American e-commerce group Amazon.

Reliance Retail said the deal, which grants it a 100% ownership of Vitalic's subsidiaries (Netmeds, Tresara, and Dadha Pharma), valued the parent firm at about $134 million. Netmeds, which connects customers to pharmacists and enables door step delivery of medicines, serves 5.7 million customers in more than 670 cities and towns and online.

Through Netmeds, which had raised about $99 million prior to today's announcement, consumers get access to more than 70,000 prescription drugs for chronic and recurring ailments as well as enhanced lifestyle drugs and thousands of non-prescription goods for wellness, health and personal care.

Reliance Retail plans to expand its ownership in Vitalic to at least 80% by April 2024 and holds the rights to own 100% in the future.

This investment is aligned with our commitment to provide digital access for everyone in India. The addition of Netmeds enhances Reliance Retails ability to provide good quality and affordable health care products and services, and also broadens its digital commerce proposition to include most daily essential needs of consumers, said Isha Ambani, director of Reliance Retail, in a statement.

You know what I like about this? Local M&A is becoming a real thing. Mahindra bought a bunch earlier, like Firstcry, but those were super-distress. Reliance is like bring it on. Great for founders, one more beyond Inter-VC-deals and Softbank.  Deepak Shenoy (@deepakshenoy) August 18, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Reliance Retail, like its sister telecom venture Jio Platforms, is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, the most valued firm in India. Reliance Industries is run by Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man.

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The announcement late Tuesday evening (local time) comes days after Amazon struck a deal with Netmeds, 1mg, PharmEasy and Medlife to sell medicines online in Bangalore. It was the first time Amazon had expanded into this category, it said. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telemedicine and pharma marketplaces in the country, analysts said.

Netmeds is one of the largest online pharmacies in India (Image: Netmeds)

Online sales of medicine in India, for which New Delhi currently does not have clear regulations, presents yet another major opportunity for Reliance Retail, which has expanded its new e-commerce venture -- called JioMart -- to more than 200 cities and towns in the recent quarters.

Local media has reported that Reliance is also in talks to acquire online furniture store Urban Ladder, milk delivery startup MilkBasket and Bangalore-based lingerie maker Zivame. TechCrunch reported last week that Reliance Industries was also in talks to acquire the India business of TikTok.

"It is indeed a proud moment for 'Netmeds' to join Reliance family and work together to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible to every Indian. With the combined strength of the groups digital, retail and tech platforms, we will strive to create more value for everyone in the ecosystem, while providing a superior Omni Channel experience to consumers," said Pradeep Dadha, founder and chief executive of Netmeds, in a statement.
The Democratic Party is quickly learning what connects with viewers and what doesnt in this new era of virtual political conventions.

What doesnt work: Politicians standing in front of a bunch of flags and behind a podium and delivering a speech like theyre in an arena. Which theyre not. Theyre in their garages.

What works: Real people talking about their lives. Or Michelle Obama, who is as close to a real person as it gets in politics.

One of the conventions first stars was San Francisco resident Kristin Urquiza. She told the poignant story of the COVID-19 death of her 65-year-old father, whose only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump.

That impressed comedian W. Kamau Bell, host and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning CNN documentary series United Shades of America.

I was like, whoa, I wish Id written that line, Bell, a Berkeley resident, told The Chronicle.

Bell said one thing that Democrats did that made sense was to play to the room. The living room.

When you have a convention in an arena, theres a tendency to get the most famous people you can, he said  politicians or celebrities, or both.

Theres a downside to that. Politicians can come off as wooden when they deliver a standard speech without a crowd to applaud. Celebrities leave Democrats open to the Republican charge that they pander to Hollywood liberal elites.

There was some of that  Eva Longoria, after all, was the master of ceremonies Monday. But regular voters  people of color calling for racial justice, relatives of those who have died of COVID-19, families struggling to get by and worried about health care have gotten far more time, in a far more conversational, small screen-friendly way, than they would have at a normal convention.

I feel like the message was: Democrats: Not that different from you. Or, Democrats: Not as weird as you may have heard, Bell said.

Non-politicians lent an intimacy that is hard to replicate in a 20,000-seat arena, said Greg Proops, a longtime comedian, TV star and podcast host who often focuses on politics.

For Proops, one of the most extraordinary moments was when Philonise Floyd led a moment of silence to honor his brother, George Floyd, and the many other souls weve lost to hate and injustice. Floyd said that its up to us to carry on the fight for justice. Our actions will be their legacies.

Creating that sort of intimate moment is nearly impossible in a cavernous arena where people are milling about and talking and eating. Proops said it is one of many ways that this format makes for better TV than what the political parties have been producing for the past 70 years.

To be honest, I dont miss the yelling and screaming at the conventions, Proops told The Chronicle. This (format) gives people a chance to have feelings and listen to intelligent people talk. It was a very good television show. I laughed. I cried.

On Tuesday, the show included a twist on the time-worn tradition of having each state delegation recite its nomination votes for the candidates. Party officials still read the totals, but often with regular people alongside in iconic settings. In California, Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis announced the states totals from Cabrillo Beach in Los Angeles County, with people playing on the sand in the background.

There were some misses. Joe Bidens conversation about racial justice Monday with four people seemed stilted, said Brad Adgate, a longtime media and advertising consultant. It didnt help that Biden was sitting in a studio alone, asking questions of people who were on four video screens. It was far from intimate.

It was a little awkward, Adgate said. He didnt follow up. It would have been better if he had been in a conversation with them, had some give-and-take with them.

Tuesday featured the same format with Biden and people fearful of losing their health care. It came off a bit better and gave the nominee a chance to hammer on Trump for supporting a lawsuit before the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act.

Zenaida Huerta, a 22-year-old delegate from Whittier (Los Angeles County), said she liked hearing from essential workers who had been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. But she said the first nights format seemed like it was a daytime talk show, where you had a celebrity moderator.

She also missed the feeling of being in an auditorium, surrounded by other delegates and activists. Her idea to try to replicate that virtually: Show more images of delegates onscreen watching and reacting. Feature a breakout session of delegates discussing issues or what theyre seeing at the convention.

Politically, the most relevant speech was delivered by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the runner-up to Biden in the primaries. In far more definitive terms than he did four years ago, he urged his progressive followers to vote for the Democrat who had defeated him for the nomination.

But in terms of real people impact, the star so far has been Obama, who closed the proceedings Monday in a segment that scored the highest ratings in the San Francisco media market.

She succeeded because the former first lady is both a political person and someone who, as she reiterated Monday, hates politics.

You forget how good she is and yet she has never won an elected office. Youre like, Oh, youre actually better at this than most of these people,  Bell said. Thats because she is very secure in who she is and what she is there to say.

He added, I was waiting for her to end it by saying, And thats why Im announcing my candidacy for the Democratic Party nomination in 2020. 

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
By Frank Jack Daniel

MEXICO CITY, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization needs a strong personality at its helm to restart long-delayed negotiations urgently and drag the rule book for global commerce into the 21st century, Mexico's pick to lead the body said.

Jesus Seade said he would apply decades of experience as a trade negotiator to attack years-old deadlocks on issues such as electronic trade and the depletion of oceans by over-fishing if he is chosen as director general of the WTO.

"I think people agree that we need a forceful personality" to address bottlenecks, Seade told Reuters in an interview last week in which he outlined his ideas to repair the WTO's dispute resolution body, which has been stymied by the United States.

Seade said that at the same time, he would be respectful of the trade group's nature as a member-driven organization.

However, he said he would push countries to resolve differences, in contrast to the restraint that at an extreme he said risked reducing the director general to "dignified butler, making sure meeting rooms are available."

The group will be left leaderless on Aug. 31, after current Director General Roberto Acevedo of Brazil announced he would step down a year early. In a sign of the WTO's impasse, members have failed to agree on an interim replacement.

The body aims to choose a new head by November.

Seade, currently Mexico's deputy foreign minister for North America, is among eight candidates who will be eliminated in batches in coming weeks, starting with those unlikely to win consensus from 164 members.

The WTO is in perhaps the worst crisis of its 25-year existence, pummeled by the Trump administration's mistrust of multilateral bodies, friction between the United States and China and the collapse of its dispute resolution system.

Seade, a founder WTO deputy director general who has also worked at the International Monetary Fund, said the crisis was so severe that it presents an opportunity to jolt the organization into action.

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"There are favorable winds which come from the awareness among countries that we are perilously close to a situation that will create danger for everyone," he said.

Seade said a quick decision on the leadership would help wrap up negotiations on fisheries and other matters with a view to launching new talks next year on issues such as agriculture and give time to organize a long-delayed ministerial conference in 2021.

To restore U.S. faith in the dispute resolution body that Washington accuses of overreach, he said members could consider a stronger supervisory mechanism to make sure the powerful appellate body did not stray beyond its mandate.

Seade must overcome a view in some quarters that another Latin American should not be the WTO chief straight after Acevedo, and that it is time for an African leader.

Africa has put forward three candidates, including two women, Amina Mohamed of Kenya and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria. Mohamed has supported reform and expressed sympathy with U.S. criticism of the appellate body.

The WTO has never been led by a woman or an African.

Seade described himself as an "Africanist" who had focused much of his career at the WTO, IMF and World Bank on the region, including debt relief.

"I would be a director general who is very knowledgeable to Africa, very loyal and committed to Africa," he said.

However, Seade said members should prioritize trade credentials over other considerations.

"The WTO is in really dire straits, a difficult situation; you need the best, most suitable person to dig it out," he said.

"We are not in a situation where we can have any kind of learning curve." (Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 12:04 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ebb96d 1 Politics Grace-Natalie,giring-ganesha,Indonesian-Solidarity-Party,PSI,Partai-Solidaritas-Indonesia,political-party Free

Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairwoman Grace Natalie has appointed Giring Ganesha as the partys acting chairman while she goes abroad to pursue a masters degree.

Grace said on Monday that Giring, who is also vocalist of pop band Nidji, represented young and creative people and was capable of leading the party.

The PSI has billed itself as a political party for young people and has a strong social media presence. It has declared its support for President Joko Jokowi Widodos administration.

Among my considerations was our experience working together over the past several years. Giring can represent the young and creative people, Grace said, as quoted by kompas.com.

She will reportedly pursue a masters degree in public policy and public affairs at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore for one year.

Read also: PSI hit but not knocked out as it looks to new round in 2024 election

Giring reportedly intends on pursuing presidential candidacy through the PSI for the 2024 election. Several Giring for 2024 president billboards were seen in Jakarta bearing his image.

https://twitter.com/infojakarta/status/1294637442142633986

However, Grace declined to comment on the matter. Be patient. Well explain it when the time is right.

Giring decided to take a hiatus from his musical career to focus on politics in late 2018.

He was a legislative candidate during the 2019 election. However, he failed to obtain a seat at the House of Representatives after the party failed to meet the legislative threshold at the national level of 4 percent of total votes. (ggq)
Farren Care Center, a skilled nursing and long-term rehabilitative services facility in the Turners Falls section of Montague, is set to close by years end.

Pending state approval, patients at the 122-bed Franklin County facility that treats adults with medical and psychiatric conditions can opt to be transferred to Mount Saint Vincent in Holyoke. The proposal also calls for Mount Saint Vincent, a 125-bed skilled nursing facility for short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, to be sold to another health care provider.

Both facilities were associated with the Sisters of Providence of Holyoke, whose flagship ministry  the Springfield-based Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates  are now part of Trinity Health Of New England.

While this was an extremely painful decision for Trinity Health Of New England Senior Communities and for the Sisters of Providence, it was made with careful discernment, said Janice Hamilton-Crawford, president of Trinity Health Of New England Senior Communities, in a statement on Tuesday.

She added, The sisters reopened Mount Saint Vincent as a skilled nursing facility in 1971 and oversaw the transition of Farren Memorial Hospital to the behavioral care-focused Farren Care Center in 1990. These communities were at the very heart of the sisters mission.

Trinity Health Of New England Senior Communities that Hamilton-Crawford oversees are said to include others that were ministries of the Sisters of Providence including Marys Meadow, Providence Place, and Beaven Kelly Home, all in Holyoke, and Lukes Home in Springfield.

A proposal to transfer ownership of Mount Saint Vincent from Trinity Health of New England Senior Communities to iCare Health Network will be filed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Given the evolving expectations and complex needs now being addressed in skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts, iCares expertise and proven successes demonstrate its ability to fulfill those demands, Hamilton-Crawford said.

Christine Looby, spokesperson for Trinity Health Of New England Senior Communities, said, Trinity Health Of New England Senior Communities has to get DPH approval before we can move forward with the proposed closure plan for Farren Care Center.

iCare Health Network has to get DPH approval before they can move forward with their plan to have ownership of Mount Saint Vincent Care Center transferred to them, Looby added.

She said the current census at Farren is 105 beds, while the current census at Mount Saint Vincent is 75.

Pending state approval, the Holyoke site will serve residents who have a dual diagnosis of a medical and behavioral health issues, inclusive of Alzheimers/dementia, Looby said.

Those residents from Farren who wish to transfer to the iCare-managed site could do so, and those from Mount Saint Vincent Care Center who meet the dual diagnosis standard would also be eligible to remain in place.

Founded in 2001, iCare manages around 1,500 skilled nursing beds in 11 post-acute, nursing and long-term care facilities.

Plans call for an iCare-affiliated realty entity to purchase the Holyoke facility from the Sisters of Providence corporation.

We are very proud to steward Farren Care Center and Mount Saint Vincent Care Center through this final chapter in their rich histories with the Sisters of Providence, said Michael Landi, chief operating officer at iCare Health Network. ICare intends to honor that legacy by continuing the exceptional work begun more than a century ago.

Michigan-based Trinity Health Senior Communities, the parent entity for Trinity Health Of New England Senior Communities, has been managing Mount Saint Vincent through an operating lease with Sisters of Providence Ministry Corporation.

Trinity Health Of New England Senior Communities is also said to have entered into a management consulting services agreement with iCare in January to address a new site for residents at Farren, which is described as an aging physical plant that is no longer able to efficiently support the requirements of caring for its residents.
"The MBA program is focused on providing practical, relevant, and applicable knowledge to its students," says Bob Daugherty, Dean of the Forbes School of Business & Technology, "By leveraging more than 100 years of respected business history from Forbes, the school gives our students unrivaled access to the entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators who are shaping the future of business. We are honored to have such an esteemed group of industry leaders provide insight and guidance to improve our MBA program."

The following business experts have been appointed to the new MBA advisory committee:

Kevin Allen, Founder and CEO, E.I. Games

Kevin Allen is founder and CEO of E.I. Games, a multiple award-winning games-based learning company that creates online simulations and courseware in emotional intelligence business skills, as well as diversity, inclusion, and equity. E.I. Games' courseware is used at companies including Google, Oracle, and Expedia, as well as universities such as Arizona State, Ashford University's Forbes School of Business & Technology, and Harvard School of Design. Allen also held leadership positions at top advertising agencies McCann Erickson, Lowe Worldwide, and the Interpublic Group. The author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Hidden Agenda: A Proven Way to Win Business and Create a Following, Allen is an adjunct professor of marketing at Florida Atlantic University and a fellow at Ball State University.

Dr. Chitra Anand, Author, Global Speaker, and Advisor to High-Growth Companies

Dr. Anand is a doctoral researcher, innovation and culture change keynote speaker, professor, author, and advisor to high growth companies. With more than 20 years of experience in the technology industry, Dr. Anand previously served as head of communications for Microsoft Canada, director of marketing at Telus Corporation, and director of operations at Open Text. She is recognized as an expert in intrapreneurship, a concept which encourages people within an organization to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, creative thinking, and new ideas. Dr. Anand is the author of The Green House Approach: Cultivating Intrapreneurship in Companies and Organizations, a book about developing ground swell innovation from within organizations, which is now a required read for students in the Forbes School of Business & Technology's MBA program.

Dr. Charles Minnick, Lead MBA Faculty, FSBT; President Emeritus, Ashford University, Clinton Campus

Dr. Minnick serves as Lead Faculty for the MBA program and Professor in the Forbes School of Business & Technology. Dr. Minnick previously served as President of the Ashford residential and online campuses in Clinton, Iowa and as dean of the College of Business and Professional Studies at Ashford. An expert consultant in the areas of employee motivation, business ethics, team performance, and conflict management, he currently serves as board vice president for Mentor Clinton and in 2014 was appointed by then Iowa Governor Branstad to serve on the Iowa Commission of Volunteer Service. Dr. Minnick is the co-author of two books: The Five Functions of Effective Management, and Stay Engaged It's Essential: Chunks of Leadership, Wisdom, and Knowledge to Improve Your Leadership Effectiveness.

Dr. Susan Sasiadek, Lead MBA Faculty, FSBT

Dr. Sasiadek is an associate professor in the Forbes School of Business & Technology. In addition to her role as lead faculty for the MBA program at Ashford, she has served on various committees, including the Faculty Senate, Student Rights and Responsibility Committee, and Chair for the BA in Business Administration Program Review, and Chair for the Instructional Quality Review Revision. Prior to joining Ashford, Dr. Sasiadek worked at various corporations, including Sears Telecatalog, Eli Lilly, and U.S. Bank. She also taught at a number of universities, including Bellevue University, Virginia College, and University of Arizona. Dr. Sasiadek volunteer service has included work with the State of Arizona Foster Care system and the Humane Society, and she is a certified Literacy Volunteer of America.

Dr. Maja Zelihic, Fulbright Specialist and FSBT Department Chair for Advanced Management Studies Division

Dr. Zelihic is a Fulbright Specialist and Department Chair of the Advanced Management Studies division in the Forbes School of Business & Technology. She also served as a Program Chair of the Master of Arts in Organizational Management (MAOM) and MBA programs. Dr. Zelihic served as the Chair of Professional Development and Scholarship committee at Ashford, which recommends professional development content and provides recommendations concerning faculty research. She also serves as a Global Partner with NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Dr. Zelihic was also a Program Chair of the Innovation Track at ABSEL (Association for Business Simulation & Experiential Learning). Dr. Zelihic has published more than 20 articles in various refereed journals, including Springer's Quality and Quantity Journal, Life Science Journal, Journal of American Business Review, and Journal of Strategic and International Studies.

Marty Zwilling, CEO, Startup Professionals, Inc.

Marty Zwilling is founder and CEO of Startup Professionals, Inc., a company that provides products and services to startup founders and small business owners. He has a 30-year track record of demonstrated results as an executive in IBM and Silicon Valley, as well as a consultant in business transformations, conducting due diligence for investors, mentoring new technical executives, and overseeing business development, customer service, and outsourcing both onshore and offshore. Zwilling publishes a daily blog for entrepreneurs, and dispenses advice on the subject of startups to a large online audience of over a million Twitter followers as @StartupPro. He has also contributed numerous articles to Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, and the Huffington Post, and published three books: Do You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur?, Attracting an Angel, and StartupPro: How to Set Up and Grow a Tech Business.

About Ashford University

Ashford University is a recognized leader and innovator in distance learning and online education. Ashford is designed to meet the needs of working students, offering programs most often sought by those whose primary educational goals relate to developing professional and career-relevant competencies. Flexible schedules, innovative delivery, and accessible academic support tools help working students balance busy lives with academic studies. Ashford offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu, www.facebook.com/ashforduniversity, or www.twitter.com/AshfordU.

Ashford Media Contact: Pat Ogden

[email protected]

SOURCE Ashford University

Related Links

http://www.ashford.edu


By Express News Service

RANCHI: Wife of Tabrez Ansari, after meeting Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday, has demanded CBI inquiry into her husbands lynching case.

Ansari was allegedly thrashed for several hours after being tied with a pole and forced to chant Jai Shri Ram and Jai Bajrang Bali on June 18, last year, on suspicion of stealing a motorcycle with two other persons in Seraikela and succumbed to his injuries four days later in a hospital on June 22.

After I met Chief Minister, he has sought a weeks time to look into the demands raised by me in the application. In the application, I have demanded CBI inquiry into the matter, besides a day-to-day hearing by a fast track court into my husbands case, which is pending in the Court of First Additional District and Session Court of Saraikela, said wife Shaista Parveen. In addition, I want financial support of Rs 25 lakh along with a state government job, she added.

Parveen further added that when she had met CM Soren six months back, calling her his sister, he had assured her to extent all support to her. She has knocked his door only on the basis of the assurances given to her earlier, she said.
Avoid crowds. Wear masks. Have a good program of contact tracing available. Dont go far from home.

This is all important advice in our current COVID-19 conditions. And none of these requirements are being met at an acceptable level in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, casinos have been open since June 4, and Sin City itself has likely become a likely hotbed for the spread of the novel coronavirus, as ProPublica reports.

Because contact tracing is a local and not a national program, its pretty much impossible to track the comings and goings of anyone who visits Las Vegas  a current COVID danger zone.

The way its set up right now, contact tracers are not looking for clusters that might identify outbreaks tied to traveling to a casino or other specific locations, says Joshua Michaud, an epidemiologist and associate director of global health policy for the Kaiser Family Foundation. Youre not actively looking for it, so you might miss that event. Contact tracing is not set up to answer those questions, so youll still be in the dark.

A four-day survey in July utilizing available smartphone data showed how interconnected (and dangerous) our country can be during a pandemic. Identifying 26,000 devices from the Las Vegas Strip, these phones then later showed up in every mainland state except Maine, with most of them in Southern California and Arizona.

Adding to this issue: Theres up to a two-week incubation period for the virus. And Nevada regulators set minimum standards for COVID-19 protections but allowed the casinos to choose many of their own safety measures, as ProPublica notes, To the dismay of many workers.

Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.

The post Las Vegas Is a Hotbed for COVID-19, According to Smartphone Data appeared first on InsideHook.
The US on Monday tightened the noose around Huawei, which it considers an arm of the Chinese Communist Party's surveillance state, by adding 38 of its affiliates across 21 nations to its Entity List and taking steps to prevent the company from circumventing American law.

The amendments made in the longstanding foreign-produced direct product (FDP) rule restricts Huawei from obtaining foreign made chips developed or produced from US software or technology to the same degree as comparable US chips. It also added another 38 Huawei affiliates in 21 countries to the Entity List, which imposes a license requirement for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and modified four existing Huawei Entity List entries. Huawei's affiliates in India have already been added to the Entity List.

"Huawei and its foreign affiliates have extended their efforts to obtain advanced semiconductors developed or produced from US software and technology in order to fulfill the policy objectives of the Chinese Communist Party, said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. "As we have restricted its access to US technology, Huawei and its affiliates have worked through third parties to harness US technology in a manner that undermines US national security and foreign policy interests. This multi-pronged action demonstrates our continuing commitment to impede Huawei's ability to do so, Ross said.

In a separate statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States has provided ample time for affected companies and persons primarily Huawei customers to identify and shift to other sources of equipment, software, and technology and wind-down their operations.

"Now that time is up. We will not tolerate efforts by the CCP to undermine the privacy of our citizens, our businesses' intellectual property, or the integrity of next-generation networks worldwide, he said. "The Trump Administration sees Huawei for what it is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) surveillance state and we have taken action accordingly. Today, our government enacted several measures to protect US national security, our citizens' privacy, and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijing's malign influence, Pompeo said.

The Trump Administration, he said, is backing up its words with actions across the US Government. The Department of Justice has indicted Huawei for stealing US technology, conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud, racketeering, and helping Iran to evade sanctions, amongst other charges, he added.

The Department of Commerce placed Huawei on the Entity List in 2019. The Department of State has engaged in vigorous diplomacy for more than a year to share what we know about Huawei and other untrustworthy vendors with allies and partners around the world, he said. The new rules amended will prevent Huawei from circumventing US law through alternative chip production and provision of off-the-shelf (OTS) chips produced with tools acquired from the United States. This measure follows the more limited expansion of the Foreign Direct Product Rule in May, which Huawei has continuously tried to evade, he said.

Also read: Ready to properly address differences with India: China
SPRINGFIELD  The use of informants is not novel for the FBI, but can be fraught with unexpected missteps.

For example, the confidential human source, or CHS, in the pending federal loansharking prosecution against Springfield resident Anthony J. Scibelli, made the mistake of not turning off a body wire for more than a full day, according to court filings in U.S. District Court.

The recording picked up personal conversations the informant had with a female companion about alleged bootleg Percoset sales and plans to take out his street rivals.

Scibelli, 51, is charged with one count of collecting on an extortionate debt. He was arrested in July of 2019 after allegedly slapping around a gambler in debt to the local mob after the man was slow to make a $1,300 monthly payment on a $5,000 loan.

According to court records, the beating took place in the parking lot of the Mount Carmel Society parking lot a month earlier. Federal agents and Massachusetts State Police troopers spying on the meeting witnessed the encounter, which was orchestrated by law enforcement. The scuffle also was caught on audio and video and sampled in court records, referring to the debtor as Victim 1.

Scibelli: "  My (expletive)money. You (expletive). You understand me? Have it all on the (expletive) first.

Victim 1: OK, so you just slapped me like four times in the face, right? And you kicked my phone in the street.

Scibelli: Yeah, you want some more?

Victim 1: No I dont want no more  You want any?

Scibelli: Im right here you (expletive).

Victim 1: Anthony, youre my good friend 

However, Scibelli attorney Nikolas Andreopoulos has argued in court hearings and a recent motion for more information on witnesses in the case Victim 1 really isnt a victim at all. The defense lawyer cited quoted excerpts from the unnamed witness picked up on the hot mic session while he was helping the feds build their case against Scibelli.

The recordings were turned over to the defense and they reveal that CHS was not the unsophisticated and helpless victim he purported to be but rather more devious in nature. The recordings clearly establish that CHS was involved in the illegal selling of prescription pills and that law enforcement agents knew of the situation, Andreopoulos motion reads.

They had me especially when they tell me, Think hard about whatever you answer. Dont (expletive) lie to us. We already heard the whole thing. Already, I know on that tape they had to hear somethin about the pills CHS stated  Thats really the only thing I do, is the pills, right? the lawyers motion continues, quoting the informant unwittingly being recorded by his own body wire.

Its a good thing I built some kinda relationship with them over the last month, where they know me a little bit, or I woulda (expletive) (expletive) got f---ed, the man continued. You know how long you go away for a hundred pills? Its not a joke ... you cant play both sides ... you get caught.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches declined to comment on the allegations in the defense motion following a hearing on Tuesday.

Andreopoulos argues he is entitled to information law enforcement has about nefarious dealings by Victim 1 and his track record working for the FBI and state police. The defense lawyer also argues the debtor was angling for Scibelli and others to whom he was in arrears, fantasizing about putting him in the hospital for the rest of his life, the motion reads.

I was getting to the point where I was ready to murder couple people, actually shoot them in their heads, and I would have went to prison the rest of my lifeI was targeting who I was going to get, the informant says on the accidental recordings, according to the defense.

Andreopoulos once again argues that the debtor was not actually a victim, but much more calculating, and pulls more quotes from the hot mic.

CHS: At the end of the day theyre all going to go to jail so Ill have my revenge, then wont I?

Female: Then what happens?

CHS: What do you mean then what happens? What are you talking about?

Female: Then what happens?

CHS: Then I take the whole city over with my brother and five other people.

Previous court filings portray the yet-unnamed informant as a longtime fixture at the Mount Carmel Club in the citys South End, ground zero for socializing among local associates of the New York-based Genovese crime family and more recently leaders of the Latin Kings street gang.

Two Springfield men were indicted in a widespread dragnet of alleged Latin King leaders  some of whom held meetings at the South End social club, according to FBI records connected to that case.

Michael Cecchetelli, of Springfield, is alleged to be the New England leader of the violent street gang and is charged with racketeering after coordinated raids in early December.

His uncle, David Cecchetelli, was his nephews roommate and caught a gun charge at the same time when federal agents found an unregistered gun near his bedside, according to the indictment. David Cecchetelli is not accused of affiliations with the Latin Kings but has deep-seated ties to Greater Springfield Genovese associates and was convicted on a bookmaking charge in the early 2000s. Cases against Michael and David Cecchetelli remain pending in U.S. District Court.

In addition to mining for more information about Victim 1s credibility and alleged criminal activity, Andreopoulos is also seeking further details about Victim 1s brother, whom the defense lawyer notes is a witness in Scibellis case and under federal indictment.

CHS provides a material basis to believe that he and witness #5 (my brother') were involved in a criminal enterprise together at the very same time when the investigation in this case was taking place. Under this backdrop, the information sought concerning witness #5 becomes material and relevant given that he is currently being prosecuted by the Government and appears on their list of witnesses, his motion reads.

The government must respond to Andreopoulos motion by Aug. 21. A hearing on the matter is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni on Sept. 11.
Normally at this time of year, they like to be peering at the night sky, the older woman expertly directing her younger companion to the constellations that shine so brightly above Balmoral Castle in late summer.

They are rare moments of tranquillity for the Queen and her long-standing dresser and confidante Angela Kelly, who has her own telescope.

This August, however, stargazing into the inky darkness has not provided the distraction of previous years. Not only has the coronavirus severely disrupted the royal holiday, but the Queens break has also been overshadowed by the saga of Prince Harrys exit from the Royal Family  or at least the one-sided version of it provided by the authors of Finding Freedom.

The latest twist in the ongoing fallout from that new book now places the Queen and Miss Kelly side by side in an unedifying and frankly petty squabble over who said what and to whom about the Duchess of Sussexs wedding tiara.

Two days ago, it was reported that Prince Harry had raised his voice with the Queen after a row with Miss Kelly over which tiara Meghan would wear when the couple wed.

Two days ago, it was reported that Prince Harry had raised his voice with the Queen after a row with Angela Kelly, her personal adviser, curator and in-house designer, over which tiara Meghan would wear when the couple wed

In an interview, Finding Freedoms Omid Scobie claimed that Harry had called his grandmother and said: I dont know what the hell is going on. This woman needs to make this work for my future wife.

Twenty four hours later, however, a source close to Harry claimed that allegations he had yelled at his 94-year-old grandmother were totally untrue, and completely ridiculous, as was the suggestion he had used coarse language.

Intriguingly, despite the robustness of the denial which risks denting Scobies reputation as the Sussexes number one media cheerleader, it does leave one question about the exchanges unsaid: did Harry refer to the Queens closest female aide as this woman?

The source who dismissed Scobies claims of Harry speaking disrespectfully to the Queen made no mention of Miss Kelly in the rebuttal. That will leave many people wondering whether Prince Harry was not just displaying the same cold snobbishness he was said to have accused his brother Prince William, but also a flagrant hypocrisy.

For in their book Scobie and his co-author Carolyn Durand claim that, in the early days of his romance with Meghan, Harry reacted with fury after William cautioned him not to rush things with this girl. As they put it: In those last two words, this girl, Harry heard the tone of snobbishness that was anathema to his approach to the world.

The latest twist in the ongoing fallout from that new book now places the Queen and Miss Kelly side by side in an unedifying and frankly petty squabble over who said what and to whom about the Duchess of Sussexs wedding tiara

If this was the trigger which led to the rift between the once so-close brothers, how then should we classify Harrys use of the words this woman in describing the Queens gatekeeper?

Doesnt it also illustrate a degree of aloof snobbery, looking down on someone, a mere servant, without using their name? Unlike Prince William, Angela Kelly was in no position to defend herself.

She may have a reputation for toughness among Palace below-stairs staff  it was they who dubbed her AK-47, an amusing play on her initials and the firepower of the Soviet-era assault rifle  but this time she could not answer back. It is hard to believe that Harry, who used to have a reputation for being kind and courteous to royal servants, did not know that.

He must also be fully aware that both his father Prince Charles and mother Princess Diana had fiery tempers which, on occasion, they both lost at times with staff who depended on them for their livelihoods. Whatever the truth of this undignified situation  and make no mistake there was some kind of encounter between the sixth in line to the throne and the Queens right-hand woman  it placed the Queen in an unenviable position.

She adores her grandson but she is also hugely reliant on the divorced daughter of a Liverpool docks crane driver. And she certainly does not approve of family members raising their voices at the people who work for them, often for long hours and low wages, whatever the provocation.

While Buckingham Palace has quite rightly remained loftily above the fray, the contretemps does shine a spotlight on the remarkable relationship between our monarch and her closest female domestic aide.

It is one which has moved from that of mistress and servant to that of one where they exchange confidences.

Over the years, Angela has revolutionised the Queens wardrobe with vibrant colours and more modern designs.

Along the way it has led to an unbreakable companionship between two very different women, one brought up in a palace and the other one of six children raised in a two-up, two-down in the back streets of Liverpool.

It has reached a level of trust where Angela has been permitted to write two books about the Queen  with a third understood to be on the way  that makes her position inside the hierarchical world of Buckingham Palace almost impregnable.

All of which makes stories of the row between Harry and Miss Kelly all the more baffling. This week Angela is, as usual, at the Queens side in Scotland, having spent most of lockdown with her at Windsor Castle.

These days she is not just the Queens senior dresser but also her dressmaker and curator.

During lockdown she not only attended to the Queens clothes - for all those Zoom conferences and TV appearances  but also to her hair. With her regular hairdresser unable to visit, Angela would supervise the Queens wash and blow-dry.

It is 26 years since Angela arrived at the Palace after being invited to apply for a junior post as an assistant dresser.

A source close to Harry claimed that allegations he had yelled at his 94-year-old grandmother were totally untrue, and completely ridiculous, as was the suggestion he had used coarse language

A former driver with the Womens Royal Army Corps, she first met the Queen  and apparently hit it off with her  while employed as housekeeper to the British ambassador in Berlin when the embassy hosted a royal visit.

Such was her determination to get the palace job that Angela sold her washing machine in order to buy what she thought would be an appropriate outfit for the interview  a crisp clean blouse with navy spots and a long skirt.

It was that attention to detail which would later endear her to the Queen.

Yet back then, nobody could have imagined that within remarkably few years she would rise to become a figure of major influence in palace life.

As she boldly put it in her book, The Other Side Of The Coin: I now know that my tendency to be forthright was a breath of fresh air for many of my colleagues, but it took me quite some time to learn the right approach when it came to expressing myself.

In the same section, she acknowledges her AK-47 nickname as a compliment. Of the jealousies among other staff that have arisen with her rise, she has quipped: I dont have any more room for knives in my back.

Might this abruptness been apparent to Prince Harry the day he asked Angela about tiaras for his bride to be ahead of their 2018 wedding? But while both have hair-trigger tempers, even Angelas detractors  and there are any number of them among Palace staff  do not believe she would have been deliberately obstructive to the Queens grandson.

For in fact Angela was following the Queens orders. She had instructed Angela to provide a selection of tiaras which had been whittled down to three.

According to an intimate source, Harry and Meghan asked about another tiara which was not on the shortlist. They probably Googled it and thought it was one they would like, says the source.

But its provenance was uncertain and the couple were encouraged to choose one of three the Queen and Miss Kelly had selected.

According to Scobies version of events, Meghan didnt get to try the tiara on with her hairdresser until a few days before the wedding. Harry felt that there were those within the institution that would stop at nothing to make Meghans life difficult, he said.

What happened next is subject of keen debate.

Some say Harry shouted at Angela, perhaps emboldened by his knowledge that she is not one of Prince Charless favourite members of staff, someone whom he believes has been indulged. One insider says this was reported back to the Queen, who asked Harry to come and see her  rather than him calling his grandmother, as Scobie has asserted.

Was this when he referred to Miss Kelly as this woman?

Whatever the truth, the Queen will want to draw a line under this matter as fast as possible and Harry will likely be aware that dragging his grandmother into this trifling row was an error.

As for Angela Kelly, there will be the satisfaction that the Queen always backs her, even if she sometimes rolls her eyes while doing so.

But imagine the kind of book she could one day write.
SEYMOUR  Students and staff will return to school next month with a combination of in-person and distance learning, under the districts reopening plan designed amid the ongoing pandemic.

The Board of Education during its virtual meeting Monday endorsed the reopening plans for Bungay, Chatfield-LoPresti, Seymour Middle and Seymour High schools by a vote of 7-2. Board members Fred Stanek and Chris Champagne cast the dissenting votes.

Stanek said while he realizes the data shows Seymour, and Connecticut overall, seem to support full in-person learning, the virus is still out there, and he believes the safest approach is to begin the 2020-21 school year with full distance learning.

Champagne voted against the plan, saying there are too many holes in it.

The safety of our students and staff is paramount, Superintendent of Schools Michael Wilson said. Our metrics with the virus are low, which is why were proceeding with the hybrid model. Wed love to come back full in-person, but the prudent decision for us is to go hybrid.

Wilson remains in daily contact with the Naugatuck Valley Health Department regarding COVID-19 statistics.

Parents can view the individual school plans in their entirety online at www.seymourschools.org. Schools starts Sept. 8.

The hybrid model calls for dividing students based on their bus routes, which Wilson said lessens the number of students in each building by approximately 50 percent.

Under the hybrid plan, students will be in school two days per week and distance learning three days per week. One group of students will attend in person Monday and Tuesday, the other on Thursday and Friday. All students will stay home on Wednesdays, when the buildings will be deep cleaned.

The rationale behind a hybrid by bus route is to allow students from the same neighborhood to remain together, Wilson said. Theoretically, these students and/or families have socially distanced together at some point since the time of school closure and therefore should feel more comfortable remaining with them as a cohort group. Parents and caregivers in these neighborhoods can come together even more now as a community to assist with placing children on and off the bus, as well as potentially on remote learning days.

At all four schools, students will notice designated traffic patterns in the hallways and on the floors to prevent them from being too close to one another. Separate entrances and exits will be used by different grade levels to reduce student traffic. Lockers and water fountains will not be used, and bathroom breaks will be scheduled to prevent congregating. Students can bring in their own marked water bottles, which they can fill at filling stations. Masks will be required on the bus and in school, but designated mask breaks will take place in safe areas, as well as during lunch.

All students will use Chromebooks that theyll take home every day and be required to charge every night, and all lessons will be the same for those at home and in school.

At the elementary schools, students will eat lunch in their classroom. At the middle school, only four students will be allowed per table in the cafeteria; at the high school, a fourth lunch wave was added to allow for greater social distancing. Cafeterias will be sanitized after each use.

At the middle school, Principal Jodie Roden said the parent drop-off loop has been expanded, only two buses at a time will be called at dismissal and parent pickup will be done alphabetically.

At the high school, Principal James Freund said there will be four block periods instead of seven to minimize student traffic in hallways, and student parking will be at half-capacity.

Freund said the year ahead will be unique.

Were looking at this as pioneers, as we are pioneering a new form of education which might very well become our future norm, he said.

All parents have the option of keeping their kids home for full remote learning. However, those who choose this option cannot participate in sports, if they happen, or extracurricular activities, according to CIAC guidelines.

I would like to take a moment to thank all of the members of the reopening committee for all of their hard work and dedication to creating a plan for all students and staff to safely return to school, Wilson said. Were excited to have our students and staff back.

jean.sos@snet.net
Home Centre, a key retailer of furniture and home furnishings in the Mena region and the Indian sub-continent, has unveiled a new brand identity that is underpinned by its customer-first approach of enabling every home to tell its own unique story.
Tuesday, August 18th, 2020 (12:20 am) - Score 5,301

Part of Shetland Telecoms fibre optic broadband network on the remote Shetland Islands (Scotland) was only slightly, albeit knowingly, damaged last Friday following the discovering of a WWII era pipe bomb, which had to be made safe through detonation by a professional bomb squad.

The cable itself is the product of the joint SHEFA-2 Interconnect Project, which nearly a decade ago saw the Shetland Islands Council (SIC) establish Shetland Telecom as part of a scheme to connect a local full fibre network to the undersea (subsea) SHEFA-2 fibre cable that linked the Faroe Islands with mainland Scotland.

Fast forward to last week and a team from Scottish Water were busy installing a new water main at Scatsta when they discovered the old World War II era pipe bomb. The bomb was sitting about 50cms under our main (only) fibre link to Sellaness, said Shetland Telecom on their Facebook page.

Now this is the sort of discovery that can sometimes result in the understandable soiling of an engineers trousers, although luckily no such outcome was reported. Instead the ISP had to contact all of their customers in order to make them aware of the situation and that the bomb would be detonated the following day.

A Spokesperson for Shetland Telecom said: We amassed a crew ready to repair the fibre as fast as possible after the explosion. So when the time came we had a small army of our own ready and primed. None of us could believe that after the explosion our network monitoring system was showing no problems. Once we got the all clear to do the inspection we discovered that the only damage was a tiny scratch to duct wall. So we are now in a position to say that Shetland Telecom network is officially bomb proof.

A somewhat grainy video of the incident can be found online, although were pleased that nobody was hurt and the network survived with only minor damage. A significant amount of credit for that must also go to the bomb squad for setting up the blast in such a way as to divert most of its energy away from the vulnerable fibre.

Alls well that ends well, but this is still a useful reminder of the dangers that engineers can sometimes face when doing their daily jobs.
The last few months have seen a number of leaks and rumours point towards the possibility of Samsung launching a lite variant of the Galaxy S20. Expected to be called the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition, the phone is being tipped for an October launch.

And ahead of its launch, information about the device appears to have leaked online, with an image of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition suggesting that the phone will have a flat screen. Coming courtesy of @OnLeaks and Pricebaba, the images are CAD-based renders that confirm some interesting details about the phone.

Earlier, there was little information about the phone available online, with most of the stories discussing the different names it could be launched under. This is because, over the last few days, the phone has been referred to as the "Galaxy S20 Pen Edition" -- an S-Pen stylus totting device -- with previous speculations sticking to calling it the "S20 Fan Edition" or simply the S20 Lite.

As per the new leak, the phone could come with a display that ranges between 6.4 and 6.5 inches -- a size that will be larger than the Galaxy S20 (6.2") and smaller than the S20+ (6.7"). However, this display will come with a centered punch hole to maintain consistency with the rest of Samsung's line-up.

The renders also suggest that the overall size of the device will be the same as the Galaxy S20+ because of the bezels around the screen. The final measurement thus for the device is tipped to be 161 x 73 x 8 mm. The phone is also said to bring the same battery capacity as the Galaxy S20+ with a 4,500 mAh pack.

Much like the S10 Lite that was launched earlier in the year, the Galaxy S20 Lite could come as a slightly watered-down version of the Galaxy S20. The phone is currently tipped to be made available in both a global and a US variant, with possibly different chipsets and support for either 4G or 5G basebands.

The information comes courtesy of SamMobile, which citing sources claim that this lite variant of the Galaxy S20 will come with model number SM-G780 for the international variant, while the US variant will come with model number SM-G781. Interestingly, the first variant will come in both 4G and 5G options, while the SM-G781 is said to come with only 5G support.

For now, there is very little else that's known about this upcoming phone. But if what we've seen in the past anything to go by, the Galaxy S20 Lite should get the same processor as the Galaxy S20 series, and possibly a Snapdragon 865 chipset even in India. However,the phone has previously appeared on Geekbench with an Exynos 990 chipset instead of the rumored Snapdragon 865. According to Ice Universe, the Galaxy S20 FE will get a 120Hz display, while the main cameras will be taken from the Galaxy S20. There will also be IP68 water resistance on the phone.
- Asia Pacific is considered as the most attractive market, propelled increasingly by stringent emission regulations, North America is also a key regional market, where OEMs incorporate advanced technologies

- Advances in chemistries of lubricant additives to improve the performance and extend their life, market to clock CAGR of ~2% between 2019 and 2027

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wide spectrum of chemicals such as viscosity index (VI) improvers and antioxidants are added to base oils to formulate finished lubricants, where their role is to improve the characteristics of final products. Some of the key applications are in formulating engine oils, gear oils, automatic transmission fluids, and greases.

Analysts at TMR project the lubricant additives market to clock CAGR of ~2% between 2019 and 2027 and reach US$ 18 Bn by the end of 2027. In 2018, the global valuation was pegged at US$ 15.72 Bn. Asia Pacific led the global landscape with market share exceeding 32% in 2018.

Request for Covid-19 Impact Analysis on Lubricant Additives Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/Covid19.php

Key Findings of Lubricant Additives Market Report

Among the various key product types, dispersants held the leading segment in 2018, with ~25% share

Antioxidants is the fastest growing segment in market among all during 2019 - 2027

Asia Pacific held the dominating share in lubricants additives market in 2018 amounting to more than 32%

held the dominating share in lubricants additives market in 2018 amounting to more than 32% China is an attractive market

is an attractive market Demand for high-performing lubricant additives to rise remarkably in Europe and North America

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Lubricant Additives Market: Key Driving Factors and Promising Avenues

Rising demand for lubricants with better chemistries is bolstering the prospects of an array of lubricant additives in the industries of automobile, marine, aviation, and power.

Numerous countries have announced to hasten transition to the most recent VI emission standards. The implementation of Bharat Stage VI emission standards in India this year is a glaring example.

this year is a glaring example. The demand for new array of chemistries in lubricants in modern engines and turbines has boosted the lubricant additives market.

Growing number of passenger cars in developing regions of the world has spurred the demand for lubricant additives.

Use of viscosity index (VI) improvers for mainly improving the rheological properties of lubricants is boosting revenue generation in the lubricant additives market.

View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/3893

Lubricant Additives Market: Regional Landscape

Asia Pacific presents huge untapped prospects to manufacturers in the lubricant additives market. The scope of the regional market is underpinned by vehicle manufacturers being serious about updated emission standards. Adoption of VI emission standards for 2021 in China is a case in point. The Middle East is also offering attractive opportunities to players in the lubricant additives market.

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Lubricant Additives Market: Competitive Landscape

The lubricant additives market is increasingly consolidated with large proportion of market shares concentrated among the top five players. They hold high bargaining power, mainly by following captive manufacturing practices. The end-user industry landscape is highly competitive, which constantly stimulates incumbent players to aim for innovations in formulations of lubricant additives.

Most players are consolidating their shares in emerging and established markets by expanding their product portfolio.

Some key players in the lubricant additives market are Tianhe Chemicals Group Limited, The Lubrizol Corporation, Chevron Oronite Company LLC, Infineum International Limited, and NewMarket Corporation.

Browse More Press Releases: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/press-releases.htm

The Lubricant Additives Market can be segmented as follows:

Products

VI Improvers

PPD (Pour Point Depressants)

Detergents

Dispersants

Antioxidants

Other Additives

Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East

Rest of the world (RoW)

Browse Latest Reports by TMR: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/latest.htm

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals and Materials Industry,

Oleate Esters Market - The global oleate esters market is projected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 5.0% between 2019 and 2027. The primary reason for the high rate of utilization of ethyl oleate in lubricants is their superior qualities such as absorbency, solvency and their resistance to low temperatures while being incorporated in any reaction. The demand for oleate esters is expected to increase in the future due to the rising awareness among the people regarding the superior properties of oleate esters and the wide range of applications that they serve.

Refrigeration Lubricants Market - Major factors driving the refrigeration lubricants market are rise in the worldwide need for health care and food supply and increase in the demand for refrigeration lubricants from the automotive industry. Key innovations, changing technologies, and R&D activities in refrigeration lubricants in the last decade were the result of environmental legislations imposed by Montreal and Kyoto protocols. All these factors also impact the selection of refrigeration lubricants. The trend toward use of natural refrigeration lubricants (such as CO2-based, ammonia-based, and hydrocarbon-based) has been growing over the last few years.

Dry Lubricants Market - The dry lubricants market can be segmented based on material type, bonding method, application, and region. In terms of material type, the dry lubricants market can be divided into graphite, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, soft metal solid lubricants, PTFE, and others. Based on bonding method, the dry lubricants market can be segregated into vacuum sputtering, dip application, mechanical impingement, burnishing, and spray resin bonding. Based on application, the dry lubricants market can be classified into steel industry, oil & gas, mining & mineral processing industry, water & food processing, automobile, and petrochemical industry.

Base Oil Market - The global base oil market was valued at ~US$ 34 Bn in 2019 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of ~2% during the forecast period. Among grades, the Group I segment accounted for a major share of the global base oil market in 2019. However, the demand for Group I base oil is likely to decline during the forecast period, owing to their replacement by Group II and Group III base oils. Group II base oils are capable of substituting Group I base oils in several industrial applications at minimal additional costs. Among applications, the automotive fluids segment held a significant share of the global base oil market in 2019. Asia Pacific is estimated to offer immense growth potential to the base oil market in the next few years.

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Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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Linkedin Anuj Chopra (Agence France-Presse) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Tue, August 18, 2020 10:40 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066eb599a 2 World Saudi-Arabia,Israel,Israel-UAE,Israel-Palestine-conflict,Israel-annexation Free

The UAE's decision to normalize ties with Israel could propel Saudi Arabia to deepen its furtive relations with the Jewish state as Riyadh seeks to entice investment to fund an ambitious economic transformation, analysts say.

The United Arab Emirates on Thursday became the first Gulf state to normalize relations with Israel, in a historic US-brokered accord that raised the prospect of similar deals with other Arab states.

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world's biggest economy, has maintained a conspicuous silence over the deal, but local officials have hinted that Riyadh is unlikely to immediately follow in the footsteps of its principle regional ally despite US pressure.

President Donald Trump's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner insisted on Monday that it would be in Riyadh's interest to formally establish ties with Israel.

"It would be very good for Saudi business, it would very good for Saudi's defense, and, quite frankly, I think it would also help the Palestinian people," Kushner said.

Further putting the kingdom in the spotlight, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said Israel was working on opening a corridor over Saudi Arabia for flights to the UAE.

There was no immediate public response from Saudi Arabia, which is home to Islam's holiest sites and faces more sensitive political calculations than the UAE.

Not only would a formal recognition of Israel be seen by Palestinians and their supporters as a betrayal of their cause, it would also hurt the kingdom's image as the leader of the Islamic world.

Saudi Arabia, however, has already cultivated covert ties with Israel in recent years, a shift spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman even as his father King Salman has voiced steadfast support for an independent Palestinian state.

"The UAE-Israeli normalization lends itself to expanding the realm of indirect Saudi-Israeli relations," said Aziz Alghashian, a lecturer at Essex University specializing in the kingdom's policy towards Israel.

"I think Saudi-Israeli interactions will increase via the UAE."

'Integral part'

A shared animosity towards Iran, along with Saudi attempts to attract foreign investment to fund Prince Mohammed's ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, appear to be pushing the kingdom closer to Israel than ever.

A centerpiece of Vision 2030 is NEOM, a $500 billion planned megacity on the kingdom's west coast, for which observers say the kingdom requires Israeli expertise in areas including manufacturing, biotechnology and cyber security.

The creation of NEOM "requires peace and coordination with Israel, especially if the city is to have a chance of becoming a tourist attraction," said Mohammad Yaghi, a research fellow at Germany's Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

NEOM is set to be built close to the Israeli resort town of Eilat, along the geopolitically sensitive waters of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.

Gulf states have also increasingly sought Israeli technology for the surveillance of their own citizens and tried to purchase precision missiles that Western countries are unwilling to sell, Yaghi wrote in a research paper in April.

Saudi Arabia has tried to keep its outreach to Israel out of the public eye, but it has not been easy.

In June, a verified Twitter account linked to the kingdom's embassy in Washington said the Saudi council of ministers had agreed to recruit Israeli cyber security firm Check Point Software in NEOM.

The embassy later denied the claim and distanced itself from the account.

Marc Schneier, an American rabbi with close ties to the Gulf, quoted Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister Prince Khalid bin Salman as once telling him that Israel was an "integral part" of achieving Vision 2030.

Schneier made the comment to AFP in May, and Saudi authorities did not dispute that the prince made the remark.

'Conflicting views'

Despite the official silence, the pro-government Saudi media has repeatedly tested public reaction by publishing reports advocating closer ties with Israel.

"I forecast a future that entails the creation of a joint high-tech ecosystem among [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries, known as the 'Silicon Wadi'," Israeli consultant Nave Shachar wrote last week for the English website of Al-Arabiya, a Saudi-owned broadcaster.

Shachar, who according to his LinkedIn profile was previously employed by the Israeli defense ministry, was referring to a regional equivalent of Silicon Valley.

"Now, more than ever, it is in the best interest of Israel and the GCC to increase business cooperation," he said.

Observers say US President Donald Trump, who backed Prince Mohammed following global uproar over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, holds enormous leverage to get the kingdom to formally recognize Israel.

But Saudi Arabia appears to be resisting Washington's pressure as it has more at stake than the UAE.

Schneier said the kingdom's leadership held "conflicting views along generational lines."

"This bold initiative by the Emirates will strengthen the generational forces that would like to see this happen now," he told AFP this week.

"This announcement from the UAE will transform the current indirect relations between the Saudis and Israel to formal direct relations."
YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan paid a working visit to a number of communities in Kotayk Province, got acquainted with the process of the subvention programs of the Government. The PM was accompanies by Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Suren Papikyan and acting Governor of Kotayk Province Arnak Avetisyan.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyans 1st stop was at Aramus community where a new kindergarten is being built for 150 children. It was mentioned that the construction of the building is scheduled to be completed by October 1, 2020. The contract value of the program is 433 million drams. The program is co-funded by the Government and the community 50-50%.

The head of the community informed the PM that in the sidelines of another subvention program the a number of streets in Aramus will be supplied with natural gas by the end of this month. As a result, the entire community will have access to gas.

Nikol Pashinyan also met with the residents of Aramus, talked with them about the development of the community. He emphasized the participation of the residents in the subvention programs by not trying to evade taxes. ''We have to pay the estate tax in order to make it possible to implement more programs. We all have to understand that for example the estate tax paid by us is this kindergarten. We have to elect a community head or a government who will never steal', he said.

Afterwards, PM Pashinyan visited Kamaris and Geghashen communities.
A Chinese Covid-19 vaccine contender may be on the market by December and cost just 100 for two doses.

State-owned pharmaceutical company Sinopharm claims the jab could be ready by Christmas, once final stage trials are over.

Officials feared the vaccine may not be ready until at least next year because a lack of new infections in China made it difficult to test it.

But alternative trial sites abroad have since been set up, with the third and final part of the tests planning to recruit 15,000 volunteers in the United Arab Emirates.

Manufacturers will be able to make 220million doses of the jab a year, a Sinopharm chief said.

But initial trials have shown people may need two or even three shots each for it to be effective.

The population of China alone is 1.4billion, suggesting British and American officials may struggle to get access to the vaccine if it is proven to work.

The experimental jab has shown to trigger antibodies in volunteers from the first and second stages of experiments. It has also been found to be safe.

But although the findings were promising, they do not yet prove the jab can prevent a person catching the virus in the first place.

A Chinese Covid-19 vaccine contender made by Sinopharm (pictured) may be on the market by December and cost 100

The company has the ability to make doses for 110million people. But the population of China alone is 1.4billion, therefore it is unclear if it would be available to any other countries in the near future. Pictured: A staff member of the China National Pharmaceutical Group testing samples of the virus on April 11

China has been competing with US, British and German companies to be the first with a proven Covid-19 vaccine to help end the pandemic.

At least eight vaccine candidates made in China are currently being tested. All are in different stages of clinical trials.

The candidate from China's government-run company Sinopharm is 'inactivated' - it is made by growing the whole virus in a lab and then killing it.

Inactivated vaccines are well known and have been used against diseases such as influenza, measles and rabies.

But they usually dont provide immunity thats as strong as live vaccines, so several doses over time may be necessary.

The vaccine was developed alongside experts at the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products and the Beijing Institute of Biological Products.

HAS THE SINOPHARM VACCINE BEEN PROVEN TO WORK? Sinopharm's experimental jab has been shown to trigger antibodies in volunteers. Although the findings are promising, they do not prove the jab can prevent a person catching the virus. Results of the most recent trial were published on August 13 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and led by Shengli Xia, of the Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Ninety-six healthy adults from China aged between 18 and 59 years old were assigned to one of the three dose groups (2.5, 5, and 10 g/dose), or a control group for a placebo jab. They were given three shots in total, on days 0, 28, and 56. After seven days, adverse reactions occurred occurred in 20.8 per cent, 16.7 per cent, and 25 per cent of patients in the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups, respectively. In the second trial, 224 healthy adults were randomly divided into two groups in which they received a jab on either day zero and 14, or day zero and 21. Some received a medium dose of the real vaccine candidate, while the others were given a placebo. No more than one fifth of participants in the phase two trial had side effects. Overall, 15 per cent of participants reported side effects within seven days of the injection, which is 'lower compared with results of other candidate vaccines', the researchers said. The most common side effect was injection site pain. No serious adverse reactions were noted by the researchers. When looking at the immune response to the vaccine, the trial found 'the inactivated vaccine may effectively induce antibody production' based on antibody levels increasing. The results in both phases indicated that a longer interval (21 to 28 days) between the first and second injections produced higher antibody responses compared with a shorter interval schedule (14-day group). Antibodies started to increase after a second injection and further increased after the third injection in the phase 1 trial, suggesting the need for a booster injection, the paper said. No new Covid-19 cases were reported and no participant developed any symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the trial. But its not clear if people were protected by the jab or if they had just not been exposed to the coronavirus. And the researchers did not look at home long antibodies lasted in the long-term. Advertisement

Chairman of Sinopharm Group Liu Jingzhen made the promising claims that the company's jab will be available on the market in December, after the third stage of clinical trials is over.

'After the third stage of international clinical trials ends, we can register the inactivated vaccine,' he said according to the Guangming Ribao newspaper.

'According to our estimations, by the end of the year, it may appear on the market.

'I have personally received two shots of the vaccine, there were no side effects.

'After the inactivated vaccine enters the market, its price will not be too high, it will be around several hundred yuan. Two shots will cost about 1,000 yuan (about $144/100).'

It is likely that two shots of the vaccine will eventually be recommended because one only gives '97 per cent protection', he said.

Mr Jingzhen added: 'If you do two shots, the probability of protection may reach 100 per cent.'

'The interval between the first and the second shot usually lasts 28 days. In some exceptional cases, two injections can be done at once in the left and right arm. Four micrograms of the vaccine are injected each time.'

Mr Jingzhen said the Beijing Institute of Biological Products can produce up to 120million inactivated vaccines a year, and the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products can produce an additional 100million.

Considering two doses could be needed, it suggests just a fraction of China's population alone would be able to be vaccinated.

Mr Jingzehen did not comment on whether the potentially life-saving jab will be available to other countries.

He said it would not be necessary to vaccinate the entire population of China. However, working people living in densely populated areas of the country must receive the vaccine, he added.

'This highlights the long-standing world shortage of capacity for vaccine production,' said Keith Neal, an emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases, University of Nottingham.

'Even at $140 this is not affordable for many people across the world who need it. It is much higher than the price estimated for other vaccines.'

Professor Neal also said: 'Without seeing published reviewed papers, it is difficult to comment on the vaccine.'

The first two stages of clinical trials claimed Sinopharm's candidate was safe and triggered antibody-based immune responses.

The shot did not cause any serious side effects, according to a paper published on August 13 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The results were based on data from 320 healthy adults.

Scientists reported that it remained unknown if that was sufficient to prevent Covid-19 infection, researchers developing the vaccine said in the paper.

The company previously said in an online post that 30 employees, including top executives, helped 'pre-test' its vaccine in March, before it was approved for its initial human study.

Dr Gao Fu (pictured in this file photo on January 26), the head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention says he has been injected with an experimental coronavirus vaccine from China

Scientists vehemently debate such self-experimentation, because what happens to one or a few people outside a well-designed study is not usable evidence of safety or effectiveness.

It is speculated that Dr Gao Fu, the head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has been injected with the experimental vaccine from Sinopharm.

He said in July: 'I'm going to reveal something undercover: I am injected with one of the vaccines. I hope it will work.'

He did not reveal which candidate he had received of the several speeding ahead in China.

The candidate moved into a late-stage trial in June - 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 UAE on 15,000 people, initially in Abu Dhabi because China is recording fewer than 100 cases a day.

The United Arab Emirates was chosen because around 200 different nationalities reside there so it can be trialled in a range of people, officials said. It is recording around 300 cases a day.

The trial will test two vaccines against a placebo. Volunteers - all aged between 18 and 60 - will be given two doses three weeks apart and will be followed for a year.

The state-owned company will also supply the candidate to Pakistan as part of a trial agreement, the Wall Street Journal reported.

More than 150 candidate vaccines are being developed and tested around the world, including six that are in phase three trials.

Russia became the first country to grant regulatory approval to a vaccine after less than two months of human testing.

A shot developed by Chinese firm CanSino Bilogics has been cleared for use in the military.
Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: A Spanish mountaineer who recently climbed a virgin peak in his country, has decided to name it and its route after Uttarakhand-cadre IAS officer Ashish Chauhan as a gratitude for helping him while he was on his visit to Gangotri Himalayas.

Chauhan is the former district magistrate of Uttarkashi and present additional secretary (civil aviation) in the state government.

"We just decided that the top will be called "Magistrate's Point" and the road will be called "Via Ashish". It is a virgin peak which we were going to give another name. So that, everything makes more sense the top will be called "Magistrate's Tip" and the access to it will bear your name. It will be registered in climbing books of Gredos (Central Mountain System) Spain," stated the message from Juan Antonio the mountaineer.

Juan Antonio, the mountaineer said he was grateful to Chauhan for his help during 2018 expedition in the Gangotri Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

The post by the Spanish mountaineer stated that he and his friend David Resino have successfully scaled a virgin peak situated near Avila city of Spain which is at the altitude of 2,950 metres and one of the toughest in the country.

"We have decided to name the peak 'Magistrate's Point' and its route 'Via Ashish', in your honour," said the mountaineer.

He also added that he was greatly indebted by the help offered to him by Ashish Chauhan when he was not well. "By interacting with him, I realized how hospitable and generous hosts the Indians are. We are still in touch," the post added.

Antonio visited Uttarkashi district in 2018 to climb Mount Satopanth in Gangotri region at an altitude of over 7000 metres above sea level.

He fell sick during the expedition after which Chauhan, the then the DM of Uttarkashi helped him out.

Chauhan who expressed his gratitude by sharing the post by Juan on social media said, "I am overwhelmed and really grateful by the honour the mountaineer has showered on me. Atithi Devo Bhava (Guest is God) is our Indian culture and being a government official, it is my duty to provide help to any person who needs it."
Online-based training will be available from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26.

The training will be interactive, allowing participants to ask questions during the presentation.

Certification with the state HUB office provides businesses with greater exposure to business opportunities in state procurement and contracting. All HUB-certified businesses are listed in the Vendor Link system. Certification is free and valid for four years.

Interested business owners should register by Aug. 25 using the Eventbrite link at CityofWS.org/MWBE.

Richard Craver

M&F Bancorp reports $59,000 second-quarter loss

M&F Bancorp Inc., which has a branch in east Winston-Salem, reported Monday a second-quarter loss of $59,000, compared with net income of $124,000 a year ago.

The Durham bank had an earnings loss of 3 cents, compared with diluted earnings of 6 cents a year ago.

The quarterly loss was caused mostly by the bank placing $622,000 in its loan-loss provision, compared with having a $35,000 recovery in the second quarter of fiscal 2019.
Elected officials from Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley have sprung into action to protect the United States Postal Service.

Embattled Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced Tuesday afternoon he was suspending cost-cutting initiatives, and would be canceling service reductions, reinstating overtime hours and ceasing the removal of mail-sorting machines and public collection boxes until after the election.

The move came after the Postal Service warned that mail-in ballots may be delayed in Pennsylvania and 45 other states.

Make our votes count! yelled Anne Garbush, before U.S. Rep. Susan Wild began speaking at a news conference Tuesday afternoon outside the Southside Bethlehem post office. Im worried about our mail-in ballots. Im worried about the COVID virus and people standing in those lines (to vote), particularly the elderly. I want them to be arriving on time. I want them to be delivered and counted on time.

Garbush used a mail-in ballot for the primary, and plans to use one for the November election as well, because of the pandemic. Her parents mailed in their tax returns earlier this year and the IRS hasnt received them, and they thought the carrier was the problem, she said.

We realized it wasnt the carrier, Garbush said.

Wild and other officials stressed the focus on the mail is not just for ballots, but for life-saving prescription drugs, Social Security checks, paychecks, bill payments, essential supplies for businesses, and birthday cards to loved ones.

Alarming changes were made to the Postal Service, Wild said, adding she has heard every day from constituents facing mail delays.

Inaction is not an option, Wild said. We must reverse the sweeping new operational changes that weaken the Postal Service, delay these critical deliveries and, according to the postal service itself, threaten to deny the ability of eligible Americans to cast their votes in the mail in the upcoming election, putting the very core of our democracy in jeopardy.

As Wild spoke Tuesday afternoon, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson that multi-state federal lawsuits will be filed to stop nationwide operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service.

Following the changes by DeJoy, who took over in June, mail is taking two or three times as long to be delivered, Shapiro said.

DeJoy skipped over the opinions of experts, didnt hold public hearings on the changes and failed to follow other required processes, Shapiro said.

That conduct is illegal, Shapiro said. Pennsylvanians were denied the legal right to speak on these issues.

DeJoy is expected to testify Friday before the Senate, and DeJoy and chairman of the Postal Service board of governors are slated to testify Monday before the House of Representatives.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling the House back into session for a vote this weekend on the Delivering for America Act.

The bill would prohibit the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or level of service it had in place on January 1, 2020, as well as provide $25 billion to shore up the Postal Service.

Wild said she will return to Washington to vote.

Wild commended the 630,000 postal workers who have met this unprecedented national criss with a steady hand.

Proving that their old motto is truer than ever: neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom nor, as it even turns out, a global pandemic can keep our postal workers from consistently delivering for our community, Wild said.

Andrew Kubat, president of the Lehigh Valley Area Local American Postal Workers Union, said the postal service does not receive taxpayer funds, but depends on revenue generated from the sale of stamps.

The postal service has requested relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. As essential employees, postal workers have continued working. Kubat said 40,000 workers have been quarantined, 3,000 contracted the virus and more than 60 workers have died from the virus.

Were not a business to make money, were a service for the public, said Angelo Fetter, representative of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 274, which covers Bethlehem to Quakertown.

Fetter said letter carriers are facing hostility from people waiting on their mail.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
BAMAKO: Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and top government officials were detained on Tuesday by mutinying soldiers in the capital Bamako on Tuesday, plunging a country already facing a jihadist insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis.

Keita`s detention at his residence in southwestern Bamako followed hours of uncertainty after soldiers mutinied in the morning at the Kati military base outside Bamako and rounded up a number of senior civilian officials and military officers.

Prime Minister Boubou Cisse had earlier appealed for dialogue and urged mutineers to stand down, before dropping from view. Two security sources later told Reuters Keita had been seized and the African Union said Cisse was also in detention.

Mali`s state broadcaster went offline after the spate of detentions, before coming back on air in the early evening with pre-recorded programming.

It was not immediately clear who was leading the mutineers, who would govern in Keita`s absence or what the mutineers` motivations were. A military spokesman said he had no information.

The M5-RFP coalition behind mass protests since June calling for Keita to resign signalled support for the mutineers` action, with spokesman Nouhoum Togo telling Reuters it was "not a military coup but a popular insurrection".

Rumours earlier in the day that the mutineers had detained Keita prompted hundreds of anti-government protesters to pour into a central square to celebrate and chant that it was time for him to resign.

The protesters have blamed Keita for corruption and worsening security in the north and centre of the West African country where Islamist militants are active.

A mutiny in 2012 at the same Kati base led to a military coup that toppled then-President Amadou Toumani Toure and hastened the fall of Mali`s north to jihadist militants.

French forces intervened the following year to beat them back. But the militants have since regrouped and expanded their influence into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, attacking soldiers, local civilians and Western tourists.

REGIONAL FEARS

France and other international powers as well as the African Union, fearful that the fall of Keita could further destabilise Mali - a former French colony - and West Africa`s entire Sahel region, denounced the mutiny.

"I energetically condemn the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the prime minister and other members of the Malian government and call for their immediate liberation," African Union chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said on Twitter.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France "condemns in the strongest terms this grave event". The U.S. envoy to the Sahel, J. Peter Pham, said on Twitter that "the U.S. is opposed to all extra-constitutional changes of government".

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called on the Mali soldiers to return to their barracks and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Malians to protect democratic institutions.

At least 14 people were killed in July in the demonstrations that were called for by a coalition of Keita`s political opponents, religious leaders and civil society activists.

Keita had hoped concessions to opponents and recommendations from a mediating delegation of regional leaders would help stem the tide of dissatisfaction, but the protest leaders have rejected proposals to join a power-sharing government.

"Whether he`s been arrested or not, what is certain is that his end is near. God is granting our prayers. IBK is finished," Haidara Assetou Cisse, a teacher, said earlier in the day, referring to Keita by his initials.
By John McCrank

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Online retail brokerage TD Ameritrade Holding Corp <AMTD.O> said some of its thinkorswim desktop trading platform customers were unable to log on for a second-straight day, as the S&P 500 <.SPX> hit a new all-time intraday high on Tuesday.

"We are currently experiencing a system issue impacting clients' ability to connect to the thinkorswim desktop platform. In the meantime, clients can access their accounts through thinkorswim Web, the thinkorswim mobile app and via all other TD Ameritrade platforms. We are working to address the issue as quickly as possible," the company said in a statement.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based company is in the process of being bought by rival Charles Schwab Corp <SCHW.N> in an all-stock deal that was valued at $26 billion when it was announced in November.

Retail participation in the equities markets has surged since March, as shares soared in response to government stimulus aimed at countering the coronavirus' economic impact. The surge also came as Main Street investors cheered the recent elimination of trading fees by most large online brokerages, including TD Ameritrade.

That flurry of trading helped S&P 500 touch a record of 3395.06 early on Tuesday, topping the high of 3,393.52 hit on Feb. 19.

(Reporting by John McCrank; Editing by Tom Brown)
TDT | Manama

The Bahrain Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (BCICAI) organised a virtual seminar on CA-The Profession of the Future and Future of Internal Audit. The seminars chief guest was Indian Ambassador Piyush Srivastava and the guests of honour were KPMG Bahrain managing partner Jamal Fakhro and ICAI president CA Atul Gupta.

This was also the first seminar organised by BCICAIs new executive committee under the leadership of chairperson CA Ajay Kumar Chettuvetty. Ambassador Srivastava highlighted the good relations that exist between Bahrain and India and also appreciated the positive role played by Indian chartered accountants.

Fakhro mentioned that the accounting and auditing profession will continue to play an important role in the business community and urged the CA members to uphold the highest standards of accounting and auditing.

Gupta notified the audience of the decision of the Ministry of External Affairs of India that overseas chapters of ICAI will be treated at par with other Apex Trade and Industry organisations for the purposes of economic engagement and consular facilitations.

He also announced that Bahrain will soon be accorded approval as a centre for CA examinations. Chettuvetty expressed his appreciation for the initiatives of the Indian Embassy and hailed the decision of ICAI to roll out the international curriculum of CA by the end of the year.

The panel discussion also brought together the chairpersons of the five regional councils of ICAI in India, including CA Lalit Bajaj (WIRC), CA Dungar Chand Jain (SIRC), CA Nitesh Kumar More (EIRC), CA Devendra Kumar Somani (CIRC), and CA Shashank Agarwal (NIRC). The session was moderated by BCICAI vice-chairperson CA Santhosh TV.

Assure Audit managing partner and Assure Consulting managing director P S Balasubramanyam conducted a technical session on the topic Future of Internal Audit. The virtual seminar was attended by over 150 participants.
LONDON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, digital transformation expert, Adaptavist, launches its 2020 State of the Atlassian Ecosystem Report that examines how businesses and teams are using and deploying Atlassian tools. The research also outlines digital transformation trends with a particular focus on the implementation of customization and integration, the adoption of Cloud (SaaS), and the acceleration of DevOps and Agile methodology.

"Atlassian has evolved from a bug tracking tool for developers into a mission-critical platform that empowers teams of all shapes and sizes to collaborate and get work done. And the State of the Atlassian Ecosystem Report highlights the different ways teams are embracing change using Atlassian tools," says Simon Haighton-Williams, Adaptavist CEO. "The Report also demonstrates how the flexibility of the Atlassian platform provides a foundation for digital transformation across teams and organizations of every size, industry and level of technical sophistication."

Key highlights from the Report include:

The need for customization and integration is growing  one of the many strengths of the Atlassian ecosystem is the ability it provides organizations to customize tools to meet specific business needs:

87 percent of respondents customize their Atlassian tools and 91 percent of enterprises (1000+ employees) create their own customizations

and The Atlassian Marketplace provides a go-to-platform for respondents to extend the functionality of their core tools with 94 percent of respondents using at least one app from there

There are a wide variety of tools being used in conjunction with Atlassian  67 percent respondents use Microsoft 365, 46 percent Slack and 32 percent Google Docs, to name a few.

Automation is key to managing change  while Atlassian already provides a range of automation tools and capabilities:

78 percent of workers still want more automation capabilities across their Atlassian stack

across their Atlassian stack Why? An impressive 96 percent believe automation will increase productivity. And, a further 83 percent are confident it will boost creativity and innovation in the workplace.

Atlassian tools enable digital transformation  embracing new ways of working across the entire organization (people, process and tools) will help businesses compete and thrive in this 'new reality' and the Atlassian ecosystem enables that.

Agile is now firmly established in the vast majority of businesses with 77 percent of respondents reporting the adoption of Agile principles within their organization

within their organization And almost half of respondents (48 percent) believe their organization has a DevOps strategy in place , with large enterprises (5000+ employees) and the technology sector (48 percent) leading the charge

, with leading the charge Finally, according to our research, 11 percent plan to implement an Agile-at-scale framework (such as SAFe) in the next three years

(such as SAFe) in the next three years It's also worth noting that only 19 percent of large enterprises have implemented an Agile framework, with a further 14 percent expecting to in the next three years. Our findings also show that 29 percent of respondents who have yet to implement a DevOps strategy, plan to do so in the next three years. But a further 10 percent believe their organization is still 'not ready for DevOps to be part of their strategy.'

There's no one-size-fits-all deployment solution  as the tech industry, and Atlassian, look to Cloud as the next big thing to enable digital transformation, users are taking various approaches to how they deploy their Atlassian platform.

52 percent of respondents use a Server deployment model, 19 percent use Atlassian Cloud (SaaS), 11 percent use Data Center, and 9 percent use a hybrid hosting model

28 percent of respondents have at least one Atlassian Cloud instance in their organization; and, of those not already on Cloud, a further 13 percent are planning to introduce Atlassian Cloud in the next three years

in their organization; and, of those not already on Cloud, According to our findings, only 9 percent of respondents use a hybrid model of Atlassian Cloud (SaaS) and self-host (Server / Data Center).

Research Methodology

The 2020 State of the Atlassian Ecosystem Report is based on more than 700 responses to a global survey. The survey asked Atlassian users representing a wide range of sectors, organisations, and departments about their use of cloud, automation, DevOps and agile practices. To read the full report, please visit: www.adaptavist.com/state-of-atlassian-report.

About Adaptavist

Adaptavist is a global technology and innovative solutions provider, enabling organizations to boost agility and overcome the challenges of transformational change. Founded in 2005, its team spans over 300 employees globally, with a 13,000+ customer base representing more than half of the Fortune 500.

Adaptavist is a Platinum Atlassian Solutions Partner in EMEA and North America, a Platinum Marketplace Partner, and a trusted Slack partner. It offers expert consultancy including SPC-certified SAFe implementation, enterprise apps, training, managed services, and licensing solutions. Adaptavist has also been the recipient of the Queen's Awards for Enterprise, Deloitte's Technology Fast 50, and The Sunday Times Tech Track Award 2019.

Media Contact:

PR Contact:

Sharen Santoski

for Adaptavist

+1.617.755.6357

[email protected]

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:24:22|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- At a time when COVID-19 is raging around the world, China and Africa have supported each other in the face of the pandemic. The solidarity will serve to strengthen China-Africa ties.

"Indeed, COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified medical cooperation between China and Africa," said Cavince Adhere, a Kenyan international relations researcher, ahead of China's Medical Workers' Day and World Humanitarian Day 2020, holding both on Aug. 19.

"China has made significant epidemic control strides to flatten the curve of community transmissions of COVID-19. Because of the proven dexterity of the Chinese system to manage the pandemic, it is no surprise that African countries look to China to help the continent," said Adhere.

When the novel coronavirus arrived in Africa, fear and panic gripped the continent, however, increasing dialogues, exchanges and policy coordination between African and Chinese medical experts gave the continent a huge head start in controlling the pandemic, according to Adhere.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, China sent a total of 148 medical workers to 11 African countries as of June 2, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

Furthermore, 46 Chinese medical teams already stationed on site are also mobilized to help African nations contain the pandemic, and nearly 1,000 Chinese medical personnel have been working in Africa for a long time, according to China's National Health Commission.

Since March, massive medical supplies donated by the Chinese government, companies and individuals have also been distributed to about 50 African countries and regions. The timely donations, including face masks, disposable protective clothing, forehead thermometers as well as other equipment, have helped alleviate the continent's shortage of medical supplies in the face of the epidemic.

African officials, experts and ordinary people spoke highly of the life-saving medical equipment donations and experience-sharing supports from China. Mikias Legesse, a medical doctor fighting the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontline in Ethiopia, is one of them.

Legesse, who is presently working as COVID-19 Isolation Ward Coordinator at the Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital -- also known as the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located in Akaki neighborhood on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, has been actively fighting the COVID-19 pandemic alongside members of the 21st batch of the Chinese medical team in Ethiopia, constituting 16 medical professionals who have specialized in various fields.

"We are lucky because we are the only hospital in Ethiopia that has the Chinese medical team at the moment," said Legesse, adding that "the team members that came from Sichuan shared their experience in detail and we were amazed in their level of action because they controlled the virus very well. We take their experience and translated it into our setup."

During the epidemic, Chinese medical experts traveled back and forth across the African continent, held hundreds of video communication meetings with their African counterparts, and helped African countries to fight with novel coronavirus, which contributed to Africa's better-than-expected anti-epidemic results.

According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa rose to 1,128,245 as of Tuesday, while the death toll climbed to 25,884, with a relatively low mortality rate of 2.3 percent.

Besides the medical teams working in different African countries, China also sent experts to Africa CDC. The specialists played a critical role in shaping the continent's response to the disease.

The past months have also witnessed the pairing between leading Chinese hospitals and their African counterparts.

Karim Kabineh, chief of the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, expressed his gratitude to Chinese doctors' contribution to the country's battle against the virus, saying "together with Chinese doctors in the frontline, we firmly believe we will win this fight."

The anti-epidemic collaboration has not only reinforced the longstanding partnership between China and Africa in the medical field, according to Adhere, but also provided a strong springboard to further broaden and cement Sino-Africa ties. Enditem
President Donald Trump on Monday said he had rejected a proposal working its way through the Pentagon to cut military health services by $2.2 billion as part of an overall spending review.

"A proposal by Pentagon officials to slash Military Healthcare by $2.2 billion dollars has been firmly and totally rejected by me," Trump tweeted on Monday night. "We will do nothing to hurt our great Military professionals & heroes as long as I am your President. Thank you!"

POLITICO on Sunday first reported that Defense Department officials were readying the proposal to be presented to Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, which prepares graduates for the medical corps, and the Murtha Cancer Center were among the military health institutions in line for cuts.

The military health system is used by about 9.5 million active-duty personnel, military retirees and their dependents, and it operates hundreds of facilities around the world.

Two senior defense officials told POLITICO that the cuts would have effectively gutted the Pentagons health care system during a nationwide pandemic.

A lot of the decisions were made in dark, smoky rooms, and it was driven by arbitrary numbers of cuts, said one senior defense official with knowledge of the process. They wanted to book the savings to be able to report it.

Lawmakers and advocacy organizations, including VoteVets, swiftly criticized the Trump administration after the proposal came to light.

Top DoD leaders have argued that the country's private health system can pick up the slack from cuts. But some Trump officials, including the health department's top emergency response official, had previously warned the Pentagon against earlier cuts, saying the civilian health system would not be able to absorb the military's potential needs.

The Pentagon noted that Esper had yet to be briefed on the proposal, part of the secretary's Defense-wide review. "The [chief management officer], Lisa Hershman, will be bringing recommendations on a wide range of DoD budget issues (including healthcare) to the Secretary and his leadership team in the coming weeks where proposals will be reviewed," tweeted Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman.

The move quickly threatened to become an issue during the presidential campaign.

"Secretary Esper and President Trump, it's a president's job to protect the health and safety of our troops and their families," Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden tweeted on Monday. "Gutting the military health care system  no less during a global pandemic  is unacceptable."
Late last week, more than 100 prominent pro-life Democrats signed a letter to the platform committee of the Democratic National Convention, imploring the party to moderate its extreme stance on abortion.

Several current and former Democratic politicians signed the letter, including Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards, Minnesota congressman Collin Peterson, and Illinois congressman Dan Lipinski, the last of whom was defeated in his March primary by a progressive challenger, who focused her campaign on Lipinskis opposition to abortion.

According to the letter, the signatories consider themselves loyal members of the Democratic Party, citing their commitment to the Democratic principles of equality, fairness, and democracy and saying that they have committed their careers to advancing Democratic ideals and policies.

But they object to the partys increasingly radical positions on abortion policy, which they call radically out of line with public opinion. The letter notes that, while most Democratic politicians support abortion on demand, about 80 percent of Americans dont. The letter doesnt mention another pertinent fact: According to Gallup, only 18 percent of Democrats support unlimited legal abortion.

The 2016 Democratic Platform endorses taxpayer funding of abortion, opposed by a supermajority of the population, they write. The same platform endorses taxpayer funding of abortion in developing countries, opposed by three-fourths of voters.

Similarly dire statistics indicate that the Democratic platform on abortion contradicts not only the views of the average American but also those of most Democrats. A 2018 survey from Marist/Knights of Columbus found that Democrats were almost evenly split on whether taxpayer dollars should fund abortion in the U.S., and in 2017, another poll found that nearly three-quarters of Democrats opposed taxpayer-funded abortion overseas.

It is not without reason, then, that the signatories warn their party about alienating voters. In 389 out of 435 Congressional districts, a majority of voters support a ban on abortion after 20 weeks, they point out. When Democratic leaders support late-term abortion, they push many voters into the arms of the Republican Party. Many people holding pro-life views are single-issue voters.

Story continues

On that last point, surveys have shown for quite some time that not only are there plenty of pro-life, single-issue voters in the U.S., but also that those voters outnumber single-issue voters who consider themselves pro-choice. In other words, the intensity gap among these single-issue voters favors pro-life politicians.

The letter also argues that the partys extreme stance contradicts its own stated values and violates our commitment to inclusivity and diversity. They note that about one-third of Democrats call themselves pro-life and argue that those voters must be respected and included.

But its clear that, on abortion, the extreme, left-wing voices have the partys ear. Last summer, after decades of having supported conscience protections for pro-life Americans, thenprimary candidate Joe Biden flipped and embraced eliminating the Hyde amendment, which currently forbids direct federal funding of elective abortion through Medicaid.

Meanwhile, Bidens running mate, California senator Kamala Harris, is the most pro-abortion politician ever to appear on a presidential ticket. She is a co-sponsor of Democratic legislation that would invalidate nearly all state restrictions on abortions in the last three months of pregnancy, well after fetal viability. During her failed run for president, Harris vowed that her administration would institute a regime of preclearance, aiming to block any state pro-life law that her Justice Department deemed in violation of Roe v. Wade. In late 2018, she insinuated that a faithful Catholic judicial nominee was unfit to serve on the bench if he embraced his Churchs opposition to abortion.

In light of the radical positions of these two candidates, it seems rather unlikely that the party will acknowledge, let alone agree to, the requests made in this letter, which include reintroducing the conscience language from 2000 into the 2020 platform and avoiding divisive policies, such as passing a law in Congress defining a right to abortion . . . and introducing taxpayer-funded abortion.

Not to do so will be to its detriment. As the signatories note, many pro-life Democratic politicians come from purple districts or even red states, where a radical stance on abortion could be enough to doom a liberal candidate. With the ticket it will nominate this week, the Democratic Party has already said to those voters, in essence, Take a hike.

More from National Review
MBABANE  I want to thank and appreciate my God who rewards according to what our hands have done.

These were the words of Princes Lungile, the wife of the late astute business mogul, Victor Mfana Gamedze, following the High Court judgment in the multimillion estate of her husband.

Judge Titus Mlangeni, who heard the matter said: From the evidence, it is abundantly clear that when she got married to her late husband she is the one who brought wealth into the family-coming, as she did, from a family of means.

In a brief interview yesterday, the princess said; God said He shall bless the work of our hands. I also want to appreciate His Majesty the King for sending me to study in England where I studied Business Administration.

She further appreciated the royalty for blessing both her civil and customary marriages.

Finally, I would like to appreciate His Majesty the King for giving my husband a dignified send-off, said the princess.

Last Friday, the court ruled in favour of Princess Lungile, who was among other things contending that she was in a universal partnership with her late husband.

Judgment

The judgment by the court means she will now receive half of the net joint estate with her late husband and a childs share of the remaining half.

The order by the court comes after she filed an application challenging the decision of the Master of the High Court, who had ruled that she should be given a childs share of the multimillion Emalangeni estate of her late husband.

Judge Mlangeni set aside the Masters decision rejecting the objection to the Liquidation and Distribution Account that was filed by the applicant (Princess Lungile).

The court further declared that a tacit universal partnership existed between Princess Lungile and her husband during the latters lifetime.

A universal partnership is an express or tacit agreement between two people who choose to live together in a permanent relationship without entering into marriage.

Partnership

It is hereby declared that a tacit universal partnership existed between the applicant and the deceased during the latters lifetime. The Masters decision is substituted with an upholding to the objection and directing the executor to amend the Liquidation and Distribution (L&D) account in accordance with the objection, the effect of which is that the applicant is to receive half of the net joint estate with Mr Gamedze and a childs share of the remaining half , ordered Judge Mlangeni,

The judge highlighted that the princess chronicled, in graphic detail, a business journey that she and the deceased started together from humbled beginnings to the colossal business empire that was the subject of the unpleasant litigation.

The court further highlighted that contrary to the prevalence of documentary evidence, the late Gamedze did, at some time, believe that he was married to the applicant in community of property and presumably by civil rites.

This is as recent as 2016 when he made a power of attorney for the transfer of immovable property in the Hhohho Region. The weight of evidence is overwhelming against what Mr Gamedze appears to have thought at the time of the said transfer, said Judge Mlangeni.

The court said, because there was no valid civil rites marriage, there could be no community of property between the deceased and the applicant.

He highlighted that it was common cause that Princess Lungile and the deceased were in a valid marriage in accordance with customary rites.
Former Democrat Senate Staffer Prepared Baseless and Baffling GAO Memo on Homeland Security Leaders Legitimacy

A report questioning the legitimacy of the top two Department of Homeland Security officials appointments was written by a former Democrat Senate staff member, according to the DHS general counsel.

In an Aug. 14, 2020, call between the [Government Accountability Office] GAO and DHS staff, GAO held out a junior staffer as the author of the report, acting DHS general counsel Chad Mizelle wrote in an Aug. 17 letter (pdf).

This staffer appears to have limited experience practicing lawhaving graduated from law school only three years ago. He also previously worked on a Democratic campaign and the partisan Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, Mizelle wrote to GAO general counsel Thomas Armstrong.

Surely, few things could be more significant than the appointment of the head of a cabinet-level agency. It should have been easy to find a more seasoned attorney (whose past political work would not have created even the appearance of impropriety) among the GAOs 3,000 employees.

Sarah Kaczmarek, GAOs director of public affairs, told The Epoch Times on Aug. 18 that we stand by our decision, but will certainly review their concerns. GAO has rigorous standards to ensure that all of our legal decisions are accurate, nonpartisan, and independent.

This legal decision was prepared by a team of attorneys, went through a robust legal review, as do all GAO legal products, and was signed by the general counsel.

It should be noted that, as the investigative arm of Congress for legislative oversight of the executive branch, it isnt unusual for the GAO to hire former congressional aides.

The report is only advisory in nature, and GAO referred its findings to the DHS inspector general (IG). The federal governments IGs, who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, can refer cases to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution.

Mizelles eight-page letter was prompted by the Aug. 14 GAO report that declared the appointments of acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf and acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli to be illegal because they were done by reference to an invalid order of succession.

The reports conclusion was based on the GAOs interpretation of a succession process derived from the Homeland Security Act of 2001 that established the DHS in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

The process was described in an internal memorandum authored by then-DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. The process was subsequently revised by Nielsen and her immediate acting successor following her resignation, Kevin McAleenan, and then yet again by his acting successor, Wolf.

But Mizelle argued that the GAO failed to follow a Supreme Court decision that requires officials to accord the Nielsen memorandum controlling weight in comparison to alternative interpretations on succession issues.

At a minimum, the GAO should have at least followed the Supreme Courts reasoning in Kisor v. Wilkie (2019) and afforded the departments interpretation deference, Mizelle wrote.

In fact, the Supreme Court explicitly held in Kisor and Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Milhollin (1980) that such deference was owed even to official staff memoranda never approved by the agency head.

This principle undergirding the Supreme Courts prevailing precedents entitles DHS in this matter to even more robust deference because the Nielsen Memorandum was, for the reasons DHS has given, approved by the agency head herself.

Mizelle also questioned the timing of GAOs release of the report, which was originally requested in November 2019 by the chairmen of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The report was released a mere 80 days before the presidential election, but 274 days after the GAO had been asked by congressional Democrats to investigate the matter, Mizelle wrote.

Although the report argues that the purported illegality of Acting Secretary Wolfs appointment is clear, the GAO took more than nine months to determine it.

Clear and obvious legal answers do not take 274 days to divine, particularly for an agency like the GAO, which has approximately 3,000 employees and a $706 million annual budget.

Mizelle also suggested that partisan political considerations and opposition to President Donald Trump motivated the GAO report.

The GAO has recently come under fire for allegedly partisan behavior. The GAO was accused of inappropriately participating in the attempted impeachment of the President and of changing a decades-long legal opinion in order to intentionally disfavor the President. Unfortunately, the issuance of this most recent Report exacerbates legitimate concerns of political partisanship at the GAO, Mizelle wrote.

He was referring to a Jan. 16 GAO report that claimed the Office of Management and Budget improperly held up aid intended for Ukraine. The GAO report was published as Congress was preoccupied with an impeachment of Trump on allegations that he improperly pressured Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden.

The report failed to acknowledge that the aid was ultimately delivered. Trump was impeached by the House, but the Senate declined to convict him.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
WASHINGTON - In October 1960, a young James Clyburn gathered with other students and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as frustrations mounted over civil rights protests in what was becoming a tumultuous, dangerous year.

John Lewis was there. Marion Barry, too. The one-hour meeting at Atlantas Morehouse College stretched to 4 a.m. Clyburn, who said he had not bought into nonviolence, emerged to view it as a valuable tactic in the struggle, and a King disciple.

Clyburn is now the highest-ranking Black lawmaker in Congress, the House Democratic whip, and with so many of his contemporaries gone, one of the few leaders of the civil rights movement still in elective office today.

He brought that connection to the virtual Democratic National Convention on Monday, speaking to a country in a new, contentious chapter in its pursuit of racial justice and to a party on the verge of nominating the first Black woman for vice-president.

We will need a president who sees unifying people as a requirement of the job  a president who understands the true meaning of community, Clyburn said in his address, slamming President Donald Trump for falling short on both counts. We need a president who understands both profound loss and what it takes to bounce back.

The 80-year-old from rural Sumter County has lived and worked through the nations swings of history, and remained an often quiet political force throughout. Earlier this year, he used his sway to help deliver his home state for Joe Biden. It was a moment that revived the former vice-presidents campaign and set him on a path to the nomination he is due to receive later this week, along with running mate Sen. Kamala Harris of California.

During an earlier interview with The Associated Press, Clyburn said, This country moves like a pendulum on the clock.?

It goes to the right for a while and it goes back left for a while, he said.

Whether it shifts again, he said, depends on how we participate in November.

Clyburn is pressing many of the same issues he has for decades  particularly focusing on Black voting rights ahead of the election. Clyburn is also a close confidant of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and has been a prominent congressional critic of Trump.

Sixty years ago, 19-year-old Jim Clyburn was seeking a better future for himself and those around him, said Bobby Donaldson, a professor of history at the University of South Carolina who heads the Center for Civil Rights History and Research. So its ironic now, 60 years later, two generations later, he is now one of the architects of the very nation that he sought to be aspiring toward.

The son of a reverend and a beauty shop operator, Clyburn early on wanted to pursue a career in public service, only to be warned off by teachers as not the place for a Black boy from the South, he recounts in his autobiography, Blessed Experiences: Genuinely Southern, Proudly Black.

As a South Carolina State University student he quickly engaged in the 1960 student boycotts that sparked the civil rights movement. Within weeks of the Greensboro, North Carolina, lunch-counter sit in, Clyburns classmates organized a 1,000-student march in rural Orangeburg, South Carolina, with hundreds arrested, jailed in an outdoor stockyard. A decade later he made his first run for elective office.

He describes racial disparities that resonate to this day  boarding an airplane in the most expensive suit I ever bought in my life, flanked by the Capitol Police security detail that are assigned to House leaders. The flight attendant mistook him for a prisoner transport, he said.

Clyburn is seen by many as a political kingmaker in South Carolina; he earned Bill Clintons wrath for tipping the scales to Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the states 2008 primary. Clyburn was instrumental in positioning the Palmetto State after Iowa and New Hampshire for the early vote.

This time around, Clyburn said, he didnt want to just back Biden. He wanted to ensure the lift he needed for the campaign.

Joe Biden was limping along. Clyburn told the AP. What we had to do was to do something that would allow him to take on the aura of a winner.

Clyburn said he recorded radio ads and calls to flood South Carolina with his endorsement. Some Democrats downplay the influence, arguing South Carolinas robust Black electorate was already inclined to vote for Biden.

But Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright, an ally, said Clyburns push gave Black voters the assurance their vote would be worth it.

A younger generation of rising leaders both in South Carolina and in the halls of Congress is eager for the older one to move on. Clyburn, Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer have held the top three leadership positions in the House for more than a decade.

Clyburn was long seen as possibly stepping aside if Hillary Clinton had won in 2016, much the way Pelosi has since said she was ready to do. Now they all seem poised to win their own reelections and remain  regardless of who wins the White House in November.

Bidens campaign is leaning into Clyburns longtime priorities, including his signature 10-20-30 formula to spend 10 per cent of federally appropriated funds in places where 20 per cent of the population or more has spent 30 years in poverty.

Clyburns decade-long push for rural broadband  so critical now during the coronavirus pandemic for remote education, employment and health care  is gaining fresh currency, approved as part of an infrastructure bill and being eyed as part of a COVID-19 aid package.

One of Clyburns longtime colleagues in the civil rights movement and Congress was Lewis, who died in July. Clyburns last conversation with the Georgia congressman on the House floor was discussing Black Lives Matter and the protest movements now pushing for police reform.

Clyburn said they talked about all of this yelling about defund the police and his own worry that it would undercut the movements effectiveness.

Clyburn marveled over polling showing Black Lives Matters widespread public support. I want them to keep that support.

And, he said: I just wish we had the benefit back then. My dad used to tell me: Son, experience is the best teacher. Nothing teaches better than experience.
The coronavirus pandemic in California is stabilizing and showing other signs of improvement, the states top health official said Tuesday.

Statewide, cases and hospitalizations are trending downward overall, said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.

The number of Californians hospitalized for COVID-19 had been falling steadily over the last two weeks, but rose for the first time Monday, Ghaly said. He added that it is too soon to say whether that reversal is part of a larger trend or a one-off.

Overall the state picture is stabilizing and coming down some, he said. But this is not about the aggregate, it is about what is experienced at the county and regional level.

California has reported 636,883 cases, including 11,390 deaths, as of Tuesday afternoon. The Bay Area has seen 73,916 cases, including 985 deaths.

Ghalys remarks build on Gov. Gavin Newsoms cautious optimism Monday, when he said the state  after clearing a backlog of cases from a statewide data reporting problem that began in July  is still seeing high case counts, but that they are trending in the right direction.

Some parts of the Bay Area are seeing promising signals of improvement, though health officials cautioned it is too soon to declare long-term, sustained progress.

Marin County is starting to see some flattening of the curve, Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis said during a COVID-19 update to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Were seeing signs that our transmission has reduced, he said.

The 14-day case rate in Marin County has fallen from more than 200 per 100,000 people on Aug. 1 to 171 per 100,000 on Aug. 13, according to county data.

Hospitalizations and test turnaround times are declining, and R0  pronounced R naught, a measure of how many people each sick person infects  is now below 1, Willis said.

The sum of those offer a reassuring picture of a decline in our transmission, he said.

Test turnaround times from Quest Diagnostics, a major lab services provider, have fallen significantly in Marin County over the last two weeks, from 7 to 10 days to about four days.

Similarly, test turnaround times statewide are also improving in part because the statewide testing task force has worked to send tests to labs that can process them more quickly.

We are starting to see the fruits of some of our labor, Ghaly said. Doing that supply-demand matching has been effective and paid off.

Another sign of improvement: Napa County as of Tuesday is meeting all state data objectives for controlling its local outbreak, and may be removed from the California public health watch list later this week. All nine Bay Area counties have been on the watch list since July 9. Napa County is the first in the region to newly meet the state-mandated metrics.

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 state froze the watch list last week due to the data collection errors, but reopened it on Monday. Five counties were added to the list then, and Santa Cruz County was removed.

The state has not yet said what happens when counties are taken off the list. A July 13 state health order requires counties on the watch list for three or more consecutive days to close almost all indoor activities, but its not clear whether they can reopen those businesses right away once they are removed from the list.

In Santa Clara County, where public health officials on Tuesday unveiled a massive testing clinic at the county fairgrounds, Health Officer Sara Cody said theyre still in a crisis that requires immense focus and rallying of resources.

According to the county website, public health officials currently are analyzing backlogged data recently received from the state and looking at any remaining gaps.

We started here as really ground zero for COVID in the United States, and six months in were still fighting, Cody said Tuesday at a news briefing. The reason were still fighting is we have not had the tools to get us out. And one of the most important tools is testing.

The fairground site will be able to test up to 1,000 people a day by the end of the week, and can expand to up to 5,000 a day, making it the highest-capacity testing clinic in the Bay Area, Cody said. The site also will be used to provide flu vaccines and, eventually, a coronavirus vaccine.

Testing is the way we are going to get out of this: Get tested, know your status, and take action, Cody said. Spread the word to families and friends and co-workers to do the same.

Catherine Ho and Erin Allday are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho @ErinAllday
US restrictions against Huawei have been tightened further in a bid to prevent the tech giant from circumventing measures designed to cut its access to American technology.

The latest crackdown makes it even harder for the Chinese firm to buy chips produced by the US, even if they are made abroad.

Another 38 Huawei affiliates were also added to the Department of Commerces Entity List, a blacklist of firms linked to Huawei.

We dont want their equipment in the United States because they spy on us, Mr Trump told Fox News on Monday. And any country that uses it, were not going to do anything in terms of sharing intelligence.

President Donald Trump has taken credit for Britain backtracking on cooperation with Huawei (Wm. Glasheen/The Post-Crescent/AP)

Washington has combined its economic sanctions on Huawei with a lobbying campaign pushing allies in Europe and elsewhere to exclude the company from planned next-generation wireless networks.

Mr Trump referred to Huawei as the spy way as he spoke with Fox & Friends hosts on Monday. He took credit for Britains recent move to backtrack on plans to give the company a role in the UKs new high-speed mobile phone network.

We said we love Scotland Yard very much but were not going to do business with you because if you use the Huawei system that means theyre spying on you, Mr Trump said. That would mean theyre spying on us.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between the US and China over security concerns.

Today, we dealt a direct blow to Huawei and the repressive Chinese Communist Party by further limiting Huaweis ability to acquire U.S. technology and compromise the integrity of the worlds networks and Americans private information.  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 17, 2020

The UK has also been caught in the crossfire of such restrictions, forcing it to ban Huawei equipment being used in the nations 5G network  a major U-turn on an earlier decision to allow it a limited stake instead.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said Huawei has continuously tried to evade controls imposed in May.

The Trump administration sees Huawei for what it is  an arm of the Chinese Communist Partys surveillance state  and we have taken action accordingly, he said.

Today, our government enacted several measures to protect US national security, our citizens privacy, and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijings malign influence.

Attention in the US has recently turned to another Chinese behemoth, TikTok, which President Donald Trump said would be banned unless it is bought from owner ByteDance.

Microsoft and Twitter are among the parties reported to have been in talks about a possible takeover of TikToks US operations.

Huawei has not responded to calls for comment.
Representative image

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Uttar Pradesh government has once again deferred the date for the signing of a key pact for the Rs 29,650-crore Jewar airport project with its developer, according to an order.

The state government had in June extended till August 17 the date for the signing of the concession agreement with Zurich Airport AG amid travel restrictions due to the global outbreak of COVID-19.

The Switzerland firm had emerged as the highest bidder to develop the Jewar airport on the outskirts of Delhi in Gautam Buddh Nagar district of UP, outbidding competitors like Adani Enterprises, DIAL and Anchorage Infrastructure Investments Holding in November 2019.

"The timelines for the execution of the concession agreement are extended for a period of 45 days from the date of start of scheduled commercial international flights between India and Malaysia and India and Switzerland (whichever is later), plus the period of mandatory quarantine in India, or October 15, whichever is earlier, a state government order stated on Monday.

The government also extended till March 31, 2021 the date for bid validity and bid security of the project for all three bidders, including Adani Enterprises and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), according to officials.

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 bid validity and bid security date of Adani Enterprises and DIAL was set to expire on October 24, while the Zurich Airport's was valid till October 26, Shailendra Bhatia, Noida International Airport Limited's nodal officer for Jewar Airport, told PTI.

The three serious bidders had deposited a security fee of Rs 100 crore each at the time of bidding, Bhatia said, but made it clear that Adani Enterprises or DIAL are now out of bidding race as developer for the Greenfield airport.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Victim after victim lined up on Tuesday to describe Joseph DeAngelo as a sick monster, horrible man and subhuman who stole their innocence and changed their lives during a more than decade-long reign of rape and murder that earned him the nickname Golden State Killer.

The daughter of one rape victim gave him an obscene hand gesture and cursed him during the first of four days of hearings in Sacramento County Superior Court before he is formally sentenced to life in prison on Friday under a plea agreement that allows DeAngelo to avoid ta death sentence.

Some read statements on behalf of their loved ones who could not testify in person, while others proudly gave their names now that DeAngelo, 74, is heading to prison.

He and his knife had complete control over me for the next two hours, Patti Cosper, the daughter of rape survivor Patricia Murphy, read from her mothers statement. He truly is an evil monster with no soul.

DeAngelo is a former police officer in California who eluded capture for four decades. He was identified and arrested in 2018 by using a new form of DNA tracing.

Nearly two-dozen of his Sacramento County rape victims or their family members confronted him in the courthouse that is otherwise still sealed from the public because of the coronavirus. Others planned to tell Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman on Wednesday and Thursday how DeAngelos crimes changed their lives.

I was a normal 15-year-old kid. I loved going to school, having sleepovers and going to church, Kris Pedretti told the judge. My world was small, predictable and safe.

Then DeAngelo attacked her just before Christmas in 1976.

I sang Jesus Loves Me in my head as I waited  waited to die, Pedretti said. The knowledge that DeAngelo will spend the rest of his life in prison for his heinous acts has ended my dark journey so that I may begin a new one.

Lisa Lilienthal described DeAngelo as a sadistic boogeyman as she testified by video about the attack she witnessed on her mother. Until his arrest, she said, something lingered in the shadows  our sense of normalcy, our sense of safety had been raped too.

In June, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murders and 13 rape-related charges between 1975 and 1986. He also publicly admitted dozens more sexual assaults for which the statute of limitations had expired.

All told, he admitted harming 87 victims at 53 separate crime scenes spanning 11 California counties in the plea deal that spares him the death penalty, prosecutors said.

Thats more victims than prosecutors disclosed after his admission in June to 161 crimes involving 48 people. The higher number includes those who chose not to participate in having DeAngelo publicly admit to crimes in which he could not be formally charged, Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten said.

DeAngelos nicknames showed the escalation and geographic sweep of his crimes: the Visalia Ransacker, thought to be responsible for about 100 burglaries and one slaying in the San Joaquin Valley farm town; the East Area Rapist; the Original Night Stalker; and finally, the Golden State Killer when investigators finally linked the crimes that stretched across much of the state.

The family of Debbie Strauss, who died in 2016, recounted what became the signature that marked DeAngelos crimes after he escalated his attacks to couples instead of single women and girls.

He would force his victims to bind themselves with shoelaces before balancing plates on the mans back with a warning that he would kill both victims if he heard the plates rattle while he raped the woman.

He spent hours raining his terror through threats and unspeakable abuse, said Strauss mother, Dolly Kreis. He would leave his victims shaking in fright while he went to the kitchen to eat, only to return and then the abuse and vileness started all over again.

Sandy James, Strauss sister, was among the many speakers who repeatedly tried to rattle DeAngelo by bringing up what they said was his small penis, a description that numerous victims gave investigators when they reported the rapes.

The killer, however, sat silently in an orange jail jumpsuit, staring straight ahead and wearing a mask as protection against the coronavirus.

Some said they believed his day of reckoning would never come.

Among them were two sisters who took turns testifying. Peggy was 15 when she was raped, and Sue was 16 when she was bound and gagged in another room. Neither gave their last names as they described the trauma that still haunts their otherwise successful lives.

My God, we were just high school kids, Peggy said, noting that she was stunned when DeAngelo was arrested.

Finally the end of this trauma is here, Peggy added. Hes a horrible man and none of us have to worry about him anymore.
The Home Office has booked 4,000 hotel rooms for asylum seekers amid pressure from a surge of cross-Channel migration and the coronavirus pandemic.

Hotels in Hull, Birmingham, Nottingham, Southport and Glasgow have been used amid a shortage of permanent accommodation for newcomers to live while their asylum claims are assessed.

Companies who provide accommodation for migrants had also been permitted to find rooms in places that were not part of the scheme that oversees where the newcomers are dispersed across Britain.

Meanwhile Kent County Council said it had reached its capacity to care for asylum-seeking children arriving on its shores with it now looking after 600 of them.

While adult migrants and families landing on Kent's shores are sent to other parts of the country, the council retains responsibility for unaccompanied children.

A Border Force vessel brings in migrants found off the coast of Dover Port in Dover on Sunday

Across Britain, The number of rooms occupied by asylum seekers is not known but it is understood to be thousands, The Times reports.

Some were housed in the Bell Hotel in Epping Forest, Essex, where the council sent out a 'myth-busting' leaflet to quell 'unfounded rumours' that have 'unnecessarily alarmed' residents.

The Home Office has booked thousands of hotel rooms across Britain for asylum seekers.

Companies who provide accommodation for migrants had also been permitted to find rooms in places that were not part of the scheme that oversees where the newcomers are dispersed across Britain.

Two migrants sit wearing face masks on Dungeness Beach in Kent on August 12

In Kent, council leader Roger Gough told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: 'We now have some around 600 unaccompanied asylum seeker children in our care. The Government's own suggested level would be around 200, 230.'

He added: 'I am deeply disappointed and concerned that, despite our many efforts to avoid this unthinkable situation, it has been necessary to make this announcement today.

'This is a huge challenge for Kent, but a relatively small challenge to solve nationally, and should have been resolved before now.'

He said the limit had been reached despite efforts to work with the Home Office and other local authorities.

Home Office chiefs have also apologised for an 'error' after Nigel Farage was filmed visiting a hotel housing migrants in Priti Patel's constituency

Mr Gough warned on August 12 the council was just 'days away' from reaching capacity, with about 420 unaccompanied migrant children arriving in Kent this year and more than 100 expected in August - a monthly figure not seen since the last major migrant crisis in 2015.

Yesterday, Mr Gough said: 'The stark reality today is that, despite my conversations with the Home Office alerting them that Kent expected to reach safe capacity to meet its statutory duty of care this weekend, 13 new arrivals in the last 2 days has now tipped the balance and the council simply cannot safely accommodate any more new arrivals at this time.'

Unaccompanied children arriving in Kent remained in the council's care system 'for quite a number of years', Mr Gough said last week.

This puts additional pressure on the council's wider children's social services, who are also responsible for looking after young people local to Kent, he added.

The Rivehall Hotel is a hotel in Witham, Essex, which has a three out of five star rating on both Google and TripAdvisor

More than 4,000 migrants have made it into the UK so far this year after completing the voyage across the English Channel, with at least 597 arriving between Thursday and Sunday

A Home Office spokesman told MailOnline today: 'This is an unprecedented situation and we have been working incredibly closely with Kent County Council to urgently address their concerns.

'We continue to provide Kent County Council with a high level of support, such as significantly increasing funding and reducing pressure on their services through a national transfer scheme.

'We are also providing extra support with children's services and we continue to work across the local government network on their provision for unaccompanied minors.'

Home Office chiefs have also apologised for an 'error' after Nigel Farage was filmed visiting a hotel housing migrants in Priti Patel's constituency.

The former UKIP MEP shared a video on Twitter in which he is seen visiting the 54-a-night Rivenhall Hotel in Witham, Essex.

While sharing a shortened version of his seven-minute long video, he also accused the MP of 'taking Britons for a ride'.

Bosses at the Home Office say they have launched a 'full review' into their operation of finding temporary accommodation for asylum seekers who arrive in the UK without a home to go to.

A baby was among at least 15 migrants intercepted while crossing the Channel on Sunday

Yesterday it was revealed that a five-year-old girl was among a group of migrants arriving in Dover on the 14th consecutive day of Channel crossings.

On Sunday 112 migrants arrived at Kent's shores, bringing the total for this month so far up to at least 1,232 - smashing July's record 1,118 arrivals.

The arrivals come as traffickers take advantage of vulnerable asylum seekers desperately fleeing their homelands by offering the paid-for arrangement at a camp in Calais.

Guest houses being used to house asylum seekers include The Scarisbrick Hotel in Southport and the Royal Hotel Hull.

A group of people thought to be migrants crossing the Channel in a small boat headed in the direction of Dover on Monday last week

The Home Office and asylum accommodation providers Mears, Serco and Clearsprings now use hotels due to the halting of all removals of applicants from properties amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

A source said: 'Usually there would be enough accommodation available as there are always people moved on after being given asylum or refused. There is not at the moment. The answer has been to source hotel accommodation, usually in three-star hotels.'

The Home Office said: 'Since March the number of people within the asylum system has risen.

'This is because we temporarily ceased ending asylum support for those whose claims have been either granted or refused. This is to ensure people were not made homeless during lockdown.'
Logan said the district has handed out 30,000 iPads, and another shipment is due Friday. Every OPS student should have an iPad by the end of September.

This spring and earlier this month, teachers participated in professional development to better learn how to teach remotely.

Teachers will be delivering their lessons from their classrooms and school buildings.

Student start and end times will mirror the regular school day. A district spokesperson said the day includes multiple breaks from the screen for movement, practice work, hands-on learning and other activities.

Students will use Microsoft Teams to log into their classes every day. Teachers will use the same student information system to take attendance remotely that they use for in-person learning.

Individual schools hosted supply pickup events to make sure that students have what they need for the start of the school year, including iPads, workbooks, novels and other materials.
By Gina Lee

Investing.com  Oil edged down on Tuesday morning in Asia, even after OPEC+ said on Monday that the organization is in almost full compliance with output cuts in place to support the black liquid as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to decrease demand.

Brent oil futures were flat at $45.27 by 9:47 PM ET (2:47 AM GMT), giving up some of its earlier gains. WTI futures were down 0.28% to $42.77.

OPEC+s joint technical committee (JTC), made up of technical experts assessing the implementation of the cuts, convened yesterday, with the compliance with Julys output cuts reportedly at around 97%.

OPEC+ in August eased the agreed cuts to 7.7 million barrels per day (bpd) from the previous 9.7 million bpd agreed to earlier in the year, as the COVID-19 outbreak caused a collapse in demand.

But some investors remained optimistic that prices will remain stable.

The producer club [OPEC] cannot afford prices to slump too far, as its members economies rely heavily on the revenue generated by petroleum exports, Eurasia Group said in a note.

U.S. producers are also taking advantage of supply cuts led by OPEC and Russia, the note added.

Investors will be looking to OPECs joint ministerial monitoring committee (JMMC), whose meeting was postponed to August 19, for further production clues. They will also be looking at the American Petroleum Institute (API)s crude oil demand forecast, due later in the day.

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Pooling accounts for about one-third of the samples that are processed at Poplar, Mr. Sweeney said, adding that percentage is going to get much higher.

But in many other regions, experts are having trouble clearing the hurdles to benefit from pooling  in part because needs differ so vastly from institution to institution, and even from test to test.

Theres been a lot of concerns about all the challenges, said Dr. Bobbi Pritt, director of the clinical parasitology laboratory at Mayo Clinic, which processes tens of thousands of coronavirus tests each week, but has yet to roll out pooling.

Experts disagree, for instance, on the cutoff at which pooling stops being useful. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions coronavirus test, which is used by most public health laboratories in the United States, stipulates that pooling shouldnt be used when positivity rates exceed 10 percent. But at Mayo Clinic, wed have to start to question it once prevalence goes above 2 percent, definitely above 5 percent, Dr. Pritt said.

And prevalence isnt the only factor at play. The more individual samples grouped, the more efficient the process gets. But at some point, poolings perks hit an inflection point: A positive specimen can only get diluted so much before the coronavirus becomes undetectable. That means pooling will miss some people who harbor very low amounts of the virus.

Are we going to cause harm if we miss them? I think thats still a difficult question to answer, Dr. Liesman said. These people may be less likely to pass the virus to others, and may be at lower risk of getting severely ill. But thats no guarantee. Some might simply be early on in their infection.

Pooling can also be onerous for lab technicians  many of whom have been working grueling hours for months on end. Though simple in theory, batching samples is tedious and time-consuming, as researchers carefully transfer precise amounts of liquid from one tube to another hundreds, perhaps thousands, of times over.
A man allegedly threatened police with a machete after being accused of sexually abusing his young niece while 'blind drunk'.

The 55-year-old faces eight charges including sexually penetrating a child under the age of 12 and making threats to kill in regional Victoria in March 2019.

The man cannot be named to protect the identity of his alleged victim.

Prosecutors told Victoria's Supreme Court on Tuesday the man admitted being 'blind drunk' at the time of the allegations. But he denied abusing his niece

When she complained and police arrived, her uncle allegedly taunted officers while armed with a machete and made comments about cutting people's heads off.

Prosecutors told Victoria's Supreme Court on Tuesday the man admitted being 'blind drunk' at the time of the allegations. But he denied abusing his niece.

He was tasered and arrested before later being bailed to attend his mother's interstate funeral.

But his bail was revoked in June after he allegedly breached a court order to communicate with his wife and deleted the messages.

His wife also allegedly verbally abused a police officer and magistrate when her husband was taken back into custody.

After one court hearing, she also allegedly made it clear she'd researched the wife of the police informant in the case.

'It caused me to fear for my children and partner,' the officer told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The uncle's lawyers want him released on bail, arguing the case is weak and the pending trial will be delayed because of COVID-19.

Barrister David Cronin questioned the credibility of the niece, raising the possibility some evidence may have been fabricated or the result of collusion.

The man's sister-in-law told Justice John Champion the accused was a kind, gentle and honourable person who did not even like to swear in front of women.

'Maybe I watch too much Perry Mason (an American crime show) but you're innocent until you're proven guilty,' she said.

The court was also told about tensions within the family, with the accused's wife at one point alleging she herself had been sexually assaulted by the complainant's father. No charges were laid over this allegation.

The uncle faces two charges of sexually penetrating a child under the age of 12 and one of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 16.

He is also charged with three counts of making threats to kill, and one each of damaging property and resisting an emergency worker.

His niece allegedly woke up her aunt and said her uncle was 'trying to make me naked'.

A row broke out and the man allegedly chased his family with a machete.

The court was told police body-worn cameras captured him standing at his front door, holding the weapon and taunting officers.

He allegedly told them to come inside and made references to cutting people's heads off before being tasered.

Prosecutor Lachlan Cameron does not want the man released from custody again. Police fear he will interfere with witnesses and commit other crimes.

Justice Champion reserved his decision on whether to grant bail.
The family of Amer Fakhoury, an American who was jailed for months in Lebanon over murder and torture charges, have announced that he died of cancer on Monday. He was 57

Amer Fakhoury, an American who was jailed for months in Lebanon and released in March over decades-old murder and torture charges that he denied, died on Monday at age 57 after a battle with cancer.

Fakhoury, a restaurant owner and father-of-four from Dover, New Hampshire, passed away at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. He had been diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma while in Lebanese prison.

Fakhoury's family believe that his fatal illness was caused by a common virus that he had contracted while being jailed in unsanitary conditions.

He had been visiting family in Lebanon in September 2019 when he was detained.

Lebanese officials accused him of torturing Hezbollah and Palestinian prisoners in the 1990s at Khiam Prison, which was run by the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army, earning him the nickname 'the Butcher of Khiam.'

Fakhoury's family and lawyer said he served as a warden at the prison, but had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture. They said he was illegally detained.

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Fakhoury, 57, is pictured in a photo posted by one of his daughters in late June, less than three months before his death from Stage 4 lymphoma

A US Marine Osprey is seen taking off from the US Embassy in Aukar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon, in March with Fakhoury on board following his release from prison

In March, a judge dismissed the charges after US officials, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, worked to free him. They felt his detention was led by the militant Hezbollah organization, which the South Lebanon Army opposed.

Fakhoury was flown home via the Greek island of Crete aboard a US Marine Osprey that picked him up from the US Embassy near Beirut on March 18.

President Donald Trump announced Fakhoury's release the following day during a coronavirus briefing, hailing it as a 'big thing, very big.'

In a statement released on Monday, Fakhoury's family pointed a finger of blame at Hezbollah, claiming that 'he was tortured and given Epstein-Barr Virus which later developed into stage 4 B cell lymphoma cancer.'

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Epstein-Barr virus is a member of the herpes virus family that spreads most often through bodily fluids, including saliva and blood.

Medical research has found a strong connection between the common virus and lymphoma.

'God loved Amer Fakhoury so much that he took him out of the hands of these terrorists and brought him to his family in America to live out his last days,' his family's statement continued. 'Fakhoury died a painless death the morning of August 17 surrounded by his wife and four loving kids.'

The family concluded by thanking Sen Shaheen, the Trump Administration and Ambassador Dorothy Shea for helping bring Fakhoury home.

Fakhoury became a US citizen last year. His lawyer and family said he fled Lebanon in 2001 through Israel and eventually to the United States because of death threats he and many other SLA members received after Israel ended its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.

President Trump on March 19 announced Fakhoury's release, which he hailed as a 'big thing'

Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war since Israel's creation in 1948. Lebanon bans its citizens from traveling to Israel or having contact with Israelis.

Fakhoury hadn't set foot in Lebanon in nearly 20 years, but was given assurances from the government that he could return and that his file was clear, his lawyer said.

Fakhoury started looking into a visit after President Michel Aoun encouraged former SLA members to return home. Like many others in the army, Fakhoury faced a charge in 1996 of collaborating with Israel, but that was dropped, his lawyer, Celine Atallah, said.

He was jailed in Beirut while on vacation to visit family. Lebanon's intelligence service said he confessed during questioning to being a warden at Khiam, described by human rights groups as a center for torture.

His lawyer and family said he never abused anyone, and there was never an abuse allegation against him.

Sen. Shaheen said documents indicated that 'he's not the individual that the Lebanese and Hezbollah-linked papers allege him to be.' She introduced a bill that called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon.

Fakhoury is a Trump supporter and attended a campaign event with the president in New Hampshire. He became a naturalized US citizen last year

In this May 2019 file photo provided by Guila Fakhoury, her father Amer Fakhoury, second right, gathers with family members at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H

'It's heartbreaking to learn of Amers passing,' Shaheen said in a statement. She added, 'I'm very relieved that Amer was able to spend the last few months of his life surrounded by loved ones while receiving the best care possible. Amer was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a pillar in his community. He immigrated to the United States, and through hard work and entrepreneurship, he lived the American dream.'

Fakhoury's case had put a significant strain on already troubled ties between the US and Lebanon. Lawmakers in Washington had threatened to withhold critical aid to the country and impose sanctions on the Lebanese military, which is seen by the Trump administration as a bulwark against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement.

Lebanon has been embroiled in a political and financial crisis, and earlier this month, a massive explosion of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut killed at least 180 people and wounded 6,000.
Even by their own breathtaking standards of arrogance, it takes some weapons-grade chutzpah for private equity companies to come wheedling for a bailout in the form of loans backed by the British taxpayer.

They are, after all, supposed to be ultra-capitalists who make their millions by sheer talent and enterprise.

It takes even more cheek for firms that have no qualms about staging mass sackings to justify their scrounging on the grounds that tens of thousands of ordinary peoples jobs are at stake.

Indeed they are, and much of the fault lies with the rapacious tycoons who have taken over large tracts of the high street. The distress is palpable from Debenhams to Pizza Express.

How despicable to use ordinary staff as a human shield. If they really were so concerned about job losses, many would not run such an unstable and dangerous business model in the first place

Private equity is meant to be a brilliant way of transforming poorly-run businesses into lean, mean profit machines.

In reality, many of these guys  they are overwhelmingly male  make Sir Philip Green look like a choirboy.

The very prospect of giving any kind of bailout to some debt-sodden, greedy predators who have bled white our retail sector, is one that turns my stomach.

It also threatens to bring into disrepute the whole system of support for firms and families in genuine hardship and could even make the bank bailouts following the credit crunch of 2008 look palatable.

There are suggestions that the story may just be a flier, put about by the Treasury to whip up outrage and strangle the idea at birth.

But if the Government does even consider lending this crew cheap funds, with a taxpayer guarantee for 80 per cent of the borrowing if the money is not paid back, it is asking to be fleeced.

The rationale is that there is no alternative because, without the loans, thousands of jobs will be lost.

How despicable to use ordinary staff as a human shield. If they really were so concerned about job losses, many would not run such an unstable and dangerous business model in the first place, nor reward themselves with obscene bonuses.

They are largely short-termists, aiming to be in and out within three to five years while loading up the companies they buy with debt.

That maximises their profits in the good times but leave only the slenderest margin for error when times are bad, as they are now.

As a template for running a business, it is inherently fragile and risky  and all too often leaves a trail of devastation in its wake.

This is what happened to poor old Debenhams, which is still paying the price for an unhappy three-year period of private equity ownership that ended back in 2006.

The once-loved department store was left in a weakened state from which it never recovered, leaving it vulnerable when Covid-19 struck.

It is now owned by hedge funds who have called in advisers to draw up liquidation plans as a last resort.

Sometimes the medicine does work, as with financial technology company Worldpay, which was bought off RBS by private equity and became a world leader.

But too often it has gone horribly wrong, as happened with Comet, the once ubiquitous electrical goods chain which collapsed with the loss of 7,000 jobs just months after being taken over by private equity buyers in 2012.

If the Government does even consider lending this crew cheap funds, with a taxpayer guarantee for 80 per cent of the borrowing if the money is not paid back, it is asking to be fleeced

Swathes of our care home sector, which is riddled with financial difficulty, is or has been in private equity ownership.

Or look at the AA, which was in the hands of two major private equity firms before being floated on the stock market six years ago with debts of 3billion that still haunt it to this day.

Now there is speculation it could be taken back into private equity ownership once again, which is the last thing the company, its staff and its customers could possibly need.

Anyone extending a helping hand to private equity chancers like these should count their fingers.

The Chancellor is already stretching the national finances to give a safety net to those who really need one.

The idea that some morally bankrupt private equity companies  which have for so long made themselves rich at everyone elses expense  should now benefit from that government largesse is abhorrent.
MIDDLETOWN  City leaders are expected next month to take up a proposal from environmental and sustainability advocates who are pushing Common Council members to declare the issue a public emergency.

Members of the citys Clean Energy Task Force are among those asking Mayor Ben Florsheim and others to prioritize reducing carbon emissions, and to pressure state and federal leaders to immediately address the crisis, according to John Hall, executive director of the Jonah Center for Earth and Art.

Successfully reducing carbon emissions would mean the ability to convert energy to renewable sources, such as solar and wind, Hall said. We need much more robust and adequate forms of energy storage for those to work.

Improvements to energy efficiency also need to occur on a grand scale. Thats where theres a great opportunity, he said.

The mayor addressed this problem during his election campaign, when he ran on a platform for a cleaner, greener city in 2019.

Its at the local level where that will become a reality  local projects and initiatives to move toward more sustainable projects that will actually move the needle, Florsheim said. Even in the absence of significant national attention and national resources to this issue, we hope that changes in the months and years to come.

President Donald Trumps leadership team failed to take action on the issue, Hall said. He points to the United States withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

Even previous administrations [such as former President Barack Obamas] tried to take climate action, but were largely opposed, he said.

Florsheim believes the action statement will become a useful tool, since the city already has taken a progressive stance on the issue  such as moving to all LED lighting citywide and putting up solar panels on buildings it owns.

Middletown also is hoping to be first in line for Energize Connecticuts Virtual Net Metering program, potentially allowing it to create a solar farm and sell energy at affordable rates to residents, Florsheim said.

There are myriad local groups and organizations dedicated to sustainability, including the Jonah Center and Complete Streets Committee. This will create an umbrella statement by the city that can help direct and organize all those efforts  put all those projects under one agenda, the mayor said.

He expects the resolutions passage not only would unify these groups, but increase the issues urgency in order to get more people to notice and get involved.

Roadblocks occur because there are two camps of people  climate change deniers, and those who dont want to be inconvenienced by the result of these actions, Hall said.

The former say humans arent causing the problem, and its a natural phenomenon that changes as temperatures and CO2 fluctuate year after year, believing people dont have control over the matter, Hall said. Thats a ridiculous position, but some people do take it.

Softer opposition comes from those who dont want to make the necessary sacrifices, and hope others will pay the price. Thats the old problem of the commons phenomenon, where we can get away with not taking the painful or expensive action thats required, Hall said.

Efficiency is a large part of the equation, Hall said. When cars burn through gasoline, a good deal of energy goes into the heat moving in and out of the tailpipe, and not necessarily into driving it, which is a common argument for electric vehicles.

For some time, the city has been promoting Eversources Home Energy Solutions as a way for residents to save money by taking steps to stop wasting energy. This year, the service is free to homeowners and renters, as opposed to in the past, when a copay was required.

Those who rent their apartment or home also are eligible, with the landlords permission.

Insulation improvements may not be entirely free, but these subsidies are so high that it costs almost nothing, said Hall, who heard from a woman recently who needed $3,000 worth of insulation work done. She ended up paying $200 with the program.

Hall said Middletown has had low participation, in part because people may not want others in their homes, theyre suspicious about the program, or never get around to it.

Inertia is often the cause, he said. People are preoccupied. This seems like something thats not urgent, and they postpone it. There are a lot of very understandable reasons, but the bottom line is, were burning a lot more fossil fuel than we should be.

Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric CO2 has increased from 280 ppm to more than 410 ppm, Hall said. The last time the earths atmosphere had 410 ppm was in the Pliocene era, approximately 4 million years ago. If we dont bring CO2 down, were going to have sea levels enormously higher than now.

Another benefit to the resolutions passage would be boosting the local economy by creating more jobs, said Florsheim, who points to the Jonah Centers successful tree-planting drive, in which funds raised were matched by the city.

The mayor said it would be great to have young people work on the trees project as part of the citys youth employment program. Thats the beauty of the Green New Deal. Its not only about the environment, but about creating good-paying local jobs, he said.

Since Tropical Storm Isaias hit Connecticut Aug. 4, initially causing hundreds of thousands of power outages across the state, the mayor has fielded many questions about trying to create a public utility in Middletown, much like Wallingford has done. Not just because it would be better than what weve come to get used to from Eversource, but also there would potentially be a sustainability element to it.

Middletown would have trouble procuring the infrastructure, which is owned by utility company, in order to successfully distribute power, Florsheim said.

We have a long way to go. Its up to the people of the United States to get our government at all levels to take action, Hall said.

For information, visit thejonahcenter.org.
A store worker offers hand sanitizer to shoppers, during the coronavirus disease outbreak, as they wait in line on the sidewalk outside a grocery store in Washington, U.S., April 14, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Jonathan Ernst.

Vietnam has arrested four citizens over a wire fraud which saw 7,000 Americans pay nearly $1 million for their sanitizers.

The arrests were made following cooperation between the U.S. Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City stated Tuesday.

Major General To An Xo, spokesman of the public security ministry, said on the same day that four men Nguyen Duy Toan, Tran Quoc Khanh, Phan Dinh Thu and Do Chi Huy were arrested in Hanoi on July 11 for appropriating others' property using eletronics and telecommunications measures.

The four and at least three other people have engaged in a wire fraud scheme seeking to profit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Investigation found the group had bought over 300 domains to set up 110 shopping websites that fraudulently offered for sale products made scarce by the pandemic, including hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, Xo said.

The U.S. Consulate General said 7,000 victims in all 50 states had paid for items supposedly sold through the websites but never received the products. They filed complaints in March.

The complaint alleges the Vietnamese set up hundreds of email and user accounts with a U.S.-based payment processor to carry out the scheme and keep it hidden from law enforcement.

They are also alleged to have listed misleading contact addresses and phone numbers on the websites, causing unaffiliated individuals and businesses in the U.S. to receive numerous complaint calls from victims who had been defrauded.

HSI investigators identified nearly 40,000 fraudulent transactions worth approximately $975,000.

U.S. Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink said: "The arrest of multiple suspects by Vietnams Ministry of Public Security clearly demonstrates Vietnams government takes Covid-19 related crimes seriously."

This fraud had caused significant financial losses to those already facing enormous challenges due to the pandemic, he said.

The U.S. still leads the world in the number of Covid-19 cases and fatalities, with more than 5.6 million infections and over 173,600 deaths.
Alex Albon has "lost his way" at Red Bull, according to former team driver Robert Doornbos.

While the team is for now standing behind the struggling British-born Thai driver, it is clear that his shoulders have slumped in recent races.

"It's really tough for him," Doornbos, who briefly raced for the energy drink owned team's premier team in 2006, told Ziggo Sport.

"Albon has really lost his way. He's broken there," he said.

"I really hate that so many people have bad words for him because he's a really good racing driver," said Doornbos.

"But this is also just motorsport. If you get lost, it can take a long time to find your way again."

Another former F1 driver, JJ Lehto, thinks it is possible that Red Bull will sign its former quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel to replace Albon.

"Red Bull is certainly considering all options on how to make the team more competitive," he told Iltalehti.

"Max Verstappen makes it so hard for those who drive alongside him. Albon and Pierre Gasly are familiar options for them, but so is Vettel.

"The team knows what he can do when he's at his best."

Lehto said Vettel may also regard returning to Red Bull as his best option for 2021, as rumours swirl that the German may in fact not go to Aston Martin.

"Vettel will definitely be wondering what that team will be able to do next year," he said.

"Aston Martin is a car brand, yes, and it brings a certain value to the team - but what are they actually capable of?" Lehto wondered.

(GMM)
Sarah Louise Fairburn has told her empowering story of her role in making one of the UK's largest egg producers the success that it is today.

It follows the launch of #AgriWomen24 campaign in June, which aims to celebrate women in agriculture.

Sarah Louises journey began when she worked as a business improvement driver for Yorkshire Bank and her paths crossed with Daniel Fairburn  who had been in farming all his life at L J Fairburn & Son Limited.

After getting married and having children together, she began helping around the farm, only to realise that as the business grew, so did the need for her to become more involved.

Starting work in reception to taking a role in both marketing and IT, Sarah Louise was able to grow with the business and help the business grow from the ground up.

She said: I am incredibly proud to have been part of the team that, in 2012, helped transform the companys business model and infrastructure.

She said Fairburn's moved from a small farming business to a major food enterprise in just seven years.

"To do this we strengthened the companys loyal producer network, looked at new and industry-first ways of working with farmers, sought novel and sustainable approaches to welfare and directed new product development and innovation.

She further recalls her fundamental role as Brand and Sales Director and shares the impressive figures: From 2011 to 2018, turnover grew by over 450% and the business grew from being the 13th largest egg packer to the 2nd largest.

"The strategic approach of cutting out the middleman and securing multiple supermarket contracts had never been seen in the history of the egg industry.

"We built strong relationships and trust with those retailers so they had faith in us.

Now, Sarah Louise has moved to her new exciting position as Commercial and Sustainability Director.

She will not only be working closely with farmers, but constantly reviewing the market for a more sustainable future.

Growing and ongoing is our philosophy, she says.

British blue - the new market

One of Fairburns flagship products showcases the power of reacting to opportunity.

Fairburns British Blue breed with 100% British origin and the highest welfare, hatched, hand reared, and housed in higher welfare free range housing all on Lincolnshire soil, and delivering a superbly rich tasting natural golden yolk.

Sarah Louise says: We saw that blue eggs were in short supply in the shops and wanted to help fill that gap in market.

"And because we are passionate about high welfare systems, we decided to rear our own. It took two and a half years and a 1m investment to perfect the breed.

In 2017, the eggs became the first hens eggs to win a Great Taste Award. Our British Blues are now sold by the likes of Aldi, Asda, Costco and Lincolnshire Co-Op.

The Impact of Covid-19

Throughout the pandemic, farmers and food producers have kept the country fed, and it is evident that Covid-19 has highlighted the value of the work that the global agriculture community plays.

Sarah Louise states: Our work as an industry, and our hidden heroes, were acknowledged by the Environment Secretary George Eustice for delivering a vital service at a time of need.

As for the impact on the industry and market, she explains that, A rise in demand for food has certainly been evident during lockdown.

Food processors in Lincolnshire supplying food retailers are reporting that sales have risen by between 15% and 30% since early March, and some products have enjoyed even higher growth.

Food retail sales in Lincolnshire are up nearly 20% overall, and online deliveries have increased by 80% since early March.

Women in agriculture

The Women in Agriculture campaign began when Ruth Parkes and Kathryn Taylor took to social media to invite females across all sectors to share their passion for farming.

Reflecting on the #AgriWomen24 initiative, which has been supported by Vencomatic UK, Sarah Louise expresses her views on the importance it plays in the future perception of women in the industry.

Its a great way to show that we need to give women opportunities in business and the ability to learn and grow.

"I started out in all sorts of roles within our business  and I believe working within an operation from the ground up is key to learning how each part of it runs day-to-day and making it more successful.

From her experience as a female within the industry, she argues that: In the beginning it was a huge point of difference to have a woman at management level within what had previously been a predominantly male industry.

"At Fairburns there continues to be a 50/50 split when it comes to males and females in the management team. This model works well for us and has always been the best way to work.

"We fully believe the best person for the job isnt based on gender, race or anything else  but on their ability to do the job.

Finally, she finishes with her advice for the women both in and out of the industry who want to achieve their goals.

Have confidence in yourself and be tenacious. It is a competitive industry, and there will be hurdles and challenges, but if you have a positive attitude you can overcome anything.

I try not to say no to anything, but find a way to make things possible and to find a solution.
US Border Patrol agents have apprehended an Indian who crossed into the from on foot over the weekend.

The person, whose name was not released by the federal agents, has now been removed from the country, a media released said on Monday.

According to US Border Police, its agents at Sweetgrass Station in Montana on Saturday encountered a person matching the description of an individual spotted by a citizen illegally crossing the border on foot from Coutts in Alberta province of

The agents questioned the man and learned that he was a citizen of India. The man admitted that he had intentionally entered the US from by walking around the Sweetgrass Port of Entry to avoid detection, the statement said.

"The man was carrying several bags when encountered but nothing was found to be dangerous in the bags," the border police said, adding he was processed and removed from the

"This is a great example of how our agents exercise vigilance every day," said Havre Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Scott Good.

"Agents are always ready to carry out our agency's mission and safeguard the American public," he 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.)
You have to be aware of that, Kelly said. Im not paralyzed by it, but you have to be realistic. I have to have a replacement for me and our coaches all have replacements if they were to get sick. We have to think in those lines as it relates to our starters as well.
Kangana Ranaut, through her teams Twitter handle, has requested the Indian government to take Karan Johars Padma Shri back. The actor accused Johar of intimidating her on an international platform, conspiring against Sushant Singh Rajput and attempting to destroy his career and making an anti-national film against the armed forces.

I request government of India to take KJOs PadmaShri back,he openly intimidated me and asked me to leave the industry on an international platform,conspired to sabotage Sushanths career,he supported Pakistan during Uri battle and now antinational film against our Army, the tweet read.

Kangana and Karan Johar have been engaged in a long-running feud, which started with her calling the director the flag-bearer of nepotism on his show, Koffee With Karan. The debate was reignited in the aftermath of Sushants death as Kangana claimed that the actor was ostracised by the Bollywood privilege club.

Tuesdays tweet quoted another tweet on former Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxenas coursemate, Flight Lieutenant (retd) Sreevidya Rajan, saying that the makers of Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl twisted facts. The film has been produced by Karans banner Dharma Productions and came out on Netflix last week.

I request government of India to take KJOs PadmaShri back,he openly intimidated me and asked me to leave the industry on an international platform,conspired to sabotage Sushanths career,he supported Pakistan during Uri battle and now antinational film against our Army. https://t.co/KEgVEDpMrF  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 18, 2020

When Kangana alleged that she was openly intimidated by Karan, she was talking about his comments at the London School of Economics in March 2017, shortly after she called him the flag-bearer of nepotism and movie mafia. He had said that she should quit the film industry, if she felt so wronged by it: You cannot be this victim at every given point of time who has a sad story to tell about how you have been terrorised by the bad world of the industry, leave it.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salians WhatsApp chat reveals they were in touch till April, see messages here

Kangana has also accused Karan of colluding with his best friend Aditya Chopra to sabotage Sushants career. She claimed that Karan signed Sushant for Drive and then dumped the film on Netflix, declaring to the world that he could not find buyers for a film featuring a flop star.

Kanganas allegation that Karan supported Pakistan after the Uri attack was based on him casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in his last directorial venture, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. While the film was shot and completed before the Uri attack in September 2016, people were up in arms against it for featuring Pakistani talent and demanded a ban on its release. He then issued an apology video in which he said he would never work with Pakistani actors again.

Finally, Kangana has called Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl an anti-national film for showing male air force officers in a negative light. Earlier, the Indian Air Force wrote to the censor board, saying that the film showed them in an undue negative light.

Kangana and Karan were announced as the recipients of the prestigious Padma Shri, Indias fourth-highest civilian honour, in January this year. I heartily congratulate him. I think he totally deserves this award. As a producer, the kind of films he backs, whether it is Kesari or Good Newwz, are commendable, as is the position he has worked to achieve. Even though his father gave him a head start, he has risen to the top because of his own efforts and merits, she had earlier said in an interview.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The toll of COVID-19 does not always show up on a radiologists screen as blighted lungs. These doctors who peer beneath a patients skin with the help of CT or MRI scans are increasingly seeing evidence of physical abuse by those patients domestic partners as a consequence of the months of stay-at-home orders, job loss and escalating family stress that the pandemic has wrought.

On the high-tech images they order, radiologists and their physician colleagues in hospital emergency departments are seeing fractured bones and bruised and punctured organs. The inquiries that result often bring forth the closely held secret of an abusive partner.

A new study finds that as the tightest restrictions on nonessential activities began to lift in Massachusetts, physicians at a large hospital in Boston saw a near-doubling of the proportion of domestic abuse cases that resulted in physical injury in comparison with previous years. The injuries were also dramatically more severe, prompting concerns that victims had delayed seeking care even as the violence against them escalated.

Experts on intimate partner violence have feared that such abuse would increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the fact that fewer victims appeared to be coming forward for fear of being infected in a clinic, shelter or hospital emergency department.

In April, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called for measures to counter what he called a horrifying global surge in domestic violence linked to the pandemic and directed at women and girls. And a study in May of domestic abuse calls to police in 14 metropolitan areas around the U.S. found the pandemic and accompanying public health response had led to a 10.2% increase in such calls.

The new research finds evidence that physical abuse has both increased and escalated  even as the numbers of victims coming forward has decreased.

Researchers at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston identified 62 adults who sought help for physical and nonphysical abuse by an intimate partner between March 11 and May 3. That was far fewer than the numbers who came forward for help and/or treatment during the same period in 2019 (104 people), 2018 (106) and 2017 (146).

But the proportion of men and women whose abuse was physical  rather than verbal or emotional  was 80% higher in 2020 than in all three earlier years put together. And the physical abuse was much more severe.

The new research was published in the journal Radiology.

The researchers categorized the patients injuries by their severity, distinguishing superficial injuries such as bruises and black eyes from deep injuries resulting from strangulation, burns, knives, guns and other objects that can damage internal organs.

In the previous three years, the Boston hospital saw a total of 16 deep injuries caused by intimate partner violence. In 2020, however, the number of deep injuries was 28.

The results suggest that victims may be so fearful of COVID-19 that they arent reaching us until the abuse is severe, said Dr. Bharti Khurana, a radiologist at Brigham and Womens Hospital who teaches at Harvard Medical School.

We know that high-risk physical abuse and severe physical injuries are highly associated with homicide, Khurana said. However overwhelmed physicians have been by the pandemic, they should be on the lookout for evidence of domestic abuse, she added.

Study coauthor Dr. Babina Gosangi, a radiologist who teaches at Yale, said the location of the severe injuries tended to be less evident to the casual observer. The victims whose injuries were considered deep tended to have been punched, kicked or hit repeatedly in the abdomen and chest rather than in or around the face.

While all of the patients in the study acknowledged that their injuries were at the hands of a fellow householder, the damage was not as readily identifiable as domestic abuse, unlike the broken wrists and arms (a typical defensive injury) or broken facial bones or bruises that are more common in cases of intimate partner violence.

The study period encompassed an intense period of COVID-19-related restrictions for the Boston area. Schools closed March 12, and by March 24, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker had called for an emergency lockdown barring all but essential activities. The peak of COVID-19 cases came in late April, and by the studys end on May 3, a low level of activity across the region was beginning to resume.

The researchers noted that the ethnic breakdown of abuse victims was different during the pandemic than it had been in previous years. Roughly two-thirds of those seeking care or treatment in 2020 were white. In the previous years, white people made up 26% of such cases.

Khurana said that in ordinary times, intimate partner abuse is almost certainly vastly undercounted. In the midst of a pandemic, when victims are holed up for extended periods of time with their abusers and have few other social contacts, that undercount is likely to be even more pronounced.

This is the tip of the iceberg, said Khurana, who has worked to help other radiologists identify victims of intimate partner violence. We saw the worst 26 physical violence victims. That is very small compared to what is happening.

In children, the toll  and its undercount  could be even more severe. Most cases of physical abuse are identified by teachers and school administrators, who have not seen most students in months. Most cases of physical injury at the hands of a caregiver are therefore unlikely to be identified unless they are serious enough to prompt a visit to a doctor.

The long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for children wont be understood for years, the actress, filmmaker and activist Angelina Jolie wrote recently. But we can already see the heavy cost in missed schooling, lost opportunities, mental anguish and an increased exposure to life-changing violence. It is time to elevate childrens needs to the forefront of the discussion of how we build a better society.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available to assist victims of intimate partner violence 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling or texting (800) 799-SAFE (7233).



2020 Los Angeles Times
California health officials have confirmed that an individual has tested positive for a case of the plague in the state -- the first such case in five years.

El Dorado County health officials were notified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that a resident in South Lake Tahoe had tested positive for the plague and that it is thought that person, who is an avid walker, may have been bitten by an infected flea while walking their dog along the Truckee River Corridor, according to a statement released by El Dorado County.

The patient who tested positive for the plague is currently under the care of medical professionals and is recovering at their home.

MORE: Squirrel tests positive for the bubonic plague in Colorado

El Dorado Countys Health and Human Services said that, once transmitted, symptoms of the plague usually show up within two weeks of exposure to an infected animal or flea and that the symptoms can include fever, nausea, weakness and swollen lymph nodes.

The plague is deadly but if it is detected early it can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

"Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County. It's important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking and/or camping in areas where wild rodents are present. Human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious," said El Dorado County Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams.

MORE: First dog to test positive for COVID-19 in North Carolina dies

PHOTO: FILE - In this Aug. 8. 2017, file photo, boats ply the waters of Emerald Bay, near South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

MORE: Dunkin' Donuts employee arrested after cop finds 'large, thick piece of mucus' in his coffee

El Dorado County officials said that the CDPH routinely monitors rodent populations for plague activity in California.

From 2016 to 2019, authorities discovered a total of 20 rodents with of evidence of exposure to plague bacterium in the South Lake Tahoe area but that there were no reports of plague-associated illnesses during that time.

Story continues

The last reported cases of plague in California were two human cases which were exposed to infected rodents or their fleas in Yosemite National Park in 2015, the El Dorado County Health and Human Services said in a statement. Both people were treated and recovered. These were the first reported human cases in the state since 2006.

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Since the announcement of the first case of the plague in five years, several areas of South Lake Tahoe now have signs posted both advising the public of the presence of plague as well as ways to prevent potential exposure, including not feeding wild animals, not touching sick or dead animals, protecting your pets with flea control products, wearing long pants and using insect repellent.

Just last month public health officials in Colorado announced that a squirrel in Colorado has tested positive for the bubonic plague which was the first such case in the state this year.

"Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, and can be contracted by humans and household animals if proper precautions are not taken," officials from Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) in Colorado said in a statement released to the public at the time.

MORE: Police look for woman who deliberately coughed on a 1-year-old baby after argument with mother

"Arguably the most infamous plague outbreak was the so-called Black Death, a multi-century pandemic that swept through Asia and Europe," according to National Geographic. "It was believed to start in China in 1334, spreading along trade routes and reaching Europe via Sicilian ports in the late 1340s. The plague killed an estimated 25 million people, almost a third of the continent's population. The Black Death lingered on for centuries, particularly in cities. Outbreaks included the Great Plague of London (1665-66), in which 70,000 residents died."

However, the CDC says that there is now only an average of seven human plague cases per year and the WHO says the mortality rate is estimated to be between 8-10%.

National Geographic is owned by Walt Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

California resident tests positive for the plague, first case in the state in 5 years originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Finance Minister Bill Morneau resigned on August 17, 2020. Here is his statement:

Id like to thank you for being here. In the last five years, our governments worked tirelessly to build a more open, more equal and more prosperous Canada. Weve accomplished a lot. One million jobs created in the first four years, more than a million pulled out of poverty and historic steps toward a stronger, greener and more inclusive economy. I firmly believe that more Canadians from all walks of life are closer today to achieving their dreams than when we took office.

But we also know that this pandemic has created many obstacles to progress here and around the world. Canada tackled this crisis head on. While we didnt get everything right, I know that the cost of inaction would have been far greater. Canadians are better off today because their federal government stepped in and decided to protect them. That work is far from over. Theres much more work to do as we transition to recovery.

I met with the Prime Minister today to inform him that I did not intend to run again in the next federal election. Its never been my plan to run for more than two federal election cycles. As we move to the next phase of our fight against the pandemic and pave the road toward economic recovery, we must recognize that this process will take many years.

Its the right time for a new Finance Minister to deliver on that plan for the long and challenging road ahead. Thats why Ill be stepping down as Finance Minister and as Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre. No matter what, I know that with this Liberal government, Canadians will be in good hands. I still intend to continue to serve and have decided to put my name forward to become the next Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Prime Minister has given me his full support in this quest. Ill be spending the next few weeks preparing for this bid. Weve always said that Canada and the world needs more Canadian leadership, not less. I will come to this new challenge with the lived experience of having built a more inclusive and fairer Canada.

I first got into politics because I believed it was the place I could make the biggest difference for people. As Minister of Finance, I worked to make an impact while holding the highest regard for the office and knowing the privilege that I had to fulfil that role. I want to thank the Prime Minister for giving me this life changing opportunity. Together, weve put in place historic policies that have and will continue to shape the lives of Canadians: more money for hardworking families with the Canada Child Benefit, a more generous and secure retirement with the Canada Pension Plan and the foundations for a strong and resilient economy.

We did it with the help of an outstanding public service who demonstrated their talent and creativity time and time again, both before and during the pandemic. I want to thank in particular the officials at the Finance Department and the staff in my office for their work over these past five years. I want to thank the residents of Toronto Centre. Its truly been an honour to serve as your Member of Parliament. I also want to commend all my fellow Members of Parliament in my party and across party lines. Your work on behalf of Canadians is essential to our democracy.

And finally, I want to thank my family. Politics is, is always difficult, especially for families. I could not have served Canadians without, without their support over these past five years.

Thank you.

Question (Justin Lang/Freelance): Hi Minister. Im wondering if you can tell us a bit about the differences that actually led to your resignation. Evidently, there was some specific policy concerns, the media reporting that had to do with the size of the deficit, potentially a green transition. What reservations did you have about the Prime Ministers plan that led eventually to you resigning?

Hon. Bill Morneau: Well thank you for that question. I had a constructive conversation with the Prime Minister this morning. We have always worked together over the course of the last five years in a way that recognized the importance of vigorous discussion and debate to get to the best policies for Canadians. Im proud of what weve done over the last five years, working to make sure that we have a more inclusive economy, that we have a greener economy and I know that work will continue and Im looking forward and Ill be watching very closely and hopefully part of that by helping through the OECD, if Im successful in that quest, to consider how we can face up to the next stage in the challenges facing Canada and all of us as we recover from this challenging time.

Followup question: But surely, the gaps must have been significant if you are leaving your post, you know, halfway through the, the planned end of your political career. You know, do you have concerns about whos going to replace you and what, you know, the Prime Ministers kind of direction for that couple of years is going to be through this recovery?

Hon. Bill Morneau: Well in fact, Ive been thinking about this for a period of time. Obviously, I want to continue to serve. I know that the Prime Minister will think about the, the next choice for Finance Minister and Im confident that hell have a positive choice in that regard. So Im, Im looking forward to the future. I think that weve done great work together. Weve been able to ensure that Canadians are better off, significantly better in so many ways than they were before we came to office and we know that now, the next step is going to be a long and yes, uncertain recovery and we need a Finance Minister thats going to be there for the long term and thats why I think now is an appropriate time for me to think about next steps, which Im doing tonight.

Question (Althea Raj/Huffington Post): Thank you Minister. Can you inform us a little bit more about the timeline? You say that youve been thinking about this for a period of time. When did you start thinking about a new job? And also the series of leaks over the last two weeks plus, how did they contribute to you deciding that you wanted to resign? Thanks.

Hon. Bill Morneau: Well, thank you. Well first of all, Ive always been thinking of how I can best serve. So thats, thats been my key consideration really from, from day one. And at this stage, you know, I see that theres going to be a need for a long period of time for the recovery and were going to need a government thats focused on that for, for this challenging time in front of us. So I think now is an appropriate time for me to step down from this role and think about how I can help more broadly.

The, the past number of months have been extremely challenging for our government as weve faced up to what has been an unprecedented issue thats facing so many Canadians. I think that what weve done together, what weve come up with has been so critically important. The development of the CERB, the Wage Subsidy, these have helped millions of Canadians to face up to a challenging time. And now we need to think about that next phase and Im confident that the Prime Minister and his team will do that, and Im certainly looking forward hopefully to being supportive in another way.

Followup question: What do you think the Prime Minister should be looking (inaudible  technical difficulties) in a new Finance Minister to lead in the path of recovery?

Hon. Bill Morneau: I think that the decision on, on the next person for this role is the Prime Ministers decision. Im looking forward to being supportive of him in any way I can in that transition. What, whats most important, I think, for Canadians is that they see this, this continued stewardship of the economy in a way that will support them through this challenging time and recognize that we have an opportunity to continue to ensure that Canadas a great place where people can all find the kind of opportunities that they, they want to find for themselves and their families, and Im confident that thats what, thats going to be the outcome of the next steps for the Prime Minister and his team.

Question (Tonda MacCharles/Toronto Star): Mr. Morneau, can you clarify were you asked by the Prime Minister to resign?

Hon. Bill Morneau: No. Tonda, this morning, I went to the Prime Minister and I tendered my resignation. Obviously, Im looking forward to a next set of opportunities and Im keenly interested in how the Prime Minister will continue the work weve done together over these last five years, and Im confident that he will, he will do that with the continued focus that hes, that hes had on behalf of Canadians over the last five years.

Followup question: I take your, I take your statement, but I would like to understand did you, in the vernacular of a previous Finance Ministers scenario, did you get quit and if so, what was the tipping point?

Hon. Bill Morneau: Sorry, can you say that again? Did I get  can you say that again?

Question: Did, were you, you know, M. Chretien once said of Mr. Paul Martin, or we were told that he got quit, or Mr. Martin described it as that. Do you feel you were forced out by the revelation that Mr. Trudeau was turning to Mr. Carney and other sorts of matters like that? Were you effectively quit?

Hon. Bill Morneau: You know, what I, what I, I want Canadians to know is that the, the work that weve done together has been the work of a lifetime for me. Its been something that has been enormously rewarding personally, its been a real privilege to have this job. But like any job, theres a time where youre the appropriate person in the role and the time where you have to decide when youre not the appropriate person in the role. Since Im not running again, and since I expect that we will have a long and, and challenging recovery, I think its important that the Prime Minister has by his side a Finance Minister who has that longer term vision.

And so thats what led me to conclude during this time period that its appropriate for me to step down. And I have every confidence that he will find the way for the next steps with, with a team that will be in there for the long term and ready to do the hard work that we need to do to continue to support Canadians.

Question: Hi Mr. Morneau, Mackenzie Gray with CTV. You just referenced that you were no longer the appropriate person for the role of Finance Minister. Did the WE scandal make it so that you were no longer the appropriate person for this job?

Hon. Bill Morneau: Its, its important to recognize that, you know, Ive been involved in philanthropy for many, many years and that, that that role has continued. I wish that in hindsight, we had done things differently around the, the WE Charity. As Ive said, I think that it would have been more appropriate for me to recuse myself from that decision. But moving forward, I think that the most important thing is to think about where you can have the appropriate impact at the appropriate time.

And what, what Im saying now is its, its appropriate for the Prime Minister to find someone with a longer term approach to being Finance Minister than I can give since Im not going to run again for federal office. And I think its also an opportunity for me to step forward into a potential next step with the OECD and that would be a way that I could continue to serve.

Followup question: There were numerous reports that outlined a potential rift between you and the Prime Minister, saying that you might not have wanted to spend as much money as the Prime Minister and others in the government wanted to do. Were there any major policy rifts between you and Mr. Trudeau?

Hon. Bill Morneau: Well, I think its really important to recognize and my, my discussion with the Prime Minister this morning, we, we both recognized the necessary vigorous debate that comes between a Finance Minister and a Prime Minister. For that matter, between Ministers and the Prime Minister. Thats the way you get to better policy outcomes. And Im absolutely of the view that that vigorous discussion over the course of the last five years has led to better outcomes, better outcomes during the course of our first term, better outcomes through the pandemic.

So, you know, Im looking forward to, to watching and to seeing that, that continued important policy discussion that will lead to great outcomes for Canadians.

Question: Thank you Mr. Morneau. Sarah (inaudible) CBC News. Did you let down the Prime Minister and the government by not disclosing your travels with WE?

Hon. Bill Morneau: No. In fact, I, my travels were always disclosed. The issue really was that I unfortunately did not get a bill for, for some of that travel and found that out obviously much, much later, three years later. But you know what Ive done is Ive done my best. I have apologized for that and moved forward and I know that the, the important work that were doing is more important than that, that, that problem that we, that we had. And I know that from the Prime Ministers standpoint, hell be looking that he can make sure that he can continue on the work and deal with that as is appropriate.

Followup question: And to touch my questions my colleagues have asked, what was it like to see the stories about you in the press this past week saying that you were at odds with the Prime Minister? And did those anonymous leaks to reporters make you feel pushed to make the decision today?

Hon. Bill Morneau: You know, when you take on a role like the Finance Minister, you know that, that people are going to watch closely the, the role that youre playing and your actions and theres always going to be a role for commentators to have a point of view. So, so you know, this week was, was part of what it takes to be a Minister of the Crown and, you know, I will look forward to watching politics from, from the outside and hopefully contributing in another way.

Hon. Bill Morneau: As I said, you know, I, Im really proud of the work weve done over the course of the last five years. Weve made a huge difference, weve come up with the lowest unemployment rates before the pandemic that weve seen in Canada. Weve helped a million people get out of poverty in this country. The work in the pandemic I think has been absolutely instrumental in supporting people during a time of extraordinary challenge. So Im proud of the work weve done together and Ill watch carefully to see how the Prime Minister continues for Canadians in a time of great challenge.

Question (Jordan Press/Canadian Press): Good evening Minister. Just, I wanted to ask you, last week, the Prime Minister essentially said he had full confidence in you. Can you explain what happened over the last week when the Prime Minister saying that to today? I mean, did, did you lose confidence in him or did he lose confidence in you?

Hon. Bill Morneau: You know, I really appreciate the Prime Ministers support, both last week, but really over the last five years. Weve had a great opportunity to work together. My decision today was really very much about thinking about the time thats right for me, the time thats right for all of us in the pandemic. I think its necessary to have a Finance Minister who has that longer term perspective to get us through a long-term recovery, and that really was what led me to go to the Prime Minister this morning and say that that was the step I wanted to take.

Followup question: Youre saying that you, you want someone to come in for the long term, and yet youre at the same time saying youd like to be the next Secretary-General of the OECD. Can you just explain then why you should be in that role if you dont see yourself being in a long-term position in this role and guiding this country through the worst economic crisis its seen in generations?

Hon. Bill Morneau: I think that its, its really important for someone to want to be in the, in this political role for the next period of time, and I think that period of time will be very challenging. So that is what Im sure the Prime Ministers reflecting on as he thinks about the next Finance Minister. For me, the opportunity to contribute to the challenges that were going to face in the globe, the OECD is there at the centre and thinking about issues like, like international taxation, the digital transformation in our world, thinking about how we can deal with the challenges that we will be facing as we get through this pandemic.

So, so that is a, it would be a new and a different role. Of course, Id be able to use the expertise gained as a Finance Minister for a G7 country, having gone through enormous challenges to help in another way. So Im looking forward hopefully to that opportunity, but I recognize its a competitive process. There will be countries looking for who can be best to fulfil that role and Im looking forward to that discussion with, with those countries as we think about that.
UK Government Reverses Exam Results Decision Amid Algorithm Anomalies

Britains education secretary has reversed a decision over how to grade this years school exams in England, rejecting the grading system that had replaced the tests cancelled because of the ongoing CCP virus pandemic.

On Monday, the government shelved a mathematical model used by exam regulator Ofqual to moderate and standardize the student grade predictions, called Centre Assessed Grades (CAGs), that were made and submitted to Ofqual by teachers.

The government has now reverted to only using the CAGs submitted by teachers to award exam results.

Algorithm

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said that the government had acted after realizing that exam results had been skewed by the too many anomalies behind the algorithm used in the Ofqual grading system.

Ofqual had developed the contingency grading system to manage results when exams were canceled due to school and college closures in the lockdown triggered by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Announced in April, the grading system used an algorithm meant to produce fair grades that were overall in line with previous years results.

The Ofqual models algorithm, however, had lowered results for almost 40 percent of students taking their main school-leaving exams.

University places depend on the results, but many students found their grades had been downgraded by the algorithm, meaning many failed to meet their provisional offers.

One of those was Dominic, an 18-year-old A-level student at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, London, who described the ups and downs he had experienced over the exceptional arrangements for exam grading this year.

Its been pretty stressful because we didnt know much about how they were being worked out, he told The Epoch Times.

Once Id got my results, I was a bit annoyed because my [moderated] grade was lower than the grade the school had given me  and Id been moved down.

A quota of 11 had been set by moderators to receive an A* in further maths at Dominics school.

He came twelfth and was moved down from the A* his teacher had given him to an A.

Dominics first-choice university offer had hinged upon an A* in further maths, so he had planned to resit his exams and go to university next year.

When the government said they would go back to the teacher-assessed grades it was quite a nice bit of news, he said.

Students hold placards as they protest outside Codsall Community High School to demonstrate against the downgrading of A-level results near Wolverhampton, central England, on Aug.17, 2020. (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

The government reversal came after days of criticism of the algorithm from students, teachers, and lawmakers, and from Prime Minister Boris Johnsons own ruling Conservative Party as well as from the opposition.

The Tories [Conservatives] handling of these results sums up their handling of this pandemic: incompetent, opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer wrote on Twitter.

Johnson and Williamson received further criticism in the British media on Tuesday after what the papers described as a humiliating U-turn, which days earlier the government had ruled out.

Williamson told Sky News, however, that the government had done what was the right thing to do.

When it was clear that the system wasnt delivering what we believed, and what wed been assured that it would do, and the fairness that we all expect it to deliver  then further action had to be taken; thats what I did, he said.

Ofqual Statement

The government announcement parallels and comes on the same day as a statement from Ofqual Chair Roger Taylor.

The pandemic has created circumstances no one could have ever imagined or wished for, he said.

We want to now take steps to remove as much stress and uncertainty for young people as possibleand to free up heads and teachers to work towards the important task of getting all schools open in two weeks.

Taylor also said he appreciated that real anguish had been caused, that public confidence in exam qualifications had been damaged, and that it was incorrect to have burdened teachers with appeals against lowered grades as the new September term loomed.

For all of that, we are extremely sorry, he said.

Williamson also apologized.

We worked with Ofqual to construct the fairest possible model, but it is clear that the process of allocating grades has resulted in more inconsistency and unfairness than can be reasonably resolved through an appeals process, he said in a statement.

I am sorry for the distress this has caused young people and their parents but hope this announcement will now provide the certainty and reassurance they deserve.

A snap opinion poll published on Monday showed 75 percent of respondents thought the government had handled the situation badly and 40 percent thought Williamson should resign. He said he would not quit.

Pressure on Universities

The change, however, puts pressure on universities, as more students have obtained the grades needed to get into their first-choice institution.

The government said they are setting a clear expectation that they [universities] honor all offers made and met, and Williamson said the government was working on how to boost their capacity.

The government statement explained that grades awarded by the Ofqual grading system could still stand if they were higher than the CAG grade submitted by teachers, which the revised awards will reflect.

This will cause challenges at this late stage in the admissions processcapacity, staffing, placements, and facilitiesparticularly with the social distance measures in place, Universities UK, the body which represents the sector, said.

The government said it recognized the move to CAGs would have implications for students and universities and intends to remove student number controls in a bid to put student interests first and remove obstacles to their progress.

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan will lead a new task force, working with education groups, to ensure students can progress to the next stage of their education, the government said.

The governments decision refers only to England. Scotland faced a similar situation and changed its policy last week, and Wales and Northern Ireland have also dropped the algorithm method, which factored in the past performance of the schools overall.

Schools and colleges will receive the revised grades this week and they will be given to students next week.

Reuters contributed to this report

Updated Aug. 19 with comment from student.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A 26-year-old man died and another man suffered injuries in a shooting early Tuesday in the citys Collinwood-Nottingham neighborhood.

The shooting happened about 12:30 a.m. on St. Clair Avenue near East 146th Street. No arrests have been made in the case and officials have not identified the man killed.

The 26-year-old man rode in a car with two others on St. Clair. Another car pulled up next to them.

A man got out of the other car and fired several shots into the 26-year-old mans car, according to police. The shooter got back into his car and sped away.

Bullets hit the 26-year-old man in the legs, back and chest and a 34-year-old man in the hand, according to police.

A 29-year-old man in the same car, who was not injured, drove the two to Euclid Hospital. A large fight broke out in the hospitals waiting room, police said.

Hospital security and police locked down the hospital after the fight broke out, police said.

The shooting marks the 102nd homicide in Cleveland in 2020. There were 73 homicides at the same time last year.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Man charged in two killings, including fatal shooting of 17-year-old refugee in Cleveland

Two charged after apparent meth lab explosion in Summit County, sheriff says

Lake County man charged with murder in shooting death of roommate, sheriff says
We are honored to be included; its a testament to the exceptional team we have and the hard work they have put in.

Inc. Magazine released their annual Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies this week and LEDLightExpert.com was named number 531 on that list. The San Diego based company is a first-time honoree and is in the energy category selling LED Lighting products. They were previously number 31 in California in the specialty state-focused version Inc. 5000 Series.

The company sells its products online through its e-commerce site and direct to electricians and contractors through its wholesale group. On the recognition, CEO Dara Greaney commented, We are honored to be included; its a testament to the exceptional team we have and the hard work they have put in. Greaney further added, The companies on this list did a staggering $209 billion of revenue and all told they created 1 million jobs! There is this great culture out there that embraces and pushes innovation. We are lucky to get to work in it every day.

The list features an increasing number of energy companies at 91 total as eco-friendly technologies continue to evolve and take hold. Greaney reflected on the environmental impacts: Its fun to be part of this green revolution; so many great startups in energy making a difference in changing the way we generate and use energy. Its nice to know with every bulb or fixture we sell we are decreasing our energy footprint just that little bit more.

This years Inc. 5000 list included a total of 720 California companies generating $31 billion in revenue. San Diego alone featured 112 companies on this years Inc. 5000 list and LEDLightExpert.com was number 18. Those companies generated $3.9 billion In revenue and added 5,939 jobs.

LEDLightExpert.com specializes in commercial LED Lighting products that save customers money and reduce energy consumption. Those products include both light bulbs or kits to retrofit into LED as well as complete LED light fixtures. For CEO Dara Greaney this represents a 7th time appearing with a company on the list. Previously he was CEO at BuyAutoParts.com, a San Diego based auto parts supplier, where he led 6 appearances on the Inc. 5000 list.

About LEDLightExpert.com

LEDLightExpert.com is a BBB A+ and top-rated supplier of high-end LED light products for commercial and residential use. Backed by their elite USA based lighting team, they have a reputation for exceptional lighting design and strong customer service. The Experts in LED Lighting have been the go-to supplier for LED parking lot retrofits, warehouse upgrades, and lighting improvements for buildings, both large and small. With distribution across the country, they can deliver products quickly and leverage their deep expertise for customized lighting projects.

To learn more about their services and products, visit

https://www.ledlightexpert.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.

Contact:

Dan Payne

LEDLightExpert.com

800-674-9420

Sales@LEDLightExpert.com

https://www.LEDLightExpert.com

Reference Links:

1. https://www.inc.com/inc5000/2020

2. https://www.inc.com/profile/ledlightexpertcom
Recognizing engineers, scientists, technologists, policy-makers, educators, and students who have made a significant impact on the profession or in their community

WASHINGTON, DC-- The Marine Technology Society has announced its 2020 Award Winners. The diverse field of individual recipients--students, young professionals, and career professionals--have distinguished themselves in their work, through technological accomplishment, volunteer service, or mentorship. In addition, MTS is honoring a company for its outstanding contribution for the advancement in a marine technology and our MTS Committees and Sections who are foundational to the advancement of the MTS mission. Our awardees work with unfailing commitment to tackle problems that impact our globally connected society in real and tangible ways that many people aren't fully aware of. The awards will be presented on October 8, 2020 at the virtual Global OCEANS 2020: Singapore - U.S. Gulf Coast conference.

This year's recipients include:

Compass Distinguished Achievement Award: Presented to an individual whose career includes achievements that have had a significant impact on the fields of marine science and technology.

Recipient - CAPT (Ret.) Craig McLean, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Acting Chief Scientist and Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

* At NOAA, CAPT (Ret.) Craig McLean directs and implements NOAA's far reaching research enterprise. As U.S. Head of Delegation for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, he was instrumental in recognizing ocean mapping as a priority, building a coalition of delegations to support the Seabed 2030 project to map the world's seafloor by 2030. CAPT (Ret) McLean serves on the Executive Planning Group for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. He has been a stalwart supporter and cornerstone of MTS leadership. CAPT (Ret) McLean has been driving force for increasing MTS' visibility through leading multiple sessions, panels, and brought many internationally recognized ocean leaders and dignitaries to our events as speakers.

Compass International Award: Presented to an individual, company, or organization (outside the United States) for outstanding contributions to the advancement of marine science and technology.

Recipient - Dr. Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and Assistant Director General of UNESCO

* As Executive Secretary of the UNESCO-IOC and Assistant Director General of UNESCO, Dr. Vladimir Ryabinin is not only recognized for his leadership in the design of international initiatives such as the Global Ocean Observing System and the Joint Technical Commission of the World Meteorological Organization and IOC for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology, but also for his embracing the importance of including professional societies like MTS as official UNESCO observers. He has championed an inclusive planning team for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development that includes MTS as a partner and a strong advocate for the Seabed 2030 global effort.

Compass Industrial Award: Presented to any industrial firm (excluding government and non-profit organizations) that has demonstrated outstanding contributions to marine science and technology.

Recipient - CODAR Ocean Sensors LTD

* Community champion, CODAR Ocean Sensor LTD is dedicated to service and innovation. CODAR's unparalleled dedication to advancing High Frequency Radar is why an operational system that measures surface currents exist. CODAR has developed the algorithms to map surface currents, made significant advances in understanding antenna structures to enable compact systems, developed GPS modulation synchronization allowing multiple radars on the same frequency. The CODAR team of professionals has worked tirelessly as a partner to establish the US Integrated Ocean Observing System National High Frequency Radar network, and contributed to many global networks which are used operationally to support search and rescue; oil spill detection and response; and tsunami detection.

Lockheed Martin Award for Ocean Science and Engineering: Presented to an individual who has demonstrated the highest degree of technical accomplishment in the field of marine science, engineering, or technology.

Recipient - Dr. Manhar Dhanak, Director of the joint Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Florida Atlantic University (FAU) SeaTech Laboratory

* Dr. Manhar Dhanak, Director of the joint Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Florida Atlantic University (FAU) SeaTech Laboratory, conducts research that spans multiple areas of ocean engineering, from hydrodynamics to autonomous maritime systems and ocean energy. Dr. Dhanak is currently Principal Investigator of the Office of Naval Research program to develop multi-domain maritime autonomy in support coastal monitoring and surveillance. He co-organized and hosted the successful MTS Underwater Imaging TechSurge held in partnership with NSWC and Nova Southeastern University. His expertise in experimental and computational fluid mechanics has recently been enlisted to model aerosol transport of the COVID-19 virus, as seen on CNN, NBC the New York Times, and PBS. John P. Craven Mentor Award: Recognizing the long and impactful career of John Pina Craven, the award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding and sustained service to the field of marine technology through mentoring.

Recipient - Alan Kenny, Kenautics

* Having served as Chair of the MTS San Diego Section for many years, Mr. Alan Kenny, is now serving as MTS Co-Chair for MTS/IEES-OES OCEANS 2021 San Diego. Amidst the startup of his underwater navigation firm Kenautics, he has continued to devote hundreds of hours of his personal time mentoring and providing career guidance to students and early career professionals alike. He spearheaded the MTS San Diego Section's Internship program, placing and mentoring many students both at his former company, Teledyne as well as with Kenautics. In addition to volunteering to advise university teams around the world on navigation designs for the ONR/NAVSEA/AUVSI RoboSub international robot competition, Mr. Kenny has devoted hundreds of hours of his time to the Boy Scouts of America. His leadership of the next generation transcends the maritime realm.

Ocean News and Technology Young Professional Award : Presented to an MTS member, 35 years old or younger, who has demonstrated leadership in the Society and works in a professional capacity in management, engineering, or research and development in a marine technology field.

Recipient - Hannah Toerner, Eidos Education

* As a student, Ms. Hannah Toerner was an MTS underclassmen ambassador where she informed incoming students about MTS and their opportunities, such as scholarships and summer camps. She worked with professors to give students the option to attend the MTS camps for course credit, thus recruiting attendees. In her senior year, she served as the chapter's vice president. Her research efforts have led to the development a composite material comprised of recycled plastics and glass fibers which she has translated into physical designs of environmentally friendly coastal structures.

MTS Outstanding Service Award: Presented to an MTS member or member organization in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in fulfilling the objectives and missions of the Society.

Recipient - Hans Van Sumeren, Director, Great Lakes Waters Studies Institute, Northwestern Michigan College

* As the chair of the MTS Great Lakes Section, Mr. Hans Van Sumeren created the Marine Technology student section within the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute at Northwestern Michigan College. He partnered with MTS to create the first Marine Technology Camp in 2016 and has continued to host the camp every year since. In October 2019, Mr. Van Sumeren led the effort to host TechSurge - Lakebed 2030 - to establish the parallels from the Seabed 2030 effort and promote the mapping of the Great Lakes as equal importance to the global mapping initiative. The TechSurge was a very successful event with over 100 attendees and 10 company sponsors and was followed up by a successful virtual webinar in 2020. He served as the Guest Editor for the most recent issue of the Marine Technology Society Journal devoted to LakeBed 2030.

MTS Outstanding Section Award: Presented to an MTS Section in recognition of activities conducted in the advancement of the objectives of the Society.

Recipient - MTS Puget Sound Section

* The Puget Sound Section provided much of the personnel and support to host the successful MTS/IEEE-OES OCEAN 2019 Seattle. The Conference was attended by over 1600 delegates and showcased much of the important work and research being accomplished in the Pacific Northwest to an international delegation from around the world. Additionally, the Puget Sound section has hosted a regional MATE ROV competition for over 12 years, as well as the international competition twice, most recently in 2018.

MTS Outstanding Committee Award: Presented to an MTS Committee in recognition of activities conducted in the advancement of the Society's objectives.

Recipient - MTS Unmanned Maritime Systems Committee

* The technical realm of unmanned maritime systems encompasses possibly the largest number of MTS members and member companies, yet a cogent Professional Committee to represent this sector remained inactive for some years. At MTS/IEEE-OES OCEANS 2018 Charleston, an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Town Hall was held to reformulate and reinvigorate the new Unmanned Maritime Systems Committee. There, new leadership was elected representing the areas of unmanned underwater (including gliders), surface, aerial vehicles. This reformulated committee is once again active, supporting Unmanned Maritime Systems which enable access without constraint on ship availability. This has opened-up new frontiers while dramatically lowering costs.

MTS Outstanding Student Section Award: Presented to an established MTS Student Section that demonstrates superior performance in the advancement of the Society's objectives.

Recipient - MTS University of Hawaii Student Section

* Members of the MTS University of Hawaii Student Section have worked hard over the past year to help reinvigorate the MTS Hawaii Section. In addition to local activities, MTS Student Section members form the backbone of the UHM Marine Energy Collegiate Competition team. The team won a Department of Energy funded ECC award to assesses the technique and business plans of technologies designed to power the Blue Economy. These MTS student members also participated in the deployment of the Kilo Nalu Observatory, a shallow water cabled ocean sensor network just west of Waikiki.

MTS Fellows: Since 1975, the MTS Fellow title has been awarded to MTS members who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the Society's objectives and who have distinguished themselves in their fields.

Recipients - Dr. Steve DiMarco, Laurie Jugan, Christian Meinig, CAPT (Ret.) Rick Williams, and Jill Zande Dr. Steve DiMarco, Professor of Oceanography, Texas A&M University

* Dr. Steve DiMarco is an expert on circulation processes of the coastal ocean and marginal seas and has been the Chief Scientist on 40 major research cruises. Dr. DiMarco specializes in the design, operation, and application of real-time ocean observing systems to address scientific problems that impact human wellbeing. He currently serves on three standing MTS committees - Marine Education, Ocean Observing Systems, and Ocean Instrumentation. Steve developed the first U.S. certificate program in ocean observing systems at Texas A&M University. Laurie Jugan, Program Director, Mississippi Enterprise for Technology

* Ms. Laurie Jugan has served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Gulf Coast Section, and liaison to the University of Southern Mississippi Student Section. Ms. Jugan has served on three local organizing committees for OCEANS Conferences. She also co-founded and serves as Chair of the Oceans in Action Workshops held annually since 2011. She helped to bring in the Advanced Naval Technology Enterprise as an important adjunct to Oceans in Action.

Christian Meinig, Director of Engineering, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL)

* Mr. Christian Meinig has contributed to MTS as a technical expert and unifying source of engagement to bring government, industry, and academia together in joint pursuits of marine engineering since 2000. As Director of Engineering at NOAA's premier marine engineering facility, he has led and delivered technology advancements such as the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) warning Buoys, CO2 sensors for ocean acidification detection and monitoring, ocean current sensors, the world's deepest hydrophone for the Challenger Deep, and other enabling technologies that have advanced the entire field of marine engineering.

CAPT (Ret.) Rick Williams, Founder and Principal, Oregon Applied Research, LLC

* CAPT (Ret.) Rick Williams has been a member of MTS for over 40 years. CAPT (Ret.) Williams is a career mariner and Explorer Club Fellow. As Officer-in-Charge of Deep Submergence Vehicle SEA CLIFF, he oversaw its initial dive to 20,000 feet in the Middle America Trench in 1985. As the Commanding Officer of a nuclear attack submarine, he led two under-ice expeditions to the North Pole. He also spear-headed the conversion of the prototype Joint Command Ship of the Future. Upon retiring from the Navy, CAPT (Ret.) Williams worked at Tektronix and was a founding board member of the Oregon Wave Energy Trust and is now a Senior Fellow and doctoral student in energy policy at Portland State University.

Jill Zande, President/Executive Director, MATE Inspiration for Innovation (MATE II)

* Ms. Jill Zande has served as MTS' Vice President of Education and Research for two terms. She has chaired the Monterey Section for many years. In 2016 she served as the MTS Co-Chair for OCEANS in Monterey. In addition to significant MTS service, Ms. Zande is a global leader in the communication of marine technology. The student ROV competition she championed for two decades is one of the most influential activities in our community.

"Marine technology has an impact upon virtually every aspect of our global society," said MTS President Zdenka Willis. "This year's awardees represent the 'best of the best' in our field and their efforts are helping to advance the goals of the marine technology community while inspiring all of us to meet some of the greatest scientific, educational, and political challenges of our time."

Learn more about the MTS awards. Nominations for next year's award will be accepted from January 1 - May 31, 2021. For eligibility and nomination instructions, visit http://www.mtsociety.org/awards-honors.

###

The Marine Technology Society promotes awareness, understanding, and the advancement and application of marine technology. Incorporated in 1963, the international society brings together businesses, institutions, professionals, academics, and students who are ocean engineers, technologists, policy makers, and educators. The Society publishes a peer-reviewed journal -- The Marine Technology Society Journal. It has three technical divisions and 31 Professional Committees (technical interest groups). The society hosts several conferences yearly. And, it supports 13 Sections, which focus on events and programs unique to their geographic areas, enhancing networking among local colleagues, businesses, universities and government/military offices.
Samsung Life headquarters in southern Seoul / Courtesy of Samsung Life



By Anna J. Park



Since ruling party lawmakers proposed revisions to the current Insurance Business Act in mid-June, Samsung Life's stock price increased by 39.5 percent from the closing price of 46,800 won ($39.4) on June 18 to last Friday's closing price of 65,300 won. The insurance stock then fell by 9.49 percent to 59,100 won on Tuesday's trading session. These volatile stock fluctuations show investors' expectation and confusion regarding the insurer's future since new financial regulation proposals were recently made by lawmakers.



Park Yong-jin and Lee Yong-woo, both lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), suggested the proposals aimed at shifting insurers' asset assessment standards from current book value to market value, which is more in line with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 17 coming into force in Korea in 2023.



Only two insurers  Samsung Life and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance  will be impacted in their asset management from the bills' passage. Both insurers are currently shareholders of Samsung Electronics, investing about 30 trillion won and 5.25 trillion won, respectively, in the electronics giant. With the bills' passage, they'd be forced to sell everything except 3 percent of their company asset size in terms of market value. It means Samsung Life has to sell about 20 trillion won worth of Samsung Electronics shares, while Samsung Marine & Fire needs to sell 3.25 trillion won worth of them.



The proposals have been submitted to a standing National Policy Committee at the Assembly, and will be discussed once the National Assembly's regular session kicks off next month. Given the ruling party's dominance at the Assembly as well as financial authority chiefs' backing on the issues, it's expected that the revisions will be passed during the assembly session.



Possible scenario



As Park's suggestion provides a grace period of five years for the required revisions to be completed, Samsung Life has at least five years to prepare itself for the possible upcoming challenge. Approval from the Financial Services Commission (FSC) could also prolong the period by two more years  that's why market insiders say the insurers would sell their Samsung Electronics shares in the next seven years.



Market watchers expect one possible scenario from the massive sales of the electronic giant stocks is that Samsung C&T, the de facto holding company of Samsung, will purchase them in order to maintain Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's current grip on Samsung. Lee is the largest shareholder of Samsung C&T  the largest shareholder of Samsung Life.



Some also expect Samsung C&T would sell its shares of Samsung Biologics to secure money necessary for purchasing Samsung Life and Samsung Fire's electronics equities. Samsung C&T owns about 43.44 percent of Samsung Biologics' shares, amounting to some 23 trillion won, which is a similar value to the Samsung Electronics shares to be given up by the insurers.





Possible boon for Samsung Life shareholders



Whatever is the case with a possible selling scenario, market analysts predict an additional surge to the insurers' stock price.



"It's true that Samsung Life has to sell parts of its owned equities in Samsung Electronics. However, even if Samsung Life gets to only keep 3 percent of its Samsung Electronics shares, that amounts to 10.5 trillion won. Given that the insurer's market cap stands at 14.4 trillion won, Samsung Electronics' equity values could be further reflected in Samsung Life's stock price," emphasized Chung Tae-joon, an analyst at Yuanta Securities Korea.



Chung added the main challenge for the insurer is to find alternative lucrative investments that could replace Samsung Electronics in the long term.



Another analyst also pointed out that Samsung Life's share price might have the momentum for its stock price to be normalized, appropriately reflecting its asset price.



"One of the reasons that Samsung Electronics' equities couldn't have been reflected in Samsung Life's market value was that it was estimated that the insurer could not sell the equities due to Samsung's conglomerate dominance issue," said Kang Seung-gun, an analyst from KB Securities, adding that if the sales are to be realized, stock prices could increase from the profits.


The police have recovered 3.67 lakh in cash and a scooter from Sham Lal, 42, of Kabir Nagar, who was arrested by the Daresi police on August 15 for cheating an acquaintance of 31 lakh in a fraudulent investment deal and cooking up a story on bribing the police.

Lal and two others were involved in the crime, of which one has been identified by police as Happy Sharma.

According to joint commissioner of police (city) Bhagirath Meena, Manpreet Singh of Guru Nanak Nagar had complained that Lal had cheated his father Joginder Singh of 25 lakh by promising to double his money in a fake investment scheme. He had then cooked another plan and taken 6 lakh from Joginder by saying he had been caught by a crime investigating agency (CIA) team of Chandigarh police with 25 lakh and had to bribe them or they would arrest Joginder.

Manpreet alleged that his father had arranged for 6 lakh by selling his car, and handed over the money to Lals accomplice, Happy Sharma, who posed as a CIA staff member.

Manpreet said as his suspicions were aroused when he followed the accomplice and found him entering Lals residence in Kabir Nagar. He then lodged a police complaint.

Meena added that the police had lodged an FIR under sections 420, 506 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code at the Daresi police station on August 15 and Lal had been arrested.

During questioning Lal confessed to exchanging damaged notes on commission basis. He said he was in debt, had lost money in gambling and was being pressurised by moneylenders. Aware of the fact that Joginder, his acquaintance, had a substantial amount of cash, Lal had first asked Joginder to invest the money and also hatched a plan to fake being caught by CIA officials.

3.67 lakh in cash and a scooter from recovered from him

According to Lal, of the money he had received from Joginder, he had repaid the moneylenders and given 13 lakh to Happy for his role in the conspiracy.

Meena said police were investigating the case.
Alexander Albon disappointed again with an eighth place during the GP of Spain on Sunday. This time, however, it was not only the Thai who was to blame, but also the Red Bull Racing strategy.

Albon was brought in early in the race for a change to the hardest tire. The teams didn't want to race on this tire, but Albon was put on it anyway. A way to test the tire for Max Verstappen or was this just a mistake of the team? Kees van de Grint thinks it was his.

Red Bull fails with the strategy

"It was an extremely stupid action to put Albon on the white tyre. Under the circumstances they seem to have lost their way at the pit wall and are only looking at their screens. That's why Max said they have to look out for themselves and that's why he and Lewis Hamilton stand out. They're taking the lead," said Bridgestone's former tyre expert at RTL GP Slipstream.

Because of Albon's eighth place, the sounds are also going up again to bring back the excellently performing Pierre Gasly. ''Gasly shouldn't want that either. Gasly's performance wouldn't support Verstappen either. Albon and Gasly both ride very well, but can't fulfil the role next to Verstappen. You have to have a lot of talent if you want to compete with Hamilton and Verstappen'', concludes Van de Grint.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday said the Supreme Court's judgement on the PM CARES Fund is a "body blow to transparency and accountability" of the government to the people.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Apex Court let go an opportunity to bring in transparency in the fund which has "its own opaque and murky rules" and, thereby, deviated from the belief that "sunlight is the best disinfectant".

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to direct the Centre to transfer the contributions made to the PM CARES Fund for battling the COVID-19 pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that voluntary contribution can always be made to the NDRF as there is no statutory bar under the Disaster Management Act.

ALSO READ | SC verdict on PM CARES 'resounding blow to nefarious designs' of Rahul Gandhi: BJP chief JP Nadda

Reacting to the verdict, Surjewala said, "The SC judgment is a body blow to transparency & accountability of Govt to people. It marks a sad letter day for responsibility & answerability of rulers to the electorate and remind them that they are not 'Monarchs' but 'servants of the people'."

"SC scrupulously believed that 'sunlight is the best disinfectant'. Today, the Court, in a departure from that tradition, passed up an opportunity to demand answers on the #PMCaresFund that seeks public money but plays by its own opaque & murky rules," he said in another tweet.

NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation, in its plea before the Supreme Court, had sought a direction that all the money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the COVID-19 pandemic should be transferred to the NDRF.

In March, the Centre set up the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund with the primary objective to deal with any kind of emergency situation like the one currently posed by the COVID-19 outbreak and provide relief to those affected.
Coronavirus is spreading easily in areas of Australia with lower humidity, according to a landmark new study.

Low humidity causes an increase in community transmission of COVID-19, Professor Michael Ward, an epidemiologist at the University of Sydney, found.

The study could signal a drop in COVID-19 cases when summer begins as humidity is higher - meaning a lower risk of virus droplets reaching a person's respiratory system.

This study reaffirmed previous research by the same team that was conducted in July, with both being focused on the Greater Sydney region.

Humidity impacts the transmission of airborne viruses, with tropical, humid climates such as northern Queensland making it difficult for particles to spread to others.

With just a one per cent drop in relative humidity, there may be an increase of eight per cent of COVID-19 cases, the study found.

A study has found an association between lower humidity and an increase in community transmission of COVID-19 (pictured, a woman wears a face mask in Bondi on August 2)

Cases are expected to increase two-fold when there is a ten per cent drop in humidity.

'When the humidity is lower, the air is drier and it makes the aerosols smaller,' Professor Ward said.

'When you sneeze and cough those smaller infectious aerosols can stay suspended in the air for longer.

'That increases the exposure for other people. When the air is humid and the aerosols are larger and heavier, they fall and hit surfaces quicker.'

He said that if people are in an area of low humidity, wearing a mask can help prevent infectious aerosols escaping into the air from infectious people.

Wearing a face covering can also help limit the exposure to infectious aerosols in the case of an uninfected person.

With a one per cent drop in relative humidity there may be an increase of eight per cent of COVID-19 cases (pictured, a woman having her tempature checked in Sydney)

'This second study adds to a growing body of evidence that humidity is a key factor in the spread of COVID-19,' Professor Ward said.

Professor Ward said the data shows there is a prospect for seasonal disease outbreaks.

Brisbane's humidity is between 60 and 80 per cent for the majority of the year, with February the most humid month and September the least.

The average humidity is 68 per cent.

The state has had 1,091 cases of coronavirus since the outbreak began with just seven currently active.

Professor Ward said drier air makes particles smaller and they stay suspended in the air longer, meaning more risk of transmission. Pictured: People wait for a bus in the CBD on August 18

This is compared to NSW where humidity in Sydney is between 40 and just over 60 per cent relative humidity.

The average is 57 per cent and August is the least humid month.

NSW has had 3,770 cases of coronavirus with 122 currently active.

Professor Ward said further studies were needed to understand the extent of the relationship between humidity and COVID-19.

Melbourne - which is currently plagued by the most COVID-19 cases in the country - has an average humidity of 66 per cent, with January being the least humid month, when its cases were far lower.
President Trump recently delivered on our recommendation to suspend the payroll tax. His executive order defers payroll tax obligations for employees earning less than $104,000 (about 90 percent of all American workers). Combined with the employer payroll tax relief in the CARES Act, which passed by a strong bipartisan vote, the president's order will provide meaningful tax relief to nearly all working Americans. This tax cut will significantly boost the economy and accelerate its recovery.



Now employers from Wall Street to Main Street must act to comply with this executive order and suspend employee payroll tax withholding to boost their workers' net pay. The president can help make employers comply by issuing directives to the Treasury and IRS to instruct businesses that they are prohibited from withholding payroll taxes from workers' paychecks through year-end and that they will not be held legally liable for collecting suspended payroll taxes paid to employees. These directives can turn the tax deferral into a de facto tax cut. Ultimately, employers, employees, and voters who want a vibrant small business-led economic recovery should vote to make this tax relief permanent on Election Day.



For most employees, the payroll tax is the biggest tax burden they face. Suspending it will eliminate one of their most significant paycheck expenses, leaving them better able to pay their bills and other expenses. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that Trump's tax deferral may put $100 billion worth of extra pay back in the pockets of U.S. workers through year-end. With these additional funds circulating in the economy -- in the form of local consumption and investment -- jobs and opportunity will be created.



This return to work incentive will help employers as much as it helps employees. It rewards employees for returning to work with what amounts to a net pay increase of six percent. This additional take-home pay will make work more attractive for those earning supplemental unemployment benefits that paid most recipients more to stay home than return to work, helping small businesses rehire as the economy reopens. The money goes straight to Main Street USA in every town in America. (President Trump also signed an executive order to extend federal unemployment benefits but at a lower rate to make resuming work more attractive.)



Congressional Democrats, Joe Biden, and their media allies are criticizing the tax deferral for its supposed fiscal impact on Social Security. Biden called the move "a reckless war on Social Security." These are crocodile tears to mask getting outmaneuvered politically. Note that none of these politicians, including Biden and Pelosi, complained when the Obama administration cut payroll taxes to accelerate the economic recovery after the Great Recession. That's because the Treasury can and will supplement the Social Security fund as it did under Obama. Biden must explain why this tax relief that he pursued as part of the Obama administration is somehow now "reckless."



President Trump has acted boldly and independently because the do-nothing Pelosi Congress can't do its job. Americans want action, not partisan bickering.



Now it's time for employers to step up. Some employers claim that they can't update their payroll systems by the Sep. 1st start date. (Trump has said he's considering backdating the deferral to Aug. 1st.) Other businesses are considering continuing to withhold the taxes because they're worried about the tax liability associated with having to pay in a lump sum in the future. These are excuses. Employers from the crab shack to the corner offices owe it to their employees to follow the executive order's spirit and provide them with this deferral to help them get back on their feet.



Congress could also help by clearing up any ambiguity and passing a law to make this payroll tax deferral an actual tax cut.

That would be a real stimulus that rewards roughly 140 million American workers and millions of often financially-strapped small business employers. Who could be against a tax cut that helps the working class and small businesses?
As for the people who were charged, Greene said: I am asking for these persons to immediately turn themselves in to the Portsmouth Police Department.

Lucas, reached on her cellphone, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The statue of a Confederate soldier was part of a large monument in the citys Olde Towne neighborhood that became a gathering place for protests following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. The monument, which was damaged extensively by protesters, was erected in 1876 on a site that had been used to punish slaves.

The Portsmouth senator, a prominent member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, is sponsoring key legislation on police and criminal justice reform, including a bill that would ban searches based solely on the perceived odor of marijuana, and traffic stops based on missing inspections and tinted windows.

Lucas has also said one of her top priorities is legislation that would empower the attorney general to investigate police departments for patterns and practices that deprive persons of rights, privileges or immunities, according to the Senate Democratic Caucus unified agenda for the special session.
Exhausted women driven from their homes arrive in the town of Kaya after a 150-kilometre trek to flee fresh violence in Burkina Faso. The country now has more one million internally displaced people.  UNHCR/Sylvain Cherkaoui

Escalating violence has now driven more than one million people from their homes in Burkina Faso, 453,000 since the start of the year, according to figures published Monday night by national authorities.

Five per cent of the countrys entire population  an astonishing one in 20 people  is now displaced in the world's fastest-growing humanitarian and protection crisis. Attacks by armed groups in the north and east of the country have forced people to move multiple times and are set to push the numbers still higher.

Most of the displaced fled the northern and eastern regions of the country, often being forced to flee multiple times. The two regions of the Centre Nord and the Sahel host some 76 per cent of all IDPs.

Host populations are at a breaking point as they share the little resources they have while also facing themselves poverty, strained health services and rapidly disappearing livelihoods. For people who have fled wars and persecution and for the communities hosting them, the additional impact of COVID-19 is devastating.

They desperately need shelter, food, water, protection, health. Education also remains a priority, as over 2,500 schools have been forced to close after being targeted thus affecting almost 350,000 students.

While facing record displacement, Burkina Faso has generously hosted Malian refugees since 2012. The nearly 20,000 refugees still in Burkina Faso also find themselves facing insecurity. Earlier this year, following attacks and ultimatums by armed groups, the Goudoubo refugee camp, which up until then was home to 9,000 refugees, effectively emptied as they have fled to seek safety elsewhere.

Living conditions in Mentao, the other refugee camp, have also been worsening, with violence severely restricting access. Most of the 6,000 refugees living there were forced to move to the nearby town of Djibo. Together with the authorities, UNHCR is working to prepare the relocation of refugees to a safer place, where assistance and access to basic services can be provided.

Responding to the humanitarian and protection crisis in the Sahel, UNHCR launched in June a US$186 million appeal to mainly provide lifesaving protection and assistance to refugees, IDPs, returnees and host communities in the central Sahel region, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

With funds available representing 53 per cent of the appeal, UNHCR is providing more core relief items and shelters, to decongest the most overcrowded sites. Teams are also working to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, which has become widespread and aggravated by confinement and overcrowding. We are also rehabilitating schools and classrooms and providing distance learning opportunities.

You can contribute to UNHCR's efforts here

For more information on this topic, please contact:
KANPUR Kanpur police have launched a plasma donors group to supplement donations at the newly set up plasma bank at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College (GSVM medical college) here.

The initiative was launched in the wake of poor response to the plasma bank which received a mere five units of plasma between July 5 and August 10. So far, 73 policemen (including 26 PAC jawans) have been infected and 42 who recovered are eligible for donation and will do so, soon, said Dr Anil Kumar, SP, Kanpur West.

Our efforts to motivate the public seem to be working as people are now volunteering to donate plasma. Hopefully, their number will increase, said Dr Lubna Khan, head of blood bank at GSVM medical college.

The plasma therapy is effective in moderate cases and prevents patients from going into a critical state, she said, appealing to the public to donate plasma.

As of now, only one policeman, inspector Satish Chandra Sahu, has donated plasma which helped two patients recover from the infection.

Since March 23, when the first Covid-19 case was reported in a Nawabgunj residential colony, the city has added 10,107 infections and close to 6,000 people have recovered. Half of those who recovered can donate plasma as per the protocol while the rest can do so once their quarantine period is over.

DIG, PAC, R L Verma said 26 jawans currently under treatment at L1 Covid-19 hospital would also be among the donors.

Deputy SP Ajay Kumar, who was transferred to Faizabad last week, said,Before leaving on new assignment, I will donate plasma at the blood bank. Everyone who has recovered should do this. In May, Kumar had tested Covid positive and had to be put on ventilator before he beat the infection.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 08:27:53|Editor: huaxia

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Staff members look at exhibits during a press preview at the Science Museum in London, Britain, on Aug. 17, 2020. The Science Museum is scheduled to reopen to the public on Aug. 19. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
Napa County is seeing at least some progress in a key COVID-19 indicator that has the county placed on the states business-and-school-closing monitoring list.

The county on Tuesday reported having 177.6 cases per 100,000 residents over the past 14 days, compared to 214.3 a week ago. It needs to cut this number to less than 100 to escape state-imposed restrictions.

Dr. Karen Relucio, county public health officer, saw enough good news in the latest round of data to express cautious optimism the county is on the right track.

The states monitoring list has 41 of the states 58 counties. But its not impossible to get off the list. Santa Cruz County announced Monday it has done just that, with Gov. Gavin Newsom saying San Diego County will be next.

San Diego County on its website reports a rate of 89.8 cases per 100,000 people.

With two counties coming off the list, that gives hope, Napa County Supervisor Ryan Gregory said.

Napa County on July 13 lost indoor operations of barber shops, fitness centers, hair salons, worship services and non-essential offices. Some of these activities have moved outdoors. County officials had previously said being removed from the state list would allow these activities to reopen indoors.

But thats no longer automatic. Relucio told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that counties are at the mercy of a state health officer order being rescinded or altered.

Thats a new revelation, Gregory said.

Schools for in-person learning can still open 14 days after a county is removed from the list. Elementary schools can apply to Relucio for an exemption to open before then. Relucio has yet to grant an exemption.

Meanwhile, California has closed indoor operations of restaurants, movie theaters, tasting rooms and bars in all counties, whether they are on the monitoring list or not.

The situation gets murkier. Relucio said the state has a work group with health officers to look at new, tiered metrics for the monitoring list.

I dont know the details, she said. I think more is probably to be determined in the next week or so.

Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said this move gives him hope. He wants smaller counties to be represented on the working group.

I think its going to be critical for us, he said.

For now, though, restaurant dining, hair cuts and fitness center activities must be outdoors. Pedroza said hes thinking about fall and winter, when outdoor activities are not going to be as attractive.

I dont want to have this discussion in October or November, because then we will be reacting to it ... businesses and their employees need to start making plans for that, he said.

Relucio said that looming situation is part of whats driving the proposed metric changes, to make them more risk-based. Some counties want to open these businesses earlier, others want to take a more measured approach.

I think what weve learned is a one-size-fits-all approach doesnt work, Pedroza said.

Gregory said the state has talked about pulling its support for Napa Countys mass coronavirus testing site at the Napa Valley Expo at the beginning of September. The county would face a fairly large cost to take over this testing.

Relucio replied that shes heard the state will extend testing site support until the end of September. It is going to issue a new request for proposals for testing sites and has been asking local jurisdictions how testing could be done better.

The county also tracks its seven-day rate for positive cases, with the lower the rate the better. The positivity rate reported Tuesday is 2.5%, down from a peak of 5.4% during late July. The 14-day positivity rate for California is 6.5%.

Napa County last week reported its COVID-19 case rate at 176.1 per 100,000 residents, but also warned that state test reporting difficulties could have led to under-reporting. The update for last week raised the figure to 214.3.

That update led to the case rate falling from 214.3 per 100,000 residents last week to 177.6 this week.

Watch now: How to cope with pandemic emotional distress

You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com.

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Hyderabad: A 27-year-old migrant labourer has been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the health of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on a social media platform.

In June this year, the Cyber Crime wing of Hyderabad police had registered a case in this connection, they said. During the course of investigation it was revealed that one Panyala Raju, a native of Jagityal district in Telangana and residing in Saudi Arabia had posted the message, police said.

As such the cyber crime police initiated an LOC (Look Out Circular) against him and he was detained by immigration authorities at Mumbai international airport on his arrival from Saudi Arabia on August 14, a release said on Monday.

Based on the information, a police team went to Mumbai and took the accused in custody and brought him to Hyderabad, police added.
The NAACP's president and CEO, Derrick Johnson, at a 50th NAACP Image Awards event at the Dolby Theatre on March 29, 2019, in Hollywood, California. Robin L Marshall/Getty Images

In an interview with Business Insider, the NAACP's president, Derrick Johnson, discussed voter suppression, Kanye West, and the impact of Kamala Harris.

Johnson argued that Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, "will do all they can to prevent people from voting."

"I think stealing the election is a possibility, suppressing the vote is an absolute, and misleading voters is part of their strategy," Johnson said.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, will do whatever it takes to win in November, whether sabotaging the mail or propping up Kanye West or outright stealing the election, the NAACP's president charged in an interview with Business Insider.

"All their actions indicate that they will do all they can to prevent people from voting," Derrick Johnson, a lawyer who took over leadership of the civil-rights organization in 2017, said by phone. "I think stealing the election is a possibility, suppressing the vote is an absolute, and misleading voters is part of their strategy."

One concern, of course, is voting by mail. Trump has repeatedly and baselessly claimed that expanding mail-in voting for those nervous to vote in person during a pandemic would "rig" the election in favor of his Democratic opposition  a reprise of his baseless allegation that fraud cost him the popular vote in 2016.

Black voters, the most reliable constituency in the Democratic Party, are actually the least likely, historically, to opt for an absentee ballot. But, Johnson noted, there are other means of suppressing their political voice, both traditional and novel.

He cites the rapper West as an example. The celebrity musician, who recently met with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner  and in 2018, met the president himself while donning a MAGA cap  is running a largely absent independent presidential campaign that Republicans clearly see as a potential spoiler, robbing votes from the Democrat Joe Biden in states where a couple of thousand votes could be the difference between winning and losing.

Story continues

"We see this as a voter-suppression method because it is put in place to mislead voters," Johnson said. "We expect that this administration and those individuals who are aligned with it will do all they can to siphon off as many voters as possible, either by misdirecting who they vote for or suppressing their ability to cast a ballot."

But Johnson doesn't think those tactics are likely to work as well in 2020 as they might have in the past presidential election, when Black voter turnout dropped to its lowest point in two decades.

"I am feeling the sense of energy and urgency for this election cycle, particularly with the announcement of Kamala Harris as the running mate  a level of excitement that I did not see in 2016," Johnson said. "I think Senator Harris generated a level of energy, particularly for African American women, which is the strongest and largest voting bloc not only in the African American community but within the Democratic Party. That's a positive." And while some have criticized the selection of a former prosecutor in the age of Black Lives Matter, he said "their excitement vastly overshadows any concerns that others may raise."

In any case, he views the stakes as too high to quibble in the face of a possible second Trump term. "Based on our focus groups and polling, many African Americans feel that our lives depend on the outcome of this election," Johnson said. "If he is reelected, there is grave concern over the continuation of the stripping of the rights of many Americans, Black and white. Another term would completely strip our notion of democracy in ways in which we may not be able to recover."

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
SpyCloud, an Austin, Texas-based anti-fraud platform powering account takeover prevention and fraud investigations solutions, closed a $30m Series C funding.

The round was led by Centana Growth Partners, with participation from all existing investors: M12 (Microsofts venture fund), Altos Ventures, Silverton Partners, and March Capital Partners. In conjunction with the funding, Eric Byunn, partner at Centana Growth Partners, joined SpyClouds board.

The company intends to use the funds to grow its product and engineering teams and build new ways to detect and prevent fraud.

Led by Ted Ross, CEO and co-founder, SpyCloud is the leader in account takeover (ATO) prevention, protecting billions of consumer and employee accounts either directly or through product integrations. Its solutions  backed by a comprehensive and actionable repository of exposed assets  proactively defeat fraud attempts and disrupt the criminals ability to profit from stolen information.

FinSMEs

18/08/2020
Stabilizing Omans economy likely will require foreign help, though accepting money from the Emirates or Saudi Arabia could see those nations trying to reshape the sultanate. However, Oman likely will try to resist any effort to impose any change on its foreign policy as it remains fundamental to the interests of the state to maintain its room to maneuver, Diwan said.
A top federal official has admitted the government failed to check the health of Ruby Princess passengers before they dispersed into the community, in a decision that contributed to 900 coronavirus infections and 22 deaths.

The secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Andrew Metcalfe, acknowledged the mistake "impacted very severely" on many people and said changes would be made to prevent it being repeated.

Andrew Metcalfe acknowledged his officials did not conduct the "travellers with illness checklist" required under biosecurity law. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But Mr Metcalfe could not explain how 2647 passengers began to disembark the cruise ship at 6.30am on March 19 when his officials did not give formal approval for this to occur until 7.37am.

A Senate committee also heard the Australian Border Force had no legal authority over human health even though one of its officers checked the medical tests for 13 passengers and wrongly concluded they had been cleared of COVID-19.
FUERSTENFELDBRUCK, Germany (Reuters) - German and Israeli fighter jets flew in formation past the site of the 1972 attack on Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics on Tuesday in their first joint exercise in Germany.

As part of their "Blue Wings 2020" manoeuvres, German and Israeli pilots flew over the Fuerstenfeldbruck military airfield near Munich to commemorate the attack which left 11 Israelis, a German policeman and five Palestinian gunmen dead.

A gunfight erupted at the airfield after Palestinians from the Black September group took members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage at the poorly secured athletes village on Sept. 5, 1972.

Later on Tuesday, the jets will fly over the site of the Dachau concentration camp where some 200,000 people, many of them Jews, were imprisoned and 41,500 murdered under Adolf Hitler's Nazis. Set up in 1933, it was meant as a model for other concentration camps.

Senior officials, including a relative of a camp survivor and German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer will take part in a ceremony there.

Since 1945, Berlin has felt a special responsibility towards Israel and the joint manoeuvres are the first time Israeli fighter planes have trained in Germany.

A rise in anti-Semitism, in particular an attack on a synagogue in Halle last year which left two people dead, has caused alarm in Germany.

Luftwaffe chief of staff Ingo Gerhartz said the programme was a sign of friendship. The darkest chapter of German history handed the country the "task to resolutely fight anti-Semitism today," he was quoted by broadcaster BR24 as saying.

(Reporting by Reuters Television; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Ever since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the question on most of our minds is: When will end? Many infectious disease experts believe that like similar virusesincluding measlesCOVID-19 will never fully be eradicated. Instead, we need to focus on getting control of it, minimizing infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. How will we know that we have effectively beaten COVID? During a Healthline Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert and key member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, gave an explicit answer to the question, and mentioned which positivity rates indicated danger. Read on, and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 37 Places You're Most Likely to Catch Coronavirus.

1

On States with High Positivity Rates

Woman wearing surgical mask going through crosswalk in midtown manhattan.Concept of Coronavirus, COVID-19 and quarantine

During previous interviews Dr. Fauci has made it clear that eradicating the virus isn't a likely reality. However, he explained to the panel when the percent positivity rate goes "way, way down," that will signify a win. How far down is enough to start celebrating? "I mean, you look at New York City right now. It's less than 1%. That's what you want the whole country to be," he stated. Unfortunately, many states are far away from that target number. "There are parts of the country where it's 15, 18, 20%"in Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, and Texas"that's really high," he pointed out. "You gotta get that percent positivity so the percent of your tests that you do that are actually positive, it's gotta be a very low number."

2

On Whether the Coronavirus Vaccine Will Ever Be Mandated

Nurse checking a vial of medicine.

When a vaccine becomes available, Dr. Fauci doesn't believe that anyone will be forced to get it. "I don't think you'll ever see a mandating of vaccines, particularly for the general public," he stated. The only exception could be in healthcare. "Sometimes in the health sector, like in my hospital here at NIH, you're not going to be allowed to go on the ward unless you get a flu vaccine," he added. "But you would never mandateat least I do not think you would. I'd be pretty surprised if you mandated it for any element of the general public."

Story continues

3

On Whether the United States Is Still Communicating with the WHO

President Donald Trump may have denounced the World Health Organization, but the United States has not fully severed their relationship with them. "I'm on aand my colleagues from the CDCare on a weekly call that is sponsored and put on by WHO in which essentially the health authorities and scientists from every country in the world that's gets involved with COVID-19, which is about every country in the world, talking about their experiences, sharing information," he revealed. "We have scientific collaborations with our colleagues in Europe, European Union, Australia, Canada, Mexico. We have clinical trial networks in South Africa, in Brazil, in Chile and Peru. So there's an awful lot of international activity going on," he continued. "You don't hear about that very much in the press, but it really is going on rather intensively."

4

On Why Closing Schools Isn't a One-Size-Fits-All Situation

Mother puts a safety mask on her son's face.

Despite the fact that outbreaks have been reported in schools that have reopened across the country, Dr. Fauci maintains that there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether schooling should be all virtual. "The bottom line is that we live in a big country and we can't take a uni-dimensional approach," he said, explaining that whether or not schools should open for in-person learning should be dependent on the level of infection in the specific region. "We've got to realize there's gotta be flexibility about where you are and how prepared you are to respond, to make a statement on one side versus the other, taking the country as a whole won't work."

5

On How to Avoid COVID-19

Rising cases and hospitalizations make these the nations hot spots.

Until a vaccine is widely available, do everything you can to prevent gettingand spreadingCOVID-19: Wear a face mask, get tested if you think you have coronavirus, avoid crowds (and bars, and house parties), practice social distancing, only run essential errands, wash your hands regularly, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.
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After growing controversy over changes in how the U.S. Post Office functions, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy released a statement Tuesday saying:

To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded.





Retail hours at post offices will not change

Mail processing equipment and blue collection boxes will remain where they are

No mail processing facilities will be closed

Overtime has and will continue to be approved as needed

DeJoy said that he can assure Americans of the following:

DeJoy has already been called to testify in front of the Senate this Friday, and the House of Representatives next Monday. His statement Tuesday came five days after President Trump told a Fox Business News host that he opposed Democrats' efforts to get more funding for the U.S. Postal Service because "they need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots."

A Martinez, the host of KPCC's Take Two, spoke with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra shortly after DeJoy's statement was released.

In the statement, DeJoy said he will suspend until after the election the "significant reforms" that "predate my arrival at the Postal Service." Here's what Becerra had to say about it.

A Martinez: How are you feeling in the wake of this statement?

Attorney General Xavier Becerra: First, I guess we should welcome back the Postmaster General in the Trump administration to the real world, where it matters if you follow the law. But, two, this is just the latest statement by this administration. So we're going to be very cautious. As I usually say, I don't track what the president or his administration say, I watch what they do. And that's why we're ready to file a lawsuit if they were to retract this latest statement by the Postmaster General.

So will you retract the lawsuit, as of now?

We're working as a team. We're working closest right now with the state of Pennsylvania. But a number of states are prepared to sue. I think we're all looking at this language. We're all going to see where it takes us. But again, we're not going to jeopardize the vote simply because the administration is now articulating something different. We're going to watch what they're doing. Are they removing box collections for votes? Are they trying to keep people in the postal service from administering the mail and shipping it out and delivering it? Or what are they doing? Not just what they're saying.

It sounds like you're still very wary of this statement and what the intentions behind it are.

We've had to sue this administration 95 times to get them to follow the law. You would understand then why I'm a little concerned and skeptical about what they say and why we depend on what they do.

In a letter to a postal staffers last week, Postmaster General DeJoy said his policies have brought "unintended consequences that impacted overall service levels." Now we have that statement from him today. In your view, is there any chance that the changes he's implemented, and their effects, were accidental? Or are you pretty confident that he intentionally sought to stymie the Postal Service?

Wow, I don't know in what world [one] could be so blind as to not know the consequences of what you were doing. We always are gracious and try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I think this administration has really worn out its welcome with all these excuses. Listen, I take Mr. DeJoy at his word today. I wouldn't have wanted to take him for his word yesterday or any for the days before.

But it's not a matter of taking his word for it. It's a matter of making sure we're on top of it to make sure that their actions reflect what the law requires. And that's what we'll just do, is just make sure that what the Postal Service does is what the law expects.

Let's assume that all of the things Postmaster General de Joy mentions in his statement happen, that he sticks to what he wrote. Is the damage done already when it comes to the post office and the way people see mail-in ballots?

Confidence in this administration doing what it's supposed to is shot. The ability of Postmaster General DeJoy to do what he's supposed to is gone. But the confidence in the men and women who work in the Postal Service, who -- day in, day out -- deliver on time and through rain and all the rest? I think everybody knows that we respect the folks who do the work, and they have never been the problem.

So if Postmaster General DeJoy were to get out of the way, I think all of us would feel comfortable. The thing is, we just can't -- given this administration and this president -- expect that to be the case. We're going to make sure it's the case by ensuring that the law is there to protect people's vote. There's nothing more important than the franchise, and I think we all have obligations to make sure it is protected.

So for people that are going to rely on mail-in ballots this election year, what's your message to them? If no one wants to go into a polling place because they're afraid of possibly infecting themselves or any kind of other fear, what do you have to say to people who are planning on using mail-in ballots?

Vote. And vote as if your life and your future depended on it, because it does. And vote in person or vote by mail. I guarantee that in California we're going to do everything to make sure that when you vote, your vote will get counted, regardless of what this administration does. Either because we keep him to task under the law or because we make sure that in California we've got everything in place to make sure that those votes will get counted. But, certainly, if you want to stay safe and away from COVID-19 and you decide to vote at home through the mail, we're here to tell you that it will be safe and it will be counted.

Top Democrats have called for DeJoy to resign. Do you support those calls?

You know that that's not really up to me. But I will tell you this, he was AWOL when we needed him most. He has disrupted service in a way that's been harmful. It's not just the vote. It's prescription drug medication that gets mailed. It's people's paychecks. It's Social Security checks that are stuck in the mail. All those things show that he's just not fit to be in a position where time and delivery count. So should he be removed? I'll leave that to the congressional folks and D.C. folks. All I know is that California, we're going to make sure we protect people's right here to get their mail delivered on time.

Take Two airs at 2 p.m. on weekdays at 89.3. You can also stream the show on your smart speakers or at KPCC.org.

Listen to the interview here:

California voters:

All registered voters in California will receive a mail-in ballot for the November election under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in June.

All ballot envelopes in California are pre-paid postage.

Ballots postmarked on or before election day will have their votes counted under state law -- as long as they arrive within 17 days.

In L.A. County all voters are are free to choose how they vote, either by mail, or by dropping their filled-in ballot at any voting center, or by voting in person at any voting center. Read more about voting in L.A. County: How Voting Will Work For The 2020 Election


In Evelyn Waughs Scott-Kings Modern Europe, a schools headmaster and Scott-King, the classics teacher, discuss the declining enrollment in Latin and Greek classes. The headmaster wishes to do away with the classics: Parents arent interested in producing the complete man any more. They want to qualify their boys for the modern world. He then asks if Scott-King might teach history and economics. He refuses.

Then what do you intend to do?

If you approve, headmaster, I will stay as I am here as long as any boy wants to read the classics. I think it would be very wicked indeed to fit a boy for the modern world.

Its a short-sighted view, Scott-King.

There, headmaster, with all respect, I differ from you profoundly. I think it the most long-sighted view it is possible to take.

Is the headmaster correct? Is there any reason to study Latin today? After all, why spend all that time and energy learning declensions and conjugations and memorizing vocabulary when no one speaks Latin anymore? Cui bono? (To whose good?)

Lets take a look.

Inflection

Latin is an inflected language, meaning the grammatical function of words in a sentence depends on the endings of those words. Many beginners try to translate a Latin sentence following the rules of English word order, which simply doesnt work.

Heres an example.

The sailor loves land is the only way we can render that sentence in English with any coherent meaning. But in Latin, because grammar and meaning depend on word endings, inflection is king. A common equivalent Latin sentence for The sailor loves land is Nauta terram amat, with the -a on nauta indicating a subject, the -am indicating a direct object, and the -t on amat indicating an indicative active present tense third-person singular verb.

Because of these word endings, however, we can also write Nauta terram amat in the following ways, and any first year student of Latin will know they all translate, The sailor loves land.

Nauta amat terram.

Amat nauta terram.

Amat terram nauta.

Terram amat nauta.

Terram nauta amat.

So, you may wonder: Whats the big deal? Why is this a reason for undertaking Latin?

The big deal is that study of an inflected language forces us to learn a good deal of grammar. Unlike French and Spanish, which like English depend on word order to make a sensible sentence, Latin demands we understand language in a different way, with inflection forcing us to open the hood and get at the mechanics of language. Students have often told me they learned more grammar from studying Latin than from English grammar workbooks.

Other Advantages

As a result of this difference, Latin also provides a gymnasium for the mind. It exercises our brain. Like calculus, like chemistry, the study of Latin trains us to think more clearly and logically. By coming at language from a different angle, students engage in arduous but rewarding mental gymnastics.

Moreover, Latin provides a great introduction to Romance languages. French, Spanish, and Italian are all related to Latin, and knowledge of the language of Cicero and Aquinas makes learning these other languages much easier. Former students of mine who took even two years of Latin excelled in other foreign languages in college.

Latin opens windows on the English language. Well over half of all English words are derived from Latin, and the longer the word, the higher this percentage grows. A great majority of our four- and five-syllable words are rooted in Latin soil.

Nor should the historical significance of Latin for Westerners be overlooked. Not only will students learn the language spoken and written by the ancient Romans, but they will also be taking part in an education common to men and women from Caesar to Thomas Jefferson, from Virgil to Dante and Luther. For 1,400 years after the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, scholars, ecclesiastics, and statesmen read and spoke this ancient language. Even just a century ago, many colleges required Latin for entry.

To study Latin makes us a part of this great tradition.

Resources

Because families approach learning in different ways, I am uncomfortable touting specific Latin programs. Here are some thoughts at large.

First, you can find programs at educational companies like Memoria Press that begin Latin in early elementary school. I once taught fifth and sixth graders using that outfits Latina Christiana. We would finish Book I of the program and then the next year proceed to a high school text and go at a slower pace than normal.

That high school text was Henle Latin First Year. You can find it online along with tests, answer keys, and a teachers manual. Henle appealed to me because of its logical approach to learning Latin forms and its limited use of vocabulary. Still in print after 70 years, Henle Latin first introduces students to all the noun and adjective forms, then verbs, and then other grammar.

Its disadvantages? Henle Latin says very little about the culture of Ancient Rome, and some students, especially the girls, disliked the focus on military affairs. As a result, when we finished Henle in the middle of our second year of study, I would switch to the used copies of Latin For Americans I kept in my classroom.

Those who prefer a less grammar-focused, reading curriculum should look at such texts as the Cambridge and Oxford Latin series. Though Im not a fan, many teachers and students enjoy the stories in these books and the focus on Roman culture.

If you know a homeschooling family or some other Latin student or teacher, ask them for recommendations.

Finally, keep in mind that the internet offers a boatload of Latin resources. Dont understand the ablative case? Google it on YouTube. Want company chanting verb parts? Ditto.

Tips for Success

Study Latin daily. As is true of any foreign language, spending time each day on your Latin is one of the keys to mastery.

Repetitio est mater studiorum. (Repetition is the mother of studies.) Latin and memorization go hand in hand. To succeed in Latin, you must memorize the vocabulary and the word endings. This can be done in short sessions. If youre learning the forms of the first declension noun terra, for example, set a watch and see how many times you can say terra, terrae, etc. in one minute. Probably you can get through it eight or nine times in 60 seconds. Say that form aloud two minutes a day, five days in a row, and you will have memorized the declension.

Never go on to a lesson if you dont understand the previous lesson. Latin is like math, a cumulative acquisition of knowledge. You wouldnt begin algebra if you had never learned multiplication. Latin operates the same way.

On index cards write out your Latin vocabulary words on one side and the English translation on the other. When you write nouns, be sure to include the genitive case: terra, terraeland, of the land. When you write verbs, be sure to include the principal parts: amo, amare, amavi, amatusI love, to love, I loved/I have loved, loved/having been loved. Review the cards frequently, and stick those words in your head.

If possible, form a study group. Often camaraderie makes studying easier. Work out the exercises together.

When translating, avoid saying This sentence doesnt make sense. Instead, say I cant make sense of this sentence. The sentences do make sense, and its your job to decipher them.

Finally, be positive in your approach. Latin offers challenges, but you can face those challenges, overcome them, and become not only more proficient at Latin, but also a stronger person.

Reassuring Grandma

Studying Latin carries with it a certain cachet.

Suppose your grandmother, suspicious of homeschooling, asks you what foreign language you are learning. If you reply, Spanish, she might say, Well, thats very practical these days. Should you answer French, she may remark, French is a beautiful language. If, however, you respond, Latin, your grandmother will probably make one of two comments. She may first ask you why anyone would study a dead language, in which case you should cite the above arguments. But she may just as likely say: Latin? Latin? You must be smart.

And so you are.

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.
The Sunyani Municipal Fire Commander, Divisional Officer III (DOIII) Solomon Duah Agyemang on Tuesday appealed to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) to give prior notice to the public before any power outrage.



He said a power outage could be due to a justifiable technical reason such as repair works but if it happened unexpectedly, the resultant effect on consumers was sometimes disastrous.



DOIII Agyemang was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, after the Command attended to two separate fire cases on Monday morning at Berlin Top, a suburb at Fiapre and Odumase in the Sunyani West Municipality.



He said the two fire incidents were allegedly caused by power fluctuations.



He said other preventable causes of fire outbreaks were worrying, not only to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) but the entire citizenry.



DOIII Agyemang, therefore, urged that the public be informed ahead of power outrages to enable them to put off their electrical appliances to prevent fire disasters and destruction of properties.



He said at about 1000 hours on Monday, the Command had a distressed call that fire had gutted a six-bedroom house at Berlin-Top.



He said some fire officers, who were then at Odumase to fight an outbreak, were informed to proceed to that location.



DOIII Agyemang said the fire officers called for reinforcement due to the intensity of the fire before they could bring it under control to prevent its spread to other surrounding houses.



He said two out of six main occupants, who were at home at the time of the incident, told the fire officers there was a power outage in the area.



They said when the power was restored they heard a loud noise in the house but could not trace the source until a neighbour saw a cloud of smoke coming out from the house and alerted them.



DOIII Agyemang said the two occupants could not retrieve any of their belongings as all the six bedrooms were engulfed by fire.



DOIII Agyemang estimated the cost of the fire to run in millions of cedis.



He entreated the public not to overload their sockets with electrical gadgets and urged property-owners to rewire their houses within every twenty years.



DOIII Agyemang also asked for the use of concrete for ceilings instead of plaster boards to prevent the quick spread of fire during an outbreak.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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By AFP

MOSCOW: A Russian major general was killed and two servicemen wounded when an improvised explosive device went off near a Russian convoy in eastern Syria on Tuesday, news agencies quoted the defence ministry as saying.

The ministry said the device went off while the convoy was returning from a humanitarian operation near the city of Deir Ezzor.

The statement, released to the Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS news agencies, said the three servicemen were wounded in the blast and that a "senior military advisor with the rank of major general" died while being evacuated and provided with medical assistance.

No further details were provided. Thousands of Russian troops are deployed across Syria in support of its army.

Moscow's military intervention in 2015, four years into the Syrian conflict, helped keep President Bashar al-Assad in power and started a long, bloody reconquest of territory lost to rebels in the early stages of the war.

In July, three Russian and several Turkish soldiers were wounded in Syria's restive Idlib province when a joint military patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device.
Pakistan's army chief was visiting Saudi Arabia on Monday in an effort to ease a row between the two countries over policy towards the disputed region of Kashmir.

The argument, brought on by Pakistani demands for Saudi Arabia to take a firmer line against India's behaviour in Kashmir, has threatened Riyadh's financial lifeline to Islamabad.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa's visit was "primarily military-affairs oriented," the Pakistani army spokesman said.

But Pakistani military and government officials told Reuters Bajwa would try to calm a situation that if not reversed could badly hurt Pakistan's central bank foreign reserves.

RELATED NEWS Lt Gen Asim Munir Appointed Head of Pakistan's ISI

A traditional ally, Saudi Arabia gave Pakistan a $3 billion loan and $3.2 billion oil credit facility to help its balance of payments crisis in late 2018.

Irked by Islamabad's demands for Riyadh to convene a high-level meeting to highlight arch-rival India's alleged human rights violations in Kashmir, Saudi Arabia has forced Pakistan to pay back $1 billion early and is demanding another $1 billion of the loan.

Riyadh has also not responded to Pakistani requests to extend the oil facility, military and finance ministry officials have told Reuters.

"I think our case is to convince them [Saudi] that there's no foreign policy shift," a senior Pakistani military official said.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars over the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, which both claim in full.

The Saudi-led Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) has only held low-level meetings over Kashmir despite Islamabad's demands.

Analysts say Saudi Arabia does not want to risk its business interests in India for supporting Pakistan over Kashmir. Riyadh might also have reservations over its foe Iran's possible inclusion in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, they said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said last week that if Saudi Arabia did not convene a meeting on Kashmir, then Pakistan might call one involving Islamic countries that supported it on the issue.

Last year Islamabad withdrew from a forum of Muslim nations at the last minute on the insistence of Riyadh, which saw the gathering as an attempt to challenge Saudi's OIC leadership.

Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, an influential Pakistani cleric, who went to Riyadh ahead of the general's visit, was optimistic, saying Saudi King Salman bib Abdul Aziz and Crown Price Mohammad bin Salman have a long history of good relations with Pakistan.

"I don't think things are so bad that as to say we are at daggers drawn," he told Reuters.
Around 20,000 people were forcefully evicted from their homes across the country during the coronavirus pandemic, between March 16 and July 31, according to a report by Housing and Land Rights Network (HLRN). It has compiled several such cases, such as a three-day demolition drive in East Laxmi Nagar market in Delhi in which around 100 houses were razed down and 150 families rendered homeless.

"It is likely that many of these evictions were carried out during the lockdown to take advantage of the curfew-like conditions, when movement of affected persons was restricted and they did not have access to legal remedies," said the report.

Despite the rise in coronavirus cases, the report said thousands of families have been forced to live out on the streets without food and water. "The urban and rural poor across India continue to suffer disproportionately from the pandemic and lockdown-induced hardships related to the loss of livelihoods, income, and food. Demolishing their homes under such circumstances has greatly exacerbated their plight and increased their impoverishment," it said.

The report said that 5,68,000 people have been evicted from their homes as a result of direct state action in the last three years, with over 519 being evicted daily, and over 14.9 million people currently face the threat of eviction from their homes and habitats.

The report also said that central and state government authorities last year demolished at least 22,250 homes, and in effect evicted more than 1,07,600 people across urban and rural India.

HLRN, which compiles statistics on forced evictions across the country every year, had said that two lakh people were forcefully evicted in 2018 and 2.6 lakh people in 2017.

The report noted the progressive reduction in the number of evictions, claiming it to be a function of reduced industrial activity in the country over the last three years.

Though the incidence of forced evictions over the last three years is high, it would have probably been even higher had the rate of investment in the country been higher. As a result of a drop in the industrial activity and projects, many land acquisition, real estate, and infrastructure projects were delayed or stalled in 2018 and 2019, it said.

From 2017 to 2019 on average, the report claimed state authorities destroyed at least 108 houses daily, evicting about 519 people every day or 22 people every hour.

The major reasons for eviction of people in 2019 were given as slum clearance/beautification drives (43%), followed by infrastructure projects (24%).

It is ironic that forced evictions and demolitions of homes have continued across the country in opposition to the central governments purported goal of providing housing for all in India by 2022, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, said the report.
The political party whose appeal led to Mondays annulment of November 16, 2019, Bayelsa election, is enmeshed in an existential crisis as it was deregistered by the electoral commission, INEC, three months after the election.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Bayelsa election tribunal nullified the victory of Governor Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the basis that INEC illegally disenfranchised the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) from participating in the election.

The ANDP had argued that INEC monitored its primary and election of a candidate for the election and that the electoral commission was wrong to have disenfranchised it by not including its name and logo on the ballot paper for the election.

On Monday, the tribunal agreed with the party and ordered fresh elections within 90 days with the inclusion of the ANDP as a participating party. Mr Diri is, however, expected to remain in office while he and his party appeal the ruling of the tribunal.

However, six months ago  about three months after the Bayelsa election  the ANDP was deregistered by INEC and thus ceased to be a registered political party in Nigeria.

The Deregistration

On February 6, INEC deregistered 74 of the 91 registered parties that participated in the 2019 general elections.

The commission said its decision followed a comparative review and court-ordered re-run elections arising from litigation on political parties in the last elections.

It said the political parties performed poorly and failed to win at least a seat in the last general elections. INEC also said the parties breached the requirement for registration of political parties under section 225 of the Nigerian constitution.

In defence, some of the affected parties kicked against INECs action, insisting that it acted illegally.

Separate suits were thus filed in court by the aggrieved parties.

One of such parties is the ANDP, which was registered as a political party on August 14, 2018, along with 23 other parties.

Following the suits, there have been contradictory court rulings on the propriety or otherwise of the deregistration.

Hope?

When a federal high court in June ruled against the deregistered parties and affirmed INECs power to deregister them, the 32 affected parties including the ANDP appealed the judgement. Before the June 11 ruling, a separate judge, Taiwo Taiwo, of the same federal high court, had on June 6 given a similar ruling in a suit filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP). Justice Taiwo had also in May given a similar ruling in a suit filed by the National Unity Party (NUP).

The NUP appealed the high court ruling and on July 29, the Court of Appeal agreed with the lower court and affirmed INECs powers to deregister parties that fail to meet stipulated criteria.

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However, a separate panel of the appeal court last Monday ruled in the appeal filed by 22 political parties that INEC failed to follow due process in deregistering the affected parties.

The appellate court, while dismissing the suit, held that INEC had failed to give reasons to the parties on why they could no longer exist.

That new ruling by the appellate court gave a glimmer of hope to the ANDP and the other parties, with some asking to be included in next months Edo governorship election.

INEC, has, however, said it would appeal the latest ruling and would defer acting on it because it contradicts the earlier appeal court ruling. The electoral commission said it would await the ruling of the Supreme Court on the matter.

We recall that on July 29, 2020, the Court Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division in an appeal filed by the National Unity Party (NUP) affirmed the power of the Commission (INEC) to deregister political parties that fail to meet the constitutional threshold in section 225A. Dissatisfied with the judgment the National Unity Party lodged an appeal which is presently pending before the Supreme Court.

Faced with two conflicting judgements from the same court, the commission is not in a position to pick and choose which one of them to obey.

Consequently, the commission will approach the Supreme Court for a final resolution of the issues raised, INEC spokesperson Festus Okoye said in the statement.

However, while waiting to know its status as a registered political party, the ANDP has scored a major victory with Mondays Bayelsa tribunal ruling.

Tribunals Decision

On Monday, the tribunal, based on the ANDPs petition, nullified the election of Governor Diri.

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ANDP through its governorship candidate, Lucky George, and National Chairman, Charles Ogboli, approached the tribunal seeking the nullification of the governorship election.

They argued that the party was unlawfully excluded from the election.

The party demanded an order for fresh election on the grounds that its name and logo were excluded from the ballot papers used for the election.

The tribunal agreed to its demands.

INEC has, however, expressed its dissatisfaction with the ruling, saying the candidate presented by the ANDP was not qualified, by age, to take part in the election. The commission said it gave the party the opportunity to replace the candidate, an opportunity the party failed to take.

Separate Tribunal Rulings

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the three-member tribunal on Saturday dismissed the three petitions filed by separate parties against Mr Diri and affirmed him the duly elected governor of the state.

Mr Diri did not, however, originally win the November 2019 Bayelsa election.

The election was originally won by David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This newspaper reported how the Supreme Court, on February 13, sacked Mr Lyon as the governor-elect barely 24 hours to his inauguration.

The apex court based its ruling on the premise that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false information to INEC in aid of his qualification for the election.

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. That ruling allowed Mr Diri to become Bayelsa governor.

Now, Governor Dir may have to rely again on the Supreme Court to retain his seat without a fresh election.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday laid the foundation stones of Rs 3,000-crore highway projects in Manipur and said the government will soon take up additional projects worth Rs 16,023 crore in the state. Laying the foundation stone of the 13 highway projects and inaugurating a road safety project in a virtual ceremony, the road transport, highways and MSME minister promised to also expedite the ongoing Rs 2,250-crore highway works in the state and termed it as his "priority".

The virtual ceremony was attended by Minister of State for the Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways V K Singh, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Manipur cabinet ministers, among others. Urging Manipur to be the growth engine for the northeastern region, Gadkari said, "It can contribute significantly to the growth of the country... We are committed to its development. Laying a network of good highways will pave the way for its development. Besides, it (Manipur) should focus on promoting local artisans and endeavour to promote MSMEs."

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accorded top priority to the development of infrastructure in the northeastern region. Gadkari also urged the state to expedite land acquisition and utility shifting for faster execution of projects. "Projects worth Rs 16,023 crore will be awarded soon for highway works of 874.5 km. Projects worth Rs 2,250 crore are already underway in the state which will also be expedited," Gadkari said.

He also said a good beginning has been done and in the coming days, new projects will be taken up. These include a 106.5-km four-lane project between Kohima and Imphal at Rs 2,663 crore, a 220-km four-lane project on a stretch of NH-37 from Imphal to Jiraban at Rs 5,425 crore, and a 118-km two-lane project on NH-129A at Rs 1,765 crore.

The minister added that these projects will be launched soon and he is confident that these will play an important role in developing Manipur. "At the same time, I will request the chief minister to expedite land acquisition and utility shifting as these are the problems we are facing in the state," he said. Gadkari also urged the CM to convene a meeting with his revenue secretary, NHAI and NHIDCL officials in this regard to iron out the issues.

The minister also assured the chief minister to take up an elevated corridor project between Manipur and Imphal at the earliest and said that the detailed project report (DPR) is in the process of making by the ministry. At the same time, he asked the CM to provide the utilisation certificate for the CRF funds so that a fresh tranche of Rs 250 crore should be granted to states in order to facilitate legislators to start highway projects in the state.

The minister also asked the CM to promote green fuels such as methanol and electricity for vehicles and become a petrol-diesel-free state. He also urged Union Minister Jitendra Singh to come forward in this regard. Besides, he assured the CM for larger connectivity to the state by highways, waterways or airways. Gadkari also urged the chief minister to promote micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state by encouraging entrepreneurs in honey production, bamboo cultivation, handloom and handicraft designing, among others.

He said the aim is to take the village industries' turnover from Rs 88,000 crore to Rs 5 lakh crore in two years. The Manipur chief minister lauded Gadkari for accelerating stuck highway projects in the state, including the Imphal-Moreh section in the hill-locked state.

Also read: COVID-19 impact: UP govt defers signing date of Jewar airport's key pact again
Weve known from the beginning how the end will arrive. Eventually, the coronavirus will be unable to find enough susceptible hosts to survive, fading out wherever it briefly emerges.

To achieve so-called herd immunity  the point at which the virus can no longer spread because there are not enough vulnerable humans  scientists have suggested that perhaps 70 per cent of a given population must be immune, through vaccination or because they survived the infection.

Now some researchers are wrestling with a hopeful possibility. In interviews with The New York Times, more than a dozen scientists said that the threshold is likely to be much lower: just 50 per cent, perhaps even less. If thats true, then it may be possible to turn back the coronavirus more quickly than once thought.

The new estimates result from complicated statistical modelling of the pandemic, and the models have all taken divergent approaches, yielding inconsistent estimates. It is not certain that any community in the world has enough residents now immune to the virus to resist a second wave.

But in parts of New York, London and Mumbai for example, it is not inconceivable that there is already substantial immunity to the coronavirus, scientists said.

Im quite prepared to believe that there are pockets in New York City and London which have substantial immunity, said Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health. What happens this winter will reflect that.

The question of what it means for the population as a whole, however, is much more fraught, he added.

Herd immunity is calculated from the epidemics so-called reproductive number, R0, an indicator of how many people each infected person spreads the virus to.

The initial calculations for the herd immunity threshold assumed that each community member had the same susceptibility to the virus and mixed randomly with everyone else in the community.

That doesnt happen in real life, said Dr Saad Omer, director of the Yale Institute for Global Health. Herd immunity could vary from group to group, and subpopulation to subpopulation, and even by postal codes, he said.

For example, a neighbourhood of older people may have little contact with others but succumb to the virus quickly when they encounter it, whereas teenagers may bequeath the virus to dozens of contacts and yet stay healthy themselves. The virus moves slowly in suburban and rural areas, where people live far apart, but zips through cities and households thick with people.

Once such real-world variations in density and demographics are accounted for, the estimates for herd immunity fall. Some researchers even suggested the figure may be in the range of 10 per cent to 20 per cent, but they were in the minority.

Assuming the virus ferrets out the most outgoing and most susceptible in the first wave, immunity following a wave of infection is distributed more efficiently than with a vaccination campaign that seeks to protect everyone, said Tom Britton, a mathematician at Stockholm University.

His model puts the threshold for herd immunity at 43 per cent  that is, the virus cannot hang on in a community after that percentage of residents has been infected and recovered.

Still, that means many residents of the community will have been sickened or have died, a high price to pay for herd immunity. And experts like Mr Hanage cautioned that even a community that may have reached herd immunity cannot afford to be complacent.

The virus may still flare up here and there, even if its overall spread is stymied. Its also unclear how long someone who has recovered may be immune, and for how long.

Virus-resistant communities?

The coronavirus crashed this years Purim celebrations in the Orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods of New York City, tearing through the parades and masquerades in Brooklyn on 9 and 10 March.

Schools and synagogues soon shut down to quell the spread, but it was too late. By April, thousands in the Brooklyn communities were infected, and hundreds had died.

Its like a black hole in my memory because of how traumatic it was, said Blimi Marcus, a nurse practitioner who lives in Borough Park, which was hit hard by the virus.

But all that has changed now, Ms Marcus added: The general feeling is one of complacency, that somehow weve all had it and were safe.

Is it possible that some of these communities have herd immunity? In some clinics, up to 80 per cent of people tested had antibodies to the virus. The highest prevalence was found among teenage boys.

But people at clinics are more likely to be showing symptoms and therefore more likely to be infected, said Wan Yang, an epidemiologist at Columbia Universitys Mailman School of Public Health in New York. Random household surveys would probably find lower rates  but still well above the 21 per cent average reported for New York City, she said.

Researchers in Mumbai conducted just such a random household survey, knocking on every fourth door  or, if it was locked, the fifth  and took blood for antibody testing. They found a startling disparity between the citys poorest neighbourhoods and its more affluent enclaves. Between 51 per cent and 58 per cent of residents in poor areas had antibodies, versus 11 per cent to 17 per cent elsewhere in the city.

The lowest-income residents are packed tightly together, share toilets, and have little access to masks. These factors contributed to a silent infection spread, said Dr Jayanthi Shastri, a microbiologist at Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai who led the work.

Most researchers are wary of concluding that the hardest-hit neighbourhoods of Brooklyn, or even those in blighted areas of Mumbai, have reached herd immunity or will be spared future outbreaks.

But models like Mr Brittons hint that its not impossible. Other researchers have suggested, controversially, that herd immunity can be achieved at rates of immunity as low as 10 per cent or 20 per cent  and that entire countries may already have achieved that goal.

We are still nowhere near back to normal in our daily behaviour, said Virginia Pitzer, a mathematical epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health. To think that we can just stop doing all that and go back to normal and not see a rise in cases I think is wrong, is incorrect.

A second wave might also hit groups or neighbourhoods that were spared by the first, and still wreak havoc, she said. Immunity is a patchwork quilt in New York, for instance: antibodies were present in 68 per cent of people visiting a clinic in the Corona neighbourhood of Queens, for instance, but in just 13 per cent of those tested at a clinic in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn.

But another group, led by mathematician Gabriela Gomes of the University of Strathclyde in Britain, accounted for variations within a society in its model and found that Belgium, England, Portugal and Spain have herd immunity thresholds in the range of 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

At least in countries we applied it to, we could never get any signal that herd immunity thresholds are higher, Ms Gomes said. I think its good to have this horizon that it may be just a few more months of pandemic.

Other experts urged caution, saying these models are flawed, as all models are, and that they oversimplify conditions on the ground.

Jeffrey Shaman, an epidemiologist at Columbia University, said it wasnt clear to him that Ms Gomes model offered only one possible solution. And he was suspicious of the big ranges among the four countries.

I think wed be playing with fire if we pretended were done with this, Mr Shaman said.

New York Times
This is a crisis within a crisis, said Stacey Walker, a Democrat who serves on the Board of Supervisors for Linn County, which includes Cedar Rapids. We are seeing an estimate of billions of dollars of homes and businesses while Iowa has a governor who  in the view of many scientists and doctors  is not doing all she can do to curb this pandemic. You add all this together, and we are going to be climbing out of this devastation for years.
With international air travel still out of bounds due to the Covid-19 pandemic, India has proposed air bubbles with five neighbouring countries, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Tuesday.

Air bubbles seek to restore commercial passenger services to pre-pandemic levels. Pakistan is not on the list of five countries.

Air bubbles have also been proposed with our neighbours Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal & Bhutan. Going forward, we will consider such arrangements with other countries also. It is always our endeavour to reach out to every stranded citizen. No Indian will be left behind, Puri tweeted.

We continue to further strengthen the reach & scope of VBM. Air Travel arrangements are already in place with USA, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Qatar & Maldives.



We are now taking these efforts forward & are negotiating with 13 more countries to establish such arrangements.  Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) August 18, 2020

Indias international flight operations are currently largely limited to evacuating its residents from various countries under the Vande Bharat mission (VBM).

Also read: SpiceJet operates charter flight on Delhi-Rome route with 264 Italians

We continue to further strengthen the reach & scope of VBM. Air Travel arrangements are already in place with USA, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Qatar & Maldives. We are now taking these efforts forward & are negotiating with 13 more countries to establish such arrangements.

These include Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea & Thailand, he said in another tweet.

The latest air bubble was the one with Canada that became operational on August 15.
President Donald Trump sits with his arms crossed during a roundtable discussion on the Safe Reopening of Americas Schools during the coronavirus pandemic, in the East Room of the White House on July 7, 2020, in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON  In a thousand-page bipartisan report released Tuesday, the Senate Intelligence Committee says the Trump administration obstructed its investigation with "novel claims" of executive privilege and paints a portrait of a Trump campaign eager to accept help from a foreign power in 2016.

The Senate report, the most detailed account to date of the Trump campaign's embrace of Russian election interference, also asserts that the allegations that Ukraine interfered in the election  which President Donald Trump perpetuated  originated with Russian intelligence agencies.

The report highlights some never-before-seen evidence about Trump and Russia, including three allegations of potentially compromising material relating to Trump's private trips to Russia that were unconnected to the dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele.

"Separate from Steele's memos, which the Committee did not use for support, the Committee became aware of three general sets of allegations," involving women, the report says, two of which described a tape. No such allegations were confirmed, but the finding lends new credence to at least one claim in the widely discredited Steele dossier.

The committee endorsed the view of special counsel Robert Mueller and the Roger Stone prosecution team that the Trump campaign eagerly embraced Russian help in 2016, and considered the hacked emails its "October surprise" even though campaign officials knew the material was stolen by Russian intelligence.

"While the GRU and WikiLeaks were releasing hacked documents, the Trump Campaign sought to maximize the impact of those materials to aid Trump's electoral prospects," the report says. "To do so, the Trump campaign took actions to obtain advance notice about WikiLeaks releases of Clinton emails; took steps to obtain inside information about the content of releases once WikiLeaks began to publish stolen information; created messaging strategies to promote and share the materials in anticipation of and following their release; and encouraged further theft of information and continued leaks."

The committee says it also developed evidence that Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort may have been connected to the Russian operation to steal and leak Democratic emails. If that had been proven in court, it would have constituted "collusion," by any definition, but no such charge ever was brought. Manafort was convicted of fraud and tax charges unrelated to Russia.

The committee found that the Trump transition exposed itself to Russian influence.

"Russia and other countries took advantage of the Transition Team's inexperience, transparent opposition to Obama Administration policies, and Trump's desire to deepen ties with Russia, to pursue unofficial channels through which Russia could conduct diplomacy," the report says. "The lack of vetting of foreign interactions by Transition officials left the Transition open to influence and manipulation by foreign intelligence services, government leaders, and co-opted business executives."

It adds, "Russian officials, intelligence services, and others acting on the Kremlin's behalf were capable of exploiting the Transition's shortcomings for Russia's advantage. Based on available information it is possible  and even likely  that they did so."

On Ukraine, the report says that Russian-government actors from late 2016 until at least January 2020 consistently spread "overlapping false narratives which sought to discredit investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 elections and spread false information about the events of 2016."

The report says that Manafort associate Konstatin Kilimnik, who had ties to Russian intelligence, "almost certainly helped arrange some of the first public messaging that Ukraine had interfered in the U.S. election."

In 2017, the report says, "other Russian-government proxies and personas worked to spread the false narrative that Ukraine interfered in the U.S. election."

The committee "identified no reliable evidence that the Ukrainian government interfered in the 2016 U.S. election."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Alcohol and COVID-19 Don't MixEncourage Additional Caution About Alcohol During the Pandemic Drinking alcohol impairs both physical and mental abilities, and it also decreases inhibitions. Reduced inhibitions from drinking and being intoxicated may affect a young person's ability to take the precautions needed to reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus or spreading it to others, such as maintaining appropriate physical distance and wearing a mask. Encourage students to limit how much alcohol they or friends are consuming and remind underage students not to drink any alcohol. Students should also know the steps needed to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 if schools have resumed in-person or hybrid classes or while participating in activities outside of school. This includes following the everyday practices recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the coronavirus , as well as following all guidelines and procedures that have been established by individual colleges and universities.

Rates and Consequences of College Drinking

According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 54.9 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month, and 36.9 percent engaged in binge drinking in the past month. NSDUH defines binge drinking as 5 or more drinks on an occasion for men and 4 or more drinks on an occasion for women. (NIAAA defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration [BAC] to 0.08 percentor 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliteror higher. For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming 5 or more drinks [male], or 4 or more drinks [female], in about 2 hours.) In addition, 9.6 percent engaged in heavy alcohol use (defined by NSDUH as binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past month). These binge drinking and heavy alcohol use rates are both higher than for those not attending college.

The consequences of harmful and underage drinking by college students are more significant, more destructive, and more costly than many parents realize. And these consequences affect students whether they drink or not.

The most recent statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) indicate that drinking by college students ages 18 to 24 contributes to an estimated 1,519 student deaths each year. In addition, there are an estimated 696,000 assaults by students who had been drinking and 97,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year.

Early Weeks Are Critical

Although some students come to college already having some experience with alcohol, certain aspects of college life, such as unstructured time, the widespread availability of alcohol, inconsistent enforcement of underage drinking laws, and limited interactions with parents and other adults, can intensify the problem.

The first 6 weeks of freshman year are a vulnerable time for harmful and underage college drinking and for alcohol-related consequences because of student expectations and social pressures at the start of the academic year. The coronavirus pandemic will create additional stress and uncertainty this fall, so support for students will be critical.

Parents Can Help

An often overlooked protective factor involves the continuing influence of parents during the college years. Research shows that students who abstain from drinking often do so because their parents discussed alcohol use and its adverse consequences with them. During these crucial early weeks, parents can do a number of things to stay involved.

Parents can help by:

Talking with students about the dangers of harmful and underage college drinkingsuch as the possible legal and school penalties for underage drinking, and the risks of alcohol overdose, unintentional injuries, violence, unsafe sexual behavior, academic failure, and other adverse consequences.

Reaching out periodically and keeping the lines of communication open while staying alert for possible alcohol-related problems.

Reminding students to feel free to reach out to them to share information about their daily activities and to ask for help if needed.

Learning about the school's alcohol prevention and emergency intervention efforts as well as the school's policies and procedures in place this fall for the coronavirus pandemic. (See "Resources Are Available" below.)

Making sure students know the signs of alcohol overdose or an alcohol-related problem, and how to help.

Resources Are Available

For parents who want to discuss the consequences of drinking with their college students, a variety of helpful resources are available from NIAAA at https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov .

These resources include a parents' guide that offers research-based information plus helpful advice on choosing the right college, staying involved during freshman year, and getting assistance if faced with an alcohol-related crisis. The website also provides links to alcohol policies at colleges across the country, an interactive diagram of how alcohol affects the human body, and an interactive alcohol cost calculator.

Additionally, NIAAA's CollegeAIMthe College Alcohol Intervention Matrix, available at https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/CollegeAIM is a booklet and website that helps schools and parents address harmful and underage student drinking by identifying effective alcohol interventions.

For more information, please visit: https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/

SOURCE National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
The Chamber of Local Governance (ChaLoG) has called on President Akufo-Addo to fire the Minister of Local Governance and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama from office for non-performance.

The group claims she has failed to fulfil the NPPs manifesto promise on local governance.

This comes on the heels of a campaign promise made by former President John Mahama to pay allowances to assembly members when given the nod to lead Ghana as president again in the December polls.

According to the Chamber, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has failed to prioritise activities at the local government level, adding that, so far, President Akufo-Addo has done nothing in that regard.

The NPP, in its 2016 manifesto, stated that the party will improve allowances paid to assembly members.

However, the President of ChaLoG, Dr Richard Fiadomor, noted that President Akufo-Addo has failed to implement this manifesto promise due to the sector Ministers incompetence.

Speaking to Valentina Ofori-Afriyie on Class91.3FMs 505 news programme on Monday, 17 August 2020, Dr Fiadomor indicated that Mr John Mahama expressed more commitment to the growth of local governance in the country during his term of office, compared to President Akufo-Addo.

If you're in the ruling government, it is expected that, as a policy advisor to the minister, you should have told the Minister how we can go about it for it to be done. They are not committed to the growth of local governance in this country.

John Mahama started something like paying consolidated allowances.

It is just that it was not the same across the board.

Now, from what he is saying, it is going to be across the board, so, we are tempted to believe him more than Nana Addo, who has promised; three years down the line, he is still in government and nothing is being done, he said.

He explained that paying allowances to assembly members is constitutional and should be treated as such.

It is something that is constitutional and doesn't lie in the mouth of a politician to now want to make it right.

Today, we are talking about free SHS because it is a constitutional issue.

The payment of assembly members, itself, is a constitutional issue, so, we just want to see someone who is committed to it, he added.

---classfmonline
From left, Sebastian Grand, 11, Leo Grand, 13, and Constantin Condraschi, 12, of Orange County laugh outside A Slice of New York Pizza in Seal Beach. The trio has been friends since preschool and had pizza after a day together at the beach. (Josie Norris/Los Angeles Times)

For the second day in a row, the California Independent System Operator called off power outages that had been anticipated statewide, crediting conservation efforts by consumers.

With an extreme heat wave continuing across California, officials had said more rolling blackouts were imminent Tuesday as state officials struggled to secure additional electricity amid the worst power crisis in nearly 20 years.

On Tuesday afternoon, Cal-ISO, which runs the electric grid for most of the state, declared a Stage 2 emergency  one of several it has issued over the last week  asking customers to save energy in order to avoid rotating power outages later in the day. The emergency was canceled at 7:37 p.m.

In a statement, the corporation said that in addition to consumer conservation efforts, the ISO grid had benefited from some imported energy and resources from wind plants.

Californians made tonight a success, said Cal-ISO President Steve Berberich. Everyone pulled together and responded to our warning with action to avoid any interruption in electricity supplies.

On Monday, officials had warned of blackouts affecting as many as 3 million people, but officials ended up canceling the warning, saying improved weather conditions and conservation efforts reduced demand on the power grid.

During a news briefing Tuesday afternoon, Berberich had credited the lack of any energy disruption Monday to customers and companies who avoided excessive power use, which flattened about 3 p.m. Gov. Gavin Newsom had instructed residents to reduce consumption between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.

We were ready, and were glad the weather and energy supply situation improved so Cal-ISO did not have to call for rotating outages, said Pacific Gas & Electric spokesman Paul Moreno on Monday. We appreciated our customers big and small who answered the call and conserved energy in our service area and across the state. We will need customers to conserve again.

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The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power did not institute rolling power outages either on Tuesday and provided excess power to Cal-ISO. Still, about 12,000 of its 1.5 million customers have been affected by outages  mostly for heat-related reasons such as overloaded equipment.

"This is not about power supply to the city  we have adequate supply to the city," spokesman Joe Ramallo said.

Officials said Tuesday that California has had less energy capacity since 2006, when a major heat wave hit the state, followed by another in 2017.

Some relief is likely to come by Wednesday, when temperatures are expected to dip, but officials don't have a longer-term forecast for the coming weeks.

Newsom on Monday called the power crisis unacceptable and pledged a full investigation into the cause of the shortage.

Weve always maintained that, a golden oldie, you cant control the weather, but you can prepare for the weather events, he said. And let me just make this crystal clear: We failed to predict and plan [for] these shortages, and thats simply unacceptable.

He framed the shortage as a consequence of the states transition from polluting gas plants to cleaner sources of energy and said the high demand placed on the grid because of the record heat over the last few days has exposed gaps in terms of that reliability.

We cannot sacrifice reliability as we move forward in this transition, he said. And were going to be much more aggressive in focusing our efforts and our intention in making sure that is the case.

Cal-ISO, the state's power grid operator, blamed the Public Utilities Commission for the shortage. Officials described a perfect storm of conditions that caused demand to exceed available supply: scorching temperatures in California and across the western U.S., diminished output from renewable sources and fossil-fueled power plants affected by the weather, and in some cases, plants going offline unexpectedly when electricity was needed most.

But Berberich said the state could have been prepared if the utilities commission had ordered companies to line up sufficient power supplies.

Asked about the criticism, PUC spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said the agency was working with our sister agencies to better understand why this occurred.

Meanwhile, communities in Southern California hit record temperatures Tuesday  including Woodland Hills, UCLA, and Oxnard.

The extreme heat and dry lightning have also sparked numerous fires across the state. Newsom's office declared a state-wide emergency to help California respond to the fires, saying that the state had secured assistance this week from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fight fires in Napa, Nevada and Monterey counties.

Times staff writer Colleen Shalby contributed to this report.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: India is negotiating with 13 countries, including Australia, Japan and Singapore, to establish separate bilateral air bubble arrangements for international flight operations, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday.

Under a bilateral air bubble pact, airlines of both the countries can operate international flights with certain restrictions.

Puri said on Twitter air bubbles have also been proposed with our neighbours Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan.

Since July, India has established such bubbles with the following countries - the US, the UK, France, Germany, the UAE, Qatar and the Maldives.

Puri said, "We are now taking these efforts forward & are negotiating with 13 more countries to establish such arrangements."

"These countries include Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea & Thailand," he added.

ALSO READ | Aviation Ministry to present proposal on 'further airport privatisation' to Cabinet on Wednesday

Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Going forward, Puri said, India will consider such bilateral arrangements with countries other than the ones mentioned above.

"It is always our endeavour to reach out to every stranded citizen. No Indian will be left behind," he said.

After a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown, India resumed domestic passenger flights on May 25.

However, average occupancy rate in Indian domestic flights has been around just 50-60 per cent since May 25.

Currently, airlines in India are permitted to operate 45 per cent of their pre-COVID domestic flights.

The aviation sector has been significantly impacted due to the travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

All airlines in India have taken cost-cutting measures such as pay cuts, leave-without-pay and firings of employees in order to conserve cash.
China on Tuesday August 18 slammed the Taiwan government for officially opening a representative office in Somaliland. Terming the establishment of the representative office as a 'farce', China said Somalilands status as an independent country has not been obtained Internationally.

On Monday, August 17, Taiwan has officially opened its representative office in Somaliland, after holding talks for over six months with the latter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) declared. Taiwan and Somaliland - a self-declared East African state signed a technical cooperation agreement at the ceremony and the former will soon send a technical mission to Hargeisa to work on different projects, the ministry said.

READ | Taiwan calls China to use dialogue, not oppression in HK

China slams Taiwan on opening representative office in Somaliland

Meanwhile, China mocked Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen for bragging about opening the representative office in Africa. "Taiwans DPP authorities cooperated with Somaliland in East Africa and staged a farce of establishing a so-called 'representative office' each other, but Somalilands status as an independent country has not been obtained Internationally, this move by both sides was criticized by many parties inside and outside the island", a Chinese publication said in its report.

"Among the many oppositions, the DPP authorities still went their own way. On the 17th, the so-called Taiwan Representative Office in Somaliland was established. The leader of the DPP authorities, Tsai Ing-wen, also boasted that this was an 'important moment in bilateral relations', which triggered a flogging of public opinion", the report said criticising the Taiwan government.

READ | China blasts US for Taiwan visit while virus spreads at home

Friendship based on common values of freedom

The opening ceremony of the representative office was led by Taiwan's chief envoy in Somaliland Lou Chen-hwa and Somaliland's foreign minister Yasin Hagi Mohamoud, with members of the foreign missions in Somaliland, MOFA informed. A pre-recorded congratulatory message by President Tsai Ing-wen was played and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu delivered his remarks live via a video call during the ceremony, according to MOFA. Tsai's in her video message said the friendship between Taiwan and Somaliland is based on the common values of freedom, democracy, justice and the rule of law.

We're all excited to see @HagiMohamoud & Rep. Lou open the Taiwan Representative Office in Somaliland. My commitment: #Somaliland has a friend in #Taiwan & me. No time is to be wasted, & we'll immediately start cooperation projects to directly benefit the people. JW https://t.co/usYrT6Vxhu pic.twitter.com/l0Jb6jDgCp   Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan)  (@MOFA_Taiwan) August 17, 2020

Signature of the Cooperation framework Agreement between Somaliland and Taiwan International Cooperation Development fund ( Taiwan ICDF ) @MOFA_Taiwan pic.twitter.com/E9jxH1HE38  MFA Somaliland (@somalilandmfa) August 17, 2020

Last month Taiwan and Somaliland had announced to establish representative offices in each others countries, after signing a treaty in Taipei in February. Currently, Taiwan maintains diplomatic ties with 15 only countries, with Eswatini being its only partner in Africa. Somaliland, which is on the Horn of Africa and has a population of nearly 3.9 million. It is not recognized as a country by the international community and seeks to expand its reach in a part of the world where it has little influence.

READ | US Health Secretary Azar visits mask factory in Taiwan

READ | US awards $62 billion contract to Lockheed Martin to arm Taiwan amid tensions with China
Donald Trump's campaign's interactions with Russian intelligence services during the 2016 presidential election posed a 'grave' counterintelligence threat, a Senate panel concluded Tuesday as it detailed in a report how associates of the Republican candidate had regular contact with Russians and expected to benefit from the Kremlin's help.

Russia launched an aggressive effort to interfere in the 2016 presidential election on behalf of Trump, and associates of the Republican candidate who were in regular touch with Russians throughout the campaign were eager to benefit from the help, the Senate Intelligence Committee concluded in the fifth and final report in its investigation.

Though the report from the Senate intelligence committee does not reach a conclusion about whether the Trump campaign and Russia criminally conspired to sway the election, it nonetheless describes the eagerness of Trump associates to exploit the Kremlin's aid, particularly Democratic emails that were hacked by Russian military intelligence officers and disclosed by the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks in the run-up to the election.

WikiLeaks played a key role in Russia's effort to assist Republican Trump against Democrat Hillary Clinton and likely knew it was helping Russian intelligence, said the report, which is likely to be the most definitive public account of the 2016 election controversy.

Campaign head: Paul Manafort (center) was in touch with a Russian spy throughout the 2016 campaign and beyond, the Senate Intel report found

Meddler: Russian president Vladimir Putin's government did try to interfere in the election to defeat Hillary Clinton, the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report concluded

The report found President Vladimir Putin personally directed the Russian efforts to hack computer networks and accounts affiliated with the Democratic Party and leak information damaging to Clinton.

The panel, formally called the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, also alleged Manafort collaborated with Russians, including oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

It describes how Russia launched an aggressive, wide-ranging effort to interfere in the election on Donald Trump's behalf. It says Trump associates were eager to exploit the Kremlin's aid, particularly by maximizing the impact of the disclosure of Democratic emails that were hacked by Russian military intelligence officers.

The conclusions mark the culmination of a bipartisan probe that spanned more than three years and produced what the committee called 'the most comprehensive description to date of Russia's activities and the threat they posed.'

The findings echo to a large degree those of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation, with the report's unflinching characterization of furtive interactions between Trump associates and Russian operatives contradicting the Republican presidents claims that the FBI had no basis to investigate whether his campaign was conspiring with Russia.

The report from the Republican-led panel lays out significant contacts between Trump associates and Russians, describing for instance a close professional relationship between Trump campaign chairman Paul Mananfort and Konstantin Kilimnik, whom the committee describes without equivocation as a Russian intelligence officer.

The report notes how Manafort shared internal Trump campaign polling data with Kilimnik and says there is 'some evidence' that Kilimnik may have been connected to the Kremlins operation to hack and leak Democratic emails, though it does not describe that evidence.

In addition, the report says that 'two pieces of information' raise the possibility of Manafort's potential connection to those operations, but what follows next in the document is blacked out.

'Taken as a whole, Manafort's high-level access and willingness to share information with individuals closely affiliated with the Russian intelligence services, particularly Kilimnik, represented a grave counterintelligence threat,' the report says.

Both men were charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, but neither was accused of any tie to the hacking.

A Manafort lawyer, Kevin Downing, said Tuesday that there is information that was sealed at the request of Mueller's team 'that completely refutes whatever the intelligence committee is trying to surmise.'

He added: 'It just looks like complete conjecture.'

The Senate panel described its report, totaling more than 1,300 pages, as 'the most comprehensive description to date of Russias activities and the threat they posed.' The bipartisan investigation lasted almost three and a half years, much longer than the other probes.

Putin's spy: Konstantin Kilimnik (circled) is named explicitly in the Senate Intel report as a Russian intelligence agent who was in contact with Paul Manafort (right) throughout the time Manafort chaired Trump's campaign

The report purposely does not come to a final conclusion, as the other reports did, about whether there is enough evidence that Trump's campaign coordinated or colluded with Russia to sway the election to him and away from Democrat Hillary Clinton, leaving its findings open to partisan interpretation.

A group of Republicans on the panel submitted 'additional views' to the report saying that it should state more explicitly that Trump's campaign did not coordinate with Russia.

But Democrats on the panel submitted their own views, arguing that the report clearly shows such cooperation.

Former special counsel Robert Mueller concluded in a report issued last year that Russia interfered in the election through hacking and a covert social media campaign and that the Trump campaign embraced the help and expected to benefit from it. But Mueller did not charge any Trump associates with conspiring with Russians.

The Senate investigation also delved into areas of great interest to Trump that were not explored by Mueller. Those include the FBI's reliance on a dossier of opposition research compiled by a former British spy whose work was financed by Democrats.

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, the committee's acting chairman, said in a statement that the committee was troubled that the FBI had been willing to use the dossier 'without verifying its methodology or sourcing' as it applied for secret surveillance warrants against a former Trump campaign adviser.

Kremlin-linked businessman boasted he knew about president's 'relationships with women' in Moscow and hotel bosses talked about elevator tape of Trump with two 'hostesses' Senate Intel report reveals - but says Putin's spies did NOT have kompromat

The bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee's final Russia report lays out new claims about Donald Trump's 'relationships with women in Moscow'  including new allegations about a 'tape' of the future president in a luxury hotel elevator.

The explosive 1,000 page report caps off a multi-year investigation where investigators concluded that Russia sought to influence the 2016 campaign and that some officials in Trump's orbit welcomed the assistance.

The fifth volume in the probe, which began after Trump's 2016 victory, points to the role played by Trump's disgraced former campaign chair Paul Manafort, who is currently serving a 7 1/2 year sentence on fraud and corruption charges.

It accuses Manafort of collaborating with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and feeding internal Trump campaign information to Konstantin Kilimnik, who it identifies for the first time as a Russian intelligence officer.

Democrats on the committee wrote in their own addendum that Kilimnik 'may have been connected' to the Russian military intelligence unit that carried out the 2016 election hacking of Democratic emails.

'This is what collusion looks like,' they wrote.

The report, which took investigators years to compile, did not 'establish that the Russian government collected kompromat on Trump.' However it does run down streams of information about David Geovanis, who witnesses told the panel 'alleged that he had information about Trump's relationships with women in Moscow.'

Geonvanis is a Russian-American businessman the committee identifies as having ties to Kremlin-linked oligarchs. He refused to cooperate with the inquiry, but is believed to have 'told a number of people in Moscow,' including expatriates, about his information.

The Senate Intelligence Committee tracked down information on witnesses who said businessman David Geovanis 'alleged that he had information about Trump's relations with women in Moscow'

During the 1990s and 2000s, Geovanis developed a reputation as a 'host for visiting businessmen.' The report notes that in some circles it is common for visiting businessmen to be taken to 'nightclubs or parties where prostitutes are present.'

'While the Committee is not specifically aware of Geovanis sharing his alleged information regarding Trump with the Russian government, he has not been discreet with it,' the committee found.

During the 1990s and 2000s, Geovanis developed a reputation as a 'host for visiting businessmen.' The report notes that in some circles it is common for visiting businessmen to be taken to 'nightclubs or parties where prostitutes are present.'

The committee did not know of any 'direct connection' between Geovanis and the Trump campaign, although he did talk up his ties in his own emails.

He likely first met Trump in 1996 on a trip where Trump was exploring real estate deals  although a long section after the statement is blocked out. Trump is thought to have gone to Russia in 1987, 1996, and 2013. A friend said Geovanis was assigned to show Trump 'around town' and take him to dinner.

2013: Trump hosted his Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. It was his third time in the country according to the Senate intel committee

The report references a cocktail party for Trump on his 1996 trip to Moscow

Investigators spoke to various men who had contact with Geovanis abou the events in question

The report describes a 1996 cocktail party that Geovanis helped organize with Trump at the Baltschug Kempinski Hotel in Moscow where 'Trump may have begun a brief relationship with a Russian woman named [name blocked out].'

A 'historical report' from 1998 quoted by the committee has Trump regaling the unidentified Russian woman during a speech. 'Donald Trump warmly welcomed the guests, among whom was the charming [redacted] , 'Miss Moscow [redacted]. Trump recalled that two years ago, during his stay in Moscow, [redacted] was for him the most beautiful hostess of the capital, whose charms were not overshadowed even by Claudia Schiffer and Tina Turner, who lived in the same hotel. He recalled with pleasure the excellent company with which he spent time in Moscow.'

Another stream of information relates to allegations about Trump and women in an elevator at the Moscow Ritz Carlton hotel  the scene of unverified allegations about Trump contained in the infamous Steele Dossier.

One witness included in photographs obtained by the committee, Leon Black, did not recall any compromising behavior. 'Black later added that he and Trump 'might have been in a strip club together,'' according to the report. Black is identified as identified as serving on the board of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, reportedly met once with Vladimir Putin, and Black told the committee he also has a personal but not close relationship with Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The report also goes into the allegation about the Ritz Carlton.

'Separately, a former executive at Marriott International, of which Ritz Carlton is a part, said that shortly after the 2013 Miss Universe contest he overheard two other Marriott executives at a small corporate gathering discussing a recording from one of the elevator security cameras at the Ritz Carlton Moscow,' according to the report.

'One of the Marriot executives who was involved in the conversation  previously a manager of the Ritz Carlton Moscow  had clearly seen the video, which allegedly showed Trump in an elevator involved with several women who the discussant implied to be 'hostesses.''

'The executive who had seen the video had asked the other, more senior, executive what to do with the recording. The former executive said the two discussants then left to continue the conversation in a more private location, and he did not hear anything further,' says the report.

However, 'neither executive who allegedly had the conversation recalled it, nor did they recall seeing the recording. The Committee was not able to resolve these discrepancies,' the committee's report says.

The committee justified its look at Trump's personal conduct in Moscow by mentioning Russia's longstanding practice of seeking to obtain compromising information to 'influence or coerce' people. It cited allegations from the 2016 campaign that Russia had compromising information on Trump  who campaigned calling for warmer relations with Russia and sometimes praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'The Committee sought, in a limited way, to understand the Russian government's alleged collection of such information, not only because of the threat of a potential foreign influence operation, but also to explore the possibility of a misinformation operation targeting the integrity of the U.S. political process,' it wrote.
Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with Malaysian authorities to verify an incident in which a Vietnamese fisherman was killed during a confrontation with the Malaysian coast guard.

Following the direction of the foreign ministry, the Embassy of Vietnam in Malaysia has promptly contacted Malaysian authorities to verify the case, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang told reporters on Monday.

Information from Malaysian authorities showed that a confrontation between the Malaysian coast guard and two Vietnamese fishing boats broke out in the maritime area off Malaysias Kelantan State on August 16.

One Vietnamese fisherman was killed during the clash, while 18 others have been arrested on charge of illegal fishing.

The deceased victim was about 30 years old, according to BERNAMA, the Malaysian national news agency.

Vietnams foreign ministry has expressed deep concerns to the Malaysian Embassy in Hanoi, asking the Malaysian side to clarify and investigate the case, strictly deal with officers responsible for the death of the Vietnamese fisher, and treat other Vietnamese fishermen and their boats in a humane manner.

The ministry has tasked the Embassy of Vietnam in Malaysia with conducting consular visits and carrying out citizen protection measures for the fishermen.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh said that the embassy has been aware of the incident through unofficial sources and is asking Malaysian authorities to provide more details.

The Malaysian side accused the Vietnamese fishing boats of intruding on Malaysian waters but did not reveal the coordinates of the incident, Quynh added.

In a statement released on August 17, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) accused the 19 Vietnamese fishermen of resisting with hard objects and petrol bombs, forcing officers to fire their guns in self-defense.

One of the fishers was shot and later passed away, while the remaining 18 people were escorted back to the mainland.

The fishermans body will be taken to the hospital for an autopsy, the MMEA stated, adding that the arrested Vietnamese citizens will be investigated for illegal fishing, obstruction, and attempted murder.

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OTTAWA - William Francis Morneau leaves federal politics as suddenly as he burst onto the Ottawa scene less than five years ago.

In November 2015, the newly elected Liberal member for Toronto Centre became the first rookie MP in nearly a century to step into the high-profile and demanding role of finance minister.

He set about implementing pillars of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus economic platform, including tax cuts for the middle class, the new Canada Child Benefit and a revamped Canada Pension Plan.

Morneau brought ample experience as a business leader and volunteer to the role.

He took the reins of the family business from his father, growing human resources firm Morneau Shepell to 4,000 employees from just 200.

Morneau was also a keen supporter of the arts, and worked to help at-risk youth and ensure better access to health care and education. He also helped found a school for Somali and Sudanese girls at a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees camp in northern Kenya.

In the rough-and-tumble world of parliamentary politics, the deliberate and thoughtful finance minister was forced to learn fast.

While still honing his political chops, he rarely seemed far from one controversy or another.

It would prompt the opposition to try to paint the wealthy former businessman as out of touch with the realities of ordinary Canadians.

Morneaus first budget projected years of big deficits despite Trudeaus 2015 election promise to keep annual shortfalls under $10 billion.

A contentious tax-reform plan released in 2017 led to an outcry from enraged business owners, doctors, tax experts and even backbenchers within his own Liberal caucus.

Ive learned from this experience that we have to be very good at communicating to Canadians what it is that were trying to achieve, Morneau said at the time.

There were also questions that year about the ministers personal assets.

The federal ethics commissioner of the day fined Morneau $200 for failing to disclose his role as a director in a private corporation that owns a villa in France. Morneau had disclosed his ownership of the villa to Mary Dawson but, thanks to what his office called an administrative oversight, failed to mention the ownership structure itself.

Criticism intensified when word spread that he hadnt placed his Morneau Shepell holdings into a blind trust after being named to cabinet  a decision Morneau insisted was framed by Dawsons own advice.

In response to the controversy, Morneau sold off the remainder of his Morneau Shepell shares, which were worth about $21 million. He donated to charity the difference between what the shares were worth at the time of the sale and their value in 2015 when he was first elected  estimated at about $5 million  and promised to place his other assets in a blind trust.

In his final months as finance minister, Morneau oversaw massive spending to deal with economic and social fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morneau and Trudeau are both facing investigations by the new federal ethics watchdog, Mario Dion, for taking part in talks to hand WE Charity a contract to run a pandemic-related student-volunteer program.

One of Morneaus daughters works for the organization, another has spoken at its events and his wife, Nancy McCain, has donated $100,000. Morneau also revealed last month that he had repaid WE some $41,000 in expenses for trips he and his family took in 2017 to view two of its humanitarian projects in Ecuador and Kenya.

In stepping down, the 57-year-old Morneau signalled a need for a new finance minister to take up the challenge of navigating Canadas economy through the shoals of the pandemic.

I will look forward to watching politics from the outside, and hopefully contributing in another way.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2020.

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Julie Inman-Grant has worked to shape the internet for its entire existence as a public utility, some 30 years in the US and Australia. And she doesn't like the way it's going: "I have never seen such a dark side of the open web as I'm seeing now." Inman-Grant also happens to be Australia's internet safety regulator. "So much hostility, so much abuse at scale, and it hasn't let up," she tells me.

The pandemic created an apparent surge in hateful and criminal conduct online when many countries restricted public movement and shut many businesses. But it wasn't a surge.

It seems that it was a threshold opportunity for human malice. Inman-Grant's agency, the Office of the eSafety Commission, reports a 97 per cent increase in child sex abuse material since May in Australia. And an increase of more than 200 per cent in what it calls image-based abuse  revenge porn and sextortion. Cyber abuse is up by half. "It hasn't plateaued  it's continuing to rise." The office is more than doubling its staff of investigators in response. But the numbers are tiny. It's hiring 30 to expand its existing complement of 24.

Kamala Harris put a revenge porn web designer away for 18 years when she was a prosecutor. Credit:AP

The office, the first online safety regulator in the world and now five years old, is very successful within a very limited remit. Even though most harmful material is hosted on servers abroad, the Australian agency has been able to work with online firms to get revenge porn and sextortion images removed with a success rate of 90 per cent, for instance.
The Vietnam Aviation Business Association has called on the government to resume international flights to and from countries that have contained the Covid-19 outbreak.

It petitioned Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc late last week to also allow foreign tourists to enter the country if they meet pandemic prevention requirements.

Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, said discussions had been held with authorities in several countries that have contained the Covid-19 outbreak about the revival of commercial flights.

"Those countries have agreed to resume flights to Vietnam with all passengers quarantined and tested for Covid-19," he said without disclosing their names.

Therefore, the resumption of international flights depends on Vietnams quarantine capacity and the capability of its medical sector, he said.

The National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control would decide when international flights could resume and about such things as isolation fees and pandemic control procedures for foreign tourists entering the country, he added.

Vietnam banned the entry of foreign nationals since March 22 except for special cases and suspended international flights since March 25.

The government last month agreed to resume commercial flights to and from China and ordered the resumption of commercial services to some Asian destinations.

However, local transmission of the disease resumed in Vietnam after a three-month hiatus on July 25, and over 500 cases have been reported since in 15 cities and provinces.
The agriculture ministry on August 18 said India's farm exports rose 23.24 percent in value terms to Rs 25,552.7 crore during March-June period amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

To promote farm exports, a "comprehensive action plan" has been prepared under which 'export promotion forums' are being created and existing agri-clusters are being strengthened besides identifying certain destinations for promotion of agricultural exports, the ministry said in a statement.

Promotion of farm exports is extremely important not only for earning precious foreign exchange for the country but also for achieving the goal of an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', for which self-reliant agriculture is critical, it added.

"Even during the difficult time of pandemic lockdown, India took care not to disturb the world food supply chain and continued to export," it said.

Exports of agri-commodities increased by 23.24 percent to Rs 25,552.7 crore during March-June 2020 as against Rs 20,734.8 crore in the year-ago period, it added.

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According to the ministry, "clear and proactive interventions" are required to be taken to ensure India becomes a top exporting nation in agriculture commensurate with the production.

India holds second rank in world's wheat production, but ranks 34th in exports. Similarly, despite being ranked third in vegetable production in the world, India's export ranking is 14th.

Same is the case for fruits, where India is the second largest producer in the world, but export rank is 23rd, the statement said.

Highlighting the comprehensive action plan for promotion of agri trade, the ministry said product specific Export Promotion Forums (EPFs) have been created to lead agri exports to new heights.

EPFs for eight agricultural and allied products -- grapes, mango, banana, onion, rice, nuri-cereals, pomegranate and floriculture -- have been constituted under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Each EPF will have exporters of the related commodity as its members along with official members representing concerned ministries of the Central and state governments.

APEDA chief will be the chairman of each of these forums, which will meet at least once in every two months.

The forum's recommendations will be placed before product committee of APEDA and the forum will be in close contact with the concerned organisation of Ministry of Agriculture.

The ministry has also emphasised on strengthening the existing 'agri-clusters' and creating more product-specific clusters to fulfil the gap of bulk quantity and quality of supplies, it said.

"A time bound action plan has also been prepared for import substitution with particular focus upon edible oils, cashew, fruits and spices thereby making India self-reliant," it added.

A specific strategy for export promotion has also been evolved for fresh fruits and vegetables with specific emphasis on grapes, mango, pomegranate, onion, potato and cucumber-gherkin.

The export strategy focuses on export promotion of fast-evolving niche markets of wellness food, health conscious food and nutraceuticals as well as development of 'Brand India' to help penetration into new foreign markets, and on new products which automatically translates into higher value realisation.

"Gulf countries have been identified as focus destinations to increase the market share which is a strong market for India, though presently India caters to only 10-12 percent share of their total imports," it said.

A product market matrix has been made containing a list of 'products of strength' which could be expanded in new geographies and a list of known markets which can be introduced with newer products, it added.

Before chalking out a strategy, the ministry has explored the data and issues of pre-production, production, and post-harvest to evolve an end-to-end approach for developing a holistic strategy.

An analysis of product groups and specific commodities has been done with regard to present status of production and exports, strengths, challenges and thereafter interventions have been identified after consultations with stakeholders.

"The two-fold approach addresses boosting agri export with emphasis on value-addition and focussed action plan for import substitution. The interventions so identified have been converted into a timed action plan," it added.

Exports help farmers/producers/exporters to take advantage of a wider international market and increase their income.

Exports have also resulted in increased production in the agri-sector by increasing area coverage and productivity, the statement said.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday said it has arrested an Islamic State operative from Bengaluru in connection with the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) case for conspiring with Syria-based operatives of the outfit to further terror activities in India.

The counterterrorism agency said 28-year-old Abdur Rahman, an ophthalmologist at the MS Ramaiah Medical College in Bengaluru, was held on Monday following a tip-off.

The NIA said that Rahman had confessed that he was conspiring with co-accused Jahanzaib Sami and other Syria-based Islamic State operatives on secured messaging platforms to further the activities of the banned terrorist organisation.

He was allegedly in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured Islamic State cadres in the conflict-zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of the fighters aligned with the group.

Rahman was said to have visited an Islamic State medical camp in Syria in early 2014 for treatment of ISIS terrorists and stayed with Islamic State operatives for 10 days before returning to India.

The NIA also carried out searches at three premises of Rahman in Bengaluru with the assistance of Karnataka Police after his arrest and seized digital devices, mobile phone, and a laptop containing incriminating material.

Rahman will be presented in a Special NIA Court here for his remand for custodial interrogation.

A case was initially registered by Delhi Police Special Cell in March 2020 after the arrest of a Kashmiri couple, Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh, from Okhla Vihar in Jamia Nagar area here.

The couple was reported to have links with the ISKP, a banned terrorist organisation and a part of the Islamic State, and allegedly involved in subversive and anti-national activities. They were allegedly in touch with Abdullah Basith, who is already lodged in Tihar jail in another Islamic State case registered by the NIA.

During further investigation, the NIA had arrested two more accused -- Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri, both from Pune -- on the charge of involvement in the conspiracy to further the activities of the Islamic State and ISKP in India and to carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests.
In being so unenthusiastic about employer super contributions, in the context of the current widespread account-dipping, Assistant Minister Jane Hume and her Coalition cohorts are suggestive of Kerry Packer's publicly expressed view on taxation  that he resented it based on how he saw it spent. Alex Mattea, Sydney Senator Hume manufactures an alleged fact when stating that any increase in the superannuation guarantee will lead to a flattening of wages. Where is the modelling to support this statement? History and fiscal facts inform us of the very opposite. Superannuation is a long-term game. It leads to taxation reductions as more and more people live off their super in their senior years, thus requiring less government funding in the form of pensions. This will be of significant benefit to both businesses and individuals. Why do the conservative ''financial whizzes'' find this concept so hard to grasp? Bill Young, Killcare Heights The governments attempt to wind back the superannuation increase to 12 per cent under bogus claims that it will hurt the economy is very ill advised. It is merely another attempt by the Coalition's uncompromising ideologues to sabotage the retirement incomes of workers. What will really hurt the economy is having to support a large number of destitute retirees, who will be living in poverty by the year 2050. Malcolm Freak, Armidale Our political compass has certainly shifted. An assistant minister can argue against government and legislated policy on the superannuation guarantee and keep her position. What happened to ministerial solidarity? Frederick Rainger, Goulburn Hume is talking down the scheduled rises in the superannuation guarantee. With friends like this, who needs enemies? Ian Aldridge, Goulburn

The assistant minister for superannuation, Senator Hume, is acting like the assistant minister against superannuation. Elfriede Sangkuhl, Summer Hill Good neighbours are priceless I've worked in the Redfern/Waterloo area for around 20 years, especially caring for elderly people living in social housing ("The faces behind an estate in limbo", August 18). If it were not for their fabulous neighbours and community connections, many of these people would be facing isolation or residential care. Vulnerable people who felt they had no voice were bewildered by their "I'm excited" letters from Brad Hazzard; it was an inappropriate and insight-less celebration of the government's relationship with developers. Similarly, when Melinda Pavey churns out the weasel phrase of creating "vibrant communities", it's obvious she has no knowledge of  or interest in  the residents of Waterloo. Finally, the plans to develop a 30/70 mix of social/private dwellings tells us the NSW government has no intention of addressing the 10-15 year waiting lists for public housing. Dr Marie Healy, Redfern I have only one improvement for Joanna Quiltys great social housing proposal ("Everyone wins with new social housing", August 18). Insulation, solar panels and battery storage feeding energy-efficient lighting and appliances will not only add environmental benefits to the social and economic ones but also provide much appreciated reduction in power bills to the residents. A win on so many levels deserves support. Maree Nutt, Newport Careless conduct

The NSW Treasurer should have chosen his words better ("Treasurer goes cool on icare chiefs", August 18)? He has to be kidding. If the recent reports are verified, icare's problems rank as one of the most egregious abuses of power we have seen in years  huge salaries, trips and other perks for political insiders, and all at the expense of injured Australian workers. No, the Treasurer should not have chosen his words better. He should have chosen his icare team better, or perhaps the Premier should have chosen her Treasurer better. George Rosier, Carlingford "I could have chosen my words better," concedes Perrottet. Bah, far better still had he initially bothered to choose his workers more carefully. Edward Loong, Milsons Point Plenty of questions should be asked about icare (Letters, August 18), starting with how some bright sparks arrived at its name. What, if any, homework did they do? There were already hundreds of Australian businesses with names containing a homophone of icare. Col Shephard, Yamba Sparking conversation

The report on the dominance of white faces among television presenters show an already obvious point ("Anglo-Celts dominate TV news: study", August 18) . A more constructive approach would be to investigate why this is so. As one executive commented: 'There is scant acknowledgement in the report that free-to-air TV employers simply arent hiring culturally diverse employees because theyre not applying." Rather than the usual well-meaning but non-productive chatter about 'diversity', perhaps it's time for academic researchers to start talking to young members of the non-Anglo community about their career choices. Phil Rodwell, Redfern Neigh, don't go there Brumbies are to be removed from sensitive areas of Kosciuszko National Park. As many as possible will be re-homed ("Minister back recount of Kosciuszko brumbies, but removals to go ahead", August 18). What becomes of the brumbies unable to find a new home? Nonie Farley, Roseville According to the Equine Heritage Institute, there are 58,372,106 horses in the world and they exist on every continent except Antarctica. It is estimated that there are only 50 Southern Corroboree Frogs living in the wild. They only exist in the Kosciuszko National Park, at altitudes above 1300 metres. The frog is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list for endangered species  the horse is not. It is environmentally irresponsible to keep horses in this national park. Peter Olive, Marrickville Full of hot air

Once again we see how gas producers get preferential treatment from the Morrison government and Labor opposition ("Local customers paying more for their gas", 18 August). We and our descendants need the politicians to stop making policy that supports gas companies and is against the national interest to reduce climate change. Australias carbon budget is already in jeopardy because of our continuing extraction and use of fossil fuels and the Paris Agreement requires that to stop  now. These politicians are planning greater use of fossil fuels, not less. This is a crime against humanity but the politicians are impervious to policy needs that extend beyond the next gas bill or the next election. Why is there no class action already under way in the courts, to stop them? Barry Laing, Castle Cove Staying focused Your editorial clarifies that there needs to be a full investigation of how the war crimes inquiry may have been compromised, so that those responsible are held accountable ("Compromised war crimes investigation is a stain on Australia's honour", August 18). However, it would be a travesty of justice if focusing on such an investigation was allowed to undermine or deflect attention from the subject of the war crimes inquiry itself. This must be the perfect example of why we urgently need a federal integrity commission with teeth. Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale (VIC) History recalled

Alison Stewart asks, "When did we reach a point where truth and probity are systematically subsumed by power and influence?" (Letters, August 18). I believe it can be pin-pointed to the day John Howard lied about the Tampa and was allowed to get away with it to win an election. Alynn Pratt, Killara Death by a thousand cuts There should be no need for the ABC to have to justify its existence to hostile conservative politicians ("Cost of doing business", August 18). I remember checking the radio at midnight during our horrific summer and hearing the quiet, calm voice of the ABC announcer as she detailed the latest news and warnings about the bushfires. Why not channel some of the obscenely large amounts of money given to defence spending into our ABC? Perhaps we could forego one French submarine or one American bomber for a service that is far more useful to our safety. Nola Tucker, Kiama Could it be argued that government funding cuts to the ABC is akin to Donald Trump's degrading of the US Postal Service ("Anger as post office warns on postal voting", August 18). Both apparently aimed at limiting criticism and freedom of opinion. David Sargeant, Jannali No winners in name game

Premier, this is Aboriginal land. Lets talk to traditional owners, the Land Council and Aboriginal residents of the area that is becoming Sydneys third city so that a name with some substance  and the real owners themselves  are integrated into planning, development and operation of the hub. What better way to acknowledge country ("New hub name game rules out a City McCityface farce", August 17)? Mora Main, Waverley I suggest "Gandangara" as the name for the new Western Sydney city. It reflects the regions heritage criteria in that Gandangara is the name of the Aboriginal Land Council Area housing villages such as Bringelly (also an Aboriginal name) and Luddenham. Tom Cooke, Pearce (ACT) What happened to the Geographical Names Board? Given that we are talking about a place name and not a ferry, surely the process is laid out to avoid another farce. And who knows  maybe the original custodians of the land might have some input? Greg Walsh, Randwick Not quite chomping at the bit I couldn't help but notice that one of the players involved in the NRL's on-field biting incident was reported to have publicly remained "tight lipped" about recounting his version of events at the judiciary hearing ("Johnson aids Proctor bid to beat bite charge", August 18). George Zivkovic, Northmead
South Africa: SADC condemns violence in Mozambique

The 40th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of SADC has condemned terrorism and violent attacks in Mozambique, while pledging support for the southern African country.

The summit expressed SADC solidarity and commitment to support Mozambique in addressing the terrorism and violent attacks, and condemned all acts of terrorism and armed attacks, said the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in a communique.

The summit, which was held virtually, welcomed the decision by Mozambique to bring to the attention of SADC the violent attacks in that country, and commended Mozambique for its continued efforts towards combating terrorism and violent attacks.

Violence has plagued the the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado.

The summit also received an assessment report on emerging security threats in the region.

It directed the Secretariat to prepare an action plan for its implementation that will, among others, prioritise measures to combat terrorism, violent attacks and cybercrime, and address the adverse effects of climate change.

Mondays virtual summit was attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Lesothos Prime Minister Dr. Moeketsi Majoro, Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, as well as Zimbabwean President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, among others.

At the summit, President Nyusi was elected as Chairperson of SADC, while the President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, was elected as incoming Chairperson of SADC.

The summit also elected the President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, as Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, while President Ramaphosa was elected as incoming Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Vision 2050

The summit approved SADC Vision 2050, which is based on a firm foundation of peace, security and democratic governance. It is premised on three interrelated pillars, namely: industrial development and market integration; infrastructure development in support of regional integration; and social and human capital development.

The three pillars also recognise gender, youth, environment and climate change, and disaster risk management as important cross-cutting components.

The summit also approved the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 to operationalise Vision 2050.

Mauritius

Leaders at the summit expressed solidarity with Mauritius after the MV Wakashio ship run aground and leaked oil off the coast of the island nation.

The summit expressed solidarity with the government and people of Mauritius for the environmental disaster in its waters caused by a grounded ship, and called upon SADC Member States and the international community to support Mauritius in containing the disaster, said the leaders in the communique.

Impact of COVID-19

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the summit also received a report on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on SADC economies, while also noting its effects across sectors. The summit approved the proposed measures to address the sectoral effects.

Leaders noted that a face-to-face summit will take place in Maputo, Mozambique, in March 2021, if the COVID-19 pandemic situation is contained.

Prior to Mondays summit, the Council of Ministers of the SADC met virtually last week in preparation for the summit. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
In recognition of continued service to members and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dow Chemical Employees Credit Union recently received a Special Tribute from the State of Michigan.

Signed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, 36th District Sen. Jim Stamas and 98th District Rep. Annette Glenn, the tribute to DCECU and its employees expresses appreciation for all they have endured and contributed since the beginning of this pandemic in March.

As the community began to feel the impact of the virus, DCECU took a firm stance to stand with the community. In compliance with health regulations, the hardworking employees of DCECU continued to ensure their members had a way to accomplish their banking needs, in addition to protecting members from new forms of scams," the tribute reads in part. "While the community continued to suffer from the harsh impacts and economic hardship caused by the coronavirus, DCECU pledged $200,000 in COVID-19 relief efforts to be distributed locally. We thank the employees of DCECU for the commitment they have shown each day and for the sacrifices they have made to ensure our community has access to this essential service and provide the aid we need to get through this challenging time.

From mid-March  when DCECU initially closed its lobby temporarily for walk-in service due to coronavirus concerns  until Michigans Stay Home, Stay Safe order was lifted in early June, most DCECU employees worked from home. However, some worked onsite  including those in front-line positions, such as tellers working the drive-thru and employees receiving members who needed access to their safe deposit boxes or other critical services by appointment.

Since June, onsite staffing levels have been bolstered to provide additional in-person services by appointment while the DCECU lobby remains closed for walk-in service. Many DCECU employees continue to work remotely whenever possible.

More than ever during these past several months, our employees have been our lifeblood; they are the sole reason weve been able to continue serving our members needs with minimal disruption during the pandemic, said DCECU Chief Executive Officer Michael Goad. Especially to our front-line employees, who continued reporting to work to serve our members in person amid the uncertainty of a public health crisis  but also to the many employees who worked behind the scenes to keep things running  we owe a debt of gratitude to our team for helping us operate as smoothly and seamlessly as possible for our members while our lobby has been closed for walk-in service. This tribute from the state  which was spearheaded by Rep. Glenn  really is a tribute to them.

In addition to continuing to provide its services and products to members throughout the pandemic, donating to four local organizations to assist with COVID-19 relief efforts, and warning members of potential scams related to the coronavirus, DCECU also established a web page  dcecu.org/response  for coronavirus-related service and product updates and joined the statewide MiMortgage Relief Partnership to help homeowners experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.

Dow Chemical Employees Credit Union is a cooperative, not-for-profit financial institution that is owned by its members. Located in Midland, DCECU has $1.90 billion in assets and more than 70,300 members and has been recognized multiple times by the Credit Union National Association for top performance in saving members money. Membership is open to employees and retirees of more than 70 select employer group companies, as well as to their family members. For more information, visit dcecu.org or call 989-835-7794 or 800-835-7794.

 Processed by Ashley Schafer, Ashley.Schafer@hearstnp.com
WATERLOO REGION  Public school students in kindergarten to Grade 3 will now be required to wear masks when they return to class in September.

At a board meeting Monday, Waterloo Region District School Board trustees unanimously voted in favour of a motion requiring all students, staff and visitors in schools to wear masks indoors  including students in kindergarten to Grade 3. The motion was introduced by trustee Carol Millar.

COVID is here for who knows how long, and were in the business of educating, so perhaps we can work with our littlest learners and help them to learn how to wear a face mask appropriately, board chair Jayne Herring said in an interview.

Were going to work with compassion and kindness to encourage everyone to wear one.

The province had mandated all students in Grades 4 to 12 wear masks, while students in kindergarten to Grade 3 would be encouraged but not required.

But Millar noted a Region of Waterloo bylaw already requires children age five and older to wear masks in enclosed public spaces. She also said public school students who will take school buses are all required to wear a mask, as physical distancing isnt possible on the buses.

The new school masking rules will align more closely with school bus and region rules and allows for medical exemptions, she said. Students who have difficulty complying wont be disciplined.

The regions medical officer of health expressed her support for the mask decision at a news conference on Tuesday.

I strongly encourage that children in all grades be masked, said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang. Each board will have to decide whats best for them but I strongly encourage it.

Elementary students will be provided with up to five reusable masks each and secondary students will receive up to three. All students will be provided with a disposable mask if they forgot theirs. Trustees heard on Monday that the cost of the masks  about $1.4 million  has already been budgeted for.

Students can absolutely wear cloth masks if that would be their parents preference, said Herring. But we do have masks we will be providing as well.

As part of the boards mask motion, staff were asked to explore alternatives to masks  such as face shields  for those who cannot wear them.

Herring said trustees realized it was possible to require masks for all students after the Toronto Catholic District School Board passed a similar motion last week. That motion requires students in kindergarten to Grade 3 to wear either a face shield or a non-medical mask.

Were pleased to pass this recommendation and will continue to explore anything we can to increase the safety for our staff and students, Herring said.

Last week the boards back-to-school attendance survey closed after collecting more than 62,000 responses. Of those responses, early survey results show 83 per cent of elementary students and 89 per cent of high school students plan to attend school in person for Sept. 8.

The online attendance survey has since been reopened and students and parents who wish to change their response can do so by Friday at 4 p.m.

Trustees also voted Monday in favour of a motion by trustee Cindy Watson, asking school board staff to conduct a feasibility study about taking temperatures of staff and students during the school day. The report is due back a week before the start of school.
Shyam Rajak a sitting MLA from reserved Phulwarisharif seat is considered a strong Dalit face

RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav presents membership slip to former JD-U leader Shyam Rajak after he joined party in Patna.  PTI photo

Bihar industry minister Shyam Rajak on Monday resigned from the JD(U) over differences with party leadership and joined the opposition RJD.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav along with other senior leaders was present during the occasion. JD(U) sources told this newspaper that he has been upset over being marginalized in the party and was also not getting much prominence as a minister.

This is an emotional moment for me, Shyam Rajak said, adding that he would continue his fight for the cause of social justice under the leadership of RJD Chief Lalu Yadav.

While criticizing Nitish Kumar government for its stand on CAA, NRC and other issues he said that I can never compromise on my ideology and happy to join RJD. Hinting that others in the JD(U) may quit the party ahead of polls, he said, you will see what will happen in the coming days.

Shyam Rajak a sitting MLA from reserved Phulwarisharif seat is considered a strong Dalit face. Political experts claim that he also has strong backing from a sizeable Muslim population in his constituency.

Reports suggest that the JD(U) had started promoting a Dalit leader Arun Manjhi from the constituency, he had been contesting assembly elections.

Shyam Rajak quitting NDA is unfortunate, the statement released by LJP said.

On Sunday, after Mr. Rajak announced his decision to quit he was expelled from the JD(U) and sacked from the ministry by the governor on the advice of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Before joining the JD(U) in 2009 he was with RJD. During the Lalu- Rabri regime before 2005, he had also served as a minister.

Shyam Rajak was made the industry minister when Nitish Kumar returned to NDA fold in July 2017.

Several political parties also raised questions on the timing of his decision to quit JD(U) and join the opposition camp. BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand told this newspaper that, The People of Bihar are wise enough to understand who their actual well-wisher is. The socioeconomic growth of subaltern community including Dalits took place because of Nitish Kumar led NDA government's policy. The 2005 onward politics of Bihar has shown that it is not the RJD brand rhetoric of social justice but the policy initiative which has brought a big change in the lives of Dalits in Bihar. The individuals switching parties only to grab ticket without any ideological motivation will have no impact on NDA.
America can be proud of many things: our innovation, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit are unsurpassed. Yet when it comes to our nation understanding one of the greatest gifts ever given to humanitythe Biblewe're moving from dumb to dumber, and it's no laughing matter.
Police have released remarkable footage of officers using a nearby powerboat to save a man from drowning in the River Thames in the middle of the night.

Officers from Kingston police were praised for their quick-thinking action to rescue the struggling man when there were no specialist crews able to respond.

The bodycam footage shows officers travelling along the Thames in the powerboat, as they use a torch to spot the man, who was struggling to stay afloat, in the darkness.

He had been spotted in the water around 2.13am on August 6. The officers had tried to help the man from the shore but he began to panic and began drifting downriver.

Officers from Kingston police have been praised for their quick-thinking after using a powerboat to rescue a drowning man in the River Thames on August 6

Bodycam footage shows the officers speed across the Thames on the boat, using torches to locate the man in the darkness after he was spotted in distress just after 2am

At that point they decided to change tactics. PC Tom Martis-Jones, from the Met's South West Command Unit, is a qualified powerboat driver and gained access to the boat stored at a nearby sailing club.

The video begins with him managing to start the boat in the darkness as two more officers shine a torch to try to spot the man in the water.

As soon as they locate the man, the officers speed towards him in the boat.

The footage ends as the officers help the man, who had been 'struggling to remain calm', on board, assuring him: 'We will give you a hand.'

The footage was shared on social media on August 17, with PC Tom Martis-Jones praised for using skills 'he picked up outside of work' to help the man.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police praised all the Kingston police officers involved, which also included PC Mockett and PC Moore, for their heroic efforts.

The Facebook post said: 'A quick-thinking police officer has been praised for using skills he picked up outside of work to rescue a distressed man from the River Thames.

PC Tom Martis-Jones, from the Met's South West Command Unit, is a qualified powerboat driver and borrowed a boat stored at a nearby sailing club to ride to the rescue

The drowning man was treated by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and was said to go on to make a full recovery

They said officers were alerted to the man needing help near Portsmouth Road in Kingston at 2.13am.

They added: 'Despite the warm weather, the water was still incredibly cold and the situation was made more difficult by the lack of light in the area.'

PC Martis-Jones said: 'I'm a qualified powerboat driver and have sailed and swam in that part of the river since the age of 12.

'It was a high-risk situation which could have turned out very differently. I'd urge anyone who finds themselves struggling in the water to keep calm, lean back and float until help arrives.'

The footage was shared on social media on Monday and the officers involved in the rescue were praised for their quick-thinking by a Metropolitan Police spokesperson

The man was treated by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and went on to make a full recovery.

Chief Superintendent Sally Benatar, borough commander for the South West BCU, said: 'This is another example of the risks officers take every day to keep Londoners safe.

'I'm so proud of the officers who responded and their efforts to rescue the man. It's possible this man would have drowned without their quick thinking.'
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos says she was not shown emails sent to her department by Victoria's top doctors in April that warned about problems with infection control in the state's hotel quarantine program.

Questioned in Parliament on Tuesday about the emails, which were sent a fortnight after the hotel scheme began, she said they had been read by a Department of Health and Human Services staffer but not passed on to her.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos arriving for question time on Tuesday. Credit:Eddie Jim

Her comments prompted the opposition to accuse her of avoiding responsibility for infection control lapses in quarantine hotels that sparked Victoria's second wave of COVID-19.

During a controversial sitting of Parliament, the Health Minister also accused a Liberal MP of mimicking US President Donald Trump by questioning Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton's advice on how Parliament should meet.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: With rain lashing the city almost every day, more and more people have started complaining about bad roads. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has once again started its drive to fill potholes and declare various roads as pothole-free. Their work will also include roads dug up by various agencies, including the BWSSB and Bescom, for civil works.

According to BBMP records, Bengaluru has 85,321 roads, of which 62,199 have been declared pothole-free. The corporation also stated that of the total roads, 12,440 are under the zonal divisions, of which 75% have been attended to, 10% are worn out and 22% have dug up for various utility works.

BBMP Chief Engineer M R Venkatesh told TNIE that instead of counting the number of potholes, they will declare roads as pothole-free and and all information will be uploaded on the website. So far, 62,199 roads have been declared pothole-free in the city, according to the information shared by ground-level engineers. Even as staffers are looking for potholes on the citys roads, citizens can report them to the BBMP. We have set a 48-hour deadline to fix the potholes, he said.

BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad held a review meeting on Monday with BBMP engineers to take stock of the situation. The hot mix plants have been inspected and they can generate 50-60 truck loads of hot mix tar every day. It must be well utilised by the engineers to ensure roads are pothole-free. They should also ensure roads are garbage free and there is no water logging.The commissioner also told the engineers to ensure that there are no open drains and dug-up roads.

15-day deadline to fill potholes

A 15-day deadline has been set for engineers to fill potholes and a weekly review meeting will be held to ascertain the status of the roads and the works done.
CHICAGO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS) and United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE: USM) are participating in a fireside chat hosted by Morgan Stanley on August 20, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. EDT (2:30 p.m. CDT). LeRoy T. Carlson Jr., President and CEO  TDS; Douglas W. Chambers, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer  U.S. Cellular; Vicki L. Villacrez, Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer  TDS Telecom and Jane W. McCahon, Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations  TDS will participate.

To view all presentations, please visit the events and presentations pages of investors.tdsinc.com or investors.uscellular.com . The fireside chat will be webcast live and on-demand.



About TDS

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000 company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, video and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses, U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, BendBroadband and OneNeck IT Solutions. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed 9,300 people as of June 30, 2020.

For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit:

TDS: www.tdsinc.com

U.S. Cellular: www.uscellular.com

TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com

OneNeck IT Solutions: www.oneneck.com

SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems and U.S. Cellular
US President Donald Trump has elevated America's ties with India and solidified the growing partnership between the two countries in ways not seen in any previous administrations, the White House has said.

The US president will continue to build this critical partnership in the years to come, it asserted.

"President Trump has prioritised US-India relationship and worked to expand all facets of the partnership over the last three-and-a-half years," a senior administration official from the National Security Council of the White House told PTI on Monday.

"Given the two countries' democratic foundations and their mutual interests in rebuilding the global economy following COVID-19, diversifying global supply chains, and ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open, President Trump will continue to build this critical partnership in the years to come," the official said.

"The Trump Administration has elevated the US relationship with India and solidified our growing partnership in ways not seen in any other US administration," the official said, noting that the president has enabled India to become the first non-treaty ally to be offered an armed MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System.

"During President Trump's historic visit to India February 24-26, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the relationship to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Modi was also one of the first foreign leaders to visit the White House after President Trump took office on June 26, 2017," the official said.

The senior official noted the two leaders have also spoken side-by-side at two major events  "Howdy, Modi" in September 2019 in Houston, Texas, before a crowd of over 55,000 and again at "Namaste, Trump" in February 2020 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to address a crowd of 110,000 people.

"These gatherings boosted our people-to-people ties and highlighted the warm personal relationship between the two leaders," the official said.

Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy prioritises closer cooperation between the United States and India to secure a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, said the official.

"We have boosted quadrilateral consultations among the United States, India, Australia and Japan, with the four foreign ministers meeting for the first time in September 2019," the official said.

"President Trump has strengthened all aspects of US-India security and defence cooperation to build a comprehensive, enduring, and mutually beneficial defense partnership," the official said.

Under the Trump Administration, the United States has become the second-largest arms supplier to India, growing from virtually no arms sales a decade ago to more than USD20 billion today, the official said, adding that earlier this year, the US and India concluded USD3 billion in defence sales, including MH-60R naval helicopters and additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

"To bolster India's role as a net provider of security in the Indo-Pacific, the Trump administration has lifted restrictions on the provision of sensitive defence technology, enabling India to become the first non-treaty ally offered an armed MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System," the official said.

"As global leaders with vibrant democracies, the United States and India have cooperated to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. US and Indian pharmaceutical companies have collaborated to expand global supplies of critical medicines and are cooperating on vaccine development," the official added.

In a separate statement, Al Mason, co-chair for the Trump Victory Indian American Finance Committee, said Trump has elevated India's stature on the world stage, and asserted that credit also goes to Prime Minister Modi.

"Of course, due credit also goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his skilled policy towards the US. The India-US relationship has been rock solid. Kudos to the brilliance of both Trump and Modi for cementing the bond between India and the US," Mason told PTI.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:50:58|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed "the aggravated situation" in Belarus in a phone conversation Tuesday, the Kremlin has said.

"Putin emphasized the inadmissibility of meddling in the internal affairs of Belarus and putting pressure on its leadership," the Kremlin said in a news release.

Both Putin and Macron expressed interest in an early settlement of the problems in Belarus, it said.

In addition, the leaders continued a "thorough exchange of views" on the Libyan crisis, it added, without providing details.

Belarus is engulfed in mass protests after incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term in the Aug. 9 elections, with the opposition refusing to recognize the results.

On Monday, Lukashenko said at a rally in Minsk that there would be no re-election. Enditem
State and local official charge that Connecticuts two major electric utilities failed to meet the standards of a wide-ranging 2012 law that mandated better staffing levels and enhanced communications with towns and cities after the state was crippled by a pair of major storms in 2011.

While members of the legislative energy committee on Monday vowed to bring alleged failures in the response to this months tropical storm to a special General Assembly session in September, local officials are still picking up the pieces of what they believe were massive failures on the part of Eversource and United Illuminating Co.

Utilities should be providing direct information to their customers, said Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson. In particular, so-called make-safe protocols, in which town and city public works officials work with utility crews to shut off power at locations where downed trees need to be removed, were a massive failure.

While Stevenson said she has a good working relationship with the town liaison from Eversource, they, too, need to be given information they can share with local officials. All work has to be brokered through utility centers and we had no information on utility crews on whether they were working, Stevenson said in an interview. Customer service is everything. Give me the information, even if its something that my residents dont want to hear.

Much of the state was without power for at least several days after Tropical Storm Isaisas traveled just west of Connecticut, with accompanying dangerous winds taking out thousands of trees and causing widespread power outages.

You should not make money on your failures, said state Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, co-chairman of the Energy & Technology Committee during a late-morning news conference outside the State Capitol. State Rep. David Arconti, D-Danbury, the committees other co-chairman, said that the corporate response was unacceptable, and was exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

The breakdown in communication that occurred between the utilities and their customers and the utilities and local municipal officials was completely unacceptable, Arconti said. To be without power for a week or longer, and not knowing when the next paycheck is going to come, and losing a week of food is completely unacceptable during this time period.

Arconti said he wants the utilities to voluntarily organize a reimbursement program. Under a 2012 bill that was related to the overall response to the storms but which failed on the last night of the legislative session, customers could have been reimbursed for food spoilage up to $400 in the event that outages exceeded 48 hours.

Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick, who was ranking member of the energy committee back when she was in the state House of Representatives in 2012, said that United Illuminating failed to coordinate with her public works and public safety officials.

We have to go back to the protocols we set in 2012, said Hoydick. Our technology has improved so much, theres no reason why we cant work in tandem with the utilities.

Joe McGee of Fairfield, a former top state development official who led the so-led the governors panel that investigated the utilities response to the storms of 2011, said in an interview that while a lot of trees have been systematically cut down along state highways, the overall performance standard of Eversource and UI has been allowed to deteriorate.

There needs to be a tougher performance standard here, McGee said. Theyre allowed to make extraordinary profits, but how much of that needs to be invested in the grid?

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said Monday that the response improvements envisioned in the 2012 bill have obviously failed. We hear from the utilities about the hardening of the system, and yet the damage this time was just as bad or worse than the 2011 storms, he said.

In particular, Looney said, Eversource has sharply reduced its line-repair crews and has been counting on bringing in out-of-state workers when widespread damage occurs. They werent even pre-planning for a storm, Looney said. Then when the out-of-state crews finally got here, theyd go to an assembly point and wait for hours until an Eversource employee arrived to show them where to go.

Looney said he believes there is a will in the General Assembly to focus next month on consumer protection issues.

In the longer term, Looney said that lawmakers should even revisit the 1998 bill that restructured utilities. He also wondered why utility executives get paid multi-million-dollar salaries as if they were high-performing companies in competitive markets. In fact, UI and Eversource have state-guaranteed markets. He also wants to enhance the power of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

Theyre making record profits and theyre cutting off peoples power for nonpayment during the COVID crisis, said state Rep. Anne Huges, D-Easton, who was without electricity for days after a tree fell on her house August 4. She hopes that in September, lawmakers will approve bills to reimburse ratepayers and open up utilities for civil liability, as well as mandating the burial of power lines to avoid tree damage.

Gov. Ned Lamont recently asked PURA to investigate the storm response and a hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 24.

Attorney General William Tong said Monday that the issues go beyond UI and Eversource compliance with the 2012 law by submitting emergency response plans for review and approval by PURA.

The question now that must be answered nd thoroughly investigated is whether or not the companies followed through and met the conditions in those stated plans, Tong said.

Edward Crowder, spokesman for UI, said Monday that he expects that the staffing and communications issues will be addressed in the hearing.

We believe that the investigation will confirm that our preparation for and response to Tropical Storm Isaias were consistent with our PURA-approved storm plan, Crowder said. We will welcome any findings or recommendations that could help us improve our future performance.

Tricia Modifica, media realtions manager for Eversource, said the company recognizes the storms impact.

The massive team of line and tree crews we assembled for this storm response - along with the hundreds of employees supporting the effort behind the scenes - did an incredible job working tirelessly on this historic storm restoration, she said. Despite the damage being more severe than in Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene, this restoration was completed 33 percent faster. That said, as is the process with all storms, there will be a thorough review with PURA that we will fully engage in to provide information on our preparation and response.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
Amazon has announced plans to add 3,500 new corporate employees in six cities, including 2,000 in a new flagship New York City office, in a move that bucks the trends of companies and residents fleeing urban centers amid the pandemic and rising crime.

The company said on Tuesday that it will expand its 'tech hubs' in Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Phoenix, and San Diego, and open a new office in Manhattan's Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue building.

Due to the pandemic, Amazon is urging all of its employees who are able to work remotely to do so until at least January 8, an insider told DailyMail.com. But the expansion plans signal that the online retail giant anticipates a return to normalcy someday, and is betting on a big presence in cities as a core part of its strategy.

It comes as many other companies including Facebook and Twitter make aggressive plans to pivot to long-term remote work, and others eye satellite offices outside of urban cores, particularly New York, where hundreds of thousands of residents have fled in recent months.

Amazon is not the only tech giant announcing a major expansion in Manhattan, however, after Facebook earlier this month signed a lease for the historic Farley Post Office building -- a property Amazon was also rumored to have been considering.

However, both Amazon and Facebook, which have cash on hand of $49 billion and $60 billion respectively, can easily afford their Manhattan leases and mortgages even if the city's return to normalcy takes longer than expected.

Amazon said on Tuesday that it will expand in Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Phoenix, and San Diego, and open a new office in Manhattan's Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue building (above)

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is seen in a file photo. The company's new office in the historic Lord & Taylor building is expected to open in 2023

'These 3,500 new jobs will be in cities across the country with strong and diverse talent pools. We look forward to helping these communities grow their emerging tech workforce,' said Beth Galetti, Amazon's senior vice president of human resources.

Amazon's expansion plans include:

Dallas: Amazon will expand the existing Dallas Tech Hub at its Galleria location in North Dallas, adding more than 100,000 square feet of space and 600 tech and corporate roles

Amazon will expand the existing Dallas Tech Hub at its Galleria location in North Dallas, adding more than 100,000 square feet of space and 600 tech and corporate roles Detroit: The acquisition of more than 25,000 square feet of office space in Detroit will provide space for an additional 100 jobs

The acquisition of more than 25,000 square feet of office space in Detroit will provide space for an additional 100 jobs Denver: Amazon's Denver Tech Hub will grow by an additional 100 jobs with the addition of 20,000 square feet of new office space

Amazon's Denver Tech Hub will grow by an additional 100 jobs with the addition of 20,000 square feet of new office space New York City: Amazon plans to create 2,000 new jobs and has acquired the Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue building for a new 630,000 square-foot office

Amazon plans to create 2,000 new jobs and has acquired the Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue building for a new 630,000 square-foot office Phoenix: The company's 90,000 square-foot Phoenix Tech Hub expansion at 100 Mill will allow the addition of more than 500 new jobs

The company's 90,000 square-foot Phoenix Tech Hub expansion at 100 Mill will allow the addition of more than 500 new jobs San Diego: An addition of more than 40,000 square feet of office space will allow for the creation of 200 new jobs

An Amazon spokesman told DailyMail.com that the company expects to complete filling these new roles 'in next couple of years.'

The new jobs will be tech and corporate roles supporting various businesses across Amazon, including Amazon Web Services, Alexa and Amazon Fresh, among others.

Amazon was rumored to be considering the historic Lord & Taylor building as early as last summer, after the company's plans for a mega-office employing 25,000 in Queens fell apart due to political opposition from Re. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others.

Amazon purchased the Fifth Avenue building from troubled work-sharing company WeWork for more than $1 billion, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

Amazon's Denver Tech Hub (above) will grow by an additional 100 jobs with the addition of 20,000 square feet of new office space

The acquisition of more than 25,000 square feet of office space in Detroit (above) will provide space for an additional 100 jobs, Amazon says

Amazon will expand the existing Dallas Tech Hub (above) at its Galleria location in North Dallas, adding more than 100,000 square feet of space and 600 tech and corporate roles

The online retailer currently has about 5,000 corporate employees in New York City, who are spread around several offices. The Lord & Taylor office is expected to open in 2023.

Amazon said the expansions aren't linked to any financial incentives from local or state governments -- an issue that became a major bone of contention with the scuttled Queens expansion, which was tied to more than $3 billion in state and local tax incentives.

However, Amazon is receiving some building incentives for the Lord & Taylor building transferred over from the deal with WeWork, which will reduce costs to refurbish the space, according to the Journal.

Experts say that Amazon's strategy hinges on dominating the market in the dense urban cores that are key to the company's online retailing business, perhaps explaining why the company is expanding in cities as other firms flee.

'They do need to be that last mile, to control that last mile,' said financial pundit Jim Cramer on CNBC, referring to the delivery of goods from transportation hubs to consumers.

The strategy is not without risk though, at a time when many are direly predicting the demise of New York amid soaring violent crime and a mass exodus of wealthy and middle-class residents.

Between March 1 and May 1, an estimated 420,000 New Yorkers fled town, or about 5 percent of the city's population.

Though exact numbers are hard to come by, some believe the total leaving the city could have topped one million in June and July, as the city reopened and crime began to rise dramatically.

Moving company Oz Moving said the number of people moving out of the city is continuing to rise at a rapid pace.

The firm told Fox Business that they have seen an average increase in quote requests of 30 percent year over year, and by July 15 their services were fully-booked for the rest of the month.

On Saturday, an Amazon employee was beaten to death in Manhattan's Greenwich Village after a verbal disagreement with an unidentified man.

Deshawn Bush, 36, was found unconscious outside a bagel shop on Christopher Street at around 4.20am, and was rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, authorities said.

Amazon employee Deshawn Bush, 36, was found unconscious and later died from his injuries after he was beaten by an unidentified attacker in Manhattan on Saturday morning

Violent crime in New York has exploded in recent months, with shooting incidents across the city up 177 percent in July compared to last year.

Murders were up 59 percent for the month, burglaries rose 31 percent, and auto thefts increased 53 percent.

In one shocking incident, a man was shot and wounded in broad daylight on a platform at Grand Central Station over the weekend.

The victim was shot in the arm on the 4/5/6 platform at about 10.30am on Saturday, according to police.

Cops say the victim had some kind of verbal dispute with the shooter and was attempting to flee when the other man opened fire.
Firefighters from the Orange County Fire Department put out a blazing vehicle in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Car Explodes in Irvine Residential Neighborhood

IRVINE, Calif.The Orange County Fire Department (OCFD) responded to a car fire on Aug. 17 in the Almador residential neighborhood of Irvine, California.

Firefighters received the call at 5:47 p.m. and arrived within minutes to find a black Mercedes-Benz E320 in flames. They removed the hood of the car and quickly contained the fire.

According to neighbors, the parked Mercedes spontaneously erupted in flames. The explosion made a loud noise like someone slammed a really loud door, one witness said.

No one was present in the vehicle and there were no injuries, the OCFD reported.

A firefighter from the Orange County Fire Department responds to a burning car in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Orange County firefighters use a hose to spray water on a burning Mercedes-Benz in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The wreckage of a burnt Mercedes-Benz smolders after Orange County firefighters doused the flames in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

A second vehicle, a Toyota parked next to the Mercedes, sustained slight damage on the drivers side.

The owner of the burnt vehicle, a resident named Billy, said hes not sure what caused the fire and declined to comment further. He owns multiple cars and runs a small mechanic business out of his garage.

Captain Ian Dawes of the OCFD told The Epoch Times, There was no structural involvement in the fire. The most important thing is nobody got hurt.

Dawes said the department is ruling the incident as an accidental fire by an unknown electrical cause.

An Orange County firefighter carries a hose while responding to a burning car in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

A firefighter with the Orange County Fire Department connects a hose to the truck while bystanders look on in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Victoria Terpening, who lives in the neighborhood, told The Epoch Times she was on her way home from work when she saw the flames rising near where she lives.

Panicked because she thought her house was on fire, she rushed home to make sure her family was okay.

Im just so thankful for public services and the fire department, Terpening said.

The incident occurred as California bakes amid a record-setting heat wave that has drained the energy grid and caused rolling power outages.
Gurugram Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the death of a 38-year-old vice president of a private bank, whose body was found in a canal in Delhi, days after he had gone missing while taking a stroll outside his Sector 46 house on August 5 .

The family of the victim has alleged that he was kidnapped and murdered and claimed negligence on part of the city police for not conducting a proper investigation initially, when the family first reported the man missing. A three-member SIT, under the supervision of the assistant commissioner of police (crime), Preet Pal was formed on Monday to look into the case.

According to the police, on August 5 around 7.45pm, the victim, Dheeraj Ahlawat, who worked in the corporate banking department of a private bank, was last seen walking on a service lane near his house in Sector 46.

After he failed to return later that evening, his family launched a search and looked around for him and enquired with friends and relatives.

The following day, his family filed a missing persons complaint at Sector 50 police station. An FIR under section 346 of Indian Penal Code was lodged based on the complaint.

The victims brother, Jasvir Singh, alleged that the family told the police that Dheeraj could have been kidnapped as he dealt in huge loan amounts as part of his job. But the police dismissed their concerns, stating that he may have gone somewhere of his own volition.

He returned home on August 5 evening and changed into a T-shirt and went for a stroll in his slippers around 7.45pm. Before leaving, he grabbed the mask from his car and kept the car keys in his pocket. If he wanted to go somewhere far, he would have taken the car. He had no money on him. Both his phones were later found switched off. He did not have any personal enmity with anyone, said Jasvir.

Singh said that they had contacted a relative in Delhi police soon after, who told them that a body matching Dheerajs description had been fished out of a canal near Rohini on the night of August 7.

We received information on August 12 regarding a body and I went to the hospital in Delhi, where the body had been kept, to check. I identified the body, which only had an underwear on, through the rakhi, which my sister had tied on his left hand, and by his build. According to the police, Dheerajs body was found completely naked except the underwear when it was found. We suspect that he was kidnapped and then murdered. He was a decent swimmer, said Jasvir.

After his body was found in Delhi, the victims family informed the police in Sector 50 and a kidnapping charge was added to the FIR. A post-mortem was conducted on August 12 and police said that viscera samples have been sent to the forensics laboratory for examination.

Jasvir said that they met the commissioner of police on Monday demanding a thorough probe into the death. My brothers work involved disbursement of corporate loans worth several hundred crores. It is possible that he was targeted due to some money related dispute, said Singh.

Preet Pal, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), crime, said, A three-member SIT has been formed to investigate the case. We had registered an FIR immediately after the family had reported that the person had gone missing. The body was later found by Delhi Police and the charge of kidnapping was added as per the circumstances and facts of the case.
Police at the scene in the Windermere Road area of south Belfast on Sunday

The PSNI has launched a murder investigation into the death of a 60-year-old woman after her body was found in her south Belfast home on Sunday.

A 61-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after the incident took place in the property on Windermere Road and remained in police custody last night.

It's believed the PSNI made the arrest as the man walked down Cairnshill Road on Sunday.

The name of the victim has not yet been made public.

Residents said four police cars and two ambulances were at the scene in what one described as a "quiet residential street".

Alliance councillor Michelle Guy, who lives in the area, said it was "very unusual" that such an incident took place in what is normally a "quiet" part of the city.

"It was an absolute shock for everyone in the community and I absolutely express my condolences to the family of the victim who has been left bereaved by this," she said. "It's awful and it's really sad.

"People were genuinely shocked yesterday and just concerned.

"They were feeling very sad for the family concerned."

Ulster Unionist Party councillor Michael Henderson wished to pass on his condolences to the family of the victim and expressed his concern over the murder.

"We would call on anyone who has any information or knows anything to contact the police," he added.

Sinn Fein councillor Ryan Carlin also expressed his condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the victim.

"I have been liaising with the PSNI throughout the course of the incident and would appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward," he stated.

Meanwhile, Green Party councillor Simon Lee stated that the local community was shocked and saddened to hear of the woman's death.

"If anyone saw anything - and there has been talk on social media - pass it on to the police," he said.

Detective Inspector Jennifer Rea called on those with information to contact police.

"I want to offer my condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim at this tragic time," she stated.

"I would appeal to anyone who has information they believe may assist our investigation to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 1566 of 16/08/20."

Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
New York

Americans turned to Walmart and Home Depot for supplies and do-it-yourself projects as they stayed close to home at a time when new cases of virus surged, resulting in soaring sales for their fiscal second quarter.

Walmart's online sales nearly doubled in the fiscal second quarter, helped by an expansion of its online delivery services. Sales at U.S. locations opened at least a year jumped 9.3 percent the company reported Tuesday. With customers not going out to eat as much, they're cooking at home, spurring sales of groceries. They're also buying items to set up their home office or improve their outdoor area, store executives said.

Home Depot, the nation's largest home improvement chain, reported on Tuesday a 23.4 percent increase in sales at stores opened at least a year globally, helped by a frenzied pace of do-it-yourself projects. That's almost twice the 12.2 percent increase that industry analysts had projected.

However, department store chain Kohl's reported an adjusted loss that was smaller than expected and revenue fell 23 percent during the fiscal second quarter. The results came as Kohl's worked to reopen its 1,100 stores after temporarily closing them all during the start of the pandemic.

"Some parts of retailing are thriving; some parts are being devastated," said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail. "It's demonstrating a dramatic shift of how and where shoppers are spending their money. People's lives are revolving around the home. That means food, home improvement and comfortable clothes."

Consumers had already begun to rely on Walmart, Home Depot and other essential retailers like Target and Amazon as lifelines for necessities during the start of the pandemic. Walmart's online sales, for example, rose 74 percent for the fiscal first quarter. That trend accelerated to 97 percent in the second quarter and broadened the gap between traditional retailers, many of them anchor stores at the mall, and big box operators like Walmart and Target.

Kohl's CEO Michelle Gass told reporters on a call Tuesday that the chain, based in Menomonee, Wisc., should benefit from mostly being located at strip centers. It's also looking to capture market share from rivals that are closing stores. She also says that its home furnishings are resonating even more as shoppers are focusing on their home. During the second quarter, online sales soared 58 percent. And roughly 50 percent of its online business was fulfilled in stores.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"We will be a beneficiary of consumers adopting more casual lifestyles and shopping more digitally," Gass told analysts on a call.

With unemployment in the U.S. hitting frighteningly high levels, Walmart's ability to deliver low-priced food, clothing and electronics strengthened its structural advantages further.

Home Depot and Walmart are setting a high bar for the rest of the retailers and are among the few bright spots in an industry mostly battered by the financial fallout of the pandemic. Target, Lowe's, TJX Cos. and Victoria's Secret parent are slated to report their earnings Wednesday.

Net income for Walmart Inc., based in Bentonville, Arkansas, reached $6.48 billion in the quarter, or $2.27 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.56 per share, easily outpacing Wall Street projections of $1.22, according to a survey by Zacks Investment Research.
Richardson said he took the mail-in ballots and threw them away and let the residents vote on a machine in the precinct under a provisional ballot. Other residents couldnt vote because they didnt have the ballots to surrender, so it was unclear if they mailed in the ballots already or not.
Subsidies offered under the Delhi government's recent electric vehicle (EV) Policy 2020 for retail consumers could trigger faster EV penetration in the national capital territory, ratings agency ICRA said on Tuesday.

Accordingly, the ratings agency said the policy seeks to drive rapid adoption of battery electric vehicles with the goal of reducing air pollution in the nation's capital.

"It offers subsidies, waivers, and incentives on purchase of EVs on the one hand and dis-incentivises use of conventional viz., Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-based vehicles on the other," the agency said in a statement.

"The incentives will be offered across segments like electric two-wheelers (e-2W), e-rickshaws (3W), goods carriers, electric cars, and buses and will be incremental to those offered under the FAME-II scheme."

According to the agency, 2Ws are the dominant mode of commute in India and with the ongoing pandemic, the preference for personal vehicles is expected to increase further.

"The subsidies and incentives offered under the scheme for retail consumers and manufacturers could, therefore, give a long-needed push for faster EV penetration and development of this ecosystem in New Delhi," the statement said.

As per ICRA, coupled with the FAME-II incentives, the upfront e-2W prices would become 25-30 per cent lower than conventional 2Ws (for basic models), thereby proving to be a catalyst for accelerated e-2W penetration.

"We believe that the policy holds multiple attractive propositions for the potential e-2W customers. The concern for deteriorating air pollution conditions in the national capital had already been gaining momentum for the past many years," Shamsher Dewan, Vice President, ICRA, said in the statement.

"With a progressive EV Policy in place, the 2W customers will be able to contribute towards alleviating the situation while benefiting from the lower upfront cost as well as total cost of 2W ownership."

Dewan said the high upfront cost of the e-2W vis-a-vis conventional 2Ws has been one of the main hindrances to faster e-2W penetration, which will get addressed through the attractive incentives under the policy.

Besides, the ICRA pointed out that scrappage incentive is a first of its kind in an EV policy, whereas industry response to the requirement of matching participation by OEMs or dealers and de-registration of conventional 2W remains to be seen.

"In addition to sizable cost savings to both the consumer and the government (on crude imports), several non-economic factors are also conducive for faster electrification in 2W segment, like lower dependence on commercial charging infrastructure, range per charge meeting daily commute requirements, growing environment and health concerns, among others," added Dewan.
He will spend his sentence with 21 months wholly suspended in the County Court after pleading guilty to importing and trafficking drugs in early August.

Read more: Backpackers face hefty medical bills for drug overdose

The parcels of illicit drugs were sent from France, Germany and the UK between September 2018 and February 2019 to mailboxes in Melbournes Hawthorn, Camberwell, Elsternwick and Malvern suburbs. They were addressed to an alias name known as Stefan Perera which investigators later uncovered as Mathuran.

Mathurans Glen Iris home was raided by investigators in February last year where mobile phones, drugs, fake IDs and over $2,000 in cash was seized as evidence by police.

According to the Herald Sun, a phone analysis uncovered further evidence of LSD, cocaine and MDMA transactions dating back to 2018. Included in the phones messages were texts referencing the high-quality of illicit substances that Mathuran pleaded guilty to trafficking.

Mathuran started his employment with MBA Insurance Services in 2010 as a trainee insurance broker and climbed the ranks to a senior account executive in the years leading up to February 2017.

MBA Insurance Services told Insurance Business that because Mathuran's arrest took place after his employment with the company, they will not provide a comment.
How far off is AB Dynamics plc (LON:ABDP) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for AB Dynamics

Step by step through the calculation

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK1.73m UK9.57m UK16.4m UK24.6m UK33.4m UK41.9m UK49.4m UK55.9m UK61.2m UK65.4m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x4 Est @ 71.37% Est @ 50.32% Est @ 35.59% Est @ 25.28% Est @ 18.06% Est @ 13.01% Est @ 9.47% Est @ 7% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 10.0% UK1.6 UK7.9 UK12.3 UK16.9 UK20.8 UK23.7 UK25.4 UK26.1 UK26.0 UK25.3

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK186m

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 10.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK65m (1 + 1.2%)  (10.0% 1.2%) = UK757m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK757m ( 1 + 10.0%)10= UK293m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK479m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK17.4, the company appears about fair value at a 18% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at AB Dynamics as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 10.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.264. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Moving On:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For AB Dynamics, we've compiled three essential factors you should explore:

Risks: You should be aware of the 1 warning sign for AB Dynamics we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does ABDP's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every British stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:32:15|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Libya on Tuesday said the EU is providing 10 million euros (12 million U.S. dollars) in extra funding for the United Nations Development Programe's (UNDP) new initiative on stability, unity, social cohesion (SUSC) in Libya.

The initiative aims to support peaceful dialogue and reconciliation between communities to improve social cohesion and national unity, EU Delegation to Libya said in a statement.

"With this new EU funding, the SUSC initiative will continue to support three existing complementary projects: the Stabilization Facility for Libya, National Reconciliation and Local Elections, while introducing a new project on Preventing Violent Extremism which will help those communities where it is most needed," the statement said.

The continuing partnership of the EU and the UNDP in the new initiative focuses on strengthening capacities of municipalities, which work for and with their communities to establish and sustain a peaceful environment by creating peace dividends and supporting local peace agreements, the statement explained.

"We are happy to receive this important contribution and continue working in partnership with the EU to support local authorities and promote inclusive and sustainable development and SDGs in Libyan communities," said UNDP Resident Representative Gerardo Noto.

"Through this joint initiative with UNDP, we reconfirm our unwavering support to Libya's peaceful democratic transition," the EU Ambassador to Libya Alan Bugeja said.

Focusing on strengthening efforts of Libyan municipalities to prevent violent extremism through raising awareness on the dangers of extremism and countering extremist messaging in communities is another component of the initiative, the statement added. Enditem
Sen. Bernie Sanders and former first lady Michelle Obama headlined the first night of the all-virtual Democratic National Convention on Monday, testing out a new format for the quadrennial event made necessary by the spreading coronavirus. Day 1 focused on unity, featuring speeches by Republicans in addition to a full-throated endorsement from Sanders, the leader of the party's progressive wing, for onetime rival Joe Biden. President Donald Trump was in the speakers' crosshairs. "Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy," the former first lady said at one point, offering an unusually blunt assessment. The two-hour event was emceed by the actress and activist Eva Longoria. It will continue each night through Thursday starting at 9 p.m. ET. The virtual gathering came less than a week after Biden announced that his running mate would be Sen. Kamala Harris of California, making the former state attorney general the first Black woman and the first Asian American to run on a major party ticket. In a statement responding to the convention, the Trump campaign said it was a "Hollywood-produced infomercial" and accused Biden of falling under the sway of the party's "radical socialist" left. Here are the night's top moments.

Michelle Obama delivers a stern warning

Former First Lady Michelle Obama speaking during the opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 17th, 2020. CNBC

"If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we don't make a change in this election." This was former first lady Michelle Obama's unvarnished message for Americans in her keynote speech, which offered a bleak picture of what she said young people see around them in America today. "They see our leaders labeling fellow citizens enemies of the state while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists. They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages, and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protesters for a photo-op," said Obama. And while the purpose of the Democratic convention this week is to nominate and celebrate the party's presidential ticket, Obama only mentioned Biden halfway into her speech.

Bernie Sanders goes all in on Biden

Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-VT, speaking during the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 17th, 2020. CNBC

Few Democrats can forget how awkward and prickly Sen. Bernie Sanders' Democratic convention speech was four years ago, when he boasted about how many delegates he had won in the primary against nominee Hillary Clinton. But there was no hint of the bitterness of 2016 on Monday night, when Sanders again endorsed a candidate who beat him in the Democratic primary. Instead, Sanders gave Joe Biden a full-throated endorsement, sending a clear signal to progressives who might still be reluctant to vote for a moderate like Biden. "We need Joe Biden as our next president," Sanders said before warning that "authoritarianism has taken root in our country," under Trump. "We must build a nation that is more equitable, more compassionate and more Inclusive. I know that Joe Biden will begin that fight on Day 1," Sanders said, before listing a half dozen examples of "how Joe will move us forward." These included Biden's support for a $15 an hour minimum wage, his pledge to reform the criminal justice system and his plan to fund universal prekindergarten. "To heal the soul of our nation, Joe Biden will end the hate and division Trump has created," Sanders said. "He will stop the demonization of immigrants, the coddling of white nationalists, the racist dog whistling, the religious bigotry, and the ugly attacks on women."

Sanders closed by appealing directly to his progressive supporters and to disaffected Democrats who might be hesitant to vote for Biden. "To everyone who supported other candidates in the primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake. We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president," he said.

Cuomo: 'We need a leader as good as our people'

Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaking on the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 17th, 2020. CNBC

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered some of the sharpest barbs of the evening, accusing the president of dividing the country and mishandling the coronavirus pandemic, which hit New York harder than perhaps anywhere else in the country. "Covid is the symptom, not the illness. Our nation is in crisis, and in many ways Covid is just a metaphor," Cuomo said. "A virus attacks when the body is weak and when it cannot defend itself. Over these past few years America's body politic has been weakened." Cuomo added that Trump "didn't create the initial division. The division created Trump. He only made it worse." "Our collective strength is exercised through government. It is, in effect, our immune system. And our current federal government is dysfunctional and incompetent," Cuomo said.

Republican Kasich says it's time to 'take off our partisan hats'

Former Governor of Ohia John Kasich speaking during the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Aug. 17th, 2020. CNBC

It wasn't just Democrats at the Democratic National Convention. Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who sought the Republican nomination in 2016, took a turn on the virtual dais to ask Americans to "take off our partisan hats and put our nation first for ourselves and, of course, for our children." "I'm sure there are Republicans and Independents who couldn't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat. They fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind," Kasich said. "I don't believe that because I know the measure of the man. It's reasonable, faithful, respectful, and, you know, no one pushes Joe around." Not everyone was pleased with Kasich's inclusion in the event, and the former governor sparred with progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just hours beforehand. The freshman congresswoman fired back on Twitter after Kasich was quoted saying that Ocasio-Cortez did not represent the Democratic Party. "It's great that Kasich has woken up &realized the importance of supporting a Biden-Harris ticket. I hope he gets through to GOP voters," Ocasio-Cortez wrote. "Yet also, something tells me a Republican who fights against women's rights doesn't get to say who is or isn't representative of the Dem party." AOC tweet

A moment of silence for George Floyd

In this screenshot from the DNCCs livestream of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, The brothers of George Floyd, Rodney Floyd (L) and Philonise Floyd address the virtual convention on August 17, 2020. DNCC | Getty Images
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had fewer than five minutes to address the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night, but the speech edged her further into the spotlight as a national leader within the party, political experts say.

The more youre on that stage, the more relevant you become, at least within the Democrat party, said Jenell Leonard, owner of Marketing Resource Group.

Leonard said Whitmer is more or less being vetted every time she goes on the stage, from her Democratic response to President Donald Trumps State of the Union speech earlier this year to Tuesdays DNC speech.

The stage was a nontraditional one this time around; in lieu of an in-person convention, the Democrats took place virtually, tossing between speeches and input from people all across the United States. Whitmer was one of the few speakers who delivered her remarks live, addressing the national audience from a United Auto Workers union hall in Lansing.

In her time on screen, Whitmer introduced herself as that woman from Michigan, a derisive nickname bestowed on her by Trump earlier this year, and contrasted Michigans coronavirus response with the federal governments.

We took this pandemic seriously in Michigan, Whitmer said. We listened to medical experts, we planned. With a lot of work from auto workers -- and too little help from the White House -- we executed our plan. We saved thousands of lives ... Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead by example. It will be science, not politics or ego, that will drive their decisions.

Whitmers remarks were in alignment with a recent push by the Biden campaign to tout his impact on the 2009 auto bailout in Michigan. Whitmer said the former vice president saved Michigan auto workers who went on to help manufacture ventilators and personal protective equipment to respond to the coronavirus.

She did fine, said Grassroots Midwest Partner & CEO Adrian Hemond, with the unusual format.

It was a Gretchen Whitmer speech, I mean its one of the things that shes good at. Theres been some criticism about some of the actions that shes taken as governor, but I dont think anybodys ever been mistaken that shes a talented political communicator and she showed that last night, he said.

Terree ONeil-Darling, chair of the Southwestern Wayne Democratic Club, said the virtual contention format was definitely different.

I missed the noise and lights and people being together. But I think under the circumstances, I think overall it was great. It reflected a lot of diversity and it looked more like our country than other conventions might, ONeil-Darling said.

She said Whitmer did a good job, and represented Michigan well. And Whitmer is one of several Michigan women shes excited to see on the national stage this week, including Attorney General Dana Nessel, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and state Rep. Mari Manoogian, D-Birmingham.

Theyre all just great strong women leading in plain sight. Im very proud, she said.

She has plans to tune into Manoogians speech Wednesday night and has her popcorn at the ready.

Im pretty excited, even in this challenging election cycle. Im pretty excited, ONeil-Darling said.

Related stories:

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says Biden saved Michigans auto industry in Democratic National Convention speech

Biden-Harris ticket has most progressive agenda for Black people, says Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist

Michigan Secretary of State, Oakland County lawmaker to deliver remarks at Democratic National Convention this week
New footage taken inside Indonesian abattoirs show Australian cattle being tied up by the mouth, dragged around a slaughter house by rope while alive and slaughtered while fully conscious, breaching rules introduced to protect exported Australian animals from cruelty.

The footage, collected in Australian-approved abattoirs in Aceh province for Animals Australia, shows a steer being tripped onto a concrete slab, tied up around its mouth while its throat is cut and dragged while alive by the rope by one man, while another two men help drag it by its tail across the abattoir floor.

Dying cattle are seen being doused with buckets of water intended to cool the meat to prevent it from rotting because there is little refrigeration available. The bulls in the footage can be heard gurgling and one can be seen slapping its tail as a sign it's in pain. At no point are they stunned before their throats are cut and they are bled to death.

The slaughter method of roping and the use of a Mark I restraint box are breaches of Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System rules, introduced after similar abuses of Australian cattle in Indonesia were exposed in 2011.
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has cancelled in-class instruction a week after reopening its classrooms

- The school made the decision after 130 students tested positive for the deadly coronavirus

- According to the report, more than 300 students are forced to quarantine and five employees have tested positive for the disease

One week after reopening, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has cancelled in-class lectures due to cases of coronavirus in the school. August 11 was the first day of the new academic year.

The decision was made after more than 130 students tested positive for COVID-19 and 300 are forced to quarantine a week after the school reopened.

READ ALSO: Ndindi Nyoro says Kenya would be worse than Somalia if Uhuru became president in 2002

University of North Carolina students. Photo credit: AP

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: HIV positive man who thought disease would kill him celebrates 30th birthday

The disclosure was made in a letter posted to students on the campus website by the university's chancellor, Daily Mail reports.

The school said classes would be held online going forward, along with academic support services.

According to the report, five people working with the institution also tested positive for the deadly disease.

Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said: "So far, we have been fortunate that most students who have tested positive have demonstrated mild symptoms."

In other news, billionaire businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates said the rich world will be able to put an end to the coronavirus by the end of 2021 while the world at large will be able to end it by 2022.

READ ALSO: Raila aikashifu serikali kwa kutumia uongozi wa kimabavu

The Microsoft co-founder stated this in an interview with Wired magazine, which was published on Friday, August 7.

Gates said: "The innovation pipeline on scaling up diagnostics, on new therapeutics, on vaccines is actually quite impressive."

In a separate story, a major legal battle is looming between the parents of school-going children and the government of Kenya over delayed re-opening of schools.

According to a letter written to the Attorney General Paul Kihara, Health Ministry and Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, the parents demanded schools be reopened immediately failure to which they will move to court.

READ ALSO: Bahati's baby mama Yvette praises Diana Marua for bonding with her daughter Mueni

Parents asked CS Magoha to reopen schools. Photo: The Standard.

Source: UGC

In the letter that was written by lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui on behalf of parents, the decision by the government to open restaurants and places of worship was in contradiction to the closure of schools.

They argued reopening of social places posed a major risk of contracting COVID-19 than in schools.

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Follow up: Babies with Babies, the sad life of single teenage single mothers in Kenya | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) will receive an award under Swachh Survekshan 2020 at the Swachh Mahotsava ceremony which will be conducted online on August 20 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the awards to the winners.

The virtual event would be observed as Swachh Bharat Mahotsav for celebrating urban swachhta champions.

As per the letter received by the state government from the ministry of housing and urban affairs, Ludhiana, Nawanshahr, Jalandhar cantonment and Amritsar cantonment area have been selected for the awards.

As per the officials, only Ludhiana MC would be receiving the award out of all the MCs in the state, but the category of the award has not yet been disclosed. In total, 75 awards would be presented. The rehearsals for the virtual ceremony are going on.

Last year, the Ludhiana MC slipped by 26 spots in comparison to its ranking in 2018 under Swachh Survekshan. Ludhiana was ranked 163 out of 4,237 cities in the country. In 2018, the MC stood at 137 position under the category of cities with a population above 10 lakhs while the city was ranked 140 in 2017.

The announcement of 2020 results was delayed owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. The MC officials are expecting that the ranking would improve in Survekshan 2020.

Residents would also be able to view the online event on social media. They can visit SwachhBharatUrban on Facebook, SwachhBharatGov for Twitter, visit https://rb.gy/vh0vdk on YouTube.
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China on Monday slammed the recent U.S. executive order requiring ByteDance to divest its interest in TikTok's operations in the United States within 90 days, saying that the so-called "freedom" and "security" are merely excuses for the "digital gunboat policy" pursued by some U.S. politicians.



Responding to a query about the order's claims at a daily press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that according to reports, in its operations in the U.S., TikTok's middle and senior management personnel, including the chief executive officer, are all Americans. Its servers are in the U.S., data centers in the U.S. and Singapore, and teams all localized. The company hired 1,500 American employees and promised to create 10,000 jobs. Its audit policy and algorithm source code are open to the public.

"It is fair to say that TikTok has done almost everything the U.S. side demands. However, it still cannot escape from certain U.S. individuals' disguised and coercive robbery out of selfish political gains," Zhao said. "Some U.S. politicians are intent on fabricating allegations from nowhere in order to strangle TikTok."

The spokesperson pointed out that "national security," in the view of some U.S. politicians, is a one-size-fits-all pretext for the country to stir up troubles and oppress non-U.S. companies.

The U.S. keeps talking about TikTok and other companies jeopardizing its national security, Zhao said, but even the relevant assessment reports by the Central Intelligence Agency suggest there is no evidence showing China has intercepted TikTok's data or used the app to intrude into users' mobile phones. He added that relevant U.S. think tanks also suggest that banning certain apps just because they belong to a Chinese company is definitely not based on security grounds.

This proves once again that the so-called "freedom" and "security" are merely excuses for the "digital gunboat policy" pursued by some U.S. politicians, said the spokesperson.

"This kind of bullying behavior is a blatant denial of the principles of market economy and fair competition, of which the United States has been styling itself as an example, and a breach of international trade rules," said Zhao. "Wantonly sabotaging other countries' interests is destined to bring harm to the interests of the U.S. itself," he said.

"We urge the U.S. side to immediately correct its mistakes, stop slandering and smearing China, and cease groundlessly oppressing other countries' enterprises," Zhao added.
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The Montgomery County Board of Elections has asked Maryland to approve a plan that calls for 40 drop boxes, up from two or three in a normal year. Prince Georges County requested 36 additional secure drop boxes from the state last week. There will be at least 50 ballot drop-box locations scattered throughout the District starting in early October, with at least five drop sites per ward, according to the D.C. Board of Elections.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Chrystia Freeland looks for a seat as Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wait for a session of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic to begin in the Chamber of the House of Commons in Ottawa on May 13, 2020. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Trudeau Looks to Prorogue Parliament Amid WE Controversy, Cabinet Shuffle

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is looking to prorogue Parliament next month in order to come back with a new speech from the throne and an economic update in October.

Trudeau must seek permission from Gov. Gen. Julie Payette to prorogue, but has not announced when he will do so.

A prorogation would end the current Parliamentary session amid the current WE Charity ethics controversy, halting all legislative business that has not passedincluding all ongoing WE Charity committee probes and the remaining pre-pandemic pieces of legislation.

Trudeau is planning a cabinet retreat in mid-September with the intention of proroguing Parliament and presenting a pandemic recovery plan in early October.

The news comes less than 24 hours after Bill Morneau announced Monday that he is resigning as finance minister and as an MP.

Morneau and Trudeau are both facing investigations by the federal ethics watchdog for taking part in talks to hand WE Charity a contract to run a pandemic-related student-volunteer program. Both have apologized for not recusing themselves from discussions on the contract despite the charitys ties to their families.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland will take over as finance minister and will be sworn in later today. In her new role, Freeland will need to steer the government through the biggest economic recovery since the Great Depression. The government has not yet tabled a 2020 budget, because plans to do so in March were upended by the pandemic.

The House of Commons has a sitting day scheduled for later this month, and was scheduled to resume full-time on Sept. 21. At least four Commons committees are probing the WE Charity contract, and the potential that prorogation could end or delay their work did not sit well with the opposition.

Earlier this year, Justin Trudeau shamefully shut down Parliament to try and avoid accountability. Now he has locked out Opposition MPs who were working hard to fix his governments pandemic programs, help Canadians and get to the bottom of his corruption scandal, said a statement from Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.

Hiding out for two months wont solve the Liberals ethical problems. As long as Justin Trudeau is Prime Minister, the corruption will continue.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre sidestepped questions about whether the Tories would try to trigger an election this fall, saying they want to uncover the full story of the WE controversy so Canadians know all the details before they go to the polls again.

If there is a vote on the throne speech it would be a confidence vote in the government. So would any vote on a budget or economic statement. Because Trudeau only presides over a minority government, opposition parties could choose to bring the Liberals down in either vote.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet last week said he would bring a non-confidence vote himself if Trudeau, Morneau and Trudeaus chief of staff Katie Telford do not all resign. He said Tuesday a throne speech could just make doing so easier, though he also left the door open to supporting it.

Speaking to his MPs at a caucus retreat in Bonaventure, Que., Blanchet said the party would vote against a throne speech if it does not contain greater health transfers to the provinces, substantially more help for Quebec seniors, and aid to agricultural producers in supply-managed sectors.

Thus far the NDP have indicated a desire to work with the government on the pandemic recovery, particularly with massive new spending on child care. Leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday toppling the government was not his partys priority at the moment.

Trudeau vowed when he was first elected to not use prorogation to avoid difficult political circumstances, as the Liberals accused former prime minister Stephen Harper of doing amid the Senate expense scandal.

On Monday, Morneau insisted his decision to resign was based strictly on the fact that he doesnt intend to run for re-election and his belief that the finance minister must be someone around for the long, hard road to recovery ahead. He said he intends to run to be the next secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The federal ethics watchdog will continue the investigation of Morneau for possible breaches of conflict of interest despite his decision to quit this week.

With files from The Canadian Press
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 18, 2020

2020/08/18

CCTV: The medical team sent by the Chinese government to Azerbaijan returned home on August 17. Can you give us some details about their work on the ground? What has China done to help Azerbaijan in fighting the virus?

Zhao Lijian: The medical team to Azerbaijan, consisting of experts selected by the Sichuan Provincial Health Commission, was organized by the National Health Commission. All ten members of the team selected from the West China Hospital of Sichuan University possess rich experience in epidemic prevention and control.

The team of experts arrived in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on August 4. Over the past two weeks, they visited local hospitals, test labs and blood banks in Baku, Jalilabad and Sumgayit, held group seminars with relevant departments and medical experts to analyze the current epidemic situation, epidemic prevention measures and treatment process, helped train local medical personnel, and shared China's anti-epidemic experience with them unreservedly. Their work illustrates the traditional friendship between China and Azerbaijan, demonstrates the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and has won acclaims from the government and people of Azerbaijan.

China and Azerbaijan have friendly and cooperative relations. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have been supporting each other to overcome difficulties together, reflecting profound bilateral friendship. China will continue providing as much help as we could to Azerbaijan, and will continue enhancing international cooperation to fight the virus. With concerted efforts, we believe the pandemic will be defeated at an early date.

Bloomberg: Following the restrictive measures announced in May, the US Commerce Department declared further restrictions on Huawei. These were aimed at cutting Huawei's access to commercially available chips. These changes add 38 Huawei affiliates in 21 countries to an economic blacklist. What is China's comment?

Zhao Lijian: China firmly opposes the deliberate smearing and suppression of Chinese enterprises including Huawei by the US side. For some time now, the US has been abusing national security concept and state power to impose all sorts of restrictive measures on Chinese companies like Huawei without producing any solid evidence. This is stark bullying.

What the US has done shows clearly that the market economy and fair competition principle it claims to champion is nothing but a fig leaf. Such practice violates rules of international trade, disrupts global industrial, supply and value chains, and will inevitably damage America's national interests and image.

I'd like to stress that the more hysterically the US tries to keep Huawei and other Chinese companies down, the more it proves they are doing great and the US is bringing hypocrisy and bullying to a whole new level. Many successful businesses of other countries have suffered the same treatment in the past. The shameful behavior of the US has been and will continue to be rejected by countries in the world.

The US claims that Huawei threatens US national security, which is totally baseless. Let's take a look at the facts. Over the past 30 years, Huawei has developed over 1,500 networks in more than 170 countries and regions, and served 228 Fortune 500 companies and more than three billion people all over the world. Not a single cybersecurity incident like those revealed by Edward Snowden or WikiLeaks has there been. Not a single tapping or surveillance operation like PRISM, Equation Group or ECHELON has there been. And not a single country has produced evidence of any backdoors in Huawei products.

The US is really the top empire of hackers in this world. American companies Cisco and Apple admitted years ago that there are security loopholes and backdoors in their equipment. US intelligence has long been running indiscriminate, illegal surveillance programs on foreign governments, businesses and individuals including those of its allies. Even American citizens don't have any secrets to speak of. These are open facts.

We urge the US to immediately correct its mistakes and stop smearing China and suppressing Chinese companies. The Chinese government will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard Chinese companies' legitimate rights and interests.

The Paper: China's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday it is launching an anti-dumping investigation into some wines imported from Australia. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: This is a normal anti-dumping investigation. As we learnt, the Chinese competent authorities received application for anti-dumping investigation from the Chinese wine industry on July 6. After examination according to law, the application is considered to meet the statutory requirement and an investigation was initiated on August 18. The Chinese competent authorities will conduct the investigation in a legal, fair and just manner.

FSN: Could you elaborate a little bit more what that criterion is? The Australian side said that it does not sell wine at below market price. What is the basis for the investigation? Some reports say that the move is politically motivated. How do you respond to that?

Zhao Lijian: I made very clear China's position on this case. If you are interested in the details of the investigation, please refer to the competent authorities.

On China-Australia relations, we have repeatedly stated that China's position on developing China-Australia relations is consistent and clear. A sound and stable China-Australia relationship serves the common interests of both countries, but it calls for the joint efforts of both sides. We hope the Australian side will work with China in the same direction, earnestly uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and do more things that are conducive to China-Australia mutual trust and cooperation and in line with the spirit of our comprehensive strategic partnership.

AFP: Do you have any response on Taiwan opening a representative office in Somaliland?

Zhao Lijian: There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm governing international relations and the consensus of the international community. China firmly opposes the establishment of official institutions or any form of official exchanges between Taiwan and Somaliland. The Democratic Progressive Party's frantic search of support for its separatist activities in the international arena will never succeed.

Bloomberg: Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam said in a recent interview that she is having trouble using credit cards after the US imposed sanctions targeting Chinese officials and their supporters in the city. At the same time, many Chinese lenders with operations in the US have turned cautious about opening new accounts for the 11 people sanctioned, as Bloomberg reported. These banks include Bank of China, China Construction Bank and China Merchants Bank. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: China rejects illegal US sanctions against the relevant officials in Hong Kong, and this position is clear and consistent.

Reuters: Earlier this year the Chinese Ambassador to Australia said that Chinese people would reconsider drinking Australian wine if relations between the two countries turn sour. Just now you said that this probe is a normal case of investigation. Is it coincidence that this probe was launched after the Ambassador said those words? Is China worried that launching this probe will further damage China-Australia relations?

Zhao Lijian: I made clear China's position. This is a normal anti-dumping investigation. There's no need to read too much into it.

AFP: Meng Wanzhou's lawyers have requested the release of classified documents by Canadian authorities. But the Canadian government said yesterday that it has already handed over all relevant documents. What is your response?

Zhao Lijian: China's position on the Meng Wanzhou case is consistent and clear, which has been stated on multiple occasions.

I'd like to stress that the Chinese government is determined in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals and companies. We support our people and companies in upholding their rights and interests through legal means. Regarding the specifics you mentioned, you may ask the Canadian government. Why can't they present the pertinent evidence and documents? What on earth is going on between them and the US government?
BWC does incredible work helping thousands of people each month. The team at Encore Realty is thrilled just to be a part of their efforts. Its a great way for us to be involved and give back to the community were a part of.

Boston real estate brokerage, Encore Realty is donating over 1,000 pizzas, along with other essential food items, to people in need during the pandemic. Encore has sponsored three separate events with local pandemic relief efforts. The luxury Boston real estate firm partnered with the Cambridge Dominos Pizzeria and Imperial Promotions to support the BWC in Allston on Wednesday, July 29th, 2020.

BWC has been hosting pandemic relief food drives at their center at 14 Harvard Ave in Allston, Massachusetts for the past 15 weeks with signs that read, Food For All In Solidarity. The organization actively works to improve the lives of people in need in the community through employment opportunities and quality housing options.

Encore Realty regularly gets involved in charitable causes for the community. Earlier in the month, they hosted a Tacos & Tequila for a Cause contest to benefit The Greater Boston Food Bank and regularly volunteer and make charity donations to both the Greater Boston Habitat For Humanity and MSPCA. They have also made charitable donations to provide Chromebooks for local children in need during pandemic schooling.

Managing Partner, Graham Parker, says, BWC does an incredible job helping thousands of people each month and the team at Encore Realty is grateful to be a part of that. He adds, Its a great way for us to be involved in our community on a level that truly makes a difference.

Encore Realty will be sponsoring two upcoming events for areas hardest hit by the pandemic with the Chelsea Collaborative and Dorchester Fourth Church Food Pantry. For more information or to get involved please visit http://www.allaccessboston.com.

Encore Realty

Encore Realtys partnership has proven successful within a vastly competitive market. Their team members have developed strategic relationships within Boston and the surrounding areas allowing them to bring their dedication to excellence to all of Eastern Massachusetts. Encore Realtys management team has a deep knowledge of the local market, with over 50 years of combined real estate experience. As a full-service brokerage covering residential and commercial sales and rentals, Encore has built an extensive portfolio of exclusive luxury developments in order to best serve their clientele.

The team at Encore Realty understands that success is built through client relationships. This is achieved by providing the highest level of customer service and dedication to each and every transaction. Whether its a first-time buyer or large developer, each client is treated with respect, transparency, and commitment.

Like All Access Boston on Facebook at @AllAccessBoston

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Internet Explorer 11 will be shut down on August 17, 2021 and will no longer be supported on Microsofts services like OneDrive, Outlook and more

In exactly a year, Microsoft will bid farewell to Internet Explorer 11 by ending support for the browser across its Microsoft 365 Apps and services. Internet Explorer 11 will be shut down on August 17, 2021 and will no longer be supported on Microsofts services like OneDrive, Outlook and more. Even before all that, support for Internet Explorer 11 in Microsoft Teams will stop from November 30th.

Microsofts Internet Explorer has been the ubiquitous browser for many Windows users since the early days of Windows PCs. And with the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge now the default browser on Windows 10 PCs, its now time for the old guard to retire. There is still an Internet Explorer Legacy Mode in the Edge browser, for those who wont let go of the browser.

Having said that, there are still websites in India (primarily of banks and government institutions) that still work best on Internet Explorer, which will have to be used via the legacy mode from next year till Microsoft drops support for Internet Explorer 11 completely from Windows 10 eventually.

Even the legacy version of Microsoft Edge is being retired alongside the old Internet Explorer 11. The legacy version of Microsoft Edge will stop being supported from March 9th, 2021, and will no longer receive security updates. Its likely a bid to shift the existing legacy Microsoft Edge users to the new Chromium-based Edge browser. The company has said all future Windows updates will include the new Edge browser.

The beginning of the end for Internet Explorer started back in 2015, and like the popular sentiment around the browsers, the end comes five years too late. The browser had its heyday before 2012, after which Google Chrome acquired higher marketshare, just four years after launch. With eleven versions in tow, internet explorer is certainly a legacy early PC users will know to worship. For many, it was the first gateway to the world wide web, and its likely the same set of users have migrated over to newer browsers, and the need for Internet Explorer to exist was only for the occasional memes and jokes.
WASHINGTON, DC  In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has approved $22.6 million in funding for seven studies assessing various health care approaches to improve outcomes among people infected by the novel coronavirus and lessen the effects of COVID-19 on patients, health care workers and communities.

These latest studies will provide useful information on various approaches to delivering care during a pandemic and achieving optimal outcomes. Approvals include a study comparing the impacts on patients from state and local pandemic mitigation policies, another comparing education strategies for infection control in nursing homes, and several evaluating whether telehealth approaches achieve comparable or better outcomes for patients. Other studies will pay particular attention to health care access and disparities in outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities and underserved populations.

These comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) studies on optimizing health care and health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic complement and enhance the research and development of new therapies and vaccines against the novel coronavirus, noted PCORI Executive Director Nakela L. Cook, MD, MPH.

While work continues to develop effective therapies and vaccines against COVID-19, it is equally vital to understand the impact of adaptations to health care delivery implemented in response to the pandemic and strategies to achieve the best possible outcomes during this time of crisis, particularly among underserved populations, Cook said. That is why PCORI acted quickly to make research funding available to strengthen our understanding of different approaches to mitigate COVID-19s impact and provide evidence to inform clinical and public health responses, decision making and planning.

The newly approved studies are:

$5 million for the University of California at San Francisco study comparing the impacts of COVID-19-related policy decisions in seven different states on peoples health and financial well-being, focusing particularly on racial and ethnic minorities. The team will recruit participants through PCORnet  , the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, a PCORI-funded initiative.

, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, a PCORI-funded initiative. $4.9 million for a RAND Corporation study comparing the effectiveness of strategies to improve the mental and physical well-being of health care workers. The project compares the usual method of care versus a peer-led program called Stress First Aid. Stress First Aid entails supportive actions that can be delivered by individuals without mental health training.

$3 million for a Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University study examining the comparative effectiveness of different approaches to providing primary care during the widespread transition from in-person to remote visits during the pandemic. The study examines how telemedicine is offered to and experienced by diverse populations as well as telemedicines effectiveness on outcomes and disparities among people with chronic conditions. The study uses PCORnet to examine the impact of telemedicine on patient-centered outcomes and disparities in outcomes for patients with chronic disease at many clinics.

$2.5 million for a University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine project to evaluate the use of COVID Watch, an automated home monitoring program for people with COVID-19 self-isolating at home, with particular focus on whether it reduces disparities in care among Black and Latino patients. The study will assess COVID Watch with and without the use of fingertip pulse oximetry, which measures a persons oxygen levels.

$2.5 million for a State University of New York study to compare a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) group intervention via teleconference with an MBSR mobile app in reducing worry and improving other mental health outcomes among adults living in low-income racial and ethnic minority neighborhoods who lack access to mental health care.

$2.5 million for a University of Southern California study exploring the comparative effectiveness of housing and support services collocated in group housing facilities versus independent housing located throughout the community in combination with mobile case management services to determine whether either is more likely to influence COVID-19 -related health behaviors and improve quality of life among people experiencing homelessness.

$2.3 million for a Penn State University Hershey Medical Center study on infection control in nursing homes that will assess Project ECHO, which enables nursing home staffs and university-based experts to discuss guidelines and best practices through interactive virtual sessions, against the provision of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nursing home infection control webinar series to nursing home staffs.

PCORI funded these studies through a special allocation of funds to confront the national health crisis posed by COVID-19. In addition, PCORI swiftly provided researchers with ongoing PCORI-funded studies and other research-related projects with PCORI funding to adapt or extend their ongoing studies and projects to respond to COVID-19-related evidence gaps. To date, PCORI has provided $32 million for enhancements to ongoing projects for this purpose.

Also, PCORI has funded the HERO Registry, an initiative to recruit those working in health care settings to share their experiences in confronting the pandemic so that we can learn how to better protect such workers in future pandemics as well as mitigate effects in the current crisis.

Details of all projects approved for funding are on PCORIs website. All were approved pending a business and programmatic review by PCORI staff and issuance of formal award contracts. With these latest awards, PCORI has invested nearly $2.8 billion to fund patient-centered CER studies and to support other projects designed to enhance CER methods and the infrastructure necessary to conduct CER rigorously and efficiently.

###

About PCORI

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to continually seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work.
CHANGZHOU, China, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 16, the China Jintan Global Investment Network Conference started online in Jintan, China. Due to the global pandemic, the organizers innovatively made the conference a live event on various popular platforms including TikTok to reach out to entrepreneurs across the world.

Jintan, located between Shanghai and Nanjing, is a new industrial hub planned by the Jiangsu Province within Yangtze River Delta, focusing on advanced technologies and Sino - German cooperation. The Sino - German cooperation plays an important role in booming the economic development in Jiangsu Province. Jiangsu Province is one of the first Chinese provinces initiated close economic partnership with the federal states in Germany. Jiangsu established the cooperative ties with North Rhine-Westphalia in 1984 and Baden Wurttemberg in 1985.

During the online event, the local authority announced that the Sino - German (Changzhou) Innovation Park will come into service soon. The construction of the Sino - German (Changzhou) Innovation Park started in 2018. It was acknowledged as an outstanding manufacturing base meeting the German Industry 4.0 standard by the representative office of Bad Wurttemberg in China. Up till now the park has attracted 27 "Hidden Champion" enterprises from Germany including EMAG and Pilz. At the central part of the park, the China (Changzhou) German Center has been put under construction earlier this year. It is planned to be a one-stop service center for partners from Germany.

Besides the Sino - German (Changzhou) Innovation Park, Jintan's Economic Development Zone, Jincheng Science Technology Industrial Park and Hua Luogeng Science Technology Industrial Park have been home to many leading Chinese and international industrial units like China Aviation Lithium Battery Technology, EGing Photovoltaic Technology and SK Innovation, to name just a few.

Following the high standard of sustainability and innovation, Jintan strives to be an attractive destination of the world-class industrial players in the fields of new energy technologies, health care, modern agriculture, smart manufacture and new mobile communication technologies.

http://live.cjginc.cn

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COLONIE  There is a silver lining in the current pandemic-driven economy.

Actually, make it a fiberglass or vinyl pool lining.

In an example of how COVID-19 is rearranging the economy and job market, a Capital Region pool manufacturer says it cant hire people fast enough to keep up with the backlogged demand for swimming pools.

Our view is this pool boom is not going to slow down, said Scott Rajeski, president and CEO of Latham Pools, one of the nations largest makers of vinyl and fiberglass pools.

With orders for pools sold out until June or July of next year, the company is looking to hire 150 people in the Capital Region, along with hundreds more at locations in Ontario, Canada and in Indiana, where they have one of their largest plants.

The pool boom hasnt gone unnoticed. Local dealers and installers say theyve been swimming in orders since early summer.

But Latham Pools is in a different phase of the industry since they manufacture fiberglass and vinyl pools that are then purchased, transported and installed by dealers.

As far as Rajeski can see, the staycation trend that COVID-19 has sparked is unlikely to abate anytime soon.

They are not going on the cruise. They are not going to Disney World. They are not going on that European vacation or going to Mexico, he said, explaining that homeowners increasingly are putting disposable money into their homes including pools.

More for you Pool sales making a splash during quarantine

About 125 of the openings are for production workers in the companys Scotia plant, which runs two 10-hour shifts six days a week. Another 25 are for sales, service, finance and IT people, said Melissa Feck, Latham Pools chief human resource officer.

Most of the production jobs pay $17 to $25 per hour, with some paying up to $30 depending on the skill set.

Latham Pools makes about 20,000 of the approximately 80,000 fiberglass and vinyl pools sold each year in the U.S.

Other companies make concrete pools, which is the other major option for in-ground pools.

Rajeski, who previously worked for General Electric, Global Foundries and Momentive Performance Materials, said pool making tends to be a fragmented, regional business. Latham Pools is a bit of an exception, since it operates in 25 locations. As well as Ontario and Indiana, it has operations in Australia and New Zealand.

Potential employees can view openings and apply online at https://www.lathampool.com/about-us/careers/ or www.lathampool.com

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
That reflects a key reality of Bidens candidacy: Its always been more of a moral and competency case against Trump than about the particulars of Democrats policy fights. Hence his campaign pledges to unify the country and restore the soul of the nation. Yet Biden has spent the last several months trying to shore up relationships with the party's left flank, which remains sceptical about him. He has a lengthy policy slate he touts as the most progressive of any modern Democratic nominee. The conventions opening night will test how seamlessly the Biden campaign can spend the next 78 days casting such a wide net across a splintered American electorate. Sanders' tone: The Vermont senator is a two-time runner-up for the nomination but by Bidens own admission has done as much as any losing presidential candidate to shape a major political party. Four years ago, Sanders was at the microphone to nominate Hillary Clinton on the floor in Philadelphia, but the bitterness between their camps was apparent, and it wounded her against Trump. Former first lady Michelle Obama. Credit:AP

Theres no convention floor to have a fight on this year. No way for viewers at home to hear delegates jeering at anyone on stage they dislike or disagree with. There are other key differences: Sanders and Biden are personally more friendly to each other than Clinton and Sanders were; Biden sewed up the nomination earlier, giving Sanders less leverage this year; and, of course, Trump isnt a hypothetical president as he was in 2016. He is the president, and Sanders has made clear that he sees 2020 as an existential election for the country. Loading

Given all that, the question becomes how Sanders balances his own ideological fervour  which highlights distinctions between himself and Biden  with his personal affinity for the nominee and their shared mission to defeat Trump. Obama. Not him. Her: Perhaps any intrigue about Sanders and Kasich will fall away once the evenings headliner, Michelle Obama, makes her case. Polls suggest the former first lady is even more popular than her broadly popular husband, who will speak on Wednesday night. She managed that, in part, by steering clear of the most obvious fault lines in politics. Remember her speech in Philadelphia four years ago. When they go low, we go high, she said, without even mentioning the caustic Republican nominee who years before had helped drive the lie that Barack Obama wasnt constitutionally eligible to serve as president. Days before the convention's opening gavel, Trump recycled the same tactic against Harris, a daughter of immigrants who is the first Black woman on a major party's presidential ticket and is also of Asian descent. In her case, Trump said he didn't know if she was eligible but wasn't pursuing the matter.

Michelle Obama is uniquely positioned to talk about Democratic ticket. She knows Biden and his wife, Jill, as genuine friends from Bidens eight years as vice-president. The Obamas also know Harris well, and Michelle Obama almost certainly will speak in personal terms about what it means to see a woman of colour nominated for national office. I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, she said at the 2016 convention, and I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent black young women, playing with their dogs on the White House lawn. How to watch: The convention will air from 9pm to 11pm Washington, DC-time (11 am to 1 pm AEST) , The Age and Sydney Morning Herald will have live coverage at the time featuring US correspondent Matthew Knott and reporter Farrah Tomazin. Perez, the DNC chair, has promised an inspiring convention. But people must watch to be inspired, and no one knows what kind of audience will tune in. Conventions have declined in relevance for years. So, in one sense, the pandemic has given Democrats a license to experiment with what amounts to a slickly produced party infomercial. But lost are the rare big, even viral moments when a nominee, a party luminary or an up-and-comer, perhaps even veering off the teleprompter, makes a searing connection with both the party faithful in the arena and the millions watching at home.
Michelle Obama blasted Donald Trump as an incompetent president who displays an utter lack of empathy, as the former first lady addressed the opening night of the US Democratic convention Monday.

Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership, or consolation, or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division and a total and utter lack of empathy, the wife of former president Barack Obama said in a blunt rejection of the Trump administration.

Let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can: Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country, she added.
Nigeria is to take urgent steps following a viral video showing the forced closure of shops belonging to Nigerian traders in Ghana.

Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama made the announcement in a tweet, as he expressed his governments dismay:

Nigerian Government has watched with dismay the painful videos of the forceful closure of the shops of Nigerian traders in #Ghana. Urgent steps will be taken. #StayHomeSaveLives #COVID19 @NigeriaGov @DigiCommsNG @ecowas_cedeao  Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) August 17, 2020

It comes just months after a major diplomatic row in which a building in the Nigerian embassy compound in Ghana was demolished.

The video in question shows a Nigerian man speaking to security agents locking up his shop in Ghana. The man claimed in the video that he was asked to pay $1m (750,000) as tax.

Shops which belongs to foreigners in Accra shut

Authorities in Ghana dispute this, saying foreigners are only allowed to open a business in Ghana if they invest $1m.

A pressure group, the Human Rights Writers Association, has called on the Nigeria government to retaliate against Ghanaian businesses in Nigeria.

Some Nigerians are questioning the rationale behind Ghanas imposition of conditions, considering agreements on free trade and movement reached by the regional body, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).

---BBC
Photo taken on Aug. 17, 2020 shows debris at Port of Beirut, Lebanon. The damage toll in Lebanon following the Beirut blast is rising as the United Nations and partners continue their assessment, now reporting more than 290,000 people who have been left jobless, a UN spokesman said on Monday. 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. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The damage toll in Lebanon following the Beirut blast is rising as the United Nations and partners continue their assessment, now reporting more than 290,000 people who have been left jobless, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

The statistics showed that an estimated 220,000 people have lost their jobs from the beginning of the October financial crisis while 70,000 people can no longer work because of the Aug. 4 explosion, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The figures did not include those who lost jobs because of COVID-19.

At least 2,000 doctors have been either injured or their clinics destroyed, Dujarric said, putting the total number of buildings damaged at 40,000, including 3,000 residential structures severely damaged.

As for the COVID-19 toll, he said that as of Sunday there were 8,881 cases in the country with 102 deaths.

The UN Relief and Works Agency said there have now been eight deaths from the disease among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is mobilizing 35 million U.S. dollars for its emergency response to the most vulnerable Lebanese, refugees and migrant households in the capital.

The agency said its aid stockpile in the country was not affected by the explosion, making available to the Lebanese Red Cross and other partners shelter kits, blankets, plastic sheeting, mattresses and other critical items for survivors.

In a related development, the spokesman said the Spanish contingent of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), operating in the mission's East Sector has donated firefighting equipment to the Lebanese Civil Defense.

The donation to seven Civil Defense centers will help up to 175,000 people living in the Marjayoun district, southeast of Beirut, where the contingent is headquartered.
The event was peaceful, it was held without incidents.

About 10,000 residents of Minsk have gathered on Independence Square in the center of the Belarusian capital on the evening of August 18.

Participants in the event chanted words of support to workers of enterprises who were taking part in the strike, TUT.by reported.

Some of them shouted, "Nobody has paid us," implying that they were participating in the rally voluntarily, unlike the case with pro-government rallies.

"Thousands of flashlights were lit on Independence Square. People are shouting 'Go away,'" the media outlet wrote to describe the events in the center of Minsk.

Belarus protests: Developments
President Donald Trump has weighed in on an internal Defense Department discussion over cuts to the military health system, tweeting his objection Monday night to a report that the Pentagon wants to trim $2.2 billion from its health care budget.

The tweet was in response to a story that appeared Sunday in Politico saying DoD officials have proposed cutting health care as part of Defense Secretary Mark Esper's defense-wide review.

Read Next: Marines Fly Big, New Surveillance Drone In Australia As They Test Unmanned Recon Missions

Trump said he has "firmly and totally rejected" any such plan.

"A proposal by Pentagon officials to slash Military Healthcare by $2.2 billion dollars has been firmly and totally rejected by me. We will do nothing to hurt our great Military professionals & heroes as long as I am your President," he wrote at 10:30 p.m. Monday.

According to the article, the "armed services, the defense health system and officials at the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness would be tasked to find savings in their budgets to the tune of $2.2 billion for military health."

The story, "Esper eyes $2.2 billion cut to military health care" by Politico staff reporters Lara Seligman and Dan Diamond, cites two "senior defense officials" and other unnamed sources as saying that the effort has been "rushed and driven by an arbitrary cost-savings goal."

"A lot of the decisions were made in dark, smoky rooms, and it was driven by arbitrary numbers of cuts," said one senior defense official with knowledge of the process. "They wanted to book the savings to be able to report it."

The article elicited a swift response Sunday from the Pentagon, with spokesman Jonathan Hoffman calling it "inaccurate and incomplete" on Twitter.

"Secretary [Mark] Esper has neither directed nor reviewed, let alone approved, any cuts to military health care in the upcoming budget or the [Future Years Defense Program]," Hoffman wrote on the social media site.

According to Hoffman, DoD Chief Management Officer Lisa Hershman is developing a plan to cut $5 billion from Pentagon administration to "reinvest in military modernization" and will be "bringing recommendations on a wide range of DoD budget issues (including healthcare) to the Secretary and his leadership team in the coming weeks."

Politico has stood by the article, with Seligman tweeting that the publication "never said Esper had directed the cut."

An hour after the president tweeted about the issue, Esper responded with his own statement on Twitter.

"As we stated yesterday in response to an inaccurate story, I have not directed nor approved any cuts to our military health care system in our future budgets," he wrote. "Furthermore, I will not allow any reductions that would harm access to quality medical care for our service members, their families and our larger DoD community."

The disagreement follows a report last week from Bloomberg, also citing unnamed sources, that Trump is considering replacing Esper following the November election. Esper became defense secretary in July 2019 following the resignation six months before of retired Marine Corps Gen. Jim Mattis.

When asked Sunday to confirm whether he has considered firing Esper, Trump said he "considers firing everybody. At some point, that's what happens."

He also had an exchange with a journalist in which he called his defense secretary Mark "Yesper."

"You've had some differences with your defense secretary, Mark Esper. Do you have confidence in his leadership there?" a reporter asked.

"Mark 'Yesper?' Did you call him 'Yesper?' ... Some people call him 'Yesper.' No. I get along with him. I get along with him fine. He's fine," Trump said.

The budget review also comes amid a massive, ongoing overhaul of the military health system designed to refocus the service medical commands on treating military personnel and training medical professionals, while revamping the Tricare health program to serve more nonuniformed dependents and retirees.

The reforms, established in the Fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, call for transferring management of the services' military hospitals and clinics, as well as research and development, to the Defense Health Agency. The 2017 NDAA was crafted before the 2016 presidential election.

The services, however, have started pushing back against the plans, saying portions of the reforms would introduce "barriers, create unnecessary complexity and increase inefficiency and cost."

They want their hospitals back, according to a memo the service chiefs and secretaries sent Esper on Aug. 5.

"The proposed DHA end-state represents unsustainable growth with a disparate intermediate structure that hinders coordination of service medical response to contingencies such as a pandemic," they wrote in the memo.

Lisa Lawrence, a spokeswoman at the Pentagon, said the department plans to continue pursuing reforms as spelled out in the fiscal 2017 defense policy bill.

"The department remains focused on ensuring the services maintain a medically ready force and a ready medical force, as well as [ensuring] all eligible beneficiaries have continued access to quality health care," she said.

After the Politico article was published, Lawrence said the military health system continually assesses how it fits into the National Defense Strategy and will continue to meet its mission.

"Any potential changes to the health system will only be pursued in a manner that ensures its ability to continue to support the department's operational requirements and to maintain our beneficiaries' access to quality health care," Lawrence said.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Big Changes to Military Health System Will Be Delayed, Top Official Says
His path to international stardom took off in 1978, with his portrayal of Billy Flynn, a slick lawyer, in the play "Chicago." He was soon cast in the British classic "Chariots of Fire," along with Ian Charleson, Ian Holm and John Gielgud. For their acclaimed performance as British track athletes, Cross and co-star Charleson both won most promising artist of 1981 from the Variety Club Awards.
D onald Trump has retweeted a recording of a call that US intelligence officials have said is part of a Russian attempt to undermine his presidential rival Joe Biden.

The call, purportedly made by Democratic candidate Mr Biden to former Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko, is said to date from February 2016 and supposedly concerns the resignation of Ukraine's chief prosecutor Victor Shokin.

Supposed recordings of conversation between Mr Poroshenko and Mr Biden, when the Democrat was vice president during the Obama administration, were released earlier this year by Ukrainian MP Andrii Derkach, a graduate of a Russian spy academy who has long accused Mr Biden of corruption.

The recordings were flagged in a US intelligence assessment earlier in August that warned about Russian interference in the election to portray Mr Biden in a negative light.

William Evanina, the US governments chief counter-intelligence official, said: For example, pro-Russia Ukrainian parliamentarian Andriy Derkach is spreading claims about corruption  including through publicising leaked phone calls  to undermine former vice president Bidens candidacy and the Democratic Party.

In the conversation retweeted by Mr Trump, Mr Poroshenko can be heard telling Mr Biden he had accepted the resignation of prosecutor Victor Shokin despite of the fact that we didnt have any corruption charges, we dont have any information about him doing something wrong.

Mr Trump claims that as vice president, Mr Biden pressured Ukraines government to fire Mr Shokin because he had investigated a Ukrainian energy company on whose board Mr Bidens son Hunter sat.

But Mr Bidens position on the prosecutor was the same as the US government. The US stance was also supported by other Western governments and many in Ukraine, as Mr Shokin was seen by many as soft on corruption.

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. / AP

The Twitter user who Mr Trump retweeted said that the conversation revealed that Shokin was not corrupt and there was no information to suggest he had done anything wrong.

A White House summary of the conversation available online does show that Mr Biden and Mr Poroshenko spoke on February 18, 2016, but Mr Poroshenko has generally rejected the tapes disclosed by Mr Derkach as a fabrication by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.



Mr Poroshenko came to power in Ukraine in the wake of the country's Maidan revolution in 2014, perceived as an attempt to move the country away from Russian influence. He was defeated by the current president Volodymyr Zelensky, in 2019.
SINGAPORE, Aug 18 (Reuters) - A mutation of the novel coronavirus increasingly common throughout Europe and recently detected in Malaysia may be more infectious but appears less deadly, according to a prominent infectious diseases doctor.

Paul Tambyah, senior consultant at the National University of Singapore and president-elect of the U.S.-based International Society of Infectious Diseases, said the D614G mutation has also been found in Singapore.

The city-state's health ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tambyah said there is evidence the proliferation of the mutation in Europe has coincided with a drop in death rates, suggesting it is less lethal.

The mutation is not likely to impact the efficacy of a potential vaccine, despite warnings to the contrary from other health experts, he added.

"Maybe that's a good thing to have a virus that is more infectious but less deadly," Tambyah told Reuters.

Tambyah said most viruses tend to become less virulent as they mutate.

"It is in the virus' interest to infect more people but not to kill them because a virus depends on the host for food and for shelter," he said.

Scientists discovered the mutation as early as February and it has circulated in Europe and the Americas, the World Health Organization said. The WHO has also said there is no evidence the mutation has led to more severe disease.

On Sunday, Malaysia's director-general of health Noor Hisham Abdullah urged greater public vigilance after authorities detected what they believe was the D614G mutation of the coronavirus in two recent clusters.

Noor Hisham said the new strain detected was 10 times more infectious and that vaccines currently in development may not be effective against this mutation.

But Tambyah said such mutations would not likely change the virus enough to make potential vaccines less effective.

"The mutant affects the binding of the spike protein and not necessarily the recognition of the protein by the immune system, which would be primed by a vaccine," he said. (Reporting by John Geddie and Chen Lin Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
That Trippy Time a 'Tsunami Fish' Was on Display at Oregon Coast

Published 08/18//20 at 6:11 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Seaside, Oregon)  The March 2011 earthquake in Fukushima, Japan and subsequent tsunami there left a long trail of objects and debris scattered to other parts of the world. The tsunami scare on the Oregon coast that night brought some of the terror home, yet obviously nothing compared to what the Japanese people experienced. Luckily nothing destructive hit the majority of this coastline (except for a handful of spots), but it did cause the ocean to cough up a myriad of oddities onto these shores. (Striped Beakfish photos courtesy Seaside Aquarium)

Some were worrisome, such as the living creatures that came ashore. State officials were highly concerned about destructive, invasive species arriving. In some cases a few did, though primarily attached to varied objects like a slipper, a chunk of dock, or part of a boat.

Stranger still, the debris kept coming for a few years.

One living entity that made it to the Washington coast first became a bit of an attraction here, however. Initially vaulted into the ocean deep back in 2011, one boat came ashore in 2013, first landing on the Long Beach Peninsula. When Washingtonians went to investigate they discovered a Striped Beakfish (Oplegnathus fasciatus) still alive in the debris.

Actually it was five of them that were found but the others were euthanized (at least partially because this could be an invasive species). The beakfish at first lived in a bucket at City Hall in Long Beach.





I do not know how Long Beach got hold of it, said aquarium manager Keith Chandler at the time. They just called me and said they had this in a bucket.

Feeding on small crustaceans (barnacles, crabs, and shrimp), the Striped Beakfish can reach up to 15 inches in length, the aquarium told Oregon Coast Beach Connection back in 2013. They inhabit the coral reefs of Japan and Korea.

It was a colorful creature - even for a black and white critter - and one that made Oregon coast history and likely so for Washington coast as well. It was certainly a big media attraction at the time, causing news organizations from all around the world to contact the Seaside Aquarium. At least one local media organization had been camped outside the aquarium for a day or two.

All the attention was probably appropriate as well: after all, the little guy had traveled two years and 4,000 miles, only to have his pals killed off.

Indeed, there was some tension about the fish with state authorities. Chandler wanted to put it on display and had it sitting in an isolation tank for two weeks while he awaited word about the fish from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). Chandler needed their OK. They and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife still had to let him know if the fish was invasive as well. Even if the striped beakfish was an invasive species, he had no one to mate with, however.





Finally, word came from ODFW that it would be hunky dory to put the striped beakfish on display at Seaside Aquarium.

The media frenzy came and went, and so did the fish. He didnt live much more than a few weeks. It was the first time any such tsunami creature had been put on display, however, and another first for Seaside Aquarium and the Oregon coast.

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By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Tuesday sought Air India's reply on a plea by several pilots challenging the national carrier's decision to terminate their services with effect from August 13.

Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to Air India and sought its stand on the fresh batch of petitions by four pilots who have challenged the airline's August 13 order.

Air India had earlier terminated services of more than 40 other pilots.

The court also orally asked the national carrier to stay its hands with regard to seeking surrender of the identity cards and other documents of the four pilots till Wednesday, when an earlier batch of similar pleas by other Air India pilots are to be heard.

The earlier batch of pleas have been moved by the pilots who had resigned but had later withdrawn the resignations before the six month notice period was over.

They have sought directions to Air India not to accept their resignations.

Air India on August 13 issued termination letters to all those pilots who had resigned earlier but had withdrawn the same.

The fresh batch of petitions, filed through advocate Ravi Raghunath, have been moved challenging the August 13 termination letter.

The court listed the latest batch of petitions for hearing on September 17 Advocate Nilansh Gaur, appearing for some of the pilots who had moved court earlier, told PTI that they too have filed modification applications challenging the August 13 order and it would be heard on Wednesday.

In the pleas filed through Gaur, the pilots have contended that they initially tendered their resignations over delay by Air India in disbursing pay and allowances.

They have also contended that neither were their notice periods reduced nor any no-objection certificate issued to them after receipt of resignation.

They have further contended that the resignations were subsequently withdrawn, but the withdrawal was not accepted by Air India.
With more than half of Pennsylvanias 1.7 million K-12 school students about to start the 2020-21 school year still getting most of their instruction online because of the unyielding coronavirus pandemic, the moment of truth has arrived for public school officials who struggled to provide lessons remotely in the spring.

To many school leaders, having spent the bulk of their careers in the classroom environment, this is still going to be a case of better; not best.
Unidas Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias and his partner, Equality Minister Irene Montero, cut short their vacation in Asturias on Monday for the safety of their children after they were subjected to threats and protests in the municipality of Felgueras. Sources close to Iglesias, who is also one of Spains deputy prime ministers in the Socialist Party-led coalition government, told news agency EFE that the family opted to return to their home in Madrid after messages appeared on social media revealing the location of their holiday home.

The couple have also been subjected to noisy protests outside their home in the municipality of Galapagar

According to the same sources, graffiti appeared nearby on a road that read: Ponytail is a rat, a reference to Iglesiass long hair. Montero and Iglesias were located in the Valle de Lena in Asturias, in a family home belonging to Enrique Santiago, the general secretary of the Spanish Communist Party and a deputy in Congress for Unidas Podemos.

The couple have also been subjected to noisy protests outside their home in the municipality of Galapagar, located to the northwest of the Spanish capital. Montero has filed a complaint with the local courts against Cristina Gomez, a councilor for the far-right Vox party, for coercion and daily harassment near the property. The couple have three children under the age of three.

On Tuesday, Enrique Santiago lamented the fact that Iglesias and Montero had suffered four months of harassment outside their home and that the dozens of complaints that had been filed had been ignored. There is total impunity, he said during an interview with Spanish radio network Cadena SER. The public prosecutor hasnt done a thing, he complained.

The Unidas Podemos deputy went on to blame Vox for the systematic harassment suffered by the couple, and claimed in his interview that it was supporters of the far-right party -- which is the third biggest force in the Congress of Deputies -- who had made public the location of their vacation home.

Iglesias himself addressed the issue on Tuesday, writing in a message on Twitter: What the far right and certain media outlets are doing to our family is serious, but we have to put each thing into context. There are people who have paid with their freedom, their lives or with torture for defending their ideas and doing politics. That is not our case. He went on to thank the police for their professionality and to the people who had offered the couple a place to stay. Their hatred and threats will not stop our work, he said.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Melbourne, Aug 18 : The deadly coronavirus outbreak in Australia's worst-hit state of Victoria stemmed almost entirely from a hotel quarantine scheme intended to house returned overseas travellers, an inquiry revealed on Tuesday.

Since June, Victoria has experienced a resurgence of the virus, peaking at 725 daily infections on August 5 and prompting a return to strict lockdowns, including a nightly curfew in the state capital of Melbourne, reports Xinhua news agency.

Ben Howden, medical microbiologist and infectious diseases physician, told an inquiry into the scheme that according to genomic sequencing, 99 per cent of Victoria's cases as of late July could be traced back to people returning from overseas.

While Howden did not refer directly to the hotel quarantine programs or those within it, it has been the policy of the Australian government to house all returning travellers in hotel quarantine, operated at a state level since March.

With Victoria's daily case numbers subsiding in recent weeks, attention has turned firmly to the failures of the hotel quarantine system, with allegations that it was badly mishandled allowing for the infection to spread into the community.

Evidence has shown multiple lapses of protocol by security guards who critics say were not sufficiently trained or equipped to be working in virus containment.

Microbiologist and infectious disease expert Lindsay Grayson, told the inquiry that an online training program for the guards was "confusing" and "misleading." "The majority of it is like a training module for the general public, rather than someone who is going to come into direct contact or be responsible for managing COVID patients," Grayson said.

Barrister Tony Neal said Victoria's hotel quarantine program "fell short of its goal" to prevent COVID-19 spreading into the community.

Neal added that the inquiry would seek to determine who was responsible for overseeing the program and whether the training of staff was sufficient.

As of Tuesday, Australia's overall coronavirus caseload stood at 23,599, with 421 deaths.

Victoria accounts for 17,027 of the total cases, with 334 fatalities.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
WEST MELBOURNE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / BK Technologies Corporation (NYSE American:BKTI) today announced that its operating subsidiary received an order totaling approximately $1.1 million dollars from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). The order is for BK's KNG2-Series Digital P-25 portable radios with related accessories. This order is anticipated to be fulfilled during the third quarter of 2020.

BK President Tim Vitou commented, "As we have for so many years, BK is proud to support NIFC and the professional wildland firefighting community. They have relied upon our products in wildland fire suppression efforts for over two decades; first deploying our E-Series and G-Series analog radios, then our P-25 D-Series radios, and more recently migrating to our KNG2 P-25 digital radios. BK's extended track record of dependability in harsh and life-threatening conditions has clearly earned the NIFC's confidence as demonstrated by this recent order."

BK's KNG2-Series P25 public safety grade radios have been a cornerstone for tactical communications in the wildland firefighting community for over 10 years. The proven design has been enhanced with the features and functionality needed by firefighters for command and control operations. Ease of use, long battery life, loud clear audio and features such as radio-to-radio in- the-field programming, also known as cloning, makes the KNG2-Series the industry leader in the wildland fire suppression vertical market. https://www.bktechnologies.com/product/kng2-portable-radio/

About BK Technologies

BK Technologies Corporation is an American holding company deeply rooted in the public safety communications industry, with its operating subsidiary manufacturing high-specification communications equipment of unsurpassed reliability and value for use by public safety professionals and government agencies. BK Technologies is honored to serve these heroes with reliable equipment when every moment counts. The Company's common stock trades on the NYSE American market under the symbol "BKTI". Maintaining its headquarters in West Melbourne, Florida, BK Technologies can be contacted through its web site at www.bktechnologies.com or directly at 1-800-821-2900.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements concern the Company's operations, economic performance and financial condition and are based largely on the Company's beliefs and expectations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks, some of which have been, and may further be, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, include, among others, the following: changes or advances in technology; the success of our land mobile radio product line; successful introduction of new products and technologies, including our ability to successfully develop and sell our anticipated new multiband product and other related products in the planned new BKR Series product line; competition in the land mobile radio industry; general economic and business conditions, including federal, state and local government budget deficits and spending limitations, any impact from a prolonged shutdown of the U.S. Government, and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the availability, terms and deployment of capital; reliance on contract manufacturers and suppliers; risks associated with fixed-price contracts; heavy reliance on sales to agencies of the U.S. Government and our ability to comply with the requirements of contracts, laws and regulations related to such sales; allocations by government agencies among multiple approved suppliers under existing agreements; our ability to comply with U.S. tax laws and utilize deferred tax assets; our ability to attract and retain executive officers, skilled workers and key personnel; our ability to manage our growth; our ability to identify potential candidates for, and consummate, acquisition, disposition or investment transactions, and risks incumbent to being a noncontrolling interest stockholder in a corporation; impact of our capital allocation strategy; risks related to maintaining our brand and reputation; impact of government regulation; rising health care costs; our business with manufacturers located in other countries, including changes in the U.S. Government and foreign governments' trade and tariff policies, as well as any further impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; our inventory and debt levels; protection of our intellectual property rights; fluctuation in our operating results and stock price; acts of war or terrorism, natural disasters and other catastrophic events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; any infringement claims; data security breaches, cyber-attacks and other factors impacting our technology systems; availability of adequate insurance coverage; maintenance of our NYSE American listing; risks related to being a holding company; and the effect on our stock price and ability to raise equity capital of future sales of shares of our common stock. Certain of these factors and risks, as well as other risks and uncertainties, are stated in more detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Company Contact:

Hayden IR

James Carbonara

james@haydenir.com

(646)-755-7412

SOURCE: BK Technologies Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602056/BK-Technologies-Receives-11-Million-Order-From-National-Interagency-Fire-Center
A small workshop inside a prison in Peru, where the tailors are imprisoned for drug trafficking and aggravated robbery, face masks and other garments are being made amid the pandemic.

The workshop is run by 34-year-old Hernan Leo, who before being imprisoned ran an urban clothing brand called "Lima, la gris", or "Lima the Grey", in a reference to the colour of the sky in the capital of Peru.

In 2019, after being sentenced to eight years in prison for drug trafficking, Leo took a week to accept his new reality.

Leo then put his workshop into action inside the prison, which allows 12 inmates to work voluntarily through a resocialisation program called "Productive Prisons".

The Callao Prison is not the only one where masks are being made to protect against the virus.

As of July, the prison authorities indicated that more than 141,000 masks had been sewn in 13 other prisons in the country.

The first case of the new coronavirus in a prison in Peru began in the Callao Prison, popularly known as "Sarita Colony", nicknamed after a Peruvian woman who died in 1940 and to whom many poor people and also prisoners attribute miracles.

As the virus spread, including inside prisons, Leo convinced the authorities that inmates could make masks.

They have produced 5,000 pieces so far made of different coloured cloth and gave them to the inmates and also to the guards.

They then began making one-piece olive green suits for prison officers to wear.

According to official data, 288 inmates and 35 prison workers have died from COVID-19.

Peru has 95,548 prisoners of which more than a third have not yet been sentenced.
She did not speak like a politician with bullet points and data. Indeed, she reminded viewers that she hates politics. In her tone and her gestures, she came across more like an especially eloquent neighbor chatting over the back fence and expressing a sense of dismay at what has become of the country. The president, she said, is in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. And then, to use President Trumps own words, she said, It is what it is.
A man has died following a workplace accident at a Brant County brickworks.

Brant first responders were called to Legacy Brick on Airport Road, Monday, at about 9:45 a.m.

Staff reported that an employee of the business had fallen from the roof.

When first responders arrived, coworkers were attempting to give first aid to save the mans life.

A 46-year-old Brantford man was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner.

Brant County Ontario Provincial Police said in a media release that the death was not suspicious and no foul play is suspected.

OPP and the Ministry of Labour are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Brant County OPP detachment at 1-888-310-1122. Or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppers-brant.ca.
An increasingly common mutation of the novel coronavirus found in Europe, North America and parts of Asia may be more infectious but appears to be less deadly, according to a prominent infectious disease specialist.

Paul Tambyah, senior consultant at the National University of Singapore and president-elect of the International Society of Infectious Diseases, said evidence suggests the proliferation of the D614G mutation in some parts of the world has coincided with a drop in death rates, suggesting it is less lethal.

Maybe thats a good thing to have a virus that is more infectious but less deadly, Tambyah was quoting by a Reuters report published on Tuesday.

Tambyah said most viruses tend to become less virulent as they mutate.

It is in the virus interest to infect more people but not to kill them because a virus depends on the host for food and for shelter, he said.

Scientists discovered the mutation as early as February, and it has circulated in Europe and the Americas with no evidence that it has led to more severe disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.





On Sunday, Malaysias director-general of health, Noor Hisham Abdullah, urged greater public vigilance after authorities detected what they believe was the D614G mutation of the coronavirus in two recent clusters.

Vaccine questions

Sebastian Maurer-Stroh of Singapores Agency for Science, Technology and Research said the variant had also been found in the city-state, but containment measures had prevented large-scale spread.

Malaysias Noor Hisham said the D614G strain detected there was 10 times more infectious and that vaccines currently in development might not be effective against it.

But Tambyah and Maurer-Stroh said such mutations were unlikely to change the virus enough to make potential vaccines less effective.

(The) variants are almost identical and did not change areas that our immune system typically recognise, so there shouldnt be any difference for vaccines being developed, Maurer-Stroh said.

The Philippines also detected the strain among random coronavirus samples in Metro Manila, according to news reports.

The mutation is said to have a higher possibility of transmission or infectiousness, but we still dont have enough solid evidence to say that that will happen, Philippines Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, said on Monday.
An Arkansas photographer is accused of secretly recording models in a studio dressing room, media outlets report.

Dillon Dooms, 35, was arrested Monday on 18 charges of video voyeurism in an investigation by Fayetteville police, jail records show.

Police say Dooms told a 19-year-old woman involved in a photo shoot to change clothes inside his one-room studio while he went outside, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported. The woman found a small USB port with a lens while changing clothes, the newspaper reported.

After realizing it was a video camera, she searched the studio and found three more cameras and removed SIM cards from two, KNWA reported. Then she took them to police, the news outlet reported.

Dooms told police the cameras were not hidden and put in the studio to protect himself from sexual allegations, KFSM reported.

Police say a search of the memory cards revealed Dooms had recorded a dozen women in various states of nudity, including a 17-year-old girl, KFSM reported.

Dooms is scheduled for a court hearing on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 06:00:10|Editor: huaxia

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New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo provides a coronavirus update during a press briefing in Albany of New York State, the United States, May 15, 2020. (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo/Handout via Xinhua)

Health requirements include mandatory masks at all times, proper air ventilation, sign-in forms, screening at the door (like temperature checks) and social distancing as gyms in New York state reopen.

NEW YORK, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that gyms in the state will be able to reopen as soon as Aug. 24 at 33 percent capacity, while bowling alleys are now back in business.

Health requirements include mandatory masks at all times, proper air ventilation, sign-in forms, screening at the door (like temperature checks) and social distancing, according to Cuomo.

"There are health requirements that are in the guidelines that have to be maintained, to their ventilation requirements," the governor said at a press conference. "This is a whole new topic, where we can do a lot of good work with the HVAC systems and filtration."

"Localities" have a role in the reopening of gyms, and localities must inspect every gym before it opens or within two weeks of it opening to ensure compliance with health guidelines, the governor said, adding that "localities can determine whether or not the gyms can have classes inside it."

New York's COVID-19 infection rate continues to decline below 1 percent. The state's infection rate dropped to 0.71 percent on Sunday, the lowest since the start of the pandemic, Cuomo said. 
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



TORONTO, Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Americas Gold and Silver Corporation. the Company) (TSX: USA; NYSE: USAS) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters (the Underwriters) co-led by Desjardins Capital Markets and Cormark Securities Inc. pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a boughtdeal basis, 6,477,000 common shares of the Company (Shares) at a price of C$3.86 per Share (the Offering Price) for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$25.0 million (the Offering).



The Underwriters have been granted an option (the OverAllotment Option), exercisable in whole or in part, at any time within 30 days following and including the closing of the Offering, to purchase from the Company up to an additional 15% of the Shares offered under the Offering at the Offering Price for market stabilization purposes and to cover over-allotments, if any.

The proceeds from the sale of the Shares will be used for the exploration, development and/or improvement of the Companys existing mine properties, including those relating to bringing Relief Canyon into commercial production and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Offering is scheduled to close on or about September 4, 2020 and is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of all necessary securities regulatory approvals and the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE American LLC.

The Offering is being made pursuant to a short form prospectus to be filed in all the provinces of Canada excluding Quebec.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities to be offered have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or under any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered, sold, directly or indirectly, or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. persons (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable U.S. state securities laws. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in the United States, Canada or in any other jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.

Story continues

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which reflects management's expectations regarding the Company's future growth and business prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, all disclosure regarding the Offering, including the closing of the Offering and receipt of all necessary regulatory and stock exchange approvals, the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering, and possible events, conditions or results of operations, future economic conditions expectations and anticipated courses of action. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, opinions and analysis that management believes to be reasonable and relevant but that may prove to be incorrect. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements.

The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including government approvals and permitting, changes in economic conditions, state of the financial markets, changes in the worldwide price of gold and other key inputs, changes in mine plans and other factors, the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), such as project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 9, 2020 and in other filings of the Company with securities and regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. Nothing in this document should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell the Company securities. All references to the Company include its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.

About Americas Gold and Silver Corporation

Americas Gold and Silver Corporation is a high-growth precious metals mining company with multiple assets in North America. The Companys newest asset, Relief Canyon in Nevada, USA, has poured first gold and is expected to ramp up to full production over the course of 2020. The Company also owns and operates the Cosala Operations in Sinaloa, Mexico and manages the 60%-owned Galena Complex in Idaho, USA. The Company also holds an option on the San Felipe development project in Sonora, Mexico. For further information, please see SEDAR or www.americas-gold.com.

Contact Information

Stefan Axell

VP, Corporate Development & Communications

Americas Gold and Silver Corporation

416-874-1708

Darren Blasutti

President and CEO

Americas Gold and Silver Corporation

416-848-9503








The U.S. Air Force is working on a plan to cut back its use of the T-1 Jayhawk, the aircraft employed for advanced student pilot training of airmen learning to fly cargo, tanker or command-and-control aircraft.

Air Education and Training Command has created a new curriculum to heavily leverage a simulator-only course for those pilots and will downsize its fleet of 178 T-1 trainers over the coming years, the command confirmed in a recent email. The T-1 has been in use since the 1990s.

Read next: WWII Hero's Incredible Medal of Honor Story Now to Be a Movie

"Our aim is to reduce reliance on the platform," Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, 19th Air Force commander, said in emailed responses. The plan is to phase out the T-1 aircraft altogether at Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training locations between fiscal 2023 and 2025, he said. SUPT teaches basic fundamentals of flying, airmanship, instrument knowledge, rules and regulations.

The command will retain a small number of T-1s at the 12th Flying Training Wing at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, in order to conduct combat systems officer training, he added.

Last month, AETC launched the "Undergraduate Pilot Training 2.5 initiative" at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, and Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The program is AETC's first step "in applying the lessons learned at Pilot Training Next (PTN) on a large scale," Wills said. The two-year-old PTN program is designed to test student aviators' ability to learn faster and absorb more through cutting-edge virtual reality technology and simulation.

Airmen selected to fly bombers and fighters typically receive their advanced pilot training in the T-38 Talon. The T-1A is used for those who fly aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III; the Airborne Warning And Control System, or AWACS; and some special operations platforms.

Air mobility students assigned to Randolph Air Force Base will not fly the T-1 aircraft, Wills said. Instead, "they will complete a simulator-only Air Mobility Fundamentals course taught by our Pilot Training Next cadre."

Those at Vance who are slated for mobility, special operations, and command-and-control intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms will use a modified T-1 training syllabus.

Pilots at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, and Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, will continue with the normal T-1 program as part of SUPT for the near future, Wills said.

The simulator-heavy experiment halves the length of the current T-1 course, which takes up roughly 24 weeks during the third phase of the overall specialized pilot training program.

"We will assess lessons learned from Vance and Randolph before making a decision in 2021 whether and how to fully scale UPT 2.5," Wills said.

The latest revision to the AETC program comes as Air Force leaders have worked for the last two years to overhaul the pilot training curriculum, introducing elements to augment time airborne in the cockpit with simulators and technology on the ground.

The models -- some used across Air Combat Command for its up-and-coming fighter pilots -- require ditching the old-fashioned, "industrial" approach to training -- having pilots sit in classrooms for weeks before moving on to a trainer -- in favor of using virtual reality earlier and more frequently in the training pipeline.

The service faces a number of problems as it tries to boost its pilot ranks: a yearslong pilot shortage, backlogs within some of its training pipelines, and the coronavirus pandemic.

The Air Force came up 2,100 pilots short of the 21,000 it needed in fiscal 2019. In February, the service said it would also fall short of its goal to produce 1,480 new pilots across the force by the end of fiscal 2020.

The service also has a training backlog within its C-17 Formal Training Unit at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Wills confirmed.

Part of the reason has to do with switching to a new simulator provider. "It is true that the new simulator contract has been a challenge," he said, without disclosing additional details. Boeing Co. provides the simulation services.

"Over the past several years, we've encountered significant challenges in a variety of areas, which have resulted in delays in pipeline training," Wills said.

For example, the stand-down of the T-6 Texan II trainer, after pilots experienced a series of physiological events due to the aircraft's On-Board Oxygen Generating System, slowed pilot production, he said. Other issues include hail damage to trainer aircraft at Laughlin, "and lingering effects in the supply chain from sequestration complicated our production efforts," he added.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in delays as we work to conduct operations in ways that maximize our ability to protect our airmen and families," Wills said.

Pilot production slowed to approximately 50% of full capacity in April and gradually began ramping back up by the end of May, he explained, adding that production has not yet returned to 100%.

"To date, we haven't lost a full day of pilot production due to COVID, though each wing continues to modulate tempo smartly to manage risk," Wills said.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the service has been preparing for the possibility that furloughed airline pilots will submit requests to return to active duty later this year. Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act, passed in late March, airline jobs have been safe as companies are prohibited from cutting their workforces until Oct. 1, but experts foresee a dramatic reduction in airline jobs when the restriction is lifted.

As of June 4, nearly 200 pilots have chosen to stay in the Air Force amid a slowdown in major commercial airline operations. However, the service has not said which types of pilots -- fighter, bomber, airlift, etc. -- have chosen to extend their duty.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Inside the Air Force's Plan to Revolutionize Pilot Training
An attack ad, which was released in mid-July, states that Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democratic candidate for the Senate, supports a government-run health care program that would wreak havoc on the state's health care infrastructure.

"Bullock's health care plan will force rural hospitals to close. Medicare as we know it will change, replaced by a government-run program with fewer doctors and longer wait times," says the narrator in the dark and grainy advertisement paid for by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).

Bullock is running against first-term incumbent Republican Sen. Steve Daines in a race viewed as a toss-up. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, both candidates have been focusing on health issues.

Because this race is critical to determining whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate, and considering that its themes are likely to be repeated in many congressional campaigns, we thought it was important to check the ad's validity.

We first asked the NRSC for the evidence on which the ad was based. A spokesperson pointed to Bullock's support for a "public option" health plan and provided us with a report predicting this proposal's negative impact on rural hospitals, as well as quotes from both Republicans and Democrats about how the public option could lead to the eventual implementation of a "Medicare for All" program. (Medicare for All refers to the single-payer health system, advocated by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, which would eliminate private insurance and replace it with a government-run health care system.)

We also reached out to the Bullock campaign for its response.

In a statement, Sean Manning, spokesperson for Montanans for Bullock said, "The claims in this ad are false. Montana hasn't lost one rural hospital under Governor Bullock, and he will continue to support policies that protect rural hospitals while making affordable healthcare available to all Montanans in the Senate." (According to the University of North Carolina Sheps Center for Health Services Research, no rural hospitals have closed in Montana since 2005.)

Hold Up  Which Health Care Plan Is the NRSC Ad Talking About?

The ad vaguely refers to Bullock's "health care plan" but doesn't say outright what the candidate supports.

According to Bullock's campaign website, he supports the creation of a public option.

A public option is generally defined as a health plan administered by the federal government that exists alongside and competes with private health insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Public option proposals differ by political candidate, and can take various forms, including Medicare or Medicaid buy-ins as well as a new government-run entity.

Opponents of such plans say that a public option, which would have the scale and regulatory power of the federal government to set lower reimbursement rates to providers, would have a competitive advantage and could put private insurance companies out of business. This would leave Americans with only one choice  government-backed insurance. But that conclusion is debatable. Some health care scholars argue a public option would increase competition, leading to expanded access to health coverage, lower health care costs and lower premiums for consumers.

In the end, the outcomes from implementing this approach are difficult to predict unless a specific plan is released, said Benedic Ippolito, a health care research scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

"Things can be radically different based on what the public option looks like," said Ippolito. "The two big variables are, who is covered? And how does that insurer actually pay health care providers? You can imagine two public options looking totally different."

The Payment Rate Is Key

Now to tackle the first part of the ad, which says that "Bullock's health care plan will force rural hospitals to close."

This argument stems from the idea that a public option would lead to lower reimbursement rates, based on the model provided by Medicare, which pays less than private insurance. And, because many rural hospitals are already severely financially strapped, lowered payments would do them in, the argument goes.

When we asked the NRSC for the evidence to support this position, a spokesperson provided an August 2019 study conducted by Navigant, a consulting firm. The study was commissioned by the Partnership for America's Healthcare Future, a health industry coalition including drugmakers, insurance companies and private hospitals. The organization opposes Medicare for All and a public option.

The study modeled what would happen to rural hospitals if three separate public option approaches were implemented.

While it found that a public option could, depending on the scenario, cause a revenue reduction for rural hospitals of between 2.3% and 14%, the study reached these findings by assuming that the hospitals would be paid at Medicare rates.

Bullock's campaign website, though, under his rural health care policy proposals, specifically states: "We need a public option that includes higher reimbursements for rural hospitals."

We asked the Bullock campaign if it could provide us with details about what the "higher reimbursement" rate would be based on. It declined. A campaign staffer told us Bullock would support a public option that pays rural hospitals above Medicare rates. Since the reimbursement rates would be higher than Medicare's, the assumptions in the Navigant study cannot be applied here.

"If the public option is a reasonably generous payer, that won't be the end of rural health care," said Ippolito. "But, you can easily imagine due to budgetary concerns, a public payer could have a lower reimbursement, which would have consequences."

Some health policy experts argue that a public option would help rural hospitals by increasing the number of people in rural areas who have health insurance.

This would "benefit rural hospitals, since getting virtually nothing from uninsured patients is worse than getting a reasonably good rate from the public option," said Gerard Anderson, a professor of health policy and management at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

That's a Big Jump

Next, we're on to the NRSC ad's second claim: "Medicare as we know it will change, replaced by a government-run program with fewer doctors and longer wait times."

As several experts pointed out, this sentence doesn't make a lot of sense. Medicare is already a government-run program.

Also, the design of most public option proposals thus far keeps Medicare and the public option as two separate government programs, said Linda Blumberg, a health policy analyst at the Urban Institute, a think tank.

The NRSC clarified its position and told us it was referring to the idea that a public option would stifle competition in the insurance market, eventually leading to only government-run insurance or Medicare for All. The evidence the NRSC provided to support this claim were quotes from a selection of Republicans, Democrats, professors, and experts from conservative think tanks saying that the public option is a stepping stone to this single-payer approach.

But others suggest that's a big leap in logic.

"I think that analysis is almost surely wrong," said Matthew Fiedler, a fellow with the Brookings Institution. "In a world where there is a public option, the negotiating dynamics between insurers and providers would change substantially."

This would likely create an environment in which private insurers could negotiate lower rates and providers would have to respond to that change in revenue with more efficiencies, he added. However, depending on how a public option plan is structured  specifically if providers can opt out of participating  some in-demand providers may choose to stay in private-plan networks where they could negotiate higher payments. This would keep private plans competitive.

"I don't think it's reasonable to argue that a public option would drive all other plans out of the market," Fiedler said.

Again, Ippolito said it all depends on how the public option program is designed, and he allowed that if providers and hospitals were paid at Medicare rates, the public option would have a huge competitive advantage over commercial insurers because it would be paying out less for services and then could charge lower premiums, and "there's no question in the short run, that it would be disruptive."

As we noted earlier, the prediction of any outcome is difficult without specifics. Without details of Bullock's public option plan, it's misleading to characterize the outcome of the public option as surely leading to Medicare for All.

Why It Matters

The race between Bullock and Daines is indicative of a trend occurring in campaigns across the country. Republicans often paint Democrats as left of the general public and health care has often been one of the issues the GOP highlights in that effort.

In this case, the NRSC ad links Bullock to Medicare for All, despite his expressed support for a public option. Sean Manning, Bullock's campaign spokesperson, said the governor does not support Medicare for All.

Jeremy Johnson, an associate professor of political science at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, said that even before COVID-19 became a major campaign issue, Daines, echoing a Trump theme, had pushed the idea that he stood for freedom versus socialism.

"One of the things [Daines] gives as a symbol of socialism is Medicare for All," said Johnson. "Because Bullock says he favors a public option, there is a conflation of that on the Republican side to mean Medicare for All."

But the public option and Medicare for All are not the same program and it's misleading to lump them together.

Our Rating

The NRSC claimed in a television ad that Steve Bullock's support for the public option would cause rural hospitals to close.

While the NRSC did provide us with one study that offered support for its rural hospital claim, the study was industry-funded and based on broad assumptions that don't accurately reflect positions outlined on Bullock's website. Thus, this claim doesn't stand up.

The second part of the ad asserts that the public option would lead to the implementation of Medicare for All. While supporters and critics debate how a public option would affect the private health insurance market and some on both sides consider it a "glide path" to a single-payer health care system, it's too big of a jump to say it would definitely trigger this outcome.

We rate this False.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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HARFORD COUNTY, Md., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mia Mason, Democratic congressional candidate for Maryland's first district will be taking part in a virtual gala as part of a coalition with No Dem Left Behind. This grassroots group is made up of progressive democratic candidates from around the country running in rural, traditionally republican districts. The Gala will feature celebrity guests: Mark Hamill, Debra Messing, Kristen Johnston, Rosie O'Donnell, Piper Perabo, Brooklyn Dad and a comedic performance by Brent Terhune.

The event will take place on August 22nd at 7:30pm online. In order to register for the event, a donation must be provided of any amount to their organization. All proceeds are then split among the 12 candidates that make up the coalition. Also joining the candidates is national spokesman Richard Odjeda.

"I am excited to bring attention to the issues of the first district here in Maryland in front of a national audience and on such a big platform," said Mason, "we are working together to flip these districts to provide a better life for our communities. My opponent in this election, Andy Harris has neglected this district's people for far too long and they are hungry for a change. I hope shedding some light on him and the needs of my district will go a long way in defeating him in November."

Mia Mason is a 20 year veteran of the Army, Navy and National Guard who won the Democratic primary in Maryland's first district with no staff and little help. She is the first LGBT candidate to ever win a primary for a federal position in the state. She is taking on Andy Harris, a 10 year conservative incumbent and member of the House Freedom Caucus. A republican has represented the district all but 2 years since 1991.

Media Contact:

Dennis Parker

[email protected]

SOURCE Friends of Mia Mason

Related Links

https://www.miadmason.us


Under pressure from governments and investors, industry leaders like BP and Shell are accelerating their production of cleaner energy. This may turn out to be the year that oil giants, especially in Europe, started looking more like electric companies, The New York Times writes in the article Europes Big Oil Companies Are Turning Electric. Late last month, Royal Dutch Shell won a deal to build a vast wind farm off the coast of the Netherlands.

Earlier in the year, Frances Total, which owns a battery maker, agreed to make several large investments in solar power in Spain and a wind farm off Scotland. Total also bought an electric and natural gas utility in Spain and is joining Shell and BP in expanding its electric vehicle charging business. At the same time, the companies are ditching plans to drill more wells as they chop back capital budgets. Shell recently said it would delay new fields in the Gulf of Mexico and in the North Sea, while BP has promised not to hunt for oil in any new countries.

Prodded by governments and investors to address climate change concerns about their products, Europes oil companies are accelerating their production of cleaner energy  usually electricity, sometimes hydrogen  and promoting natural gas, which they argue can be a cleaner transition fuel from coal and oil to renewables. For some executives, the sudden plunge in demand for oil caused by the pandemic  and the accompanying collapse in earnings  is another warning that unless they change the composition of their businesses, they risk being dinosaurs headed for extinction.

Companies like Shell and BP are trying to position themselves for an era when they will rely much less on extracting natural resources from the earth than on providing energy as a service tailored to the needs of customers  more akin to electric utilities than to oil drillers.

They hope to take advantage of the thousands of engineers on their payrolls to manage the construction of new types of energy plants; their vast networks of retail stations to provide services like charging electric vehicles; and their trading desks, which typically buy and hedge a wide variety of energy futures, to arrange low-carbon energy supplies for cities or large companies.

All of Europes large oil companies have now set targets to reduce the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. Most have set a net zero ambition by 2050, a goal also embraced by governments like the European Union and Britain.

The companies plan to get there by selling more and more renewable energy and, in some cases, by offsetting emissions with so-called nature-based solutions like planting forests to soak up carbon.

Electricity is the key to most of these strategies. Hydrogen, a clean-burning gas that can store energy and generate electric power for vehicles, also plays an increasingly large role.

The coming changes are clearest at BP. Mr. Looney said this month that he planned to increase investment in low-emission businesses like renewable energy by tenfold in the next decade to $5 billion a year, while cutting back oil and gas production by 40 percent. By 2030, BP aims to generate renewable electricity comparable to a few dozen large offshore wind farms. Mr. Looney, though, has said oil and gas production need to be retained to generate cash to finance the companys future.

Environmentalists and analysts described Mr. Looneys statement that BPs oil and gas production would decline in the future as a breakthrough that would put pressure on other companies to follow. BPs move clearly differentiates them from peers, said Andrew Grant, an analyst at Carbon Tracker, a London nonprofit. He noted that most other oil companies had so far been unwilling to confront the prospect of producing less fossil fuels. While there is skepticism in both the environmental and the investment communities about whether century-old companies like BP and Shell can learn new tricks, they do bring scale and know-how to the task. Oswald Clint, an analyst at Bernstein, forecast that the large oil companies would expand their renewable-energy businesses like wind, solar and hydrogen by around 25 percent or more each year over the next decade. Shares in oil companies, once stock market stalwarts, have been marked down by investors in part because of the risk that climate change concerns will erode demand for their products. European electric companies are perceived as having done more than the oil industry to embrace the new energy era.

It is very tricky for an investor to have confidence that they can pull this off, Mr. Clint said, referring to the oil industrys aspirations to change. But, he said, he expects funds to flow back into oil stocks as the new businesses gather momentum. At times, supplying electricity has been less profitable than drilling for oil and gas. Executives, though, figure that wind farms and solar parks are likely to produce more predictable revenue, partly because customers want to buy products labeled green. Mr. Descalzi of Eni said converted refineries in Venice and Sicily that the company uses to make lower-carbon fuel from plant matter have produced better financial results in this difficult year than its traditional businesses.

Oil companies insist that they must continue with some oil and gas investments, not least because those earnings can finance future energy sources. Not to make any mistake, Patrick Pouyanne, chief executive of Total, said to analysts recently: Low-cost oil projects will be a part of the future.

During the pandemic, BP, Total and Shell have all scrutinized their portfolios, partly to determine if climate change pressures and lingering effects from the pandemic mean that petroleum reserves on their books  developed for perhaps billions of dollars, when oil was at the center of their business  might never be produced or earn less than previously expected. These exercises have led to tens of billions of dollars of write-offs for the second quarter, and there are likely to be more as companies recalibrate their plans.

We havent seen the last of these, said Luke Parker, vice president for corporate analysis at Wood Mackenzie, a market research firm. There will be more to come as the realities of the energy transition bite.
Containing the virus has allowed many European economies to recover far better than the U.S. Look at Germany, which has an unemployment rate of 6.4 percent. The rate in the U.S. is 10.2 percent. In March and April, according to OpenTable, the reservation booking company, business in restaurants in Germany and the U.S. were in the identical place, down over 90 percent year over year. Since then they have diverged widely: data for Aug. 16 (the latest data at this writing) shows German restaurants enjoyed 9 percent more business than last year, before the pandemic, while U.S. restaurants were down around 50 percent.

And in a report last week, the National League of Cities said that precipitous declines in tax revenues were forcing cities to severely cut services at a time when communities need them most, to lay off and furlough employees who make up a large share of Americas middle class, and to pull back on capital projects, further affecting local employment, business contracts and overall investment in the economy.

In June the World Bank estimated that global G.D.P. this year would decline by at least 5.2 percent and possibly much more. The Congressional Budget Office expects G.D.P in the U.S. to fare worse, down 5.9 percent for the year, even after factoring in projected third quarter growth of more than 20 percent. But that projection assumes the containment of the virus, a huge assumption.

Indeed, a Morgan Stanley model predicts that under current policies the U.S. is currently on track to have 150,000 new cases a day later this year. And that number is not even a worst case. If we do suffer case counts anything like those, dramatic growth in the economy simply wont happen.

Bad as the virus has been this summer, it actually spreads better in low temperatures, and when temperatures fall, more people will be inside in poorly ventilated areas where transmission is also more likely. If the U.S. goes into the fall with new daily cases in the tens of thousands, as they are now, then the numbers could explode and the Morgan Stanley prediction could come true. Considering our containment efforts to date, there is little reason for optimism.
The Delhi High Court has offered relief to MasterCard by dismissing a case related to payment of equalisation levy. India's Revenue Department told the court that it had accepted MasterCard had a permanent establishment in India, and was not liable to pay equalisation levy. The court disposed off the case after listening to the Revenue Department's take on the matter.

The equalisation levy, also popularly known as Google Tax, is charged on revenues earned on online transactions from India by companies which are not based in India.

The revenue department said that it has no desire of collecting equalisation levy in respect of income on which tax has already been paid by MasterCard either by way of TDS or advance tax.

ALSO READ: India collected Rs 4,000 crore 'Google Tax' since 2016; Rs 1,100 crore in FY20

Based on revenue department's statement, the high court said that the issue stands resolved and hence it disposed off the case.

It is to be mentioned here that the MasterCard filed a writ petition against the stand of advance ruling authority which says that MasterCard has a fixed permanent establishment in India, and hence it should pay tax on income earned here.

Even as it is contesting the AAR's stand on its PE status, it had filed a miscellaneous petition seeking stay on paying equalisation levy as a precautionary measure so that it does not have to pay both the income tax as well as equalisation levy.

ALSO READ: Digital Tax: The Road Ahead

The revenue department contended that in case MasterCard succeeds in the writ petition, it would be eligible to receive refund along with statutory interest, and only then it would be liable to pay equalisation levy with interest.

Himanshu Sinha, tax partner in law firm Trilegal, who was one of the lawyers who represented the revenue department in the case, said that MasterCard, based on its own stand that it is not a PE in India, thought they might be asked to pay equalisation levy. As a precautionary measure, therefore, they moved the High Court against the payment of the levy over and above the income tax it had paid.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Mastercard to allow employees to work from home until fears lessen
Health Minister Robin Swann has warned that there are "clear indications" that Covid-19 "is on the advance again" in Northern Ireland.

Mr Swann was speaking following an increase in cases of the virus in the region in recent weeks, with 298 cases in the last seven days alone.

He said he was now as worried about the virus as he had been in some time and said local lockdowns could be put in place to combat the spread of Covid-19. The Executive will discuss the issue on Thursday.

Of the 298 cases in the last week, 78 have been in the Mid and East Antrim council area and 72 in Belfast.

"We are in danger of slipping down a very dangerous and slippery slope...This virus has not lost its energy or potency. It has not stopped its desire to spread," Mr Swann told a Stormont media briefing.

"The time is coming for the Executive to consider fresh and concrete actions to prevent the further spread of the virus," he said.

He said Northern Ireland successfully repelled the "nightmare scenario" in the first wave of Covid-19, however he said now is not the time for complacency.

The time is coming for the executive to consider fresh and concrete actions to prevent further spread of the virus Robin Swann

"The threat that stared us in the face back in March is still there but this is not the time to blink," he said.

The flu vaccination programme is also being expanded to help protect vulnerable people and relieve winter pressures during the pandemic.

The news come after the Department of Health confirmed that one further person here has died as a result of Covid-19, the Department of Health has confirmed.

The man, aged between 60 and 79, passed away in hospital in the Newry, Mourne and Down area on Saturday.

His death was previously unreported and brings the death toll from the virus in the region to 559.

Another 41 people have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 6,471.

There are currently four Covid-19 inpatients in Northern Ireland's hospitals, with none in intensive care units.

A total of 1,521 people have been discharged from hospital after recovering from the virus.

There are currently seven active outbreaks of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland's care homes, up from four on Monday.

Meanwhile, there are concerns around the number of university places available in Northern Ireland after Peter Weir's dramatic U-turn on A-level grading on Monday.

Queen's University has warned it may need extra funding to accommodate extra students.

It comes after the Education Minister relented to pressure and said he would follow teacher's predictions for A-level results. If students received a higher grade than the prediction they will be allowed to retain it.

Read More

Thousands of students will now have their grades increased, leading to higher demand for university places.

Queen's University Professor Stuart Elborn told the BBC that the university could need as much as 4m to fund extra places.

He estimated that around 500 to 1,000 extra places may be needed at a cost of 4,000 per pupil.

Ulster University's interim vice-chancellor said he was confident they could cater for the extra demand.

"We are confident that we can take more students and I think before we start committing money I think we have to sit down and work out what the sector can do with the department to meet the needs of those students," Paul Bartholomew told the BBC.

Read More

Here's how Tuesday unfolded:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:58:21|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Chen Chen

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Washington announced on Monday its decision to take further restrictive measures against Huawei, adding the Chinese tech giant's affiliates to the U.S. Commerce Department's economic blacklist and cutting off its access to advanced U.S. chips.

The unilateral decision marks the latest episode in the current U.S. administration's reckless pursuit of a digital gunboat policy under the guise of so-called national security concerns. Steps are also being taken to crack down on a slew of other Chinese tech companies, such as TikTok owner Bytedance and WeChat owner Tencent, in an attempt to keep China in a permanent state of technological inferiority.

Washington's gangster-style approach serves as a reminder of Western imperial powers forcing open the doors of China with warships and cannons over a century ago.

However, such barbaric bullying by those China hawks in Washington will surely fail, and ultimately impact upon America's own vital interests.

The most brazen part of Washington's finger-pointing is that it has repeatedly accused those Chinese tech firms of being a national security threat to the United States, while never being able to identify either what those threats are or how the companies have harmed America's national security.

In fact, for Washington's China hardliners, the very existence and flourishing of Huawei and other Chinese enterprises that are making notable global headway in their respective sectors are the real threats.

In their eyes, those blossoming Chinese firms are eating away at America's edge in grabbing global technological hegemony -- and they just cannot stand it.

To be more blunt, those zero-summers in the White House and on Capitol Hill simply cannot stand the fact that the United States can be surpassed in one particular area or more. If that happened, they would naturally come to the conclusion that the United States has been ripped off, and will use every tool at their disposal to crush whoever is in the crosshairs, with Washington's ruthless economic raid against Japan in the 1980s being a classic example.

However, Washington's economic bullying will hurt the United States itself in this age of expanding global interconnectedness and interdependence.

For starters, if Huawei is hit, other companies, including U.S. ones, along the relevant supply chains become victims as well.

A report published earlier this year by the Boston Consulting Group noted that "U.S. companies could lose 18 percentage points of global share and 37 percent of their revenues over the same period if the U.S. completely bans semiconductor companies from selling to Chinese customers, effectively causing a technology decoupling from China."

Secondly, by bullying Chinese enterprises, the United States will tarnish the credibility of its own investment environment.

Once this dangerous example is set, it is also risking opening Pandora's box, unleashing the false temptation of plundering foreign assets on speculative excuses. If this happens, the world's marketplace for investment will be reduced to a lawless battleground for self-interests.

Last but not least, Washington's digital gunboat tactics are eroding the foundations that underpin America's leading position in science and technology.

The very reason for America's tremendous scientific and technological achievements is that the country once embraced the spirit of openness and cooperation, welcoming fair competition.

Yet, with what the White House has been doing these days, from banning Chinese tech firms and promoting a tech-decoupling with China to turning away foreign students and immigrants, is ruining incrementally, and perhaps irreversibly, what used to be the cornerstone of its technological prowess.

In a video dialogue last month on China-U.S. relations, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said, "Competition between China and the United States shouldn't be a 'zero-sum game.' It's dangerous for the United States to leverage so-called 'proportional costs' to attack China."

Washington needs to listen carefully to those sincere and earnest words and think twice before going further down a dire path. Enditem
Libraries Open

All locations of the Burke County Public Library are now open to the public on a limited, appointment only basis. Libraries have returned to regular operating hours. Based on the governors most recent order masks will be requested to be worn while at the library. The number of people allowed into the libraries will be limited and social distancing will be required. You may call the library at 828-764-9261 (Morganton), 828-874-2421 (Valdese), or 828-764-9283 (C.B. Hildebrand) to schedule an appointment. Appointments may be made to use computers (non-recreational use), browse the stacks for books, read the newspaper or a magazine in the reading areas, use a study room, or to research in the North Carolina room. Appointments are time limited so more people can have access to the libraries. If you have materials to return, the book boxes are open at each library location. Materials should not be returned inside. All returned materials are quarantined for 72 hours before going back on the shelves. Until further notice, the library will not be accepting donations of materials except for items for the Most Wanted List. For those wanting books but not wanting to come inside, the Books2Go curbside service is available.
An upgraded digital centre of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will help Nigeria detect and mitigate potential cybersecurity risks, Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami has said.

Mr Pantami, who spoke on Monday at the commissioning of the digital centre alongside other projects at the NITDA headquarters in Abuja, said the new centre is upgraded with world class equipment to perform optimally.

The digital centre unveiled contained a computer emergency response and readiness centre, and digital media studio.

The Computer Emergency Response and Readiness Centre is targeted at upgrading Nigerias cybersecurity in line with the administrations plan to promote security, Mr Pantami said.

Today there are many challenges with regards to security based on what is happening online, so with the Computer Emergency Response and Readiness team, we will be able to be the watchdog of Federal Government of Nigeria, monitor potential cyber-attacks on our country, come up with policies and strategies to prevent such attacks on our country or at least reduce it.

He added that such impending attacks will be communicated to the affected institutions on an advisory level, in line with the digital security pillar of the national digital economy policy.

The digital media studio, he said, would aid virtual conferences, e-learning, and e-governance, and help the administration and promote economic development.

The event, which was the Phase III of Virtual Commissioning of Digital Economy Projects for a Digital Nigeria, also witnessed the unveiling of reviewed logo, vision, and mission statements of the agency.

The minister said the rebranding of NITDA will help shape Nigerias journey into digital economy, as the logo is redesigned to capture the essence of the reforms in the sector.

Mr Pantami noted that the projects commissioned were in line with the key pillars of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria.

The reason behind changing the agencys logo is that the worlds IT has changed from ICT to digital economy. It is no longer about IT policy but rather digital economy policy for a digital Nigeria, because the IT policy has become obsolete Pantami explained.

Mr Pantami commended the NITDA director general, Kashifu Abdullahi for completing the project which was initiated when the minister was the DG of the agency.

He noted that before the Coronavirus pandemic, the World Economic Forum had predicted that before 2022, 60% of the world economy would be digitalised.

READ ALSO:

The minister said the pandemic has, however, fast tracked this prediction, making it obvious that the same could be achieved before 2021.

This has motivated us to double our efforts, so that some of the targets we initially set for 2023 have already been achieved now. In telecoms, for instance, issues like that of the right of way for critical digital infrastructure has been lingering for years, but we have been able to resolve this in our first year, he stated.

In his address, Mr Abdullahi commended Mr Pantami for his leadership which, he said, made it possible for the agency to achieve what it did within the last one year.

He said as the IT frontline agency, NITDA, is committed to the digital Nigeria initiative of the supervising ministry under the guidance of the minister.
Sharjah Airport becomes first carbon-neutral airport in GCC achieving Level 3+ Neutrality accreditation. Image: Sharjah Airport Authority

The airport has attained a Level 3+ Neutrality accreditation, occurring when net carbon dioxide emissions over a full year are zero, from the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, issued by Airports Council International (ACI), which reflects the excellence of the airport strategy in the implementation of many projects and practices that use the application of the highest standards of sustainability.

The achievement marks an important milestone in Sharjah Airports journey towards continuous environmental and sustainable development as it continues to expand its operational capacity. Sharjah Airport has made a firm commitment to ensuring its operations have a minimal impact on the environment while working towards reducing carbon footprint and energy consumption.

Supporting the UAE Vision 2021

Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority said: Sharjah Airports attainment of the highest level of carbon neutrality reflects the efforts made by the airport in the field of environmental practices, which translate the directions of the rational leadership into the need to preserve and protect the environment. The airport has adopted many green initiatives and programs, in line with the commitment of the United Arab Emirates towards reducing carbon emissions that fall under the UAE Green Growth Strategy and to support the national agenda to attain the UAE vision 2021.

Environmental leader

By reaching carbon-neutral status, the highest status currently, in the internationally-recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, Sharjah Airport is firmly positioning itself as an environmental leader in the region and beyond, said Stefano Baronci, Director General, ACI Asia-Pacific. We are grateful to the management team at Sharjah Airport for their continued commitment and active participation in ACI Asia-Pacific environmental initiatives and in support of working towards a new societal value.

Sustainable initiatives

Environmental and sustainability projects implemented by Sharjah Airport include energy conservation initiatives, clean energy projects and circular economic initiatives to encourage all stakeholders of the airport to engage and contribute to good practice. As well as strictly monitoring electricity and water consumption in the airport, an integrated waste management system, targeted at zero landfill waste was introduced. Sharjah Airport supports the ICAOs global strategy on climate change.

Environmental Awards

Sharjah Airport has been recognised throughout the years by several entities for its contribution to sustainable initiatives. These include ACI Asia-Pacific Green Airports Recognition 2020 Silver, the Sharjah Green Award in 2019 from Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and The Modama Award in 2019 for Green Government Initiatives from Ajman Tourism Department. Sharjah Airport also accomplished Airport Carbon Accreditation  level 1 mapping in 2014, level 2 reduction in 2016 and level 3 optimization in 2018 by Airport Council International. All these recognitions and awards celebrate Sharjah Airports pioneering environmental and sustainability initiatives in the UAE aviation industry.

Sharjah Airport will be formally presented with the Level 3+ award at the Airport Carbon Accreditation Certification Presentation ceremony at the next ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, Conference and Exhibition.

The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme is the only independent, institutionally endorsed carbon standard for airports that recognises the efforts made to manage and reduce their Co2 emissions. The programme is progressively being implemented across the worlds airports.
Reuters/Lawrence Bryant

A couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their home in St. Louis will play a part in next weeks Republican Convention.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who hit the headlines in June when they accosted a group of demonstrators on a private street armed with a rifle and handgun, have reportedly been scheduled to appear on behalf of the president.

GOP sources confirmed to the Washington Post that the couple had been booked for the largely virtual event, in an apparent attempt to energise the struggling Trump campaign.

Most major polls currently give Democrat candidate Joe Biden a commanding lead over the president.

Mr and Ms McCloskey were arrested following the incident on 28 June, when demonstrators marched past their home amid nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd.

The protesters had been heading towards the home of St Louis mayor Lyda Krewson to demand an end to police brutality.

Video from the scene showed the McCloskeys, who are both white, emerging from their Versailles-style mansion on Portland Place, waving guns and threatening the protesters.

St Louis governor, Mike Parson, defended the couple, saying they had every right to defend the property under the states castle doctrine.

A number of high-profile Republicans and president Trump also weighed in behind the couple, who claimed to have called the police before approaching the demonstrators with guns.

Trumps White House press secretary said it is absolutely absurd, what is happening to the McCloskeys.

The president, who has sought to position himself as an ardent defender of the Second Amendment throughout his term in office, also posted video of the incident on his Twitter.

The Missouri couple was charged in July with the unlawful use of a weapon, a class E felony. They have since launched a donations website to help fund their legal battle.

Mr McCloskey defended his actions, saying that he feared for his life.

I was a person scared for my life, protecting my wife, my home, my hearth, my livelihood. I was a victim of a mob that came through the gate, he told CNN at the time.

Read more

St Louis couple who pointed guns at protesters star in Trump event
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi greets staff from the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston upon their arrival at the airport in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 17, 2020. A chartered flight carrying the staff from the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston arrived in Beijing Monday evening. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The staff from the recently closed Chinese Consulate General in Houston arrived in Beijing on Monday evening, with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi greeting them at the airport.

The staff were returning home for the first time since July 21, when the United States abruptly demanded that the Chinese Consulate General in Houston cease all operations and events within a specified time frame.

In his welcome speech, Wang said that, in the face of an unexpected incident, the Chinese consular staff had remained calm and unflappable, resolutely safeguarding the core interests of the country, the dignity of the country and the people, and the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese agencies abroad in an extremely difficult and even dangerous environment.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi greets staff from the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston upon their arrival at the airport in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 17, 2020. A chartered flight carrying the staff from the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston arrived in Beijing Monday evening. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Wang said that the Consulate General in Houston showed that the anti-China forces in the United States are undermining China-U.S. relations and deliberately trying to block China's development.

"But this is going against the tide of history, and it will never succeed!" he stressed.

In a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua, Wang said that the Chinese Consulate General in Houston was the first consulate general opened by China in the United States after the establishment of diplomatic ties, and it had always been an important symbol of China-U.S. friendship.

After the planned closure was announced in July, the Chinese Embassy in the United States said in a statement, "It is a political provocation unilaterally launched by the U.S. side, which seriously violates international law, basic norms governing international relations and the bilateral consular agreement between China and the U.S."

In a countermeasure, China demanded the closure of the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu. The move was put into effect on July 27.

At the airport on Monday, Wang said that China firmly believes that China-U.S. relations will be revived after the current period of difficulty, adding that the destiny of China is in the hands of its people.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, no one and no force can stop the nation from moving towards rejuvenation, Wang said. Enditem
By Laura Sanicola NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices settled higher on Monday, as OPEC+ producers almost fully complied in July with their global production cut accord, and after U.S. officials said China is in compliance with the first phase of the two nations' trade deal. Brent crude settled up 57 cents, or 1.3%, to $45.87 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 88 cents, or 2.1 %, to $42.41 a barrel. Compliance with OPEC+ oil output cuts is seen at around 97% in July, two OPEC+ sources told Reuters. The oil-producing nations have been cutting output by ...
Bengaluru, Aug 19 : BJP MP from Karnataka's Chamarajnagar, V. Srinivas Prasad and Congress MLA from Bengaluru's Chamarajpet, Zameer Ahmed Khan have tested Covid-19 positive, an official said on Tuesday.

"Prasad and Khan, who tested positive for the infection, have been admitted in private hospitals in the city for treatment," a Health Department official told IANS.

Prasad, 73, gave his swab sample for testing, as he was having fever since Monday and the result was positive.

"Prasad, who is asymptomatic, got admitted to Manipal Hospital for treatment," said the official.

The former state and Union minister has advised all who came in contact with him during the last one week to take the Covid test and go into isolation.

"Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's son B.Y. Vijayendra, who met Prasad earlier in the day, went into home quarantine and gave his swab sample for testing," the official added.

Khan, who announced his health status in a tweet, also requested those who came in contact with him in the past few days to get tested.

Meanwhile, BJP's Yadgir MLA Venkatareddy Mudnal, who tested positive on Sunday, is also under treatment in a private hospital in the city.

In a related development, a BJP official told IANS that party's Hiriyur MLA, K. Poornima Srinivas had also tested positive and was under treatment in the district hospital at Chitradurga.

Scores of politicians from the state, including Yediyurappa, Congress leader Siddaramaiah, state ministers B.R. Sriramulu, S.T. Somashekar, Anand Singh and C.T. Ravi, and other MLAs and MLCs had also tested positive but have recovered now.
Atal Mission, Nasscom join to launch AI step-up modules for schools

The Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog, which launched the ATL AI Module for school children in February this year, has launched an advanced `Learn-it-Yourself AI module in schools across the country.

A initiative of Atal Innovation Mission in collaboration with industry body Nasscom, the ATL AI Step-Up Module is being launched on the eve of Indias Independence Day, in order to drive AI education and innovation to the next level in schools across the country.

This module is the next step in bringing AI to Indian classrooms and is a successor to the AI base module launched in February this year. The AI step-up module provides a comprehensive set of learn it yourself advanced modules to those who wish to expand their knowledge base after becoming familiar with the basics of the AI discipline through the AI base module, says an official release.

Through hands-on projects and activities, the step-up module encourages a deeper understanding of AI, which can be applied in the real world. The module is designed in an attractive graphical manner that is comprehensible for all students belonging to rural and urban areas, according to the release.

Also, the step-up module needs no previous knowledge and introduces the concepts to students from the basics using interactive tools and activities so as to keep their attention undivided. Moreover, the objective of this module is to challenge students and create opportunities in the coming years making students the change makers and torch bearers of innovation.

Speaking on the importance of introducing AI to school students, CEO NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant said the AI step-up module is the future of this country as it targets the youth which in itself is path breaking. Actually, this launch is on the very critical day as India is celebrating its 74th Independence Day and I am glad to announce on the eve of Independence Day this ATL AI step up module by NITI Aayog through AIM for students of this nation. AI is really the future for our children and it is the truly unique endeavor by AIM and Nasscom, he said.

He urged young India to take this opportunity positively and explore the module to create valuable solutions which would pave way for the country to truly become Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Speaking on the virtual launch, Mission Director Atal Innovation Mission R Ramanan said that this first ever Industry government academia initiative has received a huge response from students by the introduction of base module and now AIM, NITI Aayog and Nasscom is proud to launch its step-up module. Inputs from leading academic institutions, including IITs, have contributed in the development of these modules, he said.

The base module was specifically devised considering students as young as 12 years of age, with absolutely no prior background of AI to ignite curiosity on AI in their young minds and to contribute to the ecosystem of innovation. Step-up module has been exquisitely designed and presented to involve young students across the country to induce inclusive learning and to empower youngsters of our country to create AI integrated innovations, he added.

Sharing her views Nasscom president Debjani Ghosh said The rapid advancement of technology, such as AI and robotics, has penetrated all industries, including education. As the world gets transformed with innovation, it is hearting to see how the youth of our country are acquiring great fondness towards the digital method of studying and adopting Artificial Intelligence in it.

She further said that with the aim of introduction of digital literacy, coding, and computational thinking, these modules can empower young people to meaningfully interact with AI-based technologies and bolster learning. Skills such as logical thinking, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are going to be the most important skills for success in professional life in the coming decade, she added.

The module is a directed step by the government of India in building citizens and a workforce that is aware of AI and can work with AI. It has been created keeping the age group of its intended audience in mind, so that they can be easily understood by any individual who has just been exposed to the idea of AI.

The AI Step-Up module would be available for all students across the country and could be accessed at https://aim.gov.in/Lets_learn_AI_StepUp_Module.pdf.

The virtual launch was attended by officials of AIM, NITI Aayog, Nasscom, industry partners and academia.
MINNEAPOLIS - Gov. Tim Walzs administration said Tuesday it will appeal the latest approvals by state utility regulators for Enbridge Energys plan to replace its old and corroding Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota.

The state Commerce Department faced a deadline of Wednesday for filing a request to ask the Minnesota Court of Appeals to take another look at the project. Environmental and tribal groups opposed to the pipeline have already filed their appeals.

Supporters and opponents of the project had stepped up pressure on the Walz administration in the days leading up to the decision. Opponents rallied outside the Capitol and the official Governors Residence on Tuesday to urge him to keep up the fight, while supporters brought petitions and replica pipes to the Capitol last Thursday to urge no more delays or appeals.
Aside from a passion for apparel, Hurlbut has always had an obsession with old textiles. Her house is filled with antique rugs, tapestries and quilts, and examples from her extensive collection of Andean weavings are graphically displayed on the walls.

When Peruvian Connection ventured into brick and mortar retail in 2008, Hurlbut personally sourced every detail of each of the brand's 7 stores. Her mission was to create an authentic context for the brand's artisan-made apparel collections. Details incorporated into the store interiors included 19th century Peruvian photographs, smoke-stained Victorian wallpaper, vintage cash wraps, and of course, Andean textiles all reminiscent of the way Hurlbut's own home has evolved over the years.

A launch into lifestyle seemed a natural extension that was further amplified when Hurlbut began looking into the brand's extraordinary archive of original prints. Prints developed over the years for the apparel collections form the basis of the premier bedding collection.

"For years I've daydreamed about a Peruvian Connection home collection. Although I personally gravitate towards tonal, quieter prints for apparel, when it comes to living with a textile, the richer the better. Since many of our original prints lend themselves beautifully to home textiles like bedding, tablecloths and napkinsnot to mention wallpaper, gift wrap and paper goodsit seemed like an obvious extension for the brand," said Hurlbut.

The 15-piece bedding collection, now available for purchase in Peruvian Connection's U.S. based stores and online, includes two mixed print sets of cotton sateen sheets and duvets, woven and knit alpaca throws and pillows, printed velvet pillows, a matelasse cotton coverlet with shams.

About Peruvian Connection

Since 1976, Peruvian Connection has made ethnographic textiles the point of reference for its artisan-made collections. In addition to the label's signature alpaca and pima cotton knitwear, it offers a range of superbly tailored outerwear, romantic print dresses, unique basics, handcrafted accessories and now home, all designed by and made exclusively for Peruvian Connection. Peruvian Connection has grown into an internationally renowned online, catalog and retail store brand for luxury Peruvian textiles, featuring five collections of artisan-made garments each year. The brand has 6 stores in the U.S. in New York, Aspen, Chicago, Santa Fe, Kansas City and Washington, DC and a store in London.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kathleen Ruiz

KRW CONSULTING

646.533.4150

[email protected]

SOURCE Peruvian Connection

Related Links

https://www.peruvianconnection.com




Equity benchmarks marched higher for the second straight day on Tuesday following robust buying in market heavyweights Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank amid a mixed trend in overseas bourses. The 30-share BSE Sensex, which opened on a firm footing, gained further momentum in late-afternoon trade to finish at 38,528.32, up 477.54 points or 1.26 per cent.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty surged 138.25 points or 1.23 per cent to end at 11,385.35. This is the highest closing for both the indices in over five months.

UltraTech Cement was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, spurting 3.34 per cent, followed by Kotak Bank, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, HDFC Bank and Asian Paints. Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank accounted for most of the index's gains.

On the other hand, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, Bajaj Auto and Power Grid were among the laggards, dropping up to 1.10 per cent. "Indian benchmark indices kept gaining strength during the course of the day, as opposed to mixed global market cues. US-China political tensions and the uncertainties over the US stimulus package kept global markets on edge.

"In India, investors took comfort in the expectation of government spending to offset the impact of the lockdown and the progress of the monsoon and its relation to the rural economy also improved sentimentsWith liquidity and expectations overcoming concerns about valuations, any consolidation in the markets have been bought into and this trend is expected to continue," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services. BSE realty, bankex, basic materials, finance, consumer durables and metal indices surged as much as 4.19 per cent, while utilities and healthcare indices fell up to 0.19 per cent.

Broader BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices rallied up to 1.30 per cent. Global markets were mixed amid escalating US-China tensions and delay in another US stimulus package.

The US administration on Monday said it would further tighten restrictions on China's Huawei Technologies, disrupting its global supply chain. Bourses in Shanghai and Hong Kong ended on a positive note, while Tokyo and Seoul were in the red.

Stock exchanges in Europe were trading with significant gains in early deals. Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.37 per cent lower at USD 45.20 per barrel.

In the forex market, the rupee settled 12 paise higher at 74.76 against the US dollar.
The Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka has donated face masks and COVID-19 prevention posters for public buses belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) amidst a pandemic which has so far infected over 2,800 people in the island country, a statement from the embassy said Tuesday.

The donation was handed over Monday by Charge D'Affaires of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka Hu Wei to SLTB Chairman, Kingsley Ranawaka in the presence of health ministry officials and bus drivers.

Following the hand-over ceremony, the posters which were printed in Sinhala and Tamil languages were posted on the buses for the convenience of the commuters.

Ranawaka said that thousands of buses operating under the SLTB were the most reliable forms of public transportation in the country. Bus drivers, bus conductors and all other staff commuted with thousands of passengers daily and therefore they urgently needed to step up epidemic prevention measures.

"We sincerely thank China for their valuable support," Ranwaka said.

Bus driver Nalaka Priyadarshana, 34, said that these masks would help him and his crew to stay safe from the COVID-19 as thousands of passengers traveled in his bus daily.

His bus also had a hand sanitizer fixed at the entrance, he said, adding that the posters which outlined safety measures against the COVID-19 would educate the public who were using his bus.

Dr. Uthpala Amarasinghe, Consultant Community Physician of the Health Promotion Bureau of the Ministry of Health, said that Sri Lanka's Health Department had established a comprehensive public health network across the country which was an important factor in Sri Lanka's successful control of the pandemic.

On behalf of the Health Promotion Bureau, she thanked China for its strong support and said the 100,000 donated posters would also be put up in public places such as grassroots health centers, bus stations, and markets.

"China's friendship has spread to every corner of the country," Amarasinghe said.
John K. Yambasu, the West African bishop who brought factions of the United Methodist Church (UMC) together to agree on a plan for their split over homosexuality, died in a car accident outside Freeport, Sierra Leone, over the weekend.

The 63-year-old is remembered as a gentle diplomat in the church and a faithful advocate for Christian education in Africa.

Yambasu, the resident bishop of the Sierra Leone area and president of the United Methodist Africa College of Bishops, stood like a giant in the worldwide mission of the United Methodist Church, said Bishop Hee Soo Jung, president of the denominations General Board of Global Ministries.

Yambasu organized the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace, a proposal announced in January 2020 and to be voted on in August 2021.

After several stalemates over what to do about the UMCs decades of division over same-sex marriage and gay clergy, the protocol brought together key leaders from all sides and is expected to be the final chapter in this decades-long battle when the denominations legislative body convenes at its postponed conference next year.

Yambasu trusted God as determining the outcome of their prolonged denominational efforts.

I strongly believe that we dont own the church, it is Gods church, and God is just using us as instruments of his grace, he said. No matter what we do, no matter how much money we spend, no matter what conversations we do, in the final analysis its Gods church, and God will lead his church to where he wants his church to be.

Methodist leaders on both sides of the anticipated split paid tribute to him after the news of his death on Sunday.

Jan Lawrence, executive director of Reconciling Ministries Network, which focuses on welcoming the LGBTQ community, said Yambasu became a friend during our meetings, and The United Methodist Church will miss his leadership and his positive energy.

Keith Boyette, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a group that advocates for a traditional view of marriage and against LGBT clergy, remembered his wise counsel and gentle spirit.

The UMC missions agency notes that Yambasus calm, uniting presence and diplomatic leadership allowed him to negotiate the end of a 12-year schism within the Burundi church in 2018. He was also instrumental in rallying faith communities from all across Sierra Leone to help prevent the spread of Ebola as it moved across West Africa in 20142016.

Born in southern Sierra Leone, Bishop Yambasu received his primary and secondary education at United Methodist mission schools. He earned a bachelors in agriculture from Njal University, a passion that continued into his ministry as a bishop as he called for better stewardship of church land in food production.

He received his masters of theology from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. Last year, he was elected chancellor of Africa University, a Methodist institution in Zimbabwe.

Yambasu pastored churches in Freetown and Moyamba, but ultimately focused on Christian education and youth ministry.

He founded the Child Rescue Center to care for children whose families were left impoverished by more than a decade of civil war. The dream was to provide hope for many children that were abandoned and languishing on the streets of Sierra Leone during the war. Most were either orphaned or displaced by the civil conflict, the bishop said in 2017.

While he was known for his recent involvement in debates over sexuality, Yambasu also challenged Methodists to think about their responsibility to also address poverty, illiteracy, and starvation in places like Africa.

I would only want to appeal to the general church that we pause for a while and rethink our calling as a church, he said in 2018. Is that what God has really called us to do, to spend his resources legislating sex? Or has he called us to be on mission to the whole world?

Yambasu is survived by his wife, Millicent, and their children Rebecca, Adima, John, Emmanuel, and Elizabeth.
Oracle's bid to acquire TikTok's U.S. business might not be as bizarre as it initially sounds, analysts told CNBC Tuesday.

The enterprise software giant is said to be working with venture capital firms Sequoia and General Atlantic to beat Microsoft in the race to buy TikTok's business in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Canada from Chinese owner ByteDance. The deal talks were confirmed by a CNBC source after they were first reported by the Financial Times.

While TikTok may not seem like the most natural fit for Oracle's existing customer base, there could be more to it than that. Abishur Prakash, a geopolitical futurist at a strategy consulting firm called Center for Innovating the Future, said companies want one thing when it comes to TikTok: data.

"By putting TikTok's data on Oracle servers, Oracle may be able to build in-roads into new industries," Prakash said. Oracle doesn't have a social media app that it could integrate TikTok with but the company could theoretically use customer data collected by TikTok to improve its marketing products.

With over 2 billion downloads, TikTok's large user base may also appeal to Oracle, as could the company's business model, which poses a direct threat to Facebook.

"In the post-Covid world, every business is trying to reinvent themselves," Prakash added. "And, within geopolitics of tech, there isn't just risks, but also opportunities. Oracle may have its own ideas as to how it could use TikTok that it hasn't revealed to the market yet."
Its that time of year for parents to gear up for kids returning to school. And whether its online school, homeschooling, or sending your child to a regular campus, health and wellness is on everyones mind. Parents are looking for ways they can take care of themselves and their family. Recently, Wellness Lifestyle Contributor, teamed with Toms of Maine, Enfagrow and Zenni to share her back to school tips for healthy habits, nutrition, and all that screen time.

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/j7yc_yAh8P0

Keep Up with Healthy Habits:

One of the first back to school tips is to get regular sleep. This can help people de-stress and have energy for each day. Also, set up regular exercise, especially if kids arent having recess or P.E. at school.

Finally, be sure to keep up with simple oral health, such as brushing and flossing. But sometimes kids might need a little extra motivation.

One of the leading natural toothpaste companies, Toms of Maine, has a great-tasting kids toothpaste called Silly Strawberry. It can make brushing fun, with a delicious real fruit flavor that kids love. Its made with 100 percent naturally derived ingredients and the tube is recyclable, which is a huge plus. Its available in fluoride and fluoride free, with no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Look for High Nutrition Options:

It can certainly be easy to snack a lot when everyone is home more. However, it's important to make it a point to have snacks on hand that have a high nutritional value.

With toddlers, sometimes they can be picky eaters. However, the first 1000 days are crucial in a childs life, and poor nutrition during this period could have lasting effects, especially if the little one isnt getting enough vitamins and nutrients like iron and DHA for brain development, and vitamin D for bone growth.

In fact, studies found that children who were iron insufficient during their first year exhibited cognitive and socioemotional developmental impairments by age of 5.

Additionally, 76% of U.S. toddlers have an inadequate intake of Vitamin D, and the transition from infant formula or breast milk to cow's milk can lead to an 80% drop in DHA consumption.

One thing to do for toddlers age 1-to-3 is to help close the nutritional gaps with something like Enfagrow. Its a toddler nutritional drink that provides brain-building DHA, iron, vitamins, and prebiotics. In fact, Enfagrow supports growth with as much iron as over 2 gallons of milk. It is easy to use and gives parents peace of mind.

Make Good Choices with Your Eye Health:

This school year, many students will be spending more time than ever in front of screens and digital devices.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says that while screen time has increased at home due to COVID, parents should still try to encourage non-screen time activities. As one of our back to school tips, try household chores, traditional book reading, and getting outdoors.

Now, for that screen time  protect childrens eyes with blue-light blocking glasses. Because studies have shown that blue light, which comes from digital screens, can cause eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eye, and interrupted sleep.

Zenni has some great solutions. Zenni has more than 300 styles of childrens affordable glasses, with frames starting at $6.95  even for toddlers. This includes blue-light-blocking glasses called Blokz, which can be added to any lens to help absorb blue light. Zennis Trivex feature makes the glasses impact resistant  which is really great for active kids! Zennis Blokz Trivex glasses combine safety, comfort and style for the classroom, home or playground.

For more information, visit SimpleMomsGuide.com

About Terra Wellington:

Terra Wellington is a lifestyle media personality and actress who is one of the countrys foremost authorities. She has conducted more than 2,000 television interviews sharing wellness advice and tips. Terra is Editor in Chief at SimpleMomsGuide.com, an inspirational lifestyle site.

About YourUpdateTV:

YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content.




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It is gut-wrenching, Logue said. You cant possibly imagine what would possess this person to just say, Hey, let me just try to kill these two people on this corner. All they were doing was standing outside waiting on an Uber, thats the only reason they were standing right there.
When she was 15 years old, Paola Santillan was raped by two men who claimed they would take the lesbian out of her. She kept the experience a secret for 10 years.

I lived that stage of my life in confinement. I lived it in fear, with uncertainty, with the promise of having my spirit broken, the 27-year-old said. Everything changed in that moment.

Santillan is one of an untold number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Mexico who have undergone traumatic experiences aimed at altering their sexual orientation or gender identity in what is known as conversion therapy.

Widely condemned by leading medical groups, including the World Psychiatric Association, conversion therapy can range from psychological counselling to religious practices and even sexual abuse in an effort to change someone from gay to straight.

Official statistics on conversion therapy in Mexico are not widely available, but mental health experts and rights activists say the practice is widespread.

This has become fairly normalized in our society, Ivan Tagle, director general of advocacy group Yaaj told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Up to six out of every 10 young people who come to Yaaj have endured conversion therapy, he said.

The United Nations has called for a global ban on the practice, but worldwide, only a handful of countries - Brazil, Ecuador and Malta - have nationwide bans.

This month, Queensland became the first state in Australia to outlaw conversion therapy, and in July, Mexico City became the countrys first jurisdiction to do so, with providers facing up to five years in prison.

But now supporters are pushing for Mexico to take the law nationwide.

A bill to ban the practice nationally was approved by Senate committees earlier this year, and lawmakers say a vote by the full chamber will take place next month.

When I found out that these tortuous and inhumane practices existed ... I decided work on the issue, said Citlalli Hernandez, a senator with the ruling Morena party who has championed the bill.

If the measure is approved by the Senate, Hernandez said she hopes it will pass to the House of Deputies by November. Then it will need approval from the Morena-controlled lower chamber before moving to the presidents desk for signature. A GOOD CHRISTIAN

In a socially conservative country where the Catholic church is often critical of gay rights, LGBT+ issues are divisive and for many, being gay or trans in Mexico means enduring violence and discrimination.

According to a 2016 study from Yaaj, more than a third of Mexican LGBT+ young people had experienced psychological abuse, while a fifth had suffered physical violence.

Facing a life of difficulty, many young LGBT+ people seek out conversion therapy themselves or are forced into such treatment by their parents, according to mental health experts and rights advocates.

Conversion therapies are often offered by religious groups in Mexico, where 80% of the population identifies as Catholic. Many others are members of evangelical Christian churches.

In Mexico it works because of the guilt ... of not being a good Christian, said Jonathan Silva, a psychology professor at the IBERO University who treats conversion therapy survivors.

Carmen Francisco, 33, said she started going to conversion therapy 10 years ago at an evangelical church because of the guilt she felt being in a relationship with another woman.

Being a Christian ... I felt bad, like I was doing something wrong, she said.

At times, she said she thought the process was working, and she went four years without dating women.

But she paid a steep price, particularly when sessions devolved into exorcisms with her therapist speaking in tongues.

I would ask God to change me, Francisco recalled. I remember sessions where I would end up kneeling on the floor crying, and I even remember times when I would end up vomiting.

According to Silva, many interventions take place at intense weekend religious retreats.

Having three days where someone tells you that ... your life identity is nothing more than a sin, a piece of shit, the scum of humanity, has very long-term implications, he said.

Trans woman Jazz Bustamante said despite surviving an earlier experience with conversion therapy at a Pentecostal church, she went on a religious retreat at age 21 in her own spiritual quest.

Over three sleepless nights, Bustamante was told to write down her whole life story on pieces of paper.

On the final night, someone identified as a godfather took her aside for a ceremony with candles and incense, where she was told to burn every page and ask God for forgiveness.

The experience proved traumatic.

The depression and anxiety attacks worsened, Bustamante said. There were emotional complications.

THE SURVIVORS

LGBT+ people are also sent for conversion therapy at Mexicos church-funded addiction treatment and rehabilitation centers, rights advocates say.

They might not promote it in their advertising, but there are these networks for admitting people for (being LGBT+), said Alex Orue, executive director of youth suicide prevention group It Gets Better Mexico.

In places with actual drug addicts and often administered by men, young LGBT+ people, especially lesbian and bisexual women and girls are easy prey, said Orue.

There are many reports of these corrective rapes.

Mexicos rampant machismo can make such sexual abuse seem permissible, mental health experts say.

There is a certain authorization for men ... to impinge on the life and the body of a woman, said Silva, the psychology professor.

But whether the intervention is sexual, psychological or spiritual, the consequences can be devastating.

Everything points to a destruction of any possibility of an identity for a person, Silva said.

For Santillan, after getting raped for being a lesbian, it took a decade before she could talk about it.

Now sharing her story and campaigning for a conversion therapy ban has given her new purpose.

I made the personal political, Santillan said. Now its me who also listens to other testimonies and gives a voice to the survivors that we are.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)

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Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri says his family accepted a United Nations-backed tribunals verdict in the case of his fathers assassination 15 years ago in Lebanons capital.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Tuesday found Salim Ayyash, a member of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, guilty of assassinating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri along with 21 others in a massive bomb blast in Beirut.

Three other Hezbollah suspects were cleared.

Ayyash, along with Assad Sabra, Hassan Oneissi and Hassan Habib Merhi, was tried in absentia as Hezbollah has refused to disclose their whereabouts.

The international court near The Hague, Netherlands, found the February 14, 2005 attack was politically motivated in an act of terrorism designed to cause fear in the Lebanese population.

We accept the verdict of the tribunal and want justice to be implemented, Hariri told reporters after the verdict and called for just punishment for the criminals.

I think that today the court has shown high credibility, showing that this court is not politicised.

Hariri further said his father was assassinated because he was against the policy of the regime in Syria and he wanted to take this regime out of Lebanon.

We all said this, right? But when it comes from a court, that shows that what weve said before in the past, is true.

The four members of Hezbollah were accused of organising and carrying out the attack, although the Iran-backed group was not formally charged and denied any involvement.

Hariri said those who assassinated his father aimed to change the face of Lebanon and its system and its civilised identity and said there will be no compromise on this matter.

Hariri added that if the Lebanese want coexistence, everyone must admit to their mistakes.

Hezbollah must cooperate in this matter, he said.

Meanwhile, the premiers brother, Bahaa Hariri, criticised Hezbollah in a statement also made after the verdict.

The court was clear about the political background of those involved, the slain politicians eldest son said, adding that the malign influence of Hezbollah hangs over the country like a dark cloud.

We must blow that dark cloud away if we are to shine as a country, he said.

The assassination plunged Lebanon into what was then its worst crisis since the 1975-90 civil war, setting the stage for years of confrontation between rival political factions.
Eva Longoria welcomed viewers and served as host to the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Monday night.

Longoria, who was born in Corpus Christi and adopted San Antonio as her home when she married Spurs player Tony Parker, opened her roughly one-minute speech by introducing herself and the night's theme: Uniting America.

"Every four years we come together to reform our democracy. This year, we've come to save it. It's going to take all of us," she said. "The past four years have left us, as a nation, diminished and divided."

The actress also acknowledged the toll coronavirus has taken on the county over the past few months, nodding to the more than 170,000 deaths.

Longoria is no stranger to the democratic party having headlined a string of celebrity appearances at the 2012 DNC. She also fundraised for Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Leticia Van de Putte in 2014.
(Photo : Image by   from Pixabay ) Closest Car-Sized Asteroid Nearly Hit Earth This Week, But NASA Had No Idea it Happen (Photo : Image by Alexander Antropov from Pixabay ) Closest Car-Sized Asteroid Nearly Hit Earth This Week, But NASA Had No Idea it Happen

One of the closest approaches of an asteroid to Earth happened over the weekend. Shockingly, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration had no idea it happens in the first place. Here's what happened on this car-sized asteroid called 2020 QG.

2020 QG passes by Earth on Sunday

On Sunday, Aug. 16, Business Insider reported about a possible asteroid impact on Earth. It was seen over the weekend, rushing in to clash near the planet.

However, for an unknown reason, the asteroid only passes by and not continued hitting Earth. Another shocking info was that the space agency NASA did not know that an asteroid was about to hit the planet.

The asteroid, called 2020 QG, is as big as a car and runs towards Earth for about 1,830 miles (2,950 kilometers). The Sormano Astronomical Observatory in Italy first released info about the space rock.

Though it has a significant size for an asteroid, the space agency said that it does not pose any harm to Earth-- even if it continued to hit the planet.

The bothersome issue on this was that the national space agency NASA had no idea that a huge asteroid was coming on the planet.

"The asteroid approached undetected from the direction of the sun," Paul Chodas, the director of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, told Business Insider. "We didn't see it coming."

NASA's lack of info about the 2020 QG was totally unexpected. After all, the agency regularly collects data about all near-Earth objects (NEOs). In this case, if the asteroid hits Earth, the blame may be focus on the agency since NEO-surveillance should be their responsibility.

Undetected space rock is still dangerous

Though Italy's astronomical firm said that 2020 QG does not pose threat to Earth, the Palomar Observatory in California and NASA warned that the space rock had actually broken the record of the closest asteroid nearly hitting the planet.

"Yesterday's close approach is closest on record if you discount a few known asteroids that have actually impacted our planet," NASA said.

Business Insider also found out that another scientist had already recorded info about the 2020 QG. He even made a detailed simulation video, showing the velocity and speed of the asteroid when it was heading to the planet.

ALSO READ: WATCH! NASA-Monitored 'Asteroid Tsunami' Could Possibly 'Send 400 Feet Waves' into the US Coast

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
They are set to welcome their first child in the coming months, but Moana Hope and Isabella Carlstrom had something else to celebrate this week.

On Tuesday, retired AFLW player Moana, 32, shared a touching tribute to Isabella to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary.

She posted the couple's wedding video to Instagram, and gushed over her pregnant wife in the caption.

Congrats! They're set to welcome their first child in the coming months, but Moana Hope (left) and Isabella Carlstrom (right) had something else to celebrate this week: their anniversary

'Today last year I married my best friend, my soulmate and the mamma of our children to be,' Moana wrote.

'I love that all we do is laugh, your smile makes my day light up. I wake happy knowing that I get to see and kiss your beautiful face. I'm completely in love with you. Thank you for always being you. Happy anniversary, my beautiful wife.'

The video featured a compilation of home videos of the couple, including footage from their 2019 wedding.

Forever: The couple married in Melbourne last August, 10 months after Isabella proposed

The couple are set to welcome their first child together in November, and last month Isabella flaunted her burgeoning belly in a mirror selfie shared to Instagram.

In the photo, Isabella posed in her bedroom while cradling her bump and looking down at her belly.

'Twenty-three weeks today,' she captioned the snap.

Bumping along nicely! Isabella showed off her growing baby bump in mirror selfie last month

In May, Isabella announced she was expecting a child with Moana.

'It's time to be mummas! We feel so incredibly grateful to be able to share this news. I am pregnant and Mo and I are expecting our little one in November,' she told her Instagram followers.

'It's been a beautiful journey and I can't believe we're finally at this point. It wouldn't have been possible without the amazing team at Monash IVF, so a huge thank you to them. I'm so excited to raise our child with you, beautiful.'

The couple married in Melbourne last August, 10 months after Isabella proposed.
The personal information of Carnival's passengers and staff has been stolen by hackers, it emerged yesterday.

The embattled cruise giant said it detected a so-called 'ransomware' attack on Saturday, and immediately contacted law enforcement agencies.

It admitted that the hackers, who targeted one particular Carnival brand, had downloaded files which could 'result in potential claims from guests, employees, shareholders, or regulatory agencies'.

Carnival said it detected a so-called 'ransomware' attack on Saturday, and immediately contacted law enforcement agencies

But it declined to reveal which brand or how many passengers had been affected, or what personal data was stolen.

The firm is investigating what happened, and has taken steps to beef up the security of its IT systems.

As well as its eponymous brand, the company also operates under Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Cunard.

In a normal year, Carnival hosts almost 13m guests, leading to fears that the personal details of thousands of customers may have been siphoned off by criminals.

Although it said that it thought that no other brands were targeted by the hackers, it warned 'there can be no assurance that other information technology systems of the other brands will not be adversely affected'.

Consumer group Which? urged people who have booked cruises with Carnival to check their bank accounts and credit report, change passwords, and to guard against suspicious emails from fraudsters.

Kate Bevan, computing editor at Which? said: 'Carnival customers will be alarmed that their data could have fallen into the hands of hackers who might try to exploit it, so it is vital that the company is now transparent and upfront with potential victims and supports them in taking measures to protect themselves.'

The attack is the latest blow for the cruise giant, which has endured a torrid year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It has been forced to cancel most voyages this year, after outbreaks on several of its ships.

Passengers and workers on board liners including the Diamond Princess, the Grand Princess and the Zaandam died from the virus, while hundreds more were stranded at sea when the ships were unable to dock.

Carnival has desperately been trying to attract bookings to fill its boats when regulators allow them to begin sailing.

The discovery of a cyber attack at the weekend came as it unveiled its new Mardi Gras ship, its largest liner to date which is replete with an on-board rollercoaster and can carry up to 6,500 passengers. The enormous vessel is set to begin sailing from Florida next February.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has banned cruise voyages until at least September 30, and UK guidance still advises against cruise ship travel.

Carnival has cancelled all voyages in the US until October 31, which is in line with guidance from the Cruise Lines International Association.
Pak violates ceasefire

Jammu: Pakistani Rangers opened fire on Border out Posts (BoPs) along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, sources said on Tuesday.

BSF troops guarding the border retaliated, resulting in exchanges, the sources said.

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Pak violates ceasefire

They said Pakistani Rangers fired from machine guns at forward BoPs of Chandwa and Karol Matraya in Hiranagar sector on Monday night.

No casualties were reported in the firing so far.
The president and first lady just had their designee come in and pick up their ballot at the desk, Houlihan said. Many of our voters do the same thing if they miss the deadline for the mail ballot to be sent to them. Or in some cases, we have so many snowbirds and theyre not sure which residence theyll be at, so its just easier for them to come in and request their vote by mail ballot at the desk.
Massachusetts sole maximum-security prison may face contempt of court charges over renewed accusations it is denying inmates access to legal aid in defiance of a judges orders issued six months ago.

Three incarcerated men at the Souza-Baranowski Correction Center and two defense attorney groups filed a lawsuit in late January claiming the prison did not allow several inmates access to their legal materials or sufficient time to call their lawyers.

A complaint, filed Friday in Suffolk Superior Court, gave new life to the allegations. It claimed Souza-Baranowski and state officials still have not returned paperwork to prisoners.

The Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) and the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the plaintiffs who filed the civil contempt complaint, also accused the prison and the commonwealth of continuing to not give enough time for telephone calls between inmates and attorneys.

In their complaint, the two groups named Souza-Baranowski Superintendent Stephen Kenneway, DOC Commissioner Carol Mici and Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Thomas Turco as defendants.

The defendants, MACDL and CPCS claimed, are violating Suffolk Super Court Judge Beverly Cannones ruling issued on Feb. 28 in which she ordered prison officials to return inmates their legal paperwork within 48 hours and allow them enough time outside of their living quarters during business hours to make phone calls with their lawyers.

The failure of defendants to return each inmates legal property clearly and unequivocally violates this courts order and is therefore punishable by contempt, the complaint said.

The attorney groups pointed out it is particularly important to reduce in-person interactions given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Prisoners are particularly vulnerable to contagious diseases, they noted.

Yet the extreme restrictions on attorney phone calls and the failure to return legal materials, have the opposite effect; they force attorneys to make extra visits that might not otherwise have been necessary, MACDL and CPCS argued.

The initial lawsuit filed in January followed months of escalating tensions within the wall of Souza-Baranowski that came to a head on Jan. 10 when a group of more than a dozen prisoners viciously assaulted four correction officers.

Video was captured of the graphic attack, and the 16 incarcerated men who were allegedly involved were transferred out of the facility and later indicted.

During the multi-week lockdown of the prison after the assault, life at Souza-Baranowski was completely upended. Prisoners had all of their belongings taken away, were screened to determine appropriate housing placements and then moved by a tactical team at the facility.

A prison-wide shakeup occurred, where inmates with serious disciplinary infractions were moved to the north side of the facility while those without infractions were placed on the south side.

It was amid the lockdown, inmates and prisoners rights groups said, that dozens of incarcerated men at the facility were subjected to psychological and physical abuse. Lawmakers who traveled to the prison after the allegations came to light claimed they noticed serious problems with safety and hygiene as well.

Inmates Carl Laroque, Robert Silva-Prentice, Tamik Kirkland and others also alleged their legal paperwork was taken from their assigned living quarters and never completely returned.

That was expected to change after Cannones ruling in late February. However, in Fridays complaint, MACDL and CPCS alleged many inmates are still being denied their legal paperwork and, therefore, their right to meaningful access to the courts.

Adam Bradley, John Diaz, Jude Despage, Troy Harrigan, Wilfredo Duran, William Boyd, Jude Despage: These are a few of the inmates named in the complaint that either are not allowed to access their materials or never had those belongings returned to them.

The paperwork includes briefs, trial transcripts, police reports, attorney letters, legal books and more, according to MACDL and CPCS.

Souza-Baranowskis alleged failure to return prisoners paperwork has hindered the presentation of several inmates non-frivolous legal claims, the groups claimed.

Diaz, who is housed on the north side of Souza-Baranowski, noted in court documents that not only has he been denied his casework, he has also received no response from the prison to a request from three months ago that an attorney with the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee be put on his contact list

In January of this year, my legal paperwork and property was taken. Im still missing the paperwork from a civil lawsuit that I filed against SBCC, written notes and transcripts, the incarcerated man wrote in an affidavit. SBCC also took two legal books that I have had with me for a long time: Jailhouse Lawyers Handbook and Protecting Your Health and Safety. "

A recreation schedule dating back to Feb. 13 is also preventing inmates on the north side of Souza-Baranowski from having sufficient time to call their lawyers, the complaint alleged.

Based on the schedule provided to MACDL and CPCS, prisoners are only given an hour a day for two days each week to call their defense attorneys during normal business hours, violating the inmates right to counsel, the groups claimed.

Some prisoners are given even less time on the phone, according to the complaint. Multiple inmates have reported correction officers do not always follow the schedule, so the incarcerated men are not regularly or reliably able to make calls.

Attorney Lindsay Custer, who worked at the Committee for Public Counsel Services until Aug. 1, claimed that in March, she met with four prisoners at Souza-Baranowski, two of whom told her they were missing all of their legal paperwork, including motions, grand jury minutes and evidence.

Both men also informed Custer they were denied their scheduled recreation time and thus their ability to make phone calls due to surprise lock-ins.

A third prisoner, who was in segregation when I spoke with him, reported that he was missing motions that he filed and transcripts from his probation surrender hearing, Custer wrote in an affidavit. He additionally reported that for the prior two weeks, he had been denied the ability to make any legal telephone calls.

The Department of Correction did not offer a statement about Fridays complaint. A spokesperson with the agency said the DOC does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation.

Related Content:
At left, demonstrators hold a rally for women's suffrage in New York September 1916; at right, Virginia Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy holds her son, Alex Foy, as they celebrate the passage of the Equal Rights Amendmentstill not ratifiedin the House chambers in Richmond, Va. on Jan 27, 2020. Read more

Tuesday marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, revered for giving (some) women the right to vote. The truth is, it was a knock-down fight to even get it through Congress, and the amendment itself didnt go nearly far enough toward extending those rights to everyone. Sound familiar? The rights the people demanded were not given freely; they had to be taken. As for many of the social justice movements that have recently swept the country, that process was bloody, messy, and fractured. In some ways, it never ended.

Now, as people nationwide prepare to go to the polls (or try to navigate our besieged mail system) to elect the next president, lets take a stroll back through history to see what lessons the current generation of freedom fighters can learn from the suffrage movement.

1. CHANGE TAKES YEARS OF STRUGGLE.

It took decades to get Congress to pass the 19th Amendment. After clearing Congress, the amendment still had to be ratified by 36 states before being enshrined in the Constitution. It all came down to Tennessee, where 24-year-old Rep. Harry Burn cast the deciding yes vote on Aug. 18, 1920  all because his mother, Phoebe Ensminger Burn, told him to be a good boy and get it passed. (Atta boy, Harry!) Though the amendment did pass, the remaining states took their sweet time in ratifying it, with Mississippi coming in last in 1984.

2. SOME PROTEST GETS SUPPRESSED.

Women didnt get the right to vote by asking nicely; mass protests and police violence were a major part of the struggle. The day before Woodrow Wilsons 1913 inauguration, the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage organized a 5,000-person march on Washington. Anti-suffrage protesters attacked the marchers, and 100 women were hospitalized. In 1917, on the cusp of the U.S. entrance into World War I, the National Womans Partys Silent Sentinels held daily protests in front of the White House, where many were beaten, arrested, and jailed. Weve seen this pushback against protests yet again in 2020, in response to the nationwide uprising after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police  a reminder that public eyes are needed to keep protesters safe.

3. KAMALA HARRIS HAS PREDECESSORS.

Even before they could vote, women have run for office, laying the groundwork for those who came after them. In 1872, Victoria Woodhull, a socialist feminist, spirit medium, journalist, advocate of free love, and the first female stockbroker on Wall Street, became the first woman to run for president. She named abolitionist Frederick Douglass as her running mate, and ran on a platform of womens rights. But then she was hauled off on obscenity charges several days before the election for publishing the lurid details of famed clergyman Henry Ward Beechers alleged adultery. As she said when she announced her candidacy, What may appear absurd today will assume a serious aspect to-morrow.

Almost a century later in 1968, Communist Party member Charlene Mitchell became the first Black woman to run for president. Then in 1972, Democrat Shirley Chisholm  the first Black woman elected to Congress, who also advocated for the still-not-passed Equal Rights Amendment  was the first Black woman to be a major-party candidate for president. And just last week, nearly 100 years after the 19th Amendments passage, we saw Kamala Harris become the first woman of color nominated for national office by a major political party.

4. MOVEMENTS SPLINTER.

The womens suffrage movement was initially aligned with abolitionism. Many suffragists, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, came to the cause through their involvement with the American Anti-Slavery Society and saw the issues as connected. Abolitionist Sojourner Truth was a peer of white suffragists like Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, with whom fellow abolitionist Frederick Douglass cofounded the American Equal Rights Association (AERA). (Douglass was also the only Black voice at the 1848 Seneca Falls convention where a historic statement calling for universal suffrage was signed.) But after Emancipation, a schism opened up between white women suffragists and Black women activists defending their rights on multiple fronts. At an AERA meeting, Stanton fiercely opposed the 15th Amendment that aimed to protect all citizens rights. Black teacher and abolitionist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper pushed back: You white women speak here of rights. I speak of wrongs.

Conservative women unsurprisingly opposed the movement, but not all radical women were interested in winning the vote, either.

Ultimately, the movement splintered into those seeking universal suffrage and the enfranchisement of newly freed Black people, and those wanting to focus only on votes for women (which in practical terms translated into votes for white women). Activists efforts saw ideological divides too. Conservative women unsurprisingly opposed the movement, but not all radical women were interested in winning the vote either. Anarchists like Lucy Parsons and Emma Goldman dismissed the suffragist cause in favor of class struggle, with Parsons, a Black anarchist, warning: Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth. But the existence of dissent didnt stop the broader movement.

5. BLACK WOMEN HAVE LED THE FIGHT.

Black women formed their own political organizations, like the National Association of Colored Women, to fight for the rights owed them. Passed before the 19th Amendment, the 14th and 15th Amendments of the Reconstruction Era established basic legal protections for Black people. The 14th Amendment bestowed citizenship on those born in the U.S. and guaranteed them equal protection of the laws. The 15th gave Black men the right to vote and declared that citizens rights could not be denied on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Still, the 19th Amendment itself only granted some women the right to vote. Black women were effectively barred from voting until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965  a change that reflected a century of work by Black women.

6. LAWS ARENT EVERYONES FRIEND.

The original Constitution had a clause barring many Native people from holding citizenship on their own (stolen) land. This was only partially rectified via the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, and full suffrage for Native people was not extended until 1957. Meanwhile, thanks to xenophobic immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act, Asian Americans were denied citizenship and the right to vote until the McCarren-Walker Act granted both in 1952. And while Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917, the right to vote for all women on the island was denied until 1935, 15 years after white women on the mainland won theirs. Delayed access to voting can shape these groups civic engagement today.

7. MANY AMERICANS STILL CANT VOTE.

Even today, U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico and Guam remain barred from voting in federal elections like the 2020 presidential race (which Trump is surely thrilled about). Millions of people of all genders who have been convicted of felonies have been denied the right to vote while in prison or on parole; in 11 states, they lose their voting rights permanently. There are only two states, Maine and Vermont, where currently incarcerated people can vote. With 2.3 million people locked up in the U.S. criminal justice system, our prison population is 33% Black and also disproportionately Native American and Latinx. Language barriers, poll taxes, and voter ID laws further disenfranchise Latinx and immigrant voters.

8. DISENFRANCHISEMENT GETS DIRTY.

Though Republicans led the charge to enfranchise women voters through the 19th Amendment, todays GOP is busy disenfranchising as many voters as possible (particularly those who are Black and Latinx) via gerrymandering, voter suppression, and other dirty tricks. In 2013, Congress struck down a key provision in the Voting Rights Act that had made it difficult for jurisdictions with histories of voter discrimination to enact new voting laws. In its wake, some states have rolled out new voting restrictions that disproportionately affect Black voters and voters of color. When the League of Women Voters (founded by suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt in 1920) brought a suit to the Supreme Court in 2019 to rein in partisan gerrymandering  a practice that routinely disenfranchises minority voters  the court ruled against them 5-4, meaning gerrymandering rages on.

Todays voting rights defenders should know the next generation will thank them for their sacrifices.

9. PROGRESS IS RELATIVE.

The United States fell far behind other countries in granting suffrage to its citizens  but while late to the party, it wasnt the last to show up. Women in New Zealand gained the right to vote in 1893; in Finland, it was 1906. In Russia, following massive street demonstrations, women won the vote in 1917. Mexican women didnt win full suffrage until 1953, and First Nations women in Canada not until 1960. In Saudi Arabia, it took until 2015. We may have a long way to go, but we can still celebrate how far weve come.

10. WE WILL COME UP AGAIN.

Charlotte Woodward Pierce was the only Seneca Falls attendee who lived to see the passage of the 19th Amendment. By 1919, she was 91, and too frail to make it to the polls herself to cast that hard-won vote. Her story may feel familiar to those fighting for liberation now, and who may not live long enough to reap what they have sown. Still, todays voting-rights defenders should know the next generation will thank them for their sacrifices. As Sojourner Truth once said, We have all been thrown down so low that nobody thought wed ever get up again; but we have been long enough trodden now; we will come up again.

Kim Kelly is a freelance journalist and organizer based in South Philadelphia. She is a regular contributor to Teen Vogue, the New Republic, the Washington Post, and the Baffler, and is the author of the forthcoming labor history book Fight Like Hell.
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Students of University of Delhis Prof Hany Babu MT have issued an open statement sending birthday wishes and expressing solidarity with their professor as he turned 54 on August 16.

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Prof Hany Babu MT from the Department of English in the University of Delhi was arrested as a part of the witch hunt of activists on July 28 by the NIA, continuing with the ongoing harassment of academics and activists who have been vocal against the government and its policies. The statement has shared a culmination of letters, responses and emotional notes from his students that have been selected to be published through a social media account on Instagram by the name @withhanybabu.

This act of suppressing dissenting voices in academic spaces by the State threatens the very fabric of the Indian democracy, the letter echoes. It discusses that the revered Prof of English who turned 54 while in police custody, has been a strong advocate for social justice, and has worked strenuously in the anti-caste movement. It praises his credentials as a professor of linguistics, highlighting that his classes have always been about demanding equal space for the varying languages in India. He looks at English as an emancipatory language and his teachings have made, and continue to make students critically approach caste supremacy hidden within the rubric of the Indian language structure, the statement resonates.

While some students wrote about the popularity of his classes, which they would attend in large numbers, even though attendance was not compulsory, others have written about the exposure to the contemporary and its problems that they have gained from their classes. There were also wishes from students, who despite not being students of Prof. Babu shared the grief and anger at the present situation. Many students have written about the extra effort and dedication he has shown both in his teaching and in helping them in solving their day to daily issues. Additionally, a total of over 250 mails of students recounting their personal experiences as students of Prof Babu have also been received by the collective.

The statement has further underlined that eleven activists/scholars have already been arrested in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case and nine out of these have been in jail for nearly two years, as undertrials. The students of Prof Hany Babu have therefore taken this statement as a way of expressing their anger, stating that it should be a sad day for the country and everyone who has been a student should be concerned that a brilliant academic, a morally upright and an innocent man is spending this day alone in custody.

Under these circumstances, the students have requested the readers to endorse, publish and share it widely so that everyone knows about the State-backed witch hunt of human rights activists and scholars who voice dissent against the ruling BJP partys Hindutva ideology.

The statement has come from a collective (https://www.instagram.com/withhanybabu/?igshid=isfdrbhj6ekh) composed of his present and former students who have put out a call to students to send in birthday wishes and thereby express their solidarity with their professor. The responses shared through the collective, the statement says, presents an understanding of Prof Hany Babus persona as a gentle, compassionate professor who not only taught his students about the exclusive nature of universities in India but also created an inclusive environment in an attempt to open the university spaces for all.

Demanding his immediate release, the statement concludes, We strongly believe that a teacher, mentor and activist like Hany Babu is an integral asset to the university space and his absence only ensures the further marginalization of students from marginalized communities.
As a veteran player on the chessboard of politics, he can be described as a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Unlike many politicians who shoot from the hip, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar is not known for being loquacious. Measured with his words, Pawar often leaves people guessing about their underlying meanings and interpretations.

Hence, the NCP patriarchs brutal takedown of his grandson Parth Pawar has raised eyebrows, and has also blown the lid off the politics playing out in the NCP and the power-struggle in the Pawar household.

Parth, the son of Pawars nephew and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, was the first to seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Parth had made this demand to the state home minister Anil Deshmukh, who belongs to his party.

This was later seized upon by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has launched a smear campaign against Maharashtra environment minister Aaditya Thackeray, who is chief minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackerays elder son.

Reacting to Parths demand, Pawar has described him as immature and said they did not give any weightage to his statements.

Parth, who lost the Lok Sabha elections from Maval to the Shiv Senas Shrirang Barne, had also issued a statement welcoming the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya. The letter, which was prefixed and suffixed with Jai Shri Ram, mentions that the fight (for the temple) was bitter and long, and that arguments and claims attached to the Babri Masjid, which stood at the site before being demolished by kar sevaks in December 1992, had been defeated thoroughly.

Incidentally, Pawar, who has always brandished his secular credentials, had questioned if the bhoomi poojan at the site would help the country overcome the Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent economic distress caused by the lockdown. Hence, his grandsons intransigence did not go unnoticed.

That Pawar Senior and Ajit are not on the best of terms is one of the worst kept secrets in Maharashtras politics. Unlike his uncle, Ajit, who is the son of Pawars elder brother Anantrao, is known for being impulsive and upfront to the point of being arrogant and brusque. Political circles in the state are often rife with stories and anecdotes of how the uncle tried to put a check on his nephew. Parth, who is described as being an introvert, is also said to be a chip of the old block, by those who know him.

Parths wildcard entry into politics from Maval, and his resounding defeat at the hands of the Shiv Senas Shrirang Barne, by a margin of over 2.15 lakh votes, is said to have caused a fresh churn in the NCP. Ajits insistence on making the Lok Sabha nomination for Parth into a prestige issue, had led to Pawar backing off from an electoral contest from the Madha constituency, as his daughter Supriya Sule was already in the fray from the Baramati Lok Sabha seat.

Parths defeat coincided with the rise of another Pawar grandsonRohitthe son of Pawars other nephew Rajendra. Rajendra is the son of Pawar's elder brother Dinkarrao (Appasaheb). Rohit contested a tough electoral battle from the BJP stronghold of Karjat-Jamkhed in Ahmednagar district and defeated then minister Ram Shinde to enter the state legislature.

Insiders said Pawar Senior had personally hand-held and groomed Rohit in the nuts and bolts of election management, thus indicating that a line of succession was being laid down for the third generation of the family.

Compared to Parth (30), who has been educated in London, and speaks Marathi haltingly, Rohit (34), a businessman and CEO of Baramati Agro, is seen as more rooted. A video of Parth, who stays at Churchgate in South Mumbai and has been educated at the elite Campion school, speaking Marathi in a heavily English accented drawl during his first public meeting during his Lok Sabha run, had led to him being trolled incessantly.

Pawars outburst against his grandson may also be a signal to Rohit, who often expresses his views impulsively, and was involved in a bitter war of words on Twitter with Nilesh Rane, the son of former chief minister and incumbent BJP Rajya Sabha MP Narayan Rane earlier this year.

Sources claim that after his defeat and the rise of Aaditya and Rohit in the states politics, Parth may be trying to assert his claim for an honourable political rehabilitation as a member of the legislative council.

Though NCP leaders attribute his statements to the petulance of youth, the possibility of Ajit asserting himself through Parth or making political statements through proxy cannot be ruled out in the smoke and mirrors strategy in realpolitik.

Months after the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) took charge in the state, the jury is still out on what went on behind the scenes in Ajits early morning swearing-in with Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy. Though Pawar managed to trump Ajit and snuff out his short-lived rebellion, the ongoing family feud and cold war will have long-term repercussions on the NCP.

Much like the Congress of yore, the NCP follows the sub-contracting model of politics, where regional and sub-regional satraps pledge their loyalty to a political party in return for their interests in sectors like co-operatives being taken care of. If push comes to shove, these leaders may have to choose between the uncle and the nephew.

Ministers and a section of MVA MLAs are said to be upset at Uddhavs style of functioning. Legislators supporting the dispensation note with a tinge of frustration that with Uddhav being inaccessible to his men, it is left to the more hands-on Ajit to manage the show.

However, it must also be noted that while the Shiv Sena is apprehensive of a CBI investigation in the deaths of Sushant and his former manager Disha Salian, Pawar on Wednesday has said there was no reason to oppose a CBI probe even though he had full faith in the Maharashtra and Mumbai Police.

There is something about uncles and nephews in politics. Be it the Thackerays (Bal and Raj), Mundes (Gopinath and Dhananjay) and the Kshirsagars (Jaydutt and Sandeep), the uncles who once mentored their nephews have seen them emerge as their political challengers after a bitter estrangement and fallout.

Now, when the NCP is on the cusp of a leadership transition, can the Pawars break this jinx?
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been criticized for penning a book about New York's response to pandemic after overseeing the worst state death toll in the country, misery in nursing homes and the slowest reopening from the nation's strictest lockdown.

The New York governor's publisher announced Tuesday that his book, 'American Crisis', will be released October 13, three weeks before Election Day.

News of his book deal sparked fury online, with many criticizing his response to the crisis which saw the state become the global epicenter of the disease, at least 6,600 virus-related deaths at nursing homes and a death toll of 25,256. A total of 655 people tested positive for the virus Monday out of 66,891 tests; eight people died.

Financial terms for 'American Crisis' were not disclosed but Cuomo was represented by Washington attorney Robert Barnett, whose other clients include former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. DailyMail.com has contacted Barnett and publisher Crown for comment on fees.

The advance for his memoirs in 2014 was reported to have been $783,000.

Following the announcement former Arkansas governor and Republican Mike Huckabee said: 'Cuomo writing a book abt leadership in China Virus is like having Harvey Weinstein write a book called "How to Treat a Lady." His colleague at Fox, Janice Dean, added: '@NYGovCuomo's leadership was an American Crisis.'

On Twitter Drew Holden wrote: 'Cuomo killed thousands of nursing home residents and now hes writing a book about it where hell deflect the blame AND make money. Everyone involved in this is downright ghastly.'

Others pointed to the fact he has managed to write the book during the pandemic, releasing it before his state is even fully reopened.

Donald Trump wrote: 'A horrible Governor. Crime is taking over NYC & State, everyone is leaving. He is after the NRA - They should move to Texas or elsewhere, and must get tough. Cuomo killed 11,000 people in nursing homes alone. Crooked & Incompetent!'

Cuomo's administration has refused to divulge the exact number of nursing home deaths, leading to speculation the state is manipulating the figures to make it appear it is doing better than other states and to make a tragic situation less dire.

Andrew Cuomo has come under fire for penning a book about New York's response to pandemic after overseeing more than 32,000 deaths in the state

News of his book deal sparked fury online, with many criticizing his response to the crisis which saw New York City become the global epicenter of the disease and thousands of virus-related deaths at New York nursing homes

Donald Trump tweeted about the deaths in New York nursing homes on Monday

Cuomo has already received some of his strongest criticism for the thousands of virus-related deaths at New York nursing homes.

On March 25 the governor of New York ordered that those recovering from COVID-19 be sent back to their nursing homes, to help free up hospital beds for the sickest patients as cases surged.

Over a month later, on April 29, the Health Department clarified that homes should not take any new residents if they were unable to meet their needs, including a checklist of standards for coronavirus care and prevention.

In the meantime, some nursing homes felt obligated and overwhelmed.

On May 10 reversed the directive, and blamed Donald Trump.

This cover image released by Crown shows 'American Crisis: Leadership Lessons From the Covid-19 Pandemic' by Andrew Cuomo

'Why did the state do that with COVID patients in nursing homes?' said the governor at the time.

'It's because the state followed President Trump's CDC guidelines. So they should ask President Trump.'

A recent AP investigation found that the state's death toll of nursing home patients, already among the highest in the nation, could be significantly more than reported.

Unlike every other state with major outbreaks, only New York explicitly says that it counts just residents who died on nursing home property and not those who were transported to hospitals and died there.

So far, Cuomo's administration has declined to release the number. The governor has called criticism of nursing home deaths politically motivated.

But one critic, Sean Johnson, wrote on Twitter: 'Cuomo completely failed and forcefully sent the elderly to their deaths.

'New Yorkers fled their state and seeded the outbreak throughout the country. This is disgusting that you're pushing his "How to Kill Old People" book.'

Noam Blum noted: 'He wrote a book while tens of thousands of people in his state were dropping dead.'

@winenotme1 wrote: 'How on earth did he find the time to write a book?'

Jim LeNoir questioned: 'So now he will make money off the crisis?'

Brittany Hughes said: 'So in the middle of a pandemic, while thousands of his own state's citizens were dying in nursing homes, Cuomo had time to WRITE A BOOK so he could profit off a public health emergency. And this is the left's hero..

And Journalist Laura Marsh added:' I do not think Andrew Cuomo should be devoting any of his time to writing a book, while we still cannot reopen schools safely and mass evictions loom.'

Cuomo's administration has refused to divulge the exact number of nursing home deaths, leading to speculation the state is manipulating the figures to make it appear it is doing better than other states and to make a tragic situation less dire

Cuomo gained a national following through his management of the coronavirus pandemic.

The news of his book comes the day after Cuomo addressed the Democratic National Convention and called the virus' spread a metaphor for a country weakened by division.

New York State now has one of the lowest infection rates in the U.S., a welcome contrast to the spring, when it had one of the highest.

'In his own voice, Andrew Cuomo chronicles in `American Crisis the ingenuity and sacrifice required of so many to fight the pandemic,' according to Crown, 'sharing his personal reflections and the decision-making that shaped his policy, and offers his frank accounting and assessment of his interactions with the federal government and the White House, as well as other state and local political and health officials.'

Cuomo had said last month that he was thinking of a book, commenting during a radio interview on WAMC that he wanted to document the 'entire experience, because if we don't learn from this then it will really compound the whole crisis that we've gone through.'

Cuomo gained a national following through his management of the coronavirus pandemic

Cuomo has already received some of his strongest criticism for the thousands of virus-related deaths at New York nursing homes. In this Friday, April 17, 2020 file photo, a patient is wheeled out of the Cobble Hill Health Center by emergency medical workers. The facility has listed dozens of deaths linked to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic

In an excerpt from 'American Crisis' that Crown shared with The Associated Press, Cuomo emphasized the importance of confronting fear.

'The questions are what do you do with the fear and would you succumb to it,' he wrote. 'I would not allow the fear to control me. The fear kept my adrenaline high and that was a positive. But I would not let the fear be a negative, and I would not spread it. Fear is a virus also.'

Cuomo is also the author of 'All Things Possible: Setbacks and Success in Politics and Life,' which came out in 2014.

He is currently serving his third term and has been praised for his blunt, straightforward press conferences, and for a time was even mentioned as a possible presidential candidate.

His style has differed notably from the more erratic approach of President Trump, a Republican with whom he has clashed often.

Cuomo has said that Trump is 'in denial' about the severity of the pandemic and has faulted him for ignoring advice from scientists. Trump has blamed Cuomos 'poor management' for New Yorks tens of thousands COVID-19 fatalities.
A third terrorist was killed on Tuesday in an encounter in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, as the operation entered its second day. Two terrorists were killed on August 17 (Monday) night and the operation was suspended.

Firing between the security forces and terrorists continued for the second day and the search operation is currently on.

As per the security forces, the third terrorist was trapped in the cordon and the security forces were trying to get hold of him. A top CRPF official had said, the forces resumed the operation in the morning as there can be one more terrorist hiding.

A total of four security personals were martyred including an Army soldier, two CRPF jawan and a JKP (SPO) in the operation.

As per Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh, the two terrorists killed on Monday included top LET commander. Singh said, ''Top LeT Commander Sajad Mir @ Haider was among the two killed terrorists. He further added that Sajad was the mastermind behind almost every terror activity in north Kashmir and was in top 10 wanted list of security forces, he used to work on the pattern of Burhan Wani and had recruited dozens of youths in terrorism.''
A 47-year-old New York woman was sentenced Monday to 90 months behind bars for victimizing more than 50 people  many of them Fairfield County residents  in an identity theft and credit card fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorneys office said.

Lisa Reid, of Amityville, N.Y., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford. After serving her 7.5-year prison sentence, Reid will also have three years of supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Reid was involved in a scheme between February 2015 and January 2017 to defraud credit card companies and their customers by fraudulently taking over credit card accounts and, using those accounts, making unauthorized purchases from high-end retailers.

As part of her scheme, Reid used publicly available information to obtain phone numbers for individuals living in affluent areas, the Connecticut U.S. Attorneys office said.

According to the U.S. Attorneys office, police departments in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and Shelton helped investigate the case along with U.S. law enforcement agencies.

According to the U.S. Attorney, Reid called her victims pretending to be a representative of a credit card company and claiming the firm needed information about their account.

The victims then provided Reid with their account information, including credit card numbers and passwords. Reid then contacted the credit card company, pretending to be the victim, the U.S. Attorneys office said.

After providing all of the requested security information, she added a new phone number and address to the account. The address was typically an abandoned or foreclosed property near her home in New York.

Reid then used the compromised credit card accounts to order merchandise from high-end retailers and had the merchandise shipped to an address that she had previously added to the credit card account, the U.S. Attorney said.

After Reid, or a runner, retrieved the merchandise, she sold it at a pawnshop or to another individual, the U.S. Attorney said.

Through this scheme, Reid stole the identities of more than 50 people, most of them were senior citizens, and used their credit card information to purchase more than $1 million in merchandise, the U.S. Attorney said. Victim credit card companies successfully thwarted approximately $3.8 million worth of Reids attempted purchases.

Shea ordered Reid to pay restitution in the amount of $1,009,235.69.

On Dec. 20, 2016, federal agents executed a search warrant at Reids residence and also attempted to arrest Reid. Investigators learned that Reid fled to Florida where she committed another fraudulent credit card purchase of a $50,500 Cartier watch using a compromised account, the U.S. Attorney said.

Reid has been detained since her arrest on Feb. 5, 2017.

On November 7, 2017, Reid pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

The development of Islamic finance is in its initial stages in Uzbekistan, CEO of HF Corporation, Hussain Farooq told Trend in interview.

Uzbekistan - with a population of some 33 million people and its historic Islamic roots - has a huge potential for Islamic financial solutions. Unlike conventional banking which is motivated by profit, Islamic finance is built on humanistic goals. This mode of financing can uplift SMEs and help the country in achieving its sustainable development goals, Farooq said.

However, according to him, the development of the Islamic finance sector is at its early stages in the country.

CEO of HF Corporation stressed that once a regulatory framework for Shari'ah (Islam's legal system) compliance will be in place, one can expect a decent number of Islamic financial institutions and related service providers to enter the Uzbek market owing to its potential.

According to our information, the laws in Uzbekistan allow foreign banks to establish subsidiaries and become shareholders in Uzbek banks. Having been connected to the real estate sector, we would very much like to play a role in the real estate- home-financing in Uzbekistan in line with the principles of Islamic finance such as diminishing Musharakah (partnership structure in Islamic finance in which partners share in the profits and losses of an enterprise), noted Farooq.

In his words, HF Corporations strives to provide a platform that will bring together the investors, Shari'ah scholars and other like-minded people in order to provide a wide range of Islamic financial solutions to the people of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan Islamic Finance company is a brainchild of mine, which is yet to be established as a financial advisory firm in Uzbekistan. We will wait for an appropriate time to register and launch ourselves in Uzbekistan, stated Farooq.

He expects Uzbekistan to be a very promising market for Islamic finance, and it might also be able to draw the attention of international investors and foreign institutions.

We are monitoring the progress for the development of the regulatory framework for Islamic finance in the country and, we expect 2021 to be the year we will start working in Uzbekistan, he stated.

HF Corporation is primarily active in the international real estate, investment, and immigration sectors in different countries, including Turkey and Pakistan. The Pakistani company has a special interest in Islamic finance and endeavor to work within the parameters defined by it.

As CEO of the company noted, HF Corporation aims to develop and promote Shari'ah-compliant financial solutions for the people of Uzbekistan, once the regulatory framework has been put in place in the country.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
Airlines declare war

"Australia's domestic airlines have moved swiftly to seek scrapping of pilots' awards in an attempt to break their union's control and end the industrial action which is disrupting the airways. About half of Ansett's and Australian Airlines' flights  more than 200 around the country  were grounded yesterday, the first day of the indefinite ban by pilots working outside 9am to 5pm. The pilots want pay rises between $12,000 and $40,000."

Protester walks free (with conditions)



The Tiananmen Square democracy protester the Australian Embassy has been shielding for 10 weeks is free and back in his Beijing flat, thanks to some deft dealing by embassy officials. Authorities have apparently agreed not to punish the 33-year-old musician, Mr Hou Deijan. Though details are not known, it appears he has been allowed to go free in exchange for not directly contradicting the official version of events in the square on June 4.

Bathing briefings
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 10:41:43|Editor: huaxia

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SYDNEY, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A deadly outbreak of COVID-19 in Australia's state of Victoria stemmed almost entirely from a hotel quarantine scheme intended to house returned overseas travellers, an inquiry has found.

Since late June, Victoria has experienced a resurgence of the virus, peaking at 725 daily infections on Aug. 5 and prompting a return to strict lockdowns, including a nightly curfew in the state capital of Melbourne.

Ben Howden, medical microbiologist and infectious diseases physician, told an inquiry into the scheme on Monday that according to genomic sequencing, 99 percent of Victoria's cases as of late July could be traced back to people returning from overseas.

While Howden did not refer directly to the hotel quarantine programs or those within it, it has been the policy of the Australian government to house all returning travellers in hotel quarantine, operated at a state level since March.

With Victoria's daily case numbers subsiding in recent weeks, attention has turned firmly to the failures of the hotel quarantine system, with allegations that it was badly mishandled allowing for the infection to spread into the community.

Evidence has shown multiple lapses of protocol by security guards who critics say were not sufficiently trained or equipped to be working in virus containment.

Microbiologist and infectious disease expert Lindsay Grayson, told the inquiry that an online training program for the guards was "confusing" and "misleading."

"The majority of it is like a training module for the general public, rather than someone who is going to come into direct contact or be responsible for managing COVID patients," Grayson said.

Barrister Tony Neal QC (Queen's Counsel) said Victoria's hotel quarantine program "fell short of its goal" to prevent COVID-19 spreading into the community.

Neal added that the inquiry would seek to determine who was responsible for overseeing the program and whether the training of staff was sufficient. Enditem
The amount of calcified plaque in the heart's arteries is a better predictor of future heart attacks than of strokes, with similar findings across sex and racial groups, according to new research from UT Southwestern.

The study, published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, is the first to examine the predictive value of recently recommended coronary artery calcium (CAC) score categories for heart attacks and strokes. Using two population-based, multiethnic cohorts, the researchers evaluated how well the amount of calcium detected by a CT scan of the heart predicted whether white, Black, and Hispanic men and women would have a stroke or a heart attack in the next 10 years.

Calcium is part of the fatty plaque that builds up in arteries supplying blood to the heart and brain and can lead to blockages, causing heart attacks or strokes. As plaque becomes more calcified and hardens, it becomes more visible on a heart CT scan.

In our study, there was a twofold greater risk of heart attack than stroke at CAC levels at or above 100," a score indicating moderate to high levels of calcified plaque. That held true for Black, white, and Hispanic men and women." Parag Joshi, M.D., cardiologist and assistant professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern and senior author of the study

Women and Black individuals generally have higher stroke risk, Joshi says.

"In fact, while the calcium score may not be a strong predictor of stroke risk for most, for some reason it did well in predicting strokes in Black participants," says Anurag Mehta, M.D., the first author of the study, formerly at UT Southwestern and now at Emory University School of Medicine.

The findings could help guide health care providers as they decide how aggressively to treat patients with risk factors such as high cholesterol and blood pressure but who have never had a major cardiovascular event.

In 2018, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology issued joint cholesterol management guidelines that recommend using the CAC score as an aid when deciding whether to prescribe a cholesterol lowering statin drug in situations where the decision  based on the routine risk assessment using systolic blood pressure, cholesterol level, etc.  is uncertain.

Joshi's study evaluated data from more than 7,000 participants in two large studies  the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) funded by the National Institutes of Health, and the Dallas Heart Study at UT Southwestern.

The authors divided study participants by the AHA/ACC calcium risk categories  0, 1-99, and 100 or above  to evaluate how useful the calcium scores would have been in predicting heart attacks and strokes. It also subdivided the participants by sex and race (Black, white, and Hispanic) to calculate the risk levels for the different groups.

For participants with a calcium score of zero, there was a similarly low risk of either a stroke or a heart attack in the coming 10 years  less than 2 percent for either event among all study participant categories, according to the study.

The risk level for both heart attacks and strokes rose a bit for those with scores of 1-99, yet still remained below 6 percent  increasing about equally for both and across most demographic groups. At this level, women did have a greater increase in the risk for stroke than for heart attack, whereas men had higher heart attack risk than stroke.

Greater differences were found when the CAC scores rose to 100 or above, with heart attack risk twice as high as stroke risk for the entire study population. While 10-year heart attack risk jumped above 12 percent for men and over 14 percent for Hispanic individuals, heart attack risk for women was approximately 8 percent, according to the study.

Meanwhile, stroke risk remained below 8 percent across all groups, although women, Black, and Hispanic people had higher risk than men and white participants.

For doctors and patients, the findings could help tilt the scales either toward or away from using statin drugs to lower cholesterol in cases where the decision is not clear-cut from factors such as age, sex, cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and smoking history.

Patients are sometimes reluctant to begin what is likely to become a lifelong drug therapy, Joshi says. "If you think your patient should be on a statin and your patient doesn't want to take it, this can be a good arbitrator of that," he says. "Our findings also highlight some of the nuance between heart attack risk and stroke risk and how our patients might consider those two risks in their decision making."
Chinese Ambassador to Syria Feng Biao discussed medical cooperation against COVID-19 pandemic with Syrian Health Minister Nizar Yazigi in the capital Damascus on Monday.

Both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation on the health sector between the two countries, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yazigi, meanwhile, hailed the Chinese support to the Syrian people on all levels, particularly the health sector to mitigate the country's difficulties caused by the economic siege and war.

China has offered help to Syria to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 15, China delivered the first batch of medical aid, including 2,016 COVID-19 testing kits, to Syria. On June 4 and June 24, Syria received another two batches of medical supplies donated by China, including testing kits, protective suits, masks, goggles, and infrared thermometers.

On April 23, a video conference was held between Chinese and Syrian medical experts for sharing the experiences in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

On June 24, the Syrian Health Ministry received a new batch of Chinese medical equipment, the latest in a string of the Chinese aid shipments for Syria to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chandigarh, Aug 18 : Urging the Central government to be cautious on the SYL issue, which has the potential to disturb the nation's security, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday reiterated the need for a tribunal to make a fresh time-bound assessment of the water availability, even as he sought complete share of water for his state from the total resource available, including from the Yamuna river.

"You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective. If you decide to go ahead with the SYL, Punjab will burn and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also suffering the impact," Amarinder Singh told the Centre, during a video conference with Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

The Chief Minister later described the meeting as 'positive and cordial' and said the Union Minister seemed to understand Punjab's viewpoint.

Punjab remains at risk from all ends, said Amarinder Singh, pointing to Pakistan's continued attempts to foment trouble and to try and revive the separatist movement through the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organisation.

The water issue could further destabilise the state, he warned.

Punjab had a right to Yamuna water, in which it did not get a share at the time of the 60:40 division of assets with Haryana during the state's division in 1966, the Chief Minister said, even as he expressed his willingness to sit across the table with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss the 'emotive' issue.

He also suggested that Rajasthan be involved in the discussions on the SYL canal and the Ravi-Beas waters issue as it was also a stakeholder.

It was decided during the meeting that the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana will meet in Chandigarh, on a date to be fixed later, for further talks on the issue, and will then approach the Union Minister again.

Putting forth Punjab's stand during the meeting, Amarinder Singh said taht it was necessary to set up a tribunal for fair adjudication of the water availability, and pointed out that the water sharing proposed by the Eradi Commission was 40 years old, while international norms require a review every 25 years to ascertain the status.

Noting that there had, in fact, been no adjudication or scientific assessment of available Punjab river waters till date, the Chief Minister said the BBMB had reported that availability of Ravi-Beas water had come down from the estimated 17.17 MAF in 1981 to 13.38 MAF in 2013.

Despite being a non-basin state and having a smaller population as well as lesser cultivated land area, Haryana's total availability of river water stood at 12.48 MAF as against Punjab's 12.42 MAF, he noted.

He pointed out that trans-basin transfer of water can only be allowed from a surplus basis to a deficit basis, and, as of today, Punjab is a deficit state and could not, therefore, be asked to transfer water to Haryana.

Amarinder Singh said that he had taken a concerted decision to terminate all water agreements back in 2004 to save Punjab from burning, amid reports that violence could erupt in the state in protest.

The situation had aggravated since then, he said, adding that 109 of the state's 128 blocks had officially been declared 'dark zones'.

Pointing to the melting glaciers, he urged the Central government to take the climate change effects into account.

The situation was likely to worsen with China constructing dams in their territory, warned Amarinder Singh, adding that this would lead to water shortage even in the Satluj river.

"Why would I not agree to give water if we had it," he said, adding that certain areas of south Haryana were in fact part of the erstwhile Patiala estate and he personally had special love for the region.

The Chief Minister recalled that he had suggested construction of water storage dams in Himachal Pradesh for collecting water so that the flow of water into Pakistan could be checked. He urged the Union Minister to consider the suggestion.

The Union Minister was of the view that carriers could be constructed and the SYL could also be completed and kept ready while discussions on water sharing continue and the final formula could be decided later.
The Supreme Court on Monday said that the government must state its position on whether adjusted gross revenue-related dues of bankrupt Reliance Communications Ltd (RCom) should be recovered from Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd since it has been using RComs spectrum since 2016.

The three-judge bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, asked the government if Reliance Jio can be held liable for AGR and other dues as it has been generating revenue by using RComs airwaves through an asset-sharing agreement. The court has adjourned the case to 19 August.

We want the governments position on Jio sharing RComs spectrum and on Jio discharging RComs spectrum dues, said Justice Mishra. In response, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said the government will support any decision the court takes to recover the dues.

However, Reliance Jio, in a written submission on Monday, told the Supreme Court that there is no legal basis for transferring bankrupt RComs dues, AGR or otherwise, to Jio as the two telecom operators are in a spectrum-sharing agreement and do not share liabilities. Senior lawyer Harish Salve, representing Reliance Jio, said the company is neither involved in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) proceedings of RCom nor is it acquiring the telcos spectrum.

Interestingly, the government told the court that the department of telecommunications (DoT) and the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) have different views on whether the spectrum with a bankrupt telecom firm can be sold under insolvency proceedings. People of the country are owners of spectrum held by the government in trust This cannot be sold under IBC, said Mehta. The DoT also said radio airwaves cannot be a part of the IBC proceedings as telcos do not own spectrum, contract allows only its use, said Mehta.

Mehta also informed the bench that DoT has had a consistent position on spectrum in terms of the IBC. The ministry of corporate affairs had sought to allow spectrum sale for maximization of value, added Mehta.

RCom owes DoT 25,199 crore, including spectrum usage charges (SUC) and licence fees, as per government estimates. This is nearly half of 49,054 crore in dues calculated under the companys insolvency proceedings. Jio cleared its relatively minuscule AGR dues of 195.18 crore in January, complying with the courts October 2019 order.

According to legal experts, transfer of spectrum to a new buyer is not allowed unless past dues are cleared.
Donald Trump launched a stream of tweets at the end of the first night of the Democratic National Convention Monday - aimed not at Michelle Obama, the keynote speaker, but at New York governor Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo attacked Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and was followed by a young woman who launched a passionate attack on the president, blaming him for her father's death from COVID.

'My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump and for that he paid with his life,' Kristin Urquiza said during her speech.

The viral moment, and Cuomo's five-minute speech which included a lengthy attack on Trump, including calling the COVID infections in New York 'the European virus' in direct mockery of Trump calling it 'the China virus,' was the centerpiece of the Democrats' pitch on coronavirus - and elicited a furious response from the president.

He retweeted a series of conservative commentators and highlighted an Associated Press investigation which found that the number of people who died in nursing homes in the state of COVID was as high as 11,000, not the 6,000 declared by the states.

'Now AP estimates that the real Cuomo number of people killed because of his total incompetence is 11,000, not the 6000 that was originally thought!' Trump tweeted. Total U.S. deaths now stand at 170,277.

He also took aim at Cuomo for not having a 'good memory' with a link to a video of the governor thanking Trump during the height of the crisis - and including a drive-by reference to 'Fredo,' his nickname for Andrew Cuomo's younger governor Chris, the CNN primetime host.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo attacked President Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic during his speech at the Democratic National Convention

'Cuomo, just like his brother Fredo, has not got a very good memory!' the president wrote, referencing Andrew Cuomo's younger brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo.

The tweet by the president retweeted one posted by The Trump War Room, a Twitter account managed by the president's campaign which included a video of Governor Cuomo praising President Trump and the federal government's response to the virus in New York State.

'What the Federal Government did, working with states was a phenomenal accomplishment,' Cuomo can be heard saying during a press conference from April 19th. 'There were just extraordinary efforts and acts of mobilization and the federal government stepped up. We needed help and they were there.'

In another portion of the video, in a clip from March 17th, Cuomo can once again be heard singing the presidents praises.

'His team have been on it. I know a team when they're not on it. His team is on it. They've been responsive, late at night, early in the morning...'

The video continues with a third clip of the Governor praising Trump for his assistance during the pandemic, this time from April 6th.

'Have we lost anyone because we didn't have a bed, or we didn't have a ventilator, or we didn't have healthcare staff? No.'

The Trump War Room pointed out the positive statements in a tweet shared by the president.

'Democrat Andrew Cuomo praised the Trump Administration's coronavirus response as 'extraordinary efforts and acts of mobilization,' and called it a 'tremendous accomplishment,'' it read.

During his speech, Cuomo did not mention the controversy over nursing home deaths. The state returned people with COVID from hospitals and has been accused of malpractice as a result.

However Cuomo compared the pandemic's effect on America to the current state of the nation's politics.

'In many ways COVID is just a metaphor, a virus attacks when the body is weak and when it cannot defend itself. Over these past few years, America's body politic has been weakened; the divisions have been growing deeper,' he said.

Cuomo started his speech like he started his daily coronavirus briefings, seated at a table in a suit and tie with power point slides around him, noting it was day 170 of the pandemic.

The New York governor, who was praised for his handling of the coronavirus in his state, cited divisions in America going back to the 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Va., to the death of George Floyd.

'Only a strong body can fight off the virus and America's divisions weakened,' he said, continuing his metaphor of the coronavirus and the nation's political health.

'Donald Trump didn't create the initial division. The Division created Trump. He only made it worse' he said.

He accused the Trump administration of not seeing the virus coming.

'Our current federal government is dysfunctional and incompetent, it couldn't fight off the virus. In fact, it didn't even see it coming. The European virus infected the Northeast while the White House was still fixated on China. The virus had been attacking us for months before they even knew it was here,' he said.

Cuomo blamed the incompetence of the administration for the rising number of coronavirus cases in the United States.

'Americans learned the critical lesson, how vulnerable we are when we are divided. And how many lives can be lost when our government is incompetent,' he said.

He wrapped up his criticism of President Trump and pivoted to praising Joe Biden.

'Now we need a leader as good as our people. A leader who appeals to the best within us, not the worst, a leader who can unify not divide a leader who can bring us up not tear us down. I know that man. I've worked with that man.

'I've seen his talent, I've seen the strength. I've seen his pain, and I've seen as hard. That man is Joe Biden. Joe Biden is what I call America tough, tough in the best way. Tough that is smart united disciplined and loving. Joe Biden can restore the soul of America. And that's exactly what our country needs today,' he concluded.

Kristin Urquiza blamed President Trump for the death of her father from COVID

Mark Anthony Urquiza in the hospital on a respirator - he died of COVID on June 30

While Cuomo's remarks focused on politics, it was Urquiza's personal remarks that tugged at the heart chords.

She recounted how her father, Mark Anthony Urquiza, followed the advice of politicians about the pandemic and then contracted COVID. He died in June at age 65 and her obituary, attacking politicians for their handling of crisis, went viral. Biden wrote to her after her obituary was published to express his sorrow at her loss.

'He had faith in Donald Trump,' Urquiza said of her father. 'He voted for him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear. That it was OK to end social distancing rules before it was safe. That if you had no underlying health conditions, you'd probably be fine.'

'In late May after the stay-at-home order was lifted in Arizona my dad went to a karoake bar with his friends,' she continued. 'He died alone in the ICU with a nurse holding his hand.'

Then she struck with her harshest line of the night - directed straight at the president.

'My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump and for that he paid with his life,' she said.

Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic -which has infected more 5.42 million Americans and killed more than 170,000 people - has earned him some of his toughest marks from voters.

In an ABC News/Washington Post out last week, 59 per cent said they disapproved of his handling of the crisis, while 40 per cent approved.

The convention also played a video tribute to showcase those who died from the virus, an 'in memorial' segment to drive home the devastation the virus brought.
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said he would oppose the sale of advanced American F-35 warplanes to the United Arab Emirates, despite last weeks historic deal establishing formal diplomatic ties between the two Mideast nations.

Netanyahu issued his statement after an Israeli newspaper reported that last weeks U.S.-brokered agreement included language to supply the Arab Gulf nation with advanced weapons systems.

The Yediot Ahronot daily, citing American and Emirati sources, reported that Israeli acquiescence had clinched the deal for the Emiratis. Furthermore, it reported that Netanyahu had made the deal behind the back of the Israeli defence establishment and kept Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, both former military chiefs, in the dark about it.

In a statement, Netanyahus office said the prime minister has opposed the sale of F-35s and other advanced weapons to any country in the Middle East, including Arab countries that have peace agreements with Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed this position to the American administration and it has not changed, it said. The peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates does not include any reference to arms sales and the U.S. has made it clear that it will always take strict care to maintain Israels qualitative edge.

The head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence service met with the UAEs national security adviser in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the Emirates state-run WAM news agency reported. That the UAE would even publicly acknowledge Mossad chief Yossi Cohens visit with Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan again shows how quickly the countries are moving toward opening diplomatic ties. Telephone service between the countries began Sunday, two days after the announcement.

Still, maintaining Israels regional military supremacy has been a hallmark of Israeli policy for decades, and Israel has used its close ties with Washington to ensure that certain sophisticated weapons are not sold to neighbouring countries. The UAE has long been reported to be interested in acquiring U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighter jets and attack drones like those the Israelis have.

Netanyahu said Gantz had been updated on his opposition to F-35 sales just weeks ago. But as part of his various corruption scandals, Netanyahu has been accused by critics of bypassing Israels defence establishment in regards to a German sale of advanced submarines to Egypt.

In security-obsessed Israel, confirmation that military-related strings are attached to the deal could temper some of the excitement that has widely surrounded it thus far.

Gantz seemed to question Netanyahus denial in a televised statement, saying he was only informed of last weeks blockbuster accord after the fact.

Gantz, who also serves as the alternative prime minister and is Netanyahus chief coalition partner, is supposed to replace Netanyahu as premier next year. Gantz vowed to maintain Israels qualitative military edge at any price.

The future and resiliency of Israel depends on two efforts: striving for peace and insisting, without any compromise, upon maintaining our military superiority in every place in the Middle East, he said.

Gantz said he supported the burgeoning accord with the UAE, which would make it just the third Arab nation to make peace with Israel, but insisted Israel couldnt take risks.

We will ascertain that out security interests are maintained. You can make a peace agreement while exercising security responsibility, he said, in a potential dig at Netanyahu. As long as I am defence minister, nothing will move without co-ordination on security matters.

Yoel Guzansky, a researcher at Israels Institute for National Security Studies who specializes in Gulf affairs, said the UAE has for years been pressuring to U.S. for arms and such a side deal would make sense.

When an agreement is signed, I think the Emirates are going to ask the Americans to release all types of advanced weaponry that could wear away at the qualitative Israeli military advantage, he said.

___

AP Correspondent Jon Gambrell contributed reporting from Dubai.

Read more about:
COVID-19 patients in Quang Nam recover fully (Source: VNA)

Quang Nam - The health sector in central Quang Nam province declared on August 18 that 11 more COVID-19 patients in the locality have fully recovered.

The Quang Nam Central General Hospital in Nui Thanh district successfully treated five patients while six others were discharged from the Quang Nam Regional General Hospital in Dien Ban town.Deputy Director of the provincial Health Department Mai Van Muoi said the central province has to date reported 95 COVID-19 infections. Among 84 active patients, seven have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once.Those discharged from hospital will undergo home quarantine for 14 days, he added.On the same day, the General Hospital of northern Hoa Binh province also successfully treated one patient, who returned Vietnam from Russia with transit in Belarus and was quarantined upon his arrival.To date, Hoa Binh has recorded no community-transmitted cases.
SCHWENKSVILLE  If you walked into The Duck Inn Taproom today, a thriving family-friendly restaurant and bar thats located right on the banks of the Perkiomen Creek on Route 29 in Perkiomen Township, youd have no idea what type of hell the owner and his loyal staff endured just a few short months ago. In []
On April 20, Madagascars president, Andry Rajoelina, announced the launch of a promised cure for COVID-19 to his nearly 100,000 Twitter followers.

Covid-Organics, improved traditional remedy based on artemisia & endemic plants, curative & preventive against #Covid19, is launched! he wrote.

The drink, developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research (IMRA), and derived from artemisia annua  an antimalaria ingredient  and other medicinal herbs, sounded like a miracle solution: It purportedly could cure and prevent coronavirus.

But Rajoelinas claims about the efficacy of the drink remain unproved, and COVID-Organics has fallen short when it comes to preventing the coronavirus from taking hold in Madagascar. The country has racked up 14,000 cases and 173 deaths after a surge during July.

Artemisia annua, a herb native to Asia, has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for centuries. Chinese scientists explored its antimalarial properties in the 1970s under Project 523, a top secret state mission, as one of the scientists, Zhou Yiqing, told the World Health Organization (WHO) in an interview. The plant was also imported to Madagascar during that time.

WHO now recommends antimalarial treatments using artemisia. With the emergence of coronavirus, scientists around the globe, including in countries like Germany have started testing the herb as a potential COVID-19 treatment as well. But Rajoelina has jumped the gun.

Rajoelina said during the official launch that tests have been carried out  two people have now been cured by this treatment, and that this herbal tea gives results in seven days, Agence France-Presse reported in April.

However, no data assessing its safety and effectiveness has been published in peer-reviewed studies. Experts have also warned of risks from using untested medicines like COVID-Organics, particularly because the drink contains other compounds that can have side effects.

On May 4, WHO said in a statement that while it supports scientifically proven traditional medicine, plants being considered for COVID-19 treatment, like artemisia annua, should be tested for efficacy and adverse side effects.

A few weeks later, Rajoelina tweeted that after an exchange with WHOs director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the organization was going to sign a confidentiality clause on the wording of the #CovidOrganics and support the clinical observation process that will span the African continent.

The following day, Ghebreyesus confirmed the exchange. However, Michel Yao, manager for emergency operations at WHO Africa, told AFP that the collaboration between the two wasnt a validation of the drug: The Covid-Organics has yet to prove itself, and the WHO wants to help Madagascar to prove that they exist, if they exist.

Prophet of the pandemic

Brazils Nexo newspaper reported that the drinks launch came shortly after TVM Malagasy, Madagascars public television station, broadcast the story of an anonymous Brazilian woman, presented as a visionary prophet, who predicted in November 2019 that the cure for a disease that would cause a global health crisis would be found in the African island.

Nexo reported that opponents of Madagascars president accused him of being behind the video and taking advantage the populations naivete to sell fake cures for the disease. But Rajoelina's chief of staff, Lova Hasinirina, defended her boss, saying "it is necessary to recognize that there are unexplained mysteries in the world," Nexo reported.

The drink has already been widely distributed Madagascar  including to school children. Africa News reported in May that 250 liters of COVID-Organics were distributed daily, and that some people lined up every day to get it.

According to multiple news sites, including Al Jazeera, the drink also has been either ordered by or delivered to other countries, including Tanzania, Liberia, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea-Bissau, and, more recently, the United Arab Emirates. Rajoelina tweeted in June that the UAE was sending sanitation equipment and has asked to receive #CovidOrganics that #Madagascar donates.

But the number of COVID-19 cases in Madagascar started rising after COVID-Organics' launch, hitting 14,009 as of Aug. 18, with 173 deaths. After peaking in mid-July at more than 600 in a day, reported cases have fallen, according to tracking by Worldometers. But the virus persists.

Hospitals in Madagascar are overwhelmed and those on the frontline dont have enough protective gear to treat COVID-19 patients. "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, Jerisoa Ralibera, president of the SISFM paramedics' union, told the BBC this month.

The governments lack of transparency in handling funds for the pandemic has been criticized, and the finance minister published a report on the matter in July. Still, many details remain to be clarified, a member of the Rohy civil society platform told Radio France Internationale (RFI).

Meantime, the Wall Street Journal reported that widespread use of artemisia for combating COVID-19 could make it less effective as a malaria treatment. Thats because people who take it will start building resistance to the drug, and high use could create a shortage.

Both outcomes would be worrisome, considering that malaria is still prevalent in the country. According to a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report in June, in the first six months of 2020, 663,558 cases of malaria were reported in Madagascar (including 398 deaths), an increase of almost 65% compared to the same period last year.

RFI this month reported on the business interests behind COVID-Organics. It noted, among other things, that artemisia captured Rajoelinas attention after Lucile Cornet-Vernet, a French orthodontist and president of La Maison de lArtemisia  a humanitarian association working against malaria  began promoting use of the herb for treating COVID-19.
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe went to a hospital for what Japanese media said was a regular health check-up, although the visit generated renewed worries about his health.

Videos of Mr Abe being driven in a car to Keio University Hospital in Tokyo on Monday were widely shown on Japanese TV news reports.

Public broadcaster NHK TV later showed him leaving the hospital.

The prime ministers office declined to comment on the hospital visit, saying it was not on his official schedule.

Mr Abe has been on a summer break recently, as has much of Japan.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe (Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

A governing party politician, Akira Amari, remarked on television over the weekend that Mr Abe feels guilty about taking time off but needs rest.

Mr Abe, 65, has had health concerns before.

He stepped down in 2007 during an earlier stint as prime minister, citing health problems.

Kyodo News said the visit was part of a regular checkup Mr Abe gets about twice a year.

Although Mr Abe sometimes goes to his summer home in the countryside about this time of year, he has stayed in Tokyo amid widespread concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, according to Kyodo.

Mr Abe is the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history.
Specialist detectives from Victorias counter-terrorism unit hope releasing CCTV footage of a deliberately-lit phone tower fire possibly linked to 5G conspiracy theorists will lead to an arrest over the incident.

Flames from the fire, which took place several months ago, threatened homes on Melbourne's south-east fringe.

Emergency services were called to the tower in a reserve near Parnell Court in Cranbourne West in the early hours of May 22 after reports of a fire, following a number of similar blazes overseas.

Counter-terrorism investigators and detectives from the arson and explosives squad are investigating and have warned that should they reveal the fire was a deliberate act, the offending could be treated as an act of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 6

Trend:

The Azerbaijani-Turkish Live-Fire Joint Large-Scale Exercises held in Nakhchivan continue, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

According to the exercises scenario, activities are being taken with the headquarters of formations and battalions to appraise the assigned tasks in accordance with the military decision-making process, to evaluate the situation, to clarify tasks on the terrain, and to develop joint schedules for negotiations.

The ministry said that in the course of joint actions with the units of the Turkish Armed Forces, activities are taken to implement control and organize communications.

Decisions and tasks related to the development of joint combat action plans by the headquarters to achieve coordination of the interoperability of units are fulfilling by means of computers at the Simulation Center of the Nakhchivan garrison, added the ministry.
Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal has thanked Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar for contributing Rs 1 crore towards the Assam flood relief.

Sonowal took to Twitter on Wednesday to praise Akshay for showing "sympathy and support" during the period of crisis.

"Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of ?1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena," Sonowal tweeted on Wednesday.

Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of 1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena.  Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) August 18, 2020

On August 2, it was reported that Assam's flood situation has significantly improved.

The respite in the monsoon rains since July 24 lay behind the improvement in the flood situation in Assam and other northeastern states, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said.

Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said that nine lakh people in 1,087 villages continue to be distressed, though the number has dropped since July 24, when over 28 lakh people in 2,543 villages of 26 districts were affected.
The bitter feud between West Australian Premier Mark McGowan and Clive Palmer has intensified with another set of angry tweets from the mining billionaire after Mr McGowan acknowledged fresh legal threats against him.

Mr McGowan confirmed he had received "some correspondence" from Mr Palmer over a possible defamation action after the WA Premier used some colourful terms to describe the litigious billionaire in press conferences.

The bitter feud between Clive Palmer and WA Premier Mark McGowan is intensifying. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Trevor Collens

But Mr Palmer said no proceedings were issued against Mr McGowan "at this stage", but "there might be proceedings in the future".

"It is a bit of a beat-up to say there are proceedings," he said.
While Delhi is witnessing a slowdown in the number of new daily cases, there is an emerging cause of worry for the authorities.

Some hospitals in the national capital have said they are seeing recovered coronavirus patients returning to them with recurrence of the infection.

Earlier this month, the Delhi government-run Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital saw two instances of patients with relapse of coronavirus, almost one-and-a-half months after they were cured of the infection. In both the instances of relapse, the patients had moderate symptoms.

bccl

Aakash Healthcare in Dwarka had also reported a case where a cancer patient recovered from coronavirus and contracted the disease again after a couple of months. The second time proved fatal for the patient who succumbed to the virus.

Experts were left baffled last month when the case of a Delhi policeman having a relapse of the novel coronavirus had emerged.

In the same month, a similar case had surfaced in the national capital after a nurse employed at a civic-run dedicated COVID-19 hospital had tested positive again after recovering from the contagious disease.

Representational Image

Dr BL Sherwal, medical director of the Delhi government-run hospital, told news agency PTI that unless the virus is cultured or gene sequencing done, it will be difficult to determine whether it is a different strain of the virus that has infected the person the second time.

"There can be a relapse. The virus can be isolated from the body particularly from the sputum. We have evidence that after the ninth or tenth day the virus becomes non-infectious and the patients are not tested again," he said.

However, the virus has been reported to be living in patients who have recovered around 39 to 40 days back," he added.
Republican senator Marco Rubio has been widely mocked on social media after he criticised Democrats for choosing Eva Longoria to host the partys national convention.

The actress, who has a long history of political activism, kicked off proceedings on day one of the convention, which concluded with a speech from former first lady Michelle Obama.

Ms Longoria, who spoke at the 2016 convention in Philadelphia, acted as emcee for the unique event which had been forced to forgo the typical large gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic. Actresses Kerry Washington, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Tracee Ellis Ross will host over the next three nights.

Brilliant move! Mr Rubio tweeted sarcastically, in response to Longorias appearance.

No one is more in touch with the challenges & obstacles faced by everyday Americans than actors & celebrities, the Florida senator added.

Both prominent figures and ordinary Twitter users were quick to point out to Senator Rubio that the current occupant of the White House had a lengthy stint as a reality TV star.

Others alluded to the fact that celebrities had spoken at previous GOP conventions. This years Republican convention is set to take place next week.

Cuz Trumps & Kushners are so in-touch w/challenges & obstacles of everyday Americans, tweeted Republican strategist and political commentator, Ana Navarro-Cardenas, in a scathing rebuke.

Unlike Trump, @EvaLongoria is self-made. She didnt get millions in bail-outs from her daddy, she added. Unlike you, she doesnt remain in complicit silence while our community is demonized.

Responding to Rubios post, one Twitter user said: Dude, you literally spoke right after Clint Eastwood at the 2012 Republican convention.

How could you forget that? He spoke to a f***g empty chair. Nobody remembers what you said, though.

Another simply wrote: Not now, Marco, the grownups are talking.

You literally elected a Reality TV star to be the President, another tweeted.

Fred Guttenberg, a gun control activist whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was murdered in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida in 2018, wrote: Shame on you. I am involved in this convention but not an actor or celebrity.

My daughter was murdered in the state you represent because of the gun violence you fail to address. This convention represents me & all others wanting leadership. Real Americans.

Monday nights event ended with an emotional speech by Michelle Obama. The former first lady launched a blistering attack on Trump in her pre-recorded speech.

Ms Obama, along with her husband, had until recently avoided criticising Trump by name in public.

She accused the president of faking his way through the presidency, adding that Mr Trump was the wrong president for our country.

He is in over his head. He cannot meet the moment ... It is what it is, she added. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head.

The virtual DNC will continue on Tuesday evening and include speeches from former president Bill Clinton and New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
A North Carolina mom of four left her family in shock when she died, suddenly, from a brain aneurysm. She had only complained of a migraine in the days leading up to her death.

In the wake of their profound loss, husband Eric Broadway and the couples four kids remember Lee Broadway with an annual ceremony. They also implore others to equip themselves with the knowledge to spot a brain aneurysm before the invisible condition does irreparable harm.

(Illustration  Sam Wordley/Shutterstock)

Eric and Lee were drinking coffee together outside their home in Matthews, North Carolina, while making plans for Lees 42nd birthday celebration on April 1, 2017, reported PEOPLE. Just hours later, Eric received a text message at work; Lee was experiencing a migraine, had fallen down, and needed her husbands help.

I raced home and took her to the ER, Eric, then 43, told the outlet. I knew this couldnt be good, he added, sharing that his wife had suffered from hereditary migraines since childhood and took medication for high blood pressure, but that this pain was different.

Lee was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm of unknown severity. She was transferred to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, where her condition deteriorated quickly.

When Lee was hospitalized, her four childrenthree daughters and a sonwere out of town. Erics mother-in-law, who was babysitting the couples three youngest children, left them in trusted company and drove to be by her daughters side.

Doctors ranked Lees brain aneurysm as a Grade 2 out of 5, giving her husband and mother hope, the outlet reported. The mom of four underwent a procedure to have a coil inserted into her brain to treat the aneurysm, and pulled through. Ten hours later, however, Lees family received devastating news.

[The doctor] took us all in and all I heard was, There is nothing we can [do] for her, Eric said. I ran out and lost it.

The coil had slipped out of place. Lee suffered internal bleeding and was declared brain dead on April 3, 2017. She passed away shortly thereafter.

The Broadways four children, said Eric, found it hard to internalize the news that their mother was gone. Its difficult to say shes no longer with us, he said, speaking to PEOPLE.

On Lees 42nd birthday, which followed five days after her death, 100 people gathered at the familys home and released 42 balloons into the air, a poignant metaphor for letting their loved one go.

(Illustration  Virrage Images/Shutterstock)

A brain aneurysm is a weak spot in the wall of a blood vessel inside the brain. Bubbling outward, the aneurysm can grow to roughly the size of a small berry, states WebMD, but most are asymptomatic.

Dr. Mark Bain, a neurosurgeon at Cleveland Clinicnot one of Lees physicianstold Today that there is a less than 1 percent chance of an aneurysm rupturing.

If your aneurysm is rupturing, you will know, he said. It is usually the worst headache and a sudden pop. Most people fall to the ground and vomit.

A sudden, severe headache, such as Lee experienced, is the key symptom of a ruptured aneurysm, explains Mayo Clinic. Other common symptoms include nausea and vomiting, a stiff neck, blurred vision, confusion, and a loss of consciousness. A sudden, intense headache on its own may indicate a leaking aneurysm, giving medics the chance to act before the blood vessel ruptures.

Eric and his children hope that others are able to notice the signs in time to help themselves or others.

I hope people just learn to love your loved ones every minute of every day and not to take it for granted, Eric told Today. Lee and I both took things for granted.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
Bala Chauhan By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested ophthalmologist Abdur Rahman (28) from his residence in Basavanagudi here, in connection with an investigation in the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) terror module case. He has been arrested for his alleged ISKP links.

Rahman recently cleared his post-graduation from MS Ramaiah Medical College, the results of which were declared three days ago.

According to the NIA, Rahman has confessed that he was conspiring with accused Jahanzaib Sami Wani, who was arrested along with his wife Hina Bashir Beigh from Jamianagar in Delhi in March this year, and other Syria-based operatives of the proscribed terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq & Syria (ISIS)  on messaging platforms like Threema and Telegram  to further the ISIS activities in India, said an NIA officer.

Rahman had visited Syria in early 2014 for treating ISIS cadres at a medical camp, had stayed with them for 10 days and returned to India. He was in the process of developing a telemedicine application for helping the injured ISIS fighters in the conflict zones and a weaponry-related application for them, the officer added.

The son of reputed ophthalmologist Dr Nasrulla Shariff, who has a well-established practice of over 20 years in South Bengaluru,Rahman is known to be soft spoken, well-mannered and from an educated, moderate family, said a source who is known to the family.

The NIA investigation in the ISKP module case, which was initially registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell in March this year after the arrest of Wani and his wife Hina, has unearthed a widespread network in

the country.

The couple has affiliations with the ISKP and were found to be involved in subversive and anti-national activities. They were also in touch with Abdullah Basith of Hyderabad, who was arrested in the ISIS Abu Dabhi module case, which is being investigated by the NIA. Basith is lodged in judicial custody in Tihar Central jail. In July, the NIA had arrested two more accused  Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddique Khatri  from Pune for being part of the ISIS/ISKP conspiracy to carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, the officer added.

The NIA had carried out searches at three premises belonging to Rahman in the city with the assistance of the Karnataka Police and seized digital devices, mobile phone, laptop containing incriminating material. He was produced before the NIA Special Court in Bengaluru on Tuesday and will be taken to New Delhi on transit remand for custodial interrogation, the officer said.

College unaware of activities outside campus

MS Ramaiah Medical College has stated that as per their records, Rahman passed his MBBS from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute in 2014 and was admitted to our college in 2017 under the government quota through allotment from the Karnataka Examinations Authority. He completed his MS Ophthalmology in July 2020.The college is not aware of his activities outside the campus,stated a college official.
For the third time, a Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the bail application of Gabriel Ogbonna, the human rights lawyer held by the State Security Service.

This newspaper reported how Mr Ogbonna has been held in the custody of the secret police for over four months despite court judgements ordering his release.

In March, the lawyer was arrested for posting articles criticising the Okezie Ikpeazu-led government in Abia State, via his social media page.

Shortly after the arrest, he was arraigned alongside another person at a magistrate court in Umuahia for alleged cybercrimes and for allegedly publishing false and threatening messages through the internet against Mr Ikpeazu.

However, because the magistrate court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, he was then remanded at a correctional facility in the state capital until April 28, when he was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Umuahia and granted bail.

Mr Ogbonna was re-arrested by SSS operatives on his way out of the correctional facility in Umuahia on the same day. This was after he had perfected the bail conditions.

The SSS moved Mr Ogbonna to its office in the state and in April, to its headquarters in Abuja, where he was in custody without any charges against him until August, four months after arrest.

On August 10, the agency arraigned Mr Ogbonna on a two counts bordering on cybercrime offences.

Bail records

On June 29, the Federal High Court in Umuahia ordered that the SSS release him unconditionally, and also awarded him N1.5 million as damages in his favour.

Also, on July 6, in the suit challenging the infringement of Mr Ogbonnas fundamental rights filed in Abuja, the SSS refused to present him in court and the case was adjourned to July 17.

In reaction to SSSs plea to further adjourn the case, Justice Aninih of the FCT High Court granted bail to Mr Ogbonna on the conditions that he produce two sureties who have N20 million.

Despite perfecting the bail conditions, the security agency failed to release Mr Ogbonna. This led to a contempt charge filed against the director-general of SSS, Yusuf Bichi, earlier in August.

Latest bail

On Tuesday, Mr Ogbonnas lawyer, Nkem Okoro, informed PREMIUM TIMES of the latest court ruling granting his client bail.

This newspaper learned that lawyers, Mike Ozekhome and A. A. Malik, appeared in court, praying the judge for a more lenient bail condition.

Based on Justice Taiwos judgement of Tuesday, the bail conditions include providing two sureties who are taxpayers with evidence of payments and the affidavit of names.

Each surety must be bonded by two million naira and one must have a landed property in Abuja with documents of ownership, Mr Okoro added.

The SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunnaya, on Tuesday, as in previous attempts, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES inquiries questioning the basis of Mr Ogbonnas prolonged incarceration.

The agency is notorious for disobeying court rulings. The publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, Shiite leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, were held by the agency despite being granted bail by the courts in separate cases.

Although Messrs Sowore and Dasuki were eventually freed in December 2019, Mr El-Zakzaky is still in detention.
Vulnerable people and those over 70 should not go on a staycation if they are booked into a hotel, acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said, as 190 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland.

Restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus have been reintroduced until September 13, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said.

They include:

 People aged over 70 should limit their interactions to a small network for short periods.

 All businesses should facilitate remote working.

 Visits to homes should be limited to six people and involve no more than three households.

 Outdoor gatherings will be limited to 15 people.

 Restaurant closing times restricted to 11.30pm.

 Sports events will be held behind closed doors with no social gatherings before or after.

 Public transport should be avoided where possible and face masks should be worn on private transport when households are mixed.

Gardai are to be given new powers to enforce the public health measures. A further short to medium-term plan for the way forward will be published by the Government before September 13.

Read More

Live updates on new restrictions here as they come:

Gyms remain open but numbers at classes limited to six

Gyms will continue to operate but no more than six people should attend indoor exercise classes with appropriate physical distancing.

Restrictions placed on Kildare, Laois and Offaly to be reviewed later this week

Measures already in place for Kildare, Laois and Offaly will remain in place until August 23.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said the restrictions placed on counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly will be reviewed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Thursday.

Testing and tracing to be "ramped up" in residential care homes, direct provision and meat plants

Contact tracing and testing efforts are being increased following a surge in positive cases.

"In the last two months, we've gone from a low of 61 cases in one particular week, to 533 cases last week. The vast majority of people are doing everything they can, and those efforts are making a huge difference," Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said.

"The Government is also taking action. We are significantly ramping up testing and tracing, including in all nursing homes, all direct provision and all meat processing plants, we're adding staff and capacity to make sure that test results come back as quickly as possible."

190 additional confirmed cases of Covid-19

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed the total number of new cases today is 190.

He said Ireland's five-day average of new cases is 160 new cases per day, and rising.

Mr Donnelly said: "I agreed with my Cabinet colleagues that we implement a number of measures to reverse the spread of Covid as outlined by the Taoiseach. We're doing this to protect public health, and protect lives.

"We're doing it to protect our health services, to protect jobs, and to get our schools open and to keep them open," he added.

Mandatory closing times for pubs and restaurants

Restaurants and cafes, including pubs operating as restaurants, will remain open but with mandatory restrictions on closing times of 11:30pm.

All customers facing staff are to wear face coverings.

Customers are also required to wear face coverings until the are seated and again on departure.

All customers should to be seated at a table, with a maximum of 6 seated at a table. All tables should have hand sanitiser.

Restrictions in place until September 13

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the new restrictions will remain in place until September 13.

The Government is to publish a roadmap for resilience and recovery before that date.

Mr Martin said the roadmap will outline "how we balance, public health, economic and social aspects of living with Covid-19 on the short to medium term, ensuring that our society and economy remains open by suppressing the spread of the virus."

"We're absolutely not at a stage where we can return to normality. Individually and together, we have to act as if the virus is present, wherever we are, or die because of the virus. We need to follow these public health measures," he added.

'A large number of people are acting as if the virus is no threat to them,' says Taoiseach

Speaking at press briefing in Government Buildings, Taoiseach Micheal Martin warned if Covid-19 cases continue to increase it will be "impossible" to stop the spread.

"This is not just about the appalling behavior, we saw in one Dublin bar at the weekend. The evidence is that a large number of people are acting as if the virus is no threat to them, or that it's okay to take a few more risks. And many people seem to believe that if they are those they are socialising with have no symptoms," he said.

"The fact is that a person can spread the virus, without ever showing any symptoms. You may be young and healthy, but your choices impact on everyone."

He continued: "We can't go back. If we falter now every sacrifice we have made to date will be for naught. We have to accept that we have to recommit ourselves to accepting the reality of the continued stretch of this virus. Now, as much as ever before, we must remember our responsibilities to each other."

Weddings

Weddings will still be limited to 50 attendees.

Additional powers for gardai to be considered

Gardai are to get additional powers to police pubs, restaurants and house parties and enforce public health measures.

Businesses

Businesses will be asked to allow their staff work from home if possible until September 13.

Face masks in cars

People will also be advised to wear face masks if they are sharing a vehicle with someone who is not from their household.

Sporting events to be played behind closed doors

All sporting events will have to be played behind closed doors under new advice from public health experts.

Indoor training should be limited to six people and outdoor should be no more than 15 people and should avoid mixing between groups.

Dr Ronan Glynn said: "We're saying that sport can continue. It's what has been happening before and after matches, it's households congregating traveling together, traveling from. And yes of course you say teammates will travel to and from, and 30 people will come together, they will. But that's 30 people rather than 230 people or 250 people."

Elite athletes are exempt from these rules.

Public transport

People should avoid public transport and work from home whenever possible.

In their advice to Cabinet, Nphet said people should only use public transport if no other alternative can be found.

They said those who are using public transport should wear masks at all times.

Older people

The Irish Independent today revealed Nphet said older and vulnerable people should limit the time they spend outdoors and avoid congregated settings.

Older people will also be asked to limit their network of contacts for the coming weeks and go shopping at designated times.

'Serious concerns'

Nphet met yesterday to discuss fresh measures to combat Covid-19 after the Department of Health on Saturday reported 200 new Covid-19 cases - the highest figure recorded since May.

Meanwhile, there are serious concerns in Fine Gael over the severity of Covid-19 restrictions being recommended by Nphet.

Cabinet ministers are becoming increasingly frustrated with Nphet advice on the pandemic as they believe it is out of kilter with advice being put forward by public health experts in other EU countries.

A Cabinet source said there were concerns at the highest ranks of Cabinet that Nphet had "departed from the European mainstream in the severity of their advice" as they are "under pressure from academic commentators as opposed to solid science".

Follow Independent.ie for live updates as they come.
It is related to aardvarks and elephants, and feasts on insects with its long, trunk-like nose.

But Sengis, known as the elephant shrew, is only a few inches long, resembling a mouse, and it was lost to science for at least half a century  until being rediscovered in the Horn of Africa.

The species had last been seen in 1968 in Somalia, and scientists had collected only 39 specimens up to hundreds of years old, stored in museums.

The Somali sengi mates for life, sharing a small territory with its partner, and has hind limbs built more for gazelles than small mammals.

The US-based Global Wildlife Conservation group even put the animal on its 25 most wanted lost species, saying it was one of the last big mysteries of African mammalogy.

Wildlife of the world Show all 19 1 /19 Wildlife of the world Wildlife of the world A macaque monkey family Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A vulturine guinea fowl in Maasai Mara Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A lilac-breasted roller in Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world An African elephant family in Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A male lion sits in the shade in Maasai Mara, Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Ostrich in Maasai Mara, Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Three macaque monkeys at a temple In Nepal Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A baby monkey clings to its parent in Nepal Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Giraffes at the Soysambu Conservancy northwest of Nairobi Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Zebras in a conservancy in Nairobi, Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Orphaned Southern White Rhino in South Africa Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Two rescued grey-headed flying foxes in Sydney, Australia Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A bull frog in a marsh in the US Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Two orphaned Southern White Rhinoceros at Rhino Revolution in Hoedspruit, South Africa Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world An African elephant and her calf in Maasai Mara, Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A macaque monkey with blossom in Nepal Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world Thomson's gazelle graze antlers in Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A juvenile male lion on tree branch in Kenya Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Wildlife of the world A wild bird at Ngamba Island Sanctuary, Uganda Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

But last year, following tips that it could be in Djibouti, which neighbours Somalia, scientists set out in search of the eccentric insectivorous mammal.

Local people identified the animal from photographs during interviews and the team caught 12 sengis in traps.

The researchers, whose findings are published in the peer-reviewed journal PeerJ, say they did not see any looming threats to the species habitat, which is dry and largely inhospitable to humans.

Sengi biology is a science of passion, said Steven Heritage, a research scientist at the Duke University Lemur Center and lead author on the paper. It takes somebody thats motivated by passion for sengis to go out looking for this lost species. They are not well-known animals, but when you see them, its impossible not to adore them.

Robin Moore, of GWC, said: Usually when we rediscover lost species, we find just one or two individuals and have to act quickly to try to prevent their imminent extinction. This is a welcome and wonderful rediscovery during a time of turmoil for our planet, and one that fills us with renewed hope for the remaining small mammal species on our most wanted list.

Houssein Rayaleh, a Djiboutian research ecologist and conservationist, said: For Djibouti this is an important story that highlights the great biodiversity of the country and the region and shows that there are opportunities for new science and research here.
Five individuals were shot in Strawberry Mansion in the afternoon on Aug 18, 2020. The shell casings are marked at the scene. Read more

Five people  including a 15-year-old boy  were shot Tuesday afternoon in the citys Strawberry Mansion section, with one dying later in the day, police said.

Police received their first report of a shooting just before 4 p.m. in the vicinity of 30th and Cumberland Streets.

Responding officers found an 18-year-old man who had been shot twice in the head. Police rushed him to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:51 p.m.

Police also transported a 24-year-old man to Temple with gunshot wounds to his right hand and left arm. His condition was not immediately available.

The 15-year-old boy was reported in serious condition at Temple with a gunshot wound to his right leg.

Police said two other men, ages 20 and 21, also had been shot and were at Temple. No further information was available on them.

The gunfire came after a series of separate shootings were reported throughout Philadelphia during the day, as gun violence continued in the city.

Earlier Tuesday, two boys were injured by gunfire in separate incidents, and an undercover narcotics officer was fired upon.

One of the boys, 12, was shot once in his right wrist while outside on Fifth Street near Diamond in North Philadelphia shortly after noon, police said. He was in stable condition at Temple.

Then, about 2:20 p.m., police responded to a home on the 100 block of North Peach Street in West Philadelphia, where they found a 15-year-old boy shot once in his left shoulder. He was also in stable condition, at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.

Also earlier Tuesday, shots were fired just before noon at a plainclothes officer who was sitting in an unmarked vehicle on the 4100 block of Clarissa Street in Nicetown as part of a narcotics investigation, police said. The officer  who was not hit  fired back, but the gunman fled and it was not known if he was shot, police said. Police continued to search for him throughout the afternoon, and several streets in the area were blocked off to traffic.

And, in another incident about 3:25 p.m., a 27-year-old man was shot once in his neck and once in his back on the 700 block of North 38th Street in Mantua. He was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where his condition was not immediately known, police said.

The mayhem continued Tuesday night, including two more deaths.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., a 28-year-old man was fatally shot while sitting in his car in the 5000 block of North Eighth Street in the Olney section. He was taken by police to Einstein Medical Center and pronounced dead at 6:51.

In Kensington, two men were shot at Front and Clearfield Streets around 6:40 p.m. One of them, 45,was shot in the chest and died just before 8 p.m. at Temple. The other, 20, was in stable condition at Temple with a gunshot wound to his right leg.

Police reported no arrests in any of the shootings.

Over the weekend, 30 people were shot in the city, including five people at a party to honor a victim of gun violence.
MOSCOW, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheremetyevo International Airport has joined the online campaign "Please breathe!" in support of Russian doctors and volunteers who have given service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was initiated by the Russia Today media group with the participation of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the Moscow Department of Health, the Association of Volunteer Centers of Russia, the All-Russian Public Movement "Medical Volunteers", and the NGO "National Priorities".

The online campaign portal features a database of photographs and short stories about individual doctors and other medical workers and volunteers, with words of gratitude for their efforts to protect the health and save the lives of people throughout the country.

As part of the campaign, Sheremetyevo Airport posted photos and stories of doctors who are airport employees on the website breathe.ria.ru, expressing gratitude for their dedicated work and professionalism.

Sheremetyevo had earlier joined the federal campaign "Thank You to Doctors" organized by "Medical Volunteers" under the auspices of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. On the Day of the Medical Worker, the doctors of Sheremetyevo airport were congratulated in a solemn ceremony and handed commemorative medallions.



Currently, more than 270 medical professionals work in the medical and sanitary unit and health centers of Sheremetyevo Airport, some with more than 30 years' experience.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheremetyevo doctors have worked with employees of medical institutions in Moscow and Moscow Region to perform the critical task of protecting the health of passengers, guests and airport employees. The medical teams carry out extensive health checks of passengers arriving from epidemiologically unfavorable countries. From January 1 to July 31, 2020, more than 11,600 infected persons were identified and isolated at the airport terminals.

Sheremetyevo Airport has given special attention to ensuring the safety and health of passengers, guests and employees, implementing a set of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection in accordance with the guidelines and recommendations of state agencies and medical institutions.

Sheremetyevo International Airport is one of the TOP-10 hub airports in Europe, the largest Russian airport in terms of passenger and cargo traffic. The route network comprises more than 230 destinations.

In 2019, the airport served 49.933 million passengers, which is 8.9% more than in 2018.

Sheremetyevo is the best airport in terms of the quality of services in Europe, the absolute world leader in punctuality of flights, and owner of the highest 5-star Skytrax rating.

You can find additional information at http://www.svo.aero.

SOURCE Sheremetyevo International Airport

Related Links

http://www.svo.aero


Hyderabad, Aug 18 : The University of Hyderabad has been ranked 10th in the prestigious institutes of national importance and central universities category in the Union Education Ministry's Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020.

The university is the only central university in the list of top 10 institutes of national importance and stood first among the central universities, as per the ranking released by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday.

The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras stood in the first place, followed by the IITs at Mumbai and Delhi. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore stands in fourth place while the IIT-Kharagpur ranked fifth.

ARIIA is an initiative of the ministry to systematically rank all major higher educational institutions and universities in India on indicators related to "innovation and entrepreneurship development" amongst students and faculties.

The Hyderabad University said it made a good beginning in creating the innovation ecosystem and established Section 8 company ASPIRE (Association for Scientific Pursuits for Innovative Research Enterprises) to support and coordinate the varsity's innovation and entrepreneurship activities.

ASPIRE coordinates the activities of the varsity's three incubation centres viz. TBI, TIDE and BioNEST, which together incubated more than 40 start-ups creating a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in the campus.

ASPIRE is also planning to establish an "Innovation Park" in the university which will give a big boost to the innovation ecosystem in the region. The park is proposed to be established in tripartite collaboration among the university, industry and government funding bodies.

Prof. G.S. Prasad, Director of the varsity's Technology Industrial Liaison and Entrepreneurship Unit (TIE-U), expressed his happiness at the achievement of the university and thanked all the colleagues involved in creating and expanding its innovation ecosystem for their support in achieving the rank.

Vice Chancellor, Appa Rao Podile said: "I am happy that UoH is the only Central University to be ranked in the Top Ten of ARIIA ranking 2020. This will inspire us to encourage high quality research, innovation and entrepreneurship. More than quantity, we will focus on the quality of innovations and will try to measure the real impact created by these innovations nationally and internationally." "This will also set the tone and direction for UoH for future development of the university to be globally competitive and be in the forefront of innovation," he added.
Representative image

A day after Air India postponed its Delhi-Hong Kong flight scheduled for August 18, reports suggest the airline may have been banned from operating further flights on the route till the end of the month.

A report by South China Morning Post said Hong Kong banned Air India from operating further flights, "for carrying too many passengers infected with COVID-19."



#FlyAI : #ImportantUpdate

Due to restrictions imposed by Hong Kong Authorities,

AI 310/315, Delhi - Hong Kong - Delhi of 18th August 2020 stands postponed. Next update in this regard will be intimated soon. Passengers may please contact Air India Customer Care for assistance.

 Air India (@airindiain) August 17, 2020

On August 17, the airline had announced that its Delhi-Hong Kong flight 'stands postponed.'

There has been no further communication from the airline, after this tweet.

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

Moneycontrol has reached out to the airline for a confirmation and will update the story as soon as it responds.
Govt Adopts Sustainable Catering

Government has today released a policy which acknowledges the leadership role it can play in driving change for sustainability across the public service, business and local community.

HMGOG says it prioritises sustainable development and is working towards embedding sustainability across Government. It is committed to acting responsibly as well as to encouraging wider adoption of sustainable catering practices.

The policy identifies what it understands by sustainable catering and the Governments sustainability commitments as they apply to the procurement of food and food services. It follows best practice in the area of sustainable catering and has been informed by discussions with various stakeholder groups including the Sustainable Gibraltar Food Working Group1.

This policy, developed by the Office of the Commissioner for Sustainable Development and Future Generations, guides the procurement of food served during official meetings and functions as well as Government-supported events (such as Calentita) that will be subject to the commitments outlined in this document. A separate document outlining sustainable catering considerations as they apply to catering outlets such as Government hospitals and homes and schools will be developed.

Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change, Professor John Cortes, clarified:

Sustainable catering is about selecting and engaging with catering suppliers to promote good practice and support more responsible food choices. It responds to a growing awareness of the environmental and health impacts of our diets and the need to procure and handle food responsibly whilst achieving best value for money. This Government has a commitment to a healthy, safer and more sustainable Gibraltar'

Commissioner for Sustainable Development and Future Generations, Professor Daniella Tilbury, added: Peoples wellbeing and the health of our planet rely on food choices that respect planetary boundaries and human rights. Our daily choices make a significant difference not just to our own life chances but also to the future of the planet. The document which is based on best practice seeks to inform procurement as well as raise awareness of this important consideration.

The document can be downloaded from www.futuregenerations.gi/news/sustainable-catering-11
During a phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Abbas on Sunday warned that if any other Arab country takes a similar step, Palestine will take the same position that they have taken towards the UAE, reports Xinhua news agency.

Ramallah, Aug 17 (IANS) Neither the United Arab Emirates (UAE) nor any other country has the right to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people, President Mahmoud Abbas said.

Abbas stressed his refusal to "use the Palestinian issue as an excuse for normalization with Israel", noting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "explicitly confirmed the annexation plan is still on the table".

The Palestinian President also reaffirmed rejection of the US Middle East peace deal.

For his part, Macron expressed his deep understanding of the position of Palestinians.

However, Macron said that his country welcomed the August 13 tripartite agreement between the UAE, Israel and the US because it would push the peace process forward in the region, stressing the need to reach a political solution under the two-state solution and international law.

He also invited Abbas to visit Paris to complete consultations on the overall situation related to the Palestinian issue.

Abbas accepted the invitation.

Also on Sunday, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, presidential spokesman, told reporters that the Palestinian leadership will adopt a robust foreign policy against the accord.

"In the upcoming days, the Palestinian leadership will adopt an important foreign political movement to confront any step arising from the UAE-Israeli normalization agreement.

"The normalization between the two sides is a violation against the Palestinians' rights as well as Jerusalem. It breaks the Arab Peace Initiative," he said.

On August 13, Israel and the UAE reached the historic agreement to work towards a "full normalization of relations."

As part of the agreement, Israel will suspend the annexation of Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, while it focuses on expanding ties with other Arab countries with other nations in the Muslim world.

The UAE and Israel will also immediately expand and accelerate cooperation regarding the treatment of and the development of a vaccine for coronavirus.

The Israel-UAE deal marks the first diplomatic ties between Israel and a Gulf country in 25 years.

The UAE is the third Arab country that has official relations with Israel.

--IANS

ksk/
Heart attack damage reduced by shielded stem cells

HOUSTON - (Aug. 18, 2020) - Bioengineers and surgeons from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) have shown that shielding stem cells with a novel biomaterial improves the cells' ability to heal heart injuries caused by heart attacks.

In a study using rodents, a team led by Rice's Omid Veiseh and Baylor's Ravi Ghanta showed it could make capsules of wound-healing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and implant them next to wounded hearts using minimally invasive techniques. Within four weeks, heart healing was 2.5 times greater in animals treated with shielded stem cells than those treated with nonshielded stem cells, the researchers found.

The study is available online in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Biomaterials Science.

Someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States. In each case, an artery that supplies blood to the heart becomes blocked and heart muscle tissue dies due to lack of blood. Hearts damaged by heart attacks pump less efficiently, and scar tissue from heart attack wounds can further reduce heart function.

"What we're trying to do is produce enough wound-healing chemicals called reparative factors at these sites so that damaged tissue is repaired and restored, as healthy tissue, and dead tissue scars don't form," said Veiseh, an assistant professor of bioengineering and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research at Rice.

Ghanta, associate professor of surgery at Baylor, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Harris Health's Ben Taub Hospital and co-lead author of the study, said prior studies have shown that MSCs, a type of adult stem cell produced in blood marrow, can promote tissue repair after a heart attack. But in clinical trials of MSCs, "cell viability has been a consistent challenge," Ghanta said.

"Many of the cells die after transplantation," he said. "Initially, researchers had hoped that stem cells would become heart cells, but that has not appeared to be the case. Rather, the cells release healing factors that enable repair and reduce the extent of the injury. By utilizing this shielded therapy approach, we aimed to improve this benefit by keeping them alive longer and in greater numbers."

A few MSC lines have been approved for human use, but Veiseh said transplant rejection has contributed to their lack of viability in trials.

"They're allogenic, meaning that they're not from the same recipient," he said. "The immune system perceives them as foreign. And so very rapidly, the immune system starts chewing at them and clearing them out."

Veiseh has spent years developing encapsulation technologies that are specifically designed not to activate the body's immune system. He co-founded Sigilon Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech company that is developing encapsulated cell therapeutics for chronic diseases. Trials of Sigilon's treatment for hemophilia A are expected to enter the clinic later this year.

"The immune system doesn't recognize our hydrogels as foreign, and doesn't initiate a reaction against the hydrogel," Veiseh said. "So we can load MSCs within these hydrogels, and the MSCs live well in the hydrogels. They also secrete the same reparative factors that they normally do, and because the hydrogels are porous, the wound-healing factors just diffuse out."

In previous studies, Veiseh and colleagues have shown that similar capsules can keep insulin-producing islet cells alive and thriving in rodents for more than six months. In the heart study, study co-lead author Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, a Rice bioengineering graduate student in Veiseh's lab, created 1.5-millimeter capsules that each contained about 30,000 MSCs. Several of the capsules were placed alongside wounded sections of heart muscle in animals that had experienced a heart attack. The study compared rates of heart healing in animals treated with shielded and unshielded stem cells, as well as an untreated control group.

"We can deliver the capsules through a catheter port system, and that's how we imagine they would be administered in a human patient," Veiseh said. "You could insert a catheter to the area outside of the heart and inject through the catheter using minimally invasive, image-guided techniques."

Veiseh said capsules in the study were held in place by the pericardium, a membrane that sheaths the heart. Tests at two weeks showed that MSCs were alive and thriving inside the implanted spheres.

More than 800,000 Americans have hearts attacks each year, and Ghanta is hopeful that encapsulated MSCs can one day be used to treat some of them.

"With further development, this combination of biomaterials and stem cells could be useful in delivering reparative therapy to heart attack patients," he said.

Veiseh said the pathway to regulatory approval could be streamlined as well.

"Clinical grade, allogenic MSCs are commercially available and are actively being used in patients for a range of applications," he said.

Veiseh credited Aghlara-Fotovat with doing much of the work on the project.

"She basically executed the vision," he said. "She developed the hydrogel formulation, the concept of how to package the MSCs within the hydrogel, and she did all the in vitro validation work to show that MSCs remained viable in the capsules."

Aghlara-Fotovat is co-mentored by Ghanta and worked in his lab at Baylor alongside research assistant Aarthi Pugazenthi, including assisting in rodent surgeries and experiments.

"What attracted me to the project was the unmet clinical need in (heart attack) recovery," Aghlara-Fotovat said. "Using hydrogels to deliver therapeutics was an exciting approach that aimed to overcome many challenges in the field of drug delivery. I also saw a clear path to translation into the clinic, which is the ultimate goal of my Ph.D."

"I think one of the things that attracts students to my lab in particular is the opportunity to do translational work," Veiseh said. "We work closely with physicians like Dr. Ghanta to address relevant problems to human health."

###

Study co-authors include Maria Jarvis, Sudip Mukherjee and Andrea Hernandez, all of Rice; and Pugazenthi, Christopher Ryan, Vivek Singh and Megumi Mathison, all of Baylor. The research was supported by an American Association of Thoracic Surgery Research Award, the Baylor College of Medicine Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (RR160047), the National Institutes of Health (1R01DK120459), a Rice University Academy Fellowship, the Emerson Collective and the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Research Training Program in Cardiovascular Surgery (T32 HL139430).

Links and resources:

The DOI of the Biomaterials Science paper is: 10.1039/D0BM00855A

A copy of the paper is available at: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1039/ D0BM00855A

High-resolution IMAGES are available for download at:

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2020/ 08/ 0817_CARDIOREPAIR-saf59-lg. jpg CAPTION: Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, a bioengineering graduate student at Rice University, with a vial of stem cell-loaded capsules she formulated to repair damage caused by heart attacks. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2020/ 08/ 0817_CARDIOREPAIR-saf39-lg. jpg CAPTION: Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, a bioengineering graduate student at Rice University, with a vial of stem cell-loaded capsules she formulated to repair damage caused by heart attacks. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2020/ 08/ 0817_CARDIOREPAIR-sm422-lg. jpg CAPTION: Sudip Mukherjee, a postdoctoral research associate at Rice University, displays a vial of alginate capsules loaded with mesenchymal stem cells. A study on rodents found that a four-week treatment with the capsules repaired most of the cardiac muscle damage caused by a heart attack. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2020/ 08/ 0817_CARDIOREPAIR-ov86-lg. jpg CAPTION: Omid Veiseh is an assistant professor of bioengineering and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research at Rice University. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

https:/ / news-network. rice. edu/ news/ files/ 2020/ 08/ 0817_CARDIOREPAIR-ghanta-mug. jpg CAPTION: Ravi Ghanta is an associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of cardiac surgery at Houston's Ben Taub Hospital. (Photo courtesy of Baylor College of Medicine)

This release can be found online at news.rice.edu.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
For over a week, tens of thousands of people have protested across Belarus over disputed elections on Aug. 9 after which Alexander Lukashenko, Europes longest serving leader, claimed a sixth term as president. Thousands of people, including factory workers, police officers and TV presenters, have gone on strike to join the protests and call for the Presidentwho has ruled the ex-Soviet country of 9.5 millionsince 1994 to step down.

Belarus has not seen protests like this since the collapse of the Soviet Union, says Matthew Frear, a Belarus expert at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Clashes with riot police have left at least two dead, hundreds injured and at least 6,700 arrested. Authorities have launched a severe crackdown in the capital city, Minsk, where police have deployed stun grenades and rounds of rubber bullets and drove a van into crowds. According to Amnesty International, detained protesters have been subjected to widespread torture.

Fighting for his political future like never before, Lukashenko has tried to show he hasnt lost the support of the nationbut hasnt had much success. When Lukashenko toured the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant on Monday and told the crowd, you workers have always supported the president, the workers chanted Go away!

Later the same day, during a visit to another factory, Lukashenko offered to change the constitution. Well put the changes to a referendum, and Ill hand over my constitutional powers. But not under pressure or because of the street, he said. The opposition says hes made empty promises like this before.

What happened with Belarus election?

On Aug. 10, official results handed Lukashenko 80.1% of the vote. His main rival, Svetlana Tikhonovskaya, a political newcomer and former teacher, only won 10.1%. She rejected the outcome, insisting that she would have won support ranging from 60% to 70% had votes been properly counted. Its difficult to say what the result would have been because the entire process was rigged  some of the votes cast for Lukashenko were faked, says Frear. But in some polling stations, where it was done more fairly, she did receive up to 80% of the votes. The only way to know is to hold new free and fair elections he adds.

Story continues

Dubbed Europes Last Dictatorship by George W Bush in 2005, Lukashenkos regime has banned opinion polls, jailed opposition figures and conducted elections that were called severely flawed by the European Commission. The last free and fair elections were in 1994, says Frear.

Three months ahead of the Aug. 9 elections, authorities jailed opposition rivals and barred them from running, including Tikhanovskayas husband, a popular YouTuber and opposition figure, Sergei Tikhanovsky at the end of May.

Hours after denouncing the elections, Tikhanosvkaya fled to neighboring Lithuania, where she had previously evacuated her children ahead of the elections. In a YouTube video, she said she made the very difficult decision independently, adding that children are the main thing in life and that the political unrest is not worth anyone losing their life. She has since told protesters not to stay on the sidelines and to rally peacefully. We have always said that we need to defend our choice only by lawful, non violent means, she said in another video on Aug. 14.

A striking worker of Belaruskaly, Belarus' major producer of potash fertilizers. | Vikor DrachevTASS/Getty Images

Why are workers protesting?

Protests have emerged across Belarus since June amid anger over the jailing of opposition figures, economic stagnation and Lukashenkos mismanagement of the coronavirus crisis, which he dubbed a psychosis that could be cured by a vodka and a sauna visit despite recently contracting the illness himself. Since the election results, more than a dozen protests have emerged in towns and cities over the disputed election results. Unofficial estimates for a protest in the capital on Sunday ranged between 100,00 and 220,000 people. Thousands of people rallied last night in Minsk for a ninth consecutive night since Lukashenko declared victory.

Workers have taken to the streets with a variety of demands, including stopping the police violence and holding new elections.

Videos and photos shared on social media in recent days showed workers at several state-run enterprises walking off the job and telling their bosses they would not go back to work until police stop beating up demonstrators and authorities release the thousands of protestors detained since the election. Police officers and members of the special forces (Omon) have announced they were quitting on social media. In one video, a security officer burns his uniform in a show of defiance.

Several journalists and TV presenters have also gone on strike, demanding that state media cover the protests objectively, says Katia Glod, a London-based independent expert on Belarus and former consultant at European Endowment for Democracy, a think tank in Brussels. The state media is complete propaganda, Glod says. It has portrayed the protests as riots.'

At least six presenters have left the state-run broadcasting company, Belarus-1 (BT) channel, in the past week, including Andrei Makayonak, a host on the Good Morning Belarus program, who resigned on Aug. 12. In an interview with daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda in Belarus, he said: Before I always remained neutral, because I was sure that when the situation is not very good, there must be a positive person who supports everyone with his smile. He said that in the countrys current climate, his smile feels rather blasphemous and no longer inspires the audience.

Alexander Lukashenko, Belaruss president, gestures while giving a speech during a rally of his supporters in Independence Square in Minsk, Belarus, on, Aug. 16, 2020. | Evgeny MaloletkaBloomberg/Getty Images

How has Lukashenko responded to the protests?

On Aug. 14the sixth consecutive day of protestsLukashenko called the demonstrators foreign-backed revolutionaries who are trying to destabilize the country. Dont throw yourselves onto the streets. You must understand that you are being used, and our children are being used, like cannon fodder, he said in a televised address.

Since the elections, people in Belarus report intermittently losing access to the Internet, social networks and messaging apps, triggering suspicions among protesters that the government is using technology as a means of stifling dissent. Lukashenko, however, has denied that the government is involved and claimed the Internet was being disconnected from abroad. In the past, the authorities have blocked the sites of opposition candidates. But a full Internet shutdown has never happened before, Frear says.

In the context of a deep recession and the coronavirus crisis, Lukashenko will need to borrow a lot of money from foreign governments, says Glod. His loss of legitimacy threatens his ability to get money from Western institutions and thats what bothers him, she adds.

Belarus has long relied on Russian energy subsidies worth billions of dollars each year shore up its largely state-controlled economy. But over the past year, the Kremlin has ramped up pressure on Belarus to accept closer political and economic ties by increasing energy prices and cutting subsidies. But Lukashenko has rejected several of Moscows proposals over the years for deeper integration, including a single currency.

Under siege from the West, Lukashenko appears to be turning to his Russian neighbor for support. After a phone conversation with Vladmir Putin, Lukashenko declared on Aug. 15 that Putin had agreed to provide comprehensive security assistance against the protests. Lukashenko didnt specify details but he said that when it comes to the military component, we have an agreement with [Russia], referring to a treaty the countries signed back in 1999 that was supposed to create a unified state. The treaty was never fully implemented and in recent years, the countries relations have worsened as Lukashenko has pushed against Moscows calls for deeper economic and political ties.

Lukashenko wants Putin to bolster his number of riot police, Glod says. He is particularly worried about a lack of police, she says. But theres no guarantee will Russia provide such support, Frear says. Lukashenko might be trying to scare the opposition or to corner Russia into providing support, he says.

A Kremlin statement on 15 Aug. made no mention of providing security assistance but expressed confidence that all the problems will be resolved soon.

How have other world leaders responded?

The elections and police brutality have drawn widespread condemnation abroad. President Trump said on Aug. 18: it doesnt seem like its too much democracy there in Belarus and that he would like to talk to Russia at an appropriate time in the wake of the unrest. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Aug. 10 the vote was not free and fair and denounced ongoing violence against protesters and the detention of opposition supporters, while the U.K. announced on Aug. 17, that it did not accept the fraudulent Belarus presidential vote.

After Aug.14 emergency talks, the European Union announced it would impose sanctions targeting Belarusian officials responsible for the brutal crackdown and election fraud. What happened in Belarus in the last few days is completely unacceptable and calls for a clear reaction of the E.U., Germanys Haiko Maas said during a press conference the same day.

The E.U. first placed sanctions on Belarus in 2004, and tightened them in 2011 over human rights abuses and election fraud. Many sanctions, including those targeting arms companies and travel bans were lifted in 2016 after the E.U. cited progress in improving the rule of law.

The latest sanctions are unlikely to bother Lukashenko, analysts say. Theyre limited and targeted. They wont bring the country down, says Frear.

The E.U. is in a difficult position. It has to stand by its values so it cannot just ignore the fraud and post election violence Glod says. But they dont want to push Lukashenko towards Russia.

Protesters unfurl a banner in the colors of the former Belarus national flag as they call for the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, Belarus, on, Aug. 16, 2020. | Evgeny MaloletkaBloomberg/Getty Images

What could happen next?

It looks like neither Lukashenko nor the protesters intend on backing down, analysts say. He is a person who never compromises. He sees it as a weakness, Glod says.

At the same time, experts doubt he can rely on Russian intervention to repress the protests. The Kremlins priority is to keep Belarusians on its side says Frear, but if it openly intervenes on behalf of Lukashenko and embroils itself in a violent crackdown, it could lose the support of Belarusians.

It would also be very costly for Putin. He would need enormous financial resources to sustain Belaruss collapsing economy. Its also unclear how that could play out domestically, says Glod. Putins popularity has suffered a historic blow in recent months following the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis, with ratings dropping to 60% in July.

The future will either see an even more bloody crackdown or long war of attrition where neither sidethe authorities or protestersstands down, says Frear, drawing parallels with the ongoing protests in Hong Kong.

Protesters are hoping for another election. And if a crackdown continues to fail and mass protests continue to rage, theres more chance Lukashenko will cede to those calls, Frear says.
New Delhi:

AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa has moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe or a judicial investigation by an apex court judge into the death of J Jayalalithaa.

In her petition, Pushpa has alleged that Jayalalithaas death was suspicious as her actual medical condition was not disclosed, no one was allowed to visit her, her funeral photographs showed embalming marks and everything from her hospitalisation to her death was kept under wraps.

The Rajya Sabha MP has sought directions to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu government and Apollo Hospital, where Jayalalithaa was hospitalised, to disclose details of her health report and treatment in a sealed cover to the apex court.

A similar plea was filed this week in the apex court by Tamil Nadu Telugu Yuva Sakthi claiming that doubts have been raised over the circumstances of the AIADMK leaders death and her medical reports needed to be examined by experts.

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Israel seeking to expand secret economic ties with UAE: Report

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 4:11 PM

The Israeli regime is seeking to further expand its already secret but massive economic ties with the United Arab Emirates now that the two have reached a controversial agreement to have formal diplomatic relations.

Israeli financial newspaper the Calclist said in a report that Israel is already enjoying massive economic ties with the UAE and even before the normalization of ties was announced last week.

It said the regime in Tel Aviv is now seeking to build on that open secret to expand exports to the UAE, an Arab country which relies on imports for a bulk of its needs.

Ron Tomer, president of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, told Calclist that Israel has been using third countries for years to process exports to the UAE.

Tomer said, however, that the normalization of diplomatic ties would hugely benefit the Israeli companies as they can directly deal with customers in the UAE.

"We are certain this agreement will expand the until-now unofficial commercial ties with the UAE and allow the export of additional products, such as medicine, whose country of origin must be clearly marked," said Tomer.

Israel companies and their products have faced growing boycotts and bans in countries around the world solely because they have been operating in Palestinian territories designated by the international law as occupied by the Israeli regime.

The normalization of ties with the UAE, a development announced on Thursday to huge dismay and criticism of governments and rights advocates, would give a fresh lifeline to the Israeli firms struggling with international bans.

The report by the Calclist estimated that nearly 200 Israeli companies have been exporting products, many of them banned in other countries, to the UAE using third party clients before the normalization of ties.

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It was Mothers Day weekend and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was at yet another noon news conference, patiently explaining once again what the government was doing to control the COVID-19 pandemic. And then she made a quick turn.

Focusing on any children stuck listening as their parents worked, Freeland made a plea that went straight to every mothers heart: Please give your moms a hug, she said, and then go clean your rooms.

I think that would be the biggest present for every mother in Canada, she said, and I am speaking from personal experience.

Freeland gets it  the unsustainable strain on households as parents try to work from home while also trying to care for and educate their children under pandemic restrictions.

As finance minister, shell need all that intuition and then some. Fiscal policy is at a turning point, and there is an urgent need for decisive direction.

The generous benefits of the past few months are winding down and recovery has begun, but unemployment  especially in the service sector and other areas hit hardest by the pandemic shutdown  is still sky-high. And businesses, especially those run by entrepreneurs, are still shutting down in alarming numbers.

Women are having an especially hard time getting back into the workplace, having lost their jobs in larger numbers than men and now left wondering whether their kids will be well taken care of in September.

Its hitting mothers particularly hard, Freeland acknowledged in her first remarks as finance minister on Tuesday.

Government support for these groups  unemployed workers, struggling entrepreneurs, working parents  needs to be revamped, enriched and rushed out the door for a recovery to truly take hold. Freeland will be the one to drive those initiatives, and the effort undoubtedly will be expensive and long term to allow the recovery to gradually blossom.

But thats probably just the easy part.

Freeland will also have to quickly make some tough calls on the ambitions of her own colleagues, from the prime minister on down, who are talking louder and louder about building back better. The plans to turn the pandemic recovery into an opportunity to confront climate change, develop new competitive advantages, combat racism, eradicate homelessness, eliminate inequality and embrace a digital economy are multiplying and morphing in double time, in the hopes of claiming a spot in the budget or fiscal update this fall. They will all cost serious money, and they wont necessarily help the people hardest hit by the pandemic.

But the new minister may soon find herself in the same kind of corner as her predecessor. While she may have a sympathetic ear for the coterie of dreamers, she is squarely assigned to the more practical side of government, where her main job is to maintain fiscal responsibility and promote growth. While insiders believe she will be less tight-fisted than Morneau, she wont be able to say yes to everything.

For most of his tenure, Morneau had the benefit of a widely declared fiscal rule in place. A government-wide commitment to continually reduce the debt burden was obviously not nearly as stringent as the promise to balance the books that the Liberals once ran on, but it was enough of a tool to support Morneau in saying an occasional no.

It was that naysaying, however, that led to a frustrating relationship with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which eventually boiled over and contributed to his resignation this week.

Freeland doesnt have any fiscal rules at the ready, and she already faces high expectations that she will enable  and finance  a broad policy agenda. Indeed, when Trudeau launched her new appointment with a visionary speech on Tuesday, he listed many aspirations but made not a single mention of the price tag.

The time is now to be engaged in bold thinking, Trudeau said, claiming that since Canada is in solid fiscal shape, the government has an obligation to invest in a recovery that addresses inequality, environmental challenges, better health care, better child care and more jobs.

She also faces a projected deficit of $347 billion, a ballooning debt that will soon top $1 trillion, and gloomy forecasts for a rough recovery that drags into 2022.

The business community sent a warning shot on Tuesday. In a letter to Freeland, the Business Council of Canada urged the government to keep its fiscal powder dry, and to not spend frivolously.

Canadians need to know that there is a plan to rein in federal spending and ensure the sustainability of government finances, the letter states.

Freeland sent all the right signals Tuesday to her aspirational colleagues in government as well as parents, the unemployed, environmentalists and people worried about coronavirus. The juggling act will be in also gaining the confidence of the business community.

But as a successful working mom, she knows all about juggling.
The Trump administration is further tightening its restrictions on Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. The United States Department of Commerce on Monday issued new regulations and updates to restrictions announced in May this year.

Earlier in May, the administration announced several amendments to the foreign-produced direct product (FDP) rules that prevented Huawei access to US-based technology. Essentially, the restrictions prevented the Chinese company from obtaining semiconductors without a special license. This includes any chips that use American software or technology, whether they are produced domestically or by foreign firms.

However, Huawei may have been able to exploit some loopholes in those rules, wherein it was able to do business with some third-party chip designers using American technology. The new rules attempt to address any such loopholes that may have existed.

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This amendment further restricts Huawei from obtaining foreign-made chips developed or produced from US software or technology to the same degree as comparable US chips, the Department of Commerce said in a press release. The new amendment refines the FDP rule by applying the control to transactions.

It bars Huawei, or any of its affiliates in the US governments Entity list, from involving as a purchaser, intermediate consignee, ultimate consignee, or end-user in a transaction of any foreign-produced item that incorporates American software or technology in the production or development of any part, component, or equipment.

US Commerce Department tightens restrictions, adds more Huawei affiliates to the Entity List

In addition to making amendments to the FDP rules, the United States Department of Commerce has also added 38 new Huawei affiliates across 21 countries to the Entity List. The administration has also modified four existing Huawei Entity List entries. Reports say a total to 152 Huawei affiliates are now in that economic blacklist. Huawei was first added to the list back in May 2019.

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These affiliates present a significant risk of acting on Huaweis behalf contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States, an official statement reads.

The US government had issued Huawei a Temporary General License (TGL) allowing it to work with Google for some time. This made it possible for the company to push updates for Google apps and services on its older, Google-certified phones.

The license expired recently. The United States Department of Commerce had in past renewed the license a few times. However, there are no signs of this happening again. If Huawei doesnt get another extension, it may have to completely do away with Google Mobile Services on its phones.

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That said, the company has already replaced GMS with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) on its newer smartphones. That appears to be the only way forward for the beleaguered Chinese giant.
A goat that lost its hind legs and much of its front legs to frostbite in 2015 after being born in an an arctic freeze has been given a new life with four new prosthetic legs.

Anna and her twin sister Elsa - named after two characters in Disney's 'Frozen' - were not looked after well by their owner, but five years later, the farmer asked if there was anyone who could give Anna a home.

A veterinarian tech in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania knew just who would take her - The Yourth family living on Capra Farm, north of the city.

Since then, she has become part of an animal-loving family, who have now fitted her with prosthetic legs allowing her to walk on her own, and has even become a surrogate mother to her own kids.

Anna the goat shows off her new prosthetics on their farm in Perry County, Pennsylvania. She was born in 2015 in an arctic freeze, losing most of her front and back legs

In the early 2010s, the Yourth family moved from New York City to Harrisburg for a new start of their own.

Michelle's husband, Lenny, was a New York City firefighter, and on September 11, 2001, he was called in to help at the World Trade Centre, narrowly avoiding the collapse of Building 7, but losing colleagues in the tragic attack.

Therapy followed the devastation of grief for Lenny, then a decade later, he suffered a heart attack. The treatment included three stents in his heart.

After a number of visits to their son at the now-closed Carson Long Military Academy, in New Bloomfield, and falling in love with the more rural parts of the country, they decided it was time to move away from the big city.

Pictured: Anna trots around the barnyard in her prosthetics with Michelle, center, and Lenny Yourth in tow. The Yourth family adoped Anna from a farmer who owned her since she was born in 2015. However, she was not looked after well after losing much of her legs to frostbite

Pictured: A closeup of prosthetic attached to one of Anna's legs, which now means she can walk on her own without having to crawl on her front knees

They found a home large enough for their family of four children, as well as Michelle's parents, and as luck would have it, it also had twelve acres of land.

Later, Michelle began rescuing animals that would otherwise have been sold for meat, and their farm became a home for chickens and goats as well.

In November last year, Michelle received a call from the vet about Anna - a goat without two back legs - and without hesitation they took her in to care for.

After a difficult start to life, it was important to the Yourths that Anna was given a better life than she had before - and that meant finding a solution to her legs, which were causing her severe pain.

Pictured: Michelle, right, and Lenny Yourth hold Anna while her prosthetics are strapped on her damaged legs on their farm in Perry County. Anna is looking after the goat kids after their mother died shortly after birthing them

Michelle, left, and Lenny Yourth hold Anna while her prosthetics are strapped on her damaged legs on their farm in Perry County

They took her to New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, to X-ray her front legs, but found that they could not be straightened as her tendons had locked into place. Therefore, they learned she would need prosthetic legs for all four.

Next, they spoke with Derrick Campana, who owns Bionic Pets, and had once even fitted an elephant with one of his creations. 'He says no to no one,' Lenny said.

Three fittings and adjustments later, Anna was walking on four new legs.

On the farm, she is now also a surrogate mother to three triplet goats after their own mother died when they were just six weeks old. Anna, who shares a barn with them, took it upon herself to care for them.

'She's unbelievably sweet now  and spoiled,' Michelle said.

'Goats are fun. If you handle them, they're just like dogs. They crave attention; they're unbelievably intelligent,' she added. 'You need a good fence for a goat, though. The grass is always greener on the other side.'
The outbreak of COVID-19 has changed life for all of us, including how we invest our money. Although, some investors might have become risk-averse, but a majority of them dont mind taking that extra risk to generate wealth over a period of time.

If you have an all-equity portfolio, it makes sense to reshuffle the amount allocated towards each sector which are likely to benefit the most from the current situation, and sectors that will benefit most from the government policies.

At any point in time, investors should not compromise on the quality of stocks which could endanger the overall health of the portfolio if kept unchecked. Hence, a quarterly review of the portfolio is required because leaders of today might not be leaders of tomorrow.

In terms of selecting stocks from each sector, investors should look at those companies which are essentially large-cap, leaders in their domain, and are high ROE or return on equity companies.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

In terms of the equity bucket, as a core-satellite approach, the core portfolio would consist of high-quality defensive sectors, which in todays context would mean large-cap high ROE consumption sectors like Pharma, FMCG, entry-level Auto, some IT, Siddharth Panjwani, Chief Strategy Officer, Pickright Technologies told Moneycontrol.

About 50-70% of the equity portfolio would go in these sectors as the core. The core could also consist partly or entirely of the benchmark index if one were to forego potential chances of market outperformance, he said.

He further added that the Satellite portion (remaining 50%-30%) of equity could consist of names which have a high propensity of alpha  high-quality stocks and sectors which are beaten currently down due to Covid and have a high chance of future outperformance, like Financials, Discretionary Consumption, Capital Goods and so on.

Building a portfolio should not be event-based but it should be focused on fundamental aspects backed by quantitative and qualitative analysis, suggest experts.

As mentioned above the investment in equity asset-class for a beginner should be routed through index funds or equity mutual funds. Sectoral allocation in the current scenario should be a blend of defensive and growth play to work out a quality portfolio, Dinesh Rohira, Founder, CEO, 5nance.com told Moneycontrol.

We have collated model portfolios from various experts to battle COVID-19 storm:

Expert: Dinesh Rohira, Founder, CEO, 5nance.com

IT Sector 20%:

Despite a complete lockdown in economic activities across the key geography business areas, the largecap IT companies reported a decent set of earnings numbers for the Q1FY21 with stable operating margin and above estimated net profit growth.

The management also indicated bottoming out of pandemic impact with many firms maintaining healthy margins guidance along with some recovery in revenue in the next few quarters.

With the world moving towards the digital ecosystem, India has emerged as a digital hub with around 75 percent of global digital talent present in the nation.

The current situation is likely to reset the business model for many companies irrespective of their size to leverage on digital platforms which will benefit the consumer-focused IT businesses.

The initiative of the government to enhance its capabilities on AI and Machine Learning will provide innovative opportunities for IT companies coupled with the added advantage of favorable currency tailwinds.

Pharma Sector 20%:

The pharma companies witnessed a surge in their valuation during the pandemic phase as investors believed in business opportunities arising out of crisis and also a defensive bet in the portfolio.

Despite the run-up in price, the select pharma stocks still offer attractive buying opportunities for a long-term investment with evolving business prospects in the healthcare space.

The India Pharma industry continues to be a world leader in generic drugs globally and it has been resilient to the pandemic. The medicine spending in India is expected to clock 9-12 percent growth over the next five years that will enable volume growth as witnessed during the recent period in the domestic market.

The advantage of a lower cost of production coupled with aggressive investment in R&D and a shift in global supply chain with India as a hub are expected to provide a competitive advantage for the Indian Pharma industry.

FMCG 15%:

The FMCG companies remained resilient to the downturn in economic activities that were placed across the country. It managed to register decent volume growth backed with robust sales in rural and semi-urban markets.

The current Covid-19 crisis helped certain segments like health & wellness business, hygiene, and food products to clock staggering spikes in volumes despite the lockdown pressure.

The additional spend in MNREGA by governed among other stimulus coupled with hike in MSP and favorable monsoon is likely to help FMCG companies to maintain healthy growth.

Chemicals Sector 15%:

Many of the essential goods industries are heavily reliant on the chemical industry. During the ongoing lockdown, most plants catering to these sectors are operational.

India has a trade deficit of $15 billion in the chemicals sector, specialty chemicals is an area where there is a lot of scope to plug gaps.

Indian companies producing specialty chemicals could also use this as an opportunity to increase scalability as global companies are de-risking their supply to reduce dependence on Chinese imports.

Commodity chemicals like dyes and pigments might see a slow pick-up in demand as the manufacturing of end products could be deferred.

Two Wheeler segment 10%:

The last mile connectivity in the current pandemic. The auto industry as a whole has been facing headwinds with a drop in volume growth for more than 18 months.

However, the shift in mobility preference among millennials coupled with safety measures due to the virus situation is expected to fuel demand growth for the two-wheeler segment after economic resumption which is favored with a lower cost of ownership.

Further, the preference to travel solo against public transport in the current pandemic is also likely to boost the sentiment for two-wheelers which is a faster mode of commuting in the city.

Based on a certain survey, as many as 73 percent potential two-wheeler buyers will consider purchasing within three months after the lockdown is lifted.

Steel Industry 10%:

Steel forms a base sector for many industries like white goods, automobiles, real estate, capital goods, infrastructure, defense, and overall manufacturing as a whole.

Hence, its linkages to the economy are profound. Although the demand for steel is expected to decline by 18 percent in the current calendar year, it is likely to rebound to a 15 percent growth in 2021.

The government spends in infrastructure and rural development is likely to be a significant push this year. Affordable housing projects are also likely to increase construction activity.

Insurance Industry 10%:

In an underinsured country like India, there is scope for expansion in the sector. The term insurance product is even more relevant during times such as these when the pandemic has affected the entire population at least to some extent.

Health Insurance has been the focus point in general insurance, during such times with the breakout of the virus it has seen a surge in demand. It is an estimate that about 30% to 35% of India has some sort of health insurance, this number could easily be half the population for the current situation.

Expert: Paras Matalia, Head-StockBaskets, Samco Securities

The ideal portfolio for an investor in the current scenario would have the following sectors -

IT (25%):

One thing that businesses around the world have realised is that they have to adopt technology to survive and thus, good IT companies have outperformed in the past few months and are expected to have good growth going ahead.

Moreover, IT companies have steady cash flows, no or low debt, and have generated wealth for its investors.

FMCG and Consumer Durables (30%):

Companies in these sectors also have strong fundamentals i.e. low debt, higher visibility, and superb return ratios.

Make sure to include companies from various sub-sectors such as paints, alcoholic beverages. Companies from this sector also add stability to the portfolio.

Banking / Finance (15%):

There are a very few select players in the banking and finance sector that will not just survive these tough times, but come out stronger. One needs to be very careful when investing in banks/financials.

Pharma / Health (20%):

The pandemic has resulted in swift US FDA approvals and has helped push the entire sector into a bull run. Many companies have posted robust numbers this quarter too.

This sector has tremendous room to grow, the trend of investing is shifting from physical assets to financial assets and these companies are well-positioned to benefit from this.

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
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Microsoft is inching towards bidding farewell to Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge Legacy services. In exactly a year, the Microsoft 365 Apps will no longer support these.

The firm announced via a blog on Monday that by next year on 17 August, Microsoft will stop support for Internet Explorer 11 for all of Microsofts online services such as Office 365, OneDrive, and Outlook. The end will begin with Microsoft Teams no longer supporting IE 11 from 30 November 2020. The company is urging users to focus on Microsoft Edge as the IE dies out.

The company blog said that after the designated dates, users will be unable to connect to IE 11 or face degraded experience. According to Microsoft, the degraded experience will mean that the new Microsoft 365 features remain unavailable or certain features of M365 cease to work when accessing the app or service via IE 11. On the other hand, the Microsoft Edge Legacy will lose support on 9 March 2021. The legacy version will no longer receive security updates. All of the new devices and upcoming Windows feature updates will come with the new Edge browser.

Respecting investors of web apps on the IE 11, these legacy IE 11 apps and investments will continue to work after the shut down of M365 support, they have stated. Microsoft says businesses will be allowed to run the IE-specific websites till it drops support for Internet Explorer 11 within Windows 10. Before the step, the firm wants to move all of its users to the new Chromium-based browser.

The open-source Chromium project saw a public and stable roll out at the start of this year. It came with superior privacy controls compared to the previous versions and also provided faster using speeds.
FREDERICK, Md., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal & General America (LGA), a top 10 U.S. life insurer, has been certified as a Great Place to Work five years in a row by Great Place to Work U.S., a global authority on workplace culture. In fact, 76% of LGA employees say that LGA is a great place to work and most feel a sense of pride about what we accomplish.

"We are thrilled to be Great Place to Work-Certified again," says Barbara Esau, VP, Human Resources at Legal & General America. "We make the employee experience a priority so it means a lot that our people have reported positive experiences with their coworkers, their leaders, and their jobs. This is important because we know that when our employees have high-trust experiences, they are more engaged, drive better business results and make a difference to our customers. This accolade is a tribute to LGA employees and their hard work!"

Additional strengths that contributed to making LGA a Great Place to Work include:

90% of employees feel good about how the company contributes to the community;

86% of employees believe management is honest and ethical in its business practices;

85% of employees agree they were made to feel welcome when joining the company; and

84% of employees feel they are given a lot of responsibility.

For more information on LGA's designation, visit: https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/1458425

Notes to editors

About Legal & General America

Legal & General America (LGA) is part of the worldwide Legal & General Group. For over 70 years, the Legal & General America companies have been in the business of providing financial protection through life insurance for American families. The Legal & General America companies are Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York. With more than $62 billion in new coverage issued in 2019, LGA is ranked in the top ten of U.S. life insurers and ended 2019 with in excess of $784 billion of coverage in force with 1.3 million U.S. customers. LGA shares Legal & General's independent financial strength ratings: A+ Superior from A. M. Best and AA- Very Strong from Standard and Poor's and Fitch. For more information, please visit www.lgamerica.com.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work, headquartered in Oakland, California, is a global people analytics and consulting firm that helps companies of all sizes produce better business results by focusing on the work experience for every employeeour research shows there's a clear and direct relationship between employee engagement and financial performance. Over the past 25 years, we have captured the views of more than 100 million employees globally, helping organizations around the world identify and build high-trust, high-performance cultures. Through our certification programs, we recognize outstanding workplaces and produce Fortune's annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, as well as a variety of other Best Workplace rankings in the United States and in more than 60 other countries. Everything we do is driven by our mission: to build a better world by helping every organization become a Great Place to Work For All by the year 2030.

Legal & General America life insurance and retirement products are underwritten and issued by Banner Life Insurance Company, Urbana, MD and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York, Valley Stream, NY. Banner products are distributed in 49 states and in DC. William Penn products are available exclusively in New York; Banner does not solicit business there. The Legal & General America companies are part of the worldwide Legal & General Group.

SOURCE Legal & General America (LGA)

Related Links

http://www.lgamerica.com


New York Governor Andrew Cuomo attacked Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and was followed by a young woman who launched a passionate attack on the president, blaming him for her father's death from COVID.

'My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump and for that he paid with his life,' Kristin Urquiza said during her speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

In the first night of the Democrats' virtual gathering, the party brought together faces from the coronavirus to attack the president in one of his weakest areas with American voters.

Kristin Urquiza blamed President Trump for the death of her father from COVID

Mark Anthony Urquiza in the hospital on a respirator - he died of COVID on June 30

'Our nation is in crisis,' Cuomo declared in his five minute speech.

He compared the pandemic's effect on America to the current state of the nation's politics.

'In many ways COVID is just a metaphor, a virus attacks when the body is weak and when it cannot defend itself. Over these past few years, America's body politic has been weakened; the divisions have been growing deeper,' he said.

While Cuomo's remarks focused on politics, it was Urquiza's personal remarks that tugged at the heart chords.

She recounted how her father, Mark Anthony Urquiza, followed the advice of politicians about the pandemic and then contracted COVID. He died in June at age 65 and her obituary, attacking politicians for their handling of crisis, went viral. Biden wrote to her after her obituary was published to express his sorrow at her loss.

'He had faith in Donald Trump,' Urquiza said of her father. 'He voted for him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear. That it was OK to end social distancing rules before it was safe. That if you had no underlying health conditions, you'd probably be fine.'

'In late May after the stay-at-home order was lifted in Arizona my dad went to a karoake bar with his friends,' she continued. 'He died alone in the ICU with a nurse holding his hand.'

Then she struck with her harshest line of the night - directed straight at the president.

'My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump and for that he paid with his life,' she said.

Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic -which has infected more 5.42 million Americans and killed more than 170,000 people - has earned him some of his toughest marks from voters.

In an ABC News/Washington Post out last week, 59 per cent said they disapproved of his handling of the crisis, while 40 per cent approved.

The convention also played a video tribute to showcase those who died from the virus, an 'in memorial' segment to drive home the devastation the virus brought.

Cuomo started his speech like he started his daily coronavirus briefings, seated at a table in a suit and tie with power point slides around him, noting it was day 170 of the pandemic.

The New York governor, who was praised for his handling of the coronavirus in his state, cited divisions in America going back to the 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Va., to the death of George Floyd.

'Only a strong body can fight off the virus and America's divisions weakened,' he said, continuing his metaphor of the coronavirus and the nation's political health.

'Donald Trump didn't create the initial division. The Division created Trump. He only made it worse' he said.

He accused the Trump administration of not seeing the virus coming.

'Our current federal government is dysfunctional and incompetent, it couldn't fight off the virus. In fact, it didn't even see it coming. The European virus infected the Northeast while the White House was still fixated on China. The virus had been attacking us for months before they even knew it was here,' he said.

Mark Anthony Urquiza and his daughter Kristin Urquiza

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo attacked President Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic during his speech at the Democratic National Convention

Both New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Kristin Urquiza attacked Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic

Andrew Cuomo praised Joe Biden for his compassion and his ability to unit people

Cuomo blamed the incompetence of the administration for the rising number of coronavirus cases in the United States.

'Americans learned the critical lesson, how vulnerable we are when we are divided. And how many lives can be lost when our government is incompetent,' he said.

He wrapped up his criticism of President Trump and pivoted to praising Joe Biden.

'Now we need a leader as good as our people. A leader who appeals to the best within us, not the worst, a leader who can unify not divide a leader who can bring us up not tear us down. I know that man. I've worked with that man. I've seen his talent, I've seen the strength. I've seen his pain, and I've seen as hard. That man is Joe Biden. Joe Biden is what I call America tough, tough in the best way. Tough that is smart united disciplined and loving. Joe Biden can restore the soul of America. And that's exactly what our country needs today,' he concluded.
There are different opinions in the Arab community. While Palestine opposed it strongly; Egypt, Jordan, Oman welcomed the agreement and called on Israel and Palestine to negotiate.

Iran called it a huge mistake. Outside the region, Germany, the UK and France warmly supported the deal while other countries remain concerned.

According to observers, Israel is a natural ally of the UAE in the competition for influence in the region, especially with Iran. The Abraham Agreement helped the UAE strengthen its position as the main player, perhapseven the leader in the region.

In addition, not only helping direct the attention of Israels public opinion away from domestic turmoil, the agreement also enriches the political assets of Prime Minister B. Netanyahu as he laid the foundation for the countrys new external relations.

As for the US, the two allies getting closer helpsrealise their Middle East peace vision as well as creating important advantages for President D. Trump ahead of the presidential election.

To the insiders, the benefits are obvious. Yet, as the Secretary-General of the United Nations emphasised, whats more important is how the Abraham Agreement will contribute to peace in the Middle East as the region confronts the grave threats of COVID-19 and radicalisation.
The Israeli air raids came as Egyptian officials arrive to defuse the latest uptick in violence.

Attacks on Gaza continued for the seventh straight night as Israeli warplanes targeted Hamas observation posts in what the Israeli army said was a response to Palestinian fire balloon attacks across the border.

Tuesdays air raids came as visiting Egyptian security officials strove to defuse the latest uptick in violence.

Fighter jets and [other] aircraft struck underground infrastructures belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli military statement said, linking the attack to explosive and arson balloons launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Gaza security sources and witnesses said Tuesdays raids hit Hamas lookout posts at Rafah in the south of the territory and Beit Lahia in the north.

Tensions have been rising for more than a week, with Israel accusing Hamas of firing rockets and launching bundles of balloons across the border fitted with incendiary or explosive devices.

Israel has closed the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) goods crossing with the Gaza Strip, imposed a ban on fishing off the Gaza coast and staged nightly air raids for seven nights.

The Palestinian territory has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007, with Israel citing security threats from Hamas for its land, air and naval blockade.





A Hamas source told AFP news agency that the group held talks with the Egyptian delegation in Gaza on Monday before the delegation left for meetings with the Israelis and the occupied West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

It was expected to return to Gaza after those talks, the source added.

The occupation continued its aggression and carried out air strikes on Gaza after midnight, the Hamas source said, adding that the attacks were seen as a negative response to the truce feelers.

There were no casualties in the raids, he added.

Despite a truce last year  backed by Egypt, Qatar and the UN  tensions between Hamas and Israel rise sporadically.

Hamas says Israel did not honour previous understandings which stipulated that Israel ease the blockade it has imposed on Gaza since Hamass takeover and allow for large-scale projects to help rescue the collapsing economy.

The only power plant in Gaza is scheduled to shut down due to the crossings closure, which has cut fuel supplies, exacerbated the power crisis and left Gazas two million residents with about four hours of electricity a day.
The Congress on Tuesday wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accusing Facebook India of "interfering" with the country's electoral democracy, and demanded a time-bound high level inquiry into the conduct of Facebook India leadership team and their operations.

The move came after an August 14 article published in The Wall Street Journal claimed that Ankhi Das, Public policy director of Facebook India, South and Central Asia, was opposed to applying Facebook's hate speech rules to four individuals and groups with links to the BJP. The article stated that despite being internally flagged for promoting violence, she was against applying the rules due to business imperatives.

The article stated that Das had told staff members that punishing BJP politicians for these violations would be detrimental to the "companys business prospects in the country, Facebooks biggest global market by number of users.

In a letter to Zuckerberg, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday demanded that pending the internal investigation and submission of the report, the company should "consider a new team to lead Facebook India operations so as to not influence the probe".

"Set up a high level inquiry by Facebook headquarters into the Facebook India leadership team and their operations and submit a report to the Board of Facebook within one or two months. The report should also be made public," Venugopal said in the letter. The Congress and other opposition parties have attacked the social media giant after a US media report alleged that Facebook did not apply its hate speech rules on BJP leaders.

In its response, Facebook on Monday said the company's social media platform prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence, adding these policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation. However, Facebook, which counts India among its largest markets globally, acknowledged that "there is more to do".

Facebook "may be a willing participant in thwarting the rights and values that the founding leaders of the Congress sacrificed their lives for", Venugopal said, asking the US firm to publish all instances of "hate speech posts since 2014 that were allowed on the platform". The WSJ article mentions hate speech of at least three other politicians that were wilfully permitted by Facebook India, he said.

Venugopal cited the WSJ article of August 14 about alleged FB India's "blatant basis in content regulation" and said "it was not a surprise revelation". He said Congress has repeatedly raised the issue of "bias" with many Facebook and WhatsApp executives.

He said other political parties have raised the issue in India's Parliament, adding that the Congress has separately demanded a probe by a Parliamentary Committee in India into "this very serious issue of Facebook's interference in world's largest electoral democracy".

Venugopal said the Congress is joined by other leading political parties in "expressing fear over Facebook's purported role in manipulating India's electoral democracy".

Das on Monday filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against a number of people who allegedly issued "violent threats" to her online. In her complaint, Das mentioned Facebook and Twitter accounts that had allegedly threatened her - some even using her photos - and said that they were a result of the WSJ article.
Dr. Nguyen Duc Kien, Head of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs Economic Advisory Council, speaks about the key reasons that led to the slow disbursement of public funds because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Kien.

What are the causes leading to the slow disbursement of public funds?

A key problem is the cumbersome administrative procedures.

In reality, quite a few projects have completed the construction phase, yet they could not complete financial settlements. This has led to the problem of outstanding debt in capital construction, the construction of the Long Thanh International Air-port is an example. According to the project owner, a key problem is the lack of co-operation between the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Dong Nai Peoples Committee in the course of developing the unit price in the land settlement for people whose land has been used for the airport construction.

In 2015, construction of the Long Thanh International Airport was launched. Under the projects document, the Dong Nai Peoples Committee is in charge of land settlement with a projected total investment cost of VND 18,000 billion (US$779 million). Due to the delay in the financial settlement, by the year 2017 the projected cost jumped to VND 23,000 billion (US$ 995 million). However, until now, the project remains on paper and no doubt, if the land settlement is not done, the cost will be much, much higher.

The revised Public Investment Law came into effect on January 1st 2020. Will it be able to solve the problem?

It is indisputable that public investment is always much more complicated than private investment. We have all agreed that our 2014 Law on Public Investment is very progressive compared to those from other countries. Yet, the authorities in many localities want the project to apply the old Public Investment Law.

According to the Law on Environment, environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an essential element that all projects must complete. But the question here is should the EIA be done in the pre-feasibility study (Pre FS) or in the FS report. If it is in the Pre FS, no doubt, the project owner cannot have all the information to write in the Pre FS report. Until now this problem remains unsettled.

What should we do to speed up the process of the disbursement of the public funds this year?

We only have more than four months left to disburse public funds for 2020. To my knowledge, public investment has contributed between 0.4-0.5 percent to the countrys GDP. It is projected some VND 700,000 billion (US$30.3 billion) must be disbursed. The disbursement of such a huge sum of money is very demanding.

We all know that this is a chronicle disease of our economy. In Vietnam, construction activities are often done in the dry season  from September to May. So right from February 2020, when the COVID 19 broke out, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc came up with a projection that the public investment would become a driving force to the national economy to develop. Yet regrettably, the disbursement of our public investment has taken place very slowly. We are now living in a society ruled by law, it is the tasks of all ministries and localities to do their best to carry out their assignments. And if they face any difficulties they then should report to the Government and ask for help. VNS/VGP

Measures needed to ensure on-schedule public investment disbursement: NA deputies Vietnam News Agency speaks to National Assembly deputies on the sidelines of the plenary session on the Governments target of disbursing 100 per cent of allocated public investment budget this year to boost
2 JetForm/Adobe Central Server replacement projects, successfully completed Given the success of the JetForm/Adobe Central Server software replacement, both companies subscribed also to DocPaths Maintenance and Support service offering, which assures software updates and support for the resolution of any incident that may arise.

Recently, DocPath successfully completed two projects that aimed to replace the JetForm/Adobe Central Server software, thus ensuring the continuity of the customers form designs and optimizing its document design, generation, printing and distribution processes. This has been achieved thanks to the DocPath Ontario Suite document software solution and the extensive experience of DocPaths technicians for this kind of project.

One project was carried out in the Hungarian headquarters of a large Japanese automotive company and the other was executed for a Spanish lock manufacturer, which in turn is part of a Swedish group of companies.

Required changes

The software used by both companies was JetForm/Adobe Central Server. One of the first document software products that allowed designing and generating business documents on desktop laser printers. Back then, it was a resounding success, due to the fact that it has been implemented by many companies all around the world. However, companies that still use this kind of technology now face the need to find an alternative solution, since this product no longer offers technical support.

Adopted solution

DocPath Ontario Suite, part of DocPaths CCM (Customer Communications Management) document software offering, was the perfect solution for a transparent, rapid and secure migration from JetForm/Adobe Central Server, which avoids having to apply any kind of modification to the applications. With the new document software solution, the customers gained access to many additional features, besides what JetForm already had provided, such as dynamic graphics, HTML5 output, full color support, multitasking, use of containers and kubernetes ...

Implementation project

The installation of the document software solution within the infrastructure of the customer had been carried out remotely by DocPaths technical department. In addition, a comprehensive training on the document generation engine and document design software was provided to the customer.

The high level of DocPaths professional services allowed these customers to gain access to a technical support team that resolved any doubts and/or problems that might have arisen while implementing DocPaths Ontario Suite document software.

Given the success of the JetForm/Adobe Central Server software replacement, both companies subscribed also to DocPaths Maintenance and Support service offering, which assures software updates and support for the resolution of any incident that may arise.

About DocPath

DocPath is a leading document software manufacturer that provides its worldwide customers with the technology that allows them to implement sophisticated Customer Communication and Document Output Management processes. Created in 1993, DocPaths solutions have been implemented in companies all over the world. Among its international clients are prestigious banks and first-class corporations, which are aided by DocPath solutions by simplifying the complicated and critical tasks involving the design and distribution of business and customer documents. DocPath maintains a strong commitment to R&D&i, an area that receives a good amount of its revenue, and in which lies the key to the companys success.

Disclaimer: DocPath is a DocPath Corp. registered trademark. All rights reserved. Other mentioned trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi-lead government's big initiatives, since 2014, including Make in India, Digital India, Vocal to Local and Make for World are going to be a gamechanger for the country in coming years, experts said adding that the initiatives will attract more global companies setting the country on the path of becoming an economic superpower.

"Government's push (Atmanirbhar Bharat) is an excellent long-term opportunity and we believe this can make a big difference in building the 'New India' and put it among other global economics post-COVID," Prashanth Tapse, AVP Research at Mehta Equities told Moneycontrol.

The government already announced several measures including a cut in corporate tax, tax incentives for setting up manufacturing hubs for local as well as global players. In addition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 74th Independence Day speech, announced additional projects: connect six lakh villages via optical fibre in next 1,000 days, Cyber Security Policy, over Rs 110 lakh crore for National Infra Pipeline-Jal Jeevan Mission etc.

These projects are going to boost the economy, create job opportunities as well as investment opportunities, experts feel.

According to them, 20 stocks benefit from these initiatives (announced on Independence Day) including L&T, Sterlite Technologies, Jindal Saw, KNR Construction, HDFC Bank, Ratnamani Metals and JK Cement. They advised investing in these stocks with medium to long-term view.

Here is the list of stocks which would get benefitted:

Prashanth Tapse, AVP Research at Mehta Equities

We believe continued allocation for Jal Jeevan Mission would be positive for ERW and SAW pipe manufacturers. Stocks such as Surya Roshni, APL Apollo Tubes, Jindal Saw may benefit.

Optical Fibre network push can benefit stocks like Sterlite Technologies, Aksh Optifibre and HFCL.

Given the government's initiatives for the infrastructure sector, we are bullish on stocks such as Larsen & Toubro, Ashoka Buildcon, Dilip Buildcon, KEC International and KNR Constructions.

Vineeta Sharma, Head of Research, Narnolia Financial Advisors

The government announced a series of plans particularly related to COVID related issues along with a series of announcements on infrastructure-related plans which should benefit EPC businesses, cement, pipe manufacturing companies.

Plans to push optical fibre network will help consumer-related businesses flourish.

The early advantage of enhanced cybersecurity should come to the banking sector as once cybersecurity is established, the mobile itself becomes a bank branch and transactions can be facilitated more easily. We recommend investors to hold or buy on declines companies like HDFC Bank, Bandhan Bank, Escorts, Ratnamani Metals, L&T and JK Cement.

Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research

Stocks like Sterlite Technologies, Finolex Cables, Polycab India, ITI and KEI Industries are likely to benefit from the above-mentioned initiatives. Investors should invest in these stocks in a staggered manner in order to optimise returns.

Sterlite Technologies might turn out to be a good investment opportunity as it eyes to cover the nation with the help of National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) and aims to connect all the 2,50,000 Gram panchayats in the country and provide 100 Mbps connectivity to all gram panchayats for mid to long-term.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Throughout the Trump era, the Senate Intelligence Committee has walked a careful line. The Republican-controlled committee has taken Russian interference seriously and conducted at least somewhat bipartisan investigations, occasionally infuriating Trump and his allies. Perhaps to soften the blow, the committee surprisingly released a damning 966-page report on Russian measures and the counterintelligence threat in the middle of the Democratic convention. And its Republican members covered themselves by insisting, preposterously, that its contents vindicated Trump.

We can say, without any hesitation, that the committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election, claimed acting chairman Marco Rubio.

That assessment is so bizarre that it has no relationship to the report at all. One could debate whether the report contains proof of collusion, depending on how you define the terms proof and collusion. But evidence of collusion? Well, there is unquestionably a whole lot of it.

Since the Mueller report came out last year, Trump and his minions have insisted it found no evidence of collusion. In fact, Mueller explicitly wrote that he was not investigating collusion at all. (We did not address collusion, which is not a legal term. Rather, we focused on whether the evidence was sufficient to charge any member of the campaign with taking part in a criminal conspiracy.)

Unlike Muellers tightly circumscribed criminal probe, the Senate Intelligence Committee report did investigate collusion. The most important evidence of collusion has either already been exposed (Trump officials taking a meeting with a Russian agent offering Vladimir Putins help with the campaign) or happened right in front of our eyes (Trump going on television to ask Russia to steal and publish Hillary Clintons emails). The real question is how extensively or tightly Trumps campaign managed to coordinate its activity with Russia. And while it lacked the broad-ranging investigative powers Mueller could have used if he wanted, the Senate Intelligence Committee turned up damning evidence.

The primary locus of Russian interference was Russian hacking of Democratic emails and then leaking them in order to benefit Trumps campaign. Two Trump advisers seem likely to have been involved in this scheme: campaign manager Paul Manafort and outside adviser Roger Stone.

Manafort had previously run a pro-Russian presidential campaign in Ukraine before signing up with Trump (for free). His business partner, Konstantin Kilimnik, was and is a Russian intelligence agent. On numerous occasions, Manafort sought to secretly share internal Campaign information with Kilimnik, the report finds.

The committee concedes it was unable to reliably determine why Manafort shared this information. However, it concluded that some evidence suggests Kilimnik may be connected to the GRU hack-and-leak operation related to the 2016 U.S. election. It also found two pieces of information that raise the possibility of Manaforts potential connection to the hack-and-leak operations.

The report redacts all the evidence connecting both Kilimnik and Manafort to the hack-and-leak operation. But these arent anonymously floated claims by hostile elements. This was a report issued by a Republican-controlled committee that had no incentive to make Trump look guilty.

Manafort hardly dispelled the suspicions. Rather than coming clean with investigators, he bought a burner phone to communicate with Kilimnik and his former partner, Rick Gates. And he used a technique called foldering (writing the draft of an email, and inviting his partner to read it, before deleting it) to communicate surreptitiously. Manaforts true motive in deciding to face more severe criminal penalties rather than provide complete answers about his interactions with Kilimnik is unknown, the committee concludes, but the result is that many interactions between Manafort and Kilimnik remain hidden. There is extensive circumstantial evidence that Manafort was playing the same role in the United States that he played in Ukraine  managing the campaign of a pro-Russia candidate on behalf of the regime-linked Russian oligarchs who paid him  but stymied the probe at its end point.

Stone, likewise, served as Trumps link to WikiLeaks. This allowed the campaign to help steer the leaks for maximum advantage. When Trumps campaign learned about devastating recordings of the candidate boasting about sexual assault in October, Stone told his contact, Jerome Corsi, to get Julian Assange to drop the Podesta emails immediately. (WikiLeaks did so.)

Stone also spoke at length with Manafort, and the next day spoke with Trump, and then drafted tweets for Trump to send, expressing a desire for friendlier relations with Russia (i.e., I want a new detente with Russia under Putin). Trump never sent those tweets, but the sequence of events strongly indicates Stones belief that Trumps foreign policy toward Russia was linked with Russias campaign assistance.

The committee did not establish a quid pro quo. But Stone, like Manafort, did not cooperate. Instead, he lied to investigators. Trump also lied (in written answers to Mueller) about his conversations with Stone. You can say this is a lack of proof, but it is certainly not a lack of evidence of collusion. The evidence is extensive.

In a court of law, any defendant is entitled to a presumption of innocence. In the court of public opinion, the rules work differently. All the evidence points to the conclusion that Trump colluded with Russia and persuaded his top lieutenants to cover up their guilt. The traditional investigative technique of exposing a corrupt organization by flipping the mid-level staff against the boss doesnt work when the boss has the power to pardon them and is shameless enough to use it. But the bipartisan Senate report has laid bare enough of the reality that was clear all along: They acted guilty because they were guilty.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has set up a Covid care facility at its six-storey building at Baner with the help of private firms under CSR, officials said on Sunday.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who visited the facility last week, had asked officials to expedite the process of turning the building into a hospital.

The hospital will soon be functional to serve patients with moderate and high-risk symptoms related to Covid-19. It will have 270 oxygenated beds and 42 beds with ventilator at intensive care units (ICU), said PMC standing committee chairman Hemant Rasane.

The standing committee on Tuesday approved the staff for the hospital coming up at Baner. We have got the hospital ready for free with the help from corporates under corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. The civic body will run the facility, said Rasane.

PMC city engineer Prashant Waghmare said that the PMC building was ready and lying unutilised.

PMC has got a 48,000 square feet ready building under reservation from the Panchshil builder at Baner survey number 109. Our department suggested to mayor Murlidhar Mohol and municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar to start a Covid hospital in this building. They okayed our suggestion, said Waghmare.

The six-storey building has 48,000 square feet ready construction with each floor having 8,000 square feet. Under the CSR, we had appealed to corporate firms to contribute for erecting the hospital and they agreed to our proposal, said Waghmare.

The latest facility will help to bring down the hospital bed burden in the city especially among critical patients. An 800-bed jumbo facility is coming up at College of Engineering, Pune and will be operational by this week. The Baner facility will be permanent and PMC can run it as per the requirement even after the Covid pandemic, said Waghmare, who added that many private firms are joining hands with PMC to strengthen the citys medical infrastructure.

Firms who funded to set up hospital at Baner under CSR

Panchshil Foundation

ABIL Foundation

Mindspace Business Park Pvt Limited

Gera Development Private Limited

Malpani Group Sangamner
President Donald Trump, front, takes part in the signing of a proclamation on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment during an event in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington on Aug. 18, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump to Pardon Susan B. Anthony, Signs Proclamation for Womens Suffrage Anniversary

President Donald Trump is issuing a pardon for a famous womens rights activist who died over a century ago.

Late today, I will be signing a full and complete pardon for Susan B. Anthony, Trump announced at the White House on Tuesday, during a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the ability to vote.

Trump said he was surprised to find out about a week ago that Anthony was never pardoned over her conviction for illegal voting.

What took so long? he wondered.

Anthony, born on Feb. 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts, spent much of her life working to abolish slavery and gain rights for women. She worked as a teacher, founded the American Equal Rights Association, and helped edit the groups newspaper, The Revolution.

Anthony and fourteen other women voted in an election on Nov. 5, 1872, in Rochester, New York, which was illegal for women at the time.

The women believed that they did have the right to vote under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Susan Brownell Anthony, a womens rights and antislavery activist, in 1890. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Anthony was arrested 12 days later and charges were filed in federal court. A trial in New York state ended with Anthonys conviction. She was fined $100.

I have many things to say; for in your ordered verdict of guilty, you have trampled under foot every vital principle of our government. My natural rights, my civil rights, my political rights, my judicial rights, are all alike ignored, Anthony told the court.

Robbed of the fundamental privilege of citizenship, I am degraded from the status of a citizen to that of a subject; and not only myself individually, but all of my sex, are, by your honors verdict, doomed to political subjection under this, so-called, form of government.

Trump had teased a major pardon on Monday night, telling reporters on Air Force One it would be for someone very, very important.

After the announcement on Tuesday, the president signed a proclamation for the 19th Amendment anniversary, surrounded by a number of women, including Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List; Kay Cole James, president of the Heritage Foundation, and Debra Wall, deputy archivist of the United States.

It was a monumental victory for equality, for justice, and a monumental victory for America, Trump said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Twenty-five percent of all Staten Island public school students are opting to learn fully remotely when school begins this fall during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to data provided by the education officials.

According to the city Department of Education (DOE), families were able to choose between full-time remote learning, or a blended learning option, in which students would attend school in-person a few days a week and remote learn the rest of the time.

Of the over 1 million students who attend a New York City public school, 304,880 students will learn remotely from home when school starts in September, and 697,008 will learn in a blended learning model, according to the DOEs most current survey data as of Monday. That means about 30% of families citywide are choosing to learn fully remote.

In District 31, which encompasses all of Staten Island, 25% of students opted into full-time remote learning -- which means three-quarters of students will return to their borough schools for blended learning.

The DOE also shared data on the percent of students citywide who requested full-time remote learning by race. Twenty-eight percent of Asian students will learn remotely full-time, as well as 20% of Black students, 37% of Hispanic students, 12% of white students, and 3% of students classified as other.

These numbers do not include charter schools, which are required to make their own reopening plans. Families who wanted their children to physically return to school buildings didnt have to fill out the survey, which only required families who wanted to opt into remote learning.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

The percent of students participating in remote and blended learning is subject to change, as families can opt into remote learning at any time, and can opt into blended learning at certain points throughout the school year.

Families are able to choose full-time remote learning at any point by filling out this survey, at www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference.

The DOE is expecting 85% of its teacher workforce, or 66,000 teachers, to teach under the blended learning model, according to Chancellor Richard A. Carranza.

Fifteen percent of city teachers have requested a reasonable accommodation, which is available to employees who are at a heightened risk for severe illness if they contract COVID-19, allowing them to work from home. According to Carranza, teachers approved for a reasonable accommodation will exclusively teach remotely.

RETURN TO SCHOOL

School buildings will only open if the citys rate of positive coronavirus tests is less than 3% using a seven-day rolling average. The latest positive test rate is 1%, according to the DOE.

With a citywide infection rate of 1%, New York City is the safest major city in the country, said Katie OHanlon, a spokeswoman for the DOE. Health and safety is guiding our reopening plans every step of the way and we will be welcoming the vast majority of our students back into school buildings this fall. We are committed to providing quality instruction five days a week, regardless of the setting, and well continue to work with parents to offer the safest option for them and their families.

Students will receive academic instruction either in-person or remote five days a week. School are using these survey results to program their school-specific reopening plans. Starting Monday, schools will begin telling parents exactly which days their kids will be in school for those who chose a blended learning model.

When students return, they will be required to follow social distance protocols and wear face coverings or masks inside school buildings.

Students engaged in remote learning full-time must meet the same academic policies as students engaged in blended learning, which means students will be graded the same.

While there may be a few exceptions, depending on the number of fully remote students and staff with reasonable accommodations, fully remote students will be assigned teachers from their school when they receive their full schedule prior to the start of the school year.

Related stories:

What will reopening look like in largest U.S. school districts?

2020-2021 school year: 26% of NYC families choose full-time remote learning

Coronavirus: Reopening plans for Staten Island charter schools

2020-2021 school year in NYC: Guidelines on gym, music and more

Coronavirus: How NYC plans to safely reopen schools in fall

2020-2021 academic year: Reopening plans for schools across Staten Island

NYC schools reopening: State guidelines for special education

The Catholic elementary school reopening plan: Face masks, temperature checks and more

NYC schools reopening: Transportation plan for students remains unclear

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The organiser of a hippy drumming event has vowed to continue defying COVID-19 restrictions and labelled social distancing measures a 'totalitarian measure'.

Sydney Drummers founder, Curt Hannagan, organised a gathering that saw 200 people pack onto Mistral Point at Maroubra in the city's east on Sunday.

Mr Hannagan unleashed an explosive social media rant on Tuesday after he was fined $1,000 for breaching coronavirus restrictions.

'We are having our rights and freedoms taken away from us over a virus with a 99 per cent recovery rate,' Mr Hannagan wrote on Facebook.

A mass musical gathering (pictured) at a beach in Maroubra, south east of Sydney had to be broken up by police after it breached COVID-19 restrictions after attracting almost 200 people

Mr Hannagan, who also goes by Curt Alchemy, established a GoFundMe page to help pay for the event's fine and purchase new drumming equipment.

'Over 200 people gathered in Maroubra to collectively share their heart beat and connection to one another in a form of musical celebration for the human race and mother earth,' Mr Hannagan explained.

He also added a post on the Sydney Drumming page that said the group would 'not submit to the current totalitarian measures here in Australia'.

'These events are designed to heal ourselves, heal our trauma, and to create harmony within our body, mind and spirit,' Mr Hannagan said.

The drummer asked those who 'stand strong for you rights, for your freedoms' to 'donate any finances... so we can pay the fine and move forward.'

He also shared plans to host another gathering and asked 'Who wants another secret location tribe fest in Sydney?'

'We will not submit, we will rise in community spirit,' Mr Hannagan said.

Maroubra residents called police after seeing the drumming party grow and officers arrived at about 6pm.

Mr Hannagan (pictured dancing on Sunday) started a GoFundMe to raise the $1,000

Mr Hannagan (pictured) labelled social distancing rules 'totalitarian measures'

'Officers spoke with a 33-year-old man who was one of the organisers of the event.

'Police were able to disperse the crowd without incident,' a NSW Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

NSW Police said they issued the 33-year-old man with a $1,000 fine on Monday for failing to comply with COVID-19 regulations.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the event organisers for comment.

According to New South Wales Health regulations no more than 20 people are allowed to gather outside in a public place.

The state recorded three new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 3,770.

One was a returned traveller in hotel quarantine, one has been linked to the funeral cluster in South Western Sydney and another case remains under investigation.

There were 13,736 tests undertaken in the most recent 24 hour period and 122 people are being treated for coronavirus.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 06:36:58|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt on Monday approved an oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), opening up part of the 19.3-million-acre protected area in Alaska to drilling for the first time amid opposition from environmental groups.

"Congress directed us to hold lease sales in the ANWR Coastal Plain, and we have taken a significant step in meeting our obligations by determining where and under what conditions the oil and gas development program will occur," Bernhardt said in a statement.

"Our program meets the legal mandate that Coastal Plain leaseholders get the necessary rights-of-way, easements and land areas for production and support facilities they need to find and develop these important Arctic oil and gas resources," he said.

As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December 2017, U.S. Congress authorized to make a 1.56-million-acre area of the refuge, known as the Coastal Plain program area, available for oil and gas leasing, while leaving 92 percent of the refuge off-limits to energy development.

"Today's announcement marks a milestone in Alaska's forty-year journey to responsibly develop our State and our Nation's new energy frontier," Alaska Governor Michael Dunleavy said in a statement.

"The Record of Decision is a definitive step in the right direction to developing this area's energy potential - between 4.3 and 11.8 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil reserves," he said.

However, environmental groups criticized the move, arguing that it would damage the sensitive area and compound the climate crisis.

"The Trump administration never stops pushing to drill in the Arctic Refuge - and we will never stop suing them. America has safeguarded the refuge for decades, and we will not allow the administration to strip that protection away now," Gina McCarthy, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement.

"The administration's reckless, relentless boosting of the oil industry will irrevocably damage this cherished place and compound the global climate crisis. We will not let it stand," McCarthy said.

Adam Kolton, executive director at Alaska Wilderness League Action, also said in a statement that the Trump administration's move would put "the indigenous peoples and iconic wildlife" that depend on the Arctic Refuge at risk.

"The American people will not stand for the liquidation of our nation's most iconic wilderness. We will continue to fight this at every turn, in the courts, in Congress and in the corporate boardrooms," Kolton said, adding any oil company that would seek to drill in the Arctic Refuge will face "enormous reputational, legal and financial risks." Enditem
Chris Paul and James Harden seemed like a dynamic duo on the Houston Rockets once upon a time, although it's clear that they stopped gelling with each other. This led to a bit of a falling out behind closed doors and as a result, Paul was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Russell Westbrook. The trade worked out splendidly for both teams as Russ and Harden have been lights out, while Paul has been able to guide a young team to the postseason.

Now, both teams will be facing off against each other in the first-round of the playoffs. While Westbrook will have to miss the first few games with an injury, it's still going to be a bittersweet moment for Paul, who gets to face Harden with the stakes at their highest. While speaking to Thunder reporter Brandon Rahbar, Paul explained what it will be like to go up against the Rockets while also noting that Harden is a wildcard.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1295050379709812739

https://twitter.com/_/status/1295051169316909057



I dont know. We got different ideas over here. He has a unique way of scoring on a nightly basis," Paul said. He also commented on the team's small balls strategy, noting "Russ has been unbelievable as dynamic as he is. They got a solid team.

This series will certainly be one of the best of the playoffs, so give us your predictions, in the comments below.
Kevin was stolen from his enclosure in Monmouthshire. (Gwent Police)

Police are appealing for help tracing an alpaca named Kevin who was stolen from a field in south Wales.

Gwent Police released an image of Kevin on Tuesday in the hope that a member of the public may have spotted him.

Ginger-fleeced Kevin was snatched while grazing in a field at the farm where he lives in Llanover, Monmouthshire.

Officers say he has been microchipped so are hopeful they can return Kevin to his rightful owner.

Over the last few days a ginger male Alpaca (microchipped) has been stolen from a field on Old Abergavenny Rd, Llanover. If anyone has any info Pl ring Gwent Police on 101 or email contact@gwent.pnn.police.uk or DM @GwentPolice quoting Inc. No. 308 16/08/20. Many thanks.  Gwent Police | Rural Crime Team (@GPRuralCrime) August 17, 2020

A spokesperson for Gwent Police's Rural Crime Team, said: "Over the last few days a ginger male Alpaca (microchipped) has been stolen from a field.

"Kevin vanished from his field in Llanover, Monmouthshire - and anyone with information is asked to ring Gwent Police on 101."

Fully grown alpacas are smaller than llamas and reach up to 3ft tall and 13 stone. The animals are farmed widely for their wool.

According to the British Alpaca Society, it is believed that the alpaca and the llama were domesticated from the wild species vicuna and guanaco over 6000 years ago.
More than 20 armed groups have been demanding independence for decades.

Myanmars stalled peace process will restart with another round of negotiations between the government and ethnic fighters.

More than 20 armed groups have been demanding independence for decades.

Al Jazeeras Wayne Hay looks at why progress is proving difficult.
Vietnams B2C e-commerce revenue rose by 25 percent to 10.08 billion USD in 2019, according to the e-Commerce White Book 2020 released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)s e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency (iDEA).

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The number of online shoppers grew about 1.12 percent year-on-year to 44.8 million people last year from 39.9 million people in the previous year, says the book. Average spending for online shopping was 225 USD per person, 23 USD higher than in 2018.

Head of the iDEA Dang Hoang Hai said 2019 saw a big change of Vietnams e-commerce sector when the country was implementing the governments master plan for e-commerce development between 2016 and 2020.

He noted that e-commerce has smoothed the way for the flow of goods and services and supported firms, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, in seeking business opportunities in the era of international integration and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The book provides readers with an overall picture of Vietnams e-commerce industry from legal environment, logistics infrastructure, payment to use of e-commerce among businesses, exporters and people.

Vietnam has set a target that the e-commerce industry would grow by 25 percent per year to 35 billion USD with more than half of the population shopping online by the end of 2025.

According to the e-Commerce White Book 2019, e-commerce revenue jumped 30 percent from 6.2 billion USD in 2017 to 8.06 billion USD in 2018.

The size of the local e-commerce market was expected to reach 13 billion USD this year.

The e-Conomy SEA 2019 report by Google and Temasek predicted that e-commerce in Vietnam would expand 43 percent per year in the 2015-25 period, making it the fastest growing e-commerce market in the region.

Vietnam is now the second fastest growing e-commerce market in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia./.VNA

E-commerce in Vietnam thrives during COVID-19 Covid-19 has given e-commerce a push, said Nguyen Thuy Anh from the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy.
CHENNAI : An Indian court on Tuesday refused to allow the reopening of a south Indian copper smelter, lawyers for Vedanta and the government said, more than two years after it was shut over pollution concerns.

Police in May 2018 killed 13 people protesting against pollution from Sterlite Copper, a unit of Vedanta Ltd. A week after the bloodshed, the Tamil Nadu government ordered the smelter shut citing alleged pollution.

Vedanta has consistently denied accusations of pollution, and a lawyer for Vedanta said on Tuesday the company plans to challenge the Madras High Court judgment in the Supreme Court.

"I am absolutely shocked by the judgment," C Aryama Sundaram, a lawyer for Vedanta said, adding the country will be forced to import copper.

Sterlite Copper in Thoothukudi accounted for over a third of India's refined copper output before it was shut.

Tamil Nadu police opened fire on unarmed protesters in May 2018, killing 12 of the 13 with gun shots to the head and chest. Over a hundred protesters were also injured.

Over two years later, no policeman has been charged in what was the deadliest environmental protest in India in nearly a decade. Immediately after the incident, the state's Chief Minister - responsible for law and order - said police had fired in response to protesters turning violent.

Vedanta shares fell as much as 6.1% on Tuesday, before paring some losses to be 1.3% lower at 126.25 rupees in midday trade.

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Eric H. Holder Jr., the former attorney general, accused President Trump on Tuesday of trying to disenfranchise millions of voters by damaging the Postal Service and its ability to handle mail-in voting in the November election.

Mr. Holder, who served under President Barack Obama, told Pennsylvania Democrats during a breakfast videoconference that Mr. Trump would stop at nothing to win a second term.

Our democracy is actually on the ballot this November, Mr. Holder said.

He said he was alarmed by Mr. Trumps unsubstantiated claims that voter fraud has been widespread.

He just came right out and said it that hes undermining a cherished institution, Mr. Holder said of cuts to the Postal Service, adding that he thought Mr. Trump would do anything that he believed was in his own self-interest.
As a conflict in a large church I attended escalated, I contacted an elder to inquire about the situation. Rather pointedly, I asked about the senior pastor in the center of the fracas.

"Is there sexual sin?"

"No," he replied.

"Is there financial misconduct?"

"No."

"Is he preaching heresy?"

"No."

"So what's the problem?"

"It's complicated."

"My wife's 30-year medical history is complicated," I responded. "This doesn't sound that complicated."

Surprised by my remarks, he stammered, "There's a history you just don't know."

"The church is less than 25 years old, and I've been here for fifteen of those years. Bring me up to speed and share why you're doing this."

Refusing, he restated that "it's complicated and you don't understand the history."

Eventually, I learned all the "history," and discovered that, as suspected, it was not complicated. Turns out the culprits were things plaguing human beings for eons: jealously, greed, self-righteousness, and hatred  even in a church. Even still, the conflict could have been worked out over a cup of coffee. Instead, it festered due to personalities and pursuit of (and abuse of) power.

Elites often tell those outside their bubble that "it's complicated" or "you don't understand the history." Elites seem to believe that others are not important enough to be "in the know" or smart enough to grasp the concepts. Keeping people in the dark facilitates the accrual and abuse of power. Verbal skills, inside information, and position can foster intimidation  and even bullying.

Whether in a church or in the halls of government, human behavior is the same.

Clearly knowing human beings' propensity to deceive and control, America's Founders established a complex form of government that provided checks and balances on the three branches. They even established a provision to protect free speech so that a "fourth estate" (the media) could monitor the government.

Ironically, America's government construct has roots in Protestant church government structure.

What happens when the systems become so corrupted that few, if any, perform their duties as intended? Society suffers when friendly media fail to investigate lies by someone with an agenda they support. Trust erodes when politicians with scandalous behavior get a pass because of their ideology. Justice decays when law enforcement officers deceive a nation.

Yet, when inquiries are made by concerned citizens, the same words spoken by that church elder seem to issue from elitist politicians, media, and academics. "It's complicated  you don't understand the history."

Contrary to what the "elites" may think, the populace is paying attention. Quarantining the country can have that effect. Americans witness the petulance and hypocrisy. When the speaker of the House preplans tearing up a state of the union speech for a political stunt, a nation notices. Eyebrows are raised when a nation watches a congressional committee spew rehearsed disrespectful attack lines at an attorney general. When a faux impeachment consumes a country's resources while an adversary releases a contagion, people recognize government forsaking responsibilities and pursuing personal agendas.

Sadly, that church split  and the founding pastor was fired after years of faithful service. They even sent two deacons to stand guard as he packed his office. A hallmark of elites is humiliation and abuse of power. There were no moral issues or heresy. Personalities and pursuit of power ripped an exceptionally beautiful church asunder.

America is watching politicians foolishly allowing cities to burn, histories desecrated, and loss of property and life. An exceptionally beautiful country is being rent asunder over personalities and lust for power.

Even church splits, however, can become teachable moments for a nation. It appears that an increasing number of Americans do not consider this "complicated," and they do indeed know the history  and learn from that history. The responsible citizens of this country do not destroy, they build. Yet when what they build is destroyed, the American people become angry. They also see that these "elites" have glass jaws and simply cannot take a punch.

A storm is coming to this country, but the media and the "elites" push ahead in their bloodlust while ignoring the warning signs.

Perhaps they do not understand the history  or maybe it is just too complicated for them.

Peter Rosenberger hosts the nationally syndicated radio program Hope for the Caregiver. For more than 34 years, he's cared for his wife Gracie, who lives with severe disabilities. www.hopforthecaregiver.com

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Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 403.35, down 1.12% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock jumped 16.24% in last one year as compared to a 2.38% rally in NIFTY and a 7.14% spurt in the Nifty Energy index.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd fell for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 403.35, down 1.12% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.62% on the day, quoting at 11317.25. The Sensex is at 38281.44, up 0.61%.Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has eased around 7.76% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has increased around 4.68% in last one month and is currently quoting at 15588.45, up 0.3% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 83.83 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 161.35 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark August futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 404, down 1.34% on the day. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd jumped 16.24% in last one year as compared to a 2.38% rally in NIFTY and a 7.14% spurt in the Nifty Energy index.

The PE of the stock is 18.56 based on TTM earnings ending June 20.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two coalitions of states announced plans Tuesday for a pair of lawsuits against the U.S. Postal Service over changes that critics say could imperil the delivery of tens of millions of ballots in the November election.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said they planned to launch separate suits seeking to reverse alterations to postal delivery procedures, the removal of mail sorting machines and limits on overtime that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has rolled out in recent weeks.

The beleaguered Postal Service is suddenly at the center of a white-hot political and legal fight as Democrats accuse President Donald Trump and DeJoy  a longtime Republican donor and businessman tapped to oversee the agency  of unleashing chaos and cutbacks there in order to undermine efforts to collect a large volume of ballots by mail because of coronavirus concerns.

We will be taking action to reinstate Postal Service standards that all Americans depend on, whether its for delivering their prescription drugs or for carrying their very right to vote, Shapiro said in a statement. Recent post office changes have been implemented recklessly, before checking the law, and we will use our authority to stop them and help ensure that every eligible ballot is counted.

Ferguson said: For partisan gain, President Trump is attempting to destroy a critical institution that is essential for millions of Americans. We rely on the Postal Service for our Social Security benefits, prescriptions  and exercising our right to vote. Our coalition will fight to protect the Postal Service and uphold the rule of law in federal court.

Attorneys general from California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina are expected to join the Pennsylvania suit, while their counterparts in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin signed on to the Washington state litigation.

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Fergusons suit, filed Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Yakima, Wash., argues that the postal changes are unconstitutional because they interfere with the right to vote, with states authority to conduct congressional and presidential elections, undermine the equal protection guarantee in the Fifth Amendment and violate the 10th Amendments language reserving powers to the states.

The complaint also alleges that the shifts DeJoy has implemented violate federal law by discriminating against Americans with disabilities and that the postmaster general has run afoul of a law governing his agency by pursuing transformative changes without legally required approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission.

The suit also names Trump as a defendant, citing more than 70 tweets he has issued disparaging mail-in voting and warning  based on thin evidence  that it will invite massive voter fraud.

The new, state-led litigation follows similar cases filed in federal courts in New York and Washington, D.C., on Monday on behalf of voters and political candidates who say changes underway at the Postal Service threaten to nullify elections at all levels this fall.

DeJoy, who has been called to testify about the issues before a Senate committee this week and a House panel next week, announced on Tuesday that he planned to hold off on any further changes through the election.

The Postal Service is ready today to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives this fall, DeJoy wrote.

I came to the Postal Service to make changes to secure the success of this organization and its long-term sustainability, the postmaster general added. I believe significant reforms are essential to that objective, and work toward those reforms will commence after the election.  To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded.

DeJoy said he would not alter post office hours, remove mail sorting equipment or boxes, or close facilities, and would approve overtime as needed.

The Postal Service is ready today to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives this fall, he insisted.

Lawyers involved in preparing the new suits said they would proceed despite DeJoys statement, which did not agree to roll back changes already instituted.

After DeJoys announcement, a spokesperson for Marylands attorney general, Brian Frosh, told POLITICO that our suit moves forward.

Ferguson, the Washington state attorney general, said in a statement: This isnt the first time the Trump Administration has reversed course immediately after we highlighted egregious procedural violations. We will be watching closely to ensure that the Postmaster Generals statement is implemented. Until then, we are continuing to move forward with our lawsuit to protect the Postal Service and mail-in voting.



CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misstated where in Washington state the Ferguson lawsuit was filed.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 18, 2020 - 15:43 | World, All

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said Tuesday Hong Kong will take up with the World Trade Organization trade sanctions the United States imposed on the territory.

"These sanctions are totally unjustified," Lam told a news conference ahead of a weekly Cabinet meeting. "We will take up some of those sanctions, especially those involving trade. Because Hong Kong is a separate member of the World Trade Organization, to be mistreated by another member of the World Trade Organization breaches the rules and regulations of this international body."

As part of the sanctions issued under an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump in response to China imposing a sweeping national security law in the territory, Hong Kong-made products for export to the United States will have to bear an origin marking of "made in China" rather than "made in Hong Kong" effective Sept. 25.

The government has since the former British colony's return to Chinese rule in 1997 stressed that Hong Kong is part of China but maintained it is treated as a separate customs territory that enjoys different tariff arrangements when it comes to international trade.

The United States has decided to revoke the special trade status it offered Hong Kong in response to the suppression of a pro-democracy movement that started in 2019 and China's adamant decision to install an anti-subversion law in the territory.

Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Edward Yau has strongly disputed the relabeling decision, saying it forces Hong Kong traders to "tell a lie" about the origin of products.

Lam and 10 others, including her chief officials and Chinese officials, have been put on a U.S. sanctions list that bars them from entering the country and targets financial firms handling their U.S. assets.

Lam said that while the sanctions will cause "some inconvenience in my personal affairs, that is nothing that I will take to heart at all. We will continue to do what is right for the country and for Hong Kong," she said.

Since taking effect on June 30, the law has been used mainly on protesters and political dissidents accused of inciting secession by simply calling out slogans, or colluding with foreign forces. Media mogul Jimmy Lai and activist Agnes Chow were among the suspects in the latest arrests that included a police raid at the offices of a newspaper.

Declining to comment on Lai's arrest or the raid, Lam said national security is not to be compromised, and even rights and freedoms guaranteed in international treaties are subject to restrictions.

"To some extent, the law is a weapon for the rule of law, which is to punish criminals, to deter and penalize. Indeed, in the past year, we have seen the monetary system being used in imposing sanctions, the social media being used in a way that exposes a person's identity without consent, that's all the more reason to have a righteous national security law to handle and protect the people," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:08:00|Editor: huaxia

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CHICAGO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A study posted on the website of University of Michigan (UM) on Tuesday has found that older adults' regular visits to eateries such as fast food restaurants and coffee shops may be as protective of cognitive health as marriage.

The researchers interviewed 125 older adults aged 55-92 in the Minneapolis metro area and accompanied them on visits to their neighborhood haunts. Through analysis of the interviews, they found that older adults valued these types of eateries as places of familiarity and comfort; places that were physically and economically accessible; and places to socialize with family, friends, staff and customers.

The researchers then tested this idea in a national cohort to determine whether access to eateries was associated with cognitive function. They drew on the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke, or REGARDS, study, which collects longitudinal information by mail and telephone from more than 30,000 aging black and white individuals. The participants were an average age of 64 in 2003-2007.

REGARDS respondents residing in the most sparse retail food environments had cognitive scores that were modestly lower, about 0.1 points, than residents living in the highest density environments. The difference in cognitive well-being between individuals living in high density and low density neighborhoods was equivalent to about a year difference in age, which is strongly linked to age-related cognitive decline in older adults.

Philippa Clarke, a professor of epidemiology at the UM School of Public Health and research professor at the Survey Research Center, worries what impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on these older adults' ability to visit these places.

"As these 'third places' close for business during the pandemic, the opportunities for social interaction for older adults are constrained. This research highlights the importance of informal places for social interaction for maintaining cognitive health with aging, and raises important questions about the impact of their closure for the future rates of dementia in older Americans."

The study has been published in the journal Health and Place. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 06:20:01|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Egypt confirmed on Monday 115 new COVID-19 infections and 13 deaths, raising the total cases registered in the country since the outbreak of the pandemic to 96,590 and the death toll to 5,173, said the Egyptian Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, 908 coronavirus patients were cured and discharged from hospitals, increasing the total recoveries to 60,651, Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed.

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

From the first week of July, coronavirus daily fatalities and infections in Egypt started to gradually decline along with increasing daily recoveries.

Earlier this month, Egypt decided to ban anyone from entering the country without a recent PCR test that proves they are free from COVID-19, except for tourists coming via direct flights to the airports of Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada, Taba, and Marsa Alam.

The country resumed international flights in early July after it lifted a partial nighttime curfew it has been imposing since late March, and reopened restaurants, cafes, theaters, and cinemas, as well as hotels, museums, and archeological sites, all with limited capacity.

Egypt and China have been working together on fighting the pandemic through exchanging medical aid and expertise.

In early February, Egypt provided aid to China to help with its fight against COVID-19 and China later sent three batches of medical aid to the North African country. Enditem
Oracle Corp has joined some of the investors of TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, in pursuing a bid for the popular short-video app's operations in North America, Australia and New Zealand, according to people familiar with the matter. The move would represent a strategic departure for Oracle, which caters mostly to corporate customers and generates the bulk of its sales from cloud offerings and software licensing. Its co-founder and chairman Larry Ellison is one of the few top technology executive to openly support President Donald Trump, who has ordered ByteDance to ...
By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration plans to try this week to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran after the U.N. Security Council rejected Washington's bid to extend an arms embargo on the country.

Here is a look at the events leading to this showdown and an explanation of what could happen next.

WHY IS THE ARMS EMBARGO ON IRAN EXPIRING?

The 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, U.S. 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 Iran embargo at the 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 U.N. 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 pact.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has described the next few weeks and months as critical.

WHAT SANCTIONS WOULD SNAP BACK?

A snapback of U.N. 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.

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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 adopted by the deadline, all U.N. sanctions in place before the 2015 nuclear deal would be automatically reimposed.

Trump said the United States was likely to submit its complaint this week.

CAN THE U.S. 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 U.N. sanctions and therefore they simply would not reimpose the measures on Iran themselves.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Will Dunham and Alistair Bell)
(Bloomberg) --OPEC and its allies have achieved the oil-market equivalent of a high-wire act: increasing supply even as demand remains depleted, without crashing prices.

Whether they can successfully continue the balancing act is unclear.

The coalition of producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia is restoring some of the vast quantities of crude halted during the depths of the coronavirus crisis. So far the supply boost hasnt derailed oils fragile recovery, which has seen prices climb to a five-month high.

But the outlook for fuel demand has deteriorated as the pandemic crushes international travel, and new outbreaks of the disease are weighing on the economic recovery. On Wednesday, key OPEC+ members will meet to consider how to safe-guard their recent success.

They need to be very vigilant, said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at consultant Energy Aspects Ltd. Because you can get a demand pullback, and they just need to be very quick in responding.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners slashed 9.7 million barrels of daily output earlier this year -- about 10% of global supply -- when global lockdowns inflicted the biggest oil-demand collapse in history.

Their sacrifices paid off, turning around a market that at its trough saw prices in New York crash below zero. Brent crude futures are trading near $45 a barrel, triple the levels of late April. The effort has thrown a lifeline not only to the economies of OPEC+ members, but international companies like BP Plc and Exxon Mobil Corp.

With global consumption creeping back up toward normal levels, OPEC+ has this month started to carefully open the taps.

Cautious Steps

The market remains too fragile to risk anything more. The 23-nation alliance plans to keep the bulk of its halted output -- about 7.7 million barrels a day, and possibly more -- off-line for the rest of the year.

Saudi Arabia even said that most of the supply returned in August will be consumed domestically, used to satisfy the kingdoms summer electricity needs rather than shipped to overseas customers.

The producers can ill-afford a relapse. Despite the rebound, oil prices are still barely half the level many OPEC nations need to cover government spending. The financial squeeze has left several contending with massive deficits, popular unrest and currency devaluations.

Recent days have provided an ominous reminder of the need for caution. The International Energy Agency, one of the worlds leading forecasters, downgraded its second-half demand outlook last week by 500,000 barrels a day as air travel languishes. The summer power-demand spike within Saudi Arabia, which helped absorb extra barrels, will also fade.

We still are in a very uncertain world, said Mohammad Darwazah, an analyst at Medley Global Advisors. And I think theres recognition of that within the group even if theyre quite sanguine on demand publicly.

Focus on Compliance

Given the markets vulnerability, the Saudis are exerting maximum pressure on other OPEC+ members to fulfill their commitments. When the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee meets on Wednesday this will be at the top of the agenda, delegates say. The Joint Technical Committee, a panel of technical experts that assesses implementation of the cuts on behalf of ministers, meets on Monday.

Quota-cheats such as Iraq and Nigeria have promised to make additional compensation cuts in atonement for earlier laxity. Baghdad and Riyadh issued a joint statement on Aug. 7 in which Iraq pledged 400,000 barrels a day of reduction in August and September, on top of the 850,000-barrel cutback its already supposed to make.

Yet neither of the laggards have yet delivered the mandated cuts, let alone any extra reductions.

Nigeria is lobbying for one of its oil grades, Agbami, to be considered as condensate rather than crude, a light oil that would be exempt from their production quota, according to delegates who asked not to be identified.

While Iraq has got closer to its target than almost ever before, implementing about 80% of the stipulated cuts, the immense economic pressures on a country still emerging from war and sanctions make any further cooperation problematic.

Fatal protests broke out in Baghdad earlier this month as the countrys electricity grid buckled amid searing temperatures.

The Iraqis were trending in the right direction, said Helima Croft, head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets LLC. But compensation? Given the dire economic circumstances, that just might be a bridge too far.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
IDF Grounds Black Hawk Fleet, Launches Probe Amid Series of Mysterious Malfunctions

Sputnik News

22:04 GMT 17.08.2020

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is blocking its Black Hawk helicopter fleet from all non-operational flights as the military looks into a recent pattern of "technical malfunctions" - one of which involved the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief.

"The commander of the Air Force, Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, decided to ground the fleet of Yanshuf [Black Hawk] helicopters from training and transport activities following a number of technical malfunctions that occurred in the helicopters' motors in the past two months," read an IAF statement obtained by the Times of Israel.

While the choppers are normally relied on for routine transportation missions and similar shuttling, each Black Hawk will now undergo inspection so that IAF technicians may come to a better conclusion on the recent motor issues.

"Until the end [of the investigation], the fleet will be grounded, save for operational activities," the service statement read.

This comes a month after a Black Hawk experienced a mid-air technical malfunction and nearly crashed while transporting IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi from the Knesset to an undisclosed military base.

The chopper's crew initially struggled to recover, resulting in the Black Hawk plummeting to just 100 feet (about 30 meters) above the ground before they corrected the aircraft's error.

"The immediate actions by the flight crew allowed them to handle the malfunction safely, and at no time was there a threat to the lives of the passengers," the IDF claimed in an early July statement.

Citing Israeli free-to-air outlet Channel 12, the Times of Israel highlighted that initial reports claimed the incident almost led to a "disaster" due to the flight crew's improper response to the emergency.

The IDF proceeded to launch a probe into the matter.

Norkin ordered a similar grounding of the IAF's Yasur heavy transport helicopter fleet in November 2019 after a chopper carrying 14 soldiers experienced a technical issue that triggered an engine fire.

No injuries were reported, and the aircraft's crew was able to conduct an emergency landing from an altitude of 170 kilometers within a minute.

A Sputnik

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A research team at TU Darmstadt headed by Professor Kristian Kersting describes how to achieve this using a clever approach to interactive learning in the magazine Nature Machine Intelligence.

Imagine the following situation: A company wants to teach an artificial intelligence (AI) to recognise a horse on photos. To this end, it uses several thousand images of horses to train the AI until it is able to reliably identify the animal even on unknown images. The AI learns quickly  it is not clear to the company how it is making its decisions but this is not really an issue for the company. It is simply impressed by how reliably the process works. However, a suspicious person then discovers that copyright information with a link to a website on horses is printed in the bottom right corner of the photos. The AI has made things relatively easy for itself and has learnt to recognise the horse based only on this copyright notice. Researchers talk in these cases about confounders  which are confounding factors that should actually have nothing to do with the identification process. In these cases, the process will work as long as the AI continues to receive other comparable photos. If the copyright notice is missing, the AI is left high and dry.

Various studies carried out over the last few years have studied and shown how to uncover this undesired decision making of AI systems, even when using very large datasets for training the system. They have become known as Clever Hans moments of AI  named after a horse who at the beginning of the last century was supposed to be able to solve simple arithmetic sums but was in fact only able to find the right answer by reading the body language of the questioner. AI with a Clever Hans moment learns to draw the right conclusions for the wrong reasons, says Kristian Kersting, Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the Department of Computer Science at TU Darmstadt and a member of its Centre for Cognitive Science. This is a problem that all AI researchers are potentially confronted with and makes clear why the call for explainable AI has become louder in recent years.

Kersting understands the consequences of this problem: Eliminating Clever Hans moments is one of the most important steps towards a practical application and dissemination of AI, in particular in scientific and in safety-critical areas. The researcher and his team have already been developing AI solutions for a number of years that can determine the resistance of a plant to parasites or detect an infestation at an early stage  even before it can be perceived by the human eye. However, the prerequisite for the success of such an application is that the AI system is right for the right scientific reasons so that the domain experts actually trust the AI. If it is not possible to generate trust, the experts will turn away from the AI  and will thus miss the opportunity to use AI to create resistant plants in times of global warming.

Nevertheless, trust must be earned. In a recent paper published in the magazine Nature Machine Intelligence, the researcher and his team demonstrate how trust in AI can be improved using interactive learning. This means integrating experts into the learning process. These experts need to be able to understand what it is that the AI is actually doing. More precisely, the AI system has to supply information on its active learning process  e.g. what information it has taken from a training set such as the image of a horse and an explanation of how it is able to make a prediction based on this information. People with expert knowledge can then check both of these things. If the prediction is fundamentally wrong, the AI can learn new rules, but if the prediction and the explanation are right, the experts do not need to do anything. However, the experts are left with a problem if the prediction is right but the explanation is wrong: How do you teach an AI that the explanation is wrong?

Together with colleagues from the University of Bonn, the University of Gottingen, the University of Trento, and the company LemnaTec, the team has now developed a novel approach for this purpose that is called explanatory interactive learning (XIL). In simple terms, it adds the expert into the training loop such that she interactively revises the AI system via providing feedback on its explanations. In the example described above, the AI would indicate that it considers the copyright information to be relevant. The expert will simply say no, this is not right. As a result, the AI will then pay less and less attention to this information in the future.

Supported by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the research team at TU Darmstadt tested XIL using a dataset for the Cercospora leaf spot disease, a harmful leaf disease in sugar beet that is found all over the world. The AI  a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)  initially learnt to concentrate on areas of the hyperspectral data that could not be relevant for identifying the pathogen according to plant experts  despite the fact that the predictions where highly accurate. Following a correction stage using explanatory interactive learning (XIL), the detection rate felt only slightly but the AI drew the right conclusions for the right reasons. The experts are able to work with this type of AI. Conversely, the AI may learn at a slower pace but it will deliver more reliable predictions in the long run.

Interaction and understandability are thus crucially important for building trust in AI systems that learn from data, says Kersting. Surprisingly, the links between interaction, explanation and building trust have largely been ignored in research  until now.
Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, slated to take charge as the chief of the poll body, stepped down on Tuesday to join the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as vice-president next month.

Lavasa tendered his resignation to President Ram Nath Kovind and requested that he be relieved by the end of this month.

The Philippines-based ADB had shared the news about Lavasa's appointment last month. He (Lavasa) has extensive experience in public-private partnerships and infrastructure development at the state and federal levels, with deep knowledge on public policy and the role of the private sector, the bank had said in a press statement.

Lavasa still has more than two years remaining in his tenure at the Election Commission of India (ECI). After his early departure, his colleague Sushil Chandra is next in line.

Lavasa will take over from ADB vice-president Diwakar Gupta who is responsible for private sector operations and public-private partnerships. Gupta's tenure ends on August 31.

Lavasa, a retired IAS officer of the Haryana cadre (1980 batch), joined the poll body as the Election Commissioner in January 2018. He retired as Finance Secretary. Besides this, he was also the environment and civil aviation secretary. During his tenure as joint secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs between 2001-2002, he was in-charge of issues relating to ADB.

Lavasa hit the headlines during the Lok Sabha elections last year when he dissented in as many as 11 EC decisions involving complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for alleged Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations where they were given a clean chit. Last September, the Income Tax Department issued notice to Lavasa's wife pertaining to her income as independent director of multiple companies.

His wife Novel Singhal, however, had denied the allegations and said she has paid all her tax dues and has replied to all I-T notices served since August 5, 2019.
(Photo : (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)) WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 30: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the James Brady Briefing Room of the White House July 30, 2020 in Washington, DC. Earlier in the day Trump suggested in a tweet that Novembers general election should be postponed, citing his unsubstantiated assertions of widespread mail-in voter fraud amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo : (Photo Illustration by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 03: In this photo illustration, a mobile phone featuring the TikTok app is displayed next to the Microsoft logo on August 03, 2020 in New York City. Under threat of a U.S. ban on the popular social media app, it has been reported that Microsoft is considering taking over from Chinese firm ByteDance. (Photo : Unsplash) (Photo : Twitter: Oracle (@Oracle))

Not one, not two, but three American corporations are on the works in outbidding each other to acquire the operation rights of China-owned company, TikTok.

Another American owned corporation joins the race to acquire China's most popular social media and short video streaming application, TikTok, in its U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand operations.

Larry Ellison's Oracle Corporation, a multinational technology company infamously known for harsh methods, is now joining the bidding wars to acquire Tiktok operations less than a month before President Donald J. Trump's September 15 deadline. Reports were initially released by Financial Times and are confirmed by several parties who know.

In preliminary talks with the Chinese company, ByteDance, Oracle Corporation is negotiating a deal to acquire said rights.

F.T. then continued to note that an anonymous person wishing not to be named said that Ellison's Oracle is also generating a deal with U.S. investors who currently own a chunk of rights on ByteDance's TikTok. General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital are among those who are stakeholders of TikTok from the U.S.

Historically, Oracle has been very acquisitive (though not as much recently, at least in terms of larger deals). The company also has had a reputation for being harsh on integration. https://t.co/MxtqiOTdjh  Alex Sherman (@sherman4949) August 18, 2020



A CNBC journalist stated in a tweet that he confirms Oracle as a new player in the TikTok acquisition rights. However, Alex Sherman (@sherman4949) also notes that Oracle is known for being harsh on integration when it comes to business-to-business deals.

Back in 2018, The Information reported that Oracle was threatening its potential customers with potentially costly audit usage audit and strongly advising them to move to the cloud to solve their problems,

Currently, spokespersons of Oracle and TikTok remain silent and decline to comment on the topic.

ALSO READ: Trump Asks 'Substantial Amount of Money' For US in Microsoft-TikTok Deal

U.S. - TikTok Dispute

The recent development of Trump's statement of shutting down the app was changed to an extension of the corporate buy-out deadline. The new deal is to sell TikTok to an American-owned company and giving the U.S. Treasury a substantial amount from the sale for the country, allowing it back again.

These conditions are what the President asks for the operations of TikTok to continue, due to the fear of China possessing American citizens' data. TikTok was then reported as a 'malware' that harvests user information, especially American citizens, which ByteDance denies.

Microsoft Acquisition

Bill Gate's Microsoft is one of the frontrunners of the TikTok rights acquisition and has been actively pursuing it. Since early August, Microsoft has been negotiating for the longest time, a deal that would suit Trump's preference and agenda.

The Verge adds that Microsoft has been pushing ByteDance to give the former the global operation rights of TikTok. ByteDance was firm that the deal would only encompass rights for the four countries included from the original agreement.

Twitter Acquisition

End Gadget stated in a report that Social Media corporation, Twitter, is also in the preliminary talks-stage with ByteDance in pursuing operation rights for TikTok. Twitter believes that it has more chances of acquiring the app over Microsoft due to Twitter's influence and size.

However, Twitter's size could also be a drawback for them because TikTok's possible sale is estimated to be tens of billions of dollars. The entirety of the social media platform's market capitalization is currently at $29 billion.

New Player: Oracle-Who are they?

With recent reports that surfaced and confirmed by journalists, Oracle is now generating enough noise to make their intentions heard of purchasing the video streaming platform.

Oracle Corporation was founded by engineers Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates way back in 1977, having the name "oracle" in 1982. Since then, Oracle operated as a software and data provider to share technology with the people.

The confirmation of Oracle joining the operation rights acquisition poses a concern by the CNBC journalist who stated that the company is harsh on integration with regards to business mergers and acquisitions. Nevertheless, TikTok's time is ticking as September 15 draws near.

ALSO READ: TikTok User Confesses Buying Fake Followers, 25,000 Views For Only About $50

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Written by Isaiah Alonzo



 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
DANBURY, Conn., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alderman & Company , an investment bank providing sell-side M&A advisory services to aerospace and defense companies, has appointed four aerospace and defense industry leaders to its advisory board.

"I am thrilled to welcome four esteemed industry veterans who will work closely with me to help shape and guide the strategy of Alderman & Company, in light of COVID-19 and its significant disruption to aerospace and defense industry," said CEO Bill Alderman.

Joining the Advisory Board are:

Jim Barber - Prior to his recent retirement, Mr. Barber served as CEO and President of Cobham Mission Systems, where he was responsible for the overall management and leadership of a diversified engineering and manufacturing business sector with product areas that included Aerial Refueling Systems, Aircraft Oxygen and Life Support Systems, Fuel Tank Inerting Systems, as well as Weapons Carriage and Release Systems. Prior to Cobham, Mr. Barber was Vice President and General Manager Electronic Attack & Release Systems at ITT Exelis. Before joining private industry in 2001, Mr. Barber spent 14 years as a design/project engineer for the Department of Defense (DoD) where he developed innovative weapons carriage and release systems as well as leading edge life support systems for use on advanced fighter aircraft.

Mr. Barber commented "Alderman & Company has an outstanding reputation in sell-side M&A in the lower middle market of A&D and I see this as a very active market over the next five years, as the supply chain continues to evolve. Joining Alderman & Company in this capacity will enable me to be an active contributor in this evolution."

Raynard Benvenuti - Mr. Benvenuti is the founder of Concord Investment Partners, a firm that invests in private and public engineering centric industries. From 2007 to 2015, Mr. Benvenuti was an Operating and Managing Partner of Greenbriar Equity Group, L.P. ("Greenbriar"), a private equity group focused on transportation-related enterprises. While at Greenbriar, Mr. Benvenuti also served as Chairman of the Board of three companies owned by the firm: Amsafe Partners, Align Aerospace and EDAC Technologies. Before joining Greenbriar, Mr. Benvenuti was the President and CEO of Stellex Aerostructures, where he led an award-winning turnaround and subsequent sale of the company to GKN, plc. Prior to 2002, he worked at Forstmann Little & Co., a private equity firm, and McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. Today, Mr. Benvenuti is active on a number of public and private company boards, including NN, Inc. and Superior Industries, Inc.

Mr. Benvenuti commented "Bill and I have known each other for many years. In addition to both being active pilots, we have a shared view about the future of the aerospace industry and the need for high quality sell-side M&A services in the lower middle market of the industry  now more than ever."

Kevin Gould - Mr. Gould served as a senior executive in the aviation industry for more than 30 years. He began his career in the electrical business unit of Boeing in 1988 where he worked for over 10 years before becoming the CEO of Piper Aircraft. He then served as president of the Bendix/King division of Honeywell. Mr. Gould actively serves as a management consultant and board member to a number of companies in the aviation industry, including Peregrine Avionics, an engineering firm specializing in avionics integration and installation certification.

Mr. Gould commented, "I am pleased to join the advisory board of Alderman & Company at this time, as I see tremendous disruption in the commercial aviation industry in the year ahead and I am eager to help Bill expand his scope and reach to help more companies in this badly hit sector of the aerospace and defense industry."

Elder Granger - MD, FACP, FACHE, MG, USA (retired)  Since his retirement from the U.S. Army in 2009, Major General Granger (Ret.) has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of The 5Ps LLC, an SDVOSB healthcare, education, and leadership consulting firm. MG Granger served in the U.S, Army for over 35 years. MG Granger oversaw the acquisition, operation and integration of DOD's managed care program within the Military Health System. Prior to joining TRICARE Management Activity, MG Granger led the largest U.S. and multi-national battlefield health system in our recent history while serving as Commander, Task Force 44th Medical Command and Command Surgeon for the Multinational Corps Iraq. MG Granger has received numerous awards, decorations and honors, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters. He serves on the board of Cigna, is a Governance Fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors, and has served on the Board of DLH Holdings Corporation.

MG Granger commented "I have worked with Bill for nearly a decade on numerous challenging projects and I have learned to respect his skills and talents in the M&A arena. I look forward to helping Bill position Alderman & Company to better address the M&A challenges and opportunities being faced today by smaller companies in the defense industrial base."

About Alderman & Company

Founded in 2001, Alderman & Company is a specialized investment bank exclusively providing sell-side M&A advisory services to lower middle market companies within the global aerospace and defense industry. Our clients include family-owned enterprises, microcap public companies, divisions of large corporations, and portfolio companies of private equity firms. Our services are built on comprehensive industry knowledge and years of process expertise providing business owners value-maximizing solutions for exiting their businesses.

Contact:

J&L Communications

Jennifer Compton

[email protected]

(615) 969-4737

SOURCE Alderman & Company

Related Links

https://aldermanco.com


Autism-cholesterol link

Researchers at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northwestern University have identified a subtype of autism arising from a cluster of genes that regulate cholesterol metabolism and brain development.

The researchers say their findings, published Aug. 10 in Nature Medicine, can inform both the design of precision-targeted therapies for this specific form of autism and enhance screening efforts to diagnose autism earlier.

The team identified the shared molecular roots between lipid dysfunction and autism through DNA analysis of brain samples--findings that they then confirmed by examining medical records of individuals with autism. Indeed, both children with autism and their parents had pronounced alterations in lipid blood, the analysis showed.

The results of the study, the researchers said, raise many questions; key among them are: Just how do lipid alterations drive neurodevelopmental dysfunction and could normalizing lipid metabolism affect disease outcomes?

The new findings set the stage for future studies to answer these questions and others.

"Our results are a striking illustration of the complexity of autism and the fact that autism encompasses many different conditions that each arise from different causes--genetic, environmental or both," said study senior investigator Isaac Kohane, chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics in the Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School. "Identifying the roots of dysfunction in each subtype is critical to designing both treatments and screening tools for correct and timely diagnosis--that is the essence of precision medicine." A Google map of autism Autism and autism-spectrum disorders, estimated to affect one in 54 children in the United States, are among the most complex heritable conditions. Thousands of gene variants, both rare and common, have been implicated in autism, likely through an intricate and not-well understood interplay between genetic and environmental factors--both before and after birth.

The new study findings not only underscore this complexity but also demonstrate the critical importance of defining the various subtypes of the condition and developing treatments that target subtype-specific anomalies.

Achieving a meaningful level of specificity in the study of a vastly complex disorder such as autism, however, is not easy. To do so, the researchers used a novel approach based on the interlacing of multiple layers of data, including whole exome sequencing, patterns of protein expression, medical records and health insurance claims.

"Think of a Google map and how it overlays various types of information on top of one another--cities, streets, parcels, land use, electrical grids, elevations--for a more detailed representation," said Yuan Luo, who co-led the study with Alal Eran, a Harvard Medical School lecturer on pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital.

"This is what we did with our data to get a complete view of genes that have multiple regulatory functions and are implicated in autism," said Luo, who started working on the research while at MIT's Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab and continued the work at Northwestern University, where he is now associate professor of preventive medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine.

The team started out by analyzing patterns of gene expression from brain samples contained in two large national brain banks, focusing on genes that work in tandem during prenatal and postnatal brain development. Because autism is four times more common in males than females, they further focused on genes that had the largest male-to-female differences during development. Within those, they homed in on exons--the protein-coding parts of genes--to seek out mutations that occurred more often in patients with autism. Through this progressive zooming in, the researchers identified a previously unrecognize node of shared function--a cluster of exons regulating both neurodevelopment and fat metabolism.

Protein to person

To confirm whether the molecular link between autism and lipid metabolism was borne out in actual patients, the team turned to two vast clinical record repositories. In one that contained more than 2.7 million records of patients seen at Boston Children's, including more than 25, o00 children with autism, the researchers identified notable lipid alterations in children with autism, including changes in levels of their bad cholesterol (LDL), good cholesterol (HDL) and triglycerides.

The other dataset contained medical records of more than 34 million individuals seen at multiple U.S. medical institutions. Of those, more than 80,700 individuals had diagnoses of autism. Overall, 6.5 percent of those who had an autism diagnosis also had abnormal lipid levels. Individuals with autism were nearly twice as likely to have abnormal lipid tests results as those without autism. There was also a pronounced familial link. Mothers with lipid abnormalities were 16 percent more likely to have a child with autism than mothers without lipid abnormalities. The risk for having a child with autism among fathers with lipid abnormalities was 13 percent greater than in males with normal lipid levels. And within families with more than one child, children diagnosed with autism were 76 percent more likely to have abnormal lipid profiles than their siblings.

Among individuals with autism and abnormal lipid levels on their blood work, conditions such as epilepsy, sleep disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were markedly more common than among those without elevated lipid levels--a finding that suggests dyslipidemia may alter neurodevelopment in general, the researchers said. Individuals with autism and dyslipidemia were also more likely to have certain hormonal and metabolic conditions including anemia, hypothyroidism and vitamin D deficiency.

The autism-dyslipidemia link persisted even when the researchers accounted for the possible influence of drugs commonly used in people with autism, some of which are known to affect lipid levels. In fact, lipid abnormalities were more common among people with autism who were not taking such medications.

The newly found link offers a molecular explanation to the well-established observation that a mutation in a gene involved in cholesterol metabolism is also found in people with Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder closely related to autism. Another striking observation that may be explained by the newly found link is that between 50 and 88 percent of children born with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, caused by a defect in cholesterol synthesis, also have autism.

The researchers say their approach--based on integrating multiple data modalities-- could be adapted to other similarly genetically complex conditions as a way to precision-profile subtypes of disease.

For example, the ability to identify disease subtypes in cancer in the past two decades has propelled the field of oncology forward and led to the development of many targeted cancer treatments, researchers said.

"Our findings can help design precision-targeted treatments that home in on the specific defect underlying the development of dyslipidemia-related autism," Kohane said. "Conceptually, this is the same framework that we can apply in complex inherited neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and beyond. Our multimodal approach combining multiple types of data demonstrates that this is not only possible but imminent."

###

Co-investigators on the study included Nathan Palmer, Paul Avillach, Ami Levy-Moonshine and Peter Szolovits.

The work was supported by the National Institute of Health (grants 1R21LM012618, 5UL1TR001422, P50MH106933, U01HG007530, OT3OD025466, OT3HL142480, U54HG007963, 1U01TR002623-01 and 1U54HD090255-01), Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology (grant 17708), and Precision Link Biobank for Health Discovery at Boston Children's. Palmer received funding support from Aetna Life Insurance.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Police have detained the co-leader of the extra-parliamentary radical right 'Mi Hazank' party for removing a rainbow pride flag from the Budapest City Hall, the party said late on Sunday.

Elod Novak (pictured on top), assisted by other activists, had climbed on a 15-metre fire escape ladder to remove the flag from the building and threw it in a nearby rubbish bin, the party said, describing the flag as a rainbow rag.



Referring to the short-lived Hungarian Soviet Republic of 1919, the party said Mi Hazank considers it a shame that one hundred years after Regent Miklos Horthy freed the capital from its red rags, Mayor Gergely Karacsony not only brings back its spirit but also provokes the well-meaning majority by erecting such an anti-human flag.



Referring to the gay pride marches held in Budapest since the 1990s, the party added that Mi Hazank is the only Hungarian party that demanded banning the homosexual propaganda march but police have never been willing to take action.





MTI Photo: Janos Vajda
The union representing aged care workers has called for a national pay audit in the sector after the second major retirement home operator in as many weeks confessed to underpaying workers more than $1 million.

More than 2100 workers at BaptistCare, which has annual revenue of $295 million, missed out on $1.27 million of annual leave over six years to 2018. The Fair Work Ombudsman last week revealed another operator, Uniting, underpaid 9516 staff $3.36 million.

The underpaid workers have been reimbursed and BaptistCare agreed to pay a $40,000 penalty. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Health Services Union national president Gerard Hayes said the disclosures from sophisticated employers suggested issues could be widespread in an industry where staff were struggling with the coronavirus pandemic.

"Two big players like this have identified serious issues for people who aren't on a lot of money," Mr Hayes said. "This is enough for the Fair Work ombudsman to go for a large-scale audit in aged care to see if people are being paid appropriately."
Former President Mr John Dramani Mahama, has said his party will continue and complete all abandoned projects with a focus on job-creation if voted back into power in the December 7 polls.

Mr Mahama was addressing party supporters in the Keta Constituency of the Volta Region, on Monday, 17 August 2020.

According to Mr Mahama, the country has had enough of the Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration and its ways of governing the nation.

He, therefore, called on Ghanaians not to give the current NPP administration a second term in office.

No more four years of Nana Akufo-Addo, he said, adding: Were sick and tired.

Sick and tired of the corruption. Sick and tired of the family-and-friends [government].

Sick and tired of the hardship.

Sick and tired of the abandoned projects.

Sick and tired of no infrastructure.

Sick and tired of high borrowing, Mr Mahama said.

The former president further urged Ghanaians to keep their voter cards safe and go out to vote on 7 December.

NDC is coming back to power and all the projects we started that have been abandoned, well come and continue them and finish them.

But the most important thing is jobs for the young people.

NDC is coming back so that we can find jobs for you, he said.

Mr Mahama, who is currently on a tour of the Volta Region, visited the South, Central and North Tongu constituencies.

He also visited Anloga and Keta.

---classfmonline
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:45:46|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to return to work on Wednesday after a three-day summer break, during which he visited a hospital in Tokyo on Monday amid concerns from inside his own camp over his physical condition.

It is the first time for the Japanese leader not to visit his support base of Yamaguchi Prefecture or his vacation home in Yamanashi Prefecture since he returned to power in 2012. According to local media, he has told people close to him that the COVID-19 outbreak has forced him to change his routine summer visits.

The prime minister's visit to Keio University Hospital on Monday fueled rumors about his deteriorating health, while a number of people around him have expressed concerns about his exhaustion from continuously working.

"I believe the prime minister has worked restlessly and has overused his body," said Natsuo Yamaguchi, the head of Komeito Party, the junior partner of the ruling coalition.

According to local media, Akira Amari, the tax policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and others have suggested that Abe extend his summer break. However, the idea was rejected by the prime minister.

Abe, 65, during his first tenure as prime minister, which started in late September 2006, abruptly stepped down from his post in 2007 due to chronic ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease.

Although some local media have recently run reports about his possible deteriorating health condition, top government spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga denied Abe is in poor health, stating, "I see the prime minister every day, and I think he has no health problems at all as he has been carrying out his duties smoothly." Enditem
Zarif Says Bolton's Opposition To Use Of 'Snapback' Is Sign Of His Consistency

Radio Farda August 17, 2020

Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has praised former National Security Advisor John Bolton for being consistent in questioning the use of the "snapback" option by Washington to trigger UN sanctions against Iran.

In an article in the Wall Street Journal published August 16, Bolton has said the Trump administrations determination to force the snapback option "Is not wroth the risk". His concern is for the United States to overuse its veto power at the Security Council, which Bolton says will "impair" this important foreign policy tool.

In a tweet August 16, Zarif said Bolton "has repeated today what he said on May 8, 2018, while National Security Advisor in the Trump administration. At least he is consistenta trait notably absent in this US administration." Zarif says that Bolton had expressed the same view in 2018 when the U.S. withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA.

President Donald Trump announced August 16 the United States will start the process of triggering the return of international sanctions against Iran, after Washington failed to push through a resolution to extend the UN arms embargo on Tehran.

Russia, China and three European powers who are the original signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran argue that Washington cannot trigger the snapback aspect imbedded in resolution 2231, passed in 2015 and linked with the nuclear agreement. They say that after withdrawing from the accords the U.S. is no longer a "participant" and has forfeited its right to ask for punishing Iran.

Proponents of resorting to snapback argue that the U.S. still has a right to trigger the mechanism as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, regardless of its withdrawal from the JCPOA.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/zarif-says- bolton-opposition-to-use-of-snapback-is-sign- of-his-consistency-/30788771.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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* More than 21.9 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 772,647 have died, according to a Reuters tally. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

* China reported on Tuesday 22 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for August 17, same as the tally a day earlier, the health authority said. All of the new infections were imported cases, the National Health Commission said in a statement, making it the second straight day for zero new locally transmitted cases. There were no new deaths. China also reported 17 new asymptomatic patients, compared with 37 a day earlier.

* The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday (August 17) said the number of deaths due to the new coronavirus had risen by 654 to 169,350 and reported 5,382,125 cases, an increase of 41,893 cases from its previous count.

* Brazil registered 684 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 108,536, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday. Meanwhile, 19,373 new cases were reported in the same period, bringing the total number of infections to 3,359,570. Sao Paulo continues to be the epicenter of the disease in the country, with 702,665 cases and 26,899 deaths. The state with the second-highest death toll is neighboring Rio de Janeiro, which has registered 14,566 deaths and 194,651 cases.

* Mexico's government will in two weeks present a plan to revive the economy from the coronavirus pandemic, targeting sectors like construction and energy, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday. The novel coronavirus is spreading in the Americas. Lopez Obrador has said in recent days that the pandemic is losing force in Mexico, but its death toll stands as the world's third highest after the United States and Brazil. Mexico's health ministry has so far reported 522,162 coronavirus cases and 56,757 deaths.

* The total COVID-19 deaths surpassed 50,000, reaching 50,921, in India on Monday, said federal health ministry. According to the latest data issued by the ministry, the total COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 2,647,663, after 57,981 new cases were detected in the past 24 hours. As many as 941 deaths took place since Sunday morning. There are 676,900 active cases across the country, while 1,919,842 people have been cured and discharged from hospitals.

* Restrictions to curb COVID-19 spread in the Philippines' capital city of Manila and the four provinces around it will be lessened to allow the economy to open up. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night placed Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) starting Aug. 19 until Aug. 31. The Philippines now has 164,474 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 2,681 deaths and 112,759 recoveries.

* Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 91 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 55,838. Of the new cases, six are imported cases, none is community case and the rest are linked with the dormitories of foreign workers. Altogether 27 people have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection.

* Despite Thailand passing a record 80 days free from locally acquired infections of COVID-19, Thai health experts warned on Monday that the country is not immune to a second wave of infections. According to the Ministry of Public Helath, there are now 1.12 million N95 face masks and 511,000 personal-protective-equipment sets in stock for medical staff.

* New Zealand on Tuesday reported 13 new confirmed cases of coronavirus for the last 24 hours compared with nine a day earlier as the Pacific nation battles to contain an outbreak in the biggest city of Auckland. New Zealand has so far recorded just under 1,300 confirmed cases and 22 deaths.

* Republic of Korea reported 246 more cases of the COVID-19 as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 15,761. The daily caseload soared in triple figures for five straight days with 103 on Friday, 166 on Saturday, 279 on Sunday and 197 on Monday each. The domestic infections surged in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province traceable to church services. One more death was confirmed, leaving the death toll at 306. The total fatality rate stood at 1.94 percent.

* The Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection on Monday recorded 8,328 new COVID-19 infections and 275 more deaths in the last 24 hours, raising the country's total number of confirmed cases to 476,660, with 15,372 deaths. Meanwhile, a total of 301,525 people have recovered from the disease so far, said the ministry.

* The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 1,390 to 225,404, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday. The reported death toll rose by four to 9,236, the tally showed.

* More than 70 people have tested positive for coronavirus at a dessert factory in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England, local media reported Monday night. The positive cases were reported at Bakkavor in Newark, which describes itself as "the leading provider of fresh prepared food in the UK," Sky News reported. The cases were confirmed after 701 workers were tested for the virus.

* Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday stressed efforts to ensure that new fiscal funds directly benefit businesses and people to consolidate the foundation of the country's restorative growth. Li made the remarks while presiding over an executive meeting of the State Council. By early August, nearly CNY300 billion (about US$43.3 billion) of the CNY2-trillion newly increased fiscal funds have been used to support tax and fee cuts, according to the meeting.

* The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea plans to convene a key meeting of the ruling party on Wednesday and discuss economic and military issues amid international sanctions and recent flood damage, state media said. The ruling Workers' Party's powerful politburo will gather for its sixth plenary meeting to decide on the issues of "crucial significance in developing the Korean revolution and increasing the fighting efficiency of the party," the official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday.

* The almost entirely virtual 2020 US Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday night. During the four-day event, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will accept the nomination and California Senator Kamala Harris will be nominated for his running mate.

* The German economy was currently on a "recovery path" after a slump caused by the COVID-19 crisis and is expected to "grow steeply" in the third quarter of the year, Germany's central bank Deutsche Bundesbank said on Monday. In the second quarter (Q2), German gross domestic product (GDP) plummeted by 10.1 percent compared to the previous quarter, the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) recently said. It was the "largest decline since the beginning of quarterly GDP calculations for Germany in 1970."

* The United States and Colombia will work together to bring new investment to rural areas of the South American country, officials said on Monday, as Colombia's president reiterated support for the US candidate to lead the Inter-American Development Bank. The investment initiative will harness up to US$5 billion in private funds for rural areas over three years, US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien told local newspaper El Tiempo in an interview.

* The Spanish government delegate in capital Madrid Jose Manuel Franco promised on Monday that the authorities will do all they can to identify and prosecute people who broke rules regarding wearing face masks and safe social distances in an anti-mask demonstration held in the Spanish capital on Sunday. According to the latest figures published by the Spanish Ministry of Health, 359,082 people have been infected with COVID-19 in Spain, with 28,646 deaths.

* Israel's Ministry of Health reported 2,071 new coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total cases to 94,751. The ministry also reported a total of 692 death cases, with seven new deaths, while the number of patients in serious condition rose from 382 to 399, out of 841 patients currently hospitalized. The number of recoveries reached 70,291, with 1,781 new recoveries, while the number of active cases rose to 23,774.

* A senior Palestinian official warned on Monday of an increase in death cases and infections in Palestine if citizens don't abide by public safety and precautionary measures. The Ministry of Health said in a press statement that since March 5, it has recorded 22,391 COVID-19 cases in the Palestinian territories, including 124 deaths, 13,716 recoveries and 8,551 active cases.

* Turkey reported 1,233 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the total diagnosed cases to 250,542, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said. Meanwhile, 22 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,996, Koca tweeted. The number of isolated active patients with the potential to spread the disease is 12,575, he noted. Turkish health professionals conducted 74,846 tests in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall number of tests to 5,800,088, he said.

* Iran reported on Monday 2,247 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, raising the total number in the country to 345,450, official IRNA news agency reported. Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said during her daily update that 1,255 of the new cases have been hospitalized. Since Sunday, 165 people died from the viral disease, taking the total fatalities over the virus to 19,804 in the country. So far, 299,157 patients have recovered and 3,773 remain in critical condition in ICU.

* The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday said that 31 illegal immigrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast. According to the IOM, over 7,000 migrants have so far been intercepted and returned to Libya this year. Most end up in arbitrary detention.

* Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj on Monday discussed with Turkish and Qatari defense ministers on concerned issues, according to a statement issued by the prime minister's information office. The prime minister met Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and his Qatari counterpart Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah and discussed the latest developments in Libya and the military mobilization near the city of Sirte and the Jufra district in central Libya.
A Tulsa optometrist and some area business owners have filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the city of Tulsas mask mandate.

The group, led by Robert Zoellner and ThriveTime radio show host Clay Clark, named Mayor G.T. Bynum, Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Bruce Dart and the Tulsa City Council as defendants in the 33-page federal filing alleging masks cause oxygen deprivation.

The duo and others met in Jenks to announce the lawsuit that claims Tulsas mask ordinance creates an oxygen deficient atmosphere under Department of Labor guidelines. Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines define oxygen-deficient atmospheres as having below 19.5% oxygen content, according to the filing.

The suit further alleged forcing individuals to work in such an atmosphere has been proven to cause irreparable physiological damage after only 15 seconds of wearing a face covering, despite a July report from the Mayo Clinic that stated such concerns were inaccurate.
In an attempt to bring some respite in the strained relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has met Saudi Arabian counterpart General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili to discuss the prospects for military cooperation.

"During the meeting, prospects for military cooperation and ways to support and boost it were reviewed, in addition to matters of common concern," a statement said.

"Gen Bajwa was received by Saudi Arabia's Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili," Geo News quoted Ministry of Defense Saudi Arabia.

READ | "I Can Walk There Now": Delusions Of Pakistan's 'Kashmir Minister' Shock Interviewer

READ | Pakistan: Islamabad International Airport's False Ceiling Collapses Due To Heavy Rain

Qureshi's threat costs Pakistan heavily

This meeting comes in view of the decade-long friendly relations between the two countries got strained after Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi issued a threatening statement to Saudi Arabia which refused to take steps against India over the abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir.

Qureshi in an interview had issued a warning against Saudi Arabia over organising a meeting of the Council of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Kashmir in early February 2020. As Saudi Arabia had maintained silence on the Kashmir issue, he had said in an interview that Pakistan would be "compelled to convene a meeting of Islamic countries who would support Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir"

Swayed by his emotions, he said Pakistan is ready to shed their blood for Mecca and Madina, Saudi Arabia also needs to play a leading role on the issue of Kashmir.

"If they (Saudi Arabia) are not willing to play that role, I would ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to go ahead with or without Saudi Arabia", he went on to say even when Pakistan thrives on the mercy and alms from these countries.

However, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), another prominent member of the OIC had snubbed Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, which had pained Qureshi.

Saudi Arabia in November 2018 had announced a $6.2 billion package for Pakistan including a total of $3 billion in loans and an oil credit facility amounting to $3.2 billion.

However, Qureshi's threat cost heavily to Pakistan as Saudi retaliated by saying that Pakistan will not be given loans and oil supply and it was humiliated and made to pay back $1 billion to Saudi Arabia.

With India's strong diplomatic ties in the international fora, contrary to Pakistan's wish, Saudi Arabia and UAE have maintained that Kashmir remains an internal matter of India and the issue between Pakistan and India relating to Kashmir remains a bilateral issue not needing the intervention of other countries.

(With ANI inputs)

READ | Pakistan Embarrassed On Independence Day; Oppressed Minorities Protest At Embassy In US

READ | Citing Covid And Terrorism, US Urges Its Citizens To Steer Clear Of Imran Khan's Pakistan
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Light snow this evening giving way to partly cloudy conditions late. Low 12F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%..

Tonight

Light snow this evening giving way to partly cloudy conditions late. Low 12F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%.
Dr Angela Dwamena Aboagye, a Legal Practitioner and Gender Activist, on Tuesday called on the government to provide temporary shelters for persons accused of witchcraft and those socially vulnerable.



She said there is a need for clear leadership from the state to sustain the implementation of social laws that protect the vulnerable.



Dr Dwamena-Aboagye made the suggestion when the Sanneh Institute, an organization that focuses on research on religious and social issues, hosted a webinar on the theme: Witchcraft, Religion, and Law in Ghana.



Dr Dwamena-Aboagye, who is also the Founding Executive Director of the Ark Foundation, a non-governmental organization that addresses womens human rights issues, said Ghana had failed to implement laws on social issues.



Referring to the 1992 constitution, the gender activist said Ghanas laws enjoined the state to promote healthy cultural values, and question how many people accused of witchcraft can sue for defamation.



She further advised that the government should adopt the ageing policy to support the elderly who were often accused of witchcraft.



She advised churches to seek answers to issues related to the spiritual world, saying, We cannot deny the existence of the spiritual world. For a long time, we havent taken social issues as seriously as we should.



Sheikh Dr Seebaway Muhammed Zakaria, a Senior Lecturer, Department of Religion at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), pointed out that, in Islam, there is the belief that some people have the power to harm others.



He said the practice and belief in the existence of witchcraft were from time immemorial.



He said Moslems do protect themselves from such harmful persons by reciting verses from the Quran on protection or some use these verses to make amulets that serve as protection from evil.



Professor Opoku Onyinah, immediate past President of the Church of Pentecost, said though evil existed and the Bible made mention of the existence of witches and sorcerers, Christians should not fear witchcraft.



Quoting Exodus 22: 18 from the Bible, he said even though the King James Version says that Do not suffer a witch to live, other translations use the word sorcerer, which has an entirely different meaning from witchcraft.



He urged Christians not to fear witches or any person with evil powers, saying, The devil cannot overcome you as a Christian and do not encourage superstition.



Dr John Azumah, Executive Director of the Sanneh Institute, said Europeans dealt with witchcraft with education and legislation.



He urged the government to implement laws that would strengthen the social structures and support socially vulnerable persons.

Source: GNA









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Hundreds of people are still without power after strong thunderstorms brought down trees and dropped heavy rain early Tuesday morning.

The storms arrived in western Connecticut around 3:30 a.m. and swept across parts of Connecticut.

A moderate rain fell for more than an hour Tuesday morning, flooding streets and highways. Part of Route 80 in East Haven was closed because of flooding.

The line of thunderstorms then crossed Long Island Sound.

Around 4:40 a.m. on Long Island, a strong thunderstorm was located over Noyack, or near Southold, moving east at 60 mph. winds were in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail were reported.

Just after 6:30 a.m., Eversource reported more than 3,124 outages. Danbury was hardest hit with 1,157 outages.

Outages in Danbury were spread out over the city, but less than four Eversource customers were without power by around 1 p.m. Tuesday. The response was adequate, Mayor Mark Boughton said. Theyre really on their toes right now because they know theyre in pretty hot water.

By 1 p.m., the total number of Eversource outages were reduced to 372. That number included 73 in Glastonbury, 57 in Beacon Falls, 40 in Guilford, 32 in Pomfret and scattered outages in Southbury, Wilton and Waterford.

Eversource said lightning strikes caused extensive damage to electrical systems in southeast Connecticut.

At 6:30 a.m,., United Illuminating had 243 outages including 118 in Milford and 114 in New Haven. By 1 p.m., only 25 customers were without power in Orange, Derby, Bridgeport, Easton and Stratford.

The outages comes days after the last of Eversources outages were restored from Tropical Storm Isaias. Some people had been without power for more than a week.

The National Weather Service says a cold front helped spark the thunderstorms Tuesday morning.

There is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Tuesday. Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
This week kicked off with a bang, as Novavax (NVAX) took another step forward in the COVID-19 vaccine race. On Monday August 17, the biotech announced the start of the Phase 2b trial of NVX-CoV2373, its adjuvanted recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine candidate, in South Africa.

The trial is part of a randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled efficacy study and is comprised of two cohorts. Cohort 1 will assess the candidates efficacy, safety and immunogenicity in approximately 2,665 healthy volunteers, while the second will evaluate the vaccine in 240 medically stable, HIV-positive adult patients.

5-star analyst Mayank Mamtani, of B.Riley FBR, points out that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded NVAX a $15 million grant to fund the trial, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is set to fund the manufacturing of all doses used in this study, as part of its coordinating global vaccine scale-up and distribution efforts to enable global equitable access. It should also be noted that if this study is successful, the Serum Institute of India will likely supply vaccines, as part of a recently announced agreement to supply 1 billion doses for low- and mid-income countries.

What are the implications of the trial? Mamtani explained: We believe this Phase 2b clinical trial has the potential to provide an early readout on vaccine efficacy, along with additional safety and immunogenicity data, which ultimately could further de-risk late-stage development of '2373. In our view, this also offers optionality for an earlier Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) granted by U.S. FDA in case of an overwhelmingly positive outcome, including prior to the completion of Phase 3 study planned to commence next month in U.S. and Australia assuming safety criteria is met in terms of number of subjects exposed to '2373.

Additionally, the trial could be highly informative as it is taking place in South Africa amid a winter surge. According to Mamtani, the infection/attack rate represents one of the most critical variables impacting timelines for data generation from major vaccine candidates who have progressed to late-stage clinical development, with South Africa boasting the fifth largest number of confirmed cases globally.

Story continues

It should come as no surprise, then, that Mamtani stands squarely with the bulls. To this end, the top analyst rates NVAX a Buy and gives it a $257 price target, implying 76% upside potential. (To watch Mamtanis track record, click here)

Based on 4 Buys and a lone Sell, the word on the Street is that NVAX is a Moderate Buy. At $227.60, the average price target indicates 56% upside potential. (See Novavax stock-price forecast on TipRanks)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
The advert, titled "Tampons and Tea", was pulled after the watchdog said the commercial had caused widespread offence based on the relatively high number of complaints made about it.

It said it had received 150 complaints in total, including claims the advert was offensive, demeaning to women, unsuitable for children and contained sexual innuendo.

Several complainants took issue with the language used, including the phrases you gotta get em up there girls and not just the tip, up to the grip, which they claimed was vulgar, embarrassing and crude.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X0LpyXMnjg

In a statement on Tuesday, the ASAI said Procter & Gamble, the company behind the Tampax brand, had informed it that they had chosen not to seek a review of the decision.

As a result, the decision remains that the ad should not run in the same format again.

Advertisement

The statement acknowledged that there had been a lot of commentary on the ruling and said it wanted to reiterate that the ASAI fully supports the advertising of all product sectors, including tampons and other sanitary products, in any media or on any platform.
The province says teacher unions need to be less combative and more flexible with preparation time to help school boards create smaller class sizes  but critics accused the Ontario government of trying to deflect from the growing unrest about last-minute changes to back-to-school plans.

After news that the Toronto school board has to redo its fall schedules from kindergarten to Grade 12 because its proposals were rejected by the education ministry, Premier Ford said Monday that the province has delivered on many union demands, and is asking teachers to now do the same.

Throughout this whole pandemic, everyones been flexible, everyones getting along, you know  even different political stripes, Ford said. Why is it that (with) the teachers unions, its just constant? They constantly want to attack. Why dont you be part of the solution, instead of part of the problem?

Referring to funding announced last week, Ford said, Everything youve asked, weve changed it. Anything you say  I want more cleaning, we gave you more cleaning. You want HVAC (ventilation improvements), we immediately jumped on HVAC. You know, you want more teachers, we gave you access to the reserves.

The public elementary teachers union says the preparation time issue did not come up in talks with the province or school boards. The Catholic teachers union said it put forth proposals that were not dissimilar to what school boards have proposed.

Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, said his union locals have been given the go-ahead to make changes to preparation time  currently equal to one period per semester, although actual minutes vary board by board depending on supervision and on-call duties.

He said he could not rule out changes to the number of minutes because it is up to local units to figure out what works best.

The Toronto District School Board was left reeling after learning that its plans for both elementary and secondary students were rejected by the province. In elementary schools, the board attempted to reduce class sizes to 15 to 20 students by trimming the school day by 48 minutes, rather than leaving preparation time dispersed throughout the day, as it is now.

Ending the school day early would mean the board would need $20 million for additional teachers, whereas the status quo would be $190 million.

Its so confusing, and its so tiring, said board chair Alexander Brown after meetings with the ministry and Toronto public health officials on Monday. Brown said the board is doing its best to address public health concerns about physical distancing in classrooms.

Like other large urban boards, the Toronto board also has to redo its high school schedule so that teens are in person, in class, about 50 per cent of the time. A number of boards that cant reopen high schools fully  so-called designated boards  had created half-day, every other day timetables for teens, which they believed the ministry approved of.

However, late last week, Education Minister Lecce said the direction to boards was for teens to be at school half the time, and learning remotely the rest, to maximize the amount of time a student could be in class in high school.

Secondary classes in so-called designated boards are to be limited to 15 students.

Lecce said discussions with the Toronto board were constructive, and that he felt they would lead to a resolution.

For elementary schools in Toronto, Lecce said the plan would have students miss too much school and some classes like French or art could be impacted, and that early dismissal could pose a hardship to parents.

Lecce said hed heard from parents who wanted their children in school for the usual 300 instructional minutes, or as close to it as possible, and also urged the unions to be flexible and find some creative ways to change what has historically been delivered differently in the past, and thats OK. In fact, thats probably expected in this type of challenge, we need people to be reasonable.

The Toronto board has a public meeting scheduled for Tuesday where the new kindergarten to Grade 12 plans will be unveiled.

NDP education critic Marit Stiles said called it really awful that the government rejected this plan for the countrys largest school board after they worked like crazy for weeks, months.

Stiles, who is a former Toronto school board trustee, said the government is predictably going back to the blame game given the controversy its plan has caused.

She called prep time a red herring. They are trying to distract parents from whats really happening in this terrible fiasco that theyve created.

Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter, a former education minister, said you cant put all these expectations on school boards and not back it up with resources and the funding ... its not been done in a thoughtful manner at all.

Theres so much anxiety out there, she added. People dont know what classrooms are going to look like come September.

Editors note  Aug. 18, 2020: The story has been edited to note that proposals put forward by the Catholic teachers union on prep time were not dissimilar to what school boards have proposed.
The Police Command in Niger State has confirmed the killing of a foreign national by suspected bandits.

The unnamed victim was abducted together with a Nigerian between Yankila and Regina villages in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the command had earlier confirmed their abduction.

Adamu Usman, the Commissioner of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday, that body of the victim was recovered by the police in a bush in Pangu Gari, Gunna district of Rafi local government area.

He said the corpse had been conveyed by the police to Minna General Hospital for autopsy, while investigation was in progress.

Mr Usman solicited the support of locals in volunteering information that would aid in apprehending the assailants and rescue of the Nigerian still in the kidnappers custody.

Mr Usman said the victims were handling the rehabilitation of the bad portion of the federal road in the area when they were abducted.

They have not informed the command of their operations in the state. We only knew their presence in the state due to this incident, he said.

(NAN)
Zapata County has recorded its second death related to COVID-19, County Judge Joe Rathmell said.

Rathmell said this was a very difficult day for our community. County officials recorded the second death on Monday. He was a male in his 70s.

This has been verified by the City of Laredo Health Department Interim Director, Richard Chamberlain, who contacted me this afternoon. On behalf of myself and all Zapata County officials, we want to extend our most sincere condolences to the family, Rathmell said.

The county also surpassed the 200 mark of COVID-19 cases with an additional 45 cases for a total of 224. The most recent cases over the last week are the following:

 Case No. 180: Woman in her 40s.

 Case No. 181: Woman in her 30s.

 Case No. 182: Woman in her 40s.

 Case No. 183: Girl younger than 10 years old.

 Case No. 184: Girl younger than 10 years old.

 Case No. 185: Girl in her teens.

 Case No. 186: Girl younger than 5 years old.

 Case No. 187: Man in his 30s.

 Case No. 188: Girl in her teens.

 Case No. 189: Man in his 30s.

 Case No. 190: Woman in her 50s.

 Case No. 191: Woman in her 50s.

 Case No. 192: Woman in her 40s.

 Case No. 193: Woman in her 50s.

 Case No. 194: Woman in her 70s.

 Case No. 195: Man in his 20s.

 Case No. 196: Male in his teens.

 Case No. 197: Woman in her 40s.

 Case No. 198: Boy younger than 5 years old.

 Case No. 199: Man in his 20s.

 Case No. 200: Woman in her 50s.

 Case No. 201: Girl younger than 10 years old.

 Case No. 202: Man in his 60s.

 Case No. 203: Woman in her 50s.

 Case No. 204: Girl in her teens.

 Case No. 205: Girl in her teens.

 Case No. 206: Boy younger than 1 year old.

 Case No. 207: Girl younger than 5 years old.

 Case No. 208: Woman in her 40s.

 Case No. 209: Man in his 40s.

 Case No. 210: Man in his 40s.

 Case No. 211: Man in his 30s.

 Case No. 212: Man in his 40s.

 Case No. 213: Boy younger than 10 years old.

 Case No. 214: Boy younger than 10 years old.

 Case No. 215: Man in his 50s.

 Case No. 216: Boy younger than 1 year old.

 Case No. 217: Boy younger than 5 years old.

 Case No. 218: Girl younger than 10 years old.

 Case No. 219: Boy younger than 5 years old.

 Case No. 220: Girl in her teens.

 Case No. 221: Woman in her 30s.

 Case No. 222: Man in his 60s.

 Case No. 223: Girl in her teens.

 Case No. 224: Man in his 20s.

Authorities said the patients are currently isolated. The Texas Department of State Health Services is supporting Zapata County in identifying any close contacts of the patients, so they can be isolated and monitored for symptoms.

County officials encouraged the community to continue wearing a face mask, practicing social media, avoiding people who are sick, washing hands and staying home.

Overall, the county has 4,540 tests conducted, 3,780 negative results, 224 positive cases, 536 tests pending, 160 released from isolation and two deaths.
Booms and bust cycles are very much a part of investing in the fossil fuel sector. In previous energy downturns, prices frequently experienced serious slumps, but oil and gas companies mostly kept faith in their biggest asset: Oil and gas reserves buried deep in the ground. But things are markedly different this time around.

Faced with pandemic-driven demand destruction and a relentless call for climate-conscious and ethical investing, oil executives are resigning themselves to the uncomfortable fact that a significant amount of their vast oil and gas reserves will end up totally worthless.

So much so, that's it may hardly be worth it to entertain new exploration at this point. And "discovery" news these days doesn't tempt investors like it once did.

You know things have truly gone to the dogs when the likes of BP Plc.(NYSE:BP)-- a company that doubled down on its aggressive drilling right after the historic 2015 UN Climate Change Agreement--finally gave in saying "..concerns about carbon emissions and climate change mean that it is increasingly unlikely that the world's reserves of oil will ever be exhausted." BP has announced one of the largest asset writedowns of any oil major this year after slashing up to $17.5 billion off the value of its assets and conceded that it "expects the pandemic to hasten the shift away from fossil fuels."

BP owns a series of high-risk prospects including deepwater discoveries off Brazil, Angola and in the Gulf of Mexico. Its Sunrise deposit jointly owned with Canada's Husky Energy Inc., has an abundant supply of bitumen estimated at 3.7 billion barrels but requiring a complicated extraction process. Related: Bank Of America: Brent Will Recover To $60 In H1 2021

On the opposite end of the spectrum, 'arrogant' ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) has resisted writing down any shale assets this year, remaining adamant that oil and gas values will eventually recover.

However, the decision of whether or not to declare their prized gems worthless might soon be taken out of Big Oil's hands.

2025: D-Day for Stranded Assets

The Paris Climate Agreement set to limit global warming to no more than below 2 degrees by the turn of the century if our planet is to avoid catastrophic and irreversible climate change. But here's the alarming news: Our current trajectory shows that we are heading for a 3.2 degrees temperature rise by 2100, which gives us a tiny 10-year window to severely curtail our greenhouse gas emissions or forever face the consequences of our folly.

Unfortunately, precious little has been achieved since the ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2016. Last year's UN climate summit (COP25) in Madrid was a dismal failure with no new goals set despite hosting delegates from nearly 200 countries.

However, companies like Exxon that continue to value their oil and gas assets based on 'business as usual' government policies could be whistling past the graveyard. This is the case because these companies are working on the assumption that governments will not take any "forceful action" in a bid to combat climate change. Related: Shale Executives Make Millions As Their Company Goes Bankrupt

Yet, this view might be wishful thinking. Back in January, Andrew Grant, senior analyst at Carbon Tracker, had warned that new regulations regarding climate change are likely to be "forceful, abrupt, and disorderly" with decisive policy response likely to be seen from 2025 that will "seriously hit the fossil-fuel industry."

Companies at the biggest risk

Grant's warning appears to have aged well, with the global oil and gas sector expected to write off a staggering $300 billion in stranded assets in the current year alone, and nearly a trillion over the next few years if governments begin to get aggressive with global climate goals.

All eyes will be on the next UN Climate summit (COP26) set to be held in Glasgow, which will hopefully achieve much more than its predecessor.

Bearing this in mind, companies that have aggressively written off their stranded assets such as BP, Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A), Hess Corp.(NYSE:HES), and Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) could be safer long-term picks than others like Exxon that are still stubbornly clinging to their potentially worthless assets. Indeed, even long-suffering OXY is finally beginning to get some Wall Street love with JPMorgan recently upgrading the stock "given the magnitude of underperformance, the de-risking of the maturity wall and the recent stability in the oil price."

Thankfully, even Exxon might slowly be coming to its senses after its recent decision to devalue its massive Kearl Lake mine north of Fort McMurray and ditch its debt-fueled US$30 billion-a-year plan to rebuild its aging worldwide portfolio.

America's Big Oil is likely to be safe in the medium-term if Trump is re-elected, but could be in for interesting times if his chief Democrat adversary with his $5 trillion climate plan trounces him in the November elections. Trump has continued to roll back Obama-era climate regulations, with the EPA recently waiving federal requirements for oil and gas companies to monitor and repair methane leaks. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has approved a sweeping plan to sell drilling rights in Alaska's 19M-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for the first time ever.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oiprice.com:
The man who led Charleston's yet-to-open but long-awaited International African American Museum through its fundraising process has taken a job advancing diversity at Blackbaud Inc., a software company in Charleston that added the role in the wake of protests earlier this summer advocating for racial justice.

Daniel Island-based Blackbaud announced the job for Michael B. Moore, who was president and CEO of the museum until his resignation in mid-2019, on Tuesday. Moore has been with the company since early 2020, and will begin the new job as its first diversity and inclusion officer in September.

Moore was a founding leader of the museum, scheduled to open to the public in 2022 on Gadsden's Wharf in downtown Charleston. He resigned a few months before the museum broke ground. At the time of his resignation in mid-2019, Moore said he always planned to see the museum through its fundraising and planning missions. He also indicated he planned to return to the private sector.

Though he spent roughly three years at the museum, Moore's background prior to the philanthropic effort to fund the new institution is in private industry. He worked for companies including Coca-Cola, Glory Foods and Kraft.

Moore said Blackbaud, a publicly traded company that sells software to nonprofits, schools and churches, presents a rare opportunity for him to return to the private sector while keeping one foot in the "social good" side of his work as well.

Given the job is brand new, the full responsibilities are yet to be defined. But Moore said he will "come up with Blackbaud's global strategy for diversity and inclusion."

He said recent protests in support of George Floyd, a Minnesota man who died at police hands, have led companies to reconsider equity.

"At a macro level, our country is on a journey around diversity and inclusion," Moore said. "Companies are figuring out what that means to them."

Herbert Drayton, CEO of Vertical Holdings, a private equity firm that invests in local tech and health care startups, said Blackbaud's move is notable because most roles like it are relegated to companies' human resource offices.

"Unless you move that position into the C-suite, there's not going to be the kind of corporate accountability necessary to create long-lasting change," Drayton said.

He said Blackbaud's decision to announce the role publicly also invites accountability and transparency. In Drayton's view, a job promoting inclusion should start with evaluating whether any systemic issues are keeping the company from hiring minorities.

Drayton is also a native of Charleston's East Side, chair-elect of the Coastal Community Foundation and an executive board member at Palmetto Goodwill.

Maggie Driscoll, Blackbaud's chief people officer, said in a statement the new position helps the firm achieve its goals of furthering inclusivity.

Like so many companies, we are continually evaluating our progress toward fulfilling that vision and evolving our approach to ensure were creating a culture consistent with who we are as an employer, technology leader and community steward," Driscoll said.

Blackbaud and the International African American Museum were already connected; the software company donated $1 million to the fundraising campaign, which at the time was the largest donation Blackbaud had ever made. The $1 million was earmarked for the Center for Family History, an archive that researches the genealogy of African Americans.

Michael Gianoni, CEO of Blackbaud, has been serving on the museum's board of directors since 2016.

Moore said he was also a customer of Blackbaud's at the museum.

Bernard Powers, a College of Charleston professor and founder of its Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston, is serving as the museum's interim chief executive.
Amid border tensions with China, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday reportedly deployed the indigenous fighter Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas on the western front.

The first LCA Tejas squadron, 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) based out of Sulur under the Southern Air Command, was deployed in an operational role on the western front, close to the border with Pakistan, according to reports.

The indigenous Tejas aircraft had been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech where he had stated that the deal to buy the LCA Mark1A version was expected to be completed soon.

While the first squadron of the planes is of the Initial Operational Clearance version, the second 18 Squadron `Flying Bullets` is of the Final Operational Clearance version and was operationalized by the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria at the Sulur airbase on May 27.

The Indian Air Force and the Defence Ministry are expected to finalise the deal for the 83 Mark1A aircraft by the end of this year. In view of the Chinese aggression on the borders, the IAF had deployed its assets all along the borders with both China and Pakistan.

The forward airbases of the force have been equipped to take care of situations along the western and northern fronts and have seen extensive flying operations in the recent past, including both daytime and night operations.

The Tejas FOC made its first successful test flight in Bengaluru just a couple of months ago on March 17, 2020. Several advance technologies have been incorporated into the Tejas FOC including Air-to-Air refuelling and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile system to make the fighter a potent platform.

The IAF already operates 20 Tejas jets in Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) in the 45 Squadron while the 18 Squadron will also have 20 jets in FOC version with 16 fighters and 4 trainers.

IAF's No, 18 Squadron, formed on, April 15, 1965, with the motto "Teevra aur Nirbhaya", has an illustrious history. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon of the Squadron was decorated with the highest gallantry award Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his daring dogfight with Pakistani Sabre jets over the skies of Kashmir valley. The gallant action by the Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon and the squadron led to unit earning the sobriquet Defenders of Kashmir Valley.
A vigilante mother went on an extraordinary street mission and threatened four drug dealers at gunpoint in a bid to stop her son using ice.

Karen Rossiter was at her home in Claymore, in Sydney's south west, on June 13 when she saw her son walk past the home affected by meth.

The 55-year-old grabbed a rifle she kept hidden under her bed and took to the streets in search of drug dealers.

Karen Rossiter was at her home in Claymore, in Sydney's south west, on June 13 when she saw her son walk past the home

Campbelltown Local Court heard Rossiter had been previously diagnosed with anxiety-related mental health conditions, Macarthur Chronicle reported.

When she got to a home on Abrahams Way she held the gun up and said: 'I'm just trying to find who the f**k was giving my son drugs'.

Both denied being involved and directed Rossiter to another home, court documents say.

She marched to the second home and accused two suspected drug dealers of 'f**king my son up on ice' while pointing the gun at them.

Once alerted, police rushed to Rossiter's home but she denied she ever had a gun and instead used a long stick covered by a towel.

Upon searching the home, officers found the gun stashed in her bedroom, with court documents stating she confessed to finding it at a park six months prior.

The 55-year-old grabbed a rifle she kept hidden under her bed and took to the streets in search of the people providing her son with the drugs

Officers went through her phone and found a message saying she got herself 'into trouble'.

'Walked around every drug dealer in Claymore with a xxxx,' the message read.

An application was made to have the charges dealt with under the mental health act but Magistrate George Breton dismissed it, saying they were too serious.

'She essentially knocked on the door, pointed the gun in their face and said "someone has been selling my son drugs",' Magistrate Breton said.

Campbelltown Local Court heard Rossiter had been previously diagnosed with anxiety-related mental health conditions

He said Rossiter did 'as much as she could' to intimidate people and taking to the streets is 'never condoned'.

The 55-year-old was convicted of two counts of being armed with intent and possessing an unauthorised firearm.

Rossiter must undergo a two-year community corrections order and will have to attend counselling and stay away from alcohol and drugs.
The Holser fire in Ventura County had burned at least 3,000 acres as of Monday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide emergency in order to help California respond to the fires burning across the state amid an extreme heat wave that brought more warnings about power outages on Tuesday.

More than 30 wildfires are burning across California, including nearly a dozen that started in the last two days, according to officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and a Times analysis.

While the containment of some fires is increasing, other blazes are being sparked and are growing amid a combination of excessive heat and lightning from thunderstorms induced by a tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean.

Air quality was bad in many parts of the state due to the fires and weather. But the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California were hit particularly hard as winds carried smoke from multiple fires in places such as Marin, Sonoma, San Mateo and Monterey counties into communities. Experts say the air quality could be even worse on Wednesday.

The heat has continued to tax the states power supply. After rolling blackouts on Friday and Saturday, officials warned that more areas could lose power if people did not conserve. Blackouts were averted Tuesday when the California Independent System Operator called off power outages that had been anticipated statewide, crediting conservation efforts by consumers.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power did not institute rolling power outages either and provided excess power to Cal-ISO on Tuesday. Still, about 12,000 of its 1.5 million customers have been affected by outages  mostly for heat-related reasons such as overloaded equipment.

Newsom's office said that the state had secured assistance this week from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to fires in Napa, Nevada and Monterey counties.

We are deploying every resource available to keep communities safe as California battles fires across the state during these extreme conditions, Newsom said. California and its federal and local partners are working in lockstep to meet the challenge and remain vigilant in the face of continued dangerous weather conditions.

Story continues

Crews on Tuesday battled fires that burned more than 50,000 acres across seven counties in Northern California and the Central Valley.

The SCU Lightning Complex, made up of about 20 fires, began early Sunday and involves areas of Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials. It was 0% contained as of Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters in Northern California also responded to the LNU Lightning Complex, where fires had burned more than 32,000 acres by Tuesday night. The incident includes five fires in Napa County and two fires in Sonoma County. All were 0% contained as of 8 p.m. At least 1,900 structures are threatened, and three have been destroyed.

Evacuation orders have also been issued in the mountains along the borders of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.

Cal Fire Capt. Richard Cordova said most of the biggest fires  including several in the Central Valley and Northern California  are believed to have been caused by lightning strikes, which can ignite dry grasses and brush.

The River fire in Monterey County, which has burned through more than 4,000 acres and is 10% contained, as well as fires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties  including the CZU August Lightning Complex, which has burned through 1,000 acres and has no containment  pose threats to the population, Cordova said.

The River fire has already destroyed six structures and damaged two others, according to Cal Fire. More than 1,500 structures remain threatened by the blaze, which has prompted mandatory evacuations.

We had this kind of occurrence happen in 2008, where we had numerous lightning strikes and fires in that region, Cordova said. Its a little late in the thunderstorm season, but not a rarity to see these lightning events take place.

Firefighters are battling flames amid an intense heat wave that began late last week and has set record-high temperatures across California. On Sunday, the mercury in Death Valley reached 130 degrees  possibly the highest mercury reading on Earth in almost 90 years.

The heat wave is certainly not helping things, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said of the fires, adding that the heat is not only an increased fire risk, but also a burden on firefighters. Its been a tough few days, and its going to stay pretty hot during the week.

Storms have also made matters worse. Humidity from the Southeast is a source of some of the state's thunderstorms, Wofford said, and although rain can help dampen fires and assist in containment efforts, gusty winds created by the storms can be hazardous.

In Southern California, Wofford said that thunderstorms have been contained mostly to the mountains, where the Lake fire in the Angeles National Forest has raged for more than a week. The blaze has burned through more than 22,000 acres and was 38% contained as of Tuesday evening.

In neighboring Ventura County, the Holser fire erupted Monday afternoon near Lake Piru and has burned at least 3,000 acres.

Among the largest fires in the state  the Apple fire in Riverside County, which began July 31  is now 95% contained after burning more than 33,000 acres. The blaze was ignited by a malfunctioning car, Cal Fire officials said.

The fire prompted evacuation orders across the Inland Empire, which were complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. Designated evacuation centers were abandoned in favor of hotels in order to stem the potential spread of the illness among people in close quarters.

Lin reported from San Francisco, Shalby and Miller from Los Angeles. Times staff writers Joseph Serna and Taryn Luna contributed to this report.
A 15-year veteran of the CIA was charged Monday with selling U.S. secrets to China then unwittingly admitting his spying to the FBI.

The method prosecutors said they used to get him to reveal the nature of his espionage was worthy of a spy novel itself.

Court documents said 67-year-old Alexander Yuk Ching Ma of Honolulu was charged with violating U.S. espionage laws. Prosecutors said he joined the CIA in 1967 then served as a CIA officer until he retired from the agency in 1989. For part of that time he was assigned to work overseas in the East-Asia and Pacific region.

Twelve years after he retired, prosecutors said Monday that Ma met with at least five officers of China's Ministry of State Security in a Hong Kong hotel room, where he "disclosed a substantial amount of highly classified national defense information," including facts about the CIA's internal organization, methods for communicating covertly, and the identities of CIA officers and human assets.

"The trail of Chinese espionage is long and, sadly, strewn with former American intelligence officers who betrayed their colleagues, their country and its liberal democratic values to support an authoritarian communist regime," said John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security. "To the Chinese intelligence services, these individuals are expendable. To us, they are sad but urgent reminders of the need to stay vigilant."

After leaving the CIA, investigators said, Ma got a job as a Chinese linguist in the FBI's Honolulu field office. He used his new job and security clearance to copy or photograph classified documents related to guided missile and weapons systems and other U.S. secrets and passed the information to his Chinese handlers, court documents said.

When the FBI became aware of Ma's activities, prosecutors said, an undercover FBI employee arranged a meeting, posing a representative of the Chinese government. The undercover operative claimed to be conducting an investigation "into how Ma had been treated, including the amount he had been compensated," court documents said.

A video recording showed Ma counting $2,000 in cash provided by the undercover operative, who said it was to acknowledge his work on behalf of China. Investigators said Ma, who was born in Hong Kong, explained that he "wanted 'the motherland' to succeed" and admitted that he provided classified information to the Ministry of State Security and continued to work with some of its same representatives who were at the 2001 meeting.

Prosecutors said an 85-year-old relative of Ma's also worked for the CIA and later spied for China. But he was not charged because he suffers from "an advanced an debilitating cognitive disease."

The charges against Ma represent the latest in a series of setbacks against U.S. efforts to conduct espionage targeting China.

Another former CIA officer, Jerry Chun Shing Lee, was sentenced to 19 years in prison last year after pleading guilty to conspiring with Chinese intelligence agents starting in 2010 after he left the agency. NBC News reported that information he provided helped China and other nations compromise the CIA's method of communicating secretly with its foreign agents, leading to the deaths of Chinese informants.

In 2015, the U.S. government revealed that Chinese intelligence hackers had stolen reams of sensitive personnel files from the Office of Personnel Management, including security clearance applications of intelligence officers and other national security operatives. American officials said they feared that data and other personal information on U.S. citizens stolen by the Chinese from private companies has allowed China to better identify American operatives spying overseas.
Al Khabeer Capital, a major asset management and alternative investments group in Saudi Arabia, has announced the successful closing of the subscription to the additional offering of its real estate investment trust Expert REIT Fund, with coverage exceeding 104 per cent of the total cash offering.

The Expert REIT Fund is a closed public traded real estate investment fund that complies with the regulations of the Sharia Board. It was listed on the Tadawul financial market on March 20, 2019.

With this successful closing of the REIT, the total value of the funds assets is poised to hit SR1.71 billion ($455.6 million), thus registering a 70% increase.

Commenting on the achievement, CEO Ahmed Saud Ghouth said: "I am pleased to announce the success of the additional offering process, in a step in line with the funds long-term strategy, which focuses on achieving continuous cash flows through investment in income-generating assets, and acquisition of three additional properties."

"The process of allocating units to subscribers and returning the surplus will take 15 working days from the date of the end of the offering period, and the time period for the acquisition, transfer of ownership of assets and listing of the fund units in Tadawul is 60 working days from the date of the end of the offering period," he added.
After working with State Bank of India to create digital banking platform YONO, IBM India is now working with more public and private sector banks for developing similar platforms, said two IBM India executives.

IBM is getting into the act as global tech giants are now going aggressive in the Indian banking sector, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) encouraging competition.

IBM India is looking at developing applications that would help banks leverage data. Currently, they are working with large banks to build platforms to cater to small and medium enterprises and corporate clients.

These platforms could be different for each bank depending on what they want to leverage and innovate on. So, we are engaging with banks in areas where there could be differentiation, Subram Natarajan, Chief Technology Officer, IBM India/South Asia, told Moneycontrol .

The RBI is actively encouraging big tech to come in and engage in businesses that banks traditionally used to do, he said.

They include the payments space where players like Google and WhatsApp have entered, and areas like insurance and lending where start-ups are gaining market share.

Arijit Bonnerjee, Director, Financial Services Sector, IBM India and South Asia, said that these are businesses banks traditionally used to do and are now losing out to competitors.

With customers moving to technology platforms, banks are fulfilling only last-mile connectivity. They are losing out on key customer data that are a huge differentiator. In recent times, technology companies have already eaten into banks customer activities.

Bonnerjee pointed out banks have realised the potential of data and are now taking the opportunity to be the disruptor rather than being the disrupted.

Banks have a lot of advantage over some of these technology firms -- first and foremost is the trust factor, he explained.

Customers are more comfortable sharing data with banks. In addition, banks have accumulated huge customer data with so many years of operations. If they can mine that well, with the right kind of data and analytics tool, interactions with customers will become much more personalised, Natarajan added.

That is probably one of the reasons why there is now a huge interest in the digital platform model from banks, pointed out Natarajan.

Indian financial services sector lagged behind global peers when it comes to digital transformation, said a 2017 Gartner report. However, the exercise gained momentum and banks investments increased with Gartner predicting that the total spending in IT would be $11 billion in 2020, a 9 percent increase compared to 2019.

Bonnerjee said that technology spending in public sector banks did increase, spurred by the announcement of the merger of 10 public sector banks in both legacy and new-age technologies.

While there was contraction in technology spending in private sector banks due to COVID-19, they continued to invest in new-age technologies such as cloud, automation and cyber security.
Bashing the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit program has become the political equivalent of low-hanging fruit.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (520 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bashing the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit program has become the political equivalent of low-hanging fruit.

Virtually all of Canadas Conservative premiers have labeled CERB as a "disincentive to work," while polls show majorities in Quebec, Alberta, and B.C. support shutting the program down.

Even premiers of Manitoba and Ontario  where polling show majorities who want to keep the program  blame their economic woes on the $2,000-a-month benefit paid to employees unemployed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Its not like CERB is above criticism.

Take the fact that if an employee makes $1,000/month they dont qualify for a "top-up" to CERB-levels. Or the fact CERB payments are taxable and the Canada Revenue Agency is going to have one long list of people who owe next year. This is not to mention the number of times Ive heard stories of somebody lying to get CERB or some "lazy" millennial student improperly using it.

Many love to blame CERB. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, for example, has regularly blamed the slow-to-recover economy on the program.

The problem is CERB doesnt provide a disincentive to work, the COVID-19 pandemic does.

People who deserve to be on CERB are most often working front-line, low-wage, life-risking jobs. Apparently, its OK for professional athletes to "opt out" of work when it comes to family or fear of death but it is not OK for someone who works in a grocery store.

So, this leads to the main problem: politics.

The CERB saved Canadas economy. Period.

It allowed people to pay rent, keep businesses open, and stave off the brutal shock of the worst economic downturn in generations.

Without CERB, nearly a quarter of the country would have suddenly defaulted on loans and rent, overwhelmed social programs and resources, used up their limited time on EI and, eventually, accessed welfare. With a stagnant economy and skyrocketing private and public debt, this would instigate a widescale, economic meltdown with nowhere to hide.

Dont be fooled: this may still happen, but a slow burn is much better than overnight.

The CERB was never meant to be forever (see the word: emergency). Something has got to be done to reduce its impacts as more than 8.5 million Canadians have accessed CERB, and the bill is coming in at more than $80 billion to taxpayers so far.

Add in another $260 billion or so in COVID-19 costs (including a $45-billion wage subsidy program) and Canadas deficit since the pandemic started is more than $340 billion (and is expected to surpass $1 trillion next year, for the first time in history).

Clearly, a lot of money is going out the governments doors and much less is coming in.

Meanwhile, the government is planning a hastily-organized transition of millions of Canadians onto employment insurance, but this is just a Band-Aid. People will use up their weeks and then what? Will work even be possible?

With more cases of COVID-19 every day, how much longer until a shutdown or partial shutdown is necessary? Its looking more and more looking like a long-term, systemic solution is needed the longer the pandemic continues.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES In a private member's motion (M-46), Winnipeg MP Leah Gazan has called for CERB to be converted into a guaranteed livable basic income.

An answer may have been offered this week by Winnipeg MP Leah Gazan.

In a private member's motion (M-46), Gazan has called for CERB to be converted into a guaranteed livable basic income.

It would mean those most marginalized by an economy never have to worry about being without. It would act as a safety net, not a luxury ride, for those who access it. Its also adjustable to regional area and cost-of-living.

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.

A universal income would mean basic costs for life would be guaranteed and those who need to transition into new employment have time to train and get experience.

It also means those in poverty  most often seniors, the disabled, and those who have experienced discrimination  have opportunity.

Unlike CERB, a guaranteed livable basic income could also be integrated with the tax system to avoid exploitation and support public services and ensure it is delivered effectively and with the same benefits CERB currently provides the economy.

NDP private member's motions rarely convince anyone in government, but Gazans idea has secured more than 23,000 signatures on a petition, as of Monday.

Its an idea for all, in a time when we need all of us to pull our weight.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and more recently Democratic presidential candidate, donated $3 million to his hometown public library in Medford, the city announced on Tuesday.

The donation as part of Bloomberg Philanthropies will go to the construction of a new public library in Medford on High Street.

The new library will be double the size of the previous one and will be named the Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library in honor of Bloombergs parents, who lived in Medford for 65 years.

It means a lot to Marjorie and me to have our parents names attached to an institution that was such an important part of our childhood, Bloomberg said in a statement. And that provides such important resources to people of all ages in our hometown.

The Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library is slated to open in the fall of 2021. The former library hosted over 200,000 visitors each year, the city said.

The new building will feature multiple meeting rooms, private study spaces, a large performance room, a makerspace and tech lab, a local history room, cafe and gallery, the city said in a release.

My parents instilled in my brother and me a love of learning and reading, and the Medford Library gave us the chance to explore new worlds and broaden our horizons, Marjorie B. Tiven, founder and president of Global Cities, Inc. said in a statement. It was central to the citys social and cultural life and a treasured resource for so many families.

The donation is in addition to $1.5 million in gifts and pledges already raised for the library. The estimated cost of the project is about $27.5 million. In 2017, the city of Medford received a grant of $12.2 million from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for construction of a new library.

The Medford Public Library plays an important role in the life of the community. The new library will continue and improve upon that tradition in a larger, updated, and far better-equipped space, Director of the Library Barbara Kerr said. We are very pleased that the new library will honor Mr. Bloomberg and Ms. Tivens parents. Charlotte Bloomberg was a regular visitor and contributor to the library. The library was a part of her life, and I am happy that she will be honored in this way.

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The global biodegradable plastic market was valued at $1.2 billion in 2018, and is projected to reach $6.0 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 21.3% from 2019 to 2026.

Biodegradable plastic is a plant based plastic with no hazardous effects on the environment. It composed of petrochemical, renewable material, and micro-organisms. The idea of biodegradable plastic reveals little or no degradation of plastic material over the period, causing least hazards to environment. Hence, plastic that is defined as biodegradable is made of molecule that can break down naturally by the action of micro-organisms. Some of the major known types of the biodegradable plastic includes, Poly(lactic Acid (PLA), Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), Polybutylene Succinate (PBS), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and Starch Blends.

The global biodegradable plastic market is in introductory phase of industry life cycle and is expected to explore new growth opportunities during the coming years. Some of the basic factors driving the demand for biodegradable plastic include governmental initiatives to eliminate single use plastic and strict regulatory outlook against the use of conventional plastic products. Industry trends are shifting toward bio based products to reduce dependence on conventional plastics. Biobased and biodegradable plastic is least toxic and causes no adverse effects environments. Hence, its demand is on the rise at significant pace.

Request for Report Sample: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/13336

Moreover, most of manufacturers from each industry vertical are shifting toward use of biobased plastic due to pressure from regulatory bodies. Packaging textile, and agriculture industries are being some of them. Such factors are largely impacting the growth of the global biodegradable market. On the other hand, the growth of the market is restrained by high cost of biodegradable plastic over its conventional counterparts. Growth opportunities in this market are promising which is projected to come from concept like corporate social responsibility and decreased dependence on synthetic resources.

The global biodegradable plastic market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and region. Based on type, the market is bifurcated into includes (Poly(lactic Acid) (PLA), Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate (PBAT), Polybutylene Succinate (PBS), Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Starch Blends, and others. On the basis of application, the global biodegradable plastic market is categorized into packaging, agriculture, textile, consumer durable and others. Based on region, it is studied across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Some of the major manufacturers studied and profiled in the global biodegradable plastic market are BASF SE, DowDuPont Inc, Novamont S.p.A., Plantic, Natureworks, Corbion N.V., Biome Technologies plc, Eastman Chemical Company, and Danimer Scientific.

KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS

 Porters five forces analysis helps analyze the potential of buyers & suppliers and the competitive scenario of the industry for strategy building

 It outlines the current trends and future scenario of the market from 2019 to 2026 to understand the prevailing opportunities and potential investment pockets

 Major countries in the region have been mapped according to their individual revenue contribution to the regional market

 The key drivers, restraints, and opportunities and their detailed impact analysis are elucidated in the study

 The profiles of key players along with their key strategic developments are enlisted in the report

Request for Report Discount: https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/13336

KEY MARKET SEGMENTS

 By Type

 PLA

 PBAT

 PBS

 PHA

 Starch Blends

 Others



 By Application

 Packaging

 Agriculture

 Consumer Durable

 Textile

 Others

 By Region

 North America

o U.S.

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o France

o Spain

o Italy

o UK

o Rest of Europe

 Asia-Pacific

o China

o Japan

o India

o South Korea

o Australia

o Rest of Asia-Pacific

 LAMEA

o Brazil

o South Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Rest of LAMEA

More Info of Impact Covid19@ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/13336
From just seven years old, Sabri Suby was determined to make his own money and stand on his own two feet.

The Byron Bay native was desperate to help out his single mum, who was working three jobs at the time to put food on the dinner table for he and his sister.

So he got a job at a local health food store grinding peanut butter for $2.50 an hour.

For a while, it seemed like a good deal.

That was until he tried his hand at busking on a Saturday at the markets and turned over $80 by performing on a harmonica his mother had bought him.

He told Daily Mail Australia that was when he first realised the difference between working for yourself and working for somebody else.

The Byron Bay native juggles his business and being a dad to two girls (pictured)

He was desperate to help out his single mum, who was working three jobs at the time to put food on the dinner table for he and his sister. Now his business is worth an estimated $30million

Fast forward to 2020, Mr Suby runs King Kong, an advertising agency selling web design, Facebook advertising, landing pages and SEO turning over $20million per year and on track for $30 million in the next 12 months.

Australian Financial Review marked the company as the fastest growing agency in Australia right now, with high profile clients including Raine & Horne, The Good Guys and Sydney Swans, and an estimated value of $30million.

He said while it might seem like a meteoric rise to the top of his field, he's been grinding for this moment since he can remember - and knows it isn't the time to get complacent.

'Having your own business is an incredible thing and it can provide an incredible life, but it isn't easy,' he said.

'I've made more than a million cold calls in my career. People telling me to f**k off, to go die. Making 150 calls a day isn't glamorous.

'Anyone wanting to start their own business needs to know it isn't always glamorous. Successful people do the work unsuccessful people aren't willing to do.'

His then girlfriend of four years, Shalini, gifted him an old computer and he converted his bedroom into an office space. They are now married with two daughters

When he decided to start King Kong in 2014, he had about $50 to spare for the business. It is now worth about $30million

But Mr Suby said there are some key qualities that are crucial for success.

Be passionate about what it is you want to do

Have grit

Be tolerant of the idea of risk

Make the 'why' so big that the 'how' becomes easy

Be prepared to prove your perseverance and determination

Mr Suby landed his first full time job at 17 selling ink cartridges from a 'boiler room' shipping container.

While he 'sucked really bad at the beginning', Mr Suby quickly rose to the top of the company, becoming their number one seller, which opened up international travel opportunities.

When he arrived back in Australia, he continued selling 'just about anything you could imagine' before seeking inspiration from his seven-year-old self and deciding to go it alone.

'I've had a few businesses, some I've run into the ground and others I've sold and moved on from,' he said.

'They're the best. I have the best family,' he said, while admitting that he still does struggle to find a balance between work and play

'I start work the moment my eyes open in the morning to the moment I fall asleep at night,' Mr Suby told Daily Mail Australia

When he decided to start King Kong in 2014, he had about $50 to spare for the business.

His then girlfriend of four years, Shalini, gifted him an old computer and he converted his bedroom into an office space.

Within days, he'd landed his first paying client.

'Six years later, I have a team of 65 and we're doing extremely well,' he said.

'I want to be the biggest and best in Australia. We are on track. I know what the rest are doing in terms of revenue and it has taken them 12 years to get there. We will be breathing down their necks in the next 12 months.'

Mr Suby said he'll be forever grateful for Shalini's support in the early days.

The couple have since gone on to marry and now have two daughters, three-year-old Melia and Aelaya, one.

'They're the best. I have the best family,' he said, while admitting that he still does struggle to find a balance between work and play.

For every child I have, I'll wake up an hour earlier

'I start work the moment my eyes open in the morning to the moment I fall asleep at night.'

But Mr Suby made the decision early on in his career to never sacrifice years he'll 'never get back' with his girls.

'I wake up at 4am every day and get started so that I can put my girls to sleep at night. There are sacrifices that need to be made.

'We've all got the same 24 hours in a day, we don't get any more, so we need to just make it work. I made a promise to myself that for every child I had, I'd wake up an hour earlier.'

For anybody considering starting their own business, the pandemic might be the perfect time to give it a go, he said

He normally works out of an office in South Yarra, Melbourne, but Victoria's second coronavirus outbreak has restricted he and his employees to working from home

And while he doesn't have the time in a day to binge Netflix or scroll mindlessly through Facebook, Mr Suby said he's found a balance that works for he and his family.

'I go for a run first thing in the morning before the sun's up, then I spend half an hour with the girls before breakfast, start work, do a body weight workout with my wife in the afternoon, have dinner and put the girls to bed,' he revealed.

Every night, he and his wife try to have a sauna together and take a dip in the plunge pool. Usually they have time for one episode of a show or to spend some time together before bed.

'I have a very loving and supportive wife,' Mr Suby admitted, which he said made the routine a lot easier to maintain - particularly during COVID.

He normally works out of an office in South Yarra, Melbourne, but Victoria's second coronavirus outbreak has restricted he and his employees to working from home.

The pandemic hasn't impacted his business as negatively as some others, and he is grateful for his position throughout the crisis.

He understands how many Australians weren't as fortunate.

A candidate has a better chance of getting into Harvard than they do getting a job in his office, Mr Suby told Daily Mail Australia, based on the amount of applicants he receives

Mr Suby landed his first full time job at 17 selling ink cartridges from a 'boiler room' shipping container

'This time right now has shown how sensitive it can be to work for someone else and to be employed for another company,' Mr Suby said.

For anybody considering starting their own business, the pandemic might be the perfect time to give it a go, he said.

'Uber, Slack, they were both started during a recession from memory. Countless others.

'Don't wait. There is always a way to make it work if you've got enough ambition and drive. The key is to be fully sold and know why you're doing it.'

Mr Suby said knowing your 'why' is the most critical element to starting a business.

'Make the ''why'' so big that the ''how'' becomes easy. Know why you want to start the business, why you're willing to put in the hours, to invest in it. That'll ensure you don't lose steam while figuring out the how.'

Mr Suby said knowing your 'why' is the most critical element to starting a business. 'Make the ''why'' so big that the ''how'' becomes easy. Know why you want to start the business, why you're willing to put in the hours, to invest in it. That'll ensure you don't lose steam while figuring out the how'

Every night, he and his wife try to have a sauna together and take a dip in the plunge pool. Usually they have time for one episode of a show or to spend some time together before bed
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Bill Clinton grins with pleasure as he enjoys an intimate neck massage with a young Jeffrey Epstein victim in never-before-seen photographs obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.

The troubling pictures are an ill-timed reminder of Clinton's links to Epstein as the former President, 72, prepares to endorse Joe Biden tonight at the Democratic Convention.

Clinton traveled numerous times on the dead pedophiles private Jet, the Lolita Express, socialized with his alleged Madame, Ghislaine Maxwell, and faced a slew of sexual misconduct accusations himself during his years in public life.

Yet the 42nd President of the United States is still revered in progressive circles despite the renewed focus on Epstein's crimes and the predatory behavior of rich, powerful men laid bare by the #MeToo movement.

In the photos, Clinton sits comfortably and laughs as Chauntae Davies, then a 22-year-old massage therapist who acted as Epstein's personal masseuse, rubs her hands into his shoulders to get out the kinks in his neck.

Bill Clinton is seen enjoying a neck massage from a Jeffrey Epstein victim in never-before-seen photographs obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com. Clinton sits comfortably and laughs as Chauntae Davies, then a 22-year-old massage therapist, rubs her hands into his shoulders

Clinton, then 56, had complained of having a stiff neck after falling asleep on Epstein's notorious private jet while on a humanitarian trip with the pedophile to Africa in September of 2002. After Maxwell's insistence, Clinton asked the twenty-something: 'Would you mind giving it a crack?'

Davies, who has claimed she was raped by Epstein after being recruited by Maxwell, said Clinton was a 'complete gentleman' on the trip as she described how the encounter occurred

The pictures emerged as Clinton is set to make a rallying speech in support of Joe Biden at the Democratic convention on Tuesday night

Clinton, then 56, had complained of having a stiff neck after falling asleep on Epstein's infamous private jet, nicknamed The Lolita Express, while on a humanitarian trip with the pedophile to Africa in September of 2002.

Maxwell, who is now in prison on sex trafficking charges, repeatedly encouraged Davies to give Clinton a massage while the group was refueling at a small airport in Portugal after flying in from New York.

After Maxwell's insistence, Clinton asked the twenty-something: 'Would you mind giving it a crack?'

The images show Clinton dressed in a yellow button down shirt and beige slacks with his hands resting on his lap, as he leaned back while Davies knelt on a chair behind him for a better angle.

In a second image, Clinton seems to be smiling in relief as a sweatpants-clad Davies massages him.

Davies, who has claimed she was raped by Epstein several times after being recruited by Maxwell, said Clinton was a 'complete gentleman' on the trip.

She previously said she was invited to travel to Africa one week before the departure, and when she arrived to the airfield, she was instructed to wear a uniform to look professional.

Davies acted as an air stewardess on the flight and described being shocked when Clinton boarded the plane, saying he was 'charming and sweet'.

Davies, now in her early 40s, said of the massage pictures: 'Although the image looks bizarre, President Clinton was a perfect gentleman during the trip and I saw absolutely no foul play involving him.'

She explained the massage happened when 'we had a stop-over for the jet to refuel and while we were in the terminal the ex-President was complaining of stiffness from falling asleep in his chair.

'Ghislaine chimed in to be funny and said that I could give him a massage.

'Everyone had a little chuckle but Ghislaine in her prim British accent insisted and said I was good. The President then asked me ''would you mind giving it a crack''.

Clinton's team said he had only taken four trips with Epstein on the Lolita Express in 2002 and 2003. But flight logs showed he had taken a total of at least 26 individual flights in the course of those years

Epstein's silver and black Boeing 727 airliner - dubbed the 'Lolita Express' - carried prominent passengers including President Bill Clinton and British royal Prince Andrew

Epstein was accused of using his private plane to transport underage girls to his various luxury homes in New York, Palm Beach, New Mexico and even Paris. But Clinton has denied any knowledge of the pedophlies predilections

'He turned his back to me and I reached up and I started to rub out the kink in our former President's neck and shoulder.'

The massage therapist then revealed her embarrassment after innocently telling Clinton: 'I've got a bad angle, would you mind getting on your knees?'

Describing the incident she said: 'I'm not at all sure what came over me.

In an excerpt from her soon-to-be-released memoir, Davies added: 'I was groggy and have also always been the queen of putting my foot in my mouth.'

'For a moment the room fell silent. I couldn't believe I'd said that. The words just shot out before I realized what I was saying or who I said it to.

'Then, although his face had turned the color of fire, he laughed. The whole room was laughing too. And, being the good sport he was, he sat down so I could get a better angle.'

Epstein and Maxwell, along with other celebrities, accompanied Clinton on the trip to Africa in September 2002. It was part of a project for Clinton's foundation to raise awareness about poverty and the AIDS crisis in the continent.

Clinton and Ghislaine were pictured posing together as they boarded Epstein's plane.

Other pictures show the politician traveling on the infamous jet while playing cards with a cigar in his mouth.

The star-studded group  which included actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker  visited the countries of Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa during the five-day humanitarian trip.

Epstein was previously accused of using his private plane to transport underage girls to his various luxury homes in New York, Palm Beach, New Mexico and even Paris. American dignitaries and rich and powerful figures also traveled on the jet.

Clinton's office previously issued a statement in regards to his travels on the plane and denied knowing anything about the financier's crimes.

His team said he had only taken four trips with him in 2002 and 2003 - although flight logs showed he had taken a total of at least 26 individual flights in the course of those years.

'President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has previously been charged in New York,' a statement read.

'In 2002 and 2003, President Clinton took a total of four trips on Jeffrey Epstein's airplane: one to Europe, one to Asia, and two to Africa, which included stops in connection with the Clinton Foundation.

'Staff, supporters of the Foundation, and his Secret Service detail traveled on every leg or every trip.'

Davies claims she was sexually abused by Epstein for several years and finally escaped his clutches in 2005.

She previously said she was invited to join the trip one week before they departed, and when she arrived to the airfield, she was instructed to wear a uniform to look professional (pictured)

Davies was thrust into Epstein's (pictured together) inner circle when she was training to be a massage therapist at a college in Los Angeles. She wound up meeting Ghislaine at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. And just hours after meeting the now jailed socialite, Ghislaine contacted Davies and asked her to take a private jet with her to Epstein's Palm Beach home

In July 2019 she was interviewed by the FBI and the Assistant Attorney General of New Mexico. Epstein was arrested and charged in New York five days later. He committed suicide inside his jail cell in August.

Davies was thrust into Epstein's inner circle when she was training to be a massage therapist at a college in Los Angeles. She wound up meeting Ghislaine at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

And just hours after meeting the now jailed socialite, Ghislaine contacted Davies and asked her to take a private jet with her to Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida home.

Within weeks she was jetting around the world on the Lolita Express and was flown to Epstein's private island where she said she was attacked.

Davies said earlier this year that revisiting the photos made her question how such powerful people were pulled into Epstein's circle as he was committing heinous sex crimes.

'It's clear that Epstein was using this private jet and his wealth to get close to rich and powerful people,' Davies said.

'Looking back at these images now it raises a lot of questions about why Bill Clinton was using the plane and what perhaps Jeffrey may have been trying to accomplish by having him around.'

After Maxwell's insistence, Clinton asked the twenty-something: 'Would you mind giving it a crack?'

The images show Clinton dressed in a yellow button down shirt and beige slacks with his hands resting on his lap, as he leaned back while Davies knelt on a chair behind him for a better angle.

In a second image, Clinton seems to be smiling in relief as a sweatpants-clad Davies massages him.

Davies, who has claimed she was raped by Epstein several times after being recruited by Maxwell, said Clinton was a 'complete gentleman' on the trip.

She previously said she was invited to travel to Africa one week before the departure, and when she arrived to the airfield, she was instructed to wear a uniform to look professional.

Davies acted as an air stewardess on the flight and described being shocked when Clinton boarded the plane, saying he was 'charming and sweet'.

Davies, now in her early 40s, said of the massage pictures: 'Although the image looks bizarre, President Clinton was a perfect gentleman during the trip and I saw absolutely no foul play involving him.'





She explained the massage happened when 'we had a stop-over for the jet to refuel and while we were in the terminal the ex-President was complaining of stiffness from falling asleep in his chair.

'Ghislaine chimed in to be funny and said that I could give him a massage.

'Everyone had a little chuckle but Ghislaine in her prim British accent insisted and said I was good. The President then asked me ''would you mind giving it a crack''.

'He turned his back to me and I reached up and I started to rub out the kink in our former President's neck and shoulder.'

The massage therapist then revealed her embarrassment after innocently telling Clinton: 'I've got a bad angle, would you mind getting on your knees?'

Describing the incident she said: 'I'm not at all sure what came over me.

In an excerpt from her soon-to-be-released memoir, Davies added: 'I was groggy and have also always been the queen of putting my foot in my mouth.'

'For a moment the room fell silent. I couldn't believe I'd said that. The words just shot out before I realized what I was saying or who I said it to.

'Then, although his face had turned the color of fire, he laughed. The whole room was laughing too. And, being the good sport he was, he sat down so I could get a better angle.'

Epstein and Maxwell, along with other celebrities, accompanied Clinton on the trip to Africa in September 2002. It was part of a project for Clinton's foundation to raise awareness about poverty and the AIDS crisis in the continent.

Clinton and Ghislaine were pictured posing together as they boarded Epstein's plane.

Other pictures show the politician traveling on the infamous jet while playing cards with a cigar in his mouth.

The star-studded group  which included actors Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker  visited the countries of Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa during the five-day humanitarian trip.

Epstein was previously accused of using his private plane to transport underage girls to his various luxury homes in New York, Palm Beach, New Mexico and even Paris. American dignitaries and rich and powerful figures also traveled on the jet.

Clinton's office previously issued a statement in regards to his travels on the plane and denied knowing anything about the financier's crimes.

His team said he had only taken four trips with him in 2002 and 2003 - although flight logs showed he had taken a total of at least 26 individual flights in the course of those years.

Clinton and Ghislaine were pictured posing together as they boarded Epstein's plane

Other pictures show the politician traveling on the infamous jet while playing cards with a cigar in his mouth

The star-studded group  which included actors Kevin Spacey (pictured with Maxwell) and Chris Tucker  visited the countries of Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa during the five-day humanitarian trip

Epstein and Maxwell, along with other celebrities, accompanied Clinton on the trip to Africa in September 2002. It was part of a project for Clinton's foundation to raise awareness about poverty and the AIDS crisis in the continent

'President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has previously been charged in New York,' a statement read.

'In 2002 and 2003, President Clinton took a total of four trips on Jeffrey Epstein's airplane: one to Europe, one to Asia, and two to Africa, which included stops in connection with the Clinton Foundation.

'Staff, supporters of the Foundation, and his Secret Service detail traveled on every leg or every trip.'

Davies claims she was sexually abused by Epstein for several years and finally escaped his clutches in 2005.

In July 2019 she was interviewed by the FBI and the Assistant Attorney General of New Mexico. Epstein was arrested and charged in New York five days later. He committed suicide inside his jail cell in August.

Davies was thrust into Epstein's inner circle when she was training to be a massage therapist at a college in Los Angeles. She wound up meeting Ghislaine at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.

And just hours after meeting the now jailed socialite, Ghislaine contacted Davies and asked her to take a private jet with her to Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida home.

Within weeks she was jetting around the world on the Lolita Express and was flown to Epstein's private island where she said she was attacked.

Davies said earlier this year that revisiting the photos made her question how such powerful people were pulled into Epstein's circle as he was committing heinous sex crimes.

'It's clear that Epstein was using this private jet and his wealth to get close to rich and powerful people,' Davies said.

'Looking back at these images now it raises a lot of questions about why Bill Clinton was using the plane and what perhaps Jeffrey may have been trying to accomplish by having him around.'
For example, he spoke of how government programs to eradicate poverty hadnt solved much of anything: If government planning and welfare had the answer and theyve had almost 30 years of it  shouldnt they be telling us about the decline each year in the number of people needing help?

In recent years, weve spent about a trillion dollars a year on federal welfare programs. Divide that up among the 40 million or so Americans considered poor, and we could have given a family of four $100,000 a year. Yet, the poverty rate has stayed about the same as it was when the War on Poverty began in 1964. Tragically, most welfare programs have only been successful at creating perpetual reliance on government.

Reagan also pointed out that, despite the fact that Washington was collecting unprecedented amounts of money from taxpayers in 1964, it never seemed to be enough: Today, 37 cents of every dollar earned in this country is the tax collectors share, and yet our government continues to spend $17 million a day more than the government takes in.

Washingtons poor fiscal restraint has only gotten worse. In 2019, the government spent $2.7 billion a day more than it took in, and currently, the national debt exceeds $80,000 for every man, woman and child.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18) - As countries around the world race to get a hand on the potential coronavirus vaccine, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he would ask Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping if the country could purchase their vaccines by installment.

If it is quite expensive, I will ask my friends President Putin and President Xi Jinping to give us a credit, parang utang (like a debt). But we will pay in installments, said Duterte in a late night address on Monday.

Duterte thanked Russia and China for offering their vaccines that could potentially put an end to the ongoing pandemic.

"I would like to thank Russia, President Putin and China, President Xi Jinping for offering to provide us the vaccine. I cannot overemphasize my gratitude," he said.

Last week, Russia claimed that it already developed the worlds first COVID-19 vaccine with the Philippines joining its Phase 3 trial in October.

Meanwhile, China assured that the country is in the priority list once its own-produced vaccine will be cleared for sale.

Duterte said that he will not get the vaccines for free, citing that the two countries did not produce them without any cost and economies around the world are experiencing hemorrhage.

Remember, this is not for free. After all, they did not develop the vaccine without great expense and of course the human effort involved, he said. Basta sinasabi ko magbayad tayo, hindi ito libre (Im telling you that we will pay, these are not free).

Duterte said before that he is expecting that a vaccine will be already available by December, but the Department of Science and Technology suggested that the potential cure against the virus might not be available until the middle of 2021.
A vehicle left running in a closed garage Sunday leaked carbon monoxide through four townhouses in the St. James neighbourhood, sending one woman to hospital.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (520 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A vehicle left running in a closed garage Sunday leaked carbon monoxide through four townhouses in the St. James neighbourhood, sending one woman to hospital.

One of the impacted residents, Thorlein Oliver, said her Westwood Drive home's CO detectors rang out, waking her after 5 a.m.

"It all happened so fast," Oliver said Monday. "I think I was really dazed and just woken up and didn't recognize the alarm sound."

At first, Oliver thought the main floor alarm was malfunctioning. Then, she heard a second one in the basement sounding.

"I got my dog, went outside and called 911," Oliver said.

A Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crew arrived at 5:39 a.m. Entering Oliver's home, they recorded a carbon monoxide presence between 100 and 120 parts per million (ppm), she said.

The first responders put on masks because of the levels  unconsciousness and death are possible at sustained concentrations above 150 to 200 ppm  and called Manitoba Hydro to attend the scene.

The firefighters then checked neighbouring residences (the townhouses are side by side, sharing walls).

To her right, the neighbour had a reading of 12 ppm, Oliver said; two houses to the left, the reading was the same.

However, the owners of the house directly to Oliver's left were not responding to door knocks. The WFPS crew found the back patio door open and went inside to find and extract from the home an unconscious woman.

The carbon monoxide reading in that home was 1,000 ppm, the city said in a news release. The source of the CO was reported to be a vehicle left running in the garage.

The woman was transported to hospital in unstable condition. Crews ventilated the four affected suites to ensure the residents could safely be at home again.

"I hope everything's okay with (the woman)," Oliver said. "I'm so glad that I had the carbon monoxide detectors. The fire department said if it wasn't for that, she probably wouldn't still be here."

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Oliver has since bought a third CO detector  one for her top floor.

"One thing I would stress to everyone... is how important it is to get a carbon monoxide detector," she said. "You never know."

Carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless and tasteless. Symptoms are flu-like, including nausea, dizziness, confusion, vision and hearing loss.

In July 2019, improper venting of a boiler led to widespread carbon monoxide poisoning at the Super 8 hotel at 3760 Portage Ave. The gas leak led to dozens of people being treated at hospital, some in critical condition. All survived.

A lack of CO detectors was blamed for severity of the accidental leak.

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) is pleased to welcome Maurizio Vecchione as its Chief Innovation Officer. Maurizio has spent the last 30 years at the forefront of global and public health, focusing on innovation to improve the lives of the world's most vulnerable people. From 2014 until 2020, he was the Executive Vice President for Global Good and Research at Intellectual Ventures (IV), where he oversaw collaboration with Bill Gates to invent and deploy technology to address some of humanity's most daunting challenges. He simultaneously led the research programs of the Intellectual Ventures Laboratory and Institute for Disease Modeling. Maurizio has built global alliances for breakthrough programs in women's health, infectious disease prevention and elimination, primary care, and chronic disease management. He currently also serves as CEO of the Washington Global Health Alliance, a coalition of some of the leading institutions in global health, the Leadership Board of the University of Washington Department of Global Health and the Advisory Board of the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, among others. Throughout his career, he has developed numerous patented and commercial products and has built nine start-up companies.

"Maurizio will leverage the breakthrough science at TIBI and the power of collaboration across global research institutions to build a foundation of innovation and translation, designed to accelerate impact to patients everywhere," said Prof. Ali Khademhosseini, CEO at TIBI. "We are very excited to have him join our team as we work on bringing to fruition the next generation of medical innovations."

"With his extensive background in technological translation, Maurizio will be invaluable in helping our institute to achieve its goals," said Stewart Han, President of TIBI.

"It will be an honor to work at the leading edge of biomedicine and to combine it with effective translation to achieve impact," said Maurizio, "The generous support of the Terasaki family has created a unique platform at the Terasaki Institute that will undoubtedly accelerate breakthroughs in biomedical sciences for years to come."

The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (terasaki.org) is a non-profit research organization that invents and fosters practical solutions that restore or enhance the health of individuals. The Institute is made possible through an endowment from the late Dr. Paul I. Terasaki, a pioneer in the field of organ transplant technology.

SOURCE Terasaki Institute

Related Links

https://terasaki.org/institute/


Two women accused of escaping hotel quarantine to attend a party in Perth's southern suburbs have been arrested by police after arriving into WA without an exemption.

Banchi Techana, 22, and Isata Jalloh, 19, arrived at Perth Airport on a flight from Adelaide on Monday night before being sent to Novotel Perth to quarantine for the required two weeks.

It is alleged the pair escaped the Murray Street hotel around 1.30am before being arrested by police officers and charged with failure to comply with a direction.

The pair appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday via video link from Perth watch house.
Michael Sean Conner, 28, of Hixson, has been sentenced for a violent carjacking he attempted in Adairsville, Ga., during which he shot a young man asleep in his truck. Conner will serve this sentence consecutively to a seven-year sentence for a previous carjacking conviction in Tennessee, for a total sentence of 35 years of confinement.

Conners senseless and depraved act left a young man paralyzed from the chest down, said U.S. Attorney Byung J. BJay Pak. His callous disregard for the lives of others justifies the very lengthy prison sentence he received in this case. Our office is grateful for the careful coordination of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners whose collaboration ensured the success of this prosecution.

Mr. Conners sentence can never fully account for the suffering he inflicted on his victims, said Arthur Peralta, special agent in charge of ATF Atlanta. In this case, the combined efforts of the Adairsville Police Department, the GBI, the ATF, and the U.S. Attorneys Office worked to ensure that Mr. Conner will not have an opportunity to hurt anyone else for a very long time.

This sentence is the result of an effective partnership between our local and federal agencies. The GBI is dedicated to thoroughly investigating violent offenses leading to successful prosecutions to keep the streets safe from offenders such as Conner, said Vic Reynolds, director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

It is unfortunate that this heinous act occurred in the city of Adairsville. As the chief, I am thankful for the resources provided to us by the GBI, ATF, and U.S. Attorneys Office to assist in the investigation and prosecute this case to ensure justice was served for the victim, said Adairsville Chief of Police Mike Jones.

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: On May 7, 2018, the victim in this case, a young man unknown to Conner, was driving home to Florida after attending a wedding in Tennessee. He had stopped to nap at a gas station in Adairsville. Conner and two women, Kristy Lynn Davis and Destany Schubert, pulled beside the victim in a second vehicle. Conner tapped on the window of the victims truck, pointed a gun at the young man, and demanded that he give up his truck. Conner then shot the victim in the chest as he tried to roll up his window and back away from Conner, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.

Conner and his female passengers were charged for the crime following Conners arrest for committing another armed carjacking in Tennessee within hours of the offense in Georgia.

Michael Sean Conner was sentenced to 28 years of confinement to be followed by three years of supervised release. The federal sentence will run consecutively to the seven years he is serving in Tennessee for another carjacking. Conner had previously pleaded guilty to the carjacking offense in Tennessee and received a sentence of seven years of confinement. The Georgia sentence will run consecutive to his Tennessee sentence, resulting in a total custodial sentence of 35 years of confinement.



Kristy Lynn Davis, 38, of Summerville, Ga., who pleaded guilty to acting as Conners accessory, was sentenced to on Aug. 13, to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

Destany Schubert, 22, of Fort Oglethorpe, who also pleaded guilty to acting as Conners accessory, received a sentence on June 19, of one year, six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Adairsville Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Hoffer prosecuted the case.
A deputy, who appears in charge of the others, in a calm voice repeatedly tries to keep the inmate relaxed. He supervises as about four other deputies, including Elizarraraz, near the mans head, restrain him on the bed. About the videos 3:20-minute mark, as a medical professional questions the inmate about his mental health, the deputies increasingly struggle to control the man, who is still restrained on the bed but cannot be seen due to the number of deputies surrounding him.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attends the opening meeting of a session of the All-China Youth Federation and a congress of the All-China Students' Federation in Beijing, capital of China, August 17, 2020. [Xinhua/Yao Dawe]

BEIJING, August 17 (Xinhua)  President Xi Jinping on Monday stressed that the country's youth should be mobilized to make new and greater contributions to undertakings of the Party and the country.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to a session of the All-China Youth Federation and a congress of the All-China Students' Federation, which opened in Beijing on Monday morning.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended congratulations on the opening of the meetings, and sincere greetings to young students and young people of all ethnic groups and all walks of life in China, as well as overseas Chinese youth.

Over the past five years, under the leadership of the Party and with the help and guidance of Chinese Communist Youth League organizations, youth federations and students' federations at all levels have played an important role in the Party's work related to youth.

Noting that the country is about to secure a victory in completing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and embark on a new journey toward the second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist country, Xi called on Chinese youth to have firm ideals and convictions, and work tirelessly with the people in the new era.

Xi urged Party committees and governments at all levels to improve leadership in youth work and continue their support to youth federations and students' federations.

Youth federations and students' federations were asked to deepen reform and innovation, and organize and motivate the youth and students to follow the Party and make new and greater contributions to undertakings of the Party and the country.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening meeting, together with the other about 3,000 representatives and officials.

Chen Xi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee's Organization Department, read Xi's letter at the meeting.

Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the meeting on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Sun called on the young Chinese to rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and strive to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

The gatherings will summarize the work of the All-China Youth Federation and All-China Students' Federation in the past five years, and analyze and decide on the work plans for the next five years.

(Source: Xinhua)
- Solai dam tragedy occurred on May 9, 2018, and claimed over 40 lives with hundreds of families displaced

- Victims of the tragedy filed a case against the owner of the dam, Perry Mansukh Kansagara, seeking compensation

- The lawyers had gone to update the on the status of their case but faced resistance from police officers

- Mansukh and his co-accused had been set free in February 2020 over lack over evidence

- The Director of Public Prosecution, however, successfully appealed against the ruling and the case was revived in April 2020

Police in Naivasha have prevented lawyers representing victims of the Solai dam tragedy from meeting them to ventilate on the status f their case.

The tragic incident that occurred on May 9, 2019, claimed 44 lives and left hundreds of families homeless and water swept through the village destroying homes and properties.

READ ALSO: HIV positive man who thought disease would kill him celebrates 30th birthday

Police prevent lawyers from meeting victims of Solai Dam tragedy in Naivasha. Photo: KHRC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Mwanamuziki Jose Chameleone atupa jina lake la usanii

According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the lawyers had gone to update the victims on the status of their case but faced resistance from police officers.

"Police in Solai have prevented our lawyers from meeting victims of the Solai dam tragedy. The purpose of the meeting was to update the victims on criminal cases against Patel farm owners and two civil cases for compensation," said KHRC via Twitter.

READ ALSO: Barcelona fire Eric Abidal as Sporting director

The case pitting the victims against the owner of the dam, Perry Mansukh Kansagara, has been in court since 2018.

In February 2020, a Naivasha court acquitted nine suspects, including the owner, of the charges levelled against them on grounds that there was no sufficient evidence.

Magistrate Kennedy Bidali who made the ruling blamed the office of Director of Public Prosecution for what he termed as "lack of willingness and support to prosecute the case.

From left: Perry Mansukh Kansagara, Vinoj Kumar and Nakuru County Director of Water Johnson Kamau Njuguna in court. Photo: Citizen TV.

Source: UGC

The ODDP, however, appealed against the ruling which was overturned by Justice Richard Mwongo in April 2020.

Mwongo ruled that the trial court in Naivasha erred in acquitting the accused persons in the case. The ruling effectively set aside the earlier determination issued by the magistrate's court.

In the case, Mansukh and co-accused were charged with several charges among them manslaughter and failing to prepare an environmental impact assessment report that resulted in the loss of lives.

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Kenyan lady confesses to infecting men with HIV, begs for forgiveness | Tuko TV

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Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden delivers a speech on July 28, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Mark Makela/Getty Images

The Biden presidential campaign will not be taking to the skies in a chartered campaign plane, Axios reported.

The presumptive Democratic nominee is largely avoiding in-person speaking engagements due to fears surrounding mass gatherings during the pandemic.

Campaign planes play a vital role during an election as they serve as mobile offices where candidates work, speak to the press, and go from event to event in relative comfort.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The "battle for the soul of the nation," as Joe Biden is calling the upcoming 2020 presidential election, will not be fought in the skies as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president will not be taking on a campaign plane, Axios reported.

As election season nears its conclusion, it would normally be the time when nominees take to the skies on giant airliners to go from event to event. Larger planes  with their fuselages converted into billboards for the campaign  are required to transport the nominee, as well as the contingent of staff, press, and security that follow on the long road to the White House.

Although November is rapidly approaching, the Biden campaign has grounded itself with in-person events shunned due to concerns of mass gatherings. With little need to travel  even to attend the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee  Biden will not be seeing his name of the side of a plane anytime soon, sources told Axios.

President Donald Trump, alternatively, has shown no indication of remaining stagnant, using the government's fleet of VIP-configured jets to continue campaigning across the country. While the Democratic National Convention was preparing for its first night of festivities, Trump had flown to Oshkosh, Wisconsin on a US Air Force Boeing C-32 for an air-side rally.

Here's a history of why the jets are considered so important during an election.

The age of aviation saw the airplane replace the train as the dominant method of long-range transportation in the US and politicians were eager to take advantage.

Story continues

President Dwight Eisenhower boarding his US Air Force plane named "Columbine." AP

Whistle stop train campaigns were quickly made obsolete as candidates for office took to the skies for campaign engagements.

President Harry Truman giving a speech from a train. AP

Nearly all candidates for president representing the Democratic and Republican Parties in the modern era have had their own campaign planes.

Senator Bob Dole and his wife, Elizabeth Dole, christening their campaign plane during the 1976 election season. AP

In the campaign season leading up to the 2016 presidential election, then-candidate Trump didn't need a campaign plane because he already had his own.

Donald Trump's Boeing 757 private jet. John Minchillo/AP

The Boeing 757 nicknamed "Trump Force One" would be the aerial face of the campaign, flying Trump from city to city for airport rallies.

Donald Trump's Boeing 757 private jet. Gene J. Puska/AP

Serving as a backdrop for most of his air-side speeches, the jet bolstered Trump's image as the billionaire businessman outsider.

Donald Trump's Boeing 757 private jet. Gene J. Puska/AP

Trump acquired the plane in 2011 from Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen.

Donald Trump's Boeing 757 private jet. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Read More: Check out the Boeing airliner President Trump is trading in for Air Force One

It was his second Boeing purchase. Before then, he had a three-engine Boeing 727, the same used for the mogul's short-lived airline, Trump Shuttle.

Donald Trump's former Boeing 727 private jet. John Roca/NY Daily News Archive/Getty

For local campaign trips, Trump also used his Cessna Citation X, one of the fastest private jets in the world.

A Cessna Citation X private jet similar to the one owned by Donald Trump. MyLoupe/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

And then there's Trump's Sikorsky S76.

Donald Trump's Sikorsky S76 helicopter. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

The helicopter would also join the trail, at times, and brought Trump to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in 2016.

Donald Trump's Sikorsky S76 helicopter. Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty

The Trump-branded jets and helicopters were configured for luxury so the contingent of staff, press, and then-candidate Mike Pence flew in a backup plane, a chartered Boeing 737.

A Boeing 737 chartered by the Trump/Pence campaign in 2016. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty

It was leased from Eastern Airlines  a former charter operator specializing in the Boeing 737  but had "Trump Pence" and the campaign slogan emblazoned on the fuselage with an American flag on the tail in true campaign plane fashion.

An Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 plane. Markus Mainka/Shutterstock.com

The aircraft, however, was involved in an incident when it overran the runway while landing at LaGuardia Airport with Pence onboard in October 2016.

A Boeing 737 chartered by the Trump/Pence campaign in 2016. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty

Now, the president flies around on a slightly larger campaign plane, Air Force One.

Air Force One. w_p_o/Shutterstock.com

The president can use the Air Force's fleet of private jets but the taxpayer doesn't foot the entire bill, the campaign has to reimburse the government for a portion of the journey.

President Donald Trump boarding Air Force One. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

Source: NPR

Press will often fly on these planes and candidates will sometimes head to the back of the plane for interviews, press conferences, and other impromptu appearances.

Then-Senator Obama greeting press onboard his campaign plane. Jason Reed/Reuters

In the 2000s, one plane, in particular, has had a better track record of flying winners than the rest, the Boeing 757.

A Boeing 757 chartered by the Obama/Biden campaign in 2008. Jim Young/Reuters

President George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore had both used the plane type during the 2000 election season.

A Boeing 757 chartered by the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2000. Reuters

Bush had chartered his jet from the now-defunct North American Airlines while Gore had access to a modified Boeing 757 known as Air Force Two when he was aboard.

A US Air Force Boeing C-32 frequently used as Air Force Two. Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty

Former President Barack Obama also used a Boeing 757 in his campaign against Senator John McCain in the 2008 election.

A Boeing 757 chartered by the Obama/Biden campaign in 2008. Jim Young/Reuters

McCain had enlisted a Boeing 737 for the job, a tried and true workhorse in US aviation but one that has not had good luck in flying future presidents on the campaign trail.

A Boeing 737 chartered by the McCain/Palin campaign in 2008. Chip Somodevilla/Getty

The Boeing 737 was nicknamed the "straight talk express."

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

The McCain campaign also used JetBlue aircraft during the campaign, including a Brazilian-made Embraer E190.

An Embraer E190 chartered by the McCain/Palin campaign in 2008. Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News/Tribune News Service/Getty

In going up against then-President Obama in 2012, Mitt Romney flew on a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series aircraft  a type now retired by all US passenger airlines.

A McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series and Douglas DC-9 chartered by the Romney/Ryan campaign in 2012. Ivan COURONNE/AFP/Getty

Read More: What it was like on the last fight of a Delta McDonnell Douglas 'Mad Dog' jet which were all just sent to an early retirement after 33 years in the sky

The all-American jet, however, failed to deliver Romney to the White House.

A McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series chartered by the Romney/Ryan campaign in 2012. EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty

In 2016, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton adopted a Boeing 737, painted in blue and white with the campaign slogan emblazoned on the fuselage.

A Boeing 737 chartered by the Clinton/Kaine campaign in 2016. Brian Snyder/Reuters

Its home for the campaign, essentially, was White Plains' Westchester County Airport, near Clinton's home in Chappaqua, New York.

A Boeing 737 chartered by the Clinton/Kaine campaign in 2016. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

The 737 would have the difficult task of eclipsing Trump's 757, which it ultimately failed to do.

Donald Trump's Boeing 757 and a Boeing 737 chartered by the Clinton/Kaine campaign in 2016. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

The 757 isn't always a winner. Then-Senators John Kerry and John Edwards had enlisted the help of the jet but failed to win against Bush in 2004.

A Boeing 757 chartered by the Kerry/Edwards campaign in 2004. Jim Young/Reuters

Joe Biden is no stranger to private jet travel as video from NBC News shows the former vice president boarding an IAI Westwind jet registered to a Yorklyn, Delaware-based company just down the road from Biden's house, Federal Aviation Administration records show.

An IAI Westwind private jet similar to the one used by Joe Biden. sirtravelalot/Shutterstock.com

Source: NBC News and Federal Aviation Administration

The last time Biden had a campaign plane was in 2008 when he was running for vice president, along with Obama, and often traveled onboard the campaign's Boeing 757 jet with the campaign slogan emblazoned on the side and the rising sun logo on the tail.

A Boeing 757 chartered by the Obama/Biden campaign in 2008. PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty

During the Obama administration, Biden also frequently flew on Air Force Two.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden deplaning Air Force Two in Brazil. Getty Images

But it's now appearing likely Biden won't soon see his name emblazoned across the side of an airliner as his campaign reportedly turns down the use of a plane for this go-round.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden boarding Air Force Two. Charles Ommanney/Edit/Getty

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria says there may be a massive job loss in private schools due to the effect of coronavirus.

The Amir (president) of MSSNLagos, Miftahudeen Thanni, made this known at a press conference on Tuesday.

He appealed to both state and federal governments to provide palliatives to private schools to save many teachers and members of staff from losing their jobs.

Thanni said, We also appeal to the government across all levels to assist private schools with palliatives. This will help to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on the schools and their teachers.

This has been done in other sectors and education should not be left out. We are scared that there may be a massive job loss in many private schools with COVID-19 not likely to go away any time soon.

We also appeal to both teachers and school management to show common understanding and be compassionate.

He also bemoaned the current states of facilities in public schools, noting that COVID-19 exposed poor funding of education in the country.

No doubt, coronavirus has exposed the weakness and poor standards of our schools. Ideally, the facilities required to ensure compliance with COVID-19 guidelines are supposed to be the basic things that should be readily available in our schools like washing-hand basin, running water, etc.

COVID-19 has revealed the failure of successive governments to invest adequately in education. The government must take full responsibility for whatever happens to students. They must guide against molestation and harassment of the students, Thanni added.

The Amirah (female head) of the MSSNLagos, Basheerah Majekodunmi, warned school principals against hijab harassment.

We will not entertain any case of hijab harassment or molestation of any kind. Principals and teachers should be aware that there is an Appeal Court ruling which guarantees the freedom to use the hijab in schools.

We will not only sue defaulters, but we will also ensure that we name and shame them publicly, she added.

During the press conference held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Thanni, who recently took over as the president of MSSNLagos, introduced other members of his cabinets.

While Thanni emerged as the Amir; Naibul Amir, Mukhtar Oyetunji; Secretary, AbdulFatah Hamzah; Assistant Secretary, Taofeek Ogundele; Financial Secretary, AbdulAzeez Abdul Raheem; Business Chairman, Qazeem Musa; Welfare, Kamaldeen Abiona; Director of Studies, Qazeem Akinlotan; Assistant Director of Studies, Qazeem Yahya; and Internal Auditor, AbdulKabir Kuye.

Others are Amirah, Basheerah Majekodunmi; Naibatul Ameerah, Azeezah Gidigbi; Secretary

Asmau Yahya; Sisters PRO, Sekinah Adeyinka; Welfare, Muhibah Adeoye; and treasurer - Marufah Adeshokan.

SIGNED:

Miftahudeen Thanni,

Amir (President),

Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria,

Lagos State Area Unit.

08173291878


BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Asif Mehman  Trend:

Ambassador of Turkey to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral held a meeting with members of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabkh region of Azerbaijan has been held, the community told Trend.

Head of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Karabakh, MP Tural Ganjaliyev greeted the Turkish ambassador.

During the meeting, the participants emphasized that the joint efforts of Azerbaijan and Turkey, which are one nation, two states, help bring the voice of justice of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh to a wider international audience.

The communitys members put forward their proposals for further expansion of activities in this field.

In turn, Ozoral noted that Turkey has always been and will be next to Azerbaijan.

The ambassador expressed confidence that the Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were expelled from their homes as a result of the Armenian occupation will return to their homeland soon.

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.
The Confucius Institute building on the Troy University Campus in Alabama on March 16, 2018 (Kreeder13 via Wikimedia Commons)

As India Steps Up Pressure Campaign on China, Confucius Institutes Put Under Review

India is taking a hard look at two Chinese-language learning programs within Indian universities, with experts saying the Beijing-controlled Confucius Institutes (CI) are spreading the Chinese regimes communist propaganda inside other countries.

Indias decision to review the programs is a sign of the deteriorating bilateral ties between the two countries following a bloody clash in June between the Indian military and the Peoples Liberation Army in June at Galwan in the territory of Ladakh.

This is a part of the overall strategy to bring pressure on China, Bibhu Prasad Routray, an Indian strategic analyst and the director of Mantraya, a Goa-based think tank, told The Epoch Times.

India has CI programs in seven universities and 54 memos of understanding on inter-school cooperation involving China. Its Ministry of Education sent a letter to these institutes on July 29 seeking information about their activities, reported Indian daily The Hindu.

Eventually, the officials narrowed their focus to two CI branchesat the University of Mumbai and The School of Chinese Language in Kolkataafter the first high-level review meeting of the ministry took place on Aug. 5.

There is a proposal to take a close, hard look at the activities of the two institutes, said a government official, according to Indian newspaper Hindustan Times.

There are some facts that came to our attention during the review which we feel require deeper scrutiny.

Routray said scrutinizing the CI is in line with recent efforts by the Indian government to ban 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, WeShare, WeChat, and Helo, on grounds that these applications threaten the sovereignty and security of India.

Rachelle Peterson, a senior research fellow at the New York-based National Association of Scholars, told The Epoch Times in an email that the Indian government should be wary of CI programs because they are a part of Chinas overseas propaganda network.

They spread Chinese Communist Party-approved messages and seek to turn students and local citizens into supporters of the Chinese regime. They entangle colleges and universities in a financial relationship that leaves them dependent on China, wrote Peterson, whose report Outsourced to China studied how Confucius Institutes serve Chinas soft power in various centers of American higher education.

Protesters demonstrate outside the Toronto District School Board on Jan. 11, 2014, urging the board not to implement a Confucius Institute program in Toronto schools. (Allen Zhou/The Epoch Times)

Threat Behind Confucius Institutes

Doris Liu, director of the award-winning documentary In the Name of Confucius, told The Epoch Times that Confucius Institutes are absolutely controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and thus they serve its agenda.

More than 1,700 foreign education institutes in more than 162 countries or regions have adopted CI programs since they started being promoted by the Chinese regime in 2004, Liu says.

Those institutes could practice espionage activities on behalf of Chinas government. So they pose infringements of national security of whatever country [where] they are physically opened, she said, adding that these espionage activities and the inherent threat would have likely increased as the bilateral ties between India and China deteriorated following the bloody clash in Galwan.

The United States declared the headquarters of the CI in Washington as a foreign mission of the Peoples Republic of China on Aug. 13.

For more than four decades, Beijing has enjoyed free and open access to U.S. society, while denying that same access to Americans and other foreigners in China. Furthermore, the PRC has taken advantage of Americas openness to undertake large scale and well-funded propaganda efforts and influence operations in this country, the State Department stated in a release.

Routray said Indias concerns are also the same, as China isnt as open to India as India is to China, and India doesnt get anything out of the education exchange.

This is a present tactic by India to say that we will go to any extent to sort of cut ties with you. Because we have invested a lot, but we got nothing in return from you, he said, adding that Indias efforts to review the institutes show that it is trying to act in unison with the United States.

India is trying something that represents a kind of convergence between Indian strategy and the U.S. strategy against China.

The award-winning documentary In The Name of Confucius premiers in Western Australia in the state library on Dec. 5, 2018. (The Epoch Times)

Whitewash Chinas Human Rights Abuses

Experts said another threat to countries that host the CI is the role these institutes play to build Chinas image and silently promote its communist agendas.

Confucius Institutes teach Chinese Communist Party-aligned materials, whitewash Chinas human rights abuses, minimize Chinas aggression, and entirely excise events such as the Tiananmen Square massacre. They bring Chinese government-selected teachers and textbooks to college classrooms. There is no appropriate place for Confucius Institutes on college campuses, Peterson said.

Liu, who was working as a lecturer in a leading university in China that delivered support to CI programs before she migrated to Canada 15 years ago, highlighted three reported incidents in the past when Confucius Institutes interfered in free activities in host countries to protect its image.

Tel Aviv University closed an exhibition in 2008 about Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline banned inside China, under pressure from its CI program. A year later, North Carolina State University canceled an on-campus speech of Dalai Lama for the same reasons.

The most recent incident that Liu cites is from 2014 in Portugal and involved a leading official of Hanban, or the Office of the Chinese Language Council International, that until two months ago administered the CI globally.

Hanban director Xu Lin ordered her staff to remove the few pages from all program books of the European Association for Chinese Studies annual conference because these pages contained information about Taiwans Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation which was also a sponsor of the event, said Liu.

Former Confucius Institute teacher Sonia Zhao demonstrates against the Confucius Institutes outside the Toronto District School Board. (Mark Media)

Breach of Academic Freedom

Liu said the CI censors and breaches academic freedom as the Chinese regime promotes its global agendas including its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road) through it.

Teachers and students were required to watch the CCPs 19th National Congress and study Xi Jinpings opening remarks, including the One Belt One Road initiative, Liu said. At the Sapienza University of Rome, for example, CI program students were made to watch propaganda films promoting the Party line and the BRI as part of their study of the CCPs 19th National Congress.

The Indian Ministry of Education hasnt yet disclosed what its specifically scrutinizing about the two CI programs, but Routray said the Indian government is aware of how these institutes are spreading CCP influence inside India.

The government assumes that these institutes are not just educational institutes, per se, but also are being used by the Chinese to influence the thought processes within India to generate a pro-China lobby within India to support academicians who want to have some kind of a soft leaning on the Chinese thought process, Routray said.
Respected Standardbred horseman Ray Paquette passed away on August 9, 2020 due to complications from heart surgery, just prior to his 79th birthday.

Ray leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Pam Paquette, and his three children, Sid (Karen), Dan (Gabi) and Rich (Kayla). Proud 'Pa' of James, Andrew and Sophie.

Involved in the Standardbred racing industry since the early 1980s, Ray had early racing success with Kawartha Snoopy, a son of Brisco Hanover. While continuing to race horses, he moved into the breeding business and stood Mr Chin, a Speedy Somolli son, after acquiring him from the U.S.

Ray enjoyed many successes breeding the lineages of Kawartha Snoopy and Mr Chin, as he produced, trained and raced stakes winners and competitive racehorses -- and he took extra pride in the fact they were homebred. One of the aforementioned notable offspring was Snoops Bytes, who was an Ontario Sires Stakes two-year-old division champion.

Ray was a passionate man who was dedicated to family and friends and would do anything to help someone who needed it. He left behind a lot of people who were proud to call him a friend. He will be sorely missed.

In following his wishes, a private family gathering will take place to honour Ray.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Ray Paquette.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Subsidies offered under the Delhi government's recent electric vehicle (EV) Policy 2020 for retail consumers could trigger faster EV penetration in the national capital territory, ratings agency ICRA said on Tuesday.

Accordingly, the ratings agency said the policy seeks to drive rapid adoption of battery electric vehicles with the goal of reducing air pollution in the nation's capital.

"It offers subsidies, waivers, and incentives on purchase of EVs on the one hand and dis-incentivises use of conventional viz., Internal Combustion Engine (ICE)-based vehicles on the other," the agency said in a statement.

"The incentives will be offered across segments like electric two-wheelers (e-2W), e-rickshaws (3W), goods carriers, electric cars, and buses and will be incremental to those offered under the FAME-II scheme." According to the agency, 2Ws are the dominant mode of commute in India and with the ongoing pandemic, the preference for personal vehicles is expected to increase further.

"The subsidies and incentives offered under the scheme for retail consumers and manufacturers could, therefore, give a long-needed push for faster EV penetration and development of this ecosystem in New Delhi," the statement said.

As per ICRA, coupled with the FAME-II incentives, the upfront e-2W prices would become 25-30 per cent lower than conventional 2Ws (for basic models), thereby proving to be a catalyst for accelerated e-2W penetration.

"We believe that the policy holds multiple attractive propositions for the potential e-2W customers. The concern for deteriorating air pollution conditions in the national capital had already been gaining momentum for the past many years," Shamsher Dewan, Vice President, ICRA, said in the statement.

"With a progressive EV Policy in place, the 2W customers will be able to contribute towards alleviating the situation while benefiting from the lower upfront cost as well as total cost of 2W ownership." Dewan said the high upfront cost of the e-2W vis-a-vis conventional 2Ws has been one of the main hindrance to faster e-2W penetration, which will get addressed through the attractive incentives under the policy.

Besides, the ICRA pointed out that scrappage incentive is a first of its kind in an EV policy, whereas industry response to the requirement of matching participation by OEMs or dealers and de-registration of conventional 2W remains to be seen.

"In addition to sizable cost savings to both the consumer and the government (on crude imports), several non-economic factors are also conducive for faster electrification in 2W segment, like lower dependence on commercial charging infrastructure, range per charge meeting daily commute requirements, growing environment and health concerns, among others," added Dewan.
The cataclysmic explosion that rocked Lebanon to its core on Aug. 4 has compelled United States officials to focus on what matters the most: the prevention of another failed state in the Middle East from which only America's regional foes can benefit.

But the one actor left standing in Lebanon that can help achieve this minimalist objective and avert this worst-case scenario -- the Lebanese army -- is under fierce assault by the same forces that have brought political ruin and economic bankruptcy to the country and sought to undermine U.S. goals in the region: Hezbollah and its foreign patron, Iran.

For years, Hezbollah has sought to discredit the Lebanese army and portray it as a weak institution that is incapable of defending the country from Israel and Sunni militancy. It has done that mostly to justify its unique armed status and preserve the military role it plays, which falls outside any Lebanese state control.

But lately, this campaign by Hezbollah against the Lebanese army has reached new heights. The Shia group is increasingly worried about the growing competence of the army thanks to years of training with the U.S. military, the widespread domestic consensus on its national security role and the successful partnership it enjoys with the U.S.

MORE: Thousands take to the streets in Beirut in wake of hellish explosion

In his latest speech, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah was especially critical of the army, pooh-poohing its functions and capabilities and calling it unfit to play the role of national protector.

Again, these information operations by Hezbollah are nothing new, but they now seem more systematic and targeted than ever. They are suspected to be part of a concerted effort by Hezbollah, coordinated with Tehran, to further challenge and ideally eliminate the one remaining source of U.S. influence and access in the country.

The Lebanese army believes it is being set up to take the fall for both the massive explosion in the Beirut port -- which was caused by the politicians' (not the generals') years-long failure to dispose of the highly-explosive material (ammonium nitrate) that was stored in the port -- and for the response to the popular protests that ensued afterward.

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PHOTO: A picture shows the scene of an explosion in Beirut, Aug. 4, 2020. (Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images)

Videos appearing on mainstream and social media outlets sympathetic if not loyal to Hezbollah and its political allies show Lebanese army personnel beating up demonstrators near the Lebanese Parliament. But what these videos don't show is what happened minutes prior to the clashes, when some protesters used violence against the army and even tried to take away some of its equipment.

The Lebanese army has been in an extremely delicate position since October of last year when Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned following weeks of protests against the government. On the one hand, it must respect the rights of the people to peacefully demonstrate -- and it has, to a large extent, because it is fully aware that it would lose the broad support of Lebanese society and that of Washington, its primary sponsor, if it didn't. On the other hand, the army cannot allow the protesters to occupy government ministries and use violence against its soldiers, as some residents have. The Lebanese army's job, codified in the Lebanese constitution, is to safeguard civil peace.

MORE: Lebanon in desperate need of reform after Beirut explosion: ANALYSIS

Many protesters in Lebanon have said that it's time for the army to take a historic stand and side with the protesters. That is an unrealistic ask. With members from all sects and religions, the army reflects Lebanese society. It simply cannot afford to play politics. To maintain its cohesion and discipline and prevent a repeat of 1976 -- when it completely collapsed along sectarian lines a year into the civil war -- it has to remain as neutral as possible.

And it's not as if the political direction of the Lebanese protesters is entirely credible, either. The movement is leaderless and disorganized. It doesn't present, at least yet, a viable political alternative to the corrupt ruling class. The army can't risk everything and jump into the unknown just to take an unclear moral high ground that may please parts but not all of Lebanese society.

PHOTO: Lebanese soldiers stand at the site of the explosion in the port of Beirut, Aug. 6, 2020, two days after a massive explosion. (Thibault Camus/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

That said, there's an opportunity for the army's leadership to open a quiet conversation with the protesters -- should leaders emerge -- now that it has been given sweeping powers by the Parliament as a result of a state of emergency since Aug. 13. This is the time for Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese army chief, to more visibly assuage domestic and U.S. concerns and correct misperceptions.

Some American officials and legislators have long had qualms about the U.S. military's assistance to the Lebanese army. They believe the army is infiltrated by Hezbollah or is a little too cozy with the organization. Based on our experience, this is a vastly unsupported accusation. The Lebanese army, despite the lack of any political or civilian authority guiding it since at least last year, has most credibly kept its distance from Hezbollah both on the ground and in terms of policy.

MORE: Beirut in crisis after deadly explosion. Here's how you can help

Washington as a whole needs to avoid falling into the trap being set by Hezbollah and Iran. The Lebanese army is by no means a perfect institution, but it is not what its antagonists depict it to be. It is neither the enemy of the Lebanese people nor the ally of the corrupt politicians. Rather, it is Washington's best hope for helping Lebanon navigate to safety in these existential times until a new reformist government is formed. Indeed, it is Washington's best shot to preserve U.S. influence and interests in the country.

As the only remaining institution in the country that is actually functioning in this politically and economically disintegrating environment, the Lebanese army needs U.S. help now more than ever.

Bilal Y. Saab, a senior fellow and director of the Defense and Security Program at the Middle East Institute (MEI), served from August 2018 to September 2019 in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy as the senior advisor for security cooperation in the Middle East.

Joseph Votel, a distinguished senior fellow on national security at MEI, retired as a four-star general in the United States Army after a nearly 40-year career, during which he held a variety of commands in positions of leadership, including most recently as commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) from March 2016 to March 2019.

After deadly Beirut explosion, Lebanese army must maintain neutrality: ANALYSIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Turkish-Russian Joint Patrol Hit By Blast In Northwest Syria

August 17, 2020

A Turkish military vehicle was damaged by an explosion during a joint patrol with Russian troops in northwest Syria's Idlib region, but there were no casualties.

The RIA Novosti news agency cited Russia's Defense Ministry as saying on August 17 that no Russian soldiers were wounded in the incident, which occurred during a patrol along the strategic M4 highway connecting Syria's east and west.

Turkish security officials said there had been an attack that caused material damage but no deaths.

The incident came as the Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflicts in Syria and Libya with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a telephone call on August 17.

Russia and Turkey brokered a cease-fire in Idlib on March 5, following a months-long Russia-backed offensive by Syrian forces that displaced nearly 1 million people and threatened to send a flood of refugees into Turkey.

As part of the cease-fire deal, Turkish and Russian troops conduct joint patrols in a buffer zone between rebel fighters and Syrian government forces along a section of the M4 highway.

On August 13, Russia said the joint military patrols in Idlib had been suspended over increasing militant attacks in the area.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the attacks by "radicals" and "terrorists" prompted the decision to temporarily halt the joint patrol.

Based on reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and RIA Novosti

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkish- russian-joint-patrol-hit-by-blast-in- northwest-syria/30788238.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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16 August 2020, Stuttgart: Travel returnees, mainly from Spain, stand in front of the corona test centre at Stuttgart Airport. The German government has classified almost all of Spain as a risk area, so returning holidaymakers are required to test for the virus. Photo: Christoph Schmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images

Like its European neighbours, Germany has seen a surge in the number of new cases of coronavirus in recent weeks, reporting the highest number of new cases  1,693 in almost four months in the 24 hours through Tuesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

German media reported on Monday (17 August) that chancellor Angela Merkel urged her conservative party presidium not to underestimate the rise in infections, but that they are still manageable.

However, Merkel is reported as describing the rise in the number of infected people, many coming back from vacations as a threatening, and ruled out any additional easing of contact restrictions.

"One must pull on the reins so as not to run into a disaster with corona, the chancellor is reported as saying.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: TUI to get extra 1.2bn aid from German government

German health minister Jens Spahn has warned in particular about the treat of infections spreading at big social gatherings, like weddings and going on party holidays.

Spahn also defended Germanys decision last week to designate all of Spain as a high-risk area, telling Bild am Sonntag newspaper that: I know how much the Germans love Spain ... But unfortunately the infection rates there are rising sharply, too sharply.

The government announcement that Spain was now a risk country prompted travel operator TUI (TUI1.DE) to immediately cancel all package holidays from Germany to Spain, until at least 24 August.

READ MORE: Number of suspected money laundering cases in Germany doubled in 2019

Germany now offers free tests to travellers arriving in airports, but this has ignited a debate this week over whether people who knowingly travel to a risk area should be made to pay for their tests on return.

The state leader of Bavaria, Markus Soder, issued an apology last week after an embarrassing data-entry mess that meant 949 out of 44,000 people who were tested for coronavirus on their return to the state, turned out to be positive and were not immediately informed about it. The state said it had managed to locate most of the 900-plus people by Sunday.

The Mittelbayerischer Zeitung newspaper reported today (18 August) that some 120 people have now been forced to quarantine, after a man who had tested positive after a trip to Italy went to a birthday party before he had got the results of his test.
Charanjit Singh Channi

Chandigarh: Punjab Skill Development Mission has initiated a special skill training programme for the victims of drug abuse in the state. This special programme has been implemented in six districts so far.

Disclosing this here today Charanjit Singh Channi, Employment Generation & Training Minister Punjab said that this programme was launched in Moga, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Fazilka, Ferozpur and TarnTaran districts.

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Charanjit Singh ChanniThe Employment Generation Minister said that Punjab Skill Development Mission has trained 415 victims of drug abuse out of which 378 have been certified and 144 have been placed.

He further said that 765 more drug abuse victims are under skill training but due to the outbreak of Covid-19 their training has been put on hold.

The Minister further said that post Covid-19 this special skill development training programme would be initiated in other districts also for the drug abuse victims to bring them into the mainstream, so that they could lead a healthy normal life.

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Punjab Skill Development Mission

In order to spread awareness about this special skill training programme, PSDM has supplied IEC material to the Department of Health & Family Welfare for pasting in all OOAT, De addiction and Rehabilitation Centres so that more interested drug abuse victims may apply for skill courses.

Channi said that PSDM is providing skill training to these drug abuse victim candidates in 12 job roles  DTH Set Up Box Installation Technician, Plumber General, Retail Trainee Associate, Electrical Technician, Solar Panel Technician, Housekeeper cum Cook, Airline Reservation Agent, Field Technician Computing Peripherals, Documentation Assistant, Field Technician Other Home Appliances and Field Technician Networking Storage.

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Rahul Tewari Secretary Employment Generation, Punjab said that four empanelled training partners of PSDM  Lord Ganesha Institute of Management &Technology, IIAE Educational Society, Regent Software and Vidyacare are providing skill training to this special target group.

Charanjit Singh ChanniHe also said that in these batches, PSDM has tried to bring them into mainstream through inclusive education and enrolled them with normal candidates in the ratio of 50:50 each batch.

PSDM, District Bureaus of Employment Enterprises (DBEEs) and district administrations are working in coordination for the skill development training and employment of such drug abuse victims, added Tewari.
Sometimes you find something kind of amazing on Craigslist and just know you must have it. Like a tricycle cart with a freezer attached, and you buy it, and then you come up with the perfect business to pair it with. Thats exactly what Any Colour You Like, an artisan popsicle company based in West Michigan, did. They now have a business that every child probably dreams of running each summer.

Were like big little kids, Korin Hollinshead, co-owner of the company, said of herself and her husband, Jason Richardson, who own and run the company together.

Any Colour You Like is one of the businesses that Founders Brewing Company is highlighting through its Crafted in Michigan campaign. Over the next several weeks, well be bringing you the stories of the locally-owned businesses and organizations behind Crafted in Michigan, introducing the people behind these places, showing you their products and introducing the owners, and their inspiration behind it all.

Check out our interview below with Hollinshead, the co-founder and co-owner of Any Colour You Like. We talk about how the cart literally came before the product, the inspiration behind flavors, and working together as husband and wife.

Popsicles were not the original plan for Any Colour You Like, ice cream was. After Richardson found that ice cream cart on Craigslist, the couple realized that scooping artisan frozen ice cream out of it just wasnt practical, from a temperature and quality aspect. It was pretty difficult, Hollinshead said. We realized that it was going to be really hard, to scoop this super hard ice cream. So we were like, what can we do to make this better?

Scrolling through the internet, Richardson came across some unique popsicle molds. He told Hollinshead that this could be it, lets try it out and thus, a business was born.

A cantaloupe mint popsicle from Any Colour You Like, a Grand Rapids based company that makes naturally flavored, all natural popsicles.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.

The couple have been in the restaurant industry pretty much their whole professional careers, with Hollinshead working the front of the house as a waitress, and Richardson working as a chef in the back. Hollinshead also holds a design degree from Kendall College, and continues to work as a printmaker. Were a match made in heaven, and it all just kind of worked out, Hollinshead said.

Theyve divided the work at Any Colour along these lines: Hollinshead takes on the marketing and branding of the company, while Richardson mostly focuses on flavor development.

Surprisingly, we actually make a really good team, Hollinshead said about working together as husband and wife. It depends on the day as to who the boss is. It took a long time to figure out where that separation is, like where are we a husband and wife, and where are we business partners and co-founders. Its been a learning curve, but overall we love each other, and we are still growing a business together.

Sounds like success, in both work and home life.

Any Colour You Like is owned by the husband and wife team of Jason Richardson and Korin HollinsheadCourtesy Photo, used with permission.

A love of music festivals drew the couple not just together, but into owning their own business. While attending festivals, which Hollinshead said that they would attend as their vacations every summer, the duo checked out the sweet treat offerings, and said to themselves I think we can do better. I think we can do something super fun, and something that is a reflection of the environment and the culture thats going on.

All of the popsicles are made using all natural ingredients. Fruit flavors are made with actual fruit, instead of concentrates or additives. Fruit is sourced locally from Michigan farmers when possible. Anything that grows in Michigan, and we are able to get, we do, Hollinshead said. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, plums, currants. Were working on a Bloody Mary pop right now with Michigan tomatoes. Everything else we source is from sustainable farms, and we incorporate organic ingredients when possible.

Purchasing and processing fruit in season, and then freezing it, makes sure that the company always has ingredients available at their peak ripeness.

Any Colour You Like gets creative with their flavor profiles, combing common ingredients with unique ones. Their number one seller in popsicles is the berry lavender lemonade, while out of the fudgesicle varieties the maple chaga is popular. Custom flavors can also be ordered direct from the company if you wish.

A coconut, kiwi, lime pop from Any Colour You Like.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.

The pandemic shutdown has been a pretty significant blow to the company, as about 80% of their business was derived from sales from music festivals. Its a big hit, Hollinshead said. But as most businesses do, you pivot to survive. Weve made a lot of really cool relationships with wholesale accounts that we wouldnt normally work with otherwise. Its actually been a pretty cool silver lining to the whole thing.

We never thought we would be in stores and restaurants, Hollinshead said. Any Colour You Like took a chance on a tricycle and some freezer molds, and is now helping to cool West Michigan down, one fabulously flavored popsicle at a time.

Any Colour You Like's popsicle cart.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.

The top selling flavors of popsicles from Any Colour You Like are:

Berry-Lavender-Lemonade

Maple-Chaga Fudgesicle

Nieve de Oasis (Strawberry-Pineapple-Orange)

Mango-Hibiscus-Lime

All are gluten-free, and vegan. Popsicles are always nut free & made with local &/or sustainable, organic ingredients; no additives, dyes, corn syrups or preservatives are ever used.

You can currently find the pops on menus around the Grand Rapids area, including at Lucys Cafe, Linear, Speciation Ales Taproom, and The Green Well. Check their Facebook page for current locations, and for any events that the company may be selling at.

You can also place special and custom orders for the popsicles for your home or private parties, and you can get more information on pricing here.

Cookies and Cream pops ready to go from Grand Rapids based Any Colour You Like.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.

Any Colour You Like

anycolourpops.com

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One of Rebel Nell's employees works on jewelry.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.

Other Crafted in Michigan stories:

Music industry bands together for support

Rich + Maple candles take inspiration from nature

Mokaya creates edible art with chocolate

The Brandino Extravaganza is a one-man band finding his own sound.

Rebel Nells graffiti inspired jewelry is designed to lift women up

Young man turns artistic skill into hand forged knife business

Special Brew Bakers are behind Beer City Dog Biscuits

Why Founders Brewing is behind Crafted in Michigan
Former Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich delivered a forceful endorsement of Democrat Joe Biden for president during the first night of the Democratic National Convention, lambasting President Trumps time in office without mentioning him by name.

The stakes in this election are greater than any in modern times, Kasich said in a speech recorded outdoors at the intersection of two gravel roads. Many of us have been deeply concerned about the current path that weve been following for the past four years. Its a path that led to division, dysfunction, irresponsibility and growing vitriol between our citizens. Continuing to follow that path will have terrible consequences for Americas soul because were being taken down the wrong road by a president who has pitted one against the other.

Kasich, who served as Ohios governor from 2011 to 2019 and ran against Donald Trump for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, has not shied away from criticizing Trump during the presidents first term. But his appearance at the DNC marked a turning point for the fiscally conservative Republican.

Kasich described Trump as unlike all of our best leaders before him who worked to unite us.

Im a lifelong Republican, Kasich continued, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country. Thats why Ive chosen to appear at this convention. In normal times, something like this would probably never happen, but these are not normal times.

Kasich went on to praise Biden, saying hed known him for 30 years.

I know Joe is a good man. A man of faith. A unifier. Someone who understands the hopes and dreams of the common man and the common woman, Kasich said, noting that Biden shared his belief that restoring America meant treating others with respect.

Yes, there are areas where Joe and I absolutely disagree, but thats OK, because thats America, Kasich added.

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks during the virtual Democratic National Convention on August 17, 2020. (via Reuters TV)

Before Kasich delivered his remarks, other notable Republican politicians also endorsed Biden and spoke out against Trump. They included former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former Rep. Susan Molinari, R-N.Y., and former California gubernatorial candidate and tech executive Meg Whitman.

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Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business, let alone a country, Whitman quipped.

In an interview with BuzzFeed News published Monday, Kasich ruffled Democratic feathers when he painted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., one of the partys rising stars, as outside the mainstream.

I think both parties have to have new ideas, and I think this country is moderate, Kasich said. People on the extreme, whether theyre on the left or the right, they get outsized publicity that tends to define their party. You know, I listen to people all the time make these statements, and because AOC gets outsized publicity doesnt mean she represents the Democratic Party. Shes just a part, some member of it. And its on both sides, whether its the Republicans or whether its the Democrats.

In response, Ocasio-Cortez made clear on Twitter that she and many other Democrats consider Kasich to be the one whose views are too radical.

Its great that Kasich has woken up & realized the importance of supporting a Biden-Harris ticket. I hope he gets through to GOP voters. Yet also, something tells me a Republican who fights against womens rights doesnt get to say who is or isnt representative of the Dem party, Ocasio-Cortez wrote. We can build bridges & not lose sight of our values. Its important to remember that Kasich is an anti-choice extremist. He 100% will (and has) signed away our reproductive rights the moment he has the opportunity to do so. He is not a friend to workers.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Vietnamese fishing boat crew members (wearing caps) are presented to reporters at a pier in Thailands Pattani province following their detention on suspicion of illegal poaching, Aug. 18, 2020.

Authorities in Thailands Deep South said Tuesday they had arrested 36 Vietnamese fishermen and confiscated their four boats on suspicion of poaching in Thai waters.

The arrests came two days after Malaysias coast guard shot and killed a Vietnamese fishing boat crew member during a confrontation in the South China Sea, and weeks after Indonesian authorities detained three Vietnamese boats for alleged poaching.

Officials received a tip about the presence of Vietnamese fishing boats inside Thailands 200-nautical-mile (370-km) exclusive economic zone, and found them about 92 nautical miles (170 km) off Cape Tachi in Pattani province, said Capt. Thiranan Madaeng of the Second Fleets Thai Marine Enforcement Command Center.

We found four fishing boats and 36 crews and we escorted them to our shore, Thiranan told reporters gathered at a fishing pier in the province.

He said Yaring district police filed five charges against the 36, including fishing without a permit and illegal entry. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the detainees, who were assisted by a translator, were screened by local public health staff.

A police officer who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media told BenarNews that the crew members were being detained at the Yaring police station.

While deckhands are subject to fine of up to U.S. $6,000 (187,000 baht) and the captains even more, depending on the size of their boats, detainees are generally tried in court and deported as soon as possible, the officer said.

Thiranan said authorities had arrested 165 Vietnamese crew members and confiscated 26 boats in 13 incidents since October 2019.

The Vietnamese Embassy did not respond to a BenarNews request for comment.

Pattani province in Thailands Deep South is one of Thailands major fishing hubs, and businesses there employ more than 10,000 immigrants from Cambodia and Myanmar.

The arrests come two days after members of the Malaysian coast guard shot and killed a Vietnamese sailor during a violent confrontation with Vietnamese-flagged fishing boats suspected of encroaching in Malaysian waters of the South China Sea.

The Malaysian boat was approaching two Vietnamese fishing boats to conduct an inspection when it was rammed and attacked with Molotov cocktails and hard objects including metal rods, lumber blocks and wrenches, a Malaysian maritime official said.

(Our crew) had no choice in their effort to defend themselves, their lives, and (the ship) but to discharge their weapons toward the fishing boat, Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency Chief Mohd Zubil Mat Som said. Vietnamese officials expressed deep concern over the incident and demanded those responsible for the death be held to account.

In Indonesia, authorities detained a Vietnamese boat and nine crew members carrying two tons of fish on July 26 as it was allegedly operating illegally in the North Natuna Sea bordering the South China Sea. On July 21, Indonesian officials detained two Vietnamese fishing boats after what they described as a dramatic high-seas brawl.
UPDATED LIST WEDNESDAY: More N.J. school districts announce switch to all-remote classes. Heres the latest list.

MORE: At least 139 N.J. school districts have inquired about starting the year all-remote, state says

Concerns about the coronavirus have prompted dozens of school districts across New Jersey to announce reopening plans that call for the students to start the upcoming year with remote learning.

Gov. Phil Murphy said last week that districts that couldnt meet the requirements for in-person instruction would be allowed to being virtually as long as they had a plan to bring students and teachers back to classrooms. Plans must first be approved by the state Department of Education.

While most districts that expected to open the year remotely plan to resume in-person instruction following the first marking period, some, such as New Brunswick and Camden dont plan to reopen until early 2021.

The following districts plan to keep students home. NJ Advance Media will add to the list as more districts announce all-remote plans.

Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up with your email here:



BERGEN COUNTY

Edgewater

Fair Lawn (through Oct. 19)

Garfield (vote planned for Tuesday)

Hackensack (schools plan to reopen Nov. 2)

Teaneck (through first marking period)

BURLINGTON COUNTY

Willingboro (though Nov. 18)

CAMDEN COUNTY

Camden (through Jan. 31)

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Bridgeton (through Oct. 13)

ESSEX COUNTY

East Orange (through September)

Montclair (through September)

Newark (through first marking period)

Nutley (through first marking period)

South Orange-Maplewood (through first marking period)

West Orange

GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Delsea Regional (board of education vote is Tuesday)

HUDSON COUNTY

Bayonne

Guttenberg

Harrison

Hudson County Schools of Technology

Jersey City

Kearny

North Bergen

Union City

West New York

HUNTERDON COUNTY

Flemington-Raritan (expected to vote Tuesday to go all-remote)

MERCER COUNTY

Hamilton (through first marking period)

Trenton

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Edison (at least until Oct. 16)

Highland Park

Middlesex Borough

New Brunswick (first two marking periods)

North Brunswick (first marking period)

Perth Amboy

Piscataway

South Brunswick

South Plainfield

MONMOUTH COUNTY

Freehold Borough

Freehold Township (first 2 weeks; return to school Sept. 21)

Long Branch

Manalapan-Englishtown (at least the first two weeks of school for some schools)

Neptune Township

MORRIS COUNTY

Dover (through first marking period)

PASSAIC COUNTY

Passaic (through September)

Paterson (through October)

OCEAN COUNTY

Toms River (through first marking period)

UNION COUNTY

Elizabeth

Hillside

Linden

Plainfield (through at least Nov. 2)

Roselle (through first marking period)

Roselle Park

Rahway

Scotch Plains-Fanwood

Springfield (through Nov. 2)

Do you know of a school district thats starting remotely? Send us an email at local@njadvancemedia.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A group of heavily-outnumbered police officers fled a mob of hundreds of revellers attending an illegal party celebrating Pakistan Independence Day in locked-down Manchester.

Party goers gathered in Manchester's so-called 'Curry Mile' on Friday night, in breach of the city's reinforced lockdown rules which restrict outdoor gatherings to up to six people with social distancing enforced.

Police were eventually able to clear crowds after shutting the road - but not before hoards of revellers surrounded a line of officers from all angles while hurling abuse and chanting 'Pakistan'.

The illegal gathering sparked outrage from police and politicians alike.

Manchester Gorton MP Afzal Khan said he is 'disappointed, frustrated, and angered with the appalling behaviour' and said revellers 'should be ashamed'.

Greater Manchester Police Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling slammed the street party as 'beyond comprehension' and said he had 'never seen anything quite as outrageous as this behaviour' in his 30 years of policing.

Detective Chief Inspector Carol Hobson said 'it is really disappointing to see behaviour of this type' in the middle of a pandemic.

Manchester Gorton MP Afzal Khan said he is 'disappointed, frustrated, and angered with the appalling behaviour' and said revellers 'should be ashamed'.

In the clip, several men crowded a female officer and shouted in her face before she was briefly separated from her colleagues.

Officers then closed ranks and forced the crowd back, as the policewoman held her hands up calling for calm.

A group of heavily-outnumbered police officers fled a mob (pictured) after failing to break up an illegal party celebrating Pakistan Independence Day in locked-down Manchester

How weekly infection rates have changed in Greater Manchester over time. The figures show how many new cases were diagnosed for every 100,000 people every week up until August 14

Afzal Khan, MP for Manchester Gorton, also slammed the celebrations on Twitter

Asian Brits are up to FIVE times more likely to catch coronavirus than white people, official data reveals By Stephen Matthews Health Editor For Mailonline and Connor Boyd Health Reporter For Mailonline Asian people are up to five times more likely to catch the coronavirus than white people, according to data from a government-run surveillance scheme. An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report released today revealed seven out of 1,510 Brits identifying as Asian swabbed positive for Covid-19  a rate of around 0.46 per cent. For comparison, the rate was 0.12 per cent for white people. The ONS concluded the risk was slightly higher than the percentage difference and that Asians were 4.8 times more likely to test positive. No cases were diagnosed in any other ethnic groups in England between June 8 and August 2, which is when the data relates to. But the body claimed black Britons were twice as likely to be diagnosed, based on older figures. Results of antibody tests  which tell if someone has had the disease in the past  showed a similar discrepancy between ethnicity, with just 4.8 per cent of white people testing positive for the substances. In comparison, the rate was around 10.8 per cent for Asians and 9.5 per cent for Black Britons. Numerous reports have found black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in Britain face a higher risk of dying if they catch coronavirus than white people. Experts can't pinpoint exactly why this is the case, but it could be down to the fact ethnic minorities are more likely to be poor, use public transport more often and work in public-facing jobs - all three of which make them more prone to interacting with strangers and catching the disease. It comes after local public health officials in swathes of locked-down parts of northern England revealed that South Asian communities were being disproportionately infected. Oldham, the UK's current coronavirus hotspot, had to rollback lockdown restrictions last week after a huge spike among its Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. Arooj Shah, deputy leader of Oldham Council, said these groups account for up to two thirds of overall new cases in the Manchester town. Eighty-five per cent of new Covid-19 infections in Blackburn with Darwen - which has also had to retreat back into a tougher lockdown - have been among people from South Asian heritage. Epidemiologists have previously told MailOnline that some communities which do not speak English as their first language were not following social distancing rules as stringently because public health messaging was not reaching them. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, and Gabriel Scally, professor of public health at the university of Bristol, said there had been a 'breakdown in communication' and that 'language barriers were certainly an issue'. Advertisement

The officers are surrounded on all sides by the mob - some of whom grin amid the chaos - who continue to jostle with each other.

As the sound of air horns blare in the background, chants of 'Pakistan' and what appears to be 'England' ring out from the group.

As the shouts continue, the police begin to withdraw with one officer grabbing the female police officer by the arm and pulling her away.

The crowd jeers as the police hound them off the road.

Police eventually broke up the gathering and no arrests were made.

In other developments to the coronavirus crisis in Britain today:

Britain today recorded another 1,089 coronavirus cases, meaning the rolling average number of daily infections has dropped for the third day in a row;

Leicester will be brought partially out of its coronavirus local lockdown, with nail bars, outdoor pools, and beauty salons all allowed to reopen from tomorrow;

Herd immunity against coronavirus could be closer than scientists first thought and as little as 10 per cent of people may need to be infected for the virus to fizzle out, experts say;

Nearly three-quarters of coronavirus-infected people have no symptoms on the day they are tested for the disease, government data has revealed;

Asian people are up to five times more likely to catch the coronavirus than white people, according to data from a government-run surveillance scheme ran by the Office for National Statistics.

Lockdown restrictions on social gatherings remain in Greater Manchester and some parts of northern England - despite measures being relaxed elsewhere in the country.

The extra rules were enforced on July 31 following a local spike in Covid-19 cases.

Greater Manchester Police said it had received 2,459 emergency calls on Friday, compared to 1,590 on the same day last year.

Detective Chief Inspector Carol Hobson said: 'It is really disappointing to see behaviour of this type whilst we, as a community, are trying to combat coronavirus and keep each other safe.

'Friday night is one of the busiest in terms of demand on the police service and incidents like this one pull invaluable resources away from other people who may need the police more desperately. These blatant breaches slow us down.'

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling added: 'I can honestly say that in 30 years of policing I have never seen anything quite as outrageous as this behaviour.

'Quite frankly, it is beyond comprehension and I am incredibly disappointed that people feel they can gather in this way - blatantly flouting the rules.'

Afzal Khan, MP for Manchester Gorton, also slammed the celebrations on Twitter.

He wrote: 'Disappointed, frustrated, and angered with the appalling behaviour on Wilmslow Road last night.

'Not only is antisocial behaviour of this kind deeply disrespectful to Rusholme residents, ignoring the Covid-19 regulations puts us all at risk.

'To those who came from outside Manchester, knowing full well the Covid situation across our region, your choice to visit Rusholme last night increases the danger of spreading the virus further here and at your home.

'You should be ashamed - you have put your loved ones at risk.'

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: 'On the evening of Friday 14 August, police attended areas of Wilmslow Road in Rusholme after reports of traffic issues and concerns regarding social distancing.

'The area was heavily congested with pedestrians congregating in large groups and numerous vehicles driving up and down the main road in an unsafe manner.

'On police attendance, it was necessary for the local officers to put road closures in place, to prevent access to vehicles along Wilmslow Road for the safety of the public.

'Officers also engaged with members of the public, encouraging people to disperse.

'Officers also engaged with businesses, who were encouraged to consider temporarily closing until the situation became more manageable.

'GMP worked closely with a local councillor in order to engage with the community. No arrests were made.'

The officers are surrounded on all sides by the mob - some of whom grin amid the chaos - who continue to jostle with each other

Meanwhile, a gathering involving hundreds of people was also seen in east London on Pakistan Independence Day - with footage showing crowds of people on the street

Meanwhile, a gathering involving hundreds of people was also seen in east London on Pakistan Independence Day - with footage showing crowds of people on the street.

Local councillor Kam Rai told the Evening Standard: 'I am fed up of people who think social distancing and wearing face coverings do not apply to them when its something they want to do.

'Let me be clear: the risk has not gone away and the disease is still deadly.'

The street party came just one day before hundreds of revellers were caught partying inside a gazebo during an illegal lockdown party in Manchester where police officers were pelted with missiles.

Shocking footage caught on Snapchat shows the ravers flouting social distancing measures as they attended the illegal rave in Gorton on August 15.

Following the incident, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a woman, who they believe to be the party 'organiser', was slammed with a 100 penalty fine.

Hundreds of revellers (left and right) were filmed dancing at an illegal lockdown party in Gorton, Manchester, on August 15

During the footage, hundreds of people dance to the loud music with drinks in their hands and defy social distancing measures.

Officers arrived to the scene after receiving numerous complaints from residents on the street.

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling later told Manchester Evening News that the footage was now being reviewed by police.

He added that while officers did not break up the mass gathering by force due to being hit with missiles, they did stop others from joining the party and also issued an anti-social behaviour closure notice.

Workers spray down venue where police raided 100-strong wedding reception held in spite of Covid lockdown rules

By James Robinson and Kate Dennett For Mailonline

Workers have today sprayed down a venue which was raided by police after more than 100 people gathered to celebrate a local lockdown-breaching wedding reception.

Officers broke up the event at Waheed's Buffet and Banqueting Hall in Blackburn on Sunday, which breached strict local lockdown rules banning large gatherings.

Police chiefs later slammed the event as a 'significant breach' of restrictions that put people 'at risk'.

Today bosses at Waheed's posted a video of a hazmat suited worker spraying down chairs and tables at the venue - described on its own website as an Indian fine-dinning restaurant and wedding reception venue.

The venue also faces possible action from police and bosses at Darwen Borough Council looking to see what measures might be appropriate considering the large breach.

Officers broke up the event at Waheed's Buffet and Banqueting Hall in Blackburn on Sunday, which breached strict local lockdown rules banning large gatherings

Police chiefs later slammed the event as a 'significant breach' of restrictions that put people 'at risk'. Waheed's posted a video on its Facebook page of the venue being cleaned today

Today bosses at Waheed's posted a video of a hazmat suited worker spraying down chairs and tables at the venue - described on its own website as an Indian fine-dinning restaurant and wedding reception venue.

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods, from Lancashire Police, today told BBC Radio Lancashire: 'The event was at a premises called Waheed's Buffet and Banqueting Hall on Randall Street, in Blackburn.

'We attended there and we found between 100 and 120 people, we think, who admitted with the owners of that place that it was a wedding reception.

'As we've said all along, we will enforce and we did. The vast bulk of those people were asked to leave.

'They were very compliant. But in effect that wedding reception was closed down and what remained was a small number of people.

'And today, further action is going to be considered with the local authority in relation to that premises about what we can do to stop that happening again.'

DCC Woods, who said the incident made him feel 'gutted', added: 'We know it's hard but what we will do is name and shame places that flout the regulations to this sort of extent and there will be consequences for those sorts of places.'

On Facebook, Blackburn and Darwen Police said the incident was 'disappointing' but added that the gathering was dispersed without any further issue

In a Facebook post, Blackburn and Darwen Police said officers engaged with those attending the wedding reception and the gathering was dispersed without any further issue.

The post said: 'This is a clear breach of both local and national restrictions that puts everyone attending at risk.'

Police added that the incident was 'disappointing' and asked the public to continue to work with authorities to keep 'everyone safe'.

Meanwhile, Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development, at Darwen Borough Council said: 'We are aware of this incident at a wedding reception on Sunday night and are working closely with the police on enforcement measures.

'This was a breach of the current restrictions that state that only 30 people can attend a wedding and we are taking this incredibly seriously.

'Most businesses in our borough comply with the regulations that are intended to keep people safe.

'It is incredibly disappointing when we have to take action against businesses who flout the rules.

'We are unable to comment on actions being taken in specific cases at the moment, but the Council won't allow venues to put people's safety at risk. This is having an effect on everybody in the town.'

It comes as a fixed penalty notice was also issued to an organiser of a wedding with more than 50 guests and a marquee in Greater Manchester.

Both areas are subject to local restrictions to prevent people socialising with other households following a spike in coronavirus cases.

Blackburn has local lockdown laws in place to curb a rapid rise in coronavirus cases, preventing people from visiting other households in their homes or private gardens.

Wedding receptions are currently banned in Blackburn under the new rules, with wedding ceremonies only permitted with a maximum of 30 guests.

The Manchester wedding, which took place in Whalley Range, was one of 54 reported coronavirus breaches between 3pm and 11pm on Sunday in Greater Manchester, police said.

Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Pilling said: 'Following large gatherings on both Friday and Saturday night, we have had to attend further events yesterday evening.

'We've been really open with the public about the pressure these calls place on already stretched and limited resources and I really need people to understand what is at stake here.

'Can you imagine a vulnerable loved one not being able to get through to 999 when in an emergency, because our phone lines are tied up with people reporting illegal parties? It's this serious.'

A fixed penalty notice was issued to an organiser of a wedding with more than 50 guests and a marquee in Greater Manchester, as the gathering broke strict local lockdown rules (file photo)

Local lockdown restrictions will remain in Greater Manchester for at least another week as evidence does not show a decrease in the number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the area.

The rules state that residents are not allowed to visit someone else's home or garden or socialise with people they do not live with in other indoor spaces.

Wedding receptions and ceremonies are also not yet allowed to resume, as exhibition and conference centres also remain closed.

DCC Pilling added: 'I feel we've been really fair with the public, engaging and explaining with them and only enforcing as a last resort.

'However, these blatant breaches continue and we owe it to our communities to thoroughly investigate these types of reports and prosecute those involved. We will continue to enforce when there is a blatant disregard for the rules.

'We understand that the vast majority of people across Greater Manchester are doing the right thing and it's incredibly disappointing that these people are being continuously let down by a small majority, who are selfishly flouting the very guidance that is there to keep us safe. I want to thank those who are doing their bit.'

MailOnline has contacted Waheed's Buffet and Banquet Hall for a comment.
Investor anxiety is worsened by speculation that the company may sell more of its stock to Liaoning Transportation Investment, another government-backed entity, to fund its debt payments. The Liaoning provincial government is looking to consolidate its auto assets. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. analysts have said that a previous sale, which cut Huachens stake by more than 10%, and other recent changes indicate that Brilliance China could be in for a restructuring and would shrink a lot in terms of asset(s) and profitability.There are other scenarios, but the bottom line is that the sudden interference from the province risks severely undercutting the automaker. Huachen is Liaonings largest state-backed auto company. Where it ends up may determine the future of Brilliance, and thus BMW in China. The German company has had a lucrative business with the more than 15-year venture, and its local partner has ridden the tide. BMW has strategically produced and imported parts years after theyre introduced in its Bavarian plants to protect its technology.Still, BMW and other foreign manufacturers face the risk of persistent uncertainty. The problem is the states unpredictable role and sometimes sudden change of plans. In this case, the provincial government has functions in strategic industrial policy and as an investor. This can be too much for partners to digest. Analysts with Jefferies Financial Group Inc. note that more reform at state-owned enterprises is needed to deepen collaboration with partners to accelerate the development of self-owned brands to enhance profitability.
After calling out makeup mogul and reality TV star Kylie Jenner for not giving designers due credit, American fashion designer Michael Costello is now under blast by model Lala Kent and Hollywood star Savannah Chrisley who shared their negative experiences with him in the past. Costello had posted a lengthy comment of Kylies Instagram post for her 23rd birthday saying that she does not tag fashion designers in her social media posts.

Kylie had worn a Balmain dress in her birthday post, in the caption of which she thanked designer Olivier Rousteing, the creative director of Balmain for the perfect birthday dress. Costello commented on Kylies post, Thank you Oliver for the perfect bday dress . And thank you to the no name designers who work tirelessly around the clock on custom looks who she wont tag , mention or @ . . . Unless its paid . And thank you to the glam team who always gets tagged no matter what . ( this post has nothing to do with me as Kylie only wears something from me once a year and Im lucky if i get a decent pic to post . No shade to any of her team who styles her and no shame to the glam team . Even though we know you can not wait to unfollow me and drag me for filth! But its sad that designers work so so so so hard on these opportunities to dress these gorgeous popular women and they only tag the major high end designers like Oliver but forget about the other ones . ( this has nothing to do with my brand ) but it definitely has a lot to do with the la designers why not tag at least one ? Not all the time but maybe once in a while.

The 37-year-old fashion designer told US Weekly that it wasnt just specifically Kylie, but a lot of celebrities who didnt tag designers while wearing their work, I have no issues or beef with Kylie Jenner. I love her. The reason I commented on her post is that she is often tagging some designers but not others. A lot of celebrities are doing this. For example, Bryan Hearns makes a lot of dresses for Kylie and no one ever gives him any credit and he deserves it. Makeup artists and stylists are getting tagged but the clothing designers are not.

In regards to me, there is no bad air. Kylie has worn my outfits about four or five times. She did not tag me in posts but her stylist has and she acknowledges me in person and says how much she appreciates my work, he added, clarifying that he just wants people to see what is happening with the designers and how we are often doing work for free for no credit.

Costello also took to his own Instagram handle and shared a post defending his stance and thanking those who helped him in his journey. The post read, The post read thank you to the people who have believed in me and a few who helped me launch my career I am and always will be so grateful and thankful for you! Costello then went on to list the names of his supporters which included Beyonce, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Heidi Klum, Mariah Carey, Lily Ghalichi.

The caption read, All I have to say is... Treat people how you want to be treated, dont forget those who helped you on your way up, and ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT where credit is due. I am tired of a few privileged celebrities and influencers who will never pay for their pieces and always expects my team to drop all our current projects and make something magical for them last minute... for free, for exposure. The best part? These celebs and influencers dont even wear the piece, tag, credit or mention the designer... so what is it all for?! There are tons of talented designers in Los Angeles who deserve recognition. Their art deserves to be credited, tagged and mentioned! If you bought something from me, I would never ask for any exposure in return. But these privileged celebrities never pay. They dont tag or mention either... unless you are a huge fashion brand who pays them.

He went on , Thankfully, I never forgot where I came from or who those people were who helped me get here. I am extremely grateful and thankful for all of you who believe in me. So tell me to Stf or have several seats , unfollow or drag me to hell for speaking on something that really effects me. Oh btw comments are left on.

No credit Kylie

This isnt the first time it has been pointed out that Kylie doesnt credit small brands. In early July, during a vacay to Utah Kylie wore an outfit from LoudBrand Studios and posted multiple photos on her Instagram. However, Kylie did not tag the brand and this angered several social media users. One posted on Twitter, Kylie Jenner is refusing to tag the designer of the dress she just posted, which is a black owned brand, and now limiting her comments. @LoudBrndStudios is the designer!

Also read | Black-owned fashion label LoudBrand Studios sold out after Kylie Jenners Instagram post

While another wrote, This is nothing new. She wore clothes by The K Label and Twiley some time ago and didnt tag them but made sure to tag Gucci and other top designers. I could understand if she has people to purchase clothes for her, but they always make sure she tags Dior of Givenchy.

Kylie responded to the accusations by tweeting, Ok this is just a reach. why would I ever REFUSE to tag a brand and block comments. this is completely false. i think this brand is amazing and i wanted to show support and will continue to do so. everyone go check out. @LoudBrndStudios

One tweet and two Instagram posts (that garnered over 13 million likes) from Kylie resulted in LoudBrand Studios, owned by Jedidiah Duyile, a London-born designer of Nigerian and Ghanaian descent, selling out the entire collection.

Not a big enough celebrity

When Lala Kent came upon Costellos comment, she called him out in her Instagram story, writing I literally blew him up to make my custom wedding dress-he would have gotten all the tags & @s hes talking about. But I never heard back from him... why? Because Im not big enough. So cool out, Costello-you do the same s**t.

However, Costello recalled a different version of events to US Weekly, A year ago, July 15, 2019, Lala Kent was referred to me by my amazing friend Lorianne who owns Wife Of The Party, she is wonderful. We set up an appointment for a bridal consultation for Lala. I said of course and we set up the fitting. Lala never came, she blew the meeting off. It turned out she wanted a complete wedding gown for free or for trade and we had to turn it down. Wedding dresses start at $9,500 (approximately Rs 7 lakh) and I only make eight of them a year. She wanted me to do that with no budget. It is not about not being famous enough to work with, it is that I have to make a living.

Savannah Chrisley also claimed that she had a similar experience with Costello for an NBC event, allegations which Costello denied, saying, That is based off the assumption that A-list stars are not paying me, but they are. The larger celebrities I work with such as J.Lo and Mariah Carey pay me. They give me a budget and a timeline.I want people to know that designers and myself deserve to make a living just like anyone else does and we should not be targeted because we turned down a project. We deserve the same respect that anyone else gets for their work.

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MSMEs in will get marketing assistance of up to Rs five lakh under a new start-up policy, a senior official said here Tuesday.

New start-up policy 2020, aimed at extending support and encouragement to and incubation centres in has been notified, said Additional Chief Secretary (Electronics and Information Technology) Alok Kumar.

Under the new policy, there is a window of up to Rs 5 lakh as marketing assistance to MSMEs," he added.

Kumar gave this information while addressing a virtual conference on "Role of Information Technology in transforming MSMEs' future during COVID-19", a PHDCCI release said.

The conference had been organized by the Chapter of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Kumar also said the Department of IT & Electronics is working hand in hand with SIDBI to facilitate venture capital funding for new and MSMEs.

Focusing on the important role that IT is playing these days, Additional Chief Secretary, Deptt of MSME, Khadi & Village Industries, Navneet Sehgal said with the help of information technology now, almost all District Industries Centre (DICs) are online.

He said most of the government schemes for the MSMEs and other units are posted online now and can be accessed and availed online.

Both of the top bureaucrats also thanked the PHDCCI for taking the initiative of discussing the importance of information technology which has been playing a pivotal role in almost all domains amid the pandemic.

In his keynote address, UP IT and Electronics Minister Ajit Singh Pal said with the optimum use of Information Technology, MSMEs will transform the nation into a new India where IT will play an important role that will lead the country as a major player in the global economic competition.

In his special address, PHDCCI secretary-general Saurabh Sanyal said the trade body has a huge membership base of more than 1,50,000 members with 70 percent of them being MSMEs.

With over 115 years of existence, the Chamber is committed to working hand in hand with the government for the betterment of these industries to turn India into a favoured and ideal destination for industrialisation and investment, said Sanyal.

(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.)
Das alleged that several people were issuing 'threats, making sexually coloured remarks and defaming her' through online posts

The Delhi Police on Monday registered a case based on a complaint by senior Facebook India executive Ankhi Das that she has been receiving "violent threat to her life", officials said.

Das, who is Facebook's Director, Public Policy, India, South and Central Asia, had filed the complaint on Sunday, they said.

Based on the complaint, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the law on Monday and investigation has been taken up by the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police, said Anil Mittal, Additional PRO (Delhi Police).

A Facebook spokesperson said, "We take the safety and security of our employees seriously and care for their well-being. However, we do not comment on individual employee matters."

In her complaint, Das alleged that several people were issuing "threats, making sexually coloured remarks and defaming her" through online posts.

According to the complaint, the threats are in relation to an article dated 14 August, 2020 published in The Wall Street Journal. In her complaint, Das stated she has been receiving threats ever since.

"The content, which even includes my photograph is evidently threatening to my life and body and I fear for my safety as well as that of my family members. The content also maligns my reputation based on a news article and I am subjected to name-calling, cyberbullying and eve-teasing online," she said.

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Das alleged that she was intentionally vilified by the accused due to their "political affiliations" and are now engaging in online and offline abuse, subjecting her to "criminal intimidation and making sexually coloured remarks".

The comments came as the ruling BJP and opposition Congress traded barbs over Facebook's alleged bias towards the ruling dispensation. Congress cited The Wall Street Journal report to allege that Facebook's content policies favour the ruling party.

BJP & RSS control Facebook & Whatsapp in India. They spread fake news and hatred through it and use it to influence the electorate. Finally, the American media has come out with the truth about Facebook. pic.twitter.com/Y29uCQjSRP  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2020

Ankhi Das of @Facebook shared a post that called Indias Muslims a degenerate community. Das wrote that the post spoke to me. Facebook can support BJP. It can keep bigots in its ranks. But time for accountability will come. BJP will not rule forever. pic.twitter.com/6xKTzkgCw7  Salman Anees Soz (@SalmanSoz) August 17, 2020

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said in a statement, Facebooks inaction destabilises our democracy. More often than not, Facebook takes no action and, even worse, allows objectionable content to continue despite it being brought to its notice."

BJP leaders hit out at the Congress and accused the social media giant of censoring nationalist voices. Tejasvi Surya, a BJP lawmaker and a member of the parliamentary committee on IT, rejected the idea that Facebook was showing favoritism to the governing party, and instead charged it was censoring pro-India and pro-Hindu voices.

There are millions of posts mocking Hindu gods and abusing right-of-center leaders. But Facebooks advanced algorithms and community standards fail to catch them. However, unsuspecting common people running pro-right-of-center pages are suspended with no right to appeal, fellow BJP lawmaker Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore wrote in an op-ed in The Indian Express.

Losers who cannot influence people even in their own party keep cribbing that the entire world is controlled by BJP & RSS. You were caught red-handed in alliance with Cambridge Analytica & Facebook to weaponise data before the elections & now have the gall to question us? https://t.co/NloUF2WZVY  Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) August 16, 2020

Congress is worried about Facebook giving hate speech free pass. They should be. Sonia Gandhis hate speech streamed live on INC Indias Facebook page, which led to death and destruction in Delhi, should be the starting point. This #CongressFacebookAlliance needs to be exposed. https://t.co/tFuFJUBcmb  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 16, 2020

Meanwhile, a Facebook spokesperson said that the social media company enforces policies on hate speech without regard to anyones political position or party affiliation". We prohibit hate speech and content that incites violence and we enforce these policies globally without regard to anyones political position or party affiliation. While we know there is more to do, were making progress on enforcement and conduct regular audits of our process to ensure fairness and accuracy, the spokesperson told ANI.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology said it will look into the report in The Wall Street Journal. I will certainly look into the issue and the committee will seek the views of Facebook, committee chairman Shashi Tharoor told The Indian Express. The report added that the committee Secretariat will write to Facebook Monday demanding its explanation and is also likely to summon the social media company.
ROSH HAAYIN, Israel, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Source Defense, the market leader in client-side web security, today announced a partnership with Omada Technology focused on industry expertise and best practices of securing websites, their brand, and minimizing risk for consumers.

"We are excited to partner with Omada as the premier provider of IT solutions that will streamline client's operations," said Dan Dinnar, CEO of Source Defense. With their reach and Source Defense's unique client-side web security protection, together we deliver a next-generation level of consumer protection extending the security perimeter."

Rising threat vectors, persistent attackers and changing regulatory demands are continuously evolving, creating an ongoing need for advanced security planning, risk awareness, and automated threat prevention solutions. Source Defense and Omada Technologies help enterprises identify and address client-side security risks in-real time, deploy resources efficiently, and deliver cutting-edge solutions for the evolving demands of modern applications.

"Our customers today are challenged more than ever to strategize and develop a manageable security plan to protect their companies and employees from threats on so many levels. We understand the dynamic security landscape and work with our customers to develop these strategies and help align them with the right solutions," said Matt Keane of Omada Technologies.

"In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more organizations have been relying on online security services more than ever," said Dinnar. "It's understood that it's not so much a question of if there will be a security breach as much as when. We've taken a proactive approach of being able to pivot quickly with our partners and ensure prospects are moved quickly through our processes to be protected from these malicious attacks."

About Omada

Omada is committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions for the evolving demands of modern applicationsand their users. Whether our clients have fully adopted the cloud, or host applications on-premise, we aim to deliver the solutions that will streamline our clients' operations. Omada is dedicated to exceeding your expectations, and this focus drives us to build the solutions that help you succeed. Click here to learn more .

About Source Defense

Source Defense is the market leader in client-side web security, providing real time threat protection against vulnerabilities originating in third-party scripts such as Magecart & Formjacking attacks.

With their patented VICE platform, Source Defense protects web pages from vulnerabilities in third-party scripts. Source Defense's solution isolates those scripts from the web page and allows them to read and write according to a given permission either defined by Source Defense's recommended standards, or specific company policies.

Source Defense extends the traditional security perimeter to protect your customers and fortify your security stack in real-time. Click here to learn more .

Media Contact

Courtney Brady

[email protected]

SOURCE Source Defense
Congressmen say they stand with the people of Belarus demanding a freer, more democratic country.

United States Congressmen Michael McCaul, Republican Leader on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Eliot Engel, the Committee Chairman, have condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's offer to send military assistance to Belarusamid ongoing peaceful protests against last Sunday's disputed presidential election.

"Likewise, as the Kremlin tries to undermine yet another European country's sovereignty and independence, we strongly condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's reckless offer to provide military assistance to the Lukashenko regime in Belarus," the congressmen said in a statement of August 17, 2020.

The officials said they stand with the people of Belarus as they continue to exercise their rights to protest and to demand a freer, more democratic country.

Read alsoEU does not recognize Belarus election results"We urge the Administration to continue to reject Moscow's aggression and to work with our European allies to support the Belarusian people, to demand the thousands of detained peaceful demonstrators and political prisoners are released, to condemn the Belarusian authorities' excessive use of violence, and to defend Belarus's sovereign right to chart its own future," reads the statement.

Belarus protests: developments

On August 9, presidential elections were held in Belarus.

The country's Central Election Commission announced the final election results. In particular, 80.1% of voters supported incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, 10.1% voted for Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, 1.67% for Anna Kanopatskaya, 1.2% for Andrey Dmitriev, and 1.14% for Sergei Cherechnya. Some 4.59% voted against all candidates.

Thousands of residents of Belarus took to the streets to protest what they believe is a rigged vote count. Riot police violently cracked down on protesters.

Belarus' Ministry of Internal Affairs said about 7,000 protesters had been detained in different cities since August 9. On the evening of August 13, the authorities started to release detainees.
The worlds largest cruise line operator Carnival Corporation has disclosed that one of their brands suffered a ransomware attack over the past weekend.

Cruise line operator Carnival Corporation has disclosed that one of their brands was hit with a ransomware attack over the past weekend.

Carnival Corporation & plc is a British-American cruise operator, currently the worlds largest travel leisure company, with a combined fleet of over 100 vessels across 10 cruise line brands. A dual-listed company,

Carnival Corporation has over 150,000 employees and 13 million guests annually. The cruise line operates under the brands Carnival Cruise Line, Costa, P&O Australia, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland American Line, AIDA, Cunard, and their ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn.

In an 8-K filing with the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), the cruise line operators revealed that the incident took place on August 15.

On August 15, 2020, Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc (together, the Company, we, us, or our) detected a ransomware attack that accessed and encrypted a portion of one brands information technology systems. The unauthorized access also included the download of certain of our data files, states the 8-K form filed with the SEC.

Nonetheless, we expect that the security event included unauthorized access to personal data of guests and employees, which may result in potential claims from guests, employees, shareholders, or regulatory agencies,

The Carnival IT staff confirms that the ransomware operators may have stolen personal data of guests and employees, according to the filing the unauthorized access also included the download of certain of our data files.

The filing does not provide details about the attack, it is not clear the family of ransomware that hit the company.

Based on its preliminary assessment and on the information currently known (in particular, that the incident occurred in a portion of a brands information technology systems), the Company does not believe the incident will have a material impact on its business, operations or financial results. Nonetheless, we expect that the security event included unauthorized access to personal data of guests and employees, which may result in potential claims from guests, employees, shareholders, or regulatory agencies. Although we believe that no other information technology systems of the other Companys brands have been impacted by this incident based upon our investigation to date, there can be no assurance that other information technology systems of the other Companys brands will not be adversely affected. continues the form 8-K.

Upon the discovery of the security incident, the Company launched an investigation and notified law enforcement, it also hired legal counsel and cyber security professionals. The company also announced to have already implemented a series of containment and remediation measures to respond to the incident and reinforce the security of its information technology systems.

In March, Carnival Corporation disclosed another data breach that took place in 2019. The company informed customers of the incident, a third-party gained unauthorized access to their personal information.

Exposed guests personal information included name, address, Social Security number, government identification number, such as passport number or drivers license number, and health-related information. For some clients, credit card and financial account information might have been exposed.

It is interesting to note that according to cybersecurity intelligence firm Bad Packets, Carnival utilizes vulnerable Citrix devices that can be exploited by an attacker to access the corporate network.

Not surprising given they had multiple Citrix servers vulnerable to CVE-2019-19781. CVE-2020-2021 could be another initial vector of compromise as well.  Bad Packets (@bad_packets) August 17, 2020

The company was using Citrix servers vulnerable to the CVE-2019-19781 flaw that affects Citrix Application Delivery Controller (ADC), Citrix Gateway, and Citrix SD-WAN WANOP appliances.

BadPackets also speculate that another entry point in the Carnival network could be CVE-2020-2021 issue in the the PAN-OS operating system.

The flaw could allow unauthenticated network-based attackers to bypass authentication, it has been rated as critical severity and received a CVSS 3.x base score of 10.

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs  hacking,Carnival)
The New Mexico Civil Guard announced on Sunday that it is pulling out of an August 22 rally that features a number of local Republicans.

The news comes after Business Insider reported on the existence of the rally, which was to pay "special tribute" to the group, whose leaders include a neo-Confederate and a member of the Proud Boys, a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group.

In a post on Facebook, the New Mexico Civil Guard said that state Republicans had shown the group "an overwhelming amount of very appreciated support."

But the paramilitary group claimed it could not attend the rally because "key speakers have publicly made some remarks that came across as blatantly racist."

The rally is set to feature Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin, who has argued that Black athletes protesting racism in the US should "go back to Africa."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A right-wing militia is pulling out of a rally featuring elected Republicans days after Business Insider reported that one of its leaders is a member of a hate group who has denied the Holocaust.

The New Mexico Civil Guard, in a Facebook post on Sunday, said it had "made the decision not to attend the event"  where organizers planned to pay "special tribute" to the paramilitary group  for a number of reasons, among them: that the militia, while led by avowed supporters of President Donald Trump, is ostensibly nonpartisan.

"[T]he Republican side of the ticket in New Mexico has shown an overwhelming amount of very appreciated support," the militia said, "but we are not a Republican or Democratic organization." The "main reason" it will not be attending, however, is because "it has been brought to our attention that key speakers have publicly made some remarks that came across as blatantly racist."

The New Mexico Civil Guard, whose leaders include a neo-Confederate and a member of the Proud Boys, announced it is pulling out of an Aug. 22 rally featuring New Mexico Republicans.

Facebook

Last week, Business Insider reported that the militia itself was founded by a man with a swastika tattoo who has served as the "commander" of a neo-Confederate organization; another leader is a member of the Proud Boys, designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, who has made comments denying the Nazi extermination of 6 million Jews.

Story continues

The paramilitary organization is currently facing a lawsuit from the Bernalillo County District Attorney, Raul Torrez, who alleges that is an illicit, far-right vigilante group.

On Facebook, the New Mexico Civil Guard said it is avowedly anti-hate, asserting that it "in no way condones or participates in racism, and by us being at this event we feel that is what we would be doing."

The New Mexico Civil Guard declined to comment further.

In an email to Business Insider, New Mexico Republican Pat Woods described the August 22 event, promoted by the Republican Party of Curry County, as a "GOP grand opening event." A flyer for the rally says it intends to honor law enforcement and the militia, listing the vice-chair of the state Republican Party, Rick Lopez, as a featured speaker.

Another special guest: Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin, an elected county commissioner who recently said Black athletes protesting racism should "go back to Africa."

The Republican Party of New Mexico has refused to say whether or not its vice-chair will be speaking at the event. In a statement, Anissa Tinnin, executive director for the Republican Party of New Mexico, instead lambasted critics of the rally, which she described as a "grassroots" event. "[W]e will not waste our energy assaulting New Mexicans' free speech," Tinnin said, contrasting the rally with "lawless Antifa protesters looting and shooting."

Tinnin did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the party agrees with the militia's statement that participating in the rally would be to condone racism.

However, three New Mexico Republicans who were listed as speakers at the August 22 rally have told Business Insider they are not planning to participate, with Stefani Lord, a candidate for the state legislature, citing the changing "tone and tenor" of the event.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
After years of reducing bilingual access to birthing care, Holyoke Medical Center announced plans earlier this year to close its 13-bed Obstetrics Service and 10-bassinet Well Infant Nursery effective October 1. DPH officials announced their decision following a public hearing last month featuring testimony from many of those who will be negatively impacted by the closure. DPH gave the hospital 15 calendar days from August 12 to fulfill the state requirement that it "prepare a plan that details how access to inpatient maternity beds and bassinets will be maintained for the residents of the service area."

Stand Out for Birthing Access and Reproductive Justice

When: Thursday, Aug. 20 from 3 to 4 p.m.

Where: At the intersection of Beech and Northampton (Route 5) streets (near Crosier Field).

What: Signs will be provided, and social distancing and masking will be in effect.

Who: The Coalition for Birthing Care Access was formed, in partnership with the Massachusetts Nurses Association and Jobs with Justice, to advocate for a Holyoke Medical Center that puts patients over profits. Our Western Massachusetts communities deserve fair and equitable access to all medical care, and, in this pivotal moment, it is imperative that we come together to advocate for racial justice, healthcare equity and a Holyoke Medical Center that serves the community. Learn more at www.facebook.com/CoalitionforBirthingCareAccess.

In the last several years, Holyoke Medical Center administrators eliminated bilingual midwifery care services at the hospital's Birthing Center  midwifery care that dramatically improved outcomes for mothers and their newborns  including infant mortality  over the last 35 years. Now, HMC executives plan to shutter the Birthing Center altogether, eliminating a vital service to birthing families in Holyoke and surrounding communities.

"Long before I became pregnant, I knew I wanted to give birth with the midwives of HMC. I wanted to have my baby with all the safety of medical training and all the caring that community support could provide. My son's birth was not easy, none are, but from the other side I know that my team gave me all the help I needed," says Holyoke resident Rachael Ingraham. "It pains me that if I have another child it won't be with that amazing team. From the nurses, to the midwives, the lactation consultant, the cleaning staff, receptionists, and food services, it was clear that everyone took patient care and safety seriously, but that it was also a labor of love."

Holyoke resident and parent Sasha Jimenez responded to the anticipated closure of the Birthing Center by saying, "We can't let things like this continue to happen in our community. I'm not going to let decisions be made about how and where we give birth without our voices being heard."

The Birth Center at HMC improved birthing outcomes for parents and newborns; it provided bilingual, culturally competent midwifery care to generations of families in and around Holyoke; it promised a safe place to give birth in Holyoke. In eliminating the Birthing Center, HMC is turning its back on the community it claims to serve, consciously harming people of color, and putting the care and safety of birthing families in danger as they're forced to seek care outside of Holyoke.

As a part of her testimony for the Department of Public Health Hearing on this matter, Nina Kleinberg MSN, CNM (ret.), a former midwife at the birthing center provided this important history of why the birthing center was created

"In the early 1980s, Holyoke had one of the highest infant mortality rates in Massachusetts," Kleinberg said. "The Department of Public Health set up the Infant Mortality Task Force to address this serious health concern. The Task Force made several recommendations to address this problem[including] the founding of a bilingual nurse-midwifery practice with an office in downtown Holyoke. This finding was based on many studies that showed that nurse-midwives could have a positive impact on the health care outcomes of women of childbearing age, especially in socioeconomically-challenged communities."

The purpose of the standout is to increase community awareness of this threat to reproductive health and to raise the following concerns:

Without the Birthing Center, Holyoke will have no community access to bilingual, culturally attuned reproductive and midwifery care.

will have no community access to bilingual, culturally attuned reproductive and midwifery care. The Board of Directors at HMC are not members of our community or reflective of our racial and ethnic diversity, yet the Board is making decisions about what healthcare services we deserve.

Holyoke Medical Center CEO Spiros Hatiras and the Board of Directors are not committed to the predominantly Latina/o/x community it is supposed to serve.

Member of the Coalition for Birth Care Access and Western Massachusetts Organizer for Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, Alicia Fleming, said in encouragement of her community showing up to Thursday's stand-out, "We can't let history repeat itself and go back to the infant mortality rates communities of color experienced before I was born in the 1980s. There is no denying the systemic racism that is present in the impending closure of the Birthing Center. This is our opportunity to build upon the progress made by the generations before us and to fight for reproductive justice."

Members of the public can find more information at www.facebook.com/CoalitionforBirthingCareAccess.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association
The Egyptian delegation of Muslim sheikhs settled in for the opening session of the interfaith conference. Their mainline Protestant hosts welcomed them to the hallowed halls of a historic New York seminary with pleasantries and platitudes about shared humanity and common values.

Then the moderator startled the senior scholars from Al-Azhar University, the foremost center of learning in the Sunni Muslim world, with what sounded like an ultimatum: Anyone who believes their religion is the only way is not welcome here.

Quietly, the Muslim men rose to leave. Their impromptu translator, Joseph Cumming, a delegate from Fuller Theological Seminary, quickly intervened. No, no, dont be offended, he told them. He is not referring to youhe is speaking about us.

Cumming is an American evangelical who has been ministering in the Islamic world since 1982. Many evangelicals, he explained to the Muslim guests, have been very critical of interfaith dialogue. They argue it cedes too much ground, reducing religion to the lowest common denominator and undermining any commitment to absolute truth. Peace is made too high a priority with so much focus on agreement, avoiding the crucial differences over salvation.

Yet Cumming was there anyway. Despite what the moderator said, he believed it was possibleeven importantfor evangelicals to participate in interfaith dialogue without losing any of their passionate commitment to the truth of the Bible.

The Muslim scholars, reassured, sat back down. And the conversation continued. It continues still. That conference was nearly two decades ago, and Cumming has remained engaged in interfaith dialogue. He has dedicated the second half of his ...

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

The export of cement from Turkey to Kazakhstan soared by 158 percent from January through July 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, amounting $7.3 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend .

As reported, in July 2020, Turkeys export of cement to Kazakhstan rose by 26.18 percent compared to July 2019 and amounted to $681,000.

In the first seven months of 2020, Turkeys cement export to the international markets rose by 0.9 percent compared to the same period of 2019 and exceeded $2.6 billion. Turkeys cement export amounted to 2.3 percent of the countrys total export for the reporting period.

Turkey exported the cement to the foreign markets worth $351.6 million in July 2020, which is 11.5 percent more compared to the same month of 2019.

In July of this year, Turkeys cement export made up 2.3 percent of the countrys total export.

From July 2019 through July 2020, Turkeys export of cement abroad made up over $3.5 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Download Image: Web

Kirk Kleinsasser 23 has earned the 2020 Herbert Levy Memorial Scholarship from the Society of Physics Students. The president of the Lycoming College Chapter of the Society of Physics Students, the Muncy Valley, Pa., native is a dual major in physics and chemistry.

The purpose of the Society of Physics Students scholarship program is to encourage the study of physics and the pursuit of high scholarship. In memory of her late husband Dr. Herbert Levy, Margaret Sussman Levy bequeathed funds to establish this $2,000 scholarship award "to be used for a worthy, needy physics student" to attain a quality physics education.

I was very surprised and honored to hear that I had won this scholarship, Kleinsasser said. I met a large number of amazing people through the SPS PhysCon event and I know they value SPS just as much as I do.

The Sullivan County High School graduate said that he heard about the scholarship through the previous president of SPS, Maryam Esmat 21, and that the scholarship was of immediate help as he took summer courses.

I've been very busy with summer courses this year, Kleinsasser said. I needed to keep my future summers open for research experiences and I had to take some courses over the summer to graduate on time. Luckily, this scholarship managed to cover all four of my courses.

In addition, Kleinsasser said that his experience in the Lycoming chapter of SPS has been a major part of him feeling at home on campus.

I was blown away by the welcoming atmosphere of our SPS chapter, he said. They welcomed me into the club and offered amazing opportunities like the 2019 trip to PhysCon in Rhode Island. Other chapters at the conference were very impressed that our club offered such opportunities to first-year students. When elections rolled around, I knew I wanted to be a bigger part of the club and help organize the events.

I would not have received this scholarship without Lycoming, he continued. I used my very welcoming experiences with our Physics Department as a major talking point in my application. I know I owe much of my success to the timely recommendations of my professors and their kind words. I applied later than I should have, but (Professor of Astronomy and Physics) Dr. (David) Fisher, (Assistant Professor of English) Dr. (Maria) Hebert-Leiter, and (Professor of Physics) Dr. (Christopher) Kulp fit me in their very busy schedules. I'm very thankful for their help on such short notice.

The Lycoming Chapter of SPS is open to any student with an interest in Physics. There are more than 820 chapters nationwide that help students transform into contributing members of the professional physics community. Two presidents of the Lycoming College SPS Chapter have spots on the SPS National Council. Nicole Gugliucci 05, an assistant professor of physics at Saint Anselm College, serves as Zone 1 councilor and Esmat is an associate councilor for Zone 3.
Restaurateur Jay Bourke has defended footage from his Dublin bar which showed a barman pouring drinks into dancing punters' mouths, saying it "looked terrible, but ain't that terrible".

The 'Baked Brunch' event, which took place in Berlin D2 bar and restaurant in Dublin's Dame Lane on Saturday afternoon, kicked off at 1pm and ended at around 5pm.

Mr Bourke, said he was "embarrassed" about the clip but added that he is annoyed by calls for the venue to lose its alcohol licence.

He said that he "understands" coronavirus because he had it himself.

"I was appalled at the video, very unhappy indeed. Embarrassed, actually," he said.

He said he interviewed staff and reviewed CCTV footage of the four-hour long event yesterday and has been to the gardai.

"Unfortunately at 3.50pm one of my barmen decided to jump on the bar, pour some whiskey into four people's mouths and it looked absolutely horrific.

"It looked as if it was gone bananas.

"In fact, when you look at the CCTV footage of the whole premises, it was pretty well controlled.

"That footage does not reflect what went on that day at all," he told RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland. "It looks terrible, but it ain't that terrible."

The Licensed Vintners Association denounced the scenes. "This is outrageous and appalling. That business should be shut down immediately," it said.

Mr Bourke said it's not up to the LVA or the Restaurants Association of Ireland to decide the future of the premises "on the basis of a 20-second clip".

"I understand Covid because I had it and I don't want anyone to get it.

"So for them to throw us under the bus, to me, is something they said without any information and I'm a little bit annoyed about it frankly."

He said 51 people attended the premises and all PPE and contact-tracing guidelines were adhered to and that a HSE inspection took place on Wednesday.

Footage on social media shows groups of people at separate tables and enjoying meals at the beginning of the event.

They were asked to stay in boxes which were marked by tape on the floor, however revellers were dancing together towards the end of the event.

He said it was a "very controlled environment".

"I'm not excusing that video or what that particular barman did, but I have to be objective about my own position as an operator and say, 'What did we do wrong?' and how we're never going to let that happen again.

"It was just a mad moment and unfortunately we're trying to pick up the pieces and get everyone back to work."

He said the barman pouring spirits into the mouths of revellers was "naughty".

"The barman, you know, was naughty but he's young and they got excited and the customers are young and it was a moment of exuberance, I suppose.

"It's my job as an operator of clubs and pubs and all that kind of thing to keep the exuberance of the young under control and under normal circumstances, I do," he said.

Threats

"Is it appropriate for young people to have fun?" he answered when asked if the brunch was appropriate in the middle of a pandemic.

"We regret putting the brunch on, we wish we hadn't because we are in a maelstrom of media and people have gotten death threats through social media and we're being hung out to dry.

"But from my own point of view, I am happy, except for that moment, that it was properly run and socially distanced and professionally run."

Dr Gabriel Scally, last night told the Herald the State must act legally against any businesses aiding the spread of the virus through neglect, after the concerning "trend" of spread in every county.

Dr Scally said: "The Government needs to take extremely strong action when anyone is putting others at risk, as this is verging on criminal activity because lives are at stake.

"The State can alter the law, pass emergency legislation to take away people's licences, close businesses that are not protecting public health, including pubs."

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the footage showed "reckless actions".
It was just two weeks ago that Samuel says he was offered S$1,000 to go to the home of a 32-year-old DJ and YouTuber. No specific reason was given, but he told Coconuts Singapore today that the invitation came from Darryl Ian Koshy, aka Dee Kosh, who is now facing multiple accusations that he offered minors money for sex. Samuel is 17.

He was among at least four people to file police complaints against Koshy on Sunday, and today recounted his alleged experience and says he and other accusers have rejected last nights public apology from Koshy.

It is disgusting to know that such a big public figure has the audacity to carry out such acts, and yet has no courage to own up for his own mistakes, said Samuel, who has posted screenshots of his chat with Koshy on Instagram.

Dee Kosh on leave after accusations surface he asked minors for sex: Power 98 FM

The police force confirmed today that it is investigating Koshy to Coconuts Singapore, which is withholding Samuels last name as he is a minor. While the age of consent is 16, its illegal to pay someone under 18 for sex, and sexting minors is also a crime.

Samuel said that Koshy is still not being truthful.

I speak on behalf of all the boys involved, we WILL NOT accept his apology. He has NOT said the full truth, Samuel said. And as long as he doesnt admit to everything. I will not accept his apology.

After initially denying any wrongdoing in the face of multiple serious allegations that he offered to pay minors for sex, Koshy last night acknowledged there was some truth to the allegations and apologized to those he had hurt, but continued to deny most of what has been alleged.

Some of the allegations baffled me because they were baseless and untrue, Koshy wrote last night, hours after Power 98 FM told Coconuts Singapore that he was on leave from the radio station.

However, even though I had put out on an earlier statement on Instastories denying allegations which had surfaced initially, I now admit that there is truth to some of the things which are being said now, and I am sorry to the people I have hurt in the process.

Story continues

Apparently faced with evidence of one such exchange, he conceded that he had used inappropriate language with a 15-year-old on Snapchat but denied that he was attempting to groom the teen.

There are some screenshots circulating of me texting with a 15-year-old that I now accept is problematic. My tone was questionable, but there was absolutely no intent to groom him, Koshy said.

At least five people came forward over the weekend to allege that Koshy has solicited sex from minors, accusations he outright denied on Saturday, saying he would take the necessary steps to clear this all up.

In last nights statement, the radio DJ doubled down by further denying he has used his status as a talent manager to solicit sex and denied allegations he has had sex with minors.

Let me state categorically that I did not ever have any sexual relations with [the teen Snapchatter] or with any minor. To me, it was a friendly conversation which was cheeky and inappropriate, but I did not take it any further, he added.

Since Monday, Koshy has not responded to messages seeking comment.

Instagram user @_Epaul, another accuser who said he was served a letter of demand from Koshys lawyers, declined to answer questions about his accusations but said that he was committed to helping my fellow victims get the justice and closure we all deserve.

The 19-year-old was ordered to refrain from publishing or communicating further defamatory content after he accused Koshy of offering to pay for sexual favors two years ago when the Instagrammer was 17. The firm which sent the letter said yesterday it was no longer representing Koshy.

Koshy is on leave from his part time gig as a radio DJ host at Power 98FM and it was unclear who was now representing Koshy as an attorney after he separated from the DC Law firm.

He also runs a YouTube channel that has amassed more than 300,000 subscribers and is managing five personalities under his namesake talent management company.

Other stories you should check out:

Dee Kosh on leave after accusations surface he asked minors for sex: Power 98 FM

Yoga instructor investigated for sexual misconduct: Trust Yoga

Gym bans trainer after groping video surfaces

This article, Dee Kosh offered me $1,000 to go to his home, teen accuser says, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
It will mean extremely careful coverage. The Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan suggested as much in a call to arms to journalists on Saturday. Lets crank up the volume and do our jobs. Democracy itself depends on it, she wrote.

It will be exhausting. Other corruption or pandemic stories may go uncovered as a result. Even then, the scandal still may not penetrate pro-Trump bubbles, reaching those who need to hear it most.

For the rest of us, the best way to combat zone flooding is simply to be mindful that its happening to us. And to prepare ourselves. When your opponents flood the zone, engaging with them can be an elaborate trap. Which is why it must be done carefully and on your terms, not theirs. Mr. Swans interview with President Trump was most effective when he challenged him with a puzzled or a dumbfounded expression precisely because it signaled to the viewer just how outlandish the answers were.

Mr. Trumps alternate reality should not be tolerated just because hes the president (this is different, it should be said, than taking him seriously). There are not two sides to voter suppression. Just as there isnt a case against Ms. Harriss citizenship. Nor is there any legitimate case that Mr. Trump is owed a third term.

It will be an exhausting, uphill struggle. There will be more push alerts, more tortured conversations explaining to wayward family members via Facebook comments why the post office is a public good. Fighting the flooding of the zone will take up time better spent elsewhere. It will feel unfair and perhaps even dangerous  those who are able may ultimately need to take the risk to vote in person during a pandemic, putting bodies on the line to fight disinformation. And it might mean showing up in the streets (with proper pandemic precautions).

Mr. Trump is a master at flooding the zone. But hes not the only one who can do it  voters can flood the zone, too. At the polls in person and, safely and legally, by mail.
The Federal Government has said it was dismayed by the painful videos of forceful closure of shops of Nigerian traders in Ghana.

This is even as revealed plan to recall the Charge dAffaires of Nigeria in Ghana for consultation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who made this known on his Twitter handle, @GeoffreyOnyeama, said urgent steps would be taken to halt the situation. He said the government would take necessary steps to put an end to the trauma faced by Nigerian traders in Ghana.

Nigerian government has watched with dismay, the painful videos of the forceful closure of the shops of Nigerian traders in Ghana. Urgent steps will be taken, he said.

Briefing journalists in Abuja, Onyeama said Ghanaians were insisting on retail trade because it is meant for Ghanaians only.

Onyeama added that the retail code has been there for sometime, but that an agreement was reached over a year ago which led to why Nigerian traders had been operating till date.

He recalled his visit to Ghana as a special envoy of President Muhammadu Buhari where he met with Ghanaian President Nana Akuffo-Addo, followed by a meeting between both presidents and the issue was resolved.

Onyeama, however, said obviously, the issue has reared its head again and it seemed not to be resolved.

According to Onyeama, the Ghanaian code on retail trade is in conflict with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on trade.

So, this is something we want looked into at this non-respect of the ECOWAS protocol. What is the point of having an economic community if at the end of the day, each country would just make laws and regulations that are in contradiction of that? So, I think that is an issue that has to be addressed, Onyeama said.

On the concrete measures the government is adopting to curb the situation, Onyeama said the first step is to be sure of all the facts before the government can act.

So, this will entail hearing from the Ghanaian government. Our Minister of Trade is going to engage with his counterpart. We have summoned the Ghanaian High Commissioner who has given us information, we have the intention of recalling our Charge dAffaires in Ghana for consultations and again, to get the facts because she is on the ground there.

And we are also going to get in touch with ECOWAS to also understand clearly what the ECOWAS perspective on this is; if this law is in contravention of the ECOWAS protocol. Once we have all the facts, then we will consider all our options with the Ghanaian government. 

There has been lingering crisis between Nigerian traders in Ghana and Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) which led to the closure of over 400 Nigerian businesses in the country in the recent past.

The closure resulted to protests by the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and Nigerian Union of Traders Association, Ghana (NUTAG) before they were eventually reopened.
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The North American F-86 Sabre, like the Boeing XB-47, had been the beneficiary of German aerodynamic data on the advantages of the swept wing for high-speed jet aircraft. The result was a single-engine fighter of superb maneuverability, and one that also was an excellent gun platform.

The North American F-86 Sabre was first flown on October 1, 1947, by George "Wheaties" Welch. There are those who say that the plane exceeded the sound barrier prior to October 14, 1947, the day on which Chuck Yeager did so in the Bell XS-1. There is no data to confirm this, but the fact is that the Sabre could go supersonic in a dive.

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During these early years of the Cold War, the leaders of the United States Air Force had to plan on what the Soviet Union could do, not necessarily what it thought it would do. And the Soviet Union could have launched a one-way atomic bomber mission against the United States. Consequently, when the Korean War broke out, the North American F-86 Sabres were retained in the United States. (The designation P, for pursuit, changed to F, for fighter, in 1948.)

The appearance of Soviet MiG-15s in Korea changed this decision, and soon the beautiful little Sabres were flying the length of the Korean peninsula to challenge the enemy in "MiG-Alley." Although the MiG had some performance advantages, the better-trained and far more aggressive USAF pilots soon established air superiority. This allowed other USAF and United Nations aircraft to hammer enemy supply lines and prevent the overwhelming numbers of Red Chinese soldiers from driving the U.N. forces into the sea.

The versatile North American F-86 Sabre remained the heart of the USAF fighter force for many years and was developed through a long series of variants, each with improved performance. The aircraft was much loved by its pilots, and is regarded by many as the last "pure" fighter plane.

For more information on airplanes, check out:

North American F-86 Sabre Specifications Wingspan: 37 ft. 1 in. Length: 37 ft. 6 in. Height: 14 ft. 8 in. Empty Weight: 10,495 lbs Gross Weight: 16,357 lbs Top Speed: 675 mph Service Ceiling: 48,300 ft. Range: 785 miles Engine/Thrust: One General Electric J47 turbojet/5,200 lbs Crew: 1 Armament: Six .50-in machine guns Ordnance: Two 1,000-lb bombs Read More
Appointment

18 August 2020

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is pleased to announce the appointment of Carla Puverel as the new general manager of the stunning twin island resort featuring 151 luxury beach and over water villas. The property is part of Conrad Hotels & Resorts, one of Hilton's (NYSE:HLT) global luxury hotel brands. Carla most recently served as general manager of the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in Sri Lanka.

With a career spanning over 18 years, Carla has an extensive hospitality management experience with various luxury hospitality brands. She carved a niche for herself in resort operations from her time at Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa in Knysna, South Africa to working with various resort groups in different geographies ranging from the United States to the Middle East and South East Asia.

She took her first hotel leadership position in 2011 as Resort Manager at Naladhu Resort Maldives where she oversaw the overall operations and managed the Naladhu Private Island. She moved to Phuket two years later to lead the pre-opening team at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort before she relocated to Koh Phangan in 2017 as General Manager of the Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas.
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Seven COVID-19 patients, including one imported case, were registered in Vietnam on Tuesday morning, bringing Vietnams total infections to 983, the Ministry of Health said.

Three of the local cases were reported in central Quang Nam Province, two in northern Hai Duong Province, and one in Hanoi, while the imported case was quarantined upon arrival in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

The two patients in Hai Duong Province, both aged 46, are traced to a local outbreak on Ngo Quyen Street in Hai Duong City, the provincial capital, where at least nine virus-related cases have been reported.

They are being treated at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hai Duong City.

The patient in Hanoi is a 33-year-old woman who traveled to the central resort city of Da Nang from July 22 to 25 before being isolated at home.

On Sunday, she was sampled for COVID-19 testing by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, with results coming back positive for the novel coronavirus on Monday.

She is being quarantined and treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in the capital city.

The three patients from Quang Nam Province are aged 15 to 90. They include one patient linked to Da Nang Hospital and two F1 cases who came into direct contact with previous COVID-19 patients.

They are being treated at Quang Nam Region General Hospital.

The imported case is a 37-year-old woman residing in Duc Nhuan Ward, Mau Duc District, Quang Ngai Province.

She arrived in Vietnam from the Philippines on flight VJ7816 on August 15 and was quarantined immediately after arrival at Can Tho International Airport in the namesake city.

She was confirmed positive for the coronavirus by the Can Tho Center for Disease Control on Sunday, and is being treated at the Can Tho Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Hospital.

Vietnam has logged 983 coronavirus cases, including 645 domestic transmissions, since the pandemic first hit in January.

Among them, 505 local infections have been reported since July 25, when the country documented its first community-based case after 99 days.

Twenty-five COVID-19 patients, most with severe underlying conditions, have died in Vietnam, while 472 patients have fully recovered.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government executed a dramatic U-turn yesterday, retreating on its social class-based downgrading of A-level results.

The retreat comes less than three weeks before the Conservatives intend to force schools to reopen, and just over a month before universities resume.

With final year exams cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had teachers submit estimated grades for their students, most of which were then centrally moderated by an algorithm. Almost a quarter of Scottish results and around 40 percent of English, Welsh, and Northern Irish were originally lowered by at least a gradeover 3 percent in England were docked by two grades or more.

Yesterday afternoon, however, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced with an apology that A-levels results for students in England will now be based solely on teacher-awarded grades, as will GCSE results, awarded later this week. The same retreat had earlier been carried out by the Scottish, Northern Irish, and Welsh governments. Last-ditch attempts by the Tories to offer a few unfeasible token concessionsincluding allowing students to use some mock exam grades in an unspecified processfell to pieces.

The precise impact of the governments reversal will take time to come outsome students are already reporting that university courses they have now qualified for have since become full.

The exam results fiasco is a case study in the fundamentally opposed interests of millions of working people, and the capitalist class and all its political representatives.

For the initial assigning of grades, the defining influence on the governments results moderation algorithm was social class. In Scotland, the most deprived areas saw the proportion of students receiving A-C grades reduced by 15.2 percent, while the percentage for the most affluent areas was only 6.9 percent. The same pattern played out in England. More than 10 percent of students in the lowest third for socioeconomic status had a teacher-awarded C grade lowered, compared to 8 percent in the highest third.

This obscured more fine-grained inequalities. Research by social mobility charity UpReach found that subjects taken overwhelmingly by private school students were significantly more highly graded as a result of this process than those taken by the working-class majority. The number of students receiving an A* in Latin increased 10.4 percent, and the number receiving an A*/A in Classics by 10.4 percent.

Private schools increased their number of A and A* grades by 4.7 percent this year, more than double the 2 percent registered by comprehensive secondary schools, and almost 16 times the 0.3 percent increase for Sixth Form and Further Education colleges, catering mainly for working class youth. The Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) looked at 65,000 exam entries across 41 subjects in its member colleges and found that grades were 20 percent lower than past performances.

Overall, the gap between pupils receiving free school mealsan indicator of severe economic hardshipand those who do not widened significantly, alongside the gap between those with disabilities and special educational needs and those without.

There could be few clearer demonstrations of the class-riven nature of contemporary society. The government desperately needed to get results issued to proceed with its criminal business-as-usual reopening of schools, universities, and the economy. But even when their overriding goal was to move towards reopening as smoothly as possible, to give as little opportunity as possible for the working class to intervene, and amid endless propaganda of how we are all in this together, government ministers and officials could not abandon their vicious class bias for a second.

Their actions unleashed a wave of opposition, setting working class children, families, and schools directly against the government. Protests of young people which began in Scotland spread to England, with its much larger population and student body, greatly expanding the scope of the crisis. The catastrophe was set to be compounded later this week as millions of GCSE results are released for around 700,000 16-year-old pupils. Whereas 82 percent of A-level results were affected by the governments algorithm, the Observer reported that the figure would have been 97 percent for GCSEs.

It is significant that after the liberal media and pseudo-left groups have spent months working to channel multiracial protests against police violence into racialist politics, young protestors took to the streets with signs that read, Classism at its finest, Its blatant classism, Its the classism for me, Judge my school work, not my income, No Etonians were harmed in the making of this algorithm, and Working class does not equal stupid.

Under these circumstances, the ruling class political machine went into action to prevent this sentiment triggering opposition to the reopening of schools and universitieswithout having brought the coronavirus pandemic under control.

By Monday, several leading Tory MPs were calling for a delay and a rethink in issuing GCSE grades. However, by far the most significant piece of advice was delivered by Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer. Within days of criticising the Tory governments handling of A-level results, Starmer took to the pages of the right-wing Daily Mail to back Johnsons reopen schools policy.

In the same breath as he invoked the results crisis, which exposed the governments improving students life chances justification for reopening as a rotten fraud, Starmer exhorted the elitist, social Darwinist Tory leader, 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.

Echoing Johnsons own words, Starmer continued, 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.

For Starmer, the only real problem with the A-level results crisis was that it threatened to undermine the pro-business back-to-work agenda that Labour shares with the Tories.

Not a single fundamental issue confronting society can be left in the hands of the ruling class and its political parties. Class society produces catastrophe after catastrophe, destroying thousands of lives and the future of millions at every new turn. The rational and humane solution to social problemsmost urgently of all, the global COVID-19 pandemicdemands the independent intervention of the working class, organised in rank-and-file committees in every school, workplace, and neighbourhood in the fight for socialism.
WINCHESTER  For months, Scott County was a statistical anomaly  a coronavirus-free island surrounded by a rising ocean of infection.

As positive tests began scattering outside their hotbed in Chicago and northern Illinois and started infiltrating more rural areas, the county still resisted.

Soon, it was the last county among the 102 in Illinois not touched by the rapidly spreading disease.

Then came July 2.

The last bastion fell. A 66-year-old woman was diagnosed as COVID-19 positive.

It was a moment not unexpected. By then, the state had topped 100,000 cases and was reeling from deaths in the thousands. West-central Illinois neighbors in Morgan County already were at 134 total cases and nearby Cass County was at 135.

The initial blip on Scott Countys tally seemed just that. The next cases  involving a woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s  would not come to the county of 4,951 until July 21.

Then things started to change. Three more cases were confirmed July 23, another on both July 30 and July 31.

The first week of August would be the start of a fairly steady stream that now has the county with 35 cases total. Nine people have recovered, but 26 remained in isolation as of this weekend.

The county now has a per-100,000 rate of 706.9  sharply above the state average rate of 192.2  largely because an individual case is going to weigh more heavily on the smaller the countys population.

The numbers are understandably concerning to Scott County Health Department Administrator Steve Shireman. He said health officials also are worried because they are not getting the level of cooperation we were getting.

That means people following the basic guidelines, such as wearing a mask in public and social distancing.

Im not sure if its mask fatigue or people are just tired of it all or thinking (theyre) young and wont be affected, Shireman said.

The individual numbers belie that sense of invincibility. The bulk of the cases in Scott County involve seven men and six women in their 20s. Two cases have been confirmed in children under age 10.

Shireman said he is aware of more and larger gatherings of people, something that pushes the risk factor. Health officials in other counties, particularly Greene, also have pointed to people getting more lax about crowd sizes.

Shireman also understands how seemingly conflicting guidance about face coverings had been early on.

I think that message got butchered from Day One, he said. If youre already believing it wont do any good, you probably wont be convinced otherwise (now). But the fact is that any time you can reduce your viral load or prevent it from getting outside your mask, it goes a long way.

Federal health officials said early on that masks were not recommended except for healthcare professionals. Within weeks, that guidance started to change, but was met with resistance. Illinois has rules in place requiring a mask be worn when inside a public facility such as a store or when outside and unable to maintain 6 feet of separation but it largely is left to retailers to police the requirements.

Shireman said its crucial, if a change is expected, that people follow the guidelines of wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and frequently washing their hands.

Either everybodys getting awfully tired of it, or maybe people got a false sense of security, he said, but its not there now. Were going backwards.
NEW DELHI - For two and a half minutes the popular Indian radio DJ described in graphic detail what she said was the torture and killing of a father and son in police custody.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 16/8/2020 (520 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE- In this July 10, 2020, file photo, policemen cordon off the site where Vikas Dubey, a top crime suspect linked to the death of eight policemen was killed near Kanpur, India. Police said Dubey died in an exchange of gunfire when he snatched a revolver from officers while trying to flee after their vehicle overturned on a highway, but rights activists were quick to cast doubt, seeing it as yet another suspicious encounter. (AP Photo, File)

NEW DELHI - For two and a half minutes the popular Indian radio DJ described in graphic detail what she said was the torture and killing of a father and son in police custody.

The father was arrested for flouting coronavirus lockdown rules by keeping his mobile phone shop in southern India open past curfew, Suchitra Ramadurai alleged in a video posted to her Instagram. The man's son went to check on him at the police station and both were beaten so badly they were still bleeding when they appeared before a judge the next day.

Three days later, on June 23, they were both dead.

"Please share this story," Ramadurai told her followers. "Lets fight the system."

The video, which was viewed 20 million times before police ordered Ramadurai to take it down, sparked an extraordinary groundswell of public outrage at the deaths with local opposition politicians marching in the streets, Bollywood stars voicing their condemnations and television stations holding hourslong debates on police brutality.

Even more rare, 10 police officers were arrested in a federal investigation and charged with murder.

The case came as global attention was focused on police abuse following the death of George Floyd in custody in the United States. It has renewed calls in India for reform of what human rights advocates have described as a culture of abuse and impunity within the country's police system.

FILE- In this Dec. 6, 2019, file photo, people gather near the site where four men suspected of raping and killing a woman were fatally shot by police in Shadnagar near Hyderabad, India. Suspected criminals are often killed in what police and military officials call encounters. Because India's clogged judiciary system is slow to ensure prosecutions and punishments, these killings are often encouraged by politicians, celebrated in popular culture like Bollywood films, overwhelmingly supported by the public and rewarded by state officials with out-of-turn promotions and gallantry prizes to policemen involved. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A, File)

The response to the deaths of the father and son, if not unprecedented, was far from the norm in India, where police "routinely use torture and flout arrest procedures with little or no accountability," said Jayshree Bajoria, the author of "Bound by Brotherhood," a 2016 report on custodial deaths in India.

"Often the entire system is complicit in shielding the police responsible for such abuses instead of ensuring accountability," said Bajoria.

According to the New Delhi-based National Campaign Against Torture, 125 people died in police custody due to torture or other abuses in 2019.

In internal reports police typically attribute such deaths to other causes such as suicide, preexisting illnesses or natural causes. However, in many cases documented by rights groups and government-appointed investigators, the deaths were determined to be the result of torture.

The countrys National Human Rights Commission said in its 2017 annual report that violence in custody was so rampant "that it has become almost routine," adding that many custodial deaths were reported after a considerable delay or not reported at all.

India's Home Ministry, which is responsible for law and order, did not respond to requests for comment on the issue.

In India, suspected criminals are often killed in what police and military officials call "encounters," such as one last month when a suspect wanted in connection with the deaths of eight police officers was fatally shot after police said he snatched a gun while trying to flee. Activists were quick to cast doubt on that account.

Yet unlike the deaths of the father and son, that case was met with little public anger.

Because the countrys clogged judicial system is slow to ensure prosecutions and punishments, such killings are often encouraged by politicians, celebrated in popular Bollywood films, overwhelmingly supported by the public and rewarded by state officials with out-of-turn promotions and gallantry prizes to the police involved.

Last December, on a visit to the crime scene, police shot dead four men suspected in the high-profile rape and killing of a young woman whose body had been set on fire. Hours after the shootings, about 2,000 people gathered at the site to celebrate, passing out sweets and showering police with flower petals.

The slow pace of the Indian judicial system means it often takes years, even decades, for cases to reach completion. A backlog of tens of millions of pending court cases have significantly eroded the public faith in the system.

"It is this declining faith in the system that has led many in India to demand and support instant justice," said sociologist Kalpana Kannabiran.

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Indian courts and multiple human rights commissions have set out detailed procedures to prevent and punish such killings, but prosecution is rare. Between 2001 and 2018, 26 police officers were convicted of custodial deaths.

"There are serious gaps in both outside accountability mechanisms and internal supervision," said Maja Daruwala, executive director of the New Delhi-based rights organization Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

"These cases expose long-term structural frailties and weakness that are allowed to remain within the system and repeatedly end in tragedies," she said.

Despite repeated demands for police reform, activists say education and training for police about human rights issues and proper investigatory techniques is woefully lacking. They also say police implicated in abuses, regardless of rank, must be prosecuted.

Activists are also repeating their demands for India to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture and incorporate its provisions into the country's domestic laws. India is among very few countries that have not ratified the convention.

"India can only boast of rule of law if those charged with enforcing it are held accountable," Bajoria said.
Thai dancers in traditional dresses wear face masks while performing at a temple on May 5, 2020. Chaiwat Subprasom | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images

Thailand's relative success in containing the coronavirus may do little to chart a smooth recovery for its economy, which could be one of Asia's worst performing this year after the pandemic caused a slump in tourist arrivals, said economists. Adding to concerns are intensifying anti-government protests that some analysts said could distract authorities from their priority of keeping the economy going. Thailand on Monday reported its deepest economic contraction since the Asian financial crisis in 1998. The Southeast Asian economy shrank by 12.2% on year in the second quarter  better than the 13.3% contraction forecast by a Reuters poll.

The upshot is that despite getting the virus under control quickly ... the outlook for Thailand's economy remains one of the worst in the region Alex Holmes Capital Economics

The Thai economy relies heavily on tourism for growth. But foreign tourist arrivals have come to an almost complete stop and is not likely to recover soon, with the government reportedly shelving plans to open its borders to travelers from selected countries. "The upshot is that despite getting the virus under control quickly, with tourism set to remain a massive drag on growth, the outlook for Thailand's economy remains one of the worst in the region," Alex Holmes, Asia economist at consultancy Capital Economics, wrote in a Monday note. Holmes noted that "Thailand has gone over 80 days without a single case of community transmission," but his forecast of a 9% annual contraction in the Thai economy this year is among the most pessimistic.

As of Monday, the country has reported over 3,300 confirmed coronavirus cases and 58 deaths, according to the department of disease control. In addition to the tourism collapse, Thailand's other growth engine  trade  has also been weak, said Barnabas Gan, economist at Singaporean lender United Overseas Bank. Gan wrote in a Monday note that he expects the economy to shrink by 7.5% this year, worse than his previous projection of a 5.4% contraction. "The twin drivers, tourism and trade, have been lackluster at least in the first half of 2020. That could actually persist into the rest of the year," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Tuesday.

Protests to worsen outlook

Anti-government protests that have intensified in recent weeks could further dampen Thailand's economic recovery, said economists. The country is no stranger to political uncertainties, having experienced one of the highest numbers of military coups in modern history. But over the weekend, more than 10,000 protesters gathered in the capital city of Bangkok in what some observers said is the biggest anti-government demonstration since a 2014 coup.
By Express News Service

MADURAI: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) on Sunday unveiled its Post-Covid Wellness Centre, an outpatient centre for the treatment and monitoring of the patients who had recovered from Covid-19.

Some of the recovered/discharged Covid-19 patients suffer from health conditions that had developed during the infection, a senior doctor at GRH said. The conditions either persist or recur days or weeks after discharge, he added.

Some of the persistent/recurrent health conditions noticed among the patients included insomnia, body ache, irregular menstruation, gangrene (death of tissues due to infection), lower oxygen saturation levels, and stroke, he added.

The hospitals new initiative would monitor such cases, he said, adding that post-discharge follow-up could aid in the pandemic study.

Dean of the hospital Dr J Sangumani told TNIE that the initiative would help patients, who develop conditions such as depression, secondary lung infection or (in some cases) arthritis, after discharge.

The post-COVID wellness centre functions as a wing of the general medicine outpatient clinic at the old Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) Block. Patients would undergo a series of tests, including pulmonary function test (PFT)/spirometry, and psychiatric counselling if required, at the centre. They would also be motivated for plasma donation, he said.

All the patients, infected and subsequently discharged from the GRH in the past 30 days, will be contacted over the phone for a follow-up on their health conditions, with the help of the Covid-19 control room established at the hospital and the corporations Telemedicine Centre. Besides, any recovered patient could approach the centre, which functions as an outpatient clinic, he added.

So far, nearly 20 patients who recovered from Covid-19, including the hospital staff, have been screened at the centre, said hospital sources.
Australians have started manufacturing masks during the coronavirus pandemic. Credit:Eddie Jim

Question:

I am retired but spent my working life in manufacturing. Im old enough to remember Paul Keating telling my mates who were losing their jobs in the '80s and '90s that they would get better ones.

He didnt understand we loved manufacturing. At the end of the day, week or month you could point to something and say I made this with my mates. I used to laugh when I heard us being called low-skilled.

Australian manufacturing has been dying for a long time and nobody has seemed to care until now. Is there any chance it could be revived after the coronavirus or will we forget and get back to supporting cheap junk made overseas?
Photo: BC Gov Flickr

New province-wide enforcement measures will come into effect later this week to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 within British Columbia.

Minister of Health Adrian Dix made the announcement during Monday's press conference, confirming the changes will be explained later this week by B.C. solicitor general Mike Farnworth.

"Ministries are meeting, and have met today, to map out a more comprehensive approach to increase enforcement that will optimize the use of enforcement officers beyond public health - municipalities, health authorities, WorkSafe, and police."

"Based on this information, the government will take steps to impose stricter penalties."

Dix says the changes are, in part, being made for the purpose of releasing public health workers to focus fully on other aspects of virus prevention, such as contact tracing.

"Public health based on these additional measures will continue to exercise their authority, but we should remember public health is fully engaged now in supporting people in isolation and contact tracing and everything else.

"Their role in stopping the spread of COVID-19 is paramount and we have to ensure their role is both supported and protected in every way possible."

He says while efforts being made by the majority of residents and businesses are encouraging, there are a small few who "cannot wreck it" for everyone else.

No further details of what enforcement will look like have been provided, but Dix did mention there is a delicate balance to be struck between enforcement and citizens' need for privacy.

In regards to indoor house gatherings, he says the best solution for everyone involved is to honour the individual responsibility for each other's safety, and not give cause for any further intervention.

"We have a history of respect for people's homes ... we want to be respectful of that, so to be effective across the system, we all have to understand our obligations to one another."
CAIRO - Egypts Parliament on Tuesday approved a maritime deal setting the countrys Mediterranean Sea boundary with Greece and demarcating an exclusive economic zone for oil and gas drilling rights, the state-run news agency reported.

The deal, signed earlier this month, angered Turkey, which vowed to resume its disputed oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Egyptian-Greek move was widely seen as a response to a disputed agreement between Turkey and Libyas Tripoli-based administration that spiked tensions in the East Mediterranean region.

The Turkey-Libya deal was widely criticized by Egypt, Cyprus and Greece as an infringement on their economic rights in the oil-rich sea. The European Union says its a violation of intentional law that threatens stability in the region.

The Egypt-Greece deal has established partial demarcation of the sea boundaries between the two countries, and that the remaining demarcation would be achieved through consultations, the MENA news agency reported.

Egypts Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Al called the deal very significant and said it is in line with international law.

He said the agreement with Greece comes amid tensions in the East Mediterranean region and attempted provocations by some countries. He was apparently referring to Turkey, which stands on the opposing side in Libyas years-long conflict that has turned into a proxy war.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the Egypt-Greece agreement worthless, vowing to keep his disputed pact with Tripoli government in place.

Following the Aug. 6 deal, Turkey deployed a seismic research vessel to prospect for potential oil and gas reserves in waters that Athens claims are located over Greeces continental shelf.

That led Greece to place its armed forces on high alert and send warships to the spot, demanding the Turkish vessels withdrawal. The Greek and Turkish navies have been engaged in a game of brinkmanship in waters between the Greek island of Crete, Cyprus and Turkey.

Turkey has accused Greece of trying to exclude it from the benefits of oil and gas finds in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. It argues that Greek islands should not be included in calculating maritime zones of economic interest  a position Greece says contradicts international law.

Greece has around 6,000 islands and smaller islets in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, more than 200 of them inhabited.

At the signing ceremony in Cairo, Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry said the deal allows Egypt and Greece each to move ahead with maximizing their benefits from resources available in this exclusive economic zone, namely promising oil and gas reserves.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias hailed the deal as an exemplary agreement, saying it is the complete opposite of the illegal, invalid and legally non-existent memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Tripoli.

Read more about:
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The gold spot price just crossed the $2,000 threshold and broke it's all-time high and analysts say that it could hit $3,500 in two years. Now, as the industry sees the low gold price era in the rear view mirror, the conditions are primed for new high-value mine discoveries that may have been held back for almost a decade. The result in Canada has been a wave of optimism and high-impact development announcements from a wide variety of Canadian miners who have seen their overall market value climb since March, including First Energy Metals Ltd. (CSE:FE) (OTCPK:ASKDF), Kirkland Lake Gold (NYSE:KL) (TSX:KL), Osisko Mining (TSX:OSK) (OTCPK:OBNNF), McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE:MUX) (TSX:MUX), and IAMGOLD Corporation (NYSE:IAG) (TSX:IMG).

A prime example of a beneficiary of the current gold bull market is First Energy Metals Ltd. (CSE:FE) (OTC:ASKDF), which saw its stock price skyrocket 480% between a March 25th low and a May 25th high, before correcting to its current 270% increase from the March figure.

The junior miner has three significant exploration properties across Canada, with two in British Columbia, and a newer addition in Ontario.

Overall, Canada is home to some of the greatest gold districts in mining history, the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt in Ontario and Quebec, the Red Lake Gold District in Ontario, and the Golden Triangle in British Columbia. In 2018, Canadian mines produced an estimated 183 tonnes of gold, marking an 88% increase from 2009, with Ontario and Quebec producing more than 75% of the gold mined in Canada.

So far, the market has begun to recognize the potential of this new gold rush, through examples such as First Energy Metals. The junior miner sits in a well known mining district, with past producing mines including the Molly Gibson and Alpine deposits. More recently, a revival of the Alpine deposit area came in with a 142,000 oz gold resource (NI 43-101 Inferred) adding more validity to the potential of the Kokanee Creek project in British Columbia, and in just the last few months, has made leaps and gains made on its Independence Gold (BC) and Scramble Mine (Ontario) gold exploration properties.

But, the gold bull market seems to also be rewarding the larger mining giants too.

Since March 13th (the day the United States officially declared a national emergency), Barrick Gold Corporation has seen its share price rise 108% through July 24.

Osisko Mining (TSX:OSK) (OTC:OBNNF) is up 122%, McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE:MUX) (TSX:MUX) is up 110%, and IAMGOLD Corporation (NYSE:IAG) (TSX:IMG) is up 160%all in that same time frame.

Ontario

First Energy Metals Ltd. (FE.CN) (ASKDF.PK) opened July by announcing the completion of its first round of exploratory fieldwork at the Scramble Mine gold property in Northwestern Ontario. The work included prospecting to locate historical mineralization areas, carry out channel and grab surface sampling, mapping historical gold mineralization veins and structures, and developing a detailed Phase 2 exploration work plan. The initial field observations confirmed the location of historical underground workings, mineralized quartz veins, and the host rock in shear zone. In addition, First Energy is pleased to announce that after successful completion of the fieldwork program, two separate permits with the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development, and mines were filed for trenching, blasting, bulk sampling, and diamond drilling.

A second round of exploration results are expected in the future from the Scramble Mine property.

The Detour Lake open pit mine, which is owned and operated by Kirkland Lake Gold (NYSE:KL) (TSX:KL), has been in operation since 2012 and is the second-largest gold producing mine in Canada. Detour Lake has a mine life of 22 years with an average production of 659,000 ounces of gold per year. Last year, the mine poured its 5 millionth ounce and achieved a production of 601,566 ounces. Kirkland Lake Gold also owns the Macassa Mine and the Holt Complex in Ontario.

A new gold mine is coming to northern Ontario, after IAMGOLD Corporation announced it was proceeding with the $1.3 billion Cote Gold mine, with partners Sumitomo Metal Mining. This project is expected to generate more than 1,000 jobs during 32 months of construction, and 450 operations jobs once the facility opens during the second half of 2023. Cote has a mine life that's estimated at 18 years. IAMGOLD holds a 70% interest in the Gogama-area mine, and successfully secured the support of the Northern Ontario community, including its First Nation Partners.

After temporarily suspending operations from March 26th to April 13th, McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE:MUX) (TSX:MUX) announced it produced 2,200 gold equivalent ounces in Q2 2020. On the exploration front, at the Black Fox Mine, a total of 13,650m of underground diamond drilling was completed between April 13th and June 30th. Over that span, high-grade intercepts were generated, including 42.2 g/t Au over 2.0 m, 42.4 g/t Au over 2.5 m, 20.9 g/t Au over 4.8 m.

Quebec

At its Windfall gold project located in the Abitibi greenstone belt, Urban Township, Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec, Osisko Mining (TSX:OSK) (OTC:OBNNF) recently updated the market on its continued infill drilling. Currently, there are 22 drills active at Windfall, all currently focused on what's known as the Lynx deposit. Among the results to date, selected high-grade intercepts included: 199 g/t Au over 5.0 meters; 103 g/t Au over 2.7 meters; 31.0 g/t Au over 6.2 meters; and 49.0 g/t Au over 2.4 meters.

British Columbia

Revived exploration in the Nelson mining district such as the Alpine deposit area has reported a 2018 inferred resource of 142,000 oz at 16.52 g/t Au using a cut-off grade of 5.0 g/t. First Energy Metals Ltd. (FE.CN) (ASKDF.PK) has two significant projects in British Columbia. The other BC project in the company's portfolio is the Independence Gold Project, which the company refers to as its lotto ticket.

In May, the company announced it had developed an exploration work plan for both projects, to be completed in two phases, including ground prospecting, geological mapping, and sampling, before culminating with diamond core drilling at Kokanee Creek.

To get more information on First Energy Metals Ltd. (CSE:FE) (OTC:ASKDF), please click here .

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Flu viruses may spread via dust, research suggests. (Getty Images)

With flu season approaching, it may be worth giving your house a thorough clean.

Although typically spread via coughs and sneezes, research suggests flu viruses may also travel through the air in dust.

Scientists from the University of California, Davis, painted a flu virus strain on the fur of guinea pigs that were immune to the pathogen.

Read more: When should you not ignore a cough?

The animals transmitted the virus to uninfected guinea pigs, despite not carrying it in their respiratory tract.

The scientists concluded flu viruses may therefore spread in the air via dust, fibres and microscopic particles.

The team state this has obvious implications for the coronavirus, however, they stressed it is unclear whether the same results would apply to other respiratory infections or even additional flu strains.

At-risk patients are advised to have a flu vaccine before the virus circulates; typically December to March in the UK. (Getty Images)

Its really shocking to most virologists and epidemiologists that airborne dust, rather than expiratory droplets, can carry influenza virus capable of infecting animals, said study author Professor William Ristenpart.

The implicit assumption is always that airborne transmission occurs because of respiratory droplets emitted by coughing, sneezing or talking.

Transmission via dust opens up whole new areas of investigation and has profound implications for how we interpret laboratory experiments as well as epidemiological investigations of outbreaks.

Read more: Can old wives' tales really help fight colds?

There are three types of flu viruses  A, B and C. Every year, one or two strains of type A  typically the most severe  circulate, as well as type B, which generally causes a less severe illness.

Each February, the World Health Organization (WHO) assesses the strains that are most likely to be circulating in the northern hemisphere over the following winter.

Based on this, the WHO recommends which flu strains vaccines should protect against.

The NHS advises at-risk patients get the jab before the UKs flu season, which typically runs from December to March.

Story continues

As well as spreading via coughs and sneezes, the viruses are known to survive on certain surfaces, like door handles or used tissues  known as fomites.

To better understand the different ways the virus may land on these objects, the scientists looked at whether tiny, non-respiratory particles they called aerosolised fomites could carry the pathogen between guinea pigs.

Animals that were immune to flu had the virus painted on their fur.

Using an automated sizer, the scientists found the guinea pigs gave off up to 1,000 virus particles per second as they moved around their cage.

Read more: 5 everyday places cold and flu viruses linger

These went on to infect other susceptible animals, according to results published in the journal Nature Communications.

Finally, the scientists tested whether microscopic fibres from an inanimate object could carry infectious viruses.

They exposed tissues to a flu virus, let them dry out and then crumpled the tissues in front of the automated particle sizer.

Crumpling the tissues released up to 900 particles per second, at a size that could be inhaled.

These virus-contaminated tissues were also capable of infecting cells in the laboratory, the results revealed.
Mali plunges into political uncertainty as military forces Ibrahim Boubacar Keita out of the presidency.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced around midnight on Tuesday that he is resigning from his post saying that he does not wish blood to be shed following a military mutiny that plunged the country into a political crisis.

Today, certain parts of the military have decided that intervention was necessary. Do I really have a choice? Because I do not wish blood to be shed, Keita said in a brief statement broadcast on national television.

Keita said that he has decided to give up my duty from now on.

It is unclear if the military is now officially in charge of the country.

Earlier, Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were detained by soldiers in a dramatic escalation of a months-long crisis in the country.

The development came hours after soldiers took up arms and staged a mutiny at a key base in Kati, a town close to Bamako.





The soldiers were expected to deliver a statement later, while countries in West Africa, along with former colonial power France, the European Union and the African Union, denounced the actions of the soldiers and warned against any unconstitutional change of power.

The events came amid a weeks-long political crisis that has seen opposition protesters taking to the streets to demand the departure of Keita, accusing him of allowing the countrys economy to collapse and mishandling a worsening security situation.

Malis years-long conflict, in which ideologically-motivated armed groups have stoked ethnic tensions while jockeying for power, has spilled into the neighbouring countries of Niger and Burkina Faso, destabilising the wider Sahel region and creating a massive humanitarian crisis.

Earlier on Tuesday, opposition protesters gathered at a square in Bamako in a show of support for the soldiers, while foreign embassies advised their citizens to stay indoors.

Here are the latest updates:

Wednesday, August 19

07:35GMT  Soldiers behind the coup appear on TV

The soldiers behind the coup  calling themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People  appeared on state television in military fatigues, pledging to stabilise the country.

We are not holding on to power but we are holding on to the stability of the country, said Ismail Wague, Mali Air Forces deputy chief of staff.

With you, standing as one, we can restore this country to its former greatness, said Wague, announcing borders were closed and a curfew was going into effect from 9pm to 5am.

This will allow us to organise within an agreed reasonable timeframe, general elections to equip Mali with strong institutions, which are able to better manage our everyday lives and restore confidence between the government and the governed.

00:15 GMT  Malis Keita resigns as president

Looking tired and wearing a surgical mask, Keita announced his resignation in a brief address broadcast on state television [Al Jazeera screenshot]

Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned around midnight on Tuesday and dissolved parliament hours after mutinying soldiers detained him at gunpoint, plunging a country already facing an insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis.

Looking tired and wearing a surgical mask, Keita resigned in a brief address broadcast on state television after troops seized him along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top officials.

Today, certain parts of the military have decided that intervention was necessary. Do I really have a choice? Because I do not wish blood to be shed, he said from a military base in Kati outside the capital Bamako where he had been detained earlier in the day.

Tuesday, August 18

23:15 GMT  ECOWAS bloc condemns Mali coup attempt

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the coup attempt in Mali and has moved to suspend the country from its decision-making body, according to Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris, who is reporting from Abuja in Nigeria.

In an announcement, the regional alliance also said that neighbouring countries of the West African state are closing its borders and will impose sanctions as the crisis continues.

21:18 GMT  From disputed election to presidents detention

Go here to read how Malis months-long political crisis culminated to Tuesdays events.

Negotiations reportedly underway in #Mali for immediate release of the Pres and PM with a guarantee from the international community that the mutineers will not be prosecuted. Still unclear whether #IBK has/will resign as unconstitutional. What happens next? @AJENews for latest  Folly Bah Thibault (@follybahAJE) August 18, 2020

20:30 GMT  Guns, rumours and celebrations: Mali turmoil in pictures

See images from the days events here.

People in Bamako react after the military entered the streets of the capital [EPA]

19:55 GMT  UN chief condemns arrests in Mali

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the arrest of Keita and members of the government, calling for their immediate release, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Guterres called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali, read the statement.

Read more here.

19:43 GMT  UN Security Council to hold Mali meeting

The UN Security Council will hold on Wednesday afternoon an emergency meeting to discuss the current situation in Mali.

The session was requested by France and Niger and will take place behind closed doors, a senior UN diplomat told AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.





19:25 GMT  EU condemns coup attempt in Mali

The European Union strongly condemns the coup attempt under way in Mali and rejects any unconstitutional changes, the blocks foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Twitter.

This can in no way be a response to the deep socio-political crisis that has hit Mali for several months.

LUE condamne fermement la tentative de coup dEtat en cours au Mali et rejette tout changement anti-constitutionnel. Ceci ne peut en aucun cas etre une reponse a la profonde crise socio-politique qui frappe le Mali depuis plusieurs mois #AUEU https://t.co/L8airgRjy3  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 18, 2020

19:00 GMT  Govt official: Mutinying soldiers holding president, PM

Keita and Cisse are both being held by rebel soldiers, a senior government official confirmed to the AFP news agency.

The prime minister and the president were driven by rebel soldiers to Kati in armoured vehicles, said Boubou Doucoure, who works as Cisses director of communications.

He added that both men were now at Kati. A mutiny in 2012 at the same base led to a military coup that toppled then-President Amadou Toumani Toure and contributed to the fall of northern Mali to fighters.

While the house of the presidents son is being trashed, and the military take president and PM in custody, no sign of the 14000 UN+foreign troops meant to support the Malian state https://t.co/WzaapVT2iz  Nicolas Haque (@nicolashaque) August 18, 2020

18:50 GMT  Protest movement says detention of president not a military coup

The coalition in Mali behind mass protests calling for Keita to resign said his detention by mutinying soldiers was not a military coup but a popular insurrection.

IBK did not want to listen to his people. We even proposed an alternative but he responded with killings, Nouhoum Togo, spokesman for the M5-RFP coalition, told Reuters news agency, referring to Keita by his initials.

Malian soldiers are greeted by protesters as they arrive at the Independence square [Malik Konate/AFP]

18:30 GMT  State television channel taken off line

Mali state television broadcaster ORTM has gone offline after mutinying soldiers detained Keita and Cisse, a journalist at ORTM has said.

18:20 GMT  Chairperson of the African Union Commission condemns arrests

The chairperson of the African Union Commission has condemned the arrests of Keita, Cisse and other officials.

Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat also condemned any attempt at anti-constitutional change and called on the mutinying soldiers to respect the states institutions.

I strongly condemn the forced detention of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, the Prime Minister and other members of the Malian government and call for their immediate liberation, he wrote on Twitter.

I strongly condemn the forced detention of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of #Mali, the Prime Minister and other members of the Malian govt, and call for their immediate release. My full statement:https://t.co/zvJVuJJbjp  Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) August 18, 2020

18:00 GMT  Russia says it has information about arrests of president, PM

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has said that Russia has received information about the arrests of Malis president and prime minister, RIA news agency reported without providing further details.

He also said, according to the media outlet, that Moscow is concerned about the events in Mali.

17:40 GMT  Catch up on the situation in Mali

Developments are moving fast in Mali. Here are a few stories to get you up to speed with what has been happening in the country in recent weeks.

17:30 GMT  President, PM arrested, mutiny leader tells AFP

The AFP news agency, citing a source identified as a leader of the mutiny, said the soldiers have detained Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse.

We can tell you that the president and the prime minister are under our control, the leader, who requested anonymity, told AFP.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse [File: AFP/EPA]

He added that the pair had been arrested at Keitas residence in Bamako.

>Another military official, who also declined to be named, said the president and prime minister were in an armoured vehicle en route to Kati.

17:20 GMT  Keita arrested by mutinying soldiers: Reuters

Reuters news agency has reported, citing two security sources, that Keita has been arrested by mutinying soldiers in Bamako.

The arrest came after soldiers mutinied at the Kati army base and rounded up a number of senior civilian and military officials, according to Reuters.





17:20 GMT  Elysee: Macron discussed mutiny with Keita

French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the soldiers mutiny in Mali on Tuesday with his Malian counterpart and other West African leaders, expressing his support for mediation efforts by the ECOWAS regional bloc, the presidency in Paris said.

Macron discussed the unfolding situation with Keita and the leaders of Niger, Ivory Coast and Senegal, and condemned the attempted mutiny under way, the Elysee Palace said in a statement.

The French presidency did not say precisely when Macrons talks with the African leaders took place.

16:40 GMT  Protesters gather in Bamako

In Bamako, hundreds of people have poured into the square around the Independence Monument, the site of mass protests since June, calling for Keita to quit over alleged corruption and worsening security.

Whether hes been arrested or not, what is certain is that his end is near. God is granting our prayers. IBK is finished, Haidara Assetou Cisse, a teacher, told Reuters news agency, referring to the president by his initials.

We have come out today to call for the total resignation of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Because we heard there were shots fired by the military and we have come out to help our soldiers get rid of IBK, opposition supporter Aboubacar Ibrahim Maiga said.

Protesters have also attacked the justice ministers personal offices, setting parts of them on fire, a Reuters witness said.

Opposition supporters in the Independence Square in Bamako react to the news of a possible mutiny of soldiers [Rey Byhre/Reuters]

16:07 GMT  Mali PM calls for dialogue

Cisse, the Malian prime minister, called on the mutinying soldiers to stand down and urged dialogue to resolve the situation.

In a statement, he said the mutiny reflects a certain frustration that could have legitimate causes. The government of Mali asks all the authors of these acts to stand down.

16:04 GMT  France condemns Mali mutiny

France denounced in the strongest terms what it described as a mutiny launched by soldiers in Mali.

France has become aware of the mutiny that has taken place today in Kati, Mali. It condemns in the strongest terms this serious event, Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said in a statement that also urged the soldiers to return to their barracks without delay.

A protest movement calling for Malis president to step down has been ongoing for two months [Rey Byhre/Reuters]

15:50 GMT  ECOWAS urges Mali soldiers to return to barracks

The West African bloc ECOWAS called on the soldiers to return to their barracks without delay.

This mutiny comes at a time when, for several months now, ECOWAS has been taking initiatives and conducting mediation efforts with all the Malian parties, the bloc said in a statement.

15:30 GMT: Warnings of possible mutiny

Gunfire was heard at an army base near Bamako, with the Norwegian embassy talking of a possible military mutiny. Soldiers fired their guns into the air in the base in Kati, some 15km (9 miles) from Bamako.

Witnesses said armoured tanks and military vehicles could be seen on the streets of Kati, The Associated Press news agency reported.

Read more here.
The President of Mali, Boubacar Keita, was detained by mutinying soldiers on Tuesday, according to a Reuters report.

The news agency quotes two Mali security sources as confirming the detention.

The detention was also confirmed to the BBC by a Mali government spokesperson.

Mali has been in crisis since 2012 after a military coup ousted its former president, Amadou Toure, with a large part of the country now controlled by armed jihadists.

There have been mass demonstrations in the capital, Bamako, after controversial general elections in the West African country earlier this year.

READ ALSO:

Nigerias former president, Goodluck Jonathan, in July led a peace mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to seek a solution to the crisis.

The committee eventually recommended a unity government for the troubled country.

While the political crisis still persists, Reuters reports that soldiers on Tuesday at the Kati military base near Bamako rounded up a number of senior civilian and military officials.

The mutiny has been condemned by ECOWAS, the U.S. and France, from whom Mali gained its independence.

This mutiny comes at a time when, for several months now, Ecowas has been taking initiatives and conducting mediation efforts with all the Malian parties, an ECOWAS statement said.
Public health officials revealed another double-digit increase in Manitobas COVID-19 numbers on Monday, announcing 38 new cases in the province, of which 20 were in the Prairie Mountain Health region.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Public health officials revealed another double-digit increase in Manitobas COVID-19 numbers on Monday, announcing 38 new cases in the province, of which 20 were in the Prairie Mountain Health region.

The new cases in PMH are linked to a known cluster in Brandon, which has grown to include 64 people, said Manitoba chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin during a news conference in Winnipeg on Monday.

Fifty-six of those cases have been linked to staff members at a single place of business in the Wheat City. Although Roussin still wouldnt name the business in question, previous news reports have identified this location as the Maple Leaf Foods pork processing plant.

However, Roussin did advise that exposure to COVID-19 may have occurred at a 7-Eleven store in Brandon, located at 3360 Victoria Ave., throughout Aug. 5-7 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Even though the risk of transmission is low, Roussin is recommending that Brandonites self-monitor and get tested if they are exhibiting symptoms after visiting this store during that stretch of time.

"These possible exposures serve as a reminder to self-isolate as soon as symptoms develop, even if theyre very mild," he said. "Go for testing, and that means staying at home and, for the most part, avoiding others in your home as well."

In a written statement, 7-11 Canada said store members have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days with pay. Stores across Canada have enhanced their standards and procedures for hygiene, including frequent washing and the installation of sneeze guards and floor markers. They have limited customer traffic and require staff members to wear a face covering.

 It can spread quickly: Roussin

Continued from Page A1

In a written statement, 7-11 Canada said store members have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days with pay. Stores across Canada have enhanced their standards and procedures for hygiene, including frequent washing and the installation of sneeze guards and floor markers. They have limited customer traffic and require staff members to wear a face covering.

Additionally, Heritage Co-op announced on Monday that a second case of COVID-19 has been identified at their Brandon Agro Centre.

"The second worker was already in isolation, having been identified as a close contact of the first worker who tested positive," a representative wrote on the companys official Facebook page. "All relevant work areas have been deep cleaned, and close contacts of the worker have been informed."

Heritage Co-op originally revealed that one of their employees at the Brandon Agro Centre contracted the virus on Aug. 10.

Mondays update also comes on the heels of a busy weekend in terms of COVID-19 updates, where 56 new cases came to light across the province, including 12 from PMH.

On Saturday, the province revealed that a Portage la Prairie man in his 80s had succumbed to the virus, making him the ninth Manitoban to die due to COVID-19.

While Roussin said this recent spike is expected, he admitted that the sheer volume of new coronavirus cases is spreading faster than he anticipated.

"We knew we werent done with this virus," he said, referencing the 13-day stretch in July when the province did have any new cases to report. "I think that most of us in public health were definitely expecting numbers like this, and possibly worse, in the fall respiratory virus season. I think we were doing our planning based on probably a more mild summer, but thats what this virus is like: if you get a couple clusters it can spread quickly."

Elsewhere in the province, Roussin revealed that one resident of the Bethesda Place personal care home in Steinbach tested positive for the virus, which forced public health officials to declare an outbreak in that facility out of an abundance of caution.

Overall, the provincial government is now contending with 232 active cases and a 1.78 per cent test positivity rate. Eleven people are currently hospitalized because of the virus, with three individuals being in intensive care.

As of Monday afternoon, the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases is now up to 731 in Manitoba and 202, of which 202 have been in PMH.

Testing numbers show that an additional 1,716 laboratory tests were completed on Sunday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 115,963.

 kdarbyson@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @KyleDarbyson
Boeing Co. is offering a second round of buyouts  including to some of its South Carolina workers  and is looking to cut more jobs as it struggles to align the business with a marketplace drastically changed by the pandemic.

In a memo sent to employees Monday, CEO David Calhoun said the planemaker will be reducing its workforce beyond their initial target of 10 percent.

This round of buyouts, which Boeing refers to as "voluntary layoff opportunities," could be followed by more involuntary layoffs.

Calhoun said in the memo that employees' participation in the buyout program would "help limit additional involuntary workforce actions."

The buyouts will mainly be open to workers in areas "most affected" by the pandemic: the commercial airplanes and services divisions and corporate functions. Eligible employees who accept the offers will leave the company with a pay and benefits package.

Calhoun described layoffs as a "hard but necessary step" to help the company meet a "new reality" during the pandemic.

"I truly wish the current market demand could support the size of our workforce," he wrote.

This latest round of buyouts will include eligible workers in North Charleston, spokeswoman Libba Holland confirmed.

The Dreamliner campus, which at the beginning of 2020 employed almost 7,000 workers, has been hit by the headcount reductions, but it has not released specific figures.

Boeing also hasn't disclosed how the layoffs have been distributed between its production sites. An annual updated count of the number of employees in the Palmetto State won't be released until early 2021.

What is known is that the job cuts have fallen most heavily on the coronavirus-affected commercial airplanes and services businesses while the defense, space and government operations have stayed more stable.

Calhoun said earlier this year that, while Boeing expected to cut a tenth of its 160,000-person global workforce, reductions in the harder-hit divisions would be closer to 15 percent. At the North Charleston campus, that would be about 1,000 jobs.

Monday's memo didn't say how far beyond that initial 10 percent target Boeing now plans to cut.

The biggest round of layoffs so far came in late May, when Boeing let 6,770 U.S. employees go. At that point, about 5,500 workers had opted to leave the company during the first round of buyouts announced in early April.

In addition to job cuts, Boeing is also slashing its production rates to try to match supply with the reduced levels of demand.

Boeing will be building just six of the Dreamliner jets it currently produces per month between plants in North Charleston and Everett, Wash., in 2021, down from a high of 14.

That reduction might push Boeing to close one of its production lines for the 787, Calhoun said during the company's July earnings call. The company is studying consolidation options but had not made a decision, he said.

During that earnings report, Calhoun had hinted at the likelihood of additional job cuts but did not cite specifics or a timeline.

Recovery for the aerospace industry will not be quick. Calhoun continues to cite three years as a likely period of time before air travel can return to pre-pandemic levels.

In Monday's memo, the CEO said that more details about the new round of voluntary layoff offers would be available in a week, on Aug. 24.
EAST LANSING, MI  Outdoor gatherings in parts of East Lansing have been restricted to 25 people, according to an order issued Tuesday by Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail.

The order will remain in place indefinitely to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to a press release from ICHD. Outdoor gatherings are restricted to 100 people or less in the region, but local officials felt more stringent measures were necessary, the release said.

The restricted area stretches from the northern edge of the Michigan State University campus to Burcham Drive and is bounded by Harrison Road to the west and Hagadorn Road to the east, including properties adjacent to those streets, the release said. Those areas were identified based on the historical frequency of noise ordinance violations due to large house parties.

Large social gatherings can easily become super-spreading events and fuel the coronavirus pandemic, said Vail. Over the summer, we have seen this happen across the state and even here in our community. We must do everything we can to prevent another large, local outbreak. I urge everyone: wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and stay home if you are sick  please help stop the spread of COVID-19.

According to the release, those who disregard the order could be subject to a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months or a fine up to $200.

Classes for the fall semester at MSU begin Sept. 2, and the university is asking its students to practice 14 days of enhanced social distancing before returning to campus. The mandate is one of many recently issued to prepare for the return of students.

Michigan State University students asked to practice 14 days enhanced physical distancing before return to campus

The release from ICHD says that COVID-19 cases among college-age students rose drastically over the summer, and people ages 20-29 make up nearly a third of those who have been infected with COVID-19 in Ingham County.

Partnership is key to reducing the spread of COVID-19, said MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. Today and together, the Ingham County Health Department, City of East Lansing and MSU are presenting a united front to enhance the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and the greater East Lansing community. The lines that once divided campus from our neighbors are becoming less so in the spirit of protecting one another.

Per the most recent executive order, indoor gatherings are limited to 10 people, and all outdoor gatherings must be designed to ensure that people from different households maintain a physical distance of six feet, the release said.

More information on the order can be found here.

READ MORE:

Multiple students living in Michigan State Universitys Holmes Hall test positive for COVID-19

Students will return for fall semester, Michigan State University president says

Michigan State exploring everything as option to address huge budget loss without fall football
Every season, the historical drama series "The Crown" sets the bar with its fascinating storylines, epic costumes and remarkable cast.

After its debut in November 2016, the royal drama won numerous achievements, including the Golden Globes Award for Best TV Series in 2017 and Best Actress in 2017 and 2020, as well as two Primetime Emmy Award.

Aside from its awards, BBC also cited that a total of 73 million households worldwide have tuned in to the royal series since its debut.

In addition, Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos pointed out that the figures showed that "The Crown's" popularity "grows with each new season."

With that said, it begsa the question: what can the viewers expect in the "The Crown" Seaosn 5?

Release Date

Back in January 2020, "The Crown" creator Peter Morgan confirmed that Season 5 will be the finale for the show. He explained that "this is the perfect time and place to stop."

However, six months later, Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the show will be extended for Season 6 on Netflix.

"As we started to discuss the storylines for series five, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons," Morgan revealed.

Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, the production postponed the filming of the new season, which means that "The Crown" Seaosn 5 won't hit Netflix until 2022, per Deadline.

The New Queen Elizabeth II

The historical drama became the crowd favorite, thanks to the "Season of the Witch" star Claire Foy and Oscar winner Olivia Coleman's portrayal of the Queen.

However, the streaming giant previously confirmed that Foy and Coleman's successor will be "Harry Potter" alum Imelda Saunton as the new Queen Elizabeth II.

In her interview, the e 64-year-old actress, who is also an avid fan of "The Crown," shared that it was a huge honor to play the role of the Queen.

"As an actor, it was a joy to see how both Claire Foy and Olivia Colman have brought something special and unique to Peter Morgan's scripts. I am genuinely honored to be joining such an exceptional creative team and to be taking The Crown to its conclusion," Saunton shared.

Season 5's Prince Philip and Princess Margaret

Aside from the new Queen, "The Crown's" upcoming season has a new Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret.

Taking over for award-winning actress Helena Bonham Carter, who earned a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Princess Margaret, is the "Ordinary Love" star Lesley Manville.

As cited in Harper's Bazaar, Manville mentioned that she "could not be happier" playing her regal role.

On the other hand, the new Prince Philip will be portrayed by 1995 Cannes Best actor Jonathan Pryce.

The Duke of Edinburgh was previously played by Tobias Menzies and "Doctor Who's" Matt Smith.

"The Crown's" Princess Diana

Aside from the new cast, the upcoming season will also feature the People's Princess and her controversial relationship with Prince Charles.

It was recently announced that Elizabeth Debicki is set to play Princess Diana for the show's final seasons.

"Princess Diana's spirit, her words, and her actions live in the hearts of so many," the Australian actress said in a statement posted on the official Twitter account of "The Crown."

"It is my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one."

Events Covered on "The Crown" Season 5

The show's upcoming season is expected to cover the remarkable events of the British royal family from the 1990s and early 2000s, which is also considered as the controversial phase of the monarchy.

These include the tragic death of the Princess of Wales, Prince Andrew's separation from his wife Sarah Ferguson, and the launch of Princess Diana's bombshell book "Diana: Her True Story," which delves into the fallout of her marriage with Prince Charles.

READ MORE: Ben Affleck Love: Ana de Armas Surprises Boyfriend With Incredible Gift!
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed Parivartan Rally in Kanpur ahead of UP elections. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in Uttar Pardeshs Bahraich through mobile phone as he was unable to land in the area due to foggy weather.

The Parivartan rally is part of Bhartiya Janata Partys campaign for the next Uttar Pradesh assembly elections due in 2017.

Here are the live updates:

#History will not record who was the PM who brought about this revolutionary change in eradicating corruption, but will praise people

#History will not remember this move for which PM took this decision but for the fight waged by common people against black money

#Shopkeepers who are using debit/credit cards to receive payments will also receive rewards in Thousands of rupees in a lucky draw scheme

#I am aware of their strength, when they can bribe bank officials they can do anything but we have to fight this

#Now we are using technology to track those who have stashed black money, we are vigilant & raids are being conducted country wide

#In our fight against corruption, we have been blessed by the poor

#Now your mobile phones can become your banks and wallets



#Before demonetisation decision, there was no value for Rs 100 notes but after this decision people are valuing it and poor people

#I requested in the all party meet that discussion on how political parties get funds should take place in the Parliament

#Had said in all party meet held before winter session tht we must have discussion on donations given to pol parties& LS-RS elections

#When there was a Rs1000 nobody cared for 500 & 100. Now Rs100 value is being seen, since Nov 8th directive

#Due to continues election mode, much time is wasted which can b used in development activities. I appeal to EC to start dialogue on this

#It is the responsibility of political parties to set an example on non-corrupt practices. Especially about donations to pol parties

#Not being accountable, corruption and doing as they please- these have been ways the Congress has been functioning



#People of Uttar Pradesh are tired of Goondaism. Those people have support from Govt, till Govt is not changed this prob won't be solved



#Corruption and black money adversely affected the poor and the middle class



#For the first time, we saw some people shouting slogans in order to save those who are corrupt. Government is keen to uproot corruption



#Why were they running away from the issues we wanted to discuss, the issues of making India free from corruption and black money



#What is our agenda- end corruption and black money. What is their agenda- to stall Parliament and have no debate



#You have elected a government that is fully dedicated to the welfare of the poor, the marginalised, the Dalit communities



#The contribution of UP in giving a stable government is noteworthy

ALSO READ | Parivartan Rally in Kanpur: People of Uttar Pradesh are tired of Goondaism, says PM Modi | Top 5 quotes

#Our youngsters have the skill to ensure that poverty becomes history in India



#Many initiatives have been taken by the Government to empower the youth especially in Uttar Pradesh



#Before coming here I witnessed an exhibition on skill development. Our youth can take India to new heights of progress



#I have got an opportunity to travel across UP in the recent past & am seeing the strong desire for Parivartan in the state



#PM Modi addresses Parivartan rally in Kanpur ahead of UP elections

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Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

A dramatic shift in the shape of Santa Fes city government cleared its first hurdle Monday afternoon, while concerns about the timing of the change linger before the final vote.

The Santa Fe City Councils Finance Committee approved a reorganization of City Hall by a vote of 4-0, with Councilor Renee Villarreal abstaining.

If approved by the full council next week, the organizational chart of the citys various departments and divisions will look very different.

Many areas of city government would consolidate into three brand-new departments: Community Development, Community Engagement, and Community Health and Safety.

Mayor Alan Webber, whose office introduced the proposal to reorganize, said the new layout would eliminate silos in city government and increase efficiency in city services. He has previously said Santa Fes current budget crisis, caused by COVID-19, created an opportunity for significant change.

Coming out of this, we need to build back better, Webber said Monday, invoking the words of former Vice President Joe Biden. That is leveraging our assets to do things better and do better things.

Villarreal, however, expressed concern that the city was drastically changing during a crisis, pointing to the many city employees still on furlough until September. Furloughs affecting hundreds of city employees have been in place in some form since April.

She said she would not vote on the reorganization until she saw more information in subsequent committee meetings and that it seemed like a difficult time to make such a large transition.

I feel like were biting off more than we can chew, Villarreal said.

Councilor Roman Abeyta, chair of the finance committee, said he supported reorganizing city government now, because it would allow the city to review positions during the citys hiring freeze.

We may discover, because we brought so many people together, maybe we dont need as many positions, he said, adding some vacant positions could go unfilled in that scenario.

The reorganization plan has received criticism from some councilors, employees and members of the public for happening too quickly and without input from the community. Webber has defended the plan, saying the quality of city services would increase under the new model.

Most councilors have voiced support for reorganization in some fashion.

I dont think therell ever be a good time, Abeyta said.

The final vote on the reorganization is scheduled for Aug. 26.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger Montague is investigating potential securities fraud claims against Eastman Kodak Company ("Kodak" or the "Company") on behalf of investors who purchased Kodak securities (NYSE: KODK) between July 27, 2020 and August 7, 2020 (the "Class Period").

If you purchased Kodak securities during the Class Period, have questions concerning your rights or interests, or would like to discuss Berger Montague's investigation, please contact attorneys Michael Dell'Angelo at (215) 875-3080 or Andrew Abramowitz at (215) 875-3015, or contact us at www.bergermontague.com/kodak.

According to the Complaint, on July 27, 2020, Kodak issued a statement to local media outlets in Rochester, NY, where the Company is based, indicating that a public announcement regarding a "new manufacturing initiative" involving the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation ("DFC") was imminent. Unbeknownst to investors, on the same day, Kodak granted its CEO 1.75 million stock options at a conversion price of between $3.03 and $12.00 per share and awarded 45,000 stock options to three other executives.

On July 28, 2020, Kodak's shares soared 200%  from its July 27 closing price of $2.62 to $7.94  on 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 following day, closing at $33.20 per share on July 29. These massive increases allowed Company insiders to see massive profits.

On August 1, 2020, a Reuters article reported details of the "unusual" 1.75 million option grant to the Company's CEO, an award "that had previously neither been listed in his employment contract nor made public." Shares fell 32% on that date. On August 4, 2020, Senator Elizabeth Warren requested that the SEC investigate Kodak for violations of the securities laws. Finally, on August 7, 2020, after the market closed, the DFC announced that "[o]n 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, the Company's stock price plummeted 28% to close at $10.73 per share.

If you purchased Kodak shares during the Class Period, you may seek Court appointment as lead plaintiff to represent other injured investors in a class action. The lead plaintiff appointment deadline is October 12, 2020. You do not need to be a lead plaintiff to share in any potential Class recovery.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Eastman Kodak Company are encouraged to confidentially assist Berger Montague's investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under this program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to thirty percent (30%) of recoveries obtained by the SEC. For more information, contact us.

Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., and San Diego, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

Contacts

Michael Dell'Angelo, Managing Shareholder

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3080

[email protected]

Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3015

[email protected]

SOURCE Berger Montague

Related Links

http://www.bergermontague.com


Reuters

The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday released the final installment in its years-long investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

The bipartisan report confirmed much of what the former special counsel Robert Mueller found in the FBI's Russia probe. In some cases, it went further than Mueller did.

It did not find evidence that the Ukrainian government meddled in the 2016 election, as Trump alleged. It also determined that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was a "grave counterintelligence threat" because of his Russia ties.

Overall, the report threw a wrench into President Donald Trump's efforts to portray the Russia probe as a partisan "witch hunt" and a "hoax."

Scroll down for the biggest takeaways from Tuesday's report.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday released the final installment of its years-long investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

Volume 5 of the report was nearly 1,000 pages long and focused primarily on counterintelligence threats, vulnerabilities, and the "wide range of Russian efforts to influence the Trump Campaign and the 2016 election."

Broadly, the bipartisan report confirmed much of what the former special counsel Robert Mueller found in his investigation into Russia's election meddling.

Tuesday's release by the Republican-led Senate panel also threw a wrench into President Donald Trump's efforts to portray Mueller's probe as a partisan "witch hunt" and claims of Russia's interference as a "hoax" intended to undermine his presidency.

Here are the key takeaways from the Senate's report and how they stack up with what Mueller found:

Perhaps the biggest finding was buried in a footnote more than 100 pages into the report: "The Committee's efforts focused on investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. However, during the course of the investigation, the Committee identified no reliable evidence that the Ukrainian government interfered in the 2016 U.S. election." Trump and his allies  including some Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee  have repeatedly pushed the conspiracy theory that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election to propel Hillary Clinton to the Oval Office. Although some Ukrainian officials expressed support for Clinton over Trump, the US intelligence community, and now the SSCI, did not uncover evidence of a top-down effort by the Ukrainian government to swing the race in Clinton's favor.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was a "grave counterintelligence threat" to the US because of his extensive ties to pro-Russian individuals and entities, the report said. "Taken as a whole, Manafort's high-level access and willingness to share information with individuals closely affiliated with the Russian intelligence services, particularly [Konstantin] Kilimnik and associates of Oleg Deripaska, represented a grave counterintelligence threat," the report said.

Konstantin Kilimnik, a former Russian intelligence operative with close ties to Manafort, "may be connected" to the GRU's "hack-and-leak operation related to the 2016 U.S. election." The GRU is Russia's primary military intelligence agency, and the "hack-and-leak" operation the committee mentioned refers to the GRU's efforts to breach the Democratic National Committee's servers in 2016 and disseminate damaging information via WikiLeaks and the Russian hacker Guccifer 2.0.

Tuesday's report was the first time Kilimnik was identified specifically as an intelligence officer. As The New York Times pointed out, Mueller's report on Russian interference identified him as someone with ties to Russian intelligence. The Senate report said Kilimnik "almost certainly helped arrange some of the first public messaging that Ukraine had interfered in the U.S. election."

The report hinted at the possibility that Manafort had knowledge of the GRU's hacking campaign. "Two pieces of information ... raise the possibility of Manafort's potential connection to the hack-and-leak operations," the report said. Several subsequent paragraphs were redacted. Manafort's involvement in the hack-and-leak operation is "largely unknown," the report said, and the committee did not have "reliable, direct evidence" showing that he and Kilimnik discussed the breach. However, "the content of the majority of the communications between Manafort and Kilimnik is unknown" and there is no "objective record" of the two men's conversations when they met in person.

The longtime Republican strategist Roger Stone drafted at least eight tweets supporting Russia for then Republican candidate Donald Trump in July 2016. The report said Stone emailed the drafts to one of Trump's assistants with the subject line, "Tweets Mr. Trump requested last night." "Many of the draft tweets attacked [then Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton] for her adversarial posture toward Russia and mentioned a new peace deal with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, such as 'I want a new detente with Russia under Putin,'" the report said. Stone was in communications with both WikiLeaks and the Russian hacker Guccifer 2.0 during the election; according to the Mueller report, Guccifer 2.0 was a conduit set up by Russian military intelligence to anonymously funnel stolen information to WikiLeaks.

The Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation found "significant evidence to suggest that, in the summer of 2016, WikiLeaks was knowingly collaborating with Russian government officials," the report said. Two bullet points directly following that statement were redacted from the report, as were significant portions of a footnote on the page.

Michael Cohen, Trump's longtime former lawyer and fixer who later flipped against him, said that after he was indicted by the Southern District of New York, he "discussed a potential pardon for himself with Jay Sekulow 'more than a half dozen times.'" Sekulow is one of Trump's personal defense attorneys. Cohen "further stated that he understood that the pardon discussions had come from Trump through Sekulow."

Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer who attended a 2016 Trump Tower meeting with campaign officials, "has significant and concerning connections to Russian government and intelligence officials, and has not been forthcoming about those relationships." The next nearly four pages of the report contained redacted information.

The White House's broad claims of executive privilege "significantly hampered and prolonged the Committee's investigative effort," the report said.

The FBI gave "unjustified credence" to the so-called Steele dossier, an explosive collections of uncorroborated memos alleging collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian government officials, the report said. The dossier was put together by the former MI6 agent Christopher Steele, and it "lacked rigor and transparency about the quality of the sourcing." The FBI did not take the "necessary steps to validate assumptions about Steele's credibility" before relying on the dossier to seek renewals of a surveillance warrant targeting the former Trump campaign aide, the report said. The bureau also "did not effectively adjust its approach to Steele's reporting once one of Steele's subsources provided information that raised serious concerns about the source descriptions in the Steele dossier."



Read the original article on Business Insider
A Deputy in the German Federal Parliament, Christoph Ploss, has told the newspaper 'Bild' that he wants a ban on tourist trips to Majorca, instead of recommending just doing PCR tests.

The German authorities recently added Spain to its list of risk zones, with the exception of the Canary Islands and travellers returning to Germany must undergo a PCR test and may have to quarantine.

Ploss, whos a member of the Transport and European Affairs Committees in the 'Bundestag' says these measures are not strong enough and that trips to Majorca "should be banned" in view of the increasing number of infections.

German and UK tourists are the main visitors to the Balearic Islands and in August 2019 alone they accounted for 54.8% of tourists in the Islands, according to INE data.

The German Travel Agency Association estimates that 30,000 German tourists have bought organised trips to the Balearic Islands and that doesnt include independent tourists.

Berlin's decision to include the Balearic Islands in its list of risk zones has already led to a raft cancellations and triggered concern about the Balearic economy.
Shipbuilders at the Bath Iron Works (BIW) are set to vote over the weekend on a new collective bargaining agreement reached between the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local S6 and management. The tentative contract covers some 4,300 workers at the shipyard who have been on strike since June 22 and is, by all accounts, tailored directly to the needs of management.

The picket line at Bath Iron Works

BIW is one of the largest employers in Maine, with about 6,800 total workers. General Dynamics, the owner of the Bath Iron Works, is a highly profitable defense contractor. On August 5 the company board of directors approved a dividend of $1.10 a share despite the strike and the ongoing pandemic. The company reported net earnings of $625 million in the second quarter of 2020. For 2019 it reported profits of $3.5 billion, helped along by a $45 million tax handout from the state of Maine.

On August 11 the US Army awarded General Dynamics a five-year $428.2 million contract to perform maintenance work on Stryker combat vehicles.

The deal has produced a cascade of self-congratulatory statements by corporate management, the IAM and the Trump White House. Following the announcement of the settlement, President Trump tweeted CONGRATS to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works & Local S6 on reaching a tentative agreement after the long strike. GD builds GREAT Arleigh-Burke destroyers. Super boost for Maine Economy. Glad to have helped. Ive done a lot for Maine!

The Trump administration opted to strike a pose of neutrality, sending trade representative Peter Navarro to shepherd along talks.

The IAM, meanwhile, wrapped itself in the flag and mouthed nationalist demagogy, accusing management of impeding the US military buildup.

Full details of the deal are not available as of this writing. While the union says it prevented management from modifying existing language on subcontracting, a major issue in the walkout, the company will be permitted to retain subcontractors and strikebreakers it brought in during the strike. The contract provides for minimal 3 percent annual wage increases and the continuation of existing health care coverage, which the company had cut off during the strike. However, charges related to alleged picket line infractions on the part of strikers will not be withdrawn, leaving workers subject to victimization.

The IAM has hailed the deal as a victory, but the fact that management will retain strikebreakers indicates otherwise. Management had insisted it needed to hire more subcontractors and undermine seniority provisions in order to deal with a six-month backlog of uncompleted work on US Navy destroyers, which it now says has expanded to a nearly one-year backlog.

According to reports, the agreement streamlines the process of hiring subcontractors and the union has agreed to mediated discussions on the question of overcoming the work backlog. Workers will return to work if the contract is ratified, making the strike 63 days. The previous strike in 2000 lasted 55 days.

The last contract in 2016 contained significant concessions, which the IAM claimed were necessary to secure a US Coast Guard contract for BIW. The Coast Guard deal never materialized, but the company retained the concessions.

Throughout the bitter strike, the main preoccupation of the IAM was to contain the struggle and prevent workers from linking up with the mounting resistance to the homicidal back-to-work policy of both the Democrats and Republicans. The IAM isolated the strike; it never sought to mobilize support from other workers at BIW in different locals, who continued work during the strike, nor did it appeal to workers at other Navy shipyards.

Significantly, the IAM made no attempt to raise the issue of health and safety in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, in spite of the fact that the virus has run rampant at shipyards throughout the country.

These includes the Ingalls shipyards in Pascagoula, Mississippi and Newport News, Virginia where there have been major outbreaks of COVID-19 infections. As of Tuesday there have been 619 cases reported at the Pascagoula shipyard. At last report there were over 340 at the Ingalls Newport News operation. US shipyards have maintained full operations during the pandemic under cover of their status as critical infrastructure.

On March 24, after the first COVID-19 case was reported at BIW, over half the workforce called in sick. Demands for a two-week shutdown were rejected. Despite this, a large portion of the workforce continued to take sick leave until management and the union forced them back to work in May.

Last week, BIW reported the 9th case of COVID-19 at the shipyard, a contractor. Three new cases had been reported prior to the start of the strike.

General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic said she was pleased to have reached an agreement with the union. She praised Trump advisor Peter Navarro and Jimmy Hart, head of the AFL-CIO Metal Trade Department, for bringing the parties together.

For his part, Dirk Lesko, president of BIW, wrote, This agreement, coupled with our hiring initiatives and major investments in facilities and production processes, positions BIW and LS6 to partner together to improve schedule performance, restore the yards competitiveness and ensure Bath Built remains Best Built for generations to come.

In a post on its website, Local S6 boasted openly of the benefits of the contract for the company. We believe this agreement gives BIW the tools they need to have, and the ability to respond to the unpredictability of their day to day needs. It continued, This was a testament to the power of collective bargaining and a strong educated unit that backed the Local S6 Negotiating Committee.

In a further indication of the corporatist identification of the IAM with management, Local S6 said that BIW would print and mail copies of the tentative agreement to workers ahead of the vote.

Workers are now being sent back to work during a raging pandemic, forced to work shoulder-to-shoulder with strikebreakers, with only minimal pay increases.

One worker noted sarcastically, Just wanted to thank the company for their extravagant gift for my 30 [years] of service. A sticker for two neck surgeries and [30 years] of my life, what more could anyone ask. And a contract that doesn't keep up with the cost of living with many more concessions. You have my undoing loyalty to your royalty. Wouldn't want to cut into their growing perks.

Workers should draw the lessons of this bitter experience and develop their own independent rank-and-file workplace committees as their eyes and voice. Workers have the right to decent conditions, including a safe and healthy workplace. These rights can only be secured through an independent struggle by workers in opposition to the pro-corporate IAM.
WEST ORANGE, NJ  Eight housing authorities across New Jerseys 11th Congressional District, including West Orange, will split $719,000 in federal funds to help low-income families amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released details about the funding last week.

Housing security is essential for families across our community, and this latest funding from the CARES Act will help our neighbors stay in their homes during this difficult time, said Rep. Mikie Sherrill, who represents the district.

The West Orange Housing Authority will get $25,431, officials said.

Other awardees include:

Bloomfield Township Housing Authority - $56,365

Boonton Housing Authority - $41,161

Madison Housing Authority - $124,004

Montclair Housing Authority - $54,269

Morristown Housing Authority - $36,178

Morris County Housing Authority - $165,372

Passaic County Public Housing Agency - $215,964

The eligible coronavirus-related activities covered under the funding can include  but is not limited to  the following:

Procuring cleaning supplies and/or services to maintain safe and sanitary Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) units, including common areas of PHA-owned Project Based Voucher (PBV) projects.

Relocation of participating families to health units or other designated units for testing, hospitalization, or quarantine, or transportation to these locations to limit the exposure that could be caused by using mass transportation.

Additional costs to supportive services vendors incurred due to coronavirus.

Costs to retain or increase owner participation in the HCV Program, such as incentive or retention costs (e.g. the PHA offers owner an incentive payment to participate in recognition of added difficulties of making units available for HCV families to rent while stay-at-home orders or social distancing practices are in effect).

Costs for providing childcare for the children of PHA staff that would not have otherwise been incurred (e.g. children are at home due to school closings, PHA staff are working outside of regular work schedules, etc.)

Story continues

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Dont forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.

This article originally appeared on the West Orange Patch
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar lost ground against its major counterparts in the New York session on Monday. The greenback dropped to near a 2-week low of 0.9055 against the franc and a 6-day low of 106.12 against the yen, from its early highs of 0.9097 and 106.65, respectively. Against the euro and the aussie, the greenback hit 10-day lows of 1.1881 and 0.7217, after climbing to 1.1829 and 0.7161, respectively in early deals. The greenback retreated to 1.3113 against the pound and 0.6551 against the kiwi, from its previous high of 1.3074 and near a 5-week high of 0.6519, respectively. Versus the loonie, the greenback slid to a 4-day low of 1.3204, off its early high of 1.3264. The greenback is seen finding support around 0.88 against the franc, 104 against the yen, 1.21 against the euro, 0.74 against the aussie, 1.34 against the pound, 0.68 against the kiwi and 1.29 versus the loonie. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The south gate of Sangdang Fortress / Courtesy ofSteven L. Shields.



By Steven L. Shields



Traveling south from Seoul on the Gyeongbu Expressway (Expressway 1, the main autoroute to Busan), cars and buses whiz past a couple of exits for Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. The route does not pass through this beautiful provincial capital. Instead, it is several kilometers to the west, heading straight for Daejeon. The same is true for the KTX; the train line has no route to or though Cheongju. Until the government built the newer Expressway 35, Cheongju was accessible from only one expressway exit or overland by ordinary highways. Once known only as the gateway to Songrisan National Park and Beopju Temple, Cheongju has become home to parks, museums, historical sites and cultural arts.



For centuries, Cheongju has been an important regional hub. From Baekje times to the present, Cheongju was a center of commerce and government, with an essential regional fortress located in a nearby mountain pass. The city proper was walled, with gates in the four principal directions. Although the walls and gates are long since dismantled, the primary streets still use the name of the gate to which they connected.



In the early months of the 1592-98 Imjin War, Japanese forces captured Cheongju and emptied the provincial government granary. The main force moved north, leaving a small garrison behind. Jo Heon, a government official-turned-guerilla commander, led the move to retake Cheongju. Jo's rallying cry was, "When the king is humiliated, we subjects must not be afraid to die." He commanded more than 1,000 civilian volunteers. They were joined by 1,000 monk-warriors, under the command of Buddhist monk Yeonggyu. They attacked the city and recaptured it on Sept. 6, 1592. For the nation's war effort, holding Cheongju was critical to cutting the Japanese supply lines and protecting the southwestern Jeolla region.



The monk-warrior contingent is one of Korea's heroic stories. Buddhist monks, of course, are devoted to praying, teaching and promoting peace. Yet, when the kingdom was threatened by overwhelming Japanese forces in 1592, more than 8,000 monks answered the call to arms. The monks were rallied by abbots of several monasteries throughout the country. While their total numbers were small compared with the national and volunteer armies, they more than made up for it in fierceness and courage. The Battle of Cheongju was their first serious combat experience. The monk-warriors continued throughout the next several years at the forefront of national pride and patriotic sacrifice.



With a population of less than 1 million, modern-day Cheongju still has a small-city feel. The people are friendly, relaxed and rarely in a hurry. There is still much farming in the area, and the countryside peacefulness is only a short distance from the city center. Various farmers' markets dot the area, selling fresh produce, locally produced meat and home-style sesame oil and soy sauces. There is much to see and do in the city and the surrounding region. A day trip quickly fills with places to go.



The nearby Sangdang Mountain Fortress was first built during the Baekje Kingdom (18 BCE660 CE), some 1,500 years ago. The current walls and gates date to 18th century Joseon. They have been restored to their glory over the past 20 or so years. Just as Cheongju has long been an important regional center, as are the militarily strategic mountain passes. The hike around Sangdang makes for an enjoyable, if vigorous, morning constitutional.



Cheongju is home to the Early Printing Museum, commemorating not just the history of printing, but also the location where the oldest known book printed by movable metal type was published. There is also a Baekje relics museum, at the site of a collection of Baekje tombs. Over the past 20 or more years, extensive archaeological work has uncovered historical treasures that offer an exciting glimpse into Baekje's life and culture.



In the lush wooded hills just on the edge of the city is the Cheongju National Museum. This state-of-the-art museum displays essential relics from the Cheongju region. The main display halls are well-appointed, the displays exquisitely designed. Some graphics and videos deepen an understanding of the history and culture of the area.





The main entrance to Cheongju National Museum / Courtesy of Steven L. Shields



The 1920s train station has been reconstructed and sits one block south of City Hall. This building was Cheongju's second (of four) train stations, replacing an 1890s building. In the late 1960s, a new station was built north of City Hall but was replaced about 12 years later by the current station west of the city. The 1920s station offers a quick review of rail travel in old Cheongju and offers hands-on displays that children would enjoy. There is even a mock-up train car with passing scenery.





s Cheongju Rail Station / Courtesy of Steven L. Shields
CHENNAI: In a major blow to Vedanta, the Madras High Court on Tuesday (August 18) refused to allow the reopening of Sterlite copper smelting plant and dismissed all the petitions.

The decision was announced by two-member bench, comprising justices TS Sivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan. The bench said that the orders should have been pronounced on March 11 but the pandemic delayed the process.

The Sterlite copper smelting plant was shut it 2018 due to environmental concerns. The state government subsequently issued a closure order on May 28, 2018, against the plant, days after a protest against Sterlite ended violently with police opening fire on protesters, killing 13 people.

Earlier, Sterlite had approached the Supreme Court in 2019 which directed the company to approach the Madras high court.

Vedanta had filed toral 10 writ petitions in Madras HC challenging the orders passed by Tamil Nadu government and Tamil Nadu pollution control board on the ground that the TNPCBs findings were based on old reports, and there was no higher level of pollutants or contamination by the plant as alleged by the board.

The government orders refused to offer permission to operate the plant, besides it disconnected the power supply.

The Bench also heard pleas made by the residents of Thoothukudi and politicians, including MDMK chief Vaiko, against the plant.
Emphasising on the importance of agriculture in India, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu urged researchers and scientists to come up with innovations to address the problems faced by the farmers.

Speaking at a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Naidu said, From providing timely information to farmers on various issues to creating cold storage facilities and supplying new technologies should be the focus of innovators and researchers.

He also stressed the need for preventing farmers exploitation by middlemen and ensuring remunerative prices for their produce.

Naidu asked the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) and agriculture universities to work in unison to bring new innovations and technologies to farmers, stated a press release by Press Information Bureau.

Stressing the need for Indias higher education system to play the role of an enabler and force-multiplier to drive Indian innovation and start-up ecosystem, the Vice President said Innovation must become the heartbeat of education. Quest for excellence must become the norm, added the release.

Meanwhile, Naidu virtually announced Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020.

Union Minister of Education, Ramesh Pokhriyal present at the event tweeted, Under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India has taken several steps to ensure the culture of Innovation and Development all across the sectors.
Hester Ford made a big splash on her 116th birthday when she became the oldest American to be interviewed by a newspaper during the pandemic.

Since the death of Alelia Murphy on 23 November 2019, Hester Ford has been the oldest living American to be reported.

Born on August 15, 1904, in Lancaster, South Carolina, Hester Ford moved to Charlotte in 1953. Hester still lives in the same modest home in the Queen City she first settled in more than 58 years ago and loves spending time with her grandchildren and other family members. As of today, Ford has 12 Children, 48 grandchildren, 108 great-grandchildren, and approximately 120 great-great-grandchildren.

"[Ford is] always willing to help anyone, even the little-kid, the people who need her," Mary Hill, one of Ford's many grandkids, said. To celebrate her grandmother's birthday this weekend, Hill planned a drive-thru celebration with Ford's other grandkid, Clayton Harris. "So we are excited about the cars coming back in and just acknowledging her and letting them know that we love her."

"She said this kind of reminds her of that time back then," Hill said. Ford survived the 1918 Flu pandemic in the past. "She just said she remembers that a lot of people were sick."

Hill also said Ford is always willing to help take care of her sick neighbors during the pandemic.

"That's my grandmother's spirit," Hill said.

It's fitting that her birthday coincides with these times of need for family members who are ill, poor, and struggling from having the opportunity to be together. As of August 2020, Ford now has dementia, but she is still able to remember some of her favorite Bible verses.

"Her church is 5 minutes away, she loves her church," Hill said.

"Just the love, the outpouring of love is so important," Harris said. "Yes, you know, we thank God for that. Just being able to embrace that love."

One hundred sixteen years old, Hester Ford of Charlotte, North Carolina, still lives in the same house and still says her name by the same ritual. She's the oldest living American and the seventh-oldest person in the world whose age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 19:13:29|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 2020 China Space Conference will be held from Sept. 18 to 21 in Fuzhou, capital city of east China's Fujian Province, its organizers said.

Jointly hosted by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the China Space Foundation, this year's conference will bring together experts and scholars worldwide to exchange ideas on China's strategic plans for post-epidemic space development, key technology breakthroughs, spatial information industry development along the Maritime Silk Road and international space cooperation.

At the conference, China will for the first time release 10 crucial scientific and engineering problems in the space field, the organizers said in a statement on Monday.

Initiated in 2018, the annual conference is committed to building a platform for international academic exchanges, space industrialization cooperation and science popularization. Enditem
Fokin to be responsible for interaction with representatives of Donbas, involved in TCG work

Newly appointed First Deputy Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), former Prime Minister of Ukraine Vitold Fokin notes that he will be responsible for interaction with representatives of Donbas whom Ukraine has involved in the work of the TCG.

"I will be responsible for interaction with representatives of Donbas, whom Ukraine has involved in the work of the Minsk Trilateral Contact Group," he told Interfax-Ukraine.

Fokin said that he and another First Deputy Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, will each have separate areas of responsibility.

Fokin also said that he considered it an honor to take part in the work of the TCG to resolve the situation in Donbas. "I consider it a great honor to help my country in hard and very important work. I understand very well the specifics of this multifaceted work. I know Donbas well," he said.

According to him, he will work in an effective team chaired by first president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Party (NDP) will meet today to confirm the date for its national conference.



The NEC will also affirm the preparations made so far for the conference such as the election of national officers and outdooring of its flagbearer for the 2020 Presidential Elections.



In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary of the NDP, Alhaji Mohammed Frimpong, revealed that the search for its flagbearer began in 2016 and its shortlist would be whittled down from three personalities today at its headquarters in Accra.



He said the 12-member NEC of the party would conclude the selection process which has been preceded by consultations across the 16 regions of the country.



Shortlist



On the shortlist is Dr Kwame Opoku, a medical doctor, Nana Osei-Mensah Bonsu, an immigration lawyer and a former First Lady and founder of the NDP, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.



"We have met all the statutory requirements of the Electoral Commission in terms of organising regional congresses. We have finished the last one in the Ashanti Region which was on the sixth of August," Alhaji Frimpong said in an interview with the Daily Graphic.



"The date for the national congress will crystallise tomorrow when the NEC meets to select a flagbearer. Some of the candidates are new but some are iconic such as the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings. This was a democratic process. We opened nominations and we have two other persons on the shortlist. One is abroad, one Dr Kwame Opoku, a medical doctor, and Nana Osei-Mensah Bonsu who has come down but is an immigration lawyer based in Ghana."



He further disclosed that the party flagbearer would be unveiled at its two-day national congress later this month.



Campaign



Alhaji Frimpong said in adherence with COVID-19 prevention protocols, the party would largely be employing the use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook as well as the electronic media to market its policies to prospective voters across the country.



He said the party manifesto, which is yet to be published, would be centred on safeguarding the Fourth Republic and decentralisation of governance.



"The Fourth Republic must have in-built structures that will cause participatory democracy. The constitution speaks about decentralising the administration and the financial machinery of government to the nooks and crannies so that people can take part in the decision-making processes in the country.



"We intend to decentralise by structures which we call Community Organisation Bureaus (COBs). These COB's will drive the unit committees which have virtually become stillborn. We cant find them in our communities and they are not playing their roles in terms of sanitation and security, he said.- #GhanaVotes2020#

Source: Graphic.com.gh









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San Francisco, Aug 18 : High-tech speaker and audio technology company Sonos has appointed Panos Panay, chief product officer of Microsoft, to its board of directors.

The appointment comes at a time when Sonos is fighting a legal battle with Google, alleging that the search giant stole its technology and violated its patents.

Panay last week showcased Microsoft's new Surface Duo dual-screen device that is built on Google Android.

"Panay brings extensive experience in building powerful and engaging consumer hardware products and experiences that customers love, at a global scale," Mike Volpi, Sonos chairman of the board, said in a statement on Monday.

"His track record, along with his passion for Sonos, will make him an impactful contributor to the company's ongoing success".

As Microsoft's chief product officer, Panay oversees the company's Windows user experience and hardware development.

"Sonos is making some of the best consumer products out there by focusing on the end to end customer experience. I am excited to work with the board and to be part of what comes next," said Panay.

Microsoft launched Surface Duo in the US starting at $1,399. Surface Duo connects two PixelSense Fusion Displays to create one expansive 8.1-inch screen.

The device offers Dual 5.6-inch OLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip, 6GB RAM (with two 128GB and 256GB RAM variants), a 3577mAh battery and runs Android 10.

"We built Surface Duo to give people Microsoft 365 mobile experiences, every Android app in the Google Play store, and a seamless cross-device experience with your Windows 10 PC," said Panay.




Haiti - FLASH : Opening of registrations Permanent Bac / Session of failures





The Ministry of National Education informs the general public and failed candidates in particular, that the permanent bac exams session for the 2019-2020 academic year will be held during the month of October 2020 see https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31439-haiti-flash-official-revised-school-calendar-2019-2020.html



To this end, candidate registrations are scheduled from August 18 to 31, 2020 in all Departmental Directorates of Education (DDE).



Only candidates who failed in final (traditional secondary or renovated secondary) are entitled to participate in the tests.



Candidates will undergo in subjects for which they did not have their average (recorded in the database of the National Bureau of State Examinations (BUNEXE) for a period of two years.



Conditions of participation:



Participation form for the last tests or certificate from the Ministry of National Education;



Two passport photos;



Participation fee of one thousand five hundred (1,500) Gourdes per candidate.



The Ministry asks the departmental directors to make all arrangements for the smooth running of the registration process for the candidates concerned.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Michelle Obama has ripped through Donald Trump at the opening of the Democratic National Convention, saying he is the "wrong president for our country" and urged Americans to vote for his challenger Joe Biden "like our lives depend on it." In an emotional recorded message to the convention, the former US first lady said last four years had been difficult to explain to America's children. "They see our leaders labelling fellow citizens enemies of the state, while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists," she said.

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Nana Ofori Owusu, National Chairman of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), has urged Ghanaians to wash their nose masks after wearing them.



The wearing of nose or face masks has become mandatory and failure to put it on could result in the culprit fined or face a 10-year or minimum jail term.



All Ghanaians are obliged to wear the masks to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.



However, Nana Ofori Owusu has taken notice of a certain problematic trend which needs to be addressed.



Making his submissions on ''Kokrokoo'' on Peace FM, the PPP National Chairman expressed distaste over the unhygienic ways of keeping the nose masks stating some Ghanaians wear their mask for days without washing it.



He is therefore afraid such attitude may lead to the spread of people needlessly contracting infections.



''The one or two people who are wearing the nose masks, you'll see the nose masks are very dirty . . . make sure you wash the nose masks everyday to be neat for your own health, he charged.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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In need of a new project? A grand Second Empire house in Moravia, New York, wants a second chance.

While saving an old mansion is no small feat, the hardest part has been done. Built in 1865, this three-story brick home has been completely gutted down to the studs. The current owners have also taken care of reinforcing its foundation and support structure.

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

Among the mansions original charms include a gorgeous mahogany and chestnut circular staircase with intricate carved newel post, hardwood floors throughout, and huge 10-foot pocket doors. There is a functioning bathroom on the second floor. An unused new boiler system in the basement ready to be installed. Also, a hole has already been dug for an inground pool in the basement.

Jack Charles Du Mars and his wife Rosanne Irving have owned the property since 1993. While residents of Manhattan, the couple discussed getting a retirement home. They hit the road one day and came across a real estate magazine at a highway rest stop. Several homes piqued their interest so they called an agent and drove to Upstate and the Finger Lakes area, according to Du Mars.

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

Du Mars said the corner lot Moravia home seemed like a good fit with three floors which provided a suitable environment for guests, many recreation areas, and space for a pool in the basement.

It was a quiet town, no traffic lights, no pizza boxes on the lawns, he said.

When they bought the house, Du Mars said it needed some renovations and updates but suitable to move in. Shortly thereafter, they turned on the heating system during winter and the pipes burst causing water damage to the walls and ceilings. The disaster left Du Mars and his wife with few options other than gutting the entire house.

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

That set us back in a different direction, he said. When we purchased the property, we werent counting on having it stripped down to its bare bones and have to rebuild it.

Du Mars said the first and second floor are in good shape. It needs installation of dry walls, electrical and plumbing. He said the third floor needs more work.

Originally, we were going to retire here, he said. We were counting on making some changes to the house but not to this extent. Weve decided not to put any more money into this.

Basement of 83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

Over the years, the couple have reinforced the support structure of the house and put in more stones in the basement. They have also fixed an entire bowing wall which required jacking up the building. Du Mars has already started the process for a pool in the basement. Its about 20 feet long, 10 feet wide and 5 feet deep. The hole has been dug. There is space to pour concrete and install the pump equipment. He says swimming is something to enjoy outside, but considering NYs long winter, he decided on a basement pool. The set up is for an Endless pool where youre facing one direction and water is pumped out and you swim against it at your own pace, according to Du Mars.

Unfinished pool in basement of 83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

According to the National Register of Historic Places, Moravia experienced an economic boom period at the end of the Civil War. The arrival of the railroad contributed to the villages growth and increased construction of new homes and commercial buildings.

This house was originally built for William Selover. He and Frank Williamson were business partners and owners of the Stone Mill. Many farmers from nearby areas relied on the mill for the grinding of their grains. Both Selover and Williamson built imposing Second Empire Style residences based on A. J. Bicknells pattern book design on Victorian styles. Selovers home is identical to Williamsons house on the corner of Church and William streets.

William Selover, original owner at 83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Courtesy of Jack Charles Du Mars

Real estate agent Laurie Wood of Land of Lakes Realty, Inc., said the former Selover mansion is a great opportunity for an investor.

Its just a gorgeous house waiting to happen, said Wood.

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

Details

Address: 83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118

Size: 3,676 square feet

Acres: .31 acres

Built: 1875

Rooms: 5

Bathroom: 1

Taxes: $1,669

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

Agent information

The property is listed by Laurie Wood of Land of Lakes Realty, Inc.

Contact: lauriea.wood@hotmail.com or 315-730-5207

See the full listing

Check out more photos below

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

83 S. Main St., Moravia, N.Y., 13118.Laurie Wood | Land of Lakes Realty

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His four books may be epic, exhaustive, nearly day-by-day histories, though they are far from dispassionate or flattering, to Democrats or Republicans. You would pressed to identify a single hero. Reaganland  which reads like a rocket despite its length, and being a history of the Carter years, falsely remembered as a sleepy trudge  has a Reagan who exonerates a nation of racism and doubts while quietly anticipating armageddon; its Carter is fearful that the country is sliding towards amorality, though the man himself proves arrogant and distant, unable to summon the emotional resonance Reagan wields. The book feels rollicking this way, and surprising in its detours, veering to serial killers and the religious right, Hollywood and Love Canal. By the time we reach the 1980 presidential election, your memory feels pocked and muddied. Carter, for instance, did not not lose the presidency because of American hostages in Iran; in fact, it wasnt even the primary issue for many voters  and those who were concerned sided with Carter.
New Delhi: China's Xinjiang province is known to have a majority population of Muslims, but people here are devoid of every right to follow their religion. The state is 1.5 times the size of Pakistan and 12 times more than Bangladesh, and it also borders eight countries, including India, along with 5 other nations where Islam is the largest religion.

Muslims here, known as Uighur Muslims, are not allowed to grow their beards or observe fast in the month of Ramadan, women are not allowed to wear a burqa, and they cannot celebrate their religious festivals. The DNA report will reveal several other facts in today's analysis and will also let you know why Islamic countries maintain a strategic silence against these atrocities while they have waged a war in other parts of the world in the name of Muslim brotherhood.

Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province, comprising 50 percent of the population, are considered to be from eastern Turkistan. Till 1949, 90 percent of the population here was from Turkish origin while descendants of the Han dynasty were less than 4 percent. In the ongoing genocide for the last 70 years, the population of Turkish Uighur Muslims is now reduced to 55 percent while Han Chinese people have increased to 45 percent.

China has not only targeted the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, but it has also kept 3 million Muslims of Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Turkish descent in different concentration camps. Islamic community across the world has not opened its mouth against this atrocity in China while they were enraged over cartoons on Prophet Mohammed published in a Paris newspaper Charlie Hebdo and they attacked the newspaper's office in 2015 for insulting Islam.

Muslims of Xinjiang have been continuously saying that they are a free nation, but China has crushed their voice. The people of East Turkistan are also struggling for the last long time, but China has trampled all the protests, as it is now suppressing the voice of democracy in Hong Kong, or had suppressed Tibet.

China had demolished mosques in Xinjiang as it wants to destroy the identity of Muslims living there. Out of about 20 million Muslims living in China, 10 million are Uighur Muslims. According to reports, so far 18 lakh Uighur Muslims have been imprisoned in China, 10 lakh Muslims have been kept in more than 1000 concentration camps, which are called re-education camps.

In these camps, Uighur Muslims undergo all kinds of atrocities and their organs are reportedly smuggled. Muslim women are also raped, men are forced into sterilization, and children are separated from their parents.

In the last three years, 10 to 15 thousand mosques have been demolished in Xinjiang province, according to the Uighur Human Rights project report. But Muslims across the world, including India, have failed to raise voice against atrocities on Uighur Muslims of China.

Many people in India protested when a new law on citizenship law was passed, and recently people belonging to the Muslim community resorted to violent protests in Bengaluru to express their anger against a Facebook post on Prophet Mohammed.

In the year 2017-2018, when Rohingya Muslims were expelled from Myanmar, it was criticized all over the world, but on the question of atrocities on Muslims in China, even the United Nations avoided the criticism of China.

Muslims in China apparently cannot raise their voices, but countries that have raised the banner of Islam are also silent on this matter. Saudi Arabia, which considers itself to be the leader of Islamic countries, has never spoken on this issue.

Turkey, which wants to replace Saudi Arabia in the Islamic world, has rather preferred to send Uighur Muslims to China if they land upon its territory. Pakistan also avoids the issue of Uighur Muslims and maintains a stoic silence. Malaysia, which vociferously raises Kashmir issue along with Pakistan on global forums, has never flayed China stating that China never responds to criticism.

On the other hand, Iran has stated that China is rather serving Islam by suppressing the voice of these Muslims.

Notably, 24% of the world's population, 180 crores, resides in 50 countries where Islam is the largest religion, while believers in Christianity are 250 crores. Islam, therefore, is the second-largest religion after Christianity, but 180 million Muslims never speak against China.

The reasons are obvious: Most of the Islamic countries are afraid of China, which has virtually bought many of these nations through it monetary power. China has invested Rs 4.47 lakh crore in Pakistan. In 2017, China had signed a deal of Rs 5.20 lakh crore with Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Similarly, China is likely to invest Rs 29 lakh crore in Iran, while Malaysia's 45 percent of the total foreign direct investment (FDI) is from China. Not only this, China has also saved the sinking economy of Turkey. China is also the top nation to import oil from Gulf countries, and this primarily is the key reason behind the silence of these countries.

Among the nations that have agreed to be part of China's One Belt One Road project, 30 are Islamic countries.
Journalists Safikul Islam and Suraj Ali Khan who were arrested on June 9 were granted bail by Calcuttas High Court on August 14. The International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) and its Indian affiliate the National Union of Journalists  India (NUJ-I) appreciates the courts decision but is disappointed by the arbitrary detention of the journalists on spurious pretences.

Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Aniruddha Roy granted bail to Safikul Islam, owner of Arambagh TV youtube channel and Suraj Ali Khan, a reporter working for the web channel. Along with the journalists, Islams wife, Amina Khatun, was also arrested after the channel exposed the alleged unfair distribution of Covid-19 funds to private clubs by Mamata Banerjees government.

The investigation or FIR against the journalists had alleged that Islam and Khan blackmailed a local resident who was photographed cutting down a tree on government land, extorting money allegedly in exchange for not publishing the image.

Islams family have received a number of threats in past. According to Khatun, in the first week of May, around 30 to 40 men had gathered around his house and threatened the family for a news report broadcasted on the youtube channel .

The NUJ-I President Ras Bihari said: The NUJ -I was advocating for his release and wrote a letter to Hon'ble Governor and the Chief Minister of West Bengal to intervene against the arrest of journalists. We welcome the courts decision.

The IFJ said: The IFJ is relieved that the journalists have been released. But the IFJ notes that the arrest and subsequent investigation was intended to discourage the journalists from independent and critical reporting. We urge the Indian government to stop such harassment against journalists.
Prudential Bank Limited has donated an amount of GHS 200,000.00 to the Covid-19 National Trust Fund in Accra.



This is in addition to earlier donations made by the indigenous Bank to the Ghana Association of Bankers, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Immigration Service, and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.



Speaking at a short ceremony at the Jubilee House, the Managing Director of Prudential Bank, Mr. John K. Addo said the donation was to complement government's efforts to combat the pandemic as the fight against the disease requires the collective effort of the entire citizenry.



Mr. Addo who was accompanied by the board chairperson of the bank Mrs Muriel Edusei said it was necessary to minimise the negative impact of the disease on livelihoods, businesses and the economy as a whole, hence the decision by the bank to support this cause.



Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, a member of the Board of Trustees of the COVID-19 Trust Fund, who received the donation thanked the bank for the kind gesture.



He also used the opportunity to appeal to other corporate institutions to support the Fund saying that the success of the fight is for the benefit of all.









Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Protesters assembled outside a downtown Toronto courthouse Tuesday morning, attempting to block sheriffs office vehicles from leaving to enforce evictions.

The demonstrators, some of whom have been involved in other recent protests aimed at Mayor John Tory, reiterated a call on the mayor to enact an eviction moratorium within the citys bounds.

Tory has previously rebutted that request, and claimed that doing so would be beyond his authority; city spokespersons say their legal team warned that any attempt to do so would encroach upon provincial jurisdiction and would not withstand judicial scrutiny.

A provincial halt on evictions, put in place during the pandemic, expired at the end of July.

As previously reported by the Star, more than 6,000 applications to evict tenants for nonpayment of rent were processed by the Landlord and Tenant Board between March 17 and July 19 of this year, despite Premier Doug Ford promising in the spring that no one would be kicked out of their homes for missing rent payments during COVID-19.

The eviction orders that protesters aimed to block from enforcement Tuesday were ordered before the pandemic hit, demonstrator Cole Webber acknowledged.

We know that the housing crisis in Toronto also predates COVID, and so tenants are taking this action on the basis that no tenant should be evicted during the pandemic, and this is the beginning of an escalation of an existing housing and homelessness crisis, he told the Star.

Evictions, under these conditions, are unacceptable.

Bryan Doherty, a renter from Torontos Parkdale neighbourhood, said in recent years, rent in his neighbourhood had risen to a point where hed seen neighbours struggle to make ends meet.

They will not be leaving here to go to neighbourhoods across our city to pull people from their homes, he said Tuesday.

The demonstrators also called for a repeal of Ontarios new tenant and landlord legislation, Bill 184, which the province has presented as a way to strengthen protections for tenants  pointing out that it increases compensation for renters and encourages the mediation process.

Tenant advocates, meanwhile, have charged that the law will lead to speedier evictions  largely, due to a portion of the new legislation that allows landlords to seek eviction orders without an LTB hearing if their tenant falls behind on an agreed-upon repayment plan.

The changes in the new law are retroactive to the start of Ontarios state of emergency.

Late last month, city council voted to launch a legal challenge of the legislation, on the basis that portions of the law are contrary to the rules of procedural fairness and natural justice.

The Ministry of the Attorney General did not provide comment to the Star by the time of publication or answer a question about whether enforcement was able to continue; demonstrators meanwhile declared online that their protest had been successful in blocking eviction enforcement actions.

Victoria Gibson is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering affordable housing. Her reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach her via email: victoriagibson@thestar.ca

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U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin (L) talks to Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission Jay Clayton (R) during a Financial Stability Oversight Council meeting in Washington, on Oct. 16, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Mnuchin Says Stimulus Talks Stalled, Hopes Pelosi Interested in More Negotiations

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in providing an update on the COVID-19 relief package, told reporters on Tuesday morning that negotiations are still stalled, although there is still a desire among both Republicans and Democrats to pass relief measures.

Mnuchin said he believes that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) would be willing to hold talks with him and other negotiators when she reconvenes the chamber to vote on legislation that prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from implementing changes.

Earlier this month, Mnuchin, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), and Pelosi were holding talks on a stimulus package. However, the parties disagreed on the scope and size of the package, with Republicans seeking a smaller bill.

Speaker Pelosi is coming back to look at Postal, hopefully shell be more interested in sitting down, he said in an interview.

Pelosi and Schumer said earlier in August that they want to pass a bill worth $2 trillion at the very least, coming down about $1 trillion from Democrats HEROES Act, which cleared the House in May.

Mnuchin, at the same time, said he is not sure when talks may start again or if Democrats are willing to make concessions.

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks to reporters as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) listens, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Aug. 4, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

We started with a trillion dollars, we agreed to increase that in several areas in an effort to compromise, he said, referring to the $1 trillion Republican HEALS Act. They didnt come down, they never made us a proposal at two trillion, they never gave us a line-by-line counter.

The good news is despite Congress not acting, because Pelosi and Schumer arent willing to sit down and strike a reasonable deal, the president moved forward with the [executive order] to help people who are still unemployed, Mnuchin added in another interview.

The HEROES and HEALS Acts are both intended to offset U.S. economic losses and financial damage caused by the (Chinese Communist Party) CCP virus pandemic.

U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is scheduled to testify on Friday before the Republican-led Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee, spokesmen for the committee and the Postal Service told Reuters. House Democrats said Monday that he is scheduled to testify next week in front of the House Oversight Committee.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The Turkish army was struck by an RPG as they patrolled in Idleb, along the M4 highway, forcing them to turn back reports Al-Masdar.

The Turkish Army came under attack on Monday morning while carrying out a patrol along the M4 (Aleppo-Lattakia) highway in Idleb Governorate.

According to the reports from Idleb Governorate, the Turkish army began their patrol on Monday in northeastern Lattakia and made their way east along the M4 highway.

Once the Turkish army patrol made their way into Idleb Governorate, they came under attack by unknown assailants, who fired an RPG round at the soldiers.

No one was reportedly harmed by the attack; however, the Turkish army was forced to suspend their patrol on Monday in order to preserve the security of their forces in northwestern Syria.

The attack against the Turkish army on Monday marks the first time this month that they have been targeted during a patrol in northwestern Syria.

The Turkish army was previously targeted by a roadside bombing in July, which caused a number of casualties within the ranks of their forces.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
A global transparency group, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), has accepted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as its supporting company.

According to a release on the initiative website, NNPC joined a group of over 65 extractive companies, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), commodity traders, financial institutions, and industry partners who commit to observing the EITIs supporting company expectations.

Nigeria last year attained top EITI standard in the extractive industries, making it the first Anglophone African country to reach that status.

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While welcoming the companys commitment to the EITI, the board chair, Helen Clark said NNPC plays a vital role in Nigerias economy. Joining the EITI as a supporting company is a welcome step in the NNPCs journey towards achieving greater transparency and to help ensure that Nigerias citizens benefit from their natural resource wealth.

Also in her remarks, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and former EITI Board member, Zainab Ahmed, stressed the importance of ensuring that natural resource wealth contributes to sustainable development.

Increased transparency of Nigerias national oil company revenues is contributing to improvements in our countrys domestic resource mobilisation efforts, she said.

New requirement for NNPC

According to a statement signed by the NNPC spokesperson, Kennie Obateru, the news status demand some steps from the corporation.

NNPC would now publicly declare support for the EITI Principles and, by promoting transparency throughout the extractive industries, help public debate and provide opportunities for sustainable development.

Publicly disclose taxes and payments; Ensure comprehensive disclosure of taxes and payments made to all EITI implementing countries.

Publicly disclose beneficial owners and take steps to identify the beneficial owners of direct business partners, including Joint Ventures and contractors.

Engage in rigorous procurement processes, including due diligence with respect to partners and vendors.

Deliver natural resources in a manner that benefits societies and communities, and

Ensure that company processes are appropriate to deliver the data required for high standards of accountability.

Established in 1977, NNPC has grown to become the largest asset holder across Nigerias oil and gas industry value chain.

Traditionally an oil and gas entity, it is transitioning towards becoming an integrated energy company with an interest in power generation and transmission.

According to the statement, the corporation is taking measures to become more transparent.

In June 2020, it published audited account for 20 of its subsidiaries. NNPC also publishes its financial and operations report every month on its website, national dailies, and online media to keep the public informed about its activities as part of efforts to be accountable to Nigerians. It is working with Nigeria EITI (NEITI) on an action plan to routinely disclose information and it currently publishes some of the data required by the 2019 EITI Standard on its website, it said.

These disclosures, it said, demonstrate NNPCs commitment to its journey to becoming a more transparent national oil company.

Adherence to the EITI supporting company expectations will give further impetus to NNPCs corporate vision of greater transparency and accountability.

Three areas in which there is scope for advancing transparency are revenues and payments to the government, contracts governing petroleum exploration and production, and consolidated group-level financial statements.

Affirming NNPCs commitment to the EITI, Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari said Becoming an EITI supporting company aligns with NNPCs corporate vision and principles of transparency, accountability and performance excellence. Our partnership with NEITI and EITI strengthens our commitment towards commodity trading transparency, contract transparency, and systematic disclosure of revenues and payments. We are on a journey towards greater transparency and look forward to deepening our collaboration with the EITI to further this work.

Also, NEITI Executive Secretary, Waziri Adio, commended NNPCs move to support the EITI.

NNPC joining the EITI as a supporting company is a major inflection point in the quest for transparency  for the company, for Nigerias oil and gas sector, and for the country as a whole. This is so given how critical NNPC is to the sector and to the country. NEITI welcomes this bold commitment. We will continue to work and walk with NNPC to translate its espoused commitments to transparency and accountability into concrete and sustained actions and results. Mr Adio said.

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Becoming an EITI supporting company can help state-owned companies make progress towards transparency.

The statement cited Qatar petroleum as a recent example.

It has been an EITI supporting company since October 2019 and has now published its annual and sustainability plans for the first time.

EITIs mission is to promote understanding of natural resource management, strengthen public and corporate governance, and provide the data to inform greater transparency and accountability in the extractives sector.

By becoming a member of the EITI, 54 countries have committed to disclose information along the extractive industry value chain  from how extraction rights are awarded, to how revenues make their way through the government and how they benefit the public. Through participation in the EITI, countries agree to a common set of rules governing what has to be disclosed and when  the EITI Standard.
Former Speaker Ghali NaAbba has opened up on his meeting with the Department of State Services (DSS), saying he was not invited because of his criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari.

NaAbba said he was questioned by the DSS for over two hours, saying that he was invited based on misunderstanding of the words he used in the media last week.

The former speaker had described the country as a failed state and said Nigerians have a right to self- determination.

He said he was questioned for over two hours and that he still stood by what he said.

I did not disown anything I said. I will never mince my words. Whatever I see as the truth I say it. And that is what I said in my interview and said during the press conference. And I can never say anything that is not the truth.

What happened was there were certain words that appeared in my address and interview which needed some clarifications and which clarification, I made.

We were both satisfied with what happened. We advised one another. The DSS have their own job and their own experience. I too have my own vocation also have my own experience. And we felt highly enriched by our experiences.

That is how things are supposed to be. It went successfully. I enjoyed my stay there. I had no problems with the way they received me, he said.

NaAbba said in his address he used the words failed state and self determination, which was what the DSS sought clarification.

Self- determination simply in our own context means Nigerians must be allowed to live the way they want to live.

It does not mean the mean dismemberment of the country. A lot of times from security point of view when you say self- determination it is meant that it is the dismemberment of the country, which is not so. This needed clarification.

Failed state is any state that cannot provide a lot of services. What happened was that in their own opinion I did not use the words appropriately and it is only human to use words not appropriately and I told them that what I meant there is that the indices that characterised a failed state are prevalent with us, he said.
If Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce are wondering why most Ontario parents dont trust their back-to-school plan, they should consider this.

Discussing the plan at a news conference in Beamsville recently, Ford said: Its not our plan  we went with some of the brightest minds in the world. Theyve come up with a plan. I respect their plan. Theyre the experts. But for the parents who are nervous, I understand.

Fair enough. But not entirely true. The province did seek input from top pediatric health specialists, including from SickKids, McMaster Childrens Hospital, London Health Sciences, Kingston Health Sciences Centre and others. Medical leadership from those facilities worked together to develop the Updated COVID-19: Guidance for School Reopening document, which was submitted to the province. The following is taken directly from that report:

Smaller class sizes should be a priority strategy as it will aid in physical distancing and reduce potential spread from any index case. Several jurisdictions have reopened schools with maximum class sizes ranging from 10-15.

SickKids president and CEO Dr. Ronald Cohn went further, saying: If you have a certain number of children in a class  and physical distancing will be compromised by the number of children in the class, then we cannot and will not support this.

Heres where it gets interesting. The government adopted a majority of the recommendations made by the health experts. But not the advice about class sizes. Instead, it elected to maintain class sizes in kindergarten through Grade 8. Class size recommendations for secondary schools reopening were adopted, but not for elementary schools. Why not?

If the expert advice was heeded for secondary schools, why not for elementary schools?

The governments defenders, and there are not many at this point, would probably argue distancing isnt as urgent in elementary schools because younger kids arent as efficient at spreading COVID-19 as teens. Evidence suggests that is true, but it also suggests that once a child reaches age 10, he or she is as efficient at spreading the virus as older kids or adults. That means that kids in Grades 4 (or possibly 5) and up are as vulnerable, and risky, as high school kids. The difference is that high school students will attend classes in groups no larger than 15, while elementary kids in Grades 5-8 will remain in classrooms as big as 28 or 30.

In crowded classrooms, often with poor ventilation. More than one expert has said this is like a Petrie dish for COVID-19. And yet, the government will not budge. It has made more money available to improve ventilation and to hire more cleaning staff. It has agreed that school boards can dip into their reserves to pay for needed safety measures. (By the way, thats not really helping, its downloading. School boards need those reserves for capital spending. But if they use them to pay for safety measures, capital spending will have to be postponed.)

Time is winding down, but it is not too late. The government has shown some flexibility in terms of staggered school starting dates. It should do more on that front. If school boards need more time, they should have it. They also need extra financial resources to allow creativity in terms of setting up classrooms in settings other than traditional schools. That could go a good distance to solving the physical distancing challenges.

But the single biggest thing the government can do to help Ontarians trust this process is reduce class sizes, at least in Grades 4 through 8. If it doesnt, its likely a considerable number of parents wont feel that trust and wont send their kids back to school.

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Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon, tweeted on August 17 that she has tested positive for novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. I have added to the Covid count by testing positive. Mild symptoms n I hope it stays that way (sic), the billionaire entrepreneur tweeted.



So sorry to hear this, @KiranShaw. We need you hale & hearty soon! Be well my friend.

 Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 17, 2020

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor replied to Mazumdar's tweet with: "So sorry to hear this. We need you hale & hearty soon! Be well my friend."

Billionaire Anand Mahindra also sent his good wishes on Twitter to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. He said: I'm not worried Kiran. Your energy & positivity is more infectious than the virus.

Biocon is one of the foremost companies in India looking to develop a vaccine to fight COVID-19. In July, regulator the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) allowed it to market a repurposed injection, Itolizumab, which was originally launched in 2013 for treating chronic plaque psoriasis.

The drug, better known by its brand name ALZUMAb, is being used by numerous doctors and over 150 people had recovered from coronavirus until July 13.

Shaw, as one of the leaders of the pharma sector globally, has been keeping pace as the world gets closer to a vaccine.

Recently, Shaw has questioned claims of Russia developing the world's first vaccine against COVID-19, citing absence of clinical trials data and "more advanced" programmes elsewhere.

Referring to the novel coronavirus vaccine developed by Moscow-based Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Mazumdar-Shaw said that the world had not seen any data from the vaccine candidates phase-I and phase-II human trials.

"If launching a vaccine prior to completion of Phase-III trials is acceptable to Russia, well so be it," Mazumdar-Shaw had told news agency PTI.

Earlier, Shaw said that India needs to draw up its immunisation strategy now itself on the administration of vaccine for COVID-19 on the population when it comes out.

"Vaccine is anybody's guess. Right from the end of this year to the middle of next year is the prediction," the Executive Chairperson of the city-headquartered biopharmaceuticals major Biocon Ltd said on the time-frame vis-a-vis its availability.

Shaw joins the list of prominent persons in the state who have contracted the infection including Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Health Minister Sriramulu.

Karnataka on August 17 reported 6,317 new COVID-19 cases.
Tasmania's borders will remain shut until at least December as Victoria continues to battle its second wave of COVID-19.

Premier Peter Gutwein made the announcement on Tuesday, saying it allowed sufficient time for the COVID-19 situation in Victoria to be brought under control.

Western Australia has also delayed easing its restrictions due to Victoria's latest outbreak.

'At the moment, the risk posed to Tasmania by the situation in Victoria is considerable,' Mr Gutwein said.

'We must avoid a situation like Victoria or NSW, as we would have to impose serious restrictions once again.'

Tasmania's borders will remain shut until at least December as Victoria continues to battle its second wave of COVID-19 (pictured: A holidaymaker in Tasmania before the border was shut)

Tasmania was the first state to close its borders in March (Pictured: A holidaymaker in Tasmania)

Mr Gutwein said the clear date of December 1 would provide certainty to the community and local businesses, which have been hit hard by the drop in tourism.

Tasmania was the first state to close its borders on March 19.

Currently it has just one active coronavirus case, a man in hospital who returned from Melbourne after receiving medical treatment earlier in August.

The government is now offering grants to Tasmanians to encourage them to holiday at home to help out the hard-hit tourism and hospitality sector.

The 'Make yourself at home' grant, worth $7.5million, will be offer from September, until November for Tasmanians who travel outside of their municipality, to stay midweek in accommodation.

Victoria has been battling a deadly second wave, which claimed 17 lives on Tuesday (Pictured: Pedestrians in Melbourne on Tuesday)

Tasmiania was the first state to close its borders when the pandemic began (Pictured: A traveller going through Hobart airport in March)

'The support will provide up to $100 towards the cost of a room in commercial accommodation, or up to $50 per booking to participate in a tourism experience whether that be a cruise, a walk or entry to an attraction such as the Port Arthur Historic Site or the Tahune Airwalk,' the premier said.

Western Australia has also delayed its easing of restrictions after recording one new case on Tuesday.

The new case is a person in hotel quarantine, and takes the total active cases in the state to five.

Premier Mark McGowan said the state won't move to Level Five of its recovery plan until October 24 - having previously extended it in two week blocks.

Under Level Five, the two metre rule and the 50 per cent capacity rule for venues are removed.

The latest figures mark the deadliest day in Australia's fight against COVID-19, surpassing the record figures set by Victoria last Wednesday, when 21 people died. This graph illustrates the closing gap between new daily case numbers and daily deaths

'I know this will cause some frustrations and problems for some parts of our community,' Mr McGowan said.

'I can understand many people were hoping and planning for phase five to be introduced sooner and this decision will throw those plans out.

'But proceeding to phase five too soon is just not appropriate right now.

'We are trying to find the right balance here between protecting our community and keeping our economy as open as possible.

'We simply can't afford to get complacent because the virus could sneak back into Western Australia and spread like wildfire.'

Health workers are seen outside the Florence Aged Care Facility in Melbourne on Monday (pictured)

Victoria recorded another 222 cases and 17 deaths on Tuesday - a significant drop from a record high of 725 cases on August 6.

Thirteen of the 17 new fatalities are linked to aged care facilities, and eight of those people were in their 90s, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed.

Victoria's case numbers have dropped to less than 300 in recent days, with a further 282 cases confirmed on Monday.

Mr Andrews confirmed on Tuesday there are 665 Victorians in hospital, 45 of those are in intensive care and 32 require a ventilator.

Metropolitan Melbourne has been under tough Stage Four restrictions - including an 8pm curfew - while regional Victoria is under stage-three measures.

The lockdowns are in place until at least September 13 after Mr Andrews extended the State of Emergency and lockdown by four weeks.

Since August 2, Victoria has also been in a State of Disaster, which can remain in place for up to one month, and may then be renewed.
Smoke rises from a rocket attack during Independence Day celebrations at the Defense Ministry in Kabul, Afghanistan.  AP photo

Kabul: More than a dozen rockets struck the Afghan capital Tuesday, wounding at least 10 civilians as the country marked the 101st anniversary of its independence, the interior ministry said.

Fourteen rockets were fired from two vehicles in Kabul, interior ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said, adding that two suspects had been arrested.

"Most of these rockets have hit civilian houses in Kabul," Arian said.

"Unfortunately, 10 civilians including four children and one woman have been wounded."

The rockets struck the capital after President Ashraf Ghani participated in an independence day ceremony at the presidential palace.

Witnesses said some of the rockets fell near the palace and the defence ministry in a heavily fortified area that also houses several embassies.

The rocket attack comes as the Afghan government and the Taliban are poised to begin peace talks.

Negotiations are set to start once Kabul completes the release of about 400 Taliban prisoners as approved last week by a traditional gathering of prominent Afghans.

Ghani's swearing-in ceremony on March 10 was interrupted by rocket fire near the palace. No serious injuries were reported at the time.

Afghanistan was never a part of Britain's empire but it became officially independent from British influence in August 1919.
Ryanair will be cutting its capacity by 20 per cent from September  just after the airline increased it for August.

The airline said the cuts, which will affect September and October schedules, are because forward bookings have noticeably weakened over the last 10 days, given continuing uncertainty over recent Covid case rates in some EU countries.

Ryanair had actually announced an increase in capacity less than two weeks earlier.

Following the successful resumption of services since June, the airline said that its capacity for August would be increased to 60 per cent of its normal schedule, Reuters reported.

The new cuts will mean a reduction in the number of services available in most cases, rather than route closures, according to the airline.

The key destinations affected include Spain, France, Sweden and Ireland.

In the case of Spain, France and Sweden, the airline said that the recent rise in the number of coronavirus cases has led to an increase in travel restrictions. Ireland is also affected because it operates a Green List  visitors from countries not on the list, including the UK and Germany, are required to quarantine for 14 days.

Affected customers will be contacted via email, the airline said.

It comes as easyJet announced the closure of three of its bases in the UK.

The airline said it will close its bases at London Stansted, London Southend and Newcastle airports from 1 September, leaving it with just eight bases in the UK.

As many as 670 redundancies are expected to follow.
The blackouts come as dozens of fires broke out in the state due to lightning storms, hot winds and high temperatures

Power outages are expected to last about two hours if and when they occur

An estimated one million Californian homes and businesses were expected to lose power during rolling blackouts Monday

Up to one million homes and businesses in California were expected to lose power Monday as part of rolling blackouts to ease pressure on the state's electric grid as a days-long heat wave engulfing the West Coast creates an energy shortage.

The rolling blackouts - which also occurred over the weekend - come as dozens of fires broke out in the state Monday due to lighting storms, hot winds and high temperatures.

The California Independent System Operator said it would likely order utility companies to turn off power later Monday as demand for electricity to cool homes soars during the hottest part of the day beyond the power available in the grid.

Nearly one million homes and businesses in California are expected to lose power in rolling blackouts Monday as temperatures reach highs in the state. A thermometer reads 130 degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley on Monday

At one point during the day Monday, temperatures in Death Valley reached 132 degrees

Extreme heat danger signs were posted in Death Valley National Park on Monday

Personal trainer Samantha Garvin delivers bagged lunches and cold bottled water to homeless people in Los Angeles' Echo Park Monday during the heatwave

'I know that thats going to be highly disruptive to people. I truly, truly wish there were other options that we had at hand,' California ISO CEO and President Steve Berberich said.

However, the number of affected customers dropped dramatically from 3.3million to one million because 'expected demand has been decreasing due to slightly lower temperatures and consumer conservation,' the grid operator said.

Those affected can expect to lose power for about two hours. Berberich didnt say where the outages might occur, a decision that is up to the state's utilities. As of 5pm, the grid operator had not ordered the utilities to power down.

The first rolling blackouts in nearly 20 years came Friday as unusually hot weather overwhelmed the electrical grid. The three biggest utilities - Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric - turned off power to more than 410,000 homes and businesses for about an hour at a time until the emergency declaration ended 3.5 hours later.

Spot fires burn on a hillside caused by a lightning strike along Marsh Creek Road in Brentwood, California early on Monday

A view of the Brentwood fire as it burns on a hillside after it was started by a lightning strike

A chimney stands at a home destroyed by the River Fire in Salinas, California on Monday

Firefighters prepare to defend a home as the River Fire approaches in Salinas on Monday

Cal Fire drop fire retardant near Jones Bar road during the Jones fire on Monday

Multiple lightning-related brush fires are burning around the Bay Area, including in Contra Costa County, where the Deer Zone Fire has scorched at least 400 acres and caused evacuations in Brentwood. https://t.co/G8xT7T3C5j pic.twitter.com/UDaGop7KG5  NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) August 17, 2020

A second but shorter outage hit Saturday evening, affecting more than 200,000 customers. Californians packed beaches and river banks over the weekend to cool off from scorching triple-digit temperatures that raised the risk of more wildfires and fears of the coronavirus spreading.

An irate Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an emergency proclamation Sunday allowing some energy users and utilities to tap backup energy sources. He acknowledged Monday that the state failed to predict and plan for the energy shortages.

'I am not pleased with whats happened,' he said during a news briefing. 'You shouldnt be pleased with the moment that were in here in the state of California.'

Newsom also sent a letter demanding that the state Energy Commission, state Public Utilities Commission and the California Independent System Operator investigate the blackouts.

The Democratic governor said residents battling a heat wave and a pandemic in which they're encouraged to stay home were left without the basic necessity of electricity.

In Southern California, temperatures reached a record high of 110 in Lancaster and 111 in Palmdale.

'These blackouts, which occurred without prior warning or enough time for preparation, are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nations largest and most innovative state,' Newsom wrote in the letter. 'This cannot stand. California residents and businesses deserve better from their government.'

During a grid operator board meeting Monday, Berberich said the weekend blackouts could have been avoided had regulators listened to its previous concerns about a power shortfall. In call later with reporters, he softened his tone, saying he knows the Public Utilities Commission is working to find the right balance of energy sources.

'Its substantial, no question about it,' he said of the outage.

The Public Utilities Commission said it would work with the other agencies to figure out what happened. The demand for electricity in the last few days has been consistent with expectations, spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said.

'The question were tackling is why certain resources were not available,' she said.

The last time a California governor faced power outages, he was successfully recalled. Gray Davis, a Democrat, was recalled in October 2003 and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican.

A girl is pictured with a bag of ice on her head in an effort help stay cool while at Death Valley

A man tries to see if it's hot enough to fry an egg on the ground in Death Valley on Monday

A little girl plays with bubbles at Echo Park Monday. The heat wave has brought triple-digit temperatures and raised wildfire danger and fears of coronavirus spreading

A child is seen playing near a drainage pipe along the San Gabriel River in Azusa, California

Despite the heat, a girl is seen works on her acrobatics skills in a class in Huntington Beach Monday. Instructors held the class by the beach as a summer treat

Daniel Kammen, an energy professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said the state needs to do more to store and sell clean energy sources, and he hopes this week's blackouts will prompt officials to act.

'This is kind of a stress test on the system,' he said. 'We have not built up enough of a smart enough system to take advantage of all the renewables we have in place.'

Customers are asked to reduce energy use through Wednesday night, especially during peak evening hours.

Bonnie Wikler, 66, worried about her husband, who is recovering from open heart surgery. She said it was very stressful to lose power twice over the weekend at their home in Coalinga, a city in central California where temperatures reached 109 Fahrenheit (43 Celsius).

They thought about driving somewhere but were too afraid of coronavirus exposure, so they stayed home and cooled off with ice water, she said.

'If there was a fire or an earthquake, I would understand, but to cut power without letting you know, it just seems outlandish to me,' Wikler said.

Berberich acknowledged that his agency should have given more public notice, saying, 'We own that and are sorry we didnt do more.'

In Marin County, just north of San Francisco, officials opened a cooling center that only 21 people visited over the weekend, spokeswoman Laine Hendricks said. It's equipped with a backup generator, and employees are screening for COVID-19 symptoms and ensuring people are wearing masks, she said.

'Were still in a shelter-in-place environment,' Hendricks said. 'Even though its hot outside, COVID hasnt gone away.'

California also still faces the threat of power outages to prevent wildfires.

Thousands were without power for days last year when Pacific Gas & Electric and other utilities shut off lines amid high, dry winds in order to prevent wildfires.

On Monday, Cal Fire responded to nearly two-dozen fires across California's Butte County, which were attributed to lightning strikes.

The largest fire near Potter's Ravine Drive, north of Oroville, had expanded to more than 100 acres by 2om, the Sacramento Bee reported, leading officials to issue evacuation warnings in the area.

Another fire, on Doe Mill Ridge, north of Centerville, was said to have burned at least 75 acres.

Firefighters are also working to contain blazes that have broken out in Nevada, Glenn, Napa and Stanislaus counties.

Cal Fire has said that only 10 per cent of Salinas' River Fire has been contained so far.

The fire, which broke out on Sunday morning after a lightning strike, has now grown to 2,800 acres and led to five structures being damaged. Four firefighters were reported to have suffered heat-related injuries, SF Gate reported.

On Monday, firefighters were also working to contain a wildfire near Lake Hughes, which has been burning since Wednesday and already consumed 18,526 acres.

About 31 per cent of the fire was contained as of Monday morning with full containment not expected until September 2.

So far, 12 structures and 21 outbuildings have been destroyed in the fire, while three other building have been damaged. No injuries have been reported, according to NBC Los Angeles.

The Jones Fire start Monday near Nevada City and burned about 55 acres by the afternoon, SF Gate reported, as authorities issued evacuation orders and estimated that it could grow to consume up to 500 acres of dry vegetation in the area.
Michigan Democrats held a series of press conferences while more than 20 state attorneys general announced lawsuits pressuring U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to stop operational changes disrupting mail delivery across the country.

Democrats said operational changes recently implemented by DeJoy restricted postal carriers from taking overtime or making additional trips, causing late deliveries and raising concerns about the Postal Services ability to handle a surge of absentee voting in November. DeJoy, who was a frequent donor to Republican campaigns before being appointed to lead the U.S Postal Service in May, appeared to concede with their demands Tuesday, announcing he would suspend all changes until after the Nov. 3 election.

DeJoy said he would stall the operational changes to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail. DeJoy said the service hours of post offices would not change, mail processing equipment and blue mailboxes would not be removed, all mail processing facilities would remain open and postal workers would be allowed to use overtime as needed.

I came to the Postal Service to make changes to secure the success of this organization and its long-term sustainability, DeJoy said in a statement. I believe significant reforms are essential to that objective, and work toward those reforms will commence after the election.

U.S. Reps. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield; Dan Kildee, D-Flint; Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit and Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills, joined for a press conference at the Main Southfield Post Office Tuesday. Lawrence called for DeJoys resignation, while Kildee said President Donald Trump is deliberately choking off support to the USPS to undermine absentee voting.

Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Michigan is joining 13 other states in filing a lawsuit against the federal government. Nessel said the lawsuit, which has the approval of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, argues changes implemented by DeJoy are unlawful and threaten the timely delivery of mail to individuals who rely on the USPS.

Nessel cited media reports from Michigan news outlets which found several sorting machines were removed from post office facilities in Pontiac, Detroit and Grand Rapids. The machines can sort about 270,000 pieces of mail per hour.

DeJoy will also testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Friday. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, serves as ranking member on the committee and has pushed for a hearing on the effect of operational changes implemented under DeJoys leadership.

Peters said its unclear whether DeJoy is coordinating with Trump to undermine mail-in voting, but he hopes to understand more about why the changes were implemented and whether DeJoy knew it would slow mail delivery. Since opening an investigation into the Postal Service delays earlier this month, Peters said hes heard from roughly 8,000 constituents who reported mail issues.

Its certainly not unusual to have folks so contacting my office with issues related to the Postal Service, that is something that does occur; what was different was the massive increase of comments that we were getting, which then prompted me to ask questions of the postmaster general, Peters said on a call with reporters Tuesday.

Peters said DeJoy hasnt been transparent about his actions as postmaster general, but postal workers have reported mail being set aside at processing centers causing pileups. Peters said mail processing machines have also been removed from offices in Michigan, and its not clear whether they will be returned.

These are professional folks who take great pride in delivering the mail in a timely fashion, and they have been telling me they are seeing changes that theyve never seen in their career, he said.

DeJoy has previously said organizational changes are needed to make the delivery of mail more efficient and eliminate unnecessary overtime costs. The USPS has been operating with serious financial challenges that make it unsustainable in the long-term, according to a 2019 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Peters said full postal reform is needed to make the Postal Service operate more efficiently. He said a requirement that the USPS pre-fund retiree health care is one structural issue that could be removed to cut costs.

Peters, who is up for reelection this year, has faced criticism from Republicans who say he could have acted sooner to improve the delivery of mail.

Republican Senate challenger John James highlighted a 2016 committee meeting regarding financial challenges facing USPS. James said Peters was briefed on mail delays years ago but failed to take action until now.

He said point-blank that these are issues that we need to fix in months, not years, and now in an election year hes talking about conducting an investigation, James said in an interview with MLive. That is that is intellectually dishonest and is the height of excuse-making. Isnt this a stretch to blame someone for the ills of the Postal Service when that person has been there for months, when Senator Gary Peters himself has had the job of oversight for years?

James did not answer when asked whether he believes DeJoys new policies are responsible for the mail delays. DeJoy contributed $5,600 to his Senate campaign before becoming postmaster general and contributed another $5,400 to his 2018 Senate campaign.

Republicans have been less vocal about Postal Service concerns than their Democratic counterparts.

In an interview with WHTC Morning News this week, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, acknowledged the financial challenges facing the Postal Service.

Theyre in the hole, theyre making changes, but tragically whats happened over the last couple of months ... the first-class mail isnt getting there with the same routine as it did before, Upton said.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, told reporters Monday that the White House has indicated a $10 billion funding boost to the Postal Service could be on the way. Huizenga said the situation isnt the emergency House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is making it out to be.

Pelosi announced she will calling the House back into session Saturday to vote on a bill that would block changes to mail delivery.

This is not about policy, Huizenga said Monday. This is all about politics. At the end of the day, that is how (Pelosi) operates and that is what she knows best.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Michigan lawmakers say Postal Service investigation reveals hundreds of late mail reports

Michigan Supreme Court asked to reconsider absentee ballot deadline in light of uncounted primary votes

Coronavirus continues to disrupt mail service in parts of Michigan

Trump campaign says Michigan voters deserve presidential debate before early voting starts

Turnout for Michigans August primary shatters records. What does the mean for November?
August 17, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:

Canada joins its partners in the international community in condemnation of the crackdown on peaceful protestors following the presidential election in Belarus.

We do not accept the results of this fraudulent presidential election in Belarus and call for free and fair elections.

We further call for a thorough investigation to be conducted through the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Thousands of people across Belarus are in the streets calling for an end to police brutality, the release of political prisoners and credible elections.

As I stated to opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya during our call on Saturday, Canada will continue to stand with the people of Belarus, and we will work with our international partners to ensure that their voices are heard and that those responsible for undermining democracy and for brutal actions against protestors are held to account.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy arrives at a meeting at the office of Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Aug. 5, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

States Announce Lawsuits Against Trump Admin to Challenge USPS Changes

Two coalitions of states said on Tuesday they will file separate lawsuits against the Trump administration to challenge recent operational changes within the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) aimed at helping the agency reduce costs.

The announcements came around the same time Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said that USPS would suspend all operational changes until after the election in order to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail.

The office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who is leading one of the multi-state lawsuits, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that DeJoys announcement does not address the operational changes put in place in July and will continue to proceed with their case.

We need more than a statement, we need binding agreements. The Postmaster Generals statement, while positive, does not address the operational changes put in place in July at the heart of our lawsuit. Therefore, well continue to press our case through the legal process and hold DeJoy accountable going forward beyond the election, Shapiros office said.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who joined Shapiros lawsuit, also told The Epoch Times that the lawsuit will go ahead in order to seek concrete action and binding agreements from DeJoy.

This isnt the first time the Trump administration has backed down when Democratic AGs have filed suit. But we arent going to just take Postmaster General DeJoy at his wordwe need concrete action and binding agreements. With no indication of that, we are moving forward with our lawsuit to hold the Trump administration accountable for its illegal actions and to make sure every vote counts, Healey said in the statement.

Shapiros lawsuit seeks to reinstate operations at the Postal Service prior to the implementation of recent changes deemed to impact the ability of USPS to make deliveries on time, according to a news release. The states claim that DeJoys changes have resulted in delays in postal delivery for Americans. In Pennsylvania, residents have been experiencing delays in receiving their mail, often with days without the delivery of letters, paychecks, or bills, the attorney general claims.

With this imminent filing, we are putting the Administration on notice: immediately roll back these operational changes at the US Postal Service and allow postal workers carry out their vital mission without interferenceor lose to us in court, Shapiro said in the statement.

The outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus during an election year thrust the issue of mail-in voting into the spotlight as large numbers of Americans are predicted to vote by mail in order to avoid crowds at polling locations. Yet, concerns over whether the USPS would be able to deliver mail-in ballots on time came into focus after the agencys general counsel and executive vice president, Thomas J. Marshall, sent letters to multiple states warning them that it might not be able to meet mail-in deadlines.

Pennsylvania was one of the states that received a letter from the Postal Service notifying it that USPS could not guarantee delivery of ballots in accordance with state laws and deadlines.

Meanwhile, DeJoy 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.

He said the financial position of USPS is dire and without dramatic change, the agency will face an impending liquidity crisis. His changes resulted in at least 20 postal executives reassigned to new roles or displaced. These cost-cutting measures have reportedly resulted in mail backlogs across the country, further elevating worries that ballots wont be delivered in time for the November election.

This announcement drew intense scrutiny to the agency, with lawmakers and critics alleging that DeJoys decision to restructure the national postal service just months prior to the November election is designed to limit mail-in voting.

These changes also come amid President Donald Trumps opposition to mail-in ballots. He has repeatedly argued that universal mail-in voting is ripe for fraud.

Pennsylvania will be joined by California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, and North Carolina in this lawsuit.

The second lawsuit, led by Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, will also be filed on Tuesday, according to a news release. The Washington State attorney general office told The Epoch Times in an email that their lawsuit will go forward.

Fergusons lawsuit alleged that DeJoys operational changes would threaten critical mail delivery and could undermine the national election in November.

We rely on the Postal Service for our Social Security benefits, prescriptionsand exercising our right to vote. Our coalition will fight to protect the Postal Service and uphold the rule of law in federal court, he said in the news release.

Both lawsuits will argue that DeJoy had acted outside his authority to implement changes to the postal system, and did not follow the proper procedures under federal law. The states say USPS must submit planned changes that could cause a nationwide impact in mail service to the Postal Regulatory Commission. This commission would then evaluate the proposals through a procedure that includes public notice and comment.

Washington State will be joined by Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

DeJoy is set to testify at a House Oversight Committee hearing next week, House lawmakers confirmed on Aug. 17.

Officials at the USPS didnt immediately respond to request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The article has been updated to include Washington State attorney general offices comment about the status of their lawsuit.
Street Gang-Connected Crimes in US Army 'Steadily Increasing,' Report Finds

Sputnik News

19:00 GMT 17.08.2020

The most recent report on street gang activity in the US Army reported a 66% increase from the previous year.

The Gang and Domestic Extremist Activity Threat Assessment, compiled annually by Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) at the behest of the US Congress, reported a 66% increase in law enforcement reports (LERs) across the military that involved known or suspected gang or domestic extremist group members.

The internal report, obtained by Military.com through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, contains data from fiscal year 2018, the most recent year for which there is data. For that year, the report notes 83 such incidents, which, while a sharp increase from prior years, still represents less than 1% of all Army law enforcement incidents, the outlet notes.

"The data shows that gang LERs are steadily increasing each fiscal year," the report states, according to Military.com. "FY18 is the highest percentage increase thus far."

Some of the driving forces behind the spike identified by the report include the decentralization of street gangs, the ease with which they can communicate via social media platforms, and an increasing number of women becoming involved in gang-related crimes. These crimes extend from the mundane to the criminal, including absences without leave, assault and murder.

The largest increase was seen among "outlaw motorcycle gangs" (OMGs), whose violent activity increased 33% from the prior year, almost entirely within the state of Texas and mostly at Fort Hood and Fort Bliss.

"The Army is concerned about soldiers who join OMGs or their support clubs because they typically join these groups after they have been in the military for several years, are of higher rank, are more mature, and tend to be leaders (informal or formal) who can influence younger soldiers," the report states. "These soldiers are more likely aware of DoD policy regarding membership in criminal organizations."

One expert told Military.com that many gang members join the military to find a way out of gang life, which unfortunately follows them into the service; however, there are also some gang members who join the military to hone their skills.

The US military has also seen increasing levels of domestic extremism and connections to white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups in recent years. The CID report notes that in 2018 just a few incidents that reached criminal level, such as planning to carry out violent acts. Far more incidents have involved activities that clash with the military's standards of conduct, such as espousing racist or bigoted ideas.

 Sputnik

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A Kentucky teenager seen in a viral video last year wearing a red Make America Great Again hat during a reported incident with a Native American elder will speak at the upcoming Republican National Convention.

Nicholas Sandmann confirmed he would speak at the four-day event next week in a tweet, writing: I cant tell you all enough about how excited I am to be apart [sic] of this years RNC!

He became part of a national news cycle after a viral video showed him standing close to Nathan Phillips, a 66-year-old Native American activist, as he sang a chant near the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.

The teenager was with his classmates from Covington Catholic High School for a trip to the nations capitol, where they attended the annual March for Life rally, when the encounter occurred.

A shortened video clip of his encounter with the activist drew controversy, as some viewers said the teen and his classmates were allegedly attempting to intimidate Mr Phillips. A second video that subsequently went viral days later appeared to provide more context, while the teen said in a statement released following the incident that he had been trying to remain calm and diffuse the situation.

I never felt like I was blocking the Native American protestor. He did not make any attempt to go around me. It was clear to me that he had singled me out for a confrontation, although I am not sure why, Mr Sandmann said at the time.

The teen sued the Washington Post for $250 million  a case that eventually settled out of court  and threatened legal action against several other media outlets for what he and his parents alleged was modern-day McCarthyism and targeting and bullying over their coverage of the viral video.

The teen also reportedly received offers of assistance from the White House, which said it reached out and voiced our support to the students from Covington Catholic High School who were involved in the trip.

Thanks to my family & millions of you who have stood your ground by supporting me, he tweeted at the time. I still have more to do.

News of the teenager speaking at the Republican National Convention, where Donald Trump was expected to accept the partys nomination for the White House, was tweeted on Monday by the Trump campaign and others.

Officials reportedly first confirmed the news to the right-wing website Breitbart.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey, a St Louis couple who received felony charges after pointing guns at protestors in a confrontation that was recorded and subsequently went viral this summer, were also scheduled to speak at the convention.

Other speakers scheduled to speak at the event included Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood director who is now an anti-choice advocate, Andrew Pollack, father of a victim in the Parkland shooting massacre, and Sean Parnell, a combat veteran and candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the representatives of the civic bodies to hold a meeting to work out a solution to the financial crunch being faced by the Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs).

The directions of the high court came while it was hearing a petition filed by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NrDMC), alleging that Rs 90.60 crore payable as grant-in-aid under the sanitation/urban development head for the first quarter ending June 30 has not been released yet.

A division bench of the high court presided over by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan said, "This meeting should take place at the earliest." The matter has been slated for further hearing on September 8.

The bench also directed that a committee will look into Delhi government's claim that it did not recieve its share of GST collection which amounts to Rs 10,000 crore.

In its application filed through advocate Mini Pushkarma, the NrDMC sought directions to the Delhi government to release the due amount under the head sanitation/UD for the first quarter amounting to Rs 90.60 crore and Rs 181.20 crore due and payable under the head sanitation/UD under the second quarter which commenced from July 1, 2020.

It also said that expenditure towards salary till May 2020, sanitation services and providing PPE kits, gloves, masks, sanitisers etc. to the workers has been incurred by the corporation from its own internal resources in the absence of any amount being released by the Delhi government.
Nearly 10 days after he raised a series of rare corruption allegations, Iranian hard-line politician Parviz Fattah continues to face fury from across the political spectrum. Fattah is the director of the Foundation of the Oppressed, commonly known in Iran as Bonyad, one of the countrys wealthiest public institutions controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The organization was founded only two weeks after the 1979 Islamic Revolution with a stated mission to eradicate poverty after it confiscated whopping amounts of land, property and fortunes left behind by the entourage of the ousted ruler of Iran, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and his loyalists who had to flee the country in fear of execution by revolutionary courts.

Over the past four decades, Bonyad has grown into a financial empire in control of hundreds of enterprises involved in a multitude of economic sectors, from investment and banking to construction, energy, mines, agriculture and food industries. The foundations gross fiscal revenue from its various business activities in 2019 stood above $318 million, while it gained a separate $1.6 billion from property sales.

During a lengthy live interview broadcast on Irans conservative state television earlier this month, Fattah opened Pandoras box by accusing several institutions and politicians of the seizure of properties owned by his organization. Almost all former presidents from Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to Mohammad Khatami and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he said, had seized properties, which the foundation had provided them as offices and only for brief periods.

Fattah did not even spare Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, a former parliament speaker and veteran hard-line politician with a close family association to the supreme leader. Haddad-Adel is refusing to return a large piece of land located in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Tehrans affluent north, where he constructed and is running a private school. The updated value of the property, according to Fattah, is over $9 million, an amount he said could be spent on fighting poverty if Haddad-Adel lets loose of the property and makes way for Bonyad to sell the precious land.

It took Haddad-Adel 10 days to come out with a video message, in which he unleashed a diatribe against Fattah as he read out from a prepared speech. He denied the provocative claims and instead accused Bonyads chief of seeking name and fame. A defiant Haddad-Adel said he had the supreme leaders approval back in 1995 to turn the property into the private school.

In his revelations, Fattah also targeted the influential Expediency Council, which he said has built a nine-story building with no official permits on a piece of land owned by Bonyad. And his list of corruption cases did not end there, hitting a prestigious research center run by the Iranian parliament and a government-affiliated institution for womens studies, which was once directed by Masoumeh Ebtekar, a senior female politician and currently vice president of Women and Family Affairs in President Hassan Rouhanis Cabinet. Ebtekar took to Twitter, accusing Fattah of distorting facts and calling on the public prosecutor to give her a chance to address the allegations.

Yet what perhaps raised the eyebrows in Fattahs interview were the rare accusations he leveled against the armed forces and particularly a brigade of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), known as the Supreme Leaders Guards, a highly mysterious entity that acts as Ayatollah Khameneis secret service and protection unit. There is this very valuable property in control of the Leaders Guards. But they dont even let me in despite the fact I am the official owner, Fattah said.

Reacting, chief of the Leaders Guards Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Jabbari expressed surprise at why Fattah lacked knowledge and was unaware about a deal reached between the two organizations on returning that certain property. Basirat, a news outlet affiliated with the IRGC, also attacked Fattah for his inappropriate remarks and for encouraging rumors.

Unsurprisingly, similar anger is being expressed by the Reformist camp as Fattah did not spare either end of the spectrum. To pro-Reform paper Etemad, Fattahs claims were reminiscent of former President Ahmadinejad, who publicly named corrupt politicians for the first time in 2005, a populistic attempt that was widely seen as his winning card for the presidency back then. Etemad argued that Fattah is using the same old strategy but that "jugglery does not work anymore.

Pressure is now building on Fattah not to follow Ahmadinejads path by emerging with damming evidence if he has any, and there are questions as to whether he is genuinely fighting corruption. Some even argue that those allegations could boomerang and explode in his own face as the organization under Fattahs control is itself plagued by rampant corruption and accused of tax evasion. By one account, Bonyad and three other similar institutions controlled by the supreme leader are in possession of 60% of Irans national wealth.

Yet Fattah has not been entirely left to fend for himself. The most vocal support came from Ali Motahari, the outspoken former deputy parliament speaker who believes that Fattahs statements had nothing to do with a bid for the presidency and were rather an attempt to defend the public rights violated by the powerful individuals and institutions. Motahari appreciated Fattahs boldness to take aim at the Supreme Leaders Guards as a step in the right direction.

Whether or not Fattah is preparing to run for president, he seems to have already pitted the majority of the political elites against him and could be facing an even tougher battle ahead in his political career. Still, the fact that he targeted the IRGC and hard-line politicians close to the supreme leader would have been unthinkable without the latters green light. That again makes the picture blurry and gives rise to theories that Fattah is, for now, the apple of the ayatollah's eye, and if vying for the presidency, he could enjoy support from the most powerful man in Irans political scene.

Traditionally, Irans supreme leader has not made public his endorsement of presidential candidates. Yet his choice in every election has always been an open secret. The Fattah saga aside, this time around Ayatollah Khamenei might have to choose from among a fast-growing list of conservatives who are jostling one another in an already heated-up race as the campaigning period draws near.

Given the surplus of candidates, we will have to export some of them to other countries that have recently gained independence, said conservative politician and member of the Expediency Council Mohammad Reza Bahonar in a sarcastic statement, which is telling of the complicated arrangements ahead of the key polls.
What should replace Confederate statues?

This is a time when there is an intensified movement  particularly at Americas colleges and universities  to remove statues and names from buildings or organizations that pay homage to Confederate leaders and others with racist views. In The Conversation, education professor Christian Anderson examines the question of what  if anything  should be put up in their place.

Ever since the University of South Carolina put up a statue of Richard T. Greener  who in 1873 became the schools first Black professor  one of my favorite things to do has been to eat lunch on a bench nearby to watch how people interact with it.

Greener  who taught for four years when the university was desegregated during Reconstruction  went on to become a widely recognized lawyer, scholar, diplomat and activist for racial justice.

Some people come to the statue with a purpose, often to show it to others and take pictures. Others pass by and look at Greeners likeness with curiosity. Usually when they read the plaque at the base, they pause with a look of surprise. I watch them read the plaque again and then walk around the statue as if to evaluate if this story could be true.

A plaque honoring the University of South Carolinas first Black professor, Richard T. Greener, lies at the base of his statue in the middle of campus. The statue was created by sculptor Jon Hair. Christian Anderson, CC BY-ND

As a historian who examines the role that race played in the social and political structure of the South, especially as it relates to higher education, I know that not only is the story completely accurate, but I believe how the statue in honor of Greener came to be holds important lessons for today. This is a time when there is an intensified movement  particularly at Americas colleges and universities  to remove statues and names from buildings or organizations that pay homage to Confederate leaders and others with racist views.

As part of Americas reckoning with its oppressive past, the nation now faces the question not just of what statues and other images should be taken down, but what else  if anything  should be put up in their place. What should become of the empty pedestals where some of these statues once stood? Should they remain empty or be replaced with memorials that honor the victims of  and victors over  racism?

I believe the story of the Greener statue helps illuminate a way forward.

Harvards first Black graduate

The story begins in the fall of 2010, when Katherine Chaddock, a professor of higher education, mentioned during a graduate course she was teaching that she had seen a plaque near Harvard Square commemorating Greener as Harvards first Black graduate. A student then asked why he hadnt heard of Greener and what there was on campus to commemorate and remember him.

A play about Greeners life  and named for one of his essays, The White Problem, in which he took on the ideology of white supremecy  was commissioned and performed as part of the University of South Carolinas bicentennial in 2001. But that play has not been performed since. There is a scholarship in memory of Greener given by the Black Alumni Council, and a portrait of Greener hangs in the presidents office, but these have a limited audience.

Chaddock started a dialogue with her graduate students and others from the Higher Education and Student Affairs program, along with me and Lydia Mattice Brandt, an art history professor.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members all got involved. We ultimately decided that a statue was the best way to publicly honor Greener. That statue was unveiled on February 21, 2018.

During the unveiling ceremony, I pointed out how some people wanted to forget when the campus desegregated briefly during Reconstruction and hired its first Black professor.

For example, when white students returned to campus after it reopened as an all-white institution in 1880  three years after its desegregated status from 1873 to 1877 came to an end  they ripped or blacked out pages from the ledgers of the debating societies that had been used by Black students during Reconstruction.

Who was Richard T. Greener?

Richard T. Greener was appointed professor of mental and moral philosophy at the University of South Carolina in 1873. As a student at Harvard (class of 1870), he won both the Boylston Prize for elocution and the Bowdoin Prize for writing.

At the time of his appointment, the South Carolina legislature was majority Black, a radical change brought about by the revision of the state constitution in 1868 allowing for universal suffrage, meaning that for the first time all men, including Black men, in the state could vote.

In addition to teaching philosophy, Latin and Greek, Greener served as university librarian and reorganized and modernized the librarys catalog. He also recruited Black students throughout the state and developed a preparatory program to help them succeed. While on faculty, he earned a law degree. His diploma and law license were found in Chicago in 2012 and later obtained by the University of South Carolina.

After being forced out of South Carolina because the university was closed, Greener served as dean of the Howard University School of Law, as a U.S. diplomat in Vladivostok, Russia and as the chief administrator of the Grant Memorial Association. He also practiced law. His debates with Frederick Douglass about Black migration helped Douglass better understand the nature of the South. W.E.B. DuBois considered him part of the talented tenth, whom DuBois regarded as the leaders among African Americans.

Greener died in 1922 in Chicago, where he had gone to live with family and practice law after leaving Russia.

As Chaddock explains in her biography, Uncompromising Activist: Richard Greener, First Black Graduate of Harvard College, he was a complex man living in a complex time. Even though he lived only four years in the state, he always considered himself a South Carolinian, Rep. James Clyburn emphasized in his keynote address at the unveiling ceremony.

Why do we need new memorials?

Historian Eric Foner has argued that Americans should erect new statues because our public monuments have not kept up. With Greeners statue, the University of South Carolina showed that it would recognize, seek to understand and celebrate forgotten parts of its past.

Political science professor Todd Shaw connected Greeners pioneering legacy to his own in his remarks before the statue was officially unveiled. Shaw in 2017 became the first African American to chair the University of South Carolinas political science department. In each case, for varying reasons, both Greener and I were and are proud to serve though the road to our appointments were admittedly a long time in coming.

The statue not only celebrates Greeners contributions, it stands as a symbol of how we can reclaim and understand a lost, misunderstood or misrepresented history.

Whom will your campus honor?

Making the statue a reality required a grassroots process that took more than seven years. The process involved identifying a site with the university architect, approvals from the Board of Trustees and fundraising. President Harris Pastides helped push it over the finish line and supported it as a means to help build, not divide the community.

The point is that erecting new statues to replace the ones that have fallen out of favor may not always be a quick and easy process, although perhaps it could become easier given the current momentum behind efforts to replace monuments to the Confederacy and others who sought to uphold white supremacy.

But regardless of how long it may take and who all gets involved, what is clear is that it all must start with two simple questions: Who is and isnt recognized on our campus? And why?

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Banner image photo credit: Unveiling of a statue of Richard T. Greener, the first Black professor at the University of South Carolina, in 2018. Jason Ayer

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After falling to multi-year lows in March this year, lead by the fear of economic consequences of COVID-19, the equity segment of the Indian market registered a strong comeback with almost 90 percent of the stocks trading in the green. Some stocks have even generated multibagger returns in just under five months.

The steep 40 percent correction in the benchmark indices since forming all-time highs in January left many stocks trading at multi-year lows in March. The D-Street took a liking to the cheap valuations and has since pushed Nifty up by 50 percent.

The broader markets also participated in the rally with Nifty Midcap posting similar returns while the Smallcap index outperformed both of them with 59 percent gains.

Listen: Setting Sail podcast | Wow Momo may cut jobs in September, business still not back to pre-Covid level: Sagar Daryani

Apart from valuations, the rally was also backed by ample liquidity as trillions of dollar made their way to households from stimulus packages given by central banks across the world. Better than expected earnings in June quarter, unlocking of economies, progress in the development of vaccine were some other factors that pleased the D-Street.

Shares of multinational companies also acted in a similar fashion with more than 90 percent of them trading in green now, compared to their March lows. About 51 stocks have gained at least in double-digits and with filtering the same data further, the top 22 stocks shot up 52-201 percent.

GMM Pfaudler (up 201 percent), Dixon Technologies (India) (up 153 percent) and Sterlite Technologies (up 106 percent) were the biggest gainers.

Vedanta, Affle (India), Hexaware Technologies, Bayer CropScience, Astrazeneca Pharma, Linde India, Bosch, Kansai Nerolac Paints, Maruti Suzuki, Aegis Logistics, Ambuja Cements, Procter & Gamble Health etc gained more than 51 percent.

Note: AceEquity data says there are 180 MNCs listed on exchanges. For this story, we considered only companies which have market capitalisation of Rs 5,000 crore and more.

Majority of sectors participated in the run with Pharma, IT, Auto and Metal leading the charge rising 50-80 percent in five months. Telecom and chemical stocks also logged big gains.

"Chemical, technology and MNC pharma stocks have witnessed strong momentum in the last six months even after the disrupted supply-chain amid lockdown. The companies have shown very good trends because of potential growth in earnings and optimism over the economy to get back on track faster than was thought earlier. Growth led rally in stocks might continue to shine and give good returns in the mid to long-term," Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research told Moneycontrol.

Multinational companies generally maintain good cash flows and have the latest technology with a clean balance sheet and good corporate governance. These factors attract investors because of the stability they get while investing in such companies.

"Most MNCs have very low corporate governance issue, pay full tax, have technology access from the parent, strong global parentage, higher dividend payout and a clean balance sheet. All these reasons lead to higher valuations for most MNCs in India," Rusmik Oza, Executive Vice President, Head of Fundamental Research at Kotak Securities told Moneycontrol.

"In most MNCs, the parent holding is also anywhere between 51 percent to 74 percent which provides higher confidence to minority investors. The lower free float in the market also leads to lower supply of the stock. Many of the MNCs have very good free cash flows and higher return of equity (RoE) which also supports higher valuations for them," he said.

Strategy

Rusmik Oza feels investors must have a few good MNC companies in their portfolio. "Most MNC companies have created good wealth in the long run. If for reasons the parent is consistently reducing its stake then one needs to be cautious and re-evaluate the company," he said.

Gaurav Garg said most of the stocks have already rallied, hence, investors should try to lighten their holdings. But they should try to accumulate fundamentally sound stocks in the event of any healthy correction, he advised.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 25, 2020 | 03:51 PM | PADUCAH; LACENTER; MAYFIELD



According to Shively's plan, for the first three days of classes will be virtual for all students. Shively said they chose to do this to test the system and ensure that everything was functioning correctly in case they had to begin doing entirely virtual classes.



He said, "It's not a start on August 24 with children, but it's definitely a start before September 28."



Following the first three days, from August 27 until September 3, there will be a hybrid schedule with the students that chose in-person learning divided into two groups. Each of those groups will attend on alternate days.



On Friday, September 4, all students that chose in-person learning will attend.



Following the vote, Chairman of the Board Dr. Carl LeBuhn shared his thoughts on the plan.



"I think it's important for us to pay attention to the community rates, and we've done that. It looks like our community is at a reasonably safe rate to go back to school at this time. We recognize that situation may change. It may change next week, next month, it may not change, it may get better. We don't know, but I think we're going to stay very dialed into what is going on with the status of the pandemic in our community." LeBuhn continued, "I think we have to recognize that different communities in our state and even in our country are going to have to experience and react to this pandemic in different ways at different times."



He said, "No plan that we put in place at this time is going to be risk-free. So I think we have to recognize that there are going to be students in our midst who contract COVID, there's going to be teachers that contract COVID, we just have to have a plan in place that mitigates that risk and prevents escalation of the problem."





You can see the full Paducah Board of Education meeting below.



Also on Monday, members of the Ballard County Board of Education voted unanimously to move the beginning of in-person instruction to August 31, but some types of virtual instruction will be available on August 26.

Parents will have a choice of in-person or virtual learning for their children. Students that attend in-person classes will have that type of instruction Monday through Thursday, with Fridays being reserved for virtual instruction for all students.

We believe that in-person instruction is the best way for students to learn, said Superintendent Dr. Casey Allen. We also understand that right now, some parents feel that the best option for their students is in a virtual learning environment. The boards decision allows parents to choose what they think is best for their children.

Additional information on the plan will be available on August 19. Anyone with questions should email them to questions@paducah.kyschools.us.

School districts in Paducah, Mayfield, and Ballard County have decided how they will hold classes, beginning in August.The Paducah Board of Education voted unanimously on Monday to move forward with Superintendent Donald Shively's plan for a hybrid start to the school year beginning August 24.After Shively's presentation, the board voted unanimously to move forward with the plan.In their meeting Monday night, the Mayfield Independent School District board also decided to allow in-person classes beginning August 26. They said that the virtual option is available for any families that are uncomfortable with students coming to school at this time.In a press release, Superintendent Joe Henderson said, "There are no right or wrong answers. There is no 'cookie cutter' solution. We respectfully ask that as we set this plan in place, everybody be kind, everybody be patient with those who have fears and frustrations brought on by the pandemic, and respect the hard decisions leadership has had to make."More details on Mayfield's plan are on the district's website (click image link).
A U.N.-backed tribunal on Tuesday convicted a Hezbollah member of conspiracy to kill former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in a 2005 bombing that set the stage for years of confrontation between Lebanon's rival political forces.

There was insufficient evidence against three other men charged as accomplices in the bombing and they were acquitted, the tribunal found.

Judges said they were "satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt" that the evidence showed that the main defendant, Salim Jamil Ayyash, possessed "one of six mobiles used by the assassination team" and ruled he was guilty of committing a terrorist attack and of homicide.

"The evidence also established that Mr. Ayyash had affiliation with Hezbollah," said Judge Micheline Braidy, reading a summary of the 2,600-page verdict.

The three other defendants are also alleged members of the Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim group.

Judges said they had however found no evidence that the leadership of Hezbollah or the Syrian government had played a part in the attack that left 21 others dead. Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the Feb. 14, 2005 bombing.

The verdict comes as the Lebanese people are still reeling from the aftermath of a huge explosion in Beirut that killed 178 people this month and from a devastating economic meltdown.

Hariri, a Sunni Muslim billionaire, had close ties with the United States, Western and Sunni Gulf Arab allies, and was seen as a threat to Iranian and Syrian influence in Lebanon. He led efforts to rebuild Beirut following the 1975-1990 civil war.

"The trial chamber is of the view that Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr. Hariri and his political allies, however, there is no evidence that the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariri's murder and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement," Judge David Re said earlier.

Polarised country

Hariri's assassination plunged Lebanon into what was then its worst crisis since the war, setting the stage for years of confrontation between rival political forces.

Even before judges began reading their 2,600 page verdict into Hariri's killing, Lebanon's an-Nahar daily ran a headline: 'International Justice Defeats Intimidation'.

The paper published a caricature of Hariri's face looking at a mushroom cloud over the devastated city, with a caption: "May you also (get justice)", referring to an investigation that could unveil the cause of the blast.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday he was not concerned with the trial and that if any members of the group were convicted, it would stand by their innocence.

Hezbollah's Al Manar TV and the pro-Damascus Al Mayadeen channel did not cover the trial, which other broadcasters in Lebanon were airing live.

Beirut tour guide Nada Nammour, 54, speaking before the reading of the verdict began, said the 2005 bombing was a crime that should be punished. "Lebanon needs to see law and justice."

The verdict in The Hague may further polarise a divided country and complicate a tumultuous situation after the Aug. 4 blast at Beirut port, where authorities say ammonium nitrate stored unsafely detonated, fuelling public outrage and leading to the government's resignation.

Hariri's killing removed a powerful Sunni leader and allowed the further political expansion of Shi'ite power led by Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon.

Justice 15 years on

The investigation and trial in absentia of the four alleged Hezbollah members has taken 15 years and cost roughly $1 billion. Sentencing will be carried out later though Ayyash could face up to life imprisonment, or acquittal.

DNA evidence showed that the blast that killed Hariri was carried out by a male suicide bomber who was never identified.

Prosecutors used cell phone records to argue the men on trial -- Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi, Assad Hassan Sabra and Hussein Hassan Oneissi -- carefully monitored Hariri's movements in the months leading up to the attack to time it and to put forward a fake claim of responsibility as a diversion.

Court-appointed lawyers said there was no physical evidence linking the four to the crime and they should be acquitted.

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Yesterday our industry saw two of our most talented artistes leave us. While director Nishikant Kamat passed away in Hyderabad, music maestro Pandit Jasraj took his last breath in the US. Talking about the maestro, Asha Bhosle said she'd lost a big brother.



Speaking about him in an interview to daily, she said, I am deeply saddened by the unfortunate. I have lost someone who was extremely fond of me, I have lost a big brother. Sangeet ka sooraj doob gaya (the sun of music has set). He was a vocalist par excellence and I knew him for so long, from even before his marriage to V Shantaram's daughter. He used to praise me a lot and he always used to say, main tujhe gaana sikhaunga (I will teach you how to sing)'.

Sharing some more memories with the daily, she said, Back in the day, when I had visited his classical school in the US, where he used to teach music to so many aspiring talents, I remember how I had wanted to enrol myself into his school. On that same trip, we went out for dinner, and Jasraj ji, who was a staunch vegetarian, kept requesting me to turn vegetarian for health reasons. I will always remember his childlike demeanor.
The Florida Department of Insurance has among the highest actuarial standards, and we are proud to introduce an innovative cyber insurance offering that meets these standards and that will ultimately help protect businesses, non-profits, and other organizations throughout the state of Florida, said Michael Carr, head of risk engineering for Coalition.

The companys cyber insurance offering is now admitted in 48 states and the District of Columbia, available in all 50 states in the surplus lines market, and is now available in Canada. Coalition currently has a customer base of more than 25,000 businesses  a 600% year-over-year increase  making it one of the largest providers of cyber insurance and security in the United States. In May, the company announced that it had raised $90 million in equity capital to fuel its expansion.
Opposition supporters celebrated on the streets of Mali's capital Bamako on Tuesday (August 18), after hearing the news of soldiers mutinying against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Gunfire was heard in the morning at an army base outside Bamako, a Malian military spokesman confirmed.

According to a security source and an official in the prime minister's office, mutineering soldiers rounded up a number of senior civilians and military officials from the capital and drove them back to their base.

Neither source said who the officials were or how many had been arrested.

Unconfirmed rumors that the mutineers had arrested President Keita swept Bamako, prompting hundreds of anti-government protesters to pour into a central square to celebrate and to call for his resignation.

"This is a memorable day for the youth of Mali, as you can see yourself."

"We are tired, the country is paralysed and I do not want this government."

Protesters ransacked and set fire to the private law office of Mali's Minister of Justice, after rumours filtered through that the military was staging a coup.

France's foreign minister condemned the mutiny - and urged the soldiers to return to their barracks.
A long standoff between police and a gunman holed up with hostages in a suburb of Austin, Texas, ended Monday morning, a day after three police officers were shot inside the home while responding to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance.

Three people related to the suspect were being held hostage inside the house in Cedar Park, following Sunday's shooting. Two of the hostages were released Monday morning before the suspect and the last hostage exited the home "peacefully," according to a tweet from the Cedar Park Police Department.

"The scene will continue to be active for quite a while as we investigate," police added.

MORE: Texas police say 3 officers shot, but in stable condition

The incident began on shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday local time. A man in his mid-20s had kicked down the door of his mother's home and was "acting very aggressive," according to Mike Harmon, interim police chief for the Cedar Park Police Department.

The police later identified the man as Joseph DeSean Taylor, 26.

Responding officers were met with gunfire inside the house. They returned gunfire, and it is unknown if the suspect was hit, Harmon said. At least 50 bullets were fired during the incident, according to police.

Following the shooting, the suspect barricaded himself inside the home with three family members, including his mother and a juvenile, Harmon said. The age of the third family member remains unknown.

PHOTO: Police respond to a 911 call in a Cedar Park, Texas, home on August 16, 2020. (KVUE)

Residents of the area were urged to stay indoors early Monday morning as the suspect remained barricaded inside the house. Negotiators were in talks with the suspect to "bring this to a peaceful resolution," the police chief told reporters at a press conference Sunday night.

"We do have a message for the suspect inside, and please take this to heart," Harmon said. "We want to end this peacefully for everybody involved. For the suspect inside, for the hostages that are inside, for the officers that are on the scene, for everybody."

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"So please, if you're listening to this, please come out and surrender yourself peacefully so we can resolve this situation tonight," he added.

MORE: Texas police officer shot and killed, 2 others injured after domestic disturbance

The Cedar Park Police Department has responded to the residence in the past, according to Harmon. The suspect has "some mental health issues," he said, but did not elaborate beyond that.

Taylor has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a public servant and three counts of aggravated kidnapping, according to police. He was taken to a local hospital to be examined and was awaiting transport to the Williamson County Jail, the police said.

The three officers who were shot were rushed to an area hospital in stable condition while the suspect remained barricaded inside the house, according to a tweet Sunday evening from the Cedar Park Police Department.

The officers were later identified as Officer Jacqueline Quiles, a four-year veteran of the force, Officer Cris Hester, a 10-year veteran, and Officer Nik Anderson, an eight-year veteran.

MORE: 2 police officers shot and killed in McAllen, Texas

The police chief later told reporters that the wounded officers had non-life-threatening injuries and two were released from the hospital Monday. One was still in stable condition as of Monday evening.

The three officers will be placed on administrative leave while the Cedar Park Police Department's Professional Standards Division conducts an internal investigation, which is part of the department's policy during shootings, the police said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shared his condolences for the injured officers.

"Our hearts are with the police officers who were injured while protecting the Cedar Park community this afternoon," Abbott said in a statement.

ABC News' Josh Margolin and Cammeron Parrish contributed to this report.

Long standoff at Texas home ends after all hostages released originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
President Assad has met with a delegation from Iran and discussed means to enhance their relationship and confront aggressive policies aimed at them writes SANA.

On Monday, President Bashar al-Assad received Senior Assistant to Iranian Foreign Minister for Special Political Affairs Ali Asghar Khaji and the accompanying delegation.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the latest developments in Syria and the developments of the political track with the approach of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva and viewpoints converged as Assad affirmed that Syria will go forwards in this track despite of the attempts of some parties to divert the committee from its tasks and the purposes of its formation and to change the mechanisms of its work.

The two sides also discussed means to enhance cooperation between the two countries to face the siege imposed by the US and its allies against Syria, and the possible options to deal with it and with its repercussions, with the help of the friendly and allied countries and whoever rejects the practices adopted by the US under fake names and titles to stifle the Syrian people.

The Iranian side underlined the importance of deepening the level of the economic cooperation between the two countries to face this siege.

During the meeting, the Iranian side also congratulated the Syrian people and leadership for the achievement of the latest parliamentary elections, and the head of the Iranian delegation affirmed that holding these elections at this time proves the adherence of the Syrian people to their land and state and their keenness on participating in the important constitutional events despite of all the circumstances which they are passing through.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
F amilies living in destitution during the coronavirus crisis have spoken of being totally dependent on food parcels to survive.

Refugees and asylum seekers told the Evening Standard of their suffering in recent months, alleviated by our Food for London Now appeal beneficiary, The Felix Project, which has provided them with emergency supplies.

Hannah, 27, is almost nine months pregnant and is living in a hotel room in Earls Court. When the pandemic hit, the Eritrean national was no longer able to stay at the home of a friend. She is waiting on the outcome of a fresh asylum application after her initial claim was refused, leaving her unable to work or access benefits.

She gets weekly food parcels from West London Welcome, a support group supplied by Londons biggest food surplus charity, The Felix Project. Its been such a stressful time, she said. I am relying on charities for food. I go to a friends house to make proper meals with the fresh food I get. I hope to get my own accommodation soon. I want to take care of my baby properly.

West London Welcome said foreign students, as well as refugees and asylum seekers, were falling foul of the Governments no recourse to public funds (NRPF) policy which prevents some migrants accessing benefits, depending on their immigration status.

Helper Eve Durant / Lucy Young

Joanne MacInnes, co-founder of the group, said: Weve seen some students, who were allowed to work up to 16 hours a week, lose their jobs during the pandemic and find themselves with no access to anything. Theyre completely destitute. The food delivered by Felix is hugely appreciated. Although the Home Office has not revealed how many people have NRPF conditions attached to their immigration status, a recent report by Citizens Advice estimated that nearly 1.4 million people in the UK cannot access public funds. The charity has seen the number of people seeking advice with NRPF problems double during the pandemic.

Hawa and her six children, aged 10 to 19, have been left without access to benefits since losing temporary leave to remain in the UK. The family is living in one room at the home of a friend in north London, relying on food from Barnet Refugee Service, another group supplied by Felix.

I have had some really bad times, said the Somalian. It has not been easy moving from friend to friend. You cannot know what it is like to have no money. I appreciate the food parcels so much. It is helping us survive.

Barnet Refugee Service is providing support to more than 150 people. Farida Stanikzai, operations manager, said: We do our best to help people with basic things, but when they are unable to work or get benefits and dont have any firm legal status, life is made so difficult for them.

Josie Naughton, chief executive of Help Refugees, said: We are seeing a dramatic rise in the number of people needing assistance who have no recourse to public funds. This policy was always inhumane and pushed people into destitution. The no recourse to public funds policy should be scrapped. A cross-party group of MPs from the work and pensions select committee has also called on the government to suspend NRPF rules.

A Government spokesman said: The Home Office takes the wellbeing of asylum seekers very seriously and anyone who needs it can apply for accommodation, receive meals, and access financial support. Extensive action has also been taken to support those with no recourse to public funds.
George Kyriakidis, 45, has been accused of dangerous driving, after crossing onto a painted island which led to the death of a 16-year-old boy

A tipper truck driver made an illegal turn but could never have seen the boy he tragically struck and killed in Sydney, a court has heard.

George Kyriakidis, 45, has been accused of dangerous driving, after crossing onto a painted island which led to the death of a 16-year-old boy.

Kyriakidis had slowed down his 11-tonne truck 'almost to a crawling pace', near a busy Bankstown street junction in August 2018.

At the time a school student was running diagonally across lanes of traffic to get to his home in a street nearby.

For most of a four-second period the teenager was running faster than the truck, and for a moment ran in front of the vehicle, defence lawyer Brett Longville argues.

'That's the extraordinary and unusual feature of this case,' he said during his closing remarks.

'He overtook the front of the truck and why, we will never know, effectively placed himself in front of the truck when the front of the truck was moving away from him.

'When we get to the point of impact, it's very tragic, but it's very clear (the boy) could not have been seen, and nothing could have been done at that moment of time.'

In earlier evidence Kyriakidis said he heard and felt a 'boomp boomp boomp' before parking his truck and asking witnesses 'where did he come from?'

Sarah Jennings, who was stopped in front of the truck, told the court earlier she saw a young boy 'craning' his neck in looking for traffic driving the opposite way.

'I remember seeing the truck begin to turn and I did think, what is the truck doing,' she said.

Crown prosecutor Mark Hay in his closing remarks said Kyriakidis was 'driving in a manner dangerous to another person or persons'.

He said it was reasonable to believe a pedestrian may have assumed the truck would wait for Ms Jennings to clear the intersection before turning, and that the painted island would provide a safe island from the traffic.

'The accused did not stop. He did not bother to check what was coming from the left-hand side....his attention was almost completely taken with what's happening in the right front corner of his truck,' he said.

Kyriakidis had slowed down his 11-tonne truck 'almost to a crawling pace', near a busy Bankstown street junction in August 2018

He also accused Kyriakidis - who was on a phone call via a hands-free device at the time of the crash - of being distracted and rushed.

'No one is suggesting for a moment that if he'd seen (the boy) he would have run over him... the case against him is he should have seen him,' Mr Hay said.

'If he had taken reasonable precautions...(the boy) would be alive and we would not be here today'.

But Mr Longville said a breach of road rules did not prove dangerous driving, and said the teen had also broken road rules by running onto the painted white island.

'The shortest safest route' was a designated pedestrian refuge about 90 metres away.

Kyriakidis has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving and not keeping left of a median strip and motor vehicle.

The Panania man's trial in the Downing Centre District Court continues.
Inc. 500 is a registered trademark of Mansueto Ventures LLC. We are honored to be here and look forward to continuing to deliver excellent service to our clients in the ever-evolving world of medical device regulation.

Inc. magazine today revealed that FANG CONSULTING is No. 610 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.

Here at Fang we pride ourselves on exemplary results and making this list demonstrates that weve done just that. We are honored to be here and look forward to continuing to deliver excellent service to our clients in the ever-evolving world of medical device regulation. My greatest thanks goes out to the entire Fang team and to our Canine Executive Officer, Madeline.

-Tracy Eberly, CEO

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.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 12.

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.

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.

Fang Consulting is headquartered in Minnesotas Medical Alley. Our team of medical device Regulatory and Quality experts use their knowledge of the US & international regulations to provide premarket and post-market support to startups and Fortune 500 clients. Our regulatory and quality teams have the experience to ensure our clients obtain the clearances needed to place new products on any desired market and keep existing products on market. We offer customizable on-site and off-site support for regulatory and quality functions.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000

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 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/.
Kim Kardashian has deleted a tweet about her new SKIMS campaign after it was mocked by some social media users for its odd use of props.

The 39-year-old promoted her brand's Fits Everybody collection on Twitter and Instagram today, sharing two photos of two different models wearing underwear from the 'ultra-soft and stretchy' line.

But some social media users barely saw the lingerie, and instead focused in on the bare pink mattress the models posed on  and expressed confusion and disgust over the 'dirty 'crack house mattress.'

Promotion: Kim Kardashian has deleted a tweet about her new SKIMS campaign after it was mocked by some social media users for its odd use of props

Images: The 39-year-old promoted her brand's Fits Everybody collection on Twitter and Instagram today

Snaps: The models are posing on pink floral mattress on the floor, which some say make the images look like they were taken in a crack house or porn film

Yuck! Several were particularly horrified by how dirty the mattress look

Six new styles of the Fits Everybody collection  in ten colors  go on sale August 21, and Kim is promoting the launch online.

She shared photos of two different models from a promo shoot on her Instagram stories, while on Twitter, she posed two snaps of the same model wearing a tan bra and underwear.

The model is posing on a pink floral mattress on the floor, and whether it is actually used or subject to some shadowy lighting, the image has some Twitter users questioning it's cleanliness.

'The mattress looks old and dirty. Yuck,' wrote one.

'Girl that mattress is dirty,' wrote another.

Another called it 'not tasteful,' while one more said it reminded her of the film Taken.

Upset: Several thought the mattress looked 'dirty' and 'disgusting,' while others compared the setting to a crack house and a brothel

'Crack-house mattress but make it fashion,' said another.

The tweet had been up for under an hour when Kim abruptly deleted it  but another tweet featuring a second model sitting on two mattresses is garnering similar comments.

In that image, the second mattress does, in fact, appear to be quite dirty.

'Girl these nasty a** mattresses?!?! Did you pay people to design this nasty a** set??' asked one.

'Why do you have these girls doing a photo shoot on those nasty mattresses on the floor,' said another, while a third wrote: 'What is happening here with these disgusting mattresses??'

Mocking: One user poked fun at the shoot, questioning whether the content was suitable for 'Jesus Tok', the Christian alternative to TikTok proposed by Kim's husband Kanye West

Ironic! Kim's new campaign was unveiled on social media less than a day after Kanye proposed the launch of Jesus Tok, saying he was 'disturbed' by things he had seen on the app

Protective: The couple have four children together, and Kanye said he wants to create a version of TikTok that is more suitable for younger users

'What in the brothel hell is this pic kim,' wrote yet another.

One person also pointed out the irony of the timing of Kim's campaign debut - which was shared on social media less than one day after her husband Kanye West proposed the launch of a new child-friendly, Christian version of TikTok, which he wants to call 'Jesus Tok'.

'Is this allowed at Jesus Tok?' the user replied to Kim's post.

Kanye, 43, made the intriguing proposal on Twitter on Monday, writing: 'A vision just came to me... Jesus Tok.

'I was watching Tik Tok with my daughter and as a Christian father, I was disturbed by a lot of the content but I completely loved the technology.'

In a second tweet, he continued: 'We pray we can collaborate with Tik Tok to make a Christian monitored version that feels safe for young children and the world in Jesus name. Amen.'

Glam squad: Kim Kardashian and longtime pal Allison Statter are releasing a beauty collaboration through Kim's line KKW Beauty on August 28

Longtime pals: Kim and Allison have been friends since elementary school and Allison has appeared on the show Keeping Up With the Kardashians multiple times

Meanwhile, Kim has also announced that she has collaborated with longtime pal, Allison Statter, on a new KKW x Allison line that will be dropping on the KKW Beauty website on Friday, August 28 at 3 p.m. ET.

The collection will include an eyeshadow palette, a lip crayon, two 3-in-1 face palettes, and a clear lip gloss.

Colors: The collection includes an eyeshadow palette, a lip crayon, two 3-in-1 face palettes, and a clear lip gloss

Kim and Allison have been friends since elementary school, and Allison has appeared on the show Keeping Up With the Kardashians multiple times. She is also one of the few people Kim follows on Instagram.

Kim revealed on her story Monday that she was inspired to create the collection when she and her friend were discussing being moms who do not always have a lot of time to do their makeup.

She also shared that the collection would feature a range of tones, because Allison and Kim have totally different coloring and complexions when it comes to makeup.

The products are nostalgic nods to their long-lasting friendship, with names such as 'BFFAE'  which stands for best friend's forever and ever'  that show just how far they have come.

Additionally, the palettes feature a collage of throwback photos of the two throughout the years.

Statter is the founder of Blended Strategy group, an influencer marketing and PR agency.
For the second and final instalment of our series on Icelandic spirits, we explore the islands native flavours and traditions, from sheep dung-smoked spirits to fermented shark chasers, reveal the regulatory issues faced by distillers, and glimpse the countrys spirited future

Around three-quarters of Icelands total 39,000 square miles is barren of vegetation due to soil erosion. In fact, in around 7,000 of those square miles its severe enough to render the land totally useless. Plant life consists mainly of grassland, which is grazed by cattle and sheep (sheep outnumber humans almost three to one). Icelanders are incredibly proud of their heritage and the harsh weather conditions that have defined their resourceful people, says Fabiano Latham, brand ambassador for Reyka Vodka. Its all about using whats available, preservation, and survival. Yes, conditions today are much more manageable, but you still see nods towards their adventurous ancestors in all aspects of cuisine, including alcohol.

Of the distillers in Iceland who actually make their product locally  more on this later  most utilise the herbs and berries found around the country, such as crowberries, bilberries and moss, explains Birgir Mar Sigurdsson, co-founder of Thoran Distillery. Many of the botanicals grow wild in the highlands, and theres plenty more to be found in the Icelandic countryside and closer to the coast. Theres a lot of different seaweed [varieties] that many distillers have been experimenting with, us included, he says. We dont grow any of the classic fruits like oranges, lemons, etc., but there are many greenhouses around the country that do grow things like strawberries and tomatoes.

The most common native tree is birch, which once covered much of Iceland. Its a key botanical at Foss Distillery, which makes liqueur, schnapps, bitters, and vodka using the historic species. Icelandic birch is easily recognisable by its delicate dentate leaves and silver-hued papery bark, says co-founder Olafur Orn Olafsson. About a third of Iceland is thought to have been covered in birch woods when the first settlers arrived nearly 1,150 years ago, which shows that the tree had fully adapted to the windy and changeable conditions in the country. Our policy is to interfere as little as possible with nature, and so we take the sap from the trees at the best time for the trees, and collect the decorative sprigs when cuttings are made by specialists to thin the woods and facilitate natural growth.

Of the various berries, herbs and spices that grow wild in Iceland  among them caraway, angelica, rhubarb, juniper  one of the most compelling is arctic thyme. That is our piece de resistance, says Oskar Ericsson, CEO and master distiller at Brunnur Distillery. That is the most beautiful thing that we have. Its basically this little purple-pink flower, and when it blooms, it smells like lavender. Ericsson, an artist by trade, had the idea for Himbrimi Gin back in 2013 on a family fishing trip to the West Fjords, where his father-in-law owns land. Standing in the river, youre looking at this clean water, he says. Theres juniper nearby, angelica on the other side of the bank, theres arctic thyme. I decided to mix that and use it.

What started as a warming tipple for family fishing expeditions has transformed into a bona fide microdistillery that has listings in bars across the world. And yet, to this day Ericsson still hand-picks his botanicals and numbers each bottle by hand. Its a similar story at 64Reykjavik Distillery, which uses foraged berries and botanics to make its small-batch liqueurs and spirits. Sustainable foraging is embedded in Icelands culture, says founder Snorri Jonsson. These resources are commercialised on an extremely small scale, he says. Only a few thousand bottles are made of each spirit.

Distilling local flavours has also put modern producers back in touch with Icelands national spirit, brennivin, which is traditionally consumed with fermented shark. A handful of Icelandic bottlings  including Foss Distillerys Helviti, 64 Reykjavik Distillerys Brennivin 50, and Brunnur Distillerys Thufa  have seen the caraway-heavy spirit reinvented with blueberries, seaweed, sweetgrass, and other botanicals. Our goal is to reclaim the reputation of Icelandic brennivin and to take it outside of Iceland and introduce it to the world as this delicious spirit, which it is, instead of something that you use to wash your windows or clean your car or something, says Ericsson.

Botanical infusion isnt the only way for Icelanders to utilise their natural resources. In terms of native flavours and traditional techniques, the drying and smoking of meat and fish using birch and sheep dung is something weve been doing for centuries, says Sigurdsson. This technique lends itself perfectly to the drying of barley used in whisky. So instead of using peat as the Scots do, wed be using birch and sheep dung. Iceland currently has little in the way of whisky, but the future is promising. The countrys first (and currently only) single malt, Floki, was made by Eimverk Distillery, located in the town of Garabr a few minutes from downtown Reykjavik, and the distillery also produces a young malt made with sheep dung-smoked barley.

When we started the company in 2013, the idea was to make whisky, says Sigurdsson. Thats still very much on the table and is still where our passion lies. The immediate success of Thoran Distillerys initial release, Marberg London Dry Gin, saw the team put the whisky on ice, pun intended to give Marberg a chance to thrive, but recently weve been putting things in motion and can hopefully start whisky production this year, Sigurdsson says. We do have a few hundred litres maturing in various casks, but those are for research and development purposes. We did a lot of experiments with various barley strains  both local and imported  developed innovative malting and drying techniques, tried different types of oak to see which would complement our spirit. The groundwork is there, and were ready and excited to take it to the next stage.

Its certainly an exciting time for distilling in Iceland, but the industry is not without challenges. One of the struggles brewers and distillers have had to deal with are the regulations regarding the sale of beer and spirits, says Sigurdsson. Right now, the state has a monopoly on all alcohol sales, which makes it illegal for me to sell a bottle of Marberg to anyone visiting our distillery, he says. The fees and taxes added to alcohol are also among the highest in Europe.

Authenticity issues are another thorn in the side of the countrys distillers. For a long time, most of the Icelandic spirits were made abroad, imported to Iceland and mixed with Icelandic water, according to Sigurdsson. There are a handful of awful producers  here, as well as internationally  bottling bulk spirit as something authentic, says Jonsson. They use financial resources to build their image as quality producers, but are merely bottling plants or business makers. This can be tricky for drinkers to detect, he continues, since its applicable to producers both big and small. The result for us is: hard competition for the attention, Jonsson continues. A competition that the small authentic producers will lose, because our interest and resources are in the products, not the marketing. In response, distillers are in talks about how to best protect the reputation of their spirits. Right now we are drafting an application which specifies what should be considered an Icelandic spirit, says Sigurdsson.

Given its subarctic climate, Iceland might not be the first country you associate with distilling, but thanks to its environmentally-conscious inhabitants, the countrys natural resources  the geothermal steam from its volcanoes, the abundance of pure, mineral-free water, the unique botanicals that thrive on the countrys wild terrain  practically lend themselves to spirits-making. In terms of negatives, there really arent a whole lot of challenges that come with distilling in a colder climate, Sigurdsson says. Maturation in casks is a bit slower because of the cold, and the Icelandic legal system gives me a headache once in a while. But we roll with it. We knuckle down and do the best we can with what we got. And more often than not, that actually turns into something great.
Auto component maker Steel Strips Wheels on Thursday said it has received orders worth over EUR 1,43,000 (around Rs 1.26 crore) for about 8,800 wheels for the European Union (EU) caravan and truck trailer market. In a regulatory filing, Steel Strips Wheels Ltd (SSWL) informed stock exchanges that the new export orders worth over EUR 1,43,000 from Europe will be executed in August and September from its Chennai plant.

It said similar orders are expected in times to come from other regular customers as the market regains normalcy. This will support further ramping up of production at Chennai steel wheels plant, the company added. Earlier this week, Steel Strips Wheels had received orders worth over USD 2,37,000 (about Rs 1.77 crore) for the US truck and caravan trailer market.

Last month, Steel Strips Wheels had said it will clock a revenue of more than Rs 325 crore in the current fiscal year with sale of over 10 lakh alloy wheels, based on current orders. This will represent over 300 per cent growth over last financial year.

Also read: COVID-19 effect: Starbucks South Korea cuts seating capacity, postpones promotional event
Magnitude 6.6 earthquake damaged buildings and roads and sent residents fleeing their homes.

At least one person had been killed and 43 injured when a magnitude 6.6 earthquake shook the central Philippines, damaging buildings and roads and sending residents fleeing their homes.

The shallow quake struck southeast of Masbate Island in the Bicol region at 8:03am (00:03 GMT) on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said.

There are a lot of damaged houses, said Staff Sergeant Antonio Clemente in Cataingan, a town of about 50,000 people on the impoverished island several kilometres west of the epicentre in the Samar Sea. It was really strong.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the quake hit about five kilometres (three miles) from Cataingan at a depth of about 21 kilometres (13 miles).

Local radio station reporter Christopher Decamon said he saw emergency workers pull the body of a retired police officer from the rubble of a three-story house on the outskirts of Cataingan. The mans wife escaped unharmed.

Police confirmed the mans death. Sixteen people were also injured in the town.

The earthquake was really strong, our people were broadcasting at the time, but they just ran out of the building, Decamon told AFP news agency by telephone.

In nearby Palanas, at least 27 people were injured after being hit by falling objects or when their motorcycles crashed, Chris Adique, a municipal disaster officer, told DZBB radio.

Search-and-rescue efforts were still under way in the region.

Handout photo from Jake Gabilans Facebook page shows residents walking past debris on the ground after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit near the town of Cataingan in the central Philippine province of Masbate [Courtesy of Jake Gabilan/AFP]

Extent of damage remains to be seen

The quake struck as the archipelago battles surging numbers of coronavirus infections, with more than 164,000 cases and restrictions on movement that vary across the country.

A lockdown affecting a quarter of the population, including the capital Manila, will be eased Wednesday.

Weve spoken to several officials on the ground who say that rescue operations in Cataingan are well under way, said Al Jazeeras Jamila Alindogan, reporting from the capital Manila.

Officials have raised the alert to four volcanoes in many parts of the southern and central parts of Luzon, where it remains to be seen whether the effect of these volcanoes are in direct relation to the earthquake, she added.

So far, the Philippine seismology office has recorded at least 24 aftershocks, with the strongest registering at a magnitude of 3.8.

A Red Cross member inspecting a cracked road damaged by the earthquake that hit Uson town in Masbate province [Philippine National Red Cross/AFP]

A video posted on Facebook and verified by AFP showed light damage to a food market in Cataingan.

Overturned buckets and small fish were scattered on the ground, and chunks of cement had fallen from a pillar. People stood outside on the street.

Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon tweeted photos taken by his colleagues showing buildings in Cataingan with corrugated iron roofs fallen in.

Other photos taken in nearby Uson town show a sealed road with a large crack across it.

The Philippines is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

It is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year, making it one of the worlds most disaster-prone countries.

A magnitude 6.8 quake struck the southern island of Mindanao in December, killing at least three people, injuring dozens and damaging buildings.

It hit as the island was still recovering from a string of deadly quakes in October.
Two women who allegedly breached quarantine after being refused entry to Western Australia have been taken into custody.

Police allege the women, aged 19 and 22, arrived in Perth on a flight from Adelaide at 8.20pm on Monday night intending to holiday and visit friends.

They were directed to quarantine at the Novotel Hotel in Perth until return flights could be arranged.

Western Australia Police allege the women, who had not applied to enter the state, left the hotel in the early hours of Tuesday morning and caught a taxi to a unit block on Malvolio Road, Coolbellup in the city's south.

Recently arrived overseas travellers go into hotel quarantine in Melbourne as part of the mandatory government program. Two women have allegedly breached hotel quarantine after being refused entry to Western Australia

Travellers entering the state must apply for an exemption, which is given for a limited number of reasons including giving care, compassionate grounds and to do work deemed essential.

Police attended the units on Tuesday within two hours and took the two women into custody about 4am, WA Police Acting Commissioner Gary Dreibergs said.

They have each been charged with failing to comply with a direction under the Emergency Management Act and were due to face Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The two women had attempted to enter Western Australia without applying for an exemption and were told to quarantine at the Novotel Perth until return flights could be arranged, police said

Act Comm Dreibergs said authorities did not believe the woman posed a 'significant health risk' to the state despite not being tested for COVID-19 on arrival.

'The women havent been tested for COVID. We dont test people that arrive from south Australia for COVID,' he said.

'Its a very serious matter,' he said. 'When people do breach quarantine it really does rock the trust of our organisation.'

He said police would now be carrying out an assessment going forward to determine if officers are required at hotels to supervise 'high-risk' travellers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:34:47|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with Ghana and other African countries to win the war against COVID-19, the Chinese embassy in Ghana said here Tuesday.

"China and Ghana are bound to defeat the pandemic and embrace a more promising future," said Zhu Jing, charge d'affaires of the embassy, while handed over medical supplies to the Ghana-China Friendship Association.

"China is ready to work closely with Ghanaian counterpart to implement the measures laid out at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 to help Africa win the battle against the virus," said Zhu.

President of the association Kojo Amoo-Gottfried, who received the medical supplies on behalf of his association, said that "the Chinese have always had this kind gesture particularly to Africa. The relationship between China and Ghana has been improving from year to year and we intend to lift it higher."

Amoo-Gottfried assured his association would work to deepen the ties between the two countries.

Ghana recorded its first two cases of COVID-19 on March 12 and China was the first country to send medical supplies to the West African country to fight the pandemic.

China's local authorities and companies are also providing various forms of assistance to Ghanaians in their quest to defeat the virus. Enditem
Photo Released of Parliament Hill in Ottawa

COVID-19 photo by Meladul Haq Ahmadzai 2020.

COVID-19 photo by Meladul Haq Ahmadzai 2020.

OTTAWA, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A global health practitioner and CEO of Taleam Systems Meladul Haq Ahmadzai shares a new report that COVID-19 among young people in Canada is high.



In 2019, the government of Canada forced tobacco industries to make cigarettes in plain package that includes plain cigarettes with no names.

Ahmadzai says, Unfortunately, these kinds of decisions made by government of Canada seems not sound. He adds, COVID-19 among younger adults is now the diagnosis we are seeing far too often.

Ahmadzai who studies global health program thinks that the problem may indeed be widespread across the country. He adds, The World Health Organization (WHO) was alarmed when younger adults started to quit smoking because of e-cigarettes not only in Canada but as well as in USA too. Last year, in a United Nations meeting the WHOs Director General said that youth were turning to e-cigarettes and that smoking rates had gone down. According to the WHO director, Declines in tobacco use amongst males mark a turning point in the fight against tobacco, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. The full report can be viewed here .

Ahmadzai signals that the economy needs to stand on two feet. He says, Canadas economy is struggling right now, and we need Canadian people to stand on their feet.

Yesterday, the Finance Minister in Canada quit his job after scandals in the Liberal party that lead to his resignation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will now have to deal with the recession and a possible election in the fall.

Taleam Systems is a health technology business based in Canada. The tech business is based in Ottawa and provides computer support to medical clinics and hospitals. To learn more about Taleam Systems, visit website www.taleamsystems.com

Media contact:

Meladul Haq Ahmadzai

CEO, Taleam Systems

Phone: 613-521-9229




The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 panel decision, today upheld a lower court's shutting down of California's ban on gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, so-called "large capacity magazines" (LCMs).

The decision in the case of Duncan v. Becerra upheld a district court decision for summary judgment against the state of California from March 2019. The law barring LCMs as currently amended was a result of Proposition 63 in 2016.

Because of this lawsuit, initially filed just before the newest iteration of the LCM ban went into effect, the state has been legally enjoined from actually enforcing it. Now the 9th Circuit says it should never be able to. The law, if applied, would have demanded confiscation or destruction of all the tremendous number of previously legal LCMs in Californians' hands.

The District Court had decided there was "no genuine dispute of material fact that section 32310 violates the Second and Fifth Amendments of the United States Constitution, and ordered summary judgment for the [LCM] Owners" who were suing the state. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals today agrees with that conclusion. .....
Jacob Rees-Mogg turned heads as he tucked into an ice cream while walking along a harbourside in Weymouth today.

The Conservative MP for East Somerset was dressed in a sharp double-breasted suit as he visited the town and was joined by the similarly-dapper MP for South Dorset, Richard Drax.

They visited several businesses, including a fish market and an ice cream parlour.

Afterwards, with their ice cream cones in hand, the MPs walked along the harbourside, where they struggled to get to grips with their treat.

They posed for photos, with the images reminiscent of the likes of David Cameron and Ed Miliband infamously struggling to eat in front of the camera.

Chill out: Jacob Rees-Mogg and Richard Drax were snapped indulging in ice cream today as they visited the seaside town of Weymouth, Dorset

Losing cone-trol: The MP for East Somerset licked up the ice cream as it threatened to melt and dribble onto his hand

Mogg-sicle: The arch-Brexiteer donned a sharp double-breasted suit for the seaside trip

Gelato-fun: The two politicians bought the ice creams from Boho Gelato on the seafront

Just chillin': Drax seemed to nearly lose control of his ice cream as the pair took a calm stroll

The politicians seemed delighted when buying the cones from Boho Gelato ice cream parlour, though their faces quickly became strained as they battled with eating and posing for photos at the same time.

Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, held the ice cream out in front of him before licking it gingerly, while Drax allowed his to drip all over his hand.

The firebrand MP visited several other businesses on his tour of the constituency, wearing a face mask for much of his journey.

He was also spotted holding a lobster, appearing far more comfortable than he had with his cone.

Fancy a Gelato?: Rees-Mogg smiling outside Boho Gelato where they bought the ice cream

I just got served: The pair smile outside the shop after purchasing two ice creams

Ice cream time!: Rees-Mogg pictured purchasing an ice cream at the shop in Weymouth

Claw-strophilic: Mogg beamed at the camera as he clutched a lobster at Weyfish market

Masked up: Owing to the pandemic, the MPs wore masks for much of their visit to the town

Politicians have a dangerous history when it comes to eating food in public, with many ending up splashed on the front pages after making a mess.

Most infamously, a photograph of then-Labour leader Ed Miliband eating a bacon sandwich in 2014 became both an internet meme and a newspaper sensation.

The photo was widely shared and used by critics as an example of him being unable to perform simple tasks.

The legacy of the incident exists to this day, with references to it on social media and TV.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron was the next to fall foul of a food battle.

In 2015, he was spotted tucking into a hotdog with a knife and fork, despite being surrounded by photographers and journalists.

It led to Cameron being branded 'posh' on social media, while others suggested he went 'too far' in trying to avoid a Miliband-style humiliation.

Enjoying the snack, sir?: David Cameron was photographed tucking into a hotdog with a knife and fork in 2015, leading some social media users to brand him 'posh'

Keep calm and eat bacon: Then-Labour leader Ed Miliband became an internet meme after he was snapped tucking into a bacon sandwich in 2014

Tucking in: Former prime minister Theresa May was snapped tucking into some chips in Cornwall while she was on the campaign trail for the 2017 general election

Marshmallow-ed: Then-Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson was snapped awkwardly tucking into one of the soft sweets on the campaign trail in 2019

His successor Theresa May also came under fire while visiting Cornwall for the 2017 General Election campaign.

She was spotted eating a cone of chips, with her expression being mocked on social media and some wondering if she'd ever eaten the British staple before.

And last year, then-Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson awkwardly tried to eat a marshmallow, her awkward photos becoming a social media sensation.

Ms Swinson was pictured struggling with the sweet treat during a visit to Free Rangers Nursery in Midsomer Norton, Somerset.
(Newser)  Police say a 32-year-old man broke in to an Arizona aquatic center, climbed into the steel support structure of a water slide, got trapped inside the tube, and ultimately died before authorities could get him out. A police officer on patrol near Scottsdale's Eldorado Aquatic and Fitness Center early Monday heard faint cries for help around 12:20am; ultimately, authorities figured out the calls were coming from the large cylindrical steel center support of the slide, but since it was located in an expansive outdoor area that caused the steel pipe to act as a megaphone, it was "difficult at first to pinpoint his location," a sergeant tells NBC News. AZ Family reports it took about an hour to find him; he was about a quarter-mile from where the officer had been patrolling.

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AZ Central reports the man was transient and jumped the fence into the aquatic center; he reportedly went for a swim before climbing to the top of the water slide and then into the support tube for unknown reasons. Police officers and firefighters were able to communicate with the man for more than 90 minutes while trying to rescue him, but then he became unresponsive. Getting into the pipe likely "wasnt an easy feat," a police rep said. "It took some work to get down in there, which obviously would not be the first place that people would be looking to find someone because of the difficulty." The structure had to be dismantled in order to remove the man's body, which took hours. He was declared dead upon being removed around 7am. (Read more Arizona stories.)
The attorney of outspoken dissident Mohammad Nourizad said on Tuesday that his client has been sentenced to prison, lashes and exile for his presence in front of a courthouse in Mashhad last year where another dissident was on trial.

In a tweet, prominent lawyer Mohammad-Hossein Aghasi wrote that his clients sentence includes eight months in prison, one year in exile to Tabas in South Khorasan Province, and 74 lashes, with another 74 lashes added to Nourizads sentence for "spreading lies.

Nourizad has been held in Mashhad's Vakil Abad Prison since his arrest in front of the courthouse in Mashhad on August 10, 2019.

Nourizad signed a petition along with thirteen other dissidents in June 2019 demanding the resignation of Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, accusing Khamenei of breaching the Constitution to constantly increase his own power and authority, turning the president and the Parliament into mere "butlers. The group who signed the petition has come to be known as the "The Fourteen.

The signatories of the letter to Khamenei were all arrested, and eight of them were put on trial without due process of law and access to a lawyer. The detainees were sentenced to a total of 72 years in prison by a court in Mashhad in February.

Nourizad, a documentary filmmaker, previously wrote political articles for the hardline Kayhan newspaper, but changed his political stance in 2008 and sided with reformists. Since then, he has been in and out of prison several times for his criticism of the hardline establishment and the Supreme Leader himself.

According to his family, Nourizad attempted suicide in prison in July to protest to the harassment and prosecution of his family  including his wife and his son, who was sentenced to three and half years in prison on trumped-up charges -- but survived. Nourizad has also staged long hunger and medicine strikes several times to protest his ill treatment in prison and delays in his trial.
FAIRFIELD  The Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival has donated $80,000 to Camp HOPE.

Beth Fitzpatrick, the community relations manager for The Center for Family Justice, said Camp HOPE America-Bridgeport is a therapeutic summer camp and year-long mentoring program for children and teens impacted by the trauma of domestic and sexual violence.

The nonprofit FCTF has donated profits from its 2019 Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival, totaling more than $80,000, to CFJ in support of this innovative camp, now in its fourth season, Fitzpatrick said in a release.

The camp was the first of its kind in New England, Fitzpatrick said, and offers a traditional summer camp with a therapeutic curriculum. She said the camps goal is to help build resiliency and a renewed sense of hope in the lives of local children who have been the primary or secondary victims of abuse.

Debra A. Greenwood, president and CEO of CFJ, said the donation is much appreciated and will help the program that helps children who have suffered abuse.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the incredible volunteers behind the festival, a magical Fairfield holiday tradition that, through the years, has benefited so many deserving local nonprofits, Greenwood said. We are so grateful to be one of them.

Fitzgerald said the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festivals non-profit board chooses a local charity program as the beneficiary of the profits after its three-day event in Fairfields historic Burr Mansion.

Toni Zeleni, chair of the FCTF Board, said the board was thrilled to support Camp HOPE and help make it possible for more than 40 children to attend.

This is an incredible camp that transforms the lives of children who have been impacted by a trauma no one should experience, Zeleni said. All the festival volunteers were so inspired to support the mission of Camp HOPE and help these kids recapture part of the childhoods they have lost. We are grateful our efforts have had an enormous impact on this terrific program.

Fitzpatrick said the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA collaborates as a partner in the program, and allows the use of their accredited overnight and day camp sites in Massachusetts and Connecticut. She said the camp was held as a day camp and virtually this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The camp experience never ends as Camp HOPE campers continue to work with CFJs expert staff throughout the year as part of its Pathways to HOPE mentoring program, Ftizpatrick said. With the support of donors, including the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival, campers are able to attend Camp HOPE and its ongoing mentoring program at no charge.
NASHVILLE - When he joined the Tennessee Valley Authority as CEO last year, Jeff Lyash offered up a lighthearted goal in an interview: to never be on either end, good or bad, of a presidential tweet.

Turns out, that was too much to ask for.

Thanks to President Donald Trump, Lyash has had a head-spinning August as the head of the nations largest public utility, created in 1933 under the New Deal to provide electricity, flood control and economic development to Tennessee and parts of surrounding states.

Trump had already been complaining about a vote to close a TVA Kentucky coal plant, which predated Lyash. Trump grumbled again in April about Lyashs compensation for running the independent agency, which makes him the highest-paid federal employee. Then an advocacy groups TV ad  aimed at an audience of one  hit its target.

The ad in July, which criticized a TVA plan to outsource 20% of its technology jobs to companies based in foreign countries  produced a Trump tweet, and soon thereafter, a White House meeting, where Trump met with some of the in-house IT workers who were set to be replaced, fired the TVAs chairman and another board member, and called for Lyash to be replaced by a new CEO whose salary would be capped at $500,000.

During that Aug. 3 meeting, Trump received a note from chief of staff Mark Meadows that said Lyash had called the White House promising to address the labour concerns. Lyash then had his own White House meeting three days later, reversing course on the IT layoffs.

We were wrong in not fully understanding the impact on our employees, especially during the pandemic, Lyash said in a statement after he and interim board chairman John Ryder met with White House officials. We are taking immediate actions to address this situation. TVA fully understands and supports the Administrations commitment to preserving and growing American jobs.

The interim chairman also said there will be a review of the CEOs compensation, which for Lyash topped $8.1 million total in his first six months on the job.

TVA supporters like Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee stress that theres more nuance surrounding the CEOs high compensation than critics let on. The utility is funded largely by ratepayers and doesnt use tax dollars. Federal law requires it to pay competitively with other major utilities. TVA has said its top executive compensation falls in the bottom 25% of big utilities.

Lyashs pay was blasted in the TV ad paid for by U.S. Tech Workers, an advocacy group whose message, federal jobs should go to Americans, meshed easily with Trumps election-year promises to keep jobs in the U.S.

Another one of many Fake T.V. Ads, this one about the Tennessee Valley Authority, which for years has paid its top executive a ridiculous FORTUNE, Trump tweeted in July. Not run by the U.S., but I have long been fighting that crazy salary & its policies. Strange ad paid for (?) by U.S. Tech Workers.

The ad was designed to probably irritate the president when he saw it. And it did, Kevin Lynn, who heads advocacy group, said in an interview. And I spoke briefly with Vice-President Pence following the meeting and he said, You know, we talked about that ad for days.

The meeting made clear that Trump, who has vowed to save the coal industry, was still upset by the TVAs February 2019 vote to shutter the coal-fired Paradise Fossil Plant in Kentucky. At the time, TVA shook off pressure from Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and decided to keep retiring aging coal-fired power plants in favour of cheaper and cleaner energy sources, including natural gas.

Trump also reiterated his complaint that Lyash is ridiculously overpaid.

The total compensation for the CEO position in 2019 was $15.1 million, split between Lyash and the remaining work of former CEO Bill Johnson. Lyashs package includes a $920,000 annual salary and various pension and performance incentives that sweeten the deal by millions of dollars.

Trump also signed an executive order to require all federal agencies to complete an internal audit to prove they are not replacing qualified American workers with people from other countries.

Trump cant fire Lyash himself, but he does have control of TVAs nine board members, a power he flexed by firing chairman Skip Thompson, his own appointee, and Richard Howorth, appointed by former President Barack Obama. Thompson had already criticized Trump for floating ill-informed opinions about the CEOs salary in April.

Trump described the removals during the Aug. 3 meeting as a warning to other federally appointed boards.

If you betray American workers, then you will hear two simple words: Youre fired, Trump said.
By Parisa Hafezi and Michelle Nichols

DUBAI/NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The fate of a fragile 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers hinges on the result of the U.S. presidential election in November, not a planned U.S. bid this week to trigger a return of all U.N. sanctions on Tehran, said several Iranian officials.

When Iran agreed to sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear program, Tehran warned that it would no longer stick to the deal if any of the parties sparked a so-called snapback of sanctions at the U.N. Security Council, a backstop included in the accord in case Iran stopped complying.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration plans this week to use that snapback provision, even though it quit the deal in 2018 and the move is opposed by the remaining parties to the accord - Germany, Britain, France, Russia, China and Iran.

But despite Tehran's declaration five years ago, three senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Iran's leadership is determined to remain committed to the nuclear deal, hoping that a victory by Trump's political rival Joe Biden in the Nov. 3 presidential election will salvage the pact.

"Right now the decision is to remain in the deal even if Americans make their biggest mistake of triggering the snapback mechanism," said a senior official, on condition of anonymity, who is involved in the discussions about Iran's nuclear policy.

"We will be still here, but Trump might not be at the White House in a few months," the official said.

Biden has said he would rejoin the nuclear deal, but only if Iran first returned to compliance. The accord was agreed by former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, when Biden was vice president.

A second Iranian official - a former nuclear negotiator - said Iran was "technically and politically" ready to quit.

"But we have to be smart and not to fall in the U.S. trap which wants to push Iran out of the deal," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

'ENORMOUS LEVERAGE'

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Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has described the next few weeks and months as critical for the nuclear deal.

To trigger a return if all U.N. sanctions on Iran the United States will submit a complaint to the 15-member Security Council about Iran's non-compliance with the nuclear deal.

In response to what Washington calls its "maximum pressure" campaign - a bid to get Iran to negotiate a new deal - Tehran has breached several central limits of the 2015 deal, including on its stock of enriched uranium.

But diplomats say the snapback process will be tough and messy as Russia, China and other countries on the Security Council challenge the legality of the U.S. move given Washington itself is no longer complying with what Trump called "worst deal ever" and has imposed strong unilateral sanctions on Iran.

A European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the U.S. move to spark a return of all U.N. sanctions would risk "destroying" the nuclear deal, but "it will be a completely contested procedure so the snapback will have no effect, it will not be recognized by others."

The United States argues it can trigger the return of the sanctions because it is still named as a participant to the nuclear deal in a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution that enshrines the agreement.

A second European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "the overwhelming majority of the international community" believe the United States cannot trigger snapback.

Outgoing U.S. Iran envoy Brian Hook said on Tuesday that the nuclear deal, while well intentioned, had failed to deter Iran.

"We have put in place enormous leverage for a (Trump) second term to get the kind of outcomes that we're going to need," he told a United Against Nuclear Iran think tank event.

(Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold; Writing by Michelle Nichols Editing by Alistair Bell)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who tested negative for the novel Coronavirus on August 14 has been admitted to the All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he complained of "body ache" and "fatigue".

According to a statement from AIIMS, Amit Shah has been complaining of fatigue and body ache for the last three-four days.

"He has been admitted to AIIMS for post Covid-19 care. He is comfortable and is continuing his work from the hospital," the AIIMS administration said.

On August 2, Shah had tweeted about his corona positive report after initial symptoms of the disease. He said that he was fine but was getting admitted to a hospital on the advice of doctors. Ever since, he has been undergoing treatment at the Medanta Hospital.
I would hope this would be done with respect on all sides, she said.

Northam also asked the money committees to support his proposals for one-time spending on top priorities such as housing and broadband telecommunications, access to voting in the November election, reforms in policing and criminal justice, historically black colleges and universities, and cultural sites focused on African-American history.

He also proposed $15 million in new spending to rehabilitate old dams, which severe flooding tested last weekend in the Richmond area and other parts of Virginia.

We saw just this weekend across Virginia how important those infrastructure investments are, the governor said. We had so much rain that 150 homes below a dam in Chesterfield [County] had to be evacuated, and another dam near Pocahontas State Park would have failed had it not recently been upgraded.

Flooding in other communities, like Staunton and Hampton Roads recently, also speak to the fact that water management needs cannot wait, he said.
Sushant Singh Rajput Death Anniversary: A Timeline of the of events that have transpired so far

At least 6 members of Sushant Singh Rajputs family killed in road accident in Bihar

Will SC allow CBI probe in Sushant Singh Rajput case? Order today

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Aug 18: Whether the CBI will be allowed to take over the investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death will be decided by the Supreme Court at 11 am on Wednesday.

The court is likely to settle the row over the complaint during its verdict on a plea filed by actress Rhea Chakraborty who has sought transfer of an FIR, lodged against her at Patna for allegedly abetting the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, to Mumbai.

SSR death probe: Rhea Chakraborty makes sensational claim | Oneindia News

As per the cause list uploaded on the apex court website, a bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy would deliver the judgement.

Sushant Singh Rajput death case: CBI files submission in SC, says no question of transfer to Mumbai

Rajput, 34, was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14 and since then Mumbai Police has been probing the case keeping in mind various angles.

The top court, which had reserved its judgement on the plea on August 11, was told by the Bihar government that "political clout" has not allowed Mumbai Police to even register an FIR in Rajput''s case.

Maharashtra government had argued that Bihar completely lacks jurisdiction in the matter.

Chakraborty''s counsel had told the bench that probe by Mumbai Police has "proceeded quite substantially" as it has recorded statements of 56 persons in the case.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing Rajput's father, Krishna Kishore Singh, had countered submissions advanced by Chakraborty's counsel and said that they have "no faith" in Maharashtra Police.

Chakraborty's lawyer had argued that FIR lodged by Rajput's father has "absolutely no connection with any offence in Patna" and there was considerable delay of around 38 days in its lodging.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, had said that only FIR lodged in the case was in Bihar and the Enforcement Directorate has also started its separate probe in the matter.

The FIR in Patna was registered by Singh against Chakraborty and others for alleged offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 306 (abetment of suicide), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).

The Centre had earlier informed the top court that it has accepted the recommendation of Bihar government for CBI probe into the FIR lodged at Patna by Rajput's father who has accused Chakraborty and six others of various offences including abetment of suicide.
President Trump addresses supporters at Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin: AFP via Getty Images

Donald Trump admitted his decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was made largely for Evangelical Christians, a community staunchly supportive of his presidency.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on Monday, the president also suggested that the evangelicals were more enthusiastic about his decision than Jewish people.

And we moved the capital of Israel to Jerusalem. Thats for the evangelicals, Mr Trump told supporters at Wittman Regional Airport on Monday, as Democrats prepared for the first night of the partys virtual convention.

You know its amazing ... the evangelicals are more excited about that than Jewish people. Thats really right, its incredible, the president added, to raucous applause from the crowd.

The president also visited Mankato, Minnesota on Monday as he attempted to counter attacks coming from the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

Mr Trump in December 2017 formally recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital, a decision that broke with decades of US foreign policy towards the region, provoking mixed reactions on Capitol Hill, and international condemnation.

Announcing the move, which led to deadly protests on the ground in the West Bank, Mr Trump said he acted in the best interests of the United States of America and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinian.

This is a long-overdue step to advance the peace process and to work towards a lasting agreement, the president said, in a video message played at the May 2018 inauguration of the embassy in Jerusalem.

Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital. Acknowledging this as a fact is a necessary condition for achieving peace, he added.

Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the decision as a historic landmark. But Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas interpreted the move as the US making a declaration of withdrawal from its role in the peace process.

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While Trump claimed his decision was motivated by peace, political commentators and analysts largely agreed that the president had one eye on the evangelical Christian community, many of whom backed him in the 2016 presidential race and whose votes will likely play a key role in Novembers poll.

There is a small but not insignificant group of evangelical Christians in the US who believe Trump has been chosen by God to advance the kingdom of God on Earth; Israel is a key issue for many of these voters.

Earlier this year, Joe Biden said he would keep the US embassy in Israel should he be elected to the White House.

During Mondays rally, the president also launched into another broadside on Obamas legacy, before attacking Mr Biden, who will be formally nominated on the second night of the DNC, which continues on Tuesday night, with speeches from former president Bill Clinton and New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The president sought to paint Mr Biden as weak on China, an issue that is becoming increasingly important in the election, as privacy concerns grow over social media firm TikTok, and the telecoms company, Huawei.

Hes going to get tough on China, sure, Trump said in a sarcastic tone. If we dont get elected, China will own  mark my word. Well, I hope youre not going to be able to test it out, okay? China will, China will own the United States, he added.

In front of a crowd of around 1,000 supporters, Mr Trump, who has attempted to position himself as the jobs candidate, said the faltering US economy, tanking due to the Covid-19 pandemic, would rebound if he was re-elected.

He also repeated false claims that the upcoming election could be rigged as he appeared to lay the ground for a potential defeat in two months time.

The only way were going to lose this election is if the election is rigged, he said.

Well behind in a host of major polls  including in swing states that he needs to win  Tump travels to Yuma, Arizona, on Tuesday and Bidens home town of Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Thursday.

Read more

Michelle Obama says Trump in over his head in DNC address
The Morrison government is spending $55.6million over six months reopening an immigration detention centre on Christmas Island.

The government intends to relocate 250 detainees deemed of 'bad character' who cannot be deported during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sixteen detainees have already been sent to the island, with another 15 on their way.

The Morrison government is spending $55.6million over six months reopening an immigration detention centre on Christmas Island

Christmas Island has previously housed asylum seekers and, more recently, people returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan in the early stages of the pandemic.

The centre is also holding a Tamil family fighting deportation to Sri Lanka after being taken from the Queensland town of Biloela.

Australian Border Force commissioner Michael Outram said global travel restrictions were making it difficult to deport convicted criminals and people whose visas were cancelled on character grounds.

'Where ordinarily people would be put onto a scheduled aircraft to go back to the country they came from, we're now having to take people straight into detention out of prisons,' he told a Senate inquiry on Tuesday.

'That's actually getting us very close to capacity in our mainland detention centres.'

Mr Outram says only people who fail the legislated character test will be sent to Christmas Island, as opposed to refugees or anyone seeking asylum.

The centre is also holding a Tamil family fighting deportation to Sri Lanka after being taken from the Queensland town of Biloela

There are roughly 1500 people detained in Australia's onshore immigration centres.

Personal visits have been suspended throughout the coronavirus pandemic, with some detainees forced to eat meals in their rooms to meet social distancing requirements.

Mr Outram said dining areas had been reconfigured to meet health regulations.

'Some meal services, though, are having to be given to people in their rooms to facilitate that social distancing,' he told the committee.

Some programs and activities have also been scrapped.

There have not been any cases of coronavirus recorded in immigration detention centres.

Lawyers and advocates have called on the government to release some people to community detention to mitigate the risk of an outbreak.

Mr Outram said the department was constantly looking at whether people needed to be in detention, but he was not aware of anyone released in response to coronavirus concerns.

Last week, the Federal Court ruled a 68-year-old man must no longer be held at an immigration detention centre in Melbourne due to the risk of him catching coronavirus.

The commission would not confirm whether the man had been removed following the interim order.

More broadly, Mr Outram talked up his department's infection controls and response plans.

'It's been a Herculean effort to this point to keep COVID-19 out of our detention network,' he said.

Anyone with flu-like symptoms is being tested and isolated, with new arrivals into detention also placed in quarantine.
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh legislative council will begin testing its staff for Covid-19 from today. The decision was taken after 20 staff members of the UP Assembly tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Monday, days ahead of the monsoon session set to begin August 20.

The development also comes in the wake of two state ministers -- Kamal Rani Varun and Chetan Chauhan -- succumbing to the infection within a span of two weeks.

We will begin testing our staff for Covid-19 on Tuesday. We will also test the members of legislative council (MLCs) on August 19-20, said chairman, Vidhan Parishad, Ramesh Yadav.

Yadav held a meeting with leaders of political parties to discuss measures to enforce social distancing in the house during the monsoon session.

In order to ensure that no two members are seated right next to each other, arrangements have been made for the legislators to sit in the Yes and No lobbies as well. Each lobby can accommodate 30 legislators. A visitors gallery has also been reserved for the MLAs to sit in.

Uttar Pradesh has a bicameral house. While the state assembly has a sanctioned strength of 403 members, the upper house has 100 seats. Seven seats have fallen vacant in the lower house while the upper house of state legislature has 13 vacancies.

The state assembly began testing its staff for Covid-19 on Monday. In all, 600 persons, including staff of state assembly and some other departments to be deployed for work during the monsoon session, were tested. Out of those, 20 were found positive for Covid-19, confirmed assembly speaker Hridaya Narain Dikshit.

He said Covid-19 testing centres would be established near the MLAs residences as they all have to be tested in a day. All the MLAs are being informed about the testing facility at the Vidhayak Nivas (MLAs apartment building) and at the Vidhan Bhawan.

Use of mask has been made mandatory in both the houses. The three-day session will begin on August 20 and conclude on August 24 with Saturday and Sunday (August 22-23) as off days.

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has demanded that adequate measures be taken to protect public representatives attending the monsoon session. Given the spread of Covid-19 in the state, adequate measures should be taken to protect the public representatives from the disease, Yadav tweeted in Hindi on Monday.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Monday (August 17). Shah was admitted to hospital due to chest infection and his condition is stable.

It is learnt that Shah had undergone a CT scan at a private hospital on Monday and the test results showed that he has some infection in his chest. Shah decided to admit himself at AIIMS on the advice of his doctors. Shah is currently under the observation of AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria, who is a chest specialist. It is expected that Shah would remain under observation for 24 hours at AIIMS.

"Amit Shah, Honourable Home Minister has been complaining of fatigue and body aches for last 3-4 days. He has tested negative for Covid -19. He has been admitted to AIIMS for post COVID care. He is comfortable and is continuing his work from hospital," said AIIMS in a press release.

It may be recalled that on August 14, Shah had tested negative for the coronavirus COVID-19, nearly two weeks after he had tested positive for the viral disease. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, the Home Minister himself had announced his test results.

"Aaj meri corona test report negative aayi hai. Main eeshvar ka dhanyavaad karta hoon aur iss samay jin logon ne mere svaasthyalaabh ke lie shubhakaamanaen dekar mera aur mere parijanon ko dhaadhas badhaaya un sabhee ka hriday se aabhaar vyakt karata hoon. Doctors ki salaah par abhee kuchh aur dinon tak home isolation mein rahoonga. (Today my corona 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)," Shah had tweeted.
A ward in Naas Hospital is closed for almost a week now, after one staff member tested positive for Coronavirus. All patients in the ward that is closed got negative test results for Coronavirus.

The opening of the ward is under review by the HSE, but there are no positive cases of Coronavirus at Naas Hospital, says the HSE.

The 30 patients at the medical ward were tested after it was understood that they had been in contact with one positive staff member. It is understood that a staff member was also in contact with a person who had tested positive for Coronavirus, this person did not work at the hospital.

A HSE spokesperson said: When there are two or more cases, this is a classification of an outbreak of Covid, and in this case there were two cases.

The two positive cases are in isolation and are not showing any symptoms, and are both well, it is understood.

There are currently no positive cases at Naas Hospital.

The ward in question, is closed to new admissions, so no new patients can be brought in, and the patients are to remain there, until the ward will be allowed to reopen again, under public health guidelines.

The rest of the hospital is operating as normal and is quite busy.

It is not known exactly when the ward at Naas Hospital is reopening.

A HSE statement said: It is normally 14 days after the first notification, it is under review until the end of the week.

On Monday, August 10, Naas General Hospital confirmed an outbreak of Covid-19 on one ward at the Hospital. The HSE said there are no new Covid-19 cases.

A statement at the time on August 10, from the HSE said: The ward is closed to new admissions and the patients continue with their care and treatments. From the latest, HSE daily operations report, there is no confirmed cases of Covid-19 at Naas General Hospital and eight suspected cases.
Women have found themselves waiting months, if not years, for family violence restraining orders due to the increasing "gridlock" in Western Australia's courts, an inquiry has found.

Applications for family and domestic violence restraining orders surged 38 per cent from 8650 to 11,975 over three years until 2018-19.

Coronavirus lockdowns are making life more dangerous for women facing domestic violence. Credit:Sandy Scheltema

And in 2018, there were 37 family/domestic violencerelated homicides in WA, the highest of any state that year.

A nine-month inquiry into the Magistrates Court of WAs management of family and domestic violence matters found that while the average time to trial had vastly improved in April 2019 compared to 2018, all Magistrates Court trials were still running six weeks behind the 19-week goal.
BORGES AND ME

An Encounter

By Jay Parini

This is a memoir about writers: a young poet, his middle-aged mentor and, at the storys pale bright center, a 71-year-old wizard of language. Wishing to escape the draft and possible deployment to Vietnam (the year is 1970), as well as his suffocating family in Pennsylvania, the young narrator, Jay Parini, enrolls in a doctoral program at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

He arrives in a funk, unsure of his direction and with his mothers anxious voice of caution echoing unpleasantly in his mind. Good fortune strikes, however, in the form of a friendship with the writer Alastair Reid. Reid combines a Scots sternness with a beatniks anti-bourgeois cheer. He is an excellent host who regales his guests with hearty stews, wine and hash-laced brownies. He is also the translator of the Argentine poet, essayist and story writer Jorge Luis Borges, who, as it happens, will soon be coming to stay with him in St. Andrews.

When Borges appears, near blind and dressed in a lumpy brown suit and tie (the modest uniform of a middle-class librarian and writer, he once explained), the memoir takes flight. He happily devours Reids brownies and, under their intoxicating influence, swings his cane at the North Sea like a benign Arthurian sword that holds the key to lifes mysteries and riddles. In his presence, the mundane disappears and reality explodes with new meaning. Though Borges is at the height of his fame, Parini has never heard of him and is slow to succumb to the charm of his eccentricities.

Image Jay Parini Credit... Oliver Parini

When a family emergency summons Reid to London, he asks Parini to look after Borges until he returns. Brimming with energy, Borges proposes they take a road trip through the Highlands. Parini will supply transportation and play the part of his companions eyes, describing what he sees. Borges has never been to Scotland, but his knowledge of its history and literature is profound. Just to read a map of the Highlands is to recite poetry, he says. He has taught himself Anglo-Saxon and knows the ancient epics by heart. Their vocabulary of hard real things  sword, seed, shield, wood  entrances him, and he has spent a lifetime bending Spanish to that tactile linguistic ideal.
In a victory for nursing homes, the California Supreme Court says patients harmed by a facilitys failure to comply with multiple state safety standards can collect only a single $500 penalty, in addition to damages a jury may award for the homes negligence.

The ruling came in the case of a 91-year-old Riverside County man who broke his hip and was nearly immobile when he was taken to an HCR ManorCare nursing home in Hemet in 2008. During John Jarmans three months at the home, his lawsuit alleged, the staff ignored his push-button requests for nursing help and often left him in soiled diapers. He said he suffered sores that took more than a year to heal after his discharge.

Jarman died before his case went to trial, and his suit was taken over by Janice Jarman, his daughter. In 2011 a jury found that the nursing home had violated safety standards 382 times, without specifying the violations, and awarded $250 per violation, a total of $95,500. Jurors also awarded $100,000 in damages for general negligence in the homes care of Jarman, and the trial judge later awarded the family nearly $370,000 in attorneys fees.

In a 5-2 ruling Monday, the states high court said a 1982 California law that allowed nursing home patients to sue for violations of state safety standards, with penalties of up to $500, must be interpreted to allow only a single such penalty per case. The ruling eliminates nearly all of the $95,500 penalty award, but does not affect the damages for negligence or attorneys fees.

The majority opinion by Justice Ming Chin noted that two other California laws allow patients to collect penalties for each and every violation of safety rules if state health officials fail to act, but there was no such language in the 1982 law, which authorized patients to sue nursing homes for violating safety standards.

Some actions, Chin noted, can violate multiple standards  for example, not allowing a visit by a pastor or priest could violate the patients right to be visited by clergy or others of a critically ill patients choosing, the right to participate in community activities and the right to be treated with dignity.

Seriously mistreated patients can also seek compensation under the states Elder Abuse Act, which provides up to $250,000 in damages, Chin said. He also noted the compensation for attorneys fees in this case and rejected arguments that his reading would make the law toothless.

But dissenting Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar said the majoritys view of the law leaves a few teeth awkwardly hanging in the mouth after pulling most of them out.

Under the ruling, a nursing home will face the same potential liability whether it violates one right or one hundred, said Cuellar, joined by Justice Goodwin Liu. He said the ruling deprives nursing home residents of an important tool to deter and vindicate violations of their rights at a time when state regulators have fewer resources available to inspect the homes and enforce the law.

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.

Jay-Allen Eisen, a lawyer for Jarmans daughter, said the Elder Abuse Act that Chin cited as an alternative remedy didnt exist in 1982, when the safety standards law was expanded to allow suits by patients. The court isnt providing them the relief and the remedies the Legislature thought it was providing, Eisen said.

But attorney Fred Hiestand, who filed arguments for the state Chamber of Commerce and the Civil Justice Association in support of the nursing home, said allowing $500 in penalties for each violation of a safety law would pretty much shut down nursing homes or raise the cost of admission to unaffordable levels for most private patients, or add significant costs to Medicare and Medi-Cal for patients without private resources.

The case is Jarman vs. HCR ManorCare, S241431.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Go 1.15, the latest version of Googles popular open source, statically typed, compiled language, was published as a production release on August 11. Among the new capabilities is an enhanced compiler that produces smaller binary sizes. The runtime and linker also have been improved.

Typical binary sizes in Go 1.15 are reduced by about five percent compared to Go 1.14. This reduction is achieved by eliminating certain types of garbage collection metadata and more-aggressively eliminating unused type metadata.

In another compiler improvement, the toolchain now mitigates Intel CPU erratum SKX102 on GOARCH=amd64 by aligning functions to 32-byte boundaries and padding jump instructions. Although this padding increases binary sizes, this increase is more than compensated for by the releases binary size improvements. Additionally, Go 1.15 adds a -spectre flag to the compiler and the assembler to enable Spectre CPU vulnerability mitigations, though the Go team advises that these should almost never be needed.

The compiler in Go 1.15 also now rejects //go: compiler directives that have no meaning for the declarations they are applied to, reporting a misplaced compiler directive error. These misspelled directives were broken previously, but were silently ignored by the compiler.

Instructions for downloading the Go 1.15 beta can be found at golang.org. Other improvements in Go 1.15, based on release notes, include:
The USPS had been criticised for threatening the vote after reports of mailboxes and sorting machines being removed.

United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will suspend all operational reforms and initiatives until after the November presidential election, he said in a statement.

The move comes amid an outcry by Democrats and others that service cuts could slow the handling of mail-in ballots, the use of which is expected to skyrocket for the election as the coronavirus pandemic raises fears of crowds.

Democrats in Congress and several Democratic state attorneys general had sought to block the cuts, which critics said President Donald Trumps administration was backing to limit mail-in voting.

To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded, DeJoy said in the statement (PDF).

Democrats and other critics have accused the Republican president of trying to hobble the United States Postal Service (USPS) to suppress mail-in voting as he trails Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden in opinion polls ahead of the November 3 election.

DeJoy said the USPS will not change retail hours at post offices, mail collection boxes will remain where they are, and no mail processing facilities will be closed. He also announced an expansion of a task force on election mail to include postal unions.

Demonstrators march to the condo of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to protest against changes in the postal service in Washington, DC [Cheriss May/Reuters]

The move followed a lengthy call by the postal board of governors on Monday night, two people briefed on the matter said.

Trump said last week that he was against Democratic efforts to include funds for the USPS and election infrastructure in coronavirus relief legislation because he wanted to limit mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier on Tuesday, states including Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York said they were planning legal moves to block the cuts.

The integrity of our elections is fundamental to our nations democracy and we wont allow anyone to undermine them, not even the president of the United States, New York Attorney General Letitia James said.

Trump has repeatedly and without evidence claimed that mail balloting is vulnerable to fraud. Voting by mail is nothing new in the US, and one in four voters cast ballots that way in 2016.

DeJoy is scheduled to testify on Friday before the Republican-led US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, spokespeople for the committee and the USPS said. DeJoy, a major political donor and ally of Trump, assumed the job in June.

DeJoy also is scheduled to testify on Monday before the Democratic-led House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Democrats have raised concerns that USPS cost-cutting could lead to missed or delayed ballots. They have pointed to reductions in overtime, restrictions on extra mail transportation trips and new mail sorting and delivery policies as changes that threaten to slow mail delivery  and in some cases, already have.

Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union that represents more than 200,000 employees, told Fox News that DeJoys policy changes are truly slowing down mail, the customers see it  the postal workers see it  mail is getting all backed up.

United States Postal Service postboxes or mailboxes stacked in Hartford, Wisconsin, the US; people who live nearby say the pile had grown noticeably larger in recent weeks [Brian Snyder/Reuters]

The announcement by DeJoy came after key Republicans had sounded the alarm.

In the pivotal swing state of Ohio, Attorney General Dave Yost had pleaded with Trump to postpone any needed changes to the USPS until after Election Day. Senator Rob Portman and other Republicans in Ohios congressional delegation urged DeJoy to ensure timely and accurate delivery of election-related materials.

At the White House, Trump levelled fresh assaults Tuesday on mail-in voting and universal ballots. More Americans than ever are expected to choose to vote absentee this year instead of risking health concerns by voting at polling places during the coronavirus outbreak.

You cant have millions and millions of ballots sent all over the place, sent to people that are dead, sent to dogs, cats, sent everywhere, Trump told reporters.

This isnt games and you have to get it right, Trump said.

Trump made clear last week that he was blocking $25bn emergency aid to the USPS, acknowledging he wanted to curtail election mail operations, as well as a Democratic proposal to provide $3.6bn in additional election money to the states to help process an expected surge of mail-in ballots.

Congress is not in session but Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling the House back to Washington over the crisis at the USPS, setting up a political showdown amid growing concerns that the Trump White House is trying to undermine the agency ahead of the election.

The House is expected to vote Saturday on legislation that would prohibit changes at the agency. The package will also include $25bn to shore up the USPS, which faces continued financial losses.

The top Democrat on the Homeland Security panel seeking DeJoys testimony, Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, called the USPS a lifeline to Americans.

We must ensure they can continue to count on dependable and timely delivery, said Peters.

A US postal employee pumping gas into his mail delivery truck in San Diego, California [Mike Blake/Reuters]

Ahead of the election, DeJoy, a former supply-chain CEO who took over the USPS in June, has sparked nationwide outcry over delays, new prices and cutbacks just as millions of Americans will be trying to vote by mail and polling places during the COVID-19 crisis.

Trump has defended DeJoy, but also criticised postal operations and claimed that universal mail-in ballots would be a disaster.

Experts say examples of ballot fraud have been overstated. The Brennan Center for Justice in 2017 ranked the risk of ballot fraud at 0.00004 percent to 0.0009 percent, based on studies of past elections.

In a letter to postal staffers last week obtained by The Associated Press, DeJoy said his policies have brought unintended consequences that impacted our overall service levels, but added that the USPS must make a number of significant changes which will not be easy, but which are necessary.

Nate Castro, a postal staffer and union shop steward in Florida with more than three decades of experience, said the rationale behind DeJoys policy changes has been unclear.

Hes on express mode where hes not even taking the advice of people that are experienced for years, said Castro.
The High Court has granted a request by corruption convict Grace Wakhungu to see her personal doctor pending her bail hearing.

Senior Counsel Paul Muite made the request on behalf of the 80-year-old saying her health deteriorated in prison as she had pre-existing medical conditions.

Wakhungu, who is serving a 39-year sentence at Langata Womens Prison, is said to be suffering from athletes foot and hypertension.

Let us not run the danger of her death at Langata prison, Muite argued.

While granting the request, Justice John Onyiego directed that Wakhungus doctor, Martin Wanyoike, should visit her at Langata Prison and in consultation with the officer-in-charge of medical matters at the facility.

In the case of Grace Wakhungus co-convict, Sirisia MP John Waluke, lawyer Elijah Ongoya said his client was suffering health hazards and needed reasonable social distancing.

The defense lawyer produced medical documents from the Nairobi Remand prison to back his argument that the lawmaker should be released on bail pending an appeal.

State Counsel Alexander Muteti opposed the bail application, saying the appeal had minimal chances of success.

Muteti argued that the convicts trading company, Erad General Suppliers, had not appealed against the lower courts judgment.

The judgment was that if the company does not meet the fine, the accused persons would pay on its behalf. Failure by the company to appeal deals a fatal blow to the two appeals and the bail applications, said Mr Muteti.

The judge will rule on the bail application on September 25.
A report card in financial transparency gives Manitoba a grade of C falling well behind several other provinces and which the government is calling a disappointment.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A report card in financial transparency gives Manitoba a grade of C falling well behind several other provinces and which the government is calling a "disappointment."

Despite improvements shown since last year, C.D. Howe Institutes annual report for 2020 suggests that the quality of financial information presented to the public by Canadas federal, provincial and territorial governments "remains uneven."

And amid the global coronavirus pandemic, authors of the study fear even incremental gains since last year are under threat.

"Provincial governments have a lot of powers to tax citizens and to collect and spend the money and resources we provide them," said policy analyst Farah Omran, who co-authored the report. "Thats why we assess exactly how helpful the information they present about their finances really is to the public."

Criteria used to grade fiscal accountability in the study include various factors such as timeliness of publication, consistency in calculations, and reliability of when budgets and other financial documents are presented to the public.

"Its sort of like we take off our expert hats and read through these budgets as an interested, but non-expert citizen," said Omran, adding that financial documents are also graded based on readability and presentation for the "everyday person."

New Brunswick topped this years rankings with an A grade, followed closely by British Columbia and Saskatchewan with an A-, each. At the bottom of the ranks are Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories with D grades, just short of a failing F.

Well behind Alberta, Nova Scotia and Ontario (which each received a B), Manitoba tied with Quebec and Prince Edward Island with C grades.

"We are very disappointed with the results for Manitobas low ranking based on the metrics used in the study," reads a statement to the Free Press by Finance Minister Scott Fielding. "Our government has invested significant time and effort to clean up its books and be more transparent and accountable with its challenges and improvement."

The province touted itself as being "one of the few jurisdictions" to have presented a 2020 budget, along with a 10-page account for economic changes made as a result of the pandemic.

"These proactive steps were not reflected in the C.D. Howe Institutes metrics or grading of Manitoba," said Fielding.

But Omran explained figures used to calculate grades in this years report did not use pandemic-related issues as a factor, which she believes could continue to hinder the provinces efforts towards increased transparency.

COVID-19, she said, will hit the federal government hardest  with the C.D. Howe Institutes 2021 snapshot predicting a letter grade of F for Ottawa.

This years grade, however, is still ahead of Manitobas D+ from last year. In 2019, the province was penalized for not including the Workers Compensation Board in its budget and other reservations held by the auditor general about an exclusion of agriculture insurance trusts, according to the report.

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Fielding believes thats a "biased" analysis, stating the province has addressed the auditor generals qualified opinion and that legislation has been amended and tabled already.

"We have been assured the OAGs qualified opinion will be removed once the bill receives Royal Assent," he said. "We do feel it is biased that the qualified opinion impacted Manitobas ranking, whereas B.C.s qualified opinion was footnoted without impacting its ranking."

Omran says despite that penalty, theres still a long way to go.

"Should Manitoba improve the transparency and clarity of its financial reporting, I can easily expect it to land much higher on our list in future rankings."

Twitter: @temurdur

Temur.Durrani@freepress.mb.ca
Brendan Fevola's stepdaughter, Mia, launched her own fashion label, MALLT Collective, in June after a year of hard work.

And on Tuesday, the former AFL star, 38, said he was 'very proud' of Mia, 20, for starting her own business following her split from Richmond Tigers star Daniel Rioli.

'I'm a very proud parent. That's why I get emotional,' Brendan told the Herald Sun.

Proud dad: Brendan Fevola (right) has said he was 'very proud' of his stepdaughter, Mia (left), for launching her own fashion label following her split from Richmond Tigers star Daniel Rioli

'Most parents would be like that if their kids started up their own business. She saved up all her money from work, and has paid for everything herself,' he added.

'To watch her do that, and not waste her money like her dad did when he was younger, and put it to something useful... it is a really proud dad moment.'

Mia's label, MALLT Collective, takes its name from her first initial, and those of her mother, Alex, and younger half sisters, Leni, 12, Lulu, eight, and Tobi, 18 months.

She launched the brand four months after announcing her split from Daniel Rioli of the Richmond Tigers. The pair had dated for about two years.

Proud father: 'To watch her do that, and not waste her money like her dad did when he was younger, and put it to something useful, it as a really proud dad moment,' Brendan said

'Daniel and I are no longer together; however, we still love and care for each other very much and remain the best of friends,' she wrote on Instagram in February.

Daniel, 22, also addressed the split on his own Instagram account.

'Hey guys, I know everyone is wondering what's going on with Mia and myself and I hate to say this but we are no longer together,' he wrote.

'But we both love each other and still remain close as best friends and hopefully you guys can respect that.'

Tribute: Mia's label, MALLT Collective, takes its name from her first initial, and those of her mother, Alex, and younger half sisters, Leni, 12, Lulu, eight, and Tobi, 18 months (all pictured)

Mia is the eldest child of Brendan's longtime partner, Alex.

The former footy star adopted Mia as his own daughter after he married Alex in 2005, and they have remained close even during times when the couple were separated.

Aside from Mia, Brendan and Alex share three daughters, Leni, Lulu, and Tobi.
KASHUGA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Almost 500 fighters from a faction of one the largest armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have surrendered to the government just over a month after they attempted to overthrow the group's leader.

Soldiers from the NDC-R, a rebel group seen as having close ties with the national army, sang and danced before handing over an assortment of small arms at a ceremony on Monday in the village of Kashuga, about 75 km (46 miles) north of Goma.

Fighting has raged between two groups of the NDC-R since July 9 when a section loyal to deputy leader Gilbert Bwira Shuo attempted to oust their leader Shimiray Guidon, who is the target of U.N. sanctions, accusing him of human rights abuses.

"As you have just consented to become a government soldier, each of you come and lay down your weapon," Bwira told the group of fighters, who wore a hodge-podge of camouflage, European football shirts and rubber boots.

The surrender does not necessarily mean an end to their involvement in rebel fighting, said Christoph Vogel, a researcher at Ghent University in Belgium.

There was a big risk that the combatants might take up arms again after a year or two, he said.

"That's been happening many, many times across eastern Congo over the past 20 years," Vogel said.

Before the split, the NDC-R controlled vast areas of North Kivu province near the border of Rwanda and Uganda.

It earned money from the illicit gold trade and was frequently accused of being used by the army as a proxy force against other armed groups.

"Today we think it's time for us to surrender, lay down our arms and take part in the pacification of the country," said spokesman Desire Ngabo Kisuba.

Kade Wabo, a Kashuga resident who watched the ceremony, said he remained wary of the group but was glad to see them lay down their weapons.

"They killed my son the day before yesterday," Wabo said. "But now we are very relieved."

(Reporting by Djaffar Al Katanty and Nazanine Moshiri; writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it will engage various stakeholders to come up with modalities to ensure all persons who arrive in the country are tested for COVID-19 ahead of the possible opening of air borders next month September.

President Akufo-Addo in a televised address on Sunday hinted that the country is preparing to reopen its airports to human traffic.

According to the president, he has thus instructed the Ministry of Aviation, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airports Co Limited to work with the Ministry of Health and its agencies, to ascertain the country's readiness to reopen the airport.

Speaking to Citi News, Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye said the service together with its allied agencies will make sure every traveller is tested before being allowed entry.

Our work is to bring the capacity that allows us to test everybody on arrival. That is what we are working towards. We are looking at the systems and structures to enable us to do that, bearing in mind the number of passengers we expect. We are working with the airport authorities and other agencies like the FDA and Nugochi to ensure that capacity is built for us. But, it is doable.

The current protocol is that, anybody who comes in will have to come in with negative PCR not more than 72 hours from the time of arrival. When you get there, we will do another test just to validate. And if you are positive, for which the result will be ready in a very short time, the person will go through our normal routine of how we manage our positives, he explained.

Ghana's air, sea and land borders were closed on Sunday, March 22, 2020, as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The closure left thousands of Ghanaians who have consistently appealed for help over the last few months stranded abroad.

The President reminded Ghanaians that special dispensation will continue to be given for their evacuation back to Ghana.

But the government's pre-condition for evacuation was that the stranded citizens bear the full cost of their ticket 14-day mandatory quarantine when they arrive in the country because of the threat of the novel coronavirus.

In some instances, the government has subsidised the cost of travel and quarantine.

---citinewsroom
President Donald Trump on Monday kicked off his week of counterprogramming for the Democratic National Convention, using a trio of stops in the Midwest to hammer away at Joe Biden and argue that the only way he could lose to the presumptive Democratic nominee is if the election were "rigged" - an assertion for which he offered no evidence.

Declining to keep a low profile during a week in which the former vice president will formally accept the party's nomination, Trump embarked on a two-state Midwestern tour to put on his own show ahead of the kickoff to Democrats' big - albeit virtual - convention week, which also began Monday.

"This is the most important election we've ever had," Trump said during his campaign stop at a hangar at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., as the crowd enthusiastically chanted, "Four more years!" "We've got to stop these radical-left maniacs. We've got to win this election."

Trump, despite making unfounded claims for weeks of potential voter fraud regarding mail-in ballots, urged Wisconsin voters to submit "those beautiful absentee ballots" and ensure their vote gets counted. The "only way," Trump said, that he would lose in November "is if the election is rigged."

In his three speeches - two were formally billed as campaign remarks - Trump touted a recovering economy that had been pummeled by the pandemic and depicted a dark future of crime-filled mayhem should Biden win this fall. He also played the role of heckler-in-chief ahead of the Democratic convention, mocking Biden's mental acuity - saying in Wisconsin of the former vice president: "He's shot. He's shot."

Trump vowed to rebuild what he called the "greatest economy in the history of the world" and said the task was "God testing me." He also unleashed a series of exaggerated or false charges, saying that "no one will be safe in a Biden-run America" and that the presumptive Democratic nominee, as well as his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., are "pro-crime and anti-cop."

"We achieved record-low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, young people, people with diplomas, people without diplomas, college students, crummy students, great students, horrible students, dumb people, liberal people, conservative people," Trump said in Mankato, Minn.

Trump continued: "Everybody was doing the best they've ever done - PhDs from MIT, PhDs from crummy colleges. Everybody was doing the greatest, the best they've ever done."

In Minnesota, Trump also leaned in to the civil unrest that swept across the country this summer, saying he met with small business owners "who were victims of the violence and destruction on the streets of Minneapolis." He pledged to "save our cities and our suburbs from the future of crime and chaos, corruption and economic collapse that puppet Joe Biden would unleash in America."

Many members of the crowd that showed up at the first in his series of campaign events across the country this week were not wearing masks and stood in proximity to one another, probably violating social distancing guidelines - although the events were held outside.

At the first of his speeches at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and again throughout the day, Trump ridiculed the Democratic convention organizers for prerecording some of their programming rather than airing the entire event live.

Organizers of the Republican National Convention have not yet announced whether their event next week will include any prerecorded content, but Trump in Oshkosh confirmed that he will deliver his formal nomination speech "live" from the White House on Aug. 27.

"When you hear a speech is taped, it's like there's nothing very exciting about it, right?" Trump said in Minneapolis, to laughs from the crowd.

Trump campaign advisers have aimed to make Minnesota competitive this presidential cycle, after he lost the state by 1.5 points to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. And Trump's victory over Clinton in Wisconsin by less than one percentage point helped shatter the so-called "blue wall" of states in the Midwest and deliver the electoral college to the president four years ago.

But the downcast political environment for Trump and the Republican Party - much of it hinging on the president's handling of the pandemic, according to public polling - has forced the GOP to play defense in several key states that Trump won in 2016, including Arizona, Ohio and Iowa.

In a Fox News poll of registered voters conducted between July 18 and 20, Trump was down 13 points to Biden in Minnesota, 51% to 38%. A Marquette Law School survey of likely voters in Wisconsin taken between Aug. 4 and 9 showed Biden with a five -point edge in the state.

Despite those figures, Trump projected confidence in his ability to win the two states he visited Monday. Mike Lindell, the founder and CEO of My Pillow, is Trump's campaign chairman for Minnesota, and Trump said if he doesn't win the state with Lindell working on his behalf, "that would be very bad for me."

Democrats countered Trump's attempt to upstage their convention buildup with a television ad that slammed the president for his handling of the pandemic, which has now killed more than 165,000 people in the United States. Lily Adams, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, said the ad - which ran in the Green Bay, Wis., and Washington, D.C. markets - was a "one-day buy given it's tied to his one-day political stunt in the state."

"For months, Trump has claimed the virus would disappear and ignored the experts, and his political event in Wisconsin today shows Trump still isn't taking this seriously," Adams said.

Though the president touched on a panoply of themes in the usual Trumpian style on Monday, Democrats have zeroed in on his handling of the coronavirus, holding in-state calls and events highlighting his administration's response to the growing pandemic.

"Now, clearly, President Trump did not cause the coronavirus," Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said Monday in a call organized by the Wisconsin Democratic Party. "Yet his complete inability to respond to this pandemic brings us to the point of crisis that we are in today."

Later this week, the president will travel to Iowa, another battleground state that was battered last week by a severe derecho, on Tuesday to meet with Iowa's Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and highlight the damage wrought by the windstorm, according to the White House. He will then fly ahead to Arizona for a campaign event.

As his piece de resistance for the week, Trump will deliver remarks in Old Forge, Pa., on Thursday, located just outside of Scranton, Biden's birthplace.

His day Monday began with a lengthy, meandering interview on Fox and Friends, and his campaign stops were sandwiched between a flutter of tweets sent aboard Air Force One that touted the stock market and criticized House Democrats for convening next Monday - the first day of the Republican National Convention - to take up post office issues.

Rather, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has called House lawmakers back to Washington for an emergency session on Saturday to vote on legislation on the U.S. Postal Service. A House committee will hear testimony from embattled Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Aug. 24, although a House hearing does not require all members to be back in session.

Trump in Oshkosh repeated his vow to try to win his former home state of New York, which last went for a Republican presidential candidate in 1984 and said he would make a "tiny shot" for California, Illinois, Virginia and New Jersey - solidly blue states that are not likely to be seriously contested this year.

- - -

The Washington Post's Felicia Sonmez and Toluse Olorunnipa contributed to this report.
Rigid foam insulation is one kind of foam insulation, which has closed cell foam structure. It reduces the weight of the structure and provides cost benefits to the overall construction. It has major usage in the building and construction sector. Thermal insulation followed by hybrid insulation are key application areas, which utilize the benefits of better properties offered by rigid foam panels. Rigid foam insulation is used as part of advanced infrastructure solutions in buildings owing to their superior properties to insulate from noise and heat. Deep energy efficient renovation of buildings is also facilitating the insulation market.

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According to Infoholic Research, the global rigid foam insulation market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period to reach $18.91 billion by 2022. The thermal insulation segment is expected to maintain global dominance in the application segments, which is driven by China and India. Asia Pacific is expected to contribute the highest toward the global rigid foam insulation market. Some of the key players in rigid foam insulation is PolyOne Corporation, DoW Chemicals, K-Flex etc.

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The St. Louis couple who threatened Black Lives Matter protesters with firearms will appear at next week's Republican National Convention to show their support for Donald Trump.

A Trump adviser on Monday confirmed the participation of Patricia and Mark McCloskey at the week-long virtual event where the president hopes to secure more votes for the White House race.

The McCloskeys face felony charges of unlawful use of a weapon after confronting protesters in their upscale Missouri neighborhood with weapons back on June 28.

The president has previously come out in defense of the gun-toting couple, blasting the prosecutor who charged them 'absurd' and accusing her of an 'extreme abuse of power'.

The St. Louis couple (pictured) who threatened Black Lives Matter protesters with firearms will appear at next week's Republican National Convention to show their support for Donald Trump

Armed homeowners Mark and Patricia McCloskey stand in front of their house in St Louis, Missouri, pointing their firearms at protesters

The McCloskeys, both personal injury attorneys in their 60s, shot to notoriety when they were caught on camera emerging from their St. Louis home brandishing firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters marching past.

Footage of the incident shows demonstrators chanting 'Let's Go' as they walked past the McCloskeys' property.

The couple are seen in the footage patrolling back and forth at their front door with their weapons raised.

Patricia is seen holding a pistol and moving closer to the protesters speaking to them as some stand and argue back.

Other demonstrators are heard shouting at everyone to 'Go' as Patricia continues waving her handgun at them from her front lawn and Mark watches from the front door with his rifle.

No shots were fired during the confrontation.

On July 20, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner - a Democrat - charged the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon for displaying guns during the protest.

A Trump adviser on Monday confirmed the participation of the McCloskeys at the week-long virtual event. Pictured the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio

Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention. The president has come out in defense of the gun-toting couple, blasting the prosecutor who charged them 'absurd' and accusing her of an 'extreme abuse of power'

The couple hit back claiming they were protecting themselves and insisting the demonstrators were also armed and had threatened to kill them.

They claimed the protesters had broken their way into the gated community where the couple live.

Demonstrators have denied these allegations with one of the protest leaders, the Rev. Darryl Gray, saying the gate was open and that protesters didn't damage it during the peaceful march.

The McCloskeys also filed a motion to disqualify Gardner from pursuing charges against them, after it emerged she had mentioned the case in material for her reelection campaign.

They said the attorney was siding with 'criminals' who were trespassing on private property.

Kayleigh McEnany told reporters (above) Trump told her felony gun charges against the couple were 'extreme' and an 'egregious' abuse of power by the St. Louis prosecutor

Trump waded in on the matter last month accusing Gardner of abusing her power.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on July 21 Trump had told her 'it is absolutely absurd what is happening to the McCloskeys'.

'He noted that this is an extreme abuse of power by the prosecutor and noteworthy that there have been many cases brought to her attention of violent rioters that she's failed to charge and instead she's charging the individuals who are defending themselves from violent protesters,' she said.

McEnany said Trump told her felony gun charges against the couple were 'extreme' and an 'egregious' abuse of power by the St. Louis prosecutor.

The McCloskeys could face up to four years in prison for the class E felony.

However Gardner has said she is recommending a diversion program such as community service rather than jail time.
Express News Service

CHENNAI/TIRUCHY/MADURAI: Reviving the demand for a second State capital, Minister Sellur K Raju said on Monday that late Chief Minister and AIADMK founder MG Ramachandrans choice was Madurai. Earlier on Sunday, minister RB Udhayakumar passed a resolution at a district unit meeting of the party, demanding Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselam to announce the temple city as the second capital.

As the clamour grows ahead of the Assembly elections, there is speculation if this is an attempt to garner votes, as creation of a second capital city is a time-intensive process, and requires elaborate procedures to be completed and new infrastructure created. Udhayakumar vehemently denies any political motives behind the move. It is a demand for growth in the southern districts, he tells Express. Currently, its only being considered as the entire process is a lengthy one. A committee needs to be formed to study the possibility, then public views must be sought.

Justifying the demand, Udhayakumar says cities down South are 5-10 years behind Chennai in terms of development. Chennai has over 1 crore population, and providing basic infrastructure is becoming a challenge. AIADMK, he says, is working to fix these issues and make development more equitable. The demand is not to change the capital, but to create an additional one - as in the case of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court. It would help people in the southern districts in a big way. Udhayakumar on Monday appealed to the Chief Minister to form a panel to study the feasibility.

While speaking in Madurai on Monday, Raju echoed these points as well. Though Chennai is the State capital, Madurai has always been the capital for art and politics. It was indeed the wish of MGR to make Madurai the second capital. It was the reason that he organised the World Tamil Conference in Madurai during his tenure. He said that while MGR wanted Tiruchy to be made the State capital, he wanted Madurai as the second capital. But the idea was dropped following opposition from DMK chief M Karunanidhi.

Attempt to divert attention

Reacting to the development, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan accused the ruling party of attempting to divert the attention of the people from prevailing problems as the Assembly elections draw closer. A second capital is not feasible for Tamil Nadu, he said. Its illogical. Andhra Pradeshs announcement for three capitals is being ridiculed.

Elangovan goes on to ask: Can infrastructure required for a capital city be created in Madurai as in Chennai? Can there be two secretaries for a department? There will be practical difficulties in having two capitals. Moreover, this demand is being made at a time when the government says it is under the financial crunch. The voices from down South set off a debate in the central districts too, with politicians and activists wanting Tiruchy to also be considered for the status of a second capital. After all, when MGR expressed his idea, Tiruchy was the first choice.

We have been demanding for Tiruchy to be made the capital city since even before MGR took it up, says Mahadanapuram Rajaram, president of Cauvery Delta Farmers Association. We are not against any district becoming the second capital, but it should be easily accessible. Making Madurai as the second capital will not solve the issue as its down South. The problem of distance will continue as is the current case with Chennai, says Rajaram, while claiming that he had expressed this desire to J Jayalalithaa, when she was the Chief Minister, and she had assured to consider it as it was also MGRs dream.

MP Su Thirunavukarasar, an ardent supporter of the idea of Tiruchy as second capital, dismissed the statements by the AIADMK ministers as political gimmick. It may be recalled that almost all MP aspirants who contested from Tiruchy in 2019 promised to take up the issue of making Tiruchy as the second capital.

Thirunavukkarasar, said, In about 5-6 months, the election code of conduct will come into force in the State. To talk about this issue at this time is a mere political stunt. If there are plans to even consider announcing a second capital, the government should have done it four years ago. And why not the government follow in the footsteps of MGR and consider Tiruchy.

The issue resonated on social media too with hashtags demanding Tiruchy as the second capital trending in the central region. There were also posts which cautioned the government against neglecting Tiruchy, and pointed out that Madurai was recently sanctioned an AIIMS hospital.

Vellamandi N Natarajan, AIADMK MLA representing Tiruchy East Constituency and Tourism Minister sought to downplay the demands of his Cabinet colleagues. The demands by Udhayakumar and Raju are their own opinion. A decision regarding the issue will not be taken without consultation with stakeholders, Natarajan said.
Hong Kong: Patrick Nip meets student interns

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip today met non-ethnic Chinese (NEC) students participating in a government internship programme to learn about their experience.

Mr Nip encouraged the NEC students to fully equip themselves to meet the challenges ahead before entering the job market.

He also expressed hope that by participating in the programme, the students can gain a better understanding of the Government's delivery of public services to NEC people in different areas.

In light of the positive feedback on last years pilot internship programme, the Civil Service Bureau invited more local higher education institutions to take part in the programme this year and doubled the number of internship placements.

A total of 30 NEC students were posted to various government bureaus and departments for internships lasting around eight weeks.

One of the interns, Rukayya Bibi, was sent to the Social Welfare Departments Medical Social Services Unit in Tuen Mun Hospital to help handle medical fee waiver applications by non-refoulement claimants.

Another intern, Sujasna Tamang, was posted to the Census & Statistics Departments Census Planning Section to proofread the translation of the 2021 Population Census website and publicity materials in NEC languages.

Janam Patel, an intern in the Trade & Industry Departments Europe Division, was tasked to assist in compiling trade statistics relating to Hong Kong and European countries and collecting data on economic and trade issues.

The three interns said they think the Government's ongoing review of the Chinese language proficiency requirements for all civil service grades would help to provide more opportunities for NEC people to join the Government to serve the community.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 18

By Elnur Baghishov  Trend:

As many as 2,385 people have been infected with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours in Iran, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Trend reports citing the ministry.

According to Sadat Lari, 168 more people have died from the coronavirus over the past day.

Sadat Lari added that the condition of 3,882 people is critical.

The official said that Iran's Tehran, Mazandaran, Qom, East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Isfahan, Razavi Khorasan, North Khorasan, Semnan, Markazi, Yazd, Gilan, Golestan, and Kerman provinces are considered 'red' zones.

So far, more than 2.9 million tests have been conducted in Iran for the diagnosis of coronavirus.

Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 347,800 people have been infected, and 19,972 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 300,800 have reportedly recovered from the disease.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.
Patna: Goons of Pappu Yadav in Patna on Sunday ransacked a girls' hostel on Khazanchi Road after a video of some men having a drinking party went viral on social media.

Dozens of Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) activists on Sunday barged into the Shashi Girls Hostel on Khazanchi Road and ransacked the building by destroying computers, furniture, television set, and a refrigerator. They then put their own padlock on the main door and blocked the busy Ashok Rajpath for over two hours demanding the arrests of the manager and other officials of the hostel.

JAP national working committee chairperson and former Bihar minister Akhlaq Ahmed said that the hostel officials had turned the office into a drinking den where his friends used to gather each evening and consume alcohol despite a ban on alcohol in Bihar.

"Despite numerous complaints by the girls in the hostel, the drinking parties continued. Only when a video of it went viral the police carried out a raid on Saturday," Ahmed said.

Following the raid, the police had lodged FIRs against the hostel manager Rajesh Sahay, his wife, his brother Abhishek Kumar, and another relative of Sahay.

The hostel is in a building owned by a DSP working in the CBI, police said.
The following excerpt is from Ultimate Guide to Social Media Marketing by Eric Butow, Jenn Herman, Stephanie Liu, Amanda Robinson and Mike Allton, available August 25 via Entrepreneur Press. Pre-order now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books.

The most popular and talked-about social network in 2020  and perhaps the second-most controversial behind Facebook  is TikTok. Beijing-based ByteDance Technology Co. bought lip-syncing app Musical.ly in 2017 and merged it with its own lip-syncing app in 2018 to create TikTok. (TikTok is known as Douyin in China.)

Both TikTok and Musical.ly did much the same thing: allow users to make 15-second lip-synced music videos, add filters to make them more amusing and colorful, and then send them to fellow users. But TikTok rules the shortform world.

ByteDance has continually upgraded the TikTok service, and its efforts are paying offit now has 500 million monthly online users. The MediaKix website has some more interesting statistics about TikToks rapid rise:

People downloaded the TikTok app more than 660,730 million times in 2019.

Only 26.5 million of the 500 million monthly online users come from the United States.

The country with the most TikTok users is in India, which has 24 percent of all TikTok users.

Though ByteDance is headquartered in Beijing, TikTok isnt available in China. The company still sells its original app there: Douyin.

Sixty-six percent of TikToks users are under 30 years old.

Related: 3 Kinds of Social Media Marketing You Shouldn't Ignore

So when would you use TikTok to promote your business? If you want to attract young people, consider creating videos on TikTok in communities that dovetail with what your business offers. Whats more, if you market your business overseas, particularly in South Asia, TikTok should be on your list of social media networks to review as you create your companys social media strategy. Here are five ways you can harness the power of TikTok:

1. Creating Video

TikTok allows users to select from a wide variety of background music. Once you choose your music, you can use your smartphone camera to record yourself dancing and/or lip-syncing to the music. Once you finish capturing the video, you can edit it with a variety of filters, such as one that allows them to change the speed of the video.

2. Sharing Video

When youre done editing, you can share it with other TikTok users or post it on YouTube and Facebook. TikTok is similar to those other two social networks in that you can set your TikTok profile to private and share your videos only with your friends.

3. Find Your Community

Whats more, TikTok has a variety of theme-based communities that you can search for. When you find some, view some videos in the community to learn what types of videos are popular before you record and post yours.

4. Pay Attention to Reactions

After you post your video, the users you share it with can use TikToks react feature, which shows them reacting to your video in a small window in front of your video. That feature is an effective way to learn who likes your video within the community and/or within your group of TikTok friends.

5. Create Duets and Challenges

Two of the most popular features in TikTok are creating duets and challenges. A duet is a video that is combined with another video so both videos can be watched at the same time. Someone can do this with your video and vice versa. If another user has the Duet feature turned off, then you cant add the video into your own duet. (You can also turn this feature off in your own profile or only allow friends to create Duet videos.)

You can also participate in a challenge, where one user will post a video about a topic and challenge others to post videos about that same topic. The One37pm website published a list of the best TikTok challenges in 2019; one example included showing off videos of a users best artwork and a glimpse into their artistic process. This challenge created an atmosphere of creativity and community.

Related: TikTok Bans Deepfakes, Expands Fact-Checking to Fight Election Misinformation

Data-Storage Investigations

All that said, TikTok has its apparent safety issues. In mid-2019, the UK began investigating how TikTok collected and used childrens account data. This investigation came on the heels of a U.S. Federal Trade Commission fine of $5.7 million against TikTok in February 2019 for illegally collecting childrens personal information.

In 2019, U.S. lawmakers in Congress expressed concerns that TikTok was censoring information, especially videos of the Hong Kong democracy protests, and sending user data to the Chinese government.

These concerns led to a formal national security review by U.S. federal government agencies. The U.S. Army and U.S. Navy have also banned their personnel from using TikTok on government-owned phones because they consider it a security risk.

For its part, ByteDance has pledged to cooperate fully with the U.S. government to assuage its concerns, but that promise was met with deep skepticism by Congress when the company refused to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in November 2019.

(Since UG to SMM went to print, there have been siginficant updates to the legal concerns surrounding TikTok and U.S.-China relations. You can read more about that here.)

Related:

According to His Tweets, Bill Gates Is Way More Stressed Out Than Elon Musk (Infographic)

5 Ways to Step into TikTok

What You Need to Know About the LinkedIn Stories Feature



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:36:09|Editor: huaxia

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People put on protective suits outside a temporary hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, on Aug. 18, 2020. The Iraqi Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 4,576 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase since the outbreak of the disease, bringing the total nationwide infections to 184,709. (Xinhua)

BAGHDAD, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Tuesday reported 4,576 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase since the outbreak of the disease, bringing the total nationwide infections to 184,709.

It also reported 82 fatalities during the day, raising the death toll to 6,036, while 2,895 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 131,840.

The new cases were recorded after 20,772 testing kits were used across the country during the day, and a total of 1,325,103 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the ministry spokesman Sayf al-Badr said in a press release that "in the past few months, there was no compliance with the health preventing measures by the citizens."

Al-Badr also attributed the latest increase in the number of infections to the fact that the curfew measure was not properly implemented as requested by the ministry.

"It was expected that Iraq would be at the forefront of the world in the daily infections with the coronavirus, due to a lack of compliance with the preventive measures as the social visits during the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays continued," al-Badr added.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Iraq has been taking measures to contain the pandemic.

China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Iraq's capital Baghdad.

Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
Twenty six children returned from Syria  Russian child rights commissioner

 The press service of Russia's Children Rights Commissioner

12:02 18/08/2020

MOSCOW, August 18 (RAPSI) - An airplane of Russias Defense Ministry with twenty six Russian children onboard returned from Syria overnight into Tuesday, according to the press service of the minors ombudsman Anna Kuznetsova.

The children were returned from orphanages in Syrias Damask with the direct assistance of Kuznetsova, the statement reads.

This was the first flight after the lifting of the coronavirus restrictions. The children were accompanied by doctors. After all quarantine measures they will be transferred to their relatives.




Without convention floors and podiums to cover, the cable channels and other outlets gave the Democratic National Committee extraordinary control over the evenings content. Not only did that sideline the anchor folk for much of the proceedings, but it also allowed for a smooth and surprisingly rich program of videos and live speeches to flow dynamically from segment to segment. And with actress Eva Longoria Baston serving as a serene and confident host from a Los Angeles studio, Night 1 of the four-night production came across as an elegant, multidimensional campaign ad.
Photographs have surfaced displaying swimmers in Wuhan, China's former COVID-19 epicenter, crammed together for a massive pool party.

Hundreds of people appeared to be packed shoulder-to-shoulder at a Wuhan water park where the fatal novel coronavirus pandemic began.

Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park was littered with people merrymaking in swimsuits and goggles for an electronic music festival. Numerous people were perched on rubber dinghies or swimming up to their chests in water.

The coronavirus was first detected late last year in Wuhan and now, the Chinese city is edging back to normal life, reported The New Indian Express.

Partygoers appeared to be standing cheek by jowl while watching a performance, cooling down in the midst of searing summer heat. There was little space to float about, reported The Sun.

The said water park resumed operation in June following Wuhan gradually opening up following a 76-day quarantine period and rigid restrictions in efforts to control the prevalence of COVID-19.

According to local media, the park has capped attendance at 50 percent of normal capacity. It is offering half-price discounts for females swimmers.

Such surprising scenes are a far cry from the rigid lockdown imposed on the central Hubei province on the 23rd of January when the fatal virus began widespread beyond control.

These draconian restrictions halted the Wuhan's 11million residents' movement.

A performer for the Wuhan pool party in the stage show at the front of the pool was waving at the audience who were closely packed and waving their arms back. Some swimmers were snapping photographs on phones round their necks and protected in plastic pouches.

Also Read: The World's Most Expensive COVID-19 Face Mask Costs $1.5 Million

Another performer entertained the crowd by hovering above them with sparks shooting from his back on a water jet board.

All public transport was suspended and movement outside homes was imposed strict measures.

The lifting of the lockdown transpired on April 8 by which point COVID-19 was prevailing through the United States and western Europe.

Some people among the audience had worn life jackets, but none of the rightly-condensed swimmers appeared to be donning face masks.

A DJ in bright yellow headphones was playing on stage.

Three thousand fatalities were recorded in Wuhan due to COVID-19. However, residents reportedly believe an estimated 42,000 people died. Other people estimated more considering the number of cremation urns being transported to funeral homes.

COVID-19 has been prevalent across the globe, killing hundreds of thousands and prompting economic downfalls.

Since mid-May, no new domestically transmitted cases have been officially reported in Hubei province where Wuhan is the capital which could serve as an explanation for the Wuhan pool party.

The COVID-19 pandemic has registered over 770,000 fatalities worldwide. This coincides with the western world bracing itself for a second wave.

Scientists' belief indicated that the virus originated in bats before transmitting to humans in Wuhan possibly at one of the Chinese city's wet markets.

In an effort to bolster the local economy, the Hubei government has been providing throughout the province free entry to 400 tourist sites.

Related Article: Hand Sanitizer Recall: FDA List of 149 Prohibited to Use Products

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PHOENIX (AP)  The Arizona Supreme Court has reversed a lower-court ruling that barred prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against a Mexican immigrant charged with murder in a 2015 killing in metro Phoenix because he was intellectually disabled.

The states highest court ruled Monday that a judge in the lower court had correctly considered the strengths and weaknesses of Apolinar Altamiranos life skills, but failed to assess his ability to meet societys expectations of him. The case will be back to the judge to make another determination on Altamiranos disability.

Altamirano is accused of fatally shooting Grant Ronnebeck, a 21-year-old clerk at a Mesa convenience store, after Ronnebeck insisted that he pay for a pack of cigarettes. Authorities say Altamirano stepped over Ronnebeck to get several packs of cigarettes before leaving the store.

Altamirano is a citizen of Mexico who has lived in the U.S. without authorization for about 20 years. He has been deported and returned to the U.S. in the past.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly cited Altamirano's case as an example of crimes committed by immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally against American citizens.

The state Supreme Court said the lower court judge didnt assess how Altamiranos intellectual deficits affected his ability to meet the standard of personal independence and social responsibility for a person of his age and cultural background.

Greg Kuykendall, one of Altamiranos attorneys, said hes confident the lower court will find that the additional step imposed by the Supreme Court has already been proven.

Altamirano has already been sentenced to six years in prison for earlier guilty pleas in the case and misconduct involving weapons.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder, robbery and other charges in Ronnebecks death.

A judge had also previously prohibited prosecutors from introducing evidence at Altamiranos trial that he was in the United States illegally. The judge had said the prejudice from Altamiranos immigration status outweighs any relevance it may have.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2002 barred the execution of intellectually disabled people.
Hannah Thomasy

Some 2 percent of men in the US identify as bisexual. But, for decades, some sexuality researchers have questioned whether true bisexual orientation exists in men.

In 2005, J Michael Bailey, a sexuality researcher at Northwestern University, and two colleagues showed men who identify as bisexual brief pornographic clips featuring men or women, while measuring their subjects self-reported arousal and change in penis circumference. The results, when compared to men who identified as straight or gay, led them to conclude that the men identifying as bisexual did not actually have strong genital arousal to both male and female sexual stimuli. This was in contrast to work on sexual arousal in women, which showed that they  whether identifying as straight or gay  were physically aroused by both male and female stimuli.

A New York Times headline covering Bailey's 2005 study on men declared: "Straight, Gay, or Lying? Bisexuality Revisited."

But the paper also spurred more research into the subject  some of which has now led Bailey to revise his conclusions. In a paper published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Bailey and 12 colleagues reanalyzed data from eight previously published studies of bisexual-identified men, including the 2005 paper. The new review finds that men who reported attraction to both men and women do in fact show genital arousal towards both male and female stimuli. The data, the authors conclude, offers robust evidence for bisexual orientation among men.

The PNAS study has drawn positive coverage and received praise from some activists, who see it as valuable confirmation for an often-marginalized sexual identity. But it has also received backlash from other scientists and many bisexual people, some of whom argue that in attempting to prove, based on genital arousal, that bisexuality exists, researchers are discounting bisexual people's lived experiences. It has also reignited a broader debate over the ethics of human sexuality research  and about what role, if any, scientists should play in validating the experiences of queer people.

For his part, Bailey defended the research, arguing that the phenomenon of bisexuality ought to be studied in order to be understood. If we let the possibility that somebody is offended  particularly some identity group is offended  guide us in terms of what research we do," he said, "we just wont learn things, including about very interesting and important topics."

John Sylla, an co-author on the paper and the president of the American Institute of Bisexuality (AIB), a private foundation that funded some of the research covered in the re-analysis, said it was simply part of the process of science self-correcting. Its frankly one more step towards making bisexuality cool, assumed, and normal, Sylla told Undark.

But others dont find the study so benign. The word that immediately sprang to my mind was condescending  and unnecessary, said Greg Albery, a disease ecologist at Georgetown University who identifies as bisexual.

I worry most about establishing the premise that in order for peoples sexualities or identities of any sort to be valid, he added, they need to be first scientifically proven.

For years, sex researchers have held differing opinions those who report strong attraction to people of multiple genders. Males do not represent two discrete populations, heterosexual and homosexual, the pioneering sex researcher Alfred Kinsey wrote in 1948. The world is not to be divided into sheep and goats.

But some researchers questioned whether bisexual men actually had substantial arousal to both male and female erotic stimuli, hypothesizing that bisexual-identified men were actually homosexual, and only claiming to be bisexual because it hewed closer to heterosexuality and, as a result, felt more socially acceptable. Starting in the 1970s, some researchers tried to bring concrete data to the question through a technique called plethysmography, which measures the change in volume or circumference of an organ or other part of the body.

In penile plethysmography, researchers typically use a circular strain gauge  essentially a small circle of rubber tubing, filled with a liquid conductor and connected to sensors  to measure changes in circumference of the penis. In the studies included in the new PNAS review, researchers instructed men on how to hook their penises up to a plethysmography device, then showed them pornographic videos and measured their genital arousal.

Critics of this method argue that it produces a highly artificial scenario: A participant is in an unfamiliar setting, with a strain gauge fastened around his penis, watching brief clips of porn that have been selected by someone else. They question how much this setup can tell researchers about real-world sexuality.

Penile plethysmography also has a fraught history. Immigration officials in some countries have used it to test if gay-identified asylum seekers really were gay, and its still used by some U.S. courts to assess sex offenders attraction to children.

Nevertheless, some researchers have argued that the technique is useful for quantifying sexual arousal. And some early attempts to apply it to bisexual men suggested that their genital arousal diverged from their reported experiences. In Baileys influential 2005 study, for example, even though men reported being aroused by both male and female stimuli, their genitals seemed to prefer one or the other.

The study included just 33 men who identified as bisexual, and among these, only 22 produced sufficient arousal to any erotic stimuli to be included in the final result. Later studies would produce conflicting findings, and Lauren Beach, a research assistant professor studying stigma and LGBT health at Northwestern University and a founding member of the Bisexual Research Collective on Health, said that in making such a strong conclusion from a study with so few participants, the 2005 analysis amounted to "shoddy science."

By drawing on a bigger dataset than in previous research, the new PNAS paper aimed to offer more definitive evidence than those individual studies. Nevertheless, it almost immediately ran into criticism from other researchers. In particular, many argued that the paper blurred the lines between genital arousal and sexual orientation  a concept that, many experts say, is more complex than a physical response. Sexual orientation has multiple facets, said Corey Flanders, an assistant professor at Mount Holyoke College who studies health disparities in gender and sexual minority individuals. Its not just this physiological arousal measured by pupil dilation or genital arousal, she said.

Sexual orientation is a really broad and rich construct, she added.

Jeremy Jabbour, a Ph.D. student in clinical psychology at Northwestern University and a lead author on the paper, said that he sympathizes with those criticisms. Jabbour, who himself identifies as queer, said that there was some disagreement between himself and the more senior authors about how the data should be presented. There was a little back-and-forth about how we wanted to frame the paper, what the title should be, what kind of terminology we should use, he told Undark. I lost that battle.

The use of the term sexual orientation in the paper, Jabbour said, was meant only to indicate patterns of genital arousal, and he thought it would be very clear that were not talking about sexual orientation as a broader phenomenon. But, he acknowledged, that very clearly wasnt the case.

Bailey, who is no stranger to controversy, defended the teams choice of terminology. If a man produces a clear arousal pattern in our procedure, I trust that result more than I trust what that man says about his feelings, he said, adding that he believes that for men, the best understanding of sexual orientation is a sexual arousal pattern.

To explain the rationale for physiological studies of arousal in bisexual men, Bailey invoked an old saying about bisexual men. My gay friends, some of them, would say that youre either gay, straight, or lying, Bailey said. I think that they often said this because they themselves went through a stage where they said they were bisexual, and they werent really.

Other sex researchers, however, questioned whether measuring arousal can be used to confirm a persons sexual orientation, noting that sexual orientation is complex and multidimensional. We know that peoples attractions arent always conventional, and different things pique different peoples interests, said Brian Feinstein, another sexuality researcher at Northwestern.

Beach, who uses they/them pronouns, agreed. Who decides what is arousing? they asked. Like you must be turned on by this video and if youre not, you must be gay?

The backlash reflects a long history of debate over the role that scientific research should play in advocacy for queer communities.

Historically, advocates have drawn on the idea that an LGBT identity is innate to argue for marriage equality and against conversion therapies that claim to change sexual orientation  and that, experts say, are both fraudulent and deeply harmful. Surveys have suggested that people who believe sexual orientation is biologically determined are more supportive of gay rights than those who believe it is a choice.

Sylla and the American Institute of Bisexuality, which was founded by the human sexuality researcher Fritz Klein in 1998, have embraced that approach. The foundation focuses on research, education, and community building, and it runs websites such as Bi.org and Queer Majority. Sylla first reached out to Bailey after the 2005 study, and he told Bailey that AIB might be interested in funding further research. Six of the eight studies in the new PNAS analysis received funding from the organization.

Sexuality has had such a bumpy ride with politics and morality, Sylla said. And some people thinking that orientation is a choice. It can perhaps be helpful to show people non-judgmental evidence that, in terms of science, people just have different appetites.

In recent years, though, as LGBT people have gained wider rights in American society, more advocates and researchers have questioned why they need scientific evidence to validate their experiences of attraction and arousal. I can understand the desire for AIB and for other bisexual people broadly to want to correct that narrative, to be like, Oh, this research exists and I think its wrong, and I have the means and resources to try to step in and help generate a different narrative that more accurately reflects my existence, my truth, said Flanders of the AIB response to the 2005 study.

But Flanders is skeptical of the value that the research has for the bisexual community in 2020. I think I feel similarly to a lot of other bisexual people and bisexual activists around the idea of: Is this a question that we actually need to ask in this way? she said. Cant we take peoples word for it that an individual who identifies as bisexual is bisexual, and therefore bisexual men exist? Its pretty simple and straightforward.

Even though the study concluded that male bisexuality existed, just by deeming it a necessary question, youre immediately undermining the status of a massive group of people, said Albery, the Georgetown researcher. Increasingly, Beach, Flanders, and Feinstein all said, human sexuality researchers take it as an accepted premise that bisexuality is a sexual orientation.

And, Beach argues, research questions that seem to doubt bisexual experience can themselves be harmful. There are psychological studies that show denial and erasure of bisexual peoples sexual orientation," they said, "causes direct psychological harm to bisexual people."

Bailey, who has faced such criticisms before, continues to defend his research. I inhabit a different world. And my world is the world that knowledge is good, he said.

His research, he added, has done a lot to de-stigmatize various groups over the years. Groups expressing offense, he argues, have harmed the field: Ive been an academic since 1989. This is the worst time I have ever experienced as a scientist.

Other researchers think the picture is less bleak. In a follow-up email to Undark, Flanders argued that, when people express offense at research, it can actually make science better, by pushing scientists to account for a greater array of experience and perspectives. Some sexuality research, she argued, seems mostly concerned with questioning whether some fundamental part of a persons identity is real  an approach, she said, that forces queer people to engage in an academic debate about their personhood.

Instead, Flanders said scientists should question traditional assumptions about sexuality and center the lived experiences of marginalized people. I do not believe that people being offended has made the world worse, she wrote. I believe people speaking out against systems of oppression is, again, essential to scientific progress.

Hannah Thomasy is a freelance science writer splitting time between Toronto and Seattle. Her work has appeared in Hakai Magazine, OneZero, and NPR.
YEREVAN, 18 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 18 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.44 drams to 484.21 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.76 drams to 576.26 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 6.62 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.42 drams to 637.80 drams.

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

Gold price up by 409.94 drams to 30712.76 drams. Silver price up by 2.89 drams to 419 drams. Platinum price down by 44.60 drams to 14789.33 drams.
There have been reports of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the United Kingdom and some other countries.



The fear is that Ghana can also witness a second wave because of the notion that the cases are reducing and the fact that the government keeps easing restrictions.



Speaking to this on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the government is not oblivious of the fact that there can be a second wave.



President Akufo-Addo according to the Information Minister is also worried and concerned about a second wave occurring and that is why he is urging all to adhere to the safety protocols.



"President is very worried about that (second wave), because countries like New Zealand that eased restrictions after recording low cases are having a second wave; its a reality, President is very worried about that . . . even though there is a risk of a second wave, the President has continously cautioned us that we must at all cost try our best and follow the safety protocols . . ." he said.



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Province of Manitoba is appealing a recent Court of Queens Bench decision that struck down controversial wage-freeze legislation passed by the Progressive Conservative government in 2017.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (520 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Province of Manitoba is appealing a recent Court of Queens Bench decision that struck down controversial wage-freeze legislation passed by the Progressive Conservative government in 2017.

In her June 11, 2020 decision, Justice Joan McKelvey ruled the legislationcalled the Public Services Sustainability Actviolated the constitutional rights of unionized public sector workers by eliminating their right to collective bargaining.

Heather Leonoff, legal counsel for the province, filed an appeal on Aug. 13, arguing McKelveys ruling was mistaken.

The judge erred in her determination of what is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and ruling the legislation was unconstitutional violated the right to freedom of association for some workers, Leonoff asserts in the appeal.

After the Progressive Conservative government passed the PSSA in 2017, which imposed four years of wage controls on a new collective agreement for 110,000 Manitoba public-sector workers, unions rallied against the legislation.

Under the PSSA, salary bumps and improved benefits were frozen for the first two years, before a maximum pay increase of 0.75 per cent would be allowed in year three, followed by a maximum pay increase of one per cent in year four.

Initially, the province argued the PSSA was a reasonable limit on the rights of unions because there was a budget deficit crisis when the legislation was drafted, although it later abandoned that line of argumentation.

Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour and spokesman for the coalition of more than two dozen public-sector unions that challenged the law, said the judges ruling in the case was fair and just.

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"It is unfortunate that the Pallister government has chosen to drag this process out further instead of bargaining fair contracts with Manitobas dedicated public sector workers. Over 120,000 have been impacted by this unconstitutional law, and many of them have been working with expired contracts while stepping up for all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic," Rebeck said in a written statement.

"The Manitoba Court of Queens Bench decision was clear: this law is draconian and unconstitutional. Working families deserve better from this government."

The coalition of unions has previously said it will likely return to court to seek costs and possibly ask for damages.

"The door is open to both of those options right now," Rebeck previously told the Free Press.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
New Delhi/Urumqi, Aug 18 : Authorities of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime have built a public toilet on the site of a mosque after demolishing it in Xinjiang province and also ordered forcible abortions of pregnant women as part of a campaign against the Uyghur Muslims.

As per the reports of Radio Free Asia (RFA), a public toilet has been erected on the site of the demolished Tokul mosque in Suntagh village of Atush city and hospitals have been "forced to abort and kill babies born in excess of family planning limits or who were in utero less than three years after the mother's previous birth", in what is called the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The region was captured by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1949 and assimilated into China completely by 1955.

Since then, Uyghurs have been seeking independence but as the resistance movement against the authoritarian rule of the CCP, grew bigger, Beijing cracked down on the human rights of the minority community.

Around 1.8 million Muslim Uyghurs and other Muslims have been detained under Xi Jinping's regime in Xinjiang's camps where they are being cleansed of their ethno-religious views and identity since 2017.

RFA reported that the authorities had razed two of three mosques in Suntagh village, "carrying out a directive to destroy Muslim places of worship en masse".

The drive against mosques was launched in late 2016 as a "part of a series of hardline policies under top leader Xi Jinping".

Suntagh village in Atush, is a county-level city of about 270,000 people under the administration of Kashgar prefecture in the cotton- and grape-growing region of southwestern XUAR, RFA reported.

Quoting the village committee chief, RFA said that the Tokul mosque was demolished in 2018 and a lavatory built upon it even as people in the village have toilets at home.

"The committee chief said that with Suntagh located about 3 km outside of central Atush, the area sees few to no tourists who would require access to a washroom," RFA reported.

The toilet was likely built to cover up the ruins of the destroyed Tokul mosque, as well as for the needs of inspecting groups or cadres visiting the area, RFA quoted the village head as saying.

In 2019, the Azna mosque had been replaced with "a convenience store" that sells alcohol and cigarettes, the use of which is frowned upon in Islam, RFA said.

Besides, the Bastaggam mosque has been destroyed while Teres mosque, the smallest, is in the poorest condition of all three.

RFA said the authorities have destroyed 70 per cent of the mosques in the region under the 'mosque rectification' campaign.

In addition to mosques, Chinese authorities have been systematically destroying Muslim cemeteries and other religious structures and sites across Xinjiang since 2016, the RFA said.

Last year, the Washington-based Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) published a report, titled 'Demolishing Faith: The Destruction and Desecration of Uyghurs Mosques and Shrines', which was based on a study using geo-location and other techniques.

It showed that anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 mosques, shrines, and other religious sites in the region were destroyed between 2016 and 2019.

Quoting German researcher Adrian Zenz's report, the RFA said that there has been a dramatic increase in recent years in the number of forced sterilizations and abortions targeting Uyghur Muslims in the region, amounting to a government-led campaign of genocide under UN definitions.

RFA's Uyghur Service quoted several people who narrated how hospital maternity wards implemented family-planning policies that restrict Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities to three children in rural areas and two in urban centres.

Enforcement of restrictions requiring women to space out pregnancies by at least three years included killing newborns who had been born after being carried to full term, the report said.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras bagged the first place in the Education Ministrys Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020 released by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday. IIT Mumbai and IIT Delhi clinched the second and third place respectively.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore stood at the fourth place, while IIT Kharagpur was at fifth in the prestigious Institutes of National Importance and central universities category.

The ranking, which aims to promote innovation among Indian educational institutions, assess colleges and varsities on criteria ranging from support for entrepreneurship development to innovative learning method, intellectual property generation, technology transfer and commercialisation among other aspects.

Among higher educational institutions exclusively for women, the top rank went to Avinashlingam Institute for Home Sciences and Higher Education in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and second place was clinched by Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, New Delhi.

In the Private or self-financed Colleges category, the top rank went to S R Engineering College in Warangal, Telangana while the second rank was bagged by G H Raisoni College of Engineering in Nagpur.

In the private or self-financed universities category, the winner was Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha. S R M Institute of Science and Technology in Tamil Nadu stood in the second place, while the Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore stood at the third place.

In the government and government-aided universities category, the top rank was bagged by Mumbais Institute of Chemical and Technology while Chandigarhs Punjab University stood in the second position. Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University stood at the third place.

Punes College of Engineering stood at top in the government or government-aided colleges category, while PES college of engineering in Karnataka got the second place. Coimbatore Institute of Technology was in the third place.

A total of 674 institutions took part in the rankings.

Naidu lauded the efforts and said innovation is the key defining feature of human progress. He said education institutions should reinvent to ensure that innovation thrives. The new National Education Policy (NEP) has a sharp focus on this aspect, he said. HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal was also present at the event.
Horrifying video footage appears to show the moment a man is stabbed in the street following a car crash.

Police closed off Gale Street in Dagenham, east London, after they were called to the scene at around 6pm on Monday night.

Reports say two cars collided that evening and a man in one of the vehicles was then stabbed.

Mobile phone footage, which is believed to be related to the incident, shows two men in an altercation as the woman filming says, 'What the f***, he's stabbing him!'

The men then clear the scene, and shortly after a man in a balaclava is seen approaching the crashed white car with what appears to be a knife in his hand.

He seems to slash the vehicle's tyres as another man then approaches and kicks the car before the clip ends.

Mobile phone footage, which is believed to be related to the incident, shows two men in an altercation as the woman filming says, 'What the f***, he's stabbing him!' The men then clear the scene, and shortly after a man in a balaclava (pictured) is seen approaching the car

Separate footage shows the masked man running as a silver car drives away with another vehicle on its bonnet.

An air ambulance is said to have landed close to the scene, Essex Live reports.

The victim and the attackers fled the site of the incident before a man in his 20s arrived at an east London hospital with stabbing injuries, reports say.

Metropolitan Police have completely shut the road as they carry out enquiries.

A spokesperson said: 'Police were called to Gale Street, Dagenham, at 6.18pm on Monday, August 17, to reports of a road traffic collision and a stabbing.

'Officers attended along with paramedics from London Ambulance Service (LAS). It was reported that two cars had collided and a man inside one of the vehicles had then been stabbed.

Police were called to Gale Street, Dagenham, at 6pm on Monday 17th August to reports of a road traffic collision and a stabbing

It was reported that two cars had collided and a man inside one of the vehicles had then been stabbed

The victim and the suspect had left the scene in Gale Street, Dagenham, before police arrived

'The victim and the suspect(s) had left the scene before police arrived. A short time later, a man in his 20s, attended an east London hospital with stab injuries. We await an update on his condition.

'A crime scene is in place. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue.'
OTTAWA Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau resigned on Monday after friction with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over spending policies and will also step down from his parliamentary seat.

Here are names floated as potential successors.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER CHRYSTIA FREELAND

Freeland, 52, is one of Trudeaus key confidants and widely seen as someone likely to replace Trudeau as the head of the Liberal party.

As Canadas foreign minister and minister for international trade in Trudeaus previous cabinet, Freeland renegotiated a new North American trade deal. The successful signing of the new NAFTA deal consolidated Freelands position in Trudeaus cabinet, and she was promoted as deputy prime minister after Liberals returned to power in last years election.

FOREIGN MINISTER FRANCOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE

Champagne, a trade lawyer and businessman, hails from the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec, has held several cabinet portfolios since his arrival in Ottawa. From 2015-2017, he served as Finance Minister Bill Morneaus parliamentary secretary, before being named Canadas international trade minister in 2017 and the foreign minister in 2019.

Before entering politics in 2015, Champagne, 50, was vice-president and senior council of ABB Group, a Swiss-Swedish multinational technology company. Fluently bilingual, Champagne spent years working in Switzerland, Italy and the United Kingdom and has earned a reputation in Ottawa circles for his strong work ethic and drive.

JEAN-YVES DUCLOS, PRESIDENT OF TREASURY BOARD

A Francophone economics professor who became a more prominent spokesman in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, Duclos, 55, has been president of the Treasury Board since 2019, a powerful behind-the-scenes role where he oversaw the whole of Canadas public service and monitored government spending and programs.

Known in Ottawa circles for his low-key manner and studious outlook, he served as Minister for Families, Children and Social Development from 2015-2019, responsible for files like poverty reduction and housing.

MARK CARNEY, FORMER BANK OF ENGLAND GOVERNOR

A potential long shot because he does not currently hold a parliamentary seat, Carney, 55, was recently hired by Trudeau as an informal advisor.

A former Goldman Sachs banker, Carney stepped down as Bank of England governor in March and since returning to Ottawa has been writing a book on ways to build a more inclusive society. Carney currently serves as an advisor to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the COP26 conference and as United Nations special envoy for climate action and finance.

Carney become the BoEs first foreign governor in its three-century history. He had advised both the Canadian Liberal and Conservative governments before becoming Bank of Canada governor in 2008 and has been long seen as a potential Liberal leader.

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Bengaluru: Idols of Lord Ganesha up for sale ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, in Bengaluru on Aug 18, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru: Idols of Lord Ganesha and his mother Goddess Parvati/Gauri up for sale ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, in Bengaluru on Aug 18, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru: Idols of Lord Ganesha up for sale ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, in Bengaluru on Aug 18, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Aug 18 : In view of the religious sentiments involved, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday allowed celebration of the Ganesha festival in public places on August 22 even as the city's idol-makers are not finding very many customers due to the Covid restrictions.

"A Ganesha idol not more than 4 feet tall can be installed in open spaces like playgrounds to celebrate the Hindu God's festival with limited (20) public participation to ensure social distancing," Yediyurappa said here.

The state had earlier banned celebration of the festival in public under "decorated pandals" (makeshift tents) in residential and commercial areas to prevent the Covid-19 spread, restricting it to temples and homes.

However, under the revised guidelines, the devout can install only 4 feet tall Ganesha idols in pandals and regulate the movement of devotees to ensure physical distancing.

For the first time in many years, the pandemic restrictions have dampened the sale of Ganesha or Vinayaka idols across the city.

"In view of the Covid restrictions on celebrating the festival in public, even orders placed earlier for large-sized idols have been cancelled by many religious and cultural organisations and temples," lamented Kumbara Sangha Secretary Anand in the city's Pottery Town.

As one of the popular Hindu festivals, Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated every year on the fourth day of the new moon to mark the arrival of the Elephant God on earth from Kailash Parvat (heavenly abode) with his mother, Goddess Parvathi or Gowri.

"The height of the Ganesha idol made of mud and to be worshipped at home by families should be 2 feet and has to be immersed in a tub or bucket in the house only," said the Chief Minister in a statement in Kannada.

"The Ganeshotsava committees (mandals) celebrating the festival should take permission from the local civic office for installing only one idol in each locality," said the statement, adding that devotees would be allowed to worship the deity by keeping a six feet distance between themselves.

The ban on taking the idol in a procession for immersion in a lake, pond, or water tank will remain to avoid crowding in public places.

"As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, cultural events, including music concerts and singing together, will not be allowed during the 10-day fest," said the statement.

The 4 feet tall idols will have to be immersed in mobile tanks the city civic body will arrange in each of the 198 wards across the city or in nearby ponds.

Though hundreds of potters across the city begin making huge Ganesha and Goddess Durga's idols since March, many on orders placed by various organisations, the extended lockdown and its stringent curbs on religious and social gatherings have forced them to make deities of small sizes.

"We are forced to make Ganesha idols of 2 to 4 feet height only with mud and lime as per the guidelines. Due to the ban on celebrating the festival in a grand manner, we are not making thematic idols, as there are no buyers for them," said Anand.
Americans believe being a good person is good enough according to a survey conducted in January of 2020 with a sample of 2,000 adults in the U.S.

A majority of Americans no longer believe Jesus is the path of salvation and instead believe being a good person is enough. 68% of Christians, 56% self-described evangelicals, 62% Pentecostals, 67% mainline Protestants, and 77% Catholics embraced the idea.

More than half of Christian respondents--a figure that includes 46% of Pentecostals, 44% of mainline Protestants, 41% of evangelicals, and 70% of Catholics--believed a person can attain salvation by "being or doing good."

George Barna, director of the Arizona Christian University-based Cultural Research Center's American Worldview Inventory shared his insight upon the results collected from the survey.

"If you look at some of the dominant elements in the American mind and heart today, as illuminated by the Inventory, most people believe that the purpose of life is feeling good about yourself," Barna shared.

Barna commented that much of the current culture has become increasingly self-focused when 30 years ago, people spent considerable time thinking and learning about God.

"That philosophy of life contradicts a fundamental basis of what may be the two most significant documents to the longevity and success of America--the Bible and the Constitution of the United States. Those documents agree that this nation will only be healthy and fruitful if it is populated by moral people. By abandoning our moral standards and traditions, and replacing them with inclusive and conditional preferences, we're losing the foundations that have enabled the 'American experiment' to succeed for more than two centuries. We can only hope that our critical moral institution--particularly the family and the church--will wake up and help the nation to get back on track."
No Chinese journalist has received reply for their US visa extension: Chinese FM

Global Times

Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/17 20:41:18

Chinese journalists have long submitted their visa extension applications to the US government, but no one has received any clear reply, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at Monday's media briefing.

China urged the US to stop the political suppression of Chinese media and journalists, and said it will be compelled to respond if the US continues going their wrong way.

"On May 8, the US significantly reduced the length of stay of Chinese journalists in the US to less than 90 days, with extensions to be applied for every three months. We learned that all Chinese journalists have long submitted their visa extension applications to the US, but none of them has received a reply," Zhao said.

Zhao noted that the cause and responsibility for the current situation lies with the US. The US should ensure that the safety, property and other legitimate rights and interests of Chinese journalists in the US are not infringed upon, and that their normal work is not affected. If the US continues on the wrong path, China will be forced to make a proper response and resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

Such visas typically do not need to be extended, unless the journalists change their working place. However, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on May 8 that Chinese reporters working for non-US media outlets would be restricted to 90-day work visas, and will have to apply for extensions every 90 days. The new rule took effect on May 11.

The US has been escalating its political suppression of Chinese media out of its Cold War mentality and ideological bias. Such actions have seriously interfered with the normal reporting activities of Chinese media in the US, and disrupted normal cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, Zhao said.

On the one hand, the US claims freedom of the press. However, it interferes in and obstructs the normal reporting of Chinese media in the US, which exposes its hypocrisy of the so-called freedom of the press, double standards and hegemony, he said.

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The Turkish army, in cooperation with the Syrian oppositions Free Syrian Army (FSA), launched a military operation to expel the Islamic State (IS) from the cities of Jarablus, al-Bab and al-Rai in northern Syria on Aug. 24, 2016. This operation was dubbed Operation Euphrates Shield, after which the area was then named.

However, since then the area has been experiencing security chaos, as kidnappings and explosions, especially using rigged motorcycles, are almost ongoing, not to mention the continuous clashes among factions affiliated with Ankara.

Meanwhile, security chaos also prevails and weapons spread in the city of Afrin and its countryside, which the FSA factions controlled following Operation Olive Branch, the Turkish-backed operation to expel the Kurdish forces on Jan. 20, 2018. This chaos is manifested through assassinations, kidnappings, ransoms, and car and motorcycle bombings as well as explosive devices.

The area where Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9, 2019, in cooperation with the FSA to expel the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is subjected to dozens of rigged car and motorcycle explosions in the cities of Ras al-Ain and Tell Abyad and the towns of Tal Halaf, Suluk and Hamam al-Turkman, claiming dozens of victims, the majority of whom are civilians.

FSA spokesman Maj. Yusuf Hamoud told Al-Monitor there is no confrontation between factions in those areas. But, according to Hamoud, what is actually happening is a deliberate action targeting some groups within the FSA to get rid of them, as part of the fight against undisciplined, abusive groups. This cannot be considered factional fighting since it aims to control security, he explained.

Meanwhile, Ahmed al-Zaiim, an FSA leader in the northern countryside of Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, Some countries (he did not name which) worked to prolong the period of the Syrian revolution and introduced IS to it, which is one of the causes of this security chaos, so Turkey must confront this chaos in these areas, in reference to the areas where Ankara launched its three military operations.

In order to do so, he explained, Turkey must rely on the first revolutionaries because they are the real decision-makers who should not be marginalized.

Zaiim said the situation will improve soon once the military headquarters of the various factions are removed from the cities and weapons are confined in the main headquarters of the FSA-affiliated security forces.

More than 30 factions are affiliated with the FSA, which controls these areas  the most prominent of which are the Sultan Murad Division and Sultan Muhammad al-Fateh Brigade.

Muhannad Darwish, a field activist in the northern countryside of Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, This security chaos has many political, social and structural dimensions and causes. One of those causes is the presence of many enemies, intelligence agencies and spies inside the 'liberated' areas.

He added, Another cause is the weak structure of the security and military forces as they include warring groups and are not interconnected within the security apparatus, which is supposed to be institutionalized. Members of security forces sometimes put their affiliations to certain areas or tribes above all. Despite the recent improvements in the structure of the security forces, they do not rise to the level of security institutions that operate according to a clear institutional system.

Darwish noted, Turkey is working to end the state of security chaos, but it needs time to control things, especially since the area is militarily and politically unstable. There are several points that Turkey can work on in order to control the security chaos, the most important of which is to try and stop factions from bickering and settling scores among themselves and rather focus them on gathering under one security institution. Turkey must also choose competent leaders and eliminate corrupt members who are causing security chaos.

Mohammed Nour Al-Mayhani, a researcher specializing in Turkish affairs at Istanbul University, told Al-Monitor, The reasons for the security chaos are mainly due to the absence of a unified leadership capable of controlling the security situation away from Turkish supervision. Meanwhile, the factions refuse to merge into a single entity that unites them because of their personal ambitions, while the Turkish policy mainly relies on bringing certain factions together at the expense of others.

Mayhani added, In addition, Turkey only assigns its affiliated leaders in administrative positions in different areas, which is why others have opposed. Not to mention the tribal structure of certain areas, which is why factions from al-Ghouta, for instance, find it difficult to see eye to eye with factions from the eastern area.

He noted, The Turkish army rarely intervenes to settle disputes between the warring factions. Rather, Ankara is often content to push the FSA and military police to take care of rival factions, and should the situation worsen, the Turkish authorities respond by shutting down some vital facilities, as they did in Jarablus and al-Bab. Although such measures contribute greatly to easing the tension and ending the fighting, they remain a temporary solution, especially with Ankara being forced to keep pace with local actors who see what is happening as mere civil fighting that can be solved by tribal mediation only.

Mayhani believes Turkey is benefiting, be it directly or indirectly, from this fighting in getting rid of any faction whose loyalty is doubtful. This was evident in the fighting that resulted in the elimination of the FSA-affiliated Jaysh Usad al-Sharqiya, whose members are from Deir ez-Zor. Jaysh Usad al-Sharqiya had headquarters in northern Aleppo, Afrin, al-Bab and Jarablus before they were completely removed from the military equation in the Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring areas.
Brazilian researchers used genetic engineering to develop a low-cost platform for the production of enzymes that break down sugarcane trash and bagasse for conversion into biofuel. The novel molecules have many potential industrial applications.

By Maria Fernanda Ziegler | Agencia FAPESP  Researchers at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) have genetically engineered a fungus to produce a cocktail of enzymes that break down the carbohydrates in biomass, such as sugarcane trash (tops and leaves) and bagasse, into fermentable sugar for industrially efficient conversion into biofuel.

The development of low-cost enzyme cocktails is one of the main challenges in producing second-generation ethanol.

Second-generation biofuels are manufactured from various kinds of nonfood biomass, including agricultural residues, wood chips and waste cooking oil. The CNPEM research groups process paves the way for optimized use of sugarcane residues to produce biofuels.

The fungus Trichoderma reesei is one of the most prolific producers of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes and is widely used in the biotechnology industry. To enhance its productivity as a biofactory for the enzyme cocktail in question, the researchers introduced six genetic modifications into RUT-C30, a publicly available strain of the fungus. They patented the process and reported it in an article published in the journal Biotechnology for Biofuels.

The fungus was rationally modified to maximize production of these enzymes of biotechnological interest. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique, we modified transcription factors to regulate the expression of genes associated with the enzymes, deleted proteases that caused problems with the stability of the enzyme cocktail, and added important enzymes the fungus lacks in nature. As a result, we were able to allow the fungus produce a large amount of enzymes from agroindustrial waste, a cheap and abundant feedstock in Brazil, Mario T. Murakami, Scientific Director of CNPEMs Biorenewables Laboratory (LNBR), told Agencia FAPESP.

Some 633 million tons of cane are processed per harvest in Brazil, annually generating 70 million metric tons of cane trash (dry mass), according to the National Food Supply Company (CONAB). This waste is underutilized for fuel ethanol production.

Murakami stressed that practically all the enzymes used in Brazil to decompose biomass are imported from a few foreign producers that keep the technology under trade secret protection. In this context, the imported enzyme cocktail can represent as much as 50% of a biofuels production cost.

Under the traditional paradigm, decades of studies were needed to develop a competitive enzyme cocktail production platform, he said. Moreover, the cocktails couldnt be obtained solely by synthetic biology techniques from publicly available strains because the producers used different methods to develop them, such as adaptive evolution, exposing the fungus to chemical reagents, and inducing genomic mutations in order to select the most interesting phenotype. Now, however, thanks to advanced gene editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, weve succeeded in establishing a competitive platform with just a few rational modifications in two and a half years.

The bioprocess developed by the CNPEM researchers produced 80 grams of enzymes per liter, the highest experimentally supported titer so far reported for T. reesei from a low-cost sugar-based feedstock. This is more than double the concentration previously reported in the scientific literature for the fungus (37 grams per liter).

An interesting aspect of this research is that it wasnt confined to the lab, Murakami said. We tested the bioprocess in a semi-industrial production environment, scaling it up for a pilot plant to assess its economic feasibility.

Although the platform was customized for the production of cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane residues, he added, it can break down other kinds of biomass, and advanced sugars can be used to produce other biorenewables such as plastics and intermediate chemicals.

Novel enzyme class

The process was the practical result (in terms of an industrial application) of wide-ranging research conducted by LNBR to develop enzymes capable of breaking down carbohydrates. In another study supported by FAPESP and published in Nature Chemical Biology, the researchers revealed seven novel enzyme classes present above all in fungi and bacteria.

The novel enzymes belong to the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. According to Murakami, these enzymes have significant potential for applications not just in the field of biofuels but also in medicine, food processing and textiles, for example. The enzymes will inspire novel industrial processes by leveraging the different ways in which nature decomposes polysaccharides (carbohydrates made up of many simple sugars).

These enzymes break down beta-glucans, some of the most abundant polysaccharides found in the cell walls of cereals, bacteria and fungi, and a large fraction of the worlds available biomass, indicating the enzymes potential use in food preservatives and textiles. In the case of biofuels, the key property is their capacity to digest material rich in vegetable fibers.

We set out to study natures diversity in degrading polysaccharides and how this knowledge can be applied to processes in different industries, Murakami said. In addition to the discovery of novel enzymes, another important aspect of this research is the similarity network approach we use to produce systematic and profound knowledge of this enzyme family. The approach enabled us to start from scratch and in a relatively short time, arrive at the most studied family of enzymes active on beta-1,3-glucans to date, with information available on specificity and action mechanisms.

The main criterion for classifying enzymes is usually phylogeny, i.e., the evolutionary history of the molecule, whereas CNPEM researchers focus on functionality.

Thanks to advances in DNA sequencing technology, we now have many known genetic sequences and a well-established capacity to study and characterize molecules and enzymes in terms of their functionality. As a result, weve been able to refine the similarity network methodology and use it for the first time to study enzymes active on polysaccharides, Murakami said.

Using the similarity network approach, the group classified seven subfamilies of the enzymes based on functionality. Characterizing at least one member of each subfamily, the researchers accessed in systematic terms the diversity of molecular strategies for degrading beta-glucans contained in thousands of members of the enzyme family.

Biochemical tour de force

Phylogenetic analysis focuses on DNA regions that have been conserved over time, whereas classification by functionality is based on nonconserved regions associated with functional differentiation. This gave us efficiency and enabled us to group more than 1,000 sequences into only seven subgroups or classes with the same function, Murakami said.

Because the approach was novel, the researchers performed several other studies to double-check and validate the classification method. From the seven groups of enzymes capable of degrading polysaccharides, they obtained 24 entirely novel structures, including various substrate-enzyme complexes, considered crucial in providing information to help understand the action mechanisms involved.

The study comprised functional and structural analyses to understand how these enzymes act on the carbohydrates concerned. Polysaccharides come in dozens of configurations and are capable of many kinds of chemical bonds, Murakami said. We wanted to observe exactly which chemical bonds and architectures are recognized by each enzyme. For this reason, it had to be a multidisciplinary study, combining structural and functional data supported by analysis using mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, mutagenesis and diffraction experiments to elucidate the atomic structure.

In the News & Views section of the same issue of Nature Chemical Biology, Professor Paul Walton, Chair of Bioinorganic Chemistry at the University of York in the United Kingdom, rated the glycoside hydrolase study a biochemical tour de force for its innovative approach and praised its tremendous insights, adding that the researchers were able to express and isolate exemplars from each class [of enzymes] to examine whether the differences in sequences between the classes were reflected in their structures and activities.

The article Rational engineering of the Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 strain into an industrially relevant platform for cellulase production (doi: 10.1186/s13068-020-01732-w) by Lucas Miranda Fonseca, Lucas Salera Parreiras and Mario Tyago Murakami can be read at: biotechnologyforbiofuels.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13068-020-01732-w.

The article Structural insights into -1,3-glucan cleavage by a glycoside hydrolase family (doi: 1 0.1038/s41589-020-0554-5) by Camila R. Santos, Pedro A. C. R. Costa, Plinio S. Vieira, Sinkler E. T. Gonzalez, Thamy L. R. Correa, Evandro A. Lima, Fernanda Mandelli, Renan A. S. Pirolla, Mariane N. Domingues, Lucelia Cabral, Marcele P. Martins, Rosa L. Cordeiro, Atilio T. Junior, Beatriz P. Souza, Erica T. Prates, Fabio C. Gozzo, Gabriela F. Persinoti, Munir S. Skaf and Mario T. Murakami can be retrieved from www.nature.com/articles/s41589-020-0554-5.
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(UPDATED, Sept. 15) Way back in March, Stephanie Mednick remembers talking with a group of fellow school nurses about what steps they'd need to take to reopen campuses.

The idea of widespread coronavirus testing did come up. But these nurses knew better than to expect that the Los Angeles Unified School District would actually do it.

"It sort of was like, 'Oh yeah, right, we're really going to do that,'" said Mednick, who's been an LAUSD nurse for 38 years.

But widespread coronavirus screening is now exactly what LAUSD hopes to do. In late August, district leaders announced an ambitious plan -- estimated to cost $150 million -- to begin testing all students and staff periodically for COVID-19, along with contact tracing efforts and research on school reopening.

Last Thursday, after weeks of preparation, LAUSD administered its first COVID-19 tests.

Superintendent Austin Beutner said LAUSD officials launched the program "to provide a foundation for a return to school by students in as safe a manner as possible, and as soon a manner as possible."

Here's what we know about the program:

I'M AN LAUSD STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE -- WHEN WILL I GET INVITED FOR A TEST?

The circle of students and staffers invited for tests will start small and widen gradually:

The few-thousand LAUSD employees who are currently assigned to work on campuses were first to receive invites. In even this relatively small group, LAUSD prioritized tests for employees with children attending special, on-site child care centers -- and those children were tested, too. Beutner reported that of 5,500 tests administered to these employees and kids in the first two days, seven came back positive: six adults and one teenager.

After on-campus staff receive a test, the circle of invites will expand to include LAUSD staff who are working from home -- the majority of the district's 60,000 employees. In an interview on Sunday, Beutner said he hoped these invites would go out by this Friday.

Finally, after the district tests staff, LAUSD will begin inviting students for tests -- starting with students at the elementary level. Once fully operational, the district anticipates testing roughly 20,000 students and staff per day. When will this happen? Within "a few weeks," Beutner said in a speech.

HOW OFTEN WILL I BE TESTED?

That's not clear.

Keep in mind: LAUSD's testing program is not intended to catch every positive case.

While individuals will get their test results back -- and certainly the results will allow the district to isolate those who test positive -- LAUSD's program is mostly meant to study the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community.

The district has contracted with three research universities -- UCLA, Stanford and Johns Hopkins -- who will send out periodic invitations for tests, then use the results to generate a high-level picture that will help school officials, in L.A. and around the country, determine when school reopening is safe.

To that end, Beutner said it's up to the research universities and their epidemiological models to determine how often each individual receives a test. Beutner suggested the frequency of testing could vary depending on whether researchers consider someone to be at higher risk from coronavirus.

"Frequency does matter," Beutner said in an August interview -- but he also noted the district does not have resources for unlimited, daily tests.

Even if the district's program isn't meant to catch every infection, Mednick feels it's worth the effort and expense: "It's going to give us an idea [of] what is really in the community."

Representatives of L.A. Unified School District employee unions stand in line for COVID-19 tests at Harry Bridges Span School in Wilmington on Sept. 14, 2020. The nation's second-largest school system was announcing the launch of a district-run coronavirus testing system for students, staff and some family members. (Kyle Stokes/KPCC/LAist)

HOW WILL I GET THIS INVITATION FOR A TEST?

LAUSD employees will get an email inviting them for a test.

Families will receive invitations and be asked to register for a test via text message, over the Internet, and via a forthcoming app. (More on that below.) Beutner said families can then make an appointment for their student using the device the district has provided for schoolwork.

"Technology is not a barrier," Beutner said -- though he acknowledged the "large challenge" of communicating with families about the value of taking the test.

CAN I OPT OUT OF TESTING?

Yes. Testing will be voluntary.

WHERE WILL I TAKE THE TEST?

The tests will be administered at 42 regional administrative sites -- the "Communities of Schools" offices scattered across the district. These offices are branches of LAUSD's regional departments, called the "Local Districts."

For example, a student at City Terrace Elementary School is part of the Lincoln Heights & El Sereno Community of Schools, which is nested within Local District East.

I LIVE WITH AN LAUSD STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE -- CAN I GET TESTED TOO?

If the staff member or student you live with tests positive for the virus, LAUSD will invite you for a test as well.

I ATTEND A CHARTER SCHOOL IN L.A. -- CAN I GET TESTED TOO?

Beutner has said students and staff in independent charter schools will be given the opportunity to participate, but he wasn't aware during an interview on Sunday whether the invitation has been sent yet.

(Remember: some LAUSD schools are "affiliated" charters, which mean they still basically operate as district-run schools. It's a much safer bet they will participate in this testing program.)

LAUSD STAFF, STUDENTS & PARENTS: Has the school district invited you to take a COVID-19 test? We want to hear about your experience! Contact KPCC/LAist reporter Kyle Stokes by email, with a direct message on Twitter or through the form at the bottom of this story.

A sign outside Harry Bridges Span School in Wilmington, photographed on Sept. 14, 2020, directs employees to an L.A. Unified School District COVID-19 testing site. The nation's second-largest school system was announcing the launch of a district-run coronavirus testing system for students, staff and some family members. (Kyle Stokes/KPCC/LAist)

WILL THIS TESTING PROGRAM ALLOW LAUSD TO REOPEN CAMPUSES?

Not right away.

For the time being, the district is offering extremely limited in-person instruction -- just one-on-one tutoring, outdoors, by appointment. LAUSD hasn't made plans to invite small groups of students back to campus under new public health guidelines. (The district's teachers union has expressed skepticism about whether that step is safe.)

The L.A. County Department of Public Health officials have said they're unlikely to allow schools to invite students to return to campuses until at least November.

But whenever LAUSD students return to in-person instruction, Beutner has said the district's testing program will be useful in tamping down outbreaks.

On Monday, Beutner previewed a COVID-19 "report card" that will inform parents about the results of tests in their school, down to the classroom level.

Classrooms will likely be divided into "cohorts" of no more than a dozen students. Students in a cohort with a positive case would be asked to isolate. If the district's screenings identify three or more positive cases in a single school, that campus would likely temporarily cancel in-person instruction.

But Beutner said these scenarios are quite a ways off.

WHERE DO THE TESTS COME FROM?

Two labs will be processing the test:

SummerBio is a Silicon Valley start-up with facilities in the Bay Area. The firm's website says SummerBio's testing system was "designed from the ground up to massively automate the existing gold-standard" COVID-19 testing process. Automation means lower costs, which will allow LAUSD to purchase the quantities of test kits they'll need. They produce the kind of test kits that use nasal swabs. The firm is so new that it says LAUSD will be their first customer.

is a Silicon Valley start-up with facilities in the Bay Area. The firm's website says SummerBio's testing system was "designed from the ground up to massively automate the existing gold-standard" COVID-19 testing process. Automation means lower costs, which will allow LAUSD to purchase the quantities of test kits they'll need. They produce the kind of test kits that use nasal swabs. The firm is so new that it says LAUSD will be their first customer. A second, more-established company, Clinical Reference Laboratory -- which is based in Kansas and is one of the nation's largest private labs -- will provide test kits that don't involve nasal swabs. Beutner said its cheek swab kits might be easier to administer to younger students. They will also take longer to process, he said.

It's not clear how much these companies are being paid for their services; district officials refused to share all specific terms of the agreement. About half of the district's $150 million cost estimate will go to "third parties."

"We are not disclosing terms of specific agreements," said LAUSD spokesperson Barbara Jones wrote.

SummerBio, a Silicon Valley start-up, is providing the bulk of the COVID-19 tests the L.A. Unified School District plans to use for its screening system for students and employees. The company's logo adorned a sign giving directions to those taking tests at Harry Bridges Span School in Wilmington on Sept. 14, 2020. (Kyle Stokes/KPCC/LAist)

The district is also using an app from Microsoft that will include a symptom checker for students, employees and family members. (At a future date, when campuses reopen, Beutner said students will have to complete that symptom check in order to attend in-person classes.)

The Microsoft-designed app will also aid the district's contact tracing and record-keeping efforts. In mid-August, though, county officials threw some serious side-eye at the district's plans to help with contact tracing.

"This is HIPAA-protected information," said L.A. County Public Health director Barbara Ferrer, referring to the federal law shielding patients' private medical information.

"The school is not a bubble," she added. "People who work there and people who attend those schools live in our communities and they have many other contacts in the community, so the contact tracing efforts need to be led by the Department of Public Health."

But Beutner has said LAUSD will follow all applicable laws and keep sensitive data private.

HOW LONG SHOULD IT TAKE TO GET MY RESULTS?

LAUSD says SummerBio should be able to report results of most nasal swab tests within 24 hours, and the rest within two days.

In fact, officials said the district's contract with SummerBio says that if the lab does not deliver timely results on certain tests, LAUSD is not obligated to pay for those tests.

(Officials say this quick turnaround could prove valuable. At some future date when campuses reopen, if multiple COVID-19 cases are identified, LAUSD could direct its testing capacity at the school to see whether the virus has spread enough to warrant closing the campus again.)

The cheek-swab tests that must be sent to Kansas are another story: those results will take longer to report because they'll have to be flown halfway across the country: "A day-plus," Beutner said.

WHO WILL BE ADMINISTERING THE TESTS?

LAUSD school nurses will be giving the tests. School nurses are members of United Teachers Los Angeles; Stephanie Mednick is the union's school nurse chapter chair.

Heres an @ILWU13news rep getting tested  with a little narration from yours truly pic.twitter.com/c4itD9C8V5  Kyle Stokes (@kystokes) September 14, 2020

HOW HAVE PREPARATIONS FOR THE SITES GONE?

When Beutner announced the launch of the program, he aimed to begin testing in earnest by mid-September -- meaning Monday's announcement is right on schedule.

He also said there would be early glitches in the testing program -- and there have been some.

In August, LAUSD tested all staff assigned to work at these COVID-19 screening sites before sending invites to other on-campus workers. This led to an early miscommunication about the program; the Service Employees International Union Local 99 -- which represents custodians, food service employees and bus drivers -- issued a statement "calling out LAUSD's lack of planning and disorganization" at the testing sites.

LAUSD workers assigned to these testing sites were given tests themselves, but it was initially unclear whether these workers had to remain at work while they awaited their results. The union also called for training and personal protective equipment for all workers at these sites.

Mednick said she had to supply some of her own PPE in the first days of working at a testing site, though this basic concern was addressed within a few days. (Even as the testing program launches, she still hopes the district can procure more specialized PPE; such as paper smocks instead of plastic ones to help nurses at outdoor testing sites handle the heat.)

But overall, Beutner has said most early wrinkles have been smoothed, and SEIU Local 99 president Max Arias was among the union leaders on-hand for a press conference marking the testing program's launch.

"What this testing does at LAUSD, it brings equity to testing," Arias said, "since testing has always been more likely to be available in communities that have more resources. Black and Brown communities have had, as you know, unequal access to testing."

We'll update this story as we learn more about LAUSD's testing program. Do you have any questions about how the system will work? Do you have insights about how the program is working? Send them to me, KPCC/LAist education reporter Kyle Stokes, either by email, with a direct message on Twitter, or through the question box below.

UPDATES:

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 9:54 a.m.: This post was updated to include numerous new details about LAUSD's testing program as district officials announced its launch.

This story was originally published on Aug. 18, 2020. KPCC/LAist reporter Jackie Fortier contributed to this story.
Bolstered by a Supreme Court decision that money collected by the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM Cares) fund need not be transferred to the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday launched a fresh broadside against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of trying to weaken the fight against Covid-19.

A three-judge bench headed by justice Ashok Bhushan held on Tuesday that the establishment of the PM Cares Fund in March had been necessitated by Covid-19 and the requirement of financial resources to deal with the pandemic, and that the court cannot object to it.

Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, said the PM Cares Fund was a registered public fund headed by the prime minister and it has been created to tackle Covid-like emergencies.

Attacking the Congress, Prasad alluded to allegations that when Manmohan Singh was prime minister, money was given to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, which is a family foundation. The foundation has also got support from China. The RGF even recommended that Indian markets be opened for Chinese products, he added.

We have completed six years today and are in the seventh year. We work honestly and no one has been able to cast any aspersion that is backed by facts. Some people merely keep saying things, that is another matter. The Modi government works honestly and this reflects in the PM Cares Fund, said Prasad.

He alleged that Rahul Gandhi had tried to weaken the countrys unity in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. When the nation saluted those at the front-lines of the fight against the coronavirus disease, Gandhi mocked them, Prasaid claimed. When the lockdown was imposed, he questioned it.

I regret to say in view of the conduct of Rahul Gandhi right from day one he never spared any opportunity to weaken the national resolve in the fight against corona, Prasad said.

He said the PM Cares Fund was a transparent fund, out of which Rs 2,000 crore had been sanctioned for procuring ventilators alone. As many as 50,000 ventilators were provided to take care of the emergency needs of patients, the highest since Independence. Around Rs 1,000 crore was given to states for the welfare of migrant workers and Rs 100 crore for vaccine development, the minister said.

Responding to a question, Prasad said there would be an audit of the PM Cares Fund. Every detail is on the website and the country will be informed of each detail, he said.

BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda also hailed the Supreme Court verdict.

The verdict by Supreme Court on PM Cares is a resounding blow to the nefarious designs of Rahul Gandhi & his band of rent a cause activists. It shows that the truth shines despite the ill intent and malicious efforts of the Congress party and its associates, Nadda said on Twitter.

He wrote in another tweet: Rahul Gandhis rants have been repeatedly dismissed by the common man who has overwhelmingly contributed to PM Cares. With the highest court also pronouncing its verdict, will Rahul & his rent a cause activist army mend their ways or embarrass themselves further?

The Congress expressed disappointment over the verdict. Its chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Supreme Court let go an opportunity to bring transparency to the fund.

The judgment is a body blow to transparency and accountability of government to people. It marks a sad letter day for responsibility and answerability of rulers to the electorate and remind them that they are not Monarchs but servants of the people, he tweeted.

SC scrupulously believed that sunlight is the best disinfectant. Today, the court, in a departure from that tradition, passed up an opportunity to demand answers on the PM Cares Fund that seeks public money but plays by its own opaque & murky rules, Surjewala wrote in another tweet.

At a virtual press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said the ruling was a jolt to all the people who were seeking transparency.

This is not Narendra Modis money. This is not Narendra Modis individual fund; this is the Prime Ministers fund, meant for the people, who demand transparency. The people want to know -- where did you get the money from, where have you spent it? he said.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had on Monday tweeted PM CARES for Right To Improbity, tagging a news report which alleged that the Prime Ministers Office had denied an RTI application seeking information on the fund.
Investors watch computer screens at a stock exchange hall on July 13, 2020 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China.

There may be more upside for Chinese markets as the world's second-largest economy recuperates from the coronavirus pandemic, a strategist said on Tuesday.

"I think that it'll continue to be constructive both on the Chinese economy and on the markets. I still think that's there's still meaningful upside from current levels," said David Chao, a global market strategist for Asia Pacific ex-Japan at Invesco.

Chinese markets extended their rally on Monday as the People's Bank of China issued medium-term loans worth 700 billion yuan ($100.99 billion) to financial institutions on Monday.

The overall positivity also comes as as Chinese policy markers have demonstrated the ability to quickly contain new waves of the coronavirus without hampering the economy, Chao told CNBC's "Street SignsAsia."

"This means the economy can continue its recuperation somewhat uninterrupted," said Chao.

Recent data out of China showed supply-side manufacturing activity recovering in July. However, Chinese consumption continues to be anemic, with retail sales negative as recent floods likely hit demand, Chao noted.

But Chinese authorities appear to be on the alert to prop up the country's economy, with Monday's fresh fund injection boosting market sentiment, said Chao.

"That's a very positive signal to the markets that the PBOC continues to be watching the economic events closely and that they stand ready to help propel the economy forward," he added.
Too often we talk about investing in terms of numbers and charts and gains - here is what you get if you invest: cold, hard, cash.

Hardly ever do we talk about what we can give by investing, about how it can make you feel about your own life, about your family's lives, about your prospects.

About how the world sees you and how you see and feel about yourself.

But investing is ALL about feelings. Yes, numbers matter, but what matters a lot more is how markets feel about the numbers.

Consider the word itself: I am really invested in the success of this sour dough, because I have nurtured that sodding starter and practised more than 30 times since lockdown started.

What I mean is: I care if it rises and isn't another rock cake destined for the dustbin. I care.

Empowering: Investing isn't just about getting money for yourself; it's about giving yourself and those you care about a life you want

Why do we so rarely apply this to the world of investing our money?

We may choose to pay school fees or nursery fees for our children - why? Because we care that they are looked after and educated and have the best possible chance in life.

How is this any different from investing some of your savings into a new healthcare company that is trying to develop better care in hospitals for babies? One day, that might be me benefitting from the technology that my money helped to develop.

Investing has long been a male-dominated environment and long have women been reluctant to take the plunge.

The latest Office for National Statistics figures show that between 2017 and 2018, more women opened Isa accounts than men - 11,439 to men's 10,594 new accounts.

But women opted for cash accounts, just 9 per cent of that year's Isas were investing accounts held by women. Some 12 per cent of the men who opened an Isa opted for a stocks and shares account.

Bear in mind, that is 33 per cent MORE men investing than women.

I know I am put off the world of investing because to get advice, I assume I'll need to go to a man in a suit, who is my father's age and who will tell me to go home because I don't have 50,000 in the bank for him to play with. I'd rather ask my Dad.

I also look at the array of funds, the charts, the percentages, the forecasts, ratios, moving averages - frankly, I feel a bit seasick.

How are school fees different from investing some of your savings into a new healthcare company that is trying to develop better care in hospitals for babies?

But equally, because I am lucky enough to have written about this subject for more than a decade, I know it's about a lot more than that stuff.

Markets are made of people - something we forget to remember all too often.

Things happen in the world and people react based on their feelings, and sometimes on their rational assessment of how their position has changed.

More of the time, your gut tells you what to do.

Even the professional investors suffer from that - it's why markets can fall off a cliff on the news of lockdown and then bounce back just as rapidly: the people making the trades realise that they overreacted and calm down.

That's what is meant by market confidence. It's just a feeling.

That's what is meant by market confidence. It's just a feeling.

Markets are also made for people - something we forget even more often.

This is even more fundamental for me.

Money makes the world go around, right? It also is the thing which makes stuff grow. It is literally the water, sunshine, air, food, energy we all need to survive.

Investing gives individuals the power to influence how we treat those things.

Do you care about clean water for everyone? Go invest 50 in a company that is helping to deliver that.

Do you care about global warming? Go invest 50 in a company that is helping to reduce carbon emissions.

You care about the environment and quality of the air we all breathe? Invest in a company that is providing alternative fuels so we can stop relying on diesel, oil and petrol.

If food is your thing, invest in a company that makes it, delivers it, grows it, sells it or prepares it in a way that you care about being the norm.

If food is your thing, invest in a company that makes it, delivers it, grows it, sells it or prepares it in a way that you care about being the norm

It is so easy to look at our 50 each month and think - it can't make a difference.

But it can. Especially when it's invested, because then you are putting your money where your mouth is and funding the change you want to see in the world.

Last month the government-backed pension fund Nest vowed to put 5.5billion, nearly half of its 9million members' money, into a climate-friendly investment strategy.

Its goal is to halve carbon emissions generated by its investments by 2030 and reach 'net zero' by 2050. It will also ditch companies involved in thermal coal, oil sands and Arctic drilling within five years, unless they plan to phase out such activity.

That is an action that matters for our futures and it's making it real because it is investing in that outcome.

Investing isn't just about getting money for yourself; it's about giving yourself and those you care about a life you want.

Investing isn't just about getting money for yourself; it's about giving yourself and those you care about a life you want.

Choosing to back businesses you care about is rewarding. It's the most empowering feeling you can achieve over your own life and choices.

And it's helping to give something tangible towards a future you want to see become reality.

If you keep that money invested, it's also not a bad bet you might see a little something for yourself too over the long term. That's even truer when it's your pension.

Alexandra Jackson, manager of the Rathbone UK Opportunities Fund

In this episode of the Women & Money podcast, Sarah Davidson, knowledge and product editor at This is Money, and Maike Currie, investment director at Fidelity International, talk to Alexandra Jackson, manager of the Rathbone UK Opportunities Fund.

We cover this idea of investing being about so much more than just money, and look at how to give yourself confidence if you want to get started.

Listen now, for Alexandra's views on her own personal approach to her finances and where she sees opportunities for growth.
Winona County

Sunday:

1:12 a.m.: A juvenile female from Winona was arrested and referred for driving under the influence of a controlled substance in the area of Sixth and Carimona streets. According to the complaint, the juvenile was stopped for having a headlight out. Upon making contact with the driver, the deputy detected a strong odor of marijuana and noticed the driver displayed signs of impairment. Charges are pending the results of a blood-test.

9:49 p.m.: Julie Lynn Degen, 57, of La Crosse was referred for driving while intoxicated after getting into a single-vehicle accident in the 29000 block of County Road 19. According to the complaint, Degen sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Winona Health, where a blood test was administered. Charges are pending the result of the blood test. No one else was involved in the crash.

Winona Police

Sunday:

7:56 a.m.: Janna Marie Chandler, 46, of Winona was arrested and referred for fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance and no insurance in the area of Fifth and Ben streets. According to the complaint, prior to the arrest, an officer observed an unoccupied vehicle parked in a yellow zone and facing the wrong direction. As the officer investigated the vehicle, Chandler approached. The officer said Chandler was jittery, shaking and speaking rapidly, and requested to see her proof of insurance for the vehicle. As she was digging in her purse, Chandler pulled out a bag and attempted to hide it. The officer retrieved the bag and found it to contain a white crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Two other bags of methamphetamine were later found in Chandlers purse and in shirt, amounting to a total of 1.72 grams.

12:03 a.m.: Elijah Stewart Heckert, 23, of Saint Paul was cited for public urination. According to the complaint, as an officer was turning onto Second Street from Main Street, he observed Heckert standing in the middle of the westbound lane urinating.

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CASS CITY  Community members who used the Cass City pool in the afternoon between Aug. 7 and Aug. 12 are being asked to monitor themselves for coronavirus symptoms after an employee at the pool tested positive.

According to a press release from the Tuscola County Health Department that was posted on the village of Cass City Facebook Page Monday, an employee who works at the pool tested positive for COVID-19. Anyone who attended activities at the pool while the employee was working, after 4:30 p.m. Friday Aug. 7 to Wednesday Aug. 12 may have been exposed to the virus.
An 88-year-old Chinese woman has died after a dog's leash swept her legs away, causing her to fall onto her face.

The pensioner was standing on a road when the pet ran past her. The dog's lead got caught around her feet and brought her to the ground.

A girl believed to be the dog walker fled the scene with the pet, leaving the victim lying in the middle of the street appearing lifeless.

Surveillance footage shows Ms Mai, 88, falling to the ground after a dog's loose lead got caught around her feet. The resident of China's Xingtan town died from the fall on Monday

The elderly woman was pronounced dead in hospital, according to a local government in Foshan, southern China's Guangdong Province.

The incident occurred at around 5:20pm on Monday in Luoshui Village in the town of Xingtan, a statement said.

Surveillance footage shows the pet, a large white dog, chasing another dog while its black lead was dragging along the ground behind it.

The animal dashed past the victim, Ms Mai, who was wearing a blue top and standing on the side of the road.

In a split second, the resident fell face-first onto the floor after the running dog's cord became stuck around her feet, bringing her down by momentum.

The video shows a girl, believed to be the dog walker, arriving to look for the runaway pet. The clip shows her calling the dog while ignoring the fallen pensioner lying feet away from her

A girl believed to be the dog walker soon arrived in search of the runaway pet. The clip shows her calling the dog while ignoring Ms Mai, who was lying feet from her without any movement.

Afterwards, the girl ran away from the scene. Her dog followed her, with its leash still posing a safety hazard.

Several onlookers, including a young woman nearby, witnessed the incident without intervening.

A local official told Chinese video news outlet Pear that Ms Mai was later taken to hospital and declared dead by doctors.

The official added that the dog's owner was a local and police were investigating the matter.

Local officials of said the dog ran loose after a 12-year-old girl had secretly taken it out of its home - without its owner's knowledge. They did not mention the identity of the girl in the video

The government of Xingtan town has deemed the incident an accident.

In a social media post on Tuesday, the authority said that Ms Mai was hurt after falling to the ground, and she died in hospital after treatment had failed.

The statement claimed that police and paramedics attended the scene immediately after being informed of the matter.

Officials said the dog ran loose after a 12-year-old girl had secretly taken it out of its home for a walk - without its owner's knowledge.

A government statement said Ms Mai was hurt after falling to the ground, and she died in hospital after treatment had failed. It said police and paramedics took the victim to hospital

The pet allegedly broke free from the young walker while passing the Luoshui Market.

The statement did not mention the identity of the individual, who is seen calling the dog back in the video.

But local newspaper Southern Urban Daily suggested that she was the 12-year-old, identified by police as Luo.

The outlet said that Luo often went to play with the dog. Therefore, the dog was familiar with her.

It claimed that the dog's owner, whose surname is also Luo, had not been made aware of the fact that the youngster had gone out with the pet.

Police are reportedly carrying out further investigations.
She added that similar shutdowns along the way have meant delays along the line too  mail is delayed for two days at one sorting spot, then delayed for two more days at the post office, which adds to up four or five days of delay, Savage said.
CNN Turk was among the satellite TV news stations that, on 16 August, aired scenes of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis together with several high-ranking generals inspecting Greeces F-16s. The military inspection followed Ankaras announcement that it would expand operations of its drill ship Oruc Reis off the coast of Cyprus. Within a few hours, EU High Representative Josep Borrell denounced Ankaras provocations. What Ankara has announced is unfortunately fuelling tension and insecurity, he said, calling on Turkey to cease its drilling activities immediately.

Both Turkish and Western analysts do not foresee an eruption of direct hostilities between Greece and Turkey. Heightened tensions do have segments of Turkish public opinion worried, however. The main opposition parties, which have supported the ruling Justice and Development Partys (AKP) claim to the right to drill for oil and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean, continue to urge efforts to reduce tensions. They have called for the restoration of relations with Egypt, our old friend whom Erdogan has turned into an enemy, as Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) put it, to reverse the tide of escalation and, secondly, prompt Cairo to serve as an intermediary to help bridge differences between Athens and Ankara. Whether or not Kilicdaroglu had a crystal ball, there have been reports of direct talks between Turkish and Egyptian officials.

Interestingly, CNN Turk featured a two-part documentary over the weekend on the question as to whether the sound of war drums between Greece and Turkey is receding. The programme cited softening rhetoric between the two sides and other evidence of a mutual desire to reverse the escalatory trajectory. Ironically, the programme, which itself may be a gesture towards this end, coincides with an incident that, in theory, should be highly embarrassing for the pro-AKP media and the presidential palace. According to Yeni Safak, a Turkish warship, the Kemal Reis, inflicted heavy damage on the Greek frigate Limnos on 13 August. The fanatically pro-Erdogan newspaper featured a photo featuring the Greek frigate with a gaping hole in its bow and crowed that the Greeks paid a high price. As Greek City Times demonstrated, the picture was a flagrant photoshop to cover up that it was the Turkish warship that had been put out of service by the 38-year-old Limnos in the course of what Reuters described as a mild collision between the two when the Turkish drill ship Oruc Reis strayed into others territory. Reuters added that the Limnos subsequently took part in joint naval exercises with France the next morning.

In the face of such developments, it is only natural for broad sectors of the Turkish public to feel depressed as the result of a leadership that continues to alienate countries that had once been Turkeys closest friends. Support and sympathy for Greece would never have been so overwhelming had it not been for their governments belligerent policies. As a result of these policies Turkey is finding itself increasingly hemmed in. To one side, it is staring at the historic maritime border demarcation agreement between Egypt and Greece, facilitating the construction of a natural gas pipeline from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe, a project that has engaged Egypt as well as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. To the other side, it faces mounting distrust and revulsion from Europe that is growing increasingly alarmed while watching a fellow NATO member working with Russia in order to undermine NATO while planning to divvy up the spoils in war-torn Libya in order to advance Erdogans hegemonic agenda.

It comes as no surprise that the EU reaffirmed its full support for Greece and that Charles Michel, president of the European Council, expressed the EUs solidarity with Greece and Cyprus during a telephone conversation with the Turkish president 13 August. According to an official in Brussels, Michel reiterated the EUs condemnation of the maritime boundary agreement signed last year between Turkey and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, and he urged Turkey to refrain from provocative actions that escalate tensions in the region.

France, which has had direct experience of Turkish aggressiveness in the Eastern Mediterranean, is spearheading the drive against Turkeys illegal drilling activities in that region and against its designs in North Africa. On Saturday, Andreas Papandreou Airbase in Cyprus welcomed two Rafale fighter planes and a French Air Force C-130 transport aircraft as part of a recently concluded defence agreement between Paris and Nicosia.

On the other hand, Europeans are still amazed by Washingtons inaction towards Turkey. In an opinion piece for the Greek Kathimerini newspaper, European Parliament member Nathalie Loiseau writes that Europeans are struck by Washingtons continuous silence on Turkey. Ankaras provocations against other NATO members such as Greece or France go unnoticed, as do its violations of a UN arms embargo and the obstacles it has put up in the fight against terrorism  No red lines, only green lights. This is the way the Trump administration has handled its relationship with Erdogan so far.

Loiseau, who chairs the EU Parliaments security and defence subcommittee, added: The approach has only emboldened an illiberal regime and increased risks for the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the transatlantic alliance.

Trump has certainly made life easy for Erdogan, but what will happen if Trump is not re-elected and Joe Biden moves into the White House? Biden has not concealed his distaste for the Turkish strongman. But it was not until a video was made of his criticisms of the Turkish president that his views on the subject attracted attention. Biden voiced concern on Erdogans treatment of the Kurds in Turkey, and on his military cooperation with Russia, among other issues. He has to pay a price, Biden said. Washington should embolden Turkish opposition leaders to be able to take on and defeat Erdogan. Not by a coup  but by the electoral process, he added.

The video went viral on Turkish social media over the weekend.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 26 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The five civilian experts who will conduct an independent review of the embattled Fort Hood Army base, where soldier Vanessa Guillen disappeared and was killed, have been officially sworn in.

The panel, made of up of three men and two women, includes Chris Swecker, the former assistant director of FBIs Criminal Investigative Division, and Jonathan Harmon, a civilian trial attorney who represented Fortune 500 companies.

The others are Carrie Ricci, 21-year Army veteran and assistant general counsel for the Department of Agriculture; Queta Rodriguez, 20-year Marines veteran and regional director for the non-profit FourBlock; and Jack White a partner at the law firm Fluet Huber Hoang in McLean, Virginia.

The five civilian experts who will conduct an independent review of the embattled Fort Hood base have been officially sworn in. Members include Chris Swecker, the former assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division (left) and Jonathan Harmon, a civilian trial attorney who represented Fortune 500 companies (right)

Other panelists include Queta Rodriguez, a regional director for the national nonprofit FourBlock (left) and Carrie Ricci, an assistant general counsel for the Department of Agriculture (right)

Jack White, a partner at the law firm Fluet Huber Hoang in McLean, Virginia is also on the panel. He is a West Point graduate and served five years on active duty. He continued his service in the U.S. Army Reserve while attending Pepperdine University School of Law

The investigation comes on the heels of a string if disturbing deaths and disappearances on the base.

Timeline of Fort Hood disappearances/deaths August 19, 2019: Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales, 24, disappeared. He was last seen driving his personal vehicle outside of Fort Hood days before he was due to be discharged. He was listed as a deserter by the Army one month after he was last seen. April 22, 2020: Vanessa Guillen goes missing and is last seen in the parking lot of the base. She disappeared after telling her family she was being sexually harassed by a sergeant on the base. May 18, 2020: Body of Army Pfc. Brandon S. Rosecrans, 27, was discovered with gunshot wounds and his Jeep was found three miles away engulfed in flames. June 19, 2020: Search teams discover the corpse of missing soldier Wedel-Morales following a tip to Army base investigators. Remains were found in a field in Killeen, just over 10 miles from Stillhouse Hollow Lake, five miles from Fort Hood. June 30, 2020: First parts of Giullen's remains found about 20 miles east of Fort Hood July 17, 2020: Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, of Pensacola, Florida was found unresponsive July 17 in the vicinity of Stillhouse Hollow Lake, around 15 miles from the Fort Hood base. August 2, 2020: The body of Spc. Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas, 24, is recovered from Stillhouse Hollow Lake following boating incident not far from where Morta was found. August 13, 2020: National Guard soldier, Sgt Bradley Moore dies during a training exercise at the base

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This year alone nine soldiers from the base have died and five of those were linked to foul play.

The five experts were sworn in during a virtual ceremony last week and theyll provide an interim program report by mid-September and a final report by October 30, Army officials said Monday.

The group will review historical data and statistics, interviews with Fort Hood personnel, and evaluate policies and procedures surrounding sexual assault prevention and sexual harassment on the base, according to the Army Times.

The panel will also assess the command climate at various units and review its impact on the safety welfare and readiness of soldiers assigned there.

'Were getting an outside look to help us to get to those root causes and understand them,' Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said on the panel on August 6.

'The point of emphasis being that were going to put every resource and all of the energy we can from this institution behind fixing these problems.'

He said the base has the highest number of tragedies compared the other bases.

Following public outrage over Guillens death after she claimed she was being sexually harassed at the base, the Army is responding with the review.

'The numbers are high here. They are the highest, in most cases, for sexual assault and harassment and murders for our entire formation  the US Army,' McCarthy said during a two-day visit to the base in Killeen, Texas in early August.

The investigators were deployed to 'understand the root causes associated with the rise of felonies, violent acts [and] to better understand why this is happening at this installation.'

In addition to the five civilian experts, the review will have support staff from the Headquarters of the Department of the Army and personnel from the Office of the General Counsel and the Office of the Inspector General.

This year at least nine soldiers have died on the base.

Those victims are: Spc. Vanessa Guillen, her alleged killer Spc.Aaron David Robinson, 20, Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales, Pvt. Mejhor Morta, Spc. Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas, Pfc. Brandon Scott Rosecrans, Spc. Freddy Delacruz Jr, Spc. Christopher Wayne Sawyer, and Spc. Shelby Tyler Jones.

Vanessa Guillen, 20, disappeared in April and her remains were first found June 30

Guillen's remains were found days after search teams discovered the corpse of missing soldier Pvt. Gregory Wedel-Morales, 24, (above) on June 19

Guillen, 20, vanished from the base on April 22.

She disappeared after telling her family she was being sexually harassed by a sergeant on the base. The first parts of Giullen's remains found about 20 miles east of Fort Hood on June 30.

Spc. Aaron David Robinson, 20, was the main suspect in Guillens disappearance and murder. He killed himself when confronted by investigators in the early hours of July 1.

Guillen's remains were found days after a tip led authorities to the body of missing soldier Gregory Wedel-Morales, who disappeared last year, nearby.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 11:25:39|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday said that 31 illegal immigrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast.

"IOM staff are at the disembarkation point in Tripoli, to provide emergency assistance to 31 migrants returned to shore by the coast guard," IOM tweeted later Monday.

"Over 7,000 migrants have so far been intercepted and returned to Libya this year. Most end up in arbitrary detention," it added.

Libya has been mired in a state of insecurity and chaos since 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for thousands of illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe.

Immigrant shelters in Libya have been overcrowded with migrants despite repeated international calls to close them. Enditem
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends the swearing-in ceremony of Dominican Republic's new President Luis Abinader at the Congress in Santo Domingo

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will likely travel to New York on Thursday to seek a return of all U.N. sanctions on Iran and meet with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, diplomats and a U.N. official said.

To trigger a return of the sanctions, the United States will submit a complaint to the 15-member U.N. Security Council about Iran's non-compliance with the nuclear deal, even though Washington quit the accord in 2018.

Pompeo will likely meet with Indonesia's U.N. Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, the Security Council president for August, to submit the complaint, diplomats said. Pompeo is also due to meet with Guterres, a U.N. official said.

In response to what the United States calls its "maximum pressure" campaign - a bid to get Iran to negotiate a new deal - Tehran has breached several central limits of the 2015 deal, including on its stock of enriched uranium.

But diplomats say the sanctions snapback process will be tough and messy as Russia, China and other countries on the Security Council challenge the legality of the U.S. move given that Washington itself is no longer complying with what Trump called the "worst deal ever" and has imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran.

The United States had threatened to use the sanctions snapback provision in the nuclear deal after it lost a bid in the Security Council on Friday to extend an arms embargo on Tehran, which is due to expire in October.

Once Washington submits its complaint about Iran to the Security Council, the body has 30 days to adopt a resolution to extend sanctions relief for Tehran or else the measures will automatically snapback. Any attempt to extend the sanctions relief would be vetoed by the United States.

The U.S. mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
An onshore flow of marine air will help keep temperatures in the Portland area on the average side for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service.

Morning clouds followed by afternoon sunshine are expected through Wednesday. Tuesdays clouds should be short-lived, with clearing skies likely by noon. The high will reach about 84.

Data courtesy of the Oregon Dept. of Environmental QualityDEQ

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality had issued a warning Monday for smog. The warning was to expire Tuesday morning. Current air quality monitors are registering good for most of Oregon. This could change with continued wildfires across the state. Check airnow.gov for updated information.

Marine air spreads and deepens Wednesday for more morning cloudiness. The afternoon should be mostly clear with a high of nearly 84 degrees.

By late Wednesday night, computer models are showing a weak front approaching the northern Oregon Coast and streaming in some moisture, at least for the beaches. In Portland there will be a 20% chance for showers Thursday, mainly in the afternoon. There will also be partly sunny skies. The high is likely to reach 83.

Chances for showers increase Thursday night, mainly after 11 p.m.

Current forecasts call for a 50% chance for rain Friday before this wet system moves out of the area and we see a mostly sunny weekend.
The grill at the 81-year-old White Hut will be sizzling once again when the West Springfield restaurant reopens its doors to the public on Friday at 1 p.m.

New owners Andy Yee and Peter Picknelly obtained the final OK from the License Commission on Tuesday to reopen the Memorial Avenue favorite.

I am flattered to be in West Springfield, Yee told The Republican after the vote. We plan to be here in West Springfield for another 81-plus years.

Yee and Picknelly will take part in the grand reopening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Notables slated to attend include West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield.

The restaurant at 280 Memorial Avenue has been a fixture in the Western Massachusetts dining scene for eight decades. Its cheeseburgers with fried onions have been lauded as among the best burgers in the country by media outlets ranging from the hip Thrillist blog to the venerable Wall Street Journal.

In May, Yee, Picknelly and investors Michael K. Vann and Kevin B. Vann finalized the purchase of the business, which abruptly closed in February, from Edward J. Barkett. His grandfather founded the White Hut in 1939.

Yee and Picknelly obtained the family recipes, inked deals with longtime vendors, and arranged for the return of veteran White Hut staff, including manager Artie White.

In the past few months, burgers and hot dogs have been sold out of a trailer in front of the restaurant as extensive renovations of the building took place.

The new owners sought to refurbish the iconic art deco building to make it more modern, while retaining its charm.

Once boarded windows have been replaced and flowers and landscaping added to the property.

I just like to do things right, Yee said. My family and the Picknelly family have an appreciation for the nostalgia and the history of the White Hut.
Google is warning that Australians' personal information could be "at risk" if the digital giant has to pay for news content.

A proposed law would require firms like Google and Facebook to pay Australian news organizations for the content that appears on their websites. The law was drafted last month after months of negotiations between the Australian government and the two tech giants broke down.

In an open letter posted online Monday, Melanie Silva, Google's managing director for Australia and New Zealand, said Australians personal data could be turned over to big media firms if the law is enacted, which would help them automatically inflate their search ranking.

Silva also said the law would make such free services such as Google Search and YouTube "dramatically worse" and could lead to Australians paying for such services.


Retailers and their landlords must resolve rent disputes caused by the Covid crisis through arbitration not in the courts, the country's top retail body has told the Irish Independent.

If hundreds of disagreements over rent arrears end up in court it will ultimately lead to "a further wave of business failures and job losses", Arnold Dillon, director of Retail Ireland said yesterday.

Legal action against shops will only stoke more closures, Mr Dillon warned.

"The Government has taken action to protect tenants in the private housing market. Intervention is also required in the commercial market," he said.

Mr Dillon made the comments after Boots Ireland said it had stopped paying rent on some of its shops in Ireland.

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The chain is in a legal dispute with MNK Investments, which owns the Omni Shopping Centre in Santry, Dublin.

In addition, the listed company is facing a legal action from Balrath Investments over rent at the Charlestown Shopping Centre in Finglas.

The lockdown as a result of the pandemic has hit retailers brutally hard, with many shut for months and others rapidly losing market share to online vendors.

Boots is just one of an increasing number of businesses involved in disagreements with landlords, including Heatons and clothing chains New Look and Reiss.

Shops across the country are struggling after many retailers were forced to pull down the shutters for weeks at the height of the Covid-19 lockdown on the back of Government measures aimed at limiting the spread of the virus.

There are no precise numbers for the number of businesses that are struggling to pay their rent, according to Duncan Graham, managing director of Retail Excellence Ireland.

However, "in terms of non-essential retail at least half are in a situation where they have either not paid for those three months [of lockdown] or they have deferred payments that need to be paid in the longer-run", he said.

While June saw the biggest monthly increase in consumer spending on record here, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the numbers may have benefited from pent-up demand from consumers.

The volume of retail sales increased by 38.4pc in June when compared to May on a seasonally adjusted basis.

But on a quarterly basis, sales in April to June were 18.9pc lower than in the first three months of this year, and 21.8pc below the same period last year.

"Many retailers are simply unable to pay for the lockdown period when stores where shut. Even since reopening, the drop in trade due to reduced store capacity, the lack of foreign tourists and the major drop in footfall due to home working has left many businesses struggling to survive," Mr Dillon of Retail Ireland said.

Last week the owner of Brown Thomas and Arnotts told staff that they would cut 150 jobs due to Covid-19 trading losses.

The cuts mean that more than one in eight employees in the 1,050-member workforce is expected to lose their jobs by mid-October.
WASHINGTON, August 18, 2020 -- As the climate of the planet is changing, as evidenced by record-setting hot summers and extreme weather events, many researchers are looking to more renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind farms.

In a paper for the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy , by AIP Publishing, researchers investigate whether the power generated by solar and wind farms would differ between current and future climates.

The researchers focused on Australia, since it is an ideal case study with extreme weather events, such as bush fires and windstorms. The sites selected were near Adelaide in South Australia and in southern New South Wales, where variable renewable generators are located or are likely to be located in the future based on the Australian Energy Market Operator's system plan.

The researchers analyzed key weather variables, such as temperature, surface solar irradiance and wind speed, in 30-minute intervals for the years 1980 to 2060.

"We found that the general temporal trends in annual solar and wind power generation due to climate change are small, being at the order of 0.1% of its average production per decade," said Jing Huang, one of the authors.

During the five hottest days of every year, however, the effect of climate change on renewable energy production was more severe. During these peak temperature days that coincided with peak energy demand and peak prices, solar power production was down 0.5%-1.1%, and wind farm production decreased between 1.6%-3% per decade.

The researchers' findings are geared to inform the electricity sector about the reliability of interconnected power networks in different temperature conditions. Central power operators, for instance, need to plan for all contingencies to avoid power blackouts.

While this study looked at two sites in Australia, quantifying temperature impacts on renewable energy generation can be generalized to other areas beyond Australia.

"For different regions, there are different effects of climate change," said Huang.

He said it will be important to conduct more case studies in other areas and climate regions to examine spatial climate variability and couple the findings with other aspects of energy systems, such as load and transmission infrastructure.

###

The article, "Temperature impacts on utility-scale solar photovoltaic and wind power generation output over Australia under RCP 8.5," is authored by Jing Huang, Ben Jones, Marcus Thatcher and Judith Landsberg and funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government under the Electricity Sector Climate Information Project. The article will appear in Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy on Aug. 18, 2020 (DOI: 10.1063/5.0012711). After that date, it can be accessed at https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0012711.

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes across all areas of renewable and sustainable energy relevant to the physical science and engineering communities. Topics covered include solar, wind, biofuels and more, as well as renewable energy integration, energy meteorology and climatology, and renewable resourcing and forecasting. See https://aip.scitation.org/journal/rse.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhenii Yenin has said that the investigation into the downing of a Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) passenger jet in Iran could take up to five years if international courts are involved.

Yenin said this in an interview with the Censor.Net online news site.

"I definitely would not like to name any timelines, although I understand perfectly well that society is waiting for the result. To a large extent, everything depends on the political will of the Iranian side. If we look at a similar practice of investigations into other plane crashes, for example, the situation with the downing of a Russian plane over the Black Sea on board which were citizens of Russia and Israel, the settlement process lasted about two years. If we talk about the possibility of using international courts, the lower bar starts at five years," Yenin said.

However, he confirmed that the situation could be resolved before trial.

On January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down near Tehran by an Iranian surface-to-air missile, killing 176 people, including nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK).

On July 18, France's Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority (BEA) received Flight PS752s recorders from Iran. Yenin said that the transcript from Flight PS752's recorders had confirmed illegal interference with the plane.

Negotiations on compensation for the downing of Flight PS752 took place in Kyiv on July 30 with the participation of the Iranian delegation.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office announced on July 31 that the next round of talks with Iran on the investigation into the plane crash was scheduled for October.

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Garrett, IN (46738)

Today

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 14F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Snow showers this evening. Becoming partly cloudy later. Low 14F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 14:15:43|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The almost entirely virtual 2020 U.S. Democratic National Convention (DNC) kicked off on Monday night.

During the four-day event, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will accept the nomination and California Senator Kamala Harris will be nominated for his running mate.

The quadrennial event's host city this year -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- will not see tens of thousands of people gathering for the occasion like in previous years, since the COVID-19 pandemic has forced convention organizers to scale back the event by moving most of its activities online, with each of the four nights' events being broadcast from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

Originally, the in-person convention with the number of attendees expected to be around 50,000 was planned for July, but organizers postponed it due to safety concerns during the pandemic.

The nominal main venue in Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Center, is being used for announcing voting results and as a control center to coordinate the livestreaming feeds, keeping the number of people on-site below 250 following an ordinance by city authorities that also requests the wearing of masks in indoor and outdoor public places.

Guest speakers for the inaugural day, including former first lady Michelle Obama, and Bernie Sanders, senator from Vermont and Biden's last rival during the Democratic primaries, were to address a series of challenges facing the nation, including the coronavirus pandemic, the economic recession, and the persistent racial injustice and inequity most recently exposed by the death of black man George Floyd in the hands of white police in May.

During her speech, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ripped into what she said was U.S. President Donald Trump's effort to fan "the flames of racism" while "plotting" to suppress peaceful protesters demonstrating near the White House in June during the heyday of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, called upon the nation to "carry on the fight for justice," saying the actions will be legacies of Floyd and other black people killed by police brutality.

Saying the country is "in crisis," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose state was once the national epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, said that over the past few years, "America's body politic has been weakened, (and) the divisions have grown deeper."

"Only a strong body can fight off the virus, and America's divisions weakened it," he said.

Former Ohio Governor John Kasich, one of the few Republicans invited to address the DNC, said while he was "a lifelong Republican" and "proud" of his Republican heritage, "that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country."

Kasich said it "would probably never happen" in normal times for a Republican like him to cross the political aisle and endorse a Democratic candidate.

"But these are not normal times," he said.

Biden's former rivals in the Democratic presidential primaries, including New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, also attended the event to vouch for the candidate.

Sanders, a leading figure of the Democratic Party's progressive camp, offered his vehement compliment for the former vice president.

Listing a number of Biden's policy proposals that are desiged to bridge income gaps, combat climate change, expand healthcare, reform the criminal justice system and address racial injustice, Sanders asked his and other former Democratic presidential candidates' supporters to "elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president," adding "the price of failure is just too great to imagine."

The last speaker on Monday night, former first lady Michelle Obama, delivered a thinly-veiled political speech, sweepingly denouncing Trump's presidency and bluntly calling him "the wrong president for our country."

"I know Joe, he is a profoundly decent man guided by faith," Obama said of Biden in a video clip that was pre-taped. "He was a terrific vice president. He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country."

Trump, who was at a campaign event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on Monday, reacted to Obama's attacks, saying: "Who wants to listen to Michelle Obama do a taped speech? No you've got to get her up there."

In addition to Wisconsin, three other swing states of Minnesota, Arizona and Pennsylvania are also on the president's travel schedule this week, where he has planned to give pointed speeches to counter the DNC.

The Trump team has also been running a four-day, multi-million-dollar digital ad campaign that not only takes over video-sharing site YouTube, but also occupies the websites of The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Fox News. Enditem
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for ideas and inputs on topics that can be picked up during his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on the last Sunday of this month.

The 68th edition of PM Modis Mann Ki Baat programme will be aired on August 30.

The Prime Minister tweeted on Tuesday to ask people to send their inputs by writing to him using NaMo or MyGov App or by recording their messages by calling on 1800-11-7800. Phone lines have been opened from August 10.

What do you think should be discussed during this months #MannKiBaat, which will take place on the 30th? he asked on Twitter.

What do you think should be discussed during this months #MannKiBaat, which will take place on the 30th?



Record your message by dialing 1800-11-7800.



You can also write on the NaMo App or MyGov.



Looking forward to your ideas and inputs. https://t.co/wRagYSoaq0  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 18, 2020

In his previous Mann Ki Baat episode, whose date coincided with the Kargil Vijay Diwas, PM Modi asked citizens to remember soldiers who fought valiantly against Pakistans forces during the Kargil War. He also said that despite efforts to establish cordial relations Pakistan remained resolute in pushing cross-border terrorism.

PM Modi also reminded citizens to not let their guard down amid the rising cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). He said that it is necessary to wear masks when outside and asked those who think wearing them is troublesome to reflect upon the amount of time frontline workers have to spend in a day wearing masks. He reiterated that people need to follow all precautions to prevent Covid-19.

The PM asked citizens to visit - www.gallantryawards.gov.in - and share stories of valour with young citizens to inspire them.

(With inputs from ANI)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to direct the Centre to transfer the contributions made to the PM CARES Fund for battling the COVID-19 pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund saying both are entirely different funds with separate object and purpose.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan also said there is no statutory prohibition for the Centre utilising the NDRF for providing assistance in the fight of COVID-19 in accordance with the guidelines issued for administration of the NDRF.

"At this need of the hour no exception can be taken to the constitution of a public charitable trust, namely, PM CARES Fund to have necessary financial resources to meet the emergent situation," said the apex court which also rejected the submissions of the NGO, 'Centre for Public Interest Litigation', that there was no sufficient plan to deal with the COVID19 pandemic.

The top court said there is also no statutory prohibition in making any contribution by any person or institution in the NDRF as per Section 46(1)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, Act, 2005.

The contribution by any person or by any institution in PM CARES Fund is voluntary and it is open for any person or institution to make a contribution to the PM CARES Fund, the top court said.

"The funds collected in the PM CARES Fund are entirely different funds which are funds of a public charitable trust and there is no occasion for issuing any direction to transfer the said funds to the NDRF.

"The prayer of the petitioner to direct all the funds collected in the PM CARES Fund till date to be transferred to the NDRF is refused," the bench, also comprising Justices R S Reddy and M R Shah, said.

It said when the Central government is providing financial assistance to the States to contain COVID-19 it is not for any PIL petitioner to say that Centre should give amount from this fund or that fund.

"The financial planning is in the domain of the Central government, which financial planning is made after due deliberation and consideration. We, thus, do not find any substance in the submission of the petitioner that there is any statutory restriction/prohibition in utilization of NDRF for COVID-19," the apex court said in its 75- page verdict.

The NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, had sought a direction that all the money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the COVID-19 pandemic should be transferred to the NDRF.

The PIL had also sought a direction to the government to prepare, notify and implement a national plan under the Disaster Management Act to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The apex court said the National Disaster Management Plan prepared by the Centre deals with all aspects of the Biological and Public Health Emergencies in systematic and planned manner and thus there is no need of separate plan to deal with COVID-19 pandemic.

The bench said the National Disaster Management Authority was well aware of the epidemics and had issued guidelines in the year 2008 itself which has been further detailed in Plan-2019.

"All aspects of the epidemics, all measures to contain an epidemic, preparedness, response, mitigation have been elaborately dealt in Plan, 2019. Unless the National Plan as contemplated under Section 11 contains all aspects of disaster including the Biological and Public Health Emergencies, it will not be possible for the governments to immediately respond and contain an epidemic," it said.

The apex court said the Disaster Management Act, 2005, contain ample powers and measures, which can be taken by the National Disaster Management Authority, National Executive Committee and Central Government to prepare further plans, guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs), which in respect to COVID-19 have been done from time to time.

"The petitioners are not right in their submissions that there is no sufficient plan to deal with COVID19 pandemic.

"COVID-19 being a Biological and Public Health Emergency, which has been specifically covered by National Plan, 2019, which is supplemented by various plans, guidelines and measures, there is no lack or dearth of plans and procedures to deal with COVID-19," the bench said.

On the issue of laying down the minimum standards of relief to affected persons, the top court held that uniform guidelines are contemplated so that victims affected by disaster are provided with minimum requirement in the relief camps in respect of shelter, food, drinking water, medical cover and sanitation and other reliefs.

"There being already guidelines for minimum standards in place even before COVID-19, the said guidelines for minimum standards holds good even for those who are affected by COVID-19.

"The prayer of the petitioner to direct the Union of India to issue fresh guidelines under Section 12 to be provided to persons infected with COVID-19 is misconceived," the bench said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 03:35:42|Editor: huaxia

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Israeli medical staff evacuate a woman wounded in a stabbing attack in Jerusalem's Old City, on Aug. 17, 2020. The Israeli police shot dead on Monday a Palestinian young man in the old city in East Jerusalem after he stabbed an Israeli police officer and wounded him, Palestinian and Israeli sources said. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli police shot dead on Monday a Palestinian young man in the old city in East Jerusalem after he stabbed an Israeli police officer and wounded him, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.

The sources said that an Israeli police force shot and killed the Palestinian young man who stabbed an Israeli police officer in Bab Hatta in East Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a press statement that the Israeli police in the city prevented its medical teams from reaching the area to provide first aid to the seriously wounded Palestinian.

Meanwhile, Israeli radio reported that an Israeli police officer opened fire at a Palestinian young man in East Jerusalem and killed him after he stabbed and wounded another officer in the old city.

Following the incident, Palestinian sources said that the Israeli police closed the gates that lead to Al-Aqsa Mosque and deployed a large number of police forces in the old city. Enditem
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer highlighted Joe Bidens work to save Detroits automakers and criticized President Donald Trumps response to the COVID-19 pandemic during a live address to the Democratic National Convention Monday.

Whitmer introduced herself as that woman from Michigan, a derisive nickname bestowed on her by Trump earlier this year, while making her speech live from a United Auto Workers union hall in Lansing. In alignment with a recent push by the Biden campaign to tout his impact on the 2009 auto bailout, Whitmer said the former vice president saved Michigan auto workers who went on to help manufacture ventilators and personal protective equipment to respond to the coronavirus.

Governor @GretchenWhitmer  thank you for your support and for meeting the COVID-19 crisis with the urgency it demands. The people of Michigan are lucky to have you leading the way. #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/ef2d4DldRV  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 18, 2020

Whitmer contrasted Bidens efforts during the last major recession facing the United States with the current situation under Trump. The national unemployment rate is slowly declining as the economy recovers from business shutdowns across the country but still sat at 10% in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data released last Friday.

In 2009, the Obama-Biden administration inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Whitmer said. The auto industry on the brink of collapse, 1 million jobs at stake. But President Obama and Vice President Biden didnt waste time blaming anyone else or shirking the responsibility, they got to work.

Biden is putting more resources into digital and television ads highlighting his Build Back Better Agenda, which includes a plan to create 1 million auto jobs. The plan calls for more federal investment, government purchases and tax incentives to lift up automakers and connected businesses that supply them.

Joe Biden knows how to help Michigans economy bounce back because hes done it before -- helping rescue the auto industry and helping lead our country through the longest uninterrupted stretch of private sector job growth in American history, said Eric Hyers, Michigan state director for the Biden campaign.

Whitmer criticized Trump for not having a national strategy to deal with the coronavirus. She said Trump fights his fellow Americans rather than the virus that killed 170,000 Americans. The governor specifically mentioned the death of 5-year-old Skylar Hebert, a Detroit girl killed by COVID-19 in April.

We took this pandemic seriously in Michigan, Whitmer said. We listened to medical experts, we planned. With a lot of work from auto workers -- and too little help from the White House -- we executed our plan. We saved thousands of lives ... Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead by example. It will be science, not politics or ego, that will drive their decisions.

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox said Whitmers partisan colors were on full display, in a statement. Cox said Whitmers policy is responsible for the death of Michigan residents in nursing homes.

However, as we saw tonight, she continues to pass the buck and blame others, Cox said. But while Whitmer blames, Trump leads, and I look forward to our state awarding him with another victory this November.

The governors remarks were featured on the first night of the convention during a section of the program focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor has gained national attention since implementing aggressive executive orders to contain coronavirus outbreaks and being among the shortlist women politicians considered to be Bidens running mate.

Whitmer is a national co-chair of Bidens presidential campaign. She endorsed him before Michigans March Democratic primary.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Biden-Harris ticket has most progressive agenda for Black people, says Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist

Gretchen Whitmer says Michigan is definitely a tossup in 2020 presidential race

Trump, Biden take different approaches to campaigning, amid coronavirus concerns in Michigan

Political groups spend millions on ads to turn Michigan Republicans against Trump over coronavirus response

Coronavirus, racial protest response could undermine Trumps outreach to Black voters in Michigan

Trump campaign bus makes push for women voters in Michigan battlegrounds

In must-win Michigan, Trump campaign takes fight door to door as polls show Biden with strong lead
Website Features Curated Content Exploring Diverse Japanese Culture Themes

Kodo and the Secrets of Scent

Mindfully set a fragrance in front of you, and carefully listen. Read cultural articles on JapanHouseLA.com

Mindfully set a fragrance in front of you, and carefully listen. Read cultural articles on JapanHouseLA.com

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles , a Japanese cultural destination in the heart of Hollywood, is expanding its virtual offerings through a new curated series of online articles. The articles delve into diverse topics of Japanese culture  ranging from art to philosophy to food. A new story will be shared each month with the latest dedicated to Sensory Japan, exploring Japan through the five senses.



These selected articles offer insights into Japanese culture and its constant balance of tradition and change, as well as providing tips and ideas on activities to be enjoyed at home (or safely outdoors at a distance). For the ears, check out The Beat Goes On, covering the sonic treasures of a vintage Japanese music revival along with links to start listening. For the nose, read up on the Secrets of Scent, both traditional and modern, and how to delight your olfactory senses at home through plants, fruits and incense. For the taste buds, discover the subtle varieties of Japans favorite noodle through Ramen: Secrets of the Bowl, including tips on upgrading your kitchen ramen game. Finally, get inspired by the art of forest bathing in Shinrin-Yoku: The Forest as Therapy  a mindful practice for all the senses, especially sight, scent, and touch, which are activated and heightened in the presence of trees and nature.

Though much global travel is on hold, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles invites audiences of all ages to take a sensory Japanese journey from their own armchair  or kitchen table, or backyard. These articles are part of expanded online programming by JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles during its temporary closure.

The first installment dedicated to the theme of Sensory Japan and more can be found on the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles articles page.

Story continues

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles: Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

ABOUT JAPAN HOUSE

JAPAN HOUSE is an innovative, worldwide project with three hubs, London, Los Angeles and Sao Paulo, conceived by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It seeks to nurture a deeper understanding and appreciation of Japan in the international community. JAPAN HOUSE

Los Angeles occupies two floors at Hollywood & Highland. JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles offers a place of new discovery that transcends the physical and conceptual boundaries creating experiences that reflect the best of Japan through its spaces and diverse programs.

Location: 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028

Website: www.japanhouse.jp/losangeles

Media Contacts:

Nerissa Silao | 310-874-9230 | nerissas@ca.rr.com

Lisa Nakanouchi | 323-904-9298 | lnakanouchi@japanhousela.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/660ff54b-a24c-4c4c-a9f6-02b3cb154e3b




A youthful-looking mother who still gets asked for ID when buying alcohol says it is flattering when people mistake her for her daughters' sister.

Rajan Gill, 50, from Coventry, West Midlands, is often left red-faced when buying alcohol from the supermarket as cashiers often question her age, presuming she is three decades younger.

And it is not just store assistants who get her age muddled up, strangers have often assumed she is her daughters' Jasmine, 19, and Neelam, 25, sister.

Youthful-looking Rajan Gill, 50, (left), from Coventry, West Midlands, often gets mistaken for her daughters' sister and gets asked for ID. Pictured with eldest daughter Neelam, 25

Strangers have often assumed she is sisters with her daughters Jasmine, 19, (pictured) and Neelam, 25

The makeup artist says her daughters can get embarrassed when people mistake her for their sister but she thinks it is a compliment

The mum-of-three says it is flattering but 'embarrassing' for her children when people get confused about their ages.

Rajan, who is a makeup artist, said: 'The girls are often embarrassed when someone asks if I am their sister but I think it is a massive compliment.

'They are like 'here we go again' - but we do have a chuckle about it. I always feel flattered that people think I am the same age as them.

Strangers have even messaged Rajan on her Instagram page saying they can't believe how old she is.

'It is crazy that I still have to carry my ID as I never know when I will randomly be asked at a supermarket if I've popped in for a bottle of wine.

'It is a compliment but very awkward.

Rajan says everyone is shocked when she tells them she is 50 and she has even had people message her on social media to express how surprised they were at her age. Pictured: Rajan with her eldest daughter 25-year-old Neelam

At the age of 50, Rajan still has to carry ID around in case people ask her for it at the supermarket

Rajan has never had Botox and says she does not know what the secret behind her youthful looks is. The mother has only just started getting fine lines under her eyes and says she does not have many wrinkles because she does not sunbathe

On one occasion Rajan was even asked for ID when she tried to buy spray paint for a radiator in a hardware store.

'I think there is a huge pressure on the younger generation to look older than their age,' she said.

'Social media plays a big part on role models having fillers or wearing a lot of makeup which is why it can be confusing for cashiers.'

Rajan, who has never had Botox, says there isn't a secret behind her youthful looks.

She said: 'I don't have any remedies - I guess, I just have good genes. I lead a healthy lifestyle, avoid fast food and take care of my skin by investing in an array of products.

'But I don't have a specific go to that I can praise for my looks as I change them all the time.

'I have only just started getting fine lines underneath my eyes!

'I may not have many wrinkles because I never sunbathe - I will go in the pool and stuff on holiday but I will never lie in the sun for hours on end.

Rajan's husband Harpreet, 40, is ten years younger but the age gap has 'never' been a problem as Rajan is mistaken to be the younger one. Pictured: Harprett, Milan, seven, Rajan, 50, Jasmine, 19 and Neelam, 25

The mother thinks the 'huge pressure' on the younger generation to look older than their age plays a big part in why it can be confusing for cashiers to discern her age

'I will sit in the shade as the sun can age you. I swear by products that help your skin too such as Bare Minerals as it doesn't clog up your pores.'

Rajan's husband Harpreet is ten years younger but the age gap has 'never' been a problem as Rajan is mistaken to be the younger one.

She said: 'I was apprehensive about dating a younger man when I first met my husband but we just clicked.

'He thought I was the same age as him and people always think I am the younger one so it hasn't ever been a problem.

'I don't feel 50 but society makes you think you shouldn't dress a certain way or wear make up as you get older. But I just do whatever makes me happy.'
A plane of the Russian Defense Ministry has evacuated 26 Russian children from Syria, the press service of Russian childrens rights commissioner Anna Kuznetsova told reporters.



The plane successfully landed at Chkalovsky airfield in the Moscow Region on Tuesday. This was the first evacuation flight of the Russian Defense Ministry after a pause amid the anti-coronavirus restrictions.



"With the assistance of the Russian presidents commissioner 26 Russian children, who were in orphanages in Damascus, were brought back home," TASS cited the press service as saying.



During the flight, the children were accompanied by doctors and all medical recommendations were observed at all stages of the evacuation. The children will be sent to an observation center in the Moscow Region and will be handed over to their relatives after the quarantine measures.



Earlier, Kuznetsova said 122 Russian children would be evacuated from Syria by four flights.
(Repeats with no change in text)

By John Whitesides and Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - The United States has held presidential nominating conventions for almost 200 years, and they have served in recent decades as an important televised introduction to each party's candidate in the final months before the election.

Here is a look at the upcoming Democratic and Republican national conventions, which kick off on Monday and run back-to-back weeks. The presidential election is Nov. 3.

PICKING A NOMINEE

U.S. political conventions were once a place where presidential nominees were decided, often after multiple ballots and long fights, often among party elders in "smoke-filled rooms." But that has not happened in decades.

The last time a nomination was in much doubt as a convention opened was 1976, when Republican President Gerald Ford held off Ronald Reagan in Kansas City, Missouri. The last convention to go beyond a first ballot was in 1952 in Chicago, when Democrats chose Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson.

Now, the nominees are chosen by voters in a state-by-state series of primary elections, with delegates from each state ratifying the choice at conventions that are designed to showcase the party's candidate and message.

The Democratic convention runs Monday through Thursday. The Republican convention will be held from Aug. 24 to 27. Both will be mostly virtual this year, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

WHO WILL SPEAK?

Four nights of speeches at each convention are intended to excite a prime-time television audience to get behind the nominee and serve as the starting gun for the final sprint to the November election.

The parties will trot out heavyweight political names before presumptive nominees Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden and Republican President Donald Trump deliver their acceptance speeches on the respective final nights.

But the conventions also provide a chance for the parties to highlight people they view as up-and-coming political stars. Few have taken advantage of the opportunity as well as Barack Obama in 2004, when the relatively unknown Illinois Democratic state legislator delivered an indictment of political polarization. The keynote address helped propel him to the White House four years later.

This year, Democrats will spotlight 17 young politicians they consider "rising stars," including onetime vice presidential hopeful Stacey Abrams, in a keynote address set for Tuesday.

Story continues

THE POLL BOUNCE

Both party candidates usually benefit from a small bounce in opinion polls after their prolonged exposure at conventions, but the effect is often short-lived and the bounces have gotten smaller as U.S. politics become more polarized.

Polling averages compiled by the American Presidency Project at the University of California at Santa Barbara show Democrat Hillary Clinton received a 2-percentage-point bounce and Trump a 3-point bounce after the 2016 conventions.

The last time the difference in bounces between the two parties was more than 2 percentage points was in 1992, when Democrat Bill Clinton's jump was 16 points and Republican President George H.W. Bush's was 5 points. Clinton would go on to win the White House.

(Reporting by John Whitesides in Washington and Trevor Hunnicutt in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and Peter Cooney)
P aintings by Turner, Monet, and Constable have had to be taken off the walls at the National Gallery because of building work next door at the National Portrait Gallery.

Ten works were removed from two different rooms  galleries 34 and 41  late last week due to building maintenance work.

The institutions are separate but sited in the same building just off Trafalgar Square and share interior walls.

The National Portrait Gallery is closed for three years for a controversial renovation project, which, art expert Bendor Grosvenor claimed, showed that the NPG viewed their audience with contempt. The publicly owned paintings include five different works by Claude Monet, including his 'Irises', The Parting of Hero and Leander by J M W Turner, and The Cornfield by John Constable.

(Monet's Irises. Universal Images Group via Getty) / Universal Images Group via Getty

Also in gallery 34 (also known as the Sackler room) though not taken down, is Turners The Fighting Temeraire, which has been voted the nations favourite painting and appears on the 20 note. The National Gallery reopened to the public again last month.

(Robbie Griffiths)

The National Gallery declined to comment. The National Portrait Gallery were approached for comment.

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Ian Rankin / Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Writer Ian Rankin says dont expect a coronavirus novel from him. Crime writers are at their best when the dust has settled, the Rebus author told the Edinburgh books festival last night. In Northern Ireland in the Seventies you got almost no crime fiction. [It] came along big time after the peace process to explain to us what had happened. See you in 2048.

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(Instagram)

Salma Hayek is a big fan of her daughter Valentinas talents, saying she can act, she can direct, [and] she can absolutely write. Hayek told Readers Digest: I wish my writers could write like this, before jokily adding of the 12-year-old: I wish I could exploit her and get her to write me this script. At least, we hope she was joking.

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SW1A

AS THE rule of Alexander Lukashenko totters in Minsk, members of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Belarus have been noticeably quiet. The Londoner was able to find only two public statements in their own names, from Lord Kilclooney and Tony Lloyd MP, from its eight members. This morning Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski wouldnt be drawn on whether Lukashenko should go, but told us he should permit free and fair elections. Whats the point of APPGs if their members are silent on a country-changing crisis?

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REUTERS

EDUCATION Secretary Gavin Williamsons bungles extend even to his social media, where he liked a tweet from author Michael Rosen blasting those who get promoted to positions of power (and nice pay) to abuse teachers. Gavin, he might have been talking about more than just Ofqual...

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Celebs all at sea for TV rowing odyssey

Jodie Kidd showed off the 12 celebrities who are taking part in ITVs Dont Rock the Boat, including ex-Labour deputy leader Tom Watson and Olympian Denise Lewis, in which they row the length of the UK. Musicians Perrie Edwards and Skepta looked happy as Larry out at sea (on separate voyages) while John Boyega stared forcefully at a menu, telling followers: A hungry man is an angry man. Real talk.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:42:31|Editor: huaxia

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BLANTYRE, Malawi, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The use of face masks has become a new normal to many Malawians. Furthermore, new safety measures to control a further spread of the pandemic have made all kinds of masks readily available to almost everyone in the country. However, there are fears that some people are failing to dispose of their used masks properly.

Walking across on Blantyre residential area, one would notice the availability of surgical masks wasted in rivers and in open trash bins.

According to Blantyre District Health Office (DHO), this development puts the fight against COVID-19 at stake because chances are high that people may reuse or resell these used masks that are being thrown out carelessly.

Crissy Banda, Health Promotion Officer at Blantyre DHO is very concerned with the situation. In an interview, she emphasized the need for the people in the city to follow all sanitary guidelines set by the Blantyre health office and the city council.

"It is very sad noticing that some people are not following required measures in disposing of their used masks, as Blantyre DHO we have been advising people in the city to refrain from all practices that can put other people's lives in danger including poor waste disposal.

From time to time, we have been advising people to get their surgical masks from authorized retailers than from random street vendors. Chances are high that people may be reselling masks collected from trash bins and river streams," she said.

Recently, people in the city of Blantyre raised concerns through social media over the development.

According to Blantyre City Council (BCA), proper measures are being taken to ensure that the street is clean and safe.

In an interview, Joshua Malango, Public Relations Officer for BCA stressed that the council is working tirelessly in educating people in the area on the same.

Among many things, the council is using a mobile public address system and posters to educate people on how they can use and dispose of their surgical masks efficiently.

The use of cloth masks has been a trend in Malawi, however, many people prefer using surgical masks because they are convenient, cheap and reliable in terms of protection. However, health experts believe that disposing of used masks incorrectly could risk the spreading of the infection they're designed to protect against. Enditem
Premier Doug Ford is failing our students, educators, and communities with his dangerous, incomplete, and underfunded plan for reopening schools in September.

When our kids are not safe, no one is safe. Not teachers. Not families. No one.

The Ford government needs to stop its austerity agenda or our children and families may pay the price.

Our teachers, parents, and public health officials all recognize this. Why cant Ford?

Every day, as president of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT), I am hearing the concerns and anxiety of our 11,000 teachers. Theyre scared. Theyre scared for the children in their care. Theyre scared for their families and for their own well-being.

Fords plan does not provide adequate funding for the basic essentials to address COVID-19. Our schools need personal protective equipment (PPE) for all staff and students, hand washing facilities in every classroom, regular deep cleaning and, most importantly, more teachers for smaller class sizes to maintain physical distancing.

Our teachers are right to be worried, as many have crowded classrooms of 25, 30, or more students where physical distancing is impossible, and where safety is further compromised by aging buildings with poor ventilation and windows that do not open.

Distancing concerns are further magnified in our youngest grades where play-based learning is essential to the curriculum and where student-teacher interaction makes contact inevitable.

Returning to the classroom with 26 kindergarten students is extremely concerning, said Amanda Ricketts, a teacher at Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy.

Three-and four-year-olds do not know how to physically distance. How do I comfort the child who is crying and screaming? How do I dress the child who does not know how to dress themselves? I want to be back in the classroom with my students, but it must be done safely.

Parents everywhere share the same fears as educators about safety and crowded classrooms come September, which is why theyve been crying out to this government for better funding for our schools.

Parents are worried. Theyve seen the Ford strategy  cross your fingers and hope for the best  playing out in Israel, Australia, and the United States, and theyve seen that it just doesnt work.

This government  is really sacrificing our youngest learners in order to prioritize an economic reopening rather than their health and well-being, said Jessica Lyons of the Ontario Parent Action Network, a coalition of parents calling on the Ford government to do more to ensure a safe September.

Finally, as much as Ford claims his plan comes endorsed by public health officials, the support just isnt there.

Last week, in response to official recommendations from Toronto Public Health (TPH), Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustees voted to call on the provincial government to provide the necessary funding for smaller class sizes.

In their report, TPH recommended to the TDSB that the number of students in the classroom should be smaller than usual class size to maintain physical distancing and to minimize the spread to others should anyone in the class contract COVID-19.

Even Sick Kids, which Ford touts as the basis of his plan, says smaller class sizes should be a priority strategy, with their president adding that they cannot and will not support a plan where physical distancing is compromised by the number of children in the class.

Is this really the best plan, bar none, across the country, as Ford boasts?

Hardly.

This is a cost cutting exercise at the absolute worst time for the government to be trying to save a buck and a double standard that gets a failing grade.

In grocery stores, banks, and other businesses we must now wear masks, stay six feet apart, and adhere to occupancy limits. Why should our schools, where our children spend up to six hours a day in a crowded space, have fewer protections?

As is often the case, the cost of inaction will be borne by marginalized minorities, including Black and Indigenous peoples who will have no choice but to send their children back into unprotected schools, while those with privilege will be able to afford to keep their kids home or pay for other means of schooling.

These inequalities cannot be exacerbated. Our schools are at the heart of our communities. Doug Ford needs to provide proper funding to keep them safe.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would assign deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland to the governments finance portfolio, taking over from Bill Morneau, who resigned from Parliament Monday in the midst of the Liberal partys WE Charity scandal.

Trudeau later announced hed prorogue parliament until September, which tables all bills, sessions and committee investigations  such as the one looking into the Liberal governments handling of the WE charity scandal.

Proroguing  a stoppage of government  is a practise that can be traced back to our British colonizers, whose monarchy once used the tool to upend parliamentary sessions when they felt their control over the country was slipping too far into the hands of the parliament  a.k.a. the people.

Not unlike Trudeaus call to prorogue government in the midst of a global pandemic, Queen Elizabeth I also stopped Parliament while the plague was sweeping through England. (The Virgin Queen, during her fourth Parliament, prorogued no fewer than 26 times over the course of its 11 years.)

For those of you unfamiliar with the historic rules surrounding the convention, we break down what proroguing government in Canada is and how its been used in the past.

What does it do?

Proroguing ends a session of parliament and is a fairly routine function of the Constitution. But to clear up one common misconception: it isnt the prime minister who prorogues Parliament; its the Governor General. The Prime Minister, in this case Justin Trudeau, must seek out the Governor General, in this case, Julie Payette, to make the request and upon his advice, she can decide to end the session of Parliament.

Its different from a recess and an adjournment, neither of which ends a parliamentary session. Those events can be as short as a few hours, overnight or a weekend and simply separate one sitting from the next. Prorogation is also unlike a complete dissolution, which ends a session of Parliament but also triggers an election, according to the House of Commons website.

By ending a session of Parliament, the Government can reset its priorities and set out a new agenda with a throne speech and introduce new bills for consideration in the House. Its intended to recalibrate the governments agenda, and some experts argue that the governments priorities may have shifted since the governing party came to power, the Samara Centre for Democracy explains.

Historically, however, proroguing has been a tool of political convenience that minority governments have used in the midst of scandal or to avoid defeat on a confidence vote (as opponents accused Stephen Harper of doing with his proroguing in 2008 in the midst of the financial crisis, or as critics charged Jean Chretien of using the tool in 2003 to avoid tabling of the Auditor Generals report on the sponsorship scandal).

Who can do it?

The Governor General officially calls the proroguing of Parliament for the federal government. But it can happen in both federal and provincial parliaments. In the case of the latter, it would be the monarchs provincial representatives  the lieutenant governors  who would act on the advice of the relevant minister to end the provincial parliamentary session. It, too, wouldnt trigger an election, but rather a resetting of the governments agenda.

How long does it last?

There is no timeline that requires a prorogued Parliament to reconvene; and it can be anywhere from one day, as was the case in 1991, to several weeks. Since 1867, the average prorogation in Canada was 151 days, though since 1980, that has fallen to an average 22 days by 2010.

There are, however, Constitutional rules that would prevent a prorogation from lasting more than a year, as Parliaments are obligated to meet at least once every 12 months.

Can laws be passed? What happens if theres an emergency?

New laws cannot be passed in this time period, as the cabinet is preparing to work out the plans for the next session of Parliament. If an emergency or crisis arises that would require new legislation, however, the Parliament could be recalled ahead of the date stated to be the start of the new session. This, too, would require the Governor Generals approval.

Is there a cap on how many times you can prorogue Parliament?

There has been calls to reform the unwritten conventions that surround prorogation, and a 2017 survey indicates that Canadian voters would like the laws made clearer, but currently, there are no limits to the number of times a government can ask the Governor General to end parliamentary sessions.

That does not mean the practise is without controversy. Stephen Harper shut down the government on four different occasions over the course of seven years, Jean Chretien four times over ten years, and Brian Mulroney three times in almost nine years.

What are the effects of proroguing?

The most immediate result of proroguing Parliament is that all government bills that have not been given the green light  meaning they havent received royal assent  will be cleared from the table and cease to exist. Ministers would need to reintroduce these bills if theyd like to proceed with them in the new session. Alternatively, they could in some cases be reinstated, but only if the House was to adopt a motion to this effect.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:25:28|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) - - As the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is expected to take place on Jan. 1st, 2021, the African Union (AU) says it keeps AfCFTA in track with digital technology in the wake of COVID-19.

For the AfCFTA operationalization timeline to be met, and the decision of African leaders on the fast-tracking of processes leading to the commencement of trading to be implemented, outstanding AfCFTA negotiations must move online too, said a statement from the 55-member pan-African bloc on Tuesday.

The official hand over and commissioning of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat Building was held on Monday in Ghana's capital Accra.

At the AU summit in February 2020 here in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Wamkele Mene, from South Africa, was selected as the first Secretary General of AfCFTA and was sworn-in on March 19, 2020, for a four-year mandate.

Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AU Commission, like most intergovernmental organizations around the world, has shifted most of its activities online, said the AU in its statement.

AU member states have outlined a number of concerns regarding the use of virtual systems, especially regarding infrastructure reliability, security and confidentiality.

In this regards, the AU Commission has received with open hands many offers of support to help address these concerns that have come from the continental private sector, notably the African Virtual Trade-Diplomacy Platform (AVDP), itself a part of the broader AVRIVA (African Virtual Resilient-Integration for a Vibrant Africa) framework being developed as a public-private initiative between the AU Commission and the over two dozen major multinational African corporations and pan-African institutions operating under the umbrella of the AfroChampions Initiative.

The AVDP and the AVRIVA concept aims to rally support towards a campaign to keep the AfCFTA on track using technology by enabling Member States to participate effectively and securely in the outstanding negotiations of the AfCFTA.

AU has noted that all analysis and studies confirm that the AfCFTA represents Africa's best insurance policy and strategy to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

To ensure that member states' outstanding concerns about the security and reliability of the pro-integration digital platforms are addressed through the AVDP initiative, the AU Commission constituted a high-level committee of experts, including representatives from member states, relevant departments and directorates of the AU Commission and security and information technology specialists from the African private sector, to examine all aspects of the matter and present comprehensive guidance and advice to the senior trade officials of member states tasked with the AfCFTA program.

Stating that the concerns about the timely commencement of AfCFTA trading come at a time when countries all over Africa are getting ready to reopen their borders and economies, AU has called for a coordinated and harmonized effort to prevent confusion in the integration agenda.

The AU Commission has expressed hope that digital technologies can play a very powerful role in driving positive cooperation among member states for a safe, smart and harmonized reopening process.

In this regard, the mandate of the high-level expert committee is being broadened to include a review of the various options available to members, including digital solutions, which could be used to roll out trade under the AfCFTA, according to the statement. Enditem
Brock University research scientists studying the COVID-19 virus are raising alarms that rushing the approval process for a vaccination could lead to terrible consequences.

Considering the enormous pressure to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination, Brock professor and immunologist Adam MacNeil is concerned fast-tracking the Phase 3 approval process for the development of a vaccine could have terrible and multifactorial consequences well beyond the underlying biology.

The whole world has their eyes on this attempt to create a successful COVID-19 vaccine. Its very important that were doing it properly. Its very important that were taking all the appropriate steps to make sure were not eroding all of the trust that weve developed, he said.

Adding to the concern was a recent announcement that Russia has approved an early COVID-19 vaccine called Sputnik V for use in vulnerable population groups, including medical staff and the elderly  despite only being tested on 76 patients.

The Sputnik V vaccine  one of 165 potential vaccines in development worldwide, and six that have now entered Phase 3 clinical trials  wont be widely used until after the start of the new year as larger clinical trials continue. But with so little testing, MacNeil said he wouldnt take Sputnik V if given the opportunity.

No, I wouldnt take that one, he said.

MacNeil said researchers are more concerned about ensuring people are comfortable using any other vaccination that may become available  and ensuring a vaccine is adequately tested could be a factor in that.

A Phase 3 clinical trial typically includes 10,000 to 30,000 study participants and can often take years to complete.

In order for a vaccine to be effective you need to establish whats called herd immunity, and that requires a critical threshold of people to actually be willing to take a vaccine. Thats what matters, he said.

Youre absolutely certainly talking about thousands and tens of thousands of people in order to be able to say a vaccine is safe and effective.

In addition to undermining public trust in vaccinations, there are other concerns related to fast-tracking a vaccinations development.

Brock student Jeremia Coish has been researching a rare complication known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), as it pertains to dengue hemorrhagic fever for his doctoral thesis.

Although it has yet to be determined if ADE could be a factor with COVID-19, MacNeil said they believe its a concern that the scientific community and the public at large might need to hear about.

Ideally, you want the best vaccine possible, said Coish, who has recently been researching COVID-19 within the Level 3 laboratory at Brock.

Despite the rarity of potential complications such as ADE, the impact would be exacerbated if the vaccine is widely used.

Niagaras acting medical officer of health, Dr. Mustafa said Hirji, said if Canada gives a vaccination to its population of more than 30 million people and theres any kind of side-effect, even for one in 10,000, a lot of people will be impacted.

Hirji is confident the Canadian government will not cut corners when it comes to the approval of a vaccine, adding the process cannot safely be fast-tracked.

He said the quickest development of a vaccine was four years for the mumps, but more typically its a decade-long process.

Even with the world working together to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, theres a certain amount of study period that cant be shortened and its not likely that an effective vaccine will be available until next year.

The first vaccine also wont likely be as effective as traditional vaccines, he said, because there wont be an opportunity to determine which one is the best.

Maybe well get lucky and it turns out to be a really good vaccine, but I think we need to be prepared that the first vaccines that come out might not be the optimal vaccines and its going to take a while longer before we get those vaccines, he said.

That being said, even a 20 to 30 per cent effective vaccine is huge. It takes us from having zero per cent immunity to 20 to 30 per cent immunity, which is a big difference.

Hirji said the importance of safety cant be undermined.

Coish and MacNeil warned against fast-tracking the vaccine approval process in an article in the Microbes and Infection scientific journal published in June.

MacNeil said the risks of rushing vaccination development is substantial.

They go beyond just the response to COVID-19. They speak directly to the contribution of vaccination as a public health platform globally.
Sudan has suffered a lot of human rights abuses over the years, but with a government that is keen on reform, Morning Star News reports there is great hope for the future.

Quick background on Sudan

Sudanese Christians live mainly in Khartoum and in the Nuba mountains near the South Sudan border. Some Sudanese also follow traditional African beliefs.

A little background to the situation in Sudan at the moment: former president Jaafar Nimeiri introduced Islamic law in 1983. This was the catalyst for a 22-year-long war between Sudan's Muslim north and the mainly Christian south that led in 2011 to South Sudan's secession.

When Al-Bashir took power in 1989, he extended Islamic law. Currently, the transition government led by Abdalla Hamdok runs the country in an uneasy coalition with the military, which helped remove Al-Bashir after months of mass protests.

Reforms

On July 9, Minister of Justice Nasredeen Abdulbari declared on Twitter that four new laws were approved by the president of the sovereign council. These reforms restore fundamental rights and freedoms long repressed by the former regime under dictator Al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for 30 years.

The commission established under the law passed will lead a comprehensive and profound process of reforming the human rights and justice system. The package of laws aim at ending discrimination and human rights abuses. Numerous discriminatory and repressive Sharia provisions have been removed.

Some of these reforms include:

 A guarantee of freedom of travel for women with their children (previously women needed a male relatives permission to go anywhere)

 Banning of female genital mutilation, with a sentence of 3 years for perpetrators

 Abolishment of public flogging

 Permission for non-Muslims to consume alcohol (although not in public)

 Lifting of the punishment for apostasy (anyone who denounced Islam had a period of three days to retract their decision or face death)

 The repeal of criminal law provisions that prevented cooperation with the International Criminal Court

The changes in the law have ensured religious freedom and the equality in citizenship and before the law in Sudan. They show the governments willingness to build a new Sudan where freedom, peace and justice thrive.

The Justice Minister said that 'We have dropped all the articles that had led to any kind of discrimination. We assure our people that the legal reformation will continue until we drop all the laws violating the human rights in Sudan.'

These are welcome first steps towards freedom and equality, but they are only the beginning of change. Much more needs to be done.

Resistance

As expected, there is a serious backlash against the reforms, led by Abdulhai Yousef, a hard-line cleric, the Islamic Popular Congress Party and the former ruling National Congress Party of ousted president Al-Bashir. These groups reject the law changes and are calling for demonstrations and in fact jihad to defend Islam.

While Sudan has been removed from the US State Department list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) that engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom and was upgraded to a watch list, the situation is volatile with the radical Muslim protests.

The Islamic Popular Congress Party (PCP) called for protests after Friday prayers. Likewise, the former ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of ousted president Omar al-Bashir urged Muslims to take to the streets after prayers to bring down the transitional government, warning that the 'battle now is between the secularists and Islam'.

How should we pray?

In the first place, we should worship our Almighty God and praise Him for the reforms that have been passed. Worship is a weapon that is powerful in breaking down strongholds and we should apply it to this situation in Sudan.

Other prayer points come from the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin:

We need to pray for the Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok and the Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari, to not lose heart about the reforms they have instituted and the resistance they are experiencing. They need Gods sovereign protection and courage to stand.

We should pray this verse from Psalm chapter 32, verse 8 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you' over all Sudan's Christian leaders - both civic and religious. They need an abundance of divine wisdom, patience and grace. May the Holy Spirit guide them as they lead God's people and engage with the government in these pivotal days.

Remembering that we are in a spiritual battle, we should stand upon our authority as believers and pray that God would frustrate every evil plot aimed at destabilising the government and derailing reform, that Satan's powerful grip be broken and that the will of the sovereign Lord prevail.
Straw poll: (left to right) Mark Brown, IFA grain comission chair; Tim Cullinan, IFA president; and fa rmer George Hatton assess the straw quality during an IFA meeting for tillage farmers on Mr Hatton's Co Carlow farm. Photo Roger Jones

A 50pc hike in straw prices this winter is on the cards, with traders forecasting an 8-10 lift in the cost of 4x4 bales to buyers.

While straw sold last year for 20-22 per 4x4 bale, traders expect prices to hit at least 30/bale once buying kicks off in earnest.

To date, tillage farmers have described straw demand as sluggish, with growers in the south and southeast admitting that they have been unable to get more than 15-16/bale for barley straw.

However, straw traders are struggling to secure supplies from grain growers due to the sharp fall-off in straw yields.

Straw output this harvest has dropped significantly as a result of the spring drought, with overall supplies forecast to fall from the usual six million 4x4 bales to around 3.5 million bales.

Leinster has been hardest hit, with the worst of the crops yielding four and five bales of straw to the acre from ground that would normally give 10-12 bales.

"Growers are telling us that the straw is just not there this harvest," one trader in the northwest told the Farming Independent.

The poor weather over the last week has resulted in delays in baling straw from harvested crops, he explained.

"But tillage farmers are in no rush to sell straw anyway, because they're convinced it will get a lot dearer later in the year," he said.

The collapse in straw supplies has been compounded by the switch from winter barley to spring barley due to the poor sowing conditions last autumn and winter.

Meanwhile, imported British straw will also be considerably dearer this winter, with straw yields in Scotland and England back by 30-40pc this harvest compared to last year.

Cheshire-based straw merchant James Corbett predicted that straw prices could hit 80-85/t (90-95/t) this winter, up from 60-65/t (65-70) last year.

Steven Raberson of AF Biomass in East Anglia agreed. He said there was talk of straw making 60-80/t (65-90/t), up from 45-50/t (50-55/t) in 2019.

Here at home, the poor weather across the south and east has curtailed cutting over the last five days. However, combines have continued to roll in Donegal.

Difficulties with high proteins, fusarium, skinned grains and green grain have resulted in a significant proportion of malting barley being redirected to the feed sector.

Messy conditions

One grower described harvest conditions as a mess, with tramlines and headlands left uncut because of secondary growth.

Malting barley yields generally vary between 2t/ac and 2.5t/ac.

Spring barley yields in Munster are looking good, according to Teagasc's Ciaran Collins, with crops generally yielding 3.0-3.5t/ac.

Winter wheat has also performed well in the south. There have been reports of exceptional crops yielding 5t/ac, but most are doing 4.0-4.5t/ac.

Meanwhile, there is improved interest in winter oilseed rape this year, Mr Collins said, and the area sown could increase from the 8,500ha generally planted over the last few years.

A forward price of 360/t is being offered by some merchants for oilseed rape for the 2021 harvest, which means the crop can compete with feed wheat, he explained.

Next year's crop should be sown by the first week of September ideally.
According to President Donald Trump, Christians in the Middle East are being treated in a manner that is "beyond disgraceful," and Christianity is being "treated horribly and very unfairly, and it's criminal." He said this in response to a question during his August 13 news conference. He was asked, "How does the accord today between Israel and the UAE help struggling and persecuted Christians in the Middle East?"

Below is the president's response in full:

Well, I think it's going to. I think it's a big start. And you're right about that: Christians have been persecuted by some countries in particular in the Middle East. And I think this is a big start. It's going to be a very strong start, very powerful start, and it's something that I will tell you  I've told David, I've told every one of our negotiators: If you look at the way Christians have been treated in some countries, it's  it's beyond disgraceful. It's  if I  if I had information and if I had absolute proof  some of the stories that we've heard, which are not easy, which is not easy to get  I would go in and do a number to those countries like you wouldn't believe. What they do to Christians in the Middle East  and it's  it's disgraceful. It's disgraceful. You're right. It's a very big part of the overall negotiation. And as countries come in  for instance, UAE has agreed very strongly to represent us; I think they will very well with respect to Christianity, because in the Middle East, it's not treated well. It's not treated well at all. It's treated horribly and very unfairly, and it's criminal what's happened  and that's for many, many years. I think it's a great question and very un-  it's a very unfair situation.

As someone who has been daily following and documenting the phenomenon of Muslim persecution of Christians for over a decade, I can say that Trump's description of  and apparent disgust for  the plight of Christians and Christianity in the Middle East is accurate. Only those who exclusively follow and believe "mainstream media" reporting  or rather lack thereof  can doubt this.

For example, since July 2011, I've been compiling monthly reports titled "Muslim Persecution of Christians." Each report  there are currently well over a hundred  contains a dozen or so atrocities, including the banning, burning, or bombing of churches; the outright butchery of Christians (including an ignored genocide in Nigeria); murderous assaults or imprisonments of Christian "blasphemers" and apostates; the abduction, rape, and forced conversion of Christian girls; and myriad forms of entrenched social discrimination.

Moreover, the majority of those treating Christians in a manner that is, to quote Trump, "beyond disgraceful ... horribly and very unfairly," are not professional terrorists, but everyday Muslims, including governmental authorities. The issue permeates the whole of Muslim society.

Or consider the well documented fact that 38 of the 50 worst nations in the world in which to be Christian are Muslim. In other words, more than 75% of the persecution that more than 260 million Christians around the world experience is at the hands of Muslims.

This leads to the only curious section of Trump's response: "if I had information and if I had absolute proof," he said concerning the "beyond disgraceful" treatment of Christians, "I would go in and do a number to those countries [responsible] like you wouldn't believe." One wonders what sort of information or proof he is requesting or whether the good president may have gotten ahead of himself (which itself is all the more proof that he feels strongly about the subject).

While some will cite this as "proof" that Trump is "all words," they overlook the crucial fact that just by acknowledging, to say nothing of vocally condemning the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, Trump is helping create awareness where there was none.

This is especially the case when one compares Trump's words with those of his predecessor, Barack Obama. Although the latter was president during the absolute worst time for Christians in the Middle East  thanks to ISIS, which came to power under Obama's tenure  he never acknowledged it. For Obama, the abuse and slaughter of Christians and the bombing and burning of their churches was  as it still is for the "mainstream media"  a reflection of "sectarian strife" that has nothing to do with religion (but rather poverty, inequality, poor education, and all the other secularly satisfying pretexts).

As one example, during the 2011 Maspero Massacre  when the Egyptian government slaughtered and ran over with tanks dozens of Christians for protesting the burnings and closures of their churches  all that Obama could bring himself to do was call "for restraint on all sides"  as if Egypt's beleaguered Christian minority needed to "restrain" itself against the nation's armed and aggressive military.

The Obama administration further tried to cover up the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and regularly discriminated against Christian minorities, often in favor of Muslims. Indeed, for at least one former Nigerian official, the current genocide of Christians in Nigeria finds its source in "the evil called Barack Obama."

It is for all these reasons and more that Trump is to be credited for speaking honestly about the plight of Christians in the Middle East. As president of the United States, his words go far and wide and are heard by the leaders of the worst offenders. They of all people especially may want to think twice about whether Trump is bluffing about wanting to "go in and do a number" on them "like you wouldn't believe."

Raymond Ibrahim, author of Crucified Again: Islam's New War on Christians (2013), 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.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
HONOLULU U.S. prosecutors are asking that a former CIA officer and contract linguist for the FBI be held without bail on charges of spying for China.

Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, had his first court hearing Tuesday, appearing by phone from the Honolulu Federal Detention Center.

He was arrested last week after an undercover operation in which prosecutors say he accepted thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for espionage activities. He told a law enforcement officer who was posing as a Chinese intelligence officer that he wanted to see the motherland succeed and that he was eager to resume helping China after the coronavirus pandemic subsided, prosecutors said.

A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

A judge provisionally appointed a federal defender to represent Ma. I dont believe that he can afford counsel," said Assistant Federal Defender Craig Jerome, adding that he has yet to have an extensive financial conversation with his client.

An FBI affidavit accuses Ma, who worked for the CIA from 1982 to 1989, of revealing government secrets to at least five Chinese intelligence officers in a Hong Kong hotel room over a three-day period in March 2001. Those secrets included information about CIA sources and assets, international operations, secure communication practices practices and operational tradecraft.

Ma remained in touch with the Chinese intelligence officers after he joined the FBI as a contract linguist in 2004, at which point he used his work computer to copy images of documents related to missiles and weapon system technology research.

The FBI undercover investigation took shape in January 2019 when an official posing as a Chinese intelligence officer met with Ma in his Honolulu office and showed him a video recording of the 2001 meeting in Hong Kong and asked for help identifying people who were present, prosecutors said.

Ma, apparently convinced that the undercover officer was an actual intelligence officer, provided the help and met again with the officer two months later, when he accepted $2,000 for his work on Chinas behalf, according to court papers.

During Tuesdays brief hearing, Ma said he understands the general charges against him.

In a motion to detain Ma without bail, prosecutors said there is a serious risk he will flee if released.

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
Supporters of Rong Chhun, leader of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, hold placards during a protest in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Aug. 1, 2020.

Prime Minister Hun Sen is politicizing a dispute over Cambodias shared border with Vietnam to divert public attention from the European Unions reinstatement of tariffs on key exports that threatens to implode the countrys already weak economy, an opposition official charged Tuesday.

The withdrawal of duty-free, quota-free access to the EUs market under the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme for some 20 percent of Cambodias exportsa decision that was announced in Februarywent into effect on Aug. 12.

The EUs move came in response to the Hun Sen governments failure to reverse rollbacks on democracy and other freedoms required under the trade arrangement. Affected exports include goods from Cambodias vital garment and footwear industries.

Rather than acquiesce to EU demands, Hun Sen has doubled down and used allegations that his government allowed Vietnam to encroach on Cambodian territory as a pretext to arrest outspoken critics, Eng Chhay Eang, deputy president of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), told RFAs Khmer Service.

He pointed to the arrest this month of union leader Rong Chhun for claiming the government has allowed Vietnam to encroach on farmland along their shared border. Since then, supporters have held near-daily protests demanding his release.

And while Hun Sen had said that EU demands to maintain the EBA were unreasonable and an interference in Cambodias internal affairs, the prime minister has largely kept silent about the withdrawal because he fears reinstatement of tariffs on the countrys remaining 80 percent of exports, Eng Chhay Eang said.

In fact, Hun Sen is really concerned, internally, he said.

We know that Cambodias economy nowadays is already facing serious issuesnot to mention this economic sanction.

The CNRP last week condemned Hun Sens government for failing to implement reforms required by the EU to avoid trade sanctions and called on the bloc to sanction Hun Sen and other officials deemed responsible for rights violations in Cambodia through visa restrictions and the freezing of their assets, saying that the tariffs would largely only impact the countrys workers.

The CNRP also urged the government to reinstate its partyone of the conditions called for by the EUand initiate a process of national reconciliation through inclusive dialogue. The CNRP was dissolved in November 2017 for its role in an alleged plot to topple the government, paving the way for Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in parliament in the countrys July 2018 general election.

The 20 percent EBA withdrawal is expected to have a significant impact on the economy in Cambodia, which exported U.S. $6.4 billion in goods, mostly from its garment sector, to the EU in 2018accounting for 45 percent of Cambodias total exports that year.

The EBA has been crucial for Cambodias U.S. $10 billion apparel industry, which employs 900,000 workers, but has seen mass layoffs and factory suspensions amid a slow in demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU), was officially charged with incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest under Article 495 of Cambodias Penal Code and jailed at Prey Sar Prison in Phnom Penh on Aug 1.

Prior to his arrest, Rong Chhun had criticized the governments response to the coronavirus and, last month, wrote to Hun Sen calling on him to proactively address the issues that the EU has said prompted it to end Cambodias trade privileges.

Grip on power

Speaking to RFA on Tuesday, government spokesperson Phay Siphan dismissed claims that Hun Sen is using the border issue to downplay EU trade sanctions and said the reason the prime minister hasnt commented on the EBA withdrawal is because he had already made his view clear.

Such analysis doesnt reflect the actual situation, he said of recent arrests over the border dispute.

As for the EBA issue, we have already spoken on it since February. It serves no interest to repeatedly discuss this issue. Our position remains the same.

According to Phay Siphan, Cambodias government plans to hold further discussions with the EU about the remaining 80 percent of exports covered by the EBA, but he declined to comment on whether talks would include the 20 percent that had been withdrawn.

But Kean Punlorn, secretary-general of the Federation of Cambodian Intellectuals and Students, said there is little hope for the government to maintain remaining trade preferences under the EBA without giving up something in return.

He said that failure to meet EU demands shows that the government is only concerned about its grip on power, rather than the interests of the workers, and agreed with Eng Chhay Eang that the border issue is a diversion.

The 20 percent withdrawal is only the first step taken by the EU and there will be further or subsequent steps when the government fails to restore democracy and respect human rights, he said.

Once more people lose their jobs, there will be protests and strikes within the country. So, the reason that [Hun Sen] has failed to raise and respond to this issue is in order to divert the entire populations attention.

Rong Chhun discusses border demarcation with villagers in Tbong Khmum provinces Ponhea Kraek district, July 21, 2020. Photo courtesy of villagers Nationalist sentiment

The tactic appears to be working in part, as unresolved border issues between Cambodia and Vietnam, former French colonies from the 1860s to 1954, have regularly inflamed nationalist sentiment. The disputed border has sparked incidents in the past, with the construction by Vietnam of military posts in contested areas quickly challenged by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh.

A joint communique signed by Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995 stipulates that neither side can make any changes to border markers or allow cross-border cultivation or settlement pending the resolution of outstanding border issues.

The issue again came to the forefront after Rong Chhuns July 20 visit to Trapeang Phlong commune, in Tbong Khmum provinces Ponhea Kraek district, where Cambodians claimed recently placed border posts had caused them to lose land to neighboring Vietnam.

The following day, he issued a statement on behalf of the Cambodia Watchdog Council (CWC) in which he cited irregularities with the placement of border posts 114 to 119 that resulted in the loss of hundreds of hectares (one hectare = 2.5 acres) of ancestral land belonging to area farmers.

The CWC says that farmers are losing land because Cambodia is demarcating the border based on a 1985 treaty from Vietnams 1979-89 occupation of the country following its ouster of the Khmer Rouge regime. It was during the occupation that Hun Sen began his 35-year rule over Cambodia.

Cambodias official Cambodia Border Committee on July 31 rejected Rong Chhuns claims that farmers had lost land, saying the CWC had disseminated fake news based on groundless accusations. He was arrested for incitement the same day.

Since then, two of Rong Chhuns supporters from the civil society group Khmer Thavarak have been charged with crimes in connection to a protest calling for him to be freed, while Suong Sophorn, the president of the little-known opposition Khmer Win Party (KWP), was arrested and charged with incitement after visiting the border and making similar accusations.

Increased frustration

Hun Sen on Aug. 16 warned that anyone who speaks out about the Vietnamese border will now face arrest, but the threat of an increased crackdown has only increased public frustration and questions over the governments handling of the situation, sources told RFA.

Law student Heoun Sreynich said Hun Sens warning was acting in violation of Cambodias constitution by prohibiting people from exercising their rights.

The constitution stipulates that people have rights and duty, which means they have the right to take part in protecting state sovereignty, she said.

Phnom Penh resident Reoun Veasan, meanwhile, suggested Hun Sen is trying to hide his fault of secretly signing a border treaty with Vietnam that resulted in Cambodia losing land.

Soth Ban, a political science graduate, said that as Cambodias leader it is Hun Sens job to explain the border situation if the public does not understand it.

His speech was a bit brutal and insolentas a country leader, he should show decency because he is supposed to be a role model for the people, he said.

He has power so he can say whatever he wants, but we youth still love the nation and will continue to monitor the development of the border issue.

CWC president Men Nath called Hun Sens threat a big mistake and said that people with opposing viewpoints must be allowed to express them.

Activists and those who monitor the border only demand one thing, which is to resolve the border issue with transparency, he said. Put it on the table, dont do it secretly.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo and Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks to US troops in an unannounced visit to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, November 28, 2019. Tom Brenner/Reuters

Iran paid bounties to the Taliban to target US troops, according to a US intelligence assessment first reported on by CNN.

The suspected bounty plot was reportedly cited by US officials as part of the justification for the drone strike that killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

The Trump administration decided against taking a more explicit action over the alleged Iranian bounty plot in order to shield ongoing, tenuous peace talks with the Taliban.

The CNN report comes after the Trump administration has faced questioning and pressure in recent weeks over reports that Russia also paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to target US troops.

President Donald Trump has downplayed the Russian bounty reports, and the Trump administration has not taken any known actions in response.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

US intelligence agencies determined that Iran paid bounties to the Taliban to target US troops and coalition forces in Afghanistan, CNN's Zachary Cohen reported on Monday.

The intelligence agencies identified payments linked to six attacks carried out by the Taliban in 2019, including a deadly suicide bombing at Bagram Air Base in December. The bombing killed two civilians and injured dozens, including four US personnel.

Bounties were paid by a foreign government to the Haqqani network, whose leader is the deputy head of the Afghan Taliban, for the Bagram attack, according to a Pentagon briefing document reviewed by CNN.

Two sources familiar with the intelligence told CNN that the foreign government referenced in the document is Iran.

In early January, President Donald Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Iran's top general, Qassem Soleimani, in Iraq. The deadly strike came less than a month after the Bagram attack and after US agencies engaged in what CNN described as a lengthy process to develop options to counter Iran's monetary support for militant groups in Afghanistan.

Story continues

The suspected Iranian bounty plot was cited by US officials as a partial justification for the Soleimani strike, a current administration official and former senior official with knowledge of the situation told CNN.

In March, the Trump administration decided that amid ongoing, tenuous peace talks with the Taliban it was not the right time to take a more specific action in response to the alleged Iranian bounty plot, multiple sources told CNN.

The Trump administration has not spoken publicly about the intelligence or condemned Iran over the alleged bounties in an apparent effort to shield the peace talks. Trump has repeatedly vowed to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan but has yet to accomplish that goal with the 2020 election less than three months away.

"We've seen the media reports and do not comment on intelligence matters," National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot told Insider in response to a request for comment.

"President Trump has been tougher than any other President on Iran and will continue to hold the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism accountable," Ullyot added. "Rest assured when it comes to the protection of our troops overseas, this President will always act swiftly and decisively to do everything within his power to ensure their safety."

Iran is not the first US adversary to be accused of paying the Taliban to go after US troops.

The New York Times in late June reported that US intelligence agencies had assessed that Russia paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to target US troops in Afghanistan.

The Trump administration has not taken any known responses to the alleged Russian bounties.

Trump has dismissed the reports on the suspected Russian bounty plot as "fake news," though the White House in early July said the president had by that time been "fully briefed" on the matter. Previously, the administration said Trump had never been briefed on the intel, though recent reporting contradicts this assertion and suggests he may have been informed as early as March 2019.

There's also an ongoing US intelligence investigation into the matter.

The president in late July said he did not confront Russian President Vladimir Putin about the alleged payments to the Taliban-linked militants during their first phone call since reports on the suspected bounty plot emerged.

Read the original article on Business Insider
'Simulated enemy' helps PLA drill for real combat capability

Global Times

By Yang Sheng Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/17 21:38:40 Last Updated: 2020/8/17 22:38:40

Frequent presence of US warplanes no big deal: military experts

US forces are increasing intelligence gathering of the military deployment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) around potential battlefields, Chinese mainland military experts said on Monday, after Taiwan media reported a US B-1B bomber flied near the island on Sunday. Experts said that the Chinese military should also be prepared for a potential conflict.

US warplanes' frequent presence in the East and South China seas are adding uncertainty and danger in the region, but it doesn't mean the current situation could turn into another Taiwan Straits crisis as in 1995-96, because the US has no advantage in the region, and the Trump administration is incapable of planning a major military conflict with China, experts said.

The US bomber's presence has encouraged some Taiwan separatists, as pro-separatism media Liberty Times reported on Monday that the bomber took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and approached the southern part of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) of China on Sunday, an area to the northeast of Taiwan island. The media claimed that such a move "challenges the bottom line of the PLA."

However, mainland military experts didn't see such activities as a major threat. Xu Guangyu, a senior adviser to the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times on Monday that "US forces have sent their bombers and electronic intelligence aircraft near our ADIZ and South China Sea more than 1,000 times in the past two years. The activities show that the US wants to keep tensions high in the region. But this poses no major threat to us."

"They didn't enter our territorial airspace, so we don't need to shoot them down, and most of the warplanes sent by the US are surveillance aircraft that don't carry weapons. This shows that the US also wants to be restrained and avoid sparking unnecessary conflict," Xu said.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert, told the Global Times on Monday that "the PLA should remain vigilant, as the US is trying to collect intelligence on the mainland's military deployment, as well as around the region by increasing reconnaissance missions near China."

Increasing reconnaissance missions is what the US normally does before a massive military operation, so the PLA needs to follow its own plan to prepare for a potential conflict, especially with the US, once the US crosses the bottom line, Song stressed.

Another Taiwan Straits crisis?

The frequent presence of US warplanes and corresponding military drills by the PLA in the region have increased fears of a war between the mainland and Taiwan, as well as US forces, or tensions similar to the Third Taiwan Straits crisis in 1995-96.

In that crisis, the US sent two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Taiwan Straits, and the mainland conducted live-fire ballistic missile drills near the island. Chinese mainland experts said the current situation is unlikely to escalate into another crisis, because the balance of power between the mainland and Taiwan, as well as with the US, has changed.

Xu said, so far, the US dares not to send its aircraft carriers to the Taiwan Straits, and only sent warplanes, since they know the aircraft carrier is slow and easy to spot, while warplanes are more flexible and can leave the region immediately. "The US knows it can't threaten China as it did in the 1990s."

In 1990s, the PLA didn't have enough power to effectively destroy the US fleets, so the US dared to intervene. But now, the PLA Navy's combat capability can even block the eastern side of Taiwan island, and its ballistic missiles can easily destroy US military bases and naval ports in the Western Pacific, Song said.

"This is why the mainland is becoming more confident and determined to defend its core interests and sovereignty despite US military presence in the region," he noted.

More and more Chinese observers are worried that the Trump administration could use Taiwan to provoke China ahead of the US presidential election. But Xu said Trump's team is suffering from domestic pressures and lacks strategic vision, so they are unable to make a massive military plan to confront a country like China.

"Chinese military forces are keeping their eye on US bases in the Western Pacific. As long as the aircraft carriers strike groups and US Marines' amphibious assault ships aren't sent out, we don't need to be overly anxious," Xu said.

On electronic intelligence aircraft and bombers from US bases, Xu said that "they provide opportunities for PLA radar forces, air force and navy to train for electronic warfare. Having the US Air Force serve as a 'simulated enemy' in a drill helps the PLA prepare for actual combat."

The Taiwan authority also ordered their fighter pilots not to fire the first shot without instructions from the island's "air force combatant command." Otherwise, they will be punished, Taiwan media chinatimes.com reported on Monday.

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iStock/smolaw11BY: MEREDITH DELISO



(CHAPEL HILL, N.C.) -- A week after its first day of classes, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced it will be shifting all undergraduate classes remotely amid several outbreaks of COVID-19 on campus.



Starting Wednesday, all undergraduate in-person instruction will go digital for the rest of the fall semester, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz and Executive Vice Chancellor Robert A. Blouin said in a letter to the school on Monday.



The school leaders said the "current data presents an untenable situation."



In the past week, from Aug. 10-16, the campus' positivity rate increased nearly fivefold, from 2.8% to 13.6%, officials said. During that period, there were 130 new confirmed cases in students and five in employees, according to the school's COVID-19 dashboard.



As of Monday morning, 177 students were in isolation and 349 in quarantine both on and off the campus. Most students who have tested positive have had mild symptoms, officials said.







Residential halls, which began move-in on Aug. 3, have been hotbeds of virus activity. On Sunday, the school announced its fourth cluster of COVID-19 cases in three days. Three clusters -- which refers to five or more cases in close proximity -- were found in residence halls, while the fourth was discovered at a fraternity. The school has not released the exact number of cases in each cluster, citing privacy laws.



Cases in Orange County, in which the university sits, have been on the rise since Aug. 11 as well, following a gradual decline since early July. There are 1,475 confirmed cases as of Monday, according to the county.



The school leaders said they made the decision "in consultation with state and local health officials, Carolina's infectious disease experts and the UNC System."



"We know that these trends aren't just affecting our campus: they have escalated the concerns of our neighbors, co-workers and friends in and around the Chapel Hill and Carrboro communities," Guskiewicz and Blouin said. "The health and well-being of the good people of our greater Carolina community are just as important to us as that of our students, faculty and staff."



The school, which has more than 19,000 undergraduate students, had already started the fall with reduced numbers on campus. Residence halls were at under 60% capacity and under 30% of total classroom seats were taught in-person, officials said.



As of Monday, about 21,000 students were participating in in-person learning, of which 13,262 were undergraduate students, a school spokesperson confirmed to ABC News.



To further help de-densify the campus, undergraduate students currently living in campus housing can change their residential plans with no penalty.



UNC's graduate, professional and health affairs schools are unaffected at this time, school officials said.



The move comes following calls for the campus to go remote.



In a July 29 letter to the school officials, Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart recommended they consider virtual classes for at least the first five weeks of the fall semester, ABC station WTVD in Durham reported.



Ahead of Monday's announcement, Barbara Rimer, dean of UNC's Gillings School of Global Public Health, also recommended the school make the transition in the wake of the discovered clusters.



"After only one week of campus operations, with growing numbers of clusters and insufficient control over the off-campus behavior of students (and others), it is time for an off-ramp," she said in a post. "We have tried to make this work, but it is not working."



As for the spring semester, the school will make a decision "in the future, in consultation with our public health experts and local health officials," a spokesperson told ABC News.



UNC President Peter Hans said Monday there currently weren't plans to make similar changes at any of the system's 16 other institutions.



"Each campus is different, and I expect situations to evolve differently," he said in a statement. "In any circumstance, we will be grounded by reliable public health data and prevailing local health conditions."

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved
The online program offers a pandemic-proof way for students across Canada to prepare for the world of work, and to differentiate themselves to employers

TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2020 /CNW/ - Toronto Finance International (TFI), the lead voice for the international promotion of the Toronto Financial Centre and a central hub for driving the growth and competitiveness of the financial services sector, has launched the third tier of The ASPIRE Edge  an online business skill-building program that is available for free to post-secondary students across Canada  along with a new digital badge to help students showcase their achievements.

"The ASPIRE Edge is cultivating the work-ready employees of today and tomorrow, and it's a particularly timely program right now," says Jennifer Reynolds, TFI's President and CEO. "In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, students are finding it challenging to gain work experience. The ASPIRE Edge presents a unique opportunity for students to continue developing key skills that bridge the gap between education and the workplace."

The ASPIRE Edge is delivered as a three-tier simulation at a fictional NextGen Financial Services organization, and helps students hone the knowledge and skills that employers value. In tier one, students work in an Associate role and begin building their communication, data acumen and resiliency skills. In tier two, they are promoted to an Analyst role, focusing on problem-solving, critical thinking and teamwork skills. In the third tier, students progress to a Manager Trainee role, where they establish leadership skills, learn how to manage budgets and engage direct reports.

Students who complete all three tiers will earn a digital badge, which can be added to their LinkedIn profile and shared across their social media channels as a way to highlight their newly acquired skills  and help them get noticed.

Financial services employers helped to design and develop The ASPIRE Edge, and are leveraging the program to train their student hires. "As an employer with student interns, we've found The ASPIRE Edge to be a fabulous interactive online simulation program," says Ana Kulis, Talent and Student Program Partner at TMX Group. "It helps students to think outside the box, so they can tackle our day-to-day business challenges more strategically and confidently."

"The ASPIRE Edge program has helped our students develop the fundamental skill sets needed to excel as young professionals in the workplace," adds Disha Patel, Campus Recruitment Manager at Scotiabank. "The workshops and simulations have provided them with a deeper understanding of what it takes to fill the gap between what they've learned in school and the workplace."

Post-secondary students interested in learning more or enrolling in The ASPIRE Edge program are encouraged to visit aspirefs.ca/the-edge/.

The ASPIRE Edge is a flagship initiative within ASPIRE, a work-integrated learning program to grow the pipeline of in-demand, "work-ready" talent for the financial services sector. ASPIRE is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program.

About Toronto Finance International

Toronto Finance International (TFI) is a public-private partnership between Canada's three levels of government, the financial services sector and academia. TFI's mission is to lead collective action that drives the competitiveness and growth of Toronto's financial sector and establishes its prominence as a leading international financial centre. For more information about TFI, please visit www.tfi.ca or follow us on Twitter: @TFI_Canada and LinkedIn: Toronto Finance International

SOURCE Toronto Finance International

For further information: Melanie Anne Filipp, E: [email protected], T: 647.298.0186
Over the weekend, President Trump said he will take a look at granting a pardon to Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor. Snowden was charged with espionage in 2013 after disclosing a trove of highly confidential documents about U.S. surveillance programs. He fled the country and now lives in Russia.

Trump explained:

Im not that aware of the Snowden situation, but Im going to start looking at it. It seems to be a split decision. There are many people think that he should be somehow treated differently and other people think he did very bad things.

There are split decisions over just about every issue in the U.S. these days. Its not clear why Trump should devote valuable time trying to adjudicate the split over Snowden.

In any event, when Trump completes his look, he should reject the idea of pardoning Snowden. Near the end of the Obama administration, when there was talk of pardoning Snowden, Fred Fleitz powerfully made the case against a pardon. In the process, he showed that, among those in a position to know the damage Snowden did to America, the decision isnt split. Fleitz wrote:

At a time of extreme partisanship in our country and in the midst of what may be the most contentious presidential election in U.S. history, a congressional committee did something extraordinary: It issued a bipartisan and unanimous report on an extremely divisive issue. This issue is whether former National Security Agency technician Edward Snowden, who stole 1.5 million classified documents and leaked thousands to the news media, is a true whistleblower or a traitor.

(Emphasis added)

The verdict: Snowden is a traitor. Mike Pompeo was a key member of the Committee.

Fleitz summarized the five unanimous findings of the House Intelligence Committee. The four relevant to Snowden were:

1. Snowden Caused Tremendous Damage to National Security.

2. Snowden Was Not a Whistleblower.

3. Snowden Was a Poor Performer and Disgruntled Employee.

4. Snowden Was and Remains a Serial Exaggerator and Fabricator.

The first finding should be the key to any analysis of a whether a pardon is warranted. Here is Fleitzs discussion of the damage Snowden caused to our national security:

The vast majority of the documents [Snowden] stole have nothing to do with programs impacting individual privacy interests  they instead pertain to military, defense, and intelligence programs of great interest to Americas adversaries. Although many experts had already concluded this, the report added that the U.S. government has spent at least hundreds of millions of dollars and will eventually spend billions to counter the damage done by the Snowden leaks. The most well-known Snowden disclosure concerned the NSA metadata program, which collects phone records but not the contents of phone calls. Although this program has long been overseen by the congressional intelligence committees and helped halt several terrorist attacks against the United States, Snowdens leaks about it led to a hysterical and uninformed reaction by the press and some members of Congress that led Congress and President Obama to implement major restrictions, which have made this program much more difficult for intelligence officers to use to identify and track terrorist suspects. Snowdens defenders claim that since the metadata program violated the Constitution and the privacy rights of Americans, Snowden was justified in leaking information to the press about it and therefore should receive a presidential pardon. Putting aside that Snowden didnt bother trying to raise his supposed concern about this program through legal channels, the facts are that the vast majority of court decisions on this program upheld it as legal, Congress and the Justice Department have monitored it, and only very minor abuses were discovered. To read more on this issue, see my May 2015 NRO article NSA Data Collection: Necessary or Unconstitutional. While the unclassified report summary does not give specifics of how Snowdens leaks benefited U.S. enemies and terrorists (that is probably detailed in the classified version available to all House members), U.S. intelligence officials have publicly stated that Snowdens leaks have allowed ISIS and al-Qaeda to evade detection by Western intelligence services. Former CIA director James Woolsey has called for Snowden to receive the death penalty because his leaks of NSA monitoring techniques helped the ISIS-inspired terrorists who committed the November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks conceal their electronic communications. The unclassified report also does not mention concerns that Snowdens leaks have made it more difficult to stop terrorist attacks in the United States. A Chicago Tribune editorial and a Wall Street Journal op-ed by L. Gordon Cravitz, both published in December 2015, noted how limits on the use of the NSA metadata program  especially how long the government can retain phone records  kept intelligence agencies and law enforcement from acquiring intelligence that may have prevented the December 2, 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack in which two ISIS-inspired terrorists murdered 14.

(Emphasis added)

The House Intelligence Committee also sent a unanimous letter to President Obama urging him not to pardon Snowden. I hope President Trump considers the letter as part of his review.

Key congressional figures are urging Trump not to pardon Snowden. For example, the top Democrat and the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee have done so. They stated:

President Trump and [Defense Secretary Mark Esper] have both decried harmful leaks from the Department of Defense and elsewhere in the federal government. To pardon Snowden now would completely undermine this Administrations position and mock our national security workforce who take immense caution in their work to keep us safe.

Lets hope that Trumps concern about leaks isnt confined to leaks that harm him.

Trump himself said in a 2013 interview that Snowden was a terrible threat and traitor. I wont speculate as to why Trump now professes doubt about this, but the fact that many people think Snowden wasnt treated properly is not a satisfactory explanation.
The smell of burning rubber, water sprayed in your face, a moving seat and surround video are among the measures cinemas hope will get you through their doors.

The UK's largest cinema chain, Cineworld, is among theatres pinning their hopes on more immersive experiences as part of its Covid lockdown recovery efforts.

Cineworld plans to roll out its 4DX immersive auditoriums and Screen X 270-degree 'surround video' screens to about 30 per cent of its 99 UK cinemas.

The move comes as cinemas begin to show delayed blockbuster films for the first time in months after coronavirus lockdown measures forced them to shut.

During lockdown a number of production and distribution companies began offering their new films for a fee over streaming platforms like iTunes, Sky Store and Amazon.

The new Christopher Nolan spy movie Tenet, starring John David Washington, Michael Cain and Robert Pattinson will be a cinema exclusive release on August 26.

Cineworld's exclusive 4DX screenings have stimulating effects such as motion, water, wind, scent and lighting  timed with precision to 'enhance what's happening on screen'

Elizabeth Debicki, left, and John David Washington in a scene from 'Tenet', one of the first major releases after cinemas reopened from lockdown

The latest digital first release is the live-action remake of Mulan, which will be available to stream on Disney+ for $29.99 - a UK release hasn't been confirmed.

Mooky Greidinger, CEO of Cineworld said the immersive move would bring 'added value and additional excitement' to the big screen that can't be replicated at home.

4DX technology, already in place at a number of Cineworld locations - including London's Leicester Square - includes moving seats, smoke machines and water.

According to a Cineworld 4DX is available in 31 4DX auditoriums, including their flagship site at Cineworld Leicester Square.

The auditoriums are designed to make viewers feel like they are part of the experience happening on screen and also include scents from the film.

'I think there are many items that are going to bring people back to the big screen from the small screen but one of them for sure is 4DX,' Greidinger told The Times.

One of the first big budget movies to come back to cinemas will be spy film Tenet that was written, directed and produced by Christopher Nolan.

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It stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Michael Cain and Kenneth Branagh and will not be available digitally at the same time as the cinema release.

Greidinger says the movie will be a 'turning point' for people returning back to the big screen and demonstrate the value of the exclusive cinema release window.

'Once the results of Tenet start coming out it will be an added incentive to others to release their movies,' he told The Times.

'It is a little like the chicken and egg. Every big movie now costs anywhere between $150 million and $200 million. It is a very big risk for the studios.'

'Somebody once described the release in the cinemas as the locomotive which is taking the whole train behind it,' he said.

Greidinger told The Times that with 4DX you can feel the train actually moving.

He said he planned to continue blacklisting - banning from his screens - any movie that isn't given an exclusive cinema release window before appearing online.

'Cineworld has an extensive expansion and refurbishment program underway, involving the additional roll out of 4DX and ScreenX across the UK,' a spokesperson for the firm said.

During the coronavirus lockdown, Cineworld continued to upgrade their estate with full scale refurbishments and special format installations in Wolverhampton, Swindon, Boldon and Brighton to provide an enhanced experience for guests when they return.

'Cineworld Wolverhampton and Swindon Shaw Ridge both now have brand new 4DX screens and will be screening all of the latest blockbusters in this special immersive format,' the spokesperson said.

It isn't just the latest blockbusters that will be shown on the 'immersive screens', according to the cinema chain, adding older movies will get a first 4DX release.

The firm re-opened across the country after lockdown with the first-ever 4DX screenings of Harry Potter films and Jurassic Park.

The 4DX film experience combines multi-sensory effects including faint water and wind jets, scents and lighting, as well as motion effects, including seat movements.

A shot from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third film in the successful series based on JK Rowling's books and included in the 4DX release schedule

The auditoriums are designed to make viewers feel like they are part of the experience happening on screen and also include scents from the film

UPCOMING 4DX AND SCREENX RELEASES Christopher Nolans Tenet  4DX

The Kings Man  4DX

Wonder Woman 84  4DX and ScreenX

Black Widow  4DX and ScreenX Advertisement

These immersive techniques are all 'timed to precision' to enhance what's on screen and 'put audiences inside the movie'.

First adopted in South Korea in 2012, 4DX is the latest attempt by cinema operators to attract film viewers amid the growing popularity of online subscription services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

The standard is designed to give paying audiences an experience they would never get sitting in front of their TVs at home.

Rather like the immersive 3D 'rollercoaster' rides at theme parks and museums, 4DX moves viewers around in their seats in time with the action on the screen.

The coronavirus pandemic and measures to slow it all but paralysed cinema chains which were already struggling thanks to competition from streaming services.

Universal pictures has already confirmed it had enough success with digital first releases during lockdown that it plans to continue to offer blockbusters online at the same time as they are in the cinema even after Covid-19.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 22:30:42|Editor: huaxia

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Xi Jinping on Tuesday inspected east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected east China's Anhui Province Tuesday. Xi's tour came at a time when the country is forging ahead with its economic resumption amid dual challenges of flood relief and regular epidemic control.

While uncertainties remain regarding the outlook of the global economic recovery, China's resilient economic performance has outshone the impact of the twin shocks.

In July, China's value-added industrial output went up by 4.8 percent year on year as factories stepped up production amid effective epidemic control. Retail sales of commodities edged up by 0.2 percent year on year, registering positive growth for the first time this year. Other key economic indicators also showed signs of recovery.

The latest data came out as local COVID-19 cases in Liaoning and Xinjiang were receding, thanks to the precise control measures.

Meanwhile, China has been sparing no effort to fight huge floods this summer, with massive mobilization, evacuations, and a top-level emergency response in several hard-hit provinces. The Ministry of Water Resources on Sunday urged greater efforts in flood control as another flood in the Yangtze River is expected to occur in its upper reaches.

Aerial photo taken on Aug.18, 2020 shows a view of the flood-hit Caoba Town in Ya'an City, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

How did China secure the safety and well-being of its people as the country fought on the two fronts of the floods and the virus? The answers range from the resilience of its economy to the edges of its governance system.

As the second-largest economy in the world with the most complete supply chain, China has sufficient resources and space to weather short-term shocks, and is capable of recovering at a fast pace once the situation is under control. For instance, thanks to the growth of the economic volume and the upgrading of flood prevention and disaster relief facilities, China's direct economic losses caused by the floods as a percentage of GDP showed a downward trend during the five large-scale floods it experienced since 1997, with the latest one in 2016 causing a direct economic loss of less than 0.5 percent of GDP.

Concerns over China's food shortages amid the ongoing global pandemic and the floods should also be dispelled. The stockpile of rice and wheat, two staple grains of the country, can feed the whole population for one year, with the per capita share of grain much higher than the international food security standard.

The ability to pool resources for major projects is another key factor contributing to China's success in containing the epidemic and winning the battle against the floods.

China's centrally-administered state-owned enterprises swiftly shifted production lines to essential materials like masks and disinfectants during the anti-virus war, contributing significantly to the total production capacity. The Three Gorges project, a multi-functional water-control system built with an enormous input of resources and technological prowess of the country, has been effective in controlling floods on the Yangtze River thanks to its precise scheduling of water discharges from the reservoir.

Workers examine the melt-blown nonwoven fabric, a key material for masks, made on the newly built production line at a factory of Sinopec, in Yizheng, east China's Jiangsu Province, March 29, 2020. (Photo by Liu Yufu/Xinhua)

Behind these efforts is the people-centered development philosophy of the Communist Party of China, which has won the firm support of the Chinese people.

According to the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, China has once again secured the top spot among 28 developed and emerging markets surveyed worldwide, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and India, with a record high public confidence in its government, business, media, and NGOs.

China's economic recovery, however, still faces external pressure amid the global spread of COVID-19, while domestic demand needs further expansion. The pressure on the employment situation remains as the number of fresh graduates hit a record high of 8.74 million this year, and some small businesses are still facing difficulties in production and operation.

In any case, there are reasons to feel optimistic. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackle the difficulties various countries are facing, China's experience of juggling the floods and the coronavirus and its firm commitment to the opening-up policy are inspiring. With boosted confidence and expectation, China's market of 1.4 billion consumers will maintain the recovering momentum in the second half of the year, and its recovery will bring huge benefits to the world. 
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vuse, a leading vapor brand from R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company (RJRVC), announced today its multi-year, multi-million-dollar commitment, designed to provide the resources and opportunities for disabled veterans to achieve what they thought might be impossible.

"We are thrilled to join our partner, Arrow McLaren SP, in our efforts in accelerating inspiration with disabled veterans across America," said Natasha Webster, Vuse spokesperson. "By giving to DAV and CPN, we know that our joint efforts will make a real impact in the lives of many American heroes."

Leading into this weekend's running of the Indianapolis 500, Vuse will launch its commitment with a $100,000 donation to DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and a $50,000 contribution to Conquer Paralysis Now (CPN). Vuse will be partnering with AMSP, to create opportunities for veterans all across the country to share their personal stories, while bringing resources and opportunities to those veterans who seek to capture the moment regardless of limitations.

"This commitment is just part one of making an impact in the lives of disabled American heroes," said Taylor Kiel, Managing Director, Competition, Arrow McLaren SP. "We hope to drive inspiration and provide them with opportunities that might seem out of reach  like driving a race car."

The initiative ladders up to Vuse and AMSP's desire to accelerate inspiration among veterans and elevate the moving stories of disabled American heroes, while supporting the objectives and funding resources of partner organizations  DAV and CPN.

DAV provides free, professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service. Their goal is to help American heroes lead a high-quality lives by helping them with transportation to medical care, ensuring they receive their earned benefits, connecting them with employment and more.

Vuse's donation will amount to $4 million dollars' worth of services for disabled veterans.

"We're thrilled to welcome this partnership with Vuse and AMSP," said Marc Burgess, national adjutant and CEO of DAV. "For 100 years, DAV has stood as an organization of veterans serving veterans, and this incredibly generous contribution will go a long way in helping us provide our nation's heroes and their families with the resources they need to lead fulfilling lives with respect and dignity."

Conquer Paralysis Now (CPN), founded by Indy Racing League owner, Arrow McLaren SP co-owner, and former Indy car driver, Sam Schmidt, is the leading authority on spinal cord injury research and treatment. As an organization they have sponsored "84 Day at the Races" events around the country, hosting those with disabilities and their caregivers, reaching around 5,000 attendees for these activities.

"At Conquer Paralysis Now we are committed to our research and pushing the needled on spinal cord injury treatments," says Sam Schmidt, Founder & Chairman of the Board, Conquer Paralysis Now. "The donation from our friends at Vuse will help our dedicated team in their efforts to improve the lives of veterans who have experienced a spinal cord injury or disease."

Earlier this year, Vuse and AMSP began supporting veterans by donating a vehicle to a veteran in need of transportation in St. Petersburg, FL and a wheelchair van to HVAF of Indiana.

"This donation is an extension of our efforts to give back to communities where we live, work and race," said Webster. "And it is further our commitment to support disabled veterans with programs and partnerships with organizations like DAV and CPN."

Vuse's partnership with Arrow McLaren SP is part of a broader enhanced partnership deal between British American Tobacco (BAT), RJRVC's ultimate parent group, and McLaren, following a successful first year of global partnership with the McLaren Racing Formula 1 team, of which BAT is a Principal Partner.

To learn more about Vuse, please visit www.vuse.com.

About Vuse/R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company: The Vuse brand combines tobacco expertise with innovative technology to provide adult nicotine consumers with alternatives to traditional tobacco products. Vuse products are marketed in the United States by R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company ("RJRVC"), an operating company of Reynolds American Inc., a member of the British American Tobacco Group. RJRVC remains committed to responsibly marketing Vuse products. To learn more about R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, visit www.rjrvapor.com.

About Arrow McLaren SP: The name Arrow McLaren SP marks a new chapter for our team, as three determined entities  Arrow Electronics, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and McLaren Racing  join forces with the combined goal to challenge for success. Arrow McLaren SP fields two cars in the 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES: the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet piloted by Pato O'Ward and the No. 7 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet piloted by Oliver Askew. Fernando Alonso will compete for the team at the Indy 500 in the No. 66 Ruoff Mortgage Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet. For more information, visit https://arrowmclarensp.com/.

About Conquer Paralysis Now: Conquer Paralysis Now is a 501c3 nonprofit devoted to furthering advancements in spinal cord injury research and treatment. Backed by an international coalition of medical doctors, research scientists and business leaders, CPN is motivated by a singular goal of finding a cure for paralysis  that is, restoring important functions for those living with spinal cord injuries. For more information, visit the CPN website at ConquerParalysisNow.org.

About DAV: DAV empowers veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America's injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a nonprofit organization with more than 1 million veteran members, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at www.dav.org.

About British American Tobacco: British American Tobacco Group (BAT) is one of the world's leading, multi-category consumer goods organizations, that provides tobacco and nicotine products to millions of consumers around the world. It employs over 55,000 people, with market leadership in over 55 countries and factories in 48. Its Strategic Portfolio is made up of its global cigarette brands and an increasing range of potentially reduced-risk products, comprising vapor and tobacco heating products, as well as traditional and modern oral products. To learn more about BAT, visit www.bat.com.

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South Africa: Department refutes rift allegations

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has refuted allegations that Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Director-General Mbulelo Tshangana are at odds with one another.

The allegation that the two are at odds stems from a recent weekend newspaper report pertaining to the appointment of Dr Les Konar to carry out inspective work at Lepelle Northern Water Board in Limpopo and Mr Piet Pieterse at Amatola Water Board in the Eastern Cape.

In a statement on Tuesday, the department said Sisulu appointed Konars company, Outsourced Risk and Compliance Assessment (ORCA), to do investigations into Lepelle Northern Water.

Factually, the Minister did appoint Dr Konar as an individual and not ORCA. ORCA was appointed by Lepelle Northern Water, as per its own supply chain management mechanisms, said the DWS.

The appointment of Koner was as stipulated in Section 45 of Water Services Act.

It should further be reiterated that Minister Sisulu and Director-General Tshangana are well aware that the appointment of companies is regulated by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and it is done through a bidding process," the department said.

The newspaper article also alleged that Konar has done work for the department at Amatola Water Board in the Eastern Cape.

This, said the DWS, is incorrect, as Konar was contracted to only work at Lepelle Northern Water.

The Department of Water and Sanitation noted with regret these allegations, which are misleading. The department, as led by Director-General Tshangana, is disturbed by this unfortunate turn of events, which have led to a blight on the Ministers name, which is causing an embarrassment for the Minister.

"The department unreservedly apologises to the Minister for the embarrassment caused, said the department.

The DWS said Sisulu is determined to root out corruption within the department.

It should also be noted that since taking office, Minister Sisulu is determined to root out corruption in the Department of Water and Sanitation and she is still on this mission, working closely and in collaboration with DG Tshangana as the Accounting Officer, it said. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
(Natural News) Earlier this month, Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan, hatched out a plan to require students to wear a BioButton while they are on campus to track whether or not they have the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). However, thanks to massive backlash from the student population, the plan to mandate the medical devices use was scrapped.

The BioButton, made by Colorado-based medical technology company BioIntelliSense, is a wearable single-use device that monitors a persons vital statistics, such as their heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature. Its meant to be worn on the chest and it can be connected to a persons mobile device.

It provides additional information for health screening, said the university in a now-deleted post on their website. The button will be used in conjunction with the daily health assessment to determine if you are able to participate in campus activities. The individual data will remain private to the wearer and is not shared with others.

According to David Stone, the universitys chief research officer, using the BioButton provides several advantages for residents, such as the devices ability to notice abnormalities in peoples vital signs before they even take a test for COVID-19.

That would limit the potential for outbreaks on campus, and thats what were looking for, said Stone.

Many students have raised concerns about their privacy being violated and their data possibly being stolen by BioIntelliSense, but Stone claims that the university doesnt even have access to their health information.

Instead, the BioButton rates whether a person is on green alert or red alert. People whose status is green are free to go about their business. But if the universitys health services department receives a red alert, an official will call the wearer to ask them questions about their health.

Stone also touted that the BioButton would be helpful for the universitys contact tracing efforts because it can tell people if they have had significant contact with somebody who tested positive for COVID-19.

This is just the latest example of institutions trying to use the coronavirus pandemic to advance their Orwellian coronavirus policies. Learn about one such directive by listening to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how Los Angeles is threatening to cut off water and power to homes and businesses that do not comply with the citys coronavirus lockdown measures.

Successful protest makes university back down

In response to the new mandate at the university, a group of Oakland students launched a petition against the new policy, titled Make the BioButton Optional for Staff and Students at Oakland University. (Related: Tech in the time of coronavirus: Artist designs masks that can UNLOCK smartphones using facial recognition technology.)

Along with concerns over privacy, the petitioners also alleged that university officials attempted to hide the new policy by burying the article deep within the universitys website.

The petition garnered more than 2,500 e-signatures after just one weekend, which represents around 13 percent of the entire student body.

Many of the students who signed the petition had similar concerns regarding how much data the BioButton can take.

A large portion of students feel that this [is a] violation of their privacy and some students have stated that their rejections of this idea come from a religious basis, wrote Tyler Dixon, the main organizer of the petition.

I understand the reasoning behind getting tested for the virus and I am all for that, said Cayla Stus, an incoming freshman. But having to wear something that monitors [my health information]  just seems like too much.

I did not consent to this when I signed my housing contract, said Reese Petruska, another student. This should have been clearly stated before contracts were locked, and should have been clearly outlined in any and all emails sent to residents.

Because of the massive backlash, Oakland was forced to listen to its students, and its mandate for residents to wear the BioButton was scrapped. Now, students have the option of either wearing the BioButton, which the university said they will be providing free of charge, or answering a health screening survey that will clear them to go to class.

Learn more about how institutions are attempting to deal with the pandemic at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

TheCollegeFix.com

PRNewswire.com

ClickOnDetroit.com

Fox2Detroit.com

FastCompany.com
By Trend





Ambassador of Turkey to Azerbaijan Erkan Ozoral held a meeting with members of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabkh region of Azerbaijan has been held, the community told Trend.

Head of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Karabakh, MP Tural Ganjaliyev greeted the Turkish ambassador.

During the meeting, the participants emphasized that the joint efforts of Azerbaijan and Turkey, which are one nation, two states, help bring the voice of justice of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh to a wider international audience.

The communitys members put forward their proposals for further expansion of activities in this field.

In turn, Ozoral noted that Turkey has always been and will be next to Azerbaijan.

The ambassador expressed confidence that the Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were expelled from their homes as a result of the Armenian occupation will return to their homeland soon.

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.
Peggy Frink was 15 when the Golden State Killer tied her up and repeatedly raped her in her parents Sacramento house. He also bound her 16-year-old sister Sue. He tied them up so tightly that their hands remained numb for weeks after the attack. Peggy couldnt brush her hair because her head was so sore from his beating.

My God, we were just high school kids going to school, Peggy said Tuesday in court. Now, finally, the end of this trauma is here. Hes a horrible man and none of us need to worry about him any more.

Decades after he broke into dozens of homes across California to rape and kill, his victims got their first chance to fight back Tuesday as the sentencing of Joseph DeAngelo began.

For three days, DeAngelo will hear victim impact statements in a Sacramento courtroom before a judge almost certainly sentences him to multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. In June, the 74-year-old former police officer from Citrus Heights pleaded guilty to 13 murders and 13 counts of kidnapping for robbery. As part of his deal that will spare him the death penalty, DeAngelo also admitted to committing crimes of violence against 87 victims on 53 separate occasions in 11 counties, including Contra Costa, Santa Clara and Alameda.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

On Tuesday, Sacramento rape victims and their families got the first chance to address DeAngelo, who wore a white cloth mask and stared straight ahead with no expression as the Sacramento courtroom burst with emotion. One by one, the men and women walked up to a dais and spoke, some staring at the man who caused turmoil and pain in their lives for decades.

Patti Cosper, the daughter of rape victim Patricia Murphy, raised her middle finger and pointed it at DeAngelo. Her mother was sexually assaulted in her parents Sacramento home and when Murphy learned of his arrest in 2018, she was hospitalized and given psychiatric care for three days, Cosper said.

Bye-bye Joe, dont cry, she sang to him, an old song her grandfather used to sing to say goodbye. May you rot in prison.

Pete Schultze was 11 when DeAngelo broke into his mothers bedroom, where he slept with his 6-year-old sister, and tied him to a bedpost while he repeatedly raped Schultzes mom.

"Do you remember me? he asked DeAngelo.

For years after the attack, Schultzes father slept with a baseball bat, and his sister slept under the bed.

She will never be Jane Doe 22. She will always be Wini Schultze, her son said.

His mother was a ski instructor, breast cancer and stroke survivor and fantastic mom who, when asked by detectives for a description of her attacker, told them he had a very inadequate penis, Schultze said. He recalled that DeAngelo stole her wedding ring, other jewelry and money earmarked for the American Cancer Society.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

But he did not steal the happiness, dreams and spirit of our family, he said.

Your suffering, sir, has just begun, he said. The boogeyman is gone.

The family of Deborah Strouse, who died of cancer in 2016, shared her tragic story and their pain that she could not survive to see her rapist get captured.

Sandy James recalled the morning after the rape, seeing her older sister Deborah Strouse, who lived with her husband at the time, being comforted at her parents house  ankles, wrists and eyes red and swollen, with black fingerprint dust covering her body.

For once in your life be a man, look at her! James screamed, holding up a glossy photo of her sister in the direction of DeAngelo. He continued looking straight ahead toward a far corner.

Strouses daughter, Courtney Strouse, recalled how the events led to the divorce of her parents  her father was tied up during the attack  and a mother who got little sleep and worried of her being raped throughout her childhood.

She would stick her fingers under our noses as we slept to make sure were alive, the daughter recalled, sobbing.

On Wednesday, the rest of his rape victims, including some from the Bay Area, are expected to address him. On Thursday, family members of murder victims will confront DeAngelo.

Many victims questioned DeAngelos purported frailty. Judge Michael Bowman has ruled that prosecutors cant play a video of DeAngelo in prison that they claim would show the serial killer is not the infirm, man who needs a wheelchair appearing in court.

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.

With his slow gait, the distorted twist of his hands, and his head turned and cocked to the side as he haltingly answered the judges questions, Joseph DeAngelo presented an appearance of feebleness at his plea on June 29, 2020, prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. However, DeAngelos agile movement and behavior in his jail cell indicate an individual who is healthy and physically active.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

On Friday, DeAngelo will have an opportunity to speak as well. Prosecutors are recommending 11 consecutive sentences of life without parole, in addition to another life sentence and eight years. On Friday, Bowman will sentence DeAngelo and put an end to one of Californias most heinous criminal chapters.

At his plea hearing in June, prosecutors read graphic, gut-wrenching descriptions of his sadistic crimes from 1975 to 1986. He raped a college student, a babysitter, a pregnant wife, a mother whose 6-year-old daughter cried nearby. He whispered through clenched teeth, threatening to kill scared couples and injure children sleeping nearby. He taunted victims, calling them after their attacks.

His crimes were strikingly similar. He would find an open window or break in through a door of suburban houses at night, wearing a ski mask and waking up couples or women by shining a flashlight in their eyes. He would bring shoelaces and have the women tie up their boyfriends or husbands before binding the women and sexually assaulting them repeatedly over hours, dimming the lights. Hed place dishes on the mens backs as a makeshift alarm system and warn them that if he heard as much as a rattle from a plate, hed kill everyone in the house. Meanwhile, hed rummage through the houses, eating food, drinking beer, stealing small amounts of money and trinkets before eventually slinking out.

DeAngelos crimes stretched from Sacramento down to Orange County. Before his capture, he was known as the Visalia Ransacker, East Area Rapist and Original Night Stalker.

Finally, in 2018, pioneering DNA technology caught up to him. Investigators created a DNA profile from genetic material left at crime scenes and uploaded it to a genealogy website where sleuths can track down lost family members. Detectives got a hit from a distant relative of DeAngelos and painstakingly narrowed down the search using family trees before obtaining a used tissue from his Citrus Heights trash can to confirm he was the notorious killer.

The last speaker on Tuesday was the only male victim to speak in person. Victor Hayes was bound and threatened in 1977 while DeAngelo raped his 17-year-old girlfriend at the time.

What makes him the worst of the worst is he took the oath of office, Hayes said. He was a cop.

Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni
Winners Chapel Financial Record for the year 2018 has leaked.

Newsdirect reports Winners Chapel Financial Record 2018 for Winners Chapel United Kingdom has surfaced on the internet, showing the sources of the Churchs funds.

The document of Winners Chapel Financial Record which was shared on Twitter by a Nigerian, Dr Olusesan [DrOlusesan] on Monday, August 17, was published by UK Charity Commission on its official site.

Winners Chapel Financial Record leaked a few hours after the founder and presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, faulted the establishment of Company and Allied Matters Acts (CAMA) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Bishop Oyedepo had condemned the CAMA application recently signed into by President Buhari on Sunday, August 16, during a sermon at his Church. According to him, the government has no power to appoint people over churches.

The provisions of CAMA states that no General Overseer or leader of any NGO can transfer directly or indirectly the assets of the organization to himself, his wife, kids or any member of the organization.
As New Zealanders step back to alert level Lockdowns, the tech sector is significantly supporting the government on its journey to embrace an enhanced digital future, says NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller.

New Zealand has in recent years been ranked one of the top digital economies in the world by Tufts Universitys Digital Evolution Index.

New Zealands strong digital economy was attributed to a positive combination of infrastructure, incubating start-ups, a cultural commitment to innovation, and government support.

Muller says New Zealand can still improve a lot digitally, in many areas.

Like all organisations and businesses, government agencies are grappling with how to best engage with and service their customers in the COVID-19 world, he says.

The major annual Future Government summit in Wellington on Thursday is bringing together senior government officials, technology decision makers and tech leaders to discuss new ways to use digital technologies to increase collaboration, provide more citizen centric experiences and to incorporate new ways of working.

The summit, scheduled to run in March, was shifted to August due to the first lockdown, and has been adapted to cope with any level of lockdown.

Demonstrating how a nimble tech sector operates, the summit is being run using a fully digital environment enabling guest and speakers to engage across New Zealand in roundtable discussion and interactive presentations.

A panel discussion with the chief executives of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Statistics New Zealand and Inland Revenue will delve into how their agencies have collaborated during the COVID response.

We will also hear from the chief executive of the Department of Internal Affairs and the governments chief digital officer on how they have been keeping a watchful eye on digital inclusion and making sure no Kiwis are left behind in this sudden shift to digital.

A more digital government has implications for security and privacy and the director general of the Government Communications Security Bureau will be discussing the cyber security roadmap supporting the governments digital transformation.

NZTech and Digital Council of Aotearoa New Zealand chair Mitchell Pham says New Zealand can position itself to get the best from technology so that everyone benefits.

What we are learning from how we respond to covid are lessons that all of government can apply for the benefit of all Kiwis.

New Zealand tech is becoming well known for its innovation and that it is good for the world. A great example is Soul Machines, whose artificial intelligence digital human Florence is being used by the World Health Organisation to provide up to date COVID advice, Pham says.

A digital nation is critical for New Zealands future prosperity in a globally competitive digital world. Continuing to develop digital infrastructure, policy and companies will ensure New Zealand can continue to create jobs and deliver efficient and effective public services to optimise our economy and the wellbeing of our society in our increasingly digital world.

significantly supporting the government on its journey to embrace an enhanced digital future, NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller says.

New Zealand has in recent years been ranked one of the top digital economies in the world by Tufts Universitys Digital Evolution Index.

New Zealands strong digital economy was attributed to a positive combination of infrastructure, incubating start-ups, a cultural commitment to innovation, and government support. Muller says New Zealand can still improve a lot digitally, in many areas.

Like all organisations and businesses, government agencies are grappling with how to best engage with and service their customers in the COVID-19 world, he says.

The major annual Future Government summit in Wellington on Thursday is bringing together senior government officials, technology decision makers and tech leaders to discuss new ways to use digital technologies to increase collaboration, provide more citizen centric experiences and to incorporate new ways of working.

The summit, scheduled to run in March, was shifted to August due to the first lockdown, and has been adapted to cope with any level of lockdown.

Demonstrating how a nimble tech sector operates, the summit is being run using a fully digital environment enabling guest and speakers to engage across New Zealand in roundtable discussion and interactive presentations.

A panel discussion with the chief executives of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Statistics New Zealand and Inland Revenue will delve into how their agencies have collaborated during the COVID response.

We will also hear from the chief executive of the Department of Internal Affairs and the governments chief digital officer on how they have been keeping a watchful eye on digital inclusion and making sure no Kiwis are left behind in this sudden shift to digital.

A more digital government has implications for security and privacy and the director general of the Government Communications Security Bureau will be discussing the cyber security roadmap supporting the governments digital transformation.

NZTech and Digital Council of Aotearoa New Zealand chair Mitchell Pham says New Zealand can position itself to get the best from technology so that everyone benefits.

What we are learning from how we respond to COVID are lessons that all of government can apply for the benefit of all Kiwis.

New Zealand tech is becoming well known for its innovation and that it is good for the world. A great example is Soul Machines, whose artificial intelligence digital human Florence is being used by the World Health Organisation to provide up to date COVID advice, Pham says.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case of money laundering against a Chinese national in connection to a hawala racket worth an estimated Rs 1,000 crore.

Charlie Peng, who also goes by the name of Luo Sang, has been booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The racket, which was allegedly run by Peng, used shell companies.

The Income Tax (I-T) Department on August 11 said it conducted search operations at various Chinese entities.

PTI reported that searches were conducted at two dozen premises of Peng and some of his alleged associates, including Indians, and bankers.

Also Read: Income Tax officials raid premises of Chinese entities, target hawala deals with Indian affiliates

The ED has taken cognisance of the tax department evidence and action and a Delhi Police Special Cell FIR against Peng before filing the criminal case of money laundering against him.

Peng, according to sources cited by PTI, is alleged to be holding a fake Indian passport and tax officials had said he created a "web of sham companies to launder hawala funds to and from China" in the past two-three years.

They said his front or showcase business was import and export of medical and electronic goods and some other items.

Peng, the sources said, was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in September, 2018 on charges of fraud and forgery and was allegedly running an illegal money changer.

It is alleged that Peng got a fake Indian passport from Manipur after marrying a woman from that state and some fake Aadhaar cards were also recovered during the raids against him, PTI reported.

Peng is currently being questioned by the tax department apart from central intelligence agencies.

The tax department is searching dozens of bank accounts linked to shell firms in this case even as it has issued prohibitory orders against a number of these accounts.

Both the I-T department and the ED, sources said, are also probing allegations if Peng was "bribing" some Tibetans living in Delhi for getting some work done from them.

The CBDT had issued a statement last week and without taking any names had said that the searches were launched based on "credible inputs that a few Chinese individuals and their Indian associates were involved in money laundering and hawala transactions through a series of shell entities."

"Evidences of foreign hawala transactions involving Hong Kong and US dollars have also been unearthed," the CBDT added.

(With inputs from PTI)
For two weeks, the University of North Georgia (UNG) welcomes students to all five campuses with various activities as part of Weeks of Welcome, which has a different look this semester.

All of the traditional events, such as Student Convocation on Aug. 17 and Nighthawks Fest from Aug. 24-28, are mostly virtual because of limitations from the COVID-19 pandemic, said Stacie Rowley, associate dean of students at UNG.

Students watched the Convocation via YouTube Live and Zoom. Speakers included Dr. Bonita Jacobs, president of UNG; Dr. Chaudron Gille, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs; Dr. James Conneely, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; and students. For students unable to watch live, a recording will be posted online 48 hours after the event.

The Weeks of Welcome tents will maintain their in-person status, running from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 19 and 20 on all five campuses and following social distancing guidelines.

Rowley said preserving all of the events, either face to face or online, is extremely important this year.

"We gear Weeks of Welcome for our new students as a way to introduce them to our UNG community," she said. "In some capacity, everything is new this semester. No one has done this before. Even our virtual offerings look different this fall as compared to the spring."

Rowley hopes students connect with the UNG community by attending events or joining an organization.

"The skills that students develop through organizations or connections they make outside of the classroom give them a sense of belonging," she said. "They know they are not alone."

Students will have the opportunity to find a place to belong during the virtual Nighthawks Fest, which is an organization fair. This year, it will be conducted from Aug. 24-28 via UNG Connect.

"We will have key times when student organizations and leaders will be live online to interact with interested parties," Rowley said.

She said Nighthawks Fest was originally scheduled to be online and in person this fall to connect more students with groups. Rowley explained many students on the Gainesville, Oconee and Cumming campuses schedule their classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday. Since students' class schedules did not fall at the same time, nearly half of the student population in the past would not attend Nighthawks Fest.

"With the fest being only virtual this year, all students can attend," she said. "We also offered it online because some students are taking all of their classes online this fall. Through the virtual fair, they will have the same opportunity to join a club as those students taking in-person classes."

Greek-A-Palooza will also go virtual Aug. 27 on UNG Connect, said Aubrey Frazier, director of fraternity and sorority life at UNG. In-person engagement opportunities will be available during Weeks of Welcome as a few fraternities and sororities will host in-person tabling events, too.

"All of these activities and events will show our students that they can still join groups and meet new people and have fun, even if it is not on campus," Rowley said. "And when students have a connection, they are more likely to make it to next semester and graduate."
Mysuru: COVID cases in Mysuru touched 10,535 and the district has the dubious distinction of having the highest death rate of 2.88 percent which is more than the State average of 0.63 percent and the national average of 1.92 percent.

Despite this, the donations of plasma by COVID19 recovered persons is yet to pick up in Mysuru. However, though the recovery rate of covid 19 patients which is 64.31 percent in Mysuru is better than the State average which is 62.34 percent.

Though 6776 people have recovered from covid 19 in Mysuru, ever since the plasma collection from covid 19 recovered people has begun in Mysuru since last Monday at blood bank in KR hospital, only 12 covid 19 recovered people have donated their plasma. And they could not arrange plasma for at least 20 critically ill covid 19 patients whose families had approached them, since there was no stock at the blood bank in KR Hospital, according to Dr Manjunath B S, blood bank officer at blood bank of KR hospital.

A 75 year old woman in Mysuru, was one of those 20 critically ill patients whose family had approached KR hospital blood bank in Mysuru, and succumbed to covid 19 Saturday night, as the family could not procure A positive plasma of a covid 19 recovered person for her, despite best of efforts.

At first on 12 August, while the 75 year old suffered cardiac arrest, she was rushed to a government cardiac institute here, but she was referred to a private hospital. At the private hospital, the patient was told they could only stabilize her condition but do nothing else. The family had to arrange ICU bed with ventilator at some other hospital within an hour.

And when the family checked, none of the hospitals in Mysuru had ICU bed with ventilator vacant. Finally, after using influence at the highest level, the private hospital made arrangements for her ICU bed there itself.

But ironically, she was tested positive for covid 19 and her lungs were infected. And on Saturday afternoon, the doctors at the private hospital asked if the family can arrange A positive plasma from a Covid 19 recovered person for her treatment.

But, the blood bank at KR hospital in Mysuru, said that they did not have the stock of A positive plasma. Though her 40 year old son had undergone bypass surgery in June, despite his best of efforts through his family, friends, best of his contacts including Mysuru DC Mr Abhiram G Shankar, from Saturday afternoon till 10pm, the plasma could not be obtained. And the 75 year old breathed her last at around 10pm on Saturday. At last with a change in the guidelines, though the 75 year old had eight children, only three of them were allowed by Government to be part of her last rites. And the insurance company reimbursed only part of the bill amount of the private hospital where she was admitted.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, her 40 year old son said, We take covid 19 lightly and dont realize its magnitude until our own family members get infected. So people should ensure that they take good care of themselves. And if recovered patients can save another life, by donating plasma they should do it, he said.

Plasma therapy is one of the supportive measures used by doctors to treat covid 19 patients, wherein the antibodies developed in a Covid 19 recovered person which are immune to the virus, may fight the virus when their plasma is transferred to another covid 19 infected, according to a haematologist Dr Srikanth M K.

In Mysuru, so far 10,535 people have tested positive for covid 19 and 304 people have died. And there are 3776 active cases in Mysuru.

Also a city based private hospital had to procure plasma from HSG in Bengaluru to treat four of their covid 19 patients.
Millie Bobby Brown was seen in a teaser for Netflix's Enola Holmes that dropped on Monday.

In the clip, a series of characters chat about the titular character, who emerges at the end of the teaser, lifting up a black veil and saying, 'Tis I!'

Brown, 16, leads an ensemble cast in the film, which is based on Nancy Springer's book series.

The latest: Millie Bobby Brown was seen in a teaser for Netflix's Enola Holmes that dropped on Monday

The film also features Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Claflin as Mycroft Holmes and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Holmes.

The cast is rounded out by Adeel Akhtar, Susie Wokoma, Fiona Shaw, Frances de la Tour and Louis Partridge.

The Emmy-nominated performer Brown shot to fame playing Eleven on Netflix's Stranger Things.

The streamer tweeted 'alone loshme reeebtpms wnettyrhitd,' along with the tease, cleverly presenting an anagram for the phrase 'Enola Holmes, September 23rd,' marking the release date of the project.

Superstar: In the clip, a series of characters chat about the titular character, who emerges at the end of the teaser, lifting up a black veil and saying, 'Tis I!'

The Emmy-nominated performer shot to fame playing Eleven on Netflix's Stranger Things

The streamer described the storyline of the period piece, which is set in the 19th century.

'When Enola Holmes-Sherlock's teen sister-discovers her mother missing, she sets off to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young Lord,' Netflix described the project.

Super sleuth: Henry Cavill plays Sherlock Holmes in the film for the streaming service

Elementary: The period piece featuring the classic characters is set in the 19th century

Clever: The streamer tweeted 'alone loshme reeebtpms wnettyrhitd,' along with the tease presenting an anagram for the phrase 'Enola Holmes, September 23rd,' marking the release date of the project

In the film, Enola spurns her brother's wishes for her to attend finishing school and embarks in disguise to London in search of her missing mother, Eudoria.

The British actress is also slated to star in a film for the streamer titled The Girls Ive Been Before, in which she portrays a con artist who's in a hostage situation.

She will reprise her role on Stranger Things when production commences after shutting down amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Enola Holmes debuts on the streamer September 23.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., told CNBC on Tuesday he expects the new peace deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, brokered in part by President Donald Trump, to lead to more U.S. arms sales.

"The UAE has been an outstanding partner of the United States," Cotton said on "Squawk Box." "They've long invested in United States military articles and I suspect that they will do even more of that now."

Last week, the Trump administration announced a peace deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel. The move is the latest effort to normalize diplomatic ties between Arab nations and Israel. The pact makes the UAE the first Persian Gulf state to normalize ties with Israel and the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to do so.

Cotton, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, added that the new ties could attract other Middle Eastern countries to buy more U.S. defense material.

"I also suspect that there could be other Arab nations that follow in this path and that could also open up the opportunities for more arms sales to our allies to defend against enemies like Iran," he said.
A nationwide shortage of blood and plasma stocks could be only weeks away if more than 10,000 additional donors do not sign up to give blood.

Each week, 31,000 donations are needed to help Australians through trauma, major surgery, cancer treatment, pregnancy and a host of other situations.

But, over the past three months, Red Cross' Lifeblood service has seen a drastic increase in no-shows and cancellations.

A nationwide shortage of blood and plasma stocks could be only weeks away if more than 10,000 additional donors do not sign up to give blood (file picture)

Looking ahead, the number of appointments in the next few weeks has also dropped.

'To meet the needs of Australian patients, we really need 10,383 additional people to donate over the next two weeks,' Lifeblood chief executive Shelly Park said.

She is concerned confusion about lockdown measures may be keeping people away.

'Donating blood and plasma is classed as essential care giving and we have worked with all state and territory governments to make sure donors can keep their appointments, even in lockdown.'

Ms Park says donation centres are COVID-safe, with strict social distancing, temperature checks and regular, thorough cleaning.

People who want to become blood donors can visit the Lifeblood website or call 13 14 95 to set up an appointment.
Guwahati, Aug 18 : The Assam government is getting ready to reopen educational institutions in the state from September 1 but this would depend on the Union Home Ministry's decision, state Education and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday.

Talking to the media, he said that all teachers and employees of the schools would compulsorily have to get themselves tested for Covid-19 between August 21 and 30.

"Those teachers and employees testing negative for coronavirus must attend their place of postings from September 1 onwards, otherwise they would be treated as 'on leave without pay'," he said.

Sarma said that the state government had already prepared the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for educational institutions and these would be circulated, once the Centre's decision was received.

The minister earlier said that after the reopening of the educational institutions, classes would be held in a pre-scheduled routine in open spaces, including the playground, and courtyard of the school for students of Classes 5 to 8.

Students in Classes 9 and 11 would attend classes in their classrooms for twice a week while those in Classes 10 and 12 would attend classes for four days a week. Around 15 students would be allowed to be present in the class at a time.

Schools would remain shut for students up to Class 4 until September end, he had added.

Teaching in colleges would be held only for the students of final semesters while for the post-graduate students, the universities concerned would take the decision, Sarma said.

He also said that in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and to ease the burden of the students, the Secondary Education Board of Assam and the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council have been asked to consider either reducing the syllabus or providing maximum options in the question paper.

Educational institutions in Assam, along with other states, have been closed since mid March following the outbreak of coronavirus.

The Education Minister on Tuesday said that the Assam government has decided to constitute a 40-member committee to suggest ways and means to implement the New Education Policy announced by the Centre. This committee would have several sub groups. The state is expecting to be ready with a blueprint by January after the committee submits its report by December.

Sarma said that to encourage girls' education, the government has decided to provide scooty (two-wheeler) to 22,000 girl students who secured first division in the recently announced Higher Secondary Examinations results. "The government would spend Rs 50,000 to 55,000 for each scooty," he added.
A security guard has contracted COVID-19 while working at a Sydney quarantine hotel, sparking fears of spike in cases across New South Wales.

The security guard worked at the five-star Marriott Hotel in Circular Quay on August 3, 4, 7 and 8.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the security contractor 'most probably' became infected after coming into contact with a return traveller from the US.

The man then visited Sydney Markets at Flemington on August 9 between 8am and 4pm last Sunday while infectious.

Scroll down for video.

The security guard worked at the five-star Marriott Hotel in Circular Quay on August 3, 4, 7 and 8 as part of Australia's hotel quarantine program

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant (pictured) said the security contractor 'most probably' became infected after coming into contact with a return traveller from the US

He then worked at Parramatta local court on August 10 and 11 between 8.30am and 12.30am.

The man had also worked at the Bankstown Central Shopping Centre on August 8 between 10am and 3pm, before showing symptoms of the virus on August 11.

There are now concerns the quarantine breach could lead to another Sydney cluster and NSW Health has advised anyone who visited the markets, shopping centre or the court to monitor their health and get tested if any symptoms develop.

Dr Chant said on Tuesday that the man's job would have brought him into contact with a lot of people.

The entrance to the quarantine hotel in Sydney's Circular Quay, where the security guard is believed to have become infected, is pictured

'This person had worked in a variety of settings, a lot of which would have brought him into contact with other people, particularly in areas concerned about community transmission,' she said.

Virus detectives were able to trace the source of the transmission through genome sequencing, which revealed the infection was not linked to previously known outbreaks originating from Victoria.

'What that's identified is that it's quite a different sequence to other clusters such as the Crossroads Hotel  this is a different virus, and matches this [overseas traveller],' Dr Chant explained.

Victoria's disastrous second wave of COVID-19 cases was sparked by a series of breaches within hotel quarantine.

The infected man visited Sydney Markets at Flemington (pictured) on August 9 between 8am and 4pm last Sunday while infectious

Prime Minister Scott Morrison greets a stall holder during a visit to Flemington markets in Sydney, on May 16, 2019

Anyone who visited the popular market is urged to monitor their health and get tested immediately if they are feeling unwell

Traders are pictured selling fresh fruit and vegetables at a Flemington market stall

Two men is in gas masks are pictured walking through the Flemington markets in Sydney

A lack of training for private security staff and severely lapse infectious controls led to thousands of new infections across the state.

There are now fears the breach in Sydney could lead to a similar outbreak in New South Wales.

Dr Chant said she didn't believe a breach of safety standards occurred at the quarantine hotel but an investigation is now underway.

New South Wales Police are in charge of heading up the state's hotel quarantine program, however some private sector security staff have been recruited to assist.

Return travellers are pictured handing over their luggage to Australian Defence Force personnel as they enter 14-days of hotel quarantine on August 8

Anyone who attended Parramatta Local Court on August 11 and 12 August, from 8.30am to 12.30pm are urged to monitor their health and get tested immediately if they feel unwell

'What has occurred over the last couple of days, is no doubt concerning,' NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker said at the COVID-19 update.

'NSW Police are working strongly with NSW Health, in terms of the investigation  we are currently doing that as we speak at the Marriott hotel, in terms of viewing CCTV footage, conducting various interviews and having conversations with those that are involved in this matter.'

Three people were diagnosed with coronavirus in NSW on Tuesday following seven new cases on Monday.

While its the lowest number of new cases for NSW in more than a month, health authorities have asked residents to remain cautious as there have been 16 cases in the past four weeks which were not linked to any clusters.
Chaa Creek's nature-based Belize vacations are inherently healthy one of the most rigorous safety programs the global travel industry has ever seen

Not being able to welcome guests back this month is frustrating, but we wholeheartedly support the Government of Belizes decision to postpone the August reopening of the international airport, The Lodge at Chaa Creeks managing director recently said.

"The health and safety of our visitors, employees and communities always have, and always will come first," she added.

Bryony Fleming Bradley was speaking about the governments recent decision to postpone the planned reopening of Belizes Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), originally slated for 15 August 2020. But the arrival of new cases in Belize  which, until relatively recently had been COVID-free since April 2020, prompted the government to postpone reopening.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek, like other Belize resorts, was forced to follow suit, even though it had just obtained Tourism Gold Standard certification.

The Belize Tourism Board launched the rigorous Tourism Gold Standard Recognition Program to ensure the safety of both visitors and locals, with Chaa Creek quickly becoming one of the select properties to gain Gold Standard Certification.

The Gold Standard Certification also extends to the popular Belizean eco-resorts transport and touring company, Chaa Creek Inland Expeditions.

This means that, from pickup at Belizes PGIA until we drop them back off, our guests are covered under one of the most rigorous safety programs the global travel industry has ever seen, Ms Bradley explained.

Belize was widely recognized for having early success in managing the Coronavirus. Even before the virus reached pandemic stage, the Belize government took swift, dramatic action to control its borders and domestic population by introducing legislation that, at first, achieved success in keeping what was then a worldwide epidemic at bay.

However, with the number of cases climbing globally and regionally, it was only a matter of time before new cases appeared in Belize, Ms Bradley explained.

Its been so frustrating that, after adopting so many protocols and taking so many precautions, nationally and here at Chaa Creek, the Coronavirus still managed to find a way into Belize, she said.

But thats the nature of this insidious virus, she added.

As part of Belizes Tourism Gold Standard Recognition Program, Chaa Creek has appointed a full time, dedicated health and safety manager who is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And Brion Young says hes staying busy, even while the resort is closed to overseas visitors.

We want to be ready the day international flights resume, and that means making sure our enhanced hygiene procedures are in place and working. With such a wide variety of accommodations and amenities, not to mention a 400-acre private nature reserve and fleet of vehicles to maintain, we need to ensure that all surfaces are regularly and rigorously cleaned, and our people are healthy.

Its big job, but, like everything with Chaa Creek, its a labour of love, built on cooperation.

And it means that, as soon as we get the green light to reopen, well be ready to welcome guests with confidence, Mr Young said.

Another reason for that confidence, he added, is the inherently healthy nature of Belize tourism and Chaa Creek vacations.

With so many nature-based activities, an abundance of fresh air, and the way our accommodations and amenities are laid out, theres plenty of open space and physical distancing already built into a Chaa Creek vacation.

And with our already stringent hygiene and safety protocols enhanced to the highest possible levels, our guests can rest easy while they enjoy the casual luxury and wide range of healthy adventures Chaa Creek has always offered, Mr Young said.

Ms Bradley said she cant predict exactly when Belize and Chaa Creek will reopen to international travel, and encourages people to check with Chaa Creek s and the Belize Tourism Boards websites for updates and further information, and to learn more about Belizes Tourism Gold Standard Recognition Program.

Were sure that the more people learn, the more relaxed theyll feel about Chaa Creeks Belize vacations. Being such a short hop from North America, and then knowing that from pickup to drop off theyre continually in the same good hands should help put travelers at ease.

After these last few months being stuck at home, Im sure visitors will be looking forward to being immersed in a pristine natural setting, enjoying swimming, canoeing and other healthy activities, not to mention our famously delicious farm-to-table dining.

And I know all of us here are definitely looking forward to welcoming our guests again, Ms Bradley said.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a multi-award winning eco resort set within a 400-acre private nature reserve along the banks of the Macal River in Belize. It was recognised by National Geographic with first place honours at the 2017 World Legacy Awards held in Berlin.

ENDS
Mike Sonko has endorsed the newly-opened A &L Hotel owned by Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua and his wife Lilian Nganga.

The Nairobi governor visited the 5-star hotel located in Machakos on Sunday, August 16, where he was treated to some mbuzi choma. A seemingly well-fed Sonko later took to social media to congratulate his counterpart on his new business venture.

Sonko noted that the A&L hotel is his new joint for when he is the upcountry.

The governor also hailed the service as phenomenal.

Congratulations my brother H.E Alfred Mutua on the new investment, Hotel A&L in Machakos. Now tukiwa ushago we have a place ya kuenda. The service and the ambience was phenomenal, wrote Sonko.

On his part, Mutua thanked Sonko for his support. He also noted that business has been good.

I thank ndugu Mike Sonko for visiting A & L Hotel today for Sunday nyama choma. We appreciate the support and the friends you came with. We welcome you to pass by again and again. I also thank the hundreds of guests who came today, since morning, for your support and I welcome you again and again, he said.

Adding: Today, just like the other Sundays, we ran out of mbuzi choma, despite adding more. Lillian and I are grateful to God that since the soft opening of A & L Hotel, we have been busy every single day of the week. We have listened to you and we are glad to offer you exemplary 5 Star service and amazing food in a wonderful environment. I encourage many other businesses to come and open in Machakos County. I have confidence in the economic growth of the area and assure you of a business-friendly atmosphere.

Photos
A large build in gasoline inventories which offset a modest draw in crude oil inventories cooled bullish sentiment in markets somewhat on Tuesday afternoon

The American Petroleum Institute (API) reported on Tuesday a draw in crude oil inventories of 4.264 million barrels for the week ending August 14a near mirror of last weeks draw figure.

Analysts had predicted a modest inventory draw of 2.670-million barrels.

In the previous week, the API reported a draw in crude oil inventories of 4.401 million barrels, after analysts had predicted a draw of roughly half that.

Oil prices were trading down on Tuesday afternoon before the APIs data release, and just minutes before the release, WTI had fallen by $0.33 (-0.77%) to $42.56. The Brent crude benchmark had fallen by $0.30 (-0.66%) to $45.07, even as OPEC showed this week that its overall July compliance rate was about as good as it could get.

Still, traders are leery in the runup to any of the inventory reports, and this week is also complicated further by the scheduled OPEC meeting, although most analysts agree that the meeting will likely prove rather uneventful.

Oil production in the United States now appears to be leveling off after falling from a high of 13.1 million bpd on March 13 to 10.7 million bpd on August 7, according to the Energy Information Administrationthe loss adding to OPECs production cuts.

The API reported a build of 4.991 million barrels of gasoline for the week ending August 14compared to last weeks 1.310-million-barrel draw. This weeks build is not what analysts had expected, which was a 1.057-million-barrel draw for the week.

Distillate inventories were down by 964,000 barrels for the week, compared to last weeks 2.949-million-barrel draw, while Cushing inventory fell by a modest 590,000 barrels.

At 4:33 pm EDT, WTI was trading at $42.58 while Brent was trading at $45.09.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
WASHINGTON  Paul Manafort's role as chairman of the Trump campaign, his longstanding ties to people affiliated with Russian intelligence services and his willingness to share information with them "represented a grave counterintelligence threat" during the 2016 presidential race, according to a new report from the Senate Intelligence Committee.

"The Committee found that Manafort's presence on the Campaign and proximity to Trump created opportunities for Russian intelligence services to exert influence over, and acquire confidential information on, the Trump campaign," according to the nearly 1,000-page report released Tuesday.

The wide-ranging, bipartisan report gives a comprehensive account of contacts between Russian actors and Trump associates, including Manafort and Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son. It confirms the findings by former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation that Russia sought to sway the 2016 race in Trump's favor and that members of the president's campaign were eager beneficiaries of the effort, although there was no evidence of a conspiracy with the Kremlin.

President Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort arrives at Manhattan Supreme Court June 27, 2019.

READ IT YOURSELF: The 966-page report from the Senate Intelligence Committee

Manafort was released to home confinement in May because of the risk posed by the spread of the coronavirus in federal prison after being sentenced to more than seven years.

Manafort's attorney, Kevin Downing, didn't respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY, but he told the Associated Press that information kept under seal at the request of Mueller's team "completely refutes" the Senate panel's findings, which he called "complete conjecture."

The heavily redacted report, released just three months before the presidential election, is the final installment from the Republican-led committee's three-year probe into Russian election meddling.

"We can say, without any hesitation, that the Committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election," said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the committee's acting chairman. "What the Committee did find, however, is very troubling. We found irrefutable evidence of Russian meddling."

Story continues

The Trump campaign cast the Senate panel's findings as yet more proof that there was no conspiracy with Russia. "The Russia Collusion Hoax is the greatest political scandal in the history of this country," Tim Murtaugh, Trump 2020 communications director, said in a statement.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the committee's former chair who oversaw much of the investigation, struck a more neutral tone.

"One of the Committees most important  and overlooked  findings is that much of Russias activities werent related to producing a specific electoral outcome, but attempted to undermine our faith in the democratic process itself. Their aim is to sow chaos, discord, and distrust. Their efforts are not limited to elections. The threat is ongoing," Burr said.

Democrats, meanwhile, highlighted findings about Trump campaign officials' contacts with Russian actors.

The committee's vice chairman, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said the "breathtaking level of contacts between Trump officials and Russian government operatives" is a "very real counterintelligence threat to our elections."

"This is what collusion looks like," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chair of the House Intelligence Committee, echoing Senate Democrats.

Kilimnik, 'a Russian intelligence officer'

The report delves deeply into Manafort's ties with Konstantin Kilimnik, a longtime business associate with whom Manafort worked as part of his lobbying efforts in Ukraine.

While Mueller's investigators described Kilimnik as someone with ties to Russian intelligence, the committee called him "a Russian intelligence officer" with whom Manafort "sought to secretly share" sensitive internal polling data from the Trump campaign. The committee, however, was unable to determine why Manafort did so or with whom Kilimnik shared the information.

Paul Manafort sentenced to prison: 'It is hard to overstate the number of lies'

"The Committee assesses that Kilimnik likely served as a channel to Manafort for Russian intelligence services, and that those services likely sought to exploit Manafort's access to gain insight in to the Campaign," the panel's report said.

During and after the 2016 campaign, Manafort and Kilimnik spoke and met multiple times. The two talked about strategies to defeat Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, according to the report, citing a conversation Kilimnik had with an associate in which he said Manafort had a "clever plan of screwing Clinton." The two also talked about how Trump might win, the report said, noting that Manafort expected Kilimnik to share the information to people in Ukraine and elsewhere.

The report said Kilimnik sought to leverage his relationship with Manafort and use him to influence the Trump administration and the Russian government "to effect a certain political outcome."

The committee also said Kilimnik may have been tied to the Russian intelligence "hack and leak" operations during the 2016 campaign. The committee said it obtained information suggesting that Kilimnik may have been the channel for Russian intelligence officials to coordinate the hacking operation, although it acknowledged its evidence is limited.

Manafort is one of half a dozen former Trump aides and associates who were indicted as a result of the Mueller investigation. The Senate panel's findings on Manafort and Kilimnik mirrored some of those in Mueller's report.

Manafort had told Mueller's investigators that he did not believe his longtime associate was also working as a Russian spy. Mueller's team noted that Manafort's partner, Rick Gates, had suspected Kilimnik was a "spy" and shared that assessment with Manafort.

In one of two meetings with Kilimnik during his tenure as Trump campaign chairman, "Manafort briefed Kilimnik on the state of the Trump Campaign and Manafort's plan to win the election," the Mueller report concluded. "That briefing encompassed the campaign's messaging and its internal polling data. According to Gates, it also included discussion of 'battleground' states, which Manafort identified as Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota."

Early last year, a federal judge found that Manafort had lied repeatedly to federal prosecutors about his contacts with Kilimnik, ultimately upending a plea agreement Manafort had struck with Muellers team. Among the contested exchanges, prosecutors asserted that Manafort lied about having provided polling data to Kilimnik.

In 2018, Manafort and Kilimnik were charged together with attempting to obstruct Muellers investigation by seeking to block the testimony of at least two witnesses.

The case prompted a judge to revoke Manaforts bail and order him to jail to await separate trials on a slew of financial fraud charges in Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., where he was ultimately convicted.

Senate panel contradicts Trump on WikiLeaks, Roger Stone

The Senate panel contradicted Trump's statement to Mueller's investigators that he did not recall discussing WikiLeaks with Roger Stone, his longtime ally who, during the 2016 campaign, publicly acknowledged his back-channel efforts to communicate with the anti-secrecy group about stolen emails that were damaging to Clinton and to the Democratic National Committee.

"Despite Trump's recollection, the Committee assesses that Trump did, in fact, speak with Stone about WikiLeaks and with members of his Campaign about Stone's access on multiple occasions," the report said.

Stone was convicted of lying to Congress about his interactions with the Trump campaign and Wikileaks. He was set to begin serving his 40-month sentence when Trump granted him clemency.

Roger Stone outside a courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2019.

Gates testified during Stone's trial last year that he overheard then-candidate Trump talking to Stone on the phone in July 2016, shortly after WikiLeaks began publishing the DNC emails. "More information is coming," Trump told Gates after hanging up, according to Gates' testimony.

Trump Tower meeting and Donald Trump Jr.

The Senate panel found that two attendees in the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Trump Jr.  Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya and Russian-American lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin  have "significant connections" to the Kremlin and to Russian intelligence services.

Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr. at Trump Tower in New York on Jan. 11, 2017.

"The connections the Committee uncovered, particularly regarding Veselnitskaya, were far more extensive and concerning than what had been publicly known," the report said, adding that neither of the two were forthcoming about their Russian ties.

The committee echoed Mueller's findings that members of the Trump campaign, including the president's eldest son, met with the Russian actors to receive derogatory information about Clinton. Mueller, however, did not charge the president's son and others, saying it would be hard to prove that the participants knew the conduct was unlawful.

FBI gave Steele dossier 'unjustified credence'

The report also provides an unflattering look at the FBI, which the committee said gave "unjustified credence" on the findings of a former British intelligence officer, or the so-called Steele dossier, as it sought court approvals to wiretap former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.

A separate report by the Justice Department's inspector general found several errors and misstatements in applications to wiretap Page, although it concluded that the broader Russia investigation was legitimate.

Republicans seized on this finding to criticize the FBI's investigation of the Trump campaign during the early days of the Russia investigation.

"We discovered deeply troubling actions taken by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, particularly their acceptance and willingness to rely on the Steele Dossier without verifying its methodology or sourcing," Rubio said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Senate details Paul Manafort ties to Russian intel officer Kilimnik
My husband doesn't have any family here  only mine  but he doesn't try to have a close relationship with my mother. He is good to my mom and we go to see her every weekend, but he doesn't call her to check up on her. Why does he try to keep the relationship with his mother-in-law alive when he doesn't try with my mother?
The Transylvania International Film Festival (TIFF) will be back in central Sibiu between August 27 and 30 with over 20 movie screenings in the Big Square, the Habermann Square, at the 'Astra' Open Air Museum, at the terrace of the "Ion Besoiu" Cultural Center and the above-ground parking of the municipality mall, the organizers announced in a release on Tuesday.

"The French romantic comedy-drama 'La Belle Epoque' directed by Nicolas Bedos and starring Daniel Auteuil, Guillaume Canet and Fanny Ardant will open the festival on August 27 at 20:45 in the Big Square. A twisty 'time travel' of a man who tries to rediscover his great love from 40 years ago, the film premiered at Cannes and won three Cesar Awards this year, including Best Actress in a secondary role (Fanny Ardant)," the cited release states.

Also on the bill of the festival are: 'Babyteeth: First Love', the debut feature of Australian Shannon Murphy, winner of the Transylvania Trophy and of the Cluj TIFF Audience Award, about a seriously ill teenager who falls in love with a smalltime drug dealer, a strikingly unconventional coming-of-age story of first love and family dysfunction where farce undercuts drama in a non-cliche rendition; 'Patrick' - directed by Tim Mielants, winner of the TIFF directing award, is an engaging dark comedy built around the symbolic obsession of a socially challenged handyman for his missing hammer; 'Corpus Christi', directed by Jan Komasa, tells a fascinating story of a Polish ex-convict who wishes to join the priesthood and cons his way into becoming a priest of a small town; Rodrigo Sorogoyen's 'Madre' tells of the grief of a mother who lost her 6-year-old son and who, ten years later, embarks on a relationship with unexpected consequences with a 16-year-old teenager who physically resembles the lost boy; Peter Cattaneo's 'Military Wives', based on a real story and starring Kristin Scott-Thomas, centers on a group of women whose partners are away serving in Afghanistan and who come together to form the very first military wives choir; the suspenseful 'Les Traducteurs/The Translators' directed by Regis Roinsard brings together Lambert Wilson, Olga Kurylenko and Riccardo Scamarcio in a thriller about nine translators hired to translate the eagerly awaited final installment of a bestselling trilogy in the confinement of a luxurious bunker - hell ensues when the first ten pages of the novel leak on the Internet; Pedro Almodovar's latest film, 'Pain and Glory/Dolor y gloria', selected for the Cannes 2019 competition and nominated for the Oscar, sees Antonio Banderas in the role of an ageing, ailing film director who finds the strength to continue exploring his past, touching on themes such as a complicated mother-son relationship, gay-male desire or drugs.

The tickets for TIFF Sibiu will be on sale on tiff.eventbook.ro in a limited number because of the safety requirements in force for outdoor events. The screenings in the Big Square will be free.
Former vice president Joe Biden will tell the truth and trust science if he is elected to the White House in November, former First Lady Michelle Obama said on Monday as Democrats kicked off their now-virtual convention.

With the Democratic party poised to officially anoint the 77-year-old Biden as its presidential candidate, President Donald Trump defied coronavirus concerns and staged competing events in Wisconsin and neighboring Minnesota.

Michelle Obama was given the primetime slot on the opening night of the Democratic convention, which was to have been held over four days in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but which is now taking place almost entirely online because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

In excerpts of her remarks released ahead of her taped speech, Michelle Obama said Biden was a terrific vice president during the eight years he served as her husband Barack Obamas number two.

I know Joe. He is a profoundly decent man guided by faith, she said.

He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country, the former First Lady said.

He will tell the truth, and trust science, she said in a jab at Trump, who has been accused of repeatedly ignoring the advice of his scientific advisers on how to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic.

He will make smart plans and manage a good team, Obama said. And he will govern as someone whos lived a life that the rest of us can recognize.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who challenged Biden for the nomination from the progressive left, was also scheduled to address the convention, which is being live-streamed.

This election is the most important in the modern history of this country, Sanders said in remarks released ahead of his appearance.

The future of our democracy is at stake, he said. The future of our planet is at stake.

We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president, Sanders said. My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine.

Another Venezuela

Trump flew on Air Force One meanwhile to Mankato, Minnesota, and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and delivered remarks to supporters gathered on the airport tarmac.

Speaking in Oshkosh, Trump accused Biden and his running mate Harris of seeking to enact crazy socialist policies.

This is the most dangerous election weve ever had, Trump said. Itll be another Venezuela. This will be a very large-scale Venezuela if they win.

The only way were going to lose this election is if the election is rigged, he said.

The Democratic convention is taking place amid a furor over Trumps own efforts to limit mail-in voting.

Insisting without proof that it fosters fraud, Trump has threatened to block extra funding that Democrats say is urgently needed to allow the US Postal Service to process millions of ballots.

Democratic Party chairman Tom Perez said the convention would push back against Trumps assault on our democracy by highlighting efforts to protect voting by mail.

This president cant win on the merits and so he has to cheat. And its shameful, Perez told a Washington Post webcast.

Oshkosh, where Trump was speaking, is about a 90-minute drive north of the Milwaukee arena where Democrats had intended to gather in a sign of eagerness to win back Wisconsin, one of multiple Democratic strongholds which flipped to Trump in 2016.

But the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed some 170,000 people in the United States, upended election campaigning.

The Democratic convention and the Republican event, which begins on August 24, will be held virtually, without the usual roaring crowds and confetti.

We may be physically apart, but this week Democrats are coming together from across the nation to put forth our vision for a better America, Biden tweeted.

Live and curated content

The experimental convention format will allow speakers to address American voters unfiltered -- largely shorn of the usual overwrought stagecraft and screaming delegates.

Biden and Harris will address the convention live via videolink, while other speeches will be a mix of live and curated content, the campaign said.

Biden enters the week with significant but tightening poll leads over Trump, and hoping his pick of Harris -- the first woman of color on a major partys presidential ticket -- will invigorate Democrats.

The California senator, former prosecutor and daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants is 55 and brings relatively youthful energy to the ticket.

Tuesday will see addresses from former president Bill Clinton and Jill Biden, the nominees wife.

On Wednesday, Barack Obama will speak, and Harris will have her spotlight moment before the convention culminates Thursday when Biden formally accepts the Democratic nomination and delivers his acceptance speech.
Residents are being urged to remain vigilant after New South Wales recorded just three new COVID-19 cases.

Of the new cases announced on Tuesday, one has been linked to the funeral cluster in South Western Sydney, while one was a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.

One is of the cases remains a mystery and is still under investigation. There were 13,736 tests undertaken in the 24 hour period.

While it is the lowest number of new cases for NSW in more than a month, health authorities have asked residents to remain cautious as there have been 16 cases in the past four weeks which were not linked to any clusters.

Unknown community transmissions are the most dangerous category in the pandemic as it means the virus is still spreading undetected.

Customers who visited Bankstown Central Shopping Centre on Saturday, August 8 have been urged to get tested for the deadly virus after an infected shopper visited the area between 10am and 3pm

A member of the presentation and hygiene team cleans handrails at Broadway Shopping Centre in Sydney on August 6

'It is vital to maintain high rates of testing at this critical time, in order to find the source of these cases still under investigation,' NSW health said.

'Anyone with even the mildest of symptoms  including runny nose, sore throat, cough, or loss of taste and smell  to come forward for testing as the best way to protect their family, friends and wider community.'

Areas on high alert include South Western Sydney, Western Sydney and Sydney east, including Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay, Elizabeth Bay and Centennial Park.

Customers who visited Bankstown Central Shopping Centre on Saturday, August 8 have been urged to get tested for the deadly virus after an infected shopper visited the area between 10am and 3pm.

An infected shopper also visited the Sydney Market in Flemington on Sunday, August 9, between 8am and 4pm.

Anyone who attended either venue during those times are considered casual contacts. Health authorities have asked people monitor for symptoms and immediately get tested and isolate if symptoms occur.

Members of the Broadway Shopping Centre team are seen wearing face masks through the mall

An airline passenger from Melbourne is checked off by NSW Police at Sydney Airport on August 8. All passengers from Melbourne must go into hotel quarantine

On Monday NSW Health declared the City of Sydney a coronavirus hotspot on Monday following recent confirmed cases in the east including at Cafe Peron in Double Bay and the Den Sushi restaurant in Rose Bay.

The move comes after the Thai Rock restaurant in Potts Point sparked an outbreak of 37 cases and a number of new infections linked to CBD venues surfaced over the past two weeks.

The virus is steadily burning through the state having jumped the border from Victoria, as increasing numbers of outbreaks and clusters infect suburb after suburb.

A man is seen wearing a face mask as he waits for a train at Redfern Station in Sydney

Two commuters are seen wearing face masks as they wait for a bus near Railway Square in Sydney

The majority of outbreaks have come from pubs, restaurants and schools.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned 'that the 'mystery' community transmission cases where no known cause is found are the biggest risk.

'Whilst the case numbers have pleasingly been declining, my anxiety remains the same  if not higher  because every week we have an accumulation of undetected, unsourced cases,' she said.

Epidemiologists have warned that some people who carry the coronavirus show no symptoms at all, so this will not prevent the virus from spreading through asymptomatic carriers.

While most other states and territories in Australia are largely virus-free, Victoria continues to struggle to subdue its outbreak.

Two young women wearing masks are seen walking along the Williamstown foreshore as part of their daily exercise while in lockdown. Authorities say the lockdown appears to be working in slowing the infection rate

The latest figures mark the deadliest day in Australia's fight against COVID-19, surpassing the record figures set by Victoria last Wednesday, when 21 people died. This graph illustrates the closing gap between new daily case numbers and daily deaths

Victoria recorded another 222 cases and 17 deaths on Tuesday - a significant drop from a record high of 725 cases on August 6.

But experts claim the figures are not falling fast enough despite the state's extreme lockdown measures, which were introduced on July 30.

If coronavirus cases don't drop as steeply as hoped, Victorians could face extended restrictions, which would be another blow to Australia's economy.
Global foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America is projected to plunge by 25% to 50% in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, threatening the worlds ability achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it emerged during a discussion at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2020) Virtual Edition.

In spite of this, the pandemic provides an opportunity to accelerate progress towards collaborative solutions to development issues, most notably to advance manufacturing technologies and digitalisation, the experts from Unido, John Cabot University Rome, Kaspersky, The EuroScience Open Forum, University of Tokyo, and CloudMinds said.

Dr Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento, Managing Director, Directorate of Digitalization, Technology and Agribusiness, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido) said that prior to the crisis there was an estimated investment gap of $2.5 trillion per year to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the current situation risks aggravating this trend, which could amplify existing challenges in global production.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to contribute to increased resource efficiency and help shift towards a more circular economy, Calzadilla-Sarmiento said. And this is the big opportunity we have to take into account, that we need to recover from the pandemic in a different manner.

Innovation, knowledge sharing, and strategic partnerships are vital to realise the digital transformation for achieving the SDGs and inclusivity in sustainable industrial development, he added. However, we need to make sure that nobody is left behind while pursuing future manufacturing with advanced technologies. This means ensuring inclusion of vulnerable groups, as Covid-19 has exposed the problem of inequality, especially for women and youth. Another challenge is to provide adequate skills training to effectively use these technologies.

Dr Alina Sorgner, Assistant Professor of Applied Data Analytics, John Cabot University Rome, said advancing gender equality in the manufacturing sector would require organisations to first address the gender skills gap, which is very apparent in both developed and developing countries.

We need to apply different approaches in different countries, because developing countries might have different problems which lead to this gender skills gap, she said. It might be that there is a strong digital gender divide, which means that women dont always have the necessary resources to acquire digital technologies and digital skills.

She advocated adopting locally tailored approaches to gender equality which reflect cultural values and industrial structures at the regional level. This is very problematic in the context of developing countries in particular, because we often do not have regional data. So, our goal is to collect more data on the regional level and to promote local approaches in order to promote gender equality in manufacturing.

Andrey Suvorov, Head of Business Development, IIoT Cyber Security, Kaspersky, acknowledged the existence of a skills gap and said that certain skills will become increasingly important and relevant for workers in the manufacturing sector to stay competitive in the coming years.

Regardless of the technologies and research we have all been conducting during the era of the fourth industrial revolution, we are faced with a big challenge which is the fundamental skills gap for the industrial revolution, he said.

He singled out cybersecurity for special attention, saying that it had shifted from being a specialist discipline to becoming a priority at the boardroom level. Cyber risks are either number one or number two priority for big corporations, which means paying special attention and understanding to those, he said.

Professor Stefano Fantoni, Champion of the EuroScience Open Forum - ESOF 2020 Trieste, and the President of the Trieste International Foundation of Freedom and Progress of Science, emphasised that it is essential for educational initiatives that are aimed at introducing advanced technologies to have practical as well as theoretical learning elements.

When you are thinking of problem-solving education, you really need to have participation in projects, you have to learn not only to know things but also how to do things, and that is actually something which is generally missing, he said.

Dr Yusuke Kajihara, Associate Professor of the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo, said to introduce new technologies, countries need to have the right balance between cyber and physical fields, which in developing countries is often absent.

The governments of developed countries need to take the initiative for introducing strong cyber fields in developing countries, he said. The introduction should pay off after several years because it encourages strong industrial collaboration between governments and industries.

Bill Huang, Founder and CEO of CloudMinds, said the introduction of 5G networks would aid the rapid convergence of robot intelligence towards human intelligence for various uses.

The use of robotics in the next generation industrial revolution is becoming a reality, enabled by the development of artificial intelligence, mobile communications and robotics technologies, especially with the combination of advanced sensors, and much more compact and much more dense battery technologies, Huang said.

He added that it is easier to teach younger generations who grew up on mobile phones, not only in the developed world, but also in developing countries like China and India, to train robots because of their familiarity with gaming. I believe that in a developing country, and an emerging economy, there's an opportunity for people to train robots so, they don't need to become a migrant worker, they can work from their own country. I think that's a much better way to develop the economy.

Weixi Gong, Chief of the Investment and Technology Promotion Division at UNIDO, concluded the session by saying that Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 will alter the way we live and work and it is the job of international organisations, such as Unido, to ensure that no one is left behind on this transformative journey, and that everyone will be enabled to reap the benefits of these developments in the era of the fourth industrial revolution.

Hosted by Yuko Yasunaga, the Head of Unido ITPO Tokyo, the virtual panel discussion on Exploring the future of manufacturing and industries: Industry 4.0s true potential in advancing the attainment of the SDGs and shaping Society 5.0 is the eighth session of the #GMIS2020 Digital Series that will lead up to the Virtual Summit on September 4-5, 2020. The session is available to watch on-demand at https://bit.ly/2YHVHyY.

Through its Virtual Editions, the third edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2020), a joint initiative by the UAE and Unido, is bringing together high-profile thought-leaders and business pioneers from around the world to shape the future of manufacturing, discuss the impact of pandemics on global value chains, and highlight the role of fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies in restoring economic and social activities. - TradeArabia News Service
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:00:45|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- An image analysis system for defect detection in power transmission lines has been developed by an institute under the State Grid Corporation of China.

The system is based on artificial intelligence. It has a recognition rate for typical defects such as bird's nests of more than 94 percent, said a report by the Science and Technology Daily.

With an operating efficiency of three to five times that of manual checks, the system has been popularized and applied in the country's 27 provinces.

The system has a daily detection capacity of more than 5,000 images. Since this year, it has automatically detected a total of 2.65 million images and recognized over 7,000 hidden defects, said Wu Peng with the institute.

Natural disasters in China, with wide distribution and high frequency, pose a serious threat to the safe and stable operation of the power grid. Therefore, there is an urgent need to strengthen the detection of hidden defects along the country's power transmission lines.

By integrating advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data and cloud storage, the institute also developed systems including a meteorological disaster monitoring system for the power grid to guarantee its stable operation amid the COVID-19 epidemic, said the report. Enditem
TDT | Manama

A group of Bahraini MPs have recently called to drop all housing loans commitments from the relatives of citizens who have passed away, TDT has learnt. The lawmakers submitted a proposal with the aim of amending the current mechanism implemented by Housing Ministry, which exempts relatives of deceased beneficiaries of government housing services from paying all financial obligations owed by the deceased to the ministry, in two conditions only.

According to the MPs, these conditions include the exemption of the deceaseds family if they are a family consisting of a widow and orphans (one or more minors), and if the deceased leaves behind one or more minors. The MPs said that in other conditions, the family is obligated to pay the amounts related to the housing services received by their deceased breadwinner.

Spearheaded by the Council of Representatives Public Utilities and Environment Committee chairman Hamad Al Kooheji, the group of MPs also include Zainab Abdulameer, Ammar Qambar, Ali Ishaqi and Ahmed Al Damistani.

Al Kooheji explained in a press statement issued on Sunday that the proposal aims to lighten the financial burdens of Bahraini families and include all family members and conditions in the exemption. Clarifying further, Al Kooheji said: Failure to exempt the family of the deceased beneficiary from a housing service from the rest of the sums they owe the ministry leads to adding new financial burdens on the family.

This is burdensome for them, especially since they have other financial and family obligations. The whole world today is living in an economic circumstance that does not allow the addition of new financial burdens, which citizens with limited income cannot afford.

Al Kooheji pointed out that the current mechanism creates a state of unjustified discrimination between the forms of Bahraini families, adding that the currently-enforced Article 77 of Resolution 909 of 2015 with regards to the housing systemonly mentioned two conditions that are exempted, while the rest of the families are excluded to bear the remaining installments without legal or logical justification.

The legislator also said that the proposal comes to secure the cohesion of Bahraini families after the demise of their breadwinner, stating that bearing the burden of paying the remaining installments hinders families interests and deprives them from applying for new housing services from the ministry.

Justifying the proposal further, Al Kooheji quoted Article 5 of the Kingdoms constitution, saying: The family is the cornerstone of society, deriving its strength from religion, morality and patriotism. The law preserves its lawful entity, strengthens its bonds and values, under its aegis extends protection to mothers and children, tends the young and protects them from exploitation and safeguards them against moral, bodily and spiritual neglect.
With COVID-19 infections and deaths having soared since the economy began to reopen in July, Perus political and social crises have escalated. Strikes have broken out in the mining sector over high rates of infections, and an August 9 clash between indigenous protesters and police in the hard-hit Amazon region left four indigenous workers dead.

MARSA miners walk out over COVID-19 infectiions.

With 796 COVID-19 deaths per million inhabitants, Peru has the highest mortality rate in all the Americas and the second-highest in the world, trailing only Belgium. Its total number of coronavirus cases has topped 535,000, with a record of over 10,000 new cases being recorded on Sunday. The Ministry of Health (Minsa) has recorded over 26,000 deaths, although the real number is believed to be twice as high because of excess deaths that were not investigated.

Since the beginning of the re-opening of the economy, the number of infections jumped by 78 percent in six weeks, reports El Comercio. There has also been a 75 percent increase in infections among children and adolescents.

In response to this uncontrolled spread of the pandemic, President Martin Vizcarra has ordered the reinstatement of a blanket quarantine on Sundays only. This means all family and social reunions are prohibited, and parks will remain closed. As for the rest of the week, work will continue. This comes on top of rolling lockdowns in 15 of Perus 25 regions. In the capital of Lima and elsewhere, militarized units of the Peruvian National Police have been deployed to rigorously enforce the Sunday curfew.

The governments contention is that the deadly virus is being spread primarily by social gatherings between friends and familiesnot by herding Peruvians back into the mines and other workplaces.

Within the working class, however, there is growing resistance to the homicidal conditions of work imposed by the employers and backed by the government. Miners at the Minera Aurifera Retamas S.A. (MARSA) gold and silver mine walked out last week after 280 miners had contracted the coronavirus on the job. They denounced the owners of the mine, one of the largest underground mines in the country, for failing to provide the most minimal sanitary conditions. In addition to the enforcement of basic health norms, one of their demands was an end to the hot bed (camas calientes) practice, under which workers from the morning and evening shifts are forced to share the same beds.

The MARSA miners indicated that their strike could continue following the arrest of the leader of the local union, Luis Cerna Polo.

Miners have protested and struck elsewhere as the coronavirus cases and deaths mount. At the Uchucchacua, about 150 miles northeast of the capital, workers have reported 150 infections within their ranks. At the Cerro Lindo mine, 700 workers were quarantined because of COVID-19 symptoms, while at the Cerro Corona mine, 150 workers were evacuated after coming down with the disease. At both facilities, miners are forced to share crowded quarters.

Military police deployment to enforce Sunday curfew in Lima.

Meanwhile, in the Amazon region, indigenous protesters took over an oil complex at Lot 95, located in the Loreto region, to protest against the failure of the government to provide aid amidst one of the most virulent outbreaks of the pandemic. Across the Amazon basin, there have been more than 100,000 infections and at least 3,000 COVID-19 fatalities. With an indigenous population of 330,000 people, this means that nearly a third have been infected and nearly one out of 100 have died.

Security forces responded with brutal repression to the indigenous protest, killing three people outright and mortally wounding another. Seventeen other protesters were wounded.

The Lot 95 oil facility is owned by the Canadian-based transnational PetroTal, which restarted production last month over the protests of the local population, who fear oil workers returning to the northern Peruvian jungle will bring the coronavirus with them. The government and the transnationals have treated the indigenous population as little more than an obstacle to resource extraction and profits.

Vizcarra has seen his approval rating plummet in the face of the spiraling COVID-19 toll and the reopening of the economy, falling from 83 percent in June to barely 56 percent today.

On July 1, Vizcarra carried out a cabinet shakeup in the face of his governments mounting crisis, tapping Pedro Cateriano as his new prime minister. The Congress, however, rejected the appointment by 54-37 in an August 4 vote of no-confidence.

While Vizcarra denounced the rejection as a political maneuver, critics faulted Cateriano for delivering a speech to the Congress that too openly promoted the interests of the mining transnationals and other sectors of big business, without even feigning concern for the suffering of the masses of Peruvian workers and poor under conditions of the pandemic, mass unemployment and deepening poverty.

Subsequently, Vizcarra proposed retired general Walter Martos, the former defense minister, as his new prime minister. Martos was approved with the widest congressional support seen in 50 years: 115 votes in favor, five against and four abstentions.

His elevation to the prime ministers post is part of the increasing dominance of the military within Vizcarras cabinet. Three of the 19 cabinet seats are now occupied by active-duty or retired generals: that of the prime minister and the secretaries of Defense, and National Security, Army Gen. Jorge Luis Chavez Cresta and Air Force Lt. Gen. Jorge Montoya Perez, respectively.

Vizcarra is keeping on his initial pick, Pedro Cateriano, the darling of the Peruvian big business lobby Confiep (Confederacion Nacional de Instituciones Empresariales Privadas), as a liaison with the powerful mining sector.

Vizcarras commitment to mining and foreign capital was further demonstrated with his choice of Miguel Inchaustegui for the Energy and Mining cabinet post. Inchausteguis experience includes having been director of Turmalina Metals Corp and Canariaco Copper Peru. He also worked at Gold Fields and Lumina Copper.

In his speech to the Congress, Gen. Martos acknowledged the backwardness of Perus economy, which was masked during the period of the commodities boom when the country recorded an average 6.3 percent annual growth between 2002 and 2014. He noted that this year alone public spending has dropped 35 percent.

As a remedy for the countrys deepening economic crisisthe central bank projects a 12 percent contraction this yearMartos proposed injecting billions of dollars into PYMES (Small and Medium Size Enterprises). While this sector accounts for 86 percent of private employment and generates 30 percent of GDP, statistics show that most PYMES go bankrupt in few years, with even more daunting prospects in face of the pandemic.

Martos cast the struggle against the pandemic as a war that radiates to all areas of national life, emphasizing that he was speaking as a proud member of our forces of order...

The retired general stressed the modernization and buildup of the security forces as central to this war, with proposals for the digitalization of police operations, the opening of 28 new police stations by December 2020 and the deployment of the Armed Forces, with the support of night-watch [civilian] Municipal patrols, in order to increase the number of troops and the frequency of rounds, with special strategic actions focused on the places of greatest criminal incidence.

In Peru, as in the rest of Latin America, the capitalist ruling class and its transnational partners are leaning ever more heavily on the military and police forces as they confront the threat of an explosion of the class struggle, driven by mass unemployment, social inequality and the criminal back-to-work drive that is claiming ever greater numbers of COVID-19 victims.
Chennai: The people of Painganadu Thulasendrapuram village in Tamil Nadu are so delighted by the nomination of Kamala Harris as a vice-presidential candidate in the US elections that they put out colourful posters wishing her success but when a photo of the poster was sent across to America the message in the text was lost in translation.

"I was sent this from Tamil Nadu where our Indian family is from," tweeted Meena Harris, the 35-year-old California-based niece of Kamala Harris. "It says P V Gopalans granddaughter is victorious."

The poster is from the obscure village near Mannargudi, where people have taken pride in the fact that the maternal grandfather of Kamala Harris originally hailed from there. Paiganadu and Thulasendrapuram are two different but nearby villages in Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. Gopalan belonged to Paignadu and he married Rajam of Thulasendrapuram.

Meena Harris also tweeted a photograph of the late Gopalan with a small child and said, "I knew my great grandfather from our family trips to Chennai when I was young  he was big figure for my grandma and I know theyre together somewhere smiling now."

"Curious if youve had any reaction from Jamaica," wondered a Twitter follower of Meena Harris, prompting her to reply "Yep" with a link to a story titled Kamala Harris Ignites Pride in Brown Town in the Gleaner which quoted an 81-year-old historian Omar Mustafa, who attended Park School in St Ann with Donald Harris, Kamalas father.

The article also quotes a few persons with the Harris surname and brings out the fact that people of the region from where Donald Harris hailed were excited about her nomination even if they had not put out posters like the people of Painganadu Thulasendrapuram.

"Thank you! Ive received several different translations," replied Meena Harris to another Twitter respondent who had given the correct translation in English of the words in the poster, while another Twitter user gave the link to a story in the New York Times that states that one of the brightest childhood memories of Kamala Harris was her walks on the Besant Nagar beach with her grandfather Gopalan.

"During the later race for California attorney-general, Ms Harris called her aunt Sarala Gopalan in Chennai and asked her to break coconuts for good luck at a Hindu temple overlooking the beach at Besant Nagar," the article says, giving details of her close links with her mothers family in India though there is no mention of Painganadu Thulasendrapuram.
Heckled And Jeered, Lukashenka Says New Election Could Be Held After Constitutional Changes

By RFE/RL's Belarus Service August 17, 2020

MINSK -- Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka says fresh presidential elections are possible if changes are made to the constitution, a sharp turn from his previous statements as thousands of workers went on strike and participated in mass protests over election results many have called "rigged."

In response to exiled opposition politician Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya saying she was ready to lead the country, Lukashenka on August 17 flatly rejected another vote, but later in the day indicated that after ruling for 26 years, he was willing to look at sharing power, though not under pressure from street protests.

In a sign of his growing vulnerability, the 65-year-old leader was heckled and jeered at during a speech to workers at a major state-run tractor factory that was once considered a shining example of his economic model and the bedrock of his base.

"We need to adopt a new constitution. You must adopt it in a referendum, and under the new constitution, you could hold if you like both parliamentary elections and a presidential one, as well as elections of local authorities," Lukashenka said in comments, some of which were aired by the Belarus-24 television channel.

His concession to look at constitutional changes to allow for some form of power sharing was one of the starkest signs yet of how intense the pressure has become on Lukashenka after results from an August 9 election gave him just over 80 percent of the vote, a figure that immediately prompted accusations at home and abroad of rigged balloting.

Lukashenka's speech to workers at the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant came just hours after Tsikhanouskaya called for a new vote, saying she was ready to "act as a national leader."

In a video address posted on YouTube late on August 16, Tsikhanouskaya, who left for neighboring Lithuania after the disputed election gave Lukashenka a sixth consecutive term in office a week earlier, called for the creation of a legal framework to ensure a new fair election could be held:

The 37-year-old political novice who ran after other potential candidates, including her husband, were jailed, also said that the past behavior of security and law enforcement officers would be forgiven if they switched sides from Lukashenka's government.

"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader in order for the country to calm down and enter the normal rhythm," Tsikhanouskaya said in the video.

A week of mass protests and strikes has posed the biggest challenge to Lukashenka's rule, with workers from state factories staging walkouts and some police, state media employees, and a sitting ambassador coming out in support of the protesters.

As sunset approached Minsk on August 17, thousands had once again gathered for a ninth day of demonstrations.

Some 7,000 people have been detained by police across the country in a postelection crackdown, with hundreds injured and at least two killed. Hundreds of people subsequently released spoke of brutal beatings they suffered in detention.

The opposition called for a general strike on August 17, three days after hundreds of workers at state-run factories downed tools in a sign that Lukashenka's traditional support base was turning against him.

The call was heeded by workers at the BelAZ plant in the city of Zhodzina, near Minsk, who vowed to begin an indefinite strike unless their list of demands is drawn up by a trade union committee and submitted to management. Among the demands that have been voiced are the resignation of Lukashenka and a new election.

Employees of the Naftan petrochemical complex and Belaruskali, one of the world's largest producers of potash fertilizers, followed suit by walking out and making similar demands.

On August 16, huge crowds gathered in Minsk in the biggest outpouring yet of opposition to Lukashenka's rule.

Some reports said at least 100,000 protesters assembled near the city's Victory Park. RFE/RL was unable to independently verify the crowd size.

Protesters waved the red-and-white flag used by the opposition as they called for Lukashenka to resign and the release of political prisoners.

The rally competed with a large pro-Lukashenka demonstration that began two hours earlier about 2 kilometers away.

Lukashenka told that crowd, which the Interior Ministry estimated at 65,000 people, that NATO tanks and planes had been deployed 15 minutes from the Belarusian border. A NATO spokesperson later denied any troop buildup in Eastern Europe.

The Belarusian president also said that "one cannot rig 80 percent" of the vote.

He vowed to never give in to those demanding he step down and hold a repeat election, saying, "If someone wants to surrender the country, I will not allow that, even when I am dead."

Lukashenka addressed the crowd after the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had told Lukashenka in a telephone call that Russia was ready to provide aid under the terms of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) if need be, and claimed Belarus was facing unspecified external pressure.

With three of its member countries bordering on Belarus, European Union leaders are set to discuss the crisis at an emergency meeting on August 19 in Brussels.

"The people of Belarus have the right to decide on their future and freely elect their leader," European Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter. "Violence against protesters is unacceptable and cannot be allowed."

Last week, EU foreign ministers agreed to begin preparing sanctions against Belarusian officials responsible for election fraud and police violence.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius on August 17 said that Russian military help in Belarus would constitute "an invasion."

"There are no reasons for military support from Russia, and no legal or other grounds for it. It would constitute an invasion into the country and would destroy the last traces of its independence," he told reporters.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz warned against Russia becoming involved.

"Military interference in other states is not acceptable at all and breaks all the rules we have set ourselves under international law," he said in an interview with the Bild newspaper.

The European Union said it will hold emergency talks on August 19 to discuss the crisis, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was closely watching the "terrible" situation as it evolves.

"It's terrible. That's a terrible situation, Belarus. We'll be following it very closely," Trump said on August 17.

With reporting by BelTA, Reuters, Current Time, AFP, Interfax, Bild, and TASS

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/calls-for-strikes-in- belarus-keep-pressure-on-lukashenka-after- huge-minsk-rally/30787556.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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The son of Rafic Hariri, Lebanon's murdered former prime minister, has called for the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah to end its involvement in Lebanese politics and allow the country to rebuild following the devastating explosion at Beirut port, which killed more than 200 people.

The son of Rafic Hariri, Lebanon's murdered former prime minister, has called for the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah to end its involvement in Lebanese politics and allow the country to rebuild following the devastating explosion at Beirut port, which killed more than 200 people.

Bahaa Hariri (54) whose father died in a car bombing in 2005, said the blame for the tragedy at Beirut port lay with Hezbollah, which he said controlled the port, and Michel Aoun, Lebanon's Maronite Christian president.

"President Aoun is a very ardent supporter of Hezbollah and I am disappointed our president stands where he stands," Mr Hariri said.

"Hezbollah was in control of the storage facility. We had very explosive products stored in the port for six years, even though there were very many warnings.

"The utter carelessness that led to this situation is appalling."

The explosion was caused when 2,750 tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate stored at the port ignited due to a fire nearby.

"Hezbollah has no place in Lebanon's future," said Mr Hariri, who is campaigning for wholesale reform of Lebanon's political system.

"Our country has paid a very high price for their actions. They have brought Lebanon only sanctions, war and suffering.

"Communities must stand up in favour of a new nation that does not include militias and allows Lebanon to stand on its own feet, free from all external influence," he added.

Mr Hariri, a businessman, insisted he had no political ambitions of his own, but wanted to emulate his father's role in rebuilding Lebanon following a 15-year-long civil war.

"I never, ever want to be prime minister," he said.

His brother, Saad, was prime minister until he was forced to resign last year following widespread anti-corruption protests.

Abyss

"We were in a very good situation [before] my father died," Mr Hariri said.

"We went from bad to worse and now we are staring into the abyss."

Mr Hariri was speaking prior to the publication of a long-awaited judgment of a UN-sponsored criminal trial of four Hezbollah members accused of involvement in his father's assassination 15 years ago.

The trial, conducted in the Netherlands, was held in absentia because Hezbollah refused to hand over the suspects. A guilty verdict would heap even more pressure on the Iran-backed militia, which many Lebanese had blamed for the blast in Beirut on August 4.
Mortgage rates may be about to get more expensive despite unprecedented measures from the Bank of England designed to keep them low.

Brokers say a 'perfect storm' of issues indicate that mortgage rates, which are currently still at historical lows, may soon rise as the coronavirus lockdown ravages many households' finances.

At the same time, lenders have become more cautious about who they lend to.

Mortgage rates remain cheap but experts have warned that this may be about to change

A cocktail of uncertainty about the future of house prices, millions facing redundancy and a huge surge in demand from borrowers seeking loans after the recent stamp duty cut has put the brakes on further.

Mortgage broker Private Finance says this may lead to banks pushing up rates to stem the flow of applications.

But is this alone enough to push up the cost of buying a home, and what other factors are involved? We take a look at what determines mortgage rates and whether an imminent rise is likely.

Banks can't keep up with demand

Banks and building societies cut a staggering number of deals in the opening months of lockdown, mostly blamed on staffing shortages as the majority of the country worked from home and a wave of customers requested mortgage holidays.

In fact, when mortgage holidays were first introduced many borrowers found themselves waiting on the phone for 10 hours or more before being able to talk to somebody.

Lenders will have more of a handle on their staffing issues now, but they are still working at a much lower capacity than they once were and with branches still closed almost everything now needs to be done online or over the phone.

Broker Private Finance's Chris Sykes

Lower deposit mortgages usually take more work to underwrite, as they present a higher risk to the lender.

As a result, if staffing problems at banks and building societies lead to deals being cut, it's these ones that go first.

But lenders can also increase rates if they want to dampen demand.

Broker Private Finance's Chris Sykes said: 'The stamp duty changes really have spurred on a tsunami of business and lenders and brokers are struggling to deal with the level of demand we are seeing at the moment.

'Many home buyers have bought forward plans by many years with the prospect of saving themselves up to 15,000 [in stamp duty] being extremely attractive.

'Employees are still working from home and lenders are feeding back that unlike many industries there is a decrease in efficiency.

'On top of this valuers in many cases are still on furlough or unable to work due to childcare.'

Sykes said that due to this it is taking an 'extremely long' time to process mortgages, adding that lenders are increasing rates to manage the flow of applications as a result.

Lenders cut a staggering number of mortgage deals in the opening months of lockdown

Lenders are more risk averse

Another factor that may push up rates is a dwindling appetite from lenders to take on borrowers who they see as more of a risk.

And if they see lending as more risky in general in an ailing economy, this could mean rates will rise.

This is because banks, counter-intuitive though it may seem, charge borrowers who they see as more likely to default more than those who they see as a safe bet.

This means they can earn more interest to offset the cost of the bad loans that end up defaulting.

So, banks may see a shrinking economy where job losses are likely as a good time to put up mortgage rates to cover their backs if households can't afford their monthly bills and go into arrears.

It's worth noting that more than two million home owners are already in this position, having opted to take a mortgage payment holiday - just another way of saying pre-authorised arrears.

Experts claim lenders are more relaxed now than they were during the initial Covid outbreak, during which time they became extremely cautious.

However, measures introduced during lockdown, including harsher credit scorings and an unwillingness to lend to the self-employed, are still in place and likely to remain for some time.

Swap rates have levelled out

Mortgage rates are part of a complex financial web that draws on the Bank of England's base rate, money market funding costs, and competition for savers' deposits to determine their pricing.

Traditionally the cost of fixed rate mortgages has been heavily influenced by swap rates, which set the cost of obtaining fixed-term funding on the money markets for lenders.

Swap rates have varied throughout the year but seem to have levelled out for now

Generally, a rise in swap rates will push up mortgage cost for the lender and therefore borrower. A fall in swap rates allows lenders to offer cheaper mortgages.

Though there was a slight rise in swap rates earlier this month, they seem to have now levelled out and remain lower than they were last year.

How have rates moved this month?

Data from financial experts at Moneyfacts seems to support Private Finance's warning on impending rate rises.

While rates on the low risk five-year 60 per cent loan-to-value deals haven't moved since the start of the month, some of the riskier deals have crept up.

Both two-year and five-year deals for those with a 20 or 30 per cent deposit have risen, as have two-year fixed rates for those with a 10 per cent deposit.

Five-year fixed rates at 90 per cent loan-to-value have fallen slightly by 0.03 per cent.

Source: Moneyfacts

Eleanor Williams, finance expert at Moneyfacts, expects rates to rise in the coming months: 'With reports that bank profits may be falling and providers needing to set more funds aside for further coronavirus planning and potential defaults, this could signal the end of the historic low mortgage rates of recent months.

'Therefore, those looking to secure a new deal now may wish to move swiftly.

'The role of an experienced, independent adviser has never been more pivotal in ensuring borrowers are able to make an educated choice about the right product.'

It's also important when looking at average rates across the board to bear in mind that though they may appear low, many of the more expensive mortgages have been taken off the market in recent months, bringing averages down but also reducing choice for those with smaller deposits.

Over 90 per cent of deals for those with a 10 per cent deposit have been cut, for example.

So be wary of average rates, as unless they are broken down to individual loan-to-value tiers, they may only mostly reflect the cheaper deals that are still available.

You can use our mortgage finder tool in partnership with L&C to find the best rates for yourself.

You can also compare costs yourself using our true costs mortgage calculator.
Bermuda, 18 August 2020 - Avance Gas Holding Ltd (OSE: "AVANCE"), will on Wednesday 26 August 2020 release its unaudited results for the second quarter of 2020. In connection with the earnings release, an audio webcast and conference call will be held at 15:00 (CEST). The webcast can be accessed at Avance Gas' website www.avancegas.com. Dial in details are +44 (0) 2071 928 000 (UK and International), +1 631 510 7495 (US) or +47 23 96 02 64 (Norway). Please quote the passcode: 6348139. Phone lines will open 10 minutes before the conference call.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
After the US further tightened restrictions on Huawei Technologies access to semiconductors on Monday, analysts had only one word to describe the situation faced by Chinas telecoms champion: impossible.

The new rules, designed to prohibit Huawei from bypassing earlier sanctions by sourcing products via third party buyers, will essentially choke off the companys ability to acquire semiconductors developed or produced using US technology.

Its hard to imagine how Huawei can turn the tables now, said Yang Guang, director of service provider research at Strategy Analytics. All the power of one company cannot build the entire industrial chain by itself. It is impossible.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

The latest move from the Trump administration further complicates the battleground in the US-China tech war, which has widened from semiconductors and next-generation 5G wireless networks to apps and cloud services in recent weeks.

With its avenues for sourcing critical semiconductors to power its 5G base stations, smartphones and now its cloud computing business shut off, analysts said there were very few options left.

Unless US suppliers can obtain licence approvals to resume selling to the Chinese company, the new restrictions have critically damaged Huawei's supply chain, especially chipsets for its smartphone and cloud business, as well as its innovation lab operations worldwide, according to Charlie Dai, principal analyst at Forrester.

Ironically, Huaweis best hope might now be pressure from US chip suppliers like Qualcomm, which once counted Huawei as a major customer before the Chinese company began producing its own chips for smartphones.

Qualcomm has been lobbying the US government for permission to sell its chips to Huawei, including high-end devices for 5G smartphones, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Story continues

One possible solution for Huawei is to buy chips from Qualcomm and Taiwan-based fabless semiconductor company MediaTek, if [they] manage to apply for a licence from the US  allowing them to continue to sell chips to Huawei, said Xia Yizhe, a Shanghai-based semiconductor analyst at EqualOcean.

Qualcomm, which earns the bulk of its profit from licensing patents for modern phone systems, announced last month a new licensing deal with Huawei after the Chinese company agreed to a lump-sum payment to settle years-long licensing disputes between the two parties.

US suppliers to Huawei are no doubt going to lobby against this [new rule] or fight for a licence [so they will] be exempt again, said Art Dicker, director at R&P China Lawyers, a Shanghai-based law firm.

The latest ruling does not mean the US government will 100 per cent cut off Huaweis chip supply, according to Jia Mo, an analyst from research agency Canalys. Its main purpose is to take control; its up to the US government whether Huawei can or cannot buy the chips and who can sell the chips to Huawei, he said.

In any case the alternative  Huawei building its own wafer foundry free of US core technology  invokes the i word again. Its impossible for Huawei to circumvent US bans or build a foundry completely free of US equipment or technology, said Sheng Linghai, a semiconductor analyst at research firm Gartner.

Gu Wenjun, chief analyst at Shanghai-based semiconductor research firm ICwise, said Huaweis only long term option was to build a complete semiconductor supply chain itself but agreed that it would be mission impossible to build a semiconductor foundry without using any US technology.

Huawei did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The latest ruling by the US Commerce Department builds on similar restrictions issued in May when it refined its regulations to include chips that were the direct product of semiconductor manufacturing equipment located outside the US. That meant Huaweis major wafer foundry supplier, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, needed to apply for a licence to supply chips to Huawei.

China lags the US in advanced semiconductor technologies, from the chip design software and semiconductor manufacturing equipment to the foundry process technologies, which all require a huge investment in time and money to develop.

In early August, Richard Yu Chengdong, chief executive of Huaweis consumer business group publicly admitted that the company may not be able to ship handsets with its high-end Kirin chips after this year owing to US trade sanctions.

We are in a difficult situation  Huaweis smartphones have no chip supply, Yu said at the China Info 100 conference. This year may be the last generation of Huawei Kirin high-end chips  This is a big loss for us.

Yang at Strategy Analytics said Huawei might need to find new growth opportunities in businesses that are not so reliant on semiconductors that use advanced process nodes, such as personal computers, smart displays and cloud services.

But whether these segments can make up the losses from its core businesses, it remains to be seen, he said.

However, Yang said based on the current state of US-China tech tensions, cloud services were no less sensitive than 5G telecoms gear, which was what got Huawei targeted in the first place.

People are seen through the window in a Huawei store in Shanghai, China, 16 July 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE

Some are not so pessimistic about Huaweis long term prospects. More restrictions on Huawei do not spell the end for the company, said Gary Yang, a founding partner at Beijing-based venture capital firm Sky Saga Capital, who recently met Huaweis senior executives in Shenzhen. It will only make it more difficult for Huawei to trade with US suppliers for their technology and chips.

On Monday the US Commerce Department added another 38 Huawei affiliates to its Entity List, banning them from purchasing US products. The affiliates, in 21 different countries, included Huawei Cloud Computing Technology and Huawei Cloud Beijing.

In a separate Clean Network campaign launched early this month, the US aimed to prevent sensitive personal information of US citizens and intellectual property of businesses  including Covid-19 vaccine research  from being stored and processed on cloud computing platforms run by Chinese companies like Alibaba Group Holding, China Mobile, China Telecom, Baidu and Tencent.

Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Huawei faces impossible challenge after latest US tech sanctions, say analysts first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:35:58|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Tuesday reported 407 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases to 8,579.

The center said in a statement that the total number of recoveries rose to 969 with 36 new recovered cases, while the death toll increased to 157 after four more patients died from the coronavirus.

Libyan authorities have taken a series of protective measures against the pandemic since the first case was reported in March, including closing its borders, schools and mosques, banning public gatherings, and imposing a curfew.

In a meeting with Peter Maurer, president of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj reviewed precautionary measures against the pandemic, especially inside illegal immigration centers as well as reform and rehabilitation institutions.

China donated medical aid to Libya in June to help the country's anti-coronavirus fight, including 834 testing kits, 5,000 medical protective suits, 15,000 N95 face masks, 100,000 surgical masks, 5,000 pairs of goggles and 5,000 pairs of medical gloves. Enditem
NEW YORK  Department store chain Kohls reported an adjusted loss that was smaller than expected as revenue fell 23% during the fiscal second quarter. The results came as Kohls worked to reopen its 1,100 stores after temporarily closing them all during the start of the pandemic.
As of a couple years ago, we decided to make a significant pivot into the aesthetic acoustics category as a true creative outlet to serve the expanding open office and commercial environments.

Geometry, functional and beautiful, as co-founder Slavka Younger puts it, is at the heart of Fraschs designs, whether its Hives hexagonal honeycomb layout, the raised, textural Wedge block, the echo-alleviating Brik wall, or the tapered, human eye-shaped Teardrop. Had the Arlington, Texas-based acoustics and furniture company headed to ICFF this year as planned pre-pandemic, a slew of showcased products would have reflected that sensibility.

Consider the wall and lighting system Gear, featuring a geological pattern reminiscent of volcanic basalt formations that is inspired by the teeth of industrial gears meshing together. There is also the Cubism acoustical wall series, flaunting tiles with three-dimensional depth that call to mind the sharp creases of origami, as well as Wafl Bafl acoustical lighting, starring 45-degree slanted fins resembling waffle fries that playfully break up a right-angle ceiling grid.

Frasch was established in 2015 solely as an ergonomic desk and accessories reseller by the art-passionate Younger, whose background is in marketing and branding, and Gary Nightingale, who worked in engineering and product design prior. It has since morphed into an edgy furniture manufacturer grounded in timeless design.

As of a couple years ago, we decided to make a significant pivot into the aesthetic acoustics category as a true creative outlet to serve the expanding open office and commercial environments, says Younger. Recognizing that a proliferation of open-plan office spaces marked by hard surfaces and exposed ceilings made designing for the ears as important as designing for the eyes, she continues, from its inception Frasch has nurtured healthy, active, and inspirational backdrops conducive to working.

By reaching for non-traditional materials like bamboo and sound-absorbent PET felt, Frasch has prioritized wellness as much as productivity. Today, PET-based design and manufacturing is even its core business. We were drawn to PET as a primary raw material not only because of its excellent acoustical qualities, but because of its recycled content and earth-friendly aspects. It has become a great canvas to explore shapes, explains Younger. For example, Fella felt acoustical tiles comprise the spherical Chips collection and grace the ovular, hut-like Egg in myriad colored panels.

Custom designs, then, brought to life by working closely with the A&D community, are naturally another important layer to Frasch, such as a bright entrance wall installed at the Como Community Center in nearby Fort Worth.

Our design philosophy has always been the utilization of clean, modern, and minimalistic elements, adds Younger, noting that they can be conveniently replicated and easy to install.

This simplicity is appreciated all the more these days. Although the COVID-19 crisis has now upended the very notion of the office, Frasch has long championed a flexible, distraction-free atmosphere that balances personal focus with team interaction. It is undoubtedly independent working space that is currently hogging the spotlightmaybe in a socially distanced traditional office setting, maybe carved out in an otherwise hectic residenceand some of Fraschs enclosed pods, desk dividers, and hung-from-the-ceiling or freestanding wall dividers, like the partially peek-a-boo Fens partition, promise style and efficiency in a new, bewildering era of dominant privacy.
The Texas Association of Business launched a Southeast Texas coalition to focus on the states most gridlocked roads, with a goal to leverage public-private partnerships to ease the burden of infrastructure funding on taxpayers.

Aaron Cox, vice president of the TAB, said the state is expected to grow by 12 million people in the next 20 years.

TAB started Keep Texas Moving  a group of small and large businesses, chambers of commerce, truckers, commuters and local leaders.

Our economy is expected to double by 2050, Cox said. Our state adds more than 1,000 new people and hundreds of new vehicles every single day.

In recent years, Texas state leaders have gone above and beyond to identify and implement new transportation resources.

Cox cited propositions that dedicated portions of the oil severance and motor vehicle sales tax to the Texas highway fund.

However the need for improved Texas roadways is outstripping available funding, he said.

Texas has seen unprecedented growth in its economy and population in recent years, but Texas roads are just not keep pace.

The worldwide fall of energy prices because of the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the problem, reducing all of the primary sources of highway investment in Texas, Cox said.

With government approval and oversight, public-private partnerships for highways mean projects can be designed, built and completed years sooner at little or no cost to Texas taxpayers.

Cox said the move would help improve transportation infrastructure, accommodate growth and job creation and improve public safety.

Sade Chick, manager of corporate affairs for the Port of Beaumont, said: The Port of Beaumont is the fourth-largest port in the nation in terms of tonnage and contributes about $4.4 billion to the gross state product, while supporting around 67,000 jobs.

When you start looking at Southeast Texas, you are talking about the No. 1 exporter of oil in the nation, the No. 1 exporter of liquid natural gas and the third-largest refining capacity in the United States. We are literally moving the nation forward.

Chick said Southeast Texas is concerned that with shrinking resources, larger metropolitan areas will use a larger portion of the state transportation funding.

She cited a 2019 Texas A&M University study that showed traffic congestion is getting worse each year.

We would love to see Texas once again be open for private investment in state infrastructure, she said.

chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/chris_moore09
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for work to begin on more than 200 kilometres of roads in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.



While much of the work would see the construction of new roads others would be upgraded to bitumen surfacing.



The project would see the construction of the 30.2km Teleku Bokazo-Salman-Anibil Junction Feeder Road, 20km Teleku Bokazo-Asasetre-Anyinase Feeder Road, 19.4km Asasetre-Akropong-Gyampre Junction, 15km Adubrim-Ayawora-Aspaneye, 20km Santaso-Asomase-Baseke, and 38.16km Santaso-Aidoosuazo-Kwesikrom-Prestea Nkwanta feeder roads.



Addressing a durbar at Teleku-Bokazo, President Akufo-Addo said he took pride in doing such projects to honour Ghanas first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who hailed from the District.



He said his Administration had made a lot of investments in the district than any other hence the need to vote four more for him to do more and for the first time vote for an NPP candidate.



The President gave the assurance to honour every promise he made to the people as well as respond to the appeals by the chiefs and people.



Awulae Amihre Kpanyili III, Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, commended President Akufo-Addo for fulfilling his promise and called for the establishment of a community mining project, Atuabo harbour and a district hospital.



He called on Ghanaians to preserve the countrys tranquillity and urged politicians to avoid confrontations, which had the tendency to jeopardise the peace.



President Akufo-Addo earlier inspected the on-going construction of the Ankyerynin-Egyam road and visited the Catholic Spiritual Renewal Centre (Grotto).



The Reverend Father Anthony Eshun, in charge of the Centre, thanked the President for the visit and said for the past 25 years no President had visited the place, which had denied the Centre of infrastructural development.

Source: GNA









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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 18, 2020) -FALCON GOLD CORP. (TSXV: FG) (FSE: 3FA) (OTC Pink: FGLDF) ("Falcon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has received the whole rock and trace element geochemical results from surface samples collected from the various rock units within the project. To supplement the recent gold assay results averaging 59.8 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au") over 2.2 meter ("m") which included a 1 m interval assaying 122 g/t Au (Press Release dated August 4th 2020) Company geologists collected representative rock samples and completed geological mapping throughout the project area. The results from this campaign indicated 3 target areas of highly prospective low-sulphidation epithermal gold mineralization and potential feeder zones. Additional copper and silver targets were discovered where sampling returned up to 0.61% copper and 10-13 g/t silver.

The Company will be conducting ground and airborne geophysical surveys to determine the scale of alteration and to develop potential drill targets for follow-up work next month. In addition to geophysical surveys, Falcon has also implemented a property wide systematic soil and rock sampling program to identify pathfinder elements to complement geophysical targeting of potential mineralization. The program will provide greater insight into the relative position of the Spitfire-Sunny Boy claims in the hydrothermal system which on initial field observations appears to be in the uppermost (distal) part of the system similar to larger deposits in the region such as Westhaven Gold Corp's discoveries in the Spences Bridge Gold Belt (SBGB).





Table 1: Table of selected assay results from the Spitfire-Sunny Boy Claims 2020 vein sampling program



To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4151/62002_falconehanced.jpg

Falcon's Chief Executive Officer, Karim Rayani commented, "We are greatly excited to see the project grow from an underexplored volcanic terrain in which only high-grade gold was exploited at surface into a potential large scale precious and base metal bearing discovery. We believe the types and high grades of the Spitfire-Sunny Boy zones conform to a low sulphidation epithermal deposit model that could host world-class mining intercepts. We are taking the necessary steps to completely understand the area and our geological team has been working diligently to fully understand the discovery and provide reliable targets for drilling this year."





Figure to show low-sulphidation epithermal model and the interpreted level or depth of exposure for the Spitfire-Sunny Boy property and its gold and copper-silver mineralized zones.

To view an enhanced version of image, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4151/62002_86c5bbe1b4f64b6b_004full.jpg

The Spitfire-Sunny Boy Project

The first recorded discoveries were made on the Spitfire-Sunny Boy claims in 1908, which is currently located in the north east portion of the property claim block. Most of the early exploration focused on quartz veins that hosted gold, copper and silver. High grade gold values have been reported at 124 to 127 g/t Au and 309 to 514 g/t silver ("Ag") in quartz vein material from underground workings by Quilchena Mining and Development Company Ltd. The high-grade veins have been trenched, pitted, blasted, and drilled but have never been commercially mined. The main showing, Master Vein, boasts high-grade gold mineralization up to 50.53 oz/t as sampled by Ken Sanders, P. Eng in 1974. To the south-west of the Sunny Boy Zone in an area referred to as the "AL" showing soil geochemistry, geophysics (magnetometer/VLF), trenching, sampling and diamond drilling have been performed on the mineralized veins. The best drill result was reportedly 3.77 g/t Au, 0.24 % copper, and 32.9 g/t Ag over 13.4 meters.

The Spitfire-Sunny Boy discovery is referred to as an epithermal gold deposit by past operators. The gold zones occur within the Quesnellia terrane, characterized by submarine volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Nicola group to the south and the Takla group in the north. The gold mineralization and geological setting of the project bear strong similarities to other developed projects in the region such as the epithermal gold deposits, Prospect Valley and Shovelnose, currently being explored by Westhaven Ventures Inc.

Falcon's due-diligence work in 2019 confirmed the presence of gold mineralization along the Master Vein over a 300-meter strike length with samples ranging from 0.33 to 2.74 ounces per ton ("oz/t") Au. Based on the sporadic past exploration, the Company has identified EM and IP geophysics, structural mapping, and excavating large surface blast pits to expose insitu bedrock as the best approach for identifying new mineralized structures for both gold and base metals discoveries.

Mr. Rayani also stated, "As I have already discussed, our team is watching and noting the successes of larger companies and the techniques used to delineate high-grade gold mineralization within the rapidly developing Merritt, BC gold district. Falcon's team is building on its own findings and is certain that our next steps will guide us to a knowledge-based discovery of note. Each step of the field work is confirming our belief in ultimate worth of the Spitfire-Sunny Boy property."

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Alex Pleson, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Falcon Gold Corp. & the Central Canada Gold Mine Project

Falcon is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on generating, acquiring, and exploring opportunities in the Americas. Falcon's flagship project, the Central Canada Gold Mine, is approximately 20 km south east of Agnico Eagle's Hammond Reef Gold Deposit which has Measured & Indicated estimated resources of 208 million tonnes containing 4.5 million ounces of gold. The Hammond Reef gold property lies on the Hammond fault which is a splay off of the Quetico Fault Zone ("QFZ") and may be the control for the gold deposit. The Central Gold property lies on a similar major splay of the QFZ.

History of Central Canada gold mine includes;

1901 to 1907 - Shaft constructed to a depth of 12 m and 27 oz of gold from 18 tons using a stamp mill.

1930 to 1934 - Central Canada Mines Ltd. installed a 75 ton per day gold mill. Development work included 1,829 m of drilling and a vertical shaft to a depth of 45 m with about 42 m of crosscuts and drifts on the 100 m level. In December, 1934 the mine had reportedly outlined approximately 230,000 ounces of gold with an average grade of 9.9 g/t Au.

1935 - With the on-going financial crisis of the Great Depression, the Central Canada Mines was unable to fund operations and the mine ceased operations.

1965 - Anjamin Mines completed diamond drilling and in hole S2 returned a 2 ft section of 37.0 g/t Au and hole S3 assayed 44.0 g/t Au across 7 ft.

1985 - Interquest Resources Corp. drilled 13 diamond holes totaling 1,840 m in which a 3.8 ft intersection showed 30.0 g/t Au.

2010 to 2012 - TerraX Minerals Inc. conducted programs that included line cutting, geological surveys and drilled 363 m.

July 2020 - Falcon Gold Corp. completed its inaugural 7-hole program for totaling 1,055 m of core. In addition, the Company acquired by staking an additional 7,477 ha of mineral claims consisting of 369 units immediately south and northwest of Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.'s Hammond Reef property.

The Company also holds 3 additional projects. The Camping Lake Gold property in the world-renowned Red Lake mining camp, a 49% interest in the Burton Gold property with Iamgold near Sudbury Ontario, and the Spitfire-Sunny Boy Gold Claims near Merritt, B.C.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Falcon Gold Corp.

"Karim Rayani"

Karim Rayani

Chief Executive Officer, Director

Telephone: (604) 716-0551

Email: info@falcongold.ca

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, etc. Forward looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/62002
Iran Armed Forces To Reciprocate 'Cyber-Threats' Even If Political, Social Or Cultural, Statement Says

Radio Farda August 17, 2020

Iran's Armed Forces General Command said in a statement on Monday that cyber-threats from "any government, group or person and at any level" will be "mightily reciprocated," warning about cyber operations from foreign countries in "political, economic, social or cultural" areas, including elections.

Iranian authorities have admitted on several occasions that the country's online infrastructure had been targeted by other governments, but always claimed that the cyberattacks were unsuccessful.

In June and July, a series of suspicious explosions and fires broke out across the country, including a massive explosion at Iran's main nuclear establishment in Natanz and another explosion at a military site near Tehran, incidents that some said could have been caused by cyberattacks. Earlier in February, an official of the Telecommunications Infrastructures Company had admitted that a cyberattack had disrupted Internet services but eventually was repelled, with experts calling the botnet attack "massive".

From the text of the Armed Forces General Command's statement, however, it appears that Iranian authorities are concerned about more than DDoS attacks, including botnet attacks to steal data, send spam, access the device and its connection, or other forms of sabotage. The statement broadens the definition of "attack" to include just about anything involving the medium of the Internet that Iranian authorities may perceive as hostile or as a "threat to national security."

The statement declares that the Armed Forces believe that territorial sovereignty and jurisdiction of states apply to "all areas of their cyberspace," and that any deliberate use of cyber influence "with or without physical consequences" will be reciprocated. These acts include any outside cyber activity "which poses a threat to national security" or "causes instability, whether political, economic, social or cultural," which the statement calls "violations of the sovereignty of the state."

The statement also stresses that cyber interference with the aim of "regime change," including "cyber-manipulation of elections or engineering the public opinion ahead of an election," can be considered "plain intervention."

The current U.S. administration, which has taken a tough stance against Tehran, endorses regime change in the country, and has based its traditional and social media propaganda against the Iranian regime around the same principle.

"Cyber operations that target websites in order to provoke tension and conflict in a state or the use of the cyberspace to send messages on a wide scale to voters to influence election results can be considered as examples of banned intervention," the Armed Forces statement says.

Recently, the U.S. State Department's Reward for Justice Program sent a message to some Iranians asking them to provide information on foreign attempts to interfere in U.S. elections "through computer fraud or hacking" in return for a cash reward. The message was sent to mobile phones of a population which appeared to be social media users.

In October 2019 Iran's Passive Defense Organization Chief Brigadier-General Gholamreza Jalali said that "America has started its cyber war against Iran" without providing more details, but vowed to ward off the threats through "cyber defense." In May 2019, he alleged that the U.S. used social media for media-based and psychological operations "to influence Iranians' minds."

Iran considers U.S. government-affiliated media such as Radio Farda, Voice of America (VOA) and the BBC Persian TV channels and websites as hostile, seeing them as tools in service of affecting regime change and manipulating public opinion in Iran. Journalists working for these outlets and even their families in Iran are often threatened and harassed.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-armed-forces -to-reciprocate-cyber-threats-even-if-political-social- or-cultural-statement-says/30788329.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Marine scientists exploring the depths of the ocean surrounding the Galapagos Islands have uncovered dozens of new species of deep-sea creatures.

Plunging miles beneath the Pacific Ocean, they discovered 30 previously unknown invertebrates, include four new species of crustacean known as squat-lobsters, 10 new types of bamboo corals and four new species of octocorals.

A new genus of glass sponge was identified that can grow in colonies of more than three feet wide, as was a new species of brittle star, a relative of the starfish that crawls along the seafloor using spiny, thin arms that can grow more than 20 inches long.

Dr. Pelayo Salinas de Leon, senior marine scientist at the Charles Darwin Foundation, said: 'These are very exciting discoveries and the result of the combined hard work of a multidisciplinary team of researchers.'

Marine scientists exploring the sea floor surrounding the Galapagos Islands have identified 30 new species of deep-sea creatures, including sponges, coral and squat-lobsters.

The depths around the Galapagos are home to steep underwater mountains known as seamounts.

These extinct volcanoes generate complex currents compared to the surrounding seafloor.

They're part of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, a 51,000-square-mile area where bottom trawling, deep-sea mining and other destructive practices are prohibited.

Its protected status, unique topography and climate 'creates favorable conditions for a diverse array of deep-sea communities to thrive,' said team member Leigh Marsh, a deep-sea ecologist at the University of Southampton.

The depths around the Galapagos are home to extinct volcanoes known as seamounts. These underwater mountains are protected from bottom trawling and other destructive practices. That's allowed 'a diverse array of deep-sea communities to thrive,' according to scientists

The seamounts have largely been left unexplored until recently, when advances in technology made deep-sea exploration easier.

In 2015, scientists from the CDF, in collaboration the Galapagos National Park Directorate and the Ocean Exploration Trust, explored explored three seamounts in the archipelago's northern end, near the islands of Darwin and Wolf.

During a 10-day voyage aboard the Exploration Vessel (EV) Nautilus, they used the ship's Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system to plumb depths of more than two miles.

In 2015, researchers aboard the Exploration Vessel (EV) Nautilus plumbed depths of more than two miles using the ship's Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system. Specimens were placed in sample boxes and brought to the surface, then sent to facilities around the world for further study

Back on land, experts watched real-time video of the ROV dives to help determine what finds were noteworthy.

Specimens were placed in sample boxes and brought to the surface. They were then sent to facilities around the world for further identification and analysis.

In all, 30 organisms were determined to be new to science, including three types of cnidarians, a genus that includes coral, sea anemone, and jellyfish.

In all, 30 organisms were determined to be new to science, including delicate new species of coral, a genus of glass sponge that can grow more than three feet wide, and a new species of brittle star, a relative of the starfish

The seamounts have largely been left unexplored until recently, when advances in technology made deep-sea exploration easier. 'The deep sea remains as earth's last frontier and this study provides a sneak peek into the least known communities of the Galapagos Islands,' said Pelayo Salinas de Leon, senior marine scientist at the Charles Darwin Foundation

'The deep sea remains as earth's last frontier and this study provides a sneak peek into the least known communities of the Galapagos Islands,' said Salinas de Leon.

'It is our responsibility to make sure they remain pristine for the generations to come.'

Located more than 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos are home to one of the most biodiverse ecosystem on Earth.

Charles Darwin spent five weeks exploring the archipelago in 1835, analyzing native iguanas, finches and giant tortoises to develop his theory of natural selection.

These new findings have been announced as the region's unique marine life is coming under threat by a fleet of Chinese fishing ships sailing dangerously close to the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

'Although industrial fishing is prohibited ... highly migratory species, such as sea turtles, manta rays and various sharks, do not recognize human-made borders,' Luis Suarez of Conservation International Ecuador, wrote in a recent Washington Post op-ed.

The team's findings come as the Galapagos' unique marine life is under threat by Chinese fishing ships sailing dangerously close to the protected waters. 'Highly migratory species, such as sea turtles, manta rays and various sharks, do not recognize human-made borders,' Luis Suarez of Conservation International Ecuador wrote in The Washington Post

'Once out of the protected area's boundaries, these species can be easily caught, especially with the use of gigantic long lines and other nonselective fishing methods.'

Suarez called for the signing of the Global Ocean Treaty, which would protect marine biodiversity beyond national borders.

'The imminent threat to our Ecuadoran natural treasure, of singular importance to understanding evolutionary processes, represents an opportunity to rethink the relationship between human beings and the oceans.'
The war isnt over yet, although peace has broken out in most of Syria. The fighting is concentrated in a few places, like Idlib province on the Turkish border. There is a lesser number of deaths to the east in Hasaka and Deir Ezzor provinces, especially along the Turkish and Iraqi borders. In the south there is still fighting along the Israeli and Jordanian borders.

Over the last few months there have been 10-12 deaths a day. This is about a third as many in 2019 and much less than the peak year of 2014 when about 210 a day were dying. Since 2011 about 400,000 have died in the civil war, which is far less than in Iraq since 2003. The war in Syria was more violent because more countries were involved, and still are. Moreover, Syria provided recruiting opportunities for Islamic terrorist groups and allowed ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) to emerge. ISIL and al Qaeda were a major factor in the nine years of Syrian violence and that brought in Iran to a much greater extent than in Iraq. Syria also saw major involvement by Russia, Turkey and Israel. The U.S. was also a presence, but mainly in the form of airstrikes, particularly against ISIL.

The war should be over by now but it isnt because the foreign factions, especially the Iranians and Turks have unresolved issues. Iran is obsessed with destroying Israel and is not having much success at all. Turkey wants to eliminate Kurdish separatists (both Turkish and Syrian) from Syria and that is proving very difficult. The Americans want to keep ISIL down and support their Kurdish allies while Russia wants to prop up the Assad government in order to keep the airbase and port facilities arrangements they have obtained from the Assads.

Which is the most dangerous faction in Syria? Probably Iran, which is becoming increasingly aggressive and desperate. Iran needs a win against Israel and all it is getting in Syria is an endless string of defeats. Because of the death to Israel obsession Iran is destroying its alliance with Turkey and Russia. Yet Iran is not the only one with an Israel obsession.

Turkey would prefer that Iran go home. Many Iranians and Syrians openly agree with Russia and Turkey on this point. The Iranian government responds with Israeli airstrikes are killing people in Syria. Syrians note that most of the dead are Iranians or mercenaries (usually Arab) on the Iranian payroll. The Iranian government deliberately keeps as few Iranians as possible in Syrian bases likely to be hit. Iranians getting killed in Syria, even if they are IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) Iranians, is very unpopular back in Iran.

Syrians just dont like all these Syrians who are working as mercenaries for Iran or Turkey getting killed by whoever. Similar situation with Russia and Turkey. Both nations keep as few of their own troops in Syria as possible. Russia and Turkey both have the majority of voters back home hostile to their soldiers getting killed in Syria. Russia uses a lot of Russian military contractors; whose deaths are less of an issue in Russia. The Turks, as they have done for centuries, use Arab mercenaries to fight other Arabs. There are lots of Turkish troops in Syria providing support, and ensuring that Turkish mercs do what they are paid for.

Iran wants a more Islamic government in Syria, which has long been a secular dictatorship led by the Shia Assad clan. The Assads always hated Islamic movements, be they Moslem Brotherhood or anything else with Islamic attached to it. Israel sees this Islamic angle as the key reason why so many Moslem states are so unstable and close to another revolution or civil war. There is no easy solution to this Islamic problem and more Moslem majority states are at least admitting the problem exists and trying to do something about it. That takes time and is prone to creating more violence.

There are other sources of disagreement. Turkey, Iran and Syria are angry at Russia over the poor performance of Russian air defense systems. The Syrians frequently claim to have intercepted Israeli air-launched, often from inside Lebanon or Israel, missiles but the reality is that few of the Israeli missiles fail to hit their targets. Commercial satellite photos are available to determine damage and there is always a lot of it. Iran and Syria complain that the formidable Russian air defense system in Syria is not used to stop the Israelis. The Russians dont want a fight with the Israelis, if only because the Israelis might publicly demonstrate the ineffectiveness of Russian air defense systems. These systems are a major export item for Russia and the Israelis could reduce those export sales with demonstrations of how Israelis get past the Russian air defenses. Iran offered to provide Syria with Iranian made air defense systems. That was not appreciated because the Iranian systems are seen as old tech and more propaganda than performance.

Idlib Deadlock

Turkey and Syria disagree over what to do with the million pro-rebel civilians trapped in Idlib. The Turks have backed one of the many Islamic terrorist factions that became dominant in the rebel coalition after 2013 and is now trapped in Idlib province. While secular groups were the most prominent rebels initially (2011) the Islamic terrorist groups quickly turned the rebellion into a religious war because the Assad government was socialist, not religious. The Turks backed al Nusra, the local al Qaeda affiliate. Another al Qaeda affiliate, from Iraq, attempted to displace and absorb al Nusra. Al Qaeda supreme leadership ordered Iraqi al Qaeda to behave and instead the Iraqi al Qaeda turned itself into ISIL. The Turks tried and failed to establish some sort of relationship with ISIL. That did not work and al Qaeda related rebels became the only ones the Turks could deal with. That led to a faction of those Syrian al Qaeda Islamic terrorists being unofficially and discreetly recognized by Turkey as the ruler of Idlib province, where most of the remaining Islamic terrorist rebels are trapped in northwest Syria. Currently Turkish forces are monitoring Idlib because Russia and Iran are backing Syrian forces seeking to defeat the Islamic terrorist groups there and return Idlib to Syrian control. The Turks are on the defensive in Idlib because they want to concentrate on preventing any of the two million Syrians in Idlib from fleeing to Turkey. Getting across the heavily guarded border would be difficult, but not impossible. The Turks want to extend the Safe Zone into Idlib and maintain control of over who gets into Turkey.

Meanwhile Turkey has recruited over 30,000 Syrians to serve as mercenaries in Syria and Libya. Turkey has worked with Syrian Arab mercenaries for a long time, not just in the last few years in northern Syria, but for centuries before that. Turkey offers acceptable terms and tends to fulfill its agreements. Despite all that Turkish military efforts in Syria (and Libya) are stalled.

August 17, 2020: In the northeast (Hasaka province) an SDF (Kurd)/American patrol was fired on by someone at or near a Syrian Army checkpoint outside the Kurdish controlled border city of Qamishli. The patrol had communicated with the checkpoint and were assured of safe passage. But as the patrol passed the checkpoint someone opened fire and the troops in the patrol returned fire. Within 30 minutes two American helicopter gunships showed up and fired on the checkpoint. At least two Syrian soldiers were killed and several others wounded. The Syrians abandoned the checkpoint and the patrol returned to its base. Russian, American, Kurdish and Syrian forces control different stretches of main roads and that has been the cause of many incidents, although few of them involve casualties. Hasaka is the home province for Syrian Kurds and there are over 40,000 armed Kurds there plus about 600 American troops. Russians are in Hasaka for joint patrols with Turkish forces near the Turkish border.

To the west, in Idlib province, a roadside bomb was used against a joint Russian-Turkish patrol. There were no casualties but some vehicles were damaged.

Further east (in neighboring Aleppo province) Russian troops shot down a Turkish UAV flying near the border town of Kobane. The Turks had been firing artillery at Kobane recently and the Kurds demanded that Russia do something. The Russians were obliged to act because of an agreement with the SDF that allowed Russians to have a base near Kobane and patrol the area in return for protecting the Kobane residents from Turkish attack.

August 15, 2020: In the north (Aleppo) a motorcycle bomb went off in a market killing one civilian and wounding several others. No one immediately took responsibility.

In the east (Deir Ezzor province) an airstrike, apparently by armed Israeli UAVs, attacked an Iranian base, killing 23 Afghan and Iraqi mercenaries and destroying large quantities of ammo and weapons. This could be seen by the number of secondary explosions (caused by the UAV missiles).

August 14, 2020: In the north (Idlib province) Russia and Turkey announced they had halted the joint patrols, especially along the M4 highway. The problem was the growing number of attacks on the patrols. In mid-July a roadside bomb on the M4 highway injured members of joint Russian-Turk patrol. Three Russians and several Turks were wounded. The bomb was apparently planted by Islamic terrorists in the half of Idlib province still controlled by Islamic terrorist rebels. Syria controls about half of Idlib and Turkey occupies much of northernmost Idlib.

Further east (in neighboring Aleppo province) Turkish troops shelled Kurdish SDF forces near the border town of Kobane. There were no casualties.

August 13, 2020: In the north (Idlib province) an American UAV used a R9X version of the Hellfire missile to kill a military training expert working for al Qaeda factions in Idlib. The R9X missile does not use explosives but instead penetrates a vehicle and then activates several sharp blades that kill anyone in the vehicle without harming anyone near the vehicle. Th R9X Ninja Hellfire has been used several times since 2017.

Israel and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) agreed to establish diplomatic relations. Other Arabian states are expected to follow. Israel and the UAE have had covert relationships for over a decade but making it formal is all about Iran and Turkey. These two nations aspire to lead the Moslems in the region, at the expense of Arab Moslems. This new alliance is, in part, because of the realization that Israelis are also Semites while the Turks are Turks and the Iranians are Indo-European. Such differences matter, especially in the Middle East.

August 12, 2020: Israel has reduced the number of airstrikes inside Syria because there are fewer targets. Meanwhile there is more activity on the Israeli border with Syria and Lebanon as well as in the south (Gaza) where Hamas and other Gaza-based Islamic terror groups have become more active. During the past three years Israeli forces, mainly the air force, have used over 5,000 missiles to hit about 950 Iranian targets in Syria. During this period Syria fired 844 SAMs (Surface to Air Missiles) at Israeli aircraft. Only one of these missiles damaged an Israeli F-16 and that was in 2018 because the pilot did not, as he was trained to do, carry out evasive maneuvers when his missile warning system alerted him to the threat. The pilot tried to complete his mission first and then evade. The F-16 was damaged and crashed in northern Israel. The pilot safely ejected. This incident demonstrated that the Syrian Air Defense systems could be dangerous if a pilot did not pay attention. As a result, more attacks (firing long range missiles) were carried out from Israel, Lebanon or Jordan, with missiles launched near the border. With new missiles Israeli aircraft were still able to hit anywhere in Syria. Israeli did attack Syrian air defense units that were particularly dangerous. These SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) missions are difficult and dangerous but Israel managed to destroy a third of Syrian air defense systems (launchers and radars) without losing any aircraft.

August 11, 2020: In the northwest (Idlib province) Turkish forces have a built a new base near the border with Latakia province. This province is vital to the Assad government because is the most loyal province and contains the Mediterranean ports and the Russian airbase. Most of the Latakia population is Shia, as is the Assad clan.

Further east, where the borders of Aleppo, Hama and Raqqa provinces meet an ISIL attack killed six pro-Assad militiamen.

August 10, 2020: In the east (Deir Ezzor province) an airstrike, apparently Israeli, killed 14 Iranians and Iranian mercenaries, some of them from Iraq.

August 7, 2020: In the south (Daraa province) a bomb hidden in a pickup truck went off in a residential area, killing 21, including ten women and children. Nearby Syrian troops were accused of planting the bomb in an area where pro-rebel civilians live. The Syrian troops have been unable to subdue the local rebels, who control some of the nearby Jordanian border.

August 6, 2020: In the north (Aleppo province) Kurdish SDF forces clashed with Turkish Syrian mercenaries in the eastern part of the province. There were several casualties. This apparently not a planned attack but more of an accident. Turkish forces have been halted here for months, unwilling to risk the heavy casualties a major move into neighboring Hasaka province would entail.

August 4, 2020: In Lebanon, a 1.1 kiloton explosion in the Hezbollah controlled port of Beirut triggered another round of anti-Hezbollah and anti-Iran demonstrations in Lebanon. The national government has resigned. Hezbollah is denying any responsibility for the explosion even though Hezbollah has boasted of controlling the port area for years. Everyone blames government incompetence for allowing 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate explosives to be stored in an abandoned cargo ship or locked up warehouse for seven years. The dangerous cargo was no secret and local media reported on the port officials warnings of the danger and years of demands that the explosives be removed from the port. A French-led relief coalition has pledged a quarter of a billion dollars in relief money. The Arab oil states have also stepped up. Iran and Syria, who have dominated Lebanese politics since the 1980s, are broke and offering some relief supplies, condolences and blaming it all on Israel and America. Iran accuses the French and Arab relief efforts as an attempt to destroy Hezbollah and Iranian influence in Lebanon. Unfortunately for Iran, most Lebanese appear to agree with that assessment.

In the south, on the Israel border (Golan Heights) Israeli warplanes, UAVs and armed helicopters attacked Syrian Army positions being used to observe Israeli troops in the Golan Heights. These airstrikes were largely in retaliation for Syrian or Iranian efforts on the 2nd to get men across the border to plant bomb. Israeli intel later reported that this attack had been ordered by Iran.

In the east (Deir Ezzor province), near the Iraq border an Israeli airstrike hit several Iranian targets next to the Al Bukamal crossing into Iraq. Fifteen Iranian mercenaries were killed. Since late April Israel has carried out twenty or more airstrikes in Syria. Nearly half the attacks were in Deir Ezzor province, where the Al Bukamal crossing is, as well as other Israeli targets further away from the Iraq border. The rest of the airstrikes were all over southern Syria, wherever Iranian forces were operating.

August 2, 2020: During July there were about 320 deaths in Syria. About 30 percent were government (Assad) forces, 30 percent were civilians, 30 percent Islamic terrorist rebels while the rest were non-Islamic terrorist rebels.

August 1, 2020: In the south on the Israeli border (Golan Heights) a Russia-backed Syrian militia has been taking control of the Syrian side of the border. Called the Huran Army, the militia contains many former rebels who are hostile to Iranian influence in Syria but willing to cooperate with the Assads.

July 29, 2020: In the east (Deir Ezzor province) Iran backed Iraqi Katab Hezbollah have been seen operating 20 kilometers from the Iraq border. The Iraqi government forbids Iraqi militias from operating in Syria without government permission. Iran is increasingly flaunting this rule. Further north (Hasaka province) ten Islamic terrorists were killed when Kurdish forces clashed with ISIL.

July 28, 2020: Since May Israel has carried out at least ten airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria. In addition to large quantities of weapons and munitions destroyed, at least sixty Iranian or local mercenary personnel have died. Iran is building a new mercenary force by hiring Syrians rather than bringing in Shia Afghans or Shia from other nations. The Afghans were good fighters but there was a limited supply of Afghan Shia willing to serve as Iranian mercs in faraway Syria. A growing number would not renew their contracts and returned to Afghanistan or Iran, where mercenary service also earned a residency permit. Iran is short of cash and the local mercs are cheaper, especially given the bad shape the economy is in and the dire poverty many Syrians live with. There are over 10,000 of these Syrian mercs in service now and most are based on or near the Israeli or Jordanian borders. Many Syrians see the Iranians and their Syrian mercs as another foreign occupation force. Syrians are tired of war while the Iranians want more of it, against Israel. That is not popular because attacking Israel generally fails but always brings very effective counterattacks. Moreover, a lot of Syrians living along the Israel border befitted from the medical aid Israel provided for badly injured Syrians. S ince 2011 Israel has provided medical treatment to several thousand badly injured Syrian civilians and rebels. This was done at a few border crossings where a field hospital was set up nearby and Syrians were told they could bring badly wounded kin or people they would vouch for to the crossing where Israelis doctors would examine them at the border, admit those who did need care and first try to treat the patient at the field hospital. If that was not possible the patient was sent to a hospital in Israel where specialists could provide the needed care. Family were notified of the progress and when to be at the border to pick up their mended friend or family member. Via this program Israel established contacts on the Syrian side as well as receiving a steady supply of what the chatter was on the Syrian side of the border. Israel has many Arab speaking medical personnel and has no problem treating Arab speaking patients. This medical program earned Israel a lot of good will on the Syrian side of the border. The care was free and there were no strings attached other than no Islamic terrorists were welcome, and these would be arrested if identified as such. There were a few such cases and that was not seen by the Syrians as a bad thing. Same attitude towards the Iranians and their mercs, who are seen as a danger to nearby civilians and an enemy of Syria.

July 27, 2020: In the southwest Lebanon the Israeli border security system detected a group of armed men crossing the border from Lebanon near the disputed Shebaa Farms (occupied by Israel but claimed by both Lebanon and Syria). Israeli rapid reaction forces drove up and spotted the intruders and opened fire. The men ran back into Lebanon. Hezbollah denied the incident occurred and said they had nothing to do with it. The Israelis have video from their border surveillance system, which they are willing to release, and other electronic evidence, which they are not willing to release. Israel regularly taps into Hezbollah communications, despite frequent Iranian efforts to upgrade the security of Hezbollah comms. It was revealed that a Hezbollah attack was expected, somewhere on the Lebanon border, to coincide with the Moslem religious celebration of Eid al Adha.

July 26, 2020: The Arab world has noticed that Turkey is actively fighting Arabs in Libya, Syria and Iraq and ready to get involved elsewhere as well. Centuries of Turkish rule over Arabs ended a century ago when the Western allies defeated the Ottoman Empire. The Turks are determined to keep their own separatists and Arab Islamic terrorists under control in or near Turkey, no matter what the cost.

July 22, 2020: In the south Israel launched another series of airstrikes on Damascus as well as in central Syria. This time more of the targets were Syrian air defense facilities (radars and missile launchers). Israel is doing this in preparation for Iranian efforts to bring in and use air defense systems similar to the ones Syria already has. Up to a point Israeli air strikes can evade Syrian air defenses but if there are too many air defense systems operational there is more risk of Israeli aircraft being shot down or forced to abort their attack. To deal with that Israel has to carry out a sustained (weeks or longer) SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) operations and repeat that as needed if Iran and Syrian keep bringing in replacement air defense systems. Another new complication was Russia sending a jet fighter to intercept, but not interfere with an incoming Israeli strike force. This was to make the point that Russian radars can track Israeli air operations and intercept them. The Israel strike force did not include any F-35s.

Israeli police revealed that an investigation that began in April had led to the arrest of ten Palestinians who were recruited by an Iran-backed Syrian militia and Hezbollah in Lebanon. There were actually two separate groups operating in the West Bank and their main goal was to kidnap an Israeli soldier and hold him for ransom. That would consist of freeing a lot of imprisoned Palestinian terrorists.

July 20, 2020: In the south an Israeli airstrike south of Damascus killed eight Syrian soldiers, but one of the dead turned out to be a Hezbollah commander. Israel later sent a message to Hezbollah that the Hezbollah commander was not targeted on purpose and Israel did not know he was there. Israel was trying to give Hezbollah an excuse not to retaliate and trigger a series if exchanges that would hurt Hezbollah and Lebanon more than Israel.

July 17, 2020: In the east (Hasaka province) a Russian convoy was stopped by American forces. This is the eighth time so far this year that American troops have blocked Russian efforts to move into Kurdish controlled parts of Hasaka and Deir Ezzor provinces. Russian and American forces interact regularly in Hasaka and most of the time there are no problems. Russians have even fewer problems with the Turks. Joint patrols with Turkish troops in Idlib province, to prevent fighting between Islamic terrorist forces and Turkish or Syrian forces, have been a success. American-backed Kurdish forces control most of Hasaka province, where the local population is largely Kurdish. Russian. Turkish and Syrian forces are trying to move troops into Hasaka and gradually displace the Kurdish forces. In some cases the Syrians, Russians or Turks are, via negotiation with the Kurds, allowed to base troops or patrol certain areas. The Americans have more surveillance capabilities than the Kurds and more frequently spot Russian troops moving into areas they are supposed to stay away from.
CSOL Holding Ltd. will announce the results for the second quarter 2020 on Tuesday, Aug 25, 2020. In connection with the release, a telephone conference will be held at 9:00 a.m. (Lima) as described below.

The presentation will be published at 8:00 a.m. (Lima) and will be available on the Company's website.

In connection with the earnings release Jorge Ramirez Rubio, CEO, and Andres Colichon Sas, CFO, will host a conference call presentation and a Q&A session at 9:00 a.m. (Lima).

To participate in the conference call, please use the following numbers:

London, UK Local +0800 028 8438

US/Canada International +1 409 981 0728

Zurich, Switzerland, Local +044 580 1733

Oslo, Norway, Local +47 2396 4173

Colombia, National Free Phone +01 800 518 5094

Chile, National Free Phone +56 800 914 686

Peru, National Free Phone +51 0800 71470

Participants will be asked for their name and conference ID.

The Camposol conference ID is: 4575897

Audio access for the meeting is available by dialing the above-mentioned numbers.

To access the presentation webcast in connection with the conference call, please use:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/wmidijep

Participants are advised to log on to the service and check their configuration well ahead of the telephone conference commencement.

For further information, please contact:

Andres Colichon Sas, CFO

acolichon@camposol.com.pe



Milagritos Olivero, Controller

molivero@camposol.com.pe

Phone: +511 621 0800 Ext.: 7171



About CAMPOSOL

CAMPOSOL is a vertically integrated producer of branded fresh and healthy food that offers high quality, healthy and fresh food to consumers around the world, based on a sustainable management model. CAMPOSOL's portfolio includes superfoods like blueberries, avocados, mandarins, among others. Additionally, our international commercial platform is responsible for the commercialization of the products of these two units, with offices in the US, The Netherlands, and China.

CAMPOSOL guarantees the full traceability of its products and is committed to supporting sustainable development through social and environmental responsibility policies and projects intended to increase the shared-value for all its stakeholders. On the strength of this value proposition, CAMPOSOL's commercial offices have established long-term relationships with the top worldwide supermarket chains and service them directly.

CAMPOSOL is also an active member of the Global Compact since 2008. It presents annual Sustainability Reports aligned to the GRI Methodology and has achieved the following international certifications: BSCI, Global Gap, IFS, HACCP, and BRC among others.
Truth & Reconciliation Conversations "Forgiveness takes one person. Reconciliation two." Khalil Osiris, founder of RFN

Reflecting Freedom Network (RFN), a Florida based nonprofit, invites citizens around the world to take part in its restorative justice documentary series, Truth & Reconciliation Conversations. The documentary is about systemic racism and the global struggle to overcome it. Citizens can submit their recorded stories to RFN and, if selected, they will be part of the 3 part documentary series, culminating with a global premiere on Nelson Mandela International Day 2021. For many people of color, George Floyds murder by police officers is a poignant reminder of the intersection between racism and injustice. Forgiveness takes one person, reconciliation two, said Khalil Osiris, founder of RFN and host of the Nelson Mandela International Day 2020 (#NMID2020) documentary. Our aim is to encourage people to start talking about ending racism, and in so doing build a global movement for justice.

The #NMID2020 documentary featured leaders in education, criminal justice, civil rights, community reentry and journalism discussing their understanding of systemic racism, their response to George Floyds murder, and their hope for the future of race relations. Their stories evoked anger, fear, guilt, as well as hope for healing and reconciliation.

Nelson Mandela said, In the end, reconciliation is a spiritual process, which requires more than just a legal framework. It has to happen in the hearts and minds of people. RFNs restorative justice documentary seeks to build on Mandelas vision of reconciliation by celebrating the stories of individuals who are taking action to help change their communities and the world for the better.

Share your story with us and join our global conversation on social media!
The Roanoke Times

Democrats gather this week in Milwaukee to ... no, wait, thats what wed have written pre-pandemic. Instead, Democrats will Zoom into Milwaukee for the first national political convention of the coronavirus era. Even then, their nominee wont be there.

The virus may upend both parties plans to hold traditional conventions, but it wont upend our plans to see what lessons we can learn from the two host cities. First up: Milwaukee.

The immediate reason why Democrats picked Milwaukee are pretty obvious: Democrats were stunned to lose Wisconsin in 2016. Of course, they were stunned to lose Michigan and Pennsylvania, too. Winning Wisconsin four years ago wouldnt have made a difference, but winning the industrial Midwest at large would have  so, like the proverbial generals still fighting the last war, Democrats picked Milwaukee as a convention site.

First, lets dispense with the fallacy that Wisconsin has been trending Republican. It hasnt been. Donald Trump polled a smaller share of the vote in Wisconsin (47.2%) than George W. Bush did in 2000 and 2004 (47.6% and 49.3%). The difference is that Trump carried the state and Bush didnt, which speaks more to Hillary Clintons weakness as a candidate. Trump in 2016 polled 2,682 fewer votes than Mitt Romney did in Wisconsin, but Clinton polled 238,449 fewer votes than Barack Obama did in 2012  and 294,675 fewer than he did in 2008. Joe Bidens challenge is to win back those voters; Trumps challenge is to win them over  or hope they stay at home again.

Wisconsins political history has always been complicated. Its the state that gave us Robert La Follette, a celebrated leader of the progressive movement in the early 1900s. Its also the state that gave us Joe McCarthy in the 1950s. Both were Republicans. Milwaukee is even more interesting  and tells a side of the American story that needs to be told periodically because we keep forgetting it.

Milwaukee is a city shaped by immigrants  specifically German immigrants, even more specifically at a time in the 1840s and 1850s political upheavals were driving them out of Europe, just as political upheavals around the world drive immigration today. Farmland in the upper Midwest was cheap so thats where many of those German immigrants wound up.

We forget now just how profound that wave of German immigration was. Some histories say that during the 1840s more than 1,000 Germans arrived in Milwaukee every week. By 1850, the Census Bureau found that 63.7% of Milwaukee residents were foreign-born. Milwaukee was considered the most German city in the United States  but hardly the only one. German was then what Spanish is today  only more so.

Ohio and Pennsylvania declared German an official language. Milwaukee had more than five different daily newspapers printed in German and was home to the largest German- language book publisher in the country. Americans who get upset about hearing Spanish spoken are out of touch with their nations history. The main difference between then and now: Immigrants today learn English far faster than immigrants did in the past. One study found that even as late as 1900, some 231,700 students in the Midwest were being taught in German, not English.

The only reason that the German immigration in the 1840s and 50s isnt more prominent in our consciousness today is because of World War I. That war suddenly made it unpopular to celebrate German heritage.

Some places made it illegal to speak German in public, in church or on the telephone. Fourteen states banned teaching German in schools, period. Nebraska banned teaching any foreign language  a prohibition that the U.S. Supreme Court later overturned. Even here in Virginia, Harrisonburg changed the names of one of its most prominent streets from German Street to Liberty Street. (That street owed its name to an earlier wave of German immigrants who settled in the Shenandoah Valley in the 1700s).

Today we think of the Midwest as a synonym for all-American. Historically speaking, that means all nationalities. The Midwest was historically one of most immigrant-friendly parts of the country. Besides its great influx of German immigrants in the 1840s and 50s, Milwaukee drew Poles, Croatians, Serbs and others from eastern Europe  at a time when American nativists often looked askance at new arrivals who werent Anglo-Saxon. By 1884, Milwaukee elected the first of three German-born mayors (all Republicans). Wisconsin was considered so pro-immigrant that it wrote alien suffrage into its state constitution  meaning that immigrants were allowed to vote as long as they had lived in the state for one year and had declared their intention to become U.S. citizens someday. Thats a far more radical policy than anything ever proposed today. Keep in mind that in those days there was no right way to immigrate  you simply showed up and got off the boat. If Virginia today operated under the rules that Wisconsin did in the 19th century, then virtually every immigrant in the state would be able to vote regardless of their immigration status.

We in the South have a hard time comprehending the history of a place like Milwaukee because its history is so unlike our own. In 1910, near the end of that era of mass immigration, nearly one-third of Milwaukees residents were foreign-born  29.8%. That was quite unremarkable for the Midwest at the time. In Minneapolis that year, 28.6% of the residents were foreign-born. In Omaha, 21.9% were. In Chicago, 35.9%. There were similar figures across the Northeast, too. By contrast, in 1910, just 1.3% of Virginians were foreign-born. Even in Roanoke, which saw more immigration than other Southern cities because of its railroad boomtown birth, just 4.3% of the population in 1910 was foreign-born. Its actually the South that is at odds with the rest of the American experience.

Today, 13.7% of U.S. residents are foreign-born  a figure that includes those here illegally. In the context of American history, thats not an unusually high figure and certainly not the highest  which was 14.8% in 1890, a year in which Milwaukee saw the founding of a theater dedicated to German- language concerts and plays.

Americans this week may or may not learn things they didnt know about Joe Biden. But they could stand to learn some things about their own history and Milwaukee is a good place from which to learn them.

 The Roanoke Times
Public space infrastructure is the key to making a city usable and accessible in the wake of the coronavirus, and Cairenes must bear this in mind

If you have been keeping up with the current overwhelming influx of memes on social media, you can spot one defining behaviour: peoples use of open space.

People on their balconies, people using their roofs, basically everyone trying to find an escape from the current confinement that is their home. This behaviour can be seen globally, in rich and poor countries alike.

As an urban designer, it makes me happy to see people using cities common spaces. Rooftops are more active, and if you know me, youll know my love for activating rooftops. Picnics have become more common; the outdoors has become where we want to spend our leisure time.

Citydwellers recreational behaviours have moved from the inside to the outside.

Unfortunately, in the past five years Cairo has seen a phenomenal increase in malls and closed assembly spaces -- massive over-designed structures with inoperable atriums that have been successful in bringing many people under one roof. But notice the problem here: under one roof.

Are we going to feel safe with thousands gathered under one roof for the foreseeable future? Probably not. The majority of the population will be looking for outdoor leisure with open air seating.

The problem in Cairo is that it does not have sufficient public space infrastructure. What is public space infrastructure? It is a number of things, but to keep it simple, it ranges from sidewalks to large urban parks.

Public space infrastructure is the key to making a city usable and accessible. When designed, it provides moments of relief in bustling cities, it lowers the micro-climates of streets in hot seasons -- the benefits are numerous. At this point in the countrys reopening, public space could play a huge role in peoples lives.

I suspect that it will take time before we can all return to the lives we led pre-COVID. The question is though, do we even want to? COVID-19 has shown us that there is so much space we are not taking advantage of, space that is available to us all the time and at no cost.

This is the time to define the new normal -- how people will be using the city after the pandemic.

According to many global green space studies, the area of green space per person should range from 12 square metres to 40 square metres, depending on the countrys climate.

However, in Cairo, this area does not exceed 2 square metres. Which brings us to the main question we should be asking: can we design an integrated public space infrastructure strategy for the city? A strategy that responds to the current changes of behaviour we are seeing, and tackles them on all levels, from the micro level of each individual, to the macro level of the entire city?

For example, incentivising people to upgrade their roofs and have them act as a micro communal space for their buildings community, introducing open air cinemas and theatres, and so on.

A macro level strategy would be to map the existing public spaces and to identify the walking radius surrounding each one. If the walking radius exceeds an average of 15 minutes, then there is a gap that needs to be filled with pocket parks or any accessible public space.

The solutions are numerous and can be found by studying cities that have successfully implemented public space strategies in dense environments, such as New York.

The benefit of having accessible public space that resonates with me most is that it connects people to the city. People start to have favourite public spots and corners.

When asked about public space experiences, John Ellis, principal at Mithun, an architecture and urban design firm in San Francisco, said: In San Francisco, on Sunday afternoons there is a tradition of walking along the Crissy Field Esplanade from the marina to the Golden Gate Bridge. It ends at a small cafe called the Warming Hut where you can buy coffee or tea and then stroll back. It is a delightful walk with great views of the Bay and an opportunity to see joggers, kids flying kites, families with their dogs, and all sorts.

When asked about public space and the change of behaviour in Cairo, Ellis said: We are all social animals and thrive on contact and friendships, the routines of daily life. It would be a great loss if we all disappeared into gated compounds and malls. The Mediterranean tradition of passeggiata, strolling in the evening and people watching after the heat of the day diminishes is such a pleasure. I remember witnessing this in Palermo in Sicily last year when people of all walks of life, rich and poor, young and old, would stroll along the main promenade at dusk. Cafes and restaurants were open with sidewalk seating, and people seemed to have dressed up for the occasion. Is there anything similar in Downtown Cairo?

So, what do we do now? The answer is in the title. Use the city -- it is yours. If you build it, they will come. Renovate your roof, instead of it being a dump for your old furniture. Add seating to your buildings side yards. Allow cafes to extend their seating onto sidewalks and possibly close off the streets on weekends to facilitate more outdoor use. We can do so much on a micro level that will have a greater effect on our urban environment.

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A man who won a massive $5million in the lottery has revealed how he'll be spending his cash - trying to launch a hit music career.

The lucky Auckland man aged in his 20s said it was his first time buying a lottery ticket, so hadn't been expecting to scoop the huge cash prize.

He snagged the $5million in the record $50million Lotto jackpot on Saturday.

The lucky Auckland man aged in his 20s said it was his first time purchasing a lottery ticket (stock image)

The musician said he wanted to purchase a new guitar and hopefully record a new album with his winning money.

'I still can't believe this happened. This win will set me up for life and gives me so many opportunities for the future,' he told Stuff.

'I really want to buy a new guitar, or maybe even two.'

The fortunate winner also said he may also enter the property market and snap up some houses to start a profitable portfolio.

Lotto NZ revealed that ten people won the first division prize pool of $5million.

'We are absolutely thrilled for all of them,' the company's head of communications Marie Winfield said.
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Nearly 42 million people in California will be under a heat warning this week as record-breaking temperatures as California power companies warn of more blackouts throughout the week while the extreme weather continues to fuel nearly 30 wildfires that have scorched more than 120,000 acres across the state.

California's power grid operators were keeping an eye on the thermometer Tuesday after avoiding highly anticipated rolling blackouts a day earlier. One of the highest temperatures recorded on Tuesday stood at 115F in Paso Robles.

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) had warned Monday that as many as 3.3 million homes and businesses would be affected by an evening emergency order that would have required utilities to stage rotating, two-hour outages.

But the order never was issued and the warning was canceled shortly before 8pm.

California ISO has struggled to reduce the electrical demand since last Friday, when it issued the first rolling blackouts in nearly 20 years.



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Nearly 42 million people in California will be under a heat warning this week as record-breaking temperatures spark fears of more blackouts. A thermometer reads 132F at the Furnace Creek Visitors Center in Death Valley on Monday

Beachgoers secure spots on the shore at Santa Barbara, California, in a bid to seek relief from a record heat wave that strained the electricity grid and threatened to trigger a third round of rolling power outages

A cyclist rides through the pier plaza in Huntington Beach, California, on Monday amid the heatwave

Pleas for people to leave their air conditioners at higher temperatures and avoid using washing machines and other major appliances seemed to have worked. 'Thank you for conserving,' California ISO said in a tweet.

However, grid managers warned that the threat of outages remained as temperatures were expected to hit triple digits again in many areas of the state.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said it may take until Friday or Saturday before excess heat watches and warnings ease.

The strong ridge of high pressure responsible for the heat wave will gradually weaken over coming days, progressively moderating temperatures, forecasters said.

Meanwhile, firefighters have been toiling in oppressive heat as fires burned throughout California, posing threats to homes, forcing evacuations and fouling the air with smoke far beyond the largely rural or wilderness areas where flames fed on very dry vegetation.

There are 27 wildfires that are still burning in the state, with most of them in Northern California.

Firefighters are battling the largest fire, dubbed the Loyalton Fire, in the Tahoe National Forest. So far, it has burned more than 39,000 acres and is 10 per cent contained.

Officials said 11 structures, including five homes, have been destroyed in the fire.

The second largest blaze is the Apple Fire. It has burned more than 33,000 acres since it started on July 31. It is 95 per cent contained.

Firefighters are also battling the River Fire that has threatened at least 1,500 structures as it burned across 3,800 acres.

However, grid managers warned that the threat of outages remained as temperatures were expected to hit triple digits again in many areas of the state

Excessive heat warnings (depicted above) are in place for California residents until at least Friday

The National Weather Service (NWS) said it may take until Friday or Saturday before excess heat watches and warnings ease

Michelle Leopold, co-owner of six Ace hardware stores in the San Francisco Bay Area, said she sold 56 wading pools, two air conditioning units and a number of generators Saturday.

She said she's grateful her employees have not contracted the coronavirus and her stores are even hiring. You look at the blessings in this crazy time because there's not much else to look at,' she said, laughing.

Scorching weather has hit other Western states, making it harder for California to import extra power.

'What we have is a situation where the entire region is more than hot, it's extremely hot,' said Steve Berberich, California ISO's president and CEO.

'We can't get the energy that we would normally get from out of state because it's being used to serve loads natively.

That would probably account for another 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts and could have very well have closed the gap.'

The three biggest utilities - Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric - turned off power to more than 410,000 homes and businesses for about an hour at a time until the emergency declaration ended 3 1/2 hours later.

A second but shorter outage hit Saturday evening, affecting more than 200,000 customers.

Meanwhile, firefighters (pictured battling the River Fire in Salinas) have been toiling in oppressive heat as fires burned throughout California, posing threats to homes, forcing evacuations and fouling the air with smoke far beyond the largely rural or wilderness areas where flames fed on very dry vegetation

An air tanker makes a drop on a spot fire from the Hennessey fire over lower Chiles Valley Road, on Monday

Cal Fire personnel set a backfire during the Hennessey fire in Napa County on Monday

Flames from the River Fire crest a ridge as firefighters Ian Johnson, right, and Capt. Mike Campbell protects a home in Salinas, California, on Monday. Fire crews across the region scrambled to contain dozens of blazes sparked by lightning strikes

Gov Gavin Newsom signed an emergency proclamation Sunday allowing some energy users and utilities to tap backup energy sources.

Newsom also sent a letter demanding that the state Energy Commission, state Public Utilities Commission and the California Independent System Operator investigate the blackouts.

'These blackouts, which occurred without prior warning or enough time for preparation, are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nation's largest and most innovative state,' Newsom wrote. 'This cannot stand.'

On Monday, the Democratic governor said he was ready to 'move forward to simply make sure this never happens again'.

During a grid operator board meeting Monday, Berberich said the weekend blackouts could have been avoided had regulators listened to its previous concerns about a power shortfall.

In a call later with reporters, he softened his tone, saying he knows the Public Utilities Commission is working to find the right balance of energy sources.

'It's substantial, no question about it,' he said of the outage.

Crews work on the hotspots during a wildfire in Malibu Creek State Park that scorched about 75 acres of grass and forced the evacuation of all campsites

A firefighter extinguishes a hot spot from a vegetation fire caused by a lightning strike on Marsh Creek Road in Brentwood

A California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter works to save a home from the River fire near Salinas

The Public Utilities Commission said it would work with the other agencies to figure out what happened.

The demand for electricity in the last few days has been consistent with expectations, spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said.

'The question we're tackling is why certain resources were not available,' she said.

Bonnie Wikler, 66, worried about her husband, who is recovering from open heart surgery. She said it was very stressful to lose power twice over the weekend at their home in Coalinga, a city in central California where temperatures reached 109.

They thought about driving somewhere but were too afraid of coronavirus exposure, so they stayed home and cooled off with ice water, she said.

'If there was a fire or an earthquake, I would understand, but to cut power without letting you know, it just seems outlandish to me,' Wikler said.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Soon after the Supreme Court turned down a plea that money in the PM-CARES fund be transferred to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), the BJP attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party while bringing up the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation issue.

"So far, Rs 3,100 crore has been given from the PM-CARES fund to fight coronavirus. Of this, Rs 2,000 crore has been given for ventilators," senior BJP leader and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference at the party headquarters here.

Making a comparison with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation issue, he said: "In a report prepared by the Foundation, it was said that to improve the India-China relations, it is necessary to open up India's markets to that country", pointing to the alleged quid pro quo in the matter.

Prasad said that another Rs 1,000 crore from PM-CARES (Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations) fund was given to the states for migrant labourers, claiming that Rs 100 crore went for corona vaccine research.

"The PM-CARES is a registered public trust, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is designed (for use) for emergency situations like COVID-19," he clarified.

"The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is a family foundation. You know that it got help from China too. In the report of that foundation, there was talk of opening India's markets for Chinese products." Rubbishing Rahul Gandhi's charge of "improbity", Prasad said: "The Modi government has been working with honesty; it has the blessings of the public. The same honesty is also reflected in the PM-CARES fund." He claimed that India had been a success in the fight against coronavirus, pointing to the recovery rate of above 70%. "Rahul Gandhi has tried to break the unity of the country in its fight against coronavirus from day one." "The Prime Minister had said that all should clap in honour of Corona Warriors like doctors, nurses, sweepers, and police. Rahul Gandhi even mocked that," the senior BJP leader said.

Earlier, BJP President JP Nadda also hit out at Rahul Gandhi for his attack on the PM-CARES fund saying it was a "nefarious design".

The Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO, had petitioned the apex court for transferring money from the PM-CARES fund to the NDRF, which the SC declined.

The PM Cares Fund was set up in March 2020 to receive contributions for extending succour in emergency situations.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
WATERLOO  After accepting an offer to study at the University of Waterloo, high school graduate Makayla Dickson had another tough choice ahead of her: where to live.

Although all of her classes would be online, she worried about studying in her crowded family home, which houses eight people. With a distraction-free environment in mind, she ultimately opted to live on campus.

My parents are definitely worried, she said.

Her decision may be an atypical one in a COVID-rocked world. The occupation numbers for residences at both the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University have fallen dramatically from last year. The University of Waterloo typically houses up to 5,750 students, but this year, only 2,000 students will be arriving.

The situation isnt much different at Laurier: its maximum capacity has been reduced from 3,700 students to 1,800. While the final number of tenants has not yet been confirmed, director of residence Chris Dodd anticipates that the number of students in residence will be below the tightened capacity.

Both universities have had to make significant changes to ensure they follow provincial health guidelines.

All students will now have their own bedrooms at both universities, and masks will be mandatory outside of students personal rooms. High-touch areas will be regularly sanitized, and guests will be forbidden outside of move-in day.

Waterloo in particular has tightened its restrictions on movement. International students returning from abroad will not be able to self-isolate on campus for 14 days  they will be directed to nearby hotels.

Room change requests will only happen in exceptional circumstances this year, explained the director of housing, Glen Weppler.

We need to minimize the amount of moving and transition thats happening, Weppler said. Normally move-in is a two-day event  and now its an almost two-week event.

UW will also be unusually lenient when it comes to financial concerns this year. Students will be able to break their lease at any point during their stay in residences and receive a partial refund for the remaining period.

This is not how we normally operate, Weppler said. But we felt that it was important to give the students and their families comfort in the choice that they were making.

In contrast, Laurier will not allow any refunds once the fall term begins. Students will have committed to their eight-month residence contract as soon as they pick up their keys, Dodd wrote in an email.

Students seeking living accommodations arent the only ones affected. The number of upper-year students working as residence dons has tumbled at the University of Waterloo  from about 115 to about 75  after recruiting halted abruptly in light of the pandemic. Nonetheless, no one hired previously was laid off. Residence life staff, including dons, have also been retained at Laurier.

Despite a few lingering safety concerns about residences, Dickson is looking forward to beginning university. She added that she remains unsure as to what distance learning will look like from her dorm room in the heart of campus.

Im going into it blindly, she said.
(Newser)  The teenager whose interaction with a Native American man at last year's Indigenous Peoples March went viral has been announced as a speaker at the Republican National Convention. Nicholas Sandmann, who went on to sue news outlets on the basis that they mischaracterized him as a racist, announced the news on Twitter early Tuesday. "I can't tell you all enough about how excited I am to be apart of this years RNC!" wrote Sandmann, now a graduate of Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky, per the Hill.

story continues below

Sandmann had been attending the annual March for Life event in Washington, DC, as a Covington student. Last month, he announced he'd settled a $250 million lawsuit with the Washington Post after previously settling a $275 million suit with CNN. A judge had dismissed an earlier version of the Post suit, but Sandmann later refiled, per CNN. Defamation lawsuits against NBC, ABC, CBS, Rolling Stone, Gannett, and the New York Times are still pending. (The St. Louis homeowners who pointed guns at protesters also will speak.)
When you have somebody who is COVID positive, if theyre wearing a mask, that prevents the spread of the virus to others, Fankhauser told the Hub last week. When everyone is wearing masks, then that significantly reduces the risk, then theres not likely to be a huge quarantine.

Edwards said KPS has a sophisticated monitoring system for both staff and students. So, the district can stay on top of COVID symptoms and cases.

For example, as a part of the districts response plan, both staff and students are temperature-checked twice a day.

KPS also has set a district-specific risk dial for COVID-19 and has plans to adapt risk dials specific to school buildings. The dial is currently in the yellow zone, indicating a moderate risk level.

At this time, Edwards said there is no reason to increase the risk dial for the district or any individual buildings. Risks will be assessed based on number and frequency of reported cases at a particular location.

Should a school see a rise in the number of cases and theres a chance of exposure related to those cases at schools, then adjustments to the dial may be made.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:54:12|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Germany's machinery exports fell by 22.9 percent year-on-year to 35.2 billion euros (41.98 billion U.S. dollars) in the second quarter (Q2) of 2020, the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) announced on Tuesday.

April and May "proved to be particularly weak months" due to restrictive measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, according to VDMA. In June, machinery exports already fell "less drastically" after the first travel and transport restrictions were eased.

"Companies have recently been able to breathe a sigh of relief in the export business," said VDMA chief economist Ralph Wiechers. "But it will still be a bumpy road back to normality."

Machinery exports from Germany in the first half of the year 2020 were 14.1 percent below the previous year's figure.

Machinery exports to countries of the European Union fell by 17.3 percent in the first six months of the year, while 11.3 percent less machinery was delivered to the rest of Europe, according to VDMA. Russia stood out as Germany's only top customer country to record a 4.5-percent increase in exports in the first half of the year.

The development of machinery exports to Germany's most important single markets, the United States and China, would "differ considerably," VDMA noted. In Q2, 23 percent less machinery from Germany was exported to the United States compared to the previous year. In contrast, business in China decreased by 7.9 percent.

In China, "we are observing an extremely robust economic recovery, especially in the industry," said Wiechers, adding that parts of Germany's mechanical engineering sector would record "significant growth in exports" to China. Enditem
Results from decoding the genetic sequence of the new coronavirus in northern Hai Duong Town confirmed it had spread from Da Nang.

Pham Quang Thai, deputy head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said the current Covid-19 hotspot in Hai Duong Town in the eponymous northern province was not caused by a new virus strain.

In fact, it is of the same strain responsible for the outbreak in central Da Nang City since late July, when community transmissions returned to Vietnam after more than three months, studies from the institute showed.

On August 12, a 63-year-old man from Hai Duong Town visited Hanoi for a health check. Employed as a security guard at a beef restaurant in Hai Duong, he was later diagnosed with Covid-19. His workplace subsequently became a hotspot with 11 other related cases, including staff and diners.

The hygiene institute had said on Sunday that the virus that sickened him was of the same strain as the one in Da Nang, but did not affirm any connection.

Doctor Nguyen Viet Nhung, director of the National Lung Hospital, said Tuesday it could now be confirmed the source of transmission in Hai Duong stemmed from Da Nang.

It is possible the restaurant guard had come into contact with someone returning from Da Nang before developing Covid-19. The man did not visit Da Nang himself.

This conclusion will allow the pandemic prevention task force to locate stricken areas and trace suspected cases more easily and precisely, she said.

However, Nhung warned the situation in Hai Duong remains complicated with the source yet to be identified and possibly still making community rounds.

She warned local residents to keep their guard up as much as possible.

Hai Duong Town employed a 15-day social distancing period on August 14.

Thai said what needs to be done now is to speed up work to track down all those that had direct contact with infectees at the Hai Duong hotspot and test everyone returning from Da Nang within July.

"Leaving just one Da Nang returnee unchecked could create another Covid-19 hotspot," he said.

In late July the health ministry had stated the virus responsible for resurging local transmissions in Da Nang was a new, more contagious strain of foreign origin.

For now, it has yet to identify the source for the Da Nang outbreak.

After community transmission returned to Vietnam, Da Nang has recorded 350 new cases.

Locally transmitted infections have spread to 13 other cities and provinces, including Hanoi with 11 and HCMC with eight.

Vietnam has so far recorded 983 Covid-19 cases, 478 recoveries, and 25 deaths. The rest remain under treatment.
Bamako: Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has resigned and dissolved parliament hours after mutinying soldiers detained him at gunpoint, plunging a country already facing a jihadist insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis.

Looking tired and wearing a surgical mask, Keita resigned in a brief address broadcast on state television hours after troops seized him along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top officials.

Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, pictured last year, has resigned after being detained by soldiers. Credit:AP

"If today, certain elements of our armed forces want this to end through their intervention, do I really have a choice?" he said from a military base in Kati outside the capital Bamako where he had been detained earlier in the day.

Cisse had earlier appealed for dialogue and urged mutineers to stand down.
I am ambivalent about the police. Ive spent decades under police scrutiny because of my colour. I hear and feel the pain and anger in my community  and I feel it myself. Too often Ive seen young black people treated as I was in the Seventies, including worrying examples of police brutality. I witnessed a young man being pepper-sprayed after he pleaded with police to check on his brother who was being arrested with a knee on his back.

But I also remember sitting on a pavement with a young man bleeding from stab wounds in his head and chest, being thankful that the police arrived promptly. My resentment for the police didnt stop me calling them.

So I decided to work more closely with the police, although remaining sceptical. I have been impressed by the polices engagement with our young people, including black kids. with special educational needs. I saw what a community-integrated police service could look like. Shifting power back to communities is the solution.

Community organisers London Citizens are advancing ideas to the Mayor, such as racial bias training delivered by community organisations, more powers for community-led accountability on stop and search, and officers to be placed on restricted duty if they receive too many complaints.

Oran Blackwood, Head of Sixth Form, ELATT alternative education provider, working with special educational needs children

Editor's reply

Dear Oran

Its a good idea for the Met to see if they can learn more about how to avoid overt or subconscious bias, although theres the caveat about whether supposed community representatives always reflect the different views and backgrounds of those who they claim to speak for. But putting officers on restricted duties simply on the basis of the number of complaints received would be wrong and encourage vexatious allegations from those seeking revenge for justified law enforcement against them.

Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor
Big data is quite literally huge right now - and trained professionals who know how to use data to figure out commercially useful information are in very high demand. Companies in all industries all around the world are constantly becoming more and more reliant on good business intelligence analysts and data scientists to help boost their profits and manipulate the data to give them an edge over their competition.

Data scientists and business analysts work together in order to turn raw data into useful and actionable information. While both work towards a similar goal, they fill roles that are different. Both of these professionals are highly sought after in today's business world, but which is the better choice? Which pays more? Although careers in both data science and business intelligence can be very lucrative with high pay, a career in business intelligence is more likely to land you a six-figure salary sooner, since it requires less formal experience compared to data science.

What's the Difference?

Data scientists and business intelligence (BI) analysts may have a similar goal in mind, but they have different roles within organizations, which usually require both types of professionals in order to ensure that they can really optimize the use of the data that they gather. Business intelligence analysts tend to focus more heavily on interpreting past data, while on the other hand, data scientists mainly focus on extrapolating on the past date in order to make more accurate future predictions. The main role of a data scientist is to help shed some light on the uncertainty of the future by using data to provide the company with valuable information on projected sales and potential future performance.

On the other hand, the job of a business intelligence analyst is to interpret those past trends. Their work is more plan-based and meticulous, gradually putting together all the pieces of the puzzle to figure out the facts, rather than simply making predictions based on probability. But, both of these professionals are required in order to maintain the financial health of a company.

What's the Demand Like?

Both business intelligence analysts and data scientists are in very high demand, sharing excellent career prospects and opportunities with companies around the world in every industry struggling to fill positions for both professionals. Research from the McKinsey Global Institute found that in the U.S., there is a shortage of hundreds of thousands of professionals that possess this specific analytical knowledge and experience.

And unfortunately, this position has only been getting worse and is expected to worsen over the next few years. Companies are expected to need to fill millions more positions in big data and business intelligence analysis, and there's an acute shortage of professionals who come equipped with the necessary quantitative and analytical skills for the job.

However, for you, that's great news. If you are interested in a career as a business intelligence analyst, there have never been more opportunities and companies willing to welcome you with open arms as there are right now. To pursue a lucrative career in big data, you'll need to obtain an advanced degree in statistics, math, computer science, engineering, or business intelligence, and you'll need to be a professional with excellent communication skills and a great business sense. An MBA in business intelligence can be an excellent choice for a professional who already possesses a bachelor's degree and is looking to enter the field of big data - click here for more information.

Even if you are a new graduate entering the field of big data, career prospects are excellent - but after you have built up a few years of work experience, you can expect your job prospects to increase even further.

How Much Can You Expect to Earn?

On average, the starting salary for a data scientist is around $80,000; however, after some years of experience, is it not uncommon for professionals to be taking home around $150,000. But, while the starting salaries for data scientists may be higher, it's often easier to get a higher salary sooner while working as a business intelligence analyst, because the barrier to entry into data science is far higher compared to the barrier into business intelligence analysis.

Those who want to pursue a career as a data scientist will need to pursue a doctoral degree at least in a relevant field meaning that not only do these professionals spend more time studying than business intelligence analysts, but they also enter their career with a higher level of student loan debt.

As a result, many people would agree that business intelligence analysis can be the more lucrative of the two options. Lower barriers to entry mean that you can be working as a business intelligence analysis professional sooner, with only a master's degree in the subject required to enter the field. As a result, a career in business intelligence is much cheaper and takes a lot less time to prepare for, allowing you to start gaining real-life work experience and earning more sooner. And, the demand for business intelligence analysts is just as high as it is for data scientists, so there should be no problems with career prospects after you graduate.

What Do Business Intelligence Analysts Do?

Business intelligence analysts are a crucial part of making use of the huge amount of data that companies now have access to. The intelligence analyst will evaluate the company's data along with competitor and industry data in order to come up with ways to improve their position in the market. They explore their company's own procedures, systems, and functions in order to find any areas where the company has a chance to boost profit margins and efficiency.

In addition, the business intelligence analyst must also consider various ways in which a company can develop new policies regarding the collection of data and analysis of data while ensuring that the data is used with integrity. In some companies, the business intelligence analyst is also responsible for hiring other data specialists.

In order to become a business intelligence analyst, you'll need to possess the following skills:

Excellent presentation and communication skills

Leadership skills

Teamwork skills

Creative problem-solving and critical thinking

Ability to adapt

Data mining and analytics

Data privacy and security

Data architecture and database design

SQL

Data visualization

Proficiency in ETL (extract, transform, load)

Cloud computing and data storage

How to Prepare for a Career in Big Data?

Whether you're graduating high school and in the process of applying to college, or considering getting an online degree to change your career or improve your career prospects, what can you do now to lay strong foundations for a lucrative career in data science?

Undergraduate degree: If you're starting out as an undergraduate, you should look to earn a degree in a relevant subject to this field such as math, computer science, data science, engineering, economics, information systems, or any other field that will provide you with a clear insight into organizational processes and business operations. Before entering the profession, you will need to have a solid understanding of data, so look for elective classes in subjects such as data mining, database design, data architecture, etc. Internships: Most companies will expect a business intelligence analyst to have some work experience before they are prepared to hire. However, when you're studying or a graduate, this can feel like an impossible situation. An internship is one of the best ways to begin your on-the-job training that will boost your career prospects. The financial industry is an excellent option for aspiring business intelligence analysts. Work experience: Consider a job working as a data analyst, data report writer or business analyst after graduation. Find opportunities to model and analyze data, query SQL and define the scope of projects - experiences that will help you gain crucial industry contacts. Professional certification: Microsoft's Certified Solutions Expert in business intelligence is one of the best professional certification options for aspiring business intelligence analysts. Gaining professional certification allows you to demonstrate that you possess the necessary skills to design and use SQL to deliver solutions based on data. Pursue an advanced degree: It's recommended to pursue an advanced degree after gaining some years working as a business intelligence analyst. Typically, a master's degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in business intelligence is preferred by employers hiring for this role, although sufficient work experience and professional certifications can be an alternative.

The world of big data is only expected to grow even bigger as companies are provided with an ever-increasing amount of data on their customers, competitors and industries. As a result, the demand for good business intelligence analysts is higher than ever. The job market for business intelligence analysts is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years, and business intelligence analysts can find work in a wide variety of different fields from education to healthcare to retail or law enforcement.

If you are looking for a lucrative career with high job demand and excellent rates of pay, business intelligence analysis could be right for you.
On 17 August 2020, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Ghana, WCO Secretary General Dr Kunio Mikuriya virtually joined, alongside several African dignitaries, the official commissioning and handing over of the office premises for the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by the Government of Ghana to the African Union Commission (AUC) in Accra, Ghana.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Akuffo-Addo, commissioned and handed over the fully furnished AfCFTA Secretariat building and the official residence for the Secretary General of the AfCFTA to the Chairperson of the AUC, H.E. Moussa Faki, during a ceremony that affirmed Ghanas commitment to host the permanent Secretariat of the AfCFTA in Accra. President Akuffo-Addo stressed the importance of an effective implementation of the AfCFTA in boosting trade amongst African countries and contributing to the desired growth and prosperity on the African continent. The President welcomed the new Secretary General, H.E. Wamkele Mene, to Ghana and urged him to work towards building a strong, efficient, and effective Secretariat, with the capacity to implement the various trade rules in line with the AfCFTA Agreement.

In his speech, H.E. Wamkele Mene noted that the AfCFTA sends a strong signal that Africa is open for business and investments that are mutually beneficial to create decent jobs and improve the livelihoods of African citizens. He acknowledged the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global supply chains and its effects on the economic progress on the continent but urged Africa to see opportunities from the AfCFTA to reconfigure Africas supply chains and expedite the creation of regional value chains that will boost intra African trade and secure productive capacities. He also underlined the importance of Customs in implementing the AfCFTA.

Dr. Kunio Mikuriya used the opportunity to congratulate the African Union (AU) and the Government of the Republic of Ghana for achieving this milestone and in a written message to all participants he underscored that the WCO looks forward to working with the AfCFTA Secretariat together with all Customs administrations of the world including those in Africa towards creating the market of the future and connecting Africa to the global trading and Customs system.

The ceremony was also marked by speeches from Ghanas Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Minister for Trade and Industry, and the Chairperson of the AUC. Supporting messages were also received from the President of the Republic of Niger and AU Champion for AfCFTA, H.E Mahamadou Issoufou, as well as the President of the Republic of South Africa, and Chair of the AU, H. E. Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Secretariat of the AfCFTA will commence full operations of the AfCFTA as from 1 January 2021.
Sinn Fein has called for full clarity in how the calculated grades model will be used in the Leaving and Junior Certificate exams.

As students await their results in the coming weeks, Sinn Fein said the model for calculated grades needs to be published.

It comes following a U-turn by Northern Ireland Education Minister Peter Weir to move away from centralised standardisation to teachers estimates.

Around 11,000 grades were downgraded from teachers estimates last week.

Sinn Fein spokesman on education Donnchadh O Laoghaire said that students and parents have been concerned over what has happened in England, Scotland, Wales and the North.

There is a keen sense of injustice that students have their results downgraded because of who they were, because where they were from and because of the school that they went to and the past results that existed there, he said.

What we have in this jurisdiction is we have huge concern that those issues could be replicated here.

I wrote to the Minister for Education (Norma Foley) two months ago asking for the model to be published.

I was told that the model wouldnt be published until after results have been given.

Expand Close Sinn Feins Donnchadh O Laoghaire (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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So the question has to be asked, what is there to hide?

Why would the standardisation model, the school profiling model, not be published?

Why can we not have sight of it, and why can we not have the opportunity to have confidence restored in the system and to create greater confidence for students?

He said the model needs to be scrapped if it contains the same flaws and weaknesses as those seen in the UK education system.

Mr O Laoghaire also said the Minister for Education needs to appear before the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee.

There has been an absence of leadership from the Department of Education right from the start of this pandemic, he added.

It needs to be subject to public debate, it needs to be interrogated and then we need to see where we go from there to ensure that students here dont face the same profound injustices that happened elsewhere.

I think that the way that the briefings are being handled right from the start, four or five oclock on the Friday, no opportunity to scrutinise it is absolutely wrong and I do believe the minister needs to come forward and answer questions, certainly in the media, but I believe in the Covid committee, so we can interrogate these issues.

Meanwhile party colleague Darren ORourke said that parents of children with underlying health conditions are concerned about transport.

There is isnt enough detail in terms of the proposals that are there to address those concerns, so its important the minister comes before the Covid committee, Mr ORourke added.

There is a question over the number of bus drivers available because a number of them are quite vulnerable and decide not to return to the sector.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Nearly one-quarter of New Mexicos students lack access to the internet at home  a challenge exposed by the coronavirus pandemic and a move to remote learning.

State lawmakers heard testimony on the scope of the problem Tuesday as they explored how to address the problem with legislation or funding in next years session.

In the meantime, they were told, school districts in the state are deploying temporary Wi-Fi networks in their communities, turning school sites into internet hot spots and patching together other short-term solutions.

About 99% of the states school sites now have high-speed internet, said Jonathan Chamblin, executive director of the state Public School Facilities Authority. But about 76,000 students  or 23% of the student population  dont have internet service at home, he said.

Our work really needs to expand beyond the school site, Chamblin told members of the legislative Science, Technology and Telecommunications Committee. Now we need to ensure each district has a network that connects the kids when they leave the school campus.

About half of the 76,000 students without internet at home, he said, could probably obtain service if their families had a voucher to pay for it. Chamblin estimated it would cost about $5.7 million to help each household install equipment and $18 million to $73 million a year to pay for the service.

It clearly reveals how much more work we have to do, said Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe. That is a lot of people  a lot of students. Thats not acceptable.

The gaps in internet service are a particular focus this month as New Mexico public schools start the academic year without in-person classes. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration directed schools to begin with remote learning for most students at least through Labor Day as part of a strategy to limit the transmission of COVID-19, the contagious disease that has killed more than 700 residents since March.

Schools have scrambled to come up with temporary solutions for students without home internet service.

My biggest fear is were going to have an entire generation of kids who live in poverty who wont be able to catch up, said Rep. Kelly Fajardo, R-Belen.

Kimball Sekaquaptewa, chief technology director at Santa Fe Indian School, said the challenge is pronounced in tribal communities. Even families with internet service, she said, often lack the speeds necessary for remote learning.

Everybody is under-connected, Sekaquaptewa told legislators.

Lawmakers this week have discussed establishing a new agency to take the lead on developing broadband throughout the state  a recommendation of legislative analysts. Some also said the state needs a dedicated revenue stream for student internet access.

The pandemic has exposed our vulnerabilities, John Badal, CEO of Sacred Wind Communications, said in Tuesdays hearing. We have to develop a statewide plan, and we need to do it quickly.
The China share market finished higher for second session in row on Tuesday, 18 August 2020, as sentiments continued to be buoyed by the People's Bank of China move to inject 700 billion yuan ($101 billion) of one-year funding through a medium-term lending facility to financial institutions steady at 2.95% to combat the economic fall out of the coronavirus pandemic. However, market gains capped amid lingering tensions between Washington and Beijing.

At closing bell, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.36%, or 12.29 points, to 3,451.09. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, rose 0.49%, or 11.11 points, to 2,298.45. The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.05%, or 2.47 points, to 4,812.76.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing continued to weigh on investor sentiments. U. S. President Donald Trump's administration announced Monday a further tightening of restrictions on Huawei, aimed at limiting the Chinese telecommunications giant's access to commercially available chips.

That development came after Trump issued an executive order Friday forcing China's ByteDance to sell or spin off its U. S. TikTok business within 90 days.

Four companies debuted in the mainland, with chip-maker Verisilicon Microelectronics Shanghai rocketing 284% on the Star Market, where there are essentially no limits on price movements during the first week. Nanya New Material Technology, which manufactures circuit boards and other electronic components, closed with a 88.8% gain. Hubei Juneyao Big Healthy Drinks and auto parts maker Kunshan Huguang Auto Harness soared by the daily upside limit on most boards of 44%.

CURRENCY NEWS: The yuan was up against greenback on Tuesday, inline with firmer mid-point fixing by central bank. Prior to the market opening, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the midpoint rate CNY=PBOC at a new five-month high of 6.9325 per dollar, 37 pips or 0.05% firmer than the previous fix of 6.9362. The spot yuan CNY=CFXS ended the domestic trading session at 6.9257 per dollar, its strongest close since Jan. 22.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By PTI

WASHINGTON: US Border Patrol agents have apprehended an Indian national who crossed into the United States from Canada on foot over the weekend.

The person, whose name was not released by the federal agents, has now been removed from the country, a media release said on Monday.

According to US Border Police, its agents at Sweetgrass Station in Montana on Saturday encountered a person matching the description of an individual spotted by a citizen illegally crossing the border on foot from Coutts in Alberta province of Canada.

The agents questioned the man and learned that he was a citizen of India.

The man admitted that he had intentionally entered the US from Canada by walking around the Sweetgrass Port of Entry to avoid detection, the statement said.

"The man was carrying several bags when encountered but nothing was found to be dangerous in the bags," the border police said, adding he was processed and removed from the United States.

"This is a great example of how our agents exercise vigilance every day," said Havre Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Scott Good.

"Agents are always ready to carry out our agency's mission and safeguard the American public," he added.
Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area

10:50 a.m.

Houston-area renters, landlords and small business owners can sign up for COVID-19 relief through two assistance funds that are set to open applications this August.

Harris County and the city of Houston are providing $45 million in funds through a joint emergency rental assistance program administered by the nonprofit BakerRipley.

Those approved through the county program may receive up to $1,200 and those approved through the city program may receive up to $2,112. Only one application is required. Applications for landlords opened on Monday and run through Wednesday, August 26. Applications for tenants will open Aug. 24 and run through Aug. 30.

Small business owners can also apply for COVID-19 relief for up to $50,000 through the city of Houston's $15 million Small Business Economic Relief Program (SBERP), which opens at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

The funds are available for businesses to use for payroll, accounts payable, rent, mortgage, personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees, and marketing strategies, according to a news release from the city. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4. Applications can be submitted online here.

Read more on the funds here on Chron.com.

9 a.m.: The latest Houston, Texas numbers

The number of coronavirus cases in Texas has reached 560,833 as of Monday evening, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of state data. The state reported 71 new deaths and is now at 10,427 deaths total.

The positive test rate rose from 11.25 percent to 11.87 percent, the first increase since August 11. The rolling average of viral tests is at 57,501 and the rolling average for new cases is at 7,507.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Special young Houston doctor fighting for her life in ICU after contracting COVID

In the Houston region, cases increased by 1,470 to 133,662 cases total, while deaths increased by 9 to 2,419 deaths total. Harris County reported 691 new cases and is now at 92,944 cases total.

NOTE: The numbers included in this report represent a one-day change in data from Sunday, August 16 through Monday, August 17. 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
A 'brave' mother has died after being told her cervical cancer symptoms were a 'normal' side effect of her contraceptive injections.

Alexandra Hodson, 26, from Kirkham, Lancashire, was diagnosed with cervical cancer after attending the GP with a number of health problems.

The 26-year-old had been experiencing key symptoms of the disease including pain during intercourse, bleeding in between periods and after sex but was told by a nurse that her symptoms were normal due to the contraceptive injection.

It wasnt until after her first smear test in June 2018 that a tumour was found in Alexandras cervix and she began receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Alexandra Hodson, from Kirkham, Lancashire, has died after being diagnosed with cervical cancer in June 2018. The disease was spotted while she attended her first ever smear test. Pictured with her daughter Ella, nine

The mother-of-one was told by a nurse that her symptoms were 'normal' because of her contraceptive injections, despite her having the 'red flag' symptoms for cervical cancer

Alexandra, mother to nine-year-old daughter, Ella, began radiotherapy and chemotherapy in July 2018.

In August 2019, Alexandra's sister Nicola, from Preston, set up a fundraising page to get Alexandra immunotherapy but in April, her family were told it wasn't working and that the cancer was terminal.

On August 8, Alexandra tragically died from her illness before her sister paid tribute to her on the GoFundMe page.

She said: 'I never thought I'd be having to write an update like this and I wish I didn't have to.

Sadly the tumour failed to respond to her treatment and her weight dropped to five stone in September 2019

Alexandra's sister Nicola, 35, from Preston, (pictured right with Alexandra) paid tribute to her 'brave' sister and said she 'fought to the very end'

'We sadly lost my beautiful sister Saturday 8th August. She was so brave, strong and determined and she fought to the very end.

'We had the news in April that the immunotherapy had not been working and that Alexandra's cancer was terminal which is why we turned off donations on the page.

'It was completely heartbreaking and due to Covid we knew it meant that we would struggle to make some of the memories we would have liked to and to fulfill some of Alexandra's bucket list.

'We still managed to make memories as a family and we spent as much time together as we could.'

Alexandra's sister said the 26 year old felt 'so guilty after that she didn't question it further'

Nicola went on to thank those who had donated and supported her family through the difficult time.

She also went on to explain that the money raised would be split between Alexandra's daughter Ella and to the charity Children with Cancer UK.

She said: 'Just want to say a big heartfelt thank you to you all for your support, it meant so much to us how much people cared and it gave us an opportunity to try a treatment that could have been the one to save Alexandra, sadly it wasn't meant to be.

'The money we have leftover from treatment as previously mentioned will go to Ella Alexandra's daughter, which will be put into a trust fund for when she's older and 5% to the charity Children with Cancer UK.'

Speaking about her sister's diagnosis late last year, Nicola said Alexandra had 'all the red flags' of cervical cancer.

'She knew this wasn't normal and she felt so guilty after that she didn't question it further,' Nicola said.

A week after her first smear test Alexandra was informed there were abnormal cells and was sent to the Blackpool Victoria Hospital for a colposcopy.

Despite the pre-cancerous cells present, Alexandra was told to return in 12 months as the hospital felt it wasn't urgent.

Concerned, she went back to her doctor who examined her and felt the tumour before referring her back to hospital straight away where an MRI scan confirmed her diagnosis.

A further scan showed the tumour was swollen and not responding to treatment, while the chemo and radiotherapy damaged Alexandra's other organs.

She was sent to the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre on the Wirral to receive brachytherapy - where radioactive implants are used - and then travelled to London for further specialist treatment.

Despite the tumour shrinking a little, it then began to grow back. She was scheduled for an operation to remove her bowel and reproductive organs, but due to the tumour touching her pelvic wall it was deemed too dangerous and called.

In September Nicola said her sister's taste buds had all gone and her pain was often so excrutiating that she couldn't walk and relied on a wheelchair.
Matt Hancock faced scathing criticism today after he axed Public Health England and handed the reins of its replacement to a Tory peer who led the NHS Test and Trace fiasco and has no scientific background.

Experts said making Baroness Dido Harding interim chief of the new National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) made as 'much sense as Chris Whitty [England's chief medical officer] being appointed a head of Vodafone'.

That was a reference to Harding's lack of public health experience and her previous stint as chief exec of telecoms giant TalkTalk - where she oversaw one of the worst data breaches in the UK that saw hackers to steal bank details from 157,000 customers.

Harding, who was made a peer by David Cameron, has been appointed despite her recent track record in charge of the government's disastrous contact tracing scheme and mobile app that was delayed for months amid bungles over technology.

The health secretary announced the 52-year-old's appointment in a speech today, when he confirmed the axing of PHE. Mr Hancock defended the move, saying Harding's 'excellent experience' running 'very large organisations' made her the right fit for job.

'Baroness Harding has been the chair of NHS Improvement, worked in the NHS, as well as having excellent experience externally, where she has run very large organisations,' Mr Hancock said.

'That combination of experience externally and experience in the NHS and then over the past several months she has been running NHS Test and Trace and building that from scratch into what is now one of the biggest testing and diagnostics organisations in the world. So her leadership will be vital in driving this forwards.'

The remains of PHE will be subsumed into the NIHP's single command structure, which will also involve the Joint Biosecurity Centre  an agency created in May and ran out of the Cabinet Office.

Mr Hancock said the institute, which will begin work today and report directly into him, would have a 'single and relentless mission: protecting people from external threats to this country's health like biological weapons, pandemics and infectious diseases of all kinds.'

Mr Hancock said that the formation of the NIHP gave the UK 'the best chance of beating this virus and spotting and tackling other external health threats now and in the future.'

PHE has been blamed for a litany of errors in the UK's Covid-19 response, including miscounting thousands of virus deaths and failing to ramp up testing capacity quick enough.

Local public health directors have also criticised the beleaguered Government agency for refusing to share regional infection data, with one describing the body as 'an obstructive pain in the a**' on the Radio 4 Today programme this morning.

PHE's failings include:

Miscounting at least 5,000 Covid-19 deaths due to a statistical flaw;

Scrapping widespread testing and contact tracing early in the crisis;

Refusing to share regional infection data with local public health officials;

Ignoring offers from universities and scientific labs to help scale up testing.

Chain of command: Baroness Harding will report directly to the health secretary after her appointment as interim chief of the new National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) today

Matt Hancock today officially axed Public Health England was axed today after a series of failings during the coronavirus crisis. He was criticised for handing the reins of its replacement to Baroness Harding (right)

Baroness Harding's husband, Tory MP John Penrose, is a board member of the think tank '182' which has published several reports calling for PHE to be abolished

PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND's CORONAVIRUS FAILINGS Public Health England has come under fire for a number of its responses to the Covid-19 crisis. Its directors have tried to divert blame, claiming that major decisions are taken by Government ministers in the Department of Health, but the body has been accused of being controlling. These are some of the failures for which PHE has been blamed: Stopping mass testing and tracing On March 12 the Government announced it would no longer test everybody who was thought to have coronavirus, and it would stop tracking the contacts of the majority of cases to try and stop the spread of the disease. As a result, Britain effectively stopped tracking the virus and it was allowed to spiral out of control. Conservative MP David Davis said that was 'precisely the wrong thing to do'. Professor Yvonne Doyle, PHE's medical director, told MPs in May: 'It was a decision that was come to because of the sheer scale of cases in the UK.' She added: 'We knew that if this epidemic continued to increase we would certainly need more capacity.' PHE said: 'Widespread contact tracing was stopped because increased community transmission meant it was no longer the most useful strategy.' Counting deaths inaccurately It emerged last month that Public Health England had been counting coronavirus deaths by checking a list of people who had ever tested positive to see if they were still alive. The cause of someone's death, nor how long it had been since their positive test result, were not taken into account and the agency was accused of 'over-exaggerating' the numbers of people who were dying each day. An investigation into the method by the Department of Health saw 5,000 deaths wiped from the UK's official tally. The statistical flaw was uncovered by Oxford University's Professor Carl Heneghan and Dr Yoon Loke, from the University of East Anglia. Matt Hancock has since brought the figures in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland, which only attribute deaths to Covid-19 if it occurs within a month of their diagnosis. Lack of contact tracing capacity Papers published by Government scientists on SAGE revealed that PHE only had the capacity to cope with five new cases a week on February 18. Only nine cases had been diagnosed at the time. PHE experts said modelling suggested capacity could increased ten-fold to 50 new cases a week  allowing them to contact 8,000 people a day. SAGE said: 'When there is sustained transmission in the UK, contact tracing will no longer be useful.' Britain's cases jumped started to jump by 50 each day at the beginning of March. Pledged antibody tests in March PHE's Professor Sharon Peacock said on March 25 that the UK was on course to have antibody tests available to the public that month. She confirmed the Government had bought 3.5million of the tests and was evaluating their quality. They could be available to the public 'within days', she said at a Downing Street briefing. Three months later, however, and they are still not a reality. Officials have since decided there are no tests good enough available, and there is no proof that the results will be of any use to the public. Testing efforts slowed by 'centralised' lab approach Scientists in private labs, universities and research institutes across the country said in April that their offers to help with coronavirus testing had fallen on deaf ears. Only eight PHE laboratories and some in NHS hospitals were being used to analyse tests during the start of the crisis. 'Little ship' labs had tools to process tests and could have increased testing capacity rapidly if officials had agreed to work with them, they said. But it took Britain until the end of April to manage more than 100,000 tests in a day. Germany had been managing the feat for weeks by utilising private laboratories. PHE says it did not 'constrain or seek to control any laboratory either public, university or commercial from conducting testing for Covid-19'. It claimed that it requested officials changed testing methods in January to allow for any testing facility to conduct diagnostic tests. Advertisement

Independent experts have questioned the decision to appoint Baroness Harding rather than a scientist.

Harding's husband, Tory MP John Penrose, is also board member of the think tank '1828' which has published several reports calling for PHE to be abolished.

Professor Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, told the Telegraph: 'The organisational culture needed for effective science is not the same as that needed for state bureaucracies nor that needed for commercial organisations.

'In this regard it is notable that the president of the RKI [the German equivalent of the new health protection institute] is a highly rated scientist himself.

'So if we do have a to have a new health protection organisation, please this be adequately funded, please can this be science-focussed and please can this be science-led.'

Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at Southampton University said. Her new role 'makes about as much sense as Chris Whitty being appointed the Vodafone head of branding and corporate image', he said.

Liberal Democrat MP and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus Layla Moran called the appointment of Harding to head the new body ' reward for failure'.

She said: 'Given we still don't have an effective Test, Trace and Isolate system, this feels like a reward for failure. 'The Health Secretary has undermined public trust in this new agency before it's even been launched.'

Labour MP for Sefton Central, Bill Esterson, savaged the appointment of Harding today.

He said: 'Dido Harding is a Tory peer and ran the discredited, centralised test and trace [programme].

'She has been appointed to run the body which will replace Public Health England (PHE).

'Her husband, Tory MP John Penrose is a board member of a think tank which called for PHE to be abolished. Join the dots!'

Speaking at the Policy Exchange think tank this morning, Mr Hancock announced the formation of a new organisation, the National Institute for Health Protection, to protect the nation's health 'now and in the future'.

He said the new organisation will have a single mission of 'protecting people from external threats to this country's health' such as pandemics and biological weapons.

Duncan Selbie will be leaving his role as chief executive of PHE and be appointed as a senior advisor to the Department of Health and Social Care on global and public health.

Supporting Baroness Dido Harding in her role will be Michael Brodie, who has been appointed interim chief executive officer of PHE in the meantime. He is currently head of the NHS Business Services Authority.

The British Medical Association has cautioned ministers that the new body must be 'completely independent of political influence'

But other experts have accused the Government of using PHE as a scapegoat.

Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of the prestigious scientific journal, the Lancet, tweeted this morning: 'So. Farewell then PHE. You stood up for public health against Governments that slashed public health budgets over a decade.

'And now you have to take the blame for one of the worst national responses to Covid-19 in the world. Strange, no?'

Dr Amitava Banerjee, a Professor in Clinical Data Science at University College London, told the Telegraph: 'PHE was set up as an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care by a Conservative government and is politically controlled, reporting directly to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

'Therefore, if PHE has fallen short, responsibility lies firmly with the current government and health ministers.'

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth described the axing of PHE as 'irresponsible' and 'desperate blame-shifting'.

He tweeted: 'Last year ministers outlined PHE's priorities. They didn't mention preparing for a pandemic...

'A structural reorganisation mid pandemic is time consuming, energy sapping. It's risky indeed irresponsible.

PHE was made in 2013 under the Conservatives' NHS reorganisation. It replaced the Health Protection Agency (HPA). The agency says on its website it is 'operationally autonomous'.

Government papers show it was 'responsible for ensuring that there are effective arrangements in place for preparing, planning and responding to emergencies'.

The same documents, published before it was created in 2012, make clear the Department of Health will hold it to account for its performance.

PHE's work on obesity and other public health issues will be handed over to local councils and GPs.

Baroness Harding led telecoms giant TalkTalk when it suffered a massive cyber attack in October 2015 when hackers accessed 157,000 customers' details, including bank account numbers.

The Information Commissioner's Office fined it 400,000 over the breach, which ultimately cost the company an estimated 77 million.

The ICO issued TalkTalk with a record fine in 2016 for security failings that it said had allowed customers' data including some 15,656 bank account numbers to be accessed 'with ease'.

Britain's new covid queen who will lead test and trace scheme: Baroness Dido is Tory MP's wife who was raised on a pig farm (and thinks there is too much maternity leave) The former chief executive of TalkTalk, who was at the helm of the company when it was hit by an 80 million cyber attack in 2015, will lead the UK's test and trace scheme to tackle the coronavirus, set to launch tomorrow. Baroness Dido Harding of Winscombe, 53, was raised on a Somerset pig farm and is the granddaughter of Field Marshall Lord Harding, the commander of the Desert Rats who became the most senior soldier in the British army. A former jockey, she studied Policy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, alongside David Cameron, and is the wife of John Penrose, the Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare. Upon graduating, she held a slew of roles at Thomas Cook, Woolworths, Tesco and Sainsbury's. Baroness Harding was appointed CEO of TalkTalk in 2010, serving in the role for seven years, during which the company was the victim of a cyber attack that saw the personal and banking details of 157,000 customers accessed by hackers. She was subjected to repeated blackmail attempts after the hack, with demands for Bitcoins in exchange for stolen data, which included customers' names, email addresses, mobile numbers, home addresses and dates of birth. In the aftermath, TalkTalk was fined a record 400,000 for security failings which allowed the data to be accessed 'with ease' in one of the biggest data breaches in history. TalkTalk is thought to have lost 60million from the fallout with an estimated 100,000 angry customers leaving, mainly to BT, while 2015 profits halved to 14million and shares lost nearly two-thirds of their value. Baroness Harding faced repeated calls to step down over the breach, but stayed on until 2017, when she resigned to focus on her 'public service activities'. Later that year, she was appointed chair of NHS Improvement, responsible for overseeing all NHS hospitals. A powerful figure, she refuses to believe her gender has ever held her back, nor will she endorse female quotas on company boards, which she sees as political meddling. She also thinks that workers have too much maternity leave, despite admitting being the boss has allowed her to successfully juggle her own career with spending time with the two daughters she has with her husband. She said in a 2015 interview: ' I have an enormously privileged position. 'I make a lot of money  a matter of public record  I have a huge amount of help, and I'm more in control of the day and what I do than someone working shifts on the checkout, or running the produce department in a supermarket.' Baroness Harding has also packed in a career as a jockey, which saw her appear at Cheltenham, Ascot and even the towering Grand National jumps at Aintree. One particularly nasty crash over the sticks at Larkhill left her strapped to a spinal board - though she still managed to catch a flight to a conference in Thailand the next day. But, aged 24, she made a rash promise to her husband  she would give it all up at 40. When the date came Penrose, who had not forgotten, made it clear breaching the bargain was a deal-breaker for the marriage. Harding obliged, though does still race without jumps. 'I miss the racing hugely,' she previously admitted. 'If you told me I could go off and do it tomorrow afternoon I would. For me that's always been my way of shutting everything off and relaxing.' Now, she is the leader of the government's coronavirus tracing programme. The NHS Test and Trace system for England will see anyone who develops symptoms told to self-isolate and get tested, with the close contacts of those who are found to be positive for the disease then told to quarantine for 14 days even if they test negative and are not sick. The system is being launched without its NHS contact tracing app centrepiece prompting concerns that without the new technology the Government could struggle to tackle the spread of the disease. Experts immediately said the complexity of the programme meant there could be 'several points of failure' while the Government's political opponents said ministers should never have largely ditched contact tracing in the first place. Mr Hancock said that adhering to self-isolation would be 'voluntary at first' but that he could 'quickly make it mandatory if that is what it takes'. He told the daily Downing Street press conference: 'If you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace instructing you to isolate, you must. It is your civic duty, so you avoid unknowingly spreading the virus and you help to break the chain of transmission.' The launch of the programme was announced by Boris Johnson during an appearance in front of the Liaison Committee this afternoon as he admitted the UK's testing capability was underpowered at the start of the outbreak because the 'brutal reality' was Britain did not 'learn the lessons' of previous pandemics. Advertisement

She has also been spearheading the failing NHS Test and Trace system, which is still struggling to find 50 per cent of Covid-19 patients' close contacts, who are most at risk of being infected.

The government's test and trace app that Baroness Harding oversaw was finally launched last week after months of delays. Developers originally shunned Google and Apple technology in favour of a bespoke app which ultimately proved unworkable.

Harding's husband, Tory MP John Penrose, is also board member of the think tank '182' which has published several reports calling for PHE to be abolished.

Mr Penrose - MP for Weston-Super-Mare - is on the board of advisers for think tank 1828, which describes itself as a neoliberal platform founded to champion freedom.

It has published articles which have been critical of PHE, including one which declared 'We need to think very carefully about whether Public Health England should even have a future.'

The think-piece earlier accused the health body of having 'decided that their control of testing is more acceptable than any outside assistance, regardless of the very human consequences'.

Another story is entitled 'Let's take back control from Public Health England'.

It brands them 'joyless nanny-statists' before stating 'This incessant control freakery from PHE is also bad news for businesses'.

None of the pieces are authored by Mr Penrose and he has previously said he does not agree with all their articles.

He said in July: 'I have written a couple of pieces for 1828 and I was asked to join their advisory board in April, but I am yet to attend a meeting.

'Like any good independent think-tank they publish a range of political ideas.

'I don't necessarily agree with all of them particularly if they contradict the NHS manifesto pledges on which I was elected just six months ago.'

Baroness Harding is currently chairman of NHS Improvement and has held senior roles at Tesco and Sainsbury's during her career.

She was appointed to the Sainsbury's operating board in March 2008 after a stint at Tesco where she held a variety of senior roles both in the UK and international businesses.

Her retail experience was boosted by her time working at Kingfisher plc and Thomas Cook Limited.

She has also served on the board of the British Land Company plc and is a trustee of Doteveryone. Baroness Harding is also a member of the UK National Holocaust Foundation Board.

She became a peer in August 2014 and has sat on the Economic Affairs Committee of the Lords since July 2017.

Her husband is the Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare John Penrose and she is a mother-of-two.

Away from the worlds of politics and business, she is a jockey and racehorse owner who has served on the board of Cheltenham Racecourse.

PHE's most recent blunder forced the Government to wipe 5,000 Covid-19 deaths from its official count.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) reduced the number following an urgent review into how PHE calculates the daily Covid-19 death figures.

Academics found PHE's methods meant victims who tested positive and then died from other causes were added to the list - even if they had made a full recovery from the virus.

The crude method meant even people who beat the disease and were hit by a bus months later were being included in the toll.

The statistical flaw was uncovered by Oxford University's Professor Carl Heneghan and Dr Yoon Loke, from the University of East Anglia.

Dr Loke said at the time: 'This statistical flaw arose because PHE chose a quick and easy technique.

'Their statistical method is reasonably accurate at the beginning of the pandemic, when there were not yet many people in the community who had survived Covid.

'However, PHE did not  and have not yet  realised that glaring inaccuracies arise when tens of thousands of frail older people are discharged from hospital, and these Covid survivors unfortunately die from other, non-Covid related causes.'

Matt Hancock has since brought the figures in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland, which only attribute deaths to Covid-19 if it occurs within a month of their diagnosis.

PHE also came under fire for the way it handled the UK's coronavirus testing system, for which it was responsible at the start of the Covid-19 crisis.

Its directors have tried to divert blame, explaining that major decisions are taken by Government ministers in the Department of Health, but the body has been accused of being controlling.

On March 12 the Government announced it would no longer test everybody who was thought to have coronavirus, and it would stop tracking the contacts of the majority of cases to try and stop the spread of the disease.

As a result, Britain effectively stopped tracking the virus and it was allowed to spiral out of control.

Conservative MP David Davis said that was 'precisely the wrong thing to do'.

Professor Yvonne Doyle, PHE's medical director, told MPs in May: 'It was a decision that was come to because of the sheer scale of cases in the UK.'

She added: 'We knew that if this epidemic continued to increase we would certainly need more capacity.'

PHE said: 'Widespread contact tracing was stopped because increased community transmission meant it was no longer the most useful strategy.'

Launching the new body today, Mr Hancock added: 'To give ourselves the best chance of beating this virus and spotting and tackling other external health threats now and in the future, we need to bring together the science and the skill into one coherent whole.

'So, today, I am announcing that we are forming a new organisation, the National Institute for Health Protection. The National Institute for Health Protection will have a single and relentless mission: protecting people from external threats to this country's health. External threats like biological weapons, pandemics and, of course, infectious diseases of all kinds.'

Mr Hancock said the new institute will play a role across the UK and be dedicated 'to the investigation and prevention of infectious diseases and external health threats'.

He said: 'The National Institute for Health Protection will also work closely with the devolved administrations, taking on existing UK-wide responsibilities and supporting all four chief medical officers with access to the best scientific and analytical advice.

'By bringing these parts of the system together, we can get more than the sum of the parts. And the mission, that mission, is for a purpose, so we have a stronger, more joined-up response to protect people and the communities in which they live.

'It will be dedicated to the investigation and prevention of infectious diseases and external health threats, that'll be its mission. It's conceived amid crisis but it will help maintain vigilance for years to come.'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18) The Philippine Red Cross on Tuesday said it can still conduct COVID-19 tests in the next 10 to 14 days despite the hefty unsettled balances of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to the organization.

In a phone call with CNN Philippines, Red Cross chairman Senator Richard Gordon said the organization can maintain its testing operations for the next few days, and accommodate even patients whose payments will be charged to the state health insurer.

Gordon added that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has reached out to him regarding the case of PhilHealths dues and committed to settle the issue immediately.

Gordon earlier warned of the possible suspension of Red Cross COVID-19 testing for patients whose payments will be charged under PhilHealth, as the organization cannot afford to maintain operations if the agencys debt spikes to 1 billion. As of Monday, he said the unsettled dues stood at around 700 million.

Gordon, in an earlier interview with CNN Philippines, said the Red Cross would need to replenish their resources, with the organization already ordering test kits from China amounting to $6 million.

PhilHealth spokesperson Dr. Shirley Domingo said the agency has paid 504.2 million to the organization as of August 12.

The payables amounting to P714.6 million being referred to by Sen. Dick Gordon were covered by three separate billing statements which PhilHealth received on August 13, 14 and 15, 2020. These will be processed in accordance to the imposed limit subject to additional allocation as may be approved by the Board, Domingo said in a statement on Monday.
Its hard enough to put on a national election under the best of circumstances. But this year, were grappling with public health concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Were also dealing with a president whose hostility to mail-in voting has resulted in cutbacks to a postal system that needs an increase  not a decrease  in resources right now, to handle the expected surge in mail-in ballots.

Louis DeJoy, President Donald Trumps handpicked postmaster general, has made some curious moves in recent weeks: eliminating overtime for mail carriers and removing letter-sorting machines from various post office stations. In addition, Trump has been resistant to the idea of pumping emergency stimulus dollars into the postal system.

In San Antonio, at least four mail-sorting machines reportedly have been dismantled and removed from their locations.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Postal Service sorting machines thrown in the trash

The U.S. Postal Service controversy was a topic of conversation on this weeks episode of the Express-News Puro Politics podcast.

Weve never seen a sitting president try to steal an election by screwing up the Postal Service. This is totally a new one, said Greg Jefferson, business editor of the Express-News.

Jefferson pointed out that DeJoy is framing his moves as part of an effort to bring a businesslike mindset to a cash-strapped agency that runs inefficiently.

But its not a business, Jefferson said. And you see this all the time. People will come in and say, This essential public service is a business and its losing money so lets change it.

You can make operations more efficient, you can stem as much of the loss as you can. But at the end of the day, if its still losing money, sorry, so be it. Its going to lose money. Its an essential public service.

Hear this and other topics discussed on this weeks edition of Puro Politics.

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
Huawei might, just might, be able to cobble together a patchwork of suppliers that not only are non-American but dont even use U.S. technology. But this backup solution would be far inferior to that available to global peers, and any effort would be full of landmines  even if Huawei doesnt care about upsetting the U.S. (that horse has bolted), every single non-American company it deals with, even Chinese, will be rightfully paranoid about putting a foot wrong.
Then Mike got sick and died, and Seager, now a widowed mother of two, came unglued. The merciless seesaw of her grief makes for harrowing reading. Hour by hour, she writes, I felt either broken or bulletproof. In time, a group of six other widows, meeting every other Friday, moving from house to house like emotional squatters, gradually helped Seager return to the world.

The second half of her story gleams with insights into what it means to lose a partner in midlife, and just as the widows helped Seager feel less alone, her story is sure to help any readers grappling with a similar loss. When you lose someone, she writes, you dont lose them all at once, and their dying doesnt stop with their death. You lose them a thousand times in a thousand ways. You say a thousand goodbyes. You hold a thousand funerals.

Johnsons The Sirens of Mars oscillates between a history of Mars science and an account of the authors own journey as a planetary scientist seeking sparks of life in the immensity. She presents efficient thumbnails of astronomers like Percival Lowell, who popularized the idea of visible canals on Mars as evidence of an alien civilization; Carl Sagan, who suggested that big, turtlelike organisms are not only possible on Mars; they may be favored; and Maria Zuber, the only woman among the 87 investigators on the 1996 Mars Global Surveyor science team. Along the way, you come to appreciate the astonishing ingenuity required to safely send rovers the size of Mini Coopers several hundred million kilometers through a frozen vacuum, land them on another planet and drive them around by remote control.

Most compelling are Johnsons memories of formative moments, as a young girl prowling roadcuts for fossils with her father, as a wide-eyed graduate student entering the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the first time (It felt holy to be in those rooms) and as an awed young scientist in Copenhagen holding in her hands bacterial cells 20,000 times older than she is. Johnson remembers feeling odd when, as a college sophomore, she attended a lecture by Zuber. My back straightened as it became clear what I was responding to, she writes. It was the first time Id ever heard a woman give a planetary science talk.

If Johnsons prose swirls with lyrical wonder, as varied and multihued as the apricot deserts, butterscotch skies and blue sunsets of Mars, Seagers is rawer and starker, full of blues and blacks, written in the ink of grief, suffering, healing and  ultimately  clarity. In Seagers hands youre as apt to learn about a special body bag thats designed to slide down stairs as about storm-wracked rogue exoplanets where it rains molten iron.

Both books beautifully dramatize the emotional precarity of having ones career pinned to the fate of space hardware. Both address the challenges of being female physical scientists in a male-dominated field, and both convey the struggle of operating in the vast scales of the universe at work, then commuting home to operate in the humbler scales of the domestic sphere. I was constantly torn in two, always some form of distracted, Seager writes. Johnson, after spending her workday tending to a Mars rover millions of kilometers away, hurries to pick up her kids at preschool. It feels almost impossible to leave, she says, one love tearing me from another.

Spoiler alert: Neither book ends with the exultant discovery of extraterrestrial life. In Johnsons final pages you find yourself spiraling through Herodotus and Euclid; in Seagers you watch her learn how to love again. But these are not disappointments  on the contrary, their testimonies are reminders that we are all just part of a continuum of investigation that extends back through the Enlightenment to Ibn al-Haytham, Aryabhata, and Aristotle, human links in centuries-long chains of questions.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-17 23:39:31|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday reported 3,202 new COVID-19 cases, indicating a decline in the daily infections compared to the past few days, while the total nationwide infections climbed to 180,133.

The Health Ministry's teams and institutions have used 21,403 testing kits across the country during the day, raising the total testing kits used so far to 1,304,331, the ministry said in a statement.

It also reported 94 fatalities during the day, raising the death toll from the virus to 5,954, while 3,571 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 128,945.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Health Minister Hassan Al-Tamimi said in a statement that the ministry decided to establish a center for blood diseases dedicated to people infected with coronavirus in an attempt to improve the efforts to confront the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision to establish the center was taken during al-Tamimi's meeting with the administration of the Medial City in the presence of a number of physicians specialized in blood diseases, according to the statement.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Iraq has been taking measures to contain the pandemic.

China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Iraq's capital Baghdad.

Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
(TNS)  The National Science Foundation awarded Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., with nearly a million dollars to fund a study on the undergraduate success of talented, low-income students enrolled in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.The project  named Financial, Academic, Social, and Mental Health Supports to Improve STEM Undergraduate Student Retention and Graduation  will be headed up by Rickey Caldwell Jr., an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Merrimack College.Too often, talented people dont have the means or opportunity to grow their talents into great careers, said 6th District Congressman Seth Moulton, who announced the grant Wednesday. Merrimack College will help more people put their talents to use and land great jobs with what they learn through the study this grant funds.Caldwell and his team of researchers will provide 20 students with four years of financial aid and specialized support services  including access to mental health professionals  with the goal of determining which social, emotional, and mental health factors influence their success.According to the study's abstract on the National Science Foundation's website, The project's research goals are to quantify student grit, resilience, and other factors over the course of the program and will use statistical analysis to probe the interactions between these factors and student success.Merrimack College is going to receive the $999,523 grant Aug. 15.
TORRINGTON  KidsPlay Childrens Museum will be visited Wednesday by Dr. William Sudduth, a well-known expert in the museum field, according to a statement.

Sudduth will meet with museum members and target audience members at 10 a.m., according to the statement.

Mayor Elinor Carbone will lead Sudduth on a downtown walking tour at 1 p.m. Stops will include the Torrington Historical Society museum, the Warner Theatre, Nutmeg Conservatory and Five Points Center for the Arts gallery, according to the statement.

The visit will conclude with an open house at 4 p.m. Invited guests include elected officials and members of the business and nonprofit community in Torrington, including museum director Eileen Marriott, KidsPlay Childrens Museum board president Ken Merz, museum liason Mary Guilfoile and Mayor Carbone, museum officials said.

KidsPlay Childrens Museum is participating in the Museum Assessment Program, administered by the American Alliance of Museums. Through guided self-study and on-site consultation with a museum professional, participation in MAP will empower KidsPlay to better serve the citizens of Northwest Connecticut by facilitating its mission and exceeding the highest professional standards of the museum field, Marriott said in a statement.

According to the statement, since its creation in 1981, the MAP program has served more than 5,000 museums. MAP is supported through a cooperative agreement between AAM and IMLS. For more information, including a complete list of museums participating in MAP, visit www.aamus.org/map, call 202-289-9118 or e-mail map@aam-us.org. The website also has information about museums across the country that have previously participated in MAP and other AAM Excellence Programs, such as Core Document Verification and Accreditation.

AAM is the only organization representing the nations entire museum community and has been dedicated to promoting excellence within the museum field for over 100 years, officials said.

For more information about AAM, visit www.aam-us.org. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nations 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. To learn more about the Institute, visit http://www.imls.gov.

According to its website, KidsPlay Childrens Museum was founded in 2012 as a not-for-profit organization with more than 11,000 square feet of interactive exhibits that spark curiosity and creativity. The museum focuses on the developmental needs of children ages 1 to 10. KidsPlay provides opportunities for children and their caregivers to share intrinsically memorable, whole family learning experiences and build skills that extend beyond the museum. The museum enriches the educational landscape for families from across the socio-economic, cultural, and educational spectrum. For more information, visit www.kidsplaymuseum.org.

The museum is open to the public Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. All visitors are required to reserve or purchase a timed-entry ticket in advance to manage capacity and provide plenty of space for physical distance between groups of visitors.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijani tankers will compete with tank crews from Belarus, China and Serbia as part of the "Tank Biathlon" international army contest being held in Russia, the Defense Ministrys press service reported on August 17.

Attended by representatives of 16 countries, the draw for the teams participating in the Tank Biathlon competition took place at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Centre in Moscow on August 17. Based on the results of the performance in 2019, the teams were divided into two divisions.

The first division included teams from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Serbia and Uzbekistan. According to the draw, Azerbaijan and Russia will compete on red tanks in the first division, while Belarus and Uzbekistan on blue tanks, Serbia and Kazakhstan on yellow tanks, China and Kyrgyzstan on green tanks.

The Azerbaijani tank crewmembers will take part in the Tank Biathlon competition on the opening day of the International Army Games-2020 on 23 August.

Along with the Azerbaijani tankers, the teams from Belarus, Serbia and China will also take part on the opening day of the "Tank Biathlon" competition.

Held as part of the International Army Games-2020, the Tank Biathlon contest will take place in the Russian Alabyno military training area near Moscow from August 23 to September 5.

At the competition, the crews will demonstrate their driving, shooting and obstacle crossing skills. The military ground is composed of various sites with ramparts, ditches, firing emplacements and lines.

It should be noted that Azerbaijani servicemen first participated in the Tank Biathlon competition in 2016.

Azerbaijani tank crews competed with the teams of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan in the final relay race in the first division in the Tank Biathlon 2019 competition and took the 4th place in the competition.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

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SEOUL, Aug 18 (Reuters) - North Korea plans to convene a key meeting of the ruling party on Wednesday and discuss economic and military issues amid international sanctions and recent flood damage, state media said.

The ruling Workers' Party's powerful politburo will gather for its sixth plenary meeting to decide on the issues of "crucial significance in developing the Korean revolution and increasing the fighting efficiency of the party," the official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday.

The meeting comes as the isolated country is struggling to contain the coronavirus and cope with flood damage after weeks of heavy rain that hit the Korean peninsula.

Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to make a "frontal breakthrough" in the country's campaign to build a self reliant economy in the face of tightening sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programmes. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Despite "substantial abuses of discretion and operational failures," the dismissal of charges against Jussie Smollett by Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx and her staff did not rise to the level of criminal wrongdoing, according to Special Prosecutor Dan K. Webb.

In Jan. 2019, the former "Empire" actor told police he was targeted in a racist and homophobic attack in which he claimed the attackers struck him, put a noose around his neck, and poured some sort of chemical substance on him.

After an investigation, police determined that Smollett staged the attack, hiring two brothers to help pull it off. He was charged and indicted, but Foxx's office dropped all the charges in March, 2019. That prompted Webb's appointment last summer by a judge to investigate what happened.

Webb said he concluded that Foxx shouldn't legally have recused herself and appointed a deputy, Joseph Magats, to be acting state's attorney and that when she learned of this "major legal defect" she "ignore[d]" advice on how to remedy the problem. The proper procedure was to "recuse the entire CCSAO and petition the court to appoint a special prosecutor."

PHOTO: In this Feb. 24, 2020, file photo, former 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett arrives at court for his arraignment on renewed felony charges in Chicago. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Reuters, FILE)

He also said that Foxx maintained contact with Smollett's sister, Jurnee Smollett, even after learning on Feb. 8 that he was a suspect, and "then made false statements to the media claiming she ceased all communications with Ms. Smollett as soon as she learned that Mr. Smollett was a suspect." Webb contends that Foxx was in contact with the sister until Feb 13, 2019.

In addition, Webb wrote that prosecutors in Foxx's office "did not learn of any new evidence between when the CCSAO filed a 16-count indictment against Mr. Smollett on March 7, 2019, when the CCSAO believed it had a strong case against Mr. Smollett, and March 26, 2019, when the entire indictment was dismissed."

Webb further contended in the report that under subpoena, key decision-makers in Cook County State's Attorney's Office (CCSAO)'s dismissal of the case offered "significantly and meaningfully divergent explanations for how the resolution was reached."

Story continues

PHOTO: In this Feb. 22, 2019 file photo, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx speaks at a news conference, in Chicago. (Kiichiro Sato/AP, FILE)

Foxx said in a statement that her office "categorically rejects the [special prosecutor]'s characterizations of its exercises of prosecutorial discretion and private or public statements as 'abuses of discretion' or false statements to the public," and that "any implication that statements made by the CCSAO were deliberately inaccurate is untrue." She said her office would submit a written response to the full report after receiving it.

'An abundance of caution'

Foxx recused herself abruptly from the case on Feb. 19, 2019, out of "an abundance of caution  based on familiarity with potential witnesses in the case," a spokesperson said at the time. Smollett was soon charged with felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report, and turned himself in to police. On March, 8, 2019 a grand jury returned a 16 count indictment against him. Less than three weeks later, Foxx's office dismissed all charges against Smollett.

(MORE: What happened? Timeline of investigation into Jussie Smollett's attack claim)

The conclusions of Webb's investigation into Foxx's office completes the second half of the special prosecutor's mandate.

He was appointed last year by Cook County Circuit Judge Michael Toomin to determine whether Smollett should be prosecuted again after Foxx's office dismissed the charges and investigate the CCSAO's handling of the case. Webb concluded that Smollet should.

PHOTO: In this Nov. 14, 2018, file photo, Kim Foxx, State's Attorney at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, speaks at the Town & Country Philanthropy Series in Chicago. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Town & Country, FILE)

In February, an Illinois grand jury presented with Webb's findings indicted Smollett on six counts of disorderly conduct related to making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers. Smollett's trial has been delayed by the pandemic.

(MORE: State's Attorney Kim Foxx calls Jussie Smollett 'washed up celeb who lied' and R. Kelly 'pedophile' in texts)

Foxx acknowledged in her statement that lessons were learned following the fallout from her decision to drop the charges against Smollett.

"As a result of the issues addressed in the press release, and of discussions of them beforehand, the CCSAO has already made a number of changes to its operations, including the hiring of a new CCSAO ethics officer and more separation of their function from the administration of the office, and strengthening the recusal plan with clear guidelines and explicit definitions of conflicts of interest."

In March, Foxx won a Democratic primary and is expected to prevail against her Republican opponent in November, two years after winning a previous Democratic primary for which she went on to win 72% of the general election vote, according to the Chicago Tribune. She manages the second largest prosecutor's office in the U.S., behind only the Los Angeles County District Attorney, according to the CCSAO website.

ABC News' Josh Margolin, Stephanie Wash, Alex Perez, Karma Allen and Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

Facing reelection, top Chicago prosecutor will not face charges in Jussie Smollett case probe originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved the crisis rocking the party in Cross River State as the party appointed interim executives, headed by Mathew Mbu, a former senator, to pilot the affairs of the party in the state.

The APC Caretaker Committee Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, said this on Tuesday at a news conference shortly after the reconciliation and peace meetings at the partys secretariat in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that there were two APC factional executives, headed by John Ochala and Godwin Etim, respectively.

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Mr Apanudoedehe commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee, headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni, the opportunity to bring peace to the party in the state.

I was given a mandate by the Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee, Gov. Mai Mala Buni, to resolve the lingering crisis in Cross River State.

I am happy to announce to all of us that we have reached a consensus and we have finally achieved peace in Cross River State.

May I use this opportunity to thank Mr President and the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) for giving us the opportunity to bring peace to the party, the partys scribe said.

The Minister of State for Power, Goddy Agba, expressed happiness over the partys stakeholders consensus to end the crisis in Cross River.

I am glad to announce that today we have put an end to the crisis in Cross River.

We have sat down and we have agreed and come to a unanimous conclusion that we have a new party chairman in the person of Sen. Matthew Mbu (Jr) to henceforth lead us in Cross River APC, he said.

The former factional Chairman, Mr Etim, said he stood by the consensus arrangement.

By Gods grace the leadership of our beloved brother, Sen. Matthew Mbu Jr. I want to state that I will give him support in all ramifications and go ahead to assist in delivering APC in Cross River State.

Mr Ochala also said: We thank God that peace has finally come to the leadership of APC in the state.

By the wisdom of the national leadership of our party and critical stakeholders from Cross River State, today a nomination has been made for a new state chairman of APC in Cross River in the person of Sen. Mathew Mbu Jr.

I subscribe absolutely to it and I pledge my unalloyed loyalty to the new leadership and we will give all our best to ensure that the forthcoming by-elections of the Senate and state Assembly will be the first testament of our resolve to work together, he said.

(NAN)
PHOENIX, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Uncle Herbs, an award-winning brand of cannabis-infused products in Arizona, is introducing the HIGHker's Lunchbox  a limited edition, artist-designed collectible filled with some of the company's most popular products.

The HIGHker's Lunchbox was designed by Jasmin Meier - an internationally known artist and illustrator based in Byron Bay, Australia, who has worked with some of the most popular brands in the world.

The HIGHker's Lunchbox includes an assortment of Uncle Herb's most in-demand products:

Botanical Joint Salve - 250mg

Dried Pineapple - 100mg

Peanut Butter Pretzels - 100mg

Cherry Bombs - 100mg

Natural Chapstick - 20mg

The HIGHker's Lunchbox encourages perfect pairings and fun adventures. For example, paring Uncle Herb's infused Cherry Bombs, Dried Pineapples, and Peanut Butter Pretzels makes a really nice trail mix for a hike, rafting, camping, or other adventures. The Lip Balm will protect during the outing, and the Uncle Herb's Infused Botanical Salve will help soothe sore muscles afterwards.

Limited Availability

There are a limited number of HIGHker's Lunchboxes. Brandy Page Jones, Wholesale Manager at Uncle Herbs, said she expects these "objet d'art" to sell out quickly.

"We've put together an amazing combination of popular products inside a limited-edition, functional and collectible carrying case, designed by a world-renown artist," she said. "I wouldn't be surprised if these sell out within the first day or two."

Uncle Herbs is one of Arizona's most popular and award-winning brands, with accolades that include "Best Edible" from both the Phoenix New Times, and the 710 Cup.

Uncle Herbs products are loved throughout Arizona. The company is respected because they use only the highest quality natural and wholesome ingredients, and carefully craft their products in small batches to ensure the highest quality.

The HIGHker's Lunchbox will be available at select dispensaries throughout Arizona.

Learn more by calling 928-474-2420.

CONNECT:

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SOURCE Uncle Herbs
Foothills Park, a gorgeous 1,400-acre recreation area on the San Francisco Peninsula, is the only park of its scope in California open just to city residents. That will change later this year with the start of a pilot program approved by the Palo Alto City Council allowing limited entry to non-residents for the first time in the parks 55-year history.

Located along Page Mill Road above Stanford, about 3 miles west of Interstate 280, Foothills Park is roughly the size of San Franciscos Presidio. It spans valleys, wooded canyons and hilltops with views of the South Bay. Features include a small lake for canoeing and fishing, pretty picnic sites under the oaks, and 15 miles of trails that include a gorgeous 8-mile loop to a remote creek and its watershed. Wildlife sightings can include deer, bobcats and mountain lions.

As soon as this fall, non-residents will be allowed access for an entry fee, probably $6 according to a staff report. A daily limit on non-resident vehicles, most likely up to 50, would be enforced.

The details and implementation of the program are still being worked out and require Council approval, a ranger said. That will be followed by a ballot measure in 2022 where voters would decide whether to expand the program.

A handful of communities in the Bay Area and beyond have a residents-only policy for facilities: a dog park in Foster City; a small city park in Mountain Home (San Joaquin County), and recreation sites in Rossmoor, a gated community near Walnut Creek. None have the scope and opportunities of Foothills Park.

The City of Palo Alto bought the land in 1959 for $1.29 million, and when neighboring cities refused to help fund the purchase, Palo Alto blocked access to non-residents when the park opened in 1965.

Over the past 55 years, many have tried to overturn the rule. In the aftermath of George Floyds killing this summer, the argument that exclusive access to Foothills Park is discriminatory gained a foothold.

No start date has been set, and for now, only Palo Alto residents with proof of address, and their guests, are allowed past the entry kiosk.

I have hiked every trail in the park, boated and fished the small lake, and watched deer, bobcat and mountain lions emerge at dusk. This is what awaits visitors:

Views: As you drive into the park a short distance, the first right turn takes you to Vista Hill. This 950-foot perch provides a panorama that includes the Stanford foothills and South San Francisco Bay and beyond to the East Bay ridgeline and south to Mount Hamilton on the horizon.

Canoeing: A small dock on little Boronda Lake provides access for hand-powered boating, with canoe rentals available May through October. Boaters often paddle over to a small island, where waterfowl and occasional raptors are common.

Fishing: Boronda Lake has small bass, catfish, bluegill and sunfish. Unfortunately, the lake is very shallow, which stunts fish growth, and when sunlight hits the lake bottom, triggers weed growth.

Picnics: The park road passes the lake and then descends into a long valley and a fork; to the left is Wildhorse Valley (oak woodlands), to the right is Las Trampas Valley (grassland meadow). Straight ahead, between the two, is Orchard Glen, a pretty picnic area set in oaks with tables, barbecues and plenty of shade. Reservations available.

Hiking, short: A 1.3-mile loop ventures up into woodlands, emerges for valley views, and then descends to a meadow valley. From Orchard Glen Picnic Area, walk a short distance south into Wild Horse Valley and to the Sleep Hollow Trail on your right. It rises up 0.3 mile to the Sunrise Trail. Turn right and walk another 0.3 mile to Los Trancos Trail (bear right) and descend to Las Trampas Valley.

Hiking, long: The Los Trancos Trail is an 8-mile loop that ventures into the parks most remote riparian corridor. From Orchard Glen Picnic Area, the trailhead is to your south in Wildhorse Valley, on your right. The highlight is a 2-mile stretch along Los Trancos Creek, a gorgeous riparian watershed in oak woodlands. When open to all hikers, this route would rate in my Top 50 of all Bay Area hikes.

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.

Wildlife: In summer and fall, dawn and dusk can be magic here. In Las Trampas Valley, deer often emerge to graze, at times in a small herd. Mountain lion have been verified in Wildhorse Valley and Los Trancos Creek. At dusk at Boronda Lake, while fishing the surface bite for bass, Ive seen a lion and bobcat at different times along the shoreline trail near the island.

Camping: From May through October, a small hike-in camp, Towle Campground, is available at the head of Wildhorse Valley. Reservations are available, $40 per night per site. From parking near Orchard Glen Picnic area, reaching Towle Campground requires backpacking a little under a half mile. A spur near the camp for the Coastanoan Trail leads up 1.4 miles and connects to the Los Trancos Trail.

Tom Stienstra is The Chronicles outdoor writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @StienstraTom.

If you want to go

The Foothills Park pilot program opening the recreation area to non-residents begins later this year.

GPS Location: 11799 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills

Contact: City of Palo Alto, Foothills Park, 650-329-2423; www.cityofpaloalto.org  click on Open Space Preserves
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".
He said the agreement with Greece comes amid tensions in the East Mediterranean region and attempted provocations by some countries. He was apparently referring to Turkey, which stands on the opposing side in Libyas years-long conflict that has turned into a proxy war.
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse have been arrested in Bamako by soldiers in an apparent coup attempt.

"We have taken control of the President of the Republic and his Prime Minister," a mutiny leader told RFI correspondent Serge Daniel.

We went to his home where he was with the prime minister. We asked him to come with us for a discussion. They are currently in our hands and we are going to Kati, he added.

Soldiers shot guns in the air Tuesday morning at Soundiata Keita military barracks in Kati, some 15 kilometres from Bamako before taking control of the barracks and military officials.

After travelling to the capital, the mutineers arrested high-ranking army officers, including the Minister of Defence, and reportedly other civilians.

The mutineers were yet to clarify their motives, but there has been growing anger among soldiers about salaries amid the ongoing fight against jihadists.

The incident follows more than two months of street protests calling for the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Tuesday's events in Mali sparked widespread international condemnation.

The chairman of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat said: "I forcefully condemn the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Prime Minister (Boubou Cisse) and other members of the Malian government, and call for their immediate release."

The European Union denounced an "attempted coup" and rejected all unconstitutional change, diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

The UN Security Council is to hold emergency meeting on the situation on Wednesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his full support for mediation efforts after speaking to his Niger and Ivorian counterparts, Mahamadou Issoufou and Alassane Ouattara, respectively, as well as Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall.

Macron is "closely following the situation and condemns the attempted mutiny in progress, according to the presidents office.
A mother has issued a chilling warning to parents after a stranger asked for pictures of her children wearing nappies.

The woman, only known as Jo, felt 'odd and weird' when she was asked to send a photo of her four-year-old daughter wearing a spare nappy she listed for sale online.

The Melbourne mum posted the advert selling Huggies Toddler nappies to Facebook's Marketplace and was outraged by the man's 'inappropriate' request.

Screenshots of the interactions supplied to Kidspot show the 'paedophile' asking whether the items were still available before requesting to see a picture of one of the items.

The woman thought the request was 'odd and weird' but calmly responded with two pictures showing a close up of the Mini Mouse print on a nappy.

Screenshots of the interactions (pictured) supplied to Kidspot show the 'perv' asking whether the items were still available before requesting to see a picture of one of the items

Jo told Kidspot she assumed the man was only asking due to being a father and being 'worried he might get the wrong ones'.

But the man's messages then took a sickening turn as he asked to 'see a pair of them on one of your kids please'.

She responded by stating his request was inappropriate before reporting his profile to Facebook.

'By looking at his profile, I quickly summed up that he was a perv and, most likely, a paedophile ... I felt disgusted that someone tried to violate my daughter,' Jo told Kidspot.

The man's request then took a turn for the worst when he asked Jo to 'see a pair of them on one of your kids please' (pictured)

The mother is now calling for others to be cautious about posting pictures of their children online as 'it may be used for something unsavoury'.

'The internet is not a safe place anymore so better be always cautious than sorry,' she told Kidspot.

Jo's post on the interaction has caused a stir online, with many commenters venting their disgust and sharing how unbelievable the situation was.

One commenter called the man an 'absolute pig' while another said the interaction was 'the reason why I never post pictures of my kids online'.
The outdoor delivery robot service newly introduced to Gwanggyo Alley Way can be used by anyone, including residents and visitors. 1,100 residents of apartments and studio flats in Gwanggyo Alley Way can choose the menu and make orders from the restaurants and cafes within the apartment complex by just opening their Baemin applications and scanning QR codes in their houses. Orders can also be made at the plaza within the complex, using QR codes placed on outdoor tables.

When there's an order, the five Dilly drives at Gwanggyo Alley Way go from the station to the restaurant on its own. And once the restaurant staff places the food in Dilly Drive and press 'go' button, the robot starts the delivery. Customers can check the current location of Dilly Drive via Baemin application and get notifications 100m before and upon arrival. Customers can receive food either on the first floor of the building or at the designated outdoor table in the plaza.

The Dilly Drive at Gwanggyo Alley Way has evolved with a newly added remote control function, which the Dilly Drive used at the Konkuk University campus did not have. With its 6 wheels, Dilly Drive walks in the speed of 4~5 km per hour, which is the speed of a person walking. Once charged, it can run for more than 8 hours, and with its headlights, it can deliver at night as well. Dilly Drive can carry about 6 lunch boxes or 12 cups of beverages per delivery.

Woowa Brothers has prepared various safety measures to guarantee the safe driving of Dilly Drive. The company has thoroughly examined the road condition and travel route of the people in the complex, and set Dilly Drive to go slowly in parts where there usually are a lot of people or children. At crosswalks with a lot of cars, Dilly Drive comes to a stop, and its safety has been enhanced with the real time control via the video surveillance system installed at the apartment complex. For the first month of service, Dilly Drive will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the weekdays, and its hours of operation will gradually be extended.

It is a first time in Korea and not very common worldwide for a delivery robot to receive food from restaurants and deliver outdoors. There is a higher technological barrier for outdoor self-driving robots than for indoor robots. Outdoor self-driving robots have to detect the subtle movements of not only cars and bicycles but also children and companion animals, and can only be commercialized when they operate stably even on bumpy roads and ever-changing weather conditions.

In November 2019, Woowa Brothers has conducted a month-long pilot test in Konkuk University campus to commercialize Dilly Drive. At the time, Dilly Drive has carried out more than 2,000 deliveries and improved its service quality. And from last June, Woowa Brothers has been working together with SK Telecom to conduct tests to build the control system crucial to outdoor delivery robot service.

The outdoor delivery robot service via Dilly Drive is going to be a new source of income for restaurant and cafe owners. Until now, customers were reluctant to make close-range deliveries due to delivery fees. Since robots carry out close-range deliveries at half the existing delivery fee, owners can now expect new sales revenue.

Woowa Brothers plans to keep enhancing the technological standard of outdoor delivery robot. For now, Dilly Drive can self drive from the restaurant to the first floor of an apartment, but it will be able to deliver right to the door in the first half of 2021.

Joseph Kim, Head of Robot Business Development at Woowa Brother said, "Outdoor delivery robot service includes a lot more obstacles that interrupt the robot's drive, such as the road surface, obstacles, the weather, unexpected events, and so on. It can be commercialized when sophisticated technology and service know-hows come together." He also added that "Woowa Brothers will continue the development of delivery robot service for advanced delivery ecosystem."

Woowa Brothers operate South Korea's most favored food delivery platform, "Baedal Minjok." While the company ceaselessly works to innovate the food-tech industry through robotics technology, recently, it also launched 'B Mart,' a service that delivers groceries under 30 minutes, to expand its line of business. Since the company first launched the app in 2010, Woowa Brothers grew to attract 10 million monthly active users and accomplished KRW 8.7 trillion yearly transactions last year.

Media Contact

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SOURCE Woowa Brothers Corp.

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo may not have electrified the nation during his Monday night speech at the Democratic National Convention, but the five-minute address arguably achieved something more important to the governor by helping him spin the coronavirus pandemic as a great personal success despite evidence to the contrary.

These efforts began as soon as the first confirmed cases emerged in New York more than five months ago. They accelerated during his more than 100 straight days of news conferences, and now include a model mountain, a panned political poster and a new book on crisis leadership slated for an October release.

For all the pain and all the tears, our way worked and it was beautiful, Cuomo said in his prerecorded DNC address. We saw the failure of a government that tried to deny the virus, and tried to ignore it, and then tried to politicize it  the failed federal government that watched New York get ambushed by their negligence.

While the governor has presented himself since the beginning of the crisis as a can-do master of disaster, his version of history leaves out critical details about why the pandemic was so much deadlier in New York than anywhere else in the country. This was due to some extent because of the governors crucial missteps. Thousands of deaths could have been avoided had the governor heeded the warnings of impending disaster from public health experts in February and early March.

His handling of the crisis also highlights personal qualities that Cuomo is not likely to brag about in his new book. This includes an inability to admit mistakes, as best evidenced by his ongoing denial of responsibility for thousands of nursing home deaths. His refusal to say how many nursing home residents later died in hospitals also harms his commitment to transparency. Then there were all the times he overruled policy announcements from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio  and then adopted the mayors ideas soon after.

A Cuomo spokesman disagreed with ongoing criticism in the media that the governor did not act fast enough at the outset of the crisis. Those theories were disproven, Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi wrote in an email to City & State. Now even the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) admits that the virus was likely in New York in early February  brought in by flights from Europe that the federal government allowed to go unabated for weeks after they grounded air travel from China. Azzopardi added that criticisms about the administrations handling of nursing home deaths were conspiracies that ignore basic facts and somehow ignore issues in virtually every other state that shows infections spread by asymptomatic staffers.

The governor deserves credit for the current low levels of infection in New York, especially for how he used his daily briefings and the scientific expertise around him to get the coronavirus under control when it was rapidly spreading in many other states. A willingness to humor President Donald Trump by saying nice things about him also secured vital federal aid as hundreds of New Yorkers were dying every day in March and April. His daily press briefings did play a big part in calming public anxieties about the crisis.

Yet, the governor is seeking more credit than he may deserve. Vice President Joe Biden and other leading Democrats appear to be OK with that judging by the way they let Cuomo present his version of history on Monday night. His latest appearance on the national stage has inspired renewed chatter about a future presidential run. One recent poll even showed him leading the Democratic field in 2024.

The governor has repeatedly denied that he has any interest in a future White House run. Maybe we should take him at his word and believe that he is just trying to be the best governor he can be  or at least present himself as such. Either way, his handling of the pandemic is now a key part of his legacy, and the governor is doing everything he can to make sure that the first draft of history gets rewritten to his liking.

Update: This article has been updated with a comment from Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi that was provided after publication.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 11:03:00|Editor: huaxia

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by Zhang Yongxing

SUVA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- "The Chinese language online learning is a great hit in the South Pacific island nations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The students have voiced their strong satisfaction with our online courses that have brought them not only knowledge but also happiness during this difficult time," a director of the Confucius Institute at the University of the South Pacific (CI-USP) said.

Yang Hui, the Chinese director of the CI-USP, told Xinhua that after the outbreak of the coronavirus early this year, the island countries including Fiji closed their schools as part of their efforts to fight COVID-19. For the teachers at the CI-USP and the three Confucius Classrooms, they were not idle at home, but responded quickly by adjusting their teaching methods and they have had a successful transition from face-to-face instruction to online teaching.

Jointly established in 2012 by Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) and the University of South Pacific (USP), the Suva-based CI-USP also has three Confucius Classrooms in Fiji's Lautoka Campus, the Cook Islands Campus and the Emalus Campus in Vanuatu.

"The challenge was huge, but for the teachers like us with a strong determination, we acted swiftly and decided to meet this challenge by converting our face-to-face teaching to online classes. Our teachers also set up online learning groups to answer questions and interact with students, which not only makes normal teaching uninterrupted, but also guarantees the teaching quality to the utmost extent," she said.

"We can say proudly that no single student was lost in all our classes."

Yang attributed the online courses' success to the well-designed online teaching system, the joint efforts made by the teachers of CI-USP and the three Confucius Classrooms and the students on the campus.

"Our online courses are rich in resources, diverse in forms, and systematically scientific. There are video lecture for students to learn like normal classes; There are also audio materials for students to download and review anytime and anywhere; There are voice test plug-ins for students to upload voice homework for teachers to give feedback and comments, and there is a Chinese character writing plug-in for students to practice stroke order," she said.

"Besides this, the teachers of CI-USP and the three Confucius Classrooms work with every effort to get to this. They managed to do regular online meetings during the pandemic, discussing the adjustment of mid-term, final exams, quiz and evaluation standards," Yang said.

"They also had to find ways to adapt to the local conditions. For example, due to the slow internet speed, teachers needed to split the two-hour instructional lecture video into several 5-7 minute videos to facilitate upload and download. And we have to mention that while showing strong interests in our online courses, the students also gave us a big support."

Undoubtedly, the successful online courses have triggered good comments from teachers and students.

Akanisi Kedrayate, dean of the Faculty of Arts, Law and Education of USP, expressed her appreciation for CI-USP's online teaching and shared the CI-USP's teaching videos with other departments in the faculty.

"A student survey has shown that the video courses recorded by the CI-USP are most popular with our students," she said.

Karishma Naicker, a student from the Lautoka campus, hailed the online classes, saying that "My Chinese classes would not have been so much clear and satisfactory without the help of my Chinese teachers. The explanation and examples given in class are very informative."

"The theory is in a very detailed and simplified form which is very helpful for the students during classes. My teachers guidance towards us learning Chinese is very helpful and I am very sure that I will be able to learn the language quickly."

Mosese Waqavonovono, chairman of CI-USP Alumni, has been learning Chinese language for eight years. He expressed his love and appreciation for the grammar videos, saying that "these videos are very interesting and useful, and I am very grateful to my teacher sharing it with us."

Lindy Teilai, a 20-year-old student, has been studying in Beijing for years. She returned to Fiji for her winter holiday but could not go back to China just due to the pandemic.

"I like Chinese language very much and I also like the heartwarming things my teacher does in our class. I believe that Chinese language learning is very useful because it will not only broaden our vision, but also help us do something to enhance people's mutual understanding and friendship," she told Xinhua.

Yang and other Chinese teachers are proud of what they are doing now.

"As a bridge to help people learn Chinese language and also help promote mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples in China and the Pacific region, the CI-USP and the three Confucius Classrooms are no doubt favored by the peoples in the region. We are very proud that we can continue to play such a role in the years to come," Yang said. Enditem
Well, a new report by Android Police confirms that several users are now experiencing a new Google Voice incoming call bug. This new bug ultimately makes the users miss the incoming calls on Google Voice.

The Google Voice incoming call bug is affecting the users in different ways. However, the end result is the same, i.e. they are missing their calls. Users took to official Google support platform to bring this issue to light.

Basically, this bug causes the incoming call notification to disappear, call pop-up does not respond, the phone does not ring, or the call moves over to their other linked devices, skipping their primary device.

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Fortunately, Google has acknowledged this issue on its support platform. Sadly, users have to stick with this issue for some time as the developers will take some time fixing this Google Voice incoming call bug.

The Google Voice incoming call bug is widespread and is linked with WiFi calling

You can find out several reports on multiple platforms including Reddit, Google support websites, etc. where users have raised complaints regarding this Google Voice incoming call bug.

Notably, one thing that can be deduced from the user complaints is that it has something to do with the WiFi Calling feature. This issue pops up when users are connected to WiFi instead of their regular carrier network.

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Though there are some cases where incoming calls on WiFi are fine, but not on LTE. Apparently, this issue is pretty widespread and is quite variable.

Luckily, Google came forward and acknowledged this issue. As per Google, iPhone users are more affected by this bug than Android users.

Besides, iPhone users are getting unusual pop-ups named Google Voice audio or Hangouts audio. Google also points out that this issue is baked into the underlying infrastructure of Google Voice. And it will take some time to resolve.

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Google has provided a few solutions to fix this issue for the time being

There are a couple of partial fixes given by Google to mitigate this issue, while they work on the bug.

If you are having trouble using the Hangouts mobile app, users need to head over to Settings. Select the Gmail address and toggle off the incoming calls option.

Moreover, Google Voice users simply need to switch the incoming call settings on Google Voice to Carrier number only. In the meantime, these are the only fixes available.

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It could be a little frustrating for users who primarily use Google Voice for their important calls. But we would advise you to direct your phone calls over to your carrier number until the fix arrives.
The President of Mali has announced his resignation, hours after mutinous soldiers fired shots into the air outside his home before detaining him and the country's prime minister.

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, 75, was seized in a dramatic escalation of a months-long crisis in the fragile West African country.

Prime Minister Boubou Cisse was also seized, say officials.

United Nations head Antonio Guterres demanded 'the immediate and unconditional release' of Mr Keita and members of his government.

But a 'distressed-looking' Mr Keita last night announced on state television that he would step down from power, three years before his final term was due to end.

But a 'distressed-looking' Mr Keita last night announced on state television that he would step down from power, three years before his final term was due to end

Fears of a coup in Mali are growing after mutinous troops today seized the country's president and several government ministers, sparking condemnation by UN chiefs

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, 75, was seized in a dramatic escalation of a months-long crisis in the fragile West African country. Prime Minister Boubou Cisse has also been seized, according to reports.

Malian troops and citizens gathered outside the private residence of Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in Bamako, Mali today

Speaking on national broadcaster ORTM just before midnight, Keita, wearing a mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said his resignation was effective immediately.

A banner across the bottom of the television screen referred to him as the 'outgoing president.'

'I wish no blood to be shed to keep me in power,' Keita said. 'I have decided to step down from office.'

He also announced that his government and the National Assembly would be dissolved.

Earlier today, UN head Mr Guterres condemned the actions of the soldiers.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for Mr Guterres, said: 'The secretary-general strongly condemns these actions and calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali.

Images show Malian military leaping over the walls of the Malian president's residence

Malian forces lead Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (centre, obscured) into a military house after he was seized in Bamako

'To this end, he demands the immediate and unconditional release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and members of his cabinet.'

Guterres is following the unfolding developments in the capital Bamako 'with deep concern,' Dujarric added.

'The secretary-general reiterates his calls for a negotiated solution and peaceful resolution of their differences.

'The secretary-general urges all stakeholders, particularly the defence and security forces, to exercise maximum restraint and uphold the human rights and individual freedoms of all Malians,' the spokesman said.

Crowds had today gathered in the city centre to demand Keita's resignation and cheered the rebels as they made their way to the 75-year-old's official residence

Boubou Doucoure, who works as Cisse's director of communications, confirmed Keita and Cisse had been detained and had been driven in armoured vehicles to an army base in the town of Kati, about ten miles away. Pictured: People celebrate on the streets of Bamako in Mali

Soldiers on a military vehicle moving towards Bamako are being greeted by citizens gathered at Independence Square

United Nations head Antonio Guterres today demanded 'the immediate and unconditional release' of Mr Keita and members of his government.

The sudden mutiny marked a dramatic escalation of a months-long crisis in the fragile West African country, previously a French colony.

Both the UN and France had spent more than seven years trying to stabilise the country since a coup in 2012 allowed an Islamic insurgency to take hold in Mali.

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Mali's controversial president Political veteran Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, 75, was elected as president in a landslide election in 2013 and was re-elected in 2018. Keita had campaigned as a unifying figure in his fractured country, belying his tough-talking reputation. But he has been left flailing by jihadist and inter-ethnic violence that has claimed thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Snail-paced political reforms, a flagging economy, decrepit public services and schools and a widely shared perception of government corruption have also fed anti-Keita sentiment, driving tens of thousands of protesters into the streets. The 75-year-old head of state has been able, until now, to shrug off the criticism of a divided opposition, partly relying on support from the international community which has seen him as a bulwark against the jihadist threat. But the coronavirus pandemic and the kidnapping of opposition leader Soumaila Cisse, who he defeated in at March 2018 election, by jihadists in March this year, made severe inroads into Keita's standing. Advertisement

Following today's incident, there was no immediate comment from the soldiers, who hail from the very same military barracks in Kati where an earlier coup originated more than eight years ago.

However one rebel leader, who requested anonymity, said: 'We can tell you that the president and the prime minister are under our control' after they were 'arrested' at Keita's residence in the capital Bamako.

Another later added that the incident was 'not a military coup but a popular insurrection'.

Nouhoum Togo, spokesman for the M5-RFP coalition, who have been protesting Keita's presidency, said: 'He did not want to listen to his people. We even proposed an alternative but he responded with killings.'

Crowds had today gathered in the city centre to demand Keita's resignation and cheered the rebels as they made their way to the 75-year-old's official residence.

Boubou Doucoure, who works as Cisse's director of communications, confirmed Keita and Cisse had been detained and had been driven in armoured vehicles to an army base in the town of Kati, about ten miles away.

The United Nations Security Council is due to hold emergency talks on the crisis on Wednesday afternoon, diplomats in New York said.

The meeting was requested by France and Niger and will take place behind closed doors, a UN diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

Today's mutiny mirrors the events leading up to the 2012 coup, which ultimately unleashed years of chaos in Mali when the ensuing power vacuum allowed Islamic extremists to seize control of northern towns.

Ultimately a French-led military operation ousted the jihadists but they regrouped and then expanded their reach during Mr Keita's presidency into central Mali.

On March 21, 2012, a similar mutiny erupted at the Kati military camp as rank-and-file soldiers began rioting and then broke into the camp's armoury.

After grabbing weapons they later headed for the seat of government, led by then Captain Amadou Haya Sanogo.

Capt Sanogo was later forced to hand over power to a civilian transitional government that then organised the election Mr Keita won.
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Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 15:31 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ecd0ba 1 Business IATA,aviation,Angkasa-Pura-II,Soekarno-Hatta-International-Airport,recovery,COVID-19 Free

State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II president director Muhammad Awaluddin said he expected the aviation industry to recover by mid-2023, backed by domestic flights, slightly more optimistic than the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) projection.

The IATA stated on July 28 that it expected a full recovery of global air passenger traffic by 2024, a year later than its initial estimate, due to slow virus containment in developing economies, corporate travel cuts and weak consumer confidence during the global health crisis.

The IATA and other international organizations assume that international travel will fully recover in 2024. However, I do believe that we can achieve that by mid-2023 as our market is dominated by domestic flights, Awaluddin said during an online discussion held by the Indonesian National Air Carrier Association (INACA) on Aug. 13.

AP II recorded 524 flights to and from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Aug. 14, amid the long weekend, a record high since the COVID-19 outbreak in March. It saw traffic of more than 45,700 passengers on that day.

In comparison, Soekarno-Hatta International Airports flight traffic in April stood at 200 flights per day, and went down to 100 flights per day in May.

This means that air travel patterns have been restored to normal, the number of flights during the long weekend period is usually quite high, Awaluddin said in a separate statement on Aug. 15.

The continuous rise of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has depressed the tourism and aviation sectors, as people cancel travel plans amid large-scale social restrictions (PSBB).

In its forecast, the IATA expected the number of global air passengers to be down 55 percent year-on-year (yoy) in 2020. The figure was worse than its initial April forecast of a 46 percent decrease yoy in air passenger numbers.

Consumer confidence is depressed and not helped by the UKs weekend decision to impose a blanket quarantine on all travelers returning from Spain. And in many parts of the world infections are still rising, IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said in a statement on July 28.

All of this points to a longer recovery period and more pain for the industry and the global economy.

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia painted a rosier projection than AP II and IATA, with the airlines analysts predicting a full rebound by 2022, according to the companys president director Irfan Setiaputra.

However, Irfan said he believed the situation would remain challenging in 2022.

Our analysts believe that a rebound in the aviation industry will take two years. However, I think it would remain challenging by that time as the [COVID-19 pandemic] has brought a seismic shift to the industry, he said during the discussion.

Garuda Indonesia posted a US$712.73 million loss in the first half of this year after booking a net profit of $24.11 million in the same period last year as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to cut its flight frequency, affecting the companys revenue and profit.

The airlines total revenue in this years first six months nosedived 58.2 percent yoy to $917.28 million, according to the companys financial report on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX).

Read also: Garuda turns in first-half losses as pandemic hits aviation

During the INACA discussion, Irfan said aviation consumers' behavior would completely change for years to come, and airlines must actively adapt to the consumers desires and intentions in order to survive.

We can't put our hopes on everything getting back to normal even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. This crisis will change the way people travel and their expectations, he said.
The United States Further Restricts Huawei Access to U.S. Technology

Press Statement

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

August 17, 2020



The Trump Administration sees Huawei for what it is  an arm of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) surveillance state  and we have taken action accordingly. Today, our government enacted several measures to protect U.S. national security, our citizens' privacy, and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijing's malign influence.

The Department of State strongly supports the Commerce Department's expansion today of its Foreign Direct Product Rule, which will prevent Huawei from circumventing U.S. law through alternative chip production and provision of off-the-shelf (OTS) chips produced with tools acquired from the United States. This measure follows the more limited expansion of the Foreign Direct Product Rule in May, which Huawei has continuously tried to evade.

The Commerce Department also added 38 Huawei affiliates to its Entity List, which identifies foreign parties prohibited from receiving certain sensitive technologies and allowed Huawei's Temporary General License (TGL) to expire. The United States has provided ample time for affected companies and persons  primarily Huawei customers  to identify and shift to other sources of equipment, software, and technology and wind-down their operations. Now that time is up.

We will not tolerate efforts by the CCP to undermine the privacy of our citizens, our businesses' intellectual property, or the integrity of next-generation networks worldwide.

We are backing up our words with actions across the U.S. Government. The Department of Justice has indicted Huawei for stealing U.S. technology, conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud, racketeering, and helping Iran to evade sanctions, amongst other charges. The Department of Commerce placed Huawei on the Entity List in 2019. The Department of State has engaged in vigorous diplomacy for more than a year to share what we know about Huawei and other untrustworthy vendors with allies and partners around the world.

The United States will continue to restrict most U.S. exports to Huawei and its affiliates on the Entity List for activities that threaten U.S. national security and international stability. We urge our allies and partners to join us.

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Scientists from Fraunhofer IISB, Wacker Chemie and Alzchem say unwelcome metals enter the silicon primarily through coating of the quartz crucible. The finding could enable manufacturers to make predictions about the quality of silicon blocks.From pv magazine Germany. Why do metallic impurities materialize during the production of multicrystalline silicon blocks? Scientists from research body the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology, polysilicon maker Wacker Chemie and chemical company Alzchem are examining the issue in the government-funded SYNERGIE research project. ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Now Open

18 August 2020

The Mondrian Seoul Itaewon features 296 guestrooms, an outdoor pool and pool bar with a spacious viewing deck overlooking the city, a variety of F&B outlets and an 867-sqm ballroom and five meeting rooms.

The Mondrian Seoul Itaewon is the fifth property in the Mondrian portfolio. Existing Mondrian hotels are located in Los Angeles, New York, South Beach and Doha, and with new hotels slated for Bordeaux and Cannes next year, the Mondrian brand expects to grow its lifestyle hotel portfolio to approximately 15 properties by 2022.
Bangladesh's first female professional photographer, Sayeeda Khanam, passed away here on Tuesday at the age of 83.

Sayeeda, who had been suffering from old age complications, breathed her last at her residence in Banani, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Born on December 29, 1937 in Pabna, she started her career as a photojournalist in 1956, in 'Begum', the only newspaper dedicated to women at that time.

Being inspired to pursue photography from her aunt poet Mahmuda Khatun Siddique, she started photography at the age of only 13.

She took her first picture in Kolkata and her first subjects were two Kabuliwalas, passing by the Victoria Memorial, she had told the Daily Star in an interview.

Rabindranath Tagore's 'Kabuliwala' had made an impression on her mind and she wanted to take a picture of a Kabuliwala, she had said.

Sayeeda's obsession with photography grew with time, and she covered many national and international events. She also worked as a photographer with legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray in three of his films.

While pursuing two masters degrees in Bangla Literature and Library Science at Dhaka University, she started capturing time, people, history and narratives with her camera.

Her photographs were published in many national and international newspapers including the Observer, Morning News, and Ittefaq. She also captured many important events of the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

She worked as a librarian in seminar library of Bengali Literature Department of the Dhaka University from 1974 to 1986.

She received many awards from several national and international organisations.

In 2019, the government awarded her Ekushey Padak for her contribution to photography.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Sayeeda and said that she will live forever in the heart of people through her works.
A potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by a unit of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) could cost no more than 1,000 yuan ($144.27) for two shots, state media on Tuesday quoted chairman Liu Jingzhen as saying.

Sinopharm has said its experimental vaccine could be ready for public use by the end of this year. It has entered a late-stage human test in the United Arab Emirates to gather proof of efficacy for final regulatory approvals.

It will not be priced very high. It is expected to cost a few hundred yuan for a shot, and for two shots it should be less than 1,000 yuan, Liu told the Guangming Daily newspaper.

Governments and drugmakers around the world are in a frenetic race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. More than 200 candidates are in development, including more than 20 in human clinical trials.

Moderna Inc said earlier this month that smaller volumes of its experimental vaccine have been priced at $32-$37 per dose.

Last month, the U.S. government struck a deal for an experimental vaccine being developed by Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE that secures enough to innoculate 50 million Americans for about $40 a person.

Sinopharms Liu did not mention whether Chinas state-backed nationwide insurance program would cover some of the vaccine costs for consumers, or whether it could be included in the countrys free vaccination scheme.

China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a Sinopharm unit, has moved two vaccine strains using the same method into human trials. Its plants in Wuhan and Beijing combined could make over two million doses of the drug annually.
The patent is for a hermetically sealed camera with a graphical processing unit (GPU) that analyzes image information to extract high-level information

Boulder AI engineers, manufactures, and markets the worlds most powerful visual solutions for extraction of relevant actionable data in a secure manner on an unprecedented scale. Utilizing the latest in computing technologies and deep neural networks at the edge to enable Boulder AIs artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, users gain desired insights, and may leverage any number of Application Services in an end-to-end solution. Truer measurements and enhanced intelligence services enable Boulder AI customers to make smarter, faster, better decisions. Their unique technology allows all of the data processing to be done inside the camera which does not require the costly combination of broadband connections, servers, and on-site data storage, making Boulder AI much less expensive and easier to maintain compared to current non-edge options. https://www.boulderai.com

Boulder AI engineers, manufactures, and markets the worlds most powerful visual solutions for extraction of relevant actionable data in a secure manner on an unprecedented scale. Utilizing the latest in computing technologies and deep neural networks at the edge to enable Boulder AIs artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, users gain desired insights, and may leverage any number of Application Services in an end-to-end solution. Truer measurements and enhanced intelligence services enable Boulder AI customers to make smarter, faster, better decisions. Their unique technology allows all of the data processing to be done inside the camera which does not require the costly combination of broadband connections, servers, and on-site data storage, making Boulder AI much less expensive and easier to maintain compared to current non-edge options. https://www.boulderai.com

Innosphere Ventures accelerates the success of science and technology-based startups and emerging companies with a commercialization program and operates a seed stage venture capital fund. As Colorados leading incubation program, Innospheres program focuses on ensuring companies are investor-ready, connecting founders with experienced advisors and early hires, making introductions to corporate partners, exit planning, and accelerating top line revenue growth. Innosphere has been supporting startups for 22 years and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a strong mission grow Colorados entrepreneurship ecosystem. www.innosphereventures.org In 2019, Boulder AI received a seed round investment from Innosphere Ventures' VC Fund.

Innosphere Ventures accelerates the success of science and technology-based startups and emerging companies with a commercialization program and operates a seed stage venture capital fund. As Colorados leading incubation program, Innospheres program focuses on ensuring companies are investor-ready, connecting founders with experienced advisors and early hires, making introductions to corporate partners, exit planning, and accelerating top line revenue growth. Innosphere has been supporting startups for 22 years and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a strong mission grow Colorados entrepreneurship ecosystem. www.innosphereventures.org In 2019, Boulder AI received a seed round investment from Innosphere Ventures' VC Fund.

Boulder, Colorado, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boulder AI, a leader in innovative visual intelligence platforms and AI Internet of Things hardware and software, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued the company a patent that covers their camera system which includes a graphical processing unit (GPU). The invention (US Patent No. 10652440B2) is a camera system that includes a GPU and is hermetically sealed, meaning its air and water tight, and can be used in harsh environments without being negatively affected.

Story continues

This patent award is a big deal for our company and all customers who want to use deep neural network camera systems and software to inform their operations, make planning choices, and automate routine actions, said Bryan Schmode, Chairman and CEO of Boulder AI. This is a keystone patent for the industry and acknowledges that Boulder AI is providing thought leadership around visual IoT devices that render a new way to collect insights about your environment while ensuring privacy.

This very general patent allows us to broadly claim a sealed camera, with a motor to drive the lens, and a GPU + accelerators inside with the application of neural networks. This patent allows Boulder AI to establish a strong foothold in the marketplace and lay claim to a multitude of technologies which use edge computing to reduce image data and structure it. The reduction of information is then delivered to Boulder AI's cloud Platform in real time. This information can be used for, but not limited to, classification, monitoring speed, counting, tracking behaviors, identifying anomalies and other overall trends.

In other words, we have been awarded a patent that gives us a very nice base to build upon. We are very happy with the competitive advantage that this gives us in the marketplace, but this is just a start. said Darren Odom, founder and CTO of Boulder AI.

Earlier this year, Boulder AI announced a partnership with the City of Denver that will provide safer traffic crossings for pedestrians. In this partnership, Boulder AIs platform makes decisions based on traffic flow analytics and pedestrian behavior to inform real-time interventions and public safety enhancements.

For example, traffic signal operations can be modified if someone, such as a young child or a sight-impaired individual, needs a little more time to cross the street. Boulder AIs system doesnt capture or transmit any video of people, but only reacts to their motion to assure their safety in and around traffic, allowing for safety and privacy all at the same time.

Attachments

CONTACT: Pat Reilly, Global Sales and Marketing VP Boulder AI 408-667-8302 pat@boulderai.com




Thirteen years after a young man was found shot to death in his Universal City apartment, police have made two arrests.

Joseph Selders, 34, was arrested Monday and is charged with capital murder in the death of Blase Allen Wright Jr., who was 21 when he was killed.

Lara Selders, who told police she drove Joseph Selders to Wrights apartment, was arrested Friday and also charged with capital murder.

Wright was found dead with a gunshot wound to the face on Feb. 2, 2007, at the Palisades apartments, 165 Palisade Drive, in Universal City.

That year, police released a composite sketch of a woman who was seen inside a light-colored sedan alongside two men outside the apartment.

Over 13 years, with no arrests, the case had gone cold. Until last month.

On July 15, a Universal City detective and a Texas Ranger, looking through the evidence, identified the woman in the sketch as Lara Selders. She was a person of interest at the time of the killing but was never interviewed, her affidavit states.

In an interview with detectives on July 20, Lara Selders said Joseph Selders told her he killed Wright.

She said she didnt know Joseph Selders had shot Wright when she drove him to the apartment, but realized it later when she saw a composite sketch of herself in the news that year.

Another man told police that a witness who was with Selders the night of the shooting saw him carrying an Xbox when he returned to the car. The witness was described as being petrified when speaking about the incident, according to the affidavit.

Lara Selders also told police she intended to help Joseph Selders dispose of the gun.

Selders, who had the gun wrapped in a T-shirt in the trunk of his car, later gave the gun away to someone else, investigators said.

The gun was used in another shooting but never found, the affidavit states.

Comal County records show that Lara and Joseph Selders married in April 2012, but their arrest warrant affidavits signed last week list separate addresses for them.

Joseph Selders has a criminal history, including convictions for aggravated robbery in Bexar and Guadalupe counties.

Joseph Selders is in the Bexar County Jail with bail set at $500,000. Lara Selders remains jailed in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

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
When Shelei Pan heard about the local efforts to make masks for essential workers, she wondered who would provide masks for their children.

Most of the free masks available are too large for children and adolescent faces. A well-fitting mask offers better protection from spreading the coronavirus. Pan, a freshman at Washington University in St. Louis, decided to start making smaller-sized masks herself.

She did not know how to sew, so she watched YouTube tutorials and studied the patterns on the Johns Hopkins University website. She documented her efforts on Instagram using the handle @projectmasked. She has hand sewn most of the masks shes made.

Her former classmates from Ladue Horton Watkins High School and other friends messaged her wanting to help.

Since May, Pan has led an effort among 50 middle and high school students in the St. Louis region to make youth-sized PPE. They have made more than 1,150 and distributed them at free health clinics for youth and young adults affiliated with Washington University, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis, the Covenant House, Casa de Salud, Ladue schools and a few free lunch programs.

The goal of this project is to provide for youth who may not otherwise have access to masks that properly fit, Pan said. With some area students returning to school this month, she knows how important proper mask use is to limit community spread of the virus.

Many parents may be able to obtain PPE through the workplace, through stores or other mask donation efforts, Pan said. Anyone who is interested in acquiring a smaller mask can contact the group by email at projectmaskedhq@gmail.com, or through Instagram at @projectmasked.

Max Yang, a student at Ladue, has been tabulating all of their masks and donations. Cynthia Liu, a student in Clayton, has been coordinating with the STL COVID Handmade Mask Project group to help make the masks.

The idea has spread to Pans friends at other universities, as well. Katie He, at Northwestern University, is distributing masks in Chicago. Adina Cazacu-De Luca, at Columbia University, is doing the same in New York City.

Theres not really an end in sight, so we plan to just keep going, Pan said.

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Sticky Rice, a new concept featuring a menu of Thai and Lao dishes, is slated to host its soft opening on Friday, Aug. 21 at 1000 E. Locust St., a location which previously housed Thai Lotus and Tuk's Thai Kitchen.

Owned by Khamlae Phonisay, Teerasak Boonwatana and Leo Kingsawan, the restaurant will feature a menu of appetizers, noodle dishes and specialty dishes, along with staples like red and green curry and fried rice.

Guests can expect starter offerings like egg rolls ($2), Lao sausage ($8.50), fried meatballs ($4) and tod mun pla (thai fish cakes ($5), along with papaya salad ($5), Lao beef jerky ($7) and chicken wings (six for $7.50). Soups, including tom yum and tom kha will also be available along with sides like Jasmine and sticky rice.

Curries and noodle dishes including pad thai and pad kee mao (drunken noodles)  are served with a choice of chicken, vegetables, beef, shrimp, tofu or squid ($9.50-10.50).

Specials include signature Lao dishes like larb (chicken or beef for $10-11); pad kra pao, a stir fry of rice, holy basil and a choice of protein served with an over-easy egg $10.50-$11.50); nam khao featuring deep fried rice balls, cured pork sausage, peanuts, scallions, cilantro, lime and coconut ($9); khao piak sen (Lao style chicken noodle soup, $9); and marinated grilled chicken thighs scented with lemongrass, garlic, oyster and fish sauces and sugar ($8).

Beginning Friday, Aug. 21, Sticky Rice will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 3 to 11 p.m. Call (414) 226-6483 to place your order for carry-out.

You can follow Sticky Rice on Facebook and Instagram.
BAMAKO, Mali - Malis president announced his resignation late Tuesday, just hours after armed soldiers seized him from his home in a dramatic power grab following months of protests demanding his ouster.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this image made from video, Malian troops, believed to be part of a detachment possibly mutinying, man an impromptu checkpoint and stop and search traffic in Kati, Mali Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Malian soldiers took up arms in the garrison town of Kati on Tuesday and began detaining senior military officers in an apparent mutiny, raising fears of a potential coup after several months of anti-government demonstrations calling for the president's resignation. (AP Photo)

BAMAKO, Mali - Malis president announced his resignation late Tuesday, just hours after armed soldiers seized him from his home in a dramatic power grab following months of protests demanding his ouster.

The news of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keitas departure was met with jubilation by anti-government demonstrators and alarm by former colonial ruler France, and other allies and foreign nations.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled a closed meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss the unfolding situation in Mali, where the U.N. has a 15,600-strong peacekeeping mission.

In this image made from video, Malian troops, believed to be part of a detachment possibly mutinying, man an impromptu checkpoint and stop and search traffic in Kati, Mali Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Malian soldiers took up arms in the garrison town of Kati on Tuesday and began detaining senior military officers in an apparent mutiny, raising fears of a potential coup after several months of anti-government demonstrations calling for the president's resignation. (AP Photo)

Speaking on national broadcaster ORTM just before midnight, a distressed Keita, wearing a mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said his resignation  three years before his final term was due to end  was effective immediately. A banner across the bottom of the television screen referred to him as the outgoing president.

I wish no blood to be shed to keep me in power, Keita said. I have decided to step down from office.

He also announced that his government and the National Assembly would be dissolved, certain to further the countrys turmoil amid an eight-year Islamic insurgency and the growing coronavirus pandemic.

Keita, who was democratically elected in 2013 and reelected five years later, was left with few choices after the mutinous soldiers seized weapons from the armoury in the garrison town of Kati and then advanced on the capital of Bamako. They took Prime Minister Boubou Cisse into custody along with the president.

Malian troops and citizens gather outside the private residence of Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in Bamako, Mali Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. Mutinous soldiers surrounded the private residence of Keita on Tuesday, firing shots into the air and a West African regional official confirmed that the president and prime minister had been detained, following several months of demonstrations calling for his resignation. (AP Photo)

There was no immediate comment Wednesday from the troops, who hailed from the same military barracks where a coup was launched more than eight years ago, allowing the Islamic insurgency to take hold amid a power vacuum.

The political upheaval unfolded months after disputed legislative elections. And it also came as support for Keita tumbled amid criticism of his governments handling of the insurgency, which has engulfed a country once praised as a model of democracy in the region.

The military has taken a beating over the past year from Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked groups. A wave of particularly deadly attacks in the north in 2019 prompted the government to close its most vulnerable outposts as part of a reorganization aimed at stemming the losses.

Tuesdays developments were condemned by the African Union, the United States, and the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, which had been trying to mediate Malis political crisis. Former colonizer France and the United Nations, which has maintained a peacekeeping mission in Mali since 2013, also expressed alarm ahead of Keitas speech.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 file photo, Mali's prime minister Boubou Cisse waves to the press after his meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France. Cisse, who was believed to be sheltering with Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, has urged soldiers to put down their arms and put the interests of the nation first after mutinous soldiers surrounded the private residence of Keita on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020 firing shots into the air and deepening fears of a coup attempt following several months of demonstrations calling for his resignation. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sought the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

But news of Keitas detention was met with celebration throughout the capital by anti-government protesters who first took to the streets back in June to demand that the president step down.

All the Malian people are tired  we have had enough, one demonstrator said.

The detention was a dramatic change of fortune for Keita, who seven years earlier emerged from a field of more than two dozen candidates to win Malis first democratic post-coup election in a landslide with more than 77% of the vote.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019 file photo, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita attends the Paris Peace Forum in Paris. Mutinous soldiers surrounded the private residence of Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020 firing shots into the air and deepening fears of a coup attempt following several months of demonstrations calling for his resignation. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP, File)

Regional mediators from ECOWAS, though, had failed in recent weeks to bridge the impasse between Keitas government and opposition leaders, creating mounting anxiety about another military-led change of power.

Then on Tuesday, soldiers in Kati took weapons from the armoury at the barracks and detained senior military officers. Anti-government protesters immediately cheered the soldiers actions, and some set fire to a building that belongs to Malis justice minister in the capital.

Cisse urged the soldiers to put down their arms.

There is no problem whose solution cannot be found through dialogue, he said in a statement.

But the wheels already were in motion  armed men began detaining people in Bamako too, including the countrys finance minister, Abdoulaye Daffe.

Keita, who tried to meet protesters demands through a series of concessions, has enjoyed broad support from France and other Western allies. He also was believed to have widespread backing among high-ranking military officials, underscoring a divide between army leadership and unpredictable rank-and-file soldiers.

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Tuesday marked a repeat of the events leading up to the 2012 coup, which unleashed years of chaos in Mali when the ensuing power vacuum allowed Islamic extremists to seize control of northern towns. Ultimately a French-led military operation ousted the jihadists, but they merely regrouped and expanded their reach during Keitas presidency into central Mali.

Keitas political downfall closely mirrors that of his predecessor: Amadou Toumani Toure was forced out of the presidency in 2012 after a series of punishing military defeats. That time, the attacks were carried out by ethnic Tuareg separatist rebels. This time, Malis military has sometimes seemed powerless to stop extremists linked to al-Qaida and IS.

Back in 2012, the mutiny erupted at the Kati military camp as rank-and-file soldiers began rioting and then broke into the camps armoury. After grabbing weapons, they later headed for the seat of government under the leadership of Capt. Amadou Haya Sanogo. Sanogo was later forced to hand over power to a civilian transitional government, which then organized the election Keita won.

Mediators this time around have urged Keita to share power in a unity government. He even said he was open to redoing disputed legislative elections. But those overtures were swiftly rejected by opposition leaders who said they would not stop short of Keitas ouster.

___

Larson reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press Writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Voto Latino, the nation's largest Latinx voter registration organization, has officially registered 254,528 voters for the 2020 election cycle -- surpassing the halfway mark for its 500,000 registration goal. This milestone brings the organization's registration total to over 750,000 voters and represents the most voters registered in an election cycle in its 15-year history. Of those registered for the 2020 election, 70% are between the ages of 18 and 34, and 146,983 people were registered in Texas, alone.

"We took a gamble after the 2018 election - our gut told us that if we made early smart investments in a digital-first infrastructure and started January 1 on registration - speaking to an overlooked but critical pool of voters, there would be an appetite for enfranchisement. Young people have not let us down. They care and they are motivated. This is no doubt the most seminal election of our lifetime and we turned the traditional model for voter outreach on its head and it's paying off," said Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino. "Young people are leading the way in political organizing this election cycle and we're seeing evidence that they are connecting protest to voting and are poised to make noise come this November. This is just the beginning."

For the first time, the Latinx community will constitute the second-largest voting bloc in the electorate. Four million who have turned 18 since the 2016 election and who will be eligible to cast a ballot for the first time this year. Voto Latino adopted a grassroots approach to voter registration online, stepping in where party and government structures have failed. Since the tragic murder of George Floyd on May 25th, Voto Latino has registered 143,840, demonstrating the mobilizing nature of the Black Lives Matter movement on the Latinx community. A July poll completed between Latino Decisions and Voto Latino found that more than three-quarters of Latinx people supported Black Lives Matter and police reform. This year, Voto Latino also made it's first-ever political endorsement, supporting Vice President Joe Biden for president of the United States.

Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.

Contact:

Danny Turkel, [email protected]

SOURCE Voto Latino

Related Links

www.votolatino.org


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NTPC share price rose over 2 percent in early trade on August 18 after brokerages maintained a buy rating on the stock after the company reported its June quarter numbers last week.

On August 14, the company reported a 5.9 percent year-on-year (YoY) fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,948.94 crore in Q1 FY21 against Rs 3,132.73 crore in the corresponding quarter year ago.

Consolidated revenue came at Rs 26,194.76 crore, down 2.57 percent from Rs 26,886.22 crore in Q1 FY20.

Consolidated EBITDA rose 21.6 percent to Rs 8,947.7 crore against Rs 7,358.7 crore in Q1FY20. EBITDA margin stood at 34.2 percent against 27.4 percent YoY.

Vikas Jain, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities has recommended buy with a target of Rs 108.

The stock has broken from its weekly Doji and crossover of its long-term averages on the daily charts that confirms an upward move, he said.

The weekly RSI closed above its average-line indicating a strong breakout and the sector is also in positive momentum. Multiple support levels in the range of 89-92 levels would be protected and offer a good risk-to-reward ratio from current levels, he added.

Here are brokerages' view on the stock and the company:

Morgan Stanley | Rating: Overweight | Target: Rs 138

The company reported profit beat which was driven by a lower rebate to SEBs (state electricity boards)

The fixed cost under recovery was due to a technical shutdown & will reverse. The focus is on reducing overdues & increasing renewable capacity, reported CNBC-TV18.

CLSA | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 140

The company can exceed its FY30 RE target and can match/exceed Indias COP21 commitments of 40 percent non-fossil capacity.

The management guides for 54 percent YoY growth in parent-regulated equity with improved RoE, reported CNBC-TV18.

ICICIdirect | Rating: Hold | Target: Rs 105

Strong focus on renewables and declining phase of coal asset addition augur well for NTPC in a scenario wherein energy landscape is changing. However, we would await execution on the green portfolio before turning buyers.

Motilal Oswal | rating: Buy | Target: Rs 139

NTPC reported strong underlying numbers. This was highlighted by the high plant load factor (PLF) incentives for the company despite lower power demand.

NTPC plans to reach around 130GW capacity by 2032. The mix of Renewable in the capacity may be >30% by 2032. NTPC expects its capitalisation run-rate to be at 56GW p.a. for the next three to four years.

Dolat Capital | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 147

NTPC added capacity of 660MW in Khargone in Q1 FY21. The capacity currently under construction is 20GW with 15GW of coal capacities and

5GW of renewable. The capacity addition target in FY21 remains between 5GW to 6GW, while it is envisaging a capex of Rs210bn in FY21, including emission control equipment.

The regulated equity in Q1 FY21 is Rs 618 billion and is expected to grow at 15 percent CAGR over the next three years.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

At 09:18 hrs, NTPC was quoting at Rs 96.80, up Rs 1.40, or 1.47 percent on the BSE.
The on Tuesday unveiled a new electronics manufacturing policy to become a global electronics hub and attract international investors looking to shift their base to India in the post COVID-19 scenario.

The policy aims at inviting investments of Rs 40,000 crore in five years and creating four lakh direct jobs, an official spokesman said.

Uttar Pradesh Electronics Manufacturing Policy 2017 got tremendous success and it achieved the given target of investment and employment generation in the third year itself.

Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway regions have been established as one of the emerging mobile manufacturing hubs in the world which has attracted foreign direct investments from many countries.

The state accounts for more than 60 per cent of all mobile phones manufactured in India.

To further accelerate the electronics ecosystem, the coverage of the new electronics manufacturing policy 2020 has been extended to the entire state from the current electronics manfacturing zones (EMZ) of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway regions.

The incentives proposed in the policy shall be applicable to all units setting up their bases anywhere in Uttar Pradesh, the spokesman said.

To address the regional imbalance, double the rate of land subsidy has been provided to investors for setting up manufacturing units in Bundelkhand and Purvanchal regions.

To promote MSME units in electronics manufacturing, the state government will encourage development of rental facilities on 'Plug and Play' model through public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

The state government envisages to create world-class infrastructure in the form of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) to promote research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the ESDM (Electronic System Design and Manufacturing) industry.

The state's focus will be to establish three Electronics Manufacturing Clusters focusing on mobile manufacturing, consumer durables, telecom, IT hardware, medical equipment, defense, among others.

Under the new policy, investors will be eligible for capital subsidy of 15 per cent and additional capital subsidy of 10 per cent on investment of more than Rs 1,000 crore.

They will also be eligible for interest subsidy of 5 per cent per annum on the loan obtained from scheduled banks/ financial institutions, the spokesman 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.)
During his tenure in the CBI, Rakesh Asthana was involved in investigating many high-profile cases including the VVIP chopper scam, bank fraud by Vijay Mallya

Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana has been appointed as the chief of the Border Security Force (BSF) and VSK Kaumudi will be Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the home ministry, according to a personnel ministry order issued on Monday.

Asthana is at present working as the Director-General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in Delhi and holds an additional charge of the Narcotics Control Bureau.

Currently, the DG of Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) chief SS Deswal is holding the additional charge of BSF since March this year. However, the Centre felt that keeping in view developments at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) or de-facto border with China and Pakistan, there was a need to appoint a full-time chief in BSF, a government official told The Hindustan Times.

In 1997, as a superintendent of police in the CBI, he had arrested RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam. The RJD chief has since been convicted of corruption and is currently in jail.

Since then, Asthana has gone on to investigate several high profile cases including the VVIP chopper scam, bank fraud by Vijay Mallya and the 2002 Sabarmati Express fire in Godhra.

As per The Indian Express, Asthana as a special director in the CBI had clashed with former CBI director Alok Verma, during which both levelled corruption allegations against each other. Both of them were finally forced to go on leave and moved out of CBI in 2018.

In February, earlier this year, CBI had cleared Asthana of all charges of corruption, registered by Verma.

After the allegations came out in 2018, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) conducted an enquiry against Verma and found him guilty of irregularities and impropriety, reports The Hindustan Times. Verma was then also removed from the post of CBI director in 2019, by a committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to The Print.in, two months after the spat between the two officers first erupted in the public space, in January 2019, Asthana was sent to the Bureau of Civil Aviation and Security, where he maintained a low profile.

The new BSF chief also headed a special investigation team (SIT) formed by the CBI to investigate money laundering charges against Vijay Mallya. Asthana is believed to have played a key role in building a watertight case against him.

Apart from this, the government has also transferred the incumbent chief of Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) VSK Kaumudi. Kaumudi, a 1986 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, is presently working as DG, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D).

He has been appointed Special Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs up to 30 November, 2022 i.e. date of his superannuation, the order said.

His batchmate from Uttar Pradesh cadre, Md Jawed Akhtar has been appointed the DG, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard.

Akhtar will hold the charge of the post for a period up to 31 July, 2021 i.e. date of his superannuation, it added. He is presently working as Special DG, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

With inputs from PTI
Four Woolworths employees in Melbourne have been struck down with COVID-19.

The workers returned positive coronavirus tests on Tuesday as Victoria recorded 222 new cases and 17 more deaths.

Anyone who has attended Woolworths supermarkets in Mornington East and The Glen in Glen Waverley, along with Dan Murphy's Collingwood and Plenty Valley is being urged to monitor their symptoms and immediately get tested if they feel unwell.

A worker at the Mornington East Woolworths supermarket (pictured) has tested positive for COVID-19

A worker at the Dan Murphy's bottle shop in Collingwood (pictured) has tested positive for COVID-19

Despite the four positive tests in 24 hours, Woolworths says the risk to customers is 'low'.

'As a food retailer, we already have very high standards of cleaning and hygiene in place,' Woolworths said.

As an 'extra precautionary measure' the supermarket giant has undertaken an additional deep clean of the stores affected.

'While the risk of transmission to customers and team members is low, the safety and wellbeing of the local community is our priority,' Woolworths said.

A worker at the Dan Murphy's bottle shop in Plenty Valley (pictured) has tested positive for COVID-19

A worker at The Glen (pictured) Woolworths supermarket in Glen Waverley tested positive for COVID-19

The company added that customers and team members should be assured they can continue to safely shop and work at safely all four locations.

The employee at the Mornington East Woolworths has not been in the store since August 5.

The team member from The Glen in Glen Waverley last worked a shift on August 13.

While Dan Murphy's bottle shop employees at Collingwood and Plenty Valley had attended work on August 12 and August 9 respectively.

The infections come just days after the supermarket giant appointed Dr Rob McCartney to the newly created position of Chief Medical Officer.

Mr McCartney was brought in to provide expert medical advice to Woolworths Group and to help shape the organisation's health policies during the coronavirus crisis.

Australian Air Force personnel are seen wearing face masks in Melbourne on Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Police on bicycles are pictured patrolling the streets of Melbourne under Stage 4 lockdown

'Given the scale of current public health challenges, I'll be looking to hit the ground running,' Mr McCarthy said on August 14 when he appointed.

'Together with the safety and leadership teams, I'll be focused on implementing best practice COVID-19 risk management across the business as we navigate the pandemic.'

There are currently 7274 active coronavirus cases across Victoria, as Melbourne remains under Stage 4 lockdown and regional areas adhere to a Stage 3 stay-at-home-orders.

The death toll in the virus-hit state has now risen to 351.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to order the transfer of money collected by the PM Cares Fund to the National Disaster Relief Fund, rejecting a plea by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation that sought this.

The courts verdict was welcomed by the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party and criticised by the Congress, which has repeatedly raised the same issues the petition did: that the fund isnt transparent, and that there was no need for a PM Cares fund when NDRF already exists.

A three-judge bench headed by justice Ashok Bhushan held that the establishment of PM Cares Fund was necessitated by the emergent situation borne out of Covid-19 and requirement of financial resources to deal with the pandemic, and that the court cannot object to the same.

It is not open for the petitioner to question the wisdom to create PM Cares fund which was constituted with an objective to extend assistance in the wake of a public health emergency. At this hour no exception can be taken to the constitution of a public charitable trust, namely, PM Cares Fund , the bench which also comprised justices R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah ruled.

The apex court said that the PM Cares Fund set up by the Central government in March in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic is a public charitable trust and a voluntary fund to which any individual or institution can make contributions, and since it does not receive budgetary support, it cannot be equated with a statutory fund like NDRF.

The contribution by any person or by any institution in PM Cares Fund is voluntary . The funds collected in the PM Cares Fund are funds of a public charitable trust and there is no occasion for issuing any direction to transfer the said funds to the NDRF, the bench said.

In a press briefing after the verdict, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, Transparency is writ large in PM-Cares Fund, both in terms of legal requirement and transparent management of funds received on a voluntary basis. He added that the fund has been targeted in court unnecessarily.

The Congress described the verdict as a bodyblow to transparency. The partys chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the court has passed up an opportunity to demand answers about a fund that plays by its own opaque and murky rules. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly spoken about the issues with the fund and both Prasad and BJP President JP Nadda targeted him in their responses. Nadda said the verdict was a blow to Gandhis nefarious design. Prasad said the fund was transparent, unlike the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation .

The court said that existence of PM Cares Fund does not prohibit contributions to be made to NDRF and it is up to the concerned person or institution to decide whether to make a contribution to NDRF or PM Cares.

The top court also made it clear that since PM Cares is a voluntary fund which does not receive government support, there is no occasion for PM Cares to be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) unlike NDRF, which is a statutory fund, for which the law (DM Act) specifically provides for an audit.

Further, the court also turned down a prayer seeking formulation of a national plan to specifically combat Covid-19 stating that the existing plan formulated in November 2019 under the DM Act is sufficient to deal with the pandemic.

The petitioner, CPIL, claimed that PM Cares Fund was set up in violation of the legal mandate under the DM (Disaster Management) Act as per which any grant made by any person or institution for the purpose of disaster management should be compulsorily credited to NDRF.

Unfortunate that the SC allows the non-transparent and unaccountable PM Cares Fund set up as a secret trust to garner money in the name of Covid relief, rather than transferring such funds to the Statutory NDRF which is accessible under RTI and audited by CAG, CPIL lawyer, advocate Prashant Bhushan tweeted after the verdict was pronounced.

Now that the Supreme Court has adjudicated on the matter, we hope that the attack on the PM Cares Fund ends conclusively, BJP spokesperson and Supreme Court advocate, Nalin Kohli said.

Senior counsel Dushyant Dave, who represented the petitioner, expressed his deep disappointment over the verdict but declined to comment further.

The PM Cares Fund was set up by the central government on March 28 as a public charitable trust with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation such as that posed by Covid-19 pandemic. It is not clear how much money it has raised. Prasad said around 3100 crore has been spent, though  Rs 2000 crore towards ventilators, 1000 crore towards migrants, and 100 crore towards vaccine development.

Even though there is a provision for NDRF under Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, the central government has come up with a PM Cares Fund. All the contributions being made by individuals and institutions in relation to Covid-19 crisis are being credited into the PM Cares Fund and not to the NDRF, in clear violation of Section 46 of the DM Act, the petitioner had submitted in its petition.

In its affidavit before the top court in July 8, the Centre had rebutted this argument by stating that PM Cares is a fund established to carry out relief work and several such funds have been established on similar lines in the past.

Mere existence of a statutory fund (NDRF) would not prohibit creation of a different fund like PM Cares Fund which provides for voluntary donations, the affidavit said.

This argument found acceptance in the judgment of the apex court .

It is neither for petitioner to claim that any financial assistance be made from particular fund nor this Court to sit in judgment over the financial decisions of the Central Government, the Supreme Court held.

During the hearing before the apex court, the government, through solicitor general Tushar Mehta, had defended the PM Cares fund saying that it was not intended to circumvent the NDRF.

Whatever amount that has to go to NDRF under the law will go (to NDRF). PM Cares is a public charitable trust. If private individuals want to donate, they can do so. There are several public charitable trusts getting donations, Mehta argued.
More than 20 credit union supporters in Alaska, Florida and Wyoming will be on the ballot in Tuesdays primary elections. Credit union-backed candidates have been successful in more than 97% of races in the 2020 election cycle.

In Floridas 19th Congressional district, credit unions are supporting State House Majority Leader Dane Eagle in the Republican primary, where he is one of nine candidates. Eagle is competing for the seat left open by the retiring Rep. Francis Rooney (R).

He has been a strong credit union champion during his time in the state legislature, and has been endorsed by the League of Southeastern Credit Unions (LSCU).

CUNA and LSCU have partnered to support Eagle with more than $320,000 in direct mail and digital ads targeting 40,000 credit union households.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The fresh Covid cases being reported in the district remain high as 461 people tested positive here on Monday, including three persons who have died. The deceased are Kurien Titus, 42, a Muttada native who passed away on August 13; Selvaraj, 53, a Parassala native; and Siluvamma, 75, who died on August 3. A funeral led to the formation of a Covid cluster in Madavoor as a person who attended the rites tested positive. Eventually, in the first set of tests done, 15 persons were confirmed with the infection, of whom the cases of 12 were announced by the government on Monday. On Monday, another 30 tests were done, the results of which are yet to be announced.

The people who tested positive are mostly the people who attended the funeral or their family members. We are doing further tests here to prevent a spread, said an official with Madavoor panchayat.In a separate incident, two police officers tested positive in Madavoor. In Varkala, 12 persons tested positive including seven health workers of a private hospital. Parassala reported 27 cases, mostly through local transmission.

In the city, 200 new cases were reported including 153 cases at Poojapura Central Jail. However, it was a day of relief for the major clusters in city limits with only four cases being reported from Poonthura, eight from Vizhinjam, six from Vallakadavu and eight from Medical College Hospital. Among the total cases, 15 are health workers. The district also reported 270 recoveries on the day.

Protest in Anchuthengu

TPuram: Residents of Anchuthengu held a protest on Monday demanding the lifting of all restrictions in the coastal panchayat. The protestors blocked Mambally, Anchuthengu junction and Mannakkulam areas. Their primary demand was the permission to sell their daily catch outside containment zones. As per the existing regulations, the daily catch is either sold in containment zones or purchased by wholesalers. According to the protestors, the money earned by selling fish inside the zone is not enough to make ends meet. Representatives of the district administration arrived and assured the protestors of immediate action to diffuse the tension.

We informed them that the current restrictions will be in place for one more week. Further decisions will be taken after evaluating the situation at the time, said an official with the district administration. Earlier, another protest was held in Anchuthengu demanding relaxations in fishing restrictions. Following massive protests across the coastal zones of Thiruvananthapuram -- Pulluvila, Poonthura, Shankhumukham and Anchuthengu -- the district administration had announced some relaxations with regard to fishing activities.
It was a week wherein oil futures closed at their highest levels since March and gas prices hit an eight-month high.



On the news front, Southwestern Energy Company SWN reached an agreement to acquire Montage Resources MR in an all-stock transaction, while Chevron CVX announced its investment in the nuclear fusion start-up Zap Energy.



Overall, it was a good week for the sector. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 1.9% to close at $42.01 per barrel, while natural gas prices were up 5.2% for the week to finish at 2.356 per million Btu (MMBtu).



The crude benchmark rose to its highest in five months after a weekly report from the Energy Information Administration ("EIA") showed a stockpile draw. The decline in oil inventories was the third in as many weeks and came in tandem with a fall in gasoline and distillate supplies. However, gains were capped by cuts in global oil demand forecasts by energy watchdogs (OPEC, EIA and the IEA).



Meanwhile, natural gas rallied to its highest in 2020 due to record cooling demand and expectations of continued hot weather, which is likely to translate into the burning of more fuel to feed higher electricity consumption for air-conditioning.

Recap of the Weeks Most-Important Stories

1. Southwestern Energy Company recently agreed to acquire a smaller natural gas producer Montage Resources, in an all-stock deal. The deal is expected to boost Southwesterns Appalachian Basin footprint with high-return Marcellus and Utica assets.



Per the deal, shareholders of Montage Resources will receive 1.8656 Southwestern shares for each Montage Resources share they hold. Southwestern  carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold)  started an underwritten public offering of 55 million shares (representing 10% of outstanding shares), the proceeds of which will be utilized to retire a portion of Montage Resources' 8.875% senior notes that are due 2023. If the acquisition does not take effect, the proceeds from the offering will likely be used in debt repayment by Southwestern. Notably, the total debt of the combined company was $3,108 million at secondquarter end.



You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



The move is expected to create the third-largest producer in the Appalachian Basin that will produce around 3 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day (Bcfe/d). Notably, Southwestern produced 2.2 Bcfe/d in the second quarter of 2020. The deal will likely be closed in the December quarter. The combined company is likely to have 208,894 net acres in Northeast Appalachia and 577,293 net acres in Southwest Appalachia. At 2019-end, the combined entity had total proved reserves of 15,451 Bcfe. (Southwestern to Buy Montage Resources: What You Need to Know)



2. Chevron recently announced an investment in Zap Energy, a nuclear fusion start-up company building a next-generation modular nuclear reactor to lower carbon emissions. Chevron's move comes when most of the energy companies were dealing with continuous pressure from its investors to cut down emissions, devote more toward low-carbon energy and explain the impact of their fossil fuel production on climate change.



Chevron invested in Zap Energy through Chevron Technology Ventures marking the 10th investment by Chevrons Future Energy Fund. Per Barbara Burger, president of Chevron Technology Ventures, Future Energy Fund investments grants the company with planned understanding into power generation markets and the potentially taxing effects of innovative methods such as fusion, geothermal, wind, and solar, on the conventional power value chain.



Chevron sees fusion technology as a promising low-carbon future energy source. Further, it believes that investing in fusion will provide an opportunity to the company to concentrate more on a diversified portfolio of low-carbon energy resources with the ability to offer communities across the globe access to reasonably priced, dependable, and ever-cleaner energy.



3. Occidental Petroleum OXY reported second-quarter 2020 loss of $1.76 per share, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.66. The underperformance reflects sharply lower realized liquids prices.



Occidentals total production volume for the second quarter was 1,406 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboe/d), which exceeded the midpoint of the guidance by 36 Mboe/d. The strong numbers were attributed to higher volumes from the Permian Resources region. Second-quarter production from the region was 465 Mboe/d, which exceeded the upper end of the guidance by 5% and was up 60.9% year over year.



Occidental is aggressively managing cost and implementing ways to lower expenditure. Occidental achieved the 2020 annualized run rate of $1.5 billion of total overhead savings, including $900 million of synergies and $600 million of additional cost reduction. Courtesy of cost management and strong production, domestic operating expenses for the second quarter were $4.69 boe compared with $11.16 boe registered in the year-ago quarter. (Occidental Q2 Loss Wider Than Expected, Sales Miss)



4. In its weekly release, Baker Hughes Company BKR reported another drop in the U.S. rig count. Rigs engaged in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the United States fell to an all-time low of 244 in the week through Aug 14, compared with the prior-week count of 247. The current national rig count is well below the prior years 935.



Investors should know that with the recent all-time low mark, the tally has touched record-low levels for 15 successive weeks, thanks to dented global energy demand owing to the coronavirus pandemic.



The oil rig count was 172 in the week through Aug 14, compared with 176 in the week ended Aug 7. The coronavirus-induced trough in prices and demand has pushed drilling activity lower. This automatically translates into lesser work for the oilfield service firms  companies that make it possible for upstream players to drill for oil and gas. This led the weekly tally of oil rigs to fall in 20 of the last 21 weeks.

Story continues

Price Performance

The following table shows the price movement of some of the major oil and gas players over the past week and during the last six months.



Company Last Week Last 6 Months

XOM +1.4% -29.7%

CVX +4.1% -17.9%

COP +6.6% -30.4%

OXY -5.2% -64.8%

SLB +2.2% -41.7%

RIG -2.7% -51.8%

VLO +3.4% -34.1%

MPC +4.6% -34.3%



The Energy Select Sector SPDR  a popular way to track energy companies  gained 2.7% last week. The best performer was E&P biggie ConocoPhillips COP whose stock jumped 6.6%.



For the longer term, over six months, the sector tracker is down 30%. Oil and gas producer Occidental Petroleum was the major loser during this period, experiencing a 64.8% price plunge.

Whats Next in the Energy World?

As global oil consumption gradually ticks up, market participants will be closely tracking the regular releases to watch for signs that could further validate a rebound. In this context, the U.S.

governments statistics on oil and natural gas  one of the few solid indicators that comes out regularly  will be on energy traders' radar. Data on rig count from energy service firm Baker Hughes, which is a pointer to trends in U.S. crude production, is also closely followed.

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Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hit back on Tuesday against US President Donald Trump for saying her country is experiencing a "big surge" in COVID-19, calling the remarks "patently wrong".

Trump sparked uproar in New Zealand when he told a crowd in Minnesota that the South Pacific country of 5 million people was in the grip of a "terrible" upsurge in COVID-19 cases, having earlier succeeded in eliminating the disease.

Thirteen new infections were confirmed in New Zealand on Tuesday, taking the country`s total number of cases since the pandemic began to 1,293, with 22 deaths. This compares with the U.S. tally of more than 5.2 million cases and 170,000 deaths.

"You see what`s going on in New Zealand?" Trump said.

"They beat it, they beat it, it was like front page they beat it ... because they wanted to show me something. The problem is ... big surge in New Zealand, you know it`s terrible. We don`t want that," he added.

Ardern said there was no comparison between New Zealand`s handful of new cases a day and the "tens of thousands" reported in the United States.

"I think anyone who`s following COVID and its transmission globally will quite easily see that New Zealand`s nine cases in a day does not compare to the United States` tens of thousands, and in fact does not compare to most countries in the world," she told reporters.

"Obviously it`s patently wrong," she said of Trump`s comments.

"We are still one of the best-performing countries in the world when it comes to COVID ... our workers are focused on keeping it that way."

New Zealand`s death rate per 100,000 people, at about 0.44, is one of the lowest in the world thanks to strict lockdowns enforced early in the pandemic. The United States has a death rate of 5.21 per 100,000, one of the highest in the world.

MYSTERY OUTBREAK

New Zealand has fared far better than most countries during the pandemic, but an abrupt resurgence of COVID-19 last week in Auckland prompted the government to extend a lockdown for the city`s 1.7 million residents until Aug. 26, while social distancing rules are in place in other towns and cities.

The origin of the latest outbreak is still unknown, but authorities earlier on Tuesday ruled out the possibility that it came from frozen food items or freight.

"Seems clear now that the possibility is being ruled out from that investigation," Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told reporters.

New Zealanders celebrated when the country passed 100 days without any community transmission earlier this month.

With an election due in mid-October, Ardern is keen to remind voters of her government`s track record on fighting the virus.

"Every other single country in the world has experienced resurgence. We went longer than many, our outbreak is certainly not as significant as what we are seeing in Vietnam, in Hong Kong, in South Korea or in Australia," she told state broadcaster TVNZ.
ORLANDO, Fla.  Tropical Storm Kyle and Josephine are officially last weeks news, but the National Hurricane Center is now tracking two more tropical waves with a chance to develop into the next tropical depression or tropical storm.

Both waves are located in the Atlantic but forecast to move into the Caribbean Sea in the next five days during which chances are good for tropical formation.

The closer of the two is located about 400 miles east of the Windward Islands with disorganized rain and thunderstorms, expected to move west at about 20 mph, a relatively fast forward speed that will limit development, the NHC said in its 2 a.m. update Monday.

It is expect to move over the Windward and southern Leeward Islands today and then slow down as it progressed into the Caribbean Sea.

Upper-level winds could become more conducive for the development of a tropical depression during the latter part of this week, forecasters said.

The NHC gives that system a 20% chance of formation in the next two days, but a 50% chance within the next five days.

Similar chances are in play for a second tropical wave farther east in the Atlantic.

Located south-southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands, the wave has produced a large area of disorganized showers, forecast to move west to west-northwest at 15 to 20 mph in the next few days.

The NHC gives that system a 10% chance of formation in the next two days, but a 60% chance within the next five days.

If either storm forms, it could become Tropical Depression 13 or if it spins up to tropical-storm-force strength with sustained winds of 39 mph, it would be named Tropical Storm Laura, the 12th named storm of the 2020 hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.

The 2020 hurricane season already has seen seven tropical storms: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Josephine and Kyle plus Hurricane Hanna and Hurricane Isaias as well as a tropical depression that did not grow into named storm strength.



Richard Tribou of the Orlando Sentinel wrote this story.

2020 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.)

Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 07:35:10|Editor: huaxia

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People carry the coffins of firefighters who were killed during the explosions in Beirut, Lebanon, on Aug. 17, 2020. 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. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
In any other year, tens of thousands of Democratic party faithful would be descending upon Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to officially nominate Senator Joe Biden as the partys choice to take on United States President Donald Trump in this years presidential election. Delegates, past and current elected officials, activists, and other supporters would be treated to a week of policy-making, rousing speeches, and the prime time introduction of Senator Kamala Harris as Bidens running mate.

Its not hard to imagine how electric it would be in person to see Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican parents, take the stage for that historic moment.

A week later, the Republicans were meant to gather in for Charlotte, North Carolina  which was cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns and the states governors stance on masks and social distancing. On a whim, the Republicans relocated the convention to Jacksonville, Florida, a place particularly hard-hit by the pandemic. In the end, it appears that the President wants to officially accept the nomination from the White House. There are a number of legal concerns about doing so, and, as with so much else, its impossible to know where Trump will land.

The conventions serve a real purpose. Biden is not the official presidential nominee for the Democrats until hes voted as such at the end of the convention by delegates. The same is true for Trump  hes not the official Republican candidate until the party says he is.

The functional aspects of a typical party convention have become largely perfunctory over the past 20 years, but the delegates that Biden won in the primary election still need to vote for him in the formal nomination process. The strong urge to project party unity corresponds with the rise of TV, and then the Internet, as mediums for information. Major parties are keen to avoid the spectacle of being divided on their candidate, platform, or both, in the eyes of voters.

This sort of stage management of political leaders and their party faithful is a symptom of a larger issue within American politics, and politics generally, of inauthenticity. One does not need an advanced degree in American politics to know that there are deep divisions on core issues within both parties, especially the Democrats. At the convention, however, it will be cordial, supportive, and as unified as it can be.

There is a vast, grassroots Left wing of the party that doesnt share a lot of excitement for the Biden candidacy; they see the Democratic party as too mainstream, and too willing to accommodate an increasingly-extreme Republican party  and they see Biden as being the political embodiment of that. There are real policy differences, and the convention is where the partys policy programme is set. The choices of speakers, issues, and priorities matter; and I expect the partys platform to be the most progressive in history.

Despite two consecutive primary losses, Senator Bernie Sanders  an Independent who calls himself (rightly) a Democratic Socialist and caucuses with the Democrats  commands a loyal, Left-leaning, and active support base, and they will be well-represented in the partys policy process, if not on the stage. Progressives have made huge electoral gains throughout every level of government over the past four years, and a COVID-19-ravaged American economy very likely needs exactly what they support  a social system that is more equitable, functional, and affordable, and a government that puts regular working people at the forefront of its spending and legislative priorities.

The COVID-19 crisis is only set to get worse. Protections against evictions and enhanced unemployment benefits have expired, and there is talk of a new spending bill that may eclipse the $1 trillion mark. Expect several days of pointed attacks on the Trump administration for its lack of leadership on COVID-19  America has 170,000 dead and is approaching 6 million total infections  and the lack of a plan for addressing what may well become the greatest economic and unemployment crisis the country has ever seen.

The Republicans, to the detriment of America and the entire world, have cast their lot with President Trump and continue to support him  85 percent of the Republicans say they support his re-election. As with most presidential incumbents, his re-nomination was never in doubt.

Even virtually, I expect to see some fireworks. Although progressives appear to remain sceptical of Harris, theres no denying that she is one of the Senates most liberal members. From her post on the Judiciary Committee, few have done more to hold the Trump administration officials to account. When she takes the virtual stage and people see a powerful woman of colour talking about core progressive issues, the rule of law, and addressing Americas creeping pariah status, it will be inspiring.

Sree Sreenivasan is Marshall Loeb Visiting Professor of Digital Innovation at Stony Brook Journalism School in New York, and cofounder of Digimentors, a social, digital and virtual events consultancy. Twitter: @sree. Views are personal.

(Lookout for Sree Sreenivasans take on the upcoming US presidential elections every fortnight.)
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The competition over which U.S. technology company will win control of TikTok is heating up, and it just took a strange turn.

Late Monday, the Financial Times reported that Oracle Corp. has held talks with Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd. to acquire TikToks operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, putting the business-software developer in the running for the short-video platform alongside Microsoft Corp. and Twitter Inc. According to the report, Oracle is partnering with current ByteDance investors General Atlantic and Sequoia Capital for the potential deal.

The new development follows President Donald Trumps latest edict on Friday that ordered ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations within 90 days, citing national security concerns. An earlier executive order from Trump restricts U.S. residents from doing business with the company as of late September.

Certainly, Oracle  with a market value of $170 billion  has the wherewithal to be a serious contender for TikTok. It can easily afford the tens of billions that will likely be required to buy the popular app. And with Oracles extensive history in enterprise database software, the U.S. can be assured that the company would be able to safeguard TikToks user data, relieving any security and privacy concerns. Beyond those two points, though, an Oracle-TikTok combination makes little sense.

Oracle has virtually no experience in the consumer internet and social-media app businesses. Further, there is little corporate synergy between TikToks burgeoning offering for brand advertisers and the software companys enterprise-focused sales channels. Frankly, it seems like a desperate attempt at relevancy as Oracle has struggled amid the industrys secular shift to cloud computing from traditional on-premise deployments. To illustrate, during a time when revenue at many cloud-software companies is growing at heady double-digit rates, Oracle is shrinking, with its sales down 6% versus in its latest reported quarter from a year earlier. While Oracle is trying to market itself as a leading cloud player, the numbers show it is still a legacy software vendor at its core.

Story continues

The truth is, TikTok is a better fit for the other public bidders. Last month, I wrote how Microsoft may be the best match, noting that its advertising business anchored by the Bing search engine could make TikTok a powerful third competitor against the two dominant internet ad players, Google parent Alphabet Inc. and Facebook Inc. In addition, Microsoft has other successful consumer offerings such as its Xbox gaming business and talented machine-learning engineers to maintain TikToks best-in-class algorithms. On a pure dollars and cents level, its Microsofts game to lose as well. The company is worth nearly $1.6 trillion and has the ability to top any bid from Oracle, if it so desires. And because Microsoft has similar businesses, where it can cross-sell and cross-promote TikTok, the company probably can value TikTok higher versus the enterprise-focused Oracle.

As for Twitter, my colleague Tim Culpan wrote last week that buying TikTok would help increase the social media companys scale and reach to younger viewers, improving the companys ability to sell to advertisers. And of course, Twitter has specialized industry knowledge and long experience in social media.

There may be another cross-current in the mix, though. It is reported Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison is one of few technology executives who has supported President Trump politically. Some have speculated Ellison may be able to leverage his close relationship with the White House to get his company a better deal. But at the end of the day, even if Oracle can win out, that doesnt mean it should go for it. From my perspective, an Oracle-TikTok combination is just too weird to work.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Tae Kim is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. He previously covered technology for Barron's, following an earlier career as an equity analyst.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Sri Lanka's electricity board on Tuesday decided to impose one-hour power cut daily for a period of four days to meet the shortfall caused by the breakdown of a major power plant that led to a nation-wide power outage.

A massive power outage hit on Monday, plunging the entire country into darkness for around seven hours and disrupting essential services and businesses following a technical failure at Chinese built Norochcholai coal power plant in the north western region.

The state power entity Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said power cuts have been introduced with effect from Tuesday as a measure to meet the shortfall caused by the breakdown of the coal power station.

"We are short of about 300 mega watts and to meet this shortage there will be power cuts lasting for an hour from 6 pm till 10 pm based on 4 zones", Vijitha Herath the chief of the CEB told reporters.

The Norochcholai coal power plant is currently off-grid due to a rise in the temperature and requires to be reset after the temperature drops to the assigned level, he said.

The Norochcholai coal power station has suffered frequent breakdowns in the recent past.

The government has appointed a committee to probe the islandwide power failure. However, the power sector trade unions have ruled out any sabotage as the reason for the sudden power outage.

(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.)
(Reuters) - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Monday that mink at two farms in Utah tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the first such confirmed cases in the animal in the country.

People who had contact with the animals have also tested positive for the virus, which causes COVID-19 in humans, the agency said. (https://bit.ly/3aykgCI)

Tests were carried out after unusually large numbers of mink died at the farms, the agency said.

The animal, which is bred for its fur, is known to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, the agency said, after mink carrying the virus were found on four of the 155 farms in the Netherlands.

Two cats in New York became the first pets in the United States in April to have contracted the coronavirus, although there is no evidence of pets spreading the virus to humans. (https://reut.rs/3h57JZT)

The USDA said there was currently no evidence that animals, including mink, play a significant role in spreading the virus to human.

Limited information shows low risk of coronavirus spread to humans from animals, but more information is needed to determine if animals could play a role in the spread of the virus, the agency added.

(Reporting by Trisha Roy in Bengaluru)
OAKLAND, Calif. and CLEVELAND, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) and Cleveland Clinic have released a second guide following the announcement of their partnership in July to support public health as society continues to face COVID-19.

"Safer at Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic" shares practices for households that can help people protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities from further spread of COVID-19. The free online guide incorporates general prevention information, resources on cleaning and disinfecting a home, tips on communicating with loved ones about the new realities and emotional challenges posed by the pandemic, and guidance on caring for family members who are sick with coronavirus. Many of the same steps can keep families healthy during the upcoming cold and flu season as well.

"As we continue to contend with the challenges from COVID-19, people are looking for guidance that will give them a sense of confidence and comfort that they're taking the right steps to help them keep their families safe," said Clorox Chair and CEO Benno Dorer. "Bringing together the knowledge and expertise we've each developed over the course of 100 years  for Clorox in serving the cleaning and disinfecting needs of households and for Cleveland Clinic in serving patient needs  is important. Our hope is that the guide will contribute to the collective action necessary to beat the pandemic."

Added Cleveland Clinic Chief Clinical Transformation Officer James Merlino, M.D., "As we focus on protecting ourselves from COVID-19, it's important we take precautions everywhere we go, including in our homes. This new guide offers advice that can prevent the spread of COVID-19, and addresses emotional well-being and ways to maintain social connections with friends and family while we are physically distant. Our organizations are committed to helping the community stay safe as we all continue to navigate a new normal during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

The first guide released in July as part of the Clorox-Cleveland Clinic partnership, "Six Building Blocks of a Robust Cleaning and Disinfection Program," was focused on helping employers with training, effective product selection, and the development of robust cleaning and disinfection processes to create and maintain safer environments. The organizations are also involved in a partnership with United Airlines, the United CleanPlus program, to inform and guide new cleaning and safety protocols.

Cleveland Clinic offers resources and advisory support to help organizations safely resume operations during COVID-19. These resources include an employer website, COVID-19: Creating a Safe Workplace, which features a series of return to work guides developed for various industries. Cleveland Clinic also hosts a webinar series on topics ranging from infection prevention to employee resiliency.

The Clorox Company

The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with about 8,800 employees worldwide and fiscal year 2020 sales of $6.7 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized consumer brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol cleaners; Liquid-Plumr clog removers; Poett home care products; Fresh Step cat litter; Glad bags and wraps; Kingsford charcoal; Hidden Valley dressings and sauces; Brita water-filtration products; Burt's Bees natural personal care products; and RenewLife, Rainbow Light, Natural Vitality Calm, NeoCell and Stop Aging Now vitamins, minerals and supplements. The company also markets industry-leading products and technologies for professional customers, including those sold under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brand names. More than 80% of the company's sales are generated from brands that hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories.

Clorox is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The company has been broadly recognized for its corporate responsibility efforts, named to the 2020 Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation rankings, Barron's 2020 100 Most Sustainable Companies list, and the Human Rights Campaign's 2020 Corporate Equality Index, among others. In support of its communities, The Clorox Company and its foundations contributed more than $25 million in combined cash grants, product donations and cause marketing in fiscal year 2020. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com, including the Good Growth blog, and follow the company on Twitter at @CloroxCo.

The Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Among Cleveland Clinic's 67,554 employees worldwide are more than 4,520 salaried physicians and researchers, and 17,000 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,026-bed health system that includes a 165-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 18 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2019, there were 9.8 million total outpatient visits, 309,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 255,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic's health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org . Follow us at twitter.com/CCforMedia and twitter.com/ClevelandClinic . News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

CLX-C

SOURCE The Clorox Company

Related Links

http://www.thecloroxcompany.com


Eviction may soon become a reality for millions of American renters.

In March, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act prohibited landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent in homes with federally backed mortgages. But this program ended on July 24.

As a result, an estimated 20% of the 110 million Americans who rent their homes are at risk for eviction by Sept. 30, according to a report by the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, a group of economic researchers and legal experts working to better understand the housing, homeless, and community recovery during the pandemic.

We anticipate a flood of evictions because many tenants wont be able to pay the back rent, and it will be due, says Deborah Thrope, deputy director at the National Housing Law Project, a housing and legal advocacy nonprofit.

The eviction moratorium is simply a pause. It's not rent cancelation, Thrope says.

But even if you're struggling to pay rent, this doesn't mean an eviction is your only choice. Heres an overview of some of the steps you can take to fight an eviction.

Talk to your landlord ASAP

The best advice I can give tenants when their financial situation starts to deteriorate is to communicate with your landlord, says Marina Vaamonde, a real estate investor in Houston and founder of HouseCashin. Their willingness to have a discussion is the only way tenants can come to a resolution without going to court.

According to a recent survey of landlords by the American Apartment Owners Association, 67% said they would be willing to offer tenants a rent deferment if they needed it.

So if you know you cant make your next rent payment, reach out to your landlord as soon as possible. Waiting until after you get an eviction notice may be too late, and your landlord may be less likely to work with you. Your landlord could also already be in the process of filing the eviction with the court, and have paid fees to do so, which may make him more likely to follow through.

There are a number of things you can negotiate with your landlord, Thrope says. Some options to consider include a rent repayment agreement, shortening the terms of your lease, or possibly getting out of your lease altogether.

Learn how COVID-19 moratoriums apply to you

Eviction laws vary drastically across the country at the state and even city level, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it all even more complicated. Along with the CARES Act eviction moratorium, states and municipalities issued their own mandates to pause evictions. So make sure to read up on the eviction laws in your area specifically to better understand what your landlord is legally allowed and not allowed to do.

Once you understand your legal rights, youll know your options, Thrope says. We have this patchwork of policy all across the country right now, so it's important to know the local law and tenant protections.

One resource for finding out the statutes of local eviction laws is the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, which created a nationwide database. The group has also developed a state-by-state COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard, tracking states responses to evictions and during the pandemic.

NHLP also has local and national online resources for renters and homeowners during the pandemic.

Make sure your landlord gives you adequate notice

Landlords usually have the legal right to evict tenants for not paying rent, violating a lease, causing damage to the property, or engaging in illegal activity at the home.

Most states require landlords to give an adequate notice of eviction with a deadline to pay rent or move out and the amount owed. If you dont meet the deadline, the landlord can file a lawsuit to evict you.

But if landlords dont provide adequate notice of eviction, Vaamonde says a judge will often throw out the case.

In Texas, for example, landlords must provide an official three-day notice to vacate the property with the reason for the eviction, and can file an eviction hearing with the court if the tenant doesnt respond or move out.

Landlords are also prohibited from taking extreme actions during the eviction process, like changing the locks or cutting off utilities.

Attend your eviction hearing

After being closed because of the pandemic, eviction courts are beginning to reopen across the country, and are moving cases through quickly to clear up the backlog of evictions.

If your landlord files for an eviction in court, you will receive a notice to appear for the hearing. Its important to show up, especially if you hope to fight the case. You have the right to examine and present evidence and bring witnesses, Thrope says.

Showing up to the eviction hearing at the courthouse is the only way to receive some form of leniency, Vaamonde says. If the landlord wants you out of his property, the judge is the only one with the authority to defer your eviction.

Since the pandemic has made showing up to court more difficult and dangerous, many proceedings are being held virtually, with tenants expected to appear by phone or videoconference. This may be easier for some tenants, but Thrope says in other cases, it can interfere with due process for some tenants who may not have access to the technology. It also makes it more difficult to look over evidence or converse with attorneys. Make sure you know when, where, and how you're supposed to show up in court to make sure you do what you can to present your case.

We hope that courts understand that this is a public health crisis, and that people sheltering in their homes is one of the remedies, Thrope says. To put people on the street right now is only going to exacerbate this crisis, so we hope courts will do the right thing.

Consult an attorney

Fighting an eviction alone is overwhelming for many tenants since the process is so complex. Thrope urges tenants facing eviction to hire an attorney or contact local legal aid organizations.

Reach out for legal assistance, she says. Thats really important because you need to understand what protections you can avail yourself locally.

A lawyer can help explain whether youre protected by the CARES Act or other local mandate, as well as how regular eviction laws apply in your situation and what exactly you need to do to fight an eviction.

A lawyer will also help you gather documentation to use as evidence, such as proof of past rent payments or that you lost your job, and any communication that you had with your landlord.

Most tenants are not represented, she says. Some tenants may be savvy enough to [represent themselves], but its a legal process. We have the right to counsel, and its really critical here.

The post How To Fight an Eviction During the Coronavirus Pandemic appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
PENSACOLA, Fla., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As COVID-19 continues to exacerbate Florida's need for skilled nurses, Fortis Institute in Pensacola has launched a Practical Nursing (PN) program. The program is open for enrollment and will welcome its first cohort in October, 2020.

According to Dr. Lisa Carwie, Fortis Institute in Pensacola dean of nursing, which operates the program, the unprecedented health emergency has brought an expedited need for nurses, especially in Florida.

"Over the past decade, Pensacola has seen a steadily increasing need for skilled nurses, and the current pandemic compounds the shortage of licensed nurses to care for COVID-19 patients," said Dr. Carwie. "Fortis Institute is rising to the challenge placed before the healthcare community to provide an additional nursing education program that will be instrumental in meeting the growing staffing needs in our area."

Fortis Institute in Pensacola joins its sister schools, Fortis College in Cutler Bay, Fortis College in Orange Park and Fortis Institute in Port St. Lucie in offering a 60-week PN program to Florida residents. The new program prepares students to sit for the NCLEX licensure exam and pursue entry-level positions as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).

"North Florida is in dire need of nursing professionals who can fill the widening employment gap created by COVID-19 and a nationwide nursing shortage," said Kathaleen Cole, Fortis Institute Campus President. "We are proud to help stem the tide by offering a Practical Nursing program at our campus."

To learn more, visit Fortis College in Pensacola at 4081 East Olive Road, Suite B or call 1-855-436-7847.

About Fortis

A leading post-secondary network of colleges and institutes that engages students in powerful learning and training experiences, Fortis delivers focused career education programs in nursing, dental, healthcare, and the skilled trades at more than 30 schools in 11 states. The Fortis network offers career-based certificate, diploma and degree-granting programs and program offerings and accreditations vary by campus. Each Fortis campus is accredited by a nationally recognized body.

Fortis is affiliated with the St. Paul's School of Nursing, Denver College of Nursing and All-State Career School. Visit www.fortis.edu for consumer disclosure information and to learn more about Fortis educational opportunities. Your Life. Powered by Learning.

SOURCE Fortis

Related Links

http://www.fortis.edu




Successful Completion of Phase 1 Program at Reids Dome

Brisbane, Aug 18, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - State Gas Limited ( ASX:GAS ) has been investigating the potential for a significant coal seam gas (CSG) resource within the Reid's Dome Beds at its 100%-owned PL231 project, since its Nyanda-4 well encountered gas in 38 metres of net coal and 25 metres of carbonaceous shales during drilling in late 2018.Following the success of Nyanda-4, State Gas embarked on Phase 1 of an exploration and appraisal programme to confirm the widespread presence of CSG across the Reid's Dome Gas Project (PL231). The successful Phase 1 has included a corehole at Aldinga East-1A in the north, a well and production testing in the centre of PL231 (Serocold-1), and production testing of the Nyanda-4 well in the south (see Figure 1*).The Company is pleased to advise that the objective of the Phase 1 programme has now been accomplished, following confirmation of the presence of CSG across the PL231 permit over at least 12 kilometres, from north to south. Importantly, CSG has been confirmed, and gas has been produced at all three locations.With this strong validation, necessary data has been obtained to establish the first certified resources for the Reid's Dome gas field. Accordingly, the Company has commissioned Netherland Sewell and Associates Inc. to undertake the certification of Reid's Dome, with the results expected to be available for release by late September 2020.In the meantime, customised pumps were installed in July and production testing is continuing at both Serocold-1 and Nyanda-4, with gas flows at both wells gradually increasing. Well damage and debris at Serocold-1 has resulted in only 54% of the targeted coal seams being exposed to the test. Despite this limitation, as of last night (after 30 days dewatering) Serocold-1 was producing at a rate of 13 mscf/d. Flow rates have been increasing at approximately 2.5% per day for the last two weeks.6.2 kilometres south of Serocold-1, Nyanda-4 achieved 227 mscf/d before the pump failed. Following installation of new customised pumps in July, Nyanda-4 is flowing gas again (after 32 days dewatering) at above 70 mscf/d, also increasing at approximately 2.5% per day. The Company intends to cease production testing of Nyanda-4 once it reaches stabilised flows to enable the performance of a Production Log Test ("PLT"). The PLT will enable the Company to determine the relative gas contribution of individual seams in the well, which will help inform the Company on the optimal well design for Phase 2.12 kilometres north of Nyanda-4, Aldinga East-1A continues to be monitored. As announced on 12 August 2020, Aldinga East-1A has been flow tested from the intra-Cattle Creek conventional gas reservoir, with the gas flow rate calculated at 363 mcf/d. The Cattle Creek Formation contains shallow conventional sandstone reservoirs which will complement the development of the CSG field within the Reid's Dome Beds at PL231.State Gas Executive Chairman, Richard Cottee, said that the Phase 1 appraisal program had confirmed the presence of significant coal seam gas across more than 12 kilometres within the Reid's Dome Gas Field at PL 231."Given the greenfield nature of the field, the results obtained to date have exceeded my expectations," Mr Cottee said."Through Phase 1, we have also obtained valuable information for future well completions and optimised the pumping technology for the local conditions," he said."The appraisal results augur well for the future and increase my confidence about the scale and timing for the project. This could support pipeline development and see State Gas in production within around two years."*To view tables and figures, please visit:About State Gas Limited

State Gas Limited (ASX:GAS) is a Queensland-based developer of the Reid's Dome gas field, originally discovered during drilling in 1955, located in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland. State Gas is 100%-owner of the Reid's Dome Gas Project (PL-231) a CSG and conventional gas play, which is well-located 30 kilometres southwest of Rolleston, approximately 50 kilometres from the Queensland Gas Pipeline and interconnected east coast gas network.

Permian coal measures within the Reid's Dome Beds are extensive across the entire permit but the area had not been explored for coal seam gas prior to State Gas' ownership. In late 2018 State Gas drilled the first coal seam gas well in the region (Nyanda-4) into the Reid's Dome Beds and established the potential for a significant coal seam gas project in PL 231. The extension of the coal measures into the northern and central areas of the permit was confirmed in late 2019 by the Company's drilling of Aldinga East-1A (12 km north) and Serocold-1 (6 km to the north of Nyanda-4).

State Gas is also the 100% holder Authority to Prospect 2062 ("Rolleston-West"), a 1,414 km2 permit (eight times larger than PL 231) that is contiguous with the Reid's Dome Gas Project. Rolleston-West contains highly prospective targets for both coal seam gas (CSG) and known conventional gas within the permit area. It is not restricted by domestic gas reservation requirements.

The contiguous areas (Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West), under sole ownership by State Gas, enable integration of activities and a unified super-gasfield development, providing economies of scale, efficient operations, and optionality in marketing.

State Gas is implementing its strategic plan to bring gas to market from Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West to meet near term forecast shortfalls in the east coast domestic gas market. The strategy involves progressing a phased appraisal program in parallel with permitting for an export pipeline and development facilities to facilitate the fastest possible delivery of gas to market. State Gas' current focus has been to confirm the producibility of the gas through production testing of the wells.
NZs prime minister hits back at Donald Trumps claim that her country is experiencing a terrible surge in COVID-19.

New Zealands Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called out US President Donald Trump for saying her country is experiencing a big surge in COVID-19, saying his remarks were patently wrong.

Arderns comments on Tuesday came hours after Trump told a crowd in the US state of Minnesota that New Zealand was in the grip of a terrible surge in COVID-19 cases, despite having earlier succeeded in eliminating the disease.

The places they were using to hold up now they are having a big surge, Trump said at the campaign rally. They were holding up names of countries, and now they are saying, Whoops!'

You see whats going on in New Zealand? he said.

They beat it; they beat it, it was like front-page news because they wanted to show me something  Big surge in New Zealand, you know its terrible. We dont want that.

The claim came as New Zealand confirmed 13 new infections on Tuesday, taking the countrys total number of cases since the pandemic began to 1,293, with 22 deaths. The US has had more than 5.2 million cases and 170,000 deaths, the highest in the world.

Donald Trump told supporters in Minnesota that New Zealand was in the grip of a terrible COVID-19 resurgence [Tom Brenner/ Reuters]

Ardern told reporters there was no comparison between New Zealands situation and that in the US.

I think anyone whos following COVID and its transmission globally will quite easily see that New Zealands nine cases in a day does not compare to the United States tens of thousands, and in fact does not compare to most countries in the world, she said.

Obviously, its patently wrong, she said of Trumps comment.

We are still one of the best-performing countries in the world when it comes to COVID our workers are focused on keeping it that way.

New Zealand has fared far better than most countries during the pandemic, but an abrupt resurgence of COVID-19 last week in Auckland prompted the government to extend a lockdown for the citys 1.7 million residents until August 26, while physical distancing rules are in place in other towns and cities.

The outbreak forced Ardern to delay the countrys general election by four weeks, to October 17.

As the polls approached, the prime minister was keen to remind voters of her governments track record on fighting the virus.

Every other single country in the world has experienced resurgence. We went longer than many, our outbreak is certainly not as significant as what we are seeing in Vietnam, in Hong Kong, in South Korea or in Australia, she told state broadcaster TVNZ.

The origin of New Zealands latest outbreak is still unknown, but authorities earlier on Tuesday ruled out the possibility that it came from frozen food items or freight.

Seems clear now that the possibility is being ruled out from that investigation, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told reporters.
Xtalks Life Science Webinars panelists will demonstrate the latest processing methods to make a vegetarian or vegan sausage at a high volume, using existing and familiar equipment

Join the live webinar on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 9am EDT (2pm BST/UK), the first in a series of four, offered by Meatless, that handles specific techniques to make palatable vegan/vegetarian products.

In this webinar, panelists will demonstrate the latest processing methods to make a vegetarian or vegan sausage at a high volume, using existing and familiar equipment. The session will begin with an introduction to the sponsor company, Meatless, by Jos Hugense, the CEO.

Meatless is a Dutch company that has been supplying texturized vegetable products with very special qualities to the vegetarian and vegan food processing industry for over 15 years now. They deliver textures which have capabilities such as high heat stability and high water-holding capacity. Meatless uses whole foods, proteins or even pure starches as basic raw materials which are applied in analog fish and meat products, as well as blended processed products. Meatless is constantly innovating in technologies and application concepts for their customers. One of these applications will be demonstrated in this webinar.

Jos Havekotte, a consultant in meat and plant-based food concepts, will connect the history of sausage-making with the modern technology to make a plant-based sausage, something Meatless has managed to master. He will also shed a light on the future of sausages, and how the market will shift.

Lastly, Ton Klos, technical account manager at Meatless, will host a practical session making a plant-based sausage using texturized products by Meatless. This will showcase how the company has managed to design and execute an excellent plant-based sausage, also showing exactly how it is made.

For more information or to register for this event, visit Making Excellent Vegan Sausages Using Meatless Texturized Products.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/

Contact:

Sydney Perelmutter

Tel: +1 (416) 977-6555 x 352

Email: sperelmutter@xtalks.com


U.A.E. Says Normalization Deal With Israel Is Not Directed At Iran

August 17, 2020

The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) says its agreement to normalize ties with Israel is a "sovereign decision" that is "not directed" at Iran.

"We do not accept interference in our decisions," the U.A.E. minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said on August 17, a day after the Persian Gulf state said it had summoned Iran's charge d'affaires in Abu Dhabi and given him a "strongly worded memo" in response to comments by Iranian President Hassan Rohani.

Israel and the U.A.E. announced on August 13 that they were establishing full diplomatic relations in a U.S.-brokered deal that included an Israeli pledge to suspend its controversial plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

The deal makes the U.A.E. the first Gulf Arab state to establish full diplomatic ties and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic relations with Israel.

The move was hailed by several Gulf states but slammed by Iran, Turkey, and the Palestinians.

Rohani said in a speech on August 15 that the U.A.E. had made a "huge mistake" in reaching the agreement and accused the Gulf state of betraying the Palestinian cause.

On August 16, Israel and the U.A.E. inaugurated direct telephone services between the two countries following their agreement.

And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on August 17 that his country is preparing for direct flights to the U.A.E. that would go over Saudi Arabia.

Based on reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-a-e-says- normalization-deal-with-israel-is-not -directed-at-iran/30788261.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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PITTSBURGH, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockton, the world's largest privately-held insurance brokerage, opened their new, 8,000 square-foot, Class A commercial office space at One Oxford Centre in downtown Pittsburgh. The new office accommodates the firm's current growth modeling that shows a headcount increase of 30% each year, which they are on track to achieve by 2025.

"The city of Pittsburgh is historically known to have entrepreneurialism, growth and resilience in its DNA," said Michael Brodzinski, Senior Vice President and Market Leader of Lockton Pittsburgh. "Moving into our new office during a global crisis parallels these characteristics. Our story is one of organic growth and a commitment to our clients and the Pittsburgh business community. We are here to stay," Brodzinski added.

Since Lockton established itself in Pittsburgh in 2019, the firm has invested in local talent to advise its clients and engage with local stakeholders. In the community, the firm is involved with 412 Food Rescue, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and most recently raised over $5,500 for the Allegheny County Medical Society Foundation's COVID-19 Front Line Relief Fund. In addition, Senior Vice President Mark Weber founded DisruptHR Pittsburgh, a community of over 500 professionals with the shared mission of energizing, informing and empowering Human Resource and Business leaders.

"When our city and neighbors needed us the most, we were fortunate to have strong community partners like Lockton to lean on," said Jeremy Bonfini, CEO of The Allegheny County Medical Society. "With their support through donations raised, we were able to provide personal protective gear to frontline workers in nearly 100 healthcare facilities including the local county and city health clinics," Bonfini added.

Lockton Pittsburgh empowers organizations through the optimization of risk management and human capital strategies by offering data-driven, tailored plans to protect people, property, and reputations. With a strong entrepreneurial culture that is complemented by the scale and expertise of over 100 worldwide offices, Lockton offers something different in the insurance and consulting industry - local partners with the focus and freedom to do what's right for clients that can also draw on deep global resources to deliver the very best results.

ABOUT LOCKTON

What makes Lockton stand apart is also what makes us better: independence. Lockton's private ownership empowers its 7,500 Associates doing business in over 125 countries to focus solely on clients' risk and insurance needs. With expertise that reaches around the globe, Lockton delivers the deep understanding needed to accomplish remarkable results. For 11 consecutive years, Business Insurance magazine has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance."

To view and apply for open positions in Lockton's Pittsburgh office visit lockton.com/careers

SOURCE Lockton

Related Links

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ILLINOIS  Amid reported "sweeping" operational changes inside the United States Postal Service, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a group of 13 other attorneys general Tuesday in the filing of a federal lawsuit. Among the allegations against decisions made by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who was hired by President Donald Trump in May, are widespread mail delays, elimination of overtime for postal workers, instructing carriers to leave mail behind and the decommissioning of mail sorting machines.

Other states represented in the lawsuit are Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and Virginia.

"When faced with the imminent filing of this lawsuit, the Postmaster General today announced his intention to pause his disruptive actions until after the election," Raoul said in a statement. "But make no mistake, a statement issued in a press release is inadequate in providing assurance to the millions of Americans relying on the Postal Service that he will not reverse course  again."



Postmaster General Axes Policies Blamed For Mail Delays



The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington at Yakima, states DeJoy is "subverting the national election this year" with these new measures. Record numbers of Americans are expected to vote by mail in November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mail-Sorting Machines Taken Out Of Service At Main Post Office, O'Hare



According to Raoul, at the end of July, the Postal Service sent an "unprecedented" letter to Illinois election officials warning that "certain deadlines for requesting and casting mail-in ballots" under state law "are incongruous with the Postal Services delivery standards."

Raoul and the other attorney generals assert in the lawsuit that the USPS implemented these drastic changes to mail service nationwide unlawfully, and the states seek to immediately halt the agency's actions.

Story continues

The lawsuit contends DeJoy is a major donor to the Republican Party, including to President Trump's election campaign. It alleges DeJoy has given more than $2 million to the Trump campaign or Republican causes since 2016 and was in charge of fundraising for the Republican National Convention in Charlotte.

Prior to becoming postmaster general, DeJoy was on the board of directors at XPO Logistics, a transportation and logistics company that does business with the USPS and other U.S. government agencies.

Related:

No Mail For Weeks: Is Postal Service 'Falling Apart' In Chicago?

This article originally appeared on the Across Illinois Patch
With coronavirus cases rising in Punjab and the state government announcing additional restrictions in the cities of Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala which have emerged as hotbeds of the infection, different sectors including traders, hoteliers, restaurant and salon owners, etc have strongly criticised the decision to impose lockdown on Saturdays.

Traders said that they were already receiving tepid response post lockdown. With this decision of the government, the business would be badly hit, they said.

President of Akalgarh market garment association, Manpreet Singh Bunty said, The wholesale garment business in the city is dependent on weekend sales. With the government imposing lockdown on Saturdays also, the business would be hit by 60% to 65% as customers from other districts/states visit the city on weekends.

President of hotel and restaurant association, Amarvir Singh and executive member, Amarjit Singh said that the hospitality sector has been the worst affected in the post lockdown period. The restaurant owners were already receiving low footfall and only 20% to 25% of restaurants have been opened in the city after the lockdown. Further, the restaurants are also allowed to open till 8.30 pm only. The government should reconsider its decision, he said.

Traders said that many small businesses are on the brink of a shutdown due to losses and if the lockdown continues for a few more months, the owners would be forced to shut business.

President of Ghumar mandi market association, Pawan Batra said, Small traders will not be able to bear losses for a long time now and if lockdown restrictions continued for three more months, many shopkeepers will have to shut down their shops. This would also result in large scale unemployment and the crime graph would increase. Imposing restrictions on weekends will not serve the purpose.

Salon owners said that they are facing huge losses due to weekend restrictions.

Owner of a beauty parlour at Mall road, Abhay Girdhar said, Residents do not visit salons/barber shops on Tuesday and Thursday. And now the government has ordered lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays. We were already receiving around 25% response and this decision would further affect our business.

CP urges residents to stay at home at weekends

Commissioner of Police Rakesh Agrawal has urged people to venture out of their homes only when it is necessary. In a Facebook live session on Tuesday, the police chief said that according to new instructions issued by the state government, non-essential shops will remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays. He said that the CM announced weekend stay at home in Ludhiana.

He also added that the police and district administration has roped in private hospitals also for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. The city has 1,000 beds in private hospitals that have been reserved for coronavirus patients.

Residents on Facebook have appealed to the government to set a limit on bills charged by private hospitals from coronavirus patients, as there are complaints of fleecing by private hospitals. The police commissioner said that the government has already set a limit for private hospitals and no hospital overcharge from patients.
Michelle Obama assailed President Donald Trump on Monday for ripping migrant children from their parents and throwing them into cages, picking up on a frequent and distorted point made widely by Democrats.

She's right that Trump's now-suspended policy at the U.S.-Mexico border separated thousands of children from their families in ways that had not been done before. But what she did not say is that the very same 'cages' were built and used in her husband's administration, for the same purpose of holding migrant kids temporarily.

In her remarks Monday night during her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, the former first lady bemoaned the lack of empathy among people, saying it's not a world she wants her daughters to see.

'They see what happens when that lack of empathy is ginned up into outright disdain. They see our leaders labeling fellow citizens enemies of the state while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists. They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages, and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protestors for a photo-op,' she said.

But an Associated Press fact check points out that Trump used facilities that were built during the Obama-Biden administration to house children at the border. They are chain-link enclosures inside border facilities where migrants were temporarily housed, separated by sex and age.

Michelle Obama assailed President Donald Trump for ripping migrant children from their parents and throwing them into cages but did not mention the policy started under her husband

Democrats have repeatedly criticized President Donald Trump for putting children in cages without mentioning the cages were build when Barack Obama was president

At the height of the controversy over Trumps zero-tolerance policy at the border, photos that circulated online of children in the enclosures generated great anger. But those photos - by The Associated Press - were taken in 2014 and depicted some of the thousands of unaccompanied children held by President Barack Obama.

When that fact came to light, some Democrats and activists who had tweeted the photos deleted their tweets. But prominent Democrats have continued to cite cages for children as a distinctive cruelty of Trump.

At the time the 2014 photos went viral in May 2018, Trump accused Democrats of trying to make him 'look bad' with the images.

'They thought it was recent pictures in order to make us look bad, but backfires,' the president charged in a tweet.

During the height of the immigration debate in May 2018, this photo made the rounds of social media but it was taken in 2014, when Barack Obama was president

The photos went viral during the immigration debate and several Democrats removed them from their social media accounts after it was revealed they were taken in 2014

The images were taken in McAllen, Texas, at a detention facility when Obama was president

The former first lady was correct, however, in addressing the removal of children from parents at the border.

The Obama administration separated migrant children from families under certain limited circumstances, like when the childs safety appeared at risk or when the parent had a serious criminal history.

But family separations as a matter of routine came about because of Trumps 'zero tolerance' enforcement policy, which he eventually suspended because of the uproar. Obama had no such policy.
A Statement By The Pro-Democracy and Leading Civil Rights Advocacy Group; Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) Asking President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately constitute the governing board of the Nigerian Human Rights commission (NHRC) which has remained without a board for over 4 years against the United Nations Paris principle.

*Introduction:*

Gentlemen of the Fourth Estate of The Realm, we humbly welcome you all to this media conference, which is completely our independent initiative in our capacity as the prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group with no political affiliations but passionate about achieving just and equitable development in our dear country. Our track record within the organized civil society community in Nigeria spans nearly two decades of an unblemished record of patriotism, especially in the area of Human Rights.

As you may be aware, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nigeria, which was established by the National Human Rights Act of 1995 for the promotion and protection of all human rights in Nigeria as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other plethora of international treaties to which Nigeria is a party, was amended in 2010 to widen the scope of the Commissions mandate to include vetting of legislations at all levels to ensure their compliance with human rights norms.

Perhaps, most importantly, the NHRC (Amendment) Act, 2010 conferred on the Commission additional independence and strengthened the Commission's power with respect to promotion and protection of human rights, investigation of alleged violation of human rights and enforcement of decisions.

*The Issue:*

Following the 2010 enhanced Statute, the Commission was repositioned to be totally independent with necessary powers to deliver on its mandate by having quasi - judicial powers to summon persons, acquire evidence, award compensation and enforce its decisions. Independent in its operations and not subject to the directives of any authority or person, secured tenure of members who cannot be removed before the end of their tenure without an act of misconduct which removal shall be concurred by the Senate.

The Commission engages in human rights education in accordance with its statutory mandate and regional obligation under Article 26 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The Commission has Affiliate Status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights and it is accredited with A Status at the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of the National Human Rights Institutions; that is, being in full compliance with the Paris Principles, a UN General Assembly Resolution (1993).

Regrettably, this vibrant and independent Commission is comatose. Since the coming to office in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to reconstitute the governing board with the expiration of the last governing board headed by Professor Chidi Odinkalu whose tenure elapsed soon after the President was sworn into office in 2015.

Recall that Dr. Chidi Odinkalu-led commission was the first governing council to inherit the reformed NHRC statute of 2010 (tenure 2011-2015). Nonetheless, since over four years, the Commission has remained in limbo, operating just like any other agency of Government and therefore not in the position again to comprehensively implement the mandates for which the Commission was set up in the first place.

With the absence of the Governing Council as required by the law to function, the Commission is unable to take decisions concerning the numerous cases of human rights abuses that are currently before the commission; hence, the origin of the down turn of things in the National Human Rights commission.

As a result, Nigeria's human rights rating has become appalling just as government officials have become very insensitive of their constitutional responsibility to the citizens of Nigeria in line with the Principle of the Rule of law as we now we see ministers using the police to arbitrarily clampdown on media houses and detain critics who write stories considered offensive to the personalities of those in political authorities.

*Why Governing Board for the Nigerian NHRC Needs to be Urgently Reconstituted*

Effective national systems, which protect and promote good governance, the rule of law, and the realization of human rights are important for sustainable human development. Among the components of such systems are governments which accept primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights and the functioning of independent National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) which conform with the Paris Principles

The United Nations *Paris Principles* provide the international minimum standards for effective, credible National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), which require that NHRIs have a broad mandate, pluralism in membership, broad functions, adequate powers, adequate resources, cooperative methods and engage with international bodies. Among the six main criteria that NHRIs require to meet as set out by the Paris Principles is Autonomy from Government

The essence of the *National Human Rights Institutions* in the member nations of the UN is that they are the best mechanism at the country level to ensure adherence to international human rights commitments states make, including to those from the UN Treaty Bodies, special procedure mandate holders, and the UN Human Rights Council. NHRIs have a crucial role to play in advocating for those responsibilities to be translated into law and practice.

Observably, prior to the expiration of the tenure of the last Governing Board, it was a well-known credible fact that amongst the comity of National human rights institutions, the statute of the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission was adjudged to be the best.

Sadly, the lack of a governing board for the NHRC of Nigeria has crippled the Commission and is currently denying it of the global status as an independent, impartial and courageous overseer for the promotion and protection of the fundamental rights of all citizens as clearly spelt out in the universal declarations of human rights, African Charter on peoples and human rights and the Nigerian constitution.

Legally, the governing council of the commission is so important legally to an extent that the enabling *Act* states that there shall be for the commission a governing board that shall be responsible for the discharge of the functions of the Commission.

This explains why the NHRC is not living up to its mandate because the enabling law clearly states that the governing board shall be responsible for the discharge of the functions of the commission which is legally empowered to deal with all matters relating to the protection of human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other International Treaties on human rights to which Nigeria is a signatory.

Beyond the manifestation of very poor human rights record of the present administration in the last five years, the rubbishing of the Commission by not reconstituting the governing council could backfire in such a way that it may be downgraded in status internationally by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

This is because for any national human rights institution to enjoy top global rating, it must be independent in terms of management and operations, which the lack of a statutory governing board has denied the commission as it is currently.

*Our Position and Demands:*

The refusal, for over four years, to reconstitute the governing board of the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by President Muhammadu Buhari clearly shows an administration that has no regard for the human rights of the citizenry.

We reiterate that with the deliberate weakening of the NHRC by President Buhari, the cases of genocides, mass killings and extralegal executions by security forces have become rampant and the rights commission is just a passive observer because there is no Governing Council to lead the process of investigations and recommendations of binding sanctions for such violators of human rights.

Therefore, gentlemen of the Media, we are by this statement demanding that within the next 78 hours, the Nigerian Government led by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) should arrest and reverse this anomaly by setting up a governing board or we will be compelled to send our already prepared petition to the United Nations Human Rights Council to downgrade the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), because operating without a Council denies it of the element of independence and vibrancy and in violation of its laws.

Again, we demand that the Nigerian Government must never fill up the Human Rights Commission with politicians but should nominate Nigerians best suited to defend the human rights of Nigerians and it is better to select absolutely Non Partisan citizens and patriots to the board so as to create a great legacy for the current government after it has gone.

The need to ensure that the Rights commission maintains her independence as provided for in the amendments to the enabling law setting up the commission cannot be overemphasized. So the governing board being in place as at when due, the NHRC should inevitably be in the correct position to play her pivotal role as the national ombudsman for the promotion and protection of the human rights of citizens enshrined in chapter four of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and a plethora of other global-wide human rights laws, conventions and treaties that Nigeria is a party to as a member of the United Nations.

COMRADE EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO:

NATIONAL COORDINATOR.

Miss. Zainab Yusuf:

Director, National Media Affairs.

HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

18TH AUGUST 2020.


AURORA, IL  Auroras representatives in the U.S. House were outside one of the citys post offices Tuesday afternoon to demand President Donald Trump reverse his administrations new changes at the U.S. Postal Service.

Trump appointed Louis DeJoy  who was a top donor to his 2016 presidential campaign  as postmaster general in June, in a move that Democrats have said could signal the end of the postal service.

No Coronavirus Deaths In Kane County In Past Week: IDPH

Since mid-June, DeJoy has eliminated overtime for postal employees, ordered the removal of mail-sort machines and reorganized USPS leadership roles.

DeJoy has said the measures are aimed at making the postal service financially solvent, but Democratic Reps. Bill Foster and Lauren Underwood said Tuesday that the Trump administrations changes to the USPS are loosely veiled attempts to make it harder for some people to vote amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Foster said he was speaking out Tuesday to stand up for the U.S. Postal Service and the hardworking men and women who deliver prescriptions, Social Security benefits, tax returns and countless other essential items to residents each day.

A fully functioning postal service is vital to the U.S. economy, and the health and well-being of millions of Americans, Foster said at a news conference outside Auroras Kenneth M. Christy Post Office, named for a longtime letter carrier in the city.

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Millions of business, large and small, also rely on the postal service to deliver products and connect with customers, said Foster (D-Naperville).



Thats why it is disgraceful that President Trump and his political appointees have been deliberately trying to weaken and delay the USPS in the run-up to the national election, Foster said. We will not stand by as they try to manipulate the Postal Service to suppress votes and to try to scare people out of exercising their right to participate in this election.

Story continues

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This should not be about Trump trying to score some political advantage; this should be about making sure that every voter has the ability to cast their vote securely and in the manner of their choice, Foster continued.

Underwood (D-Naperville) shared stories from several constituents who rely on the Postal Service for their livelihoods, including a ceramic artist from Elburn whose business has been hamstrung by delivery disruptions.

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The recent changes to postal standards made by the Trump administration are simply unacceptable, Underwood said, calling for Congress to pass a $25 billion emergency funding package for the U.S. Postal Service.

The U.S. House is set to vote on the funding bill over the weekend, a day after DeJoy is set to testify in front of the U.S. Senate. Dejoy is scheduled to the U.S. House on Monday.

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The first-term representative said she is horrified by this administration's efforts to dismantle this essential service and called for an immediate reversal of the new measures, which came moments after she spoke.

As U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) took over the podium from Underwood, he said his phone was lighting up with notifications that DeJoy announced he was suspending many of his new changes until after the 2020 election to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail.

Postmaster General Axes Policies Blamed For Mail Delays

But lets be really clear what that means. It means he was lying when he said he had no choice but to implement the changes, Casten said.

REGIONAL NEWS:

This article originally appeared on the Aurora Patch
Authorities in Mauritius arrested the captain of the Japanese-owned ship that ran aground off the pristine waters of the Mauritian coast last month, polluting the sea with tonnes of oil, according to police.

"We arrested the captain and his second-in command today. They were taken to court on a provisionary charge. The investigation continues from tomorrow with the interrogation of other crew members," said spokesman Inspector Shiva Coothen.

Both the Indian captain of the MV Wakashio and his Sri Lankan deputy are expected to appear in court on 25 August. Both were charged under the piracy and maritime violence act.

The boat hit a coral reef on 25 July and more than 1,000 tonnes of oil leaked out of the boat a week later, before splitting apart.

One question to be answered at the inquiry is why the boat came so close to shore when it was en route from Singapore to Brazil.

Mauritius is well-known as a honeymoon and tourist destination, with its varied wildlife, beautiful water and sandy beaches. Many Mauritians depend on tourism and fishing for their livelihoods and are angry over the loss of income as well as the destruction of the flora and fauna their country.
Abu Dhabi, Aug 18 : At least 23 passengers who recently arrived from India are reportedly stranded at the airports of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah due to some "confusion" about pre-travel approvals, a media report said on Tuesday.

Five passengers, who landed in Abu Dhabi on an Etihad Airways flight on August 15, and some 18 travellers who arrived in Sharjah on board an Air Arabia plane on Monday morning said they were "not being allowed to enter the country", according to the Khaleej Times report.

Travel agents who issued their tickets told the Khaleej Times that it is "highly likely that they will have to return to India".

The Abu Dhabi flight was from the south Indian state of Kerala, while the other took off from Lucknow.

The passengers and travel agents suspect that they were not allowed to exit the airports because they did not receive a "green OK to travel" status from the Identity and Citizenship (ICA) when their documents were verified on the www.uaeentry.ica.gov.ae website.

Instead, the passengers received a "red" message that said: "We will consider the possibility of rescheduling your travel date after 60 days to preserve your safety. We thank, and appreciate your understanding." On August 12, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority announced that as part of the second phase of 'Residents Return Programme', stranded residents do not need pre-approval.

However, they need a PCR Covid-19 negative certificate.

The ICA also recommended that passengers check their status on the website ahead of their travel.

A number of airlines have recently issued statements saying passengers returning to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah do not need ICA approvals.

A passenger told the Khaleej Times that five of them are "held back at the airport and are being asked to go back to India".

"The authorities are telling us that we will be sent back on another plane. Luckily, Etihad is providing us with food and water. We slept in the lounge last night. Our jobs are at stake if we go back," another added.
Ordinarily, most of us wouldn't care too much about a political leader's love life. After all, President Trump is a stellar president, but his personal life hasn't been perfect. Big deal. Trump's never brought it up to win votes out on the campaign trail.

Joe Biden's different. He's using the occasion of the death of his previous wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, in a car crash along with that of his baby daughter to tell us how compassionate he is, in a bid to make political hay.

Michelle Obama, in her Democratic convention speech last night, brought it up, selling it to voters as proof that he's a nice guy.

When he was a kid, Joe's father lost his job. When he was a young senator, Joe lost his wife and his baby daughter. And when he was vice president, he lost his beloved son. So Joe knows the anguish of sitting at a table with an empty chair, which is why he gives his time so freely to grieving parents. Joe knows what it's like to struggle, which is why he gives his personal phone number to kids overcoming a stutter of their own.

So did Rep. James Clyburn, touting the "narrative":

As the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, Clyburn also commended Biden's understanding of "profound loss, and what it takes to bounce back." Biden's first wife and daughter were killed in a car crash shortly after he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, and his son, Beau, died of brain cancer in 2015.

Here's the glurge from his adoring reporters at CNN:

Joe Biden says he contemplated suicide following the 1972 car crash that killed his wife and daughter, opening up about his personal encounters with loss in pre-released clips on Monday from an upcoming documentary. The presumptive Democratic nominee's life has been defined by the deaths of those close to him. Although tragedy forms a crucial part of his political outlook, Biden's comments represent some of the most intense disclosures about his mental health struggles after the deaths of his family members.

But now an angry ex-husband has turned up to suggest that Biden's love and compassion for his then-wife was far from certain, given that he was likely sneaking around on her and well into a love affair with his own wife, Jill, when the crash happened

According to the New York Post:

Jill Biden's ex-husband has accused the potential first lady of having an affair with Joe Biden and says they lied about how they met in the 1970s, according to a bombshell new report. Bill Stevenson on Monday accused the presumptive Democratic nominee of being a home-wrecker and says the feel-good story of how Joe and Jill met on a blind date is completely made up, the Daily Mail reported. "I don't want to hurt anyone," said Stevenson, now 72, who is working on a book that includes the lurid claim. "But facts are facts and what happened, happened." Stevenson and his then-wife grew close to Biden in 1972 while working on his first campaign to represent Delaware in the US Senate.

The account says that Stevenson first suspected an affair in 1974. But the pair "grew close" during his 1972 Senate political campaign, which predated the crash. Was Biden sneaking around on Neilia even then? There was a distinct possibility of it, given that the affair was secret.

This, if true, would suggest that maybe he didn't like Neilia as much as he claims to have liked Neilia. Worse still, did he breathe a sigh of relief that she was gone without a divorce? Maybe someone should ask.

Biden's using the whole thing now to declare himself a nice guy in pointed contrast to President Trump, but there's nothing nice about sneaking around on your wife or breaking up another man's marriage.

He's obviously using it because it's politically useful.

It's not the first time Team Biden has used that incident for that.

Biden also told a phony story about the tragic crash as the work of a drunk driver to prove he's all against drunk drivers.

Let me tell you a little story. I got elected when I was 29, and I got elected November the 7th. And on Dec. 18 of that year, my wife and three kids were Christmas shopping for a Christmas tree. A tractor-trailer, a guy who allegedly  and I never pursued it  drank his lunch instead of eating his lunch, broadsided my family and killed my wife instantly, and killed my daughter instantly, and hospitalized my two sons, with what were thought to be at the time permanent, fundamental injuries.

This, after the driver's family begged him to stop the provably phony story, and he sent a note back saying he meant no harm. He kept using it.

And at the Democratic debate in June, he "opened up" about the crash again and used it to plug free health care:

"When my wife and daughter were killed in an automobile accident, my two boys were very badly injured, I couldn't imagine what it would have been like had we not had adequate health care available," Biden said from the stage.

This is one slippery political opportunist, dining out on his wife's death for all sorts of political causes. If he was sneaking around on her even before she died, all the more disgusting.

Image credit: Screen shot from a camera aimed at a television set, processed with FotoSketcher.
OTTAWAWhat happens if Canadas minority Liberal government is defeated this fall and Elections Canada concludes it cant safely conduct an election because a second wave of the deadly coronavirus is sweeping the country?

That worst-case scenario was on the minds of some federal politicians as they watched New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs pull the plug Monday on his minority Conservative government, becoming the first jurisdiction in Canada to send voters to the polls in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Brunswicks example will doubtless offer some lessons on how to conduct an election safely.

It may also embolden other federal opposition parties to join the Bloc Quebecois in its determination to bring down Justin Trudeaus government at the first opportunity.

For that matter, it may embolden the prime minister to pull the plug himself.

And it has NDP democratic reform critic Daniel Blaikie appealing to his counterparts in other federal parties to begin discussing now how best to safely conduct a federal election during the pandemic rather than sleepwalk into potential chaos.

The worst thing would be to get to the point where were saying, OK, were having an election and then having these disputes about the process and having somebody within the political system decide that its in their best interests to start assailing the legitimacy of the process thats already under way, he said in an interview.

Blaikie pointed to Donald Trumps unsubstantiated assertions that mail-in ballots will result in rampant voter fraud during Novembers U.S. presidential election as something Canada should try to avoid.

We dont need a political crisis on top of a public health and economic crisis, he said.

As part of its preparations for a possible election during the pandemic, Elections Canada has set up an internal working group to assess the agencys ability to conduct the vote safely  including its capacity to handle mail-in ballots, find alternative polling station locations and keep both voters and poll workers safe.

But theres only so much Elections Canada can do under current law. In a post on its website about the impact of the pandemic on election planning, the agency notes for instance that Parliament would have to change the Canada Elections Act to allow for an election to be conducted entirely by mail-in ballots.

And it adds this warning: In an extreme case, based on the advice of public health experts, the chief electoral officer could certify that it has become impracticable for Elections Canada to administer the election in one or more electoral districts and recommend to the governor-in-council (the governor general on the advice of cabinet) that the election writ be withdrawn.

This has never been done in Elections Canadas history.

Its that warning that particularly worries Blaikie. His worst-case scenario is that the government is defeated or Trudeau chooses to call an election, the governor general duly dissolves Parliament and then Elections Canada says, Were actually not sure we can do this.

So then you have a dissolved Parliament, you have an executive with no Parliament to hold it to account and how long does that go on? ... If that is a possibility, I think its one we should all be very concerned about.

Back on June 25, Blaikie wrote his counterparts in the other federal parties asking that they work together to find a way to ensure an election can be conducted safely during the pandemic with a process that is politically legitimate.

No one has so far responded to his letter.

I find it kind of shocking that weve got people out there talking really strongly about wanting an election and the conditions under which they would precipitate an election when we dont actually know how to have an election properly right now.

Higgs predicted Monday that New Brunswick will have little difficulty pulling off a safe election, albeit one in which candidates dont go door-to-door or hand out pamphlets.

With fewer than 200 cases of COVID-19 and just two deaths since March, New Brunswick has been relatively unscathed by the virus, which has infected more than 122,000 and killed more than 9,000 countrywide. Moreover, the pandemic is in something of a lull at the moment  which may no longer be the case later in the fall when the Trudeau governments fate could be on the line.

The provinces chief electoral officer, Kim Poffenroth, said her agency has instituted a number of measures to ensure voters and electoral workers safety. Among them: marking the floors at polling stations to keep voters at least two-meters apart, requiring the use of hand sanitizer when voters enter and exit polling stations, providing disposable masks to electors, requiring workers to wear masks or face shields and hiring additional workers to manage the flow of voters and to clean high-touch surfaces.

As well, she said Elections New Brunswick has cancelled polling stations in long-term care and seniors homes and will make it easier for residents in those facilities to vote by mail. It has also stocked up on mail-in ballots.

However, should a second surge of COVID-19 cases erupt before Sept. 14, Poffenroth conceded it could impact voter turnout.

We may have even greater challenges finding workers to work at the polls and then we may run into problems with the owners of buildings where were supposed to have polling locations not wanting us to use those locations.

But regardless of how difficult it might become to administer the election, Poffenroth has no legal authority to recommend that it be called off  unlike Canadas chief electoral officer, Stephane Perrault.

Theres really no playbook for how to do this, she said. Its a learning curve for both ourselves and other election management bodies across the country and we just happen to be the first ones out the gate.
President Donald Trump has been pushing schools to reopen even before the start of the fall semester.

Trump called on Democrats to work with Republicans to craft the latest coronavirus relief bill, which includes $105 billion funding to help schools reopen for in-person learning.

There have been criticisms on his encouragement to open schools for the fall semester. Many U.S. school districts are disagreeing.

Parents and teachers altogether are voicing out concerns on schools reopening.

In Arizona, a 61-year-old Arizona school teacher died after testing positive for COVID-19 on June 13. Two co-teachers were also exposed to the virus.

This was even before schools officially decided to reopen.

In Mississippi, state Governor Tate Reeves released an executive order postponing the start of seven through 12-grade schools in the state's hot spot areas recently.

This, after seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases in Mississippi.

Many U.S. school districts are being forced to cancel their reopening plans as teachers, and other staff members call sick.

U.S. School Districts

The J.O Combs Unified School District in Arizona's Pinal County was forced to cancel Monday classes after over 100 staff members called sick.

The school district said that with insufficient staffing levels, schools will not be able to reopen on Monday.

The Arizona school district also said that this means virtual learning will also be canceled.

"At this time, we do not know the duration of these staff absences, and cannot yet confirm when in-person instruction may resume," the school district was quoted in a statement.

The school district said they would continue to observe the situation and update no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday.

Some activists in Arizona said they hope teachers across the country will do the same strategy to keep educators safe.

In Los Angeles Unified School District, which is the country's second-largest school district, launched a coronavirus testing and contact tracing program at schools.

This, according to Superintendent Austin Beautner.

The school district is set to reopen with virtual learning on Tuesday.

Beutner said that testing contract tracing efforts is unprecedented but necessary and appropriate.

He added that this would provide a public health benefit to the school community, but also to the greater Los Angeles area.

Despite teachers' and staff's opposition to schools reopening, hundred of parents and students held a rally in Phoenix last week.

This to support resuming in-person classes, according to a The Guardian report.

Some parents claimed that in-person classes are the best choice for their children's physical, mental, and emotional state.

Children Are "Almost Immune"

Trump said that children should return to U.S. schools as they are "almost" or "virtually immune" to the coronavirus disease.

However, even if they are said to be immune to the virus, they can still expose those in their households or communities who are vulnerable to have severe symptoms.

However, a study suggests that younger kids have similar levels of virus and maybe even higher than adults.

"It wouldn't be surprising if they were able to shed [the virus]" and spread it to others," Heald-Sargent, who also led the research, was quoted in a report.

Check these out:

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How Are Some Schools in The U.S. Going to Reopen
BRISTOL, England, DUBAI, U.A.E and BANGALORE, India, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second straight year, Torry Harris Integration Solutions (THIS) won two important UK Digital Experience Awards (UKDXA). The UK DXA recognizes digital excellence and innovation. It honors organizations and teams providing exceptional customer experience through the use of digital technology.

Torry Harris won silver in two categories:

1. Digital Change and Transformation (Telecoms)  in partnership with Three, Ireland

2. Best Online User Experience Initiative  for Torry Harris Learning, a B2B education platform for digital skills

Three is one of Ireland's leading mobile operators with 35% market share and 2.2 million customers (as of March 2019). '3Vision', Three Ireland's Digital Transformation Initiative won the UK DXA award in partnership with THIS, who built the integration backbone to enable a smooth transformation. THIS specializes in enabling meaningful digital ecosystems through API-driven integration solutions.

Torry Harris Learning (THL) is a guided, step-by-step digital skills learning platform tailored to enterprise needs. THL offers a unique combination of face-to-face training alongside superior, world-wide online expertise and mentorship in smaller groups, to enable hands-on application of Digital skills.

Shuba Sridhar, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Torry Harris, says, "We are glad to be recognized for our efforts in democratizing digital through our services and products. We are today working with large enterprises to equip them with an 'SME empowerment kit', as SMEs in particular, hard hit by physical constraints in the current climate, acutely need to be digitally connected and empowered towards identifying sales and service opportunities. Thank you Awards International, for organizing a fair and transparent scoring process and a top panel of independent judges!"

About Torry Harris

Torry Harris is a multinational provider of business, technology, and IT consulting services. For over two decades, it is focused on providing solutions in the areas of Integration for digital enablement, Platform Services, Full life-cycle API Management and Digital Transformation. The company is headquartered in New Jersey (USA), with development centers in Bangalore.

It has offices in Bristol (UK), Slough (UK), Dubai (UAE), Dublin (Ireland), Munich (Germany) and Paris (France). To know more, visit https://www.torryharris.com

Media Contact:

Diganta Kumar Barooah

[email protected]

Torry Harris Integration Solutions (THIS)

SOURCE Torry Harris Business Solutions
A wild boar has become the talk of the town days after a picture showing it stealing a laptop of a nudist bather and the man chasing it went viral on the Internet.

A person, named Adele Landauer, present at the spot clicked pictures and uploaded it on Facebook. In the pictures, the man can be seen in bare-bottomed pursuit of the boar named Elsa and her two piglets.

The boar later abandoned the laptop at Teufelssee lake in west Berlin, probably after realising that it was not edible.

The woman in her post revealed that the man laughed after seeing his pictures and gave permission to her to make it public on social media.

Now, reports have surfaced suggesting that the authorities in Germany are planning to kill the boar.

They phlegmatically forage in broad daylight over the grass looking for food wherever there are bathers. They have lost all sense of shyness, Katja Kammer, the head of the forestry office in the district of Grunewald told the broadcaster RBB.

Katja added that they would have to be withdrawn as a matter of priority, which according to media reports means they would be killed.

READ: Remember the Boar That Ran Away with German Nudist's Laptop? It May Be Slaughtered

This announcement has sparked protests. The campaigners have demanded that the boars life should be spared.

Thousands of protesters have signed a petition on Change.org calling for the wild boar to be saved, according to Mirror. Campaigners even gathered outside the forestry commission's office.

Wild boars are regularly culled by licensed hunters in Berlin and the rest of Germany to keep numbers down and to fend off diseases such as African swine fever.

Every year, 1,000 to 2,000 wild boars are shot in Berlin.

They often venture into residential areas looking for food, as appeared to be the case during the incident last week, and have been known to attack humans.
(Photo : (Photo by Saul Martinez/Getty Images)) CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - MAY 27: Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, participates in a press conference at the Kennedy Space Center on May 27, 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were scheduled to be the first people since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011 to be launched into space from the United States, but the launch was postponed due to bad weather. (Photo : (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)) PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 05: A Tesla Model S car is displayed at a Tesla showroom on November 5, 2013 in Palo Alto, California. Tesla will report third quarter earnings today after the closing bell.

There is no limit for Elon Musk as he achieves yet another milestone by becoming the Fourth Richest Man in the World, recently, with $8 billion added to his earnings after Tesla's stock rose 11.2 percent last Monday, August 17.

Bloomberg reports an increase in the self-made billionaire and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX's net worth to about $84.8 billion in total. This puts Musk near the third-place holder, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, with only $15 billion short.

Bloomberg's Billionaires Index reports that Musk overtook the fourth spot, formerly held by a French business magnate known for his Chief Executive position at Louis Vuitton, Frenchman- Bernard Arnault. Arnault is the only non-American to hold a place this high in the billionaire's list.

Tesla's feat in rising stocks contributed mainly to the CEO's net worth to increase and achieve such heights. The electric automotive manufacturer and clean energy company is also a big earner for the year 2020 as its stocks skyrocketed to 339 percent.

Bloomberg also adds that Tesla will soon be included in the Standard and Poor's 500 Index, more commonly known as the S&P 500. The S&P 500 measures the stock performance of 500 large companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States.

Elon Musk's fortune is reported to be the second-largest increase on the index with $57.2 billion as new revenue. He precedes Amazon.com CEO, Jeff Bezos, who grew his fortune a total of $73 billion for the year 2020 only.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk Apologizes for 'Embarrassingly Late' Feature as He Confirms Tesla' Updates: Potholes, Goat Honks, and More!

Elon Musk on Forbes List

On the other end of the spectrum, global media company, Forbes, ranks Tesla CEO fifth in the all-time wealthiest people in the World. Forbes' World's Billionaire List positions him at fifth, a rank he currently held, lost, and held again today.

Forbes said that Musk is on par with India's Mukesh Ambani that primarily gets his earnings from gas and oil. Tesla is reported to have a 32 percent increase just this week that bumped Musk again back to fifth. Musk more than tripled his company's stocks and earnings only this March and continues to do so.

Elon Musk told Forbes that he couldn't care less about the money and is focused on bringing people products that they would "love." Wedbush Analyst, Dan Ives, also shared his insights, saying that Tesla's Shanghai factory will continue to increase the earnings and stocks of the company.

China currently has a great demand for the electric vehicles which the company manufactures and famous for. The upcoming Tesla 'Battery Day' on September 22 will also help increase Musk and the company's earnings due to "game-changing" announcements set to be unveiled.

Elon Musk's Portfolio

Elon Musk gains revenues from a variety of managed companies with the likes of Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, and more. Through Musk's career, he has created a vast and impressive portfolio that contributed to his earnings and fame.

Investopedia dubs Musk as the "real-life Tony Stark" known to be eccentric and comedic in nature. Apart from that, Elon Musk founded several tech companies that were bought by other companies with the likes of eBay, Google, Dell, and Compaq. The most notable of all is eBay's PayPal, an electronic online payment system accessible all-around the World.

Musk owns or is a major shareholder in companies such as Tesla, SolarCity, SpaceX, The Boring Company, Starlink, Hyperloop, and Neuralink.

ALSO READ: This Fact About Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Would Make You Wish NOT to be Him



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Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
President Donald Trump said on Monday he would pardon a very, very important person on Tuesday, but added it would not be leaker Edward Snowden or former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Doing a pardon tomorrow on someone who is very, very important, Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

He declined to offer further details except to say it was not Flynn nor Snowden, a former US National Security Agency contractor now living in Russia who has been charged with leaking secret information.

On Saturday, Trump said he was considering a pardon for Snowden, who gave a trove of secret files in 2013 to news organizations that disclosed vast domestic and international surveillance operations carried out by the NSA.

Flynn twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russias then-ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. The US Justice Department has sought to dismiss the case against Flynn following pressure from Trump and his allies.

Last month, Trump used his presidential power to commute the sentence of longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 US election.
Markets Watch

Investors still strong on gold

Despite a few positive indications globally like the potential for a COVID-19 vaccine, rise in treasury yields, a strong dollar, and positive economic data. Rising US-China tensions are still bringing investors to the yellow metal. Read here to know why.

Big Story

Pandit Jasraj dies at 90

Musical maestro Pandit Jasraj died at age 90. He was also the recipient of several honours, like the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. Read here to know how public figures reacted to the news.

Your Money

Why are hospitals and insurance companies differing in their opinion?

After the General Insurance Council released its indicative rate chart for COVID-19 treatment last month, hospitals have put out a charge structure that they believe is reasonable. However, this is much higher than what the GI Councils included in its charge structure. Read here to know why hospitals and insurance companies are at crossroads when it comes to COVID-19 care.

Global Watch

Trump okays oil drilling in Alaska

The Trump administration on August 17 finalized a plan to allow oil and gas drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Here's why.

Tech Tattle

Zee's Tiktok is catching steam

The video streaming platform that Zee5 was working on has been officially rolled out. HiPi is looking to hit 100 million users, read here to know how they plan to achieve this.

Startup Tales

Oyo and VCats will bring entrepreneurship across the country

Ritesh Agarwal, the founder and CEO of OYO, has said he will collaborate with Venture Catalysts (VCats), to bring entrepreneurship across the country. Read here to know how they plan to do it.

Tailpiece

Buying influence?

Many were skeptical when Indian rapper Badshahs song 'Paagal' last year recorded 75 million views in a day. Especially since it overtook the record set by Korean sensations BTS on their music 'Boy with Luv'. Read here to know why when Mumbai Police started investigating the issue of fake profiles, it revealed a large picture into the world of buying influence.
After 20 years of inaction, Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts (CSLA) may have finally found a new home.

A majority of the members of the County School Board on Monday indicated they favor a recently hatched plan to put the award-winning school at the current Lakeside Elementary site by Highway 58.

School officials said it would cost over $35 million to build a new school at the current site on East Brainerd Road.

An option discussed earlier of buying the Sears portion of Northgate Mall would have been around $33 million, including a $6.4 million acquisition cost from developer Bassam Issa.

Officials said some $25 million is still available from an earlier county bond issue and that may cover the costs of renovating the current Lakeside Elementary and building a new section.

Tucker McClendon, who heads the board's facilities committee, said the current aged school is "abysmal" and the schools need to take advantage of the current opportunity to get the students into a new and renovated building.

"It's hard for me to pass up this chance," he said.

Chairman Joe Wingate said everyone will not agree with the move, but "we have the money at hand when really nobody else has money. I just think we've got to move on this and take care of some stuff that has been a long time coming."

Rhonda Thurman, Steve Highlander and Kathy Lennon also spoke in favor.

Karitsa Mosley Jones said a number of residents around the Lakeside School had concerns about CSLA coming in.

Board member Jenny Hill said there were "a lot of Black and Brown faces" at the current school and that 'upper middle class" students would be coming in with the shift to CSLA. She said, "Racial equity matters to me."

Ms. Thurman said Lakeside students are already set to be moving to the new Harrison Elementary School and she said Lakeside magnet students who opt to join CSLA would also be getting new quarters.

She said, "This has nothing to do with racial equity or whatever. They're all getting a brand new school."

Ms. Lennon said CSLA students "have great diversity. There's Black, Brown, Yellow and whatever."

She said it was "a good solution with the money we've got," and CSLA students had been "pushed back for far too long."

Tiffanie Robinson said she had favored the Sears plan and wanted to know why it had fallen off the table. Ms. Lennon said it was because "the price went up so much."

Justin Robertson, schools COO, said there had been talk years earlier about building a new CSLA school that would cost over $60 million. He said that would have been a much larger school for many more students.

The school at Lakeside will move CSLA from the current K-8 to K-12, but it would be built for 1,000 students. It had some 500 K-8 students now.

Supt. Bryan Johnson said the board needed to take some type of action, saying it could not keep hanging onto the bond money.

He said the move would take care of facility needs at both the old and new campus for CSLA and leave the 35-acre East Brainerd campus for possible use later for a new elementary in that growing section.

A vote is expected at the regular board meeting on Thursday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:19:11|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday said that 258 illegal immigrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast in the past week.

The IOM estimated that a total of 7,247 illegal immigrants have been rescued and returned to Libya so far in 2020, including 493 women and 384 children.

It also said that 123 immigrants have died and 180 others have gone missing on the central Mediterranean route so far this year.

A state of insecurity and chaos since the 2011 fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime makes Libya a preferred point of departure for thousands of illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

Immigrant shelters in Libya have been overcrowded with those immigrants despite repeated international calls for closing them. Enditem
Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has received open letters from Mr Jan Fury, the Czech Ambassador-designate to Ghana.



The Minister congratulated Mr Fury on his new appointment and welcomed him to Ghana.



She recalled with fondness the long-standing relations between the two countries, which dated back to the late 60s, when the two established diplomatic ties.



Madam Botchwey said a recent visit by the Czech Republics Deputy Foreign Minister in 2019 provided a boost to relations between the two countries.



She, however, recalled with regret the postponement of the working visit to Ghana by her Czech counterpart, Mr Tomas Petricek, and said Ghana was ready to receive him in the not too distant future to further cement the relations.



Madam Ayorkor Botchwey noted that the relevant Ghanaian authorities were working to finalise the Trade Agreement between Ghana and the Czech Republic to boost trade and create jobs and would inform the Czech side of the progress made.



The Ministry had written to the Trade Ministry on this issue and was still awaiting a response, she said.



In that regard Ghana, in 2018, ratified the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains with the Czech Republic, she said, and assured the Ambassador-designate that other outstanding agreements would be worked on to promote trade and investment.



She welcomed the idea of establishing an Inter Foreign Ministerial Technical Committee to annually evaluate bilateral relations between the two countries, like the Ghana-Czech Republic Parliamentary Friendship Association, to share experiences and best practices.



Madam Botchwey said the COVID-19 pandemic had had a toll on the world and enumerated the strides Ghana had made to contain the pandemic adding that it was important friendly countries like the Czech Republic partnered Ghana in the fight against the virus.



She welcomed the proposed donation of beds to the Police Hospital by the Czech Government to support efforts in containing the disease.



Madam Ayorkor Botchwey also acknowledged strategic industries established by the Czech Republic in some parts of Ghana including the Aboso Glass Factory, Saltpond Ceramics, Kade Match Factory, Komenda Sugar Factory and the Kumasi Shoe Factory.



She said with the coming into force of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Accra hosting the Secretariat, opportunity for increased trade on the continent was assured.



She, therefore, appealed for more Czech companies to take advantage of the Secretariat and the good investment and stable political to invest in Ghana.



Mr Fury, on his part, said he would like to see in the near future the Czechs Foreign Minister visiting Ghana.



He said aside health and infrastructure the Czech Republic would like to see more cooperation between the two countries in defence and peacekeeping.

Source: GNA









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In an apparent bid to persuade Moscow to offer more energetic support, Lukashenko has accused NATO of bolstering its forces on Belarus' borders and harboring aggressive plans  claims the alliance has dismissed. He also accused his opponents of planning to annul the union treaty with Russia and ban the Russian language that is widely spoken and serves as a second state language along with Belarusian. The opposition rejected those allegations.
I have a special love for the people of Staten Island.



I hate to see them double crossed in Congress by Congressman Rose.



He obstructs everything President #Trump tries to do.



A vote for him is a vote for Pelosi.



VOTE FOR NO NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS!
The fund was hit by plummeting share prices, with stocks accounting for 69.6 percent of its investments.

Norways sovereign wealth fund, the worlds biggest, lost 188 billion kroner ($21bn) in the first half of the year as the global economy reels from the coronavirus pandemic, according to the countrys central bank.

The fund, in which the Norwegian states oil revenues are invested, was hit by plummeting share prices, with stocks accounting for 69.6 percent of its investments.

Its share portfolio posted a negative return of 6.8 percent in the first six months of the year, the central bank said on Tuesday.

At the end of June, the fund was valued at 10.4 trillion kroner ($1.17 trillion), up from the 9.98 trillion kroner ($1.05 trillion) seen at the end of the first quarter.

The year started with optimism, but the outlook of the equity market quickly turned when the coronavirus started to spread globally, the funds deputy chief executive, Trond Grande, said in a statement.

However, the sharp stock market decline of the first quarter was limited by a massive monetary and financial policy response, he said.

Real estate investments, which represent 2.8 percent of the portfolio, also posted a negative return, of 1.6 percent, while bond investments, which account for 27.6 percent of assets, posted a gain of 5.1 percent.

Considerable uncertainty

Even though markets recovered well in the second quarter, we are still witnessing considerable uncertainty, Grande said.

Meanwhile, the fund is still mired in controversy over the appointment of a new chief executive.

Nicolai Tangen, a billionaire who founded the AKO Capital hedge fund in London, is due to take over the fund on September 1, replacing Yngve Slyngstad, who is retiring.

But critics have complained about Tangens possible conflicts of interest, as well as his use of tax havens.

The central bank has been criticised for irregularities in the recruitment process.

As a result, some important political parties are opposed to Tangens appointment, and it remains up in the air.
The West Bengal government on Monday launched a Covid Patient Management System to deal with admission and treatment-related issues at the hospitals.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said the system has been started with three Covid hospitals in Kolkata, and in another week 84 hospitals in the state will be brought under its purview.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage

The system will help people get an update about the facilities available in a particular hospital, facilitate admissions, and ensure that a patient does not have to move around for bed in case of an emergency, he said.

Our Covid-19 healthcare system is good and this new mechanism is unique. It is one of the biggest steps of the government, Sinha said.

This will also help ensure transparency, he added.

Further, Sinha said that the state has made provisions to provide oxygen support at all the beds in the Covid hospitals.

Oxygen support will be available in all the 11,775 beds now, he said.
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Linkedin Sofia Christensen (Agence France-Presse) Port Elizabeth, South Africa  Tue, August 18, 2020 10:09 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066eb3859 2 Environment penguin,South-Africa Free

Generators hum loudly in the background as a tour boat bobs past a towering vessel filled with ship fuel, anchored in Algoa Bay, a stone's throw away from the world's largest breeding colony of African penguins.

Mid-way along the Europe-Asia sea route, the bay's deep-water port was an obvious choice for South Africa's first offshore bunkering operation.

Since 2016, mostly cargo ships have pulled in for ship-to-ship (STS) refueling, allowing them to carry more freight, bypass port fees and save time.

But conservationists, ecotour operators and nature lovers are alarmed about the long-term impact in a marine biodiversity hotspot and major foreign tourist magnet.

They claim the bunkering takes place too close to foraging and breeding grounds, disrupting the ecosystem and exposing sea animals to oil spills.

The risk has been highlighted by the catastrophic oil spill which began earlier this month into a protected marine park off the pristine coastline of Mauritius, after a bulk carrier ran aground on July 25.

With the main storage tanker in Algoa Bay able to hold 100,000 metric tons of fuel, opponents fear a potentially massive leak.

In two minor spills, in 2017 and 2019, rangers rescued dozens of oil-tarred penguins.

Scientists are also studying whether the noise, pollution and increased ship traffic could affect the marine animals.

They are particularly worried that vibrations caused by the activity may drive away those that rely on sonar to hunt fish.

"This is too close to the Marine Protected Area, there are too many risks involved," warned environmental scientist Ronelle Friend, of the Algoa Bay Conservation community group, calling for an end to bunkering in the bay.

Follow the sardines

Algoa Bay -- an inlet off the city of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province -- is home to myriad species of seabirds, including just under half the global population of African penguins, classed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The world's largest group of bottlenose dolphins was recorded in the bay in 2018, according to a report last year by the Port Elizabeth-based Nelson Mandela University.

The site is also on the path of an annual sardine run, touted as one of the planet's most spectacular marine events.

"This (bunkering) operation is slap-bang in the middle of a hotspot for bait fish that birds feed on," said veteran whale watcher and tour operator Lloyd Edwards, who has run his Raggy Charters marine tours in the area for over two decades.

"People used to be blown away by the amount of animals we had in this bay," he said, adding he'd noticed that certain whale species were not easy to spot since the STS refueling started.

"They have all moved away," he complained, blaming the noise.

Read also: Researchers go 'cuckoo' over Antarctic penguin poop

'Safe, regulated, environmentally friendly'

Three maritime companies have acquired bunkering licences since 2016.

Between them, they operate the main storage vessel and up to seven smaller bunker barges, according to Kosta Argyros, the South Africa representative for one of the three, Minerva Bunkering.

Sat on a key trade route, sea traffic has increased as a result of the fueling hub, conservationists said.

Argyros stressed that bunkering was a "safe operation" in a "very regulated industry".

When "two vessels are tied together they become like one entity," he told AFP.

"This is environmentally friendly no matter what the people say."

South African Marine Fuels, which was behind the July 2019 spill, said it "occurred due to an overflowing tank of the receiving vessel" and that between 200 and 400 litres (53 and 106 gallons) of oil fell into the sea.

The company "is highly committed to the safety of its operations and responsibility to people and the environment," it said in a statement to AFP.

Heron Marine, the third licensed company, said it operated according to all health, safety and environmental regulations.

- Sludge-covered penguins -

About 100 oiled penguins were recovered from last year's spill.

Seabird scientist Lorien Pichegru said that, while damage from the incident had been limited, bunkering posed yet another threat to a species whose global population fell below 40,000 last year.

"The oil on their feathers takes away their waterproofness," said the Nelson Mandela University researcher, who has been studying African penguins in Algoa Bay since 2007.

Eventually they die of "starvation and cold", plus oiled adults tend to abandon their eggs and chicks, she added.

In attempting to clean themselves, the birds also ingest toxins shown to damage their internal organs and breeding capacity.

African penguins, distinct by their bray-like call and black horseshoe marking across their chest, only breed in South Africa and Namibia but are found in Mozambique too.

Over three decades, their numbers have fallen by more than 60 percent due to climate change, oil spills, human activity, overfishing and habitat destruction, experts say.

In Algoa Bay, the population has also fallen sharply -- from 10,900 breeding pairs in 2015, to 6,100 in 2019, according to figures from South Africa's Environmental Affairs department.

"Any additional threat to them might kill the entire species," Pichegru warned.

Bad vibrations?

Parts of Algoa Bay last year were declared a Marine Protected Area.

The 2019 university report on the Eastern Cape coastline, centered around the bay, also highlighted that it was a foraging area for seabirds, sharks, cetaceans and turtles, on the migration route for loggerhead and leatherback turtles and home to the world's largest Cape gannet colony.

However, scientists and conservationists say they have observed changes in animal behavior which they suspect are a consequence of bunkering activity -- even without spillage.

"We think the noise of the engines disrupts the penguins' and dolphins' ability to find fish," said Gary Koekemoer, who heads the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa in Algoa Bay.

"Any animal that is using sonar or sound to locate its prey will have difficulty navigating with the vibration from the engines."

Jobs at stake

The loss of marine life could be devastating for tourism.

Ocean safaris have boomed in recent years, with visitors contributing more than nine billion rand ($507 million) to the surrounding Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) municipality in 2018.

Tourism generates some 40,000 direct and indirect jobs in the area, according to municipal figures.

"Beaches and wildlife are the two big drawcards for visitors and... offshore bunkering is bound to impact both of those," Shaun Fitzhenry, NMB Tourism board chairman, said.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), which licensed the bunkering operators, said STS refuelling generated employment but had to be balanced with environmental concerns.

"We need to sustain the protected area, but we need to use the opportunity to develop the economy," SAMSA acting chief executive Sobantu Tilayi told AFP.

"That is the balance we keep navigating around."

Since the 2019 spill, bunkering times have been limited, barges carry more oil containment booms and several response boats are on constant standby in case another leak occurs.

Kevin Kelly, owner of oil spill response company Xtreme Projects, agreed that bunkering had created "a lot" of jobs and a budding ship chandler industry.

But, out at sea, skipper Jake Keeton frowns, concerned at the sight of an unusually small cluster of penguins nesting on the outcrops of a rocky island.

"Penguins push fish together into a bait ball that allows everything else to feed," he said.

"So if we lose the penguins here, dolphins, seals, gannets, cormorants and all your other seabirds will struggle."
This year's UK's wheat harvest is set to be the worst since the 1980s as the NFU predicts yields could be down by about a third due to extreme weather.

Many farmers across the UK have had a growing season they would rather forget, from a wash away autumn and winter in parts, met by a hot and dry spring.

Speaking to The Guardian, the NFU said growers saw 'very challenging conditions' across the UK this season.

Yields are down and this looks like the lowest harvest in about 30 years," said Tom Bradshaw, NFU vice-president.

"The quality seems variable, but we wont know what were looking at until it is all in."

Mr Bradshaw estimated that wheat yields could be down by about 30-35% across the UK and possibly lower in some regions.

He added that would leave the UK as a net importer of grain rather than a net exporter this year.

According to AHDB's 2020 planting survey, wheat plantings dropped 25% from 2019 to 1.363m hectares, with much of this replaced by spring barley or oats.

Concerns were raised over both the lower planted area and the quality of the crop, as dry conditions in spring did not aid crop development.

"The challenging weather played a major part in this reduction," AHDB said in the report, which was released in July.

"Persistent rain throughout autumn and winter altered many growers intentions, with them switching to plant spring crops when unable to get their winter crops drilled

"In areas such as the East Midlands there has been a large shift to spring wheat plantings, for this harvest spring wheat accounts for 34% of wheat plantings, up from 4% last year."

It comes as the NFU launched its 2020 harvest survey in order to assess the impact of this year's weather volatility on arable crops.

Growers can get involved by taking the survey online or by filling in the paper form found in the September issue of British Farmer and Grower magazine.
UPDATE: Ontario opens and closes applications to international students Registration for the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream opened August 19. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Ontario open and closed applications in 25 minutes to international students with job offers seeking provincial nominations for permanent residence.

Sources say the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream was opened and closed between 10:00 a.m. and 10:25 a.m. EST.

Ontario says that registration for the stream is now closed until further notice.

Original story published August 18, 2020 at 19:22 GMT:

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) will accept applications to the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream on August 19. They are not accepting applications for the Foreign Worker or Masters Graduate streams. The OINP warns that the Foreign worker stream registration link will be active but for technical and testing purposes only. Any application submitted through this link will be removed from the system.

Applications for international student graduates will open at some point during business hours between 9 a.m. EST and 5 p.m. EST, the OINP says. The system will automatically shut down once registration spots are filled. Typically these opening periods are a mad race to the finish line and the OINP expects no change to tomorrows application window.

Due to the significant number of users expected to access the system, you may encounter a high-volume message or be placed in a priority queue, the OINP says in a media release. If this occurs, it is not a technical error and you do not need to contact the program.

How to register for the Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

The OINP says interested applicants should access the OINP e-Filing Portal directly from the Employer Job Offer: International Student stream page on the OINP website. Click the button that says Submit an application. The OINP recommends against using mobile devices such as cell phones to access the e-Filing system.

New Employer Form required

The new Employer Form introduced during the previous application intake is also required for international students registering tomorrow. The most recent version of the Employer Form must be completed and dated on or after August 19, 2020, otherwise the application will be returned as incomplete.

The Employer Form indicates that it must be submitted within six months from the date of signing, but the form must contain the most current information, the OINP says. Those who successfully register tomorrow will have 14 days to submit their completed application, and they can use this time to upload their up-to-date Employer Form.

The Regulatory Compliance Information section B of the Employer Form has been revised to indicate whether the employers business is currently compliant with provincial employment standards and occupational health and safety standards.

Carefully have your employer review the information listed in the Employer Form to respond accurately in order to avoid unnecessary delays in processing your application, the OINP says in the release.

The OINP says anyone who experiences technical difficulties while registering, should contact them directly at ontarionominee@ontario.ca and include:

a screenshot showing the time and date stamp; and

details about how the error occurred.

Anyone whose application deadline is affected by the scheduled maintenance is asked to contact the OINP through the same email address. Maintenance is scheduled from tonight, August 18, at 5 p.m. EST until tomorrow. The province gives no end time to the scheduled maintenance.

Who is eligible for Ontarios Employer Job Offer: International Student stream?

As the name suggests, eligible candidates need a job offer from an eligible employer in Ontario. Though the candidate does not necessarily need to be in Ontario, they need to have legal status if they are applying in Canada. The OINP will accept applications from people who are on implied status.

The job offer must be in a skilled occupation classified as type 0, A or B according to Canadas National Occupational Classification.

Among other requirements, applicants must have graduated from a full-time eligible degree or diploma program in Canada within the past two years. Over half of their studies must have been completed while they were lawfully residing in Canada.

They will also have to demonstrate the intention to reside in Ontario, and show their ties to the province which could include previous experience or social ties among others.
The fatal drive-by shooting of a Maryland man on a South Jersey street followed an argument at a party between the victim and the alleged gunman, court documents reveal.

Sharay Palmer, 23, and Wayne Broughton, 29, both of Vineland, are charged with murder in the May 24 killing of Travis Douglas, 31, of Randallstown, Maryland.

Palmer and Douglas were involved in a verbal altercation at a house party in Vineland, according to affidavits of probable cause filed in the case. The reason for the argument was not disclosed in the documents.

Palmer left the party before Douglas did and phone records indicate he contacted Broughton twice in the half hour prior to the shooting, which occurred around 3 a.m., police said.

The victim was traveling in a car on West Chestnut Avenue in Vineland when a second vehicle, described by witnesses as a green or teal minivan, pulled alongside and a gunman opened fire.

Douglas was struck multiple times and died of his injuries at a hospital. A second man in the vehicle was wounded but survived, while a third occupant was not injured.

Video evidence apparently played a key role in cracking the case.

Investigators used surveillance videos to locate and track the movements of a green Chrysler Town and Country minivan which left a nearby motel with Broughton at the wheel about 20 minutes before the shooting, police noted.

Other video shows the victim and his two associates leaving the party at 2:58 a.m. and the van pulling out onto the street near the house immediately after the victims car departed.

Minutes later, at 3:02 a.m., Vineland police responded to Chestnut Avenue and South West Boulevard for a report of the shooting.

The van was spotted on video surveillance at the intersection of Chestnut and Delsea Drive immediately after the shooting and was tracked by multiple cameras to an apartment complex in Millville, where video shows Broughton entering the apartment of a romantic partner, police said.

Authorities allege Palmer opened fire on the victims vehicle as Broughton drove.

Both men were charged in June, but remained at large.

Palmer was arrested July 11 in Rancho Cucamunga, California, and extradited to New Jersey.

Broughton was arrested last week in Millville.

Palmer is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, while Broughton is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence.

Both remain in Cumberland County Jail.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Humble dirt could pack an unexpected climate punch, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. An experiment that heated soil underneath a tropical rainforest to mimic temperatures expected in the coming decades found that hotter soils released 55% more planet-warming carbon dioxide than did nearby unwarmed areas.

If the results apply throughout the tropics, much of the carbon stored underground could be released as the planet heats up.

The loss rate is huge, said Andrew Nottingham, an ecologist at the University of Edinburgh, who led the study. Its a bad news story.

The thin skin of soil that covers much of our planets land stores vast amounts of carbon  more, in total, than in all plants and the atmosphere combined. That carbon feeds hordes of bacteria and fungi, which build some of it into more microbes while respiring the rest into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Many of these microbes grow more active at warmer temperatures, increasing digestion and respiration rates.

The finding is another example of why we need to worry more about how fast the globe is warming, said Eric Davidson, an environmental scientist at the University of Maryland College of Environmental Science in Frostburg who was not involved in the research.

In an attempt to forecast the future, ecologists began in the early 1990s building apparatuses to artificially heat soils. Such experiments in temperate and boreal forests have shown that carbon-rich soils almost always belch carbon dioxide when warmed. In 2016, a group of researchers estimated that, by 2050, soils could release so much of the planet-warming gas that it would be like adding the carbon emissions of a new country the size of the United States.

But that study left out the perpetually warm, mega-biodiverse tropics, where a third of all soil carbon resides. Figuring out the fate of this carbon would require grappling with the many pitfalls of doing research in the tropics: humidity, storms and a multitude of hungry animals that can take a toll on research equipment  chewing through electrical wires or protective coverings, for example  and on researchers themselves.

For understanding soils contributions to climate change, the tropics is a really important region that really hasnt been studied, said Margaret Torn, an ecologist at Lawrence Berkeley Lab in California, who was not involved in the study.

In 2014, Nottingham, then a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh, traveled to Barro Colorado Island, a human-created island in the Panama Canal area thats home to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He buried electrical wires in five circular plots to a depth of nearly 4 feet. For protection from the elements and ravenous insects, he shielded the wires inside metal structures shaped like freakishly large spiders. Measurements were logged inside weatherproof boxes.

Our experiment was basically me as a postdoc making things out of a DIY shop, Nottingham said.

The team encountered a number of hiccups, including poor electrical connections that blew up and cost the researchers nearly a year and much of their budget to repair. Starting in November, 2016, the wires electrical resistance began warming the soil by almost 6 degrees Fahrenheit, within the range of how much the tropics are projected to warm by centurys end according to current climate models. Other equipment measured the carbon dioxide coming out of both experimental plots and nearby plots that werent artificially warmed as well as microbial activity in the plots.

An experiment warming soil in El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico had turned on two months earlier but was pummeled by back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes in September 2017; the study team didnt turn the power back on for a year.

The results from Nottinghams team are sobering: Over two years, warmed soils spewed out 55% more carbon than control plots. This is a very large response, said Torn, who runs a similar warming experiment in a California forest that reported a roughly 35% increase in carbon emissions after two years. Its one of the largest Ive heard of.

If the entire tropics were to behave similarly, the researchers estimate that 65 billion metric tons of carbon would enter the atmosphere by 2100  more than six times the annual emissions from all human-related sources.

Scaling the results to account for the entire tropics is complicated, however. The soils on Barro Colorado Island are richer in nutrients than many others, such as those of much of the vast Amazon rainforest, Davidson noted. That could make it easier for the Panamanian microbes to ramp up their activity. Microbial communities in African and Asian soils are very different from those in the Americas, Torn added.

And while there is agreement that climate models need to treat soil more realistically, how best to do that is unclear. The new study strikes a blow against simple theories predicting that tropical soils will respond weakly to warming, said Kathe Todd-Brown, a soil scientist at the University of Florida in Gainesville who was not part of the research team. But to really get a handle on the problem, she said, modelers will need information about how microbes respond to variations in soil moisture and nutrients in addition to temperature.

By warming only the soil, the Barro Colorado Island experiment did not capture how plants would fare under warmer conditions, said Tana Wood, a U.S. Forest Service ecologist who is leading the Puerto Rico experiment. If plants were to photosynthesize more, for example, they could take up some of the carbon dioxide that soils release, making the overall impact on the climate less severe. This is only telling half the carbon story, she said. (Her team is warming both the soil and the air with infrared heaters and measuring how plants and microbes respond.)

Torn said she was eager to see more than two years worth of data, which could reveal whether the carbon dioxide spike is prolonged or short-lived. In the life of a tropical forest, thats a very short time, she noted.

Nottingham has funding to keep the Panama project running for at least another five years. But even two years has shown how critical it is to find ways to keep ecosystems intact, he said. It makes you realize how fortunate weve been up until this point to have a relatively stable climate.
Today I announce an exciting program for schools in Nigeria, the Thought Project. The objective of this project is to foster critical and creative thinking skills in pupils and students and to introduce critical thinking and creative reasoning as subjects in primary and secondary schools. Critical and creative thinking skills are among the most sought after skills by employers. While there has been much emphasis on the need for critical and creative thinking, there are no subjects or programs that are devoted to inculcating these intellectual virtues. To realize a critical and creative thinking society, these thinking skills have to be taught and learned. The thought project is an effort to fill this gap in education and learning in the country.

The thought project has been several years in the making-since 2003/2004. Unfortunately, it has been postponed or set aside for some reason. This year, I decided to go ahead with the project, then came the COVID19 pandemic. Schools have been closed. There has also been a delay in incorporating an NGO that will facilitate the project. Despite all these challenges, I have decided that the thought project can no longer wait. Efforts to promote critical and creative thinking in schools and the society at large will go on, COVID19 or no COVID19. The project will release books on critical reasoning and then books on creative thinking. The books are in a workbook format with ample spaces for additional exercise.

The publication of critical reasoning books has started. The books will be released based on the availability of funds and the resumption of schools. In the first phase, we are publishing books 1 to 3 for the lower basic primary classes. Book 1 will be out next week. Books for the upper basic primary classes 4 to 6 will follow. We shall then embark on publishing creative reasoning books for primary schools.

Critical thinking has been defined as the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information. But to introduce this topic to primary school pupils, an operationalized definition is needed. To this end, critical reasoning is defined as asking questions. Modules have been created to encourage pupils to ask questions and express their curiosity. Children are taught to be inquisitive and to interrogate whatever they see, hear touch or smell, or taste. The target pupils are those who speak English as a second language. So, there is a provision to deliver the lessons and conduct exercises in languages other than English.

Besides, thought laboratories will be organized. A thought laboratory is both a program and an infrastructure. As a program, a thought laboratory is a workshop where pupils are taught to exercise their critical thinking skills. Schools are also encouraged to erect buildings or designate a room or an apartment as a thought laboratory. I am looking forward to opening the first thought laboratory building in Nigeria very soon- this year or next year. At the moment, the critical thinking workshops, including training for teachers, will be organized free of charge. The thought project will raise funds to defray the costs of the workshops. Participants in the thought laboratory will receive free copies of the books. And if the program succeeds in Nigeria, it will be extended to other African countries. The thought project is in its pilot phase. So criticisms are welcome and will help improve the quality of the books and the entire program.
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Quibi recently informed subscribers in Australia and New Zealand of two significant changes to their service: not only would monthly subscription fees be reduced by 40%, but a free ad-supported plan would be phased in over time. Both portend sweeping changes for major markets such as the U.S. This according a new report from research consultancy TDG, a division of Screen Engine-ASI.

Likelihood of Signing up for Quibi with Paid and Free Options

"It was inevitable that Quibi would make such moves," argues Lauren Kozak, senior analyst and author of TDG's new analysis. "The question is how much longer the company can wait before implementing similar changes in the U.S., especially as the pandemic extends into the fall and winter."

Kozak evaluates a number of factors inhibiting demand for Quibi, chief among them a debilitating lack of interest in the service. According to April 2020 TDG research, only 10% of U.S. adults were at minimum moderately likely to sign up for Quibi at current price/ad levels.

In an April 2020 survey, TDG asked adult broadband users how likely they would be to sign up for Quibi at $8/month ad-free and $5/month with ads, and to use if free with ads. While one would expect demand to incrementally improve as cost of service declines, this did not happenat least in terms of non-zero costs. Top-2 scores of $8 vs. $5/month price points were 9% and 10% respectively, with bottom-2 scores of 63% and 65% respectively. At $5 or more per month, then, Quibi has little chance of success. (For comparison, pre-launch research on Disney+ at $6.99/month enjoyed top-2 scores of 43%, with 18% who would definitely sign up.)

However, if the service were free with ads, four-in-ten adult broadband users would watch, with 18% certain to do so. Another 34% are on the bubble, either slightly likely or unlikely to view. "Therein lies Quibi's best chance to weather the pandemic, or to even build a userbase at all," says Kozak.

More fundamentally, Quibi misunderstands its target audiencethat is, younger millennials and Gen Z's accustomed to watching short-form video for free. "Social networks dominate short-form video viewing among young adults, capturing hundreds of millions of viewers. Yet noneincluding YouTube and Facebookhave been able to convince young adults to pay a fee each month to watch professional content." Kozak notes that Quibi's 5-10-minute format immediately cues viewers that the content should be free. "At this point in the evolution of mobile short-form video, and regardless of new features and formats, introducing a paywall is problematic."

TDG's newest report, In Search of Audience: Quibi's Post-Pandemic Prospects, is written by Senior Social Media Analyst Lauren Kozak, and examines the business and content model of the service at launch and today, and discusses Quibi's potential fate in a post-pandemic world. To learn more about the report, please visit TDG's website or contact Laura Allen Phillips for more information.

Media Contact:

Laura Allen

469-287-8060

[email protected]

SOURCE TDG Research

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Chiles quarantine has been among the longest and strictest in the world, and the country is still reeling from one of the highest per capita rates of infection. The government recently authorized Chileans to dip into their pension plans early to provide a lifeline to millions who are struggling to make ends meet as several sectors of the economy remain paralyzed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-17 23:40:43|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left a hospital in Tokyo on Monday evening after a seven-hour checkup amid concerns from inside his own camp over his physical condition.

The Japanese leader checked into the Keio University Hospital for what one of his aide's described as a "health checkup" although rumors have been swirling about his deteriorating health, amplified by both his colleagues and members of his inner circle offering mixed views as to Abe's condition.

The prime minister's visit to Keio University Hospital came a day after former economy minister Akira Amari told a TV program that the prime minister needs to rest, intimating he may be suffering from exhaustion.

"Abe feels guilty about the idea of taking a break. We need to force him to get rest, even just for a few days," Amari said.

Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso also weighed in on the premier's busy schedule possibly taking its toll on his health, stating that Abe had "worked for 147 consecutive days through June 20, so it is not surprising for someone not taking a rest for that long to be in rough shape."

Abe, 65, during his first tenure as prime minister, which started in late September 2006, abruptly stepped down from his post in 2007 due to chronic ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease.

Some local media have recently run reports about Abe's possible deteriorating health condition.

Earlier this month however, Japan's top government spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga downplayed any potential health issues Abe may be going through, stating, "I see the prime minister every day, and I think he has no health problems at all as he has been carrying out his duties smoothly."

Abe's possible health issues have triggered both empathy as well as concern from opposition parties.

"If he is not well, I hope he will get rest and recover as soon as possible," Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, said.

But some other lawmakers have said that if the prime minister is indeed not in good health, he should be replaced as the country's leader to avoid a political vacuum as the nation continues to grapple with tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

Abe last received a checkup at the same hospital in Tokyo about two months ago and has been receiving regular checkups every six months, a government official said.

The latest checkup lasted about seven and a half hours, during which "he had various parts of his body checked just to be sure, as he had a whole weekday available for the checkup," the government official said. Enditem
New Delhi: Actress Ankita Lokhande received the support of her boyfriend Vicky Jain after some media reports claimed that actor Sushant Singh Rajput paid the EMI for her flat. Ankita and Sushant were in a relationship earlier and shared the flat together then. However, Ankita slammed the rumours with a hard-hitting post. She shared her bank account details showing regular EMI deductions from her own account. Ankita said, "Here I cease all the speculations. As transparent as I could be."

Soon after Ankita shared her posts, she received support from her fans, Sushant's sister Shweta Singh Kirti, her colleagues and Vicky Jain. He commented on her post by saying, "Hats off Miss Lokhande" and the actress was all hearts. She said, "Thank you, thank you and thank you for being my strength."

Ankita has been showing her unconditional support to Sushant's family. She and Shweta Singh Kirti often exchange messages on social media. Ankita has also been pressing for a CBI inquiry into Sushant's death.

The #GlobalPrayers4SSR campaign initiated by Sushant's family was also supported by Ankita. Moreover, Vicky Jain too posted about it on social media.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14. Police said he died by suicide.
A potential coronavirus vaccine being developed by a unit of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) could cost no more than 1,000 yuan ($144.27) for two shots, state media on Tuesday quoted chairman Liu Jingzhen as saying.

Sinopharm has said its experimental vaccine could be ready for public use by the end of this year. It has entered a late-stage human test in the United Arab Emirates to gather proof of efficacy for final regulatory approvals.

It will not be priced very high. It is expected to cost a few hundred yuan for a shot, and for two shots it should be less than 1,000 yuan," Liu told the Guangming Daily newspaper.

Governments and drugmakers around the world are in a frenetic race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. More than 200 candidates are in development, including more than 20 in human clinical trials.

Moderna Inc said earlier this month that smaller volumes of its experimental vaccine have been priced at $32-$37 per dose.

Last month, the U.S. government struck a deal for an experimental vaccine being developed by Pfizer and partner BioNTech SE that secures enough to innoculate 50 million Americans for about $40 a person.

Sinopharms Liu did not mention whether Chinas state-backed nationwide insurance program would cover some of the vaccine costs for consumers, or whether it could be included in the countrys free vaccination scheme.

China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a Sinopharm unit, has moved two vaccine strains using the same method into human trials. Its plants in Wuhan and Beijing combined could make over two million doses of the drug annually.

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
Britain basked in a heatwave last week with temperatures soaring to 36C in some parts of the country.

Yet despite being in the midst of summer, Phillip Schofield was already thinking about the festive months ahead, as he filmed Christmas television on Tuesday.

The This Morning presenter, 58, donned a full Father Christmas outfit complete with white fur trim, a long fake beard and a matching red hat.

It's Christmas! Phillip Schofield was already thinking about the festive months ahead, as he filmed Christmas television on Tuesday

Phillip appeared to be learning a script in his dressing room while wearing the festive costume, as he joked that it had been a 'peculiar week'.

In one snap Phillip pulled a bemused expression while making a phone call, as he revealed he was on the phone to his co-star and pal Holly Willoughby.

It is unclear what Phillip was filming for however he was clearly well prepared for Christmas four months in advance.

Prepared: The This Morning presenter, 58, donned a full Father Christmas outfit complete with white fur trim, a long fake beard and a matching red hat

Phillip and Holly may well have been having a chat about their This Morning return which will be in two weeks, as Holly self-isolates after returning early from her Portugal holiday.

The Mirror reports the much-loved presenting duo, will come back to the studio on September 1 following their summer breaks, on the same date Piers Morgan will return to Good Morning Britain.

The return date gives Holly the mandatory time to self-isolate in the UK and ensure she is safe to return to the studio.

Comeback: Phillip and Holly may well have been having a chat about their This Morning return which will be in two weeks, as Holly self-isolates after returning early from her Portugal holiday (pictured above in 2019)

UK government Covid-19 restrictions mean all passengers returning to Britain from Portugal must self-isolate for 14 days.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for This Morning, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for comment.

Holly was forced to cut short her seven-week family holiday to go into quarantine so that she can return on time to host This Morning.

The TV presenter had planned to fly home from the Algarve at the end of August after taking a summer break with husband Dan Baldwin, 45, and their children Harry, 11, Belle, nine, and Chester, five.

All good things come to an end: Holly was forced to cut short her seven-week family holiday to go into quarantine so that she can return on time to host This Morning

Fan favourites: The presenting duo presented their last shows before the summer break in July

As a result, the TV star has flown home a fortnight early and will quarantine with her family at their London home to be back on screens by September 7.

A source told MailOnline: 'Holly accepts that she has to go into quarantine and will follow the rules but she isn't happy losing two weeks from her holiday.

'The summer break is her chance to re-charge after a hectic period and to spend time with her family. After all the stresses of the pandemic she had been looking forward to relaxing as long as possible.

'Instead of seven weeks away she has had to make it five  but it's what she's had to do to keep the This Morning team safe and to ensure she returns to the show on time.'

'The summer is her chance to re-charge': A source told MailOnline Holly isn't happy about cutting her summer break short by two weeks but understands she must follow the rules

Returning to work: The source explained that Holly was disappointed but it's what 'she's had to do to keep the This Morning team safe and to ensure she returns to the show on time'

A source close to Holly said of the arrangement: 'Holly isnt unhappy to be returning, but happy to do what is necessary to keep everyone safe'.

Holly and her family stayed in the luxury resort of Quinta do Lago, which is favoured by other celebrities, including Wayne Rooney and her co-host Phillip Schofield.

The UK government introduced the 14-day quarantine period for travellers to the country on June 8 when a coronavirus spike hit with an infection rate of almost 50 per 100,000 population, one of the highest in Europe.

Portugal's removal from the quarantine list could be announced this week but would not be enforced until the end of August, but it would be too late for the presenter and her family.

They flew to Portugal soon after her last appearance on This Morning on July 10 with Eamonn Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford, both 60, filling in.

Quality time: Holly had planned to fly home from the Algarve at the end of August after taking a summer break with husband Dan Baldwin and their children Harry, Belle and Chester
After the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools in in March, Sarah Zimmerman, a fifth-grade teacher at Huppertz Elementary in the San Antonio Independent School District spent a great deal of time learning how to use different apps and collaborating with other teachers to make better virtual lessons.

During the rest of the day, Zimmerman checked in with students on Zoom, provided lots of tech support and sent families information about food boxes, rent and unemployment assistance.

Now Zimmerman and other local teachers and parents are beginning the school year virtually  some will continue it all year  with the benefit of experience from the hastily implemented switch last spring. In some cases, the adults learned more than the children did.

I have been doing a lot of reflecting and planning for the fall, said Zimmerman, who began teaching remotely Monday as the fall semester began for SAISD.

Here are some of their lessons about what worked, what didnt, and what they want to change this virtual semester. (Teachers said these views are their own and dont necessarily reflect that of their school districts.)

On ExpressNews.com: Closed for coronavirus and teaching remotely, San Antonio schools hunt for missing students

Teamwork is key

Huppertz Elementary teachers got in the habit of holding brief daily virtual check-ins where someone would share a classroom lesson or show how to use an app, Zimmerman said. This both kept our faculty community more intact and helped everyone figure out remote learning together, she said.

Araceli Manriquez, a middle school dual language social studies teacher at SAISDs Bonham Academy, said she had to learn from other colleagues how to create discussion threads and PowerPoint projects on Google Classroom, which many students use for virtual learning.

Some parents said teachers collaborated with them around their childrens needs, a silver lining to the pandemic-induced shutdown. Parents who didnt have as much communication with their childrens teachers during the shutdown said they longed for more.

I truly felt a sense of teamwork with both of our schools, said Sonja Brannon, who has two daughters at the School of Science and Technology-Northwest and another at Kallison Elementary in Northside ISD. Whether we return full-time or continue distance learning, I truly hope that this level of communication continues.

Natalie Clifford, an English as a Second Language specialist at McCollum High School in Harlandale ISD, said she planned to schedule more consistent one-on-one check-ins with students this fall via phone or Zoom and rotating check-ins with each campus department to ask about her students academic performance and well-being.

Michelle Herrera, family impact manager at Democracy Prep Stewart, learned how hard the shutdown was for parents when she made phone wellness checks. Most parents at the SAISD school on the Southeast Side have three or four children, Herrera said. Some mothers would talk for hours about how overwhelmed they were.

It was just such a learning curve for all of us, and they just needed to know that it was going to be OK and we were all going through it together, Herrera said. No one had the perfect recipe, but we were all trying.

On ExpressNews.com: Digital divide for low-income students suddenly wider

Prioritize access

Zimmerman said about half her students in the spring were active online. Another 25 percent or so turned assignments in periodically. The remainder were never online and Zimmerman had trouble communicating with their parents.

Clifford said she tried to be flexible with students who didnt have internet access or struggled with the novelty of learning online. Some of her students had to work six days a week to help their families pay bills, she said  some households lacked access to food and some were falling behind on rent as workplaces shut down.

From the moment the pandemic began in March, our district was working to address the barriers that our students and their families face, Clifford said. Unfortunately, however, there are larger societal factors that a school district cannot ultimately solve on its own.

Many schools handed out Chromebooks, iPads and wireless hotspots for students to use at home. Some districts parked school buses equipped with wireless internet in places where students could connect from their own cars.

Even with heightened distribution of devices, many families still didnt know how to use their childrens online learning platforms such as Google Classroom, Seesaw or Zoom, said Herrera, who walked parents through the technology in English and Spanish.

Brannon said her family did not have to borrow computers for her three daughters in school but did have to make them available in different areas of the house for competing Zoom meetings.

In a survey conducted by the University of Texas at San Antonios Urban Education Institute, teachers recommended that other district employees provide tech support so they wouldnt need to lose instructional time. They also recommended that districts continue to distribute devices and hotspots to students and simplify the process of logging into virtual educational platforms.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio will leverage traffic lights to expand fiber network for students

Social and emotional needs

Many parents expressed concern that their children are missing out on social development while isolated at home.

In these first two weeks of school, Zimmerman wants to prioritize students social and emotional heath.

Imagine 10 year olds who haven't had a normal school day in five months trying to process lessons about place value or sentence structure, all while they're trying to get used to school again, Zimmerman said. We have to put our students' well-being first.

Several teachers said theyll need to address both pandemic-related trauma and the civic upheaval sparked by the death of George Floyd in the custody of a Minneapolis police officer, which led to widespread demonstrations for racial justice.

In some of Cliffords more successful spring assignments, she asked students to write and reflect on their pandemic experiences and fears.

Current events have increased the importance of inclusive learning environments and a curriculum that reflects diverse cultures, teachers said.

Online learning is hard enough, Zimmerman said. We can make it easier on kids and more accessible by making it a welcoming space that they want to interact in because it reflects them and other communities.

Independence with supervision

Brannon said she learned quickly that phone alarms were required for a successful day of virtual learning.

At one point, I had anywhere from 12 to 15 alarms a day for classroom Zooms, homework reminders and weekly specials, she said.

Parents said they liked getting a firsthand look at their childrens projects and assignments  and more chances to participate.

Brannons 11-year-old daughter, Piper, had been fascinated earlier in the spring with PVC pipes. When Pipers maker space teacher told the class to build skyscrapers from materials around their homes, the whole family went outside to help her hold up a PVC skyscraper that grew taller than the house.

Before the pandemic, Rebecca McMains said she didnt know as much about the special education and speech therapy that her daughter, now in the first grade at Lamar Elementary, was receiving.

It all happens at school and its all behind closed doors, McMains said. She was meant to be getting speech therapy twice a week and I had no idea whether that was happening.

McMains has a teaching degree and has worked as a classroom teacher and museum educator. After observing her daughters virtual speech classes, McMains emailed the new speech therapist, listing things that were highly motivating and making recommendations.

I have worked really hard to understand my childs needs and understand her weaknesses, so she made incredible progress during the time she was learning at home, McMains said. It gave me a window into the system, and the fact that the system came into my own house allowed me to hold it accountable.

McMains, who cares for her daughter full time, acknowledged she could get involved more easily than many other working parents or those who face language barriers.

Parents of younger children had to spend more time supervising computer log-ons and virtual activities, but even older students needed their parents help. Michelle Alvarado-Malone, who was doing sales and marketing for Univision from home, helped plan every week with her daughter, now in the tenth grade at St. Philips Early College High School. Alvarado-Malone has decided to check in with her daughter, 14, more often throughout the day this fall.

Denise Ojeda said she gradually got her son, now in the sixth grade at Japhet Academy, to log on independently every day. Shes teaching him that hes old enough to take charge of his academic progress.

We developed our own language, Ojeda said. When I have my headphones on and Im talking, that means Im in a meeting. So honor the headphones.

Set boundaries

There has been a perception that teachers work less during distance learning, Clifford said , but in reality, they had to reach all their students and adapt to shifting expectations. With no school building to leave at the end of the day, they had a hard time setting boundaries to their work days and staving off burnout.

Every educator I know was working even harder than they were before the pandemic, Clifford said.

In the first week of distance learning, Herrera didnt think shed make it. Everything was just fluid, she said.There was no stopping point.

Working on her computer way past 4 p.m. one day, Herrera got a wake-up call from her fourth-grade daughter. Is Mom back or is Ms. Herrera still here? her daughter asked.

Build life skills

Ojeda decided to give her 11-year-old son more responsibility around the house. Her role was being the breadwinner and his role would be tending to the pets, preparing his own breakfast and lunch and cleaning up after himself, she explained.

Inga Cotton said her children, in the fifth and eighth grades at Great Hearts Monte Vista, have been talking about learning to type and to code and to pick up other skills to prepare them for their dream jobs.

But theyre also more interested now in learning to cook and do laundry.

Living through a pandemic makes it feel like kids need to grow up a little faster, Cotton said.

Alia Malik covers several school districts and the University of Texas at San Antonio. To read more from Alia, become a subscriber. amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:22:22|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 infection on Tuesday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 989, along with one more death from the disease, according to its Ministry of Health.

Among the newly confirmed cases, three have recently returned to Vietnam from abroad and were quarantined upon arrival while the rest were recorded in localities including Vietnam's central Da Nang city and northern Hai Duong province, said the ministry.

The new cases include those who were reportedly in contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases, a patient and a patient's caregiver at Da Nang Hospital, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, two cases in Hai Duong province were reportedly linked to an outbreak in a street of its Hai Duong city, where some other cases had been confirmed, said the ministry.

The ministry also announced that one more COVID-19 patient had died, bringing the death toll to 25 as of Tuesday, noting that the 51-year-old woman had underlying medical conditions.

As many as 53 more patients were given all-clear on Tuesday, raising the total cured cases in the country to 520 while there are nearly 87,700 people being quarantined and monitored in the country, according to the ministry.

Hanoi city's People's Committee on Tuesday ordered relevant authorities to encourage people to implement COVID-19 prevention measures including wearing face masks and submitting health declaration when they have symptoms of coughing, fever and breathing difficulty, Vietnam News Agency reported, noting that gatherings of over 30 people in public places are discouraged in the city.

In addition, the city also required all coffee shops and eateries to make sure their customers keep a distance of at least 1 meter from each other and their staff wear face masks at work, the news agency reported.

Meanwhile, nine more residence areas in Hai Duong city were placed under quarantined from Tuesday following the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the locality, according to a report by Vietnam News Agency. Enditem
Cairo has welcomed the US-brokered peace agreement that would fully normalize relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel in exchange for a suspension of Israeli annexation of West Bank land. In an official statement released Aug. 13, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called the tripartite deal historic, affirming that it would advance peace efforts and open new horizons for stability in the Middle East.

Sisi also expressed his support for the peace deal via his official Twitter account, highlighting Israel's promise to cease its planned annexation of Palestinian territory, without mentioning that the move may only be temporary or that the agreement makes no reference to the return of Palestinian land previously annexed by Israel.

I followed with great interest and appreciation the tripartite joint statement by the United States, the UAE and Israel regarding the agreement to suspend annexation of Palestinian territories and to take steps that would bring peace to the Middle East, he tweeted.

I also appreciate the efforts to achieve prosperity and stability to our region by the signatories to this agreement, Sisi added.

The UAE is the third Arab country after Egypt and Jordan to sign a peace treaty with Israel, a move that some analysts believe may pave the way for similar deals. Based on analytical reports, Oman and Bahrain  which have also expressed their support for the tripartite agreement and, like the UAE, purportedly have had covert relations with Israel for some years now  are likely watching closely domestic and regional reactions to the agreement to decide whether and when they too can publicly announce normalization with Israel.

Besides conducting under the table dealings with Israel, the UAE and other neighboring Gulf states have in recent years forged an alliance with Israel to counter Iran's expansionism, Dov Waxman, director of UCLA's Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, told CBC. Waxman said normalization with Israel would only serve to fortify the alliance.

But Sisi's optimism and enthusiasm about the UAE-Israeli peace deal has failed to rub off on some of his countrymen. Critics of the treaty, such as Hassan Nafaa, a professor of political science at Cairo University, expressed their dismay, considering the agreement a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.

The UAE's announcement that it is committed to forging full official relations with Israel in exchange for 'postponement' of Israel's planned annexation of occupied Palestinian territory constitutes a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and an underestimation of the Arab peoples, Nafaa tweeted shortly after news of the agreement broke Aug. 13. It also reaffirms that Arab governments are leading their countries into the abyss and surrendering to Israeli hegemony, he added.

Mustapha Kamel el-Sayed, also a political science professor at Cairo University, agreed. He said the Donald Trump administration had previously dragged its feet in giving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approval for his plan to annex West Bank land; the UAE leadership had capitalized on the United States' wavering stance to announce the recognition of Israel, claiming that the latter had accepted the cessation or suspension of its plan to annex more West Bank territory in exchange for normalization of relations. The Israeli leadership has pledged to halt or suspend its annexation plan, which does not mean it has completely abandoned the plan; rather, it has only postponed it for some time, Sayed told Al-Monitor.

Other analysts, such as Hossam Badrawi, a politician and founder of the Union Party (made up of former members of Hosni Mubarak's now-defunct National Democratic Party), and reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei, meanwhile, lamented the lost opportunity for peace in the late 1970s when the Palestinians and other Arab states had turned their backs on Egypt over its unilateral efforts to make peace with Israel.

When Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel, it did so in exchange for the return of [parts of] Sinai [which were occupied by Israel at the time]; it would have been possible then to also regain most of the occupied Arab land if the Palestinians had agreed to take part in the [peace] negotiations, Badrawi tweeted. He also blamed the Arab Spring protests for failure to defeat Israel militarily and culturally.

Unlike Israel, we failed to understand when we began peace negotiations with Israel in the [late] 1970s that a unilateral peace is not [a real] peace but would only create an imbalance of power in the region in favor of one party over another and would, in the long term, lead to lost opportunities for a just and lasting peace. Everyone is paying the price, ElBaradei wrote in a comment published on his Twitter account.

On hearing news of the agreement, Egyptian social media activists nostalgically shared images of late President Anwar Sadat, the first Arab leader to sign a peace treaty with Israel.

It has been more than four decades since Sadat shook hands with then-Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the White House on March 26, 1979, in a famous photo-op that followed the signing of the then-highly controversial Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, the first such treaty normalizing Israeli relations with an Arab country.

The Camp David Peace Accord, as the treaty was called, brokered by then-US President Jimmy Carter, cost Sadat his life; he was shot and killed by a member of Islamic Jihad while watching a military parade on Oct. 6, 1981. Moreover, the accord did not spell the end of the official policy of enmity between Egypt and Israel  two countries that have fought no fewer than five wars since the start of the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948.

For the greater part of the last 40 years and under successive Egyptian regimes, only a cold peace prevailed and relations between Egyptians and Israelis were, to say the least, strained. There was little people-to-people contact save for the few Israeli tourists that visited Sinai and who were often compelled to hide their identities for fear of being targeted by Islamists. They were right to do so. On Oct. 10, 2004, 32 people  12 of them Israelis  were killed in terror attacks on two south Sinai holiday resorts, the Taba Hilton and the Ras al-Shitan campsite, frequented by Israelis.

But relations between Cairo and Tel Aviv started warming up after Sisi came to power in 2014. Since then, security cooperation between Egypt and Israel has grown: Israel reportedly conducted more than 100 airstrikes in Sinai between July 2015 and March 2018 in support of the Egyptian government's efforts to counter an insurgency in the peninsula, according to Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Moreover, Israel has given the green light for the Egyptian military to deploy forces in Sinai's demilitarized buffer zone upon the latter's request. Under the Camp David Peace Accords, Israel's approval for such a move is necessary. Egypt has also continued to play a mediating role between rival Palestinian factions in an effort to pave the way for a lasting peace with the Israelis, in addition to its role in helping to de-escalate tensions between Hamas and Israel on several occasions.

This, despite Egypt's own faltering relations with Hamas, which Egypt has accused of conspiring with the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt's economic ties with Israel have also improved with the signing in February 2018 of a new natural gas deal worth $15 billion that allows Egypt to import natural gas from Israel over a 10-year period. Analysts have described Egyptian-Israeli relations as being at their highest level in history under Sisi.

But it may take years to undo the decades of animosity that many Egyptians still harbor for Israel. For decades, they had been conditioned to believe that Israel is their No. 1 enemy  the anti-Israeli rhetoric has long been hammered into their psyche via school textbooks, mainstream media and soap operas that persistently demonize Israel. Just as recently as March, a sci-fi drama series called The End, shown on Egyptian television during Ramadan, a peak viewing period in Egypt and the rest of the Arab World, depicted the destruction of Israel, provoking an outcry from Egypt's new ally.

But Amr Moussa, a former Arab League secretary-general who had strongly advocated the two-state solution, believes change is coming. In a comment published on his official Facebook page on Aug. 14, he called for the cessation of Israel's annexation of Palestinian land to be clearly stipulated as a condition for the normalization of relations between the UAE and Israel. He also called for an Arab League meeting to seriously discuss the recent developments.

It (halting the annexation) has now become  according to UAE statements  part of Israel's obligation toward the UAE. If the UAE recognizes Israel, we should expect the suspension of annexation to be stipulated in the official agreement. If Israel refuses to put this in writing or if it refers to it as a US and not an Israeli assurance or if Israel rescinds on its decision, this should be considered a violation of the agreement and would, in turn, allow the UAE to pull out of the deal, Moussa wrote.
- The National Lands Commission (NLC) established that the Weston Hotel is built on public land but recommended that Ruto compensates the people of Kenya.

- The lands owner, a state agency, wants the hotel demolished as the land was acquired through " illegality and fraud.

- Ruto was in 2013 ordered to pay KSh 5 million to a 2007/08 post-election violence victim for illegally taking away his land

- He was in 2004 arrested and charged with defrauding KPC through illegal sale of Ngong Forest land then valued at KSh 272 million.

- In 2019, a lobby group demanded a probe into the DPs acquisition of a 900-acre land in Trans Mara

The saga over the land on which Weston Hotel stands continues to put Deputy President William Ruto in the limelight; for all the wrong reasons.

It not only reminds Kenyans that the public land was illegally acquired but also stands to further dent the image of the high-profile leader who has found himself entangled in well-documented scandals for the better part of his political career.

READ ALSO: Kenya's coronavirus cases rise to 30,636 after 271 more test positive

Deputy William Ruto in his office. Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Claudio Bravo finally leaves Man City after 4 years at the Etihad

The protracted Weston saga took a critical twist in January 2019 when the National Land Commission (NLC) established that the hotel is built on public land and recommended that Ruto, the owner, be compelled to pay to the people of Kenya for the 0.773ha plot opposite WilsonAirport at the current market rate.

The DP afterward admitted publicly that the land was indeed acquired illegally by the original owners who sold it to him, albeit noting that he had no knowledge of the matter when he bought the land.

READ ALSO: Mhadhiri wa Chuo Kikuu cha Maseno azimia na kuaga dunia ghafla

But the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the state agency from which the land was grabbed, did not embrace the idea of compensation and went to court afresh seeking to have the deluxe hotel demolished on grounds that the land on which it sits was acquired through illegality, fraud and corruption.

Weston Hotel opposite Wilson Airport. Photo: Weston Hotel

Source: UGC

According to the authoritys lawyers, the property stands on public land designated as a flight path. They accused the hotel of dispossessing the agency of its land with impunity in collusion with two private entities and the NLC.

KCAAs standpoint was at the time widely supported by Kenyans who faulted the NLC for treating Ruto with kid gloves. Over 70% of respondents in a poll by TUKO.co.ke said the hotel should be demolished to prove the law was not being selectively applied.

Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu said any form of monetary settlement would send a wrong message in the fight against corruption and demanded that the State must likewise throw out all similar cases involving stolen property that were under investigation so long as the suspects were willing to compensate.

But the hotels management further compounded the tussle when it later termed it unjust to force it to compensate Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) for the land on which the hotel sits, arguing that this would amount to paying twice for the same property.

The aviation agency is, however, taking none of this. In its latest filings in court, the authority argues that the NLC did not even have powers to order for compensation or force a person who had grabbed public land to compensate the government or its agencies.

It also says there is no evidence that the NLC had quorum when sanctioning the move since only a single commissioner signed the controversial verdict.

Despite KCAAs firm stand that it would not accept any form of monetary compensation, Ruto recently shifted his strategy and said he is ready to pay.

He called on the authority to finalise negotiations for compensation as ordered by the NLC rather than pursue a fresh case seeking to repossess the land.

The NLC has also stubbornly, yet controversially, stood by its decision to allow the DP pay for the land, arguing that KCAA simply wanted it to ignore Rutos rights as a legitimate buyer of the property.

In June 2013, Ruto was ordered to pay KSh 5 million to a 2007/08 post-election violence victim for illegally taking away his land.

Adrian Muteshi had accused Ruto of hatching a plot to grab his 100-acre farm in Uasin Gishu during the violence when the peasant farmer had fled for safety as an Internally Displaced Person (IDP).

Deputy President William Ruto. Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Facebook

The DP was in 2004 arrested and later charged with defrauding Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) through the illegal sale of Ngong Forest land then valued at KSh 272 million. Ruto and his accomplices were acquitted in 2011, but the state recently reopened investigations into the high-profile case.

In 2019, Ruto was sucked into yet another land controversy after a human rights lobby demanded an investigation into his acquisition of a 900-acre tract once owned by former vice-president Joseph Murumbi

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Shimla, Aug 18 : Twelve men deployed in the security team of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday, triggering panic among state ministers and government functionaries.

Two drivers deployed in the Chief Minister's security have also tested positive for Covid-19.

All of them have been quarantined since one security personal and a driver deployed in the Chief Minister's escort vehicle had tested positive on August 11.

The infected personnel were also on duty in the Chief Minister's Office on August 11 when the Cabinet met.

Earlier, Thakur went into self-quarantine on July 22 after a Deputy Secretary in his office tested positive.

At that time, the Chief Minister, his wife and two other family members had tested negative for the virus.

Newly-inducted Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary, who holds the power portfolio, and his two daughters had tested Covid positive on July 6.

His personal security officer had also tested positive.
European competition authorities have cleared a 1bn plan by the governments of Denmark and Sweden to recapitalise virus-hit SAS, saying the measure would prevent the Scandinavian airline's insolvency.

As a result of the pandemic, Brussels has dramatically relaxed state aid rules that usually make bailouts of struggling industries difficult if not impossible - and airlines have been among the biggest beneficiaries to date.

In May, the German government lined up a 9bn rescue deal for Lufthansa while the Competition Commission also signed off on a rescue package for Air France-KLM.

The Franco-Dutch rescue consists of 4bn in state-guaranteed bank loans and 3bn in loans directly from the French state for Air France while the Dutch government will contribute between 2bn and 4bn for sister airline KLM.

In contrast, Aer Lingus CEO Sean Doyle told staff in July that the government here had "done the least in Europe to support its aviation sector" as he outlined the risk that the company will seek compulsory redundancies if it fails to reach a target to cut 500 jobs with a voluntary severance package. He said operations in Cork and Shannon were under review.

"As such, Ireland is in the unfortunate position of firstly having the most restrictive travel policies in Europe and, secondly, having so far done the least in Europe to support its aviation sector," Mr Doyle said in a video message sent to workers at Aer Lingus.

The SAS plan is part of a larger recapitalisation package which will result in private investors holding a significant stake in SAS following the conversion of outstanding privately held debt instruments into equity.

The European Commission said the measure will not exceed the minimum needed to ensure the airline's viability and will not go beyond restoring its capital position to what it was before the coronavirus.

"Denmark and Sweden will receive an appropriate remuneration for the investment, and there are additional mechanisms to incentivise SAS to redeem the states' equity participations and the new state hybrid notes obtained as a result of the recapitalisation," the EU Competition Commission said in a statement.

All of the bailouts signed off by Brussels this year include strings - including conditions to directly address competition concerns, but smaller EU member states have flagged concerns bigger and richer countries are putting their domestic carriers at a long-term advantage when the economy starts to come out of the current crisis.

Ryanair has said rescue packages are anti-competitive. The Irish budget airline has formally challenged Germany's 9bn rescue package, saying it distorted competition.

The German government-backed aid will allow Lufthansa to "engage in below-cost selling" and make it harder for Ryanair, its Austrian subsidiary Laudamotion and others to compete, Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said in a statement.

"Ryanair will appeal against this latest example of illegal state aid to Lufthansa, which will massively distort competition," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 07:12:56|Editor: huaxia

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A police officer of Macao Special Administrative Region instructs a passenger during a drill of passenger clearance services at Macao's border checkpoint at new Hengqin port in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 17, 2020. The new port in Zhuhai's Hengqin will open to the public from Aug. 18 where inbound and outbound passenger clearance services by Macao will be relocated. All passenger clearance services and Macao-bound vehicle clearance services, once operated in Macao's Lotus Flower Bridge Checkpoint, will be relocated to the new Hengqin Port. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka)
EAST LANSING, MI -- Michigan State University is switching its fall class schedule to remote learning and has asked students who planned to live in dorms to stay home.

In a public letter to the MSU community on Tuesday, Aug. 18, MSU President Samuel Stanley Jr. said the current status of the novel coronavirus pandemic, including recent outbreaks at other universities, caused the change in plans.

MSU originally had planned for a hybrid learning model of in person and online classes in the fall.

It has become evident to me that, despite our best efforts and strong planning, it is unlikely we can prevent widespread transmission of COVID-19 between students if our undergraduates return to campus, Stanley, a medical doctor, said in the letter.

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill moved its classes online after several clusters appeared in student groups and on-campus housing within the first week of classes.

Michigan college students are returning to campus, and so are their parties amid coronavirus

MSUs colleges of Law, Human Medicine, Nursing, Osteopathic Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and all graduate programs are exempt from the change to remote classes, but no modified plans have been specified, according to officials.

Classes that use labs, studios and other performance-based measures will also transition online. Stanley said the university will work with students in those classes needed for graduation.

The university will offer refunds or credits to students who have already paid for housing in the residence halls, Stanley said. Exceptions can be made for some students, such as those needing to live on campus for employment.

MSU employees are encouraged to work remotely if possible, Stanley said. Students planning to live off campus also are encouraged to consider staying in their home communities if that is a safer place for them, he said.

We have seen that it is difficult for colleges and universities, and other areas of education such as K-12, to be open successfully right now given the prevalence of the virus, Stanley said in the letter. While I have faith in our students and all of the members of the campus community, we know that this virus is relentless and is easily spread. Were seeing on our campus and in other areas of the country that a few mistakes by some are having large impacts on many.

A closer look at Michigan States unprecedented athletic budget crunch

Research will continue, Stanley said. University officials will work with international students for their visas.

Undergraduate classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 2.

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A male victim was shot in the abdomen outside an apartment complex near downtown Colorado Springs Monday morning, according to law enforcement.
Michelle Obama is warning Americans to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it during her speech at the Democratic National Convention.

In remarks that capped off Monday nights event, Mrs. Obama offered a sharp rebuke of the Trump presidency, telling viewers that he has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment, she said.

She added that if you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can. Mrs. Obama emphasized the need for all Americans to vote, making reference to the voters who stayed home in 2016 and helped deliver Donald Trump the win that year, even as he lost the popular vote.

She says, Weve all been suffering the consequences.

In contrast, she described Biden as a profoundly decent man who knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country.

___

HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION:

 Takeaways from first night of Democratic National Convention

 Biden introduces breadth of political coalition to a nation in crisis

 Michelle Obama highlights Bidens character in DNC speech

 DNC Chair Tom Perez says primaries should replace caucuses by 2024

___

Follow APs election coverage at https://apnews.com/Election2020

___

HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

President Donald Trump largely held his tongue during the first night of the Democratic National Convention but unleashed a flurry of retweets at its conclusion.

Trumps ire was mostly directed at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was sharply critical of the presidents handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, in return, amplified attacks on Cuomos handling of the virus, which ripped through New York in March and April. The two men  one a Democrat, one a Republican  have had an uneasy relationship during the crisis.

The Trump campaign also quickly moved to raise money off the conventions first night, sending to supporters a note that said, Tonight, Crazy Bernie, Michelle Obama, failed presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar, Fredos brother: Andrew Cuomo, and Gretchen Half Whitmer will all spout fake news against the president.

It then asked for contributions.

___

Bernie Sanders has unleashed a scathing attack on President Donald Trump, suggesting that under him authoritarianism has taken root in our country.

Addressing the opening night of the virtual Democratic National Convention on Monday, the Vermont senator said Trump had proved incapable of controlling the coronavirus outbreak, coping with the economic fallout and addressing institutional racism in the United States and climate change threatening the globe.

Nero fiddled while Rome burned, Sanders said. Trump golfs.

Sanders, who finished second in the Democratic primary behind Joe Biden, struck a more optimistic tone when he thanked supporters who voted for him in 2016 and 2020 for helping to move the country in a bold, new direction.

He called on his backers, as well as those who supported other 2020 Democratic primary contenders or Trump four years ago, to unite behind Biden.

Sanders says, My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine.

___

Joe Bidens former primary rivals are calling on rank-and-file Democrats to put aside any hard feelings and support the former vice-presidents campaign.

Speaking live from St. Paul, Minnesota, Sen. Amy Klobuchar unveiled a video that also featured New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, former Texas Rep. Beto ORourke, businessman Tom Steyer, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, among others.

Its not easy to unite the Democratic Party, said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. Joe Biden has pulled it off.

Democrats started with a large, historically diverse field of candidates. But while the party is becoming increasing diverse, Biden, a 77-year-old white man, won.

The former rivals said the need to defeat President Donald Trump is just too important to let hard feelings linger.

There is no cavalry, ORourke said. We are the cavalry.

___

Republican John Kasich says its time to take off our partisan hats and put our nation first.

The former Ohio governor appeared at the Democratic National Convention on Monday in a show of bipartisanship rarely seen in party conventions. Kasich ran for president four years ago but lost the GOP nomination to Donald Trump.

Kasich told Republicans and independents wary of supporting a Democrat not to worry that Joe Biden would take a sharp left and leave them behind because Biden is a reasonable person who cant be pushed around. He admitted there are places where the two disagree.

But thats OK, because thats America, he said.

He crafted the election as a crossroads for the nation, saying the last four years have led to dysfunction and increasing vitriol between Americans.

Kasich left the governorship in 2018. He previously served in Congress and used to have his own show on Fox News in the early 2000s.

___

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says his state found a way to bring the coronavirus under control by following scientific guidelines and coming together -- an example that he says the Trump administration has refused to follow.

Cuomo addressed the opening night of the virtual Democratic National Convention late Monday, saying New York was ground zero for the early outbreak in the U.S. He said the Trump administration watched New York suffer without learning from it.

For all the suffering and tears, our way worked and it was beautiful, Cuomo said, adding, Americans eyes have been opened and weve seen the truth: That government matters and leadership matters.

He said that the rest of the country will follow New Yorks lead by wearing masks and practicing social distancing to slow the spread of the virus -- despite inconsistent messaging from the White House. Cuomo also contrasted Trump with presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, saying that Biden can be the kind of leader who can build us up, not tear us down.

___

George Floyds brothers led a moment of silence during the first night of the Democratic National Convention to honour the Black Americans who had been killed by police.

Philonese Floyd, sitting next to his brother Rodney Floyd, said that George Floyd had a giving spirit that has shown up on streets around our nation as Americans have protested systemic racism and police brutality in recent months.

Philonese Floyd said, George should be alive today. He then listed the names of Black Americans who were killed by law enforcement officers or in police custody.

George Floyd, a Black man who was handcuffed, was killed May 25 after a white police officer pressed his knee against Floyds neck for nearly eight minutes as Floyd said he couldnt breathe.

Philonese Floyd implored viewers to carry on the fight for justice, adding, Our actions will be their legacies.

___

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is harshly criticizing President Donald Trump before introducing the family of George Floyd at the Democratic National Conventions opening night.

Standing on an outlook above Black Lives Matter Plaza, Bowser said it was time to elect a president who doesnt fan the flames of racism.

Bowser ordered her city government to paint the words Black Lives Matter on the street leading to the White House after protests erupted in Washington and around the U.S.

Trump and Bowser have had a strained relationship for much of his time in Washington. Thats especially been the case in the wake of protests that erupted over Floyds killing by Minneapolis police.

During her remarks, Bowser specifically criticized the use of chemical irritants by law enforcement who cleared protesters from Lafayette Square in June. After the crowd was cleared, Trump emerged from the White House for a photo op with a Bible in front of a nearby church.

Bowser said that while people were peacefully protesting, Trump was plotting.

___

The St. Louis couple who waved firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their home in June will appear virtually at next weeks Republican National Convention to express their support for President Donald Trump.

A Trump adviser on Monday confirmed the participation of Patricia and Mark McCloskey. The news was first reported by The Washington Post.

The McCloskeys, who are white, have claimed they were protecting themselves from protesters marching on their private street, but they were each charged by a local prosecutor with one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon. Trump has been critical of their treatment and has spoken out in defence of the couple.

___

The first night of the Democratic National Convention has begun.

The event is being held virtually after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered plans for an in-person convention in Milwaukee.

Actor Eva Longoria Baston served as master of ceremonies of Mondays event. Making early appearances in a montage of voices were labour leader Dolores Huerta, soccer player Megan Rapinoe and Parkland father Fred Guttenberg.

Five of Bidens grandchildren recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Among the nights speakers were Republican John Kasich, the former governor of Ohio, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former first lady Michelle Obama.

___

Bernie Sanders will use his Democratic National Convention speech to urge those who supported his progressive presidential bid -- or who may have voted Republican four years ago -- to unite behind Joe Biden in November.

According to excerpts released before Sanders Monday night speech, he plans to say that the country needs an unprecedented response because of the unprecedented set of crises we face.

Many of Sanders top advisers and supporters have spent months working with Bidens campaign on joint task forces that devised common policy goals for use in the Democratic platform.

The idea was to promote party unity in a way that did not happen in 2016, when many Sanders supporters remained unenthusiastic about Hillary Clinton.

Sanders plans to say that Americans must come together to defeat President Donald Trump and elect Biden. He will say, The price of failure is just too great to imagine.

___

Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez says the handful of 2020 presidential caucuses should be the last the party ever holds.

He didnt specifically name Iowa, which for decades has led off the nominating calendar, but his position would represent a seismic shift in the partys traditions.

Perezs term as chairman will end before the 2024 nominating calendar is determined. But he told The Associated Press on opening day of the Democratic National Convention that he plans to use the bully pulpit as a former chair to make needed changes.

Iowas caucuses this year were disastrous, with state and national party officials spending days trying to determine the winner. Because of the irregularities, The Associated Press decided against declaring a winner.

The first two nominating states, Iowa and New Hampshire, are overwhelmingly white, while the national party is much more diverse. That gap was underscored this year when eventual nominee Joe Biden did poorly in Iowa and New Hampshire, only to dominate the nominating fight over the ensuing months once more diverse states voted.

Perez wouldnt comment on whether he thinks Iowa or New Hampshire should give up their leadoff spots. But he said the demographics will undoubtedly come up in future party discussions.

___

President Donald Trump is accusing his 2020 opponent Joe Biden of being a puppet of left-wing extremists hours before the start of the Democratic National Convention.

Trump was in Minnesota on Monday to press his law and order reelection rhetoric as part of counterprogramming to the DNC.

At an airport hangar in Mankato, Trump called Biden a puppet of left-wing extremists trying to erase our borders, eliminate our police, indoctrinate our children, vilify our heroes, take away our energy.

Trump says a Biden victory would replace American freedom with left-wing fascism. However, fascism is a form of right-wing authoritarianism.

He went so far as to say Biden probably doesnt know where Minnesota is. Trump has pushed a message that the 77-year-old Biden is in cognitive decline, while critics have raised the same accusation against the 74-year-old Trump. The president recently tried to demonstrate his mental fitness by reciting five words in order in a television interview.

___

Joe Biden will accept the Democratic presidential nomination in a live speech Thursday night, but hell be seen and heard every night of the convention in some form.

Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez tells The Associated Press on Monday that Biden will be part of the virtual conventions prime-time programming leading up to his Thursday address. For example, Perez said Mondays programming will include Biden talking with activists about criminal justice reform.

Perez said viewers this week also will see the former vice-president talking about the COVID-19 pandemic and his health care proposals and having conversations with everyday Americans about the economy.

During traditional conventions, the nominee is often mentioned from the speakers podium but is largely shielded from view as the convention builds to the acceptance speech on Thursday night.

There have been rare exceptions. Al Gore greeted his then-wife, Tipper Gore, for a very public kiss after her speech in 2000. President Barack Obama emerged from backstage to greet former President Bill Clinton after his speech 2012.
The UN peace mission in Colombia on Monday condemned a spiral of violence engulfing the country, saying it had documented 33 massacres so far this year.

The mission, set up to monitor adherence to a 2016 peace deal with the former FARC guerrillas, said it was investigating the deaths of 97 human rights defenders killed during the same period.

The violence was having a "serious humanitarian impact" in areas where illegal armed groups continued to operate, it said.

At least 13 people were killed in two separate incidents in the last week alone.

On Saturday, eight people were gunned down at a birthday party in Samaniego, in southwestern Narino department, police told AFP.

Narino borders Ecuador and is one of Colombia's main areas for growing coca leaves, the raw material for making cocaine.

Its strategic location makes it a favored route for smuggling drugs north to Central America and the US.

Meanwhile, authorities last Tuesday discovered the bodies of five Afro-Colombian teenagers in a sugar cane field near Cali.

Colombian and UN officials sounded a joint warning on Sunday about the deteriorating security situation in the country, despite a lockdown against the spread of the coronavirus in place since March 25.

Crime gangs are believed to be responsible for nearly 80 percent of massacres in Colombia this year, the vast majority of them occurring in departments with "illegal coca-producing enclaves," the UN human rights office said.

The UN has also recorded 41 murders of former FARC combatants in the first half of 2020, a 10 percent increase on the same period last year.

The UN defines a massacre as the killing of three or more people in the same event by the same group.
Amid the ongoing strained relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Chief of Army Staff has met Saudi Arabia's military chief of staff General Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili to discuss the prospects for military cooperation.

"Gen Bajwa was received by Saudi Arabia's Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili," Geo News quoted Ministry of Defense

According to the statement, "During the meeting, prospects for military cooperation and ways to support and boost it were reviewed, in addition to matters of common concern."

The meeting comes after the decade-long friendship between both countries took a sharp turn when Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi issued a blunt warning to after the latter refused to act against India over Kashmir issue.

On the first anniversary of revocation of Article 370 by India, Qureshi took to task in a TV interview for not obliging Pakistan over the issue of 'organising' a meeting of the Council of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir in early February 2020.

Qureshi had stated in his interview with a TV channel that unless the OIC convened CFM meeting on Kashmir, Pakistan would be "compelled to convene a meeting of Islamic countries that are ready to stand with it on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiri Muslims".

He allowed himself to be swayed by emotions to cross the line when he said "Today Pakistan is, who are always ready to sacrifice their lives for Mecca and Madina, need Saudi Arabia to play a leading role on the Kashmir issue. If they are not willing to play that role, then I will ask Prime Minister to go ahead with or without Saudi Arabia."

Saudi Arabia was not the only country Qureshi was upset with. He also expressed his consternation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for not having supported Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir.

As a retaliation, Saudi Arabia issued a statement that loans or oil supply will no longer be given to Pakistan.

Islamabad was also made to pay back USD 1 billion to Riyadh, which was part of a USD 6.2 billion package announced by Saudi in November 2018, which included a total of USD 3 billion in loans and an oil credit facility amounting to USD 3.2 billion.

(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.)
Sydney cancer researcher Shannon Brett Morrison had a bloody head and was urging police to shoot him after slashing seven teenagers with a knife, a jury has heard.

The UNSW lecturer and pharmaceutical manager doesn't deny knifing the teenagers in a Turramurra park but has pleaded not guilty to eight charges including six of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

His barrister contends the 35-year-old was not mentally responsible for the late-night events in January 2019 due to a longstanding paranoid delusional mental illness.

Sydney cancer researcher Shannon Brett Morrison had a bloody head and was urging police to shoot him after slashing seven teenagers with a knife, a jury has heard

One of the first police officers on scene told the NSW District Court jury on Tuesday he found Morrison lying on the ground with a large amount of blood on the back of his head and saying 'I've been stabbed'.

As police treated him, they saw a flick knife nearby and told the researcher he'd be placed under arrest.

He began thrashing about as his pockets were searched and Leading Senior Constable Peter Wallbridge tried to handcuff him.

'Shoot me, shoot me, you will shoot by the end of the night. Go on, do it,' L/Sen Const Wallbridge recalled Morrison saying.

While Morrison repeatedly complained of being stabbed in the back, the officer said he found no wounds there.

The jury, sitting in Sydney's Downing Centre, heard a paramedic noted Morrison required physical and chemical restraint when being taken by ambulance to Westmead Hospital under police guard.

The UNSW lecturer and pharmaceutical manager doesn't deny knifing the teenagers in a Turramurra park but has pleaded not guilty to eight charges including six of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm

'Covered in blood, does not appear to be his blood. Stating police should just shoot him,' crown prosecutor Fiona Gray said, reading the notes.

Blood on the knife was consistent with three DNA profiles of the slashed teens, the jury heard.

Morrison had dined that night at a local restaurant with former colleague Sinead Forbes before the pair made their way towards her car.

When Morrison said he'd walk to the public toilet in the park, Ms Forbes on Tuesday said she sat down on a bench to wait.

Shortly thereafter, she heard yelling in the park, noticed some pushing and shoving and saw Morrison running back up the footpath with a group of young males in tow.

Ms Forbes wasn't sure how Morrison ended up on the ground but she recalled seeing a group of teenagers around him.

'There were a few boys, teenagers around him kicking and screaming out 'You stabbed, you stabbed',' she told the jury.

'It looked like (the kicks were) either to his back or head.'

Ms Forbes said she was frightened, describing how her shaking hands couldn't unlock her phone as she tried to dial triple zero.

She stayed seated until police arrived, later telling them multiple male teens had been pushing and saying 'something aggressive' to Morrison before the incident.

'The teenagers were getting a bit argy-bargy I think, as he tried to walk past,' she told the jury.

But she conceded she didn't see much in the dimly lit park and wasn't sure what words were said, only that the noises 'sounded aggressive'.

She said she'd never known the clinical trial project manager to be violent and considered him 'very honest'.

Morrison has also pleaded not guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon, being the flick knife, and causing actual bodily harm to a girl.

She told the court last week she saw a large man coming towards her on the stairs, swinging his arm around before her brother yelled: 'He has a knife.'

Agreed facts before the court state Morrison's blood-alcohol reading was 0.23 per cent while two injured teens requiring surgery were both above 0.11.

The trial continues.
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital is honored to again be recognized on Forbes' 2020 list of America's Best Employers for Women. The 1006-bed academic medical center is ranked 24th out of the top 300 employers on the list. Tampa General is also ranked third in the "Healthcare & Social" industry category and is also the primary teaching hospital of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. The organization last received this prestigious honor in 2018.

"Tampa General Hospital's vision is to become the safest and most innovative academic medical center in the United States. Our culture and team members are just as important to us as our patients. We are incredibly proud of this prestigious recognition from Forbes. We continue to grow and develop our team members and leaders, and are proud of the fact that more than 75 percent of our talented workforce is comprised of women and more than 70 percent of our leadership positions are held by women," said John Couris, President & CEO of Tampa General Hospital.

Forbes worked with Statista, a research firm that surveyed 75,000 Americans including 45,000 women. The survey went to individuals working for organizations with more than 1,000 employees in 31 industries. Questions were about company culture, career development, image, working condition, salary, wage and diversity. At Tampa General Hospital, there are many reasons why both men and women prefer to launch their career inside the hospital or beyond at one of TGH's more than 50 locations including primary care, urgent care medical imaging or general outpatient centers.

Attracting and retaining top talent is a top strategic initiative at TGH. Tampa General is committed to ensuring flexible work schedules and supportive solutions to address present day challenges including a Team Member Emergency Fund to provide financial support or working with team members to accommodate reduced hours requests. Additionally, TGH offers robust training and education programs designed to support working women looking to advance their careers. Recognizing the need to care for their talent holistically, Tampa General offers on-site child care, lactation rooms for nursing mothers and an overall commitment to health and wellness. TGH offers the wellness platform Virgin Pulse, at no cost, to all team members to incentivize them to lead physically, mentally and emotionally healthy lifestyles.

"I know I speak for my colleagues when I say that I'm proud to work for an organization that is ranked among America's best employers for women. Not only is TGH a great place to work for women, but all genders and races and ethnicities. One of the best things about working at TGH is the diversity at all levels of the organization, which allows us as an organization to gain different thoughts, experiences and perspectives from a broad-spectrum of team members. It makes for a better culture, and a better patient experience" said Stacey Brandt, EVP and Chief Strategy Marketing Officer of Tampa General Hospital.

The evaluation process for the list was based on four different criteria: direct recommendations on general work topics, direct recommendations on topics relevant for women, indirect recommendations and diversity among executives and board members. The 300 companies receiving the highest total scores were awarded as the Best Employers for Women 2020.

Tampa General Hospital fosters an environment where caregivers provide the highest quality care with kindness and respect. Tampa General is an equal opportunity educator and employer. If you are interested in learning more about a career with Tampa General Hospital, please visit our website at www.tgh.org/careers or call (813) 844-7551.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Tampa General Hospital, a 1006-bed non-profit academic medical center, delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health and 18 outpatient Radiology Centers. Tampa Bay residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics, and they can even receive home visits in select areas through TGH Urgent Care at Home, powered by Fast Track. As one of the largest hospitals in Florida, Tampa General Hospital is first in the state to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

ABOUT FORBES MEDIA

The defining voice of entrepreneurial capitalism, Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 120 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE events, custom marketing programs and 40 licensed local editions in 70 countries. Forbes Media's brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements. For more information, visit the Forbes News Hub or Forbes Connect.

Media Contact: Phil Buck

Public Relations Specialist

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SOURCE Tampa General Hospital

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A thug who pushed a female police officer down a flight steps in Parliament Square in June, leaving her seriously injured, has been jailed for two years.

Jamie Dewing, 31, joined hundreds of demonstrators in London on June 13, as far-right activists congregated claiming they were protecting statues from anti-racism activists.

Shocking footage from the demonstration shows a confrontation between the violent protesters and police in Parliament Square.

Dewing squared up to officers as they attempted to control crowds near the Nelson Mandela statue, where he shoved the female officer.

The female officer fell backwards down the steps and onto her back.

She received injuries to her back and neck. She has returned to duty but is still receiving physiotherapy.

CCTV footage also shows Dewing hurling items including a metal barrier and spitting at police officers at cordons along Whitehall.

Dewing had travelled from his home in North Yorkshire down to London to join the protest that day which saw 1,000 far-right hooligans get involved in confrontations with police and other Black Lives Matter demonstrators.

Jamie Dewing, 31, shoves a female police officer down a flight stairs in Parliament Square during a protest on June 13 leaving her with serious injuries to her back and neck

The yob's image was released to the media and Dewing was identified by an officer from Cleveland Police, Teeside Crown Court heard.

He initially denied that he was the man responsible, but officers had gathered extensive evidence against him and he pleaded guilty to both charges against him.

Dewing, of Valley View, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, was sentenced to two years in prison at Teeside Crown Court today after admitting violent disorder and assaulting an emergency service worker.

Detective Constable Nicky Dixon, part of the investigation team into the disorder, said: 'Dewing assaulted an officer who was only trying to protect a member of the public.

'This officer braved a hostile crowd to carry out the rescue of someone who was vulnerable.

'Having come to the woman's aid, the officer was moving away when Dewing assaulted her. There is no excuse for this or his later actions, it was just thuggery.

Thuggery: Dewing pleaded guilty to assaulting a female police officer and one count of violent disorder at Teeside Magistrates' Court and was sentenced to two years in prison

'I'd like to thank Cleveland Police for their help in identifying Dewing. When arrested he initially denied that he was responsible, but officers had gathered extensive evidence.

'When faced with the overwhelming evidence against him, he pleaded guilty and has rightly been sent to prison.

'As part of our investigation into recent disorder, we have released many images of people we would like to speak with in connection with this incident.

'I would urge everyone to please take a few minutes to look through these images in the news and on social media and, if you identify anyone you recognise, please let us know who they are.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 19:03:02|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 24th National Exhibition of Inventions will be held in Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, in November this year.

The exhibition, hosted by the China Association of Inventions, BRICS Business Council, Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province and Guangdong Provincial Association for Science and Technology, will collect inventions from the fields of digital economy, health, energy conservation and environment protection, high-end intelligent manufacturing, biotechnology, new materials, new energy and the new generation of information technology.

The exhibition will set up areas that include high-end equipment manufacturing, biological medicine, smart home, energy conservation and environment protection.

The transformation and industrialization of inventions will be promoted during the exhibition combining innovative financial services. Enditem
The 210-bed student housing complex, formerly the Montrose Hotel, is owned by private student housing company Aparto.

The building is expected to remain closed for the full academic year to allow for the extent of remedial works required, according to the Irish Times.

Those who had reserved places in the complex for the coming academic year were told in a letter from the company it had no option but to immediately suspend use of the building, meaning they will not be able to move in to Montrose as expected".

Alternative accomodation

Aparto said it had arranged for all those booked for the coming academic year to be offered alternative accommodation in the city centre, with a full refund another alternative.

Three other Aparto buildings are located in Dublin city centre, with Binary Hub on Thomas Street on the southside, and Dorset Point on Dorset Street and Beckett House in Summerhill on the northside.

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The company has offered to pay for an annual Leap bus pass or a 1,000 voucher towards a bike or scooter for those who transfer their license agreement to another Aparto building, due to their distance from the UCD campus.

The fire safety problems emerged during recent renovation works to the outside of the 1960s Montrose building, according to the Irish Times.

In a statement on Monday, the company said: Aparto has apologised unreservedly to all those impacted by this decision while reiterating that the safety of residents and staff is a top priority.
The West Michigan Tourist Association has announced the winners of its summer photo competition.

More than 15,000 votes were cast for the top 50 photos selected from a field of more than 1,300 submissions. The five winning photos were announced this week.

The winning photos will all be featured in the 2021 West Michigan Carefree Travel Guide, which will be available in January. Winning photographers will also receive prize packs of West Michigan goodies and experiences. You can see the entire album of finalists here.

The public voted on photos by visiting the photo album and liking or reacting to each photo. Votes could be cast for multiple photos.

Here is a closer look at each of the winners.

Public Vote Winner: Todd Maertz at Marquette.

"Marquette Harbor Sunrise" by Todd Maertz was the public vote winner.West Michigan Tourist Association and Todd Maertz

Marquette Harbor Sunrise

Beach/Lake Category Winner: Fermin Manatad in South Haven

Sunset in South Haven by Fermin Manatad in South HavenWest Michigan Tourism Association and Fermin Manatad

Sunset in South Haven by the Lighthouse. That was my first visit to the city and we were camping in the nearby town. It was magical, with nice sunset colors, boats, people and birds. Perfect, Manatad wrote.

People Category Winner: Kristina Muir at Ludington

"Sunset and memories in the dunes over Lake Michigan" by Kristina Muir at Ludington.West Michigan Tourism Association and Kristina Muir

Sunset and memories in the dunes over Lake Michigan.

Nature Category Winner: David Dalrymple in Lovells

"Loon parent feeding baby" by David Dalrymple in LovellsWest Michigan Tourism Association and David Dalrymple

Loon parent feeding baby by David Dalrymple in Lovells.
The unveiling of the Nokia 2.4, Nokia 3.4 and Nokia 8.3 5G are imminent, according to a new rumour. The trio of devices will be joined next quarter by the Nokia 6.3, Nokia 7.3 5G and Nokia 9.3 PureView too.

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

The next few months will be rather busy ones for HMD Global, according to Nokiapoweruser (NPU). The website claims that the company will release the Nokia 8.3 5G this month, which it will follow with the Nokia 2.4 and Nokia 3.4 in September. The latter two devices will be entry-level models, while we already know that the Nokia 8.3 5G is a mid-range handset from its unveiling earlier this year.

If three device was not enough, NPU also states that the release of the Nokia 6.3, Nokia 7.3 5G and Nokia 9.3 PureView remains on track for Q4 2020. NPU, citing unnamed sources, claims that HMD Global has finished the development of the three devices and will commence mass production on September or October.
Scott Trebilcock, President and CEO stated, "Long Valley is a large, shallow gold deposit with great oxide heap leach metallurgy. The Long Valley PEA will come as an important milestone for Kore as we continue to extract value out of our advanced heap leach projects in the United States. The Imperial PEA was a significant catalyst for KORE and we expect the Long Valley PEA will continue to demonstrate the quality of our world-class assets."

Mr. Trebilcock continued, "The Long Valley PEA will also demonstrate why KORE is allocating capital to the Long Valley deposit, which remains open for exploration in shallow oxides and for new sulphide discoveries. KORE has the funding to advance our assets, deliver catalysts and take advantage of the strong gold market."

The PEA will scope an open pit mine with heap leach processing of oxide and transition materials. The Project is expected to benefit from nearby skilled labour, major highways and power infrastructure. Long Valley has extensive oxide metallurgical testing which showed the oxide and transition materials are amenable to heap leaching and has the potential for high recoveries. The shallow nature of the deposit will enable full compliance with California's stringent reclamation requirements including backfilling in the PEA.

The current mineral resource estimate is 1,247,000 ounces of Indicated gold and 486,000 ounces of Inferred gold from 66.8 million tonnes of 0.58 grams per tonne and 23.6 million tonnes of 0.65 grams per tonne, respectively. The mineral resource consists of oxide, transition and sulphides. The estimate was prepared by Neil Prenn, P.E., and Steven Weiss, C.P.G. of Mine Development Associates with an effective date of November 15, 2019. More information is available in the technical report filed on www.sedar.com and on KORE's website at www.koremining.com.

Long Valley was historically assayed almost exclusively for gold. The limited silver assays on the project showed up to 10 times the gold grade in silver. This represents a future upside for the project that will not be included in the PEA, but will likely be incorporated in future resource updates and reported with new drilling.

On January 30, 2020 and March 24, 2020, KORE announced results from several rounds of ground geophysics, soil sampling and rock sampling at Long Valley. The work generated multiple drill targets to grow shallow oxide mineralization, opening the deposit to growth on-strike and laterally. The geophysics also generated clear sulphide feeder structure drill targets to make new discoveries at depth and open a new frontier for exploration at the Project. Sulphide potential is further highlighted by the fact that 44% of historic drill holes ended in gold mineralization exceeding the cut-off grade of the deposit, with bottom hold grades as high as 4.8 grams per tonne.

Permitting for drill testing highest priority targets is underway.

About Long Valley Gold Project

Long Valley is a 100% owned gold project located in Mono County, California  see Figure 1. Within the Project, is the Long Valley deposit, an intact epithermal gold deposit ("Deposit") with a shallow, large 2.5 by 2 kilometer oxide gold footprint. A total of 896 holes have been drilled on the Project, the majority being completed by reverse circulation with lesser core, rotary and air track. The average depth of drilling is less than 90 meters below surface. Figure 1 shows the claims, drill collar locations and mineralized area.

About KORE Mining Ltd.

KORE is 100% owner of a portfolio of advanced gold exploration and development assets in California and British Columbia. KORE, supported by strategic investors Eric Sprott and Macquarie Bank; and insiders, including management and Board, own 64% of the basic shares outstanding. Further information on KORE and its assets can be found on the Company's website at www.koremining.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting us as [email protected] or by telephone at (888) 407-5450.

On behalf of KORE Mining Ltd

"Scott Trebilcock"

Chief Executive Officer

(888) 407-5450

Investor Relations

Arlen Hansen, KIN Communications

1-888-684-6730

[email protected]

Technical information with respect to the Imperial deposit and project contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Marc Leduc, P.Eng., who is KORE's designated qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 for the purposes of this news release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any KORE common shares in the United States.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "intends", "indicates" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the potential gold structures at the District deposits, next steps and timing regarding follow-up programs at the District, results of the PEA, including future Project opportunities, future operating and capital costs, closure costs, AISC, the projected NPV, IRR, timelines, permit timelines, and the ability to obtain the requisite permits, economics and associated returns of the Imperial Project, the technical viability of the Imperial Project, the market and future price of and demand for gold, the environmental impact of the Imperial Project, and the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including the local levels of government. Such forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.

Such factors include, among others: risks related to exploration and development activities at the Company's projects, and factors relating to whether or not mineralization extraction will be commercially viable; risks related to mining operations and the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of minerals, such as unusual and unexpected geological formations, rock falls, seismic activity, flooding and other conditions involved in the extraction and removal of materials; uncertainties regarding regulatory matters, including obtaining permits and complying with laws and regulations governing exploration, development, production, taxes, labour standards, occupational health, waste disposal, toxic substances, land use, environmental protection, site safety and other matters, and the potential for existing laws and regulations to be amended or more stringently implemented by the relevant authorities; uncertainties regarding estimating mineral resources, which estimates may require revision (either up or down) based on actual production experience; risks relating to fluctuating metals prices and the ability to operate the Company's projects at a profit in the event of declining metals prices and the need to reassess feasibility of a particular project that estimated resources will be recovered or that they will be recovered at the rates estimated; risks related to title to the Company's properties, including the risk that the Company's title may be challenged or impugned by third parties; the ability of the Company to access necessary resources, including mining equipment and crews, on a timely basis and at reasonable cost; competition within the mining industry for the discovery and acquisition of properties from other mining companies, many of which have greater financial, technical and other resources than the Company, for, among other things, the acquisition of mineral claims, leases and other mineral interests as well as for the recruitment and retention of qualified employees and other personnel; access to suitable infrastructure, such as roads, energy and water supplies in the vicinity of the Company's properties; and risks related to the stage of the Company's development, including risks relating to limited financial resources, limited availability of additional financing and potential dilution to existing shareholders; reliance on its management and key personnel; inability to obtain adequate or any insurance; exposure to litigation or similar claims; currently unprofitable operations; risks regarding the ability of the Company and its management to manage growth; and potential conflicts of interest.

In addition to the above summary, additional risks and uncertainties are described in the "Risks" section of the Company's management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 prepared as of April 27, 2020 available under the Company's issuer profile on www.sedar.com.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

The Imperial PEA is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the Imperial PEA will be realized. There is no certainty that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into mineral reserve. It is uncertain if further exploration will allow improving the classification of the Indicated or Inferred mineral resource. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Cautionary Note Regarding Mineral Resource Estimates: Information regarding mineral resource estimates has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Industry Guide 7. In October 2018, the SEC approved final rules requiring comprehensive and detailed disclosure requirements for issuers with material mining operations. The provisions in Industry Guide 7 and Item 102 of Regulation S-K, have been replaced with a new subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K under the United States Securities Act and will become mandatory for SEC registrants after January 1, 2021. The changes adopted are intended to align the SEC's disclosure requirements more closely with global standards as embodied by the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO), including Canada's NI 43-101 and CIM Definition Standards. Under the new SEC rules, SEC registrants will be permitted to disclose "mineral resources" even though they reflect a lower level of certainty than mineral reserves. Additionally, under the New Rules, mineral resources must be classified as "measured", "indicated", or "inferred", terms which are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101 for Canadian issuers and are not recognized under SEC Industry Guide 7. An "Inferred Mineral Resource" has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an "Indicated Mineral Resource" and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of "Inferred Mineral Resources" could be upgraded to "Indicated Mineral Resources" with continued exploration. Accordingly, the mineral resource estimates and related information may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, including SEC Industry Guide 7.

SOURCE Kore Mining

Related Links

http://www.koremining.com


Say the Air Force selects San Antonio to become the new home of the U.S. Space Command, whose task is to assemble and operate the nations celestial war machine.

Dont smirk. Its a real possibility.

Last week, Express-News reporter Sig Christenson broke the news that San Antonio made the first cut in late July. We dont know for sure how many other cities also are advancing to the next round  one insider put the total at about 15  but we know Houston and Fort Worth are among them.

RELATED: San Antonio in hunt to land U.S. Space Command

That phase was the easy part.

In a May 14 letter, Asst. Secretary of the Air Force John Henderson invited the nations governors to endorse qualified cities in their states looking to vie for the command headquarters. (Its currently located in Colorado Springs, Colo., home of the U.S. Air Force Academy). To nominate themselves, cities had to meet three requirements:

Big population. The cities had to be among the top 150 U.S. metro areas. (Check. San Antonio is the heart of the 24th largest metro area, with a population of 2.6 million as of 2019.)

Military ties. They had to be no more than 25 miles from a military base. (Super double check. San Antonio hosts three bases, including Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the Air Forces premier training ground.)

Nice place to live. The cities had to score at least 50 out of 100 on the AARP Public Policy Institutes Livability Index. (Check, but barely. San Antonios score is 50, the same as Houstons. Fort Worths score is 53.)

The remaining contenders have until the end of this month to submit their proposals. The Air Force is expected to name the finalists in November and select the commands new home in January.

Now Playing: Military reporter Sig Christenson explains Space Command and its potential impact for San Antonio. Video: Luis Vazquez

Big-picture caveat: President Trump created the U.S. Space Command by fiat in December 2018  even though the Air Force Space Command already existed. The new one draws on the work of all branches of the military, not only the Air Force. Will it remain a presidential priority if Joe Biden wins in November? Who knows?

Regardless, San Antonio and other cities are competing for a prize that will employ about 1,400 military and civilian personnel when its fully established, according to Hendersons letter. Current plans have the new headquarters opening in 2026.

Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, CEO of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, estimates that the Space Command will need about 400,000 square feet of space for its headquarters campus. Shes spearheading the citys effort to land the command.

But the few available details dont speak to the Space Commands real significance for its host city. For that, Jim Perschbach is a good guide.

Hes CEO of Port San Antonio, the 1,900-acre industrial park on the Southwest Side. More than 80 companies, military agencies and nonprofits work there, employing a total of 14,000 people. Nearly half of them are tied to the Air Force.

The port, the former Kelly AFB, almost certainly will be a key component of the citys bid.

OnExpressNews.com: NASA contractors stake out San Antonios place in space

In Perschbachs view, the Pentagon is undergoing a huge shift in how it handles the development of war technologies, collaborating ever more closely with private-sector contractors. And he believes the Space Command  wherever it winds up  will be governed by that new mindset.

Traditionally, the way the military-industrial complex has worked is the government funded the research and development, and then industry commercialized those technologies  its TV dinners, its the internet, its Tang, its all that good stuff, he said.

Now, the Defense Department is finding a way to militarize commercial technologies.

What that means is youre going to see more and more of the civilian side leading the research and development, and then finding some way to toss it over the wire into the government model, he said.

Take Knight Aerospace, a Port San Antonio tenant that designs and manufactures medical modules for airplanes  essentially airborne ERs and intensive care units. Its not a stretch to imagine the company producing medical pods for space flights.

Or consider Plus One Robotics, another port tenant. The company makes software and equipment that allows robots to see where theyre going, greatly increasing their utility. Thats a handy feature for an army of robots building stuff in orbit.

But if San Antonio is counting on its bench of tech firms to clinch the Space Command  well, scrappy and interesting wont beat cities with longer histories of innovation and entrepreneurship. Thats why the Army Futures Command is in Austin, not San Antonio.

San Antonios bigger strengths include its cluster of cybersecurity firms and the sprawling West Side installation that nobodys supposed to notice or talk about  the National Security Agencys Texas Cryptologic Center.

Add to those assets the Southwest Research Institute, a vastly experienced R&D contractor thats working on hundreds of millions of dollars worth of space projects, and the University of Texas at San Antonio, which is working to make a name for itself in network security. The heads of both institutions are part of the EDF-led team pursuing the Space Command, alongside Saucedo-Herrera, Perschbach and USAAs Wayne Peacock.

But maybe the citys best leg-up in the competition is its long and intimate relationship with the Pentagon.

You can see it in the local economy. The military dwarfs every other industry in San Antonio.

Nearly 74,000 active-duty and civilian personnel worked on bases around the city in 2019, according to the Texas comptrollers office. An additional 137,000 held jobs that depended at least partly on the military, including with defense contractors.

Joint Base San Antonio pumped $41.3 billion into the Texas economy last year.

San Antonio also owes thanks to the Pentagon for the regions burgeoning cybersecurity industry, which swarms with former Air Force intelligence officers and digital warriors whod worked out of Lacklands Security Hill.

But San Antonios ties to the military go way beyond dollars and cents. Theyre historical and cultural.

As Christenson reported, in addition to the Defense Departments uniformed and civilian personnel, San Antonio is home to 235,000 military dependents and 270,000 military retirees and veterans. Those numbers represent a lot of shared, intense experiences  of being uprooted and moved from post to post, of long periods of separation, of loneliness and sacrifice.

That sense of community matters.

USAA, the San Antonio insurance and financial services company, is part of the mix. Its 13 million customers are active-duty and retired military, veterans and their families.

USAA also has a sizable campus in Colorado Springs, the Air Force bastion. A company spokesman said, We are also in regular contact with military leaders in that area to better understand the needs of service members and their families based in the region.

Thats why Peacock, USAAs president and CEO, is deeply involved in the push for the Space Command.

Wayne is one of our biggest economic development assets in San Antonio, Saucedo-Herrera said. Wayne is directly engaged, and so are a lot of others at USAA.

READ ALSO: San Antonios Victory Capital has big outflow of assets following USAA deal

Indeed, Peacock is in full pitch mode. Heres how he summed up the citys argument for the Space Command:

San Antonio is ready-made to be the home of the U.S. Space Command. Were at the intersection of military and business, which gives us a unique ecosystem of R&D, innovation and industry.

Our military, FBI and NSA presence improves network infrastructure and creates an atmosphere for technology innovators to connect with corporations and investors. These assets  coupled with our leading cyber cluster and fast-growing financial sector  have grown a sustainable, multidisciplinary workforce in San Antonio and ample opportunities for military service members, spouses and families.

greg.jefferson@express-news.net
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GPT Infraprojects share price added nearly 12 percent in the early trade on August 18 after the company bagged a Rs 196.30-crore order for the Metro Railway project in Kolkata.

The Railway Vikas Nigam Limited, Kolkata contract includes the construction of Metro Railway Viaduct from P276 to P314 including Mominpur Station and Majerhat Station (Excluding PD building and OCC building side) and Ramp at Joka Depot end, as per a company release.

At 09:20 hrs GPT Infraprojects was quoting at Rs 30.70, up Rs 2.95, or 10.63 percent, on the BSE.

The share touched its 52-week high of Rs 49.70 on October 23, 2019 and 52-week low of Rs 13 on March 24, 2020, respectively.

It is trading 37.63 percent below its 52-week high and 138.46 percent above its 52-week low.
The first night of the Democratic National Convention featured a series of voter testimonials and speeches as well as a reserved conversation that centered on racial justice.

The first hour of the convention brought repeated references to the Black Lives Matter movement, the disproportionate number of Black Americans killed by police each year and the protests in several cities that roiled the nation this summer. But neither presumptive nominee Joe Biden nor the public figures who spoke made specific or related policy commitments to address various forms of racial injustice.

Biden held an online conversation with social justice activist Jamira Burley, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, and activist and author Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, a Black man killed during an arrest in New York in 2014. Most cops are good, but the fact is that the bad ones have to be identified and prosecuted and out  period, Biden said.

Image: Mayor Muriel Bowser (DNC)

In the moments before the conversation, Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., stood on a balcony overlooking the capital city area previously known as Lafayette Square but renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza by her administration when federal law enforcement clashed with and removed protesters from the square to make way for a Trump photo opportunity at a nearby church this summer.

Bowsers decision to have the words BLACK LIVES MATTER painted on a street that runs between the White House and a nearby historic church where Trump addressed reporters and posed with a Bible has inspired similar public art in other cities.

However, in recent weeks, protesters in Washington have criticized Bowsers opposition to one of the protest movements chief demands: reallocating funding from the citys police department to social programs and services. Bowser, who backed the billionaire former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg during the Democratic presidential primary, described the plan to reallocate police funding as unsound and actively worked to block the change.

Story continues

Bloombergs candidacy ran aground, in part, because of his earlier vociferous support for "stop and frisk" while mayor. A federal court ruled that police stopped Black and Latino residents in a discriminatory and grossly disproportionate way. Bloomberg disavowed the policy when he launched his presidential campaign.

The seeming gap between Bowsers convention night speech  describing support for a reimagining of the nation  and her position on police funding was not unique.

Lightfoot, whose comments on Monday night amounted to a call for increased economic opportunity for more Americans, has also faced criticism from protesters and other social justice advocates in Chicago. Those criticisms intensified Friday when Lightfoot announced plans to form a task force responsible for tracking protester social media activity for early indications of planned looting. Lightfoot also said at the same news conference that she would consider using tear gas should looting recur in that city.

Acevedo, the Houston police chief, offered convention viewers an uplifting take on the protests and debates that spread across the country this summer. Many police officers recognized the death of George Floyd  a Black man killed by police in Minneapolis on May 25  as a departure from American norms, he said. But Acevedo has been the subject of long-running critiques from Houston police accountability activists who argue that he has refused to release police body-cam footage from a recent series of police shootings.

What a motley crew, said Mary Frances Berry, a professor of American social thought and history at the University of Pennsylvania. You should not expect the party to have anybody who might deviate from the party line and say something like the policing bill passed in the House would not do much of anything. I dont expect hard truths to be told during a convention. It is about packaging and marketing. Thats what they are doing.

Among the racial justice events most poignant speakers were relatives of Floyd.

Our brother should be alive today, said Philonise Floyd, George's brother. Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Eric Garner should be alive today.  Our actions will be their legacy.

Floyd ended his comments by asking for a moment of silence.
The United States Postal Service today suspended measures that caused mail-delivery delays across the country in recent weeks, including an initiative designed to remove hundreds of mail-sorting machines from active rotation. There are no public plans to reinstate machines that have already been taken offline, but starting today, no additional units will be removed from service until after the US presidential election in November.

Vice reported last week that the USPS had begun retiring mail-sorting machines across the country without any official explanation or reason given, significantly slowing employees ability to organize and send mail. A total of 671 machines, or 10 percent of the postal services stock, were scheduled to be taken offline, according to The Washington Post.

This was part of a larger initiative to strengthen the Postal Service by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who joined the USPS in June after 35 years as an executive at a large supply-chain logistics company. DeJoy is a noted ally of President Donald Trump, who has been attempting to discredit the USPS ahead of the November election. Trump admitted on August 13th that his recent rhetoric against the USPS was designed to curtail the countrys mail-in voting process.

When DeJoy took over the USPS in June, he implemented hiring freezes and organizational rules that caused delays in the delivery of some prescriptions and mid-summer primary ballots across the US. Alongside the forced retirement of mail-sorting machines, DeJoy instituted rules that limited the amount of overtime employees could earn, and banned extra trips that would ensure on-time deliveries.

Today in a statement, DeJoy said, To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded. I want to assure all Americans of the following: Retail hours at Post Offices will not change. Mail processing equipment and blue collection boxes will remain where they are. No mail processing facilities will be closed. And we reassert that overtime has, and will continue to be, approved as needed.

DeJoy's statement, which says nothing about remedying the damage he's already done and asserts @USPS is ready for an influx of election mail despite all evidence to the contrary, cannot be taken in good faith. House Dems will do our job and pass leg. protecting @USPS on Saturday. https://t.co/hRlig3BgQM  Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) August 18, 2020

Democrats  and some Republicans  have been railing against attacks on the Postal Service for weeks, and on August 12th, Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb launched an investigation into DeJoys new policies. DeJoy will testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday, and hell appear before the House Oversight Committee the following Monday. House Democrats plan to pass a funding bill aimed at the USPS on Saturday, August 22nd.

While todays promise from DeJoy halts ongoing efforts to handicap the USPS, it doesnt address any damage thats already been done  notably, it doesnt reinstate the mail-sorting machines that have already been taken offline. Democratic lawmakers have pledged to include reparative measures in the Saturday bill.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House will carry on with a planned Saturday vote on a bill to give the United States Postal Service a $25bn infusion to help with mail-in ballots, calling the Donald Trump-allied postmaster generals move to suspend efforts Democrats saw as trying to tilt the presidential election an insufficient first step.

The postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, said he will suspend changes he was making within the United States Postal Service (USPS) until after Novembers election to avoid accusations he and Trump administration officials are interfering with the presidential race by trying to pare Democratic votes and help the president win a second term.

His announcement came just one day after Mr DeJoy agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee on 24 August to address the administrations latest scandal.

Postmaster general DeJoys announcement of what may be a temporary pause in operational changes delaying the mail is a necessary but insufficient first step in ending the presidents election sabotage campaign. This pause only halts a limited number of the Postmasters changes, does not reverse damage already done, and alone is not enough to ensure voters will not be disenfranchised by the president this fall, Ms Pelosi said in a statement.

The House will be moving ahead with our vote this Saturday on Chairwoman [Carolyn] Maloneys Delivering for America Act, which prohibits the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or level of service it had in place on 1 January 2020, and provides $25bn in critical funding to support the Postal Service: the same level of funding recommended by the USPS Board of Governors, which is 100 per cent composed of Trump appointees, the California Democrat added. We also will be demanding answers from the Postmaster General in his testimony next week.

Prior to taking over the post office, Mr DeJoy was a major donor to Trumps campaign coffers.

Mr Trump has denied pushing the USPS chief to make changes in order to help his re-election odds. He said Tuesday, during an event at the White House, blaming Democrats for the hubbub.

The Democrats want to make it a political issue. Its not a political issue; its really about a correct vote, Mr Trump said.

You have to get voting, voting right. You cant have millions and millions of ballots sent all over the place, sent to people that are dead, sent to dogs, cats  sent to everyone, said the president, who trails nationally and in key swing states. I mean, this is a serious situation. This isnt games. And you have to get it right. I just want to get it right. Win, lose, or draw. I think were going to win.

Win, lose, or draw, he repeated, we have to get it right.

Mr DeJoys appearance on the House side of the Capitol, however, will not be the first time he has addresses lawmakers on the drama.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee chairman Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, announced his panel will hear from the postmaster general on Friday.

That session will provide Mr DeJoy with a friendlier audience. The panels Democrats will ask questions, but House Democrats will control the gavel next week  and are typically more free-wheeling in their comments and questions than their more stately and restrained Senate colleagues.

Mr Trump was asked on Tuesday if he thinks the House Democratic-crafted bill is sound legislation. He took no position on the actual bill.

Well, theyre going to do something in Congress, but everything they do is political. As an example, why dont they do it now, instead of on Monday? They picked a day, actually, they picked another day on Monday, as you know. Well, thats when the Republican Convention starts, he said of Mr DeJoys Monday House testimony. Why dont they do it during [this weeks] Democratic Convention? Because everything they do, Nancy and [Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer], they play games.

But they are accusing him of playing not political, but unconstitutional games with the USPS, which is required to function by the US Constitution. When those allegations began to fly last week, Mr Trump changed his tune from vowing to block any fifth coronavirus recovery bill that included the $25bn for the post office, saying on Friday he would likely sign such a measure if Democrats caved to his demands on new funds to help school re-open and other items.
While politicians still support the second set of stimulus checks worth $1,200 for each individual, eligible Americans will still have to wait as talks of a new stimulus relief bill crawl along to a standstill.

Currently, the Senate is on its recess until after Labor Day ends while White House officials are coming back this week. More and more people are calling out to political leaders to return and restart negotiations.

According to CNET, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) will start on Monday and a week later marks the beginning of the Republican National Convention (RNC). Both of the events complicate the timeline of stimulus talks further.

If politicians agree to pass a bill into law, Americans can use the first stimulus check to when the second one could come. The Republican-backed proposal, the HEALS Act, is based on the original CARES Act in how it structured a new set of direct payments. This suggests that stimulus checks could come in the same way but would be distributed faster than before.

Taxable stimulus checks?

Individuals who will receive their stimulus payments will not be taxed for their amount. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not consider the direct payment a source of income, and its distribution would not increase the amount people owe when they file for their tax return.

The first stimulus check faced some difficulties with individuals who had outstanding balances. Banks and private creditors had the option to seize the direct payment until debts were settled. The proposals for the second stimulus payment stops these establishments from holding the payments due to unpaid debts.

One thing of note, however, is that people that owe child support will not receive stimulus checks in both the CARES Act and the proposed HEALS Act. The Heroes Act provides a different opportunity for individuals who owe child support to receive stimulus checks.

Also Read: Will Second Stimulus Check Come Out This Month? Eligibility Could Change Who Gets the Money

Mode of Payment

Documents show that 75 percent of the first stimulus checks were given out as direct deposits to people's bank accounts, as reported by the IRS. In June, 120 million out of 159 million payments were distributed by direct deposit, 35 million were given by check, and the remaining 4 million distributions were sent in the form of a prepaid debit card.

The IRS will use people's direct deposits that are set up with the government to distribute the stimulus checks if they have it arranged. The most significant advantage of using direct deposits is that citizens would get their payments faster than those who used other modes of payment.

Second stimulus checks

The main factor that is holding back the passing of the second round of stimulus checks is the amount of money the United States government would have to release to provide financial support to eligible citizens.

Democrats are supporting the Heroes Act that proposes to distribute $3 trillion and has been in discussion since May while the Republican-led Senate is arguing to keep the total cost to around $1 trillion.

According to Forbes, the Senate rejected the Democrats' $3 trillion Heroes Act with Mitch McConnell, the Senate leader, calling the proposal a "wish list."

Related Article: Coronavirus Relief Package Talks Collapse, Trump Looks to Provide Other Support to Americans

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The year of 2020 would be declared one of the worst years that humankind has seen. Well, a few states in the country are hit by rains and facing troubles to get back to normalcy and with COVID 19, its getting almost next to impossible. Akshay Kumar has extended his help to Assam and has donated Rs 1 crore.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday thanked Akshay Kumar for his generous contribution. He wrote, Thank you, @akshaykumar Ji, for your kind contribution of Rs 1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena.

Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of 1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena.  Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) August 18, 2020

After the tweet started to go viral, people started to appreciate the actor for showing humanity when the country is in need. They are tagging him as bade dil wala.

Heres what people are saying:

Thank you very much Aksay sir. You are so kind man specially at the time of crisis situation of assam. We realize every moment of your love to Assam. Again thanks to you. We pray to God that Stay healthy and long live.  Rokibul Hussain (@Rokibul31575606) August 18, 2020

Whenever India is in pain, Akshay Kumar hears it at first... #AkshayKumar  pic.twitter.com/eYDxeX268L  DON'T ANGRY ME (@Khiladi_Raina) August 18, 2020

@akshaykumar sir, you helped us last year during the time of Crisis

and you helped us this year too

thank you so much sir



We will always love you sir

proud to be your fan  Gaurav Taparia (@whogaurav24) August 18, 2020

Bdhe dil wala akshay kumar pic.twitter.com/XRLOtx4uMH  Deepak (@deepak_khiladhi) August 18, 2020

During Odisha cyclone in May 2019, it was @akshaykumar sir only who helped us. National media didn't even covered the news  Akkian__Rishi (@SkyStar04510789) August 18, 2020

Earlier, a source told Hindustan Times, On Thursday, Akshay Kumar spoke to CMs of Bihar and Assam and pledged a sum of Rs 1 crore each at a time when these areas are affected by the natural calamity. Both the chief ministers have expressed gratitude and appreciated his gesture that amid so much negativity all around, he could think of the betterment of these states.

The actor is also in the headlines for being the only Indian to feature in the Forbes 2020 list of 10 Highest Paid Male Actors in the world. With an estimated earning of $48.5 million, he holds the sixth position.

On the work front, he will next be seen in Laxmmi Bomb which is a Hindi remake of popular Tamil film Muni 2: Kanchana (2011).
UPDATE: Get the latest details in the Lightning Complex fire and other Northern California wildfires here.

The fast-moving LNU Lightning Complex fire raced toward Vacaville from the northwest in the small hours of Wednesday morning, prompting frantic evacuations as flames swallowed homes and other structures.

Fire officials in Vacaville ordered evacuations for all residents of Pleasants Valley Road and all connecting streets and English Hills Road as walls of fire surged across roadways. The Solano County Sheriffs Department ordered evacuations for residents west of Blue Ridge Road to I-505 in Vacaville and north of Cherry Glen Road to Highway 128.

Emergency radio dispatches suggested firefighters were rescuing victims, including some with burns.

The LNU Complex is a cluster of lightning-sparked blazes burning in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties that firefighters are struggling to contain. An update from Cal Fire around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday showed 0% containment for seven separate fires.

Many evacuees fled with only their nightclothes, forced to rush from their homes with only minutes to spare. A full accounting of the damage done so far in the region as of Wednesday morning wasnt immediately available.

News crews on the scene said police officers and firefighters were racing door to door in the outskirts of Vacaville Wednesday morning to alert people to the fire racing toward them.

It was extremely warm in Vacaville on Wednesday morning, after the National Weather Service had predicted overnight temperatures would barely dip below 80. The forecast called for highs in the 90s in the area, nearing 100, every day through at least next Tuesday.

More than 32,000 acres of Northern California was on fire was on fire late Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the LNU Lightning Complex burned one structure and two outbuildings and was threatening 1,900 homes in Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties. Among those threatened were an estimated 400 residents of Berryessa Estates in Napa County, and communities along Highway 128 below Lake Berryessa.

Many of the wildfires were caused by the extreme heat wave accompanied by unusual thunderstorms, leading to lightning touching down hundreds of times in the North Bay  all while the ongoing pandemic has complicated efforts to shelter displaced residents.

A fire that started near Guerneville on Tuesday, dubbed the 13-4 Fire, forced evacuations along a 50-mile stretch of coastal land, ranging from Bodega Bay to north of Sea Ranch and well inland.

Mandatory evacuations  or warnings that evacuations may be imminent  were also put in place for parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa counties. In Marin County, a fire started at Point Reyes National Seashore on Tuesday night, sending smoke south along the coast into San Francisco.

Outside the Bay Area, residents were evacuated or told to prepare to evacuate in parts of Butte, Nevada, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus and Monterey counties.

Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to the two dozen-plus fires across the state Tuesday afternoon by declaring a state of emergency, allowing California to receive mutual aid from other states and secure federal grants.

The Complex included the Hennessey Fire, the Gamble Fire and the 15-10 Fire  all in Napa County  and the 13-4 Fire west of Healdburg in Sonoma County. A total of 32,000 acres were burning.

Another large wildfire was dubbed the SCU Lightning Complex, a series of several fires burning 25,000 acres in Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Joaquin County, and Stanislaus County.

John Blanchard

In Napa County, near the Hennessey Fire, Gail Bickett, 80, said she could see the black smoke, with the fire burning behind houses across the road as she loaded up her truck to evacuate.

I have sweat pouring down me, she said, out of breath as she loaded up her three dogs, dog food and snacks, and phones. Bicketts husband was getting their motor home started before heading to the Pope Valley Farm Center in St. Helena.

Napa County sheriffs deputies were already in the neighborhood, urging residents to leave the area, Bickett said, adding that she had already sent an alert to her neighbors via an emergency phone system.

Its scary, she said. Its overwhelming.

Bickett is a veteran of the process. This was her fourth time evacuating, but she said she had just returned from town when she was told to flee. The chickens and her uncatchable, in-hiding cats would stay behind, she said.

Now Playing: The Hennessy Fire in Napa Valley has grown to 2,700 acres with zero containment. The fire burns along Highway 128 eastbound and westbound. Video: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, Erika Carlos

Photos and mementos were not on her emergency packing list.

Oh, hell no, she said, laughing and citing overflowing and disorganized drawers. I cant.

The evacuations affected residents in the northern part of Napa County, including Spanish Valley and Snell Valley and Butts Canyon roads.

The Berryessa Estates has nearly 200 single-family homes with close to 400 residents, said the communitys board president, Garth MacDonald. The area otherwise is relatively rural, he said.

Fire officials were concerned about the embers that might float from the fire, said MacDonald, who has a home in the community but lives in Sacramento. Theyre just taking every precaution.

By Tuesday morning, however, flames from the Hennessey Fire had crept into the eastern hills of Nichelini Vineyards, a 600-acre property in Napas remote Chiles Valley area.

So far, the grapevines or buildings were safe  but the Sunseri family feared that its only a matter of time until the blaze impacts the most important parts of the property, which has been in the family for 130 years.

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

Now Playing: A house is engulfed in flames along Pleasant Valley Road in Vacaville, Calif., as the LNU Lightning Complex fire passes through on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. Video: Scott Strazzante The Chronicle

For a large property in the rural, eastern outskirts of Napa County, Nichelini Vineyards has been remarkably fortunate. A wildfire has never caused damage to the house and building since they were built in 1890, said Aimee Sunseri. The family has never missed a harvest yet, not even during Prohibition.

We were a little on the illegal side in those years, Sunseri said. We got a couple tickets.

If all goes well, Sunseri will begin Nichelinis 130th harvest next week, with Sauvignon Blanc.

Hopefully, we will not break our family tradition, she said.

Later Tuesday, evacuations expanded to everything west of Lake Berryessa waters edge.

Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza, who represents the areas evacuated due to the Hennessey Fire, said the primary goal was to have enough shelter capacity to provide safety to residents  all in the middle of a pandemic.

We understand the pandemic were in, and public health is the No. 1 priority, he said, noting that personal protective items would be made available to those evacuating.

The Hennessey Fire remained at zero containment Tuesday, as did the Gamble Fire, near Brooks (Yolo County), which had grown to 5,000 acres, Cal Fire officials said.

A third lightning fire in the North Bay, the 15-10 Fire, near Berryessa-Knoxville Road, had consumed 4,500 acres as of Tuesday morning and was also uncontained, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire also reported several lightning fires in the East Bay and South Bay hills that had consumed 25,000 acres, burning in five counties. Firefighters had no containment by Tuesday morning. Agency officials also issued evacuation warnings for areas near Loma Mar and Dearborn Park in the southern part of San Mateo County.

Now Playing: This video was taken by CHP Golden Gate Air Operations 6:36 am near Lake Hennessey and St. Helena. A spokesman said 911 calls reporting a fire came in nearly 10 minutes after this video was taken. Courtesy of Golden Gate CHP. Video: San Francisco Chronicle

In Butte County, firefighters continued battling multiple fires caused by 1,500 lightning strikes that hit Monday morning. The county Sheriffs Office ordered evacuations Monday afternoon for several roads north of the Feather River.

Additional evacuations in Monterey County were caused by the River Fire, and warnings went out for the Jones Fire in Nevada County and in Sierra County for the Loyalton Fire.

Conditions on Tuesday afternoon and evening remained difficult for firefighters, with temperatures soaring past 100 in the North Bay. An excessive heat warning was expected to remain in effect until Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Esther Mobley contributed to this story.

Dominic Fracassa, Jill Tucker and Michael Cabanatuan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com jtucker@sfchronicle.com, mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa @jilltucker, @ctuan
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Linkedin Avirat Parekh (The Jakarta Post) Mumbai, India  Wed, August 19 2020

With a recent purge by American social media giant Facebook on advertisements for the illicit sale of animals in Yangon, Myanmar, the discourse around such trade has resurfaced. The ad more specifically sported a picture of a caged cat and described it as Not too wild, not too-well behaved. If interested, call... which is alarming for the platform as it has a strict ban on the sale of animals.

According to a report by an international non-governmental organization World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) illegal wildlife trade occurs across the Southeast Asian region from the remote corners of Myanmar and Laos, to markets in Bangkok and Hanoi, but its center of gravity is the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, Lao, China meet. Thereby, categorizing the region as a major hub for trade of this nature.

The region is a biodiversity hotspot that sits at the heart of wildlife trade. Although, such trade is carried out for specific purposes the scale of trade in the region is quite large.

A report published by TRAFFIC, another leading non-governmental organization involved in the wildlife monitoring network, further categorizes the scale to include the following: Over 96,000 kg of pangolin scales seized in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, over 225,000 kg of African ivory seized from almost all ASEAN nations, over 2,200 tigers seized, more than 3,800 bear equivalents sized in ASEAN nations, over 4,500 African rhino horns most linked to ASEAN nations, 1,100 helmeted hornbill parts seized in Indonesia, over 45,000 live birds seized in Indonesia. Up to 1,189 otters observed for sale online in four ASEAN nations, over 100,000 pig nosed turtles seized in Indonesia.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An alleged burglar busted by police on Sunday gained entry into two Bulls Head businesses by using a cinderblock to break through the buildings front doors, police said.

Todd Guerriero  who is listed by the NYPD as a Queens resident but has a current listing in Great Kills, according to public records  faces two burglary charges after he was arrested by patrol officers in the 121st Precinct in connection with two live commercial burglaries reported that same day.

Police said Guerriero first broke into Caviar Mist on Sunday, located at 1949 Richmond Ave., using a cinderblock to break the front door of the establishment at around 8:33 p.m.

Once inside, he removed the register and keys along with $70, police allege.

A half-hour later, wearing a black hoodie and dark colored jeans, police said Guerriero threw a cinderblock through the front door of Enzo and Tinos Bake Shop, also located within the 1949 Richmond Ave. strip of businesses.

Once inside, police said he removed $520 from the register.

The NYPD is investigating whether the defendant might be tied to a borough-wide pattern this year that remains unsolved, according to a law enforcement source.

DNA evidence could potentially play a role in investigating those incidents, the source said.

Prosecutors with the Richmond County District Attorneys Office previously tied Guerriero to seven burglaries reported over a span of about three weeks in 2018, at locations on the South, East and North shores, Advance/SILive.com records show.

A criminal complaint at the time said Guerriero targeted mostly eateries and convenience stores, where in many cases hed smash the front glass in the early-morning hours, then snatch an undisclosed amount of cash from a register.

Attorney information for Guerriero was not immediately available.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 18:56:52|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The number of dengue cases in Laos rose to 5,025 on Tuesday with nine deaths since January.

The highest number of 1,154 dengue patients were recorded in the Lao capital Vientiane, Sisavath Soutthaniraxay, deputy director general of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control under Lao Ministry of Health, told a press conference on Tuesday.

A total of 595 cases were recorded in Bolikhamxay province, with 563 cases in Vientiane province, and 462 cases in Savannakhet province.

The nine deaths included four in Lao capital Vientiane, two in Bolikhamxay province, and one in Khammuan, Xayaboury and Xieng Khuang province.

Sisavath advised that every family should throw out water that collects in jars, vases, and dishes and should cover such vessels to prevent more water from filling them up to help control the spread of dengue fever.

According to the World Health Organization, dengue fever is one of the fastest emerging infections, with Thailand, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore also seeing high incidence. The number of cases in the Western Pacific Region has more than doubled over the past 10 years. Enditem
PLA HK Garrison conducts multi-subject maritime military training in S.China Sea

Global Times

Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/17 12:00:35

The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Sunday posted a video clip on social media showing their Type 056 Huizhou corvette carried out multi-subject maritime military drills in the South China Sea.

The garrison explained on its Twitter-like Weibo account that the training involved more than ten subjects, such as actual firing of jamming bombs, main armament shooting, light weapons shooting, helicopter landing training, and emergency and life-saving training.

In the video, the Huizhou corvette quickly fires shells and hits its target after searching for and spotting an enemy submarine.

According to the garrison, anti-submarine subjects are always the focus of training due to the threat they face underwater. Anti-submarine drills aim to search, blockade, restrict or destroy an enemy submarine in a certain sea area.

The training tested the ability of commanders at all levels in organization and command, tactical application and coordination, but also improved the operational skills of officers and troops, said the garrison.

Type 056 corvette The Huizhou is a new-generation light missile frigate developed, designed and produced by China. It has a maximum length of about 90 meters and a width of 11 meters, and is anchored in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor. The Huizhou corvette was commissioned on July 1, 2013, the 16th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

The garrison has 14 military camps in Hong Kong and its naval base is located on Stonecutters Island (Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base). Since August, the garrison has released three combat training videos and one promotional video, covering the armed forces, navy and air force.

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Rajasthan's Phalodi MLA Pabbaram Vishnoi, who attended the Vidhan Sabha session on Friday, has tested COVID-19 positive on Monday, confirmed officials.

His and his grandson's corona test report has come positive and hence they are now home quarantined. The MLA has appealed to all those who came in contact with him to get themselves tested.

Vishnoi had gone to attend the Assembly session on Friday and he met many legislators in the Assembly.

--IANS

arc/kr

(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.)
COVID-19 has affected every facet of our lives, including how we socialize. When people have different comfort levels with everything from masks to group outings, keeping friends from feeling insulted or judged can be a challenge, says Gayle Whitlock, a marriage and family therapist in Santa Rosa, California.

Varied requirements around social distancing from state to state and even among regions have prompted many people to develop their own boundaries and comfort levels, Whitlock says. Some people are more risk adverse and some are rule followers, and that's going to seep into relationships."

Jim Owen and his wife, Stanya, both 79, recently moved from Austin, Texas, to San Diego. Their closest friends, both in their 80s, wanted to host a going-away meal at a restaurant, something Owen insisted was too risky.

The friends were indescribably hurt by this, because in their minds, we're as close as family, so we would be safe, says Owen, an author and producer of the coming documentary The Art of Aging Well. We said, We promise we will see you again. We just cannot see you now.'"

Brainstorm together to reach consensus

To prevent hurt feelings or to negotiate terms everyone is comfortable with, focus on the relationship and not the specific activity being suggested, says Shasta Nelson, a friendship expert in San Francisco and author of The Business of Friendship. "The goal is not the cottage or the restaurant or the party. The goal is the relationships you foster in those settings, Nelson says.

If you're the host or initiating a visit, it's your responsibility to cater to the needs of everybody you're reaching out to, she says. Make sure you are up front about who is likely to attend  don't invite surprise guests.

"Treat it the way you would with friends that don't have the same amount of money, Nelson says. You wouldn't talk somebody into something that was beyond their financial ability, so offer up options to make this work and express acceptance.

On the flip side, when you're invited somewhere, speak up and be clear about your expectations around masks, indoor and outdoor interactions, and social distancing. Be transparent: If a teen in your house was tangentially exposed to someone who might have the coronavirus, for example, be up front about it and let the friend decide on their risk tolerance. Don't feel bad about it. Brainstorm together, and put it on everybody to make this as safe as possible, Nelson says.

That's what Donna Walls, 69, has been doing with her circle of friends.

"I'm not shy at all about asking friends what they're comfortable with, says Walls, a nurse and lactation consultant in Dayton, Ohio.

For years, Walls and six other women met monthly for lunch. Then COVID-19 hit. At first, they all stayed home. Then they agreed as a group that eating outside, far apart at a table, might be OK.

"One of us has health issues, and we want her to be around for many more lunches, so we brought it up: Who's comfortable? Who's not? Walls says. Being able to say, This is where I draw the line helps."

Virus risk tolerance differs

In Milwaukee, Julie Rowley, 53, embraced a heightened level of safety after a young family member tested positive for COVID-19. She does curbside pickup when shopping, wears a mask, doesn't host friends over or visit others homes. And yet, during a recent camping trip, two other families decided her standards were too relaxed: Despite the fact that each family had its own campsite and the groups didn't share food, Rowley's friends worried that the teenagers in the group wouldn't keep their distance while hiking.
Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday said that more than 70% of Massachusetts school districts are planning on hybrid or fully in-person learning in the fall.

The other 30% say they are planning on a fully remote operation. Thats based on the 371 school districts that have reported plans as of Monday, Baker said.

Over the past few weeks school districts have submitted plans to the (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) for September, Baker said. Were encouraged that nearly three-quarters of the school districts are planning for at least a partial in-person learning experience for kids.

The debate over how to safely reopen schools has taken center stage in Massachusetts and across the country, and it comes as state officials ramp up enforcement of social distancing protocols and coordination with local governments to expand testing, contact tracing and communication and education on the virus.

One of the districts planning on remote teaching is Springfield Public Schools, which moved on Thursday to err on the side of caution amid the uncertainty over returning. Worcester Public Schools also moved to begin the school year online.

Baker has received widespread praise for his handling of the crisis, according to a University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB poll released on Friday.

While 500 surveyed voters feared a second COVID spike this fall, they overwhelmingly credited Baker for the overall decrease in the number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state related to the virus since its peak.

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ITHACA, N.Y. - When you search for something on the internet, do you scroll through page after page of suggestions - or pick from the first few choices?

Because most people choose from the tops of these lists, they rarely see the vast majority of the options, creating a potential for bias in everything from hiring to media exposure to e-commerce.

In a new paper, Cornell University researchers introduce a tool they've developed to improve the fairness of online rankings without sacrificing their usefulness or relevance.

"If you could examine all your choices equally and then decide what to pick, that may be considered ideal. But since we can't do that, rankings become a crucial interface to navigate these choices," said computer science doctoral student Ashudeep Singh, co-first author of "Controlling Fairness and Bias in Dynamic Learning-to-Rank," which won the Best Paper Award at the Association for Computing Machinery SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval.

"For example, many YouTubers will post videos of the same recipe, but some of them get seen way more than others, even though they might be very similar," Singh said. "And this happens because of the way search results are presented to us. We generally go down the ranking linearly and our attention drops off fast."

The researchers' method, called FairCo, gives roughly equal exposure to equally relevant choices and avoids preferential treatment for items that are already high on the list. This can correct the unfairness inherent in existing algorithms, which can exacerbate inequality and political polarization, and curtail personal choice.

"What ranking systems do is they allocate exposure. So how do we make sure that everybody receives their fair share of exposure?" said Thorsten Joachims, professor of computer science and information science, and the paper's senior author. "What constitutes fairness is probably very different in, say, an e-commerce system and a system that ranks resumes for a job opening. We came up with computational tools that let you specify fairness criteria, as well as the algorithm that will provably enforce them."

Algorithms seek the most relevant items to searchers, but because the vast majority of people choose one of the first few items in a list, small differences in relevance can lead to huge discrepancies in exposure. For example, if 51% of the readers of a news publication prefer opinion pieces that skew conservative, and 49% prefer essays that are more liberal, all of the top stories highlighted on the home page could conceivably lean conservative, according to the paper.

"When small differences in relevance lead to one side being amplified, that often causes polarization, where some people tend to dominate the conversation and other opinions get dropped without their fair share of attention," Joachims said. "You might want to use it in an e-commerce system to make sure that if you're producing a product that 30% of people like, you're getting a certain amount of exposure based on that. Or if you have a resume database, you could formulate safeguards to make sure it's not discriminating by race or gender."

###

The research was partly supported by the National Science Foundation and by Workday.
Joe Biden's campaign for president of the United States is a family affair.

Four of the former vice president's grandkids came together for a promotional video on the final night of the convention. The clip featured his granddaughters, Maisy, Finnegan, Naomi and Natalie. Naomi, Maisy and Finnegan are the children of his Biden's second-oldest son, Hunter. Natalie is the daughter of Beau Biden, the oldest Biden child, who died of brain cancer in 2015.

Interviewer: So what don't I know about your grandfather?



Maisy: He's always eating ice cream. Usually it's like vanilla. #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/OW91ljR7Et  2020 #DemConvention  (@DemConvention) August 21, 2020

In the video, they were asked what's little-known about their grandfather.

"He's always eating ice cream, usually vanilla," they responded adding that he hides it from his wife, Jill Biden. Asked how often he calls, the unanimous response was, "Like, every day."

"If we don't talk to him for like a day, he'll ask what's wrong," they joked. "He always calls with the same energy even after he's just done 15 interviews in a row."

They also shared that Biden was initially worried about how the election would impact them, but they ultimately pushed him to run. "We were like, 'Hurry up, get in that race.'"

"We just knew that he had to run. We weren't going to take no as an answer," they added.

Biden's granddaughters, along with grandson Robert Biden II, who goes by Hunter, also appeared at the beginning of the first night of the DNC on Monday. They led viewers in the Pledge of Allegiance, which was followed by children from across the country singing the national anthem.

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Earlier in the pandemic, Biden shared how he kept up with his grandchildren during quarantine.

Image: Joe Biden and family (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

"Every day I'm in contact with every one of my grandkids, my son and my daughter, but by distance,'' he told late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. "As a matter of fact, my son Beau's children live a mile away as the crow flies ... They walk over through the woods and through a neighborhood, and they sit out in the backyard in two chairs, and I sit up in the porch, and we have our conversations because I'm not allowed to go hug them. I miss it."

Biden also has a daughter, Ashley Biden. In 1972, his first wife, Neilia Hunter, and his 1-year-old daughter Naomi died in a car crash.

Correction (August 18, 2020, 9:16 a.m.): An earlier version of this article stated that Beau Biden was Joe Biden's second-oldest son. He was Joe Biden's oldest son.
VMware this week bolstered the on-premise and service-monitoring capabilities of its core cloud-management software with improved automation, Kubernetes and troubleshooting features.

The features come in a new release of VMwares vRealize Suite which is the companys wide-ranging package of tools for helping customers manage virtual infrastructure and applications. Its features include artificial intelligence, machine learning, and DevOps tools such as Infrastructure as Code to provision, orchestrate, optimize and govern hybrid-cloud environments.

The overarching idea of vRealize is to help customers centrally control and govern cloud resources whether they be private, hybrid or SAAS and mitigate the risk of those rapidly growing virtual workloads, said Ken Lee senior director of product marketing for VMware.

Some of the key enhancements for vRealize include upgrades to its vRealize Operations and vRealize Automation components which individually offer virtual troubleshooting and automation management for VMware customers.

In the new, Version 8.2 release vRealize Operations, VMware has added support for Kubernetes containers running on VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid or IBM/Red Hat OpenShift environments. In addition, a new self-service provisioning for Kubernetes software is also available to help bring up and manage those resources quickly.

Another vRealize component, Log Insight which enables real-time monitoring of application logs, network traces, configuration files, messages and performance data, was also added to the Kubernetes support menu.

The idea is to help customers auto-discover and monitor the health, performance, capacity, cost, and configuration of Kubernetes containers, Lee said.

This release of software also includes integration with popular application-performance management tools such as Cisco/AppDynamics, Datadog and Dynatrace that will let customers integrate application availability, performance and troubleshooting metrics with VMware vRealize Network Insight package to help customers predict, prevent and remediate application issues from a central location, Lee said.

Also in the Operation package is improved metric-correlation and near real-time cloud resource monitoring that will help customers detect performance and availability issues up to 15 times faster than previous versions of the software, Lee said. Enhancements to native AWS management will unlock capacity calculations for AWS EC2 instances and automatically import metrics into VMware vRealize Operations for faster troubleshooting, he added.

On the automation side, the company boosted security by adding support for granular role-based access control and added support for improved network automation routines to help customers configure and manage virtual network environments via their NSX package. NSX is VMwares flagship networking package that supports everything from private or public cloud-native applications to bare-metal workloads running on multivendor hypervisors. It also supports network-virtualization stacks in Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud as well as leading Kubernetes container technologies.

All of the VMware vRealize enhancements will be available in the third quarter, the company said.
CHICAGO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The impact of COVID-19 on the foodservice industry continues to be catastrophic. In an effort to monitor the effects of the pandemic and share key findings with foodservice industry players, Technomic and Shortest Track have teamed up to bring up-to-date insights to members of Technomic's Ignite Company platform by way of the COVID-19 Disruption Risk Index. This feature zooms into a single market to understand the impact taking place based on a host of local factors.

"The effects of the pandemic vary by market, which is hugely important to differentiate," states Eric Hillerbrand, CEO of Shortest Track. "We are in a new world and it requires new types of analytics. We developed the COVID-19 Disruption Risk Index using artificial intelligence to calculate and predict factors affecting business disruption at a specific location. Our Index uses 20 different data signals that all affect length of disruption, likelihood of future breakout and the stability of the community in which businesses are operating. The tool drills down to the ZIP code level, based on risk factors such as county-level infection rates, state-level restrictions, population densities, health and disease risks, and lifestyle factors contributing to the spread."

To get a preview of this feature, here are this week's five most disrupted markets:

1. Houma, La.

2. Lafayette, La.

3. Tampa, Fla.

4. Panama City, Fla.

5. Houston, Texas

"This partnership will help us deliver breakthrough, hyper-local insights to our clients," explains Bernadette Noone, Vice President of Programs at Technomic. "As the market continuously shifts, real-time, market-specific data is vital for restaurant operators and suppliers to develop a smarter business response to changing pandemic conditions. This tool will help them do that."

This enhancement is now live within Technomic's Ignite Company platform. To learn more about the dashboard and this new feature, reach out to the contacts below or visit https://www.technomic.com/data-insights/industry/ignite-company

Technomic contact: Bernadette Noone, (312) 506-3853, [email protected]

Shortest Track contact: Eric Hillerbrand, (888) 276-0350, [email protected]

About Technomic

Technomic, Inc., a Winsight company, was founded as a management consulting firm in 1966. Since then, Technomic's services have grown to encompass cloud based B2B research tools, consumer and menu trend tracking, as well as other leading strategic research and analytic capabilities, to prioritize and size business opportunities. Our clients include food manufacturers and distributors, restaurants, retailers and multiple other business verticals aligned with the food industry that are looking to make informed decisions to support their business growth. Visit Technomic at www.technomic.com.

About Shortest Track

The Shortest Track Company, Inc. is disrupting the way advanced data science and artificial intelligence is acquired by providing low-price and high-impact solutions to business problems. Our collections of intelligence solutions cover demand volatility, channel performance, marketing spend optimization and latent consumer characteristics, such as health and disease impact on revenue. We host the Intelligence Exchange, a membership model for enabling acquisition of intelligence solutions with proven outcomes, at low prices, and designed specifically for today's COVID-19 environment. Visit Shortest Track at https://www.shortesttrack.com/

SOURCE Technomic

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I often use this column to warn about the dangers of apps that track you. This time, I'm going to recommend you actually install one.

There's a new kind of app that uses your smartphone's Bluetooth wireless signals to figure out when you've been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with covid-19. It pops up the world's most stressful-yet-helpful notification: "You have likely been exposed."

For the last week and a half, 35 Washington Post staff members have been helping me test America's first exposure-notification app using technology from Apple and Google. It's called Covidwise, and works in the state of Virginia. Made by state health departments, similar apps are also now available in North Dakota (Care19 Alert), Wyoming (also called Care19 Alert), and Alabama (Guidesafe). In total, 20 states and territories are developing apps that will cover nearly half the U.S. population.

My takeaway: Despite its eerie power, this type of app isn't a privacy invasion. It never records your location or shares who you come in contact with. But it's also possible apps like Covidwise aren't very effective - in our team's first 10 days of testing, we didn't get a single exposure alert.

To really discover the potential of this tech, lots and lots of us would need to use it. You've not got much to lose, and there's a lot we could all gain.

Exposure notification apps may be 2020s biggest tech debut, and also its most misunderstood. A number of governments, and even some businesses, have tried making coronavirus contact-tracing apps with pretty mixed results. In April, Apple and Google announced they were working together on a way to track exposure with iOS and Android that would be less of a privacy invasion. Health authorities expressed doubt about the usefulness of their system, and months passed without much progress.

A big part of the problem has been trust. A poll by The Post and the University of Maryland found most Americans were not willing or able to use an app to track coronavirus infections. When it comes to privacy, the government and tech companies have done little to earn our faith. Edward Snowden showed us the government has few qualms about spying on citizens. CEOs like to say we're "in control" of our data when we're so clearly not.

Washington Post photo by Jonathan Baran.

Nobody was more surprised than me that this new generation of apps actually seems to take privacy seriously. I put Covidwise under a microscope - tracing the flow of its data and grilling its maker - and found little reason to take it off my own phone.

Like wearing masks, to benefit from using this kind of app, people around you need to be using them, too. Exposure apps are off to a slow start in other countries, and some experts estimate up to 60 percent of a population needs to be using exposure apps for them to be effective. For Virginia, that could mean 5 million volunteers; in its first week, Covidwise got 380,000 downloads.

The state, for its part, hasn't articulated a goal. "We just think that for every download, you're bettering the chances we can slow the spread of covid-19," Julie Grimes, Department of Health spokeswoman, said.

Here's what you need to know before you install an exposure-notification app yourself.

- It's pretty easy to use. Covidwise, like other exposure apps using Apple and Google's new tech, is free. Installation takes under a minute, and it runs in the background so long as you leave your phone turned on.

You will need a compatible smartphone and need to possibly update your operating system. Any Apple phone since a 2015 iPhone 6S should work, or most Android phones able to run Android 6 - that goes back to 2014's Samsung Galaxy S5.

Look for two things when you download: First, the app should be made by your health department. Second, there's a subtle distinction in what these apps are called. "Exposure-notification" apps like Covidwise keep you anonymous. "Contact-tracing" apps help health authorities track the spread of the disease but could share more of your information with the government.

- There's no national system (yet). The most confusing part of exposure-notification apps is that every state is making its own.

What if you travel between states? Virginia's app continues to operate when you're elsewhere, but can only interact with other phones also running Virginia's app. But the Association of Public Health Laboratories has announced it's working on a system that would support all states and allow people to receive alerts even when they travel.

Late last week, the popular safety app Citizen launched its own Bluetooth exposure-warning system called SafeTrace. I haven't had a chance to test it yet, but I would warn that it doesn't use Apple and Google's framework and requires you trust Citizen with personal data.

- It won't kill your battery. A few of our testers on Android phones reported a small decrease in the daily battery life of their phones, but for the most part we didn't notice much of a hit.

These apps take advantage of a special Bluetooth capability in recent updates to iOS and Android. It allows phones to send out little wireless chirps a few times per second - and also listen out for them for four-second stretches every two and a half to five minutes. Bluetooth signals don't require nearly as much power as cellular signals.

- It won't spy on you. This part is key: Covidwise and apps like it don't collect your phone's location. Instead, they use a clever system that helps phones remember who you were around without knowing where you were.

To put it another way, a random weather app you downloaded is likely doing far more to put your privacy at risk.

Here's how it works: Covidwise listens for those Bluetooth chirps from nearby phones, which contain random codes. They change frequently, and don't contain any personal information about the people you meet. Your phone stores the codes you encounter for 14 days, just in case one of those people tests positive for coronavirus. After two weeks, it deletes them.

If someone using Covidwise does test positive, the patient can report their diagnosis in the app by entering a six-digit code provided by their health department. That gives Covidwise the permission to alert phones that have their own records of encountering the patient's codes - without sharing anything about his or her identity.

A colleague and I looked under the hood at the data flowing out of Covidwise. We found it did not send personally identifiable information to the Department of Health, as promised in its privacy policy.

It's possible, in theory, that police could seize your phone and look at the codes it has saved and try to match them up with the codes on someone else's phone. But that would require physical access and a lot of technical hassle.

"Apple and Google have done a pretty good job of balancing the privacy risks," said Bennett Cyphers, a staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "If I lived in Virginia, I think I would try it, mainly out of curiosity."

The bigger challenge may be that the focus on privacy also means health officials get almost no useful data from these apps. They can't be used for contact tracing - all they provide is anonymous nudges to individuals who should get tested. In fact, even you won't learn where or exactly when you might have been exposed.

- We don't know how well it works. In our first 10 days, none of our Virginia testers got any exposure warnings. That could mean our testers were all practicing safe social distancing, or that there are just too few people using the app. But it also could mean the app is bad at measuring exposure.

Covidwise defines "exposure" as being within six feet of someone for 15 minutes. (It doesn't have to be a contiguous 15 minutes - it would still count if keep running into someone in short bursts at the grocery store.) Of course, it has no idea if you or the people around you are wearing masks or what the airflow was like.

At best, it's a rough estimate. To figure out if you come within six feet of someone, the app measures the strength of the Bluetooth wireless signal coming from his or her phone. But Bluetooth was developed for taking calls and listening to music, not measuring distance. And as anyone who's owns a pair of AirPods knows, Bluetooth is flaky and lots of things can interfere with it.

I couldn't independently test exactly how the Covidwise responded to real-life situations - it doesn't provide a live report on devices it senses. But Bluetooth, which has a natural range of 30 feet, can go through some windows and walls, depending on their materials.

You can visualize this by walking with your phone away from a Bluetooth speaker and seeing when it conks out. Or for a fancy science experiment, download an app such nRF Connect or BT Inspector, and look to see how the signal strength of devices changes as you move away.

- Even if these apps are a flop, your risk is low. What's the worst thing that could happen if you use Covidwise? You could get a false positive alert, like from a neighbor on the other side of a wall. That would stress you out and also make you take a coronavirus test you didn't need - but likely not hurt anyone.

Perhaps a bigger problem: You could get no results, which might lead you to be more reckless or wrongly assume you hadn't been exposed.

"That's what we really don't want to have happen," said Andrew Larimer, an engineer at a company called SpringML that made Covidwise for Virginia's Department of Health. New research on Bluetooth signals, he said, helped the app developers calibrate their software, which was designed to err more toward false positives.

"It's one of the reasons our system doesn't say, 'You have been exposed.' It says, 'You have likely been exposed,'" he said.

There are society-wide concerns, too. Some security experts say, in theory, a hacker could sow discord - or even mess up election day - by hijacking Bluetooth signals and sending out a whole bunch of false alerts.

Virginia's system combats hackers by permitting only state health department workers to hand out the codes needed to unlock a positive diagnosis in the app. If someone types in too many unlock codes, or the system gets too many codes at once, it shuts down.

- It's not magic. Other countries have forced people to use coronavirus tracking apps to prove they're obeying quarantine, or as a passport to enter certain buildings. I think being voluntary is core to Americans' willingness to trust these apps - even if it makes it much, much harder to gain critical mass.

But even if they catch on, exposure apps aren't a magic bullet for America's deeper pandemic challenges. The function of Covidwise is premised on people having access to testing that turns out results quickly enough for the information to be useful.

Apps are also no replacement for the hard work of human contact-tracers, who help provide warnings to everyone, regardless of whether they're using an app or even have a smartphone. Nor can they replace the measures we already know are effective at fighting the coronavirus: staying at home, wearing masks and washing your hands.

- - -

The Washington Post's Seth Blanchard contributed to this report.
Why Canada has shut its international borders to most travellers during COVID-19

While many countries are reopening their international borders, Canada continues to keep its doors firmly shut to most foreigners.

Many Canadians applaud the government for its strict travel restrictions, implemented to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

However, some affected groups  such as the travel industry  have urged Ottawa to relax some restrictions in ways they say would provide minimal risk.

Here's why, despite the pleas, Canada continues to keep its borders largely closed.

What are Canada's rules?

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government issued several emergency orders in March under its Quarantine Act.

One order bans foreigners entering from the U.S. and a second bans all other foreigners from visiting Canada  unless their travel is considered essential, such as for school or work.

A third order mandates a 14-day self-quarantine for anyone entering the country.

Canada Border Services Agency

Many countries that adopted similar border bans began relaxing them this summer after their COVID-19 caseloads started to ease.

Several EU countries  such as the Netherlands, France, Germany, Cyprus and Greece  now welcome travellers from select countries where the infection rates are deemed low enough, including Canada.

But the Canadian government has maintained its travel restrictions, with one exception: in June it started allowing foreigners to visit immediate family in the country. And following public pressure, the government has suggested it may widen those rules to allow in more family members who currently don't meet the requirements.

Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism

Airlines ask for change

Travel and tourism groups desperate for business have argued that Canada could safely reopen its borders with added safety measures, such as maintaining a ban on high-risk countries, including the U.S.

Late last month, a dozen top executives from European airlines, airports and related companies sent the Canadian government a letter, urging it to ease its travel restrictions with parts of Europe.

Story continues

"Canada has made tremendous strides in managing the pandemic  but it cannot remain isolated forever," the letter said. "We believe Canada can join our European governments in strategically re-opening to select, safe international destinations."

Despite that appeal, the federal government isn't budging.

"We have introduced significant and universal border restrictions to keep Canadians safe," Natalie Mohamed, spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), said in an email.

Why is Canada keeping its borders shut tight?

PHAC said the government bases its travel restrictions on input from the provinces and territories, its current public health capacity to handle travel-related COVID-19 outbreaks, and the status of the pandemic both domestically and internationally.

Canada has managed to slow the spread of the virus, but health officials warned last week that the country could potentially see a spike in cases in the fall.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases continue to surge in several countries across the globe, including in the U.S. which surpassed 170,000 coronavirus deaths last week.

"Entry prohibitions coupled with mandatory isolation and quarantine remain the most effective means of limiting the introduction of new cases of COVID-19 into Canada," Mohamed said.

Of the limited number of international flights still entering Canada, a total of 34 flights arriving between Aug. 3 and 13 were later found to have had at least one confirmed COVID-19 case onboard.

WATCH | Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam on potential COVID-19 surge:

Epidemiologist Tim Sly said Canada's border ban is a reasonable response to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

"The virus is showing no signs of weakening or going away," said Sly, a professor emeritus at Ryerson University in Toronto.

"The analogy is a bit like the dry, crispy forest floor that's ready to go up in flames. It just takes one match."

(Sly also suggested that Canada could explore other methods of controlling its borders, such as mandating rapid COVID-19 tests for arriving travellers, as is already happening in several Caribbean countries.)

Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press

Mohamed said Canada's travel restrictions will continue as long as the global outbreak remains a threat, foreign visitors risk spreading COVID-19, and "no reasonable alternatives" are available to prevent the virus's spread.

Global health specialist Steven Hoffman suggested that Canada won't reopen its borders to any country until it believes the U.S. has the virus under control  or at least until President Trump leaves office.

That's because Canada could face backlash from the divisive president if it opened its doors to some countries but not Americans, said Hoffman, a professor of global health, law and political science at Toronto's York University.

"We'd have one very angry American president that might further target our country with any kind of punitive reaction, which would not be good for Canadians."

In a surprise move earlier this month, Trump slapped a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports from Canada.

Keeping the U.S. border shut also seems to be popular. Several recent market research polls found that the majority of Canadians surveyed support Canada closing its borders to Americans.
Moskalkova asks U.S. Attorney General to back Russian mothers sentence mitigation plea

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

11:47 18/08/2020

MOSCOW, August 18 (RAPSI)  Russias High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova has requested United States Attorney General William Barr to support a sentence mitigation motion filed by Bogdana Osipova convicted of the so-called kidnapping of her own children, according to a documents copy obtained by RAPSI.

Currently, Osipova is serving her 7-year sentence in the federal prison Danbury in Connecticut.

Russias Ombudsman insists that Osipovas grave health condition and several serious chronical illnesses endanger her life if she is infected with COVID-19.

Therefore, Moskalkova asked Barr to back the Russian womans plea for changing her prison sentence to any other non-custodial punishment.

Osipova left America with her children in 2014 explaining this action by violence from ex-husband Brian Mobley, a U.S. citizen. Then the court passed the custody of children to Mobley. She returned to the United States in 2017 to file a request for the custody of her daughters but was arrested and then detained on charges of abduction of her children.

In June 2019, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas sentenced her to 7 years behind bars, ordered that she be placed under the U.S. authorities supervision after release for 3 years and therefore prohibited her from leaving the country during this period. The court also obliged her to make efforts necessary to the childrens return to America.
A modernist home by renowned Melbourne architect Robin Boyd is the subject of a heritage row after it was listed for sale and advertised as a redevelopment opportunity.

The 1949 home on Tannock Street in Balwyn, in the city's eastern suburbs, is an early example of Boyd's influential work and remains intact after two sympathetic extensions he designed for the owners in 1959 and 1971.

The Tannock Street home, designed by Robin Boyd in 1949. Credit:Joe Armao

An application to subdivide the land has been made, but it is on hold because there has been no demolition application to support the subdivision.

Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for the home to be protected, prompting Boroondara councillors to unanimously agree on Monday night.
Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama, says one million jobs will be created for the youth over four years by the next NDC government from 2021.

Mr Mahama said Ghana cannot afford to have young people graduate into a jobless economy, adding that people would have sustainable and decent jobs.

A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency by Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Spokesperson, NDC Campaign Team, said Mr Mahama was speaking in Battor, North Tongu constituency on the first day of his four-day visit to the Volta Region.

Mr Mahama told a gathering of various interest groupings that the most critical thing that the people needed now were jobs.

The Flagbearer of the NDC said a new NDC government would invest in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and make it free.

That way, Mr Mahama said, young people would be equipped with employable skills for the job market.

Touching on abandoned projects, the NDC presidential candidate promised to complete abandoned hospitals, roads as well as the remainder of the 200 Community Day Senior High Schools started by the NDC government.

Mr Mahama also re-stated his pledge to pay assembly members to enable them to effectively discharge their duties.

---GNA
A naughty bear cub got a telling off from its mother after popping a family's paddling pool during a night-time adventure, and was eventually dragged away from the home.

A family, who live in Boone, North Carolina, were woken up at 4am on August 10 by a young bear cub popping their outdoor paddling pool and snacking on birdseed.

The family decided to film the surreal encounter when the cub started walking towards the door of the house, trying to peer inside.

A family, from Boone, North Carolina, were stunned to find a young bear cub playing on their decking and peering into their home at 4am on August 10

Video footage shows the young bear walking across the decking during their night-time adventure before bravely approaching the glazed door of the house.

The curious cub stands on its hind legs and props a paw up against the wall to peer into the house and take a closer look at the family.

But much to the surprise of the woman filming, the cub's mother scales the 15ft decking and climbs over the balcony to collect its mischievous offspring.

The woman is heard shouting: 'Oh my God, here's the mama!'

The mother grabs her cub and drags the animal away from the front door by its ear.

After the cub gets a telling off from its mother, the two bears disappear down the walkway at the end of the video - deciding not to brave the 15ft climb for a second time.

The homeowner said: 'We had some visitors. We woke up to their pool party, birdseed snacking, and 15-foot deck climbing.

'I think the cub wanted to come inside to hang out, but his momma wasn't in the mood to deal with his mischievousness at 4am.

Video footage shows the cub walk across the decking during its night-time adventure before its mother scales 15ft decking (left) to collect the naughty bear

Before the mother bear arrived, the cub had already popped the family's paddling pool and snacked on the birdseed, leaving behind quite a mess during the adventure

'I thought the momma would come from around the walkway to find him, I never thought she'd scale our front deck.'

Before the family started filming the bear, the young cub had already popped the children's paddling pool and made a mess chomping on birdseed.

The resident joked: 'Little cub popped the girls' blowup pool and they didn't even bother to clean up their mess on their way out.

'Guess I should have gotten the fire pit going for them if I were a good host.

'Mom's reaction in my head played out as "Let's go, I have told you a hundred times not to bother people while we're raiding their house for goodies. We have to be silent. I've told you this. Why can't you seem to listen? I had to climb 15 feet up a pole to rescue your little butt. Get off their deck now".'
CHICAGO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KDM Engineering is the proud recipient of a 2020 WeWork Black-owned business grant. A fierce supporter of women and minorities in STEM, KDM's President and Founder Kimberly Moore will use the $10,000 grant to further support efforts to bring more diversity in the engineering industry. KDM plans to donate the funds to Calculated Genius, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to introducing underrepresented youth to STEM.

"I was pleasantly surprised to learn we were a grant recipient, knowing the funds would be used to support something I am so passionate about; something that we all take great pride in at KDM," said Kimberly Moore, KDM Engineering President and Founder. "Being a woman and minority business enterprise in the engineering industry, where women and minorities only make up about 25 percent of the workforce, I feel that I have a responsibility to try and change that statistic."

WeWork awarded a total of $2 million in funding to Black small business owners who operate out of WeWork locations around the country. They partnered with Ureeka, a community built to help small businesses grow, to administer the grant program. KDM currently utilizes a WeWork office for additional space, making the company eligible for the grant.

"At KDM, we have always been committed to encouraging more diversity in both the engineering and business worlds because we've experienced firsthand the success that comes when you bring people of different backgrounds, experiences, cultures, and thought processes together to solve problems," Moore said. "Thanks to WeWork, we will be able to proudly continue those efforts."

About KDM Engineering, PLLC

KDM Engineering, PLLC is a WBE/MBE engineering firm, focusing on power distribution design, gas distribution and telecommunications design. Headquartered in Chicago with multiple branch offices on the east coast, KDM specializes in full-service engineering consulting and design, project management, utility coordination, drafting, and permitting. An Engineer of Choice (EOC) for several large utilities, KDM is committed to re-engineering the future, together. Learn more at kdmengineering.com.

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On Monday, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake reset the sentencing hearing for once-City Councilman Johnny Amaya for Oct. 8.

His case has been tied to that of former Webb County Commissioner Jaime Canales, who is still set to be sentenced Thursday.

An attorney for Amaya did not respond to a request for comment as to why the sentencings have now been separated.

Canales and Amaya both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal bribery in October 2018 and have been out on bond ever since. They face up to five years in prison.

In May, Judge Lake gave 80-year-old James Dannenbaum probation and ordered him to pay a $100,000 fine for pushing 32 employees at his engineering firm to make more than $300,000 in illegal donations to 26 campaigns over three years, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The case of these Laredo officials is related; Canales is accused of taking bribes from Amaya and an unnamed co-conspirator from an engineering firm to influence his votes while on the Webb County Commissioners Court and local Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Based on campaign finance records and details of the indictment, the co-conspirator was Louis H. Jones Jr., a Dannenbaum Engineering executive in their Rio Grande Valley office. He died by suicide four days after Canales and Amayas indictment.

From January 2015 to December 2017, Canales accepted checks disguised as campaign contributions plus meals, entertainment and the use of Jones South Padre Island condo  altogether totaling more than $10,000 each year, according to the indictment.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
Solid State Drive or SSD storage is being widely adopted today for its fast read and write speeds as opposed to hard disk drives. However, when it comes to large storage needs, a lot of users continue to rely on the good old HDD. As of today, you can get up to 16-terabytes worth of storage in a single consumer-grade hard drive. Things are different when it comes to SSDs, but it is surely catching up.

The maximum amount of storage that you usually see on SSDs in the market today is about 1TB to 2TB. Samsung however is trying its best to push the limits with its 870 QVO range of SSDs. The company offers it with up to 8TB of storage, which is probably the most amount you will find on a standard SATA-based consumer-grade SSD. Now, 8TB is a lot, and unless you are a content creator or a professional videographer, you might not need that kind of storage. That is probably the reason why we havent seen Samsung launching large-capacity SSDs in the market, and it makes sense.

The 870 QVO is an update to the 860 QVO and continues to focus on a budget price point like the previous generation. Now usually if you increase the storage capacity per unit, it should theoretically lead to a reduction in read and write speeds. However, Samsung claims speeds that are as good (if not better) as most competitive brands in the market. In fact it offers slightly better speeds than Samsungs 860 PRO and 860 EVO range on paper.

Now in terms of the design, the SSD comes with a familiar clean look with a metal casing. To differentiate from Samsungs other offerings, the QVO range comes in a grey finish rather than black. You get standard SATA power and data connectors but sadly Samsung doesnt offer any mounting bracket. So in case your cabinet only offers 3.5mm storage bays, youll have to buy one separately.

Hooking up the drive was pretty simple and I fired it up with a quick format and some file transfer tests. I was sent the 1TB model and I was able to transfer a 4.2GB file in about 25 seconds when copying from a standard 7,200-rpm hard drive at an average of 165MBps. The same file took just 5 seconds transferring from a Samsung 860 EVO at 450MBps. Transferring a folder with 455 files having a total size of 4.5GB took 30 seconds from the hard-drive at 130MBps average speeds and about 10 seconds from the 860 EVO at 420MBps. These are pretty good results and should completely bring a boost to your overall PC performance.

I further tested the drive with CrystalDiskMark ATTO Disk benchmark. The drive was able to score 562MBps sequential read speeds, and 532MBps sequential write speeds on CrystalDiskMark. On ATTO, the drive peaked at 537MBps read speeds and 509MBps peak write speeds.

Samsung has not only managed to finally introduce an SSD that offers up to 8TB of storage, it has managed to provide fast speeds as well. This time it features a 9x-layer production process which allows for more storage in the same amount of NAND module space. Also, it continues to offer QLC quad-level-cell storage that basically stacks four bits of information per memory cell to save on costs, but that usually comes with a compromise of slower read and write speeds. The company has managed to tackle this issue by adding a single-layer-cell (SLC) buffer into the drive. Samsung calls this Intelligent TurboWrite which definitely helps in maintaining faster speeds when compared to other drives that dont offer QLC based storage.

All of this jargon might be getting a little complicated, but in short, Samsung has managed to store more data in the same amount of space, and at the same time offers respectable fast speeds, if not the fastest. On top of that, the range is not exuberantly priced. The drive is available starting at Rs 9,999 for the 1TB variant. This puts it at par with most 2.5-inch SSD drives on the market, and relatively cheaper than its own EVO and PRO range. Of course, if you are aiming for that 8TB version, it is going to set you back at Rs 74,999!

Samsung 870 QVO then is a recommended upgrade for you if you are still running your PC on a hard drive, or just want a large and fast secondary internal drive to store large amounts of data. I would also recommend this to someone planning to upgrade the entire motherboard just to gain the ability to install a PCIe based M.2 SSD. There are faster drives on the market, and if speed is your highest priority, look elsewhere.
(Newser)  Michelle Obama went after President Trump in blunt fashion during the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, and the president took notice. "She gets these fawning reviews," the president said at the White House, per the Hill. "If you gave a real review it wouldn't be so fawning. I thought it was a very divisive speech. Extremely divisive." He also faulted Obama for recording the speech instead of giving it live andechoing words she'd used against himsaid "she was over her head." On Twitter earlier, Trump was a little less direct in his criticism of the former first lady. "Somebody please explain to (her) that Donald J. Trump would not be here, in the beautiful White House, if it weren't for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama," he wrote.

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In another tweet, he called the Obama-Biden administration "the most corrupt in history," accused them of treason, and ended with a sarcastic, "Thanks for your very kind words Michelle!" Also as part of his broadside, Trump criticized the Obama-Biden administration over its response to the swine flu epidemic ("weak and pathetic") and called former President Obama's endorsement of Biden "late & unenthusiastic." And he added: My Administration and I built the greatest economy in history, of any country, turned it off, saved millions of lives, and now am building an even greater economy than it was before." In her convention speech, the former first lady said Trump was "clearly in over his head" and unable to lead a nation in crisis, per Forbes. (Read more Michelle Obama stories.)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The UGC told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that its July 6 directive, asking universities and colleges to conduct final year exams by September 30 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is "not a diktat" but states cannot take decision to confer degrees without holding the examinations.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the University Grants Commission (UGC), told a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan that the directive is for the "benefit of students" as the universities have to start admissions to postgraduate courses and state authorities cannot override the UGC's guideline.

The bench, also comprising Justices R S Reddy and M R Shah, observed that the issue is if the state disaster management authority has decided that situation is not conducive for holding exams, can they overrule the UGC.

The bench, which reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions questioning the validity of the UGC's July 6 directive, said that another issue is whether the commission can override state authorities and ask the universities to hold examinations on given dates.

During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing, Mehta told the bench that states might seek extension of the deadline but they cannot take the decision to confer degrees without holding the exams.

"The deadline was given for benefit of the students. It is not a diktat," Mehta told the bench, adding that "all universities have to start admissions of postgraduate courses. The country is working".

He argued that COVID-19 is a national disaster and the state authorities cannot override the UGC.

The bench observed that it has to be kept in mind that welfare of students is not for the students to decide and it is for the statutory body to take decision in this regard.

It observed that another issue was whether the state can take decision under the Disaster Management Act and say that they would not hold examinations and declare results based on past performances of a student.

Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, appearing for some of the petitioners, told the bench that UGC's July 6 guideline makes it mandatory for the universities to hold exams by September 30 and the decision was taken without proper consultation.

The counsel appearing for one of the states argued that not holding final year exam does not lead to dilution of standards and even premier institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has said that they would give degree without holding exams.

One of the lawyers raised the issue of problems faced by students during the recent online exams conducted by the Delhi University.

One of the advocates referred to the decision taken by Maharashtra and alleged that the issue has been politicised.

The bench, which reserved its verdict, asked the parties to file short written notes within three days.

"Heard counsel for the parties. The intervention applications are not entertained. Judgment reserved," the bench said in its order.

The apex court was earlier told by one of the petitioners that nobody is against the university examinations in "normal times" and the students are challenging the UGC's decision because of the pandemic.

The UGC had said that final examination is a 'crucial step' in the academic career of a student and the state government cannot say that its July 6 directive was 'not binding'.

Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena, is one of the petitioners in the apex court and has questioned the UGC's directive to hold examinations during the pandemic times.

The UGC had earlier said that the July 6 guidelines are based on recommendations of experts and have been made after due deliberation and it is wrong to claim that it will not be possible to conduct the final examinations in terms of the guidelines.

On August 10, the UGC had questioned the decisions of Delhi and Maharashtra governments to cancel final year exams of state universities amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they were against the rules.

The Solicitor General had earlier informed the bench that out of over 800 universities in the country, 209 have completed the examinations while around 390 universities are in the process of conducting exams.

The UGC had said that in June this year, considering the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, it requested the expert committee to revisit the April 29 guidelines, by which it had asked the universities and institutions to hold final year examinations in July 2020.

The expert committee submitted a report recommending that terminal semester/final year examinations should be conducted by universities/ institutions by the end of September, 2020 in offline (pen & paper)/ online/ blended (online + offline) mode, the UGC had said.

It added that this report of the expert committee was deliberated and approved by the UGC in its emergent meeting held on July 6, since the conduct of the final year/terminal examination is a time-sensitive issue.

Assailing the decisions of some states like Maharashtra and Delhi of cancelling the final year exams, the UGC had said such decisions directly affect the standards of higher education and will be an encroachment on the legislative field of coordinating and determining the standards of higher education that is exclusively reserved for Parliament under Schedule VII of the Constitution.
"The mood in the pod is tense and fearful, especially for older inmates like myself and Mr. Armstrong," Soldano wrote. "I have heard Mr. Armstrong coughing and wheezing. We both have severe diarrhea. I have also seen him with aches and pains and shivering cold. We try to support each other and help each other out. We talk when we don't feel well and ask each other if we are OK. It is our way of dealing with a scary situation."

Last week, Keesler denied Soldano's request for temporary release, which had been opposed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Soldano's attorney, Mark Foster of Charlotte, declined to comment Monday about the decision.

A court filing late last week indicates that Soldano, formerly of Gaston County, was expected to plead guilty Tuesday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Cayer.

Keesler has not ruled on Armstrong's request, which is also opposed by prosecutors. Last week, Keesler filed an order giving prosecutors another chance to make their case about keeping Armstrong in custody, saying "the court believes it would be aided by a more robust response from the government."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 17:03:47|Editor: huaxia

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HAIKOU, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and the government of south China's Hainan Province have signed an agreement to open a campus in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone on the island.

The campus will be the first one run independently by a German public university overseas. It will start enrolling students in 2021.

The project will introduce German practice-orientated higher education model, offer programs for bachelor's and master's degrees to cultivate high-quality and international talent, sources with the university said.

The first batch of majors includes economic information, intelligent logistics, intelligent science and technology, mechatronics, data science, and engineering management, the sources said.

Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia is the largest application-oriented university in the East Westphalia-Lippe region, with 37 undergraduate majors, 25 master majors and a number of vocational certificate education majors. It has been playing a leading role among German public universities in providing technical support for Germany's industrial intelligent manufacturing cluster.

On June 1, China released a master plan for constructing a free trade port on Hainan, a resort island with tourism as a mainstay industry, arousing interest both abroad and at home. Enditem
Startup company improving endoscopy procedures with their micro-textured balloon technology continues to further develop product line

About Aspero Medical: Aspero Medicals Pillar TM micro-texture technology was developed at the University of Colorado. The technology was developed to improve gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure performance and outcomes. Aspero Medical was founded in 2018 by Mark Rentschler, PhD, PE, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Steven Edmundowicz, MD, Professor and Medical Director of the Digestive Health Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, and received initial equity funding through Innosphere Ventures, Fort Collins, Colorado. www.asperomedical.com

About Aspero Medical: Aspero Medicals Pillar TM micro-texture technology was developed at the University of Colorado. The technology was developed to improve gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure performance and outcomes. Aspero Medical was founded in 2018 by Mark Rentschler, PhD, PE, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Steven Edmundowicz, MD, Professor and Medical Director of the Digestive Health Center at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, and received initial equity funding through Innosphere Ventures, Fort Collins, Colorado. www.asperomedical.com

About the NSFs Small Business Programs: Americas Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.75 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. Americas Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.1 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. For more information, visit https://seedfund.nsf.gov/. #NSFFUNDED, #NSFSTORIES

About the NSFs Small Business Programs: Americas Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.75 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. Americas Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.1 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. For more information, visit https://seedfund.nsf.gov/. #NSFFUNDED, #NSFSTORIES

Boulder, Colorado, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aspero Medical, a medical device startup focused on developing solutions and applications for the field of gastroenterology, has received a $225,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the purpose of developing an advanced intraoperative endoscopic balloon overtube to use in gastrointestinal (GI) and endoscopy procedures. Aspero Medical is a spinoff of the University of Colorado Boulder and a graduate company of Innosphere Ventures' commercialization program.

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The NSF grant funds will be used to further develop Aspero Medicals C-Tube product line that incorporates their proprietary PillarTM micro-texture technology. This investment will allow us to finalize an entirely new balloon and overtube design that will enable consistent and complete colonoscopy procedures, said Dr. Rentschler, Aspero Medical CEO. We are extremely grateful to have received this grant from the National Science Foundation.

Balloon endoscopy has become the standard of care in the drive to diagnose and treat small bowel disease. However, the current balloons used in these procedures are smooth and round making them prone to slippage. These ineffective balloons result in an estimated $100 million in increased annual costs for healthcare providers and patients. Every year in the U.S., over 51.5 million gastrointestinal endoscopies are performed.

The project will be led by principal investigator (PI) Mark Rentschler and supported through Prospect Life Sciences. Rentschler is Chief Executive Officer for Aspero Medical and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder.

NSF is proud to support the technology of the future by thinking beyond incremental developments and funding the most creative, impactful ideas across all markets and areas of science and engineering, said Andrea Belz, Division Director of the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. With the support of our research funds, any deep technology startup or small business can guide basic science into meaningful solutions that address tremendous needs.

The National Science Foundation grant combined with previous investment from Innosphere Ventures and the State of Colorado OEDIT Advanced Industries grant program will enable the next stage of development for this novel technology, said James Willett, senior strategic advisor and Aspero Medical Board Member. We look forward to carrying this project to full commercialization and expanding the options currently available for endoscopic gastrointestinal procedures.

There are significant limitations with current technology used in gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures, but Aspero has developed an alternative that will potentially improve performance of certain procedures, save time for practitioners and patients, and improve patient outcomes, said Mike Freeman, Innosphere Ventures general partner. Innosphere has worked with impressive university faculty over the years, and we found Mark Rentschler to be an outstanding CU professor and researcher who understands whats required to transfer and commercialize technology from the university setting.

Attachments

CONTACT: Mark Rentschler, Ph.D.,P.E., CEO Aspero Medical mark.rentschler@asperomedical.com




Acidic niche keeps lymphatic system in check during immune response

TAMPA, Fla. -- In the fight against cancer, the immune system is the first line of defense. The lymphatic system specifically is essential to protecting the body against foreign invaders. Activation of immune cells in the lymph nodes leads to the production and release of antibodies, and activation of lymphocytes, including T cells, to battle infection. But little is known about how activation of immune cells in the lymph nodes can occur without enabling effector functions that could also damage the lymphatic system.

In a new article published in Nature Communications, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers describe a novel acidic niche within lymph nodes that plays an integral role in regulating T cell activation.

"Acidosis is a potent inhibitor of effector T cell functions," said Robert Gillies, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Cancer Physiology at Moffitt. "Oxygen levels are reported to be low in lymph nodes and that hypoxic tissue is acidic. We wanted to determine if lymph nodes were also acidic."

For this study, Moffitt researchers used fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging to identify a naturally occurring acidic niche within lymph nodes. Upon further analysis, they discovered that the T cells were the source of that acidity. They say the results pinpoint localized acidosis as a critical component of the adaptive immune response.

The findings demonstrate the potential role for the lymph node microenvironment in shaping T cell biology. T cells activated by antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, produce an acidic environment that is balanced by the enhanced capacity to generate lactic acid.

"The low extracellular pH of lymph nodes does not impair the T cell's activation, but it does suppress the cytokine production, which is likely what protects lymph nodes from being attacked by the immune system," said Gillies.

The researchers say this robust physiological mechanism can be exploited by cancers, resulting in evasion of immune surveillance by malignant tissue and tumors. They believe this could be managed by manipulating the acidity in combination with immunotherapies such as T-cell checkpoint blockade therapy. However, more research is needed to confirm.

###

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute (R01 CA077575, U54 CA193489, P30 CA076292, R01 CA239219, R01 GM073857), the Fulbright Association, the European Research Council (723997), the Associazione Italiana Ricerca Cancro (20153), the China Scholarship Council (201706325051) and the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province in China (LY17H160036).

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt's scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt is the No. 11 cancer hospital and has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999. Moffitt's expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet status, its highest distinction. With more than 7,000 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.4 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
DUBLIN, Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Hyperspectral Imaging System Market by Product (Camera, Accessories), Technology (Snapshot, Push broom), Application (Military, Remote Sensing (Agriculture, Mining, Environmental), Machine Vision, Life Sciences & Medical Diagnosis) - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global hyperspectral imaging systems market is projected to reach USD 30.0 billion by 2025 from USD 12.4 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 19.3%.

Market growth can largely be attributed to factors such as increasing funding and investments in this field and the growing industrial applications of HSI. The untapped market opportunities in emerging markets are also expected to provide growth opportunities for players in the market. On the other hand, data storage issues and the high costs associated with HSI systems are expected to limit adoption, thereby restricting market growth during the forecast period. Attaining super-resolution in a cost-effective manner is a major challenge faced by the industry, which may hamper market growth to a certain extent.

The cameras segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

On the basis of product, the hyperspectral imaging systems market is segmented into cameras and accessories. Cameras are expected to command a larger share of the hyperspectral imaging systems market, by product, in 2019. Technological advancements, the development of affordable hyperspectral imaging cameras, and the increasing adoption of hyperspectral technology for defense and industrial applications are driving the growth of the hyperspectral cameras segment.

The life sciences and medical diagnostics segment will witness the highest growth in the hyperspectral imaging systems market.

Based on application, the hyperspectral imaging systems market is segmented into military surveillance, remote sensing, machine vision & optical sorting, life sciences & medical diagnostics, and other applications (includes colorimetry, meteorology, thin-film manufacturing, and night vision). The military surveillance segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the hyperspectral imaging systems market in 2019, while the life sciences & medical diagnostics segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing use of hyperspectral imaging in medical diagnosis and image-guided surgery.

North America will dominate the market during the forecast period.

Geographically, the hyperspectral imaging systems market is segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. In 2019, North America accounted for the largest share of the hyperspectral imaging systems market. The large share of this region can be attributed to the presence of highly developed research infrastructure, availability of technologically advanced imaging products, and growing adoption of hyperspectral imaging in military surveillance, environmental monitoring, mining, machine vision, and life sciences and diagnostics.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights

4.1 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market Overview

4.2 Asia-Pacific: Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market, by Application (2020)

4.3 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market for Remote Sensing Applications, by Type, 2020-2025

4.4 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market: Geographic Snapshot



5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1.1 Increasing Funding and Investments

5.1.1.2 Growing Industrial Applications of Hyperspectral Imaging

5.1.2 Market Restraints

5.1.2.1 Data Storage Challenges and High Costs

5.1.3 Market Opportunities

5.1.3.1 Untapped Market Opportunities in Emerging Countries

5.1.4 Market Challenges

5.1.4.1 Attaining Super-Resolution in a Cost-Effective Manner

5.1.5 Covid-19 Impact



6 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market, by Product

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Cameras

6.2.1 Hyperspectral Imaging Cameras to Witness the Highest Growth Owing to Their Increasing Applications in Defense & Industrial Applications

6.3 Accessories

6.3.1 Increase in the Adoption of Hyperspectral Imaging Systems to Support the Adoption of Associated Accessories



7 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market, by Technology

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Pushbroom

7.2.1 Pushbroom Technology Segment Dominates the Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market

7.3 Snapshot

7.3.1 Snapshot Segment to Witness the Highest Growth During the Forecast Period

7.4 Other Technologies



8 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market, by Application

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Military Surveillance

8.2.1 Military Surveillance is the Largest Application Segment of the Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market

8.3 Remote Sensing

8.3.1 Agriculture

8.3.1.1 Agriculture is the Largest & Fastest-Growing Segment of the Remote Sensing Applications Market

8.3.2 Mining/Mineral Mapping

8.3.2.1 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Can Accurately Map Areas That Are Spectrally Unique at the Surface to Produce Comprehensive Mineral Maps

8.3.3 Environmental Monitoring

8.3.3.1 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems in Environmental Monitoring Are Used to Monitor Natural Disasters

8.3.4 Other Remote Sensing Applications

8.4 Life Sciences & Medical Diagnostics

8.4.1 Life Sciences & Medical Diagnostics Segment to Register the Highest Growth During the Forecast Period

8.5 Machine Vision & Optical Sorting

8.5.1 Growing Focus on Automation to Increase Productivity in Various Industries Will Drive the Market

8.6 Other Applications



9 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market, by Region

9.1 Introduction

9.2 North America

9.2.1 US

9.2.1.1 the Us Dominates the North American Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market

9.2.2 Canada

9.2.2.1 Rising Government Investments and Continuous Technological Developments Will Drive the Market in the Country

9.3 Europe

9.3.1 Germany

9.3.1.1 Germany Dominates the European Market for Hyperspectral Imaging Systems

9.3.2 France

9.3.2.1 Rising Interest in Expanding the Applications of Hyperspectral Imaging is Driving Market Growth

9.3.3 UK

9.3.3.1 Growing Interest in Deploying Hyperspectral Imaging in Research Applications to Drive Market Growth in the UK

9.3.4 Italy

9.3.4.1 Implementation of Hyperspectral Imaging Technology in New Application Areas Will Drive the Italian Market

9.3.5 Spain

9.3.5.1 Advancements in Research Are Supporting the Growth of the Spanish Market

9.3.6 Rest of Europe

9.4 Asia-Pacific

9.4.1 Japan

9.4.1.1 Japan Holds the Largest Share of the Market in the Asia-Pacific

9.4.2 China

9.4.2.1 China Will Register the Highest CAGR During the Forecast Period in the Asia-Pacific Hyperspectral Imaging Market

9.4.3 India

9.4.3.1 Increased Research Will Drive Market Growth in India

9.4.4 Rest of Asia-Pacific

9.5 Rest of the World

9.5.1 Latin America

9.5.1.1 Need for Remote Sensing to Positively Impact the Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market in the Region

9.5.2 Middle East & Africa

9.5.2.1 Increasing Research & Development Activities to Drive the Hyperspectral Systems Market in this Region



10 Competitive Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Hyperspectral Imaging Systems Market Ranking

10.3 Competitive Situation and Trends

10.3.1 Partnerships, Agreements, and Collaborations

10.3.2 Product Launches

10.3.3 Acquisitions

10.3.4 Expansions

10.4 Competitive Leadership Mapping (2019)

10.4.1 Vendor Inclusion Criteria

10.4.2 Visionary Leaders

10.4.3 Innovators

10.4.4 Dynamic Differentiators

10.4.5 Emerging Companies



11 Company Profiles

11.1 Headwall Photonics, Inc.

11.2 Specim, Spectral Imaging Ltd.

11.3 Norsk Elektro Optikk as (Neo)

11.4 Resonon, Inc.

11.5 Corning Incorporated

11.6 Applied Spectral Imaging

11.7 Bayspec, Inc.

11.8 Camlin Group Ltd.

11.9 Chemimage Corporation

11.10 Cubert GmbH

11.11 Galileo Group, Inc.

11.12 Hypermed Imaging, Inc.

11.13 Imec

11.14 Inno-Spec

11.15 Raytheon

11.16 Surface Optics Corporation

11.17 Telops

11.18 Other Companies

11.18.1 Brandywine Photonics

11.18.2 Cytoviva

11.18.3 Diaspective Vision GmbH

11.18.4 Gamaya

11.18.5 Recent Developments

11.18.6 Hinalea Imaging

11.18.7 Recent Developments

11.18.8 Orbital Sidekick

11.18.9 Photon Etc.

11.18.10 Ximea GmbH



12 Appendix

12.1 Discussion Guide

12.2 Knowledge Store

12.3 Available Customizations

12.4 Related Reports

12.5 Author Details



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5pz2kb

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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Federal authorities asked for the publics help to find victims of an accused sexual predator who they said lured sex workers to New Jersey and raped them while refusing to pay.

Jose Torres, 43, of Elizabeth, who was charged earlier this year with multiple counts of coercion and enticement, remained in federal custody, according to authorities.

From May 2015 to October, he lured sex workers to travel from various out of state locations, included Canada and New York, to engage in prostitution, prosecutors alleged. He enticed them with large amounts of money, but when they asked to be paid he often assaulted and raped the victims.

The FBIs Newark division, working with the Department of Homeland Security, said officials were looking to identify more possible victims.

Torres has been preying on sex workers for over 10 years and is believed to have numerous victims, a statement from the FBI said.

He used websites including EROS, Erotic Monkey, Tryst and Backpage to find his victims, according to authorities.

An attorney for Torres previously told NJ Advance Media his client was not guilty and would fight the allegations.

The FBI asked possible victims or anyone solicited by Torres to email ReportJOT@fbi.gov. More information is available on the FBI Newark divisions website.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
A new University of New Mexico-developed drug to reduce obesity and treat diabetes could potentially hit the market in coming years.

The New Mexico Startup Factory, a local incubator of sorts created by the New Mexico Angels private investment group, launched a new company to take UNMs drug to market. And the National Institutes of Health just approved a $300,000 grant to conduct animal studies on the efficacy and safety of the compound, developed by a team of UNM scientists with additional assistance from New Mexico State University.

If the NIH-backed animal testing goes well, it could lead to another grant of up to $2 million, potentially paving the way for human clinical trials in a few years, said lead research scientist Eric Prossnitz, a cell biologist and physiologist who heads the Division of Molecular Medicine in the UNM Health Sciences Center Department of Internal Medicine.

This initial grant will help finance the first phase of pre-clinical animal trials over the next year, Prossnitz said. After that, well seek NIH approval for a two-year grant of up to $1 million per year to do much more detailed studies in animals. If the stars line up and we have enough money, we could then approach the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to proceed with clinical human trials.

The forthcoming studies must first prove the efficacy, and above all, the safety of using the drug in animals before the FDA would consider human trials.

We need to first make sure of any and all side effects or potential toxicity, Prossnitz said.

The drug has already produced promising results in previous studies with obese mice of both genders, resulting in significantly reduced body weight, decreased circulating cholesterol, increased energy expenditure, improved glucose tolerance and restored insulin sensitivity, Prossnitz said.

The drug, called Tespria, is based on a compound called G-1, which Prossnitz and his team discovered nearly 15 years ago. G-1 acts as an agonist, or activator, for the G-Protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER), which interacts with the female reproduction hormone estrogen. G-1 mimics the effects of estrogen, which naturally docks with GPER molecules, causing reactions in the GPER that can impact a variety of bodily functions, such as reducing pressure in blood vessels or generating anti-inflammatory effects on cells.

GPER, when activated by estrogen, basically turns things on and off in the body. Prossnitzs team discovered that the G-1 compound causes the same reactions without actually involving estrogen.

That generated a lot more research over the years to discover the myriad of things that GPER, when activated, actually does in the body, and to look at potential use of G-1 to activate GPER to fight disease, such as cancer, which is often connected with estrogen.

Those studies led a Pennsylvania company, Linnaeus Therapeutics Inc., to license the use of G-1 from UNM to develop drugs to help fight things like breast cancer and melanoma. Linnaeus is now conducting FDA-sanctioned human trials on people with advanced cases of melanoma, said Lisa Kuuttila, CEO of UNM Rainforest Innovations, UNMs technology transfer office.

G-1 seems to have pretty widespread applications for cancer, Kuuttila said. Linnaeus has made a lot of progress with promising results in clinical trials.

Given G-1s anti-cancer potential, Prossnitz team began looking at its ability to also activate GPER against metabolic diseases associated with estrogen. Lack of estrogen in menopausal women, for example, can cause loss of bone density and obesity.

Our studies showed that G-1 reverses the effects of a lack of estrogen, effectively treating both obesity and diabetes in female and male mice, Prossnitz said. In female mice, we found G-1 mimics the effects of estrogen by activating GPER without actually increasing or changing estrogen levels.

In males, estrogen can produce undesirable side effects. But since G-1 only mimics the impact of estrogen without actually involving that hormone, UNM scientists were able to treat male mice as well, Prossnitz said.

That encouraged the New Mexico Angels to form a new company, GPER G-1 Development Group, providing seed funding to move forward, said company CEO John Elling.

We licensed the use of G-1 from UNM to treat obesity and diabetes, because there are good indications that it works, Elling said.

Its still not exactly clear what GPER activation through G-1 actually does in the body. One possibility is that it activates brown fat, which burns energy rather than storing it like other fats, thereby burning up excess calories, Prossnitz said.

It increased the energy levels in mice, he said. Thats the Holy Grail  to expend more energy and burn more fat without decreasing food intake or increasing activity levels.

NMSU regents professor Jeffrey Arterburn is assisting in research, and NMSUs Arrowhead Innovation Fund provided additional seed money for GPER G-1, said Arrowhead Center Director Kathryn Hansen.

Its exciting to have jointly owned technology with UNM and a high-quality research team doing basic lab work together, Hansen said. Theres potential here for real impact on obesity and diabetes.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to order transfer of funds received by the PM Cares Fund to the National Disaster Response Fund to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic, saying financial planning is the Centres domain.

The apex court held that both are entirely different funds with separate objectives and there is no need to transfer funds from one to the other. The ruling came on a petition filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, which argued that PM CARES is not subject to an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General .

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan held that the plan prepared by the government under the NDRF was sufficient to tackle the ensuing Covid-19 pandemic and there was no need for a fresh action plan.

At this need of the hour no exception can be taken to the constitution of a public charitable trust, namely, PM CARES Fund to have necessary financial resources to meet the emergent situation, said the bench, also comprising Justices R S Reddy and M R Shah. The court said there is also no statutory prohibition in making any contribution by any person or institution in the NDRF as per Section 46(1)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

It added the Centres National Disaster Management Plan deals with all aspects of the biological and public health emergencies in a systematic manner. Therefore, there is no need for a separate plan to deal with the pandemic, it noted. Financial planning is in the domain of the Central government, which is made after due deliberation and consideration. We, thus, do not find any substance in the submission of the petitioner that there is any statutory restriction/prohibition in utilisation of NDRF for COVID-19, the bench in its 75-page verdict stated. The PM Cares Fund was set up by the Centre on March 28 as a public charitable trust.

Defining transparency

While the Cong termed the verdict a body blow to transparency and accountability of the govt, the

BJP claimed transparency is writ large in the PM CARES Fund
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 05:21:23|Editor: huaxia

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Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita casts his ballot at a polling station in Bamako, Mali on April 19, 2020. The second round of legislative elections kicked off this Sunday at 8 a.m. GMT for Malian voters to choose the remaining 125 of the 147 deputies for Mali's National Assembly. (Photo by Habib Kouyate/Xinhua)

"The secretary-general strongly condemns these actions and calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali. To this end, he demands the immediate and unconditional release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and members of his cabinet," says Stephane Dujarric.



UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali after the country's president was arrested.

"The secretary-general is following with deep concern the unfolding developments in Mali, including the military mutiny which culminated in the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and members of his government earlier today in Bamako," said a statement issued by Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita washes his hands after arriving at a polling station in Bamako, Mali on April 19, 2020. (Photo by Habib Kouyate/Xinhua)

"The secretary-general strongly condemns these actions and calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali. To this end, he demands the immediate and unconditional release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and members of his cabinet," it said.

"The secretary-general reiterates his calls for a negotiated solution and peaceful resolution of their differences. He expresses his full support to the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States in their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the current crisis in Mali, including through the good offices of his special representative," said the statement.

"The secretary-general urges all stakeholders, particularly the defense and security forces, to exercise maximum restraint and uphold the human rights and individual freedoms of all Malians," it added. 
Mumbai, Aug 18 : Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal has thanked Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar for contributing Rs 1 crore towards the Assam flood relief.

Sonowal took to Twitter on Wednesday to praise Akshay for showing "sympathy and support" during the period of crisis.

"Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of ?1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena," Sonowal tweeted on Wednesday.

On August 2, it was reported that Assam's flood situation has significantly improved.

The respite in the monsoon rains since July 24 lay behind the improvement in the flood situation in Assam and other northeastern states, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said.

Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said that nine lakh people in 1,087 villages continue to be distressed, though the number has dropped since July 24, when over 28 lakh people in 2,543 villages of 26 districts were affected.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which was the first responder to the Air India Express crash in Kozhikode 10 days ago, suffered a coronavirus jolt after one of its personnel involved with the rescue operations tested positive.

Sub-inspector Rohitash, who is asymptomatic, has been hospitalised.

"On Tuesday, SI/Exe Rohitash, tested covid-19 positive," CISF officials told CNN-News18. "The individual was among the first responders who has actively participated in the rescue operation of aircraft crash that occurred on August 7. He was then sent to institutional quarantine as a precautionary measure. On August 14, his swab test was taken and the result came positive."

Rohitash is undergoing treatment at the Manjeri Government Hospital and does not currently have any health issues, they added.

Thirty CISF personnel involved in the rescue operations a day after the plane crashed on August 7 were sent to 14-day quarantine after two passengers in the flight tested positive. Kerala's Health Department of Kerala had asked all rescuers to quarantine themselves after the reports. Thirteen CISF personnel involved in the rescue lived with their families and were asked to quarantine themselves at home. While 17, including Rohitash, were sent to a college near the airport to quarantine.

"He lived in the barrack. After the crash when quarantine orders were issued, he was one of those sent to the college," said a senior CISF officer.

Family members of CISF personnel living nearby had also jumped in to rescue the passengers of the aircraft.

The flight, with 190 passengers and crew on board, had overshot the runway at the Karipur airport while landing at night and had then fallen into a valley about 35 feet below and broken into two portions.

The Air India Express plane was repatriating Indians stranded in Dubai due to the coronavirus pandemic as part of the Vande Bharat Mission. The aircraft overshot the runway of the Calicut International Airport in heavy rain near Kozhikode, killing 18 people. This was India's worst passenger aircraft accident since 2010.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : Seeking to turn the tables on the Congress on the controversy surrounding Facebook and its WhatsApp messaging service, the BJP on Tuesday sought to link the social media platform with the opposition Congress and even the Trinamool Congress in the past.

On Tuesday, the Congress held a press conference wherein it continued to attack the BJP on the Facebook issue by claiming its senior executive Ankhi Das was in contact with senior BJP leaders and MPs in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

On the other hand, the BJP brought up the name of Congress Spokesman and former Union Minister Manish Tewari in the whole affair, apart from people like Vijaya Moorthy and Kavitha KK, to suggest the platform's alleged past affiliations to the Congress and even the TMC.

BJP's Information Technology Cell chief Amit Malviya told IANS that Vijaya Moorthy, a part of the Public Policy team in Facebook, had worked for the Congress in the past.

In fact, he claimed, she had worked in a "nationwide electoral project" of the Youth Congress. She had a stint in an "NGO in socio-political space", as per her LinkedIn profile, between January 2012 and April 2015.

Malviya also alleged that Kavitha KK, whose LinkedIn profile also shows her to be working for the social media giant, has also worked for a Trinamool Congress MP in the past.

In fact, Kavitha's LinkedIn profile mentions working as Principal Policy Associate for TMC leader Derek O'Brien between 2015 and 2017.

Regardless of Manish Tewari's denial, Malviya claimed he had worked for Atlantic Council in the past.

"Tewari was appointed a distinguished senior fellow of Atlantic Council, which in turn was entrusted with the job of rooting out political propaganda from Facebook. Like it or not, it's a fact," the BJP's IT Cell chief asserted.

He claimed that in the run-up to the 2019 general elections, there were at least 700 Facebook pages aligned with the BJP's core ideology, some even running into million followers, but were taken down.

IANS came across a press release dated January 9, 2017 by Atlantic Council that quoted its then South Asia Center Director Bharath Gopalaswamy as saying: "We are delighted to welcome Manish Tewari to our team. We are eager to draw on his expertise from his years of service to the government of India, and he will be an invaluable addition to the South Asia Center team as we look to deepen our programming on India and the subcontinent." Tewari insists these are "smear campaigns". He claims he was a distinguished senior fellow with the South Asia Center, where his tenure was from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019. He claims he was succeeded by BJP's Jay Panda.

BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar brought up the Congress' alleged connection with Cambridge Analytica to hit back at the opposition party.

"They (Congress) were recently cosying up to Cambridge Analytica and Facebook to try and do hit jobs on the BJP, as recently as 2018." The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica was a data leak in early 2018, whereby millions of Facebook users' personal data was harvested without consent by the firm, primarily for political advertising.

Though Congress had tried to distance itself, a Congress poster in then Cambridge Analytica CEO's London office came out in the public domain, leaving the party baffled.

Meanwhile, even as Congress leader Pawan Khera tried to make out a case against the BJP on the whole issue, Malviya furnishing more examples from the past to connect Khera's part with the social media company.

He claimed that Ajit Mohan, MD of Facebook-India, had worked with the Planning Commission during the UPA era. He alleged that Sidharth Mazumdar, another Facebook employee who 'worked in the firm's Public policy team', had worked with Ahmed Patel, a close aide of Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi.

With political recriminations on the issue likely to continue for some more time after the fresh salvos by the ruling party, it seems that the Congress has as much, if not more, to answer as the BJP.

(Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at Anindya.b@ians.in)
The Atlantic Ocean could contain up to 200 million tonnes of microplastic pollution, ten times more than previously thought, a new study reports.

Scientists examined the uppermost surface of the Atlantic on a British research expedition and found 12 million tonnes of microplastics  plastic particles less than 5 millimetres in diameter.

From this they estimated the entire Atlantic Ocean, from surface to seabed, to be carrying at least an extra 178 million tonnes of plastic on top of previous estimates.

Just one million tonnes is approximately the same weight as 76,000 double-decker London buses.

There is at least 10 times more plastic in the Atlantic than previously thought, the new study reveals

A graphic showing the new estimated mass of microplastic in the Atlantic against the previous estimate

Scientists previously estimated that the amount of plastic that had entered the Atlantic since 1950 equalled 17 million tonnes.

But earlier studies hadn't been measuring the concentrations of microplastic particles beneath the ocean surface, invisible to the human eye.

This new study considered micro particles from just the three commercially most prominent and most-littered plastics  polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene.

Polyethylene is the most widely used plastic in the world and is used to make shopping bags, clear food wrap and detergent bottles.

Polypropylene, meanwhile, is used to make robust products ranging from protective car bumpers, lab equipment and furniture, while polystyrene is well known for is packing and insulating properties.

'Previously, we couldn't balance the mass of floating plastic we observed with the mass we thought had entered the ocean since 1950,' said study author Dr Katsiaryna Pabortsava from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton.

'Our research is the first to have done this across the entire Atlantic, from the UK to the Falklands.'

NOC researchers collected seawater samples during the 26th Atlantic Meridional Transect expedition in September to November 2016.

They filtered large volumes of seawater at three selected depths in the top five per cent of the Atlantic, down to 650 feet.

Based on their findings, they estimate that there's between 11.6 million and 21.1 million tonnes of plastic in this region of the ocean.

When extrapolated down to an average depth of 12,000 feet, the total amount for the whole ocean is likely to be 200 million tonnes.

NOC's research into marine plastic contamination aims to better understand the magnitude and persistence of exposure to plastics and the potential harms it can cause

The study shows that the ocean interior conceals high loads of small-sized plastic debris, which can exceed previously estimates.

It is worth noting, however, that other sizes and polymer types could exist in the deeper ocean, which could see the figure dwarf the 200 million tonne mark.

It is now 'critical' to assess plastic pollution across all size categories and polymer groups to determine 'the fate and danger of plastic contamination', the experts say.

'In order to determine the dangers of plastic contamination to the environment and to humans we need good estimates of the amount and characteristics of this material, how it enters the ocean, how it degrades and then how toxic it is at these concentrations,' said study co-author Professor Richard Lampitt, also from NOC.

'This paper demonstrates that scientists have had a totally inadequate understanding of even the simplest of these factors, how much is there, and it would seem our estimates of how much is dumped into the ocean has been massively underestimated.'

NOC's research into marine plastic contamination aims to better understand the magnitude and persistence of exposure to plastics and the potential harms it can cause.

Nina Schrank, a Greenpeace campaigner, said: "Microplastics have been found everywhere from the Arctic to the Mariana Trench, in our seafood and even the air we breathe.

'We know that particles of plastic are present in every ocean and every river that's been tested, but we're still drastically underestimating how much plastic is entering the environment.

'Action from retailers and brands on cutting throwaway plastic still doesn't come close to matching the scale and urgency of the problem. And the problem could be even bigger than we thought.'

The study has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
NEW YORK, NY, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



This Approval Enables the Company to Sell its Product Lines to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: TAUG) (Tauriga or the Company), a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, with a proprietary line of functional supplement chewing gums (Flavors: Pomegranate, Blood Orange, Peach-Lemon, Pear Bellini, Mint, Black Currant) as well as two ongoing Biotechnology initiatives, today announced that it has been approved to be a supplier for the City of Atlanta. Accordingly, the Company is now eligible to sell its products and product lines to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). In addition to its E-Commerce business segment and upcoming national roll-out to retailers and convenience stores, the Company is focused on a successful entry into the network of U.S. airports.

Below  Supplier Credentials Issued to the Company:



SUPPLIER: Tauriga Sciences, Inc.

TASK #: 2244148

SUPPLIER #: 2100487

ABOUT TAURIGA SCIENCES INC.

Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (TAUG) is a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, engaged in several major business activities and initiatives. The company manufactures and distributes several proprietary retail products and product lines, mainly focused on the Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG) Edibles market segment. The main product line, branded as Tauri-Gum, consists of a proprietary supplement chewing gum that is both Kosher certified and Vegan formulated (CBD Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Mint, Blood Orange, Pomegranate) & (CBG Infused Tauri-Gum Flavor: Peach-Lemon). The Companys commercialization strategy consists of a broad array of retail customers, distributors, and a fast-growing E-Commerce business segment (E-Commerce website: www.taurigum.com ). Please visit our corporate website, for additional information, as well as inquiries, at http://www.tauriga.com

Story continues

Complementary to the Companys retail business, are its two ongoing biotechnology initiatives. The first one relates to the development of a Pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum, for nausea regulation (specifically designed to help patients that are subjected to ongoing chemotherapy treatment). On March 18, 2020, the Company announced that it filed a provisional U.S. patent application covering its pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum. The Patent, filed with the U.S.P.T.O. is Titled MEDICATED CBD COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURING, AND METHODS OF TREATMENT. The second one relates to a collaboration agreement with Aegea Biotechnologies Inc. for the co-development of a rapid, multiplexed, Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) test with superior sensitivity and selectivity.

The Company is headquartered in New York City and operates a regional office in Barcelona, Spain. In addition, the Company operates a full time E-Commerce fulfillment center located in LaGrangeville, New York.

DISCLAIMER -- Forward-Looking Statements



This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which represent managements beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are often indicated by using words such as may, will, expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, believes, or plans, and may include statements regarding corporate objectives as well as the attainment of certain corporate goals and milestones. Forward-looking statements are based on present circumstances and on managements present beliefs with respect to events that have not occurred, that may not occur, or that may occur with different consequences or timing than those now assumed or anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements due to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, such as are not guarantees of general economic and business conditions, the ability to successfully develop and market products, consumer and business consumption habits, the ability to consummate successful acquisition and licensing transactions, fluctuations in exchange rates, and other factors over which Tauriga has little or no control. Many of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in the Risk Factors section of Taurigas Form 10-K and other filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release, and Tauriga assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Contact:

CONTACT INFORMATION



Tauriga Sciences, Inc.

555 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Seth M. Shaw

Email: sshaw@tauriga.com

cell # (917) 796 9926

Instagram: @taurigum

Twitter: @SethMShaw

Corp. Website: www.tauriga.com

E-Commerce Website: www.taurigum.com




Former special counsel Robert Mueller is sworn in before he testifies before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on his report on Russian election interference, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, on July 24, 2019. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

First Criminal Charge by Durham Casts Shadow Over Mueller Probe

U.S. Attorney John Durham filed the first charge of his criminal inquiry on Aug. 14 against the primary FBI attorney assigned to provide legal support to the special counsel team led by Robert Mueller, casting a shadow over the 22-month probe that roiled the nation before finding no evidence of collusion between the 2016 Trump presidential campaign and Russia.

As part of a potential plea deal with Durham, former FBI assistant general counsel Kevin Clinesmith is expected to plead guilty on Aug. 19 to altering an email as part of a process to obtain a secret court warrant used to spy on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Clinesmith altered the email on June 19, 2017, while working as the primary FBI attorney assigned to the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, which Mueller inherited a month earlier.

According to the court documents, Clinesmith inserted the words and not a source into an email from a CIA liaison that described Pages relationship with the agency. As the primary FBI attorney on the case, Clinesmith was asked to find out if Page was a source for the CIA before the FBI applied for the fourth and final warrant to continue surveilling the former Trump campaign associate.

The liaison replied with a memo showing that Page was an approved operational contact for the agency, a crucial fact that never made it into the spy warrant application the FBI sent to the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. According to the CIA memo, Page reported to the agency about his contacts with Russian intelligence officers, a fact which would have been indispensable to a judge considering the FBIs attestation that Page is a Russian agent.

The Department of Justice inspector general flagged Clinesmiths forgery as one of the most egregious faults among the 17 serious errors and omissions contained in the applications the FBI used to surveil Page. While the inspector generals reports and other evidence in the public realm have already substantially clouded the credibility of the Mueller probe, Durhams first case and the expected guilty plea taint the battery of blunders with the first indisputable link to criminality.

The charge also raises serious questions about the culture within the broader special counsel operation, during which Clinesmith played a key role for roughly a year before being removed upon the discovery of his blatantly anti-Trump text messages.

I am so stressed about what I could have done differently, Clinesmith wrote to his FBI colleague Sally Moyer on the day after Trumps victory in November 2016. Im just devastated.

Plus, my [expletive] name is all over the legal documents investigating his staff, he wrote a few messages later.

Clinesmith wasnt the only FBI official to have been removed from Muellers team over biased text messages. FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page ridiculed Trump, spoke of stopping him from winning the election, and mentioned an insurance policy in the unlikely event he won. The pair, who at the time were involved an extramarital affair, broached the subject of impeachment around the time Mueller was assigned to lead the inquiry. Mueller removed Strzok upon learning of the messages. Page had left on her own prior to the discovery.

The inspector general didnt find evidence that bias motivated any of the investigative actions. He also told Congress that he was baffled by the sheer number of serious errors committed by three handpicked teams working on the FBIs most sensitive case.

While it is unclear what Durham will make public next and when, the court papers in Clinesmiths case provide a hint. The charge against the former FBI attorney was filed as information rather than an indictment, indicating that Clinesmith agreed to waive his right to have a grand jury decide whether the government has probable cause to charge a crime. The waiver of indictment is often used with a defendant who agreed to plead guilty under a cooperation agreement. The terms of the plea may reveal whether Clinesmith is cooperating with the investigation.

The charging document also states that the CIA provided the memo about Page to certain members of the Crossfire Hurricane team on Aug. 17, 2016, months before Clinesmith was assigned as the primary FBI attorney on the case. The certain members received the memo days after opening individual cases on four Trump campaign associates, including Page. All four of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) applications failed to disclose Pages status and history with the CIA.

When the DOJ inspector general asked Clinesmith why he subsequently described Page as not a source for the CIA, Clinesmith said that he recalled the liaison saying that [Page] was not a source of theirs, but rather incidentally reporting information via a source of theirs. When the inspector general asked the CIA liaison about it, the liaison said her email stated just the opposite.

Justin Shur, a lawyer for Clinesmith, said in a statement to Reuters that his client 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, Shur said.

House Intelligence Committee ranking member Devin Nunes told Fox Business in June that the Republicans on the committee have sent 14 criminal referrals related to Crossfire Hurricane.

President Donald Trump, who has long asserted that the Obama administration spied on his campaign, told reporters at the White House on Aug. 14 the charge against Clinesmith is just the beginning, I would imagine, because what happened should never happen again.

The fact is, they spied on my campaign and they got caught, and youll be hearing more, Trump said.

The plethora of errors in the Page FISA applications appear to be an anomaly. Horowitzs subsequent review of a sample of 29 other FISA applications found less than a handful of errors, none of which were significant enough to invalidate any of the applications. By contrast, the FBI conceded that the errors in the Page FISAs invalidated the last two warrants.

Clinesmiths tenure at the FBI ended on Sept. 21, 2019, according to the criminal information. The bureau told The Epoch Times that Clinesmith left before an internal disciplinary process was completed.

In addition to working as the attorney on the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, Clinesmith worked on the probe of Hillary Clintons unauthorized use of a private email server to conduct government business during her tenure as secretary of state. His work on that investigation earned him an entire section in a separate inspector general report, which found that he sent numerous politically charged messages ridiculing then-candidate Trump.

External reviews of the conduct of the Mueller investigation arent the only sources casting shadows on the legacy of the probe.

Attorney General William Barr appointed Durham in May 2019 to examine the conduct of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation and related issues. Durham is looking to determine whether intelligence collection on Trumps presidential campaign by top Obama administration officials was lawful and appropriate. The investigation was designated a formal criminal investigation in October 2019.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) in March dropped the charges brought by Mueller against two Russian companies accused of using social media to sow discord during the 2016 election. The charges were once heralded as one part of Russias two-prong operation to influence the election.

The second prong of the purported campaign consists of charges against a dozen Russian intelligence officers that remain alleged. In May, the DOJ moved to drop charges brought by Mueller against former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Former US First Lady Michelle Obama, in an 18-minute speech on Day One of the virtual Democratic convention, tore into Donald Trump's presidency painting a picture of a man who simply does not understand what she described as the "immense weight and awesome power of the presidency".

" is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job but he is clearly...over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us," Obama said, revealing a string of what she called "cold, hard truths".

Obama was seeking to show the sharp differences between Trump and former vice president Joe Biden, with less than 80 days to go before the November election. She chose to underline a recurring theme of Biden's empathy. Tragedy has followed Biden from the early 70s till after he became vice president. Biden lost his first wife and baby daughter after he was elected to the US Senate in 1972, he lost his son Beau from brain cancer in 2015.

"Joe knows the anguish of sitting at a table with an empty chair, which is why he gives his time, so freely to grieving parents," Obama said.

Trump knocked Obama and the video format of the Democratic convention from a rally in Wisconsin: "Who wants to listen to do a taped speech?"

Those who did listen said they loved it.

"There was an urgency in her address, there was an intimacy to it. She gave people clear instructions. She asked people to vote like their life depends on it. Pretty strong!" is how former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe assessed the speech.

Robert Gibbs, former White House press secretary, said set the ball rolling for what will be the single biggest takeaway from this Democratic convention -- how the party defines Joe Biden for American voters.

The Biden campaign is hoping for the famed Obama bump from this high profile endorsement.

Nearly four years after leaving the White House, Michelle Obama remains hugely popular with the Democratic base, and among Black women in particular.

Dressed in a dark chocolate coloured silk dress, Obama roasted Trump in her keynote speech, describing him as someone who "cannot meet the moment" amid a global pandemic.

Obama slammed Trump for downplaying the threat from the coronavirus which has killed more than 170,000 Americans and left the economy in "shambles".

"I am one of the handful of people living today who have seen firsthand the immense weight and awesome power of the presidency," Obama said, speaking of her personal experience in the White House from 2008 to 2016.

"The job is hard. It requires clear headed judgment, a mastery of complex and competing issues of devotion to facts and history, a moral compass and an ability to listen and an abiding belief that each of the 300 million lives in this country has meaning and worth," Obama said.

Mincing no words, Obama did take Trump's name, reluctantly, to land her most powerful punches.

She gave Trump "epic shade", according to Obama obsessors delivering post-speech punditry on television.

"As I've said before, being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are. Well, a presidential election can reveal who we are too, and four years ago, too many people chose to believe that their votes didn't matter," Obama said, taking the audience back to the time when Trump became president, defeating Hillary Clinton despite losing the popular vote.

Obama skewered the current occupant of the White House saying that when Americans look to this president for "some leadership, or consolation, or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division and a total and utter lack of empathy."

Obama's remarks were recorded before Biden's announcement choosing California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Her speech made no mention of Harris although her social media feeds have featured lengthy posts on Harris, an Indian and Black American, after she joined the Democratic ticket.

Monday's speech was the fourth Democratic convention address by Michelle Obama, who first took this stage during Barack Obama's 2008 campaign.

--IANS

niki/in

(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.)
As unemployment hits migrant workers who returned home to West Bengal over the past five months, a non-government welfare organisation is helping people in Murshidabad district return to the states they left in a hurry because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to data from the 2011 census, Bengal ranks fourth among the states from where people migrate. Between 2001 and 2011, 5.8 lakh people had migrated from Bengal. The number is now over 11 lakh, according to the state government. Murshidabad accounts for the most migration among all districts.

Citizens for Social Justice, an organisation formed by people from different walks of life, has helped over 2,000 migrants from Murshidabad return home between April and July by raising funds. The organisation is now sending people back in buses and even providing them with an accident cover of 2 lakh, fitness certificates issued after medical tests and subscriptions to a doctor-on-call service.

We sent off 200 people last week. Since they bear a portion of the transportation cost, it helps us hire big buses suitable for interstate travel. In each of Murshidabads 28 community blocks, there are people whose skills are in demand in south and north India, Arindam Das, a Calcutta High Court lawyer and the secretary of Citizens for Social Justice, said.

Many of these people have been getting calls from former employers, but they dont know how to return. We are arranging for antigen tests and providing healthy people with medical certificates, Das said.

Members of the group track the buses throughout the journey. The other day, authorities stopped a bus at the border of Tamil Nadu. When I talked to a superintendent of police from that area, he immediately identified Murshidabad as the district where thousands of workers are from. He let the bus in after checking the papers, Das said.

If these people stayed home without jobs, it would have led to socio-economic problems and caused a headache for the administration. The word has spread and many people from other districts have sought our help. Some even want to go to Delhi, where there is a demand for skilled construction workers, Das added.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has welcomed the development.

Skilled people who work in the construction, textiles or the jewellery industry will not find jobs that pay as well as employers in other states. Jobs that our government provide for 100 days under the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) are not enough for these people, Apurba Sarkar, the spokesperson of the TMC in Murshidabad district, said.

Their skills fetch good money in states where these industries have boomed. The social welfare organisation is doing a good job, Sarkar added.

For chief minister Mamata Banerjee, migrant workers from Bengal have been a major issue ever since the pandemic started.

On March 26, Banerjee wrote to the chief ministers of 18 states, urging them to provide basic shelter, food and medicine to stranded migrants from Bengal.

The Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 20 to provide employment to migrant workers affected by the lockdown, became a political issue in Bengal since the state was not included in the scheme.

In the initial announcement, 116 districts in six states, including Bihar and Odisha, figured among the beneficiaries. The Centre selected districts where over 25,000 migrants returned home.

TMC and the Left parties took umbrage, alleging that millions of those who returned to Bengal were ignored for political reasons. The chief ministers nephew and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee expressed his anguish in a tweet.

Shri @narendramodi Ji, why have you blatantly ignored the concerns of 11 Lakh migrant workers from #Bengal whove recently returned to their homes. Why has WB been left out of the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan? Why this apathy towards the people of Bengal? tweeted Banerjee on June 22.

The BJP Bengal unit responded by saying that the TMC government did not implement important Central schemes, such as Ayushman Bharat, that benefit the poor, and was reluctant to let special trains bring migrant workers back to Bengal.

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Family Research Council released the fourth in a series of interactive pro-life maps, tracking state funding of the abortion industry through three principal funding streams: Medicaid, Title X family planning funds, and state appropriations.

Twenty-three states have defunded (or attempted to defund) abortions with taxpayer dollars. (Some efforts have been stalled or stopped by the courts.)

Texas is the only state to have defunded (or attempted to defund) abortions and abortion providers in Medicaid, Title X and state appropriations, and to have been granted a Section 1115 waiver from the Trump Administration to divert federal Medicaid funds away from abortion providers.

is the only state to have defunded (or attempted to defund) abortions and abortion providers in Medicaid, Title X and state appropriations, and to have been granted a Section 1115 waiver from the Trump Administration to divert federal Medicaid funds away from abortion providers. Six additional states have good laws that defund abortion providers in the three principle funding streams: Arkansas , Arizona , Florida , Indiana , Louisiana , and Mississippi .

, , , , , and . Sixteen states have only partial defunding laws (not addressing all three principle funding streams) and/or temporary defunding policies (executive orders, state budgets, etc.): Alabama , Idaho , Iowa , Kansas , Kentucky , Michigan , Missouri , Nebraska , New Hampshire , North Carolina , Ohio , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Tennessee , Utah , and Wisconsin .

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and . Another 14 states have not taken any action to defund abortion providers: Alaska , Colorado , Delaware , Georgia , Minnesota , Montana , Nevada , North Dakota , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , South Dakota , Virginia , West Virginia , Wyoming . (States that merely enacted a "state Hyde Amendment," duplicating federal protections in Medicaid, are not credited on this map with having taken a significant step in defunding abortion providers.)

, , , , , , , , , , , , , . (States that merely enacted a "state Hyde Amendment," duplicating federal protections in Medicaid, are not credited on this map with having taken a significant step in defunding abortion providers.) Thirteen states have taken steps to directly fund abortions and abortion providers with taxpayer dollars: California , Connecticut , Hawaii , Illinois , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , New Mexico , New Jersey , New York , Oregon , Vermont , and Washington .

As early as 1976, Congressman Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) lead the effort to ban federal funding for abortions in Medicaid, one of the largest government health care programs. Despite the federal Hyde Amendment and ongoing congressional and state efforts to restrict taxpayer dollars from flowing to the abortion industry, the abortion industry receives hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars every year.

Quena Gonzalez, Director of State and Local Affairs at Family Research Council, said: "For too long, Planned ParenthoodAmerica's largest abortion companyhas taken millions of dollars every year in taxpayer money. Most of that money flows through the states, giving governors and state legislators tremendous opportunities to defund the abortion industry. FRC's map highlights state actions to restrict or stop that flow. Since 1976 the federal Hyde Amendment has recognized the principle that taxpayers should not underwrite abortions or the abortion industry. It's time for Congress and the states to finish Congressman Hyde's work. This map shows voters where states have or have not acted to turn off the main funding streams the abortion industry uses to siphon off taxpayer dollars."

Connor Semelsberger, Legislative Assistant for Pro-life Issues at Family Research Council, remarked: "With renewed efforts to repeal the federal Hyde Amendment which bans federal funding for elective abortions, and the push in some states to use Medicaid funds to pay for abortions, it is vitally important to pass laws protecting taxpayers from subsidizing abortion. Now more than ever states must do what they can to separate taxpayer funds from the abortion industry. Abortion is not healthcare and should not be funded as such."

To see if your state provides funding for abortions, visit: http://frc.org/prolifemaps.

SOURCE Family Research Council

Related Links

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Massachusetts Peace Action, a Cambridge-based organization devoted to nuclear disarmament and a peaceful U.S. foreign policy, on Monday reiterated its endorsement of Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse in his Democratic primary race against incumbent Richard E. Neal of Springfield.

Brian Garvey, an organizer with the group, said Massachusetts Peace Action has stood by Morse amid the accusations made against him by the UMass chapter of College Democrats, and it is urging other progressive organizations to do the same.

We have recently seen criticisms of Alex Morse based on questions about his personal behavior, but such concerns pale in comparison to the real question: Who will better represent the First District? Garvey said in a prepared statement.

A Congressional seat is of tremendous importance with far-reaching implications. The policy differences between Alex Morse and Richard Neal are profound. Richard Neal exemplifies everything wrong with Congress, he said.

The group publicly endorsed Morse in April, saying he is committed to reducing the bloated Pentagon budget to reinvest in human needs such as health care and education.

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The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has exonerated Dr Osei Kufuor Afreh, the immediate past Upper West Regional Director of Health Services of allegations of wrong-doings levelled against him.



The EOCO, after exonerating Dr Afreh, charged the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Upper West Region to formalize the Coalitions operations in line with the Companys Act of 2019.



On April 28, 2020, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens in a press release levelled allegations of wrong-doings against the former Regional Director of Health.



In the statement jointly signed by Issahaque Suleman and Tahiru Lukman, Co-Conveners, the Coalition accused Dr Afreh of running down the robust Health System inherited by him.



The allegations include poor leadership attitude, financial mismanagement, and recruitment misconduct.



Dr Afreh in an interview with the GNA said he was happy that both the EOCO and the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) had exonerated him, adding that he did nothing untoward.



He expressed regret that the group raised all those allegations against him without contacting him to get his side of the story.



The former Regional Health Director noted that it was interesting that the Coalition seeking to use the law to bring him down was in itself not legal in the face of the law.



Tahiru Lukman, a Co-Convener of the Coalition, however, said EOCO only exonerated Dr Afreh on the financial aspect.



He said outstanding issues bothering on crime and leadership style were being handled by the BNI, the Regional Crime Division of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Health Service.



He said until these organisations came out with their reports, the former Regional Director of Health could not claim to be cleared of all the wrong-doings brought against him by the Coalition.



On the issue of the Coalition operating illegally, he said they take responsibility for their actions and therefore could not be said to be an illegal entity.



He said they were only cautioned by the EOCO to formalize their existence under the law.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 18, 2020) - INCA ONE GOLD CORP. (TSXV: IO) (OTC Pink: INCAF) (FSE: SU92) ("Inca One" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce it has agreed to terms with Equinox Gold Corp. ("Equinox") to amend the payment dates of its existing non-interest bearing Secured Promissory Note ("Note") payable to Equinox. All dollar amounts are in Canadian dollars unless stated otherwise.

The Note was issued on August 20, 2018 for $9.0 million in conjunction with the acquisition by Inca One, of Equinox's Koricancha ore processing facility in Peru ("Kori One"). The payment terms of the Note were $7.5 million in cash or shares payable over three years at the Company's option and $1.5 million payable in cash on the second anniversary of closing. The Note is non-interest bearing and no interest has accumulated in the past or will be payable in the future. The Company has paid approximately $1.05 million, leaving a balance of approximately $7.95 million.

The Payment dates have been amended as follows:



Amount Original payment dates Amended payment dates First Installment $1.45 million August 20, 2019 August 20, 2023 Second Installment $2.5 million August 20, 2020 August 20, 2024 Cash Only Installment $1.5 million August 20, 2020 August 20, 2022 Third Installment $2.5 million August 20, 2021 August 20, 2025

$7.95 million





The First, Second and Third Installment Amounts can be paid in cash or in Inca One shares at the election of Inca One (the "Share Payment Election"). If the Company chooses the Share Payment Election, then the number of shares is calculated based on the higher of the preceding 20-day volume weighted average price of Inca One shares and a floor price of $0.65. The issuance of Inca One shares is subject to Equinox's ownership not exceeding 19.99% of the outstanding Inca One Shares (the "Equinox Ownership Limit"). If Inca One makes a Share Payment Election and the Equinox Ownership Limit doesn't allow for the issuance of shares, then the Note will remain unpaid until such time that the Company can either make a cash payment or Equinox's ownership percentage reduces to below the Equinox Ownership Limit.

In addition to the amendment of the payment dates for the Note, Equinox has also agreed to extend the payment date for approximately US$0.7 million from August 20, 2021 to August 20, 2023, related to a working capital loan payable as part of the Kori One acquisition.

"Equinox has been very supportive of our growth strategy", Edward Kelly, President and CEO, commented. "Agreeing to restructure this Note is evidence of their flexibility and belief in our business model allowing Inca One to keep sufficient levels of working capital as required in our space while maintaining their maximum level of ownership in the Company."

About Inca One

Inca One Gold Corp is a TSXV listed, gold producer operating two, fully permitted, gold mineral processing facilities in Peru. The Company produced nearly 25,000 ounces of gold from its operations in 2019 and has generated over US$100 million in revenue over the last five years. Inca One, now in its sixth year of commercial production, is led by an experienced and capable management team that has established the Company as a trusted leader in servicing government permitted, small scale miners in Peru. Peru is the world's sixth-largest producer of gold and its small-scale mining sector is estimated by government officials to be valued in the billions of dollars annually. Inca One possesses a combined 450 tonnes per day permitted operating capacity at its two fully integrated plants, Chala One and Kori One, and is targeting a fourth consecutive year of increased production and sales growth. To learn more visit www.incaone.com.





Figure 1. Inca One's gold processing facilities in Peru (left: Chala One facility; right: Kori One facility)



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2645/61975_f74610f5442bdaa4_001full.jpg

On behalf of the Board,

Edward Kelly

President and CEO

INCA ONE GOLD CORP.

For More Information Contact:

Konstantine Tsakumis

ktsakumis@incaone.com

604-568-4877

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Statements regarding the Company which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements due to factors such as: (i) fluctuation of mineral prices; (ii) a change in market conditions; and (iii) the fact that future operational results may not be accurately predicted based on this limited information to date. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update any changes to such statements. Inca One believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/61975
The National Youth Organizer of the People's National Convention (PNC), Awudu Ishaq has called on the leader of the party, Dr. Edward Mahama to immediately resolve all internal issues he has with the party's National Chairman and General Secretary to pave way for the holding of a national congress ahead of the 2020 general elections.

According to him, the impasse between the three leaders could mar the party's chances in the 2020 polls considering that it is currently far behind time in terms of reorganization and preparation for the polls are concerned.

Awudu Ishaq in a statement said the antics by Edward Mahama who is the former flagbearer of the party gives the indication that he is against the holding of a congress to elect National Executives and a flagbearer ahead of the general elections.

It has therefore come to the Youth Wing as a shock that Dr Edward Mahama is somewhat against the decision by leadership of the party to hold a NEC Meeting scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday, 18th August 2020 but rather suggesting a ZOOM Conference for the meeting, he said.

He argued that Dr. Mahama's decision to hold a Zoom conference to discuss matters concerning the party's preparations for election 2020 is not viable as a number of regional chairmen of the party are not technologically savvy to participate.

Considering the importance and gravity of the issues to be discussed at the meeting which includes modalities for Regional Conferences and National Congress such as the opening and closing of nominations, filing fees and the venues and dates for the Conferences, we don't think that a ZOOM Conference would be able to serve the purpose. Besides, there are a number of Regional Chairmen and other NEC Members who are not technologically-savvy and do not own smart devices. In fact, the expected total NEC capacity of 43 does not break Covid-19 protocols although the President has even lifted the restriction on conferences, he said.

He said the PNC has what it takes to meet the aspirations of the ordinary masses of Ghana hence the party's leadership must urgently resolve its issues.

Awudu Ishaq further warned that the youth wing of the party would be forced to seek other avenues in charting a new path for the PNC and carrying along the grassroots of the party, she's the impasse continue.

PNC presidential primaries

The National Secretariat of the People's National Convention (PNC) is yet to announce a date for the party's presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer ahead of election 2020.

The party's National Chairman, Bernard Mornah in a statement last year to congratulate the NDC for electing a flagbearer said the party within the shortest possible time will elect its flagbearer for the 2020 election.

He said the PNC will embark on an internal retooling process that will lead it to elect a candidate who will offer Ghanaians an issues-based campaign.

---citinewsroom
Disciples and followers of music legend Pandit Jasraj in the United States paid their tributes to the Indian classical vocalist and described his passing away as an irreparable loss to India and its cultural heritage while fondly recalling his humble and gentle nature.

IMAGE: Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj during one of his performances. Photograph: ANI Photo

The mortal remains of Pandit Jasraj, who passed away on Monday at the age of 90 following a cardiac arrest at his home in New Jersey, are expected to be flown to Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon and the Consulate General of India in New York is helping with the necessary arrangements.

Former president of the diaspora organisation, US Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), Alok Kumar paid his respects to the legendary artist at the Hindu Funeral Home in Highland Park in New Jersey.

Kumar said a large number of people had gathered at the funeral home during the day to pay their respects to Pandit Jasraj.

Keeping in mind the social distancing requirements amid the pandemic, a limited number of people were being allowed at a time to enter the funeral home and pay their tributes.

"We will all miss the musical legend. It is indeed the end of an era in Indian classical music. With Pandit Jasraj's death, we have lost a 'sargam' of shastriya sangeet," Kumar told PTI.

"No one can match the legend that he was."

SEE: People pay last respects to music maestro Pt Jasraj in New Jersey

Hari, one of Pandit Jasraj's disciples, said that all his pupils are still in a state of shock and are trying to come to terms with the tremendous loss.

"We are trying to make sense of it. We are deeply feeling his loss but we also see the wealth of love that he has left behind," he said.

Hari said Pandit Jasraj was surrounded by his disciples and they are constantly communicating with his family in India.

They are making necessary arrangements to fly his mortal remains to India for the funeral.

"Pandit Jasraj's demise is a loss for India, for the cultural tradition of India but broadly it is a loss for music overall. He stands for music everywhere, his passing is a big loss for music," Hari said.

New Jersey-based Alka Aneja fondly recalled her association with the Padma Vibhushan recipient and said he was a maestro and a legend, 'but the humanity, kindness and generosity' that came from him was unparalleled.

Aneja said Pandita Tripti Mukherjee, Hindustani classical vocalist and disciple of Pandit Jasraj, as well as two-three other disciples are expected to take the mortal remains of Pandit Jasraj to Mumbai on an Air India flight on Tuesday afternoon.

Aneja, who was Pandit Jasraj's realtor and had known him for the last three years, said she last met him on the festival of Janmashtami last week.

"He was a legend for the world but he was a very kind and gentle soul for me. I got to know him at a personal level. He had a great sense of humor and was very humble," she said.

Aneja said a legend like Pandit Jasraj, who had achieved so much in life, was a very humble person who 'allowed people in his life. People don't have their feet on the ground when they achieve as much as he did'.

He was very humble and a gentle soul, she said.

Recalling that he used to call her 'Son Pari', Aneja said whenever she touched his feet, he would say 'betiyaan pair nahin chooti hain (daughters don't touch feet)'.

Aneja said she is blessed to have known him.

FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya recollected multiple interactions he had with Pandit Jasraj, saying he was a 'very inspiring and mesmerising personality'.

Vaidya said Pandit Jasraj was the Guest of Honour at FIA's India Day parade in 2013 and was honoured again by the organisation in 2018 for his distinguished accomplishment and significant contribution to the Indian classical music.

Pandit Jasraj, who belonged to the Mewati Gharana, was in the US when the coronavirus-led lockdown happened and decided to stay back in that country.

Demonstrating his ability to adapt with the times, his last performance was in April this year. He sang on Hanuman Jayanti for the Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple in Varanasi through Facebook Live.

'With profound grief we inform that Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj ji breathed his last this morning at 5.15 EST due to a cardiac arrest at his home in New Jersey, USA,' a statement issued by his family said on Monday.

'May Lord Krishna welcome him lovingly through the doors of heaven, where Pandit ji will now sing Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya exclusively just for his beloved Lord. We pray that his soul rests in eternal musical peace. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers,' it said.
A learner driver has been charged after she was allegedly caught driving 146km/h with two babies lying restrained in the back seat.

A 21-year-old woman in a Holden Commodore was pulled over on the Great Northern Highway near Miling, 200km north-east of Perth, about 8pm on Sunday.

Police will allege the woman did not have a supervising driver present and was travelling above the 110km/h speed limit.

A 21-year-old woman in a Holden Commodore was pulled over (pictured) on the Great Northern Highway near Miling, 200km north-east of Perth, about 8pm

She allegedly had two children aged six-months and 18-months-old unrestrained in the back of the car.

The woman has been charged with driving without an authorised person in the vehicle, speeding and two counts of driving with an unrestrained child in the car.

She will receive a summons to appear in Northam Magistrate's Court on a date yet to be set.
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Linkedin Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Arya Dipa and Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya/Bandung/Medan  Tue, August 18, 2020 06:30 520 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ea3aa2 1 National #Indonesia75,#IndependenceDay,#COVID19,#coronavirus,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,17-Agustus Free

Residents in various regions of Indonesia decided to go ahead with festive celebrations for this years Independence Day, despite calls from authorities to refrain from doing so amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Traditionally, residents celebrate the holiday, which falls on Aug. 17, by hosting lively events with festivities including traditional games and fun competitions  such as pole climbing, sack racing, cracker eating and cooking competitions  as well as parades.

As the COVID-19 health crisis in Indonesia has shown no sign of abating, authorities have banned crowd-pulling activities to celebrate the countrys 75th anniversary. The order was issued over fear that events with large numbers of people could be potential clusters for virus transmission.

Many residents, however, opted to ignore the order and went ahead with their plans.

Residents of Tulus Harapan housing complex in Surabaya, East Java, for example, decided to uphold tradition by hosting fun competitions, saying it was for the happiness of the children".

"We don't want the children to miss the exciting moments from the Independence Day celebration," said a local figure of the neighborhood, Yetti Indra, on Monday, assuring that the participants would implement health protocols such as wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance.

In Bandung, West Java, a parade involving several motorcycle communities was spotted on the city's main roads on Monday morning. They streamed down the streets on dozens of motorcycles while carrying Indonesian flags.

In Medan, North Sumatra, residents reportedly celebrated the country's anniversary with crowd-pullers on Monday, most of them neglecting the required health protocols.

An organizer of an Independence Day event in Medan Johor district, Chaeruddin, said he believed the residents of the area were free from the virus. "So, we feel safe to go ahead with the competitions even though some of us are not wearing masks."

It was a similar scene in Medan Selayang district, Medan. The locals started the competitions at 9 a.m., but most of them were without a face mask.

In response, North Sumatra deputy governor Musa Rajekshah said he deplored the decision of those residents to host the events, adding that the number of COVID-19 cases in the region was still high at 3,288 so far.

"Please limit activities that involve many people for the safety of all North Sumatra residents," said Musa.

Regional administrations across the country took a relatively safe approach to commemorating the country's 75th anniversary by organizing flag-hoisting ceremonies attended by only a handful of participants.

In South Sulawesi, two ceremonies were held separately at the Makassar City Hall compound on Jl. Ahmad Yani and the official residence of Governor Nurdin Abdullah on Jl. Sungai Tangka in Makassar.

The events were attended by only dozens of people, including the flag-hosting team. This years celebration was significantly different from last year's festivities, which involved fanfares in Karebosi Square and Losari Beach with hundreds of participants.

In Surakarta, Central Java, the ceremony was attended by a limited number of officials along with five ex-terrorists namely Suparno, Paimin, Chamidi, Bayu Setyono and Marmo to foster their sense of nationalism. (vny)

 Andi Hajramurni and Ganug Nugroho Adi contributed to the story from Makassar and Surakarta.
New school year in HCM City to start in early September Students at Le Hong Phong School for the Gifted in HCM City. HCM City will organise an opening ceremony for the new school year in early September, according to the city Peoples Committee. Kindergartens will hold the ceremony on September 5 and school will begin on the same day. Primary to high schools and continuing education centres will organise the ceremony on September 1, with students beginning classes on September 5. The school year will end in May. There will be 1.74 million students this school year, an estimated increase of nearly 54,000 students, according to the city Department of Education and Training. Secondary schools saw the highest increase, with an additional 28,000, mostly in districts 9, 12, Go Vap, Thu Duc, Binh Tan, Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon and Cu Chi. These districts are in the process of urbanisation, and more people have been moving there from other provinces and cities. The number of children in kindergartens will increase by more than 3,000; at primary schools, 9,000; and at high schools, 14,000. Many districts are facing pressure to ensure a sufficient number of classrooms. In the 2020-2021 year, 1,142 new classrooms in HCM City are expected to be put into use on September 5, increasing the total to 47,438. Another 229 new classrooms will be put into use from September 5 to the year end. The new classrooms will help ensure that all children have access to school. The city goal is to have 300 classrooms per 10,000 school-age people aged 3 to 18. The ratio in 2019 was 288 classrooms per 10,000. The increase in the number of students this year, however, will lead to 40-50 students in each classroom and force district educational divisions to recruit more teachers and other staff. They need to recruit 6,859 staff for public schools, including 3,462 for primary schools, 2,062 for secondary schools, and more than 500 for high schools. The recruitment will be carried out this month before the new school year starts in September. However, Tan Binh and Nha Be districts have finished recruitment. The 2020-2021 school year is the first year in which principals of high schools will take part in the departments recruitment council. The department does not require candidates to have official residential status in the city. The department has asked the city Peoples Committee not to increase school fees for the 2020-2021 academic year. Da Nang waives first semester school fees

Students at public schools in Danang City will not have to pay tuition fees for the first four months of the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year to ease the burden posed by Covid-19. Danang Department of Education and Training said on August 18 that students in public nursery, secondary and high schools will be exempted from paying tuition fees in accordance with the decision of the city people's council. Primary schoolers have already been exempted from paying tuition. Students in the nursery, primary, secondary and high schools in the private system will be given financial support that is an equivalent of the public school's tuition fee from September to December. Students in foreign-invested schools are not supported. The department also asked public schools who have already collected tuition for the first four months of the school year to return the money. VNS/Dtinews
Indigenous protesters in Brazil defied a court order Tuesday and resumed a roadblock of a key highway through the Amazon rainforest, demanding help against the new coronavirus and an end to illegal mining and deforestation.

Brandishing bows and wearing traditional feather headdresses and body paint, dozens of protesters from the Kayapo Mekranoti ethnic group have been blocking highway BR-163 through the Amazon rainforest since Monday morning.

They briefly lifted their roadblock Tuesday afternoon after a federal judge ordered them to allow traffic through.

But they said they were only retreating temporarily for "humanitarian reasons," since some of the drivers caught in the long line of trucks that formed outside the northern town of Novo Progresso had medical conditions.

Later Tuesday, they resumed their roadblock, vowing to stay put until the authorities agreed to discuss their demands.

"We closed the BR again, and this time we don't have a date or time to reopen it," indigenous leader Mudjere Kayapo said in a statement released by the Kabo Institute, an indigenous rights organization.

He said the protesters had no intention of leaving until the federal agency for indigenous affairs, the health minister or indigenous health secretary and a representative from environmental regulator IBAMA showed up.

The highway is an important artery for farmers in Brazil's agricultural heartland to ship corn and soybeans, two of the country's main exports, to the river ports of the Amazon and beyond.

On Monday night, federal judge Sandra Maria Correia da Silva ordered the protesters to end the roadblock, citing the damage to the region's economy.

She imposed a fine of 10,000 reals ($1,800) a day if the protesters fail to comply, and ordered federal highway police to remove the blockade if necessary.

A lawyer for the protesters is appealing the court injunction, the Kabo Institute said.

The highway, which was built during Brazil's military dictatorship (1964-1985) to develop the Amazon region, was fully paved earlier this year.

Story continues

The protesters say the project damaged the surrounding environment, and are demanding compensation.

They also want more help from far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's government to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit especially hard among native groups.

In Brazil, 21,000 indigenous people have been infected and 618 have died of COVID-19, according to the Brazilian Indigenous Peoples' Association (APIB), which accuses Bolsonaro of turning a blind eye to the problem.

Brazil has the second-highest number of infections and deaths in the pandemic, after the United States: nearly 3.5 million and 110,000, respectively.

The protesters are also demanding the government act to stop encroachments on their land by illegal gold miners and deforestation in the Amazon, blamed mainly on farming and ranching.

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THE Shannon Group has revealed it is seeking some 6.4m from government to keep King Johns Castle and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park open through the winter.

As it stands, the attractions will close as of September 1 after the coronavirus pandemic saw tourism numbers to Ireland decimated.

However, following local opposition to the move, the group put together an application for funding which its hoping the government will respond.

In a statement released this Tuesday afternoon, Shannon Group chief executive Mary Considine confirmed the group made a submission to the Department of Transport in July about securing the viability of both heritage sites and is in daily discussions with government in an attempt to secure the funding to keep Bunratty Castle and King Johns Castle open to the public.

Both sites are very important to the local economy and to tourism in the region and Shannon Group is doing everything it can to keep the two heritage sites open, she said, Shannon Heritage, which runs both sites, will require total funding of 6.4m to June 2021 when a pick-up in visitor numbers usually occurs.

Ms Considine praised the employees of Shannon Heritage for their Trojan work in very difficult and challenging times.

When the government brought forward their reopening plan to June 29, staff rallied to assist with getting the sites ready. Despite a major marketing campaign and a slight bounce in domestic visitors it hasnt made-up for the loss of our international customers. Our focus now is on protecting our employees jobs in the long-term, which requires difficult short-term decision so that we can survive, recover and rebuild, said the group chief.

She did confirm that unless government support is made available, both tourist attractions will close at the end of the month.

However it is our desire to keep both Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and King Johns Castle open beyond the traditional summer season this year. That is why, given the significant losses that will be made during off-season, we have made a submission to government seeking funding to enable us continue operations at the sites. We urgently await the outcome of that request and in the meantime are exploring all options around the viability of these facilities beyond 2020, Ms Considine concluded.
A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Naabba, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) after he was invited for questioning.

KanyiDaily had reported that the former speaker was invited by the DSS after he accused President Buhari of turning Nigeria into a failed state, describing the president as an irresponsive and incompetent leader in the history of the country.

Addressing reporters on Monday night after leaving the DSS office, Naaba said that there were no problems with the visit, noting that he stood by his comments.

I did not disown anything I said. I will never mince my words. Whatever I see as the truth, I say it. And that is what I said in my interview and said during the press conference. And I can never say anything that is not the truth, he said.

What happened was there were certain words that appeared in my address and interview which needed some clarifications and which clarification I made. We were both satisfied with what happened. We advised one another. The DSS has its own job and its own experience. I too have my own vocation and my own experience. We felt highly enriched by our experiences. That is how things are supposed to be. It went successfully. I enjoyed my stay there. I had no problems with the way they received me. In my address, I used the words failed state and self-determination. When we say out words, what we mean may be different from what other persons perceive, and that was what happened. Self-determination, simply in our own context, means Nigerians must be allowed to live the way they want to live. It does not mean the mean dismemberment of the country. A lot of times, from security point of view when you say self-determination, it is perceived to mean that it is the dismemberment of the country; which is not so. This needed clarification. A failed state is any state that cannot provide a lot of services.

What happened was that in their own opinion, I did not use the words appropriately, and it is only human to use words not appropriately. I told them that what I meant there was that the indices that characterise a failed state are prevalent with us. If, for example, you look at public primary schools, you will know that if we continue the way it is, it is just a matter of time before the nation fails. This is because those who are to be trained  the leaders of tomorrow  if you see the academic buildings where they are being taught and those who teach them how they are, it is very easy to predict what will happen in the next few years.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Coalition of Northern Groups had berated President Buhari over the invitation of former Speaker by the DSS.
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Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) speaks with Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) before a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office building on Capitol Hill on Capitol Hill on May 5, 2020 in Washington. (Gabriella Demczuk -Pool/Getty Images)

Senate Intelligence Committee Releases Final Volume of Russia Report

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Aug. 18 release the fifth and final volume of its report on Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The nearly 996-page report is the culmination of a three-year-long investigation, which involved the interviews of 200 witnesses and the review of more than a million pages of documents.

Similarly to the conclusion of the report by special counsel Robert Mueller, the committee found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The report also concludes that Russia intervened in the election to harm Hillary Clintons campaign and help the campaign of Donald Trump.

Unlike the Mueller report, the committees report thoroughly explores the FBIs use of the Clinton campaign-funded Steele dossier to obtain a warrant to spy on former Trump campaign advisor Carter Page.

We can say, without any hesitation, that the Committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election, the committees acting chairman, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), said in a statement.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 5, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters)

What the Committee did find, however, is very troubling. We found irrefutable evidence of Russian meddling. And we discovered deeply troubling actions taken by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, particularly their acceptance and willingness to rely on the Steele Dossier without verifying its methodology or sourcing, Rubio added.

The fifth volume of the report focused on the counterintelligence concerns surrounding the 2016 election. The prior volumes dealt with Russian efforts against U.S. election infrastructure, Russias use of social media, the U.S. governments response to the interference and the creation of the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment on Moscows interference in the presidential election.

Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the vice chairman of the committee, said in a statement that the report is the most comprehensive examination of ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign to date.

I encourage all Americans to carefully review the documented evidence of the unprecedented and massive intervention campaign waged on behalf of then-candidate Donald Trump by Russians and their operatives and to reach their own independent conclusions, Warner said.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) (L) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, participate in a discussion at the Atlantic Council in Washington on July 16, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The report covers a wide range of topics, including entire sections dedicated to Trump campaign associates Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, and Paul Manafort. The document offers the most comprehensive timeline to date of the events surrounding the alleged hacking of the DNC, including the months leading up to the discovery of the breach during which the FBI repeatedly reached out to warn the committee that its systems were likely compromised.

The timeline also offers new insights into the work of private cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, which the DNC retained to protect its systems, investigate the breach, and oust the hackers.

The Trump campaign responded to the release of the report shortly after it was made public.

The Russia Collusion Hoax is the greatest political scandal in the history of this country. As this report provesyet againthere was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, Tim Murtaugh, Trump 2020 communications director, said in a statement.

The report does remind Americans that there was, however, political reliance on foreign assistance in 2016, since Hillary Clintons campaign and the DNC paid for the bogus Steele Dossier assembled by a foreign operative using Russian disinformation.
A young girl from Illinois had died in the hands of her stepfather and mother. According to the neighbors of the victim, the incident could have been prevented if the police had heeded their warnings about the abuse and neglect.

Child abuse

According to WBBM-TV, on July 2 the police in Montgomery, Illinois were called to the home of Kerri Rutherford, the 6-year-old victim. However, what they saw was a horrifying situation.

The police found the girl bleeding from the nose, turning different colors and was "possibly not breathing" according to records obtained by WBBM-TV. It was revealed that the child had been dead for some time.

Kerri's cause of death was initially listed as unknown. However, toxicology tests later found a lethal amount of olanzapine in her system. It is a drug that is usually used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in adults.

Also Read: Fact Check: Did Sen. Kamala Harris Have An Extramarital Affair with Willie Brown That Boosted Her Career?

Prosecutors issued involuntary manslaughter charges the child's 29-year-old stepfather, James Davidson, and the child's mother, 32-year-old Courtney Davidson. The police allege that the home is not fit for human habitation.

One police officer said in the report that the living conditions in the home were horrible, with a very foul stench in the house and feces on the floor. The documents also showed the home had been the subject of more than dozen calls to police since the family moved in.

The neighbor of the family, Monica Alexander, told the television station that when she saw the police at the house, she immediately thought of the child. She assumed that the child was hurt or was gone and that the police did not take her away.

Alexander told the television station that she had called the authorities multiple times in the past about her concerns, and said that the police failed the victim. She said that the police never went inside the house.

Another neighbor of the victim, Debbie, told the television station that she also had asked the authorities to check on the children of the family. She said that she was scared for the children.

The children were usually left unsupervised at the home and the neighbors sometimes witnessed physical abuse and screaming. One of the teachers of Kerri also called the Department of Children and Family Services, according to records that the television station obtained.

A spokesperson for the Department of Children and Family Services told the television station that the agency had been in contact with the family before the death of Kerri.

The mother and stepfather have also been charged with endangering the health or life of a child, according to WSPY News. The couple had been jailed on $250,000 bond each.

Rate in the US

According to National Children's Alliance, 700,000 children are abused in the United States every year. Around 678,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in 2018. That means around 1% of children in a given year is abused. However, this data may not be complete because not all abuse cases are reported.

Child welfare authorities make sure that more than 3.5 million children are safe. More than 3.5 million children received an investigation or alternative response from child protective service agenesis. Around 1.9 million children received prevention services.

Related Article: Greece Secretly Sent Away 1,000 Migrants, Abandoning Them at Sea

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MONTREAL - The Quebec and Ontario governments are asking Ottawa to intervene in the Montreal port strike, which entered its second week Monday.

If it drags on, the shutdown will harm Eastern Canadas economy and erode the competitiveness of a port that generates $2.6 billion in annual economic activity, according to a letter to the federal government from four provincial cabinet ministers.

This situation comes on top of an economic crisis linked to the COVID-19 pandemic which is already having negative effects on many companies needing to import and export via port facilities, Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet said.

Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli and Labour Minister Monte McNaughton stressed the Montreal ports crucial role for a province that has no direct access to large container ships.

Released Monday, the Aug. 11 letter to federal Labour Minister Filomena Tassi and Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains was sent one day after Tassi rejected a request from more than a half-dozen industry groups to force the resumption of port activities.

Tassi responded again to provincial entreaties Monday afternoon, noting federal mediators are already meeting with both sides to reach an agreement.

We understand there has been encouraging progress made between the two parties in recent bargaining, Tassi said in a statement.

Our government has faith in the collective bargaining process, as we know the best deals are made at the table, and our full expectation is for both parties to continue to work together to come to an agreement quickly.

The Maritime Employers Association has said Ottawa could choose to intervene by imposing binding arbitration  rendered by a federally appointed mediator  or back-to-work legislation, though Parliament is not slated to reconvene until Sept. 21.

Quebec and Ontario stopped short of specifying how they would like Ottawa to act, with Queens Park simply calling on the federal government to exercise its leadership in order to facilitate a resolution.

The labour action by 1,125 dockworkers, who have been without a collective agreement since September 2018, revolves largely around wages and scheduling, with workers routinely working 19 days out of 21 due to heavy traffic through the port, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

The strike, launched on Aug. 10, has so far diverted eight container ships to Halifax, Saint John, N.B., and New York City, impacting thousands of importers and exporters and halting most of the 2,500 trucks that roll in and out of the port daily, port employers say.

The union has stopped mooring services except for grain vessels and supplies to Newfoundland and Labrador in order to comply with the federal labour code and a decision rendered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, respectively.

Martin Tessier, head of the employers association, has proposed to negotiate with CUPE over the next 45 to 60 days, culminating in binding arbitration if the two sides remain at loggerheads.

A port shutdown disrupts the flow of medical supplies, automotive parts, retail and manufacturing goods and bulk products, with higher prices as the end result for consumers, Tessier said.

The cost of importing or exporting a single container to or from the Montreal area goes up by between $350 to $600 if it comes by way of another port, according to Quebecs economy ministry.

CUPE declined to comment on the developments Monday.

The broader showdown between management and union follows a 21-month battle over the definition of essential service amid negotiations for a new collective agreement.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board concluded in June that the employers association had not demonstrated imminent and serious risks to the health and safety of the public  the criteria for an essential service  in the event of a strike.

The Maritime Employers Association had asked the board in October 2018 to review whether the workers carry out essential work in a bid to shield the docks from strike threats.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2020

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Pakistan's Army Chief Visits Saudi Arabia Amid Strained Ties

By Ayaz Gul August 17, 2020

Pakistan's military chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday for daylong official meetings amid reports of rare strains in historically close relations between the two key Muslim nations.

A brief Pakistani army statement said Bajwa met with Saudi Arabia's Gen. Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, chairman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and other top commanders to discuss military ties, including training exchanges. It did not give further details.

The visit comes days after Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi blasted the Saudi-led Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for not actively denouncing India's actions in the disputed Kashmir region.

While Saudi officials have not commented on the current status of bilateral ties, Islamabad has downplayed reports of tensions and insisted Bajwa's trip was pre-planned and part of ongoing military-to-military interactions between the two countries.

"There is no need to read too much into it. Thank God, everything is fine," major general Babar Iftikhar, army spokesman, told reporters in the run-up to Bajwa's visit to Riyadh.

Iftikhar noted that Pakistan and its people "are proud of their relations" with Saudi Arabia, and that there was no need to raise any question about them.

"These relations are historic, very important, excellent and will remain excellent. There should be no doubt of this. Nobody can doubt the centrality of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Islamic world," Iftikhar stressed.

The dispute over Kashmir has sparked two of the three wars between Pakistan and India, as both claim the Muslim-majority region in full.

The Pakistani government has repeatedly called for an emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers to discuss recent deterioration in the human rights situation in the Indian-ruled portion of Kashmir. The organization has convened low-level meetings so far to discuss the situation instead.

Qureshi warned in an interview with a local news channel that if the OIC failed to meet Pakistan's expectations, he would be "compelled to 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 and support the oppressed Kashmiris."

A day later, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry strongly defended Qureshi's statement, apparently dismissing suggestions that it was a mere emotional outburst.

"Pakistan and its people have more expectations from the OIC than from any other international organization because of our deep-rooted and fraternal ties with OIC member states and OIC itself," the ministry noted.

Qureshi's remarks triggered a series of media articles in domestic and foreign press claiming they have upset the Saudis and Riyadh was contemplating suspending economic support to Pakistan.

The United Arab Emirates, a staunch ally of Riyadh, also provided a similar relief package.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest creditors and the biggest source of remittances into the cash-strapped South Asia nation from more than 2 million Pakistanis working there.

However, in the wake of recent diplomatic tensions, the Saudis have reportedly forced Islamabad to pay back $1 billion, though close ally China quickly acted and provided $1 billion to Pakistan to make up for the shortfall.

Riyadh has so far not commented on its reported actions or speculation that it plans to withdraw another $1 billion from the relief package and may not extend the oil credit facility.

Pakistan has maintained close defense ties with Saudi Arabia and has deployed around 2,000 troops to the kingdom to undertake security, as well as training missions there.

Pakistan's former military chief Gen. Raheel Sharif is currently the head of a 41-nation Saudi-formed Islamic Military Alliance to fight terrorism.

"In fact, the level of Saudi-Pak defense cooperation is so deep and wide that the present conspiracy to jeopardize our time-tested ties seems to be fizzling out as quickly as it surfaced on the scene," wrote former Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Asseri in his opinion article published by the Arab News Monday.

Asseri noted the "historic partnership is too important to fail," saying media reports of rifts in bilateral ties stemming from Qureshi's remarks were "neither remotely connected nor are they factually correct."

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:12:33|Editor: huaxia

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HEFEI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Tuesday inspected east China's Anhui Province.

While visiting Funan County in the city of Fuyang, Xi went to a floodgate, a luggage and bag company and a "zhuangtai," a residential structure on raised ground with higher elevation that functions as a safe haven from river floods.

Xi checked the water situation of the Huaihe River and learned about local measures for flood control, disaster relief and post-flood production recovery. He also visited and consoled those affected by floods. (Xinhua/Ju Peng, Wang Ye)
Deployment & Partnerships, Home based

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Home-based

Closing date: Monday, 31 August 2020

Deployment & Partnerships

Location : Home based

Application Deadline : 31-Aug-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Additional Category : Management

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 15-Sep-2020

Duration of Initial Contract : 6 months

Expected Duration of Assignment : with possibility of extension for additional ___ months subject to availability of funds and satisfa

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDPs policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. Working in support of the Regional Bureaus, the GPN also aims to provide rapid and integrated support to UNDP country offices, combining policy advice, technical expertise, financial resources, agile tools and procedures, and partnerships. Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDPs corporate crisis and fragility-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery and lead corporate support in response to crisis.

Support to country operations is coordinated by the Country Support Management Team (CSMT), working closely within the GPN, with the GPN Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement Team, the GPN SDG Integrator Team and GPN technical teams. The overall goal of the CSMT is to ensure strong, coherent and coordinated support to country offices (COs), as it relates to crisis and fragility, within the full spectrum of the GPNs service offer.

Part of UNDPs Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), the UNDP Representation Office in Brussels positions UNDP as European Unions partner of choice towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by influencing the policy development and fostering partnerships to make the 2030 Agenda a reality and supporting UNDP Country Offices to contribute to and benefit from the partnership with the EU. The Crisis Bureau here contributes towards the crisis and fragility component of the implementation of the SDGs.

Under the supervision of the Head of the Country Support Management Team (CSMT), and the day to day supervision of the Deployment Specialist (New York) and Policy Specialist (Brussels), the consultant will support the development of partnerships for capacity support and deployments. He/she will also support the development of a talent pool for supporting EU/UNDP Project Cycles and assist the Contract Management Unit in Brussels on issues of compliance and data collection with regard to crisis and fragility

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities

Support the Crisis Bureaus crisis and fragility engagement with the EU, with regards to talent pools, partnerships and contract management.

Contribute to the strengthening of the collaboration and deployments through Standby Partner organizations and development of new partnerships with SPBs, networks, thinks tanks etc.

Contribute to the enhancement of the partnership with the UNV Office and the rolling of the UNDP UNV Tandem Initiative;

Coordinate the deployment of internal and external technical expertise for crisis response, recovery and GPN assignments, for specific high profile engagements and responses

1. Support to Crisis Bureaus crisis and fragility engagement with the EU, with regards to talent pools, partnerships and contract management.

Support the establishment of a dedicated pool of expert with knowledge of EU and UNDP Project cycle to support Country Office in the drafting of project proposals, initiation phase, monitoring, evaluation and verifications;

Facilitate the deployment of this expertise to support country offices with the project cycle;

Support the set-up of Business Processes within the Crisis Bureau on the initiation and development of new partnership with the EU at the global and regional level;

Support the Crisis Bureau with data collection, processing and analysis and keep up-to-date information on the EU-UNDP partnership on crisis and fragility;

Support the Contract Management Unit with year-end reporting on EU-UNDP Programmatic Partnership;

Support the work of the Contract Management Unit in the areas of (1) compliance with the established regulatory framework of EU and UNDP (2) administrative support, data collection and processing. Priority will be given to EU action related to crisis and fragility;

2. Contribute to the strengthening of the collaboration and deployments through Standby Partner organizations and development of new partnerships with SPBs, networks, thinks tanks etc.

Coordinate the discussions between the Global Policy Network technical units and SBP organizations and identify synergies for collaboration and deployment of experts;

Undertake regular discussions with UNDPs Standby Partners, identifying and agreeing on areas for collaboration and priority deployment profiles;

Identify new SBP organizations in line with the GPN areas of service and initiate discussions, facilitate agreement on business process for the collaboration and deployments, signature of Standby Partnership Agreement;

Coordinate the recruitment and deployment of experts through Standby Partners (submission of ToR, selection of candidates, deployment of experts, pre and post mission briefings and duty of care issues);

Participate actively in the Standby Partner Network Working Groups

Stay abreast of developments in deployments and roster management by maintaining close partnerships with SBPs and UN Deployment Coordinators, to learn from and share best practice and innovative approaches.

Seek out new partners, think tanks and institutions and foster collaboration via LTAs

Leverage expertise from these new partners for deployments across the GPN

3. Contribute to the enhancement of the partnership with the UNV Office and the rolling of the UNDP UNV Tandem Initiative to UNDP Country Offices globally;

Promote the UNV modality (national and international UNVs) to UNDP Country Offices as part of the GPN ExpRes roster deployment mechanism offer;

Establish a stronger collaboration with the UNV Office by identifying potential pools of experts and support that can be made available to UNDP COs;

Coordinate the roll-over of the UNDP UNV Tandem Initiative to UNDP Country Offices globally in response to COVID-19 pandemic and work closely with the UNV representatives for the speedy recruitment of the NUNVs.

Work closely with UNV on the development of national UNV talent pools

4.Coordinate the deployment of internal and external technical expertise for crisis response, recovery and GPN assignments, for specific high profile engagements and responses;

Responsible for deployment of internal and external GPN experts requests submitted by Country Offices and UNDP units for specific high profiles cases such as COVID-19 response

Ensure that deployment business processes and guidelines are adhered to including deployment requests, TOR development, expert identification, contracting, briefing, deployment and evaluation.

Support the contracting and supervision of consultants and entitlement of staff

Ensure that relevant UNDP offices access advice and information on the effective use of GPNs deployment mechanisms including issues pertaining to modality, selection, contracting, logistics, security clearance, medical clearance, fees and other operational matters;

Deliverables

The following deliverables/actions will be provided on an ongoing basis:

Dedicated pool of expert with knowledge of EU and UNDP Project cycle to support Country Office in the drafting of project proposals etc. established and maintained.

Compliance with the established regulatory framework of EU and UNDP for purposes of contracted management ensured.

Deployment of experts through Stand By Partners facilitated.

Coordinate the deployment if UN Volunteers as part of the UNV/UNDP Tandem Team Initiative

UNV as a deployment modality promoted to UDP Country Offices, as part of the Crisis Bureaus Deployment Mechanism

Deployment of experts for large regional and global responses facilitated

Competencies

Ethics & Values:

Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity;

Tags architect collective action contract management data collection early recovery ethics financial resources human resources international relations knowledge products knowledge sharing logistics peacekeeping operations project management sdgs sustainable development sustainable development goals

Demonstrates and promotes the highest standard of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status.

Functional Competencies: Organizational Awareness:

Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment understands the structure and hierarchy of UN/UNDP, process flows throughout the organization, products and services, their measures of effectiveness, and perceptions of clients;

Excellent knowledge of development issues and internationally agreed development goals;

Working in Teams:

Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork;

Works collaboratively with colleagues inside UN/UNDP as well as its partners and other stakeholders to pursue common goals.

Ability to work at ease in a multicultural setting.

Communicating Information and Ideas:

Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;

Delivers verbal/written information in a timely, clear, organized and easily understood manner;

Excellent oral and written skills to develop knowledge products in relevant areas;

Strong communication skills and the ability to listen and take direction and leadership from others.

Self-Management & Emotional Intelligence:

Creating synergies through self-control tolerates conditions of stress, uncertainty or ambiguity and continues to maintain a positive outlook and to work productively.

Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Learning:

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Functional competencies:

Knowledge of crisis response and early recovery policies and inter-agency mechanisms;

Ability to implement methods and tools for crisis situations;

Excellent writing skills in English

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in International Relations, Development, Project Management, Human Resources or similar is required

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of relevant post masters work experience in human resources, project management, operations, management or crisis response; required

Knowledge and understanding of crisis prevention, preparedness, response and recovery (both disasters and conflicts); resilience; stabilization; transition; etc.); international crisis response architecture (including humanitarian system; peacekeeping operations; special political missions; etc.); gender equality in the context of programming in humanitarian and early recovery settings); required

The candidate should be familiar with matters pertaining to UN or UNDP; desired

Understanding of deployment mechanisms; required

Understanding of crisis response and recovery; required

Understanding of UNDP operations; desired

Project management, good IT skills and human resources experience is also an advantage;

Computer proficient and well versed in the use of the HR databases Internet, Excel and Word, required

Language:

Proficiency in English both written and oral is a must;

Working knowledge in one or several other UN working languages (s) would be an added advantage

EVALUATION METHOD

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria: weight 70% (desk review)

* Financial Criteria weight 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Technical Evaluation (700 points, Weight 70%)

All applicants will be initially screened against the minimum qualification requirements as specified above.

Responsive candidates will then be further evaluated against the following criteria

Criteria 1: Proven and relevant experience providing advisory support for crisis response and recovery deployments and initiatives, and/or partnerships (Maximum150 points) ) (5-6 years experience 100 points, 7 years above 150 points)

Criteria 2: Proven experience in working on partnerships to enhance capacities of country offices and or field offices - (Maximum 200 points)

Criteria 3: Experience working with UN agencies, government entities or NGOs at the country and HQ level desirable - Maximum 150 points)

Criteria 4: Proven ability to work in fast paced environment focusing on programmatic and operation elements - (Maximum 150 points)

Criteria 5: Proven ability to deliver in a timely manner, ensuring quality assuarnce- 50 points

The maximum points that can be achieved in the desk review is 700 points

Only those candidates who obtain a total technical score of 490 points and above on the technical evaluation will be considered for financial evaluation and will be asked to submit a financial proposal.

Financial evaluation (300 points, Weight 30%)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: p = y (/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

 = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

For the General Conditions of contracts for the Services of Individual Contractors, see http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.

Note: only shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a financial proposal. Please do not include your financial proposal in your technical application package.

The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee, take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required; living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.

In response to the announcement by New York local authorities that all United Nations non-essential workforce must stay home in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, the consultant is expected to telecommute (from the country of residence at the moment of application) until the situation allows for the deployment in New York HQ Offices. As such, shortlisted candidates may be asked to submit two different all-inclusive professional daily fees: home-based and office-based (based on a 7 hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).

Only for daily fee-based assignments: Both home-based and office-based all-inclusive professional daily fees will be considered during the financial assessment and will have an equal impact on the evaluations result. The most competitive financial proposal for each of the categories (home-based and office-based) will be awarded a total of 15 points.

In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file): Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP

Schedule of Payments:

Payment will be made upon submission of a certificate of payment request, and a progress report, at a schedule agreed based on deliverables, indicating outputs achieved and days worked to be verified and cleared for payment by the supervisor.

The work week will be based on 35 hours, i.e. on a 7-hour working day, with core hours being between 9h00 and 18h00 daily.

Institutional Arrangement: The consultant will report to the Deployments Specialist, Programme Specialist and UNDP Brussels.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Packaging materials and solution company Ltd on Tuesday reported over two-fold jump in its consolidated net profit at Rs 196.54 crore for the first quarter ended June 2020, helped by volume growth.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 90.91 crore during April-June quarter a year ago, said in a regulatory filing.

Its total income rose marginally by 0.78 per cent to Rs 1,997.54 crore during the quarter under review as against Rs 1,981.97 crore in the corresponding period of previous fiscal.

Uflex's total expenses declined 6.94 per cent to Rs 1,734.87 crore in Q1 FY 2020-21 as against Rs 1,864.29 crore a year ago.

"Due to the pandemic, consumption trends have witnessed a shift and flexible packaging has gained much more importance especially because of the hazards attached to non-packaged products. This resulted in higher production and sales volume," said in a statement.

Total production volume during the quarter under review grew 13.44 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to 1,07,599 metric tonnes (MT), while total sales volume increased 8.97 per cent YoY to 1,03,575 MT.

Revenue from flexible packaging activities rose 0.62 per cent to Rs 1,933.98 crore as against Rs 1,921.94 crore in April-June quarter a year ago.

Revenue from engineering activities grew 22.84 per cent to Rs 80.38 crore from Rs65.43 crore a year ago.

Commenting on the results, UFlex Group President (Finance & Accounts) and CFORajesh Bhatia said, "Q1 FY2020-21 has been a quarter of great progress for UFlex. The demand for pouching saw a huge increase led by personal hygiene category.

"There has been a steady improvement in BOPP-BOPET price spread in the last one year and we expect that the margins will remain healthy in the medium term."



All this was reflected in Uflex's quarterly performance via higher sales volumes, huge surge in profitability and much healthier EBITDA margins of 21.1 per cent, he added.

"Even amidst the lockdown, we were able to complete the construction of our new facilities in Poland and Russia and start trial runs,"Bhatia said.

The company operates in multiple countries across the globe - both in terms of its manufacturing operations and the markets for its products, and all these countries had imposed lockdowns of varying types aimed at containing the spread of the virus, Uflex said.

The company faced initial administrative and supply chain challenges in some countries during initial lockdown period, but there was no impact on its overall production and sales volumes during the quarter, it said.

"While Uflex believes that its business will continue to remain unscathed by the pandemic as it continues to witness higher demand for its products globally so far in FY 2021, there could be uncertainties in the future due to underlying developments with respect to COVID-19, which are difficult to predict," it said.

Shares of Uflex on Tuesday settled 0.09 per cent higher at Rs 337.55 on the BSE.

(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.)
Joe Biden pumps his fist in reaction to a comment about politicians stepping up for racial justice from the mother of Eric Garner, who died in New York police custody, as Biden appears by video feed from Delaware to engage with voters on the first day of the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS

The 2020 Democratic National Convention began Monday - technically in Milwaukee, but mostly virtually. Here are some key takeaways.

1. Four years after 'we go high,' Michelle Obama says 'it is what it is'

Four years ago, then-First Lady Michelle Obama offered one of the most stirring speeches of the Democratic Convention. On Monday, she offered an attempted indictment not just of President Donald Trump, but of the movement he has led.

Expand Close Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks in a frame grab from the live video feed of the all virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention as participants from across the country are hosted over video links to the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 17, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks in a frame grab from the live video feed of the all virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention as participants from across the country are hosted over video links to the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 17, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS

"Right now, kids in this country are seeing what happens when we stop requiring empathy of one another," Obama said. "They're looking around wondering if we've been lying to them this whole time about who we are and what we truly value. They see people shouting in grocery stores unwilling to wear a mask to keep us all safe. They see people calling the police on folks minding their own business, just because of the color of their skin. They see an entitlement that says only certain people belong here, that greed is good and winning is everything."

Obama also alluded to a line from her 2016 speech - "When they go low, we go high" - which has at times fallen out of favour with some Democrats who want a more forceful approach to winning elections.

"But let's be clear, going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty," Obama said. "Going high means taking the harder path. It means scraping in class on our way to that mountaintop. Going high means standing fierce against hatred while remembering that we are one nation under God."

Continuing in that vein, Obama offered one of the most memorable attacks of the night, referring to Trump's repeated statements that the coronavirus death toll "is what it is." She called him out by name, something she didn't do in that 2016 speech.

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"Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country," Obama said. "He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is."

As Michelle said, weve got to do everything we can to elect @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. So make sure you have a plan to vote. Vote early. And tell everybody you know to register to vote at https://t.co/XdZz4dh82T. https://t.co/rAUsWHusbV  Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 18, 2020

In a speech where she also made a personal and unusually political case for her husband's former vice president and implored viewers to prepare for obstacles when voting, it's that line about Trump that could live longest.

2. An emphasis: Not going too far left

One of the necessary casualties of holding a convention virtually - as with campaigning virtually - is spontaneity. Conventions were already glorified coronations and scripted partisan rallies, and that's even more the case now.

But that also makes some of the chosen messages more interesting. And one of them was reinforced a couple times Monday night: Biden won't go hard left.

"I'm sure there are Republicans and independents who couldn't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat; they fear Joe may turn sharp left and leave them behind," former Ohio governor and 2016 GOP presidential candidate John Kasich said. "I don't believe that, because I know the measure of the man - reasonable, faithful, respectful. And you know, no one pushes Joe around."

Expand Close Former Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders speaks in a frame grab from the live video feed of the all virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention as participants from across the country are hosted over video links to the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 17, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp Former Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders speaks in a frame grab from the live video feed of the all virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention as participants from across the country are hosted over video links to the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 17, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., seemed to allude to the idea that Biden, while perhaps not liberals' ideal, would be someone liberals can work with. He even, perhaps most strikingly, pitched Biden's health care plan, despite attacking it vociferously during the 2020 primaries.

"As long as I am here, I will work with progressives, with moderates and yes, with conservatives, to preserve this nation from a threat that so many of our heroes fought and died to defeat," Sanders said.

At another point, while discussing police reform in a virtual round table, Biden himself echoed a police chief who said there are more good police than bad ones.

"Most cops are good," Biden said. "But the fact is the bad ones have to be identified and prosecuted and out, period."

While not perhaps a groundbreaking or terribly controversial statement, it was an interesting inclusion given it may not be a sentiment some on the left would like to see emphasized at this particular moment.

Kasich's comment is the bigger one on that front, though. He was speaking in his own voice, yes, but this was a sanctioned message from the Democratic presidential campaign. Again, it's less about the content than what it says about the emphasis.

Some on the left have been concerned that Biden would not go as far as they'd like. Kasich even tangled with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in the hours before the convention, after being quoted saying the New York congresswoman "gets outsized publicity" and that "doesn't mean she represents the Democratic Party."

Indeed, one GOP politician's "turn sharp left" may be a liberal firebrand's "do what we want." There seemed to be more emphasis Monday on guarding against the perception that Biden would sell out to the left.

3. 'His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump. And for that, he paid with his life'

The night was full of testimonials from average people and, even more than that, average people touched by crucial election-year issues like police violence and the coronavirus.

Perhaps none of them landed with the force, though, of Kristin Urquiza, whose father died of coronavirus. Urquiza, as she has done in The Washington Post's Outlook section, flatly blamed Trump.

Expand Close Kristin Urquiza speaks about her father Mark Anthony Urquiza's death from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a video capture from the live video feed of the all virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention broadcast from the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 17, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp Kristin Urquiza speaks about her father Mark Anthony Urquiza's death from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a video capture from the live video feed of the all virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention broadcast from the originally planned site of the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. August 17, 2020. 2020 Democratic National Convention/POOL via REUTERS

"He had faith in Donald Trump," Urquiza said. "He voted for him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear - that it was okay to end social distancing rules before it was safe, and that if you had no underlying health conditions, you'd probably be fine."

Urquiza said her father heeded that advice and went to a karaoke bar when restrictions were lifted in Arizona, which wound up suffering one of the worst resurgences of the virus in the country.

Urquiza added: "My dad was a healthy 65-year old. His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump. And for that he paid with his life."

Urquiza is hardly the first to blame Trump for the death of a loved one, but it was a thoroughly personal and emotional testimonial.
Why Chinas demands on the border issue are not acceptable to India

Comprehensive Story

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Aug 18: The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is non-negotiable. The Indian troops will remain forward deployed until the Chinese dis-engage.

The position that India would continue to maintain firmly is that the Chinese PLA must disengage. The decision was taken following a consultative meeting of top officials from the Army, Defence and External Affairs Ministry.

The inter-ministerial meeting was held ahead of the diplomatic talks through the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) to be held later this week.

It is quite clear that the transgressions that began in May had the approval of the Chinese Central Military Commission headed by Secretary, Xi Jinping. This is because it involved both the Tibetan and Xinjiang district as troops were inducted from outside the Western Theatre Command, an official familiar with the developments told OneIndia.

The official cited above also said that during the talks, China continues to make demands that are clearly not acceptable to India. For instance, they are seeking the removal of an old administrative base in Pangong Tso.

The officer also said that India will call out China's bluff convey that the PLA is the aggressor. China has been holding routine meetings and projecting normalcy so that India must accept the PLA's aggression.

New Delhi will call out this bluff even as it gets ready for another round of diplomatic level talks at the joint secretary level. Officials say that on one hand, China says that it is building trust with India. However, the PLA is still at the green top of Finger 4 feature on the north bank of Pangong Tso.

This kind of posturing by the Chinese is not acceptable. The fact of the matter is that the PLA is the aggressor and India will call out this bluff soon, the officer cited above also said.

Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat informed a committee of lawmakers that the de-escalation in Ladakh where the Chinese troops transgressed in June may take more time. He also said that this transgression led to the Indian troops being deployed in large numbers.

The General also emphasised that India its prepared to face any onslaught. However efforts are being made to bridge the trust deficit with China, he also said.

Meanwhile, India has told China to stop further construction and pull back troops from the Depsang-Daulat Beg Oldie sector of eastern Ladakh. During the talks between the two sides, India also told China to stop further construction activities in the area.

During the talks, India stressed upon the importance of reducing tensions in the Depsang plains, an official familiar with the developments told OneIndia. This has been a major flash point for several years now, owing to the perceptions of the Line of Actual Control.

The military level talks between the two sides was held on Saturday between 11 am and 7,30 pm. India stressed on the fact that the PLA troops who are camping near the Bottleneck area in the Depsang plains since May should not block Indian soldiers from going to their Patrolling Points-10, 11, 12 and 13.

The primary agenda of the meeting was to reduce tensions at the Depsang Plains, where there is a massive build up of troops of both sides. The meeting would discuss ways to de-escalate as well as disengage. India will also seek restoration of patrolling rights for its soldiers.
It's no secret The Bachelor Locklan 'Locky' Gilbert is a fan of body ink.

But on Monday, Locky confessed that there was one tattoo design he would never consider getting.

In a game of 'Would You Rather' with Who Magazine, the 30-year-old explained why he wouldn't get a girlfriend's name tattooed on him.

Tatt's a bad look! The Bachelor Locklan 'Locky' Gilbert has revealed the one tattoo he would never consider getting during a game of 'Would You Rather' for Who magazine on Monday

'Would I rather bungee jump a heap of times or get my partners name tattooed on me?' he said, repeating the question.

Locky joked: 'It would be bungee jump. I mean it's a sign of breaking up if you get a name tattooed on you.'

His comments clearly showed the Survivor star won't be rushing out to get the name of his chosen Bachelor 'winner' inked on his skin anytime soon.

Tatted up: Locky has a number of tattoos that he proudly shows off, but he said he would never get a partner's name inked on his body

Locky has a number of other tattoos he proudly shows off on camera, including the words 'strength and honour' written across his collarbone.

He also has several designs on his arms, torso and neck.

Fans of the Channel 10 dating show have no doubt noticed the hunky reality star also has an intricate tattoo on his neck which he

Locky revealed that his neck tattoo was a meaningful quote from Muhammad Ali.

He told radio program Hughesy and Ed that it reads: 'He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.'

Meaningful: The hunky reality star recently revealed the intricate tattoo on his neck is a quote from American professional boxer Muhammad Ali. Pictured with intruder Kaitlyn Hoppe

On Sunday, Locky shared the secrets behind his fit physique and gruelling exercise routine.

'I usually go for 10km runs every second day and 40km mountain bike rides about three times a week. I find that it's a really good way to clear your head and focus,' he told The Sunday Telegraph.

He also revealed he has been doing 'intermittent fasting for around two years' and he doesn't eat from 6.30pm to until 12pm the next day.

The Bachelor continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
The Government is expected to announce more "unpopular decisions" as it struggles to keep Covid-19 under control ahead of schools reopening.

It comes as the Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirmed another 56 cases, bringing the total to 27,313. To date, 1,774 Covid-related deaths have been reported.

Of the new cases, 35 are linked to outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case, while 12 have been identified as community transmission.

With the focus now on all schools opening their doors from next week, the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 will meet on Tuesday to discuss the next steps based on public health advice.

Publicans fear that the Government could be forced to again push out the deadline for the reopening of all pubs from August 31. An update on overseas travel advice is also expected.

It is understood the Cabinet will also publish an expert report on nursing homes which will contain 86 recommendations.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the next three weeks will be incredibly important after more than 1,100 new cases were reported in the last two weeks, and a spike in deaths may be imminent.

If you look at the daily number of cases, it is going up... the sad reality, there can be a time lag between cases and hospitalisations," said Mr Donnelly.

It stands to reason that there will be a fatality rate following that.

Last evening's Covid-19 press briefing was postponed as the National Public Health Emergency Team prepared a number of recommendations on how best to tackle the virus.

Mr Donnelly said the Government will follow the public health advice "very closely", and it is expected that more difficult decisions will have to be made as the country prepares to send children back to school in the coming weeks.

"There has been a lot of talk about restrictions on virus hotspots and how we would roll out testing at airports and how those things could be implemented," said a senior government source.

"There will be a strong focus on the 200 cases from last week that we saw in one day, 200 cases is a cause of concern, so Cabinet needs to look at where they're coming from, whether they are community or localised, that's the main focus."

The sub-committee usually looks back at the 14-day rates per 100,000 as a trend-based analysis; however, it is understood it will focus on the 200 cases in one day recorded last Saturday.

Mr Donnelly has called for the same intensity of focus that there was in the early months of living with the virus.

Weve got to listen to the doctors, said Mr Donnelly. "All across Europe, what we saw was we saw a very successful suppression of the virus and as governments, including Ireland's, as we relaxed those restrictions and probably as we all began to normalise, maybe a bit of fatigue crept in.

What's happening in Ireland is what's happening all over Europe and all over the world, which is, the virus is beginning to come up again.

"Now, in Ireland, what's really concerning the public health doctors is that it's popping up all around the country. So in the last two weeks, for example, there's been new cases in every single county.

"We're learning about this virus all the time."

It is understood there has been no conversation about extending restrictions to other counties and the plan is for restrictions in Laois, Offaly, and Kildare to be lifted at midnight on Sunday.

Thats still the plan," said Mr Donnelly. "My hope is this, as of midnight this Sunday that those restrictions will be relaxed."

Meanwhile, Dr Gabriel Scally has said that schools should consider keeping windows open and getting students to wear their coats in class to suppress the spread of Covid-19.

Getting the air moving could be the best thing to do, said Dr Scally.
Employees walk on the Samsung factory site in Thai Nguyen Province, north of Hanoi. Photo by Reuters/Kham.

Samsung has rebutted reports it plans to shift part of its smartphone production in Vietnam to India, saying the former will continue to be the group's major manufacturing base.

Samsung Vietnam said in a statement that its smartphone manufacturing factories in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen are operating as usual.

Vietnam will always be Samsung's important production base in the world, it stated on Tuesday, adding that reports on the shift to India are "unfounded."

The statement came after Indias Economic Times on August 17 reported that Samsung "may shift a major part of its smartphone production to India from Vietnam and other countries," citing sources.

The report said the South Korean conglomerate had submitted estimates of making smartphones worth over $40 billion in the next five years to the Indian government.

"Samsung is likely to diversify its production lines for making smartphones to India under the PLI (Production Linked Incentive) scheme and this will have an impact in its existing capabilities across various countries like Vietnam," the English-language daily quoted a source "familiar with the matter" as saying.

About half of Samsungs smartphones are produced in Vietnam, where it has invested over $17 billion so far. Its first plant in the country was built in 2008.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden (L) speaks to reporters in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 13, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images); President Donald Trump (R) before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on June 27, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Broadcasters Air 150 Times More Negative News on Trump Than Biden: Study

Evening news has aired a plethora of negative stories against President Donald Trump while virtually ignoring presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, a study found.

NewsBusters, a project of watchdog Media Research Center, analyzed ABC, CBS, and NBC evening newscasts from June 1 through July 31. Analysts found that the shows spent 512 minutes of airtime on Trump, nine times more than the 58 minutes they allotted to Biden.

But that extra airtime was almost entirely negative toward Trump.

Analysts at the center found 634 of 668 evaluative statements about the president were negative, compared to 4 of 12 for Biden.

It shows a news media that is tired of being an umpire, they want to be a player, Rich Noyes, research director at the center, told The Epoch Times.

Theyd rather be the opposition to Donald Trump than let Joe Biden do the job.

ABC News, NBC News, and CBS News didnt respond to requests for comment on the study.

Courtney Parella, deputy national press secretary for the Trump campaign, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement: We didnt need a study to prove what we already know. The mainstream media is openly biased against President Trump, and they are fooling themselves if they think the American people cant see through it.

In a typical campaign season, broadcasts would devote time to both candidates. The uneven treatment stems in part from Biden not holding campaign events for months during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noyes said, but the former vice president is still speaking on a daily basis, has plans out for what he would implement if elected, and faces scandals including a sexual assault allegation.

Forty percent, or 23.5 minutes, of the Biden-focused coverage aired Bidens criticisms of Trump, while just 0.25 percent, or 88 seconds, of Trump-focused coverage consisted of relaying Trumps criticisms of the presumptive nominee.

Its as if theyre not trusting the public to make up their minds properly if they were given both sides, Noyes said. Theyre squandering any credibility they might have as journalists and showing that theyre partisan actors.

The study included explicitly evaluative statements about Trump or Biden from reporters, anchors, or nonpartisan sources such as experts or voters. It didnt include evaluations or comments from partisan sources, or neutral statements.

Trump has regularly described many reporters as biased against him.

My biggest opponent isnt Biden, its not the Democrats, its the corrupt media. We have a corrupt media in this country the likes of which nobodys ever seen before, Trump said in a phone interview with Fox & Friends on Aug. 17.

Asked why he was campaigning during the Democratic National Convention, Trump said he has no choice because of the media.

And we have a guy that doesnt come out of his basement, and the media covers him, he said, adding later, Theyre asking me questions, and I see the fire is burning in their eyes and Im looking at some of themI said, boy, how could you have so much hatred?

Biden has only given a handful of press briefings since isolating at his home in March, an isolation he ended over the summer. The former vice president and his newly announced running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), have only taken two questions in events since he named her as his vice presidential candidate on Aug. 11.

Bidens campaign hasnt responded to inquiries, including queries on when the pair will hold a legitimate press conference.

The presumptive Democratic ticket plans to do a sitdown interview, which will air in portions on Aug. 21 and in full on Aug. 23.
Known Latino activists and politicians have criticized the Latino community's lack of representation during this week's Democratic National Convention.

Only three Latino speakers have their own speaking slot during the DNC primetime lineup, according to a report.

Latinos who had their speaking slot were Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.

DNC starts on Monday for four nights, with a two-hour primetime program.

Julian Castro was the only Latino to run for president in U.S. elections 2020. He was the former Housing and Urban Development, Secretary.

Castro was a keynote speaker at the 2012 DNC. This year he will be a speaking panel with other 2020 presidential candidates.

Other presidential contenders will also be speaking in the primetime event. These are Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mike Bloomberg, and Sen. Cory Booker.

"I'd be lying to you if I said that I'm not disappointed that there aren't more Latinos and Latinas generally speaking on that program," Castro was quoted.

He added that he is also disappointed that there is no one who is Native or Muslim American speaking during the said primetime hour.

"You think about the beautiful coalition that has become the Democratic Party over the last few years, I'm not sure right now that it's fully represented on that stage," Castro added.

Others agreed with Castro's opinion.

Cristina Jimenez, the co-founder of United We Dream, said through a tweet how much the Democratic Party cares about Latinos.

Jimenez said that the Democratic Party cares about Latinos so much to include Republicans & Bloomberg in the #DNC speaker lineup & not Julian Castro & other Latino leaders.

Cristobal Alex, a senior Biden adviser, said that several local Latino politicians would be part of 17 "rising stars" set to give a keynote address.

Alex said that there had been a lot of excitement and questions about the upcoming DNC. He added that Latinos would represent, from around the country, the community's strength and resilience.

Alex said that they would not have 10 hours of speeches per day.

"This is 2 hours per night with a goal of reaching voters across the nation, including Latino voters. That's why @JulianCastro has a role," Alex was quoted.

Top Latino celebrity Eva Longoria Baston also emceed the Monday night's convention.

Survey of Latinos

A new survey, following the DNC criticism, also shows that two-thirds of Latinos have not seen any outreach from political candidates' campaigns for the 2020 election.

Around 64 percent of Latino voters said they had not received any contact from either party or non-partisan civic group for the 2020 election, according to a Somos/UnidosUS national survey.

President of UnidosUS, Janet Murguia, said that while there is a lot of competition for time, there was a disappointment on not seeing more Latinos in primetime at the DNC.

Murguia added that they have to ensure that representation is not just seen but is also felt.

Check these out:

Democratic Presidential Candidate Biden Clarifies Remarks Comparing African American and Latino Communities

Joe Biden Portrays Latino Children as Tied to Illegal Immigrants

Latino Voters Will Make the Difference in the 2020 Presidential Elections, If They Vote
Bombardier is cutting up to 95 jobs in Northern Ireland due to what it says are the "extraordinary" challenges caused by coronavirus.

It says that "an additional 95 Bombardier core employee jobs in Northern Ireland are at risk of redundancy".

It comes just two months after it announced the loss of up to 600 roles here.

In June the firm said, following a wider global announcement of 2,500 losses across the firm, around 400 core employee jobs are now at risk of redundancy.

It's understood the losses include 400 core staff and a further 200 temporary roles are at risk.

"Following our June announcement of a workforce reduction as a result of extraordinary industry interruptions and challenges caused by Covid-19, we have completed another review of our Belfast requirements for all our aircraft programmes," a spokesman said.

"In light of additional softening of market demand for the remainder of this year and through 2021, we regret to confirm that we must make a further downward adjustment to our workforce levels.

"An additional 95 Bombardier core employee jobs in Northern Ireland are at risk of redundancy. The company will be lodging a formal HR1 redundancy notice with the Department for the Economy, following which there will be a 30-day consultation period when we will explore every opportunity to mitigate the number of redundancies.

"We deeply regret the impact this will have on our workforce and their families, but it is essential we align our business with current market realities to ensure we have a sustainable long-term future."
A San Francisco man was arrested in connection with a string of burglaries, including the theft of about 100 laptop computers from a Richmond District school, authorities said Tuesday.

Justin Raab, 23, was transferred from a jail in San Mateo County to San Francisco County Jail to be booked on suspicion of burglary and grand theft, according to San Francisco police. He was already being held on charges for an unrelated matter.

Raab was linked to several computers found July 27 on the street near St. Thomas the Apostle School at 40th Avenue and Balboa Street, police said. Investigators later learned that additional computers were missing from the school.

One of the laptop carts was pushed off the stairs in order to break into it, school officials said in an online post. Approximately 100 laptops were stolen. This is devastating to our school.

Such equipment has become especially important during the coronavirus pandemic, when many schools are requiring distance learning to keep students and their families safe.

The school posted photographs showing broken windows and a ransacked computer room missing everything but a tangle of black wires.

An alert officer from Southern Station noticed that surveillance camera footage of the suspect in the school burglary matched a mug shot of Raab that had been distributed by sheriffs deputies in San Mateo County, police said.

Further investigation, including a review of more surveillance camera footage, allegedly linked Raab to four other San Francisco burglaries of computers and cash in July. Targets in those burglaries included two schools, one restaurant and a retail store, police said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

On Tuesday, Raab pleaded not guilty in Superior Court on nine felony counts and was ordered to return on September 15.

Raab was being held Tuesday in lieu of $50,000 bail, the San Francisco Sheriffs Department said.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@SteveRubeSF
The exam regulator Ofqual is run by a former journalist who flunked his A-Levels and a career civil servant who had no experience in education before taking up her post.

Roger Taylor was the senior figure who first apologised for the A-Level fiasco yesterday.

But the Ofqual chairman did not mention that he too suffered underwhelming A-Level results - albeit mainly through his own lack of hard work.

He and chief executive/chief regulator Sally Collier have been trust into the firing line amid the fury over the exam grades handed out to students.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has attempted to deflect the blame for the situation onto Ofqual as he said the Government had been assured that the algorithm 'would stand scrutiny' and that the regulator 'didn't deliver'.

Robert Halfon, the Tory chairman of the Education Committee this afternoon the regulator may need to be broken up, telling the Guardian: 'It is worth considering abolishing Ofqual in its current form, it is not fit for purpose, and bringing it back within the Department for Education.

'Ministers should have proper control and accountability.'



Meanwhile, Mr Williamson also appeared to hint that the regulator's boss, Ms Collier, could be made to carry the can for the debacle as he failed to express confidence in her performance.

One Tory MP told the Telegraph the 'vultures are circling' but the Education Secretary is a 'master of finding someone else to chuck under a bus'.

The knives are also out for Jonathan Slater, the permanent secretary at the Department for Education.

Ofqual chairman Roger Taylor (right) and chief executive/chief regulator Sally Collier (left) have been thrust into the firing line amid the fury over the exam grades handed out to students

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has attempted to deflect the blame for the situation onto Ofqual as he said the Government had been assured that the algorithm 'would stand scrutiny' and that the regulator 'didn't deliver'

Neither of the two top figures at Ofqual can boast a long career in education.

Former Financial Times journalist-turned businessman Mr Taylor has been in the post since 2016. Last year he told the Times Education Supplement that 'lack of application' among other issues saw him flunk A-Levels including Latin and Greek at the 39,000-per year private King's School in Canterbury.

But he was handed a reprieve when he was handed a place at Oxford anyway, after passing its entry exam.

After leaving the FT in 2000 the jazz pianist set up Dr Foster, which produced a guide to hospitals based on death rates. The Department of Health brought a 12million stake and he later sold it.

Before becoming Ofqual chairman he sat on its audit and risk assurance committee.

Last year he led a study which warned that algorithms had the potential to cause 'real harm'. The study was carried out by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), which he ran.

The knives are also out for Jonathan Slater, the permanent secretary at the Department for Education

Ms Collier has spent her entire career within the public sector. Before joining Ofqual in April 2016 she worked as chief executive of the Crown Commercial Service, managing director of the Government Procurement Service and director of procurement policy and capability at the Cabinet Office.

In her first speech in post she told the audience: 'I have been in office eight weeks ... and most of you in the room have probably been in this sector a lifetime or parts of lifetime ...

'Many of you will know I don't come from the education sector; I was a CEO of a large commercial buying organisation, of which there are more similarities than you might think actually.'

And the 200,000-per year executive wrote an open letter to students, parents and teachers in April, saying: 'Please be reassured that the grades you get this summer will look exactly the same as in previous years, and they will have equal status with universities, colleges and employers, to help you move forward in your lives.'

Mr Halfon had earlier called the situation with exams a 'mega-mess' after he had warned of the risk that disadvantaged pupils could be negatively affected.

Asked who is to blame for the problems in the exams system, the Conservative MP told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'We need to find that out.

'I'd like to see the minutes of everything that has gone on.

'I also think we should find out how much this has cost the taxpayer just so that we make sure that this never happens again.'

'What has happened has been a mega-mess and I really feel sorry for all the pupils and students and parents across the country who've had so much anguish over the past week through no fault of their own.'
Since floodwaters started to recede in late July, villagers affected by deluges in Anhui province have been racing against time to replant their fields. It's hot in Fuyang's Funan county, with the temperatures reaching as high as 37 C during the day. Despite this, both Lang Kehong and his wife in Liying village, governed by Wangjiaba township in the county, have spent hours in the heat every day planting scallion. The seedlings were provided free by the local government. "If we don't plant in time, they will easily rot, and the earlier we plant them, the earlier we will harvest," said Lang, adding that some senior neighbors who can't bear the heat plant at night. Besides scallion, villagers have been focused on replanting fast-growing vegetables and crops such as cabbages, green beans and buckwheat, according to Zhang Zhiyu, head of the Funan bureau of agriculture and rural affairs. A few days ago, the village was submerged by floodwaters from the Huaihe River, which is several hundred meters away. Wangjiaba and other three towns lie in the river's Mengwa Flood Diversion Area, which covers 180 square kilometers of land and is home to about 195,000 people. Every time the river swells from heavy rains, the Wangjiaba sluice gates are opened to divert the excessive floodwaters to the Mengwa area to protect people from the upper and lower reaches of the river. On the morning of July 20, the gates were opened for the 16th time since they were built in 1953. By the time the gates were closed on July 23, 375 million cubic meters of water had submerged all the fields in Mengwa. The floodwaters came in rapidly but drained slowly. Among the four submerged townships, Wangjiaba, which is closest to the gates and the highest in elevation, is the first and only area whose farmlands have emerged from water so far. "Direct economic losses in the Mengwa area could reach over 500 million yuan ($72 million) this time," Zhang said. Though the villagers will be compensated, the current compensation standard hasn't changed since 2007, when villagers were last forced to sacrifice their land because of the floods. "The standard should be updated to meet the latest losses, though it will by no means be an easy job," said Cui Li, Party chief of Funan, which had been a key county for the country's poverty alleviation campaign until April this year, when it was officially lifted out of poverty. He said many modern farm facilities have invested in the area over the years to increase the villagers' incomes. "Though we know better and will make sacrifices again in the face of another flood, we have never waited to be flooded. We cannot do that," Cui said. "The replantation is key to not only reducing the villagers' losses, but also to the supply of agricultural products," Zhang said. He said the replantation is a race against time, and they have been doing it inch by inch. "Once a plot of land is uncovered by the water, disinfection and replantation will follow," Zhang said. By Thursday, only 15 square kilometers of farmland in the Mengwa area had emerged from the water. For fields that have emerged within the last week, villagers have begun focusing mainly on planting vegetable species suitable for autumn and winter, such as carrots and garlic, according to the local agricultural authorities. Another 100 hectares of ponds have been disinfected and supplemented with 1.13 million fish to further restore local farming. Zhou Deqiang, an official deployed to assist the villages before the opening of the sluice gates, is based in Xiaomatai village of Laoguan township, which is still isolated by floodwaters. "We are still waiting, but nobody knows for how long," he said.


Covid-19 cases are likely to pass the virus on to '20% of relatives'

Children are less likely to catch Covid-19 at school than they are at home, according to research.

Scientists at Belgium's national health body found coronavirus transmission rates in classrooms were far lower than in the home.

Just 0.8 per cent of youngsters quarantined under the contact tracing system tested positive for the virus. The rate was higher in teachers, at 4.5 per cent.

Infected people often pass it on to around 20 per cent of relatives in their own home, Belgium's state virologist Steven Van Gucht claimed.

Experts believe children are just as at risk of catching Covid-19 as adults. But studies have suggested they may be less likely to pass the disease on.

Children are far less likely to catch coronavirus in the classroom than they are at home, a major study in Belgium has found. Pictured, teenagers at school in Germany

ARE CHILDREN IMMUNE TO COVID-19? Children are unlikely to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and the risk of them dying from the disease is very low, dozens of studies have shown. Scientists warn children are not immune, however. Anyone can get infected with the virus  technically called SARS-CoV-2. But eight months since the pandemic began in China, doctors around the world are still baffled as to why youngsters appear resistant to the disease. Reasons for their resilience to the disease are still unclear, despite a wave of trials devoted to unraveling the truth on the contentious topic. Evidence shows the coronavirus preys on existing ill health and is most dangerous for the elderly. In comparison, the flu poses a big threat to children. Barely any children have died of Covid-19. Only six under-14s have succumbed to the illness in England and Wales, according to official data. Cambridge University's Sir David Spiegelhalter said their risk was 'unbelievably low', adding: 'I don't think any [group] has been safer in the history of humanity.' Statisticians analysing the outbreak in the UK even say youngsters are more likely to be hit by lightning than be killed by the virus. Cambridge academics say the death rate for under-14s is around 0.00068 per cent  the equivalent of seven deaths for every million cases. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine researchers found in June that children often escape the disease without any symptoms. Only 21 per cent of infected 10 to 19-year-olds had symptoms. By contrast, the rate of symptoms among over-70s was three times higher. Getting fewer symptoms and milder illness may make children less likely to spread it, other researchers have claimed. But two major studies last week, from China and Germany, concluded that children are capable of transmitting the virus. Some academics believe youngsters are better protected against Covid-19 because they are used to catching other less harmful coronaviruses. This may then teach their immune system to recognise SARS-CoV-2, allowing them to fight off the infection without getting seriously ill. Other experts say their body may be faster to react or their bodies better able to cope with viral infections because they are younger. Advertisement

The study was conducted by the Sciensano Institute. The findings were reported in a press conference on August 14, according to The Brussels Times.

Some 378 cases of coronavirus were reported at schools in Belgium between March and June, of which 270 were pupils and 108 staff members.

Around 4,470 children under the age of 18 were put into self-isolation because they had been in contact with a positive Covid-19 case at school.

Only 36 pupils tested positive, meaning they had either been infected at school or in the comfort of their own home.

Meanwhile, 243 staff were quarantined and 11 came down with the illness, at a rate of 4.5 per cent.

Belgium's state virologist Steven Van Gucht said: 'We can say that the percentage of secondary infections at school is very low.'

He added transmission rates at home are 'much higher' with people typically passing on the virus to 10 to 20 per cent of family members.

It comes after the European Union's medical agency published figures that showed reopening classrooms hasn't led to a spike in cases.

Experts at the European Centre for Disease Control concluded in a report on August 6 that 'child-to-child transmission in schools is uncommon'.

They added that most children catch the virus elsewhere, and so school is 'not the primary cause of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children'.

The report said: 'There is conflicting published evidence on the impact of school closure/re-opening on community transmission levels, although the evidence from contact tracing in schools, and observational data from a number of EU countries suggest that re-opening schools has not been associated with significant increases in community transmission.

'Current evidence suggests that schools are no different from any other communal environment in terms of the risk of spreading the virus.'

The agency's Dr Josep Jansa added: 'It is important for children and for the normal functioning of society that schools open in good time.'

Children are unlikely to fall seriously ill with Covid-19 and the risk of them dying from the disease is very low, dozens of studies have shown.

Scientists warn children are not immune, however. Anyone can get infected with the virus  technically called SARS-CoV-2.

But eight months since the pandemic began in China, doctors around the world are still baffled as to why youngsters appear resistant to the disease.

Reasons for their resilience to the disease are still unclear, despite a wave of trials devoted to unraveling the truth on the contentious topic.

Evidence shows the coronavirus preys on existing ill health and is most dangerous for the elderly. In comparison, the flu poses a big threat to children.

Barely any children have died of Covid-19. Only six under-14s have succumbed to the illness in England and Wales, according to official data.

Cambridge University's Sir David Spiegelhalter said their risk was 'unbelievably low', adding: 'I don't think any [group] has been safer in the history of humanity.'

Getting children back to classrooms was heralded by Boris Johnson as a 'national priority' and ministers are considering sending testing squads into schools.

Schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are planned to return in September, while Scotland's first term begins at a slightly later date than usual on August 11.

What does research say about transmission of the virus by children and what does it mean for schools re-opening?

Older pupils spread the virus 'like adults do'

Secondary school pupils are as likely to transmit coronavirus as adults, according to a Public Health England study revealed last week.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said PHE findings due to be published later this year showed there was little risk from the Government's plans to reopen schools in England in September.

The education secretary said the 'latest research, which is expected to be published later this year  one of the largest studies on the coronavirus in schools in the world', would make it 'clear there is little evidence that the virus is transmitted at school'.

However The Times reported that while there was little risk from primary schools, researchers who had worked on the study were unhappy with the way their findings, which have not yet been fully analysed, had been used by ministers who argue that it is safe for all children to return to class at the start of next term.

While preliminary results of the study which separated children into those older than 10 and those younger indicate that primary schools are not a significant danger, with just six positive test results out of 9,000 tested so far, it is believed that a difference was found in the older group.

A source claimed the study suggested that as pupils grow older 'their bodies start to act like small adults' as they spread the virus more effectively.

A PHE spokesperson said: 'PHE analysis of recorded cases and outbreaks in educational settings in England is currently undergoing pre-publication verification and review, and will be published in due course.

'It appears to show that SARS-CoV-2 infections and outbreaks were uncommon in educational settings during the first month after the easing of national lockdown in England.'

'Additionally, a nationwide surveillance programme examining antibody prevalence in schoolchildren (sKIDs), is being analysed and should be published in the coming weeks.

'These publications combined will give the most complete picture of the landscape of Covid-19 in educational settings that we have seen to date.'

Schools are 'minor players' in the overall transmission of coronavirus

Professor Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said schools are 'minor players' in the transmission of coronavirus, and 'we owe it to our children' to re-open schools.

He said parents should be 'reassured' by growing evidence from countries including Germany, Singapore and the Netherlands, which shows 'little significant transmission in schools'.

Professor Viner, who also sits on the Government's Scientific Advisory Group, said returning next month was likely to 'add little' to the reproduction rate of infection.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on August 10 that reopening schools is one of the 'least risky things we can do'.

He said: 'There's always dangers with evidence but I think the evidence from around the world is starting to become convincing that for younger children, particularly primary school children, that they appear to be less likely to catch this virus, and they don't play a big role in transmitting it.'

Professor Viner highlighted the 'higher rates of some concerning conditions', observed in children's absence from school, including obesity.

Findings of a study revealed today suggests older pupils could be as infectious as adults, as rules in Scotland mean secondary school pupils will have to avoid close contact, including sharing desks, while primary school pupils do not need to. Pictured, a group of girls returning to school in Kelso, Scotland, today

Pupils return to Kelso High School for the first time since the start of the coronavirus lockdown nearly five months ago on August 11 in Kelso, Scotland

Schoolchildren 'do not spread the virus as much as staff do'

Research in Australia  one of the only countries to keep its schools open during the pandemic  found that children do not transit the coronavirus to other people as much as staff do, suggesting adults are more capable of spreading the disease.

The team led by Professor Kristine Macartney identified all staff and children who attended a school or nursery in the Australian state of New South Wales while they had Covid-19.

Overall, 12 children and 15 adults were found to have attended schools or nurseries while infectious between 25 January to 10 April, when term ended.

All adults or the parents of children were interviewed at diagnosis to track who the cases had been in contact with during the time that they were infectious.

The team showed that, of the 633 close contacts who were tested following symptoms, 18 were found to have Covid-19.

Further analysis of a subset of schools showed the transmission rate between staff (4.4 per cent) was much higher than between children (0.3 per cent), suggesting children do not spread the virus as much as adults.

The attack rate from child to staff was one per cent for child-to-staff, compared to 1.5 per cent the other way around, according to the findings published in the journal The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health on August 3.

The researchers, led by Professor Kristine Macartney also said the transmission rates may have been higher in areas where contact tracing systems and testing were not as rigorous.

An Australian study found the transmission rate between staff (4.4 per cent) was much higher than between children (0.3 per cent), suggesting children do not spread the virus as much as adults

Teenagers 'spread the coronavirus as much as adults do'

A South Korean study found children under 10 transmitted less often to adults while those between the ages of 10 and 19 spread the virus as well as adults do.

The researchers at Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at 5,706 infected people and studies their 59,073 contacts for around nine days to see who was later diagnosed.

They detected Covid-19 in 11.8 per cent of household contacts, and rates were higher for contacts of children than adults.

Households with the older children had the highest rate of spread to other members18.6 per cent of any age group.

Only those in their 70s had an attack rate as high (18 per cent), followed by those in their 50s (17 per cent) and their 40s (11.8 per cent).

Households with younger children had the least spread, just 5.3 per cent, according to the findings which will be published in the autumn edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Outside of the home, teenagers didn't pose as much threat, with 0.9 per cent of their contacts testing positive compared with 4.8 per cent in the 70 to 79 age bracket.

The authors wrote: 'Young children may show higher attack rates when the school closure ends, contributing to community transmission of Covid-19.'

A study in South Korea found those aged 10-19 passed the coronavirus on to 18.6 per cent of their household contacts, and 0.9 per cent of their contact outside the home

Children without symptoms 'may spread the disease more'

Independent SAGE  a group of experts set up with of providing 'robust, independent advice' to the UK Government during Covid-19  has previously warned that children could spread coronavirus simply because they are not detected as a case.

Children may be just as likely to catch the coronavirus as adults but don't seem to be diagnosed often.

This is for two reasons  children to do not show the typical symptoms that adults to, if at all, and testing was only expanded to children in May.

A report from Independent SAGE published in May, which discussed whether schools should re-open on June 1, said: 'Studies have shown that between one per cent and five per cent of diagnosed Covid-19 cases are in children, but many children may be undiagnosed because up to a third of infected children never develop any symptoms (Ludvigsson, 2020).

'Current UK data suggest that they are as likely as adults to become infected and carry the virus but they may be less likely than adults to transmit the virus because, for instance, adults are contagious for longer than children.

'However, the impact of placing many children in one place could lead schools to become 'institutional amplifiers' if asymptomatic children go unnoticed until an adult becomes symptomatic.'

Children's viral loads are up to 100 times higher than adults', making them more infectious

Children under five years old can transmit the novel coronavirus just as easily as older kids can, a study in July claimed.

Researchers from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago collected nasopharyngeal swabs from children at a paediatric tertiary medical center in Chicago.

They looked at 145 patients who developed to moderate illness within one week of experiencing symptoms, according to the findings published in JAMA Pediatric.

Three groups were compared: children younger than age five, children between ages five and 17 years and adults from ages 18 to 65.

The findings shows that although children kindergarten-age or younger only have mild illness, they had viral loads between 10-fold and 100-fold greater amount in their upper respiratory tract.

'We found that children under five with Covid-19 have a higher viral load than older children and adults, which may suggest greater transmission, as we see with respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV,' said lead author Dr Taylor Heald-Sargent, a paediatric infectious diseases specialist at Lurie Children's.

'Our study was not designed to prove that younger children spread Covid-19 as much as adults, but it is a possibility.'

This implies that young children can spread the virus just as easily as teenagers, despite only developing a mild illness

Children have a lower viral load than adults, therefore cannot spread the virus as much

Eminent statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter claimed in May that children carry just a fraction of the viral load compared to adults, which significantly reduces their ability to fall ill or infect others.

Professor Spiegelhalter condemned a German pre-published study that suggested children carry the same viral load of COVID-19 as adults.

Because youngsters get much more mild symptoms, the results raised fears children could become super-spreaders.

However the statistician said the data clearly had been misinterpreted because it actually showed children have just a quarter of the viral load of adults.

He told the BBC: 'One of the big problems with this epidemic is that claims are being rushed out. Peer -review [when other scientists scrutinise research] has just disappeared from scientific analyses and yet they get a lot of media coverage.

'It is widely claimed that children have got the same viral load as adults, from a German study.

'If you look at that study it shows that is clearly not the case, children have about a quarter of the viral load according to the study. It's a very poor statistical analysis.'

Eminent statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter claimed in May that children carry just a fraction of the viral load compared to adults, which significantly reduces their ability to infect others

Children under 15 'rarely transmit the virus'

OPENING SCHOOLS WILL CAUSE A SECOND WAVE EVEN IF CHILDREN ARE LESS INFECTIOUS THAN ADULTS Some studies say children cannot transmit the virus as easily as adults. But the re-opening of schools does not just mean youngsters mingling together again. It would bring together adults, including teachers, parents and childcare workers, back together again. The return of schools would cause a knock-on effect with likely more people on public transport or in offices - which could influence the spread of the virus. A recent study revealed that, if schools do re-open and lockdown is gradually lifted with more people slowly returning to work, a second wave will occur. The secondary wave would result in the R rate  the number of people each Covid-19 patient infects  rising above the dreaded number of one. This could yield a secondary wave of infections 2-2.3 times the size of the first, which has so far killed around 46,201 people. The peak would come in December, or in February 2021 if schools re-open on just a part-time basis. But it could be avoided  with pubs remaining open and no draconian lockdowns needed  if testing is dramatically ramped up and the contact tracing system becomes better. Three quarters of people with Covid-19 would need to be tested and self-isolate to prevent a second wave caused by schools reopening. Experts found that, to prevent a second wave when schools reopen, the NHS contact tracing system must reach 68 per cent of cases and their contacts. But the current NHS system is 'not good enough'. It reaches half of contacts and only a fraction of symptomatic cases are tested, according to researchers from University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The study, published today in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health on August 3, assumed children were as infectious as adults. But the results remained true even when the team re-ran the model with the assumption that children and young people were 50 per cent as infectious as adults. Advertisement

Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist from the University of Edinburgh, said that children of school age up to 15 are 'minimally involved in the epidemiology of this virus'.

The professor, who sits on a sub-group of SAGE, told The Times on July 21 it is 'extremely difficult' to find any instances of children spreading the virus to adults in schools, with no certain cases.

He said: 'There is increasing evidence that they rarely transmit.

'For example, it is extremely difficult to find any instance anywhere in the world as a single example of a child transmitting to a teacher in school. There may have been one in Australia but it is incredibly rare.

'There are certain environments where this virus transmits very well and children are not present in these environments.'

He suggests closing schools was 'never essential' and said it was unlikely that governments would repeat the drastic step.

Evidence now suggests children are 'minimally involved' in the spread of Covid-19, which politicians should bear in mind in the future, he added.

Children are unlikely to spread the disease because they don't catch it in the first place

One study by University College London claimed children are unlikely to be involved with transmission of the virus because they so rarely get it.

The team analysed 18 studies looking into the link between the viral disease and children. Their findings, revealed on May 23, are yet to be published or peer-reviewed.

The risk of catching Covid-19 in children and teenagers was 56 per cent lower compared to adults over 20.

Researchers did not have sufficient data to examine whether children under 12 differed to teenagers in susceptibility.

Under-18s also appear to account for just one in 10 family clusters of the viral disease, although this was based on just one study so the evidence is weak.

Lead author Professor Russell Viner told a press conference: 'Susceptibility is a key part of the chain of infection, and this supports the view that children are likely to play a smaller role in transmitting the virus and proliferating the pandemic, although considerable uncertainty remains.'

Co-author Dr Rosalind Eggo, an infectious disease modeller at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: 'It [the study] suggests that children and young people are at lower risk of infection than adults and may therefore play a smaller role in the epidemic as a whole.

Evidence on how children spread the disease is 'inconclusive'

The government's SAGE experts suggested in May that children are at low danger from coronavirus but evidence on how they transmit the virus is 'inconclusive'.

Although they admit there is no certainty, a raft of papers suggest that children are less likely to be infected and infectious than adults, and teachers do not seem at heightened risk.

The documents, prepared in the weeks up to May 1, float the idea of splitting classes in half and having children attend schools alternate weeks, saying that could slash the effect on the coronavirus 'R' number.

'Evidence remains inconclusive on both the susceptibility and infectivity of children, but the balance of evidence suggests that both may be lower than in adults,' one paper said.

The government's SAGE experts suggested in May that children are at low danger from coronavirus but evidence on how they transmit the virus is 'inconclusive'. Pictured: Pupils at Greenacres Primary Academy in Oldham, northern England on June 18

What does the evidence say about severity of illness?

Children are unlikely to fall seriously ill and the risk of death is 'very low'

A study found that the risks of coronavirus to children are very low, adding weight to previous research on the topic.

Researchers from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London looked at more than 582 children aged three and above who were diagnosed with Covid-19 across Europe during the height of the crisis in April.

The study found that, out of 363 children who went to hospital for treatment, fewer than one in 10 (8 per cent) needed intensive care.

The study  published in the journal Lancet Child & Adolescent Health on June 25  also showed only 25 children needed mechanical ventilation (four per cent), but when they did need it, that support was typically required for a prolonged period, often for a week or more.

Four patients (0.68 per cent) died during the research  but academics cautioned the study only included patients who sought help and were tested for Covid-19.

This means milder cases would not have been included. For this reason they advise against extrapolating the numbers observed in their study to the wider population.

They say if milder cases were taken into consideration, the risk of being hospitalised or dying from Covid-19 for children would be drastically reduced.

Lead researcher Dr Marc Tebruegge, from the University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health in London, said the findings were 'reassuring'.

Under-20s are half as likely to become sick with Covid-19 as over-70s

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine academics analysed data from 32 locations in six different countries  China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Canada and South Korea.

They found across all regions, under-20s are about half as susceptible to infection as people who are older, and only 21 per cent of infected 10 to 19-year-olds get symptoms.

In comparison, the rate among over-70s  considered to be the most vulnerable to the disease  was three times higher (69 per cent), according to the study that was published in the journal Nature Medicine on June 16.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, was not involved with the study but said: '[They] were not able to determine whether young people are also less infectious, though this could be the case if infectiousness is linked to the severity of symptoms.'

Reasons for children's apparent resilience to the disease are still unclear, despite a wave of trials devoted to unraveling the truth on the contentious topic.

But top researchers say their immune system may be faster to react or their bodies are better able to cope with viral infections because they are younger.

Donald Trump insists children are immune to the coronavirus

The US president Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that children are immune from catching the coronavirus. Pictured, Mr Trump speaks during a news conference at the White House in Washington yesterday

The US president Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that children are immune from catching the coronavirus.

Asked on Monday whether infections among young people gives him any pause, he said: 'No. There may be a case, a tiny, a tiny fraction of death, tiny fraction, and they get better very quickly.'

Last week, social media platforms forced Mr Trump and his campaign to remove videos from their accounts in which the president claimed children are 'virtually immune' to the virus, which is false.

Asked if he still believes that, the president said: 'For the most part, yeah, I think they do very well. They don't catch it very easily ... They don't transport it or transfer it to other people, or certainly not very easily.'

However, the number of new Covid-19 cases among children in the US rose 40 per cent in the last two weeks of July, according to a report released just weeks before tens of millions of American students are scheduled to begin the new school year.

The new report by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association found that more than 338,000 children have tested positive for Covid-19 since the onset of the US epidemic, with 97,078 new cases reported in the July 16-30 period.

It did not give a reason for the recent spike. Testing for the novel coronavirus overall has risen in the US.
President Trump falsely claimed Tuesday that California Democrats have intentionally implemented rolling blackouts in recent days.

In a pair of tweets, Trump said Democrats were unable to keep up with energy demand and that the blackouts were forcing Americans in the dark. He added that I gave America energy independence in fact, so much energy we could never use it all. The Bernie/Biden/AOC Green New Deal plan would take Californias failed policies to every American!

There are several inaccuracies in those tweets.

To start with, Californias rolling blackouts have not been intentionally implemented by politicians. The California Independent System Operator, a nonprofit that manages most of the states electric grid, has mandated rotating outages in recent days because of soaring energy demand during the intense and prolonged heat wave affecting the western United States.

Steve Berberich, the system operators CEO, has faulted regulators at the California Public Utilities Commission for failing to ensure enough power was available. Berberich said Monday that his organization had repeatedly warned the commission that California had not lined up sufficient electricity to cover high demand on warm summer nights when solar power isnt available.

In recent days, the states electric grid has not been able to rely on importing power from other places because the heat wave has been so widespread. Additionally, at least one power plant unexpectedly tripped offline and weather conditions limited some wind and solar supplies.

Berberich on Tuesday denied any political motivation for the rolling blackouts, saying that the decision to call for outages is issued by a shift manager down in our control room.

There wasnt any party affiliation or other kind of input into the decisions to shed load on Friday and Saturday night, Berberich told reporters, referring to the first two rounds of rolling blackouts.

The utilities commission has said it is still trying to better understand why this occurred. Commission officials said the amount of recent electric demand is not unusual for August and that power companies procured the resources that were required to meet the forecasts, but some was not available.

The commission promised a thorough investigation at the request of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has decried the blackouts and called them unacceptable.

Cal ISO is a federally regulated agency, and theyre the ones responsible for the orders to pull back on the load, Newsom said Tuesday when asked about Trumps tweets.

Trumps assertion that he gave America energy independence is overly simplified. The United States is one of the largest energy importers in the world, according to the independent U.S. Energy Information Administration, even though it exported more energy in 2019 than it imported for the first time since 1952.

His assertion about the Green New Deal is inaccurate. The nonbinding proposal backed by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. calls for the U.S. to run on 100% renewable energy within 10 years. California has not adopted the program, nor has Democratic presidential nominee-to-be Joe Biden, who made a point of criticizing it for being too expensive during a primary debate with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Ashley Sullivan of JLF Architects has been honored with a Women in Architecture Award from Mountain Living magazine for innovative residential design (photo by Audrey Hall). Creating dynamic spaces has always been a part of my life, says award-winner Sullivan.

Ashley Sullivan, design principal and managing director of JLF Architects, headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, has earned a 2020 Women in Architecture Award from Mountain Living, featured in the current August issue of the magazine. Following an invitation for homeowners, architects, designers and photographers to nominate women who are creating a wide range of mountain homes in new and interesting ways, Mountain Livings team of judges selected eight outstanding women architects to honor with the new award, including JLFs Sullivan, recognized for her talent in designing houses that are equally timeless and innovative.

We are delighted to honor eight talented women with our inaugural Women in Architecture award, says Darla Worden, editor in chief of Mountain Living. After soliciting nominations from architects across the Mountain West, we felt these women each demonstrated an established portfolio of work that represents the best of what's fresh and new in mountain architectural design.

One example of Sullivans exceptional design work, on display in the magazine, is a stunning waterfront mountain house in the woods of Wyoming. Re-envisioned out of a former rock quarry and graveyard for cars, the site has been transformed into a series of rehabilitated ponds and streams amid which the house lightly rests, reached across a reclaimed-wood bridge. Singular design features include the dramatic dining room bridge above a spillway, with bronze-framed glass doors that fold back to completely open the space to surrounding nature, and a floating steppingstone pathway that leads to an expansive outdoor living space. Built of Montana moss rock and reclaimed timber with JLF design-build partner Big-D Signature on spits of land surrounded by water, the house features floor-to-ceiling windows that open on the surrounding mountain and wetlands oasis.

Sullivan was first struck by the ability of architecture to change lives while working with Professor Samuel Mockbee at Auburn Universitys legendary Rural Studio. The off-campus design-build program, part of the universitys School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, assists under-resourced communities of West Alabamas Black Belt. The project I worked on was a familys first home with indoor plumbing, she tells Mountain Living. I saw the impact of my profession firsthand. She also learned to love the hands-on craft of building, from swinging a hammer to pouring concrete, a passion that serves her well in JLFs own design-build ethos of honest materials and artisanal craftsmanship.

But creating dynamic spaces has always been a part of my life, says award-winner Sullivan. As a child, she built magical spaces in the woods around her familys homes in Wilton, Connecticut, and Nashville, Tennessee, and, as Mountain Living suggests, shes still creating magnificent and magical places. One of those places is the dramatic Hidden Lake House in Tennessee, where maximizing the location of the house with the abundance of water at the site facilitated a floating pagoda style that links the built and natural environs. Pitched roofs of Corten steel hover over the stacked limestone and reclaimed timber walls. Constructed on a private lake, the house was the realization of a lifelong dream for the homeowner and earned JLF a feature in Architectural Digest.

Another Sullivan project, High Meadow House, an award-winning rustic-yet-refined hybrid of urban and Western influences, pairs ageless materials  timber, stone and Corten steel  with luminous contemporary elements, while reclaimed antique log walls and stacked stone nod to regional history. Situated on a Jackson Hole butte with commanding Teton Mountain views, the homestead feels synonymous with place, artfully scaled as a series of buildings that step down the hillside, appearing to grow out of the landscape. Sullivans work on the house emphasizes what Mountain Living calls Sullivans place-based architecture and design sensitivity, sparked years earlier by those magical childhood creations in the woods.

About JLF Architects:

Building timeless structures rooted in integrity and simple elegance, Jackson Hole, Park City and Bozeman-based JLF Architects applies distinctive solutions and materials to create place-based houses marked by the influences of landscapes from the Rocky Mountains to the Eastern Seaboard. Their award-winning perspective is powered by inspired design and an exacting eye for placement, an ethos that stems from a unity of nature, beauty, balance and imagination. JLF Architects has established a genuine alliance with Big-D Signature, built over 20 years of working together, to create a streamlined design-build process that benefits clients. Winners of Mountain Living magazines 2016 Home of the Year, the JLF Architects and Big-D Signature design-build team unites passionate architects with dedicated builders to enable the collective imagination of visionary artisans working with visionary clients. For more information visit http://www.JLFArchitects.com and follow JLF on Instagram and Pinterest.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced a national clean up campaign to boost the countrys environmental conservation efforts.

The President said the campaign which is set to kick off on September 1st is dubbed Cleaning Up Kenya Campaign and shall be led by cadres of the National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs).

The Campaign shall be anchored on the National Government Administration Officers at the local level who shall work together with the local communities and with stakeholders both within and outside of Government to enhance environmental restoration, conservation and management, the President said.

The Head of State pointed out that the campaign fits within the ongoing Kazi Mtaani Programme and shall complement the efforts being made towards the improvement of environmental and sanitation conditions at the grassroots level.

Within the Cleaning Up Kenya Campaign, Chiefs are encouraged to proactively involve vulnerable members of their local communities and marginalized groups such as Women, Youth and Persons Living with Disabilities, he said.

President Kenyatta spoke Friday evening during the launch of the Michuki Memorial Park in Nairobi County.

The Park is named in honour of the late former Minister John Michuki who a played a key role in the clean up of Nairobi River and its environ during his tenure as the Minister for Environment.

President Kenyatta pointed out that besides Michuki Park, the Government is working on renewing several other green spaces within the city among them the Nairobi Arboretum, Karura Forest, City Park and Ngong Road Forest.

And we hope to extend this re-birth of our environment or what I call the green renaissance to all Counties of the Republic, President Kenyatta said.

The President regretted mistakes of the past especially weak enforcement of environmental and sanitation that led to Nairobi losing its green city status.

As Government, we did not enforce the civic responsibility of the citizen to take care of the green spaces. 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, there was a collapse of civic order and national duty in the city, he said.

The Head of State said every Kenyan has a responsibility to conserve the environment and quoted from several books including the Bible, the Quaran and the Vedas to emphasize the importance of environmental conservation.

President Kenyatta said green spaces are the lungs that help cities to breath by improving on the quality of air and absorbing toxins emitted by the environment.

And this is why we are targeting a 10% forest cover across the entire country by the year 2020. Within Nairobi, the Michuki Park is the first attempt at pushing this green renaissance, he said.

Besides their environmental health value, the President said parks are historically spaces of freedom of expression. He cited Kamukunji Grounds as the place where the national question of Kenyas independence was posed and debated by Africans.

And because they are spaces of national expression, recreation and reflection, urban green spaces are the physical representation of the soul of the city, the President emphasized.

Other speakers were Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko, Environment and Forestry CS Keriako Tobiko and Nairobi Metropolitan Services Director General Major Gen. Mohammed Badi.

Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua and Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiangi (Interior) and Amina Mohamed (Sports) were among several senior government officials at the launch.

-PSCU
An advertisement by Special Defence Personnel Forum, a special body claims to work for Personnels of Indian Army/ Navy/ Air Force and some para-military forces, released recruitment for the recruitment of 534 vacancies for the posts of Intelligence Officers, Welfare Inspector, Grant Executive Officer, Security Assistants, LDC, Medical Officer, Barrier Guard, Lab Technician, Fireman, Electrician, Plumber, Driver, Cook, Safaiwala and Table Boy vacancy.

The organisation has claimed to be working and recruiting for various posts under Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Manymajor recruitment agencies also published the recruitment regarding Special Defence Forces Recruitment.

However the Press Information Bureau (PIB) clarified that no such organisation exists under the Ministry. It termed the advertisement as fake.
Mother-of-seven Constance Hall's husband Denim has been airlifted to hospital after a 'serious motorcycle accident'.

The outspoken Australian mummy blogger, 36, shared the news on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon, two days after Denim Cooke's accident took place, asking to be 'left alone' during this time.

'I wanted to wait until I knew more before I told you this or at least until some shock wore off and I could articulate a sentence properly,' she wrote on Facebook.

Mother-of-seven Constance Hall's husband Denim (both pictured) has been airlifted to hospital after a 'serious motorcycle accident'

'On Sunday afternoon Denz went for a motorbike ride with his mate. He had a serious accident and was flown to a hospital in Perth,' she said.

The Hall-Cooke family still don't know 'anything' about the long-term ramifications of the accident and aren't sure how long it will take for Denim to get better.

But he was stable as of Tuesday and 'the most loved man in the world', she confirmed, adding that they were blown away by the professionals who have been helping him.

The Hall-Cooke family still don't know 'anything' about the long-term ramifications of the accident and aren't sure how long it will take for Denim to get better

Constance Hall and Denim Cooke tied the knot in a bohemian forest ceremony at Karriview Lodge near Margaret River, Western Australia, in January 2018 following a whirlwind romance

Her Facebook post continued by asking 'the media' to leave her family alone and give them some space while they wait for information.

Constance's family includes Billie-Violet, Arlo-Love, twins Rumi and Snow, and Raja, as well as step-kids Zeyke and Sunny.

'It will be a long time before we know what the future holds for us but whatever that might be I'll be holding Denim as tightly as I always have,' she said.

'We are one and our hearts beat each other's blood.'

Constance, who has 1.3million followers on the platform, urged her fans to send 'loving energy' during this trying time and said she would be unavailable for a short while as she cares for Denim.

They tied the knot in a bohemian forest ceremony at Karriview Lodge near Margaret River, Western Australia, in January 2018 following a whirlwind romance.
David Silva has joined Spanish side Real Sociedad after leaving Manchester City this week.

The 34-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Italy, with title challengers Lazio deemed as the favourites to land his signature.

But Sociedad announced that Silva has signed a two-year deal with them instead. He will wear the 21 shirt for the Spanish side  the same number he wore at City.

David Silva has joined Real Sociedad on a two-year deal after leaving Manchester City

Lazio were increasingly confident in signing the midfielder, but the Serie A club were reportedly concerned about the deal being completed as Silva was not answering their phone calls.

Star striker Ciro Immobile was convinced the Spaniard was coming to the Stadio Olimpico, saying last week: 'Great player and great experience, we are waiting for him with open arms.

'I can't wait for him to arrive, before Lazio players we are Lazio fans.'

The move comes as a blow to Lazio, with Ciro Immobile (above) convinced Silva was coming

Silva has instead joined the Spanish side Sociedad and will replace Martin Odegaard (above)

But the playmaker has opted to move back to Spain, where he has not played since his time at Valencia 10 years ago.

Silva will come in as a replacement for former Sociedad attacker Martin Odegaard, who has now returned to parent club Real Madrid after a successful loan spell.

The Norwegian scored seven goals in 36 appearances for the Basque club but Silva's arrival will do some help in filling the void for Sociedad.

Silva spent a decade at the Etihad Stadium, making over 400 appearances for the Premier League side, winning 14 trophies in the blue half of Manchester.

Silva won 14 trophies with the Manchester club, including four Premier League titles

He wrote a touching farewell message to City and its supporters on Monday afternoon.

The end of the statement read: 'I hope that City will achieve even bigger triumphs in the future. I am going to support the team from a distance.

'I am so happy to have shared these unforgettable moments with the City family - you will always be in my heart.'

City also confirmed on Monday that Silva will be receiving a statue outside the Etihad Stadium for his decade of service at the club.
She's usually known for being the constant professional.

But Good Morning Britain's Laura Tobin was left red-faced during Tuesday's show as Adil Ray accused her of doing a 'big dirty burp' seconds before going on air.

The meteorologist, 38, was coy as Adil, 46, claimed he'd heard her 'clearing her throat' during the ad break, after she appeared to down her water too quickly.

Scroll down for video

Oh dear! Good Morning Britain's Laura Tobin (far right) was left red-faced during Tuesday's show as Adil Ray (left) accused her of doing a 'big dirty burp' seconds before going on air

After returning from the break, Adil was quick to call out Laura while she awkwardly looked at the floor.

Laughing he said: 'Did anyone with a mic catch that?' before turning to Laura and saying: 'Laura Tobin could you share with the room what you did?'

Clearly embarrassed Laura looked at the floor, and admitted she'd rather keep the incident to herself.

Awkward! The meteorologist was coy as Adil claimed he'd heard her 'clearing her throat' during the ad break, after she appeared to down her water too quickly

Whoops! After returning from the break, Adil was quick to call out Laura while she awkwardly looked at the floor

Adil then joked that it seemed some of their presenters had been 'clearing their throats' during the ad break.

Trying to explain what happened, Laura said: 'Sometimes I get a little.' before Dr Hilary Jones chimed in with the correction medical term, calling it 'A minor eructation!'

It was then revealed that Laura had been sipping from a glass of water during the ad break, which may have sparked an accidental belch.

Red-faced: Laughing he said: 'Did anyone with a mic catch that?' before turning to Laura and saying: 'Laura Tobin could you share with the room what you did?'

Funny: Trying to explain what happened, Laura said: 'Sometimes I get a little.' before Dr Hilary Jones chimed in with the correction medical term, calling it 'A minor eructation!'

Blunder: It was then revealed that Laura had been sipping from a glass of water during the ad break, which may have sparked an accidental belch

Adil then announced to viewers what he'd heard from Laura's microphone, declaring: 'Ladies and gentleman, she did a big dirty burp!'

Pointing to her water jug Charlotte Hawkins then joked: 'Is it actually water in that jug or is it gin?'

Earlier this month Laura was also left frozen in terror as a cow wandered towards her during a live weather report from a field in Gloucestershire.

Hilarious: Adil then announced to viewers what he'd heard from Laura's microphone, declaring: 'Ladies and gentleman, she did a big dirty burp!'

Messing about: Pointing to her water jug Charlotte Hawkins then joked: 'Is it actually water in that jug or is it gin?'

As she told viewers that the long-awaited heatwave was set to begin that day, Laura couldn't hide her giggles as the cows began to wander around her.

Frozen to the spot she told hosts Adil Ray and Ranvir Singh: 'I'm going to stay as still as I can.

'I've never been so scared on the weather live! There was a massive one and it was sniffing everything and knocked the camera!'

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
Orthodox Christian Laity Names New Executive Director

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Orthodox Christian Laity

Aug. 18, 2020



WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 18, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Thirty-one years ago, the Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) was founded by a far-seeing group of Orthodox Christian lay leaders, seeking to restore the historic role of the laity in Orthodox church governance, and focusing on transparency, accountability, and American Orthodox unity. Through these opening decades, OCL has led important discussions about the future of the Church in America, and through its public forums, advocacy, publishing, and altruistic leadership, has helped promote the cause of a vibrant American Orthodox Church for future generations.



In this history of service, OCL has been almost exclusively a volunteer organization, drawing upon the talents and passions of many of the most accomplished Orthodox citizens of the United States, as well as like-minded members of the clergy and hierarchy. Today, several hierarchs in America serve on OCL's Advisory Council. But for most of its history, OCL has had a professional Executive Director at its helm, managing its diverse operations.



This year, after 20 years of enlightened leadership as Executive Director, George Matsoukas has stepped down. After thoughtful consideration, the board of directors of OCL unanimously approved the appointment of David Oancea as its Executive Director beginning September 1, 2020. The transition began in mid-July.



David Oancea is eminently qualified to undertake this position and its responsibilities, as he has served as OCL's webmaster for the past 17 years. His commitment to OCL is proven, and he is passionate about its mission of working toward and supporting all efforts in the creation of an administratively-unified Orthodox Christian Church in America, that is transparent and accountable to all members of the Orthodox community. He is an advocate of lay inclusion and participation in all aspects of church governance. He believes deeply in Orthodox Christian unity, and that such unity is essential to Orthodoxy's witness to Christ in this part of the world. He is a worthy successor to lead the organization to face the challenges that its mission presents.



Argo Pyle, President of Orthodox Christian Laity, said: "David brings a lifetime of education and work experiences to this position. He represents a new generation with excellent human relations and technical communication skills. We are delighted that David has accepted the challenge.



"He needs the support and input from all Orthodox Christians in America, and beyond, to achieve OCL's vision and goals. Please share your ideas, comments and stories on OCL's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OrthodoxChristianLaity/ or via email ocladmin@ocl.org. Consider offering your time and talents by joining the OCL movement in any way you can. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of board members and volunteers! So many Pan-Orthodox projects are already happening in local communities. Let us know how Orthodox Christians from various jurisdictions in your area are working together in community service projects, so that we may highlight this living-out of the gospel through grassroots Orthodox unity."



George Matsoukas, retiring Executive Director of OCL, issued the following statement:

"David is the ideal successor. He brings renewed energy and a great vision to the position. He has a strong foundation to stand on, and he is the individual who will bring OCL to new levels with God's help, the cooperation of clergy and laity, and your involvement and support. I have so enjoyed my twenty-year tenure as director, and I am excited about what the future, under Davids stewardship, will bring."

David Oancea hails from Canton, Ohio, where he grew up in a parish of the Romanian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, he received a Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY. While at St. Vladimir's, he also participated in the student exchange program for one semester at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA. Since 1988, David has worked in various capacities at The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, Jackson, MI, and most recently as Chancellor. For the past 17 years, he has also worked for Orthodox Christian Laity as website content administrator and webmaster.



SOURCE Orthodox Christian Laity



CONTACT: George Matsoukas, 561-585-0245, ocladmin@ocl.org



Related Links



http://ocl.org/


Chinese President Xi Jinping has hailed contributions made by medical workers in the country's fight against the COVID-19 outbreak and called on them to continue to give priority to the people and their lives.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has sent greetings to medical workers across the country ahead of China's Medical Workers' Day, which falls on Wednesday.

Medical workers are important forces to promote the development of the health industry, he said, adding that they have made arduous efforts and remarkable contributions in fighting the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with medic representatives, sends regards and expresses sincere gratitude to them at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. /Xinhua

This year, Chinese medical workers fought at the front line against the epidemic in Wuhan and other parts of Hubei Province, the worst-hit region, and across the country.

"At the outset, some 540,000 medical workers from Wuhan and other parts of Hubei plunged into the fray, joined soon by more than 40,000 civilian and military medical workers who rushed from other parts of the country," said a white paper titled "Fighting COVID-19: China in Action" published in June by the Chinese government.

"Millions of medical workers grappled with the epidemic at the front line across the country," it said. "They built a Great Wall against the virus, bringing light and hope to the nation at a dark time."

"More than 2,000 medical workers were infected, and scores died in the line of duty," the white paper noted.

Members of the medical team of the Second Military Medical University receive praise from a COVID-19 patient at Hankou Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, January 27, 2020. /Xinhua

In his greetings, Xi called on medical workers to be committed to the principle of giving priority to the people and their lives, make efforts for the progress of medical services, and make new contributions for improving people's health and welfare.

He also urges authorities at various levels and the whole society to care for medical workers and support their professional training and innovation.

On August 20, 2016, Xi stressed at a national meeting on health that public health should be given priority in China's development strategy, calling for full protection of people's health.

On November 3, 2017, the State Council approved a proposal for establishing the national Medical Workers' Day, making August 19 the day to acknowledge and commemorate the efforts of Chinese medical personnel. Wednesday marks China's third Medical Workers' Day.
Madison, WI - After being featured previously in a video with the purpose of ending the gun violence in the United States, the now 11-year-old girl got killed after being shot.

The 11-year-old girl was identified by the Madison Police Department as Anisa Scott, the authorities also shared that Anisa, who was riding in a car on Tuesday morning was stuck in a crossfire between two vehicles.

Anisa was taken to a local hospital after being shot based on the incident report by the police.

Authorities also believe that the person who brought Anisa to the local hospital was the supposed target of the shooter.

The 11-year-old girl who had been shot in the head was in an induced coma and on Thursday, her life support was taken off.

Now, Anisa became the 10th victim of homicide in the Madison area.

The anti-gun violence video that Anisa started about four years ago gained around 30,000 views during the wake of her death.

Filmed by Anisa's stepfather, Rafael Ragland, Anisa was captured saying that she just wants to go outside and play like a kid was supposed to do. She also emphasized that she does not want to die and asked God to make things better instead, People reported.

Ragland, who is a local filmmaker shared that he caught the memorable moment after his stepdaughter came back from her Chicago trip where she learned gun violence in the city.

Ragland also added that Anisa believed that God could fix it that is why she decided to say her prayer in her bedroom while being camera recorded.

Read also: At Least 12 Dead in Horrifying Hotel Terrorist Attack in Somalia Capital

Devastated about the incident, Ragland shared that he was confused as the thing that she was praying about that will not happen to her turned out happening to her.

Based on the investigation of the Madison Police Department, the two male suspects were identified as 19-year-old Perion R, Carreon, and 16-year-old Andre P. Brown.

Both were arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide an attempted first-degree intentional homicide.

Moreover, Brown was arrested on Friday while Carreon was already in the custody of the authorities on Wednesday after being responsible for an unrelated crime. Carreon drove a stolen car based on officials and at the time they have confirmed that the 19-year-old got a loaded handgun in his waistband.

According to Fox News, the police also mentioned that despite Brown's age which is under the age of 18, the adult court has still the jurisdiction over brown due to the crime's severity.

Both Brown and Carreon are currently being held at the Dane County Jail.

As of the moment, it is still not clear whether Brown got a legal representation to speak on his behalf at the court. Jail records of Carreon also showed no list of attorneys for the trial.

An ongoing investigation by the Madison Police Department shared that they still cannot rule out the possibility of other involvement.

Satya Rhodes-Conway, Mayor of Madison tweeted on Monday that they mourn about the tragic loss Anisa Scott's life and reminded everyone that the violence has to stop.



Related article: Newborn Baby in China Abandoned in Trash Bin, Umbilical Cord Still Attached

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A police case has been filed against Facebook's policy chief in India, Ankhi Das, and two of its users in Chhattisgarh, for hurting religious sentiments. The complainant, Awesh Tiwari, who's a journalist by profession, lodged a case at Kabir police station in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, based on which cops have lodged FIR against Das, a New Delhi resident, Ram Sahu from Mungeli (Chhattisgarh) and Vivek Sinha from Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav told PTI. Yadav added the probe in case was on.

These persons have been booked under Sections 295(a) (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 505(1)(c) (with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit offense against any other class or community), 506 (criminal intimidation), 500 (defamation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

Das is also the director of public policy in south and central Asia.

The complainant said the matter pertains to his recent Facebook post related the recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, which alleged links between the BJP and some executives of Facebook India. "Two Facebook users, with names Sahu and Sinha, jumped in to defend Das and commented on his (Tiwari's) post that she (Das) is a Hindu and she is talking in the interest of the faith. Sahu allegedly posted derogatory and communally sensitive photographs and also threatened him," the complainant said.

He said he had received several threat calls and messages since he put out the post on Facebook.

A Facebook executive had also complained to police on Monday, saying there's a threat to her life and named at least five individuals in her complaint, and sought police protection.

The WSJ report 'Facebook Hate-Speech Rules Collide with Indian Politics', which was published on Friday last week, alleged Facebook ignored its hate speech policy and allowed anti-Muslim posts on its platform to avoid ruining its relationship with PM Modi-led BJP.

Facebook, in its response, has said it "prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence". The company has added that it enforces policies globally "regardless of anyone's political position or party affiliation".

Also read: Facebook denies ties with BJP, says it enforces policies regardless of anyone's 'political position

Facebook executive in India alleges threat to life; seeks police protection
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ryanair will reduce its flight capacity by a further 20% during September and October after a reimposition of some travel restrictions led to a notable weakness in forward bookings over the last 10 days, the Irish airline said on Monday.

Ryanair, which last month cut its passenger target to 60 million for the financial year to March 2021, from the 80 million it had forecast in May, said a recent upsurge of COVID-19 cases in some European countries had particularly impacted business bookings.

Ryanair shares, which had rallied in recent sessions to their highest since early June, fell 4.4% to 11.22 euros by 1220 GMT.

The airline said cuts will be heavily focused on France, Spain Ireland and Sweden, and would mostly involve frequency reductions rather than route closures. It had increased flights to 60% of its normal schedule this month after resuming services in July.

Europe's biggest budget airline said last month it expected to run around 70% of last year's schedule between October and March.

Increased travel restrictions have hit air traffic to Spain and France in recent weeks, while Ireland only allows unencumbered travel to 10 European countries, a policy Ryanair criticised again as "uniquely restrictive" on Monday.

Ryanair said impacted passengers will be advised of their options.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Jason Neely and David Holmes)
AUSTIN, TX  Hopdoddy Burger Bar has donated more than $4,000 and 4,000 burgers to health care and hospitality industry workers since launching its Pay It Forward campaign in May, officials said Monday.

"In every way it can, Hopdoddy has made burgers and beer about more than just burgers and beer," officials said in a prepared statement. "From those working the front lines in health care, to restaurant workers, to teachers, Hopdoddy wants to help."

To that end, officials said Hopdoddy Burger Bar created a 2020 to give back to the community that has supported the burger chain through the years. Since the initial launch of the campaign, Hopdoddy has donated more than $4,000 and 4,000 burgers to healthcare and hospitality professionals across all local markets, officials said.

For the next phase, officials added, Hopdoddy has pivoted the Pay It Forward campaign to support educators. For every burger purchased through the promotion, Hopdoddy will donate one burger to teachers who are working to keep students safe as schools open or to support parents participating in at-home learning.



The Pay It Forward process is simple, Hopdoddy officials noted. Upon online checkout at Hopdoddy.com, guests can use the promo code Teacher to donate a burger to a teacher. Dine-in customers can let cashiers know they would like to Buy One Give One when checking out at any Hopdoddy location.

Guests can also buy additional burgers to pay it forward by adding a $5 Teacher burger to their order. Teacher and school nominations can be sent to marketing@hopdoddy.com. The offer is good until Sept. 17. Visit www.hopdoddy.com to view locations or to place an online order.

Three are three Hopdoddy Burger Bar locations in Austin at 4615 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 307; 1400 S. Congress Ave., Suite A190; and 2438 W. Anderson Lane, Suite 100.

This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
The city hall in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv is lit up in the colours of the United Arab Emirates national flag on Aug. 13, 2020. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli Investor Glee Met With Emirati Caution After Deal on Ties

TEL AVIV/DUBAIFrom a proposed rail link to the Gulf from the Israeli port of Haifa to quick-hop direct flights from Tel Aviv, the prospect of formal relations with the United Arab Emirates is stirring excitement in Israel.

In the UAE, which Israeli business executives with foreign passports have visited for years, companies that are likely candidates for above-board deal-making with Israel are taking a more cautious line, apparently awaiting government guidance on future policy.

Israel and the Gulf State announced on Aug. 13 they would normalize relations under a U.S.-sponsored deal that still awaits negotiations on details such as opening embassies and travel links before it is officially signed.

Israeli officials have been quick to play up the economic benefits of the accord, which once formalized would also include agreements on tourism, technology, energy, healthcare, and security, among other areas.

Some Israeli and Emirati businesses have already signed deals since Aug. 13, and several small-scale medical and defense collaborations were announced in the weeks preceding the normalization agreement.

But Emirati state entities and private businesses have been circumspect in discussing investment opportunities before ties are official, with many declining to comment.

Conglomerate Al Habtoor Group, which has several hotels in Dubai, is in talks to partner with Israeli carrier Israir, a spokeswoman said, declining to provide further details. It was too early to discuss expanding the groups business into Israel, she said.

Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala declined to comment about potential business opportunities emerging from the deal, and some government departments deferred requests for comment to the foreign ministry.

Significant Upgrade

Israeli Finance Minister Israel Katz said official ties with the UAE could be a basis for a very significant upgrade of Israels economy, alongside, of course, the things they need from usin water technology, agriculture, hi-tech.

On Israels Kan Radio, Katz highlighted the potential for grand, regional transportation projects a rail connection between Gulf countries and Haifa portthat he said would make Israel the UAEs gateway to the Mediterranean.

Such a rail network would have to cross Saudi Arabia, which has no relations with Israel and has so far been silent on its deal with the UAE.

An Israeli delegation is expected to travel to UAE within weeks to work out the modalities of normalization, a historic shift that could reshape Middle East politics from the Palestinian issue to the fight against Iran.

The UAE would only be third Arab state in more than 70 years to establish relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan.

Tourism Prospects

Israeli investors acknowledge that new trade agreements would likely take time to strike, but say Israels booming high-tech scene and innovations in agriculture would be tough for the UAE to pass up.

Jon Medved, CEO of Israeli crowdfunding firm OurCrowd, said co-investment talks are ongoing (with Israelis) throughout the Arab world, not just with the UAEalluding to Israeli expectations that Bahrain and Oman would follow in normalizing ties.

Tourism could also stand to benefit, some analysts say, though it would take time to kick-off given the coronavirus pandemics impact on global travel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Aug. 17 Israel is preparing for direct flights, over Saudi Arabia, to the United Arab Emirates, but gave no time frame for their start.

Saudi Arabia does not recognize Israel and its air space is closed to Israeli airliners.

Asked about flying to Israel, Dubais Emirates said it had nothing to announce. Abu Dhabis Etihad Airways had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

By Rami Ayyub & Alexander Cornwell
President Trump. (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press)

President Trump's 2016 campaign eagerly capitalized on Russia's efforts to meddle in the U.S. election four years ago, according to a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report that raises new concerns about connections between his top aides and Moscow.

As Russian military intelligence officers were releasing hacked Democratic Party emails through WikiLeaks, the report said the Trump campaign "sought to maximize the impact of those leaks" and "created messaging strategies" around them.

The report, released Tuesday, found that the Trump campaign "publicly undermined" the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Russia was behind the email hack and "was indifferent to whether it and Wikileaks were furthering a Russian election interference effort."

The 966-page document describes Paul Manafort, the president's former campaign chairman who is serving prison time for financial crimes, as a "grave counterintelligence threat" because of his relationship with Konstantin Kilimnik, a business partner in Ukraine who is conclusively described as a "Russian intelligence officer."

Although Kilimnik has been the target of scrutiny before, the report adds a new wrinkle, saying the committee "obtained some information suggesting Kilimnik may have been connected to the GRU's hack and leak operation targeting the 2016 U.S. election." GRU is an acronym for Russian military intelligence; no such allegation has previously been made, and details are redacted from the report.

Manafort and Kilimnik used encrypted messaging applications and codes to communicate, sometimes telling each other to look at the "tea bag" or the "updated travel schedule" when it was time to check the email account they shared. Some phones were referred to as "bat phones," the report states.

The report is the fifth and final volume from the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation into Russian election meddling. It arrives soon after Trump's own intelligence officials warned that Moscow was revisiting its playbook ahead of the 2020 election by trying to undermine Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

Story continues

Although the latest report does not dramatically alter the public's understanding of Russia's operations in 2016, it's the most comprehensive examination yet and it represents a rare bipartisan consensus on a hotly contested topic.

A statement from Trump's campaign called claims of collusion with Russia the "greatest political scandal in the history of this country."

The report includes new details about Roger Stone, Trump's longtime political advisor.

Although Trump previously said in written answers to special counsel Robert S. Mueller III that he did not recall discussing WikiLeaks with Stone, the committee concluded that Trump did, in fact, speak with Stone about WikiLeaks.

After Stone told Trump and other campaign officials in either April or May 2016 that WikiLeaks would release information damaging to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, the report states that "Trump directed campaign officials to stay in touch with Roger Stone about future WikiLeaks activities regarding Clinton-related emails."

It's unclear whether Stone knew in advance that WikiLeaks was releasing hacked emails, but the report said he repeatedly communicated about the topic with Trump campaign officials, and "at their direction, Stone took action to gain inside knowledge."

"In August 2016, following the campaign's tasking, Stone obtained information indicating that John Podesta would be a target of an upcoming release, prior to WikiLeaks releasing Podesta's emails on October 7," the report found. Stone communicated this information to Trump and other senior campaign officials.

Trump has since commuted Stones sentence for lying to Congress and witness tampering, sparing him prison time.

Podesta served as Clinton's 2016 campaign chairman, and the release of embarrassing details disclosed in his stolen emails dominated the final weeks of the campaign.

According to the report, WikiLeaks "likely knew it was assisting a Russian intelligence influence effort," and Trump allies tried to spur more releases to help his campaign.

For example, the Trump campaign team heard about the "Access Hollywood" videotape an hour before it was revealed by the Washington Post. Stone told Jerome Corsi, an associate in right-wing circles, to get WikiLeaks to "drop the Podesta emails immediately."

WikiLeaks did so 30 minutes after the story about the tape was published, although it's unclear whether any message was communicated between Corsi and WikiLeaks.

At the same time Stone was trying to learn about WikiLeaks' plans, he was helping Trump draft tweets friendly to Russia, the report said. In an email to Trump's assistant titled "Tweets Mr. Trump requested last night," Stone suggested tweeting "I want a new detente with Russia under Putin."

The concerted effort to harness an illegal Russian operation to harm Clinton's candidacy undermines Trump's frequent claims of "no collusion" between his campaign and Moscow.

No criminal conspiracy, however, was established by Mueller, who ultimately did not charge any members of the president's campaign with working with Russians.

The Senate Intelligence Committee was alarmed by efforts to mislead or stonewall its investigation.

According to a letter reviewed by The Times last week, the panel told federal prosecutors last year that three witnesses  including former campaign strategist Stephen K. Bannon  may have provided false testimony. Lying to Congress is a felony.

In addition, the latest report said the White House tried to limit testimony to the committee with claims of executive privilege that had "no basis in law."

By comparison, former officials from President Obama's administration "freely shared their conversations."

The committee was also concerned about whether anyone encouraged Michael Cohen, the president's former personal lawyer, to lie about Trump's pursuit of a luxury skyscraper in Moscow during the campaign.

After Cohen testified to the committee for the first time, he said he received a call from Jay Sekulow, one of the president's other lawyers, who said Trump "heard you did great" and there could be "pardons" or "pre-pardons" down the line.

Sekulow denied the allegation to The Times on Tuesday. "There were no discussions with Michael Cohen about pardons or pre-pardons," he said.

Republicans and Democrats are in consensus on the facts in the report, which involved more than 200 witnesses and 1 million pages of documents. But each side framed the findings differently.

We can say, without any hesitation, that the committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election, acting Committee Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said in a statement. What the committee did find, however, is very troubling. We found irrefutable evidence of Russian meddling.

According to Rubio, the committee also found that "Russia took advantage of members of the [Trump] transition teams relative inexperience in government, opposition to Obama administration policies, and Trumps desire to deepen ties with Russia to pursue unofficial channels through which Russia could conduct diplomacy.

In a separate statement, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the highest-ranking Democrat on the committee, called the report the most comprehensive examination of ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign to date  a breathtaking level of contacts between Trump officials and Russian government operatives that is a very real counterintelligence threat to our elections.

Richard M. Burr (R-N.C.), who as chairman oversaw the committees investigation until stepping aside in the spring, said Russias ongoing interest in interfering with democracy shouldnt be skimmed over in the report.

One of the committees most important  and overlooked  findings is that much of Russias activities werent related to producing a specific electoral outcome, but attempted to undermine our faith in the democratic process itself. Their aim is to sow chaos, discord, and distrust. Their efforts are not limited to elections. The threat is ongoing, Burr said in a statement.

The report does not focus on Russia's attempts to meddle in the 2020 election, but there are hints of the ongoing operation. For example, Kilimnik used a Twitter account  "registered under a false persona"  to spread allegations about Biden and corruption in Ukraine.

Trump later asked Ukraine's president to investigate Biden, a conversation that led to his impeachment by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. He was acquitted by the Republican-led Senate.

U.S. intelligence officials have said publicly that Moscow is trying to undercut Biden with allegations involving Ukraine, where his son was on the board of a gas company. But Trump has once again tried to downplay the threat. I dont care what anybody says," he said recently, while amplifying Russian disinformation.

For example, U.S. intelligence officials said a Kremlin-linked Ukrainian politician was releasing recordings of Biden's phone calls from when he served as vice president. Trump shared details from the recordings on Twitter on Sunday, retweeting an account that has since been suspended.
GRAND RIVER WATERSHED  For the fifth year in a row, settlers and Indigenous people alike are paddling together in friendship down the Grand River this week.

The fifth annual Two Row on the Grand Paddle is an event where settlers and Indigenous people come together to symbolically fulfil the Two Row Wampum, which is said to be the first historic treaty between the Haudenosaunee people and European settlers.

The Two Row Wampum is the Haudenosaunee representation of that treaty: a belt made of rare shell beads that shows two purple lines on a white background. These lines represent the paths of two nations that are close enough to help in need, but never interfere with the others path.

The Two Row on the Grand event is meant to symbolically renew this peace treaty and to build friendship and understanding between Indigenous peoples and settlers.

This year the event is running a little differently because of COVID 19.

Normally, the event runs for nine days of paddling, with stops at eight camping spots from Cambridge to Port Maitland.

Together with paddlers and ground crew, the gathering can reach anywhere between 125 to 175 people, says Ellie Joseph, a co-founder and volunteer of the Two Row on the Grand.

Because of provincial guidelines, we recognized we couldnt do the same as usual, says Joseph. The group decided to host separate day trips to paddle the sections of the river between July and August.

The event usually includes Indigenous teachings along the way. This year, the group received a grant from the Six Nations Economic Development Trust Fund to film those who would normally give teachings, create videos and put them on the Two Row YouTube channel. They are calling these TRed Talks.

Joseph, along with Jay Bailey and two other colleagues started the Two Row on the Grand after Joseph invited Bailey to join a settler and Indigenous event commemorating the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign on the Hudson River, a reconciliation paddling event between Albany and New York City in 2013.

The group realized that they needed to bring the teachings they learned on that trip to the communities along the Grand River in Ontario.

The Two Row paddle has had more of an impact than we expected. We thought we were going to do it once, says Bailey.

But our paddle had such an impact both on the Haudenosaunee people who have experienced trauma particularly related to settlers  they had such a good experience working and healing together  and for allies. This has been helpful for many who want to show their support for Indigenous people but didnt know how.

Not only is this an opportunity to show support, but also to learn more about how deep that trauma goes.

I dont feel that Canada will come into its own until it comes to terms with its colonial past and present, says Bailey.

The event focuses on building friendships, sharing meals (under normal circumstances), learning, understanding and respect.

In the five years its been running, the group has grown and engaged with multiple community groups, churches and the academic sphere. Joseph says other First Nations groups are interested to see if Two Row on the Grand is a model that can be used by other communities.

The final leg of the trip will be on Thursday August 20 from Dunnville to Port Maitland, beginning promptly with a thanksgiving ceremony at 7:30 a.m. and launching at 8 a.m. Those interested in joining can meet at the Dunnville Boat Club.

This year, people are asked to be self-sufficient in their own canoes with their own food and shuttle transport arranged between the end point and launch point. For more information, email tworowinfo@gmail.com
BEIJING, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Huami Corporation ("Huami" or the "Company") (NYSE: HMI) today reported revenue of RMB1.137 billion, or US$161.0 million; GAAP diluted net income per share of RMB0.05 (US$0.01), or GAAP diluted net income per ADS of RMB0.21 (US$0.03) for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

"I am proud of our teams and our brands that generated revenue growth of 9.5% in the second quarter and 21.1% for the first half of 2020, with the challenges of the worldwide pandemic," said Wang Huang, Chairman and CEO of Huami. "New products introduced in the first half of the year, including smartwatches, ear buds and other smart health devices helped our growth, although the pandemic did alter the magnitude of our and the industry's growth. Interest in our new smart health devices and the recent success in the application of our proprietary health data analysis tools for healthcare insurers and providers give us confidence in our strategy, growth and future guidance."

Second Quarter 2020 Financial Summary















For the Three Months Ended

For the Six Months Ended GAAP In millions, except percentages and per share

amounts

June 30,

2020 June 30,

2019

June 30,

2020 June 30,

2019 Revenue RMB

1,137.3 1,038.7

2,225.7 1,838.3 Revenue USD

161.0 151.3

315.0 267.8 Gross Margin

22.3% 26.7%

22.4% 26.9% Net income attributable to Huami

Corporation RMB

13.3 89.4

32.5 164.6 Adjusted net income attributable to Huami

Corporation RMB[1]

19.1 111.7

44.7 206.7













Diluted net income per share RMB

0.05 0.35

0.13 0.64 Diluted net income per ADS USD

0.03 0.20

0.07 0.37 Adjusted diluted net income per share RMB[2]

0.07 0.43

0.17 0.80 Adjusted diluted net income per ADS USD

0.04 0.25

0.10 0.47 Units Shipped

8.9 8.3

16.5 13.9

[1] Adjusted net income attributable to Huami Corporation is a non-GAAP measure, which excludes share-based

compensation expenses. See "Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" at the end of this press release. [2] Adjusted diluted net income is the abbreviation of Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

of Huami Corporation, which is a non-GAAP measure and excludes share-based compensation expenses

attributable to ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation, and is used as the numerator in computation of

adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation.

Management's Discussion and Analysis

Overview

Huami's mission is to connect health with technology. Since its inception in 2013, Huami has developed a platform of proprietary technology including AI chips, biometric sensors, and data algorithms, which drive a broadening line of smart health devices for consumers, and analytics services for industry. Consumer health devices are sold through a number of partner and direct channels in more than 70 countries, at the end of the second quarter, 2020. We market products utilizing our proprietary technology under own brand names, including Amazfit and Zepp. We also develop and manufacture under a preferred partner agreement for Xiaomi Corporation, which are sold under its own brand names, such as the Mi Band. We provide our proprietary technology to Timex for several of its smart watch offerings. To get full utility from our devices, consumers synchronize their devices with our Amazfit app on their phones to track their biometric data and utilize intelligent algorithms to gain insights into their health or fitness.

Proprietary technology

In the second quarter, Huami announced the second generation of its proprietary artificial intelligence smart device chip, the Huangshan 2 which came to market 18 months after the introduction of the first generation in September 2018. At the same time, we announced the next generation of our proprietary biometric sensor and biometric algorithms that monitor a variety of health metrics. Leveraging internally developed advanced technology allows us to produce health and fitness focused products at price/feature points that consumers in many countries find attractive. New products employing the Huangshan 2 chip are planned to become available in the first quarter of 2021. New products added to our offerings in the first half of 2020 include several new smart watches and fitness bands, smart ear buds, and a collapsible treadmill.

Revenue

Total units shipped reached 8.9 million, compared with 8.3 million in the second quarter of 2019, a 7.2% increase. Second quarter revenues reached RMB1,137.3 million (US$161.0 million), representing an increase of 9.5% from the second quarter of 2019. The increase in the quarter was driven by sales both through Xiaomi and Huami's self-branded wearable products. New products, such as ear buds, demonstrated early consumer acceptance.

Both sequential and year-over-year quarterly revenue changes can be affected by seasonality of purchase patterns globally, as well as by timing of new product introductions. For example, in the second quarter 2020, the company's shipments of Xiaomi wearable products were in a transition period with the launch of the Mi Band 5 in late June. We expect our business cooperation with Xiaomi to continue in the future.

Covid-19 Impact

Covid-19 continued to have a significant negative affect on retail sales in all areas of the world, and in most product categories, through the second quarter. For example, although China recovered and opened many retail establishments midway through the second quarter, a number of Asian retailers reported that shoppers were slow to return, depressing second quarter results. In the Americas and Europe, continued or resurging Covid infection rates kept many stores closed, and also kept many shoppers out of the stores. Many retailers reduced inventories and orders during the second quarter. These all affected our second quarter results.

Production delays due to the pandemic that slowed manufacture of products in the first quarter have been resolved, with minimal lingering impacts in the second quarter.

Looking forward, Huami is working with its channel partners flexibly as they reevaluate or change their market strategies, such as shifting focus to online sales and on-demand retail models. While Huami has several direct online sales channels, the vast majority of our revenue flows through these retail partner channels.

Before the pandemic hit, industry expectations were for strong demand and continued growth for smart health technology for many years. Aside from the disruption and re-setting of consumer purchasing method choices, we see no evidence to indicate that megatrend has been materially changed. Whether by personal choice or by encouragement from those who pay for our care, the world is increasingly focused on improving health. In the nearer term, with all the reports of people gaining weight during lockdowns, we think there may be upticks in demand for smart health technology in different geographies as people refocus on their health.

In addition, the company is engaged in research and development related to detection of Covid-19 infection signals through its internal R&D team, as well as with some of its university research partners.

Gross Margin

Gross margin in the second quarter 2020 was 22.3%, compared with 26.7% in the year-ago second quarter. Gross margin and gross profit are affected by product mix as different products have different margin contributions, and these can change over the life of a product. In the second quarter 2020, total gross margin was positively affected by a higher percentage of Huami-branded products, offset by higher quantities of lower margin products shipped to Xiaomi, and, by discount promotions for some older products in the transition to the new Mi Band 5.

Research & Development

Second quarter 2020 R&D expense was RMB117.2 million, increasing 25% year-over year, and comprised 10.3% of revenue, compared to 9.0% in the year-ago second quarter, reflecting personnel additions and expansion of R&D activities for future products and new product categories, including consumer products and analytics solutions for industry, such as new products expected to be launched in the second half of 2020. Second quarter R&D expense was down 1% sequentially from the first quarter 2020.

The company believes that smart R&D investment is key to its ability to more rapidly develop and bring to market new smart devices and analytics for consumers and industry. The company expects to continue to make these investments in its future despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sales & Marketing

Sales and Marketing expense for the second quarter 2020 was RMB71.3 million, increasing 76.6% year-over-year, and comprised 6.3% of revenue, compared to 3.9% in the year-ago quarter. Sales and Marketing expense is higher in 2020 reflecting the company's focus on expanding international markets outside of China for its own Amazfit-branded products, including increases in advertising and promotional expenses for self-branded products during holiday sales and promotional events and growth in personnel-related expenses. In June, we organized our first AI Innovation convention to present our current research result to the public and opened our first Amazfit offline retail store in Beijing to offer domestic consumers the opportunity to have a first-hand in person experience with our products.

General & Administrative

Second quarter 2020 General and Administrative expense was RMB55.4 million, increasing 8.6% year-over-year, and comprised 4.9% of revenue, the same as the 2019 second quarter. The 10.4% increase in first-half G&A expense in 2020 compared to 2019 reflects primarily the increase in exchange rate fluctuations, professional fees for business management, and depreciation and amortization expenses, offset by the decrease of share-based compensation.

Operating Income and Expenses

Total Operating Expense for the second quarter 2020 was RMB244.0 million, up 31.7% from the year-ago quarter, reflecting the investments in R&D, Sales and Marketing and G&A described in the preceding sections. Total operating expense represented 21.5% of revenue in the second quarter 2020 compared to 17.8% in the year-ago quarter, and 20.6% in Q1 2020.

Operating Income for the second quarter 2020 was RMB9.4 million, down 89.8% from RMB92.1 million in the year-ago quarter, driven primarily by the year-over-year increases of 76.6% in Sales & Marketing expense and 25.0% in R&D expense.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB2,649.2 million (US$375.0 million), compared with RMB1,803.1 million as of December 31, 2019.

Second Quarter Operational Highlights

"In the first half of 2020, we expanded the breadth of our product offerings," added Huang. "Our first half results reflect our strong brand recognition, effective sales and marketing strategy and superior value proposition. In the first quarter, Amazfit branded products ranked fifth in global shipment volume according to IDC's quarterly report and registered triple digit unit sales growth in the US, Western Europe, and Southeast Asia. And in the second quarter, our overseas shipments held their ground in recovering global markets with international versions of our products accounting for 47.9% of total unit shipments. Another achievement in the second quarter was that we successful launched Mi-band 5, the fifth generation in the popular product line, with strong early sales momentum. We are also very excited with the upcoming release of our new brand, Zepp, by which we target a more premier market and expect to broaden our customer base substantially.

"These product launches are part of our continuous execution on our mission, 'Connect Health with Technology.' In July, Huami's wholly owned subsidiary, PAI Health, announced an agreement with Prudential Corporation Asia to incorporate PAI Health's science-backed activity metric into Prudential's Pulse digital health app. This will provide new actionable heart health insights to Prudential members across 11 markets in Asia.

"While the first half of 2020 was a challenging period for all of us, we are proud of our performance in smart wearable product shipments, and the strong execution of our health service strategy. We are confident that our device shipment volume will continue to climb in the second half of the year and we look forward to delivering value to all of our stakeholders," concluded Mr. Huang.

Outlook

For the third quarter of 2020, the management of the Company currently expects:

Net revenues to be between RMB2.1 billion and RMB2.15 billion , which would represent an increase of approximately 12.9% to 15.6% from RMB1.86 billion in the third quarter of 2019.

The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects the Company management's current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company's management will hold a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 (8:00 p.m. Beijing Time on August 18, 2020) to discuss financial results and answer questions from investors and analysts. Listeners may access the call by dialing:

US (Toll Free): +1-888-346-8982 International: +1-412-902-4272 Mainland China (Toll Free): 400-120-1203 Hong Kong (Toll Free): 800-905-945 Hong Kong: +852-3018-4992

Participants should dial-in at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "Huami Corporation."

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://www.huami.com/investor.

A telephone replay will be available one hours after the call until August 25, 2020 by dialing:

US Toll Free: +1-877-344-7529 International: +1-412-317-0088 Replay Passcode: 10146949

About Huami Corporation

Huami's mission is to connect health with technology. Since its inception in 2013, Huami has developed a platform of proprietary technology including AI chips, biometric sensors, and data algorithms, which drive a broadening line of smart health products for consumers, and analytics services for industry. In 2019, Huami shipped 42.3 million units of smart wearable devices, including its own Amazfit brand, and products developed and manufactured for Xiaomi and Timex, comprising 26% of global category shipments[3]. Huami Corporation is based in Hefei, China, with U.S. operations, Huami-USA, based in Cupertino, Calif. For more information, please visit https://www.huami.com/investor/pages/company-profile.

[3] IDC, Correcting and Replacing Shipments of Wearable Devices, 3/10/20

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

We use adjusted net income, a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. Adjusted net income represents net income excluding share-based compensation expenses, and such adjustment has no impact on income tax. Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation is a non-GAAP measure, which excludes share-based compensation expenses attributable to ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation, and is used as the numerator in computation of adjusted net income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation .

We believe that adjusted net income and adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders help identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that we include in net income and net income attributable to ordinary shareholders. We believe that adjusted net income and adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders provides useful information about our operating results, enhances the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allows for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making.

Adjusted net income and adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders, should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to net income, basic and diluted net income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of our operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review the historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders, presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to our data. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Exchange Rate

The Company's business is primarily conducted in China and the significant majority of revenues generated are denominated in Renminbi ("RMB"). This announcement contains currency conversions of RMB amounts into U.S. dollars ("US$") solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to US$ are made at a rate of RMB7.0651 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate for June 30, 2020 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on June 30, 2020, or at any other rate.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the cooperation with Xiaomi, the recognition of the Company's self-branded products; the Company's growth strategies; trends and competition in global wearable technology market; changes in the Company's revenues and certain cost or expense accounting policies; governmental policies relating to the Company's industry and general economic conditions in China and the global. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Huami Corporation

Grace Yujia Zhang

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Ross Warner

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

Huami Corporation

Brad Samson

Tel: +1-714-955-3951

E-mail: [email protected]

HUAMI CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and U.S. dollars ("US$") except for number of shares and per share data, or otherwise noted)





As of December 31,

As of June 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

US$













Assets











Current assets:











Cash and cash equivalents

1,803,117

2,649,185

374,968 Restricted cash

874

2,304

326 Term deposit

-

7,065

1,000 Accounts receivable

188,940

136,039

19,255 Amounts due from related parties, current

1,421,170

645,920

91,424 Inventories

893,806

840,224

118,926 Short-term investments

17,187

17,805

2,520 Prepaid expenses and other current assets

67,358

61,315

8,678 Total current assets

4,392,452

4,359,857

617,097













Property, plant and equipment, net

64,350

96,372

13,641 Intangible asset, net

85,753

123,498

17,480 Goodwill[4]

5,930

73,619

10,420 Long-term investments

406,099

314,635

44,534 Deferred tax assets

102,649

124,598

17,636 Other non-current assets

8,828

15,834

2,241 Non-current operating lease right-of-use assets

108,682

92,001

13,022 Total assets

5,174,743

5,200,414

736,071

[4] In June 2020, the Company purchase the 100% equity interest of PAI Health, Inc. ("PAI")

with a preliminary total consideration of RMB102.5 million. Under the preliminary consideration, the Company

recognized RMB67.7 million provisional amount as goodwill.

HUAMI CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and U.S. dollars ("US$") except for number of shares and per share data, or otherwise noted)





As of December 31,

As of June 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

US$













Liabilities











Current liabilities:











Accounts payable

1,999,951

1,176,344

166,501 Advance from customers

44,793

42,752

6,051 Amount due to related parties, current

14,769

16,116

2,281 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

352,249

254,353

36,001 Income tax payables

67,854

26,578

3,762 Notes payable

2,184

-

- Bank borrowings

-

881,436

124,759 Total current liabilities

2,481,800

2,397,579

339,355 Deferred tax liabilities

5,399

11,689

1,654 Other non-current liabilities

113,596

174,509

24,700 Non-current operating lease liabilities

76,360

63,937

9,050 Total liabilities

2,677,155

2,647,714

374,759

HUAMI CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and U.S. dollars ("US$") except for number of shares and per share data, or otherwise noted)





As of December 31,

As of June 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

US$













Equity











Ordinary shares

155

155

22 Additional paid-in capital

1,478,902

1,491,115

211,054 Accumulated retained earnings

910,612

943,087

133,485 Accumulated other comprehensive income

111,081

121,920

17,257 Total Huami Corporation shareholders' equity

2,500,750

2,556,277

361,818 Non-controlling interests

(3,162)

(3,577)

(506) Total equity

2,497,588

2,552,700

361,312 Total liabilities and equity

5,174,743

5,200,414

736,071

HUAMI CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and U.S. dollars ("US$") except for number of shares and per share data, or otherwise noted)

















For the Three Months Ended June 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

US$













Revenues

1,038,715

1,137,274

160,971 Cost of revenues

761,421

883,891

125,107 Gross profit

277,294

253,383

35,864 Operating expenses:











Selling and marketing

40,405

71,342

10,098 General and administrative

51,030

55,423

7,845 Research and development

93,751

117,207

16,590 Total operating expenses

185,186

243,972

34,533 Operating income

92,108

9,411

1,331 Other income and expenses:











Interest income

4,803

13,667

1,934 Other income, net

4,351

1,137

161 Income before income tax

101,262

24,215

3,426 Income tax expenses

(12,352)

(2,486)

(352) Income before loss from equity method investments

88,910

21,729

3,074 Loss from equity method investments

(265)

(7,611)

(1,077) Net income

88,645

14,118

1,997 Less: Net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interest

(719)

811

115 Net income attributable to Huami Corporation

89,364

13,307

1,882 Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating nonvested

restricted shares

190

-

- Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of Huami

Corporation

89,174

13,307

1,882 Net income per share attributable to ordinary











shareholders of Huami Corporation











Basic income per ordinary share

0.37

0.05

0.01 Diluted income per ordinary share

0.35

0.05

0.01













Net income per ADS (4 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS)











ADS  basic

1.46

0.21

0.03 ADS  diluted

1.39

0.21

0.03













Weighted average number of shares used in computing net

income per share











Ordinary share  basic

243,596,530

247,828,507

247,828,507 Ordinary share  diluted

257,455,618

259,364,320

259,364,320

HUAMI CORPORATION Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results (Amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and U.S. dollars ("US$") except for number of shares and per share data, or otherwise noted)





For the Three Months Ended June 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

US$ Net income attributable to Huami Corporation

89,364

13,307

1,882 Share-based compensation expenses

22,355

5,835

826 Adjusted net income attributable to Huami

Corporation

111,719

19,142

2,708































For the Three Months Ended June 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

US$













Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

of Huami Corporation

89,174

13,307

1,882 Share-based compensation expenses attributable to

ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation

22,307

5,835

826 Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary

shareholders of Huami Corporation[2]

111,481

19,142

2,708













Adjusted net income per share attributable to

ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation











Adjusted basic income per ordinary share

0.46

0.08

0.01 Adjusted diluted income per ordinary share

0.43

0.07

0.01













Adjusted net income per ADS (4 ordinary shares equal

to 1 ADS)











ADS  basic

1.83

0.31

0.04 ADS  diluted

1.73

0.30

0.04













Weighted average number of shares used in

computing net income per share











Ordinary share  basic

243,596,530

247,828,507

247,828,507 Ordinary share  diluted

257,455,618

259,364,320

259,364,320













Share-based compensation expenses included

are follows:











Cost of revenues

37

(61)

(9) Selling and marketing

1,579

632

89 General and administrative

14,973

3,833

543 Research and development

5,766

1,431

203 Total

22,355

5,835

826

HUAMI CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and U.S. dollars ("US$") except for number of shares and per share data, or otherwise noted)

















For the Six Months Ended June 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

US$













Revenues

1,838,311

2,225,735

315,032 Cost of revenues

1,343,554

1,727,792

244,553 Gross profit

494,757

497,943

70,479 Operating expenses:











Selling and marketing

62,588

126,185

17,860 General and administrative

96,322

106,306

15,047 Research and development

166,131

235,543

33,339 Total operating expenses

325,041

468,034

66,246 Operating income

169,716

29,909

4,233 Other income and expenses:











Interest income

12,293

21,338

3,020 Other income (expenses), net

4,813

(8,018)

(1,135) Gain from fair value change of long-term investment

-

1,293

183 Income before income tax

186,822

44,522

6,301 Income tax expenses

(23,034)

(4,519)

(640) Income before loss from equity method investments

163,788

40,003

5,661 Loss from equity method investments

(231)

(7,943)

(1,124) Net income

163,557

32,060

4,537 Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

(1,091)

(415)

(59) Net income attributable to Huami Corporation

164,648

32,475

4,596 Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating nonvested restricted shares

1,425

-

- Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation

163,223

32,475

4,596 Net income per share attributable to ordinary











shareholders of Huami Corporation











Basic income per ordinary share

0.68

0.13

0.02 Diluted income per ordinary share

0.64

0.13

0.02













Net income per ADS (4 ordinary shares equal to 1 ADS)











ADS  basic

2.71

0.52

0.07 ADS  diluted

2.56

0.50

0.07













Weighted average number of shares used in computing net income per share











Ordinary share  basic

240,817,983

247,742,838

247,742,838 Ordinary share  diluted

255,237,925

259,456,193

259,456,193

HUAMI CORPORATION Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results (Amounts in thousands of Renminbi ("RMB") and U.S. dollars ("US$") except for number of shares and per share data, or otherwise noted)





For the Six Months Ended June 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

US$ Net income attributable to Huami Corporation

164,648

32,475

4,596 Share-based compensation expenses

42,088

12,213

1,728 Adjusted net income attributable to Huami

Corporation

206,736

44,688

6,324































For the Six Months Ended June 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

US$













Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

of Huami Corporation

163,223

32,475

4,596 Share-based compensation expenses attributable to ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation

41,724

12,213

1,728 Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary

shareholders of Huami Corporation[2]

204,947

44,688

6,324













Adjusted net income per share attributable to

ordinary shareholders of Huami Corporation











Adjusted basic income per ordinary share

0.85

0.18

0.03 Adjusted diluted income per ordinary share

0.80

0.17

0.02













Adjusted net income per ADS (4 ordinary shares equal

to 1 ADS)











ADS  basic

3.40

0.72

0.10 ADS  diluted

3.21

0.69

0.10













Weighted average number of shares used in

computing net income per share











Ordinary share  basic

240,817,983

247,742,838

247,742,838 Ordinary share  diluted

255,237,925

259,456,193

259,456,193













Share-based compensation expenses included

are follows:











Cost of revenues

39

(54)

(8) Selling and marketing

1,910

1,264

179 General and administrative

32,409

7,930

1,122 Research and development

7,730

3,073

435 Total

42,088

12,213

1,728

SOURCE Huami Corporation

Related Links

www.huami.com


Etawah : , Aug 18 (IANS) Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has said that Lord Ram belongs to all and not just to the Bharatiya Janata Party alone.

Talking to reporters in his native village Sefai on Tuesday, he said that "Lord Ram belongs to all, Lord Krishna belongs to all. Lord Ram and Lord Krishna were incarnations of Lord Vishnu, who belongs to all." He further said, "We all seek blessings of Goddesses during Navratri festival. Now tell me, do these Goddesses also belong to the BJP?" he asked.

The Samajwadi Party president attacked the Yogi Adityanath government on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, where a minor girl was raped and brutally murdered.

"The BJP is only doing politics in the name of Lord Ram and is least bothered over the law and order situation in state. Crime against women is at its peak in the state. The brutal killing of a teenage girl after rape in Lakhimpur Kheri is a shocking incident.

"Why is the BJP government protecting the accused in cases of rape, kidnapping and killings?" he asked.

Referring to the Aligarh incident where a police personnel allegedly assaulted BJP MLA Rajkumar Sahyogi, Yadav said: "Their (BJP) MLAs and police believe in 'thok do' theory. But, they themselves seem to be confused now. They are not sure whom they have to 'thoko' (attack) and whom not. Now when their chief minister will say 'thok do' in assembly, such things will definitely happen." Akhilesh said that the Samajwadi Party will continue to seek votes in the name of development and progress.
The UK's coronavirus reproduction rate could be slashed by a quarter with quick and effective testing and tracing, a study suggests.

Scientists estimate Britain's R value is currently hovering between 0.8 and the dreaded number 1, the level at which the epidemic could spiral back out of control.

But Imperial College London researchers said if the NHS Test and Trace system was up to scratch it could definitely be squashed below the danger zone.

According to their mathematical modelling, the R - the average number of people each coronavirus patient infects on average - could be shrunk by 26 per cent if 80 per cent of Covid-19 cases and their contacts are tested and isolated in 24 hours.

However, the UK's sluggish contact tracing system is still struggling to hunt down almost half of infected people's contacts.

Official statistics also show that only around two-thirds of people who get swab tests received their result within 24 hours, down from 76.9 per cent last week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had promised to have this figure at 100 per cent by July.

Contact tracers need to catch 80 per cent of infections and test suspected patients within three days to keep coronavirus epidemics squashed, another study has found

The UK's coronavirus reproduction rate could be slashed by a quarter with quick and effective testing and tracing, a study suggests

A total of 52,735 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in England have had their cases transferred to the NHS Test and Trace contact tracing system since its launch, according to figures from the Department of Health and Social Care.

Of this total, 41,254 people (78.2 per cent) were reached and asked to provide details of recent close contacts, while 9,938 (18.8 per cent) were not reached.

A further 1,543 people (2.9 per cent) could not be reached because their communication details had not been provided.

In the most recent week, the service successfully contacted 79.7 per cent of infected people, which was down from 80.5 per cent a week earlier.

HOW WILL THE NHS TEST & TRACE APP WORK? How does the contact logging work? While the app is running Bluetooth technology will keep a record of which phones spend 15 minutes within 2metres (6'7") of one another and then alert people if they have been near someone who later tests positive for Covid-19. People's phones are only recognised by the system if they are running the app themselves - it cannot detect others. The contacts it keeps track of are all anonymous and phones exchange digital 'tokens' with every app-using phone within Bluetooth range. If one person develops symptoms of the coronavirus or tests positive, they will be able to enter this information into the app. The phone will then send out a notification to all the devices they have exchanged tokens with during the infection window, to make people aware they may have been exposed to COVID-19. Each phone keeps an individual log of the Bluetooth profiles someone has come close to. These will then be linked anonymously to people's NHS apps and alerts can be pushed through that even after the person is out of bluetooth range. People can delete their data from this app at any time. Will the app tell me what to do? The app can only react to data that people put into it, and it will only ever offer guidance. If a user reports that they have symptoms of coronavirus - a new continuous cough, a fever, or a changed sense of smell or taste, they will be urged to self-isolate for 10 days from the start of the symptoms and to get tested. If they test positive for Covid-19 at any time, they should report this to the app. The app then sends out an anonymous alert to everyone with whom that person has been within 2m (6'7") of for 15 minutes or more since they started feeling ill. That person may then be asked to self-isolate or to get tested if they feel unwell. Why does it want my postcode? People who use the app will be asked to put in the first half of their postcode so they can be given the risk level for their local area, which will be low, medium or high. This section will then have links to more information about specific rules if that area has a stricter lockdown than other parts of the country. The first half of someone's postcode is too vague to pinpoint their personal location. They usually are the same for thousands of houses in the same area or for entire towns and villages. No location data is shared with the NHS or Government. What is the QR code scanner for? People will be able to check in to places they visit using a QR code scanner which will keep of log of where they have been in case they are approached by contact tracers. It is hoped this will help eliminate problems of people not remembering where they have been or where they may have put strangers at risk and have no way of contacting them. The system will be based on venue owners and event organisers ordering and printing their own QR codes online for people to scan when they arrive. It is understood that this will create a log only for people's personal reference and that information will not be shared with venues or officials. Advertisement

Slightly more of the at-risk contacts were reached - 61.1 per cent in the week ending August 5 - up from 60.9 per cent a week before.

However this still means that four out of 10 people who are at risk of having caught Covid-19 from an infected person are not being warned by the Government.

In a thinly-veiled jab at the UK's current tracing system, Professor Nicholas Grassly, from Imperial's School of Public Health, which conducted the recent study, said: 'Effective testing is key to controlling the coronavirus pandemic.

'We need to use testing to prevent transmission in two ways - first, to identify infected individuals and their contacts to reduce transmission through isolation and quarantine, and second, to detect outbreaks so that local lockdowns can be applied when needed.

'Our results show that test and trace can help reduce the R number but needs to be carried out effectively and quickly to do so.

'Test and trace alone won't be enough to control transmission in most communities and other measures alongside will be needed to bring the R number below one.'

The researchers developed a mathematical model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission based on infectiousness and PCR test sensitivity over time since infection.

According to this, if everyone with symptoms compatible with Covid-19 self-isolated and self-isolation was 100 per cent effective in reducing onwards transmission, self-isolation of symptomatic individuals would result in a reduction in R of 47 per cent.

Weekly screening of healthcare workers and other high-risk groups, irrespective of symptoms, by use of PCR testing is estimated to reduce their contribution to SARS-CoV-2 transmission by 23 per cent, on top of reductions achieved by self-isolation following symptoms, assuming results are available within 24 hours.

Dr Margarita Pons-Salort, from Imperial's School of Public Health, said: 'We looked at how testing can be used to control transmission.

'Although regular screening of asymptomatic individuals in high-risk groups, as well as contact tracing (test-trace-isolate) of the wider population can help reduce transmission, control of Covid-19 cannot rely on these strategies alone. '

Among others, the effectiveness of these strategies depends a lot on the timeliness to provide test results and to find and quarantine contacts.

'This means that to have a real impact on transmission, testing strategies need to be implemented very well.'

The research, published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, was supported by the UK Medical Research Council.

It comes after the much-delayed NHS Test and Trace smartphone app was re-launched last week, with a second round of trials on the Isle of Wight and in the London borough of Newham.

England's beleaguered app, of which the first version had to be scrapped in June after a string of failures, has now been recreated using technology made by Google and Apple.

Officials are rolling out trials of the app - which was originally slated for release in mid-May - to some staff in the NHS and residents of the two areas to test whether it is good enough to use nationwide.

If it is found to work, it will be used alongside the human contact-tracing system which is based on call centres and local councils visiting people's homes.

Bluetooth technology will keep a record of which phones spend 15 minutes within 2metres (6'7") of one another and then alert people if they have been near someone who later tests positive for Covid-19.

Users will also have an 'isolation companion' which has countdown timer if someone has to self-isolate, and will be able to 'check in' to places such as pubs and restaurants using QR codes.

They will also be shown what the risk level is in their local area based on the first half of their postcode, with places being categorised as low, medium or high risk.

The app will rely totally on members of the public co-operating, volunteering to let it track their connections and following the instructions it gives them on getting tested and self-isolating.

Despite efforts to iron out flaws in the technology, the Department of Health has admitted that around half of people who are warned they have been near an infected person will actually not have been within the 2m for 15 minutes danger window.

And three out of 10 people who were put at risk - 31 per cent - won't receive a notification at all. In trials it had a 69 per cent accuracy rate at detecting people who had been at risk, and it was 55 per cent accurate at detecting people who had not.

The newest version of the app is being launched after the first attempt was abandoned in June because it did not work on Android smartphones.

The NHS Test and Trace app will tell people their local area risk level (left), allow them to check in to places they visit (centre) and will warn people if they have been in contact with someone who tests positive or if they report symptoms themselves (right)

The NHS's app  which was originally promised for mid-May and the NHS spent months developing  was unable to spot 25 per cent of nearby Android users and a staggering 96 per cent of iPhones in the Isle of Wight trial.

This was because the Bluetooth system developed by the NHS effectively went into 'sleep mode' when the phone screens were locked and developers couldn't fix the glitch.

Different Bluetooth technology made by the phone manufacturers Apple and Google themselves has turned out to be significantly better at detecting other phones.

Officials said the app software now reliably detects 99.3 per cent of nearby app users, regardless of what type of phone they have.

And it will use, on average, two to three per cent of a phone's battery life each day, officials say.

Another major difference between the two is that Apple and Google's technology stores the anonymously log of someone's contacts entirely in the phone - it is never shared with anyone else and can be deleted at any time - whereas the NHS's worked on a system which meant it had to be sent to a centralised database.

Officials have changed this to squash concerns about privacy, now insisting the app 'tracks the virus, not people'.

In another improvement to the privacy afforded by the app, it will have a toggle switch for people to turn the contact tracing on or off without uninstalling the app.

People can choose at any time to make the app stop recording connections to other phones.

And the app will now not send any information to the NHS or the Government - people will only be given advice to self-isolate if they are at risk, or advised to get a test if they have symptoms.

People will have to report a positive test themselves in order to alert people they may have put at risk.

Once hailed as a vital part of the contact tracing system, the app is now an addition to the human system, officials say.
There are times when the intoxication ends and its time to sober up. In the Lebanese case this is particularly urgent because the problems there are structural and extend beyond Lebanon to all countries in the region, which depend on each other for better or  more often than not  for worse. Unravelling what happened in Lebanon starts with the realisation that intoxication is not synonymous with happy. In the Land of Cedars at present everything seems to have been condensed to that genocidal explosion at the Beirut wharf.

Lebanon has a special place in Arab hearts and in others hearts as well. To the Arabs, Lebanon has always been an amazing oasis, filled with all the contradictions of its civil wars, times of peace and joy, sweet melodies dipped in sheer awe at the scale of proliferating weapons. Arabic commentaries and analyses brim with wistful tears shaped by the songs of Fairuz, lyrics by the poet Nizar Qabbani, delightful restaurants with strains of music wafting in the air on a summers day.

Outside the Arab world, Lebanon has other special features, perhaps due to the belief that the country could embody an Arab future where people of all sorts live side by side in a Middle Eastern Switzerland, with safe banks and plenty of fun to be had by all. Inside Lebanon, the thinking was different, to which testify civil wars far too big for that countrys size and population and the presence of more foreign political movements, both armed and unarmed, and more foreign intelligence agencies than any major power has ever had to deal with. Whenever Lebanese writers ask after their dear state, reality answers back that the state is so many missing loved ones.

In the wake of the explosions, voices from around the world registered their commiseration for the stricken nation. Televised footage of the aftermath could have been taken from film sets of a nuclear apocalypse. Officials the world over pledged to furnish aid and relief amidst calls for change. Ironically, world leaders agreed to send aid to Lebanon just as the Lebanese government resigned, leaving no address to send the aid to. Some of that aid required negotiations concerning the mechanisms for delivery and disbursal against the backdrop of outcries over corruption and the renewed surge of a Lebanese movement calling for the downfall of the whole political elite.

Such calls are hardly new in the Arab region. The 2010s opened with cries for the fall of political leaders from Zein Al-Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak in Tunisia and Egypt, to Ali Abdullah Saleh in Yemen and Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. The only one who has not yet fallen is Bashar Al-Assad. The price of his survival has been huge; not just in the numbers of dead, wounded and displaced but also in terms of how his country became prey to other nations.

On the whole, if there is anything to be learned from the uprisings during the past 10 years it is that no movement should move until it can provide an address for aid to go to, so that reconstruction can begin and a modern nation state can be built. Nevertheless, the Lebanese movement (and the Iraqi one as well) has added something. It tells that that the denominational system of government has failed and that it is no longer right for this day and age, if it was ever right at all for a country with Lebanons culture and heritage.

Building a modern nation state is a major undertaking. If we think of the state as a bride to be, it requires an expensive dowry, and not all of it in cash and material goods. It requires a collective bond of honour, fealty and self-sacrifice. This has certainly not occurred with the current sectarian-based political elite in Lebanon, which is mired in sectarian-based corruption that has cut political leaders from their constituencies and abandoned Lebanon to its fate.

The situation was the product not only of fear of assassination by the militant Hizbullah, but also of the power hungriness that led Hizbullah to include a pact with the devil, which lasted from 2006 to the present. Indeed, one could argue that Hizbullah was never Lebanese to begin with. All the ayatollahs are from Qom. When I met Hassan Nasrallah one day in 2001, I saw no other flag in the room but the Hizbullah flag. Hizbullah ideology had no room for the Lebanese flag.

That helps identify the starting point for Lebanon. It is not in a new consensus between the parties or between the faiths. It is whether all Lebanons communities, which are all threatened by poverty, want, homelessness, violence from all sides, are ready to start with themselves. Hizbullah and other militias, regardless of their names and leaderships, do not exist in and of themselves. They exist because of a sectarian order that has been able to thrive on a fiction of bottomless resources of money and leadership positions, inherited like palaces and headquartered partly in Beirut and partly in Paris, Geneva or Tehran.

The national state is, above all, a grassroots project. It can happen if the Lebanese political movement proceeds peacefully, and with the popular support of Lebanons Shias, Sunnis, Christians, Druze and other communities that have made up their mind to be a national polity as opposed to a collection of armed sects. Once that is their goal, the next step is to realise two of the essential traits of the nation state.

One is that the state must hold the monopoly on the legitimate recourse to armed force. The second is that it is the state that takes decisions on matters of war and peace, not some imam or sheikh, or some foreign capital that appoints itself protector and avenger with the right to make mistakes in its calculations. Such conditions are axiomatic in any nation state. But not Lebanon, an anomaly made possible by Hizbullah and a world that has grown used to dealing with it.

In 1958, the Lebanese army under the command of Fuad Chehab rescued Lebanon from civil war. Today, the army may be the agency that will avert civil war and prepare the country for a modern system of government free from decades of sectarian quota systems. Then Lebanon would definitely have a new address, one that would serve as a beacon to other Arab states built on sectarian formulas, such as Iraq. Iraq had been prescribed the Lebanese quota model at a time when the prescribers thought it the only alternative. In fact, it proved a recipe for disaster. Now Iraq, too, has a grassroots movement that has embarked on the quest for a modern state.

This is an agonising moment for Lebanon. But it may also be a moment of empowerment in which the Lebanese take back their home and build their modern state.

*The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A day after vandalism forced its closure, the Visva Bharati University on Tuesday stated that it will request for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the August 17 violence. In an official statement, the university also said that it will sit on a 12-hour fast as a mark of protest. "We will have 12 hours long fast as a mark of protest against the vandalism that the miscreants have committed on 17th August 2020 in the campus," read the statement.

The heritage university founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in West Bengal's Santiniketan was shut down indefinitely on August 17 (Monday) following violent protests against Visva Bharati's decision to construct a boundary wall around the venue of Poush Mela, a prestigious annual cultural event that started more than a century ago. In its statement on Tuesday, the university confirmed that the construction of the boundary wall around Poush Mela grounds will continue.

Speaking on the closure of the university, the statement read, "Unless the miscreants who committed the vandalism with TMC leaders at the lead are booked and until we are at ease on the campus through the creation of conditions in which the members of Visva-Bharati Parivar will be absolutely free from bodily-harm and humiliation perpetrated by outsiders instigated by unforeseen forces, Visva-Bharati will remain closed."

It added, "So long as we feel that we are not safe in the campus and also our residence, the university shall remain closed with the exception of the admission process, examination process, (if it is possible to organize these within the UGC-stipulated directions) and other essential services."

Condemning the West Bengal Police's inaction, it said that they were intimated well in advance. "We condemn the police inaction despite having intimated well in advance the DM and SP of Birbhum, CS, Home Secretary of the State of West Bengal and the PS to West Bengal Chief Minister Gautam Sanyal.

It added, "Furthermore unless the police withdraws the false FIRs slapped on the Vice-Chancellor and other university officials, there shall exist a scary environment of fear in which everyone of Visva-Bharati Parivar, including the officials, shall not be free from the threat of humiliation and violence. (even to the extent of being liquidated, as some of the colleagues apprehend)."

"So, we request the State Home Ministry to withdraw the FIRs immediately to restore the feeling of being safe on the campus while being engaged in academic pursuits and other related activities. This shall be supportive of protecting and expanding Visva-Bharati's ashramite traditions that started unfolding with the foundation of the University in 1921 by one of the greatest thinkers of the last century, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore," it added.

The statement also said, "We condemn the vandalism that took place for three hours at the behest of a people's representative MLA Shri Naresh Bauri and two administrators of the Municipality (Shri Sukanta Hazra and Omor Sekh) appointed by the State Government along with many others in the campus of Visva-Bharati on 17 August 2020 between 9-30 am and 12-30 pm."

"We condemn the selective brutal attack on Prof. Biplab Loho Choudhury of the CJMC yesterday (17/08) in the evening at his residence. We demand that the police should book the perpetrators," it stated.

The university is in dark about the fate of the several FIRs lodged by the university since August 15, said the statement.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on August 17 had said that she doesn't want any construction to take place at Visva Bharati, asking the police to convene a meeting with the stakeholders in this regard. She had said, "Visva Bharati is a central university. I don't want any construction there which will spoil nature's beauty. I request the vice-chancellor to consult the DM and SP. There should no such things in Bengal which will destroy the culture and heritage of Bengal."
Jeffrey Greenberg/UIG/Getty

Payless has officially returned to the North American market after filing for bankruptcy in April 2017 and again in February 2019.

The footwear retailer announced in January that a new management team would attempt to reintroduce the affordable shoe retailer to US markets after closing over 2,000 stores across the country. Today, it relaunched with an E-commerce platform and new brick-and-mortar stores as part of the strategic emergence from bankruptcy.

Payless is also formally dropping Shoesource from the brand name and plans to roll out 300-500 free standing stores across North America over the next five years, according to a press release.

The new locations will feature technology that merges design with onsite digital components, the release states, including smart mirrors, touchscreen wall panels and a first-of-its kind Augmented Reality foot comparison chart.

Despite the restructuring and updated store designs, the footwear retailer says it is still committed to providing value to customers across a range of apparel, accessories, and footwear."

RELATED: Payless Emerges from Bankruptcy After Closing Over 2,000 US Stores

"We're back and bringing more community responsibility, fashion-forward footwear, and on-trend partnerships to our 60M+ Payless customers who have missed us," Payless CEO Jared Margolis said in a statement. "We saw an opportunity for the brand to relaunch into the US market, providing our community with the affordable, value driven products they've always searched for, now across multiple categories, at a time when value couldn't be more critical. Payless is for everyone, and now more than ever, the world needs to pay-less. We are so excited to bring Payless back to you, so you and future generations to come can lead the way forward."

Payless also launched an initiative called "Powered by Payless" to help parents, students and teachers navigate the upcoming school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the program, Payless will partner with schools across the country to provide technology, lunches and shoes necessary for new at-home classes to those in need.

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In January, Payless announced that a new management team  lead by new CEO Jared Margolis  would attempt to reintroduce the affordable shoe retailer to US markets after filing for bankruptcy twice.

Margolis (the former president of a licensing agency called CAA-GBG) said in a statement: I am pleased to have the opportunity to lead this iconic retail brand into a new strategic phase with a strengthened balance sheet and clean financial outlook.

We intend to leverage Payless existing infrastructure, which is best in class and already includes product design and development, distribution, marketing, and a strong relationship with major footwear manufacturers, the statement read. Thus, providing the new Payless with the ability to be nimble, innovative, and to fast-track our biggest growth opportunity: The United States.

RELATED: Payless Will Close All 2,100 of Its U.S. Stores  and the Liquidation Sales Have Already Begun

He continued: We will implement a new comprehensive strategic plan to strengthen our relationship with our vendors and suppliers, support our global franchise partners and deepen the trust of our customers.

In 2019, Payless filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, shutting all 2,100 US stores and leaving 16,000 people unemployed.

Payless will begin liquidation sales at its U.S. and Puerto Rico stores on February 17, 2019, and is winding down its e-commerce operations, a Payless spokesperson confirmed to CNN Business at the time, adding that this process does not affect the Companys franchise operations or its Latin American stores, which remain open for business as usual.

The shoe retailer, which was founded in 1956, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2017, according to CNN Business. The outlet went on to report that at the time that the company closed around 400 of its stores.
In a whirlwind set of events for Justin Trudeaus government, cabinet has been shuffled following the resignation of Bill Morneau on Monday as both Minister of Finance and MP for Toronto Centre.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he asked Gov. Gen. Julie Payette to prorogue government, which puts an end to this parliamentary session. Trudeau indicated the government will present a speech from the throne on Sept. 23, the same week the House of Commons was previously set to return.

If Trudeau just wants to have a throne speech, he can wait until mid-September to formally prorogue.



If he wants to shut down WE investigations, he will prorogue this week.  pierrepoilievre (@PierrePoilievre) August 18, 2020

As the prorogation of parliament is occurring while questions are still being raised about the WE Charity scandal, critics including Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre have suggested it is a way to put an end to this particular investigation.

We now have a government of corruption, coverups and chaos at a time of a deadly pandemic, and the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression, Poilievre said at a press conference on Tuesday morning. His biggest priority was to flow a half a billion dollars to a group that had paid his family a half a million dollars.

Documents related to the WE Charity scandal will still be released to the finance committee but Trudeau maintained that the government will spend the coming weeks establishing a long-term plan for recovery.

The prime minister explicitly stated he does not want this prorogation to lead to the opposition triggering an election.

Previously, Trudeau had been a vocal critic of former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper after his prorogation of parliament in 2008, avoiding a confidence vote. Harper also prorogued parliament in 2009, which halted a committee investigation into Afghan detainees.

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Stephen Harper and the Conservatives prorogued parliament in order to shut it down and avoid a confidence vote, Trudeau said on Tuesday. We are proroguing parliament to bring it back on exactly the same week it was supposed to come back anyway, and force a confidence vote.

We are taking a moment to recognize that the throne speech we delivered eight months ago had no mention of COVID-19, had no conception of the reality we find ourselves in right now. We need to reset the approach of this government for a recovery to build back better.

The prime minister went on to reassure Canadians who are collecting funds through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), EI or the wage subsidy, those program would not be impacted by this prorogation.

This will be our roadmap out of the pandemic, Trudeau said.

Looking to the new structure of Trudeaus cabinet, these are changes that you need to know about in Canada.

Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Chrystia Freeland is the first woman to hold to position of Canadas Minister of Finance, while she maintains her position as Deputy Prime Minister of Canada as well.

I am conscious of the fact that Im Canadas first woman finance minister, Freeland said. Its about time that we broke that glass ceiling and Id like to say to all the Canadian women across our amazing country who are breaking glass ceilings, keep going we are 100 per cent with you.

One of the hallmarks of our government has been an explicitly and proudly feminist agenda that has always been a part of our work I have taken particular pride in.

She added that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic women have been falling out of Canadas workforce particularly sharply and Freeland stressed that she will use her experience as a woman, as a mother to address this challenge.

Freeland has been praised recently for her work with provincial and territorial leaders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly from Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Theres no secret, I think the world of Chrystia, I sent her a message this morning, Ford said at a press conference on Tuesday. She was swamped as Deputy Prime Minister and if there was one person to have confidence in, its Chrystia Freeland.

All eyes will be on Freeland as the Canadian economy works through the recovery of the pandemic. Although she did not provide thorough details on her economic plan for the country, Freeland said Canadas economic recovery needs to be green, it also needs to be equitable, it needs to be inclusive.

We need to focus very much on jobs and growth, she said.

The Deputy Prime Minister and newly appoint Minister of Finance is also Canadas key figure in negotiations with the U.S. administration. This includes border restrictions during the pandemic, the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement and retaliatory tariffs after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would reinstate a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian aluminum.

Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen's Privy Council

President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada Dominic LeBlanc gestures during Question Period at the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Blair Gable

In his new position as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc will take over Freelands previous task of overseeing relations with the provinces and territories.

This role has been particularly important during COVID-19 as the federal government continues to negotiate with provincial and territorial leaders about keeping Canadians safe during the pandemic and resource allocation for the recovery of the economy.

LeBlanc, an MP in the New Brunswick riding of Beausejour, was originally named president of the Queens Privy Council after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

He previously held the role of minister for intergovernmental affairs and northern affairs before he took a step back from cabinet to focus on his health.
The Commerce Department announced further restrictions on Huawei Technologies aimed at cutting the Chinese company's access to commercially available chips, the latest move in an increasingly tense relationship between the world's two biggest economies.

The changes, which the department announced in a written statement on Monday, build on restrictions announced in May, adding 38 Huawei affiliates in 21 countries to an economic blacklist as the US seeks to limit adoption of the company's 5G technology.

"We don't want their equipment in the United States because they spy on us," President Donald Trump said Monday in an interview on "Fox and Friends."

The move is the latest tit-for-tat in escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over everything from the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic to China's increasingly tight grip over Hong Kong. Despite the US decision, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Fox Business that talks with China continue on various levels.

The restrictions are likely to further hit both Huawei's 5G base stations and smartphone businesses because it relies heavily on foreign chips to make those, further denting China's ambition to play a key role in global rollout of 5G technology. Huawei's stockpiles of certain self-designed chips essential to telecom equipment will run out by early 2021.

Nokia and Ericsson stand to benefit from Huawei's further faltering in its 5G prowess, while domestic smartphone rivals including Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo are likely to get a bigger slice of the Chinese market.

Ross said the action was aimed at closing loopholes the company explored after previous US actions. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo praised the move as a "direct blow" against the Chinese Communist Party.

The company has long rejected accusations that its technology can be used to spy on foreign nations or companies.

All chip companies working for Huawei, no matter where they are, will be subject to licenses, a Commercial official said, adding that even foreign companies will be affected as long as they use US design software and equipment.

That means major Asian and European chip companies such as MediaTek, Samsung Electronics, NXP Semiconductors, and STMicroelectronics may need a license to continue shipping to Huawei, though the official declined to name any specific company.

There are few semiconductor companies in the world, including those in China, that do not rely on software from US-based Synopsys and Cadence Design Systems to create blueprints for chips. Many companies that make physical chips, including China's own Semiconductor Manufacturing International use equipment from US-based Applied Materials and Lam Research.

President Trump is facing a battle to win re-election in November and trails his rival.
68th Mann Ki Baat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited inputs, suggestions from people for the next edition of Mann Ki Baat. Mann Ki Baat is a radio programme hosted by PM himself.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked people to share their inputs and ideas for the 68th edition of his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat. The programme which is held on the last Sunday of every month will take place on August 30 this month.

The Prime Minister asked people to share their inputs by writing on the NaMo or MyGov App or by recording their messages by calling 1800-11-7800. The phone lines for receiving inputs have been open from August 10.

The Prime Minister tweeted asking about what people think should be discussed during Mann Ki Baat, which would take place on the 30th. He asked people to record their message by dialling 1800-11-7800, people could also write on the NaMo App or MyGov.

Also read: Pandit Jasrajs last rites performed in New Jersey

Also read: Indias Covid-19 tally breaches 26 lakh mark, death toll at 50K

Speaking at the 67th edition of Mann Ki Baat, which coincided with the 21st anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Modi had criticised Pakistan and said it undertook the misadventure with sinister plans to capture Indias land and to divert its ongoing internal conflicts. He also said that Pakistan tried to backstab in response to Indias friendly endeavours.

The Prime Minister had also urged the youth to share stories of valour of soldiers during the Kargil war. He also asked people to visit the website  www.gallantryawards.gov.in  saying they will get to know a lot about the braves and their valour. When you share these with friends, they will also get inspired, he had said.

Also read: Facebook issues statement after opposition rakes up bias theory
This is strong stuff although, in a way, the traditional historians might agree. Almost all accept that the high tolls that the Turks charged on caravans bringing Asian luxury goods through their empire encouraged Europeans to build better ships and find maritime routes to India. Saying that, however, does not prove that the Ottoman Empire was either a sufficient or a necessary condition for the making of our modern world; that requires asking the counterfactual question (one that cannot really be answered) of what Europeans would have done if the Ottoman Empire had never existed. Turkish tolls and military aggression incentivized 15th-century Iberians to invest in new kinds of ships, but should we assume that without the Ottomans, Europeans would never have got around to building them? Absent Islam, Columbus probably wouldnt have sailed West in 1492; but just eight years later, Pedro Cabral bumped into Brazil anyway, while trying to pick up the winds to take him around Africas southern tip. Seaborne trade with India would have been more profitable than the overland route, even if the latter had been tax-free; so would there really have been no Cabral without the Ottomans? Or was Turkeys role in Europes conquest of the Americas actually just to speed it up by a few years?

Mikhail steers clear of such guesswork, and instead makes his case by devoting the bulk of his book to a biographical account of Selim the Grim (reigned 1512-20), a particularly terrifying Ottoman sultan who murdered his half brothers (which was, admittedly, normal sultanic behavior) and deposed and probably murdered his father (which wasnt). Selim also conquered everything from Syria to Algeria, and inflicted a devastating defeat on Persia. Mikhail sometimes struggles to integrate this story smoothly with his tale of the Spaniards in America; there is maybe too much detail on Selims campaigns, and some of the linkages, like the parallels Mikhail draws between Selims death and Montezumas (both in 1520), feel strained. However, the story is always interesting. Who would not want to know about the history of Yemeni coffee or the olive-oil wrestlers of Edirne?

Mikhail builds on this narrative to suggest that Selims contribution to the making of our modern world went well beyond just incentivizing Europeans to cross the oceans. Pero Ximenez only imagined seeing Turkish ships off the Mexican coast but, Mikhail believes, Selim did come close to sending them there. In 1518, he seemed poised to overrun the whole of North Africa. If Selim had captured Morocco, Mikhail says, he would have completely reforged the history of the world, because if Morocco were made Ottoman, Gods shadow could stretch into the Atlantic  and perhaps even cross that ocean.

Mikhail reads this into two of the anecdotes he tells about the grim sultan. The first describes the Ottoman captain Piri Reis showing Selim the first vaguely realistic map of the world in 1517. The story runs that Selim tore the map in two, keeping the piece showing the Old World but giving the New World back to Piri. The second story, though, says that three years later, an interpreter named Ali Bey presented Selim with another world map. This time, instead of tearing it in two, the sultan had a secretary cross out all its Italian and Latin names and replace them with Turkish ones. Surely, Mikhail concludes, Selim now imagined that virtually all of the territories on the western portion of Piris map  the half that survives, the half that he previously chose to ignore  could be his.  He intended to make the whole world Ottoman.
Police officers in Chicago have been retiring at twice the average rate recently, sounding alarms among local officials that the city could soon be short of officers if the trend continues.

Michael Lappe, vice president of the board of trustees for the Policemens Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago, said at least 110 officers are set to retire over the next two months, an unheard of number, the Chicago Sun Times reported.

Were seeing double the average number of retirees each month, he said. The average is about 24 a month.

There have been 335 police retirements through the end of July this year, compared with 475 for all of 2019 and 339 for all of 2018.

While Lappe cited a change in health insurance benefits as a major cause of the influx, police union president John Catanzara said the mayors lack of support for police officers is at fault.

Catanzara has fought with Democratic mayor Lori Lightfoot over police reform and union contract negotiations  officers are currently working under a contract that expired in 2017  for months.

I have no doubt that its going to continue, and I can clearly see a smaller spike within the upper ranks [of] lieutenants and above, Catanzara said. Who wants to stay in this environment? If you have the ability to leave, there is no incentive to stay anymore.

The mayor doesnt back us, he said. If you have the financial ability to do so, I dont blame a single soul for leaving.

At least 30 police officers have been injured in the city recently as a result of protests and rioting. After looting earlier this month injured 13 officers and led to the arrest of more than 100 people, Chicago 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale said, I think the mayor has lost the confidence and the control of this city.

Were way short of officers now, and Im afraid, as people go to retire, were going to be even further short of officers on the street, Beale told the Sun Times. Were working officers double-time, triple-time. Its only a matter of time before officers are totally burned out.

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The department continues to add officers, with some cadets finishing training and others entering the police academy next week, a police spokesman told the paper.

Yet Lappe said his worry is that a large, continued increase in retirements will harm the pension systems financial health.

More from National Review
Salman Arif, the CEO of The Health Bank (THB) Global, announced today that the company is partnering with Nanotronics Health, LLC, to distribute nHaleTM, a non-invasive ventilator. It will be distributed in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region. To support non-invasive respiratory therapy in the region, The Health Bank will also train medical professionals to operate the device.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200817005113/en/

In pursuit of finding a solution for managing COVID-19 symptoms through non-invasive methods, we have partnered with Nanotronics Health, LLC, for the sale and distribution of the nHaleTM. This partnership makes nHaleTM accessible in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region, benefiting patients and health care providers with an affordable, high-quality solution, said Zarmina Jafar, Head of Strategy at THB Global.

Nanotronics Health, LLC, obtained Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for nHaleTM for use in traditional healthcare facilities, spaces converted for the care of large numbers of COVID-19 patients, and in at-home settings with a doctors prescription. This authorization includes the optional use of supplemental oxygen in tandem with nHale when a qualified medical professional prescribes it.

Non-invasive ventilation is critical for COVID-19 patient care in the hospital and beyond. To meet this need, Nanotronics Health, LLC, leveraged Nanotronics deep in-house expertise, incorporating advanced AI, Intelligent Factory Control (IFC) and sophisticated engineering to conceive, design and manufacture nHaleTM in under 90 days.

We developed nHaleTM to meet the urgent need for non-invasive respiratory options for patients suffering from COVID-19, said Julie Orlando, President of Nanotronics Health, LLC. We designed for quality, comfort and ease of use, making nHaleTM available at a fraction of the cost of other non-invasive ventilators.

Nanotronics Health, LLC, developed and designed nHale to assist spontaneously breathing adults suffering from COVID-19 disease. It is intended for use in non-life-threatening situations, such as a patient in need of breathing assistance but not in need of invasive ventilatory support based on standard medical protocols.

About The Heath Bank

The Health Bank (THB) is a tech-enabled global health management company that offers individuals, families, and corporations a variety of virtual hospital services to support and manage their health and wellness. With a strong focus on prevention and wellness, we empower our members to be proactive about attaining and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, while preventing illness and disease, through our precision medicine and telemonitoring programs.

Our expertise in personalized healthcare delivery offers members and their loved ones peace of mind when facing any chronic or acute healthcare challenge, no matter how complex.

About Nanotronics Health, LLC

Nanotronics Health, LLC, is a subsidiary of and powered by Nanotronics. The company uses Intelligent Factory Control (IFC) to build and scale medical devices that are affordable, accessible and well-designed. Our first product, nHale, a non-invasive ventilator, was conceived, built, and obtained Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA within 90 days to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. After obtaining Emergency Use Authorization, Nanotronics Health, LLC, immediately began producing and shipping devices.

About nHaleTM

nHale is a bi-level positive air pressure device to support respiratory therapy of spontaneously breathing adults weighing over 30kg suffering from COVID-19 disease. It is a non-invasive ventilator designed to be used in non-life-threatening situations, for spontaneously breathing patients, such as a patient in need of breathing assistance but not in need of invasive ventilatory support based on standard medical protocols.

The machine is for use in traditional healthcare facilities (e.g., hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes) as well as spaces converted for the care of large numbers of COVID-19 patients (e.g., convention centers, university dormitories, motels, etc.). nHale is also intended for use in home settings with a doctors prescription.

Supplemental oxygen may be used with the nHale device to increase the oxygen concentration of the airflow being delivered to the patient only when prescribed and trained by a qualified medical professional. The warnings must be observed when using supplemental oxygen with the nHale device.

Nanotronics Health LLC, a subsidiary of Nanotronics, applied Nanotronics deep in-house expertise, incorporating advanced AI, Intelligent Factory Control (IFC), and sophisticated engineering to build a machine that is easily manufactured at scale and at a reduced cost to increase accessibility for all Americans. nHale is designed for comfort and ease-of-use with the simplicity of one button.

nHale has been authorized by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization [EUA]; nHale is authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of the device; nHale has not been FDA cleared or approved.

nHale is a trademark of Nanotronics in the U.S. which can be found at nanotronics.co/nhale.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200817005113/en/
Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket:

Home Depot (HD)  The home improvement retailer earned $4.02 per share for the second quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.71 a share. Revenue came in well above estimates. Comparable-store sales jumped 23.4%, more than double the FactSet consensus estimate of 10.9%. Home Depot benefited from the increase in home improvement projects by people forced to remain at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Walmart (WMT)  Walmart came in 31 cents a share ahead of estimates, with quarterly earnings of $1.56 per share. The retail giant's revenue beat forecasts as well. U.S. comparable-store sales rose 9.3%, easily beating the 5.4% consensus FactSet estimate. U.S. e-commerce sales nearly doubled. Walmart's results were boosted in part by strong sales increases for general merchandise and food.

Amazon.com (AMZN)  Amazon is adding 3,500 jobs in six major cities, including 2,000 in New York who will work in the historic 5th Avenue building that once housed retailer Lord & Taylor. Amazon purchased the building from WeWork for a price reported to be more than $1 billion.

Kohl's (KSS)  The retailer lost 25 cents per share for its latest quarter, smaller than the 83 cents a share loss that Wall Street analysts had anticipated. Revenue also came in above estimates, though Kohl's declined to report comparable-sales figures due to store closures. The retailer said it expects the pandemic to continue to impact its business.

Advance Auto Parts (AAP)  The auto parts retailer earned $2.92 per share for the second quarter, well above the $1.98 a share consensus estimate. Revenue also beat forecasts, and a comparable-store sales increase of 7.5% easily beat the consensus forecast of a 2.6% rise. Advance Auto said it benefited from the effects of stimulus checks, unemployment benefits, and Covid-19's impact on consumer behavior.

Carnival (CCL)  Carnival said it is investigating a ransomware attack against one of its cruise brands, involving the personal data of guests and employees. Carnival did not say which brand was involved and did not give further details, saying the probe was in the early stages.

Uber (UBER)  Uber said it planned to continue operating its Uber Eats food delivery service in California, even if it shuts down its ride-hailing operation this week. Uber and rival Lyft (LYFT) both said they would shut ride-sharing services in California if a court ruling forces them to classify workers as employees rather than contractors.

Boeing (BA)  Boeing plans to offer voluntary layoffs to employees for the second time this year, according to a note written by CEO Dave Calhoun to Boeing workers. The jet maker did not set a specific reduction target, but is realigning its workforce to deal with the virus-induced drop in travel demand.

Oracle (ORCL)  Oracle has begun talks to buy the U.S. operations of Chinese video-sharing company TikTok, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to CNBC. That would put Oracle in competition with Microsoft (MSFT), which is also in talks with TikTok parent ByteDance.

Pinterest (PINS)  Pinterest named Andrea Wishom to its board of directors, the third woman to be appointed to the image-sharing company's board and the first Black member. The move follows accusations by former Pinterest Chief Operating Officer Francoise Brougher that Pinterest's work environment was hostile for women.

Big Lots (BIG)  Apollo Global Management (APO) engaged in unsuccessful buyout talks with the discount retailer, according to a Bloomberg report. The talks ended last week, with the major stumbling block reported to have been the terms of a sale-leaseback agreement that Big Lots signed with private equity firm Oak Street Capital in June.

Cal-Maine Foods (CALM)  Cal-Maine announced a six million share secondary stock offering. The shares are being sold by Jean Reed Adams, wife of the egg producer's late founder, Fred Adams Jr. Cal-Maine will not receive any proceeds from the offering.
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / NQ Minerals Plc (AQSE:NQMI, OTCQB:NQMLF, OTCQB:NQMIY) ("NQ" or the "Company") announces that the average grade to date of 3.2 grams per tonne of gold has been returned from extensive surface stockpiles located on the Company's 100% owned Beaconsfield Gold Mine ("Beaconsfield") in Tasmania, Australia.

Whilst work is underway for the refurbishment of Beaconsfield's 350,000 tonne per year capacity gold processing plant, the NQ geology team has embarked on an exploration programme of the multiple surface stockpile sites located within the wider Beaconsfield mining lease, to identify initial ore feed for the plant for when the plant becomes operational around the end of this year.

A new and exciting development for NQ has been the discovery that excellent gold grades exist in approximately 80,000 tonnes of surveyed stockpiles in the area called the historic Wetlands area, that are due east of the Beaconsfield townsite.

To date, 105 samples taken from these stockpiles have returned an average gold grade of 3.2 grams per tonnes of gold. Sampling will continue over the entire stockpile sites, to determine the full extent of the contained gold in this area. There is potential to expand this area of interest considerably over the coming months and full tonnage and grade results will be published when this exploration work is completed.

Initial metallurgical gold recovery test work also indicates standard Carbon-in-Leach ("CIL") recoveries of between 83% - 90% can be achieved with relatively short residence times of less than 12 hours. The Beaconsfield processing plant is equipped to treat the material with its CIL circuit. The material does not require crushing or grinding due to its very fine composition.

About the Beaconsfield Gold Mine

The Beaconsfield Gold Mine has historic recorded production of c.1.8 million ounces of gold averaging c.15 grams per tonne (c.12 ounce per tonne). NQ acquired Beaconsfield in June 2020 and the Company plans to re-open the mine operations as soon as practicably possible.

On May 7, 2020, NQ also announced a new JORC (2012) compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of the lower section of the Beaconsfield Gold Mine of 1.454 million tonnes grading 10.3 grams per tonne (g/t) for 483,000 ounces of gold. Significant additional gold potential is still to be assessed in the upper section of the old Beaconsfield Mine (Tasman Reef) workings and its parallel unexplored reefs, plus the orebody remains open at depth.

NQ Mineral's Chairman, David Lenigas, said; "The revelation that significant gold exists in these stockpiles is a tremendous boost for the Company's Beaconsfield Gold Mine re-opening plans. Our engineers are now working on budgets and timelines to bring the Plant's CIL circuit back on-line as soon as possible to treat this material. These high-grade surface stockpiles are only a short trucking distance from the plant and will provide valuable low-cost high revenue plant feed much sooner than we originally envisaged. The removal of these stockpiles from the Wetlands area will also be the start of a process of rectifying a long standing environmental issue in the town by cleaning up old mine waste placed in this area over the last 120 odd years and returning the area back to its natural pre-mining state."

Competent Person's Statement (NQ Minerals Plc)

The information in this report that relates to the Beaconsfield Gold Mine is based on information compiled by Roger Jackson, an Executive Director of the Company, who is a 25+ year Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM) and a Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr. Jackson has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr. Jackson consents to the inclusion of the data contained in relevant resource reports used for this announcement as well as the matters, form and context in which the relevant data appears.

-END-

About NQ Minerals

NQ Minerals Plc is listed on London's Aquis Stock Exchange (AQSE) under the ticker NQMI and has it's 1:100 ADR traded on the US OTC QB under ticker NQMIY and its ordinary shares are dual traded on the US OTC QB under the ticker NQMLF.

NQ Minerals operations are in Australia. NQ commenced base metal and precious metal production in 2018 at its 100% owned flagship Hellyer Gold Mine in Tasmania. Hellyer has a published JORC compliant Mineral Resource estimated at 9.25 Mt which is host to Gold at 2.57 g/t Au for 764,300 oz Au, Silver at 92 g/t Ag for 27,360,300 oz Ag, Lead at 2.99% Pb for 276,600 tonnes and Zinc at 2.57% Zn for 217,400 tonnes. In addition to these resources, the Hellyer assets include a large mill facility and full supporting infrastructure, including a direct rail line to port. The Company is also planning to re-open the historic high-grade Beaconsfield Gold Mine in Tasmania, which has a JORC (2012) compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of 1.454 Mt at 10.3 g/t Au for 483,000 ounces of gold. Regular updates on the progress of the Hellyer Gold Mine and Beaconsfield can be found on www.nqminerals.com.

For more information, please contact:

NQ Minerals plc

David Lenigas, Chairman

lenigas@nqminerals.com

Colin Sutherland, Chief Financial Officer

colin.sutherland@nqminerals.com

Tel: +1 416 452 2166 (North America)

Media Enquiries

IFC Advisory Limited

Graham Herring / Tim Metcalfe

graham.herring@investor-focus.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 203 934 6630 (United Kingdom)

Corporate Adviser

First Sentinel Corporate Finance Limited

Brian Stockbridge / Gabrielle Cordeiro

Tel: +44 (0) 207 183 7407 (United Kingdom)

Corporate Broker

VSA Capital Limited

Andrew Monk/ Maciek Szymanski

+ 44 (0) 203 005 5000 (United Kingdom)

The Following section relates to NQ Minerals Plc's news releases distributed in the United States:

Cautionary Note to US Investors

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") permits US Mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. Any estimates of mineral resources shown in this press release or on NQ Minerals PLC's website have been prepared in accordance with definition standards of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves produced by the Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee, which may differ from definition standards of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Industry Guide 7. We may use certain terms which the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit US registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections, including those related to our growth strategy, mineral estimates and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks related to our growth strategy; risks relating to exploration, development and/or extraction; our ability to obtain, perform under, and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; global demand for mineral resources; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; as well as other risks. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

SOURCE: NQ Minerals Plc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602189/New-High-Grade-Gold-Potential-at-Surface-at-Beaconsfield
US Border Patrol agents have apprehended an Indian national who crossed into the United States from Canada on foot over the weekend.

The person, whose name was not released by the federal agents, has now been removed from the country, a media release said on Monday.

According to US Border Police, its agents at Sweetgrass Station in Montana on Saturday encountered a person matching the description of an individual spotted by a citizen illegally crossing the border on foot from Coutts in Alberta province of Canada.

The agents questioned the man and learned that he was a citizen of India. The man admitted that he had intentionally entered the US from Canada by walking around the Sweetgrass Port of Entry to avoid detection, the statement said.

"The man was carrying several bags when encountered but nothing was found to be dangerous in the bags," the border police said, adding he was processed and removed from the United States.

"This is a great example of how our agents exercise vigilance every day," said Havre Sector Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Scott Good.

"Agents are always ready to carry out our agency's mission and safeguard the American public," he added.


Tamil Nadu: Poolpandiyan, an alms seeker in Madurai, today donated Rs 90,000 towards the state #COVID19 relief fund. He says, "I am happy that the District Collector has given me the title of a social worker."

In May this year, he donated Rs 10,000 towards the same cause. pic.twitter.com/UzA9EVUBWf August 18, 2020

Standing by the nation in the fight against COVID-19, Poolpandiyan, an alms seeker in Madurai, Tamil Nadu donated Rs 90,000 towards the state's relief fund, reported ANI."I am happy that the District Collector has given me the title of a social worker," the alms seeker told the news agency.

In May, he gave away Rs 10,000 to District Collector T.G. Vinay as a donation towards the same cause.

"I would have given this money towards the education of children but now, I have donated my money to the relief fund as the coronavirus issue is big," the alms seeker Poolpandiyan had told ANI in May.

As many as 5,890 fresh COVID-19 positive cases were reported in the state on August 17 with 120 deaths, pushing the tally to 3, 43, 945.

--With inputs from ANI
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka during which they discussed security related issues of mutual interest, co-operation in containing the coronavirus pandemic and revival of the economy in a post-COVID-19 world.

Shringla, who arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day on his second visit to Bangladesh after he took office as the foreign secretary, met Prime Minister Hasina at Ganabhaban, her official residence.

The meeting lasted for an hour.

"It was an excellent meeting, sources said, noting that Prime Minister Hasina has not met anyone from abroad in the past few months.

Prime Minister Hasina greatly appreciated her Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gesture in sending someone to touch base, convey message and see how the two sides could take the relationship forward, they said.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the development partnership, enhancing connectivity, revival of economy post-COVID-19, cooperation on COVID-19 assistance, including on therapeutics and vaccine and joint commemoration of Mujib Barsho or the birth centenary of Hasina's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, sources said.

They said a proposal for a Joint Consultative Commission at Foreign Ministers-level to be convened virtually soon to oversee the relationship, especially projects.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed gratefulness over the supply of locomotives.

India last month provided 10 locomotives to Bangladesh under its grant assistance programme which it committed during Hasina's visit to New Delhi in October 2019 and Prime Minister Modi's renewed focus on "neighbourhood first" policy.

Sources said that the proposal for travel bubble for business, official and medical travel was discussed. Security related issues of mutual interest were also discussed, they said.

The Rohingya issue and their possible safe repatriation to Myanmar was also discussed, they said.

Nearly one million Rohingya Muslims fled a crackdown by the Myanmar's military in 2017 in Rakhine state and are living in camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh had sought India's support in handling the Rohingya issue by mounting pressure on Myanmar to take back the refugees.

Shringla is expected to meet Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and his counterpart Masud Bin Momen.

"He is expected to have bilateral talks with our foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday," a Bangladesh foreign ministry official said.

Both Bangladesh foreign office and the Indian high commission preferred to keep the visit as a low-key affair amid reports that this is Shringla's first overseas tour since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to reporters, Masud said that he would discuss various bilateral issues particularly regarding COVID-19 situation and prospective cooperation over access to coronavirus vaccine being developed by UK's Oxford University.

"We will talk about trial possibilities of their (India) vaccine (being developed at Oxford University) here as we are continuing our discussion (regarding access to vaccine) with everyone," he said.

He said that he would make the offer in his meeting with Shringla on Wednesday.

Developed in collaboration with British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, Oxford University's vaccine candidate is leading the race for a vaccine seen as the only viable option to get the world out of the coronavirus pandemic.

The vaccine is undergoing final stage trials in different countries. Serum Institute is also set to begin trials of the vaccine in India this week.

Masud said Bangladesh has also communicated with Britain's AstraZeneca via the High Commission in London with the offer for the trial to be held in Bangladesh, which has recorded 282,344 coronavirus cases and 3,740 deaths from the disease.

It is also trying different ways to secure a vaccine.

"Different vaccine producers in India are dealing with the commercial sides of the vaccine. This is the reason driving our efforts. We are in discussion with different countries that have developed vaccines, be it the Americans or Oxford, he said.

"It (vaccine) could be from China, Russia, USA or India...our discussion is underway with them all, he said.

The government will go for the vaccine that will appear as the safest and most efficient, the foreign secretary added.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Momen has described Bangladesh-India ties as a "blood relationship".

Masud on Tuesday substantiated the minister's comment, saying Bangladesh-India ties remained very deep.

He said his counterpart Shringla's Dhaka visit was not a sudden one and rather part of regular bilateral engagements.

He said that the meeting was also expected to discuss other bilateral issues like the recent development on transhipment and railway cooperation with India.

Shringla, who has served as Indian high commission to Bangladesh before, visited Dhaka in March last after assuming office of the Indian Foreign Secretary in January this year.
The Army wants ideas from defense firms on air-launched drones that can recon enemy air defenses and even deceive adversaries while working with the service's futuristic helicopters from its Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort.

The Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) recently released a request for information on Air Launch Effects (ALE) designed to team with the new Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) that the service is developing to replace the retired OH-58 Kiowa Warrior scout helicopter and some AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

The future battlefield presents a "highly lethal and complex set of traditional and non-traditional targets," according to the Aug. 12 solicitation.

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"These targets will include networked and mobile air defense systems with extended ranges and long and mid-range fires systems that will deny freedom of maneuver," the solicitation states. "To gain and maintain overmatch in the future conflict, Army Aviation must modernize and distribute its reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition (RSTA) and lethality with an advanced team of manned and unmanned aircraft as part of the Future Vertical Lift Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft ecosystem."

The Army is looking for ALE Small and ALE Large variants to "operate as members of a team with other manned and unmanned platforms to detect, identify, locate, report (DILR) and deliver lethal and non-lethal effects against threats across multiple scenarios and domains in a constantly changing Operational Environment," according to the solicitation.

The goal of the RFI is to identify novel and highly capable technologies that can inform a Science & Technology (S&T) effort on ALE capabilities being run by the CCDC's Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center, the solicitation states, adding that S&T investments could start as early as fiscal 2021 and run through fiscal 2025.

Interested firms have until Sept. 14 to respond to the RFI.

Army modernization officials foresee the ALE variants being launched to help FARA and other aviation assets penetrate enemy integrated air defense systems.

They would need the capability to act as decoys against an enemy integrated air defense system, according to the solicitation.

Decoys could "represent a credible threat to the adversary and provoke illumination of emitters or movement from their positions of cover and concealment," it states.

ALE variants would also have the capability to disrupt enemy forces by "reducing threat engagement ranges or preventing the acquire/track/guidance of munitions against Army Aviation," the solicitation adds. This disruption would degrade an adversary's ability to "target friendlies, communicate, or perform fire control."

In addition, ALE variants would have the capability of passive detection and reconnaissance, which reduces its "targetable emissions," helping it to hide from enemy detection, the solicitation states.

The Army also has "high interest" in ALE technologies that execute assigned missions consistent with commander's intent "without requiring direct intervention" and "self-organizes through Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled teaming to maximize coverage of assigned mission area and tasks," it adds.

The Army is planning to hold a virtual industry day on Sept. 28 to walk through the details of this RFI and give vendors an opportunity to ask questions, according to the solicitation.

"RFI responses are intended to inform the C5ISR Center's ALE investment strategy," it states. "Based on the whitepaper responses, there may be opportunities for respondents to demonstrate their technology ... during the FY21 cycle and beyond."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: Down to 2: Aircraft Will Compete to Replace the Army's Apache, Kiowa
For decades, Queen Elizabeth II has been acting as the pillar that keeps the monarchy strong, but her abdication soon could mark the beginning of the royal family's downfall.

In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II began winning the public's trust after his father, King George VI, suddenly died. At a very young age of 25, the Queen had to prove that she could do the duties of a monarch for a long time both as a woman and royal.

Her Majesty did not disappoint her late father and mother, as she has been doing great in managing the British royal family. Currently, she is also known as the longest-reigning monarch.

With that said, one can safely say that Queen Elizabeth II has won people's hearts. For many royal fans, Her Majesty has been part of their lives, especially when she made a lot of remarkable changes throughout her reign.

Unfortunately, everyone's favorite Queen cannot go on forever.

Queen Elizabeth II's Abdication

No member of the royal family ever wishes for the Queen's reign to end since, among all the royals, only she can get the most approval ratings from Britons.

In fact, she scored a high approval rate of 90 percent in the U.K. in 2012, and her rating never went below 70 percent since the beginning of her reign.

Once the monarchy lost Queen Elizabeth II, it would only mean that they could lose such a high number of supporters. Some of those people might place their bets on Prince Charles or Prince William as the heirs to the throne.

Still, one should keep in mind that the two heirs apparent never garnered the same amount of liking as Her Majesty, especially Prince Charles.

As the longest-serving heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales has wait for Queen Elizabeth II's abdication to fulfill his plans for the monarchy. But even before he becomes king, his approval rating continuously plummets through the years.

Monarchy Could Loose Its Supporters

In that case, Queen Elizabeth II's abdication and allowing Prince Charles to take over could lead to the monarchy losing its supporters.

Furthermore, it has always been the Queen who kept the members of the royal family strong and intact through the years -- no matter how damaging the issue was.

For instance, she referred to the year 1992 as "annus horribilis" or "horrible year." Although it was not a year to be celebrated, she managed to save the country through it and continue to be the peacemaker thereafter.

Losing her on the battle is definitely a disadvantage for the monarchy, especially when anti-monarchy groups -- like Republic -- are just waiting for Queen Elizabeth II's abdication and withdrawal from the throne before they push their petition to abolish the monarchy.

Not seeing Queen Elizabeth II as the head of the monarchy could leave the royal family crippled, and it is something the members should prepare themselves for.

READ MORE: Royal Headaches: 3 Times Prince Harry and Meghan Markle RECKLESSLY Used Taxpayers' Money
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Kazakhstan is committed to ensuring a comprehensive COVID-19 response, Caroline Clarinval, Head of the WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan told Trend.

Clarinval said that since the onset of the COVID-related crisis, WHO has released numerous technical guidelines and guidance notes to respond to the outbreak and to maintain essential health services, including a set of targeted actions for countries at the national, regional and local levels.

These guidelines relate to nine areas and include: governance mechanisms, identifying context-relevant essential services, managing patient flow, re-distributing and training the health workforce capacity, adjusting service delivery, maintaining availability of medications and supplies, reducing financial barriers, strengthening risk communication and community engagement, and reinforcing information systems, she said.

Clarinval emphasised that Kazakhstan has actively engaged in all nine areas of work which define WHOs response to COVID-19 outbreak.

For instance, alongside appropriate public health measures and a vigilant decision-making system, Kazakhstan has also invested in hospital surge capacities, repurposed some and built new health care facilities which play a fundamental role in the treatment and the pathway of COVID-19 patients. Public health surveillance system has been adjusted, digital solutions for case detection have been applied. The laboratory capacities have been rapidly scaled up. The whole-of-government emergency response mechanism has been activated, showing the tremendous efforts invested by the country to fight COVID-19, Clarinval said.

She noted that WHO has observed that since the beginning of this crisis, Kazakhstan has been looking at how other countries were responding and has made use of its window of opportunity and absorbed global best practices and lessons learnt to be better prepared.

Talking WHO recommendations to battle COVID-19 spread, Clarinval noted that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, however WHO provides recommendations to support Ministries of Health, including the Ministry of Health in Kazakhstan.

This knowledge-sharing approach also serves as an opportunity to discuss best practices and to adjust standard operating protocols to the national context. We see that the country is committed to ensuring a comprehensive response, both in organizing the treatment of patients and in supporting health care workers involved in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, she said.

Clarinval added that from the very beginning, Kazakhstan used the tactic of active testing, including the testing of health care workers.

Active case finding and testing brought good results: 81 percent of all cases were identified through active case finding. Up to 30,000 tests are conducted every day. There are two essential elements to addressing the pandemic effectively: leaders must step up to take action and citizens need to embrace new measures, Clarinval said.

Clarinval added that for most regions, while restrictions on movement will be eased, general public health and social distancing measures remain in place.

In this regard, we continue to insist on further adherence to the main recommendations of national health authorities and WHO to break the chain of transmission and prevent the spread of the virus among the population, she concluded.

The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.

The total number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Kazakhstan since the virus was first confirmed in the country amounted to 103,300 cases. This includes 84,445 people who recovered from the coronavirus, and 1,415 patients who passed away.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
They were summoned by authorities to find out whether local politics in DJ Halli area was the reason behind the violence on 11 August

Former Bengaluru mayor R Sampath Raj and Pulakeshinagar ward corporator Abdul Rakeeb Zakir were on Tuesday summoned for questioning by the Central Crime Branch in connection with the violence in parts of the city, Bengaluru police commissioner Kamal Pant said.

"Yes," Pant told PTI in a reply to a query whether Raj and Zakir, both Congress functionaries, were summoned for questioning.

According to police sources, Raj, who is now the Devara Jeevanahalli corporator, and ward corporator Zakir appeared before the CCB officials in the afternoon and were questioned for many hours.

The reason for summoning them was to find out whether the local politics in DJ Halli was the reason behind the violence on 11 August, in which the Pulakeshinagar Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy's house was torched.

Murthy's sister Jayanthi's house was also attacked.

Police sources said a few aides of Raj were reportedly seen during the violence and the police were verifying information that Zakir had forwarded a few WhatsApp messages, which might have caused the unrest.

"We are only verifying certain information for which we questioned them.There is nothing concrete as of now," a police officer said.

Karnataka home minister Basavaraj Bommai had claimed that the internal strife in the Congress coupled with the upcoming Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (city corporation) elections had resulted in the violence in Pulakeshinagar.

Refuting Bommai's statement, the state Congress chief DK Shivakumar had alleged that the government was trying to cover up its failure to prevent the violence by giving misleading statements.
Armed with experience from coping with the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, many textile and footwear enterprises are quietly confident they can alter their plans as required and find new markets to cope with the second.

Many textile and footwear enterprises whose exports have taken a hit have expanded in the domestic market to sustain their operation and keep their workers.  VNS Photo

The situation is worsening, according to most companies in the two sectors as the epidemic returns to Viet Nam and continues to rage in many countries around the world.

Le Tien Truong, general director of the Viet Nam National Textile and Garment Group, said that in the first six months of the year, though affected a great deal by the COVID-19 pandemic, his company sustained its operations and cash flows thanks to its decision to produce face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE).

But the situation would be very different in the second half since the demand for those products is shrinking rapidly, he said.

The fact that many manufacturers switched to producing PPE has seen supply shoot past demand, he added.

Since the global outbreak began in April, many Vietnamese garment and textile businesses have been told by their US and EU partners that they would temporarily stop taking delivery of goods.

Pham Xuan Hong, chairman of the HCM City Association of Garment Textile Embroidery and Knitting, said this was because governments in the US and EU have declared a state of emergency and tightened border controls due to the rapid spread of COVID-19.

They have asked Vietnamese businesses to suspend delivery, including of those en route, until borders are reopened.

He said the US and EU are two important textile export markets for the country, while half of all exports from HCM City go to the US and 15-18 per cent to the EU.

Partners in these markets have announced the suspension of deliveries, meaning the market for textiles and garments has narrowed by nearly two-thirds.

Truong said developing the domestic market is the most feasible way to survive the pandemic.

Though the domestic market accounts for only 10 per cent of the industrys capacity and cannot fully mitigate the unemployment problem, it is still a solution, he said.

Support from the Government in the form of access to cheap credit and deferred tax payment is also imperative, he said.

Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, general secretary of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO), too said though the domestic market is very small, developing it would be a key solution amid the difficulties in exporting.

"The domestic market cannot replace the US and European markets, but for the moment it is good if producers can sell products somewhere.

Nguyen Van Mieng, general director of the Nam Dinh Textile and Garment Corporation, said companies have restructured their markets to sustain jobs. In the past, his company produced 1,100 tonnes of yarn and exported 65 per cent of it, but has now cut it to 45 per cent.

It produces around 1.2 million metres of fabric per month, but this is likely to decrease to 23,000-300,000 metres in the last two quarters of the year, he said.

The company is seeking to expand its market for new products in the north and taking advantage of dyed fabrics to sell finished products and supply to garment companies, he said.

It also wants to strengthen the yarn - weaving - dyeing links so that all companies in the chain could benefit, he added.

Wait for EVFTA

The EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) that took effect on August 1 will reduce import taxes on Viet Nam's garment exports by more than 70 percentage points.

Vietnamese footwear and textile and apparel enterprises will benefit significantly from the EVFTA because of the tariff cuts, according to Bao Viet Securities Joint Stock Company.

With most other countries that export textile and garments to the EU not having a trade deal with the bloc, the EVFTA would open a great opportunity for Viet Nams footwear, textile and garment exports if companies enterprises meet origin requirements, it added. VNS

Business plans thrown into turmoil amid COVID-19 spike Dang Thanh Nga, 40, in Ha Noi called 10 sewers back to work for her garment factory just a few days ago as orders increased last week.
A teenage high school student allegedly attacked an Indigenous child after shouting 'KKK all the way'.

Police allege the 18-year-old Cairns man, who cannot be named, assaulted his 11-year-old neighbour in their Edmonton street in early July.

The boy was taken to hospital for treatment and his alleged attacker was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

An 18-year-old high school student faced court in Cairns on Monday charged with the assault of an 11-year-old Indigenous boy after yelling 'KKK all the way' (stock picture)

The man appeared before the Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday and indicated he would plead guilty and was due to be sentenced before police prosecutors asked for an adjournment, the Cairns Post reported.

Senior-Sergeant Maynard Marcum said police were waiting for medical evidence and a victim impact statement from a child who witnessed the alleged attack.

He said if the court determined the incident was a racially motivated attack there would be consequences for sentencing.

Far North police Detective Acting Inspector Jason Smith said officers had reached out to the families of both parties.

'We were very concerned around the alleged comments made and we engaged a level of support around families on both sides,' he said.

'We also sent in Police Liaison Officers to ensure this was treated appropriately.

'This was not treated lightly.'

The man is due to appear in court again on Monday, September 28.

The KKK refers to the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist hate group founded in the United States in 1865, seven months after the American Civil War.
You spoke about your fathers vote for Mr. Trump  how much did the two of you discuss politics?

He was a Republican for most of his life. I just learned recently that when my parents got married, my mom was a registered Republican and he was a Democrat, but he said, Well, Ill be a Republican so we dont cancel each other out. I think my dad over time became very loyal to the party. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Trump. He liked that he was a businessman. He thought that he would bring a fresh perspective to his position.

My entire life I never saw eye to eye with the Republican Party, but in particular, the last few years. My dad and I talked constantly about politics. It was always very cordial. It was kind of fun to test out ideas with him, because I knew he would always be a friendly audience and encourage me to fight for what I believed in.

My dads father was from Mexico, and everyone else in his family is a Democrat. Immigration is one the of the topics I have been really passionate about and outraged at Republicans about. But my dad didnt go so deep on that.

When he was in this hospital, we ended up talking about politics. I asked him, What do you think now? He told me that he felt sideswiped and betrayed by what was happening. I didnt have the heart to dig in further, but there was a part of me that wanted to. I didnt want him to feel like he was doing something wrong. My dad was following what he was told by people who are supposed to be leaders.

We had multiple conversations when basically what I was hearing from him was a parroting that I knew to be incorrect. That is part of what is so frustrating about this entire situation. We are living in a moment of time where there is a crisis and people are muddled in so much misinformation that we are drowning in a way that prevents us from protecting ourselves.

My parents did a really good job of keeping me safe when I was a kid, and its part of my responsibility to do the same for them now. But its not a white, sketchy van that says free candy on it to be afraid of; its not even just the coronavirus. Its important to be direct about what were facing and what were up against. People need leadership to keep them safe.

How did you make the decision to turn grief into advocacy?

I saw people in the neighborhood I grew up in waiting in line for hours for [Covid] tests in 107-degree heat  predominantly immigrants, predominantly Latinx. If I didnt speak out, I didnt know who would. It has been not just for me, but also for my broader community. When we fail, it is landing on the shoulders of people on the front lines, on the communities that are already living on the margins. Our lives deserve to be prioritized.
Gospel musician Clemmie Williams was living homeless in North Hollywood Park in January, when a count of homeless people is overseen by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Keeping track of the number of people who are homeless in Los Angeles is an exercise in uncertainty.

Not only do the numbers change from year to year, presumably reflecting real shifts in the homeless population, but, once published, they can change months or years later  based not on actual changes in the population, but on changes in how it's calculated.

So although the original number might hang around on the internet  especially in news articles  revised numbers pop up in contradiction. Beware the casual searcher!

In the latest change, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which conducts the annual count, has reduced the number it published for the city of Los Angeles last year by 615, giving a new total of 35,550.

Although the change does not affect the countywide totals reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it highlights an uncomfortable truth about LAHSA's annual reports: The much-discussed "counts" of homeless people, which are expressed with absolute precision, aren't truly counts, but estimates, subject to statistical error.

Now, for the first time, LAHSA's statisticians at USC have acknowledged that the numbers were imprecise by publishing a margin of error for the new city totals.

"I thought we really should be recording this error," said Patricia St. Clair, statistical analysis director for the USC Homeless Count team.

What causes these numbers to change is the evolution of the statistical method USC uses to convert data collected by thousands of volunteers each January into the estimates that are loosely characterized as "counts."

The volunteers record every tent and lean-to they see as well as every car, van or RV they deem to be occupied. They do not attempt to determine the number of people sharing those dwellings. That's USC's job.

The USC data team conducts a survey of about 4,000 homeless people across the county to learn the demographics of homelessness and to estimate how many people, on average, live in each type of dwelling. This year, for example, the survey found that 1.484 people, on average, occupied tents, 1.702 were in RV/campers and so on.

Story continues

Because those numbers are based on a sample  even though an unusually large one  they are subject to statistical error, a fact that LAHSA has never acknowledged in its annual presentations, which report an exact number of how many people were "counted."

Behind the scenes, USC's Data Core, which won the homeless contract in 2017, has worked diligently to refine and improve an endeavor that, by its nature, cannot achieve perfect accuracy. USC's statisticians have tracked down errors and tweaked their methodology without paying a lot of attention to how the changes might be perceived.

The new acknowledgment of the system's frailties came in the form of side-by-side tables, which address numbers only for the city of L.A., not the entire county. They offer a new and more accurate picture of the uncertainty in counting the homeless population. They're also dizzyingly hard to follow and don't exactly reconcile with the data posted elsewhere on LAHSA's website.

The tables show the estimated growth of homelessness from 2018 to 2019 by two different methods. This year's methodology, applied retroactively, would show an increase in the homeless population of 16%. Using last year's method, the increase would have been 20%.

Neither of those numbers are consistent with LAHSA's 2019 report, still posted on the agency's website. It says that the increase in the city was only 14%.

The reason for the discrepancies is buried in the 2018 count, for which there are now three numbers for the city's homeless population, ranging from 29,937 to 31,285, depending on the methodology used.

"That the numbers don't all line up is OK because there is error in every number and it's really a range," St. Clair said. "For policy decisions I think you want the best numbers you can get, so that's why we try to make them more precise."

The adjustment that LAHSA just announced for 2019 came from a change in statistical reasoning. In calculating a margin of error for the first time, the USC team found that the accuracy of its estimates for the city could be improved.

Numbers for each of the city's 15 council districts had been calculated from the survey responses within the district. The team concluded they would be more accurate if they were based on surveys from a wider area. The resulting change may have masked some of the differences among council districts, but produced a more accurate  and lower  number for the whole city. The margin of error dropped from more than 5% to less than 2%.

St. Clair said she was gratified to see that the range of numbers all fell within the margin of error, a rule-of-thumb way of saying they are really not different.

LAHSA has yet to publish a margin of error for the countywide total of 66,436, which was not affected by the recent change. One drawback to doing so would be that it, too, could give a false sense of accuracy.

As St. Clair and team leader Benjamin Henwood acknowledge, the statistical modeling is only one part, and possibly the smallest part, of the error in the annual "count."

There's no way of accounting for the mistakes that come from the annual outpouring of civic engagement that generates the raw numbers for USC's analysis. Thousands of lightly trained volunteers fanning out over dark streets must make spur-of-the-moment judgments: Is someone living in the RV parked on a dark residential street? Are the three tarps strung side-by-side three lean-tos or one with three rooms?

"We're aware of that," St. Clair said.

"Obviously, there is kind of noise in the count every year, Henwood said. "But the question is, 'Would there be some systematic difference each year?' Hopefully if the method is relatively consistent that's less of a concern."

In other words, hopefully the errors will cancel out.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Muscat, Oman  Tue, August 18, 2020 09:30 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066eb02d2 2 World Israel,Israel-Palestine-conflict,Israel-UAE,Israel-annexation,Oman Free

Oman's foreign minister spoke to his Israeli counterpart on Monday, Muscat said, the first contact since Israel normalized ties with the United Arab Emirates last week.

Yusuf bin Alawi subsequently spoke with a top Palestinian official, Oman added.

The Israel-UAE deal, announced by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, is only the third such accord Israel has struck with an Arab country, and raises the prospect of similar deals with other pro-Western Gulf states.

Bin Alawi and Israel's Gabi Ashkenazi spoke via telephone about "recent developments in the region," Oman's foreign ministry said on Twitter.

Muscat had already expressed its support for the deal, and bin Alawi told Ashkenazi that Oman "clearly reaffirms its position calling for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace" in the Middle East.

Bin Alawi also called for a "resumption of the peace process in order to satisfy the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people who aspire to an independent state."

While Oman and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations, there have been several contacts between the two states, including in 2018, when the late sultan Qaboos received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Muscat.

Also Monday, bin Alawi spoke with senior Fatah official Jibril Rajub, who expressed his "appreciation of the role of the sultanate and its balanced and wise policy towards Arab issues and, foremost, the Palestinian question," according to Oman's foreign ministry.

The Palestinian Authority has voiced its "strong rejection and condemnation" of the Israeli-Emirati deal.
WAYNE, Neb. -- If Michael White likes the look of your kitchen, chances are good it may end up as a set in one of his movies.

"People joke about me never having to build a film set," he said with a laugh. "If I see a location that I like, I'll say, 'Let's shoot here.' It doesn't matter if it is a kitchen inside a buddy's loft in Omaha or my mom's kitchen. If it suits the scene, I'll use it."

This guerrilla style of movie making comes in handy for White, whose film budgets rarely exceed $500.

It is also beneficial for his film crew that is largely made up of White's Wayne State College film students.

"When you're making a movie, having an artistic vision is important," explained White, a communication arts assistant professor. "It is even more important that you become a problem-solver."

For instance, how can you film a romantic comedy -- inspired by French New Wave director Francois Truffaut -- if your cast and crew can't pronounce the movie's original title?

This is the reason why White's latest endeavor, "Vivre De Nouveau" -- the story of a middle-aged widower finding love with a woman half his age -- is now known as "To Live Again."

"Both titles mean the same thing, so that wasn't a big deal," he said.

Somewhat trickier was "To Live Again's" shooting locations, which included Sioux City, Wayne, Vermillion and Sioux Falls, among other places.

Plus, the movie's cast is made up of professional actors from as far away as Minneapolis and Chicago.

"My students will, someday, work on professional movie sets," White explained. "So, they should know what that means when they're still learning the ropes."

It is also nice that White is earning critical acclaim for these cinematic efforts. His script for "Ever Fallen" -- a punk, coming-of-age picture -- received Best Screenplay honors at the 29th annual Iowa Motion Picture Awards, which was held Aug. 8.

Similarly, White's short subject, "The Ghost in Her" -- a 13-minute film about a cynical rebel facing a former girlfriend -- picked up a Cinematic Achievement Award at the event that has been likened to Iowa's equivalent to the Academy Awards.

So, White's students were probably excited to walk down the red carpet at a swanky award ceremony, right? Well, not exactly.

"Due to COVID-19, the awards ceremonies took place over Zoom," he said. "Some of the students dressed for the occasion but it wasn't as 'black tie' as it normally would be."

Well, there's always next year. After all, the soon-to-be-completed "To Live Again" is slated to have its world premiere Sept. 15 at Wayne State.

"I had so much fun making 'To Live Again,' that I was sad to see it end," White said.

First, he had always wanted to make a comedy in the tradition of Billy Wilder's classic "Sabrina." He also wanted to shoot a movie in the style of French cinema.

"By that, I mean I wanted it to have the look of 'mise-en-scene' -- in that everything from the actors, props, sets, lighting and camera composition is used to establish the mood," White explained. "If you've ever seen a movie by Wes Anderson ("Rushmore," "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel"), then you know what 'mise-en-scene' looks like."

White readily admitted that it is actually a filmmaker, the Academy Award-nominated Noah Baumbach, who has a career he'd like to emulate.

"I am a writer, first and foremost," he said. "I could write for the next hundred years and not have it match the writing of Baumbach."

Which isn't to say White isn't willing to give it the old college try, literally. In large part, that's because the film industry has changed so much.

"Years ago, the only way to release a movie would be through a movie studio," he said. "Nowadays, there are other avenues, like film festivals or online sites like Amazon or Netflix, that need product."

Just as important is the fact that a person need not live in Hollywood or New York to work in film.

"There are plenty of opportunities for film students to make their mark no matter where they want to live and work," White said.

Does that includes students who are gaining experience in Wayne, Nebraska?

"Absolutely," White said. "You can be a filmmaker in the heartland."

Online Visit siouxcityjournal.com to watch a trailer for Michael Whites movie Ever Fallen.

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President Donald Trump once again took to Twitter to criticize Michigan representative Debbie Dingell on Monday night.

Why would Fox News put on phony Congresswoman Rep. Debbie Dingell. A total waste of airtime, he tweeted.

Why would @FoxNews put on phony Congresswoman @RepDebDingell. A total waste of airtime!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2020

The tweet came after Dingell, D-Dearborn, appeared on "The Story with Martha MacCallum" to discuss concerns regarding the U.S. Postal Service.

Dingell later responded to the attack, suggesting the president should spend less time attacking people and watching TV and focus on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. President  If you spent less time attacking people (and watching TV), and more time addressing COVID-19, we could beat this pandemic together. https://t.co/v7y1PsHtwZ  Rep. Debbie Dingell (@RepDebDingell) August 18, 2020

The Twitter exchange is the latest confrontation between the two politicians. Trump took aim at Dingell and her late husband, Michigan Congressman John Dingell, during a rally in Battle Creek in December 2019.

During the rally, Trump brought up Dingell while railing against Democrats who voted to adopt two articles of impeachment against him, noting he gave John Dingell, the A+ memorial and funeral service.

The president then joked with the crowd in Battle Creek about where John would have been watching from.

Maybe hes looking up, I dont know, but lets assume hes looking down, Trump said, appearing to reference heaven and hell.

Several Michigan Republicans asked Trump to apologize for the remark while Dingell said on Twitter that Trumps words were hurtful and made her healing much harder.

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Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday denied the U.S. allegations that Iran is arming the Taliban in Afghanistan, official IRNA news agency reported.

"What is happening today in Afghanistan is the result of the U.S. warmongering actions and interference in the affairs of Afghanistan," read a ministry statement.

The allegations by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Aug. 12 "are some sort of blame-shifting and an attempt to divert the public opinion of the Afghan people from Washington's assistance to the Islamic State," the statement quoted Foreign Ministry's spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying.
The heartbroken mother of slain North Carolina boy Cannon Hinnant has shut down claims that race played a factor in his death, as she reveals she is still clueless as to why her longtime neighbor allegedly killed her son.

Five-year-old Cannon was shot in the head at point-blank range on August 9, while riding his bicycle in the front yard of his Wilson, North Carolina home with his sisters.

The family's neighbor of eight years, 25-year-old Darius Nathaniel Sessoms, has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting.

Ten days on, Cannon's mother, Bonny Waddell, says she still doesn't understand why anyone, especially a family acquaintance, would want to cause harm to her little boy.

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Bonny Waddell broke down in tears on Monday, saying she still doesn't understand why anyone would want to cause harm to her little boy

Cannon (left) was shot dead while riding his bicycle on August 9. A neighbor, 25-year-old Darius Nathaniel Sessoms (right), has been charged with first-degree murder in his death

Five-year-old Cannon (pictured with his mother) has been remembered for his 'huge' smile and 'big' personality

'I don't understand. I can't wrap my head around it,' Waddell told CBS17 on Monday.

'He was my neighbor for years. We always spoke when we saw each other. We never, never ever had arguments with each other,' she said about Sessoms.

'Why? Why would you do this to my child?'

Sessoms had fled the scene after fatally shooting Cannon last week but was arrested and taken into custody after police located him on August 10.

The Wilson Police Department is yet to release a motive for the tragic killing as of Tuesday.

Waddell however, says she doesn't believe the shooting was motivated by race as some have suggested on social media. Cannon was white and Sessoms is black.

'This is not a race issue. This was...I don't even know what it was. I know it wasn't race,' she told the news station.

Cannon's father Austin Hinnant also said he had been disturbed by social media posts suggesting race was a factor, telling The Wilson Times: 'This is no racial issue.'

Hinnant told the paper the family had a friendly relationship with Sessoms and had recently invited him over for dinner and a beer.

The Wilson Police Department last week issued a warning about false information circulating on social media about the case

The family had only asked for $5,000 in donations to help with Cannon's funeral, but they've received more than $784,000 since Tuesday

The two shared a beer on the front porch, Hinnant said, adding that 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 son's head and shoots him.'

Sessoms's parents have reportedly said they believe their son was on drugs and having hallucinations at the time of the shooting, according to Fox6.

Cannon's funeral service was held last Thursday, just five days after he was gunned down.

Hinnant was playing in front of his father's house with his seven-year-old and eight-year-old sisters when he was shot in the head at point blank range on Sunday evening. The childrens' home is pictured, with the five-year-old's bike circled

A day before the funeral, police in North Carolina warned about false information circulating on social media about the case, including posts that resembled news releases from investigators.

'These are fraudulent posts,' the Wilson Police Department said in a statement while encouraging people to report the fake Facebook posts to the social media company.

The department repeated the ask on its Facebook page Saturday and told people to avoid sharing the posts.

In the days after the little boy's death, donations poured into a GoFundMe page organized by Gwen Hinnant, who identifies herself on the website as Cannon's grandmother, raising $784,948 of its $5,000 goal.

'This family has faced unimaginable pain because of this senseless act of violence,' the post read..

'We offer our sincerest appreciation in this extremely difficult time, #justice for Cannon.'

The family is also calling for the death penalty for Cannon's killer, saying they have 'lost a big piece of our family', remembering the boy as a 'big joy, ball of life.'
Kamala Harriss husband, Douglas C. Emhoff, has taken a leave of absence from the international law firm DLA Piper, a law firm spokesman said Monday evening, confirming a development first reported by The American Lawyer.

Mr. Emhoff, a litigator in the firms Los Angeles office, joined DLA Piper as a partner in Los Angeles in 2017. That same year, Mr. Emhoff was admitted to the District of Columbia bar  also the year Ms. Harris joined the United States Senate  prompting speculation that he planned to devote more of his time to the Washington area, where the couple also has a home.

But DLA Pipers long list of clients with government interests, including foreign entities, raises potential ethical questions about Mr. Emhoffs future employment. If Ms. Harris becomes vice president, some ethics experts have said, Mr. Emhoffs continuing law practice could prompt allegations that clients of his firm were receiving special favors from the administration.

Bob Shrum, a longtime adviser to Democratic candidates, said questions about Mr. Emhoffs practice  and what to do about it  may already be under consideration by the Biden-Harris team.
In a major shift from its earlier decision to ban all public installations/ pandals for Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the Karnataka government on Tuesday allowed all public installations in a restricted manner.

This decision came a day after Hindu groups such as the Pramod Muthalik-headed Rama Sena, staged protests in Dharwad area, questioning why the government which has allowed to open bars and liquor stores, could not allow public installation of Ganesha idols.

Last week, the state government had banned gatherings, apprehending public installations could lead to a spike in Covid-19 cases.

However, now the fresh guidelines state that public installations are allowed but not more than 20 people should gather at any given point of time. Ganesha idols must also not be over 4 feet high in public places (government/ public/ privately-owned grounds, street chowks), and not over 2 feet high in homes, it added.

Local representatives and officials have been asked to persuade citizens that only one public installation be allowed in each ward and each village. While the processions while buying or during immersion of idols will remain prohibited.

The government has also banned music, cultural, and other events as part of the Ganesha festival. And the idols must be immersed in designated tanks/ mobile tanks only, after being taken to the spot in the shortest possible route.

The government is yet to notify whether there is any change instance as far as observing Muharram is concerned, where public gatherings again had been banned. Muharram falls on August 29, a week after Ganesha Chaturthi.
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Bidens 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. Read more

With the Democratic National Convention now underway, Im relishing the sight of Black women standing squarely at the center of the Democrats big tent.

The choice of Sen. Kamala Harris as presumptive presidential nominee Joe Bidens running mate is a nod to the political importance of Black women. After all, 94% of Black women voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, and if Biden wins in November, it will be in part because he received similar numbers from the partys most loyal demographic.

Thats why its no accident that Black women are showing up in key spots in Bidens campaign. Black political strategist Symone Sanders is Bidens influential and highly visible senior adviser. Former first lady Michelle Obama is not only the conscience of the party, she is also Bidens most trusted endorser. And then, of course, there is the historic choice of Harris as his running mate.

 READ MORE: Learn to say Kamala Harris' name, and mine, too | Opinion

The presence of these dynamic women in key positions is a plus, but weve seen Black folks in big jobs before. This time must be different. We must see systemic change that lifts more Black people out of poverty and provides us with equal opportunity. We must witness the dismantling of the legal and political mechanisms that continue to fuel white supremacy. We must see the Democratic Party go beyond talking about racial justice. We must actually see them do something to prove, once and for all, that Black lives matter beyond Election Day.

In the time-honored vernacular of the hood, it all boils down to these seven words: Dont talk about it. Be about it.

Its not enough to put Black women in key positions. Nor is it enough to buttress their presence with other women of color like actress Eva Longoria  a Mexican American who hosted the first night of the Democratic National Convention. Or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the congresswoman of Puerto Rican descent who will also be featured at the convention. Or even Cardi B, the Bronx-born Dominican Trinidadian rapper who interviewed Biden in the campaigns latest effort to reach young voters.

Weve seen this movie before. I am a registered Democrat, but I am also an avowed realist. Putting Black and brown faces up front while repeatedly uttering the phrase racial justice does not stop discrimination in lending, employment, education, criminal justice, or any of the myriad systems that treat people of color unfairly.

Racial justice requires action, so dont talk about it. Be about it.

Of course, the Democratic Party has helped to usher in some change in recent decades, most notably the 2008 election of Barack Obama, Americas first Black president. But in between such electoral victories, the party didnt do enough to protect the legislative wins of the past.

After passing the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and the Fair Housing Act during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Democrats had to know that white conservatives would stop at nothing to reverse those gains. Yet, Democrats largely rested on their laurels while the racial progress they made was systematically reversed by lawsuits and political maneuvering.

 READ MORE: Kamala Harris applauds Bidens audacity to choose a Black woman to be his running mate'

The year after Obama won reelection, thanks largely to historic levels of Black voter participation, the Supreme Court scuttled the Voting Rights Act of 1965, freeing nine mostly Southern states to change their election laws without federal approval.

Our country has changed, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that was issued along with the ruling. While any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions.

That reasoning seems almost laughable now, as America deals with a racial reckoning that put millions of protesters in the streets after the videotaped police killing of George Floyd, the latest in a long line of unarmed Blacks killed by police.

Yet, here we are, in a moment where the symbolism of Black women in key positions gives us hope. In truth, though, only real legislation and cultural change will make their presence matter.

I dont care if another Democrat ever says racial justice again. The true measure of the partys dedication to Black women and Black lives boils to a few choice words.

Dont talk about it. Be about it.

 READ MORE: Kamala Harris is a Howard grad like I am. Let me school you about what that means. | Jenice Armstrong
Chinese security officials raid moms group affiliated with house church

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Authorities in Chinas Xiamen city raided a moms group affiliated with an influential house church as they held a meeting in a private home to talk about parenting. Officers accused the women of organizing unauthorized religious activities and apprehended them for interrogation at a police station, according to reports.

Public security officials barged into the meeting on Wednesday morning without showing any documents authorizing them to raid the group in the port city on Chinas southeast coast in Fujian Province, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reported.

About a dozen mothers who had gathered to share books and discuss parenting were then taken to the Wucun police station, likely because of their affiliation with Xunsiding Church, which was disbanded by the government last year. Police released them in the afternoon after the Communist Party's Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau issued an order demanding the women correct their behavior, International Christian Concern said.

The owner of the house where the meeting was held was accused of violating the Regulations of Religious Affairs by organizing unauthorized religious activities. The owner was warned that if the behavior was not corrected, administrative punishment would follow, China Aid reported.

The historic Xunsiding Church was shut down by authorities last May.

Gina Goh, a regional manager for International Christian Concern in Southeast Asia, recently said that China had resumed its crackdown on Christianity after the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic had reduced.

In recent weeks, we have seen an increased number of church demolitions and cross removals on state-sanctioned churches across China, as house church gatherings continue to face interruption and harassment. It is deplorable that the local authorities not only conducted this raid without proper procedure but deployed excessive use of force against church members and bystanders, she said.

State-sponsored churches in parts of China that were forced to close due to COVID-19 lockdowns are only permitted to reopen if they hand money over to the Chinese Communist Party, according to a recent report.

A Three-Self church director from Heze, a prefecture-level city in the eastern province of Shandong, told Bitter Winter, a publication produced by the Center for Studies on New Religion which covers human rights issues in China, that state-run churches in the area had been ordered to collect money for coronavirus-affected areas. According to the director, officials from the CCP's Religious Affairs Bureau threatened to shut down many churches if they did not donate.

Authorities in Zhangcun town issued donation quotas ranging from 4,000 to 10,000 RMB (between $560 and $1,400) to Three-Self churches, while Christians in Xianju were ordered to donate 100 RMB (about $14) to Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

Bitter Winter reported in June that authorities had removed crosses from more than 250 state-sanctioned churches in Anhui province between January and April.

In its 2020 annual report, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom noted that not only have authorities removed crosses from churches across the nation, but they have also banned youth aged 18 and younger from participating in religious services.

On Open Doors USAs World Watch List, China is ranked as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians. The organization notes that all churches are perceived as a threat if they become too large, too political, or invite foreign guests.
JERUSALEM - A quarter century after Israeli spies, a Canadian activist and a Syrian rabbi smuggled nine rare medieval Jewish manuscripts out of Damascus, an Israeli court decided the books will remain under the National Librarys custodianship for their preservation.

The decision ends a protracted legal battle over the ownership of the Damascus Crowns, illuminated Bibles written on parchment that belonged to the Syrian capitals Jewish community for centuries until they were secreted to Israel in the 1990s.

The Jerusalem District Court ruled Monday the books were treasures of the Jewish people that had historic, religious and national importance and must be preserved. The best way to do so would be to keep them at the National Library under a public trust, it ruled.

The trust and its conditions are aimed at ensuring first and foremost the preservation of the Damascus Crowns and their care for the public, the Jewish people and future generations, the court said.

The manuscripts were originally composed in Europe in the 13th to 15th centuries before eventually migrating to Damascus. The Hebrew Bibles, unlike traditional Torah scrolls, contain vowels, punctuation and other marks indicating correct pronunciation.

The elaborately decorated bibles were highly treasured by the Damascene Jewish community and only taken out on rare occasions.

Most of Syrias Jews fled the country following Israels creation in 1948. Those who remained suffered persecution and severely restricted freedom of movement that was only lifted in the 1990s. Only a handful remain after Syrias decade-long civil war.

Israels Mossad intelligence agency worked with Canadian activist Judy Feld Carr and Rabbi Abraham Hamra, the Damascus Jewish communitys last leader, to sneak the Crowns out of Syria and bring them to Israel.

Many details of the operation remain undisclosed to the public. In an affidavit to the court, Feld Carr said that in 1993 she co-ordinated with Hamra to give one of the manuscripts to a Canadian diplomat, who slipped it out of Syria in a black plastic shopping bag.

The National Library, whose mission is to collect and preserve Jewish heritage and cultural objects, has held the Crowns since they arrived in Israel.

Hamra has long contended that Israeli officials promised the books would be returned to him so they could be housed in a cultural centre dedicated to Syrian Jewry. He said he was granted a plot of land in a Tel Aviv suburb for the centre. Decades later, construction has not started.

He sued the library for ownership of the crowns, and the library counter-sued in 2014 and asked the court to place them in a public trust under the institutions authority.

I came only to fight for justice and integrity, Hamra said ahead of the courts decision.

The librarys appeal to the court reflects its concerns about the legal grounds for holding onto Jewish cultural heritage items smuggled out of other countries. Although Syria has not made a claim for the collection, many Western countries now face pressure to repatriate cultural property stolen from their countries of origin, such as Iraq.

On arrival in Israel, the manuscripts required restoration work to prevent further decay. They are kept in special climate-controlled conditions to preserve them, the library said in its arguments to the court.

Aviad Stollman, former head of collections at the National Library, said it offers the most secure place for the Damascus Crowns.

Few institutions have the resources or expertise to preserve the ancient books, he said. Its very expensive and very difficult for an independent institution to preserve such documents.

The court determined the trustees will include members of the Syrian Jewish community in Israel, representatives from the National Library, the chief Sephardic rabbi of Israel and the president of Hebrew University, and Rabbi Hamra.

Meir Heller, the attorney representing the library, said the courts ruling was a coup for the preservation of cultural heritage in Israel.

We succeeded to save (the books) from a horrible place, Heller said, adding that they now found a proper home.

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Deputy Minister of Information, Mr. Pius Enam Hadzide has indicated that the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Secretariat in the country will bring a lot of benefits.



According to him, the secretariat in the country will push giant companies in other African countries to Ghana as they would want to get closer to the headquarters by establishing their annex in the country in order for them to facilitate their documentation.



Speaking on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Mr. Pius Hadzide maintained that many businesses in Africa will eye Ghana due to the secretariat being established in the country; hence businesses are bound to boost and Ghanaians will get employment.



There are a lot of benefits to having the African Continental Free Trade Secretariat in Ghana. many of the giant businesses will want to get closer to the headquarters and for that matter, they will like to establish here in order to facilitate their documentation at the headquarters and so there will be a lot of businesses in the country for Ghanaians to join, he asserted.



The Deputy Information Minister again said that the name of the country will be in the limelight as it has the headquarters as many countries will get to know the country where the African Continental Free Trade Secretariat.



The commissioning of the trade house in Ghana will help champion the course of Africa beyond aid as President Akufo-Addo is working towards Ghana Beyond Aid; thus, the establishment of the secretariat will help the course, he indicated.



He, however, praised President Akufo-Addo for his effort in bringing the headquarters of African Continental Free Trade as many African leaders were also hoping to win the bid to have the headquarters in their countries.



There were countries with a larger population and more resources and even with better economy than us but due to proper measures in the country and the peace in the country, especially democracy which is well-versed in the country, the leadership thought it wise to hand over such a huge edifice to Ghana under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, he said.



The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commissioned and handed over the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area to the African Union (AU) Commission, at a brief ceremony, at the Africa Trade House, on Monday, 17th August 2020.



Delivering a speech at the ceremony, President Akufo-Addo stated that Ghana had discharged all of her obligations towards the establishment and the setting up of the office, following the selection of Ghana, in 2019, by the AU Assembly to host the AfCFTA Secretariat.



We are today, handing over a fully furnished and befitting office space, in a secured and easily accessible location within the business center of Accra, like the Permanent Secretariat of the AfCFTA. We have provided also an appropriate, furnished residential accommodation as the official residence of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, he said.



With Africas low levels of intra-Africa trade, as compared to those of the European Union, the President explained that this situation hinders Africas prospects of bringing prosperity to her peoples.



A large part of the growth and prosperity that we seek on the continent will come from us trading more among ourselves. We, in Ghana, believe that an increase in trade is the surest way to deepen regional integration in Africa, he said.



Effective implementation of the AfCFTA, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering, will dispel the notion that the AU is not capable of executing its own decisions, explaining that Africas new sense of urgency and aspiration of true self-reliance will be amply demonstrated by the handing over ceremony.













Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Congress on Tuesday wrote a letter to Facebook chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg, demanding a probe into the alleged "bias" and interference of the social media gaint's India leadership team in the country's electoral democracy, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party took a swipe at the opposition party, saying any organisation that does not work to its liking is accused of acting under BJP-RSS pressure.

IMAGE: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook Communities Summit 2019. Photograph: Courtesy fb.com

A massive political row broke out after a report by the Wall Street Journal last week alleged that senior Facebook executives had opposed applying hate speech rules to posts by certain BJP leaders, with the BJP and the Congress engaged in a bitter war of words for the last three days over the issue.

In the letter to Zuckerberg, the Congress general secretary KC Venugopal referred to the WSJ report, and said there were clear charges against the leadership of Facebook India of favouring the BJP consistently and being "complicit in propagating hate speech" by leaders belonging to the party.

He demanded setting up of a high level inquiry by Facebook headquarters into the Facebook India leadership team, their operations and submit a report to the board of Facebook within one or two months, and said pending the probe and submission of the report, the company should "consider a new team to lead Facebook India operations so as to not influence the probe".

Hitting back at the Congress, Union information technology minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said people whose political base has "shrunk like anything" seek to dominate discourse on these platforms, and asserted that everybody regardless of his ideology has the right to air views.

He said former Congress president Rahul Gandhi believes that any organisation that does not work to his liking is acting under the pressure of the BJP and the RSS.

"If the platform is public, then every Indian regardless of his ideology and commitment has got the right to convey his view. It is a hard fact we need to know that people whose political base has shrunk seek to dominate discourse on these platforms," Prasad said.

Hitting out at Gandhi over his hate-speech barbs at the BJP, he said the Congress leader's comments during the Delhi assembly polls that youth will hit Prime Minister Narendra Modi with sticks in six months if he doesn't address the issue of unemployment in the country, was a "text book case of instigation for violence".

Sharing the Congress' letter on his Twitter handle, Gandhi said Facebook needs to be questioned by all Indians.

"We cannot allow any manipulation of our hard-earned democracy through bias, fake news and hate speech. As exposed by WSJ, Facebook's involvement in peddling fake and hate news needs to be questioned by all Indians," he tweeted.

Reacting to the controversy, Facebook on Monday said the company's social media platform prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence, adding these policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation.

"While we know there is more to do, we're making progress on enforcement and conduct regular audits of our process to ensure fairness and accuracy," a Facebook spokesperson said.

In the report, the WSJ cited interviews with unnamed Facebook insiders to claim that one of its senior India policy executives opposed applying hate speech rules to posts by certain BJP leaders, including BJP MLA from Telangana Raja Singh.

Raja Singh has rejected allegations that he posts communally charged comments online, asserting he only works in the national interest.

He also said his official FB page had been "hacked and blocked" in 2018 but that there has been no response from police on a complaint filed by him.

The Congress also noted that the report "specifically...states "Ms Das (of Facebook India) has provided the BJP with favourable treatment on election-related issues."

Describing the allegations against the company as "damning and serious", it said it was not too late to "course correct and make amends".

"As India's oldest political party that fought for the nation's freedom and established India's electoral democracy through universal adult franchise, it is deeply disturbing to note that your company may be a willing participant in thwarting the very rights and values that our founding leaders sacrificed their lives for, Venugopal said in the letter.

In his letter, Venugopal said Congress has repeatedly raised the issue of "bias" with many Facebook and WhatsApp executives.

He said other political parties have raised the issue in India's Parliament adding that the Congress has separately demanded a probe by a Parliamentary Committee in India into "this very serious issue of Facebook's interference in world's largest electoral democracy".

Meanwhile, an FIR has been filed in Raipur against a senior Facebook executive and two users of the social media platform for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav said.

Three persons, identified as Ankhi Das from New Delhi, Ram Sahu from Mungeli (Chhattisgarh) and Vivek Sinha from Indore (Madhya Pradesh) have been booked on the complaint of Awesh Tiwari, a Raipur-based journalist of a news channel, the official said.

On Monday, Ankhi Das had filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, alleging that she has been receiving "threats to her life" and that she was intentionally "vilified" following publication of the report.

Reacting to the Facebook row, Shiv Sena said, "there is no objection to debates on a medium like Facebook. But action should be taken irrespective of party affiliation if hatred is spread and language of disintegrating the country and communities is used,"

"Companies like Facebook cannot ignore the person spreading hatred just because he/she belongs to the ruling party", the Sena said in an editorial of its mouthpiece Saamana.

Venugopal also said the Congress is joined by other leading political parties in "expressing fear over Facebook's purported role in manipulating India's electoral democracy".

Both the Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist have already demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee into the charges against Facebook.

On Sunday, Union IT minister Prasad had hit out at the Congress over the issue and reminded the opposition party of the Cambridge Analytica issue.

Prasad's reference to Cambridge Analytica was about the allegations the Congress faced in 2018 that the UK-based firm offered the party data mining of Facebook posts in a bid to influence voters in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Congress had rejected the charges.
Array Logo Reveal Our clients and partners have always come first both as individual companies and now together as one," said David Vandygriff, Chief People Officer of Array. "Were excited to continue serving them and offer them new ways to work with Array.

After joining forces earlier this year, leading litigation support companies Innovative Litigation and iNSERViO3 today announced they will begin operating as one brand under a new name  Array. The change reflects the combined new companys range of services spanning eDiscovery, managed review, traditional discovery, and electronic deposition exhibits nationwide, and alternative dispute resolution and subpoena services in California.

The merger of our companies created a comprehensive solution for legal departments and law firms led by service and backed by a team of industry-leading subject matter experts, said Thadd Hale, Chief Executive Officer of Array.

Our clients and partners have always come first both as individual companies and now together as one," said David Vandygriff, Chief People Officer of Array. "Were excited to continue serving them and offer them new ways to work with Array.

In addition to a name change, the launch of Array includes unveiling a new logo and website that support and communicate the integration of two reputable companies and their unified brands significant value creation for law firms and corporate legal departments.

Array manages the logistics of litigation so lawyers can focus on winning their cases. The company combines the latest technology with battle-tested human know-how to inform smart, results-driven strategies from intake to outcome. As one of the first service providers to adopt RelativityOne, Array offers unmatched depth and breadth of experience in this industry-leading platform:



Six RelativityOne Certified Pros on staff

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Array continues to be privately owned under direction of leadership from Innovative Litigation and iNSERViO3. The combined team brings extensive experience building and growing innovative legal technology companies.

Remaining a founder owned company means our primary duty is still to our clients and our employees  so we can continue prioritizing providing custom solutions for our clients, said Hale. Our look may be changing but our commitment to working as our clients support partner delivering speed, accuracy, and unmatched service is unwavering.

Array has offices in California, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Washington DC. The companys staff provides around-the-clock availability to clients nationwide, with exception to its California-specific alternative dispute resolution and subpoena services.

Visit trustarray.com to learn more about services and experience, read testimonials and more.
South Korea and the United States on Tuesday kicked off their annual summertime combined exercise in a scaled-back manner amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.



The computer-simulated Combined Command Post Training (CCPT), which will run until Aug. 28, is the first major exercise between the two countries this year as their annual springtime exercise was called off due to COVID-19.



The first part of the exercise, which is to run until Saturday, will focus on how to defend the South against an invasion by North Korea, and the second part, set for Aug. 24-28, will be based on the scenario of launching a counterattack in response, according to the officials.



In the run-up to the exercise, the two sides held a four-day crisis management staff training last week.



The exercise was initially set to begin on Sunday but was pushed back after a South Korean Army officer who was supposed to take part in the exercise tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the officials.



"All the service members who had close contact to the officer tested negative for the virus," a military officer said. "We've been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and have been implementing tougher quarantine schemes to ensure the safety of the participants."



In South Korea, new cases have soared in recent days, mostly in Seoul and the surrounding regions, to reach a five-month high.



The summertime training will be smaller in scale compared with previous ones, as American troops necessary for the program were not able to come to South Korea under coronavirus-related restrictions. The two sides also decided to skip nighttime training programs out of virus concerns, the officer noted.













As the exercise will be staged in an adjusted manner, Seoul and Washington are unable to fully carry out the planned Full Operational Capability (FOC) test for Seoul's envisioned retaking of the wartime operational control (OPCON) of its forces from the U.S.



As the FOC test is one of the crucial steps to verify if Seoul is on course to meet the conditions for the transition, chances are that the envisioned transfer is unlikely to take place within the current Moon Jae-in administration, whose term will end in May 2022.



No specific deadline has been set, as it is conditions-based, not time-based, though many see the two sides eyeing around 2022 as the target date.



During last year's summertime exercise, Seoul and Washington 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.



How North Korea would react to the combined exercise is also a focus of attention.



The communist country has long lashed out at South Korea-U.S. combined exercises, calling them a rehearsal for invasion of the North.



In June, the regime drastically heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula by blowing up the inter-Korean liaison office building in its border town of Kaesong and threatening to take military actions against the South.



But it suspended those plans upon leader Kim Jong-un's instruction, and has since not taken major provocative steps.



Currently, North Korea has also been conducting summertime military drills, but they are taking place on a smaller scale as the authorities are zeroing in on quarantine efforts against the new coronavirus as well as recovery work after damage by recent heavy downpours, according to Seoul's military officers.



North Korea has not officially made comments on this year's South Korea-U.S. combined exercise, though some of the country's propaganda outlets demanded a halt to the program while warning of war. (Yonhap)
The Barden Bellas were back with a bang as the cast of Pitch Perfect reunited on Instagram for a music video cover, with all proceeds going to charity.

Three years after the final film in the popular trilogy, Rebel Wilson joined forces with the likes of Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp and Hailee Steinfeld as they sang along to Beyonce's catchy hit Love on Top.

The Australian star, 40, revealed in her caption: 'The proceeds from the downloads and streams of our rendition of "Love on Top" will go to @UNICEF to help children in Lebanon and around the world who need our support right now.'

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The Bellas are back, pitches! The cast of Pitch Perfect reunited on Instagram for a music video cover, with all proceeds going to charity

Also joined by Hana Mae Lee, Chrissie Fit and Kelley Jakle, Pitch Perfect's all-female a cappella group delighted fans as they showed off their vocal prowess.

Rebel added in her caption: 'The Bellas are back for a good cause! There's nothing perfect about the world we're living in. Families around the globe are suffering from the impact of the #COVID19 pandemic, especially those in Lebanon who are facing crisis after crisis.

'But we can all pitch in and help. Click the link in my bio for more. #ForEveryChild #Beirut #COVID19.'

John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks, who also star in the movies, introduced the video, with the latter saying: 'The Bellas are back with a re-imagined classic to support UNICEF, who are on the ground in 192 countries doing whatever it takes to protect kids from the coronavirus pandemic.

Centre stage: Three years after the final film in the popular trilogy, Rebel Wilson joined forces with the likes of Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow as they sang along to Beyonce's Love on Top

Generous: The Australian star revealed in her caption, 'The proceeds from the downloads & streams of our rendition of "Love on Top" will go to @UNICEF to help children in Lebanon and around the world who need our support right now'

'The Bellas are back for a good cause!' The girls showed off their vocal prowess in the three minute long video

'A portion of all proceeds from this song benefit UNICEF, so get online and download it now.'

The Pitch Perfect trilogy is one of the most successful franchises in Hollywood, with the films grossing more than $560million worldwide.

There are three films in the hit franchise, which were released 2012, 2015, and 2017.

Pitchier than ever! Also joined by Hana Mae Lee, Chrissie Fit (pictured) and Kelley Jakle, Pitch Perfect's all-female a cappella group delighted fans as they showed off their vocal prowess

'We can all pitch in and help': John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks (pictured), who also star in the movies, introduced the fun charity video

Back in 2017, Rebel, who appears as the character 'Fat Amy' in the movies, spoke about how filming the third installment made her conquer her fear of heights.

Appearing on the Late Night With Seth Meyers, she explained that the script required her to do a 20-foot (six-metre) free fall jump with co-star Anna Kendrick.

'I know I seem pretty tough, but I am afraid of heights, that's the one thing I'm afraid of, and I had to do this 20-foot jump ten times ... and each time [I was] petrified [and] thought I was gonna die,' she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:10:41|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Four Turkey-backed Syrian rebels were killed on Tuesday by the blast of a car bomb in the northern province of Raqqa, a war monitor reported.

The car bomb ripped through a checkpoint manned by Turkey-backed rebels in the area of Tal Abiad in the northern countryside of Raqqa province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Some injuries were reported among civilians in the area, said the UK-based watchdog group.

The explosion is the latest in a series of operations against the Turkey-backed rebels in northern Syria.

On Aug. 14, a landmine tore through a group of rebels in the Tal Tamr area in the Hasakah province in northeastern Syria, killing two rebels.

Turkey and allied Syrian rebels captured several areas in northern and northeastern Syria after battles with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in October of 2019.

Since then, several bombings have taken place amid a state of lawlessness in Turkey-held areas in northern Syria. Enditem
Mumbai: The forensic audit of Sushant Singh Rajput's bank account has revealed that no transaction was done in favour of Rhea Chakraborty in last one year, as per the Mumbai Police sources.

According to Mumbai Police sources, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which is probing into the money laundering aspects of the Bollywood actor's death, has sent a letter to Mumbai Police asking for the details of statements they have recorded and electronic evidence related to the case.

Earlier in the day, the ED recorded the statement of Sushant's father KK Singh in connection with the probe into money laundering.

Vikas Singh, a lawyer of Singh told IANS, "Yes, the ED has recorded the statement of the late actor's father."

Also read | Witnesses in Sushant Singh Rajput's case might get killed, claims actor's relative

Notably, the ED registered a case of money laundering on the basis of the Bihar Police FIR filed on the complaint of KK Singh. It has earlier recorded the statement of the late actor's sister Meetu Singh.

In his complaint to the Bihar Police on July 25, Sushant's father had alleged that Rs 15 crore was withdrawn or transferred from his Sushant's account, following which the ED registered a case under the PMLA against Rhea and her family members on July 31.

Sushant who was last seen in "Dil Bechara" movie was found dead in his Bandra residence on June 14.

Also read | Every minute of delay causing pain: Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta Singh Kirti requests early decision from Supreme Court for CBI probe
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3

Trend:

A number of restrictions have been mitigated in the Azerbaijani cities and districts in which the tough quarantine regime is in force and throughout the country in accordance with the current sanitary and epidemiological situation, Trend reports citing the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers.

Along with mitigation of some restrictions in the country, a number of restrictions remain in force.

The following restrictions will remain in effect till 00:00 (GMT+4) August 31, 2020:

- entry into and exit from the territory of the country by vehicles and planes (excluding special and charter flights);

- entry to and exit from Azerbaijans cities and districts in which the special tough quarantine regime is in force, and passenger transportation by vehicles and planes from other cities and districts of the country (excluding Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic) except for the movement of special vehicles, including ambulances, emergency vehicles, rescue vehicles and vehicles carrying cargo;

- group or individual reception of citizens in the state bodies except for ASAN Service Centers and DOST Service Centers.
A six-year-old girl was hospitalised with ethanol poisoning after drinking an entire 50ml bottle of hand sanitiser, prompting a dire warning to parents.

The girl had been playing on her own at a home in New South Wales before telling her carer she felt dizzy and was struggling with slurred speech.

Her older sister said her breath smelled like hand sanitiser, prompting her to be rushed to hospital where she vomited twice.

Horrified doctors discovered she had a blood alcohol reading of 0.19 per cent due to the ethanol in the sanitiser, making her four times over the NSW drink-drive limit.

A dire warning has been issued to parents after a six-year-old girl was hospitalised with ethanol poisoning after drinking hand sanitiser (stock image)

Most hand sanitisers in Australia have an ethanol content between 62 and 70 per cent. Pictured: Hand sanitiser at a bar in Darlinghurst in Sydney's inner east

The girl was struggling to breathe, her heart rate was slow and her response levels were low, forcing doctors to intubate her.

'Thorough history obtained from the parent confirmed that there were no alcoholic drinks in the house,' the hospital report read.

'Once awake, the patient disclosed that she had often tasted the hand sanitiser over the last few months and had done so the previous night.

'She was unable to report the volume that she consumed but the NSW Poisons Information Centre estimated it to be in the region of 50ml.

'She reported liking the smell and taste of the hand sanitiser, which her mother noted had been missing for a few days.'

The girl recovered and was discharged within 24 hours.

Hand sanitiser flew off the shelves at chemists and supermarkets in February and March (example pictured) at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic

Most hand sanitisers in Australia have an ethanol content between 62 and 70 per cent.

Genevieve Adamo, a senior specialist at the NSW Poisons Information Centre, told Daily Mail Australia there had been more than 1,000 calls about hand sanitisers from February to the end of July - mostly regarding children.

'This is 2.5 times the number of calls received for the same period in 2019,' she explained.

'Three-quarters of these have been accidental exposures in children under the age of five.'

Hand sanitiser flew off the shelves at chemists and supermarkets in February and March at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health bodies in Australia have repeatedly made clear the importance of washing your hands and carrying hand sanitiser in attempts to promote hygiene.

But its increasing popularity prompted NSW Health to issue a warning to parents and carers regarding the potential dangers of the product around small children.

NSW Health issued a warning (pictured) on Monday to parents and carers regarding the potential dangers of the product around small children

'Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is great for killing germs but can be dangerous if swallowed, particularly for children,' a social media post read.

'Follow these safety tips: store hand sanitiser products safely and out of reach of children, supervise any use by young children and be aware of imported products which may not be clearly labelled and may contain more toxic alcohols such as methanol that make the product more dangerous.'

The post advised that if there were any concerns that a child had ingested hand sanitiser that the Poisons Information Centre should be called 'regardless of the quantity'.

'Remember, washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is also a safe and effective option,' the post read.
FILE PHOTO: Actor Ryan Reynolds and wife Blake Lively arrive for the Time 100 Gala in the Manhattan borough of New York

By Siddharth Cavale

(Reuters) - Diageo <DGE.L> is paying up to $610 million for Aviation American Gin, co-owned by Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, and a clutch of other spirits brands, adding to a gin portfolio which already includes Tanqueray and Gordon's.

Diageo isn't new to acquiring brands linked to Hollywood celebrities, having in 2017 paid $1 billion to acquire the super premium tequila brand Casamigos co-founded by "Ocean's Eleven" star George Clooney.

It also teamed up with up with music producer and rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs to sell Ciroc vodka in 2007. [https://bit.ly/3g1S5Nx]

Reynolds acquired an unspecified minority stake in Aviation Gin in 2018, since when the brand had thrived, Diageo, the world's largest spirits maker, said on Monday. It said Reynolds would retain his interest in Aviation American Gin.

The deal comes at a time when consumption of gin has been rising in the United States. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, distillers sold nearly 10 million nine-liter cases of gin in the United States in 2019, generating $918 million in revenue, a 3% rise over 2018.

Most of this growth was driven by the super-premium gin category where bottles cost $25 and upwards.

Aviation American Gin, which retails for $27 per 750 millilitres, is the second-largest super-premium gin brand in the United States, growing volumes at over 100% in 2019 and contributed 40% of super-premium gin category growth in the country, Diageo said, citing industry tracker IWSR.

Diageo is paying up to $610 million for Aviation Gin LLC and Davos Brands LLC, whose portfolio also includes Astral Tequila, Sombra Mezcal and TYKU Sake.

The 43-year old actor, star of the superhero movie Deadpool, is also creative director of the brand and more recently was applauded for his "genius" in roping in commercial actress Monica Ruiz to promote Aviation Gin, days after she appeared in a widely panned ad for exercise bike maker Peloton Interactive Inc <PTON.O> that was seen as sexist.

The tongue-in-cheek video advertisement by Aviation garnered 5 million-plus views on its first day.

Story continues

Diageo's acquisition comes just two weeks after the maker of Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka said yearly profit had nearly halved as widespread closures of pubs and restaurants, cancellation of sporting events and a plunge in duty free purchases hit global demand.

It also took a 1.3 billion pound ($1.7 billion) charge on some slow-selling brands.

($1 = 0.7636 pounds)

(Reporting by Siddharth Cavale and Tanishaa Nadkar in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and David Holmes)
Nigerian journalist, Kiki Mordi, has received an Emmy nomination for her BBC Africa Eye Sex For Grades documentary in public universities.

Mordi through the documentary exposed sexual rot in West African universities.

She went undercover to a number of tertiary institutions in Nigeria and Ghana.

The BBC Africa Eye documentary exposed lecturers, including political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, demanding sex for grades from female students.

In Nigeria, a lecturer in UNILAG who thought Kiki was a prospective student asked her for sex so as to help her gain admission into the institution.

The documentary started a conversation about the prevalence of sexual demands for grades in Nigerian and Ghanaian universities and prompted many Nigerians including and the former Senate President of Nigeria, Bukola Saraki to call on the Nigerian Government to take immediate action against sexual harassment in Nigerian Universities.

The Nigerian Senate re-introduced the anti-sexual harassment bill on October 9, 2019, in response to the documentary.

Since BBC Africa Eye documentary on 'Sex for Grades' Kiki has received recognition for her work within and outside Nigeria.
A former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has chided the Progressives Governors Forums Director General, Salihu Lukman, one of his critics within the party.

Mr Oshiomhole, shortly after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, on Wednesday, compared the forums DG to a pig which he (Oshiomhole) will not wrestle with.

You want me to engage in a fight with a pig? If you engage in a fight with a pig, the pig already is stained by its nature and you will wear your white garment, and in my own case, kaaki to go and wrestle with a pig? I will not, he told journalists.

Mr Lukman, who heads the secretariat of the APC governors forum, had faulted Mr Oshiomhole for the partys crisis in Edo State which led to the incumbent governors decamping to an opposition party and his (Oshiomhole) ouster as party chairman.

Also in one of his recent statements published by PREMIUM TIMES, he cautioned the partys former chairman against playing a front role in Edo States governorship campaign. He advised him to emulate (APC leader) Bola Tinubus model of campaign.

The APC campaign is personalised around Comrade Oshiomhole and the candidate of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is an onlooker. We need to appeal to Comrade Oshiomhole to calm down. This campaign is not about his person, Mr Lukman had said.

Counter attack

In his reaction on Monday while adressing the Presidential Villa correspondents, Mr Oshiomhole compared his reputation in Edo State to that of President Buhari whom he projected would remain relevant even after his tenure elapsed in 2023.

There is no village I go to that people do not know me and is this that I used to override the godfathers in Edo State for two consecutive terms and even got the governor elected through elections, no violence before becoming the national chairman.

So, if you remove the officeis like our president now, though I cannot compare myself to him, but it is like President Muhammadu Buhari by 2023, when his tenure would have lapsed as President but those who believe in him, in 2024 and beyond, each time they see him, that trust they have in him will always be there.

He bonds with the people, that bond was not created by the fact that he is the president, in fact he became the president because of that bond, he said.

Mr Oshiomhole took a swipe at Mr Lukman alleging that he is only doing the bidding of his (Oshiomhole) critics within the ruling APC.

READ ALSO:

So my attitude is not to reply the noise and it is coming from somebody who says he is an employee and appointee of Progressives Governors Forum, he is just like the cowards that are using him that are not able to come out.

Otherwise, you should ask this guy, who is now an election expert. He contested for Senate against Makarfi, he lost. He even contested against governor El-Rufai during the primaries and he lost, before (governor) Fayemi unilaterally appointed him the DG, he said.
Bhopal, Aug 18 : The BJP has termed as "historic" the Madhya Pradesh government's decision to reserve government jobs for residents of the state even as the Congress has raised questions about the move.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Tuesday that the state government has taken a key decision that government jobs in the state will now be given only to the local residents.

"For this we are making necessary legal provisions. The resources of Madhya Pradesh belong to the children of the state," he said.

Welcoming the decision of the Chief Minister to give government jobs to the youth of the state, the BJP has described it as a "historic step".

"In Madhya Pradesh, only the children and youth of the state will get government jobs, and we thank the state government and the Chief Minister for this. This decision has led to immense enthusiasm among the youth and children of the state," BJP state president Vishnu Dutt Sharma said.

At the same time, the opposition Congress has questioned the decision. Former Chief Minister and state Congress chief Kamal Nath said that it should not end up as a mere slogan to deceive people. He said, "I made many provisions for the youth of the state in my 15-month government so that they get priority employment. Changing the industry policy made it mandatory to provide employment to 70 per cent of local youth of the state." Nath questioned Chouhan and the BJP, saying "The state of unemployment in your previous 15-year-long government is not hidden from anyone. The youth kept wandering for jobs with degrees in their hands. Thousands of degree holders had to apply for jobs of clerks and peons. The condition of labourers and the poor shows the reality. How many people has your government given employment to in the last 15 years, you should also bring it to the fore." He said, "After 15 years, they woke up from slumber and announced employment for the youth, but we had already done it earlier. The youth should not be cheated and this should not remain just a poll slogan in view of the upcoming bye-elections otherwise the Congress will not sit silent."

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 01:14:09|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Monday approved a 40-million-euro (47-million-U.S.-dollar) loan to support small businesses in Morocco to withstand the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a statement by the Rabat branch of EBRD, the loan is provided for the local bank CaixaBank, and aims to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

The loan will help CaixaBank to increase much-needed funding for local small- and medium-sized enterprises to address companies' needs, the statement said.

Morocco is a founding member of the EBRD, which has invested about 2.4 billion euros in 65 projects across the North African country since 2012, it added. Enditem
(Nikkei Asian Review)  Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has embarked on an expansive tour of Southeast Asia, offering medical assistance to help countries contain the spread of the coronavirus.

It is only his second overseas trip since the pandemic outbreak, following a visit to the U.K. earlier this month, where he advanced negotiations for a trade deal and discussed with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab ways to enhance security in the Indo-Pacific region to counter Chinas increased maritime activity. Motegi is thought to have discussed ways to strengthen intelligence sharing with the Five Eyes alliance of the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Much like that London visit, Motegis tour of Southeast Asia is strategic  aiming to keep the region from becoming too close to China.

As the first leg of the tour, Motegi visited Singapore and Malaysia from Wednesday. He will continue his tour of the region this week to spell out Japans assistance plans, traveling to Papua New Guinea Thursday, followed by Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Agreements are already in place for Japan to provide hospital beds and ambulances to some members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In July, Japan said it will provide the equivalent of 11.6 billion yen ($109 million) in medical equipment and other supplies to five countries along the Mekong River  Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Many Southeast Asian nations have limited health care resources and have required foreign assistance to combat the coronavirus. China has emerged as a front-runner in the race for a vaccine, with nine vaccine candidates in clinical trials, including five in Phase 3, the final stage of the process toward approval.

Japan and the U.S. fear that Chinas vaccine diplomacy, like its earlier mask diplomacy, will help it increase its influence in the region further.

Its critical that we keep ASEAN on the side of Japan and the U.S., a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said, explaining Japans focus on the region.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged cooperation on vaccine development in a phone call with Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on July 30. Indonesia has one of the highest case counts in Southeast Asia. Certain ASEAN countries like Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia have traditionally enjoyed strong relations with China even before the pandemic began.

Japan aims to woo these countries ahead of an upcoming series of ASEAN-related meetings, starting with the ASEAN Regional Forum in September  the first time leaders from China, the U.S., Japan and the bloc will gather since U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed Beijings claims in the South China Sea as completely unlawful last month.

Sparks were already flying at an online preparatory meeting in July, a diplomatic source said, with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell urging Beijing to abide by international law in the South China Sea. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui apparently countered that Washington had no right to criticize when it had not signed on to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

ASEAN members are divided on Beijings moves in the South China Sea. The Philippines, for example, has kept some distance from both the U.S. and China despite its disputes in the waters with Beijing. Coronavirus assistance and other efforts will be key to winning them over on issues including the South China Sea, especially with many ASEAN countries suffering negative economic growth in the April-June quarter.

Like China, the U.S. offered its cooperation on vaccine development to Indonesia in an Aug. 3 call between Pompeo and Retno. The two officials also affirmed the importance of the rule of law in the South China Sea.

Pompeo also spoke with counterparts from Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines to counter Chinese efforts. Australia, a U.S. ally, also promised economic assistance to ASEAN at the end of June.

One of Japans key contributions to its alliance with the U.S. is its ties to ASEAN, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the bloc for his first overseas trip when he began his current stint in office. The bloc is expected to remain a major part of Japans diplomatic strategy, regardless of who wins the U.S. presidential election in November.

This article was originally published by Nikkei Asian Review

Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go.

Contact editor Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com)
Vistara on Tuesday said it will operate special non-stop flights on the Delhi-London route from August 28 to September 30 as part of the bilateral air bubble arrangement signed between India and the UK. With this Vistara will mark its foray in long-haul international operations.

During the period, Vistara will fly thrice a week between the two cities--on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The one-way fares from Delhi to London start from Rs 29,912 in Economy Class, Rs 44,449 in Premium Economy, and Rs 77,373 in Business Class.

Bookings for these flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistaras website, mobile app, and through travel agents. The first flight from London Heathrow to Delhi will be on August 29 (Saturday) at 3.35 pm (IST). The airline will deploy its brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on the route.

Vistara is also seeking necessary regulatory approvals to soon operate similar special flights to Paris, France and Frankfurt, Germany.

Under a bilateral air bubble pact, airlines of both countries can operate international flights with certain restrictions. Since July, India has established such bubbles with the following countries - the US, the UK, France, Germany, the UAE, Qatar and the Maldives. India is negotiating with 13 other countries to establish similar bubbles.

The airline has a fleet of 43 aircraft, including 34 Airbus A320, one Airbus A321neo, six Boeing 737-800NG, and two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, special international flights have been operating with the approval of aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Onboard the aircraft, Vistaras cabin crew will wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and avoid all non-essential interaction with passengers, according to an official statement. In line with the health and safety norms, the airline has introduced a new food and beverage service that will be offered to all customers.

Aircraft interiors will be deep-cleaned after every flight using approved cleaning agents--a procedure that includes thorough sanitization of all surfaces such as seats, touchscreens, overhead bins, seatbelts, tray tables, galleys, etc., added the official statement.

The aviation sector has been significantly impacted due to the travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries in view of the coronavirus pandemic. All airlines in India have taken cost-cutting measures such as pay cuts, leave-without-pay and firings of employees in order to conserve cash.
Our subscribers expect and deserve access to the same A2P services as subscribers of other large US carriers. We've worked with ClearSky in the past, and once again they have provided a subscriber-focused product that makes GTA the best choice for wireless service in Guam. - Andrew Gayle, COO, GTA

ClearSky Technologies, Inc., a leader in Application-to-Person (A2P) message services to mobile network operators and Internet-based text messaging providers, announced today that GTA, one of the leading telecommunications providers on the island of Guam, has launched ClearSkys iCODE A2P Messaging Service. With iCODE, GTA subscribers now have access to more than 10,000 local, regional and national interactive text messaging services.

A2P messaging has become a vital tool for personal shopping, finance, and security, with uses as diverse as banking alerts, social media updates, purchase notifications, and two-factor authentication (2FA) for securing logins. Also, because the iCODE A2P service is connected to all the major U.S. A2P aggregators, GTA will have immediate access to a continually increasing list of exciting and useful A2P services.

Andrew Gayle, COO of GTA, said, Our subscribers expect and deserve access to the same A2P services as subscribers of other large US carriers. We have worked with ClearSky in the past, and once again they have provided a subscriber-focused product that makes GTA the best choice for wireless service in Guam.

GTA is constantly looking for ways to improve the subscriber experience, stated Ron Willet, President of CMS for ClearSky. They recognized a subscriber need and worked diligently with ClearSky to satisfy that need, as they always do. GTA is the definition of a world-class wireless operator that puts their customers first.

About ClearSky Technologies, Inc.

For more than a decade, ClearSky Technologies, Inc. has been a leader in providing innovative Infrastructure as a Service solutions to mobile network operators and now brings this same expertise to enterprises of every type and size. Named one of the Top 10 Most Promising Wireless Technology Providers of 2020 by CIO Review Magazine, ClearSkys powerful array of products and services include turnkey private LTE networks, Forte Neutral Source in-building cellular, iCODE Application-to-Person messaging and Total Traffic Manager network policy management. All are designed for quick implementation, affordable cost of entry, and ongoing cost savings. Headquartered in Orlando, ClearSky has provided services to more than 100 wireless operators across five continents. For more information visit http://www.csky.com

About GTA

GTA provides complete communications services in Guam for residential and business customers. The company operates a 4G LTE wireless network, high-speed internet, digital television, local and long-distance phone service. The company also delivers carrier-class data circuits along with operating a cable landing station for the SEA-US cable consortium. Based in Tamuning, Guam, GTA is privately owned and locally managed.
A "Yes" Vote will Enable Existing Shareholders to Retain Ownership of 2.75% of the Common Shares by Completing the Recapitalization Transaction as Contemplated

Alternatively, if the Recapitalization Transaction Occurs Through CCAA Proceedings, Existing Shareholders will not Retain Any Ownership of Common Shares or Receive Any Recovery (i.e. 0% of the Common Shares)

NEW YORK and TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc. ("iAnthus" or the "Company") (CSE: IAN) (OTCQX: ITHUF), which owns, operates, and partners with regulated cannabis operations across the United States, announces that the Company has commenced the mailing of the notices and management information circular (the "Circular") for (i) a meeting (the "Secured Noteholders' Meeting") of holders (the "Secured Noteholders") of 13% senior secured convertible debentures (the "Secured Notes") issued by iAnthus Capital Management, LLC, the Company's wholly-owned US subsidiary; (ii) a meeting (the "Unsecured Debenture Holders' Meeting") of holders (the "Unsecured Debenture Holders") of 8% convertible unsecured debentures (the "Unsecured Debentures") issued by the Company; and (iii) a meeting (the "Equityholders' Meeting") of holders of the Company's common shares (the "Common Shares"), options (the "Options") and warrants (the "Warrants") (collectively, the "Existing Equityholders"), in each case to consider and vote upon a corporate plan of arrangement under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act (the "Plan of Arrangement") to implement the previously announced recapitalization transaction (the "Recapitalization Transaction").

Your vote is important regardless of the numbers of securities you own.

iAnthus encourages securityholders to read the materials for the above-referenced meetings (collectively, the "Meetings"), which have been filed on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and will be uploaded to the Company's website at: www.ianthus.com/2020-special-meetings.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that all Secured Noteholders, Unsecured Debenture Holders and Existing Equityholders vote in favour of the Plan of Arrangement.

The Recapitalization Transaction

As disclosed in the Company's news releases dated July 13 and August 7, 2020 (copies of which are available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com), the Recapitalization Transaction will be implemented pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement, or, only if necessary, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act ("CCAA"). If the Recapitalization Transaction is completed through the Plan of Arrangement, the existing holders of Common Shares at the time of completion (the "Existing Shareholders") will retain approximately 2.75% of the ownership of the Common Shares (the "Common Shareholder Interest").

If the Recapitalization Transaction does not obtain the required support from Existing Equityholders, the Recapitalization Transaction will be implemented through proceedings under the CCAA ("CCAA Proceedings"). If implementation of the Recapitalization Transaction occurs through CCAA Proceedings, Existing Shareholders will not retain any ownership of Common Shares or receive any recovery (i.e., 0% of the ownership of the Common Shares) and the Common Shareholder Interest will instead be allocated equally as among the Secured Noteholders and the Unsecured Debenture Holders.

Voting Deadlines

The deadline for: (i) the Secured Noteholders, (ii) the Unsecured Debenture Holders, and (iii) the Existing Equityholders to submit their respective proxies or voting instructions in order to vote on the Plan of Arrangement is 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., respectively (Vancouver time), on September 10, 2020. Banks, brokers or other intermediaries that hold Secured Notes, Unsecured Debentures, Common Shares, Options or Warrants on a securityholder's behalf may have internal deadlines that require securityholders to submit their votes by an earlier date. Securityholders are encouraged to contact their intermediaries directly to confirm any such internal deadline.

Attendance at the Meetings

To proactively deal with the public health impact of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and to mitigate risks to health and safety, the Company will be holding the Meetings in a virtual-only format, which will be conducted via live audio webcast available online using the LUMI meeting platform. During the live audio webcasts, Secured Noteholders, Unsecured Debenture Holders and Equityholders will be able to hear the Secured Noteholders' Meeting, the Unsecured Debenture Holders' Meeting and the Equityholders' Meeting respectively, and such registered securityholders and duly appointed and registered proxyholders will be able to submit questions and vote when their applicable Meeting is being held. The Circular provides important and detailed instructions about how to participate at the Meetings.

Securityholders' Questions or Voting Assistance

iAnthus' securityholders who have questions or need assistance with voting their respective Secured Notes, Unsecured Debentures, Shares, Options and/or Warrants can also contact the iAnthus' Proxy Solicitation Agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group.

Laurel Hill Advisory Group

North American Toll Free: 1-877-452-7184

Calls Outside North America: 1-416-304-0211

Email: [email protected]

Canadian Securities Exchange Trading Update

Further to the Company's news release dated August 17, 2020 (a copy of which is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com), on August 17, 2020, the Canadian Securities Exchange issued a bulletin reinstating the Common Shares for trading, effective immediately.

About iAnthus

iAnthus owns and operates licensed cannabis cultivation, processing and dispensary facilities throughout the United States, providing investors diversified exposure to the U.S. regulated cannabis industry. Founded by entrepreneurs with decades of experience in operations, investment banking, corporate finance, law and healthcare services, iAnthus provides a unique combination of capital and hands-on operating and management expertise. iAnthus currently has a presence in 11 states and operates 36 dispensaries (AZ-4, MA-1, MD-3, FL-16, NY-3, CO-1, VT-1 and NM-7 where iAnthus has minority ownership). For more information, visit www.iAnthus.com.

COVID-19 Risk Factor

The Company may be impacted by business interruptions resulting from pandemics and public health emergencies, including those related to COVID-19. An outbreak of infectious disease, a pandemic, or a similar public health threat, such as the recent outbreak of COVID-19, or a fear of any of the foregoing could adversely impact the Company by causing operating, manufacturing, supply chain, and project development delays and disruptions, labor shortages, travel, and shipping disruption and shutdowns (including as a result of government regulation and prevention measures). It is unknown whether and how the Company may be affected if such a pandemic persists for an extended period of time, including as a result of the waiver of regulatory requirements or the implementation of emergency regulations to which the Company is subject. Although the Company has been deemed essential and/or has been permitted to continue operating its facilities in the states in which it cultivates, processes, manufactures, and sells cannabis during the pendency of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no assurance that the Company's operations will continue to be deemed essential and/or will continue to be permitted to operate. The Company may incur expenses or delays relating to such events outside of its control, which could have a material adverse impact on its business, operating results, financial condition, and the trading price of the Common Shares.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including concerning COVID-19 and the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in iAnthus' periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "hope", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "believe", "should", "our vision" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Recapitalization Transaction and the Meetings.

Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. iAnthus disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and iAnthus does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

The securities to be issued pursuant to the Restructuring Transaction have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. "United States" and "U.S. person" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

SOURCE iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.ianthuscapital.com/


Haryana Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya on Tuesday appealed to the vice-chancellors and academicians to take initiative in implementing the Policy in an effective and speedy manner.

He also said the change in the system in the country and the state will help the younger generation become self-reliant.

Arya was addressing the vice-chancellors and academicians at a digital conclave organized by the Haryana State Higher Council, an official statement said here.

He said the people associated with the education sector will be responsible to implement the new National Education Policy, whose basic objective is to prepare people with good skills, technical knowledge, and expertise.

"There is immense potential for rapid benefits of new Education Policy and promotion of education in the state of Haryana, because the entire infrastructure related to education is already strong in the state," he said.

Arya said that the basis of progress and future of any country is a strong education system.

"With this objective, the National Education Policy 2020 has been prepared after 34 years. This education policy is the cornerstone of India's innovation. The aspirations of 130 crore people have been reflected in this education policy," he said.

He said that for the first time in the country, 6 per cent of GDP has been allocated for education in order to continuously intensify research, new innovations and employment-oriented programmes, under the National Education Policy.

"Naturally, there will be immense development of infrastructure related to education in the country in future," he added.

The Governor said that earlier there was a herd mentality regarding education where everyone wanted to make their children doctors, lawyers, and engineers, but now with the new avenues will open up that will lead to development of the nation.

Chairman, Haryana State Higher Education Council, B K Kuthiala, who chaired the conclave, said that the new education policy was concurrent with the times and the nation.

He also appealed to all the academicians to implement this policy with full responsibility.

(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.)
(Natural News) South Koreas handling of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) has generally been regarded as one of the most successful responses to the pandemic. However, a strike by the countrys largest physicians group has raised questions about the countrys capacity to handle further outbreaks.

At least 8,365 of the countrys total 33,836 medical facilities, including private clinics, joined the one-day walkout on Friday, August 14 Korea Time (evening of August 13 in the U.S.). The strike was organized by the Korean Medical Association (KMA), a trade group that represents around 130,000 doctors. The strike came just as the country reported 103 new coronavirus cases, including 85 domestic ones, the highest number of locally transmitted cases since March 31, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Related: South Korea says relapsed coronavirus cases are testing flukes.)

South Korea currently has 14,873 cases according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Ten-year plan calls for an increase in doctors

The doctors on strike called for the South Korean government to retract a variety of policy overhauls it unveiled last month. Key among these was a plan to raise the nations annual 3,000-person quota on medical students to 3,400  a plan that has drawn the most criticism.

The new 10-year-policy  set to start in 2022  is meant to help South Korea better prepare itself for future outbreaks. In addition to calling for more doctors, the policy includes plans to create public medical schools. The government has also given the green light for telemedicine services and is allowing traditional Korean medicines to be covered by the national insurance plan.

The KMA lambasted these proposals, calling them the four evil policies. The group, which often takes outspoken stances on government policy, didnt rule out future walkouts.

South Korea has been exemplary in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the hard labor and sacrifice provided by the physicians, the association said. Our efforts have been answered with a series of policies that will drive us off a cliff.

The national government says that the move will address a shortage of doctors outside the Seoul metropolitan area, home of nearly half of the countrys 52 million residents.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the average number of doctors per 1,000 people in the U.S. is 3.4. South Korea on the other hand only has 2.4 doctors per 1,000 people  lower than the average, though comparable to the situation in the U.S.

The KMA pointed out, however, that the countrys growth in the number of doctors per 1,000 people is above the OECDs average.

The number of physicians per 1,000 people has increased by 3.1 percent annually for the past 10 years, which is six times greater than that of OECD average, KMA said in a statement.

South Koreas medical community was not consulted

One of the main sticking points of the argument is the fact that the government did not consult the countrys medical community before making its plans.

The government says they want to hold discussions but ultimately they have no intention to take back the proposal, said Kim Dae-ha, a spokesman for the KMA.

According to the KMA, the new plan is expected to cost the government about $250,000 for training, per doctor, which means that the policy will require more than $800 million over the decade. The association says that this support should go to current doctors and healthcare facilities instead.

Last week, a group of about 12,000 medical students demanded that the extra funding be spent on improving the salaries of physician trainees. They said that this would encourage doctors to move to rural areas.

Regular citizens, however, seem more supportive of the plan. According to a survey by the Seoul-based research firm Realmeter, about three-fifths of South Koreans approved of the governments proposal. In addition, the Korean Hospital Association, a trade group for hospital workers, has also backed the proposal.

Follow Pandemic.news for more on how governments across the world are dealing with the coronavirus.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

Reuters.com
Xinjiang Hospitals Aborted, Killed Babies Outside Family Planning Limits: Uyghur Obstetrician

2020-08-17 -- Hospitals in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) were forced to abort and kill babies born in excess of family planning limits or who were in utero less than three years after the mother's previous birth, according to a Uyghur obstetrician and other sources.

Hasiyet Abdulla, who currently lives in Turkey, worked in multiple hospitals in Xinjiang over the course of 15 years, including the XUAR Hospital of Traditional Uyghur Medicine.

Abdulla recently told RFA's Uyghur Service how hospital maternity wards implemented family-planning policies that restrict Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities to three children in rural areas and two in urban centers. Enforcement of restrictions requiring women to space out pregnancies by at least three years included killing newborns who had been born after being carried to full term, she said.

According to Abdulla, every hospital in the region has a family-planning unit where employees keep detailed archival records on all pregnancies. They oversee abortions in cases where women have not allowed the proper time gap between pregnancies and also supervise the implantation of intrauterine devices (IUDs) following pregnancies, she said.

Abdulla's claims follow a June 29 report about a dramatic increase in recent years in the number of forced sterilizations and abortions targeting Uyghurs in the region, which the author, German researcher Adrian Zenz, said may amount to a government-led campaign of genocide under United Nations definitions.

China did not make a spokesperson available for comment on this report, but when Zenz's study on forced birth control came out in June, official media vilified him and said Beijing is 'considering suing' him for libel, while the foreign ministry denounced him.

"Every hospital had a family-planning unit that was responsible for implementationwho had how many kids, when they'd given birth to themthey tracked all of this," she said.

"The regulations were so strict: there had to be three or four years between children. There were babies born at nine months who we killed after inducing labor. They did that in the maternity wards, because those were the orders."

Abdulla told RFA that hospital family-planning units carried out the operations, including for women who were "eight and nine months pregnant," adding that in some cases, medical staff would "even kill the babies after they'd been born."

For babies who had been born at the hospital outside of family-planning limits, she said, "they would kill them and dispose of the body."

"They wouldn't give the baby to the parentsthey kill the babies when they're born," she said.

"It's an order that's been given from above, it's an order that's been printed and distributed in official documents. Hospitals get fined if they don't comply, so of course they carry this out."

Population control measures

In his report, Zenz, a senior fellow in China Studies at the Washington-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, documented population control measures in the XUAR that include fines on Uyghur women with three or more children, mandatory pregnancy tests and examinations, and the forced implantation of IUDs or sterilization surgery.

"The so-called allegation that 'millions of Uyghurs were detained' was trumped up by an anti-China organization which receives significant financial support from the National Endowment for Democracy, and Adrian Zenz, a senior fellow in a research group on Xinjiang education and training centers set up by the U.S. intelligence community," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on July 15, in seeking to discredit Zenz.

The uptick in forced population control policies, which the report said had led to an 84 percent birthrate reduction in two majority Uyghur prefectures between 2015 and 2018, occurred in tandem with China's campaign of mass incarceration of Uyghurs launched in the region in April 2017.

Women who refuse to undergo the procedures are detained in a network of internment camps, believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

According to a June 8 report published on the official Xinjiang Web news site, an average of 8 million "extra" pregnancies are aborted in China each year. The report said that nearly 10 percent of women undergo a second such operation in their lifetimes, while almost three percent of women who are unable to have a second child have had such an abortion performed on them.

Urumqi News Online, another state-owned media outlet, has also reported that Chen Yanchun, the former head of family planning at the XUAR Women and Children's Hospital in the regional capital Urumqi with more than 25 years of experience, said the hospital performs an average of 30, and maximum of around 60, forced abortions each day. He claimed that the family-planning unit at Women and Children's Hospital performed 533 abortions in November 2019 alone.

Abdulla's account of the role of family-planning units at XUAR hospitals was confirmed by Shahide Yarmuhemmet, a staffer at the family-planning office of Urumqi's New City district from 1996 to 2011 who now lives in the Netherlands.

Yarmuhemmet said her office dealt with violations by performing forced abortions and that there were similar offices at every administrative levelincluding at the village level and even in some cases in every urban housing unitthat maintained the same mechanisms to implement family-planning policies in the region.

"In the countryside and on the local level, in every administrative zone down to the countryside and local levels, there are family-planning offices," she told RFA, adding that people have to "apply and be approved before they can have a child."

"The village cadres go into every house [to check up on women]even individual apartment buildings have dedicated family-planning employees  They always know clearly who's pregnant, and they report it to higher-ups. If a pregnancy happens outside the family-planning policy, they do an investigation and then performed a forced abortion."

Yarmuhemmet confirmed that violations included having more children than allowed by state policy, as well as failing to wait at least three years between births.

Forced procedure

RFA has been documenting the use of forced abortions in the XUARand particularly how Uyghur women are rarely given any other choice by the statesince at least 2005, when a family-planning cadre in Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) prefecture described the way family-planning officials would take women directly to government offices and hospitals to perform the procedures.

RFA recently spoke with a Uyghur woman named Bumeryem from Toquzaq township in Kashgar's Kona Sheher (Shufu) county who fled the region for Turkey in 2016 but had been forced to have an abortion in 2004 while pregnant with her fourth child.

Despite her attempts to hide the pregnancy, local family-planning cadres eventually discovered Bumeryem's secret and, after subjecting her to a series of threats, forced her to have an abortion at the Women and Children's Hospital in Kashgar city, around halfway through her second trimester.

"[The family-planning cadres] told me I had to get an abortion because the pregnancy was my fourth, and they gave me an injection through my belly buttonI paid 200 yuan (U.S. $29) [for the procedure] myself," she said.

Bumeryem said she had considered giving birth to the child on her own and giving it to her brother to raisea common practice by Uyghurs seeking to skirt family-planning restrictionsbut her sister-in-law was worried that their family would be targeted by authorities.

"[The cadres] took me [to the hospital] and did the abortion at five months," she said.

"It was a boy. We could find out [the sex] at five months  If my baby who was aborted were alive today, he'd be 15 years old."

Bumeryem remembered recovering in a room with other women whose babies had been aborted at seven and eight months, as well as full-term.

"There were women there in even worse situations than mine," she said. "I lay in my bed and cried."

Over the past several decades, Uyghurs' reports about family-planning policy implementation in the region have suggested that many instances of Uyghur discontent that were often portrayed by the state as "splittism," and later as religious extremism and separatism, stemmed from frustrations with family planning.

Bumeryem mentioned one such incident in Toqquzaq in the early 2000s when a number of women were forced to have abortions because they had failed to wait the required three years between births, leading their husbands to attempt a demonstration that was quickly put down by authorities.

"They formed groups to abort and dispose of our children as they pleased," she said. "It has become a form of oppression in our homeland."

Birth control procedures

Even women who do not violate limitations on children under family-planning policies in the XUAR are routinely forced to undergo birth control procedures that include implantation of intrauterine devices (IUDs) and tubal ligation surgeries.

Several have described in recent interviews painful procedures that left them both physically and emotionally scarred and suggested such measures are part of a bid by the government to eradicate their ethnic group.

One womana neighborhood committee leader in Suydung (Shuiding) township, in Ili Kazakh (Yili Hasake) Autonomous Prefecture's Qorghas (Huocheng) countytold RFA she had spent some 30 years going house to house and collecting fines from people who had violated family-planning policies.

Now 57, the woman who declined to provide her name for fear of reprisal said that knowing she was at risk of falling victim to the same punishments she helped to enforce, she took an unknown type of birth control pill for more than 10 years, which she believes caused her to lose her hair and experience memory loss.

"At first there were no side effects, but then [about a year later] my hair started falling outnow I have only a tiny handful of hair left, and scarves won't even stay on my head," she said.

"My memory is unusually bad. I can't even memorize my childrens' phone numbers. I think this might be the worst side effect of the meds  It started when I was 45 and has gotten a lot worse since I turned 50."

The committee leader said she knows "40 or 50" people in her neighborhood that were suffering from similar symptoms.

"After seeing my hair fall out, my daughter elected to have [tubal ligation] surgery after she'd had her third child," she said.

"[Local authorities ordered her to], but my daughter and I both agreed with it after seeing what can happen after taking the pill."

Other sources have told RFA of IUDs that have had to be surgically removed years after they were implanted because they experienced severe vaginal bleeding, some of whom have learned that the device punctured their uteruses and likely left them sterile.

While IUDs are the most common form of birth control used by authorities to implement family-planning policies, tubal ligationin which the fallopian tubes are tied and sometimes cutis another favored method.

While surgeons can "untie" fallopian tubes that have been blocked in most tubal ligations, Chinese government-ordered surgeries generally involve the cutting of the tubes, making it much more difficult to undo.

Gross rights violations

Sophie Richardson, China Director at New York-based Human Rights Watch, called Beijing's family-planning policies in the XUAR "gross human rights violations" and suggested that doctors and other officials enforcing them should be subjected to sanctions by the U.S. under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

"When people in other parts of the world carry out these kinds of horrible abuses, they're held accountable before the law," she said.

"[Enforcers of family-planning policies] have to know that this can happen to them, too. Where is the justice for all the Uyghurs who are suffering under these human-rights violations?"

At the end of July, the Trump administration sanctioned the quasi-military Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp (XPCC) and two of its current and former officials over rights violations in the XUAR.

The move followed similar sanctions last month against several top Chinese officials, including regional party secretary Chen Quanguo, marking the first time Washington targeted a member of China's powerful Politburo.

Richardson noted that while Beijing claims family-planning policies are voluntary, "this is the same government that, for a long time, denied that anybody was arbitrarily detained in the Uyghur region at all."

"It's not exactly the government that you go to for accountability," she said.

Richardson said that as Beijing continues to promote the narrative that everything in the XUAR is under control and that Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are content, the government should allow independent observers into the region to investigate reports of abuses.

Last month, sources told RFA that authorities in the XUAR are preparing local residents for visits with outside "inspectors" by ordering them to disavow knowledge of the family-planning policies detailed in Zenz's report.

Reported by Gulchera Hoja and Shohret Hoshur for RFA's Uyghur Service. Translated by Elise Anderson. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.

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A number of companies based in downtown Portland are set to vacate or sell their offices because on-going protests in the city against police brutality have led to 'unsafe' conditions in the area, reports suggest.

Activists have taken to the city streets for the last 82 consecutive nights to demonstrate under the banner of Black Lives Matter, but some of the rallies have descended into chaos, resulting in violent clashes with police or widespread acts of vandalism.

The protests were spurred by the Memorial Day police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, and other examples of cop brutality across the US.

But businesses in the area now say the perpetual disruptions have caused unsafe conditions in the neighborhood  and they want out.

Standard Insurance, whose headquarters at 900 SW 5th Avenue is a key part of downtown Portlands cityscape, have removed the last of their 2,100 employees from the center and have relocated them to their office in Hillsboro.

Our downtown properties have sustained significant vandalism and a number of employees and contractors have been assaulted in recent months, Standard Insurance's community relations senior director Bob Speltz told KGW.

Standard Insurance, whose headquarters at 900 SW 5th Avenue is a key part of downtown Portlands cityscape, have removed the last of their 2,100 employees from the center and have relocated them to their office in Hillsboro

A spokesperson for Standard Insurance said they will return 'if conditions in the neighborhood improve' (pictured: Police declared a riot around midnight as Portland protests continued for the 80th consecutive night Saturday)

In the long-term, Standard Insurance says its exploring more permanent remote and alternative work options.

Speltz says the removal of its workforce from the area is likely temporary but hes unsure how many workers will return to the companys downtown locations.

The majority of its 2,100 workers had already been working from because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Speltz said.

We remain committed to the downtown core, Speltz continued, assuming conditions in the neighborhood improve.

While the future of Standards Portland buildings remain unclear, numerous business owners in the area spoke out last month about how they were losing massive amounts of money due to the demonstrations and may also have to consider relocating.

The protests, combined with the pandemic, was found to have caused several million dollars in either damage or lost revenue, a survey administered by the Portland Business Alliance found.

One of the responding businesses reported losses of more than $20 million alone. The company wasn't named in the findings, however the staggering number is said to still be growing.

'The financial consequences to the downtown corridor are a running calculation that is almost impossible to wrap your mind around. The financial impacts of physical damage is one thing, and that continues to increase,' the organizations president and CEO, Andrew Hoan, said in July. 'Then the ongoing loss of revenue to the business community who cannot operate their places of businesses is also a number that continues to rise.'

Business owners said the continued clashes in the city, particularly in front of the federal courthouse, are affecting profits and their sense of safety.

'Safety-wise, were just concerned. Our employees are a little bit nervous being here, especially later in the evenings. We try to have extra people just to make sure that everybody is safe and feels comfortable,' Stacey Gibson, a Subway franchise owner, told KATU.

Business owners said the continued clashes in the city, particularly in front of the federal courthouse, are affecting profits and their sense of safety ( a deserted downtown portland is seen on June 17)

Portland police walk past a dumpster fire during a crowd dispersal on Friday night. 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

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

Though Gibson said she supports the protests' aims, she said the late-night violence and destruction make it tough to operate a business in the area.

'We just need to find some sort of a peaceful resolution and resolve it so we can all open back up and just deal with the COVID situation,' Gibson said.

Hoan said a number of business have already left downtown, though the exact number is not known.

'We are aware that it is happening. Businesses are leaving,' Hoan said. 'We need to start to turn the corner now, so that this sort of irreparable damage does not last.'

Hoan told KATU the boarded up business make it seem as if the area is closed and unsafe, which isn't helping matters.

'You have blocks and blocks of plywood. You have graffiti. You have an accumulation of damages that are un-repaired, an ongoing perception that coming downtown is not a safe place,' he added.

Other companies, such as non-profit OCHIN, announced plans this week to permanently leave the area  but deny the protests have anything to do with the decision.

OCHIN announced on Friday that it would be putting its 40,200 square-foot office at 1881 SW Naito Parkway on the market on August 27. The company purchased the property for $14 million just three years ago.

Spurred by the Memorial Day police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, businesses in the area now say the perpetual disruptions have caused unsafe conditions in the neighborhood  and they want out

According to a press release announcing the news, half of its employees already worked from home before the pandemic began ravaging the country in early March  and now all of them do.

What we've learned since then is a fully virtual model suits us well, OCHIN CEO Abbey Sears said. It allows us to offer more flexibility for our staff and more nimble, regional support for our members across multiple time zones.

OCHIN spokesperson Jennifer Stoll reiterated to KGW that the decision had nothing to do with the protests.

Jonathan Bach, commercial real estate reporter for the Portland Business Journal, says hes been observing on the pandemics impact on downtown office spaces, and said he hasnt so far seen a mass exodus from the area because of the protests, however that could change.

For now, Bach says he thinks COVID-19 is consuming all the oxygen in the room, thats spurring businesses to leave the area  whether temporarily or otherwise.

He says that though the sale of the OCHIN building is big news, it may become an indicator of better things to come.

Less dramatic but almost more telling in this environment story is the sublease space, Bach said, adding available subleasing space now still trails the dot.com bubble of the 1990s, and the financial crash of 2008.

So those numbers may be a little more telling for offices in particularly and so far at least for the data I've seen, we're doing OK, Bach told KGW. Again, youre not seeing a mass exodus.

Amid Bachs optimistic assurances, activists in Portland gathered for an 82 consecutive night in the city on Monday, with a hundreds of protests marching on the Portland Police union headquarters.

Amid Bachs optimistic assurances, activists in Portland gathered for an 82 consecutive night in the city on Monday, with a hundreds of protests marching on the Portland Police union headquarters (Protesters pictured on Sunday, August 16)

While crowd sizes have diminished in the three months since widespread demonstrations began, and since federal officers policing the crowds have made themselves scares, the protests have continued.

The smaller group of activists have geared their ire towards a rotating set of targets that have included police precincts and the Portland Police Association Office on North Lombard Street.

A group of 200 marched on the union building after 10pm. Occasional chants broke out among those gathered and a number were seen spray painting plywood that now surrounds the building.

Police announced over loudspeaker at 11pm that they believed some may be attempting to force their way inside the building and asked the crowd to move back.

Officers learned that someone had broken through a plywood covering and shattered a window, police said. The person also reportedly tried to cause water damage with a hose.

Police released smoke and fired pepper balls to control the crowd, which was met by a bottle being thrown back in their direction.

No one was arrested during Mondays demonstration, but the weekend was marred with violence.

The sickening moment a truck driver was kicked unconscious by protesters who chased after his vehicle, causing him to crash onto a side walk was captured on Sunday night.

Just blocks away from a black rights demonstration in Oregon's capital, demonstrators hauled a man out of his truck after he crashed it into a tree.

After the man was knocked out by the kick, other demonstrators came to glower over his motionless body and shout obscenities

The man was rushed to hospital after being kicked but there has not yet been an update on his condition

He appeared dazed and was bleeding profusely from the head when he was made to sit on the ground and told 'wait for police to arrive.'

The man, who some rioters claimed had driven at them, was then knocked clean out by a vicious roundhouse kick delivered to the back of his head.

As he lay unconscious on the ground, shouts of 'Black Lives Matter' were heard as other protesters attempted to provide first aid.

Drew Hernandez, who filmed the incident on his cell phone, has spoken of his experience of being in Portland on Sunday night, saying 'sometimes it feels like you're walking in a Third World country'

Others began ransacking the man's truck and when questioned by others, explained that they were simply 'checking for weapons.'

Drew Hernandez, who documented the incident, said Oregons capital currently feels like a third world country.

Speaking to Fox News, Hernandez claimed the man was possibly defending a transgender woman being beaten and robbed by the protesters, when the group turned their attention to the driver and his female companion.

The unnamed man then got into his truck and drove away as he and the woman became a target, but crashed in the pursuit, Hernandez said.

'I think he just felt extremely threatened,' Hernandez said in an interview. 'They chased him... until he finally crashed. When they finally caught up to him, they went nuts.

'This was violent, extremely violent,' he said. 'Sometimes I forget I'm walking the streets of an American city in the Northwest. Sometimes it feels like you're walking in a Third World county.'

Earlier footage shows the truck parked outside a 7-Eleven, with some rioters kicking it and attacking the man through the window, as others shout, 'He didn't do nothing.'

The man was rushed to hospital after being kicked but there has not yet been an update on his condition.

Elsewhere, authorities said Monday that they are investigating reports that an explosive device was detonated in the downtown area over the weekend.

Authorities said Monday that they are investigating reports that an explosive device was detonated in the downtown area over the weekend.

The Portland Police Bureau said in a statement that there are reports that someone threw an explosive device on Saturday, possibly in the area of Southwest 4th Avenue and Main Street.

The incident was never reported to police, but a video shared to social media captured a loud bang with what appears to be residual smoke on the street.

Black GMC suburban just threw a pipe bomb at us, the woman who uploaded the video claimed in a tweet, accompanied by a close up image on the device.

Police Chief Chuck Lovell said on Twitter that investigators are trying to determine what happened.

PPB Investigators are actively looking into this case, he said on Twitter. If anyone has a first-hand account about what happened or picked up evidence please contact us.

The incident occurred just hours before a riot was declared in the city as protesters gathered outside a law enforcement early Sunday.

Authorities said people had thrown 'softball size' rocks, glass bottles and other objects at officers. Two police officers were treated at the hospital after being hit by rocks. Eleven people were arrested.
Parliament has proposed a draft bill that will among other objectives prohibit the practice of professional Witchcraft or Wizardry and the declaration of a person as a Witch or Wizard and the molestation of a person on suspicion of being a Witch or Wizard.



This follows the recent beating to death of a 90-year-old woman by a group of persons on suspicion that the 90-year-old Woman being a Witch.



The Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Prof. Michael Aaron Oquaye announced this in Parliament last Friday before the House went on recess as the Second Meeting of the 4th Session (Year) of the 7th Parliament ended last Friday.



According to the Speaker, a Consultant on Private Members Bill, who has been engaged by Parliament is working on the draft bill which will be submitted to the House for consideration and passage into Law.



Rt Hon Prof Michael Aaron Oquaye congratulated members of Parliament for their hard work which ensured the successful completion of the Second Meeting of the House.



"During the Second Meeting made up of 12 weeks of intensive work, 13 bills were passed into law whilst 11 Constitutional, Legislative and Executive Instruments were also passed by the House, " the Speaker said.



In the Second Meeting, the House also adopted a motion for the enactment of Private Members Bill.



The Minister of Finance Mr. Ken Ofori Atta also presented the Mid-Year Review of the 2020 Budget statement and economic policy of the government and the subsequent approval by the House of a supplementary Budget estimate of Ghc 11.8 billion for 2020 financial year.

Source: Emmanuel Akorli/Parliamentary Correspondent/Peace Fm









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A detailed analysis report of the Global Biodiesel Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments.

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The global pandemic is causing culture to shift in every direction  whether driven by new consumer needs, government responses, community and brand initiatives, or even deep-rooted issues brought to light by the crisis.

TBWAAsia has compiled a new report using its proprietary cultural capability, Backslash, to identify 23 New Edges of Asia  trends that are not yet established, but are emerging, growing, and likely to play a large role in future culture.

The launch of the report coincides with the unveiling of CQ , TBWAs new knowledge and insights platform tracking the latest cultural triggers in the region, and exploring consumer trends that present future opportunities for brands. TBWAAsia will continue to follow and detail the evolution of each Edge on this new platform.

The Edges of Asia report spans 12 markets  China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

Ranging from iParticipants and Clean Currency, to Blended Living and National Pride, each Edge helps businesses understand the implications of the trend, better navigate the circumstances as they evolve, and identify unique and innovative brand opportunities.

These 23 edges are a blueprint of culture. It makes cultural nuances accessible by providing a clear direction in which consumer behaviour is heading in a post-COVID world, said Subramanian Krishnan, Chief Strategy Officer, TBWAIndia It gives brands an edge to exploit culture rather than be controlled by it, quite literally.
Samantha Rise, an activist, points toward City Hall and speaks about a lack of solutions for residents of the encampment along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 22nd Street. The city had posted notices that it planned to clear the encampment at 9 a.m. Tuesday, but the parties came back to the negotiating table while encampment residents filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the city from evicting them. Read more

Plans to clear out two Philadelphia encampments where dozens of homeless people have lived in tents for months have been postponed until at least Thursday, after residents of the encampments filed a lawsuit seeking to block the city from closing the sites.

City workers on Monday posted a formal notice that the protest camps  one on a ball field along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and a smaller one on Ridge Avenue outside the headquarters of the Philadelphia Housing Authority  had to disperse by 9 a.m. Tuesday or face eviction. Dozens of activists arrived on the scene as early as 7 a.m. to defend the Parkway site and its residents from an expected police presence, but 9 a.m. came and went with little activity.

A hearing on the lawsuit, filed in federal court on behalf of residents of both encampments, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday. A city spokesperson said that until the hearing, the Kenney administrations efforts to offer wide-ranging services to those in the encampments will continue, though no other action to resolve the encampments [is] currently planned.

Even after the suit was filed, city officials and encampment organizers were still negotiating, alongside Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Jamie Gauthier, who pushed the administration to return to bargaining with the protesters. Gauthier said she respects their demand for real, safe, permanent housing solutions.

The sticking point between the administration and the encampment organizers has largely been the word permanent. City officials say they have offered pathways to permanent housing, putting up residents of the encampments in shelters or quarantine space set aside amid the pandemic. Protesters say the city should provide the residents housing in city-owned properties, but the Housing Authority and city officials have dismissed the idea.

During a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Mayor Jim Kenney said that his administration cant accede to that demand without state or federal cooperation and that the vacant units arent equipped with plumbing or electricity. He said that without an amicable resolution or blocking from a federal judge, a sweep of the encampments is imminent.

At some point in time, this has to end, Kenney said, because its not tenable, and its not sustainable.

City officials have been clear in their intention to end the encampments. In mid-July, officials postponed a scheduled dispersal of the sites  the Parkway encampment was about five weeks old, with 100 to 150 people sleeping there at the time  because talks, they said, had broken down. Kenney then personally intervened and negotiated with organizers.

On Monday, the mayor said that after weeks of face-to-face discussions, he concluded further negotiations would be fruitless, and city officials posted the notices to clear out by Tuesday morning. The 24-hour warning differed from the way the city handled encampments of people experiencing homelessness in 2018 and 2019 in Kensington, when those living in the camps were given 30 days notice prior to eviction and everyone was guaranteed a spot in a shelter or treatment facility.

The difference is that these encampments organizers are activists who have tied housing justice to the Black Lives Matter movement, and those who call the encampments home said they had no intention of leaving. Indigo, a 20-year-old former Temple University student who did not give a last name, has lived in the encampment on Ridge Avenue since June. He said he had no place else to go.

This is our home, he said. We will stand here and defend it with our bodies.

The status of the encampments as a protest was part of the argument lawyers representing the residents made on constitutional grounds. They say the city is attempting to violate the residents right to protest, as well as their right to keep property, referencing personal belongings they assume would be destroyed in a sweep. (The city said it would keep residents belongings in a warehouse for up to 30 days.)

Stephanie Sena, a professor of poverty and policy at Villanova Universitys Widger School of Law, organized the lawsuit along with a student. She said while the encampment is not ideal, sweeping the area isnt the answer.

We believe a sweep is deadly, she said, because the reason people put themselves up at encampments is because they can access services better, including a medic, food donation, and running water.

Dozens of activists surrounded the encampments Tuesday morning, many responding to social media posts summoning supporters for urgent eviction defense.

Were here to stand strong, thats what the residents want to do, said Jennifer Bennetch, 35, a housing justice advocate and an organizer of the Ridge Avenue encampment known as Camp Teddy.

On the Parkway at 22nd Street, about 75 people arrived Tuesday morning, chanting, Give us housing, where do we go? They represented organizations including the Workers Revolutionary Collective, ACT UP Philadelphia, and I Will Breathe. They prepared to defend the camps by blocking entrances with wooden pallets, metal barricades, and traffic cones, and practiced with each other, testing how the materials held up when aggressively pushed.

Sterling Johnson, an advocate working with camp residents, said they were impressed by how many people showed up at the Parkway, where the camp is known as Camp JTD after James Talib-Dean, an organizer who recently died.

People come out for eviction defense nowadays. It used to be 10 people, and now its like hundreds, Johnson said. Alex Stewart, an organizer with the Workers Revolutionary Collective, said it was a blessing to defend the residents of the campsite, and said activists and residents remain vigilant as the court case plays out.

No ones getting tired, said Janelle Johnson, who works in the camp as a nurse. She said the threat of eviction and the news that the camp would remain on the Parkway for at least a few more nights was bittersweet.

As she stood on the sidewalk, a man passed by and muttered something to her. What did he say? Stewart asked.

He said, Youre supposed to be gone, Johnson said.

She turned toward the man, walking away toward Center City, and called after him: But were still here!

Staff writers Vinny Vella, Sean Collins Walsh, and Samantha Melamed contributed to this article.
The National Organizer for the opposition National Democratic Congress, Joshua Hamidu Akamba is urging Ghanaians not to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for banning the importation of salvage vehicles into the country.

The law banning the importation of salvaged and used cars older than ten years will come into force in October this year.

The Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which was opposed by the Minority and vehicle dealers across the country was later passed into law by Parliament in March 2020.

President Akufo-Addo also assented to the Act on April 30, 2020.

According to section 154 (5) of the Act, the prohibitions will come into force six months after the Act is assented to by the President.

The prohibition against the importation of salvaged motor vehicles into the country under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 58 shall come into force, six months after the date of the coming into force of this Act, the said section of the Act reads.

Speaking to a group of Taxi and Trotro drivers in a video that went viral on the social media, NDC's Joshua Hamidu Akamba urged the group to vote massively for former President John Mahama as the sure way to keep their business.

Mr. Joshua Hamidu Akamba stated "How many people can afford a brand new car for a Trotro in the taxi business and how much sales will the driver make at this time that Bawumia is only seen mounting platforms for comedy whilst he leaves the real Economics Job unattended to?

"The Government led by Nana Addo is just deliberately bringing hardship to the people of Ghana whilst he made his friends and families Rich forever So please don't go and make a mistake by voting for this heartless Government that says you cannot import used cars again meanwhile, these are the cars that you the 'Trotro' and taxi drivers are using for survival and payments of taxes."

Joshua Hamidu Akamba appealed to car dealers, the taxi and trotro drivers to vote for the NDC to bring positive change into the country. "Vote for the NDC to come to power and transform the country and if we come to power and you don't see such positive changes, everywhere you see me, hoot at me."

The NDC's National Organizer who will be in Akatsi South Constituency on Tuesday together with the leader and flagbearer of the party Mr Mahama urged party supporters, Constituency Executives, Branch Executives, and floating voters to be very committed to the 'Rescue Mission' agenda outdoors by the NDC to save this country from the NPP government.
Bilaspur: Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel on Monday (August 17, 2020) rescued a man, who was stranded at Khutaghat Dam due to heavy flow of water, near Chhattisgarh`s Bilaspur district.

An IAF chopper was used in the dramatic rescue mission. The stranded man sat on a rock holding on to a tree.

#WATCH Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper today rescued a man at Khutaghat Dam near Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. Due to heavy flow in the dam, IAF was requested to carry out a rescue operation: Dipanshu Kabra, IG Bilaspur Range (Video source-Bilaspur Police) pic.twitter.com/IaGddp2gt6  ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2020

The state officials tried to rescue him on Sunday night, however, they could not get him out, according to the Bilaspur police.

The IAF was then requested to carry out a rescue operation, informed Inspector General (IG) Bilaspur Range Dipanshu Kabra.

The IAF used an MI-17 helicopter to airlift the man.

The operation was jointly carried out by the IAF and the state police department.

The 34-year-old man has been identified as Jitendra Kumar Kashyap.

Soon after the rescue operation, the man was taken to Ramkrishna CARE Hospital in Raipur.
RICHMOND  Gov. Ralph Northam promised the General Assembly on Tuesday he remains committed to the progressive budget it passed this year, but said the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed the states economy and drained tax revenues needed to pay for the priorities of the Democratic-controlled legislature.

Northam said a projected $2.7 billion revenue shortfall means the state no longer can afford many of his preferences  especially in education  or theirs.

For their part, lawmakers had to haggle over logistics. House legislators, meeting at Virginia Commonwealth Universitys basketball arena with desks spread far apart, argued for hours over whether to hold future meetings virtually. Democrats muscled through a change that allows lawmakers to hold meetings and votes virtually, over the strong objections of Republicans. GOP lawmakers were able to delay virtual committee meetings until next week.

The Senate, meeting at a nearby museum, grumbled about the Houses plans and said they plan to continue meeting in person and are looking to get work on its bills done as soon as possible.

The governor said he would not restore most of the $2.2 billion suspended by the assembly in April because of economic uncertainty caused by the public health crisis, including raises for state workers and teachers, behavioral health, tuition relief, transportation funding and access to health care.

We all share these priorities, and we will return to them in January, when the time is right, he said in a 27-minute speech delivered in the Pocahontas Building to legislators huddled at their computers hours before convening in a special legislative session to revise the budget and act on proposed police reforms.

Northam said the administration would begin working on the next revenue forecast after the special session to prepare amendments to the revised budget he will propose in December for the regular 45-day assembly session scheduled in January.

Just as our revenues now look better than we predicted when the pandemic began, we expect the December reforecast to show additional improvement about 16 weeks from now, he said. But for that to happen and allow us to return to these shared priorities, our economy must show improvement.

Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne told members of the House and Senate appropriations and finance committees the administration already has taken necessary actions to protect the states financial condition, regardless of what the assembly does in special session.

Strictly from a procedural and financial perspective, we dont need another budget, Layne said.

However, Northam also asked the money committees to support his proposals for one-time spending on top priorities such as housing and broadband telecommunications, access to voting in the November election, reforms in policing and criminal justice, historically black colleges and universities, and cultural sites focused on African American history.

He also proposed $15 million in new spending to rehabilitate old dams, which severe flooding tested last weekend in the Richmond area and other parts of Virginia.

We saw just this weekend across Virginia how important those infrastructure investments are, the governor said. We had so much rain that 150 homes below a dam in Chesterfield [County] had to be evacuated, and another dam near Pocahontas State Park would have failed had it not recently been upgraded.

Flooding in other communities, like Staunton and Hampton Roads recently, also speak to the fact that water management needs cannot wait, he said.

At the same time, Northam advised legislators to do no harm in how they act on the budget in the face of economic uncertainty because of the continuing public health emergency, which he declared in Virginia on March 12  the same day the assembly adopted the two-year $135 billion budget that includes $44 billion in the general fund that relies on state taxes.

He urged them to maintain the states cash balances, avoid using one-time revenues for ongoing expenses while putting money into one-time priorities, and keeping the states financial options open.

The governor also reminded them some legislators, including Senate Republican leaders, had urged him and the assembly in March to make deep cuts in the budget.

You will recall that some were calling on us to cut $3 billion from the last three months of the last fiscal year, he said. We should be proud that this was not necessary.

Virginia ended the fiscal year June 30 with about $234 million less revenues, but state officials had expected losses of up to $1 billion. Northam also froze hiring and eliminated discretionary spending, helping to generate about $500 million without dipping into financial reserves estimated at $1.1 billion.

Northam, a physician, said the actions on the budget during the special session will determine how Virginia weathers the financial consequences of a public health crisis that is far from over.

Our economy was booming before the pandemic, and it can fully rebuild only when this virus is behind us, he said. This means that as we make budget decisions, this week and into the next session, we must keep in mind that we cant know what is going to happen with the pandemic, when a vaccine will be available, or how much longer this will go on.

So we need to follow the oath that doctors lead with: First, do no harm.

The Associated Press contributed.
Our integration with Ambir Technology allows organizations to digitally transmit sensitive information such as insurance claims, identification cards, legal documents, and financial statements fast and securely, Paul Banco, CEO and co-founder of etherFAX said.

etherFAX today announced its integration with Ambir Technology, an industry leader in digital capture and document management solutions. By extending Ambirs solutions to the etherFAX network in the cloud, customers can securely send documents to any of etherFAXs connected endpoints with ultra-fast transmission speeds, end-to-end encryption, and guaranteed delivery.

etherFAX supports traditional dial tone as well as every major fax server, application, and fax-enabled device. The etherFAX Secure Exchange Network (SEN) is the world's largest fax network, leveraging military-grade encryption and hybrid cloud technology to provide 100 percent secure communications within healthcare, finance, legal, and enterprise organizations. etherFAX SEN features built-in redundancy and eliminates the need for phone lines, fax boards, and servers.

Our integration with Ambir Technology allows organizations to digitally transmit sensitive information such as insurance claims, identification cards, legal documents, and financial statements fast and securely, Paul Banco, CEO and co-founder of etherFAX said. With etherFAX SEN, organizations can send more than 100 fax pages within seconds without compromising security or reliability. By supporting advanced document types and providing faster transmissions of business-critical documents, etherFAX and Ambir can improve workflow processes, customer service, and patient care.

Ambir Technology will also utilize etherFAXs DirectFax solution to securely transmit high-resolution, full-color documents using third-party messaging platforms including Slack, Teams, Microsoft Fax, and mobile applications. Leveraging etherFAX SEN, organizations can send and receive faxes and protected health information (PHI) on Android and iOS mobile phones with superior color and clarity.

Were proud to embed etherFAXs hybrid-cloud technology into our hardware, Mike O'Leary, CEO of Ambir Technology said. Our scanners are known for providing rapid, high quality electronic imaging. Now, we can leverage a direct and digital fax solution with end-to-end encryption. This opens up a whole new world of opportunities for our customers.

About Ambir Technology

Ambir Technology, Inc. is an industry leader in digital capture and document management solutions. Combining professional-grade ID card and document scanners, unique digital imaging software and expert-level customer service, Ambir provides their customers with comprehensive, enterprise-level document capture and form solutions. Specializing in the healthcare, legal and financial sectors, Ambir helps organizations reduce costs, increase productivity and strengthen data security. For more information, visit http://www.ambir.com.

About etherFAX

Founded in 2009, etherFAX offers a secure document delivery platform and suite of applications widely used across a broad range of industries to digitize workflows and optimize business processes. As a leading provider of hybrid-cloud fax solutions supporting healthcare enterprises, etherFAX securely transmits protected health information and high-resolution, color documents directly to applications and devices with end-to-end encryption and ultra-fast transmission speeds. For guaranteed data protection, etherFAX is HITRUST CSF certified and PCI DSS Level 1 compliant. For more information, visit http://www.etherfax.net, follow us out on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etherfax, call us at 877-384-9866, or email sales@etherfax.net.
ATLANTA, Aug 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia School of Orthodontics has received approval to double its enrollment to enable the school to train more resident dentists in the specialty of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics at its two Atlanta campuses. With the Commission on Dental Accreditation approval, class size has increased from 18 orthodontic residents per class to 36 per class. CODA also reaffirmed the school's Approval without Reporting Requirements for another seven years.

With the largest orthodontic residency program in the nation, GSO's mission is to educate outstanding dentists to be proficient in the clinical specialty of orthodontics while providing affordable care to local communities and the underserved population.

"We feel very strongly that the public needs better access to more affordable orthodontic care. We will now be able to educate and train more orthodontic specialists who can provide exceptional, in-person care to large patient populations," said GSO President and Board Chairman Dr. Randy Kluender.

Georgia School of Orthodontics also recently celebrated the graduation of its second class of residents, as well as its fourth anniversary since its inception in 2016. The school has already had an immense impact on the Atlanta community in its four years of operation, having provided over $125,000 in complimentary care through its Gift of a Smile and Purple Heart Smiles programs. In addition, the school estimates that it has saved Georgians over $9 million in orthodontic care due to its reduced fees compared to private practice orthodontics. The School has provided over $1.5 million in scholarships to its residents, as well.

"GSO's enrollment increase will allow more deserving dentists the opportunity to become orthodontists, which will support our great State's need for more highly trained orthodontists and allow them to treat more patients. There is a significant population in Georgia demanding orthodontic care that is not currently being served. GSO has shown that Georgians need better access to orthodontic treatment, they provide this access with the highest quality of care, and they treat their patients at a significantly lower cost," said former Georgia State Senator Renee Unterman.

About Georgia School of Orthodontics

Georgia School of Orthodontics (GSO), based in Atlanta, GA, offers an advanced specialty education program in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. The 36-month residency program is structured to provide collaborative and evidence-based learning for residents while providing quality orthodontic care to patients in the School's two patient clinics in metro Atlanta. GSO's mission is to educate outstanding dentists to be proficient in the clinical specialty of orthodontics, while providing Georgians with the highest level of patient care available. GSO faculty and staff are dedicated to diversity in both education and practice. For more information about GSO, visit GSOrthodontics.org. To schedule a complimentary consultation, visit bracestoday.com or call 770.351.7737.

Lesley Gamwell

Rountree Group

404.309.6915c/770.645.4545o

[email protected]

SOURCE Georgia School of Orthodontics
The XPS line of laptops is Dells most premium offerings for professionals and creators. Expanding their lineup, Dell has announced the launch of their new XPS 17 9700 in India. It features up to 10th Gen Intel CPUs, up to NVIDIAs GeForce GTX 1650Ti GPU, up to a 4K UHD display, up to 32GB RAM, WiFi 6 support and more.

Similar to every Dell XPS laptop, the XPS 17 is made out of CNC machined aluminium and this time, the screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6. The base model is configured with a 16:10 FHD screen that is housed in a 4-sided InfinityEdge enclosure and features their Eyesafe display technology. Customers can upgrade the display to a 4K Ultra HD+ (38402400) touch display that boasts 100% Adobe RGB, 94% DCI-P3 color gamut and peak brightness of 500nits.

For internals, the Dell XPS 17 can be configured with up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, up to an NVIDIA GTX 1650Ti GPU (NVIDIA RTX 2060 GPU option will be arriving later), up to 32GB of RAM and the Intel Killer AX1650 Wi-Fi card that supports Wi-Fi 6. Other features in the XPS 17 include Waves Nx 3D audio, improved thermal design via the GORE Thermal Insulation system, Windows Hello Facial Recognition, etc.

The Dell XPS 17 9700 is available from today at Amazon India, Dell Online Store and select Dell Exclusive Store, with a starting price of Rs. 2,09,500.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy (2nd R) arrives for a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on August 5, 2020. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images

Most members of the U.S. Postal Service's board of governors, who were responsible for selecting Louis DeJoy as postmaster general, have numerous ties to the Republican Party as well as to President Donald Trump's associates and administration. According to a CNBC review of public documents and disclosures, five of the six members of the board, including Chairman Robert Duncan, are linked to GOP and Trump circles through various campaign, legal and financial connections. The White House and the USPS did not return a request for comment after CNBC laid out the details reported in this story.

The Postal Service's leadership is under increasing scrutiny with just under three months until the general election between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. Mail-in ballots could be crucial for some voters to participate in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump himself suggested last week that he was hesitant to agree to another coronavirus relief bill because of an increase in funding for the USPS. He said it could help Democrats in the November elections with mail-in ballots. DeJoy and Duncan are slated to head to Capitol Hill to face lawmakers. DeJoy will face the Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday. On Monday, he and Duncan will testify before the Democratic-led House Oversight Committee about the cost cutting measures that may impact the election. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and other leading lawmakers on the Democratic side have called on the board to push back on DeJoy's proposals and remove him if necessary. DeJoy himself was a prolific fundraiser for Trump and the Republican Party before he landed the top USPS job in June. The board members were all appointed by Trump.

Robert Duncan

Duncan, who is often called Mike, is listed as a director of American Crossroads, a super PAC that's backing Trump in the 2020 election. His position is posted on the PAC's most recent annual report, which was filed in March. The committee has spent $1.9 million backing Trump this cycle, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. The PAC's top donor in 2020 is Steve Wynn, the former Republican National Committee finance chair and previous CEO of Wynn Resorts. He resigned from both leadership posts in the wake of being accused of sexual harassment, something he has vehemently denied ever since. Duncan, who was confirmed for his second term to the USPS board in December, is also labeled as a director of the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC helping Republicans defend their majority in the U.S. Senate. The director filings for the committee have yet to be updated since August 2019. Both are run by Steven Law, the former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called Duncan a "friend," after his latest confirmation. Duncan and representatives for both committees did not return a request for comment.

John Barger

Then there's John Barger, a managing director at NorthernCross Partners, a Los Angeles-based private investment firm. Barger also lists himself as a director on his LinkedIn page of NanoLumens, a company that develops LED displays and headquartered in Georgia. The company received a $1 million to $2 million loan from the Paycheck Protection Program, which was implemented by Trump's Small Business Administration. The billions of dollars in loans administered under PPP were distributed as a stopgap for companies in need of assistance due to financial strain from the coronavirus pandemic. Barger started as a director of NanoLumens in 2018, his page says. He was confirmed to the USPS board last year. He also lists himself as a director at WineDirect, which helps wineries send their products to customers. Barger did not respond to a request for comment, including a request seeking a list of companies NorthernCross in which has invested. A marketing representative at NanoLumens also did not return a request for comment.

William Zollars

William Zollars was confirmed by the Senate in June. He has extensive experience in the business community, including his two-decade tenure as an executive for trucking company YRC Worldwide. In May, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin at a virtual hearing to help YRC, which the lawmaker said was struggling at the time, according to The New York Times. In July, the Treasury announced that it planned to make a $700 million loan to YRC and that it reached an agreement with the company. In exchange for the financial assistance, the Treasury would "receive a 29.6% equity stake in the company." Zollars has also been on the board of Main Street Data, a company that assists those in the agricultural business. That company received a PPP loan of $150,000 to $350,000, according to the public loan list. Zollars is listed as a director of the company on a Securities and Exchange Commission filing from December. Zollars could not be reached for comment.

Donald Moak

Donald Moak was confirmed to become a member of the USPS board in June. He is co-founder of the Moak Group, a public affairs and business consulting firm. A few years before Moak joined the USPS board, his firm turned to a legal advisor who would join the Trump White House: Stefan Passantino. Passantino, a deputy White House counsel who focused on policing ethics violations by Trump officials, started at the White House in January 201 and departed the administration in 2018. The Moak Group paid Passantino for what's described on his White House disclosure report as "legal services." Moak Group is under a list of almost 70 clients that have paid Passantino over $5,000 in legal fees. Moak initially did not return a request for comment, including how Passantino assisted the company. Passantino declined to comment. After publication, Moak and his company's chief operating officer, Michael Robbins, told CNBC he was appointed to the board by Trump after a recommendation by Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Robbins said Moak is a Democratic member of the USPS board.

Roman Martinez
(Newser)  A Long Island couple accused of waging a years-long campaign of harassment against their Black neighbor were arrested Monday. John McEneaney, 57, was charged with criminal mischief and harassment and Mindy Canarick, 53, was charged with criminal tampering, NBC reports. Registered nurse Jennifer McLeggan says the harassment began as soon as she moved to the Valley Stream neighborhood in 2017; she was pregnant with her daughter, who is now 2, at the time. She accuses the next-door neighbors of dumping dog feces in her yard and regularly shooting a pellet gun across the lawn. "They said: 'Go back to where you came from,'" McLeggan tells the New York Daily News. Thats what going on here. I dont deserve it."

story continues below

McLeggan's plight received widespread attention in July after she posted signs on her property detailing the alleged harassment. "My neighbors have been racially harassing me since I purchased my home, she wrote. "I live in fear of my life at home." Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said investigators carried out a "comprehensive review" and charged the couple "because of a pattern of intolerable conduct." "The sign on Jennifer McLeggan's door broke my heart and rallied a community to her aid," Singas said Monday, per ABC7. "It also moved my office to investigate this matter because nobody should have to live in fear of harassment from their neighbors." Other minority residents in the area say they were also harassed by the white couple when they first moved in, but not to the same extent. (Read more Long Island stories.)
Anything that reduces tensions in the Middle East and contributes to Israels security should be applauded. The agreement between the UAE and Israel to establish diplomatic relations in exchange for Israels suspension of settlements and claims to sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (as Israel refers to the West Bank) is a tremendous policy achievement, though UAEs Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed was less enthusiastic in his description of the deal.

Not since Israels peace agreement with Jordan in 1994 and going back to the spectacular one between Israel and Egypt, brokered by President Jimmy Carter, with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, has there been such a positive development in the region. Credit goes to Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump, along with Trump son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, for their roles.

Former Israeli diplomat Yoram Ettinger thinks a primary motivator for the UAE is fear of Iran. In his newsletter he writes: The UAE considers strategic cooperation with Israel, in general, and the peace accord, in particular, a critical added-value to its line of defense (second only to the U.S.) against lethal threats such as Irans conventional and terror offensive, persistent Muslim Brotherhood terrorism, ISIS and Al Qaeda terrorism, Turkeys operational and logistic support of the Muslim Brotherhood and Turkeys military base (5,000 soldiers) in the pro-Iran Qatar. The UAE, as well as all other pro-US Arab regimes, recognize Israel as the most effective and reliable life insurance agent in the region.

Other Middle East countries, especially Saudi Arabia, also fear Iran and the growing possibility that Tehran will soon possess nuclear weapons. The ever-cautious Saudis appear to be taking a wait-and-see attitude before deciding whether to follow the UAE, Jordan and Egypt and establish diplomatic relations with Israel, something that could then shift the pressure to Israel to solve the intractable Palestinian problem.

As a Wall Street Journal editorial noted, The diplomatic breakthrough also scrambles a volatile rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Both have competed for the mantle of Islamic leadership and used support for the Palestinians to burnish their credentials among fellow Muslims. Any Saudi-Israeli rapprochement, in the absence of a statehood deal with the Palestinians, leaves Riyadh vulnerable to the same criticism Tehran is now leveling against Abu Dhabi.

There remains the question of religion. I emailed a top White House official with knowledge of the background of the UAE deal on this question and received no response. A primary motivator for Arab and Muslim nations still hostile to Israel is their belief in a religious mandate to eradicate the Jewish state. Can such agreements with people many radical Islamists have called infidels, apes, and pigs worthy of death have credibility when these same radical Islamists have been indoctrinated in Islamic schools, pulpits and their media with hatred for Israel and Jews? Will they receive a new revelation from Allah that he now believes its OK for Muslims and Jews to get along? That sounds like a stretch too far for me, but the region is a land of miracles.

There is still the question of what to do about terrorist organizations. Will they, possibly in coordination with Iran, launch attacks inside the UAE and against Israel to undermine the accord?

The key word in this diplomatic deal is suspend. If the deal leads to other nations in the region following suit  and as noted all feel threatened by Iran  this will be good for everybody and the Trump administration will have achieved something no one thought possible. If not, Israel would likely pursue annexation.

If his name wasnt Trump, the president would likely get the Nobel Peace Prize, but that prize has lost all meaning since it once went to Yasser Arafat, who headed a terrorist organization, and to President Barack Obama who some believe did nothing to earn it.

I am willing to suspend my skepticism about the possibility of genuine peace in the region to see where this agreement leads, but the religious component is key and until that is resolved I remain neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but cautiously skeptical.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for his new book, Americas Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States.

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Repeated exposure to high-stress calls for service and ongoing exposure to stress without relief were two of the contributing factors that could lead law enforcement officers to become susceptible to adverse events while performing their duties, according to a new study published in BMC Public Health by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

The study team aims to use this research to develop intervention models that can address and help prevent these multifaceted stressors from affecting an officer's ability to respond to high-stress calls confidently.

"If we can develop innovative interventions for law enforcement officers that address their unique occupational demands, we can help mitigate compounding stress factors that affect their overall mental health," said Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH, the study's lead author and an assistant professor at UTHealth School of Public Health in Dallas.

The research team collected data from three law enforcement agencies in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex: a large urban department, a suburban department, and a rural department. The researchers met with officers in focus group settings to identify stressors and to gain insight on how to prevent future adverse effects such as use of force, officer or civilian injury, civilian complaints, or discharge of a weapon.

The study participants were 86% male and 14% female with an average tenure of 12 years. Five themes emerged that influenced an officer's perception of the stress level of a call - officer characteristics such as former military experience or gender, civilian behavior, supervisor factors such as the tendency to micromanage, environmental factors, and situational factors.

The data revealed several factors that contributed to officer stress accumulation, including not "resetting" stress levels after a high-stress call, burnout from answering numerous back-to-back calls, and feeling pressure to move on to the next call quickly. Experience from a previous adverse event was also a contributing factor to cumulative stress. However, according to the focus group responses, behaviors such as taking a break between calls, practicing breathing exercises, and addressing one's mental health over time can help lower levels of chronic stress.

The researchers noted that the combination of the perceived stress level of a call and other cumulative stress factors increase the likelihood for adverse events between police and the public. If the cycle of chronic stress is addressed and limitations placed on the number of high-stress calls an officer responds to during a shift, adverse events may be limited as well. Previous studies have shown that for other occupations, reduced levels of stress increase productivity and job satisfaction.

Irving Police Chief Jeff Spivey, whose officers participated in the study, said the results will help them find additional ways to assist their officers with mental health needs.

"Providing multiple resources for our officers to support and focus on their mental health needs, like our internal peer support groups, is a cause I am very proud to champion," Spivey said. "Peer support services have proven to be effective in helping police officers appropriately manage their mental health; that's why we have teamed up with the Caruth Police Institute and other departments across the state to create a peer network for first responders throughout Texas."

Jetelina and her team are currently testing the feasibility of using smart watches to break cumulative, real-time stress for officers. Additional research on the prevalence of undiagnosed mental health disorders among law enforcement officers is necessary to assess the effectiveness of current mental health resources and to ensure that new resources are developed.

###

Other UTHealth co-authors include Alaina M. Beauchamp; MPH; and Rebecca Molsberry, MPH. Jennifer Reingle Gonzalez, PhD, of Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute; Stephen Bishopp, PhD, of the Dallas Police Department; and Simon Craddock Lee, PhD, MPH, of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, were also co-authors.
Party Girl Hill has given owner Tom Hill reason to celebrate. Unraced at age two because of a stress fracture, the three-year-old female pacer is 6-for-6 in 2020 as she prepares for a Fan Hanover elimination on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Chris Ryder-trainee has won all but one start by at least 1-1/4 lengths, including an 11-3/4 length romp in her debut June 12 at The Meadowlands. She won her most recent race, a sire stakes division at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:49. It was her third consecutive sub-1:50 win on a five-eighths-mile track and the fastest mile on a five-eighths oval by a three-year-old filly pacer in four years, only two-fifths of a second off the world record.

I dont know how fast she can go, Hill said. I dont know where the bottom is. Shes a freak.

Hill bred Party Girl Hill, a daughter of Captaintreacherous out of Look Cheap. Party Girl Hill trained well as a two-year-old but was injured just prior to qualifying.

There was no surgery, we just had to give her the time to heal, Hill said. She was training like an absolute monster. If we didnt have to quit with her, theres no doubt she would have been a top-class two-year-old.

Hill, who lives in England and will turn 70 next month, is no stranger to good horses. He owned two-time OBrien Award winning trotter Caprice Hill, Breeders Crown champion Racing Hill, millionaire Western Silk, and North America Cup and Breeders Crown runner-up Art Colony.

But Party Girl Hill is something different.

Shes the best horse Ive ever been fortunate enough to own, Hill said. Shes just in a different sphere. We knew last year she was a tremendously fast horse, and a good horse. If I said I knew she would be as good as she is, Id be telling you lies, but she had blistering speed and she was intelligent. Whatever you want to do, she will do it.

Chris says shes easy on herself, nothing bothers her. She travels good, she sleeps good, she eats good, and after a race you wouldnt think she had one. She can race from the front, she can do it from behind, she can get parked out; it doesnt matter. Shes the full package. Thats what makes a champion, when you get all those things coming together.

Party Girl Hill faces seven rivals Saturday in the second of two Fan Hanover eliminations. Doug McNair is listed to drive the filly, who will start from post two. The top five finishers from each elim will advance to the final. Party Girl Hill had been entered previously to race Thursday in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division at Harrahs Philadelphia, but will be scratched.

Im just hoping she carries on and stays healthy, Hill said. When shes on her game, I dont think there is a three-year-old filly that can go with her. If she stays healthy, I think she can be a big contender for Horse of the Year. Shes just a special horse. Shes a gift from God.

(USTA)
Sun Life Financial Inc. is in advanced talks to acquire Crescent Capital Group, the $28 billion (U.S.) credit manager co-founded by Milwaukee Brewers co-owner Mark Attanasio, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

A transaction could be announced as soon as this month, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. Its possible, as with any deal that hasnt been finalized, that talks could fall apart.

A representative for Sun Life declined to comment. A spokesperson for Crescent didnt immediately have a comment.

Crescent, based in Los Angeles, invests in bank loans, high-yield bonds and other debt securities. The firm, which also has a presence in New York, Boston and London, has around 180 employees, according to its website.

Sun Life said last year it was looking to boost its private-credit offerings. The Canadian insurer is willing to spend $500 million to $1 billion on firms with operations in North American and Europe that have more than $10 billion in managed assets in midmarket lending, mezzanine financing or other areas of the private credit space, Steve Peacher, president of SLC Management, a unit of Sun Life, told Bloomberg at the time.

Peacher said during Sun Lifes Aug. 7 earnings call that if he could wave a magic wand for M&A deals, one area of interest would be the below-investment-grade private-credit space.

The companys shares have fallen 6.2 per cent this year, less than the 14 per cent decline in the S&P/TSX Composite Financials Sector Index, giving Sun Life a market value of C$32.5 billion.

Crescent was founded in 1991 by Attanasio and Jean-Marc Chapus. In 1995, it was acquired by Trust Company of the West, but the founders and investment team at the time spun out as an independent organization in 2011.
On August 14, a report alleging collusion between social media giant Facebook and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stirred up a whole new hornets' nest.

The investigative report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said Ankhi Das, Facebook's director of public policy for India, South Asia and Central Asia, favoured the BJP by turning a blind eye to disruptive content from the ruling party's leaders and ideological affiliates for the fear of losing out on business in the country.

BJP leaders that found a mention in the report

It alleged that despite several instances of T Raja Singh, a BJP leader from Telangana, and a few others associated with the party, posting content on the platform that violated its guidelines, the company did not apply hate speech rules to monitor such cases.

These instances cited in the report were based on WSJ's interactions with current and former Facebook employees.

Singh, however, denied all allegations in a video he shared on Twitter, two days after the WSJ report came out. He tweeted, "I have got to know many FB pages are using my name. Let me clarify I'm not having any official page, I'm not responsible for any of their post."

BJP leader and Member of Parliament Anantkumar Hegde was another name that featured in the report. Lack of action against him for his "corona jihad" remarks against the country's Muslims was cited as another instance of the social media company willingly ignoring hate speech by the party members.

The video posted by suspended Kapil Mishra, a party leader who gained much notoriety over his veiled threats to protesters during the nationwide anti-CAA protests, also found a mention.

Listen: Setting Sail podcast | Wow Momo may cut jobs in September, business still not back to pre-Covid level: Sagar Daryani

However, these men who were allegedly in violation of the company's hate speech rules, still continue to have accounts on Facebook and Instagram (owned by Facebook). In fact, even after Kapil Mishra's video was removed, the engagement on his page reportedly surged to over 20.5 lakhs from just a couple hundred thousand.

The report did mention that some posts by these people were taken down from the platform when WSJ contacted the company for comment.

Congress steps into the picture, launches attack

The Congress, the main opposition party in India, launched an attack on the BJP, and accused it of making attempt to exercise control over social media. The matter gained political heat with Shashi Tharoor, chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on information technology, taking note of the matter.

In a no-holds-barred attack, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Twitter that Facebook and WhatsApp were controlled by the ruling party and their ideological parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in India.

He said, "BJP & RSS control Facebook & Whatsapp in India. They spread fake news and hatred through it and use it to influence the electorate. Finally, the American media has come out with the truth about Facebook."

Next comes the clarification from Facebook

However, Facebook has clarified that it prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence.

"We prohibit hate speech and content that incites violence, and we enforce these policies globally without regard to anyones political position/party affiliation. We are making progress on enforcement and conduct regular audits of our process to ensure fairness and accuracy," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement as quoted by news agency ANI.

Ankhi Das, the company executive in the eye of the storm, also lodged an FIR, alleging that she had received death threats and was being subjected to online and offline abuse. She has filed a complaint with the Cyber Cell Unit in Delhi against numerous people for "issuing violent life threats through online posting or publishing of content".

Followed by the BJP vs Congress Twitter battle

The whole fiasco saw top leaders of both Indian parties trading barbs.

Union IT Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad responded to Rahul Gandhi's remarks by reminding him of the three-year-old Cambridge Analytica row. Prasad tweeted, "Losers who cannot influence people even in their own party keep cribbing that the entire world is controlled by BJP & RSS. You were caught red-handed in alliance with Cambridge Analytica & Facebook to weaponise data before the elections & now have the gall to question us?"

Congress leader and MP Manish Tewari also shared the WSJ report on his Twitter handle and said, "I wonder how patriotic is it to take the help of foreign entities in elections?"

In another tweet, he flagged, "I am informed that Facebook has funded number of 'ventures' both Media and non Media related in India. In interests of transparency Facebook must reveal who, to what extent and for what purposes has Facebook funded entities based in India."
New Zealand's news service Newshub Nation reports, July 25, on a Korean diplomat's alleged sexual harassment of a local staff member during his service in New Zealand in 2017. / Captured from Newshub Nation



By Park Han-sol



A senior Korean diplomat accused of sexually harassing a local embassy staff member while posted to New Zealand in 2017 has returned home from a consulate in the Philippines, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday.



The return follows the ministry's Aug. 3 order for him to return immediately as part of a "personnel affairs measure for causing controversy." The diplomat, surnamed Kim, was transferred to the Seoul headquarters without being assigned to any specific position for the time being.



He has been placed under self-quarantine for two weeks, a measure adopted to prevent the spread of COVID-19.



The foreign ministry said it would decide on appropriate follow-up measures. However, because the ministry had already taken disciplinary action against Kim for "inappropriate conduct" after an internal investigation in 2019, whether it will reinvestigate the case or impose other punitive measures is yet to be seen.



The ministry had said earlier it was willing to cooperate with an investigation by New Zealand's law enforcement authorities if they made a request, such as for extradition. New Zealand has not yet officially requested the above.



A local news media outlet reported that Cheong Wa Dae may also conduct a separate fact-checking investigation, such as how the ministry learned of the case in the first place and whether the disciplinary action taken was appropriate.



Kim is suspected of groping a local male staff member on three occasions at the Korean Embassy in Wellington in 2017 while serving as a deputy ambassador to New Zealand.



He left Wellington in February 2018 and was punished by the ministry with a one-month pay cut. He was then stationed in the Philippines as a consul general until his recall.



After Kim's departure, New Zealand police continued their investigation, which led to a local court issuing an arrest warrant for him in late February this year.



New Zealand has expressed disappointment in the Korean government's lack of cooperation in the investigation, and the issue was even mentioned during a phone call between the leaders of the two countries late last month.


Congress

New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday wrote to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accusing Facebook India of "interfering" with the country's electoral democracy, and demanded a time-bound high level inquiry into the conduct of Facebook India leadership team and their operations.

In a letter to Zuckerberg, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also demanded that pending the internal investigation and submission of the report, the company should "consider a new team to lead Facebook India operations so as to not influence the probe".

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"Set up a high level inquiry by Facebook headquarters into the Facebook India leadership team and their operations and submit a report to the Board of Facebook within one or two months. The report should also be made public," Venugopal said in the letter.

The Congress and other opposition parties have attacked the social media giant after a US media report alleged that Facebook did not apply its hate speech rules on BJP leaders.

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In its response, Facebook said the company's social media platform prohibits hate speech and content that incites violence, adding these policies are enforced globally without regard to political affiliation.

However, Facebook, which counts India among its largest markets globally, acknowledged that "there is more to do".

FacebookFacebook "May be a willing participant in thwarting the rights and values that the founding leaders of the Congress sacrificed their lives for", Venugopal said, and asked the US firm to publish all instances of "hate speech posts since 2014 that were allowed on the platform."

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"The WSJ article mentions hate speech of at least three other politicians that were wilfully permitted by Facebook India," he said.

Venugopal cited the WSJ article of August 14 about alleged FB India's blatant basis in content regulation and said it was not a surprise revelation.

KC VenugopalHe said Congress has repeatedly raised the issue of bias with many Facebook and WhatsApp executives.

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He said other political parties have raised the issue in India's Parliament adding that the Congress has separately demanded a probe by a Parliamentary Committee in India into "this very serious issue of Facebook's interference in world's largest electoral democracy".

Venugopal said the Congress is joined by other leading political parties in "expressing fear over Facebook's purported role in manipulating India''s electoral democracy".
Heather Heidelbaugh, left, a Pittsburgh trial attorney, is the Republican nominee challenging Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, right, a Montgomery County Democrat seeking a second term this year. Read more

The election for Pennsylvania attorney general, now 11 weeks away, is getting chippy.

Clout told you last week the Republican nominee, Pittsburgh trial lawyer Heather Heidelbaugh, took the first shot on television with a campaign ad including a not-so-subtle dig at incumbent Attorney General Josh Shapiros widely known ambition to run for governor in 2022 (which would be in the middle of his second term if he wins reelection on Nov. 3.)

Shapiro, a Montgomery County Democrat, returned fire this week with his own first television ad, knocking Heidelbaugh as a hack lawyer who is using negative ads to distort his record on behalf of special interests like insurance companies.

That prompted the Republican Attorneys General Association  part of a coalition of political action committees that engage in races for state legislatures, judicial posts and row offices  to accuse Shapiro of being clearly misogynistic for calling Heidelbaugh a hack. Does RAGA plans to air television ads to help Heidelbaugh? The group declined to comment when Clout asked.

Heidelbaugh, who trails Shapiro in campaign cash, is getting backup from the Commonwealth Leaders Fund, a political action committee founded and funded by conservative activists. That PAC, which gave her $50,000 in June, has already spent $144,000 airing TV ads supporting her, according to the ad tracking firm Advertising Analytics. It has booked a total of $435,000 worth of air time in the race. Its first ad decries Shapiro as a career politician already looking to run for governor.

Heidelbaugh has spent almost $95,000 of the $162,000 in air time her campaign has booked, according to Advertising Analytics. Shapiro has spent almost $130,000 of the $309,000 he has booked.

The Shapiro-Heidelbaugh race is shaping up to be the most interesting statewide contest down ballot of the presidential campaign this year. And Shapiro, always eager to build a national profile, is announcing his plans Tuesday to join legal actions to protect the U.S. Postal Service amid concerns that President Donald Trump is gutting the agency to damage mail voting.

Shapiro will also join a conference call Tuesday with Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey to discuss Trumps sabotage of the USPS.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 10:17:41|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement enables the continent to better meet its trade and economic development challenges, secretariat chief for the AfCFTA said Monday.

Speaking during the transfer of the secretariat building from the Ghanaian government to the African Union (AU), secretary general of the AfCFTA secretariat Wamkele Mene said Africa remained trapped in a colonial economic model with numerous challenges.

He said the fragmentation of African national economies into small pieces and the over-reliance on the export of primary commodities, among others, were some of the challenges to intra-African trade and the continent's economic development.

"Africa continues to be trapped in a colonial economic model, which requires that we aggressively implement the AfCFTA as one of the tools for effecting a fundamental structural transformation of Africa's economy," Mene said. "We have to take action now."

The implementation phase of the AfCFTA coincides with the year of Silencing the Guns, an initiative of the AU, providing an opportunity to focus on fast-tracking Africa's economic development objectives, he said.

Ghanaian Minister of Trade and Industry Alan Kyerematen estimated that the operationalization of the AfCFTA would address challenges of small fragmented markets in Africa by creating a single market to create economies of scale.

"Africa will improve its terms of trade with the rest of the world by earning higher values for its exports through value addition," Kyerematen said. Enditem
Perez feels Hogans hand has been on the scales since the beginning, favoring long-term traffic growth over such options as transit. And so Perez is diving into the DEIS to see just what predictions are being made. He doesnt want to miss anything. Parsing all the graphs, charts, maps and tables is eye-watering work.
A day after vandalism forced its closure, Santiniketans Visva Bharati university on Tuesday sought a CBI probe into the incident, in which a mob demolished two gates of the university. It also requested the Centre to deploy central paramilitary forces for security at the campus. This comes hours after the university lodged a police complaint against a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA and eight others accusing them of participating in the violence.

The university named Naresh Bauri, a resident of Bolpur and TMC MLA from the districts Dubrajpur constituency in the complaint. Other than Bauri, three other TMC leaders were also named as accused, university teachers said.

The university on Tuesday night issued a statement alleging that the police did not take any step to stop the vandalism although intimation was sent to the district magistrate, superintendent of police, the state chief secretary, home secretary and personal secretary to the chief minister. The university will request a CBI inquiry to look into the August 17 incident, said the statement, adding that the staff members will hold a 12-hour fast on Wednesday as a mark of protest. The university also decided not to open the campus till those accused of the violence are booked by the police, said a statement issued by the university on Monday evening.

Amid all this, the vice-chancellor decided not to attend the meeting called by Birbhum district magistrate Moumita Godara Basu on Wednesday to discuss the issue with the university authorities, students, local traders and residents. On Monday, Bauri claimed that he took part in the agitation as a former student of Visva Bharati and not as TMC leader.

However, he could not be contacted on Tuesday. The traders also lodged a police complaint against the vice-chancellor. In the statement, Visva Bharati said the allegations were false and they must be withdrawn to make the staff members feel safe.

The BJP has accused the TMC of masterminding the vandalism. This is an example of law and order situation in Bengal. The TMC is trying to establish control over a Central university campus, said BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh. The VC did not talk to the media on Tuesday as well.
By Express News Service

GUWAHATI: The National Campaign Against Torture (NCAT), in its submission -- The indispensability of adding offences of torture in Indian Penal Code -- lambasted the Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws established by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the exclusion of torture from its agenda on criminal law reforms.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the 29th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Police Research and Development on 29 August 2019, stated that the era of third-degree is gone and called for a nationwide discussion on amendments needed in the Indian Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code to address the same. However, the Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws set up by the MHA has failed to include torture in its questionnaires for the First and Second Consultations on Substantive Criminal Law, UNCAT coordinator Suhas Chakma said.

He said this self-censorship was a matter of grave concern as torture adversely affects the entire criminal justice system and the no reform of criminal justice could be meaningful without addressing torture.

The NCAT stated that the Constitution of India, the Indian Evidence Act, and the Criminal Procedure Code provided necessary safeguards against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the public servants. However, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) does not adequately criminalise the offences of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment when these constitutional and legal safeguards are violated by the public servants and therefore, acts of torture mostly go unpunished.

The results are for all to see: The NHRC registered 35,554 cases of custodial deaths/rapes including 31,779 cases in judicial custody and 3,775 cases in police custody from 1994-1995 to 2018-2019, the NCAT said.

It highlighted four shortcomings in the existing IPC provisions dealing with torture such as Sections 331 (punishment for hurt in custody) and 332 (punishment for grievous hurt in custody) read with Sections 319 (hurt) and Section 320 (grievous hurt). It stated that grievous hurt (Section 320) excludes many elements of physical torture which are routinely perpetrated; mental torture by the public servants is not defined under the IPC despite the Supreme Court in Arvinder Singh Bagga v. State of U.P. and others stating that torture even consist of mental and psychological torture calculated to create fright to submit to the demands of the police.

Hurt and grievous hurt do not include cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment; and the IPC provisions do not recognise torture being perpetrated on the ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever.

The Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws has to decide whether India shall be a country governed by the rule of law penalising acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or a country permitting torture and other cruel and inhuman treatment of the persons by the public servants which the Supreme Court in Khatri & Ors v. State of Bihar, known as Bhagalpur Blinding case described as insulting to the spirit of Constitution and human values as well as Article 21 of the Constitution, Chakma said.

The NCAT recommended to the Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws to insert two new sub-sections 320(2): Torture and other cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and 331(2): Punishment for torture and other cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in the Indian Penal Code; and further insert a new sub-section 114-B in the India Evidence Act as recommended by the Law Commission of India in its 113th Report providing that for bodily injury to a person in custody, if there is evidence that the injury was caused during a period when that person was in the custody of the police, the court may presume that the injury was caused by the police officer having custody of that person during that period.

The failure of the Committee for Reforms in criminal laws to recommend specific provisions for criminalisation of third-degree methods/torture would make the Committee itself redundant, warned Chakma.
Phoebe Burgess has transformed her image from jilted ex-WAG to influential mummy blogger since splitting from retired NRL star Sam Burgess last year.

But the mother of two, 31, suffered an Instagram fail recently when she posted about the 'chic space' inside a luxury childcare centre that hasn't been built yet.

Phoebe encouraged her wealthy followers to pre-enrol at Vaucluse Early Learning Centre - even though Woollahra Council has yet to approve the development.

When influencing goes wrong: Ex-WAG Phoebe Burgess recently shared a gushing Instagram post about the 'chic space' inside a luxury childcare centre... that hasn't been built yet

When approached for comment on Sunday, Phoebe's spokeswoman Sharon Finnigan told The Sydney Morning Herald that her client simply wanted to 'let mums know in the area that there was a new childcare centre in the pipeline'.

Finnigan explained that Phoebe was not paid to spruik the childcare centre, and was simply spreading the word as a 'favour' for her friends.

A development application for the two-storey learning centre was lodged in July.

Whoops: Phoebe recently encouraged her wealthy followers to pre-enrol at Vaucluse Early Learning Centre - even though Woollahra Council has yet to approve the development

Reasonable explanation: When approached for comment on Sunday, Phoebe's spokeswoman Sharon Finnigan told The Sydney Morning Herald that her client simply wanted to 'let mums know in the area that there was a new childcare centre in the pipeline'

If approved, the $2.84million premises will employ 14 staff members looking after a total of 86 children, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Phoebe's faux pas comes just weeks after she was spotted in Double Bay without a mask, despite encouraging her fans to wear face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a now-deleted Instagram post, Phoebe had told her followers to wear a mask, even though they are not mandatory in New South Wales.

Single mother: Phoebe shares two children, daughter Poppy, three, and son Billy, one, with her ex-husband, retired NRL star Sam Burgess

However, Phoebe failed to practise what she preached.

She was spotted just hours later without a mask while stepping out in a double-denim ensemble.

Since the photos were published, Phoebe has made sure to wear a mask when out and about.
Cases in the Americas reach almost 11.5 million; UAE sees alarming infection increase; Merkel rules out easing rules.

The World Health Organization has said the world is nowhere near the amount of coronavirus immunity needed to induce herd immunity, a situation where enough people would have antibodies to stop the spread.

South Africa has relaxed lockdown restrictions allowing bars, restaurants, gyms and places of worship to reopen.

The number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world now exceeds 21.8 million, and more than 774,000 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 13.9 million people have recovered from the disease.

Here are the latest updates:

Tuesday, August 18

23:30 GMT  Turkey ferries COVID-19 aid to Venezuela as foreign minister visits

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Caracas on Tuesday as his country delivered medical equipment to help crisis-stricken Venezuela deal with the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Turkey has been one of the key backers of Venezuelas socialist President Nicolas Maduro, who has overseen a six-year economic crisis in the once-prosperous OPEC nation but has so far withstood an 18-month effort by the United States to oust him through sanctions on the countrys oil sector.

Neither sanctions, nor a blockade, nor any type of situation will prevent us from deepening our economic and commercial relationships, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said in a state television broadcast after meeting with Cavusoglu.

As tensions between Caracas and Washington have grown in recent years, Turkey has deepened economic ties with Venezuela, exporting products for a state-run food distribution program and purchasing the South American countrys gold.

20:15 GMT  New York University students queue up for coronavirus tests

Hundreds of New York University students and staff have waited in line outside a white tent for coronavirus testing in advance of some classes resuming in early September, a scene expected to unfold on many US campuses in the coming weeks.

NYU is testing students who have chosen in-person learning, with classes for undergraduates beginning on September 2. The university, housed in hundreds of buildings across lower Manhattan, is also giving students the options of remote learning or a blended program between the two.





20:00 GMT  Millions return to schools lacking handwashing facilities: UN

More than 800 million children around the world lack basic handwashing facilities at their schools, putting them at an increased risk of catching the new coronavirus when schools reopen, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

A joint report published last week by the WHO and UNICEF, the UN childrens fund, revealed that 43 percent of schools worldwide lacked facilities for basic handwashing with soap and water in 2019, affecting 818 million children  more than a third of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

Read more here.

19:40 GMT  Brazil indigenous protesters suspend roadblock

Indigenous protesters in Brazil have agreed to suspend their roadblock of a key highway amid a court battle, but pledged to fight on for more help against COVID-19 and an end to deforestation.

Brandishing bows and wearing traditional feather headdresses and body paint, dozens of protesters from the Kayapo Mekranoti ethnic group had been blocking highway BR-163 through the Amazon rainforest since Monday morning.

The highway is an important artery for farmers in Brazils agricultural heartland to ship corn and soybeans, two of the countrys main exports, to the river ports of the Amazon and beyond.

19:25 GMT  Canadas hardest-hit province for COVID-19 launches plan to combat second wave

The Canadian province of Quebec has announced plans to tackle earlier mistakes in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, while preparing its health sector against a possible second wave of coronavirus.

Quebec, once the countrys hardest-hit province for COVID-19, will boost public health sector hiring, reduce screening delays, and ensure staff like orderlies can no longer work at multiple long-term care facilities, a practice previously blamed for spreading the virus, Health Minister Christian Dube told reporters.

19:10 GMT  Boeing seeks more voluntary layoffs

Boeing has launched a second round of voluntary layoffs to trim its workforce, the company said, as it navigates a brutal commercial aviation market and seeks to return the 737 MAX to service.

The move comes on top of a 10 percent staff cuts earlier this year as commercial airline customers defer deliveries and cancel orders, hitting Boeings profits.

While we have seen signs of recovery from the pandemic, our industry and our customers continue to face significant challenges, the aerospace giant said in a message to AFP.





18:55 GMT  Ireland ramps up restrictions as cases surge

Ireland has significantly tightened its nationwide coronavirus restrictions to try to rein in a surge in cases, urging everyone to restrict visitors to their homes, avoid public transport and older people to limit their contacts.

A spike in cases over the last three weeks, after Ireland had one of Europes lowest infection rates for several weeks, pushed its 14-day cumulative cases per 100,000 of population to 26, and led to the first local lockdown last week.

18:40 GMT  Pelosi: Democrats willing to cut COVID-19 bill in half to get a deal

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that Democrats in Congress are willing to cut their coronavirus relief bill in half to get an agreement on new legislation with the White House and Republicans.

We have to try to come to that agreement now, Pelosi said in an online interview with Politico. Were willing to cut our bill in half to meet the needs right now. Well take it up again in January. Well see them again in January. But for now, we can cut the bill in half.





18:25 GMT  S Korea tightens restrictions in Seoul area to tackle virus surge

South Korea has ordered nightclubs, museums and buffet restaurants closed and banned large gatherings in and around the capital as a burst of new coronavirus cases sparked fears of a major second wave.

The countrys trace, test and treat approach to curbing the virus has been held up as a global model, but it is now battling several clusters that are mostly linked to Protestant churches.

18:10 GMT  Zimbabwe shortens coronavirus curfew

Zimbabwe has shortened an overnight curfew imposed to combat the coronavirus pandemic and extended business hours despite rising cases, the government has said after a weekly cabinet meeting.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month announced a 6pm to 6am curfew, but Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said this had left commuters stranded without transport.

17:55 GMT  France reports over 2,000 new infections

The French health ministry has reported 2,238 confirmed new coronavirus infections, less than recent daily highs but still at levels last seen during the March-May lockdown imposed to stem the spread of the disease.

The seven-day moving average of the case count, which smooths out daily reporting irregularities, has now been above 2,000 for five consecutive days, a level that was last seen around the middle of April.









17:40 GMT  Australia to manufacture promising virus vaccine

Australia has secured access to a promising potential coronavirus vaccine, the prime minister announced, saying the country would manufacture it and offer free doses to the entire population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia had reached a deal with Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to receive the COVID-19 vaccine it is developing with Oxford University.





17:25 GMT  Montenegro delays start of school over coronavirus

Montenegro will postpone the start of the school year by one month due to the the uncertain status of the coronavirus pandemic, the education ministry has said.

Countries across the Balkans have been debating how to safely resume classes after a summer of rising coronavirus infections.

17:10 GMT  Turkeys coronavirus death toll exceeds 6,000

Turkeys death toll from the coronavirus has risen by 20 to 6,016, health ministry data showed, with the total number of identified cases rising to 251,805.

The data showed that 1,263 new cases were identified in the last 24 hours, rising from 1,233 a day earlier.

People wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 walk on a street in Ulus district in Ankara [File: AFP]

16:55 GMT  COVID-19 pandemic causes mental health crisis in Americas: WHO official

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a mental health crisis in the Americas due to heightened stress and use of drugs and alcohol during six months of lockdowns and stay-at-home measures, the World Health Organizations regional director said.

It is urgent that mental health support is considered a critical component of the pandemic response, Carissa Etienne said in a virtual briefing from the Pan American Health Organization in Washington.





16:40 GMT  Pandemic-hit Chile GDP plunges 14 percent

Chiles GDP plunged 14.1 percent in the second quarter, the Central Bank has said, after the coronavirus pandemic mauled economic activity with the exception of the vital mining sector.

Among the worst-hit sectors were manufacturing, construction and the hotel and restaurant sector. In the first quarter, Chilean GDP had increased slightly by 0.2 percent.

In the second quarter of the year, economic activity decreased by 14.1 percent compared to the same period last year, the Central Bank said.









16:25 GMT  Polands health minister resigns after virus response criticised

Polands Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski has said he was resigning from his post, the second resignation in two days from the ministry, which has faced growing criticism for its handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Szumowskis approach in the early stages of the pandemic made him Polands most trusted politician in April, but his image has been dented by scandals surrounding the purchase of ventilators and masks.

Szumowski has denied any wrongdoing.

16:10 GMT  Lebanon reimposes lockdown amid COVID-19 spike: ministry

Lebanese authorities have announced a new lockdown and an overnight curfew to rein in a spike in coronavirus infections.

The new measures will come into effect on Friday and last just over two weeks, the interior ministry said, adding that they would not affect the clean-up and aid effort following the devastating August 4 Beirut port blast.

The airport is expected to remain open and all traffic to and from is allowed if passengers can show authorities a ticket from their trip.

Lebanese authorities have announced a new lockdown [File: Joseph Eid/AFP]

15:55 GMT  Tennis-individual tests positive for COVID-19 at US Open bubble

A non-player has tested positive for COVID-19 within the controlled environment that will host this years Western & Southern Open and US Open in New York over the next month, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) has said.

The individual is asymptomatic and has been advised that they must isolate for at least ten days, while contact tracing has been initiated to determine if anyone else must go into quarantine, the USTA said in a statement.

15:30 GMT  WHO: Herd immunity requires effective vaccine

The World Health Organization says the planet is nowhere near the amount of coronavirus immunity needed to induce herd immunity, where enough of the population would have antibodies to stop the spread.

Herd immunity is typically achieved with vaccination and most scientists estimate at least 70 percent of the population must have antibodies to prevent an outbreak. But some experts have suggested that even if half the population had immunity, there might be a protective effect.

WHOs emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan largely dismissed that theory at a press briefing, saying we should not live in hope of achieving herd immunity.

As a global population, we are nowhere close to the levels of immunity required to stop this disease transmitting, he said. This is not a solution and not a solution we should be looking to.

15:40 GMT  UAE sees alarming increase in coronavirus cases

An increase in the number of coronavirus cases over the past two weeks is alarming and may herald further increases in the near future, the United Arab Emirates health minister has said.

The UAE registered 365 new cases and two deaths over the last 24 hours, the government said, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections in the Gulf state since the start of the pandemic to 64,906 with 366 deaths.

15:25 GMT  Merkel rules out easing coronavirus rules as German cases spike

Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned there could be no further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions while Germany grapples with a surge in new infections.

She urged Germans to follow the rules on hygiene precautions and reminded travellers returning from risk areas that quarantine was not an option but a must so long as they could not show a negative test.

We are seeing that an increase in mobility and closer contacts are leading to a higher number of cases, Merkel told a press conference in Duesseldorf.

15:10 GMT  UK records 1,089 new COVID-19 cases

The United Kingdom has recorded 1,089 new positive cases of COVID-19, up from 713 on Monday, government figures showed.

A further 12 people died after testing positive for the coronavirus within 28 days. The UK has recorded more than 1,000 daily cases on eight out of the last 10 days.

14:55 GMT  Dozens of Kenyan doctors strike over lack of PPE, delayed pay

Dozens of doctors in at least two of Kenyas 47 counties have gone on strike over delayed salaries, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling COVID-19 patients and lack of medical insurance, a union official told Reuters.

Kenya has a total 30,636 confirmed infections, with 487 deaths, according to health ministry data.

Healthcare workers say they have not been given adequate PPE, but the government has said it has distributed enough to go round.

14:40 GMT  Brazil greenlights human trials for J&Js potential vaccine

Brazil has approved human clinical trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, the fourth candidate to trial in the Latin American country that has become key to the global race for a vaccine.

Health regulator Anvisa said it had given the green light to the study which will see 6,000 people in Brazil volunteer to trial the vaccine contender of Johnson & Johnsons pharmaceutical subsidiary Janssen.





14:35 GMT

Hello, this is Elizabeth Melimopoulos taking over the live updates from my colleague Hamza Mohamed in Doha.

Tuesday, August 18

12:35 GMT  France says masks to be made compulsory in most workplaces

Masks will be compulsory in workplaces in France, apart from individual offices where only one employee is present, the French employment ministry said on Tuesday, as the government looks to fight against a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ministry added in a statement that working from home would remain its recommended option for employees.

12:05 GMT  Namibia warns about elephant dung cure for coronavirus

The Namibian government is warning its citizens not to trust claims on social media that elephant dung can cure COVID-19, as coronavirus infections rise more rapidly.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesman, Romeo Muyunda, told Reuters the government had observed that elephant dung was increasingly being touted as a COVID-19 cure.

Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula said COVID-19 currently has no known cure.

Some traditional healers say elephant dung has healing properties, including for treating headaches, toothaches and blocked sinuses, but claiming it can cure COVID-19 is a new trend [Getty Images]

11:25 GMT  Study links COVID-19 to rise in childhood type 1 diabetes

Cases of type 1 diabetes among children in a small UK study almost doubled during the peak of countrys COVID-19 epidemic, suggesting a possible link between the two diseases that needs more investigation, scientists said on Tuesday.

While the study is based on only a handful of cases, it is the first to link COVID-19 and new-onset type 1 diabetes in children, and doctors should be on the lookout, the Imperial College London researchers said.

Karen Logan, who co-led the study, said previous reports from China and Italy had noted that children were being diagnosed in hospitals with new-onset type 1 diabetes during the pandemic.

The study, published in the Diabetes Care journal, analysed data from 30 children in London hospitals diagnosed with new-onset type 1 diabetes during the first peak of the pandemic  around double the cases seen in this period in previous years [Radu Sigheti/Reuters]

10:30 GMT  South Africa eases coronavirus restrictions

South Africa, which had one of the worlds strictest anti-coronavirus lockdowns for five months, relaxed its restrictions on Tuesday in response to a decrease in new cases.

The country loosened its regulations to permit the sale of alcohol and cigarettes, and the reopening of bars, restaurants, gyms and places of worship, all limited to no more than 50 people.

Schools will reopen gradually starting August 24.

South Africa has recorded more than 589,880 cases and at least 11,982 deaths [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]

09:55 GMT  Philippines reports 4,836 new coronavirus cases

The Philippines health ministry on Tuesday confirmed 4,836 novel coronavirus infections, the seventh straight day of reporting more than 3,000 cases, and seven additional deaths.

In a bulletin, the ministry said total confirmed cases had increased to 169,213, while deaths had reached 2,687.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday eased the strict coronavirus lockdown in the capital Manila and nearby provinces to reopen the economy and help struggling businesses, despite the country having the highest number of infections in Southeast Asia.

09:20 GMT  French side Marseille confirm three more coronavirus cases

Olympique Marseille have confirmed three more cases of coronavirus at the club, taking the total to four before they open the new Ligue 1 season at home to St Etienne on Friday.

Marseille said in a statement on Tuesday that testing on Monday did not reveal new cases but confirmed three suspected cases from Sunday.

Marseille cancelled a pre-season friendly with Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart last week due to a positive test for COVID-19 [Christof Stache/Reuters]

Last seasons Ligue 1 was abandoned due to the global pandemic though Paris Saint-Germain were declared champions.

08:45 GMT  Indonesia reports 1,673 new coronavirus infections

Indonesia reported 1,673 new infections on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian nation to 143,043, data from the countrys health ministry showed.

The data recorded an additional 70 deaths, taking the total to 6,277.

08:15 GMT  Foreign residents still need permission to return to Dubai

Foreign residents of Dubai who have been overseas still need permission to return to the city, the emirate said.

The United Arab Emirates in March suspended the entry of non-citizens as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease. Residents have since gradually been allowed to return, either after being granted a special exemption or by registering online, though many still remain overseas.

Last week, a federal policy requiring overseas residents to seek approval before they returned to the Gulf state was lifted. However, Dubai still requires residents to apply for an entry permit, the emirate said in a statement.

Those travelling to the UAE need to obtain a negative COVID-19 test before arriving.

The UAE has recorded 70,805 infections and 384 deaths from coronavirus [Francois Nel/Getty]

07:45 GMT  Russia confirms 4,748 new cases

Russia reported 4,748 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, pushing its nationwide tally to 932,493, the fourth largest in the world.

The countrys coronavirus crisis response centre said 132 people had died of the disease in the last 24 hours, bringing the official coronavirus death toll to 15,872.

Only the US, Brazil and India have recorded more cases than Russia [Pavel Golovkin/AP]

07:30 GMT  UK retailer Marks and Spencer to axe 7,000 jobs

Marks and Spencer, the British retail chain selling clothing and food, is to cut about 7,000 jobs as the coronavirus pandemic keeps shoppers away from its stores, it announced on Tuesday.

The job cuts, to be carried out over the next three months, include losses from its central support centre, in regional management and in its UK stores, M&S said in a statement.

07:20 GMT  Indian minister back in hospital after recovering from COVID-19

Indias Home Minister Amit Shah was hospitalised again on Tuesday after complaining of fatigue and body ache, four days after he said he had recovered from COVID-19.

Shah, a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the virtual number-two in his cabinet, was admitted to the government-run All India Institute for Medical Sciences in the capital New Delhi, the hospital said in a statement.

He is comfortable and continuing his work from the hospital, it said, adding he had now tested negative for COVID-19.

Shah is the highest-profile Indian politician to have been infected with the coronavirus [File: Prakash Singh/AFP]

India has reported the worlds third-largest number of infections after the United States and Brazil, with cases topping 50,000 every day since July 30.

07:00 GMT  Russian minister to join OPEC meeting after testing positive for COVID-19

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak will join an OPEC ministers video meeting on Wednesday despite testing positive for coronavirus while on a work trip in Russias far east, the energy ministry said.

The minister feels good. He has no symptoms, a ministry spokeswoman told Reuters news agency.

Novak is in Russias far east as part of a government delegation headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who had contracted the novel coronavirus in late April.

Novak will continue working remotely for the time being, energy ministry spokeswoman Olga Golant said [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters]

06:15 GMT  More than 680 people die of COVID-19 in Brazil

Brazil recorded 684 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 108,536, the countrys health ministry said.

At least 19,373 more people have contracted the virus, the ministry added, taking the total to 3,359,570.

With a population of 46 million, Sao Paulo remains the hardest-hit region in the country with 702,655 cases and 26,899 deaths.

More than 2.48 million people have recovered from the disease in the South American country [Tarso Sarraf/AFP]

05:45 GMT 

Hello, this is Hamza Mohamed in Doha, Qatar, taking over from my colleague Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.

05:30 GMT  South Korea braces for second wave, with cases linked to church services

South Korea reported 246 more cases of coronavirus  235 of them locally acquired  on Tuesday, its fifth day of triple-digit increases.

Of the new cases, 131 were reported in Seoul and 52 in the surrounding Gyeonggi province.

Scores of cases have been traced to the Sarang Jeil Church in the north of the capital, and authorities have urged people who attended an anti-government rally on Saturday to get tested because some church followers known to have the virus were at the protest.





05:15 GMT  Hongkong Post to test front-line workers

Hongkong Post says it will arrange COVID-19 testing for about 3,800 staff responsible for mail delivery, outdoor duties and counter service.

The tests are scheduled for August 20 and 21 and Hongkong Post expects the process will be completed within two days of taking a specimen.

04:55 GMT  Chinas Sinopharm promises vaccine will be affordable

Chinas state media is reporting that a potential vaccine being developed by a unit of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), will cost no more than 1,000 yuan ($144.27) for two shots.

Sinopharm says its vaccine  currently in late-stage human trials in the United Arab Emirates  could be ready for public use by the end of this year.

It will not be priced very high, Sinopharm chairman Liu Jingzhen was quoted as saying by the Guangming Daily.

More than 200 vaccines are currently in development with more than 20 in human trials.

04:00 GMT  WHO says younger people increasingly driving pandemic

The World Health Organizations regional director for the Western Pacific says younger people  those in their 20s, 30s and 40s  are increasingly driving the pandemic.

Takeshi Kasai told a virtual briefing that many were unaware they had the disease.

This increases the risk of spillovers to the more vulnerable: the elderly, the sick people in long-term care, people who live in densely populated areas and underserved areas, he said.

Low risk isn't no risk. Follow your national health advisory to protect yourself and others from #COVID19 Learn more  https://t.co/X5UBBwGY1q#StaySafe pic.twitter.com/5ka0geiz2n  World Health Organization Western Pacific (@WHOWPRO) August 17, 2020

03:40 GMT  Mutation of virus could be a good thing

A prominent expert in infectious diseases says the mutation of the coronavirus into a more infectious strain could be a good thing because it appears to be less deadly.

Paul Tambyah, a senior consultant at the National University of Singapore and president-elect of the International Society of Infectious Diseases, says the D614G strain increasingly found in Europe  and this week reported in Malaysia  told Reuters viruses tended to become less deadly as they mutated.

You can read more on that story here.

03:20 GMT  Shenzhen steps up procedures to check frozen goods

While New Zealand may have ruled out frozen food imports as the source of its latest outbreak of coronavirus, Chinese state media reports the southern city of Shenzhen is setting up a warehouse specifically to handle such imports.

All imported frozen foods will have to go through the facility, where they will be disinfected, before they can be processed, stored or sold in Shenzhen. Samples will also be taken for nucleic acid testing.

Shenzhen will set up a warehouse for the supervision of #ImportedFrozenFoods starting from Tue as concerns rise over the risk of cold-chain supplies carrying #COVID19. A worker said it will take 5-8 hours for containers to finish the process. https://t.co/2MzrgWvXyj pic.twitter.com/hJ9naKbvvb  Global Times (@globaltimesnews) August 18, 2020

02:50 GMT  New Zealand rules out link to frozen food and freight in recent outbreak

New Zealand has ruled out frozen food and freight as the cause of the recent coronavirus outbreak in Auckland.

Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told the media that investigations showed the virus did not come through chilled foods or materials arriving from overseas at a cold storage facility where one of the people diagnosed with the virus worked.

Auckland is in lockdown until August 26 and investigations into the origin of the outbreak are continuing.

02:20 GMT  Coronavirus on agenda as Democrats open convention in US

The Democrats in the US have begun the convention that will officially nominate Joe Biden as the partys candidate in Novembers presidential election.

Actress Eva Longoria opened the event  held virtually because of COVID-19  by saying that the pandemic had affected us all.

Later, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed the convention saying that the administration of incumbent President Donald Trump was dysfunctional and incompetent and had failed to tackle the coronavirus.

'Our current federal government is dysfunctional and incompetent. It couldnt fight off the virus. In fact, it didnt even see it coming,' says @NYGovCuomo. Live #DemConvention updates: https://t.co/8mtXh0wSov pic.twitter.com/Eb9Ig45ReV  Reuters (@Reuters) August 18, 2020

You can follow our live updates on the convention here.

02:00 GMT  Rio mayor scraps beach app reservation plan

Rio de Janeiros mayor has scrapped plans to launch an app for people to reserve their space on the beach after public ridicule.

Marcelo Crivella was inundated with criticism and a flood of memes on social media after announcing the proposal last week.

The mayors office now says the app will be scrapped and sitting on the beach will remain banned.

People have been allowed to swim in the ocean since the end of last month.

An installation on Rios Copacabana Beach to honour the people who have died from COVID-19 in Brazil [Antonio Lacerda/EPA]

01:30 GMT  New Zealand reports 13 new cases

New Zealands reported 13 new cases of coronavirus over the past 24 hours.

Twelve of the cases are linked to an existing cluster that forced the lockdown of Auckland  the countrys biggest city.

00:30 GMT  Protests in Argentina against extension of coronavirus restrictions

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in cities across Argentina to show their opposition to President Alberto Fernandez and his plans to extend coronavirus restrictions in the region around Buenos Aires.

Demonstrators gathered in the centre of the city shouting freedom, freedom, waving flags and chanting anti-government slogans.

Argentina has recorded nearly 300,000 cases of the disease and 5,750 deaths. About 90 percent of the cases have been in Buenos Aires where the coronavirus curbs have been extended until August 30.

00:10 GMT  Hopes rise in Victoria that outbreak easing after lowest cases in a month

The Australian state of Victoria has reported its lowest number of coronavirus cases in a month, raising hopes that the second wave outbreak in the state is slowing.

Victoria reported 222 cases of the disease in the last 24 hours.

It also reported a further 17 deaths.

A man walks past a billboard in Melbourne reminding people that face masks are compulsory [William West/AFP]

00:00 GMT  Museum of Modern Art in New York to reopen on August 27

New Yorks Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) will reopen  with fewer visitors allowed, timed ticketing and mandatory face masks  on August 27.

MoMA has been closed for five months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is due to open on August 29, while the Whitney Museum of American Art will reopen on September 3.

-

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Im Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.

Read all the updates from yesterday (August 17) here.
Former Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could face a high tax status by U.S. tax authorities, as the former royal couple targets financial independence.

Harry and Meghan's decision to step down as senior royal couple early this year has surprised people around the world, especially those who have been following their fairy-tale love story.

Now that they are no longer part of the royal family, they will live like ordinary citizens and will also lose many privileges. They have to work and pay taxes now.

Experts claimed that Harry and Meghan's new lifestyle in California is likely to cost several million in bills, security, and tax a year.

The report came after the former Duke and Duchess of Sussex bought a nine-bedroom mansion with a pool, gym, and spa in Montecito, Santa Barbara County.

According to a published report in The Guardian, the mansion is worth $14.7 million. A financial record suggests that the couple took out a mortgage of $9.2 million. Thus, they need to pay an amount of $37,500 every month for 30 years.

Experts said Harry may see a new drain on his income from U.S. tax authorities as the cost of their lives grows.

According to royal author David McClure, California is a high tax state, and Harry is likely to get a hit.

"I don't think Harry and Meghan have totally thought through the financial consequences of their exit from the Royal family," he said.

McClure also explained that "the more their expenditure rises in California, the greater the pressure to generate their income in more downmarket, commercial deals."

"That's always been the worry of the Palace," he added.

Now that they are no longer part of the royal family, the couple will have to declare all their income. They will also have to pay tax on any income they generate and the fees for their staff and security.

Aside from that, Harry and Meghan will also have to make monthly payments for their U.K. residence owned by the Crown Estate.

Recently, Harry and Meghan both signed to public speaking agency HWA. It was the same agency that the Obamas and the Clintons signed on.

Harry also gave a talk for bankers from JP Morgan's conference at Miami in February after CBS host Gayle King first introduced Meghan to the stage.

"The U.S. tax man is much more zealous than his U.K. counterpart. For that reason, Harry will have to watch his step on the income he generates," McClure told a news outlet. He added that the U.S. tax authorities require more information than Britain.

Another author Ingrid Seward said she couldn't see how Harry and Meghan can earn any money, most notably in this time of the global pandemic, wherein speaking engagements were canceled.

In fact, she said she also has a speaking engagement, but it was canceled because of the pandemic.

"It was announced ages ago that he was doing a series for Oprah Winfrey for Apple T.V., and I can't imagine he would be doing that for nothing," Seward said.

"It was signed up over a year and a half ago. I would have thought that Harry might have some potential earnings there but I can't think of anything else," she added.

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The Minister for Inner-City and Zongo Development, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has called on members of the newly inaugurated Upper East Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Campaign Team to work hard to ensure victory for the party in the 2020 December polls.



He equally told the members to ensure that the NPP parliamentary seats in the Region were increased above the current three seats that the party had out of the 15 seats in the Region.



Dr Abdul-Hamid made the call during the inauguration of the NPP Campaign Team at Bolgatanga on Tuesday August 18, 2020.



The Team which has as its Chairman, Mr Anthony Namoo and other prominent party members in the Region like the Upper East Regional Minister, Ms Tangoba Abayage and the Deputy Attorney General and MP for Tempane, Mr Joseph Dindiok Kpemka was tasked with the responsibility of increasing the fortunes of the party in the December 2020 general elections.



Strategy



According to the Zongo Development Minister who swore-in the campaign team members, they were expected to come out with an effective strategy to turn the fortunes of the party in the Region around in the December polls.



He noted that as a region, the kind of developments that has over the years been carried out by former President John Agyekum Kufuor and currently President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo does not reflect the kind of output we are getting in the election results".



Dr Abdul-Hamid therefore pointed out that considering the fact that in the Nana Akufo-Addos government the three parliamentarians who occupy the three out of the 15 seats in the Region have been made Ministers of State, then we ought to work even harder in the 2020 elections".



A section of the campaign team members



He further explained that the facts were clear for everyone to see about the good works of the NPP and often times people accuse the NPP of not being good at communicating its achievements to the electorate.



That is also because we have done so much that sometimes when you stand in public to tell people about the achievements, there is a tendency for you to forget about some of them only to remember them after you have finished talking about them" he observed.



Dr Abdul-Hamid urged the party faithful to be proud of being in the NPP, a party that has distinguished itself in developing the country.



He said the John Mahama administration had failed Ghanaians woefully such that in the mind of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate he still thinks Nana Akufo-Addo had been in power for eight years because the NPP government's achievement within three years was unbelievable.



We want a transformational leader and not a maintenance leader because with a maintenance Leader he will only maintain what he came to inherit and not to change anything for the betterment of Ghanaians," the Zongo Development Minister stressed.



Development



Ms Abayage who is also the Parliamentary Candidate for the NPP in Navrongo Central said the party in the Region would campaign based on its massive achievements in the various sectors like roads, health, infrastructure and social interventions among others.



She stated that the party would take the campaign to the various constituencies based on the party's achievements.



Ms Abayage said for instance that while it took NDC eight years to fix only ten percent of the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom road, it took the NPP regime only three years to complete about 50 percent of the road.



She mentioned other roads like the Bolgatanga-Naaga and Navrongo-Naaga roads as well as the ongoing installation of new streetlights from Winkogo to Sumbrungu as a feather in the cap of the NPP government.



Whether NDC likes it or not we have performed far better than them and the Nana Akufo-Addo led government has been magnanimous with development projects in this Region she pointed out.



The event was attended by other government functionaries, the regional council of Elders and patrons as well as Municipal and District Chief Executives.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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The expansion of G2U to Chicago and North Carolina will provide for collaboration and learning across the G2U network at a time when universities, governments, and the job market are undergoing massive transformations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Thomas W. Ross, Volcker Alliance president.

Following the successful launch of the first three Government-to-University (G2U) networks in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh, the Volcker Alliances G2U Initiative is expanding to Chicago and North Carolina. The G2U Initiative is a growing group of vibrant, regional networks connecting local, state, and federal government leaders with key faculty and administrators from surrounding colleges and universities. G2U demonstrates that bringing government and university leaders together is a powerful way to sustainably connect governments hiring and research needs with local university capacity.

The expansion of G2U to Chicago and North Carolina will provide for collaboration and learning across the G2U network at a time when universities, governments, and the job market are undergoing massive transformations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Thomas W. Ross, president of the Volcker Alliance. The enthusiasm from partners in government, universities, and the civic sector in regions across the country illustrates the promise and power of G2U collaborations in reshaping the future of government.

In Chicago, the G2U Regional Council will be led by the Government College Relations Council (GCRC). Founded in Chicago in 1968, GCRC is a professional association that supports working relationships between representatives from colleges and universities and from federal, state, county, and local governments.

At GCRC, our mission is to ensure that students in the Chicago area who are thinking about public service know about all the potential opportunities that a career in government holds. Joining the G2U network will strengthen what we have been working towards at GCRC for the last fifty years, said Jaime Velasquez, president of GCRC and associate director of employer relations in career services at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

In North Carolina, the Volcker Alliance is partnering with the Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) within the Governors Office/Office of State Budget and Management. OSP increases and enhances partnerships between state government and North Carolinas research institutions and philanthropic sector. This includes increasing state governments internal capacity for using evidence in policy and programs. OSP helps to develop and lead partnerships on priority issues such as broadband access and reentry of formerly incarcerated people. Particularly relevant to G2U is its initiative to strengthen the talent pipeline linking college and university graduates with career opportunities in state government.

We are excited to join the G2U network and have already seen how our focus on strengthening the talent pipeline to state government aligns with the work of other G2U sites. We look forward to sharing our partnership strategies that are yielding benefits for North Carolina and learning from the approaches of other network members, said Jenni Owen, director of strategic partnerships for the State of North Carolina.

The first G2U regional network, led by the Mid-America Regional Council in Kansas City, was launched in March 2019. The second two, led by the Southern California Association of Governments in Los Angeles and by Carnegie Mellon Universitys Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the Metro21: Smart Cities Institute in Pittsburgh, launched in February 2020.

The Volcker Alliance will continue to build connections and share lessons across G2U regions in the months ahead. Those interested in launching G2U networks in their area can email G2U@volckeralliance.org to learn more.

The Volcker Alliance advances effective management of government to achieve results that matter to citizens. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization is inspired by the legendary public service of our founder, Paul A. Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, and his vision of a public sector workforce with the experience, preparation, and commitment to ensure that government is accountable and delivers with excellence. Visit volckeralliance.org to learn more. Follow us on social media @VolckerAlliance and subscribe to the Volcker Alliance newsletter for the latest news and developments. The Volcker Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization.
China's Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou leaves her residence for the extradition hearing in Vancouver, Canada, Jan. 20, 2020. (Photo by Harrison Ha/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- China urges Canada to immediately release Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou and let her return to China safely, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday.

"We once again urge Canada to take seriously China's solemn position and concern, immediately release Meng Wanzhou and let her return to China safely," spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily press briefing.

Zhao made the comments when answering a reporter's question that the Supreme Court of British Columbia will hold a hearing on the Meng Wanzhou case on Aug. 17 local time to discuss the disclosure of evidence and information.

"China's position on the Meng Wanzhou case is consistent and clear," Zhao said. "The evidence that has been made public reveals clearly that the United States and Canada have abused their bilateral extradition treaty and arbitrarily took compulsory measures against a Chinese citizen, which severely violates the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese citizen," Zhao said.

He said that the intention of the United States is to oppress Huawei and other Chinese high-tech firms, and Canada is its accomplice. "This is a serious political incident. This is not only China's view, but also a conclusion shared by the rest of the international community including insightful people in the U.S. and Canada."

The Chinese government is firmly determined to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its citizens and enterprises, and support Chinese enterprises and individuals in safeguarding their rights and interests through legal means, Zhao said.
The Ukrainian leader held a meeting with chiefs of Ukraine's intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that events in Belarus could have a significant impact on Ukraine.

"The Head of State noted that the events in this country could significantly affect Ukraine," the presidential press service reported on August 17.

Read alsoUkraine recalls ambassador from Belarus

Developments in Belarus were on the agenda of a meeting between the president and chiefs of Ukraine's intelligence and law enforcement agencies, as well as some regional governors.

During the meeting, they analyzed the political situation in Belarus, as well as numerous external factors that might influence the development of post-election events.

They also assessed possible scenarios of the further development of today's domestic political aggravation in the neighboring country, including "various types of escalation given the so-called hybrid types of world conflicts."

In addition, participants in the meeting analyzed direct risks Ukraine is facing under such scenarios.

Recent developments in Belarus in brief
This is one in a series of opinion essays from public safety experts about how to make Black lives matter when it comes to policing. The main story was published last week. A live webcast on the topic will be held Thursday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. at Facebook/NJ.com.

By John Vespucci

Recently there has been a focus to scapegoat police officers for the police misconduct of a few, but should the system of policing in America be the one to bear the burden of this blame by not supplying police officers the proper tools?

Recent incidents involving police brutality have tarnished the police profession, and in many of those incidents, officers were engaged in conduct that is statistically atypical in policing. But how do we reform policing to control for what many perceive as systemic discriminatory police practices and abuses of the use of force? The key is education.

In the United States, the average police academy runs 15-20 weeks, averaging 600800 hours. There are no national standards and few states establish minimum requirements other than some essential topics that need to be covered. To put this into perspective, a cosmetologist license in New York State requires a minimum of 1,000 classroom hours. Both professions also undergo on-the-job training, which is often touted as essential to learning the craft. However, this type of training is not without its own potential pitfalls.

In the United Kingdom, all police recruits as of this year are required to have an equivalent of a bachelors degree worth of police-related training  roughly 2,000 or more classroom hours. Maria Haberfeld, professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, found that police training in the U.S. is significantly less than most European countries. Her studies show that police in Germany require 30 months of training, Ireland, two years, whereas officers in Finland and Norway are required to attend a three-year police college.

Despite the limited length of academy training in the U.S., training police in the U.S. ought to be universal, but the decentralized requirements of 18,000-plus individual departments would be difficult to mainstream. Currently, less than 10% of departments require a college education and very few specify a particular curriculum to study. Heeding this advice in 21st-century policing is still largely lacking.

The skill sets of college-educated officers have been vastly studied and these studies have shown significant advantages versus those officers who do not have a college education. Professionalism, reflective judgment, humanistic values, cultural sensitivity and less dogmatic approaches are only a few of the attributes that have defined a better police officer and are more prominent in officers with a college education. Additionally, education in policing has been shown to result in better behavioral and performance characteristics, better skills in independent decision making and problem-solving situations, improved adaptability, greater aptitude for innovative thinking, improved management abilities, fewer departmental disciplinary actions, better adaptation to accepting critical feedback, better at discovering extra resources to assist in their job responsibilities and fewer citizen complaints.

Then, the question remains: why havent police administrators heeded the advice of these many studies? There is a multi-faceted explanation that needs to be addressed. Often police professionals tout policing as a craft or learned art. Many studies do show that police experience plays a major role in police officer performance. However, the experience variable often varies depending on the police department and officer experiences. Studies show that 10-11 years as a police officer produces the most change in police behavior. So the argument, at least, is that a college education would theoretically best benefit policing for the first half of a police officers career.

Policing is an art in communication and interacting with people from various diverse positions in society. Additionally, it is a profession in which an understanding of the evolving law and society is as important as keeping current with technology and innovative criminality. To understand these core concepts, and appreciate diversity, a college education can prove to enlighten an officers knowledge and trade tools. Attending a college institution offers an officer experience in interacting with students from other cultures, and more importantly, others with differing views. This experience is often not obtained in a police academy setting, as all police recruits have one directive  to view policing in the eyes of their instruction.

More so, a police officer can benefit from a foundational knowledge in psychology, sociology and criminology. This often leads toward an officers comprehension of the why people behave a certain way, a concept often not concentrated on in police academy training. College is not just about learning, it is also about learning how to learn. This benefits police officers in their careers, as they are continually responsible for staying up to date with changing laws and societal issues, as well as technological advances and global issues affecting criminal justice in the U.S.

So why is there reluctance? To start, opponents often cite how associated costs would burden the taxpayer. This would not be the case if a college education was an applicant requirement, similar to almost every other profession where the applicant bears the cost of schooling. Another opposing thought is that by raising the education requirement for police officers, the applicant pool will lessen and eliminate diversity. Although this can be a concern in small rural police departments, there are no epidemic shortages of police applicants.

Additionally, with the popularity of online schools and the availability of supplemental college tuition programs, studies have shown there is little effect on diversity. Expectations of higher police salaries are also a concern. However, most police departments in the tri-state area have salaries comparable to entry-level positions for other professions requiring a bachelors degree. Lastly, the concept of a college degree molding a better police officer does not negate the fact that other criteria also produce great police officers, void of an educational background.

Policing has faced great challenges since its inception and continued police reform is necessary to keep current with evolving laws, technology and society. Exploring ways to improve policing should be a constant concentration by police administrators, and studies have shown time and again that college education as a career prerequisite only improves the foundation of police reform  the police officer. Every new policy or program will inevitably face challenges and trade-offs. We must weigh these tradeoffs and equip every police officer with the aptitude and knowledge to successfully implement new and innovative changes in policing.

John Vespucci is an author and adjunct assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and faculty associate at Arizona State Universitys School of Criminal Justice. He is also a 24-year police veteran and served as a police academy instructor.
Like virtually every American industry, the wine industry is reckoning with its systemic inequalities and lack of racial diversity.

The numbers are dismal. Less than 1% of U.S. wineries have a Black owner or winemaker, according to Wine & Spirits magazine. Just three Black candidates have earned the top honor in the Court of Master Sommeliers, the nations highest-profile professional wine organization. And the demographics of wine consumers arent much less homogeneous: Wine Market Council research from 2017 showed that 71% of U.S. wine drinkers are white, while 9% are Black, 9% Asian and 14% Hispanic.

No matter how you look at it, its clear that in America, many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) arent getting into wine as a career  and may not even be interested in drinking it.

To rectify that, a number of efforts recently have formed in the Bay Area to fund wine education for BIPOC  or, in one case, to provide that education for free. Theres Wine Unify, based in Napa; the Roots Fund, co-founded by wine professionals in Napa, New York and Atlanta; and a program organized by Oakland sommelier Jirka Jireh called Industry Sessions. These organizations have arisen since the killing of George Floyd in May, but their founders say that the desire to create them has been in the works for a long time.

George Floyd wasnt exactly a catalyst, says DLynn Proctor, a co-founder of Wine Unify and the director of Fantesca Estate & Winery in Napa Valley. But when that happened, we knew we really needed to act.

The primary goal of Wine Unify and other organizations like it is to get more BIPOC into the wine industry, especially into leadership and ownership roles.

One reason that matters is, as Jireh puts it, human dignity. Another big reason is that the wine industry as it currently stands is simply missing out on a major economic opportunity. If you as a (wine) company could be hiring people who could provide a perspective on how to gain a bigger market share, says Roots Fund co-founder Carlton McCoy, who is also the CEO of Napas Heitz Cellar, youd be silly to turn that down.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Wine Unify launched in July, led by Proctor, Martin Reyes and Mary Margaret McCamic, all three based in Napa. Reyes and McCamic are masters of wine, a prestigious qualification similar in difficulty level to the master sommelier title. Wine Unifys main initiative, the Welcome Awards, will offer scholarships to 10 BIPOC recipients for Wine & Spirits Education Trust courses, plus glassware, gift certificates to purchase wine, structured mentorship and more. Applications are open until Sept. 7.

The Roots Fund, meanwhile, was co-founded by McCoy, hospitality consultant Ikimi Dubose and sommelier Tahiirah Habibi. In addition to financing scholarships for wine courses, it is also focused on recruiting and job placement. Less than one month in, McCoy says theyve already helped two wine-industry newcomers find jobs at Napa Valley wineries.

Its not a straightforward or easy fix; part of the issue of funding education is that the educating bodies themselves have come under critical scrutiny. Thats especially true of the Court of Master Sommeliers. In June, Habibi spoke out about the demeaning experience of taking a court exam and being asked to address white exam proctors as master. The court subsequently announced it would no longer require the address, but some damage had already been done. Three prominent master sommeliers abdicated their hard-earned titles.

McCoy, one of the few Black master sommeliers, did not relinquish his title, deciding to remain with the court. Im far more interested in staying and actually helping to solve the problems, he says, adding that he is the most outspoken member of the courts diversity committee.

For others, the courts apology was too little, too late. Jireh, who works at the Oakland bar and shop Ordinaire, has long felt that traditional wine education  through the court and the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, mainly  is unwelcoming to BIPOC and too narrow in its pedagogy. So she and New York sommelier James Sligh decided to create their own alternative. They began hosting Industry Sessions, a series of virtual wine classes exclusively for BIPOC, in June. The sessions are free, and so is the wine, which gets shipped to each participants home in advance.

I used to think I had to do all the classes, get all the certificates, get all the pins, says Jireh of her approach to wine education at the beginning of her career. Slowly, she realized that if you do those classes, theyre teaching you to internalize a grid, a specific way to think about wine, and Jireh didnt always agree with that way of thinking.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Her and Slighs courses focus on natural wines and categories that dont usually get much play in traditional wine curricula, like the western Republic of Georgia or Chiles Pais (a.k.a. Mission) grape. The message to students is: Decide for yourself whether a wine is good, not according to some prescribed rubric.

Jirehs approach emphasizes a deeply entrenched problem for the American wine industry. Its failure to foster diversity and to promote racial justice isnt simply due to a lack of funding for BIPOC education, she says. That failure also has to do with the culture of wine itself.

Picking up a glass of wine for the first time is intimidating for anyone, says Reyes, who in 2018 became the first Mexican American master of wine. But theres a second layer of intimidation thats racial, he adds. You have this perception that wine is a rich white persons drink  and as a brown or Black person, youre just like, heck no.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Reyes appreciates the education he received through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and Institute of Masters of Wine, but acknowledges that it conforms to Anglocentric, upper-class mores. The thought process, the logic, the fruits that are considered (in tasting notes), the appropriate words  by the time you finish the framework, you basically sound like a British person without the accent, he says.

That has long been one of Jirehs main issues with mainstream wine education, too. Many of my friends and colleagues that are BIPOC have had to push ourselves into this mold of understanding what a European palate is, she says, but not all of us grew up eating French food.

Courtesy of Heitz Cellar

McCoy learned early on that if I wanted to be successful, I had to assimilate, he says. He recalls having to change the way he spoke and dressed: He cut his cornrows, started listening to the Beatles, watched The Godfather  until, eventually, he passed for someone whod always been comfortable in white-dominant environments.

Now, he wants to help create a future where Black people dont have to change who they are in order to get ahead. We want people to be proud of the culture they come from and champion that, McCoy says.

That may mean that wines current gatekeepers have to reconsider some conventional notions of what makes a wine good or bad. We have to grow the concept that theres not just one way, not just one palate, Reyes says. To be in wine you dont have to be in this Napa lifestyle where its ivory counterparts and Texas oil money.

But how? The work of growing that concept is larger than what any 501(c)3 nonprofit or educational Zoom series can take on individually. Jireh believes that the people in charge need to take a deeper look at whom theyre giving opportunities to. McCoy says that wine marketing should intentionally include more BIPOC. Proctor says a big part of the solution is optics, diversifying the representation of wine drinkers and makers in popular media. (He explains: If I see a Black man climbing Mount Everest, that makes me want to climb Mount Everest.)

The reward for doing this work wont be limited to the satisfaction of having done the right thing. And it isnt just the economic aspect either. Ultimately, diversifying wine might also just make wine more  fun.

You want to know what the Black community can bring to the American wine industry? McCoy says. Pleasure. Taking pleasure from drinking. Instead of this analytical thing  whats the structure of the wine, I wonder how much residual sugar is in it  can we just drink?

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob
With more and more BJP lawmakers coming out in the open to corner their own government over law and order, corruption and other issues, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his cabinet colleagues are likely to have a tough time in Uttar Pradesh Assembly during its brief session beginning from Thursday.

Several saffron party legislators have raised questions on the state government's ability to fight corruption, provide succor to the common people and tame, what they termed an 'unbridled' bureaucracy.

To compound the woes of the state government, a senior BJP lawmaker has virtually supported the opposition's allegation that the saffron party regime was 'targeting' the 'Brahmin' community. The MLA Deomani Dwivedi said that he would question the government on this issue.

BJP MLA from the Gopamu assembly seat in Hardoi district said that corruption was at its 'peak' under the current dispensation. A similar allegation was levelled by its legislator from Puranpur assembly constituency Baburam Paswan.

''The government has no control over bureaucracy....corruption is thriving as the bureaucrats are not afraid of any action,'' Shyam Prakash said.

The wariness of the state government stems from the fact that during the assembly session in December last year as many as 100 BJP lawmakers had held a dharna inside the House and joined the protest by one of the ruling party MLAs over denial of permission to him to speak about his alleged mistreatment by the police.

''Even the ruling party lawmakers now admit that their government has done precious little for the people during its three-year tenure....naturally they are upset....we will support if they raise issues of public interest in the House,'' said the Opposition leader Ram Govind Chaudhary.

The three-day session of the Assembly would begin from Thursday amid Coronavirus scare. As many as 24 staff of the assembly secretariat have tested positive for the virus.
The Franco-Tunisian writer Albert Memmi, who died in Paris on 22 May at the age of 99, was possibly the last surviving member of the generation of French and North African writers who contributed to debates about the end of French colonialism in the countries of the Arab Maghreb in the 1950s and 1960s.



French psychiatrist Frantz Fanon is probably the best-known member of this generation today, especially in the United States where his writings on the Algerian War of Independence are widely read in post-colonial studies. But Memmi in a sense preceded him because he published his most famous contribution to such debates, the Portrait du colonise, precede de Portrait du colonisateur, his portraits of the colonised and the coloniser, immediately after Tunisian independence and even before the War in Algeria had reached its most violent phase.



Memmi was also of North African descent, unlike Fanon who was born in the Caribbean island of Martinique, then as now part of France. This meant that in his Portraits Memmi was able to write about what he called the colonial situation in North Africa from the inside, with the force of direct experience backing up his criticisms of French colonialism in the region and his support for independence.



At the same time Memmi retained a certain distance from the independence movements, and he sometimes expressed misgivings about growing nationalism in the Maghreb. While he thought it was necessary in order to mobilise the majority population behind the struggle to throw off French colonial rule, the danger was, like with other nationalisms before and since, that it could turn out to be less tolerant of minorities, including the Tunisian Jewish community from which he came.



Born in Tunis in 1920 and growing up among 12 brothers and sisters in a traditionally Jewish area of the city, Memmi attended a local Jewish school before attending the Lycee Carnot in Tunis, the most prestigious of the French colonial schools in Tunisia. It was his experience of growing up in Tunisias largely poor Jewish community, at the time numbering some 150,000, and then leaving it behind to study in French colonial schools that he recorded in his first novel, La Statue de sel (Pillar of Salt), which appeared in Paris in 1953 with a preface by French-Algerian novelist Albert Camus.



According to academic Annie Goldman, quoted in an obituary of Memmi in the French newspaper Le Monde, while La Statue de sel was part of a group of novels by Maghreb writers appearing in Paris in these years, among them works in French by Algerian writers Mohamed Dib, Kateb Yacine, and Assia Djebar, Memmis novel was something of a clap of thunder for Tunisias Jewish community. People were both proud and shocked by the novel, she said. It was the first time that someone from Tunis, least of all a Jew, had had something published in Paris. But it was also the first time that someone had described the poverty of this community and written so frankly about it.



A second novel, Agar, appeared in Paris in 1955, also drawing on Memmis memories of growing up in Tunisia, and the following year, with Tunisias independence negotiated between then French prime minister Pierre Mendes France and the countrys first post-colonial president Habib Bourguiba, Memmi settled permanently in Paris. After university studies in neighbouring Algeria he had lived in Tunisia in the years leading up to independence, and he had begun to publish pieces in Tunisian and French newspapers and magazines. However, according to Le Monde, it was also at this time that Memmi realised that the new Tunisian nation would necessarily and legitimately be Muslim and Arab and that his real country would be literature.



LIBERATION

The Portraits, published in Paris in 1957 with a preface by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, are divided, as their name suggests, into two parts.



There is a portrait of the coloniser, in the case of the Maghreb of European origin and often, but by no means always, French, and a portrait of the colonised, often, but also by no means always, of Arab or Muslim descent. While the coloniser could be of Italian, Maltese, or other origin, particularly in Tunisia under French colonial rule, the colonised could also be of Berber or Jewish as well as of Arab or Muslim heritage.



What was important, Memmi thought, was the colonial situation that ranged the coloniser against the colonised, producing the kind of polarisation that could not be assuaged by dialogue and could only be ended by the colonised seizing independence.



Of the coloniser, Memmi writes that for him a colony was a place where one earns more and spends less Jobs are guaranteed, wages high, careers more rapid and business more profitable than it was at home. For this reason, while not all Europeans in the colonies are potentates or possess thousands of acres or run the government, least of all in Frances North African colonies, the small coloniser still defends the colonial system because he benefits from it to some extent. While he is the dupe and victim of a system that is almost as indifferent to his interests as it is to those of the colonised, he also gets his share.



Of the colonised, Memmi says that he has been robbed as much of his dignity and his identity as of his land and the opportunity to participate in the government of his own country. The vast majority of colonised children are in the streets. And he who has the wonderful good luck to be accepted in a school will not be saved. The memory which is assigned him is certainly not that of his people. The history which is taught him is not his own. He knows who Colbert or Cromwell was, but he learns nothing about [pre-colonial Tunisian prime minister Mohamed] Khaznadar; he knows about Joan of Arc, but not about [7th-century Berber queen] El Kahena. Everything seems to have taken place outside his country. He and his land are nonentities or exist only with reference to the Gauls, the Franks, or the Marne.



Both sides of the divide are necessarily damaged, the coloniser trapped on one side and the colonised on the other, with each representing half a common problem. Perhaps for this reason, while Memmi has harsh words to say for the coloniser who accepts the colonial situation, even investing in it by attending all the military parades and playing his part by dressing up ostentatiously, he is scarcely more forgiving of the coloniser who refuses. This chapter of the book, thought to be criticising French-Algerian liberals such as Camus who had been trying to find a peaceful solution to the escalating crisis in neighbouring Algeria, implies that there is little difference to be drawn between colonisers who accept and colonisers who refuse the colonial situation, and neither can have a place in an independent nation.



Colonial relations do not stem from individual good will or actions; they exist before his birth, and whether he accepts or rejects them matters little Being oppressed as a group, the colonised must necessarily adopt a national and ethnic form of liberation from which he [the coloniser who refuses] cannot but be excluded, Memmi wrote. This seemed to auger ill for the possibility of the kind of diverse and liberal society that Camus and others wanted to see develop in North Africa after independence, and Memmis caricatures of those who wanted to find approaches to decolonisation other than nationalism and escalating violence were bitterly criticised by some commentators at the time.



In later years, Memmi turned to other instances of oppression, including of his own community of North African Jews. In 1962, he published another portrait, this time the Portrait dun Juif, which employed similar sociological-psychological methods but was also more autobiographical. Memmi says that this portrait is in large measure my own, and that it was conceived as part of a long enterprise that had to do not only with his own self-discovery but also with the better understanding of others.



Starting from my own condition as colonised, and then from my condition as a Jew, I have discovered the meaning of other kinds of oppression and of the relationships that generate oppression, unfortunately one of the most permanent features of the human condition, Memmi wrote, in an enquiry that he continued in later books including LHomme domine (1968) which extended the analysis to other oppressed classes including servants and women. Another book, La Liberation du Juif, published in 1966, continued Memmis autobiographical investigations and announced his loyalty to the state of Israel.



Re-reading Memmis work from the 1950s and 1960s today plunges the reader back into the decolonisation movements of the period, especially the debates in France over North African independence and the Algerian War of Independence. It provides background to the writings of Fanon, especially the chapters on identity and national culture in Les Damnes de la terre and LAn V de la revolution algerienne, and it contrasts with writings by others similarly concerned with the independence movements of the time and North Africas future character and relationship with France, among them distinguished figures of French and French North African origin such as Camus, Jacques Berque, Jean Lacouture, Jacques Derrida, and others.



Memmi played no further part in the affairs of his native country after leaving it in 1957, and his account of North African and other post-colonial countries some half century later (Portrait du decolonise arabo-musulman et de quelques autres) was generally not well received when it appeared in 2004. However, there is an intriguing story that appears in French academic Guy Degass magnificent critical edition of Memmis Portraits that may indicate that his contributions from the 1950s were not entirely forgotten.



Invited to the Algiers International Book Fair in 2006, Memmi discovered what seemed to be a pirated Algerian edition of his Portrait du colonise with a preface by none other than then Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, this after Memmi had concluded that his work had been blackballed in the Maghreb. While undoubtedly tendentious from Memmis point of view, Bouteflikas preface did at least give the book an official imprimatur, putting it back in circulation in Algeria and within the reach of ordinary readers.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Andrew Weissmann, one of the lead prosecutors on special counsel Robert Mueller's team and the architect of the case against Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, said there is "definitely new information" in the final volume of the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on 2016 Russian interference released Tuesday.

Why it matters: It underscores the degree to which the 996-page report goes further than the Mueller investigation in some of its findings, as well as the explosive nature of some of the revelations about Manafort and other top Trump campaign officials.

What's new: The bipartisan Senate report describes Manafort's right-hand man Konstantin Kilimnik as a Russian intelligence officer. "That is much further than he was described publicly by the special counsel's office," Weissmann points out.

The committee, like Mueller, found that Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates passed sensitive internal campaign data and strategy to Kilimnik, but it could not determine with whom Kilimnik went on to share it or why he shared it.

The report also found that there was some evidence to suggest that Kilimnik was involved in the Russian operation to hack and leak Democratic emails  which Weissmann described as "substantial new information." The section detailing that evidence is largely redacted.

Weissmann went on to note that the Senate report assesses that then-candidate Trump spoke with Roger Stone about WikiLeaks' plans to release damaging information about Hillary Clinton on "multiple occasions"  despite Trump's claims in written answers to Mueller that he "did not recall" discussing the topic with Stone.

"I'd say the report elegantly tries not to use the phrase 'lie,' but it comes darn close," Weissmann said.

"So it leaves it to you to decide, do you really think you would forget that? Given how important that information became to the campaign in terms of it dribbling out throughout October?"

Between the lines: Weissmann addressed criticism circulating on social media on Tuesday that argued that Mueller failed to uncover damaging information about Trump revealed in the Senate's report and thus "enabled" Trump's future behavior.

"Our job was not to stop him," Weissmann said. "Our job was to uncover the facts and apply the law to that. But I think that for a variety of reasons you could say there was a failure on the part of the special counsel's office and on the part of Congress in terms of how hard we would dig for information."

"And also, I think Congress can rightly be upbraided about what they did with the report once they had it because the facts were, or at least many facts were laid out to them that they could have taken action on."

Go deeper: More findings from the Senate report
Former first lady Michelle Obama kicked off day one of the all-virtual Democratic National Convention on Monday, striking an unusually dour tone to warn of the dangers of a President Donald Trump victory in November, and urging Democrats to vote for Joe Biden "like our lives depend on it."

Obama, whose remarks appeared to be prerecorded, addressed the convention after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the second-place finisher for the Democratic presidential nomination, and a bipartisan cast of other public officials, including former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who sought the GOP nomination last cycle.

"If you take one thing from my words tonight, it is this: if you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can," Obama said in her remarks. "And they will if we don't make a change in this election."

Read her full address, as prepared for delivery, below.

Good evening, everyone. It's a hard time, and everyone's feeling it in different ways. And I know a lot of folks are reluctant to tune into a political convention right now or to politics in general. Believe me, I get that. But I am here tonight because I love this country with all my heart, and it pains me to see so many people hurting.

I've met so many of you. I've heard your stories. And through you, I have seen this country's promise. And thanks to so many who came before me, thanks to their toil and sweat and blood, I've been able to live that promise myself.

That's the story of America. All those folks who sacrificed and overcame so much in their own times because they wanted something more, something better for their kids.

There's a lot of beauty in that story. There's a lot of pain in it, too, a lot of struggle and injustice and work left to do. And who we choose as our president in this election will determine whether or not we honor that struggle and chip away at that injustice and keep alive the very possibility of finishing that work.

I am one of a handful of people living today who have seen firsthand the immense weight and awesome power of the presidency. And let me once again tell you this: the job is hard. It requires clear-headed judgment, a mastery of complex and competing issues, a devotion to facts and history, a moral compass, and an ability to listenand an abiding belief that each of the 330,000,000 lives in this country has meaning and worth.

A president's words have the power to move markets. They can start wars or broker peace. They can summon our better angels or awaken our worst instincts. You simply cannot fake your way through this job.

As I've said before, being president doesn't change who you are; it reveals who you are. Well, a presidential election can reveal who we are, too. And four years ago, too many people chose to believe that their votes didn't matter. Maybe they were fed up. Maybe they thought the outcome wouldn't be close. Maybe the barriers felt too steep. Whatever the reason, in the end, those choices sent someone to the Oval Office who lost the national popular vote by nearly 3,000,000 votes.

In one of the states that determined the outcome, the winning margin averaged out to just two votes per precincttwo votes. And we've all been living with the consequences. When my husband left office with Joe Biden at his side, we had a record-breaking stretch of job creation. We'd secured the right to health care for 20,000,000 people. We were respected around the world, rallying our allies to confront climate change. And our leaders had worked hand-in-hand with scientists to help prevent an Ebola outbreak from becoming a global pandemic.

Four years later, the state of this nation is very different. More than 150,000 people have died, and our economy is in shambles because of a virus that this president downplayed for too long. It has left millions of people jobless. Too many have lost their health care; too many are struggling to take care of basic necessities like food and rent; too many communities have been left in the lurch to grapple with whether and how to open our schools safely. Internationally, we've turned our back, not just on agreements forged by my husband, but on alliances championed by presidents like Reagan and Eisenhower.

And here at home, as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and a never-ending list of innocent people of color continue to be murdered, stating the simple fact that a Black life matters is still met with derision from the nation's highest office.

Because whenever we look to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy.

Empathy: that's something I've been thinking a lot about lately. The ability to walk in someone else's shoes; the recognition that someone else's experience has value, too. Most of us practice this without a second thought. If we see someone suffering or struggling, we don't stand in judgment. We reach out because, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

It is not a hard concept to grasp. It's what we teach our children. And like so many of you, Barack and I have tried our best to instill in our girls a strong moral foundation to carry forward the values that our parents and grandparents poured into us. But right now, kids in this country are seeing what happens when we stop requiring empathy of one another. They're looking around wondering if we've been lying to them this whole time about who we are and what we truly value.

They see people shouting in grocery stores, unwilling to wear a mask to keep us all safe. They see people calling the police on folks minding their own business just because of the color of their skin. They see an entitlement that says only certain people belong here, that greed is good, and winning is everything because as long as you come out on top, it doesn't matter what happens to everyone else. And they see what happens when that lack of empathy is ginned up into outright disdain.

They see our leaders labeling fellow citizens enemies of the state while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists. They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages, and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protestors for a photo-op.

Sadly, this is the America that is on display for the next generation. A nation that's underperforming not simply on matters of policy but on matters of character. And that's not just disappointing; it's downright infuriating, because I know the goodness and the grace that is out there in households and neighborhoods all across this nation. And I know that regardless of our race, age, religion, or politics, when we close out the noise and the fear and truly open our hearts, we know that what's going on in this country is just not right.

This is not who we want to be.

So what do we do now? What's our strategy? Over the past four years, a lot of people have asked me, "When others are going so low, does going high still really work?" My answer: going high is the only thing that works, because when we go low, when we use those same tactics of degrading and dehumanizing others, we just become part of the ugly noise that's drowning out everything else. We degrade ourselves. We degrade the very causes for which we fight. But let's be clear: going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty. Going high means taking the harder path. It means scraping and clawing our way to that mountain top. Going high means standing fierce against hatred while remembering that we are one nation under God, and if we want to survive, we've got to find a way to live together and work together across our differences.

And going high means unlocking the shackles of lies and mistrust with the only thing that can truly set us free: the cold hard truth.

So let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is. Now, I understand that my message won't be heard by some people. We live in a nation that is deeply divided, and I am a Black woman speaking at the Democratic Convention. But enough of you know me by now. You know that I tell you exactly what I'm feeling. You know I hate politics. But you also know that I care about this nation. You know how much I care about all of our children.

So if you take one thing from my words tonight, it is this: if you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we don't make a change in this election. If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it. I know Joe. He is a profoundly decent man, guided by faith. He was a terrific vice president. He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic, and lead our country. And he listens. He will tell the truth and trust science. He will make smart plans and manage a good team. And he will govern as someone who's lived a life that the rest of us can recognize. When he was a kid, Joe's father lost his job. When he was a young senator, Joe lost his wife and his baby daughter. And when he was vice president, he lost his beloved son. So Joe knows the anguish of sitting at a table with an empty chair, which is why he gives his time so freely to grieving parents. Joe knows what it's like to struggle, which is why he gives his personal phone number to kids overcoming a stutter of their own.

His life is a testament to getting back up, and he is going to channel that same grit and passion to pick us all up, to help us heal and guide us forward.

Now, Joe is not perfect. And he'd be the first to tell you that. But there is no perfect candidate, no perfect president. And his ability to learn and growwe find in that the kind of humility and maturity that so many of us yearn for right now. Because Joe Biden has served this nation his entire life without ever losing sight of who he is; but more than that, he has never lost sight of who we are, all of us.

Joe Biden wants all of our kids to go to a good school, see a doctor when they're sick, live on a healthy planet. And he's got plans to make all of that happen. Joe Biden wants all of our kids, no matter what they look like, to be able to walk out the door without worrying about being harassed or arrested or killed. He wants all of our kids to be able to go to a movie or a math class without being afraid of getting shot. He wants all our kids to grow up with leaders who won't just serve themselves and their wealthy peers but will provide a safety net for people facing hard times.

And if we want a chance to pursue any of these goals, any of these most basic requirements for a functioning society, we have to vote for Joe Biden in numbers that cannot be ignored. Because right now, folks who know they cannot win fair and square at the ballot box are doing everything they can to stop us from voting. They're closing down polling places in minority neighborhoods.

They're purging voter rolls. They're sending people out to intimidate voters, and they're lying about the security of our ballots. These tactics are not new.

But this is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games with candidates who have no chance of winning. We have got to vote like we did in 2008 and 2012. We've got to show up with the same level of passion and hope for Joe Biden. We've got to vote early, in person if we can. We've got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow-up to make sure they're received. And then, make sure our friends and families do the same.

We have got to grab our comfortable shoes, put on our masks, pack a brown bag dinner and maybe breakfast too, because we've got to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to. Look, we have already sacrificed so much this year. So many of you are already going that extra mile. Even when you're exhausted, you're mustering up unimaginable courage to put on those scrubs and give our loved ones a fighting chance. Even when you're anxious, you're delivering those packages, stocking those shelves, and doing all that essential work so that all of us can keep moving forward.

Even when it all feels so overwhelming, working parents are somehow piecing it all together without child care. Teachers are getting creative so that our kids can still learn and grow. Our young people are desperately fighting to pursue their dreams. And when the horrors of systemic racism shook our country and our consciences, millions of Americans of every age, every background rose up to march for each other, crying out for justice and progress.

This is who we still are: compassionate, resilient, decent people whose fortunes are bound up with one another. And it is well past time for our leaders to once again reflect our truth. So, it is up to us to add our voices and our votes to the course of history, echoing heroes like John Lewis who said, "When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something." That is the truest form of empathy: not just feeling, but doing; not just for ourselves or our kids, but for everyone, for all our kids.

And if we want to keep the possibility of progress alive in our time, if we want to be able to look our children in the eye after this election, we have got to reassert our place in American history. And we have got to do everything we can to elect my friend, Joe Biden, as the next president of the United States. Thank you all. God bless.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 17:09:45|Editor: huaxia

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Members of a Chinese medical team pose for a photo upon their arrival at the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shoubao)

When the first COVID-19 case was confirmed on the African continent on Feb. 14, China, despite being ravaged by the virus then, rushed to help its African brothers by unreservedly providing medical supplies, sharing experience, as well as sending expert teams.



"The joint efforts to combat COVID-19 illustrate the enduring relationship between China and Africa," said a Kenyan international relations researcher.



NAIROBI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- More than two months have passed, but Chinese doctor Zhao Mengwen still felt exhilarated when recollecting how a nine-month-old Sierra Leonean infant infected with COVID-19 was saved.

"The nine-month-old baby, Ola, was one of three orphans who suffered from different levels of congenital malformation and malnutrition, and had developed severe COVID-19 symptoms before they were transferred to the hospital," said Zhao, a doctor of the Chinese medical team based in the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, one of the specialized hospitals to receive COVID-19 patients in the West African country.

"Their conditions were rather critical. All of them coughed continuously and struggled to breathe, and the nine-month-old infant also had two bedsores on his head," said Zhao, adding that doctors concluded that the three severe cases required combined therapies and intensive care following a joint consultation.

Chinese medical team members and local doctors perform surgery at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital in Jui, western area of Sierra Leone, Aug. 6, 2019. (Xinhua)

"We intensified the anti-infection treatment and enhanced nutritional support to their bodies step by step in the meantime. Their diseases were in remission gradually," said Zhao, adding that the patients fully recovered weeks later on May 29.

"All of the medical staff were exhilarated to see the kids discharged from the hospital, and we also gathered to donate some food and medical supplies to help them get through these trying times," Zhao added.

When the first COVID-19 case was confirmed on the African continent on Feb. 14, China, despite being ravaged by the virus then, rushed to help its African brothers by unreservedly providing medical supplies, sharing experience, as well as sending expert teams.

Staff unload Chinese medical supplies from an airplane at the Kotota International Airport in Accra, capital of Ghana, April 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Zheng)

CHINA'S TIMELY SUPPORT

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, China sent a total of 148 medical workers to 11 African countries as of June 2, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

Furthermore, 46 Chinese medical teams already stationed on site are also mobilized to help African nations contain the pandemic, and nearly 1,000 Chinese medical personnel have been working in Africa for a long time, according to China's National Health Commission.

Since March, massive medical supplies donated by the Chinese government, companies and individuals have also been distributed to about 50 African countries and regions.

The timely donations, including face masks, disposable protective clothing, forehead thermometers as well as other equipment, have helped alleviate the continent's shortage of medical supplies in the face of the epidemic.

The Chinese government has provided Guinea with anti-epidemic supplies several times since Guinea reported the first COVID-19 case on March 13, said Bouna Yattassaye, deputy director of the National Health and Security Agency of Guinea.

A medical expert from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University communicates with Kenyan counterparts via a video call in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 22, 2020. (Photo by Gao Xiang/Xinhua)

In addition, the Chinese medical team in Guinea helped the African country hold multiple video conferences, according to Yattassaye. Guinea medical experts and Chinese anti-epidemic experts had in-depth exchanges, providing important reference information for Guinea to formulate its epidemic prevention strategies.

Meanwhile, Chinese companies and individuals are also making their own contributions. For example, Jack Ma, Chinese tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, has donated three batches of medical supplies to 54 African countries via the Jack Ma and Alibaba foundations.

According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa rose to 1,108,837 as of Sunday, while the death toll climbed to 25,337, with a relatively low mortality rate of 2.3 percent.

Chinese experts communicate with a local medical worker at a hospital in Khartoum, Sudan, June 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Ma Yichong)

AFRICA'S GRATITUDE

Chinese medical workers are shuttling back and forth on the continent to race against the virus, which has won admiration from local officials and medical staff.

Namibian Health and Social Services Minister Kalumbi Shalunga said China has shown solidarity with Namibia in the African country's response to COVID-19.

"Our doctors and Chinese doctors have been able to work together via virtual media so that the Chinese doctors can share their experience in tackling COVID-19," said the minister.

Alex Makupe, chief superintendent of the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) in Zambia and director for clinical care of Zambian Health Ministry, thanked the 21st Chinese medical team to Zambia.

With China's support, "UTH staff have tapped into interventional radiology and continued to provide quality health care services to the Zambian people," said Makupe.

Cavince Adhere, a Kenyan international relations researcher, said that when the novel coronavirus arrived in Africa, fear and panic gripped the continent.

"China has made significant epidemic control strides to flatten the curve of community transmissions of COVID-19. Because of the proven dexterity of the Chinese system to manage the pandemic, it is no surprise that African countries look to China to help the continent," said Adhere.

Karim Kabineh, chief of the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, expressed his gratitude to Chinese doctors' contribution to the country's battle against the virus, saying "together with Chinese doctors in the frontline, we firmly believe we will win this fight."

A Chinese medical expert is welcomed by locals upon her arrival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, April 16, 2020. (Xinhua)

LASTING CHINA-AFRICA FRIENDSHIP

"Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened medical cooperation between China and Africa," said Adhere.

"Increasing dialogues, exchanges and policy coordination between African and Chinese medical experts gave the continent a huge head start in controlling the pandemic," said Adhere.

Besides the medical teams working in different African countries, China also sent experts to Africa CDC.

The specialists played a critical role in shaping the continent's response to the disease.

The past months have also witnessed the pairing between leading Chinese hospitals and their African counterparts.

"The collaboration has not only reinforced the longstanding partnership between China and Africa in the medical field. The new impetus brought about by the pandemic also provides a strong springboard to further broaden and cement Sino-Africa ties," said Adhere.

Since 1963, more than 22,000 Chinese health professionals have been sent to Africa to support local programs, having benefited about 220 million patients, according to Chinese Ambassador to Togo Chao Weidong.

"The joint efforts to combat COVID-19 illustrate the enduring relationship between China and Africa," said Adhere. 
(Photo : Psyche) NASA Psyche Mission to Mine Asteroid Worth $10,000 Quadrillion (Photo : Psyche) NASA Psyche Mission to Mine Asteroid in 2022

NASA scientists will be seeking to mine the '16 Psyche' asteroid in 2022. It is valued at about $10,000 quadrillion as it is made up of a solid gold core that is covered with pure nickel and metallic iron.

NASA is coming a little closer to mining those riches floating in space. According to News 18, NASA's Psyche mission has now moved on to its third phase after successfully passing the "critical design" phase in May. The mission is set to be launched on August 19, 2022.

On its website, NASA said that this will be the first time that it will be exploring "a world made not of rock or ice, but of metal." The Psyche mission is currently in the third of six phases. In this phase that will last until January 2021, the mission will focus on creating final design and subsystem fabrication, assembly, and testing.

In July, NASA stated that they got a new device that will study the asteroid 16 Psyche aims to discover more information about the Earth's formation. Called the 'Psyche' spacecraft, it will examine the asteroid's magnetic field, take images, and input data regarding the topography as well as the asteroid's composition.

While scientists theorized that the Earth and other terrestrial planets have metallic cores, they have not yet reached beyond the crusts and rocky mantles. Asteroid Psyche will give an important insight into how planets are formed as well as the opportunity to examine an unexplored domain.

"Since we can't examine Earth's core up-close, exploring the asteroid... could give valuable insight into how our own planet and others formed," NASA said.

Read also: UK Company Eyes to Mine on Asteroid Worth $13 Trillion by 2027

Why asteroid 16 Psyche?

The asteroid 16 Psyche is located between Mars and Jupiter. It triggered the interest of scientists who believe that the asteroid's 226-kilometer-wide body could contain precious metals that can surpass the cost of the economy of the entire world.

Scientists speculate that there may be diamond, platinum, and gold buried deep in asteroids, which may be worth billions of dollars. Some experts even value the asteroid at around $10,000 quadrillion as it is made up of metallic iron and nickel while its core is made of solid gold.

NASA is looking at collaborating with Elon Musk's SpaceX on the mission, which is scheduled to begin its journey to the asteroid in 2022.

Psyche Mission timeline

The Psyche Mission was proposed in 2011 and selected by NASA in September 2015 for the development of a detailed concept study for consideration for NASA's Discovery Program. In March 2019, the team completed the Preliminary Design Review project and flight system while the team got the official approval to move to Phase C in May 2019.

After a year, the scientists continued to work on the mission's critical design of the project and flight system while they completed the critical design review and body of the spacecraft in May.

The team will then conduct the Systems Integration Review in January 2021 to ensure the readiness of the system before the team goes through the Key Decision step when the team gets the official approval to move to Phase D. This phase involves the assembly and testing of the instrument and spacecraft.

Read also: Researchers Used Machine and Discovered New Galaxy with the Record-Breaking Low Oxygen Abundance

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Italy offers aid to Tunisia but wants results on migrants Di Maio and Lamorgese fly to Tunis. 207,000 migrants regularised

(ANSAmed) - ROMA, 18 AGO - Italy is ready to support Tunisia.



The Italian interior ministry has just released 11 million euros for Tunisia to use in projects for border control, but it wants concrete results in terms of reducing the number of migrants departing from the country. Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese and Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio visited Tunis on Monday, accompanied by European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Oliver Varhelji. They met with Tunisian President Kais Saied, Prime Minister-designate Hichem Mechichi and Interim Foreign Minister Selma Ennaifer, and discussed migrant flows, which have seen a spike this summer.



In the meanwhile the Italian government's procedure to legalise farm workers, domestics, and home carers, which began June 1, has now concluded. A total of 207,542 applications were received through the interior ministry website, the majority of which (85%) were for domestics and home carers; the remaining applications were for subordinate employment. (ANSAmed).




2 cops deputed for CM Bommai's security held for trying to 'extort' money from drug peddlers

Karnataka Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan tests positive for COVID-19

India

oi-Deepika S

Bengaluru, Aug 18: Congress MLA in Karnataka, B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan on Tuesday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is getting hospitalised on the advice of the doctors.

"I had developed a slight fever and underwent a corona test today, the report has confirmed the infection. On the advice of the doctors I'm getting admitted to hospital," Khan tweeted.

za

He also requested all those who had come in his contact in the past few days to undergo a test.

Mild COVID-19 cases can trigger strong T cell response: Study

SSR death probe: Rhea Chakraborty makes sensational claim | Oneindia News

Khan, a former Minister, who represents Chamrajpet assembly constituency in the city, had made multiple visits to K G Halli and D J Halli areas that were hit by violence last week.

He had visited the house of Pulakeshinagar MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy that was burnt down by the rioters, along with some Muslim leaders. Khan had also met family members of three persons, who were killed in police firing to quell the mob that went on a rampage on August 11 night over an inflammatory social media post by Murthy's relative.
By Diane Cook

Harper. 416 pp. $27.99

- - -

The residents of America's cities - those who can afford to, that is - are fleeing. Spurred by the pandemic, they're headed to the suburbs, to the exurbs, to the country. They're looking for space, for nature and, most important, for the relative safety promised by lower population densities. And they're getting desperate: In these pockets of the real estate market, inventory is low, demand is high and prices are rising.

Unlike some of these recent escapees, Diane Cook has had the wilderness on her mind for a long time. The epigraph to her 2014 collection, "Man v. Nature," comes from a letter Emily Dickinson wrote to her mentor after the death of his wife: "The Wilderness is new - to you. Master, let me lead you." Readers will feel a thrill of recognition, then, to find that Cook's first novel, published six years later, is called "The New Wilderness." The recognition won't end there: Cook has deepened and expanded on the concerns first aired in her stories, like a fresh mountain stream running inevitably into a deep, cold lake.

When the novel begins, Bea and her family - daughter Agnes and husband Glen, who is not Agnes' father - have been living as nomads in the Wilderness State for three years, as part of a pilot program to study how humans interact with nature. In the world of the novel, which Cook hints is not very far into the future, the protected, cordoned-off Wilderness State is the last bit of nature left, all other land having been separated into useful sectors: the Manufacturing Zone, the Woodlots, the Server Farms and, of course, the City.

Bea misses the City. But the air there had become increasingly toxic to children, and Agnes was getting sicker and sicker. "What this child needs," a doctor told Bea as baby Agnes coughed up blood, "is different air." Joining the study, with its stringent rules and mandatory check-ins with the Rangers, was their last resort.

It's hard to read all this during a pandemic of a respiratory illness caused by an airborne virus without feeling an extra chill, but Cook has always excelled at rendering horror plainly, whether that horror is monstrous or merely human. Here, we get both: This manages to be a speculative novel about the future and a well-researched tale about living primitively, arrowheads, hides and all. Early on, one of Bea's companions dies in a violent accident; this has happened before (hypothermia, cougar, climbing accident), and most people are more concerned about the good rope they lost in the process, but they also liked Caroline, and a few pages later, Bea is irritated that they're still lingering on her death. Bea has her reasons, but when she expresses her frustration to a Ranger, he responds cautiously: "Well, she just died ... yesterday, you said?" So yes, in case you were wondering, the novel is funny too, mordantly so.

As we soon learn, the air in the Wilderness State may have cured Agnes, but the study itself seems to be deteriorating, for reasons not clear to Bea and her companions. The Rangers are becoming less predictable, their demands less reasonable. Cook is a skilled unpeeler of information; revelations and discoveries are timed to perfection. Any time we begin to get complacent in the Wilderness State, Cook remakes the universe, shifting the point of view, the time frame, the physical landscape or the emotional one. It makes a story that might have languished in the valley with its characters move at a brisk pace.

That pace flags only occasionally, usually during descriptions of the landscape, which are frequent enough to become slightly tedious. But in a novel about how humans might survive when stripped of a modernity that's gone too far, maybe that's part of the point: Even the most beautiful sunsets and sage fields become boring when they're all you have.

If this novel is timely, it's accidentally so, as most "timely" novels are. More than timely, it feels timeless, solid, like a forgotten classic recently resurfaced - a brutal, beguiling fairy tale about humanity. But at its core, "The New Wilderness" is really about motherhood, and about the world we make (or unmake) for our children. How far could we go, Cook repeatedly asks, if we had to? Where are love and refuge to be found? You can't blame anyone for wanting to escape into the woods when danger looms - but the wilderness has its own perils, as any wanderer will soon discover.

- - -

Temple is managing editor at Literary Hub and the author of "The Lightness."
The Chakma community in Tripura on Monday observed a Black Day to protest the occupation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh allegedly illegally by Pakistan in 1947 and the injustices meted out to their community after that.

Two days after Indias Independence from the British rule, the Chittagong Hill Tract comprising 97.5% non-Muslim population was illegally awarded to erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) as per the mandate of Bengal boundary commission headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, said Chakma National Council of India (CNCI), a forum to raise voice for rights of the community.

After the inclusion of Chittagong Hill Tracts with East Pakistan, over 50,000 Chakmas took shelter at different relief camps in Tripura and Mizoram in 1986. Many of them also took refuge at Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chakmas became the biggest victim of Partition. Our community faced years of deprivation even after these years of independence. Like previous years, we have observed today as black day against this injustice, said Aniruddha Chakma, vice president of CNCI, Tripura chapter. He claimed that inclusion of the Chittagong Hill Tract with India could be a solution to their problems.

The protests were organised at different parts of the state including Agartala, Pecharthal, Kanchanpur, Gandacherra, Karbook, Silacheri etc.

There are more than 300,000 Chakmas in India.

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NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --



Executive Summary

Global Psoriasis Treatment Market was valued at USD 16.7 billion in the year 2019. Rising prevalence of psoriasis affected people, rise in research and investments in developing biological treatment, rise in awareness of psoriasis coupled with the rising demand for healthcare products are the major factors impelling the market growth. Major growth in the forecast period is likely to be demonstrated from the various drugs that are in the clinical stages and would be available commercially in the next 3-5 years. This includes among others, the most promising ARQ-154 Foam for scalp psoriasis, from the US biotechnology company, Arcutis, which has the potential to become a billion-dollar opportunity for the treatment of psoriasis.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05948933/?utm_source=PRN



Genetic disposition, rising geriatric population and increasing government initiatives creating psoriasis awareness have been anticipated to infuse growth in the market for Psoriasis during the forecasting period of 2020-2025. Factors such as rising geriatric population, practice of unhealthy lifestyle such as heavy consumption of alcohol, smoking tobacco, enaction of immunity framework, stress and sunburn are crucial factors are supposed to trigger Psoriasis and Psoriasis arthritis that is consequently accelerating the demand for Psoriasis treatment and medication. The growth of the market is hampered in 2020 due to the occurrence of coronavirus pandemic in which all worldwide business activities are put at hold for the first few months of the year. IPC recommended physicians to discontinue or postpone use of immunosuppressant medications for the psoriasis patients, which is negatively affecting the Psoriasis drugs market growth. However, as per National Psoriasis Foundation the Medicare extended its inclusion of telehealth administrations in amid COVID-19 pandemic due to which the treatment has been resumed and the drug market has been supported in few first few months of 2020 that are anticipated to recover and accelerate the demand for the treatment in the coming years.



Under the Type Segment, Plaque Psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis and dominates the overall psoriasis market. The developing number of advanced medicines for the treatment of plaque psoriasis by the key players is augmenting the demand for enhanced medication.

The continual research and development in a number of biologics and biosimilars by the drug developing companies are expected to propel market demand of biologics treatment method for psoriasis. Among the regions, North America is followed by and Europe and Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific region is the most attractive region for the growth of Psoriasis treatment owing large targeted population base coupled with increasing healthcare spending, prevalence of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis patients, rise in government contribution and awareness programs.



Scope of the Report

 The report analyses Psoriasis market By Value

 The report analyses Psoriasis Market By Type (Plaque Psoriasis, Inverse Psoriasis, Guttate Psoriasis, Pustular Psoriasis, Erythrodermic Psoriasis)

 The report assesses the Psoriasis market By Treatment Method  (Biologics, Systemic Treatment, Topical Treatment, Others).

 The Global Psoriasis Market has been analysed By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific) and By Country (US, Canada, Norway, UK, Spain, Germany, China, India, South Korea, Japan).

 The key insights of the report have been presented through the attractiveness of the market has been presented By Type, By Treatment Method and By Region. Additionally, the major opportunities, trends, drivers, challenges and pipeline products of the industry has been analysed in the report.

 The companies analysed in the report include UCB, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries LTD, Boehringer Ingelheim, Almirall, Bausch Health, Abbvie Inc, Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer Inc., Amgen Inc., Johnson & Johnson.

 The report presents the analysis of Psoriasis market for the historical period of 2015-2019 and the forecast period of 2020-2025.



Key Target Audience



 AD and Psoriasis Drug Developers

 Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies

 Consulting and Advisory Firms

 Government and Policy Makers

 Investment Banks and Equity Firms

 Regulatory Authorities



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05948933/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.





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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global dunnage packaging market size is projected to reach USD 4.8 billion by 2027 registering aCAGRof6.1%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Dunnage packaging is extensively used in end-user industries, such as aerospace, food & beverage, consumer durables. These industries implement a custom dunnage solution to modify the shape of the product/s packed, which not only safeguards the packed product but also helps in saving and optimizing the cargo space.

This type of packaging is predominantly used in automotive applications on account of the rising demand for eco-friendly and 360 product safety. Herein, corrugated paper- and foam-based packaging assist in preserving lightweight packaging while lowering the transportation and handling costs, and maintaining the structural integrity of automotive components.

Key suggestions from the report:

In terms of revenue, the foam raw material segment is projected to ascend at a CAGR of 6.8% over the forecast period

Foam packaging solution offers Class A surface protection, cushioning support, and vibration & shock protection, which, in turn, is projected to augment the demand for foam-based dunnage solutions

The electronics application segment is estimated to register the fastest CAGR from 2020 to 2027

Growing demand for thermoplastics, fabric, and foams-based dunnage solutions to pack distinguished electronic components, on account of the product's ability to impart anti-static, conductive, or static dissipative properties, is likely to fuel the segment growth

Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period due to rising sales and consumption of automotive vehicles

In June 2020 , Reusable Transport Packaging published a first-of-its-kind all-inclusive analysis of the Reusable Transport Packaging (RTP) industry, named- the 2020 State of the Reusable Packaging Industry Report

On account of the growing interest in sustainability in transportation & logistics packaging, the company attempts to help manufacturers and service providers to grasp a holistic view of eco-friendly processes, packages, products, and distribution practices

Read 145 page research report with ToC on "Dunnage Packaging Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Raw Material (Fabric, Corrugated Plastic), By Application (Automotive, Electronics), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027"at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/dunnage-packaging-market

On the basis of raw material, the corrugated plastic segment led the global market in 2019 and is projected to expand further at the fastest CAGR of 7.1% from 2020 to 2027. This can be attributed to the rising demand for the material as it is lightweight, highly durable, eco-friendly, and inexpensive. Corrugated plastic is extensively used in the electronics industry as the material can be molded into different sizes and shapes.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest as well as the fastest-growing regional market over the forecast years on account of rising product demand from the electronics, aerospace, and automotive end-use industries. Furthermore, rapid urbanization in countries, such as China, India, and Australia, has led to the increased consumption of FMCG, automotive, and consumer durable goods, which require dunnage packaging. This, in turn, will help boost the market growth.

Grand View Research has segmented the global dunnage packaging market on the basis of raw material, application, and region:

Dunnage Packaging Raw Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Corrugated Plastic



Moulded Plastic



Aluminium



Steel



Fabric



Corrugated Paper



Wood



Foams



Others

Dunnage Packaging Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Automotive



Aerospace



Electronics



Food & Beverage



Consumer Durables



Healthcare



Others

Dunnage Packaging Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



The U.S.





Canada





Mexico



Europe



The U.K.





Germany





France





Spain





The Netherlands



Asia Pacific



India





China





Japan





Australia



Central & South America



Brazil





Argentina



Middle East & Africa

&

UAE

List of Key Players of Dunnage Packaging Market:

ORBIS Corporation (Menasha Corporation)



Corplex (DS Smith)



NEFAB GROUP



UFP Technologies, Inc.



Reusable Transport Packaging



Amatech Inc.



MJSolpac Ltd.



Ckdpack



GWP Group



Interior Packaging Design, LLC



Packaging Corporation of America



Dunnage Engineering



Salco Engineering and Manufacturing Co., Inc.



Package Design & Mfg



KEENER Corporation



JIDA Industrial Solutions



Artisanz Fabrication and Machine, LLC



Schoeller Allibert

Find more research reports on Plastics, Polymers & Resins Industry, by Grand View Research:

Pouches Market - Rising demand for low-cost, convenient, shelf appealing, and lightweight packaging by end-use industries, including food and beverages, healthcare, personal care and cosmetics, and home care, is likely to fuel market growth.

Medical 3D Printing Plastics Market - The growing aging population, increasing healthcare awareness, and the COVID-19 pandemic situation are some of the major factors driving the market for medical 3D printing plastics.

Biodegradable Plastic Market - Governments prohibiting the use of single-use plastic coupled with rising awareness among the public regarding ill-effects of plastic waste are among the key trends stimulating the market growth.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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When stony corals have their renowned mass spawning events, in sync with the moons cycle, colonies simultaneously release an underwater cloud of sperm and eggs for fertilization. But how do the sperm and eggs survive several hours as plankton, given threats from predators, microbes and stresses such as warming waters?

A Rutgers-led team has discovered some surprising features in coral sperm and eggs (collectively called gametes), according to a study in the journal PeerJ.

While coral eggs are large and sperm cells are tiny and far more numerous, the scientists showed for the first time that eggs and sperm appear to be surprisingly similar when it comes to the gene functions they express during the planktonic stage. Proteins encoded by genes, in a process called gene expression, play many critical roles and perform most of the work in cells.

The scientists also identified two genes that may be involved in how coral sperm and eggs recognize each other in dynamic ocean waters, allowing fertilization.

Much more attention needs to be paid to coral gametes because both egg and sperm are vulnerable to climate change and other insults, said senior author Debashish Bhattacharya, a distinguished professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick. It goes without saying that without robust sperm and egg, the coral reproductive cycle will be significantly weakened. Therefore, we need to understand in more detail how natural selection has acted on coral gametes to ensure their survival, leading to successful fertilization.

Coral reefs protect coastlines from erosion and storms; serve as habitat, nursery and spawning grounds for fish; and provide food for about 500 million people as well as their livelihoods, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But corals are threatened by global climate change that warms the ocean and leads to coral bleaching, disease, sea-level rise and ocean acidification. Other threats include unsustainable fishing, land-based pollution, tropical storms, damage from vessels, marine debris and invasive species.

By analyzing the genes of the Hawaiian stony coral Montipora capitata, the scientists revealed a blueprint for how coral eggs and sperm function. The next steps include further analyses of coral genomes to identify the substances they produce to ensure their survival and fertilization. The scientists are also interested in investigating coral species that dont release sperm and eggs into the water before fertilization and comparing the results to the stony coral study.

Our results pave the way for future genetic investigations, particularly in the context of climate change influences on the marine environment, Bhattacharya said.

###

The lead author is Julia Van Etten, a Rutgers doctoral student. Alexander Shumaker, another Rutgers doctoral student, contributed to the study, as did Tali Mass, a former post-doc at Rutgers and who is now a senior lecturer at the University of Haifa, and Hollie M. Putnam, a University of Rhode Island assistant professor.
RUNSTUDIO

China's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday it is launching an anti-dumping investigation into some wines imported from Australia. Australia's Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said in a statement that Chinese authorities "have also advised Australia that they are considering a request to launch a countervailing duties investigation." "This is a very disappointing and perplexing development," Birmingham said, adding that "Australian wine is not sold at below market prices and exports are not subsidised." The announcement comes amid growing geopolitical tensions between the two countries. China is Australia's top export market, and by far the largest destination for the island continent's wine exports by value, according to the government's industry authority, Wine Australia. The Chinese investigation targets "wines in containers holding 2 liters or less," according to an English translation on the Commerce Ministry website. A typical bottle of wine is about 0.75 liters.

The anti-dumping probe follows a request in early July from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a separate online statement Tuesday. The inquiry will look into potential dumping during 2019, and industry damages for the years 2015 to 2019, the statement said. The investigation will last for one year  until August 18, 2021  with the potential of being extended until February 18, 2022, under special circumstances, according to the ministry. Australia had the largest share of China's imported wine market at 37%, according to data for the 12 months through May from Global Trade Atlas and cited by Wine Australia in an August 4 report. France was second at 27%, followed by Chile at 13%, the report said.

Shares of Australian wine giant drop
Washington: The Trump administration on Monday announced it will further tighten restrictions on Huawei Technologies, aimed at cracking down on its access to commercially available chips.

The US Commerce Department actions expand restrictions announced in May aimed at preventing the Chinese telecommunications giant from obtaining semiconductors without a special license - including chips made by foreign firms that have been developed or produced with US software or technology.

The administration also added 38 Huawei affiliates in 21 countries to the US government's economic blacklist, the sources said, raising the total to 152 affiliates since Huawei was first added in May 2019.

Huawei's loyalty to the Communist Party is troubling developed democracies. Credit:Bloomberg

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox Business the restrictions on Huawei-designed chips imposed in May "led them to do some evasive measures. They were going through third parties," Ross said.
Piers Morgan and wife Celia Walden were burgled as they slept by thieves who invaded their bedroom at a luxury French villa.

Celia, 44, hit out at the 'depraved and despicable' culprits who targeted their holiday home in Cote d'Azur on Thursday - the last day of the family's holiday.

She said the burglars managed to get within inches of her and 55-year-old Piers as they slept, taking a handbag from beside her bed which they raided for cash.

The thieves also took handfuls of jewellery from a box which they dumped in the living room, fleeing as they heard the couple's 6am alarm sounding.

Shocked: Piers Morgan and wife Celia Walden were burgled as they slept by thieves who invaded their bedroom at a luxury French villa (pictured together in February)

Intrusion: Celia, 44, hit out at the 'depraved and despicable' culprits who targeted their holiday home (pictured) in Cote d'Azur on Thursday - the last day of the family's holiday

Celia said she snoozed the alarm until 6.15am when she got up and discovered what had happened, missing the thieves by just 15 minutes.

'Knowing how much worse things could have been had we woken to find intruders in our bedroom put things into perspective when it came to working out what had been taken,' she wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

'Theyd stolen all the cash they could find, right down to the few pounds I hadnt spent at Heathrow on the way out, but left the credit cards, along with my drivers licence.

Security: The journalist, who has been married to Piers, 55, for ten years, said she woke up to discover the room (pictured before the break in) was in complete disarray

'I felt a stomach-plummeting sense of violation at the actions of these depraved and despicable inhuman beings.'

It is thought the thieves used a drone to scope out the property before the raid, with police revealing to the couple that it is now a common tactic.

Celia said husband Piers, who she has been married to for ten years, had spotted one hovering over their garden a week earlier.

Police also revealed to the couple that thieves no longer target cards and technology - such as the couple's laptops and phones - because they are too easy to trace.

Instead they target cash and jewellery, in the hopes of snatching high-end watches and diamonds.

Celia joked that the burglars would have left disappointed, after taking jewellery that had sentimental value to her - but little monetary value.

She said they got away with a ring that Piers gifted her on their fifth wedding anniversary, a vintage Pucci cuff she bought at an LA market, and some earrings she bought in Edgware Road with her first book advance.

Increase: Officers said that the summer season sees a sharp uptick in burglaries on the French Riviera as criminals target wealthy holiday makers (Piers pictured alongside sons Spencer and Stanley at the luxury villa)

Officers said that the summer season sees a sharp uptick in burglaries on the French Riviera as criminals target wealthy holiday makers.

Other celebrities who have been burgled previously in the area include Trinny Woodall, Patrick Viera and Richard Hammond.

In July 2016, Abbey Clancy revealed her terror at coming face-to-face with two burglars who broke into her plush pad in the south of France.

She had been at the villa with a friend at the time because her husband Peter Crouch was working as a Euro 2016 football pundit in Paris.

Abbey told The Mirror: 'I had these two massive guys in my room, they were right there in front of me. But I screamed so much I scared them away.

Coming back: It comes after Piers joked he and his family were 'quarantine dodgers' as they cut the trip short to return to the UK on Thursday before France's air bridge was removed

'It was absolutely terrifying, it was one of the worst things to happen. It was so awful. Things like this happen to people all the time.

'But when it actually happens to you, you cant believe it.'

And in August 2015, Jenson Button and his then wife, Jessica were gassed as they slept during a raid on their French villa.

The pair were with friends in St Tropez when thieves broke in and stole valuables worth 300,000 including Mrs Button's engagement ring, believed to be worth 250,000.

It was claimed the Formula One driver and his wife may have been knocked out by gas pumped into the house through air conditioning units.

They added that Button and his friends weren't disturbed during the raid as the effects of the gas gave the burglars 'free rein'.

Holiday: Piers made the most of his time on the French Riviera as he met up with famous faces including Amanda Holden (pictured) and Joan Collins

Meanwhile, The Morgan family made a last-minute dash home from the villa in St Tropez to avoid the UK's new quarantine rules.

The Good Morning Britain presenter cut short his break to ensure he returned to the UK before the government implemented a new two-week quarantine rule.

He tweeted on Monday evening that he would be returning to Good Morning Britain on September 1.

And that evening, he shared a picture of himself drinking a pint at his favourite local, no doubt happy to be home.

Piers - who has kids Spencer, 27, Stanley, 23, Albert, 19, and Elise, eight - posted an image of himself and two of his sons on Instagram upon their return on Thursday.

Pals: The TV personality said that he had been to dinner at least three times with Joan during the St Tropez trip as he joked 'she can't get enough of me'

He captioned the picture: 'Quarantine dodgers... #France #LeGreatEscape  @spencermorgan93   @Bertie_Morgan11 (sic)'

Since Piers returned home, the government has confirmed plans to introduce a 14-day isolation requirement for people arriving from France.

France was added to the UK's quarantine list on Thursday in a savage blow to tens of thousands of British holidaymakers, as ministers ordered travellers returning from the popular destination to isolate for 14 days.

The quarantine came in at 4am on Saturday.

John Keefe, the public affairs director at Channel Tunnel operator Getlink, warned that there is 'very limited' capacity on services throughout this month.

France recorded 2,669 new cases of coronavirus yesterday, up from 2,524 last Wednesday. It is a record figure for the nation since it came out of lockdown.

The review of the rules saw the Netherlands, Monaco and Malta added to the quarantine list - and Portugal remains on it, along with Spain.

The Turks and Caicos Islands and Aruba in the Caribbean have also lost their places.

The move came after Boris Johnson said the UK would be 'ruthless' when it came to travel quarantine even with its 'closest and dearest friends'.

Meanwhile, Piers recently announced plans to release a new book Wake Up, which is about the 'war on free speech'

Piers - who has more than seven million Twitter followers - wrote on the platform: 'BREAKING: I'm delighted to announce my new book: 'WAKE UP - Why the "liberal" war on free speech is even more dangerous than Covid-19.'

'Out on October 15th in hardback, ebook & audiobook read by me. (sic)' The book is being published by Harper Collins, and is being billed as a 'rallying cry' for unity and 'freedom of speech'.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recorded the statement of actor Sushant Singh Rajputs father K K Singh in its money laundering probe related to the formers death, officials familiar with the development said.

They said the statement was recorded on Monday in connection with Singhs claims regarding cash transfers from his sons accounts and his finances. Singh, a complainant in the case, had filed a case with the Bihar police last month on the basis of which ED filed a money laundering case on July 31.

Singh has levelled serious allegations against actor Rhea Chakraborty of embezzling his sons money while staying with him. He has alleged that an unusual transaction of Rs 15 crore had taken place from his sons account which needed to be investigated.

The ED, officials cited above said, has already questioned Chakraborty in the case. The Bihar Police had lodged a case under various IPC sections: 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide).

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also registered a case against Chakraborty, three of her family members,and others in connection with the actors death. Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai home on June 14.
By Trend





Kazakhstan is committed to ensuring a comprehensive COVID-19 response, Caroline Clarinval, Head of the WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan told Trend.

Clarinval said that since the onset of the COVID-related crisis, WHO has released numerous technical guidelines and guidance notes to respond to the outbreak and to maintain essential health services, including a set of targeted actions for countries at the national, regional and local levels.

These guidelines relate to nine areas and include: governance mechanisms, identifying context-relevant essential services, managing patient flow, re-distributing and training the health workforce capacity, adjusting service delivery, maintaining availability of medications and supplies, reducing financial barriers, strengthening risk communication and community engagement, and reinforcing information systems, she said.

Clarinval emphasised that Kazakhstan has actively engaged in all nine areas of work which define WHOs response to COVID-19 outbreak.

For instance, alongside appropriate public health measures and a vigilant decision-making system, Kazakhstan has also invested in hospital surge capacities, repurposed some and built new health care facilities which play a fundamental role in the treatment and the pathway of COVID-19 patients. Public health surveillance system has been adjusted, digital solutions for case detection have been applied. The laboratory capacities have been rapidly scaled up. The whole-of-government emergency response mechanism has been activated, showing the tremendous efforts invested by the country to fight COVID-19, Clarinval said.

She noted that WHO has observed that since the beginning of this crisis, Kazakhstan has been looking at how other countries were responding and has made use of its window of opportunity and absorbed global best practices and lessons learnt to be better prepared.

Talking WHO recommendations to battle COVID-19 spread, Clarinval noted that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, however WHO provides recommendations to support Ministries of Health, including the Ministry of Health in Kazakhstan.

This knowledge-sharing approach also serves as an opportunity to discuss best practices and to adjust standard operating protocols to the national context. We see that the country is committed to ensuring a comprehensive response, both in organizing the treatment of patients and in supporting health care workers involved in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, she said.

Clarinval added that from the very beginning, Kazakhstan used the tactic of active testing, including the testing of health care workers.

Active case finding and testing brought good results: 81 percent of all cases were identified through active case finding. Up to 30,000 tests are conducted every day. There are two essential elements to addressing the pandemic effectively: leaders must step up to take action and citizens need to embrace new measures, Clarinval said.

Clarinval added that for most regions, while restrictions on movement will be eased, general public health and social distancing measures remain in place.

In this regard, we continue to insist on further adherence to the main recommendations of national health authorities and WHO to break the chain of transmission and prevent the spread of the virus among the population, she concluded.

The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020.

The total number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Kazakhstan since the virus was first confirmed in the country amounted to 103,300 cases. This includes 84,445 people who recovered from the coronavirus, and 1,415 patients who passed away.
A new internal poll shows Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse trailing U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal by single digits just 15 days ahead of the election.

A sample of just under 400 registered voters was conducted over the weekend by Beacon Research, a Boston-based polling firm.

Participants were asked if the vote were held today, who they would support.

Of those polled, 46% chose Neal and 41% Morse. The remaining 13% were undecided.

The poll also asked voters if theyd heard or read anything in the past week about an issue involving Alex Morse and a group of College Democrats at UMass Amherst?

An overwhelming majority - 85% - said they had yet it largely didnt sway their votes.

About 55% said the news didnt change their opinion, 21% said it made them more inclined support Morse while 18% said it pushed them towards Neal.

Morse announced a year ago he was challenging Neal for his House seat, which hes held for three decades.

The race made national attention when College Democrats of Massachusetts sent Morse a letter alleging he had inappropriate relationships with students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst - where he taught for several years - and other institutions within the Five College Consortium.

Morse acknowledged meeting young men on dating apps and apologized if students were uncomfortable after connecting with him on either dating apps or social media apps but denied the relationships were inappropriate, insisting they were all consensual and didnt involve any of the students he taught in his classes.

In days following, conversations between members of the College Democrats chapter at UMass Amherst leaked showing a member of leadership was a strong supporter of Neal and sought to obtain a job within his office.

Neal has denied involvement in the allegations.

In their first televised debate Monday since the allegations were made public, the topic was raised but was not the focus of the event.

16 Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal debate

The pair discussed police reform, the Trump administration, campaign finance and education.

When I got that email a couple Fridays ago alleging that I made students feel uncomfortable ... as a human I would never want to make someone uncomfortable and I need to honor that truth, Morse said. But then come to find out over the last week that this was a backroom political smear against this campaign.

After the issue made national headline, Morse said this past week marked the most lucrative fundraising week of his campaign.

The debate was organized by a consortium of media organizations, including The Republican and MassLive, New England Public Media and The Berkshire Eagle. It will air at 7 p.m. on WGBY and can be live-streamed on MassLive.
I met Richard Gwyn, who died last week, soon after I arrived in Canada from England in 1978. As the Stars premier political columnist, he was already a major figure in the parliamentary press gallery at a time when Ottawa was a cacophony of brainy people in politics, the public service and the media. Many had been drawn to the federal capital by the intellectual firepower of Pierre Trudeau; all wanted to argue about whether government should be in the nations bedrooms, how to maintain national unity, whether the social safety network should be strengthened, if the West would ever be satisfied with the federal deal.

So I was a little awestruck by this transplanted Brit, who explained all these complex issues to Canadians and seemed to know everybody in town. He was so English: his sense of irony, his accent, his old-fashioned gallantry and, yes, his helplessness in the kitchen. He would have fit quite happily, I thought then, in the Fleet Street newsroom that I had left behind.

I gradually realized that my assumption was wrong. This was a man who had walked away from a pukka British background (his father was ex-Indian Army brigadier), a claustrophobic Catholic boarding school and a stint at Britains premier military establishment. He shucked off the traditions and narrowness of the British class system, and came to Canada at age 20 to make his own way in life. He had very little money, but dreamed of sailing round the world. His mother was furious.

The sailing-round-the-world bit never happened, although the romance of the sea never faded. Instead he met Newfoundland-born Sandra Fraser in Halifax, married her (and grew to love Newfoundland as much as she did), and found a job. Canada had allowed him to reinvent himself, and create his own expectations. Once settled, he set about trying to understand the country he now lived in, which turned out to be very different from the one in which he had been raised.

He was a role model for me, another transplanted Brit with a busy pen. And Sandra Gwyn became an even closer friend and my mentor.

But back to those early years in Ottawa. The towns social life was dominated by a handful of power couples who choreographed lively dinner parties featuring well-informed arguments, strong opinions, and recipes from the New York Times. The Gwyn parties, on Cole Avenue, were amongst the best  especially the Christmas parties, at which Sandra served brandade de morue, made with Newfoundland salt cod.

Because Richard had spent five years in the public service, he had insider friends who valued his astute observations and knew that he would never sink to gotcha! Conversations around the dinner table were off the record, but Richard would then schedule interviews to confirm information and follow leads. His columns were must-reads because so often he had scoops  who would be the next clerk of the Privy Council, which minister was about to walk the plank. He adroitly wrote both for decision-makers and for newspaper readers who just wanted to know what was going on up there in Ottawa. I learned a lot from his approach.

After the Gwyns moved from Ottawa to London, I regularly stayed with them in their Little Venice flat. In Britain, Richard was now an insider-outsider; he sounded like one of them, but he didnt share many of their values and viewed the Thatcher government with distaste. And, like me, he now found the London circles in which he moved too crowded, too class-conscious. But he had watched the fizz slowly evaporate in Ottawa in the mid-1980s, and relished the no-holds-barred debate of British politics.

By now, I had succeeded Sandra as Ottawa editor of Saturday Night magazine. I would often talk to both Gwyns about my assignments. Over dinners or on transatlantic phone calls, Richard was unfailingly generous with contacts, insights, introductions. He was a warm, kind man who loved to tease. You realize your private-school accent works for you, dont you? he once said. You sound like you actually know what youre talking about.

Sandra Gwyn died in 2000. It was an immense loss, primarily for Richard but also for all her friends. That summer, a grief-stricken Richard came to stay with my husband George Anderson and me in a cottage on Big Rideau Lake. He brought with him a new companion, a black Labrador puppy called Nell Gwyn, which he tried to discipline with loud shouts. That is the worst-trained dog Ive ever seen, George remarked, as Nell proceeded to ignore every command with lovable insouciance. But Nell helped Richard through some very hard months.

Richard had continued to write for the Star and appear regularly on television throughout Sandras slow decline. I think the deadlines gave a framework and some relief to his sadness. He was never a guy who expressed emotions easily (British boarding schools do that to you) but I started to see his spirits revive, and a mischievous glint in his eye. Nell, he confided gleefully, was a chick magnet.

Finally the penny dropped; there was a new woman in his life  Carol Bishop. Like Sandra, she became a good friend of mine as she too catered to Richards inability to turn on the stove and dependence on his partner for help with his books. Sandra had always edited his columns; Carol did much of the picture research for his magnificent two volume biography of Sir John A. Macdonald.

It was typical of Richards honesty and courage that, when he was first diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, he admitted it publicly long before it was obvious. He never shied away from hard facts.

At a birthday party a few years ago, Richard said, Ive been a very lucky man. I have had the love of two wonderful women. The women friends in the crowd in the Massey College common room that night (and he had lots of close female friends) groaned. It was so typical of Richard, who was very much a man of his generation. He had made himself the centre of the story. But we didnt hesitate to chide him for his chauvinism, and he laughed with amusement at our reproaches. But its true! he insisted.

And it was true. They, and I, loved him. For all his old-fashioned views, he took women and our opinions and work seriously. He was a great guy and a really good friend.
The entire nation of Sri Lanka witnessed an hours-long power cut on Monday, August 17 due to an unspecified failure at a major power plant. Reportedly the electricity was restored in some parts of the country only after six hours of complete blackout. However, Colombo was still in darkness.

The state-run electricity board, Ceylon Electricity Board not only offered their deepest condolences to all the people who were affected by the power cut but also informed that the situation is in the process of being rectified. It said, Electrical interruptions, which were mounted nationwide, are now being completed gradually. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this.

Source: Ceylon Electricity Board - CEB/Facebook

Read - Sri Lanka's Ex-president Maithripala Sirisena Summoned By Easter Attack Probe Panel

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma said that the technical issue prevailed at the Kerawalapitiya power station just outside the capital Colombo that caused the blackout, affecting the entire nation of 21 million people. The blackout struck the island country around midday on August 17 and according to reports, it is the worst disruption since March 2016.

Four years ago, Sri Lanka was without electricity for more than eight hours due to a huge system breakdown. Alahapperuma had also reportedly assured that required steps were underway to restore the supply. However, Colombus was still in darkness as the night fell.

Read - Deepika Padukone And Ranveer Singh Get Their Own Dolls; Sri Lankan Artist Shares Pics

Power cuts caused major disruptions

From hospitals shifting to power generators to chaos in congested roads of Sri Lanka, the prolonged power cut caused major disruptions in the nation. The law enforcement officers were seen struggling to maintain the key intersections because the traffic lights were not working. Meanwhile, the main airport is mostly shut because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sri Lanka mainly generates more than half of its electricity through thermal power and the rest is acquired from hydro and wind power. The power plant, Kerawalapitiya where the technical glitch led the entire nation into darkness, is an oil-fired thermal power station with a megawatt capacity of 300. According to reports, around 12 per cent of Sri Lankas electricity demand is fulfilled by the plant.

Read - Rajapaksa Family Dominates Sri Lanka's New Cabinet

Read - Sri Lanka's PM Rajapaksa Invited Subramanian Swamy To Swearing-in, Pandemic Foiled Visit

Image: AP


Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 15:11:19|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

A bus driver looks at a COVID-19 prevention poster donated by the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Aug. 17, 2020. The Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka has donated face masks and COVID-19 prevention posters for public buses belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) amidst a pandemic which has so far infected over 2,800 people in the island country, a statement from the embassy said Tuesday. (Xinhua/Tang Lu)

COLOMBO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka has donated face masks and COVID-19 prevention posters for public buses belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) amidst a pandemic which has so far infected over 2,800 people in the island country, a statement from the embassy said Tuesday.

The donation was handed over Monday by Charge D'Affaires of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka Hu Wei to SLTB Chairman, Kingsley Ranawaka in the presence of health ministry officials and bus drivers.

Following the hand-over ceremony, the posters which were printed in Sinhala and Tamil languages were posted on the buses for the convenience of the commuters.

Ranawaka said that thousands of buses operating under the SLTB were the most reliable forms of public transportation in the country. Bus drivers, bus conductors and all other staff commuted with thousands of passengers daily and therefore they urgently needed to step up epidemic prevention measures.

"We sincerely thank China for their valuable support," Ranwaka said.

Bus driver Nalaka Priyadarshana, 34, said that these masks would help him and his crew to stay safe from the COVID-19 as thousands of passengers traveled in his bus daily.

His bus also had a hand sanitizer fixed at the entrance, he said, adding that the posters which outlined safety measures against the COVID-19 would educate the public who were using his bus.

Dr. Uthpala Amarasinghe, Consultant Community Physician of the Health Promotion Bureau of the Ministry of Health, said that Sri Lanka's Health Department had established a comprehensive public health network across the country which was an important factor in Sri Lanka's successful control of the pandemic.

On behalf of the Health Promotion Bureau, she thanked China for its strong support and said the 100,000 donated posters would also be put up in public places such as grassroots health centers, bus stations, and markets.

"China's friendship has spread to every corner of the country," Amarasinghe said.
Divers have recovered the body of a teenage boy from the River Tees following an overnight search for a child who got into difficulty in the water.

The alarm was raised at around 5pm on Monday after the missing 15-year-old entered the water at Broken Scar in Darlington.

A major search was launched involving Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, the North East Ambulance Service, Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team and underwater teams.

Durham Police confirmed this morning a body was found in the river just before midnight.

Formal identification has yet to take place but it is believed to be the body of the missing 15-year-old boy.

Divers have recovered the body of a teenage boy from the River Tees following an overnight search amid reports he had got into difficulty in the water. Pictured: Rescue teams last night

Durham Police said the alarm was raised shortly after 5pm on Monday after the 15-year-old entered the water at Broken Scar in Darlington. Pictured: Police at the scene

In a statement, the force said: 'We are sorry to report a body has been found in the River Tees at Broken Scar, Darlington.

'A multi-agency search operation was launched shortly after 5pm yesterday following reports a teenager had gone into the river and had got into difficulty.

'Sadly, a body was found shortly before midnight.

'His family have been informed and are being supported and our thoughts are with them at this tragic time.

'His death is not being treated as suspicious.'

The teenager is one of several Britons to have died in accidents amid sweltering temperatures this month, including a mother who drowned in Norfolk after leaping into the sea to save her son and his friend.

The force confirmed this morning a body was found in the river just before midnight

Formal identification has yet to take place but it is believed to be the body of the missing 15-year-old boy. Pictured: Broken Scar in Darlington

Danielle Chilvers, 37, was pulled lifeless from the water after being caught out by the strong current at Waxham on August 9.

Horrified onlookers tried in vain to resuscitate her before paramedics took over, but she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

The tragedy came after Ava Gray, 12, died after getting into difficulty in a river in Scotland on the same day.

Her body was pulled from the River Leven in the West Dunbartonshire village of Balloch following a three-hour search.

The teenager is one of several Britons to have died in accidents amid sweltering temperatures this month, including a mother who drowned in Norfolk after leaping into the sea to save her son and his friend. Pictured: Danielle Chilvers

Ava Gray, 12, died after getting into difficulty in a river in Scotland on August 9

Police Scotland officers were called to the scene at the foot of Loch Lomond at about 6.45pm, but the search ended with Ava's body being recovered from the water at 9.45pm.

Elsewhere, a man in his 60s was killed amid soaring temperatures on August 10. His body was pulled from the water at Clacton-on-Sea, Essex at around 10.30am and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a fourth tragedy, mother Jane Walker died in a crash between a jet ski and a boat on the Menai Strait in North Wales on August 8.
DUBLIN, Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Cardiac Safety Services Market 2020-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global cardiac safety services market is estimated to grow significantly during the forecast period. The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing number of clinical trials, growing outsourcing of R&D services and increasing R&D investment coupled with pharmaceutical R&D across the globe. The growing R&D expenditure is also driven by increasing pharmaceutical manufacturing coupled with technological advancement. A substantial growth in government funding for R&D programs has boosted the drug discovery industry and other related markets such as cardiac safety services.



The global market for cardiac safety services is segregated on the basis of services type and end-user industry. Based on the services type, the market is further classified into blood pressure measurement services, cardiovascular imaging services, ECG/holter measurement services, thorough QT Studies, and others(protocol design and expert reporting). The blood pressure measurement segment is projected to have a considerable share in the global market. Based on the end-user, the global cardiac safety services market is further segmented into pharmaceutical & biopharmaceuticals companies and contract research organization(CRO). The CRO segment estimated to have a considerable growth in the market owing to the growing number of contract research services across the globe. Based on geography, the global cardiac safety services market is further segregated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Rest of the World. Among, region North America projected to have a considerable share in the global cardiac safety services market.



The companies which are contributing to the growth of the global cardiac safety services market include Bioclinic, BioTelemetry, Inc., Certara, L.P., ERT, Inc., SGS SA, Ncardia, IQVIA Inc., and others. services launch, merger, and acquisition, collaborations with government, and technological advancements through which market players are considerably contributing to the market growth to stay competitive in the market.



Market Segmentation:



1. Global Cardiac Safety Services Market Research and Analysis by Services Type

2. Global Cardiac Safety Services Market Research and Analysis by End-User



The Report Covers

Comprehensive research methodology of the global cardiac safety services market.

This report also includes a detailed and extensive market overview with key analyst insights.

An exhaustive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations.

Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the global cardiac safety services market.

Insights about market determinants which are stimulating the global cardiac safety services market.

Detailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenues.

Extensive profiles and recent developments of market players.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Report Summary

1.1. Research Methods and Tools

1.2. Market Breakdown

1.2.1. By Segments

1.2.2. By Geography



2. Market Overview and Insights

2.1. Scope of the Report

2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends

2.2.1. Key Findings

2.2.2. Recommendations

2.2.3. Conclusion

2.3. Rules & Regulations



3. Competitive Landscape

3.1. Company Share Analysis

3.2. Key Strategy Analysis

3.3. Key Company Analysis

3.3.1. Overview

3.3.2. Financial Analysis

3.3.3. SWOT Analysis

3.3.4. Recent Developments



4. Market Determinants

4.1. Motivators

4.2. Restraints

4.3. Opportunities



5. Market Segmentation

5.1. Global Cardiac Safety Services Market by Service Type

5.1.1. Blood Pressure Measurement Services

5.1.2. Cardiovascular Imaging Services

5.1.3. ECG/Holter Measurement Services

5.1.4. Thorough QT Studies

5.1.5. Others(Protocol Design And Expert Reporting)

5.2. Global Cardiac Safety Services Market by End-User

5.2.1. Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceuticals Companies

5.2.2. Contract Research Organization(CRO)



6. Regional Analysis

6.1. North America

6.1.1. United States

6.1.2. Canada

6.2. Europe

6.2.1. UK

6.2.2. Germany

6.2.3. Italy

6.2.4. Spain

6.2.5. France

6.2.6. Rest of Europe

6.3. Asia-Pacific

6.3.1. China

6.3.2. India

6.3.3. Japan

6.3.4. Rest of Asia-Pacific

6.4. Rest of the World



7. Company Profiles

7.1. Bioclinica

7.2. BioTelemetry, Inc.

7.3. Banook Group

7.4. Biotrial

7.5. Certara, L.P.

7.6. Celerion

7.7. Covance Inc.

7.8. ERT, Inc.

7.9. IQVIA Inc.

7.10. Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings

7.11. Medpace

7.12. Ncardia

7.13. PhysioStim

7.14. Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC

7.15. Richmond Pharmacology

7.16. Shanghai Medicilon Inc.

7.17. SGS SA

7.18. Spaulding Clinical Research, LLC



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uk3xlq

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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Turkish Military Hit by Explosion During Joint Patrol With Russian Troops in Syria's Idlib

Sputnik News

09:10 GMT 17.08.2020(updated 09:39 GMT 17.08.2020)

Russia and Turkey have been jointly patrolling the M4 highway in Syria, which connects the provinces of Latakia and Aleppo, since March.

Turkish troops were hit by an unidentified explosive device while patrolling a highway in Syria's Idlib, the Russian centre for Syrian reconciliation said.

"An unidentified explosive device exploded near a Turkish convoy on the route of the patrol. There are no injured among the Russian troops," the centre said in a press release.

The incident occurred during the twenty-second joint patrol of the highway by Turkish and Russian military.

The Russian centre did not clarify whether any Turkish troops were injured in the incident.

Turkey and Russia started joint patrolling of the M4 highway, which connects the Syrian provinces of Latakia and Aleppo, on 15 March. The initial route was shortened shortly afterwards because of provocations staged by local rebels. According to the Russian centre for Syrian reconciliation, the terrorists had been trying to use civilians, women and children included, as human shields.

On 5 March, Russian President Putin and Turkish President Erdogan signed a memorandum which stipulated that Russian military police and Syrian border guards would facilitate the withdrawal of Kurdish militia from a 30-kilometre zone on the border with Turkey.

A Sputnik

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Matthew Busch /For The San Antonio Express-News

Monday marked the first day of school for many San Antonio families who either set up class in their homes or added a mask to their supply list for on-campus learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg sent a congratulatory shout out via Twitter to all the students, teachers, parents and staff for the start of an unpredictable school year.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and UAE's Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Al Tayer have agreed to cooperate in the area of FinTech especially UPI and RuPay card, thereby integrating financial transactions between two economies.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and UAEs Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Al Tayer have agreed to cooperate in the area of FinTech especially UPI and RuPay card, thereby integrating financial transactions between two economies. During a video conference held on Monday, the leaders expressed respect for the long-standing relationship between India and UAE, and the need to take it further in mutually in beneficial ways.

Ministry of finance tweeted that FM mentioned that with NIP (National Infrastructure Pipeline), there were greater avenues between India & UAE to collaborate in the field of infrastructure investment, the leaders agreed to cooperate in area of FinTech especially UPI & RuPay card, thereby integrating financial transactions between two economies.

Both the leaders also agreed to work together in aligning the interests of India and UAE in various international forums including G-20 and ITU (International Telecommunication Union), for achieving common goals. Earlier, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar co-chaired the 13th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation along with Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs in which the two sides reviewed the continuing growth of their cooperation.

Also read: Indias Covid-19 tally breaches 26 lakh mark, death toll at 50K

Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman today held a bilateral meeting via VC with H.E. Obaid Al Tayer, MoS Financial Affairs, UAE. Both leaders expressed respect for the long standing relationship between India & UAE, and the need to take it further in mutually beneficial ways. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/sE7bWdaVe7  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) August 17, 2020

FM mentioned that with NIP, there are greater avenues between India & UAE to collaborate in the field of infrastructure investment.The leaders agreed to cooperate in area of FinTech especially UPI & RuPay card,thereby integrating financial transactions between two economies.(2/3)  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) August 17, 2020

Also read: Pandit Jasrajs last rites performed in New Jersey

Jaishankar said after the virtual meeting that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries is growing. He said the two sides reviewed the continuing growth of their broad-based cooperation. Their content and expanse are a testimony to our new era of relations, he said in a tweet.

Encouraged by our close collaboration in dealing with health, trade and travel challenges due to COVID-19. Discussed major regional and international developments. Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership grows by the day, he said in another tweet.

During the meeting, the Indian side invited further investments from the UAE in key sectors of the Indian economy such as infrastructure including logistics, food parks, highways, ports, airports, renewable energy and defence. Both sides agreed to hold the next Session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting in Abu Dhabi in 2021. The specific dates of the meeting will be finalised by both sides through diplomatic channels.

Also read: Facebook issues statement after opposition rakes up bias theory
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket using a first stage making a record sixth flight thundered away from Cape Canaveral early Tuesday, lifting 58 more Starlink internet satellites into orbit along with three Planet-owned SkySat commercial reconnaissance satellites.

Following an engine test firing Monday, the well-traveled first stage roared to life at 10:31 a.m. EDT, quickly pushing the 229-foot-tall rocket away from pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket using a first stage making a record sixth flight climbs away from pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying 58 more Starlink satellites and three SkySat commercial imaging satellites owned by Planet. / Credit: SpaceX

After boosting the vehicle out of the thick lower atmosphere, the first stage fell away and flew itself back to landing on an off-shore droneship a few moments before the second stage reached orbit. Two other SpaceX ships were standing by to recover the two halves of a previously flown nose cone.

The booster's sixth successful landing pushed SpaceX's record to 58 first stage recoveries, 39 on droneships.

The second stage, meanwhile, released the three SkySats, owned by the Earth-imaging company Planet, about three-and-a-half minutes later with the Starlinks following suit about a half hour after that. Deployed in a single batch, the 58 satellites will slowly spread out before boosting themselves to their operational altitude.

With Tuesday's launch, SpaceX has now put 655 Starlinks into orbit as the California rocket builder rapidly builds out a planned constellation designed to deliver high-speed internet service to customers around the world. Initial service across the northern United States and Canada is expected to debut later this year.

SkySats 19, 20 and 21 will round out Planet's fleet of compact satellites producing commercially available high resolution imagery for use by government agencies and the private sector. Planet also operates more than 100 smaller Dove satellites providing lower-resolution, wide-angle views.

The Falcon 9 first stage completed a record sixth flight with a pinpoint landing on the SpaceX drone ship

The new SkySats, built by Maxar Technologies, were launched under a "rideshare" program that enables small satellite operators to hitch rides aboard SpaceX rockets when room performance margins are acceptable. Three other SkySats were launched in a Starlink mission earlier this summer.

Story continues

"By taking advantage of SpaceX's rideshare program, we were able to get these satellites launched much faster compared to a dedicated launch," wrote Mike Safyan, Planet's vice president of launch operations, in a blog post earlier this month.

"In addition, by splitting the payload across two launches, we're able to phase the (new) SkySats into their respective (orbital planes) much faster as well, all of which results in Planet's customers benefiting from these enhanced products much sooner than any other provider can offer."

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Covid-19 is one reason more businesses are choosing co-working spaces. Analysts predict big changes in working office models after the epidemic ends.

Because of various reasons, some foreign companies and foreign organizations coming to Vietnam recently have also chosen co-working spaces.

In a report released in late 2019, Officespace, a company that leases offices in Hanoi, said the co-working space market would continue to boom in 2020. Recent studies also show the forecast is right.

A survey conducted by IDC during the epidemic found that 80 percent of businesses in Vietnam plan to use co-working spaces for the next 1-3 years, higher than the average level in the region.

A survey conducted by IDC during the epidemic found that 80 percent of businesses in Vietnam plan to use co-working spaces for the next 1-3 years, higher than the average level in the region.

Eighty-six percent of surveyed people said they highly appreciate the benefits that shared workspaces can bring to their business expansion.

Co-working spaces are expected to survive the epidemic and prosper after the difficult period because of three reasons.

First, the development of startups, the major clients of the co-working space sector.

Second, the demand for attracting and retaining young talents is very high. They include people who love modern working spaces with high connectivity level.

IDC reported that 93 percent of surveyed businesses in Southeast Asia have realized the importance of adjusting the working space to make it satisfactory to young peoples expectations.

Third, Covid-19 has prompted many businesses to give up traditional offices and shift to use co-working spaces. This allows them to save money and use offices in flexible time.

The co-working spaces in Vietnam are witnessing a strong growth trajectory with one space opened every 47.5 days. Office-space estimates that there are hundreds of co-working space service providers in Vietnam that offer a wide range of service fees and associated amenities.

With many advantages, including low rents, low required deposits and flexible time of leasing, co-working spaces can develop well at a time when businesses have to give back premises, scale down business, cut personnel, and organize working in teams as the pandemic has not been completely contained.

Le Ha

Businesses owe nearly $900 million in social insurance premiums because of COVID-19 As of July, businesses nationwide owed social insurance premiums totalling over 20.6 trillion VND ($887.6 million) due to the coronavirus crisis, according to Vietnam Social Insurance (VSI).
The Madras High Court on Tuesday said the Sterlite copper plant in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district will continue to remain shut and dismissed all petitions filed by Vedanta group for its reopening.

The verdict was set to be delivered in March this year but got delayed due to the pandemic. Justices TS Saivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan of Madras High Court refused to order status quo until Vedanta, which owns Sterlite Copper, filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.

All political parties, including the ruling AIADMK and the DMK, welcomed the court order.

Meanwhile. Vedanta group said it will take legal routes to fight the case. "The verdict comes as an utter shock to the employees of Sterlite Copper and the thousands of small businesses, entrepreneurs and community members dependent on our continued operations. We firmly believe in the safe and environmentally sound nature of our operations and are discouraged by the wilful reliance on anecdotal evidence and half-truths by certain parties to spread falsehoods against our operations, said Pankaj Kumar, CEO, Sterlite Copper.

It is also disheartening to note that at a time when our nation is forced to depend on hostile neighbours for copper imports, certain forces are conspiring to stifle our nations ability to be an independent copper manufacturer. At no point in our operations were any concerns of pollution raised by the appropriate authorities. We will therefore be pursuing all available legal remedies in the pursuit of justice over the coming days," added Kumar.

Sterlite copper plant has been shut since April 2018.

In May 2018, peaceful protests in Thoothukudi turned violent. The police force opened fire at a massive rally marking a hundred days of protest against the operations of a copper smelter owned by billionaire Anil Agarwal. With the death of 13 people and several others wounded, the shooting shook the national consciousness and pivoted debates around need-based manufacturing.

The Anil Agarwal-owned Vedanta has vigorously contested the closure of the factory. The Edappadi K Palaniswami government, relatively new in terms of months at the office in 2018, had hurriedly shuttered the factory five days after the police firing. The company has since then been fighting it legally, engaging a battery of lawyers, some of whom command great respect in the country's legal fraternity.

For now, anti-sterlite protesters are celebrating as the factory will continue to remain shut.
Shockley said theyre still seeking contestants for the junior division until Sept. 16. The pageant, held at the Guadalupe Center in Scottsbluff, is open to the public.

Another fixture of the annual celebration, the Los Guadalupanos Dancers, under Shockleys direction, will not perform this year.

Pageant royalty and members of the Los Guadalupanos Dancers would traditionally appear in the Cinco de Mayo Parade on East Overland and also in the Oregon Trail Days Parade in Gering.

Both those parades have been canceled due to health directives from the state.

We also select a grand marshal for the Cinco de Mayo celebration, Shockley said. But with no parade, well wait until 2021 to name that person.

The parish family of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church traditionally schedules a dinner during the observance of Mexican Independence Day in September. But this year, the church board will meet and decide what changes will be made to the dinner, or whether it can take place at all.

Jerry Purvis is a reporter with the Star-Herald. He can be reached at jpurvis@starherald.com or at 308-632-9046.

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The tapes of purported conversations between former Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko and Biden when Biden was vice president during the Obama administration were flagged in a US intelligence assessment earlier this month warning of Russian interference in the upcoming election, and specifically efforts to denigrate Biden. (Photo | AP)

Washington: President Donald Trump has retweeted an audio recording that US intelligence officials have described as part of a Russian campaign to denigrate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

The leaked conversation, purportedly between Biden and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, dates from Feb. 18, 2016, and centres on the resignation of Ukraines chief prosecutor.

By amplifying the recording to his more than 85 million Twitter followers, Trump underscored the ease with which pro-Russian narratives can seep into American public discourse ahead of the 2020 election despite being flagged by intelligence officials as the product of a concerted Russian effort. Russia has also published disinformation under the guise of legitimate news stories, US officials say, reflecting something of a shift in tactics from 2016, when Russia relied on a social media campaign to sow discord and orchestrated the release of stolen Democratic emails.

The White House did not immediately return a message seeking comment, but the Biden campaign accused Trump in a statement of having habitually attacked the sovereignty of American elections, including by attempting to coerce his Ukrainian counterpart into spreading conclusively-disproved lies.

That is a reference to a July 2019 phone call in which Trump encouraged his Ukraine counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to investigate unsubstantiated corruption allegations against Biden. The call was at the centre of the impeachment case against Trump that ended with his acquittal by the Senate in February.

Donald Trump is the most hostile president to American democracy in our history, said Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates.

Andrii Derkach, a member of Ukraines parliament and a 1993 graduate of a Russian spy academy who long has aired corruption allegations against Biden and his son, has released this year what he says are recordings of conversation between Poroshenko and Biden when Biden was vice president during the Obama administration. That effort was flagged in a US intelligence assessment earlier this month warning of Russian interference in the upcoming election, and specifically efforts to denigrate Biden.

For example, pro-Russia Ukrainian parliamentarian Andriy Derkach is spreading claims about corruption _ including through publicising leaked phone calls _ to undermine former Vice President Bidens candidacy and the Democratic Party, said the statement from William Evanina, the US governments chief counterintelligence official.

In the conversation retweeted Sunday night by Trump, Poroshenko can be heard telling Biden that he had accepted the resignation of prosecutor Victor Shokin despite of the fact that we didnt have any corruption charges, we dont have any information about him doing something wrong.

An anti-Biden narrative pushed by Trump and his supporters alleges that Biden, as vice president, pressured Ukraines government to fire Shokin because Shokin had investigated a Ukrainian energy company on whose board sat Bidens son Hunter. But Bidens position on the prosecutor, who was seen by critics as soft on corruption, was the position of the US government and was also supported by other Western governments and many in Ukraine.

But the Twitter user whom Trump retweeted said in his tweet that the conversation revealed that Shokin was not corrupt and that there was no information to suggest he had done anything wrong.

A White House summary of the conversation available online does show that Biden and Poroshenko spoke on Feb. 18, 2016. But Poroshenko has generally rejected the tapes disclosed by Derkach as a fabrication by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.

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The coronavirus pandemic prompted British Airways to speed up the scrapping of its 31-strong 747 fleet.

And the first of its last remaining jumbos to be retired was pictured taking off from Heathrow Airport today on its final journey. It flew empty to Spain - where it will be scrapped.

The aircraft, flying under flight number BA9170E, was spotted taking to the skies around 10.30am, bound for Castellon after clocking up 50 million miles in the air over 25 years. Aviation enthusiasts gathered nearby to get one last glimpse and snap one last picture of the plane.

The first of the last remaining British Airways 747s to be retired is pictured taxiing towards the runway at Heathrow today before embarking on its final journey. It flew empty to Spain, where it will be scrapped

The jumbo jet is pictured getting ready to depart Heathrow for the final time. Last month, BA announced that all 31 Boeing 747s in its fleet had flown their last passenger services

The aircraft received an emotional farewell from the Nats Air Traffic Control Tower at Heathrow Airport.

On a video of the take-off released by BA, the air traffic controller can be heard telling the captain: 'Speedbird 9170, it's farewell from all of us here at Nats Heathrow control tower.

'The 747 has graced our skies for 25 years and we are truly sorry to see it go.'

The captain replied saying: 'Thanks for all of your assistance over the years. It's been a pleasure and a privilege and on behalf of all pilots and crew who fly this aircraft, it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to this aircraft on its last flight. Thank you very much.'

Last month, BA announced that all 31 Boeing 747s in its fleet had flown their last passenger services 'with immediate effect' and would be retired.

BA explained: 'British Airways fleet of 747s are being retired at an accelerated rate as a result of the devastating impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the airline and the aviation sector, which is not predicted to recover to 2019 levels until at least 2024.'

The aircraft that retired today first entered service in 1994 and last flew in April, when mid-lockdown it flew back from Lagos, Nigeria, as part of the UK's repatriation efforts.

The plane, registration G-CIVD, could accommodate 14 first-class passengers, 52 Club World (business class) passengers, 36 World Traveller Plus (premium economy) passengers and 242 World Traveller (economy) customers.

The retiring aircraft gets airborne. It first entered service in 1994 and flew its last passenger service in April

Its top speed is 565mph and it has a take-off speed of 180mph. It is 231ft (70.6 metres) long, 63ft (19.41 metres) high and has a wingspan of 211ft (64.4 metres). It is fitted with four Rolls-Royce RB211-524 engines.

BA estimates that the aircraft has flown for 115,276 hours on 13,364 flights.

Al Bridger, British Airways director of flight operations, said: 'All of us at British Airways and so many of our customers will have fond memories and special moments from our travels on the iconic jumbo jet.

'As a pilot who was lucky enough to fly the aircraft, the sheer scale of it was unforgettable. You literally looked down on other aircraft.

'It changed aviation forever when it arrived in the skies and I know I speak for our customers and the global aviation community when I say, despite rightly moving to more sustainable ways of flying, we will still miss the 747 dearly.'

Aviation enthusiasts gathered near Heathrow today to get one last glimpse and snap one last picture of the aircraft

BA estimates that the aircraft retiring, pictured wheels-up over Heathrow today, has flown for 115,276 hours on 13,364 flights and over 50 million miles

The 747, with its humped fuselage and four engines, is the world's most easily recognised jetliner and it democratised global air travel in the 1970s. At one point BA operated 57 of the aircraft, with the jumbo jets first flight to New York in 1971.

But the Boeing model fell behind modern twin-engine aircraft and now trails newer planes in fuel efficiency, making it expensive to run, particularly during the current travel slump.

BA said it had invested heavily in new, modern long-haul aircraft including six A350s and 32 787s, which are around 25 per cent more fuel-efficient than the 747.

Meanwhile, BA, owned by IAG, has said it is fighting for its survival due to coronavirus and needs to axe as many as 12,000 staff.

Restrictions on travel between the UK and popular destinations in the United States and India have wiped out BA's most lucrative international routes, while demand for European flights has also waned as a result of British quarantine rules.
The multi-currency digital payments specialist experiences exponential growth following its funding round in Mar-2020

SINGAPORE, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MoolahGo, a leading multi-currency digital payments specialist in Singapore, achieved yet another record growth rate in the 2nd Quarter of 2020.

MoolahGo specializes in cross-border payments with an emphasis on serving the Business-to-Business (B2B) client segment, helping businesses ranging from small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to large listed companies in improving their FX and cross-border payments transactions.

Through its open API Integration platform, MoolahGo has attracted many financial institutions, eWallets and businesses around the world to join its rapidly expanding network. By connecting to MoolahGo, its members are able to digitize their cross-border payment transactions, tap into new revenue opportunities and reach new customers in over 40 countries, across more than 20 currencies via its payout network of over 1,000 banks and agents.

In Q2-2020, MoolahGo recorded a massive 480% jump in business volume compared to the same period in the previous year. Its stellar performance in Q2 followed an equally impressive two-fold rise in quarter-on-quarter volume. The rise in volume has similarly driven its quarterly net revenues up by more than 250%.

As a digital payments provider, MoolahGo's business has experienced increased activities during the COVID-19 pandemic as society moves towards cashless payments. However, it's recent strong performance has also been as a result of expansion of its customer base and forging new strategic partnerships.

"We feel very confident of our business going forward knowing that the payment services that we provide to our customers have been market tested during this very challenging times of a pandemic," said John Hakim, Founder and CEO of MoolahGo.

It is noted that this growth comes soon after it concluded a post-seed funding round with the Asian business giant, Lippo Group, which it announced in March this year. To take its business to the next phase, MoolahGo is planning its Series funding round and is already seeing interests from institutional investors.

About MoolahGo

MoolahGo is a Singapore founded and headquartered Fintech startup that specializes in multi-currency digital payments services. Its open API platform allows businesses, financial institutions, and other digital payment providers to connect it for a seamless cross-border payment and foreign currency solutions. MoolahGo is licensed and regulated as a Major Payments Institution by the financial regulator of Singapore and has ambitions to expand into other digital payments services such as e-money and e-wallets.

For more information, visit https://www.moolahgo.com/index.php/view/mainframe#/
Healthy people - especially women - with elevated levels of the heart failure marker NT-proBNP have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, if these people develop diabetes nonetheless, they are more likely to suffer from macro- and microvascular complications such as heart attack, stroke, or severe damage to eyes, kidneys, or nerves. These are the findings of a recent study by DZD researchers that has now been published in Diabetes Care.

The NT-proBNP molecule is a biomarker used to predict or diagnose heart failure. On the other hand, it has a positive effect on insulin and glucose metabolism. NT-proBNP stimulates the breakdown of fat in fat cells. In the animal model, higher levels of this peptide also showed a protective effect against overweight and glucose intolerance. Furthermore, studies suggest that people with elevated baseline levels of NT-proBNP have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But what is the effect of elevated levels of NT-proBNP in people who do develop diabetes? Do they suffer more frequently from diabetes complications? Researchers from the DZD partner German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrucke (DIfE) investigated these questions together with colleagues from Tubingen University Hospital, University College Dublin and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Berlin.

First, the researchers analyzed samples from a case cohort consisting of all the incident cases of diabetes and a random sample of EPIC Potsdam to determine whether the concentration of NT-proBNP in healthy people has an influence on diabetes risk. "We found an inverse association between NT-proBNP concentration and future risk of type 2 diabetes. With every doubling of NT-proBNP levels, the risk of diabetes decreased by about 9 percent," said first author Anna Birukov of DIfE. The influence of the NT-proBNP concentration is even more evident in women. There, the risk of diabetes decreased by 20 percent when the concentration of NT-proBNP was doubled.

In samples from 545 people who later developed diabetes, the researchers then investigated whether there was a correlation between elevated baseline NT-proBNP concentrations in a still healthy state and the risk of vascular complications. In this group, 133 people later developed microvascular and 50 people macrovascular complications **. "This showed that the NT-proBNP values are linearly associated with these diabetes complications," said Prof. Dr. Matthias Schulze, head of the study, summarizing the results. With each doubling of the baseline NT-proBNP concentration, the risk of severe damage to the eyes, kidneys or nerves increased by 20 percent and the risk of a heart attack or stroke by 37 percent.

"In the future, the measurement of NT-proBNP in plasma could be informative for monitoring the risk of diabetes-associated complications," Schulze said. The extent to which the peptide is suitable as a marker for the development of diabetes-related diseases should, however, be investigated in further prospective studies. The gender-specific associations between NT-proBNP and diabetes risk should also be validated in further prospective studies.

###

* EPIC-Potsdam: The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Potsdam Study is a prospective cohort study. Between 1994 and 1998, 27,548 women and men between the ages of 35 and 65 were recruited. The EPIC Potsdam Study is part of one of the largest long-term studies in the world with a total of around 521,000 study participants from ten European countries. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of nutrition on the development of cancer and other chronic diseases.

** In this study, the following microvascular complications were investigated: newly occurring retinopathies, blindness due to retinopathies, neuropathies, nephropathies or renal replacement therapies. Macrovascular complications encompassed heart attack or stroke after diabetes diagnosis.
BSE listed and NSE traded, Jump Networks Limited (JUMPNET) - a technology company that provides next-generation digital services on ultra-low bandwidth to the historically under-served sections of the society, is all set to invest and capitalize on a partnership with MOS Utility Pvt Ltd (MOS) to build it into one of the leading fintech companies in India.

JUMPNET will migrate all of MOS' operations to its proprietary blockchain platform. The partnership is expected to generate revenues of over Rs 1000 crores in the next 12 months for JUMPNET.

MOS is an established fintech company with a robust physical network of agents integrated across India. The company is focused on services spanning financial transactions, money transfer, travel & hotel bookings, utility payments, insurance, and others facilitated by more than one lakh agents on the ground that reach out to more than ten million households across 28 states in rural and urban geographies.

It is also an official business correspondent to Yes Bank, an IRDA approved corporate agent broker to sell insurance policies, an IATA Agent, IRCTC approved partner, air ticketing agency, money transfer agency, hotel & holiday package bookings agency, and more, creating an established brand that offers 'work from home' opportunities to many.

The two organizations with their 'phy-gital' ecosystem have a lot of synergies and plan to reach a larger audience with existing as well as new products and services.

JUMPNET, will migrate MOS' existing services to its proprietary blockchain platform thus, upping the platform in its security, efficiency, services, and enabling more innovation.

A blockchain is essentially a digital ledger of transactions that is duplicated and distributed across the entire network of computer systems on the blockchain.

Each block in the chain contains several transactions, and every time a new transaction occurs on the blockchain, a record of that transaction is added to every participant's ledger. It is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system.

"The opportunity in India is the biggest in the world for our technology. Our integrated ecosystem 'JUMPNET' - physical and digital network offering - allows us to reach audiences most others cannot. With a fintech partner like MOS, our focus is now to take our spectrum of financial services to newer markets at more affordable prices as well as an added convenience. With offices in multiple locations, B2B & D2C businesses, and a strong and experienced team, JUMPNET's vision is to explore the USD 100 billion-plus opportunity in India alone," said Harshawardhan Sabale, Managing Director, Jump Networks Ltd.

"At JUMPNET, we constantly strive to create state-of-the-art, affordable technology solutions to build, develop and facilitate the sustainable digital inclusion of the masses across the globe," he added.

"MOS facilitates affordable financial services to ten million households in 28 states in rural and urban areas. Indian financial services market is estimated to be currently at Rs 300 billion and would reach Rs 700 billion by 2022. There are 48 million retail shops in India and they require a secure and bulk supply of digital financial services. With JUMPNET, we are aiming to appoint one million agents through retail, WL, API, XML, etc. and reach 30 million households for providing financial and utility services at their doorstep by 2022," shared Chirag Shah, Co-founder and CEO, MOS.

The company's mission is to help the "Next Billion" users cross the digital divide. There are 1.2 billion mobile users in India - 50 per cent reside in rural areas. By 2023, internet users are expected to rise by 40 per cent and number of smartphones to double and monthly mobile data consumption per user is growing at 152 per cent annually - more than twice the rates in the US and China.

"All these opportunities will benefit JUMPNET. Our strengths lie in tapping the opportunities in these regions and providing our users with high quality digital services," said Sabale.

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Guinness owner Diageo is paying up to $610m (514m)for film star Ryan Reynolds' Aviation American Gin.

The brand made headlines last year when Reynolds hired actress Monica Ruiz for a hugely successful online advertising campaign that poked fun at her earlier role in a widely panned advertisement for Peleton fitness bikes.

Diageo already owns the Gordon's and Tanqueray gin brands and paid $1bn for George Clooney's Casamigos tequila three years ago.

Mr Reynolds bought a stake in Aviation Gin in 2018 and will retain it after the deal with Diageo.

Aviation American Gin is the second-largest super-premium gin brand in the United States with a 40pc share of the upper end of the market, Diageo said, citing industry tracker IWSR.

The Diageo deal also includes Astral Tequila, Sombra Mezcal and TYKU Sake.

Diageo agreed to an initial payment of $335m and a further potential consideration of as much as $275m based on the performance of Aviation American Gin over a 10-year period.

The deal will expand Diageo's presence in super-premium gin, which has surged in popularity over the past decade as small-batch variants of the spirit have been marketed in conjunction with upscale tonics such as Fever-Tree or mixed into popular cocktails such as the Negroni.

The news comes as the world's largest distiller wrestles with the impact of the pandemic, with bar and restaurant closures denting demand for its spirits. Earlier this month, the distiller said it had recorded a 1.3bn (1.43bn) impairment due to the effects of Covid-19.

Diageo shares rose 0.8pc in London yesterday.

The earlier deal for Casamigos expanded the London-based company's line-up in a category where it already owned the Don Julio, DeLeon and Peligroso brands.

The latest transaction will be funded through existing cash and should close before the end of 2020, subject to regulatory clearances, Diageo said.

Additional reporting: Bloomberg
Tensions reached a peak Thursday when President Trump said he would block funding for the Postal Service in an attempt to hobble its ability to process mailed ballots. Last month, the USPS notified 46 states and D.C. that their deadline requirements for voters to request and cast ballots were incongruous with its service standards, and it encouraged local election officials to use first-class postage, which costs 55 cents per item and arrives in two to five days, on election mail rather than third-class postage, which costs 20 cents and takes three to 10 days, as had been the practice for years.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Facebooks inaction against hate content destabilises democracy in India, the Congress alleged on Monday, sharpening its criticism of the global social media giant after a report in the Wall Street Journal claimed that it refused to apply hate speech rules to certain BJP politicians. The opposition also demanded for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe into the matter.

Congress MP and chairman of parliamentary committee on IT Shashi Tharoor also wrote to Facebook seeking reply on the article.At a press conference, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said India is one of the most thriving democracies in the world and anybody or any platform that undermines it by indulging in hate mongering must not be spared.

With all responsibility, I will say that Facebooks inaction destabilises our democracy. More often than not Facebook takes no action and even worse allows objectionable content to continue despite being brought to notice, she alleged.

We once again reiterate our demand for a JPC probe because no action which weakens our democracy and disturbs our social harmony will be tolerated, she said.The rules for India are dramatically different and are bent as per their convenience. In Singapore while deposing before policy makers, .

Ironically in India, despite external complaints and red flags being raised by their own trust and safety teams, hate content has been allowed to wilfully continue, Shrinate said.The CPI(M) Politburo condemned the role of Facebook, saying it is not following its own laid down policy against communal hate content.

The Politburo demands that a JPC be constituted to probe this nexus. Pending the findings of the JPC, FB should be barred from operating with any government department or constitutional body like the ECI etc, it said.
"About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed."

In late 1735, a ship made its way to the New World from England. On board was a young Anglican minister, John Wesley, who had been invited to serve as a pastor to British colonists in Savannah, Georgia. When the weather went sour, the ship found itself in serious trouble. Wesley, also chaplain of the vessel, feared for his life.

But he noticed that the group of German Moravians, who were on their way to preach to American Indians, were not afraid at all. In fact, throughout the storm, they sang calmly. When the trip ended, he asked the Moravian leader about his serenity, and the Moravian responded with a question: Did he, Wesley, have faith in Christ? Wesley said he did, but later reflected, "I fear they were vain words."

In fact, Wesley was confused by the experience, but his perplexity was to lead to a period of soul searching and finally to one of the most famous and consequential conversions in church history.

Religious upbringing

Wesley was born into a strong Anglican home: his father, Samuel, was priest, and his mother, Susanna, taught religion and morals faithfully to her 19 children.

Wesley attended Oxford, proved to be a fine scholar, and was soon ordained into the Anglican ministry. At Oxford, he joined a society (founded by his brother Charles) whose members took vows to lead holy lives, take Communion once a week, pray daily, and visit prisons regularly. In addition, they spent three hours every afternoon studying the Bible and other devotional material.

Timeline 1678 John Bunyan writes The Pilgrim's Progress 1687 Newton publishes Principia Mathematica 1689 Toleration Act in England 1703 John Wesley born 1791 John Wesley dies 1793 William Carey sails for India

From this "holy club" (as fellow students mockingly called it), Wesley sailed to Georgia to pastor. His experience proved to be a failure. A woman he courted in Savannah married another man. When he tried to enforce the disciplines of the "holy club" on his church, the congregation rebelled. A bitter Wesley returned to England.

Heart strangely warmed

After speaking with another Moravian, Peter Boehler, Wesley concluded that he lacked saving faith. Though he continued to try to be good, he remained frustrated. "I was indeed fighting continually, but not conquering.  I fell and rose, and fell again."

On May 24, 1738, he had an experience that changed everything. He described the event in his journal:

"In the evening, I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

Meanwhile, another former member of the "holy club," George Whitefield, was having remarkable success as a preacher, especially in the industrial city of Bristol. Hundreds of working-class poor, oppressed by industrializing England and neglected by the church, were experiencing emotional conversions under his fiery preaching. So many were responding that Whitefield desperately needed help.

Wesley accepted Whitefield's plea hesitantly. He distrusted Whitefield's dramatic style; he questioned the propriety of Whitefield's outdoor preaching (a radical innovation for the day); he felt uncomfortable with the emotional reactions even his own preaching elicited. But the orderly Wesley soon warmed to the new method of ministry.

With his organizational skills, Wesley quickly became the new leader of the movement. But Whitefield was a firm Calvinist, whereas Wesley couldn't swallow the doctrine of predestination. Furthermore, Wesley argued (against Reformed doctrine) that Christians could enjoy entire sanctification in this life: loving God and their neighbors, meekness and lowliness of heart, abstaining from all appearance of evil, and doing all for the glory of God. In the end, the two preachers parted ways.

From "methodists" to Methodism

Wesley did not intend to found a new denomination, but historical circumstances and his organizational genius conspired against his desire to remain in the Church of England.

Wesley's followers first met in private home "societies." When these societies became too large for members to care for one another, Wesley organized "classes," each with 11 members and a leader. Classes met weekly to pray, read the Bible, discuss their spiritual lives, and to collect money for charity. Men and women met separately, but anyone could become a class leader.

The moral and spiritual fervor of the meetings is expressed in one of Wesley's most famous aphorisms: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."

The movement grew rapidly, as did its critics, who called Wesley and his followers "methodists," a label they wore proudly. It got worse than name calling at times: methodists were frequently met with violence as paid ruffians broke up meetings and threatened Wesley's life.

Though Wesley scheduled his itinerant preaching so it wouldn't disrupt local Anglican services, the bishop of Bristol still objected. Wesley responded, "The world is my parish"a phrase that later became a slogan of Methodist missionaries. Wesley, in fact, never slowed down, and during his ministry he traveled over 4,000 miles annually, preaching some 40,000 sermons in his lifetime.

A few Anglican priests, such as his hymn-writing brother Charles, joined these Methodists, but the bulk of the preaching burden rested on John. He was eventually forced to employ lay preachers, who were not allowed to serve Communion but merely served to complement the ordained ministry of the Church of England.

Wesley then organized his followers into a "connection," and a number of societies into a "circuit" under the leadership of a "superintendent." Periodic meetings of methodist clergy and lay preachers eventually evolved into the "annual conference," where those who were to serve each circuit were appointed, usually for three-year terms.

In 1787, Wesley was required to register his lay preachers as non-Anglicans. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, the American Revolution isolated Yankee methodists from their Anglican connections. To support the American movement, Wesley independently ordained two lay preachers and appointed Thomas Coke as superintendent. With these and other actions, Methodism gradually moved out of the Church of Englandthough Wesley himself remained an Anglican until his death.

An indication of his organizational genius, we know exactly how many followers Wesley had when he died: 294 preachers, 71,668 British members, 19 missionaries (5 in mission stations), and 43,265 American members with 198 preachers. Today Methodists number about 30 million worldwide.
As a globally recognized event, the world on Wednesday 12th August, 2020, celebrated the International Youth Day (IYD), a programme that gives young people voices and opportunity to celebrate, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement, endorsed by the United Nation World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youths.

What is, however, of interest to development minded individuals is that the theme of this years celebration; Youth Engagement for Global Action largely highlighted the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels could enrich national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.

Indeed, separate from the fact that the future strength of every nation depends on its young people as their generation will provide the next leaders, this years celebration becomes more admirable and deserves our praise when one remembers that youths of Africa extraction and Nigeria in particular, despite occupying in recent times top striking diplomatic positions and development affairs mid fields at the world stage are back home dishearteningly and helplessly relegated to the background in the scheme of political and socioeconomic affairs of their nation. They (the youths) are often made to watch the political and leadership affairs of their nation from the political gallery.

Youths on their parts visibly but ignorantly endorsed this underground plots through their actions and inactions. The continuous silence and feeling of comfort in the face of political leadership deprivation, youth unemployments and lack of access to quality and affordable education authenticates this position.

This ghastly account supports one thing; Nigeria, whose nationhood, generally acknowledge huge potential and manifest destiny, are still floundering and the youths of this country have a sacred mission to retrieve the country from precipice of disintegration, leadership snares and delusions, and lead it on the part of growth, progress, prosperity, development and genuine nationhood.

But, how can this be possible, considering the fact that we are in a nation where tribal loyalty is stronger than our common sense of nationhood? Can the youths effectively gird their courage? How far can the youths go as change-agents in a country where excruciating poverty and starvation continues to drive more people into the ranks of beggars, whose desperate struggle for bread renders them insensible to all feelings of decency and self-respect? In a society where majority of the youths can easily be induced to work across purpose; and in political space where high density of the youths population reside in various villages with no access to information or livelihood, Can they truly create any impact? The answers to the above beginning with the last lies in a scholarly report which stated thus; youths coming from the extreme rural or tribal background are placed at a severe disadvantageous position because of their traditional background, limited exposure and orthodox believe. Even if the tribal and limited exposure challenge is solved, statistics has made it abundantly clear that the greatest weakness associated with youth related gatherings is their inability to remain united for a very long time.

This fears cannot be described as unfounded as what played out during the 2019 general election remains a pointer to the reality that majority of our youths are ready to compromise their position for pecuniary gain. However, confronted with this condition, the youths must recognize that to produce change, they must be organized and work together in their units of powers.

To change this trend, and achieve the objective of engaging youth in formal political mechanisms, increase the fairness of political processes by reducing democratic deficits, contributes to better and more sustainable policies which have symbolic importance that can further contribute to restore trust in public institutions, especially among youth, there are inescapable actions that the youths must take.

Separate from shunning negative habits and involvement in criminal acts such as; drug abuse, murder, insurgency, militancy, armed robbery, Nigerian youths must recognize that the man who creates power makes an indispensable contribution to the nations greatness, but the man who questions power makes a contribution just as indispensable especially when the questioning is disinterested, for it, they determine whether we use power or power uses us.

Supporting this position is Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution adopted from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN, 1948) which gives everyone the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The youth must also access the power of the press as Section 22 stipulates that the press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall, at all times, be free to upload the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter [Chapter IV: Fundamental Rights] and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people, which has been emboldened by the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

It is important that Nigerian youths speak up against violation of human rights, suppression of free speech and freedom of the press. Like their elders, youths must not initiate, encourage or spread false, mischievous or divisive information capable, or with outright intent, of misleading the populace and disrupting societal harmony and peace. Within the ambience of the law, they must speak up with facts against any wrongdoing or oppression by the government or fellow citizens capable of endangering sustainable democracy and the effective delivery of good governance.

To catalyze the process, the youths must imbibe the attitude of holding Government stakeholders (Duty Bearers) to account for the use of the resources entrusted into their care and since the Constitution is the highest law of the land and the Constitution has given sovereignty to the people, therefore, the youths like their parents are under a duty to exercise that sovereignty as provided for in Section 14 (2) (a) of the Constitution by making demand for prudent and accountable use of what is in the budget.

They (youths) should view as evil the argument by political deconstructionists that Nigerian youths must face difficulties as there is no nation where each has his/her own job and house, and where all children receive as much education as their minds can absorb. This claim in views is not only rationally inexplicable but morally unjustifiable. It is a fact that government lacks capacity to fix socioeconomic challenges alone. But any government with goodwill and sincerity to save and serve the people must develop creative and innovative channels to promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development, environmental protection and job creation.

Nigerians are in agreement that the law is the supreme instrument of the state which must be respected and no one is above the law. Therefore, Nigerian youths must be law-abiding citizens, and avoid taking the laws into their hands, seek redress of all their grievances through appropriate legal institutions, and respect the rule of law. They must respect constituted authorities and perform all their legal obligations such as practising honesty.

More importantly, Nigerian youths must appreciate that democracy is not an end in itself; that when democracy fails to underwrite social justice and social mobility, it fuels hopelessness. This particular fact if well understood will assist the youths to comprehend that as citizens, they are constitutionally eligible to vote and be voted for. For that reason, it should be their responsibility to consciously and adequately prepare for leadership.

Jerome-Mario Utomi ([email protected]), is a Lagos-Based Media Consultant
A day after the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi University (DU) to conduct physical exams for final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students from September 14, the university administration, teachers and students have raised concerns over its feasibility amid the Coronavirus disease (Covid-9) pandemic.

The university had proposed holding physical examinations for students, who could not take the Open Book Exams (OBE) online and those who want to better their performance despite taking them, from September 20. But a bench comprising justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad said the timeline was quite unreasonable and asked DU to advance the date.

This comes days after the Union home ministry, in an affidavit in the Supreme Court, said that colleges could reopen to conduct final-year examinations.

While ensuring precautionary measures such as social distancing while conducting the physical examination is a key concern for authorities, teachers say they will not have much time to complete the evaluation and declare the results for the ongoing online exams. The examination began on August 10 and will continue till August 31.

A lot of students had left for their hometowns before the nationwide lockdown was announced. Travelling back to Delhi to take the examination, they say, will not only put their lives at risk but also add to the financial burden.

DUs Dean of Colleges Balaram Pani said conducting exams while ensuring safety precautions during the pandemic would be a challenge. State universities can conduct offline exams without challenges because their students live locally, unlike central universities, where students from all across the country study. Candidates from far-flung areas will face difficulties in coming to Delhi. Hostel accommodation will be risky due to Covid-19 restrictions. Students, especially those from economically weaker sections, might face difficulties in making these arrangements. Besides, students might be asked to quarantine; that will be another challenge, he said.

Principals across colleges said they will have to make elaborate arrangements to conduct physical exams. The acting principal of Miranda House Bijayalaxmi Nanda said, We have to prepare because multiple things have to be done. There must be uniform protocols regarding health and safety because they are of paramount importance. If thousands of students come to the campus for offline exams, arrangements for social distancing and sanitisation and other things have to be made. If outstation students return, hostel arrangements have to be made. Limited resources have to be utilised, which will be challenging. Classes and evaluation are going on simultaneously.

Several principals said that conducting physical exams in October would have been better since DUs admission process begins in September. Manoj Sinha, the secretary of Delhi University Principals Association and the principal of Aryabhatta College, said, The date doesnt seem feasible since there isnt enough time to prepare for offline exams, given the Covid-19 scenario. The entire teaching staff will be busy evaluating OBE papers. We cannot compromise this because it would affect overall results. Starting physical exams will not be conducive to the functioning of the institutions at present, but we will do what the varsity administration decides.

DU is presently conducting online exams in open-book format for 260,000 final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students, as a one-time measure given the Covid-19 pandemic.

Several faculty members raised concerns over the comparison of students who are now appearing for the OBE to those who will appear for the offline exams in September. Rajesh Jha, a member of DUs executive council (EC), said, The problem is how to put the two sets of students in the same bracket. It is not scientific and against the basics of standardised examinations. The uniformity of yardstick is a basic tenet of examinations.

Most faculty members said completing the evaluation process of the ongoing OBE would not be possible before September 14. Pankaj Garg, an associate professor at Rajdhani College, said, Its not possible to declare results before September 14. All the major exams will be held by August 19 and miscellaneous exams will continue till August 31. How will students decide to appear in the second phase of examination before their results are announced?

Students also raised concerns about their safety during the prevailing situation. Amal Simon, a final-year BSc Hons (Physics) student at Ramjas College, said he and most of his friends are trying to write online exams to avoid travelling for offline exams. Simon, a resident of Keralas Palakkad, said, We are visiting cyber cafes or friends places to write exams; we just want to get this over with. We cant risk our lives by travelling to Delhi at a time when cases are increasing day by day.

Ram Govind, a final-year student of Rajdhani College, who lives in a village near Allahabad, said, Even if train services resume and we manage to reach Delhi, where we will live? We had to let go of our rented accommodation when we returned to our hometown to save rent. Besides, our families wont allow many of us to travel back due to the Covid-19 situation.

Many visually impaired students said that it would not be possible for them to travel to Delhi for exams amid the pandemic. Ramjatan Yadav, a visually impaired student from Uttar Pradeshs Sultanpur, said, Both decisions of conducting online and physical exams amid the pandemic are not inclusive and students like us were not kept in mind while making these decisions. How will we even travel and manage to stay without families in times like these?
Despite their own economic worries during the pandemic, several restaurateurs are stepping up to provide aid to Beirut, Lebanon, after the devastation from the explosions two weeks ago. Philippe Massoud, a native of Beirut who is the chef and owner of Ilili in NoMad, along with his brother and the restaurants co-owner, Alexander Massoud, and the staff, have set up an emergency disaster relief fund for Beirut. Ilili and other Middle Eastern restaurants, including Au Zaatar and Balade in New York; Naya in Manhattan and Pennsylvania; Cedars Cafe in Melbourne, Fla.; and Paumanok Vineyards in Aquebogue, N.Y., are donating some or all the proceeds from the sale of special drinks or meals, a percentage of sales and other fund-raising methods, through early September. The fund, though gofundme.com, has been set in partnership with Social and Economic Action for Lebanon, a nonprofit organization established in 1997 to help the nation.

Emergency Disaster Relief Fund for Beirut, ililinyc.com.

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By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijani Presidential Aide Hikmat Hajiyev has hailed his countrys ties with neighbouring Georgia, in the same speech where he also thanked Tbilisi for not allowing the transport of weapons bound to Armenia via Georgian territories.

Azerbaijans relations with Georgia are one of the most successful models of good neighborliness and can serve as an example for other countries, Hajiyev said in an interview with Azertag on August 17.

There is a constructive dialogue based on trust between the Azerbaijani government and the current Georgian government. We discuss any issue openly and amicably. This cooperation is mutually beneficial and serves the interests of our peoples and states. We highly appreciate the fact that official Tbilisi did not allow the use of the countrys territory as a transit for transportation of weapons sent to Armenia these days. Both the Azerbaijani and Georgian governments are determined to further deepen relations, Hajiyev said.

The senior official emphasized that both Azerbaijan and Georgia are suffering from the violation of their territorial integrity and support each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The two countries have relations of friendship and strategic partnership, he said.

Speaking about large-scale joint energy and transport projects between Azerbaijan and Georgia, Hajiyev said that the two countries are anticipating another success story  the Southern Gas Corridor by the end of the year.

Azerbaijani companies are major taxpayers in Georgia. Our companies have a number of new proposals for further development of economic cooperation, he noted.

It should be noted that on July 24, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia denied reports that Georgias territories were used to send 300 units of military equipment to Armenia from Russia, saying that it is impossible for anything to threaten the Azerbaijani-Georgian relations, which are of the highest quality.

On July 26, Adviser to the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Chikovani also denied as false media reports that weaponst bound to Armenia were transported via Georgia.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "Through an evidence-based innovative program that merges modern integrative medicine with traditional martial arts, Kids Kicking Cancer addresses the overwhelming needs of children with illness," said Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, founder and global director for Kids Kicking Cancer . He adds, "We offer one-on-one training and group classes for both pediatric inpatients and outpatients in over fifty hospitals and institutions around the globe."

(Kids Kicking Cancer Infusionarium platform) (Kids Kicking Cancer Patient & Family platform)

"We are thrilled to help this extraordinary organization expand their programs as broadly as possible," states Roger Holzberg, co-founder of Reimagine Well .

Together the two organizations are partnering to launch the Kids Kicking Cancer Infusionarium Platform, available to any pediatric hospital that would like to have the educational programs, immersive healing experiences, and live events as a part of what they offer to their patients and families as they undergo treatment. If your hospital would like access to the platform; contact us and we will find a way to make it available to you.

A patient and family version of the program is also available 24/7, to provide support whenever and wherever it's needed, over the course of the entire patient journey. Patients and families are able to use it on their smartphones, tablets, or home computers. If you, or someone you care about, would benefit from the Kids Kicking Cancer patient and family platform - click here to get started.

All services provided by Kids Kicking Cancer are at no cost to the children and their families.

About Reimagine Well

Reimagine Well provides a proprietary platform and programs designed for infusion therapy, assisted living, and more; and has compiled an extensive library of patient-directed immersive healing experiences and disease-specific 'Learn Guides' hosted by clinicians and medical experts. Roger Holzberg and Leonard Sender, MD, founded Reimagine Well. Sender is the Medical Director of the Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children's Hospital, Orange County, California. He is board certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and his primary interest is in immuno-oncology. Holzberg is the founder of My Bridge 4 Life, a former award-winning Disney Imagineer, the first (consulting) Creative Director of the National Cancer Institute and a 15-year cancer survivor.

About Kids Kicking Cancer

Kids Kicking Cancer's mission is to ease the pain of very sick children while empowering them to heal physically, spiritually and emotionally. Kids Kicking Cancer provides services in 92 facilities in 7 countries. Their vision is to lower the pain of one million children by 2025. All services provided by Kids Kicking Cancer are at no cost to the children and their families. Children 3 years & older, and their siblings, are eligible for the program.

Contacts:

Pam Carstens / (949) 793-8777 / [email protected]

Cindy Cohen, MS, CCLS / (248) 864-8238 / [email protected]

SOURCE Reimagine Well
SAVANNAH, Ga. - Police heard conflicting stories of the moments that led up to a biracial man opening fire at a pickup truck on a Georgia highway, killing a white teenage girl in the back seat, a detective testified in court Tuesday.

Marc Wilson, 21, of Sharpsburg, has been jailed since mid-June on charges of felony murder and aggravated assault in the death of 17-year-old Haley Hutcheson. Wilsons attorneys say he fired a handgun from behind the wheel of his car in self-defence after teenagers in the truck yelled racist slurs and tried to run Wilson and his white girlfriend off the road.

Superior Court Judge Michael Muldrew found Tuesday that prosecutors had sufficient evidence to seek an indictment from a grand jury. He also denied Wilsons request for bond. The rulings came after a detective laid out conflicting statements regarding the June 14 shooting on a bypass near Statesboro in southeast Georgia.

Statesboro police detective Travis Kreun said Wilson consented to a phone interview with police days after the shooting. He told them white teenagers were leaning from the trucks passenger-side windows and yelling slurs. He also said the trucks driver had been swerving back and forth in front of Wilsons car, which was struck by an object thrown from the truck.

He said, `All I can tell you is me and my girlfriend were really scared that night, Kreun testified. He said Wilson added: With everything going on in this country, Im not going to let me and my girl get run off the road.

Wilson soon turned himself in and surrendered his gun.

The Rev. James Woodall, president of the Georgia NAACP, has said the states self-defence laws, which allow people to use deadly force when facing grave and imminent threats, havent been applied in Wilsons case because of his race.

Kreun said Hutchesons friends in the pickup truck denied saying anything antagonistic to Wilson, the son of a Black father and white mother. He told the judge one passenger said another person in the truck may have extended his middle fingers toward Wilsons car.

Kreun also testified that Wilsons girlfriend told police she saw two of the white teens hanging out the trucks windows and making rude hand gestures, but she didnt hear any racial slurs.

The detective said Wilsons girlfriend told police: It kind of looked like they were trying to run us off the road, but I dont know.

All of the witnesses said Wilson fired several gunshots, with a pause between two separate volleys of bullets, Kreun said, with Wilson and his girlfriend both telling told police he fired toward the ground.

But one bullet went through the trucks rear windshield and hit Hutcheson of Reidsville in the back of the head. Her friends rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. None of the other four teens in the truck were hurt.

Prosecutor Daphne Totten noted that Wilson didnt call police or tell his family what had happened until three days after the shooting. Investigators identified Wilson as the possible shooter after a friend of Wilsons girlfriend called in a tip, Keun said.

Police recovered three shell casings from the roadway. Kreun said they also found a beer can matching others found in the teenagers truck. He said the teenagers, including the driver, acknowledged they had been drinking.

One of the trucks passengers, 18-year-old Luke Conley, was charged with misdemeanour obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Kreun testified that Conley had initially withheld information from police.

Wilsons attorneys called Conley to the witness stand Tuesday, but he refused to answer any questions. Instead, he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

The trucks driver, 18-year-old Mason Glisson, also testified and denied swerving in the road or otherwise driving aggressively. Glisson said he was driving after drinking several beers, though he was never charged. He said there was music playing in the truck and he didnt see or hear anyone antagonize Wilson.

Wilsons attorney, Mawuli Davis, asked Glisson if he was testifying that Wilson opened fire at his truck for no reason.

Glisson responded: I dont know what my passengers did. But I didnt hear them say anything.

Statesboro is about 55 miles (90 kilometres) northwest of Savannah.
In another twist to the Kerala gold smuggling case, the states protocol officer told the Customs department and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that no clearance certificate was given to any diplomatic consignment in the last one year.

Protocol officer B Sunil Kumars report, which was leaked to the media, said none from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consulate or anyone else sought exemption certificate from him.

Last week the Customs had asked the protocol officer to furnish details of all diplomatic consignments that had arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport in the past year, days after Kerala higher education minister K T Jaleel acknowledged that he had received some parcels of the Quran from the UAE consular office and that he took them to his constituency.

As a local arrangement in Kerala, exemption certificates for diplomatic bags are issued by the state protocol officer after obtaining details of the goods.

After the gold smuggling racket came to light with the seizure of 30 kg of yellow metal on July 5 from a bag that came in the name of an employee of the UAE consulate, Jaleel claimed that the consulate had donated copies of Quran and he took them to his constituency in Malappuram. He also said the consular office had arranged free food kits during Ramzan which he distributed in his constituency.

Many questions remain unanswered. We are not ready to go by the version that the consignment carried only holy books. We need more clarifications. Who cleared this, exact contents and where these boxes were taken? We will have to question many including the minister, said a senior official who is part of the multi-agency probe.

He also said the protocol officers explanation was not convincing. Jaleel, under quarantine after the Kozhikode air tragedy, said he was not worried and was ready for any probe.

Out of 31 packets came only one packet was opened. Rest are lying idle in two religious places in my constituency. Let any agency probe, my hands are clean, the minister said in a Facebook post criticising what he called a media trial. But former diplomats and others said no country usually exports religious books and special permission was needed for such imports.

During the investigation the Customs found that a heavy consignment had come on March 4 in 31 bags weighing more than 4,000 kg and they were taken to Malappuram. Jaleel later said he took these packets to his constituency. The Opposition Congress and BJP alleged that some consignments carried gold and Jaleel was aware of the smuggling activity.

The minister acknowledged that he took holy books to his constituency a week after Customs questioned employees and a driver of the C-Apt (Kerala Centre for Advanced Printing and Training), a government body under Jaleels ministry

Jaleel came under a cloud after his name figured prominently in the call list of Swapna Suresh, the second accused in the gold smuggling racket.

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After reports speculating presence of Spain's former King Juan Carlos in Abu Dhabi, the Spanish royal household confirmed on Monday, August 17 that he has been in the United Arab Emirates since he left his country. Earlier this month, the former monarch soaked in a corruption scandal had announced his self-exile and both the Spanish government as well as the Royal House officials have been secretive about Carlos whereabouts since then.

Juan Carlos had published a letter to his son, King Felipe VI informing him that he was leaving the country due to the public repercussions of certain episodes of my past private life. At the age of 82, Ex-King of Spain has become the centre of official investigations in the country and Switzerland into the possible wrongdoing with the finances.

After the letter of August 3, several media outlets began posting pictures of Juan Carlos stepping out of a plane at an airport in Abu Dhabi. However, other reports began placing him in places including Dominican Republic, Portugal, Switzerland or New Zealand. Putting an end to the rising speculations, according to an international media agency, a Royal House spokesman said that the former Spanish king had asked to convey that he had travelled to the UAE earlier this month and that is where he currently remains.

Read - Spain's Ex-King Juan Carlos Is In Abu Dhabi After Leaving Country: Reports

Read - Spaniards React To Former King Juan Carlos Leaving

Supreme court ordered an investigation in 2020

In June 2020, the Spanish Apex court ordered an investigation into the alleged role of Carlos in a $6 billion high-speed rail contract in Saudi Arabia, where he is believed to have received kickbacks, which he kept in a bank in Switzerland. Carlos has ruled Spain for nearly four decades from 1975 and 2014 and contributing to Spains transition to democracy and making it a constitutional monarchy. This is also one of the reasons why Ex-king is hailed across the nation.

Carlos had abdicated the throne in favour of his son after a corruption investigation against him was launched. It is also said that the former monarch left the country because he no longer has the immunity from prosecution following his abdication.

Read - Spain's Ex-King Juan Carlos Leaves Country After Alleged Corruption Investigation

Read - COVID-19: Worrisome Rise In Daily Number Of New Cases In Spain

Image/Inputs: AP
Vietnamese film wins prize at Locarno International Film Festival

Thien Duong Goi Ten (A Trip to Heaven), a film by young Vietnamese director Duong Dieu Linh, has won a prize at the 2020 Locarno International Film Festival which was held in Switzerland from August 5 to 15.











Poster for A Trip to Heaven by director Duong Dieu Linh



The 15-minute Vietnamese film was presented with the Medien Patent Verwaltung AG Prize of the festivals Pardi di doman category, which honours best international short films.



The category saw the competition of 43 entries, including two other Vietnamese films, namely An Act of Affection by Viet Vu, and The Unseen River by Pham Ngoc Lan.



A Trip to Heaven tells the story of 50-year-old woman named Tam, who bumps into her high school sweetheart on a tour bus to the Mekong Delta. Tam was hopeful for a chance of reconciliation, but maybe he was not.



Sharing about the prize, Duong Dieu Linh said that this was a significant milestone in her career as the Locarno Film Festival has fuelled her ideas and initiatives in film making over the past five years. She also described the award as a source of prize and encouragement for her in the future journey.



The Locarno Film Festival is an annual event held in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, it is one of the longest-running film festivals and is also known for being a prestigious platform for independent and young film makers around the world.
The deafening cheer for Anon Nampa at Thailands biggest demonstration in years underlined the bookish human rights lawyers emergence at the forefront of a youth protest movement with his taboo-breaking call for reforms to the monarchy.

He looks quite harmless, Rangsiman Rome, a former activist who is now an opposition member of parliament, told Reuters.

But once he gets the microphone and gets on stage or starts working, he becomes a different, serious person.

Although the protest movement has no single leader, Anons Aug. 3 call for curbs on the power of the monarchy shook Thai politics in a way not known in living memory and made him a hero for some and a hate figure for others.

His open challenge put Anon at risk of arrest under lese majeste charges, which can mean 15 years in jail.

I think there is a need for everyone to be able to talk about the monarchy openly and constructively, Anon told Reuters. I think society is becoming more open about this.

The Royal Palace did not comment on Anon or on the protesters demands for change when contacted by Reuters. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha has said the king requested that nobody is prosecuted for lese majeste for now.

Anon was arrested within days of his call for reform of the monarchy, though on unrelated charges linked to earlier demonstrations, fuelling the protest movement as supporters rallied at the police station before he was freed on bail.

Other student groups, meanwhile, followed up with a 10-point demand for reforms to King Maha Vajiralongkorns monarchy as the topic has gone from something discussed only in whispers to a regular theme at protests.

We dream of a monarchy that coexists with democracy, Anon said to cheers from a crowd of more than 10,000 people in Bangkok on Sunday, Thailands biggest protest in years.

We must achieve this within our generation.

Such comments infuriate royalists.

His action breaches good morals and degraded the honor and prestige of the profession, said Apiwat Kantong, an adviser in the prime ministers office who has filed legal complaints against Anon in a private capacity.

His name should be removed from the bar registration as soon as possible, he said. Thailands Lawyers Council did not comment on Apiwats request to take this action.

At 35, Anon is older than most of the student protesters he advises. He draws on his experience of an earlier round of protests and years of court appearances to defend government critics.

Farming Family

Anon grew up in a farming family in the poor, rice-growing northeastern province of Roi Et, where opposition to the Bangkok-based establishment runs deep.

His activism began in high school and he started working in human rights in 2006, the year that elected populist leader Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown in a military coup.

Once Anon qualified as a lawyer in Bangkok, he saw his mission as defending societys weakest.

Many cases he took are victims of harassment who nobody knows, said Krisadang Nutcharat, another human rights lawyer.

In 2010, Anon set up a legal practice to helping those affected by bloody clashes between Thaksins supporters and the authorities.

After the then army chief Prayuth seized power in a 2014 coup, Anon took on cases of political activists  including those who had been charged with lese majeste offenses against the monarchy.

In many cases, the accused spoke truthfully but the things they said are unacceptable for society at large  The court still ruled that they are guilty, Anon said. This is why I became interested in the monarchy.

The reforms Anon seeks to the monarchy include reducing the kings constitutional powers, which were expanded after he succeeded his late father in 2016, and dropping the lese majeste laws.

As Anon stepped up his political activism after the 2014 coup, so the arrests began. In 2015, he was charged with organizing a banned political gathering.

Including the most recent arrest, he has been charged 13 times. Of the six cases that have concluded, three were thrown out and he faced fines totaling 2,200 baht ($70) over the others. Seven cases are pending, including some for protests in 2018 to demand fair elections.

Critics accuse Prayuth of keeping power in elections last year by benefiting from electoral rules shaped by the army that helped him win. He has said the vote was fair.

With a passion for history and literature, some of Anons inspiration  and the picture on his Twitter profile  is from 1950s-era Marxist historian and activist Chit Phumisak, whose publications include The Real Face of Thai Feudalism.

In his spare time, Anon writes poetry  much of it politically inspired. One line he wrote in the aftermath of the bloodshed in 2010 reads: With red flag raised and bravely challenging, come, comrades, revolt and topple this thievish state.
Poldark star Ciara Charteris has told how she was raped five years ago by a 'best friend' and only spoke out after her rapist became close with the woman she confided in about the ordeal.

The actress, 25, penned a candid open letter about the alleged incident, explaining that she chose to stay silent for years, until she began seeing her attacker spending time with her confidant on social media.

Ciara said it was one thing dealing with post-traumatic stress from being 'physically violated' by someone she trusted, but she felt truly 'broken' after her friend 'turned a blind-eye' to the situation.

The television star challenged her friend, but was left 'stunned' when she blamed her for putting her in a 'difficult position' for years.

Ciara only reported the incident to police in December 2019 when her attacker's presence in both her social and professional circles became unbearable. The accused was never charged for the alleged incident

Time to talk: Poldark actress Ciara Charteris has said she was raped five years ago by a close friend in a candid open letter about the experience

In the detailed post, Ciara recalled 'saying no numerous times, begging him to get off me and trying to physically pull him off' throughout the terrifying 2015 attack, which took place after a birthday party.

She wrote: 'My flight mode was not attuned to protect me from a rapist that had the face of my best friend. So I just shut my eyes and passed out in terrified defeat.'

Ciara said despite going through the horrendous ordeal, it was equally painful to be betrayed by the woman she had opened up to, who struck up a friendship with the accused years later.

Explaining how it affected her, Ciara said: 'It was one thing to deal with the post-traumatic stress of being physically violated by someone I trusted, but quite another when the person who had stood by me through it all, whom I trusted the most, suddenly decided to turn a blind eye to it. This broke me.'

Ciara detailed her journey to finding the strength to speak out about the experience on a blog called I Am Arla - a support network and platform for survivors of rape and trauma - explaining she struggled to say the word 'rape' for many years.

The decision was sparked by Ciara's desire to take some 'power back', after the accused infiltrated her social circle and left her being physically sick whenever she thought she had caught sight of him.

Reflecting on the trauma which took place on her friend's birthday night out, Ciara explained that he was a 'close friend' from her youth theatre group who was 'slightly older' than her.

Candid: Ciara, 25, who has since taken a step back from acting following the alleged incident, said she stayed silent about the ordeal for years until the accused befriended her closest confidant (pictured in Poldark in 2017)

She wrote: 'Although I have struggled to say the word rape out loud for a long time, I knew that's what had happened.

'Despite saying no numerous times, begging him to get off me, trying to physically pull him off, my flight mode was not attuned to protect me from a rapist that had the face of my best friend.

'So I just shut my eyes and passed out in terrified defeat. Only waking later to clean myself up and try and find my bottoms.'

Ciara said at the time she decided not to report the incident but confided in her female best friend about what had happened the following morning, who she claims offered her 'unwavering support', as they decided to cut the accused out of their lives.

He did not reach out to them afterwards and Ciara said she believes that this was out of fear she would decide to speak out about what had happened.

But three years later, Ciara was shocked when she saw the friend she had confided in and the accused spending time together on social media.

Speaking out: Ciara has detailed her journey to finding the strength to speak out about the experience on a blog called I Am Arla, which is a support network and platform for survivors of rape and trauma

She said she was confused and looked within to try and understand how she deserved this treatment, which she said is a common trait of Acquaintance Rape.

Although both women apologised and tried to move on from it, just months later she said her friend completely cut her out of her life and decided to form a friendship with the man who Ciara says raped her.

Ciara said the accused, who had previously been out of sight up until now, was suddenly everywhere her former best friend was.

She explained that it was what she needed to finally face to the trauma. They were now mixing in the same professional and social circles.

Ciara had been playing Emma Tregirls in Poldark between 2017 and 2018.

Happy: Ciara is now in a relationship with Scottish actor Nick Nunn

The circumstance encouraged her to give up her 'unfulfilling' role as an actress and move to New York to move into the business side of the industry, before returning to London months later feeling strong and ready to move on.

Despite feeling this way, upon her return Ciara said that she began to feel trapped and worried that he would go on to assault someone else.

Detailing her feelings at the time, she said: 'I started having regular panic and anxiety attacks, thinking I had seen them would make me physically sick, frequently triggering flashbacks to the assault, and resulted in me having to leave my new job.'

She admitted she began feeling suicidal and sought therapy to help. At this point Ciara realised she was protecting him from the consequences and decided to walk into a police station and report the rape in December 2019.

Ciara said that her friend who had supported her at the time refused to give a statement on the case. But Ciara had messages of support from her at the time which she gave to the police as evidence.

Past career: Ciara had been playing Emma Tregirls in Poldark between 2017-2018

In March earlier this year, Ciara was told that the accused would not be charged but she admitted she was 'unsurprised' by the outcome of the case, which she admitted did hit her hard.

Following the outcome, Ciara published her blog post in July in the hope of sharing her voice for the 'better of her community'.

Ciara is now in a relationship with Scottish actor Nick Nunn.

On Tuesday, Ciara re-shared a post from her Poldark co-star Tom York, who played Sam in the BBC period drama, offering his support after she told her story.

She wrote: 'My Sam. Thank you.'

Before reposting what he had written: 'My dear friend Ciara recently went public with her story.. of how she was raped five years ago.

Brave: Following the outcome, Ciara published her blog post in July in the hope of sharing her voice for the 'better of her community'

'This has been a huge decision for her, an incredibly brave one, and I deeply admire her for it. We first met on the set of Poldark and have been great friends ever since.

'I love her very much. I am so proud of her, and completely support her in finally releasing herself from the burden of storing all this inside.

'I hope to anyone else who has suffered rape, Ciara's story can help by showing, you are not alone, and that it was not your fault.

'To everyone else.. it is an eye opening account, not only of violation, but of losing those friends closest to you as a result. Please take time to hear her story. I shall leave the rest to Ciara. Link in my bio.'

If you have been affected by this story please call Rape Crisis on 0808 802 9999 or visit rapecrisis.org.uk for information on local centres.
Aug 17 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

** Oil companies Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Cenovus Energy Inc and Torxen Energy Ltd have joined a bankruptcy trustee's legal battle to have a four-year-old asset deal unwound, arguing it was structured to avoid regulatory scrutiny and that it rendered the buyer insolvent. https://tgam.ca/323vhYQ

** The Ontario government has rejected the Toronto District School Board's proposal to shorten elementary school days and have high-school students attend on alternate days, instead pushing teacher unions to concede some preparation time. https://tgam.ca/34bsVtF

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
BAMAKO, Mali - African and Western leaders condemned on Wednesday the junta that forced Malis president from power, warning the coup was a deep setback for the West African nation that could threaten the battle against Islamic extremism.

Soldiers calling themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People promised that they would ultimately hand power to a transitional civilian government but gave no timeline. Junta members urged Malians to return to business as usual.

A day earlier, armed soldiers fired into the air outside President Ibrahim Boubacar Keitas home and took him into their custody. A distressed Keita announced his resignation on television.

Condemnation of the coup was strong and swift from many quarters, reflecting international concern about instability in Mali and West Africa more broadly amid increasing attacks by Islamic extremists and the ensuing economic fallout, which has been among the drivers of illegal migration to Europe.

The African Union suspended Mali from the bloc, and the West African bloc ECOWAS said it would stop all economic, trade and financial flows and transactions between member-states and Mali.

Former colonizer France, which has worked to stabilize the country since leading a 2013 military operation to oust extremists from power in the north, called for an immediate return to civilian rule. The United States urged dialogue.

The priority is to not lose the fight against terrorism, said a French official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to be publicly named according to official policy.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council called for the immediate release of Keita, the prime minister and others.

The U.N. is spending $1.2 billion a year on a more than 15,000-strong peacekeeping mission in the country, and the bodys peacekeeping chief Jean Pierre Lacroix told a closed Security Council meeting Wednesday that the force remains committed to playing its mandated role ... but the country must swiftly regain a measure of institutional stability and constitutional order.

Tuesdays developments represent an enormous setback after seven years of investment by international partners to address Malis insecurity and political challenges, said Judd Devermont, the director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The country is going to be paralyzed by the political jockeying over the future, and our ability to work with the government and security services are going to be undercut and restrained, he said. This intermediary period is really dangerous for the regions security.

Mali was long hailed as a pillar of stability and democracy in West Africa, but it has been beset by violence and instability since 2012, when a coup created a power vacuum that Islamic extremists took advantage of.

Already Tuesdays takeover has borne worrisome similarities to the 2012 coup  the junta even came from the same military barracks where the last one originated. Many now fear what could happen if those parallels continue. In the wake of the last coup, Islamic extremists seized control of major towns in the north and begin implementing their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Only a military operation led by French forces could dislodge them, though the extremists merely regrouped in the desert and began launching regular attacks against peacekeepers and soldiers in the area.

In the years since, Islamic extremism has increasingly engulfed not only Mali but also neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger in a region where the U.S. has about 1,400 troops, including special forces.

Tuesdays coup also marked a worrisome step backward for West Africa, where military power grabs were increasingly becoming a thing of the past. Unpopular rulers in recent years were more likely to be forced into exile than overthrown outright by soldiers in the middle of the night.

After months of anti-government protests amid deteriorating security, Keitas hand was forced Tuesday. Mutinous soldiers surrounded his residence, fired shots into the air and eventually detained him and his prime minister. Keita later announced his resignation on state broadcaster ORTM. He said the National Assembly would also be dissolved.

Even as the international community condemned the coup, Keitas departure was met with jubilation by anti-government demonstrators in the capital, Bamako.

Its not soldiers who did the coup detat  its the Malian people who launched a coup, said Djenebou Sidibe, who was among a small group of people who gathered in a square in Bamako to show support for the military.

Keita won the 2013 election in a landslide, emerging from a field of more than two dozen candidates to get more than 77% of the vote. He won reelection five years later, but his political fortunes have tumbled in the year since.

While Malis Islamic insurgency started before Keita took office, many felt his government did not do enough to end the violence. The extremists only expanded their reach, infiltrating the central part of the country where they inflamed tensions between ethnic groups. Attacks dramatically increased last year.

Opposition to his government rose further after legislative elections earlier this year that dozens of candidates disputed. In a conciliatory gesture, Keita said he was open to holding the vote again in contested areas. But by June, demonstrators were taking to the streets en masse calling for his ouster.

Analysts said there were few signs that opposition leaders were aware of the coup plot, though they now stand to benefit through an opportunity to serve in any transitional government that emerges.

While Keita had become deeply unpopular, some Malians worried that the future would be worse.

I condemn the coup detat because it wont advance the country, well keep on being behind, said Sedou Dolo, sitting at a tea stall in Bamako. When the army comes they promise us a lot of things, but nothing really happens.

___

Petesch reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writers Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal, Angela Charlton in Paris, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

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A key witness in the Adrian Donohoe murder trial consulted with former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams before providing information to gardai, it has emerged.

Sinn Fein TD for Meath East Darren ORourke has confirmed it was his "understanding" that Mr Adams was the TD who reassured the witness before he gave information to gardai about now convicted murder Aaron Brady.

Speaking outside Leinster House, Mr ORourke said of the potential Garda witness: "why that person felt the need to do that, I dont know, as the party has been very very clear.

"People should come and make statements if they have information bring to the guards or to the PSNI.

Expand Close MURDERED: Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson / Facebook

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"I don't think that the, the party presumed that they needed to say. And actually a very helpful and useful role was played by that person which I think is important point."

The Sinn Fein TDs comments come after the Irish Times reported former Detective Pat Marry saying that he had to approach a Sinn Fein TD when he was having a difficulties getting a statement from a witness. Mr Marry said the TD said he told the witness to talk to gardai if wished.

Asked if the TD consulted was Gerry Adams, Mr ORourke said: "It's my understanding that it was." But it was not a question of needing permission, he said.

"I can say, as somebody who's been a member of this party for over 20 years, who came into this without a strong republican background or tradition, I have never experienced that.

"In fairness to the party leadership, they have always been positive and encouraging in terms of our important role in terms of citizens first and foremost role, and also in terms of our directives.

"I don't know what the reason or rationale of thinking was on behalf of that person. And maybe it was just in relation to being overly cautious or second guessing themselves"

Expand Close Aaron Brady was last week convicted of the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson / Facebook

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Whatsapp Aaron Brady was last week convicted of the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson

He added however: "Practically it worked out to play a positive role."

"But the party has been very clear in relation to it and I can restate it here today that in future if people are second guessing themselves in relation to it, when we say, Come forward, It means come forward and that's the that's the sum total."

Gerry Adams is currently on holiday, but a spokesperson said he had publicly called on anyone with information to bring that forward to An Garda Siochana.

The party added that it had no record of the person who sought clearance to pass on information ever having been a paid-up member of the party.

"Any information available from the community to Sinn Fein representatives was given to An Garda Siochana. This significantly helped progress the investigation, which led to the recent successful prosecution," the party said.

"Sinn Fein fully supports the ongoing efforts of the Gardai to bring before the courts anyone else involved in the murder of Garda Donohue. We repeat our call for anyone with information to bring it to An Garda Siochana.

"It is nonsense to claim that Sinn Fein members need the partys permission to co-operate with An Garda Siochana. Such co-operation is part of the ongoing work of all our representatives and members."

However, Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond has said Sinn Fein has questions to answer over the issue.

"The revelation that a key witness in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe wouldnt speak with investigating Gardai until they cleared it with party figures raises serious questions that the party must answer.

"Why does a Sinn Fein activist feel they need to speak with party officials before making a statement to the Gardai? Do Sinn Fein believe their authority comes before that of the State? Will Sinn Fein encourage all who have information on the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe to present themselves to the Gardai?" he said.

Retired detective inspector Pat Marry said he was contacted in early 2017 by Sinn Fein councillor Antoin Watters.

The politician informed the investigation team that he received a message from a south Armagh man living in New York.

The witness had read an article on the Adrian Donohoe murder and relayed that he had vital information.

Mr Watters supplied detectives with a copy of the message sent from the witness as well as his contact details.

Pat Marry first made contact with this witness on February 16, 2017 and said that he was reluctant at first.

The retired senior detective told the Irish Independent: "He wasn't sure about making a statement at all. I talked him around that it was the right thing to do.

"He said he was a Sinn Fein member and that he had to get sanction," Mr Marry said.

The investigator made contact with Antoin Watters, who said that this would 'have to come from head office' according to Mr Marry.

He then contacted a Sinn Fein TD, who he did not name, and was told that the party "would do anything" to help the guards.

The TD informed Pat Marry that the witness "is one of us" and that they "got word to him to make a statement and cooperate".

Pat Marry said he didn't read too much into the Sinn Fein member needing sanction to speak to gardai, as it was the way he understood the political party to work.

Later that year on May 15 detectives flew to New York and took the ground breaking statement from the witness which advanced the investigation and led to other people coming forward.

The south Armagh man told investigators Aaron Brady admitted to him that he was on the run for shooting a guard in Ireland.

The confession happened during an early morning drinking session in a Bronx bar in the Summer of 2014.

The witness was scheduled to give evidence before the Central Criminal Court in June.

However, on the day he was expected to be called, his testimony was ruled inadmissible.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Madrid, Spain  Tue, August 18, 2020 09:00 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066eacb7c 2 World Spain,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

Nightclubs closed their doors Monday in four more regions of Spain as new measures to curb a rise in COVID-19 infections came into effect, a day after a noisy Madrid protest against virus restrictions.

Spain's most populous region, Andalusia, along with Galicia and Cantabria in the north and Castilla and Leon in the center were the latest Spanish regions to begin enforcing 11 measures the government unveiled Friday to curb one of the fastest virus growth rates in Europe.

Two other regions, La Rioja and Murcia, began applying the measures on Sunday.

They include the closure of all discos, night clubs and dancing halls while restaurants and bars are required to close by one am, with no new guests allowed in from midnight in a country known for late-night partying.

All of Spain's 17 regional governments, which are responsible for healthcare, agreed to enforce the measures which also include a ban on smoking outdoors in public places when a distance of two meters cannot be maintained and limits on visits to retirement homes.

Chanting "freedom", between 2,500 and 3,000 people, according to a police estimate, rallied in Madrid on Sunday evening against the mandatory use of facemasks and other government-imposed virus restrictions.

Many protesters did not wear a mask in public even though it is required by law across Spain and did not respect social distancing rules.

"What happened will be punished with the greatest severity," the central government's representative in Madrid, Jose Manuel Franco, told Cadena Ser radio.

Meanwhile the northern Basque Region on Monday declared a "health emergency: which will allow it to impose tougher restrictions than its neighbors because of the risk of a "tsunami" of new infections.

Spain counts nearly 343,000 infections, the highest amount in Western Europe. In the past 14 days, it produced 115 new cases per 100,000 people, compared to 45 in neighboring France, 19 in Britain and 16 in Germany.

But a large part of the new cases are in asymptomatic people and the lethality of the virus has decreased considerably -- out of the 28,617 virus deaths which Spain has recorded less than 300 have occurred since the end of a strict lockdown on June 21.
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern issued a rare and frank rebuke of the American President - DAVID ROWLAND/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock /Shutterstock

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, on Tuesday slapped down Donald Trump's talk of an out-of-control coronavirus "surge" in New Zealand as "patently wrong".

She expressed dismay after the US president exaggerated the new virus outbreak in New Zealand as a "huge surge" that Americans would do well to avoid.

"Anyone who is following," Ms Ardern said, "will quite easily see that New Zealand's nine cases in a day does not compare to the United States' tens of thousands."

"Obviously, it's patently wrong," she added of Mr Trump's remarks, in unusually blunt criticism from an American ally.

New Zealand had been hailed as a global success story after eradicating local transmission of the virus and Ms Ardern was lauded as the "anti-Trump".

But the recent discovery of a cluster in Auckland forced the country's largest city back into lockdown.

At a rally in Minnesota, President Trump claimed New Zealand was suffering a 'big surge' after the Pacific nation reported 70 active cases - TOM BRENNER /REUTERS

At an election rally in Minnesota on Monday, Mr Trump jumped on that development as evidence his critics - who held up New Zealand as an example - were wrong.

"You see what is going on in New Zealand," Mr Trump told supporters.

"They beat it; they beat it. It was like front page (news), they beat it because they wanted to show me something."

Citing a "big surge in New Zealand", Mr Trump added: "It's terrible. We don't want that."

New Zealand, with a population of five million, has around 1,300 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began roughly eight months ago and around 70 active cases.

The United States, on the other hand, is the hardest-hit nation in the world with well over five million cases and more than 170,000 deaths in a population of 328 million.

It is not the first time that Mr Trump and Ms Ardern - a relatively young, centre-Left leader - have clashed.

Shortly after her stunning election win in 2017, President Trump met her at a summit in Vietnam and joked she had "caused a lot of upset in her country".

Story continues

"You know, no one marched when I was elected," she retorted, referring to the protests that followed Mr Trump's victory in 2016.

Both leaders are heading into elections in the coming weeks, and for both, trading barbs is likely to play well with supporters.

Ms Ardern has been forced to postpone the elections by a month because of the latest outbreak, putting her sizable lead in the polls at risk.

President Trump is trailing Democrat Joe Biden in the polls and facing fierce criticism over his handling of the pandemic.
More people have been shot in Buffalo so far this year than were shot in the city during all of 2019, according to the latest statistics released by the Buffalo Police Department.

Through last Wednesday, 189 people were either injured or killed in shootings in the city. That total eclipses the 188 people who were shot all of last year.

The total number of people killed in Buffalo also remains ahead of last year's pace.

A Buffalo police official blames low bail amounts and Covid-19's impact on the court system for at least some of the violence.

Through Aug. 7, there were 40 deaths classified as homicides this year in Buffalo. At the same point last year, there were 26.

From Jan. 1 through July 31 of this year, 168 people were injured or killed in shootings in Buffalo. Over the same period last year, 105 people were shot. That's an increase of 60% from 2019 to 2020.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo noted the rise in shootings in Buffalo and in other cities across the state in a news conference Monday.

He said homicides in New York City are up 29% this year, with shootings up 79%.
Kottayam:

Five of the seven students accused in the ragging case in government polytechnic, in which a first year student suffered kidney damage, have surrendered before police, Kerala Police said on Monday.

The five senior students surrendered before the deputy superintendent of police at Changanassery near Kottayam on Sunday night.

According to police, there are total of seven accused in the case and two are still absconding.

On December 2, eight first-year students of the polytechnic at Nattakom were allegedly subjected to brutal ragging by a gang of senior students at the men's hostel of the college.

Two students--one hailing from Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur district, and another from Cheranallur in Ernakulam district--were seriously injured in the incident.

They have been admitted to hospitals in Thrissur and Ernakulam respectively. The student from Irinjalakkuda has been hospitalised with kidney damage, police said.

He was put on dialysis after doctors diagnosed him with kidney damage. The victim underwent dialysis three times after his admission in the hospital 11 days ago.

The accused allegedly forced the victim to consume liquor mixed with some harmful powder following six hours of brutal ragging which included hard physical exercises like push-ups.

The accused were absconding after police booked them for allegedly ragging their juniors in the hostel.

They have also been suspended from the institution. Two cases have been registered against the accused based on two separate complaints by the two students, police said.

Meanwhile, the state human rights commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-17 23:36:57|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The German government would support the financing of a battery cell factory in Sweden with a state guarantee of 525 million U.S. dollars, the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) on Monday.

The project was "another important building block in establishing a broad and stable value chain for electric mobility in Germany and Europe," BMWi noted.

The guarantee would cover default caused by political and economic risks by up to 80 percent and was granted under the promotion of foreign trade and investment scheme of the German government which allows Germany to support international projects with a "special government interest."

In addition to Germany, France, Japan, South Korea and the European Investment Bank were also participating in the overall financing, BMWi noted.

According to BMWi, the production plant of the Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt would also be a reference and pilot scheme for a Northvolt battery cell production facility in the German city of Salzgitter, which is scheduled to start operation from 2024 as a joint venture between Northvolt and Volkswagen.

The German car manufacturers Volkswagen and BMW were "significantly involved in the project," according to BMWi, and had already established a strategic cooperation for joint research and development with Northvolt.

Through the cooperation, the German companies could secure the long-term supply of lithium-ion-based battery cells, which were "urgently needed for future fleets of electric vehicles," BMWi noted.

The German government's goal is to reach 7 to 10 million electric vehicles registered in Germany by 2030. Furthermore, Germany's economic stimulus package to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis also included a temporary increase of the purchasing premium for electric cars to up to 9,000 euros (10,667 U.S. dollars).

A total of 19,993 applications for the German government's purchase premium for an electric car or plug-in hybrid were registered in July, more than in any other month since the introduction of the bonus in 2016, BMWi announced two weeks ago. Enditem
The world is hoping a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine will soon become available. So far, more than 160 candidate vaccines are in development. Some 31 of these have entered human clinical trials.

One of them is Russias Sputnik V, which was granted approval by the countrys health ministry last week. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) and a large number of international experts have urged Russia to conduct more testing to ensure the vaccines safety before using it. But even if this candidate and others are proven to be safe and effective, ...
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18 August 2020

Stockholm- ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions has announced the successful implementation of its VingCard Signature RFID door locks alongside the Visionline access management system at the ibis Styles Bucharest City Center. A recently constructed property that serves as a modern urban village within the Romanian capital, ibis Styles Bucharest City Center selected VingCard Signature RFID and Visionline to ensure that guest and staff safety is ensured using the latest security protocol standards. With Signature RFID's future-proof Mobile Access compatibility, property leadership can also seamlessly upgrade their guest services to offer contactless check-in and digital key room access without the need for costly hardware replacement.

As the first newly built Romanian hotel to open since the pandemic, ibis Style Bucharest City Center sought out a security access solution that could provide the highest level of security to boost guest confidence while still ensuring a hassle-free stay experience. With the adoption of VingCard Signature RFID and its advanced data encryption abilities, hotel guests can be assured that only authorized individuals are able to gain room access. This includes Signature RFID's anti-keycard cloning functionality that prevents unauthorized keycard duplicates from being created.

With the additional implementation of Visionline, the hotel is further able to maximize security using the platform's integration with Signature RFID to offer real-time security alerts for each lock. Examples include the ability to receive an alert for a wandering intruder attempting to use a keycard on multiple doors, with hotel staff able to instantly deactivate a flagged keycard before a security threat escalates. Employees can also receive an alert for a door that has been left ajar in order to swiftly dispatch personnel to investigate. While enhancing the property's security abilities, Signature RFID and Visionline also work to provide guests with more convenient and faster service. This includes the ability for hotel staff to extend stays without the need for guests to physically visit the front desk in order to receive a new keycard. Employees can also carry out guestroom reassignment requests again without requiring the presence of guests at the front desk, increasing satisfaction while enhancing overall social distancing efforts.

"Guests beginning to return to hotels are placing an even greater priority on their safety while still expecting a seamless stay experience which is exactly why we decided to work with ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions," said Alina Vladulescu, General Manager at Mercure & ibis Styles Bucharest City Center. "The company's advanced security access solutions such as Visionline and Signature RFID not only allow us to meet the latest standards in maintaining both a secure and comfortable environment, but also provide us with the ability to easily conform to new market expectations when it comes to providing contactless and social distancing compatible services."

Engineered as a future proof solution that equips hoteliers with the ability to affordably and effortlessly adapt to evolving industry trends, the presence of VingCard Signature RFID at the property allows for the instant activation of Mobile Access whenever desired. Once activated, Mobile Access can provide guests with the ability to digitally check-in using their own personal devices. This can serve as an alternative to having to wait in line at the front desk and risking exposure to viruses or bacteria by coming into close contact with other guests or staff. As a fully digital solution, Mobile Access also allows guests to use their own devices as a digital key to gain access to guestrooms and other hotel areas, further limiting exposure to germs by reducing interaction with shared surfaces.

For more information about ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions and its comprehensive line of electronic in-room safes and locking solutions for the hospitality industry, please visit www.assaabloyglobalsolutions.com/hospitality.
The court let go of an opportunity to bring in transparency, and thereby deviated from the belief that 'sunlight is the best disinfectant', Randeep Surjewala said

New Delhi: The Congress said the Supreme Court's judgement on the PM-CARES Fund on Tuesday was a "body blow to transparency and accountability" of the government to the people and wondered why the ruling party was against openness.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the apex Court let go an opportunity to bring in transparency in the fund which has "its own opaque and murky rules" and, thereby, deviated from the belief that "sunlight is the best disinfectant".

The Supreme Court has refused to direct the Centre to transfer the contributions made to the PM CARES Fund for battling the COVID-19 pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), saying these are entirely different funds with separate object and purpose.

Reacting to the verdict, Surjewala said, "The SC judgment is a body blow to transparency & accountability of Govt to people. It marks a sad letter day for responsibility and answerability of rulers to the electorate."

"SC scrupulously believed that ''sunlight is the best disinfectant''. Today, the Court, in a departure from that tradition, passed up an opportunity to demand answers on the #PMCaresFund that seeks public money but plays by its own opaque & murky rules," he said in another tweet.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said the judgement was disappointing and a jolt to those advocating transparency.

He said the money collected under the PM-CARES Fund does not belong to any individual, but to the prime minister of India and every Indian has the right to know where the money is coming from and where it is being spent.

"We are very disappointed with the judgment," he said at a virtual press conference.

"After all, it is the right of each and every Indian to know. This money belongs to India and for Indians. Why should Narendra Modi conceal and block transparency? Why is Narendra Modi scared of openness and transparency," Khera said on the verdict.

"I'm sure there is something to hide, therefore you want to hide. If there is nothing to hide, why would you hide," he asked.

Rubbishing the Congress' criticism on the issue, BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference that "transparency is writ large" on the PM-CARES Fund.

NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation, in its plea before the Supreme Court, had sought a direction that all the money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the COVID-19 pandemic should be transferred to the NDRF.

Rejecting the submissions of the NGO, a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that voluntary contribution can always be made to the NDRF as there is no statutory bar under the Disaster Management Act.

BJP president JP Nadda described the Supreme Court decision as a "resounding blow to the nefarious designs" of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his "band of rent a cause" activists.

"The country very well knows that the orchestrated smear campaign against PM-CARES is an attempt by the Congress to wash off its sins," he said.

In March, the Centre set up the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund with the primary objective to deal with any kind of emergency situation like the one currently posed by the COVID-19 outbreak and provide relief to those affected.
Guatemalan armed forces are protecting 40 indigenous families that were forcibly evacuated from their homes by an armed group that torched their village, police said on Monday.

Several heavily armed people attacked the village of Balbatzul inhabited by the ethnically Mayan Q'eqchi's tribe early on Sunday, the police and public prosecutor said.

After several telephone appeals for help, police rushed to the village some 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of the capital Guatemala City, and found that 40 families had been subjected to the attack, police spokesman Jorge Aguilar said.

The attackers evicted the families and then set fire to their homes, said Daniel Pascual, a leader from the Peasant Union Committee.

"A security perimeter is being maintained to ensure public order with the priority of protecting the integrity of the people that live there," the police said in a statement.

A score of officers have been stationed there.

The district public prosecutor has launched an investigation, Guatemala's President Alejandro Giammattei said.

"Violence between (Guatemalan) brothers is not acceptable," said Giammattei on Twitter, vowing to step up security for villagers.

The family that owns the land where the attack happened said it was linked to a conflict between two groups that have occupied the land since March 2019.

READ: Armed group attacks 40 indigenous families in Guatemala

Meanwhile, the Guatemalan Ombudsman denounced the murder of a Mayan indigenous leader in the Peten department that borders Mexico and Belize.

Carlos Macu Pop, also from the Q'eqchi's tribe, was killed on Sunday.

"There have been a series of violent acts this year, whose direct victims are community leaders involved in various battles to defend their lands and territories," said Jordan Rodas.

Guatemala's human rights protection body recorded 157 attacks against activists campaigning for land rights between January and April.

There were 462 attacks and 15 murders in 2019.

Indigenous people represent 42 per cent of Guatemala's 17 million population. They mostly live in poverty and are landless.

The government has recorded more than 1,000 conflicts over land.
In the first deadly incident of its kind in six months, two Syrian regime soldiers were killed on Monday in a coalition airstrike reports Asharq Al-Awsat.

Two Syrian regime soldiers were killed on Monday in a coalition air strike in Qamishli after regime forces at a checkpoint turned back a coalition patrol, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The strike, confirmed by regime news agency SANA, was carried out after the checkpoint refused passage to the coalition patrol in the northeastern Syrian city.

One soldier was martyred and two others wounded when a US aircraft targeted an army checkpoint, SANA reported, giving a lower death toll.

It said the strike came southeast of Qamishli after the checkpoint prevented a US occupation convoy from passing.

Mondays strike was the first deadly incident of its kind in six months, the Observatory said, although tensions are not unusual in the area, where different groups and countries compete for control on the ground.

Syrian Kurdish and US coalition forces, as well as Assad regime and Russian troops, are all deployed in the area.

There was no immediate comment from the US-led coalition, which is allied with the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeastern region.

The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Neural Oilfield, the Malaysian agent of Silverwell, a producer of innovative solutions for the oil and gas industry, has been awarded a contract worth $3 million by oil major Petronas Carigali.

The contract is for the deployment of Silverwells industry-leading Digital Intelligent Artificial Lift (Dial) gas lift production optimisation system in mature fields, offshore Malaysia.

Dial, a leading global cultural and process change in artificial lift, has successfully supported digitally-controlled gas lift production optimisation around the world onshore. However, the project being undertaken by Neural Oilfield marks the first fully commercial multi-well deployment of the system offshore.

The worlds first installation of Dial in dual string wells represents a step change in the oil and gas industrys ability to operate gas lifted wells and optimise production. The system gives operators greater confidence to drill and complete dual-string wells by allowing enhanced lift from both strings separately.

Its estimated Dial could deliver oil gains of up to 30 per cent; with 20 per cent savings in lift gas consumption and continuous production optimisation while eliminating in-well interventions. Dial can save multiple wireline interventions and reduce requirement for well tests for each year of operation, as well as eliminating deferred production and HSE risks.

Were honoured to provide technical solutions to our clients to help achieve their strategic objective of digital transformation to reach operational excellence. Our clients willingness to embrace innovation to increase output and avoid intervention-derived production deferment demonstrates a refreshing and forward-thinking approach. They fully recognise the benefits of Dial in delivering production optimisation, said Darrell Johnson, CEO, Silverwell.

Dial improves gas lift operations through a data-driven on-demand approach, enabling more efficient production with less intervention. The installations encompass fully qualified, tubing conveyed surface-controlled multi-rate gas lift units, rated to 10,000 psi burst, 6,000psi collapse and 125C. Each Slimline Dial unit, specifically configured for dual-string installation, includes three independently actuated orifice valves and on-board pressure and temperature transducers. -- Tradearabia News Service
Mumbai, Aug 18 : Independent filmmaker Lom Harsh was planning to cast actress Rhea Chakraborty in his forthcoming film, but not anymore. Casting the girlfriend of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput under the given circumstances could hurt the sentiment of his fans, feels the filmmaker.

"This is my second feature film and we were planning to cast Rhea Chakraborty. The film was being planned since 2018. We were about to start our shoot this year but the pandemic happened, so it got delayed. Rhea was among those actresses who were considered for the female lead of the yet-untitled film. We are completely done with pre-production work and planning to start shooting soon. She was being considered by the producers and the casting team. But after Sushant's death and the current situation, we have decided not to cast her anymore in this film," Lom Harsh told IANS.

He explains his decision: "We are a country full of people with sentiments and religious values. Today the sentiments are with Sushant Singh Rajput. So I think we should respect the audience's verdict. We don't want to hurt anybody's sentiment, especially his fans. That's why we have decided not to cast her." Lom Harsh also opened up about the character Rhea was being considered for in his film. "The film deals with the medical profession and we were planning to cast Rhea as a doctor, who is also the female protagonist of the film," he said.

Did the filmmaker personally approach Rhea for the role or speak to her regarding the same? He replied: "We have dedicated casting directors in our company. We send them a list of actors we were looking forward to cast. Rhea was in the probable list of the selected candidates, but we dropped the idea after all this happened. I personally never spoke to her for the role or for any discussion regarding the film." This decision by the filmmaker comes at a time when a legal battle is going on surrounding the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The late actor's father KK Singh, in his FIR lodged with Patna Police after Sushant's death, has accused Rhea with abetment to suicide among other charges. Netizens are also unhappy with Rhea, who has been the subject of continuous criticism and trolling on social media.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
The number of New Jersey school districts opting out of in-person instruction for the fall keeps growing.

The state Department of Education said 139 districts have informed the state that they are interested in starting the year with all-virtual learning, although none of the plans have yet to be approved. NJ Advance Media has been tracking individual district announcements.

We anticipate that number will increase once we release the process for districts to officially request all remote opening, said Kim Walker, a Department of Education spokeswoman.

The Department of Education said its in the process of developing a certification for all-remote learning based on the checklist items on its website. The state said it did not yet have an estimated date for when it will be ready, but it will be available soon.

Not all districts will have to resubmit plans if they pivot to all-virtual learning, though, because an online option was part of some districts original plans, the state said.

In all, the agency will be reviewing plans from 584 operating districts, more than 90 charter and renaissance schools, and more than 140 approved private schools that take public school students with disabilities, spokesman Michael Yaple said.

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The state didnt say if any reopening plans had been rejected outright, but instead, it said the agencys county offices work with superintendents to review the plans and determine if they meet the standards.

We are only making sure that the health and safety components are in the plans, Walker said. Also, we are reviewing for completeness.

Lakewood, which is planning an all in-person reopening, was still under review as of Tuesday, the state said.

Reopening plans were thrown into disarray last week when Gov. Phil Murphy announced that all-virtual learning would be allowed under certain conditions.

Newark  the states largest school district with 40,000 students  said Monday it would be all-remote for the first marking period. The district had previously planned for as many as five days of in-person learning.

The three next largest districts, Jersey City, Paterson and Elizabeth  will also start the school year online.

As the year goes on, all-remote districts will need to show they are trying to make changes to transition to in-person learning in the future.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com.
MONTREAL, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - CodeBoxx, the technology school that offers an ultra-accelerated 16-week coding bootcamp to train people from all walks of life, is pleased to open the registrations for a new campus in the greater Tampa Bay Area. Well established in Canada, CodeBoxx will bring its unique concept across the US in the upcoming years and has identified Tampa Bay as the first location of their expansion. The organization is happy to count on the support of local actors such as economic development councils, tech councils and companies and Career Source Tampa Bay to make it happen!

CodeBoxx has quickly demonstrated with its first campuses that the concept delivers the value promised in markets with varied characteristics. The opportunities created for participants in the technology community have already allowed many individuals to launch their careers when, without CodeBoxx, it would have not been possible. The success of more than 100 graduates in such a short time is so obvious it allows the organization to grow and expand in certain markets where the demand for quality technologists is even more pressing. Moreover, with the recent crisis, the digitalization of jobs experienced in the last years is going to increase even more. The demand for a fast, effective and accessible upskilling and/or reskilling alternative will grow even more.

About CodeBoxx

CodeBoxx has 2 business units: a coding bootcamp and a digital workshop. CodeBoxx's proprietary program and unique concept lower the barrier to entry for candidates: everyone is accepted, a high-performance laptop is loaned to candidates who request one, tuition fees are only paid once graduates are hired and a job is guaranteed to every graduate thanks to CodeBoxx's partner companies and its digital workshop! The concept gives young dropouts, immigrants, people reorienting their career or looking to upskill their toolbox, a unique opportunity to launch their career in tech! The hands-on program combines hard skills and soft skills to transform participants into operational developers.

With its Digital Workshop, CodeBoxx offers a variety of services, specializing in digital transformations. Currently performing several major projects with businesses across North America. The unique element of the workshop is that every project is carried out by some graduates of the bootcamp who have not been hired by CodeBoxx's partner companies, allowing them to perfect their learning supervised by experienced professionals.

https://codeboxx.biz/

SOURCE CodeBoxx
ANN ARBOR, MI  A majority of University of Michigan students will return to Ann Arbor soon for the fall semester and several City Council members are not convinced the university is doing enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

At the Monday, Aug. 17 City Council meeting, UM Dean of Students Laura Jones and UM Director of Community Relations Michael Rein presented their plan for the fall semester, which was created on proactive prevention education, a commitment to joint accountability and creating an infrastructure to hold both individuals and groups accountable for their actions.

8 things to know about the University of Michigans plans for in-person classes in 2020-21

In many situations, Jones and Rein said education  not law enforcement  would be the first response to violations of public health guidelines, such as large parties.

This education would come from the Michigan Ambassador Program, which Jones said would consist of teams of students, staff, volunteers and Ann Arbor Police Department or UM Department of Public Safety and Security community engagement officers who would help remind students and community members to follow health guidelines.

But, if these teams are going to a large house party to give these reminders about face masks and physical distancing to attendees, exposure to COVID-19 likely already has occurred, said council member Julie Grand.

If were going to talk about prevention, lets talk about activities that actually are trying to prevent those parties from happening in the first place, said Grand, who is also a UM academic adviser.

Ann Arbor Police Chief Michael Cox said his department allocates resources every year for what they call party patrol. While he said he hopes they wont see large parties this year, the AAPD is focusing its resources on COVID-19 concerns.

Were not doing anything in addition, as far as resources are concerned, but were doing what we traditionally would have done in a little different way regarding students coming back, Cox said.

Other measures the university presented include a COVID Concerns hotline for people to call to report concerns so law enforcement is not needed as a first response. If someone calls to report a concern, staff members can look at a voluntary registry that students can choose to fill out with their off-campus address and cell phone number so they can be contacted.

AAPD and DPSS are on board with the education-first approach, Rein said, but there was concern from council members regarding enforcement. Council member Ali Ramlawi said he felt there wasnt much detail on how students might be disciplined if they violate the policies.

To me, its all carrot and no stick, and Im not very comfortable with a policy that just doesnt have any consequences, Ramlawi said. Its thought out on the education side and thats what the university does well, obviously, and Im a little uncomfortable without any repercussions for failing the social contract.

While they will lead with education compliance, if a person or student group has to be reminded of violations multiple times, they can be held accountable by university processes, Jones said.

Large parties and outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people are a concern among council members. Rein said there have been discussions with their partners at the state and county level, as well as the governors office, about limiting the size of crowds to under 100 people.

Were encouraged the county is considering a lower number. Anything below 100 is more manageable, from a contact tracing standpoint or enforcement issue, Rein said. Wherever it comes from  the county, the state or the city  were not in a position to dictate. From a practical standpoint, for a lot of different reasons, the lower number is up to either the county or the state to decide.

The problem for Grand, though, is what happens after parties occur, even if the size limit for outdoor gatherings is lowered.

(The plan) is predicated on this assumption that compliance with the desired behavior is going to be near 100%, and anyone who has studied health behavior knows that its basically impossible to have a plan where compliance with behavior change is 100% or near 100%, Grand said. What we should be looking to is, how can we create environments that encourage higher compliance? And Im not sure were there.

Student move in begins Aug. 24. UM has required all students coming back to the Ann Arbor campus to practice enhanced physical distancing for two weeks prior to their arrival. Students have said they think a majority of their peers will follow the guidelines, but there will be those who make it harder on everyone else.

University of Michigan students unsure if enhanced social distancing requirement will be effective

Thats one of the unfortunate parts of these policies, Grand said: If students dont follow the guidelines and policies, both students and community members will be unhappy.

I think we should just be honest and as transparent about what the limitations are and what kinds of trade-offs were deciding to make with these policies, Grand said. ... From my council perspective, I dont like that this pits students against people living in the community.

READ MORE:

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New sanctions imposed by the US have now restricted Huaweis access to the latest technology and advanced microprocessor chips. The US Commerce Department announced these fresh sanctions, which restrict the sale of chips containing US-developed technology to Huawei.

As such, any foreign semiconductor manufacturer will not be able to sell chips to Huawei, if these are developed using US software or technology. However, the sanctions include a caveat  the manufacturer would need to obtain a license first before supplying any technology to Huawei.

Earlier sanctions issued in May this year prevented Huawei from procuring chips from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) company. The restrictions prevented Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company from making and supplying HiSilicon designed chips to Huawei.

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Incidentally, Huawei fully owns the Chinese semiconductor company, HiSilicon. HiSilicon is one of the most reputed domestic designers of integrated circuits in China.

US Sanctions cut off Huawei chip supply

With these new sanctions in place, Huawei will not be able to procure chips from Taiwans MediaTek as well. Unsurprisingly, this resulted in MediaTeks shares to plunge nearly 9% on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

MediaTek is the second-largest semiconductor manufacturer and has been a crucial supplier for Huaweis smartphone business. Other suppliers to Huawei also saw their shares plunging on Monday.

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Novatek Microelectronics, which designs integrated circuits, and Largan Precision, which makes camera lenses dipped by 8% and 3% respectively.

Incidentally, Huawei has been facing resistance from the US government due to its alleged links to the Chinese government. Over the last few years, Huawei has expanded its footprint across the globe in consumer networks as well as through smartphone sales.

This expansion resulted in several governments to start looking at Huawei as a potential national security threat. In 2012, a US Congressional panel raised the first espionage allegations against Huawei. The panel cited the possibility of backdoors in Huawei supplied telecom gear.

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In 2018, a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing warned about potential security threats emanating from Huaweis telecom equipment. Consequently, the Committee discouraged American companies from conducting business with both Huawei and ZTE (another Chinese telecom major with close ties to the Chinese government).

Since early this year, President Donald Trump has been mounting pressure on China by banning the sale of Huaweis equipment to American suppliers. The US is pushing other governments to follow suit and ban Huawei products citing espionage concerns.

Huawei has continuously denied that its equipment has backdoors which can be used to spy on existing users. As such, the Chinese major has also submitted its technology for review to European auditors.

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Washington says Huawei tried to evade US restrictions imposed in May.

The US Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, had said that Huawei tried to procure semiconductor chips from third parties, evading the original restrictions imposed in May. Consequently, the US Commerce Department framed these new rules to restrict Huaweis access to semiconductors and chips.

The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, clarified that with the new rules, Huawei would be unable to circumvent US law.
Vice President Mike Pence warned of the potential Biden presidency at a Susan B. Anthony List event at Starkey Road Baptist Church of Seminole, Florida on Wednesday, August 5, 2020.

At the event sponsored by pro-life group Susana B Anthony, Pence warned pro-life activists that the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate will trample on their rights. Pence also toured the pro-life pregnancy center called A Woman's Place Medical Clinic in Pinellas Park and shared a speech outlining various pro-life agenda items that President Donald Trump had accomplished.

"It would be just after we were in office a few days that the president reinstituted the Mexico City Policy, making sure no taxpayer dollars would ever go to promote or provide abortion around the world, and then he expanded it a year later."

"Trump became the first president in American history to address the March for Life in person on the National Mall. In our first year in office, the president took executive action to end the assault on the conscience rights of a group of nuns, known as the Little Sisters of the Poor."

Pence proceeded to make a comment about the running presidential candidate, Joe Biden, warning that if Biden were elected president, he "would take America in the opposite direction" and would curb the liberties of pro-life activists.

"Make no mistake about it: Joe Biden would appoint activist judges to our courts who would legislate from the bench and trample, trample on our most cherished liberties," Pence continued.

"Now more than ever, pro-life Americans need to let our voice be heard and stand for life. ... This is no time to be silent. And make no mistake about it, the radical left wants to silence pro-life Americans."

Pence continued his proposal aimed at informing voters about the differences between Trump and Biden on the abortion issue and argued the radical left celebrates abortion but would prosecute those who stand for life.

"I want to make you a promise: this president, this vice president and this administration will always stand up for the freedom of speech of every American, and we will always stand for life," Pence concluded hoping to win the pro-life votes for the Republican presidential campaign."
There is no location within the immediate Capital Region that does not have a farmers market within 20 miles, according to data from New York state. More than ever, the chance to support a local farm with weekly neighborhood markets is available, but the benefits might not extend to the farmers and producers who populate the markets, some say.

People want a market they can actually shop, said Dee Stevens, who owns Stevens Vegetable Farm in Argyle. Stevens has been farming for 34 years and finds that the increase of farmers markets in the area gives more opportunities for farmers to reach an audience and not have to compete with similar vendors for customers, but customers prefer choice and want a market with more than just one or two vegetable farms to choose from.

Stevens sells her vegetables at an on-farm stand and at the Spa City Farmers Market in Saratoga Springs and has stopped selling at other smaller markets because the demand on her time and resources did not produce profits. I couldnt do any more markets. Im getting wiped out every day, Stevens said. She finds that customers want to directly interact with the farm owners and farmers markets, but in order to be profitable, some farms have to hire labor to work the market booth so that multiple farmers markets can be served each week. Stevens estimates half of the vendors at Spa City Farmers Market are owner-attended, while the other half use outside labor.

A New York State report on farmers markets from Aug. 6 lists 84 farmers markets or mobile farm operations within the Capital Region, ranking third behind New York City and Buffalo. In total, there are 602 farmers markets in New York state, up from 235 markets 20 years ago. Most of those markets are smaller neighborhood markets that host 15-25 vendors weekly.

Scott Abraham is responsible for spurring a smaller market boom in the region, as he started both the Guilderland and Washington Park (Albany) farmers markets in recent years. He started these markets as a way to help farmers increase profits and find a greater audience, but said the community benefits from the presence of a market and establishes community pride. Abraham said that on paper, many smaller markets seem to dilute the customer base and reduce profits for farmers but they actually encourage locals to start shopping at their closest market.

Its not a looky-loo market, Abraham said, adding that vendor reports show that people in each respective neighborhood are coming to his markets to buy their weekly grocery rations and that shoppers are transient between the two markets; if they cannot attend one market that week, they will shop at the other. He also said that small markets are good for hometown farmers, but Christine Sarnacki, co-owner of Storied Coffee in Scotia, said that notion is a double-edged sword.

Sarnacki sold pre-packaged coffee as well as espresso drinks, to-go coffee, bubble tea and baked goods at the Washington Park Farmers Market in 2019, but commonly heard from shoppers that her coffee shop was too far from Albany for them to feel comfortable supporting it. Simply vending at a farmers market is not enough, she said, and a farmer or producer has to invest the time in finding the right market, contingent on location and competition from similar vendors, in order to be profitable. She started vending at the Niskayuna Farmers Markets (which she said splits a customer base with the longstanding Schenectady Greenmarket) and said, if a market is close to home, you are more likely to shop there. Its an opportunity to find more truly local businesses with more farmers markets.

That idea is dependent on more shoppers shifting away from traditional grocery shopping habits at supermarkets and big-box stores and attending weekly neighborhood markets, instead of just moving away from one market to patronize another. Diane Eggert, executive director of Farmers Market Federation of New York, said that the dilution of customer bases is a trend over the last 10 years. Farmers do find the customer base isnt as strong as it had been, she said. Smaller markets pull customers away from each other, while increased competition from supermarkets selling local produce also limits attendance at neighborhood farmers markets. Supermarkets have come a long way at imitating farmers markets, Eggert said, adding that New York State is currently at a saturation point with farmers markets, and the trick for success is to work collaboratively with each other to offer diverse vendors.

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Were not in competition with other markets, said Zack Metzger, board president for Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, and the initiatives taken to boost traffic at the weekly market are not focused on pulling patrons from other nearby markets. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and changing attitudes towards farmers markets, Metzger (who also owns Laughing Earth Farm in Cropseyville with his wife, Annie) said that attendance numbers from shoppers are currently hovering at one-third the normal traffic numbers for the market, but customers are spending more per shopping trip to help keep the farmers and producers at the market afloat. Its a different market now than we were a year ago, he said and found that the social aspect of a farmers market is not in keeping with the mentality of shoppers at the moment.

Is it better for vendors to have one bigger market? Absolutely, said Metzger, adding, they (farmers) can concentrate their sales in one day. In order for a multitude of smaller markets to be successful, the whole community needs to be invested in it, he said. While smaller markets may be taxing on farmers, they benefit the community by instilling ownership and pride in the neighborhood and increase food security. Its complicated because there has to be systematic growth, and an increased understanding of food culture, Metzger said, for small neighborhood farmers markets to remain a community resource. The whole community needs to be invested in it.

Ultimately, Stevens of Stevens Vegetable Farm said, People find their farmer. Some do it at on-farm markets, as on her farm in Washington County, or through supporting grocery stores and cooperatives that buy from local farms. For those who are dedicated to local farmers markets, the use it or lose it mentality must apply and the commitment to shopping there on a regular basis is necessary to keep the market in the neighborhood.

Deanna Fox is a food and agriculture journalist. www.foxonfood.com, @DeannaNFox
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC

Samsung's high-end Galaxy Note Ultra launches Friday. I've been testing it for the past couple of weeks and it's one of the best high-end Android phones you can buy, fixing some of the issues I didn't like in the Galaxy S20 Ultra that launched earlier this year. Samsung crammed as much as possible into the Note in anticipation of the next iPhones due in the fall. Historically, the Galaxy Note has been where Samsung makes the most innovations. That's less true now that it has its Galaxy Z Fold 2 on the horizon, its second-generation version of the Galaxy Fold that launched last year and has a folding screen. It's expected in September. Samsung recently slipped behind Huawei and is now the second-largest seller of phones in the world. But, these Note devices don't make up a bulk of Samsung's global market share the way its S, J and A-series devices do.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC

If you want a huge Android phone that has every high-end feature, such as 5G, one of the best screens on a phone, good battery life, solid cameras and a pen for taking notes, then the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a good choice. It also costs $1,299.99. It's a tough time to launch such an expensive phone, at least in the U.S. where unemployment is at 10.2%. "We're not insensitive to the market condition, but at the same time our approach is to offer phones to a wide swath" of people, said Caleb Slavin, a Samsung senior manager of product management. He said this is a high-end device and that Samsung has a whole portfolio of choices for people who want to spend less. Samsung has a lot of trade-in offers that can cut the price by as much as $650. It also has a new financing option that guarantees you'll get 50% of the phone's purchase price back. Take advantage of those if you want to save money. Expect lots of phone makers with high-end phones to offer these sorts of incentives as we move deeper into smartphone launch season. If you don't need every high-end feature, you should consider Samsung's regular Galaxy S20, which costs $999, the $599 Galaxy A71 5G, the $499 Galaxy A51 5G or even the $350 Google Pixel 4a. Here's what you need to know about the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: What's good

There are technically two Galaxy Note 20 phones launching right now. There's a regular one that costs $999 (I haven't tested it) and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, which is larger and has a few extra features. It's a gorgeous phone. I tested the "mystic bronze" color, which has a matte glass back and sharp beveled edges. I like that it doesn't attract fingerprints like Samsung's glossier phones. There's a huge camera bump on the back.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC

It has a huge, 6.9-inch screen that's bright, colorful and sharp. Samsung uses a new 120hz screen refresh technology that helps make scrolling smoother, and it's noticeable over an iPhone or any other device with a traditional 60hz refresh rate.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC

The Note 20 Ultra has three cameras on the back, including one for ultrawide pictures for fitting more of a scene into each picture, a sharp 108-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel zoom camera.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC

All are good, but the biggest change most people will notice is the added laser-focus. The Galaxy S20 Ultra  Samsung's other high-end phone that launched earlier this year without a stylus  had problems focusing when taking pictures.

A picture of my dog Mabel I took with the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC

The laser focus fixes that. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has up to 50x zoom, but I saw the best results at 5x, 10x and 20x zoom. I prefer taking pictures with this phone to the Galaxy S20 Ultra I bought a few months ago. It's a bummer since that phone costs $100 more.

An ultra-wide angle picture I took with the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC

I like the idea of having a stylus in my phone but rarely end up using it. Samsung's S Pen (that's what it calls the stylus) has a lot of improvements. It has lower latency, which is supposed to make it feel more instantaneous, like writing on paper. It was pretty nice for writing quick notes, though this isn't normally how I work. I prefer just typing out my notes. Still, I use Microsoft OneNote, and Samsung is going to start automatically syncing your written notes with OneNote in the coming months, so I'm excited for that. The handwriting recognition is getting better, so it turns my scribbles into plain text. I found the S Pen more useful for other stuff, like scrolling around the screen, skipping songs in Spotify or just tapping the button on it for taking photos while I had the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra propped up. The S Pen is a useful tool, but it's one that you'll either end up using a lot or totally forgetting about.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC

The Galaxy S20 Ultra also supports all the 5G networks that are rolling out in the U.S., including all the flavors and speeds of 5G you'll need to worry about in coming years. 5G isn't a huge deal right now, but it's going to be in the coming years, so it's good to get a 5G phone now if you plan to keep it for a long time. The battery life was good and lasted all day. It has fast charging if you need to juice up the phone to 50% in just 30 minutes, which I really like having.

Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: What's bad

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC

I kind of feel like I'm nitpicking here, but my biggest complaint is the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a bit large for me. I've always loved big phones when I'm out and about on planes, on trains and traveling more. But, now that I'm at home in quarantine, I use larger tablets, my computer or the TV for watching movies. I'm starting to prefer smaller phones that I can easily hold with one hand. This is just personal preference, and there are plenty of people who like super-huge phones like this. Swing by the store to try it in person and see if it works for you. I'm also kind of frustrated that I bought Samsung's flagship Galaxy S20 Ultra a few months ago for $1,399.99 only to find this phone has focus that actually works. Samsung was clearly already working on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, so I'm frustrated it didn't include the laser auto focus in its early S20-series phone, too. I moved to Bluetooth headphones long ago, and Samsung's new Galaxy Buds Live are pretty good, so I'm not too bummed about the lack of a headphone jack. Some people might be. It also doesn't come with any USB-C headphones in the box, so make sure you already have a pair or don't mind Bluetooth headphones. I've complained about this in the past, but I need to mention it again: Samsung still stuffs advertisements in its software. There's one at the top of the Samsung Health app, for example. There are some inside Bixby, Samsung's poor take on Siri, and in other places. I don't want ads on an expensive phone.

Should you buy the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra?

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Todd Haselton | CNBC
Press Release

18 August 2020

Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. ("Hotel Okura") today announced it is entering into a partnership with Tokyo Management College, a leading practical vocational education institution in Chiba, Japan. Under the terms of the partnership, Tokyo Management College and Hotel Okura will establish a "Tourism and Hospitality Course" curriculum offering tourism and hospitality training at the college from April 2021.

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Hotel Okura is additionally establishing an education and training program in Japan for its overseas local staff in cooperation with Tokyo Management College and Tokyo Masuda Culinary School, a professional chef training institute located in Edogawa-ku, Tokyo. This program aims to strengthen and enhance the group's global human resources and will allow its hotel staff to study under the new Tourism and Hospitality Course curriculum. It will also allow chefs preparing Japanese cuisine at Okura group hotels around the world to take classes at Tokyo Masuda Culinary School.

Commented Toshihiro Ogita, president of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., "We believe that this education and training program in Japan for our overseas local staff will help to significantly strengthen our provision of Japanese-style hospitality and authentic Japanese cuisine to customers in our group hotels around the world."

Hotel Okura operates a total of 91 properties53 in Japan and 38 overseasincluding hotels scheduled to open in the near future. It aims to expand its portfolio to 110 hotels by increasing the number of overseas hotels to 50 by 2022.

The company's core strategy governing its overseas expansion is to concentrate on developing businesses in specific countries and regions. It is currently promoting its so-called "5 x 5 Plan", which is targeting to open five new hotels in five countries and regions. In order to support this expansion, it is essential for the company's overseas staff to be trained to provide Japanese-style omotenashi hospitality and to offer the authentic Japanese restaurant experience that is a defining feature of our hotels.

Hotel Okura plans to invest a total of approximately 200 million yen (US$1.9m) over the next 10 years in the partnerships with Tokyo Management College and Tokyo Masuda Culinary School. The resulting study programs will help to promote cultural exchange between Japan and other countries.

Partnership with Tokyo Management College

From April 2021, a new two-year Okura-branded "Tourism and Hospitality Course" accommodating 40 students will be offered, complementing the college's existing Department of Business and Child Education curricula. Hotel Okura will provide course content and instructors, and its group hotels will actively recruit students.

Hotel Okura will cover most of the tuition fees and related expenses of the Hospitality Service Program for 3 selected employees of its overseas hotels every year and those being hired by new hotels as they open. Subject to visa requirements and other regulations, we plan to provide opportunities to work at our flagship hotel, The Okura Tokyo, and other hotels in our group in Japan, with the aim of providing students with more practical knowledge and skills.

Partnership with Tokyo Masuda Culinary School

Tokyo Masuda Culinary School will provide cooking tuition in small group classes. Hotel Okura will cover most of the tuition fees and related expenses of the Japanese Cuisine Program for 3-5 selected young chefs in our overseas group hotels every year, allowing them to acquire advanced Japanese cooking skills. This program will prepare them to play a key role supporting Japanese head chefs in Okura Hotels' famed "Yamazato" restaurants as well as in Hotel Nikko's "Benkay" restaurants overseas.

About Tokyo Management College

Founded in April 1992 in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo Management College has its roots in the Murata Bookkeeping School. It has been a pioneer in the field of bookkeeping and accounting since its establishment, following the educational philosophy of "yusanshasho", which maintains that results will come naturally to those who look ahead, plan ahead and continue to work hard. The college prioritizes practical career education, and even today, around 80% of students in its Department of Business obtain bookkeeping qualifications before graduating.

SOSHI GAKUEN Incorporated, which assumed responsibility for management of the college in 2016, is an educational group that establishes and operates universities, vocational colleges and high schools across Japan. It has also its own educational institutions and local offices in other countries, including New Zealand, Vietnam and the U.S. (Hawaii) and has a remarkable track record training global human resources capable of performing in the global market. In 2017, the college established a Department of Child Education to meet the need in Japan for trained childcare providers from neighboring regions.

In addition, there are always about 50 international students enrolled in the Global Study Center, a separate program for overseas students, with the college encouraging the enrollment of students from Europe and the United States as well as from Asia. The college actively cooperates with educational institutions in other countries and will arrange a short-term overseas study program with the Lausanne Hotel School, a prestigious hotel school in Switzerland.

About Tokyo Masuda Culinary School

The College was founded in 1940 as a fashion institute in Shin-Koiwa, Edogawa ward, Tokyo; in 1961 it became a fully-fledged school known as Tokyo Masuda College. In 1967, a culinary institute was established there which evolved into the "Tokyo Masuda Culinary School" in 1976. The college provides education in life's three essentials: "clothing", "food" and "housing" under the motto "Give First"; it prioritizes the training of people to respond to the changes of the times while learning basic cooking techniques. Tokyo Masuda Culinary School is now a core part of Tokyo Masuda College.
Long time viewers of University Challenge did a double take when tuning into the latest episode, after one of the contestants appeared to bear an uncanny resemblance to the show's former host Bamber Gascoigne.

After Belgian contestant Van Soest introduced himself on Cambridge University's Clare College team during Monday's episode of BBC2 academic quiz, Twitter quickly sparked up with comments suggesting he was a dead ringer for Paxman's predecessor.

Bamber Gascoigne, who's now 85, hosted the BBC quiz show for 25 years, and became famous for his famous blonde curls, spectacles and sensible attire - something that Van Soest also seemed to favour.

Scroll down for video

Uncanny: Belgian student, Van Soest, who represented the Clare College Cambridge team on the latest episode of University Challenge bore a striking resemblance to former host Bamber Gascoigne

Jeremy Paxman's predecessor, Bamber Gascoigne, presented the programme for 25 years until 1987. He was known for his smart attire, fluffy blonde hair and spectacles

The quips about the similarities between Van Soest and Gascoigne, who left the show in 1987, came thick and fast.

@SpeirL wrote: 'Bamber Gascoigne has aged well!'

@iankm888 joked: 'Great to see Bamber Gascoigne back on #UniversityChallenge'

@thebrianjenkins wrote: 'I see a clone of Bamber Gascoigne is on #UniversityChallenge tonight.'

Van Soest wasted no time in proving his intellectual mettle either, answering host Jeremy Paxman's first question to the teams about 'what object is called the pale blue dot?' He correctly answered 'the earth'.

However, the PHD student's efforts were largely in vain. It was a closely fought contest between Clare College and their opponents Balliol College, Oxford, who won by a whisker, beating their rivals 150 points to 135 to gain a place in the second round.

One suggested that Van Soest might even be Gascoigne's son, such was the likeness

Other Twitter jesters suggested that Van Soest's Fair Isle sweater might be the first offering on the show of a Christmas jumper

Former University Challenge host Gascoigne last hit the headlines three years ago, when he revealed he had been stunned to learn he had been left the 50-room West Horsley Place in Surrey in July 2014.

However, the sprawling Tudor mansion, near Guildford, had already fallen into a state of severe disrepair by the time it fell into his hands - and proved a nightmare to take on.

Mr Gascoigne had no inkling that he was to inherit the country pile once frequented by the likes off Henry VIII - who reportedly enjoyed a lavish 35-course banquet in one of its many halls.
A total of 542 independent scientists on Kolabtree took the survey. Respondents had been working independently for an average of 4.5 years.

Key findings from the survey:

79% of freelance scientists say they work independently by choice

The majority of independent scientists said that they freelance or consult out of choice. Kolabtree respondents were highly educated, and worked in a variety of industries including pharmaceuticals, food science, medical science, biology, and psychology. 49% had earned doctoral degrees, which shows the trend towards freelancing among highly-skilled knowledge workers.

Ability to work across geographical boundaries highly valued by scientists

73% of scientists said that they turn to freelancing to have the ability to work across geographical boundaries. Respondents were spread across the globe, with 41% working in North America and 22.5% living in Europe.

Scientists cite flexibility and control as major benefits of independent work

Flexibility in working style and the freedom to choose projects they worked on seem to be the primary motivating factors for scientists to consult or freelance. Over 90% said that flexibility is highly important, and 85% said they want to choose the projects they work on. While over 50% of respondents took up freelance work only in their area of specialization, 42% said their independent work was a mix of gigs both inside and outside of their specialization.

56% of freelance scientists are optimistic about the future of the science gig economy

Slightly more than half of the respondents said that they were optimistic about the future of freelancing for scientists. 27% said that they planned to make the switch from a traditional career to full-time freelance work, while 12.3% did not, and 21% were unsure if they would make the switch.

Kolabtree CEO and Co-founder Ashmita Das said, "The findings from the survey shows that scientists are actively looking for freelance opportunities where they can contribute their skills and expertise. The fact that scientists value flexibility, freedom and the ability to have control over what projects they take up is of great benefit to businesses looking to collaborate with experts across geographical boundaries."

Additional findings from the survey:

Levels of income as compared to traditional roles

37% of respondents were earning between $35,000 and $100,000, 35% earning less than $20,000 per year, 16% earning between $20,000 and $34,999, and approximately 8% earning over $100,000.

Approximately 17% of respondents (n=81) said that they earned more in their freelance work than they had previously in a traditional role, 12% (n=55) earned about the same, 39%( n=184) earned less than they did in a traditional role.

Income and location did not seem to impact reported level of thriving

Respondents who reported earning less than $20,000 a year reported almost the exact same level of thriving (emotional stability, high levels of energy) as did those making over $150,000 a year. Interestingly, despite the majority earning a smaller income, those living outside of the UK, US, and Canada reported higher levels of thriving than did those inside these countries.

Lack of career security top challenge for independent scientists

The most prevalent challenges independent scientists face are a lack of career security, financial unpredictability and intellectual loneliness. The extent of positive or negative experiences were shaped by individual levels of cognitive flexibility and tolerance for ambiguity. This suggests that developing these individual level attributes are likely to be important for independent workers' ability to handle the stressors of independent work.

These findings are from the initial part of a longer research study being conducted by Brianna's team. The research group is continuing to study the challenges that independent scientists face, and the factors (socioeconomic, job characteristics, individual characteristics) that impact their experience, and their responses to these challenges. Subsequent results will also explore the impact of the pandemic on remote/independent working for scientists and researchers. Of this research, Brianna says the team's interest is in "identifying the psychological, behavioral, and social factors that help independent scientists to bounce back from setbacks and thrive amidst the challenges of independent work."

If you'd like to stay updated about the developments, please sign up here .

About the research team

Brianna Caza's research group aims to better understand individual practices that help to mitigate the effects of independent work challenges on worker outcomes.

This research is part of a larger research effort aimed at understanding the experiences of professional gig workers. The purpose of this research is to examine the short and long term dynamics that impact the ways in which workers react to the potentially disruptive, ongoing strain of precarious and complex contract based work. This research is sponsored by an Insight Grant awarded to Brianna Caza (University of North Carolina at Greensboro & University of Manitoba), Erin Reid (McMaster University), and Sue Ashford (University of Michigan) from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The research team recently published an article summarizing the conceptual framework they are examining in their set of studies here:

Ashford, S. J., Caza, B. & Reid, E. (2018). Individuals in the New World of Work: A Research Agenda. In A. P. Brief & B. M. Staw, (Eds.), Research in Organizational Behavior. New York, Elsevier

About Kolabtree

Kolabtree is the world's largest freelance platform for scientists, helping organizations hire experts on demand. Our mission is to make scientific expertise easily accessible by connecting researchers and businesses with PhD-qualified researchers, data analysts and medical writers. For more information, visit our website www.kolabtree.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1229922/Kolabtree_freelance_scientists_Infographic.jpg

Contacts

Jonathan Hedger

Kolabtree

Devonshire House, 60 Goswell Road, London, EC1M 7AD

Telephone: +44 (0)7956259559

Website: https://www.kolabtree.com | Blog: https://blog.kolabtree.com

Email: [email protected]

Brianna Caza

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

[email protected]

SOURCE Kolabtree


MELBOURNE (dpa-AFX) - BHP (BHP.AX, BLT.L, BBL, BHP) reported that its profit attributable to shareholders for the year ended 30 June 2020 decreased to US$7.96 billion or 157.0 US cents per share from US$8.31 billion or 159.9 US cents per share in 2019.



The 2020 financial year results included an exceptional loss of US$1.1 billion. The exceptional loss was related to the impairment of Cerro Colorado, a provision for cancellation of power contracts as part of a shift towards 100 per cent renewable energy at Escondida and Spence, COVID-19 related costs and the current year impact of the Samarco dam failure.



Underlying attributable profit was US$9.1 billion broadly in line with the prior year.



Profit from operations dropped to US$14.4 billion from last year's US$16.1 billion, as a result of lower prices, lower volumes, increased deferred stripping depletion at Escondida and an increase in the closure and rehabilitation provision for closed mines. It was partially offset by the favourable impacts of exchange rate movements, better productivity, including record production at WAIO, Caval Ridge and Poitrel.



Annual revenue declined to US$42.93 billion from US$44.29 billion in the prior year.



The company expects most major economies will contract heavily in 2020, China being the exception. Recovery will vary considerably by country.



The company expects that China and the OECD will return to their pre COVID-19 trend growth rates from around 2023. Developing economies outside East Asia may take longer.



The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or OECD is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 37 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.



BHP expects Group copper equivalent production for the 2021 financial year to be slightly lower than the 2020 financial year, due to impacts from a reduction in operational workforces in copper in response to COVID-19 and petroleum natural field decline.



The company will pay a final dividend of 55 US cents per share or US$2.8 billion, which includes an additional amount of 17 US cents per share above the 50% minimum payout policy.



Separately, BHP announced new appointments to the Executive Leadership Team.



Ragnar Udd will become President Minerals Americas, effective 1 November 2020. Udd will be accountable for BHP's copper operations in Chile including Escondida and Spence, the Jansen potash development option, and non-operated joint ventures in copper, iron ore and coal. Daniel Malchuk will leave BHP at the end of 2020.



Laura Tyler will become Chief Technical Officer, effective 1 September 2020.



Caroline Cox will become Chief External Affairs Officer, effective 1 November 2020. Geoff Healy will leave BHP at the end of 2020.



Johan van Jaarsveld will become Chief Development Officer, effective 1 September 2020.



As previously announced, Peter Beaven will continue as Chief Financial Officer until 30 November 2020. David Lamont will commence in that role on 1 December 2020.



Malchuk and Healy will continue in their current roles until 31 October 2020.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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A former Melbourne council manager has confessed to pinching nearly half a million dollars from ratepayers in an invoicing scam.

Andrew James Williamson was promoted to infrastructure manager at Frankston City Council in 2016, at the same time as he was submitting false invoices for $460,000 of works that were never done.

The 45-year-old has pleaded guilty to charges of obtaining and attempting to obtain property by deception and misconduct in public office.

Andrew James Williamson was promoted to infrastructure manager at Frankston City Council in 2016, at the same time as he was submitting false invoices for $460,000 of works that were never done

In the months before his promotion Williamson met an electrician, hired to do renovation work on the home he shared with his partner.

Williamson was sent a letter of demand for more than $8000 for the work.

Prosecutors told Victoria's County Court that shortly after receiving that letter Williamson appointed the electrician as an approved supplier and provider for the council.

Between September 2016 and May 2017 Williamson created 24 invoices for the electrician and submitted them to the council for payments totalling $468,870.32.

They claimed to be for work on a boat ramp and creek project.

Another two invoices for $65.530.63 were submitted but not paid.

He admitted he had created the invoices because the electrician was "terrible at doing paperwork and would refuse to help in any way".

He initially claimed the electrician did the work, but later said they were for work intended to be done.

Prosecutors said Williamson and the electrician agreed on the plan and on how to split the money, and that Williamson had received a cut of more than $346,000.

Williamson initially said he had been working for the electrician at the same time as he worked for the council, and that the payments were unrelated to council work.

He resigned from the council after an internal investigation, and the case was referred to anti-corruption body IBAC.

Williamson will be sentenced at a later date.
Upwards of 20,000 people took part Sunday in Thailand's biggest protests in years, demanding the dissolution of parliament and a new constitution.

Why it matters: The protesters are targeting not only Thailand's prime minister, who took power in a 2014 coup, but the monarchy, which has historically been shielded from criticism.

What makes these protests groundbreaking is the public articulation of the ways in which the king is unaccountable  fiscally, legally, politically and morally," says Tamara Loos, a professor at Cornell University.

"King Vajiralongkorn resides in Germany for most of the year and has been criticized for his indifference to the impact of the pandemic and worsening economic crisis back home."

The public nature of their demands is double-edged: protesters risk arrest or even death when they critique authorities publicly. At the same time, the very public and viral (social media) nature of these protests means that the world is watching the Thai states response."

The youthful protesters are also demanding the resignation of Prayuth Chan-ocha, who transitioned from junta leader to prime minister after an irregularity-marred election last year.
No casualties were reported in the past day.

Ukraine has reported two violations of the latest ceasefire agreements by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Monday, August 17,.

"In total, over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian military recorded two violations on the part of the enemy of the agreements reached within the Trilateral Contact Group on July 22," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Command said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on August 18, 2020.

Read alsoPrisoner swap: Ukraine submits list with 100 names to OSCEThe enemy fired a grenade near the village of Vodiane in the afternoon. The shot posed no threat to the lives and health of Ukrainian troops so Joint Forces did not return fire.

Moreover, the enemy violated the truce commencing engineering works near Vodiane near Ukrainian positions.

No casualties were reported in the past day.

Since Tuesday midnight, no attacks by Russian Federation's armed formations have been recorded, the JFO HQ said.

The situation is under full control of the Ukrainian military, the report says.

Donbas truce: background

Parties to the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE) on the peace settlement in Donbas on July 22 agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from July 27.

The new ceasefire regime was enforced at 00:01 Kyiv time on July 27.

On the very first day of the newly-agreed truce, Russia's hybrid military forces mounted three attacks on Ukrainian positions. More provocations have been reported since.
JERUSALEM Israel would oppose any U.S. F-35 warplane sales to the United Arab Emirates despite forging relations with the Gulf power, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, citing a need to maintain Israeli military superiority in the region.

The statement followed a report in Israels Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that the Trump administration planned a giant" F-35 deal with the UAE as part of the Gulf countrys U.S.-brokered move last week to normalise ties with Israel.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and representatives of the UAE government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Under understandings dating back decades, Washington has refrained from Middle East arms sales that could blunt Israels qualitative military edge" (QME). This has applied to the F-35, denied to Arab states, while Israel has bought and deployed it.

In the talks (on the UAE normalisation deal), Israel did not change its consistent positions against the sale to any country in the Middle East of weapons and defence technologies that could tip the (military) balance," Netanyahus office said.

This opposition includes any proposed F-35 sale, it added.

The Trump administration has signalled that the UAE could clinch unspecified new U.S. arms sales after last Thursdays normalisation announcement.

Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, an observer in Netanyahus security cabinet, noted that past U.S. administrations had against our wishes" sold the UAE more advanced F-16 warplanes than Israel possesses as well as F-15 warplanes to Saudi Arabia.

Even were Washington to sell F-35s to the UAE, Steinitz told public radio station Kan that they would be unlikely to pose a danger to Israel as the distance between the countries is more than twice the jets range without refuelling.

I would like to offer us reassurance. Any F-35 that ends up, ultimately, in the United Arab Emirates - not that we would be happy with this, as we always want to be the only ones (with such arms) in the region - threatens Iran far more than it does us," he said, citing a foe common to Israel and many Gulf Arabs.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Alex Richardson, Angus MacSwan and Mike Collett-White)

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 National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H), has called for online applications from qualified and experienced candidates for filling Twenty Two (22) vacancies to the post of Manager, General Manager, Deputy General Manager and Assistant Manager through selection by promotion/deputation to be posted anywhere in India on a fulltime basis. The online application process towards the same closes on August 28, 2020 by 6:00. Interested candidates can start applying from August 18, 2020 besdies submitting the applicaitons through offline mode before September 14, 2020 by 6:00 pm.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Manager, General Manager, Deputy General Manager and Assistant Manager Organisation National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Educational Qualification Bachelors Degree Experience Three to fourteen years in relevant domain Job Responsibilities null Skills Required Desirable Job Location India Salary Scale In the range of Rs. 9,300 to Rs. 67,000 per month as per the post Industry National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Application Start Date August 18, 2020 Application End Date August 28, 2020

NHAI Recruitment: Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for managerial posts through NHAI Recruitment 2020 must not have exceeded 56 years of age, with relaxation (upper age limit) for reserved candidates as per the Govt. of India guidelines.

For details regarding fee for managerial posts through NHAI Recruitment 2020, refer to the official notification given at the end of the article.

CRPF Recruitment 2020 For 69 Specialist Medical Officer (SMO) Posts Through 'Walk-In' Selection

NHAI Recruitment: Vacancy Details

Manager (Administration) - 08

Deputy General Manager (Admin) - 08

General Manager (Admin) - 03

Assistant Manager (Admin) - 03

Total - 22

NHAI Recruitment: Education And Experience

Desirous candidates applying for managerial posts through NHAI Recruitment 2020 must possess a Bachelor's Degree from a recognized University/Institute with three to fourteen years' of experience in the concerned domain as detailed in the advertisement.

NHAI Recruitment: Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates for managerial posts through NHAI Recruitment 2020 will be done through Shortlisting and Promotion/Deputation.

Candidates selected for managerial posts through NHAI Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument in the range of Rs. 9,300 to Rs. 67,000 per month as per the post.

Election Commission of India Recruitment For Data Entry Operator (DEO) Posts, Apply Before Sep 25

NHAI Recruitment: How To Apply

Candidates applying for managerial posts through NHAI Recruitment 2020 must register online on the official NHAI website and submit their applications on or before August 28, 2020 by 6:00 pm.

Candidates must also take a printout of their application, and submit the same along with relevant supporting documents to the "Deputy General Manager (HR & Admin)-I, National Highways Authority Of India (NHAI), Plot No: G - 5&6, Sector - 10, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075" on or before September 14, 2020 by 6:00 pm.

Download NHAI Recruitment 2020 PDF for managerial positions.
Press Release

18 August 2020

MUMBAI, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia's largest hospitality company, today announced the signing of a solar energy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with TP Kirnali Solar Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Tata Power Company Limited. IHCL hotels in Mumbai, namely The Taj Mahal Palace, Taj Lands End and Taj Wellington Mews, will get approximately 60% energy from Green Source and will reduce nearly 22.9 million kg of CO 2 emissions on an annual basis. This agreement is valid for a period of 25 years.

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Speaking on the agreement, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, "Innovation has always been integral to our philosophy at IHCL. This initiative is in line with the company's focus on adopting sustainable and cost-efficient business practices, while leveraging Group-wide synergies and competencies. We are pleased to collaborate with Tata Power, which is a leader in clean energy generation."

The agreement further strengthens the Tata Group's firm commitment towards conserving natural resources for future generations. Through this initiative, IHCL hotels in Mumbai will be able to reduce nearly 22.9 million kg of CO 2 emissions on an annual basis,which translates to a carbon reduction equivalent of approximately 7,200 cars off the road.

Speaking on this achievement, Mr. Praveer Sinha, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tata Power, said, "We are glad to collaborate with IHCL to reduce their carbon footprint and reaffirm the Tata Group's commitment for sustainability. Presently, the association is limited to IHCL properties in Mumbai and we look forward to working closely with them for covering all their facilities across India."

Sustainability is a prerequisite to IHCL operations andin the last four years, the Company has increased its renewable energy mix from 7% to 25%.IHCL also recently set a global benchmark in hospitality for environmental sustainability by a record-setting 78 of its hotels being awarded the EarthCheck Platinum, Gold and Silver certifications.

About Tata Power:

Tata Power is India's largest integrated power company and, together with its subsidiaries & jointly controlled entities, has an installed capacity of 12742 MW. A pioneer in the field, it has a presence across the entire power value chain: Generation of renewable as well as conventional power including hydro and thermal energy; transmission & distribution, trading and coal & freight logistics. With renewable energy assets in solar and wind accounting for 30% of the company's portfolio, Tata Power is a leader in clean energy generation. In line with the company's view on sustainable and clean energy development, Tata Power is steering the transformation of utilities to integrated solutions by looking at new business growth in EV charging & storage, distributed generation & rooftops, microgrids and home automation & smart meters.

It has successful public-private partnerships in generation, transmission & distribution in India namely: 'Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd.' with Delhi Vidyut Board for distribution in North Delhi; 'Tata Power Ajmer Distribution Ltd.' with Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. for distribution in Ajmer; 'Powerlinks Transmission Ltd.' with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. for evacuation of Power from Tala hydro plant in Bhutan to Delhi; 'Maithon Power Ltd.' with Damodar Valley Corporation for a 1050 MW Mega Power Project at Jharkhand. Tata Power is serving more than 2.6 million distribution consumers in India and has developed the country's first 4000 MW Ultra Mega Power Project at Mundra (Gujarat) based on super-critical technology.

With growing international focus, Tata Power's global presence includes strategic investments in Indonesia through a 30% stake in the coal company PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC); 26% stake in mines at PT Baramulti Suksessarana Tbk (BSSR); in Singapore through Trust Energy Resources; in Zambia through a 50:50 joint venture with ZESCO for 120 MW Hydro project; in Georgia through AGL which is a joint venture with Clean Energy, Norway & IFC for development of 187 MW hydro project; in Bhutan through a hydro project in partnership with The Royal Government of Bhutan.

With its 103 years track record of technology leadership, project execution excellence, world-class safety processes, customer care and driving green initiatives, Tata Power is poised for multi-fold growth and committed to 'lighting up lives' for generations to come.Visit us at:www.tatapower.com
Members of Myanmar's Rohingya-led Democracy and Human Rights Party meet in the party's office in Yangon, Aug. 13, 2020.

Four more Rohingya men seeking to run in Myanmars upcoming general elections have been disqualified over questions about their parents citizenship, including a party leader who won a seat in parliament in 1990 but was jailed by the former military-run government, the candidates said Monday.

Kyaw Min, founder of the Rohingya-led Democracy and Human Rights Party, and two other DHRP candidates running for seats in the western state of Rakhine were rejected on Monday.

Another party member, whose father had worked as a civil servant for nearly four decades, was rejected on the same grounds last week.

When Kyaw Min, 76, first won a parliamentary seat representing Rakhines Buthidaung township 30 years ago, but his party was banned in 1992 and he later joined a committee with current Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

On Monday, election commission officials in Maungdaw district, which comprises Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships, rejected Kyaw Mins application along with those of Aung Hla and Saw Myint, who planned to contest for seats for the Rakhine state parliament in two Buthidaung constituencies.

The fourth rejected candidate, Abu Tahay, also known as Thar Aye, is a Rohingya rights activist and not affiliated with a political party. It was unclear when on which date he was disqualified.

This is our fundamental right  the basic rights of an ethnic group since the time of Myanmars independence, Kyaw Min told RFAs Myanmar Service. They are now rejecting us, claiming our parents are not citizens.

Kyaw Min, father of Rohingya activist Wai Wai Nu, said he and the two other DHRP candidates were told they were rejected because their parents were not citizens when they were born, as they held only national ID cards, and not citizenship verification cards.

The politician, also known as Shamsul Anwarul Huq, said that holders of the national ID cards are citizens of Myanmar and that he would appeal the decision at the federal government level.

National ID cards, known as Ah.Ma.Ta cards, were issued only to citizens, and not to foreigners, he said.

It was clearly stated in the law. The holder of Ah.Ma.Ta national ID cards are citizens, Kyaw Min said.

Kyaw Min said he registered the DHRP in 2012 and received approval for it the following year after verifying the citizenship of his parents and relatives.

Not proof of citizenship

Kyaw Myint, chairman of Maungdaw districts election commission, asserted that the DHRP candidates parents were not Myanmar citizens when the candidates were born, citing Section 10 of Myanmars Election Law.

Article 10 of the Election Law is a clear mandate on that issue, he told RFA. If the parents were not citizens when the candidate was born, the candidacy shall be rejected.

Kyaw Than, secretary of the districts election committee, said the Ah.Ma.Ta ID cards were issued to residents who could legally become citizens, but they were not necessarily proof of citizenship.

Therefore, the candidates were rejected because their parents did not obtain new citizenship ID cards, he told RFA.

Those born to parents with Ah.Ma.Ta ID cards are allowed to become citizens but cannot establish political parties, Kyaw Than said. Likewise, they can vote but are not allowed to become elected lawmakers.

Until Myanmar allows Rohingya candidates to run for parliamentary seats, the government will not be able to repatriate some of the roughly 840,000 Rohingya who fled to neighboring Bangladesh during military-led crackdown on their northern Rakhine communities in 2016 and 2017, Thar Aye said.

Only when we are allowed to take part will it facilitate causes such as building social harmony with our ethnic group, the [Rohingya refugees] return to Myanmar, and building a peaceful society, he told RFA. If we are not included, it will be challenging to achieve these goals because we are members of the group.

About 25 contenders in Novembers race are openly advocating for Muslim minority rights in the predominantly Buddhist country, saying they aim to tackle discriminatory policies, especially those against the Rohingya who are considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

But most of the Muslim candidates are over 60 years old, and their parents do not have national verification cards, which were not issued prior to 1990.



Manipulation of the law

Rights activist Nickey Diamond from Fortify Rights said the rejection of Muslim candidates manipulate existing laws to persecute the Rohingya.

We see the discrimination targeting Rohingya, he said.

Authorities began issuing pink-colored national verification cards in 1990, so that those born before then would not have the cards if they hadnt renewed existing ones. He said.

This is the manipulation of the law and discrimination targeting the Rohingya, Diamond said.

The exclusion of Rohingya Muslim candidates will tarnish the reputation of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) government and could lead to negative consequences in a pending case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), said Diamond.

Myanmar faces genocide-related changes at the Netherlands-based tribunal for its expulsion of the Rohingya during the 2017 crackdown.

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 members of the Muslim ethnic minority still live in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung townships.

Of the seven candidates the DHRP has nominated for the Nov. 8 elections, four have been rejected.

On Aug. 11, Sittwe district election officials rejected the application of Abdul Rasheed who also was disqualified over questions about his parents citizenship, though his father worked as a civil servant for nearly four decades, and his mother holds a citizenship certificate.



Reported by Kyaw Lwin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.


Music maestro Pandit Jasraj, who was known for his contribution to Indian classical music, passed away on Monday. The 90-year-old legend was in New Jersey during the pandemic. Talking about the same, his grandniece, Shweta Pandit, told a leading daily, We spoke almost every week in the last six months during the pandemic, since this was the one time when we were all at home. When the pandemic struck, he was in his New Jersey home with his students and he had to stay put there.





She also revealed in the interaction with the daily that Pandit Jasrajs mortal remains are being brought back to Mumbai. She said, Dadus body is being brought back from New Jersey and will reach Mumbai tomorrow (August 19). We need to get some permissions in place for safety during the pandemic.

Rest in peace, Pandit Jasraj!










Postmaster General to appear before Congress next week amid concerns over services ability to handle mail-in ballots.

President Donald Trumps appointed postmaster general has agreed to testify before US Congress next week on cuts in service that legislators fear could hamper the Postal Services ability to handle a flood of mail-in ballots in Novembers election.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a major Trump political donor, agreed to testify next Monday before the Democratic-led House of Representatives Oversight and Reform Committee, which is investigating whether service changes adopted in recent weeks have slowed mail deliveries.

The committee called DeJoys appearance voluntary. Robert Duncan, who chairs the Postal Service board of governors and is a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, will testify along with DeJoy, the Postal Service confirmed.

Congressional Democrats have raised concerns that, amid a coronavirus pandemic that is expected to result in about twice as many Americans voting by mail as did so in 2016, cost-cutting at the Postal Service could lead to missed or delayed ballots.

They have pointed to reductions in overtime, restrictions on extra mail transportation trips and new mail sorting and delivery policies as changes that threaten to slow mail delivery.

Trump has repeatedly, and without evidence, claimed that mail balloting is vulnerable to fraud. Voting by mail is nothing new in the US, and one in four voters cast a ballot that way in 2016.

Separately, House Democratic Conference Chairman Hakeem Jeffries and Representative Ted Lieu called on the FBI to open a criminal probe into DeJoy.

Dear @realDonaldTrump: The House agrees that we need to save the post office. Thats why we are coming back for emergency session this Saturday to pass legislation to stop the sabotage of USPS by you & Postmaster General DeJoy. We look forward to you signing the legislation. https://t.co/sBnJWFOXps  Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 17, 2020

There is evidence that making mail-in balloting more difficult may be one of the motivations for the changes instituted at the Post Office, Jeffries and Lieu wrote in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray.

There is also evidence that the Postmaster General has a financial stake in multiple financial entities that are either competitors to or contractors for the Post Office, the legislators said.

No, were not tampering, Trump said in an interview with Fox News amid an outcry from Democrats and other critics who accuse him of trying to hamstring the Postal Service to suppress mail-in voting as he trails Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden in polls before the November 3 election.

We want to make it run efficiently, run good, Trump said of the Postal Service.

Later on Monday, at an event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Trump said: We cant play games, get out and vote through those beautiful absentee ballots or just make sure your vote gets counted.

Make sure, because the only way were going to lose this election is if the election is rigged. Remember that. The only way were going to lose this election. So, we have to be very careful, he said.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton, a close Trump ally, accused Democrats of promoting conspiracy theories, a charge echoed by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Trump, who himself plans to cast an absentee ballot by mail in Florida, and many other Republicans have opposed an expansion of mail-in voting to accommodate people concerned about going to the polls to vote in-person due to fears amid the pandemic.

Trumps campaign and allies sought to block efforts to expand mail-in voting, forcing an awkward confrontation with top Republican election officials [File: Matt Rourke/AP Photo]

Trump said in March that with mail-in voting at levels that Democrats were seeking, youd never have a Republican elected in this country again.

The Democratic-controlled House will meet on Saturday to consider legislation prohibiting changes to Postal Service levels that were in place on January 1, 2020, said the chambers number two Democrat, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

A Democratic congressional aide said the legislation would also include $25bn in funding for the Postal Service. Congressional Democrats had sought that amount in talks on coronavirus relief legislation that broke down more than a week ago.

While Trump has voiced opposition to such funding, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Monday the administration could agree to Postal Service funding as part of a bill to deliver coronavirus aid.
Israel and Sudan on Tuesday said they are close to reaching a peace agreement  setting the stage for a second dramatic diplomatic breakthrough for Israel with its Arab neighbors in a matter of days.

A Sudanese Foreign Ministry official announced that his government is looking forward to concluding a peace agreement with Israel, drawing a promise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do all thats needed to wrap up a deal.

The announcements came days after Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced an agreement to establish formal diplomatic ties.

While Sudan does not have the resources and influence of the UAE, it has a far more hostile history toward Israel.

Sudan hosted the landmark Arab conference after the 1967 Mideast war where eight Arab countries approved the three nos: no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel and no negotiations.

In 1993, the U.S. designated Sudan a state sponsor of terrorism for its support of a number of anti-Israel militant groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah.

But in recent years those hostilities have softened, and both countries have expressed readiness to normalize relations.

Sky News Arabia quoted a Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying his government looked forward to a peace agreement based on equality and Sudanese interests.

There is no reason to continue hostility between Sudan and Israel, the spokesman, Haidar Badawi, was quoted as saying.

We dont deny that there are communications with Israel, he added, saying both countries would gain much from a deal.

In a statement, Netanyahu said Israel, Sudan and the entire region will benefit. We will do all thats needed to turn this vision into a reality, he said.

After Thursdays announcement with the UAE, Netanyahu predicted that other Arab countries would soon follow suit.

In February, Netanyahu met Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the head of Sudans transitional government, during a trip to Uganda where they pledged to pursue normalization. The meeting was held secretly and only announced after the fact.

An Israeli deal with Sudan would mark a new setback for the Palestinians, who have long counted on the Arab world to press Israel to make concessions to them as a condition for normalization. They have condemned the Emirati decision as treason.

But with Mideast peace efforts frozen for over a decade and with encouragement from the Trump administration, Arab countries have increasingly put their own interests first.

Sudan is desperate to lift sanctions linked to its listing by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror  a key step toward ending its isolation and rebuilding its economy after the popular uprising that toppled longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir last year.

A Sudanese official had acknowledged in February that the meeting with Netanyahu was orchestrated by the United Arab Emirates and aimed at helping to remove the terror listing, which dates back to the 1990s, when Sudan briefly hosted Osama bin Laden and other wanted militants.

Under al-Bashir, Sudan was also believed to have served as a pipeline for Iran to supply weapons to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. Israel was believed to have been behind airstrikes in Sudan that destroyed a convoy in 2009 and a weapons factory in 2012.

Last weeks announcement made the UAE the third Arab country to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel.

Egypt was the first, in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994. Unofficial ties with Gulf Arab nations have also grown in recent years, fueled by shared enmity toward Iran.

A deal with Sudan could also give Netanyahu a boost at home.

Netanyahu has seen his personal popularity drop due to the coronavirus crisis, which has ravaged the Israeli economy. He also faces widespread criticism while on trial for charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Israel has long courted African support. In exchange for its expertise in security and other fields, Israel wants African states to side with it at the U.N. General Assembly and other international bodies that have long favored the Palestinians.

Israel renewed diplomatic relations with Guinea in 2016. After Netanyahu visited Chad for a renewal of ties in 2019, it was reported that Israel was working to formalize ties with Sudan.
If conservative interests in New York were adamantly opposed to a new law in the past couple of years, theres a good chance that the legislation was sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman. He was behind the Child Victims Act, which extended the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse cases; the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, which made gender identity and expression a protected class under state law; and the TRUST Act, which gave congressional committees access to President Donald Trumps state tax returns. And thats not to mention his bills repealing the religious exemption from vaccinations and his attempt to institute a pied-a-terre tax on luxurious second homes.

And yet, Hoylman wants to leave the state Senate, where hes served since 2013, to become the next Manhattan borough president. The current borough president, Gale Brewer, will be term-limited out of office at the end of 2021, so on Monday, the 54-year-old Hoylman announced his intention to enter the June 2021 Democratic primary. Other candidates for the seat include New York City Council Members Mark Levine and Ben Kallos, former Manhattan Community Board 7 Chair Elizabeth Caputo and Kimberly Watkins, Community Education Council 3 president.

Hoylman talked about how theres been so much discussion lately of homeless people living in Manhattan. People in dire personal circumstances adjacent to multimillion-dollar condos, he said. And I hope I can help leverage one on behalf of the other and really make a difference in peoples lives.

Hoylman, an attorney, was raised in rural Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and came to Manhattan after studying at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes scholar and graduating from Harvard Law School. City & State spoke with Hoylman about why he wants to leave Albany, running for two seats at once and his residential land use philosophy. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Youre the chair of the state Senate Judiciary Committee and you have sponsored so many major bills in Albany. Why are you trying to leave the state Legislature?

What we want in a borough president is someone who can identify a problem and a solution, build a coalition to address it, and make change. And I think thats exactly what Ive done as a legislator, and what I would want to do continuing my public service as borough president.

I also think that this is such an important time in our citys history. There really are now people asking, Does Manhattan have a future? The answer has to be yes. And I feel a call to arms at the level of public service to help navigate this extremely difficult path when we emerge from COVID-19.

So its not about the long drive up to Albany?

It really isnt! One of the charms of Albany is that its a small town and youre focused on your work and youre in a bubble. Its an incredibly efficient place in which to do work.This is a watershed moment in our citys future, though. And I feel like making a contribution to helping in the recovery.

You just won the Democratic primary in your state Senate district and youll win the general election in November. Were you open with constituents about the fact that you were planning on running for another seat?

Well, I didnt announce until (Monday). And part of it was strategic because I had bills in the Senate. But also, I hadnt fully decided. It is a matter of personal process.

To be clear, even though I hadnt made a decision until I announced today, when people asked, I never denied. I think you probably heard the rumors too. This is not uncommon for elected officials like me to have an office and seek another.

You live with your husband and two daughters in Greenwich Village. Has there ever been an openly gay borough president  in any borough?

No! I would be the first. And Im proud and honored to be the only openly LGBTQ person in the Senate at the moment. And the second candidate whos run as an openly gay candidate, (Assembly Member) Deborah Glick being the first.

You were previously general counsel at the Partnership for New York City, which is the voice of big business in New York City. Do you plan to be a business-friendly borough president?

I think my credentials in office suggest I have a healthy degree of skepticism towards issues like deregulation and attempts to combat unions and curb worker protections. But like any borough president, relationships matter.

We, as a borough are confronted with enormous challenges on a business level. But weve also seen certain industries have an unfair advantage: tax breaks for luxury development; the global superrich not paying property taxes on their pied-a-terres; landlords who have forced out tenants to try to find wealthier renters. Those are issues that Ive taken on as a senator, but I plan on continuing that fight for tenants and middle- and working-class New Yorkers in the borough presidency.

New York has 92 billionaires, and probably all of them live in Manhattan. Should the government be courting them to make sure they stay and pay taxes? Or if they want to leave, should New York let them go?

Well, I dont think its as straightforward of a question as that. No less of a billionaire than Michael Bloomberg was eager to increase taxes on the super wealthy. And I think that it comes down to this question: Will the city be able to have the tax base to pay for essential services  services that make this such a great world city, like our public schools and mass transit and arts and cultural institutions as well as protecting the most vulnerable? Or will we slide into something that is a hollowed out version of our current self? If we dont get the money from Washington, were going to have to look to our own tax base. And if were looking to our own tax base, we have to tax progressively. So the most wealthy who have had significant tax breaks, at both the corporate and personal level under numerous administrations, but particularly this federal administration, are going to have to step up. The next borough president and mayor and the governor are going to have to frame this as a matter of civic duty to ensure New Yorks survival as an attractive place for future generations to work and live.

Should Manhattan be growing in population? Do you support building more housing at any cost, or do there need to be stronger controls on who builds where?

It depends on the neighborhood and community participation. Some community boards in Manhattan are eager for more housing  but particularly affordable. And thats what weve seen lost over the last several decades because of failed subsidies that try to create affordable housing by feathering the nests of luxury developers. I really believe the city needs to get into the direct subsidy of housing and cut out the middleman who oftentimes try to bilk the system.

We need more affordable housing. We have to do it in a way thats grounded in a community planning process. And thats exactly part of the role of the borough president that Im most eager to participate in. Im a former community board chair. I served for a decade on my local community board, and I know that development is better when it has significant neighborhood input.

Whats your philosophy on residential land use?

That without a planning process that takes into a wider lens of issues and significant community involvement, the end result is often unfortunate. And we end up selling parcels without concern for the wider public good. I think we can do better. Its something that I think Gale Brewer has shown in her involvement in, for example, the South Street Seaport development, making certain that the community is engaged at the ground level and not as an afterthought.

What would your top priorities be as borough president?

I really believe we need what I call a Manhattan Marshall Plan. The borough president could use its planning authority powers under the City Charter to advance a formal plan for the economic and neighborhood recovery of Manhattan after COVID-19. This is such an important moment. We have 20 million square feet of office space vacant in midtown Manhattan. We have a chance for a reset on thinking about how best to utilize that space, whether its through community retail, New York City-owned businesses and/or affordable housing.

Second, like a lot of Manhattanites, Im concerned about the decrease in city services. So I want to create, within the borough presidents office, a Manhattan task force on city services and quality of life. Under the borough presidents powers in the City Charter, the borough president has public service complaint powers. And I want to use that to address declining government services around homelessness, trash collection and crime.

Third, I want to create a thing Im calling community board budgeting. Youve heard of participatory budgeting. Community board budgeting would be a little different. Id like to divest the borough presidents broad discretion over capital dollars by delegating significant authority for funding to local community boards. Let them make the decisions. Lets make this a new function of community boards, to have an actual direct role in setting the capital funding agenda for the borough. Again, Im a strong believer in grassroots participation. Community boards are town halls of Manhattan.

And finally, as a public school parent, I have been confused about the enrollment process for getting your kid into school. It seems like every school has different criteria. Some of them are available publicly. Some it seems to me you need to know a secret password to understand whats going on. So to address that, which has a harmful impact on low-income Manhattanites, is to create what Im calling a public school parent resource and advocacy center within the borough presidents office. Id help parents in low-income Manhattan communities navigate this Byzantine public school enrollment process, which I think would simultaneously advance strategies to integrate our public schools.

So those are my four big issue areas I see at the moment. But again, I passed 79 bills in Albany. I think I have a record of not just picking a problem, but identifying the solution and bringing it across the finish line. And thats in the spirit of these four agenda items.

You led the charge to release President Donald Trumps tax returns. Any chance theyre made public before Election Day?

I hope so. I am mystified why the United States Congress has not taken advantage of my law, the TRUST Act, which would, upon written submission by the House Ways and Means Committee, provide Congress with Trumps state taxes. Maybe they will. But its frustrating that they have yet to do so. Whether its Congressman (Richard) Neal, whos the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, or (House) Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi, Id urge them to look closely at this law and use it on behalf of the American people. Thats why we passed it. We are offering Trumps taxes on a silver platter to the United States Congress. They should take advantage of it.

The borough president has to be a cheerleader. Whats your favorite spot in Manhattan?

I have to say Hudson River Park. Theres few places where I can walk, alone or with my family, and take in the salty air, and look almost wistfully on a city that has so much promise and has changed the future of our world. It gives me great hope to walk along that park and it makes me very proud to be a New Yorker.
Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been arrested by mutinying soldiers, a government spokesman has confirmed to the BBC.

Prime Minister Boubou Cisse has also been arrested, despite earlier appeals for "brotherly dialogue".





The apparent coup attempt in the West African nation began with gunfire at a key military camp near the capital, Bamako, on Tuesday morning.



In the city young men set a government-owned building on fire.



It comes hours after disgruntled junior officers detained commanders and took control of the Kati camp, about 15km (nine miles) from Bamako.



The mutiny has been condemned by regional group Ecowas, the African Union and former colonial power France.



The unrest coincides with calls for more protests to demand that the president resign.



What do we know about the mutiny?

It is led by Col Malick Diaw - deputy head of the Kati camp - and another commander, Gen Sadio Camara, BBC Afrique's Abdoul Ba in Bamako reports.



After taking over the camp, the mutineers marched on the capital.



In the afternoon they stormed Mr Keita's residence and arrested the president and his prime minister - who were both there.



The reason for the move is unclear, as is the number soldiers taking part in the mutiny. Some reports say it was fuelled by a pay dispute.





Kati camp was also the focus of a mutiny in 2012 by soldiers angry at the inability of the senior commanders to stop jihadists and Tuareg rebels taking control of northern Mali.



Footage from AFP news agency showed a building owned by the justice ministry in Bamako ablaze on Tuesday.



Why is the president unpopular?

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won a second term in elections in 2018, but there is widespread anger over corruption, the mismanagement of the economy and the worsening security situation with jihadist and communal violence on the increase.



In recent months huge crowds led by populist imam Mahmoud Dicko have been calling on President Keita to step down.



Much smaller crowds reportedly gathered in the capital on Tuesday in support of the soldiers.



What has the reaction been?

The chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said in a tweet that he "emphatically condemns" the arrests of President Keita and his prime minister.



The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) urged the mutineers to return to barracks.



"This mutiny comes at a time when, for several months now, Ecowas has been taking initiatives and conducting mediation efforts with all the Malian parties," its statement said.



France's Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian also condemned "in the strongest terms this serious event" and he too urged soldiers to return to barracks.



Earlier the French embassy in Bamako posted a tweet "strongly" advising people to stay at home. France has troops in Mali to fight militant Islamists.







Source: BBC









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Celebrate: Students at the UK Department for Education in London as they hear the news of the governments U-turn on exam grades. Photo: Reuters/ John Sibley

In a U-turn after days of criticism, the British government yesterday scrapped an exam-grading policy that was set to deprive thousands of school leavers - especially more disadvantaged ones - of places at universities.

Roger Taylor, chairman of UK exam regulator Ofqual, said the use of an algorithm to predict the results of exams that were cancelled by the coronavirus pandemic had caused "real anguish and damaged public confidence".

"It has not been an acceptable experience for young people," he said. "I would like to say sorry."

This year, with schools largely shut since March and no exams, education authorities in England ran the predicted grades through an algorithm, intended to standardise results, that compared them with schools' past performance. That meant high-achieving students at under-performing schools, many in deprived areas, saw their marks downgraded, while students at above-average schools kept their predicted grades.

Hundreds of students have held protests, calling the results an injustice.

The reversal means students in England will receive the grades estimated by their teachers, unless the ones generated by the algorithm are higher.

The U-turn is an embarrassment for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government, but had come to appear inevitable as criticism of the policy spread, even within the ranks of the governing Conservative Party.

In Scotland, authorities quickly reversed course after a similar fiasco last week, saying students would get their predicted grades.

That increased pressure on Mr Johnson to do the same for England.
Britain's biggest airlines urged Boris Johnson to bring in a regime of airport coronavirus testing today in a bid to eevive air routes with pandemic hot-spots like the United States.

The chief executives of British Airways, TUI, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic have written to the Prime Minister, warning him that major routes connecting the UK with important world centres are at risk unless passenger travel is increased.

They urged the Government to adopt a system similar to that in Germany, where passengers are tested on arrival, quarantine until they get a result and then are released if it is negative.

In the letter, BA's Alex Cruz, Virgin Atlantic's Shai Weiss, TUI's Kenton Jarvis, easyJet's Johan Lundgren and Tim Alderslade, the chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, wrote: 'We recognise there isn't a single international approach, but we believe a UK testing protocol based on the German model would stimulate significant demand while protecting public health.

'It would play a critical role both in supporting US-UK connectivity but also in safeguarding connections with key European and other global markets.'

In the letter, BA's Alex Cruz (right, back of photo) and other CEOs told Boris Johnson 'a UK testing protocol based on the German model would stimulate significant demand while protecting public health'

Many airlines are teetering on the brink of collapse as global air travel has collapsed since March

The UK is currently adding more countries to its quarantine list as coronavirus case surge again around the world.

Many airlines are teetering on the brink of collapse as global air travel has collapsed since March.

Travellers returning from countries including Spain, France, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States all face a fortnight in isolation. The US has had its borders closed to new UK arrivals for several months.

There are increasing fears that Greece and Croatia could be added to the list when data is reviewed.

The executives also called for the US to reopen its borders to travellers from the UK.

'Restoring consumer confidence and passenger flying at scale will also require the US to open its borders to UK residents,' they said.

'It is our hope that the UK taking a lead on testing will support that vital economic objective.'
New government funding announced to speed up coronavirus test turnaround times

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Aug 18th, 2020

Health Minister Vaughan Gething has announced nearly 32m to speed up result turnaround times.

The Welsh Government say the investment will deliver faster results for contact tracing and ensure Wales is prepared for any increases in cases during the autumn and winter amid further preparation for a period that has been described as possibly challenging, difficult and extraordinary.

The announced money will pay for:

Extra staff and equipment for the Public Health Wales regional laboratories based at University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, Morriston Hospital, Swansea and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Rhyl, so they can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Creation of six Hot Labs at acute hospitals across Wales, which will have rapid, under four hour, testing equipment and new testing equipment for other conditions to free up staff to work on COVID-19 testing. They will operate from 08.00  22.00, seven days a week.

It is expected the three regional laboratories will be able to operate 24 hours from October.

The six new Hot labs will be up and running in November.

Mr Gething said: This investment will ensure we have the laboratory capacity in Wales to deliver our Test, Trace, Protect strategy to keep coronavirus under control, and be ready for the winter.

I hope we dont need to use all the testing capacity this investment will create but we have to be prepared. The science tells us the virus will spread more quickly in the colder, wetter months so we can expect an increase in spread later this year.

This investment will increase our resilience and ensure our testing and contact tracing systems are robust enough to deal with whatever winter brings.

We all want to be able to return to normal life and to ease restrictions as much as possible. Our Test, Trace, Protect strategy is key to achieving that, by enabling us to quickly identify people with coronavirus symptoms; identify new hotspots and isolate as many contacts as possible.

Test turnaround data is measured from the date a sample is recorded as being collected to the time the result is authorised. It does not indicate how long it takes for an individual to receive their result from point of testing. The full dataset comes with an explainer of different scenarios where the nature of testing can slow the overall turnaround process, for example care homes may complete batches of tests across different staff shifts before returning the tests by a courier.

In the week starting the 3rd August there had been 10,024 tests authorised as part of a key worker asymptomatic screening programme, with 37.3% authorised within one day. There had been 3,141 tests authorised as part of on demand testing in the community, with 69.9% authorised within one day. There have been 4,494 tests authorised at hospital, with 88.4% authorised within one day.

Dr Tracey Cooper, Chief Executive of Public Health Wales, said: This investment will allow us to make some fundamental changes to our laboratory services that will significantly increase their capacity and resilience, both in the context of the current pandemic and in the longer term.

We are already working behind the scenes to implement these changes and have recently launched a recruitment drive to recruit up to 160 staff into the new roles made possible by this investment.

The initial outlay on staffing and new equipment is expected to be nearly 8m and the cost of carrying out tests is expected to vary between 8  24m depending on demand.

Welsh Government say the six new Hot Labs will be based at:

Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli

Morriston Hospital, Swansea

Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend

Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil

University Hospital, Llandough.

Grange Hospital, Cwmbran

Welsh Governments press release noted those locations as being across Wales, which appears to be West to East.
Google is making its activity cards feature  which helps you pick up where you left off in Search on mobile  more useful. Lets say youre looking for iPad accessories. The shopping card will display products that youve been researching, and even some that you havent explicitly searched for. If they were featured in a review or a guide, Google might surface them in the card. That could help you to compare all of your options and reach a decision.

The jobs card could make it easier for you to keep on top of new openings in your field. Itll display relevant job listings that have popped up since you last searched, so you dont necessarily have to trawl through the same ones over and over.

Google has also made improvements to the recipes card. To make meal planning easier, were updating the recipes activity card to show you even more relevant recipes related to your query, Search product manager InHan Kang wrote in a blog post. So now when you search for chicken recipes, well surface the related recipes youve recently visited and provide a thumbnail preview to make it easy to select the right one.

These updates are rolling out today. If youre not interested in seeing activity cards, you can turn off private results in your Search settings. You can also remove individual items that pop up on the recipe and product cards, and delete your job searches from the My Activity.

Elsewhere, you now have the option of sending audio messages via Google Assistant on Android phones solely using your voice. All you have to do is say, Hey Google, send an audio message, along with the name of the recipient and what you want to tell them. The feature is live in English-speaking countries, and in Brazil in Portuguese.
First Lady Melania Trump donned suffragette white to join President Donald Trump at a White House event commemorating the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.

The 50-year-old cut a stylish figure in a $2,195 skirt suit by Michael Kors as she stood by her husband's side in the Blue Room at the signing ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

But instead of wearing head-to-toe white, she made the look entirely her own by accessorizing her outfit with a black and white gingham belt that cinched her waist and matching pumps.

Celebration: First Lady Melania Trump, 50, donned suffragette white on Tuesday at a White House event marking the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment

All smiles: Melania was joined by her husband, President Donald Trump, at the signing ceremony that took place in the Blue Room

Melania's highlighted brown hair was styled loosely around her shoulders, and she stuck with her signature makeup: dark, smokey eyeshadow and a pink lip.

The former model tends to let her outfit do the talking, and Tuesday's event was no exception. She had on minimal jewelry aside from a diamond band that sparkled on her finger as she stood with her hands clasped.

The sleek suit features a modern blazer with peaked lapels and an asymmetric hem paired with a classic knee-length pencil skirt

Melania previously wore the outfit to greet French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at the White House in 2018 during their first state visit.

She made quite the fashion statement in the suit, which she paired with a white wide-brim hat by Herve Pierre.

Outfit: She paid homage to suffragettes in a $2,195 white suit by Michael Kors that features a blazer with an asymmetric hem and a classic knee-length pencil skirt

Added touches: Melania made the look entirely her own by accessorizing her outfit with a black and white gingham belt that cinched her waist and matching pumps.

The first lady gave the suit an update when she paired it with black and white gingham accessories for the White House event.

She joined other guests who stood by her husband's side and clapped as he spoke at the centennial celebration.

President Trump, 74, announced on Tuesday that he will posthumously pardon Susan B. Anthony, a leader in the suffrage movement that gave women the right to vote.

The women's rights activist was arrested for voting in 1872 at a time when only men were allowed to do so.

'Later today, I will be signing a full and complete pardon for Susan B Anthony. She was never pardoned,' he said at a White House ceremony marking the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which is also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment.

Duties: Melania stood by her husband's side as he addressed the crowd, many of whom were also wearing white

Go-to look: Melania's highlighted brown hair was styled loosely around her shoulders, and she stuck with her signature makeup: dark, smokey eyeshadow and a pink lip

'She got a bargain for a lot of other women, and she didn't put her name on the list. So she was never pardoned for voting,' Trump said.

The president had teased on Monday that he would pardon someone 'very, very important' the following day but would not say who it was  other than to rule out former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Edward Snowden.

His move comes as voting rights have become a central issue in the 2020 election.

Delays in mail delivery led the U.S. Postal Service to warn all 50 states that some mail-in ballots may not arrive in time to be counted.

Democrats have voiced concerns about voter disenfranchisement while President Trump has criticized mail-in voting as leading to election fraud despite numerous studies that state that is not the case.

Repeat: Melania previously wore the suit to greet French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at the White House in 2018 during their first state visit

Modern look: The sleek suit features a modern blazer with peaked lapels and an asymmetric hem paired with a classic knee-length pencil skirt

Surprise: President Trump announced at the event that he will posthumously pardon Susan B. Anthony, a leader in the women's suffrage movement

Trump's pardon also comes as Republicans have expressed concern the party is losing support of women voters, citing the low marks women gave the president for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and race relations.

Anthony was arrested for voting in her hometown of Rochester, New York, in 1872 and convicted in a widely publicized trial of voting when only men were allowed that right. She refused to pay the $100 fine but authorities declined to take further action.

She is long known for her work in the women's rights movement but she also supported the anti-alcohol temperance movement and fought for the freedom of slaves.

Her name has been co-oped by conservatives for the Susan B. Anthony foundation, a group that supports pro-life lawmakers.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of Susan B. Anthony List, was at Tuesday's event at the White House.

But there is dispute among scholars and historians regarding Anthony's position on abortion, and it's difficult to ascertain it given it was a not a huge public issue during her time as a political activist.

Hero: Anthony was president of the Woman Suffrage Association and campaigned for women to have the right to vote. She was arrested for illegally voting in 1872 when only men could

Paying tribute: Visiting Anthonys gravesite in Rochester, New York, on Election Day has become a popular ritual in recent years. Thousands turned out in 2016

In 1869, Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton founded the National Woman Suffrage Association as part of their battle to secure a woman's right to vote.

Anthony gave as many as 100 speeches a year and traveled to numerous states to push for an amendment to be added to the constitution.

She died on March 13, 1906, before the 19th amendment was ratified.

The 19th Amendment states: '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 passed it in 1919, and the amendment was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920.

In honor of her work, the U.S. Treasury Department put Anthony's portrait on dollar coins in 1979, making her the first woman to be so honored.

Visiting Anthonys gravesite in Rochester on Election Day has become a popular ritual in recent years.

Thousands turned out in 2016 for the presidential match-up between Trump and Hillary Clinton. In 2016 and 2018, voters showed up by the dozens to put their 'I Voted' stickers on her headstone.
The guests arrived at the Lucerne Hotel, two blocks from Central Park, carrying their belongings, stepping off buses and filling the hotels empty rooms, which typically cost more than $200 a night.

They were not tourists nor business travelers but residents of homeless shelters whom the city sent to the Lucerne to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the crowded shelter system. Over three days, 283 men moved into the hotel.

Their arrival has become a flash point and a test of values for the Upper West Side  a neighborhood with a reputation as one of the most liberal enclaves in New York and in the entire country.

The city had already moved shelter residents, including some women, in May into three other Upper West Side hotels  the Park West, the Belleclaire and the Belnord  and the neighborhood is now home to about 730 homeless people transferred during the outbreak.
Harish Murali By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: In its judgement dismissing the plea moved by Vedanta Limited challenging the state government decision to close the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi, the Madras High Court observed that economic considerations can have no role to play while deciding the sustainability of a high polluting industry.

"Courts have held that when the economy is pitted against the environment, environment will reign supreme...., the only consideration would be with regard to safeguarding environment for posterity and remedying the damage caused," observed the bench of justices TS Sivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan while dismissing all the petitions filed by Vedanta Limited.

The 815-page judgement pointed out all the deviations made by the company in complying with the orders of the environmental agencies.

ALSO READ: With sweets and crackers, Thoothukudi residents welcome HC order refusing to open Sterlite plant

The court also came down heavily on the petitioner's contention that the state government has malafide intentions, "If the petitioner states that the TNPCB's action is mala fide it should establish as to

which officer or which authority of the regulator acted mala fide. Thus, mere use of the expression mala fide would not make the decision a mala fide exercise of power."

Also, the court pointed, "If the order of closure is for political considerations, then it needs to be examined as to how the petitioner was able to secure approval from the state government in 14 days for establishing this hazardous industry in Thoothukudi when they were unable to do so in two other states in India."

The division bench also observed on the report submitted by the Supreme Court-appointed expert committee where it was suggested that the existing waste management practices of the petitioner are not in compliance with environmental standards. The solid hazardous waste generated also required to be properly managed, particularly in terms of available space and infrastructure and it would be inadvisable to consider expansion of the unit at that stage.

The bench also pointed out that there was enough material available indicating the company had commenced expansion activities without prior permission.

"For 20 long years, the petitioner has been issued such orders, be it a closure order or a renewal order. The petitioner was closed twice by TNPCB and thrice by the Court. Non-compliance, violation, partial compliance or total disregard to the conditions would empower the Board to take action against the licensee and such action can be an action to stop, action to close down till the breach is remedied, action to close permanently in cases, which warrant such action and action for permanent closure and removal. Therefore, the impugned orders cannot be stated to be devoid of reasons, as the Government Order while endorsing the closure order of the Pollution Control Board, directs permanent closure and sealing of the unit and has referred to the mandate cast on the State by the Constitution and bearing in mind the larger public interest," said the high court.
Four Star Flash set a new Northfield Park track record for two-year-old pacing colts of 1:51.4 en route to a victory in the fourth round of Ohio Sires Stakes on a breezy Monday night at Northfield Park.

Four Star Flash smashed the previous record set by Lather Up of 1:52.2 in the first of two $50,000 contests. Caviart Sargent (Ryan Stahl) was second at 4-1 with Dontholdanythinbak (Brett Miller) third at 6-1.

Just a few races later, 3-5 Heart Of Chewbacca broke that record by two ticks, scoring in 1:51.2 for Danny Noble.

The black son of Bring On The Beach-JTs Chewbacca-Four Starzzz Shark is trained by Ronnie Burke for Dennis Owens and Norman Rae Racing. It was the colts second straight OSS victory, as he had won Leg Three on Aug. 8 in 1:51.1 at Scioto Downs. Charlie May (8-5) was second for Brett Miller with 9-2 Hardt At Work notching show honours for trainer/driver Mike Micallef.

Bred by Spring Haven Farm, this speedy youngster now has $89,375 in his career bank account.

Four-Star Flash, a son of Western Vintage-Keladi Blue Chip-Bettors Delight left the gate as the 4-5 favourite and was given a perfect steer by Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., for trainer Brian Brown and owners Hutchison Harness, D. Wozniak, D. Van Dusen and Acadia Farms. This was the youngsters first pari-mutuel victory in five tries and pushed his bankroll to $42,500. He was bred by Marion Beachy.

Summer Touch captured the first of two $50,000 Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies with Chris Page at the lines. Trained by Ronnie Burke for Burke Racing, Knox Services, Slaughter Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, the freshmen daughter by Well Said-Real Touch-Real Desire covered the one mile in 1:52.2 as the 1-9 favourite. Rainy Day Chic (Brett Miller) was second at 12-1 with Leave Her Wild (Mike Wilder) third at 30-1.

It was her fourth victory in five starts this season and pushed her career earnings to $105,000. Summer Touch had also won OSS Leg Two in 1:54.2 and Leg Three in 1:51.4.

She Knows It All responded to an excellent drive by Ryan Stahl as the 9-2 choice to capture the second OSS event for freshman side-winding distaffers. Notwhatshesaid (Kurt Sugg) got up for second at 7-1 odds, while 4-5 favourite Pinknperfect (Chris Page) was third.

Jim Arledge, Jr., trains the bay daughter of Racing Hill-Cat Cora for Laura & Paul Baker, Z Tam Stables and Bill Sanders. It was She Knows It Alls first career triumph in six starts and upper her coffers to $47,116. She was bred by GBW Breeding Farm.

(OSDF)
The Madras High Court on Tuesday refused to allow reopening of Sterlite Copper plant in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi. Vedanta's Sterlite Copper smelting plant has been closed since April 2018.

The verdict was pronounced by a division bench of Justices T S Sivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan on a petition filed by Vedanta challenging the Tamil Nadu government's decision. The court dismissed all petitions filed by Vedanta. The court had reserved judgment on January 8 this year.

Reacting to the judgment, Vedanta said: "Completely shocked by this judgement. This was completely knee jerk reaction by the govt & closure was only for political reasons. It is a very retrograde step for India that we are importing billions of dollars of Copper from China when we should have been self-sufficient as a country. We are aggrieved since there was never any notice ever given to us for any kind of pollution prior to this closure order."

It was on May 28, 2018 that Vedanta had moved the court challenging the closure order by the state government against its Sterlite Copper plant. The state government had ordered the closure of the plant on May 28, 2018, after 13 people were killed during a protest against Sterlite Copper.

Thereafter, residents and environmentalists had raised a demand to close down the plant citing air and water pollution. However, Vedanta had then denied accusations of pollution.

In December 2019, an NGO in Chennai had released a statement stating that air quality in the region has improved after the closure of the plant.

"Air quality was unhealthy for more than 56 percent of the time in April 2017 to March 2018 when the factory was in operation. Unhealthy air days have reduced by 27 per cent between April 2018 and March 2019. During the same two periods, the number of days with acceptable air quality increased from 44 per cent to 73 per cent after Sterlite was closed," the NGO, Chennai Solidarity Group, had then said.

Also read: Yes Bank to raise ESOP pool to 225 million; fixes MD-CEO's remuneration at Rs 2.84 cr
A week after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the world's first Covid-19 vaccine, the Indian embassy in Moscow is now in touch with the medical research institute that developed it. The vaccine is yet to be cleared for the public use.

The vaccine- Sputnik V is developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

The Indian Mission is engaging separately with the Russian side through our embassy in Moscow. We are now awaiting the safety and efficacy data of this vaccine for Covid-19, a source told Indian Express.

However, the western experts have been sceptical about Russias claim, given the speed and secrecy with which the Gamaleya candidate has been given regulatory approval.

The Sputnik V candidate has been approved without being put through final phase 3 human trials, experts added.

The official Sputnik V website, run by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), states that the phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of the vaccine were completed on August 1, and the vaccine was given a registration certificate from the Russian Ministry of Health emergency rules on August 11.

The website further stated that the phase 3 clinical trials of the vaccine involving more than 2,000 people from Russia, Middle Eastern (UAE and Saudi Arabia), and Latin American countries (Brazil and Mexico), will start on August 12.

President Putin on the vaccines development claimed that it works quite effectively and forms a stable immunity against the infection. He also announced that one of his daughters had already been inoculated with it.

According to the Russian study design published in the clinical trial registry, researchers will assess the adverse events for an average 180 days, and measure the change in antibody levels against the SARS-CoV-2 glycoprotein on days 0, 14, 21, 28, and 42. The researchers will also assess the concentration of the neutralising antibodies on days 0, 14, 28, and 42, and the change in the cellular immunity level, specifically T-cell immunity, on days 0, 14, and 28, reported IE.

The high efficacy of the vaccine was confirmed by high precision tests for antibodies in the blood serum of volunteers (including analysis for antibodies that neutralize the coronavirus), as well as the ability of the immune cells of the volunteers to activate in response to the spike S protein of the coronavirus, which indicates the formation of both antibody and cellular immune vaccine response, the Sputnik V website states.
Even as Mumbai sees a fall in the number of coronavirus infections, the high death rate is a cause of concern for the city's health officials. Presently, Mumbais death rate stands at around 5.4%, which is significantly higher than the state's 3.4%.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has noted that presently, private hospitals are recording a higher death rate than hospitals being operated by the city's civic agency.

In a meeting conducted on Monday, the civic agency directed private hospitals to take additional precautionary measures to make sure that there is a fall in the number of deaths. BMC has asked the officials of private hospitals to adhere to the guidelines of the civic body under the Mission Save Lives initiative, the report added.

As per a study by the BMC, at civic-run hospitals, the death rate has fallen from 5.8% in June to 4.8% in August. But in private hospitals, it has risen to more than 40% in the said period.

Earlier, out of 100 deaths, we used to record on an average 82 deaths from civic-run hospitals and 18 from private hospitals. But now, we are recording around 59 deaths from civic hospitals and 41 from private hospitals," Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner, BMC told the publication.

He added that the death rate in private hospitals was slowly rising.

We have asked to pay special focus on critical patients. They have been instructed to provide faster treatment to patients with pre-medical ailments, Kakani was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra on Monday surpassed the six lakh-mark with the addition of 8,493 new coronavirus infections, while 228 more patients succumbed to the infection, 40 of

them in Mumbai, said a health department official. The state's coronavirus tally climbed to 6,04,358 after 8,493 new cases were reported, while 228 new deaths took the fatality tally to 20,265, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 16:08:59|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish authorities on Tuesday launched large operations to detain a total of 141 military personnel over their alleged links to a network believed to be behind a coup attempt in 2016.

Following the orders of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices in Istanbul, Ankara and the western city of Izmir, police launched simultaneous operations in a total of 70 provinces, the NTV broadcaster said.

The suspects, including ousted military personnel and soldiers on active duty, have allegedly contacted the network headed by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen via various means, according to NTV.

The Turkish government blames Gulen and his network for masterminding the coup bid in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed, and has been pushing for his extradition. Enditem
Former First Lady Michelle Obama made the most compelling case for Joe Biden, the Democratic presumptive nominee for president, on the first day of the partys most unconventional convention yet on Monday with a stirring speech casting President Donald Trump as the wrong president.

Politically, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who went toe-to-toe with Biden for the nomination in the primaries, was more significant with his appeal for party unity. His reluctance to support Hillary Clinton in 2016 had split the party, with many of his fiercely loyal supporters choosing to sty home.

John Kasich, the former Republican governor of Ohio, was the other politically significant voice at the convention. He represented growing disaffection with President Donald Trump in his own party. They are increasingly assertive, more organized and less inhibited of their support for Biden.

But Michelle Obama, the former first lady, it was who delivered the defining speech of the night, which, it was noted by observers, did not mention Kamala Harris, the first Black and Indian-descent nominee for vice-president, at all. The speech was recorded before Biden announced his pick.

It was an unconventional convention, held virtually for the first time in the history of US elections. It was shorter than the daily fare at a regular convention, and lacked the usual on-site energy and excitement. But it found quick acceptance given the circumstances, a raging Covid-19 epidemic.

So let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can, said Obama, the first lady, in the nights most anticipated speech. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.

The last sentence  It is what it is  was an unmistakable take-down of President Trump response to the mounting Covid-19 infections and fatalities using his own words  Trump has used that phrase several times  reflecting abject surrender to the consequences of his own inactions.

Building on the iconic lines from her speech at the 2016 convention  going high against the low blows of the Trump campaign  Obama said, But lets be clear: going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty.

Going high means taking the harder path. It means scraping and clawing our way to that mountain top. Going high means standing fierce against hatred while remembering that we are one nation under God, and if we want to survive, weve got to find a way to live together and work together across our differences.

Obamas spirited appeal for party unity was pre-empted by Sanders. whose words, however, would count for more. My friends, I say to you, and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election, Sanders said, imploring supporter to do more,

He added: The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake. We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president. My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine.

Kasich, the other standout-speaker of the first day, was characteristically blunt. Im a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to my country. Thats why Ive chosen to appear at this convention. In normal times, something like this would probably never happen, but these are not normal times.
We recognized early on ... that many families were going to require some additional assistance with child care as a result of any plans that would have students in an e-learning type of structure, and we knew that to level the playing field to give children access to learning, as well as tech make sure they have quality child care, that we had to do something different, he said.
The countrys largest parcel delivery company, which has seen deliveries double during the Covid-19 lockdown as more people ordered goods online, is increasing its footprint in Kildare town.

DPD Ireland has acquired additional floor space beside its existing depot in the Kildare Business Park on the Melitta Road.

Auctioneer John Conway said: DPD has effectively doubled its footprint in Kildare town.

He added: The company is very happy with its base in Kildare in terms of its strategic location and the easy access it offers to clients and customers across Leinster and further afield.

The courier business said it has seen the number of parcels delivered double during May and June, compared to the same period last year.

The countrys largest parcel delivery company said it averaged 730,000 parcel deliveries per week during the two months.

The first week of June saw the company make 787,151 deliveries, up from 387,017 the same week last year, an increase of more than 100%.

The company reported a 112% increase in parcel deliveries in Kildare during May 2020 compared to May 2019. Meath was up 100% and Wicklow rose by 107%.

Areas of Dublin outside the city centre saw increases up to 130% in May, compared to the same month last year.

DPD Ireland chief executive Des Travers said the change to remote working means lots of deliveries are going to home addresses instead of workplaces.

This may account for some of the volume increases in suburban areas of Dublin and the adjoining counties.

Mr Travers said the pandemic has made the customer relationship with the parcel delivery driver more pronounced than ever before.
James Johnson is only 33, but says hes had a lifetime of being bounced around. Bounced, first, between his parents and the child welfare system. Bounced, as a teen, between foster and group homes. And bounced, as an adult, between Toronto shelters and jail while he struggled with addiction.

I just figured the whole world was evil, because look at what it did to me, said Johnson.

A stint in jail for what he described as a drunken assault last year served as a wake-up call.

I decided that I cant keep doing this, and I need to change my life, he said.

He turned to religion, and started studying the Bible. Though he was struggling with pain from arthritis, he refrained from medication, out of fear of lapsing back into addiction.

But housing had always been a problem. While hed lived in rented rooms, he struggled without his own space, and scrambled to afford rent. Eventually, each time he left, he returned to the shelter system.

That changed after COVID-19 hit. As the city ramped up efforts to house its homeless, Johnson was offered a permanent, one-bedroom unit of his own downtown  where his rent will be geared to his income.

While its hard to say for certain whether Johnson would have had a chance at housing this summer if COVID hadnt struck, the 326 former shelter residents in Toronto offered social housing units since March averaged three-plus years on the waiting list. Johnson was offered a spot after roughly six months.

The apartment had its issues, Johnson said. There was a funky smell to the place when he first arrived. It needed a deep clean and had to be fumigated to get rid of cockroaches.

But its a place of his own, and a chance for a fresh start.

I feel like my life can get better now, he said. I feel like I have a chance. I feel like Im not going to be lost in the system, you know? Like no one really cares. Because thats how I really felt, my whole life.

Including housing allowances, the city has helped 1,570 people move from the shelter system to permanent homes since the pandemic struck hard in mid-March. In the same period last year, 1,050 shelter residents were housed through the same two programs.

The Toronto Community Housing Corporation said that shelter residents who moved in during the pandemic have had smoother transitions than theyve seen in the past.

TCHC spokesperson Bruce Malloch credited the assistance provided through a COVID-era partnership with the city, which assists residents with furniture, clothing and social support needs. That agreement expires when Torontos state of emergency ends.

Those supports were essential, Johnson said. He was given money for furniture, which he used to buy a bed, a bookshelf hes started adding to, and kitchen supplies like a microwave, a toaster and some plates.

He was on welfare supports before, but said he was moved onto the Ontario Disability Support Program around the same time that he learned about the apartment  meaning he had slightly more each month to pay for internet and his phone bill, which he sees as essential in his job search, without pinching from other areas of spending like food.

Its really been a blessing to me, he said.

There are things he said he still needs to learn. Paying bills, living on his own, cleaning the apartment and taking out the garbage are all new responsibilities after a life shuffled between institutions. Im not used to that stuff, he admitted.

But hes working on them, and trying to save money. One expense he says he factored into his budget is a Bible study program. And hes now caring for a two-year-old rescue cat, Pekoe.

Ive been living crazy my whole life, and Im finally in the right mind space, he said.

Not every homeless person moved during the pandemic was offered a permanent place. Temporary spots have been opened too, including new shelter facilities due to close at the end of this month.

For those moved into permanent homes, TCHC says it looked to units that might have been lingering empty. Their vacancy rate, typically, is between one and two per cent.

Some outreach workers, in recent interviews, have questioned how the city so quickly escalated its homeless housing efforts during the pandemic  and where they were finding extra vacant units.

In Johnsons case, his unit had been empty since last June, Malloch said, after a tenant whod lived there for more than 30 years died.

Time was needed to repair the unit, clean and paint. An estate process typically takes months, Malloch added, and belongings had to be removed. Then, the unit was placed on hold, in case it was needed to rehouse tenants living in Regent Park buildings slated for demolition.

Though it wasnt clear to Malloch why, none of those tenants ever selected Johnsons unit. So in April, it came back into the pool for community housing, and was marked for the rapid rehousing initiative in May.

Further east across the city, in Scarborough, 22-year-old Asiah Abdulraheem is moving into her own one-bedroom unit from the YWCA shelter where shed been living during the pandemic.

She said shed lost her parents at a young age, and, now pregnant, didnt know at points how shed make it work. She had been working as a customer service representative through COVID-19, but had dreams of going to medical school. Having a stable place to live gave her a place to start, she said.

I realized that people still love you, people still care about you, she said. This opportunity made me realize that things could be done, and this is a stepping stone for me to get there.

She urged governments to consider how the supports shed been offered could continue after the pandemic  noting that every support TCHC made available had helped, and allowed her to save some money.

Others should be given that chance, too, Abdulraheem said. I believe I have so much to give to the world, and me getting this (apartment) is the beginning of me becoming that person.
HOLMDEL, NJ  Dr. Krutika Parasar Raulkar remembers the first time she heard there was a case of COVID-19 in her hospital. During the height of the pandemic in the United States, Raulkar was a resident at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, where she worked in the rehabilitation unit. In March, as officials from the hospital disclosed that a case of COVID-19 had been confirmed in the hospital  the second confirmed case in New York state at the time  Raulkar recalled a lot of fear in the meeting room.

Related: 2nd Coronavirus Case Confirmed In NY; Family In Quarantine

When the chair of our department told us that the first case had reached our hospital, we were all shocked, said Raulkar, a 2008 graduate of Holmdel High School. He told us that this could really change things and that it could reach pandemic status. There was a lot of fear in the room; everyone was scared for themselves as well as their families.

One month after the March meeting, during New York Citys peak on April 9, Raulkar witnessed over 700 patients on ventilators at the hospital, with resources stretching and hospital beds nearly filled to the brim. Raulkars rehabilitation unit tried to limit coronavirus patient intake, but the task soon proved an impossible feat. The residents section of the hospital steadily began flooding with COVID-19 positive patients as well.

In her latest book, COVID-19: Inside the Global Epicenter, Raulkar paints a sobering reality of life at the heart of an epidemic. Through interviews with hospital staff, vignettes of fatigue, burnout and loss become astonishingly real. Like so many other health care professionals, staff from New York-Presbyterian had to stand in for many patients families during their last moments.

We really had to step up to be their family

While the streets of New York City changed overnight  with shops quickly shuttering, restaurants closing and residents leaving in the middle of the night  Raulkars hospital changed too, but in a different manner.

Story continues

Many doctors had to take over new roles. One contributor to Raulkars book described that, during the peak of the pandemic, his job instantaneously became to call for when patients would become comfort measures only  stating there is nothing more doctors can medically do except to keep patients comfortable in their last moments.

He was kind of desensitized to the process because he was saying that so often per day. It just struck him that it was so different than what he usually had to do.

Other health care workers began to take over the roles of family members for patients, as visitors (even next of kin) were barred from seeing infected loved ones. Raulkar recalls instances of hospital staff using iPads to communicate patients last minutes of life with their families.

I think that family is such an important part of being in the hospital. The only time I have been in the hospital was to give birth to my kids. I am a completely healthy person, but having my husband there was so important to me, Raulkar said.

Our patients are significantly debilitated in the rehab unit  they cant care for themselves. They completely rely on their family members. The fact that family was not [allowed to be] there was really a very difficult aspect for our patients. We really had to step up to be their family.

'It could be anyone'

While scores of interviews from Raulkars book detail heart-wrenching stories of lost patients and family members during the height of the pandemic, the Holmdel-raised doctor describes a somewhat different experience.

From the rehab perspective, it was very interesting to see the patients who survived but had lasting morbidities, said Raulkar, who detailed that a number of surviving severe patients showed weakness and nerve injury after proning (intubation). Although proning appears to be one of the most beneficial maneuvers that could be done for these patients, it caused significant problems with muscle weakness and nerve injury after they were proned and intubated for so long.

Raulkar also described that some patients experienced cognitive difficulties, confusion and delusions after going through intensive treatments for an extended period.

The doctor detailed a wide array of symptoms and ailments seen in her unit, affecting both young and old. However, it was the severe (if not rare) cases in young people that touched the former resident the most: Those were the cases that really affected me, because it could be anyone and cause significant morbidity.

Seeing those types of patients was very difficult for me because its really a huge change of their life. Theyre not going to go back to their normal life, Raulkar said. But Im lucky to be part of the rehab side that we do get to see a lot of people improve and go home from us. Others that I interviewed saw a lot more constant death.

'This is what I was meant to do'

Raulkar has since wrapped up her residency and relocated to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her family and continues to practice medicine.

Amid the release of her book Aug. 9, the doctor recalled several small moments of joy throughout the darkest days at the New York City hospital, namely the outpouring of support for front-line health care workers and the unbreakable bond she felt among the rest of the staff.

I do think we are going to experience some benefits from the pandemic, especially with the technological revolution, Raulkar said. I think telemedicine is an incredible option that has finally gotten funding. The silver linings were just the camaraderie and seeing people work together.

It was only during an hourslong conversation about life in the hospital with a neighbor that Raulkar came up with an idea to write down her experiences.

It started out as an information guide on what we know so far about COVID in a readable format; I love to read, and I would love to read something like that, Raulkar told Patch of her decision to write about her front-line experience. When I sent it to an agent, she said Id love to hear more about the physician experience, so thats when I went back and interviewed all of my colleagues.



Everyone was so eager to participate and share their stories, and also so thankful for sharing the stories, Raulkar said.

Overall, there was a huge sense of camaraderie, and a lot of people felt like 'this is what I was meant to do.' They felt honored to serve in the pandemic.

Raulkars book is currently No. 1 on Amazon.com in New Releases in Public Health. Click here to learn more.

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A group of hard-line lawmakers in Irans parliament have drafted legislation that would oblige the government of President Hassan Rouhani to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The double-urgency draft legislation has already been signed by 49 lawmakers. The departure, based on the text of the proposal, would take place if a snapback of sanctions is triggered against Iran.

Under the draft legislation, dubbed automatic pullout, Irans withdrawal from the agreement would have to take place within 72 hours after a reinstatement of Security Council sanctions resolutions against Tehran as such a move will make Irans presence in the deal futile. One of the architects of the proposed legislation, conservative parliamentarian Ali Khezrian, said this contingency plan is a deterrent measure that serves Irans national interests.

The legislation seems to have been prompted by an intensifying US effort to trigger the dispute mechanism enshrined in articles 36 and 37 of the JCPOA. The provision essentially authorizes the signatories who are also on the Security Council to veto an extension of the suspension of anti-Iran sanctions. Washington has warned that it will employ the mechanism, while Iran and other signatories argue that having departed from the accord in 2018, the US government has no legal power to bring the matter forward as the mechanism is reserved for existing JCPOA members.

Still, JCPOA opponents in Iran blame the Rouhani government for failing to patch the loopholes in the deal prior to signing it, and contend that given the one-sided nature of the accord, Washington will ultimately manage to reimpose the sanctions that had been removed under the JCPOA.

The ultraconservative paper Javan, which is run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, welcomed the draft proposal, while relaunching its scathing criticism against the Rouhani administration for clinching a deal that never entirely lifted sanctions. If the US reimposes the sanctions through the snapback mechanism, that is not simply the last nail in the coffin, it is indeed as if there were no JCPOA in the first place, the paper wrote.

Last week, Washington failed to bring the UN Security Council on board for a resolution it proposed on extending an arms embargo on Iran, which is to expire in October. That the extensive US effort was hitting a snag appeared to have boosted the Iranian architects of the JCPOA, particularly Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Our people are now wondering how the JCPOA, which was pronounced dead and buried several times [by opponents], has now managed to defeat the United States at the Security Council, he said in a sarcastic message to hard-line critics who have persistently called the JCPOA a dead agreement.

Kayhan, the paper that echoes the voice of the most unrelenting section of those critics, hit back with a lengthy editorial that addressed Zarif and attempted to make the case that the JCPOA is dead because the sanctions are still alive. Kayhan also argued that the United States did not win a vote on the Iran arms embargo not because of the JCPOAs legal power, but rather because Washington has been in an increasingly weaker position due to [President Donald] Trumps performance in recent years  which has dwindled Americas power to build an international consensus.
By Laman Ismayilova

AzerbaijanTurkey relations have always been strong. The two courtiers enjoy strong ties in many fields. Turkey also expresses support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

The cooperation between the two countries in global economic projects contribute to peace, security and welfare in the region.

Historical friendship between Azerbaijan and Turkey will be highlighted in the new film, HaberGlobal reported. The film shooting of "The Golden Train" will start next year.

"The Golden Train" tells about the great struggle of the two countries against the invading forces 100 years ago.

The film produced by Skala Yapm and Azerbaijanfilm studio reflects the struggle of a special delegation led by Mustafa Kamal Ataturk, Nariman Narimanov and Kazim Garabekir Pasha against the enemies.

The film premier is scheduled for April 2022.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
COVID-19 cases in U.S. nursing homes jumped nearly 80 per cent earlier this summer, driven by rampant spread across the South and much of the West.

Residents of long-term care facilities account for less than one per cent of the U.S. population, but more than 40 per cent of COVID-19 deaths, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

'The case numbers suggest the problem is far from solved,' said Tamara Konetzka, a research professor at the University of Chicago, who specializes in long-term care. She was not involved with the study.

Cases of COVID-19 soared in US nursing homes at the end of July as the pandemic spread

Medics in Austin transport a nursing home resident with coronavirus symptoms on August 3

Many nursing homes did not allow relatives to visit those living inside, for fear of virus spread

Donald Trump has allocated $5 billion to providing equipment for nursing homes

The situation is a politically sensitive issue for President Donald Trump, who is scrambling to hold on to support from older voters as polls show disapproval of his administration's response to the pandemic.

The White House announced in late July the release of $5 billion for nursing homes, while launching a program to equip each of some 15,000 facilities with a fast-test machine to screen residents and staff for the coronavirus.

Monday's study from the American Health Care Association found there were 9,715 coronavirus cases in nursing homes the week starting July 26 - a 77 per cent increase from a low point the week of June 21.

The group is the industry's main trade association.

Weekly deaths, rose to 1,706 the week of July 26, an increase of nearly 25 per cent from a low point the week starting July 5.

Nursing homes in Sunbelt states had more time to prepare than facilities in the Northeast that were hit in late winter and early spring, with grim results.

But Konetzka and other researchers have been warning that once a community anywhere experiences an outbreak, it's only a matter of time before the coronavirus enters its nursing homes.

Nursing homes were seen as been particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of coronavirus

Nurse Susan Morales waves to David Feinour, 71, on July 10 in Fullerton, California

A leading theory is that employees who do not yet know they are infected unwittingly bring the virus in.

Inside, the coronavirus encounters an ideal environment in which to spread among frail older people living in close quarters.

'As the virus surges in Sunbelt states, there's no reason to think it won't affect nursing homes in the same way it did in states that surged earlier,' said Konetzka.

There have now been more than 170,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States

'We have learned some things about how to minimize the effect in nursing homes, but providers need the tools to implement those best practices.

'This is the critical role of federal policy that has not been fulfilled - securing supply chains for (personal protective equipment) and rapid testing.'

The industry analysis illustrates the march of the virus across the U.S.

As of the week of May 31, fewer than one-third of the weekly coronavirus cases were from nursing homes in Sunbelt states.

But by the week starting July 26, that share was 78 per cent.

Deaths followed a similar pattern.

Cases of COVID-19 have surged in the south and west in July and early August

Medics in Houston, after trying to save the life of a nursing home resident in cardiac arrest

Nursing homes in states across the South and parts of the West accounted for 28 per cent of deaths the week of May 31. That share was 69 per cent by the week starting July 26.

The Trump administration says it's executing on its plan to provide fast-test machines to nursing homes and make sure that all facilities have the protective equipment they need.

But Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said states and nursing homes also have responsibility to safeguard residents.

She called on nursing homes to step up their game.

'The reality is that (a) facility's infection control practices is the number one factor leading to the spread of COVID within these facilities,' Verma said in a statement.

Inspectors 'have seen staff forgetting to wash their hands, congregating in break rooms, and wearing (protective equipment) improperly,' she said.

'All the testing in the world is for naught if staff don't adhere to the basic, longstanding infection control practices that the federal government has had in place for years.'

Mark Parkinson, head of the nursing home trade group that produced the study, said the problem is bigger.

There have now been well over 5.4 million cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the U.S.

Kay Foley, 88, and daughter Chris Coverdale blow kisses on July 21 in Minneapolis

'The data indicate that this virus is spread by asymptomatic carriers and that even perfect infection control wouldn't have stopped it,' he said.

'The challenge with this virus is that because it is spread by asymptomatic carriers the prior infection control procedures didn't work.'

Parkinson said that about 10 per cent of facilities still report lacking an adequate supply of N95 masks, considered standard for hospital personnel.

He said the administration's effort to distribute fast-test machines could be a 'game changer,' but added 'there's still a long way to go.'

Distribution is expected to be completed by the end of September.

In the meantime, Parkinson said it can still take three days, and sometimes more, to get results.

'We continue to be plagued with a testing problem,' he said.

Guidelines call for nursing homes to test all residents at least once, and staffers on a regular basis.

Health and Human Services spokeswoman Mia Heck said: 'We are prepared to exert our full authority to make sure the most vulnerable are being tested.'

The nursing home association is urging states struggling with the latest coronavirus surge to enact mandates for people to wear masks, saying it would indirectly benefit residents cloistered in such facilities.

'There's a direct link between COVID in the community and COVID in the building,' Parkinson said.
Qatar and Turkey have signed an accord to send military advisers and instructors for the armed forces of Libya's Government of National Accord, the UN-recognised GNA said.

"We have reached an agreement with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Qatar's (minister) Khaled bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah on tripartite cooperation to build a military institute for training," said the GNA's deputy defence minister, Salah al-Namrouch.

Both Sheikh Khaled, Qatar's minister of state for defence, and Akar were in Tripoli on Monday for meetings with the GNA's military and for talks on three-way military cooperation.

Under the accord between the three countries, Turkey and Qatar will send military advisers and provide training at their military academies for Libyan cadets, Namrouch said.

Also visiting Tripoli on Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned that Libya faces a "deceptive calm" since fighting stalled in June around the coastal city of Sirte.

Outside powers are "continuing to massively arm the country", said Maas, whose government has tried to broker peace in the war-torn North African country.

"In Libya at the moment we are observing a deceptive calm," he told journalists in Tripoli, seat of the GNA.

Libya has been in chaos since a Western-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

The leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive in April 2019 to seize Tripoli.

After 14 months of fierce fighting, the Turkish-backed pro-GNA forces expelled LNA from much of western Libya and pushed them eastwards to Sirte, a gateway to Libya's rich oil fields and export terminals.

While the GNA has also been supported by Qatar, LNA has had the backing of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Russia.

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Canada calls for free and fair elections to be held.

Canada and Ireland have not recognized presidential election results in Belarus, and called for holding new elections.

"Canada does not accept the results of this fraudulent presidential election. We call for free & fair elections & a thorough investigation by the OSCE," Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne wrote on Twitter on August 17, 2020.

Canada condemns the crackdown against peaceful protestors following the presidential election in #Belarus.



Canada does not accept the results of this fraudulent presidential election. We call for free & fair elections & a thorough investigation by the @OSCE.



My statement: pic.twitter.com/2b8arynHeT  Francois-Philippe Champagne (FPC)  (@FP_Champagne) August 17, 2020

At the same time, Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney have condemned the human rights abuses in Belarus.

"We will continue to press the Belarusian authorities to release all civilians who were unjustly detained and we fully support the initiation of a process of targeted sanctions," he said in a statement on August 17, 2020.

Presidential elections in Belarus: global reactions

On August 14, the European Union announced it did not recognize the outcome of the presidential elections in Belarus and said work had begun to introduce sanctions over electoral fraud and violence against protesters.

Ukraine said it "generally shares" the position voiced by the EU, stopping short of direct non-recognition or recognition of election results.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the election result must be reviewed and those responsible for mistreatments of peaceful demonstrators must be sanctioned.

Estonia and Lithuania have agreed not to buy electricity from the Belarusian NPPs.

Pope Francis made a special address dedicated to the situation in Belarus, calling for an end to violence.

EU leaders will discuss the latest developments in Belarus on August 19.

The European Parliament declared Alexander Lukashenko persona non grata.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Former Staten Island Rep. Susan Molinari is joining a growing list of Republicans who are throwing their support behind Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris.

Molinari, who was the boroughs congressional representative from 1990 to 1997 and who also served as the vice chair of the House Republican Caucus, will speak at the Democratic National Convention Monday night.

The convention is being held remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman are also on Monday nights lineup and will all make a speech during the conventions We The People Putting Country Over Party segment.

Molinari was the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention in 1996.

More than a dozen GOP members have publicly endorsed Biden, including former Bush Administration Secretary of State Colin Powell, former cabinet members, party chairs, and also Anthony Scaramucci, Trumps White House communication director for two weeks.

Former 2020 Democratic presidential candidates  Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Gov. Jay Inslee, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Seth Moulton, former Rep. Beto ORourke, Tomy Steyer, and Andrew Yang -- will speak during the convention about why they ran and why they believe Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will bring the nation together.

The #DemConvention kicks off tonight with a full lineup of incredible speakers who represent the decency and diversity of our partyand the brighter future we can build together under a @JoeBiden administration. Dont miss out. https://t.co/9MWysjyttW  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 17, 2020

Harris took to Twitter to say the conventions speakers represent the decency and diversity of our party.

MOLINARI BACK IN SPOTLIGHT

Molinari has mostly been behind-the-scenes in the political world since leaving her Congressional role in 1997 for a stint in broadcast television.

She has, though, consistently backed Republican presidential candidates over the years, including George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, often supporting candidates with TV appearances as a commentator.

Her work has mostly been as a consultant and a lobbyist.

A founder of the Susan Molinari Strategies LLC consulting firm, Molinari previously worked for Bracewell and Giuliani LLP, and was also chair and CEO of the Washington Group.

She later was hired by Google and served as their chief lobbyist in the role of vice president for public policy from 2012 to 2018.

Molinari also represented the South Shore in the City Council and was the Councils minority leader.

ANOTHER SPEECH, A DIFFERENT CONVENTION

Molinari and Whitman took the stage on the same night once before at a national political convention -- at the Republican National Convention in 1996, in support of Bob Doles candidacy against then-president Bill Clinton.

The pair attacked Clinton, the Advance reported at the time, characterizing him as an unprincipled and untrustworthy liberal unworthy of another term.

But Molinaris keynote comments were also infused with humor and played to the GOP crowd.

Have you forgotten that Bill Clinton promised to balance the budget in five years, then nine, then seven - only to veto the first balanced budget in 25 years, said Molinari in 1996. Americans know that Bill Clintons promises have the lifespan of a Big Mac on Air Force One.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 01:20:56|Editor: huaxia

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Tunisian President Kais Saied (1st L) meets with Italian Minister of Interior Luciana Lamorgese (3rd L, Front) and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio (2nd L, Front) in Tunis, Tunisia, on Aug. 17, 2020. Tunisian President Kais Saied met on Monday with visiting Italian Minister of Interior Luciana Lamorgese and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio to discuss the illegal immigration issue. (Tunisian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

TUNIS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied met on Monday with visiting Italian Minister of Interior Luciana Lamorgese and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio to discuss the illegal immigration issue.

According to a statement released by the presidency, the two Italian ministers were accompanied by the European Commissioner for European Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.

"The two sides expressed a common desire to strengthen partnership in various fields, especially in the economic and social fields, in a way that would help reduce the phenomenon of illegal immigration and address its deep causes," said the presidency.

Saied underlined the need to adopt "a global and consensual approach in the field of immigration which is based mainly on the fight against poverty and unemployment by supporting development efforts in the countries of origin and encouraging regular immigration."

He reiterated that "security solutions alone are not enough to eliminate illegal immigration."

For their part, Italian and European officials renewed their political and economic support for Tunisia and their determination to support national efforts for development by encouraging investment and creating jobs, especially in the interior regions.

In a statement to the media, the Italian foreign minister expressed Italy's readiness to provide all necessary assistance to Tunisia such as programs for youths and other means of support.

Immigrants arriving in Italy illegally "will be repatriated, "warned Di Maio.

He referred to the continuation of negotiations between the Tunisian and Italian sides to find formulas for bilateral cooperation.

According to official figures released on Aug. 10 by the Tunisian Forum of Economic and Social Rights, 5,655 Tunisian illegal immigrants have arrived at the Italian coast between Jan. 1 and July 31.

Thousands of illegal immigrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean every year as Tunisia is one of the main points of access to Europe through irregular channels. Enditem
A student who twice vandalised a statue of Lord Nelson prompted fresh outrage yesterday as she walked free from court.

Jae Ikhera, 19, had sprayed a V for Vendetta anarchist symbol and blacked out the face of the national hero.

She returned three nights later and daubed the word Down on the plinth in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral, citing Nelsons alleged links to slavery.

The teenager pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage for the offences  which happened a month after Black Lives Matter protesters tore down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol.

She was given a 12-month conditional discharge by magistrates in the city and was not made to pay any compensation for cleaning the statue or costs.

Jae Ikhera, 19, had sprayed a V for Vendetta anarchist symbol and blacked out the face of the national hero (pictured). She returned three nights later and daubed the word Down on the plinth in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral, citing Nelsons alleged links to slavery

The Save Our Statues campaign group criticised the lenient sentence, saying: Thanks to our legal system for handing another victory to the mob.

Ikhera yesterday remained unrepentant about her actions, or worried about a sentence, when approached by the Mail.

She said: I wasnt really frightened all that much. I knew it was going to end one of two ways but to me that doesnt really matter.

Im not going to do anything illegal again but Im not afraid to use my voice as I have one.

Ikheras solicitor, Simon Nicholls, told the court on Friday she had carried out the attacks on July 4 and 7 to start a debate about Nelsons alleged links to slavery.

He said: Even the cathedral said, Although a national hero [Lord Nelson] was like all of us, flawed in some ways.

The defendant added she acted because the victor of Trafalgar was treated as a hero and an idol without people having knowledge of his other ideas.

She said: We can still be heroes and have these ideas but if you dont acknowledge all the issues you are just taking that out of context.

Ikheras solicitor, Simon Nicholls, told the court on Friday she had carried out the attacks on July 4 and 7 to start a debate about Nelsons alleged links to slavery. Pictured, Ikhera wrote 'down' on the plinth and crossed out Nelson's name

Ikhera said Nelson had close ties with slave trader Simon Taylor and his wealthy family would have benefited from it.

Her comments echo the Topple The Racists campaign group, which describes Nelson as a known white supremacist and have called for all statues dedicated to him to be pulled down.

Norfolk is known as Nelsons County after the admiral, who was born in Burnham Thorpe in 1758 and died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Experts deny claims he opposed the abolition of slavery and have pointed out he did not own any slaves himself.

The Nelson Society said he would have vigorously applied the law when the slave trade was outlawed in Britain in 1807, as the Navy did.

Ikhera attends Norwichs University of the Arts. A spokesman declined to comment on whether any action would be taken, but said: NUA does not condone criminal damage.

The Dean of Norwich Cathedral, the Very Rev Jane Hedges, said: The dean and chapter are committed to reviewing the place of historical figures memorialised in the cathedral and in our grounds and to hosting conversations about what we have to learn from past wrongs.
Cyprus, Russia Reach Double Tax Agreement Compromise

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

18 August 2020

Russia and Cyprus have announced that they have resolved a dispute concerning the two countries' double tax agreement.

Earlier this month, the Russian Ministry of Finance announced that it would terminate the Russia-Cyprus double tax agreement, after negotiations broke down on a revision to increase tax on cross-border dividends and interest income.

In an August 3 statement, the Russian Ministry of Finance disclosed it had been engaged in discussions with its Cypriot equivalent entity with a view to amending the pact to introduce withholding tax of 15 percent at source on dividends and interest income. The Russian Ministry disclosed that the Cypriot side put forward its own proposal, which was not accepted, with the Ministry considering it would result in continued erosion of the Russian tax base. It then announced that it would terminate the treaty.

Meetings were then scheduled between Cyprus and Russia for August 10-11, 2020. It was disclosed by both states on August 10, 2020, that the two countries had agreed a compromise.

A statement from the Cypriot Government said, in relation to withholding tax on interest and dividends, that: "The Cyprus side secured, among others, the reduction of the said withholding tax (to nil or five percent as appropriate) of regulated entities, such as pension funds and insurance undertakings as well as listed entities with specific characteristics. Additionally, exemption from the said withholding tax applies on interest payments from corporate bonds, government bonds, and Eurobonds. The Cypriot side has also secured the maintaining of zero withholding tax on royalty payments."

The Cypriot Government said a Protocol to the agreement would be signed in the fall, which would apply from January 1, 2021.

Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexey Sazanov said in a Finance Ministry statement that Russia would no longer seek to terminate the agreement. He stated: "In the coming month, we also plan to complete negotiations with Luxembourg and Malta on the same terms as we offered Cyprus."

The Russian Ministry of Finance further stated: "Russia is also awaiting an official response from the Netherlands to directed proposals to revise the tax agreement in the coming weeks. If the Netherlands agrees to negotiate, they will be offered the same conditions as the Republic of Cyprus."
The official inquiry into the New Zealand Defence Forces (NZDF) handling of a 2010 Special Air Services (SAS) raid in Afghanistan announced its findings last month. It confirmed that a child was killed, the NZDF top brass misled ministers and the public about the civilian deaths, and an insurgent leader captured by SAS troops was assaulted and handed over for torture.

New Zealand Army soldier and NZLAV in Afghanistan (Credit: Wikimedia/NZ Defence Force)

The Labour-led government established the Operation Burnham Inquiry in 2018 to whitewash the NZDF, under conditions of intensifying US-led preparations for war against China, of which NZ is an integral part. Headed by former Supreme Court judge Terence Arnold and ex-Labour Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, the inquiry was largely conducted in secret.

A group of Afghan witnesses withdrew from the proceedings last year, citing frustration over the lack of transparency. Barrister Deborah Manning slammed the skewed process for focusing on the NZDFs need to be able to defend themselves and their public reputation at the expense of victims.

The inquiry was purportedly called to investigate claims raised by journalists Jon Stephenson and Nicky Hager in their 2017 book Hit & Run. The NZDF initially responded by seeking to tarnish the reputations of the authors, claiming that the raids never occurred. Even after being forced to admit that they had taken place, the military maintained that no civilian casualties resulted. The governments hand was forced when the media published evidence corroborating the books main allegations.

The SAS operation took place in two remote Afghan villages in Bamyan province in August 2010. The SAS was part of the US-led International Security Assistance Force that was tracking insurgents. According to the inquirys report, at least seven men were killed in the operation which also involved a US Apache helicopter. At least six civilians were injured, including two women and two girls, one of whom was killed.

In relation to the main accusation, the killing of civilians, the inquiry exonerated the SAS, declaring that the operation was justified, complied with the rules of engagement and international law and that the troops had acted legally and professionally. It stated the raids were not carried out in revenge for the killing of a NZ soldier on an earlier mission, as Hager and Stephenson had claimed.

However, the inquiry also confirmed that SAS soldiers had beaten, then handed over captured insurgent Qari Miraj to Afghanistans notorious National Directorate of Security (NDS). Miraj was targeted for his role in the earlier attack that killed the NZ soldier. The SAS likely knew Miraj was tortured by NDS, and did nothing. The NZDF had breached the Geneva Convention, the inquiry admitted, but made no recommendations about prosecuting those involved.

The inquirys report described the NZDF as inept and disorganised in its response to the charges revealed in Hit & Run. It confirmed evidence in the book that the NZDF made false statements in briefings to ministers and the public for seven years after the attack.

Important video evidence was either deleted or misfiled by the SAS. Four former SAS officers were found to have acted improperly. They had authored documents and emails denying casualties, directed subordinates to falsify evidence, produced ministerial briefing papers that were false, and in one case deposited documents in a safe where they were allegedly lost.

Former National Party government Defence Minister Wayne Mapp was forced to admit that he continued to publicly deny claims of civilian casualties, even after being briefed about them in September 2011. Mapp told the inquiry he completely forgot about the briefing, revealed in evidence by retired SAS Colonel Jim Blackwell.

The commissioners, however, avoided finding that a deliberate cover-up had taken place. Instead they concluded that the NZDF did not take any effective steps to investigate the allegations of civilian casualties and its advice to ministers was inaccurate. No recommendations were made for accountability, sackings or prosecutions.

The Labour government responded to the report by maintaining that the central issue was not the criminality of the SAS raid on what were basically defenceless villages, but the NZDFs subsequent mishandling of the affair. Attorney-General David Parker defended the killing of civilians, including the young girl, saying it was a consequence of being caught up in a legitimate military exercise It was legal, it of course was undesirable.

According to Parker, the most serious finding was that, due to ineptitude and suppression of documents, ministers were not able to exercise the democratic control of the military. The spin was designed to absolve successive governments from any responsibility. This included the Labour government, which along with the left-wing Alliance, had sent the SAS to join the US-led invasion in 2001.

Parker endorsed the inquirys recommendations, including that an Independent Inspector-General of Defence be created to provide accountability. New policies and procedures will supposedly address how the NZDF responds to alleged civilian deaths and torture, and an expert review group will inspect the organisational structure of the NZDF.

NZDF head Air Marshal Kevin Short similarly told the media, we let our frontline service people down through a series of organisational and administrative failings that saw incorrect information provided to ministers and the public. He declared, I am deeply sorry, then added: We must be better at the way we record, store and retrieve information.

Parker praised Hit & Run for providing a valuable public service. Hager in turn welcomed the inquirys report in a statement saying it contained the most serious findings against the NZSAS and NZDF in their history and would prompt a lot of soul searching inside the New Zealand Defence Force.

The Green Party also welcomed the findings and declared in a thoroughly hypocritical statement: We are proud to have worked as part of this government to withdraw New Zealands troops from Americas war in Afghanistan. In fact, the Greens supported the NZ armys presence in Afghanistan, describing it in 2010 as a peacekeeping mission, only criticising the presence of the SAS.

The new procedures will do nothing to halt similar crimes in the future or their cover-up. The reality is that the crimes of the SAS, an elite unit of highly trained killers, flow inexorably from the predatory and imperialist character of the invasion of Afghanistan. Countless war crimes have been committed by the US and its allies, including Australian SAS soldiers who have recently been implicated in extrajudicial killings.

Claims by the Greens and their pseudo-left and pacifist supporters that the repressive institutions of the capitalist statethe police, armed forces and spy apparatuscan be reformed, are utterly false. In fact, the inquirys endorsement of the killing of civilians as legal and refusal to hold anyone accountable, demonstrates that such actions will be permitted and defended in future.

The Labour Party-led government is ramping up military spending and recruitment as part of the US-led preparations for war against China, which are accelerating due to the economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Operation Burnham inquiry fulfilled its purpose: to sanitise the SAS in preparation for expanded wars abroad and the suppression of growing working class opposition to austerity and militarism.


When most people think of cooling, they automatically imagine air conditioning (AC), or cooling the air in a room. But, there is a much more efficient way to cool people, using your body's radiation.

To demonstrate the effect of radiant cooling, Forrest Meggers, assistant professor of architecture and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and a team of researchers built a "Cold Tube," in Singapore last year. It was an outdoor pavilion lined with novel insulated radiant panels that held cold water pipes inside. Because your body is constantly exchanging radiation with objects around you, and radiation flows from hot to cool surfaces, the participants who walked through the exhibit shed their radiation toward the panels, similar to what would happen if you stood near a freezer. The participants reported feeling cool, despite the air itself having temperature and humidity levels that would ordinarily feel sweltering. The new research showed that people could feel comfortable in hot and humid outdoor environments using only radiant cooling, which could use far less energy than cooling large volumes of air.

The researchers, collaborating with scholars at the University of British Columbia, University of Berkeley, ETH Zurich in Singapore, and the University of Pennsylvania, published their results August 18 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

In this Q&A, Meggers and first author of the paper, Dr. Eric Teitelbaum, now a senior engineer at AIL Research, comment on why this research is so relevant not just in a warming world, but also in a contagious one, where equipping indoor spaces with outdoor levels of air flow is part of the strategy to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Your recent work published in PNAS showed that people can be kept cool in very hot and humid environments without air conditioning. What is the benefit of cooling surfaces, such as walls and tables, instead of cooling the air? How are the findings relevant to keeping people safe from viruses like COVID-19?

Meggers: Today, around the world, people are trying to achieve higher outdoor air flow indoors to dilute the amount of virus in the air. With air conditioning (AC), dehumidification and cooling occur simultaneously. The benefit of the Cold Tube technology is that it decouples cooling from the providing of fresh air, meaning people can keep their windows open, while maintaining comfort, and without expending massive amounts of energy to cool and dehumidify the air flow.

Teitelbaum: The way buildings are built today, using exclusively AC for cooling, we can't increase the amount of fresh air we deliver to buildings at will because outdoor air flow is coupled with the amount of air conditioning buildings need to provide. If you want more outdoor air flowing into the building, you also need additional capacity to dehumidify and cool that air. Most systems weren't built with the capacity to flow the amount of air that, in many cases, is being recommended to dilute indoor air pollutants and prevent the spread of COVID-19. And if they can, it requires massive amounts of energy.

Meggers: In the Cold Tube, occupants were cooled entirely by thermal radiation, which means energy was primarily used for cooling the water inside the walls, not cooling the air. Through most summer conditions, we could cool people using surfaces, while leaving all the windows open. Achieving 100% outdoor air would do a lot to stymie the spread of the virus, and the efficiency benefits scale proportionally with how much outdoor air you want. Air should be only for breathing, not cooling.

How does this help mitigate climate change?

Teitelbaum: This system uses at least 50% less energy than a comparably-sized air conditioner. Letting the air warm up by five degrees while cooling surfaces, can lower energy demand by up to 40% and maintain occupant comfort. Allowing even hotter air temperatures would result in higher energy savings.

What is the biggest misconception about air conditioning?

Meggers: Air conditioning does not equal cooling. It's a highly engrained method of cooling buildings, but it's not the only one. Additionally, your window air conditioners are just cooling existing air in the room; they don't bring new, fresh air into your room. Air conditioning units have become so normalized and integrated into daily life but, in reality, they are huge machines that require a lot of energy, and should not be treated like turning on a light switch. A seemingly simple window unit requires 10-1000x more energy than a ceiling fan, and leaving the AC on is comparable in energy to leaving the light on in 100 rooms.

In terms of urban planning and outdoor air quality, how does this alternative to air conditioning provide dual-benefits and help mitigate the urban heat island effect?

Meggers: Most of my coauthors and I have traveled around Southeast Asia and have seen firsthand how quickly AC units have been deployed at scale. Adding AC window or split units to buildings is done with little contemplation of the effects on surface temperatures, and the climate and heat in a city. The units work by rejecting the heat from the air in a room to the outside. Rejecting heat outside the buildings, along the facade, leads to sidewalks and areas around buildings becoming very hot, and many spaces becoming unusable. Our technology does exactly the opposite; it provides opportunities to regain thermal acceptability in various parts of the city without having to build a huge park. You can install these cooling panels outside in hot and humid environments, and build "cool havens" where people can gather, eat, and play.

Is there anything else you want to talk about in regards to this paper or today's context for it?

Teitelbaum: It will take more than an 8-month experiment to change the way people think about comfort systems and energy efficiency in the built environment. Much of the C.H.A.O.S lab's research has focused on expanding the knowledge bubble of thermal radiation's influence on comfort and efficiency. The Cold Tube experiment created a lot of new knowledge, which is a great academic success. Commercially, while there are companies that manufacture similar technologies, there is still a need to continue to demonstrate and experiment with new concepts to not only further the technology, but also this paradigm shift. The shift away from air conditioning towards more holistic comfort design would help us act as stewards of the planet as well as our own built environments. In many parts of the world, such as Singapore and other tropical areas that are increasingly seeking ways to condition spaces, significantly more energy goes towards dehumidifying the air than just cooling the air. This is one of the places that we believe our comfort paradigm will have the greatest efficiency increases and impact, since no dehumidification is required for people to feel comfortable.

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A sk me in six months time, says Professor Naomi Allen. The question, she admits, is one that goes to the heart of how safely we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, in the short-term at least.

With a vaccine potentially a year or more away, I had asked: how many of us might have developed natural immunity after contracting Covid-19 in the first wave?

Professor Allen is the chief scientist for UK Biobank, which holds medical data on 500,000 volunteers that can be used by researchers seeking to prevent, diagnose or treat diseases, from cancer to dementia. Last month its analysis of blood tests from 20,000 volunteers allowed it to estimate that 7.1 per cent of the UK population had developed antibodies to Covid-19, rising to 10.4 per cent in London, and to 18.4 per cent in BAME Londoners under 30.

Antibodies (proteins produced by white blood cells) matter because they destroy or disable the virus, creating natural immunity. But whats not yet known is how long they remain active in the body  and how many are required to mount a full defence against reinfection.

An antibody test / AFP via Getty Images

We have just released the results for the first month of the study, Professor Allen says. By the end of month six, which will be November, we will be able to tell the extent to which antibody levels wane over time.

The strength of the UK Biobank study is that it will test the same 20,000 people each month and link to their medical records. Over the longer term, we will be able to see, for those who have been positive with Covid-19 and have the antibodies, do they catch it again six months, nine months, 12 months down the line? And, if you can catch it again, is it more or less likely to be severe?

This study is one of several at the forefront of UK research into the prevalence of coronavirus. Others are being led by the Office for National Statistics and by Imperial College London.

In addition, Public Health Englands Siren study aims to recruit 100,000 healthcare workers to answer similar questions about the scale of protection provided by Covid antibodies.

The most recent results from Imperials React-1 study, which analyses nasal and throat swabs of almost 160,000 people in the community, estimated that about 39,000 people in England had the virus between mid-June and July 8.

Imperials React-2 study, published last week, offered the first insight into the usefulness of diabetes-style, at-home finger-prick antibody tests.

Many people have paid privately for antibody tests despite them not being recommended by the NHS. The Government has bought millions of antibody tests but they are will not be issued to the public until their accuracy can be confirmed. However, they are being used by NHS and care staff, with the results authenticated by a laboratory."

"There are some individuals who contribute more to transmission than others, but it doesnt necessarily reflect negatively on them."

Unlike other antibody tests, the React-2 results were reported by the 100,000 volunteers themselves  cutting out the expense and delay involved in sending blood samples to a lab. Sir Patrick Vallance, the Governments chief scientific adviser, says antibody tests provide a much better handle on the proportion of people who are asymptomatic and the true number who have had [Covid] in the community already.

But the sensitivity and specificity of the tests  two key terms in the coronavirus lexicon  is crucial. Sensitivity shows the tests ability to identify positive cases correctly; specificity shows its ability to identify negative cases correctly.

Professor Graham Cooke, one of the academics leading the React-2 study, says its findings suggest that about 20 per cent of people had had coronavirus without displaying symptoms. This matters, because these people can infect others unknowingly and, without displaying the persistent cough, fever or loss of smell or taste familiar to so many, will have no reason to go into self-isolation.

But even if we know that a person is infected, what do we know of their infectiousness? Is one person more likely to spread the virus than another? Does it depend on how sick they are? Are there really such things as super-spreaders?

A sign advertising private antibody tests / REUTERS

Professor Cooke says: We think there is probably a point after which you are not infectious. You can have a positive [swab] test without being infectious. What we are not very good at telling is who is infectious.

Whereas the swab (antigen or PCR) test can detect whether someone has the virus, the serological (blood or plasma) antibody test detects when someone has had it  possibly weeks or months earlier.

Professor Cooke says infectiousness was most likely to be determined by the number and extent of an infected persons social contacts, rather than the amount of virus in their body.

It depends much more on what sort of contact people are having with other people, and whether theyre in a crowded space, and so forth  for example, a taxi driver, he said. Its about how much transmission there is.

He dislikes the term super-spreader because he believes it stigmatises people. There are some individuals who contribute more to transmission than others, but it doesnt necessarily reflect negatively on them, he adds. It could be a doctor doing a lot of home visits, for example.

As such, there is no obvious correlation between infectiousness and the production of antibodies. Rather, sicker people will tend to produce more antibodies. It is normally the case that patients who are sick enough to be admitted to hospital will produce more antibodies than patients with mild symptoms not requiring hospital care.

But a coronavirus conundrum remains in relation to antibodies.

What we dont know is whether that means theyre more or less protected from getting reinfected again, Professor Cooke said. No one really knows that yet.

Delving deeper into the science, antibodies are not the only part of the immune system that could help. There are also T cells to consider.

These could provide more durable protection against Covid, and could work as soldiers in conjunction with antibodies, and the cells that create antibodies, to build an army to fight the virus, says Professor Mala Maini of University College London. T cells are a kind of immune cell whose main purpose is to identify and kill invading pathogens or infected cells. The body develops them when fighting an infection and they can hang around in the blood for years afterwards, contributing to the immune systems long-time memory. This means the immune system could remember how to fight Covid-19 even after original antibodies have faded, allowing it to mount a faster and more effective response.

What we dont know is whether that means theyre more or less protected from getting reinfected again. No one really knows that yet."

Indoor Biotechnologies has developed a test for coronavirus T cells which it hopes will help in vaccine development. Dr James Hindley, who is leading the project, told the BBC: A lot of the focus so far has been on antibodies and thats important because they provide us some memory to our immune system, but T cells are just as important. They can live for a long time after the infection and give you that immune response.

We dont know with this virus how long they will last, but it might be for many years. Thats the basis of vaccination and vaccination development.

New Zealand: Coronavirus Panic Buying 1 /8 New Zealand: Coronavirus Panic Buying AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images

As for what natural immunity means in the real world, there are two immediate practical examples. One is the possibility of immunity passports or certificates that could allow people with antibodies to return to normal life, whether that be to the office, pub or on board an international flight.

Experts believe the science is not there yet to support immunity passports. Whats more, would passports be withdrawn if and when immunity waned? There is also the concern that they could create a perverse incentive for people to try to become infected with coronavirus.

As we await a vaccine, experts say the importance of the much-criticised test-and-trace system remains crucial.

If you know you have got it, you can self-isolate, Professor Allen says. But if you dont know you have got it, and you start spreading it around, that is when you get into R numbers above one and the virus getting out of control.

Antibodies could have vital role to play, but a vaccine remains the Holy Grail. Professor Cooke says: The key thing we still dont know is how protective antibodies are going to be, and for low long. We now know that most people generate antibodies, but we dont know how long they last for.

The key challenge for all of us is to have an effective vaccine. That probably is going to be the biggest thing to get us back to the old normal in the short term.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 22:22:28|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zhaotong, a mountainous city in southwest China's Yunnan Province, has been given an honorary title in recognition of its success in growing potatoes in highland conditions.

The city was handed the title of "World Mountain Plateau Seed Potato Capital" by the World Potato Congress (WPC) on Tuesday at an award ceremony conducted by video conference.

The presentation was made by Lu Xiaoping, director of the Asia and the Pacific branch of the International Potato Center, having been entrusted with the task by WPC president Romain Cools.

Located in northeast Yunnan, Zhaotong has an elevation of nearly 2,000 meters, but its unique climate is suited to growing potatoes in all seasons. The city has an annual average temperature of between 11.3 and 21.1 degrees Celsius, an average of 1,902 hours of sunshine, and annual precipitation of 760 mm.

Aided by these favorable conditions, Zhaotong has had great success with its potato crop, making it a pillar industry for poverty alleviation in recent years.

According to Yang Yalin, Party secretary of Zhaotong, who attended the award ceremony, the city currently plants more than 173,000 hectares of potatoes.

"Potatoes are not only an important means by which millions of poor people in Zhaotong can shake off poverty, but our best hope for future development," Yang said.

Also at Tuesday's ceremony was Li Zhiping, deputy director of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. She said the development of the potato industry is of great significance to global food security, and as a major production area for potatoes, Zhaotong has built a high-standard, high-quality potato production base to help poor locals increase their incomes. Enditem
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The mutation has increased the number of 'spikes' on the coronavirus which in turn significantly increases it ability to infect human cells.

The novel Coronavirus keeps throwing punches our way and its most recent assault has been in Malaysia. The Asian country has detected a strain of the virus that is 10 times more infectious than the previous strains and the original Wuhan strain.

The Health chief Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a Facebook post on Sunday, 16 August, said that the Laboratory Medical Research Institute has detected three cases from a cluster in Sivagangga and another case is from a person returning from the Philippines.

The cluster in Sivagangga has a total of 45 cases and started when a restaurant owner returned from India, breached his 14-day home quarantine. The man has since been sentenced to five months in prison and fined.

The strain was found in preliminary tests and the follow-up tests will be conducted on other cases including the index cases of both clusters, Strait Times reported Abdullah saying.

According to a report by Reuters, the mutation has increased the number of "spikes" on the coronavirus which in turn significantly increases it ability to infect human cells. The researchers say that it is still unknown whether this small mutation affects the severity of symptoms of infected people or increases mortality.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the D614G mutation strain is the predominant variant in Europe and the US.

Abdullah also said that finding this mutation would mean that existing vaccine studies would remain incomplete as they might not be effective on this mutation. However, a paper published in Cell Press said the mutation is unlikely to have a major impact on the efficacy of vaccines currently being developed.

The health chief has warned that people need to be "aware and be more careful" as the virus can "spread easily if spread by the individual super spreader". People should follow previous health procedures like hand hygiene, wearing of masks in public places, crowded or enclosed space. They should also wear a mask when talking to others and maintain social distance when possible.

Malaysia has reported a total of 9,200 confirmed cases. Of these 8,859 people have recovered and 125 have died.
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is set to pardon a "very, very important" person on Tuesday, according to a report.

The U.S. president said he it would not be leaker Edward Snowden or former national security agency adviser Michael Flynn.

He declined to give information regarding the pardon further, but he hinted that it was not Flynn or Snowden, a former U.S. National Security contractor.

Snowden was said to be living in Russia and has been charged with leaking secret information.

On Saturday, Trump said he was considering a pardon for Snowden, who gave away secret files in 2013 to news organizations that disclosed a wide array of information regarding domestic and international surveillance.

Who Is Edward Snowden?

Edward Snowden is a whistleblower who has earned around $1.2 million in speaking fees since he leaked confidential U.S. material to several media outlets, including The Guardian.

The servers Snowden used in leaking thousands of confidential files were reportedly paid for using Bitcoin.

The whistleblower also released a book entitled "Permanent Record" in September 2019.

Reports said that the statements from the published material were not challenged by the U.S.

However, the government wants to seize its profits.

Snowden revealed that the U.S. government was involved in illegal dragnet surveillance of telecoms and internet communications, including by U.S. persons.

Snowden could face any charges if he returned to the U.S.

"He would be charged for each of the documents that have been published. The exposure that he faces is virtually unlimited under this," Ben Wizner, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union and Snowden legal adviser, was quoted in a The Guardian report.

Snowden's revelations caused a major local and international scandal. This also drove an intense debate over government eavesdropping.

Snowden has become a two-person for some organizations.

Civil liberties advocates see him as a hero, while others as a traitor.

Check these out:

Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua Offer Edward Snowden Amnesty

SXSW 2014: Snowden Speaks, Criticizing NSA Directors For Weakening US Cybersecurity

Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald Claim U.K. Leaked Sensitive Info To Newspaper To Discredit Them
Fabiflu sales have grown by 62 per cent in July. It was launched in June. This drug is being used by doctors for mild-to-moderate Covid patients even if they are in home isolation.

Even as the domestic pharmaceutical market grows at a slow pace thanks to lesser fresh prescription generation, the Covid-19 drugs portfolio of domestic majors has seen a sharp rise.

For instance, the new rage favipiravir, an oral antiviral drug from Japan that was first launched by Glenmark in India under its brand Fabiflu.

Within a month or so, around a dozen brands crowded the market.

Data from market research firm AIOCD AWACS shows that Fabiflu sales have grown by 62 per cent in July. It was launched in June.

This drug is being used by doctors for mild-to-moderate Covid patients even if they are in home isolation.

Since it is an oral drug, it does not need hospitalisation.

Hyderabads Dr Reddys Laboratories (DRL) is all set to bring in the innovator brand of favipiravir, Avigan, as part of a tie-up it has with Japans Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co and Global Response Aid.

A launch is expected this month.

The company admitted that its India revenues were hit during the April-June quarter due to lesser prescription generation and a sluggish growth in the acquired Wockhardt portfolio. It is bullish on its Covid-19 portfolio, nonetheless.

DRL has already launched nutraceutical products and hand sanitizers during the pandemic.

Products like azithromycin (common antibiotic used in Covid) have also seen traction, the drugmaker said.

DRLs India business fell 10 per cent year-on-year in the June quarter of FY21.

Erez Israeli, chief executive Officer of DRL, felt that these products have been launched with a longer horizon in mind and not just targeted for the pandemic.

Israeli, however, also felt that the Covid-19 health crisis was here to stay for at least another year or so, which meant the Covid-targeted products would continue to do well.

Unless a vaccine surprises us, the pandemic is here to stay at least for a year or so.

"Our data on favipiravir is showing it is a good product, Israeli said.

Ahmedabads Cadila Healthcare, too, is on the frontline for Covid-related products.

From Elisa testing kits to sanitizers and immunity boosting medicines, the company has it all.

It has launched the cheapest brand of injectable drug remdesivir at Rs 2,800 per dose and also sells hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) that India uses as prophylactic against the Sars-CoV-2 virus.

Zydus and Ipca are the leading players who make HCQ, and the firms had supplied 100 million tablets to the government around April.

Drug majors like Cipla say that Covid drugs are not sold at high margin.

We do not make money from these drugs. There is angle of public health here.

"Whatever little money we made, we have diverted them through donating personal protective equipment kits, etc, said Kedar Upadhye, global chief financial officer of Cipla.

Cipla, too, has an entire portfolio of Covid drugs, including tocilizumab, whichi is a drug that it sells here as a part of an agreement with the innovator Roche.

Upadhye said Cipla comes on the top in terms of drugs that it has in its kitty - from HCQ, azithromycin, remdesivir, tocilizumab, and even favipiravir.

Photograph: Lindsey Wasson/Reuters
WASHINGTON--Earth's tropics are expanding poleward and that expansion is driven by human-caused changes to the ocean, according to new research.

The tropics wrap around Earth's middle like a warm, wet belt. This part of the globe gets the most direct sunlight throughout the year and is characterized by high average temperatures and heavy rainfall. In contrast to the tropics' lush interior, however, this region's edges are hot and parched.

Scientists have noticed for the past 15 years that these arid bands are expanding toward the poles into regions like the Mediterranean, southern Australia and southern California. Interestingly, these dry areas have expanded more in the Southern Hemisphere than the Northern Hemisphere and researchers have struggled to pinpoint exactly what is driving the trend.

A new study in AGU's ,Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres argues that the failure to agree on an exact mechanism has been, in part, because most researchers have been looking in the wrong place. The new study found tropical expansion is driven primarily by ocean warming caused by climate change rather than direct changes to the atmosphere. A bigger shift is happening in the Southern Hemisphere because it has more ocean surface area, according to the new study.

Tropical expansion could have profound economic and social implications: the process could shift storm paths and cause more severe wildfires and droughts in places like California and Australia that are already water-stressed.

The new findings provide the clearest evidence yet that tropical expansion is in fact primarily driven by climate change, according to the study authors. While natural long-term climate fluctuations contribute to the observed trends, these variations alone cannot explain the extent to which expansion has already occurred.

This means, the authors argue, that climate change might have already significantly contributed to tropical expansion, especially in the ocean-dominated Southern Hemisphere.

"We demonstrate that the enhanced subtropical ocean warming is independent from the natural climate oscillations," said Hu Yang, a climate scientist at the Alfred Wegner Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany and lead author of the new study. "This is a result of global warming."

A disconcerting phenomenon

A 2006 paper published in the journal Science announced a troubling finding: in some parts of the world, the tropics were expanding. Researchers have attempted to figure out the culprit ever since that paper was published. Scientists estimate from satellite observations that this widening is happening at a rate of 0.25 to 0.5 degrees latitude per decade. But without pinpointing a root cause, they cannot accurately model how quickly the expansion will occur in the future or what regions it will impact.

Some researchers have suggested greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion and aerosols in the atmosphere are driving the expansion. But climate models using these variables to explain the expansion consistently underestimate the speed of the shift and do not account for why expansion is happening in some regions but not others. This has led some researchers to theorize that tropical expansion can simply be explained by natural oscillations in Earth's climate. But natural variation does not quite fit the patterns scientists have already observed.

Ocean versus atmosphere

Yang and colleagues began to take notice of tropical expansion in 2015, when analyzing ocean currents that carry warm water toward the poles. This got them thinking: what if tropical expansion was driven not by changes in the atmosphere, but changes in the ocean?

Because the ocean and atmosphere are highly connected systems, it is often difficult to tell which is driving the other, Yang said. In the new study, Yang and his colleagues analyzed water temperatures in the major ocean gyres, large circular ocean currents that carry warm water toward the poles and cold water toward the equator. They used satellite observations of sea surface temperature between 1982, the year observations began, and 2018, and compared these observations to data on the expanding tropics that stretches back to 1979.

They found excess heat building up in the subtropical oceans since global warming began in the mid-1800s has driven tropical edges and ocean gyres toward the poles. When the researchers compared movement of the ocean gyres to tropical expansion, they found the two phenomena matched: tropical expansion was happening in places where the ocean gyres were moving poleward.

"I actually am really impressed with this paper," said Kristopher Karnauskas, associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder who was not connected to the new study. "There really aren't a lot of papers out there that really investigate the role of the ocean in the tropical expansion problem."

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Notes for Journalists

This research study is freely available. Download a PDF copy of the paper here. Neither the paper nor this press release is under embargo.

Paper title: "Tropical expansion driven by poleward advancing mid?latitude meridional temperature gradients"

Authors: Hu Yang, Gerrit Lohmann, Evan J. Gowan, Xiaoxu Shi, Qiang Wang: Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany;

Jian Lu: Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division, Paci?c Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States;

Jiping Liu: Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, United States.

This press release and accompanying images are available online at: http://news.agu.org/press-release/the-tropics-are-expanding-and-climate-change-is-the-primary-culprit/

AGU press contact:

Lauren Lipuma,

+1 (202) 777-7396,

news@agu.org

Contact information for the researchers:

Hu Yang,

Alfred Wegener Institute,

Bremerhaven, Germany

hyang@awi.de
KABUL  Afghan officials say at least 10 people were wounded after a series of rockets hit residential and diplomatic areas in Kabul as the country celebrated the 101st anniversary of its independence.

The Interior Ministry said on August 18 that a total of 14 rockets were fired from two vehicles and that two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

The blasts shook the main diplomatic district, which sources were quoted as saying was quickly placed under lockdown as embassy workers took cover.

One of the rockets landed near the guard of honor unit in the palace, a source at the palace was quoted as saying.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks, which took place as the United States is withdrawing troops while trying to usher in peace talks between the Taliban and the Western-backed government in Kabul to end nearly 19 years of war.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he wasn't aware of the attacks.

The Islamic State extremist group's affiliate that operates in Afghanistan has interrupted national celebrations in the past with rocket fire.

Reports said the rockets were fired shortly after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani laid a wreath at the Minaret of Independence at the Defense Ministry to mark the end of Afghanistan's 1919 War of Independence, also known as the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

Fought between Afghan and British-Indian forces, the conflict reestablished full Afghan independence after decades of British control over Afghan foreign policy.

With reporting by dpa, Reuters, and AP
It says much about the president seeking reelection that he is widely assumed to be engaged in a tin-pot plot to suppress the vote against him by the crudest means available. With a deadly pandemic forcing Americans to vote by mail or risk more lives, the administrations assault on the U.S. Postal Service is finally provoking the alarm it deserves.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to call the House back into session weeks early to consider legislation to block operational changes and service reductions at the agency and shore up funding. Though the Republican-controlled Senate could stand in the way, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled a break with the administration Monday, saying he wants to ensure that the Postal Service is ready for the election and doesnt share the concerns of President Trump.

The House next week is expected to question Trumps postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, who has spearheaded an overtime crackdown and other policies that have slowed mail delivery. Seven Senate Democrats on Monday urged the Postal Services Board of Governors to restrain or possibly fire DeJoy, a major Trump donor and investor in the agencys private-sector rivals.

With the president leveling a nonsensical but persistent rhetorical assault on voting by mail, DeJoy has ordered postal workers to leave more mail behind in the interests of cutting hours and planned to decommission a tenth of the agencys sorting machines. The Postal Service last month warned 46 states that it couldnt guarantee timely delivery of their mailed ballots, the Washington Post reported. And mailbox removals alarmed observers in Oregon and other states.

Postal officials said the latter were standard procedure but nonetheless promised to suspend scrapping mailboxes and machines ahead of the election. Even the president tried to temper the growing outrage, insisting that he was only trying make the Postal Service great again.

But Americans are likely to be puzzled by his choice of targets. They rely on the mail not just for voting but also for such crucial needs as prescription drugs and, particularly during the pandemic, a wide variety of other goods, services and communications.

With a history extending to the Second Continental Congress, which named Benjamin Franklin the first postmaster general, the Postal Service is the most visible government presence in much of the country and among the most popular. A recent Pew Research Center survey found 91% of those polled viewed the agency favorably, with no difference between Republicans and Democrats.

Trumps true motive in going after the mail was clear enough even before he effectively admitted it last week. Having embraced Russian assistance in 2016 and tried to bully Ukraine into interfering with the current campaign, he is leveling his latest attack on our democracy from within. And he is regarding a venerable, vital public asset as mere collateral damage in his increasingly desperate effort to evade the voters verdict.

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.
Dublin, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "AI-based Clinical Trial Solution Providers Market, 2020-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report features an extensive study of the companies offering AI-based platforms for clinical trial applications, in addition to the current market landscape and their future potential.



One of the key objectives of the report was to understand the primary growth drivers and estimate the future opportunity within this market. Based on several parameters, such as annual number of clinical trials, average capital investment per trial across different phases and therapeutic areas, cost saving potential of AI and expected annual growth rate across various geographies, we have provided an informed estimate of the likely evolution of the market, in the mid to long term, for the period 2020-2030.



The chapter features the likely distribution of the opportunity across different:

[A] trial phase (phase I, phase II and phase III)

[B] therapeutic areas (cardiovascular disorders, CNS disorders, infectious disorders, metabolic disorders, oncological disorders and other disorders)

[C] end-users (pharmaceutical companies, and academia and other users)

[D] key geographical regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the world)

Market Insights

The process of successfully developing a novel therapeutic intervention is both time and cost-intensive. In fact, it is estimated that a prescription drug requires around 10 years and over USD 2.5 billion in capital investment, before reaching the market. In this process, clinical trials are a crucial requirement, enabling both innovators and regulators to assess the efficacy of a candidate drug and establish whether it is safe for use in humans.



It is estimated that nearly 50% of the total time and capital expenditure during the drug development process, is on conducting clinical research. However, all trials are not successful; they are prone to delays (due to various reasons), and failure, both of which are known to impose enormous financial burdens on sponsors.



According to a study conducted by the MIT Sloan School of Management, the rate of clinical success, defined as the proportion of trials that result in approval of the drug/therapy under investigation, was currently estimated to be 14%. The study further demonstrated that there is significant variance in the aforementioned rate across different types of therapies; for instance, for vaccines against infectious diseases, clinical success was estimated to be slightly above 30%, while for investigational anti-cancer drugs, it was 3%.



Some of the key factors responsible for clinical-stage product failure include inadequate study design, insufficient/incomplete patient recruitment, improper subject stratification during study conduct, and high rate of participant attrition.



In attempts to address the abovementioned challenges, stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry are actively exploring diverse strategies and solutions, one of which involves the collection and processing of real-world data. In fact, real-world data analysis is deemed to possess the potential to offer valuable insights from patient/healthcare provider testimonies, in order to drive future trial optimization efforts and facilitate better decision making during clinical research conduct.



However, in order to generate actionable insights from real-world medical data, there is a need for robust and advanced data mining technologies, such as big data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) powered tools.



Data integration, evolutionary modelling and pattern recognition using predictive AI models, can enable trial sponsors to aggregate, curate, and analyze large volumes of data, thereby, harnessing information captured during past trials to drive future therapy development initiatives. Experts also believe that the use of AI-powered solutions have the potential to address some of the commonly reported challenges, such as concerns related to clinical trial design, patient recruitment and retention, site selection, medical data interpretation and evaluation of treatment efficacy, which are encountered during trial conduct.



Considering that the aforementioned issues are addressed, it is safe to presume that opting to use AI-enabled technologies in clinical trials may eventually improve clinical R&D, and allow innovators to optimize on both time and capital investments made in such initiatives.



Currently, this technology is still in its early stages, with limited adoption across the world. However, it is worth mentioning that close to USD 4 billion was invested into AI-focused healthcare startups, in 2019. We are led to believe that the opportunity for AI-based solution providers within the healthcare industry is likely to grow at a significant in the foreseen future.

Amongst other elements, the report features:

A detailed assessment of the competitive landscape of AI-based solution providers based on parameters, such as area of application, year of establishment, company size and location of headquarters.

Brief profiles of prominent players engaged in offering AI-based solutions for clinical trial applications. Each profile features a brief overview of the company and its proprietary technology platform(s), recent developments, and an informed future outlook.

An analysis of the partnerships and collaborations inked in the domain, in the period between 2014 and 2020 (till May), based on several parameters, such as year of partnership, type of partnership, application mentioned in agreement, target therapeutic area mentioned in the agreement, year of partnership and type of partner, most active players and geographical analysis.

An analysis of the funding and investments made in the domain, in the period between 2014 and 2020 (till May), including seed financing, venture capital financing, debt financing, grants, capital raised from IPOs and subsequent offerings, at various stages of development in companies that are engaged in this field, based on several parameters, such as number of funding instances, amount invested, type of funding, leading players and investors, and geographical analysis

A detailed analysis of completed, ongoing and planned clinical trials involving the use of AI, based on multiple parameters, such as trial registration year, trial phase, trial status, type of sponsor/collaborator, target therapeutic area, trial design, top sponsor, geographical location of the trial and enrolled patient population.

An analysis of various AI-related initiatives of top 10 big pharma players (based on revenue), based on multiple parameters, such as year of initiative, type of initiative, focus of initiative, area of application and target therapeutic area. In addition, leading players and leading partners have been highlighted based on the number of initiatives.

A case study on recent use cases, wherein various pharmaceutical/healthcare companies have employed AI-based solutions for different processes of clinical trials, highlighting different business needs of such players and key takeaways of the solution provided by AI-based solution providers.

An in-depth analysis of the cost-saving potential across various processes of clinical drug development that can be brought about by the implementation of bespoke AI-based solutions.

In order to account for future uncertainties and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three forecast scenarios, portraying the conservative, base, and optimistic tracks of the market's evolution. The opinions and insights presented in this study were influenced by discussions conducted with multiple stakeholders in this domain.



Key Questions Answered

Who are the leading AI-based clinical trial solution providers?

How has the clinical activity involving the use of AI evolved in recent years?

What is the focus area of big pharma players in the AI domain?

Which companies have raised a significant amount of money in the domain?

What is the total cost-saving potential of AI-based clinical solutions across different steps of a clinical trial?

What kind of partnership models are presently being used by stakeholders in the industry?

What factors are likely to influence the evolution of this upcoming market?

How is the current and future opportunity likely to be distributed across key market segments?

Key Topics Covered

1. PREFACE

1.1. Scope of the Report

1.2. Research Methodology

1.3. Chapter Outlines



2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



3. INTRODUCTION

3.1. Chapter Overview

3.2. Overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

3.2.1. Machine Learning

3.2.2. Natural Language Processing

3.2.3. Classification of AI

3.2.3.1. Reactive AI

3.2.3.2. Limited Memory AI

3.2.3.3. Theory of Mind AI

3.2.3.4. Self-Aware AI

3.2.3.5. Artificial Narrow Intelligence

3.2.3.6. Artificial General Intelligence

3.2.3.7. Artificial Super Intelligence

3.2.4. Application of AI in Healthcare

3.2.4.1. Drug Discovery

3.2.4.2. Drug Manufacturing

3.2.4.3. Drug Marketing

3.2.4.4. Diagnosis and Treatment

3.2.4.5. Clinical Trials

3.2.4.5.1. Patient Recruitment

3.2.4.5.2. Patient Monitoring

3.2.4.5.3. Patient Adherence

3.3. Key Challenges Associated with the Adoption of AI

3.4. Future Perspectives



4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

4.1. Chapter Overview

4.2. AI-based Clinical Trial Solution Providers: Overall Market Landscape

4.2.1. Analysis by Area of Application

4.2.2. Analysis by Year of Establishment

4.2.3. Analysis by Company Size

4.2.4. Analysis by Location of Headquarters



5. COMPANY PROFILES

5.1. Chapter Overview

5.2. AiCure

5.2.1. Company and Technology Overview

5.2.2. Recent Developments and Future Outlook

5.3. Antidote

5.4. Deep Lens

5.5. Deep 6 AI

5.6. Innoplexus

5.7. Median Technologies

5.8. Mendel.ai

5.9. Phesi

5.10. Saama Technologies

5.11. Trials.ai



6. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS

6.1. Chapter Overview

6.2. Partnership Models

6.3. AI-based Clinical Trial Solution Providers: Partnerships and Collaborations

6.3.1. Analysis by Year of Partnership

6.3.2. Analysis by Type of Partnership

6.3.3. Analysis by Application Mentioned in the Agreement

6.3.4. Analysis by Target Therapeutic Area Mentioned in the Agreement

6.3.5. Analysis by Year of Partnership and Type of Partner

6.3.6. Most Active Players: Analysis by Number of Partnerships

6.3.7. Geographical Analysis

6.3.8. Intercontinental and Intracontinental Agreements



7. FUNDING AND INVESTMENT ANALYSIS

7.1. Chapter Overview

7.2. Types of Funding Instances

7.3. AI-based Clinical Trial Solution Providers: Funding and Investments

7.3.1. Analysis by Number of Funding Instances

7.3.2. Analysis by Amount Invested

7.3.3. Analysis by Type of Funding

7.3.4. Leading Players: Analysis by Amount Invested and Number of Funding Instances

7.3.5. Most Active Investors: Analysis by Number of Funding Instances

7.3.6. Geographical Analysis by Amount Invested

7.4. Concluding Remarks



8. CLINICAL TRIAL ANALYSIS

8.1. Chapter Overview

8.2. Scope and Methodology

8.3. AI-based Clinical Trial Solution Providers: Analysis of Clinical Research Activity

8.3.1. Analysis by Trial Registration Year

8.3.2. Analysis by Trial Phase

8.3.3. Analysis by Trial Status

8.3.4. Analysis by Type of Sponsor/Collaborator

8.3.5. Analysis by Target Therapeutic Area

8.3.6. Analysis by Trial Design

8.3.7. Geographical Analysis by Number of Clinical Trials

8.3.8. Geographical Analysis by Enrolled Patient Population

8.3.9. Geographical Analysis by Number of Clinical Trials and Trial Status

8.3.10. Geographical Analysis by Enrolled Patient Population and Trial Status



9. BIG PHARMA INITIATIVES

9.1. Chapter Overview

9.1.1. Analysis by Year of Initiative

9.1.2. Analysis by Type of Initiative

9.1.3. Analysis by Focus of Initiative

9.1.4. Analysis by Area of Application

9.1.5. Analysis by Target Therapeutic Area



10. CASE STUDY: USE CASES

10.1. Chapter Overview

10.2. Roche and AiCure

10.2.1. Roche

10.2.2. AiCure

10.2.3. Business Needs

10.2.4. Objectives Achieved and Solutions Provided

10.3. Takeda and AiCure

10.3.1. Takeda

10.3.2. AiCure

10.3.3. Business Needs

10.3.4. Objectives Achieved and Solutions Provided

10.4. Teva Pharmaceuticals and Intel

10.4.1. Teva Pharmaceuticals

10.4.2. Intel

10.4.3. Business Needs

10.4.4. Objectives Achieved and Solutions Provided

10.5. Unnamed Pharmaceutical Company and Antidote

10.5.1. Antidote

10.5.2. Business Needs

10.5.3. Objectives Achieved and Solutions Provided

10.6. Unnamed Pharmaceutical Company and Cognizant

10.6.1. Cognizant

10.6.2. Business Needs

10.6.3. Objectives Achieved and Solutions Offered

10.7. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Deep 6 AI

10.7.1. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

10.7.2. Deep 6 AI

10.7.3. Business Needs

10.7.4. Objectives Achieved and Solutions Offered



11. COST SAVING ANALYSIS

11.1. Chapter Overview

11.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology

11.3. Overall Cost Saving Potential of AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions, 2020-2030

11.3.1. Cost Saving Potential in Phase I Clinical Trials, 2020-2030

11.3.2. Cost Saving Potential in Phase II clinical Trials, 2020-2030

11.3.3. Cost Saving Potential in Phase III clinical Trials, 2020-2030

11.3.4. Cost Saving Potential in Patient Recruitment, 2020-2030

11.3.5. Cost Saving Potential in Patient Retention, 2020-2030

11.3.6. Cost Saving Potential in Site Monitoring, 2020-2030

11.3.7. Cost Saving Potential in Source Data Verification, 2020-2030



12. MARKET SIZING AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS

12.1. Chapter Overview

12.2. Key Assumptions and Forecast Methodology

12.3. Overall AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions Market Opportunity, 2020-2030

12.4. AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions Market Opportunity: Distribution by Trial Phase, 2020 and 2030

12.5. AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions Market Opportunity: Distribution by Target Therapeutic Area, 2020 and 2030

12.6. AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions Market Opportunity: Distribution by End-user, 2020 and 2030

12.7. AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions Market Opportunity: Distribution by Key Geographical Regions, 2020 and 2030

12.7.1. AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions Market Opportunity in North America, 2020-2030

12.7.2. AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions Market Opportunity in Europe, 2020-2030

12.7.3. AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions Market Opportunity in Asia-Pacific, 2020-2030

12.7.4. AI-based Clinical Trial Solutions Market Opportunity in Rest of the World, 2020-2030



13. CONCLUSION

13.1. Chapter Overview

13.2. Key Takeaways



14. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS

14.1. Chapter Overview

14.2. Intelligencia

14.2.1. Company Snapshot

14.2.2. Interview Transcript: Dimitrios Skaltsas, Co-Founder and Executive Director



15. APPENDIX I: TABULATED DATA

Companies Mentioned

A.I. VALI

AbbVie

Accenture

AccuBeing

AG Mednet

Agent Health

AiCure

Aidar Health

AliveCor

Anaqua

Anthem

Antidote

Aspen Insights

AstraZeneca

Avident Health

Bayer

Bioinfogate

BlueData

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

Brainpan Innovations

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Brite Health

BullFrog AI

Business Health Care Group

Cambia Health Solutions

Canary Speech

Cancer Genetics

Canon

Carebox

Carenet Health

Carenity

Carnegie Mellon University

Catana Capital

Cedar Health Research

Celgene

Central Ohio Primary Care

Cerba Research

Chainlink

CHDI Foundation

ChemAxon

CIMS

Clarivate

ClinArk

Clinerion

Clinevo Technologies

Clinical AI

CliniOps

Clinithink

ClinTex

CMIC

Covance

Crestle.ai

Curify

Darts-ip

DataON

Deep 6 AI

Deep Lens

DeepTrial

Dell

Department of Veterans Affairs

DiA Imaging Analysis

doc.ai

EBSCO

Egyptian Knowledge Bank

eimageglobal

Erlanger Health System

ExperiMind Technologies

fathom it group

Flow Pharma

GE Healthcare

Genpro Research

GlaxoSmithKline

GNS Healthcare

Google

H2O.ai

Halo Health

HCL

Healint

Healthix

HealthMatch

IBM

ICON

iLoF - Intelligent Lab on Fiber

IMNA Solutions

Inato

Indegene

iNDX.Ai

Innoplexus

Inova Translational Medicine Institute

Inspire

Intel

Intelligencia.ai

Intrepid Analytics

IP Australia

IXICO

Janssen Pharmaceuticals

Johnson & Johnson

Joovv

Kadena

Kognitic

Kopernio

Kryo

Kx Systems

KYT

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Lieber Institute for Brain Development

Life Image

Lokavant

London Medical Imaging & Artificial Intelligence Centre

Medable

Medairum

Medaptive Health

Median Technologies

Medica

Medidata Solutions

mediri

Medtronic

Mendel.ai

Merck

MGH Group

Microsoft

Mount Sinai Health System

MRN

Nanox

NEC

Nor-Tech

Northern Data

Novadiscovery

Novartis

Novoic

nQ Medical

Olea Medical

OncoImmunity

OncoSec Medical

One Nucleus

Oura

Owkin

P360

P3Life

PangaeaData.AI

Passage AI

PatchAi

PatientPoint

PatienTrials

Patiro

Pear Therapeutics

PenRad Technologies

Pepgra

Pfizer

Pharmamodelling

PHASTAR

phaware

Phesi

Precipio

ProofPilot

protocols.io

PWNHealth

Qmetrics Technologies

QUIBIM

Qure.ai

Raylytic

Redox

Remarque Systems

Roche

Royal Philips

Rymedi

Saama Technologies

San Raffaele Hospital

Sanofi

SAP

Science37

sensedat

Sensyne Health

ServiceNow

SiteRx

Skura Corporation

Snowflake

Springer Nature

Syneos Health

Synexus

Talkdesk

Teleradiology Solutions

TeraRecon

Teva Pharmaceuticals

The ALS Association

TrademarkVision

tranScrip

Translational Drug Development

Trial Sense

Trialcome

TrialJectory

Trials.ai

TTi Health Research & Economics

University of California

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

Unlearn.AI

Vanguard Scientific

Veritas IRB

VIDA

Vivoryon Therapeutics

Viz.ai

Vizyon Technologies

Vooban

Wiley

Winterlight Labs

Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Worldwide Clinical Trials

Xingtai People's Hospital

KRN Scientific Consulting

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5yin2u

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
New Delhi, Aug 18 (UNI) Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking transfer of PM Cares Fund to National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

In its order, a three judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said "The transfer of PM Cares Fund to National Disaster Response Fund, is not required and no direction can be passed in this regard."

Supreme Court said, the funds from PM CARES Fund need not be transferred to NDRF. It said, individuals can contribute to NDRF voluntarily.

The Petitioner, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), had field the petition before the Apex Court seeking a direction to the concerned authorities to transfer PM Cares Fund to National Disaster Response Funds.

UNI XC SHK1754
Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide has challenged the previous Mahama led NDC Administration to compare records of infrastructural achievement and the cost involved in carrying out those projects.



According to him, this will help Ghanaians to be better informed and know which of the two administrations [NPP and NDC] has done well managing the resources and added value to the money used for those projects in the country.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Pius Enam Hadzide said it is necessary to compare records of infrastructure so that Ghanaians will be well informed about which government deserves another chance to manage the economy and move the country forward.



To him, the comparison of records and value for money in the infrastructural projects by the two administrations will prevent a situation where someone will mislead the electorates with sweet words and falsehood to vote wrongly in the upcoming general elections.



We want to compare records of infrastructure and the cost involved so that Ghanaians will have informed minds, going into the upcoming election. We dont want a situation where someone will mislead the electorates with sweet words and falsehood to vote wrongly in the upcoming general elections.



We must make informed decisions and we can only make informed decisions if we have the information and so we will furnish Ghanaians with the information in order for them to make informed decisions in the December 7 polls," he said.



His challenge to the previous NDC administration is born out of the 8th town hall meeting which will be led by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Tuesday Evening August 18, 2020, to render an account of their stewardship to Ghanaians.



He said that the Akufo-Addo led NPP government is not afraid of accountability, explaining why the town hall meeting has been introduced to render an account of good governance to Ghanaians.



He added that the town hall meeting will be focusing on delivering infrastructure; thus, the infrastructure will not be based on one or two infrastructures situated in Accra alone but rather the entire country.



People will see that infrastructure has been equitably distributed to the extent that every district in the country has its fair share of it. Again, Ghanaians will see that there is a certain infrastructure that costs the nation a huge amount but the same amount has been used to build more infrastructure than one. For instance, Ghanaians will see the value for money as the money that went into constructing one interchange, the same amount has been used to construct more than one interchange under the Akufo-Addo government.



We are coming to render an account of the infrastructure we have done and how much they cost the nation and we will urge the previous government to bring out the cost of their infrastructure and compare them to ours so that Ghanaians will see the difference and decide which government deserve another chance to manage the economy and the country. We believe in accountability and that explains why the NPP government hurriedly passed the Right to Information Bill, he dared.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
South Africa: Eastern Cape ready for level 2 of lockdown

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has welcomed the countrys move to level 2 of lockdown, highlighting the provinces measures to deal with the eased restrictions.

On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Cabinets decision to move to level 2 of lockdown by easing restrictions to reignite the economy and return operations for a number of sectors.

In a bid to continue the fight against the Coronavirus, Mabuyane said his province is looking into implementing ward command councils to bring stakeholders together to collectively fight the virus.

We are actually adopting a bottom-up approach where we are actually talking about ward command councils or a councillor being at the centre, traditional leaders, religious community and all of us mobilised together to ensure that we fight this, he said.

The Eastern Cape accounts for 84 092 of the total confirmed cases with 2 567 deaths and 79 947 recoveries.

With schools set to open next week, the Eastern Cape Premier said the provinces schools are ready to welcome back learners with the exception of a few glitches.

The education sector for instance is expected to receive learners on the 24th and the 31st of August, school support teams and school management teams are collaborating to manage the pandemic at school sites.

Water sanitation, personal protective equipment (PPE), nutrition and transport are in place for the return of our learners back to school, however there are still unresolved issues around a number of scholars to be transported with the Department of Education and the Department of Transport, said Mabuyane.

EC treasury allocates R341 million for assistant teachers

According to the Premier, the provincial education department received 5 608 comorbidity applications from teachers. The department approved 2 230, while 589 applications have been declined. The remaining 2 763 are pending.

The teachers whose comorbidity applications have been approved will work from home to assist the assistant teacher, said Mabuyane.

Consultations are underway for the recruitment of assistant teachers for which the provincial treasury has allocated R341 million.

Drink responsibly and prevent second wave

With alcohol and tobacco making a return under level 2 of lockdown, the Premier urged consumers to be responsible in their consumption.

We welcome the return of alcohol because a lot of people work in that sector. We do want this economy to return back to work but we need to work together with the industry. We have started working with the industry and we have met them on numerous occasions where we are discussing ways of having campaigns to promote responsible drinking.

The onus is now on those people who uses these products to use them knowing fully well that we still have the virus in our midst which requires people to behave in a manner that assists us to prevent a second wave of infections, said the Premier.

Mabuyane urged consumers to adhere to regulations and health protocols such as not sharing cigarettes or drinking from the same glass.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Although the national lockdown was eased on May 17, Tasmac continued to keep outlets in Chennai closed. Representational Image

Chennai: Tasmac liquor vends opened in Chennai after almost five months but received a cold response from people who consume alcholic drink.

No less than 640 outlets run by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) opened for business on Tuesday but customers did not exactly queueu up in this coronavirus-hit city.

It was on March 25 that liquor shops in Chennai were shut down as part of the nationwide shutdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Although the national lockdown was eased on May 17, Tasmac continued to keep outlets in Chennai closed despite reopening outlets in the the neighbouring districts of Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur.

Chennai was perhaps the only major city in the country that had a long ban on liquor sale.

An employee at a Tasmac outlet at Poonamallee said his shop witnessed no rush for liquor on re-opening day. Things were 'normal'. "I think people dont have money to spend on liquor," he said.

Tasmac and the Chennai police made elaborate arrangements at the outlets to enforce social distancing norms. Pandals with barricades were erected in front of the shops to prevent traffic congestion.

Tasmac officials in Chennai North and Central regions also reported poor sales. 'We expected a big rush for coupons in the early morning.

Social distancing circles were drawn and barricades were placed to regulate customers.Yet, there were few takers for the coupons."

One resident of the Ramapuram area said he saw no big crowd at the outlet near his house. "Those who really wanted to drink got stuff in the black market even during the lockdown.

There was enough liquor being smuggled in from the neighbouring districts anyway. And nobody wants to risk a COVID-19 infection by queuing up in front of shops, he said.

However, the government continued to draw criticism from various quarters including opposition leader M K Stalin, who said it would result in a spike in COVID 19 cases.

Rajeshwari Priya, leader of Anaithu Makkal Arasiyal Katchi, staged a dharna outside a Tasmac outlet in Anna Nagar to protest against the governments decision to reopen liquor shops in the city.

Tasmac earlier had maintained that outlets will be open from 10 am to 7 pm and only 500 tokens would be issued at any store per day. In the pre lockdown period, Tasmac sold liquor worth Rs15 crore per day in the Chennai market.

Tasmac made up its mind to reopen outlets in Chennai after the Supreme Court endorsed direct sale of liquor during the lockdown. The Supreme Court order on June 12 allowed the state government to come up with ways to sell liquor, online or through physical outlets.

As a result, Tasmac agreed to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the sale of liquor in retail shops. On May 15 the top court, however, stayed the Madras High Courts order on May 8 to close all state-run liquor shops in Tamil Nadu, with immediate effect to maintain social distancing norms.
At least one person has been killed after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit the Philippines early Tuesday, causing buildings to collapse.

The tremor stuck in the Samar Sea around 8.03am local time (00.03GMT), just a few miles east of the town of Cataingan, which was badly damaged.

The body of a man was pulled from the ruins of a three-storey house in the town, according to a local reporter who also saw the man's wife being rescued alive.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Philippines around 8am local time Tuesday, badly damaging buildings in the town of Cataingan, on Masbate Island

At least one man has been killed after a three-storey house collapsed on him as he and his wife slept, with others left injured (pictured left and right, damage in the town of Cataingan)

Roads were cracked and buildings badly damaged in the impoverished town of Cataingan, which was badly hit by the quake

Members of the Philippines fire service treat a wounded man in Cataingan, a town which was badly damaged by the quake

People were filmed fleeing into the streets as buildings in the impoverished town of 50,000 residents fell down around them.

The tremor was powerful enough to crack roads, with one emergency worker describing it as 'really strong'.

Local radio station reporter Christopher Decamon said he was broadcasting at the time the quake hit, prompting him to run from the building.

While outside, he saw the man's body being pulled from the rubble of a house. His death has since been confirmed by police.

So far there have no other reports of casualties but search and rescue efforts are still under way.

The quake struck as the archipelago battles surging numbers of coronavirus infections, with more than 164,000 cases in total and restrictions on movement across the country.

A lockdown affecting a quarter of the population, including the capital Manila, will be eased Wednesday.

In Masbate's Palanas town, police chief Captain Alvin Guerina told AFP that several patients, including a pregnant woman about to go into labour, were evacuated from a hospital as a precaution in case of aftershocks.

So far at least 14 aftershocks have been recorded by the Philippine seismology office, with the strongest registering at a magnitude 3.5.

A video posted on Facebook and verified by AFP shows light damage to a food market in Cataingan.

The tremor struck at 8.03am local time in the Samar Sea, off the coast of Masbate Island a just a few miles from the town of Cataingan

Two people on a scooter approach a large crack across a road which opened up after an earthquake struck the Philippines on Tuesday morning

Shop workers attempt to clear up the mess caused when the quake toppled over stacks of drinks and other glass bottles

Rubble lies in the street after it was shaken loose from a house by the earthquake

A partially-damaged building is seen in the town of Cataingan, in the Philippines, after a strong earthquake struck the region

Overturned buckets and small fish were scatted on the ground and chunks of cement had fallen from a pillar. People stood outside on the street.

Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon tweeted photos taken by his colleagues showing buildings in Cataingan with corrugated iron roofs fallen in.

Other photos taken in nearby Uson town show a sealed road with a large crack across it.

The quake was felt hundreds of kilometres away.

In the city of Iloilo about 250 miles southwest of Masbate in the neighbouring Visayas region, residents ran out onto the streets.

'It was strong, dizzying,' police Colonel Eric Dampal told AFP.

'Almost everyone inside buildings rushed to the streets. Up to now, they're still outside.'

The Philippines is situated on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

A 6.8-magnitude quake struck the southern island of Mindanao in December, killing at least three people, injuring dozens and damaging buildings.

It hit as the island was still recovering from a string of deadly quakes in October.
Pakistan: New Shipping Policy aims to promote Blue Economy: Ali Zaidi

August 18,2020 | Source: Business Recorder

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi has said that new National Shipping Policy was aimed at to promote Blue Economy in the country. In his statement on social media networking site, he said that "we will overcome challenges and deliver our best realising and maximizing the enormous potential of Blue Economy in Pakistan."



He said that government is moving towards all potentials sectors step by step and the Shipping Policy announced recently. He said that deep sea Fishing Policy would be announced by mid of next month. Currently the fish and seafood exports of Pakistan are limited to $450 million only, but it can be enhanced to $ 2.5 billion if we have a proper deep sea fishing policy.
Donald Trump's campaign embraced help from Russia in the 2016 presidential election and his administration obstructed an investigation into election interference, a Senate Intelligence Committee report said Tuesday.

The thousand-page report is the most detailed account yet of the connections between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia, and includes allusions to possible compromising material the Russians posses related to Mr Trump.

"Separate from Steele's memos, which the Committee did not use for support, the Committee became aware of three general sets of allegations," all of which involve women, with two mentioning the existence of a tape, according to NBC News.

The report claims that Mr Trump's campaign eagerly accepted the help from Russia, and that it considered the Democratic National Committee's hacked emails their "October surprise." Mr Trump's team is accused of using the information despite knowing it was obtained and disseminated by Russian intelligence agents,

"While the GRU and WikiLeaks were releasing hacked documents, the Trump Campaign sought to maximise the impact of those materials to aid Trump's electoral prospects," the report says. "To do so, the Trump campaign took actions to obtain advance notice about WikiLeaks releases of Clinton emails; took steps to obtain inside information about the content of releases once WikiLeaks began to publish stolen information; created messaging strategies to promote and share the materials in anticipation of and following their release; and encouraged further theft of information and continued leaks."

Paul Manafort, who is serving a seven-year prison term after being convicted of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to defraud the US relating to his ties Ukrainian politicians, was also implicated in the report. It claims to have evidence that Mr Manafort may have been connected to the Russian's efforts to steal the Democrats' emails, but that no connection was ever proven in court.

The report also claims that the Russians took advantage of Mr Trump's transition team, which was filled with individuals who were inexperienced and manipulated by the Russians.

"Russia and other countries took advantage of the Transition Team's inexperience, transparent opposition to Obama Administration policies, and Trump's desire to deepen ties with Russia, to pursue unofficial channels through which Russia could conduct diplomacy," the report says. "The lack of vetting of foreign interactions by Transition officials left the Transition open to influence and manipulation by foreign intelligence services, government leaders, and co-opted business executives."

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The report concludes that "Russian officials, intelligence services, and others acting on the Kremlin's behalf were capable of exploiting the Transition's shortcomings for Russia's advantage. Based on available information it is possible -- and even likely -- that they did so."

The report was declassified at the request of outgoing Senate Intelligence Committee chair Senator Richard Burr.

Mr Burr agreed to step down as the chair while he's being investigated by the FBI over whether he sold stock based on insider information relating to the coronavirus.
Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union

Commission (AUC), has saluted President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for making a strong and legitimate case for the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra.



This included the Government contributing financial resources to ensure that the AfCFTA Secretariat was built.



Mr Mahamat gave the commendation when President Akufo-Addo commissioned the Secretariat building

and handed it over to the AUC.



He (Mahamat) also paid special tribute to President Issoufou Mohamaddou of Niger and Champion of the flagship AfCFTA project.



Mr Mahamat said President Mohamaddou's strong and sustained advocacy oversaw the fastest ratification and entry into force of an AU instrument, second only to that of the AU Constitutive Act; adding; "Merci Monsieur le President!"



He expressed gratitude to the unfailing support and leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Chair of African Union (AU), who made the operationalisation of the AfCFTA a priority during his tenure.



"Indeed, today marks a historic milestone in the road to fulfill the vision of our Founding Fathers for Continental Integration, that dates back to the inaugural session of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, articulated most strongly by then President Kwame Nkrumah in his landmark speech," Mr Mahamat said.



"We stand here today despite a global Covid-19 pandemic that has caused major disruptions to global trade and the movement of goods and people."



It was, therefore, fitting that the Secretariat had its home in Accra, he said.



Mr Mahamat said Ghana was a historical trading centre for gold, cocoa and timber among other valuable goods and remained an important centre of commerce on the Continent and beyond.



"Accra is also, and has always been, a guardian of our collective Pan African memory, not only as a home of thought but also as a port of safety and freedom for fellow Africans fleeing persecution, and for people of African descent seeking refuge or simply coming back home."



He said while the operationalisation of the Secretariat was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the same pandemic had also magnified the urgent need to accelerate economic integration on the Continent.



The crisis with its negative impact on trade and the multilateral system, was also an opportunity to rethink the value chains and reduce the reliance on traditional supply routes, he said.



"To ensure we can absorb the negative impacts of future pandemics, we must integrate our markets, accelerate industrial development, enhance competitiveness to ensure a prosperous, peaceful and integrated future for our people," Mr Mahamat stated.



"When Covid-19 hit, Africa took strong and early action, to the surprise of many, adding that AU agency for public health emergencies was ably coordinating the continental response.



"It is this same spirit of unity that has brought us here..., to this physical manifestation of a key economic Pan African agenda that will be led by Mr Wamkele Mwene, the Secretary-General of AfCFTA, whose vast experience, vision and competence belies his relative youth.



"Congratulations and Im sure you will take care of this beautiful headquarters!"

Source: GNA









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Jaime Santos, a local oil field worker who is the owner of two small companies, engaged the community in a treasure hunt Saturday with a prize worth at least $600 up for grabs.

Santos aimed to provide an activity to bring families together with a hunt that could take anywhere from a day to a month. He achieved his goal but at the early end of the estimate as a family found the treasure early Saturday evening which contained over 19 ounces of pure silver in coins and bars along with $40 worth of Sacagawea coins.

In total, the treasure is worth around $600 or more depending on the value of silver at the time. Santos said he wanted to create a treasure that was worthy of the search.

I actually got the idea because in 2013 I heard of a similar story like this of a man from New Mexico, his name was Forrest Fenn, who was a successful art dealer, and he ended up getting cancer, Santos said. Before he died he wanted to do something spontaneous, and since he always liked the outdoors, he hid a treasure chest somewhere in the Rocky Mountains that was worth anywhere from $2 million to $5 million dollars.

Although he knows his own hidden treasure is not anywhere near the millions of dollars as the one from New Mexico, he said several hundred dollars is a good amount for anybody that puts time and effort into looking for it.

The New Mexico treasure was found last month somewhere in the Rocky Mountains after being hidden for years. Santos was upset as he had gone several times to find the treasure to no avail, but he enjoyed tremendously the experience. It is something he is already seeing people in Laredo do as he posted the clues to the treasure at midnight Saturday morning.

I already have people sending me videos that they are out there, Santos said.

Santos enjoys the idea that someone who needs the money could find it, but he is more proud to be helping families come together and stay active outdoors to find the treasure.

When I came up with this idea, I thought, What can I do so people can enjoy the outdoors and still be safe? and this idea helps people stay with their immediate family and go to the parks and the trails, Santos said.

Santos said he started the treasure hunt the week before school starts to allow for the most engagement.

Although this is the first treasure Santos has hidden around the city, he said this is not the first time he has given away money.

I used to always do this on Facebook where I would just give away money spontaneously as I would tell people that I am doing a raffle for $100 and all you have to do is tag friends and I will give you a number,  Santos said. I never charged anybody at all. I just wanted to help somebody out.

He thought of doing the same thing with this treasure. However, he said money never changes in value but silver does, and it can go up for the individual that finds the treasure whether it is in a day, a week or a month, and the person can also save the treasure to wait for the value to increase.

Hiding silver might be worth double or even triple depending on when somebody does find it as people can wait and hold onto it when silver reaches its peak in value and then go ahead and sell it, Santos said.

He said the idea of the treasure hunt was only developed in the past two weeks as he began creating a Facebook profile and getting a small following of more than 500 people. It increased overnight as word spread about the treasure.

Before the treasure was located Saturday less than a day into the hunt, Santos expressed uncertainty at how long it would take for somebody to find it.

I didnt want to make it too easy where I just put the clues out and someone would find it within the next hour. But, it is possible that somebody could find it in a day, but it might take a week, two weeks or even a month, Santos said. But I made it possible where it is hard but it is doable to find it. It is out of my control at this point.

After the quick end to his first treasure hunt, Santos is already getting to work on the next one.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
Joseph James DeAngelo, charged with being the Golden State Killer, is helped up by his attorney, Diane Howard, as Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman enters the courtroom in Sacramento, Calif., on June 29, 2020. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo)

Victims Call Golden State Killer Sick Monster, Subhuman

SACRAMENTO, Calif.Victim after victim lined up on Tuesday to describe Joseph DeAngelo as a sick monster, horrible man, and subhuman who stole their innocence and changed their lives during a more than decade-long reign of rape and murder that earned him the nickname Golden State Killer.

The daughter of one rape victim gave him an obscene hand gesture and cursed him during the first of four days of hearings in Sacramento County Superior Court before he is formally sentenced to life in prison on Friday.

Some read statements on behalf of their loved ones who could not testify in person, while others proudly gave their names now that DeAngelo, 74, is heading to prison.

He and his knife had complete control over me for the next two hours, the daughter of rape survivor Patricia Murphy read from her mothers statement. He truly is an evil monster with no soul.

Murphy in her own statement raised her middle finger and said DeAngelo can go straight to hell.

DeAngelo is a former police officer in California who eluded capture for four decades. The scope of his crimes is simply staggering, prosecutors said in a court summary released Monday13 known murders and nearly 50 rapes between 1975 and 1986.

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. speaks at the Sacramento County courtroom during a hearing on crimes attributed to the Golden State Killer, in Sacramento, Calif., on June 29, 2020. (Fred Greaves/Reuters)

Sixteen of his Sacramento County rape victims began confronting him in a courthouse that is otherwise still sealed from the public because of the coronavirus. A similar number of people planned to tell Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Bowman on Wednesday and Thursday how DeAngelos crimes changed their lives.

Pete Schultz recalled how DeAngelo performed horrific acts against our mother while she was tied and blindfolded. He himself was tied to a bedpost at age 11, while his 7-year-old sister was locked in her room during the attack on Wini Schultz.

Pete Schultz called DeAngelo a sick monster as the killer sat in an orange jail jumpsuit, wearing a mask to slow the spread of the coronavirus, staring straight ahead.

In June, DeAngelo pleaded guilty to 13 murders and 13 rape-related charges. He also publicly admitted dozens more sexual assaults for which the statute of limitations had expired.

Defense attorneys did not respond to requests for comment and did not file a reply to prosecutors outline of the case.

All told, he admitted harming 87 victims at 53 separate crime scenes spanning 11 California counties in a plea deal that spares him the death penalty, prosecutors said.

Thats a larger number of victims than prosecutors cited after his admission in June to 161 crimes involving 48 people, but Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten said the higher number includes those who chose not to participate in having DeAngelo publicly admit to crimes in which he could not be formally charged.

His nicknames showed the escalation and geographic sweep of his crimes, prosecutors said: the Visalia Ransacker, thought to be responsible for about 100 burglaries and one slaying in that San Joaquin Valley farm town; the East Area Rapist; the Original Night Stalker. And finally, the Golden State Killer when investigators eventually linked the crimes that stretched across much of the state.
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India has ramped up its posts and the required facilities to deal with the Chinese planning to stretch the standoff even in winters.We have increased the number of posts in the eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control, said a military source. This was done after an analysis of the Chinese preparations and the requirements of the winter conditions.

The new posts will help in better observation to quell any future adventurism from the Chinese side, the source said. Chinese preparations confirm their intentions to continue the standoff deployment even in winters.

In winters the temperature hovers around minus 40-45 degree Celsius. This format of forward deployment is going to be a departure from the traditional PLA deployment of keeping troops in permanent locations much behind the LAC, said the source. The Indian Armys deployment has been in areas in isolated and high-altitude locations along the de facto border.

Meanwhile, there is a possibility of diplomatic-level talks as a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) is expected this week. There was a meeting on Monday between the senior military and political leaders to discuss the ongoing situation and the future responses, said the source.

There are around 40,000 troops on either side in eastern Ladakh with commensurate deployment of tanks, artillery and missile launchers. The two sides have also mobilised their fighter aircraft for a quick response. The standoff began in the first week of May and peaked with the clashes at Finger 4, the northern bank of the Pangong Tso. The Chinese followed it up with deployment of their troops in the Hot Spring Sector, Galwan Valley, and Depsang Bulge.There is a precautionary deployment from the Indian side all along the 3,488 km long LAC.

Indias sensitivity to trade policies is rooted in trauma

An article in the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece, The Global Times said Indias sensitiveness toward alleged foreign economic threats was deep-rooted in the historical trauma that New Delhi experienced with Western Imperialism.The article, which quoted Chinese experts, went on to say that India failed to achieve basic agricultural self-reliance until the 1990s.
At the Global Vaccine Summit he hosted in June, Boris Johnson was keen to remind the audience that it was a British doctor, Edward Jenner, who pioneered vaccinations. Now its the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford thats leading the drive for an inoculation against coronavirus.

The pandemic has blown every leader off course, but Johnson has been among the hardest hit. The UK recorded the worst death toll in Europe and the biggest economic meltdown mere months after leaving the European Union. Johnson concedes there will have to be an inquiry into his handling of it.

Thats why the UK coming up with the first universally recognized barrier against Covid-19 is the ultimate prize for a government that after another humiliating policy U-turn needs to redeem itself somehow. Brexit, after all, was about showing the world the UK was better off alone even during a crisis.

Johnson is the eternal optimist, Covid-19 vaccine is the modern-day Holy Grail and the UK finds itself the knight leading the quest for a globally accepted inoculation. The reason why, despite missteps over procuring personal protective equipment for health workers and testing for the virus, is because of its history of medical research.

It explains why ministers moved quickly to take control of the push, according to conversations with scientists, company officials, and government advisers.

The UK is looking for a place in the world as an independent entity and has an opportunity to show real leadership in the vaccine space, said John Bell, professor of medicine at the University of Oxford, who is working with the government on its vaccine program.

Given the governments track record during the pandemic, the risks are high. There has been little sign of public backslapping since the team at Oxfordthe alma mater of Johnson and his two Tory predecessorsbecame a clear frontrunner in July, a month after the prime ministers reminder of the UKs scientific pedigree.

Read More: Covid Vaccine Front-Runner Is Months Ahead of Her Competition

The Jenner Institute was well positioned to start work on a shot after years of work on a related coronavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS.

So when Johnsons government found the university was talking with U.S. pharmaceutical companies about manufacturing the potential vaccine they balked at the idea and began to plot a strategy to keep it British.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc and AstraZeneca Plc were the obvious onshore manufacturers. Glaxo was conflicted, but a partnership with Astra was quickly agreed over one weekend in April. By the end of that month, the UK drugmaker and Oxford announced a deal that would see Astra take on the manufacturing and large-scale distribution. The government reviewed all the paperwork before it was signed.

But betting the house on one vaccine against a virus that has killed over 775,000 people and sickened more than 21 million wouldnt be enough if the UK was going to ensure it had access to a successful jab.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock called Kate Bingham, a venture capitalist in the health industry who had been helping the government look for new drugs and vaccines, to see if she would lead the effort.

Bingham was largely on board with chairing an official UK Vaccine Taskforce, but wanted one thing made clear: it doesnt matter how many deals the UK does, there still might not be a vaccine at the end of it. In a call with Johnson on the afternoon of May 6, Bingham agreed to take up the gig.

I really wanted him to understand that this was a heroic uphill struggle, Bingham said in an interview. Even pathogens we know lots aboutHIV and malariawe still dont have vaccines for. So I had to make sure that there werent unrealistic expectations of how doable it would be.

There are broadly four main approaches being taken to producing a Covid-19 vaccine. The UK strategy is to ensure Britain has enough potential doses from each bucket in the hope that one will be successful, but not to hoard supplies. On the contrary, part of the Global Britain brand is to share its success with the world.

So far, Binghams taskforce has bought a medley of 340 million doses from the four groups after two more deals on Friday.

Britains desire to respond to the pandemic on its own terms has been clear from the start. The country opted out of joint EU procurement programs for PPE and ventilators, which led to outcries from National Health Service workers. Ministers have repeatedly said the EU programs yielded little benefit to participants.

In a call with health ministers from Germany, France and Italy in early June, Hancock made clear the UK wasnt interested in joining the groups alliance to procure shots either, with the Netherlands taking its place. A few weeks later, the UK also ruled out joining the EUs 2 billion-euro ($2.4 billion) vaccine program, because it would have prevented Britain from having a direct hand in negotiating deals.

In Brussels, the move was seen in keeping with the UKs belief it could perform better than the EU when acting alone, according to two EU officials with knowledge of discussions between the two sides.

It seems were putting ourselves in danger of continuing to do the same thing and getting the same result: not what we wanted, said Martin McKee, professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Maybe you get lucky and they just happen to get all the aces turning up.

If the Oxford-Astra vaccine is approved before other credible alternatives, it will give Britain a much-needed shot in the arm to its reputation. With no guarantees, the best the UK can do is be prepared should things go wrong, said Bingham.

Indeed, Johnson promised in his New Year message a month before Brexit that the UK would be the the best place on Earth for quality education and cutting-edge science. Much is riding on that second pledge.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court reserved the order on a batch of pleas challenging the UGC circular mandating final term examinations in all affiliated universities by the end of September.

New Delhi [India], Aug 18 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its order on a batch of pleas challenging a circular of the University Grants Commission (UGC) mandating to conduct the final term exams in all affiliated universities by the end of September.



A bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan reserved the judgement and said it will also decide whether the states will have power under the Disaster Management Act to defer final examination till the COVID-19 situation normalises. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the UGC, told the court that there was a political somersault by the Maharashtra government in this matter. He said that on May 6, the State of Maharashtra had constituted a state-level committee by the Minister of Higher and Technical Education. Their own committee recommended that the exams can be conducted, Mehta said.



One thing I must emphasise is that the deadline was given for the benefit of the students. Its not a diktat. All universities have to start admissions of postgraduate courses. The country is working. These students are 20/21 years old. Do you really think they are not stepping out? the Solicitor General contended.



Also read: UPPSC Computer Assistant Admit Card 2019-20 Released, know how to download @uppsc.up.nic.in

Also read: SSC Delhi Police Constable Recruitment 2020: Know registration, vacancy details and how to apply

He argued that the UGCs directions are meant to ensure that the degrees of the students are provided to them at the lastest, it is for their interest only.



Mehta referred to the standard operating procedure vetted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and said the SOP talks about thermal scanning, masks, social distancing, and this was approved so as to ensure that students health was fine.

Senior advocate Vijay Navare, appearing for varsity teachers, told the court that the decision of Maharashtra government to not hold University exams was politically motivated.



Yuva Sena, which has come to court to cancel exams is headed by a ministers son, added Navare. The Attorney General of Odisha contended that under the prevailing situation of COVID-19 it is not possible to hold a conventional examination. He highlighted that it would be a Herculean task for the hostels to accommodate students, colleges have been closed since March and house owners will not be willing to accommodate students.



In the present circumstances, it would be completely impossible for the state to hold the exams as mandated by UGC, Odisha is at its peak, the Attorney General further contended. The UGC, through an affidavit, had earlier told the Supreme Court that the decision of Delhi and Maharashtra government of cancelling the final term examination directly will directly impact the standards of higher education in the country.



The affidavit was filed in on a batch of pleas challenging UGCs July 6 circular and seeking cancellation of final term examination in view of COVID-19 situation. Earlier, Delhi and Maharashtra governments had told the top court that they have cancelled the examination in the states. (ANI)

Also read: SC dismisses plea seeking postponement of NEET, JEE exams
Gisele Halimi, a French lawyer, activist and author who championed feminist causes and other human rights efforts for more than seven decades, playing a key role in the decriminalization of abortion in France, died at her home in Paris on July 28, one day after her 93rd birthday.

The death was confirmed by her son Emmanuel Faux.

As a lawyer, Ms Halimi (pronounced ah-lee-mee) frequently sought to redress injustices against women and to seek justice for victims of torture in countries like Tunisia and Algeria, both of which were under French control when she began practicing law in the postwar years.

She assumed the world was divided between oppressing and oppressed people, said Violaine Lucas, a national secretary of Choisir La Cause des Femmes, a womens rights organization that Ms. Halimi co-founded in 1971 with the author and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. These convictions were in her guts.

Image Ms. Halimis first book reflected on the celebrated case of her client Djamila Boupacha, an Algerian nationalist who was raped and tortured by the French authorities. The introduction was by Simone de Beauvoir, the cover portrait by Picasso.

Her cases were often high-profile and precedent-setting, and helped shift French laws and attitudes.
The Postal Service is in great trouble, said Sherry C. McKnight, president of the Baltimore-based Local 181 chapter of the American Postal Workers Union. Im asking you to stand with us. March with us. Be there with us so that we will be assured that the Postal Service will still be there for years to come.
From the moment Facebook acquired Oculus in 2014 weve been expecting this news, and its finally come. Starting in October, youll need a Facebook account to log into Oculus virtual reality devices, including all Oculus hardware being released in the future, the company announced on Tuesday.

Things are a little more complicated for people who have already purchased an Oculus device and created an Oculus profile for it. In October, youll be invited to log into Facebook and merge the account with your Oculus profile. If you decline, youll be able to continue using your standalone Oculus profile until January 1, 2023, at which point the account will be retired.

If you choose not to merge your accounts at that time, you can continue using your device, but full functionality will require a Facebook account, the post explains. We will take steps to allow you to keep using content you have purchased, though we expect some games and apps may no longer work. This could be because they include features that require a Facebook account or because a developer has chosen to no longer support the app or game you purchased.

The move has been slammed by commenters on the Oculus blog (which is somewhat amusing because you need a Facebook account to post there) but honestly, the biggest surprise is that its taken this long. Facebook acquired Oculus all the way back in 2014, and always made clear that it did so to help drive VR-powered social experiences. The network has slowly been building more social features into its virtual reality world that demand a Facebook account. The companys Rec Room-like social space dubbed Facebook Horizon plans to launch in closed beta later this year.

That said, its not surprising to see a backlash. The passionate Oculus community freaked out when Facebook scooped up the Kickstarter-funded company six long years ago, and the concerns we wrote about then apply just as much now:

Heres a big one: Why dont people like Facebook? Maybe because Facebook doesnt respect them. Facebooks privacy settings are a mess, theyve shown a reckless disregard toward even allowing you any semblance of privacy, and its all headed up by a person who has repeatedly stuck his foot in his mouth when discussing these very same issues. On top of that, theres the whole If youre not buying the product, you are the product philosophyFacebook data-mines your info and sells it wholesale to advertisers. What kind of ad-integration (if any) will we see on the Rift? What kind of data will Facebook take away from our play-sessions? It all sounds so tin-foil hat, and yet considering Facebooks history, its not surprising people are worried.

While the Oculus blog post announcing the change focuses on shared social experiences and community standards, it also makes clear that merging Facebook and Oculus accounts will also result in a more highly targeted ad experience.
The opposition in Belarus has launched a coordinating council to organize a transfer of power, a move embattled President Alyaksandr Lukashenka described as an attempt to seize power following a controversial election and brutal crackdown on his opponents.



The opposition council composed of civil society members met on August 18, saying it represents the people and is seeking to negotiate a peaceful transition of power "without political goals or a program."



"[The opposition] want to toss us aside and demand to hand over power, no less. Thus, we view this unambiguously: This is an attempt at a coup, with all ensuing consequences," Lukashenka said during his meeting with the Belarusian Security Council.



Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition presidential candidate who claims to have won the August 9 election, said in an online video that she was prepared to temporarily take over the leadership.



"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader in order for the country to calm down and enter the normal rhythm," Tsikhanouskaya said in the video.



The 37-year-old political novice, who ran after other potential candidates, including her husband, were jailed or exiled, also said security and law enforcement officers would be forgiven if they abandoned Lukashenka's government. She left Belarus for Lithuania after the election amid reports that she and her family were threatened by authorities.



Volha Kovalkova, Tsikhanouskaya's representative, said at a press conference establishing the coordinating council that she expected the exiled opposition figure would soon return to Minsk, to act as a guarantor in a negotiated transition of power.



"We are operating solely through legal means," Kovalkova said. "The situation is critical. The authorities have no choice but to come to dialogue. The situation will only get worse."



Official results from an August 9 election gave Lukashenka just over 80 percent of the vote, a figure that immediately prompted allegations of vote-rigging.



Tsikhanouskaya, who drew tens of thousands of people to her campaign rallies, claims to have actually received between 60 and 70 percent of the vote.



The scale of the domestic and international backlash appears to have caught Lukashenka off guard as he finds himself in the precarious position of facing international isolation and sustained street and industrial protests.



Nearly 7,000 people were detained, hundreds were injured, and at least two people died in a crackdown on protesters. Some of those who have been released since have complained of beatings and terrible conditions while in detention.



The repression only emboldened the opposition as employees at several state-controlled companies have left their factories to join thousands in the streets demanding Lukashenka step down.



Workers at a major potash mining facility, Belruskali, were the latest to go on strike, and union leaders told RFE/RLs Belarus Service that operations at six facilities had been halted. Belarus supplies almost one-fifth of the world's potash, a key fertilizer for farmers around the globe.



The election rigging and brutal crackdown on protesters has led to small but significant fractures in the regime, with the Belarusian ambassadors to Spain and Slovakia coming out in support of protesters demands and employees from state media resigning. There have also been scattered reports of police and security officials resigning.



On the international stage, diplomacy is intensifying over the crisis.



Ahead of an EU emergency meeting on the situation on August 19, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke separately by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country has close economic and military ties with Belarus.



According to her press service, Merkel told Putin on August 18 that the Belarusian authorities should refrain from violence against peaceful demonstrators and release political prisoners. She also said Lukashenka should hold talks with opposition groups.



The Russian side emphasized that any outside attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of the country, which would lead to a further escalation of the crisis, was unacceptable, the Kremlin said in its readout of the call. The hope is for an early normalization of the situation was expressed.



European Council President Charles Michel also held a phone call with Putin, during which he expressed concern about election irregularities and violence against protesters. The two discussed the best way to encourage intra-Belarusian dialogue for a peaceful end to the crisis, a European diplomat told RFE/RL.



In Lithuania, one of the EU members taking the lead as events unfold in its neighbor, the countrys parliament voted on August 18 to impose unspecified sanctions on Belarus and called for the international rejection of the legitimacy of Lukashenka.



The EU is already preparing a raft of sanctions on Belarus officials responsible for vote-rigging and violence.



U.S. President Donald Trump said he would talk to Russia "at the appropriate time" in the wake of protests, adding that "It doesn't seem like it's too much democracy there in Belarus."
By Yingzhi Yang and Brenda Goh

BEIJING/SHANGHAI/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's potential acquisition of TikTok's U.S. operations is the latest twist in a two-year rollercoaster for the short video app, which has come under growing scrutiny from overseas governments as its global popularity soars.

With TikTok, owner ByteDance became the first Chinese company to achieve global success with a consumer app. But amid rising U.S.-China tensions, the White House has threatened to ban TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps, citing national security risks.

U.S. President Donald Trump has now given ByteDance and Microsoft until Sept. 15 to reach a deal. Microsoft is also looking to buy the app's Canadian, Australian and New Zealand services.

Following is a timeline of TikTok's rise to global prominence and into the crosshairs of the Trump administration.

2012 - Zhang Yiming founds ByteDance in Beijing.

2016 - ByteDance launches Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

2017 - TikTok is launched. ByteDance acquires U.S. video app Flipgram and lip-syncing app Musical.ly.

2018 - ByteDance integrates Musical.ly into TikTok. Indonesian authorities ban TikTok for containing pornography, inappropriate content and blasphemy. The ban is lifted a week later after TikTok agrees to remove all negative content from the app and open an office in Indonesia.

February 2019 - ByteDance agrees to pay a $5.7 million fine to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over Musical.ly's illegal collection of personal information from minors.

March 2019 - TikTok surpasses 1 billion downloads globally on Apple's App Store and Google Play.

April 2019 - A court in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu asks the Indian federal government to ban downloads of TikTok, which it said encouraged pornography. A temporary ban lasts for two weeks.

Late 2019 - The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States begins reviewing TikToks purchase of Musical.ly.

April 2020 - TikTok hits 2 billion downloads globally.

Story continues

May 2020 - TikTok appoints former Walt Disney streaming chief Kevin Mayer as its chief executive.

June 10, 2020 - European Union regulators begin to scrutinize TikTok's practices after the Netherlands' data protection commission decided to open an investigation into the companys policies to protect children's data.

June 29, 2020 - TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps are banned by India with the government citing security concerns. The ban came after a deadly border conflict between India and China earlier in the month.

July 6, 2020 - When asked by Fox News if the United States was looking at a potential TikTok ban, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says: "we are taking this very seriously and we are certainly looking at it," adding that TikTok user data could end up "in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party."

July 7, 2020 - Trump suggests a TikTok ban could be deployed to punish China for the outbreak of the coronavirus.

July 20, 2020 - Australia is scrutinising TikTok for risks it may pose relating to potential foreign interference and data privacy issues, government sources tell Reuters.

July 29, 2020 - Lawmakers from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party decide to urge the government to take steps to limit the use of TikTok, concerned that user data may end up in the hands of the Chinese government, public broadcaster NHK reports.

July 31, 2020 - Trump tells reporters he plans to ban TikTok in the United States within 24 hours.

August 2, 2020 - Microsoft announces it is exploring a purchase of TikTok's U.S., Canadian, Australian and New Zealand services.

August 4, 2020 - Australia has found no evidence showing it should restrict TikTok, the country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.

August 6, 2020 - President Trump issues executive order banning transactions with TikTok and ByteDance, starting in 45 days. The president also issues an executive order prohibiting transactions with another Chinese social media app, WeChat.

August 8, 2020 - Sources say Twitter has held preliminary negotiations about a potential acquisition of TikTok's U.S. operations, although insiders regard its bid as long-shot.

August 12, 2020 - ByteDance is in talks with India's Reliance for an investment in TikTok.

August 13, 2020 - Two Republican senators send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking for an investigation of TikTok's data collection.

August 14, 2020 - President Trump orders ByteDance to divest its interest in TikTok's U.S. operations within 90 days.

(Reporting by Yingzhi Yang and Brenda Goh; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and Nick Zieminski)
Tradespeople and business groups have warned that standards should not drop in the race to loosen licensing requirements in different states.

The federal government said it had reached an agreement with states and territories to allow automatic recognition of tradespeople who hold a licence in one state or territory to do equivalent work in another jurisdiction.

NSW electrician Mick Walden is licensed to work in other states, but fears standards will fall if tradies are automatically allowed to work anywhere in the country. Credit:Nick Moir

Plumbers and electricians are in favour of having nationally consistent standards but warned that plans to remove restrictions on tradies working in other states with different licensing requirements also risked lowering standards that protect public safety.

The unions representing plumbers and electricians said different standards across states and territories should be raised to the highest levels demanded in Queensland and Victoria for national consistency and safety.
(@FahadShabbir)

Farmers in Moldova, who have been on a strike since last week, asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to let the Moldovan government provide financial assistance to the farming industry in compensation for crop loss due to drought, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Tuesday

CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th August, 2020) Farmers in Moldova, who have been on a strike since last week, asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to let the Moldovan government provide financial assistance to the farming industry in compensation for crop loss due to drought, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Tuesday.

Moldova has for years received IMF assistance conditional on comprehensive reforms. In July, the country reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on access to a $558 million tap-in fund in macro-financial assistance to recover the economy from COVID-19 and carry out ambitious institutional reforms. Meanwhile, the farmers have been protesting since August 13. They demand that the government allot funds to increase the compensation for each lost hectare (2.5 acres) of crops from $60 to $180. Talks between protest leaders and government officials are held daily. At this point, the Moldovan cabinet is ready to pay $90 per hectare.

"We met with the prime minister [Ion Chicu] again today and we were told that the IMF does not allow assistance to farmers. So resources are there. We have prepared a letter for the IMF in which we laid out our concerns. We will wait for a reply to learn to what extent the prime minister is correct. We ask the representatives of all parliamentary factions to give us a chance for survival," Andrei Dinga, one of the protest leaders, told journalists after his meeting with Chicu.

According to Dinga, farmers are not planning to block highways but will keep up the protest until the government offers an acceptable solution.

Concerning the government's earlier proposal to offer farmers tax relief, the protest leader said it would be of no use for farmers, as they have nothing to sell at this point.

Chicu announced the tax relief proposal after meeting with the protesters on Monday. According to the plan, the government would let farmers file for a value-added tax return and introduce a moratorium on tax inspections until December 31. Additionally, the parliament would diversify subsidies toward loan interest payments for farming industry workers, facilitate the compensation scheme for crops and make it possible to restructure loan payments on equipment for 12 months.

Winter this year was anomalously warm and dry in Moldova. According to the Moldovan meteorological service, precipitation was a mere 40 percent to 70 percent of the norm in most parts of the country. Spring brought drought to a good half of Moldova's territory, while heavy rains with hail in May destroyed the crops.
The misinformation, lack of action, and utter disregard for human life as espoused by the White Houses response to the pandemic have led to over five and a half million unnecessary COVID-19 infections and over 170,000 deaths. All aspects of social life have been subordinated to keeping the financial markets afloat. The school openings this fall come at a critical intersection for Trump, who sees his reelection intimately tied to the state of the economy.

Dr. Scott Atlas at White House Press Briefing

Despite the high concentration of community transmission that has seen more than 50,000 new cases and over 1,000 deaths daily, the Trump administration falsely insists it is vital for the welfare of children to reopen schools and allow millions of students and teachers to face the consequences of the pandemic, a reckless policy supported by both the Democrats and Republicans.

Enter stage right, Dr. Scott Atlas, introduced last week by Trump at the coronavirus task force press brief as a new member and adviser to the president on the pandemic. Trump declared: The gentlemen, this is Scott Atlas  he is working with us and will be working with us on the coronavirus. He has many great ideas, and he thinks what weve done is really good, and now we will take it to a new level.

After butting heads with his medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci for several months and more recently upset by the warnings from Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House task force, about the consequences of the pandemic, the White House has turned to a stalwart of reaction. Dr. Scott Atlas has supported Trumps policies on masks, opening the economy and calling for school reopening. Not to mince words, ultra-right talkshow host Rush Limbaugh said last week, Scott Atlas is now part of the coronavirus task force meeting with the President. And he is countering Fauci.

White House sources told CNN that Dr. Atlas had been informally advising Trump for many weeks after Trump saw him speaking on Fox News, echoing the Presidents position on school reopening and general skepticism toward the pandemic and the presidents medical experts. His medical credentials will now allow Trump to align his policy with medical advice.

Dr. Atlas, who has been busy making the media circuit among conservative outlets, always prefaces his comments with remarks about strictly adhering to science and data behind the issues, before diving into a tirade against proponents of lockdowns and school closures. On Fox News, he has admitted that the goal of the administration is not to prevent infections, claiming that young people mostly have no risk of dying, and therefore whether they are infected or not is immaterial.

In an interview with former Congressman Andy Biggs of Arizona, Dr. Atlas spewed many unsubstantiated facts and calling actions that attempt to contain the virus as causing more harm or deaths. In one of his inflammatory statements from April, he said, In the absence of immunization, society needs circulation of the virus, assuming high-risk people can be isolated. This has been the essence of the herd immunity policy that has had disastrous consequences for the population of those countries adhering to them.

On May 25, in an opinion piece for the Hill, Dr. Atlas wrote, Although well-intentioned, the lockdown was imposed without consideration of its consequences beyond those directly from the pandemic. The policies have created the greatest global economic disruption in history, with trillions of dollars of lost economic output. These financial losses have been falsely portrayed as purely economic. To the contrary  we calculate that these policies will cause devastating non-economic consequences that will total millions of accumulated years of life lost in the United States, far beyond what the virus itself has caused.

In response to his claims, in an article published on June 16, the authors Tracy Mayne (HIV epidemiologist at the NYC Department of Health) and Jeremy Mayer (Professor of Policy and Government at George Mason University) began to take apart Dr. Atlas economic calculations noting the use of outdates and statistically invalid figures for his computations. They then cite that recent data shows an inverse relationship between economic downturns and mortality. Furthermore, they point out that Dr. Atlas claims regarding treatments for strokes and cancer screenings have been exaggerated and misrepresented for political purposes.

A trained medical doctor who attended the University of Chicago, former chief of neuroradiology at Stanford University Medical Center from 1998 to 2012, Atlas is currently a senior fellow at the ultra-conservative Hoover Institution. His writings attacking Obamacare and Medicaid from the right established him as an adviser to Republican politicians on health policy, and he has been at the forefront of opening the economy and schools during the pandemic.

Atlas is closely connected with Dr. John Ioannidis, Professor of Medicine, Health Research and Policy, and of Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University School of Medicine, whose attempt to play an advisory role in Trumps administration COVID-19 response, discussed below, cannot be understated. Dr. Ioannidis is the credited author of the now very discredited Santa Clara study that has been severely berated for its flawed analysis and unethical conduct.

To place Dr. Atlas and the Stanford scientist in context, in May of this year, at the height of the pandemic in the United States, Stephen C. Meyer, founder of the Discovery Institute, a right-wing think tank based in Seattle, Washington that carries out pseudo-scientific propaganda against the theory of evolution, under the label intelligent design, published an attack on the scientific advisers to the White House.

Meyer wrote in the Federalist, Since the COVID-19 outbreak, President Trump has relied on a small group of scientists within the federal health establishment. These experts, led by Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, relied on early epidemiological models to craft their policies for quarantining everyone instead of the sick and vulnerable. In giving way to these experts, Trump and other politicians have tacitly accepted science as a source of authority to the exclusion of science as a deliberative process of testing and evaluationone that requires the constant refining of models and theories and argument between scientists about how to interpret evidence.

He goes on to argue that the administration has not given economists warnings of irreversible economic consequences sufficient weight because he hadnt recruited skeptical medical scientists to counter advice provided by his present advisers. He argued that it would be prudent to recruit dissenting medical, scientific, and epidemiological experts from outside the federal institutions.

Specifically, he referred to the works of professors Jay Bhattacharya, Eran Bendavid, and John Ioannidis of the Stanford University Medical School, who had published the deeply flawed Santa Clara study, funded in part by David Neeleman, the founder of the JetBlue Airways, a vocal opponent of lockdowns. He also cited Dr. Scott Atlas as an excellent candidate given his years of policy work in support of Republican politicians, including Rudy Giuliani, as well as numerous articles citing his opposition to socialized medicine.

A BuzzFeed expose published on July 24 explains that during the initial phases of the outbreaks throughout the US, Dr. Ioannidis attempted to organize a meeting with the White House and bring an elite group of scientists to persuade Trump that locking the country down would pose serious dangers. The statement submitted by Ioannidis cautioned the president against shutting down the country for a very long time and jeopardizing so many lives in doing this. However, these recommendations were based on little more than intuition and inflated scientific credentials.

Though the meeting never took place, shortly after receiving this letter at the end of March, Trump suddenly announced during one of his coronavirus task force briefs that he had set Easter as the date to reopen the country after the nation had just entered into lockdown. In an email to his colleagues, Ioannidis wrote, I think our ideas have infiltrated the White House. Without testing their ideas and in complete disregard for the growing catastrophe developing in Europe and New York, these scientists allowed the social interests of big business and the Trump administration to override their scientific principles.

Despite Ioannidis claim that the virus posed a low risk to the population, several studies published in the following two months indicated that the lockdowns were highly effective in halting the progress of the virus, preventing millions of infections and saving millions of lives. These include the Imperial college study on Estimating the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 in Europe by Bhatt et al., published on June 8, and from the University of California, Berkeley, The effects of large-scale anti-contagion policies on the COVID-19 pandemic, by Hsiang et al., that analyzed the lockdowns in six countries, including the US, noting that lockdowns had prevented over 60 million infections in April. It should be mentioned that Ioannidis had predicted that the coronavirus would cause no more than 10,000 deaths in the US.

In the Berkeley study, Professor Solomon Hsiang wrote, It was clear that the US didnt turn the volume up on policies the way that everyone else did. This has been one giant slow-motion train wreck. Sheila Jasanoff, a professor at Harvard Kennedy School who studies the role of science in politics, told Buzzfeed, It creates the impression that the work that the scientists are intending to do will be shaped by a political purpose, maybe even before they have started doing the work.

One of those invited to the meeting with Trump was Dr. David L. Katz who wrote an opinion piece on March 20, in the New York Times headlined, Is our fight against coronavirus worse than the disease? Katz was the expert cited by the reactionary Times columnist, Thomas Friedman who coined the slogan, the cure should not be worse than the disease. Dr. Katz, who has promoted the fraud science of homeopathy and energy medicine, endorsed the prospect of herd immunity and a precise surgical strikethe perspective that was the basis of the Swedish catastrophewhereby only the most vulnerable would be isolated and the young allowed to be exposed.

Herd immunity, a concept typically described in the context of a vaccine, would require more than two-thirds of the population to be infected to confer a still undetermined immunity of uncertain duration. Many more principled epidemiologists quickly came out to oppose the policy of herd immunity, as applied to the uncontrolled spread of the pandemic, explaining that even a fatality rate of 0.5 to 1 percent would lead to the deaths of millions, to say nothing of other effects on health associated with the disease. Every reputable physician and infectious disease specialist has opposed herd immunity and called a massive public infrastructure program of testing, tracing and isolation to counter the pandemic.

Stanford University, a world-renowned institution with endowments of more than $27 billion, has established itself as one of the wealthiest private schools in America. Surrounded by the worlds largest tech firms, Google, Apple, and Facebook, firms created for the most part by former students, it has given birth to Silicon Valleyhome to 74 billionaires. At the same time, 16.3 million people across the country remain unemployed.

It is not surprising that Stanford has become the center of reaction against efforts to contain and mitigate the pandemic. It exemplifies the utter corruption of principles, where science conforms to political expediency instead of directing public policy in a humane and farsighted fashion.
The National Investigation Agency has arrested an ophthalmologist from a medical college in Bengaluru for allegedly being in touch with Islamic State operatives, working to develop a medical and a weaponry-related applications to help terrorist cadres and furthering its activities in the country, officials said Tuesday.

Abdur Rahman, 28, working at M S Ramaiah Medical College, was taken into custody on Monday in connection with the Islamic State Khorasan Province case being probed by the agency, they said.

The ISKP case was initially registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell in March, 2020, after the arrest of a Kashmiri couple -- Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh -- from Okhla Vihar, Jamia Nagar in the national capital.

The couple having affiliations with the ISKP, an affiliate group of Islamic State, were allegedly involved in subversive and anti-national activities and were in touch with a member of the Abu Dhabi module of the ISIS, Abdullah Basith, who was arrested in a separate NIA case and lodged in Tihar jail.

"During interrogation, arrested accused Rahman confessed that he was conspiring with accused Sami and other Syria-based ISIS operatives on secure messaging platforms to further ISIS activities. He was in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured ISIS cadres in the conflict zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of ISIS fighters," NIA spokesperson Sonia Narang said.

The NIA has found that Rahman allegedly toured Syria and visited an ISIS medical camp in early 2014 for treatment of the terrorists for 10 days and returned to India.

After Rahman's arrest, the NIA carried out searches at three of his premises and seized digital devices, mobile phone, laptop containing incriminating material, Narang said.

Besides Rahman and the Kashmir couple, the agency had also arrested two Pune residents -- Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri -- for allegedly being part of the conspiracy to further the activities of ISIS/ISKP in India and to carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests.
By this time next year, Microsoft 365 apps and services will no longer support Internet Explorer. The tech giant is bidding farewell to IE 11 as well as Microsoft Edge Legacy.

The company will be withdrawing support for the browser in a phased manner. Starting November 30, the Microsoft Teams web app will no longer support IE 11. By August 17, 2021, the browser will no longer be supported by the remaining Microsoft 365 apps and services.

Meanwhile, it is also ending support for the Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop app on March 9, 2021. After this date, the desktop app will no longer receive new security updates.

Image: Microsoft

The tech major has reportedly been planning to cut support for the Internet Explorer brand for quite some time now, a move which first became apparent in 2015 with the company rolling out the new Edge browser under the codename 'Project Spartan'.
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Steam Engine museum @ Medemblik, Netherlands



The other day my wife and I visited my good friend and spanner mater Peter and his wife Judith. They moved house some 1,5 years ago. They live in a small village just south of Medemblik on the IJsselmeer. Right there is also the Dutch Steamengine museum.



Peter and I had visited it once before, many years ago whilst touring around the IJsselmeer in our Spiders. We decided to re-visit it with the four of us.



https://stoommachinemuseum.nl/english/



From the website:



Quote: The museum is established in the old pumping station Vier Noorder Koggen. The land in this part of the country is far lower than the average sealevel. It was not always like this. Natural causes and influence by man caused soil subsidence. In other words: the land is about three meters lower than sea level nowadays. When it was not longer possible to drain the land at low tide the Dutch had to turn to windmills with paddle wheels, still a common view. Unfortunately paddle wheels can not raise the water higher 1.5 meters. So we needed two in a row. Great! But mills have a weak spot They need wind. Even in windy Holland the wind force is not always sufficient to run the mills. To make things worse: mills could not deliver water to the former Zuiderzee when the tide was too high. What to do?







The Dutch were very late with implementing steam engines. It was not until the 1850s that steam power became affordable and soon steam power turned out to be cheaper than maintaining a mill. So in 1869 the auxiliary pumping station was built. Just to pump when the mills could not. In 1897 the paddle wheels and archimedean screw pumps were replaced by four centrifugal pumps. Two of those are still present in the old part of the museum. The beautiful steam engines of 1897 were replaced by two electric motors, in 1940. One is still there and we can run it on the electricity of the nearby generator, driven by the Stork engine.



In 1907 the building was enlarged and a big centrifugal pump was installed, driven by a Deutz gas engine. This made 15 windmills redundant.



This gas engine did not satisfy and was replaced by a steam engine in 1924.



The big pump still functions and can deliver 450.000 liters a minute. On Super Steam Days we demonstrate this pump, driven by a 550 hp uniflow steam engine.

Apart from the fact that I am always interested in these sort of museum, I also wanted to see some of the steam engines on display. Sort of getting a bit of inspiration for my own feeble attempt of building model (steam) engines.



(https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-d...-building.html)



So we drove up to Peter and Judith in the Jaguar. About an hour and a half. We had a loverly time, catching up and admiring all the work they have put into their new home, an old farmhouse. After lunch we drove over to the museum. About ten minutes along the dike of the IJsselmeer.







Outside the museum there is a large collection of various steam driven machinery. The largest one, being the oldest dredger of the Netherlands! Dredging has always been an important aspect of Dutch water management. T







To date, the Dutch are dredging all over the world and every day there is dredging ongoing all along the Dutch coastline and along various rivers.



All kinds of steam machinery:







This is, or used to be perhaps is a more apt description, triple expansion steam engine.







When you step into the museum you enter a room which holds all the various model steam engines. Absolutely fascinating!















Lets look at some of the real machinery on display and come back to some of these models later:



Here you see one of the, original, main pumps of this pumping station (or gemaal as we call it)







I asked our ladies to stand next to it, to give some idea about the size of it!







These are centrifugal pumps. The outer casing of these pumps is often referred to as slakkenhuis (cochlea) because they do resemble them.



On the other side of the museum they had a slightly smaller centrifugal pump, opened up:







Some more models:















Peter taking it all in!







They had steam up and quite a few of the engines were running. This here was a beautiful triple expansion engine:







The museum is all run and maintained by volunteers. Some of these gents were ex merchant navy engineers like me. Had a long talk with them about the days by gone, as you do! The one worrying thing though, when editing these images at home, I realised I must be starting to look like these gents, most likely!















Here this very triple expansion engine from above. You can clearly see the diameter of the cylinders expanding. As the steam expands in the first, small cylinder, it then enters, at a lower pressure and thus higher volume into the middle cylinder etc.







The museum is all about preservation and about education. Everything is well sign posted, with explanations on what you are looking at. There is an interesting 12 minute movie about the history of the museum. Here they cut open one of the head and valve mechanism of a steam engine. The valves on many steam engines are quite complex.







They have two boilers, Both fired on wood:







Some nice old posters on the wall to give some idea about how they work:











Here what happens if a boiler runs dry. This one exploded and apparently went 300 meters into the air and dug a 3.5 deep hole upon impact back on earth!







This is the pump to watch; Fresh water feed pump:







This whole museum still feels, looks and smells like a proper engine room. There is a distinct oily smell to it all. Lovely details:



From previous posts I know quite a few of our members are likely to be interested in this: Steam Engines!The other day my wife and I visited my good friend and spanner mater Peter and his wife Judith. They moved house some 1,5 years ago. They live in a small village just south of Medemblik on the IJsselmeer. Right there is also the Dutch Steamengine museum.Peter and I had visited it once before, many years ago whilst touring around the IJsselmeer in our Spiders. We decided to re-visit it with the four of us.From the website:We specifically choose our visit date to ensure the museum had a live-steam day!Apart from the fact that I am always interested in these sort of museum, I also wanted to see some of the steam engines on display. Sort of getting a bit of inspiration for my own feeble attempt of building model (steam) engines.So we drove up to Peter and Judith in the Jaguar. About an hour and a half. We had a loverly time, catching up and admiring all the work they have put into their new home, an old farmhouse. After lunch we drove over to the museum. About ten minutes along the dike of the IJsselmeer.Outside the museum there is a large collection of various steam driven machinery. The largest one, being the oldest dredger of the Netherlands! Dredging has always been an important aspect of Dutch water management. TTo date, the Dutch are dredging all over the world and every day there is dredging ongoing all along the Dutch coastline and along various rivers.All kinds of steam machinery:This is, or used to be perhaps is a more apt description, triple expansion steam engine.When you step into the museum you enter a room which holds all the various model steam engines. Absolutely fascinating!Lets look at some of the real machinery on display and come back to some of these models later:Here you see one of the, original, main pumps of this pumping station (or gemaal as we call it)I asked our ladies to stand next to it, to give some idea about the size of it!These are centrifugal pumps. The outer casing of these pumps is often referred to as slakkenhuis (cochlea) because they do resemble them.On the other side of the museum they had a slightly smaller centrifugal pump, opened up:Some more models:Peter taking it all in!They had steam up and quite a few of the engines were running. This here was a beautiful triple expansion engine:The museum is all run and maintained by volunteers. Some of these gents were ex merchant navy engineers like me. Had a long talk with them about the days by gone, as you do! The one worrying thing though, when editing these images at home, I realised I must be starting to look like these gents, most likely!Here this very triple expansion engine from above. You can clearly see the diameter of the cylinders expanding. As the steam expands in the first, small cylinder, it then enters, at a lower pressure and thus higher volume into the middle cylinder etc.The museum is all about preservation and about education. Everything is well sign posted, with explanations on what you are looking at. There is an interesting 12 minute movie about the history of the museum. Here they cut open one of the head and valve mechanism of a steam engine. The valves on many steam engines are quite complex.They have two boilers, Both fired on wood:Some nice old posters on the wall to give some idea about how they work:Here what happens if a boiler runs dry. This one exploded and apparently went 300 meters into the air and dug a 3.5 deep hole upon impact back on earth!This is the pump to watch; Fresh water feed pump:This whole museum still feels, looks and smells like a proper engine room. There is a distinct oily smell to it all. Lovely details:
As Poland Hails US Troop Deal, Germany Fears Weakening of NATO

By Henry Ridgwell August 17, 2020

Poland has hailed a deal struck with the United States to base more troops in the country, saying it enhances the "deterrence potential" against Russian aggression.

But the U.S. move follows a decision to halve its troop presence in Germany, and other European NATO allies fear the alliance is being undermined by political infighting over defense spending levels.

There are already around 4,500 U.S. troops in Poland, part of a rotating deployment in eastern Europe. The new agreement, officially called the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), will see an additional 1,000 U.S. troops on the ground. The U.S. Army's V Corps headquarters will also be relocated to Poland from Germany. Poland says the number of U.S. troops could be rapidly increased to 20,000 if required.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed the deal Saturday in Warsaw alongside Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz.

"Troop levels matter. The number of soldiers someone has someplace  as a former tank officer, I know that," Pompeo told reporters at a Saturday press conference at the end of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe.

The deployment is strategically significant, defense analyst Jonathan Eyal of Britain's Royal United Services Institute, told VOA Monday.

"This is about a deterrence. A deterrence to Russia and a reminder to all Europeans that all member states of NATO are entitled to the same security guarantee."

Poland said the deal will help defend against threats from Russia.

"Not only the physical presence and deployment is important, but it is also important to have troops deployed precisely in the locations where they should be deployed. And here we agreed together with my colleague, Secretary of State (Pompeo), 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 Saturday's press conference.

"It is important to our security, and it is important that they should be deployed in Poland and not in Germany," he added.

President Donald Trump announced plans last month to move 12,000 U.S. troops out of Germany, accusing Berlin of failing to meet the NATO defense spending target of 2% of gross domestic product. In 2019, Germany spent around 1.38% GDP on defense. Trump said about half of the troops would be sent home, with the rest deployed to other NATO allies.

"Germany owes billions and billions of dollars to NATO, and why would we keep all of those troops there?" Trump told reporters in July. "We are protecting Germany. So, we're reducing the force because they're not paying their bills. It's very simple. They're delinquent."

U.S. officials say the partial withdrawal of troops from Germany and the deployment in Poland are not linked. Berlin has warned the moves could weaken the NATO alliance.

Eyal argues that changes are long overdue.

"In reality, what it is, is a proper recalibration of (the) alliance more than 30 years after the end of the Cold War. What is the point of having many troops massed in Germany for purely historic reasons but having no troops in the countries that feel most vulnerable and are indeed most threatened by threatening noises from Russia?" Eyal told VOA.

NATO allies deployed several thousand troops in eastern Europe following Russia's forceful annexation of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine in 2014. Moscow has called the presence of U.S. troops in Poland as a "threat to its security."

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Up to 100 domestic violence offenders will be made to wear electronic monitoring devices from next week under a two-year state government trial designed to protect victims using GPS technology.

The trial, first announced by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk in April 2019, will see $15.5 million invested into a new unit to provide 24-hour electronic monitoring of offenders who have breached violence restraining orders.

Up to 100 high-risk domestic violence offenders will now be subject to GPS tracking.

Although GPS tracking has been used to monitor sex predators in Western Australia since 2013, it will be the first time the technology is used for family violence perpetrators.

Offenders will be made to wear the device attached to an ankle bracelet, which will set off an alert if the offender enters an exclusion zone or tries to remove the device.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the arrest of Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and top government officials by mutinying soldiers on Tuesday, calling for their immediate release, a U.N. spokesman said.

"The Secretary-General ... calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

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The August ceremony at Hamiltons striking war memorial, that sits 50 paces from the lakes edge and evokes a rocky bloodstained beach in Northern France, has always been about remembering duty, courage and death.

This time its different.

That is, they are gone now, all of them: the Hamilton soldiers slaughtered in the Raid on Dieppe Aug. 19, 1942, and now also the relative few who survived.

Ken Curry was the last local soldier who had lived to tell the story of the disastrous operation, in which 582 members of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI)  the Rileys  landed on the French coast and into the teeth of heavily armed German fortifications.

In a matter of hours, 197 Rileys were killed, 194 wounded and 174 taken prisoner. Nearly 5,000 Allied soldiers fought in the raid, and 916 of the dead were Canadian.

Curry, who survived a hail of gunfire and was captured as a prisoner of war, died in April at 97.

But the families of veterans live on, and so does the importance of the annual event at Dieppe Veterans Memorial Park, said Lynda Murdoch-Furchner, president of the RHLI Veterans Association.

The remembrance on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m., is also different this year due to COVID-19. Gathering restrictions and the intimate nature of the memorial site mean only 50 invited guests will attend. The public can watch it live on Cable 14 or online.

Its important to carry on the tradition to acknowledge the loss to our community and our regiment, Murdoch-Furchner said. And for the younger generation to learn these chapters of history, to understand they have freedom because of veterans who fought at Dieppe and in other conflicts.

The raid was the first major attempt by the Allies to penetrate Nazi-occupied France, and a precursor to the successful D-Day operation nearly two years later.

While the raid almost decimated the RHLI, the regiment lived to fight again, winning 17 battle honours for service in the Second World War, and crossing the Rhine in the final push to victory.

On Wednesday, the RHLI will combine their ceremony with a candlelight service hosted annually by the North Wall Riders Association, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who support veterans.

The guest of honour is 102-year-old Douglas Rickard, a Toronto native who lives in Burlington, who served at Dieppe with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals.

While not a Riley, Murdoch-Furchner says Rickard would have known members of the regiment, and added that its an honour to include him since the RHLI no longer has a surviving Dieppe veteran.

Its sad, yes, she said. The younger soldiers used to flock around the veterans.

For years, Curry had been one of those old soldiers, who seemed like he would never die.

He travelled from B.C. to attend the event in 2019, and also 17 years ago, on Aug. 19, 2003, when the much-delayed memorial was unveiled on the Beach Strip, just southeast of the lift bridge on Lake Ontario.

That morning, Curry, who had nightmares about the raid the rest of his life, wore a lapel pin on his Riley blazer symbolizing handcuffs he wore as a POW.

We waited a long time (for the memorial) but after today I forgive them, he told The Spec. They did it up good. Now I can live out of the rest of my life and know that its here.

Back then he was joined by 16 veterans, fellow Rileys still living with the carnage of Dieppe, taking in the monument to sacrifice under a hot, bright and eternal sun.
Leslyn Lewis stands out from her competitors for leadership of Canadas Conservative Party. Shes the only woman. The only person of color. The only immigrant.

Shes also the one who speaks most publicly about the importance of her faith.

Lewis is a long shot for party leadership, behind political heavy weights Peter MacKay and Erin OToole. But the fact that shes even being considered as a credible contender has come as a surprise to many political observers.

In a country where religious faith is generally kept private and elected officials have struggled even trying to explain how deeply held Christian values could influence political decisions, Lewis has won fans across the country for her ability to speak about her evangelical beliefs in the public sphere. A member of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, shes able to speak about her faith in a way that inspires socially conservative Christians, while not alienating everyone else in Canada.

Shes a perfect example of someone who has been smart and strategic about putting ideas out there, said Michael Zwaagstra, a municipal council member in Manitoba, who has been public about his own faith throughout his personal political career. He told CT he has already mailed off his ballot for Lewis.

Running Third, but Gaining Ground

Votes can be mailed in until August 21 and will be counted after that. No official date has been set for the final tally. Whomever wins the election will lead the opposition party in parliament and attempt to regain control of the government when the next federal election takes place.

Image: Leslyn Lewis

Polls show Lewis in third. MacKay leads the race with the support of 55 percent of likely Conservative voters, followed by O'Toole with 25 percent. Lewis has about 11 percent, but her campaign has pointed out she is closing the fundraising gap, suggesting shes gaining momentum in the race. In the first quarter, Lewis raised about $450,000 Canadian, compared to MacKays haul of more than $1 million. In the second quarter, however, while MacKay raised another $1 million, Lewis brought in about $990,000.

Andrew P.W. Bennett, a program director of the Cardus, a Canadian think tank that seeks to translate the richness of the Christian faith tradition into the public square for the common good, has also been watching Lewiss rise in the Conservative race. Though he doesnt consider himself particularly partisan, the ordained deacon in the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church is a fan of Lewis approach.

I think shes just tremendously honest and very clear and open about who she is, Bennett said. Some people might say thats naive. I think its tremendously savvy.

Win or lose, Lewiss greatest accomplishment may be showing that it is possible for a Christians to speak publicly about their faith in Canadian politics.

Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party caused serious soul searching in the Conservative Party when he won the federal election for a second time. Many felt that leadership failed to capitalize on Trudeau missteps, such as three photos that surfaced of the prime minister in blackface as a teen and young adult.

MacKay, who had been an important leader in the party before leaving temporarily in 2015, blamed the partys main problem as the stinking albatross of an unclear stance on social conservatism. As a candidate for leadership, MacKay has distanced himself from social conservatism. He supports expansion of LGBT rights and says he wants the party to be more progressive in the future.

But Lewis has taken a very different approach. She has remained firm on conservative social issues and spoken openly about her Christian faith but in a way that seems politically interesting and could appeal to a broader Canadian public.

Lewis looks for common ground. For instance, on the issue of abortion, she has not said that she would ban all abortions. Instead she has advocated a ban on sex-selective abortions and cutting funding for abortions overseaspositions with widespread support, even among Conservative Party members who dont consider themselves social conservatives.

Lewiss approach may suggest a way forward for Christian politicians in Canada.

No City on a Hill

While there are many similarities between Canada and the US in heritage and culture, the countries are very different when it comes to politics. Founded just six years after the start of the US Civil War, Canadas foundation of governance was in many ways a reaction to the American model and a return to the comfort of the British Parliamentary system.

America was founded on principles of human liberty and freedoms built around the philosophy of people like John Locke. Canadas founding fathers, including its first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, established the new nation on British ideals, says Tyler Chamberlain, who teaches political science at Trinity Western University, a large private Christian University in British Columbia.

He believes those foundational differences have played a role in how Canadians and Americans view faith and politics. Many Canadian politicians are committed Christians, including prominent Green Party leader Elizabeth May, who has considered becoming an Anglican priest, and former New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton. Few, however, talk about the ways their faith informs their politics or make explicitly religious arguments for their proposals.

Chamberlain said this is a notable different between US and Canadian politics. Many early American leaders saw the country as a religious project, a Christian nation, and adopted biblical language that equated citizenship and faith. Evangelicals in the 20th century often picked up this language like a torch, promoting America as a city on a hill, for example.

Weve never had that in Canada, Chamberlain said. Canada has never understood itself to be the city on a hill.

While Protestants have historically supported the Conservative party and Catholics have often voted Liberal, Canada also doesnt have established blocs of religious voters. Evangelicals arent generally treated as a distinct group with special political interests.

Zwaagstra says evangelicals face a lot of social pressure to keep quiet and rather than face unwanted criticism, many politicians simply dont talk about their faith. Conservative Stephen Harper, who was prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015 is an example of this. While US presidents during his tenure welcomed evangelical supporters, Harper seemed to always be afraid hed get caught with that label.

Harper did everything he could to get [evangelical supporters] to be quietto stop talking about gay marriage and abortion, Zwaagstra said. He saw faith voters as a liability, rather than a group he could mobilize.

Some of those same voters are now looking to Lewis with hope. Her social conservatism, they feel, could earn them a place in the public conversation. Lewis is seen as a more credible proponent of conservative views, too, because she is a black woman.

It sounds different coming out of her mouth, Chamberlain said.

An Authentic Alternative

At Cardus, Bennett sees dangers associated with both the American and Canadian approaches to religion and politics. He worries that in some ways, Christians in the US have come to conflate their faith and politics. While he believes Christians should be involved in politics and be active and informed citizens, it is dangerious when politics becomes core of a persons identity.

We should be careful hitching our wagons to a particular political party hoping it will advance the gospel, he said. Thats not the purpose of political parties.

But in Canada, he said, it is troubling to see Christians distance themselves from their faith or claim it has no impact on how they think or what they value.

Bennett said Christians in Canada who want to talk publicly about their religious comments often struggle with how to put their faith forward in the public square. And when Christian politicians are asked about their faith and dont give an answer, it makes it look like they are hiding something.

I think we raise suspicion when were not honest, Bennett said. If youre not being fully honest with people, theyre going to respond negatively. Be honest about what you believe.

Lewis models this and gets plaudits even from her opponents for authenticity. If she wins, or even just demonstrates that its conceivable for a social conservative to win, she may well prove the moral of every Disney movie for evangelical politicians: Just be yourself.
People wave Argentine flags during a protest in Buenos Aires against the government's tight lockdown measures against the spread of the novel COVID-19 coronavirus

Thousands of opposition demonstrators took to the streets in cities across Argentina on Monday to protest against President Alberto Fernandez and his plans to extend confinement measures against the coronavirus.

Demonstrators defied social distancing rules to answer calls to protest against a government announcement last Friday to extend containment measures in the Buenos Aires region until August 30.

The capital is home to 90 percent of the country's growing coronavirus caseload.

Demonstrators shouting "freedom, freedom" gathered around the landmark Obelisk in central Buenos Aires, waving Argentine flags and chanting anti-government slogans.

Demonstrators also protested against Fernandez's planned judicial reform to expand the number of federal courts in an effort to dilute the influence of judges suspected of making politically motivated decisions.

The protests in Buenos Aires and other main cities took place despite a recent easing of restrictions, even as the country battles a steady rise in infections.

According to the latest health figures, Argentina has recorded nearly 300,000 infections and 5,750 deaths from the coronavirus, while reporting more than 5,000 new cases a day for the past week.

Earlier Fernandez, whose judicial reform plans were a key part of his election campaign, called for unity in a speech commemorating Argentine revolutionary leader Jose de San Martin.

"We have lived a unique moment of humanity, not just in Argentina, where a pandemic is besieging us, infecting us, sickening us, killing us," he said.

The task ahead was to rebuild a country that has been "economically annihilated," by the former center-right government of his predecessor Mauricio Macri.

"They have left behind an impressive amount of debt, they have conditioned the future of many generations and they have plunged more than 40 percent of Argentines into poverty," Fernandez said.

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"United I am sure we will win, " said Fernandez, paraphrasing San Martin.

The government imposed a nationwide quarantine on March 20, before gradually easing it in much of the country.

It also launched a multi-million dollar package of social and business aids to shore up an economy that has been in recession since 2018.

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Mogadishu, Aug 17 (UNI) At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured after the Somalian security forces ended a five-hour siege by the al-Shabab terror group at a beachside hotel in the capital city of Mogadishu, government official said on Monday.

Government spokesman Ismael Mukhtar Omar said five al-Shabab fighters were also killed by security forces after the attackers stormed the Elite Hotel in Lido Beach, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The total number of casualties at the Elite Hotel attack is 16.

Five of the 16 people killed were the attackers, while one police officer was killed in the rescue operation," Omar said in a statement.

The attack also killed two senior officials from the Information and Defence Ministries.

Omar said 18 people had been injured, dismissing a report by medical charity, Aamin Ambulance which earlier said that 28 were hurt.

He said an investigation has been launched to establish how al-Shabab fighters managed to enter the fortified Elite Hotel, a recently launched upscale facility frequented by senior government officials.

The Special Forces immediately arrived at the scene and undertook rescue operations.

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As Beirut continues to recover from the port blast that killed at least 178 people and injured thousands, hospitals and clean up efforts are now facing another hurdle: rising coronavirus cases.

Lebanon saw a record jump in new cases on Monday with 456 confirmed infections, according to Johns Hopkins University. It outpaces the previous day's spike of 439 new cases, bringing the total confirmed infections in the country to 9,337.

The country's interim Health Minister Hamad Hassan said that a two-week nationwide shutdown is necessary to curb the spread of the virus.

"We are on the brink, we don't have the luxury to take our time," Hassan told a press conference on Monday, according to the Khaleej Times newspaper.

The Aug. 4 explosion of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in the port for more than six years has largely destroyed and overwhelmed the city's health services.

Three of Beirut's hospitals were left "non-functional" according to the World Health Organization, while two others were partially damaged. Half of its 55 medical centers were also destroyed.

Image: Nurses from the Saint George hospital clean one of the damaged rooms in Beirut's neighbourhood of Ashrafieh (Patrick Baz / AFP - Getty Images)

Intensive care units and specialty coronavirus beds set up in public and private hospitals are mostly full, Hassan told Voice of Lebanon radio earlier on Monday.

We are all facing a real challenge and the numbers that were recorded in the last period are shocking, he said. Everyone must be on high alert and take the strictest prevention measures.

Even before the blast, Lebanon was seeing rising coronavirus numbers amid a deepening political and economic crisis.

Roughly 220,000 people who had lost their jobs during the country's financial crisis that began in October, according to United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

In a statement on Monday, Dujarric said the number of people needing help is expected to rise. Another 70,000 people have been left unemployed due to the blast.

Image: Piles of destroyed windows outside the Saint George Hospital on Aug. 13, 2020 in Beirut, Lebanon. (Chris McGrath / Getty Images)

Those figures don't take into account joblessness resulting from the pandemic, Dujarric added.

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Roughly a quarter of a million people were also displaced by the explosion.

Emergency assistance is still being distributed and search and rescue efforts are still underway, with aid coming from the international community, Dujarric said.

Lebanon is not the only country losing ground in containing the coronavirus.

In France, officials on Monday confirmed more than 6,800 new infections were detected over the weekend, bringing the country's total cases to 219,029. Nearly 5,000 people have been hospitalized of which 384 are in intensive care.

Elsewhere in Europe, Italy  which saw among the highest death tolls earlier this year  tightened social distancing measures this week because of an uptick in cases.

South Korea also tightened social distancing rules on Tuesday as it reported a three-digit increase in cases for a fifth consecutive day.

Lauded for its efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus earlier this year, authorities are now scrambling to trace hundreds of members of a church congregation connected with the latest outbreak.

The Philippines health ministry confirmed 4,836 new infections on Tuesday, marking the seventh straight day of reporting more than 3,000 cases.

The United States continues to report the highest number of infections globally with 5.4 million confirmed cases and 171, 606 deaths, according to NBC News tracking. Worldwide, the virus has infected nearly 22 million and killed 774,379 people.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The New York Times published a lengthy news article last week highlighting an instructive incident that took place earlier this year within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). A speech by professor emeritus of political science Adolph Reed, Jr. was cancelled due to objections by the AFROSOCialist and Socialists of Color Caucus over his reactionary and class reductionist form of politics.

Adolph Reed, Jr. in the classroom (Photo: Publicbooks.org)

The race-based caucus claimed that by inviting Reed to address a political education session on the COVID-19 crisis, the Philadelphia and NYC Lower Manhattan chapters had launched a reactionary, class reductionist and at best, tone deaf assault on members of the DSA who are racial or ethnic minorities. Reed is an African-American professor who has a decades-long history in critiquing racial identity politics from a left-wing perspective.

According to the Times, Reed had intended to speak to the branches about why the obsessive focus of the left on the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on African-Americans undermined efforts to organize across racial lines and advance health and economic justice for all Americans. Reed backed Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders for president in 2016 and 2020 and was a founding member of the Labor Party initiative headed by union leader Tony Mazzocchi.

Reed had criticized the race reductionism of the Timess 1619 Project in an interview with the World Socialist Web Site in December, no doubt raising the ire of the racialists in the DSA and broader pseudo-left who have staunchly defended the reactionary racialist falsification of American history.

The morning the event was to take place, the AFROSOCialist Caucus demanded that Reeds talk be cancelled and instead that there be a debate of his class reductionist analysis versus our intersectional socialist analysis. The leaders of the DSAs New York chapter quickly responded to the letter by cancelling the event.

The AFROSOCialist Caucus boasts of receiving generous funding for its first training session in 2017 from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, which is associated with the Left Party in Germany and operates thanks to the infusion of tens of millions of dollars annually from the German state.

The furious reaction within the DSA leadership to the invitation to Reed reveals how deeply the organization is imbued with the reactionary and right-wing politics of racial division. The extreme hostility to any analysis based on the primacy of class expresses the interests of affluent sections of the petit bourgeoisie, who utilize racial and identity politics in the fight over positions of power and privilege within the apparatus of the state, the trade unions, academia and corporations.

Significantly, a leading voice in the campaign against Reed is professor of African-American studies at Princeton University Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, who is cited by the Times as a representative of those who see race as Americas primal wound, which takes priority over ephemeral class solidarity.

Adolph Reed and his ilk believe that if we talk about race too much we will alienate too many, and that will keep us from building a movement, claimed Taylor. We dont want thatwe want to win white people to an understanding of how their racism has fundamentally distorted the lives of Black people.

That is, all white peopleand particularly white workersare racist and are responsible for the conditions faced by black workers. Taylor chided Reeds plans to focus on the class issues that underly racial inequality in his talk as a provocation. It was quite incendiary.

Taylor is a former leading member of the now-defunct pseudo-left International Socialist Organization (ISO), which dissolved itself in 2019 amidst factionally instigated denunciations of sexual assault and cover-up. As the WSWS explained at the time, the aim of this dissolution was to facilitate the integration of its leadership into the political orbit of the Democratic Party.

Taylor embodies this integration. She is now frequently published in the New York Times and the New Yorker, in addition to the DSA-affiliated Jacobin magazine. She also has close connections with Nikole Hannah-Jones, the lead author of the New York Timess 1619 Project. As a member of the ISO and after, Taylor has been a specialist in racial politics, publishing books on Black Lives Matter and the Combahee River Collective.

The only dissent over the cancellation of Reeds speech from within the DSA came from the Class Unity caucus, which calls itself a Marxist pole of attraction that works from within and outside the DSA to work toward shedding the organizations reliance on the Democratic Party and creating a true workers party.

Class Unitys editorial committee released a statement criticizing middle class DSA liberals in the organizations leadership for cancelling the Reed event out of concern for their own career advancements.

The strategy of keeping our heads down and doing the work is insufficient, the statement declares. Our failure to organize against liberals in DSA has left us weak and incapable of defending basic principles of free speech, let alone Marxism.

The statement provides a revealing account of the DSA from within the organization. They write that far from being principled ideological formations, AFROSOCialist and other caucuses are by and large branding exercises to facilitate competition between the squabbling cliques of middle-class careerists and social climbers who constitute their leadership strata, with rank-and-file caucus members largely excluded from a meaningful role in decision-making.

The conflict within the DSA reflects certain tactical differences. In particular, the Class Unity caucus strongly backed the campaign of Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Party primaries. Sanders is now campaigning heavily for Biden. Last year, the AFROSOCialist Caucus demanded that the DSAs National Political Committee withhold the organizations endorsement of Sanders over his refusal to unequivocally support reparations for slavery. In that case DSA leadership followed the majority of the membership that had voted to back Sanders.

Those within the DSA and in its periphery, including Reed himself, who are opposed to the obsessive fixation with identity politics, have to understand its more fundamental political roots and relation to the strategy of the Democratic Party.

The ban on criticism of identity politics within the DSA and vicious denunciations of Marxism as class reductionism is in line with the Democrats broader goals of promoting identity politics to divide the working class. At the same time, such politics is a mechanism through which priveleged sections of the upper middle class advance their own interests.

The promotion of racialist politics is central to the strategy of the Democratic Party in the 2020 elections. This has been made clear by Bidens selection of Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. The choice of the former attorney general of California, who threatened to jail the parents of truant students and defied Supreme Court orders to release prisoners from the states criminally overcrowded jails, as vice president is being hailed as historic based solely on the basis of the intersectionality of her various identitiesfemale, African-American and Indian-American.

The blocking of Reed from speaking on right-wing racialist grounds should make absolutely clear, for those who had any doubts, that the DSA is not in any sense a Marxist organization that speaks for the interests of the working class or fights for genuinely revolutionary socialist politics.
Rhea Chakraborty's Lawyer Reveals Why The Actress Left Sushant's House

Rhea's lawyer said, "Sushant had been calling his family, informing them of his decision to move out of Mumbai and requesting them to come meet him. After several days of Sushant calling and crying over the phone, his sister Mitu agreed to come live with him on June 8, 2020. Due to this development, Sushant requested Rhea to live with her parents for the time being. Rhea had been suffering from her own anxiety issues and panic attacks. Sushant's conduct aggravated these conditions. Even though Rhea wanted to see her family, she was not at all comfortable leaving Sushant."

Sushant's Lawyer Vikas Singh Denies Satish Maneshinde's Claims

When India Today contacted him to react to Rhea's lawyer's claims, he said that the facts were just the opposite. According to Singh's version, Sushant's sister Mitu had to go and stay with the actor because Rhea Chakraborty left his house. He also said that Rhea should explain why she blocked Sushant's phone number if she had gone at the actor's behest.

Meanwhile, Rhea's Lawyer Claims The Actress Has Become A Target Because Of Political Undertones In Sushant's Death Case

Satish Maneshinde said in his statement, "The comments at the last hearing before the Supreme Court on August 11, 2020, made it evident that this has become more about politics than the truth. Unwanted and irrelevant submissions are being made. It's evident that a number of politicians are trying to get mileage out of this case on the eve of the elections in Bihar."

Rhea's Lawyer Denies The Actress Knowing Aditya Thackeray And Dino Morea Personally

"Rhea does not know Aaditya Thackeray personally nor has she ever met him. She has also not spoken to him ever, on the phone or otherwise. She has met Morea socially as he is her senior in the film industry," Satish Maneshinde said in his statement.
Photograph: Leonardo Castro/AFP/Getty Images

A provincial governor in southern Colombia has warned that the region is in a state of anarchy  complete disorder amid a fresh wave of violence that has claimed at least 13 lives in the past week.

Related: Colombian cartels killing those who don't obey their Covid-19 lockdowns

Jhon Alexander Rojas, the governor of the Narino province, sounded the alarm in an interview with the newspaper El Espectador, after eight people  all aged between 17 and 26 were killed in a massacre at a barbecue in the small town of Samaniego on Saturday night.

This is what happens here, in any moment one can run into illegal armed groups wholl kill anyone without saying a word, said Rojas. Theres nothing we can de except hope to God that this stops.

Authorities have yet to identify the masked attackers with rifles. Narino, which sits on Colombias southern border with Ecuador, is rife with coca crops, the key ingredient used to make cocaine, and plagued by armed groups.

A 2016 peace deal with the countrys largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), formally ended five decades of civil war that killed over 260,000 people and displaced 7 million.

The accord was supposed to bring with it increased security and development in to Colombias poorest regions  such as Narino  but such change has been elusive, with dissident Farc factions fighting for territorial control with a rival leftist guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army, ELN, rightwing paramilitary groups, drug cartels and the Colombian military.

Colombia has seen 33 massacres this year, according to the United Nations peace mission in the country, which said on Monday that 45 human rights defenders have been killed in the same period.

Rojas, the governor, called on the government of President Ivan Duque  a skeptic of the peace deal  to dialog with armed groups in the region and to implement the accord.

The massacre on Saturday night followed two other killings in the province in the past seven days that left at least four others dead.

Five Afro-Colombian teenagers were found brutally tortured and murdered in Cali, the capital of the neighbouring Valle del Cauca province, on Tuesday, triggering outcry from human rights groups.

Given Duques unwillingness to truly advance the implementation of the peace process and refusal to make peace with the ELN it is not surprising that we are seeing a resurgence of massacres in Colombia, said Gimena Sanchez, Andes director at the Washington Office on Latin America, a thinktank. Rather than taking advantage of the opportunity to dismantle illegal groups and strengthen justice, Duque is reverting to security policies that dont work.
The students union of Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday objected against the administrations decision of holding online registration for a new monsoon semester  between August 21 and 31  stating that the evaluation from the previous semester is yet to be concluded.

We have been in touch with student representatives who have put forward their concerns. The evaluation process is not yet completed and now we are being asked to register. The provisional registration does not have any scope for grade improvement or repeating the course, said Saket Moon, JNUSU vice president.

The University Grants Commission has said that the winter semester evaluation must be completed by September 30. In such a scenario, it doesnt make sense to start registering for the next semester when this semester too hasnt been completed, Moon added.

On Friday, JNU administration released a circular calling for provisional registration for the monsoon semester and asking its Schools and Centres to start online classes where feasible.

Moon said this essentially means that students who want to opt for offline classes or a blended mode of learning will be left in uncertainty as others progress to the next semester.

While the administration has asked students to register and pay dues like hostel and tuition fees, JNUSU in a statement on Monday said it was inhuman to expect students to pay the dues for hostel and registration when fellowships have not been disbursed. The students body will be holding meetings this week with various students groups on the matter.

Registrar Pramod Kumar said We are just doing provisional registration and not talking about academics or grade improvement. We want to get the registrations done because around 14 schools have finished their examinations and we have to get online classes started for those students. Those who have opted for blended learning will not be left behind because whenever they reach the campus, offline classes will be conducted for them.
The Congress on Tuesday wrote to Mark Zuckerberg saying Facebook may be a willing participant in thwarting the rights and values its founding leaders sacrificed their lives for while calling for an inquiry into a report that last week claimed that the social media company was biased towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in censoring hate speech.

K C Venugopal, the Congress general secretary (organisation), kept up the partys attack in a letter to Zuckerberg over the issue. He referred to the report and said the social company provided the BJP with favourable treatment on election-related issues. He called it a damning and serious allegation that Facebook was interfering in Indias electoral democracy.

The Wall Street Journal report on Friday suggested Facebook was going easy on hate speeches by BJP members and triggered a controversy. The Congress on Saturday said it had flagged similar concerns to a senior executive of the social media company named in the report.

The report cited interviews with unnamed Facebook insiders and claimed the companys senior India policy executive Ankhi Das intervened in internal content review processes to stop a ban on BJPs Telangana lawmaker Raja Singh, whose posts targeted the Muslim community. It said Das told staff members that punishing violations by BJP politicians would damage the companys business prospects.

The Congress on Tuesday asked Zuckerberg to set up a high-level inquiry into the Facebook India leadership team and their operations. It has asked the company to make public all instances of hate speech posts since 2014 allowed on the platform. The Congress has suggested the appointment of a new team to lead the India operations till the inquiry is completed. As Indias oldest political party that fought for the nations freedom and established electoral democracy through adult franchise, it is deeply disturbing to note that your company may be a willing participant in thwarting the very rights and values that our founding leaders sacrificed their lives for, said Venugopal.

HT reached out to Facebook for a comment but did not get a response immediately. The report will be updated to reflect Facebooks response once it is received.

The BJP hit out at the Congress for its demand for a Facebook inquiry. [The] Congress party, faced with electoral irrelevance, and rejection at the hustings, wants to pin blame on everyone else except its uninspiring and unworthy leadership, said Amit Malviya, the BJPs national Information and technology in-charge. Facebook is just another addition to their save the Gandhis campaign. The Left-Congress ecosystem wants unfettered control over freedom of speech and hence, in a last roll of dice, are now trying to muzzle platforms, which have empowered ordinary citizens and made their opinions valuable. A vibrant, participative democracy is inimical to their political agenda.

The Congress on Monday attacked Facebook, saying its inaction against hate content destabilises democracy in India, and reiterated its demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the charges.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi rejected Congresss demand for the JPC probe into the matter, saying it was out of the question

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who heads the parliamentary standing committee on information technology, Sunday said the panel would like to hear an explanation from the social media company about the report. The panel has been split over asking Facebook executives to explain the report.

BJP lawmaker Nishikant Dubey, who is a member of the panel, on Monday said Tharoor cannot call Facebook to seek an explanation because the House rules do not allow it. He cited Rule 269 and added the secretary-general has the power to summon a witness.

India is one of Facebooks fastest-growing markets and the company was estimated to have close to 350 million users by June. Instagram and WhatsApp, both owned by the California-based company, have hundreds of millions more users from India.

Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have been under increasing pressure because there are concerns that they are not doing enough to crackdown on fake news and hate speech.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:20:12|Editor: huaxia

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PARIS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- French shares lost on Tuesday, with the benchmark Paris CAC 40 down 0.68 percent, or 33.88 points, to close at 4,938.06 points.

Of the 40 selected large companies, 34 lost in the day.

European commercial real estate company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE lost 5.02 percent. European multinational aerospace corporation Airbus lost 3.09 percent. French water and waste group Veolia Environment went down by 2.91 percent.

French multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi advanced 1.01 percent. French multinational information technology consulting corporation Capgemini rose 0.80 percent. Saint-Gobain, the French multinational corporation that produces construction materials, rose 0.21 percent. Enditem
Australias prime minister Scott Morrison says the country has signed a deal with drugmaker AstraZeneca to secure and manufacture a potential coronavirus vaccine, and that it will be made available for free to all citizens if successful.

The University of Oxford jab is considered a leader in the global race to deliver an effective vaccine against Covid-19.

With several countries moving to secure supplies that some fear may lead to a global shortage, Australia said it had signed a letter of intent with AstraZeneca to produce and distribute enough doses of the Oxford vaccine for its population.

Under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian, Mr Morrison said in a statement. If this vaccine proves successful we will manufacture and supply vaccines straight away under our own steam and make it free for 25 million Australians.

Nations around the world are trying to reserve supplies of the potential vaccine. Most recently Argentina and Mexico said last week they would produce it for much of Latin America.

The UKs government has inked deals for some 340 million doses of six different experimental vaccines, demonstrating the rush to secure inoculations.

The World Health Organisation has urged wealthy countries not to hoover up vaccine doses at the expense of poorer ones.

Countries who put their own interests ahead of others in trying to ensure supplies of a possible coronavirus vaccine are making the pandemic worse, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday.

(Acting) strategically and globally is actually in each countrys national interest  no one is safe until everyone is safe, he told a virtual briefing calling for an end to vaccine nationalism.

Mr Morrison warned that while Oxfords candidate had shown early promise, there was no guarantee it would turn out to be effective.

Having previously stopped the virus in its tracks, Australia has seen a surge of new infections in the past month. Nonetheless, its tally of nearly 24,000 cases and 438 deaths is still far fewer than many other developed nations.

In addition to the AstraZeneca deal, Australia said it had also signed a $24.7m (13.6m) deal with Becton Dickinson, a US medical technology company, to buy 100 million needles and syringes.

Additional reporting by Reuters
The heartbroken family of a 12-year-old girl who drowned in a river in Scotland have criticised onlookers who filmed the search and rescue efforts rather than helping.

Ava Gray died in the River Leven in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, after getting into difficulty in the water with two other children on August 9.

Police Scotland officers were called to the scene at the foot of Loch Lomond at about 6.45pm but the search ended with Ava's body being recovered from the water at 9.45pm.

The family of 12-year-old Ava Gray, who died in the River Leven in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, Scotland have criticised onlookers who filmed the search for her on Snapchat rather than trying to help

As Ava's family prepared for the young child's funeral today at Clydebank Crematorium, her loved ones asked why some onlookers decided to film the tragedy unfold rather than try and help her

Ava's aunt Jamie Gillies told The Daily Record: 'Absolutely disgusted to hear more people were interested in videoing or Snapchatting the 'drama' and rescue to their friends.

'If any one of those people put as much effort into helping the kids we may not be here. I genuinely worry for our future if this is people's priority.'

'Think before you act. Always think of others. Be careful what you say on social media and remember that grieving and distressed families can see your posts.'

Ms Gillies is now calling on parents to educate their children about the dangers of being near water and also hopes to speak with West Dunbartonshire Council about steps they can take to inform students about staying safe.

Ava died after getting into difficulty in the water with two other children on August 9

Following Ava's death, her dance teacher Holly Douglas paid tribute to her on Facebook, saying: 'My dancing angel, I am heartbroken.

'Words can't describe the way I feel, Ava. We all love you so, so much. You will never be forgotten at Full Out.

'You will always be part of our team and our family. The world is a cruel place, thinking of all the family right now. Ava, I love you so, so much.'

She later set up a GoFundMe page for the family, writing: 'Our gorgeous angel Ava Gray tragically died in a horrible accident in the River Leven in Balloch.

'We are all absolutely heartbroken and devastated, words cannot even describe our feelings. Ava was the funniest most crazy girl at our dance school and she never failed to make me laugh and smile.

'I am writing as Ava's dance teacher that you please, please help to raise some money for Ava's family at this awful time.

'Leanne, Jamie and all family, I love you all so so much. Ava, our dancing angel girl, we love you forever and ever.'

Police officers were called to the scene at about 6.45pm but the search ended when Ava was recovered from the water at 9.45pm. Pictured: The River Leven in Scotland

Emergency services, including a helicopter (pictured), rushed to the scene in Balloch at 6.45pm on August 9

Police officers were joined by firefighters and members of the Coastguard in the search

Following the child's death last week a police spokesman said: 'Around 6.45pm on Sunday, 9 August, police were called to a report of a 12-year-old girl in difficulty in the River Leven, near Balloch Bridge.

'Emergency services attended and searches were carried out. Around 9.45pm, the young girl was recovered from the water. Sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene.'

Police, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency were all involved in the search and had earlier asked the public to avoid the area.

Enquiries are ongoing, but police are not treating the death as suspicious. A full report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 07:04:48|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- An airstrike by the Nigerian military in the country's northeastern state of Borno has led to the deaths of several Boko Haram militants, an official said Monday.

Military spokesman John Enenche said in a statement that hideouts and logistics facilities of the terror group were also destroyed at the Tumbuma Baba and Boboshe area of restive Borno on Sunday.

That airstrike was a sequel to credible intelligence on the activities of the militants and series of aerial surveillance missions showing a significant number of terrorists within the settlement, storage facilities, and meeting venues, the military official added.

The spokesperson said the military will sustain its efforts to rid the restive region of all terrorists and other criminal elements.

Since 2009, Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria, extending its attacks to countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Enditem
A WOMAN who went through years of IVF before finally conceiving has turned her experiences into a book.

Emma Weaver's The Blue Line is a candid account of the hell she endured while trying to become pregnant.

The 41-year-old believes it's an outrage that the local health service provides just one cycle of IVF for free, with countless women forced to go private when it fails.

In other parts of the UK, three cycles are available through the NHS.

"Some couples only get one roll of the dice. One cycle is not enough and it's not fair. Fertility issues are something that are out of people's control," Emma said.

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Whatsapp Emma with four-year-old daughter Amelia.

The mum-of-three lives in Enniskillen with her husband Niall (40), a psychotherapist, her two children from a previous relationship, Chloe (24) and Rhys (13), and four-year-old Amelia, the daughter she has with Niall.

Emma decided to turn her experiences into a book after her IVF baby was born - she declines to say which child it was - because she wanted to break the stigma around the treatment.

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"With one of my children, I had IVF. That's what really sparked the book," she revealed.

"It was never in my head to write a book, but this is genuinely a book that I wish I could've read when I was going through IVF because it just helps make sense of everything."

Emma went through two failed cycles of IVF at a private clinic before becoming pregnant after a cycle on the health service.

"Like any other mum, I was elated with feelings of joy with my new baby," she said.

"It was months after that I felt low and now, years later, I know I have felt trauma from the process after years of trying."

While Emma knows a great deal about psychological issues through her job at the mental charity Inspire, the rounds of injections and dealing with the crushing disappointment of negative pregnancy tests month after month took their toll on her.

"It's a really isolating journey. I felt very isolated and I felt that I couldn't tell anybody in my circle," she explained.

"I just kept it to myself, the reason being I didn't want it to engulf my whole life.

"I was able to keep work separate knowing that everyone wasn't constantly watching me and thinking, 'Is it going to work?'"

While Emma's book is loosely based on her experiences, it is a work of fiction.

She dedicated it to women in her position and wants them to know they are not alone.

The novel also provided her with the opportunity to talk to others about IVF and about how the health service operates it.

"Initially I had two rounds of IVF at a private clinic, but I ended up pregnant after the one health service-provided cycle, which tells you something about the dedication of our health service staff," she said.

"Some couples only get one roll of the dice. Some get lucky and it does work, but a lot of people don't get lucky and then they're left with either remaining childless or going down a private route, which can cost up to 6,000 a cycle when you add travel costs."

IVF is a long and tiring process. Couples hoping for a baby are referred by their doctor after a year of trying, with a wait of a further year before seeing a consultant.

For Emma, however, the treatment itself was the biggest challenge.

"I found the injections quite hard and my emotions were all over the place. I manage mental health services and was very well aware that this would be quite tough emotionally," she said.

"People don't talk about that, but the book tackles this through the IVF journey of the central character, a female journalist.

"It's about her emotions, how she felt, the sting of the injections and the heartbreak with the one blue line.

"She takes into account her husband and his feelings of not being good enough and not being able to grow the family. People don't talk about that."

Emma hopes the book will encourage people to talk about fertility problems.

"It's just an easy read that lets you know this is a huge issue. When I was going through IVF, I felt anxious - and I'm not an anxious person. It was the injections which made me feel that way, but no one tells you that. I didn't know what was happening to me," she explained.

"One cycle is not enough and it's not fair. Fertility issues are something out of people's control. That yearning to be a parent doesn't leave you, it doesn't go away. One chance is not enough because things don't always go to plan."

Even as a mental healthcare professional, Emma found the process tough.

"All the time, before even beginning IVF, every month hoping (you're pregnant) when you're trying to conceive... all those months before you actually get to see a consultant who tells you it will be another two years, so it's four years of monthly pain," she admitted.

"IVF is still taboo. People don't want to talk about it. There's nowhere really safe to talk about it.

"It just takes over. It's stressful on relationships. There's a really high rate of separation and divorce among couples going through IVF. They can't handle it and it's very sad."

The launch of her book was timely in that it coincided with Health Minister Robin Swann's announcement that the eligibility criteria for IVF, which is making a phased return following lockdown, was to be extended.

The return of services at the Regional Fertility Centre in Belfast, along with the extension of eligibility, was welcomed by Alliance health spokeswoman Paula Bradshaw.

"I was contacted many times throughout the pandemic by women and families concerned they would exceed the age limit (currently 39) despite already being on the waiting list and thus miss out on a vital service," she said.

 The Blue Line, published by KMD Books, is available on Amazon for 9. The Kindle edition is 3.99. The novel is also available from the KMD bookstore at www.kmdbooks.com
By Anna Ringstrom and Terje Solsvik

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's Debt Office has refused a state credit guarantee for Norwegian Air <NORR.OL>, it said on Tuesday, renewing liquidity concerns for the struggling airline amid the coronavirus crisis.

Norwegian Air was already facing financial difficulties before the pandemic hit and Sweden has stipulated its credit guarantees, under a programme mitigating the impact of COVID-19, can only be granted to airlines assessed to have been financially viable on the last day of 2019.

"The Debt Offices assessment in regard to Norwegian is that as of 31 December 2019 there was a very high risk that Norwegian would not be able to fulfil its financial commitments and that the company was not deemed capable then of managing further indebtedness," it said in a statement.

"Therefore, the company has not been considered financially viable as of 31 December 2019. Accordingly, Norwegians application has been denied."

A Norwegian Air spokesman said it was difficult to understand the decision when Sweden had granted a loan guarantee to main rival SAS <SAS.ST>.

"We meet all of the requirements, so the only way to interpret this rejection is that the authorities do not want competition in Sweden," he said in an email.

While there will be no immediate impact on the airline, it has indicated it would need more cash to rebuild after the coronavirus crisis hit its operations hard. It has said its cash needs would strongly depend on how fast it ramps up.

The group received emergency financial guarantees from the Norwegian government in May, but only after raising cash from owners and forcing creditors to convert part of the debt to equity.

A Swedish Debt Office spokeswoman said Norwegian had not formally applied for a specific amount.

Sweden in March granted Swedish-Danish SAS <SAS.ST> a 1.5 billion crown credit guarantee under its programme, and SAS also hopes to raise cash from its main owners, including Sweden, under a recapitalisation plan. [nL8N2FG2RD]

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Rapid growth had made Norwegian Air Europe's third-largest budget airline and the biggest non-U.S. carrier serving major U.S. cities, but debts and liabilities have built up to about $8 billion by the end of 2019.

The Swedish Debt Office's decision cannot be appealed.

Shares in Norwegian Air, which closed down most of its routes in March, were down 4% at 0832 GMT, taking a year-to-date fall to 97%.

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom; Additional reporting by Terje Solsvik in Oslo; Editing by David Goodman and Nick Macfie)
Jacinda Ardern has fired back at Donald Trump after the president compared New Zealand's new outbreak of COVID-19 cases with the United States.

During a campaign rally in Mankato, Minnesota on Monday, the president called out New Zealand for its 'big surge' in COVID-19 cases.

'The places they were using to hold up now they're having a big surge  they were holding up names of countries and now they're saying ''whoops'',' he told the crowd.

'Do you see what's happening in New Zealand? They beat it, they beat it, it was like front-page news because they wanted to show me something.

'Big surge in New Zealand, you know it's terrible, we don't want that, but this is an invisible enemy that should never have been let to come to Europe and the rest of the world by China.'

New Zealand's prime minister on Tuesday said Trump's claim was 'patently wrong'.

'Obviously, every country is experiencing its own fight with COVID-19; it is a tricky virus, but not one where I would compare New Zealand's current status to the United States,' Ms Ardern said

'Obviously I don't think there's any comparison between New Zealand's current cluster and the tens of thousands of cases that are being seen daily in the United States,' Ms Ardern said.

'Obviously, every country is experiencing its own fight with COVID-19; it is a tricky virus, but not one where I would compare New Zealand's current status to the United States.'

Trump's comments come as New Zealand recorded just nine cases on Monday, whereas the US recorded 41,894.

The island nation had been the envy of the world for its handling of the COVID-19 crisis until new cases emerged on August 11.

Auckland was thrown back into lockdown, or Level Three, to suppress the spread of the virus, having enjoyed 102 days without a single case of community transmission.

The rest of New Zealand has been placed at Level Two, which mandates social distancing and caps on gathering sizes.

During a campaign rally in Mankato, Minnesota on Monday, the president (pictured) called out New Zealand for its 'big surge' in COVID-19 cases

The source of the fresh Kiwi outbreak is still yet to be determined.

New Zealand and Australian officials are collaborating over a possible link through a freight business with outlets in Melbourne and Auckland.

New Zealanders had been enjoying the return of their usual freedoms after an autumn lockdown proved effective in temporarily eliminating the deadly virus.

But there are now 90 active infections, including 69 linked to a community cluster in Auckland, 20 in returned travellers in hotel quarantine and one separate infection in a maintenance worker at the Rydges Hotel.

Officials said the man carried out maintenance tasks in the hotel rooms between bookings and after the rooms have been disinfected. He wears personal protective equipment while on the job.

A man wearing a face mask is seen in downtown Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday (pictured) as the city endures its Level Three lockdown

A man walks his dog under Level Three restrictions along Kohimarama Beach in Auckland on Monday (pictured)

The man, who developed symptoms on Tuesday August 11, went to work for two days with a cough.

He tested positive to coronavirus on Sunday, and genome sequencing results released on Tuesday indicated his infection is not linked to the Auckland community cluster.

'It is most closely linked to a positive case that was in the Rydges and was identified on the 31st of July,' Dr Bloomfield said.

'This is a returnee from the USA.'

The traveller was staying in the hotel from July 28 to July 31 before testing positive and being moved to the Jet Park quarantine facility.

Health authorities said there is 'no obvious person-to-person connection' between the worker and the returned traveller but investigations continue.

The maintenance worker has also been taken to the Jet Park Hotel quarantine facility.

Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has fired back at Donald Trump after the president compared New Zealand's COVID-19 cases with the United States figures

A police vehicle is seen outside Rydges Rotorua Hotel which is being used to isolate returned travellers (pictured on August 12)

Two women wear face masks as they walk in Wellington, New Zealand, on Saturday (pictured)

Contact tracing and testing has not connected any further infections to the maintenance worker. He remains a single case.

All staff and returned travellers at the Rydges are being retested as a precaution.

Health officials have also contacted worshippers who attended two of the Emmanuel Cook Islands Good News Fellowship church services on August 9. All attendees are in self-isolation and will undergo testing.

Dr Bloomfield said 98 people - 44 positive cases and their close contacts - have been moved to the Auckland quarantine facility.

As a result of the surprise outbreak, the country's elections have been pushed back by four weeks until October 17.

The country's lockdown has been extended until August 26.

Under Level Three, in place in Auckland, all public places  such as libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, and playgrounds  must be closed.

In America, the lockdown restrictions vary widely state-by-state.
The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) said it's relieved that the sale of alcohol may resume under Alert Level 2 of the lockdown, especially for restaurants, bars and taverns. "We can assure customers that we are ready to serve them under the strictest safety conditions, taking into account social distancing and health protocols," BASA CEO Patricia Pillay said.

Thousands of business closures

Responsibility to help fight alcohol abuse

BASA brings together the Craft Brewers Association, Heineken South Africa and South African Breweries in order to form a unified voice on issues affecting the beer industry.The Association also welcomed governments consideration that protecting livelihoods is equally important as saving lives.Many businesses in the beer industry have still not recovered from the first nine-week ban in place from 27 March to 31 May, including 8,000 licensed taverns and 30% of craft breweries that were bankrupted. The second ban, that came into effect on 13 July, forced an additional 15% of craft breweries and thousands more taverns to shut down permanently."This is a tragedy of epic proportions, especially since 54% taverns are owned by women supporting their families," Pillay added.In addition to jobs losses, the bans forced South African Breweries to cancel R2.5bn in capital and infrastructure upgrades this financial year; it is currently reviewing a R2.1bn planned spend for 2021. Heineken South Africa has also halted plans for a R6bn brewery expansion in KwaZulu-Natal, which would have created 400 new jobs."It is therefore critical that we do not ever have a repeat of the situation we had on 12 July 2020, where an immediate ban on the legal trade in alcohol was announced - without the industry being given any prior warning or opportunity to engage. This posed major logistical and operational challenges for beer manufacturers, distributors and retailers."The sudden announcement also placed a huge financial strain on businesses who had bought stock, which they were prevented from selling, which had to be subsequently discarded due to being expired," Pillay said."We appreciate however the challenges government is facing when it comes to fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. As responsible South Africans, we will continue to work with government to identify hospitals in need of support during the pandemic and will provide personal protective and other related equipment."The beer industry, along with the broader alcohol sector , recognised that they have has a responsibility to help fight alcohol abuse in communities."At the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), we are working with government, labour and community on a social compact to address the underlying societal issues linked to alcohol abuse, and how South Africans views and behaviour around alcohol consumption and abuse can be changed for the better."We are also committed to partnering with government to implement its Gender-Based Violence Masterplan. Furthermore, we support governments zero tolerance for drinking and driving campaign, as well as amendments to the legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers," Pillay said."We can, and we must, fight against alcohol abuse and its underlying causes. But we must also recognise that alcohol consumption and abuse does not stop just because the trade of alcohol is banned or restricted. The illicit black market has flourished over the past few months with people having continued to find ways to consume and abuse alcohol, often more recklessly and dangerously than before."We trust that the Nedlac process and our broader engagements will ensure that government and the alcohol industry moves forward together as partners," Pillay said.The industry committed to play its part in cooperatively dealing with issues as they arise rather than having another ban summarily imposed. "Together, we can devise sustainable solutions that encourage citizens to responsibly exercise their choices, that prioritise lives during the Covid-19 pandemic and that safeguard livelihoods across the value chain," Pillay concluded.
The Ocean County Prosecutors Office has opened an investigation into the assault arrest of a Black Lives Matter organizer, after the organizer said he was acting in self-defense.

Jamaal Holmes, 28, from Toms River, was charged with simple assault during a march on the Seaside Heights boardwalk Saturday afternoon. Police said Holmes struck a 68-year-old man on the boardwalk, but Harris and an eyewitness told NJ Advance Media the man was the instigator.

Simply stated, we are confident when all the evidence has been gathered, it will clearly demonstrate: Jamaal Holmes was twice accosted by a counter-demonstrator and acted in self-defense, his lawyer, Brenda Roman Maneri, said in a statement.

Boaz Matlack, a community organizer who partook in the march and saw the incident, said the man approached Holmes while yelling derogatory things about Black Lives Matter.

The man yells, Take that mask off I want to talk, take off that mask off scumbag, take it off, and strikes Jamaal in the face, Matlack told NJ Advance Media. Holmes was wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, as made popular in the movie V For Vendetta, during the march that covered most of his face.

He comes up to me to try to rip my mask off, I step back from him because he put his hands on my face first, Holmes told NJ Advance Media

The man tried to grab Holmes mask a second time, and Holmes pushed him away, Matlack said. The man tripped over the bicycle he was walking with and fell to the ground, Matlack said.

Holmes told NJ Advance Media he had his cell phone recording the encounter in one hand and a megaphone in the other, and said he did not strike the man.

The march then continued back into the Seaside Park section of the boardwalk, where a rally was held. Police did not intervene at this point, both men said.

In a video of his arrest during a traffic stop after the march, a Seaside Heights police officer can be heard telling Holmes a warrant was issued for his arrest.

We have a warrant for your arrest, step out of the car. Now you know why youre here, the officer says after Holmes asks several times why he is being pulled over. The video stops shortly after Holmes steps out of the car.

In a statement, Seaside Heights police said Holmes was arrested at 3:30 p.m., but Holmes said he was not pulled over until 4:43 p.m. and was still marching on the boardwalk at 3:30 p.m.

Seaside Heights police did not immediately respond to NJ Advance Medias request for comment.

Anyone with information about the incident and Holmes arrest is asked to contact prosecutors Sgt. Thomas Tiernan at 732-929-2027, ext. 3149, or prosecutors Detective David Margentino at ext. 3246.

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

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has approved the setting up of tribunals in Meerut and Lucknow to recover losses worth crores of rupees due to destruction of property in the state during the anti-CAA protests last year.

The Lucknow property damage tribunal will accept claim applications from Jhansi, Kanpur, Chitrakoot Dham, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Devi Patan Prayagraj, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Basti and Vindhyachal Dham divisions.

The Meerut tribunal will have jurisdiction over Saharanpur, Meerut, Aligarh, Moradabad, Bareilly and Agra divisions, the spokesperson said on Monday.

The state government had promulgated an ordinance  the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Property Ordinance, 2020  for the recovery of damages for destruction of property during arson and vandalism from participants of the anti-CAA protests. The legislation provided for setting up of tribunals to adjudicate the claims of damage.

The Lucknow district administration had last month attached in Hazratganj area the movable property of two men accused of vandalism during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December last year.

Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash had said the movable assets of Maahenoor Choudhary and Dharamveer Singh, who are accused of damaging property during the anti-CAA protests, would be auctioned to recover the damages.

The protests against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) had turned violent in the city on December 19, 2019. The district administration assessed losses worth crores of rupees to public property in the arson and violence.

The administration had sent recovery notices worth about Rs 1.55 crore to over 50 people for the damages allegedly done by them during the protests. In March, the district administration had displayed on hoardings the photographs and addresses of the protesters, including Congress leader Sadaf Jafar, retired IPS SR Darapuri and activist Mohammad Shoaib, to name and shame them.

After the spread of coronavirus and a suggestion from the Allahabad High Court, the Lucknow administration had on March 20 stopped all coercive action such as the attachment of property and arrest of protesters to recover the damages.

However, with the easing of the coronavirus lockdown, the district administration started attaching the immovable assets of those accused of vandalising public property during the protests.

FIRs were registered in four police stations in the state capital and notices were served to 54 people for recovery of damages.

In Khadra area, 13 protesters were identified and the loss of property was estimated to be Rs 21.76 lakh, while in Parivartan Chowk, 24 people were identified and the loss was estimated to be Rs 69.65 lakh.

Ten people were identified in Thakurganj area and the loss was estimated around Rs 47.85 lakh. In Kaiserbagh, six protesters were identified and the loss of property was Rs 1.75 lakh.

The amended Citizenship Act envisages giving Indian nationality to members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, till December 31, 2014, facing religious persecution there. It had garnered criticism over the exclusion of Muslims from the list.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 19:13:08|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, will attend the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament Wednesday in Beijing via video link, according to an NPC statement. Enditem
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on August 13 launched the platform for Transparent Taxation  Honoring the Honest that rolled out a faceless assessment, appeal and rights' charter for taxpayers.

While faceless assessment and taxpayers' charter are being implemented from August 13, faceless appeal service will be available from September 25. The new platform apart from being faceless is also aimed at boosting the confidence of the taxpayer and making him/her fearless.

Know all about Faceless assessment, taxpayers' charter and faceless appeal service.

Faceless scrutiny assessment

The faceless scrutiny assessment has been devised for greater transparency, greater efficiency and accountability. The scheme aims to eliminate interface between taxpayer and tax officers. Taxpayers will not have to come to Income Tax office personally. Sitting at home, they can file submission and tax officials will analyse it with a randomised system using data analytics and artificial intelligence. In the earlier system, a person filing Income-Tax was supposed to go to official in the same territorial jurisdiction of the taxpayer. But now, the algorithm decides where it would go for assessment which brings anonymity.

Taxpayers Charter

With the objective of enhancing the efficiency of the delivery system of the Income Tax Department, the government has amended the provisions of the Income-tax Act to mandate the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to adopt a Taxpayers Charter. The charter takes care of maintaining the dignity and sensitivity of the taxpayer and that is based on a trust factor and that the assessee cannot be merely doubted without a basis.

Faceless appeal

In order to eliminate human interface, the Faceless appeal on the lines of Faceless assessment will be followed. This is aimed at imparting greater efficiency, transparency and accountability to the assessment process.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Journalist Prashant Kanojia was picked up by Uttar Pradesh Police yet again from his Delhi house on Tuesday for allegedly posting a morphed tweet related to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

This is the third time UP Police has booked the journalist in connection with a social media post.

According to sources, Kanojia was held from his residence at around 1 pm. He was taken to Vasant Vihar police station in New Delhi and the police personnel claimed that he would be produced in court for transit remand and then taken to Lucknow thereafter.

The case against Kanojia has been lodged in Hazaratganj police station in Lucknow accusing Kanojia of tweeting a morphed photo of a social media post made by Hindu Army leader Sushil Tiwari to spread hatred.

As per the sources, the journalist has been booked under several sections including Section 153A, 153 B, 420, 465, 468, 469 of the Indian Penal Code. Notably, the Facebook post by Tiwari in reference demanded that Vedic studies should immediately replace Islamic studies in UPSC.

However, in the photo tweeted by Kanojia, the image and background looked the same but the text read: No Shudra, SC, ST or OBCs will be allowed inside Ram Mandir. Kanojia tweeted with the caption: According to Tiwaris orders.

Though the tweet was no more showing on the profile of Kanojia but social media users shared a screenshot of the tweet allegedly posted on 16 August. Kanojia has been a habitual trouble maker on social media. He was arrested for sharing a video of a woman who claimed that she had been video-calling UP CM Yogi Adityanath and that she wanted to marry him in June last year. He was arrested in April, this year for objectionable tweets against PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath.
The Senate Intelligence Committee has released its fifth and final report on Russias aggressive, multifaceted effort to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election on behalf of Donald Trump.

The committee described its latest bipartisan report as the most comprehensive description to date of Russias activities and the threat they posed. It goes further than Special Counsel Robert Muellers report by concluding that President Trump most likely did have advance knowledge of Russias hack of Democratic National Convention emails before WikiLeaks released themcontrary to what the president told Muellers team.

It also provides fresh evidence on Paul Manaforts direct connection to Russian intelligence officers and new details of how the FBI handled the dossier from ex-British intelligence officer Christopher Steele.

But, while it offers a damning assessment of the Trump campaigns incompetence, vulnerability to foreign manipulation, and indifference to Russian interference, it does not conclude that the campaign colluded with Russia.

A Grave Counterintelligence Threat

The report says that Manaforts high-level access to the Trump campaign and his willingness to share information with Russian and Ukrainian operativesparticularly Russian intelligence officer Konstantin Kilimnik, who hed previously hired and worked with, and oligarch Oleg Deripaskarepresented a grave counterintelligence threat.

[His] presence on the Campaign and proximity to Trump created opportunities for Russian intelligence services to exert influence over and acquire confidential information on the Trump Campaign, it states.

The committee wasnt able to determine why Manafort shared internal polling data and campaign strategy information with Kilimnik, or what Kilimnik did with it. However, the committee did obtain some information suggesting Kilimnik may have been connected to the Russian hack of Democratic email accounts.

Story continues

The report released Tuesday goes further than Muellers report by describing Kilimnik as a Russian intelligence officer who was working closely with Trumps campaign manager, and was an integral part of Manaforts prior work in Ukraine and Russia.

Steele Dossier

The report also addresses the Steele dossier, which made lurid accusations about potentially compromising material from Trumps trips to Russia. The committee didnt use Steeles memos as evidence in their report and states that the FBI gave it unjustified credence, using it to obtain FISA warrants despite having an incomplete understanding of Steeles past and the reliability of his sources.

But, the committee says it independently became aware of three general sets of allegations involving women that were also contained in the Steele dossier.

The first allegation, based on testimony and other witnesses, was made by Moscow businessman David Geovanis, who stated that during Trumps travel to Russia, both in 1996 and 2013, Geovanis was aware of Trump engaging in personal relationships with Russian women.

The report states another businessman said in 2015 he overheard two people discussing sensitive tapes of a Trump visit to Russia. The information reached a friend associated with Trumps longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen told Trump but took no additional action, the report says. Cohen told the committee he knew of other similar allegations from Trumps travel to Moscow in 2013 but he was unable to corroborate the claim.

Finally, the report states an executive at Marriott International overheard two colleagues discussing how to handle a tape of Trump with women in an elevator at the Ritz Carlton Moscow. The report stresses that the allegations were not confirmed.

The WikiLeaks Dump

The report concludes, for the first time, that the Russian government was the source of the hacked DNC emails, contrary to WikiLeaks and founder Julian Assanges claims that it wasnt.

The committee said they found significant evidence to suggest WikiLeaks was knowingly collaborating with Russian government officials when it hacked and released the emails in the lead up to the 2016 election in an effort to derail Hillary Clintons campaign. WikiLeaks actively sought, and played, a key role in the Russian influence campaign, the report says.

The report provides a detailed timeline of the release of the emails, which came about 30 minutes after the Washington Posts now infamous October 7 story on Trumps Access Hollywood tape. Roger Stone, who was in contact with WikiLeaks, had a six-minute call the night before with a phone number belonging to Trumps bodyguard Keith Schiller. While the substance of the call is unknown, it appears quite likely that Stone and Trump [using his bodyguards phone] spoke about WikiLeaks, the report concludes.

The Trump campaign first heard of the Access Hollywood tape about an hour before its release, the report says. Stone then called Jerome Corsi and, according to Corsi, told him to get WikiLeakss Julian Assange to drop the Podesta emails immediately.

WikiLeaks then released 2,050 emails that Russia had stolen from DNC chair John Podesta, the report says.

While the Senate committee found no evidence that Trumps campaign knew for sure that the hack was done by Russia, the campaign was indifferent as to whether it and WikiLeaks were furthering a Russian interference effort.

The findings go further than Muellers report, which didnt conclude that Trump knew about the WikiLeaks hack prior to its release and didnt take a position on whether Trump was lying when he said in written answers to Muellers team that he didnt recall ever discussing WikiLeaks with Stone during the campaign.

Inexperienced and Easy to Manipulate

The report is most critical of the Trump campaigns general incompetence and vulnerability to Russia during the transition toward the White House. It concludes that the Kremlin capitalized on the relative inexperience of Trumps transition teamand the new presidents  desire to deepen ties with Russia.

The lack of vetting of foreign interactions by Transition officials left the Transition open to influence and manipulation by foreign intelligence services, government leaders, and co-opted business executives, the report states.

The disorganized and unprepared transition team also actively engaged with foreign actors, which created notable counterintelligence vulnerabilities and allowed Russian officials, intelligence services, and others acting on the Kremlins behalf to exploit Team Trumps shortcomings. The team repeatedly took actions that sometimes interfered with U.S. diplomatic efforts, were not part of a visible overriding foreign policy and were narrow and transactional, seeking outcomes on only a select set of issues.

This created unnecessary confusion among U.S. allies and other world leaders, creating the potential to harm America's ability to conduct diplomacy both bilaterally and in multilateral institutions, and undermine U.S. credibility and influence.

Differing Conclusions

Although the full committee signed off on the damning report, Democrats and Republicans ended up with wildly different interpretations about what the document reveals about the Trump campaign and its contacts with Russian actors.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that the almost 1,000-page document exposes the breathtaking level of contacts between Trump officials and Russian government operatives that is a very real counterintelligence threat to our elections.

Less than three months out from this years presidential election, Warner added: This cannot happen again.

However, Acting Senate Intelligence Chairman Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL,) said the committee has found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election.

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The Asus Zenfone 7 series finally has a launch date: August 26. Asus is expected to unveil two phones on that datethe Zenfone 7 and Zenfone 7 Prowith the phones slated to take on the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro, while being a tad more affordable, hopefully.

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

After months of waiting and a slow trickle of news, the Asus Zenfone 7 is finally at hand. The Asus flagship was initially teased to launch alongside the ROG Phone 3 last month, but that turned out to not be possible. No worries, though, as a launch date has now been revealed.

According to new information, the Asus Zenfone 7 series will be launched on August 26 in Taiwan. The shared teaser image does look official, and the source, @yabhishekhd, has a pretty solid track record. We'd be surprised if this turned out false. The fact that it's the "Zenfone 7 series" that's stated corroborates reports claiming Asus would launch two Zenfone 7 phones: the Zenfone 7 and a more expensive, feature-packed Zenfone 7 Pro.

Not much is known about the phones but previous information indicates a Snapdragon 865, up to 8 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of storage, a 5000 mAh battery, and 30 W charging for the Zenfone 7. The Zenfone 7 Pro is expected to be powered by the new Snapdragon 865 Plus, and could have max RAM and storage of 16 GB and 512 GB respectively.
Shuchita Sonalika, director and head of the Confederation of Indian Industry, North America, spoke Aug. 6 at the U.S.-India State Spotlight Webinar on Doing Business in California, a virtual webinar, co-sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.-India Business Council. At the briefing, Sonalika shared a report showing that California ranked sixth in Indian business investments in U.S. states. India is the largest buyer of California almonds, buying almost $600 million of the product in 2018, much of it grown by Indian American farmers. (photo via Twitter)
"Many taxpayers have felt the impact of the pandemic and stay-at-home orders on their jobs and their income," details Steber. "Whether furloughed, unemployed, or working a side gig for extra income, all unemployment changes will have an impact on your taxes."

Steber answers common questions about how employment changes impact taxes.

What if my income wasn't impacted during the pandemic?

If you were fortunate enough to continue working and paid during the pandemic, your taxes won't look very different than before. Just make sure you retain all your documents, such as forms W's and 1099s for interest dividends and even retirement distributions. Also be sure to maintain your charitable contribution totals, mortgage interest, property taxes you've paid, and any additional state and local income taxes paid for the year. If you're not filing single, be on the lookout for family members that might have been impacted to make your tax return more complicated.

What if I was furloughed and able to pick up a temporary job?

If you were furloughed but able to obtain a temporary job, make sure you gather your W-2s from all of those jobs. If you worked a side gig, like working for a delivery service company or walking dogs, making masks, trading in virtual currency, or any venture allowing you to earn money, make sure you keep a record of your income, the miles you drove, and any additional expenses you may have had during this time. If you ran any business, you might even qualify for a home office tax deduction. If you are just an employee working at home, you are not eligible for this benefit. But you might if you have a side gig and your office is in your home.

What forms will I receive if I was retired or preparing to retire?

If you were retired or went ahead and took the plunge after COVID, you should receive a form 1099-R for your retirement distributions. If you're 62 or older and choose to start drawing from Social Security, you should receive a form SSA-1099. If you are retiring from the railroad, you should receive a form RRB-1099 instead of the SSA-1099. If this is your first tax year for retirement, be extra careful on your taxes because there will be likely be tons of changes and new tax considerations for the first few years of retirement.

What do I do with my IRS Letter (Letter 1444) from getting a stimulus check?

Keep the IRS Letter (Letter 1444) you received with the amount of Economic Impact Payment, or Stimulus, and date of payment so you can include this on your 2020 tax return. If you are eligible for more credit, you can receive it as part of your refund, if entitled to one. This will be particularly tricky come tax time if you received stimulus money but cannot remember how much and don't have the record letter. Your taxes could be delayed even though you don't have to repay any of the credit if you got too much.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service is here to help with any tax questions you may have amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic. To learn more about employment changes and taxes, visit https://youtu.be/9wFLcNkrmc0.

To schedule an appointment with a Jackson Hewitt Tax Pro or to find the nearest office location, visit jacksonhewitt.com/officelocator.

About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. is an innovator in the tax industry, with a mission to provide its hard-working clients access to simple, low-cost solutions to manage their taxes and tax refunds. Jackson Hewitt is devoted to helping clients get ahead and stands behind its work with its Maximum Refund and Lifetime Accuracy guarantees. Clients can choose to file at one of Jackson Hewitt's nearly 6,000 franchised and company-owned locations, including 3,000 in Walmart stores and online, making it easy and convenient for clients to file their taxes. For more information about products, services, and offers, or to locate a Jackson Hewitt office, visit www.jacksonhewitt.com or call 1 (800) 234-1040.

SOURCE Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

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B aroness Dido Harding is set to be appointed as the interim chief of the Government's new Health Protection Institute.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock will reportedly announce on Tuesday that Baroness Harding will head the Governments new Institute for Health Protection, which will replace Public Health England.

The former chief executive of TalkTalk and Conservative peer currently runs NHS England's Test and Trace scheme which has faced questions about performance and value of money during the coronavirus pandemic.

An NHS app was said to be key to the scheme but has been beset by delays, with the launch of a new public trial announced just days ago.

Mr Hancock first suggested the app would be available in mid-May, but the Government ditched efforts to develop its own technology in June amid accuracy issues and concerns about privacy.

It comes as the Health Secretary is due to deliver a speech about the future of Public Health England (PHE) at the think tank Policy Exchange on Tuesday.

The Government has faced criticism over the prospect of breaking up the health body in the middle of a pandemic and ministers have also been accused of using PHE as a scapegoat for other failings in the Covid-19 crisis.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is due to deliver a speech at the think tank Policy Exchange titled The Future of Public Health / PA

On Monday, the boss of the embattled organisation apologised to staff that news of the demise of the organisation was leaked.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE, said he was sorry beyond words the future of the body was briefed to the media before his staff were told.

A story placed with The Sunday Telegraph suggests that the Covid-19 response work of PHE is to be merged with NHS Test and Trace to form a new body designed specifically to deal with pandemics.

Baroness Harding led telecoms giant TalkTalk when it suffered a massive cyber attack in October 2015 when hackers accessed 157,000 customers details, including bank account numbers.

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) fined TalkTalk 400,000 over the breach, which ultimately cost the company an estimated 77 million.

Public Health England warn of increased risk for those overweight

The ICO issued TalkTalk with a record fine in 2016 for security failings that it said had allowed customers data including some 15,656 bank account numbers to be accessed with ease.

Baroness Harding is currently chairman of NHS Improvement and has held senior roles at Tesco and Sainsburys during her career.

She was appointed to the Sainsburys operating board in March 2008 after a stint at Tesco where she held a variety of senior roles both in the UK and international businesses.

Her retail experience was boosted by her time working at Kingfisher plc and Thomas Cook Limited.

The mother-of-two has also served on the board of the British Land Company plc and is a trustee of Doteveryone and a member of the UK National Holocaust Foundation Board.

She became a peer in August 2014 and has sat on the Economic Affairs Committee of the Lords since July 2017.

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Her husband is the Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare John Penrose.

Away from the worlds of politics and business, she is a jockey and racehorse owner who has served on the board of Cheltenham Racecourse.

Additional reporting by PA Media.
Seven more people diagnosed with Covid-19 in Vietnam

A medic in Hanoi takes blood sample from a woman returning from Da Nang for coronavirus testing, July 31, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Tat Dinh.

Six more people have contracted Covid-19 from known hotspots in Vietnam and one in the Philippines.

Patients 977 and 978 are both men aged 46 who visited a beef restaurant in Hai Duong Town, the capital of the namesake northern province, that has now become a hotspot linked to 12 known cases.

The first infected person found there was on August 12, its security guard, 63, whose source of infection is yet to be identified.

Patient 979 is a 33-year-old woman in Tay Ho District, Hanoi, who visited Da Nang from July 22 to 25. After the central city became the Covid-19 epicenter, her samples were taken for testing and the results came back positive on Monday.

Patient 980, 37, returned to Vietnam from the Philippines on a repatriation flight that landed in the southern city of Can Tho on August 15. She had to go straight to a quarantine camp where she tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Patients 981-983 are people aged 15-90 in Quang Nam Province bordering Da Nang, who got infected from the outbreak in the city.

With the seven, Vietnams Covid-19 count has risen to 983, including 492 active cases and 24 deaths.

Since July 25, when local transmission returned after three months, 505 people have been diagnosed with the disease in 15 cities and provinces, including 11 each in Hanoi and HCMC.

Most infections so far are linked to the outbreak in Da Nang, which has 350 cases.

The global Covid-19 death toll has topped 776,700.
Seven-time Grammy nominee Travis Scott has had a lot of quality time to bond with his two-year-old daughter Stormi in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

'It's amazing just to watch my daughter grow,' the 28-year-old Houston-born hip-hop star revealed in the September edition of GQ.

'I'm keeping her aware of what's going on in the world. As a parent, I'm always instilling knowledge, even at this age.'

'It's amazing just to watch my daughter grow': Seven-time Grammy nominee Travis Scott has had a lot of quality time to bond with his two-year-old daughter Stormi in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic (pictured in 2019)

The 28-year-old Houston-born hip-hop star revealed in the September edition of GQ: 'I'm keeping her aware of what's going on in the world. As a parent, I'm always instilling knowledge, even at this age'

Ever the proud papa, Travis (born Jacques Webster) hung a jersey emblazoned with 'Stormi's Dad' over a couch in his office.

And while Scott refused to discuss his relationship with his babymama, Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Kylie Jenner, he has a framed photograph from their Playboy spread last September 'propped on the floor.'

The Cactus Jack designer and the 23-year-old reality star were said to have 'taken space apart' from their two-year romantic relationship back in September, according to TMZ.

When asked about 21-time Grammy winner Kanye West's presidential ambitions, Travis feels a responsibility to speak to him about his controversial political views.

Tight lipped: And while Scott refused to discuss his relationship with his babymama, Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Kylie Jenner, he has a framed photograph from their Playboy spread last September 'propped on the floor'

Amicable exes: The Cactus Jack designer and the 23-year-old reality star (M) were said to have 'taken space apart' from their two-year romantic relationship back in September (pictured February 1)

'I just tell him how I feel. How people feel about this s***': When asked about his 'big bro' Kanye West's (L) presidential ambitions, Travis feels a responsibility to speak to him about his controversial political views (pictured in 2016)

'Yeah, that's my big bro,' the Wash Us in the Blood rapper said. 'Everyone's entitled to their own [opinion]. I just tell him how I feel. How people feel about this s***.'

Scott - who's been rapping and making his own beats since he was 13 - helped launch his career by contacting the 43-year-old rapper-designer's producer Mike Dean and engineer Anthony Kilhoffer.

The Super Bowl LIII half-time performer said that the Black Lives Matter movement has been 'keeping me motivated.'

'It's a point where there has to be some acknowledgment, like, "This s*** is not cool," Travis said of police brutality.

Mind-twisting spy movie: Scott recently recorded an untitled track for Christopher Nolan's sci-fi thriller Tenet, which hits UK theaters August 26 and US theaters September 3

The 50-year-old British filmmaker (2-R) said: 'His voice became the final piece of a yearlong puzzle. His insights into the musical and narrative mechanism [composer] Ludwig Goransson and I were building were immediate, insightful, and profound'

'We've been through this for how many years? It's a fight that we've been fighting for, and it seems no one wants to give us this result we've been looking for - for years - and our voices need to be heard...whether it's with music, or whether it's trying to go change stuff in the inner city - I'm just trying to turn it up on all levels.'

Scott recently recorded an untitled track for Christopher Nolan's sci-fi thriller Tenet, which hits UK theaters August 26 and US theaters September 3.

'His voice became the final piece of a yearlong puzzle,' the 50-year-old British filmmaker said.

'His insights into the musical and narrative mechanism [composer] Ludwig Goransson and I were building were immediate, insightful, and profound.'

Reunited: The Super Bowl LIII half-time performer is currently recording a 'joint album' with Kid Cudi (L) following their No. 1 hit, The Scotts (pictured April 24)

Travis teased: 'Man, a lot. Some fireness! I feel like I've learned so much. I think with this next project I'm just embodying all of the knowledge I've taken in and trying to make the best form of it' (pictured December 6)

The mind-twisting spy movie stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Kenneth Branagh.

The University of Texas San Antonio drop-out is currently recording a 'joint album' with Kid Cudi following their No. 1 hit, The Scotts.

'Man, a lot. Some fireness!' Travis teased.

'I feel like I've learned so much. I think with this next project I'm just embodying all of the knowledge I've taken in and trying to make the best form of it.'

Airing live on August 30! Up next, Scott scored two nominations - hip-hop and cinematography - for the 37th Annual MTV Video Music Awards

No longer taking place at Brooklyn's Barclays Center: BTS, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd, Maluma, J Balvin, CNCO, Doja Cat, and Roddy Ricch are slated to perform at 'various outdoor locations around New York City'

Up next, Scott scored two nominations - hip-hop and cinematography - for the 37th Annual MTV Video Music Awards, which air live on August 30.

BTS, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd, Maluma, J Balvin, CNCO, Doja Cat, and Roddy Ricch are slated to perform at 'various outdoor locations around New York City' (rather than Brooklyn's Barclays Center).

Fans can vote for VMA winners across 15 gender-neutral categories through August 23.
Thomas Bruck saw the sea whip Antillogorgia elisabethae for the first time 17 years ago while diving on a research trip to the Bahamas. He still remembers this encounter vividly, which took place 18 meters below the water's surface: "Their polyp-covered, violet branchlets moved gently in the current. A fascinating living organism!" As it also contains various biologically active compounds, the biochemist since then has studied the natural product biosynthesis of this soft coral.

Sea whips are protected; despite this, their existence is in danger. The collection and sale of dried corals is a lucrative business, as these contain various active agents, including an anti-inflammatory molecule called pseudopterosin, which is used in the cosmetics industry for years.

Coral reefs fix and store the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and are biodiversity hotspots. If we want to protect the world's reefs, we have to generate such biologically active natural products, via sustainable processes." Thomas Bruck

Natural antibiotic from the biotechnological laboratory

Together with his team at the Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, he has now managed for the first time to produce one of the sea whip's active agents in the laboratory - without the need for a single reef inhabitant. The molecule "erogorgiaene" is an antibiotic. Initial bioactivity tests show, that it is suitable for fighting multi-resistant tuberculosis pathogens.

Previously, a use of the active agent was almost unthinkable: The sea whip contains only extremely small quantities of erogorgiaene and is additionally protected - using it as a raw material source would be neither financially feasible nor ecologically responsible. Although production via conventional chemical synthesis is possible, it is complex and associated with toxic waste. A kilo of the active agent would cost around EUR 21,000.

Sustainable biotechnology reduces the production costs

"However, with biotechnological methods, a consolidated erogorgiaene production is feasible, in a more environmentally friendly manner and much cheaper. With this method, the production costs per kilo would only be around EUR 9,000," emphasizes Bruck.

The new method, which he has developed together with colleagues from Berlin, Canada, and Australia, consists of only two steps: The main work is done by genetically optimized bacteria that feed on glycerin - a residual substance from biodiesel production.

The bacteria generate a molecule, that can then be converted into the desired active agent using a highly selective enzymatic step. No waste is produced in the process, as all ancillary products can be reused in a circular manner. A patent has been filed for the innovative production method.

Bioactive product development along the lines of nature

"The new technology platform for the production of bioactive natural products via biotechnological methodologies complies with all 12 criteria of Green Chemistry," says Thomas Bruck. "In addition, it fulfills four of the UN Sustainability Goals: a healthy life for all, combating climate change and its effects, preservation and sustainable use of the oceans and maritime resources, and preservation of life on land."

The research team is now working on the biotechnological production of another coral active agent: Using nature as a model, the molecule erogorgiaene is to be converted into the active agent pseudopteropsin in the laboratory.

Medical professionals are placing great hope on the latter: Clinical studies have shown that pseudopteropsin inhibits inflammations thanks to a new mechanism of action. Thus, it is a potential therapeutic candidate to control excessive inflammatory reactions, for example in the case of viral infections, such as Covid-19, or during age-related chronic inflammations.
LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Britain's education minister tried on Tuesday to defend a U-turn over a school exam grading system used to replace cancelled tests, which opponents said was another example of the government's incompetent handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Monday, the government ditched a mathematical model used to assess grade predictions made by teachers which had lowered results for almost 40% of students taking their main school-leaving exams.

University places depend on the results but many students found their grades had been downgraded, meaning they failed to meet their provisional offers.

The action only came after days of criticism of the algorithm from distraught students, angry teachers and disgruntled lawmakers from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's own ruling Conservative Party as well as the opposition.

Opponents said the exams U-turn was the latest failing by Johnson's government in its response to the pandemic, following criticism it was slow to impose a lockdown, failed to provide enough protective equipment to healthcare staff and bungled a plan to get pupils back to school.

More than 41,000 Britons have died in the pandemic, tens of thousands of jobs have been lost, and life is far from returning to normal.

"The Tories' (Conservatives) handling of these results sums up their handling of this pandemic: incompetent," opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said on Twitter.

Johnson and education minister Gavin Williamson were lampooned on the front pages of British newspapers on Tuesday after what the papers described as a "humiliating" U-turn, which days earlier the government had ruled out.

Facing the media on Tuesday, Williamson said the government had acted after realising there were "too many anomalies", suggesting the blame lay with officials behind the algorithm.

"The right thing to do...when it was clear that the system wasn't delivering what we believed, and what we'd been assured that it would do, and the fairness that we all expect it to deliver...then further action had to be taken, that's what I did," Williamson told Sky News.

A snap opinion poll published on Monday showed 75% of respondents thought the government had handled the situation badly and 40% thought Williamson should resign. He said he would not quit.

Story continues

The change also puts pressure on universities, as more students have obtained the grades needed to get into their first choice institution. Williamson said the government was working on how to boost their capacity.

"This will cause challenges at this late stage in the admissions process  capacity, staffing, placements and facilities  particularly with the social distance measures in place," Universities UK, the body which represents the sector, said.

The government's decision refers only to England. Scotland faced a similar situation and changed its policy last week, and Wales and Northern Ireland have also dropped the algorithm method, which factored in the past performance of the schools as a whole.

Critics of the system said this disproportionately hit students from disadvantaged backgrounds. (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18)  Authorities said motorcycle barriers are no longer needed for riders living in the same house in areas under general community quarantine starting Wednesday.

The Joint Task Force COVID Shield said on Tuesday that the national task force for COVID-19 approved this along with other measures for protocols in motorcycle backriding.

For areas under GCQ, riders not living in the same house must have an Angkas designed barrier.

As for the riders, the backrider must be an authorized person outside of residence, while the driver may not be. Both should wear face mask and full-face helmet.

Motorcycle to be used should be privately owned, JTF said.

For those areas under modified general community quarantine, local government units have the option to implement the said guidelines depending on the situation in their areas.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Monday that Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal will be back to the more relaxed GCQ starting Wednesday until August 31.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this comes with recalibrated government response against COVID-19.

These five areas were reverted back to modified enhanced community quarantine in the first two weeks of August due to the surge of COVID-19 cases.
Mumbai, Aug 18 : Actress Rhea Chakraborty has denied ever meeting Aaditya Thackeray, in a statement issued on Monday through her lawyer Satish Mandhinde.

"The comments made at the last hearing before the Hon'ble Supreme Court on the 11th of August 2020, make it evident that this has become more about politics than the truth. Unwanted and irrelevant submissions are being made. A number of politicians (are) taking advantage of this case on the eve of elections in Bihar. Rhea does not know and has never met Aaditya Thackeray till today. Neither has she ever spoken to him telephonically or otherwise, though she has heard of him as a leader of the Shiv Sena," Manshinde said on behalf of his client, Rhea.

Shiv Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray is Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment in the Government of Maharashtra, and an MLA of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Mumbai. His name has been come up in unsubstantiated allegations pertaining to the death of Rhea's boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Manshinde also added that Rhea knows and has met actor Dino Morea socially as he is her senior in the film industry, and nothing more. Dino's name has come up in the case because it was alleged that the actor hosted the June 13 party in which Sushant was present, a day before the latter's death. Dino has earlier denied hosting any such party.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Leilani Vakaahi looked effortlessly glamorous in a slinky silver gown when she made her debut on The Bachelor last week.

But the Sydney-based model admits she hasn't always felt confident in her own skin, and struggled with her weight in her early twenties.

The 28-year-old posed for her first bikini shoot in January, which she said was very different from anything she'd done before.

Scroll down for video

Look at her now! Bachelor star Leilani Vakaahi has revealed her secret weight struggle in her twenties, as she flaunts her incredible figure in her first bikini photo shoot

In 2019, Leilani became the first woman of Tongan descent to compete in the Miss Universe Australia pageant.

She modelled several items of swimwear for SIMPL SWIM earlier this year, and Daily Mail Australia has since obtained the photos.

Styling her dark hair loosely, she showed off her toned stomach and a flash of cleavage in a range of bikinis.

Confident: She modelled several items of swimwear for SIMPL SWIM earlier this year, and Daily Mail Australia has since obtained the photos

'After struggling with my weight in my early twenties, I can't believe this is me!' Leilani proudly shared the bikini pictures in January, which highlighted her toned stomach and pert derriere

Her pert derriere and sculptured pins were also highlighted by the label's high-cut and cheeky bottoms.

'I'm proud to have had the opportunity to work with this ethical brand. The collection is incredible, from the fit to the feel of the fabric,' Leilani said at the time.

'And after struggling with my weight in my early twenties, I can't believe this is me!'

Stunner! In 2019, Leilani became the first woman of Tongan descent to compete, and become a finalist, in the Miss Universe Australia pageant

Cute! When meeting Locky Gilbert for the first time on The Bachelor last week, Leilani placed a lei necklace around his neck

In March 2019, Leilani said: 'I never thought I would have the confidence to take part in Miss Universe Australia, but here I am! Proving that you can do anything you set your heart and mind on.'

The model previously worked in radio as an announcer for KIIS 106.5 and The Edge, but is now employed as a partnerships manager for Secret Sounds.

When meeting Locky Gilbert for the first time on The Bachelor last week, Leilani placed a lei necklace around his neck.

The Bachelor continues Wednesday from 7:30pm on Channel 10
Third Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 2020 results:

Cash sales totaled RMB721 million

Net revenues totaled RMB745 million

Average monthly student enrollments totaled 160,438

COVID-19 Recovery Progress to Date:

As of August 4th , more than 90% of learning centers reopened

Cash sales for OneSmart 1on1 business recovered to grow by 29% and 25% year-over-year in July, and August-to-date 2020, respectively

Cash sales for Young Children business recovered to grow by 12% year-over-year in August to date 2020

Average monthly student enrollments for OneSmart 1on1 business reached 93,895 by August-to-date 2020, representing a growth of 13% from March 2020

Average monthly student enrollments for Young Children business reached 51,055 by August-to-date 2020, representing a growth of 8% from March 2020

Net revenues for the fourth fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2020 are expected to be in the range of RMB900 million to RMB1 billion , representing a sequential increase of 21%-34%

SHANGHAI, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OneSmart International Education Group Limited (NYSE: ONE) ("OneSmart" or the "Company"), the leading premium K-12 education company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2020.

Highlights for the Third Fiscal Quarter Ended May 31, 2020

All of our offline learning centers were temporally closed until the public school activities started to resume in late May 2020. Meanwhile, majority of our existing students followed their study schedule through OneSmart Online platform when the offline centers were closed. As a result, the total numbers of consumed class units and average monthly student enrollments declined, partially offset by the online-consumed class units and additional students acquired in our online platform during the quarter. Specifically, for our three core business units:

1. OneSmart 1on1 (the leading premium K-12 1-on-1 education business in China): 1on1 students resumed their offline study from late May 2020. In the quarter, we saw the immediate 1on1 education demand came mostly from those students participating in this year's ZhongKao and GaoKao while other students tended to choose a postponed resumption of their regular offline 1on1 study schedule. All of our students have largely resumed their offline study in the summer season as 90% of our learning centers have reopened. As a result, the number of average monthly student enrollments as of mid-August have passed that of February.

2. OneSmart Young Children Education : HappyMath (the leading premium young children math education business in China) and FasTrack English (the 2nd largest premium young children English education business in East China): All of our HappyMath and FasTrack English learning centers remained closed during the entire third fiscal quarter. Young students took their classes through OneSmart Online. The offline centers started to reopen from June 2020.

3. OneSmart Online (The leading premium online education business in China): OneSmart Online business acquired over 13,000 pure online enrollments during the quarter. These enrollments do not count those students temporarily converted into online platform during the pandemic or those offline students who also took online classes. Cash sales from OneSmart Online business totaled RMB59 million, an increase of 128% sequentially, accounting for 8% of total cash sales in the quarter. Net revenues from OneSmart Online business totaled RMB46 million, an increase of 47% sequentially, accounting for 6% of total net revenues in the quarter.

Mr. Steve Zhang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OneSmart, commented, "Strictly following local governments' guidelines, we have continuously taken the proper measures to protect health and safety of our students and employees. We appreciate our employees' great efforts and flexibilities to help our students continue achieving their academic excellence in this year's ZhongKao and GaoKao, especially with a limited timeframe and online-offline shift during the pandemic. OneSmart 1on1 business, serving our students for 12 years, proves to be the best premium K-12 1on1 education brand for its effectiveness in score-improvement and premium customer experience. Since the beginning of this fiscal year, we have launched OneSmart 1on1 Elite VIP ("Elite VIP") program by upgrading our existing 1on1 learning centers to facilitate more enjoyable study experience. In the upgraded larger classrooms, our teachers and students will have the intelligent and interactive tools to enhance the teaching results. In addition, under Elite VIP, our students will have highly selected teachers with extensive teaching experience to meet their higher requirements. After a few months' interruption by COVID-19 this year, we have resumed our center upgrade and will continue to roll out Elite VIP in the coming years. Market study shows that OneSmart serves only 3% of the target premium families in China. OneSmart will continue to lead in the premium education sector with improved products and innovative technologies and gain shares in the large and fast-growing addressable market in China."

Key Financial Results











(In thousands/RMB)





























3Q

FY2020

3Q

FY2019

% of

change Net revenues

744,916

1,093,271

-31.9% Gross profit

262,276

550,884

-52.4% Operating (loss)/income

(77,430)

123,033

NA Non-GAAP operating (loss)/income

(39,453)

138,648

NA Net (loss)/income attributable to OneSmart

(454,061)

109,497

NA Non-GAAP net (loss)/ income attributable to OneSmart

(416,084)

125,112

NA











9 Months

FY2020

9 Months

FY2019

% of

change Net revenues

2,427,916

2,682,748

-9.5% Gross profit

899,345

1,277,814

-29.6% Operating (loss)/income

(246,891)

152,180

NA Non-GAAP operating (loss)/income

(144,283)

198,110

NA Net (loss)/income attributable to OneSmart

(560,361)

158,114

NA Non-GAAP net (loss)/income attributable to OneSmart

(457,753)

204,044

NA

Mr. Greg Zuo, OneSmart's Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategic Officer added, "Thanks to the rigid demand for our core premium K-12 1on1 business, we are encouraged to see a V-shaped recovery in our student enrollments and cash sales after the offline centers reopened. Most recently, cash sales for OneSmart 1on1 business recovered to grow by 29% and 25% year-over-year in July and August-to-date, respectively. Cash sales for young children education business resumed a year-over-year increase of 12% in August to date. These leading indicators and trend have laid a sound foundation for our net revenues growth in the following quarters.

Furthermore, we remain confident in the roll-out in our Elite VIP program, which is well-received by our customers in selected cities. Year-to-date, this newly-launched product generated cash sales of RMB94.5 million, representing 3% of OneSmart 1on1 business' cash sales. Elite VIP, priced 40% to 80% higher than our regular 1on1 class with a higher expected margin, will solidify our premium positioning and premium pricing power. Our goal is to generate about 20% of OneSmart 1on1 business' cash sales from the Elite VIP program in the near future.

During the past few months, we have quickly adapted to the new operational environments through a combination of offline centers and online platforms. When we are gradually back to normal operations, given the preference by our customers, we continue to primarily serve them in our offline centers while OneSmart Online serves as an incremental growth driver, to help generate higher frequency of class consumption and increased numbers of subjects taken by each student.

In summary, under the unprecedented event of pandemic, the nature of our personalized education programs demonstrated a clear V-shaped performance as students waited in fiscal Q3 for back-to-schools and exam seasons to resume our services. As demonstrated by recent swift rebound and return of strong year over year growth in fiscal Q4, our business fundamentals remain solid and consumer demand for highly effective and premium education services is increasing. Currently, we expect fiscal Q4 revenue to grow 21%-34% over fiscal Q3 and margin to return to the pre-COVID-19 level over the next few quarters. Looking forward, we expect strong revenue growth and margin recovery in FY21 and beyond primarily underpinned by two major factors: Firstly the maturing of previously opened learning centers as 57% of them were opened in the last three years and are ramping up as planned, and secondly, the new offerings of upgraded premium products which shall bring in improved economics over the next few years."

Financial Results for the Third Fiscal Quarter Ended May 31, 2020

Net Revenues

Net revenues were RMB744.9 million (USD104.4 million), a decrease of 31.9% from RMB1,093.3 million during the same period last year. The decrease was mainly attributable to the temporary shutdown of our offline learning centers for COVID-19 related government requirements, offset by the incremental volume from online platforms.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Operating costs and expenses for the quarter were RMB822.3 million (USD115.3 million), a decrease of 15.2% from RMB970.2 million during the same period last year. Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, were RMB784.4 million (USD109.9 million), a decrease of 17.8% from RMB954.6 million during the same period last year.

Cost of revenues decreased by 11.0% year-over-year to RMB482.6 million (USD67.6 million). We actively managed down the staff cost, rental cost and other related costs, partially offset by the increase in the depreciation and amortization cost related to our center expansion and upgrade prior to the pandemic;

Selling and marketing expenses decreased by 17.0% year-over-year to RMB165.0 million (USD23.1 million). Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, were RMB164.8 million (USD23.1 million), a decrease of 17.0% from RMB198.5 million during the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to our disciplined expense control and less cash sales generated during the quarter when all learning centers remained closed until May 2020;

General and administrative expenses decreased by 23.7% year-over-year to RMB174.7 million (USD24.5 million). Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which excludes share-based compensation, were RMB136.9 million (USD19.2 million), a decrease of 35.9% from RMB213.8 million during the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to our expense control policy to keep a healthy financial condition during COVD-19.

Total share-based compensation expenses, which were allocated to related operating expenses, were RMB38.0 million (USD5.3 million) in the third fiscal quarter of 2020, compared with RMB15.6 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Operating Income/Loss and Operating Margin

Operating loss for the quarter was RMB77.4 million (USD10.9 million), compared with operating income of RMB123.0 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating loss, which excludes shared-based compensation, was RMB39.5 million (USD5.5 million), compared with Non-GAAP operating income of RMB138.6 million during the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Operating margin for the quarter was -10.4%, compared with 11.3% in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating margin was -5.3%, compared with 12.7% during the same period last year. The decrease of margin was mainly due to one-off revenue drop due to the impact of COVID-19, coupled with previous quarters' added teacher cost to improve premium offerings. We expect margin will return to normal level post the crisis and start to expand in FY21.

Other expense was RMB366.1 million (USD51.3 million), compared with RMB0.3 million during the same period last year. During the fiscal third quarter, we incurred one-off impairment loss of RMB335 million, related to 15 investee companies, primarily caused by COVID-19. We used prudent approach in evaluating financial performance of these investee companies and decided to mark down our investment amount by at least 80% for 14 of the 15 investee companies. We will continue to stick to our highly selective investment and M&A discipline and will only consider opportunities that can immediately help the growth of our core businesses.

Income tax benefit was RMB2.5 million (USD0.4 million), compared with income tax expense of RMB47.1 million during the same period last year.

Net Income/Loss Attributable to OneSmart

Net loss attributable to OneSmart was RMB454.1 million (USD63.6 million), compared with net income of RMB109.5 million during the same period last year. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to OneSmart was RMB416.1 million (USD58.3 million), compared with net income of RMB125.1 million during the same period last year.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures for the third fiscal quarter of 2020 were RMB20.1 million (USD2.8 million), a year-over-year decrease of 45.2% from RMB36.7 million in the third fiscal quarter of 2019. The decrease was mainly because we prudently managed our cash flow and temporarily suspended leasehold improvements due to COVID-19.

Financial Position

As of May 31, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB1,320.0 million (USD185.0 million), restricted cash of RMB29.0 million (USD4.1 million) and short-term investments of RMB456.4 million (USD64.0 million).

OneSmart's prepayments from customers balance, which represents cash collected from enrolled students for courses and recognized proportionately as the training sessions are delivered, was RMB2,358.9 million (USD330.6 million) at the end of the third fiscal quarter of 2020, an increase of 6.4% from RMB2,216.8 million at the end of the third fiscal quarter of 2019.

Cash Flow

Net cash used in operating activities in the third fiscal quarter of 2020 was RMB21.7 million (USD3.0 million).

Net cash used in investing activities in the third quarter of 2020 was RMB196.9 million (USD27.6 million).

Net cash provided by financing activities in the third quarter of 2020 was RMB449.5 million (USD63.0 million).

Financial Results For the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2020

For the first nine months of fiscal year 2020, OneSmart reported net revenues of RMB2,427.9 million (USD340.3 million), representing a 9.5% decrease year-over-year. Average monthly student enrollments in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 increased by 6.4% to approximately 168,484.

Operating costs and expenses for the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 were RMB2,674.8 million (USD374.9 million), a 5.7% increase year-over-year. Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses for the first nine months of fiscal year 2020, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, were RMB2,572.2 million (USD360.5 million), representing a 3.5% increase year-over-year.

Cost of revenues increased by 8.8% year-over-year to RMB1,528.6 million (USD214.2 million).

Selling and marketing expenses were RMB556.6 million (USD78.0 million), in line with the same period last year. Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, were RMB556.1 million (USD77.9 million), almost in line with the same period last year.

General and administrative expenses increased by 3.6% year-over-year to RMB589.6 million (USD82.6 million). Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which excludes share-based compensation, were RMB487.5 million (USD68.3 million), a decrease of 6.9% from RMB523.9 million during the same period last year.

Operating loss for the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 was RMB246.9 million (USD34.6 million). Non-GAAP operating loss for the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 was RMB144.3 million (USD20.2 million).

Operating margin for the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 was -10.2%, compared to 5.7% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating margin, which excludes share-based compensation expenses for the first nine months of fiscal year 2019, was -5.9%, compared to 7.4% for the same period of the prior fiscal year.

Net loss attributable to OneSmart for the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 was RMB560.4 million (USD78.5 million). Non-GAAP net loss attributable to OneSmart for the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 was RMB457.8 million (USD64.2 million).

Outlook for the Fourth Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal Year 2020

Based on the latest estimates, we expect to generate net revenues of RMB900 million to RMB1.0 billion for the fiscal Q4. This outlook confirms our revenue guidance of RMB3,330 to RMB3,430 million for the full Fiscal Year 2020. However, this outlook represents OneSmart's current view, which is subject to change because the COVID-19 impact is still ongoing and its future development remains unclear.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at the noon buying rate on May 31, 2020, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, which was RMB7.1348 to USD1.00.

Conference Call Information

OneSmart's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM on August 18, 2020, U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM on the same day Beijing/Hong Kong Time).

Dial-in numbers for the live conference call are as follows:

International 1-412-902-4272 Mainland China 4001-201-203 US 1-888-346-8982 Hong Kong 800-905-945 Passcode OneSmart

A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call through August 25, 2020.

Dial-in numbers for the replay are as follows:

International Dial-in 1-412-317-0088 U.S. Toll Free 1-877-344-7529 Passcode: 10147012

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at: http://ir.onesmart.org.

About OneSmart

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Shanghai, OneSmart International Education Group Limited is a leading premium K-12 education company in China. Our vision is to be the most trusted and heartful high-tech education company and our mission is POWER LEARNING changes the future with technology advancement. Our company culture is centered on the core values of customer focus, excellence, integrity, and technology and innovation.

The Company has built a comprehensive premium K-12 education platform that encompasses OneSmart 1on1 business (the leading premium K-12 1on1 education business in China), HappyMath (the leading premium young children math education business in China), and FasTrack English (the second largest premium English education business in East China), and OneSmart Online (the leading premium online education platform in China). As of May 31, 2020, OneSmart operates a nationwide network of 449 learning centers across 33 cities in China.

For more information on OneSmart, please visit http://ir.onesmart.org.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. OneSmart may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about OneSmart's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: OneSmart's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to penetrate premium K-12 after-school education services market; diversify and enrich our education offerings; enhance the development and management of our teacher team and teaching materials; competition in our industry in China; its ability to maintain and expand online education presence; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the corporate structure, business and industry; and its ability to protect our students' information and adequately address privacy concerns. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and OneSmart does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In evaluating its business, OneSmart considers and uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC as supplemental metrics to review and assess its operating performance: non-GAAP operating costs and expenses, non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income attributable to OneSmart. To present each of these non-GAAP measures, the Company excludes share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this release.

OneSmart believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. OneSmart believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to OneSmart's historical performance and liquidity. OneSmart computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and from period to period. OneSmart believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using non-GAAP measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation charges that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the Company's business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

For more information, please contact:

OneSmart

Ms. Ida Yu

+86-21-2250-5891

E-mail: [email protected]

Christensen

In China

Mr. Andrew McLeod

Phone: +86-10-5900-1548

E-mail: [email protected]

In the US

Mr. Tip Fleming

Phone: +1-480-614-3004

Email: [email protected]

ONESMART INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Amounts in thousands)





As of

As of

As of



August 31,

May 31,

May 31,



2019

2020

2020



RMB

RMB

US$



(Audited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited) ASSETS











Current assets:











Cash and cash equivalents

1,386,412

1,320,016

185,011 Restricted cash

-

28,956

4,058 Short-term investments

454,426

456,421

63,971 Amounts due from a related party

-

19,491

2,732 Prepayments and other current assets

578,787

828,444

116,113 Total current assets

2,419,625

2,653,328

371,885













Non-current assets:











Property and equipment, net

567,987

585,187

82,019 Intangible assets, net

168,622

190,875

26,753 Long-term investments

1,487,638

1,092,437

153,114 Operating lease right-of-use assets

-

1,552,850

217,645 Goodwill

815,052

1,103,942

154,726 Deferred tax assets

83,104

167,669

23,500 Amounts due from a related party

18,750

20,400

2,859 Other non-current assets

510,697

310,831

43,565 Total non-current assets

3,651,850

5,024,191

704,181













Total assets

6,071,475

7,677,519

1,076,066













LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY











Current liabilities:











Short-term loans (including short-term loans of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of

RMB249,876 and RMB711,300 (US$99,694) as of August 31,

2019 and May 31, 2020, respectively)

249,876

711,300

99,694 Amounts due to a related party (including due to a related

party of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the

Group of nil and RMB9,000 (US$1,261) as of August 31,

2019 and May 31, 2020, respectively)

-

9,000

1,261 Long-term loans, current portion (including long-term

loans, current portion of the consolidated VIEs without

recourse to the Group of RMB71,820 and RMB98,280

(US$13,775) as of August 31, 2019 and May 31, 2020, respectively)

71,820

308,282

43,208 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including

accrued expenses and other current liabilities of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of

RMB750,164 and RMB460,355 (US$64,522) as of August 31,

2019 and May 31, 2020, respectively)

816,392

700,013

98,112 Income taxes payable (including income taxes payable of

the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of

RMB66,300 and RMB58,856(US$8,249) as of August 31, 2019

and May 31, 2020, respectively)

81,397

58,856

8,249 Prepayments from customers (including prepayments from

customers of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the

Group of RMB2,170,766 and RMB2,358,890 (US$330,618) as

of August 31, 2019 and

May 31, 2020, respectively)

2,170,815

2,358,939

330,624 Operating lease liabilities, current portion (including

operating lease liabilities, current portion of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of nil and

RMB500,197 (US$70,107) as of August 31, 2019 and May 31,

2020, respectively)

-

500,197

70,107 Total current liabilities

3,390,300

4,646,587

651,255













Non-current liabilities:











Deferred tax liabilities (including deferred tax liabilities of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of

RMB55,719 and RMB38,390(US$5,381) as of August 31,

2019 and May 31, 2020, respectively)

57,066

50,454

7,072 Long-term loans (including long-term loan of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of

RMB376,380 and RMB291,781 (US$40,895) as of August 31,

2019 and May 31, 2020, respectively)

1,345,754

1,051,809

147,420 Convertible senior notes (including convertible senior notes

of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of

nil as of August 31, 2019 and May 31, 2020, respectively)

-

252,550

35,397 Unrecognized tax benefit (including liability for

unrecognized tax benefit of the consolidated VIEs without

recourse to the Group of RMB25,640 and RMB34,638

(US$4,855) as of August 31, 2019 and May 31, 2020,

respectively)

29,442

35,637

4,995 Operating lease liabilities, non-current portion (including

operating lease liabilities, non-current portion of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of nil and

RMB1,029,276 (US$144,261) as of August 31, 2019

and May 31, 2020, respectively)

-

1,029,276

144,261 Other non-current liabilities (including other non-current

liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the

Group of RMB43,440 and RMB22,375 (US$3,136) as of

August 31, 2019 and May 31, 2020, respectively)

91,440

46,375

6,500 Total non-current liabilities

1,523,702

2,466,101

345,645













Total liabilities

4,914,002

7,112,688

996,900













Commitments and contingencies

























Shareholders' equity:











Class A ordinary shares (US$0.000001 par value;

37,703,157,984 shares authorized; 4,130,261,827 issued and

outstanding as of August 31, 2019 and 4,137,606,307 issued

and outstanding as of May 31,

2020, respectively)

26

26

4 Class B ordinary shares (US$0.000001 par value;

2,296,842,016 issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2019

and May 31, 2020, respectively)

16

16

2 Treasury stock

(203,759)

(274,648)

(38,494) Additional paid-in capital

5,501,992

5,600,559

784,964 Statutory reserves

7,080

12,270

1,720 Accumulated deficits

(4,300,153)

(4,865,704)

(681,968) Accumulated other comprehensive income

87,148

58,221

8,160 Total OneSmart International Education Group Limited

shareholders' equity

1,092,350

530,740

74,388 Non-controlling interests

65,123

34,091

4,778 Total shareholders' equity

1,157,473

564,831

79,166













Total liabilities, non-controlling interests and

shareholders' equity

6,071,475

7,677,519

1,076,066















ONESMART INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Amounts in thousands)





























For the three months ended

May 31,

For the nine months ended

May 31,



2019

2020

2020

2019

2020

2020



RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

























Net revenues

1,093,271

744,916

104,406

2,682,748

2,427,916

340,292 Cost of revenues

(542,387)

(482,640)

(67,646)

(1,404,934)

(1,528,571)

(214,242) Gross profit

550,884

262,276

36,760

1,277,814

899,345

126,050

























Operating expenses:























Selling and marketing (Note 1)

(198,855)

(164,965)

(23,121)

(556,743)

(556,588)

(78,010) General and administrative (Note 1)

(228,996)

(174,741)

(24,491)

(568,891)

(589,648)

(82,644) Total operating expenses

(427,851)

(339,706)

(47,612)

(1,125,634)

(1,146,236)

(160,654) Operating income/(loss)

123,033

(77,430)

(10,852)

152,180

(246,891)

(34,604)

























Interest income

4,351

1,447

203

16,762

34,434

4,826 Interest expense

(22,173)

(28,548)

(4,001)

(40,041)

(73,362)

(10,282) Other income

46,592

20,730

2,905

65,794

79,717

11,173 Other expenses

(255)

(366,087)

(51,310)

(830)

(396,023)

(55,506) Foreign exchange losses

(2,043)

(162)

(23)

(524)

(147)

(21) Income/(loss) before income tax and

share of net loss from equity investees

149,505

(450,050)

(63,078)

193,341

(602,272)

(84,414)

























Income tax (expense)/benefit

(47,121)

2,495

350

(77,424)

27,063

3,793 Income/(loss) before share of net loss

from equity investees

102,384

(447,555)

(62,728)

115,917

(575,209)

(80,621)

























Share of net loss from equity investees

(1,152)

(8,452)

(1,185)

(8,465)

(16,167)

(2,266)

























Net income/(loss)

101,232

(456,007)

(63,913)

107,452

(591,376)

(82,887)

























Add: Net loss attributable to non-

controlling interests

8,265

1,946

273

50,662

31,015

4,347

























Net income/(loss) attributable to

OneSmart's shareholders

109,497

(454,061)

(63,640)

158,114

(560,361)

(78,540)

























Note 1: Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating costs and expenses as follows:





















For the three months ended

May 31,

For the nine months ended

May 31,



2019

2020

2020

2019

2020

2020



RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

























Selling and marketing

389

171

24

922

456

64 General and administrative

15,226

37,806

5,299

45,008

102,152

14,317 Total

15,615

37,977

5,323

45,930

102,608

14,381







































































































ONESMART INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS) (Amounts in thousands)





For the three months ended

May 31,

For the nine months ended

May 31,



2019

2020

2020

2019

2020

2019



RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

























Net income/(loss)

101,232

(456,007)

(63,913)

107,452

(591,376)

(82,887) Other comprehensive income/(loss)























Unrealized gain/(loss) on available-for-sale

investments, net of tax 19

31,512

4,417

49,640

(19,605)

(2,748) Foreign currency translation adjustment (3,975)

(13,867)

(1,944)

2,213

(9,322)

(1,307)

























Comprehensive income/(loss)

97,276

(438,362)

(61,440)

159,305

(620,303)

(86,942) Add: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests

8,265

1,946

273

50,662

31,015

4,347

























Comprehensive income/(loss) a

ttributable to OneSmart's shareholders

105,541

(436,416)

(61,167)

209,967

(589,288)

(82,595)



























ONESMART INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures (Amounts in thousands)





























For the three months ended

May 31,

For the nine months ended

May 31, 2019

2020

2020

2019

2020

2020



RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

























Selling and marketing expenses

198,855

164,965

23,121

556,743

556,588

78,010 Share-based compensation expense in selling and

marketing expenses

389

171

24

922

456

64 Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses

198,466

164,794

23,097

555,821

556,132

77,946 General and administrative expenses

228,996

174,741

24,491

568,891

589,648

82,644 Share-based compensation expense in general and administrative expenses

15,226

37,806

5,299

45,008

102,152

14,317 Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses

213,770

136,935

19,192

523,883

487,496

68,327

























Operating costs and expenses

970,238

822,346

115,258

2,530,568

2,674,807

374,896 Share-based compensation expense in operating

costs and expenses

15,615

37,977

5,323

45,930

102,608

14,381 Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses

954,623

784,369

109,935

2,484,638

2,572,199

360,515

























Operating income/(loss)

123,033

(77,430)

(10,852)

152,180

(246,891)

(34,604) Share-based compensation expenses

15,615

37,977

5,323

45,930

102,608

14,381 Non-GAAP operating income/(loss)

138,648

(39,453)

(5,529)

198,110

(144,283)

(20,223)

























Net income/(loss) attributable to OneSmart's

shareholders

109,497

(454,061)

(63,640)

158,114

(560,361)

(78,540) Share-based compensation expenses

15,615

37,977

5,323

45,930

102,608

14,381 Non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to OneSmart

125,112

(416,084)

(58,317)

204,044

(457,753)

(64,159)



























SOURCE OneSmart International Education Group Limited

Related Links

www.1smart.org


Taiwan opens representative office in Somaliland

ROC Central News Agency

08/17/2020 10:04 PM

Taipei, Aug. 17 (CNA) Taiwan has formally opened a representative office in Somaliland, a self-declared East African state, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) confirmed Monday.

The opening ceremony was led by Lou Chen-hwa (), Taiwan's chief envoy in Somaliland, and Yasin Hagi Mohamoud, Somaliland's foreign minister, with members of the foreign missions in Somaliland in attendance, MOFA said in a statement,

A pre-recorded congratulatory message by President Tsai Ing-wen () was played and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu () delivered his remarks live via a video call during the ceremony, according to MOFA.

The two governments signed a technical cooperation agreement at the ceremony, MOFA said, and Taiwan will send a technical mission to Hargeisa to work on different projects.

In Tsai's video message, which was shared on her Facebook page, she said the friendship between Taiwan and Somaliland is based on the common values of freedom, democracy, justice and the rule of law.

She also said Taiwan is firmly committed to working with Somaliland in such areas as agriculture, fisheries, energy, mining, public health, education and information and communications technology.

Wu pledged to "expand and deepen" the cooperation between Taipei and Hargeisa that began in 2019.

Earlier in the day, African media the Horn Diplomat posted photos and other materials of the opening ceremony on its Twitter feed, including a video clip that showed the raising of the national flag of the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan's formal name.

Taiwan currently has diplomatic relations with only 15 countries around the world, and has struggled to carve out an international presence because of China's suppression.

Its latest gambit with Somaliland, which is not recognized as a country by the international community, seeks to expand its reach in a part of the world where it has little influence.

On July 1, Wu announced at a press conference in Taipei that Taiwan and Somaliland signed an agreement in February to exchange representative offices.

Beijing objected to the move, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory, even though Taiwan has not been under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China since it was founded on Oct. 1, 1949.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud, Somaliland's first representative to Taiwan, arrived in Taiwan on Aug. 7, according to his Twitter feed. It is not yet known, however, when Somaliland will open its office in Taiwan.

Somaliland declared independence in 1991 after a civil war in Somalia. It has foreign missions in about a dozen countries, according to its foreign ministry website.

Though Taiwan only has 15 diplomatic allies, it maintains economic and cultural offices in more than 50 countries around the world.

(By Emerson Lim)

Enditem/ls

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Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: A top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander and two other terrorists were killed by security forces during an operation in north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Monday.

Security personnel inspect the site of Mondays attack | pti

Earlier in the day, the terrorists led by LeT commander Sajjad Hyder alias Raja ambushed a joint patrol party comprising CRPF personnel and members of the local police at Tindim village in Baramullas Kreeri tehsil. Two CRPF jawans and a policeman fell to enemy bullets and were rushed to a nearby hospital where they succumbed to injuries.

Soon after the incident, more forces from the police, the CRPF and the Army reached the area and launched an operation to track down the terrorists.

The search party too came under terrorist fire, triggering another encounter in which all the three LeT men were killed.

A jawan was injured in the second encounter and is undergoing treatment at the Army hospital in Srinagar.

DGP Dilbagh Singh called Sajjads killing a major achievement as he was allegedly recruiting youth into militancy.

We have arrested at least 20 youth, who were recruited by Sajad, Singh said, adding Sajjad had been involved in many attacks on security forces and fruit dealers.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has sued the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; the Federal Government, and the Nation...

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has sued the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; the Federal Government, and the National Broadcasting Commission for arbitrarily amending the Broadcast Code and hiking the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5m.

In the originating motion filed before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Effiong challenged the imposition of N5m fine on Nigeria Info 99.3FM Lagos and the threat by NBC to punish other broadcast stations in the country over alleged hate speech.

The suit comes barely days after the NBC fined Nigeria Info for granting an interview to a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, who claimed that an unidentified northern governor was a Boko Haram commander.

The NBC had threatened that any TV or radio station that allows elected officials to be insulted on its platform would be fined N5m or shut down.

The NBC board had also alleged that Mohammed hijacked the responsibility of the NBC and unilaterally hiked the fine for hate speech without consultation.

Effiong in his supporting affidavit told the court that the actions of the NBC, the Minister of Information and the Federal Government had gravely affected his freedom of expression and that of broadcast stations, broadcasters and other Nigerian citizens who also appear as guests on radio and television stations to express critical views about the government and public officeholders.

The lawyer argued that abusing or insulting the government cannot be criminalised in a democracy.

He contended that the expression hate speech is not defined under any written law and cannot be invoked or penalized based on the capricious expectations of the Respondents.

He said that to do otherwise will amount to setting fire to the constitution and that those who are paid with taxpayers money cannot be insulated or shielded from insults and abuse by those who pay them (the citizens).

The activist reminded the court that Nigeria has passed the era of colonialism and military dictatorship. He said that Lai Mohammed, NBC and the Federal Government were seeking to subvert Nigerias constitutional democracy with the attendant liberties and foist a civilian dictatorship on the country.

The lawyer, therefore, prayed the court to make a declaration that broadcast stations in Nigeria, broadcasters, guests and callers during radio and television programmes are entitled to a fair trial before a court of competent jurisdiction as guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9 L.F.N. 2004 before a sentence of fine or other penalties can be imposed on them over comments, views or opinions expressed on radio and television.

He further prayed the court to make an order of perpetual injunction restraining the NBC, the Minister of Information and the Federal Government from imposing fines or other penalties on broadcast stations in Nigeria for comments or opinions expressed by citizens during radio or television programmes.

The lawyer also asked the court to nullify and set aside the penalty of fine or other penalties imposed on broadcast stations by the NBC.

Effiong equally asked that the court should set aside the provisions of the extant National Broadcasting Code and any amendment made thereto, which purports to prohibit, criminalize or penalize comments or views expressed by citizens about the government and public office holders considered by the NBC, Lai Mohammed and the Federal Government to be abusive, insulting or hate speech.
ZURICH, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Centi, the Switzerland-based Bitcoin SV payments processor, today announces that it has closed its first funding round headlined by Dr. Jurg Conzett, founder of Zurich's MoneyMuseum & technology entrepreneur Calvin Ayre, founder of the Ayre Group and CoinGeek.

Founded by long-time Bitcoin advocate Bernhard Muller, Centi is a system that enables merchants to accept digital currency payments through existing Point of Sale (POS) infrastructure. By integrating with existing POS systems and acquirers and avoiding the need for additional hardware, Centi offers a streamlined solution for businesses to begin accepting Bitcoin SV payments, which attract much lower fees for merchants compared with traditional payment networks.

With Centi, from a merchant's perspective, nothing changes. Because the product integrates into existing POS systems, no additional hardware is required, nor is additional staff training necessary. Payments are made by customers in BSV, but received by merchants in their local fiat currency, eliminating issues associated with accepting and accounting for digital currencies.

The first merchants utilising the Centi system for payments will be online and available for use later this year, with an initial rollout planned with retail partners across Switzerland.

The Centi payments platform is built for use exclusively with Bitcoin SV - its blockchain being the only solution that offers the fast processing times, predictable low fees, and unbounded scaling required to compete with traditional providers in the space. The Bitcoin SV network enjoys transaction fees as low as 1/100 of a U.S. cent, in contrast to transaction fees on the BTC network which are expensive and unpredictable (average BTC fees ranged wildly from USD $.55 to $6.64 over the past 3 months). Even with service fees charged by Centi, its system will cost less for merchants than payment cards.

In keeping with the wider mission of Bitcoin SV to operate an ecosystem that maintains lawful conduct and is regulation friendly, Centi has become a member of the Financial Services Standards Association (VQF), a self-regulatory organization focused on AML for financial intermediaries in Switzerland.

Centi Founder Bernhard Muller, commenting on the close of the funding round, said:

"I feel privileged to work with two such experienced investors - Calvin Ayre and Dr Jurg Conzett - on creating the digital cash register of the 21st century. At this stage, expertise and business connections are just as important as the investment money. It humbles me to be able to work with top tier business professionals who recognize the commercial value of our ideas and placed their trust in Centi to realize and extend our vision."

Dr Jurg Conzett commented on his decision to support Centi:

"I have invested in Centi because of the excellence and commitment of the founder, the scaling ability of BSV and the wish to support a commercial Bitcoin product. Centi is well prepared to take advantage of combining blockchain with an efficient, low cost payment system. Further it has potential to add features no other payments system has today."

Calvin Ayre pointed to Centi's potential to quickly drive usage of BSV payments as motivating his decision to invest:

"In the digital currency space, we need to reframe thinking so that value is derived from real utility. Centi's technology offers a breakthrough solution for the easy adoption of Bitcoin SV by merchants. The innovative technology developed by Centi coupled with a blockchain that can scale makes for an exciting combination, one that I'm confident will prove a pivotal step in Bitcoin SV's evolution as the digital currency of choice."

Centi's emergence reflects Switzerland's rise as a hub for Bitcoin SV business, as other BSV companies also look to expand presence in the European country.

To learn more about Bitcoin SV, who's building on it (including Centi) and what it can do, register for the CoinGeek Live Conference (New York + LondonSept 30th - Oct 2nd) or sign-up for virtual access at www.coingeekconference.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1218683/Bitcoin_Association_Logo.jpg
Goodluck Jonathan, Muhmmadu Buhari

President Muhmmadu Buhari has concluded a closed-door meeting with former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.

Although the details of their discussions were yet to be disclosed, sources suggested it was all about the ongoing mediation in the political crisis in Mali.

Dr Jonathan had been at the forefront of moves to midwife a peace deal in the Malian impasse as a Special Envoy.

West African subregional leaders had been making moves to avert a full-blown civil war in the country, requesting all sides in the crisis to make some comprise in a bid to end hostilities.
New York (CNN Business) CureVac, a German biotech working on a Covid-19 vaccine that is backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has a manufacturing agreement with Elon Musk's Tesla ( TSLA ), soared again Monday after more than tripling in its Wall Street debut Friday.

Shares of CureVac were up about 40% Monday after its CEO Franz-Werner Haas said in an interview with the German financial news site Boerse Online over the weekend that he was hopeful its vaccine will be approved by regulators early next year. Haas added that an "accelerated approval was possible" as well.
Ahn Bo Hyun is ready for business, and so are his fans. Everyone can't wait to see the actor in MBC's upcoming drama, "Kairos."

The time-crossing fantasy thriller "Kairos" revolves around Kim Seo Jin, played by Shin Sung Rok. A successful businessman in complete loss after his daughter is kidnapped. Likewise, a woman from another time, Lee So Young as Han Ae Ri. is also searching for her missing mother.

Actor Ahn Bo Hyun plays the character as Seo Do Kyun, who is Kim Seo Jin's right-hand man at Yoojoong Construction. Seo Do Kyun looks up to his superior as the youngest director in the construction company. Seo Do Kyun admires Kim Seo Jin's detailed approach to work, and how they all received motivation to work hard and get the desired results of his projects.

As their work progresses, Seo Do Kyun is the first one to notice Kim Seo Jin's irregularity in his projects, which he is determined not to let pass. His curiosity and attentiveness to his mentor lead unexpected conflicts to their working relationship and excitement to the series.

Ahn Bo Hyun's newly released still pictures of Seo Do Kyun's character, looking smart in his business suit, gives a new look to his persona. Another picture with his intense gaze gives a hint he would be a difficult person to deal with. The actor wearing glasses on the job is determined to deliver results and ensures he works hard to make things happen. While seeing Ahn Bo Hyun smiling in a white shirt, gives out a charming and warm aura to steal everyone's heart.

According to Ahn Bo Hyun, in one of his recent interviews, he felt drawn and excited about this new drama that tackles "time travel." He is grateful to work with the director and writer in their first project in the industry. The actor admired how much passion the director has in the filming, and he does look up to these admirable people who work hard in everything they do. He chose to support people who exude confidence in the same field he is in.

Ahn Bo Hyun rose in popularity after his memorable villain character in "Itaewon Class." His fans will witness another side of his acting abilities in MBC's time travel fantasy drama "Kairos." While busy filming in the said series, Ahn Bo Hyun is in talks as well with a new Netflix original with actress Han Soo Hee.

Meanwhile, "Kairos" will premiere in October 2020.
The father of a murdered Australian soldier has slammed the federal government's failure to prevent the release of the rogue Afghan soldier who was sentenced to death for killing three Diggers.

Hugh Poate's son Robert was one of three Australian soldiers murdered by Hekmatullah at their patrol base in Oruzgan province in 2012.

Robert Poate commanding a bushmaster in Afhanistan. Credit:Contributed by Robert Poate's family

The Afghan sergeant was among 5000 prisoners to be released under a United States-backed peace deal between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

Mr Poate said his family was "not being told very much at all" and his son's killer "may well have been released already".
Today, August 17, the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin, United States, will kick off. At the end of the three-day event Joe Biden will be announced as the Democratic Partys Presidential candidate for the elections in November.

Bidens decision to nominate California Senator and his one-time presidential rival, Kamala Harris, as his vice-presidential running mate has added a sense of excitement to an otherwise dull campaign. What is disconcerting is the way Harris nomination has engendered a vacuous debate in India about the future of India-US ties, and what she brings to the table, if at all anything.

For a nation that proclaims to be a self-confident and rising power, this discussion around Harris has revealed a fundamental weakness  a weakness that always views India as a nation that will be shaped by the actions of others, as opposed to one which has the ability to shape the behaviour of others. Tom-tomming Harris India lineage does justice neither to Indias own aspirations, nor to Harris who has never been shy of identifying herself first and foremost as Black  I'm black, and I'm proud of being black. I was born black. I will die black, she said in a March 2019 interview.

At the end of the day, Harris has emerged a formidable American politician playing by the rules of American politics, and all she should be expected to do is to take care of American interests. What we in India should have been doing is to assess her on her foreign policy track record, not her Indian connection. Harris does not have much of a track record on foreign policy which makes it difficult to predict future positions from her past performance, and national security is not her strong suit.

It can safely be assumed that Biden with his long record on foreign policy and national security will be in the drivers seat. He has indicated that his administration will stand with New Delhi in confronting the threats it faces and has called for strengthening the bond between India and the US. In an attempt to woo the Indian American community, his campaign has underlined that his administration will reform the H-1B visa system and work towards eliminating the country-quota for green cards. On the other hand, US President Donald Trump has claimed that he has more support from Indian-origin voters than Harris.

This is happening because the Indian American community has become adept at using its influence to further its agenda. More importantly, irrespective of the parties, New Delhi has become a valuable partner for Washington.

Harriss past record on India-related issues suggests that she has taken positions on some issues which went against official Indian policies. After the abrogation of Article 370, she is quoted as saying: We have to remind the Kashmiri people that they are not alone in the world. We are keeping track on the situation. There is a need to intervene if the situation demands. She was also critical of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars decision not to attend a meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Neither Harris statements nor her Indian lineage should concern us. What should concern us is how we in India have not been able to come to terms with our nations rise. We want to shape global outcomes, but dont allow for the possibility that India today has the ability to influence the behaviour of others.

Americas foreign policy agenda will be shaped by the fundamental realities shaping the US in the 21st century. When it comes to India-US ties, personalities have tended to become peripheral. Former US President Barack Obama had come to office with a standard set of narrative about India, from non-proliferation to Kashmir. On all such issues he wanted to challenge New Delhi. By the time he left office, he had been converted and was one of Indias greatest friends. Trump had also come to office after a campaign in which India, along with China, was a constant target and was willing to be transactional. Yet after four years, India-US relations have not only grown, they have been able to come off much better than Americas ties with some of its closest allies.

If the Biden-Harris ticket wins in November, India-US ties will be shaped not by Harris being half-Indian or by her previous statements on Kashmir, but by the structural realties that confront Washington and New Delhi in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Everything else is just a distraction.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 00:12:25|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun called upon the Lebanese on Tuesday to protect the country from civil strife, which was the main goal of late prime minister Rafic Hariri, said a statement by the presidency.

"The ruling issued today by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon should be an occasion to recall the positions of the martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and his constant calls for unity and solidarity, and to join efforts in order to protect the country from any attempt aimed at stirring up civil strife," Aoun said.

The UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon found on Tuesday that Hezbollah member Salim Jamil Ayyash is guilty of being a co-perpetrator in committing a terrorist attack that killed Hariri intentionally.

Aoun expressed his hope that justice will be achieved in many of the similar crimes that have targeted leaders in Lebanon, whose absence from the Lebanese political scene left a great void. Enditem
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Gene mutations cause the body of these patients to produce less of a certain enzyme, ferrochelatase. Ferrochelatase is central to the production of haemoglobin, the protein that transports oxygen in the blood and makes it appear red. This ferrochelatase deficiency causes a metabolic molecule, protoporphyrin, to accumulate in the red blood cells. Protoporphyrin reacts to rays of visible light, forming molecules that attack tissue and can cause painful inflammation when the patient is exposed to sunlight or a strong artificial light.Fusion molecule shown to be effectiveHall and his colleagues developed several short RNA molecules, which bind to the RNA copy of the ferrochelatase gene in the body's cells. In cell culture experiments, they identified certain molecules that were able to restore a sufficient production of the enzyme and thus compensate for the negative effects of the known EPP gene mutations. However, developing the RNA molecule was only the first part of the task.Hall says. In the case of EPP, these are the blood stem cells in the bone marrow. To this end, the researchers fused one of the RNA molecules with various chemically active compounds, which they tested in a mouse model of EPP. They identified one fusion molecule - the RNA molecule fused with cholesterol - that was able to compensate for the gene mutation in this animal model.Research not yet completeHall stresses that it is too early to label the molecule he has identified as an RNA drug. In demonstrating that such molecules can be used to increase the amount of functional ferrochelatase in mice, the researchers are at only an early stage of their work.Hall says.Next, the researchers need to optimise the fusion molecule or identify other fusion molecules that are even more effective, he explains, adding that they also require additional, more refined mouse models for the EPP disease. Further research is essential to find an optimum drug candidate whose effect can then be investigated in humans.Source: Eurekalert
New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a decision by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the higher education regulator, to hold examinations for final-year students across 900 universities in the country by the end of next month even as the nation battles the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

The UGC on July 6 directed all colleges to conduct tests either online/offline or through a mix of both modes before September 30. The decision was opposed by some students and teachers who demanded cancellation of the examinations and award of degrees on the basis of an internal assessment.

With some states objecting to the holding of examinations amid the Covid-19 pandemic and others like Maharashtra and Delhi ordering an outright cancellation of examinations for final year students, a three-judge bench headed by justice Ashok Bhushan was asked to determine whether the states will have power under the National Disaster Management Act (NDMA) to defy a UGC directive.

In other words, given the current situation, the court has to decide whether the UGC Act will prevail over the NDMA or the vice versa.

Students in this case were represented by top lawyers Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Shyam Divan. Maharashtra and Delhi were represented by legal heavyweights Arvind Datar and KV Vishwanathan to lay down the edifice for a legal challenge to UGCs defence of its July 6 directive, argued by solicitor general Tushar Mehta.

Additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju put forth the case of the Centre while senior advocate PS Narasimha supported the Centre by representing a bunch of students in favour of holding the examinations.

Objections posed by the petitioners were both factual and legal. Singhvi stated that conditions prevailing across the country were not uniform for the UGC to lay down a one-size-fits-all decision to hold examinations. Moreover, he said the lockdown enforced on account of the Covid-19 pandemic had imposed severe restrictions on communication, transportation across cities and even within a town.

To conduct an online examination in such a scenario is impossible as many students have returned to their hometowns situated in rural pockets where internet connectivity and digital infrastructure remains a challenge.

On Tuesday, senior advocate Datar put forth the Maharashtra governments submissions that holding of examinations was the prerogative of the states and not the Centre. Maharashtra has 13 state universities and most colleges and hostels have been converted into Covid testing centres or quarantine facilities. Further, no university or state authority was consulted by UGCs team of experts, which lacked a medical or health expert, Datar said.

The Delhi government argued that holding examinations only for final year students was discriminatory as students of other semesters/years were being assessed internally based on their past performance. Odisha and West Bengal also opposed the UGCs decision to hold examinations before September 30.

Datar gave the example of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) which have suspended their final semester examinations. He said it was possible to award degrees to students based on their past semester scores and internal assessment based on the final semester, which is already over.

One aspect troubled the bench after it heard all sides. Can states say they wont conduct examinations. This affects standards of education which comes under the domain of UGC. It is the UGC which has fixed standards of holding examinations. Can the universities be permitted to dilute this? Then every university will evolve a different system of passing students, observed the bench, also comprising Justices R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah.

Solicitor general Mehta responded to the petitioners by stating that the matter should not be seen as a Centre versus State superiority as there is no question of the statutory supremacy of the NDMA. But he maintained that once the UGC, being a Central authority, directs that examinations be held, the State Disaster Management Authority cannot override
More than 80 families affected by dam construction in northern Laos have lost farmland and orchards to rising water but remain stranded in their former homes, saying that compensation paid to them for their losses is too small to help them buy new land.



Displaced by work on the Nam Hung 1 Dam in the northwestern province of Xayaburi, the 87 families living in Houeikeng and Pak Hung villages have so far received only a part of what their land was worth, one villager told RFAs Lao Service on Aug. 17.



The compensation weve been given isnt enough for us to use to buy new land, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Its much too low.



On average, we received only 10,000 kip [U.S. $1.10] per square meter, though we asked for between 30,000 kip [U.S. $3.30] and 50,000 kip [U.S. $5.50] per square meteran amount three to five times greater than what we received.



After a delay caused by a pause in work on the dam from 2017-2018, the affected families were finally paid promised compensation on July 18, the villager said, adding, We were given money only for our land, though, and not for the fruit trees that we had.



We should have been compensated for the loss of these also, he said.



Before work began on the Nam Hung 1 Dam, the villager said, he grew teak, eucalyptus, mango, longan, and rice on the land that he owned.



But our land is submerged in the dam reservoir now, he said. Our losses are too great.



One landowner in Pak Hung meanwhile said that she has not yet been paid anything at all for her three-hectare plot of land, for which she held a valid title and regularly paid property tax.



At first, my land was shown on the list [of landowners to be compensated], but later it was taken off the list without any explanation, she said.



My land was also located right in front of the dam, but I havent been paid anything for it yet, she said, adding that she is now speaking with officials in the Xayaburi Municipality about writing a letter to provincial authorities to ask for compensation.



The other landowners are also consulting with municipal authorities about writing a letter demanding more money, sources said.



'That's government policy'



The landowners have now received all the money theyre going to get, an official at the Xayaburi Municipality Department of Energy and Mines told RFA. We assessed the value of the land according to the rates set by the government.



Of course its low. Compensation paid by the state is always lower than what is paid by a private project, he said, adding that the 87 affected families have now received a total of 3,400,000,000 kip ($370,000) for 132 hectares of land.



An official at the provincial Agriculture and Forestry Department said that the Energy and Mines Department, using funds provided by dam developer The Simuang Group, should have given the affected families not just money for their losses, but new land of equal or greater value and a way to farm new land or raise poultry and cattle.



Thats the governments policy, he said.



Reached for comment, officials at the Nam Hung 1 Dam Power Company were unable to explain why at least one family in the affected villages was refused compensation or why the amounts offered to the other families were so low.



Construction on the U.S. $34 million, 15-megawatt Nam Hung 1 Dam began in 2017 but was delayed for a year due to the discovery of substandard work on the project, and resumed in 2018.



Laos has built dozens of hydropower dams on the Mekong and its tributaries, with ultimate plans to build scores more under a plan to become the Battery of Southeast Asia to export the electricity they generate to other countries in the region.

Though the Lao government sees power generation as a way to boost the countrys economy, the projects are controversial because of their environmental impact, displacement of villagers without adequate compensation, and questionable financial and power demand arrangements.



Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Photo: DNCC via Getty Images

The theme of the first night of the Democratic national convention was one that has gripped the intelligentsia more than the public: the unique authoritarian threat posed by Donald Trump. It was a point made most explicitly by Bernie Sanders. And it was made implicitly, and most controversially, by Republican John Kasich.

The presence of Kasich in a prime-time slot at the DNC has been the subject of considerable agitation on the left. The former Ohio governor is an interesting and complex figure. I wrote some extremely harsh columns about Kasich in the 1990s, when his career seemed designed to use his earnest persona and working-class roots as nothing more than a guise to sell a plutocratic agenda.

But Kasich evolved, at least a little. As governor of Ohio, he broke ranks to accept the Medicaid expansion in Obamacare at a time when his party was still committed to destroying the law. And he infuriated conservatives by justifying the decision not only on fiscal grounds  why turn away free money from Washington just because Obama passed it?  but also on moral grounds, implying, correctly, that other Republicans were willing, or even eager, to let the poor suffer and die to spite a Democratic president.

But Kasich is still closer to the Republican agenda than the Democratic one. And his high-profile inclusion has infuriated some left-wing critics like Jeet Heer, Jordan Uhl, and Elie Mystal.

One argument against featuring Kasich is that he opposes many Democratic Party principles, especially on abortion. Of course, politics requires getting votes from people who disagree with you on some things. There arent enough people in America who share every major Democratic party line to form a majority. (Of course, there arent enough party-line Republican voters, either.)

The second argument is that figures like Kasich dont bring any credibility with voters. These Republican validators will be uniformly white and overwhelmingly male, and they will bring with them no voting blocs, argues Mystal.

It would obviously be an exaggeration to say a Kasich speaking slot locks up millions of voters. Conventions can only do so much. Most undecided voters dont watch them. But they do absorb at least some news coverage, and to the extent that coverage emphasizes Kasichs testimony that Republicans should reject Trump and trust Biden, its meaningful. Lots of voters in the middle dont follow politics closely, and the use simple heuristics like Even voters in the other party like this candidate help them make sense of their decision.

Its notable that many of the same critics who are skeptical that a Kasich endorsement of Biden can attract voters in the center were also skeptical that Biden could attract any voters in the center. The left spent much of the primary insisting either that electability was a myth or that the most important element of electability was motivating left wingers. And yet Bidens campaign has done exactly what Biden thought it would: win over moderates and persuadable Republicans. His lead over Trump is built on a dominating advantage among college-educated white voters. If theres any constituency that can be reassured by the seal of approval of Republicans, its them.

The larger moral purpose in Kasichs endorsement is the imperative to put aside policy goals for the objective of stopping an unfit and dangerous aspiring dictator. It is because Kasich does not stand to gain from Bidens election  his agenda would be harmed, while Sanderss would be incrementally advanced  is a testament to his willingness to sacrifice something to save American democracy.

Of all the first night speakers, Sanders grasped the stakes most clearly, promising, I will work with progressives, with moderates, and yes, with conservatives, to preserve this nation from a threat that  our heroes fought and died to defeat. Bernie understands what many of his supporters fail to see.
<p>The long-standing leader is facing the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule amid a wave of mass protests and strikes following his re-election on 9 August.</p><p>"We held elections already. Until you kill me, there will be no other elections," he was quoted by Tut.by media outlet as telling workers at a tractor plant on Monday.</p><p>Video emerged of workers yelling "go away" at the president as he spoke to the crowd.</p><p>Earlier, the UK's foreign secretary said Britain does not accept the results of the "fraudulent" election in Belarus.</p><p>Dominic Raab called for an urgent investigation into the ballot's "serious flaws" and also condemned acts of violence by the Belarusian authorities to suppress peaceful protests following the re-election of Mr Lukashenko.</p><p>He said the government will work with international partners to sanction those responsible and hold the country's authorities to account.</p><p>"The world has watched with horror at the violence used by the Belarusian authorities to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent presidential election," Mr Raab tweeted on Monday.</p><p>"The UK does not accept the results."</p> <p>The statement also said: "We urgently need an independent investigation through the OSCE into the flaws that rendered the election unfair, as well as the grisly repression that followed."</p><p>Mr Lukashenko also said on Monday he would be willing to share power and to change the constitution, but was not willing to do so under pressure from protesters.</p><p>"You should never expect me to do something under pressure," he was quoted as saying by the Belta news agency.</p><p>"They [new elections] won't happen."</p> <p>He said work is under way on possible changes to the constitution that would redistribute power, Belta reported.</p><p>It comes as Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she was ready to lead Belarus.</p><p>Speaking in a video address from Lithuania, she called for the creation of a legal mechanism to ensure that a new and fair presidential election could take place.</p><p>"I am ready to take responsibility and act as a national leader during this period," she said.</p> <p>Ms Tsikhanouskaya, 37, said it was essential to make the most of the momentum generated by a week of protests.</p><p>The former English teacher has become one of the leading opposition figures against Mr Lukashenko.</p><p>Ms Tsikhanouskaya <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/belarus-presidential-election-candidate-flees-country-amid-crackdown-on-protests-12046958" target="_blank">fled Belarus last week following the election results</a></strong>, claiming she had done so for the safety of her children, however she soon began releasing videos calling for anti-government protests to continue.</p><p>On Sunday, Belarusians chanted "Step down!" in the centre of the capital Minsk in one of the biggest protests so far against the strongman leader's re-election.</p> <p>Opponents of the president say he rigged the 9 August election to secure a sixth term in power.</p><p>He denies this, however, and according to the official central election commission, he <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/belarus-election-long-time-leader-alexander-lukashenko-set-for-landslide-win-amid-protests-12046082" target="_blank"><strong>won 80% of the vote</strong></a> - a result rejected by the opposition.</p><p>Parts of society usually seen as loyal to the president have come out in support of the protesters, including some police, journalists from state media and a sitting ambassador, while workers from large state factories have staged walkouts.</p> <p>The <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/belarus-senior-official-fears-consequences-after-standing-up-for-protesters-12050819" target="_blank">first high-ranking government official to side with protesters</a></strong> in Belarus said he expects to be sacked after likening state violence against them to the former Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.</p><p>Igor Leshchenya, the Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia, told Sky News he suspects many colleagues share his view but have not gone public for fear of the consequences.</p><p>Germany's president urged the military in Belarus not to use violence against protesters on Monday.</p><p>"I urge the Belarusian military not to sin against their own people by using force," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.</p>
Months of protests calling for the presidents resignation have preceded recent reports of an apparent military mutiny.

There have been multiple reports of Malian soldiers taking up arms and staging an apparent mutiny in the town of Kati, just 15km (nine miles) from the capital, Bamako.

The developing situation on Tuesday comes as opposition protesters seek the departure of embattled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Tens of thousands of people have poured onto the streets of Bamako in recent weeks amid growing dissatisfaction over alleged electoral malpractice and corruption.

The so-called opposition June 5 Movement also accuses Keita of allowing Malis economy to collapse and of mishandling a spiralling security situation in the northern and central regions that has entangled regional and international governments, as well as a United Nations mission that is considered the most lethal of any currently active.





The violence, in which ideologically-motivated armed groups have stoked ethnic tensions while jockeying for power, has spilled into the neighbouring countries of Niger and Burkina Faso, destabilising the wider Sahel region and creating a massive humanitarian crisis.

Underscoring the fear of Mali falling into further disarray over the political crisis, regional leaders have stepped in to mediate and urged Keita to share power in a unity government.

The 75-year-old president has also proposed some concessions, but these moves have been roundly rejected by opposition leaders who remain steadfast in calling for Keitas departure.

What caused the unrest

Political tension has been simmering since Keita won re-election in August 2018 in a poll that opposition parties said was marred by irregularities.

The government pushed ahead with a legislative election in March despite the coronavirus outbreak, and drew further ire after the Constitutional Court overturned 31 of the results. That decision handed Keitas party 10 more parliamentary seats, making it the largest bloc.

Also in March, unidentified gunmen abducted Malis main opposition leader, Soumaila Cisse, as he campaigned in the countrys volatile centre. He has not been heard from since.





Meanwhile, there have been continuous allegations of corruption and power consolidation among the government elite, fuelled by recently published images of the presidents son partying on a yacht abroad.

This comes as citizens continue to struggle under Malis crumbling economy, which depends largely on gold and cotton and has been badly affected by the devolving security situation and the coronavirus pandemic.

Striking teachers also joined protesters press demands for promised salary increases.

The country also faces chronic lacks in road and electricity infrastructure, as well as access to healthcare, food and water. According to World Bank figures, more than 40 percent of Malis 20 million people experience extreme poverty.

Moreover, the deteriorating security situation remains a constant backdrop to the protests, which have taken place in the countrys more stable south.

Mali has struggled to regain stability since 2012, when ethnic Tuareg rebels and loosely aligned armed groups seized the northern two-thirds of the country, leading former colonial power France to intervene to temporarily beat them back.





As the government and international actors have sought to restore peace in the north, the countrys central region, where the state is largely absent, has further devolved, with violence steadily increasing.

Those attacks grew fivefold between 2016 and 2020, with 4,000 people killed in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, up from about 770 in 2016, according to the UN. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee from their homes and thousands of schools have closed.

Regional concerns

The centre of Mali has become a sort of launchpad for al-Qaeda and ISIL-linked groups to attack neighbouring countries. Regional leaders fear the violence could further spread into the generally more stable West African coastal countries if the political unrest creates further instability.

International powers, particularly France, which has had a military presence in Mali since 2013, are also worried the crisis could undermine multibillion-dollar efforts to contain the armed groups. The continued displacement caused by the violence, European leaders fear, may also fuel another wave of migration to their shores.

There is also concern among regional leaders about the precedent that would be set if Keita is forced to step down.

Mediators from the 15-member regional bloc Economic Community of West African States have proposed the creation of a unity government but draw the line at what they describe as an unconstitutional change in power.

On Tuesday, ECOWAS urged the soldiers to return to their barracks without delay.

This mutiny comes at a time when, for several months now, ECOWAS has been taking initiatives and conducting mediation efforts with all the Malian parties, the bloc said in a statement.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Premier Inc. (PINC) said, as part of the partnership with AstraZeneca, Premier Applied Sciences has implemented evidence-based care practices with nearly 370 hospitals across the U.S. designed to prevent patients with hyperkalemia from requiring treatment in the acute-care setting. Premier Applied Sciences and AstraZeneca have developed a protocol for monitoring and treating patients with hyperkalemia. Hospitals participating in the partnership are eligible for discounts on LOKELMA, a potassium binder indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults, from AstraZeneca. Denise Juliano, Group Vice President for Premier Applied Sciences, said: 'We have been able to identify gaps in care and create a discharge protocol to help patients better manage their hyperkalemia status and help reduce readmissions to the hospitals.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ALBANY  The state Division of Budget had lots of bad news in its quarterly report for New Yorkers last week, with a growing deficit and projected cuts to schools and local governments. The bad news did not extend, however, to the $300 million Environmental Protection Fund.

The fund finances a number of projects, including trail maintenance and conservation projects in the Adirondack Park.

Freeman Klopott, a spokesman for the Division of Budget, said in an email on Monday that this administration continues to support it at record levels as it leads the nation in combatting climate change with the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

That act, passed in 2019, requires an 80% statewide reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and the production of carbon-free electricity by 2040.

The Environmental Protection Fund could still be cut later this year. An unprecedented state budget process, due to the coronavirus pandemic, involves quarterly reviews of state revenues and subsequent budget adjustments. The first budget review was due in June, but Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo delayed that in anticipation of the federal government stepping in with more funding for states.

The quarterly review released last week projected a more than 15% drop in revenue, forecasting a $62 billion deficit over the next four years. The situation contributed to the Cuomo administration pulling a $3 billion Restore Mother Nature Bond Act from New Yorkers ballots in November.

In a press conference earlier this month, Basil Seggos, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, indicated he did not believe the Environmental Protection Fund would get cut in the states budget review process. But the DEC has not been immune to the states dire financial picture.

In the original proposed budget, the DEC was slated to have more than 40 new staff members to assist with implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Those positions, however, are on hold until we have clarity on the federal assistance to the state in pandemic legislation, Klopott said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Klopott warned if the federal government doesnt provide support, all state programs may ultimately be subject to reductions. He added that the Cuomo administrations goal is to continue to support the states climate reductions goals.

The state is already doing that, he added, through solicitations of renewable energy in offshore wind projects and investment in clean energy projects in low-to-moderate income households.

A version of this story was first published by the Adirondack Explorer online.
Ghanaian rapper Michael Owusu Addo popularly known as Sarkodie has announced plans to soon launch his first-ever book titled The Highest.

Announcing the book on Tuesday August 18, 2020, via social media, the award winning rapper said the book is a look into his life journey and music career.

He however did not state the exact date for the release.

About that time! My first book The Highest will be OUT SOON, he posted on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Sarkodie is the first Ghanaian rapper to write an autobiography.

Check out his post below:

About that time!! My first Book The Highest Will b out soon ???????????? pic.twitter.com/vH8lJXN3Bu  Sarkodie (@sarkodie) August 18, 2020

---Ghanacreativearts
The world's biggest mining company is to sell off its thermal coal sites as it prepares for a greener future.

BHP will offload mines in Australia and Colombia within two years, bowing to pressure from activist investors to stop producing what is seen as the dirtiest fossil fuel.

Thermal coal is mainly used for power generation and accounted for around 1.6 per cent of the UK's supply last year.

Kicking coal: BHP will offload mines in Australia and Colombia within two years, bowing to pressure from activist investors to stop producing what is seen as the dirtiest fossil fuel

However, burning the fuel releases substances including climate-warming carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, a major cause of acid rain.

BHP's move comes after Norway's trillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund signalled that it could offload shares in the Anglo-Australian giant, by putting it on a climate change-related 'observation' list.

The Norwegian fund is the firm's third-biggest shareholder and last year announced plans to ditch investments connected to fossil fuels, including those in companies that mine more than 20m tons of thermal coal per year.

BHP's exit from the resource means it will now avoid the chop.

It follows similar shifts toward greener energy by other major companies, with BP pledging to slash oil and gas production and invest more in renewable sources.

Yesterday BHP said it would also look at selling its older oil and gas sites, starting in Australia's Bass Strait.

Its 80 per cent stake in a venture that mines lower-quality 'coking' coal - used in steel production - in Queensland will be sold as well. But it stopped short of abandoning coal, saying that higher-quality coking coal would remain a key part of its output.

Along with high-quality iron ore, BHP expects this type of coal to be in demand in the coming years as steel plant operators try to cut carbon emissions.

About two-thirds of its profits come from iron ore, much of it for China's steel mills. Boss Mike Henry said: 'The strong cash flows from these two businesses, metallurgical coal and iron ore, will support attractive returns for shareholders and growth in future-facing commodities.'

Under the chief executive, who took over in January, BHP is expanding into resources used by the green energy industry. This includes copper and nickel, which are used in electric cars and batteries, as well as potash used as fertiliser for food crops.

BHP and its rivals, such as Glencore and Anglo American, are under growing pressure to exit thermal coal as investors worry about the environment.

Blackrock, the world's largest asset manager, joined Norway's sovereign wealth fund this year in saying it would reduce its exposure to fossil fuels.

And miners have separately been hit by tumbling thermal coal prices, after the shutdown of factories during the pandemic caused a collapse in demand.

The tough conditions have left many coal exporters in the red, with the International Energy Agency warning that demand for the fossil fuel this year was set for its biggest drop since 1945.

Another UK mine closes One of England's last remaining coal mines has closed. The surface mine in Bradley, County Durham, shut after plans for its expansion were blocked. Its closure, hastened by the switch to green energy, cost 250 jobs. Owner Banks Mining has also blamed the Government, which it accuses of importing cheap coal from Russia and the US rather than maintaining the industry at home. The Bradley mine will now be turned into a nature reserve and farmland. The closure leaves only the Hartington coal mine in Derbyshire open  which was earmarked to shut at the beginning of the month  and small sites in Cumbria and the Forest of Dean.

BHP yesterday said its annual profits had fallen from 11.4billion to 10.2billion, with its strong income from iron ore overshadowed by disruption from the pandemic.

It declared a dividend of 55 cents (40p) per share, taking its full-year payout to 120 cents (90.7p)  down from 133 cents (100.5p) last year.

Analysts and environmentalists warn that BHP's plans to sell its thermal coal mines could be 'challenging' because of growing fears about the fossil fuel.

Dr Doug Parr, chief scientist of campaign group Greenpeace UK, said: 'Most coal plant operators are in the position where closing down their coal plants and building wind farms instead will make them more money than continuing to burn coal.

'Vested interests can only resist market forces for so long, and that short period of time is the length of coal's future as a power source. BHP moving out of supplying thermal coal is not a sign of environmental concern, but a response to market forces.

'Unfortunately the market is moving too slowly, on coal and particularly on oil and gas, and so we still urgently need governments to stop propping up those vested interests and decarbonise while we still have a human-friendly climate.'

There are also fears that as major firms exit coal, mines will be taken over by smaller companies that are less transparent and lack resources to properly decommission sites.

Lock the Gate, an Australian environmental group, told the Guardian: 'Large companies like BHP should rehabilitate the land they carved up for mining.'
Courteney Cox has shed some property and pocketed close to half a million dollars in the process.

The 56-year-old Friends star completed an off-market sale last month of one of her two previously adjoining units in the Sierra Towers, a luxury apartment tower that straddles West Hollywood and Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, California.

According to Variety, Cox sold the pad in the 31-story high-rise for $2.9 million  which netted her $400,000 more than what she paid for it back in 2014.

Making bank: Courteney Cox completed an off-market sale last month of one of her two previously adjoining units in the Sierra Towers, a luxury apartment tower in Los Angeles; seen outside the Towers in 2017

As seen in sale papers, the buyer of the 25th-floor condominium apartment is Courteney's next door neighbor, LA socialite Angelique Soave.

Variety reports that Soave acquired her initial two-bedroom apartment next to Courteney three years ago, from Dynasty actress Joan Collins, to whom she paid $4.4 million.

And while past tenants of the Sierra Towers include big names like Collins, Cher and Lindsay Lohan, current residents are just as starry: the list includes Courteney's pal Sandra Bullock as well as Adam Sandler, Lily Collins and Kelly Osbourne, along with assorted millionaires and billionaires.

Luxe: Cox sold the pad in the 31-story upscale high-rise for $2.9 million  which netted her $400k more than what she paid for it back in 2014

Tax records indicate that the pad Cox sold is 1,300 square feet, with one bedroom and two bathrooms, situated on the north side of the complex affording it sprawling views of the Hollywood Hills.

Amenities at the Sierra Towers include a state-of-the-art fitness center, 24-hour security as well as a concierge, along with a discreet staff familiar with celebrities' collective desire to avoid attention.

And Cox isn't leaving town just yet  along with the two-bedroom condo unit she still owns at the Sierra, she has previously said she'll 'never move from' from what she has described as her dream home in Paradise Cove, Malibu.

The high life: The pad Cox sold is 1,300 square feet, with one bedroom and two bathrooms, situated on the north side of the complex affording it sprawling views of the Hollywood Hills

Cox isn't leaving town just yet: Along with the condo unit she still owns at the Sierra, she has said she'll ' never move from ' from what she's described as her dream home in Malibu

Courteney is not the only Friend trying to make property moves this summer  her former costar Matthew Perry is also hoping to offload a luxury LA high-rise apartment, in nearby Century City.

But while Cox completed the sale of her place and netted a healthy profit, it was reported last month that Perry is still trying to nail down a sale of his penthouse 'mansion in the sky,' which contains Batman-inspired decor and a custom screening room.

In early July, Perry slashed his asking price from $35 million to $27 million, after the place had reached nearly a year of being on the market.

Cool Cougar: Courteney is not the only Friend trying to make property moves this summer  her former costar Matthew Perry is also hoping to offload a luxury LA high-rise apartment

Cox, meanwhile, is gearing up to reprise one of the roles which made her uber famous in the Nineties.

In addition to playing Monica Geller on Friends, the mother-of-one originated the role of driven reporter Gale Weathers in the slasher hit Scream in 1996.

Courteney has appeared in every sequel of the popular horror franchise, the last one being Scream 4 featuring Emma Roberts in 2011.

Now, she's headed back to Woodsboro for Scream 5, along with ex-husband (and father of her daughter Coco) David Arquette.

Return to Woodsboro: Cox is gearing up to reprise one of the roles which made her uber famous in the Nineties  Gale Weathers from the slasher hit franchise Scream
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has dismissed US President Donald Trump's description of her country's coronavirus outbreak as 'patently wrong'

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday slapped down Donald Trump's talk of an out-of-control coronavirus "surge" in New Zealand as "patently wrong".

She expressed dismay after the US president exaggerated the new virus outbreak in New Zealand as a "huge surge" that Americans would do well to avoid.

"Anyone who is following," Ardern said, "will quite easily see that New Zealand's nine cases in a day does not compare to the United States' tens of thousands."

"Obviously, it's patently wrong," she added of Trump's remarks, in unusually blunt criticism from an American ally.

New Zealand had been hailed as a global success story after eradicating local transmission of the virus and Ardern was lauded as the "anti-Trump".

But the recent discovery of a cluster in Auckland forced the country's largest city back into lockdown.

At an election rally in Minnesota on Monday, Trump jumped on that development as evidence his critics -- who held up New Zealand as an example -- were wrong.

"You see what is going on in New Zealand," Trump told supporters.

"They beat it; they beat it. It was like front page (news), they beat it because they wanted to show me something."

Citing a "big surge in New Zealand", Trump added: "It's terrible. We don't want that."

New Zealand, with a population of five million, has around 1,300 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began roughly eight months ago and around 70 active cases.

The United States, on the other hand, is the hardest-hit nation in the world with well over five million cases and more than 170,000 deaths.

It is not the first time that Trump and Ardern -- a relatively young, centre-left leader -- have clashed.

Shortly after her stunning election win in 2017, Trump met her at a summit in Vietnam and joked she had "caused a lot of upset in her country".

"You know, no one marched when I was elected," she retorted, referring to the protests that followed Trump's victory in 2016.

Story continues

Both leaders are heading into elections in the coming weeks, and for both, trading barbs is likely to play well with supporters.

Ardern has been forced to postpone the elections by a month because of the latest outbreak, putting her sizable lead in the polls at risk.

Trump is trailing Democrat Joe Biden in the polls and facing fierce criticism over his handling of the pandemic.

bur-arb/al/qan
NEW YORK - Nearly two decades after the slaying of Run-DMC star Jam Master Jay, federal prosecutors said Monday they have solved one of New York Citys most enduring mysteries, charging two men from his neighbourhood with murder and suggesting that the hip-hop artist  celebrated for his anti-drug stance  was ambushed over a cocaine deal.

The suspects were identified in court papers as Ronald Washington, 56, who is currently serving a federal prison sentence stemming from a string of robberies while on the run from police after Jays 2002 death, and Karl Jordan Jr., 36, who is also charged with engaging in a cocaine distribution conspiracy in 2017.

Jason Jay Mizell, known professionally as Jam Master Jay, formed Run-DMC with Joseph Run Simmons and Darryl DMC McDaniel in the early 1980s. Together, they helped take hip-hop mainstream with hits like Its Tricky and the Aerosmith remake collaboration Walk This Way.

Jays death, following the long unsolved slayings of rappers Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996 and Christopher Biggie Smalls Wallace in Los Angeles in 1997, shook the hip-hop world. Chuck D of Public Enemy compared his death to that of John Lennon. More than $60,000 in rewards was offered, but witnesses refused to come forward and the case languished.

This is a case about a murder that for nearly two decades had gone unanswered, Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said at a news conference announcing the charges. Today, we begin to answer that question of who killed Jason Mizell, and why, and were confident that we can prove those charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Washington, who had reportedly been living on a couch at Jays home in the days before the killing, was publicly named as a possible suspect or witness as far back as 2007. Prosecutors allege he waved a handgun and ordered another person at the recording studio to lie on the ground while Jordan shot Jay in the head Oct. 30, 2002.

According to prosecutors, Jay would bring in bulk amounts of cocaine to sell retail and was killed as retribution for cutting Washington out of a plan to distribute 10 kilograms in Maryland.

They walked in and murdered him in cold blood, DuCharme said.

A message seeking comment was left with a publicist for Run-DMC. The group performed anti-drug concerts, established scholarships and held voter registration drives at its live shows. In Hollis, the Queens neighbourhood where he grew up, Jay was seen as a role model. Friends were puzzled by his death, thinking him an unlikely target for violence.

If convicted, Washington and Jordan each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, or the death penalty. Prosecutors said in court papers that Attorney General William Barr had not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.

Jordan pleaded not guilty at an arraigned held Monday by teleconference because of coronavirus-related precautions. His lawyer declined comment. Washington, who is imprisoned in Kentucky, will be arraigned later this week, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors have asked that both be jailed pending trial.

The 37-year-old Jay was shot once in the head with a .40-calibre bullet by a masked assailant at his studio in Hollis. Police identified at least four people in the studio with Jay when he was killed, including the two armed gunmen.

At Jays funeral, McDaniels remembered his friend and fellow Run-DMC star as the embodiment of hip-hop. He was also a husband and a father of three children.

Jam Master Jay was not a thug, McDaniels said. Jam Master Jay was not a gangster. Jam Master Jay was a unique individual.

Prosecutors, though, now say Jay had been bringing cocaine into the New York area since 1996.

At the time, Jays acquaintance with Washington  a repeat offender with convictions dating in 1982  worried and upset his family.

Before ending up on Jays couch, Washington served prison time for grand larceny, assault, criminal use of a firearm, heroin possession and other charges. He was been linked to the 1995 fatal shooting of Randy Walker, a close associate of the late Tupac Shakur.

Afterward, prosecutors said, Washington hopped from motel-to-motel and robbed businesses including supermarkets and a Burger King while detectives pursued him in connection with Jays killing. He remained at large for nearly three months until police on Long Island nabbed him for robbing a motel.

Last month, as prosecutors were preparing to seek a grand jury indictment against him for Jays death, Washington filed a handwritten petition asking to immediately be released to home confinement, arguing his medical history put him at risk for complications from coronavirus. Federal prosecutors responded by asking for more time to respond, delaying any decision until after Washington was charged.

Jordan, just a teenager when Jay was killed, was declared a juvenile delinquent after a 1999 robbery arrest and had a firearm case dismissed when the complaining witness refused to co-operate with law enforcement. In recent years, prosecutors said, hes been caught on audio and video surveillance six times selling cocaine to an undercover federal agent.

___

This story has been corrected to show Christopher Biggie Smalls Wallace was killed in Los Angeles, not New York City. Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Jennifer Lehman contributed to this report.
If you think about it, it's rather unfair that Badshah is the only one singled out for purchasing fake followers on social media (albeit a rather large number).

If you think about it, it's rather unfair that Badshah is the only one singled out for purchasing fake followers on social media (albeit a rather large number).

Recently the subject of much controversy with his video 'Pagal' coming under fire from the Mumbai police, the rapper was accused of paying a whopping Rs 75 lakh rupees for fake views on his video.

The story's neither new nor too shocking, however, with the practice of purchasing views, likes, comments and even fake profiles quite synonymous with the industry. It's almost a requirement at this point, if you're looking to stay relevant.

With YouTube offering the same 'paid views' through its TrueAdvertising platform, one wonders then why it's an issue if content creators choose to turn to cheaper agencies or platforms for the same benefits, if not more.

Caroline Felicia D'Almeida explains why views serve as YouTube currency for content creators, and whether the whole debate is based on a legal issue or not.
On July 21, President Donald Trump sent to the secretary of commerce a memorandum titled Excluding Illegal Aliens from the Apportionment Base Following the 2020 Census.

It directed the Census Bureau to exclude undocumented immigrants from the 2020 population data used to apportion the U.S. House of Representatives. Trumps directive is in conflict with the traditional interpretation of the Constitution that the House should be apportioned according to the numbers of people residing in the states. His directive will surely be challenged in the courts. Nevertheless, I ask: Are there costs for Texas if undocumented immigrants are excluded from the 2020 census count? Yes, there are, and they are severe.

Congressional apportionment involves the equitable assignment to the 50 states of the 435 seats in the House. Every state receives one automatic seat. The method of equal proportions then uses population counts of the residents of the 50 states to assign the remaining 385 seats, determining which states receive second seats, third seats and so forth. In the 2010 apportionment, Texas received 36 seats. I have projected the April 1 resident population of Texas at around 29.3 million. This will result in Texas receiving three additional House seats in the 2020 apportionment, giving Texas 39 seats. What will happen if undocumented people are not included in the 2020 data?

I estimate that in 2020 there are between 1.65 million and 1.83 million people residing in Texas without legal authorization, and between 10.4 million and 10.6 million such people in the country. There are two types of undocumented residents: Those who enter the U.S. illegally, i.e., without proper papers and inspection, and they are referred to as EWIs, or entry without inspection; and those who enter the U.S. legally, but overstay or violate the conditions of their visas. These days, visa overstayers comprise about 60 percent of people entering our country who end up being undocumented.

I have removed the undocumented immigrants, both EWIs and visa overstayers, from the 2020 census counts of Texas and other states, and then used the method of equal proportions to apportion the House. Texas would receive one or two fewer seats in the 2020 apportionment if undocumented people are not included in the 2020 counts, depending on whether the low or high number of undocumented people is removed. This means Texas would end up in 2020 with 37 or 38 seats, not the 39 most researchers project the state will receive.

I looked next at the economic consequences of not including undocumented people in the 2020 census. The federal government distributes each year to the states around $1.5 trillion, with the amount to each state based on its population. In 2017, more than 300 federal programs used 2010 census counts as the basis for distributing the $1.5 trillion to state and local governments, and other local entities across the nation. Texas receives almost $102 billion in federal funding every year based on its population.

For every one person not included in the Texas count for 2020, Texas will receive around $3,500 less in federal funds every year from 2021 to 2030. Multiply the $3,500 by the 1.6 million undocumented people in the state, and you get $5.6 billion. Yes, keeping undocumented people out of the Texas 2020 decennial census population count will result in Texas each year receiving $5.6 billion less in federal funds.

It makes no sense, political or economic, to exclude undocumented people from the 2020 census enumeration. Moreover, it is not fair to do so. They are residents, and they pay taxes. According to the IRS, in 2015, workers without Social Security numbers paid more than $13 billion in taxes and they contributed over $12 billion in Social Security revenue through payroll tax deductions.

Excluding undocumented persons will result in severe political and economic costs for Texas.

Dudley L. Poston Jr. is an emeritus professor of sociology and demography at Texas A&M University in College Station. He and his wife, Patricia, reside in San Antonio.
The Sultan of Oman issued 28 new royal decrees Tuesday, delegating his own authorities and naming new ministers in a significant government revamp.

A statement carried by the state-run Oman News Agency said Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said had named Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi as foreign minister. He replaces longtime foreign affairs chief Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, who is stepping down after 23 years in the post.

On Monday, Abdullah spoke with his Israeli counterpart in their first known phone call since the US-brokered deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates was signed last week. Oman, which has deepened ties with the Jewish state in recent years, said it welcomed the new accord.

Also on Tuesday, Sultan bin Salem bin Saeed al-Habsi was named Omans finance minister. Two female ministers were added, bringing the total number of women in the Cabinet to five, reports The National.

The royal decrees were announced by Sultan Haitham, who took control in January following the death of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The late sultan ruled the country for 50 years and also held the official titles of minister of foreign affairs and minister of finance.

Before the revamp, the Gulf Arab country had ministers responsible for foreign and financial affairs whose portfolios were overseen by the Omani ruler.
Every Australian will get a free coronavirus vaccine dose as the Morrison government confirms on Wednesday an agreement to secure at least 25 million doses with a British pharmaceutical giant if trials prove successful.

The deal with AstraZeneca, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, will ensure Australians will be among the first in the world to receive the Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine if human trials are judged as successful, safe and effective.

Researchers at the University of Oxford are working on a promising coronavirus vaccine, which Australians will get free if it is proven to work. Credit:AP

The government will on Wednesday also release its multibillion-dollar vaccine strategy, to be led by Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy. It includes a $24.7 million deal with American medical technology giant Becton Dickinson to secure 100 million needles and syringes.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said under the deal, every Australian would be able to receive the Oxford University vaccine free. Priority candidates for the first doses will probably include over-60s and Australians with co-morbidities such as asthma, heart disease, transplant recipients and cancer patients.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State University is going online for the fall and is encouraging students to stay home, the schools president announced Tuesday, as schools across the nation struggled to control coronavirus outbreaks.

Remote learning for undergraduates is scheduled to begin Sept. 2.

Given the current status of the virus in our country  particularly what we are seeing at other institutions as they re-populate their campus communities  it has become evident to me that, despite our best efforts and strong planning, it is unlikely we can prevent widespread transmission of COVID-19 between students if our undergraduates return to campus, President Samuel L. Stanley said in a news release on the universitys website.

The move to online learning is just for undergraduate students at the moment. The colleges of Law, Human Medicine, Nursing, Osteopathic Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and all graduate programs will receive details at a later time, according to the university in East Lansing.

Last September, Michigan States total enrolment was 49,809 students, with 39,176 undergraduates.

Our decision in March to transition to remote classes and have more employees work remotely was the right one, Stanley said. Since that time, weve worked diligently to create new approaches to educational and enrichment opportunities for our students, while always keeping health and safety foremost in mind.

Over the next two weeks, in-person and hybrid classes will be transitioned to remote formats, Michigan State said.

Refunds or credits will be issued to students who already paid for the fall semester.

We also realize that for some students MSU is their home or they need to be on campus for employment, Stanley said. Just like we did this spring, we will continue to provide a safe place for a small number of students in our residence halls.

Tuesdays action by Michigan State follows the decision by University of Notre Dame officials to go online for two weeks and an announcement Monday by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to switch to remote learning starting Wednesday.

The University of Michigan says it plans to offer a mixture of in-person and remote classes. Not all courses will be available in every format, the school said on its website.

Most students will be able to choose whether to return to Ann Arbor for a hybrid learning experience or study from home in a fully remote mode.

As of Tuesday, about 70% of undergraduate classes at the University of Michigan were being taken online, according to a school spokesman.

The universitys Ann Arbor campus will open its residence halls for housing and dining.

___

Anna Liz Nichols is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a non-profit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Call The Midwife has confirmed that filming has resumed on Series 10 and the upcoming Christmas Special, after being brought to halt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taking to Facebook bosses gushed they were 'overjoyed' to be heading back to work to ensure their yearly festive special could air on time in December, along with snaps of a mask-clad Stephen McGann outside the iconic Nonnatus House.

In March, Call The Midwife joined much of the television industry being brought to a halt by the coronavirus crisis, leaving many fans concerned they wouldn't get their yearly fix of babies being delivered in the 1960s East End.

Back to work! Call The Midwife has confirmed that filming has resumed on Series 10 and the upcoming Christmas Special, after being brought to halt by the COVID-19 pandemic

In the snaps Stephen - who plays Dr Turner in the series - can be seen having his makeup applied by a crew member, who is dressed head-to-toe in PPE.

A lengthy statement posted to the show's social media account said: 'This has been no mean achievement. Giving birth to each season of Call the Midwife, even in healthy times, is a major logistical task, involving the skills of far more people than you see on screen

'Call the Midwife can have up to 200 crew members working on our set in a shooting day  and there are around 150 shooting days in every year. Our cast includes not only our 15 main cast members, but also about 70 guest actors in each season.'

'And babies? We reckon we've employed about 1,100 babies in total since our series began!

Thrilled: Taking to Facebook bosses gushed they were 'overjoyed' to be heading back to work along with snaps of a mask-clad Stephen McGann outside the iconic Nonnatus House

Back to business: In the snaps Stephen - who plays Dr Turner in the series - can be seen having his makeup applied by a crew member, who is dressed head-to-toe in PPE

Exciting: Bosses also vowed that they would still be airing the Christmas Special and its 10th series on time, after being forced to halt filming in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic

'And let's not forget those other essential staff members who keep our Nonnatus House team fed and watered. Over 40,000 meals are served to our cast and crew during each filming season  as well as 100,000 cups of tea and coffee!

'Bringing all of these heroes back together to film in safety during a pandemic has been our top priority in these last months. But being able to deliver a brand new Christmas Special and Series 10 to you is the very best reward that we could wish for.'

Dame Pippa Harris, Executive Producer said: 'Alongside the rest of the country, we have all been devastated to see how Covid-19 has affected people around the world.

'Our midwives and nurses may not be the front-line heroes of today's NHS, but by getting back to work, they, and we, hope to bring some joy and respite into people's lives.

'In such difficult times, the values of Call the Midwife seem more resonant than ever. In series ten we will continue to celebrate the skill and bravery of the UK's NHS whilst bringing laughter and love into our homes.'

'Overjoyed': In a statement bosses shared their delight to be back to work at weeks in lockdown, and vowed fans would be seeing the nurses back in Poplar this Decemberr

Series Creator, Writer and Executive Producer Heidi Thomas added: 'Everyone is overjoyed to be whisking the dust sheets off Nonnatus House and getting back to filming after lockdown.

'It is a particular thrill to be able to deliver the Christmas Special on time, just as we promised at the start of the pandemic.

'We are very much a family at Call the Midwife, and like families everywhere, we have missed each other. We will now be putting more love and energy into our work than ever and can't wait to share Series 10 with our fantastic, loyal audience.'

Dramatic: This year's festive special will once again see the nurses and nuns of Nonnatus House hit by drama and delight (pictured in 2019's Christmas Special)

This year's Call The Midwife Christmas Special will once again see the nurses and nuns of Nonnatus House look forward to a festive celebration in 1965, but won't be without drama as Sister Monica Joan (played by Judy Parfitt) is rushed to hospital.

Trixie (Helen George) is furious to receive a subscription to a Marriage Bureau as a Christmas gift, while Shalagh is involved in a deeply moving birth following a surprise reunion.

The circus also arrives in Poplar for the first time to the East End's delight, leading to a new adventure for Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett).

Call The Midwife's Christmas Special will air on BBC One in December. Series 10 will begin in 2021.
Last week, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced that facemasks are highly recommended, but not deemed mandatory in public schools this fall.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Last week, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced that facemasks are highly recommended, but not deemed mandatory in public schools this fall.

On the advice of Public Health, the province has taken a layered approach to contain and reduce the spread of COVID-19, rightly emphasizing the need for social distancing and the use of physical barriers. In a school setting, however, such recommendations are neither practical nor consistently possible. It is for this reason that the Manitoba Teachers Society advocates mandatory use of masks for all who enter public schools this fall.

While in all other public spaces the province has advised two metres of physical distance, that recommendation has been reduced to a single metre in schools (where two metres is not possible). The implication is that schools are somehow safer environments than, for example, restaurants and patios. Teachers and school leaders know all too well that this is not the case.

As the union representing some 16,000 public school educators in Manitoba, the safe, sustainable return of teachers and students to the classroom is MTSs top priority. Consistent guidance from the province with respect to safety is an essential component of an effective school reopening. Government investment in preventive measures and adequate resources in classrooms must surely pale in comparison to the potential expense and stress resulting from inconsistent application of safety "recommendations" this fall.

In weekly meetings with department of education officials and other provincial education partners, MTS has  and will continue to  advocated in the strongest possible terms for the safety of teachers and students. Following the education ministers press conference last week, MTS called on the province to address the following outstanding concerns, in addition to mandating the use of masks:

- a reduction in class size to permit optimal physical distancing;

- access to rapid turnaround on COVID-19 testing for teachers, in line with that of other frontline workers in health care and for professional athletes;

- a gradual return to school, whereby students return in small groups over a period of time, permitting them to re-acclimate to the classroom setting. This also allows for the early identification and resolution of unanticipated challenges before all students return. A gradual return in Manitoba could unfold over several days or weeks;

- a plan to ensure the availability of certified substitute teachers; and

- a funding commitment for increased staffing needs, recovery learning, infrastructure upgrades and ongoing safety precautions.

Last week, Premier Brian Pallister unveiled the provinces new pandemic recovery advertising campaign. Surely, if funds are available for province-wide ads heralding Manitobas re-opening, there are funds available to ensure the safety of our schools staff and students. The lack of delineated funding set aside for this purpose casts doubt on the governments commitment to education and safety.

To state the obvious, these are uncertain times. At a press conference last week, the premier enjoined Manitobans not to live in fear. "Fear," he stated, "is not a plan." And hes right.

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However, the fact is that many Manitobans are indeed afraid  and courageous, too. We have responded to public health advice throughout the pandemic with vigilance, and as a result were highly successful in combating the viruss spread this spring. We have not backed down, but we have taken care.

Our health-care workers, retail store staff, first responders and others, along with our teachers, are putting themselves on the line to support their communities. What better way for the province to allay Manitobans reasonable fears and support their courage than by mandating appropriate safety standards?

Given that none of us knows with certainty the precise circumstances our children, teachers and educational workers will face this fall, let us err on the side of an abundance of caution  with mandatory masks in schools, for a start.

Last week, the premier reiterated his commitment to schools and "the opportunity for all our children to be educated safely."

Rest assured, we shall hold him to that.

James Bedford is president of the Manitoba Teachers Society
- Rise in hip and knee replacement procedures generated large revenue streams for manufacturers of orthopedic implants in recent years

- Europe and Asia Pacific are expected to see remarkable rise in opportunities in the orthopedic implants market from the need to meet prevalence of orthopedic disorders, top players set sight on regional market

ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The orthopedic implants market gathers a new momentum due to rising application of 3D printing technologies, since this leads to creation of personalized implants at a faster rate. Advances in joint replacement implant products will gain attention among product innovators.

Analysts at TMR projects the orthopedic implants market to rise at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2018 to 2026.

Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Orthopedic Implants Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/covid19.php

Key Findings of Orthopedic Implants Market Report

Among the various products, joint reconstruction accounted for the leading share in 2017

Opportunities in spinal implants segment are expected to rise at remarkable pace during 2018 - 2026

Geographically, North America was the leading market in 2017

was the leading market in 2017 Revenues in Europe and Asia Pacific are expected to rise at promising pace during the assessment period

Explore 218 pages of top-notch research, incisive insights, and detailed country-level projections on Orthopedic Implants Market (Product - Joint Reconstruction (Hip replacement, Knee replacement, Shoulder Replacement), Spinal Implants (Spinal Fusion Devices, Spinal Non-fusion Devices), Trauma Implants (Metal Plates and Screws, Pins/Wires, Nails and Rods) Orthobiologics, Dental Implants; End user - Hospitals, Orthopedic Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2018 - 2026 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/26009

Orthopedic Implants Market: Key Driving Factors and Promising Avenues

Rising demand for smart implants in orthopedic surgeries is a key trend that has broadly driven the evolution of the orthopedic implants market. Joint replacement products are attracting the attention of researchers.

Minimally invasive joint replacement surgeries have gained momentum over the past few years on the back of favorable government initiatives and clinical advances in developing world.

The market has been driven substantially by huge numbers of hip and knee replacement procedures in recent years.

Incidence of spinal fractures has stimulated the pace of product innovation in the orthopedic implants market. In this regard, some markets have seen a shift from hospitals to orthopedic clinics as preferred option for orthopedic implants.

Rising incidence of osteoarthritis has boosted the market. The condition affects 3.3% to 3.6% of the global population.

In recent years, the horizon has been broadened by the advent of 3D manufacturing of these implants. The additive manufacturing technology has enabled manufacturers and surgeons to meet the need for personalized healthcare. Less turnaround times are a big advantage.

Request Brochure of Orthopedic Implants Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/brochure.php

Orthopedic Implants Market: Regional Landscape

Rise in hip replacement procedures has spurred the prospects in the North America orthopedic implants market. Prevalence of osteoarthritis is a common form of doctor-diagnoses arthritis, according to the CDC. The condition has been a substantial health burden. This has spurred demand for orthopedic implants, especially in the U.S.

On the other hand, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific are expected to be next hotbed of opportunities for players in the orthopedic implants market.

Purchase the Orthopedic Implants Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php

Key Impediments to Orthopedic Implants Market

The high cost of hospitalization, along with the high cost of orthopedic implants, still concerns numerous countries where people have to make out-of-pocket spending for such surgeries. The factor has constrained opportunity generation in the orthopedic implants market. Also, some markets have seen several product recalls, making a dent in the revenue potential in the market.

Nevertheless, the regulators are pushing for innovations, which has spurred the manufacturing of reliable and high-performing products.

Browse More Press Release - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/press-releases.htm

The global orthopedic implants market has been segmented as follows:

Product

Joint Reconstruction

Hip Replacement



Knee Replacement



Shoulder Replacement



Others

Spinal Implants

Spinal Fusion Devices



Spinal Non-fusion Devices

Trauma Implants

Metal Plates & Screws



Pins/Wires



Nails and Rods



Others

Orthobiologics

Dental Implants

Others

End-user

Hospitals

Orthopedic Clinics

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Others

Region

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



U.K.



France



Italy



Spain



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

Japan



China



India



Australia & New Zealand

&

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

& GCC Countries



South Africa



Israel



Rest of Middle East & Africa

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Healthcare Industry:

Joint Replacement Devices Market: According to the report, the global joint replacement devices market was valued at US$ 18,518.2 Mn in 2017 and is anticipated expand at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2018 to 2026. High prevalence of osteoarthritis, growth in the medical devices industry in emerging economies in regions such as Asia Pacific, and launch of technological advanced products such as customized knee implants are projected to augment the global market between 2018 and 2026.

Dental Implants Market: According to the report, the global dental implants market was valued at US$ 4.08 Bn in 2018 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2019 to 2027, increasing incidence of dental caries, and rowing preference for dental implants over dental procedures are projected to drive the global market during the forecast period.

Osteoarthritis Drugs Market: The global osteoarthritis drugs market is expected to reach a market value of about US$ 11,226.1 Mn by the end of 2026, expanding at a high single digit CAGR during the forecast period. Rise in R&D expenditure, increased prevalence of osteoarthritis across the globe, increased geriatric population, rise in awareness regarding degenerative bone diseases in developing countries, and rich pipeline of innovative treatment options are some factors that are expected to boost the global osteoarthritis drugs market during the forecast period.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday launched an attack on the Congress over a row involving hate speech on the social media website, even as the opposition party wrote to the firms founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to say the company may be a willing participant in thwarting the rights and values.

The BJP said that people whose political base has shrunk like anything seek to dominate discourse on these platforms and asserted that everybody regardless of their ideology got the right to air their views on the website. Prasad said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi believed that any organisation that did not work to his liking was acting under the pressure of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

A political slugfest between the Congress and the BJP began after a report in The Wall Street Journal claimed that Facebook ignored its hate speech rules when it came to posts by politicians of the ruling party.

The Congress on Tuesday wrote to Zuckerberg, saying the social media company may be a willing participant in thwarting the rights and values Indias founding leaders had sacrificed their lives for, and called for an investigation of the report that claimed its Indian staff was soft in handling hate speech by BJP politicians.

BJP leaders launched an angry riposte, saying the Congress and its leadership had been reduced to irrelevance and the demand showed a desire to muzzle free speech.

The WSJ report cited interviews with unnamed Facebook insiders and claimed the companys senior India policy executive Ankhi Das intervened in internal content review processes to stop a ban on BJPs Telangana lawmaker Raja Singh, whose posts targeted the Muslim community. It said Das told staff members that punishing violations by BJP politicians would damage the companys business prospects in India.

Sharing the letter written by the Congress to the Facebook founder on Twitter, former party president Rahul Gandhi said: We cannot allow any manipulation of our hard-earned democracy through bias, fake news and hate speech. As exposed by WSJ, Facebooks involvement in peddling fake and hate news needs to be questioned by all Indians.

The Congress has been up in arms against the government and Facebook over the WSJ report. KC Venugopal, the Congress general secretary (organisation), kept up the partys attack in the letter to Zuckerberg, in which he wrote that the social company provided the BJP with favourable treatment on election-related issues. He called it a damning and serious allegation that Facebook was interfering in Indias electoral democracy.

The Congress asked Zuckerberg to start a high-level inquiry on the Facebook India leadership team and their operations. It suggested the appointment of a new team to lead the India operations until the inquiry is completed.

HT reached out to Facebook for a comment, but it had no immediate response.

The BJP hit out at the Congress over its demand for a Facebook inquiry.

Union information technology minister and senior BJP leader Prasad said people whose political base had shrunk like anything seek to dominate discourse on social media platforms, and asserted that everyone, regardless of his or her ideology, has the right to air their views.

If the platform is public, then every Indian regardless of his ideology and commitment has got the right to convey his view. It is a hard fact we need to know that people whose political base has shrunk seek to dominate discourse on these platforms, Prasad said.

Amit Malviya, the BJPs national IT in-charge, said: Congress party, faced with electoral irrelevance, and rejection at the hustings, wants to pin blame on everyone else except its uninspiring and unworthy leadership.

Facebook is just another addition to their save the Gandhis campaign. The Left-Congress ecosystem wants unfettered control over freedom of speech and hence, in a last roll of the dice, are now trying to muzzle platforms which have empowered ordinary citizens and made their opinions valuable. A vibrant, participative democracy is inimical to their political agenda.
"The PBO model gives consultants and their self-insured clients greater insight into their pharmacy plan performance data and a seat at the negotiating table, substantially reducing costs while increasing value for members.

RxBenefits, the industrys first and only technology-enabled pharmacy benefits optimizer, announced today the launch of a new category of pharmacy benefits management: pharmacy benefits optimization (PBO). As it enters its 25th year helping employee benefits consultants meet the unique needs of their self-insured clients, the company is formally bringing the PBO model to the market as a direct response to industry gaps that result in employers significantly over-paying for pharmacy benefits.

In the current pharmacy benefits ecosystem, consultants and self-insured businesses are on their own. There is no body or agency to oversee pharmacy benefits costs and to ensure that every member has access to the right medications at the right time and for the right price, said Bryan Statham, CEO of RxBenefits. The PBO model is essential to filling the gaps. RxBenefits is the only pharmacy benefits partner that acts independently of Big Pharma and uses advanced data science to advocate in the best economic and clinical interest of self-funded employers and their members  and we are excited to usher in a new era in the pharmacy landscape. The PBO model gives consultants and their self-insured clients greater insight into their pharmacy plan performance data and a seat at the negotiating table, substantially reducing costs while increasing value for members.

Traditional pharmacy benefits strategies no longer meet the needs of the market. The industry is facing a year-over-year increase in the price of medications, skyrocketing costs, and use of specialty drugs and other high-cost, low-clinical value medications. Because the pharmacy ecosystem and pricing structures are opaque, the forces driving price increases have remained poorly understood. Moreover, pharmacy is one of the most utilized aspects of any health plan: more than half of plan members utilize their pharmacy benefit, averaging ten prescriptions per year. Additionally, 1 in 10 individuals have a chronic condition that may be targeted for treatment with the emerging class of orphan drugs, which average more than $150K per patient per year. Just one unexpected specialty pharmaceutical claim can financially devastate a pharmacy benefit plan.

Murky contracts that bundle medical and pharmacy benefits are the status quo, but are impossible to understand and reconcile. In order for a pharmacy plan to meet the needs of self-funded employers and their members, it needs to be carved out from the overall healthcare benefits plan and managed directly. Recognizing the need for a transparent, data-driven, and hands-on approach to pharmacy benefits, RxBenefits created the PBO model which optimizes three key areas of pharmacy benefits plans:



Contract Management: By leveraging market-leading purchasing power that rivals Fortune 100 companies, RxBenefits negotiates competitive, volume-based rates and rebates for companies of all sizes, and provides transparent, client-aligned terms and ongoing stewardship.

Utilization Management: A full-time staff of licensed clinicians utilizes a proprietary data platform to ensure the medical necessity, appropriateness, and effectiveness of medications, helping clients achieve optimal clinical and financial outcomes. This includes using predictive analytics and forecast modeling to identify cost-effective alternatives for high-cost, low clinical value prescriptions, and personalized, in-house prior authorization reviews. The PBO model ensures strategies are tailored to the plans utilization data and are in the best interest of both self-insured businesses and their members.

Experience Management: Unlike a coalition, RxBenefits transactional platform provides real-time access to claims and eligibility data so that we can service members at the point-of-sale. This allows us to deliver an unparalleled high touch approach, handling all aspects of plan negotiation, contracting and implementation, plan management, reporting, telephone support, and more, providing a personal approach to the member experience.

With the PBO model, RxBenefits has already saved self-funded employers an average of 26% the first year through contract savings alone, and another 3%-7% through clinical programs. RxBenefits also saves employers money through its annual pharmacy benefits contracts that average near an 11% pricing improvement year-over-year compared to 2%-3% on a traditional three-year contract.

Several options exist in the market for self-funded employers to carve out their pharmacy benefits and obtain lower costs, but most are one dimensional. A great discount is not worth much if its the wrong drug, and passing up competitive rates and rebates is never a good idea. We can no longer afford to let patients fall through the cracks, said Mark Campbell, PharmD, vice president of clinical services for RxBenefits. There is a key difference with the PBO model. By leveraging data modeling combined with clinical oversight of pharmacy claims, we are able to effectively serve the best interests of consultants, employers, and patients. Plan utilization and clinical management strategies are foundational and proven to be cost-saving and better at protecting members. Add superior service along with market leading rates, and employers have a dynamic benefit that truly maximizes the clinical value for their members while supporting an affordable and sustainable program. With a PBO, employers can have best in class rebates, service, and advanced clinical programs without sacrificing one for the other.

For more information on optimizing pharmacy benefits, reducing costs, and providing the most value to employers and their members, visit go.rxbenefits.com/optimize.

About RxBenefits

RxBenefits is a technology-enabled pharmacy benefits optimizer (PBO) with more than 500 pharmacy pricing, data, and clinical experts working together to deliver prescription benefit savings to employee benefit consultants and their self-insured clients. With nearly 2 million members, RxBenefits brings market-leading purchasing power, independent clinical solutions, and high-touch service to its customers  ensuring that all businesses, regardless of size, can provide an affordable and valuable pharmacy benefit plan to their employees. The company is headquartered in Birmingham, AL. For more details, visit http://www.rxbenefits.com or follow the company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Council leader hopes for 'common sense' on Lord Street site



By Aaron Ibanez - Local Democracy Reporter

Opening up an empty site to cars on Lord Street would provide relief to the parking problem in the Douglas, according to the council leader.

David Christian says he welcomes the developers plans to operate a private car park at the former bus station.

However, the government has yet to give permission for the lands temporary change of use.

It comes as a multi-million pound project to build a leisure centre on North Quay has been put on hold until next year.

Mr Christian hopes an agreement will be reached:



Media

DC Clip
Michigan plans to participate in a federal program that would give an extra $300 per week to unemployed workers.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month allocating Federal Emergency Management Administration funds to eligible unemployed workers.

It was billed as an extra $400 per week with participating states chipping in 25%, but language in the order allows states to add the additional $300 without using state funds.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had criticized Trumps order, saying a recovery package from Congress is whats needed.

This program will provide some much needed support for families that are struggling to put food on the table or pay their bills, Whitmer said in a news release. But its a short term band aid that falls short of whats needed.

Michigan does not plan to chip in the extra $100. It currently pays unemployed workers up to $362 per week.

Unemployed workers across the country were receiving an extra $600 per week in federal dollars from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act until the end of July. The new $300 payments will be made retroactive to Aug. 1.

The state is waiting for a response from FEMA to implement the program before it can start distributing the money, said UIA Director Steve Gray in the news release. Its unknown how soon the money could hit bank accounts.

Michigan workers are advised to continue their bi-weekly certifications as they normally would and do not need to contact the UIA or make changes to their MiWAM account to receive these additional funds, Gray said.

It's also unclear how long the funding will last, the news release said.

The UIA estimates 910,000 Michiganders would be eligible for this funding. The requirements to get the money are slightly stricter than the $600 CARES Act funding  as unemployed residents must be eligible for at least $100 in state unemployment aid to get the extra $300 from the federal government.

Through July 24, Michigan had paid out $19 billion in unemployment benefits since the pandemic began to more than 2 million people.

Michigans unemployment rate is 12%, using the latest data available from the week ending in July 25. The U.S. rate was at 10.8% for the same week.

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/.

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Fugitive and self-styled godman Nithyananda has reportedly set up the 'Reserve Bank of Kailaasa' in the island country he claims to have founded.

In a latest video that has been doing the rounds on social media, the godman who reportedly fled the country after a rape case was registered against him, announces that he has set up a central bank and has an economic policy ready for his island nation. In the same video he also says he will roll out a new currency by Ganesh Chaturthi (on August 22) this year.

Nithyananda can be heard saying, "With the grace of Ganpati, we are going to be revealing all the absolute, complete details of the Reserve Bank of Kailaasa and the currencies, it's all ready." He added, "The whole economic policies, 300-page document, is ready with absolute designing, currency everything...legally."

The new nation Kailaasa has a website, which describes it as "the greatest Hindu nation" on Earth, a "nation without borders created by dispossessed Hindus who lost the right to practice Hinduism authentically in their own countries".

Nithyananda has been absconding after he was reportedly chargesheeted in a rape case in Bengaluru. He also hit the headlines after a Tamil Nadu-based couple approached the Gujarat High Court, seeking the release of their two daughters who, they alleged, were in illegal confinement at an ashram in Ahmedabad.
Oman's Sultan Haitham on Tuesday appointed a new top diplomat, replacing the long-serving Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah in a government reshuffle.

Sultan Haitham, since his accession in January, has vowed to maintain Oman's policy of neutrality and non-interference.

Badr Albusaidi, 60, was named foreign minister, a title held by the late Sultan Qaboos himself but with Alawi responsible for foreign affairs for the past two decades.

Albusaidi has been in the diplomatic service since the 1980s and held a number of posts, including foreign ministry secretary-general.

Sultan bin Salem bin Saeed al-Habsi was appointed finance minister, a post also held by the sultan, and new faces were named to other key ministries, state media said.

Haitham bin Tariq was sworn in after modern Oman's founding father, Sultan Qaboos, died at the age of 79.

Yusuf bin Alawi played a key role in maintaining Oman's neutrality and as a regional mediator.

On Monday, he spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi on the phone to stress Oman's support of "a comprehensive, just and lasting peace", Oman's foreign ministry said on Twitter.

It was the first public contact between Oman and Israel since US President Donald Trump's announcement last week that Israel and the UAE, Oman's neighbour, have agreed to normalise ties.

In October 2018, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held surprise talks with Qaboos in Muscat, which does not officially recognise Israel but maintains good ties with both Washington and Tehran.

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Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai said his government will procure drones and install closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in response to the violent attacks in Southern Kaduna.

El-Rufai made this known in a statement he signed on Monday after meeting with the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Revd. Supo Ayokunle, and other CAN leaders in Kaduna.

He stated that these CCTVs will be installed in phases in Kaduna, Kafanchan, and Zaria metropolitan areas, as part of his governments efforts to strengthen security forces and restore calm in the crisis-torn communities.

Since last month, the state government and security agencies have been working to contain an upsurge in violence and needless killings in parts of the state. We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives in a totally unnecessary frenzy of communal attacks, reprisals and revenge.

While we mourn the dead, our immediate focus remains to stop the cycle of attacks and reprisals. We remain committed to ending the legacy of violence that has blighted the state for 40 years, needlessly taken many lives and curtailed the life chances of others. We will continue to support the security agencies to restore calm in the affected communities. Over the last five years, we have invested heavily in the security sector. We have consistently provided vehicles and other logistics support to the security agencies that are deployed in the state. We are also addressing the technology side of security, through the procurement of drones, the award of contracts to install CCTVs in phases in Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria metropolitan areas, build a command and control centre and establish a forensic laboratory, he said.

This is coming barely 24 hours after Governor El-Rufai alleged that Southern Kaduna leaders were lying about the situation of things in region, adding that he would ensure they were arrested and duly prosecuted for prolonging the crisis.
The Caucus for Democratic Governance, Ghana (CDG-GH), has observed, sadly that Ghanaians are increasingly complaining because they have no jobs, adding that the promises made by Nana Addo during 2016 elections; have not been fulfilled, especially the promise to create jobs.

JOB LOSSES

There have been many job losses since the change of Government in 2017. From May to August 2018, not less than 10,285 job losses were recorded, the highest unemployed rate within four months in the history of Ghana. EIB Network and Group Nduom lost 450 jobs; Textile Works lost 235 jobs; BXC Company Limited lost 600 jobs; Rider Steel Company lost 1000 jobs; Goldfields Ghana lost 1,800 jobs; Consolidated Bank Ghana lost 1,700 jobs; Vodafone Ghana lost 3,000 jobs and Oil Marketing Company lost 5,000 jobs. About 20,000 people have also lost their jobs directly due to 420 financial institutions that have been shut down. Adding the indirect jobs lost as a result of the banking crises we have about 40,000 to 50,000 who are jobless and out of business. Besides over 200,000 galamsay and small scale mining workers are jobless. As a result of COVID-19, further 300,000 workers country wide have lost their jobs.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Collected data, shows that about 200,000 students graduate every year from our tertiary Institutions. About 400,000 or more graduate from the SHS. If we subtract those entering the tertiary institutions, we are left with 200,000 on the street. From the JHS, we have about 603,000 graduates. If you subtract the 400,000 who gain admission to SHS, we are left with 203,000 on the street. Out of the school system therefore, the total number of unemployed set on the street every year is 603,000. In four years, it will be 2,412,000 jobless graduates. These figures are on the lower side because the school feeding program and fee free SHS have increased the numbers. If we count the number of present unemployed at about 3.5 million, we will be confronted with a conservative figure of about 12 million unemployed in 2020; considering the 2.7% yearly population increases.

Looking at the above figures, the 100,000 NACOB Training Program and the casual jobs created in the Agricultural Sector, is nothing to write home about.

JOB CREATION

I believe strongly President Akufo Addo can learn from the strategy of former President Mahama. Former President Mahama carried out massive Infrastructural projects. The building of Tamale, Ho, Terminal three, Accra and Kumasi Airports; Universities at Ho and Sunyani; University hospitals in Legon and Tamale; Regional hospitals in all the ten Regions; building of polyclinics and chip compounds across the length and breadth of the country. He constructed the Kwame Nkrumah and Kasoa Interchanges, the cocoa roads and the eastern corridor road and Komenda Sugar factory among others. He also built 130 of the two hundred Day Secondary Schools across the country, to give employment to the people.

SUCCESS STRATEGY

The success strategy is that at any given point in time, the former President- had about 2.5 million people on Government ticket in employment. Even where the projects were completed. the newly built Universities and hospitals employed more jobless people and so were productive. Through this strategy, nurses, teachers, lecturers, engineers, administrators carpenters, masons, painters, electrician, drivers, labourers, surveyors, contractors and many others found jobs from the projects. Market women and shop and business owners were happy because there were brisk trading and money was in circulation. Private owners could therefore employ more people who paid taxes. This is part of the strategy for Nation Building in Work and Happiness.

Dr E.K.Hayford

Executive Director, CDG-GH
The Indian Air Force has moved some of its Tejas light combat aircraft from their home base in Sulur in Tamil Nadu to the western sector to strengthen its operational readiness against Pakistan amid border tensions with China in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the developments said on Tuesday.

The IAF had earlier moved some of its frontline fighters such as Sukhoi-30s and upgraded MiG-29s to the Ladakh sector from other bases as part of Indias overarching plan to strengthen its military posture in the region where heightened tensions between India and China have upset the bilateral relationship, they said.

In July, defence minister Rajnath Singh had asked the IAF to be prepared for any eventuality, saying the rapid deployment of aerial assets at forward locations in eastern Ladakh had sent a strong message to the adversary. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria then said his force was poised to counter any aggressive action by the adversary.

The IAF has so far ordered 40 LCAs split in the initial operational clearance (IOC) version and the more advanced and final operational clearance (FOC) configuration.

The Tejas jets moved to the western sector are from the first LCA squadron consisting of IOC aircraft. The IAFs first Tejas squadron was raised at the Sulur air base in 2016 with two aircraft and more planes joined the fleet progressively. The raising of the second LCA squadron in Sulur began this May.

The Tejas LCA jets from Sulur had taken part in Gaganshakti-2018 exercise that sought to test the IAFs readiness and stamina for a two-front war with China and Pakistan.

In March, the defence ministry gave a green light for the purchase of 83 LCA Mk-1A advanced Tejas jets from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The deal worth Rs 38,000 crore is expected to be signed by the year-end.

The LCA Mk-1A will come with additional improvements over the FOC aircraft, making it the most advanced Tejas variant so far. The Mk-1A variant is expected to come with digital radar warning receivers, external self-protection jammer pods, active electronically scanned array radar, advanced beyond-visual-range missiles and significantly improved maintainability.

HAL is expected to deliver the first Mk-1A jet to the IAF three years after the deal is signed.

...
Tourism facilities in Ho Chi Minh City are confronting an unprecedented debacle caused by the crippling effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the hospitality sector struggling to retain workers.

According to a recent estimation by Ho Chi Minh Citys Department of Tourism, hotels of 3-5 stars in the city have put 90 percent of their workforce on unpaid leave due to the pandemic.

Their last hope of a recovery in the tourism sector was dashed as Vietnam has since July 25 witnessed a new wave of COVID-19 infections in the community after a 99-day streak with no locally-transmitted cases recorded.

Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City are facing a horde of cancellation and rescheduling requests for marriage venues and event bookings, while several were only able to fill up around five percent of their total room capacity.

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.

Mia Saigon Boutique Hotel is doing more than just changing their sanitary regulations to deal with the ever-changing situation.

They have also launched a new in-room dining service, which offers a unique experience while helping to avoid gathering guests together in a common dining area, which can increase the risk of infection.

Initiatives like this are not hard to find currently.

Born out of the distressing drop of demand at middle- and high-end hotels, they are attempts to fill vacant hotel rooms and raise demand for hospitality services.

Majestic Saigon, another top-drawer name in the hospitality sector of Ho Chi Minh City, has announced a 45 percent sale on all services for customers born in 1975.

The Caravelle Saigon has offered their five-star, internationally-qualified experience in a package costing VND1.2 million (US$52), which includes a suite for two adults and one child for a night.

The hotel also launched a ten percent discount for their airport transfer and dining services.

It can be inferred that hospitality facilities are showing their best effort to sustain their operations and keep their staff employed.

In light of the latest COVID-19 wave, their mission is not going to be any easier.

Truong Duc Hung, chief executive officer of Grand Saigon Hotel, said his business is relying solely on its restaurant function for the time being, for the income from foreign tourists as well as venue booking and event catering was completely shut off in the pandemic.

To meet the demand for regional specialties, Grand Saigon has brought chefs from around the country to prepare their best-known local delicacies for a rotating residency program in the in-house restaurant.

Our guests are mostly made up of business people and families in Ho Chi Minh City with a taste for regional specialties, but who are unable to travel due to the pandemic. [We brought the specialties to the city so] the families can enjoy great foods in the comfort of their home city, Hung said.

Thanks to our restaurant operation, other activities in the hotel also warmed up after the first wave of COVID-19 transmission."

Under the current situation, tourism facilities have also improvised by adding new touring options to extend the stay of tourists.

According to Nguyen Phuong Anh, director of sales and marketing at Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel, on top of sales packages and discount programs, the facility is running day trip tours to diversify the travel itinerary of tourists during their days in Ho Chi Minh City.

Visitors to the Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City receive a body temperature check before entering the famous landmark amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Vietnam. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

The personnel dilemma

T., a staff member at a five-star hotel in District 1, revealed that the board of directors at their workplace had just ratified a staff cut in August, which put more than 30 percent of their headcount on unpaid furlough.

Earlier, the facility also laid off 20 percent of its workforce in July to cope with their operating loss.

My job at the administration unit has been scheduled on rotating shifts while my working days on the timesheet are cut in half, T. said.

At this rate of loss, the hotel will have to lay off even more employees by the end of the year.

Nguyen Huu Tho, president of the Vietnam Tourism Association, argues that lay-offs and furloughs are inevitable as COVID-19 brought almost all tourism activities to a halt.

Nevertheless, lay-offs are already the last resort as the hospitality and tourism sectors are in constant need of skilled workers.

The pandemic has upended the livelihood of workers in the sector, leaving them with no choice but to switch to other occupations. If [the sector] couldnt retain workers right now, businesses would have to face a severe crisis post-pandemic, which is meant to be the time of recovery for tourism, Tho said.

Lai Minh Duy, chief executive officer of travel agency TST Tourist, noted that the slump in tourism activities affects not only businesses at the moment but also workers in the sector when the pandemic ends.

An estimated 80-90 percent of the workforce in tourism has had to change to other jobs, Duy said, a large proportion of whom switched vocations, which renders the tourism sector to bleed talent.

Even in case of re-switching to tourism, returning workers would need a few months to get used to their duties once again.

Tourism firms have access to tax cut benefits as well as support packages to help tour guides and hospitality personnel stay in the sector after the pandemic is quelled, Duy said.

Nguyen Thi Khanh, vice-president of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, said the agency would continue taking suggestions and requests to aid the retention of tourism workers.

As it is difficult to retrieve workers once they leave for another career, it is essential that sufficient policies to retain skilled tourism personnel be in place, one of which is the provision of credit for firms to pay salaries to workers.

According to Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, vice-director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the re-development of tourism human resources should be assigned the same level of importance as other missions, as the city seeks to revive its tourist industry after the coronavirus crisis.

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New Delhi:

Accusing Congress and BJP of getting most of their donations from undisclosed sources, the AAP on Sunday demanded that the parties come clean on their funds and reveal the names of donors.

In a letter to both the parties, AAP national treasurer Raghav Chadha demanded to know the money deposited by them in old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in their respective bank accounts, after the Centres demonetisation announcement.

The Modi government had recently said that political parties depositing old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes in their accounts will be exempt from income tax, provided the donations taken are below Rs 20,000 per individual and properly documented.

However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had on Saturday said that the parties cannot accept donations in old notes since these bills were junked last month, and clarified that there was no new exemption granted.

The conditional tax exemptions historically given to income of registered political parties continue and no new concession or exemption has been granted either post November 8 demonetisation announcement or in the last two-and-a-half years, he said.

Chadha alleged that political parties have become a tool to convert black money into legal currency.

They (parties) do not give report of donors who pay less than Rs 20,000. Interestingly, your parties are one of those who receive their maximum donation in this form. We demand that names of these donors be made public, he said, adding that the two parties (Congress, BJP) have also been avoiding to come under the RTI.

The AAP leader said at a time when the common man has been under the scrutiny over the funds deposited in his bank account, the political parties are going scot-free.

Chadha also demanded that the two parties get their accounts of over five years scrutinised.

AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Saturday demanded formation of a commission to probe the donations received by political parties.

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- Clean tech company Swedish Stirling AB publishes its interim report for 2020 today

STOCKHOLM, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Swedish clean tech company Swedish Stirling AB is publishing its interim report for the period 01-01-2020 - 30-06-2020 today. The report is available for download in its entirety on the company's website. Material events during the second quarter include the following:

Total operating income for the quarter was TSEK 11,876 (TSEK 12,303). Earnings per share, before dilution, for the quarter was SEK -0.18 (SEK -0.14) .

. Swedish Stirling is implementing an action program in the light of the Corona pandemic and unrest on the world economy. Re-prioritization and postponements of projects have resulted in immediate savings of 1 MSEK/month. The company's assessment is therefore that free cash flow will remain positive for the upcoming 18 months.

is implementing an action program in the light of the Corona pandemic and unrest on the world economy. Re-prioritization and postponements of projects have resulted in immediate savings of 1 MSEK/month. The company's assessment is therefore that free cash flow will remain positive for the upcoming 18 months. At Swedish Stirling AB's extraordinary general meeting on 8 April, the board of directors approved the decision to proceed with a convertible bonds issue for a maximum of 100 MSEK with derogation from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights. The board also decided to amend the company's Articles of Association as well as elect David Zaudy as a board member.

At the general assembly on 24 April 2020 , Sven Sahle , Andreas Ahlstrom, Gunilla Spongh, Erik Wigertz and David Zaudy were re-elected, and Carina Andersson was elected, as board members. Sven Sahle was re-elected Chairman of the Board.

, , Andreas Ahlstrom, Gunilla Spongh, Erik Wigertz and David Zaudy were re-elected, and was elected, as board members. was re-elected Chairman of the Board. The general assembly granted the board authorization to decide on a new share issue. The board is now authorized, within the framework of the Articles of Association, on one or more occasions and until the next annual general meeting, to decide on new share issues with or without derogation from the shareholders' pre-emption rights. It shall be possible to pass such issue-authorizing resolutions with provisions governing contributions in-kind, set-off or cash payment. The maximum increase in share capital entailed by a share issue pursuant to this authorization shall be 30 percent.

The company hired Dennis Andersson as Head of Global Sales and Marketing and as a member of the company's management team. The recruitment is an important part of the company's commercial launch of the PWR BLOK.

Material events after the end of the period:

Swedish Stirling and Samancor Chrome Limited ("Samancor Chrome") concluded a memorandum of understanding concerning the installation of up to 135 PWR BLOK units at Samancor Chrome's smelter, TC Smelter, Ferrometals and Tubatse Alloys.

and Samancor Chrome Limited ("Samancor Chrome") concluded a memorandum of understanding concerning the installation of up to 135 PWR BLOK units at Samancor Chrome's smelter, TC Smelter, Ferrometals and Tubatse Alloys. Swedish Stirling and Richards Bay Alloys ("RBA") have concluded a letter of intent concerning the sale and installation of 18 PWR BLOK units at a 7.2MW installation in Richards Bay, South Africa .

and Richards Bay Alloys ("RBA") have concluded a letter of intent concerning the sale and installation of 18 PWR BLOK units at a 7.2MW installation in Richards Bay, . Swedish Stirling and Glencore Operations South Africa Proprietary Limited (Alloys Division) ("Glencore") entered into a letter of intent regarding installation of an electricity facility with up to 88 PWR BLOKs at Glencore's smelter Lion.

For further information please contact:

Sven Ljungberg,

CCO, Swedish Stirling AB,

+46 (0)31 385 88 30

ir@swedishstirling.com.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/swedish-stirling/r/swedish-stirling-ab--publ--interim-report,c3170563

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Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) today announced it will begin commercialization of KT&Gs smoke-free alternatives outside of South Korea. The announcement follows an agreement signed in January 2020 by PMI and KT&G, the leading South Korean tobacco and nicotine company.

PMI will launch KT&Gs lil SOLID device and its accompanying Fiit consumables in Russia. lil SOLID uses a pin-based tobacco heating system designed to provide four consecutive experiences without recharging. The lil SOLID device will be introduced by IQOS and will complement PMIs existing portfolio of smoke-free alternatives in Russia, which includes the IQOS Tobacco Heating System. Other markets are being considered for subsequent commercialization of KT&G products.

Our ambition is that all those who would otherwise continue to smoke switch as soon as possible to better alternatives and abandon cigarettes to the benefit of their health, public health and society at large, said Andre Calantzopoulos, PMIs Chief Executive Officer. We are excited to enter into the next phase of our agreement with KT&G. The commercialization of KT&Gs products outside of South Korea will complement our already strong smoke-free portfolio, providing adult smokers with an even broader range of taste, price and technology options.

The agreement between PMI and KT&G runs for an initial period of three years; it allows PMI to distribute current KT&G smoke-free products and their evolutions on an exclusive basis, and does not restrict PMI from distributing its own or third-party products. KT&Gs smoke-free products include tobacco heating systems (e.g., lil MINI and lil PLUS), hybrid technologies that combine heated tobacco and e-vapor technologies (e.g., lil HYBRID), and e-vapor products (e.g., lil VAPOR).

KT&G products to be distributed by PMI outside of South Korea, such as lil SOLID and Fiit, are subject to a careful assessment prior to commercialization to ensure they meet the applicable regulatory requirements in the markets where they are launched, as well as PMIs high standards of scientific substantiation to confirm the absence of combustion and significant reductions in emissions of harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes.

This important step toward delivering a smoke-free future builds on other recent milestones related to PMIs existing portfolio of smoke-free products. As of June 30, there were an estimated 15.4 million adult users of PMIs IQOS Tobacco Heating System globally, of which 72 percent (over 11 million) have already stopped smoking and switched to IQOS.1 Additionally, on July 7, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of the IQOS Tobacco Heating System as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP), issuing an exposure modification order. In doing so, FDA recognized that the IQOS Tobacco Heating System is appropriate to promote the public health, and is expected to benefit the health of the population as a whole.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products and associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the United States. In addition, PMI ships a version of its IQOS Platform 1 device and its consumables authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Altria Group, Inc. for sale in the U.S. under license. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities, and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMIs smoke-free IQOS product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of June 30, 2020, PMI estimates that approximately 11.2 million adult smokers around the world have already stopped smoking and switched to PMIs heat-not-burn product, available for sale in 57 markets in key cities or nationwide under the IQOS brand. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

# # #

1 Source: Philip Morris International Inc. 2020 Second-Quarter ResultsJuly 21, 2020

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200817005305/en/
An unverified video showing piles of cash being handed to Mexican congressional staffers went viral on Monday, fueling a corruption scandal that is already convulsing the country even as the clips source and context remain unclear.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has made combating graft his top issue, earlier in the day said the public should see all evidence linked to bribes allegedly paid to lawmakers that led to the passage of reforms he opposed.

During his regular morning news conference, he specifically referenced a video introduced as part of sworn testimony in a corruption case in which the former head of Mexicos state-run oil company Pemex has accused Lopez Obradors predecessor of ordering bribe payments.

Hours later a shaky four-minute clip appeared on YouTube showing plastic bags filled with neatly bundled stacks of cash apparently being turned over to two senior Senate staffers who then worked for the opposition National Action Party, or PAN.

The source of the video remains unclear, as does the date and location it was recorded.

An official with the attorney generals office told Reuters the video was not part of evidence obtained from ex-Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya, who last week filed a complaint accusing his boss, former President Enrique Pena Nieto, and another senior aide of ordering a wide-ranging bribery scheme.

One of the Senate staffers in the video, Guillermo Gutierrez, was promptly fired by tweet from his post as personal secretary to the PAN governor of Queretaro state after the video was released.

The other staffer, Rafael Caraveo, denied on Twitter the cash was a bribe, but offered no further explanation.

The video was posted to a YouTube page created on Sunday under the name of Lozoyas brother, Juan Jesus.

A public relations firm representing Emilio Lozoya said in a statement, though, that their clients brother does not have a YouTube page, and that a criminal complaint would be filed for the appropriation of his identity.

Last week, the attorney general said Lozoya had testified he received more than 100 million pesos ($4.5 million) from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht that was in part used to buy votes in Congress.

Odebrecht has admitted to paying bribes in Mexico.
The University of Notre Dame has reported a record spike in Covid-19 cases as students began returning to the Indiana campus for fall classes despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

It was the largest single-day spike in cases reported by the university: On Tuesday, Notre Dame confirmed at least 147 Covid-19 cases on its campus, after just 58 cases were reported the day earlier.

The university traced nearly 60 of those cases to an off-campus party, as the rate of infections ballooned throughout the weekend.

News of the Notre Dame outbreak comes as other college campuses across the country faced similar challenges with students returning to live in dorms, oftentimes sharing those small spaces with multiple peers, and to attend at least some in-person courses in the upcoming semester.

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, officials were forced to reverse course and announce all-online classes for the fall semester after nearly 130 students tested positive for Covid-19. The students were tested just one week before in-person classes were scheduled to resume.

Some have reportedly since been instructed to return home.

In a joint statement, chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and executive vice chancellor and provost Robert Blouin told the UNC community: As much as we believe we have worked diligently to help create a healthy and safe campus living and learning environment, we believe the current data presents an untenable situation.

Meanwhile, it was not immediately clear how Notre Dame would respond to the increase of infections.

Paul Browne, a spokesperson for the university, expressed concern over the rising numbers and suggested it was the result of students not following appropriate social distancing measures.

Recommended College towns fear semester will cause uptick in coronavirus cases

What it reinforces is our concern that it only takes a weak link, he said in an interview with the South Bend Tribune. You can have a very strong chain, but if you have only one weak link, it can cause numbers to spike.

Still, university officials said they would continue with plans to conduct in-person classes throughout the semester.
The policy, initially projected to affect as much as $9 billion in U.S. foreign aid for health programs, has been around since the Reagan administration, known as the Mexico City policy because it was announced in a population conference held there. Since then, it has been adopted as U.S. policy during Republican administrations and waived in Democratic ones. Critics call it the global gag rule.
Four children were injured in the attack (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

A so-called Islamic State group affiliate has claimed responsibility for a mortar attack in Kabul that wounded at least 10 civilians as Afghans marked their countrys Independence Day on Tuesday.

The attack came amid new uncertainties over the start of talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government.

According to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militant groups online activity, in a communique IS claimed credit for the firing of 16 mortar shells, which targeted the presidential palace, embassies and Afghan government offices.

The Interior Ministrys spokesman Tariq Arian said a total of 14 mortar shells were fired from two vehicles in the northern and eastern part of the Afghan capital.

Most of the mortar shells hit residential houses, Mr Arian said, adding that an investigation is underway.

Expand Close The attack took place on Afghan Independence Day (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) / Facebook

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Whatsapp The attack took place on Afghan Independence Day (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

According to eyewitnesses, at least one mortar shell landed in the upscale Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood, where diplomats and senior government officials reside.

Also on Tuesday, Afghanistans intelligence agency said it killed the IS chief justice Abdullah Orakzai in a complex and targeted operation, without elaborating.

The statement said Mr Orakzai had orchestrated a prison break earlier this month in eastern Nangarhar province that killed at least 39 people.

Nearly 400 IS militants escaped in the first hours of the attack.

The mortar attack in Kabul came a day after the government said it would not release the last 320 Taliban prisoners it holds until the insurgents free more captured Afghan soldiers.

Expand Close Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, wearing a mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, sings the national anthem at the Independence Minaret monument during the Independence Day celebrations (Rahmat Gul/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, wearing a mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, sings the national anthem at the Independence Minaret monument during the Independence Day celebrations (Rahmat Gul/AP)

The decision went against that of a traditional Afghan council held earlier this month  the Loya Jirga  and is likely to further delay intra-Afghan peace talks sought by the United States.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he was not aware of the mortar attack in Kabul.

The Islamic State groups affiliate, which operates in Afghanistan, has interrupted national celebrations in the past with rocket fire.

Also on Tuesday morning, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani attended an Independence Day ceremony at the Defence Ministry in Kabul, inspecting an honour guard and laying flowers on the Independence Minaret monument there.
With rising number of Covid-19 cases in the state, the Kerala Water Transport Department has converted rescue boats into ambulances to help coronavirus patients reach hospitals. The boat ambulance service was started to help move Covid patients living in areas that are isolated from the mainland.

This service has helped many Covid-19 patients who live in locations cut-off from the mainland reach hospitals, Santhosh Kumar, vigilance wing inspector, told ANI.

Alappuzha: Kerala Water Transport Dept has converted rescue boats into ambulances during #COVID19 pandemic. Santhosh Kumar, Vigilance Wing Inspector says, "This service has helped many #COVID19 patients who live in locations cut-off from the mainland reach hospitals." pic.twitter.com/mrsoMAtbOi  ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2020

Kerala, which was the first state to report Covid-19 case in India earlier this year, has over 15,000 active cases.

On Sunday, the states chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Twitter to laud the people of Kerala for their unflinching spirit. Sharing a story of a 105-year-old lady beating Covid, the chief minister further congratulated the health workers of the state.

We are into the 200th day of Covid-19 crisis. Looking back, we can say with pride that this has not been just a period of despair & loss. It has also been a time of courage, compassion, resilience & survival. People of Kerala responded to the crisis with an unflinching spirit, he had tweeted.

The story of 105 years old Asma Bheevi, who recently survived the disease, is just one example. She is not alone, there are many like her. Our health workers have done a remarkable job and we can't congratulate them enough.  Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) August 16, 2020

Kerala is often cited as an example for inclusive development and social harmony, and it will remain so, but from now, it will also be an argument for hope.



Keep Hope Alive, We Shall Overcome.  Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) August 16, 2020
When it comes to hunting, few quests are as iconic as pursuing Africas Big 5  the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo.

Over an eight-year span, Butch Meilinger stared down a lion at nine yards, took down a 10,000-pound elephant that had been terrorizing a village and spent 30-plus days over two years pursuing the most elusive of the group, the leopard. Then, he took it a step further, by scoring on a Nile crocodile and a hippopotamus to complete whats known as Africas Dangerous 7. Amazingly, he did it all with not a high-powered rifle, but a crossbow.
She got engaged in June 2018 to her beau of nearly three years, Johnny Barbara.

And Devon Windsor was feeling nostalgic as she headed back to the romantic beach spot in the Bahamas where he proposed on Monday.

The Victoria's Secret model, 26, slipped into a blue bandeau tie-dye bikini as she lounged in the sand with her puppy Winston.

Memories: Devon Windsor slipped into blue tie-dye bikini in Bahamas when she headed back to the romantic beach spot where her husband Johnny Barbara proposed in 2018 on Monday

The blonde beauty showed off her incredible abs and bronzed glow as she topped up her tan in the idyllic location.

She wore her light tresses slicked back after having a dip in the sea and accessorised with gold-rimmed sunglasses and an array of delicate necklaces.

The model also shared a throwback picture of the incredible moment Johnny proposed when she was taken on a plane ride over the beach where she saw the words 'Marry Me?' written in the sand.

Romantic: She also shared a throwback picture of the moment Johnny proposed when she was taken on a plane ride over the beach where she saw the words 'Marry Me?' written in the sand

Cute: She captioned the sweet post: 'Revisited the same sandbar that Johnny proposed on! Crazy how time flies, it's already been a little over 2 years since this moment!'

She captioned the sweet post: 'Revisited the same sandbar that Johnny proposed on! Crazy how time flies, it's already been a little over 2 years since this moment!'

The 5ft 11in beauty wed Johnny - co-owner of fashion label Alexis - at St Bartholomew's Anglican Church on the Caribbean island of St Barths on November 16 2019.

Announcing the engagement by sharing the image of the beach proposal in June 2018 she wrote on Instagram: 'When you think you're flying into a photoshoot and then you look down and see this...

'This was the best day of my life and I cannot wait to marry the best person in the whole universe!

Gorgeous: The blonde beauty showed off her incredible abs and bronzed glow as she topped up her tan in the idyllic location

'I'm the luckiest woman in the world!'

Devon also showed off her impressive diamond engagement ring - which took over a month to design- in an Instagram story post.

She wrote: 'I'll never finish falling in love with you...... ladies and gents, my fiance!!!!'

Georgia Fowler, Shanina Shaik, Olivia Culpo and Cara Santana were among the celebrities who attended the lavish nuptials.
Raja Singh, the lone Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Telangana and apparently in the centre of a row over social media giant Facebook's policy on hate speeches, has rejected allegations that he makes communally loaded posts online, asserting he only works in the national interest.

He said his official FB page had been 'hacked and blocked' in 2018 but that there has been no response from the police on a complaint filed by him on the matter so far.

In a report published last week, United States newspaper Wall Street Journal had cited interviews with unnamed Facebook insiders to

claim one of its senior India policy executives intervened in internal communication to stop a permanent ban on a BJP MLA from Telangana after he allegedly made communally charged posts.

Incidentally, Singh, known for his pro-Hindutva views, is the only saffron party legislator from the southern state.

In a video released on Monday, Singh said, "I am being projected in such a way that I am the most dangerous in the entire world (like) he (Singh) says something on social media, then something or the other happens."

"I would like to tell the media that I am a person who works in national interest. Cite one example where I could be blamed for any social strife," he said.

He claimed many social media accounts have been opened across the country in his name and said it was not possible for him stop all those people.

He said he cannot be held responsible if somebody shared or posted something.

"My official Facebook account was hacked and blocked in 2018," he said, adding he lodged a complaint with the police in this connection but that there has been no reply so far.

He never posted any inflammatory speeches on his official social media accounts, Singh contended.

Alleging there were many in the country who made inflammatory speeches, including All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leaders in Telangana, he said nobody initiated action against them.

He sought to know why he was being targeted and said it was 'wrong.'

The legislator said he would continue to work in the national interest.

A slugfest had erupted between the Congress and the BJP following a report in the Wall Street Journal claiming that Facebook ignored applying its hate speech rules to politicians of the BJP.

Seizing on the report, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh of spreading 'fake news' using

Facebook and WhatsApp to influence the electorate, triggering a sharp counter-attack from Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who reminded the opposition party of the Cambridge Analytica issue.

Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist have demanded a probe by a joint parliamentary committee into the issue.
Qatar and Turkey have signed an accord to send military advisers and instructors for the armed forces of Libya's Government of National Accord, the UN-recognised GNA said.

"We have reached an agreement with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Qatar's (minister) Khaled bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah on tripartite cooperation to build a military institute for training," said the GNA's deputy defence minister, Salah al-Namrouch.

Both Sheikh Khaled, Qatar's minister of state for defence, and Akar were in Tripoli on Monday for meetings with the GNA's military and for talks on three-way military cooperation.

Under the accord between the three countries, Turkey and Qatar will send military advisers and provide training at their military academies for Libyan cadets, Namrouch said.

Also visiting Tripoli on Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned that Libya faces a "deceptive calm" since fighting stalled in June around the coastal city of Sirte.

Outside powers are "continuing to massively arm the country", said Maas, whose government has tried to broker peace in the war-torn North African country.

"In Libya at the moment we are observing a deceptive calm," he told journalists in Tripoli, seat of the GNA.

Libya has been in chaos since a Western-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive in April 2019 to seize Tripoli.

After 14 months of fierce fighting, the Turkish-backed pro-GNA forces expelled Haftar's troops from much of western Libya and pushed them eastwards to Sirte, a gateway to Libya's rich oil fields and export terminals.

While the GNA has also been supported by Qatar, Haftar has had the backing of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Russia.

rb/hc/kir
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 19:54:14|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Ambassador to Syria Feng Biao (4th L) shakes hands with the head of the University Children Hospital Rustom Makkieh during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Higher Education in Damascus, Syria, on Aug. 18, 2020. The Chinese embassy has donated medical equipment to the University Children Hospital in the Syrian capital Damascus. The donations aim to improve the medical services in the Bone Marrow Transplant Center in the University Children Hospital, according to a statement by the Chinese embassy. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy has donated medical equipment to the University Children Hospital in the Syrian capital Damascus.

Chinese Ambassador to Syria Feng Biao and the head of the University Children Hospital Rustom Makkieh signed a receipt note during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Higher Education in Damascus on Tuesday.

The donations aim to improve the medical services in the Bone Marrow Transplant Center in the University Children Hospital, according to a statement by the Chinese embassy.

Minister of Higher Education Bassam Ibrahim expressed gratitude to China during the ceremony, saying China and Syria always work to develop mutual relations, particularly on the education level.

"We value China for offering this gift and we are always working together to develop these relations, particularly on the education and research level," Ibrahim told reporters.

For his side, Feng said he is glad that the donations were made for the wellbeing of children in Syria.

"Children are always the roses of the homeland and the nation's hope for the future," the ambassador said.

China has recently offered help to Syria to fight against the COVID-19 virus.

On April 15, China delivered the first batch of medical aid, including 2,016 COVID-19 test kits, to Syria. On June 4 and June 24, Syria received another two batches of medical supplies donated by China, including test kits, protective suits, masks, goggles, and infrared thermometers.

On April 23, a video-conference was held between Chinese and Syrian medical experts for sharing the experiences in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

On June 24, the Syrian Health Ministry received a new batch of Chinese medical equipment, the latest in a string of the Chinese aid shipments for Syria to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
athenahealth acclaimed by Frost & Sullivan for being at the forefront of solving critical RCM challenges and powering providers with agile solutions during the Covid-19 pandemic

SANTA CLARA, California, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the United States revenue cycle management (RCM) market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes athenahealth, Inc. with the 2020 United States Company of the Year Award for driving an innovative portfolio of RCM solutions that optimize collections for providers in both fee-for-service and value-based reimbursement. athenahealth's agile and interoperable solutions allow customers to visualize the patient's journey across the care continuum and leverage actionable data to make more informed financial decisions.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1229599/athenahealth_Award.jpg

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies, and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration.

athenahealth offers one of the largest RCM portfolios, with both cloud-based and on-premise solutions, to address a broad range of customer requirements. This includes athenahealth's medical billing services for independent practices, such as claims management, contract management, and collection, and the company's recently rebranded athenaIDX enterprise RCM solution that meets the needs of large, complex health systems. athenahealth's RCM deployment strategy allows health systems to customize their RCM workflows and optimize patients' financial experience.

"athenahealth has especially helped customers achieve higher efficiency and productivity at scale with the athenaIDX offering. Customers that were looking to reduce their revenue leakages and automate the manual intervention to patient access management and claims pre-adjudication have reported substantial improvement in aggregate revenue capture and industry-leading first-pass rate (95%) for all claims produced using athenahealth's solutions," said Koustav Chatterjee, Principal Analyst. "In addition to pure-play technical support, athenahealth offers a model for clients who value co-sourcing services as well as the company's best-in-class customer service that ensures practices are able to optimize RCM results and get the most out of their investments."

athenahealth offers a range of financial solutions that help providers automate back-end administrative responsibilities. These solutions deliver unprecedented efficiency in claims processing, denials management, and RCM performance reporting for both small and large health systems. For example, athenahealth has invested heavily in claims scrubbing solutions and incorporated an auto-updated rules engine that learns from every new financial transaction and remembers past patterns of successful and erroneous reviews. It helps customers report significant improvements in aggregate claims accuracy level and the speed at which they realize patient revenue.

"While healthcare providers have risen to the care delivery challenges brought by COVID-19, many have seen unprecedented declines in revenue. It is more important than ever that we help our clients navigate changing reimbursement requirements, especially with telehealth, and ensure that their revenue cycle is as efficient and effective as possible." said Bob Segert, chairman and CEO of athenahealth. "We are proud of the ways we're working with our customers during the pandemic so they can focus on caring for their patients while feeling confident in their back office revenue cycle support from athenahealth."

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Harley Gadomski

P: 12104778469

E: harley.gadomski@frost.com



About athenahealth, Inc.

athenahealth partners with medical organizations across the country to drive clinical anclid financial results. Our vision is to create a thriving ecosystem that delivers accessible, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare for all, and we are pursuing this through our medical record, revenue cycle, patient engagement, and care coordination service offerings. Our expert teams build modern technology on an open, connected ecosystem, yielding insights that make a difference for our customers and their patients. For more information, please visit www.athenahealth.com.

Contact:

Jean Borgman

media@athenahealth.com

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BIAL added that as part of govt schemes for international travel, 13 airlines will operate flights to Amsterdam, Dubai, Frankfurt, Kuwait, London, Paris, San Francisco, among others

Bangalore International Airport on Tuesday said as many as 13 international airlines will be operatings to 14 overseas destinations from its facility under various initiatives of the government to help people fly in times of the coronavirus pandemic.

International repatriation flights, Vande Bharat Mission and air bubble pacts have enabled Kempegowda International Airport to reconnect Bengaluru to 14 international destinations, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said in a statement.

Under these various arrangements, 13 airlines will operate on these sectors from Bengaluru airport.

The destinations are Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Dubai, Doha, Frankfurt, Kuwait, Kuala Lumpur, London, Muscat, Narita, Paris, Riyadh, Singapore and San Francisco, BIAL said.

It added that the airlines that will operate the flights include Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, GoAir, Vistara, Etihad and Emirates, among others.

Scheduled international passenger flights in and out of India are on halt since 23 March amid the coronavirus pandemic.

However, special repatriation flights and international charter flights have been permitted by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Moreover, since July, India has entered into air bubble agreements with several countries including the US, the UAE, France and Germany, under which airlines of both the countries are allowed to operate international flights with certain restrictions.
A COVID-19 Latino patient endured coronavirus, two blood clots, and a stroke. Tito Velasquez, who courageously conquered the disease, finally returns to his family after 111 days in four different facilities in Northwell.

According to Dr. Jason Yan, emergency physician at Long Island Jewish (LIJ), during the peak of the COVID-19 surge in New York, "code blues" were frequent calls throughout hospitals. The situation was described as demoralizing as there weren't options for the coming of severe cases.

Dr. Yan stated a case that eventually spanned 111 days and took the patient to four facilities with had several near-death episodes was the scariest he witnessed. He recalled that 36-year-old Tito Velasquez, was younger than him. Velasquez is a Valley Stream, NY resident. "They were getting him onto the bed, and I just remember he barely looked alive," Dr. Yan said.

Velasquez was a relatively healthy man with no medical history, as per Northwell. Tito avoided going to the hospital despite running a fever for two weeks. He was fearful of being exposed to the virus. Velasquez said through a translator that his brother took him, but didn't remember anything. "I don't even know when they took me out of the house," he added.

Velasquez couldn't move his hands while working the day prior, which is an early sign of stroke. The stroke symptoms progressed that included his left-side and an altered mental state.

After then, the Latino man tested positive for COVID-19, and the additional tests revealed that he has two blood clots. One clot is in his brain that caused a small stroke, and the second clot is in his lung, which impaired his mind to oxygenate.

An interventional cardiologist at Northwell Health, Kyriaki Poumpouridis, MD, said, "His oxygen saturation was the lowest I've ever seen, really not compatible with life." Poumpouridis had been redeployed to treat COVID patients during the surge to LIJ Valley Stream.

"Certain people who have COVID can develop a disorder where their blood is more prone to clotting," Poumpouridis said. In Velasquez's case, COVID ravaged his lungs that left thick secretions and made oxygen impossible to pass to the blood even if he was intubated and put on 100% oxygen.

Most of the time, treatment options were limited because most of the COVID patients were older, as per Dr. Yan. "But a 36-year-old guy with his whole life ahead of him, it's worth everything that we would throw at him.

Tito's age made him a candidate for an invasive procedure called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). For critically ill patients like Velasquez, the ECMO uses a machine to perform lung function. Harold Fernandez, M.D., the cardiothoracic surgeon, headed up Northwell's ECMO-to-go team and transitioned his role to help combat COVID.

Dr. Fernandez performed the procedure, which returned Tito's oxygen to normal instantly. The medical director at LIJ Valley Stream, Joseph Marino, M.D. believes that Tito's case was a miracle as it came at a time when people involved with Velasquez's care otherwise, those people wouldn't have been in their position if not for COVID.

On April 28, Velasquez was transferred to the ICU at LIJ Medical Center. He remained on ECMO for 30 more days and endured many complications such as collapsed lung, intra-abdominal bleeding, and multiple infections. Mangala Narasimhan, D.O., Director of critical care services at Northwell, said, "Every day was a different setback that we would all be devastated by and then be elated the next day when he would pull through."

On June 9, Velasquez was sent to Northern Westchester Hospital as his improvement continued. He was transferred to recover in the community hospital acute ventilator rehab unit (AVRU) pioneered during the COVID crisis, as per Northwell.

According to Richard Stumacher, M.D., Northern Westchester's chief of the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine, Velasquez took about a month, but he progressed.

Dr. Stumacher was amazed about how Tito fought and gave his all at all times.

Tito's effort matched every step a skilled and compassionate care team attempted, so the El Salvador native miraculously regained all of his lost function. The care team helped Velasquez to wean off the ventilator and overcome physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Velasquez, aside from conquering COVID-19, also defeated paralysis on his left side, and the inability to walk and communicate properly.

Tito's nurse, Emily Battiloro, said, "And the day he left, he was walking, talking and smiling, and laughing." Battiloro used to dance alongside Velasquez to his favorite bachata music. On August 17, Velasquez finally went home and was ready to go back to a healthy life after another month at the Stern Family Center for Rehabilitation.

Tito Velasquez expressed his gratitude by saying, "I would like to thank all my doctors and nurses for all the attentive care they gave me because they had acted like my family." As per Northwell, it took 111 days for Velasquez to recover fully. He was also sent in four different facilities, which Dr. Marino believes that miracles do happen.

Check these out:

Fighting COVID-19: Groom Marries Fiancee from Hospital Bed

Latin America to Choose COVID-19 Diplomacy Between Two Powerful Countries

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U.S. Border Patrol agents saved several individuals from a fire following a human smuggling attempt reported west of Freer, authorities said.

On Saturday evening, agents responded to a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road west of the Border Patrol checkpoint
Rome Bioparco battles August heat with frozen fruit and swimming pools.

Authorities at Rome's Bioparco are ensuring the zoo's residents are coping with the summer heat by providing the animals with swimming pools and refreshing frozen fruit.

The Bioparco says that during the extreme heat the animals choose whether to go outdoors or stay in their shelters.

For those who venture outside there are new shaded areas as well as swimming pools for elephants, tigers, hippos, wolves and bears.

Primates such as ring-tailed lemurs and macaques receive bamboo canes filled with yogurt and frozen fruit which, in addition to cooling them down, sharpens their food-finding skills, according to the zoo.

Photos: Bioparco Archive - Massimiliano Di Giovanni.
Students in England have been told their A-level grades will now be based on teachers' assessments - if they were higher than the moderated grades they received.

GCSE students who are anxiously awaiting their results on Thursday can also opt for grades based on their teachers' estimates rather than the controversial algorithm devised by exams regulator Ofqual.

The Government's U-turn comes after Ofqual revealed that nearly two in five (39.1 per cent) A-level grades in England were reduced from teachers' predictions.

Here is a breakdown of what the decision means for students:

Will universities be able to admit students who now have the grades?

The Government has said it will remove temporary student number controls - introduced this year to stop over-recruitment due to Covid-19 - to remove potential barriers to students being able to progress.

Ministers have called on universities to be as flexible as possible when looking at who to admit on to a degree course, adding that they expect institutions to honour all offers made and met.

But some institutions have already raised concerns about a lack of capacity, staffing, accommodation and facilities if numbers increase - especially at a time when universities are trying to be Covid-secure.

Students who have now secured their first choice following the Government's announcement may be asked to defer their place by a year if there is no space left on their preferred course.

The Government said students who have accepted an offer will be able to release themselves if they have another offer reinstated.

What if my first choice university is already full but I now have the grades?

It depends entirely on the institution, but theoretically yes you should be able to get your place. The government has already said it expects institutions to honour the offers they have made to students.

But universities have restrictions on certain highly sought after subjects such as medicine. Subjects like this don't just have limited availability due to the high grades needed, but also have limited space for the placements that are required to complete the course.

Universities have two further issues. They need to ensure they have enough accommodation to cover the students attending and newly-implemented safety measures to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

Students wearing face masks take part in a protest in London over A-level results on Saturday

Do universities have to let you in now that you have the grades?

It is not yet clear if universities have a legal obligation to let you in if you got the grades.

UCAS have recommended that students phone the university directly to see what the situation is. They added that they are meeting with schools and universities on how to make future decisions.

A spokesperson said: 'In response to the announcements across the UK regarding the awarding of A levels, UCAS is now working with universities, colleges and schools to support students to understand their options and achieve their place in higher education.

'For those students who were not placed with their firm (or insurance) choice university, our advice is that you don't need to make your decision immediately.

'Once your university has your 'Centre Assessed Grades (CAG)' via exam bodies they can make a decision as to whether there is a place at your preferred choice.

'We will be issuing new advice for students and schools and this will be sent directly to students as soon as they are able to take a decision.

'UCAS is working with Universities UK and the education sector and whilst the decision is with the individual university, we will do everything we can to support students to use their CAGs to secure the best possible outcome.'

Can I defer entry if my university is oversubscribed?

Again this depends on the university. As UCAS have advised already this morning, students should contact the institution directly.

There has already been a suggestion today that some students use the A-Level chaos as an opportunity to defer and take a gap year.

Or alternatively use the additional time until their place becomes available to earn some additional money.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has admitted that the algorithm produced more 'significant inconsistencies' than could be rectified through an appeals process

What was the original plan?

After exams were cancelled, Ofqual, the exam regulator, asked teachers to submit grades for students and list them in order of ability. However, it was apparent that many had been overly optimistic. It was decided that more reliance would need to be placed on statistical modelling  or 'standardisation'. This led to the algorithm which was used to calculate grades.

Why was this controversial?

A huge proportion of teachers' predictions were deemed useless. A school's performance in previous years played a greater role  reducing 40 per cent of A-levels, and an even higher proportion of GCSEs. The system penalised students at low-performing schools in poor areas. Its aim was only to preserve existing trends  including educational inequality.

What has now changed?

Before yesterday's U-turn, Ofqual loosened its strict criteria on appeals, saying schools could challenge results.

But the onus on schools to submit evidence that their grades were wrong meant the row deepened. The Scottish government was first to U-turn, promising to restore the original teacher predictions.

Westminster came up with a 'triple lock' guarantee, meaning pupils could fall back on mock exam grades or take fresh papers in October. But after a weekend of confusion, it announced England would also allow teachers' grades.

How will they get new grades?

Guidance is yet to be issued by the Department for Education, but it is assumed that boards will send out new exam certificates in the coming days for A-level students. The Government has said GCSE results will not be delayed, so they should also reflect teachers' grades.

Which grades can now be used?

A-level and GCSE students in England will now be able to use their centre assessment grades (CAGs) - the grades submitted by schools and colleges to the exam boards - if they are higher than the moderated grade.

Teachers were told to submit the grades they thought each student would most likely have received if they had sat the papers, after this summer's exams were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Exam boards moderated these grades to ensure this year's results were not significantly higher than previous years using an algorithm created by England's exams regulator.

Students can keep their calculated grade from exam boards, but if their schools' original estimated grade was higher then they can also use that result.

Students receive their A-level results at City Academy Hackney in East London last Thursday

What were the issues with moderated grades?

Critics complained that Ofqual's algorithm - which was used by exam boards to make the adjustments - had penalised pupils in schools in more disadvantaged areas, while benefiting those in private schools.

Head teachers reported that schools and colleges with larger cohorts saw more of their students' grades downgraded, while those with smaller cohorts did not appear to be as affected.

Politicians and education unions called on ministers to scrap the unfair model and revert to teachers' estimated grades to ensure students could progress into higher education and employment.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has admitted that the algorithm produced more 'significant inconsistencies' than could be rectified through an appeals process.

Can appeals still be made on the basis of mock exams?

Last week, Mr Williamson gave a 'triple lock' pledge that students could use the highest result out of their calculated grade from exam boards, their mock exam or sitting the actual exam in the autumn.

But following the decision to allow teachers' grades to be used instead, the Education Secretary has said mock exam results will not be a key part of the appeals process for A-level and GCSE students in England.

Students who are unhappy with both their calculated grade and centre assessment grade will still be able to sit exams in the autumn.

Further details and guidance on how appeals can be processed have still not been published.

The Ucas deadline for applicants to meet their offer conditions is September 7, leaving exam boards only a matter of weeks to issue outcomes of appeals.

A group of students at Norwich School react as they receive their A-Level results last Thursday

What will happen with BTEC students' grades?

Students have called for urgent clarity on how BTEC students will be affected by the announcement.

Mr Williamson said the Department for Education (DfE) is working with BTEC awarding body Pearson and he is hopeful that the change will be extended to the vocational qualifications.

What is happening in the other devolved nations?

Last week, the Scottish Government was forced into a U-turn after a backlash about the moderation system used there. Students complained after more than 124,000 test results were brought down.

It was announced that the lower results would revert to the grades estimated by pupils' teachers.

Less than a week later - just four days after A-level results were awarded in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - the devolved administrations also announced they were moving to teacher-assessed grades.

Most A-level and GCSE students will be given grades predicted by teachers in Northern Ireland following an outcry from teachers, parents and pupils.

Like elsewhere in the UK, Welsh pupils will now be awarded results on the basis of teacher assessments rather than an algorithm for grading A-levels and GCSEs.
Not yet sent

At age 19 I was assigned as a squadron pilot on CF 100 jet interceptors in Bagotville, Quebec.

Wing Commander J.R.D. Braham, who was the 5th ranked RAF fighter ace in World War II and the most decorated British Commonwealth airman of the conflict, was my leader.

Every pilot trusted and respected him. He was completely trustworthy.

The day I met him he assigned me to be his wingman on a sortie. He gave me responsibility and tested my limited flying skills as a new squadron pilot. It was exciting to fly wth a master!

A few weeks later, a new pilot was flying same exercise with the commander. When they were in a steep turn, the new pilots wing hit Braham's airplane and knocked a wing off. The Wing Commander and his navigator ejected and the new pilot limped back to base with a badly damaged airplane.

Miraculously, Braham and his navigator survived. After rescue, he embraced and uplifted the new pilot who caused the accident.

He took full responsibility, something that only a great leader, a true fighter ace and friend to all under his command would do!

How does our PM compare as a leader?

He leads by force and deceit.

Everything that goes wrong is someone elses fault.

Jodi-Raybault-Wilson, Jane Philpot and Vice-Admiral Norman were all at fault;

Covid caused the one trillion of debt, not his reckless spending;

He claims Canada has no core identity because others got it wrong in the past;

He calls everyone not wanting to accept extreme multiculturalism and open borders a racist  not blackface himself;

The India debacle was not his fault;

His dictatorial actions had nothing to do with 18 Liberals stepping down after one term;

Failure to balance the budget as promised is forgotten;

A broken relationship with the provinces is the Premiers fault;

Failure to reconcile with indigenous people is their fault;

Canadas failure to vastly improve international relations is not his fault;

He did keep two promises  he dramatically increased our taxes and spent like a spoiled kid in a candy shop while supping on numerous elitist privileges.

His refusal to answer tough questions in parliament reveals an unprecedented leadership cowardice in parliament.

Leadership is not one of the PMs qualities. A bullish leader with no truth in his vocabulary, he is not trustworthy to lead Canada.

It is not exciting to fly with him.

Garry Rayner
Mumbai, Aug 18 : Shweta Singh Kirti, sister Sushant Singh Rajput has urged for an early decision from the Supreme Court in the pending hearing for a CBI probe into her late brother's case. Shweta took to social media on Tuesday to voice her demand.

"Requesting for an early decision from the Supreme Court, we have been very hopeful and have been patiently waiting. Every minute of delay is causing pain and heartbreak. #CBIForSSR," Shweta tweeted from her unverified account on Tuesday morning.

Requesting for an early decision from the Supreme Court, we have been very hopeful and have been patiently waiting. Every minute of delay is causing pain and heartbreak. #CBIForSSR  shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 18, 2020

Shweta has been vocal on social media over the past few days in demanding a CBI probe into her brother's death.

"We stand together as a nation for CBI Enquiry! Demanding an unbiased investigation is our right and we expect nothing but the truth to come out. #CBIForSSR #Warriors4SSR #justiceforSushanthSinghRajput @PMOIndia @narendramodi @AmitShah," Shweta had tweeted last week.

Sushant was found dead in his Bandra residence on June 14, and the late actor's family has suspected foul play. They have also alleged that they are getting threats as they continue their fight for justice.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery

-- Syndicated from IANS
Figure 01

Location map showing Northern Stars Pogo gold mine and their Goodpaster gold deposit in relation to Millrocks claim block (blue shading), and target areas and drill holes on Millrocks claims.

Location map showing Northern Stars Pogo gold mine and their Goodpaster gold deposit in relation to Millrocks claim block (blue shading), and target areas and drill holes on Millrocks claims.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Millrock Resources Inc. (TSX-V: MRO, OTCQB: MLRKF) ("Millrock" or the Company) reports that drilling at the Echo Target on the West Pogo block of the 64North gold project in Alaska has now begun. A heliportable drill rig is being used to test a strong CSAMT geophysical survey conductor in the down-dip direction from the nearby Goodpaster gold deposit located on the neighbouring claims held by Northern Star Resources Limited (Northern Star). In their August 13, 2020 press release Northern Star has indicated their intention to do definition drilling necessary to calculate an initial resource estimate for their Goodpaster deposit with A$21 million being allocated for the work.



At the Echo Target, the planned depth of hole 20EC005 is 300 meters. Next to be drilled is the Reflection Target. A hole at this location is designed to pierce a CSAMT conductive zone located just above the interpreted location of the same magnetic intrusive rock that hosts the Goodpaster deposit, along a west-northwest trending fault which passes very close to both the Goodpaster deposit and the Pogo Mine. The locations of the completed, progressing and planned holes are shown in Figure 1. Work on the project is being funded by Resolution Minerals Limited (ASX: RML).

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/64509eaf-9253-4b4f-a7c5-284fe4c79754

Millrock also reports that Keith Granberry, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has indicated his intention to resign from Millrock to pursue another opportunity in Alaska. A search for a replacement CFO is underway. Mr. Granberry has expressed his commitment to a smooth transition over the coming weeks. Millrock wishes Mr. Granberry well. Starting as Controller, but then moving to the CFO position rapidly, he has been employed by Millrock for close to a decade.

Story continues

Millrock President and CEO Gregory Beischer commented: Keith has been an integral part of the Millrock team and has helped the company grow through the years. We will miss his support and wish him great success in his new career.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed within this document has been prepared, reviewed and approved by Gregory A. Beischer, President, CEO and a director of Millrock Resources. Mr. Beischer is a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101.

About Millrock Resources Inc.

Millrock Resources Inc. is a premier project generator to the mining industry. Millrock identifies, packages, and operates large-scale projects for joint venture, thereby exposing its shareholders to the benefits of mineral discovery without the usual financial risk taken on by most exploration companies. The company is recognized as the premier generative explorer in Alaska, holds royalty interests in British Columbia, Canada and Sonora State, Mexico and is a significant shareholder of junior explorer ArcWest Exploration Inc. and has a shareholding in Resolution Minerals Limited. Funding for drilling at Millrocks exploration projects is primarily provided by its joint venture partners. Business partners of Millrock have included some of the leading names in the mining industry: EMX Royalty, Centerra Gold, First Quantum, Teck, Kinross, Vale, Inmet and Altius as well as junior explorers Resolution, Riverside and PolarX.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Gregory Beischer

Gregory Beischer, President & CEO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Melanee Henderson, Investor Relations

(604) 638-3164

(877) 217-8978 (toll-free)

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, managements plan to drill at the Echo Target and other planned drill holes, and a smooth transition of a replacement CFO. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, Millrocks ability to execute the planned surface exploration work and other customary risks of the resource industry, as well as Millrocks ability to attract an exploration partner on commercial terms considered acceptable to Millrocks management.




Chinas CanSino Biologics, on August 18, said that it had not yet started enrolling participants for the third phase trial of its potential COVID-19 vaccine Ad5-nCOV. Last month, the vaccine company had revealed that it was in talks with Saudi Arabia, Russia, Brazil and Chile to launch the last phase of the trial for its vaccine candidate. However, Petrovax, a Russian pharmaceutical company recently confirmed that it would be running the final trials in Russia.

The study for phase three had already begun on Aug 14, the Russian state register revealed. According to reports, at least 625 people are expected to be recruited to test the safety and effectiveness of the drug. However, CanSino said that it was currently working with several nations to start phase three trials as soon as possible. As at the date of this announcement, enrolment of phase III clinical trial has not started, it said.

Read: China Grants First COVID-19 Vaccine Patent To CanSino Biologics' 'experimental Vaccine'

Country's first patent vaccine

China had previously approved the vaccine for use by its military after early and mid-stage trials, and further late-stage trials are being lined up for Mexico and Saudi Arabia. On August 18, the vaccine, which is developed jointly by the military's research unit and CanSino Biologics, was also granted patent. "The adenovirus vector vaccine candidate was found to be safe and able to trigger an immune response in the first and second stages of clinical trials," reported state-sponsored media China Daily. As per the patent document published on the website of the National Intellectual Property Administration, the application for the newly issued patent was submitted on March 18, and was approved on Aug 11, China Daily reported.

Read: China Grants First COVID-19 Vaccine Patent To CanSino Biologics' 'experimental Vaccine'

Back on June 29, CanSino Biologics stated that the clinical trials of the vaccine proved to be safe and apparently, even efficient. According to an international media agency, Ad5-nCoV is one of the eight vaccine candidates that are currently being developed by the China-based firms while the global deaths have surpassed 7 lakh. It was also the first vaccine to enter first-stage clinical trials in China back in March at the onset of the global outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Read: UK Govt Informs Over 1,00,000 People Volunteered For Coronavirus Vaccine Trials

Read: COVID-19 Vaccine: Govt Panel Meets Representatives Of Leading Domestic Manufacturers

Image credits: PTI
A senior black Metropolitan Police inspector is suing the force over claims he was racially profiled by two white officers from his own force when they stopped his car.

Charles Ehikioya filmed the officers who allegedly followed him for two miles and falsely accused him of speeding and running a red light in Croydon, South London.

The 55-year-old claimed the officers stopped him without justification and has complained of racial harassment to Scotland Yard following the incident on May 23.

But the force insisted it found no evidence of misconduct following an investigation by the Professional Standards Unit which reviewed the officers' body-worn footage.

Mr Ehikioya told BBC News he refused to leave his Toyota iQ when he was stopped because one of the two officers had not yet switched on his body-worn video.

Charles Ehikioya (pictured) filmed the officers who allegedly followed him for two miles and falsely accused him of speeding and running a red light in Croydon, South London

The inspector said he therefore started to record what was happening for his own protection, and the officer also then turned on his camera.

The recording shows the officer saying Mr Ehikioya had been stopped because he was driving at speed at it 'looked like he had gone through a red light'.

The officers asked to see Mr Ehikioya's driving licence and proof of insurance and check that the vehicle was not stolen and he was sober and not using his phone.

They claimed his driving was 'unusual', but Mr Ehikioya disputed this. The officer insisted his behaviour had been reasonable and Mr Ehikioya was being obstructive.

In the footage filmed by Mr Ehikioya, an officer can be heard saying: 'Secure the vehicle, switch the car off, and just come and joion me on the pavement please.'

Mr Ehikioya then asks: 'What for, why?' The officer replies: 'So we were down in South Croydon, and we've seen you come flying across the road at speed, and to us it looks like you've gone through a red light.

Mr Ehikioya said he refused to leave his Toyota iQ (pictured) when he was stopped because one of the two officers had not yet switched on his body-worn video

'We followed you and from the distance you were ahead of us, it looked like you had gone a long way out, so you were still going at some speed. So if you come and speak to me on the pavement, we can have a chat with you there.'

Mr Ehikioya, who has worked for the force for more than 22 years, said the allegations were claims that could have ended his policing career.

He wrote in a formal complaint: 'The officers did not believe or did not care that I was an officer, because I am black.

'They are both clearly racist police officers pretending to be polite whilst falsely accusing me without any evidence whatsoever of having committed serious criminal and road traffic act offences.'

Mr Ehikioya, who is now suing Scotland Yard for racial harassment, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: 'The reason why I feel I was pulled over is no other reason other than the fact that they've seen a black man driving a car.

'I just feel they've done this because I'm black, and this is well out of order, and it shouldn't be the reason why you go around intimidating members of the public.

He added: 'I truly believe in the ethos and the tenets on which the policing was formed, that the community are the police and the police are the community.

'Therefore there is no them and us, it should be one and all, because at the end of the day the police itself would not be able to function without the community, as well as the community not able to live in peace and harmony without the police there to prevent a breach of peace.'

But a Metropolitan Police spokesman told MailOnline today: 'We can confirm that on Sunday, May 24 we received an internal complaint regarding a vehicle stop.

'On Saturday, May 23, a driver was stopped by police while driving his vehicle. The driver, who is a black man, alleged that the stop was the result of racial profiling.

'As is usual practice, local enquiries were undertaken by the Professional Standards Unit. Enquiries established that the vehicle was followed by officers prior to the stop due to suspicion of excessive speed at a traffic signal and onward.

'As part of these enquiries, body worn video [BWV] of the stop was viewed. The BWV of the stop showed that the officers communicated their reasons/cause for the stop to the complainant as they are required to do.

Labour MP Dawn Butler (left) accused police of racial profiling after the BMW in which she was travelling was pulled over in East London on August 9. But Met Police Deputy Commissioner Sir Steve House (right) defended the officers' conduct after reviewing the incident

'The review found no evidence of misconduct. No action was taken against the man stopped.'

The complaint comes amid renewed criticism of police use of stop and search powers, with Labour MP Dawn Butler claiming she was racially profiled by officers in Hackney, East London, who pulled her and a black friend over.

The Met defended the officers who stopped her car, with Deputy Commissioner Sir Steve House complaining they had faced 'trial by social media' following the incident.

But yesterday, the leader of the National Black Police Association said the Ms Butler incident was 'rooted in a biased system that views black people as criminals or drug dealers'.

Inspector Andrew George, the new interim president of the organisation, told the Guardian that 'we have to look at the processes which led to the stop being conducted', adding: 'Training, briefings and culture all contribute to racial profiling.'

He also told the paper: 'We have to acknowledge the hurt the black community is currently feeling and respond robustly to the consistent disproportionalities we see in police use of powers.'

Former shadow equalities secretary Ms Butler, who accused the police of being 'institutionally racist', was the passenger in a BMW driven by a friend, who like her is black, when they were stopped on August 9.

She claimed the incident was 'obviously racial profiling'.

Scotland Yard said the stop was a result of an officer having 'incorrectly entered' the car's registration plate into a computer, to wrongly identify it as a vehicle registered to Yorkshire, but did not explain why the search was carried out in the first place.

Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh has insisted officers did 'absolutely nothing wrong' and had 'nothing to hide'.

But Mr George questioned the reason given for the stop, telling the Guardian: 'I would ask why a vehicle being registered in Yorkshire and driving in a global hub like London is enough, by itself, to warrant checking the owner details.'

The National Black Police Association was formed after the racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence and in the wake of The Macpherson Report.
So, you find yourself in a church that is ready to cross the threshold for greater biblical equality, the threshold that emboldens women and empowers women to exercise the gifts God has given to them. What to do?

Graham Hill, in his wonderful new book Holding Up Half the Sky, offers four big practices but the fourth has 15 concrete steps and this post will focus on those 15.

I am aware how difficult this is for many women who have waited, prayed, cried, seen small opportunities develop only to be shut down, talked and talked with other women, talked with those supporting women in ministries, met with pastors to see what can be done, been promised by pastors that changes will occur only to learn nothing changes, cried and prayed and prayed and cried, met some more, moved on to other churches and it wearies the soul and it grieves the Spirit alive and well in that womans bones.

I am aware too that the way forward is not a war or even a battle but taking small steps and not backing up. It is about finding nearly always male advocates who will stand in the gap. It is about pastors who have the courage of their already (more egalitarian) convictions. It is about acting on those convictions.

It is about studying (as I say in Blue Parakeet) What Did Women Do in the Bible, it is about finding the stories of women in the Bible to see what they did, and it is about encouraging churches to do as the Bible did.

Before I get to Graham Hills big points, I want to mention a few new books on this topic, and call your attention especially to a new academic book coming by William Witt that will deconstruct the so-called complementarian position (it is hierarchical, as Russell Moore and others have admitted, and it is patriarchal) as something not so historic and not at all historical when it comes to the Bible. Witts book is called Icons of Christ: A Biblical and Systematic Theology for Womens Ordination.

The others I want to mention are:

Alice Mathews, a true saint and irenical warrior for womens ministry: Woman of Strength

John Mark Hicks, Women Serving God

Now back to Graham Hills new book. His four big points.

First, male leaders have to deal courageously with issues of gender, justice and power.

Second, male leaders need to reframe ministry as what Graham calls servantship.

Third, male leaders must learn to embolden Junias sisters.

Fourth, male leaders should amplify the voices of women and honor their gifts.

Image: Cover Photo

His fourth point is broken out into these 15 habits and practices:

Get real about empowering female leaders Enable women to sit at the table Help women see women at the table Transform male-dominated cultures Model and esteem real professional and personal partnerships Build cultures where women and men can equally succeed Stop talking and start listening Honor all women Examine your beliefs and practices Embrace reciprocal mentoring Get proactive about women speakers Ask what youre willing to give up (and gain) Profile female Christian leaders Pray with women Make honoring women and girls a lifestyle and an institutional value
NEW DELHI : In a significant achievement for the indigenous fighter aircraft programme, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed the home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas on the western front along the Pakistan border in view of the tensions with China on the Ladakh front.

"The LCA Tejas was deployed by the Indian Air Force on the western front close to the Pakistan border to take care of any possible action by the adversary there," government sources told ANI.

The first LCA Tejas squadron, 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) based out of Sulur under the Southern Air Command, was deployed in an operational role there, the sources said.

The indigenous Tejas aircraft had been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech where he had stated that the deal to buy the LCA Mark1A version was expected to be completed soon.

While the first squadron of the planes is of the Initial Operational Clearance version, the second 18 Squadron 'Flying Bullets' is of the Final Operational Clearance version and was operationalized by the IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria at the Sulur airbase on May 27.

The Indian Air Force and the Defence Ministry are expected to finalise the deal for the 83 Mark1A aircraft by the end of this year. In view of the Chinese aggression on the borders, the IAF had deployed its assets all along the borders with both China and Pakistan.

The forward airbases of the force have been equipped to take care of situations along the western and northern fronts and have seen extensive flying operations in the recent past, including both daytime and night operations. (ANI)

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Armenias National Security Service (NSS) has opened a criminal case into what it says was a case of large-scale money laundering allegedly involving former Yerevan mayor Gagik Beglarian.

According to the NSS, Beglarian is suspected of involvement in illicit property deals in 2009 when he served as Yerevan mayor as a result of which the municipal budget lost 235 million drams (over $482,000).

Beglarian, a former member of ex-President Serzh Sarkisians Republican Party of Armenia, in March was already charged with corruption in connection with illegal privatization of municipal buildings, including kindergartens.

The NSS statement also said that although a Yerevan court has allowed investigators to arrest Beglarian, the latter is not in Armenia and has been put on the wanted list.

Beglarians lawyer Hrant Ananian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service (Azatutyun) on Tuesday that his client was surprised by the announcement of a new criminal case. He said they were not aware of the case.

As Mr. Beglarians lawyer, I have no information about this case. Mr. Beglarian has not received any notification regarding this case either. We learn about it from the media, the lawyer said.

The former mayors legal representative stopped short of commenting on the case in detail yet, but said that as an expert he saw no grounds to link Beglarian to any money-laundering crime.

Ananian said that Beglarian is still receiving treatment abroad, without specifying his whereabouts. He found it difficult to say when the former Yerevan mayor plans to return to Armenia.
Dublin, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Ultra-Pure Water Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020-2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The market for ultra-pure water is expected to record a CAGR of over 5%, globally, during the forecast period. Major factors driving the market studied are the growing demand from the semiconductor industry and increasing application in the pharmaceutical industry. On the flip side, the high consumption of water for purification is expected to hinder the growth of the market.



The ultra-pure water market is expected to grow during the forecast period, owing to increasing application in the semiconductor industry across the world.



The Asia-Pacific region dominated the market across the world, with the largest consumption from countries, such as India, China, and Japan.



Key Market Trends



Increasing Application in the Semiconductor Industry

Ultra-pure water can be regarded as an industrial solvent. It is purified to the most stringent of standards for all contaminant types, including organic and inorganic compounds, dissolved and particulate matter, and dissolved gases.

The semiconductor industry, one of the world's largest in terms of added value, is a business that demands the utmost purity of water. A single 8-inch silicon wafer, the basis for about 100 chips, can require up to 7,500 liters of water to produce, in which about two-thirds of the water has to be ultra-pure water.

Semiconductor plants use ultra-pure water as a cleaning agent, so it is important that the water should not contain dissolved contaminants that can precipitate or particles that may lodge on circuits and cause microchip failures.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) announced that worldwide sales of semiconductors reached USD 36.6 billion for the month of October 2019, an increase of 2.9% from the sales witnessed in September 2019 (USD 35.6 billion).

According to WSTS, IT estimated that the annual global sales may decrease by about 12.1% in 2019. However, the semiconductor sales is estimated to witness growth of about 5.4% in 2020. This is expected to increase the scope for the growth of market.

Hence, owing to the growing applications in the semiconductor industry, especially in the Asia-Pacific and North American regions, the demand for ultra-pure water is expected to increase over the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific Region to Dominate the Market

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate the market for ultra-pure water during the forecast period. Due to the high demand application from countries, like China, India, and Japan, the market for ultra-pure water has been increasing.

The largest producers of ultra-pure water are located in the Asia-Pacific region. Some of the leading companies in the production of ultra-pure water are Organo Corporation, DuPont, Veolia, Pall Corporation, and Pentair PLC.

Apart from the semiconductor industry, ultra-pure water is also used in the pharmaceutical industry, power generation in boilers, and other industries where it has a wide range of applications.

The Chinese pharmaceutical industry, which is valued at ~USD 145 billion currently, represents the biggest emerging market with growth tipped to reach ~USD 200 billion by 2022, thus increasing the scope of the market.

The Chinese government has introduced Made in China 2025 policy to increase the nation's self-sufficiency in integrated circuits production to 40% in 2020 and 70% by 2025.

Taiwan's semiconductor equipment purchase grew by 34% in 2019, reaching USD 3.9 billion, making it one of the leading countries for the market in the region.

The aforementioned factors, coupled with government support, are contributing to the increasing demand fo the ultra-pure water market during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape



The ultra-pure water market is partially fragmented with players accounting for a marginal share of the market. Few companies include DuPont, Veolia, Pall Corporation, Pentair PLC, and SUEZ.



Reasons to Purchase this report:

The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

3 months of analyst support

Key Topics Covered:



1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Assumptions

1.2 Scope of the Study



2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4 MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Growing Demand from the Semiconductor Industry

4.1.2 Increasing Application in the Pharmaceutical Industry

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 High Consumption of Water for Purification

4.2.2 Other Restraints

4.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis

4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.4.1 Threat of New Entrants

4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.4.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products

4.4.5 Degree of Competition



5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 Application

5.1.1 Cleaning

5.1.2 Etching

5.1.3 Ingredient

5.1.4 Other Applications

5.2 End-user Industry

5.2.1 Semiconductor

5.2.2 Pharmaceuticals

5.2.3 Power Generation

5.2.4 Other End-user Industries

5.3 Geography

5.3.1 Asia-Pacific

5.3.1.1 China

5.3.1.2 India

5.3.1.3 Japan

5.3.1.4 South Korea

5.3.1.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific

5.3.2 North America

5.3.2.1 United States

5.3.2.2 Canada

5.3.2.3 Mexico

5.3.3 Europe

5.3.3.1 Germany

5.3.3.2 United Kingdom

5.3.3.3 France

5.3.3.4 Italy

5.3.3.5 Rest of Europe

5.3.4 South America

5.3.4.1 Brazil

5.3.4.2 Argentina

5.3.4.3 Rest of South America

5.3.5 Middle-East and Africa

5.3.5.1 Saudi Arabia

5.3.5.2 South Africa

5.3.5.3 Rest of Middle-East and Africa



6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements

6.2 Market Share/Ranking Analysis**

6.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players

6.4 Company Profiles

6.4.1 Applied Membranes Inc.

6.4.2 Calgon Carbon Corporation

6.4.3 DuPont

6.4.4 Komal Water Industries

6.4.5 Nalco

6.4.6 Organo Corporation

6.4.7 Pall Corporation

6.4.8 Pentair PLC

6.4.9 SUEZ

6.4.10 Veolia



7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS

7.1 Increasing the Purification Process Efficiency



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/103pft

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Picture a lawyer you know. Fairly persnickety with details, no? Covers all bases. Doesnt mess up the easy stuff. Rarely messes up the hard stuff. This is a person who knows the rulebook. Now picture that same person working for the FBI. Doubly careful, in this gig. Its the big time. Now picture that same person working for the FBI on a major political issue  no, the major political issue. The one the whole world is talking about. Belt and suspenders, right? Make that six belts and four pairs of suspenders. This person is not going to get caught with his pants down, ever. Every t will be crossed, crossed again, then crossed again in the presence of a notary public.

So when you cast your eye over what former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith did to earn himself a criminal record as a felon during the TrumpRussia fiasco, your mind should reel. Clinesmith, like others in the FBI, knew that former Trump adviser Carter Page had done some work for the CIA that involved contacts with Russian intelligence. But Clinesmith wanted permission from the FISA judge to continue to conduct clandestine surveillance of Carter Page. Clinesmith knew Page was spying on the Russians, not spying for the Russians, but he needed to keep this under wraps so the court might think Page was talking to Russians as part of a nefarious collusion effort between Russia and the Trump campaign. So when Clinesmiths superior at the FBI asked whether Page was a CIA contact in 2017, because he or she needed to be able to swear under oath that Page was not, Clinesmith forwarded an email from the CIA  but altered the email to reverse its meaning. The email said Page had been in touch with the CIA, but Clinesmith added the words and not a source. The lie that Page wasnt briefing the CIA was critical to winning court approval for trying to dig up dirt on the Trump campaign via spying on Page.

You need not be a ranting Alex Jones-Pizzagate-Q-Anon freak to recognize why the term Deep State has caught on. If the label sounds silly to you, think of it as merely a spy-movie label for that most boring of institutions, the entrenched bureaucracy. The permanent Washington class has its own interests, interests that tend to align with those of the party of government, which is another way of saying that nonpartisan federal employees have a tendency to be ardent Democrats. Clinesmith is a Trump hater to such a degree that he once wrote Viva [sic] le [sic] resistance in an email. Why would a lawyer working for the FBI on the biggest case in politics be so indiscreet as to create a record of altering a document in the course of making a false statement of huge importance? Either Clinesmith was so confident in being surrounded by allies in the anti-Trump resistance that he believed he would never be caught, or he was so blinded by Trump loathing that he was willing to do something breathtakingly out of character for a trained, experienced Washington lawyer.

Story continues

The press that spent two years on the shaggy-dog story of the nonexistent TrumpRussia conspiracy has been extravagantly bored by the new development. CNNs coverage of the matter on its website has been limited to two pieces, one a news item meant to downplay the guilty plea and one a column by Chris Cillizza meant to downplay the guilty plea. Cillizza focuses on Trumps typically hyperbolic and imprecise comments on the matter and concludes, of the case, What it doesnt prove is that Trumps wild claims that there is a deep state conspiracy that tried to keep him from being elected and has worked against him since he got into office actually exists. The facts just arent there.

No, a Trump-hating FBI member who said he was part of le [sic] resistance simply falsified a document as part of a months-long play to obtain and renew FISA court approval, under false pretenses, to unleash all of the levers of state surveillance to spy on a Trump aide. It strains credulity to believe such a nobody as Carter Page was the actual target; he was just the tool the FBI used to wedge its way into Trumps inner circle. Nothing deep-statey about that at all.

Cillizza even suggests that Clinesmith falsified the email inadvertently: there were significant screw-ups in the way the FBI went about making its case . . . in the case of Clinesmith, a crime was committed in regard to these FISA applications  whether or not he meant to. Whether or not he meant to? According to the criminal information statement in lieu of an indictment, Clinesmith did willfully and knowingly make and use a false writing and document, knowing the same to contain a materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statement. Cillizza is promoting a PR talking point Clinesmiths lawyer made to the media and ignoring the actual substance of the case.

New York Times coverage of the matter, buried on page A16, also read as though it were vetted by Clinesmiths lawyer: Reporter Adam Goldman cast the matter as a distraction from the much larger issues raised by the (wet-firecracker) Mueller investigation and claimed, Republicans have seized on a narrow aspect of the inquiry  the investigation into Mr. Page  in a long-running quest to undermine it. Goldman added, By changing the email and then forwarding it, Mr. Clinesmith misrepresented the original content of the document, which prosecutors said was a crime. Funny people, those prosecutors: They also said breaking into the DNC headquarters at the Watergate to dig up dirt on political adversaries was a crime.

As to whether the texts Clinesmith sent that identified him as a vigorous opponent of the GOP and referred to its leaders as crazies might be relevant hints at motive, Goldman wrote, presumably while stifling a hearty chuckle, Mr. Clinesmith told the inspector general that he was expressing his personal views but did not let them affect his work. Among Clinesmiths texts were remarks such as I just cant imagine the systematic disassembly of the progress we made over the last 8 years, which he sent the day after Trump was elected.

Goldman also wrote a warm-up piece that framed the exposure of a spying-related crime at the highest levels of government as merely a meaningless episode of palace officials flattering the king with a technicality: An expected guilty plea in the review of the Russia inquiry pleases Trump. Apart from two duplicative bare-bones wire stories that ran on the Times site, Goldmans pooh-poohing coverage was it: None of the Times dozens of opinion columnists deemed the matter fit for attention, and so the papers readers can be forgiven if, having not thoroughly perused page A16 on the day in question, they have heard nothing whatsoever about the story. It barely exists if the leading news outlets unite to draw a veil over it.

For the media, this is the usual playbook when Democrats are caught in a shocking scandal: minor breach of the rules, nothing to get excited about, dutiful story on page A16, no follow-through. For Americans who actually care about how ideologically hostile members of a government bureaucracy were working to gather dirt on a presidential campaign, then a presidential administration, the story ought to inspire outrage. Or would CNN and the Times think it was no big deal if agents of Donald Trumps FBI were currently spying on members of the Biden campaign based on a spurious pretense while sending each other texts saying, Lets stop those libtards! MAGA!?

More from National Review
Speaking of the values that she and her husband have sought to instill in their daughters, Obama said that they and others in the next generation see our leaders labeling fellow citizens enemies of the state while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists. They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages, and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protesters for a photo-op.
Union home minister Amit Shah was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Monday night for medical care after recovering from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) last week, the premier institution said on Tuesday.

Sh Amit Shah, Honourable Home Minister has been complaining of fatigue and body aches for last 3-4 days. He has tested negative for Covid -19.He has been admitted to AIIMS for post COVID care. He is comfortable and is continuing his work from hospital, Dr Aarti Vij, the chairperson of AIIMS media and protocol division, said.

The Union home minister was discharged from Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on August 14 after testing negative for Covid-19. Shah had said then he will follow home isolation on the advice of doctors after confirming that he has tested negative for the coronavirus disease.

Today my corona test report has come negative. I thank God and at the moment I express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who blessed me and my family by wishing me well. Will stay in home isolation for a few more days on the advice of doctors, Shah had tweeted in Hindi.

He also thanked the doctors and paramedical staff of Medanta Hospital for treating him and helping him fight the infection.

He had tested positive for Covid-19 on August 2.
Rumors have been spreading on social media platforms claiming that on August 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughter died after taking a dose of the coronavirus vaccine the country has developed for the second time.

Earlier this month, President Putin announced that Russia had successfully developed and approved the world's first COVID-19 vaccine and will start distribution and mass vaccination in the following weeks.

Deadly vaccine?

According to Snopes, although Putin claimed the vaccine was safe and tested properly and revealed that his daughter was being injected with it, several experts doubt its safety and efficacy. They fear Russia's haste caused it to expedite the development process in exchange for proper research and testing.

A few days after the Russian president's announcement, social media platforms were flooded with posts about the news, including false information. One video allegedly shows Putin's daughter being injected with the coronavirus vaccine. The footage, however, showed a volunteer who has no relation to Putin.

Another false claim about Putin's children surfaced on August 15 on social media platforms. One website, TorontoToday.net, wrote an article that alleged the death of the Russian president's daughter after being shot with a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Checking the source of the news, it did originate from the Kremlin, the president's statement, or any credible news outlet. The article was first published by a website which was only a few weeks old from creation before the claim was spread.

Also Read: Russia Becomes First in the World to Register Coronavirus Vaccine

Additionally, the website's supposed "evidence" was not credible or trustworthy. The first one where it states that a "source within Russia's inner circle" was the one who provided information about the news gives no details about the incident.

The second one is used as supportive evidence was a video of a Tarot Card Reading which has since been removed from YouTube. An archived version of the footage, however, was discovered and showed a disclaimer which noted the method was not a thorough process and may or may not be accurate.

Doubts about safety and efficacy

Since Putin announced the vaccine and his daughter being one of the recipients, there has been no additional information about the conditions of the Russian president's children. No credible news outlet or agency has reported the death of the daughter from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Last week, the Russian president announced the registry of the world's first approved coronavirus vaccine. Putin reassured the world that his country's treatment had gone through sufficient trials and experimentation and guaranteed its safety and efficacy, as reported by the Time.

The announcement comes with widespread criticism from the scientific community as Moscow is intent on releasing the vaccine for mass use before starting Phase 3 trials.

Previously, Putin revealed that one of his daughters had a mild fever on the day she got her first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The following day, the Russian president revealed his daughter's fever had gone down before getting shot for a second dose where her temperature rose once more.

Putin stated her daughter was well and had a high number of antibodies but did not specify which of his two daughters, Maria and Katerina, had been injected with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Related Article: State Department Accuses Russia of Building Vast Website Proxies to Spread Coronavirus Disinformation

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Excluded: Beef farmer Padraig Moran says the young bulls he finishes will be excluded under the current Bord Bia proposals on Protected Geographical Indicator (PGI) status for grass-fed beef. "All I want is a fair reward for my beef," he says. Padraig (left) is pictured with his son Eoin and IFA president Tim Cullinan on the Moran farm near Borrisokane, Co Tipperary. Photo: Alf Harvey

THE IFA is calling for a meeting with the Minister for Agriculture over what it says is a U-turn on the proposed Protected Geographical Indicator (PGI) status for Irish grass-fed beef.

IFA president Tim Cullinan said that he was astounded to see the detail of Bord Bia's proposed application for PGI status for Irish grass-fed beef.

"Bord Bia have gone back on their commitments to treat all animals the same under the standard by unilaterally excluding all young bulls and apparently removing latitude for animals to be indoors for longer in certain circumstances," he said.

"This may well arise in parts of the country where animals have to be housed earlier due to weather conditions.

"They have introduced, completely out of the blue, a new transport aspect which would appear to suggest that animals cannot go to a factory more than two hours away and that they must be transported by a licensed haulier.

"The animal's meat now has to be a certain colour before it can be called grass-fed and this will be determined by the meat factory.

"When this PGI was discussed at the recent Beef Taskforce it was clear that it needed a lot more discussion.

"The only party that was completely in favour of it was Meat Industry Ireland (MII)."

Mr Cullinan said the detail behind the proposal had been driven by MII and the factories. "It is giving them even more power over farmers," he said.

The application for PGI status for Irish grass-fed beef was submitted by the Department of Agriculture last week. It specifies that for 'Irish grass-fed beef' to apply to cattle, the animals must derive at least 90pc of their feed intake from grass, as determined by the Bord Bia Grass-fed Beef Standard, and spend a minimum of 220 days per year throughout their lifetime grazing pasture.

Crucially, only carcases and cuts from certain higher-grade beef animals are eligible to be classified as 'Irish Grass-fed Beef'. Eligible stock include steers and heifers aged up to 36 months with conformation better than O- and fat score between 2+ and 4+.

In addition, beef cows of up to 120 months with conformation better than O+ and with fat score between 2+ and 5 will qualify.

A spokesperson for Bord Bia said the PGI status will recognise that meat quality is different from grass-fed beef to non-grass-fed beef.

"It is an assurance the meat will be of a particular quality when it comes to properties such as flavour and fat content. The big distinction here is that it is grass-fed and the amount of grass it has eaten in its lifetime."

Regarding cows, Bord Bia said it would be mainly suckler cows not dairy cows that will qualify. It also claimed that PGI status is internationally recognised and carries a price premium.

"We are trying to command a premium for Irish beef and build on its existing strong credentials."

However, Bord Bia confirmed to the Farming Independent that it does not have any research that shows European consumers will pay a premium for Irish grass-fed beef.
Doris has a husky body, a wide smile and a big heart. Those qualities help to make her a perfect pinup girl -- Miss June, to be exact -- as youll see in a calendar for 2021.

Doris, an English bulldog from Alabama, is one of 10 winners in this years All-American Dogs contest sponsored by Early Times whiskey. The 5-year-old cutie, who lives with Drew Wojcik of Birmingham, was chosen in a social media campaign that drew tens of thousands of entries, according to a publicist.

Doris is really good with people, Wojcik said via a press release. I have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from my time serving in the United States Navy and shes always there for me. I dont know what I would do without her.

As a winner, the pooch received a barrel doghouse, a photo shoot, a spot in the 2021 All-American Dogs calendar and a billboard in her hometown. It was unveiled on Aug. 3, on Interstate 65 South near exit 260.

Doris is a 5-year-old bulldog whos the life of the party! her calendar page says. She lives in Birmingham, AL, where she walks in the Veterans Day parade and spreads cheer at fundraisers for military veterans at local breweries. Shes known all across town, and her big grin leads to even bigger smiles from everyone around her. Doris also comforts her owner, Drew, who suffers from PTSD from his time in the military. A loyal pup with a heart full of gold, Doris certainly is an all-American dog!

The 2021 All-American Dogs calendar will be available to download and print in the fall via the Early Times website. Other winners of the contest come from Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, Nevada and Indiana.

This isnt the first time a dog from Alabama has been recognized as an All-American Dog. Phoebe, a Great Dane from Tuscaloosa, was one of 12 winners in last years contest. She was featured in the 2020 calendar from Early Times.

According to the companys website, it takes a special interest in veterans and service dogs.

To put beliefs into action, Early Times donated $100,000 to K9s for Warriors to fund the training of five service dogs for veterans recovering from PTSD, the website says. As part of our efforts to help recovering veterans and K9s for Warriors, Early Times has also produced the documentary Reinforcements to share the inspiring bond between warriors and their service dogs.
Danang City confirms four more Covid-19 infection cases

Vietnam on Tuesday evening reported six new Covid-19 infection cases including four in the central city of Danang, raising the total number of patients in the country to 989, according to the Ministry of Health.









Doctors take samples for Covid-19 testing in Hanoi.





The new patients in Danang aged 30-65 include a caregiver at the Danang Hospital, two residents in Hai Chau District, and one in Hoa Vang District.

One imported patient is a 35-year old man who returned from Equatorial Guinea on July 29 and was immediately taken to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for health monitoring. He is now being treated at the hospital.

Another imported patient is a 45-year old man who returned from Taiwan on August 7. He was sent to quarantine upon arrival at the Cam Ranh airport in Khanh Hoa Province. The patient is being treated at the Khanh Hoa Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

With these latest infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients coming from abroad has risen to 340 while those related to Danang City has increased to 509 since July 25, the ministry said.

The same day, 53 Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospitals including 19 in Hanoi, 23 in Danang, and 11 in Quang Nam Province, raising the total number of recoveries to 520. The country has reported 25 deaths.

At present, 87,672 people who had close contact with Covid-19 patients or returned from virus-hit areas are being monitored at hospitals, quarantine facilities, and at home.
By Express News Service

IJAYAWADA: A week after absconding from Vijayawada fearing arrest in connection with the fire tragedy at Hotel Swarna Palace on August 9, Ramesh Hospitals founder and managing director (MD) Pothineni Ramesh Babu has filed an anticipatory bail plea with the Eighth Additional District Magistrate Court on Monday.

The court has posted further proceedings to August 21.

Advocates on behalf of Ramesh Hospitals and Dubai-based Aster MD Healthcare, approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court and filed a quash petition seeking the courts intervention to alter the sections invoked in the case filed against the managements of Ramesh Hospitals and Swarna Palace.

The petition is yet to come up for hearing.

It may be mentioned here that Ramesh Babu could not be traced in Vijayawada, and he posted a video online expressing his condolences to the bereaved families.

Advocates appearing on behalf of Ramesh Babu filed an online anticipatory bail plea on Saturday and the court took it up for hearing here on Monday.

While hearing the petition, the magistrate reportedly asked the assistant public prosecutor to submit a counter with details of the case, and adjourned it to August 21.

On August 10, the Vijayawada police arrested Ramesh Hospitals chief operating officer Dr Kodali Rajagopala Rao, general manager Dr Kurapathi Sudarshan and Ramesh Hospital COVID-19 Care Centre coordinating manager Pallabothu Venkatesh.

At present, the trio are under judicial remand in the Machilipatnam Special Court.The advocates, appearing on behalf of the trio, filed a bail plea in the Third Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which adjourned hearing on the bail plea to August 21.

The Vijayawada police, who have filed a petition seeking custody of the three arrested persons was, however, dismissed.

On the other hand, the Vijayawada police have served notices on the management of Dubai-based Aster MD Healthcare, which holds 50 per cent share in Ramesh Hospitals, under Section 160 of the CrPC to appear before the investigation team and provide details related to the agreement with the hotel and related information.
For students completing their quarantine on campus, colleges are trying to closely monitor their schedules and exposure to others, often designating limited periods for outdoor activity and occupancy limits on common areas. At Syracuse, officials said last week that a group of students was placed under interim suspension for violating terms of the on-campus quarantine, but would not provide additional details.

When students who spent quarantines elsewhere begin arriving on campuses, most schools will require them to fill out forms confirming that they did so before moving into dorms. But some families worry that, just as with enforcement throughout New York, it may be difficult to verify whether some arent simply ignoring the order and moving onto campus.

For now, many students continue to prepare for an adjusted college experience in the fall, even after the quarantine is up, as they make their way to New York.

Mike Matukewicz acknowledged that the total scramble to get his son, who will be a freshman at St. Johns University, to New York from Nebraska three weeks earlier than anticipated was stressful. But he said he was taking an optimistic view on the new normal students are navigating.

His dream since he was in sixth grade was to be in New York, Mr. Matukewicz said. And thats finally going to be a reality. Itll be a struggle at first, but well get him there.

As for Ms. Chevalier, the situation improved, but not without complications. Syracuse opened up more spaces for on-campus quarantine, which her daughter, Claire, was able to secure. The catch: She now had five days to pack, travel from Illinois and arrive for her move-in date.
Presenter and writer James Kavanagh has kicked off the 2020 Volunteer Ireland Awards campaign.

From now until October 1, we are calling on the public to nominate exceptional volunteers deserving of the honour and recognition of the national volunteering awards.

One outstanding nominee will be named Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year in December.

According to Volunteer Ireland CEO Nina Arwitz We have an incomparable culture of volunteering here in Ireland and this year has proved that more than ever. Thousands of people across the country put up their hands to help their communities from getting shopping for those cocooning to making masks to manning HSE test centres. Volunteers have been at the heart of our response to this pandemic and we are forever in their debt.

While this has been an exceptional year, people all over Ireland give their time all year round for great causes that otherwise might not survive without their help. These awards are our opportunity to recognise the immense contribution volunteers make to our communities and show them that they are truly appreciated.

Three awardees will be selected in each of the 12 categories and one person will be named Irelands Volunteer of The Year.

This year also sees the introduction of a special Covid-19 category to recognise the extraordinary contribution of volunteers throughout the pandemic.

Joe OBrien TD, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, added I am delighted, that through my Departments Scheme to Support and Strengthen Volunteering, I am able to support the launching of these awards. It is a great achievement for Volunteer Ireland in what has been an extraordinary time in our country. The recent challenges that Covid-19 has brought to the sector has shown just how resilient our volunteers are. Without their selfless contribution of time and energy, much of what we take for granted in terms of our society would not happen. The Volunteer Ireland Awards aim to shine a light on the remarkable work of volunteers across the country by celebrating them at national level. If you know a volunteer or a voluntary organisation that does tremendous work either during the pandemic or all year round, then please nominate them for an award.

Every nominee will receive a special thank you card from Volunteer Ireland. In order to avoid a large gathering, awardees will be celebrated with a special delivery at their home or in their place of volunteering, where they will be cheered on and celebrated by a small group of their family, friends and fellow volunteers.

Nominations can be made online here.

Volunteer Ireland Awards

Anyone can nominate a volunteer, and the 12 categories are:
The planet is nowhere near achieving herd immunity to coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

The head of its health emergencies programme, Dr Michael Ryan, dismissed the theory at a press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

He said the world is not close to the amount of COVID-19 immunity needed to induce herd immunity.

It is typically achieved with the aid of vaccination and scientists estimate that at least 70% of the population must have antibodies to prevent an outbreak.

Dr Michael Ryan, emergencies chief at the WHO, warned that herd immunity is not the solution to COVID-19. (AFP via Getty Images)

Dr Ryan said the world should not live in hope of achieving herd immunity to coronavirus.

As a global population, we are nowhere close to the levels of immunity required to stop this disease transmitting, he said.

This is not a solution and not a solution we should be looking to.

Studies conducted so far suggest only about 10% to 20% of people have antibodies.

Senior WHO adviser Dr Bruce Aylward said any mass immunisation campaign with a COVID-19 vaccine would aim to cover far more than 50% of the worlds population.

He said: We dont want to be wrong. You want to plan to get high coverage and not get lulled into a dangerously seductive suggestion that (the herd immunity threshold) could be low.

In March, before it introduced its lockdown, the UK government was forced to abandon its plan for Britons to develop herd immunity to COVID-19, amid warnings from the WHO that urgent action was needed.

In Sweden, a more relaxed approach was taken by the government during the pandemic, with society allowed to remain largely open.

However, a report published last week in Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine revealed that Sweden had failed to achieve herd immunity.

Authorities there hoped that up to 40% of the people of Stockholm would get the disease and develop antibodies, but the actual figure was about 15%, the study showed.

According to Johns Hopkins University, there have been more than 85,000 coronavirus cases in Sweden and 5,790 deaths.

Story continues

The WHO also warned that the current spread of coronavirus was being driven by people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

People walking through Stockholm, Sweden, last month - the city failed to achieve herd immunity despite a relaxed approach to tackling COVID-19. (AFP via Getty Images)

It said the proportion of younger people among those infected had risen globally, putting the elderly and sick people at risk.

"The epidemic is changing," said the WHOs western pacific regional director, Takeshi Kasai.

"People in their 20s, 30s and 40s are increasingly driving the spread. Many are unaware they are infected."

"This increases the risk of spillovers to the more vulnerable.

On Sunday, the WHO reported there had been more than 267,000 new cases of coronavirus worldwide in a 24-hour period.

Of those new cases, 63,000 were in India, 55,000 were in the US and 50,000 in Brazil.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday (August 17) gave his nod to the change in name of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) as Ministry of Education.

It may be recalled that the name change was one among the many recommendations of the draft new National Education Policy (NEP), which was cleared during a meeting of the Union Cabinet in July.

On Monday, a gazette notification was published announcing that President Kovind had given his assent to change the name of HRD ministry to Ministry of Education. The notification added that the heading Ministry of Human Resources Development stands substituted to Ministry of Education.

In 1985, the Ministry of Education was renamed as the HRD ministry when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister. The NEP was introduced in 1986 and was last amended in 1992.

P V Narasimha Rao was appointed the first HRD minister by PM Rajiv Gandhi.

A panel constituted by PM Modi-led government had first proposed that the Centre should change the name of HRD Ministry again to Ministry of Education. The panel was tasked with working on the new NEP and was led by former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan.

In 2018, the idea to change the name of HRD Ministry was also proposed by Ram Bahadur Rai, chairman of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and also chairman of the joint organising committee of the Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence.
iOS 14 update is full of major usability-improving features such as App Library, Widget Support on the home screen, redesigned Siri, Picture-in-Picture mode, and a bunch of small tweaks. Among them, Apple has also introduced a native Translate app on the iPhone. Apple is banking on tight integration with other services and better privacy thanks to on-device translation with its Translate app to give it an edge over Google Translate. Lets learn how to use Apples Translate app on your iPhone in iOS 14 efficiently.

Prior to iOS 14, users had only two options  Google Translate and Microsoft Translate to choose from. At launch, the Translate app supports only 11 language pairs including English, Spanish, Russian, German French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Arabic. The language support may sound slim at first glance but the app is full of useful functions such as offline mode, conversation mode, dictionary add-on, history, and more. Now that youve got a fair amount of idea about what this translation app for iOS has to offer, its time to explore more about it in depth.

How to Translate Text Using Apples Translate App on iPhone

Step 1: Open the Translate app on your iPhone.

Step 2: At the upper left corner, glance over your native language and then select the language you want to translate.

Step 3: Enter the text that you want to translate and tap Go on the keyboard.

Step 4: You will see the translation in real-time below your native language.

Step 5: You can also tap on the microphone icon at the bottom and speak in your native language. The app will translate the phrase and speak out the sentence in the translated language.

This can be useful when you are traveling and want to ask for directions or queries to the local public.

Use Conversation Mode in Apple Translate App on iPhone

Conversation mode is hands down my favorite feature of the Apple Translate app. As the name suggests, it makes the conversation with non-native speakers seamless.

To enable the Conversation mode, simply open the Translate app, make sure that Portrait Orientation Lock is off and rotate your device in the landscape mode. When the Conversation mode is on, you can communicate with a person with ease thanks to the real-time translation.

The Conversation mode is smart enough to detect the spoken language and translate it into the other language.

How to Quickly Translate Text Using Siri on iPhone

Starting with iOS 14, Siri has received a much-needed makeover. Apple has made the Siri interface compact so that it no longer takes up the entire screen of your iPhone when triggered. The improvements arent limited to interface though. With iOS 14, Siri has also picked up some handy new features, one of which is the ability to translate sentences on the go. Follow the steps below to translate phrases using Siri.

Step 1: Trigger Siri by saying Hey Siri or pressing the power button.

Step 2: You can ask Siri like, Translate how are you in Spanish. And it will showcase the results at the top using the Translate app.

If you ask Siri to translate any unknown language then it will show the error saying I cant translate into the said language yet. You can also use Apple Watch running watchOS 7 to translate languages using Siri. Speaking of watchOS 7, do check out our dedicated post on 50+ watchOS 7 features for Apple Watch.

How to Translate Webpages in Safari on iPhone

With iOS 14, the ability to translate a webpages language to your native language is now a default part of Safari. As such, you no longer need a third-party app like Microsoft Translate to translate webpages. Heres how to use built-in language translation in Safari in iOS 14.

Step 1: When you open a website with a non-native language, tap the action button on the left side of the address bar. The button looks like two As next to each other.

Step 2: Tap Translate to your device language.

Step 3: Tap Enable Translation if prompted.

Your page will then be translated into the primary language that youve set on your device. If you want to revert back to the pages original language, Tap the translate button in the Safari address bar and select View Original.

As of now, the Safari translation feature is region-locked to the US and Canada only.

Apart from basic translation and Conversation mode, the Apple Translate app is full of useful add-ons such as dictionary integration, favorite, history, sharing, and more.

Listen to the Translated Text

Once the app has translated the language, you can hear the translation by tapping on the tiny play button on the right side and it will play the phrase in the translated language. You can use it as many times as you want.

Get a Meaning of a Specific Word in the Translated Text

I appreciate the dictionary add-on in the Apple Translate app. If you are curious about a specific word or wish to know more about it, then simply tap on a word in the translated text to explore its detailed meaning. After you have checked out the word, tap on the x mark, and remove the menu. Its a neat way to learn interesting words in new languages.

Favorite Most-used Translations

This one is a thoughtful addition. You dont need to translate your most-used sentences every time. Thanks to Favorites, you can access all your translated text whenever you need them. Follow the steps below to favorite, access, and unfavorite the relevant translated sentences in the Translate app.

Step 1: Open the Translate app and use a keyboard or microphone to translate words or sentences.

Step 2: Tap on the Star icon in the translate area and it will favorite the translated sentence for the later use. You can favorite as many phrases as you want in the app.

Step 3: To access your favorite translated words, tap on the Favorite menu at the bottom, and see the list of favorite translated phrases.

Step 4: To remove them from the Favorite menu, simply swipe left and select Unfavorite.

Share Translation With Friends

Apple offers a swift way to share the translation with friends and family. Go through the steps below to share translated text.

Step 1: From the translated menu, simply tap and hold the translated text and you will see a pop-up menu on the top.

Step 2: Next, use the text selector to select all text.

Step 3: Next up, tap on the Share and it will open the default share menu to send the text.

Check Recent Translations and Delete Translation History

Apple offers a quick way to access and delete translation history. Open Favorites menu and you will see recently translated history. Simply swipe left and tap Delete to remove it from the history.

Use On-device Mode for Offline Translations

This is Apples trump card against the rivals. Apple allows you to use on-device mode to make the translation process on the device and not on the servers. You need to download languages for offline translation. The practice helps you in a critical situation where you are cut off from the internet connection. Follow the steps below to enable on-device mode for offline translation.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on the iPhone.

Step 2: Navigate to Translate > On-device mode and enable the option.

Step 3: It will ask you to open the app and download languages for on-device translation.

Step 4: Tap on the language name and scroll down to the Available Offline Languages menu.

Step 5: Tap on the language download button that you intend to use for offline translation.

Thats it. From now on, you can use the On-Device mode in the Apple Translate app for offline translation.

The new Translate app is just one of the many features Apple announced at the online-only WWDC event. Dont forget to check out the 100+ new iOS 14 features for iPhone that we have discovered so far. Have you installed the iOS 14 beta on your iPhone yet? Hows your experience so far? Sound off in the comments section below.

Learn how to use the cool new iOS 14 features with our step-by-step guide:
Kerry Washington turned her guest-hosting gig on Monday nights episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! into a real family affair.

The Emmy nominee's father, Earl, joined her during her monologue to share some truly memorable dad jokes that were so bad they may have actually been good.

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Hes the most adorable man in America and he loves to tell jokes, Washington, 43, said while introducing him, adding he offered to help her with the gig because he doesnt think Im funny.

Earl didnt waste any time digging into his treasure trove of material, either.

How do you know that its a dad joke? It becomes a-parent, he said.

He was just getting warmed up, though.

Why did the cookie take himself to the hospital? he asked.

Dad jokes were in full force when Kerry Washington served as guest host of

Why? his daughter asked.

Because he felt crummy, he responded.

Washingtons dad also rose to the occasion when his daughter pointed out that late-night jokes tend to focus on current events or politics.

Whats the most progressive body of water? he asked.

A-O-C, he said, referring to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who is often referred to by her initials.

Thats terrible, Washington said.

But thats what makes it fun, her dad said.

How do vegans vote? he asked.

Kale. Election fail, he said, sending his daughter into a fit of laughter because she realized he may have messed up.

You have to say Vote by kale, she told him.

Oh, gosh, he said before reciting the proper punchline a few times.

Oh, Dad. Youre amazing. I love you very much. Im so happy that you made my monologue better, she said while wrapping up the monologue.

Kimmel probably doesnt have to worry about losing his job, but Earl held his own. Did his dad jokes bomb? Nothing could be father from the truth.
The Israeli-Arab conflict was dominated for decades by an unassailable, clear paradigm: Arab states would never normalize ties with Israel, nor recognize it or conduct any kind of public relationship with it as long as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was unresolved, or at least significant progress was made toward resolving it. Even the Saudi peace proposal, which morphed into the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, clearly stipulated this precondition. You will only reap the rewards of normal ties with the Arab world once you recognize this initiative as the basis for negotiations, the Arab League has been telling Israel ever since. Israel never formally responded to the initiative. In 2009, the Saudis, for their part, flat-out dismissed US President Barack Obamas request for a symbolic goodwill gesture toward Israel of allowing Israeli passenger planes to overfly Saudi airspace on their way to India. This week, according to Israeli sources, Saudi Arabia expressed willingness to permit Israeli overflights en route from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

What has changed since? Has this paradigm been shattered and buried? All indications are that it has, indeed. Not only are the Emirates about to sign a deal establishing official ties with Israel, they are proud of their decision. Not only is the Arab world not condemning the move, many countries are praising it. And in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), rather than griping about the regimes move, residents are enthusiastic.

As for Israel, not only is it no longer being boycotted and punished as the neighborhood bully, it is now the belle of the ball. Everyone is courting it, trying to catch Israels attention, sample the delights of its abundant high-tech, weapons systems, cyber and intelligence capabilities, and, most importantly enjoy the benefits of the White House keys, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keeps close to his chest. In Arab capitals, from the Persian Gulf to the Maghreb, Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen with his 1950s Hollywood-star looks is a prestigious guest. Until now, his visits there were shrouded by heavy censorship. On Aug. 17, he appeared publicly in the Emirates for the first time, not as a jilted lover but as a charming prince openly expressing his feelings for his beloved.

Nonetheless, a caveat is in order. Contrary to the spins that Netanyahus people are putting out, the agreement with the UAE  which is not a peace agreement since the countries were never at war  is not really the first time Israel achieves peace in return for peace. Netanyahu is boasting of his breakthrough in negating the principle of land for peace so despised by the political right, but his claims are hollow. He paid for the agreement with hard currency by having to give up his US-sanctioned dream of annexing lands in the West Bank.

This is a significant strategic concession. Netanyahu and his right-wing allies were already poised at the entrance to Aladdins cave and all its riches, prepared for the historic move of imposing Israeli sovereignty over extensive lands considered the cradle of Jewish history  only to have the door slammed in their face.

Not only that. According to US President Donald Trumps close adviser Jared Kushner, Netanyahu has committed himself to the two-state solution for Israeli-Palestinian peace and to negotiations based on a map. Here too, the concessions are significant  and the cherry on the cake: The United States has reportedly agreed to lift its veto over the sale of smart weapons systems to the UAE in light of the deal with Israel. The United States has thus far banned the sale of such weapons and technologies to most Arab states, inter alia so as not to undermine the principle of preserving Israels qualitative edge. While Netanyahus office is denying any Israeli involvement in this alleged dramatic US policy shift, there is little doubt that it gave its tacit approval.

Having said all of the above, there is no doubt that exposure of the clandestine affair between Israel and the UAE creates a substantive change in the Middle East. The affair has been in the works for the past five years  ever since the UAE allowed Israel to open an office at the International Renewable Energy Agency based in Abu Dhabi in 2015. It flew under the radar at growing speed. It gradually took shape with more and more deals and openings, but always in the cupboard. Ties with Israel were gradually evolving from burden to benefit, with the load easing as the assets grew. The reason was tangible and threatening: Iran. The closer Iran moved to nuclear capability, the faster this process evolved. The greater Irans involvement in spreading the revolution by encouraging terrorism and undermining the regions regimes, the relationship with the Jewish state advanced. The more the United States withdrew from the Middle East and removed its influence over its crazies, so Israel remained the only anti-Iran bastion of stability.

The first significant burst of adrenalin was provided by the 2014 agreement between world powers and Iran seeking to curtail its nuclear ambitions. For Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and many other regional capitals, the deal was poisonous. Israel was perceived as the only country on which these threatened Sunni states could truly rely. As the Israel-Iran struggle intensified on its various fronts, many states in the region came to realize that it was out with the old guard and in with the map of realigning interests. No longer was the world aligned against Israel and the United States. The forces had rearranged themselves: Iran on one side, Israel on the other. Many Sunni states that feel threatened by Irans encroachment are sheltering behind Israels broad back. The Iranian side is left with Hezbollah  which is dragging Lebanon into this Shiite morass  and Turkey. Qatar is on the fence, skipping between the sides. Egypt, perhaps the most significant Arab power to have threatened Israel for decades, is currently firmly entrenched on the Israeli side. In fact, the greatest threat to the regime in Cairo is the Muslim Brotherhood, a Hamas sister party backed by Iran. And the Palestinians? The Arab world has simply lost interest.

None of this would have happened had Israel not been a bottomless pit of priceless technology, creativity, initiative, and cyber and intelligence capabilities. Urban legend has it that Israels Mossad saved the late King Hussein of Jordan from some nine assassination attempts. The story is apparently true, attesting to Israels skillful use of its intelligence assets to hook its neighbors on this hot merchandize. The same goes for Israels vaunted cyber and high-tech capacity. Israeli business people and high-tech firms, both small and large, have been making billions in recent years in deals with Gulf states. Both sides hope that this covert trade will emerge into the open now. Israel and the Sunni world are abandoning the black market and launching a public offering of their romance on global markets. Indeed, a dramatic change although here, too, a caveat is in order: In the Middle East, as in the Middle East, everything can be turned on its head.
Viral infections like influenza or flu are seasonal, and the common cold is more likely in winter. Now, scientists wonder if the novel coronavirus spreads more easily under specific climatic conditions.

A new study by researchers from the University of Sydney and the Fudan University School of Public Health in Shanghai suggests that low humidity increases the risk of spreading the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Climatic factors of COVID-19 spread

The global spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has been tied to climatic factors, which have a biological basis. Generally, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among people is through respiratory droplets and aerosols, and possibly fecal-oral routes.

Further, previous studies have shown that temperature and relative humidity can affect the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through virus survival, wherein they thrive longer in lower temperatures, and the length of time infectious respiratory matter stays suspended in the air. In lower humidity, more virus material stays suspended for longer.

Coronaviruses can survive for long periods on surfaces and in the air. When an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks, they can produce infectious respiratory droplets and aerosols. Since droplets are larger, they land on surfaces more quickly.

On the other hand, since aerosols are smaller and lighter, they hand in the air for long periods, which explains why the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is more likely when the air is drier, and the humidity is lower.

What the study is about

The researchers aimed to determine how temperature affects SARS-CoV-2 transmission, specifically looking at humidity.

The study, which was published in the journal Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, the team has found the number of locally acquired cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Sydney increased as the air became drier and the humidity level dropped.

To arrive at the study findings, the team monitored the daily numbers of reported SARS-CoV-2 cases from New South Wales (NSW) Health. The team also noted that since the cases were reported by postcode, it was easier to identify the source of each one, allowing the team to compile the daily numbers of cases from February to May, matching them to the nearest weather recording stations.

From there, the researchers downloaded meteorological data and utilized the time-series analysis method to project cases based on weather recorded up to 14 days prior.

The team found that they needed only the relative humidity to predict cases of SARS-CoV-2, which is a measure of the water vapor in the air. When there is lower humidity, the air is drier. They discovered that for every 1 percent decrease in relative humidity, there was a 7 to 8-percent increase in cases.

The lockdown between the study period was a substantial contributor in containing the pandemic in the area. Still, the researchers found the same link between dry air and cases, whether or not a lockdown was in force.

However, the team did not see any link between SARS-CoV-2 cases and rainfall, temperature, or wind speed.

It is important to highlight that SARS-CoV-2 cases used in this study occurred predominantly during the autumn season in southern hemisphere. In contrast, most SARS-CoV-2 cases in northern hemisphere have been reported during the winter and spring seasons, the researchers added.

Adding to previous findings

Previous studies have also tied humidity and SARS-CoV-2 transmission. For instance, the research team cited a study conducted in China, wherein they found that both drier air and lower temperatures were associated with more SARS-CoV-2 cases.

In May, the research team conducted a study in Sydney, focusing on the early stages of the outbreak. However, in the study, the team did not analyze the findings by area.

The fact we were able to identify relative humidity as an important factor in both the Chinese winter and Australian summer, using the same research methods, gave us confidence this is a real phenomenon. Our latest study strengthens this hypothesis even further, Michael Ward, Chair of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, University of Sydney and study co-author, explained. Of course, laboratory research on SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is still in its infancy. But there has been research on closely related coronaviruses, including those that cause sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), he added.
New Delhi:

Indian radio Taxi major Ola on Monday said that it will invest Rs 100 crore for addition and skilling of one lakh drivers to its platform over the next three years.

Ola has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for training, skill development and empowerment of these driver partners.

The joint project will involve Ola and NSDC identifying people from various sections of the society and skilling themto become driver entrepreneurs, Ola said in a statement.

"Ola aims at investing Rs 100 crore in adding 1,00,000 drivers to its platform," it added.

The MoU was signed by Ola co-founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal and Manish Kumar, MD and CEO of NSDC, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, among others in Kanpur.

"The mobility sector in the country is witnessing phenomenal growth and has the potential to empower aspiring individuals from all walks of life to become entrepreneurs.

We are extremely excited to partner with NSDC to invest in the training and skilling of drivers as this would help us in realising our objective of nurturing micro-entrepreneurship," Aggarwal said. Ola currently has over 5.5 lakh driver partners on its platform.
President Akufo-Addo spoke to the nation on Sunday, a state of the nation of sorts on the management of Covid-19, of course, vis-a-vis the diabolical trajectory of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). What affects the health of the nation and its democracy qualifies to be regarded and treated as such.

Covid-19 and the politicization of the subject by the NDC, alongside other tricks it continues to throw into the ring, remains the source of avoidable ado in the country.

It was unsurprising that the President referred copiously to the penchant by the NDC to pour cold water on the successes chalked up in the fight against Covid-19.

Painting a gloomy picture of the state of the management of Ghana's chapter of the pandemic constitutes an important footnote in the opposition party's December 2020 campaign for power.

The NDC would have rather the pandemic overwhelmed the healthcare system in the country so the government cannot escape public berating for a job so poorly done in its estimation.

It has lost it and the declining active cases in the face of the exciting recovery rates says it all about how successful Ghana's healthcare managers have been in managing the pandemic.

It would be unbridled hypocrisy if the NDC continues to deny giving credit to government and its Covid-19 management team whose science and data-based factors have accounted for the declining cases and grip of the disease.

With an unquantifiable level of commitment from our doctors and an indisputable desire by government to do all it can to spare Ghana the fangs of the disease not least God's protection, failure is not an option.

The control mechanism put in place against the further importation of the virus by government and the cocktail of drugs our doctors are administering in managing the cases have both as contributory factors propelled us to our current enviable notch.

We have taken notice of the assignments the President has given his Covid-19 team on determining when in its estimation the airport should be reopened.

Using such dirty trickeries as the opposition party is doing gives politics a dirty name and scares good people from engaging in this otherwise noble occupation for serving the people.

To disregard such methodical approach as government is doing in managing a pandemic which has overwhelmed even countries on the other hemisphere with sophisticated systems is to expose one's imbecility and obsession with returning to the helm.

Although as observed by the Ghana Health Service, there is an encouraging number of Ghanaians using face masks, some 44 per cent of such persons are not using the covering rightly.

Even as we commend ourselves and government for the journey so far as others are returning to lockdown mode, we should not be complacent but to rather ensure those who are not using the masks rightly do so.

Source: Daily Guide
Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition asking the court to classify mask and sanitisers as essential commodities and reduce GST on alcohol-based sanitisers to either 12% or 5%. Dismissing the plea, the high court said that masks and sanitisers are now easily available and there is no need to control such commodities or to regulate supply.

The court observed that inclusion of commodities in the list of essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 is a complex decision based upon varieties of factors such as availability, price. Moreover, in the opinion of the government, masks and sanitisers are now easily available and there is no need to control such commodities or to regulate supply of these commodities.

On the issue of reducing the GST rate on alcohol-based sanitisers, the court said that rate of tax cannot be challenged in a court of law unless it is abundantly 'confiscatory' in nature. "In the fact of the present case, nothing has been argued out about how the present rate of GST is confiscatory in law.

Merely, because this petitioner feels that the GST rate applied on masks and sanitisers is excessive, this cannot be a reason for issuing a writ of mandamus and direct the respondents to reduce tax on the said commodities," it added.

Earlier, the government had also clarified why it was not in favour of reducing GST on hand sanitisers from 18% to 12% or 5%. It had said, "Various chemicals, packing materials and input services etc. used for the manufacture of hand sanitisers also attract a GST rate of 18%. Reducing the GST rate on sanitisers and other similar items would lead to an inverted duty structure and put the domestic manufacturers at a disadvantage vis-a-vis importers of hand sanitisers."

Rajat Mohan, partner, AMRG & Associates, said that court has held that they will be extremely slow in interfering with the policy decision of the government. And given tax collections have plummeted due to coronavirus, where the government expenditure is constantly on a rise leading to an immense pressure of fiscal deficit, businesses must not expect any tax cuts in an immediate future.

Also read: People's Bank of China buys into ICICI Bank amid 'Boycott China' movement
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18) - Senator Bong Revilla, was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday with pneumonia after recently testing positive for COVID-19, said his wife Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla.

He is being rushed to the hospital. His latest X-Ray shows that he has developed pneumonia and isolation in a regular facility is no longer ideal. Hospital care badly needed, she said in an online post.

The senator previously said that someone in their household as well as a member of his staff tested positive for the virus. His wife and children tested negative.

Fellow senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sonny Angara have already recovered after catching the highly-infectious virus.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) will soon release the admit card for its post graduate entrance test (PET) 2020. After the admit card is released, candidates who have successfully registered for the exams will be able to download it from the official website at bhuonline.in.

BHU entrance tests will be held in two phases. In the first phase, BHU will conduct entrance tests for all Postgraduate programmes, LLB (3-years), BEd, BEd-Special Education, BP ED, BFA and BPA while in the second phase, the university will conduct exams for undergraduate programme.

According to the revised schedule, the first phase of exam will be held from August 24 to 31 while the second phase of exam will be conducted between September 9 and 14.

BHU in an official notice had notified that the admit card will be released one week prior to the exam. Candidates of BHU PET 2020 should expect their admit cards anytime soon.

How to download BHU PET Admit Card 2020:

Visit the official website at bhuonline.in

On the homepage, click on the link that reads BHU PET Admit Card 2020

Key in your login credentials like registration number and password

Your admit card will be displayed on screen

Download and take its print out.
Human Rights Council turns to U.S. Google office over YouTube blocking of Russian media

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

16:24 18/08/2020

MOSCOW, August 18 (RAPSI)  Chair of Russias Presidential Human Rights Council Valery Fadeyev has sent a letter to the U.S. Google office asking to clarify the reasons behind blockings of YouTube channels run by Russian mass media outlets, according to a statement on the bodys official website.

The Council explains that the letter was written due to complaints of the blocked channels owners, who allege that YouTube administrators acted in violation of law, whereas the civic activists view unjustified blockings as a manifestation of censorship and attempts to influence freedom of speech and expression.

According to the Council, about 200 Russian channels have been blacklisted by YouTube administrators in the last few years.

Members of the Council stress that the standard YouTube procedure envisages that the first step is to be a notification of violation citing concrete points of the user agreement; nevertheless, Russian resources were blocked without such warnings and YouTube administrators failed to point out the concrete provisions they believed were breached by the blocked channels just mentioning rules of the community, or YouTube user agreement in general terms.

Expressing its concern with such a practice employed by YouTube administration, the Council asks it to inform its Standing Commission on Freedom of Information and Rights of Journalists on the nature of alleged violations causing YouTube to block Russian channels and bloggers without the right to resume their operations, and to explain why the blockings were made outside of the standard procedure.

Earlier, a similar request has been sent to the Google office in Russia; however, its CEO was not eager to cooperate saying in his official reply that the issue in question was in the competence of Google central office in California.
Spains scandal-plagued former King Juan Carlos has fled to the UAE, the royal palace confirmed, following reports he was staying in Abu Dhabi with his mistress.

The 82-year-old travelled to the United Arab Emirates on August 3 and he remains there, a royal spokesman said without giving further details.

Juan Carlos is believed to be staying with his most faithful friend for the past 40 years, 70-year-old Mallorcan interior designer Marta Gaya, in a 10,000-a-night presidential suite at the Emirates Palace Hotel.

In a surprise move, Juan Carlos announced on August 3 that he was leaving Spain to prevent his personal affairs from undermining his son King Felipe VIs reign, but did not say where he would be going.

The royal palace had up until now refused to reveal where Juan Carlos is living, saying he would announce it himself if necessary.

While pro-monarchy Spanish daily ABC had reported that the former king had travelled to Abu Dhabi, other media singled out Portugal, where Juan Carlos spent part of his youth, or the Dominican Republic as possible destinations.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
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 president 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 hasn't 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."

IFA president Tim Cullinan described MII's 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," he said.

"This is typical of the factories. They will use any excuse to cut prices to farmers."

Tests

MII director Cormac Healy told last week's Special Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 that livestock prices could be impacted if results for tests were delayed and factory operations disrupted.

He 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, MII's 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," said Mr Cullinan.

"They are already struggling to make ends meet and this threat by MII at the Oireachtas Committee hearing is unacceptable."

"This was an opportunity for processors to show some solidarity with their suppliers but instead they just threatened to undermine their livelihoods yet again.

"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."
Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Kevin Jae, a member of our Emerging Fellows program inspects the migration flashpoints in his eighth blog post. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the APF or its other members.

Migration may spark internal, intra-state conflict, as discussed previously. This still leaves a whole set of unexamined questions on the potential effect of migration on inter-state conflict. Where are the potential flashpoints, at which state-on-state conflict may erupt?

As is evident from the contemporary political landscape, state violence and state-on-state conflict begets a certain type of migrant, the refugee. Refugees can be political exiles who remain involved in the politics of their country. As politically marginalized figures with a vested interest in the affairs of the home country, refugees may continue their political dissidence from the safety of the host countrysometimes with the support of the host country, who see an opportunity to advance their interests.

Of course, it is not our intention to cast the shadow of a security threat onto the bodies of refugees: the vast majority of refugees seek only a better life. However, 73% of refugees are hosted in neighbouring countries, which make them a potent conduit of such engagement against the home state. Additionally, great numbers of refugees have not been resettled in any meaningful capacity. 25% of refugees are stuck in refugee camps, where they may stay for years or even decades. The refugees in these camps lack basic infrastructure and any semblance of a decent future. These conditions foster resentment, despair, and can lead to collusion with dissident groups. As an example, the Palestine Liberation Organization operated from Lebanon and Jordan and relied on Palestinian refugee camp networks for support. Climate change related factors will lead to the increase of externally displaced refugees and may exacerbate political tensions between refugees and home country. Without a coordinated global response to resettle refugees, refugee camps will only grow larger and refugees will only become more desperate.

Refugee camps on the boundaries of nation-states may play a larger role in facilitating political conflict as these trends continue. To name some of the larger camps, there are nearly a million Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, there are nearly 5.6 million Syrians in refugee camps in Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan, and there are Somalian refugees in camps near Kenya and Ethiopia. The locations of refugee camps may change in the future; however, potential flashpoints can be found in nations vulnerable to climate change (like Bangladesh) and conflicts that produce refugees.

Migrants can also be used in state policy. Turkey has struck a deal with the E.U. to host refugees. A failure to uphold the deal or a miscommunication may result in retaliatory action and subsequent conflict. Additionally, a migrantif not yet a citizen of the host countryis fundamentally in an ambiguous position in between two nation-states. Having left the safety and sovereignty of the home country, the migrant has abandoned his or herself to the goodwill of the host state. Nation-states exert a degree of influence through embassies and consulates that provide political services for their citizens abroad, but their powers are limited. Nation-states can prey upon the extra-territorial migrants under their jurisdiction, creating or aggravating conflict between states. In a recent demonstration, Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Huawei and daughter of the founder, was arrested by Canadian authorities on December 1, 2018 to be extradited to the United States. In response, the Chinese government detained two Canadian citizens working in China under the state secrets law. While the current pandemic virus has radically changed inter-state mobility, labour market migrants are fodder for this type of state manoeuvring.

Migrants motivated by both push factors (refugees) and pull factors (economic migrants) are a potential locus of flashpoints. Both of these forms of migration promise to increase in the future. The unresolved climate change problem will lead to millions of displaced people. If the trends toward globalization continue past the end of the pandemic, then economic migrants can be potential political pawns to advance state interests, particularly as conflicts between state intensify.

 Kevin Jae 2020
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has described opposition moves to establish a 'Coordination Council' 'as an attempt to grab power and warned that the government would take "adequate" steps to "cool those hotheads."

The opposition said the 'Coordination Council' would help create the mechanism for a transition of power.

Speaking at a Security Council meeting, Lukashenko called members of the opposition council "nationalists" and said they used to be in power once.

In an apparent bid to persuade Moscow to offer more energetic support, Lukashenko accused NATO of bolstering its forces on Belarus' borders and harbouring aggressive plans - claims NATO has dismissed.

"Thank God, we have reacted, deployed and brought to combat readiness the combat units of our Army at the western borders of our country," he added as Belarusian military forces hold military drills from Monday until Thursday at sites close to the border with NATO-member Lithuania.

The official results of the election gave Lukashenko 80% of the votes and opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya only 10%, but the opposition has claimed the outcome was falsified.
(Natural News) That dastardly Donald Trump is at it again. He is either the evilest man ever to hold the office of president or the dumbest. He is either a Machiavellian genius manipulating the media and his hypnotized followers or a bumbling know-nothing idiot.

(Article by Rick Morgan republished from PJMedia.com)

Trump is being accused of sabotaging the November elections because he wont give the postal unions and incompetent managers in the postal service $25 billion to play with. The money will stave off catastrophe for about a year at the rate the USPS is burning through cash. Without that money, were informed by those in the know, thousands  no, tens of thousands  no, millions of voters who wait until the last minute to mail in an absentee ballot might not have their votes counted because, well, Trump.

The procrastinators in America are up in arms and plan a demonstration to show their outrage. But it probably wont happen until after the election since thats when theyll eventually get around to it.

The crisis in postal delivery presupposes that, prior to Trumps shenanigans, the USPS was doing fine  nothing that a few tens of billions of taxpayer dollars couldnt fix. In fact, thats what the postal unions are saying. In a statement released on Saturday, the letter carriers and postal workers unions assure the public that even without the money, they can do the job.

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) know the truth; the members of these unions are the people who actually process and deliver the mail. Postal Workers and Letter Carriers both say, unequivocally, that no matter how much the administration tries to undermine trust in the postal system, the system remains fully capable of delivering every single ballot cast by mail in a secure and timely manner. Indeed, the NALC assures that even if every single vote in the November 2020 election were cast by mail, the U.S. Postal Service would have no problem delivering the ballots, whether or not Congress provides the funding included in the HEROES Act. The U.S. Postal Service has an entire structure in place to coordinate with state and local election boards to facilitate secure and timely delivery of mail ballots.

So whats all the hubbub about? The letter carriers say they can deliver the ballots on time. The postal employees claim they dont need the extra cash. Where, pray tell, is there a crisis?

Nancy Pelosi knows. In fact, shes about to call the members of the House of Representatives off the campaign trail and back to Washington to deal with the crisis.

Politico:
By Eli Walsh

Bay City News Foundation

PG&E told customers Monday to expect rotating power outages during the afternoon and evening as residents attempt to keep cool during the Bay Area's ongoing heat wave.

PG&E issued a statement warning of potential outages Monday afternoon after the California Independent System Operator, the organization that manages the state's power grid, issued a flex alert.

Residents statewide are encouraged to avoid using electricity as much as possible between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. through Wednesday, according to the CAISO, which issued the flex alert following power outages across the Bay Area over the weekend due to the heat.

The Contra Costa County Public Works Department on its Twitter account echoed PG&E's warning of rolling power outages.

"Rolling blackouts/brownouts are anticipated to affect residents in parts of Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, El Cerrito and Walnut Creek starting between 4-5 pm today until 10 p.m.," the department said in a tweet. "Outages are expected to last several hours, with no customers impacted overnight."

The Moraga Police Department encouraged residents to take steps to reduce the rolling blackouts in the region despite the town not being on the list of affected areas.

The city of Calistoga warned residents to expect rotating power outages between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. through Thursday as the city experiences high temperatures in the 102- to 105-degree range.

Calistoga city officials said outages are likely to last one to two hours with little warning. The shutoffs are not related to the Hennessey and Gamble fires in Napa County. Calistoga residents are also not expected to be evacuated due to the fires.

The city of Healdsburg also warned residents that they could experience power shutoffs between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. through Thursday. City officials said they will shut off power at city facilities before residents and businesses are affected.

PG&E said the potential outages are not related to Public Safety Power Shutoffs, which the utility has been criticized for during times when the risk of wildfires is high.

The utility company said the shutoffs are due to the CAISO's lack of sufficient power to meet energy needs statewide and are not due to issues with PG&E equipment.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo pushed back on that assertion, arguing that the city's power outages over the weekend were due to the "poor state of repair and replacement" of PG&E-owned infrastructure.

"PG&E must be more forthright with the public about its failures to maintain and replace the aging infrastructure that has caused too many San Josans to lack power throughout the last three days during the worst heatwave in memory," Liccardo said.

Early Monday evening, PG&E spokeswoman Katie Allen said, "Elevated temperatures in San Jose combined with the unprecedented lightning activity that took place over the weekend caused extensive damage resulting in an abnormally high amount of outages, with much longer durations than we usually experience.

"At one point on Monday (8/17) 13 PG&E repair crews, not including assessment crews were responding to 200 separate outages in the San Jose area alone affecting more than 8,000 customers.

"Due to the record-breaking statewide heatwave, our equipment is unable to cool down in these higher than normal overnight temperatures in areas that usually see more moderate average temperatures. All of these factors put stress on electrical equipment, and they can become fatigued and can fail."

Residents are advised to take several steps to prevent local power outages, including raising their thermostats, covering windows, using a ceiling fan and avoiding the use of large household appliances.

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.
(Natural News) Childrens Health Defense has just launched a new legal strategy to go after Facebooks malicious censorship and fraudulent fact-checker schemes which are nothing more than left-wing propagandists pretending to be the high priests of truth.

Today, CHD has announced they are suing Facebook and three fact-checkers for fraud and defamation, pointing out that Facebooks censorship of truthful speech about the coronavirus (or vaccines) is essentially run by the CDC, a government organization. This means Facebooks censorship violates the First Amendment, which specifically prohibits the government from interfering in free speech.

Via their official announcement:

Washington, DCAugust 18, 2020Childrens Health Defense (CHD) filed a lawsuit on Monday in San Francisco Federal Court charging Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, and three fact-checking outfits with censoring truthful public health posts and for fraudulently misrepresenting and defaming CHD. CHD is a non-profit watchdog group that roots out corruption in federal agencies, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and exposes wrongdoings in the Pharmaceutical and Telecom industries. CHD has been a frequent critic of WiFi and 5G Network safety and of certain vaccine policies that CHD claims put Big Pharma profits ahead of public health. CHD has fiercely criticized agency corruption at WHO, CDC and FCC.

According to CHDs Complaint, Facebook has insidious conflicts with the Pharmaceutical industry and its captive health agencies and has economic stakes in telecom and 5G. Facebook currently censors CHDs page, targeting its purge against factual information about vaccines, 5G and public health agencies.

Facebook acknowledges that it coordinates its censorship campaign with the WHO and the CDC. While earlier court decisions have upheld Facebooks right to censor its pages, CHD argues that Facebooks pervasive government collaborations make its censorship of CHD a First Amendment violation. The governments role in Facebooks censorship goes deeper than its close coordination with CDC and WHO. The Facebook censorship began at the suggestion of powerful Democratic Congressman and Intelligence Committee Chairman Representative Adam Schiff, who in March 2019 asked Facebook to suppress and purge internet content critical of government vaccine policies. Facebook and Schiff use the term misinformation as a euphemism for any statement, whether truthful or not, that contradicts official government pronouncements. The WHO issued a press release commending Facebook for coordinating its ongoing censorship campaign with public health officials. That same day, Facebook published a warning label on CHDs page, which implies that CHDs content is inaccurate, and directs CHD followers to turn to the CDC for reliable, up to date information. This is an important First Amendment case that tests the boundaries of government authority to openly censor unwanted critique of government

Attorneys Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Roger Teich, and Mary Holland represent Childrens Health Defense in the litigation.

The lawsuit also challenges Facebooks use of so-called independent fact-checkers  which, in truth, are neither independent nor fact-based  to create oppositional content on CHDs page, literally superimposed over CHDs original content, about open matters of scientific controversy. To further silence CHDs dissent against important government policies and its critique of Pharmaceutical products, Facebook deactivated CHDs donate button, and uses a variety of deceptive technology (i.e. shadow banning) to minimize the reach and visibility of CHDs content. In short, Facebook and the government colluded to silence CHD and its followers. Such tactics are fundamentally at odds with the First Amendment, which guarantees the American public the benefits to democracy from free flow of information in the marketplace of ideas. It forbids the government from censoring private speechparticularly speech that criticizes government policies or officials. As Justice Holmes famously said, the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market. The current COVID pandemic makes the need for open and fierce public debate on health issues more critical than ever.

Mark Zuckerberg publicly claims that social media platforms shouldnt be the arbiters of truth. This case exposes Zuckerberg for working with the government to suppress and purge unwanted critiques of government officials and policies.

The court will decide whether Facebooks new government-directed business model of false and misleading warning labels, deceptive fact-checks, and disabling a non-profits donate button, passes muster under the First and Fifth Amendments, the Lanham Act, and RICO. Those statutes protect CHD against online wire-fraud, false disparagement, and knowingly false statements.

CHD asks the Court to declare Facebooks actions unconstitutional and fraudulent, and award injunctive relief and damages.

During the press conference, lawyers will take questions from the media and concerned citizens. Register below to receive a link to the press conference.

You can register for the CHD conference at this link.
A former Frankston City Council manager who admitted to defrauding ratepayers of more than $460,000 used most of the money to fund a not-for-profit venture designed with his new girlfriend that connected remote Nepalese communities to small-scale hydroelectric stations.

Andrew James Williamson, 45, the council's former infrastructure manager, last month pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including obtaining property by deception and creating dozens of false invoices to funnel a total of $460,870 to himself and an associate between September 2016 and April 2017.

Former Frankston City Council manager of infrastructure Andrew Williamson. Credit:Facebook

Barrister Hugo Moodie told the Victorian County Court on Tuesday that Williamson kept $346,554 for himself, the majority of which went towards the establishment of a philanthropic project referred to as the "Nepal project".

The court heard that almost $200,000 was paid towards setting up the organisation, including taking out advertisements for donations, paying consultants, purchasing office equipment and buying tents to be used during a planned trip to Nepal.
The case went to trial in a country far from the crime scene with none of the accused in custody. It cost hundreds of millions of dollars to prosecute and employed armies of investigators, researchers and lawyers.

But when the verdict on the most consequential political assassination in Lebanons recent history arrived on Tuesday, it left the country without a sense of closure and failed to answer even the most basic question: Who ordered the killing?

For a huge suicide car bomb attack in Beirut in 2005 that rattled the Middle East and killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others, a United Nations-backed tribunal in the Netherlands acquitted three defendants for lack of evidence.

The fourth man, Salim Ayyash, was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to carry out the bombing. But if he is ever apprehended, the court will have to try him all over again since he was tried in absentia.
A general view of inside The Old Clare Hotel in Chippendale photographed through a window on May 03, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Victorian Firms Gloomy on Profit Outlook

Victorian businesses were already pretty pessimistic heading into the harsh stage four lockdown, with more than half predicting a decrease in profitability over the next three months.

The August Sensis Business Index survey, conducted just as Melbourne went into lockdown, showed 54 percent expecting profitability to decrease.

That compares with Sydney where only about a quarter expect a decline in profits and almost one-in-three expect to make a profit.

Sensis CEO John Allan said the survey showed just how hard some industries had been affected.

There are some sectors that were less affected, but the hospitality and accommodation sectors were virtually shut overnight, Allan said releasing the survey on Aug 18.

And that continues to be the case in Victoria.

Looking over the next 12 months, Melbourne and Canberra businesses were the most worried.

The survey of 1000 businesses from across the country viewed the national economy performing worse than individual state economies.

Almost two-thirds of firms believe the national economy will be worse in 12 months, while they were slightly more positive about their states at 57 percent.

Not helping the grim mood, more than one-in-four businesses have been knocked back trying to get finance over the past three months.

The figure was worse for businesses in regional towns where more than a third failed to secure a loan.

Nearly two-in-five business believe it is more difficult to get a loan since the start of the pandemic.

The ANZ-Roy Morgan weekly consumer confidence survey will be released on Tuesday.

Consumer confidence  a pointer to future retail spending  has been in decline for seven straight weeks, mainly as a result of the second wave of the virus in Victoria.

It now stands at its lowest level since late April.

The Reserve Bank will also release the minutes from its August 4 board meeting.

Colin Brinsden in Canberra
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will return to the This Morning studio in two weeks, as the beauty self-isolates after returning early from her Portugal holiday.

The Mirror reports the much-loved presenting duo, 39 and 58, will come back to the studio on September 1 following their summer breaks, on the same date Piers Morgan will return to Good Morning Britain.

The return date gives Holly the mandatory time to self-isolate in the UK and ensure she is safe to return to the studio.

Comeback: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will return to the This Morning studio in two weeks, as the beauty self-isolates after returning early from her Portugal holiday (pictured above in 2019)

UK government Covid-19 restrictions mean all passengers returning to Britain from Portugal must self-isolate for 14 days.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for This Morning, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield for comment.

Holly was forced to cut short her seven-week family holiday to go into quarantine so that she can return on time to host This Morning.

The TV presenter had planned to fly home from the Algarve at the end of August after taking a summer break with husband Dan Baldwin, 45, and their children Harry, 11, Belle, nine, and Chester, five.

All good things come to an end: Holly was forced to cut short her seven-week family holiday to go into quarantine so that she can return on time to host This Morning

Fan favourites: The presenting duo presented their last shows before the summer break in July

As a result, the TV star has flown home a fortnight early and will quarantine with her family at their London home to be back on screens by September 7.

A source told MailOnline: 'Holly accepts that she has to go into quarantine and will follow the rules but she isn't happy losing two weeks from her holiday.

'The summer break is her chance to re-charge after a hectic period and to spend time with her family. After all the stresses of the pandemic she had been looking forward to relaxing as long as possible.

'Instead of seven weeks away she has had to make it five  but it's what she's had to do to keep the This Morning team safe and to ensure she returns to the show on time.'

'The summer is her chance to re-charge': A source told MailOnline Holly isn't happy about cutting her summer break short by two weeks but understands she must follow the rules

Returning to work: The source explained that Holly was disappointed but it's what 'she's had to do to keep the This Morning team safe and to ensure she returns to the show on time'

A source close to Holly said of the arrangement: 'Holly isnt unhappy to be returning, but happy to do what is necessary to keep everyone safe'.

Holly and her family stayed in the luxury resort of Quinta do Lago, which is favoured by other celebrities, including Wayne Rooney and her co-host Phillip Schofield.

The UK government introduced the 14-day quarantine period for travellers to the country on June 8 when a coronavirus spike hit with an infection rate of almost 50 per 100,000 population, one of the highest in Europe.

Portugal's removal from the quarantine list could be announced this week but would not be enforced until the end of August, but it would be too late for the presenter and her family.

They flew to Portugal soon after her last appearance on This Morning on July 10 with Eamonn Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford, both 60, filling in.

Quality time: Holly had planned to fly home from the Algarve at the end of August after taking a summer break with husband Dan Baldwin and their children Harry, Belle and Chester

Married: Holly and husband Dan stayed in the luxury resort of Quinta do Lago, which is favoured by other celebrities, including Wayne Rooney and her co-host Phillip Schofield

Friends say Holly cherishes the summer break as she gets to spend more time with her family away from the commitments of filming ITV's This Morning.

The strain of presenting during the pandemic showed when Holly penned an emotional farewell from TV last month.

She had continued to present the popular daytime program with Phillip, 58, working with producers to ensure the show went ahead as normal.

Holly took to Instagram before her summer break to express her thanks to the This Morning team and the viewers who tuned in during lockdown.

She said: 'Thank you thank you for staying with us over the last 109 days... When we began this new way of broadcasting, we had no idea how long we would be able to come in, or whether it would be our last time broadcasting from the studio during lockdown.

'The team have adapted and had plan a, b, c and d in place just in case... Some days we didn't know If we'd have the content to fill the show, but somehow we always managed it and even had a few laughs along the way.

'You see us, but we feel that you are there with us, every single show... @thismorning holds a mirror up to life and reflects the mood of what we are all feeling.'

Holly added: 'I can't thank our team enough! @martinfrizell1, Emma, all the production who came in.

'The production team who worked from home, crew, the TM family and fellow presenters who are consistently brilliant, but mostly to @schofe for metaphorically holding my hand and reliably being socially distanced shoulder to shoulder with me...

'What a strange time... Feeling incredibly grateful... Huge love, thank you again... See you in September.'
Hyderabad, Aug 18 : BJP's lone Telangana MLA, T. Raja Singh, who is at the centre of a controversy that erupted after a report in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said Facebook's content policies favoured the BJP, has denied making any social media posts which have the potential to whip up communal passions.

With his name figuring in the WSJ report, Singh posted a video on his Twitter account claiming he never posted any inflammatory content on social media.

Singh, who is known for making controversial comments and was also booked by the Police on several occasions, even claimed his official Facebook account was hacked and blocked in 2018.

The US publication, in the report published on Friday, quoted unnamed Facebook insiders saying that one of the India policy executives intervened in an internal communication to stop a permanent ban on Raja Singh after he allegedly posted communal and divisive content.

The report claimed Facebook deliberately ignored disruptive content from members of the ruling BJP as well as right-wing voices and groups who have been flagged internally.

The report has triggered a political controversy with the Congress and the BJP hurling barbs at each other.

The Congress on Tuesday wrote a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking him to set up a high-level inquiry into the Facebook India leadership team and their operations in light of the WSJ report.

The BJP leader, who represents Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad, also said there were several Facebook accounts being run in the country in his name and he can't be held responsible for the comments posted on these pages.

"I am being projected as if I am the most dangerous person in the entire world and whenever I post something on social media, something or the other happens. I work in the interest of the nation and dharma. Cite at least one instance where there was a riot because of my statement," he asked.

"There are many Facebook accounts in my name. I can't be held responsible for what they post. I can't stop them from posting something. If they like or share something, I can't be blamed for that," he said.

Saying he has only one official YouTube and a Twitter account, Singh said he never posted anything provocative on these platforms.

The BJP leader said he had only one official Facebook account but it was hacked and blocked in 2018. "I lodged a complaint with the Cyberabad Police Commissioner but there was no response," he added.

Singh alleged there were many leaders in the country who were making inflammatory speeches. He also targeted All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leaders Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi saying they make provocative speeches and operate social media accounts and channels but no action was taken against them.
Vladimir Putin has warned the world not to interfere in Belarus and told Angela Merkel that any intervention will be 'unacceptable' after the EU threatened sanctions.

The Russian President spoke with the German Chancellor by telephone today following outcry in the West over the dubious election results and the ensuing crackdown on dissenters by strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko.

It comes after Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said 'individuals who have instigated violence or election fraud' could be targeted by EU sanctions.

Putin has already offered to put boots on the ground in the allied country to maintain order, prompting Donald Trump to warn that the US is 'watching closely'.

Belarus has been rocked by days of mass protests since an August 9 election which saw Lukashenko, known as 'Europe's last dictator', claim victory with 80 per cent of the vote despite widespread allegations of cheating.

Vladimir Putin and resident of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at a summit in Minsk in 2015. Putin has warned Europe that involving itself in Belarus will only escalate matters

Protests against Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko continued in Minsk overnight Monday (pictured), calling on him to quit after an election widely viewed as rigged

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was urged to show restraint in Belarus today

Activists gathered outside a detention centre where their fellow protesters are being held, amid allegations they are being tortured in police custody

Police responded by violently repressing the demonstrations. At least two people have been confirmed dead, amid claims that protests are being tortured in jail.

Opponent Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a former English teacher, has been forced to flee the country to Lithuania as members of her party were rounded up and arrested.

Protests continued overnight Monday, with activists gathering outside a detention centre in Minsk where some of their fellow demonstrators are being held.

Ms Laya spoke to Spanish media about sanctions, ahead of a meeting of EU ministers which is due to take place Wednesday.

'We, in Europe, think there is room for sanctions, not against the country or against the country's citizens, but against the individuals who have instigated violence or election process fraud,' she said.

Marchers also gathered outside the Janka Kupala National Theater in Minsk, after its director was fired for supporting the protests

Police, who have previously responded to protests with beatings and tear gas, watched activists gather outside the Janka Kupala National Theater in Minsk

Maria Kolesnikova (right), an activists from a party that opposes Lukashenko, joined protesters outside the theatre in Minsk on Tuesday

Lukashenko has faced more than a week of mass demonstrations calling for his resignation, after claiming victory in an election that is widely viewed as rigged

Meanwhile the Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia announced he will be stepping down from his post after throwing his support behind the protesters.

Igor Leshchenya said he stands in 'solidarity with those who came out on the streets of Belarusian cities with peaceful marches so that their voice could be heard.'

He added that he was shocked by reports of mass beatings and torture, and accused Belarusian law enforcement of restoring the traditions of the Soviet secret police.

A brutal crackdown by Lukashenko's regime has failed to stop a wave of strikes and demonstrations in Minsk which drew as many as 200,000 people on Sunday and continued on Monday.

As the crisis escalates, workers have turned on Lukashenko at state-owned factories where he usually enjoys strong support, with the president shouted down as he tried to give a speech at a tractor works.

The country's opposition leader has said she is ready to take over if Lukashenko is toppled by the protests.

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya (pictured in a video message today) says she is ready to take power if president Alexander Lukashenko is toppled by mass protests

Hundreds of people poured onto the streets in Belarus on Sunday to call for the country's leader to resign

Protests continued today with workers at the Minsk Tractor Works joining in a strike in the Belarusian capital on Monday

People protest against the election results during an opposition demonstration near a plant of the heavy off-road vehicles manufacturer MZKT in Minsk today

Donald Trump (pictured walking to his helicopter at the White House today) said the United States is watching the 'terrible situation' in Belarus 'very closely'

Lukashenko, 65, who has been in power for 25 years, has rejected any possibility of repeating the vote that gave him a sixth term, lashing out at the West and declaring his country will 'perish as a state' if the vote is rerun.

'We held elections already. Until you kill me, there will be no other elections,' he told workers at the tractor plant.

Offering to change the constitution, he said: 'We'll put the changes to a referendum, and I'll hand over my constitutional powers. But not under pressure or because of the street.

'Yes, I'm not a saint. You know my harsh side. I'm not eternal. But if you drag down the first president you'll drag down neighbouring countries and all the rest.'

Workers at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT) shouted the president down with chants of 'Leave!' as he tried to give his speech, before a visibly angry president walked off the stage.

Britain has said the election was 'fraudulent' and said that 'the UK does not accept the results', calling for sanctions and a probe into the alleged poll-rigging.

'The world has watched with horror at the violence used by the Belarussian authorities to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent presidential election,' foreign secretary Dominic Raab said.

Meanwhile Germany's Angela Merkel denied speaking with Lukashenko by phone following his 'victory', after the strongman leader claimed otherwise.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is 'watching closely' in Belarus and remained ready to defend its members, while Ukraine announced it was withdrawing its ambassador to Minsk.

'The development of events in Belarus, whose society has expressed a vote of no confidence in the official results of the presidential elections in Belarus, is fundamentally changing the situation in Belarusian-Ukrainian relations,' Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

EU leaders are set to hold emergency talks by video conference on Wednesday after European Council chief Charles Michel said violence against protesters was 'unacceptable and cannot be allowed'.

Lithuania's foreign minister Linas Linkevicius said today that any Russian intervention would 'constitute an invasion'.

'Russia would risk a lot if it did it, in the face of what is going on in Belarus, in the face of the popular support. It should figure out that an invasion would not be justified, neither legally, nor morally, nor politically', he said.

Poland said today it was monitoring the situation at its border with Belarus after Lukashenko claimed NATO was conducting a military build-up.

Belarus's former leader Stanislav Shushkevich, 85, said Lukashenko was facing the biggest challenge to his rule during his 26 years in power.

However, Shushkevich - an old political foe of Lukashenko - said the president was likely to survive with Russian backing.

'You can't say that the Lukashenko era is ending. I don't think you can say that for one simple reason. Lukashenko serves the Kremlin because otherwise he wouldn't be able to hold on,' he said.

Moscow sees Belarus as a vital transit corridor for its oil and a buffer zone protecting Russia against the assembled NATO forces in Europe.

While military support may not be needed because of the size of Belarus's own army, the Kremlin could also prop up the economy with financial help, Shushkevich said.

'In such conditions, it's difficult for the beaten and tortured Belarusian opposition to struggle with Russia,' he said.

He also ruled out a palace coup, saying: 'Over 26 years, Lukashenko has chosen very obedient deputies and very obedient military... they are handsomely paid.'

A group of protesters march on the streets of Belarus after President Alexander Lukashenko launched a brutal crackdown after claiming victory in an election

Protesters demonstrate in the capital of Belarus after the president claimed victory

In the days after the election, police and security forces used extreme violence in an attempt to stop demonstrations, using mass arrests and beatings.

A violent police crackdown saw more than 6,700 people arrested, hundreds wounded and two people dead.

Nonetheless, protests continued for an eighth day on Sunday with up to 200,000 people gathering in Minsk to demand Lukashenko's resignation.

Demonstrators held placards with slogans such as 'You can't wash off the blood' and 'Lukashenko must answer for the torture and dead'.

The unrest has also spread to factories and official media which are usually loyal to the president.

Workers at state-owned factories that make cars and tractors went on strike on Friday, despite the president usually enjoying strong support among state employees.

Other major towns and cities in the ex-Soviet country also saw large rallies, while there were also shows of support in the Czech Republic, Romania and Poland.

Unusually, tightly-controlled state television aired a short item on the 'alternative protest' in Minsk, while not showing anti-Lukashenko slogans.

The protests have been described as the largest in the country's post-Soviet independence.

The demonstrations were called by Tikhanovskaya, 37, the leading opposition candidate who claims to have won the election but has now fled to Lithuania.

The former English teacher has called for anti-government demonstrations to continue to keep the pressure on Lukashenko.

A woman holds up a poster after the Belarusian president claimed to have won 80 per cent of the vote in an election earlier this month

Hundreds of people march along the streets and call for the president's resignation

A crowd of people raise their hands and lift up the Belarusian flag during a rally in Minsk, Belarus

Hundreds of protesters flood onto the street in protests against the 2020 Belarusian presidential election

Lukashenko has claimed that Poland, Latvia and Lithuania are involved in a 'build up of military might' on the country's borders and in response his regime has announced military exercises close to the Lithuanian frontier.

Yesterday he said: 'NATO troops are at our gates. Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and our native Ukraine are ordering us to hold new elections.'

Lukashenko added that Belarus would 'die as a state' if new polls were held. He said: 'I have never betrayed you and will never do so.'

Putin has told Lukashenko that Russia is prepared to assist and 'solve the problems that have arisen' from 'external pressure', the Kremlin said, backing Lukashenko's claims that the protests are part of a Western plot to oust him.

There was also a pro-Lukashenko rally yesterday although opposition media claimed the crowd had been coerced into attending.

The Belarus Interior Ministry said there were no arrests at Sunday's rallies, although local media reported a few people had been detained.

A series of state employees, including some police officers and state TV staff, have come out in support of the protests.

The opposition also published footage of Belarus's ambassador to Slovakia, Igor Leschchenya, expressing his solidarity with protesters and saying he was 'shocked by stories of torture and beatings.

The EU is gearing up to impose new sanctions on Belarus in response to the violent crackdown.

The UK government warns that the authorities 'show little tolerance for their opposition counterparts'.

Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994. Belarus is the only European country that carries out the death penalty.

Demonstrators raise their hands as they take part in a rally in front of the government building of Minsk

Hundreds of protesters march through the capital of Belarus following the presidential election

The stay-at-home mother standing up to Belarus's strongman leader: How an English teacher became protest movement's 'accidental Joan of Arc' battling for country's freedom

The woman trying to bring down 'Europe's last dictator' is a 37-year-old English teacher described as an 'accidental Joan of Arc' who ran for the presidency of Belarus after her husband was arrested and barred from the ballot in May.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's unlikely rise to political stardom has posed the most serious challenge to strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko in his 26 years in power.

After entering the race and moving her two children abroad for their own safety, she told supporters that 'I don't want power... I want to get my children and husband [back] and I want to keep frying my cutlets.'

But she now says she is willing to take power if Lukashenko is toppled by the mass protests which have engulfed the ex-Soviet nation since both candidates claimed victory in the disputed August 9 election.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya casts her vote in the Belarus presidential election last week, following an unlikely rise to political stardom after her husband was arrested and jailed

Tikhanovskaya poses for a selfie with a supporter during a campaign rally in Baranovichi, a week before the disputed presidential election in Belarus

Svetlana ran for the presidency after her husband, 41-year-old blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky (pictured at a rally in May), was arrested and barred from the ballot

Tikhanovskaya was born in 1982 in Mikashevichi, a small town south of Minsk in what was then the Soviet Union.

As a youngster she spent several summers in the Republic of Ireland under a charity scheme to help children who lived near the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

The explosion took place in northern Ukraine and the contamination spread into Belarus, affecting thousands of people.

After the fall of Communism, Tikhanovskaya studied to become an English and German teacher in the historic city of Mozyr in the south of Belarus.

While in Mozyr, she met her future husband Sergey who owned a nightclub in the city.

After working as an English teacher and translator, she stepped back from her career to look after the couple's two young children, now aged five and 10.

Henry Deane, one of the volunteers who looked after Svetlana in Ireland, said she had given up work to help her son who has severe hearing problems.

'She moved the family to Minsk so that he could have the implant operation he needed,' Mr Deane told the Guardian.

'She poured her life into looking after her son and daughter. She is a devoted mother.'

Sergey, now 41, is a prominent blogger in Belarus who hoped to run for president when Lukashenko sought a sixth term in this year's election.

But he was arrested and jailed in May on what Tikhanovskaya says were trumped-up charges of assaulting a police officer.

Amnesty International said the arrest appeared to be 'politically motivated' and said Tikhanovsky had tried to avoid a scuffle with police despite being provoked.

Authorities said they had opened a criminal case against Tikhanovsky for 'obstructing elections', using what Amnesty described as 'vague language'.

Police claimed they also found an unexplained $900,000 hidden in the couple's sofa, which Tikhanovskaya said she knew nothing about.

'Charlie's Angels': Tikhanovskaya (centre) has been flanked at rallies by Veronika Tsepkalo (left) whose husband was also barred from running, and Maria Kolesnikova (right), the campaign manager of another jailed opposition figure

Tikhanovskaya (pictured at a rally in Baranovichi earlier this month) is a former English teacher who spent summers in the Republic of Ireland as a youngster

Tikhanovskaya has drawn some of the biggest crowds in Belarus since the fall of the USSR despite her lack of political experience (supporters are seen here at a rally in early August)

The arrest prevented Sergey Tikhanovsky from submitting his candidacy in time, ruling him out of the presidential race.

However, Belarus's electoral commission allowed Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to stand in his place.

'I love my husband very much so I am continuing what he started,' she said. 'I love Belarusians and I want to give them an opportunity to have a choice.'

Lukashenko openly sneered at the idea of a female opponent, saying that the strains of the presidency would cause her to 'collapse, poor thing'.

But despite her lack of political experience, Tikhanovskaya's campaign rallies have drawn some of the biggest crowds in Belarus since the fall of the USSR.

In speeches, Tikhanovskaya calls herself an 'ordinary woman, a mother and wife' and rallies her crowds with calls for change.

'I have become the embodiment of people's hope, their longing for change,' she said - adding that she and her family had received threats during the campaign.

Her husband has been accused of plotting mass unrest and collaborating with Russian mercenaries, claims which Tikhanovskaya has called 'very scary.'

Their two children were taken abroad for their own safety, and Tikhanovskaya herself is now in Lithuania.

During the campaign she spoke of the difficulty of being separated from her children, including her hearing-impaired son.

Her presidential campaign has also come under pressure from authorities, with campaign manager Maria Moroz arrested twice in the space of a week.

Tikhanovskaya says that she lacks the 'massive charisma' of her husband, who has travelled around Belarus interviewing ordinary people for hard-hitting videos.

She has sometimes struggled to articulate her political views, acknowledging she was not a politician but a 'symbol' of change.

However, Tikhanovskaya's simple but direct speeches have prompted lengthy cheers at crowded rallies.

'Are you tired of enduring it all? Are you tired of keeping silent?' she asked supporters recently. 'Yes,' the crowd roared.

Tikhanovskaya, pictured recording a campaign video on August 6, has won huge support at rallies with her simple but direct speeches

Tikhanovskaya (pictured at a rally) says she 'did not want to be a politician but 'fate decreed that I'd find myself on the frontline of a confrontation against arbitrary rule and injustice'

Women hold portraits of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Veronika Tsepkalo and Maria Kolesnikova during a rally in Barysaw last month

Allocated live slots on state television, she listed alleged lies by Lukashenko's regime, repeating: 'They won't show you this on television'.

'Unexpectedly her first speech on television was strong, without false notes or weak points,' wrote opposition newspaper Nasha Niva.

She has accused Lukashenko of showing blatant disregard for the people during the coronavirus epidemic, which the president has dismissed as a hoax.

The Village, a Minsk-based news site, called her 'an accidental Joan of Arc,' invoking the French peasant who helped achieve a pivotal military victory against the English in the 15th century.

Tikhanovskaya has also been helped by two women with more political experience: Veronika Tsepkalo, whose ex-diplomat husband Valery Tsepkalo was barred from standing, and Maria Kolesnikova, campaign chief of ex-banker Viktor Babaryko who was also dropped from the polls and is in jail.

The two women have flanked Tikhanovskaya at campaign rallies, earning them the nickname of 'Charlie's Angels.'

Tikhanovskaya has started wearing her hair down and swapped severe dark clothing for pastels colours.

The women wear t-shirts with a design featuring their signature gestures: Tikhanovskaya's punched fist, Kolesnikova's fingers in a heart shape and Tsepkalo's victory sign.

After Lukashenko claimed a disputed victory last week, Tikhanovskaya indicated she had left Belarus to be with her children.

'Children are the most important thing we have in life,' said the 37-year-old after leaving for Lithuania.

However, she has continued to rally her supporters and said today she was willing to assume the presidency if Lukashenko was forced out.

Tikhanovskaya urged security and law enforcement officers to switch sides - saying they would be forgiven if they abandoned Lukashenko now.

'I did not want to be a politician,' she said. But fate decreed that I'd find myself on the frontline of a confrontation against arbitrary rule and injustice.'
ATLANTA, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With deep sadness, Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) announced today the passing of R. Randall Rollins, the Company's Chairman of the Board, who died peacefully following a short illness on August 17, 2020 in the presence of his family. Mr. Rollins was 88 years old. Long-standing Board Member Henry B. Tippie, who serves as Lead Director, and Richard A. Hubbell, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member, will continue in their respective leadership roles until succession plans are announced.

"The Board of Directors, management and employees of Marine Products Corporation are saddened by Randall's loss," stated Richard A. Hubbell, Chief Executive Officer. "Randall's relentless focus on quality, innovation and long-term success guided us over many years as we became one of the largest and most successful pleasure boat manufacturers in the United States."

At the time of his death, R. Randall Rollins served as Chairman of the Board, a position he had held since 2001 when Marine Products Corporation was formed and its Chaparral Boats subsidiary was spun off into Marine Products from RPC, Inc. Randall has served as a member of the Boards for Emory University, SunTrust Banks, Inc., Berry College, Gold Kist, and The Lovett School. In addition to his responsibilities with Marine Products Corporation, at the time of his death, he was Chairman of the Board of Rollins, Inc. and RPC, Inc. He was also a member of the Boards of Dover Motorsports, Inc. and the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center Fund, Inc.

Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX) is a leading manufacturer of fiberglass boats under three brand names: Chaparral, Robalo and Vortex. Chaparral's sterndrive models include SSi and SSX, along with the Chaparral Surf Series. Chaparral's outboard offerings include various models, such as OSX Luxury Sportboats, the 257 SSX, and SunCoast Sportdecks. Robalo builds an array of outboard sport fishing boats, which include center consoles, dual consoles and Cayman Bay Boat models. Chaparral also offers jet powered boats under the Vortex brand name. The Company continues to diversify its product lines through product innovation. With premium brands, a solid capital structure, and a strong independent dealer network, Marine Products Corporation is prepared to capitalize on opportunities to increase its market share and to generate superior financial performance to build long-term shareholder value. For more information on Marine Products Corporation visit our website at MarineProductsCorp.com.

For information contact:

BEN M. PALMER

Chief Financial Officer

(404) 321-7910

[email protected]

JIM LANDERS

Vice President Corporate Services

(404) 321-2162

[email protected]

SOURCE Marine Products Corporation

Related Links

http://www.marineproductscorp.com


Imam Al-Shafii (767-820 AD) was the founder of the eponymous Shafii school of Islamic jurisprudence, one of the four dominant schools in Sunni Islam

In the past, this boat hanging on top of the dome used to be filled with grain. Children of the neighbourhood would climb up and fill it with grain to attract birds, as a gesture of festivity during the moulid of Imam Al-Shafii, explained Mai El-Ibrashi , an architect and the head of conservation at the mausoleum of Imam Al-Shafii in Cairo, which will soon be open to the public again.

Imam Al-Shafii (767-820 AD) was the founder of the eponymous Shafii school of Islamic jurisprudence, one of the four dominant schools in Sunni Islam.

The mausoleum of this important figure is located in one of the most unique of Cairos ancient cemeteries, and is currently under restoration.

"We blame our times but the fault is ours. We are the only fault in our times."

Those who seek higher status must labour through the night.

These and many more pearls of wisdom from the famous Islamic scholar are commonly quoted in Egypt and are part of the collective memory of Egyptians, who follow Al-Shafii school of Islamic jurisprudence.

Born in Gaza, Al-Shafii moved with his mother to Mecca after his father passed away. According to the book Diwan Al-Shafii, compiled by Mohamed Abdel Moniem Khafagi, he studied in Mecca and in Iraq, was assigned the post of judge in Yemen, and founded his school of thought in his famous book Al-Om (the mother) while teaching in Cairo, where he lived until his death in 820 AD.

Known for his grace and eloquence, he grew quite popular and attracted many followers to his teachings.

After years of restoration, his mausoleum is almost ready to be opened to the public. Ahram Online was invited to take a look at this historic site.

Restoration of the mausoleum started off since 2016, explained El-Ibrashi, and the different phases of restoration were implemented through the ambassadors fund for cultural preservation and the Ministry of Antiquities.

When Imam Al-Shafii first came to Cairo, he lived in the premises of Awlad Abdel Hakam, who was from his tribe, the Quraysh. He was a student of Saida Nafisa, and after his death, he was buried in the cemeteries of the Abdel Hakam family who were the guards of the mausoleum. His mausoleum became a visitors site and eventually made this burial ground another centre of cemeteries, she added, explaining that Saladin created a school next to Imam Al-Shafii.

Al-Kamil, Saladins nephew, installed the big wooden dome -- the biggest such dome in the Islamic era, El-Ibrashi said.

However, during the restoration, they came across a most interesting finding.

We found walls, revealing the remaining of a Fatimid tombstone of Al-Shafii and the remains of a Fatimid-style dome that was never mentioned in history books, she said.

During the Ottoman period, the mausoleum was the first visit of the Ottoman walli upon arrival in Cairo. All political disputes would be discussed and resolved there, and most Ashraf and Ottoman ruling family living in Cairo would be buried next to Al-Shafiis mausoleum, she noted.

Aiming to tell this rich tale of tangible and intangible heritage of the place, El-Ibrashis restoration plan includes a visitor centre and an exhibition of all the historic relics of the place, as well as an activity area for children, to encourage a new generation of visitors to come to the site.

It is an ideal place for students studying architecture to view Fatimid, Ayyubid, Ottoman, and modern styles in the same block, the architect commented.

Al-Shafiis impact on Islamic thought is remarkable. Known for his eloquence, he was known to be a student of Sayyida Nafisa, who prayed for him after he died.

He was also a renowned poet whose words of wisdom remain quite popular in Arabic.

The Diwan Al-Shafii book also reveals that his core methodology was based on the Quran, the Sunna, analogy, and then unanimity. Thus the door of ijtihad was opened wide for his school of thought which beheld the two main streams of sharia side by side: the school of thinkers, and those relying only on hadith.

Indeed, Imam Al-Shafii remains dear in the collective narrative of Egyptians. Lots of letters, among other items, are said to be addressed to him, even after his death, in order to discuss worldly disputes and injustices.

During the restoration, the Ministry of Religious Endowments collected the letters, photos and personal belongings. However, most of the letters are affiliated with injustice, for he was almost seen as a judge. Here, each of the religious figures miracles has something to do with their lives. It resonates somehow with something they were known for in their life, explained El-Ibrashi.

The boat clinging to the crescent topping the dome has its own charm. In Sufi heritage, such a boat is a metaphor that reflects a hadith on saving those who value dearly Ahl Al-Beit, the descendants of the Prophet Muhammed. Some view it also to be a reference to Imam Al-Shafiis title the sea of knowledge.

As well as the tradition of children filling the boat with grain to symbolise prosperity, El-Ebrashi said that local myth suggests that the direction of the mobile boat determines the prosperity of the year ahead.

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Health officials carry out disinfection work at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Yeongdeungpo district, Seoul, Tuesday./ Yonhap



By Lee Hyo-jin



Municipal administrations are facing growing criticism for their disclosure of "limited" contact tracing information on coronavirus patients as the public is increasingly concerned about the spread of the virus amid a surge of infections in Seoul and its surrounding areas.



Since the coronavirus outbreak here in February, local governments had been actively revealing the travel history of confirmed patients on their websites in order to raise transparency and prevent people from visiting areas where infections were thought to have occurred.



However, following revised guidelines announced by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), July 1, local governments are now giving minimum information about infected people's whereabouts prior to testing positive, raising anxiety for many local residents.



A Seongbuk resident surnamed Go posted a petition on the Seongbuk District Office website Aug. 15, urging for more detailed information to be made public.



"A brief summary about a confirmed patient's travel history, which doesn't even include the means of transportation, is not helpful for the public at all. I doubt whether the authorities are thoroughly investigating the travel data through surveillance cameras or credit card records," the petition read.



Under the new guidelines, revealing personal information such as name, age, gender, and exact address is forbidden to protect privacy. Also, the authorities are advised not to disclose the names of restaurants, cafes or other facilities visited by a confirmed infected person in order to prevent economic damage to local businesses.



On the same day, a resident of Goyang, Gyeonggi Province posted a similar petition on the city council website. Goyang City has reported 145 confirmed patients and 644 residents are being tested.



"How can public safety be ensured if all names are blurred out like '** hospital,' or '** restaurant' ? The city should disclose full names and specific information about a patient's travel history," the petitioner surnamed Yoon said.



Following mounting discontent toward the authorities, members of the internet community for Goyang residents are gathering opinions to file a complaint on the E-people website, an online platform for public petitions run by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC).



As the KCDC's guidelines are not mandatory, the contact tracing data disclosed on each different local government website varies between districts, causing more confusion for the public.



Seocho District Office discloses all names of restaurants, cafes, gyms and other places visited by confirmed infected people in the area, including the amount of time spent in each place.



On the other hand, Yeongdeungpo District Office has not revealed any specific information since July.



"The data revealed to the public may vary depending on the case, but we are strictly following KCDC guidelines," an official at the Yeongdeungpo District Office told The Korea Times.


The final episode of a telenovela is always met with sadness by viewers who had grown accustomed to the characters. Adjustments need to be made to fill the now-empty time slot. TV stations understand this concept, and that is why they always bring in a new series. Some fans decide to keep watching a soap opera after a few episodes while others judge it from the pilot episode. Daughters of the Moon (Hijas de la Luna) is an example of a soapie that will keep you glued to your screen.

Image: Facebook.com, @Hijasdelaluna

Source: UGC

This light melodrama, written by Bernado Romero Pereiro, follows the story of four sisters, Juana Victoria, Juana Barbara, Juana Soledad, and Juana Ines. Before the commencement of the story, the only link they share is a moon-shaped birthmark.

Daughters of the Moon full story

Hijas de la Luna popularly known as Daughters of the Moon is a story about four sisters: Juana Victoria, Juana Soledad, Juana Barbara, and Juana Ines.

In the last days of her life, Rosaura, Juana Victorias mother reveals that the man she has always called dad is not her biological father. She proceeds to inform her daughter that her real fathers name is Juan Oropeza, a hotelier in a coastal town.

Juana Victoria goes in search of her father and is perplexed to learn that she also has a stepbrother called Sebastian and three sisters.

Juana Victoria and Sebastian set out on a journey to trace her sisters and reunite their family. They first come across Juana Soledad, who has an unfortunate life after her mother and step-fathers death. They were living in Monterrey.

READ ALSO: Kovu telenovela cast: actors and actresses full names and photos

Afterwards, they find Juana Barbara, a boxer who was staying with her mum in Guadalajara. Her life hasnt been comfortable since she has to continually put up with her abusive step-father while her boyfriend cheats on her.

Ultimately, they track Juana Ines, who lives in a convent having dedicated her life to the service of God. Victoria and Sebastian convince the three sisters to go back to meet their father, who lives with Leonora, his wife.

Image: Facebook.com, @hijasdelaluna

Source: UGC

Juan Oropeza asks them for forgiveness for his earlier mistakes, but Leonora is doing everything to ruin their lives and make them suffer. Sebastian falls in love with Juana Victoria although they are half-siblings, and he is engaged to Estefania who is the daughter of the wealthiest person in town, Dario Iriarte.

After she learns of the more than sisterly affection Sebastian has towards Juana Victoria, she plans to make the lives of the newly met household a living hell.

Daughters of the Moon characters

Its no surprise that only the best and experienced actors got the opportunity to feature in Daughters of the Moon telenovela. The perfect execution of their given roles managed to make this series a success. Some of these well-known actors in this TV series include:

Michelle Renaud

Image: gettyimages.com

Source: Getty Images

Michelle Renaud cast as Juana Victoria is one of the protagonists in the Daughters of the Moon. This gorgeous Mexican actress has been active in showbiz for a reasonably long time despite being 31 years old.

Apart from her role as Juana Victoria, she has also featured in several Mexican telenovelas, including Aldonza in La Sombra del Pasado, Vicky in Super X, Yameli Montoya in La Reina Soy Yo and Analu in Como Dice el Dicho.

Danilo Carrera

Image: gettyimages.com

Source: UGC

The ideal man for most women, having a combination of good looks and honour is Danilo, who plays the character of Sebastian Oropeza, the protagonist in Hijas de la Luna.

Though he is engaged to Estefania, he gets attracted to Juana Victoria, which is unusual since they are step-siblings. This will lead to quarrels within the family due to Estefania's jealousy.

READ ALSO: Te Doy La Vida cast and characters, episodes, full story

His careful portrayal of characters helps to bring them to life, which makes Danilo stand out from the rest of the actors. He has landed lucrative roles in other telenovelas like Vencer el Miedo, Grachi, Pasion y Poder, Cosita Linda, and Ruta 35.

Lore Graniewicz

Image: Instagram.com, @loregrniewicz

Source: UGC

This 29-year-old actress is no stranger to most telenovela fans as she has featured in so many series. Being one of the four sisters and the toughest, Lore Graniewicz plays the role of Juana Barbara, a boxer who prefers not to show any emotions. Her stepfather is abusive to both herself and her mother.

Due to her perfect execution of characters, Lore Graniewicz has landed various roles in popular telenovels such as Simplemente Maria, Amores con Trampa, and La Rosa de Guadalupe.

Jade Fraser

Image: gettyimages.com

Source: Getty Images

Jade Fraser plays the role of Juana Soledad, an orphan who is also a tarot reader. Jade gained recognition for her role in Por Siempre mi Amor. She has matured since making her acting debut in Dragon ball Evolution for a cameo appearance.

Jade is the lead actor in Nina de Mi Corazon, Abismo De Pasion, Por Siempre mi Amor, and Vencer el Miedo.

Geraldine Galvan

Image: gettyimages.com

Source: UGC

Geraldine Galvan is a beautiful, and modest actress who is one of the stars in Daughters of the Moon. Her role involves playing the part of a girl who was abandoned at a convent by her mother when she was young. She takes this as a calling to work for the church, making her a true devotee.

At only 26 years of age, Geraldine Galvan has already featured in many roles in movies and telenovelas. She has been cast in Ruta 35, Mentir Para Vivir, Pablo y Andrea, Vencer el Miedo, and Dani Who?. Her passion for the set has made her a fan favourite.

Omar Fierro

Image: gettyimages.com

Source: UGC

He is the patriarch of the story of the four sisters. Having married Leonora when he was 25 years old, Juan Oropeza discovered she couldn't give birth. He travels to different towns in Mexico, where he meets the mothers of his daughters. Twenty years later, his life changes when they come back into his life.

This charismatic Mexican actor has enjoyed acting for over thirty years, debuting on Cachun Cachun ra ra in the early 80s. He is a role model for the young and upcoming actors. Omar has been cast in several shows including La Loba, Vivir Por Ti, and La Ley Dey Silencio, just to name a few.

Cynthia Klitbo

Image: gettyimages.com

Source: Getty Images

In Daughters of the Moon, Cynthia Klitbo plays Leonora, who is born into a wealthy family. She is arrogant and competitive but loves her husband Juan Oropeza but cannot give home children. When the daughters from a previous relationship come back into his life, Leonora feels threatened and aligns with Estefania to ruin their lives.

READ ALSO: Ringo Telenovela: full story, cast real names, roles, episodes

Cynthia's understanding of her characters makes her stand out as one of the greatest actresses in Mexican telenovelas. She is renowned for her roles in La Duena and Teresa. At 53 years of age, she has sharpened her acting skills making her roles, even more fun to watch.

Mariluz Bermudez

Image: gettyimages.com

Source: Getty Images

Estefania Iriarte (Mariluz Bermudez) is the spoilt daughter of the richest man in town, Dario Iriarte. She takes full advantage of her beauty to capture Sebastian's attention in Daughters of the Moon.

Her evil side comes to life when Sebastian falls for his half-sister Juana Victoria. She tries everything to make their lives miserable. Many viewers know Mariluz Bermudez from her roles in Mentir Para Vivir, Corona de Lagrimas, and La Gata. She was also one of the main characters in Simplemente Maria.

Mario Moran

Image: gettyimages.com

Source: Getty Images

Living in the shadow of her narcissistic sister Estefania, Mario Moran executed his role as Mauricio Iriarte well in Daughters of the moon. His father wants him to run the family's seafood business, but he wants to become a musician. He lives in the shadow of his successful sister. He later gets attracted to Juana Ines.

This 28-year-old Mexican actor is no stranger on-screen having acted in Muy Padres, Dani Who?, Lady Revenge and Pasion y Poder. With his success despite the young age, he is on the right trajectory to be one of the greatest actors in Mexico.

Other cast members who had roles in the series include:

Alexis Ayala as Dario Iriarte.

Marco Uriel as Xavier Oropeza.

Miguel Martinez as Todoelmundo.

Arcelia Ramirez as Margarita.

Eugenia Cauduro cast as Teresa.

Bea Ranero cast as Adela.

Jorge Gallegos cast as Raymundo.

Jonathan Becerra cast as Octavio Sanchez.

Francisco Gattorno cast as Alberto.

Ricardo Franco cast as Genaro.

Daughters of the Moon episodes and where to watch

This addictive telenovela has 82 episodes in total, spanning from the pilot episode to the finale. The first episode aired on 19th February 2018 on the Mexican TV network Las Estrellas and the last aired on 10th June 2018.

The Daughters of the Moon finale follows the fairy tale theme that most telenovelas are known for. Despite various obstacles, Sebastian and Juana Victoria manage to make their love flourish.

Wondering where to binge-watch the series? The show can be watched on Telenovela TV on YouTube.

A good telenovela tends to live on in the memories of the truest of its fans. The life of the four different yet strong sisters led them on a journey of discovery. Daughters of the Moon will undoubtedly be a good watch for every true telenovela fan out there looking for a captivating Mexican TV series.

In other news, Tuko.co.ke recently reported that in his earlier days, senator Murkomen Kipchumba was so broke that his wife had to send him bus fare. She also bought their first car which the couple used to move around with.

Because of her generosity and undying support, Murkomen was quick to point out that he will always cherish her. Senator Murkomen will do down in history as one of the few politicians in Kenya to publicly admit to being broke in his earlier days.

READ ALSO:

Nazar Switch TV: full story, episodes, cast real names and photos

Days of Our Lives Horton family tree

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Vietnam Border Guard Command Do Danh Vuong talks about COVID-19 prevention and control measures in border areas.

Border guards in northern mountainous Dien Bien Province patrol to prevent illegal migrants entering the country.  VNA/VNS Photo Xuan Tien

After months fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the country started to enter a new normal and many people seemed to forget that the disease still spread complicatedly across the border. What was the life of border guards like in the 99 days Vietnam recorded no community transmission?

Although the country started to enter the new normal, we still worked to prevent the disease like the first days COVID-19 appeared in Vietnam. The 99 days Vietnam recorded no community transmission were 99 days border guards keep watching border areas. At the same time, they implemented measures and plans to deal with illegal immigration into the country. However, with subtle tactics, illegal migrants have made it difficult for authorised forces to discover them.

With the highest determination to prevent the disease spreading to the country via border areas, border guards have worked with authorised agencies of foreign countries sharing borders with Vietnam to deploy measures to manage border areas and border gates in the new normal.

After COVID-19 returned, what measures have the border guards taken in this second fight against the pandemic?

When the first new community transmission case of COVID-19 was discovered in central Da Nang City after 99 days, the Border Guard High Command immediately held an online meeting with border guards in 45 locations to kick off all urgent measures on COVID-19 prevention and control and on preventing illegal migrants entering the country.

The command decided to set up 10 task forces to come to border areas in high-risk localities to check prevention and control tasks and encourage border guards to work. They have also consulted the Ministry of Defence, authorised agencies and authorities of localities on specific and resolute measures in COVID-19 prevention and control in line with the conditions of each border area and locality.

The border guard forces are on duty around the clock. More soldiers have been sent to key border areas to support patrol stations.

An action month was held to mobilise residents in border areas to take preventive measures against COVID-19.

How important it is to promote information dissemination on COVID-19 prevention and control for residents in border areas?

With the role of protecting national sovereignty and national border security, from the beginning, border guards strived to work with the whole nation in COVID-19 prevention and control with the highest responsibility placed on controlling the whole border route, contributing to minimising illegal migrants entering the country. However, with the long border and tough terrain, it is necessary to mobilise the participation of the whole nation, people and soldiers to prevent harmful diseases entering the country.

Border guards were assigned to go to every village and hamlet to provide local residents with medical materials and food while disseminating information to raise their awareness of preventive and control measures as well as of protecting border security.

With COVID-19 in the world entering a new and more dangerous stage, the prevention and control of illegal immigration must be performed with more strength and resolve. VNS/ANTD

Soldiers step up COVID-19 prevention efforts at border crossings Border guards operating in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau have set up tents along trails and close to border crossings in an effort to control illegal entry into the country and successfully curb the spread of COVID-19.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 17:31:05|Editor: huaxia

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From government canteens to night markets, the "Clear Your Plate" campaign against food waste is in full swing in Guizhou, China.
In a U.S. Senate race thats tightened and intensified with outside funds and increasingly sharp attacks in debates, TV ads and over social media, Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III on Tuesday night will take the stage for the last time ahead of the Democratic primary on Sept. 1.

The debate comes a day after the latest poll showed the candidates in a virtual dead heat  Markey at 44% and Kennedy at 42%  and as the 39-year-old congressman and 74-year-old senator continually trade jabs over their track records and whod be the best force for progressivism and change in the U.S. Senate seat.

What time is the debate and where?

Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, at 7 p.m. EST in WCVB NewsCenter 5 studios in Needham.

The debate is organized by WCVB, WBUR, University of Massachusetts Bostons McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, the Boston Globe, Boston.com, Western Mass News and MassLive.

How can you tune in?

In addition a live broadcast on WCVB, viewers can find live streams at MassLive, WBUR and the WCVB websites. Listeners can tune into WBUR at 90.9 FM.

Who is moderating?

The moderators are Ed Harding of WCVB Channel 5 Boston; Bob Oakes of WBURs Morning Edition; Adrian Walker of The Boston Globe; and Janet Wu of WCVB Channel 5 Bostons On the Record.

What issues might be discussed?

Markey, a longtime champion for environmental causes, served as a congressman for more than three decades before winning his Senate seat in 2013. Kennedy, part of the countrys best-known political dynasty, has represented the 4th District for eight years and says hes pushing for generational change and more punch out of the seat than what Markeys offered.

The candidates may vote similarly on a range of issues, but theyve ramped up efforts to draw contrasts, highlighting previous votes and campaign finance concerns they claim show their opponent hasnt lived up to progressive standards.

After months of nationwide calls for reforms to address racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, Kennedy has repeatedly targeted Markeys track record on racial matters, including his vote on the 1994 crime bill that disproportionately impacted people of color, and tied the issue to the congressmans consistent critique that Markey doesnt show up enough in Massachusetts outside of election seasons.

Markey  who makes the case that substantial support from local municipal leaders contradicts claims he spends too much time in Washington, D.C.  has argued that his challenger is bringing up views on busing in Boston that he disavowed four decades ago. The senator notes hes working with Sen. Cory Booker to implement criminal justice reforms  including fixing sentencing guidelines he approved in the 1994 crime bill.

Markey has also gone out of his way to blast President Donald Trump as racist scum, highlighting housing policies and public health failures that disproportionately hurt people of color, while touting his and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs Green New Deal, which focuses on environmental justice and job creation in the fight against climate change and energy policies that have long impacted communities of color.

For his part, the congressman has also called Trump a racist over similar policy issues, including spreading the false conspiracy theory that Sen. Kamala Harris of California, recently tapped to be Joe Bidens running mate, is ineligible for the vice presidency because her parents were immigrants.

Social media vitriol and campaign finance  namely super political action committees, bankrolled largely by environmental groups and telecommunications executives for Markey and labor groups and potentially members of the Kennedy family for the congressman  are sure to arise when the candidates are under the spotlight Tuesday night.

In a recent video that gained more than 3 million views, the Markey team touted the senators progressive chops over his lengthy time in Congress. The video capped off with a twist of the most famous quote from former President John F. Kennedy, the congressmans great uncle.

We asked what we could do for our country. We went out, we did it, Markey said. With all due respect, its time to start asking what your country can do for you.

When the government abandons its people, its up to us to rise up and make a revolution. Were fighting for dignity, for justice, and for our future. Join us at https://t.co/NY8pZcBcFE. #GreenNewDealmaker pic.twitter.com/4V558XjrVw  Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) August 13, 2020

Markey during last weeks debate went after Kennedy following reports that his family were helping to fund a Super PAC running negative ads. The senator has often contrasted his familys humble beginnings with that of his opponent, and argued over social media that, Where I come from, no one expects to become a U.S. senator.

Kennedy fired back on Monday, accusing Markey of weaponizing his familys history and appropriating their words. He also repeated assertions that Markey has not engaged enough, either locally or in the civil rights movement over the last half century.

This is what my family taught me about legacy: A legacy is earned, Kennedy said in a news conference, flanked by Black community leaders. It is earned in the streets where Senator Markey does not walk. In the communities he does not visit. From the voices he does not hear. It is earned when the cameras turn off, and you stay behind. In the quiet conversations that he does not have  with people grieving and suffering and struggling. It is earned with the political courage he has not shown. The sacrifices he chose not to make. The messy but necessary work he left for others to do.

Heres what my family taught me: A legacy is earned. pic.twitter.com/kSKT8iRMJD  Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) August 17, 2020

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:26:39|Editor: huaxia

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NANNING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Dongxing, a border city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region which is separated from Vietnam's Mong Cai by a narrow river, saw its wholesale market bustle with traders from ASEAN countries, a scene contrasting the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

"I pulled off my first business deal in China nine years ago, when I saw a daily turnover of less than 100 U.S. dollars. Now online and offline transactions on a peak day can bring the total to over 400 U.S. dollars," said Pham Van Tan, a 31-year-old Vietnamese, who frequents the international wholesale market in Dongxing, also a seaport.

China's trade with the ASEAN stood at 2.51 trillion yuan (about 362 billion U.S. dollars) in the first seven months, up 6.6 percent year on year, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

The ASEAN remained China's biggest trading partner during the same period, accounting for 14.6 percent of the nation's total foreign trade volume, amid upgraded free trade area protocol and supply chain cooperation.

By the first half of this year, Guangxi's Beibu Gulf Port had a network of 27 foreign trade routes to major ports of ASEAN countries.

The port saw its cargo throughput increase by 17.85 percent year on year to nearly 153 million tonnes in the first seven months, according to the Beibu Gulf Port Group. Meanwhile, it handled about 2.75 million twenty-foot equivalent units during the period, up 29.71 percent year on year.

Also, the land-sea freight route saw a total of 1,691 trains departing Guangxi in the first half, up 66 percent year on year.

"Through our port, the land-sea freight volume from Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, and other western provinces has seen a sharp increase in the period," said Wei Tao, chairman of Beibu Gulf Port Group.

Since the establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) in 2010, the trade in goods and services between China and ASEAN countries has grown rapidly through the deep integration of industrial chains and value chains.

Tariffs on 7,000 products have been canceled under the framework of CAFTA. In 2002, the trade volume between China and ASEAN countries was only 54.8 billion dollars. In 2019, it exceeded 600 billion dollars, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.

Xu Liping, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the economies of China and ASEAN countries are highly complementary.

The establishment of CAFTA and drastic tariff cuts have greatly improved the efficiency of the flow of production factors in the region, which inevitably led to trade growth, he said.

Besides traditional trade, China and ASEAN countries also highlight high-tech industry cooperation.

The China-ASEAN Information Harbor Co. Ltd., a Guangxi-based info-tech company, has been dedicated to China-ASEAN digital and information industrial cooperation over the past few years.

Three international communication submarine cables, 12 international terrestrial optical cables, and 13 key communications nodes have been built to link China and ASEAN countries, the company said.

Moreover, China and ASEAN countries have cooperated in the satellite navigation area before China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System was officially completed for commissioning on July 31.

China has begun to provide navigation services to some ASEAN countries, and it will promote the economic and social development of ASEAN countries, especially in the fields of modern agriculture, digitalization and intelligent ports, said Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office.

Additionally, over the years, relying on each other's advantages, China-ASEAN enterprises have realized and promoted mutual complementarity and common development.

The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park in Pahang, Malaysia, is a major project under the Belt and Road Initiative.

This plant is a joint steel project that has been in operation since 2018 in the special economic zone, and is neatly designed with factory buildings, roads and green vegetation.

The annual output of the environmentally friendly project exceeds 3 million tonnes, and the product quality and production technology are at the leading level in Southeast Asia, according to Hu Jiulin, chief engineer of the project.

"Environmental protection-related investment accounts for nearly 20 percent of the total project investment, and it is much higher than the local average standard," he said.

Attracted by the remarkable market, many Chinese manufacturing enterprises have set up production bases in ASEAN countries.

SAIC-GM-Wuling, a major automobile manufacturer in Guangxi, put its manufacturing base in Indonesia into operation in July 2017, bringing along 16 automotive parts enterprises from China and other countries to invest in Indonesia.

Multilateral trade is still an irresistible trend. The increasingly close economic and trade relations between ASEAN countries and China remain vigorous through multilateralism and free trade, said Azlimi Zakaria, consul general of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi. Enditem
Its older and whiter than the country as a whole, and has a larger concentration of white voters who didnt attend college  playing to Trumps strength. So while presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has a significant lead nationally and in Pennsylvania, if the overall race tightens, that gives Trump a shot to again win Pennsylvania and the Electoral College, even if he loses the popular vote. In fact, some experts say Trump could lose by even more than he did in 2016, and still secure four more years in the White House.
Minister of the Interior Marcel Vela is invited next week before the parliamentary Committee of inquiry into the Romanian asparagus pickers flown abroad.

"The Committee Secretariat sent today Minister of the Interior Ion-Marcel Vela the invitation to hearing for Tuesday, August 25, at 13:00 hrs," the Committee announced.

Committee chairman, Social Democrat Senator Radu Oprea, declared a week ago that the investigations into what happened at the airport on April 9 were finalized and that the inquiry body is now turning its attention to the Romanian Embassy in Germany and subsequently to the Ministers of Transport, the Interior, and Foreign Affairs.

"We have completed investigations into what happened at the Cluj Airport that day. We must now turn our attention to the Romanian Embassy in Germany, to look at the correspondence carried between the German and the Romanian government, at how Article 10 on charter flights was included in the Military Ordinance No. 7. We will immediately get to the Ministers too, because there are already elements that show us that we have reason to hear the Minister of Transport, Mr. Bode, we have also reasons to call Minister of the Interior, Mr. Vela, before the committee, and we are now waiting for the answer of the German Embassy; depending on what we receive, we we'll see if we have elements to also hear the Minister of Foreign Affairs," explained Oprea.

He mentioned that "deep flaws in communication and organization were found, and the legislative vacuum is obvious."

The Parliament approved the establishment of this committee at the request of the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Pro Romania, and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE).
Covid-19 Update 42 - The phased return of students and staff to campuses

Wits protocols remain in place, and only students and staff with the requisite permits and permissions will be allowed entry to campuses.

Over the weekend President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would be moving to a level 2 lockdown from midnight, on 17 August 2020 (tonight), but warned that whilst we are making progress in reducing infections, we still need to be cautious, and to work remotely as far as possible. He also indicated that the country has the fifth-highest number of infections globally, and that there is a chance of a resurgence of the disease.

In his weekly newsletter, he added: We now need to manage this risk and ensure that the gains we have made thus far in containing the pandemics spread are not reversed. The greatest threat to the health of our nation right now is complacency.

Phased return of students and staff

In the wake of the Presidents announcement and other government directives, including the prohibition of gatherings of more than 50 people, the prevention of international travel, and the need to maintain social distancing, the University is carefully planning for the phased return of specific cohorts of students and staff to our campuses over a period of time. Other considerations, including our infrastructure, residence and services capabilities, will inform the phased reopening plan.

It is envisaged that we will continue with an expanded hybrid model (contact and online teaching). Faculties, Schools and Divisions are currently determining exactly which cohort of students and staff will be required to return, and by when. This will be shared with the University community within the next ten days, along with the recalibrated 2020 almanac. For now, the academic programme continues as is.

No room for complacency

Whilst lockdown restrictions may be relaxed, the coronavirus will still be with us for many months to come. Wits protocols remain in place, and only students and staff with the requisite permits and permissions will be allowed entry to campuses.

Remember to always:

complete the online screening every day via the Wits Screening App before entering campus,

wear a cloth mask over your face and nose (and the relevant PPE in special contexts),

avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth,

practise physical distancing from others,

wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, and dry them properly,

cough or sneeze into your elbow, and

sanitise surfaces on a regular basis.

Access more resources, posters and videos via this link: https://www.wits.ac.za/covid19/wits-resources/.

Please take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Senior Executive Team

17 AUGUST 2020
Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States addressed the opening night of the US Democratic convention on Monday. In her speech, she urged Americans to vote. And she ensured the message was loud and clear, not only through her words but also with a necklace she wore.

Obama was seen wearing a golden necklace that spelled out the word VOTE. According to CNN, the piece was custom-commissioned from the brand BYCHARI by designer Chari Cuthbert.

The necklace has since become the talk of Twitter. People all over the micro-blogging platform have been tweeting about it, many asking where they too can get the same necklace.

I need one of those @MichelleObama vote necklaces for my next zoom call tbh, tweeted an individual. Did I already order a vote necklace like Michelle Obamas? Yes, wrote another.

Heres how others have reacted:

Someone find me Michelle Obama's VOTE necklace immediately please, I need to wear it every day for the rest of my life.  Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) August 18, 2020

Psst, Biden team: start selling that vote necklace @MichelleObama is wearing and you'll fund ads for the next 77 days.  Christina Reynolds (@creynoldsnc) August 18, 2020

Where do I get that VOTE necklace? Please someone   MC-KIWI  (@2witterbird) August 18, 2020

I cant wait for the "It is what it is" tshirts and the "VOTE" necklace to hit the shelves after @MichelleObama set the nation straight tonight. Pretty powerful speech and hopefully will inspire the masses to vote! #DNCConvention #DemocraticNationalConvention  Dan Darcy (@dandarcy) August 18, 2020

ICYMI. The necklace says VOTE. @MichelleObama on message and on fleek pic.twitter.com/fL8ZqCxGAF  Michele Norris (@michele_norris) August 18, 2020

I had created a VOTE necklace for the last election and knew I was going to do it again, Cuthbert said in a statement to ET. As we started our outreach, I was honored when Michelle Obamas stylist asked for one and am thrilled she is wearing it.

The handle also posted this tweet:

I never imagined that something I'm so passionate about could mean so much to so many! The response has been incredible and I am beyond honored and humbled that @michelleobama wore my design. pic.twitter.com/rbkEZ7HUei  BYCHARI (@ByChari) August 18, 2020

According to CNN, Obamas necklace was the top-trending search on US Google during the last hour of the Democratic convention.

What do have to say about it?
Leading Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), CargoGulf, has signed an agreement with MFC Cargo Container Concepts, a division of Modern Freight Company, to lease their containers to support its continued expansion.

Under the contract, CargoGulf will boost its number of containers by over 400 TEUs to facilitate the NVOCCs growth in the Arabian Gulf and Indian Subcontinent markets, a statement said.

Working with a large and strong container provider like MFC Cargo Container Concepts allows us to respond quickly to market demands due to their proximity to our largest market, said Hans-Henrik Nielsen, CargoGulfs Global Director.

Further, their container repair facilities are second-to-none, and they have a stellar reputation for straightforward and transparent repair estimates. We have complete peace of mind in their advice and recommendations.

MFC Cargo Container Concepts has been operating one of the largest independent container depots near Jebel Ali Port for the past 25 years. It is a trusted source for the sales, leasing and repair of thousands of containers yearly. The depot is located on a 30,000 sq m dedicated plot and can store 7,000 TEUS at any one time.

Laurance Langdon, Modern Freight Companys General Manager said: MFC Cargo Container Concepts works with some of the top names in the industry on their container requirements. We are excited to partner with CargoGulf to provide them with high quality containers to help drive their business growth.TradeArabia News Service
First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar and Norwegian Ambassador to Ukraine Erik Svedahl expressed their readiness to strengthen cooperation within the UN in order to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine, taking into account the election of Norway to the UN Security Council for 2021-2022.

According to the Foreign Ministrys press service, this was discussed during the presentation of copies of credentials to Dzheppar by the newly appointed ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Ukraine.

Ambassador Svedahl assured that his country does not recognize the illegal attempt to annex Crimea and that Norway continues to support Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations and the process of systemic reforms in the state.

"Taking into account the election of Norway as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2021-2022, Emine Dzheppar and Erik Svedahl expressed the parties' readiness to strengthen cooperation within the UN in order to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine," the report says.

Dzheppar stressed that special attention should be focused on the situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea in order to counteract Russia's steps by the international community. As a tool for such interaction, she suggested using the international "Crimean platform", designed to ensure the coordination of international activities in the Crimean issue.

ish
18.08.2020 LISTEN

The Institute for Education Studies (IFEST) has said 78 per cent of schools have not received the free mathematical instruments (SMIs) for the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) candidates promised by the government.

Last month, the Parliament of Ghana approved a $3.2 million tax waiver for the procurement of the math sets for the candidates.

The tax waiver was criticised by the Minority but the government explained that the financial arrangement was to enable the Ghana Education Service distribute 853,009 units of the devices, comprising mathematical sets and scientific calculators, to all SHS students.

But IFEST, in a statement, said its checks reveal that 78 per cent of the schools have not received the maths sets.

IFEST is, therefore, demanding answers from the Ministry of Education on the following:

1. The current state of the procurement process.

2. When they intend supplying the SMIs to the WASSCE candidates.

3. If it is still relevant to procure these SMIs for the WASSCE candidates since as at the time they wrote the Core Mathematics examination (17th August 2020), these math sets have still not been delivered.

4. The validity of the sole sourcing procedure adopted and the cost of the SMI (GHS75 each) since the SMIs cannot be classified as an urgent need of the WASSCE candidates now.

Below is the full IFEST statement:

PRESS STATEMENT

Ministry of Education should come clear on the supply of Scientific Mathematical Instrument (SMI) for WASSCE Candidates

The attention of the Institute for Education Studies (IFEST) has been drawn to an agreement between the Ministry of Education and a company called Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited to supply 853,009 units of the Kapek Scientific Mathematical Instruments for use during West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) by Ghanaian candidates.

It would be recalled that, about a month ago, the Parliament of Ghana approved a $3.2M tax waiver for the procurement of math sets for use by students during the WASSCE. The SMIs whose approval came under severe criticisms by various stakeholders basically due to the cost of the math sets were supposed to be delivered to the candidates for the 2020 WASSCE since it was to help combat examinations malpractice perpetuated especially by use of mathematical sets, calculator in examination halls by candidates and it will also provide free in-one functionality which comes in cheaper than acquiring them individually and also help improve the rating of the certificate issued according to the Chairman of the Finance Committee. While we applaud the Ministry for such an initiative, our checks from about 78% of all the schools writing the WASSCE this year indicates that, no student have been given such package. IFEST would, therefore, want to find out from the Ministry of Education:

1. The current state of the procurement process.

2. When they intend supplying the SMI to the WASSCE candidates.

3. If it is still relevant to procure these SMIs for the WASSCE candidates since as at the time they wrote the Core Mathematics examination (17th August 2020), these math sets have still not been delivered.

4. The validity of the sole sourcing procedure adopted and the cost of the SMI (Ghc 75 each) since the SMIs cannot be classified as an urgent need of the WASSCE candidates now.

We would want to appeal to the Ministry to be circumspect in their expenditure patterns, since there is already, a lot of pressure on the education sector budget which has made it very difficult for other sub-sectors to get the needed attention they deserve. It is therefore prudent for the Ministry to be prudent in the utilisation of the scarce resources available to them.

Signed

Peter Anti

(Executive Director, Ag.)

---classfmonline
Meg Whitman speaks during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention. (DNC via Getty Images)

California billionaire Meg Whitman, a Republican who spent $144 million of her own wealth on an unsuccessful run for governor a decade ago, endorsed Joe Biden for president at the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

"I'm a longtime Republican and a longtime CEO. And let me tell you, Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business, let alone an economy," Whitman said. "Joe Biden, on the other hand, has a plan that will strengthen our economy for working people and small-business owners. For me, the choice is simple. I'm with Joe."

Whitman was among four Republicans, including former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who spoke at the nationally televised virtual convention. The move is not entirely surprising since in 2016, Whitman compared then-candidate Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, and endorsed and contributed to Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons campaign.

At the time, the major GOP donor said she felt she had to put country before party because of how dangerous she felt Trumps candidacy was for the nation.

Donald Trumps demagoguery has undermined the fabric of our national character, she said in August 2016.

But the prospect of Whitmans appearance at the DNC stunned some Democratic operatives who worked hard against her during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

I would not in a million years have imagined seeing Meg Whitman at a Democratic convention, but I also never imagined I'd be buying extra stamps to try and save the postal service in the midst of a global pandemic, said Sterling Clifford, who served as Jerry Browns campaign spokesman in the 2010 race against Whitman. The world is full of surprises, I guess.

Whitman, 64, is a well-known face to California voters because of the record-setting gubernatorial campaign she ran in 2010, the last time Republicans were competitive in statewide contests here.

Worth $3.8 billion, she made much of her fortune as the head of EBay and used her vast personal resources to win the GOP primary over Steve Poizner, himself a wealthy man. Her campaign ultimately spent $178 million, with Whitmans checkbook providing the bulk of the money.

Story continues

That made her campaign the most expensive self-financed effort in the country until J.B. Pritzkers 2018 gubernatorial win in Illinois and then Michael Bloombergs unsuccessful pursuit of the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this year.

The money created a campaign that was more like a presidential operation, with lushly produced events, an unending barrage of TV advertisements, high-end swag, private jets and a massive roster of highly compensated political consultants.

But the neophyte candidate could not compete with Browns threadbare effort, in part because of self-imposed wounds: taking a hard right turn on immigration during the GOP primary, early and sustained negative advertising that battered her likability among voters, the lack of voting for much of her adult life, and, notably, the emergence of a housekeeper who was in the country illegally whom Whitman fired as she prepared to run for governor. Brown ultimately beat her by 13 points.

After the campaign, Whitman became chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, and then in 2018 became CEO of Quibi, Jeffrey Katzenbergs video-streaming platform.

Whitman appeared at the DNC with a trio of other Republicans who endorsed Biden: Kasich, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and former New York Rep. Susan Molinari.

Rival party appearances at political conventions are not uncommon and tend to be popular with the audience, who view them as a public affirmation that their side is indeed the correct one.

Then-Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut spoke at the 2008 Republican National Convention, the year his close friend Sen. John McCain was the GOP nominee. Jim Brady, President Reagans press secretary who was partly paralyzed in the 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan, appeared at the 1996 DNC.

For the record:

4:13 PM, Aug. 21, 2020: A previous version of this article misidentified Joe Lieberman as a U.S. representative. He was a senator.


Richard Dabney has been appointed vice president of corporate underwriting at the Austin-based workers compensation insurer, Texas Mutual Insurance Company.

In this newly created VP position within the underwriting division, Dabney will oversee the companys corporate underwriting and underwriting support services.

Dabneys insurance career spans nearly 30 years, 15 of which have been spent at Texas Mutual. He joined the company in 2005 as a senior underwriter at the Austin Regional Office and was quickly promoted to underwriting supervisor before ultimately making the move to corporate underwriting.

Prior to joining Texas Mutual, Dabney gained experience in a variety of underwriting positions for Texas for American Home, Kemper Insurance, SeaBright Insurance and American Equity Underwriters.

Dabney has also served as an expert witness on workers compensation policy.

As Texas Mutual continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, Dabney has played an integral role in leading the underwriting department and ensuring that policyholders continue to maintain coverage.

Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Topics Texas Underwriting
A couple in hotel quarantine have complained about being denied time outside and reprimanded for breaking strict isolation rules.

YouTubers Zoe Blake and Bianca Alarcon flew into Australia last week and were put in quarantine at the five-star Hilton Hotel in Sydney's CBD.

The couple, who moved from Chicago in the United States, posted a video clip saying they were going 'stir crazy' due to being prevented from leaving their luxury room.

Ms Blake, originally from Queensland, shared a video clip that said the YouTubers were 'in need of good food and can't wait to be outside again.'

YouTuber couple Zoe Blake (pictured left) and Bianca Alarcon (right) entered coronavirus hotel quarantine at the five-star Hilton Hotel in Sydney last week

The couple (pictured) complained they were going 'stir crazy', had been denied time outside and had been yelled at when opening their hotel room door

'After a long plane ride you want to go out and explore. Well, we couldn't do that we barely got to stretch our legs, we came right in here,' Ms Alarcon complained.

The footage showed Ms Blake call the hotel reception and seem shocked when she was told she couldn't leave the room.

'I was just wondering if I could speak to one of the police or army who are handling us being allowed to go for walks,' she asked.

'Unfortunately you're not able to leave the room at all,' the receptionist responded.

'Oh we can't go out and get fresh air?' Ms Blake asked again.

The receptionist informed the YouTuber all quarantine guests 'need to be in the room for the whole time'.

Ms Blake rolled her eyes and grimaced at the response.

She also shared a clip whinging that someone had yelled at her for opening the hotel room door.

'I opened it before because I heard them put something down and I went out to grab lunch and I opened the door and the lady was like "Don't open the door!"'

Ms Blake (pictured left with Ms Alarcon right) whinged she couldn't 'get fresh air' in the hotel

'And I quickly closed it... you're acting like I'm some infected animal in quarantine or something,' Ms Blake said.

The couple also referred to their meals as 'c**p', their room as a 'teensy, tiny, little cage' and complained of 'awkward' security guards.

Quarantine hotels have come under extreme scrutiny as it is believed the majority of Victoria's second wave of coronavirus cases originated from a hotel breach.

The Doherty Institute's Professor Ben Howden told an inquiry into the state's hotel quarantine program on Monday 'more than 99 per cent' of Victoria's second wave of infections could be linked people coming back to the state from overseas.

International travellers arriving in Australia are required to isolate in a designated quarantine facility for 14 days and have been forced to foot their own bill since July 18.

The couple (pictured) flew into Sydney after migrating from Chicago in the United States

Hotel quarantines (Hilton Sydney pictured) have come under scrutiny after it was proposed that '99 per cent' of Melbourne's second coronavirus wave originated from travellers

The mandatory quarantine was originally funded by taxpayer money but now costs $3,000 for the first adult with an added $1,000 for each additional adult. Additional children are charged $500 each while children under 3 have no additional cost.

NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia they were working alongside health authorities to ensure coronavirus safety protocols were followed in quarantine hotels.

'The NSW Police Force continues to work with NSW Health to ensure hotel quarantine operations comply with the highest health and safety standards.

'The professional management of this process has dramatically reduced the risk of COVID-19 spread into the community,' the spokesperson said.

NSW residents returning from Victoria are also required to quarantine and will have to foot their own bills from September 11 onwards.

Victoria recorded another 222 coronavirus cases and 17 deaths on Tuesday.

Thirteen of the 17 new fatalities are linked to aged care facilities, and eight of those people were in their 90s, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed

Mr Andrews also confirmed on Tuesday there are 665 Victorians in hospital, 45 of those are in intensive care and 32 require a ventilator.

New South Wales recorded three new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, one returned traveller in hospital and two residents in Sydney's southwest.

One case remains under investigation and the other is a close contact linked to a funeral cluster.

NSW Health is currently treating 122 people for coronavirus and seven people are in intensive care.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Hilton for comment.
Forty-five baby sea turtles hatched safely on Phu Quy Island off the south-central province of Binh Thuan on Monday after their eggs were found and protected by the local community for 51 days.

The baby sea turtles came out from a cluster of eggs laid by their mother on the beach of Trieu Duong Bay on June 27, according to Bui The Nhan, Party chief and chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Quy District, which administers the island.

The mother turtle, which weighed about 100 kilograms, returned to the sea after laying her eggs.

Local authorities were alerted of the situation after some locals discovered the eggs and made a report.

Understanding that the eggs belonged to a protected species of sea turtles that had just come back to the island to lay eggs after a long time, the local community worked together to protect the eggs from harm.

They put up a warning sign and fenced off the beach area around the nest.

After 51 days, the small eggs hatched into 45 healthy baby sea turtles on Monday.

Baby sea turtles after hatching on Phu Quy Island off Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam, August 17, 2020. Video: Tri Beo

Employees from the Phu Quy Island District Aquatic Resource Protection Station transferred the baby sea turtles to Hon Tranh Island, around one kilometer from Phu Quy, and safely returned them to the ocean.

The authorities decided not to release them on Phu Quy Island as there was a construction site nearby, which could cause the baby turtles to be stranded.

Le Huu Tri, a member of the team involved in the process, said he was fortunate to have the rare chance of returning the sea turtles to their natural habitat.

Local residents look at the baby sea turtles that have just hatched on Phu Quy Island off Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam, August 17, 2020. Photo: Tri Beo

Baby sea turtles are returned to the ocean on Hon Tranh Island off Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam, August 17, 2020. Photo: Tri Beo

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Fairfax County public school buses are lined up at a maintenance facility in Lorton, Va., on July 24, 2020. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

As Teachers Strike, GOP Strategists Call for Supporting School Choice

Students were supposed to return to classes Aug. 17 in the Phoenix suburb of San Tan Valley, but the reopening was canceled when more than 100 teachers and staff members staged an unexpected sickout.

Schools Superintendent Gregory Wyman told reporters, We have received an overwhelming response from staff indicating that they do not feel safe returning to classrooms with students, due to the CCP virus, also known as the novel coronavirus.

Similar scenes have played out in public school districts across the nation in recent weeks, often with teachers unions loudly demanding unrelated political items such as defunding police, Medicare for All, and banning school choice programs.

While the teachers sit out or insist on virtual-only classes, millions of parents with children in the nations more than 13,000 public school systems are fuming.

As one frustrated father who requested anonymity told The Epoch Times on Aug. 17, nearly every family we know is either struggling to make arrangements for their kids or has already decided to pull them out of public school for private or homeschool options.

Even worse, he said, to be clear about those arrangements for the ones who have to give online public school a try, many of those parents are choosing between their jobs and childcare. Theyre literally having to decide which of their two jobs has the better income, health care benefits, schedule flexibility, etc., and leaving the other.

The father has three school-age children and lives in a prosperous middle-class suburban Virginia neighborhood.

Such comments dont surprise Center for Education Reform (CER) President Jeanne Allen, who told The Epoch Times on Aug. 18 that the situation with the pandemic has introduced many parentssome for the first timeto the deficiencies of the traditional education system, one that has long failed to accomplish its very purposeeducating our students well.

What parents want, Allen said, is that they be given the resources the system gets, to choose, develop or buy their own education for their kids this year. Theyre creating their own learning communities, micro-schools, and applying for charter and private schools in unprecedented numbers.

The problem, according to Allen, is that too many Republican leaders support school choice only tepidly, thus risking missing a huge political opportunity created by teacher union resistance to reopening schools.

Other than the president [and] a few senators and governors, Republican policymakers are treating this issue like its polite dinner conversation rather than the significant fight for equity that it should be, Allen said.

Republican and conservative strategists interviewed by The Epoch Times agreed with Allen.

Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning, for example, said GOP leaders are missing a layup by not aggressively pushing school choice tax reform right now.

Similarly, Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform president and veteran conservative strategist, said the establishment press is uninterested in hearing about this. They know it tears the Democratic Party in half. So, statements of sound policy are not enough.

Trump and the GOP should make dramatic moves that force the media to explain the difference between the two parties on education. The Democrats support the teachers union leadership. Republicans support parents, students, and competent teachers against the demands of the union bosses. That starts with full parental choice.

Taxpayers Protection Alliance President David Williams agreed, saying that Republicans should be using this opportunity to talk about and take specific actions to enhance school choice and make sure that any federal money can be used for charter schools or other nontraditional forms of education. Ultimately, (to steal a line from others) the money should follow the student to ensure each students needs are met.

If schools dont open, he said, some single parents may have to quit their jobs to stay at home because not everybody can work from home. Its time to lessen the grip of unions.

Brian Darling, founder of Liberty Government Affairs and former senior counsel to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), noted that his old boss recently introduced legislation requiring parental choice in deciding how federal education dollars can be spent.

The Republican Party would be increasing the likelihood of winning more seats in the White House this fall if they were more vocal about school choice, Darling told The Epoch Times, adding that taxpayers should be empowered on how to direct money for the best education of their own children, not unions.

The consequences for top GOP candidates not making school choice a vocal campaign priority could be especially severe, according to Club for Growth President David McIntosh, a former Indiana Republican congressman.

McIntosh said his groups polling in states with GOP senators facing tough reelection battles shows that candidates are already in precarious positions, and failure to act on parental choice could result in electoral disasters.

If those Republican senators vote to continue sending tax dollars to state and local government education bureaucrats but nothing to parents whose schools are closed to help them choose other options, polling suggests voter support could drop 25 percent.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
CEDAR PARK, Texas  A man who police say shot three officers and held three family members inside a Texas home Sunday surrendered himself Monday morning after an 18-hour standoff.

The man, identified as 26-year-old Joseph Desean Taylor, was arrested around 9 a.m. local time after releasing his brother, sister and mother from a home in Cedar Park, said Interim Cedar Park Police Chief Mike Harmon.

Taylor, who police described as having mental health issues, is charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and three counts of aggravated kidnapping, police said. Each charge is a first-degree felony punishable with up to life in prison.

The incident began after Taylors mother called 911 at 3:10 p.m. Sunday saying her son had kicked in the door and was becoming aggressive, police said.

Officers arrived and were shot at when they entered the house, police said. The officers were able to fire back and leave the house, according to police.

More than 50 rounds of ammunition were fired during the standoff, Harmon said on Monday. He declined to say how many came from Taylor and how many from police.

Law enforcement on Monday continued to investigate the scene near a Cedar Park home where police say a man shot three officers and held three family members inside during an 18-hour standoff.

Authorities identified the three officers as Jacqueline Quiles, who has been with the Cedar Park Police Department for four years; Cris Hester, a 10-year veteran of the department; and Nik Anderson, an eight-year veteran.

Quiles and Hester were treated and released from the hospital. Anderson, who was shot in one of his biceps, underwent surgery and was in stable condition on Monday, Harmon said at a news conference on Monday afternoon.

Harmon did not specify how Quiles and Hester were wounded individually but said a bullet grazed the head of one of the officers and another one hit the side of another officers vest.

Rod Hydro, who lives in the neighborhood, said Monday that he looked out his front window on Sunday afternoon and saw the three officers who had been shot.

One looked like he was grazed on the head and another was shot on the upper shoulder and the female officer looked like the shot had grazed off her chest, Hydro said.

Story continues

The incident triggered a large law enforcement response. The Texas Department of Public Safety; Texas Rangers; Williamson County sheriffs office; Williamson Countys tactical team; the Round Rock, Leander, Georgetown and Liberty Hill police departments; and several emergency services and fire departments in the area were among those that assisted Cedar Park police during the incident, Harmon said.

A police officer works at the scene where three Cedar Park police officers were shot Sunday while answering to a call in the Heritage Park subdivision. Police say a man who had been holding three family members inside a home since Sunday released his relatives and surrendered himself on Monday morning.

After the shooting, Taylor stayed barricaded in the home throughout the night until the next morning as negotiators tried to get him to come out and release his family. Throughout most of Sunday afternoon, a helicopter circled overhead and dozens of emergency vehicles lined the streets at Heritage Park Drive and Bagdad Road. Officials told residents in the area to stay in their homes until it was safe.

We are on scene of a shooting where multiple Cedar Park Police Officers have been shot while responding to a call at a home off Natalie Cove.

Subject is barricaded inside the home and multiple law enforcement agencies are on scene. pic.twitter.com/4Wwel2jUVe  Cedar Park Police (@CedarParkPD) August 16, 2020

How the standoff ended

Around 8 a.m. Monday, police said Taylor had released his brother, sister and a small dog from the home.

Harmon said Taylors mother, who was the last of his three family members to be released, played a part in helping her other children get out of the house. He said officials were counting on her help to get Taylor to exit the house and surrender peacefully. Negotiators had a direct phone line set up to communicate with Taylor inside the home. Negotiations lasted about 16 hours, Harmon said.

We dont want anybody else to get hurt, Harmon said at the time. We want to get him the help that he needs.

At 9 a.m., police announced that the standoff had ended peacefully. Taylor was taken to the hospital to be examined before going to the Williamson County jail. Taylors mother and siblings were not injured in the incident, Harmon said.

Police had responded to previous disturbances at the home, Harmon said. He declined to provide details about the calls. Taylor was charged with assaulting a family member in September but the charge was later dismissed, according to Williamson County court records.

The owners of the Natalie Cove home live in California, according to the Williamson County Appraisal Districts website. They did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Residents on Heritage Park Drive, a street away from the standoff, were surprised at what happened.

It was very shocking, said Mary Moffett. I feel heartbroken for the three officers that were shot. Police take so much flak but they put their lives on the line.

Austin American-Statesman reporter Tony Plohetski contributed to this report.

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Cedar Park, Texas, standoff: Police identify man arrested
On Monday, a government spokesman for Somalia announced that Al-Shabaab militants attacked a hotel. The assault has caused at least 12 casualties when the armed men, equipped with AK-47 rifles and explosives detonated a car bomb before invading the Elite hotel and shooting with reckless abandon.

Terrorist insurgency

Somalia Special Forces took four hours to reclaim the hotel from the assailants. The establishment is a popular hangout of many government officials and members of Somalia's diaspora. The special forces killed five of the armed men and were able to rescue approximately 200 guests in the hotel.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the rescued hostages include the owner of the hotel, Abdullahi Mohamed Nor, who is also a former finance minister and is now a member of parliament.

The head of African Union troops in the country, Francisco Madeira, said the attack was an apparent attempt to cause the most number of casualties on innocent civilians, whether they were men, women, or children.

A few hours later, al-Shabaab struck once again and assaulted an army base located in the southwestern region of Somalia where they killed five soldiers stationed in the area.

Militant members of al-Shabaab have for more than a decade been in constant conflicts with Somalia's relatively weak federal government. The group uses an insurgent-style strategy that the country's government finds challenging to fend off despite support from the United States.

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US President Donald Trump has increased military involvement in the region, and the African Union has assigned 22,000 troops to patrol the area made up of soldiers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, and Burundi.

The United States government ordered several drone strikes in the country last year and was able to hit 63 targets, which is higher than the recorded 47 attacks conducted in 2018. The US African command said that within the first five months this year, the United States military had already ordered 40 drone strikes.

Ongoing assaults

Despite the military efforts, al-Shabaab had continued its attacks across the nation in recent months. The most devastating of the assaults took place in December of last year where the group detonated a truck bomb that took the lives of more than 80 people in the city of Mogadishu, as reported by The New York Times.

An analyst, Rashid Abdi, focused his observations on the Horn of Africa and said that the insurgency is as notorious and lethal as it was before. He noted that while the efforts of the United States government using drone strikes reduced the leadership ranks of the group, it was not enough to make a dent in its capacity for destruction.

Experts believe Somalia's government has an increased challenge with the rise of militant attacks. The country has been facing flash floods that have severely affected more than 100,000 of its citizens this year, and several swarms of pesky locusts have laid bare to farmlands and their harvest along with the global crisis that has ravaged the world, the coronavirus pandemic.

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Night Curfew in Maharashtra: Check guidelines, rules; what is allowed, what is not allowed

Citing Mumbai's Dharavi as example, Philippines govt to follow suit

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Aug 18: The Philippines government will conduct a house-to-house search for people who are infected with coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 but are not showing any symptoms.

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Health (DOH) is adopting the so-called Dharavi Model of Mumbai, India, which has become a global model for the management of COVID-19.

Amid coronavirus scare, Goa sees 12 times more flight movement

Under the plan, health authorities will identify asymptomatic persons in communities, test and isolate them.

Some 800,000 people live in a one-square-mile stretch, boxed in between thundering train tracks and a polluted river separating it from the skyscrapers of Mumbai's financial district.

Meanwhile, the efforts of the Maharashtra government and the Centre to contain the pandemic in the area has drawn praises from even the World Health Organisation, with the chief of the global health watchdog citing that as an example of how the virus can be brought under control.

"Today the world recorded 12 million cases. In the last six weeks cases have more than doubled. (But) there are many examples from around the world that have shown that even if the outbreak is very intense, it can still be brought back under control. And some of these examples are Italy, Spain and South Korea, and even in Dharavi - a densely packed area in the megacity of Mumbai - a strong focus on community engagement and the basics of testing, tracing, isolating and treating all those that are sick is key to breaking the chains of transmission and suppressing the virus," WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday during his daily press briefing.

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The Philippines has the second-highest number of confirmed cases in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, and has had more reported infections than China, where the pandemic began late last year.
Springfield city officials have announced more free coronavirus testing sites will be available from Aug. 19, through Sept. 6.

However, even with the additional sites, many officials in Western Massachusetts feel that more are needed and that the state and the federal government should be taking note.

Massachusetts launched the testing program to stop and mitigate the community spread of the coronavirus in communities across the state where there might be higher rates and potential for community spread. Calls from politicians to expand testing in Western Massachusetts continue.

Since day one when this coronavirus hit, [Health and Human Services] Commissioner [Helen] Caulton-Harris and I have been calling for more testing, said Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. These additional testing sites are great but there needs to be more of a full-court press from the federal level to produce more testing capacity and much more testing turnaround in a timely fashion. Without this, it defeats the purpose.

Stop the Spread was launched by Gov. Charlie Baker on July 10 and provided free COVID-19 testing in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough and New Bedford. The testing was later expanded to Agawam, Brockton, Framingham, Methuen, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton and Worcester.

On Aug. 6, testing started at the Junior High School in Agawam as part of the Stop the Spread initiative through Tapestry Health. They told MassLive that the demand for coronavirus testing has been outstripping access. In just two hours after posting online, the non-profit had filled all its allotted reservations at sites in Agawam and Springfield.

State Sen. Eric P. Lesser had previously applauded the news of more testing sites but has also been outspoken about the lack of testing available early in the program to the residents in western parts of the state. The additional testing that was introduced in Agawam and Springfield last week still left him feeling that more needs to be done.

A highly diverse region that encompasses nearly 3,000 square miles and remains the poorest area of our Commonwealth, said Lesser. We all have a part to play in stopping the spread of the COVID-19 and that starts with an even playing field that includes all areas across our Commonwealth.

In an interview with MassLive on Aug. 6., Tapestry CEO Cheryl Zoll said that there was more demand for testing than there are testing sites, and added that, when we opened up the phones for appointments, they were filled within hours, so much more could be done.

Caulton-Harris said that what she believes is needed is a national testing strategy and a supply chain that can meet the testing needs of not just Springfield or Massachusetts, but the entire U.S.

All Americans should be able to get a COVID-19 test on-demand, said Caulton-Harris. We will continue to work together with all local, state and federal parties involved to defeat this virus and make sure that adequate testing becomes available.

This program supports the testing of asymptomatic individuals in the community. Testing is provided at no cost to residents. Appointments and pre-registration are strongly encouraged, however, walk-ins will not be turned away if there is capacity. Those interested in being tested should call Tapestry Health at 413-364-2149.

The Springfield testing sites will be done between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. which will be located at:

Kiley Middle School, 180 Cooley St. on Aug. 19.

Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center, 1476 Roosevelt Ave. on Aug. 21.

Sci-Tech High School, 1250 State St. on Aug. 26.

Elias Brookings School, 433 Walnut St. Aug. 28.

Clodo Concepcion Community Center (Greenleaf), 1188 Parker St. on Sept. 2.

Central High School, 1840 Roosevelt Ave. on Sept. 4.

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By Rocky Swift

TOKYO (Reuters) - Four Western business lobbies joined in protesting Japan's travel ban to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, saying the policy is out of step with measures in other major economies and will harm investment.

Many countries have imposed travel curbs to battle the pandemic but Japan's are among the most strict, effectively banning entry of tourists and visa holders from more than 140 countries.

"This policy is contrary to the treatment Japan receives from other G7 and other leading countries who treat long-term foreign residents equally to citizens on health matters," the groups said in a statement released on Tuesday.

The joint letter was signed by business lobbies from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Europe. The U.S. and European groups had issued previous complaints about the policy.

Japan allows its citizens to return to the country if they take a coronavirus test at the port of entry and observe a period of self-quarantine. Foreigners living in Japan face much higher hurdles for re-entry.

These measures "can only discourage foreign nationals, and the companies they work for, from investing in Japan," the business groups said.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The government announced last month it would start "phased measures" to restore travel depending on infection conditions, starting with 12 Asian countries.

Restrictions to contain the spread of the virus have devastated Japan's economy, which posted its biggest contraction on record in the second quarter.

(Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
New Covid-19 restrictions advising over 70s to limit their social interactions are "disrespectful" to older people, a representative group has said.

Restrictions to limit the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland announced this evening ask older people to limit their time spent outdoors, avoid congregated settings, avoid public transport where possible and to shop during designated hours.

Active Retirement Ireland, a voluntary organisation for older people, said the new measures unfairly target older people who have "already sacrificed so much."

Read More

In a statement, Maureen Kavanagh, CEO of Active Retirement Ireland, said: "Todays announcement that older people are to limit their time spent outdoors is disrespectful to our older population. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, our older people cocooned and diligently followed all of the Government advice.

"Our older people sacrificed seeing their families, they adapted to using new technologies, they followed the guidelines and remained indoors for the duration of lockdown.

"Asking them to stay indoors again and to reduce their social interaction is unfair after they have already sacrificed so much, and while our members will comply with this advice, they feel that they alone are being asked to bear the brunt of this."

Ms Kavanagh said the recent increase in Covid-19 cases across the country has not "originated from older people socialising or flouting Government guidelines."

She added: "We do not believe in pitting one generation against another. Everyone must act together if we are to come through this. While we, as much as anyone, understand the need to protect our older citizens, we believe the distinct causes of the recent surge in cases must be dealt with, rather than re-imposing restrictions on some of the most vulnerable in our society."

Organisation ALONE has deemed the regulations "harsh" and is calling on the government to ensure homecare and other supports for older people for the winter months are planned for in advance.

Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said: "Of course, we want to protect our older people from Covid-19. We feel the way to do this is to main social solidarity where we all follow the public health advice and collectively protect those at risk regardless of age.

Fresh air, movement, social connection and access to medical services are essential for older people now in the winter months ahead. Ultimately, we stand alongside those who use our services, and we are extremely disappointed that older people may face harsh restrictions once again due to the negligence and disregard of other people across the country."
RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian Federal Police said Tuesday they were raiding more than 100 properties and seeking to arrest dozens of people in a crackdown on smuggling rings that shipped tons of cocaine within Brazil and to Europe.

Police said the operation targeted four separate criminal groups that sent cocaine through Brazilian ports, notably through the northern city of Natal. At least some of the drugs had been smuggled into Brazil across the Paraguayan border.

Police said they had 139 search warrants and 50 arrest warrants in operations taking place in 12 states and the federal district of Brasilia. They were also attempting to seize seven airplanes, five helicopters, 42 trucks and a dozen buildings.

The investigations began in 2018 in co-operation with the UKs National Crime Agency. Police said that 12 people already had arrested and more than 11 tons of cocaine confiscated in the course of those investigations.

They said traffickers have continued to operate even during the coronavirus pandemic. From March through July, police said, they confiscated a ton and a half of drugs.

Read more about:
The California heat wave will cause rolling blackouts for over 3.3 million homes in the state on Monday, the state system's operator said.

California power companies are overwhelmed by the demand for power in the state, and have decided to have rolling blackouts for about an hour at a time each.

This weekend, rolling blackouts have affected 220,000 PG&E customers, over 130,000 from Southern California Edison and over 58,000 from Sempra Energy's San Diego Gas & Electric.

The state's Independent System Operator (ISO) said it is looking at an electrical supply shortage of 4,400 megawatts in the state, Reuters said in a report. Cal ISO is in charge of about 80% of the state's power grid through power companies.

The announcement of rolling blackouts come as California falls in the grips of a historic heat wave. It is currently struggling to meet the demand for electricity.

The highest temperature to be recorded on Earth, a scorching 130 degrees, was just felt at Death Valley on Sunday. It is no wonder that the state is trying to lessen the chances of a complete power shortage.

"We have a perfect storm going on here," said Steve Berberich, CEO of Cal ISO, in a CNN report.

Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the ISO for having the rolling blackouts with little notice. He wants an investigation on the blackouts.

Newsom wrote a letter to Cal ISO, the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Energy Commission. It read: "These blackouts, which occurred without warning or enough time for preparation, are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nation's largest and most innovative state."

He also signed an emergency proclamation Monday to free up some energy capacity in the state, CBS Los Angeles reported. He warned that customers that rolling blackouts were "very likely" to take place over the next 72 hours.

Last Rolling Blackout was in 2001

According to Deadline, rolling blackouts hasn't happened in California since 2001.

During that blackout, several energy companies were accused of manipulating the power market so that electricity rates would spike. Electricity supplies then ran artificially short.

The energy shortages in the state led the Cal ISO to issue a Stage Three emergency.

Biggest Power Outage Yet

Officials warned that this coming power outage will likely be the largest one to ever be seen in the state.

Mercury News estimated that there were about 1.5 million people who were affected in the 2001 power outages. With that number, the current 3.3 million people that were hit by blackouts is at least twice as large.

There was a heavy strain on the power grid, which led to a call to conserve as much energy customers can. This was part of Cal ISO's "flex alert" that will last at least until Wednesday.

As LADWP is locally-owned and runs its own plants, it is not likely to be impacted by the outages. It may even help supply 900 megawatts of power to the state grid Tuesday.

But home supplied by LADWP are still urged to take measures in conserving energy during the 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. flex alert.

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This episode of Voices from the Lockdown will attempt to highlight dying tourist revenue and the crumbling economy in the valley, through interviews with various stakeholders from Kashmir.

"I am 47 years old and I have never experienced a situation like this in my life. I was around in the 90s, 92s, 96s and 97s. Not just that, even 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016 had difficult situations, still tourists used to visit. Since the abrogation of Article 370, we have not seen tourists visiting the valley. The tourism sector is the backbone of Kashmir and now, that backbone is broken. says Yaqub Donoo, a representative from the Houseboat Owners Association of Kashmir.

This episode of Voices from the Lockdown will attempt to highlight dying tourist revenue and the crumbling economy in the valley, through interviews with various stakeholders from Kashmir.

In conversation with Firstpost, Kashmiri journalist Quratulain Rehbar explores the debilitating state of the tourist-reliant economy in Kashmir. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries estimated that Kashmirs economy suffered losses to the tune of 40,000 crores since the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A in August of 2019. Since, most businesses have been shut. The worst-hit, according to the KCCI, has been the tourism, hospitality, transport and horticulture industries.

As Qurat points, it's not just one, but all allied industries associated that have suffered as a result of no tourists in the valley. Add to that the lack of government aid and job losses, and there seems to be no respite or resolution for the major and minor business owners.

"When I spoke to different people across the sectors connected with Tourism, what I could see is that there has been a complete breakdown of an entire ecosystem. I spoke to a ponnywalla in Pahalgam, whose name is Mohammad Shafi. He used to earn his livelihood by ferrying tourists around. But since last year he has not seen a single tourist. Even if he had to find alternative employment, there is nothing available for him. Shopkeepers, shawl sellers, hotels, home-stays, small tea-stall owners and other businesses dependent on tourism are not able to make anything for their living," said Qurat.

Making matters worse is the inability to operate any businesses online, given the joke of internet speeds in the state. What the people need right now is immediate and effective government intervention and assistive policies to revive what could soon be a completely crippled economy.

Full script of the episode:

The tourism sector is the backbone of Kashmir and now, that backbone is broken.

Hi I am Greeshma Kuthar and this is Voices from the Lockdown, a Firstpost podcast.

In the previous episode of Voices from the Lockdown, we looked at how a year after August 5 of 2019, the worst repercussions of this move has been on students. In todays episode, Kashmiri Journalist Quratulain Rehbar will be speaking to us again, to help us understand the state of the economy in Kashmir.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries estimated that Kashmirs economy suffered losses to the tune of 40,000 crore since the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A in August of 2019. Through the year, businesses have been mostly shut and could hardly participate in anything which can be considered normal market activity. Job losses due to the state of the economy is a whole story by itself. The worst hit, according to the KCCI has been tourism, hospitality, transport and horticulture industries. While we have heard many such data points which suggest that the situation is extremely bad, through this episode, we will attempt to listen to some of the voices from Kashmir.

Qurat, thank you for joining us again.

Qurat: Thank you for having me Greeshma.

Greeshma: Before speaking further with Qurat, I am going to share an interview with Bilal Ahmed, a hotel owner from Pahalgam in South Kashmir. Let us listen to what he has to say about how life has been for him since August 5 of 2019.

Bilal Ahmed: We are totally crushed because of the state of the economy. If we look at our economy, it is totally dependent on tourism. There is no other source of income, especially in Aro Valley. Agriculture is not an option here.

All the villages are totally dependent on tourism. There are some people who operate horses, some have shops, some have restaurants, some have mobile taxis.

When we are totally dependent on tourism, and there are these kinds of problems, we are totally crushed. After 5th of August, there have been no tourists. We were trying to get tourists at least during winter but no luck.

Qurat, from Mr Bilal's words, it is evident that businesses dependent on tourism in Kashmir have taken a massive hit since August 2019. But just saying tourism isnt good enough, I think we should discuss the major and minor players in the industry, as clearly there are quite a few. Can you break it down for us?

Qurat: The thing is you cannot view the tourism industry in isolation. There are many allied industries dependent and connected to tourism, like local industries which have been hit the hardest. For example, Kashmir is known for its handicrafts and shawls. Thousands are dependent on this sector but there has been no revenue.

When I spoke to different people across the sectors connected with Tourism, what I could see is that there has been a complete breakdown of an entire ecosystem. I spoke to a ponnywalla in Pahalgam, whose name is Mohammad Shafi. He used to earn his livelihood by ferrying tourists around. But since last year he has not seen a single tourist. Even if he had to find alternative employment, there is nothing available for him. Shopkeepers, shawl sellers, hotels, home-stays, small tea-stall owners and other businesses dependent on tourism are not able to make anything for their living.

In Srinagars Dal Lake, a major tourist attraction, around 1000 houseboats are anchored in a ghostly silence. These floating boats used to be bustling with tourists. But these luxury boats are sinking now. With no business in hand the houseboat owners say that even they dont have money for the yearly necessary maintenance of these boats.

Greeshma: Since youve brought up the losses suffered by those who operate houseboats, let me play back an interview with Yaqub Donoo, the spokesperson of the houseboats owners association.

Yaqub Donoo: I am 47 years old and I have never experienced a situation like this in my life.

I was around in the 90s, 92s, 96s and 97s. Not just that, even 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016 also had difficult situations, but still, tourists used to visit.

Since last year after the abrogation of Article 370, we have not seen tourists visiting the valley. The tourism sector is the backbone of Kashmir and now, that backbone is broken. We Kashmiris are living a helpless life.

We were promised by the government that we will be paid Rs 1000 per houseboat as monthly assistance for 3 months.

I have to spend around 50 thousand to one lakh rupees for caulking a boat. Will 3000 thousand rupees be of any help? That is why we rejected the government's assistance.

Greeshma: Qurat, Mr Yaqub raises an important point about government support during this lockdown and says it has been inadequate. Has this been the case across industries? For example, immediately after August 2019, there was a lot of talk about the Indian government providing help in the form of minimum support price to Apple farmers. Were there more such support policies, and if there were, in hindsight, were these policies effective?

Qurat: See Greeshma, the first thing that you've to understand is that the losses aren't specific to one industry. All industries have suffered losses, be it these houseboat owners, apple farmers, private transporters or allied industries. The people I spoke to, across the industries, complained that either they have not received any government help or it has been very minimal which has not eased their economic sufferings. The people largely feel that the government has been indifferent towards them. There has been no government intervention in the tourism sector, which is the worst hit. A relief package of 1000 rupees a month was declined by houseboat owners terming it as a pity joke by the government.

After August 5 of 2019, there were attacks on non local truckers, ferrying apples from Kashmir to outside markets. For the first time, non local workers were attacked. Apple growers were completely dependent on these transporters. Government announced an intervention and promised to procure apples directly from growers. But there was no security of payment from the government as farmers had no idea about at what time they would receive payment. Local farmers also told me that there was no security in it. They had to take security from the government at that time and had to wait in line in DC offices to get this protection. Even if we got this permission, it was entirely upon the farmers to have responsibility over apples. Most of them didnt find this scheme helpful. Eventually they sold whatever didnt perish to local merchants. Some of them kept apples in cold storage and sold them outside when things were a bit normal. Also, thousands associated with the transport sector are out of work and badly affected. Many are now doing manual work to feed their families. No help or support has been provided to them as well.

Greeshma: Right so essentially there has been close to no effective support. Before we head into the last segment I want to play back just one clip of Musaib, who is an entrepreneur and runs his own business in Pulwama.

Musaib: I am a young entrepreneur from South Kashmir. Due to abrogation of Article 370 and COVID 19, my factory has been severely affected.

I haven't been able to achieve the targets I had set for my factory and I am in so much loss that I am thinking of shutting it down. Whatever stock I have at my factory I am just selling it at no profit so that I can pay my employees their outstanding salaries and the people I buy raw materials from.

My entire business was online and now, due to the slow internet, 90 per cent of my business has been impacted. According to me, Kashmiri youth should go for government or private jobs rather than doing business.

Greeshma: Qurat, the truth, like Musaib has clearly articulated, is that the situation continues to be bad, as we speak. People are running in losses, businesses are shutting down. Those who are dependent on any of these industries for jobs have been out of work for months. What is the way ahead then? Without these sources of income, what do businessmen like Musaib or workers like Sahfi intend to do, to provide for themselves and their families?

Qurat: The way ahead will be that this government lifts restrictions, and provides basic facilities like high speed internet. Industry players are all saying that the government has to bring in effective interventions and assistance policies for the people working in the different sectors. See, one of the pretexts the government gave for the abrogation of article 370 was to bring economic prosperity in the region. However, like we've seen the local economy is in shambles. In the middle of all this chaos, people are struggling to find answers as to how they are going to revive their businesses and earn their livelihood. We are not sure who is going to answer this.

That is all from this episode of Voices from the Lockdown. For previous episodes, visit the Firstpost channel on audioboom.com.
The writer, a policy analyst studying economic and security issues, held senior positions in government and industry. He also specialises in the Chinese economy

How far removed is Article 371 from Article 370?

The NSCN(I-M) has now demanded that Prime Minister Modis longtime Naga interlocutor R.N. Ravi, now Nagalands governor, must be removed from the talks. PTI Photo

National Socialist Council of Nagaland leader Thuingaleng Muivah reiterated on August 14 from New Delhi that going by the 2015 Framework Agreement signed between his outfit, the NSCN(I-M), and the Government of India: Nagas can co-exist with India, but will not merge with it. We are not asking (for a) Naga national flag and constitution from the Government of India. Recognise them or not, we have our own flag and constitution. Flag and constitution are ingredients of our recognised sovereign entity and the symbols of Naga nationhood.

Not long ago I had a conversation with an RSS figure conversant with the Naga issue. He was confident Narendra Modi would soon find a creative solution to this vexed problem.

I asked him if it meant the dismemberment of Manipur, as the dominant Tangkhul faction of the NSCN (I-M) was mostly based around Ukhrul in Manipur? And the dismemberment of Arunachal Pradesh as the Konyak Nagas, who mostly owe allegiance to the NSCNs Khaplang faction, are mostly in Tirap and Changlang divisions of that state?

He didnt answer, except saying wait and see -- Modiji has a creative solution.

Whatever it was, the creative solution is now clearly unravelling. The NSCN(I-M) has now demanded that Prime Minister Modis longtime Naga interlocutor R.N. Ravi, now Nagalands governor, must be removed from the talks.

The severely ailing 86-year-old Isak Muivah is now in New Delhi for health reasons and is also in talks with the powers that be. What can they now offer him after scrapping Article 370 and dismembering J&K and putting Jammu and Kashmir under Central rule as a Union territory? How far removed is Article 371 from Article 370?

The Naga quest for a separate identity independent of India burst into an armed conflict in January 1956 when A.Z. Phizo assumed full control of the Naga National Council, which was championing the Naga cause. Immediately after Phizo took over, the Naga Hills was declared a disturbed area and put under the Indian Armys control.

At that time eminent Indians like Jayaprakash Narayan chastised Jawaharlal Nehru for sending the Army to pacify the Naga Hills. Nehru assured critics that the Army would be in the area for just a few months.

The Indian Army is still deployed in the region and 3 Corps is permanently headquartered in Dimapur. From time to time news would filter out that the contours of a settlement were visible, but nothing of consequence came out.

On August 3, 2015 the Narendra Modi government announced that an agreement was concluded and that its details would be kept secret. Why the details of the accord must be secret is best known to it, and what exactly it is has been the subject of much speculation.

While the details of the historic agreement are still shrouded in secrecy, it is believed the immediate deal only covered the territory of Nagaland. It seemed agreed that the question of the other areas of Greater Nagalim would be resolved consensually via dialogue with Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

It was thought the deal will pave the way to an election where the NSCN (I-M) or a successor political party would be facilitated to secure power through polls, as done in Mizoram.

In a paper published on March 30, 2017 in a widely read blog Indian Security Affairs maintained by Maj. Gen. P.K. Mullick (Retd), Lt. Gen. J.R. Mukherjee (Retd), a former corps commander with extensive experience and connections in Assam and the Northeast, wrote: Unauthenticated leaks from reliable sources indicate that points agreed are: A separate constitution? Flag for Nagaland, separate currency and passports for Nagas. Nagaland would have a UN representative, foreign affairs and defence will be a joint subject; a pan-Naga government to cover all Naga-inhabited areas. This is why Manipur is agitated, as it will leave it with just the Imphal Valley.

The unabashed misuse of the office of governor following the recent elections to install a BJP-led government lends credence to a certain urgency to implement the deal, as the talks have been going on for almost two decades.

We constantly worry about the Chinese hand at play since the days when Mowu Angami went to Yunnan. But what we need to worry more about is the American hand at work.

The first missionaries went there in 1836, when Rev. Miles Bronson set up a mission in Namsang, now in Arunachal Pradeshs Tirap subdivision. But the real impetus to Christianity came after the advent of an American Baptist missionary, Rev. E.W. Clarke. The Baptists never looked back since then and now maintain over 800 churches and have a majority of Nagas under their fold.

While it must be acknowledged the missionaries played a pioneering role in establishing modern healthcare and educational facilities, we must not remain unaware of the Baptist Churchs role in creating a new awareness and sense of oneness among the Naga tribes.

While the armed forces may have learnt from their experience, our political and bureaucratic leadership never seemed to have learnt anything, or worse, forgotten anything. We have since Nagalands formation in December 1963 lurched from one compromise after another.

Consequently, the Naga Hills region -- Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal -- have had the most uncaring and corrupt state governments with little to show on the ground despite Indias highest per capita development expenditures.

Indias long-term security interests, and the steady expansion of Chinese influence in Myanmar in the areas abutting our borders, equally require our military and administrative presence in the Naga Hills as it does a general stability.

The answers to these can only be found in new and innovative political and administrative arrangements that factor not just the culture of Naga tribes but the geography of the Naga Hills. Article 371A of the Constitution does offer some safeguards, but clearly these do not satisfy the Nagas.

But a separate constitution, flag, currency and UN membership might be going a bit too far. Will this not have consequences in other parts of the country like Jammu and Kashmir, where a secessionist war is raging, and even in states like Tamil Nadu where regional nationalism is extremely strong?
Opposition Candidate Says Ready to Lead Belarus

By VOA News August 17, 2020

Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya says she is ready to become the leader of the country following a disputed election that ignited massive protests after longtime President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner.

Lukashenko on Monday said he was open to the country holding a new presidential election, but only if an amended version of the constitution is passed.

The president flew by helicopter to a factory in the capital of Minsk to rally support, but he was heckled by workers who chanted, "Go away!"

His opponent in the election spoke in a video message released from Lithuania.

"We all want to leave this loop that we found ourselves in 26 years ago. I am ready to take on the responsibility and become the national leader in this period," Tsikhanouskaya said.

"With the goal of calming the situation and entering into a normal period, freeing political prisoners, and in the shortest time creating the conditions and legislative base to organize new presidential elections. Real, honest and transparent elections, that will be unequivocally accepted by the international community."

Tsikhanouskaya also called on the Belarusian military to join the protesters.

Demonstrations continued Monday for a ninth day as more workers from state-controlled factories joined strikes to protest what they called "rigged" elections.

Lukashenko told factory workers Monday that the country would collapse if he steps down.

On Sunday, as many as 200,000 protesters marched in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, far outnumbering the crowd of Lukashenko supporters who also marched.

The protest march began near Victory Park in central Minsk and was the biggest demonstration in the history of the former Soviet republic.

The country's Central Election Commission said that after all ballots were counted in the August 9 election, Lukashenko took 80.23% of the votes and Tsikhanouskaya took 9.9%.

She entered the race after the arrest of her husband, blogger and would-be opposition candidate Siarhei Tsikhanousky.

Tsikhanouskaya said she would never accept the results before fleeing to Lithuania for what she said was her children's safety.

Lukashenko took power after Belarus declared independence from the Soviet Union and has been president since 1994.

Lukashenko told military chiefs Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered "comprehensive help" to "ensure the security of Belarus."

The Kremlin said in a statement that both presidents agreed the "problems" in Belarus would be "resolved soon" and the countries' ties would strengthen.

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Chrystia Freeland has again busted through the glass ceiling, becoming the first woman in Canadian history to be appointed the finance minister.

While it has taken too long for this day to come, there is no question in my mind that Freeland is more than capable of the job. She has written extensively and studied the global economy for years as a journalist. She has shown herself as both a skilled negotiator with our biggest trading partner, and one of the few Liberal cabinet ministers who has a proven ability as a premier whisperer in a tough partisan environment.

But Freeland cannot overcome every shortfall the Trudeau government has, although she keeps being appointed to do so.

The communications roll out of Morneau stepping down, allegedly because he suddenly has a desire to serve at the OECD, was in some way genius.

The announcement came after more than a week of leaks from senior government officials signalling the PMOs unhappiness with Bill Morneau, thus making it virtually impossible for him to continue. Having a media availability at 7:30 p.m. EDT when most political reporters were awaiting the start of the DNC convention was a nice touch.

Immediately announcing the next morning both Freelands appointment and the proroguing of Parliament is a classic flooding the zone with news, designed to pull apart media coverage and change the channel.

While I can admire the strategy behind this more is less approach to communications (and advise clients occasionally that while bold and scary this can work) it of course does nothing to address what is in my view the governments core challenge.

The key problem the WE Charity debacle, and all of the Trudeau governments other self-inflicted wounds, is that they talk the talk about being here for Canadians, but they dont seem to understand the day-to-day lives and priorities of Canadians.

During COVID-19 they did move swiftly with programs to save our economy and its citizens from the very worst. The almost immediate introduction of programs to support individuals, families and businesses was, if not perfect, at least meaningful. From putting our public health officials front and centre, to making concerted efforts to work with the provinces, they have got a lot of things right.

But, once again, the federal government is derailed because fundamentally they are tone deaf to how most people  the middle class and those working hard to join it  experience the world. And have thus derailed their own efforts and they are again mired in an own goal mess of seeing the world only through the lens of their own privilege.

Take Morneau. Unlike many Canadians who have struggled through COVID, lost jobs, or are trying to figure out how to get their families finances on track while protecting their health, the former finance minister can step down easily and go back to his privileged life on Bay Street. Far from being chastened in his media conference, he seemed relieved. And why not? Hes probably had enough.

Unfortunately, millions of Canadians, and in particular women, immigrants, and Indigenous communities, arent so lucky. And while Canadians struggle to figure out where their next paycheque is coming from and how to get their kids back to school, their government is MIA. Instead, for more than two months, they have been sidetracked by a scandal of their own making that shows just how far removed they are from the lives of the vast majority of us.

And now they have asked Freeland to come to the rescue.

Freeland has busted a glass ceiling, but I also think she has been put on the glass cliff. This is the phenom well-known to women in both corporate and political leadership. Because in a time of crisis when the chance of failure is highest, thats when these positions are offered to women.

Its too bad theres apparently only one of Minister Freeland. If we had a few more like her, perhaps we would right now be focused on the critical issues of child care and health care instead of a scandal caused by a fundamental spot blindness to the realities of most Canadians.

The job of finance minister of a G7 country during the worst economic crisis since the Depression and the biggest opportunity for reconstruction since the end of the Second World War is one Freeland is no doubt capable of and suited for.

I can only hope that, in this time, where Canadians need this minister and this government to succeed, they will provide Freeland with the resources necessary to be a success. Or get out of the way if she is in fact the only person capable of the job.
The announcement by Donald Trump that Israel and the UAE will normalise relations has sent shockwaves across the Arab region, upturning old certainties

On Thursday, 13 August, US President Donald Trump took the Middle East and the world by surprise when he tweeted, Huge breakthrough today. Historic Peace Agreement between our two Great Friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

The Arabs and the Palestinians were stunned. No one saw it coming. In the midst of talk in Israel of the annexation of 30 per cent of the West Bank, and when to announce it officially, a Gulf country, the Emirates, decided to normalise relations with Israel. According to a communique released by the White House, the Emirates and Israel would start talks soon to establish diplomatic relations, and sign a host of agreements covering investments, energy, air travel, security and technology. The Emirates stressed that once opened, its embassy in Israel will be headquartered in Tel Aviv, and not Jerusalem.

In order to sweeten the pill, the official declarations by Emirati officials indicated that in return for the establishment of diplomatic relations, the plan for annexation is shelved, a position that was immediately contradicted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and by US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. The latter stressed that the agreement does not abrogate the annexation of West Bank territories.

As for the Israeli prime minister, he told the Israelis that as he succeeded in achieving peace with the United Arab Emirates he would, also, succeed in bringing about annexation, but only after coordinating with the Trump administration. In the remarks he delivered Thursday evening, he reiterated that, there is no change whatsoever in my plan to extend sovereignty over Judea and Samaria in full coordination with the United States. Implementing annexation will be done only in coordination with the United States.

President Trump spoke about other Islamic countries that would follow in the footsteps of the Emiratis. One Israeli analyst mentioned three countries; namely, Bahrain, Oman and Sudan.

The United Arab Emirates will be the first Gulf country to normalise relations with Israel. However, those who have been monitoring Israeli-Gulf relations believe that the announcement last Thursday is a logical outcome of regular contacts that both Emirati and Israeli officials have maintained lately, particularly after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The United Arab Emirates has, reportedly, sent medicine and other medical equipment to Israel that has suffered from a lack of equipment to fight the pandemic. On the other hand, two flights of the Emirati Etihad carrier arrived in Israel directly from Abu Dhabi two months ago, carrying assistance to the Palestinian Authority. At the time, Palestinian officials said that they were not notified beforehand.

Furthermore, Israel was invited to participate in Expo 2020 that was to be held this year in the United Arab Emirates but had to be postponed to next year because of coronavirus.

But what is more significant is the fact that the director of the Israeli Mossad visited the UAE on various occasions.

Arab and international reactions were, on balance, supporting and favourable, with the exception of the reaction of the Palestinian Authority that recalled its ambassador to Abu Dhabi and called the decision of normalisation between Israel and the Gulf country, a stab in the back. Of course, this reaction is understandable taking into account the absence of any glimmer of hope of advancing peace prospects between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the rejection by the Palestinian Authority of the Prosperity to Peace plan announced by the Trump administration last January.

The official Jordanian reaction was cautious. It had to balance its fears of the future annexation of the Jordan Valley with its interest in maintaining good relations with the UAE and to position itself if other Gulf countries will follow suit and embark on the treacherous road of normalisation with Israel.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi reacted very positively to the news and believed that the process of normalisation, as outlined in the Washington communique, will bring stability to the Middle East.

The official British reaction was noteworthy in linking the steps taken by the UAE and Israel to the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, similar to the Jordanian position that linked these steps with concrete Israeli actions  like, for example, rescinding all illegal measures adopted by Israeli authorities in the occupied territories.

For the last two years, the Israeli prime minister has talked  and I would like to use the word bragged  about his secret talks with Arab leaders without naming them. Of course, people understood that he meant Gulf leaders. Just to note in passing, he had paid an official visit to Oman in 2018, where he was received by the late Sultan Qabous.

Netanyahu once said that in secret talks he has told Muslim and Arab leaders that peace with Israel is worthwhile to you because Israel is strong. I do not hesitate to stand up to Iran. To which he added a very strange and surprising statement, which is: And if need be, I can go against the whole world.

Apparently, some of the leaders he referred to in this particular quote believed him.

By deciding on normalisation with Israel, the UAE is repositioning itself in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Cementing relations with the United States through official relations with Israel will be a force multiplier for the Emiratis, whether against Qatar or against Iran.

Of course, the Emiratis realise the limits of their coordination with the Americans and the Israelis against Iran. Still, it has bought an insurance policy in case Iran would think someday of destabilising the UAE.

On the other hand, the UAE is bracing itself for the post-oil era, by going full steam ahead in exploring new horizons and opportunities in the coming age of artificial intelligence and advances in high tech that would transform the world. The Emiratis decided that the time has come to start joining hands with the Israelis.

Moreover, the Trump administration has scored a strategic and diplomatic triumph. The Warsaw Process that the United States launched last year with the aim of establishing the bases for regional integration in the Middle East has borne fruit. The normalisation of Emirati-Israeli relations is the first concrete step towards launching Americas strategy of integrating Israel into a regional system that includes the Gulf countries, Israel and Arab countries that have already established diplomatic relations with Israel (namely, Egypt in March 1979 and Jordan in October 1994).

The peace process of old is history, as well as the Arab Peace Plan. The two Arab peace treaties with Israel were based on the well-known formula of land for peace, whose international legal framework has been UN Security Council Resolution 242 of 22 November 1967.

The communique released in Washington 13 August did not refer to this resolution as the legal basis for the announced normalisation of relations between the UAE and Israel. It is the first concrete manifestation of the Israeli formula, adopted under Netanyahu and his Likud Party, of peace for peace.

The new era in the Middle East is full of uncertainties, so long as the Palestinian question remains unresolved. A new era does not mean a better Middle East, in terms of security, stability or economic prosperity for its peoples. It means probably an American-crafted region where Israel will call the shots, unfortunately.

*The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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There are a couple of our bars who simply refuse to accept their responsibility, Cunningham said Monday. Im here to tell you  myself along with your aldermen in those particular wards  if we need to, we will shut you down.
Until now, it was impossible to track, save, and prioritize the world of Facebook page interactions by any one individual lead.

This leaves Facebook marketers blind to the vast majority of lead engagements from some of the most active leads ready to buy.

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / Top social media marketing influencers, digital marketing agencies, and social entrepreneurs alike all agree that the #1 MISSED LEAD OPPORTUNITY on Facebook is overlooked lead comments (never received a reply) across their Facebook page's posts and ads.

Facebook marketers cannot effectively keep up with all their comments as it simply takes too long to search through notifications, pages, posts, and ads. The end result is a tremendous amount of missed comments and lost sales opportunities.

LeadKlozer, a social media marketing startup, announces the end of the missed Facebook page comment dilemma.

LeadKlozer has perfected a comment tracking system inside one dashboard for all posts and ads across any number of Facebook pages. The number of comments (not responded to) is represented as a clickable object listed inline with the relevant post or ad which can be opened and responded to without ever leaving LeadKlozer.

"The process of responding to comments is one of the most important, yet complicated lead follow-up tasks as Facebook just doesn't make tracking or seeing these comments very easy," said LeadKlozer Founder and CEO, Steven MacDonald. "Through LeadKlozer, our customers will never need to worry about missing any type of an individual lead's Facebook interaction again. Combine that with the power of LeadKlozer's lead prioritization, and our customers will be effortlessly closing leads they didn't even know they had."

"LeadKlozer will not only save Facebook marketers hours a day, but it will also make it so much easier for digital agencies to add more client revenue from social media management services," says Joel Comm, social media influencer and NY Times best selling author. "LeadKlozer is a must-have tool for anyone marketing a business on Facebook."

For more information and trial memberships, go to LeadKlozer.com.

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About Us

LeadKlozer, a social media marketing startup with support of top industry influencers, announces the first-ever Facebook engagement monitoring service (CRM) for individual leads. There was previously no way for businesses or digital marketing agencies to track and prioritize the world of Facebook interactions with their brands by any one individual lead. How could any Facebook marketer possibly tell who was engaging with them most often? Digital agencies, consultants, and businesses are missing substantial lead opportunities that are both well recognized and those that have never been seen or tracked before. Sales are falling through Facebook Marketer's fingers every day.

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SOURCE: LeadKlozer

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602049/Never-Miss-A-Single-Facebook-Lead-Again
If you have a PC that runs Windows 10, you will get the update that will automatically install Windows 10 on your computing device. There is no getting around that, except for temporarily delaying the inevitable. But the icing on the cake is that you will never be able to uninstall Edge from your Windows 10 PC. What? That sort of information is never a good sign, but what has ensued since will probably make you really wonder as to what is up with Microsoft. The company now has a Microsoft Edge support page which is titled Can't uninstall Microsoft Edge. Yes, youve again read that absolutely right. It is perhaps a result of the spike in Google Search for uninstall Microsoft Edge by users around the world, with a spike seen after the Edge web browser was pushed to all PCs this summer. Microsoft has confirmed that it is not an option to uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows 10 PCs, at all, and it is not pleasing at all.

At the beginning of the FAQ page, Microsoft does a bit to justify why it is now rolling out the new chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser to every Windows 10 machine as part of the big summer updates for the operating system. Beginning with general availability of the new Microsoft Edge in January, Microsoft has migrated Windows customers from the legacy version of Microsoft Edge to the new version in a phased rollout. We want to ensure all Windows customers have the latest Microsoft Edge browser for the performance, privacy, security, productivity, and support features it offers, they say. But this is just the sweetener before you are hit with the crux of the matter.

The new version of Microsoft Edge gives users full control over importing personal data from the legacy version of Microsoft Edge. The new version of Microsoft Edge is included in a Windows system update, so the option to uninstall it or use the legacy version of Microsoft Edge will no longer be available, says Microsoft. This comes just after Microsoft confirmed that the Internet Explorer 11 and the subsequent legacy Edge browser will reach the end of support life next year. The chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser first rolled out this summer, and to be objective and fair, is a fine web browser. In fact, for me, it is a better bet than rival Google Chrome, which comparatively uses a lot more resources on the same PCs. The competition landscape, apart from runaway leaders Google Chrome, also includes Mozilla Firefox and Vivaldi.

According to data by Netmarketshare, Google Chrome rocks a global market share of 71.11% at the end of July, while Microsoft Edge now has 8.09% share of the browser ecosystem around the world. Mozillas Firefox clocks in with 7.36% share. Pushing Edge on all Windows 10 PCs should have an impact on these numbers, and Edge could see a jump in usage figures in the coming months as more Windows 10 users realize there is a new web browser on their PC.

Let us make it absolutely clearit is good that Microsoft is pushing the latest Edge web browser via Windows 10 updates to give users a more secure browser to work with. We are all for having the latest security updates and improvements delivered seamlessly, which helps keep user data safe, helps with data privacy and keeps the world wide web a safer place to browse around. That is, if the Microsoft Edge web browser is their choice. But it should not be proudly stating the fact that users cant uninstall a web browser if they want to. Give users the choice. It is only fair.
Election Commissioner (EC) Ashok Lavasa, who was expected to take over the poll body next year, tendered his resignation to President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday, officials close to the former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer told HT.

The 1980-batch Haryana cadre IAS officer had almost two years remaining in his tenure as EC . He would have taken over as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) from Sunil Arora.

However, his exit puts EC Sushil Chandra in the fray for the poll watchdogs top job.

Lavasa had had several stints in various government departments, including as secretary in the Union finance ministry. As CEC, Lavasa would have overseen elections in West Bengal, Manipur, Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Lavasa didnt indicate when hed for Manila, where he is slated to join the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in September.

ADB authorities had announced on July 15 that Lavasa has been appointed as the vice-president for private sector operations and public-private partnerships (PPP).

Mr. Lavasa has a long and distinguished career in the Indian civil service. He is currently one of the Election Commissioners of India and previously served in a range of senior posts including as Union Finance Secretary of India; Union Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change; and Union Secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He has extensive experience in public-private partnerships and infrastructure development at the state and federal levels, with deep knowledge of public policy and the role of the private sector, ADB said in a press release issued on Wednesday.

Earlier, EC officials close to Lavasa had told HT that would take up the job.

It is a prestigious assignment and he was happy to be considered, said an official on condition of anonymity.

A former poll official said the last time an EC quit was in 1973, when Nagendra Singh, the then CEC resigned to join the International Court of Justice in the Hague, the Netherlands.

Singh served with the then President of India before he took over the poll body.

Lavasa was one of the key dissenters, when the poll body took a call on whether or not to give a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah for speeches violating the model code conduct ahead of the last years Lok Sabha elections.

Lavasa had dissented on three points against PM Modi such as for asking for votes in the name of Balakot strike, for saying that former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had found a minority seat in Wayanad to contest from and that new India gave a fitting reply to Pakistan.

He was the sole dissenter in the three-member poll body to object to the speeches.

Lavasas family, including his wife Noel Lavasa, were subsequently under the scanner of the Income Tax Department for alleged discrepancies. The department also surveyed Nourish Organic Foods, where Lavasas son is a director.
A 51-year-old Delhi Police inspector posted with the Police Control Room (PCR) died of Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Tuesday morning at a hospital in south Delhi. He is the 16th Delhi Police personnel to succumb to the disease.

Inspector Sanjay Sharma, a 1997 batch officer, was admitted to the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in Vasant Kunj after he developed symptoms a fortnight ago and then tested positive for Covid-19.

As his condition deteriorated, Sharma was administered plasma therapy. According to senior police officers, Sharmas friends and colleagues, who recently recovered from Covid-19, had donated the plasma.

On Monday night, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away around 7.45am on Tuesday, an officer, who did not wish to be named, said.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (PCR) Sharat Sinha said, We tried our best. Some of our officers, who recovered from the disease, donated plasma. He was given plasma therapy. We also provided his family with whatever help they needed. He is survived by his wife and a son who is studying in IIT-Delhi, Sinha said.

On August 1, a Delhi Police head constable posted to the Defence Colony police station in south Delhi had succumbed to Covid-19. The 52-year-old was admitted to the ICU at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, a designated Covid-19 hospital, at Tahirpur in northeast Delhi.

Before Dhar, 14 officers of the Delhi Police, including a decorated inspector of the special cell, Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, succumbed to Covid-19. Last month, three policemen died of the infection.

Over 2,500 Delhi Police personnel have tested positive for the infection so far, of which over 2,000 have recovered and resumed their duties, said another officer requesting anonymity.
Reliance Industries (RIL) said on August 18 that it acquired 60 percent stake in online pharmacy Netmeds for Rs 620 crore in a deal that pits Indias largest company directly against e-commerce giant Amazon in a hotly contested space. The deal values Netmeds around Rs 1,000 crore.

The acquisition gives RILs retail unit Reliance Retail entry into a vertical e-commerce space, one of the few that has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to its online grocery platform JioMart.

Founded by Pradeep Dadha, Netmeds currently delivers medicines, personal and baby care items, and provides doctor bookings and diagnostics on its website and app. It has been looking for a buyer for nearly a year now, after it was unable to raise a large round of funding.

Its investors include Singapore-based Daun Penh Cambodia Group, Sistema Asia Fund, Tanncam Investment and healthcare-focused investment firm OrbiMed.

Listen: Setting Sail podcast | Wow Momo may cut jobs in September, business still not back to pre-Covid level: Sagar Daryani

Isha Ambani, Director, Reliance Retail Ventures, said in a statement, The addition of Netmeds enhances Reliance Retails ability to provide good quality and affordable healthcare products and services, and also broadens its digital commerce proposition to include most daily essential needs of consumers.

A scrum of startups have fiercely fought in e-pharmacies for a few years now on the thesis that delivering medicines for chronic illnesses regularly could be a springboard to becoming a large internet company. Netmeds, PharmEasy, Medlife, 1mg, etc have been jostling for space. However, margins in medicine delivery are minimal, and investors will not fund money-losing startups unless they are market leaders.

The pandemic however turned this notion on its head. The segment has benefited from many first-time customers flocking to these apps as they were forced to order medicines from home during lockdown. Moneycontrol reported on August 7 that these apps have seen orders surge 50 percent and taken the sector forward by two years in the last three months.

According to people close to the deal, although RIL was eyeing the sector, and Netmeds, even before the pandemic hit, the lockdown helped close the deal, find the right valuation and proved the business thesis.

Last week, Amazon India rolled out its e-pharmacy service in Bengaluru, with plans to launch in the rest of the country soon.

The entry of these conglomerates, to some extent, gives the sector long-term prospects. Barring PharmEasy, every other startup in the sector has been battling for survival, struggling to raise funds and been eyeing mergers with larger rivals.

It is a good outcome for both sides. Netmeds needed to survive and find a home. RIL wanted to enter the sector, but not pay a very high tech-style valuation, said an investor in the space, requesting anonymity.

The deal fuels Jios desire to have a full-fledged ecommerce platform, delivering goods of all kinds. Acquiring distressed startups has been a step in this direction. It is reportedly in talks to acquire online furniture startup Urban Ladder, online lingerie retailer Zivame and online milk delivery startup Milkbasket.

Reliance Industries (RIL), which also controls Jio Platforms, is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments which publishes Moneycontrol.
Major int'l brands pull commercials from Belarusian TV  media

13:00, 18.08.20 1880

Retailers, banks, mobile operators, and other businesses have abandoned television advertising.
The race for COVID-19 vaccines is on. Were already seeing so many vaccine contenders working hard to bring their cure to end the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus.

Russia claims to be the first to create a vaccine against COVID-19, despite several looming concerns surrounding it, and now the next in line in Chinas Sinopharm Group.

Reuters

Liu Jingzhen, Chairman of the Sinopharm Group (reported by Sina) has announced that its novel coronavirus vaccine dubbed New Crown will be listed at the end of December this year where two doses of the vaccine are expected to be priced at less than 1,000 yuan.

Vouching for the efficacy of the Chinese coronavirus vaccine, the Party Secretary and Chairman of China National Pharmaceutical Group has claimed that he has received two injections of the vaccine and he claims that there were no adverse reactions.

The Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine has recently cleared relevant biosafety inspection organised at Beijing Institute of Biological Products by relevant state departments and has been deemed qualified for use for the public.

The vaccine is currently in its phase III of human trials which are being conducted internationally in UAE. After clearance, the vaccine can enter the approval process and will enter the market by the end of this year in December.

According to Liu Jingzhen, Beijing Institute of Biological Products -- one of the manufacturers of the vaccine -- are capable of reaching a production count of 120 million doses annually whereas another manufacturer Wuhan Institute of Biological Products can reach 100 million doses annually.

Reuters

He also stated that each shot will cost a few hundred yuan or if two shots are given, less than 1000 yuan (which is approximately Rs 10,000). He also specified that not everyone is required to be vaccinated.

According to Jingzhen, students, and office workers in densely populated areas are recommended to get vaccinated, but people residing in sparsely populated areas dont need to be vaccinated yet.


Just a few months back, it was claimed that the interstellar object Oumuamua is made up of hydrogen ice. The previous study was published by Seligman & Laughlin, which suggested that if Oumuamua were a hydrogen iceberg, then the pure hydrogen might have escaped detection.

Now, the claims have been proved wrong in another study conducted by the scientists at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA), and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). The new claim is the result of curiosity by these scientists to know how a hydrogen-based object made its way from interstellar space to our solar system.

The debate over the origins and molecular structure of Oumuamua was published on Monday in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, which mentioned that the interstellar object is indeed not made of molecular hydrogen ice.

Dr. Thiem Hoang, the lead author of the latest study, said, The proposal by Seligman and Laughlin appeared promising, however, their theory is based on an assumption that H2 ice could form in dense molecular clouds. Hoang is a senior researcher in the theoretical astrophysics group at KASI.

The scientists mentioned that they got suspicious of the claims after realizing that hydrogen icebergs could not survive the journey from space to the solar system, as it takes hundreds of millions of years, resulting in evaporation of icebergs.

Oumuamua was first noticed in 2017, classified as an asteroid traveling at a speed of 196,000mph. However, the mystery over its origin deepened over the years as it changed the speed.
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 17:03 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ed7428 1 City pandemic,anies-baswedan,Jakarta-administration,baby-boom,COVID-19,BKKBN Free

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has instructed his subordinates to prepare for a possible baby boom in the capital in the next few months as a result of the stay-at-home policy and social restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Theres an increase in pregnancies all over the world [due to the pandemic]. We need to prepare to anticipate [a similar situation], Anies said in a meeting at City Hall on Aug. 7, which was then streamed for the public on the Jakarta administrations YouTube channel a week later.

In the meeting, Anies told the Jakarta administrations assistant for public welfare, Catur Laswanto, to collect pregnancy data in the city between March, when the pandemic began to hit Indonesia, and August to estimate the number of beds for deliveries needed in the coming months.

He also instructed relevant officials to get midwives, obstetricians and birthing centers across the capital ready for the possible baby boom. "Ask them to coordinate with us to anticipate the growing birth rate," Anies said.

Read also: Pandemic-fuelled baby boom has many Indonesians worried

Separately, the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) has found that in March, about 10 percent of its beneficiaries faced difficulty in accessing birth control. The BKKBN has 28 million beneficiaries of its family planning methods nationwide.

The one-month decline in contraceptive use could push pregnancies up by 15 percent, or around 420,000 pregnancies, within three months, according to the BKKBN. A further decline is likely to see the number of pregnancies rise by up to 30 percent within another few months.

Indonesia, home to nearly 270 million people, annually welcomes 4.8 million births.

"With the pandemic, the access to contraception has shrunk. Many clinics have shut, while those that remain open limit the number of people they serve," BKKBN chief Hasto Wardoyo said recently, as quoted by The Straits Times.

To anticipate the change, the BKKBN has deployed its family field officers to give out free condoms and contraceptive pills to low-income families. It has also launched a campaign to recruit 1 million new family-planning beneficiaries in June.
Britains pioneering beauty brand in using natural ingredients as well as corporate activism  is rolling up its sleeves and reigniting its activist spirit with the launch of a new concept store at ION Orchard. The store has been transformed into an interactive activist workshop that encourages visitors to explore and recycle products and how, together, we can fight for a fairer and more beautiful world.

The Body Shop Singapore

Building on the brands ever-growing and evolving commitment to the environment, this new eco-friendly store is fitted with sustainable store fixtures made with green materials like reclaimed wood and recycled plastics to minimise environmental impact, zinc facade cladding (requires less energy for production than other metals!), and EKOply worktop surfaces manufactured from 100% recycled material destined for landfill. The materials and props are chosen with real purpose  think practical, responsibly sourced, repurposed, recycled and upcycled.

The Body Shop Singapore

Visitors to this Activist Workshop store will experience various stations that are exclusive only to this outlet at ION Orchard. This includes a DIY Gifting Station where customers are encouraged to get creative with wrapping their gifts and personalise them with fun and funky stamps and stickers, an exclusive Scents of Life fragrance collection with 16 cruelty-free fragrances and spritzes for women and men, as well as a Water Station for hydration on-the-go! Theres also an Activist Bay where customers can learn about The Body Shops activist roots and passion for inciting change, and take a stand at campaigning for issues that pave the way for equality.

So, lets scrub up our bodies and scrub up the world at The Body Shops transformed ION Orchard store.

The information stated here is republished from a press release sent to theAsianparent. From more announcements and product launches, visit https://sg.theasianparent.com/category/press-releases.

The post The Body Shop Singapore Unveils Its First Sustainability-focused Activist Workshop Store at Ion Orchard appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids.
Not so long ago, an African American athlete was widely condemned for kneeling during the national anthem. His aim was to make the point that the words land of the free do not ring true for every American.

More recently, a policeman knelt heavily on the neck of a handcuffed African American man in his custody until the suspect died.

The athlete, for his act of protest, was run out of his profession.

The policeman, for his act of killing, was supported by fellow officers, even in the face of outraged witnesses protesting his callous asphyxiation. For countless other police killings, policemen have routinely been supported by their profession.

Who knew that kneeling, an act of reverence used in peaceful protest, would be construed as treachery? Who knew that death by kneeling could be construed as justice?

Was the symbolic action really more threatening than the fatal one?

CHRISTINA DESAI

Richards Crossing

Fort Mill

Support public schools

An Aug. 8 letter to the editor stated, Gov. Henry McMasters gift to private schools is not as offensive as some would have you believe.

I beg to differ. I dont know who these some are, but they should be all of us.

If you want to send your child to a private school, bless your heart. But public taxpayer money should not subsidize your choice.

I no longer have any kids in any school, but I want want the taxes I pay to support public education, not the private choices of a select few.

STEVEN MORRIS

Oconee Loop

Mount Pleasant

All pay for public schools

In David M. Furchgotts Aug. 7 commentary, he writes that private schools shouldnt receive any COVID-19 money. His reasons are well-thought out.

My question to him, though, is why did he leave out the fact that for every child who attends a private school, their parents are paying for an empty seat in the public school?

DOUGLAS TAYLOR

Greggs Landing

North Charleston

Political system broken

President Donald Trumps recent executive orders to provide limited benefits after Congress failed to pass necessary pandemic-related economic relief is one more example of his political incompetence.

These orders are, at best, unconstitutional, and even if they were not, they are inadequate.

The economic suffering caused by congressional failures cannot be understated, as the failings are crimes against humanity. Americans have long-deserved better from the president and Congress, but political polarization has made that impossible.

The sad reality is that the American political system is broken. Democrats and Republicans share the blame.

So, what is to be done? We will not find the answer from the president, and Congress is obsolete. This is what happens when American politicians ignore the social contract and show contempt for the governed.

MERLE DAVID KELLERHALS JR.

Waterstone Lane

Charleston

SCSU lacks leadership

Several historically black colleges and universities recently received funding from Netflix and the ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos:

Netflix gave $40 million each to Spellman College, Morehouse College and the United Negro College Fund.

Humanitarian and philanthropist Mackensie Scott gave an estimated $160 million to Hampton University, Howard University, Morehouse College, Spellman College, Tuskegee University ($20 million) and Xavier University ($20 million).

No money was given to South Carolina State University.

Leadership and programming at these universities are what attracts goodwill to fund work to flatten the curve of national disparities of income, unemployment, justice and equality.

Concerned SCSU Alumni recommended to the school Board of Trustees to hire Dr. David Thomas as president of that university.

The board gave no consideration to Dr. Thomas. Subsequently, Morehouse aggressively pursued Dr. Thomas, offering him the position of president, which he accepted.

Dr. Thomas is the type of leader needed at South Carolina State University.

Funding is key to the full resurgence of the university in bringing about the curricula that attracts students and funds scholarships.

My meetings with Dr. Thomas were part of the alumni groups efforts at leadership continuance following the departure of Charles Way.

It is urgent that the South Carolina State Universitys academic program be raised to qualify for humanitarian funding as that cited above.

Leadership is essential to reaching out to these funding sources and demonstrating the worthiness of the universitys programs.

PORTER BANKHEAD

Ordway Street NW

Washington, D.C.
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- iStar (NYSE: STAR) (the "Company") announced today that it has launched an offering, subject to market and other conditions, of $400 million aggregate principal amount of its Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering, together with cash on hand, to redeem the $400 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 5.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 and to pay related premiums, fees and expenses.

BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan, Barclays, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are the joint book-running managers for the offering. The notes will be issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement that was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the offered notes, nor shall there be any sale of the notes in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

The redemption of the Company's 5.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 will be made solely pursuant to a redemption notice delivered pursuant to the applicable indenture, and nothing contained in this press release constitutes a notice of redemption of the Company's 5.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022.

The notes will be offered by means of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus for the offering. Electronic copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus for the offering may be obtained for free by searching the SEC online database (EDGAR) on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus for the offering may be obtained by contacting the joint book-running managers at the following addresses or telephone numbers:

BofA Securities

NC1-004-03-43

200 North College Street, 3rd Fl.

Charlotte, NC 28255-0001

Attn: Prospectus Department

[email protected] J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

1-866-803-9204



Barclays Capital Inc.

c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, NY 11717

[email protected]

1-888-603-5847 (toll-free) Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor

New York, NY 10014

Attn: Prospectus Department

[email protected]

1-866-718-1649



Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

Attn: Prospectus Department

[email protected]

1-212-902-1171



* * *

SOURCE iStar Inc.
Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his resignation on Tuesday, hours after soldiers arrested him, along with the prime minister and other top officials, per state television.

Why it matters: The uprising from within the military follows months of protests in the West African country. It's unclear who will take charge if Keita is removed from power, adding deep uncertainty to Mali's intertwined political and security crises.

The big picture: Protests have rumbled on since June in the capital, Bamako, over corruption and a deteriorating security situation.

Judd Devermont, director of the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says, "Insecurity is the backdrop to this, but it's really about political disillusionment and a sense that this is a government that is focused on enrichment and self-interest and not democracy  not addressing the needs of the public during a pandemic and an economic recession."

Keita, two years into his second five-year presidential term, had resisted calls to resign but failed to appease the protesters.

Driving the news: Prime Minister Boubou Cisse called for dialogue after the mutiny began, before apparently being detained. State TV temporarily went off the air, and European embassies said they'd been warned that soldiers were heading toward Bamako.

Protesters gathered to celebrate the news, particularly after rumors of Keita's arrest began to circulate, Reuters reports. Soldiers were greeted with cheers as they drove through the capital.

"It was not immediately clear who was leading the mutineers, who would govern in Keitas absence or what the mutineers motivations were. A military spokesman said he had no information," Reuters notes.

What they're saying: ECOWAS, a bloc of regional countries, urged the mutineers to "return to their positions without delay," while the African Union said it "strongly rejects any attempt at the unconstitutional change of government in Mali."

France, which has ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Mali, also condemned the uprising. President Emmanuel Macron has discussed it with regional leaders, per AFP.

which has ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Mali, also condemned the uprising. President Emmanuel Macron has discussed it with regional leaders, per AFP. The U.S. has also said it opposes "all extraconstitutional change" in Mali.

What to watch: "It's incumbent on the region and its partners to stabilize the political situation as soon as possible because if this continues to spin out, it will create more opportunities for deterioration in the rest of the country," Devermont says.

The military handed over power to civilian leaders after the 2012 coup, but the instability also allowed extremist groups in north and central Mali to strengthen their positions.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with news of Keita's resignation.
A rescuer drives a bulldozer to clear debris on the Wuguan section of the Lanzhou-Haikou Expressway in northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 17, 2020. Week-long torrential rains in Gansu Province have led to a tributary of Yangtze River flowing above danger-level as local authorities battle various rain-triggered disasters including mountain torrents, landslides and mudflows. By Monday, rains damaged 3,303 km of roads in the city of Longnan, disrupting traffic on 497 roads. More than 38,000 people have been relocated in Longnan. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

Week-long torrential rains in northwest China's Gansu Province have led to a tributary of Yangtze River flowing above danger-level as local authorities battle various rain-triggered disasters including mountain torrents, landslides and mudflows.

Baishui River, which flows into Bailong that joins China's longest river Yangtze is experiencing the most severe flooding in 200 years.

The flood crest measured 2,250 cubic meters per second at Shangde Hydrological Station on Baishui River at 5 p.m. Monday.

The Gansu provincial water resources department said that the water level of Bikou Reservoir in the river basin once exceeded 702 meters, seven meters above the flood limit. The reservoir has kept discharging water.

On Monday, the flow into Bikou Reservoir still exceeded 4,000 cubic meters per second, while the reservoir discharged water at 3,500 cubic meters per second, as it continued relieving the flooding pressure downstream.

Heavy rains have affected 402,000 people in six cities in Gansu and led to damages to water conservation facilities with direct economic losses of 1.55 billion yuan (223.4 million U.S. dollars).

By Monday, rains damaged 3,303 km of roads in the city of Longnan, disrupting traffic on 497 roads.

Municipal authorities have dispatched 22,000 rescuers and 2,720 sets of machinery to rebuild 291 damaged roads.
Former vice president Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden appear at the National Constitution Center on March 10, 2020. Jill Biden will headline the second night of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday. Read more

After debuting a virtual event Monday night that featured celebrities, musicians, politicians, and a Delaware County business owner, the Democratic National Convention heads into its second night Tuesday.

Its all part of a four-night celebration that will culminate with former Vice President Joe Biden officially becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. Biden is scheduled to speak Thursday from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del. His running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, who will speak Wednesday night.

Among the notable figures scheduled to speak Tuesday are former President Bill Clinton, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester  a Philadelphia native who is the first woman and first person of color ever elected to represent the state in Congress.

Headlining Tuesdays speeches is former second lady Jill Biden, a Philadelphia native, who protected her husband from hecklers and stage crashers on the campaign trail. Biden will deliver her speech from Brandywine High School in Wilmington, Del., where she taught English while her husband served in the Senate.

Tonight will also be the conventions keynote address, which this year will be delivered by 17 rising stars from across the country. Among those is Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a North Philadelphia native and the only Black and LGBTQ person elected to the state legislature.

Kenyatta will be joined by two other Pennsylvania lawmakers  Reps. Brendan Boyle and Conor Lamb.

Heres everything you need to know to watch or stream the second night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention:

What time does the second night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention start?

The second night of the Democratic National Convention is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Eastern and last two hours.

The convention will stream live on the DNCs website and across all their social media channels. In Philadelphia, it will also air live on NBC, ABC, CBS, and WHYY, with most networks opting to carry the final hour beginning at 10 p.m. CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News will also offer live coverage starting hours before the event begins, each offering their own analysis.

Comcast Xfinity X1 subscribers can watch all the programming by simply saying DNC into their remote.

You can also stream it live on Inquirer.com, courtesy of the DNC:

Who will be speaking Tuesday night?

Seven main speakers are scheduled to deliver speeches Tuesday night, headlined by former second lady Jill Biden. The full list of speakers includes:

Former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates

Sen. Chuck Schumer

Former Secretary of State John Kerry

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Former President Bill Clinton

Former Second Lady Jill Biden

Who is delivering the Democrats keynote address?

Instead of turning to one up-and-coming lawmaker to deliver this years keynote address, Democrats are enlisting 17 rising stars and promising to offer a diversity of different ideas and perspectives on how to move America forward. They are:

Pennsylvania Rep. Brendan Boyle

Pennsylvania Rep. Conor Lamb

Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams

Texas Rep. Colin Allred

Nevada state Sen. Yvanna Cancela

Long Beach, Calif., Mayor Robert Garcia

Tennessee state Sen. Raumesh Akbari

Nevada state Sen. Yvanna Cancela

Former Ohio state Rep. Kathleen Clyde

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried

South Carolina state Sen. Marlon Kimpson

Michigan state Rep. Mari Manoogian

Texas state Rep. Victoria Neave

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez

Georgia state Rep. Sam Park

New Hampshire state Rep. Denny Ruprecht

Birmingham, Ala., mayor Randall Woodfin

Highlights from Monday night include Michelle Obama and a guy from Delco

Scott Richardson, who owns a catering business called Occasionally Yours in Swathmore, was the first person interviewed Monday night by host Eva Longoria. Richardson, who supported Donald Trump in 2016, explained business was down 40% since the start of the pandemic, and as a result hes been forced to lay off half of his employees.

Quite honestly, over all these years, weve faced some adversity and challenges, but to be honest, nothing like we are today, Richardson said. Weve literally had to reinvent our business several times since the beginning of the year just to stay afloat.

Mondays program was headlined by former First Lady Michelle Obama, who delivered an emotional speech in which she praised former Vice President Joe Bidens empathy and tore into President Donald Trump by name, declaring him in over his head and the wrong president for our country.

One person noticeably absent from Obamas speech was Sen. Kamala Harris, whom Biden selected to be his vice presidential nominee last week. According to CNNs Jake Tapper, Obama pre-recorded her speech before Harris received the nomination.

Whats the full schedule this week for the 2020 Democratic National Convention?

The Democratic National Convention will take place over four nights this week. It began Monday and will run through Thursday. Convention programming is scheduled to air live each night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern.

Here are the most notable speakers for the remaining nights of the convention, including local lawmakers:

Wednesday: California Sen. Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama

Thursday: New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, former Vice President Joe Biden

What are conventions like this actually for?

While political conventions have largely grown into television events designed to promote political parties and their leaders, the business of the convention includes formalizing a party platform, which was updated at the end of July. It is based on a report issued by joint task forces organized by Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who garnered the second most delegates during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.

To the dismay of some of the partys more progressive members, the platform doesnt include a plan for a single-payer health care system, like Medicare for all. Instead, it calls for the addition of a public option to the existing Affordable Care Act.

There will also be a formal vote of delegates to officially nominate Biden as the partys presidential nominee.

When will the Republican National Convention take place?

The 2020 Republican National Convention is scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 24. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday he plans to deliver his acceptance speech from the lawn of the White House. He is also expected to be the central focus each night.

Republicans havent yet released an official list of speakers, but in addition to the Trump family, other Republicans reportedly expected to deliver remarks include South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and Pennsylvania congressional candidate Sean Parnell. Vice President Mike Pence is expected to deliver his speech on Wednesday, Aug. 26 from Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

Also expected to speak during the Republican National Convention are Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who pointed guns at Black Lives Protesters outside their home in June.
An American town may have recorded the worlds hottest ever temperature amid wildfires and a searing heatwave.

The aptly named Furnace Creek, in Californias Death Valley, reached a sweltering 54.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday at about 3.40pm local time, according to the National Weather Service.

A family check out Badwater Basin, in Death Valley National Park. Source: Reuters

It is still being verified but if correct it could be the worlds highest temperature ever recorded.

It was a dry heat too with only seven per cent humidity.

A temperature of 56.7 was recorded in Death Valley in July 1913, and Kebili, Tunisia, is said to have hit 55 in July 1931, according to the World Meteorological Organisation.

A man takes a selfie at the Furnace Creek Visitors Centre. The temperatures shown are interpretations. Source: Reuters

But recent research by Christopher Burt, an extreme weather expert, has led some meteorologists to view these older records as the results of observer error.

NWS meteorologist Daniel Berc said it felt insanely hot in Furnace Creek.

"It's literally like being in an oven," Mr Berc said.

Brandi Stewart, who works at Death Valley National Park, told the BBC the heat was oppressive.

"When you walk outside it's like being hit in the face with a bunch of hair dryers," she told the BBC.

A sign warns people not to walk in the park past 10am. Source: Getty Images

In Furnace Creek, staff and guests at The Oasis hotel were being urged to wear hats and sip water relentlessly while outside, according to general manager John Kukreja.

He tells guests that extreme heat does strange, deceptive things to the body.

"You're going to sweat and the sweat's going to dry instantly and you're never going to know you actually felt hot," he said.

"Your hair stands on end. It's almost like you feel like you're cold, like goose bumps."

A weather map showing the heat across the US west coast. Source: National Weather Service

On Monday, the heat continued with the temperature reaching 51.

The NWS tweeted on Monday night local time the sweltering heat continued across the west coast of the US with temperatures ranging between 37-48 degrees.

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But for most of us who foresee the possibility of a major confrontation, it is in no way preferable to a normal election. The prospect is, rather, a source of terror and dread that must nonetheless be considered.

The depressing overall thrust of our exercises ended up being that if the Trump campaign is in fact truly determined to stay in power no matter what, and is willing to be absolutely ruthless about it, its hard to know what stops that, Brooks said of the Transition Integrity Project.

Biden, she said, can call a press conference, but Donald Trump can call up the 82nd Airborne. Should Trump succeed in exploiting state power, the only thing left is what pro-democracy movements and human rights movements around the world have always done, which is sustained, mass peaceful demonstrations.

We dont yet know whether Americans will turn out in necessary numbers for such demonstrations. The recent racial justice protests are some of the largest America has ever seen; protests over Trumps systematic subversion of democratic norms have been smaller.

The group of people that are ready to take to the streets for process fights, and whether or not our Constitution is respected, is different than people that are going to the streets because people are dying, said Rahna Epting, executive director of MoveOn, also part of the Protect the Results coalition. But I have faith that generally folks out there are connecting the dots between all of these causes right now.

If Trump tries to corrupt the election, were going to need the people who want to abolish the police and those who want to defend the integrity of the F.B.I. to work together. They may have to put their bodies on the line in a way that few living Americans have experienced.

Were not prepared today to deal with this, said Epting. The hope is that come November, we will be.
Two weeks ago, Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh revealed that her three-month-old daughter Sienna has developmental hip dysplasia (DDH).

After an emotional few days, Millie said doctors had advised that her firstborn should wear a harness for six to 12 weeks.

If she didnt wear it, shed risk pain, difficulty walking or the appearance of waddling, as well as early onset of osteoarthritis and hip deformities in later life.

Two weeks ago, Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh revealed that her three-month-old daughter Sienna has developmental hip dysplasia (DDH)

DDH is when the ball at the top of the thigh bone doesnt fit properly into the socket in the hip because the socket is too shallow. This can affect one side, but often both sides of the hip are involved.

Hip dysplasia is common in firstborns when the baby has developed without much room, or in babies that are born breech.

It is usually detected with a scan during the first few months  with one or two babies in every 1,000 needing treatment.

The harness recommended for baby Sienna is designed to reposition the hips in the joint gently. It is rare for the problem to recur after treatment, but X-rays are recommended as she grows.

After an emotional few days, Millie said doctors had advised that her firstborn should wear a harness for six to 12 weeks

If the condition is not treated during infancy, problems can suddenly occur in adulthood.

The first sign is often hip pain, followed by a clicking or locking sensation in the hip  when the ball at the top of the thigh bone feels as if it doesnt fit  and you can develop a limp because of the pain and weakness that develops.

It is also thought to lead to earlier onset of osteoarthritis as the instability of the ball in the socket causes wear and tear. DDH is the most common cause of osteoarthritis in the hips in people under 50.

Research published last year in The Bone & Joint Journal suggests that newborns with DDH are still slipping through the net when pre-emptive treatment could prevent problems in adulthood.

The harness recommended for baby Sienna is designed to reposition the hips in the joint gently. It is rare for the problem to recur after treatment, but X-rays are recommended as she grows

The study  by orthopaedic surgeons from Southampton Childrens Hospital  suggests that the diagnosis rate for DDH is lower following the introduction in 1996 of screening for newborns deemed at risk (the screening is in the form of a hip examination by a doctor, midwife or nurse).

Signs to look for If you werent diagnosed and treated as a child, the first sign of DDH in adulthood might be hip pain or a limp  this often occurs between your 20s and 40s. (Nine in ten cases are diagnosed during teenage years and adulthood.) The pain tends to radiate from the groin or side of the hip, usually worsening with activity, and you may experience catching or locking. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute advises that the condition can be wrongly diagnosed (as a form of arthritis of the spine, or hip impingement, caused by abnormal bone growth)  and suggests that if your pain is not abating, you seek a second opinion. Advertisement

Studies suggest that between 3 and 5 per cent of adults have DDH, with women at up to four times greater risk of having it than men  though it is not clear why.

Adult DDH is difficult to manage with painkillers as the pain is usually caused by spontaneous locking of the joint. If the patient cannot live with the discomfort, there are two main options, both surgical: a periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), which involves breaking and re-setting your pelvis to make the hip socket deeper  or a total hip replacement.

An intermediate option, a hip arthroscopy  a keyhole operation  can be tried in milder cases, says Johan Witt, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at University College Hospital in London. The surgery is used to correct tears of the hip labrum, the cartilage that surrounds the hip socket that cushions the joint and acts like a seal to hold it in place.

But one would only do that in selective, mild cases  in more severe cases theres the risk of making it worse, says Mr Witt.

Surgery was the option I was offered after being diagnosed with DDH in 2012 in my 30s. Id been suffering from increasing pain and locking of both hips, which came on after a fall. From then on, the niggling pain worsened until I could no longer run.

The first orthopaedic consultant I saw diagnosed DDH instantly but, in shock, I dismissed it, determined that the PAO surgery offered to me was unnecessary.

Six months later, a second opinion from Mr Witt confirmed the diagnosis. I booked in for the first of two PAOs, but two weeks before surgery I damaged my knee and had to postpone treatment.

After undergoing physiotherapy on my knee, I discussed my hip with the physiotherapist and I finally received advice on how to manage the condition: strengthening exercises would help stabilise the hips, avoid stretching positions that open the hips  and dont sit cross-legged.

While I have so far managed to stave off surgical intervention, on hearing that Millie Mackintoshs baby has DDH, I was intrigued to see whether treatment options had changed since I looked into it in 2012.

My consultant Mr Witt said PAO surgery is still advised for patients under 40 (without arthritis), with hip replacements for older patients  these replacements are expected to last 20 to 25 years, though he says there are improvements in technology all the time.

He was interested to hear that by using strengthening exercises for my core, hips and lower body, I have managed to stabilise my hips and so reduce joint pain.

Citizen Science: The medical breakthroughs helped by ordinary people This week: Diabetes Scientists have developed a computer program to spot early signs of eye damage caused by diabetes. Around a third of patients will develop diabetic retinopathy  damage to the back of the eye, caused by high blood sugar levels harming small blood vessels, that can lead to blindness. To develop the programme, called MONA, citizen scientists were asked to analyse 40,000 eye scans for signs of the disease. Scientists have developed a computer program to spot early signs of eye damage caused by diabetes Each was taught online how to identify different lesions that suggest diabetic retinopathy, and then to annotate the scans. This information was used to train the computer to spot problems. More than 3,500 volunteers took part in the project set up last year by the Free University of Brussels and the research organisation VITO. The project is complete and the idea is that MONA will screen patients with diabetes in opticians, GP practices or pharmacies. Patrick De Boever, who co-ordinated the project, said: Visiting the ophthalmologist often happens at a late stage of the disease. However, with an image of your retina and software to analyse it automatically, the disease can be detected at an early stage. Advertisement

There are no trials comparing non-operative treatment with surgical options, but one might now try exercise therapy in the first instance, he says.

Stabilising the hip through exercise is something Norfolk-based physiotherapist Laura Rutterford believes in. Laura, 33, has hip dysplasia and had a PAO aged ten.

Everyones experience of hip dysplasia is so different  even if youve had the exact same surgery as someone else, she says.

Despite having a PAO at such a young age, like me she says she has made gains through exercise. Her experience with DDH drove her to become a physiotherapist specialising in hip problems.

She says many of those affected by DDH experience something called the Trendelenburg gait, where their hips are not stable enough to keep the pelvis level. Your body compensates  for example, you develop a limp which can exacerbate symptoms.

Strong abductors [the muscles that bring your leg out to the side] will maintain a level pelvis  and these can be improved with exercises to strengthen the glute muscles in the buttocks and ITB, a band of tissue that run down the thigh, she says.

As for me, although Im seven years older, Im fitter and able to keep the pain in check.

Nevertheless, I still know the pain will worsen. I just hope that by the time I need a hip replacement, medical science will have moved on far enough to make my new joint a long-lasting one.
Cuba Gooding Jr. has been accused of raping a woman twice after coaxing her into his room at a Manhattan hotel in 2013, in a lawsuit filed against the actor on Tuesday.

The new allegations go significantly farther than a series of claims that Mr. Gooding subjected women to unwanted sexual touching, three of which are the basis of an upcoming criminal trial. Of the more than 20 accusations discussed in court papers, none of them had alleged rape until now.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed by an anonymous woman who is referred to as Jane Doe, she first met Mr. Gooding at a restaurant in Greenwich Village. He invited her and a friend to have drinks at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo. There, Mr. Gooding ushered the woman up to his room on the fifth floor, where he said he quickly needed to change his clothes, the lawsuit said.

When the woman tried to leave the room, the lawsuit said, Mr. Gooding blocked her way out and eventually pushed her onto the bed and raped her. Afterward, as the woman was trying to get away, Mr. Gooding raped her again, according to the complaint.
A growing list of companies shares a common problem with Apple Stores. Technology may be the only solution as workers wait to return to their corporate workplace as the pandemic resurgence materializes.

Apple Stores recently tried to reopen but had to shut down again amid continuing COVID-19 infections. It only took a few weeks for Apple to close its retail stores after reopening to the public, sending its employees back to work from home. Many companies are likely to follow suit as coronavirus cases continue to spread.

For those business that got it right reopening their workplaces the first time around, they should be in pretty good shape for round two. But others that struggled to get a handle on operations will likely find themselves again in chaos  especially where IT is concerned for the transplanted work-from-home employees.

Unsolved challenges exist in either scenario. No one formula is an ideal approach for companies going back-and-forth between in-person and remote work. The lessons learned from the first transition suggest companies with the right tools and strategies in place will be significantly better off.

Most organizations will face common challenges with staff working in the same space again:

How do they use elevators in office buildings?

How do they cater in the cafeteria?

Do employees still have access to the break room with common appliances and a shared space?

How do employees organize meetings in conference rooms that are meant for a specific number of attendees?

These are the basic questions confronting business managers as they race to reopen their workspaces to large crowds of workers, observed Mounir Hahad, head of Juniper Threat Labs at Juniper Networks.

One of the serious challenges involves not only the health of employees but the health of company electronics. Those issues persist whether employees work from home or return to the office.

Unfortunately, during these times when many organizations have been forced to shift to a more distributed business model, hybrid work practices are causing organizational challenges related to rising cybersecurity risk, defenses being tested, and weaknesses being exposed, Hahad told TechNewsWorld.

Business continuity may lighten up or override previous security requirements to address system overload, which leaves vulnerabilities open. Companies must find a way to ensure cybersecurity remains a top priority and keep their guard up.

It is especially important that organizations emphasize employee education around cybersecurity, he urged.

Addressing Risks

Some advanced WiFi access points do have the ability to precisely monitor users locations throughout their workday as they move around the buildings and record the data for future use. This is of tremendous help to the security and safety team who can identify hot spots where employees tend to congregate, or to trace back the proximity of an infected employee to other employees or visitors, noted Hahad.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Additionally, hybrid work environments can identify new opportunities for organizations to reassess their business continuity plans and network security processes. As early experiences suggest, transparency, flexibility and iteration are key in return-to-workplace plans amid possibly several rounds of back-and-forth restarts, depending on COVID-19 infection rates.

Businesses must continue to address the ways employees connect to the network and how to deploy technology to enable and protect those connections, regardless of work environment, Hahad said.

Common Challenges

Navigating the remote-to-office scenario that companies face to regather their workforces is stressful for both the displaced workers and their company managers.

Coworkers will spend an inordinate amount of time reconnecting early on, which will likely have a large impact on productivity at first, suggested Chris Triolo, vice president of customer success at Respond Software.

Employees may struggle with productivity as they adapt back to the office environment. The return of the commute may affect employees happiness temporarily and likely will result in fewer hours worked per day, he told TechNewsWorld.

Two other primary issues surface in the WFH-to-office return flip flops. One is the Security Operations Center (SOC); the other is the deployment of corporate communications assets.

While some industries are suited for remote work, there are several industries for whom this working style presents many problems, Triolo noted.

For instance, cybersecurity operations is not an industry that should operate remotely long-term. Home offices tend to be on unsafe networks that lack all the security controls and technology that the corporate office maintains.

Another consideration is what to do with corporate assets, such as laptops and phones that were distributed. Are companies expected to collect them all upon return? A good deal of logistical work comes to mind with this scenario.

While everyone does appreciate a change now and then, we risk employees focus, happiness, and productivity by see-sawing back and forth between in-person and remote work. While some companies have run a hybrid model all along, most employees who are new to the work-from-home and/or the hybrid structure may really struggle with it, Triolo explained.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Lessons Learned

The first transition from office to WFH taught company managers some surprising lessons. Many companies learned for the first time that it is possible to have a remote workforce.

In addition, the productivity question was resolved: employees ended up just as productive  and in some cases more productive  than when they worked in the office full time.

We also began to recognize that remote employees can reduce the costs of running our business, for example, with the leasing of office building space, decreased spending on utilities, and day-to-day overhead costs, Triolo noted.

But businesses also learned that we had a lot of work to do to get our employees the tools they need to work from home safely. These include laptops, corporate VPNs, and other collaborative tools such as Zoom, Slack, and Microsoft Teams or Google Meet.

There was an initial scramble to put the technology and policies in place, but now that weve done it, we can move from the office-to-home work lifestyle again much more easily, he said.

The lessons businesses learned include a need for planning and major adjustment when it comes to making the switch between working at the business premises and remotely, according to Melissa Cadwallader, HR leader at ZenBusiness.

Businesses were initially required to make provisions for continued communication with socially distanced employees. There has also been a need to focus on the health and safety of those workers expected to return after the months of isolation. The wearing of face masks and arrangement of worker shielding has become the new workplace norm, given continuing concerns over the pandemic, she told TechNewsWorld.

The Journey Back

Transitioning back to the office will present companies with a need for the change and adoption of policies for the protection and engagement of employees going back and forth between in-person and remote work. There will also be a challenge when it comes to maintaining business as normal, Cadwallader offered.

Employees have to adapt to different working practices. There may well be a decrease in productivity and engagement given the continued uncertainty over working arrangements, she said.

The remote-to-office scenario poses serious challenges for companies from a health standpoint. It is opening more doors for COVID-19 contraction, warned Craig Williams, CIO at Ciena.

If employees coming into work have been quarantined, making them come into the office raises the question we seem to forget in the equation  how did they get to work? If the answer is by public transportation such as a train or bus, then the risks of exposure are further expanded, Williams told TechNewsWorld.

Then there is the liability issue that companies face in reopening corporate workspaces, warned Williams. Even if all the employees drove to work with their own cars so their exposure rates are low, without the right socially-distanced office setups  like plexiglass shields between cubicles  companies are facing immense liabilities by opening back up too soon and putting not only employees but their families at risk as well, he explained.

The first transition has clearly outlined why it is too soon to open back office spaces without taking all the right precautions, and it has also shown that perhaps even with all the seemingly right precautions, the virus can still run rampant.

Many employees are hesitant about going back to the office right now so companies must use this as an opportunity to listen and follow their lead, he suggested.

Growing Opposition

Remote workers made to rush back to the office too soon may actually choose to quit instead. According to a survey by Azurite Consulting that tallied the views of 3,500 people, one-in-four office workers would quit if asked to return too soon. That includes 26 percent of employees and 21 percent of managers.

Key findings from that survey include:

54 percent of high-risk employees want to continue working remotely.

70 percent of Americans see taking public transportation to work as unsafe.

To foster a safe return, office workers want face masks and investment in better hygiene before they return. A majority (56 percent) want mandatory face masks, while 42 percent want sanitizers or disinfectants at their desks, and 36 percent want reduced office capacity at any given time.

15 percent want daily temperature checks, and 16 percent want weekly COVID-19 testing.

The Azurite survey also revealed:

54 percent of companies in major downtown centers have intent to downsize their footprint, and 55 percent plan at least some relocation of employees.

11 percent of urban dwellers contemplate a suburban move and 25 percent a rural move. Meanwhile, 28 percent of suburban dwellers contemplate a rural move.

We are reaching a point where companies are looking to get people back in their office spaces, but clearly we cant resume pre-pandemic practices. Leaders now have to manage the influx of people arriving to high-rise office buildings in densely populated cities like Chicago and New York. Workers need to access the building, go up elevators and get to the office as safely as possible, Matt Fairhurst, CEO and cofounder, Skedulo  a deskless worker productivity software company  told TechNewsWorld.

Some spaces have made new rules limiting the number of people in an elevator or have enacted social distancing. Companies are taking it upon themselves to phase people back into the office. This involves limiting the capacity of employees allowed on a given day. But how can we more effectively manage this?, he questioned to illustrate the issues involved with return workers to corporate offices.

Potential Answers

Skedulo could have a solution to easing and managing the transition back to the office. The company is exploring the idea of applying high capacity-based scheduling technology, Fairhurst announced. That software automatically and intelligently helps organize large quantities of people using appointments to enter the office.

Think about scheduling workers arrival times, limiting the number of people in elevators, and taking into account the total number in an office, especially for large companies with one central office. This can be overwhelming to manage, he said.

If too many individuals arrive at once, people could congregate in the lobby, possibly breaking social distancing rules and increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19. Using capacity-based scheduling, an employee could check if a low volume window is available to work in the office, book his/her arrival time, check-in via a contactless QR code at the front desk, and ride up the elevator. All of that would follow appropriate social distancing measures with the knowledge you will not be turned away at the front door.

The technology can automate appointments and triage if there is a backup somewhere, meaning if a cluster of people arrives at once, it can intelligently reschedule the rest of the day, helping reduce potential exposure, said Fairhurst.
MediaHub has been appointed to manage playout tender for PacificAus TV.

Australian television programmes from Free TV Australia will be available to broadcast partners in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Nauru. This includes 1,000 hours of content per year for three years including lifestyle programmes, factual programmes, childrens programmes, drama, reality TV and sport.

MediaHub CEO Alan Sweeney said, Free TV released an RFP to the greater broadcast industry and MediaHub Australia won the tender process. This means we now supply content acquisition, aggregation, playout and distribution services in order to deliver the 1,000 hours of content per year to nine Pacific island nations at a Service Level Agreement (SLA) of 99.99%. The core requirement is to provide the functionality to receive content from the commercial metropolitan networks, various production companies and sporting organisations such as the AFL and NRL. We also aggregate this content to playout 5 to 7 hours per day and uplink that content to the Intelsat 19 satellite. All of the content is transcoded and uploaded to the MediaHub ExchangeHub portal for the Pacific Island broadcasters to download the programs as VOD assets.

Since the PacificAus TV initiative went live MediaHub has ingested, added metadata to and QCd over 1,500 programmes and over 1000 hours of content from multiple providers into the MediaHub MAM system in under 4 weeks.
"I think it's good from an economic point of view for the men to stay there, because if they decide to evacuate they will break the contract - it's better from an Australian point of view," she said.

A wife of one of the workers, Mrs Kathy Thomson, told the Herald last night that she had spoken to her husband, John, since she arrived in Brisbane from Tabuk and that he assured her spirits were still high among the Telecom workers.

"I am concerned for him but not panicking at this stage, and I agree with the Telecom decision to evacuate us," she said.

Telecom Australia International has an $86 million contract to manage the country's telecommunications network.

A spokesman said Telecom was confident that the Saudi authorities would protect the 140 workers still in Saudi Arabia, and said the women and children were flown out only as a precaution. The corporation may be in breach of its contract - to install an optical fibre network - if it removed the workers without an invasion taking place.
Akshay Kumar has contributed to Assam flood relief by donating Rs 1 crore. Assam's Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took to his Twitter handle to thank the Khiladi of Bollywood for his generous donation in support of Assam flood relief.

Sonowal expressed gratitude towards Akshay for his constant support to the state of Assam in times of crisis. He wrote on Twitter, "Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of 1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena."

Not just Assam, but Akshay contributed towards the flood relief in Bihar as well, as both states have been reeling under massive floods. Hindustan Times quoted a source as saying, "On Thursday, Akshay Kumar spoke to CMs of Bihar and Assam and pledged a sum of Rs 1 crore each at a time when these areas are affected by the natural calamity. Both the chief ministers have expressed gratitude and appreciated his gesture that amid so much negativity all around, he could think of the betterment of these states."

Recently, celebrity couples Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, and Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli too pledged their support towards flood relief in Assam and Bihar.

Coming back to Akshay, the actor is known for making huge contributions in times of crisis. He was among the first celebrities of the Hindi film industry to donate to the Prime Minister Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES), to help the country deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

Akshay is currently shooting for Bell Bottom in Scotland.

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar To Fly To Scotland To Shoot For 'Bell Bottom' Amid COVID-19!

ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra And Nick Jonas Draw Attention To Assam Floods, Make Contributions To Flood Relief


Injuries are a common occurrence and if you're injured due to the negligence of another person or business, then you may be entitled to seek compensation. The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey conducted in 2016 stated that there were 39.5 million physician office visits due to injuries. Here are the steps you would need to take in order to receive the damages that you seek.

Have an Accident

There are many types of accidents for which you can sue for damages. Being injured in one of the following accidents could lead to you filing a claim:

Car Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents

Workplace Accidents

Commercial Truck Accidents

Boating Accidents

Product-Liability Accidents

Premises Liability Accidents

Medical Malpractice

Wrongful Death

If you're involved in any type of accident, the first step you want to take is to seek medical care. You may not understand the severity of your injury initially and getting medical treatment will prove pivotal in your case.

Consult with Attorney

Most attorneys offer free consultations and will speak with you about your case whether or not your case is valid. Personal injury attorneys will also have experience in settling and trying cases similar to yours. Consider working with Fasig & Brook Law Firm, adept personal injury attorneys in the Florida area, dedicated to ensuring you get justice.

Investigate Your Accident

Once you've acquired an attorney they will begin to investigate your case. The attorney will acquire police reports, speak with witnesses, review pictures and videos from the scene, and review your medical treatments.

Negotiate a Settlement

Typically, once you've got all the medical treatment that you need, your attorney will use your medical bills, lost wages due to time away from work, property damage, and the pain and suffering you've faced to make a demand to the insurance company. Most cases are resolved in this phase. However, if you're unable to come to an agreement, then your lawyer will file a lawsuit.

File a Lawsuit

After your lawyer files a lawsuit, a judge will then set dates for your case. This process could take months or years depending on the circumstances of your case. One of the first documents your attorney will file on your behalf is a complaint that details the allegations about your injuries, how you got them, who is responsible, the legality of your claim, and the damages that you seek.

Discovery

In the discovery phase, the legal defense teams will exchange testimonies, evidence, and documents. This includes all written documents, interrogatories, document requests, and oral depositions. During this phase, some defendants ask for another medical examination and it's paramount that your legal team be present.

Motions

The defense attorney will submit a written request to the courts. These vary depending on the case but generally ask for a ruling or direction that favors the defendant.

Mediate Your Case

Once discovery is completed, the parties will come together to try alternative dispute resolutions or mediations. At mediation, both parties produce the evidence of the case to a neutral third party that works to help them reach an agreement.

Go to Trial

If settlement agreements and mediation fail, then your case will go to trial where a judge or jury will rule. The length of the case may vary depending on the judge's schedule and case details. Even if the ruling is in your favor, the defendant may appeal the case at a higher court. Before you get your compensation your attorney and other third-party agencies used in your defense will be compensated, then you will receive a check.
The local council asks police not to fine working retail outlets.

Members of Sambir Town Council in Lviv region have refused to toughen coronavirus-related quarantine rules in the town, which was a demand by the state biosecurity commission.

The council passed a respective decision on August 17, according to the news portal zaxid.net.

Read alsoCOVID-19 in Ukraine: authorities report 1,464 cases in past day

On that day, dozens of entrepreneurs gathered for a rally outside the council's building in a protest against a total lockdown.

Members of the local council say that the decision by the State Commission on Industry-Related and Environmental Safety and Emergencies to include Sambir in the red quarantine zone is contrary to the Constitution of Ukraine.

Therefore, public transport companies and entrepreneurs who work, in particular, in the retail sector and catering were allowed to work as usual, but they should meet quarantine-related requirements.

The council also asked the police not to fine entrepreneurs who continue working contrary to the state commission's decision.

Separately, an appeal to the president, the Health Ministry, and Lviv Regional State Administration was adopted to withdraw Sambir from the red zone. They say it does not correspond to the real incidence of coronavirus cases.

Quarantine in Ukraine
New Delhi:

The Centre has decided to set up a single, permanent Tribunal to adjudicate all inter-state river water disputes subsuming existing tribunals, a step which is aimed at resolving grievances of states in a speedy manner.

Besides the Tribunal, the government has also proposed to float some benches by amending the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 to look into disputes as and when required. Unlike the Tribunal, the benches will cease to exist once the disputes are resolved.

A decision to approve an amendment to the Act was taken at the Union Cabinets meeting held earlier this week. The amendment is likely to be introduced in Parliament in its next session.

There will be only one permanent Tribunal with retired Supreme Court judge as its chairperson. There will be benches formed as and when required. The benches though will be wound up once a dispute is resolve, Water Resources Ministry secretary Shashi Shekhar said.

Earlier, Shekhar said, water tribunals took ages to deliver final awards into disputes, where as the proposed Tribunal is expected to deliver its verdict during a span of three years.

Along with the Tribunal, the amendment proposes to set up Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). The DRC, comprising experts and policy-makers, is proposed to handle disputes prior to the Tribunal.

...whenever a state will request, the Centre will set up a DRC. We expect, most disputes will get resolved at the DRCs level itself. But if a state is not satisfied, it can approach the Tribunal, he added.

In order to give more teeth to the Tribunal, it is proposed that whenever it gives order, the verdict gets notified automatically. Until now, the government required to notify the awards, causing delay in its implementation.

As per the current provisions of the 1956 Act, a tribunal can be formed after a state government approaches Union Government with such request and the Centre is convinced of the need to form the tribunal.

At present, there are eight Tribunals including those on Cauvery, Mahadayi, Ravi and Beas, Vansadhara and Krishna rivers.

The present year saw party states like Tamil Nadu and Karntaka (Cuavery basin), Goa-Karnataka-Maharashtra (Mahadayi) and also Odisha and Chhattisgarh (Mahanadi) sparring over sharing river water.

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The Supreme Court, in its order on the utilisation of PM CARES Fund for the national disaster management, said the fund money can't be transferred to the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF).

While disposing of the petition, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said there's no need for fresh national disaster relief plan. The apex court said the funds collected by the PM CARES Fund are entirely different and come under the ambit of charitable trusts.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, have time and again raised questions on the utility and advantages of having a separate fund when the PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) is for the same purpose.

The statement issued by the government justifies the setting up of a fund by saying that distress situations, whether natural or otherwise, demand expeditious and collective action for alleviating the suffering of those affected, mitigation/control of damage to infrastructure and capacities etc.

Established on March 27, 2020 as a charitable trust, PM CARES (Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations) Fund Trust intends to deal with any kind of emergency or distress, such as COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected.

Also read: PM CARES Fund better suited to deal with coronavirus crisis, say legal experts

The trust is headed by the Prime Minister. Other members of the trust are Defence Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister.

The PM CARES Fund tries to differentiate itself from PMNRF by enabling micro-donations. The statement issued by the government specifically says the fund will enable micro-donations.

Also read: Coronavirus: Independent auditors to audit PM-CARES Fund, foreign donations allowed

One can donate as low as Rs 10 in the PM CARES Fund, while the minimum one can donate in PM National Relief Fund is Rs 100.

Contributions towards PM CARES Fund are eligible expenditure under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Under CSR, companies have to spend 2% of their last year's profit towards social causes. Many corporate houses like Reliance Industries, JSW Steel, etc have contributed to PM-CARES Fund.

Also read: PM CARES Fund Trust allots Rs 3,100 crore for fight against coronavirus: PMO

Also read: FIR against Sonia Gandhi for Congress' tweets on PM-CARES Fund
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 08:10 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ea772b 1 Editorial #Editorial,Independence-Day,#Indonesia75,Indonesia,COVID-19,pandemic Free

Gone are the joyful cheers of children and adults that used to mark pole climbing competitions in many neighborhood communities across the country, and the grandiosity of the flag-raising ceremony at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Like never before, Indonesians from Sabang to Merauke commemorated the anniversary of their independence in a simple way.

The government has warned people against holding big and festive celebrations of the national day for fear they would exacerbate the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 139,500 people, killing over 6,150 of them.

On Monday, the flag-hoisting ceremony to observe the momentous proclamation of Indonesias independence was conducted at the Presidential Palace in compliance with health protocols: only a small number of guests were invited, musical performances were pre-recorded and the national flag-hoisting squad was reduced to only eight  all members of last years team.

Most state officials and dignitaries, including former presidents Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, joined the ceremony via video conference.

In fact, in practice the Independence Day commemoration went online. Students, civil servants and other regular participants of the ceremony were asked to follow the event virtually from home.

The mode of simplicity, apart from being a necessity to prevent virus transmission, is an ideal reminder of the great minds behind the birth of the Republic, who defied limitations and restrictions to define the future journey of people of diverse ethnicities, cultures and beliefs as one nation 75 years ago.

Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, two prominent young figures at that time, proclaimed Indonesias independence without fanfare in a ceremony at Sukarnos house on Aug. 17, 1945 at 10 a.m. It happened during Ramadan, when Muslims across the world, including Sukarno and those in attendance, were fasting. Sukarno moved the venue of the independence proclamation from Ikada Square to his house due to security concerns, given that Japan, despite its surrender to the Allies, remained in control in the archipelago.

The independence proclamation was drafted at the house of a Japanese admiral and was typewritten using a borrowed typing machine. The red and white flag was sewn together by Sukarnos wife Fatmawati and hoisted on a bamboo pole on the historic day.

Many would agree that 75 years of age is a hallmark. The government and the public at large might have planned a more festive Independence Day celebration this year, until the pandemic came.

There should be no regret for seeing COVID-19 spoil the 75th anniversary of independence. The pandemic has in fact hurt all nations and threatened to impoverish millions, including in Indonesia, as a result.

In a more pessimistic scenario, the pandemic could cancel out the progress Indonesia has made after 75 years of existence the way the health crisis has wrought havoc on many big corporations. Indonesia, however, has proved its resilience in a number of crises and should pass the daunting test this time around.

While the struggle to gain independence is already part of history, the fighting spirit of our founding fathers is a long-lasting legacy that will help us cope with todays challenges.
Shares in South Korea led losses regionally in a mixed trading day for Asia Pacific stocks.

The Kospi fell 2.46% to close at 2,348.24, with shares of automaker Hyundai Motor plunging 5.39%.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that concerns are rising over a potential "massive outbreak" of coronavirus cases. The country confirmed 246 more Covid-19 cases as of Tuesday midnight local time, according to the daily update from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Meanwhile, mainland Chinese stocks edged higher on the day. The Shanghai composite added 0.36% to about 3,451.09 while the Shenzhen component advanced 0.189% to around 13,768.17.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index closed fractionally higher at 25,367.38.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 dipped 0.2% to close at 23,051.08 while the Topix index ended its trading day slightly higher at 1,610.85.

Shares in Australia edged higher, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.77% to close at 6,123.40. The Reserve Bank of Australia said there was "no need to adjust the package of measures in Australia in the current environment," according to meeting minutes released Tuesday.

"Board members recognised that the substantial, coordinated and unprecedented easing of fiscal and monetary policy in Australia was helping to sustain the economy through this difficult period," the minutes said.

Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index advanced 0.26%.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing likely continued to weigh on investor sentiment. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration announced Monday a further tightening of restrictions on Huawei, aimed at limiting the Chinese telecommunications giant's access to commercially available chips.

That development came after Trump issued an executive order Friday forcing China's ByteDance to sell or spin off its U.S. TikTok business within 90 days. A source told CNBC that enterprise software giant Oracle is in talks to acquire TikTok's U.S., Canadian, Australian and New Zealand assets. The interest from Oracle puts it at odds with Microsoft, which has been in talks to acquire the same TikTok assets for more than a month.

"This step-up in US antagonism towards Chinese tech sector may have further to run given Trump is on record warning of more Chinese tech firms (including Alibaba) in the cross-hairs," Vishnu Varathan, head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank, wrote in a note.
The actor was admitted to Lilavati hospital after experiencing breathlessness on August 8, and was released after a couple of days. He had tested negative for COVID-19. However, it was later reported that he was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Although Sanjay has not commented on his illness yet, his wife Maanyata Dutt issued a health update regarding Sanjay. She stated that Sanjay is currently undergoing preliminary treatment in Mumbai's Kokilaben hospital.

"To all of Sanju's fans and well wishers, I can't begin to thank you for the love and warmth you have shown him all these years," Maanyata began her statement.

She continued, "Sanju has been through many ups and downs in his life, but what has kept him going through every tough phase has always been your adulation and support. And for this, we will always be grateful. We are now being tested through yet another challenge, and I know, the same love and warmth will see him through this time as well.

As a family, we have decided to face this with positivity and grace. We are going to go about our life as normally as possible, with a smile, because this will be a tough fight and a long journey. And, we need to do this for Sanju, without any negativity setting in.

In these trying times, unfortunately, I have been unable to be by his side in the hospital, due to my home quarantine which ends in a couple of days. Every battle has a torchbearer and someone who holds the fort. Priya who has worked extensively over two decades with our family-run Cancer foundation, and who has also seen her mother battle this illness, has been our incredible torchbearer, while I will hold the fort."

Maanyata recently returned to Mumbai from Dubai where she was stuck with their kids due to the Coronavirus lockdown .

Updating everyone on Sanjay's treatment, she said, "For those asking, Sanju will complete his preliminary treatment in Mumbai. We will formulate further plans of travel depending on how and when the covid situation eases. As of now, Sanju is in the best hands of our esteemed doctors at Kokilaben hospital."

She further said, "I request everyone, with my folded hands, to stop speculating the stage of his illness and let the doctors continue to do their work. We will update you all regularly with his progress.

Sanju is not only my husband and father to our children, but he has also been a father figure to Anju and Priya, after losing their parents. He is the heart and soul of our family.

While our family is shaken up, we are determined to fight tooth and nail. With God and your prayers on our side, together we will overcome, and emerge as winners."

Recently, Sanjay Dutt had shared a statement saying that he will be taking a break from work for medical treatment. He too urged his well wishers not to speculate about his health.

Talking about work, the actor will next be seen in Sadak 2, starring alongside Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur and Pooja Bhatt. The film has been directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Mukesh Bhatt under the banner of Vishesh Films. The film is set to release on Disney+ Hotstar.

ALSO READ: Sanjay Dutt Discharged From Hospital, Returns Home
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-16 23:49:54|Editor: huaxia

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Fishermen are seen in a flooded area on the bank of the White Nile in Khartoum, Sudan, on Aug. 17, 2020. A total of 63 people have been killed due to the torrential rains hit Sudan, the country's National Council for Civil Defense said on Sunday. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua)

KHARTOUM, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- A total of 63 people have been killed due to the torrential rains hit Sudan, the country's National Council for Civil Defense said on Sunday.

"The heavy rains have left 63 people dead since the end of June," the council said in its daily report.

"A total of 14,118 houses have completely collapsed, while 119 government buildings have completely been destroyed and 16,240 houses greatly been damaged," it added.

Meanwhile, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) plane arrived in Sudan's capital of Khartoum on Sunday, carrying 24 tons of medical and food assistance for the people affected by the rains and floods.

Sudan's acting Foreign Minister Omer Gamar-Eddin lauded the UAE's continued efforts and support for the brothers in all countries, especially Sudan.

Sudan often witnesses floods caused by heavy rains from June to October. Enditem
No matter how the business environment changes, were here to support our customers technology needs. Im proud that we continue to grow while we enable the growth and success of our clients.

Inc. magazine today revealed that SinglePoint Global is No. 1228 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 segment  its 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.

SinglePoint Global is devoted to fully servicing our clients through any circumstances they face. No matter how the business environment changes, were here to support our customers technology needs. Im proud that we continue to grow while we enable the growth and success of our clients, said Greg Browning, SinglePoint Global CEO.

This is the fourth time SinglePoint Global has achieved ranking on the Inc. 5000 list  this time, demonstrating three-year revenue growth of 336.11%.

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% and a median rate of 165%. The Inc. 5000s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019  accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000  including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria  can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands now.

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.

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.

About SinglePoint Global

SinglePoint serves the needs of customers around the globe with a diversified suite of IT services. From developing strong cyber security policies to offering strategic guidance to improve overall IT performance, we provide a single point of contact for a businesss technology needs.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

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 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/.
Typically, in a time like that, neighbors would shake hands and hug their neighbors, Mr. Olson said, and I think because of Covid, there was an extra level of disconnect and isolation.

More help has arrived in recent days after Iowa Starting Line, an online news outlet, published an article over the weekend about the citys plight under the headline Its Even Worse Than You Think In Cedar Rapids. Red Cross workers are helping. And on Tuesday, President Trump flew into the city for about 30 minutes on his way to Arizona for a campaign event. He spoke with local officials in an airport hangar about the devastation before returning to Air Force One.

On Monday, Mr. Trump signed a disaster relief order that provided about $45 million for public utilities and buildings, but he did not approve money the state requested for individual homeowners and farmers, which local officials have said is desperately needed.

Dont forget, this has been a very loving area for me. Cedar Rapids has been fantastic, Mr. Trump said. Mr. Trump won Iowa in 2016, although he lost Linn County, which includes the city, by about 10,500 votes.

Angie Ward, who owns a local bar and grill, said she was worried that she may need to cover the bill for a tree that fell across her backyard. She said she was unimpressed with the presidents brief visit.

I was upset that Trump came to the airport and didnt even leave to see the damage, said Ms. Ward, who said she had voted for Mr. Trump in 2016 but no longer supported him.

Ms. Ward said she had to let go of her worries about the coronavirus to help her neighbors recover from the storm. With her restaurant currently closed, she has allowed customers into her home to charge their phones, as many in her neighborhood are still without power.
The political veteran known as IBK is described variously by his entourage as generous, irascible and divisive

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who resigned Wednesday after being detained in a coup launched by mutinous troops, long relied on an uncompromising image to project command over his West African country.

But the man who won election in a landslide in 2013 and was re-elected five years later was left flailing by jihadist and inter-ethnic violence that has claimed thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

Snail-paced political reforms, a flagging economy, decrepit public services and schools, and a widely shared perception of government corruption also fed anti-Keita sentiment, driving tens of thousands of protesters into the streets.

The 75-year-old was until this week able to shrug off criticism from a divided opposition, partly relying on support from the international community, which has seen him as a bulwark against the jihadist threat.

But the coronavirus pandemic and the kidnapping of opposition leader Soumaila Cisse by jihadists in March made severe inroads into Keita's standing.

The political veteran known as IBK is described variously by his entourage as generous, irascible and divisive.

The son of a civil servant, Keita was born in the southern industrial city of Koutiala, the declining heartland of cotton production.

After studying literature in Mali, Senegal and France -- his great-grandfather was a French colonial soldier who died in the Battle of Verdun in World War I -- Keita became an adviser for the EU's overseas development fund before heading a development project in northern Mali.

He campaigned against general Moussa Traore, Mali's former president ousted in 1991 by a military coup.

He then rose through the ranks under Alpha Oumar Konare, the country's first democratically elected president.

As a socialist prime minister between 1994 and 2000, he quelled a series of crippling strikes, earning a reputation as a firm leader and helping to set up his landslide election in 2013 -- when he finally ascended to the presidency after losing runs in 2002 and 2007.

Story continues

He had campaigned as a unifying figure in his fractured country, belying his tough-talking reputation. Keita was re-elected in 2018, defeating Cisse.

Rumours regularly surface about Keita's health, which he has also dismissed: "It may surprise a lot of people, but I feel perfectly fine."

bur-gd/ri/dl/gle/jah
Mumbai: The special court set up to try cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, on Tuesday, directed jail authorities to shift Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) promoter Rakesh Wadhawan to a government-run hospital to undergo colonoscopy or endoscopy.

The court has ordered that he could be admitted to a private healthcare facility, if the treatment is not available in a government-run hospital.

Wadhawan, who has been suffering from multiple ailments, through his lawyers, had pleaded to transfer him to a private hospital for treatment.

The plea was made after the court had refused to grant him bail.

His lawyer Subir Sarkar said that the court initially, has directed the prison authorities to transfer him to a government hospital.

But, he could be shifted to a private hospital, if the government-run hospital doctors recommend it.

The jail authority is directed to take accused Rakesh Wadhawan to either KEM hospital or Nair Hospital or any other government hospital for colonoscopy or endoscopy, if the procedure has not been carried out yet. If it is noticed during the treatment by the government-run hospital doctors that Wadhawan would need to be treated at a private hospital, then he could be shifted there. However, the hospitals administrative and jail authorities advice will be required before he can be shifted to a private hospital, said PP Rajvaidy, judge, special PMLA court.

Wadhawan and his son Sarang have been booked by the Mumbai Polices economic offence wing (EOW) after they had defaulted on the repayment of a loan taken from the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank (PMC).

The bank had run into acute financial troubles, as HDIL had 73% of the financial institutions total loan exposure of Rs 8,300, which works out to around Rs 6,226 crore.

They had allegedly conspired with bank officials to secure the loan without security.

Soon after the EOW case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also had initiated a separate probe into money laundering allegations against the Wadhawans.

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The summer break from COVID-19 Manitobans were enjoying is officially over, with 38 new cases reported Monday, including one at a personal-care home in Steinbach and new daily cases in the double digits.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (520 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The summer break from COVID-19 Manitobans were enjoying is officially over, with 38 new cases reported Monday, including one at a personal-care home in Steinbach and new daily cases in the double digits.

"We've seen case numbers that we haven't seen since the beginning of the pandemic," Dr. Brent Roussin said at a media briefing Monday.

"We're seeing some evidence of community-based transmission. With that brings anxiety to Manitobans," the province's chief provincial health officer said.

After two weeks of near-daily reports of double-digit new cases, Manitoba's ninth death was reported Saturday, a Portage la Prairie man in his 80s who was in hospital at the time. On Sunday, another 36 cases were reported.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, speaks to the media during a COVID-19 update at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg on Monday.

Roussin said 11 Manitobans are hospitalized with COVID-19, three of them in intensive care. One new case at Bethesda Place in Steinbach is being declared an "outbreak" because of the threat it poses to residents.

Roussin had few details to share and couldn't say how many nursing-home staff are self-isolating. He is waiting to find out how COVID-19 got into a care home with strict controls over who can enter and where personal protective equipment is required. Steps were taken "quickly and appropriately" to prevent spread of the infection once it was discovered, he said.

"They immediately had that person in isolation, they immediately isolated wings of that personal-care home."

More than half of Monday's new cases  20  are in the Prairie Mountain health region, which includes Brandon, where there are 86 active cases. Most are connected to a cluster of 64 known cases. Public health officials warn of a possible exposure at the 7-Eleven on Victoria Street in Brandon Aug. 5-7 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

THE CARILLON / NICOLE BUFFIE Dr. Roussin said one case of COVID-19 has been identified at Bethesda Place Personal Care Home in Steinbach and is being declared an "outbreak" because of the threat it poses to residents.

Another 12 new cases were reported in Southern health  which includes the Steinbach care home and the district of Niverville/Ritchot, which now has the most active cases in that region, with 25. They are related to a known cluster but Roussin wouldn't provide details, including if it involves a Hutterite colony.

Just five new cases were reported in Winnipeg, where some community transmission is occurring but most positive tests are linked to known cases. One new case was reported in the Interlake-Eastern health region. With 1,716 lab tests completed Sunday, Manitoba has a five-day test positive rate of 1.78 per cent.

The resurgence of the novel coronavirus Manitobans are seeing now was expected, but not this soon, Roussin said.

"We knew that we weren't done with this virus," he said. "We had that nice stretch  and we'll take it  but we knew we're in a pandemic. Most of us in public health were definitely expecting numbers like this and possibly worse in the fall respiratory virus season."

"We knew that we weren't done with this virus. We had that nice stretch  and we'll take it  but we knew we're in a pandemic. Most of us in public health were definitely expecting numbers like this and possibly worse in the fall respiratory virus season."  Dr. Brent Roussin

Later this week, more information will be added to the daily COVID-19 information provided by the online "dashboard," he said, adding It should help Manitobans see what our current status is and will offer "some ideas" about what could happen "in the future with our numbers."

Roussin wouldn't say how dire things have to get before reimposing measures or ordering new ones, such as mandating masks.

Surgeries backlog addressed On Monday, the province announced it awarded five contracts to address the backlog in surgeries and exams postponed by COVID-19 this spring as Manitoba joined other provinces bracing for an onslaught of hospitalizations that fortunately didn't materialize. click to read more On Monday, the province announced it awarded five contracts to address the backlog in surgeries and exams postponed by COVID-19 this spring as Manitoba joined other provinces bracing for an onslaught of hospitalizations that fortunately didn't materialize. Manitoba Health said it has awarded $2.5 million in contracts echocardiogram exams, urology procedures, orthopaedic spine procedures, and foot and hand surgeries. They were awarded to five facilities: Health Sciences Centre, Pan Am Clinic, CancerCare Manitoba, Maples Surgical Centre and LifeSmart Health Cardio 1, a provincial government spokesperson said. Both public and private providers responded to the request for service agreements. Additional contracts will be awarded as progress is monitored, a press release from Manitoba Health said. By next March, close to 4,000 surgical procedures and 4,000 imaging exams will have been rescheduled, it said. The Manitoba Health Coalition said the province has not presented any evidence that public health care providers didn't have the capacity to deal with the backlog. "...At a time when we need health care professionals to help catch up on delayed surgeries this decision will pull more of these professionals out of the public system and put even greater strain on our public health system as we recover from the pandemic," the coalition's director Brianne Goertzen said in a statement Monday. "Experience in other jurisdictions, such as Alberta, shows that care delivered in for-profit facilities costs more, quality of care worsens, and fails to alleviate wait times. The pandemic has made it abundantly clear the importance of a responsive public health system."  Carol Sanders Close

Public health will look at factors such as the five-day test positivity rate, the number of cases that can't be linked to clusters and are of unknown acquisition, and capacity in the health- care system, he said. The hospital system is not being overwhelmed and there are fewer people admitted with COVID-19 than when the first wave hit Manitoba in the spring.

"If you look at our hospitalization rate right now, it's lower than what we saw earlier in the pandemic at that time," said Roussin, who acknowledged there can be a lag between a surge in new cases and when people end up in hospital. However in the spring, 10 to 12 per cent of people testing positive for COVID-19 across Canada were hospitalized. On Monday, Manitoba had 232 active cases with 11 in hospital.

The severity of the situation in Manitoba could go either way, and Roussin reminded Manitobans they can determine it by following the fundamentals of good hand hygiene, staying home when they have even mild symptoms, keeping their distance and wearing a mask indoors and places where they may not be able to spread out. Mandating people to do things such as wearing masks may happen if people aren't following recommendations, he warned.

"Nothing's ever been off the table for us. If we're ever concerned that we're not getting the compliance we need, we can always mandate it. "  Dr. Brent Roussin on mandating people to wear masks

"Nothing's ever been off the table for us," he said. "If we're ever concerned that we're not getting the compliance we need, we can always mandate it. "

Health Minister Cameron Friesen defended the province's "ready, safe, grow" economic messaging campaign despite the resurgence of the virus and Manitobans' health concerns.

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"As Dr. Roussin has continued to say, we have to learn how to live with COVID-19," Friesen said at the briefing Monday.

"I think that what this campaign is doing is reminding people they have to do the right things in order for Manitoba to continue to be a success story. We do want people to make that shift to get back to work, to get back to whatever normal looks like."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Standing in front of Air Force One on the tarmac of the Minneapolis airport Monday afternoon, President Trump assailed Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Kamala Harris, accusing them of wanting to bring a left-wing war on cops to the White House.

In his first stop in Minneapolis since the protests and violence that struck the city after the police killing of George Floyd, Mr. Trump lashed out at what he called radical left anarchists who looted parts of the city.

Theyre anarchists, he said. Everyone says Oh, dont use that term, radical left. I go, Radical left anarchists!

Mr. Trump invited the owners of small businesses that were looted to describe their experiences. Several of them praised Mr. Trump for his efforts to crack down on the violence.
One charged, four arrested for isolation breaches as 2500 return



By Aaron Ibanez - Local Democracy Reporter

A total of four people have been arrested after new quarantine rules were brought in for returning residents last month.

Following changes to border restrictions on 20 July, police have dealt with 10 individuals who have failed to self-isolate.

They have issued warnings to six and arrested four people, one of whom has been sentenced to six weeks in prison.

According to government figures from 12 August, 2559 individuals have returned to the Island, which surmounts to around 600 residents every week.

Under Level Four of the Islands border policy, each person returning receives a direction notice which instructs them to self-isolate.

During the 14 day period of isolation, checks are made either by phone or by unscheduled visits from authorised officers, to ensure rules are being obeyed.

Any person found breaking self-isolation who is reported to police, could face a maximum penalty of three months in prison or a 10,000 fine.
Revival and growth in the Indian economy is expected to occur in nine key sectors - consumer retail, healthcare, logistics and infrastructure, power and mining, automotive and industrial products, financial services, technology and education, government, agriculture and in the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) segment, a report published by PwC said.

"Adopting a whole-of-society execution, bringing together the public and private sector along with citizens, would be key to spur faster revival and growth. This national collaboration demands a full-potential mindset that could positively turn around the economy in the medium term, said Shyamal Mukherjee, chairman, PwC India.

The report said the health situation continued to be dynamic with the continuing spread of coronavirus, creating a direct shock to the economy resulting in a recession.

"The consumer and retail, health and pharma, automotive and industrial products (IP) sectors will be influenced by similar themes in consumer demand shifts," the report, titled Full Potential Revival & Growth - Charting Indias medium term journey, said.

New products and services that would be launched by a sector, require an understanding of increasing value consciousness, focus on wellness, safety and health. "For instance, one pharma company that produces generic medicine is looking at opportunities for wellness services," the report said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

An additional growth vector would be the decentralisation of demand, as organisations are realizing that in the short to medium term, semi-urban and rural districts will require focus, the report said.

"On the supply side, digital operating models and shifts in global and local supply chains will influence these sectors. Both are needed to drive international connects and local resilience," the report said.

The report said power and mining, infrastructure and logistics, information technology and education would provide the infrastructure for growth, and are dependent on natural and human resources use.

"By opening these sectors and improving data flows, demand and supply would be better coordinated. Power and Infrastructure sectors can benefit from data platforms on customer front end, and back ends," the report said.

Infrastructure requires capital resources to be released and mitigate risks to bring private investments back with better data and physical

flows. Capital sourcing requires careful coordination with financial services sector, the report said.

"IT, where India has become a global contender is now considering the domestic market where use of vernacular, growing national platforms and

widespread digital education will drive adoption and growth," the report said.

The report said financial services and government are drivers of employment, productivity and release resources, capital, land and labour , that are currently underutilised.

A strong financial service sector is needed to ensure robust capital flows in the economy. "This sector was slowing down before the crisis with non performing assets (NPAs) growing. By cleaning its books, implementing recently instituted bankruptcy proceedings, and recapitalizing, this flow can be revived," the report said.

The report said the MSME segment was singled out for support by the government in the first stimulus package, as the largest employer after agriculture.

"This segment is largely unorganised with only 13m out of a total 63m MSMEs registered. They can benefit from data use to identify and create ecosystems to support them," the report said.

The report also said there would be three phases of revival and growth "Reinvention has three broad phases - Repair, Rethink, Reconfigure and two vectors volume and productivity for implementation," the report said.

It said many companies had already accomplished the immediate task of repair, stabilising their organisations in the immediate aftermath ofthe crisis. "Organisations now need to rethink to improve productivity, so that their revival is fast and their potential is enhanced. This can be driven

by digitising and formalising, providing the organisation with higher output for the same volume of economic activity," the report said.

Leaders will also be required to reconfigure their organisation to understand demand and supply, with full resources of the organisation as the economy recedes in FY21 and then starts to revive.
SELBYVILLE, Del., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global dry type transformer market revenue is set to cross USD 7 billion by 2026, as reported in the latest study by Global Market Insights, Inc. Favorable government policies toward the upgradation of power networks, along with the integration of smart grid infrastructure, will fuel the industry scenario. Expansion of the commercial sector, along with rapid urbanization across the emerging economies, will positively influence the business landscape. Surging adoption of clean energy technologies, coupled with increasing electrification programs, will augment the industry outlook.

Global Market Insights, Inc.

The Class B dry type transformer industry is anticipated to register over an 11% CAGR through 2026. Growing focus toward refurbishment and upgradation of existing grid infrastructure will boost the product adoption. The introduction of microgrid technology, along with positive consumer shift toward sustainable electrical components, will further complement the industry trends.

Request a sample of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2235

Ongoing development of commercial establishments, including educational institutions, hotels, hospitals and malls, will boost the outdoor dry type transformer demand. Increasing construction activities in line with favorable policies to advance power infrastructure will foster the market share. Increasing security concerns, followed by stringent government norms toward safe and reliable electricity supply, will boost the product demand.

Ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impact across the industry will affect the project commission dates and ongoing construction of transmission networks. In addition, even after continuing operations, many regions are facing challenges of restarting their production capacity, and manufacturers are undergoing the effect of shortages in their supply networks. However, robust growth across the healthcare sector and growing electricity demand are anticipated to enhance the product installation.

Some key findings of the dry type transformer market report include:

The global market is growing rapidly, owing to its applicability across commercial, industrial and renewable sectors.

Increasing investments across infrastructural development and construction activities are set to drive business development.

Key players operating across the global market are ABB, General Electric, Schneider Electric, Eaton, Siemens etc.

Air-blast dry-type transformers are experiencing a significant increase in installation on account of strict government directives to adopt smart transformer units.

Browse key industry insights spread across 1,000 pages with 2,045 market data tables & 43 figures & charts from the report, "Dry type Transformer Market Analysis By Product (Open Wound, Cast Resin, Vacuum Pressure Impregnated, Vacuum Pressure Encapsulated), Phase (Single, Three), Installation (Outdoor, Indoor), Winding (Two-winding, Auto-transformer), Rating (< 5 MVA, 5 MVA to 30 MVA, > 30 MVA), Mounting (Pad, Pole, PC/PCB), Application (Industries, Inner-city Substations, Indoor/Underground Substations, Renewable Generation), Core (Closed, Shell, Berry), Technology (Self-air, Air-blast), Insulation (Class R, Class H, Class F, Class B, Class A), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2020 - 2026" in detail, along with the table of contents:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/dry-type-transformer-market

Pole mounted dry type transformer market is estimated to grow on account of modernization of existing industries coupled with development of manufacturing units. Increasing expansion of railway and road networks to institute a sustainable supply chain mechanism will facilitate the technology adoption. Ongoing large-scale applicability across the industries and utility establishments subject to the increasing demand for short-distance transformers will further propel the business scenario.

The growing focus toward the replacement of the conventional power equipment with advanced high-quality systems will complement the vacuum pressure impregnated dry type transformer industry. The exponential rise in energy consumption across the emerging economies in line with accruing power security concerns will complement the industry scenario. Favorable tendencies toward the expansion of micro-grid networks and utility-based renewable infrastructure will further drive the business landscape.

The Middle East & Africa dry type transformer market is estimated to grow at a rate of over 6.5% through 2026. Increasing the electrification rate and grid stability has driven new investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure which in turn will strengthen the industry outlook. The growing tourism sector has significantly enhanced the energy demand across the UAE, which in turn will influence the industry growth.

Access the Toc of this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/dry-type-transformer-market

Browse Related Report:

Transformer Market By Insulation (Gas, Oil, Solid, Air), Phase (Three, Single), Rating ( 10 MVA, 11 To 60 MVA, 61 To 600 MVA, > 600 MVA), Mounting (Pad, Pole, PC/PCB), Application (Residential & Commercial {Hotels, Hospitals, Apartments}, Utility, Industrial {Railways, Cement, Power, Oil & Gas}), Core (Closed, Shell, Berry), Product (Distribution Transformer, Power Transformer, Instrument Transformer {Current, Potential}), Winding (Two Winding, Auto-Transformer), Installation (Outdoor, Indoor), Cooling (Dry Type {Self-Air, Air Blast}, Oil Immersed {Self Cooled, Water Cooled, Forced Oil}), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2020 - 2026

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/transformer-market

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

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Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

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Kendrapara:

With the harvesting of paddy crop drawing near, the age old practice of Badalia, a system of exchanging labour services prevalent in coastal districts, is showing signs of revival in some pockets of Odisha.

A small and marginal farmer like Jugal Kishore Lenka is all set to work in a fellow farmers plot during harvesting to cut down his need for cash in the post-demonetisation scenario.

Together with Sudam Sahu, a fellow farmer facing the same predicament, 45-year-old Lenka of Goda village in Jagatsinghpur district has decided to work in each others land as cash crunch has come in the way of landowners hiring farm labourers for paddy harvesting.

We will begin paddy harvesting soon. Note crisis has forced me not to involve farm labourers in harvesting. Sudam Sahu of my village is facing the same crisis. We both have four workers who were engaged in kharif cultivation work. We will now exchange labour with each other for smooth crop cutting, said Lenka, who owns half-an-acre of irrigated land.

Badalia is a system wherein a farmer, who is not necessarily a farm labourer, works in anothers field without taking any wage. Subsequently, he gets similar hours of labour in return.

In other words, it is called barter of labour. Though this practice was in vogue long back, farmers used to resort to this practice when they face crisis of farm labour, Deputy Director Agriculture, Prafulla Mishra, said.

This practice of labour exchange is slowly picking up in some pockets due to the deepening of farm labour crisis. It was the only way out for farmers, who could not necessary arrange cash for wage payment in many coastal pockets. We have received reports of labour exchange from some areas, he said.

Another farmer Mukund Behera (53) of Nikirai village in Kendrapara district had no clue how to harvest his paddy crop as he had little cash to pay wages to labourers.

He negotiated an understanding with a fellow farmer Gokuli Rout living in the same neighbourhood to get the harvesting done with the latters help. In return, he pledged to work in Routs field.

We have begun the harvesting. After Routs harvesting comes to an end, it will be my turn. We hope to finish the joint operation in eight to ten days from now, Behera said.

We usually hire labourers for paddy cultivation. This year, we have a good crop and unless it is harvested in time, there will be huge waste. The Centre resorted to demonetisation move, hitting us hard. Without adequate cash, finding farm labourers was very difficult, he said.

It is a crisis situation. Toiling in other farmers field would not lower ones dignity. But it is the need of the hour. Labour exchange also fosters a cordial social bond among farmers, he added.

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Mumbai, Aug 18 : Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and the actor recently took to social media to announce a break from work for medical treatment.

Dutt has around half a dozen films lined up. Im many of these, he has shooting or dubbing work left, which got delayed owing to the recent lockdown.

While fans wish him speedy recovery, they will now have to wait a little longer to see him on the big screen again. We take a look at Sanjay Dutt's upcoming films:

Sadak 2

It was recently revealed that the "Sadak 2" trailer is third most disliked video in the world and the most disliked YouTube video in India. But then, Sanjay Dutt has a set of loyal fans. While this Mahesh Bhatt directorial is being trolled heavily by netizens, they have been apologetic to Sanju Baba. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, the film also stars his daughters Pooja and Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur. However, a little dubbing work is still left for the film, which Dutt plans to finish before taking his break for medical treatment. The film is scheduled to release on August 28.

Shamshera

Portions of this film featuring Sanjay Dutt are still waiting to be shot. However, as per reports, doctors have advised the 61-year-old complete bed rest after he was discharged from hospital last weekend, hence he can't resume shooting right now. Seems, the makers of the film will now have to wait till the actor's health improves. Directed by Karan Malhotra, the Yash Raj Films-produced period drama also stars Ranbir Kapoor and Vaani Kapoor.

Bhuj: The Pride Of India

Scheduled to release on OTT, just like "Sadak 2", the period drama has Dutt playing a pivotal role and co-stars Ajay Devgn. Set during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, "Bhuj: The Pride Of India" narrates the story of Indian Air Force pilot Vijay Karnik and 300 women of Madhapar village in Gujarat's Kutch district, who played a crucial role in helping India win the war. A little bit of the shoot is reportedly left, which is expected to wrap up soon. Directed by Abhishek Dudhaiya, the film also stars Sonakshi Sinha, Nora Fatehi and Sharad Kelkar.

K.G.F: Chapter 2

Sanjay Dutt plays the antagonist in the much-awaited sequel to the 2018 Kannada blockbuster "K.G.F: Chapter 1", starring Kannada star Yash. The film was initially expected to release in October this year but it has been delayed owing to the pandemic and lockdown. A little portion of the shoot and dubbing is yet to be done with Dutt, as per reports. Although the sequel will be made originally in Kannada, it is expected to be dubbed in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayam, just like the first part. Directed by Prashanth Neel, the period drama also stars Srinidhi Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Anant Nag and others.

Prithviraj

The YRF production features Akshay Kumar in the title role. Miss World 2017 and Bollywood debutante Manushi Chhillar plays Samyogita, and the films is based on the historical romance between Prithviraj and Samyogita. As per reports, shoot is yet to be completed for the Chandraprakash Dwivedi directorial.

Torbaaz

Sanjay Dutt will be seen playing an army officer in this upcoming film slated for an OTT release. The Girish Malik directorial also stars Nargis Fakhri and Rahul Dev.

Dutt's treatment has already started in Mumbai. The 61-year-old actor along with his sister Priya Dutt was spotted at Lilavati Hospital on Saturday and Sunday. The siblings were clicked by the paparazzi while entering and leaving the hospital.

-- Syndicated from IANS
The board voted 6-1 in favor of a resolution supporting a transition plan that is flexible and responsive to the changing conditions of the pandemic staged to allow it to be responsive to the changes in safety and health needs created by the pandemic, focused on returning all students to in-person learning and ensures safe learning environments and working conditions aligned with Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health recommendations.
Mutineering soldiers rounded up a number of senior civilians and military officials from Mali's capital on Tuesday and drove them back to their base, a Malian security source and an official in the prime minister's office said.

Unconfirmed rumours that the mutineers had arrested President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita swept Bamako, prompting hundreds of anti-government protesters to pour into a central square to celebrate and say it was time for him to resign.

Neither source said who the officials were or how many had been arrested. Reuters has seen no evidence that Keita was among those rounded up. The president's office could not be reached for comment.

"Yes, mutiny. The military has taken up arms," the security source said earlier after residents reported hearing gunshots. It was not immediately clear how many soldiers were involved.

A Malian military spokesman confirmed that gunshots were fired at the base in Kati, about 15 km (9 miles) from the capital, but said he did not have any further information.

A mutiny in 2012 at the Kati base led to a coup that toppled then-President Amadou Toumani Toure and contributed to the fall of northern Mali to jihadist militants, who continue to operate across the north and centre of the country.

A European diplomat said a relatively small number of members of the National Guard, apparently angered by a pay dispute, had seized a munitions depot on Tuesday but were then reported to have been surrounded by other government troops.

A French military source said discussions were taking place between Mali's army command and the mutineers.

In Bamako, hundreds of people poured into the square around the Independence Monument, the site of mass protests since June, calling for Keita to quit over alleged corruption and worsening security.

"Whether he's been arrested or not, what is certain is that his end is near. God is granting our prayers. IBK is finished," said Haidara Assetou Cisse, a teacher, referring to the president by his initials.

"We have come out today to call for the total resignation of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Because we heard there were shots fired by the military and we have come out to help our soldiers get rid of IBK," opposition supporter Aboubacar Ibrahim Maiga said.

Protesters attacked the justice minister's personal offices, setting parts of them on fire, a Reuters witness said.

U.S. CONCERN

Elsewhere in the capital, government ministry buildings were evacuated, an official said, and gunfire was heard near the prime minister's office, according to a security source.

The offices of state television ORTM were also evacuated, said Kalifa Naman, a senior ORTM official. There have been no reports of any attack on state TV, which was still broadcasting prerecorded programming.

A Bamako resident said armed men had shut down access to two bridges across the Niger River within the city. It was not immediately clear who the armed men were.

The U.S. envoy to West Africa's Sahel region expressed concern. "The U.S. is opposed to all extra-constitutional changes of government, whether it is by those in the street or defence and security forces," J. Peter Pham said on Twitter.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc said it "calls on the soldiers to return to their barracks, while asking all concerned Malian parties to favour dialogue to resolve the crisis".

The French and Norwegian embassies in Bamako urged their citizens on Tuesday to stay home.

The ongoing protests against Keita represent Mali's worst political crisis since the 2012 coup. At least 14 people have been killed in the demonstrations.

Regional powers worry any prolonged unrest from the protests could derail the fight against Islamist militants in the region. Their presence has rendered large areas of the centre and north of Mali ungovernable.

Keita had hoped concessions to opponents and recommendations from a mediating delegation of regional leaders would help stem the tide of dissatisfaction, but the protest leaders have rejected proposals to join a power-sharing government.

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"I am furious at France," Mahamane Rabiou Bachir said over the blaring sounds of traffic in Niger's capital, Niamey.

He is far from alone in Niger, where anger is still seething nearly a week after the former colonial ruler issued a stern warning against travel to the West African country.

France classified all of Niger except the capital as red under its colour-coded security advice after six young French aid workers were among eight killed in a suspected jihadist raid on August 9.

The attack at the Koure National Park, a giraffe haven and tourist hotspot outside the capital, was the first of its kind against Westerners in the area and prompted an outpouring of grief in France.

Koure had previously been marked as yellow, but on Wednesday France put everywhere in the most severe "red zone" except Niamey, which is orange (travel "not advised unless for compelling reasons").

The fear of reputational damage has not gone down well in Niger, whose economy was already reeling from jihadist insurgencies in the west and southeast.

Some have been quick to portray the move as a slap by a former ruler which prefers to see Niger in terms of a logistics point for its anti-jihadist campaign.

"If France goes so far as to classify Niger as a red zone, then it's very simple: they close their embassy and their military base," Bachir said.

- 'Truly villainous' -

"Any Nigerien concerned about the dignity of this country feels humiliated in their bones. Niger in red! But they have only have to leave, for goodness' sake, they just have to leave," said Alahe Tahirou, a civil servant.

Lawyer and academic at the University of Niamey, Amadou Hassane Boubacar, called France's decision "punitive" and "truly villainous".

"I urge Niger's government to protest... it is totally arbitrary and ultimately shows contempt for the people of Niger."

Story continues

Outrage has also reverberated across social media, where many have shared a completely green map of Niger with the words: "I am a country of legendary peace and hospitality, I am Niger."

Niger's state TV station Tele Sahel judged that Paris made an emotional decision under the influence of "panic".

"It is an unjust decision which discourages all the efforts over the last five years by the authorities and the defence and security forces to preserve the integrity of this territory surrounded by numerous tension hotspots".

The CGSL trade union group slammed France's "hasty, provocative and disrespectful attitude".

But others said they understood the reason for the French move.

"It is also our fault," said Bello Alou, a young mechanic. "There is not enough security, there are too many bandits in the country."

- Economy fears -

Niger is among the world's poorest countries, for nine straight years ranking dead last out of 189 nations in the UN's Human Development Index.

Local businessman Ali Maman warned that the travel warning "risks sowing panic among investors when the economy is already being affected by the coronavirus".

According to the French economy ministry, annual investment in Niger by French companies rose steadily from 2014, reaching around a billion euros ($1.19 billion), led by transport infrastructure and uranium mining, in 2017.

The country was the ninth biggest destination that year for French funds south of the Sahara.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the Koure attack, but a source close to an ongoing investigation by French anti-terror prosecutors told AFP that it appeared to have been planned and targeted at "mainly Westerners".

France has previously been sensitive to harsh words from its former colonies in the Sahel, where French Barkhane troops are among those fighting a rising jihadist insurgency across the region.

There are also concerns the French travel warning could affect Niger's high-stakes presidential election on December 27.

President Mahamadou Issoufou will not run for re-election after serving two terms, and the ruling party has nominated powerful former interior minister Mohamed Bazoum as its candidate.

Ibrahim Yacouba, a former foreign minister turned opposition presidential candidate, warned that if the "red zone persists" it could "prevent credible international observers from being there".

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A four-year-old boy with a rare genetic disorder will not be permitted to attend school in September despite posing no greater risk than other children in catching and spreading Covid-19.

Victoria Henry-Macklin, 46, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, is calling on ministers to intervene after she was told her son Ryan Henry-Macklin, who has Treacher-Collins Syndrome, will not be able to start school next month due to his tracheostomy.

The congenital disorder, which causes craniofacial deformities, has left Ryan with a small upper jaw and upper airway which causes severe breathing problems and he has had to have a tracheostomy- a tube inserted into his neck- as a result.

However as his primary school does not have a spare room for Ryan to have his device adjusted, in accordance with government guidelines, Victoria will have to keep her child at home.

Desperate to give her son a chance at 'normality' and get him to school 'on those crucial days' Ryan's mother, who also has Treacher-Collins Syndrome, has sent a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

Ryan Henry-Macklin, who has Treacher Collins Syndrome, will not be able to start school in September due to his tracheostomy

The four-year-old (pictured playing the piano at St Pancras International Station) has a tracheostomy- a tube inserted into his neck- due to his small upper jaw and upper airway which causes severe breathing problems

Victoria (pictured with her son Ryan) is calling on the government to adjust the current guidelines preventing her son from starting Primary School

She said: 'I don't know if anything will change, I don't know if it will help but I can't just sit back and just wait. It's frustrating, it's not just Ryan's problem, it's a problem for many parents.

'I'm on a forum on Facebook for parents of tracheostomy children and I saw that other people were having this issue and then I myself was told by Ryan's school they probably couldn't have him start in September because they don't have a spare room.

'I was almost waiting for it and since then you can see the parents have gone from disbelief to frustration and it's starting to move towards anger. We feel we are being discriminated against and we're thinking we can take our kids to soft play but we can't go to school?

'We're seeing adults going to pubs and drinking and all the rules go out the window but we can't take out children to school.

'The lack of thought and common sense that seems to have gone into it. What do school's do if they don't have this spare room to do these medical procedures in that would normally just be done there and then wherever the child is.'

Children with tracheostomies undergo a procedure called suctioning which removes mucus and secretions from the trachea however government guidelines suggest the act could up the risk of infections in the classroom.

Victoria continued: 'We're so used to doing it that it's just a normal part of our lives but it's being treated as this contagious thing we have to do.

'It's the equivalent of blowing your child's nose. It's only a problem if the child has Covid and the child is not likely to have Covid because they've all been shielding for five months.

Ryan's (pictured at his graduation from nursery) congenital disorder causes craniofacial deformities and has left him with a small upper jaw and upper airway

The young boy was just nine months old when his grandfather bought him his very first keyboard

He was born premature at just 30 weeks and was soon transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where doctors realised that his tongue was occluding and carried out a tracheostomy

'So the fact that we're being seen as a risk to the other children in the class when those other children have probably been back to nursery, they've been mixing, they've been on play dates, going to places like parks and soft play.

'Ours have been stuck at home because we've been too scared to let them out and yet they're the ones who are being excluded and being seen as a risk to the other children.

'It doesn't make sense to us. We can't see why they're any more of a risk to a normal child just coughing or sneezing at you.'

Ryan, who has a tracheostomy because his upper jaw is too small and could leave his tongue obstructing his airway, has received a de-shielding letter from Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge confirming he has been cleared to go outside.

Health professionals that Victoria has so far spoken to also feel the guidelines need to be more accommodating for children with tracheostomies and they should not be excluded from schools.

His mother explained: 'He hasn't got any respiratory conditions, it's just he breathes from his neck instead of his mouth. It's just an artificial airway so in theory Covid shouldn't affect him any more than a normal child.

'In fact because his tracheostomy, is covered up with a humidifier and it will be covered up with two bibs when he is at school, if he coughs it's not going anywhere, it will be contained. Whereas if a child without a tracheostomy coughs it's going into the air.

'All the consultants I have spoken to have said we think tracheostomy kids should be at school, we don't think they should be excluded, we don't think they pose more of a risk.'

The four-year-old also had a feeding tube inserted, which has since been replaced with a peg tube, and his cleft palate repaired after he was born

Ryan's mother (left) is now fighting for the guidelines to be adjusted so that her son can begin Primary School

Victoria, who is now fighting for the guidelines to be adjusted so that her son can have a chance at an education, also explained that some schools simply didn't have the space for an additional classroom.

She said: 'We need the guidelines to be looked at and made more sensible or for Public Health England to acknowledge there's no more risk from a child with a tracheostomy having their tracheostomy suctioned than a child coughing.

'In fact you're in control of suctioning a tracheostomy, you can take them to a corner of the room if you have to.

'Some of the comments I've had since starting the petition have been ''I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe you're having to fight for your child to have an education''.'

The mother continued: 'A lot of schools might be small and they have classrooms and a library and a dining room but of course they're going to be used. They don't just have an empty room sitting there.

'If they do have a sick room or something similar that might be on the other side of the building.

'With Ryan we don't ever have to do a suction procedure as an emergency but some children might need suctioning immediately and you haven't got time to walk five minutes down the corridor.

'I think I've seen at least two cases where the school has said the child can go back to school but they'll have to be kept in a separate room all day away from the rest of the children. So of course the parents have said ''well no thanks, I'm not having my child treated like he's some contagious thing kept in a separate room.''

What is Treacher-Collins syndrome? Treacher-Collins syndrome (also known as mandibulofacial dysostosis) is a congenital condition that affects the bones and tissues in the face. The genetic condition is caused by a mutation on specific genes which are responsible for the formation of proteins and which play an important role in how bone and tissue cells develop early in pregnancy. The gene mutation can be passed on from parent to child but in many cases develops sporadically. Children with Treacher-Collins syndrome often have problems with their cheekbones, jaw and eye sockets forming. If the jaw is very small and/or underdeveloped, breathing and feeding difficulties may become apparent soon after birth. The child may have to have a tracheostomy in order to help them breathe. The ears are often affected in children with Treacher-Collins syndrome, either being absent or very small (microtia). Source: Great Ormond Street Hospital Advertisement

'What is that mentally going to do to that poor child to be excluded in that way? I would be the same if they said Ryan had to be completely isolated from everyone, there's no point in sending him to school because he's not getting that interaction and getting into that routine with all the other children.

'He's already different. I'm already concerned about his first day at school with a load of kids who he doesn't know, who have never seen him before and have probably never seen anyone with his condition, never seen a tracheostomy or a feeding tube.

'We've already got that to deal with but surely it's better for him to be there on that first day than be there in two months or whenever he might start and him having to deal with being the new kid as well.

'That's really what I don't want. It's not just about getting him to school. It's about getting him to school on those crucial days.'

With no indication of when her child will be able to begin school, Victoria feels time is running out for her son to be able to start school in just two weeks time.

She continued: 'I feel very stuck at the moment and it's just so sad that I'm having to fight in this country for an education.'

Ryan was born premature at just 30 weeks after a major bleed caused Victoria to have an emergency Caesarean.

Her son was soon transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital where doctors realised that his tongue was occluding and carried out a tracheostomy when he was just three months old.

Doctors also inserted a feeding tube, which has since been replaced with a peg tube, and repaired Ryan's cleft palate.

Despite his many medical procedures, Victoria explained that her son 'takes it all in his stride.'

She said: 'He takes it all in his stride. He's a very happy lovely little chap. Despite all the medical difficulties.

'We have a lot of hospital appointments, speech and language, hearing aid appointments and appointments about his tracheostomy.

'You have to order all these supplies and equipment to manage his tracheostomy and feeding tube so we're constantly busy. That's why school is so important because it's a bit of normality for him.'

When Ryan was just nine months old, his grandfather bought him his very first keyboard and his love for music has continued to grow ever since.

Victoria said: 'Ever since then he's been playing and jamming and then for his third birthday my dad bought him another keyboard and he loved it.

'We bought him a drum kit when he was three because he seemed to be showing some ability and I thought that's really good. Rather than just picking up the sticks and wacking it he was actually playing rhythms. He can beat along to a song, there is definitely something there.

The 2017 Wonder, starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay, followed ten-year-old Auggie who had Treacher-Collins Syndrome

'Considering he wears two hearing aids he seems to have perfect pitch. He can immediately identify a note when hearing it.'

In 2017, director Stephen Chbosky shone a light on Treacher-Collins Syndrome in his film Wonder.

The film, starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay, followed ten-year-old Auggie as he began school and tried to navigate his way through life while living with the congenital disorder.

To sign Victoria's petition visit: https://www.change.org/
Nearly 100 students at Virginia Commonwealth University criticized the schools reopening during a pandemic, police presence on campus and a reliance on underpaid workers rather than full-time faculty during a protest on Monday, the first day of classes.

Organizers, who included VCUs Virginia Student Power Network, said they were violating campus policy by gathering in a large group, but pointed to the hypocrisy of the schools reopening for in-person classes and the importance of their movement as reasons why they were there. Everyone in the diverse crowd was masked, and organizers asked demonstrators to spread 6 feet apart.

Out of your class, called Taylor Maloney, president of the Student Government Association, and led a brief march.

Into the streets, chanted the crowd.

Maloney and other organizers said they have been part of demonstrations since the civil unrest in Richmond began more than 80 days ago. She was arrested and charged with trespassing, a misdemeanor, last month for being in Monroe Park after 10 p.m.

The arrest came the night after a protest caused more than $100,000 in damage to VCUs campus.

Mikki Charles, an organizer with Virginia Student Power Network who was arrested the same night, said shes tired of this.

Im tired of being brutalized by my university because I dont agree, she said. We have the power. We give them the power. I say we take it back.

A staff member making $10 per hour, Travis Fairman, who said he has a filmmaking degree, was tasked with coming up with some of the safety guidelines for classes.

Im scared to death, he said, adding that hes not qualified to make such guidelines. This place should be shut down.

Organizers listed their specific demands to administrators who looked on: defund VCU police, reallocating funds to mental health and LGBTQ+ issues; keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement off campus; abolish the P3 public safety application that students and community members use to report crime; and release a line-item budget.

They also echoed the demands of the larger movement in the city, which include calls to reopen the case of Marcus-David Peters, a VCU alumnus who was shot during a confrontation with a Richmond police officer in the midst of a mental health crisis; defund Richmond police; and implement a mental health alert system.

As of Wednesday, VCUs enrollment was estimated at 28,060, which is down 331 students, or 1.17 percent, from the same time last year, according to a VCU spokesperson.
The Luohu district government held its biweekly news conference on Aug. 14 introducing local development in 5G telecommunications technology and infrastructure over the past year.







As of July 10, Luohu has built 3,235 5G base stations, 45 days in advance of the deadline set for it by the Shenzhen municipal authority, making it the first district in the city, and even the country, to finish construction of the 5G network.

"It takes at least two years to build that many base stations, according to the normal construction speed; it took less than one year in Luohu," said Shi Xingzhong, chief of the Luohu science and technology innovation bureau.





Grassroots authorities, like the residential communities and sub-district offices, have played important roles in seeking residents' approval of building 5G base stations in their neighborhoods, Shi said.





Also, the government has provided 412 public properties for the construction of the base stations, and it has optimized the approval procedure to accelerate the construction.





Zhao Fuyun, general manager of China Telecom's Luohu branch, said: "We realized full coverage of 5G net in Luohu in July."





The company signed a strategic cooperation agreement on the construction of the 5G network and its application with the Luohu district government in April 2019.





Thanks to the development, Luohu police now has 8K-level high-definition video transmission for its monitoring system and introduced unmanned aerial vehicles and police robots to conduct day-to-day patrol and emergency rescue.





Shi said that Luohu will make full use of its 5G strengths to not only expedite its construction of a smart city but also develop relevant industries and business models so as to make 5G a driver of good governance and robust economic growth.





For instance, 5G will be widely used in the upgrading project of the Dongmen Pedestrian Street to facilitate the latest generation of telecom technology's merging with business, logistics and people's lives.





Shi said that Luohu will further expand 5G's application, combined with artificial intelligence, in traffic management, residential community, governance service, hospital, school, property service and security in its smart city construction.





For example, the wide application of internet-of-things in the city's traffic system means traffic lights can change their signals according to the traffic flow to make the best use of the road network with optimal solutions against traffic jams.





Zhang Aijun, deputy chief engineer of the Shenzhen Road and Bridge Construction Group, said the management and maintenance of the traffic infrastructure facilities will become easier as 5G can help achieve breakthroughs such as unmanned aerial vehicles being widely used to replace people to patrol roads and bridges.




She recently put her figure on display during her birthday trip to Turks and Caicos.

And though she is now back home, Kylie Jenner continued to put on a busty display in a revealing lace-up outfit she posted to Instagram on Monday.

The 23-year-old reality star shared a mirror selfie video showing off her unique black and white tie-dye outfit.

Showing off: Kylie Jenner continued to put on a busty display in a revealing lace-up outfit she posted to Instagram on Monday

The three-piece outfit was all in matching fabric, and was made of a corset top, pants and a jacket.

Her top appeared to be strapless, the center front was open, only tied together by thin black strings revealing her chest and midriff.

The jacket was only buttoned together at her neck, leaving an open cape like front, as it hung open showing off the top.

In a high-waist cut, her pants also featured silver broach like features up the front.

Coordinated: The three-piece outfit was all in matching fabric, and was made of a corset top, pants and a jacket

Covered: The jacket was only buttoned together at her neck, leaving an open cape like front, as it hung open showing off the top. She also gave a glimpse of her beige and brown Birkin

High cut: In a high-waist cut, her pants also featured silver broach like features up the front

She looked glamorous in her signature full makeup look, including a perfect complexion, contoured and blushed cheeks and a full pout lip.

While she has switched up her hair recently, her golden brown hair was down in a sleek long bob style.

The Kylie Cosmetics mogul covered her eyes in retro brown shades, with silver side arms.

She didn't let fans know where the piece was from, and comes after she was criticized by a designer for only acknowledging big names in fashion.

Barely there: Her top appeared to be strapless, the center front was open, only tied together by thin black strings revealing her chest and midriff

Glam: While she has switched up her hair recently, her golden brown hair was down in a sleek long bob style

Last week she got an earful from the designer Michael Costello after sharing a photo of herself in a colorful jewel-encrusted Balmain dress on Wednesday.

Costello jumped into the comments after being incensed about Kylie's decision to tag the brand's creative director Olivier Rousteing.

The 37-year-old designer claimed that Kylie regularly ignored the work of lesser-known designers and only promoted well-known brands.

Roasted: Last week, she came under fire from fashion designer Michael Costello, 37, for tagging well-known designers on Instagram but not tagging her outfits from lesser-known personalities

'Thank you my love @olivier_rousteing for the most perfect bday dress,' Kylie tagged her post, which seemed to have set off Costello.

'Thank you Oliver [sic] for the perfect bday dress. And thank you to the no name designers who work tirelessly around the clock on custom looks who she wont tag , mention or @ . . . Unless its paid,' he wrote in the comments.

'And thank you to the glam team who always gets tagged no matter what. (this post has nothing to do with me as Kylie only wears something from me once a year and Im lucky if I get a decent pic to post,' he continued.

'No shade to any of her team who styles her and no shame to the glam team . Even though we know you can not wait to unfollow me and drag me for filth!'

Costello accused the cosmetics mogul of promoting designers who were already established and not in need of the publicity.

Publicity contest: Costello claimed that Kylie mostly tags high-profile brands and their well-known designers on Instagram, 'unless it's paid'

Sharing the wealth: The designer, who said Kylie wears his outfits 'once a year,' wrote that she should tag more of the 'no-name' designers she sometimes wears; shown in November 2019

'Its sad that designers work so so so so hard on these opportunities to dress these gorgeous popular women and they only tag the major high end designers like Oliver [sic] but forget about the other ones.'

Costello claimed that his comment wasn't in regard to his own brand, 'but it definitely has a lot to do with the la designers why not tag at least one ? Not all the time but maybe once in a while.'

The comment had amassed at least 2,000 likes, though it appeared to have been hidden at some point.

Some of Kylie's stans came to her defense and pointed out that she tagged other brands, though they listed well-known labels that seemed to prove Costello's point.
Tiffany & Co. is making good on its promise to offer consumers a complete lens into the origins of its diamonds.

The jeweler today said new diamonds weighing more than 0.18 carats will be offered with a completely transparent background  allowing shoppers a window into the stones craftsmanship journey, meaning the precise locations where it was sorted, planned, cut, polished, graded and set.

These efforts add to an initial benchmark set in 2019 when all Tiffany solitaire diamonds began being sold with the country or region of origin where they were mined. While that information will continue to be displayed in Tiffany caselines, this craftsmanship journey will be included on each stones Tiffany diamond certificate and be available for all sales associates to show shoppers.

Each initiative is an industry first for a jeweler of Tiffanys size. The jewelry industry has for years battled with issues of opacity around its sourcing of stones, labor practices and sustainability even as it tries to increase demand among Millennials, the younger of whom are beginning to get engaged and buying engagement and wedding rings.

For Tiffany chief executive officer Alessandro Bogliolo, There couldnt be better timing than this to announce such an initiative, even though we started [the process] 20 years ago. It was just the decision of my predecessor to do the right thing and we are fortunate to give consumers visibility to the efforts the company has given in the last 20 years.

Tiffanys investment in vertical integration may have been charted years ago, but it was Bogliolos decision to disclose details of a stones origins as a new-world sales strategy. The program, Bogliolo confirmed, does not affect the price of diamonds sold at Tiffanys.

Its something that cannot be easily replicated by competitors, said the executive. You have to put in a lot of investment and work, its not something that can be done immediately by other companies. I hope this breaks the bar and consumers start demanding the provenance and journey of a diamond with any sale.It shows its possible to do the right thing  even in diamonds that are considered ethically nontransparent. This is really changing the standards of the industry.

Story continues

Bogliolo noted that Tiffanys transparency efforts will have particular resonance with young consumers. In the past, if you look at our parents, they bought a diamond ring [for engagement] because it was the rule. Now, its up to every individual to decide, there is an option to buy or not. The value [of our traceability initiative] is huge because its an incentive to buy. I believe it can convince many customers to purchase a diamond instead of stepping away from it, Bogliolo said.

While demand for traceability and sustainably sourced stones began in the U.S., Bogliolo noted that other markets, including Australia, have begun expecting higher ethical standards from jewelers. Even markets like China have evolved a lot more recently. The acceleration of consumer trends has made this relevant for consumers in China and generally in Asia. Very young consumers there care about making a purchase that is important and ethically right, he said.

Tiffany chief sustainability officer Anisa Kamadoli Costa added: By procuring diamonds as rough and crafting them in our own workshops, it means there is not only traceability, but also an assurance that the communities where Tiffany diamonds are made are seeing a positive impact.

While earlier indications hinted that Tiffany may extend its traceability efforts to colored gemstones, Kamadoli Costa said: Given our business, we have a great opportunity with diamonds today, so we are focusing on diamonds right now. To give more context, about 80 percent of color gemstones come from small mines, so it is difficult to source their origins.

Tiffanys traceability efforts arrive as many consumers have adapted to buying fine jewelry online  a result of coronavirus lockdowns. Bogliolo said the jeweler saw two sales trends during quarantine. There has been higher purchase online for engagement rings. Before, a couple could go to a store, but now thats not possible. Thank God we have 95 percent of stores open again, but during lockdown people couldnt buy physically in-store, so we saw big increases online, even for wedding bands and diamond rings.

He added that on the flip side, [Some] people didnt make that purchase during lockdown, so when the store opened there was a backlog of customers who had postponed their purchases. They were not emotional purchases you do on the [spur of the] moment.

Tiffany is still in the process of being acquired by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Last month, LVMH chief financial officer Jean-Jacques Guiony gave a brief update on LVMHs $16.2 billion acquisition of the U.S. jeweler, saying half-a-dozen antitrust filings were pending, though he did not specify in which countries. Things are moving forward, Guiony said on a conference call. But I dont really know when all the go-aheads will be given.

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Below is the transcript of a CNBC Exclusive interview with Suphachai Chearavanont, CEO, Charoen Pokphand Group. The interview played out in CNBC's latest episode of Managing Asia on 14 August 2020, 5.30PM SG/HK (in APAC). If you choose to use anything, please attribute to CNBC and Christine Tan.

Christine Tan (CT): As one of Thailand's oldest and biggest conglomerates, you and your family have been through many political and economic crises. How would you describe the current pandemic and its impact?

Suphachai Chearavanont (SC): Well, this crisis is something we have never seen before. Even though I have passed through this Asia Financial Crisis, but the recovery was sort of like a V-shape because the Thai baht at the time was so weak, so exports became the driving engine behind the economic recovery. This time in the case of Thailand, its impact is on one of the really big industries which is tourism. It actually has impact throughout all the industries. So, I think for Thailand, we will recover just a little bit slower because of the tourism industry, together with the world recovery. But for many countries around Thailand, they may experience some V-shaped (recovery). We believe that China, for example, will probably have a V-shaped recovery, hopefully without too much conflict between U.S. and China. But in ASEAN countries, a lot of them should also have a fast recovery because they are not tourism dependent.

CT: Did you and your and your family ever expect the pandemic to be so? Were you prepared for it?

SC: It really caught us all off guard, but it has become a great teacher. I think crisis always comes with great learning and opportunity. We learned so much from this crisis. A lot of the market behavior has shifted and changed. The digitalization of the new economy has been accelerated. Not only in the business world but in education. It is fast tracking and teaching everyone to really leverage on this digital connectivity. Maybe we can address the problems or the economy much better and also learn from each other much better than before.

CT: C.P. Group is well known for as a global agribusiness but closer to home in Thailand where you are, you also run a chain of 7-11 stores. You are also one of the country's leading telecom operators. As one of the country's wealthiest, tell us about the slew of measures you put in place to help the country right through this pandemic?

SC: It's a five-step strategy. First, definitely, we are talking about protecting and controlling. We have to protect our employees from COVID, including job security. So, including their families. If members of the family are out of job, we actually help them with more food - coupons, necessities including education funds for the children. So, C.P. Group has over 400,000 employees across 20 countries. We actually implement the same policies across the whole group. Second thing is the business continuity. Our food supply, retail and distribution are key infrastructure for people to access necessities during the COVID pandemic for example. We are also looking at how to help the country in terms of the unemployment. So, our Group is actually looking to hire more positions by continuing to invest and expand our business, especially in the area of delivery and e-commerce.

Christine Tan (CT): Keeping those employees on your payroll essentially means you have to be more creative when it comes to cutting costs, where do you look to during this time?

SC: Everything, everything. In fact, as part of the business continuity, we put everyone working at home, for example. That kind of also changed a lot of dynamics: a lot of OPEX related to traveling, a lot of OPEX related to offices, space, electricity, etc. We definitely have to look into business operations which are not really making margins. Maybe we have to stop some of those.

CT: Give me an example.

SC: I think certainly some of the 7-Elevens that are in the area. We have to stop some of the operations and we rotate the people to other branches. We have to do a lot of cost cutting to maintain the full three shifts of people. So, those are the areas that we have to cope with. The food side is actually much better. The telecom and media sides are okay. People are downgrading certain packages, but people are subscribing to more broadband at home for example. So, they offset each other. People are using more 4G and are into 5G for example. So, the most impacted area is the retail area, business area which has been shut down. Now we are seeing the recovery. For example, Makro, they actually have been recovering back to almost pre-COVID (level). Their B2B online ordering business has actually doubled from last year, from 10 percent to 20 percent during the COVID pandemic in Thailand. We have to continue to look into every area including some of the risky investments. Not the fundamental investments but some of the risky investments or high-risk expansions. So, some of the expansions we are doing, we actually have to slow it down a little bit to look at how we overcome this period of difficulty first. But a lot of fundamental things such as the digitalization in the infrastructure to the whole group, we continue to invest. We believe that's the way we have to evolve.

CT: So, as you re-strategize, as you figure out what to do during this time, we know Thailand has actually extended the state of emergency till the end of August. It has also further tightened security controls because new cases have emerged. From where you sit in Bangkok, are you worried about a second wave of infections derailing the Thai economy?

SC: So far, we are very lucky. We think the Government has done a really good job. Thailand has no new cases, only those who actually come from abroad. The death rate is very low. So, the treatment is really good. The hospitals, the doctors and nurses in Thailand, they are really heroes for the Thai people.

CT: So, you're confident the situation is under control in Thailand?

SC: It seems to me. A lot of business is actually coming back to around 80 percent, some of them 90 percent, from the retail point of view. Maybe not in tourist hot spots, but a lot of businesses are recovering.

CT: So, dealing with the coronavirus is one thing, but recently, adding to all the uncertainty was a political protest by these young students demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister, how much does all this jeopardize the recovery we're seeing in Thailand?

SC: The second wave is not going to be the COVID itself, from what I see. The second wave for the world economy and not only Thailand, is the unemployment. The freedom of speech and you know protesting is a good thing. I think it's healthy for the society, but people are out of job. New graduates who could find no jobs, I think those are problematic. That is another underlying crisis throughout the world.

CT: Do you worry about the political protests escalating in Thailand?

SC: I think the Government understands the situation very well. They are very, I would say, flexible and listen to the youngsters. They are putting the spending in the right industry such as the agro industry. In Thailand, during economic crises, the agricultural sector, the farmers, they actually are a great absorption for all this unemployment. This time, I think it's going to help Thailand reform the agro industry, help solve this unemployment problem, and put the rest of the industry back on track. I think the mentality and attitude of the government and how they understand how to solve the economy going forward, I'm optimistic.

CT: At the height of the pandemic, you've actually reached a deal with Britain's retail chain Tesco to purchase its Lotus businesses in Thailand and Malaysia for $10.5 billion, what's the latest? Are you close to getting any sort of regulatory approval?

SC: Yes, it's still under the OTCC committee to consider and give the consent for such acquisitions. So, I cannot say much at the moment. We did reach the conclusion with the Tesco U.K., but certainly we have to still look for this approval.

CT: Let's talk more about that because your father Khun Dhanin actually sold the Lotus retail chain way back during the Asian financial crisis to stave off bankruptcy, how does it feel to be able to buy it back after 22 years? Was it your father's wish to bring back what he wants built?

SC: I think certainly he is also excited. We had to give it up during Asian economic crisis which was heartbreaking for him and for all of us. You know that we still operate Lotus in China. We operate 7-Eleven and we also operate Makro. So, we are very keen in the distribution and retail business. This is one of our core businesses apart from the food and agro business. We cannot run it in the same way we used to. We have to make sure that it's going to the omni-channels, O2Os. It has to become e-commerce-driven as well as you know retail- and real estate-driven. So, those are the challenges we have to go through, but we were optimistic.

CT: You and your family have always operated under the notion that every crisis brings opportunity. What else would you like to acquire during this pandemic crisis?

SC: Looking at this crisis, the opportunity for us lies in e-commerce. Going forward, we should be going more and more into the health industry. We believe that data connectivity, genetics technology and food are going to converge. This will disrupt the health industry as a whole. So, we can certainly take part in that. With this pandemic COVID crisis, it has appeared even clearer to us that it is the way to go. This is also the way to help health security for all the people at large.

CT: You were the first foreign company to invest in China. You were the first also to get into China's agri business way back in 1979. Early on this year, you made a donation of 220 million or about $7 million to help China's efforts in combating the coronavirus. These donations that you make, it's not the first time. Are they done out of obligation because you have history, you have business there?

SC: I have to say that for the overall group, we donated in many countries that we operate in. Altogether, I think we have donated around $25 million already, and we still continue to do so to help out as much as we can. In the case of Thailand, we invested in a mask factory with the capacity of 3 million masks per month. We also give food to those quarantined people, doctors and nurses. We are donating food right now to more than 100 hospitals for example.

CT: According to economic data, China's economy grew in the second quarter, making it the first major economy to actually achieve growth during this pandemic. From where you sit, given your operations and agri business, supermarkets in China. Do you get a sense that the worst is over for the country, that a V-shaped recovery is actually taking place in China?

SC: I cannot speak on behalf of the whole China economy. I can just speak on behalf of C.P. Group in China. We have no impact in our food business. Our retail business is recovering and, in fact, doing better because of the e-commerce and delivery. So, those are the two key areas. The fundamentals of the business are actually coming back together quite well.

CT: So, you do get a sense that China is actually recovering and that a V-shaped recovery is actually taking place? The worst is over?

SC: I think so. I think China is really decisive, in terms of the Government. They recognize a problem and they make the move right away. But again, I can't really predict the world economy, how it would impact also China because this is a pandemic crisis. I cannot predict the political environments that are happening between U.S. and China at the moment, during this period of election in the U.S. But then, I think we manifest ourselves with what we think. So, we think positively, we're always optimistic. It doesn't mean that we do nothing. All the businesses including C.P. Group are making day-to-day changes. We recognize the change in behavior. Many things will not be the same. The behavior of the market and people will not be the same. So, we have to make the change.

CT: As one of the world's biggest conglomerates and an agri-food giant, what's your sense of when a global recovery will actually take place? When will things start to return to normal?

SC: One to two years. One to two years, that's how we see it. With those who have been very decisive and made a strong move, it could be one year. Those who actually have more problems to deal with, maybe two years.

CT: Two years is a long time, Khun Suphachai. What will the new post-pandemic world look like for business?

SC: For our business group, we are moving very much into e-commerce, data-driven and technology-driven. Our people are being reskilled and upskilled. We have to do this. Our business is also working much closer with the Government in a PPP (public-private partnership) concept because of the crisis. All this working together towards common issues are bringing in a lot more innovations and changing the way we think. For example, let me talk about schools today. The schools are closed, and students are learning from home. Companies are closed, and people are still working from everywhere. In fact, with upskilling, reskilling, employment will change now. People can learn from everywhere, every institution around the world. People are doing more jobs freely. So, it's an evolution, revolutionizing the whole world economy.

CT: You've actually said in June that C.P. is actually going to be carbon neutral and zero waste by 2030. You don't think the impact of the pandemic is going to make it difficult for companies like C.P. to stick to these commitments?

SC: No, I think we just add health issues into one of the key pillars for sustainability. Dealing with the infection and this kind of outbreak of disease is part of sustainability. I think sustainability is the big issue. The way we are running the world, the way we are consuming the world is not normal. It's not sustainable. So, the zero waste should become the world agenda. All the listed companies should be measured against it.

CT: As a third-generation heading Charoen Pokhand Group, you've actually unveiled "CP 4.0", where you want to transform the conglomerate by embracing innovation, the digital revolution, what business structure have you put in place to drive that 4.0 strategy? What leadership will you provide to make it happen?

SC: Within the next 10 years, we have to be a technology-driven conglomerate, in every area including food and agro. Then people will say, well, we are in this 2.0 food industry, how can we technologically lead?

CT: It will mean a total transformation?

SC: Of course, you know, plant-based meat, cell-based meat. Genomic technology versus food. What food is actually good for you? Makes people healthier and have longevity, for example. So, all of those involve innovation and technology. Well, we have to be data-driven. So, the first thing you have to do is you have to go online. You have to be on e-commerce. In that case, then your KPIs: what is your new KPI? Your new goals and targets? What is the conversion rate? How much do you know about data? What do you measure about analytics, including how you apply A.I., for example. So, all of those come with the right goals and the right visions. So, I'm not saying that overnight, we're going to become a technologically-driven company or becoming a 4.0 company. But I think our people understand it, and they are learning and making changes.

CT: Will CP 4.0. make the company more resilient to future pandemics and crisis? Is that the plan as well?

SC: It has to, not only at the very top but empowering the younger generation is very important. Actually, the younger generation, they are 4.0. We can actually learn from them. If we empower them and learn from them and have them learn from our mistakes, that will be the best thing. So, empowering the younger generation and adding new skills for them.

CT: Any plans to ask the fourth generation Chearavanont family to help make that transformation for you?

SC: No, there is just a handful of Chearavanonts in the business. I think we have to rely on the professionals. We have to understand that to really promote and empower all these younger people who have the talent, the will, the right mindset, then they can cope with every change. So, not just a Chearavanont. Actually, even my son, I told him since he was young, you will not join the Group. You will build your own business. Maybe I'll give you advice but you will build your own business. That is not to give him the vision and give him the comfort zone. Once you are in a secure comfort zone, you will not have any kind of imagination and you will not learn. So, it's better that he tries something new, learns something, makes mistakes and does his own business. Maybe one day if he becomes a successful businessman, we'll say, please come and work for C.P. and help C.P. But no, we're not encouraging family members to work in the Group.

CT: And finally, you're steering C.P. through this very difficult time during the coronavirus pandemic. The company is approaching its 100th anniversary next year, do you think C.P. has what it takes to last for another 100 years?

SC: I think one lifetime is very short. Even though 100 years seem long but one lifetime is what? 80-85 years? It's very short. The problem is we haven't had the chance to transfer the knowledge between the one lifetime. To build a corporation that will last another 100 years, the knowledge that has to be transferred is the core values of the company, that is the highest knowledge. The values that we have to continue to transfer is in three areas. One is love and compassion, the moralities of the company and how we operate the business. How our leaders will be. Second is the dream which we talked about: imagination, innovations and thinking about better lives. Third is security: how can we actually make sure that we are productive enough, competitive enough. So, those are the three major pillars that we have to continue to transfer to the next generation, to make us last 100 more years.

CT: Khun Suphachai, thank you so much for talking to me. Please, stay safe and well during this time.

SC: Thank you, Christine. Thank you very much. Honor for me to meet you.

END

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MTVs star-studded Video Music Awards may be gearing up for a return to the Jersey Shore later this month.

New job listings posted to a New Jersey event staff Facebook page state the staffing company Encore Nationwide is looking for energetic, client facing, and reliable staff to help hand out branded popsicles, branded masks, and tune in cards for the 2020 MTV VMAs in August.
Police warn about scam letter

People are being warned about scam letter circulating across the Island.

The bogus letter claims it wants to help the victim manage a Japanese investment portfolio. The scammer requests a copy of a draft application and a private telephone number to get in touch on.

Police have received several calls about the scam letters.

Officers are warning people to never give personal details to anybody.
Baldwinsville, N.Y.  When you show up to vote this fall dont be surprised to find bottles of Anheuser-Busch products available at the polls.

The company best known for Budweiser and Bud Light beers is making a massive donation of hand sanitizer to polling stations nationwide for the 2020 elections.

And a huge amount of that sanitizer will be made at the A-B brewery just outside the Syracuse suburb of Baldwinsville.

The Baldwinsville plant, one of 12 U.S. breweries in the A-B system, is one of two chosen to produce the sanitizer (along with Los Angeles). Joining in the effort are two affiliated partner companies, Cutwater Spirits of San Diego and Devils Backbone Brewing Co. in Virginia.

Together they will make about 8 million ounces of sanitizer to help keep voters safe for the elections. A-B is working with state elections officials across the country to make the bottles available at polling stations.

Weve made beer, hard seltzer, hard cider, even mead here, said Bryan Sullivan, senior general manager at the Baldwinsville brewery. We have unique capabilities to be part of this project.

The brewery in the Radisson Business Park on Route 31 is known throughout the company as one of the most versatile in the A-B system. Its often used to launch innovative new A-B products, like the Lime-A-Rita line and the more recent Bud Light Seltzers.

This is the second major A-B sanitizer effort the the Baldwinsville brewery is joining this year. About 4 million ounces (roughly half produced at Baldwinsville) have been made since March. Those bottles were primarily given to first responders via a partnership with the American Red Cross. (Many distilleries around Central New York and elsewhere have also made hand sanitizers since the pandemic began).

For the election effort, A-B is partnering with the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED), the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

To make the sanitizer, workers at the Baldwinsville brewery take ethanol (a form of alcohol) distilled elsewhere by one of A-Bs partners and mix it with glycerine, hydrogen peroxide and water, Sullivan said. (Warning: It is not drinkable).

The end product is 80% alcohol, above the minimum 60% recommended for killing the virus.

Its then packaged at the brewery in 8-ounce bottles. A-B is partnering with its existing beer distribution network to get the bottles to their destination. In Central New York, that distributor is T.J. Sheehan of Liverpool.

The Anheuser-Busch plant in Baldwinsville is the largest brewery in New York state. It has about 550 employees. The brewery makes about 75 different beverages, totaling around 6 million barrels (the equivalent of 82 million cases) each year. Its products include A-B branded beers like Bud, Bud Light, Busch and Michelob Ultra, plus craft beers under brands purchased by A-B, like Goose Island and Blue Point.

About 30% of its production includes flavored alcohol beverages, seltzers and other non-beer drinks.

Supporting the community is one of our core initiatives, Sullivan said. Thats what this project is all about.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

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Pandemic will hit Syracuses wallet harder than almost any other city in America (report)

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook
Tango Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Mass.-based biotechnology company focused on discovering and delivering the next generation of targeted cancer therapies, closed a $50m equity financing round.

The round was led by Casdin Capital with participation from existing investors Boxer Capital of the Tavistock Group and Cormorant Asset Management as well as new investor Gilead Sciences.

The company will use the funding to initiate clinical studies of its lead program in the next 18 months and drive progress for other wholly owned programs in late-stage drug discovery.

Led by Barbara Weber, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tango Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering novel drug targets and delivering the next generation of targeted therapies to people with cancer. The company leverages the genetic principle of synthetic lethality to discover and develop therapies that take aim at driver genes in cancer. It is focused on three core areas:

counteracting tumor suppressor gene loss,

reversing the ability of cancer cells to evade the immune system, and

identifying novel combinations that will be more effective than single agent therapy.

Also today, the company announced an expanded collaboration with Gilead Sciences, which builds on an agreement signed in 2018. Under the updated terms, Gilead will make a $125m upfront payment to Tango and a $20m equity investment in the company. In addition, Gilead will have the right to option up to 15 immune evasion programs for up to $410m per program in opt-in, extension and milestone payments. Tango will also be eligible to receive up to low double-digit tiered royalties on net sales.

Founded in 2017, the company has raised $165m in equity financing. In addition, Tango has signed two strategic collaborations with Gilead Sciences and has received a total of $175m in upfront payments.

FinSMEs

17/08/2020
NEW DELHI : India plans to sell cotton to Bangladesh to trim its bulging reserves following a slump in demand from textile mills in the top grower.

State-owned Cotton Corp. of India may export 1.5 million to 2 million bales of the fiber to the neighboring nation to help reduce Indias record surplus before the new crop begins arriving in October, said Pradeep Kumar Agarwal, chairman of the company. It generally sells cotton to local mills and traders at market prices, after buying from farmers at government-set minimum rates.

Higher sales from India may potentially increase reserves in top exporters like the US and Brazil and further lower global prices that have fallen about 8% this year as the coronavirus erodes demand for clothing. Global cotton consumption is set to drop about 15% from a year earlier to 22.29 million tons in 2019-20, according to the USDA estimates.

Export prices will be decided by the two governments using the Cotlook index, Agarwal said. Industry researcher Cotlook Ltd.s benchmark is a daily average of the five cheapest cash prices in the world.

In any case, I can assure that it wont be lower than domestic prices," which have fallen about 20% since the outbreak of the coronavirus, he said.

Huge stockpiles

Cotton Corp. plans to sell 500,000 bales to 700,000 bales of 170 kilograms each to Trading Corp. of Bangladesh in the marketing year ending on Sept. 30. The rest of the quantity will be shipped in 2020-21, Agarwal said in a phone interview. Bangladesh vies with China as the worlds biggest buyer of cotton.

India is likely to have a record closing stockpile of 10.25 million bales by Sept. 30, according to the Cotton Association of India, as domestic consumption may drop more than 20% from a year earlier to 25 million bales in 2019-20, it said.

Cotton Corp. bought 10.5 million bales this year, the highest-ever procurement. It included 2 million bales purchased during a nationwide lockdown to prevent distress selling by local growers, Agarwal said. The company is carrying about 8.4 million bales at present and its ending reserves may not exceed 3 million bales on Sept. 30, he said.

Cotton Corp. spent about 5,500 ($74) per 100 kilograms to purchase cotton from farmers, compared with the market rate of 4,800 to 5,000, he said. Indian farmers have planted cotton in 12.55 million hectares (31 million acres) as of Aug. 14, compared with 12.16 million hectares a year earlier, according to the farm ministry. The crop will be harvested from October.





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DALLAS, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allata, a strategy, architecture, and enterprise-level application development company, has topped the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies for the second year in a row. Ranked at #52. Inc. magazine, the premier publication for small and medium-size businesses, placed Allata based on 3-year business growth rate of 5723%. From its launch, Allata has grown from one developer to over 100 full-time employees, adding 40 employees in 2019 to its offices in Boise, Dallas, and Phoenix.

The COVID-19 pandemic has produced uncertainty about the state of business for our clients and created stress on the communities where our team members live. While 2020 has proved to be like no other time in our lives, Allata is grateful for the success of 2019 and recognizes the vital role all our team members play in helping our clients reach their strategic goals. The commitment and passion of our team invigorates Allata to press forward and exceed goals set for 2020.

Matt Rosen, Founder and CEO of Allata, states, "I contribute our success to our team members. We set out to create a culture of ongoing growth and learning, and every step we have taken has reflected that mission. We continue to pursue a workplace where everyone has opportunities to make a difference in their careers, community, and families."

Allata promotes team members' individuality, empowers people to work collaboratively, and actively nurtures its team members through innovative initiatives including the following:

Allata Launch - A roundtable panel of Senior Leadership that offers team members an opportunity to pitch innovative technology ideas and business ventures. Viable ideas receive funding and support to carry out business plans.

Allata Academy - The academy is an internal training program designed for new developers. It offers hands-on learning of soft skills and coding principles to equip the developers with added support for client interactions.

Allata in Action - Allata's community service arm is dedicated to building better communities by donating over 2% of net proceeds to charities in Boise, Dallas, and Phoenix.

Allata Growth Framework  Our growth framework provides Allatians with clear expectations of performance and advancement within the firm. Feedback loops supply real-time feedback and offer mentorship to help guide team members.

Allata's collective mission and purpose fosters dedication, passion for the work, and a strong commitment to our clients. As such, each of our teams has worked diligently through the pandemic alongside our clients to accelerate the "right" tactical efforts to invest in their digital strategy while balancing short-term efforts with long-term measures to emerge from this pandemic more competitive. Allata is "All In" for our team members and our clients to face the current challenges and those yet to come.

About Allata

Allata is a strategy, architecture, and enterprise-level application development company focused on helping clients enhance or scale business opportunities, create efficiencies and automate processes through custom technology solutions. Formed in 2016 by Founder and CEO, Matt Rosen, Allata has offices in Boise, Dallas, and Phoenix. Built better to build better, Allata is a collective of business leaders, technology consultants, and developers driven to solve complex problems for clients.

For more information about Allata, contact Elsbeth Martinez at 972.882.6521, or email [email protected].

SOURCE Allata
PARENTS and students with education anxieties are seeing a lack of leadership from the Minister and Government with two weeks to the return to school, Opposition parties have said.

Minister Norma Foley was urged to come before the Dail Covid committee this week to address unanswered questions and to explain how the calculated grades for the Leaving Cert would not turn into the same fiasco seen in British exam grades.

The Labour Party and Sinn Fein called for the publication of the underlying data setting out how calculated grades would be arrived at, including the algorithms involved and how disadvantaged schools would not be treated unfairly  as has been seen in England and Scotland.

Aodhan O Riordain said Minister Foley was now left with three options on a threatened descent into chaos and whirlwind of upset on publication of the Leaving Cert guesstimated results.

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One is that she can delete the school-profiling element and to produce grads without. If she were to do that, we would support her.

Another option is to convince us that the system here is different to the UK. I wouldnt be sure that she can do that. Or thirdly she can say that while what happens here is the same as the UK, that she has corrective measures ready to go.

Both Labour and Sinn Fein called for the calculation methodologies to be published, including any underlying algorithms, but resisted the suggested that Ireland should move immediately to accepted teachers estimates of their own students abilities, as has happened in Scotland  but only after grades were first marked down by the system.

The same assurances that were given elsewhere have been given by the Minister, said Donnchadh O Laoghaire of Sinn Fein.

We're taking that on trust.

But I see no reason why the method shouldn't be published and why we shouldn't have transparency, especially when there's so much concern. Students deserve to know that there is transparency. Theres no reason to keep people in the dark.

Mr O Riordain added: You dont have a right to appeal your grade, which is important to recognise. You have a right to appeal the calculation, but not the grade.

So we will have a situation on September 7 when chaos will ensue if people feel they have a college place in question. There is going to be a whirlwind of upset if this isnt sorted now, and it can be sorted now.

Mr O Laoghaire said publication of the means and basis of calculation would inform a discussion about what can happen next.

I was never of the view that calculated grades were the right approach to take. Personally I believe that the best approach would have been focused on maximising third level places.

But the department had put its faith in calculated grades and school profiling. We deserve to know why they have put so much confidence in it.

I think there has been an absence of leadership right from the staff from the Department of Education. I do think it's unfortunate RTE and the media put in requests for interview and were told she wasn't available. I think that's regrettable.

This is absolutely wrong and I do believe the Minister needs to come forward and answer questions so we can interrogate these issues, and that we can bring forward solutions as and when they're required, that there can be engagement and constructive discussion.

On school transport, Mr O Laoghaire said people were very surprised that there was no talk of social distancing on buses.

One of the biggest categories of people who are very concerned is parents of children who are at high risk, or parents themselves who are at high risk of contraction with school reopenings.

There seems to be very little plan. Guidance needs to be there for those students, and then and there needs to be a confidence for their parents.

Under the reopening roadmap, special education teachers will be put from pillar to post covering absences, breaks and the remote learning, he warned.

There arent enough additional resources for remote learning or special education. The Minister needs to come forward and answer the questions, and they are numerous.

She needs to be available. She needs to be showing leadership. There is an absence of leadership.
Zimbabwe sets ambitious diamond output target

18 august 2020 News

Zimbabwe has set an ambitious diamond production target of 12 million carats by 2025, according to the state media citing a government official.

Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando was quoted as saying by The Herald that recent re-opeing of the Anjin Diamond Mine in Marange will help the country achieve its set production target.

Zimbabwe produced 2.1 million carats last year valued at $141.1 million or $67.09 per carat, according to data released recently by the Kimberley Process.

Harare wants to expand the mining from being a $3,4 billion industry to a $12 billion industry by 2023, of which diamond should contribute $1 billion.

The Kimberly Process Civil Society Coalition (KPCSC) said last month that smuggling of Zimbabwean diamonds to Mozambique is on the rise following the closure of official border posts to curb the spreading of Covid-19.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
Marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote, President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would pardon renowned suffragist Susan B. Anthony, news outlets reported.

Anthony was arrested in 1872 for trying to cast her ballot in violation of laws that made it so only men could vote, but she was never pardoned, Trump noted, according to reporting from USA Today.

Alongside First Lady Melania Trump, the Republican president signed a proclamation commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the amendment, the news outlet reported.

It was a monumental victory for equality, for justice, and a monumental victory for America, Trump said, according to USA Today.

The New York Times reported that Trumps pardoning of Anthony appeared to be an effort to distract from the Democratic National Convention this week and narrow Democratic presidential candidate Joe Bidens lead over him among female voters.

Last week, Trump announced he would support a bill that would create a 22-foot-tall monument in Washington, D.C. to honor various suffragists, including Anthony, as well as the 19th amendment, USA today reported.

She was never pardoned. Did you know that? She was never pardoned, Trump said about Anthony, according to the Times. What took so long?

Anthony, known in history as one of the foremost leaders of the womens suffrage movement of the late 1800s, has become an increasingly controversial figure.

According to the Times, Anthony has been lauded by anti-abortion political groups like the Susan B. Anthony List and criticized for ignoring the concerns and efforts of Black suffragists.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, was one of a number of women in the Blue Room of the White House Tuesday when Trump made his announcement and signed the proclamation.
Jill Biden has a reputation for being a prankster but she could be just months away from being the first lady of the United States.

Friends and former aides highlight a sense of humour when asked about the character who could be the next flotus, the acronym used to denote the presidential spouse.

She once sneaked into a close aides birthday party dressed as catering staff and surprised him with a drink.

She has dressed up as the Grinch to toy with colleagues during Christmas.

(PA Graphics)

And she likes to put on a red wig with a bob to pop up unnoticed at events or make her husband, Joe Biden, laugh.

That sense of humour has helped Joe Biden navigate decades in public life that have been marked by achievements, defeats and considerable personal loss.

As she prepares to speak on Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention, those who have worked closely with Jill Biden say her warmth will appeal to Americans confronting tough times of their own.

She has a very good sense of, especially in these times, that bringing a little smile, some joy, some levity into moments is important, said Courtney ODonnell, who served as Jill Bidens communications director during her husbands first term as vice president.

Democratic presidential candidate former vice president Joe Biden and is wife Jill Biden and his running mate Senator Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Jill Biden married the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in 1977, more than four years after his first wife and young daughter were killed in a car accident.

She helped raise his surviving sons, Beau and Hunter, before giving birth to daughter Ashley in 1981.

As Joe Biden commuted from Delaware to Washington while serving as a senator, Jill Biden built a career as a teacher, ultimately earning two masters degrees and then a doctorate in education from the University of Delaware in 2007.

Along the way, former co-workers say, Jill Biden, 69, became one of her husbands most valuable political advisers, someone whose opinion was paramount in most of his biggest decisions, both political and personal.

100 years ago, women forever changed this country.



This election will be no different.



In exactly 100 days, women will once again have the task of carrying our nation forward.



Will you join us? pic.twitter.com/1KXwK5NXXG  Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) July 26, 2020

She was sceptical of his 1988 presidential campaign, but pushed him to run again in 2008, according to her memoir.

After Joe Biden became the presumptive nominee this year, she played a prominent role in auditioning many of the vice presidential candidates, appearing with them at various events.

During a recent interview on CBS, Jill Biden acknowledged that she and her husband talked about the different woman candidates.

But its gotta be Joes decision, she added.

She (Jill Biden) is his spouse, and she loves him and she talks to him about all sorts of things, but she has a unique role, and its not being a political adviser. Thats not her thing. Cathy Russell, former Jill Biden chief of staff

But those who know Jill Biden best say she is slightly perplexed at being called one of her husbands most significant advisers, insisting that her relationship with her husband is far deeper and more nuanced than such a label would suggest.

Hes got plenty of political advisers. Thats not what she is, said Cathy Russell, who was Jill Bidens chief of staff during the Obama administration and is now a vice chairwoman on the campaign.

She is his spouse, and she loves him and she talks to him about all sorts of things, but she has a unique role, and its not being a political adviser.

Thats not her thing.

Jill Biden does remain one of her husbands closest confidantes, particularly now, at a time when both Bidens are largely confined to their Wilmington home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Aides say the Bidens often pass each other in the halls during the day as they head from a briefing to a virtual event to a fundraiser.

They see each other a lot, but theres a lot of passing and crossing each other.

A self-described introvert, Ms Biden was initially a reluctant political wife.

In her memoir, she writes of giving her first political speech and having no desire to give any speeches, anytime, anywhere  just the thought of doing so made me so nervous I felt sick.

The pandemic means the Bidens have spent much of the campaign in Wilmington, Delaware (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

But after eight years as the vice presidents wife and then giving speeches and appearing at events after her husband left office, Jill Biden has become one of her husbands most prominent surrogates.

She has appeared in virtual events in more than 17 cities since May, and is one one of the campaigns primary surrogates to Latino voters, headlining town halls and holding frequent calls with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

In one week this month, Jill Biden appeared at everything from a science-focused fundraiser to an event with Joe Bidens faith coalition to one focused on LGBTQ youth, speaking with emotion and fluency about her husbands plans for each constituency.

The White House (Alex Brandon/AP)

She is also one of his most protective surrogates, a quality she writes about in her memoir  and one that was on full display during a Super Tuesday speech Joe Biden gave in March when a handful of protesters rushed the stage.

Mrs Biden moved between the protesters and her husband, at one point pushing a protester away.

She has said she plans to continue teaching if she becomes first lady.
In the early weeks of the pandemic, Denmark reopened elementary schools without worsening its coronavirus outbreak or putting children in danger. That success story did not go unnoticed. With fall classes beginning across the United States, should American schools adopt Denmarks strategy?

The short answer, experts say, is not if the virus is actively spreading in their communities.

Profound differences exist between the U.S. and Denmark, their respective COVID-19 outbreaks and even their attitudes toward the virus. The anti-science sentiment embraced by many of President Donald Trumps supporters is not shared by the Danes.



For context, Denmark has about the same number of people as Colorado with a population density per square mile of 354. (Floridas is 401.) Denmark has been logging 100-170 new COVID-19 cases per day in recent weeks. The U.S. counted more than 42,000 new cases Sunday. Only India had more.

The key variable for reopening schools is the degree of infection in the areas serviced by the schools.

On Monday, 71 of 82 counties in Mississippi reported positive SARS-CoV-2 cases totaling 199 students and 245 teachers at schools.

It doesn't mean they caught it there [at school], most likely they brought it with them when they were going to school, that they caught from the community, said state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs.

Megan Ranney, an emergency physician and director for the Center for Digital Health at Brown University, referred to the Mississippi outbreaks in an interview with Vox. This is exactly what weve been warning about  when you have high levels of COVID in the community, you will have cases showing up in schools, just because people are catching it out in the community, Ranney said.

But Denmark was able to reopen schools without sparking new outbreaks. Heres what the country did, according to Canadian epidemiologist Diego Bassani and Danish officials:

First it tamped down the outbreak by ordering a month-long nationwide lockdown.

When Danish schools reopened, there were only 185 new cases daily in the country, although at the time only those patients with medium to severe symptoms were being tested.

The youngest pupils, grades 1-5, were allowed back first. At the end of May, all grades (K-12) returned.

Classes were limited to cohorts of 10-12 pupils and one teacher throughout the day. Parents were not allowed into schools except under special circumstances.

Entry times were staggered, with different doors used when possible. Intermingling of student cohorts  on playgrounds, for example  was not permitted.

Whenever possible classes were held outside. Public parks were reserved between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for lessons. Hotels, libraries, museums and conference centers were made available to schools.

Seats/desks were separated by at least 2 meters. By May, distancing between classmates was reduced to 1 meter.

Masks were never mandatory for children or teachers. However, face coverings were recommended for students who were feeling sick and on the way to isolation, and for those taking public transportation.

Pupils initially had to wash their hands every 1.5 hours, including upon arriving at school, after each break, before going home, before and after eating, and after using the toilet. This rule was eventually relaxed because some children developed extreme eczema and even bloody hands.

The Ministry of Education established a coronavirus hotline to help schools assess learning, make use of public spaces and advise on other education-specific issues. The nations Board of Health published a guide for school administrators, teachers and students.

But teachers union vice president Dorte Lange told NPR that after setting guidelines, the government's role was mostly hands off. The cooperation between teachers, the unions and local authorities  the cooperation in all levels of society was extremely important," she said.

On Aug. 1, social distancing rules with classes and cohorts were eliminated to allow group work and a more normal school routine.

However, distancing between students and adults was maintained.

Denmarks COVID-19 Rt  the average number of people who become infected by an infectious person  increased after schools reopened, but it stayed safely under 1.0. The increase was attributed not to children who had returned to school but rather to students aged 13 to 19 who were still at home and presumably socializing with their peers.

Denmarks infection rate was so low that by the end of May, shopping malls, bars and restaurants were allowed to reopen.

You cannot see any negative effects from the reopening of schools, Peter Andersen, doctor of infectious disease epidemiology and prevention at the Danish Serum Institute, told Reuters at the time.



Other countries have reopened schools with mixed success. Israel did not require masking or social distancing when it reopened with classes of up to 40 students in May. Coronavirus outbreaks have since forced it to close 125 schools and 258 kindergartens.

But a study (not peer-reviewed) of 13 German schools in the state of Saxony found that while three schools reported virus cases, the infections did not spread through schools or their surrounding communities.

In the U.S., children between 5 and 17 now have the highest positivity rate of age groups, according to former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief Dr. Tom Frieden. Hospitalization of children for COVID-19 is increasing, although overall numbers remain low. One of three kids hospitalized ends up in intensive care.

While scientists believe teens shed the virus like adults via their mouth and nasal passages, they still dont understand how much virus younger children spread or why they dont develop symptoms as often as adults.

The World Health Organization recommends that schools open only if fewer than 5% of those tested for the virus over a two-week period are positive.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

Five California counties added to COVID-19 watch list, one falls off

UCSF scientists create an anti-COVID-19 nasal spray

No Bay Area county is close to getting off state watch list

Kaiser to launch Phase 3 testing of coronavirus vaccine in 1,400 California and Oregon adults

The odds of catching COVID-19 on a plane might not be what you think



Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate
Algiers, 17 August 2020 (SPS) - The Ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) to Algeria Abdelkader Taleb Omar on Sunday commended the principle stance of the political class in Algeria on the Sahrawi cause under the duty of neighbourhood and brotherhood and UN charters.



Speaking at an audience granted to him by Leader of El-Bina Movement Abdelkader Bengrina at the headquarters of his party, the Sahrawi diplomat thanked the Movement and the political class in Algeria for the national consensus and support to the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.



My meetings with the Algerian parties are part of strengthening contacts in order to inform them of the developments of the situation in the Sahrawi occupied territories, said the source.



Taleb Omar also hailed the honourable positions of Algeria in favour of the Sahrawi cause, which stems from the duty of neighbourhood and brotherhood and in accordance with the charters of the United Nations (UN) on the rights of refugees.



After warning against the obstacles posed by the Moroccan regime and the deadlock, Taleb Omar denounced the silence of the United Nations and the MINURSO in the face of the events that occur in the occupied territories.



The Sahrawi diplomat also referred to the the disinformation practised by the Moroccan regime and its lies about Algeria, a country that supports international legitimacy for decolonization. (SPS)



062/SPS/APS
Altri 43 casi accertati di coronavirus nel Lazio. A diffondere il bollettino, che registra anche una vittima, sono state le autorita regionali, che segnalano come dei contagiati totali, dodici siano persone tornate dalla Sardegna, molte delle quali legate alla discussa festa a Porto Rotondo dell'8 agosto scorso.

In totale, i casi di importazione o che riguardano giovani di rientro da vacanze sono 22: otto i casi di rientro da Grecia (un caso da Creta e tre da Corfu), sette i casi da Croazia, cinque i casi da Spagna, un caso dalla Francia e un caso di rientro da Malta.

"Tra ieri e oggi abbiamo effettuato oltre 5 mila test sui viaggiatori di rientro dai paesi a rischio. Il sistema dei controlli negli aeroporti sta funzionando e questo ci permette di intercettare precocemente i casi asintomatici che altrimenti avrebbero viaggiato per l'Italia", spiega l'assessore alla sanita Alessio D'Amato.

 Riproduzione riservata

(Unioneonline/l.f.)
A builder works on a house in an established suburb in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 2, 2006. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

Industry Peak Body Calls for HomeBuilder Extension

A peak building body in Australia has called for an increase to federal support as the latest data indicates a 27 percent fall in homebuilding activity for 2020/21.

The Master Builders Association (MBA) of Australia has said in a media release on Aug. 17 that it would like to see the Morrison government extend the HomeBuilder grants scheme for another year to see the industry through the worst of the COVID-19 economic slowdown.

Originally estimated by the Morrison government to receive 27,000 applications for both new builds and renovations, the $688 million HomeBuilder scheme provides grants of up to $25,000 to support people in building or renovating their homes.

MBA CEO Denita Wawn noted that the Australian building industry faced an estimated 27 percent drop in activity in comparison to the same period in 2019.

This will be calamitous for many of the nearly 370,000 home building businesses that are vital to local economies and communities throughout Australia unless the government steps in with extension of HomeBuilder and other stimulus measures, Wawn said.

Recent economic modelling done by the MBA has shown that a one-year extension of the Home Builder Scheme will bring a GDP boost of up to $4.5 billion and create 4,500 new jobs as a result of the construction of more than 6,000 new homes.

MBA also noted that the modelling suggested that the extension will cost the Morrison government $1.3 billion.

A house under construction can be seen behind an advertising banner at a housing development located in the western Sydney suburb of Oran Park in Australia, Oct. 21, 2017. (Reuters/David Gray/File Photo)

HomeBuilder grants (pdf) are only open to owner-occupiers with single applicants earning no more than $125,000 per year or $200,000 for couples.

Contracts for the build must be signed between June 4, and Dec. 31, and construction must commence within three months of the date of signing.

There are also limits on the cost of the build with new builds not to exceed $750,000 for both house and land, and for those renovating the property value must not exceed $1.5 million, and the renovation must be worth between $150,000 and $750,000.

Government Should Consider a CommunityBuilder Grant

Wawn also called for the federal government to create a CommunityBuilder grants scheme on Aug. 17, to help get the commercial construction industry over an expected 17 percent slump.

Based on the HomeBuilder model, MBA believes that a government-led scheme for commercial construction would stimulate the construction of smaller community and not-for-profit facilities.

In particular, the MBA argues that if the government reduced the depreciation rates of capital works for investors in both residential and commercial property and increased the ability for institutional investment in social infrastructure like social housing, this would drive forward the COVID-19 economic recovery.

A worker looks on as a drill breaks the pavement on a construction site next to Barangaroo building complex in Sydneys central business district (CBD) Australia, Nov. 9, 2017. (Reuters/Daniel Munoz/File Photo)

The construction industry Wawn notes in one of the largest providers of full-time jobs in Australia.

There is no other industry with as many small businesses, that is why we are seeking stimulus measures across the entirety of the residential, commercial, and civil construction sectors, said Wawn.

Cranes in the sky and utes on building sites are cited by some as indicators of economic growth. You wont see too many of either unless the government steps in and adopts measures such as those called for by Master Builders, she said.
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Specialist cleaners have been removing lockdown grime from ancient exhibits at the British Museum as it prepares to reopen later this month.

Historic statues from around the world have been gathering dust after the museum was forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.

More than 30 staff members have been working on dusting the museum's collections for around three weeks.

Ladders and a cherry-picker have to be used to clean some of the larger objects, including a totem pole, before the museum reopens on August 27.

Fabiana Portoni, the museum's preventive conservator and dust expert, said that the accumulation of dust particles on the museum's ancient artefacts can cause long-term damage.

Dust has gathered on ancient Egyptian sculptures at the British museum, but specialist cleaners have been sprucing them up before visitors return next week

Evan York dusted a statue of King Amenhotep III as a lion, which dates back to the 2nd century BC, ahead of the British Museum reopening on August 27

The accumulation of dust particles on the museum's ancient artefacts, such as the seated Egyptian statue of King Ramesses II, can cause long-term damage to exhibits

The major sources of dust in the museum include visitors, who can bring in dust from hair fibres or their clothes, and nearby traffic pollution, she said.

Ms Portoni told the PA news agency: 'During lockdown, all of these sources were reduced however there was still dust present around the museum.'

The shortage of people flowing through the galleries and disrupting the air meant dust accumulated in more unusual places where it wouldn't normally be expected to be found, she added.

Only limited cleaning took place while the museum was closed, Ms Portoni said.

Physical dusting and chemicals are used to clean objects, she added, but great care has to be taken as removing the dust can also damage an object's surface.

Ms Portoni said the museum's closure provided a fantastic opportunity to do a deep clean.

The Townley Venus Roman sculpture received attention from expert cleaners after months of gathering dust during lockdown

Statues of goddess Sekhmet line the walls in the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery at the British Museum in Bloomsbury, London

'A lot of these objects, to be able to clean them, they require ladders and different equipment and we have to do it before opening or after opening, so the timing is a little bit reduced,' she said.

'But now, because we are closed, we can spend hours cleaning and there's no rush, so it is a good opportunity for that.'

The London venue will have been shut for 163 days by the time it welcomes back visitors, which is the longest peacetime closure in its 261-year history.

Anyone wishing to visit the British Museum will need to pre-book. They will have to follow a one-way route around the collection to see exhibits such as a colossal guardian lion statue around 860BC, which symbolised Ishtar, the Assyrian goddess of war

Other sites such as the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery and Tate venues have already reopened

Dating back to the third century BC, cleaners paid special attention while dusting the false-door and architrave of Ptahshepses

Tickets for August 27 have already solved out as history-buffs prepare to flock back to one of the largest collection of ancient artefacts

Galleries featuring objects from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Assyria, Africa, Mexico and North America will reopen before more displays go on show later in September

Visits to the museum will need to be pre-booked and a one-way route will be installed around some of its galleries.

Tickets for the day the museum welcomes back visitors have already sold out.

Galleries featuring objects from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Assyria, Africa, Mexico and North America will reopen before more displays go on show later in September.

Other museums and galleries including the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery and Tate venues in Liverpool, London and St Ives have all already reopened.
Representative image

More than a dozen rockets struck the Afghan capital Tuesday, wounding at least 10 civilians as the country marked the 101st anniversary of its independence, the interior ministry said.

Fourteen rockets were fired from two vehicles in Kabul, interior ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said, adding that two suspects had been arrested.

"Most of these rockets have hit civilian houses in Kabul," Arian said.

"Unfortunately, 10 civilians including four children and one woman have been wounded."

The rockets struck the capital after President Ashraf Ghani participated in an independence day ceremony at the presidential palace.

Witnesses said some of the rockets fell near the palace and the defence ministry in a heavily fortified area that also houses several embassies.

The rocket attack comes as the Afghan government and the Taliban are poised to begin peace talks.

Negotiations are set to start once Kabul completes the release of about 400 Taliban prisoners as approved last week by a traditional gathering of prominent Afghans.

Ghani's swearing-in ceremony on March 10 was interrupted by rocket fire near the palace. No serious injuries were reported at the time.

Afghanistan was never a part of Britain's empire but it became officially independent from British influence in August 1919.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Tohajiilees chapter president says he is hopeful the Navajo satellite community has moved closer to getting the new water supply it needs after what he deemed a productive meeting with a prominent area landowner.

Mark Begay was among about 35 people who attended a virtual meeting late last week to discuss Tohajiilees proposed 7.3-mile water transmission line  a line that would require buying an easement from Western Albuquerque Land Holdings, which owns about 53,000 acres west of Albuquerque. Tohajiilee leaders and elected officials said in a news conference last month that WALHs unwillingness to negotiate for the past two years was stopping the project from moving forward.

WALH, however, has disputed that characterization. While WALH representatives had in 2018 rebuffed Tohajiilees attempts to discuss the easement, they say they are now  and have been  willing to have the conversation. But they say they need additional information and had not received it after asking earlier this year.

It was against that backdrop that Bernalillo County Commissioner Steven Michael Quezadas office arranged last weeks meeting, which also included state legislators, representatives of New Mexicos congressional delegation and the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.

Both Tohajiilee and WALH emerged from the session feeling progress had been made.

It was a productive meeting and the first time that we actually sat down and discussed all the issues, said Begay, adding that the parties agreed to meet again in about two weeks. This is a start.

He said WALH asked many questions that Tohajiilee and its engineers would try to answer before the next session.

A WALH spokesman said there is a sense of momentum.

It was a really good meeting, and I think everybody is dedicated now to trying to figure this out by the end of the year.  We  as in WALH  really want to be part of the solution for this whole issue, spokesman Tom Carroll said. We just need to have the information to make an informed choice.

Tohajiilee, located at the western end of Bernalillo County, wants to build a pipeline from ABCWUAs western-most water tank, but needs an easement from WALH and two other property owners to accommodate the transmission line. Tohajiilee leaders say the pipeline is the best solution to their water supply emergency, as five of the villages six wells have already failed and the last working well serving the village of about 2,000 is insufficient and unreliable. It has suffered three outages in the past five years  one that lasted two weeks  and produces such poor-quality water that many residents rely on bottled water for drinking.

Tohajiilee officials have said they will pay for the lines construction and also compensate WALH for the easement and a proportional share of the tank and affiliated infrastructure, which WALH spent about $30 million building and, as required, turned over to the water utility.

The water authority has said it supports the project and that the proposed line would be used to transport to Tohajiilee water already owned by the Navajo Nation.

The other two land owners have also expressed willingness to negotiate with Tohajiilee for easements.

But limited progress with WALH prompted the Bernalillo County Commission to vote this spring to proceed with land condemnation if necessary.

However, WALH representatives say they have not stonewalled Tohajiilee and have been waiting for records they requested in February.

Without these documents  theres no way for us to evaluate the proposal, WALH attorney Paul Kennedy said in a recent meeting with Journal reporters and editors.

They say they need to gauge what immediate and future impacts the proposed water line might have on the water available to WALH developments. Jeff Garrett, president of the company developing the WALH land, said he wanted assurances that the water authority was not applying policy in a discriminatory manner by treating WALH different than it did Tohajiilee. They are seeking the projects water availability and water serviceability letters and the development agreement, which they said they have been required to have in their own past dealings with ABCWUA.

Carroll said such documents have not yet been provided but that related information may be coming following last weeks discussion.
Foreign Secretary statement on Belarusian Presidential elections

The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has stated the UK does not accept the results of the Belarusian Presidential elections.

17 August 2020

Following the Presidential elections held in Belarus on 9 August and the acts of violence by the Belarusian authorities to suppress peaceful protests, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

"The world has watched with horror at the violence used by the Belarusian authorities to suppress the peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent Presidential election. The UK does not accept the results. We urgently need an independent investigation through the OSCE into the flaws that rendered the election unfair, as well as the grisly repression that followed. The UK will work with our international partners to sanction those responsible, and hold the Belarusian authorities to account."

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Israel warned Hamas Tuesday it was risking "war" by failing to stop incendiary balloon attacks from Gaza, as fuel shortages in the Palestinian enclave caused by Israel's blockade caused widespread blackouts.

Israel's army earlier on Tuesday said its fighter jets had hit underground Hamas infrastructure, and linked the strikes to "explosive and arson balloons launched" from Gaza.

The strikes came as visiting Egyptian security officials strove to defuse more than a week of heightened unrest that has included rocket and incendiary device attacks from Gaza and daily Israeli reprisals.

Israel's President Reuven Rivlin issued a warning to Hamas during a visit to communities near the Gaza border hit by the unrest.

"Terrorism using incendiary kites and balloons is terrorism just like any other," Rivlin said in a statement.

"Hamas should know that this is not a game. The time will come when they have to decide... if they want war they will get war," said Rivlin, who holds a largely ceremonial post in the Jewish state.

Israeli defence minister and alternate prime minister Benny Gantz said "Hamas is playing with fire," and vowed to "make certain the fire is turned back on them."

No casualties were reported in the latest Israeli airstrikes.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.

Despite a truce last year backed by Egypt, the UN and Qatar, Hamas and Israel clash sporadically, with Palestinian incendiary balloons or rocket or mortar fire drawing retaliatory Israeli strikes and civil sanctions.

A Hamas source told AFP the Islamists had held talks with the Egyptian delegation in Gaza on Monday before it left the territory for meetings with the Israelis and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.

The delegation was expected to return to Gaza after those talks were concluded, the source added.

- Complete shutdown -

In response to persistent balloon attacks, Israel has banned fishing off Gaza's coast and closed the Kerem Shalom goods crossing, cutting off deliveries of fuel to the territory's sole power plant.

Israel's retaliatory closure of the Kerem Shalom goods crossing has halted fuel supplies to Gaza's sole power plant, forcing it to shut down /  AFP

The plant's spokesman Mohammed Thabet announced its "complete shutdown" on Tuesday after its fuel ran out.

Power had been in short supply even before the shutdown, with consumers having access to mains electricity for only around eight hours a day.

That will now be cut to just four hours a day using power supplied from the Israeli grid.

For the rest of the time, those Gazans who can afford it rely on solar panels, or generators, which also need fuel.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the electricity crisis was a "crime against humanity," for which Israel must answer.

"We will work with all our force to break the siege," he said.

Gaza security sources and witnesses said Tuesday's strikes hit Hamas lookout posts at Rafah in the south of the territory and Beit Lahia in the north.

Israeli police said Tuesday that a balloon came down in the yard of a home in the town of Sderot, which is within walking distance of the Gaza border and a frequent target for attack.

It caused some damage but no casualties, a police statement said.
Leslie Evans, Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government giving evidence at Holyrood to a Scottish Parliament committee examining the handling of harassment allegations against former first minister Alex Salmond - Getty Images Europe

Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to "come clean" about when she knew of complaints against Alex Salmond after her most senior mandarin told a Holyrood inquiry she directly raised concerns almost three years ago.

Leslie Evans, the Scottish Government's permanent secretary, said that in November 2017 she told Ms Sturgeon that Sky News were investigating an incident at Edinburgh Airport, and that Mr Salmond had contacted government staff about it.

Ms Evans denied designing a new harassment complaints policy to "get Alex Salmond" after it was signed off by Ms Sturgeon in December 2017, the month after they were informed of the investigation.

But she told a specially-convened Holyrood committee that one of the women who later lodged a complaint against Mr Salmond under the scheme was consulted about its drafting.

Ms Evans refused to say whether she was aware of the alleged existence of a policy advising female civil servants not to be alone with Mr Salmond. The disputed claim was made by a complainer at his trial.

Here is the Official Report of my exchange earlier today with Leslie Evans. I still cannot understand how someone on oath to tell the whole truth can refuse to answer a question on a matter of which she clearly has knowledge. I will he pursuing this further. pic.twitter.com/hMY7W8ib8B  Murdo Fraser (@murdo_fraser) August 18, 2020

Officials launched a formal investigation into Mr Salmond in January 2018 following allegations from civil servants. Ms Sturgeon has insisted she only found out about this in April that year when Mr Salmond visited her home.

Murdo Fraser, a Tory committee member, claimed had been "caught out by her permanent secretary" over what she knew and when.

He argued it was implausible that Ms Sturgeon would not have made further inquiries about the Sky News story and urged her to stop treating the Scottish public "like mugs".

Story continues

But Ms Sturgeon's official spokesman accused the Tories of "conflating different issues" over when she found out about the respective Sky News and civil servant claims. He said she "looks forward to giving evidence to the committee in due course.

Mr Salmond won a judicial review last year when Scotlands highest civil court found that the way the Scottish Government investigation was handled was unlawful.

The case was abandoned on the eve of a Court of Session hearing after the government admitted it had breached its own guidelines by appointing an investigating officer who had prior involvement with two civil servants who had made complaints.

The SNP administration he once led paid him 512,250 of taxpayers' money to cover his legal costs after the judge Lord Pentland ruled the inquiry was "procedurally unfair" and "tainted with apparent bias".

The committees inquiry into the debacle was suspended when Mr Salmond was charged with sexual offences, but it was kickstarted after he was cleared. In March this year, he was acquitted of 13 sexual offences by a jury following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

MSPs are also examining whether Ms Sturgeon broke the Scottish ministerial code by staying in contact with Mr Salmond while her officials were investigating him.

Among the witnesses lined up to give evidence under oath are Mr Salmond, Ms Sturgeon and her husband, Peter Murrell, who is also the SNP's chief executive.

Leslie Evans(bacl to camera), Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government giving evidence at Holyrood to a Scottish Parliament committee examining the handling of harassment allegations against former first minister Alex Salmond - Getty Images Europe

In an opening statement to the inquiry, Ms Evans said she apologised "unreservedly" for a "procedural failure" but investigating the complaints from two women - known as Miss A and Miss B - was "the right thing to do."

She was then pressed about the development of the new complaints policy in late 2017 in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

Unlike previous schemes, it covered retrospective complaints against former ministers and was used against Mr Salmond shortly after its introduction.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, a Liberal Democrat committee member, said Miss B had first notified officials of her complaint against the former first minister around November 7, 2017 "at the height of the development of the policy".

Ms Evans said that "concern was raised by a whole range of people in November 2017" but insisted that the new policy was a "separate but concurrent stream of work".

She said she became aware that Mr Salmond had contacted "certain Scottish Government members of staff in very early November" about the Sky News investigation.

"I was told by two different sources, one of them extremely concerned, that they had received this contact and they were a bit bewildered and unhappy about it," she said.

Confirming she informed Ms Sturgeon, Ms Evans said: "I told her about that, I said I was concerned mostly because the staff were anxious about it. I was also concerned that it could become a story."

She said at the same time "I was told that there were other people who were coming forward with concerns - not complaints. They were not registered".

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (R) alongside Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government Leslie Evans - Getty Images Europe

Mr Cole-Hamilton said: "The optics of this are not great. Was this targeted policy which only applied to harassment complaints against former ministers engineered to fit any complaint? Was it designed to get Alex Salmond?"

Ms Evans retorted: "No, absolutely not." However, she told Labour's Jackie Baillie one of the complainers was consulted as it was "not unusual to test out new procedures or policies with people who have relevant experience".

The Scottish Government took advice from Police Scotland as the scheme was drafted and three complaints about Mr Salmond were later referred to the force, she added.

Ms Evans refused to comment on whether there was a policy of preventing female officials working alone with Mr Salmond and Linda Fabiani, the committee's SNP convener, refused to allow Mr Fraser to press her on the issue.

Speaking after the committee, Mr Fraser said: "Leslie Evans apology for these mistakes is hollow and meaningless when she immediately chooses secrecy over scrutiny.

"And the SNP convener cannot shut down valid enquiries  or else its clear that the cover up is already under way." He said Ms Sturgeon "must tell us exactly when she found out about Alex Salmonds alleged behaviour. No more spin and secrecy.
Gilad Erdan, Israels new ambassador to the United Nations, filed a formal complaint Aug. 17 with the United Nations Security Council over a July 27 incident along the Lebanese border, in which IDF soldiers foiled an attack by Hezbollah.

Tensions on the Israel-Lebanon-Syria borders have been high since July 22, when Hezbollah operative Ali Kamel Mohsen Jawad was killed in an airstrike near the Damascus International Airport. Hezbollah blamed Israel for killing its operative, declared him a martyr and pledged to avenge his death. The attack near the Lebanese border fence was apparently in retaliation, though Israel had related messages that Mohsen had not been purposely targeted. A Hezbollah cell of three to five operatives crossed the Blue Line a few meters into sovereign Israeli territory. Israeli troops then opened fire at the group, which fled back into Lebanon. Later, Israeli soldiers found explosives and ammunition left behind by the cell, which had apparently planned to set up explosives targeting IDF troops.

In the complaint to the UN, Israel said the Hezbollah cell was armed with a .50-caliber sniper rifle, which was recovered at the scene along with military fatigues. Erdan presented evidence that Hezbollah operatives had entered into Israel and a map of the route of the border breach. Today I sent a letter to the UN Security Council containing intelligence proving that Hezbollah terrorists recently infiltrated into Israel. Hezbollahs leader [Hassan] Nasrallah has consistently lied about this. His terrorist groups operations will lead to disaster for Lebanon," he said.

Erdan took issue with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeepers, noting, UNIFIL is supposed to prevent such infiltrations. If it cannot stop Hezbollah from turning southern Lebanon into a terrorist base, then its purpose must be questioned. To be effective, its mandate must include expanding access and oversight into areas where Hezbollah operates. Erdan also noted that Israel and the United States were working to alter UNIFILs mandate to give it additional access to the area.

Jerusalem has been campaigning for several months for the Security Council to renew and expand the UNIFIL mandate. UNIFIL currently operates in the framework of Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War. The resolution forbids the presence of armed groups in the south of the country, and UNIFIL is tasked with ensuring that the resolution is upheld. Israel and the United States have been claiming for years that the UN mandate prevents UNIFIL from achieving its directives, as it is barred from entering private property to search for ammunition and weapons without permission  a loophole exploited by Hezbollah.

Speaking at an Aug. 12 discussion at the Security Council, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft was quoted as saying, "The US has long reiterated publicly and privately that the status quo in Lebanon is unacceptable. Now is the time to empower UNIFIL, end the long complacency and enable the mission to fully achieve what it was set out to accomplish. A draft resolution reportedly being prepared by France will probably be presented for vote by the end of the month, before the mandate expires on Aug. 31.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 18, 2020 / Klondike Gold Corp. (TSXV:KG)(FRA:LBDP)(OTC PINK:KDKGF) ("Klondike Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results of Phase 2 and 3 diamond drilling at the Stander Zone and Stander Zone 'extensions' (described in News Releases June 1, 2020 and July 7, 2020) on the Company's wholly owned 586 square kilometer Klondike District Property, Yukon Territory. The drill program successfully constrained the geometry and boundaries of gold mineralization and the consistency in grade of gold mineralization contributing information towards resource delineation. Information obtained from results will be used to prioritize next phases of drilling scheduled to commence in late August.

SUMMARY:

At the Stander Zone, EC20-350 intersected 7.57 g/t Au over 10.5 meters from 48.0 meters within a larger envelope of 3.93 g/t Au over 21.0 meters from 46.0 meters, and EC20-349 intersected 3.04 g/t Au over 2.5 meters from 8.5 meters among others.

Phase 2 drilling showed the geometry of gold-bearing quartz vein arrays is sub-horizontal (previously one of two different possibilities), and the drilling also constrains the position of the Nugget Fault as shown in Figure 1. The short five-hole program all intersected near-surface gold mineralization and successfully identified areas for further drilling.

Phase 3 drilling tested for possible parallel structural repeats of the Stander Zone to explain down-slope gold-geochemical anomalies generated from GT-Probe deep overborne sampling. Three of four holes contained weakly gold-mineralized quartz veins with the best, EC20-356, assaying 0.40 g/t Au over 1.5m from 4.5 meters. The GT-Probe anomalies remain unexplained.

Peter Tallman, President and CEO of Klondike Gold stated "The drilling has answered a question about the gold veining orientation required to frame a resource model; it is sub-horizontal, and this result also contributes important information for future targeting of the Stander Zone and adds confirmation to the Company's guiding geologic and structural model of gold mineralization in the Klondike. The Nugget Fault is now interpreted to have multiple horizontal gold-bearing quartz vein arrays generated adjacent to the fault, allowing the Company to explore the Nugget Fault along strike for high grade quartz vein areas at surface as part of the overall objective to move beyond exploration and towards resource delineation".

PHASE 2 STANDER ZONE DRILLING RESULTS

The Company has received assays from all five holes of the Phase 2 diamond drilling program targeting a 100-meter length of the Stander Zone along the Nugget Fault. The short five-hole program all intersected near-surface gold mineralization in all holes and successfully identified areas for further drilling. The best result from the second hole drilled, EC20-350, intersected 7.57 g/t Au over 10.5 meters from 48.0 meters within a larger envelope of 3.93 g/t Au over 21.0 meters from 46.0 meters downhole.

The longitudinal section below shows three 'levels' of quartz veining with depth, with individual gold intersections in each drill hole ascribed a "Level" (counting from surface) in Summary of Phase 2 Results in Table 1.

Figure 1: Longitudinal Section of Gold Mineralization with Phase 2 Drill Holes at Stander Zone (see Figure 2 plan map and location of "Stander Zone Lone Section" section line).

Table 1: Summary of Phase 2 Results:

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Au (g/t) Interval (m) QV Level EC20-349 8.50 11.00 3.04 2.50 1 and also 15.00 16.00 3.10 1.00 1 EC20-350 15.00 17.00 3.63 2.00 1 and also 46.00 67.00 3.93 21.00 2 Including 48.00 58.50 7.57 10.50 2 EC20-351 40.10 42.40 0.44 2.30 2 EC20-352 7.00 10.50 1.92 3.50 1 and also 36.60 37.20 3.10 0.60 2 EC20-353 42.00 44.00 0.33 2.00 2 and also 62.00 64.00 0.61 2.00 3

EC20-349 tested Level 1 only and successfully showed that the at-surface quartz veining to the East has continuity to the near surface quartz veining to the west of the hole, and that the 'Level 1' quartz veining is horizontal in orientation and easily accessible from surface.

EC20-350 tested Level 1 and Level 2 quartz veining and intersected both. The 'Level 2' intersection of 7.57 g/t Au over 10.5 vertical meters is within the main near-surface area of gold mineralization. Due to topography, the 'Level 2' quartz veins shallow towards surface to the west.

EC20-351, EC20-352, and EC20-353 all successfully tested Level 1 and Level 2 quartz veining. EC20-353 also encountered gold-bearing quartz veining at 62.0 meters consistent with correlation to the 'Level 3' veining.

Figure 2 below is a similar view as Figure 1, but shows geology and the localization of gold along the "Felsic Schist" and "Intermediate Schist" contact termed the Nugget Fault within the Stander Zone. All the gold so far has been intersected at or near surface. The Stander Zone remains open.

Figure 2: Stander Zone Compilation Longitudinal Section of Gold Mineralization. The pink zones are mineralized intercepts from 2015-2019, and the red are intercepts reported here. (See Figure 2 plan map and location of "Stander Zone Lone Section" section line).

Five short drill holes within the Stander Zone tested the near-surface sub-area where gold mineralization outcrops over a 100-meter strike length shown in Figure 1. Intersections are assumed to be approximately true thickness however work is ongoing and this interpretation may change. A total of 280.27 meters of core was drilled. All holes had a -90 degree angle from surface as noted in the following Drill Hole Summary Table.

Table 2: Drill Hole Summary , Phase 2 Stander Zone, 2020

Hole ID Easting Northing Azimuth Dip Depth (m) EC20-349 585069 7085676 - 90 22.86 EC20-350 585051 7085678 - 90 70.10 EC20-351 585033 7085698 - 90 63.77 EC20-352 585017 7085677 - 90 52.51 EC20-353 585009 7085683 - 90 71.03 Total 280.27

Figure 3: Plan Map of Phase 2 Drilling at Stander Zone (2020 drilling only) showing Stander Fault (dashed line) and location of section line for the Stander Zone longitudinal section (solid line) in Figure 1 and 2.

STANDER ZONE GEOLOGY SUMMARY

The Stander Zone is comprised of gold-bearing quartz veining localized adjacent to the northwest trending "D3" Nugget Fault. Typically, gold occurs as visible 1mm size grains or larger, and can occur in massive cm-scale clots and seams associated with carbonate, as example 1,009.5 g/t Au over 1.0 meter intersected in EC19-267 in 2019, located in 'Level 3' of Figure 1. Stander Zone gold mineralization has been traced by sampling gold-bearing outcrop and local floats in northwest-southeast direction for approximately five kilometers. The Nugget Fault is associated with gold-in-soil anomalies and presents a distinct signature in both very low frequency electromagnetic ("VLF-EM") and magnetics surveys. The Nugget Fault is interpreted as a major 'second-order' ("D3") thrust fault, possibly a splay from the 'first-order' Bonanza Fault, cutting an anticlinal hinge that has subsequently been reactivated to create extension and brittle gold-bearing quartz veins.

Gold mineralization at the Stander Zone is hosted by quartz vein arrays immediately adjacent to the Nugget Fault within competent, brittle felsic schist lithology. The Phase 2 drilling described here has established the geometry of the quartz vein arrays as horizontal, and that multiple horizontal gold-bearing vein arrays are developed approximately every 20 vertical meters adjacent the Nugget Fault within the area tested. The Nugget Fault is approximately 45-degree dipping and parallels the topographic slope down towards Eldorado Creek. These quartz vein arrays form repeating parallel flat zones of gold mineralization, as evident in the 'longitudinal section' sketch Figure 1 where three horizontal 'levels' of gold-bearing quartz veining have been identified by drilling to date.

PHASE 3 RESULTS

Four holes EC20-354 to EC20-357 tested for possible parallel structural repeats of the Stander Zone to explain down-slope gold-geochemical anomalies generated from GT-Probe deep overborne sampling. Three of four holes contained weakly gold-mineralized quartz veins with the best, EC20-356, assaying 0.40 g/t Au over 1.5 meters from 4.5 meters downhole. The GT-Probe anomalies remain unexplained.

These results plus subsequent analysis suggests potential for additional mineralization lies along-strike of the Stander Zone and structural repeats of this Zone across strike are interpreted to have lower potential.

Figure 4: Location Map of Phase 2 and 3 Stander Zone area 2020 Drilling.

ASSAY PROTOCOLS

All 2020 drill holes referenced in this release produced NTW (5.71cm dia.) drill core. Assay samples from drill core are cut using a diamond saw. Half the core sample interval is bagged, tagged, and sealed; the other half is returned to the core box with a corresponding tag and retained for reference. Two gold reference standards, two blank samples (a coarse and a fine), and a coarse sample duplicate per 100 samples, are routinely inserted as part of Klondike Gold's quality assurance / quality control ("QA/QC") program, independent of and additional to the laboratory QA/QC program.

Sample bags are aggregated into rice bags, sealed, and submitted by Klondike Gold personnel to Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories ("BV Labs") preparation facility in Whitehorse, YT with chemical analysis of sample pulps completed in Vancouver, British Columbia. Bureau Veritas Labs is an accredited ISO 9001:2008 full-service commercial laboratory.

At BV Labs each drill core sample is crushed to 70% passing 2 mm size. A 500 g subsample is pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns size (200 mesh)(Code PRP70-500). All samples of 500 g were sieved to 106 microns (140 mesh) for "metallic screen" assaying. The +140 mesh fraction is weighed and assayed for gold by fire assay ("FA") fusion with a gravimetric finish (Code FS631). A 30 g subsample of the -140 mesh fraction is assayed for gold by fire assay ("FA") fusion with an atomic absorption ("AA") finish (Code FA430). All over-limit results in excess of 10 ppm (10 g/t) for both silver and gold are re-assayed using a 30 g subsample and assayed by FA with a gravimetric finish (Code FA530-Au/Ag). Total gold grade is then calculated using a weighted average of the plus and minus fraction assay results.

QUALIFIED PERSONS REVIEW

The technical and scientific information contained within this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ian Perry, P.Geo., Vice-President Exploration of Klondike Gold Corp. and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 policy.

ABOUT KLONDIKE GOLD CORP.

Klondike Gold Corp. is a Vancouver based gold exploration company advancing its 100%-owned Klondike District Gold Project located at Dawson City, Yukon Territory, one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world. The Klondike District Gold Project targets gold associated with district scale orogenic faults along the 55-kilometer length of the famous Klondike Goldfields placer district. To date, multi-kilometer gold mineralization has been identified at both the Lone Star Zone and Stander Zone, among other targets. The Company is focused on exploration and development of its 586 square kilometer property accessible by scheduled airline and government-maintained roads located on the outskirts of Dawson City, YT within the Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation traditional territory.

ON BEHALF OF KLONDIKE GOLD CORP.

"Peter Tallman"

President and CEO

(604) 609-6138

E-mail: info@klondikegoldcorp.com

Website: www.klondikegoldcorp.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

"This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This information and statements address future activities, events, plans, developments and projections. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information and statements are frequently identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and similar terminology, and reflect assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management of Klondike in light of its experience, current conditions, expectations of future developments and other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking information and statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Klondike's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information and statements and accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed thereon.

Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary include but are not limited to the availability of financing; fluctuations in commodity prices; changes to and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental laws and obtaining requisite permits; political, economic and other risks; as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Klondike disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements except as may be required."

SOURCE: Klondike Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/602077/Klondike-Gold-Drills-757-gt-Au-over-105-meters-at-Stander-Zone
A UN-backed special tribunal investigating the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri 15 years ago is set to deliver its long-awaited verdict on Tuesday.

Four members of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are charged with conspiracy to carry out the 2005 suicide truck bombing in Beirut that also killed 21 other people and injured over 200 more. The case by the prosecutors is based largely on data from mobile phones allegedly used by the plotters to plan and execute the bombing.

Five suspects were originally tried in absentia by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) near The Hague. But charges against one of Hezbollah's commanders, Mustafa Badreddine, were dropped after he was reportedly killed in Syria in 2016.

Hezbollah, an Iran backed Shia group, has repeatedly denied any link to the assassinations and dismisses the tribunal as politicised.

A guilty verdict will likely inflame political tensions throughout the country at a time when it is reeling from the 4 August explosion at Beirut's port which killed around 180 people, injured more than 6,000 and left a quarter of a million homes unfit to live in.

The original verdict was actually postponed because of the blast, which was likely caused by thousands of tonnes of poorly-stored explosive materials catching fire in the port.

Hariri, a Sunni Muslim business tycoon and Saudi passport holder, had close ties with the United States, western countries but also Gulf Sunni states and at the time of his death was seen as a threat to Iranian and Syrian influence in Lebanon.

Syria has been accused by many in Lebanon of being involved in or at least having knowledge of the assassination, which Damascus has vehemently denied.

His son Saad, himself a former prime minister, is attending the day-long delivery of the judgement, which began at 11am CET.

The suspects in the case are Salim Ayyash, also known as Abu Salim; Assad Sabra, Hassan Oneissi, who changed his name to Hassan Issa and Hassan Habib Merhi. They are charged with offences including conspiracy to commit a terrorist act.

If they are convicted, sentences will be pronounced in a separate public hearing.

As the UN-backed court has no death sentence, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment. Both the prosecutors and the convicted can appeal the judgement and the sentence - which could mean the final verdict is delayed by several years.

None of the men is very likely to serve time, however, as Hezbollah has vowed not to hand over any of the suspects.

Hariri was killed on 14 February 2005 as he got into his car after visiting the Cafe de lEtoile by parliament, where he served as an MP.



A truck bomb tore through his vehicle as his motorcade passed along the seafront corniche. It left a massive crater and ripped out the facades of the surrounding buildings, killing 21 people including Hariri himself, his bodyguards, pedestrians and the former economy minister Bassil Fleihan.

The assassination sent shockwaves through the region and the world at the time, sparking mass protests later dubbed the Cedar revolution within Lebanon.

Following intense pressure from the UN, France and the US, it also culminated with Syria pulling its troops out of Lebanon after nearly 30 years.

Following the withdrawal, there were several other bombings and assassination attempts of other anti-Syrian figures including politicians and journalists.

Some of those are being examined by the STL, which was created by UN Security Council resolution 1757 and began its work in March 2009.

A replica of the text of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) sits next to pictures of slain Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri at his shrine site in downtown Beirut on January 12, 2011 (Photo credit should read JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images)

While its primary mandate was to try those accused of being behind the 2005 bombing that killed Mr Hariri, the STL has also been examining assassination attempts that occurred between October 2004 and December 2005 to see if they are connected.

When the trial opened in January 2014, a scale model of the blast scene stood on a table in the centre of the courtroom and a prosecutor told judges that explosives packed into a Mitsubishi truck detonated to create "a man-made hell."

The verdict has been repeatedly postponed for fear of violent repercussions on the ground, and more recently due to the coronavirus pandemic and then the 4 August explosions.

The assassination and subsequent investigation have also repeatedly inflamed political and sectarian tensions inside Lebanon as a result of investigators linking Hezbollah to the crime.

Following the 2005 assassination, there emerged two rival coalitions which still play a role in Lebanese politics today and have pitted anti and pro-Syrian camps against each other. They are the 14 March movement, led by Hariris son Saad, and 8 March movement which has allies with Hezbollah and Syria.
Pro-Abortion and LGBT activists are reaching out to schools to make their impact in children as well.

Last summer, ACLU attorney Ruth Dawson instructed California public school teachers how to help their students safely have abortions without their parents knowing.

One of the methods to protect the students from their parents was to falsify attendance records and allow students to ditch school to get an abortion.

"Some districts will do things like they'll say the student was with an administrator at this time,' and that administrator, you know, they won't answer further questions," Dawson said to the teachers.

"Instruction must affirmatively recognize that people have different sexual orientations...it is not only bias-free but it is affirmatively inclusive of those folks and relationships," Dawson instructed the attendees about teaching LGBT ideology as she added that "there are a bunch of genders."

There is no parental opt-out option for the mandatory LGBT ideology curriculum being taught in all California public schools.

According to the Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin and their policies on LGBT curriculum, a child's gender identity can be "male, female, a blend of both or neither."

The MMSD district provided teachers of all grades with coloring books that told children that "everyone has the right to choose their own gender by listening to their own heart and mind and that everyone gets to choose if they are a girl or a boy or both or neither or something else."

MMSD policy also required the teacher to affirm a students' identified gender and to keep it confidential from the parents upon the students' request. But when the child's parents are around MMSD policy would instruct the teacher to cease identifying him by his identified gender name and revert to calling the students in their original name.

This makes the impression that schools are trying to hide the students from their parents and deceive the parents when in reality the schools are simply trying to protect students who want to protect their bodies and their identities.
Tourists have their temperature checked at Da Nang Airport before leaving the city, August 12, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Phong Van.

Authorities in Da Nang in central Vietnam have sought government permission to let 8,500 stranded workers and students return home.

Around 2,000 workers who had lost their jobs to the fresh Covid-19 outbreak and 6,500 students cannot return to their hometowns as Da Nang, the countrys biggest Covid-19 hotspot, has extended its social distancing campaign indefinitely to stem the new coronavirus spread, with all public transports suspended.

Da Nang on Sunday petitioned Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to allow migrants to leave the city amid the complicated development of the Covid-19 pandemic and requested the Ministry of Transport to arrange special trains to bring them home.

Pham Thi Thuy Linh, director of the municipal Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, said all migrants would be tested for Covid-19 before leaving the city.

They would be quarantined for 14 days upon returning to their localities as per health ministry regulations, she said.

The unemployed

For the past three weeks, Minh Lai, 24, and his wife Hoai Phuong have been unemployed.

They had brought their one-year-old child from Quang Tri Province to Da Nang several months ago to seek work. As a part-time worker, Lai earned a monthly salary of VND5 million ($215.78) while his wife worked at a factory inside Hoa Khanh Industrial Park of Lien Chieu District for VND4 million a month.

However, the resurgence of domestic infections in Da Nang since July 25 cost the couple their livelihoods.

"With the return of Covid-9, we didnt know how to survive or pay our VND2 million rent each month," Phuong said.

To reduce daily expenses, she contacted charity groups and received a donation of some boxes of instant noodles.

Duyen, 43, who worked at a construction site, said she and her husband stayed home the past few days after local infections were reported in their neighborhood of To Hieu Street in Lien Chieu District.

"My husband works as a security guard for a company, earning a monthly salary of VND4.5 million. When the city deployed its social distancing measures, the company closed, forcing him to remain home," she said.

"We want to return to our hometown but I dont know whether my husband would break his labor contract if we did leave," she said.

Da Nang authorities have decided to continue social distancing indefinitely, limiting gatherings to two people and household shopping to once every three days as the city has recorded 350 domestic infections since July 25.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists have been evacuated from the city since, including many to Hanoi and HCMC.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh to boost bilateral ties and discuss the issues of mutual interest. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that Shringla will be in Dhaka from August 18 to August 19 to discuss and take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest.

Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary of India is on a visit to Dhaka from August 18-19 2020, to discuss and take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest," the MEA release read.

Shringla is on his maiden visit to a foreign nation since the coronavirus outbreak, which signals Bangladeshs importance in Indias foreign policy. Shringla, the former high commissioner to Dhaka, will reportedly meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen during his two-day trip.

Read: IPL 2020 Not Taking Place In India Discourages Bangladesh's BPL From Happening This Year

Read: Vikram Doraiswami Appointed As New Envoy To Bangladesh

China's aggressive backing

The Foreign Secretary visit comes after Chinas aggressive backing of Bangladesh as Beijing announced $1 billion for the Teesta river project. India and Bangladesh, normally friendly neighbours, have been at loggerheads on the Teesta river water sharing arrangement and local media reports suggest that Dhaka is going to accept the Chinese deal.

The river originates from Sikkim and passes through West Bengal before merging with the Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh. The water-sharing agreement was almost finalised in 2011 but was put on hold after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not cooperate to seal the deal.

Shringla will be accompanied by outgoing High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das and Joint Secretary Smita Pant. On August 13, MEA announced the appointment of Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, presently Additional Secretary in the ministry, as the next High Commissioner of India to the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Das will come back to the Ministry of External Affairs as Secretary (East).

Read: Bangladesh PM Hasina Assures 'proper' Probe, Trial In Retired Army Major Killing

Read: COVID-19: Sinovac Biotech Applies For Phase 3 Vaccine Trials In Bangladesh
Iran, EU Reject U.S. Plan To Trigger 'Snapback' Of Sanctions

By RFE/RL August 17, 2020

Iran and the European Union have rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to trigger a "snapback" of sanctions on Iran at the United Nations under a provision of the Iran nuclear deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, noting that the United States withdrew from the agreement, was quoted by state media on August 16 as saying that the Americans "know very well that the implementation of the snapback is something illegal and therefore absolutely unacceptable."

A spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, also speaking on August 16, said that since Washington withdrew from the agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), it could not be considered a part of it.

"Given that the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and has not participated in any JCPOA structures or activities subsequently, the U.S. cannot be considered as a JCPOA participant," Borrell said.

"We therefore consider that the U.S. is not in a position to resort to mechanisms reserved for JCPOA participants (such as the so-called snapback)."

The United States claims it remains a "participant" in the nuclear accord because it was listed as such in a 2015 UN Security Council resolution that enshrined the deal and can therefore bring back sanctions. It also has noted that since the United States exited the deal Iran breached some of its nuclear commitments.

The UN Security Council on August 14 rejected a U.S. resolution to extend an international arms embargo on Iran, which is set to be progressively eased beginning on October 18 under the nuclear deal.

The United States now wants to force the reinstatement of all international sanctions on Iran using the snapback mechanism.

"We'll be doing a snapback," Trump told reporters on August 15. "You'll be watching it next week."

Diplomats and analysts say a U.S. snapback of all sanction on Iran would lead to a messy diplomatic battle that could undermine the UN Security Council and potentially lead to the complete collapse of the nuclear deal.

The chief of staff for the Iranian presidential office, Mahmoud Vaezi, predicted the U.S. effort would fail.

"The United States continues to make mistakes. They will fail again with the same process as the recent resolution, but with strong political and legal reasoning," Vaezi said on August 16 on Twitter.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by telephone on August 16 to discuss a proposal put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin of an online summit among the leaders of the countries that signed the nuclear deal.

But the Russian ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, tweeted on August 17 that the United States did not agree with the idea.

"The U.S. rejected President Putin's proposal to hold on-line summit to ease tension in P.Gulf. So, there are 2 competing approaches to problems of the region. The Russian one aimed at dialogue and collective security and US approach based on maximum pressure and one-sided policy," Ulyanov tweeted.

Trump had already said he probably would not join such a summit.

With reporting by dpa, Reuters, and Interfax

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-eu-snapback-sanctions -nuclear-russia/30787434.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday (August 17, 2020) apprehended an accused in connection with Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) case.

The 28-year old Abdur Rahman was arrested from Bengaluru and is working as an Ophthalmologist at MS Ramaiah Medical College in the same city.

This case was initially registered by Delhi Police Special Cell in March 2020, after the arrest of a Kashmiri couple namely Jahanzaib Sami Wani and his wife Hina Bashir Beigh from Okhla Vihar, Jamia Nagar in Delhi.

The couple was found to be having affiliations with ISKP, which is a banned terrorist organisation and is a part of ISIS and were found to be involved in subversive and anti-national activities. They were also found to be in touch with Abdullah Basith, who was already lodged in Tihar jail in another NIA case (ISIS Abu Dabhi Module).

During further investigation, NIA arrested two more accused - Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri, both residents of Pune, for being part of the conspiracy to further the activities of ISIS/ISKP in India and to carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.

During interrogation, arrested accused Abdur Rahman confessed that he was conspiring with accused Jahanzaib Sami and other Syria-based ISIS operatives on secure messaging platforms to further ISIS activities.

Subsequently, he was in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured ISIS cadres in the conflict-zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of ISIS fighters.

He had also visited an ISIS medical camp in Syria in early 2014 for treatment of ISIS terrorists and stayed with Islamic State operatives for 10 days and returned to India.

After his arrest, NIA carried out searches at three premises belonging to him in Bengaluru with the assistance of Karnataka Police and seized digital devices, mobile phone, and a laptop containing incriminating material.

Abdur will be produced before the NIA Special Court at New Delhi and NIA remand will be sought for his custodial interrogation.

Further investigation in the case is continued.
Updated 17:20

Controversy over "outrageous behaviour" at a Dublin bar at the weekend is a distraction from how the country is handling the Covid-19 situation, according to a medical expert.

It comes as clips from a brunch event at Berlin D2 went viral, showing people flouting social distancing, passing shots around and a barman pouring drinks into people's mouths.

Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity College Tomas Ryan says the outrage over the event is just a distraction: What happened in Berlin bar and what is happening in social gatherings around the country, obviously its worrying but I think its very much a distraction.

Its a distraction from the major issues of how were handling the country. Youre always going to get people who are misbehaving, but the situation we should be implementing needs to be robust to that, and currently its not.

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Its a distraction from the major issues of how were handling the country. Youre always going to get people who are misbehaving, but the situation we should be implementing needs to be robust to that, and currently its not.

His comments come as former TD Noel Rock retweeted a video from the "Baked Brunch" event at Berlin D2 and called for the bar to be shut down after the display of "outrageous behaviour".

The former Fine Gael TD said the behaviour needs to be punished: "I think they have to be closed. I am not sure for what duration but I think a serious punishment has to be put against them.

"Otherwise you know what will happen, other bars will start bending the rules here, will start adding a half and hour to their closing time."

Mr Rock said the risk of not punishing the bar was the potential for others to start playing copycat.

Owner 'appalled'

Restaurateur Jay Bourke said he was appalled, very unhappy and embarrassed at the video footage which emerged online over the weekend which showed serious breaches in social distancing guidelines at his premises.

Mr Bourke said he had been in West Cork when the incident happened on Saturday at the Berlin Bar, in Dublins Dame Lane.

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He had returned to spend Sunday meeting with the gardai and his staff at the venue, watching CCTV footage and discussing the event with his security staff.

Speaking on RTE radios Morning Ireland he said that having viewed hours of footage, the 20 second clip on social media did not give the complete picture.

It had been unfortunate that the bar man had jumped on the bar, but otherwise the event was pretty well controlled.

This is supposed to be a bar in Dublin 2 tonight. If accurate, its an absolute disgrace and an insult to the efforts and sacrifices of many - pic.twitter.com/11qPECMMA9  Noel Rock (@NoelRock) August 15, 2020

Mr Bourke said he was not excusing what had happened, it was just a mad moment. He was now trying to pick up the pieces.

When asked about the images of people dancing, he said that the guidelines do not mention dancing or jumping around from table to table.

'Naughty' barman

The bar man should not have done what he did, he said. He was not doing what he should. He was naughty. Hes young and he got excited. It was a moment of exuberance.

This was an aberration rather than a normal occurrence. Young people need to have fun, our job is to provide it.

Mr Bourke said he regretted putting on the brunch event as he was now caught up in a maelstrom and his staff was receiving death threats. It had been a very professionally run event.

The restaurateur said that he did not think sector representatives should decree the fate of his business on the basis of a 20 second clip and he was a bit annoyed by their response. I understand Covid, Ive had it, its not fun, I wouldnt want anyone to get it.

Im extremely unhappy about this, that Ive been hung out to dry.

Social media was not judge and jury, he said. Mr Bourke said he was not worried about his licence as he did not think he had broken the law.

The Licenced Vintners Association has called for a thorough investigation into the incident, while acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has criticised people for socialising recklessly".
Lake Area United Way will support families in local programs put on by organizations like Crossroads YMCA, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana and the Adventure Club, some of which have committed to expanding services to meet community need during the pandemic.

The organization is also offering, in partnership with several local child care centers, a Family Child Care Grant that supports health care workers, first responders and low-income families enrolled in school, training or certification programs through the United Way's "Level Up" program. More information is available at lauw.org/ccapp.

The YMCA is looking forward to another partnership with Lake Area United Way, Crossroads YMCA CEO Jay Buckmaster said in the news release. We joined together to provide emergency child care at the beginning of the pandemic, and now were working to provide safe and affordable options for families through the YMCAs Out of School Learning programs. We are proud to have a partner to make these options possible during challenging times.

Crossroads YMCA's Out of School Learning program
Amid the coronavirus pandemic that has pushed many K-12 classes online, parental backing for having their children take some high school classes virtually has hit 73 percent in an annual education surveys latest poll results17 percentage points higher than it was just over a decade ago.

In addition, the poll by the policy journal Education Next released Tuesday indicates that overall support for the nations schools has grown significantly in the last half-dozen years, even as those the survey called political populists are much more skeptical of them. In the 2020 survey, 30 percent of respondents gave the nations public schools a grade of A or B, up from 19 percent in 2014. Thats the highest approval level EdNext has ever recorded and a six-point jump from last year, although most of the general public still gives the nations public schools a grade of C, D, or F.

And it remains to be seen how public perceptions change as schools reopen amid the unprecedented challenges created by the pandemic.

EdNexts survey, which was conducted in May, also found that when it comes to choice, neither private school tuition vouchers nor tax-credit scholarships polarizes public opinion as much as charter schools do.

Pay Increases and Virtual Courses

The annual EdNext survey also focused on public perceptions of things like teacher pay and school spending. Both issues have become more partisan recently, according to the results. Compared to last year , for example, support for teacher pay increases has risen slightly among Democrats, from 64 percent to 66 percent, but declined among Republicans, from 43 percent to 40 percent.

Its worth noting that EdNext has found steadily growing support for online courses for high schoolers since 2013, and this years results were essentially in line with that growth trend. And despite the growing support for online classes overall since 2009, when 56 percent of parents voiced support for children taking some high school coursework virtually, that doesnt mean they or others want them to take all those courses online.

On average, EdNext reported that the general public and parents specifically support high school students taking 11 courses online to graduate, out of 24 total courses that high schoolers typically take in order to graduate. In 2017, on average the support for both groups was for nine such courses.



EdNext surveyed 4,291 adults, and over-sampled teachers as well as those identifying as Black or Hispanic.

However, in a piece accompanying the survey, which was conducted in May, the authors caution against using the poll results to draw broad conclusions about parents attitudes about what happened last spring, when the coronavirus caused the vast majority of school buildings to close.

Our data do not offer conclusive evidence that these experiences changed attitudes, but those parents who reported more-positive experiences during school closures are more likely to support online schooling, wrote Michael B. Henderson, David M. Houston, Paul E. Peterson, M. Danish Shakeel, and Martin R. West. (Among the general public, support for having students go online for some high school classes grew from 54 percent to 71 percent over the past decade.)

Other public opinion surveys have shown major concerns among low-income families about the impact of closed school buildings on their childrens academic progress.

And while a growing share of people might approve of some online courses, that doesnt mean everyone has . Research from before the pandemic indicated that a third of all U.S. studentsroughly 16 million childrencame from households that lacked access to the internet , an internet-connected device, or both. And children of color are especially hurt by this digital divide.

Among parents, 85 percent of those who said they were the most satisfied with remote learning during the pandemic also said they support their kids taking high school courses online, while 58 percent of those who were least satisfied said so.

The Trump Effect

The EdNext survey also looked at how respondents viewed certain policies when informed of President Donald Trumps position on them. (EdNext did similar examination of public perceptions regarding President Barack Obama time in office.) Perhaps not surprisingly, being informed of Trumps views of a specific topic tended to polarize responses to them. That was particularly true with respect to charter schools.

Among the general public, 44 percent said they supported charter schools. Yet when Democrats were told of Trumps position on them, support dropped from 37percent to 30 percent, while Republican support surged from 54 percent to 65 percent. That partisan gap is 14 percentage points higher than the one that emerged after similar questions about tax-credit scholarships:

While EdNext says that Trump supports charter schools, and the president has often spoken favorably of them, his most recent budget proposal would eliminate $440 million in dedicated charter school aid and combine it with several other big programs into a block grant.

Overall, support for charter schools declined slightly in the poll, from 47 percent to 44 percent, but opposition to them also dipped from 40 percent to 37 percent. Support for charter schools among Black respondents dipped from 55 percent last year to 48 percent this year, although it remains higher than support among respondents who were white (44 percent) or Hispanic(45 percent).

A split by race among Democrats when it comes to support for charters recently, with backing among whites dropping significantly; Democratic backers of charters have been keen to show that support remains relatively high among Blacks and Hispanics . Its not clear what the change in support EdNext found among Black respondents in particular, and Democrats as well, might indicate about future support for charters.

Perhaps the policy most affected by Trumps position in the poll was merit pay for teachers; 41 percent of Democrats said they supported it, but among Democrats who were told the president supports it, that plunged to 23 percent.

Populists and Others

The EdNext survey also touches on those who subscribe to political populism. The authors define populism as a belief that political leaders too often neglect the interests of the people. They note that the majority of Republicans (57 percent) scored above a median measure of populism, compared to 43 percent of Democrats.

Several responses from those who most closely identify with populist by the surveys definition also show some alignment with policies that Republican officials often favor.

At the most general level, only 23 percent of those who most strongly identify as populists gave the nations schools an A or B grade, and 31 percent gave them a D or F. But among the least-populist group of respondents, 35 percent gave the nations schools an A or B, and just 13 percent gave them D or F grades. Both groups viewed local public schools much more favorably, although there was a similar breakdown in opinions.

Heres more information on how different groups viewed their local public schools:

The people who were most strongly identified as populists were much more likely to support charter schools, universal vouchers, and home schooling than the least-populist group.

EdNext found that 49 percent of respondents overall supported allowing parents to home-school their children, compared to 45 percent in 2017, which the journal said was not a statistically significant change. As the pandemic disrupts the start of the 2020-21 school year, some families have turned to creating private academic pods to offset struggles with or concerns about remote learning provided by schools.

Supporters of those pods say that they represent an understandable shift among parents and deserve more direct funding so that more parents can access them. Yet their critics say they favor wealthy parents and exacerbate inequities.

Images via Education Next

Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa .
Scarred by narrow defeats at the ballot box in recent years, Democrats in Florida are planning a different approach this fall: Compete everywhere, no matter the odds.

With primaries being held Tuesday in the Sunshine State, Democrats are touting the fact they have a candidate on the ballot in 140 out of 141 state House and Senate races, a strategy activists there say will spur Democratic turnout this fall, boosting Joe Biden and helping the party chip away at its deficit in both chambers of the state Legislature.

The effort was conceived by Democratic activist Fergie Reid, Jr., who led a campaign in Virginia to register voters and recruit Democratic candidates, which culminated last year in the party's wresting control of the statehouse in Richmond.

The same, Reid believes, is possible in Florida.

"Florida is on the razor's edge," Reid said in an interview with ABC News. "It's not some inherent advantage that Republicans have. Democrats are just not playing hard enough."

PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden (R), and vice presidential running mate, US Senator Kamala Harris, hold a press conference after receiving a briefing on COVID-19 in Wilmington, Del., Aug. 13, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

In March, noticing that 33 state House and Senate races lacked Democratic candidates, Reid, who lives in California, enlisted activists on the ground to recruit Democrats to challenge for those seats. By the filing deadline in June, his team had filled each race. (One House candidate was disqualified from her race because of a technicality with her filing paperwork; she is challenging in court).

As of June 30, registered Democrats in Florida outnumbered registered Republicans by more than 250,000, according to the Florida Department of State's website.

The problem is, many rarely see enough Democrats on their ballots.

In 2016, 21 state House and Senate races went uncontested by Democrats, according to Florida Division of Elections archives. Donald Trump won Florida by only 113,000 votes, capturing 29 electoral votes in a key swing state that likely will prove critical again in 2020.

Democrats in Florida have suffered other losses by the thinnest of margins. In 2018, Republican Rick Scott edged incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson by about 10,000 votes, while Ron DeSantis beat out Democrat Andrew Gillum in the race for governor 49.6% to 49.2%.

Story continues

MORE: 'Invasive,' 'time consuming,' 'extensive': Inside the 3-month search for Biden's VP pick

Democratic activists have said flooding local races with candidates can erase those margins by producing a "reverse coattail" effect.

"The further down-ballot you have candidates, the more it helps up-ballot," Reid said. When Democrats don't have a Democrat to vote for, "They have to vote for the Republican, or just choose not to vote. And those people who choose not to vote, maybe they just don't go vote at all. And that causes depression at the top."

PHOTO: Former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden meets with supporters before speaking at the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, Aug. 9, 2019. (John Locher/AP, File)

Down-ballot candidates can engage voters in a way candidates running for statewide or national office typically don't, according to Janelle Christensen, president of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida, and a key player in the effort to recruit candidates to run for Florida's state legislature.

"When people have relationships with people locally who are running for office, they feel more engaged in the election process. They're more likely to vote, they're more likely to pay attention," Christensen explained.

MORE: Why the stock market is divorced from the pain of a pandemic economy

If any part of the state reveals that to be true this fall, it's the Panhandle, where Republicans have largely outperformed Democrats.

Escambia County sits on the western edge of the Panhandle, a narrow, vertical strip of land hugging Alabama from the Gulf of Mexico to Georgia. It is part of the State Senate's 1st District, in which Democrats have not run a candidate since 2008. In 2016, Doug Broxson, a Repubican, won 99.8% of the vote, running virtually unopposed.

This year, up for reelection, he has a Democratic challenger, Karen Butler, an Air Force veteran who was recruited by Reid and Christensen.

Butler, a real estate agent specializing in military relocation, believes her background will help her connect with voters in a district with several military bases.

PHOTO: A woman casts her vote during the Florida primary election at Doris & Phil Sanford Fire Rescue Station Coral Gables in Miami, on March 17, 2020. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/AFP via Getty Images)

She also thinks she can break Republicans' tight grip on the district.

"Because you haven't had a Democrat challenge it, you don't know how strong that hold is," she added.

Lilly Eubanks, chairwoman of the Escambia County Democratic Party, said there's a level of excitement among Democrats in her county not previously seen. While some of the enthusiasm comes from the national ticket -- Eubanks said she's been inundated with requests for Biden-Harris yard signs -- she attributes much of it to an increasing number of Democrats, like Butler, running in down-ballot races in the county.

"Democrats are coming out of the woodwork," she said.

MORE: Mail-in voting rules in 46 states may leave some ballots uncounted, USPS warns

Beyond boosting Biden, Reid and Christensen hope that running more candidates will produce gains in the state Legislature, where Republicans hold a six-seat advantage in the Senate and a 26-seat advantage in the House.

The strategy, they said, is simple: The more races you compete in, the better your odds of winning seats.

PHOTO: A worker delivers mail-in ballots for processing at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office in Orlando, Fla. for the Florida primary, on March 17, 2020. (Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)

They worry, however, that Democrats in the state have historically ignored races the party deemed unwinnable, focusing attention and funds on more competitive races in the state's urban centers, allowing Republican candidates to run up the score in rural counties.

"The argument I push back on the most is, 'That district is not winnable,'" Reid said. "That argument is asinine to me. How can you expect to win if you don't play?"

That argument, though, surfaced last month when State Sen. Gary Farmer, the incoming Democratic Leader in the chamber, published a Tweet that dismissed races like Butler's in District 1 as "long shots" and suggesting that the party should not fund them. "I'm guided by science and reality. Contesting every race is great if you have $ to do so. We simply don't & won't until we achieve majority," he wrote.

Farmer didn't respond to a request for comment from ABC News.

"I disagree with him," said Eubanks, of Escambia County. "Because if Democrats don't have anyone to vote for, when are we ever going to get more people who will run for office and be able to win seats?"

On Wednesday, with the primaries over, the Florida Democratic Party plans to introduce new investments as part of its "elections program," created in June to assist Democrats in down-ballot races statewide. Rosy Gonzalez Speers, the FDP's senior adviser for down-ballot elections, is optimistic that the party can flip some state legislative seats blue, while also boosting turnout for Biden.

"We're going to fight for every single seat that we can," she told ABC News. "It's going to be extremely challenging and very difficult to do. In an unprecedented year like this, we're going to have to wait and see, but we're going to fight to do the best that we can."

Democratic activists hope down-ballot blitz in Florida pays off up-ballot originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Another season of mass fish-kills looms across the Murray-Darling Basin with the threat coming from too little rain in the north and potentially too much in the south.

Water agencies including the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) are working on plans for a possible release of flows during the spring to help fish populations that were hit by large die-offs in 2019.

Graeme McCrabb, seen here steering his tinnie towards dead fish near Menindee in early 2019, fears more big fish-kills could happen in the region in coming months. Credit:Nick Moir

The risks in the northern basin include outbreaks of blue-green algae in the Darling River. Blooms are present in the river between Bourke and Louth, and near Menindee, although the algae is not considered to be a toxic variety, WaterNSW said.

The threat in that region comes in part from heavy rains and good flows earlier in the year pushing nutrients, including from farms, into the river.
A father-of-two tragically drowned after he went surfing alone at a popular Queensland beach.

Simon Wilson, 44, had gone surfing at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast on the morning of August 6.

He was pulled from the shallows by lifeguards and received CPR for 15 minutes but Mr Wilson was unable to be saved.

The devoted dad leaves behind his wife Lisa and children, Ava, eight, and Finn, four.

Simon Wilson (pictured with wife Lisa) drowned earlier this month while surfing at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast

A GoFundMe page has since garnered around $10,000 to help the family deal with the loss of 'their beautiful' dad and husband.

'Ava along with her younger brother Finn, are now left to grow up without their Dad tucking them in each night,' the GoFundMe page said.

'As our hearts break for these two beautiful children and Lisa who is now on her own to raise her babies without her soul mate, we ask you to please give a donation that can be used to help support Ava and Finn during these expensive years of education and after school activities.

Mr Wilson (pictured with daughter Ava, son Finn and wife Lisa) had gone surfing alone before he drowned at the popular beach in Queensland

'It will be a long road ahead for this family to re-build a new family dynamic and grow into a family of three.'

The fundraiser which was set up four days ago is hoping to raise $50,000 and is nearly at $11,000 already.

Stuart Cutajar from the Queensland Ambulance Service said everything had been done to revive the local surfer.

'It was a lengthy resuscitation, every effort and everything we could possibly do was tried for this male,' he told reporters.

It's believed Mr Wilson suffered a medical episode.
Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Devara Jeevanhalli (DJ Halli) violence on August 11 is likely to be handed over the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a man arrested in connection with the riots by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police on Monday may have links with members of Al-Hind, a suspected terror outfit.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Patil said the man, Samiuddin, has been detained by the CCB police and we will take his custody for further inquiry.

While the CCB on Monday invoked sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused in the August 11 riots, a reliable source privy to the investigation said, The case is likely to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) because of the invocation of UAPA sections. Samiuddin allegedly has links the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political offshoot  the Social Democratic Front of India (SDPI). Majority of the suspects arrested in the DJ Halli case are from these two organisations and some of them allegedly have links with the Al Hind.

Officials of the Anti-Terrorist Cell (ATC) at CCB are presently interrogating Samiuddin at an undisclosed location to ascertain his nexus with Al-Hind and what role he played in the outfit.

The Al Hind module was busted by the city and Tamil Nadu police last year and the case was later handed over to NIA, which had last month chargesheeted 17 accused, of whom 11 are from Karnataka.

The police also arrested K Wajid Pasha, president of Karnataka Tippu Tiger Welfare Trust, in connection with the riots. Pasha had sent messages to people to come to DJ Halli police station and allegedly instigated them, the police said.
New Delhi: Action-star Vidyut Jammwal's latest release 'Khuda Haafiz' released on Disney+ Hotstar VIP last week and has turned out to be actor's biggest opener so far. The First Day First Show or the opening night of the movie has emerged as the biggest Vidyut Jammwal movie ever.

On the success of his film, Vidyut Jammwal, said, I am eternally grateful to receive such an overwhelming response from my fans across the country - the Jammwal-lions and the critics. This success would not have been possible without their constant appreciation and support and I will be forever indebted. Playing the character of Sameer was intriguing and challenging for me at the same time and I had to do a lot of unlearning for it, but it gave me a perfect chance to hone my skills."

Debutant director-writer Faruk Kabir adds, "Khuda Haafiz is so personal in many ways and Im glad Vidyut, team and my efforts stand validated by the audience today".

'Khuda Haafiz' stars Vidyut Jammwal and Shivaleeka Oberoi in lead roles. It has been directed by debutant filmmaker Faruk Kabir. The action drama is produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak respectively.
On Friday, the Buffalo Teachers Federation called for a remote start because the district is simply not ready to open for in-person when school resumes, said Philip Rumore, BTF president.

There is no way I can see them starting any kind of hybrid, Rumore said Monday. Theres just so many unanswered questions.

The union has threatened legal action if teachers feel it's unsafe to return in person.

Heres a look at whats been happening around the state in the other Big Five City School Districts:

Rochester City School District: Rochester had planned to open with a hybrid model for students in pre-K through fourth grade and remotely for grades five through 12.

But the school district last week announced it will go fully remote for all students for at least the first 10 weeks. Thats what the Rochester Teachers Association called for last month.

Rochester Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small said starting remotely for all students was not an easy decision, but the district carefully considered the governors expectations around testing and contact tracing, as well as input from the community.
Classifying Marijuana Same as Tobacco: A Look at Colorado

WASHINGTONWith 42 states and the District of Columbia now having legalized marijuana in some form, federal lawmakers are pushing legislation to implement a national policy.

A raft of bills has been introduced in Congress to legalize marijuana federally, which would remove it from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act. Many of the proposals would retroactively expunge criminal records for marijuana possession and eliminate penalties for growing, selling, and possessing marijuana.

The most recent measure, introduced on July 30 by Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), charges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with regulating cannabis products in the same manner, and to the same extent, as tobacco, according to the text of the bill.

Smith, who is seeking reelection in November, said in an Aug. 3 statement that the federal prohibition on marijuana is a failed policy that contributes to mass incarceration and the racist overpolicing of communities of color.

In addition to addressing the harmful and racist legacy of the War on Drugs  we must address marijuana legalization in a manner that ensures that cannabis and cannabis products are safe, regulated, and well-researched, she wrote.

Similar legislation, introduced to the House in January 2019 by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), aims to regulate marijuana the same as alcohol.

Aside from alcohol, marijuana is the most commonly used recreational drug in the United States.

Federally, marijuana is illegal and listed as a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act, but since 1996, many states have approved its cultivation and use. Schedule 1 drugs are considered the most dangerous drugs, with a high potential for misuse, and include heroin, peyote, and ecstasy.

Recreational marijuana is different to medical marijuana in that its potency is higher and the users goal is divergent, according to Staci Gruber, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Recreational users typically seek products high in THC, given their goal to alter their current state of being or get high,' Gruber said. In contrast, medical marijuana patients are typically not interested in getting high, but instead seek symptom relief.

The main psychoactive ingredient in the cannabis plant, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has increased exponentially over the past couple of decades, while the methods of ingestion have diversified.

In 1995, the average potency (THC level) of marijuana was around 4 percent, according to U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams. By 2014, it was up to 12 percent, and Adams said some products in dispensaries are around 25 percent potency.

Now, there are concentrated forms of marijuana in waxes and resins that have up to 80 percent potency. These concentrates are often used in an e-cigarette or vaping device.

Thats like the difference between having a light beer in 1995 and drinking a pint of vodka today. It is literally that much of a difference in concentration, Adams said during a Senate hearing in October 2019.

Colorado on a High

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) splits marijuana markets into three distinct categories in the United States: illicit, state-approved medical use, and state-approved personal/recreational use.

Colorado has the most liberal regulations for marijuana, permitting plants to be grown in peoples homes, rather than outdoors only.

In July 2013, Colorado legalized recreational marijuana and allowed adults aged 21 years or older to grow up to six plants on their premises. From 2018, the number of plants was increased to 12.

In 2014, the state fully regulated and commercialized both recreational and medical marijuana, and the first retail stores opened on Jan. 1, 2014. Recreational marijuana cultivation, possession, sale, and use is now baked into the Colorado Constitution.

John Hickenlooper, who was governor at the time the state legalized marijuana, said in 2019 during a brief presidential run that he wouldnt federally legalize marijuana, but would leave it up to the states to decide.

Hickenlooper said he was initially against Colorado legalizing cannabis, but is now supportive.

I think its so much better than the old system when we sent millions of kids to prisonmost of them kids of colorand not only imprisoned them, but made them felons, made their already difficult lives much, much harder, he said at a July 2019 presidential town hall.

But legalization also produced results antithetical to some assumptions.

We thought that the black market would disappear, Hickenlooper told PBS Newshour in 2019. Evidently, it contracted, and then began to expand again. And thats counterintuitive, right? Its not what you would expect.

Some advocates still say the black market would disappear if marijuana was federally legalized.

Black market marijuana operations in Colorado have absolutely exploded, since legalization, according to Randy Ladd, spokesman at the DEAs Denver field division.

And allowing indoor growth has precipitated one of the biggest problems, he said.

Nobody sticks with the law. I dont think weve ever been in a house thats only had 12 plants, Ladd said. Its on average 300 plants per house. Some of them will have 1,000 plants.

He said Cuban and Chinese syndicates, in particular, buy up houses and bring in illegal aliens to cultivate crops for them. Often, the Cuban syndicates will bring in illegal aliens and tell them they owe five harvests, for example, as their payment for entry into the United States.

And so after harvest number three or four, once theyve gotten good at growing marijuanabecause its not an easy thingtheyll come in and theyll rob them, Ladd said. The Cuban bosses send in a crew to rob them so that they get their harvest and the illegal aliens cant count that harvest toward the five they owe.

He said that afterward, the houses are often ruined with mold created by the combination of high-intensity grow lights and water that the plants need.

And they drill into the foundations of the house so that they can steal electricity, Ladd said. One harvest can pay for the cost of the house and once they leave, they just patch over the mold for the unsuspecting buyer, he said.

In fiscal 2014, the Denver DEA office executed 14 warrants for illegal marijuana growing operations and seized about 5,100 plants and 35 pounds of marijuana. By fiscal 2019, the number of warrants had shot up to 175 and DEA Denver seized more than 70,000 plants and 8,200 pounds of marijuana. One house in Colorado Springs had more than 2,000 plants in it.

Ladd said these numbers account for only a fraction of black market marijuana operations in Colorado and dont include the many other cases conducted by other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Black market marijuana from Colorado is sent all over the United States, but much of it heads east.

Ladd said an out-of state buyer would pay $2,200 to $2,400 a pound for Colorado marijuana in 2014, but due to oversupply, its now down to $800 to $1,000 per pound.

Policy Faster Than Science

Adams said policy on marijuana is moving faster than the science, which has resulted in the perception that the drug is safe; at the same time, the potential harm has increased with much higher potency.

Smiths legislation charges the HHS secretary with developing a national strategy to prevent youth use and abuse of cannabis, with specific attention to youth vaping of cannabis products.

The current trend among young people nationally and in Colorado is an increase in use of high-potency marijuana.

One-third of young people who use marijuana vape it, Adams said. And because the marijuana is mixed with oils to increase potency, it causes lung tissue to be eaten away.

No amount of marijuana use during pregnancy, or during youth when the brain is under development, is known to be safe, he said.

Studies show that higher doses of THC are more likely to produce anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and psychosis. And frequent marijuana use during adolescence is associated with structural and functional changes in areas of the brain involved in attention, memory, decision-making, and motivation.

Its not harmless at all, said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

Various cannabis paraphernalia are seen during the Denver 420 Rally in Denver, on May 21, 2016. (Jason Connolly/AFP via Getty Images)

Marijuana was reported as the primary drug of abuse by 71.8 percent of youth under the age of 18 who were admitted for treatment in 2017. Marijuana use in young Colorado adults aged 18 to 25 years has increased from 21 percent in 2005 to 32 percent in 2015, according to a Colorado Department of Public Safety 2018 report.

Volkow said the effects of regular marijuana use on memory and learning can eventually lead to higher truancy and dropout rates from school. Regular marijuana in adolescence is also linked to increased rates of suicide attempts.

Studies also show that marijuana use is associated with other substance use. Teens aged 12 to 17 who reported frequent use of marijuana showed a 130 percent greater likelihood of misusing opioids in a 2017 study. And adolescents using concentrates show higher rates of other substance use, according to the Department of Public Safety report.

The ER department in one of the main hospitals in San Diego [has had] an eight-fold increase in emergency admissions from cannabis over a period of eight yearsits gigantic, Volkow said.

Ladd said emergency room doctors in Colorado have told him that not a shift goes by where someone doesnt come in with a marijuana overdoseeither in a state of catatonia, psychosis, or scromitingwhere a person who has overdosed on marijuana is screaming and vomiting at the same time.

A 2018 Colorado Department of Public Safety report notes that in 2000, hospitalizations with possible marijuana indications was 575 per 100,000 patients. By September 2015, the rate was up to 2,696 hospitalizations per 100,000.

Smiths legislation also charges the secretary of transportation with identifying reliable methods for detecting cannabis-impaired driving.

Since recreational marijuana was legalized, traffic deaths in which drivers tested positive for marijuana increased 109 percent, while all Colorado traffic deaths increased 31 percent, according to a Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area report from September 2019. Traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana more than doubled from 55 people killed in 2013 to 115 in 2018.
Yonhap



The defense ministry said Monday it is banning all service personnel from leaving their bases for vacation and other purposes as part of efforts to stem the spread of the new coronavirus into the barracks, officials said Tuesday.



Starting Wednesday, all enlisted soldiers and ranking officers will be banned from vacationing and traveling outside their bases until the end of this month, and they will be ordered to cancel all of their official and private gatherings, according to the officials.



The decision was made as South Korea has reported a drastic surge in new COVID-19 infections since late last week. On Tuesday, the country reported 246 additional cases, which is a five-month high. Nearly 1,000 people tested positive over the past five days.



The military also reported two more patients on the day -- an Army soldier stationed in Gapyeong, south of Seoul, and a civilian worker for a military intelligence unit, according to the ministry. The total caseload among the military population now stands at 88.



"In line with the stricter social distancing scheme nationwide, we also decided to toughen our quarantine and other virus prevention measures," a ministry official said. "Off-installation travel will only be authorized for necessary duties upon supervisors' review."



In mid-February, the ministry banned service personnel from off-installation trips, after the Navy reported the first COVID-19 infection among military members.













The restrictions were then lifted in May, as the virus situation became relatively stable, though the ban on meeting with outside visitors has been in place.



The ministry also said it will review whether to adjust the schedule for the upcoming regular training sessions for reserve forces.



This year's regular training for the country's 2.75 million-strong forces is supposed to kick off in September across the country in a scaled-back manner after monthslong delay due to the coronavirus.



"As of now, no changes are planned regarding the reserve forces training. But we are closely monitoring the virus situation and will make an appropriate decision, if necessary," the official added. (Yonhap)
The government agency responsible for Bay Area transportation is planning on dramatically expanding tolling on freeways in the region, as revealed in an interagency letter seen by SFGATE.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission stated in the correspondence, sent to to the directors of the Bay Areas county transportation agencies (CTAs) earlier this month, that they envision an "eventual transition to congestion pricing on all freeway lanes in corridors with robust transit options."

The letter also outlines a plan to lower the speed limit to 55 mph on freeways to improve safety.

According to the letter, the agency wants to eventually implement congestion pricing on all lanes of many, if not most, Bay Area freeways.

Express lanes  which require tolls for those not in a carpool or on public transportation  are currently being added to Highway 101 in San Mateo County. The MTC's letter states that express lanes can be a stepping stone to more extensive congestion pricing strategies.

The blueprint is part of Plan Bay Area 2050, a long-term roadmap charting the course for the future of the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

"The purpose of the email is to solicit the CTA's support for the Plan Bay Area 2050 Blueprint strategies as a package." MTC Assistant Director of Communications John Goodwin told SFGATE, "This package is likely to include all-lane tolling in select freeway corridors strictly as a planning assumption in order to help the final Plan Bay Area 2050 meet the 19 percent reduction in per-capita greenhouse gas emissions mandated by state law."

While the target date for the implementation of the expanded tolling is not until 2035, the all-lane tolling study may begin as soon as 2022.

"Because this theoretical start date is 15 years in the future ... this same email also asks the CTAs in the near term to collaborate with MTC on a study of all-lane tolling," Goodwin said.

The San Mateo Daily Journal reports that at an Express Lanes Joint Powers Authority meeting last week elected officials agreed to study, but not yet endorse the policy proposals. We support studying it, but we have reservations about many of these policies and were not committing to them until the studies are complete, said Burlingame mayor Emily Beach.

More information on Plan Bay Area 2050 can be found here.

Andrew Chamings is an editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings
(Image: Reuters)

At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, former US First Lady Michelle Obama told party members that "when they go low, we go high."

After four years of President Donald Trump, she came back to give it to them straight.

"If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me they can; and they will, if we don't make a change in this election," Obama told her party in a blunt and emotional appeal that capped the first night of the Democrats' convention.

The former first lady outlined dire stakes for the election ahead, declaring President Donald Trump in over his head" and the "wrong president for our country." Warning of possible voter suppression, she told Americans they must vote for Joe Biden in numbers that cannot be ignored" if they want to preserve the "most basic requirements for a functioning society.

The scathing assessment was delivered in the last and longest speech in Democrats' experiment with a virtual convention in the coronavirus era, a spot Obama earned through her overwhelming popularity in her party.

She delivered her remarks in a casual setting  a living room, with a Biden campaign sign on the mantle  and identified as much with the beleaguered voters of America as the lineup of politicians that preceded her in the program.

You know I hate politics, she said, before diving into a speech that appealed to both her longtime fans in the Democratic coalition and a broad audience she's drawn since leaving the White House and becoming a bestselling author.

The president "has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head, she said. "He cannot meet this moment."

"It is what it is," Obama said  echoing a remark Trump made recently about the US death toll from the coronavirus.

Citing the pandemic, the flagging economy, the political unrest that's broken out nationwide over systemic racism and what she described as America's lack of leadership on the world stage, Obama said the nation is underperforming not simply on matters of policy, but on matters of character.

In contrast, Obama said, Biden is a profoundly decent man who "knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country." She recounted how Biden has prevailed through the personal tragedy of losing his first wife, baby daughter and adult son and said Biden will "channel that same grit and passion to help us heal and guide us forward."

Republican Donald Trump succeeded President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in 2017 and has tried to undo many of Obama's achievements on health care, the environment and foreign policy, among others.

On Monday, before the event, Trump took a dig at the former first lady's coming speech, noting that her remarks were prerecorded and that his own speech at the Republican National Convention next week will be live.

Who wants to listen to Michelle Obama do a taped speech? he said at a rally in Wisconsin.

Obama, who leads an effort to help register people to vote, spoke about the importance of voting in the Nov. 3 election, which will take place amid a pandemic that has killed more than 170,000 Americans and infected more than 5 million in the US.

Wearing a necklace that spelled out the word Vote, she noted Trump lost the popular vote but still won the White House, and weve all been suffering the consequences.

Her remarks came as debate rages in Washington about US.Postal Service changes that are delaying mail deliveries around the country, and amid legal battles in several states over access to mail-in ballots. Obama issued a call to action to those who sat out the last election: Now is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games, she said.

We have got to grab our comfortable shoes, put on our masks, pack a brown bag dinner and maybe breakfast too, because weve got to be willing to stand in line all night if we have to," she said.

In keeping with the virtual nature of the convention, Obama's remarks were recorded before Biden's announcement last Tuesday that he had chosen California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Obama remains hugely broadly with the Democratic base, and among Black women in particular, as well as with some of those outside the party.

Her speech was the fourth Democratic convention address by Michelle Obama, who first introduced herself to the nation during her husband's groundbreaking campaign in 2008. She spoke again in 2012 to urge voters to give him a second term.

Michelle Obama returned to the convention stage in 2016, backing former first lady Hillary Clinton over Trump, who had spent years pushing the lie that Barack Obama was not born in the US and was ineligible for the presidency.

She spoke of the code her family lives by: Our motto is, when they go low, we go high."

This time Obama put an asterisk on that 2016 rallying cry.

"Lets be clear: going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty," she said. Going high means taking the harder path.
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Older adults who took a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement with zinc and high amounts of vitamin C in a 12-week study experienced sickness for shorter periods and with less severe symptoms than counterparts in a control group receiving a placebo.

The findings by Oregon State University researchers were published in the journal Nutrients.

The research by scientists at OSU's Linus Pauling Institute involved 42 healthy people ages 55 to 75 and was designed to measure the supplement's effects on certain immune system indicators. It also looked at bloodstream levels of zinc and vitamins C and D while taking the supplement, as these micronutrients are important for proper immune function.

The immune indicators, including white blood cells' ability to kill incoming pathogens, were unaltered in the group receiving the supplement.

The multivitamin group showedimproved vitamin C and zinc status in the blood. Most intriguingly, illness symptoms reported by this group were less severe and went away faster than those experienced by the placebo group.

The same percentage of participants in each group reported symptoms, but days of sickness in the supplement group averaged fewer than three compared to more than six for the placebo group.

"The observed illness differences were striking," said corresponding author Adrian Gombart, professor of biochemistry and biophysics in the OSU College of Science and a principal investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute. "While the study was limited to self-reported illness data and we did not design the study to answer this question, the observed differences suggest that additional larger studies designed for these outcomes are warranted - and, frankly, overdue."

As people get older, the risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies that contribute to age-related immune system deficiencies rises. Across the United States, Canada and Europe, research suggests more than one-third of older adults are deficient in at least one micronutrient, often more than one.

"That likely contributes to a decline in the immune system, most often characterized by increased levels of inflammation, reduced innate immune function and reduced T-cell function," Gombart said. "Since multiple nutrients support immune function, older adults often benefit from multivitamin and mineral supplements. These are readily available, inexpensive and generally regarded as safe."

The multivitamin supplement used in the study focused on vitamins and minerals typically thought to help immunity. It contained 700 micrograms of vitamin A; 400 international units of vitamin D; 45 milligrams of vitamin E; 6.6 milligrams of vitamin B6; 400 micrograms of folate; 9.6 micrograms of vitamin B12; 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C; 5 milligrams of iron; 0.9 milligrams of copper; 10 milligrams of zinc; and 110 micrograms of selenium.

"Supplementation was associated with significantly increased circulating levels of zinc and vitamin C, and with illness symptoms that were less severe and shorter lasting," Gombart said. "This supports findings that stretch back decades, even to the days of Linus Pauling's work with vitamin C. Our results suggest more and better designed research studies are needed to explore the positive role multivitamin and mineral supplementation might play in bolstering the immune system of older adults."

###

Bayer Consumer Care funded the study through an Institution Initiated Research grant and also provided the supplements (Redoxon VI) and placebos. Bayer had no role in the study's design, the data's collection, analyses or interpretation, the writing of the research manuscript or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Collaborating with Gombart were Linus Pauling Institute colleagues Mary Fantacone, Malcolm Lowry, Sandra Uesugi, Alexander Michels, Jaewoo Choi, Scott Leonard, Sean Gombart, Jeffrey Gombart and Gerd Bobe.
Aamir Khan has been on the receiving end of public backlash after courting controversy over his meeting with Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan.

Aamir, who is currently in the country to shoot the final leg of his upcoming release Laal Singh Chaddha, drew a lot of flak back home for socialising with the house of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and what he stands for - specifically his anti-India stance over the Kashmir issue.

People didnt leave any opportunity to let the Thugs of Hindostan actor know that they dont appreciate his apparent betrayal of the larger Indian sentiment and what not. However, this wasnt the first time a Bollywood actor met a foreign head of state or political leader.

There have been multiple instances in the past when Bollywood actors met political leaders and here are 6 such memorable meet-ups featuring leading Indian actors.

1. Kamal Hasaan

In 2017, actor Kamal Hasaan attended the reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace where he met the Queen, for the second time in his life.

Turns out, during the Queens visit to India in 1997, she had visited Hasaans film sets for the movie Marudhanayagam.

. @ikamalhaasan with The Queen. 1997 (Marudhanayagam launch) and 2017 (UK-India year of culture reception) pic.twitter.com/GtL0XTN994  Rajasekar (@sekartweets) March 1, 2017

2. Aamir Khan

Back In 2017, Aamir had met Turkish President Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.

This picture is yet again going viral now, with claims that the said picture is from a recent meeting, but its actually an old photo.

President Erdogan Receives Actor @aamir_khan at the Presidential Complex. pic.twitter.com/0u3DGkY5rW  Turkish Presidency (@trpresidency) October 6, 2017

3. Shatrughan Sinha

In February, earlier this year, veteran actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Singh met Pakistan President Arif Ali in Lahore.

Reportedly, they discussed peace initiatives between the two countries, wherein it was claimed that Sinha agreed with President Alvis concern over the situation in J&K. This visit caused quite a stir in India.

Indian politician Shatrughan Sinha met President Dr. Arif Alvi in Lahore today. They discussed the importance of building peace bridges across the border. Mr. @ShatruganSinha endorsed concern of the President about the lockdown of occupied Kashmir for more than 200 days. pic.twitter.com/3eiYsqRu4m  The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) February 22, 2020

4. Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif

In December last year, Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif met the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina at the inauguration of Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL).

Reportedly, the duo had been invited to perform at the inauguration event in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

5. Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Back in 2016, Priyanka Chopra had met Barack and Michelle Obama at the White House Correspondents Dinner. The trio had happily posed for pictures during the event.

Sharing the picture, Priyanka had said, Lovely to meet the very funny and charming @barackobama and the beautiful @michelleobama. Thank you for a lovely evening. Cannot wait to start working on your girls education program.

6. Kareena & Karishma Kapoor

In 2018, the Kapoor sisters met Hillary Clinton, former US secretary of state and 2016 Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States, at the India Today Conclave.

The trio happily posed for pictures and chatted at the event, pictures and videos of which were widely shared on social media as well.

These are just a few names, although many other Indian actors and celebrities have met with foreign leaders on multiple occasions. But can you think of any other publicised meetings we may have missed? Let us know.
The family of George Floyd has led a powerful tribute and a moment of silence on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention.

George was selfless. He always made sacrifices for his family, friends, and even complete strangers. George had a giving spirit. A spirit that has shown up on streets around our nation, and around the world  people of all races, all ages, all genders, all backgrounds  peacefully protesting in the name of love and unity, said Mr Floyds brother, Philonise, sitting with another of the slain mans brothers, Rodney.

George should be alive today. Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Eric Garner should be alive today. Stephon Clark, they should all be alive today. Its up to us to carry on the fight for justice. Our actions will be their legacies.

It has been three months since the 46-year-old from Texas died after being arrested by police in Minneapolis, on suspicion of using a fake $20 bill.

Video footage taken at the scene showed one white officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on the unarmed mans neck for more than eight minutes as Mr Floyd told the police officer he could not breathe. He died later that day, his death sparking protests that swept across America, and rippled around the world. Mr Chauvin has been charged with murder.

George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Show all 30 1 /30 George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Police spray mace at protestors to break up a gathering near the Minneapolis Police third precinct after a white police officer was caught on a bystander's video pressing his knee into the neck of African-American man George Floyd, who later died at a hospital, in Minneapolis Reuters George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A protester holds a sign with an image of George Floyd AP George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A protester throws a piece of wood on a fire in the street just north of the 3rd Police Precinct Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets People in other US cities also protested the murder, like Los Angeles AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AP George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Reuters George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A police officer lobs a canister to break up crowds Reuters George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A protester is treated after inhaling tear gas Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Two police officers stand on the roof of the Third Police Precinct during a face off with a group of protesters Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters outside a Minneapolis police precinct two days after George Floyd died EPA George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters run from tear gas Reuters George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets AP George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Demonstrators gather to protest in Los Angeles AP George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Police remove barricades set by protesters AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A fire burns inside of an Auto Zone store near the Third Police Precinct Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Flowers, signs and balloons are left near a makeshift memorial to George Floyd near the spot where he died AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A policeman faces a protester holding a placard in downtown Los Angeles AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A couple poses with a sign in Los Angeles AFP via Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 27: A man is tended to after sustaining an injury from a projectile shot by police outside the 3rd Police Precinct building on May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Four Minneapolis police officers have been fired after a video taken by a bystander was posted on social media showing Floyd's neck being pinned to the ground by an officer as he repeatedly said, "I cant breathe". Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) Stephen Maturen Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets A protester reacts after inhaling tear gas Getty George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Getty Images George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters use shopping carts as a barricade Getty Images George Floyd death: Minneapolis protests erupt in the streets Protesters clash with the police as they demonstrate against the death of George Floyd AFP via Getty Images

Polls showed that Donald Trumps response to the death of Mr Floyd, and the demand for wholesale reform of the USs police and criminal justice justice, was out of touch with a majority of Americans.

 Body cam footage of George Floyd's arrest show officers dragging him by foot

Joe Biden and the Democrats have sought to be on the right side of the issue, and after he announced in March that he would select a woman as his running mate if he became the partys candidate, it became widely anticipated he would select a woman of colour.

Last week, Mr Biden said that person was Kamala Harris, a black senator from California, whose pick was widely praised by commentators.

Please join me in a moment of silence to honour George, and the many other souls we lost to hate and injustice, said Mr Floyd, concluding his brief remarks. And when this moment ends, lets make sure we never stop saying their names.
Prominent Nigerians have continued to pay tribute to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the News Agency of Nigeria, Wada Maida, who died on Monday.

Mr Maida, 70, was buried according to Islamic rites at Gudu Cemetery in Apo District of Abuja on Tuesday.

The funeral prayer was led by Imam Rabiu Suleiman amidst tears by his family members, friends, associates and Muslim Ummah.

In attendance were the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Presidential Media Aide, Garba Shehu, Acting Managing Director of NAN, Dele Ojo, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Yayale Ahmed.

Others are the senator representing representing Katsina Central, Kabir Barkiya, former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu and Abba Musa Rimi, former FCT Minister, Aliyu Modibbo, former Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Kabir Mashi.

Mr Maida was the Chief Press Secretary to President Muhammadu Buhari when he emerged as a military Head of State in December 1983.

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State described the death of Mr Maida as a personal loss to him and the great people of Katsina State.

Mr Masari stated this shortly after attending the funeral prayer of the deceased held at the Shagari Jummaat Mosque in Area I Garki on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the deceased was a patriotic citizen of the country who dedicated the whole of his life in the service of the country.

Whenever we lose somebody in Islam, we say to Allah we all come from and to Him we shall return.

Apart from being a personal friend, late Wada was a patriotic citizen of the country.

He spent his life in the service to humanity. He was my age mate. We had so many associations together and we normally give assistance to the needy.

Recently, we gave a donation together with him to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Katsina.

So for me, it is a personal loss and to Katsina State, it is a big one based on his services to the nation, he really represented Katsina well, Masari said.

On his part, a former senator, Ibrahim Ida, who represented Katsina Emirate Council at the burial, described the death of Maida as a colossal loss to the country.

Mr Ida added that the deceased would be remembered for his uprightness, honesty and integrity.

Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said the deceased would be remembered by his friends because he was a great and true friend to many people.

Mr Adamu said Mr Maida would be remembered for his accomplishments in the journalism profession and the media house that he established.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State said the demise of the media guru had created a vacuum in the media sector of the country which will be hard to fill.

Mr Mohammed, who had a stint as a reporter with NAN in the early 1980s, spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Muktar Gidado, describing the death of Mr Maida as a great loss to the people of Katsina state and the country at large.

The governor said Mr Maida was a great and patriotic journalist who had made a lot of sacrifice for the upliftment of the profession.

He therefore commiserated with the family of the deceased, professional colleagues and entire Nigerians, praying God for the repose of the soul of the late former Managing Director.

On his part, the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, said the death of Mr Maida has created a vacuum in the journalism profession.

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In a statement issued in Yola through his Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, the governor stated that Mr Maidas death was a great loss to the profession.

Late Wada Maida was a man who, during his lifetime, gave direction to the journalism profession in Nigeria, and northern Nigeria in particular.

He stood as a pillar in protecting the rights of every Nigerian journalist and the media across the country.

For us, his death is a great loss. He died at a time Nigeria needed his service and experience, as well as his dedication to nation building, the governor said.

The governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, described Mr Maidas death as devastating and a huge loss to his immediate family, NAN family and journalism in Nigeria.

Mr Oyetola, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan and made available to NAN in Osogbo on Tuesday, said Nigeria had lost one of its finest, credible and veteran journalists.

The governor said the late Mr Maida contributed immensely to the growth of journalism in the country.

Mr Oyetola added that his demise was a collective loss to the media industry and Nigeria at large, saying that he would be remembered for his humility, dedication to work and passionate service to the nation.

The governor commiserated with the family of the deceased, his friends and associates, management and staff of NAN, the media industry in Nigeria and the government and people of Katsina State.

Mr Oyetola prayed Almighty Allah to forgive the misdeeds of Mr Maida and grant him a place in Aljanah Firdaus while also paying Allah to comfort his family at this trying moment.

The Commissioner for Information in Anambra State, C-Don Adinuba said Wada and I have known each other for decades; we even did business together.

When I was in broadcasting as the head of foreign news desk, I filed his reports when he was in London as a correspondent.

So, when he became President Buharis Chief Press Secretary, we became closer in Lagos and he was a decent and good Nigerian.

The commissioner, who described the former NAN MD as a progressive, forward looking and team player, said the late media icon was the kind of Nigerian that the Anambra government would associate with.

He was eager to learn. He believed in continuous learning which is what Nigerian journalists can learn from his life.

We must not be parochial, but have a universal vision of reality to succeed in todays world and as well develop liberal consciousness, which was what Wada Maida believed in, he added.

A former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bayo Onanuga, said that the news of Wada Maidas death came as a shattering piece of news to him.

His death came to me as a shattering piece of news on Monday night. I will miss him. NAN will miss him sorely. He is another great loss to our profession, Mr Onanuga said in a tribute.

He said that Mr Maida was a quintessential gentleman, who was never ruffled by anything.

He was a man of few words who was always calm and would always charm you with his smiles.

I first met him in 1986, in Lagos, when I brought a message for him from Uganda.

We met again in Malta in 1994, at a Commonwealth event, where we disagreed about the situation of things in Nigeria under Gen Abacha (former military head of state), but we continued to maintain some professional contact thereafter.

He was one of the people who brought me to NAN. As Board Chairman, he was very cooperative to our management and ever ready to offer suggestions.

I saw him as one of the people who built NAN to the level it is today, having been a pioneer staff and a leader for much longer than everyone else.

Mr Onanuga prayed to God to forgive Mr Maidas sins as a mortal, and accept his soul into Paradise.

Another former Managing Director of NAN, Akin Osuntokun, described Mr Maida as a leading light of journalism in the country.

He said Mr Osuntokun said Nigeria and indeed Africa had lost a major contributor to the media industry and nation building.

He said the renowned media manager and Publisher of Peoples Daily, displayed uncommon commitment to journalistic excellence and human capital development by providing jobs for young professionals in the media outfits he helped to establish.

He said Mr Maida was a thoroughbred professional who, through good character, hard work and sound morals, built a global reputation for himself as well as set a high standard in developmental journalism.

He said his records as former Chief Press Secretary to General Muhammadu Buhari and as Managing Director of NAN between 1994-2003, remained points of reference till date.

The appointments, he said, must have been responsible for his last appointment as Chairman of the Board of Directors of NAN.

Mr Osuntokun said his uncommon project of mentoring a younger crop of journalists and his positive attitude to developmental journalism could not be easily forgotten, especially by those who benefitted from his spirit of benevolence.

While urging others to emulate the deceased, the former presidential aide said Maida had over the years deployed journalism as a tool for development and constructive criticism.

The late Maida, according to his records, was a stickler for business ethics and due process.

He lived up to expectations as MD of NAN during his time and left good legacies for others to follow. He also demonstrated an uncanny insight into Nigerias media environment

While we mourn this man of honour, the challenge before those he left behind now is to keep his spirit of selflessness alive.

I share this moment of grief with his family, NAN management and his other well-wishers across the globe and pray that his kind soul finds solace with the Creator, Mr Osuntokun said.

(NAN)
ALBANY, N.Y., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The orthopedic implants market gathers a new momentum due to rising application of 3D printing technologies, since this leads to creation of personalized implants at a faster rate. Advances in joint replacement implant products will gain attention among product innovators.

Analysts at TMR projects the orthopedic implants market to rise at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2018 to 2026.

Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Orthopedic Implants Market  https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/covid19.php

Key Findings of Orthopedic Implants Market Report

Among the various products, joint reconstruction accounted for the leading share in 2017

Opportunities in spinal implants segment are expected to rise at remarkable pace during 2018  2026

Geographically, North America was the leading market in 2017

was the leading market in 2017 Revenues in Europe and Asia Pacific are expected to rise at promising pace during the assessment period

Explore 218 pages of top-notch research, incisive insights, and detailed country-level projections on Orthopedic Implants Market (Product - Joint Reconstruction (Hip replacement, Knee replacement, Shoulder Replacement), Spinal Implants (Spinal Fusion Devices, Spinal Non-fusion Devices), Trauma Implants (Metal Plates and Screws, Pins/Wires, Nails and Rods) Orthobiologics, Dental Implants; End user - Hospitals, Orthopedic Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2018 - 2026 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/26009

Orthopedic Implants Market: Key Driving Factors and Promising Avenues

Rising demand for smart implants in orthopedic surgeries is a key trend that has broadly driven the evolution of the orthopedic implants market. Joint replacement products are attracting the attention of researchers.

Minimally invasive joint replacement surgeries have gained momentum over the past few years on the back of favorable government initiatives and clinical advances in developing world.

The market has been driven substantially by huge numbers of hip and knee replacement procedures in recent years.

Incidence of spinal fractures has stimulated the pace of product innovation in the orthopedic implants market. In this regard, some markets have seen a shift from hospitals to orthopedic clinics as preferred option for orthopedic implants.

Rising incidence of osteoarthritis has boosted the market. The condition affects 3.3% to 3.6% of the global population.

In recent years, the horizon has been broadened by the advent of 3D manufacturing of these implants. The additive manufacturing technology has enabled manufacturers and surgeons to meet the need for personalized healthcare. Less turnaround times are a big advantage.

Request Brochure of Orthopedic Implants Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/brochure.php

Orthopedic Implants Market: Regional Landscape

Rise in hip replacement procedures has spurred the prospects in the North America orthopedic implants market. Prevalence of osteoarthritis is a common form of doctor-diagnoses arthritis, according to the CDC. The condition has been a substantial health burden. This has spurred demand for orthopedic implants, especially in the U.S.

On the other hand, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific are expected to be next hotbed of opportunities for players in the orthopedic implants market.

Purchase the Orthopedic Implants Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php

Key Impediments to Orthopedic Implants Market

The high cost of hospitalization, along with the high cost of orthopedic implants, still concerns numerous countries where people have to make out-of-pocket spending for such surgeries. The factor has constrained opportunity generation in the orthopedic implants market. Also, some markets have seen several product recalls, making a dent in the revenue potential in the market.

Nevertheless, the regulators are pushing for innovations, which has spurred the manufacturing of reliable and high-performing products.

Browse More Press Release - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/press-releases.htm

The global orthopedic implants market has been segmented as follows:

Product

Joint Reconstruction

Hip Replacement



Knee Replacement



Shoulder Replacement



Others

Spinal Implants

Spinal Fusion Devices



Spinal Non-fusion Devices

Trauma Implants

Metal Plates & Screws



Pins/Wires



Nails and Rods



Others

Orthobiologics

Dental Implants

Others

End-user

Hospitals

Orthopedic Clinics

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Others

Region

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



U.K.



France



Italy



Spain



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

Japan



China



India



Australia & New Zealand

&

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

& GCC Countries



South Africa



Israel



Rest of Middle East & Africa

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Healthcare Industry:

Joint Replacement Devices Market: According to the report, the global joint replacement devices market was valued at US$ 18,518.2 Mn in 2017 and is anticipated expand at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2018 to 2026. High prevalence of osteoarthritis, growth in the medical devices industry in emerging economies in regions such as Asia Pacific, and launch of technological advanced products such as customized knee implants are projected to augment the global market between 2018 and 2026.

Dental Implants Market: According to the report, the global dental implants market was valued at US$ 4.08 Bn in 2018 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2019 to 2027, increasing incidence of dental caries, and rowing preference for dental implants over dental procedures are projected to drive the global market during the forecast period.

Osteoarthritis Drugs Market: The global osteoarthritis drugs market is expected to reach a market value of about US$ 11,226.1 Mn by the end of 2026, expanding at a high single digit CAGR during the forecast period. Rise in R&D expenditure, increased prevalence of osteoarthritis across the globe, increased geriatric population, rise in awareness regarding degenerative bone diseases in developing countries, and rich pipeline of innovative treatment options are some factors that are expected to boost the global osteoarthritis drugs market during the forecast period.

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Our reports are single-point solutions for businesses to grow, evolve, and mature. Our real-time data collection methods along with ability to track more than one million high growth niche products are aligned with your aims. The detailed and proprietary statistical models used by our analysts offer insights for making right decision in the shortest span of time. For organizations that require specific but comprehensive information we offer customized solutions through adhoc reports. These requests are delivered with the perfect combination of right sense of fact-oriented problem solving methodologies and leveraging existing data repositories.

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CNBC's Jim Cramer said Tuesday that Walmart is a "remarkable juggernaut" but it won't be able to keep up the blistering growth that it saw in the second quarter without more help from D.C. lawmakers.

"I think the company needs to be a little cautious because unless there's another deal from Washington they won't be able to maintain that pace," Cramer said on "Squawk Box."

Addressing the reversal of Walmart's initial 6% pop in the premarket following its blockbuster earnings report, Cramer said investors should not be discouraged. "That doesn't mean that it's not a buy. But it does mean that they are staying, 'Whoa, this isn't going to keep happening,"

"We've seen this many times," the "Mad Money" host added. "These companies come in too hot. They say good things but they also say, 'Listen, we don't know if we can possibly continue it.' People take the latter. And then, two days later they forget the negative and they start buying it again."

Shares of Walmart, which hit all-time highs Monday, were slightly higher shortly after the open but then turned lower.

Earlier Tuesday, Walmart blew away expectations with adjusted per-share earnings of $1.56 on total revenue of $137.74 billion as shoppers rushed in to spend their government pandemic stimulus checks. Online sales during the pandemic nearly doubled as customers got packages shipped their homes and used curbside pickup at physical stores.

Walmart Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs told CNBC the retailer could get another bounce if Capitol Hill and the White House can agree on further coronavirus aid. "Stimulus was definitely impactful to the consumer in the second quarter, and we're watching what's going on in Washington."

Capitol Hill and the White House are trying to break their logjam on a new stimulus package.

Cramer, who is also a small business restaurant co-owner, said later on "Squawk on the Street" that Walmart is a "great American company," but the government can't ignore the struggle of smaller firms in the U.S., which can't afford to compete the big companies and can't afford to implement the coronavirus mitigation measures that make people feel safe.
Platinum Command met Informally to Monitor Pandemic

The Chief Minister chaired a virtual meeting on Monday morning of the group of attendees that made Platinum Command during the initial COVID-19 emergency earlier this year.

Platinum stands at the top of the command structure whenever a Major Incident has been declared - it met on a daily basis over the past few months during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting included HE the Governor, the Deputy Chief Minister, the Minister for Civil Contingencies, the Minister for Public Health, the Deputy Governor, the Commander British Forces and the Civil Contingencies Coordinator.

The purpose of the meeting was to review the current position in Gibraltar in the light of the increased number of active cases and the policies and procedures in place, should it become necessary to declare another Major Incident earlier than anticipated by the Chief Minister in the last formal press conference. At that time Mr Picardo had said it was likely such an eventuality might be required in the autumn.

Monday's meeting of those who will make up any renewed Platinum Command followed a meeting yesterday, Sunday, of the Civil Contingencies COVID Coordinating group chaired by the Minister for Civil Contingencies Samantha Sacramento. This committee reported to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, who decided to convene the informal meeting of the group of attendees that will make up Platinum Command.

At the end of the meeting, the Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP, said: "In the current climate, it is more important than ever to follow public health advice. This includes regular hand- washing, maintaining a social distance of 2m, wearing a mask indoors where social distancing is not possible and sticking to a social bubble in gatherings of 20 persons or less. Public Health advice continues to be that those who are vulnerable and the elderly need to be extra careful when interacting with other people. I strongly urge people to follow this advice whilst they continue to enjoy summer breaks whilst ensuring that they prudently observe social distancing and hygiene rules. In light of the increased numbers of positive cases, we may also need to issue additional guidance in coming days.

"Given the continued rise in numbers of cases of COVID-19 we are seeing, those of us who will make up Platinum Command will continue to meet on a regular basis in order to maintain an oversight over the evolution of the pandemic in Gibraltar should it be necessary to once again declare a Major Incident. In this way we will ensure that we are once again ready in the event that difficult decisions need to be taken going forward."
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 17, 2020) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) ("Southern Silver" or the "Company") reports that, in conjunction with the previously announced Transaction (as defined below) to acquire an additional 60% indirect working interest (for a 100% indirect ownership interest) in the Company's flagship Cerro Las Minitas project, it has closed the C$10 Million brokered offering of subscription receipts (the "Brokered Subscription Receipts") and has issued a total of 50,000,000 Brokered Subscription Receipts at a price of C$0.20 per Brokered Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of C$10,000,000 (the "Brokered Offering") and has closed the non-brokered C$4 Million private placement of subscription receipts (the "Non-Brokered Subscription Receipts") and has issued a total of 19,047,620 Non-Brokered Subscription Receipts at a price of C$0.21 per Non-Brokered Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of C$4,000,000 (the "Non-Brokered Offering", and together with the Brokered Offering, the "Offerings"). The Brokered Offering was led by Red Cloud Securities Inc. ("Red Cloud") on behalf of a syndicate of agents (together with Red Cloud, the "Agents"). The Offerings included a lead order from Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. for $1.0 million.

Each Subscription Receipt for the Offerings is exchangeable, for no additional consideration, into one unit of the Company (each, a "Unit") upon satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions (the "Escrow Release Conditions"). Each Unit of the C$10 million Brokered Offering will consist of one common share and one-half of one share purchase warrant, with each full warrant exercisable to purchase one additional common share at a price of C$0.25 during the first year, increasing to C$0.30 in year two and to C$0.35 in year three following the closing date of the Brokered Offering. Each Unit of the C$4 million Non-Brokered Offering will consist of one common share and one-half of one share purchase warrant, with each full warrant exercisable to purchase one additional common share at a price of C$0.28 during the first year, increasing to C$0.33 in year two and to C$0.38 in year three following the closing date of the Non-Brokered Offering.

Story continues

The net proceeds raised under the Offerings will be used to fund the cash payment for the Transaction and for general working capital purposes inclusive of funding costs associated with the continued exploration and development of the Cerro Las Minitas polymetallic mineral property in Durango, Mexico. Up to 10,000 metres of new drilling is planned on the property, commencing in mid-September.

The Subscription Receipts, and the common shares and warrants issuable upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, carry a legend restricting trading of the securities until December 15, 2020. The Subscription Receipts, the common shares and warrants issuable upon satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, and the common shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws. Accordingly, such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Southern Silver in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Purchasers are advised to consult their own legal advisors in this regard.

In connection with the closing of the Brokered Offering, the Company paid fees to the Agents consisting of (i) an aggregate of $312,080 in cash and (ii) an aggregate of 1,560,400 non-transferable compensation options ("Compensation Options"). The Company also paid the Agents a corporate finance fee consisting of (i) a cash payment of $237,920 including applicable taxes and (ii) an aggregate of 1,189,600 corporate finance options (the "Corporate Finance Options"). Each Compensation Option and Corporate Finance Option entitles the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.20 for a period of three years from the closing date of the Offerings.

The Company has also agreed to pay finder's fees consisting of 7% finder's units and 7% non-transferable finder's warrants (upon the same terms as the Units and underlying warrants contained in the Offerings) on a portion of the Offerings.

The Offerings are subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Transaction

The Company has entered into a definitive agreement with Electrum Global Holdings L.P. ("Electrum") to acquire Electrum's 60% ownership interest in Southern Silver Holdings Limited ("SSHL") for current and future cash and share payments totaling US$15.0 million (the "Transaction"). SSHL is a holding company that wholly owns Minera Plata del Sur S.A. de C.V. ("MPS"). MPS holds title to the Cerro Las Minitas property in Durango State, Mexico. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Transaction. The conditions of the closing of the Transaction are as follows:

on the closing date of the Transaction, the payment by the Company to Electrum of US$5,000,000 in cash and the issue and delivery of US$2,000,000 (adjusted by a credit of C$1,350,000 paid on execution of the definitive agreement), in common shares of the Company; receipt of the approval of the Company's shareholders at a meeting convened for September 4, 2020; and receipt of all required approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange as well as all other relevant regulatory bodies with closing scheduled on or about September 9, 2020.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities.

Cerro Las Minitas Project

The Cerro Las Minitas project is an advanced exploration stage polymetallic Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu Skarn/CRD project located in southern Durango, Mexico.

The Cerro Las Minitas project as of May 9th, 2019 contains a Mineral Resource Estimate, at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, of(1)

Indicated - 134Moz AgEq: 37.5Moz Ag, 40Mlb Cu, 303Mlb Pb and 897Mlb Zn

Inferred - 138Moz AgEq: 45.7Moz Ag, 76Mlb Cu, 253Mlb Pb and 796Mlb Zn

A total of 133 drill holes for 59,000 metres have now been completed on the CLM Project with exploration expenditures of approximately US$18.5 million equating to exploration discovery costs of approximately C$0.07 per AgEq ounce to the end of 2019.

Southern Silver has identified a further 10,000 metres in exploration drilling for 2020, targeting specific step-outs from strongly silver-enriched mineral intercepts in the Las Victorias, South Skarn and the Mina La Bocona targets. The targeting is designed to increase the current mineral resource estimate by approximately 30%. The CLM Project remains one of the larger undeveloped silver-lead-zinc projects in the world. It is fully permitted to continue exploration on the property, with a strong potential resource growth profile.

Drilling is scheduled to start in mid-September.

About Palisades Goldcorp Ltd.

Palisades Goldcorp is Canada's new resource focused merchant bank with a management team having a demonstrated track record backed by many of the industry's most notable financiers and with significant stakes in undervalued companies and assets with the goal of generating significant returns.

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is a precious metal exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits in north-central Mexico and the southern USA. Our specific emphasis is the Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, San Martin and Los Gatos. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts with the objective of developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, silver-lead-zinc mine.

The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA. The Oro property consists of patented land, State leases and BLM located mineral claims which cover a highly prospective quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration zone, interpreted to overlie an unexposed porphyry centre and distal sediment-hosted, oxide-gold target.

The 2019 Cerro Las Minitas Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources. Resources are constrained using mainly geological constraints and approximate 10g/t AgEq grade shells. The block models are comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 2m x 10m, with grades for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn values interpolated using ID3 weighting. Silver and zinc equivalent values were subsequently calculated from the interpolated block grades. The model is identified at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, with an indicated resource of 11,102,000 tonnes averaging 105g/t Ag, 0.10g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn and 0.16% Cu and an inferred resource of 12,844,000 tonnes averaging 111g/t Ag, 0.07g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.8% Zn and 0.27% Cu. AgEq cut-off values were calculated using average long-term prices of $16.6/oz. silver, $1,275/oz. gold, $2.75/lb. copper, $1.0/lb. lead and $1.25/lb. zinc. Metal recoveries for the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits of 91% silver, 25% gold, 92% lead, 82% zinc and 80% copper and for the Skarn Front deposit of 85% silver, 18% gold, 89% lead, 92% zinc and 84% copper were used to define the cut-off grades. Base case cut-off grade assumed $75/tonne operating, smelting and sustaining costs. All prices are stated in $USD. Silver Equivalents were calculated from the interpolated block values using relative recoveries and prices between the component metals and silver to determine a final AgEq value. The same methodology was used to calculate the ZnEq value. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves until they have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for a resource's mineability, selectivity, mining loss, or dilution. The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. of Kirkham Geosciences Ltd. who is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for presentation and review of the Mineral Resource Estimate. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and therefore numbers may not appear to add precisely.

Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and supervised directly the collection of the data from the CLM Project that is reported in this disclosure and is responsible for the presentation of the technical information in this disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, Q.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the closing of the Offerings and the Transaction. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/61897
MECOSTA COUNTY  Throughout the remainder of August and the Labor Day holiday weekend, police departments, sheriffs offices, and the Michigan State Police are encouraging motorists to celebrate safely and make smart driving decisions.

During a three-week period, through Sept. 7, there will be increased enforcement and additional messaging about the dangers of driving impaired.

Michael Prince, Michigan Office of Highway Safety planning director said The aim is to drastically reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired driving."

This should be a time for friends and family to enjoy the final days of summer. Impaired driving puts everyone at risk and is always unacceptable," Prince said.

Officers will be on the lookout for motorists under the influence of drugs and alcohol throughout the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period.

In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, although motorists can be arrested at any blood alcohol level if an officer believes they are impaired. Michigan has what is commonly referred to as a zero-tolerance drugged driving law.

During last years Labor Day holiday, there were 10 fatalities, with three fatalities involving alcohol in the state.

On average, a driving under the influence charge can result in $10,000 in attorney fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and repairs.

To increase awareness and encourage safe and sober driving there will be a paid media campaign, including a video titled Toe Tags that focuses on the results of drugged driving. The video can be found at youtube.com/ohsp.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is supported with federal traffic safety funds provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and coordinated by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety.
<! Fani-Kayode and IBB >

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

One would have thought that former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and former Military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB, will be sworn enemies because of the latters misrule of the nation.

But the 79th birthday celebration of IBB on Monday reveals that there is no love lost between the duo, as Fani-Kayode pens down golden tribute for IBB.

Fani-Kayode described IBB as compassionate, humane and a kind-hearted leader and president that Nigeria has ever had.

Happy birthday to Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the great IBB! May the Lord guide you and be with you sir and may He grant you many more years.

You remain an institution in our politics and history and you are one of the most compassionate, humane and kind-hearted leaders and Presidents that Nigeria has ever had.

You are loved by many all over the country and your great and noble legacy shall endure from generation to generation. Have a great day sir, he eulogised.

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Iranian pastor, wife lose appeal of prison sentences for house church participation

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The parents of an Iranian Christian who met with President Donald Trump last year in the Oval Office have lost their appeals of years-long prison sentences for operating and participating in house church meetings.

The human rights watchdog Article 18 reports that Assyrian-Iranians Pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz and his wife, Shamiram Isavi, were informed that they have lost their appeals and have been summoned to begin their sentences as both were out on bail.

In 2017, Tamraz, the pastor of a Pentecostal congregation in Tehran, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was arrested during a Christmas celebration in 2014 and spent 65 days in solitary confinement. He was accused of acting against national security by conducting house church meetings and evangelizing.

Meanwhile, Isavi was sentenced to five years in prison in 2018 on charges of membership of a group with the purpose of disrupting national security and gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security.

Pastor Bet-Tamraz and Shamiram Isavi are innocent of the charges brought against them, but like other Christians in their position, they have been convicted for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief, Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of the London-based humanitarian nonprofit Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said in a statement.

CSW urges the Iranian authorities to end the effective criminalization of Christian practices, to dismiss these charges and to release all who are detained on account of their religion or beliefs.

Article 18, a London-based nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of religious freedom issues in Iran, reports that Isavi was informed on Aug. 11 that she is to report to Tehrans notorious Evin Prison to begin her sentence.

The watchdog added that Tamrazs lawyer called on July 19 to inform him that not only was the appeal rejected but also that he can no longer appeal the sentence. It's unclear whether Isavi will be able to appeal further, and fears are that she, too, will have no more appeal options since their cases were merged last year by a new judge.

Since being sentenced, the couple has had multiple appeal hearings postponed for different reasons. The couple was supposed to have a hearing on June 1, but that was canceled as well without their lawyers being allowed in the room where the decision to cancel had been made, according to Article 18.

Tamraz was sentenced along with two other Christian converts but it's unclear whether those converts will also be ordered to prison.

In February, the couples son, Ramiel Bet Tamraz, was released from prison three months early after he was jailed for spreading Christian propaganda.

The couples daughter, Dabrina Bet-Tamraz, was among a group of participants in the July 2019 U.S. State Department Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom who met with Trump in the Oval Office. She asked Trump to advocate for her family members the next time he negotiates with the Iranian leadership.

Iran ranks as the ninth-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List.

During Open Doors 2020 reporting period  Nov. 1, 2018, to Oct. 31, 2019  at least 169 Christians were arrested. In Iran, it's illegal to share the Christian faith in public or produce Christian literature. Also, it's illegal to hold church services in Farsi, the most common language in Iran.

According to Open Doors, several house churches were raided in the 2020 reporting period.

While speaking at a Family Research Council event in Washington, D.C., earlier this year, Dabrina Bet Tamraz told the audience about how Iranian authorities shut down her parents church in 2009 because her father refused demands to only allow Assyrian-speaking people to be members of the church.

Today, there is not a free church. There is no free evangelical church, nor free Pentecostal, she said.

The only churches that are allowed to function are Orthodox or Catholic churches with restrictions. They are not allowed to have books in Farsi. They are not even allowed to, nowadays, print books in our own language. Any Christian literature or Bible even in our own language is not permitted. They are not even allowed to speak to a Farsi person near the church.

She told The Christian Post at the time that Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have asked for her parents release in written and verbal statements.
Google has asked the FCC for permission to conduct secret wireless broad tests using the 6GHz spectrum in multiple cities across the US, according to a document spotted by Business Insider. It wants to run experimental propagation testing in the 6GHz band to see if the frequencies can provide reliable broadband connections, the redacted application states. That could point to future internet services using the spectrum, possibly under its new Fiber WebPass banner.

Google wanted information in the public document redacted, saying that if subject to public disclosure, would cause significant commercial, economic, and competitive harm. It made the application for multiple cities in 17 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. In California, it plans to test in seven cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The FCC recently unlocked a swath of unlicensed 6GHz spectrum that could be used for 5G, WiFi vehicle-to-vehicle connections, IoT and more. The frequency allows for potentially faster wireless connections than 5GHz used for WiFi, but will be limited to even shorter distances. The company said that it will conduct its tests over 24 months without harmful interference to other authorized users.

Google could be running the tests for other services, but wireless internet seems the most likely given the broadband mention. On top of that, it has been looking to tap unused bandwidth since 2014 for last mile connections and has already launched WebPass wireless in a number of cities.
Herd immunity against Covid-19 could be closer than scientists first thought and as little as 10 per cent of people may need to be infected for the virus to fizzle out, experts say.

It means pockets of London and New York and countries like India may already be immune to the life-threatening disease, should a second wave hit.

Cases may not rise so drastically as they did during the first peak of the pandemic earlier this year because the disease has run out of room to spread, or the disease may be less severe if immunity is short-lived, scientists believe.

Previously it's been speculated 60 to 70 per cent of the population would need to suffer Covid-19 or be vaccinated to gain 'herd immunity' status. But that would be devastating and cause millions of deaths, which is why Britain quickly dropped the controversial strategy in March.

And scientists still do not have any firm proof as to how long immunity actually lasts once a person has fought off Covid-19, mainly because it is still shrouded in secrecy and has only been known to exist since the start of the year.

Modelling studies have started to suggest that a far lower threshold is needed to achieve herd immunity  with researchers believing it could be between 10 and 43 per cent.

The calculations account for swathes of people who are less likely to get infected. Immunity among the most socially active people could protect those who come into contact with fewer people, scientists say.

The true size of the pandemic is a mystery because millions of infected people were not tested during the height of the crisis, either because of a lack of Covid-19 swabs or because they never had any of the tell-tale symptoms.

Counting how many people who have coronavirus antibodies through blood tests is, therefore, considered the most accurate way of calculating how much of the population has already been infected.

But antibody testing suggests just 5.7 per cent of England had antibodies at the start of August, but the figure was as high as 8 per cent in London. Other estimates have been slightly higher, saying around a fifth of people living in the capital have been infected  similar to levels in New York City.

But research has suggested that antibodies decline three months after infection  meaning only a fraction of true cases during the peak of the crisis may have been spotted and exactly how much immunity the world has developed is unknown.

And scientists say immunity in the UK is likely to be far higher than what Government antibody testing shows because it doesn't account for T-cells. Top immunologists have said the infection-fighting cells are typically more durable and long lasting than antibodies.

Herd immunity could be closer than scientists first thought and as little as 10 per cent may need to be infected for the virus to fizzle out. Pictured are estimates given by different teams, and how many antibodies the UK population is thought to have now

There is no indication that any country in the world has developed herd immunity yet, based on antibody studies.

But in places severely battered by the disease, infectious disease specialists have speculated that there is some level of protection.

NEW MUTATION OF THE CORONAVIRUS 'MAY BE A GOOD THING' A strain of the coronavirus thriving in Europe, the US and parts of Asia has a specific mutation which makes the virus more infectious but less deadly, an expert believes. The variation in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the agent which causes Covid-19, is called D614G. Paul Tambyah, senior consultant at the National University of Singapore and president-elect of the International Society of Infectious Diseases, said evidence suggests the proliferation of the D614G mutation in some parts of the world has coincided with a drop in death rates, suggesting it is less lethal. 'Maybe that's a good thing to have a virus that is more infectious but less deadly,' Dr Tambyah told Reuters. Tambyah said most viruses tend to become less virulent as they mutate. 'It is in the virus' interest to infect more people but not to kill them because a virus depends on the host for food and for shelter,' he said. Scientists discovered the mutation as early as February and it has circulated in Europe and the Americas, the World Health Organization said. The WHO has also said there is no evidence the mutation has led to more severe disease. Advertisement

Professor Paul Hunter, at the University of East Anglia, said India - with the third most infections globally - didn't look far off herd immunity.

Studies have shown up to a quarter of people living in Delhi, which is home to almost 19million people, have antibodies.

He told MailOnline: 'They do look like they are running up until the point they are achieving herd immunity.

'Given they are running somewhere in the order of two and five times the incidence in the UK, it means we are way behind that [in terms of herd immunity].'

Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told the New York Times: 'I'm quite prepared to believe that there are pockets in New York City and London which have substantial immunity.

'The reason people think it might be lower is that it's not the case that everyone is equally likely to be infected by a transmissible disease,' he told DailyMail.com.

'If you go through the naturally infectious process, you are going to generate immunity in the people most likely to be exposed, by definition.'

In other words, groups like essential workers and people living in multi-generational homes are most likely to have been outside of their homes early in the pandemic, making them most likely to have already been infected and to have developed immunity.

What remains to be seen is how much those groups - which represent a larger proportion of metropolitan areas - will provide a shield for their larger communities.

Dr Hanage said: 'What happens this winter will reflect that. The question of what it means for the population as a whole, however, is much more fraught.'

His comments follow the research of Professor Sunetra Gupta, a theoretical epidemiologist at Oxford University, who also believes London and New York may already have reached herd immunity.

A controversial study at Oxford University led by Professor Gupta claimed that up to half of the UK population may already have had Covid-19, and therefore herd immunity.

Modelling by the group indicated that Covid-19 reached the UK by mid-January - weeks before the first case was diagnosed.

Pictured, a graph showing the recent number of cases and deaths of COVID-19 in the United States. It shows that the number of deaths is on a downward trend recently from a spike in late April but cases spiked much later, in mid-late July. It is unknown if this is due to the new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus but it is possible, according to Dr Paul Tambyah

Cases in the UK have been slowly rising since a trough in early July (pictured). Dr Tambyah suggests the D614G strain of coronavirus is more infectious, but less deadly

Professor Gupta said in an interview with Reaction: 'I think very few people would agree that exposure rates in London are less than 20 per cent.'

She believes herd immunity may have been reached partially because previous infection with other human coronaviruses, such as the common cold, may offer protection against the new one - SARS-CoV-2.

WHAT IS HERD IMMUNITY AND WHICH COUNTRIES ARE PURSUING IT? Herd immunity is a situation in which a population of people is protected from a disease because so many of them are unaffected by it - because they've already had it or have been vaccinated - that it cannot spread. To cause an outbreak a disease-causing bacteria or virus must have a continuous supply of potential victims who are not immune to it. Immunity is when your body knows exactly how to fight off a certain type of infection because it has encountered it before, either by having the illness in the past or through a vaccine. When a virus or bacteria enters the body the immune system creates substances called antibodies, which are designed to destroy one specific type of bug. When these have been created once, some of them remain in the body and the body also remembers how to make them again. Antibodies - alongside T cells - provide long-term protection, or immunity, against an illness. If nobody is immune to an illness  as was the case at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak  it can spread like wildfire. However, if, for example, half of people have developed immunity  from a past infection or a vaccine  there are only half as many people the illness can spread to. As more and more people become immune the bug finds it harder and harder to spread until its pool of victims becomes so small it can no longer spread at all. The threshold for herd immunity is different for various illnesses, depending on how contagious they are  for measles, around 95 per cent of people must be vaccinated to it spreading. For polio, which is less contagious, the threshold is about 80-85 per cent, according to the Oxford Vaccine Group. WHICH COUNTRIES ARE PURSUING HERD IMMUNITY? Herd immunity is considered a controversial route for getting out of the pandemic because it gives a message of encouraging the spread of the virus, rather than containing it. When UK Government scientists discussed it in the early days of the pandemic, it was met with criticism and therein swept under the carpet. The Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said at a press conference on March 12, designed to inform the public on the impending Covid-19 crisis: 'Our aim is not to stop everyone getting it, you can't do that. And it's not desirable, because you want to get some immunity in the population. We need to have immunity to protect ourselves from this in the future.' Sir Patrick has since apologised for the comments and said he didn't mean that was the government's plan. In a Channel 4 documentary aired in June, Italy's deputy health minister claimed Boris Johnson had told Italy that he wanted to pursue it. The Cabinet Office denied the claims made in the documentary and said: 'The Government has been very clear that herd immunity has never been our policy or goal.' Meanwhile, unlike most European nations, Sweden never imposed a lockdown and kept schools for under-16s, cafes, bars, restaurants and most businesses open. Masks have been recommended only for healthcare personnel. Sweden only introduced a handful of restrictions, including banning mass gatherings and encouraging people to work and study from home. Dr Anders Tegnell, who has guided the nation through the pandemic without calling for a lockdown, claimed on July 21 that Sweden's strategy for slowing the epidemic, which has been widely questioned abroad, was working. Dr Tegnell, who previously said the 'world went mad' with coronavirus lockdowns, said a rapid slowdown in the spread of the virus indicated very strongly that Sweden had reached relatively widespread immunity. 'The epidemic is now being slowed down, in a way that I think few of us would have believed a week or so ago,' he said. 'It really is yet another sign that the Swedish strategy is working.' At the time Sweden's death toll was 5,646 which has now reached 5,787. But when compared relative to population size, it has far outstripped those of its Nordic neighbours. Advertisement

'That could be the explanation for why you don't see a resurgence in places like New York,' she said.

But the theory of cross-protection has only been explored by a few studies and are unable to give conclusive answers.

Other scientists say immunity levels may be far higher than estimated because antibodies aren't the only type of immunity against Covid-19.

T cells are also play an important role, but currently cannot be measured in surveillance programmes.

It's hoped T cells, which target and destroy cells already infected, would offer long-term protection  possibly up to many years later.

The Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, in Sweden, believe if there was a rapid commercial test to spot T cells circulating in the body, it may reveal that far more people have some form of immunity against the disease than antibody testing suggests  possibly double.

Professor Hunter noted 'a big caveat' with herd immunity - no one knows how long immunity to the coronavirus lasts.

He said: 'If you look at other human coronaviruses, they can infect people in subsequent years, so probably Covid-19 immunity doesn't last even year.

'And so they will achieve some degree of herd immunity but it won't last.

'It's quite plausible that most of those antibodies will fade in the Indian population but hopefully T cell immunity will be present.

'They are closer to having some sort of herd immunity that would lessen further waves. They aren't likely to be as bad as the first because the immune system of people who have had it will kick in a bit quicker.'

Previous estimates have suggested around two thirds (60 per cent) of a population would have to catch Covid-19 for herd immunity to develop.

Under this rule, it could have seen 40million people in Britain infected and hundreds of thousands more deaths than there already are.

However, research since has suggested lower variations for herd immunity thresholds which offer promise.

Just 43 per cent need to be exposed to the virus, according to scientists from Nottingham and Stockholm, or 24million people in Britain.

Professor Frank Ball, Professor Tom Britton and Professor Pieter Trapman  three authors of the new study  said herd immunity from the disease spreading could be 'substantially lower' than it would be from a vaccine.

They wrote in the journal Science: 'Our application to Covid-19 indicates a reduction of herd immunity from 60 per cent... immunization down to 43 per cent in a structured population, but this should be interpreted as an illustration, rather than an exact value or even a best estimate.'

Antibody testing in New York City suggest that as many as one in five (or about 20 per cent) of people there have some level of immunity to coronavirus.

And the new mathematical modeling study from the University of Sussex suggests that as much as 40 per cent of the state has immunity.

But Dr Hanage cautions that the virus may be spreading much more slowly in New York, and especially in New York City, but it is still spreading.

He also says that the resulting herd immunity would not be enough to prevent the deaths of large swathes of the population there.

'It's quite sobering if you imagine that what had actually happened in New York City was not the result of social distancing, but the natural epidemic curve,' he said.

'That came at the cost of nearly 300 deaths per 100,000 in the population.

'Imagine that per capita mortality rate over the entirety of the US getting [around] 900,000 deaths.'

But he added: 'The more immunity there is in the population, the more benefit you're going to get from non-pharmacological interventions (like social distancing) - it's better bang for your buck.'

Other researchers say just 10 per cent of the population need to catch the disease to gain herd immunity.

The study by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Strathclyd, found that Belgium, England, Portugal and Spain have herd immunity thresholds in the range of 10 to 20 per cent.

The study lead Dr Gabriela Gomes told the New York Times: 'At least in countries we applied it to, we could never get any signal that herd immunity thresholds are higher.

'I think it's good to have this horizon that it may be just a few more months of pandemic.'

Carl Bergstrom, an infectious disease expert at the University of Washington in Seattle, said: 'Mathematically, it's certainly possible to have herd immunity at these very, very low levels.

'Those are just our best guesses for what the numbers should look like. But they're just exactly that, guesses.'

The variation in estimates exist because modelling studies all take different approaches.

But they are producing lower herd immunity thresholds because they take into account that not everyone is susceptible to catching the disease.

An initial calculation for herd immunity assumes that everyone is at the same risk of Covid-19, which scientists know in real life is not the case.

Catching Covid-19 has shown to be more likely when people live in crowded conditions, live in poorer areas or work in essential roles, from nurses to bus drivers.

For example, researchers in Mumbai who conducted a random household antibody testing survey found between less than 58 per cent of residents in poor areas had antibodies, versus 11 to 17 per cent elsewhere in the city.

Those from black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) backgrounds have also been shown to be more at risk of catching the coronavirus.

Research from Imperial College London published last week suggested 17 per cent of black people and 12 per cent of Asian people in England have already had the virus compared with five per cent of white people.

Older people and those with underlying health conditions are also more at risk of getting severe disease and dying.

This alters how many vulnerable people are in the population the next time Covid-19 strikes, and therefore how many people need to have survived the virus in order to protect others.

The Stockholm and Nottingham academics hinged their research on levels of social activity, saying the virus is considerably more likely to infect people who come into contact with more people, either through socialising, picking up the children from school or work.

If the virus spreads more rampantly among the most socially active group, the level of immunity they build up could protect people in the less active groups, the study claimed.

Professor Hunter explained that herd immunity is intertwined with 'disease resistance' among a population.

He said if 50 per cent of people needed to be infected to gain herd immunity for a disease, but 25 per cent of the population could not get infected for genetic reasons or otherwise, then a smaller percentage of people need to be infected.

He said: 'Almost certainly an element of that will be true for Covid-19. And not everyone is genetically susceptible to serious disease.

'We know there is a big difference in people who go on to develop severe illness and indeed are likely to die, but what we don't know whether it actually stops you getting in mild or spreading the infection.'
BOSTON, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyros Law announces that former WWE wrestler James 'Kamala' Harris will be studied for CTE. Kamala, who died of Covid-19 related complications last week, was part of a lawsuit against WWE seeking help for neurological injuries he sustained wrestling. He along with many of the wrestlers in the lawsuit pledged to donate their brains for a study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy "CTE" in professional wrestling. Kamala's final appeal was argued in June 2020 and is currently pending in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.

Kamala, the "Ugandan Giant" at 6'7" 380 pounds was known around the world wrestling for WWE. At the height of his career in the 1980s-90s he was in numerous matches with other heavyweights such as Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker and Andre the Giant.

According to the lawsuit, Harris wrestled for WWE "300 nights a year," yet was classified by WWE as an independent contractor. After his WWE career Harris was unable to pay for his medical care and received Medicaid - diabetes eventually claimed both of his legs. A double amputee, he sought to assert his legal rights against WWE for healthcare and help for head injuries he alleged he sustained in the ring. WWE fought his claims calling the lawsuit "frivolous."

Kamala's family hopes that his brain donation will help the next generation of wrestlers and bring needed help to the thousands of former WWE wrestlers left without adequate access to healthcare and treatments for head injuries.

Kyros Law has advocated for many former WWE wrestlers with CTE and facilitated the brain donations of many of the most famous professional wrestlers to die in the past few years including Jimmy Snuka, Mr. Fuji, Balls Mahoney, Chyna, Axl Rotten, Rockin' Rebel, Rex King, Ron Bass, and Brickhouse Brown. At least six of these wrestlers have tested positive for CTE to date with several studies pending.

Learn more about the ongoing WWE Concussion Litigation by visiting WWE Concussion Lawsuit News blog .

Learn about potential class action lawsuits that may affect you by visiting the Class Action Lawsuit Center website .

Kyros Law specializes in a wide range of complex litigation, mass torts, and corporate governance matters, including the representation of whistleblowers, shareholders and consumers in securities fraud, false claims act and class actions.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Kyros Law

Related Links

http://www.kyroslaw.com


Kreeri: The Kreeri Baramullah encounter on Tuesday entered its second day after the operation was suspended on Monday night. Firing between the security forces and terrorists continued for the second day.

As per the security forces, one more terrorist is trapped in the cordon and the force is trying to get hold of him. A top CRPF official said the forces resumed the operation in the morning as there can be one more terrorist hiding.

Meanwhile, in the operation, the security forces have killed 2 terrorists during the encounter. A total of four security personals were martyred including 1 JKP ( SPO ) 2 CRPF soldiers and one army solider in the operation.

As per Director General of police Dilbagh Singh, the two terrorist killed on Monday included top LET commander. Singh said, ''Top LeT Commander Sajad Mir @ Haider was among the two killed terrorists. He further added that Sajad was the mastermind behind almost every terror activity in north Kashmir and was in top 10 wanted list of security forces , he use to work on the pattern of Bhurhan Wani and had recruited dozens of youths in terrorism.''
Almost 70 per cent of people in the UK wear some sort of glasses to correct their sight. But there are now special glasses to 'treat' eye problems  and conditions that apparently have nothing to do with your eyes.

Adrian Monti asked the experts to assess some. We then rated them.

For tiredness

AYO Light Therapy Glasses, 190.06, goayo.com

Claim: Space-age-looking specs with rechargeable LED lights in the frame that shine blue light, mimicking broad daylight, into your eyes which is said to 'boost your energy, enhance mood, eliminate fatigue and regulate sleep patterns'.

They are also said to help tackle jet lag. There is a phone app to help work out the best time of day to wear them.

Expert verdict: 'These glasses use blue light to tell our body not to go to sleep,' says Samer Hamada, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust in East Grinstead, West Sussex, and the Eye Clinic London.

'But you would get the same effect if you simply opened your curtains or went outside.

'I think a more useful pair of glasses would be ones to reduce exposure to blue light  which we absorb from screens as well as sunlight  as it may increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), when tiny light-sensitive cells in the retina degenerate, and contribute to eye strain.

'These might help some people stay awake if suffering from jet lag for instance, but these are not something I would recommend.'

2/10

AYO Light Therapy Glasses, 190.06

For lazy eyes

Amblyopix Electronic shutter glasses, 258.74, amblyopix.com

Claim: Aimed at those with amblyopia, or 'lazy eye', these have an electronic shutter  like those inside a camera which blocks the good eye from seeing several times per second, forcing the weaker eye to work harder. This, says the maker, will gradually improve vision in the weaker eye.

Expert verdict: 'A 'lazy eye' stems from a problem with the connection between the eye and the brain  the brain ignores one eye and relies more heavily on the other,' says Bhavin Shah, a behavioural optometrist and director of Central Vision Opticians in Finchley, North London.

'Usually in children it's treated by wearing a patch over the good eye. This can be successful if it's picked up early but often, doesn't help to make eyes work together, it just enhances the weaker eye. These look like they would work, but more studies are needed.'

5/10

For migraines

Vista Mesh Clip-on glasses, 74, eyekit.co.uk

Claim: Clip-on lenses to attach to your existing spectacles (or can be made as separate prescription glasses) which the maker says incorporates a new type of filter claimed to reduce eye strain and migraines. The filters are said to cut out flickering from the likes of fluorescent lighting.

Expert verdict: 'These glasses use a type of mesh filter  which can't be seen by the wearer  sandwiched between the lenses,' says Mr Hamada.

'The makers say themselves there is 'no obvious reason why' they should work.

'I couldn't find any independent evidence they were safe and effective. I'd want to see proper studies before I was convinced they could help those with migraines.'

1/10

Vista Mesh Clip-on glasses, 74

For dry eyes

Blephasteam Goggles, 200, theapharmaceuticals-shop.co.uk

Claim: These look like swimming goggles and the maker says they help with a variety of eye conditions including dry eye and blepharitis, when the eyelids become red and swollen.

Once switched on and allowed to warm up for 15 minutes, you moisten the rings in the eye piece with mineral water or saline solution.

The heat, says the maker, will unblock glands in the eyelids which produce an oily secretion, meibum, that prevents the evaporation of tears that moisten eyes.

Use for ten minutes twice a day.

Expert verdict: 'Some of my patients who suffer with dry eyes swear by these goggles and use them every day,' says Mr Shah.

'A randomised controlled trial carried out by German researchers in 2012 showed this type of device appeared to provide more effective warming than simply warm and moist compresses.

'These goggles are expensive, but if you do have an ongoing dry eye problem, they may be worth investing in.'

9/10

Blephasteam Goggles, 200

For ageing eyes

RNIB Saturn Eyeshields Yellow, 35.99, rnib.org.uk

Claim: The lenses have a yellow tinted filter, designed to help with central-vision loss, the part of our vision that allows us to see fine details.

This may be due to conditions such as AMD. The makers say the yellow filter gives higher contrast and better definition.

Expert verdict: 'People with macular degeneration can't see as much detail and when there's a change of lighting their eyes take much longer to adapt,' says Mr Shah.

'The yellow glasses do not improve central vision loss directly, but instead the yellow tint improves the contrast of objects and so the detail is a bit easier to see.

'If you suffer from AMD, it's worth giving them a try. You might be able to see a cup on a table more clearly. But these glasses won't work for everyone.'

6/10

RNIB Saturn Eyeshields Yellow

For poor focus

Holoras Pinhole Glasses, 7.99, amazon.co.uk

Claim: These glasses have a grid of tiny pinhole perforations covering each lens, said to help you focus better by shielding your vision from indirect rays of light that might distort vision.

The maker says they will help those who are either long or short-sighted.

Expert verdict: 'If your sight is out of focus and you look through a small pinhole, it will cut out the edges of the blur and so make the sight clearer,' says Mr Shah.

'When people first put pinhole glasses on, they might feel 'wow' but it's a bit of an optical illusion. It is extremely restrictive, meaning you wouldn't be able to use your full field of view and peripheral vision. You couldn't drive with pinhole glasses.

'These will not help anyone's vision, whatever issue they may have.'

0/10

Holoras Pinhole Glasses, 7.99. Two pairs are seen above

Glasses that talk to the blind

Orcam MyEye, 4,200 from amazon.co.uk

Claim: A device the size of a highlighter pen that slots on to the side of your frames using magnets.

Designed for those with low vision, its tiny, smart camera will 'read' back any printed or digital text. Within seconds the text is spoken back to you via an earpiece.

Expert verdict: 'This will not improve eyesight, but should allow the user to live more independently and improve their quality of life,' says Mr Hamada.

'It's an amazing piece of kit, but is very expensive.'

7/10

For seeing at night

Bloomoak Night Driving Glasses, 13.98, amazon.co.uk

Claim: Rimless glasses which are polarised (laminated with tiny vertical stripes) to help cut out glare from bright headlights. The lenses are also yellow which the makers claim makes colours and objects clearer.

Expert verdict: 'Usually when sunlight reflects off a surface such as a vehicle bonnet or window the light is reflected back in horizontal waves,' says Mr Hamada.

'But because polarised glasses only allow light in a vertical direction to enter the eye, the horizontal light cannot get through. They are fine to wear in daytime as they stop glare caused by sunlight reflecting off car windows and paintwork, but not at night.

'As there is a lack of light around, they would make things too dark to be safe to drive wearing them.

'In fact, a study published last year in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, carried out by researchers at Harvard Medical School in the U.S., found that the overall reaction time of people detecting a pedestrian in their path while wearing yellow-lens glasses was slower than when they weren't wearing them.

'I would recommend if patients are having trouble driving at night, first have an eye test. If they do need prescription glasses, an anti-reflective coating can be helpful for headlights.'

0/10
ACI's Airport Health Accreditation programme recognizes the commitment to health and welfare of passengers, airport staff and the public, by supporting airports assessing the new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force (CART) recommendations and in alignment with the joint EASA and ECDC Aviation Health Safety Protocol and ACI EUROPE's Guidelines for a Healthy Passenger Experience at Airports.

Topics covered by the accreditation include cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing (where feasible and practical), staff protection, physical layout, passenger communications and passenger facilities.

"Airports in Latin America and Caribbean have acted quickly to this crisis adapting their procedures to the ICAO CART Recommendations and industry best practices. The ACI Airport Health Accreditation gives airports the opportunity to demonstrate to the travelling public and governments that the measures implemented are consistent with global recognized standards" said Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC.

"The impact of the COVID Pandemic has been devastating to our economies and the reactivation of air transport is key for the economic recovery of our region. The AHA programme will contribute restoring confidence in air travel", added Rafael Echevarne.

"We congratulate Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP) and Los Cabos International Airport for being the first airport in the region to be accredited in the Airport Health Accreditation programme which demonstrates the commitment of GAP to the health and safety of passengers, employees and the public."

"Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico's priority is to give its passengers a safe and pleasant travel experience. As proof of this is the present accreditation, which keeps us in the leadership of health security at an international level, applying the best protocols and measures in all of our airports", added Raul Revuelta, CEO of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico.

Congratulations to Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico and the team from Los Cabos Airport!"

About ACI

Airports Council International (ACI) is the international airport organization, with 1,960 airports in 176 countries. The Latin American and Caribbean office (ACI-LAC) has 270 airports in 34 countries that manage 95% of air traffic in the region.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. of C.V. (GAP) is a Mexican company that develops its activity in the airport sector. GAP operates 12 international airports in Mexico and two in Jamaica, serving more than 300 destinations, through 35 airlines. Its shares are listed on the stock exchanges of Mexico and New York.

In 2019, GAP served 48.7 million passengers, 8.4% more than in 2018.

The airports managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico are located at:

Guadalajara and Tijuana , serving the main metropolitan areas.

and , serving the main metropolitan areas. Mexicali , Hermosillo , Los Mochis , Aguascalientes , Guanajuato and Morelia , serving medium-sized developing cities.

, , , , and , serving medium-sized developing cities. La Paz , Los Cabos , Puerto Vallarta , Manzanillo and Montego Bay , serving some of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean .

, , , and , serving some of the most important tourist destinations in and the . On October 10, 2018 , GAP signed the concession contract with the government of Jamaica in order to operate, modernize and expand the Norman Manley International Airport ("KIN") located in the city of Kingston .

The airports managed by GAP in Mexico are owned by the Mexican government and have been allocated in a 50-year concession starting in 1998, as part of a domestic initiative to privatize and improve the quality and security of the country's airport services.

In Jamaica, the government owns the Montego Bay Airport and the concession granted for its operation is for a 30-year period, which will conclude on April 2033. The Kingston Airport was granted for a 25-year concession. GAP took control of the operation and administration this past October 2019.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico believes in the value of each individual and seeks to trigger his or her potential through education. Better-educated Mexicans will raise their quality of life and contribute towards the country's development. GAP, in line with its business model and through its Foundation, is committed to be a factor of change. We work on two strategic pillars: work with the community, through the GAP Schools, and on training the airport community, with Community Training Centers.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1230260/Foto_9.jpg

SOURCE Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Blood centers, crippled by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, have been limping along all summer. Now, with decisions surrounding New York schools  which are responsible for thousands of blood donations every year  in limbo, there is little relief in sight.

We normally get to September and kind of breathe a sigh of relief that we are about to work with 500 individual high school blood drives and college blood drives, said Andrea Cefarelli, senior executive director of recruitment and marketing for New York Blood Center.

This year, Cefarelli said, is different.

With uncertainty surrounding city schools, including how many days students will be present in-person each week and if blood drives will be possible during the academic year, blood center managers are left nervous that they will be left without first-time donors this fall.

Its unprecedented, Cefarelli said.

Along the East Coast, blood shortages have become increasingly present. Americas Blood Center shows that 72% of blood centers in the area have less than a two-day supply of blood  the threshold the organization says is considered running low and in need of donations as soon as possible.

A banner on the top of the New York Blood Centers website reads: URGENT CALL FOR HEALTHY DONORS AS BLOOD SUPPLY DROPS TO DANGEROUSLY LOW LEVELS.

School blood drives typically result in about 75,000 blood donations each year, according toNew York Blood Center, and the blood supply is dependent on these contributions to remain stable.

Weve always relied on the fall to provide a boost in blood donations from high school and college students hosting drives, and this year we know this relief will not be coming, Cefarelli said.

As a result, the pandemic is forcing New York Blood Center to get creative, Cefarelli said  including considering having students virtually organize blood drives, or do conduct a donor center takeover where an entire day is blocked-off for students and their teachers to allow for donations.

Throughout the coronavirus outbreak in New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio advocated for New Yorkers to donate blood, and New York Blood Center distributed the largest amount of convalescent plasma  the blood of recovered coronavirus patients  across the nation, said Cefarelli.

Now, New York Blood Center is once again calling on the communitys support over the next few weeks, which will give the organization time to make plans with schools.

The blood supply is a national resource, so Im hoping we figure this out and the community comes out, said Cefarelli, who added that the center is also looking for organizations who are willing to host blood drives.

Thus far, she said there have been some unlikely heroes  from weddings to breweries  who have volunteered to host the drives.

To make an appointment to donate blood, visit here.

If you have a space available and would like to host a blood drive, sign up here.
As relations between the U.K. and China continue to cool, two countervailing forces are competing to influence their future direction.



The lobby making the most noise is that calling for yet more punitive action against the Chinese government and Chinese enterprises, reinforced by sanctions.

Urged on by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Washington's China hawks, they claim to be motivated by concerns about national security, human rights, peace and fair trade.

The reality in most cases is more ideological and political. On his recent visit to Britain, Pompeo made no secret of his hostility to China's fundamentally socialist system and Communist Party rule: Chinese power must be "contained" within the Far East and its economic involvement rolled back in Europe, Africa and rest of Asia. Chinese society must be "reformed" in order to break the power of the CPC, dismantle and privatize its economic system and open it up wholesale to Western capitalist monopolies.

The Labour Party leadership and many Labour MPs have varying degrees of sympathy with this agenda. But their prime motivation at present is to present themselves as firmer, more consistent champions of human rights than Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Thus, the anti-China lobby is diverse, wide-ranging and influential.

Yet there are powerful forces which do not want to undo all the progress made in U.K.-China relations over the past decade or so. When former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne hailed a "new golden age" in that relationship back in 2015, he was speaking for substantial elements in the British capitalist class.

Some of these are raising their voices against today's China-bashing, albeit sotto-voce. They understand the benefits that flow to Britain  and not only to the wealthiest owners of capital  from trade and investment links. The more far-sighted of them also recognize how substantial the mutual benefits could be in the future as China has become worlds second largest economy.

Already, China is Britain's third biggest trading partner, after taking into account the "Rotterdam effect" which exaggerates Britain's trade with the Netherlands. The Chinese mainland is now Britain's fifth biggest export market, and rising. Major exports include petrol and petrol products, road vehicles, medicine, pharmaceuticals, power generating and electrical machinery, and scientific instruments. British-supplied financial and education services help narrow the trade deficit.

Britain could export much more were it not for restrictions  demanded by the U.S. Back in 2006, Chinese trade officials in Beijing told me that they would like more mechanical equipment, environmental and financial technology, energy conservation products and electronic control systems from Britain, as well as more wine, tobacco and "luxury" goods.

Germany's stronger engineering, chemicals and manufacturing base  together with a less supine attitude to U.S. restrictions  ensures a level of exports to China four times that of Britain.

Nonetheless, British companies have expanded their involvement in China substantially in recent years. Jaguar Land Rover, AstraZeneca (pharmaceuticals), drinks producer Diageo, Unilever, BT, Rio Tinto as well as banks, insurance firms and hotel chains have established themselves on the Chinese mainland. They are helped by the opening-up of the financial sector and by January's foreign investment law to ease restrictions and create a more level playing field for international enterprises.

In the other direction, China has become an important new source for investment in Britain's industries largely abandoned by a British capitalist class which seeks higher profits elsewhere.

China now owns the ninth biggest stock of foreign direct investment in the British domestic economy. Chinese companies employ around 71,000 workers in Britain, two-thirds of which operate in the industrial sector, representing a very small but growing share of the productive economy.

The Conservative government's recent decision to end Huawei's involvement in Britain's 5G digital network is likely to prove costly in more ways than one. Even the minister responsible, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, admits that it will delay the roll-out by up to three years. A recent study adds that this will cost the economy almost 7 billion (around $9.1 billion), as Britain falls behind Europe, and small towns and rural areas are hit hardest.

The question now is whether anti-China Conservative and Labour MPs force the government to take further action against Chinese companies investing in Britain.

At a time when the British economy has shrunk by 20% during the COVID-19 crisis, it is not wise to sign up fully to the new U.S.-led Cold War against China.

More companies and trade unions now need to speak up for Britain's mutually beneficial links with China in order to prevent that happening.

Robert Griffiths is a former Senior Lecturer in Political Economy and History at the University of Wales and currently the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Britain.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
Trump President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he walks to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Washington. Trump is en route to Minnesota and Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  President Donald Trump said he had signed an emergency declaration for Iowa to help supply federal money to help the state recover from an unusual wind storm that struck a week ago but federal emergency management officials later confirmed he had only signed a portion of the request.

Trump claimed on his official presidential Twitter account Monday afternoon that he had Just approved (and fast) the FULL Emergency Declaration for the Great State of Iowa. They got hit hard by record setting winds.

Gov. Kim Reynolds replied on her personal Twitter account: Thank you President @realDonaldTrump for your unwavering commitment to the state of Iowa.

A Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman said in an email that Trump had approved the public assistance portion of the governors request totaling about $45 million covering 16 counties. That portion of the declaration provides debris removal and repair to government buildings and utilities. He did not, however, approve the individual assistance request for 27 counties that includes $82.7 million for homes destroyed or with major damage and $3.77 billion for agriculture damage to farm land, grain bins and buildings and $100 million for private utilities repair.

FEMA will continue our joint preliminary damage assessments to determine any further eligible assistance, the FEMA statement said. The agency is ready to provide any and all eligible assistance and work with the state of Iowa to validate additional storm damages.

Reynolds filed an expedited presidential major disaster declaration on Sunday seeking $3.99 billion.

A derecho with hurricane-force wind gusts exceeding 100 mph destroyed or extensively damaged 8,200 homes and 13 million acres (5.3 million hectares) of corn, about a third of the states crop land, she said. The Aug. 10 storm killed at least three people in the state.

More than a half million people were without electricity in the immediate aftermath of the storm. As of Monday evening, utility companies reported about 56,000 people remained without power.

Story continues

Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer said she appreciated Trumps quick action on public assistance portion.

Im deeply disappointed he has not granted the state of Iowas full request for individual assistance, including assistance to individuals and homeowners, in response to the derecho storm that devastated Cedar Rapids and communities across eastern Iowa, she said in an email statement.

Reynolds spokesman did not immediately respond to a message Monday night.

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said the individual assistance portion was under review and was expected to be approved. He called criticism partisan attacks.

Governor Reynolds request for assistance and President Trumps approval of the request is happening in record speed, he said. Additional approval for individual assistance is expected soon.

Trump is planning to visit Iowa on Tuesday, Reynolds said during a news conference, but she provided no details.

Reynolds and the federal government has come under criticism for not acting quickly or doing enough.

Former Democratic Lt. Governor Patty Judge, who was Iowas homeland security adviser during the massive floods in 2008 that upended many of the same communities hit by the derecho, criticized Vice President Mike Pence for visiting Iowa on Thursday for a campaign stop but not visiting damaged farms or cities.

She also noted Trumps comments that he might visit.

Iowans in trouble should be a top priority, not a veiled PR stunt, she said. We need leaders who care and who will act immediately when needed, not a week later when they realize their numbers need a boost.

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, also a Democrat, spent 48 hours in Cedar Rapids from Friday to Sunday with a chainsaw helping to clear trees from a home, streets, sidewalks and driveways.

He said Reynolds could have moved much quicker by sending an abbreviated request to FEMA intended for those catastrophes of unusual severity and magnitude when field damage assessments are not necessary to determine the requirement for supplemental federal assistance. The process was used in 2008 when a tornado struck Parkersburg, Iowa, destroying hundreds of homes. President George W. Bush approved help within 24 hours.

The level of assistance that is needed over there, it just punches you in the face, he said.

Reynolds said she had sought money from a much more substantive program that offers more options for federal aid.

We set a record getting it done, she said. Lets think about what we are able to do by heroic efforts by some tremendous state employees that are working around the clock to get the resources to Iowans. We have it now and lets move forward.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 04:18:48|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday discussed Iran and other issues in a phone conversation with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

"Pompeo underscored the need for a unified Transatlantic response to hold Iran accountable and ensure the Security Council lives up to its responsibility to maintain international peace and security," said the statement.

Pompeo and his German counterpart also discussed issues related to Belarus and Russia, according to the statement.

The two allies have been at odds with each other on the issue of Iran, and Washington was largely isolated among its allies on this issue as the UN Security Council last Friday failed to adopt a U.S.-drafted resolution to extend the arms embargo against Iran.

The draft resolution did not get the required nine votes in favor of 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 Germany and other U.S. European allies, abstained.

After its attempt to extend arms embargo against Iran failed, the United States threatened to invoke snapback sanction against Iran, referring to restoring all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said 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.

Foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany 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
Nigerias aviation minister has said the country will reopen its airports for international flights beginning August 29, introducing protocols to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection.

Home to some 200 million people, Africas most populous country has registered 49,068 confirmed coronavirus cases and 975 related deaths. Some 36,500 people have recovered so far.

Nigerias airports have been shut down since March 23 to all but essential international flights as part of the countrys efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika said on Monday the resumption of international flights would begin with the megacity of Lagos and the capital, Abuja.

He said four flights will begin landing daily in Lagos and four in Abuja.

Protocols and procedures will be announced in due course, he wrote earlier on Twitter.

At a briefing in Abuja, he said four flights would begin landing daily in Lagos and four in Abuja.

Nigeria resumed domestic flights on July 8, and Sirika said there had been no confirmed coronavirus transmissions on flights.

Earlier in the day, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said the country had recorded 298 new confirmed coronavirus cases and one related death on Sunday.

With more than 16,500 infections, Lagos remains Nigerias hardest-hit area. It is followed by the Federal Capital Territory  which includes Abuja  with more than 4,700 cases and the southwestern Oyo state with almost 3,000 infections.

--- Aljazeera
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 21:05:14|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The number of people in employment with place of work in Germany decreased seasonally-adjusted by 1.4 percent compared to the previous quarter to around 44.7 million in the second quarter (Q2) of 2020, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) announced on Tuesday.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis that struck Germany in March, an "extraordinarily large decline has been observed instead of an increase this year," according to the provisional calculations by Destatis.

It was the "largest decline since German reunification," said the office, which noted that employment figures in Germany would usually rise strongly in Q2 due to the "spring upturn." Over the last five years, employment figures in Q2 went up by 0.9 percent on average, according to Destatis.

The new Destatis figures would illustrate "how much the coronavirus crisis has already impacted on the labor market," Holger Schaefer, senior economist for employment at the German Economic Institute (IW) told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Destatis stressed that the governmental measures taken to contain the coronavirus pandemic in Germany led to "increased uncertainty in the estimation of employment figures."

The biggest number of job losses occurred in Germany's service sector which recorded a year-on-year decrease of 1.1 percent in the second quarter. According to Destatis, the last time that Germany's service sector had seen a year-on-year decline in jobs was almost 17 years ago.

In Germany's industry sector, excluding construction, the year-on-year decline in the number of people in employment "continued and accelerated" in Q2 with a decline of even 2.2 percent, according to Destatis.

In July, the number of unemployed people in Germany increased by 57,000 compared to the previous month to 2.91 million, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) announced recently.

However, unemployed figures in July in Germany only went up to the "usual extent," BA noted. The coronavirus-related rise had "not continued this month for the time being." Enditem
Recorded Books and Blackstone Publishing will work together during this transition to ensure it is a seamless experience, says Anne Fonteneau, VP of Sales, Blackstone Publishing.

Blackstone Publishing today announced it has signed an agreement with Recorded Books to exclusively manufacture and distribute the companys audiobook CDs in North America beginning on Oct. 1, 2020. Recorded Books is the flagship publishing brand of RBmedia, the largest independent producer of audiobooks in the world, with a catalog of more than 45,000 exclusive titles.

Blackstone Publishing will exclusively manufacture-on-demand, sell, and distribute Recorded Books new audiobook releases and backlist catalog in CD format, including titles from top New York Times bestselling authors Christine Feehan, Donna Leon, Sarah J. Maas, Alexander McCall Smith, Jodi Picoult, Melissa de la Cruz, Patrick OBrian, Fern Michaels, Jude Deveraux, Anne Perry, Stuart Woods, and Jayne Ann Krentz. Recorded Books audiobook titles will be made available in CD format to consumers and libraries, as well as to retail stores and wholesalers.

As part of the agreement, Blackstone Publishing will serve all of Recorded Books CD audiobook production needs for libraries in the US and Canada. Over the coming months, all Recorded Books library customers will be migrated to Blackstone Library for physical audio content.

Recorded Books and Blackstone Publishing will work together during this transition to ensure it is a seamless experience, says Anne Fonteneau, VP of Sales, Blackstone Publishing. We will begin reaching out to libraries in the coming weeks to put into place a transition plan for each library. We look forward to bringing Recorded Books extensive collection of audio content to library patrons.

Libraries with questions or concerns about Recorded Books CDs should contact:

RBquestions@blackstoneaudio.com.

Blackstone will also integrate the Recorded Books CD catalog into its expansive direct-to-consumer, retailer, and wholesaler channels. This will provide customers more selections and purchasing options to meet all their audiobook CD needs.

About RBmedia

RBmedia is a global leader in spoken audio content and digital media distribution technology that reaches millions of consumersat home, in the car, and wherever they take their mobile devices. RBmedia produces exclusive titles and delivers the finest digital content through its platforms, including Audiobooks.com. Headquartered in Landover, Maryland, the company is the largest producer of audiobooks in the world with a catalog of more than 45,000 exclusive titles through its content brands: Recorded Books, Tantor Media, HighBridge, Kalorama Audio, christianaudio, Gildan Media, GraphicAudio, W. F. Howes in the United Kingdom, and Wavesound in Australia. RBmedia is owned by KKR, a leading global investment firm. Find out more at http://www.RBMediaGlobal.com.

ABOUT BLACKSTONE PUBLISHING

Founded in 1987, Blackstone Publishing is a privately owned company headquartered in Ashland, Oregon. Offering a growing catalog of over 13,000 audiobook titles, the authors are as varied as the books themselves, including such names as Karin Slaughter, Don Winslow, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and many more. Blackstone provides superior content by acclaimed authors and award-winning narrators, and partners with major publishers such as Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Disney, offering thousands of new titles each month. In late 2015, after nearly thirty years as audiobook-industry pioneers, Blackstone expanded into print and e-book publishing. In 2020, our thriving imprint will release over eighty titles by both new and established authors, including James Clavell, Meg Gardiner, Nicholas Sansbury Smith, James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth, Cadwell Turnbull, and more.
LIKE IT OR NOT, FORMER 1ST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA STOLE THE SHOW WITH HER SUPPORT FOR JOE!!! SADLY, SHE'S MORE POPULAR THAN THE DNC TICKET!!!

Latinx Star Fades?!?!

DNC emcee Eva Longoria mocked on social media: 'No one is more in touch ... than actors & celebrities' The Democratic National Convention raised eyebrows right out of the gate with actress Eva Longoria emceeing the first night of the virtual event. Longoria was one of four celebrity emcees who will be serving as a guide from segment to segment and speaker to speaker on each of the four nights, the other three are Kerry Washington, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss.

First Lady Effectively Lashes Out At Prez Trump

Michelle Obama makes a moral case against Donald Trump Former first lady Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention was not just a powerful condemnation of President Donald Trump's record and handling of the pandemic, it was an appeal aimed at the heart and conscience of every American who has watched the chaos of the last four years and yearned to make things right.

Prez Trump Takes It Personal

Trump lashes out at Michelle Obama over address at Democratic convention early Tuesday lashed out at after the former first lady issued a blistering criticism of the incumbent president during remarks at the virtual Democratic convention. "Somebody please explain to @MichelleObama that Donald J. Trump would not be here, in the beautiful White House, if it weren't for the job done by your husband, ," Trump tweeted early Tuesday morning.

Bernie Cites The Classics

Bernie Sanders calls on supporters to back Biden against threat of second Trump term Bernie Sanders has appealed directly to progressives to support Joe Biden's election against Donald Trump. "We need an unprecedented response, a movement like no other before, of people who are prepared to stand up and fight for democracy and decency and against greed, oligarchy and bigotry," he said.

REPUBLICAN ENDORSEMENT FOR BIDEN RESONATES!!!

'Lifelong Republican' Kasich urges fellow GOPers to abandon Trump in DNC speech Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich -- one of President Trump's most vocal Republican critics -- took aim at the president Monday night during a speech on the first night of the Democratic National Convention and urged other Republicans to join him in voting for the Democratic ticket in November.

1st Lady Restarts DNC

Michelle Obama breathes life back into listless Democratic National Convention Michelle Obama brought a breath of life to the Democratic National Convention Monday after nearly two hours of brief, bleak speeches and videos, taking aim at President Trump as she urged Americans to vote.

Even Opposition Respects Michelle Obamas Performance

Fox News heaps praise on Michelle Obama's DNC speech: 'She really flayed, sliced and diced Donald Trump' Michelle Obama wrapped up the first night of the first ever virtual Democratic National Convention Monday with a scathing speech, in which, she slammed the Trump White House for its "chaos, division," and "lack of empathy," and urged voters to vote for Joe Biden like their lives depend on it.

Newsies Share High Praise Despite Public's Skepticism

The first night of the DNC was a virtual convention that turned into an actual success - Poynter The Democrats figured out how to make a virtual convention work and connect with their audience. Now can they keep it going for three more nights? Well, that was ... different. And this time, different was good, different was effective. This time, different worked.

Let's start Tuesday simply with a quick review of the high points or low points of the DNC 2020 party platform shared from a safe distance with the public last night.For us, because we're horrible, Eva Longoria was the highlight of the night becauseStill, there are a great many wonderful curves to consider as the silly season starts in full swing . . .Nevertheless, here's our review from "many sides" of the event:Developing . . .
Tuesday, Aug. 11

1006 -- Non-injury lift assist on Fulton Lane.

1147 -- Police took a vandalism report on Hillview Place.

1352 -- A set of keys were reported lost on Sunday near Main/Pope.

1609 -- Report of commercial-size trucks parking on Brown Street and creating problems with visibility.

1624 -- Report of a customer refusing to wear a proper mask in a Main Street store. An employee told him he couldnt receive service without a mask. He left when the employee called the police.

1721 -- A wallet was reported lost downtown.

1854 -- Following a traffic stop at Main/Dowdell, a 33-year-old Napa man was arrested for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. He was released with a signed promise to appear in court.

2039 -- While responding to an abandoned vehicle report on Main Street, police arrested a 52-year-old Rutherford man on suspicion of receiving stolen property.

2053 -- A pregnant sheep escaped from its home on Crystal Springs Road. The matter was referred to the sheriffs office.

2209 -- Report of fireworks going off near Vallejo Street.

Wednesday, Aug. 12

1232 -- A man was seen smoking pot on Sulphur Springs Avenue, then driving away onto Highway 29.

1155 -- An officer assisted with the distribution of textbooks on Grayson Avenue.

1409 -- Report of a trespasser falsely representing herself on a Main Street property.

1649 -- Medical aid on Pope Street.

Thursday, Aug. 13

0415 -- A man reported his 14-year-old daughter missing. She was last seen around 10 p.m. at her moms house in Napa.

0656 -- Medical aid for a fall victim on Pope Street.

0749 -- Medical aid for a fall victim on Spring Mountain Road.

1325 -- Report of two dogs left in a car on Hunt Avenue. The owners returned and drove away momentarily.

1425 -- Report of solicitors on Hunt Avenue.

1438 -- Report of a possible drunk driver on Silverado Trail.

1510 -- Report of a dog left in a car on Main Street.

1618 -- Medical aid for a person who passed out in a VINE bus.

1734 -- Non-injury head-on collision at Madrona/Allyn.

2202 -- Report of noisy neighbors on Hunt Avenue.

2334 -- Police arrested the 25-year-old St. Helena man on suspicion of brandishing a samurai sword during an argument.

Friday, Aug. 14

0933 -- Medical aid for a fall victim on Pope Street.

1128 -- A car was vandalized.

1639 -- Report of a hazardous driver on southbound Main Street.

1708 -- Medical aid for a woman with a head injury on Paulson Court.

1924 -- A vehicle crashed into a vineyard near Meadowood Road and Silverado Trail.

Saturday, Aug. 15

0610 -- Items were stolen from a trailer on McCormick Street. A witness saw a dark-colored vehicle next to the trailer and saw people taking tools from the trailer. They left when they saw the witness.

0850 -- Report of a hot air balloon down in a remote area near Sulphur Springs Road. The CHP rescued the occupants via helicopter.

0857 -- Someone left graffiti on an electrical box at Crane Park.

1044 -- Medical aid for a possible stroke victim on Hunt Avenue.

1343 -- Report of a possible drunk driver on Silverado Trail.

1345 -- Report of a possible drunk driver on Highway 29 near Zinfandel Lane.

1355 -- A bus caught on fire near Main/Pope. The fire department put out the fire. Nobody was hurt.

1517 -- Report of several cars parked in no-parking zones and a fire lane near Main Street. The drivers had been asked to move their cars, but they refused.

1706 -- Medical aid for a possible heat stroke victim on Stockton Street.

2105 -- Report of a possible drunk driver near Main/Adams. Police stopped the car and determined the driver was not drunk.

2324 -- Report of noisy neighbors on College Avenue.

Sunday, Aug. 16

0029 -- Report of a man and a woman on Pope Street, with the woman sitting on the ground and looking upset. They told police they were just taking a walk.

0405 -- Non-injury lift assist on Pope Street.

0507 -- Report of a fire in the mountains across from Rutherford Road.

0509 -- Report of a fire near Conn Valley Road.

0651 -- Report of a fire in the hills west of Silverado Trail.

0847 -- Police marked an abandoned car on College Avenue.

0859 -- Report of a tree down across a footbridge near Meily Park.

1001 -- Report of loud construction noise near Pratt Avenue.

1126 -- A caller saw a driver throw a lit cigarette out their window while driving west on Pope Street. The car was described as a green and turquoise pickup with a camper shell. The driver was a white man with red bushy hair.

1138 -- Report of several people barbecuing on a portable barbecue near the bocce courts at Crane Park.

1633 -- Juveniles came to the lobby to talk to an officer about ongoing harassment.

1659 -- Medical aid on Paulson Court.

1751 -- A caller ordered a pizza using his credit card and was concerned when the restaurant employee asked for the three-digit code on the back of his card. No fraudulent charges had been made. The caller was just concerned whether it was standard practice when ordering over the phone.

2051 -- Report of a neighbor hammering nails for 45 minutes on Laguna Seca Court. When the caller asked him to do that during the daytime instead, he got upset, called the person names, and waved his hammer.

2253 -- Report of loud music associated with a wedding on Spring Street.

Monday, Aug. 17

0318 -- Report of a car traveling without headlights on Pope Street.

0658 -- Report of a fire in the hills east of St. Helena.

0701 -- Soap or a similar foamy substance was seen entering a storm drain on Money Way.

0706 -- A fire was seen in the hills east of Rutherford Road.

0709 -- Report of smoke somewhere between Spring Mountain Road and Sulphur Springs.

0713 -- Report of a German shepherd running loose on Sulphur Springs.

0723 -- Report of a fire on the west side of the valley, possibly near Spring Mountain Road.

0740 -- Report of a fire in the eastern hills near Angwin.

0753 -- A loose German shepherd was spotted in a vineyard near the cemetery.

0817 -- Report of smoke near Taplin Road.

0826 -- Report of smoke in the hills southeast of St. Helena.

0831 -- An out-of-town visitor who was scheduled to arrive at a vacation rental on Chiles Pope Valley Road asked whether there were evacuations in the area due to fire. The caller was referred to Cal Fire.

0846 -- Multiple reports of a fire near Lake Hennessey.

1001 -- Report of a mail truck speeding at 40 mph on Spring Street.

1135 -- Report of a possible drunk driver on Main Street.

1156 -- Multiple reports of a power outage.

1201 -- Two bikes were reported stolen.

1240 -- There was a large branch on Highway 29 south of the castle.

1416 -- Report of trees being cut down near Fulton Lane. The caller believed the trees were historic and wanted to know if their removal was permitted.

1421 -- A caller said her niece told her that St. Helena was evacuating. Police said that was not true.

1539 -- Report of people possibly living in a van on Monte Vista.

1604 -- A 14-year-old girl left her dads house on McCorkle Avenue after an argument.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 18)  The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday reported that more than half of the Philippines' COVID-19 cases are from the 20 to 40 years old age group, describing the working sector as the "driving force" of the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials from the WHO Western Pacific noted that the recent data shows that the virus is infecting a younger population in the Philippines, Australia, and Japan, comparing confirmed cases from January and June.

"This is particularly concerning as these age groups are more likely to have mild or even no symptoms so they can transmit the virus in vulnerable setting without knowing it," Tamano Matsui, WHO Programme area manager, told a media briefing.

Dr. Takeshi Kasai, WHO Western Pacific regional director, said this age bracket is considered the "active" group, who regularly go out to work.

Kasai said most of the patients from this group are unaware they are carrying the virus since they are asymptomatic or barely showing flu-like symptoms. He added they go about their daily lives, possibly transmitting it to other people they encounter.

"These people who don't have symptoms can also contribute in driving the pandemic," he said. "What's important is everybody pays attention and take action as if you might be infected."

The data from the WHO is similar to the numbers from the country's Department of Health (DOH).

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said last week the bulk of the cases in the Philippines, or around 113,000, are from the "productive age group" of 20 to 59 years old  with over 70,000 coming from the 20-39 age group. The DOH also recently reported clusters of COVID-19 transmission in workplaces.

Kasai said that Asia Pacific has entered a "new phase" of the pandemic, reiterating that early detection of cases and rapid response from the national and local government is the key to win against it.

"The direction the epidemic now depends on the action of the government and people," he said.

There are now 164,474 coronavirus cases in the Philippines, with 112,759 recoveries and 2,681 deaths.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Light rain and wind this evening. Then clearing overnight. Low 23F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Light rain and wind this evening. Then clearing overnight. Low 23F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Higher wind gusts possible.
Five Eyes Alliance Issued a Joint Statement on Hong Kong

On August 10, a day after the Five Eyes Alliance released a joint statement, the Hong Kong government arrested Jimmy Lai, his sons, and many other Hong Kong pro-democracy activists under the National Security Law. After the imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the Ministry of State Security of China and the Hong Kong government recently launched a series of actions to arrest students, to disqualify candidates from running for elections, and to postpone the legislative Council election.

On August 9, the U.S. Department of State released a joint statement by the Five Eyes Alliance condemning the CCPs erosion of the Hong Kong peoples freedom. The statement said: We the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State are gravely concerned by the Hong Kong governments unjust disqualification of candidates and disproportionate postponement of Legislative Council elections. These moves have undermined the democratic process that has been fundamental to Hong Kongs stability and prosperity. We express deep concern at Beijings imposition of the new National Security Law, which is eroding the Hong Kong peoples fundamental rights and liberties. We call on the Hong Kong government to reinstate the eligibility of disqualified candidates so that the elections can take place in an environment conducive to the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms as enshrined in the Basic Law.

The statement ended with: Beijing promised autonomy and freedom under the One Country, Two Systems principle to the Hong Kong people in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, an UNregistered treaty, and must honor its commitments.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 18:26:44|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ghana must emulate China's model of solid waste management to protect people, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Ernest Kwabena Anorson Agyawan, a Ghanaian expert.

Speaking with Xinhua, Agyawan, landfill manager for the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) said China has deployed the source segregation model which enables them to treat several tons of solid waste at any given time.

In Ghana, all kinds of solid waste, including domestic, residential, industrial, and medical waste are mixed together and dumped at landfill sites, a practice which he says poses a health threat to personnel and the general public in the midst of COVID-19 spread.

The adoption of the Chinese segregation model and treatment of solid waste, he emphasized, will protect the people and the environment against hazardous chemicals, and it is also cost-effective as compared to the current method of disposal here.

"In fact, having also traveled to learn or to see what is practiced in other countries such as China, Denmark, and Japan, I think it is ideal that policies are put in place for source segregation to start because we have industries that are doing re-manufacturing of products," he said.

"We have all the resources that we can produce from but because we really don't understand what it takes or the technology to use it, we classify it as waste. Look at the bottled water which is a common resource in our economy now, if you go to China, for instance, they reproduce it into bags, school bags, raincoats, among others," Agyawan told Xinhua.

The solid waste expert observed that the West African country was wasting its land resource by turning several hectares into landfill sites for dumping solid waste.

"If you look at the hierarchy of waste management, landfilling is the least...In our case, we are using raw waste to fill virgin lands. So, we are wasting land, we are wasting the environment in general and we are causing health hazards to human beings around," he said.

He recommended a waste segregation policy here, especially, in the era of the pandemic.

Ghana has had several challenges dealing with the solid waste it has been generating in recent times notwithstanding the 290 million U.S. dollars spent annually on the country's waste.

Solid waste management here is delivered in an unsustainable manner. Due to urbanization, large quantities of waste are generated daily and this exerts much pressure on an overstrained solid waste management system.

In 2017, the Ghanaian government promised to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa. However, many say the strewn filth in the various towns and cities as well as the mountain-like solid waste dumping sites found here coupled with relaxed sanitation law enforcement makes the goal hard to achieve within a short period of time. Enditem
LOS ANGELESIn late July, the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals slapped down Stormy Daniels appeal of her defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump. The case had taken almost two years to reach the appeals court, after a federal judge in Los Angeles tossed out the case in October of 2018.

But the AVN Hall of Famer is not ready to give up yet. On Friday, her attorney Clark Brewster filed a petition with the Ninth Circuit to hear the case again, this time with 11 judges deciding the case, rather than just three  as in the initial appeal.

The case dates back to April, 2018, when Daniels and her then-attorney Michael Avenatti appeared on the ABC-TV program "The View," where they revealed a forensic sketch of a man who, according to Daniels, accosted and threatened her in a Las Vegas parking lot  invoking Trumps name as part of the threat.

Trump reacted quickly on his Twitter account, claiming that the sketch showed a nonexistent man, and accusing Daniels of a total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools.

In her lawsuit, Daniels said that Trumps apparent claims that she fabricated the description of the man in the sketch, and was perpetrating a total con job had defamed her, in effect accusing her of committing a felony. But in October of that year, federal Judge James Otero ruled that Trumps statements were easily recognized as hyperbole of the type typical in political discourse.

The First Amendment protects this type of rhetorical statement, Otero ruled, alos ordering Daniels t pay Trump nearly $400,000 in legal fees..

Almost two years later, three Ninth Circuit Appeals Court judges agreed, saying that Trumps statements in the tweet could not reasonably be read as asserting that (Daniels) was committing a crime, and were instead a colorful expression of rhetorical hyperbole.

In his filing on Daniels behalf August 14, Brewster argues that the three-judge panel made a mistake by applying a Texas law against so-called SLAPP suits, which allowed Otero to quickly dismiss the case and impose penalties against Daniels. In fact, federal rules should have applied instead, Brewster argued.

Federal rules in defamation cases are more lenient with plaintiffs, requiring that they only make a plausible claim of defamation. The Texas SLAPP rules require that the plaintiff, in this case Daniels, must present clear evidence of each defamation claim.

SLAPP is an acronym for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, meaning a lawsuit designed to silence the defendant by causing them to undergo the expense and inconvenience of a court case.

Brewster also argued that because the statements appeared on Trumps Twitter account, where he often makes official presidential pronouncements, his statements about Daniels would be considered factual by a reasonable reader.

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Leading Cloud ERP Software Provider Visit Clients First in booth #118 at OilComm to learn how to automate oilfield equipment and services (OFS) project planning, design and resource scheduling strategies. - Michael Conti, Clients First

Leading integrated cloud ERP software provider, Clients First Business Solutions, announces 2020 exhibitor sponsorship at OilComm  Houston Marriott Westchase, Houston, TX.

Clients First Business Solutions exhibits in booth #118 at OilComm. The OilComm Conference & Exposition was designed for digital technology professionals within the oil & gas community looking to explore innovative technology. Attendees learn how to capitalize on the digital revolution that's reshaping the industry and network with lifelong partners who will help them transform into Industry 4.0 businesses. In response to current conditions, OilComm continues to innovate and evolve. For example, there are several options to connect to industry experts. Theres the in-person OilComm Conference and Exposition in October, the newly launched Connected Energy Webcast series, and the upcoming OilComm Digital Week (August 17-20, 2020). OilComm is now delivering more cutting-edge insights and fresh new ways for the oil and gas community of 60,000+ to come together, and oil and gas industry buyers and sellers to connect in digital environments.

Stop by booth 118 to learn how integrated cloud ERP software helps operators, EPCs, rig owners, drilling and maritime professionals automate and become more profitable. Clients First delivers cloud ERP software automation (ERP  enterprise resource planning) specific to oil and gas companies to help increase efficiency and profitability.

19 Benefits of Cloud ERP Software Automation for the OilComm Community:

1. Deliver quotes faster

2. Accurately estimate project details

3.Track labor and material costs efficiently

4. Determine revenue and cost estimates by oilfield project category

5. Configure workflows for oilfield budget approval

6.Track revenue by milestone dates

7. Confirm billing rules and what to bill at each milestone

8. Report on budget vs actual

9. Notify purchasing of outsourced services shortages

10. Identify outsourced services

11. Reduce lead time bottlenecks to meet deadlines

12. Plan for materials and supplies needed for oilfield projects

13. Dispatch the right oilfield worker based on skillset

14. Empower technicians with a 360-degree view of customers

15. Provide technicians with real-time guidance to speed up resolution time

16. Track oilfield project and service expenses in one easy-to-use system

17. Rental equipment

18. Service equipment

19. Upstream and downstream capabilities

Visit Clients First Business Solutions in booth #118 to learn more

Automation and the use of quality data are paramount to achieve a more efficient transparent oilfield service procurement and sales process. Prosperous companies in the oil and gas industry, for example, have moved past paper faxes and outdated Excel files to real-time modern integrated systems that capture good data. Profitable oil and gas service companies invest in real-time integrations required to help their customers and suppliers. Robust quality data sets allow oil and gas companies to capitalize using business intelligence tools to identify inefficiencies and market trends to help serve customers better with higher quality margins.

OFS companies dont need to wait for OilComm to learn how to optimize field service operations. Register for our lunch and learn on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 to get a preview and free lunch courtesy of GrubHub and Acumatica cloud ERP.

About Clients First Business Solutions

Since 2003, Clients First Business Solutions has been offering local businesses ERP software implementation, support, and training services. Clients First helps businesses of all sizes implement business software for their organization. We have seven offices covering the entire United States.

Our goal is to help you improve your business processes, reduce overhead and realize a competitive advantage in your industry. Your business benefits from our teams expertise by increasing ROI and improving your bottom line.

We offer an affordable Quick Turn Implementation plan including any legacy data, so you are operating more efficiently on the first day of use. We also offer full implementation services for more complex needs along with a US-based development team to tackle unique business challenges and scenarios. Our team supports Dynamics 365 solutions and Acumatica cloud ERP. Our team is well versed in Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Project Accounting, and EDI. We specialize in oil and gas ERP software implementations. We also have a US-based development team to promptly address your needs.

Please contact us to learn more  call 800-331-8382
Tina and Nate Johnson of Colerain with their sons Arrison, 3, and Asten, 6. The sons were denied enrollment at Zion Temple Christian Academy because of their hairstyles. Asten was a student at the private school last year. Photo shot Friday August 14, 2020.

CINCINNATI  A few days ago, young Asten Johnson learned his school didnt want him back, at least not the way he is now.

The 6-year-old has dreadlocks. When his hair is wet and he pulls on it, it comes down to about his eyes.

His parents, Christina and Nate Johnson, wear the same natural style, though their hair is much longer, extending in black and brown coils down their backs.

(Asten) looks in the mirror every single day and tells me how long his hair has grown, Christina Johnson said.

He wants his hair to grow fast. He wants to look like his parents.

Officials at his school want the opposite. Zion Temple Christian Academy in Cincinnati told the Johnsons that locks, a natural hairstyle for Black people, are not allowed at the school, Christina Johnson said, even though Asten was enrolled and wore the style last year.

The family planned to enroll Astens younger brother, 3-year-old Arrison, in the school this year. But Arri also has locks.

Their parents had to decide: comply with the schools order or look elsewhere. They chose the latter.

These states are passing laws to stop discrimination: Banning ethnic hairstyles 'upholds this notion of white supremacy.'

Asten Johnson, 6, stands with his dad Nate Johnson of Colerain. Asten and his younger brother were denied enrollment at Zion Temple Christian Academy because of their hairstyles. Photo shot Friday August 14, 2020.

Whats disheartening about Zion Temple is its in the middle of a Black community, and its a predominantly Black school, Christina Johnson said. How can you not accept your own people?

School officials did not return multiple requests for comment.

An amendment to Cincinnati's anti-bias law, approved last year by the City Council, bans discrimination based on natural hair. But the law exempts religious groups.

Video: Ohio state senator suggests colored people get COVID-19 from not washing hands

This month, a school secretary emailed the dress code policy to Christina Johnson. The code bans boys from wearing braids, design cuts or Mohawk hairstyles. Hair must be cut one inch short, the email states.

Christina Johnson said school officials told her that her sons hair is unacceptable because of its length and style.

Story continues

Black people have long faced discrimination for how they wear their hair.

In 2017, another Ohio teen was forced out of a Catholic high school in Toledo for his locks. Malachi Wattley, 17, recently told The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network, that the school wasnt accepting.

They say come as you are, but I guess not, he said.

This year, Texas high school student DeAndre Arnold was invited to the Oscars by Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade after facing a suspension for his dreadlocks.

And in 2018, a referee forced New Jersey high school wrestler Andrew Johnson to cut his locks before he could compete. The referee was later suspended for two seasons.

DeAndre Arnold: Texas teen banned by high school from attending graduation after refusing to cut dreadlocks

Andrew Johnson: Referee who made high school wrestler cut dreadlocks is suspended for two years

Cincinnati was the second city of the nation to make it illegal to discriminate against people with natural hair.

City Councilman Wendell Young said at the time that he wished he would live long enough that there was no need to pass a rule or law, but we're not there yet.

Last summer, California and New York became the first states to pass similar laws.

A campaign known as the Crown Act, an acronym for creating a respectful and open world for natural hair, was created in 2019 and aims to create protections from discrimination based on race-based hairstyles.

Christina Johnson said Zion Temples hair policy, with its reference to braids and designer hairstyles, is directed at Black children.

I just dont understand how you can be an African American facility that promotes kings and queens in the heart of a Black community, and then you discriminate against people who look like the community, she said.

Asten told The Enquirer he loved attending Zion Temple last year, particularly when he and his classmates planted an acorn tree and later watched squirrels congregate around it.

But when asked how he felt, now that he couldnt return there, he raised his forearm to his eyes and held it there before muttering a single word: sad.

Christina Johnson is enrolling Asten in a public school district. The family plans to send Arrison to a babysitter. This new, unexpected arrangement will extend Nate Johnsons commute by about 90 minutes per day.

Im going do whatever I need to do for my kids, he said. Its just unfortunate because of a hairstyle.

But even if Zion Temple removed its hair policy, Nate Johnson wouldnt want his sons enrolled there any longer.

Youre supposed to be accepting, he said. Come as you are.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio private school discriminates against Black hair styles: family
New figures released today show the Irish government has issued payments to 232,400 people under the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme. This represents a reduction of 30,100 people in the past week and a 61% reduction from the peak seen at the start of May.

Goodbody Stockbrokers believe that the ongoing downward trend represents progress, but huge challenges remain to return the labour market situation to normality over the coming months and years.

The latest weekly statistics included those who did not confirm their continued eligibility for the scheme, as requested by the government through a campaign in recent weeks. Almost all the fall last week can be attributed to this issue, thus there appears to be a plateauing in the number of people on the PUP payment.

The sectors with the biggest number of recipients are accommodation and food (49K) and wholesale and retail (33,000). In addition to those on the PUP payment, the government continues to support the wages of approximately 370,000 workers through the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Adding in those on general unemployment assistance and enhanced illness benefit takes the total to an estimated 900,000 people, over 36% of the labour force.

As cabinet discusses the latest recommendations from the health officials today, Goodbody warn a balance must be struck between the health risks and the long-term economic damage that is being done to the economy and peoples livelihoods.

According to Goodbody Stockbrokers, "Progress is being made from the depths of the lockdown in April/May, but the challenges of reopening the economy and returning people to work remains. Governments around the world face an enormous challenge of removing wage supports over the coming months without triggering a spate of redundancies. This will also depend on the speed of reopening, the position taken on foreign travel and consumer confidence, amongst other issues."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Torrential weekend rains in central Virginia led to scores of road closings in low-lying areas and prompted home evacuations near a pair of small dams.

Between three inches and 10 inches of rain fell in the greater Richmond area, particularly points south and east of the city, for the 24 hours since midday Sunday, the National Weather Service reported. A flood advisory was in effect for the region until early Sunday evening. Light rain was falling Sunday afternoon.

Severe problems occurred in Chesterfield County, south of Richmond, which declared a state of emergency Saturday. The county said dozens of roadways and intersections were closed due to floodwaters or downed trees Saturday night.

A heavily traveled area of the Chippenham Parkway near U.S. 1 was reopen Sunday after being closed in both directions overnight, the Virginia Department of Transportation said in a tweet. Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield was closed Sunday as staff assessed flooding damage.

Authorities in Chesterfield County and nearby Colonial Heights on Sunday told residents living near community dams they could return home after evacuation directives previously issued due to worries about high water levels and overspill were lifted.

In Chesterfield County, more than 150 homes in neighborhoods near Falling Creek dam were evacuated Saturday evening out of an abundance of caution, the county said in a news release. Some people took shelter at a local high school. No injuries were reported. The flooding threat from the dam was due to release of excess water from its gates and not any structural issues, Chesterfield Battalion Chief Sal Luciano told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The city of Colonial Heights also revoked its brief voluntary evacuation of residents near a dam at Lakeview Park after crews fortified the structure to address any concern about land connected to the dam washing away.

City crews have been able to complete the work necessary to prevent immediate erosion, Deputy Fire Marshal Joe Boisseau told The Progress-Index of Petersburg. The evacuation request was for residents in a neighborhood along Swift Creek.

High waters also threatened the citys historic Swift Creek Mill Theatre. The main-level dining room was completely flooded, and the ground-floor level had more than a foot of water, the Theatres operators said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood Virginia
Actress Rhea Chakraborty has said, in a statement through a lawyer that she has "no objection' to the CBI probing Sushant Singh Rajput's death. She also denied any connection with Aaditya Thackeray.

Rhea Chakraborty, the Bollywood actress, in a statement through her lawyer, said that she has no objection to the CBI conducting an enquiry into Sushant Singh Rajputs death. She has also denied any connection with Aditya Thackeray.

Thackeray, the Shiv Sena leader, has been connected to Sushants death, but has denied all such allegations. Rheas lawyer has categorically denied any connection between his client and Aditya Thackeray.

She has called the case filed against her in Bihar, on charged of abetment of suicide, among others to be total nonsense. She has claimed that the Bihar police has no jurisdiction in the matter, and has filed a plea in the Supreme Court to that affect. The apex court is yet to rule on her request. She asserts that she left Sushants home on June 8 at his request as he wanted his family members to come to stay with him. In her statement, Rhea also claimed to be suffering from her own anxiety issues which was aggravated by Sushants condition.

Also Read: Witnesses in Sushant Singh Rajput case may be killed, alleges BJP MLA Niraj Singh Babloo

Also Read: Sanjay Rauts remark on doctors draws flak, issues clarification

Sushant and Rhea started dating in April 2019 and had moved in together in December 2019, the lawyer said. He further alleged that Rhea was groped by Sushants sister Priyanka in April 2019. In a statement, he detailed the incident, and said that one night in April 2019, Priyanka and Rhea were at a party, where Priyanka had consumed copious amounts of alcohol, and was behaving inappropriately with men and women. It was on this night that the alleged misconduct took place.

Further stressing that there was no wrong-doing on the part of Rhea Chakraborty, the actors lawyer said that no funds had been transferred to her account from Sushant. On July 31, the ED registered a money laundering case against Rhea and her relatives based on the FIR filed by Sushants father, K K Singh, in Patna, on July 25.

Also Read: PM CARES Funds cannot be transferred to National Disaster Response: SC
GAZA, Palestinian Territory - Gazas sole power plant shut down Tuesday, leaving the territorys 2 million residents with only around four hours of electricity a day after Israel cut off fuel supplies in response to incendiary balloons launched by Palestinian militants.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza since 2007. The balloons, launched across the frontier by Hamas-affiliated groups, have set farmland ablaze, prompting retaliatory strikes by Israel.

On Tuesday evening, Palestinian militants launched a rocket from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory, the Israeli military said. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

In response, the army said it bombed Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, including a military compound belonging to one of the special arrays belonging to the militant group.

Hamas is demanding, through Egyptian and Qatari mediators, that Israel take steps to further ease a crippling blockade it imposed when the militants seized control from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.

Instead, Israel has tightened the blockade in response to the attacks, closing the main commercial crossing into the coastal territory and barring fishermen from taking to the sea.

The closure of the power plant further reduces the supply of electricity in the territory, which was already experiencing frequent, widespread blackouts at the height of the scorching summer. Power lines running from Israel provide three to four hours of electricity a day for most households.

Many services are threatened with collapse if this crisis continues, said Mohammed Thabet, a spokesman for Gazas power distribution company. He called on Israel to allow to allow the resumption of fuel deliveries paid for by Qatar.

The Health Ministry meanwhile warned of dangerous consequences for patients in the territorys intensive care units.

Hamas says Israel is not honouring previous understandings reached with the help of Egypt and Qatar, in which Israel would ease the blockade and allow for large-scale projects to help rescue the collapsing economy.

On Monday, Egyptian mediators were in Gaza in an effort to reduce tensions and prevent another large-scale conflict between Israel and Hamas, which have fought three wars and several smaller battles since 2007. They departed without announcing any agreement.
Kristin Urquiza, a San Francisco resident who lost her 65-year-old father to COVID-19, gave a searing speech on President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus during the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Urquiza's father, Mark Anthony Urquiza, died in Arizona in June after a weeks-long battle with the virus. After his death, his daughter wrote an obituary blaming Trump, Arizona governor Doug Ducey and other "careless politicians" for his death. The obituary subsequently went viral.

"He had faith in Donald Trump, he voted him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said coronavirus was under control and would disappear, and that it was O.K. to end social distancing rules before it was safe," Urquiza said of her father during her DNC speech. "In late May, after the stay-at-home order was lifted in Arizona, my dad went to a karaoke bar with his friends. A few weeks later, he was put on a ventilator. And after five agonizing days, he died alone, in the ICU, with a nurse holding his hand."

Urquiza then refocused her fire on the president in unequivocal terms.

"My dad was a healthy 65-year-old," she said. "His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life."

Her speech was well-received by political commentators, who noted that her fiery speech gave a jolt to an otherwise sleepy first night of the convention.

"Trump may not have caused the coronavirus," Urquiza said near the end of her speech. "But his dishonesty and his irresponsible actions made it so much worse.

You can watch the full speech in the video above.

Eric Ting is an SFGATE reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - August 17, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed US Nuclear Corp. (OTC Pink: UCLE) ("the Company"), a radiation and chemical detection holding company specializing in the development and manufacturing and sales of radiation and chemical detection instrumentation. CEO of the Company, Bob Goldstein, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

The interview began with Goldstein discussing the complications found in patients that have survived COVID-19. "Most of them have not dodged the bullet completely," explained Goldstein. "We all know that COVID-19 attacks the lungs, but at the same time the virus is affecting the heart, blood vessels, liver, intestines, brain, nervous system, and can cause blood clots, strokes, and seizures," he continued. "The people who are hospitalized, and even some that are not, are in need of serious medical care for months or even years to come."

"How does nuclear medicine and medical isotopes apply to COVID-19?" asked Jolly. Goldstein elaborated on the importance of in depth patient scanning and testing to allow medical professionals to properly care for COVID-19 patients. "The nuclear medicine scans are really fantastic because you can target a specific organ, and you can see it not just as a picture, but see it in motion," shared Goldstein, adding that this allows doctors to view and analyze the structure and function of different organs. Goldstein also shared that medical isotopes such as Technecium-99 are vital for nuclear medicine scanning and isotopes such as Cobalt-60 are urgently needed for sterilizing clothing, equipment and supplies. "Because of Covid-19 these isotopes are in even higher demand than before."

"What makes an isotope is the number of neutrons," explained Goldstein. "MIFTEC is scheduled to do a new test with their neutron generator, and this test will be made with four to ten times more power going through it than MIFTEC's previous tests," said Goldstein, "That should get them the data that will allow them to make their final adjustments and start production."

Story continues

"Why is there an isotope shortage?" asked Jolly. "The reason for the shortage is that the isotopes are sort of a secondary use for a few nuclear power plants around the world; none of these plants are in North America," said Goldstein. "You can imagine there is a horrible logistics problem," he added, noting the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. "These are 40 year old reactors that are going to be phased out over time, so a new source of isotopes is needed," explained Goldstein. "MIFTEC uses heavy water that is distilled from sea water, so it doesn't come from highly enriched uranium, which is what most of the plants are now using," he continued. "There's no radiation waste when they're done."

Goldstein then explained that the medical isotope generator developed by MIFTEC is modular, allowing it to be used by single or multiple hospitals. "I think it's going to be a huge improvement," said Goldstein. "We do have some competitors, but with a $7 billion shortage, that will keep all of the competitors very busy."

"When do you think that will go into production?" asked Jolly. "I think we'll get the final prototype sometime this coming year and then we'll go into production in 2022," shared Goldstein.

To close the interview, Goldstein shared that the Company has been continually improving upon their technology in the medical isotope sector and is now looking forward to entering the production phase.

To hear Bob Goldstein's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7659641-us-nuclear-corp-discusses-supporting-our-covid-survivors-by-combating-the-global-medical-isotope

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/

About US Nuclear Corp.

US Nuclear Corp is a radiation and chemical detection holding company specializing in the development and manufacturing and sales of radiation and chemical detection instrumentation. Through three operating divisions (Technical Associates (TA), Overhoff Technology (OTC), and Electronic Control Concepts (ECC), US Nuclear Corp. harbors more than 100 years of combined experience in supplying top of the line instrumentation to any industry utilizing radionuclides. This includes nuclear power plants, national laboratories, government agencies, homeland security, military, universities and schools, research companies, hospitals, medical and dental centers, energy companies, weapons facilities, first responders, local governments, and manufacturing plants.

Safe Harbor Act

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

Investors may find additional information regarding US Nuclear Corp. at the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov, or the company's website at www.usnuclearcorp.com

CONTACT:

US Nuclear Corp. (UCLE)

Robert I. Goldstein, President, CEO, and Chairman

(818) 883 7043

Email: info@usnuclearcorp.com

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

SOURCE:

Stock Day Media

(602) 821-1102

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/61933
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 18



By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the bilateral trade between Austria and Turkmenistan, Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs of Austria told Trend.

Imports from Turkmenistan to Austria decreased by 93.3 percent and Austrian exports to Turkmenistan decreased by 61.7 percent from January to May 2020 compared to the same period of last year, added the ministry.

Within the framework of the bilateral cooperation, various Austrian companies are active in Turkmenistan, while many others express interest in operating in the country, the ministry noted.

Austria's main area of interest in Turkmenistan is energy, including renewable sources of energy, environmental technologies such as water and waste management, medicinal technology and pharmaceutical, agriculture, food processing, infrastructure and digitalization (e-government, e-learning), added ministry.

As reported, negotiations on establishing business contacts between the Turkmen Rysgal Joint Stock Commercial Bank and Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International were held.

The prospects of the country's cooperation with Austria cover creation of joint innovative facilities in the Turkmen free economic zones, the construction of mineral fertilizer production plants and cooperation in petrochemical and gas chemical sectors.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
Georgia Love has revealed she may be forced to cancel her nuptials to fiance Lee Elliot for the second time this year.

The couple, who met on The Bachelorette in 2016, had to nix their lavish Italian dream wedding due to travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

And now their dreams of a Tasmanian trip down the aisle appear to be in jeopardy, too.

Heartbreaking: On Tuesday, Georgia Love (pictured) revealed her ongoing wedding nightmare after admitting she might be forced to cancel her nuptials to Lee Elliot again

'So like HOW FUNNY IS IT when you cancel your Italy wedding and book it for Tasmania instead and then the Premier shuts the borders til at least December,' Georgia, 31, shared on Twitter.

'HAHAHAHAHA OMG SO FUNNY IM TOTALLY FINE!!!!!' she added.

The premier of Tasmania, Peter Gutwein, made the announcement on Tuesday, saying it allowed sufficient time for the COVID-19 situation in Victoria to be brought under control following a surge in cases of the deadly respiratory disease.

Devastated: Georgia shared her disappointment to Twitter after Tasmania announced they were closing their borders to non-essential travellers until at least December

Plan B! Georgia planned to hold the big day in Tasmania after being forced to cancel her Italian dream wedding due to international travel restrictions

In June, the journalist told the Ben Rob & Robbo show that the couple have been forced to change the location of their wedding to Tasmania due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

'We were planning on a wedding for Italy next year so in 2021,' she said.

'But weve gone back on those plans, so we figured theres just too many "what-ifs" in the world at the moment.'

The television presenter added that even if international travel opens the couple still plan to hold their nuptials in Georgia's home state of Tasmania instead.

'Even if Italy is fine by then we do not want to put it on our family and friends that they have to find the money to do so in such uncertain times with people losing their jobs,' she added.

Georgia chose Lee in the finale of The Bachelorette in 2016 and the pair announced their engagement in 2019.
Prabhu Chawla and Kaveree Bamzai By

Express News Service

US presidential nominee Joe Bidens running mate Kamala Harris will view India on its merits and New Delhi should also do the same, Indias former Ambassadors to the US Navtej Sarna and Arun Kumar

Singh said in conversation with Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, The New Indian Express, and author and senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai in TNIE Expressions, a series of live webcasts with people

who matter.

Harris is on the ticket (running mate) as she is perceived to be black and portrays herself as black. She is politically correct in doing so. Historically and politically America is about white and black.Black women are the Democratic bedrock of supporters. However, she will have an influential voice on India file. She will not budge from her positions and take India on its merits, Sarna said. Singh said Harris was picked keeping in mind women voters and the Black community. Her statements since becoming a Senator and running mate have been emphasising her Indian American identity... We saw large numbers of Indian Americans in the Obama administration. This has been taken forward during Trump. For Indian Americans, they would be enthused irrespective of their views of American politics. Harris captures change and progress that is taking place, he said.

On the challenges and changes that would confront bilateral ties if there is a change in regime, the former diplomats said overall, we would be on a positive ground with some changes in nuances. If we see Biden come to power, the changes will not only be for India; there will be a turning of foreign policy... It will be a change of stance for the US where they will looking back into globalisation, assuring allies, working with alliances, getting back into multilateral organisations like WHO, UNESCO, Paris Climate agreement, Sarna said.

Singh, on the other hand, felt that broadly, we will be at a good place. The Trump administration has been supportive of us broadly on the issue of terrorism and at the same time they have gone ahead and signed a deal with the Taliban not taking fully into account Indias interests. They have been supportive of us with regard to China and the Indo-Pacific, increased technology sharing and put India on strategic authorisation level-1. They called out Chinas aggressive actions in Ladakh but at the same time they have taken action against us on trade issues which did not happen during Obama administration. Then, there are the actions on the H1-B visasdriven by his America first narrative and focusing on his own core political base which have not been so positive for India, he said, and added that each administration will pose a different set of challenges, but broadly it will be a positive trajectory.
Open AI solutions from IntelliSense.io make mining more efficient, sustainable and safe

Investment will be deployed to increase applications portfolio and support distribution capacity globally

Cambridge, England, and Ludwigshafen, Germany, August 18, 2020  IntelliSense.io and BASF Venture Capital (BVC) today announced that BVC is leading a strategic investment round in IntelliSense.io with follow-on participation from a group of U.K.-based technology angel investors including Dr. Steve Garnett and Stephen Kelly. IntelliSense.io is a leading provider of AI-based solutions for the global mining industry. Its customers include mining majors and diversified mining groups.

To extract metals from the mined ores, mining companies must overcome two main challenges: First, todays known ore deposits are increasingly difficult to mine, with declining ore grades and greater environmental challenges. Second, the composition of the orebody is not known with high accuracy. This variability impacts operational conditions and control, as well as plant performance and throughput. This is where IntelliSense.ios technology comes in.

IntelliSense.io has combined the disciplines of mining expertise with software engineering and data science, enabling products to be designed by industry experts for end-users in the mining industry. The result is a unified technology platform, including a portfolio of process optimization applications spanning the entire mining value chain, from the mine to the plant and the markets. This is unique in the industry due to its breadth, scope and scale and it helps mining operations to become more efficient, sustainable and safe with accelerated value delivery. The platform also includes built-in simulation tools that can be used to test alternative operating conditions, train staff and run non-intrusive what if scenarios.

BASF has a broad portfolio of mineral processing chemicals and technologies to improve process efficiencies and aid the economic extraction of valuable resources while offering global technical support to mining customers. In addition to the investment by BASF Venture Capital, BASF Mining Solutions has entered into an exclusive partnership with IntelliSense.io, bringing together their expertise in mineral processing, ore beneficiation chemistry and industrial artificial intelligence technology. The joint offering is called BASF Intelligent Mine powered by IntelliSense.io and delivers artificial intelligence solutions embedded with BASF mineral processing and chemical expertise.

The world is becoming increasingly digital and artificial intelligence can make a vital contribution in many areas, said Markus Solibieda, Managing Director of BASF Venture Capital. The IntelliSense.io team offers a flexible and future-proof system which can help to optimize the metal lifecycle from extraction to processing to disposal. We believe in the IntelliSense.io team and the potential of this technology, and we are happy to support the further development and distribution of this innovative solution with our investment.

Sam G. Bose, Founder and CEO of IntelliSense.io, commented: Our fast-establishing leadership in industrial AI is driven by vertical industry-specific applications that require partnerships combining decades of industrial experience with emerging technologies. In the BASF group we are humbled to have found such a partner. We are delighted to have BVCs support in building a category-leading industrial AI company and the capital raised will be deployed to increase our applications portfolio and support distribution capacity globally.

Press contacts:

BASF IntelliSense.io

Inga Franke Ryan Booth

Phone: +49 173 3099242 Phone: +44 1223 581 201

inga.a.franke@basf.com ryan@intellisense.io
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, August 18, 2020 16:44 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ed6774 1 Business RCEP,free-trade-agreement,India,China,Indonesia,ASEAN,palm-oil,export,import,Trade-Ministry Free

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has entered the legal scrubbing phase and is expected to be signed soon without India, the Trade Ministry has said.

The participating countries now comprise the ASEAN member states, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The participating countries will keep the door open for India in case it decides to rejoin the trade deal in the future, because its participation will be important on political, economic and Asian solidarity fronts, Deputy Trade Minister Jerry Sambuaga said in a statement on Thursday.

India withdrew from RCEP negotiations in November last year because of concerns about its growing trade deficit with China. The situation worsened after the Indian army said at least 20 of its soldiers had been killed in clashes with Chinese troops at a disputed border site between the two countries in June.

India is Indonesia's fifth-largest export market. Indonesias top export to its South Asian peer is coal, with value reaching US$4.81 billion in 2019, according to data from the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade). Its next biggest exports to the country are palm oil, stainless steel and rubber. This makes India the second-largest buyer of Indonesian coal and palm oil.

India is also an important import partner as it accounted for 35 percent of Indonesias total beef imports in 2019.

Read also: RI looks to sign RCEP this year to support economic recovery

Without Indias participation, Indonesia might not be able to enjoy cheaper Indian beef and lower tariffs for its palm oil exports, said Andry Satrio Nugroho, the head of the center of industry, trade and investment at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef).

Andry said missing the opportunity to lower Indian beef prices was less costly because Australian beef imports, which accounted for the majority of Indonesias beef imports, might fill the supply with the implementation of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).

With regard to palm oil, there are not that many buyers out there. In Asia, the largest buyers are China and India, Andry told The Jakarta Post in a phone interview on Friday. If India joins the RCEP, we may enjoy lower tariffs for our palm oil, perhaps at zero percent.

Yose Rizal Damuri, the head of the department of economics at the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said on Thursday that the RCEP might not lead to significant changes in Indonesias exports and imports. However, the trade deal would prepare the participating countries for any future trend in global trade that had been accelerated by the pandemic, including digital trade.

This increases the importance of the RCEP as it will create regulations on, or at least has started talking about, the future of digital trade, Yose said in a phone interview.

The coronavirus outbreak has hit international trade amid movement restrictions as the World Trade Organization (WTO) projects global trade volumes will contract by between 13 percent at best and 32 percent at worst this year.

Indonesia booked $76.41 billion in exports, a decrease of 5.49 percent, in this years first half while imports amounted to $70.9 billion, a 14.28 percent yoy decrease. It recorded a trade surplus of $5.5 billion over the first half of the year, compared to a deficit of $1.87 billion in the same period last year.

RCEP participating countries have expressed hope that the trade deal can help with their recovery from the economic slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the conclusion of [...] RCEP negotiations, we have a bigger market access and support to enhance Indonesias competitiveness, Jerry said. However, this access must be complemented with improvements in product quality, branding, logistics system and payment system, among other things, so that our locally made products can successfully enter the global market.

The government expects to sign the trade deal in November, around eight years after it was introduced at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia, after the completion of the legal scrubbing, which consists of a legal review of the text agreement.

The government will ensure this phase [legal scrubbing] will not change the substance of Indonesias interest, Jerry stressed.
Regional advertising campaign drives increase in hiring efforts of essential personnel for The Arc Central Chesapeake Region through sharing stories that go Beyond a Job. The concept of Beyond a Job helps illustrate the diverse role a Direct Support Professional plays in creating those opportunities for independence and inclusion. We are proud to share stories of our employees and the passion that inspires them daily.

Annapolis-based advertising agency Liquified Creative recently partnered with The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) in launching Beyond a Job, a regional campaign designed to increase recruitment efforts at the non-profit. Specifically, the non-profits goal was to recruit qualified candidates to fill open positions for Direct Support Professionals (DSP), creating awareness of career opportunities, and attracting talent whose passion aligns with the organization.

The campaign encourages people of all experiences and backgrounds to explore a career amongst a team of dedicated staff who are passionate about making a positive difference and helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to thrive in their local communities and beyond.

Jonathon Rondeau, President and CEO of The Arc, said:

At The Arc, we create opportunities for equity and access so people with I/DD are fully included in the community where they live. The concept of Beyond a Job helps illustrate the diverse role a Direct Support Professional plays in creating those opportunities for independence and inclusion. We are proud to share stories of our employees and the passion that inspires them daily. 

Shawn Noratel, Founding Partner and Creative Director of the advertising agency responsible for this campaign, said:

Marketing and advertising is really about sharing a clients passion. The ongoing positive results of this campaign truly reflect our collective partnership with Jonathon and his team at The Arc Central Chesapeake Region. We truly admire the entire organizations passion behind supporting and advocating for the people they serve."

The Beyond a Job campaign appears throughout the greater Baltimore, Maryland area across multiple platforms, including TV, digital, print, and out of home. Liquified Creative designed and managed the creative development, media strategy and outreach to support the campaign. The ads direct audiences to TheArcCCR.org/DSP, a landing page created specifically to share the stories of current DSPs. The landing page offers videos that highlight the experiences of current employees, directions on how to apply, along with resources relevant to the open positions.

The campaign ads, created by Liquified Creative prior to COVID-19, feature stories from current DSPs who found fulfilling careers after joining The Arc. Since its launch, the commercial spot created specifically for this campaign has been honored with both a Gold Hermes Award and a Communicator Award Distinction.

The Arc plans to continue to amplify the campaigns message and share their commitment to hiring passionate and dedicated DSPs.

About Liquified Creative

Liquified Creative is an integrated advertising agency based in Annapolis, Maryland that provides digital and traditional marketing consulting and creative services to both local and national clients across a wide variety of industries. Collectively, their team carries well over 50+ years of professional experience in marketing, creative, web design and development, and branding. The award-winning agencys approach is grounded in a client-first mentality that fuels their team to remain innovative and never settle for ordinary. To learn more about Liquified Creative, visit http://www.liquifiedcreative.com.

About The Arc Central Chesapeake Region

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region provides services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through living options, workforce development, and fiscal management services. Serving Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, The Arc provides an innovative, person centered approach across the arc of a persons life with a focus on equity and self-determination. http://www.thearcccr.org
CLEVELAND, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pulsar Products is going strong, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Being nimble and adaptive is critical to the company's surviving and thriving.

And while the company pivoted early during the pandemic to deliver over 10 million PPE masks to customers including the Mayo Clinic and the U.S. Navy, this time of year, the focus is on its line of school and office supplies, which are sold at major retailers, including Meijer, Dollar Tree, Dollar General and soon available at Walmart.

Are school supplies still a 'thing' in this time of remote classroom learning that relies on laptops?

"Yes," says Buffalo, New York clinical psychologist Amy Shuman, Ph.D., "Continuing the time-honored tradition of back-to-school shopping is not only fun, but also mentally healthy for kids of all ages  whether you're shopping online or in-person. Rituals keep us grounded and help normalize what otherwise is a very difficult time right now for children."

Additionally, whether students are heading back to classrooms, or will attend virtually from home, they still need fresh and unmarked planners, notebooks, journals and binders to keep homework and class projects well-organized. Pulsar's products, with of-the-moment designs and vivid hues, attract attention in stores.

But adaptation was required here, too. Because Pulsar relied on manufacturing in China, it was clear that might be a challenge for its supply chain. So, company leaders shifted to using printers in Detroit, Michigan and manufacturers in Bedford Heights, Ohio.

Something that hasn't changed: the company's creative team at its Cleveland headquarters, which is constantly generating fresh and lively content, is intact. None of Pulsar's 19 employees have lost their jobs since the pandemic began.

"Pulsar continues to be successful because we are nimble and use our human capital effectively. Our entrepreneurial/startup mindset combined with our flexible and open workplace culture drives us to think differently than our competitors and provides an atmosphere that promotes creative freedom," says Eric Ludwig, who co-founded the firm in 1997 with his brother Mike.

About Pulsar Products: Pulsar is a thriving, entrepreneurial consumer product company servicing national retailers, cruise lines, and special events companies. Started in 1997 in a basement, this family business' products are now found in over 25,000 locations worldwide. www.PulsarProducts.com.

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Contact:

Kathleen Colan, KC Media Partners

440.479.0932 | [email protected]

Melissa Sperry, Pulsar Products

440.785.3834 | [email protected]

SOURCE Pulsar Products
The Assam chief minister took to his Twitter account to thank Akshay Kumar for his contribution

Actor Akshay Kumar has donated Rs 1 crore to Assam Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the people affected by floods in the northeast state.

The chief minister took to his Twitter account to thank the actor for his contribution. Sharing the news CM Sarbananda Sonowal wrote, "You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena."

Check out the post

Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of 1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena.  Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) August 18, 2020

The actor had earlier donated a huge sum of Rs 25 crore to PM CARES Fund and also made hefty donations to CM's relief fund.

The actor had a few days back decided to contribute Rs 1 crore each to Bihar and Assam Chief Minister's Relief Fund to help combat the flood situation in their states. According to a report in Hindustan Times, a source stated that the actor spoke to the CM of both states and pledged the sum at a time when both places are affected by natural calamity. As per the source, both CMs expressed gratitude and appreciated the actor's gesture.

The actor had in 2019 donated Rs 1 crore to Orissa's relief fund after the state was hit by Cyclone Fani. He had, later in the same year, donated finds to rehabilitate 25 families from Bihar who had struggled during the floods in October.
How can company culture positively impact employee well-being?

According to British business magnate Richard Branson, it all comes down to treating people like the capable adults they are. Flexible working encourages our staff to find a better balance between their work and private lives, he notes. Through this balance, they become happier and more productive.

There's no magic formula for great company culture. The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated.  Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group

In a time when people are trying to navigate their workdays w[]hile simultaneously looking after small children and other personal responsibilities, these words couldnt ring more true.

Related: Work-Life Balance Is Essential for Entrepreneurs

During the worldwide health crisis, the need for boundaries between work and home has become even more critical. Many entrepreneurs might erroneously believe that sending emails at all hours of the day isnt problematic since their employees are now working from home. But what theyre actually doing is promoting an unhealthy, always-on company culture that keeps people chained to their devices.

Writing for Harvard Business Review, John Hackston explains that, Technology can empower people, but it can also make them feel enslaved. By thinking carefully about how and when to use it, you can find your own sweet spot. Amid the current crisis, thats more important than ever.

"Always-on" has become the default

Let me pose this question: How often do you take your smartphone with you to lunch or dinner? How about to bed? If you take a moment to tally up the number of times youve received work notifications outside of work hours, youd likely lose count.

When I tell you that, as entrepreneurs, we are always-on, I am referring to this habit of not distinguishing between work and personal time. Many of us may have inadvertently set our company culture to reflect our own lax boundaries around technology.

I know that when I first founded my startup, I had this misplaced belief that answering emails till midnight or during weekends made me more productive. I had yet to establish the firm work policies I now have in place.

Research shows that as supervisors, we need to be careful in creating harmful expectations when it comes to smartphone use.

As Hackston points out: And now that so many of us are working from home, communicating with our colleagues exclusively via electronic media, the boundaries between home and work can become increasingly blurred, making it even more difficult to switch off.

Many of us might figure that since were working from home, well get all our emails done later in the night or on Sunday morning. But what we often dont take into consideration, is that were significantly contributing to employee distress, and, ultimately, an unhealthy environment.

The change starts at the level of leadership

As leaders, its up to us to set a calm and productive culture that wards off burnout.

The problem with blurring the border between work and downtime is that it leaks into other areas of your life like your health, family, and personal time.

One 2012 study found the more information overload we experience, our productivity and performance decreases. And not only that, our decision-making and ability to innovate also become compromised. Other research shows that heavy multitaskers are less capable of doing several things at once compared to light multitaskers.

In other words, constant interruptions and not giving your team the head-space to be fully present in their personal lives will eventually lead to poor work results.

Related: Adopt These 12 Habits for a Better Work-Life Balance

So, whats to be done?

To paraphrase Bransons insight, the key is to treat your team how you would like to be treated. Below I offer an alternative path for cultivating more balance.

Ways to dismantle workaholic culture

1. Set the pace. Its important that we note how our everyday habits perpetuate larger work behaviors. Meaning, we are setting the precedent for how employees feel they should act. For example, if I answer phone calls while Im having dinner with family, Im creating an expectation that its fine to blur these lines between our work and home life. If we dont create boundaries around our own work hours, others wont think they have the right to not immediately answer calls.

2. Allow your team to switch off. During the first five years of JotForm, we had just four employees. It was relatively easier to keep track of communication. But as we grew, I decided that promoting a healthy company culture meant adjusting our policies to reflect our values. Instead of simply paying lip-service to these ideals, I make it a point to walk my talk, and I do this in several ways:

By encouraging my team to delete their Slack app on weekends, the amount of work related correspondence during our employee's downtime is limited.

By defining the parameters of on and off hours, team members who are eager to please will assume they should always be on unless you tell them otherwise. Communicating clear expectations helps them guard their time better.

By not stressing them out with excessive emails, I respect their personal time. Ive written before why we should refrain from sending 2 a.m. emails. Keep in mind, receiving that ping in the dead of night is disrupting their sleep and causing unneeded stress during a time thats already stressful enough. In making sure I schedule my send time for business hours, Im letting them know I respect their health and wellbeing.

3. Create a culture of honesty. Finally, breaking a work addiction mindset involves transparency on what we all can and cant do. Creating a sense of community and collaboration comes from allowing team members to examine their capacity to give.

Related: Practice What You Preach: Why Leaders Should Maintain Work-Life Balance During the Most Stressful Times

Ask the hard questions like: Are they working through personal things at home? This is especially relevant now when people are dealing with mental health and safety concerns.

Having an open conversation about availability is what forms a healthy work culture. Instead of slowly watching employees burnout, talk with them and really listen to their needs. In doing so, youre improving your companys overall health, creativity, and performance. As Branson wisely emphasizes, you'll establish an environment in which everyone can flourish.

Related:

Covid-19 Effect: One in Two Youths Subject to Depression and Anxiety

An Alternative Path to 'Always-On' Company Culture

5 Ways To Avoid Burnout Working As A Hybrid-Entrepreneur



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Hero MotoCorp Ltd, Bajaj Auto Ltd and TVS Motor Co. Ltd are preparing to locally source most of their components imported from China by March to offset any potential disruptions to their supply chains in the future, said four people directly aware of the development.

This follows the continuing border standoff between India and China that escalated in mid-June with the killing of 20 Indian army personnel in Ladakh. India, in retaliation, increased inspection of consignments from China and levied import curbs on certain parts like tyres, which have affected the production of some automakers.

In some cases where localizing a particular part could lead to cost escalation, the original equipment makers (OEMs) have also expressed their willingness to share or bear the entire cost with parts makers.Some suppliers based in China have also been asked to shift to other countries for the time being even at the expense of an increase in cost.

According to the first of the four people cited above, the managements of Hero and Bajaj have set a target of localizing most of their imported parts by end-March.

Suppliers have been told in no uncertain terms that they should also start making plans to reduce dependence on Chinese imports by next year. They are trying to eliminate any Chinese link in the system even at the expense of an increase in cost. At this point, insulating the supply-chain network is of paramount importance for these manufacturers, said the person, requesting anonymity.

We are asking suppliers to set up shop in other countries. You have to trade-off between cost and supply security, Niranjan Gupta, chief financial officer of Hero MotoCorp, said at a post-earnings conference call with analysts, hinting at a possible move by the company to cut Chinese imports.

TVS Motor is also aggressively planning to localize most of its imported parts, said the four people cited above.

Queries emailed to Hero, Bajaj Auto and TVS on Friday remained unanswered until press time.

Indian automakers began to take steps to reduce their dependence on Chinese imports after being forced to cut output by 10% in February as Covid-related lockdowns in China disrupted supplies. This affected firms plans to seamlessly transition to the stringent Bharat Stage-VI emission norms by 31 March.

Key spare parts like electronics and engine-related parts have to be imported as it is more cost-efficient and Indian companies lack the capability to produce them due to insufficient domestic volume.

Also, as part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat campaign, the Centre has been urging automakers to develop India as a manufacturing hub.
When Hong Kong's richest tycoons declared their support for the city's national security law in June, it wasn't what they said that stood out as much as how they said it.

One by one, the financial hub's most prominent capitalists - from Li Ka-shing to Raymond Kwok - delivered their endorsements in a strikingly similar way: by giving interviews or statements to Hong Kong newspapers controlled by China's Communist Party.

It was a notable shift from last year, when the tycoons used a variety of media to weigh in on pro-democracy demonstrations, and a sign of growing influence for a publishing empire that China has spent decades amassing in Hong Kong. As the Chinese government moves to snuff out the city's protest movement, it's now tapping this empire to promote its agenda and, according to critics including independent publishers and pro-democracy lawmakers, silence dissenting voices like never before.

The two newspapers that carried the tycoons' endorsements - Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po - represent just a sliver of the publishing operations controlled by China's government through its Liaison Office in Hong Kong, according to a person familiar with the matter as well as court documents, company web sites and corporate registry filings. The entity also owns at least 30 publishing houses and brands, one of the biggest commercial printing companies in greater China and 60 retail bookstores in Hong Kong and Macau. It publishes school textbooks, runs an online news outlet with almost 250,000 Facebook followers and distributes pro-Beijing magazines to more than 500 secondary schools in Hong Kong.

While comprehensive market share figures for the city's publishing industry are hard to find, independent booksellers and academics who have studied the industry say the Liaison Office has a dominant position in book publishing and a modest but growing presence in news. They also say it's likely to become more influential as Hong Kong's national security law creates a chilling effect on independent media. Police cited alleged violations of the law when they arrested pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai on Aug. 10 and raided the office of his flagship newspaper, Apple Daily.

The long-term risk is that Hong Kong's historically freewheeling media and publishing scene - part of what underpins the city's status as an international financial center - will increasingly resemble that of heavily censored China, according to Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London.

"The scope of free media has been very slowly eroded, and it gave Chinese propaganda machinery the scope to operate," Tsang said. "Even very crude propaganda can be effective if it is reported often enough."

Ta Kung Pao, Wen Wei Po, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of China's State Council, and Sino United Publishing - one of the Liaison Office's main companies in Hong Kong - didn't respond to requests for comment. A Liaison Office official reached by phone declined to comment when asked whether it controls publishing assets in Hong Kong.

Lee Cho Jat, an honorary chairman of Sino United, said in a 2018 interview with Radio Television Hong Kong that there are no political motives behind its operations. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said that the city's freedom of speech, press and publication will be maintained, and that the Liaison Office's work shouldn't be interfered with as long as it's law-abiding.

The Liaison Office has never publicly disclosed its business interests. But a Hong Kong court ruling on June 22 added to a trail of evidence suggesting that the government entity controls publishing assets in the former British colony through a Chinese company called Guangdong Xin Wenhua. The judge in the case, which involved the winding-up of a business that owed money to a Hong Kong unit of Guangdong Xin Wenhua, said the company was "closely associated with the Liaison Office and, I think it a compelling inference, doing its bidding."

Various local media have detailed similar connections in recent years. A 2018 story by RTHK, Hong Kong's government-run broadcaster, cited a credit report for Guangdong Xin Wenhua that showed the Liaison Office was its only shareholder. A person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News this month that the Liaison Office still controls the company. Guangdong Xin Wenhua's ownership of publishing assets in Hong Kong is spelled out in documents in the city's corporate registry and on the web sites of the companies it controls.

China's government has tried to shape the narrative on Hong Kong both within the city and on the mainland since long before the handover from Britain in 1997, but its efforts have shifted into overdrive since plans for the national security law emerged in May, according to Tanya Chan, a founding member of Hong Kong's pro-democracy Civic Party.

The Liaison Office's Hong Kong media outlets have published articles and commentaries slamming the pro-democracy movement and attacking Beijing's critics. Some of the news stories have included statements from Luo Huining, who became the Liaison Office's director in January and is the Chinese official tasked with advising Lam on national security.

After anti-government protests on July 1, an editorial in Ta Kung Pao called for tighter police surveillance in Hong Kong and said pro-democracy figures like Joshua Wong and Nathan Law should face prosecution. Wong has since been charged for taking part in an unauthorized assembly, which he has called an "outrageous political purge on the city's dissidents." Law, who fled to the U.K., has a warrant out for his arrest on suspicion of violating the national security law. He said on Twitter: "I have no idea what is my `crime' and I don't think that's important. Perhaps I love Hong Kong too much."

When police detained Lai this month, the headline in Ta Kung Pao summed up the view from Beijing: "So Happy!" The media tycoon, who was released on bail, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Aug. 14 that he was arrested on "trumped up" charges.

In one sign of the growing sway of Liaison Office publications, Hong Kong's Leisure and Cultural Services Department - which runs the city's libraries - said it would review its book collection after Wen Wei Po reported in June that its readers had found titles that may be in violation of the national security law.

"This is their machine," said Chan, the Civic Party member and author of one of several books flagged by Wen Wei Po. "They have been doing this for a very long time, but now they have more support, and some authorities will take follow-up actions."

Still, the Liaison Office's influence has its limits. Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao had the lowest credibility scores among 11 Hong Kong newspapers evaluated by Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2019. And unlike residents of mainland China, Hongkongers enjoy largely unfettered access to the internet, international news outlets and social media platforms. About 56% of residents oppose the national security legislation, compared with 34% who support it, according to a Reuters/Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute poll released before the law's enactment.

"As long as the internet is still free, it is very hard for the Liaison Office to make their narrative a dominant one," said Faye Dorcas Yung, assistant professor at The Open University of Hong Kong, a self-financing university set up by the city's government.

Yet it's not clear how long the free flow of information in Hong Kong will last. James Griffiths, a journalist and author of "The Great Firewall of China: How to Build and Control an Alternative Version of the Internet,'' is among China watchers who have said it would be possible for Beijing to impose a partial digital blackout on the territory.

Facebook, Google and Twitter - all of which are blocked on the mainland - have stopped responding to Hong Kong government requests for data in the wake of the national security law, setting up a potential clash with authorities. The New York Times said last month it would move part of its Hong Kong-based news operation to Seoul, citing uncertainty about the new law and work visas, among other reasons.

Hong Kong's global ranking in a Reporters Without Borders survey of press freedom was falling even before this year, declining to 73 in 2019 from 61 five years earlier. (China was ranked 177 of 180 countries and territories in 2019, three spots above North Korea.)

Free speech advocates say the trend in Hong Kong's book-publishing industry is equally worrisome.

Lam Wing-kee, a Hong Kong bookseller known for carrying titles banned in mainland China, said the Liaison Office's influence over printing, publishing and retail bookstores has made it increasingly difficult for independent publishers and booksellers to carry on in the city unless they toe the Communist Party line.

"Now, only those with ideology approved by the CCP can survive," said Lam, who fled to Taiwan in 2019. He was one of five Hong Kong booksellers who disappeared in 2015 and later said they were held in China, an incident that attracted international criticism of Beijing's encroachment on Hong Kong's autonomy.

Yung, the assistant professor at The Open University of Hong Kong, said Liaison Office-controlled Sino United has used its dominant position in publishing to censor content that doesn't align with Beijing's agenda, though the process is less transparent than in mainland China. Her latest research project examined the impact of censorship on children's literature in Hong Kong.

The Liaison Office has "a wide spectrum of control over the market of knowledge distribution," said Lin On-yeung, store manager at ACO Book, a small book shop in Hong Kong's Wan Chai neighborhood.

Sino United didn't respond to requests for information on its operations, but figures included in the 2010 book "Publishing in China: An Essential Guide" point to its outsized presence in the city's publishing industry. At the time, the company was recording annual revenue of about HK$4 billion ($516 million), while book sales for all of Hong Kong totaled HK$5 billion.

Sino United also plays a large role in the city's market for primary and secondary school textbooks, where its sales practices have drawn scrutiny from Hong Kong's Competition Commission. The commission alleged in a competition tribunal in March that Sino United had engaged in anti-competitive behavior including price-fixing. The company declined to comment on the case when reached by the South China Morning Post in March.

Some Hong Kong publishers including Spicy Fish Cultural Productions, a big source of local literature in the city, have recently ended distribution deals with Sino United even though the move could hurt their bottom lines, citing concern that the relocation of the group's book warehousing to mainland China could lead to tighter censorship.

"They have the money and also the backing of the government," said Ip Kin-yuen, a lawmaker and vice president of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, referring to the Liaison Office's publishing operations. "They have all the advantages."
WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Danforth Advisors, LLC, the life science industrys leading resource for operational accounting, finance support and strategic CFO advisory, today announced the appointment of Stephen J. Hoffman, MD, PhD, to its board of directors and to a senior advisory role for the firms clients. An accomplished life science entrepreneur, executive and investor, he brings three decades of knowledge and influential relationships to his position as a strategic thought partner to scientific founders and CEOs navigating all stages of corporate evolution. His initial focus will be assistance with fundraising for earlier stage companies.



Having worked with Danforth for many years as a client CEO, board member or investor, Ive been impressed by the teams grasp of life sciences; how the industry works and what it takes for a company to advance  whether starting up or operating commercially, said Dr. Hoffman. We collectively understand the importance of the end game  getting life-changing therapeutics to patients  and our efforts are entirely focused on providing companies with the financial and operational foundation to support this mission.

We specialize in a sector that is challenging, with unrelenting capital needs, regulatory hurdles and a very long road to market. Steve has invested in and led companies through nearly every scenario and brings valuable perspective to help our clients achieve their goals, said Chris Connors, President of Danforth Advisors. Both as a board member and a consultant with Danforth, Steve is a tremendous asset as we continue to grow and undertake new challenges for our clients.

Dr. Hoffmans expertise lies in building life science companies and leading entrepreneurial teams to create shareholder value. He helped found two public companies, Somatogen, Inc. and Allos Therapeutics, Inc.  where he spent nearly nine years as CEO and another ten as Chairman until the companys acquisition by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He has served on the boards of 18 life science companies, both public and private, with four posts as Chairman and extensive committee experience. On the venture capital side, he has over 15 years of experience leading private equity investments totaling more than $140 million. As Managing Director at Skyline Ventures and General Partner at TVM Capital, he played a major role in portfolio company development, guiding corporate strategy and business development, private and public financings, and clinical and regulatory strategies. He was twice named among the Top Advisors in US Healthcare/Venture Capital by Day & Associates.

He holds an MD from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and PhD in Chemistry from Northwestern University. He completed a fellowship in clinical oncology and a residency and fellowship in dermatology at the University of Colorado.

About Danforth Advisors

Danforth Advisors is the financial backbone to hundreds of life science companies, providing integrated and scalable consulting teams ranging from staff accountant through CFO. The companys services span the full breadth of a finance organizations needs, whether short or long term, including accounting and operational finance support, capital raising, financial planning and analysis, IPO preparation, post-public SEC compliance and clinical business operations management. Founded in 2011, Danforth has been a strategic and trusted thought partner to more than 500 life science companies, private and public, across all stages of the corporate life cycle. The company is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts with additional operations in the emerging life science clusters of metropolitan New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado. Additional information is available at www.danforthadvisors.com.
Just over two weeks ago, reinsman James MacDonald sustained a concussion and broke his right collarbone when he was involved in a racing accident at Woodbine Mohawk Park. On Tuesday (August 18), the 2017 World Driving Champion was already back in the sulky, as he was in action during the weekly qualifying session at the Campbellville, Ont. oval.

In the August 1 accident, which occurred at the top of the stretch, 3-5 favourite Best In Show, who was first-over while edging to the lead, jumped and veered into Highlandbeachlover. Highlandbeachlover jolted inside, which caused Sports Column (who was driven by MacDonald) to trip over a wheel and go down. Yacht Seelster (Chris Christoforou) and Tyga Hanover (Sylvain Filion), who had been gapped from the rest of the field, raced into the stretch and also went down over Sports Column.

A handful of days later, MacDonald provided an update on his condition. In his update, MacDonald indicated that there was optimism that he wouldn't miss too much racing. Fast forward to Mohawk's August 18 qualifying session, just 17 days after the accident, and there was MacDonald, lining up in Post 6 for the session's fourth race.

In his first charted mile back, MacDonald was in the bike behind two-year-old Trixton gelding Perfect Record for his brohter, trainer Anthony MacDonald. James and his charge floated out from the gate and found themselves in second at the quarter pole, which was clicked off in 30 seconds.

James and Perfect Record inherited the lead in the second panel, and the duo proceeded to open up almost six lengths before passing the half-mile indicator in 1:01.2.

Perfect Record's qualifier starts at approximately the 45:30 mark.

Perfect Record cruised through the back half of his mile. With a comfortable lead, the bay tripped the third timer in 1:32.1 and capped things off with a 31-second final quarter. The win time was 2:03.1. The margin of victory was three and a quarter lengths. And the report from MacDonald was good.

MacDonald conveyed to Trot Insider that "everything was great" and that Perfect Record raced well and there were no issues.

The eyes of the harness racing world will be on Woodbine Mohawk Park this Saturday (August 22), as the eliminations for the North America Cup will be contested. In addition to some of the continent's top three-year-old male pacers, MacDonald is hoping that he will also be competing at Mohawk on Saturday.

After the qualifying session, MacDonald told Trot Insider that he was heading to St. Catharines to see his doctor, but that he "should be back in the bike Saturday."

MacDonald only drove in one of Tuesday's qualifying session, which also featured wins by a pair of six-figure yearling purchases: Rosies War Bonds (2:01.3) and Rau Ru (1:58.2).

To view the harness racing results from Mohawk's Tuesday session, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 20:42:00|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Spokesperson of UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Tuesday denied the claims that the agency inspected the entry of 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate into Beirut's port in 2013, National News Agency reported.

Andre Tenenti explained that the UNIFIL does not conduct physical inspections of ships, nor does it have the responsibility to authorize entry into Lebanese ports.

"The role of UNIFIL is to hail ships that are approaching Lebanon and refer any suspicious ships to the Lebanese authorities who carry out the inspection independently," he said.

Local newspaper Al-Akhbar reported on Tuesday that General Director of Customs Badri Daher, who is currently under arrest, claimed that the UN inspected the ship when it entered the Lebanese territorial waters in 2013 and found no restricted items onboard.

Daher, former Customs Director Chafic Merhi and Director General of Beirut Port Hassan Koraytem were arrested earlier this month over the blasts that rocked Beirut's port on Aug. 4, killing over 177 people and wounding 6,000. Enditem
The continued control exerted by Turkey backed forces over the Alouk water plant has pushed the Syrian government to provide water trucks for the locals of Hassakeh writes SANA.

Hassakeh City Council has secured water trucks to transport drinking water to the city center, since the Turkish occupation forces and their mercenaries have continued to cut off the water to the housing compounds along the water transfer pipeline, which extends from Alouk plant to Hassakeh city and its surroundings.

The head of Hassakeh City Council, Eng. Adnan Khajou, in a statement to SANA, said that the Council has allocated trucks to transport 8,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily to the neighborhoods of Hassakeh city after filling them with water from the Naffasheh wells, east of the city.

In the same context, the Water Project at the Syrian Arab Red Crescent- Hassakeh Branch, fills the tanks which have been installed on the streets of Hassakeh to contribute to alleviating the suffering of the locals in the current period.

In a similar statement coordinator of the project Nora Abdul-Wahab said that work is currently focusing on transferring water in trucks to fill 58 water tanks, and whose capacity is five cubic meters, and have been installed on the streets of the city earlier with the aim of securing drinking water for the locals in the city, and that 30 additional tanks are expected to be installed over the coming period according to the need.

Meanwhile, the locals in Hassakeh city called for an end to the violations of the Turkish occupation and its terrorist mercenaries and stopping them from controlling Alouk plant, which is considered the main source of drinking water for about a million people.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The prevalence of the highly infectious coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has caused massive health and socio-economic upheavals worldwide. Major slumps in industrial production due to stringent lockdown measures and export restrictions have led to severe logistical challenges and drastic disruptions to the global supply chains. Rising to the challenges and unprecedented demands, the 3D printing technology has demonstrated operational resilience with timely and innovative responses to help in the global supply efforts.

In an article published in Nature Reviews Materials, researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Nanyang Technological University, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and HP Inc examined how the digital versatility and quick prototyping of 3D printing has enabled the swift mobilization of the technology and a rapid response to emergencies in a closed loop economy.

The researchers explained how 3D printing has enabled product customization, complex designs and on-demand manufacturing using any decentralized 3D printing facility in the world by leveraging designs shared online. This has led to the broad spectrum of 3D printing applications in the fight against COVID-19 including the printing of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical and testing devices, personal accessories, visualization aids, and emergency dwellings.

For instance, due to severe shortages of ventilator machines, continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machines were used as substitutes for COVID-19 patients who require sub-intensive therapy. A 3D printable mask connector design, the Charlotte valve, was produced and it was specially designed to fit and connect Decathlon's Easybreath snorkelling masks to CPAP machines.

3D printing also served as an alternative and more efficient manufacturing option to keep up with the demand for nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs. The 3D printed NP swabs were fabricated with complex tip structures for enhanced sample collection efficacy, hence eliminating the need to apply flocks at the tips. Separately, 3D printing has even been used to fabricate temporary emergency dwellings to isolate those under quarantine, relieving the overloaded medical infrastructures.

The article additionally discussed technological suitability, accountability of new approved designs, copyright infringements as well as regulations and guidelines that 3D print manufacturers need to abide by to ensure safe and effective performance of 3D-printed medical devices and translate the good intentions of individuals into meaningful contributions.

The agility and precision of 3D printing has allowed for innovative solutions amidst the supply chain pressures that we are facing globally. This has resulted in rapidly deployable built environment, healthcare medical devices and training tools which have been crucial in the fight to save lives and contain this virus." Professor Chua Chee Kai, Corresponding Author from SUTD
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Cloudy with light snow developing after midnight. Low near 25F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with light snow developing after midnight. Low near 25F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
With her trusty Welsh corgi and a new pageant crown, Kayla Black is heading back to Texas Tech University in Lubbock to live in an off-campus apartment for a sophomore experience she knows will be unlike anything she has experienced.

Although Texas Tech plans to reopen its campus, all of Blacks fall classes will be online, the 19-year-old said.

The 2020 fall semester is going to be very different for all Red Raiders, but I am ready to start my sophomore year of college, said Black, who graduated in 2019 from Pearland High School. All of my classes this year will be virtual, which will help keep me from being exposed to the virus, but if I plan on studying at the library, you will find me wearing my mask and practicing social distancing.

Last year, she lived in a dormitory for her freshman year, which is required by the college.

She is keeping her focus on her career goals.

My dream is to become a corporate executive in advertising for the Walt Disney Co., Black said.

At Pearland High, she was a cheerleader all four years. She recently won her dream title  National American Miss North Texas  and a ticket to the national finals, which are planned for Thanksgiving weekend in Orlando, Fla.

Since March, when Tech students were released before spring break, the daughter of Keith and Annette Black has been home with her parents and her 3-year-old Pembroke Welsh corgi, Bentley. She recently completed a summer school course online that imagined her and three fellow students as the owners of a shoe company.

It was nine hours of business classes which ended with a final group presentation that dealt with marketing, operations management and an accounting of finances for how we could run a business and make a profit, Black said.

Title won online

Black also won her NAM title online, which was a departure from her many onstage competitions, which began with Black winning her age group at the 2009 Pasadena Strawberry Festival in an up-do hairstyle with quaint curls.

Next, she and her mother, a 1986 graduate of Dobie High School, entered the first pageant sponsored by the Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, and each won their respective division.

Kayla Black continued in pageantry, collecting titles in various systems.

This summer, she advanced to NAM by applying for the North Texas crown via the digisphere.

First, I submitted a 30-second personal introduction video, she said. My mom filmed it on my phone.

In addition, Black sent a photograph and an approximately 250-word essay on the platform, domestic violence awareness, that she will champion in Lubbock with the help of her Alpha Chi Omega sorority sisters.

Finally, Black fielded questions from a NAM judge on a 30-minute Zoom call.

There were more questions asked than a usual interview of 10 minutes or less, she said. The judge got to get to know a lot more about me.

That information included how Black has traveled to Paris, London, Japan and Hawaii, and how, in her spare time, she paints messages rocks for her friends with inspirational messages such as You matter and Choose happiness.

The winner of National American Miss will receive a $5,000 scholarship and other prizes. For further information, visit www.namiss.com.

While Black competed online for her dream title, she received her crown and sash onstage at the NAM South Texas Pageant, held Aug. 14-16 in Houston.

She wore a red Sherri Hill tulle ball gown with cap sleeves and a beaded bodice.

Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be contacted at donmaines@att.net
DRDO laser system scans sky for drones as PM harps on `Make in India'

Security personnel used DRDOs `Made in India laser system to scan the skies above Delhis Red Fort for possible drones or other airborne objects, as the prime minister addressed the nation on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day.

The anti-drone system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) can detect and jam micro drones up to 3 km range and bring down a target up to 1-2.5 km using laser beams depending on the wattage of laser weapon, officials said.

It can be an effective counter to increased drone-based activity in the western and northern sectors of the country.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag and addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. He said that it was an occasion to remember freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country.

"The sacrifice and the resolve to free the country of lakhs of sons and daughters of Maa Bharati is the reason for us being able to breathe in independent India today. This is a day to remember the sacrifices of our freedom fighters. This is also a day to show gratitude to security personnel including that of Army, paramilitary and police ensuring our safety," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also remembered freedom fighter and spiritual guru Sri Aurbindo (Arvind Ghosh), on his birth anniversary.

He referred to the restrictions due to COVID-19 and said that children, the future of the country, were not at present at the celebrations and also recalled the tireless contributions of corona warriors.

PM Modi highlighted the importance of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Make in India and Make for World should be the mantra he said.

The prime minister also talked about various issues ranging from management of the Covid-19 pandemic, measures to boost domestic manufacturing as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and steps to revive the economy with a focus on middle class people.

PM Modi reiterated the importance of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and assured full support to fellow Indians during the need of the hour. Becoming Aatmanirbhar (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, he said.

He said the government is prioritising on improving the overall infrastructure for faster development with the help of National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) project and announced that over Rs110 lakh crore would be invested in the NIP. For this, the prime minister said that more than 7,000 projects have been identified across various sectors. National Infrastructure Pipeline Project will play a crucial role in pulling the country out of impact of Covid 19. NIP is a project that will revolutionise Indias infra creation efforts. Many new jobs will be created, our farmers, youngsters, entrepreneurs will benefit, he said.

The prime minister emphasised that along with Make in India, we have to move forward with the mantra of `Make for World as well.

He said the whole world has been noticing the reforms being pursued in India. As a result, FDI inflow has broken all records. India witnessed 18 per cent jump in FDI even during the Covid pandemic.

Who could have imagined that lakhs of crores of rupees would be directly transferred in the Jan Dhan accounts of the poor in the country? Who could have thought that such a big change would happen in the APMC Act for the benefit of farmers? One Nation-One Ration Card, One Nation - One Tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and merger of banks form the reality of the country today, the prime minister stated.

Recounting his governments achievements, the prime minister said 70 million poor families were given free gas cylinders, while more than 800million people were provided free food with or without ration cards and about 90,000 crore has been directly transferred to bank accounts. The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan has also been started to provide employment to poor in their villages, he added.

This is also the first time when the EMI of a home loan for your home is getting a rebate of up to Rs6 lakh during the payment period. Just last year, a fund of Rs25,000 crore has been established to complete thousands of incomplete houses, the prime minister said in his address to the nation.

He said that of the 400 million Jan Dhan accounts opened in the country, about 220 million accounts are of women only. At the time of Corona, in April-May-June, about Rs30,000 crore have been directly transferred to the accounts of women in these three months. In Corona times, we have seen what the role of Digital India campaign has been. Just last month, almost Rs3 lakh crore have been transacted from BHIM UPI alone, he said.
BOGOTA - Powerful former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe announced Tuesday that he is resigning his Senate seat, saying his position as a lawmaker has been impeded by a Supreme Court probe into possible witness tampering in a case that has polarized the country.

Uribe posted his resignation letter on Twitter, denouncing the courts decision to place him under house arrest while the probe advances as a violation of his rights that eliminates any expectation of being able to return to the Senate.

I dream that Colombia can recover from so many difficulties without putting at risk freedom, he wrote in the page-long missive.

Uribe has not been charged and denies the accusations against him.

The case has divided Colombians and revealed continuing tensions over the countrys historic 2016 peace deal ending Latin Americas longest-running conflict. Ardent supporters view his house arrest as an injustice, noting that most ex-guerrillas are allowed free while testifying about war crimes as part of the accord. His critics and analysts contend the house arrest order shows even the most powerful can be held accountable.

The resignation is a potential delaying tactic as it will force the Supreme Court to weigh whether it still has jurisdiction over the case, said Sergio Guzman, director of Colombia Risk Analysis. The high court is handling the investigation because of Uribes status as a lawmaker.

Guzman said he expects the court to retain jurisdiction because the alleged witness tampering happened during Uribes time in the Senate. But, he added, This measure adds additional layers to the case, so its not something the court can rule on in the near future.

The influential former president is being investigated for any participation in an alleged scheme to sway jailed ex-paramilitaries into testifying in his favour. Since early in his career, Uribe has been accused of harbouring ties with paramilitaries, which were organized by landowners to fight leftist guerrillas engaged in kidnapping, murder and extortion.

Over 1,500 pages of court documents obtained by The Associated Press show Uribe was closely involved in working with a lawyer in looking for ex-paramilitaries who could refute his alleged involvement in their activities and instead state they had been compelled to submit false testimony against him by an opposition lawmaker.

Uribes lawyers in court have stated that he had little to no involvement in the effort to find such witnesses.

In his Senate resignation letter, Uribe said eight of his due process rights have been violated, including the inability of his counsel to cross-examine witnesses. He also repeated his partys call for judicial reform, in particular how magistrates are selected.

They should arrive at the high court at a mature age that has dissolved vanity and reinforced adherence to the truth, he wrote.

News of the Supreme Courts house arrest order  the first of an ex-president in recent history  jolted Colombia two weeks ago. Supporters prohibited from staging outdoor protests on foot because of pandemic restrictions instead organized long chains of cars that snaked through major cities blaring their horns. In Congress, allies placed over a dozen cardboard images showing Uribe with his presidential sash in empty seats.

Even U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence questioned the courts decision.

We join all freedom loving voices around the world in calling on Colombian officials to let this Hero, who is a recipient of the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, defend himself as a free man, Pence wrote on Twitter.

Such remarks have irked civil liberty groups who worry the case is morphing into a trial of Uribes political record rather than the alleged crimes. Impunity reigns in Colombia on a wide range of crimes and those in positions of power frequently escape any punishment, so the case is thus viewed as an important test of Colombias judicial independence.

Uribe is hailed by his supporters for his iron-fisted approach against Marxist rebels. A strong military campaign weakened the guerrillas, who eventually decided to negotiate peace. But Uribe also presided over the country as some of the worst human rights abuses took place, including a scandal in which soldiers killed thousands of poor Colombians and passed them off as rebels in exchange for bonuses.
       Tui  
Telangana: Heavy rains batter: Several villages submerged, flood alert sounded

August 18,2020 | Source: Deccan Chronicle

At least three persons were killed and normal life was severely disrupted across the state on the third day of incessant rains on Saturday. Several thousands of acres of standing crop and paddy nurseries were lost in floodwaters. Two woman, one about 80 years old and her 50-year-old daughter died after their house in Nagarkurnool district collapsed. Bandi Venkatesh, 30, was swept away while fishing in Nakkavagu, which was in spate, on the outskirts of Matindla village in Chinnakodur of Siddipet district on Sunday. The police is searching for his body. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday forecast light to moderate rains or thundershowers in many parts of the state at least till Thursday. The IMD also warned that a fresh low-pressure area was likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal around Wednesday which might result in continuation of the ongoing heavy rains beyond Thursday.



The disaster management department has advised people not to venture out except in emergencies in view the forecast of more rains. In Hyderabad, the GHMC has advised people to vacate dilapidated residential buildings. Locals rescued three youngsters stranded in floodwaters of a stream in Asifabad district and three youngsters stranded in Musi river in Suryapet district on Sunday. Many villages were submerged with seasonal streams and rivulets overflowing on the roads and causeways. Major rivers were in spate forcing the water resources department to lift gates to discharge massive amounts of floodwater, resulting in the inundation of low-lying areas.



As many as 87 rain-dampened houses collapsed in Sangareddy. In Nalgonda district, over 50 irrigation tanks are overflowing. Five regulatory gates of the Musi project were lifted to 2.5 feet in view of the heavy inflows, at 11 am. With the Musi river receiving continuous heavy flow, engineers have cautioned villagers along the river in Suryapet, Penpahad, Kethepally, Vemulapally and Maudugulapally mandals to stay alert.
The Internet can churn out many examples to affirm the fact that dogs really are a mans best friend. Adding to those heartwarming instances is the story of a US Navy veteran and his pet dog who played a huge role in saving her owners life.

CarolinaEast Health System has shared a post on their Facebook page detailing the incident that is receiving a ton of love from netizens.

Navy veteran Rudy Armstrong was in his boathouse in Oriental, North Carolina with his pet Bubu, a Chihuahua mix, when he suffered a stroke.

When Rudy couldnt get to his phone to call for help, he looked his little friend in the eyes and said, I need help. Go get Kim, says the Facebook post. Bubu immediately ran off to get the Dockmaster, Kim, who called 911 and ultimately saved his life, with the help of the paramedics and CarolinaEast staff caring for him, the post says further.

The post is also complete with pictures that show the moment when Armstrong was reunited with his girl Bubu.

The story has struck a chord with netizens and garnered over 700 reactions since being shared on August 8. Netizens have poured in various reactions to this tale.

Great job. Pets understand a lot more than people think, writes a Facebook user. An amazing story about mans best friend, comments another.

This is the most beautiful tear-jerker love story (and true) I have ever heard, says a third.

What are your thoughts on this lovely story?

Also Read | He fell into freezing water while saving a coyote pup. Kept going till it was rescued
Former Homeland Security chief of staff is joining the parade of high-profile Republicans urging members of their own party to vote for presumed Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

Miles Taylor, who served at DHS between 2017 and 2019, said Monday, the first day of the Democratic National Convention, that he 'witnessed the damning results firsthand' of President Donald Trump's 'personal deficiencies.'

In an ad released Monday by advocacy group Republican Voters Against Trump, Taylor endorsed Biden.

'Even though I'm not a Democrat, even though I disagree on key issues, I'm confident that Joe Biden will protect the country and I'm confident he won't make the same mistakes as this president,' Taylor said in the ad.

Taylor also said in the video that Trump directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to withhold disaster funds from California during devastating wildfires there because the state voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Donald Trump's former Homeland Security Chief of Staff Miles Taylors endorsed presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden in an released Monday  the first day of the Democratic Convention

Taylor also claimed in the ad, released by Republican Voters Against Trump, that the president wanted to hold FEMA aid from California during the devastating wildfires there because the state voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and was not part of his base

'He told us to stop giving money to people whose houses had burned down from a wildfire because he was so rageful that people in the state of California didn't support him and that politically it wasn't a base for him,' Taylor claimed.

The former DHS employee also wrote in a Washington Post op-ed published Monday that America is so divided due to Trump's presidency.

'I can attest that the country is less secure as a direct result of the president's actions,' Taylor wrote. 'Today the nation has fewer friends and stronger enemies than when Trump took office.'

The Anonymous author who wrote a 2018 op-ed and 2019 best-selling book trashing the president and who describes themself as a senior Trump administration official also endorsed Biden on Monday.

Anonymous is now in a new preface for the paperback version of the book 'A Warning' calling for voters to throw the president out of office this November. The new preface is part of the '2020 election edition' of the book.

The new preface will be released Tuesday but was obtained early by Politico.

The author says a second term for Trump 'unbound will mean a nation undone,' and they claim it will result in 'a continued downward slide into social acrimony, with the United States fading into the background of a world stage it once commanded, to say nothing of the damage to our democratic institutions.'

Anonymous, an author of an op-ed and book trashing Donald Trump, is urging in a new '2020 election edition' version of its preface to 'A Warning' that the president be voted out of office

A quartet of Republicans are also prepared to endorse Biden on the opening night of the first-ever virtual Democratic Convention.

Former Ohio Governor John Kasich, who ran for president as a Republican in 2000 and again in 2016, will speak along with former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, former New York Representative Susan Molinari and former GOP California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard who now runs Quibi.

'I call them the silent Biden voters, which are those Republicans who feel bullied, those Republicans that fear that they will be isolated if they support Biden and that they will be picked on. And so this will show them that they're not alone,' explained Biden campaign co-chair, Rep. Cedric Richmond, who spoke to reporters on a Zoom call Monday morning.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere told Reuters Monday that Taylor is just 'another creature of the D.C. Swamp who never understood the importance of the President's agenda or why the American people elected him and clearly just wants to cash-in.'

Taylor claimed in the op-ed that Trump's 'inappropriate and often absurd executive requests' caused DHS staffers to regularly be taken away from dealing with genuine security concerns.

'One morning it might be a demand to shut off congressionally appropriated funds to a foreign ally that had angered him, and that evening it might be a request to sharpen the spikes atop the border wall so they'd be more damaging to human flesh,' he wrote.

Kasich is the only Republican who was previously announced to speak at the 2020 convention, which kicks off Monday and will conclude Thursday night with Biden's acceptance speech, now taking place in his adopted hometown of Wilmington, Delaware due to the coronavirus crisis.

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, is one of four Republicans who will address the Democratic National Convention on its opening night

John Kasich will be joined by three Republican women set to disown President Donald Trump. From left: Former California GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and former New York Rep. Susan Molinari

The Democrats kick off their virtual convention Monday to nominate former Vice President Joe Biden (left) for president and Sen. Kamala Harris (right) for vice president. The opening night program includes speeches from four Republicans who've ditched Trump

The DNC was supposed to take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a state President Donald Trump won over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The three GOP women speaking haven't been politically active recently.

Meg Whitman ran and lost her California governor's race in 2010.

Christine Todd Whitman left office in 2001 and then became President George W. Bush's Environmental Protection Agency administrator.

Molinari ended her Congressional tenure in 1997 and went on to become a lobbyist for Google.

Sen. Mitt Romney, a more prominent Republican who has squared off with Trump, told The Daily Caller that 'no,' he will not be a surprise DNC speaker.

Conventions have featured endorsers from the opposing party in the past, most notably Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman's 2008 endorsement of Republican Sen. John McCain, which came eight years after Lieberman was nominated to be vice president by the Democrats.

Progressive members of the party were already grumbling that Kasich was given more speaking time than Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most prominent lawmakers with that ideology - and that was before the other three Republican speakers were announced.

Richmond pushed back and pointed out that every speech was condensed.

'I would just say that this is a two hour convention. It is not the normal convention. It's the complete opposite of it, it's very concise and it's abbreviated speaking roles,' the Louisiana lawmaker said.

Sen. Mitt Romney, another Republican who has spoken out against President Donald Trump, will not be speaking as part of the Democratic National Convention, The Daily Caller reported Monday

The main program will take place between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. for the next four nights, with speakers livestreaming in from places all around the nation.

Richmond said that Bernie Sanders, the former progressive rival of Biden for the 2020 Democratic nomination, was getting eight minutes Monday night, 'which is one of the longer speeches of the convention,' Richmond explained.

'AOC is doing the introduction of Bernie Sanders and I think that her time is consistent with that,' Richmond said.

Ocasio-Cortez won't technically be introducing Sanders, as she's slated to address the convention Tuesday, a day after the Vermont senator and former 2020 hopeful.

Additionally, Richmond argued, the theme for Monday night's virtual DNC is 'We the People,' which means a cross-section of Biden supporters should be heard from.

'I would just say that we are making sure that every segment of this country that supports the Biden-Harris ticket has a chance to express why they're supporting them, that includes GOP members,' he said.

'This is about winning an election,' he added.
[CHANTING] [MUSIC PLAYING] I had quite an amazing experience one Saturday morning while I was washing up some dishes. I heard a voice, quite definitely a voice out of this world, say to me, Prepare yourself, you are to become the voice of interplanetary parliament. You became a channel for the transmission of messages from cosmic intelligence. Yes, thats right. [CHANTING] Never before has the energy invoked by the simple expedient of prayer been stored in a physical container, so that it could be used at any time. And thats the whole essence of Operation Prayer Power. I see it as an opportunity to just let out all my  my feeling to help save the world. Once the prayer is stored in the battery, we are able to release it and send it to hold off disasters and helping humanitarian crisis situations. Weve used it in the past to move hurricanes and to aid peace talks that prevent nuclear war and the destruction of our planet. You are liable to upset the balance of your earth through number one, atomic experimentation, number two, your deviation from the spiritual laws. Part of our evolution is to  is to learn how to get out of this mess that were in. But other beings can help guide us. Lord Buddha is a cosmic master from Venus. Sri Krishna was a cosmic master from Saturn. Master Jesus was a cosmic master from Venus. I gave my life to earth, so that she might be saved from imminent catastrophe. I ask you now in these days to give all that you can give. [CHANTING] Blessed are they who work for peace. O mighty father of all creation, let your light flow through this world now. Let it shine into the hearts and minds of men. [CHANTING] The Aetherius Society is playing a really huge role behind the scenes. We have been cooperating with the cosmic masters to send out energy through our spiritual energy radiating equipment. Weve sent thousands of prayer hours to uplift everybodys consciousness. Still can you take part in the great adventure to lead the earth as a unit toward sanity. The most important thing is to just be of selfless service, because thats what the sun does and look how great and mighty it is. It gives energy to the whole solar system. So maybe we could be like the sun one day, if we just give and give. [CHANTING] And even if you do not believe in God, then believe in good, please. Its the same thing. [MUSIC PLAYING]
Its only taken 2 years to bring to screen a miniseries of The Salisbury Poisonings incident in Salisbury, England -a quick life cycle in TV drama.

The 4 part drama -set to screen across consecutive nights on SBS- is gripping stuff, principally because it has drawn upon such meticulous research and witness experiences.

At the centre of the story is the Director of Public Health Tracy Daszkiewicz (Anne-Marie Duff), whose life is turned upside down when two people collapse suddenly on a park bench in the town centre.

They are spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. But the locals have no idea what they are dealing with. Attending the scene is DS Nick Bailey (Rafe Spall), who soon falls victim to the deadly nerve agent when he inspects their house.

Also central to the drama are locals Dawn Sturgess (MyAnna Buring), although just how is a bit of a spoiler, and Ross Cassidy (Mark Addy).

Watching this regional town of 46,000 deal with a chemical weapons attack is strikingly familiar to current circumstances: nobody knows quite what they are dealing with, infection transmission, town barricades and dilemmas over panic and freedoms.

Even the local police cant quite believe what Tracy is asking of them in order to keep the community safe. In this role Anne-Marie Duff (Shameless, His Dark Materials) is pitch perfect, and never at risk of overshadowing the weight of the script by Adam Patterson and Declan Lawn. This is contrasted by the life and death battle for Rafe Spalls character, and the fears of wife Sarah (Annabel Scholey).

The series uses newsreel footage as the magnitude of the attack reached Parliament with then-PM Theresa May vowing to take action against Russian perpetrators. Theres also some heavy focus on families under siege by media who camp outside the homes of those already under immense pressure.

The timing of this may not be to everybodys liking given our current crisis, but its so tautly crafted I found myself bingeing through it in its entirety. If Chernobyl left you gob-smacked The Salisbury Poisonings will leave you both horrified and relieved it didnt happen here.

The final coda with the real-life locals is incredibly powerful.

Highly recommended.

The Salisbury Poisonings airs 8:30pm Monday Aug. 24  Thursday Aug. 27 on SBS.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: BJP President J P Nadda on Tuesday described the Supreme Court decision on the PM CARES Fund as a "resounding blow to the nefarious designs" of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his "band of rent a cause" activists.

"The country very well knows that the orchestrated smear campaign against PM CARES is an attempt by the Congress to wash its sins," he said.

Rubbishing the Congress' criticism on the issue, another BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference that "transparency is writ large in the PM CARES Fund".

The minister underscored that the fund will be audited, as he accused Gandhi of sparing no effort to weaken the country's resolve in its fight against COVID-19.

The apex court has destroyed the "conspiracy" sponsored by them, Prasad said targeting Gandhi and the Congress.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to direct the Centre to transfer the contributions made to the PM CARES Fund for battling the COVID-19 pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

ALSO READ | SC judgement on PM CARES Fund a 'body blow to transparency': Congress

"The verdict by the Supreme Court on PM CARES is a resounding blow to the nefarious designs of Rahul Gandhi & his band of 'rent a cause' activists. It shows that the truth shines despite the ill intent and malicious efforts of the Congress party and its associates," Nadda tweeted.

Coming down heavily on Gandhi, the BJP chief said his "rants" have been repeatedly dismissed by the common man who has "overwhelmingly" contributed to the PM CARES Fund.

With the highest court also pronouncing its verdict, will Rahul and his "rent a cause activist army" mend their ways or embarrass themselves further, he asked.

The BJP president alleged that the Gandhi family treated Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) as its "personal fiefdom for decades and brazenly transferred citizens' hard-earned money from PMNRF to its family trusts".

He said the "orchestrated smear campaign against PM CARES is an attempt by the Congress to wash its sins".

Gandhi had on Monday tweeted "PM CARES for Right To Improbity" while tagging a news report which alleged that the Prime Minister's Office had denied anI application seeking information on the Fund.

The SC judgement came on a PIL filed by NGO 'Centre for Public Interest Litigation', seeking a direction that all the money collected under the PM CARES Fund for the COVID-19 pandemic be transferred to the NDRF.

Speaking to reporters, Prasad said the PM CARES Fund is a registered public trust create to fight emergencies like the coronavirus and added it has so far contributed Rs 3,100 crore in the battle against the pandemic.

Out of this, Rs 2,000 crore was spent on procuring over 50 thousand ventilators, Rs 1,000 crore was given to states to help migrant labourers and Rs 100 crore for vaccine research, he said.

This is the highest number of ventilators made available for critical care in one go since independence, he said.

Hitting out at the Congress and the Gandhi family, he said foundations run by the family were donated money by the National Disaster Response Fund and from the Union budget during the UPA rule, while the PM CARES Fund has been used transparently.

The fund was launched by the government after the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Transparency is writ large in the PM CARES Fund both in the terms of legal requirement and the management of the fund received," he said, adding that there is no corruption allegation against the Modi government in the six years of its rule so far.

Following the apex court judgment, a number of Union ministers and other BJP leaders also took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi.

"And once again the faces of habitual liars stand exposed. The verdict of Hon'ble Supreme Court on #PMCARES is a stinging slap on the face of those whose single point agenda is to mislead people," Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Twitter.

He tweeted, "The 'King of Con' talking about transparency can now introspect as to what makes him a constant disappointment not just for his party but for the entire nation.

Perhaps @RahulGandhi is so used to insults and humiliations that he can't keep calm without embarrassing himself."
The coronavirus pandemic continues and for many people, the ongoing economic downturn has prompted strong interest in the possibilities of another economic stimulus.

The fate of another economic stimulus remains unknown. As Forbes outlined, Democrat and Republicans still have to reach an agreement on the next stimulus package and draft a final bill. Once approved by Congress, a stimulus package must be signed by the president before the Treasury Department can issue payments.

The Treasury Department said once the new stimulus is approved the IRS will need about a week to begin sending out checks. That process will likely be quicker than it was in April, as the IRS has most of the distribution information it needs.

The Senate is adjourned through Labor Day, however, but could be called back within 24 hours if an agreement is reached on a stimulus package. The House adjourned on July 31.

There are several proposals in front of lawmakers. The two major ones  The Heroes Act and the HEALS Act - provide up to $1,200 for single tax filers and $2,400 for joint filers and between $500 and $1,200 for dependents.

Here are the latest coronavirus headlines:

No pajamas for online classes, school says

A school district in Illinois has a new rule for students: No pajama for virtual learning.

The Springfield, Ill., Public School District updated its dress code to prohibit pajama pants, slippers or hats when students are on camera for virtual classes. The dress code also bans hoods, sunglasses and bandanas.

Students are also advised to be sitting out of bed preferably at a desk or table.

About 14,000 students attend Springfield schools.

Nearly half of adults risk more severe COVID disease due to underlying medical conditions

Almost half of U.S. adults  45.4% - have a greater risk of more severe coronavirus disease because of underlying medical conditions, according to the CDC.

People with heart disease, diabetes, lung diseases such as COPD and asthma, hypertension and cancer are associated with higher death rates from COVID-19, the agencys study showed. The older a person is, the greater the risk.

Latest coronavirus count

The U.S. currently has 5,436,539 coronavirus cases and 170,458 deaths.

The country reported 33,326 new cases yesterday with 406 new deaths.

Wedding tied to COVID outbreak

At least 24 coronavirus cases in Maine were linked to a wedding recently, local officials said.

The Aug. 7 gathering occurred at the Big Moose Inn in Millinocket, Maine. Eighteen people who attended the wedding tested positive for coronavirus, with 6 others infected through others.

All of those who tested positive live in Maine.
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PrimeXBT, an award-winning Bitcoin-based margin trading platform offering forex, stock indices, commodities, and more under one roof, has officially launched the Covesting copy trading platform to the public.

Covesting Copy Trading Platform Now Available To All On PrimeXBT

Covesting, an innovative copy trading platform, is now available on PrimeXBT starting today. As a result of an ongoing B2B partnership and white label licensing agreement in cooperation with Europe-based fintech software developer, Covesting, the platform connects traders with followers, enabling them to profit from one another synergistically.

Experienced traders can earn up to 20% of follower equity profit by creating a successful trading strategy. The Covesting module on PrimeXBT tracks all strategy metrics in a public rating system, such as ROI, daily profit, equity, and total followers. Followers earn up to 70% of the profits generated by these traders, making it a highly attractive platform for those willing to tap into the expertise of other top market participants.

Successful Beta Traders Strategies Generate $1 Million In Follower Equity

The public launch comes nearly four months following the anticipated release of the Covesting beta on PrimeXBT. The platform quickly garnered widespread interest within the trading community and amassed over $1 million in follower equity. As indicated by fully transparent success statistics, following the platform's best traders brought followers earnings of as much as $2,000 and up with very little starting capital.

With Covesting now open to the public, the number and quality of strategies and traders will increase exponentially through fierce competition and strict capital management. Accessing the tool requires signing up for a free PrimeXBT trading account. Existing clients can access the Covesting public launch immediately. Users from start to finish can buy Bitcoin, fund their trading accounts, and access the Covesting platform in just a few clicks.

Using Covesting, followers can enjoy stress-free trading. Trading and following other skilled traders carries risk, however, and requires careful capital management. Past results are not a guarantee for future success. PrimeXBT and Covesting remind users never to invest more than they can afford to lose.

PrimeXBT and Covesting Offer Future Roadmap Of Updates, More Information

PrimeXBT and Covesting also revealed several upcoming features as part of a future development roadmap. The roadmap includes stop-loss functionality for followers to limit unwanted drawdown, strategy description editing post-launch, various added risk management features, additional honing of the rating system weighting logic, and integration of the COV token.

To learn more about the development roadmap, please visit the Covesting blog:

https://medium.com/covesting/covesting-full-launch-is-here-key-beta-takeaways-and-cov-token-utility-cc9707617b00

To learn more about what the Covesting public launch can offer traders and investors, please visit the PrimeXBT blog: https://primexbt.com/blog/how-much-can-i-make-with-covesting-full-launch-announced/

About Covesting

Covesting is a global fintech company incorporated under the laws of Gibraltar, which offers the broadest array of software solutions for retail and institutional customers worldwide. Covesting has become one of the world's first companies to receive a Distributed Ledger Technology License (DLT) from regulatory authorities in Gibraltar.

For more information, please visit covesting.io.

Follow Covesting on Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram.

About PrimeXBT

PrimeXBT is a fintech company established in 2018 which offers a Cryptocurrency, FX, Indices, and Commodities trading infrastructure with long and short positions, aggregated liquidity from multiple liquidity providers, and more. The company provides access to real-time market data and a wide range of trading analysis tools while maintaining security, liquidity, and enabling a safe and efficient trading environment for everyone.

To learn more, visit https://primexbt.com.

Follow PrimeXBT on Facebook and Twitter.
Highmark is dedicated to addressing rising drug costs and enhancing our members health outcomes. Our agreement with UCB...helps to ensure that our members receive effective treatments to manage their symptoms and improve quality of life."- Sarah Marche, Highmarks senior VP of pharmacy services.

Highmark announced that it has entered an outcomes-based agreement with UCB, Inc. (UCB) for UCBs medication CIMZIA (certolizumab pegol). CIMZIA is a tumor necrosis factor blocker that is prescribed for adult patients with chronic inflammatory conditions that include Crohns disease, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

The outcomes-based agreement for the CIMZIA lyophilized powder healthcare professional administered formulation applies to all commercial members in Highmark's national and core health insurance markets in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware. Approximately 380 Highmark members have prescriptions for CIMZIA.

With outcomes-based agreements between a pharmaceutical drug manufacturer and payer, reimbursement for a drug is based in part on its clinical effectiveness for those patients using the drug. If clinical outcomes are not met, the pharmaceutical drug manufacturer typically refunds part of the original purchase to the payer. The goal with these types of agreements is to help patients, including Highmark members, gain access to clinically effective, cost-efficient medications.

Highmark is dedicated to addressing rising drug costs and enhancing our members health outcomes, says Sarah Marche, Highmarks senior VP of pharmacy services. Our agreement with UCB advances our leadership in the outcomes-based pharmacy space, and helps to ensure that our members receive effective treatments to manage their symptoms and improve quality of life.

Autoimmune disorders affect the lives of more than 24 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Collectively, autoimmune disorders are responsible for more than $100 billion in direct health care costs each year, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

UCB is committed to continuing the evolution of the U.S. healthcare system to better recognize and reward the value solutions bring to patients, said Duane Barnes, President and Head of U.S. Operations. We are focused on delivering patient-centered solutions and affordable access for patients to the right medicine at the right time. We believe strongly in the value of CIMZIA as a therapeutic option for people living with chronic inflammatory diseases and to help reduce overall healthcare costs in communities across the regions served by Highmark.

This value-based contract with UCB continues Highmark's streak of designing and implementing value-based agreements for pharmaceutical and biological products that focus on improved health outcomes for members and ensuring the medications that they are using are working for them. Highmark previously entered into value-based contracts with pharmacy manufacturer Takeda targeting autoimmune diseases, as well as with Boehringer Ingelheim and AstraZeneca for the treatment of COPD and diabetes, respectively. In 2019, Highmark announced that its contract with AstraZeneca for SYMBICORT demonstrated positive results in improving patient outcomes for the treatment of asthma and COPD.

About Highmark Inc.

One of America's leading health insurance organizations and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Highmark Inc. (the Health Plan) and its affiliated health plans (collectively, the Health Plans) work passionately to deliver high-quality, accessible, understandable, and affordable experiences, outcomes, and solutions to customers. As the fourth-largest overall Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated organization, Highmark Inc. and its Blue-branded affiliates proudly cover the insurance needs of more than 5.6 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia. Its diversified businesses serve group customer and individual needs across the United States through dental insurance and other related businesses. For more information, visit http://www.highmark.com.

For more information about CIMZIA, including full prescribing information, visit http://www.ucb-usa.com.

CIMZIA is a registered trademark of the UCB Group of Companies
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 10:45:58|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- As part of the agenda of the ongoing U.S. Democratic National Convention, delegates of the Democratic Party are expected to approve the party's platform, introducing the party's policy stances on major issues facing the nation less than three months ahead of the general election.

Roughly 4,000 convention delegates cast their votes on the platform on Aug. 3-15 remotely due to the coronavirus, which also forced organizers to postpone the four-day convention by a month -- now running Monday through Thursday after the rescheduling -- and hold it almost entirely virtually.

A declaration of the party's policy goals, the platform is largely symbolic and its passage is widely anticipated because delegates don't necessarily have to endorse its contents.

Drafted and approved by the Democratic National Committee's Platform Committee in July, the now amended 91-page platform incorporated policy recommendations submitted by task forces formed by allies of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, a moderate, and those of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who champions a leftist progressive agenda.

A manifestation of intra-party unity with which Democrats sought to achieve the common goal of unseating incumbent President Donald Trump, the platform touched upon issues that are under heated debate nationwide as the election draws near, including COVID-19 response, economic revival, environment, policing, racial equity, healthcare, among others.

"Make no mistake: President (Donald) Trump's abject failure to respond forcefully and capably to the Covid-19 pandemic -- his failure to lead -- makes him responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans," said the platform.

Calling on state- and local-level governments to expand funding for public health departments in order for them to conduct sufficient contact tracing, Democrats said in the document that they "support making COVID-19 testing, treatment, and any eventual vaccines free to everyone."

On economic recovery, the platform referred to the "Buy America" agenda Biden launched in July, a 700-billion-U.S.-dollar plan that aims to salvage the U.S. economy through a domestic-leaning approach to job creation and manufacturing.

By spending 400 billion dollars over three years in purchasing U.S.-based goods and services, and 300 billion dollars in research and development for new technologies and clean-energy initiatives, the Biden proposal is a direct counterprogramming to Trump's "America First" vision.

On the environment, the platform said Democrats will work to achieve net-zero emissions from greenhouse gasses "no later than 2050," while promising to eliminate carbon pollution from power plants by 2035 "through technology-neutral standards for clean energy and energy efficiency."

While the pledge of constructing 60,000 wind turbines and 500 million solar panels further represents the Democrats' commitment to clean energy, the platform didn't include the Green New Deal -- a bold resolution on fighting climate change introduced by progressive congressional Democrats that calls on the federal government to rid the United States of fossil fuels, drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions across economic sectors, and guarantee new high-paying jobs in clean energy industries.

On policing, changes to which have become urgent in light of the brutal killing of black man George Floyd in the hands of white police in Minneapolis in May, the platform advocated for reducing legal protection for law enforcement, saying the law, for too long, "has shielded police officers who stand accused of heinous violations of civil and human rights."

It mentioned the need to reduce the power of qualified immunity, yet stopped short of embracing defunding the police, something protesters in the recent Black Lives Matter movement urged but opposed by Biden.

On racial equity, the platform said Democrats will strive for a "new social and economic contract" aimed at "building equity and mobility for the people of color who have been left out and left behind for generations." They also planned to establish "a national commission to examine the lasting economic effects" of slavery, segregation, and "racially discriminatory federal policies on income, wealth, educational, health, and employment outcomes."

With respect to health care, the platform vowed to move toward universal health care by advocating for a public option through the Affordable Care Act, while strengthening Medicare, Medicaid and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Although the document didn't give "Medicare for All" -- a signature proposal by former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders that's also pushed by others in the progressive camp, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts -- its full support, it did say the party "welcomes advocates who want to build on and strengthen the Affordable Care Act and those who support a Medicare for All approach."

Not all Democrats voted "yes" on the platform, though. Hundreds of Sanders' delegates signed a petition calling for rejecting the platform when the Platform Committee met on July 27 to discuss amendments, citing the reason that it didn't support Medicare for All, according to U.S. media reports.

Among those who finally voted "no" on the platform was congresswoman from Michigan, Rashida Tlaib, who nominated Sanders, instead of Biden, for presidential candidate on her DNC ballot.

"Today, I cast my DNC ballot and voted NO on the proposed platform," Tlaib tweeted Saturday. "I constantly hear from constituents demanding we push for a single-payer system and away from this for-profit system that is leaving people to suffer and die just because they cannot afford health care."

"As a party, we must push for a future where every resident has the ability to thrive," She continued. "That means we need a platform that works to rid our society of oppression and greed. Unfortunately, in my view this platform does not do enough." Enditem
TORONTO - Under pressure over his government's back-to-school plan, Premier Doug Ford ratcheted up his attacks on teachers' union leaders Tuesday, accusing them of playing politics.

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This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO - Under pressure over his government's back-to-school plan, Premier Doug Ford ratcheted up his attacks on teachers' union leaders Tuesday, accusing them of playing politics.

During his daily COVID-19 media briefing Ford criticized the province's teachers' unions who have been critical of his plan to reopen schools, alleging it violates the province's own health and safety laws.

The unions have said the Progressive Conservative government needs to invest more money into the system to protect children during the COVID-19 pandemic and mandate smaller class sizes, especially in elementary school.

But Ford defended his plan saying it's been approved by experts including the province's chief medical officer of health.

"I'm always going to listen to the doctors," he said. "I'm not going to listen to the head of the unions that are playing politics."

The province's plan will see students in kindergarten through Grade 8 return to school without any reduction in class sizes, though students will spend the day in a single cohort to limit contact with other children.

Most high schoolers will also be in class full-time, though students at 24 "designated" boards across the province will take half their courses online in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Last week the province gave boards permission to access $500 million in reserve funds to hire more teachers and lease space to encourage physical distancing.

The boards, however, say those funds are largely committed to other priority projects.

Ford said Tuesday he understands that parents are nervous about the restart of school during the pandemic, but health experts feel it is safe.

"The parents I talk to, it's not so much about the plan, it's about COVID," he said. "They're nervous about COVID. I'm nervous about COVID."

The president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation said Ford's fiery rhetoric directed at the unions is an attempt to deflect the blame he's feeling from parents.

Instead of the attacks, the premier should spend more money to cut class sizes immediately, Harvey Bischof said.

"I think the difficulty here is they have set their priority according to restricted fiscal parameters," he said. "That doesn't give them the leeway to do what's right by students and educators and the families they go home to. So, they're looking for a villain."

The president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association said Ford's attacks are a distraction.

"I think they just see us as an easy target," Liz Stuart said. "(Ford) wants to get people to rally around those attacks as opposed to actually focusing on ... the gaps in his plan."

On Friday, all four of the province's major teachers' unions said in a letter to the government that its back-to-school plan violates its own occupational health and safety legislation.

They have asked for a meeting with the minister of labour and representatives to discuss the issue by Aug. 21, and failing that they may take their concerns to the province's labour board.

"I haven't heard anything definitive at this point," Bischof said of the meeting request. "I'm going to, right now, remain hopeful that the minister takes a reasonable approach."

Ontario's Tory government has had a rocky relationship with the province's teachers' unions since taking office in 2018.

Earlier this year, the government concluded a contentious round of contract talks with the unions after months of teacher walk outs that led to days-long school closures.

NDP education critic Marit Stiles said Ford's repeated attacks on the unions shows the government is desperate to change the channel on its controversial plan.

"The government is feeling the heat and to deflect they have decided to play a blame game here," she said. "Parents are tired of excuses. The government has messed up this return to school plan and they need to do the right thing."

Late Tuesday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce told school boards that they will be allowed to stagger the start of school over the first two weeks of the year.

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"If there are changes to the staggered reopening, we ask boards to clearly communicate this to their parent community," Lecce said in the memo to boards.

Previously, the government had told boards that they could stagger the start of school over the first week of the year if they felt it would help improve safety.

Meanwhile, Ontario is reporting 125 new cases of COVID-19 and four new deaths related to the virus.

The total number of cases now stands at 40,870, which includes 2,793 deaths and 37,126 cases marked as resolved.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said the "uptick" in cases is due to increases in Peel Region, Toronto and Windsor-Essex. She said 27 of Ontario's 34 public health regions reported five or fewer cases, while 16 reported no new cases.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2020.
MEDINA, Ohio -- In the seemingly ever-changing plan for students return to school in this fall, Highland High School Principal Carrie Knapp has outlined details of her buildings face-to-face return plan.

We know there are many questions about what school will look like when students return, Knapp wrote in a letter to Highland parents Aug. 14.

Although there have been many procedural changes, our faculty and administrative team has been working to ensure that our environment remains full of growth and opportunity. With that in mind, we are excited to outline some changes which will keep us moving forward.

The procedural changes students will see when they return to class Sept. 14 include no access to lockers, but students will be able to carry backpacks; hallways and staircases will be marked one-way; drinking fountains will not be operational, but water bottle filling stations have been installed in several areas of the school; and masks will be required for all students unless medical documentation has been provided to the director of pupil services.

Food Service

Students meal choices will be limited to two or three options. Meals will be served in disposable to-go containers, condiments and milk will be handed to each student, no self-serve or a la carte options will be offered and students will not be using the touch keypads at the point of sale.

The school has also added an extra lunch period in order to limit the total number of students in the cafeteria at one time.

Attendance

Knapp said the high schools focus remains the academic success of each student, despite the challenges presented by COVID-19.

One area that consistently impacts this success is attendance, which includes tardies, Knapp wrote. State laws require that we convene intervention teams and write behavior plans when a student is not consistently in school; however, we realize that this year will be unusual due to possible quarantine.

Knapp said the school will treat each instance individually if there are documented medical issues that create extended absenteeism.

We are happy to support students, but can only do so when we are aware of issues that impact a students time at school, she said.

She added that daily attendance will be taken for all students, whether they have opted for in-person or online learning.

Because we may move between all three learning plans -- in-person/traditional, hybrid and online learning -- it is imperative that students stay engaged in their learning, she wrote.

Knapp also reported that the high school has decided to cancel this years Freshman First Day event.

As we continue to follow physical distancing guidelines, we will explore other ways to welcome our newest students to the building, she said.

School fees and parking permits

Knapp said that all previous years school fees must be paid in full prior to the start of the 2020-2021 school year. She added that current year school fees will include the AP testing fee for all AP courses in which students are enrolled.

Because of changes with The College Board, students must register for testing by October, Knapp wrote. This will give the appearance of higher school fees, but please know that money collected for AP tests go to The College Board. In the past, this fee has been collected in the spring.

Student parking permits for the 2020-2021 school year are now available for $40 and can be picked up between noon and 4 p.m. Sept. 1 or Sept. 2 in the HHS main office. Students can also access the application through the Quick Links menu from the Highland High School home page.

Knapp noted that the district will be providing more information on the Highland High School daily schedule in the coming weeks.

Should you have any questions throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to seeing you all soon, Knapp said.

Read more news from the Medina Sun.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are quietly shopping a top secret project to network executives as they settle into their new life in Hollywood, a new report claims.

Sources tell Variety that the former royal couple began pitching their idea to 'numerous' media companies back in June, around the time that they purchased a sprawling estate in Santa Barbara.

Very few details are known about the project, including the concept behind it and whether it would be a TV series or some other format.

However, one source with knowledge of the idea said Harry and Meghan intend to serve as joint producers on the venture should it get picked up.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are quietly shopping a top secret project to network executives as they settle into their new life in Hollywood, a new report claims. The couple are pictured at the premiere of The Lion King in London in July 2019

The insiders said that NBCUniversal was among the networks that heard the pitch.

They said that the couple held a meeting with the media giant's top executives, including NBCUniversal Content Studios Chairman Bonnie Hammer, who has known Meghan since her days on Suits.

A friend of Meghan's told Variety that she has no intention of acting in her project with Harry or in any other ventures.

Rumors of Harry and Meghan seeking to gain a foothold in Hollywood have run rampant ever since the couple announced their plans to quit as senior royals, seek financial independence and move to North America in January.

Meghan's first post-Megxit job in showbiz was as a narrator of the Disney Plus docuseries Elephants, which came out in April.

The 39-year-old Los Angeles native nabbed the job after Harry bragged about her voice-over skills to Disney chairman Bob Iger at the London premiere of The Lion King live-action remake last summer.

Her fee for the project went entirely to the Elephants Without Borders charity - an organization dedicated to conserving wildlife and helps protect the animals from poaching.

Harry followed in her footsteps by appearing in a new Netflix documentary about about the Paralympic Games called Rising Phoenix. That film is set to air on August 26.

Last year Harry announced that he was partnering with Oprah Winfrey on on an Apple TV+ docuseries about mental health.

It's unclear whether the couple pitched their secret project to Disney, Netflix or Apple TV+.

Rumors of Harry and Meghan seeking to gain a foothold in Hollywood have run rampant ever since the couple announced their plans to quit as senior royals, seek financial independence and move to North America in January (file photo)

Meghan's first post-Megxit job in showbiz was as a narrator of the Disney Plus docuseries Elephants, which came out in April. The 39-year-old pictured in a promotion for the film

Harry followed in her footsteps by appearing in a new Netflix documentary about about the Paralympic Games called Rising Phoenix. He is pictured in a trailer for the film

Shortly after the Duke and Duchess announced their intention to step back from royal duty, a senior Netflix executive said the streaming giant would like to work with them.

Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos said at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January that the streaming giant would like to work with Harry and Meghan, adding: 'Who wouldn't be interested? Yes, sure.'

The decision to work with Netflix is also a move reminiscent of former President Barack Obama and his lawyer wife Michelle.

In January, sources confirmed the couple had discussed their plans with the Obamas and wanted to mimic the way they had managed to build a successful, but dignified, life for themselves after the White House.

Since leaving the White House, the Obamas have earned a small fortune by selling rights to their autobiographies and setting up their own production company, which has bagged a lucrative deal with Netflix.

A source said: 'They have found huge commercial success without actually looking like they are getting their hands dirty, to put it bluntly, and retaining their popularity.

'In fact it is fair to say that their star has soared since leaving the White House, particularly Michelle's, and this is something Meghan admires very, very much.'

After stepping down as senior royals, Meghan and Harry signed with New York-based Harry Walker Agency in June, which represents the Obamas and the Clintons.

Meghan has made several appearances as a speaker at various online summits, however it is understood that she did not receive payment for these engagements.

Experts estimate that the Sussexes stand to earn an impressive sum from public speaking however, with one agency estimating that the couple could rake in up to $500,000 each from a single appearance.

In February, a PR expert told DailyMail.com that the couple may have earned 'up to $1 million' between them to speak at a star-studded JP Morgan summit in Miami, insisting that the couple will be the 'highest-paid speakers that exist on the corporate market'.

Meghan and Harry reportedly want to follow in the footsteps of former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, who are currently working with Netflix on several documentaries. Harry and Barack are pictured together in 2017

'I would not be shocked if they earned in excess of $1 million,' Ronn Torossian, CEO of New York-based firm 5W Public Relations, said of their JP Morgan engagement.

'Over the year their earning power could be unlimited.

Meanwhile, GDA Speakers, whose clients include Nicole Kidman and Diane Keaton, told TMZ that the Duke and Duchess will likely attract much higher fees than regular celebrities, even without their HRH titles.

The majority of big-name celebrities earn between $200,000 and $300,000 for a speaking engagement, however the agency estimates that Harry and Meghan could each earn close to double that amount thanks to their impressive global standing.

Finding Freedom co-author Omid Scobie also claimed the couple have big plans for the next few years, and are basing their working model on the Obamas.

He said their plans were 'not too dissimilar' from what the former president created after leaving the White House and setting up Higher Ground production company.

He pointed to the Obama's multiyear production deal with Netflix to produce films and documentaries covering topics like race, class and civil rights.

Harry and Meghan's public interests have been largely focused on social issues, environmental concerns and mental health - so it's possible their project could be centered in those areas.

Although it is not known exactly how much the former president and first lady made off their Netflix deal, those who have signed onto similar agreements are set to make millions.

Shonda Rhimes, who created Grey's Anatomy and Scandal, signed a five-year deal with Netflix in 2017 that is estimated to be worth $150 million.

The following year, American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy reportedly scored up to $300 million when he inked his own five-year deal with the streaming giant.

Reports of Harry and Meghan's elusive project came days after it emerged that the couple had secretly purchased a private family home in Santa Barbara, ditching Tyler Perry's 12-bedroom Beverly Hills mansion for 'considerable privacy'.

The couple bought the sprawling nine-bedroom and 16-bathroom mansion in upscale Montecito for $14.65million on June 18.

Property listings say the home took nearly five years to build and included a library, office, spa with a separate dry and wet sauna, a gym with a stripper pole, game room, arcade, theater, wine cellar and five-car garage.

It also comes with a bevy of A-list neighbors who could help them achieve their Hollywood aspirations, including Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah.
- Senator Malala was released after the police realised that charges intended to be preferred against him were without legal basis

- Chaos was witnessed in Mumias after youths demanded the release of the legislator

- The lawmaker had been accused of contravening COVID-19 rules by convening a public gathering at Bomani grounds

Kakamega Senator Cleopas Malala has been released from police custody.

Malala was freed after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped all charges against him on Tuesday, August 18.

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According to his lawyer Nelson Havi, the lawmaker was released after police officers realised that charges intended to be preferred against him were without legal basis.

"Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala who was seized yesterday has left Mumias Police Station a free man after police realised that charges intended to be preferred against him were without legal basis," Havi said.

According to a charge sheet seen by TUKO.co.ke, Malala was arrested for contravening COVID-19 guidelines by convening a public gathering at Bomani grounds.

READ ALSO: Kenyan man married for 25 years says he'll never abandon wife who's been in coma for 3 years

Early Tuesday, chaos was witnessed at Mumias after rowdy youths demanded the release of the lawmaker.

Ugly and scary scenes were witnessed in the sleepy town as the youths barricaded the roads with burnt tyes while singing in praise of the legislator.

The Kakamega senator was forced to spend the night on the floor at Mumias Police Station after he was denied bail by the police.

Other senators who were arrested were Steve Lelengwe (Samburu) and Christopher Lang'at (Bomet) who has also been released, the whereabouts of the former are not clear.

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.

Follow up: Babies with Babies, the sad life of single teenage single mothers in Kenya | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
IMAGE #1 PUREVAP NSiR Phase1 Tentative Timeline

Image 1): Indicative phase 1 project timelines

Image 1): Indicative phase 1 project timelines

IMAGE #2 PUREVAP NSiR Phase2 Tentative Timeline

Image 2): Indicative phase 2 project timelines

Image 2): Indicative phase 2 project timelines

Image #3 - PUREVAP NSiR Scaling Up

Image 3): Indicative scaling up pathway for PUREVAPTM NSiR

Image 3): Indicative scaling up pathway for PUREVAPTM NSiR

MONTREAL, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. (HPQ or the Company) TSX-V: HPQ ; FWB: UGE; Other OTC : URAGF ; is pleased to announce that HPQ Nano Silicon Powders Inc (HPQ NANO), a 100% owned HPQ subsidiary, and PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX-V: PYR) have signed a development agreement covering the PUREVAPTM Nano Silicon (Si) Reactor (NSiR) development program and the future commercialisation of nano silicon materials made with this new, proprietary and low cost manufacturing process. The process will transform Silicon (Si) into spherical Silicon nanopowders and nanowires for use in Li-ion batteries.

INDUSTRY INTEREST GENERATED FROM PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS NECESSITATE AGREEMENT

On January 15, 2020 the Companies announced proof of concept testing demonstrating capacity to produce spherical nanopowders & nanowires from silicon (Si) needed by the Lithium-ion battery market.

That announcement was followed by an announcement on February 11, 2020 stating the Companies were developing NSiR for low-cost manufacturing of spherical Silicon (Si) nanopowders & nanowires for next generation Lithium-ion batteries.

As a result of these two announcements, strong and increasing industry interest in our project, even at this early stage of our development, dictates that HPQ and PyroGenesis take this next step.

INTEREST IN PUREVAPTM NSiR GAME CHANGING LOW COST POTENTIAL

Research indicates that replacing graphite with Nano Silicon (Si) Powders could allow the manufacturing of high-performance Li-ion batteries to deliver an almost tenfold (10x) increase in anode capacity, inducing a 20-40% gain in the energy density of the next generation of Li-Ion batteries. Silicon Nanomaterial potential to meet energy storage demand of the future is undeniable and is generating massive investments .

Story continues

Despite the strong research and investment in Silicon nanomaterial, current manufacturing processes to make Nano Silicon powders are not scalable or commercially viable. HPQ and Pyrogenesis, via this agreement, are developing a process to address both the scalability and cost hurdles required by the industry.

The PUREVAPTM NSiR process was conceived and is being developed so that HPQ NANO can deliver to advanced materials companies and battery manufacturers a cost competitive, tailor-made product, that can replace graphite in batteries and thereby allow the deployment of truly powerful next generation Li-ion batteries. Industry interest in our project is strong, even at this early stage of our development said Bernard Tourillon, President & CEO of HPQ Silicon. This agreement allows us to devote all our efforts in a dedicated entity focussed on starting, as soon as possible, the PUREVAPTM NSiR and shipping samples of our Silicon nanomaterials. Once the PUREVAPTM NSiR process is operational, expected to be in Q4 of 2020, HPQ NANO will implement the steps required to take full advantage of this unique multibillion-dollar business opportunity.

This Agreement represents another significant milestone in our relationship with HPQ. Battery storage is the future and it is indeed exciting for us to now be using our plasma expertise in addressing the challenges facing the lithium battery market, said M. P Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis Canada Inc. This milestone is also a testament to what can be achieved when two companies, and their Boards, work together with a common purpose and a clear understanding of the many unforeseen challenges in bringing such product lines to fruition.

PROCESS VALIDATION AND IMPROVEMENT, NANO Si PRODUCTION & DEMONSTRATING SCALABILITY

The key areas covered by the agreement between HPQ NANO and PyroGenesis are:

PUREVAPTM NSiR process development program, schedule and cost assumed by HPQ NANO; Acquisition of the PUREVAPTM NSiR Intellectual Property as it relates to the manufacturing of Nano Silicon powders and nanowires by HPQ NANO; Revenue distribution between HPQ NANO and PyroGenesis from the sales of Nano Silicon materials made with the PUREVAPTM NSiR.

The PUREVAPTM NSiR process development program is made of two distinct and complimentary phases, each with their own goals, timelines and milestones.

PHASE 1, VALIDATING AND IMPROVING THE PROCESS, MAKING SAMPLES BY END OF Q4 2020

The main goal of Phase 1 is modifying the existing Gen2 PUREVAPTM QRR reactor into the Gen1 NSiR for the purpose of producing nano silicon materials. The resulting new Gen1 NSiR will be a batch process system with a design production capacity of 30 kg/month of nano silicon powders. In order to meet the aggressive Phase 1 timeline agreed by the Parties, HPQ NANO will pay $200,000 to PyroGenesis over the next 15 weeks needed to complete the process engineering, mechanical engineering, fabrication and system commissioning.

Once the Gen1 NSiR is operational, as series of test runs will be done in order to produce nano Silicon materials. In addition to producing samples for potential customers, the nano Silicon material produced will be analysed and characterized in order to define important process parameters, fine tune operating parameters and assess the performance of all the components of the systems. HPQ NANO and PyroGenesis have agreed that each series of 10 tests would cost HPQ NANO $132,000.

PHASE 2, VALIDATING COMMERCIAL SCALABILITY, DELIVERING NANO SI MATERIALS

Phase 2 main objective is validating the commercial scalability of the PUREVAPTM NSiR. Using data collected during Gen1 NSiR testing phase a completely new Gen2 NSiR system will be designed and built. 35 weeks will be needed to complete the process engineering, mechanical engineering, fabrication and system commissioning and HPQ NANO will pay $210,000 to PyroGenesis for this phase.

The Gen2 NSiR will be a semi-continuous process system with a design production capacity of 300 kg/month (or about 3,5 MT/year) of nano silicon powders or nanowires, giving HPQ NANO a large enough production capacity to be able to start selling nano silicon materials. In addition to producing nano Silicon material, a series of Gen2 NSiR tests will be done to define the important process parameters and operating parameters required to allow the process and the systems to be scaled up to a commercial production capacity of about 2,500 MT of Nano-Silicon powders per year.

PUREVAPTM NSiR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AS IT RELATES TO NANO SILICON MATERIALS



The agreement also covers HPQ NANO acquisition of the intellectual property rights to the PUREVAP Nano Silicon (Si) Reactor process as it relates exclusively to the production of Micron size and Nano size Silicon Powders and Silicon Nanowires (the Field) from PyroGenesis. The acquisition cost of the PUREVAP NSiR IP is CAD$2,400,000 and HPQ NANO has 30 days from the effective date of the agreement to make the payment to PyroGenesis.

PyroGenesis will retain a royalty-free, exclusive, irrevocable worldwide license to use the process for purposes other than the production of Micron size and Nano size Silicon Powders and Silicon Nanowires. Should PyroGenesis be approached by any other parties for any research and development or commercial purposes outside of the Field, HPQ NANO shall have a right of first refusal, provided that, however, HPQ NANO exercise its right of first refusal within thirty (30) days of PyroGenesis receiving a bona-fide offer.

NSIR REVENUES SPLIT BETWEEN HPQ NANO AND PYROGENESIS FROM SALES OF NANO SI MATERIALS

HPQ and PyroGenesis evaluated the short and long-term advantages of forming, at the start, a stand-alone joint venture responsible for manufacturing and selling Nanoscale Silicon (Si) powders.

A gradual approach was deemed more efficient, therefore HPQ Silicon created a fully own subsidiary, HPQ NANO Silicon Powders Inc, to be the stand-alone Corporation that would finance the Research and Development programs and manage the future commercialisation of Nanoscale Silicon (Si) materials made with the PUREVAPTM NSiR with PyroGenesis being granted the right to convert, at any time and at its sole discretion, it Royalty into a 50% equity stake in HPQ NANO.

As a result of this, HPQ NANO agrees to pay PyroGenesis, on an annual basis, and until conversion, the following minimum royalty (Nano-Royalty) on the gross sales of nano materials produced with the PUREVAPTM NSiR Process and Systems:

For 2021, the greater of 10% of HPQ NANO gross sales or fifty thousand dollars (CDN$50,000);

For 2022, the greater of 10% of HPQ NANO gross sales or one hundred thousand dollars (CDN$100,000);

For 2023, the greater of 10% of HPQ NANO gross sales or one hundred and fifty thousand dollars (CDN$150,000);

For 2024 and beyond, the greater of 10% of HPQ NANO gross sales or two hundred thousand dollars (CDN$200,000).

About Silicon

Silicon (Si), also known as silicon metal, is one of todays strategic materials needed to fulfil the Renewable Energy Revolution (RER) presently under way. Silicon does not exist in its pure state; it must be extracted from quartz (SiO 2 ), in what has historically been a capital and energy intensive process.

About HPQ Silicon

HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. ( TSX-V: HPQ) is a Canadian producer of Innovative Silicon Solutions, based in Montreal, building a portfolio of unique high value specialty silicon products needed for the coming RER.

Working with PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX-V: PYR) , a high-tech company that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma - based processes, HPQ is developing:

The PUREVAP TM Quartz Reduction Reactors (QRR) , an innovative process (patent pending), which will permit the one step transformation of quartz (SiO 2 ) into high purity silicon (Si) at reduced costs, energy input, and carbon footprint that will propagate its considerable renewable energy potential ; HPQ believes it will become the lowest cost (Capex and Opex) producer of silicon (Si) and high purity silicon metal (3N  4N Si);

The PUREVAP TM Nano Silicon Reactor (NSiR) , a new proprietary process that can use different purities of silicon (Si) as feedstock, to make spherical silicon nanopowders and nanowires; HPQ believes it can also become the lowest cost manufacturer of spherical Si nanopowders and silicon-based composites needed by manufacturers of next-generation lithium-ion batteries; During the coming months, spherical Si nanopowders and nanowires silicon-based composite samples requested by industry participants and research institutions will be produced using PUREVAP TM SiNR.



HPQ is also working with industry leader Apollon Solar of France to:

Use their patented process and develop a capability to produce commercially porous silicon (Si) wafers and porous silicon (Si) powders; The collaboration will allow HPQ to become the lowest cost producer of porous silicon wafers for all-solid -state batteries and porous silicon powders for Li-ion batteries. The plan is to deliver porous Si wafer to a battery manufacturer (under NDA) for testing in 2020.



This News Release is available on the company's CEO Verified Discussion Forum , a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders.

Disclaimers:

The Corporations interest in developing the PUREVAP QRR and any projected capital or operating cost savings associated with its development should not be construed as being related to the establishing the economic viability or technical feasibility of any of the Companys Quartz Projects.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's on-going filings with the securitys regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information contact

Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President and CEO Tel (514) 907-1011

Patrick Levasseur, Vice-President and COO Tel: (514) 262-9239

http://www.hpqsilicon.com Email: Info@hpqsilicon.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2771b596-319e-4159-bfdf-35c6d04ed557

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f635a97-9656-4d6f-8976-cd6468a98cb4

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/18239f5c-0a59-41d6-a5c5-0f909ddd8687




One more terrorist was killed on Tuesday in an ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district. The encounter took place in Kreeri area where the police also recovered arms and ammunition.

This is the third terrorist killed in an operation carried out by security forces after Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants attack on Monday which left two CRPF jawans and a Jammu and Kashmir policeman dead in Baramulla district.

The security forces had chased the ultras after the attack and gunned down two of them during an encounter.

The search operation is currently on in the area.

Two Army jawans, who were injured during encounter at Kreeri area on Monday, have also succumbed to injuries, police said.

This was the third attack on security forces in Kashmir in less than a week. On Friday, two policemen were killed and another injured after suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists opened fire on a police team in Srinagars Nowgam area. On August 12, a soldier was injured in an attack in Sopores Hygam area.

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Sixteen projects were awarded $26.1 million in the second round of money from offshore oil and gas leases that are funneled back to four states along the Gulf of Mexico for coastline restoration projects.

Included in the funding through the Gulf of Mexico Energy and Security Act (GOMESA) program, released Tuesday by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, was $2.6 million for the construction of a 44-acre public boat access in Orange Beach at the Intracoastal Waterway. Other projects of note included $3.3 million for a marine science research vessel at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, $3.7 million to fund ongoing sewer upgrades at the Mobile County Water, Sewer and Fire Protection Authority, $3 million to enhance and expand nature parks in Foley, and $3.5 million to implement a Mobile County Commission master plan for public access.

Boat launch

The boat ramp project received $7.5 million in last years GOMESA funding for the acquisition of land for the development of a boat launch that is viewed by local and state officials as crucial for public access to the Intracoastal Waterway. The project will be located just slightly west of the Baldwin Beach Express toll bridge and is expected to be a draw for tourists to Alabamas beach communities.

The additional money for the project will help with the projects construction, but will not finance its entirety, according to Baldwin County Engineer Joey Nunnally. The Baldwin County Commission, which is administering the project, will apply for the rest of the funding once the county receives a good cost estimate, said Nunnally. He said the GOMESA money will likely cover about half of the construction cost.

The project includes about 140-150 parking spaces, walking trails and four boat launches that Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon said will move a lot of boats.

The project is currently under review by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. According to information provided by the county, the project is targeted to be under construction by May 2021 and completed by December 2021.

Its really nice to hear the money is there and were ready to get this done once we get the permits, said Kennon.

Sea lab vessel

In Dauphin Island, the $3.3 million for a marine science research vessel will help support the construction of a ship that will assist the Dauphin Island Sea Lab  Alabamas primary marine education and research facility -- in fishery research and explorations.

It will have the ability to stay out overnight and it will be a multi-purpose vessel that can do all kinds of things important for the state of Alabama, said John Valentine, the Sea Labs executive director. I wont be limited to university work and support state research. In some cases, it could support federal research. Its really a wonderful opportunity  were just kind of excited and humbled we are getting this opportunity. Times are tough and you are just thankful when they come along.

GOMESA funding

Alabama is one of four states that gets 37.5% that is specified within GOMESA, a federal law that was signed in 2006. But its only been in the past two years in which the coastal states reaped millions of dollars from the revenues that are associated within the second phase of the program. The second phase is scheduled to run through 2055, and Alabama officials are anticipating substantial amounts of money each year.

The money can go toward a host of uses that include coastal protection and conservative projects, hurricane protection and for infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetland losses.

Ivey, as governor, has the sole authority to approve GOMESA projects, and the Alabama Department of Conservative and Natural Resources (ADCNR) administers the funds.

The GOMESA funds made available to Alabama are providing aid to make various improvement and conservation projects possible, said Ivey, in a news release. From research lab support to improving areas for Alabamians and our visitors to enjoy, these funds will go a long way in preserving this special place in our state.

State Senator Chris Elliott, R-Daphne, applauded Iveys office for keeping the money within Alabamas two coastal counties  Mobile and Baldwin. He has sponsored legislation that would protect GOMESA funds from being utilized anywhere else in Alabama other than Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Elliott has said that he doesnt want to see the money diverted outside of the coastal area, such as what occurred with the BP oil spill settlement funds in 2016.

The important thing here is that its all being spent on coastal Alabama, said Elliott. The big thing is that the governor has stayed true to her word and spent it in coastal Alabama rather than someplace else.

The projects, according to the governors office, were derived from suggestions submitted to ADCNR for Alabama GOMESA funding. The agency received more than 60 project suggestions from the public. The project suggestions as well as projects submitted through the Alabama Restoration Project portal were considered for GOMESA funding.
Some of the people the Ten Foundations charity works with

Some of the people the Ten Foundations charity works with

A man who lost his home and business and was diagnosed with cancer in the same year is now devoting his life to helping lift people out of poverty.

Ten years after hitting rock bottom, Belfast man Ian Campbell (74) is transforming people's lives in the Philippines.

His charity Ten Foundations currently provides a livelihood for 40 impoverished families, with the scheme largely funded through a range of exclusive schoolbags sold through his charity shop on the Lisburn Road and online.

As parents get their kids ready for the new term in September, the big-hearted charity boss is urging them to consider buying one of his schoolbags. Every penny raised through the scheme goes to helping a child on the other side of the world go to school for the first time.

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Lockdown has hit the charity particularly hard, with Ian unable to do his usual tour of schools in May and June - a period when the charity sells the bulk of its bags.

Before helping the less fortunate, the father-of-two and grandfather-of-three lost everything after investing what he had made from running a successful construction company into a product to stop the theft of tools from building sites.

"I did get it to market, but the first batch wasn't great and then I got my cancer diagnosis and it all fell apart very quickly after that," Ian says.

"I had remortgaged our home in Belfast to fund the scheme and had put everything I had into it. We lost the lot. We weren't rich, but we had a comfortable lifestyle and we had just refurbished our home. We lost it and had to rent and then I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer."

Ian had to undergo seven weeks of radiotherapy and hormone treatment and has been closely monitored ever since, finally being signed off by his oncologist last year.

"I remember my lowest point was on my 64th birthday in August," he says.

"I went to get 10 out of the cash point to buy a cup of coffee, but it said that I had insufficient funds. I hadn't a penny in the bank.

"I remember thinking if the oncologist told me I had just months to live at that point, I wouldn't have cared."

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Ian visited the Philippines for the first time the following year, 2010, after reading about the work of a charity online.

He was so moved by what he saw that he set up Ten Foundation immediately after returning home to Northern Ireland.

As a grandfather, he was particularly saddened by the plight of the Filipino children.

"There was a wee boy of about seven or eight carrying a five-gallon drum of water," he says.

"I don't know how far he had been carrying it, but the look on his face was what hit me. There was no smile and you could see he had no hope.

"These people were living in wee bamboo shacks and they had nothing. Many families were too poor to even look after their own children.

"I thought we could help them earn an income to look after their own children.

"We raised funds to rent a small building, bought our first sewing machine and started to make shopping bags."

Forty women now work in what Ian refers to as his "livelihood centre".

As funds become available, he keeps adding to the number of sewing machines.

Thanks to his efforts, Filipino parents have been able to send their children to school for the first time, replace the mud floors in their huts with concrete, link their homes to electricity and water networks and install toilets.

Every penny raised by the sale of schoolbags made by the women pays for their wages, as well as two meals a day.

"The difference to the lives of the people from when I first met them 10 years ago to now is like night and day," Ian says.

"The women are coming into the centre full of smiles and laughter and it is good for them to be able to work and provide for their families.

"The most wonderful thing is seeing the kids going to school for the first time."

Ian and his wife Evie (76) work full-time for the charity without a wage.

They would usually make around 30,000 through selling the bags in schools, but all that has been lost this year because of lockdown.

"It's been a tough few months. We have around 80,000 worth of school bags in stock and really need to get some sales to make up for what we have lost during May and June," Ian says.

"I hope people will go online or call into our shop at 355 Lisburn Road."

 To view the full range of bags and get more information about the charity, visit www.tenfoundations.org. Ten Foundations will be running a pop-up shop in The Boulevard in Banbridge for the next few weeks
With the full support of Justin Trudeaus federal Liberal government in Ottawa, provincial governments have unveiled back-to-school plans in recent weeks that will accelerate the COVID-19 pandemic across Canada and endanger the lives of teachers, students and their families.

Despite the minor differences over details, the provincial reopening plans have met with widespread opposition from parents and teachers. Some governments have had to announce last minute changes in an effort to dissipate opposition in order to impose their reckless policies on a reluctant population.

In general, the essential content of these plans can be summarized as follows: classrooms at elementary school and the first three years of secondary school will reopen full-time and remain as crowded as before the pandemic, without any real protective measures being put in place.

For the last two years of secondary school, the situation varies depending on the region of the country. While most provinces will require all students to attend school in person, Ontario has identified some school boards in urban areas that will allow half of the student body to attend school in person and the other half to do online learning.

No province will seriously increase the education budget for the smaller class sizes required to ensure social distancing, or even support the so-called hybrid model, where some students are in the classroom and others take courses online.

Ontario has indicated that parents worried about the pandemic will have the option of keeping their children at home to receive online instruction. To the extent that this is put in place, it will lead to greater social inequality since not all families can to provide their children with the space and equipment for distance learning or afford taking time off from work. The province has not even considered subsidizing parents who take time off, let alone protect them from being fired.

In the province of Quebec, which was the hardest hit by the pandemic, there will be no social distancing between students in classrooms, and barely any in common areas. Other provinces, such as Ontario and British Columbia, will create study groups of about 60 students in which contact will be allowed on the playgrounds and in some common areas.

On school buses, students will have an assigned seat, but will be seated two per row. The safer option of having fewer students on the buses, which would involve hiring more drivers and buying new buses, was discarded for purely economic reasons.

Under conditions where the countrys public schools have been the target of major budget cuts in recent decades, only paltry sums have been earmarked for protective equipment and cleaning materials. This is the case in Ontario, where public schools, which accommodate more than two million students, will have to use an additional $500 million from their own reserves to fund safety measures.

In all provinces, masks will not be mandatory for students under the age of 10. For older students and adults, masks will be mandatory in public places, but not in classrooms.

There will be no systematic testing done in schools for either teachers or students, even though recent studies have shown that children infected with COVID-19 can be even more contagious than adults. The criminal indifference of Canadas ruling elite was summed up in Ontario Premier Doug Fords words, We have full control of our plan and yes, I pray to God no one gets sick.

The back-to-school drive shows that the governments response to the pandemic is based on the deadly principle of herd immunity, that is, allowing the virus to run rampant through the population. This was all but admitted by Quebecs national director of public health, Horacio Arruda, when he said, If we want the schools to work, the virus will circulate.

Schools will reopen to force working parents back to work. Having received in March $650 billion from Ottawa in various bailout packages, the corporate and financial aristocracy is now demanding the premature resumption of all economic activity to resume the flow of profits and force workers to pay for the bailout.

Governments know that the coronavirus is still very present in Canada and that the hasty reopening of schools will lead to a massive spread of the virus and thousands of preventable deaths across the country. At a recent press briefing, Montreals director of public health, Dr. Mylene Drouin, stated darkly, [W]e must prepare for the worst.

The politically motivated back-to-school campaign poses an immense health, educational and workload challenge to teachers, a significant portion of whom are older and have health problems.

To justify this, government officials are feigning concern for the mental health of children and the learning problems of more vulnerable students, even though they have been imposing decades of brutal spending cuts on education, health and social services.

Another lie is that children are little affected by COVID-19. Arruda has even gone so far as to say that depriving a child of schooling, of socialization, is more serious than the potential risk of him or her catching the disease. Quebecs minister of education, Jean-Francois Roberge, said that the information we have about COVID-19 assures us that children, most of the time, do not get sick and do not transmit the disease.

In fact, recent research indicates that children not only can get sick and even die but are also important vectors for the transmission of the virus. Even asymptomatic children can and will infect adults both at school and at home. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US have also found that hospitalization rates for children increased steadily between early March and the end of July.

The procedures to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks are unclear or non-existent, as authorities are determined to keep schools open even if the coronavirus circulates freely. School boards have until mid-September to develop emergency protocols, well after the start of the school year. In Quebec, Minister Roberge indicated that if there is a second wave, There is no question of closing schools across Quebec. Outbreaks will rather be managed on a case-by-case basis.

In several provinces, groups of parents who are skeptical about reopening the schools have emerged on social networks. Many denounce, among other things, the lack of resources for preventive measures.

In Alberta, the Coalition for a Safer School Relaunch, a group representing parents, physicians and educators, has called the provinces plan reckless. The group issued a list of demands, including the provision of all necessary personal protective equipment to workers at no cost and clear protocols for regular testing and outbreak management.

In Quebec, a petition demanding that parents be given the choice between sending their children to school or online education collected 18,000 signatures. In Ontario, an online petition demanding a reduction in class ratios collected nearly 170,000 signatures.

While parents and educators are speaking out against the reopening of schools, it is being planned with the direct involvement and sanction of teachers unions. For example, Ontarios four teachers unions issued a statement last Thursday describing the back-to-school plan as violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Yet despite this, all they did was request an immediate meeting with the minister of labour and officials from the Ministry of Education, i.e., with the same right-wing government that has spent the past two years gutting education budgets and attacking education workers.

The fight against the criminal back-to-school drive of the ruling elite depends entirely on the initiative of rank-and-file workers themselves. In every school, teachers must establish their own safety committees, independent of the unions, to unify parents, students and every section of the working class to oppose the school reopenings.

These committees must demand that schools close or remain closed throughout the country, and that the necessary resources be deployed for distance learning and psychological support for students. Such a campaign must also demand the cessation of all non-essential economic activity, with full financial compensation for the workers affected, until the pandemic is brought under control.
The Israeli Intelligence Minister said in a televised interview on Monday that Tel Aviv and Khartoum are preparing to sign a normalization agreement similar to the one signed between his country and the United Arab Emirates.

A normalization agreement with Sudan is coming soon. This historical agreement may be signed before the new year, Eli Cohen told KAN, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.

This announcement was preceded by several gestures or concrete actions by the new Sudanese authorities.

Last February, a first direct public and official contact between Tel Aviv and Khartoum took place in Entebbe, Uganda. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, met there with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu.

Only two days after this meeting, normalization started with a military spokesman announcing in Khartoum that Israeli planes could use Sudanese airspace.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan then told the press that a small committee had been formed to study normalization between the two countries. Several sources speak of numerous contacts, during the last few months, between Khartoum and Tel Aviv.

On May 24, for example, the day of the end of Ramadan, Beyamin Netanyahu announced in the Council of Ministers that he had called his Sudanese counterpart to wish him happy feast of al-Fitr and to express his desire to develop bilateral relations.

For their part, Israeli media have revealed that contacts between Sudan and Israel are ongoing and that delegations from both countries are intensively pursuing preparations to finalize the agreement.

Victim of a very hard economic crisis due to American sanctions and the amputation of the majority of its oil resources since the independence of Southern Sudan, Sudan is now betting on the potential repercussions of this acceleration of normalization with Israel.
New Delhi, Aug 18 : In a mega boost to the 82 km long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday approved a $1 billion funding for the project being implemented by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).

Reacting to the development, Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Direction of NCRTC, said in a statement, "The approval of $1.049 billion (approximately Rs 7,500 crore) funding package by the ADB for the high-speed, high-capacity Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS reflects upon the funding agency's trust in the project that promises to transform regional mobility besides giving push to polycentric economic development across the region." According to the NCRTC, Delhi accounts for 37 per cent of the population of the National Capital Region (NCR). The project is critical for decongesting Delhi and reducing air pollution significantly on a sustainable basis.

Along with this, the project will also result in a paradigm shift in mobility across the NCR by providing equitable, fast, reliable, safe, comfortable, efficient and sustainable mobility solution, it said.

The NCRTC said that financing from ADB for the project will be implemented in multiple tranches between August 2020 and May 2025. It said that the loan will be used for financing civil works, tracks, station buildings, multi-modal hubs, maintenance depots, traction and power supply of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor.

Apart from this, the ADB-administered Japan Fund for building institutional capacity, technological advancements and poverty reduction and two other grants amounting to $8 million (approximately Rs 60 crore) will be provided to finance measures for safe mobility of the elderly, women, children and the differently-abled and to improve economic opportunities for women and provisions of public toilets around RRTS stations.

RRTS is a first of its kind project in India and it will use many state-of-the-art technologies for the first time, including ETCS Level-2 signalling systems and ballastless tracks suitable for 180 kmph speed.

Rolling Stock for the project is being designed and manufactured in Gujarat's Savli under the Make in India initiative of the government. The 17-km long priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor is scheduled to commence operations in 2023. The full 82 km of the corridor will be opened for public by 2025.
Opposing the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday warned that "Punjab will burn" if the state is asked to share water with Haryana.

At a meeting with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Singh called SYL an emotive issue that could disturb national security.

The meeting was held on the directions of the Supreme Court that asked the two chief ministers last month to discuss the completion of the SYL canal, which has been in the pipeline for several decades. Punjab is reluctant to share water with Haryana and Rajasthan, saying it has nothing to spare.

Both states stuck to their stands at the meeting convened on the directions of the Supreme Court, which asked the Centre on July 28 to mediate between them on the decades-old issue. But the two chief ministers described the interaction -- the first such meeting between them on the project -- as "cordial" and agreed to talk again.

Singh has reiterated the need for a tribunal for a time-bound assessment of river water availability.

"You have to look at the issue from the national security perspective," he told Shekhawat, according to a Punjab government statement. "If you decide to go ahead with SYL, Punjab will burn and it will become a national problem, with Haryana and Rajasthan also suffering the impact."

Shekhawat and Khattar joined the video conference from Delhi. Linking the SYL debate with national security, Singh said Punjab remained at risk from all quarters. He said Pakistan was continuing with attempts to foment trouble and was trying to revive the separatist movement through the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organisation. The water issue could further destabilise the state, he warned, according to the statement.

Singh described the meeting as "amicable and cordial".

Khattar hoped for an amicable solution to the dispute. "We maintained our stand that the SYL should be constructed. The Supreme Court too has said that," he said after the meeting.

Khattar told Punjab that construction of the SYL and the availability of water are two different issues and must not be confused. He also emphasised upon the immediate need for building the channel with adequate capacity to help Haryana draw its legitimate share of water.

SYL has been a contentious issue between the two states with the Punjab portion of the canal still incomplete. The construction began in 1982.

Punjab has been demanding reassessment of the Ravi-Beas river waters' volume while Haryana has been seeking completion of the SYL canal to get its share of 3.5 million acre feet (MAF) of water.

Singh claimed Punjab had a right to Yamuna water, in which it did not get a share at the time of 60:40 division of assets with Haryana during the state's division in 1966. He also expressed his willingness to sit across the table with his Haryana counterpart to discuss the "emotive" issue.

Shekhawat suggested that the SYL could be completed while discussions on water sharing continue for arriving at a final formula.

"Punjab and Haryana CMs placed their viewpoints on the issue and we have decided to have another meeting soon," he said. "At the next meeting, talks will be held from the point where we ended them today and whatever the outcome, we will apprise the Supreme Court about it."

(With inputs from PTI)
Charleston County voters will decide in November if they want to keep paying a 1 percent sales tax that would fund more than $708 million in school construction, renovation and maintenance projects.

It's the second time the Charleston County School District has asked voters to approve an extension of the penny sales tax, which passed in 2010 and was renewed in 2014.

The existing 1 percent sales tax program is set to expire in 2022. If the extension is approved by voters on Nov. 3, the program will continue for another six years, through 2028.

The largest share of revenue collected during the period would go toward funding various school construction and renovation projects, also known as capital programs. The school district expects to spend around $414.8 million, or about $69 million a year, to fund more than a dozen major building projects.

Some of the priciest additions include $51.2 million to construct a new Hursey Montessori school building in North Charleston, $90 million for a new Lambs Elementary School/Early Education Center in North Charleston and $48.7 million for a new James B. Edwards Elementary School in Mount Pleasant.

We have kids that are working and going to school learning in facilities that are 50 years old, said CCSD Chief Operating Officer Jeff Borowy, who said the learning style is different today.

We have had a lot of changes since then," he said. "Our classrooms are a lot larger."

Sales Tax Extension Project List A list of construction projects CCSD hopes to complete if the 2023-2028 sales tax extension is approved by voters this November.

Many schools across the district are beginning to need repairs, Borowy said, which includes updates to roof, HVAC systems and flooring.

As a result, an estimated $270 million, or around $45 million per year, would be spent on necessary building upkeep, Borowy said.

The remaining $24 million would go toward capital IT projects, such as replacing outdated student devices, refurbishing classroom technology or repairing school public announcement or phone systems.

Those are the big reasons. Its getting kids out of the older schools," Borowy said. "It's recapitalizing our newer schools so that we can keep up with keeping the roofs tight, keeping the HVAC working and it's having a place where kids receive a quality education.

Under the penny sales tax program, 1 cent out of every dollar spent on retail purchases would go to the school district. It does not apply to essential purchases, such as food or diapers, Borowy said.

We've got a pretty strong tourism industry here in the Lowcountry, he said. So it's a benefit to the local taxpayers because it's not 100 percent on their shoulders.

Board member Todd Garrett agreed.

Its not a new tax and its just an extension that uses our tourist dollars to help support local schools," he said. "Its building a handful of needed buildings in each section of the district, so Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, downtown, West Ashley and Johns Island, and it allows us to continue to build and maintain our buildings without adding debt.

Right now, the districts total debt is around $600 million. On average, it will pay down approximately $40 million in debt each year moving forward with the goal of being almost entirely debt-free by 2030, according to the districts 2020-21 budget.

Last month, the board voted 8-1 to place the sales tax extension on the Nov. 3 ballot. Board member Kevin Hollinshead voted against the measure.

During the COVID period, where peoples incomes are being stretched, and after talking with other elected officials around the county, I just didnt think that was the appropriate thing to do, Hollinshead said.

He predicted construction and renovation projects planned for North Charleston would ultimately fall through.

In referendums like this, we use African American votes to get it through, and then we get the short end of the stick," he said. "When it comes down to the list of schools or public facilities in our area, were on the back burner.

Of the 16 planned school construction projects that would be built using funds from the sales tax extension, nine are in schools that have a student enrollment population thats more than 39 percent Black.

By the time the current phase of sales-tax funded construction projects expires in 2022, it will have funded an estimated $656 million in school projects, Borowy said.

Several costly building projects from this phase are expected to open this fall, including the $103.7 million Lucy Beckham High School in Mount Pleasant and the $42.7 million Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies.
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AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company") today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 13,000,000 of its Class A common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share ("Class A common shares"), for expected gross proceeds of approximately $364.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. The offering was upsized from an original offering size of 11,000,000 Class A common shares to a final offering size of 13,000,000 Class A common shares. The Company also granted to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,950,000 Class A common shares. The offering is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close on or about August 20, 2020.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay indebtedness under its revolving credit facility, to develop new single-family properties and communities, to acquire and renovate single-family properties and for general corporate purposes. The foregoing application may be effected through the Company's operating partnership by the Company contributing a portion of the net proceeds to its operating partnership in exchange for Class A partnership units.

BofA Securities and Morgan Stanley are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification thereof under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and only by means of a prospectus and prospectus supplement. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering and the final prospectus supplement, when available, may be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, or by email at [email protected]; and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department.

About American Homes 4 Rent

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high-quality, good value and tenant satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of June 30, 2020, we held approximately 53,000 single-family properties, in selected submarkets in 22 states.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements relate to beliefs, expectations or intentions and similar statements concerning matters that are not of historical fact and are generally accompanied by words such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "potential," "plan," "goal," "outlook," "guidance" or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to complete the offering and the intended use of net proceeds. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions about future events. While the Company's management considers these expectations to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These and other important factors, including "Risk Factors" disclosed in, or incorporated by reference into, the prospectus from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2020, and in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC, may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from anticipated results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Contact:

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Investor Relations

Phone: (855) 794-2447

Email: [email protected]

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Ishaan Khatter opens up on working with Tabu and Mira Nair in A Suitable Boy, his first masala flick, Khaali Peeli, in which he stars opposite Ananya Pandey, and dabbling in comedy with Excel Entertainment's next film, Phone Bhoot.

The excitement of working with Tabu is palpable in Ishaan Khatter and he can't wait to talk about it. He plays Maan Kapoor, who is infatuated with a Muslim courtesan Saeeda Bai (played by Tabu) in Mira Nair's A Suitable Boy. The actor says that it was "easy" for him to romance Tabu. Because she is mischievous, she is fun, and she doesnt bring heavy energy on set, he elaborates.

After acclaimed Iranian writer-director Majid Majidis Beyond the Clouds, and Karan Johars production Dhadak, Khatter is making his television debut with the six-part BBC drama as the rebellious son of a politician in Nairs adaptation of Vikram Seths novel set in post-Independence India. The actor shot for A Suitable Boy (to be released in India later this year), between schedules of Khaali Peeli, his next Hindi film, a masala potboiler, opposite Ananya Panday. And he teams up with Katrina Kaif and Siddhant Chaturvedi in the recently announced Phone Bhoot, a horror-comedy.

Excerpts from a chat with the rising star:

Hows lockdown treating you?

Nothing much changes in my life with Unlock one or two (laughs). But now it feels that there is a sense of a little bit of mobilisation and there is some work getting done. For A Suitable Boy, I did dubbing from home during the lockdown. I was able to dub for all the episodes from my room at home. But yes, I also took to different things like meditation, binge watching and training.

How did A Suitable Boy happen?

I was called in for the audition before Beyond the Clouds had released. None of my work was out then and Nandini Shrikents (casting director) team contacted me. All I knew was that it was an adaptation of the novel A Suitable Boy that Mira Nair would be directing. That was enough to get me intrigued. I am a big admirer of Mira Nairs work. I have never had the chance of meeting her before. They gave me a scene and that is when I was introduced to this kaleidoscopic character called Maan Kapoor. I didnt have any reference since I hadnt read the book. Audition happened pretty quickly and I did it my way. Soon I was called for the second round of auditions when Mira Nair was in Mumbai.

First time I met her she said that she was very keen on me to play Maan. Second audition was with her in which she read the lines with me and also directed me on that. Soon after I received an email saying, You are absolutely the most suitable boy. It took about nine to 10 months for the series to go on floors in which period I had heard and liked a couple of other projects and I was able to shoot A Suitable Boy between the schedules of Khaali Peeli.

Can you tell us a bit about the audition process?

It was the most conventional audition that I have ever done. My audition for my first film was pretty unconventional. We shot it in live locations and it was like doing a student project with Majidi Sir. But for A Suitable Boy they had hired a room in a five star hotel in Mumbai where I met a whole lot of actors because the series is such a large ensemble piece with 113 characters and probably more actors. The director was casting for many other parts, so there were young actors, senior actors and also the established ones who have really made their mark. It was definitely the most unique experience. I got to work with so many actors that I so admire in one series itself which was great. Actors like Vijay Raaz, Vijay Varma, Ranvir Shorey, Rasika Duggalall in one track, so I got very lucky. We had a lot of time to interact with each other and even with the actors who we didnt have scenes with.

How was the experience working with Mira Nair?

She is quite upfront. If she wants to communicate something, she communicates as she thinks. If she is not happy about something and expecting something more, she will be very blunt about it. Some actors get almost thrown out. There is transparency in her communication. But I was one of the lucky ones to get a lot of love from her. She is like one mother figure on set and everybody working towards pleasing her. She is also very generous and welcoming. It was an incredible experience because we also had the second unit which was constantly working. Lot of times actors would be going from one unit to the other to finish scenes. The second unit had Shimit Amin directing us whos also fantastic, so I got to work with two great directors at the price of one (laughs).

Tell us about your character, the rebel Maan Kapoor that you play.

He has grown up in the house of a Revenue minister, who is fighting for the Bill against zamindari as the country is coming into its own post-independence. My character, even as he is privy to all this, isnt really too bothered. He is so interestingly unpredictable and there are so many dimensions to him. He is a wanderer and goes anywhere. He is a very colourful character with many different shades to his personality.

It must have been really exciting working with Tabu..

It was a great opportunity to be able to play the Maan to Tabus Saeeda. I had my entire track with Tabu, which is so delightful. She is one of my favourite actors and it was even more rewarding experience to work with her. She is beautiful, magnificent on screen and when it comes to work she is probably one of the easiest co-actors to work with. It was very simple. We formed a certain synergy and then we kept feeding off that. Its an uncommon relationship even in todays time but it wasnt complicated; there wasnt much need for conversation between us to articulate things. There was an understanding and there was no need for any dialogue to get comfortable before any scene because it felt like two people know what they are stepping into.

Did you have to prepare for the role?

Large part of the groundwork was the readings and we had to do a lot of that. It is adapted from a 1500-page novel and there is a lot of context. When you are distilling that into six hours you are conveying multiple layers within every scene. It was important to understand the script in and out and then we had one long table read. Other than that it was largely understanding the social milieu and the world these characters come from. The period that it was, it was such a crucial time for India. There was, of course, this physical prep deciding the look appropriate for that time.

I had to do a little groundwork before I started because I had just two days to transit from the character in Khaali Peeli to Maan, and then again going back to Khaali Peeli was quite tricky. For Maan, it was largely a spontaneous process. But it was planned in advance so that we could execute that look change in two days.

How much of Khaali Peeli remains to be shot?

We want to do it as safely as possible. It is a demanding film, we have shot almost entirely in real locations in Mumbai and a few portions in the outskirts. Also, we have shot 80 to 85 per cent of the film in the night. Locations play a very important character in the film and therefore it is tough to plan that kind of shoot in the current situation. A year-and-a-half after my first two releases, I must have heard over 90 scripts but Khaali Peeli is the only film that I got excited about after hearing the narration. It has all the tropes of a cinema, theatre-wali Hindi picture, and it is my first hero role so to say. I didnt play that typical hero in Beyond the Clouds and Dhadak but Khaali Peeli is that typical hero role and it is one of those films that strike a very unique balance between the mainstream and something that is artistic and cool. I am really looking forward to people seeing my pairing with Ananya. Theres again an ensemble of some very good actors and we have Jaideep Ahlawat sir whos playing an antagonist. The film has a very fresh feel to it.

There are rumours doing the rounds that Khaali Peeli will have a digital release. Does that disappoint you? Your co-star Jaideep Ahlawat also mentioned that its a commercial Bollywood masala film made for the big screen.

Well, there are films that are meant for theatrical experience and Khaali Peeli is shot like that. We are all praying and hoping that sooner than later theatres start opening up and it would be possible to release in theatres. There have also been rumours that it is a remake of Vijay Devarakondas Taxiwala, which is completely untrue. I can confirm that it is an entirely original screenplay and script and doesnt draw inspiration from any other film, regional or Hindi.

How do you see the current situation? What is your take on the ongoing debate between the direct-to-digital versus theatrical release?

OTT is a great platform, it also allows a certain democratic kind of approach as everybody has access and films will be judged on its merit and not on numbers. Good thing is that digital is paving the way for a lot of good and deserving talent. There are so many stories that you cant tell in a two hour format and a six or eight part series is so satisfying to watch. You really get involved with the characters and at the same time so many good directors who have control over their craft get to showcase their work. It is also great to see an ensemble of actors.

For me, as an audience, the theatrical experience is completely different. So I dont think either of them is interchangeable. Going forward, it will be interesting to see how people are able to recognise what kind of films should be released theatrically and what would benefit more out of being exclusively released, or shown on a digital platform because these two are completely different viewing experiences. It would be interesting to see after coming out of this lockdown period how it has impacted the industry and what kind of stories will be told now. It is definitely an interesting time.

Your recently announced film, Phone Bhoot with Katrina Kaif and Siddhant Chaturvedi, looks quite interesting.

It is a laugh riot and gives me an opportunity to stretch myself in a new direction. Phone Bhoot is my first foray into comedy and it is for the first time that I am working with Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtars Excel Production. Gurmeet Singh is going to be directing it, he has done a lot of work but he is known for Mirzapur. It is my first time coming together with Katrina and Siddhant, who is a pal of mine, so it will be great fun to work with him. Honestly, it is one of the most hilarious scripts I have ever read. It is a horror-comedy and it is extremely funny. Hope we are able to do justice and I am super excited for that.
JUNEAU, Alaska - DNA from one of three black bears killed by state wildlife department employees earlier this month matched samples collected as part of an investigation into a fatal bear attack in south-central Alaska, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said Monday.

Earlier this month, the department said employees had killed a female brown bear and three female black bears near where Daniel Schilling of Hope died late last month. DNA samples from the scene matched one of the black bears, the department said Monday, adding that it believed the black bear came upon Schillings body after he had died.

The department said authorities believe a female brown bear was responsible for the initial attack that killed Schilling. It is unclear what led to the incident, as there were no witnesses, the department said. DNA from the brown bear killed by department employees did not match samples taken from near the attack site, the department said.

Bear attacks are rare and finding the DNA of two different bear species at the site makes it even more unusual, the release states.

The department said it will continue collecting samples from brown bears killed by hunters or killed under defence of life or property regulations.
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Timing unclear

States approved for the "lost wages assistance" could potentially start paying out the $300 federal subsidy as soon as this week. The funding will be available within one business day once the federal grant is approved and signed by states, according to a recent memo FEMA issued about the program. Seven states  Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico and Utah  received approval over the weekend, according to FEMA. The remainder got the green light over the past few days. Payments are retroactive to the week of Aug. 1, according to FEMA. Arizona started disbursing the $300 payments to unemployed workers on Monday, according to Brett Bezio, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Economic Security. The state paid a total $75 million to about 250,000 people receiving state unemployment insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, he said. Exact timing is unclear in other states, though. States still must figure out how to administer the funds and adjust their systems accordingly. New Mexico officials, for example, expect to start paying eligible workers sometime over the next two weeks after making system updates, according to Stacy Johnston, a spokeswoman for the state's Department of Workforce Solutions.

FEMA estimates states will be able to pay out the assistance by Aug. 29, on average. But it will likely take much longer, perhaps at least well into September, according to unemployment experts. For one, the aid isn't technically unemployment insurance. That means officials must build out an entirely new system that interacts with the current unemployment framework. Plus, there are restrictions that may prove complex relative to administration. People getting less than $100 a week in unemployment benefits aren't eligible for the $300 federal subsidy, for example. That could omit around 1 million people or more, by some estimates. The supplement comes on top of the weekly assistance states pay.

States paid $308 a week, on average, in June, according to the Labor Department. Some, like Louisiana and Mississippi, paid less than $200. States approved for funding are only guaranteed to get three weeks' worth of federal assistance, according to the FEMA memo. Early adopters may get more than other states, experts said. Any forthcoming congressional agreement on a federal unemployment supplement would supersede the lost wages assistance. Congress has yet to reconcile disagreements over the lapsed $600-a-week in aid, however. House Democrats passed a bill in May to extend the $600 subsidy. Senate Republicans countered at the end of July with a $200-a-week plan. Trump's directive was originally billed as a $400-a-week boost in benefits, splitting the difference between Democrat and Republican proposals. But it will amount to just $300 a week in many cases. The measure lets states kick in an additional $100 a week if they choose, but many are unlikely to do so due to already-strapped budgets.
Gunmen have abducted two sons of a former commissioner in Zamfara, Bello Dankande, and two others, including a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC).

Spokesman of the Police Command in Zamfara, Muhammad Shehu, said in a statement released to journalists in Gusau, that the gunmen killed one person and injured another.

He said the incident took place at the residence of the former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Gamji, Bakura Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday.

At about 4:30am, a large number of armed men invaded the house and kidnapped two of his children and two others including an NSCDC officer on guard duty at the house.

One person was shot dead while a woman was wounded in the process, he said.

Mr Shehu said the command had deployed its operatives to search and rescue the victims, as well as apprehend the assailants.

The Command further assures the former commissioner and indeed all the people of the state that it would do everything possible to get the abductees released and back home as was the case of the six kidnapped victims including two district heads of Basasa and Ruwan Gizo in Talata Mafara and Bakura local government areas.

The command appeals to members of the public to avoid confronting gunmen during such invasion but report the incident on time to the police or any security agency nearest to them for prompt action, he added.

According to him, normalcy has returned to the area while the command will update members of the public on any development.

(NAN)
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Linkedin Gregory Walton (Agence France-Presse) Doha  Tue, August 18, 2020 08:04 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066ea6979 2 Lifestyle parkour,Doha,Qatar Free

Three friends perform synchronized backflips off a dry stone fountain near one of Doha's top luxury hotels, an unusual sight in the normally staid Gulf city.

As the sun sets over the Qatari capital's mishmash of skyscrapers, the parkour enthusiasts hurl themselves off walls and walkways, surrounded by palm trees as they listen to hip-hop.

"Compared to Lebanon, where there is a big community and lots of parkour gyms, here it's more like (individual) people," said Lebanese Hamzar Mekkaoui, 26, a parkour athlete sporting a neat beard.

Parkour, an extreme sport also known as free-running that originated in France in the 1990s, involves getting around urban obstacles with a fast-paced mix of jumping, vaulting, running and rolling.

It has found a small but committed following in Qatar, despite evening temperatures that hover around 40 degrees Celsius in summer and over-zealous security guards unfamiliar with the sport.

Mekkaoui's Tunisian friend Achref Bejaoui, 25, complained that "if you step on even the grass here, the security will ask you to leave".

"But I think now they get to know us because we keep coming here, so they start feeling we are playing safe," Bejaoui said in English, wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with the word "Savage".

Another Doha-based enthusiast, 25-year-old Yousef Mughrabi, said he has had a flurry of interest in parkour from fitness fanatics unwilling to go to gyms, which re-opened in the capital at the end of last month after closures due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Read also: Trim for Eid: Qatar barbers and salons reopen

Building a community

Mughrabi said that as Qatar's economy slowed down and workplaces closed to stem the spread of the virus, he found he could offer lessons for the first time.

"I've found many people want to do parkour," the Jordanian said as his young proteges practiced their jumps and flips.

Its outdoor setting has also attracted interest in Qatar, where some four percent of the 2.75 million population have had the virus since the pandemic began.

Gyms are limited to half capacity and masks must be worn while moving around inside the facilities.

But face coverings are not mandatory for outdoor exercise, which is booming.

"Coronavirus did not stop us," said Moussa al-Moussa, one of Mughrabi's students.

"We continued to exercise, but I had to stop for two months to finish high school exams this year, and then I returned," the 18-year-old Syrian said.

Parkour has thousands of loyal followers and practitioners around the world, but it remains rare in Qatar.

Conservative attitudes towards exercising in public in the Gulf country mean practicing the sport can be tricky.

Despite this, Mughrabi was called on to compete for Qatar in a regional competition held in Doha in 2015, and said sporting officials told him they wanted to organize a permanent national team.

"You cannot go to parkour school, there's no certificate" here, he said.

"This is why I wanted to train people and build a little community."

Topics : parkour Doha Qatar
The court dismissed a batch of writ petitions from Vedanta and others challenging the closure.

The court, in its judgment, that runs over 800 pages dismissed a batch of writ petitions from Vedanta and others challenging the closure.

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Tuesday rejected a plea from mining giant Vedanta to order reopening of its Sterlite copper unit at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.

A division bench of Justices TS Sivagnanam and V Bhavani Subbaroyan upheld the orders of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board directing the closure of the unit in May 2018.

The court, in its judgment, that runs over 800 pages dismissed a batch of writ petitions from Vedanta and others challenging the closure.
TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Way of Will, an essential-oils based personal body care brand for active lifestyles, is thrilled to announce its nationwide launch in Whole Foods Market. This is an exciting milestone for the brand, who looks to elevate the personal care and wellness experience for Whole Foods Market customers.

Way of Will creates essential-oil based products that elevate the wellness experience in and out of the gym through the power of aromatherapy; which protects, energizes, refreshes, relaxes, and grooms the mind and body.

Way of Will, an essential-oils based personal body care brand for active lifestyles, announces its nationwide launch in Whole Foods Market.

"It was very important for us to expand into Whole Foods Market as we align with their value to uphold high-quality standards," says CEO Willie Tsang. "It's an incredible feeling to become a part of the Whole Foods Market family and provide our personal care products with aromatherapy benefits to their customer base."

What sets Way of Will apart from other wellness brands is the unique unisex appeal with essential oil-based formulas. Each product contains all-natural and sustainably sourced ingredients for a stripped-down bare essential that works. Way of Will aims to provide a green alternative for those looking to transition to an eco-friendlier personal care routine.

The Whole Foods Market launch will contain seven of Way of Will's top sellers: two all-natural deodorants, three body washes, and two hand lotions.

01 Natural Spray Deodorant with Bergamot + Elemi Essential Oils work to help relieve body aches and fight off germs, viruses, and fungi.

02 Natural Deodorant with Vanilla + Mint Essential Oils promote relaxation and are natural disinfectants.

45 Refresh Natural Body Wash with Mandarin + Mint Essential Oils help to soothe and detoxify congested oily skin.

45 Relax Natural Body Wash with Lavender + Cedarwood Essential Oils work to promote mental clarity and help treat acne and stubborn breakouts.

45 Energize Natural Body Wash with Grapefruit + Pine Essential Oils provide energy and rejuvenate the senses to combat mental fatigue.

50 Relax Natural Hand and Body Lotion with Lavender + Cedarwood Essential Oils promote relaxation and help restore damaged skin.

50 Energize Natural Hand Body Lotion with Grapefruit + Pine Essential Oils invigorate and stimulate the senses to purify the skin.

All Way of Will products are cruelty-free and leave out harmful ingredients like parabens, phthalates, alcohol, silicones, sodium lauryl sulfate, and synthetic oils. For more information about Way of Will, please visit www.wayofwill.com.

About Way of Will

Founded in Toronto, Canada in 2016, Way of Will is a modern aromatherapeutic essential oil body care system for active lifestyles. WILL products are made with 100% natural, cruelty-free, pure grade essential oils to elevate your experience inside and outside the gym. Way of Will founder and CEO, Willie Tsang, was inspired to start the company after his father's health began to fail. Willie's father only showed happiness when he smelled food or other familiar scents around him. Willie came to understand the power of scent.

Media Contact:

Kelsey Cone

[email protected]

714-215-9474

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 13:38:54|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The combined forces of South Korea and the United States on Tuesday began their joint annual military exercises amid rising concerns about the recent resurgence of the COVID-19 infections, according to Yonhap news agency.

The computer-simulated Combined Command Post Training (CCPT), which kicked off Tuesday morning, is scheduled to last until Aug. 28. The first part, which focuses on defense, will continue until Saturday, while the second part for counterattack, will run until Aug. 28.

The summertime drill was originally slated to start on Sunday, but it was delayed after a South Korean army officer, who was to participate in the computer-simulated training, tested positive for COVID-19.

The number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases here for the past five days totaled 991 owing to cluster infections linked to church services in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province.

Out of the virus concerns, the exercises will be scaled back while the nighttime training programs are to be skipped.

The springtime annual South Korea-U.S. military drills were also called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The South Korean military planned to ban all service members from leaving barracks for vacation and other purposes from Wednesday to prevent the spread of the virus inside the bases. The ban will continue by the end of this month. Enditem
Downed trees and a utility pole in front of the home of Tim and Patricia Terres in Walcott, Iowa, after high winds and heavy rain passed through the area in Davenport, Iowa, on Aug. 10, 2020. (Kevin E. Schmidt/Quad City Times via AP)

Iowans Are Still Without Power a Week After Powerful Derecho Storm

Iowans are still trying to recover after a strong line of storms known as a derecho tore through the Midwest last week.

Winds of more than 100 mph were recorded last Monday as the line of severe storms moved through the Midwest leaving damaged homes, downed trees, and more than a million without power.

While a federal emergency declaration has been approved and aid is on the way, nearly 50,000 customers remain without power throughout the state as of Tuesday morning, according to Poweroutage.us.

Power Should Be Mostly Restored by Tuesday

Power restoration remains a high priority for many in the region who have had to throw out their groceries and endure the continuing summer heat after the storm.

Alliant Energy, the main power supplier to the state, told CNN that 81 percent of its homes and businesses that lost power have been restored as of 9 a.m. local time Tuesday (10 a.m. EDT). Crews from around the country and Canada are working to restore power and hope to have a majority of those still without power restored by the end of the day, said Cindy Tomlinson, a spokeswoman from Alliant Energy.

Meanwhile, make shift food pantries have popped up around the state to help those in need, with at least five opening in Cedar Rapids, according to the citys storm update resources page.

A tree fell across vehicles at a home after a severe thunderstorm moved across the state in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 10, 2020. (David Pitt/AP Photo)

Cedar Rapids resident and mother of five Pamela Smith told CNN affiliate KCRG on Monday that she had to throw out $400 worth of groceries after days without power following the storm.

We cant afford it, Smith told KCRG. The financial aspect is the hardest part, making sure we have enough money for everything.

Cedar Rapids was one of the hardest hit citieswith more than 800 buildings suffering partial collapse of the roof, walls, ceiling, or floors, Cedar Rapids Fire Chief Greg Smith said Friday. More than 20 school buildings in the city sustained damage as well.

Its like a battlefield, Veteran Tim Kipping, who served as a Marine in Desert Storm, told KCRG as he stood in front of a decimated apartment complex where the crew said they could smell the stench of rotting food. Literally it looks like the building was hit with artillery shells.

Damaged grain bins at the Heartland Co-Op grain elevator in Luther, Iowa, on Aug. 11, 2020. (Daniel Acker/Getty Images)

At least 50 people remained in shelters in the city Monday night with more space available, the city of Cedar Rapids said in a tweet. Around 50 people were taken to the hospital for treatment following the storm.

The governor has said power restoration is a major priority. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the state to survey the damage on Tuesday.

Midwesterners Helping Each Other

Those whose homes are still livable are trying to clear trees and other debris as they deal with continued power outages.

In the modern era with working from home, it means we cant do anything at all because theres no Internet, no nothing, Grinnell resident Adam Albright told CNN affiliate KCCI.

What has shone through following the storm is the Midwestern spirit, with neighbors helping neighbors and people jumping in to help clean up the damage.

A lot of us will get out and make sure were cleaning but were really worried about the people in town who still do not have power, Grinnell resident Sarah Smith told the affiliate. We try to make sure were seeking those people out and get them the help they need.

Over the weekend, Soldiers with the 831st Engineer Company worked to clear downed trees so that a substation supplying power to Cedar Rapids could be reached for repair, the Iowa National Guard tweeted.

Clean up crews from as far away as South Carolina have traveled to the state to help out, the governor said in a tweet Monday, thanking them.

Wisconsin residents Dave and Diane Lobermeier drove more than 300 miles to drop off supplies in Cedar Rapids, before taking a chainsaw to help cut up trees in the street, KCRG reported.

Its people helping people, Dave Lobermeier told the affiliate. Its what Midwesterners do, Diane Lobermeier added.

The-CNN-Wire

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NAIROBI Dozens of doctors in at least two of Kenyas 47 counties have gone on strike over delayed salaries, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling COVID-19 patients and lack of medical insurance, a union official told Reuters.

Kenya has a total 30,636 confirmed infections, with 487 deaths, according to health ministry data.

Healthcare workers say they have not been given adequate PPE, but the government has said it has distributed enough to go round.

Doctors in western Homa Bay and central Embu had gone on strike over delayed or missing salary payments, lack of promotion, missing medical insurance and no hazard bonus, Allan Ochanji, vice chairman of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union, told Reuters.

Doctors who contracted COVID-19 had been forced to pay out of pocket for their own treatment, he told Reuters in an interview.

We have colleagues who have contracted COVID, they have been in isolation, they have had to foot the bills, despite the fact that they contracted COVID while on duty," Ochanji said.

Doctors in Nairobi, the nations capital, warned on Friday they would go on strike within a week if their demands were not met. Nairobi has by far the largest number of coronavirus cases.

Richard Muga, Homa Bay County health executive, confirmed that health workers July pay had been delayed due to a dispute on how to allocate revenues to counties. He said the strike was illegal.

We have tried to engage the health workers," he said. They have not heeded our pleas."

A nurse in one Homa Bay hospital who did not want to be identified said patients were no longer visiting public health facilities due to the strike.

Many patients are now going to private hospitals, or doing over-the-counter medication," he said.

Health officials from Nairobi and Embu counties did not return calls seeking to comment. The health ministry said on Friday that Nairobi County officials were in talks with the doctors.

The ministry of health said eight healthcare workers had died from COVID-19. Ochanji said 558 healthcare workers had tested positive.

Nairobi-based Doreen Lugaliki became the first doctor to die of COVID-19 in July. This month nurse Marian Awuor, from Homa Bay, died from COVID-19 days after giving birth.

(Editing by Katharine Houreld and Nick Macfie)

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
Aden :

A suicide bomber from the Islamic State group killed at least 48 Yemeni soldiers in Aden on Sunday, the latest in a string of deadly attacks against recruits in the countrys second city.



Military officials and medics said many others were wounded in the attack that targeted a crowd of servicemen who had gathered to collect their salaries near a base in northeastern Aden.



The number of those killed has exceeded 40 with some 50 others wounded, Aden health chief, Abdel Nasser al-Wali, told AFP, adding that the death toll was likely to mount due to critical cases.



The toll was later updated to 48.



The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who blended in among soldiers crowding outside the house of the head of special security forces in Aden, Colonel Nasser Sarea, in Al-Arish district, near Al-Sawlaban base.



Sarea said the bomber took advantage of the gathering and detonated his explosives among them.



Images from the blast scene showed blood stains and scattered shoes across the sandy ground.



IS claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that a martyrdom seeker had gotten through security checkpoints before blowing himself up.



The attack comes eight days after a similar bombing at Al-Sawlaban claimed by IS killed 48 soldiers and wounded 29 others.



Yemeni authorities have fought a months-long campaign against jihadists who remain active in the south and east of the impoverished Arabian peninsula country.



IS and its jihadist rival Al-Qaeda have taken advantage of a conflict between the government and Yemens Huthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa, to bolster their presence across much of the south.



The two extremist groups have carried out a spate of attacks in Aden, Yemens second city and headquarters of the internationally recognised government whose forces retook the port city from the Huthis last year.



But Al-Qaeda has distanced itself from the December 10 attack, claiming that it tends to avoids the shedding of any Muslim blood while focusing on fighting the Americans and their allies.



Al-Qaeda has long been the dominant jihadist force in Yemen, located next to oil-flush Saudi Arabia and key shipping lanes, but experts say IS is seeking to supplant its extremist rival.



Washington regards Al-Qaedas Yemen-based branch as its most dangerous and has kept up a long-running drone war against its commanders.



In August an IS militant rammed his explosives-laden car into an army recruiting centre in Aden, killing 71 people in the deadliest jihadist attack on the city in over a year.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday appealed people to avoid crowding during the Ganesh festival and follow guidelines about the height of idols and their immersion.

The festival, which in normal times brings lakhs of people on roads in a city like Mumbai, will begin on August 22 under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thackeray was speaking at a review meeting with top officials through video conference where Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope were also present.

"The forthcoming Ganeshotsav which comes against the backdrop of COVID-19 crisis should be celebrated peacefully, keeping social responsibility in mind," Thackeray was quoted as saying in an official statement.

"Care should be taken to avoid crowding and it should be ensured that the disease does not spread," he said.

So far, people from all religions have cooperated with the government during festivals during lockdown, the chief minister noted.

"Guidelines (issued by the state home department) say that the height of idols installed by sarvajanik Ganesh mandals (groups which celebrate the festival in public) should be (maximum of) four feet and that of idols installed at home be two feet.

"While following this guideline, no processions should be taken out before installing and immersing idols to avoid crowding," he said.

Ganesh mandals should facilitate online 'darshan' of idols, Thackeray said.

He also instructed the authorities to increase COVID- 19 testing, control test charges and ensure that test reports are made available at the earliest.

As vaccine is not available yet, wearing masks, cleaning hands and observing discipline is the only solution for now, the chief minister said.

Home minister Deshmukh asked the police to keep an eye on mischievous videos on social media.

He also asked local government bodies to create a maximum number of artificial ponds to avoid crowding during immersion of idols.

Divisional commissioners, district collectors, chief executive officers of zilla parishads, municipal commissioners and district police superintendents attended the meeting.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday rejected President Trump's comments on New Zealand's growing number of coronavirus cases since COVID-19 was detected in the community for the first time in 102 days last week.

Driving the news: Trump said Monday when New Zealand "beat" the virus, "it was like front page, they beat it because they wanted to show me something." "The problem is big surge in New Zealand. It's terrible. We don't want that." But Ardern said there's "no comparison between New Zealands current cluster and the tens of thousands of cases being seen in the United States."

What she's saying: "Obviously it's patently wrong," said the prime minister, who's usually more measured in her response to questions on Trump.

"We are still one of the best-performing countries in the world when it comes to COVID and our workers are focused on keeping it that way."

The big picture: New Zealand confirmed on Tuesday 13 new cases linked to the cluster in Auckland that led to the country's biggest city locking down last week. Officials are investigating the origins of one other infection they believe is linked to the cluster. The total number of active community cases is 69.

Go deeper: New Zealand PM delays election by 4 weeks amid coronavirus outbreak
SACRAMENTO  California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said Tuesday that he would join a nationwide lawsuit over proposed changes to the U.S. Postal Service that Democrats fear are being used to sabotage mail voting in the November election.

Becerras announcement came as Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said he would back off on the changes until after the November election, to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail.

The lawsuit, organized by the attorney general of Pennsylvania and joined by four other states plus California, will argue that DeJoy illegally made changes to the Postal Service that would undermine the timely delivery of mail without seeking regulatory approval.

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, Becerra said in a statement. That means relying on our Postal Service more than ever during this pandemic. Unsurprisingly, that doesnt stop President Trump from attacking our mail and lying about the facts no matter who gets hurt. To him, even when it comes to delivering your paycheck or medication, its a joke.

Mail voting has become a political flash point this election cycle as states have eased their rules for requesting a ballot amid the coronavirus pandemic and Trump has repeatedly and falsely insisted that the system is rife with fraud. He acknowledged last week that he opposed providing financial relief to the cash-strapped Postal Service to make it more difficult to process an expected surge in mail ballots.

The Postal Service is struggling with broader delivery delays tied to policies DeJoy has implemented since he took over as head of the agency in June, including eliminating overtime for workers, placing restriction on repeat trips of routes to deliver late-arriving mail and removing hundreds of mail-processing machines and collection boxes.

DeJoy, who has been called to appear before the Senate because of mounting bipartisan frustrations, has said he is making necessary adjustments to cut costs and ensure the long-term health of the Postal Service. But he announced Tuesday that he would delay those efforts until later in the year.

The Postal Service is ready today to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives this fall, he said in his statement. To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded.

A spokesperson for the state Justice Department said Becerra would still join the lawsuit against the Trump administration, his 96th, which his office expects to file in federal court later this week. Another coalition of 14 states, led by Washington, is planning a separate lawsuit over the changes to the Postal Service.

Americans have a right to know that their government wont sabotage their right to vote. Every vote counts, Becerra said in a statement. Its time that DeJoys deeds match his words today.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
Jonathan Cheban wants to sell his apartment in New York City, after his $250,000 watch was stolen during a harrowing gunpoint robbery earlier this month.

'I can't be there. It's very traumatic to be there,' the 46-year-old reality star, known as Foodgod, told Page Six on Monday. 'I want to sell my apartment in New York for sure because I can't imagine living there again.'

While he was robbed in New Jersey, Cheban slammed Mayor Bill de Blasio for his lack of action over a recent spike in armed robberies, among Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Traumatized: Jonathan Cheban wants to sell his apartment in New York City, after his $250,000 watch was stolen during a harrowing gunpoint robbery earlier this month

'Daytime, nighttime, afternoon, Midtown, Uptown, Downtown, the mayor has destroyed the city,' he told the outlet. 'It's depressing. It's scary. I was on edge before, but now I'm even more on edge, obviously.

He added: 'I'm just confused as to how they're allowing this to happen,' he said. 'I just cannot believe [New Yorkers] would vote for this idiot two times.'

Additionally, the star is grappling on how to cope after the 'horrifying' and 'definitely a life-changing experience.'

Accountability: While he and his mother were robbed in New Jersey, Cheban slammed Mayor Bill de Blasio for his lack of action spike over spike in armed robberies, among Manhattan's Upper East Side (seen earlier this month)

The traumatic incident happened in the quiet, upscale suburban neighborhood of Englewood Cliffs on Sunday evening while the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was with a friend and mother, Galina.

'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 added. 'There were two gunmen. It was frightening. It happened at 8:30 pm last night just as the sun was going down.'

'The mugger had a gun pointed at my mother's head,' Cheban told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'There were two gunmen. It was frightening'

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.
Mr Ishmael Ashitey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, has cautioned students writing the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASCCE) against examination malpractices as that could greatly affect their integrity.



Mr Ashitey gave the advice, on Monday, when he visited final year students of the West African Senior High School (WASS) and Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC) who are writing the WASSCE.



The Minister was accompanied by the National Director in-charge of Basic and Secondary Schools at the Ghana Education Service (GES), Madam Patty Assan, the Regional Director of Ghana Education Service, Ms Monica Ankrah, the Municipal Chief Executive of La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, Madam Jennifer Dede Adjabeng, and other officials of the GES.



Interacting with the candidates, Mr Ashitey said his visit was to acquaint himself with the happenings of the on-going WASSCE and to encourage the students to repose a lot of confidence in what they had learned.



The success of their examination, he said, depended on their input and conduct at the examination, hence, urged them to equip themselves well to score high marks.



The Minister, however, commended the candidates for adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols.



In both schools, all the candidates were smartly dressed and in their face masks.



Madam Ankrah also praised the candidates for the orderly manner in which they conducted themselves from the beginning of the exam.



She told them not to depend on any question leakages that would encourage them to neglect their studies.



Madam Adjabeng, on her part, entreated the candidates to put in their maximum best to emerge with flying colours, and expressed satisfaction about the measures put in place to ensure a successful examination.



Mr Charles Obeng Asante, the Public Relations Officer of the Municipal GES Directorate, said out of 771 candidates presented by WASS, 427 of them were males with 344 were females.



The PRESEC, on the other hand, presented 972 candidates.



The Regional Minister early on made a similar visit to the Adentan-Fafraha Community Day Senior High School.

Source: GNA









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Featured Video
By John D. Saxon

The most important decision a presidential nominee makes is choosing a running mate. For Joe Biden, he chose well.

Biden announced in March that his running mate would be a woman. In May, after the George Floyd murder, the nation began a searing examination of racial profiling, police misconduct, and the need for social justice, which added pressure on Biden to make that woman African-American.

In the early primaries, the Biden campaign had stalled. On the eve of the South Carolina primary, Biden was endorsed by South Carolina Congressman, and one of the countrys most prominent African-American leaders, Jim Clyburn. Clyburns endorsement put Biden over the top. He won South Carolina handily, and the dominoes started falling. As did his competitors.

Whether Clyburn extracted from Biden a promise may never be known. But Bidens choice of Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate no doubt put a smile on Clyburns face.

With Kamala Harris, Biden made history. She is the first African-American and first South Asian-American woman to be the nominee of either party for President or Vice President.

Her father, an economist, was a Jamaican immigrant. Her mother, a scientist, was an Indian immigrant. No wonder she supports the DREAM Act and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Befitting the times (a global pandemic), Biden rolled out his Veep decision electronically, describing her as smart, tough, and ready to lead.

Kamala Harris received a B.A. from Howard University, majoring in political science and economics, and graduated from the University of California Hastings College of Law. Upon her election as San Francisco District Attorney, she became Californias first African-American DA. She was California Attorney General when she was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016.

Is the country ready for two lawyers in the White House? Obviously so. They elected Obama and Biden twice.

The choice of Harris is as safe as it is unsurprising. Her age, 55, should comfort any concerned that if Biden wins, he will be 78 when he takes the oath. She is a good campaigner, and a strong critic of Donald Trump. She has only two major negatives: one, she took on Biden in the first Democratic debate in June of 2019 on the issue of busing, and, second, as San Francisco District Attorney and Californias 32nd Attorney General, she was a tough on crime prosecutor.

As to the former, Biden doesnt hold grudges, and Harris ability to throw a punch will stand her in good stead when she debates Vice President Mike Pence in Salt Lake City in October. The former head of the debate team at Howard University, she has proven herself in the Senate as a tough questioner on the Judiciary Committee during the confirmation hearings of Jeff Sessions and William Barr for Attorney General, and Brett Kavanaugh for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Regarding her second weakness, that she is tough on crime, let Trump and Pence deal with that one. They want to put Biden and Harris in the socialist, Medicare for All, defund the police, in bed with the Squad camp. They cant.

Biden wants to improve the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare to some), and neither Biden (while Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee), nor Harris, as San Francisco District Attorney or Californias Attorney General, was soft on crime. While there may be a few Democratic liberals who take issue with Harris record as a prosecutor, her record will sit well with many Democrats, some independents, and a few Republicans.

Harris voted against confirmation of both Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and voted to convict President Trump on both impeachment counts (abuse of power and obstruction of Congress). These votes should not hurt her. Anyone bothered by her votes for impeachment and against Trumps nominees to the Supreme Court was already a Trump supporter.

A Presidential nominee chooses a running mate for any of a number of reasons. Geography and political philosophy are two. Moderate Georgian Jimmy Carter picked liberal Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale in 1976.

You can also pick a running mate to shake things up, add some excitement, energize a voting bloc (such as women). Look at Mondale in 1984 selecting N.Y. Representative Geraldine Ferraro, an Italian-American, or Senator John McCain selecting Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in 2008.

A VP nominee can also reinforce a theme. While Presidential nominees often select a running mate from another part of the country, in 1992, Arkansass Bill Clinton selected Senator Al Gore from neighboring Tennessee. Why? Generational change.

Is it odd that Biden chose as his running mate someone who ran against him and, in the first Democratic Presidential debate in June 2019, attacked him over the issue of busing and his positive statements about his Deep South colleagues in the Senate who were, lets put it charitably, not progressive on race? No. Biden wants to win.

While Californias Harris doesnt help Biden carry a state (he would carry California anyway), she is African-American, and female, and if there is any reliable voting block in the Democratic column it is African-American women. (Just ask Senator Doug Jones.) Harris selection should help drive turn-out with that demographic group.

As for Harris debate attack on Biden, in 1980, former California Governor Ronald Reagan ran against an incumbent President, Jimmy Carter. A core component of Reagans campaign was supply side economics. George H.W. Bush, his primary opponent, called it voodoo economics. Reagan nonetheless picked Bush as his running mate, they won, and served eight years in office.

As one of only two VP finalists who had run for President (the other being Senator Elizabeth Warren), Harris has been carefully scrutinized, and knows what to expect on the campaign trail.

The fact that Biden selected Harris means not only that he trusts her, but also that he is comfortable with her personally. Biden made no secret of the fact that he wants to replicate the relationship of trust and mutual respect he had as President Obamas Vice President.

In an instant, Kamala Harris went from being Joe Bidens competitor to his companion, from his rival to his running mate. History will record his decision as a very safe, pragmatic, and wise one. And if they win, and Biden chooses not to seek a second term, Harris becomes the immediate front-runner for President in 2024 - - a fact which could not have been lost on Joe Biden.

John D. Saxon, a Birmingham lawyer, was a Special Assistant to Vice President Walter Mondale in the Carter White House and was on the legal team that did damage control for his Vice Presidential running mate, Geraldine Ferraro.
New Jersey will sue the U.S. Postal Service, the state attorney general announced Tuesday, over concerns President Donald Trumps administration is purposely crippling the agency ahead of a nationwide surge in mail-in ballots because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ive made it my mission to hold accountable those who try to corrupt our political process, Gurbir Grewal Tweeted. Voting by mail is safe, secure, and reliable. We intend to keep it that way.

I can confirm: New Jersey will be suing @USPS.



Voting by mail is safe, secure, and reliable. We intend to keep it that way. As AG, I've made it my mission to hold accountable those who try to corrupt our political process.



Lawsuit coming soon.  AG Gurbir Grewal (@NewJerseyOAG) August 18, 2020

Grewal was joined by attorneys general around the country, including Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

At the same time, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced he would stop many of the policies linked to recent delays, such as the removal of collection boxes and processing equipment.

To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded, DeJoy said in a statement, and the agency is ready today to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives this fall.

When asked if DeJoys statement affected the planned lawsuit, Grewal said he and other law enforcement officials would remain vigilant.

We welcome the Postmaster Generals retreat, but we remain concerned about the effects of changes that have already been implemented, Grewal said in a statement sent by a spokesman. We will continue to work with other State AGs to protect the election.

More details about the complaint, including the legal basis for the challenge and what specifically Grewal will be suing to stop, were not immediately available.

Union officials who represent New Jersey postal workers have reported delivery delays and dramatic changes to operations, including reductions in overtime and mail machines being taken offline, and the postal service recently warned the state it couldnt guarantee all mail-in ballots would be delivered in time to be counted.

However, the agency was partially concerned residents would wait too long to request absentee ballots, which is no longer necessary since Gov. Phil Murphy announced all 6.2 million registered voters will be mailed ballots.

The postal service also said it might need more than two days to deliver completed ballots, which is also less of a concern in New Jersey. Ballots postmarked by Election Day can arrive at election boards a week later (8 p.m. on Nov. 10) and still count.

Trump and some state Republicans have repeatedly insisted mail-in voting has a high risk of fraud, despite evidence to the contrary.

While mail ballots are more susceptible to fraud than in-person voting, it is still more likely for an American to be struck by lightning than to commit mail voting fraud, researchers at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University recently wrote.

Democrats have called for investigations into whether the president is purposely trying to undermine an election he might lose, and New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. last week asked Grewal to convene a grand jury to investigate Trump and the postmaster.

A long line formed at a U.S. Postal Service office in Clifton, New Jersey on Tuesday, August 18, 2020.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

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As Indonesia marks its 75th Independence Day, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo called on all citizens to unite and fight corruption, violence and threats to the environment.

By Robin Gomes

Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta has called on Indonesians to work together to fight corruption, violence and climate change as the country celebrated its Independence Day on Aug. 17.

Independence Day in the south-east Asian nation was limited to a subdued virtual ceremony because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Corruption, violence and environmental damage

In a video message, Cardinal Suharyo reminded all that the ideals of the nation - unity, sovereignty, justice and prosperity - oblige all sectors of society to work towards the common good.

These national ideals, he pointed out, are being threatened by corruption, violence and environmental damage.

Indonesia continues to be plagued by high-profile corruption cases, unrest in Papua, and violent acts of terrorism or intolerance by religious extremists. Meanwhile, the destruction of rainforests, pollution resulting from slash-and-burn agriculture and plastic waste are degrading the environment. The Cardinal lamented that these ills are growing every year.

Common good

When celebrating Independence Day, Cardinal Suharyo said, We should not only commemorate it but take it as our responsibility  to build and realize the common good.

The 70-year old Cardinal reminded Catholics that, despite the hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, they should work for social justice and promote the national ideals in families, communities, parishes and basic communities.

Two other eminent Catholics have backed the Cardinals call.

"It is our responsibility as citizens to overcome these challenges for the progress of our nation," Vincentius Hargo Mandirahardjo, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Catholic Intellectuals (ISKA), told UCA News.

Jesuit Father Francis Xavier Mudji Sutrisno, a professor at Jakartas Driyarkara School of Philosophy, said the three social ills cited by the Cardinal must be a priority of the government.

The law must be enforced fairly to overcome corruption, violence and environmental damage, he told UCA News. If the law can still be sidestepped, he warned, these problems will never stop.

He blamed the situation on the lack of morality in Indonesias politics. Democracy without legal certainty provides fertile ground for violence, corruption and acts detrimental to the environment, he said.

He exhorted all to work hand in hand to end such practices and put our selfishness, group or personal interests behind us to achieve a better society.
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA)  The EU Commissioner for home affairs, Ylva Johansson, on Monday announced that the European Union (EU) will give Tunisia 10 million Euros to help the country acquire coast guard materials needed to fight illegal immigration
With just hours until the deadline Monday to place an issue on the Nov. 3 ballot, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors voted to amend a law enforcement agreement with Montgomery County and decided again not to include incorporation on the ballot for Nov. 3.

The turn of events comes nearly four months after the board had voted to not place the question of incorporation on the ballot for voters due to too many financial uncertainties caused by the then nascent COVID-19 pandemic.

Because of disagreements about policing services contracts with the county and township, the directors had to meet in an emergency, last minute session to hammer out the new amended law enforcement contract that will now be sent to the county for possible approval.

The changes provide stability to the sheriffs deputies who patrol the community, many of whom feared losing their jobs in the event the township residents did decide to become a city.

Related: Coronavirus scuttles incorporation plans for The Woodlands

On Monday, the board went into a nearly four-hour executive closed session before voting to a revised law enforcement transition contract with Montgomery County as well as tabling and tasking no action on placing the question of incorporation on the Nov. 3 ballot as they had promised in March.

According to board Chairman Gordy Bunch, if no action was taken by 5 p.m. Monday, technically the township would have seen its law enforcement services contract would have been nullified. If no agreement had been reached on changes sought by the county, the township board may have needed to put incorporation on the ballot to ensure the community did have policing services after Dec. 31.

With the tabling of the agenda item to place incorporation on the ballot, the issue will now likely not be revisited again until the 2022 election.

This is absolutely the last thing this board wanted to contemplate today. We are trying to do the best we can, Bunch admitted. It was everyones expectation that we would have had a transition agreement in place by today. That did not occur.

The board had their hand forced by the Montgomery County Commissioners Court, which last week voted to rescind the third amendment of law enforcement services transition agreement after disputes between commissioners and Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson and township officials over several details. One was the fate of 84 sheriffs deputies who now patrol the township but were concerned about their job safety if the township did incorporate.

Related: Montgomery County rescinds law enforcement transition agreement amendment with Woodlands

In January, the township opted to choose a hybrid policing model if citizens did vote to approve becoming a city. That model would see a small, independent police force for the possible new city of The Woodlands as well as some patrolling done by county deputies. As part of Mondays deliberations, township directors made several changes to the proposed third amendment that would provide more reassurances to sheriffs officials in regard to job security if the township incorporates.

Related: Woodlands hybrid policing model choice a mix of approaches

The new proposal would see 100 percent retention of all current 84 deputies in year one after possible incorporation; a reduction of a maximum of 20 percent of those deputies in year two, or 16 deputies; then a maximum of 30 percent reduction in years three and four. The new proposed deal also gives the county 365 advance notice of reductions so any deputies that may not be retained can seek new positions while still having a job for a year.

Bunch said, as he did several times during the hastily called meeting, that there was confusion in the community over the issue and stressed that The Woodlands was going to continue to be policed as it is currently. The new provisions will need to be approved by the Montgomery County Commissioners Court at a future meeting.

This will extend law enforcement (services) without incorporation and provides the community four more years to look at what long-term governance they want. This board is committed to not ever reducing our law enforcement services, Bunch said. We will send this to the county and see if it gets approved.

jeff.forward@chron.com
By Nora Buli

OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian police have arrested a Norwegian citizen suspected of illegally handing information to a Russian intelligence officer, the PST security police said on Monday.

The man, whom PST didn't name, was suspected of "harming vital national interests", which could carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

The arrest took place at a restaurant in Oslo on Saturday during a meeting of the two, PST spokesman Martin Bernsen told Reuters.

"He (the Norwegian man) was arrested in the presence of the intelligence officer," said Bernsen.

Asked whether the intelligence officer was not arrested because the person was a diplomat, Bernsen declined to comment.

"We focus on the Norwegian man," he said.

The arrested man denies any wrongdoing, his lawyer, Marianne Darre-Nss, said following an arraignment hearing at Oslo district court.

The security police is asking the court that the man be detained for four weeks.

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik and Nora Buli, editing by Gwladys Fouche and Nick Macfie)
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Three Managing Directors of State Bank of India (SBI) are in the race for the Chairmans post to succeed current top boss Rajnish Kumar, whose term is ending in October this year.

The interview to select the new chairman will likely take place this month. The contenders are Dinesh Kumar Khara, Arijit Basu and C S Shetty, according to people familiar with the development. All three have nearly three decades of experience across different verticals in the bank.

There is a possibility of a fourth candidate also being called from the SBIs ranks, one person quoted above said. But, this persons participation depends if he gets clearance from the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) ahead of the interview date, the person said.

SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumars term is ending on October 7. He took charge as SBI Chairman in October, 2017. SBI typically picks its new chief from among the MDs.

Recently, there was a media report suggesting that Rajnish Kumar has been asked to attend the interview along with other candidates. However, this possibility is unlikely and no information has reached on this with either the bank or Kumar on this yet.

This mere speculation at this stage. There is no information so far, said one of the officials quoted earlier.

If Kumar is to be given an extension, he can be given without an interview, the official said.

Kumars predecessor, Arundhati Bahttacharya was given an extension in 2016 to facilitate the merger of SBI with associates. There was no interview conducted then.

The new SBI chairman will have a tough task ahead as the banking sector is going through a major crisis hit by the COVID-19 onslaught. As on June 30, SBI has made a total provision of Rs 3,000 crore to cover potential COVID losses.

Gross non-performing asset (NPA) ratio at 5.44 percent is lower than 6.15 percent in the preceding quarter. But the continuation of moratorium till August makes current NPA numbers somewhat irrelevant.

About 9.5 percent of the SBIs loan book is now under moratorium and over 90 percent of customers have paid two or more instalments since March.

In his tenure, Kumar has managed to lead the bank with relatively better asset quality trends at a time when the entire industry is neck-deep in a bad loan crisis post the 2015 asset quality review.

Kumar has expressed confidence of banks business performance going ahead. On July 31, during the press conference announcing the June quarter results of SBI, Kumar made an interesting analogy, comparing the banks business position to a COVID-19 infected person.

It is safe to presume that as on June 30, SBI is declared as asymptomatic and has built good immunity," Kumar said referring to banks preparedness to absorb the losses arising from the impact of the pandemic. But that is not a guarantee on what will happen in future, he added.
If we follow the twisted logic of the Left, all immigration is good, even illegal immigration, but the initial process of exploration and settlement which opened the door for that future immigration was a great evil. The myopic leftist does allow one caveat to this assertion. For the Hate America first crowd, everything depends on what culture or race are doing the exploration and settlement. Left-wing historians like Howard Zinn spend little time decrying the historical sins of Asian, African, or Mesoamerican cultures who fashioned empires by means of conquest and enslavement.

Western civilization and its core moral/spiritual tradition based on Judeo-Christianity are the real sticking point in all their historical analysis, their colossal blind spot. They tell us that statues of Columbus must be toppled to make the world safe from bigotry and hatred, but in the faces and actions of these new iconoclasts, we see nothing but bigotry and hatred. Theirs is a kind of mindless frenzy that reminds the historian of the Terror of the French Revolution where a difference of opinion could result in the loss of ones head. We see the same hyperemotional response in the BLM movement, where all police are Racist Pigs and all black criminals are innocent victims. Against this irrational tide, facts and logic are quickly swept away. Lost in this collective madness is any attempt at historical perspective.

Our Statue of Liberty proudly extols America as a refuge for the,  tired poor huddled masses yearning to breathe free

Without Columbus and the other European explorers, the long-term process of colonial settlement would not have taken place and would not have produced the multicultural civilization we call the U.S.A. A civilization that has raised more people out of poverty and extended more human rights to more people than any other in the history of the world.

Mass migration both peacefully and by war have always been the rule of history and what started in the Americas during the 15th century was a combination of both. One cant sidestep the cruel and selfish behavior that characterized the Spanish conquest of what became Latin America. Like the Aztec and Inca civilizations which they destroyed, theirs was a top-down, authoritarian culture known by the rest of Europe for their fanaticism and militarism. They essentially conquered a sociopolitical system similar to their own and for these reasons Latin America is still deeply troubled by social/economic inequality and political instability.

Having said all this, the one thing that cant be left out of the historical record is that they ended far crueler and more fanatical civilizations. The Aztecs controlled a vast empire that perpetuated a culture of human suffering. Like the empires of the ancient world, theirs was based upon the practice of continual war and the enslavement of others. What makes them stand out is the pathological nature of their religious beliefs, coupled with their large-scale, systematic practice of ritual human sacrifice.

Archeologists still debate the exact number of people who were sacrificed at the rededication of one of their pyramids (Templo Mayor) in A.D. 1487. This mass-murder took place over a four-day period and according to conservative estimates, 10,000 people were killed. Other archeologists have calculated that more than 80,000 people were sacrificed at that event. Anthropologist Michael Harner estimated that during the 15th century the Aztecs sacrificed 250,000 people per year.

The Aztecs believed that their rain god required the tears of children to continue the cycle of rainfall. Based upon that belief they tortured and sacrifice large numbers of children. Also when they planted their fields of corn, they sacrificed infants and sprinkled their blood upon the ground.

The old liberal view, which has now been debunked, held that the Aztecs were an aberrant, sui generis culture whose beliefs and practices were solely their own. In terms of the scale of human sacrifice this is correct, but in terms of the practice of human sacrifice in general it is not. In 2018 National Geographic reported the largest single site containing the remains of sacrificed children had been found in Peru. From Chile in the south to Canada in the north the general pattern of Native American life was continual intertribal warfare, enslavement, torture, and at least some human sacrifice. Child sacrifice was also a widespread behavior practiced by many tribes: the Natchez, Timucua, Creeks, Potomacs, Dakota, Pawnee, Pueblo, to name only a few.

What didnt exist among these Native American cultures was any concept of individual human rights. Women, children, and men all existed only as members of a tribe. They had no rights or freedom outside of their tribal customs. There were no 911 or community hotlines to report the abuse of women or children. The sins and atrocities of western civilization deserve criticism but they must be viewed within the context of a dynamic, evolving civilization that has lasted 1500 years and has proven to be both self-critical and reform-minded. Judeo-Christianity provided western civilization with a conscience, a moral compass with which to judge its performance. Often that conscience was troubled, but it was still there to nag on moral, social, economic, and political reform. Against the negative side of its historical ledger one must juxtapose western civilizations ever-expanding social, economic and political rights. The Aztecs, Mayans, Incas and the less-developed native American societies did not demonstrated this type of progressive, self-critical, reform-minded, humanitarian culture.

It is not surprising that in Africa, Mesoamerica, and Asia it was western civilization that brought an end to both the slave trade and the practice of human sacrifice. The European and American practice of slavery was a short-term cross-current which ran counter to its main historical course. Even when it was being practiced by Europeans and Americans it produced many critics. Europe ended the practice as a result of democratic political actions and the moral persuasion of its people. In America it ended based upon the actions of free men using force to decide the issue.

Finally, one must ask, if there had been no European exploration and colonialization in the Americas, what would have been the catalyst to bring about a more progressive, humanitarian direction in this region of the world? Without European exploration and colonialization a future, strong, unified, free, United States of America would never have existed and provided a great economic and military counterweight to destroy Hitlers racist Nazi empire, Stalins Soviet Communist empire or Japans Empire of the Rising Sun from dividing up the earth in the 1940s.

William D. Howard is a freelance writer who had a long career as an educator. He holds degrees in philosophy and history and has traveled widely in over 40 countries. His essays have been published in American Thinker, LifeSiteNews, and Intellectual Conservative among others.

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LARKSVILLE  A body discovered inside a garbage bag of a Larksville home last week is believed to be Patricia Walski, the wife of Richard Walski who state police said is wanted for questioning in the homicide.

Search warrants filed in the investigation say Patricia Walskis body was decomposing and found in a garbage bag during a welfare check at the couples home on Schrader Street on Thursday. An autopsy revealed Patricia Walski died from a gunshot wound to the head, search warrants say.

A Chevrolet Colorado truck that Richard Walski owns was found in a wooded area along the Susquehanna River near the Nanticoke-West Nanticoke Bridge on Friday.

Investigators say they are continuing to search for Richard Walski, 46, for questioning in his wifes homicide.

According to the search warrants signed by District Judge David Barilla, Larksville police conducted a welfare check at the home on Aug. 5 when they were contacted by a relative in Suffolk County, N.Y. An officer received no response when he knocked on the door and a neighbor told the officer they must be fishing, as the truck, boat and a dog were not at the property.

Police conducted a second welfare check at the home on Aug. 10 based on information from Suffolk County, N.Y., police. The truck, boat and dog were not at the residence.

A neighbor told the officer on Aug. 10 that he received a text message from Richard Walski on Aug. 2, indicating they were OK and would be fishing at a campground for several days. Richard Walski also stated in the text that he had poor cell service, according to the search warrants.

The body was found when police returned to the residence for a third welfare check on Thursday when a relative of Richard Walski said there was a strong and foul odor coming from the home. An officer entered the house and immediately detected a strong odor of human decomposition and many insects.

During the search of the residence, police found the body in a garbage bag inside a first-floor bathroom. A pile of laundry was on top of the bag.

Police searched the residence and did not find Richard Walski.

HOMICIDE - State police confirm the death investigation is now a case homicide. They say a female was found dead in the home & are now searching for 46 year old Richard Walski in connection to the investigation. Walski lives here but has not been seen for several days @WNEP pic.twitter.com/hRZH0qFwQI  Chelsea Strub (@chelseastrub) August 14, 2020

Search warrants say a garbage bag was tied around the womans head.

A concerned citizen contacted state police on Thursday after seeing a social media post about the missing couple that also involved a Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck. He said he came across the Chevrolet while fishing on Aug. 11 near the Nanticoke-West Nanticoke Bridge and keys on the seat with clothing.

It is believed Patricia Walski is the victim of criminal homicide and the whereabouts of Richard Walski are presently unknown, according to the search warrants.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Richard Walski is asked to call state police at Wyoming at 570-697-2000.

By Ed Lewis, The Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) (TNS)
Photo: Fiona Apple

Back in September, Fiona Apple spoke with Vulture about how furious and frustrated she was with the Trump administrations inhumane immigration policies. Today, were exclusively premiering a new animated short film narrated by Apple  in partnership with We Have Rights, Brooklyn Defender Services, and WITNESS  about how anyone can safely and securely document arrests by ICE to hold the agency accountable for its actions. Despite the pandemic, ICE is still raiding homes to detain and deport immigrants, some of whom have lived in the U.S. for their entire lives. The short film (its only two and a half minutes, and is also available with Spanish narration by activist Erika Andiola) is full of useful information and tools to help both immigrants and bystanders deter and challenge ICE arrests wherever and whenever they see them unfolding. Before the shorts premiere, we called up Apple to talk about why she got involved, what she personally learned while working on the film, and how she feels about the upcoming election.

Tell me how you first got involved with this project.

[Brooklyn Defender Services] Scott Hechinger, again! I did the recording for the video on that same day I got my [bolt cutter] tattoo. I felt like that was really meaningful, to me. I think this video is absolutely essential. When I was reading the script, I felt really lucky to be able to read it aloud and learn it. Its such valuable information. Everybody can help out. This is horrible shit that ICE is doing. Theyre trapping people and separating people, now at these hotels  theres no way to track anybody. People are just losing their kids. Theres no situation where people should be without their parents or their lawyers.

ICE agents are fucking scary. I think so many people want to help and they dont know how. They feel like they have no way of helping. But if youve got eyes, ears, a notepad, and a pencil, you can help. But you have to know the rules to be able to help. You might be trying to help and film an immigrant or their family member, and you end up hurting them. Just film the badges, the street signs. Or maybe you dont make a copy of the film. Or know that you need a six-digit pass code in order to exercise our Fifth Amendment right  we need to stop with the fingerprint and face recognition. Or [know] that you have to keep on filming. Dont stop filming! And saving the unedited version so you can go back and see all the facts. Its all such valuable information. Getting that info and learning it, for me, at least, makes me feel equipped to help. At least I feel like a basic level of Okay, if something happened around me, I could be of use. I can take out my phone or use my mind and write things down. I can at least bear witness.

Yeah, I was surprised how much I learned from the video that I didnt realize I didnt already know.

Theyre horrible. And [ICE] is abusing people. Theyre assaulting women. I think I read that theyve had, over six years, something like 14,000 reports of sexual assaults. Its insane. The whole thing about them keeping kids in these hotels, its like, But theyre not in cages. But its not better. Theyre little kids. They have these people supposedly trained in kids and trauma. But fuck that. You could give these jobs to social workers. But they want to keep all the money for themselves: No, well train our own assholes to do it.

I cant believe this is happening. Theres so many awful things going on in this country. You read about places like Belarus and theyre like, They teargassed the crowd and arrested people and disappeared people. But thats the same shit thats happening here now. Its going to hell.

Its really awful.

The way were treating our immigrant friendsWe stole this country in the first place. But after that, the only way were Americans is the degree to which were helping immigrants. Because we were immigrants! Fuck you, Donald Trump. Your ancestors were immigrants, supposedly fleeing religious persecution. But now, seeking asylum because youre being persecuted is not deemed a necessary reason to travel. Anyway. All of this stuff just makes you feel so fucking helpless. What do I do? I just want to run head into people and just fucking pound things with my fists. But this video makes me feel like, Okay. I can be the cool one, I can be silent, I can stand there and say, I have a right to document this. I know what to do. At least theres that. And I do feel like a lot of people, if they watch this video, it will make a difference. Theyll feel empowered. I really think that theres a lot of people right now sitting on their couches watching the news going, What the fuck can I do to help stop this? And this is, right now, the best we can do as civilians.

What was the most surprising thing that you learned while filming the short, things that were illegal or legal that you werent aware of?

The thing that I just remembered, which gave me chills, is when I had to say: This is all scary. And, Sometimes ICE will not comply. The fact that theyre really scary dudes. Who are they? They must have failed the fucking psych test to be a police officer and now theyre in charge of kids and women. These are scary guys. But the things that really made me feel good was just the information: Ah, yes, I should not film the faces of my immigrant neighbor. I shouldnt say his name, or anything about him and his family. I should just focus on those fuckers, their badges. Be nice, comply with what they do, but keep recording. Take notes. Notice things. Bear witness so that somebody doesnt have to go through that scary situation without somebodys eyes on them, with kindness. Its not okay. Youve gotta know what to do.

Im really happy this video is finally coming out. We couldnt find a Spanish speaker for awhile. We recorded it, and I tried to reach out to Jennifer Lopez to do it, but we didnt hear back. [Laughs.] I was like, Worth a try! Its been a perfect time for this video to come out for a while. But especially right now. This shit going on in Portland, with all of these fucking guys disappearing people in vans. We fucking need to know our rights. We need to. Otherwise, were just all without protection. We need to protect ourselves and each other.

Absolutely. How do you feel about the election? Are you hopeful? Scared?

Im really scared about this mail thing. Thats fucking nuts to me. Taking mailboxes?! Im scared about that. Im scared and appalled at the Republican lawyer trying to help out Kanye. Thats low. I really hate them for how theyre treating him, you know? And how theyre taking advantage of him to try and stay in power. Theyre not helping him. I feel hopeful, but I also feel like Trumps just going to do anything he can to stay in office, if for no other reason than he knows hes gonna have to go to fucking jail. Boy, would I love to see that. Hope he fixes the fucking prison system before he goes to jail.

Or not.

[Laughs.] Lets keep the old ways intact just for him.

Well, thanks for catching up. Im really glad you made this video.

The video itself is three minutes long. Its like a song. This is the length of a song. Theres so many fucking new songs coming out. Everyones listening to them all the time. Check out this new hot song of the week! Check out this new song from Brooklyn Defenders! Everybody learn the fucking lyrics to this song, and sing it every day! [Laughs.]

The new single from Fiona Apple.

Know Your Rights. Maybe I will. I got my recording set up again, so maybe Ill do a little version. Ill just sing the whole thing.

Are you working on anything, or just recording for fun?

Just for fun. I was working on something but I cant talk about it yet. But it was all set up again, so I was just like, Oh, this is fun. I have my little hand drums. Recording is really good for practicing. I dont like to practice, but Ill practice if Im recording.
Prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley after rise in cases

54 new cases in UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar district push tally to 6,596

Harayana DGP office to remain closed for 2 days after 6 cops test positive

Covid-19 guidelines to be followed during Odisha Assembly monsoon session

BJP wants village, local council polls in Mizoram deferred due to Covid

Countries around the world raced to develop a vaccine for coronavirus (Covid-19) as the pandemic continues to rage. Worldwide there are 22,040,412 million coronavirus cases and 777,129 confirmed deaths, according to worldometer. India recorded 57,981 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and 941 deaths yesterday, pushing its tally to over 2.64 million, data from the Union health ministry showed. The United States crossed 50,000 deaths in 23 days, Brazil in 95 days and Mexico in 141 days. India took 156 days to reach the figure, according to the government.

Meanwhile, hard-hit US states including Arizona, California and Florida showed signs that their coronavirus outbreaks are easing after a summer surge. The challenges to bring college students back to campus were underscored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which switched to online learning after a rapid jump in cases.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage
Donald Trump continued his online tirade against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday, blasting him as crooked and incompetent.

The President tweeted and retweeted a number of disparaging sentiments about Cuomo across Monday evening, in response to the governor calling his administration's COVID-19 response dysfunctional and incompetent during night one of the Democratic National Convention.

Trump pressed on with his admonishment of Cuomo Tuesday morning, calling him A horrible Governor.

Crime is taking over NYC & State, everyone is leaving, the president wrote in a tweet. He is after the NRA  They should move to Texas or elsewhere, and must get tough. Cuomo killed 11,000 people in nursing homes alone. Crooked & Incompetent!

Cuomo hit back at the president for the claims shortly after, in which he listed two bullet points for Trump to follow, titled Advice to the President.

In his first suggestion, Cuomo wrote: When you are in a hole stop digging. The virus is real and spreading. Do your job on COVID.

As a second pointer, he advised Trump to 'Stop lying. You cant play Americans for fools. The truth is defeating you.

Donald Trump continued his online tirade against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (left) on Tuesday, blasting him as crooked and incompetent

Cuomo hit back at the president for the claims shortly after Tuesday morning, in which he listed two bullet points for Trump to follow, titled Advice to the President

The presidents comments regarding the number of New Yorkers killed by coronavirus in nursing homes stems from an AP investigation released this week that suggests the current toll of just over 6,600 could be being under reported.

The figure of 11,000 was offered by AP as a possible total sum, using data provided by 43 US states on nursing homes that found, on average, that residents' deaths made up for 44 percent of total COVID-19 deaths in their state.

New York, the original epicenter of the US outbreak, has more than double the amount of COVID-19 fatalities  over 32,000  than any other state, despite having fewer confirmed cases than three.

The governor's decision to send 6,300 infected people to nursing homes during the pandemic is credited in part for the higher death rate in New York.

The article included in Trump's Tuesday tweet criticized Cuomo for releasing a poster during a July press conference that 'celebrated his response to the COVID-19', without mentioning nursing homes

The latest feud between the pair was ignited Monday when Cuomo attacked Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and was followed by a young woman who launched a passionate attack on the president, blaming him for her father's death from COVID.

'My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump and for that he paid with his life,' Kristin Urquiza said during her speech.

The viral moment, and Cuomo's five-minute speech which included a lengthy attack on Trump, including calling the COVID infections in New York 'the European virus' in direct mockery of Trump calling it 'the China virus,' was the centerpiece of the Democrats' pitch on coronavirus.

The president immediately responded with fury, retweeting a series of conservative commentators and highlighting the Associated Press investigation into New York nursing homes.

'Now AP estimates that the real Cuomo number of people killed because of his total incompetence is 11,000, not the 6000 that was originally thought!' Trump tweeted Monday night.

He also took aim at Cuomo for not having a 'good memory' with a link to a video of the governor thanking Trump during the height of the crisis - and including a drive-by reference to 'Fredo,' his nickname for Andrew Cuomo's younger governor Chris, the CNN primetime host.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo attacked President Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic during his speech at the Democratic National Convention

The tweet by the president retweeted one posted by The Trump War Room, a Twitter account managed by the president's campaign which included a video of Governor Cuomo praising President Trump and the federal government's response to the virus in New York State.

'What the Federal Government did, working with states was a phenomenal accomplishment,' Cuomo can be heard saying during a press conference from April 19th. 'There were just extraordinary efforts and acts of mobilization and the federal government stepped up. We needed help and they were there.'

In another portion of the video, in a clip from March 17th, Cuomo can once again be heard singing the president's praises.

'His team have been on it. I know a team when they're not on it. His team is on it. They've been responsive, late at night, early in the morning...'

The video continues with a third clip of the Governor praising Trump for his assistance during the pandemic, this time from April 6th.

'Have we lost anyone because we didn't have a bed, or we didn't have a ventilator, or we didn't have healthcare staff? No.'

The Trump War Room pointed out the positive statements in a tweet shared by the president.

'Democrat Andrew Cuomo praised the Trump Administration's coronavirus response as 'extraordinary efforts and acts of mobilization,' and called it a 'tremendous accomplishment,'' it read.

During his speech, Cuomo did not mention the controversy over nursing home deaths. The state returned people with COVID from hospitals and has been accused of malpractice as a result.

'We climbed the impossible mountain. Right now we are on the other side,' he said of New Yorks response.

'We saw the failure of a government that tried to deny the virus, then tried to ignore it and then tried to politicize it  the failed federal government that watched New York get ambushed by their negligence and then watch New York suffer, but all through it learned absolutely nothing,' Cuomo continued in his DNC speech.

He also compared the pandemic's effect on America to the current state of the nation's politics.

'In many ways COVID is just a metaphor, a virus attacks when the body is weak and when it cannot defend itself. Over these past few years, America's body politic has been weakened; the divisions have been growing deeper,' he said.

Cuomo started his speech like he started his daily coronavirus briefings, seated at a table in a suit and tie with power point slides around him, noting it was day 170 of the pandemic.

The New York governor, who was praised for his handling of the coronavirus in his state, cited divisions in America going back to the 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Va., to the death of George Floyd.

'Only a strong body can fight off the virus and America's divisions weakened,' he said, continuing his metaphor of the coronavirus and the nation's political health.

'Donald Trump didn't create the initial division. The Division created Trump. He only made it worse' he said.

He accused the Trump administration of not seeing the virus coming.

'Our current federal government is dysfunctional and incompetent, it couldn't fight off the virus. In fact, it didn't even see it coming. The European virus infected the Northeast while the White House was still fixated on China. The virus had been attacking us for months before they even knew it was here,' he said.

Cuomo blamed the incompetence of the administration for the rising number of coronavirus cases in the United States.

'Americans learned the critical lesson, how vulnerable we are when we are divided. And how many lives can be lost when our government is incompetent,' he said.

He wrapped up his criticism of President Trump and pivoted to praising Joe Biden.

'Now we need a leader as good as our people. A leader who appeals to the best within us, not the worst, a leader who can unify not divide a leader who can bring us up not tear us down. I know that man. I've worked with that man.

'I've seen his talent, I've seen the strength. I've seen his pain, and I've seen as hard. That man is Joe Biden. Joe Biden is what I call America tough, tough in the best way. Tough that is smart united disciplined and loving. Joe Biden can restore the soul of America. And that's exactly what our country needs today,' he concluded.

Kristin Urquiza blamed President Trump for the death of her father from COVID

Mark Anthony Urquiza in the hospital on a respirator - he died of COVID on June 30

While Cuomo's remarks focused on politics, it was Urquiza's personal remarks that tugged at the heart chords.

She recounted how her father, Mark Anthony Urquiza, followed the advice of politicians about the pandemic and then contracted COVID. He died in June at age 65 and her obituary, attacking politicians for their handling of crisis, went viral. Biden wrote to her after her obituary was published to express his sorrow at her loss.

'He had faith in Donald Trump,' Urquiza said of her father. 'He voted for him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that coronavirus was under control and going to disappear. That it was OK to end social distancing rules before it was safe. That if you had no underlying health conditions, you'd probably be fine.'

'In late May after the stay-at-home order was lifted in Arizona my dad went to a karoake bar with his friends,' she continued. 'He died alone in the ICU with a nurse holding his hand.'

Then she struck with her harshest line of the night - directed straight at the president.

'My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump and for that he paid with his life,' she said.

Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic -which has infected more 5.42 million Americans and killed more than 170,000 people - has earned him some of his toughest marks from voters.

In an ABC News/Washington Post out last week, 59 per cent said they disapproved of his handling of the crisis, while 40 per cent approved.

The convention also played a video tribute to showcase those who died from the virus, an 'in memorial' segment to drive home the devastation the virus brought.
LONDON British airline easyJet confirmed on Monday it would close three of its bases in the United Kingdom resulting in the loss of up to 670 jobs as the coronavirus pandemic continues to squeeze the travel industry.

EasyJet said in May that it would need to axe 4,500 jobs across Europe to prepare for a smaller travel market due to the pandemic, and is starting that contraction by closing bases at London Stansted, London Southend and Newcastle airports.

The outlook for airlines darkened last week after France joined Spain on Britains quarantine list, deterring travel to the two most popular destinations for Britons and dashing hopes for an August recovery.

EasyJets bigger rival Ryanair said on Monday that it would reduce its flight capacity by a further 20% during September and October after a reimposition of travel restrictions led to a notable weakness in forward bookings.

Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, blamed the unprecedented impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions for the base closures and said in a statement that Britains quarantine measures were affecting demand.

Up to 670 pilots and crew work at the three bases and many of those will lose their jobs. They will make up some of the 1,900 jobs in Britain that easyJet flagged in May would go as part of the 4,500 European total.

An easyJet spokeswoman said that it was likely that fewer than 1,900 jobs would actually be lost in the UK due to agreements on part time and seasonal contracts, base transfers and unpaid leave. There will also be less compulsory job cuts due to agreements on voluntary redundancy.

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
Mumbai, Aug 18 : Actress Alia Bhatt posed with her pet cat Edward for a selfie. Her furry friend, however, was not very interested. He was fast asleep on her shoulder.

Alia posted the picture on Instagram Stories. In the image, She is dressed in a yellow striped shirt and lying in bed. Her cat Edward, whom she fondly calls Eddie, sleeps on her shoulder.

The actress, who also has another cat named Juniper, wrote: "The one where Eddie falls asleep and I take a selfie." Alia will next be seen in "Sadak 2", a sequel to 1991 film, "Sadak", starring Pooja Bhatt and Sanjay Dutt. The sequel also stars Aditya Roy Kapur along with Sanjay and Pooja. It is slated to release on August 28.

The film has been trolled severely. The trailer of the film is the third most disliked video in the world and the most disliked YouTube video in India.

Released on August 12, the trailer of "Sadak 2" has been trolled by many netizens as it is seen by people as a shining example of Bollywood nepotism -- a topic which became the talk of the town after actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death in June.

In July, the Nepometer, an app created by Sushant's family, had rated "Sadak 2" as 98 per cent nepotistic. Fans of the late Bollywood actor have been actively campaigning on social media for the past few weeks urging everyone to boycott "Sadak 2".
Targeting Akhilesh, Shah asks why Lord Ram had to live in a tent

HM Shah seeks suggestions of MPs, other stakeholders on move to amend IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act

Home Minister Amit Shah admitted to AIIMS hospital after complaining of 'fatigue & body ache'

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Aug 18: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has once again admitted to Delhi's AIIMS on Tuesday. Shah is currently under observation under a team of doctors led by AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, who is monitoring his condition.

Amit Shah admitted to AIIMS days after recovery from Coronavirus, under observation | Oneindia News

Earlier on August 14, Shah had tested negative for coronavirus. The home minister was diagnosed with COVID-19 on August 2 and was admitted to Gurugram's Medanta Hospital following the advice of doctors.

Independence Day 2020: Day after testing COVID-19 negative Amit Shah hoists National Flag

Shah had then taken to social media and had said he was being admitted to the hospital.

"My health is fine, but am being admitted to hospital on the advice of doctors. Requests all those who came in contact with me these last few days to self-isolate and get themselves tested," Amit Shah had said earlier.

Taking to Twitter, Shah had later confirmed he was later tested negative for the novel coronavirus.
UPDATE: 13-year-old missing from Dauphin County has returned home, police said

The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police have joined the search for Lower Paxton teenager Destiny Snyder, whose family is trying to remain optimistic for a safe return days after her disappearance.

Family spokeswoman Nina Weaver said the family and friends of the Central Dauphin East eighth-grader are worried she might hurt herself or be with someone who wants to cause her harm.

Weaver said Snyder was bullied in school more than any child should ever go through, and battling mental health issues when she left home Saturday morning, leaving behind a goodbye letter for her family.

Shes been super overwhelmed as of late, Weaver said.

Lower Paxton police are investigating, but Weaver and Snyders family are ramping up search efforts of their own.

A volunteer search-and-rescue team from Indiana will be arriving in the Harrisburg area within the next day, Weaver said. She also created a GoFundMe account to raise money that could be used as a reward for information leading to Snyders safe return. As of Tuesday the fund has raised $825, surpassing its $500 goal.

Lower Paxton Public Safety Director Adam Kosheba confirmed state and federal law enforcement are assisting with the investigation.

Weaver said Snyders family believes she is alone and scared.

Shes not just some runaway, shes running from a lot of things in her mind and people dont think rationally, especially a 13-year-old girl, Weaver said.

She described Snyder as a creative and fun-loving girl who likes art, wolves and playing the bass guitar.

She loves her little brother, she loves her family and friends, Weaver said. Thats why this is so odd.

The Snyder family is hosting a candlelit vigil Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Colonial Park Mall parking lot.

Theres hopes that if she sees that and sees how many people are worried for her, thatll be more of an incentive to come home, Weaver said.

Snyder is 5 feet, 2 inches tall, about 115 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts can contact Lower Paxton police at 717-657-5656, or Dauphin County dispatch at 717-558-6900.

READ MORE:

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Trump to pardon Susan B. Anthony, champion of voting rights for women

3 wounded in York shootings, including 15-year-old girl: police
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Manual Resuscitator Market Analysis 2020-2030

A recent market study published by Future Market Insights (FMI) on the Manual Resuscitator Market including global industry analysis for 2015-2019 & opportunity assessment for 2020-2030, delivers a comprehensive assessment of the most important market dynamics. After conducting a thorough research on the historical as well as current growth parameters of the market, growth prospects are obtained with utmost precision.

Manual Resuscitator Market: Segmentation

The global Manual Resuscitator Market is segmented in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present a complete market intelligence approach to the reader.

Type flow-inflating resuscitator

self-inflating resuscitator

T-piece Modality Silicone

PVC

rubber Technology pop-off valve

PEEP valve

others Type of Patient Pediatric

Adult

Others (Neonates and Infants) End-Use hospital

out-of-hospital (home care, community care, primary care)

ASC

Military

others (specialized diagnostic centres, specialized clinics) Geography North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia

Oceania

MEA

For more insights into the Market, request a sample of this report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2284

Report Chapters

Chapter 01  Executive Summary

The report initiates with the executive summary of the Manual Resuscitator Market, which includes a snapshot of key findings and statistics. It also includes market size and revenue distribution of market segments of the market.

Chapter 02  Market Overview

Readers can find the detailed segmentation of the Manual Resuscitator Market in this chapter, which will help them understand the basics of the market.

Chapter 03  Key Market Trends

This chapter highlights the key trends impacting the growth of the Manual Resuscitator Market over the forecast period. It also helps reader to understand both - supply side and demand side trends of the market.

Chapter 04  Key Success Factors

This chapter explains the key macroeconomic factors that are expected to influence the growth of the market during the forecast period. It also highlights the major forecast factors that will shape market growth. Besides, it provides key dynamics of the market, which include the drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

Chapter 05 Manual Resuscitator Market Demand (Size in US$ Mn) Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast, 2020-2030

This section highlights the global market pricing analysis. It helps readers to understand the pricing variation of whole slide scanner in various geographies.

Chapter 06  Market Background

This chapter explains the key macroeconomic factors, drivers, restraints, and opportunity analysis along with current COVID-19 impact that are expected to influence growth of the Manual Resuscitator Market over the forecast period. Moreover, in-depth information about the market dynamics and their impact on the market have been provided in the successive section.

Chapter 07  Global Manual Resuscitator Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, By Product Type

This section explains the global market value analysis and forecast for the Manual Resuscitator during the forecast period. It includes a detailed analysis of the historical Manual Resuscitator Market, along with an opportunity analysis of the future. Readers can also find the absolute $ opportunity for the current year (2020), and an incremental $ opportunity for the forecast period (20202030).

Chapter 08  Global Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, by Modality

Based on Modality, the market is segmented into silicone, PVC, rubber. In this chapter, readers can find information about the key trends and developments in Manual Resuscitator and market attractiveness analysis based on modality.

Chapter 09  Global Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, by Age Group

This chapter provides details about the Manual Resuscitator based on age group, and has been classified into pediatric, adult, others (infants, neonates). In this chapter, readers can understand the market attractiveness based on age group.

Chapter 10  Global Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, by End User

This chapter provides details about the Manual Resuscitator Market based on end user, and comprises hospital, out-of-hospital (home care, community care, primary care), ASC, military, others (specialized diagnostic centres, specialized clinics). The readers can understand the market attractiveness based on end user.

Chapter 11  Global Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030, by Region

This chapter explains how the market will grow across various geographic regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, South Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Chapter 12  North America Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter includes a detailed analysis of growth of North Americas Manual Resuscitator Market, along with a country-wise assessment that includes the U.S. and Canada. Readers can also find the regional trends, and market growth based on the application and countries in North America.

Chapter 13  Latin America Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the market in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the Rest of Latin America. Along with this, assessment of the market across target segments has been provided.

Chapter 14 Europe Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the market in Germany, the U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Russia, and the Rest of Europe are included in this chapter.

Chapter 15  South Asia Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the Manual Resuscitator Market in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and rest of South Asia.

Chapter 16  East Asia Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter highlights the growth of the market in East Asia by focusing on China, Japan & South Korea. This section also help readers understand the key factors that are responsible for the growth of the Manual Resuscitator Market in East Asia.

Chapter 17  Oceania Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter highlights the growth of the Manual Resuscitator Market in Oceania. It also helps readers understand the key factors that are responsible for the growth of the Manual Resuscitator Market in Australia and New Zealand.

Chapter 18  MEA Manual Resuscitator Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This chapter provides information about how the Manual Resuscitator Market will grow in GCC Countries, South Africa, Turkey and the Rest of MEA during the forecast period.

Chapter 19  Key and Emerging Countries Manual Resuscitator Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Forecast 2020-2030

This section delves deep into Manual Resuscitator Market for key and emerging countries. Readers can understand the market value and volume by API type, marketing status, and end user for key countries.

Chapter 20  Market Structure Analysis

This chapter highlights the tier structure analysis, market concentration analysis, and company share analysis along with sales footprint analysis of key players operating in Manual Resuscitator Market.

For Information On The Research Approach Used In The Report, Request Methodology@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-2284

Chapter 21  Competition Analysis

In this chapter, readers can find a comprehensive list of all the prominent stakeholders in the Manual Resuscitator Market, along with a detailed information about each company, which includes company overview, revenue shares, strategic overview, and recent company developments. Some of the market players featured in the report are HUM Systems for Life, GE Healthcare, Covidien Plc, Hopkins Medical Product, Drager Medical AG and Co., Laerdal Medical, Me. Ber. Srl, Hill, Ambu A/S, Philips Healthcare, CareFusion, Weinmann, and Medline Industries.

Chapter 22  Assumptions and Acronyms Used

This chapter includes a list of acronyms and assumptions that provides a base to the information and statistics included in the Manual Resuscitator report.

Chapter 23  Research Methodology

This chapter helps readers understand the research component methodology followed to obtain various conclusions as well as important qualitative and quantitative information about the Manual Resuscitator Market.
A supposedly fun fishing day for two friends ended up tragically. A meat worker beheaded his friend in rage during the said fishing trip.

According to a supreme court jury, the accused who disemboweled the victim talked to his brother at the mosque, a few weeks after his friend was discovered with no head on his shoulders.

The killer identified as Rockhampton man Mohammed Khan, pledge to the court of his arraignment as not guilty for the beheading of his 33-year-old co-worker who lost his head, Syeid Alam, reported ABC AU.

The headless body of Alam was discovered eleven days, after not being seen in Rockhampton on the bank of Fitzroy River way back in 2016, cited Daily Mail.

Information from the court trial revealed that the lopped off head was near his body, all covered in jeans to conceal it.

During deliberations at court about the Rohingyas, it was revealed that they were buddies and did card gambling on the sidelines together. The deceased used to be $3000 per week as he gambled, noted Presslive.



In one hearing, the court heard testimony from Khan's wife, Suparti Suparti who told everyone that she was seeing the brother of the decapitation victim. The brother was known as She Alam Sha Alam.

Later, the prosecutor acquired a lewd picture. The victim's brother had captured it from one of the Skype chats with Suparti. It was enough, according to the court, to drive Khan to commit the brutal killing of his friend.

Also read: Man Stabs Brother to Death Due to Heated Argument Overly Freshly Laundered Pillowcase

The brother who had carnal knowledge with the wife, Sha Alam, lived at Sidney when his brother went missing mysteriously. He said that via a video testimony.

More details were known about the alleged affair that drove Khan to kill his friend.

The victim's brother and the suspect's wife had numerous trysts that were not befitting for a married woman. It is said that they had sessions in the conjugal home and the house of her lover. Khan felt betrayed and was seriously angry.

Sha Alam was not aware that Suparti was married when they met in a TAFE 2013 and added he did not know until 2015.

Khan and Sha Alam

When Sha Alam found out that his brother has not been seen since April 6, 2016. He went to Rockhampton and there he met Khan in the mosque that day.

He said that Khan was asking about the image on Skype and Alam said it was deleted. Mentioning that Khan said the photo with him naked, asking what happened to it.

The photo was deleted according to him, which is what he answered to the accused. But, the angry Khan threatens him what would happen later.

Alam recounted that the accused told him that he beats up people. But the other man just did not pick a fight and left instead.

They met another time after prayers with Khan and another friend.

According to Sergeant Leanne Judith Skerke, a Queensland forensic scientist, tests were taken to prove Khan is the killer. But everything is negative to prove that he beheaded his friend.

Related article: Boxer Woman Kills Two Men: Rapes One With Shovel Handle , Kicks Another to Death

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A top civil servant has today denied that the Scottish government's harassment complaints system was set up 'to get Alex Salmond'.

Leslie Evans, who is the Scottish Government's Permanent Secretary, said there had been a 'procedural error' in the inquiry into the allegations against the former First Minister.

It comes after the former SNP leader, who in March was acquitted of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults as part of a police investigation, won a court battle against the Scottish government over the way it dealt with allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

In January 2019, the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled the Scottish government acted unlawfully in its investigation, before it was later ordered to pay out 500,000 to Mr Salmond to cover his legal expenses.

Now Ms Evans, who has faced calls by Mr Salmond to quit, has apologised for the government's handling of allegations. But she today insisted that investigating the complaints was 'the right thing to do'.

A Holyrood committee has begun its own investigation into what happened.

Ms Evans said: 'When complaints were raised it would have been unconscionable, and a failure in our duty of care, not to investigate those complaints.

Scotland's most senior civil servant Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans (left) said investigating harassment complaints against former first minister Alex Salmond (right) was the 'right thing to do'

'It was accepted at judicial review that one part of our procedure should have been applied differently.

'I apologise unreservedly to all concerned for this procedural failure.'

She added: 'We have already learned early lessons from this experience as part of work being led by our people directorate.

'And we also await the findings of the review which I commissioned, externally led by Laura Dunlop QC, now under way.

'But it remains the case that the investigation of those complaints was the right thing to do.'

In 2018, Mr Salmond took the Scottish Government to court over the way it dealt with allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

In January 2019, the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruled the Scottish government acted unlawfully in its investigation.

Later that year, the Scottish Government paid out 500,000 to Mr Salmond to cover his legal expenses.

This legal fight was purely over the process of investigating the complaints - not the complaints themselves - which were subject of a police investigation.

In March this year, Mr Salmond was acquitted of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults - including one with intent to rape - by a jury following an 11-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

In March this year, Mr Salmond (pictured outside court) was acquitted of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults - including one with intent to rape

Ms Evans claimed the Scottish Government 'is and remains ahead of many other institutions in designing and implementing a procedure to address harassment and particularly to address historical allegations of sexual misconduct'.

Her comments come after the FDA union, which represents civil servants, raised concerns about 'bullying behaviour' within the Scottish Government and also about the 'the culture within the former first minister's office'

Giving her evidence to MSPs on the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints, Ms Evans said: 'I am clear that the Scottish Government acted in good faith.

'The transparency of our written procedure means that it is open to challenge and scrutiny. I accept that scrutiny - we shall apply the learning.'

The Permanent Secretary is the first witness to give evidence to the committee - with Mr Salmond and his successor, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, to have their say at a later date.

Mr Salmond was acquitted by a jury following an 11-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh (pictured outside court)

Key members of staff for both the current and former first minister will also be called, as well as Ms Sturgeon's husband, SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.

The committee has already agreed the unusual step of taking evidence under oath.

Ms Evans told the committee 'the Scottish Government has been on a journey of cultural change since 2015 to ensure the organisation is more open, capable and responsive'.

She added: 'As Permanent Secretary, I have led a focus on equality, inclusion and wellbeing, including addressing bullying and harassment.'

Ms Evans said the under-reporting of sexual harassment 'appears to be endemic across most organisations and institutions' but more people in the Scottish Government are now prepared to speak out.

'This is still work in progress but there is evidence of improvement,' she told the MSPs.

Ms Evans (pictured today) said it would have been 'unconscionable' not to investigate the complaints - even though the Court of Session last year ruled the Scottish Government's probe was 'unlawful'

'Our most recent People Survey showed a marked increase in the reporting of bullying and/or harassment - with 57 per cent of those who had experienced bullying and harassment saying they had reported it - up 19 per centage points from previous year.

'Staff's positive experience of inclusion and fair treatment reached its highest ever score at 83 per cent - amongst the highest in the whole of the UK Civil Service.'

The Permanent Secretary concluded her opening remarks by saying: 'In her 2018 report into bullying and harassment in the House of Commons Dame Laura Cox found 'people who have been bullied or sexually harassed, or who have seen this happen to others, are generally reluctant to come forward and report it'.

'By creating the culture and environment in which complaints of this nature could be raised and in which subsequent investigation of those complaints could take place, the Scottish Government did not take the easy path - but it is the right one.'
Missing Texas Mother of 2 Found Dead With Signs of Torture in Mexico: Officials

A missing Texas mother of two was found dead in Mexico a week ago, according to officials and her mother, who added that she appeared to have been tortured.

Lizbeth Flores, 23, left her home in Brownsville, Texas, on Aug. 9 to visit her boyfriend in Matamoros, Mexico, her mother told Telemundo 40 in McAllen. According to Mexican authorities, she was found dead in Matamoros, and her cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma, reported KRGV.

After she went to visit her boyfriend, she didnt return home that evening. It prompted her mother, Maria Rubio, to file a missing person report.

Losing a child is like having your heart ripped out, Floress mother said, according to People magazine. I feel such sadness because of what they did to my daughter. The way they left her The pain that my daughter went through there, in that moment. Thats what hurts.

Lizbeth Flores, 23, in file photos. (Facebook selfie)

She was young. She had many things in front of her, and more because she had two children, Floress grieving mother continued. I want that, what they did to my daughter, everyone that took part in her death, I want them to pay.

Rubio said in the Telemundo report that she wants her daughters body to be returned back to the United States so she can identify her.

The FBI has not responded to a request for comment.

Increase in Crime

The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, according to the agency, people should exercise increased caution in Mexico due to crime and kidnapping  Some areas have increased risk.

In May, homicides in Mexico hit record levels in the first four months of 2020, climbing by 2.4 percent from the same period last year, official data showed on Wednesday, dealing a setback to the governments efforts to restore order.

A stock photo shows forensic experts are seen at the scene of the crime in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, on Jan. 18, 2019. (Ulises Ruiz/ AFP/Getty Images)

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pledged to bring down gang-fueled violence afflicting Mexico when he took office in December 2018, but homicides hit a record level in 2019 and have continued to climb even during the coronavirus lockdown.

In the first four months of this year, 11,535 murders were registered, up from 11,266 homicide in same period last year, preliminary data from the security ministry showed. Just over 34,600 murders were logged in Mexico in all of last year.

Reuters contributed to this report.
You are here: China

No new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Monday, the regional health commission said Tuesday in its daily report.

The region registered one new asymptomatic case in Urumqi, the regional capital, on Monday.

By Monday, Xinjiang had 354 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 124 asymptomatic cases, and 8,538 people were still under medical observation.

From July 15 to Aug. 17, a total of 472 patients were discharged from hospital after recovery, and 114 asymptomatic cases were dismissed from medical observation in Xinjiang.
Prince Charles wont be renewing the lease on his organic farm, because it could interfere when he eventually becomes king.

Its understood Charles, 71, would have had to sign another 20 year lease on Home Farm, the 1,000 acre plot near Highgrove in Gloucestershire.

Clarence House confirmed he would not be renewing the lease next Spring.

Charles is the longest serving heir to the throne, and has spent nearly seven decades as a king in waiting.

William and Charles on Duchy Home Farm in Gloucestershire. Charles won't be renewing the lease, it's been confirmed. (UK Press)

While he is very busy in his royal duties now, he would be busier as the monarch and unable to maintain a farm.

Produce from the farm was used to start the Duchy Originals brand, now known as Waitrose Duchy Organic.

Read more: Prince Harry 'did not shout at the Queen' about Meghan's tiara before their wedding

Prince Charles samples beer during a reception to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Duchy Originals products at Clarence House in 2013. (Getty Images)

A Clarence House spokesman said: The Prince of Wales will not be renewing his lease on Home Farm but will continue to farm organically at Sandringham.

He has been farming the land at Home Farm for 35 years.

Highgrove and Home Farm are owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and leased by the prince, who is the current Duke of Cornwall.

A new tenant has been found for Home Farm, but not been named. The new tenant is not royal but will continue the relationship with Waitrose Duchy Organic.

Charles will keep his country home of Highgrove, where he has been living in recent weeks since leaving Scotland, and wont set up a new home at Sandringham.

Charles will retain Highgrove House, his country home in Gloucestershire. (Getty Images)

The prince already runs the farm at Sandringham, having taken over from his father the Duke of Edinburgh. The Norfolk farm also uses organic practices.

Charles was mocked in the 1980s as an early adopter of organic farming, as well as for his planting in lunar cycles and using homeopathic remedies. But many of his methods have been followed by others.

While Charles became heir at just three years old, he did not formally begin many of his royal roles until he had finished university.

In recent years, he has been the most senior royal carrying out trips abroad on behalf of his mother, and has taken over the role of head of the Commonwealth, after the Queen lobbied for him to be appointed as her replacement.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Lifestyle
The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland claims that residents in the Eyre Powell, after returning from quarantine, are now back in overcrowded conditions.

Lucky Khambule says that the majority have returned from Citywest, where they were in isolation.

Following an outbreak of positive cases of coronavirus at the Eyre Powell, the majority of the 120 residents were moved to Citywest two weeks ago for isolation.

Mr Khambule says that they have not received any form of Pandemic Unemployment Payment assistance. He said: It has been rejected, because they are in direct provision.

Mr Khambule also claims that these workers have been told that they cant go back to work. Those who are working and living in direct provision, have been told not to come back to work. They cant get out of direct provision, he said.

He said: They cant afford rent on the minimum wages that they get. For them, they dont know what to do, there are four in some rooms and three in other rooms.

I am not in shock, but it is showing that they still dont want to listen to people. They know this caused a problem before and are not doing anything to address that.

He said: It is really crazy. It is obvious that they dont take asylum seekers seriously in this country.

A Department of Justice Spokesperson today, August 18, said: The Department implemented a new policy, very early on in the pandemic, to ensure that no more than three non-family members share a room in any of our centres. This continues to be the case in all of our centres including in the Eyre Powell accommodation centre in Newbridge, Co Kildare. Issues relating to unemployment payments are a matter for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the issue of regulating the housing rental market is a matter for the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

The statement from the Department of Justice added: However, residents who have been granted an international protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection status)or a permission to remain have the same access to State housing supports and services as Irish and EEA nationals.The Department has a specific team who work in collaboration with NGOs, officials in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the City and County Managers Association to collectively support residents with status or permission to remain to access housing options.

The Department of Justice said: Healthcare workers living in Direct Provision are eligible to apply for accommodation under the HSEs Temporary Accommodation Scheme announced on 10 April. The HSE has confirmed that the scheme will remain in place until no longer required.
An Australian surfer repeatedly punched a great white shark to save his wife, who was being attacked by the animal in New South Wales on Aug. 15.

Chantelle Doyle, 35, had been surfing at Shelley Beach in Port Macquarie in the morning when the attack occurred, according to NSW Police. The shark bit her on the right calf then on the back of her thigh.

The shark has since been identified as a juvenile great white, measuring about 2 to 3 meters (about 6.5 to 9.8 feet) in length, according to Surf Life Saving NSW, the lifeguard group that responded to the attack.

Her husband, Mark Rapley, punched the shark repeatedly until it released the womans leg. He then helped her out of the water and up to the beach, where an ambulance and emergency personnel were waiting, said Surf Life Saving NSW in a statement.

When you see the mother of your child, and your support, everything thats who you are, so you just react. You just get off that calf, thats all I could think, Rapley told KABC-TV.

Mark Rapley repeatedly punched a great white shark to save his wife, Chantelle Doyle, who was being attacked by the animal in New South Wales. (Courtesy of 9News Australia)

Paramedics treated Doyles injuries at the scene then airlifted her to the hospital for surgery. She is in a serious but stable condition.

Our thoughts are with the young lady who was injured in the shark attack this morning. And wed like to praise her fellow surfers who came to her aid so quickly, said Steven Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, in the statement.

Our lifesavers and lifeguards moved quickly to close beaches in the area and are now working closely with the NSW Department of Primary Industries to monitor the area to ensure there are no longer sharks in the vicinity, he further added.

The bystanders on scene that rendered assistance should be commended, said Inspector Andrew Beverley of the NSW Ambulance, according to CNN affiliate Nine News. They did an amazing job before we arrived.

Mark Rapley repeatedly punched a great white shark to save his wife, Chantelle Doyle, who was being attacked by the animal in New South Wales. (Courtesy of 9News Australia)

This is the third serious shark attack on the north coast in recent months, Beverley said.

This summer has seen a string of shark attacks across Australia. In June, a surfer died after being bitten by a great white shark on the far north coast of New South Wales. In July alone, there were three shark attacks reported: a 15-year-old boy died while surfing in New South Wales, a 10-year-old boy was hospitalized after a shark dragged him from a boat off the coast of Tasmania, and a man died in the state of Queensland after being bitten while spearfishing.

Meanwhile, in April, a Queensland wildlife ranger was killed by a great white, and in January, a 57-year-old diver died from a shark attack in Western Australia.

Its a higher spike of incidences than seen in recent years; Australia saw no deaths from shark attacks in 2019 and just one in 2018, according to Sydneys Taronga Zoo.

The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has called for an end to monetisation which is rearing its ugly head in the countrys democratic practice, especially in the run-up to general elections.

He said allowing the practice to be a feature of the competitive democratic process only compromised good governance in a fledgeling democracy.



Ceiling election expenses



Addressing the end of the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of Parliament last Friday, Prof. Oquaye said: Monetisation of our democracy compromises the democratic process of good governance. As a country, we have not really captured the political will to arrest the situation.



We do not want funding to become the yardstick for the proliferation of political parties. We need a new law on political party income and expenditure generally, particularly with regard to putting a ceiling on election expenses, he stated.



Prof. Oquaye said: As we prepare for Election 2020, I am aware that members are concerned about election expenses. It is about time we critically examined issues of monecracy.



Political Parties Support Fund



The Speaker said many democratic nations across the world had enacted laws on political party income and expenditure and established support funds for parties to curb expenses during elections.



He, therefore, urged Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ghanaians in general to consider the setting up of a Political Parties Support Fund (PPSF), which would be managed by a special committee of the Electoral Commission (EC).



It is, therefore, important that we remove every element of mistrust in the EC, while we hold it accountable for its responsibilities. I have no shadow of doubt that the enactment of the Private Members Bill will significantly help us tighten gaps in our existing laws, he said.



Avoid hate speech



Prof. Oquaye also urged MPs, as custodians of democracy, to be mindful of any hate speeches and political engagements which would mar the beauty of our democracy.



It is important that, as legislators, we uphold the laws that we have passed. I am confident you will also educate your constituents on the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491), the Public Elections Regulations, 2016 (31.94) and other laws which are geared towards the preservation of our democracy.



The peace of this country is essential for creating a congenial atmosphere for good governance. We need to appreciate the ingredients that make for democracy and good governance. Half democracy is no democracy, he said.



History



The Speaker expressed happiness that for the first time in the countrys parliamentary history, the House adopted a motion for the enactment of a Private Members Bill on July 16, this year.



He expressed appreciation to the leadership of the House and all members, the STAR-Ghana Foundation, staff of the Legislative Drafting and Legal Services Department, experts from civil society organisations, the Deputy Attorney-General, Mr Godfred Dame, and legal luminaries, including Nana Dr S.K.B. Asante, for their support.



Crime against aged women



Recalling the recent lynching of a 90-year-old woman in public after she had been declared a witch by a spiritualist, Prof. Oquaye outlined measures to stop such heinous crimes against women.



He informed the House that he had received a petition from a research institute in Ghana for a law to be passed in Ghana on the declaration of some aged women as witches.



I charged the consultant on the Private Members Bill, Mrs Ofori-Boateng, and Lawyer Sena to undertake a research. The proposed bill is being referred to our Constitutional and Legal Committee for further action.



Highlights include the prohibition of professional witchcraft or wizardry, prohibition against the accusation of witchcraft, participation in the declaration of a person as a witch or wizard and penalty against a chief or headman encouraging witchcraft, he said.



Sittings



The House held 52 plenary sittings in 13 weeks that saw 424 papers, including bills, constitutional/Legislative and Executive instruments, committee reports, conventions, loan agreements, motions, waivers, annual reports and resolutions presented to the House.



Bills passed



The bills that were passed into law were the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana Bill, 2019; the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019; the Land Bill, 2019, and the Education Regulatory Bodies Bill, 2019.



The rest were the Ghana Communication Technology University Bill 2020; the Revenue Administration (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau Bill, 2020; the Minerals Income Investment Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2020; the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills and Training and Entrepreneurial Development Bill, 2020; the Registration of Births and Deaths Bill, 2020; the Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2020; the Development Financial Institutions Bill, 2020, and the Communication Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2020.



Instruments passed



Also, the following constitutional/legislative and Executive instruments were passed during the meeting.



They included the Ghana AIDS Commission Regulations, 2020; the Minerals and Mining (Mineral Operations Tracking of Earth Moving and Mining Equipment) Regulations, 2020; the Meat Inspection Regulations, 2020; the Local Government (Consultations) Regulations, 2020; the Chieftaincy (Membership of Regional Houses of Chiefs) Instrument, 2020, and the Public Elections Regulations, 2020.



The others are the Representation of the People (Parliamentary Constituencies) Instrument, 2020; the Engineering Council Regulations, 2020; the Public Financial Management (Public Investment Management) Regulations, 2020; the Transfer Pricing Regulations, 2020, and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (Consumer Service) Regulations, 2020.

Source: Graphic.com.gh









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Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 23:22:39|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran has earned 153 million U.S. dollars from the exports of 145,924 tonnes of pastry, chocolate, bread and biscuit in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year, from March 20 to July 21, Eghtesad Online news website reported on Tuesday.

Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan were the top importers, among 56 countries, of the Iranian products, Rouhollah Latifi, spokesperson of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, said.

Latifi said that pastry and chocolate exports stood at 39,588 tonnes worth 58 million U.S. dollars in the period under consideration.

According to Jamshid Maghazei, head of Iran's Association of Confectionery, Chocolate and Biscuit Industries, a total of 450 million U.S.-dollar worth of chocolate and pastry were exported from Iran in the last fiscal year (March 2019-March 2020).

Maghazei said the outbreak of novel coronavirus dealt a blow to exporters as well as domestic suppliers in the sector.

Pastry and chocolate account for 30-40 percent of Iran's total food exports, according to the report.

The city of Tabriz in East Azarbaijan province is Iran's chocolate and biscuit production hub and about half of Iran's biscuits and chocolates is produced in this northeastern city.

According to Fereydoun Doroudi, a board member of Iranian Confectionery Industries Union, all the investments in this industry have been made by the private sector. Enditem
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 18

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

"Dear Mr President,

I express my sincerest congratulations on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan to you and through you to your entire people on the occasion of your countrys national holiday  the Independence Day," Azerbaijani president wrote.

"I believe that the friendly and partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, including our ties within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement will further expand for the welfare of our peoples," the head of state said.

"On such remarkable day, I convey my best wishes to you, and wish you everlasting prosperity and peace to the brotherly people of Afghanistan," the message said.
Abdullah Orakzai, the designated chief judge of ISIS Khorasan, was killed in a complex operation by Afghan forces, said Afghanistans National Directorate of Security (NDS) on August 18. The intelligence agency didnt share the time and location of the major counter-terrorism operation after recently eliminating Pakistan-origin terrorist Assadullah Orakzai.

Earlier this month, NDS confirmed the killing of ISIS Khorasan Head of Intelligence Assadullah Orakzai who was involved in plotting several deadly attacks on military and civil targets in Afghanistan. All these killings hold significance for the peace and security of Afghanistan since the terror group they belonged to carried out the Kabul gurdwara attack in March, killing at least 25 Sikhs.

The terrorist organisation has intensified the attack in several parts of Afghanistan as the government and the Taliban continue to take action on the peace deal signed earlier this year. On August 2, Islamic State terrorists attacked a prison in eastern Afghanistan and killed at least 29 people. According to local reports, an ISIS-K suicide bomber slammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the prison entrance that housed hundreds of inmates affiliated to Islamic State Khorasan.

Read: Five LeT Terrorists Killed In Encounter In Afghanistan's Dangam District

Read: Afghanistan's Ghani Says Releasing Taliban Prisoners Might Pose Threat But 'necessary'

Responsible for nearly 100 attacks

ISIS-K was also involved in the rocket attack at the inauguration ceremony of President Ashraf Ghani and attack on Afghan politicians gathering in the west of Kabul. According to a global think tank CSIS, ISIS-K carries out its global strategy in different operating environments by curating it to local conditions. It has been responsible for nearly 100 attacks against civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as roughly 250 clashes with the US, Afghan, and Pakistani security forces since January 2017.

On May 6, special forces of the NDS raided and destroyed joint ISIS and Haqqani network centre in three operations. One of the operations took place in Shakar Dara district, 25 kilometres north of Kabul, while the other two raids took place in capital citys PD11. A few days later, Afghan security forces arrested top ISIS commander Zia-Ul-Haq, also known as Abu Omar Khorasani, in a joint operation. The NDS had captured three terrorists including Khorasani, the Daesh leader for Afghanistan and South Asia.

Read: Afghanistan Signs Decree To Release 400 Taliban Prisoners To Initiate Peace Talks

Read: US Will Cut Troop Levels In Afghanistan To 'less Than 5,000' By November End: Mark Esper

(Image: AP)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said on Tuesday that detectives of the state command have arrested the driver and owner of a fallen container that killed three persons on July 26, at Ilasamanja, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.

The deceased persons include two commuters identified as Chima Nnaekpe and Chindinma Ajoku and the bus driver Daniel Okwoje. They were killed on the aforementioned date after a container fell from the truck conveying it, on the 16-seater commercial bus discharging passengers at Ilasamanja bus stop.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how the mother of one of the deceased passengers cried out for help, saying the police have refused to arrest the driver and owner of the fallen container.

Chineze Ajoku, the bereaved mother of Chidinma Ajoke, a 27-year-old staffer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) lamented that the police have not traced or arrested the truck driver who caused the untimely death of her daughter and two others.

Stating the cause of the accident, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said insistence on right of way by driver of the truck laden with another one, led to the unfortunate incident.

The agency added that the avoidable accident led to severe injuries sustained by six passengers, while two died on the spot. The driver of the commercial bus was thereafter confirmed dead.

Disclosing the arrest on Tuesday, Mr Odumosu said the truck driver, Okanlawon Sodiq, who fled the scene of the accident, was arrested by a team of detectives from Ilasamanja division on August 7.

The truck owner, Wasiu Lekan m was equally arrested for operating an unlashed container. The suspects will be prosecuted, the Commissioner of Police said.

Similarly, the Lagos police have arrested a commercial boat driver for causing the death of 12 passengers on Kirikiri waterfront in an accident that occurred on July 29.

According to a police report, the commercial boat with the inscription Mount Zion Transport, fitted with a 150HP Yamaha outboard engine, which was conveying 20 passengers from Kirikiri to Badagry drifted to a stationary barge and capsized along Kirikiri waterfront.

Five passengers were rescued alive while 12 corpses were recovered. Three persons were missing, while the driver, Elebiju Bimbo swam to safety, the police said.

Investigation revealed that the accident was caused by the deliberate act of the driver. There was an argument between the Deckhand (conductor) and the passengers as to the transport fare. The driver insisted on #1,500 per passenger and the passengers said they will only pay #1,200 each. Because of the #300 difference, the driver turned off the boat engine on a turbulent waterfront. A big ship passed and stirred the water, creating a wave that drifted the boat to the stationary barge. The suspect will be charged to Court, the police said.
Computer analysis shows that political speeches now use simpler language, express more sentiments

Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020

The Coleman-Liau index shows the reading level of Democratic and Republican congressional speeches in from 1873 to 2010. | Download this photo.

MANHATTAN  Research by Kansas State University shows how politicians from both major parties have changed their political speech from previous centuries.



A computer science research team at K-State analyzed nearly 2 million congressional speeches made by Republican and Democrat legislators from 1873 to 2010. Their computer analysis shows that political speeches are in fact very different in their style from political speeches made in Congress several decades ago.



In the research paper "A data science approach to 138 years of congressional speeches" published recently in the journal Heliyon, K-State computer science students Ethan Tucker and Colton Capps and computer science associate professor Lior Shamir used automatic text analysis algorithms to analyze congressional speeches in different years.



"The research results show that more recent speeches use a smaller vocabulary, simpler language, express more positive or negative sentiments, and have more noticeable differences between Democratic and Republican speakers," Shamir said.



The algorithms measured different aspects of the speeches such as the vocabulary, the reading level, the positive or negative sentiments expressed in the speeches, and more. The sentiments are measured by using artificial intelligence reading of the text and associating words and phrases with positive or negative sentiments given their context.



"Based on that analysis, the algorithm determines whether a piece of text is positive, very positive, negative, very negative or neutral," Shamir said.



The algorithms also measured the frequency in which different topics were discussed. These quantitative speech elements were computed from thousands of congressional speeches made in each year, and the average of each year allowed to measure the changes in the language and topics discussed in Congress during a period of 138 years, Shamir said.



The research showed that the frequency of words related to women's identity  such as she, her, hers, woman, women, etc.  has been increasing consistently since the early 1980s, while the frequency of words that identify men have been decreasing. The frequency of words related to women's identity in the 21st century is five times higher compared to the 1950s, but still lower than the frequency of words related to men's identity. Since the 1990s, terms related to women's identity are more frequent in speeches made by Democratic legislators compared to speeches made by Republican legislators.



"For most of the 20th century, however, there were no substantial differences between women's identity in Democratic and Republican speeches, and expressions of women's identity were about 10 times less frequent than expressions of men's identity by legislators from both parties," Shamir said.



The research also showed that the reading level of the speeches changed significantly over the years. The analysis measured the Coleman-Liau readability index, which estimates the reading level of a certain text and associates it with the appropriate school grade. The analysis showed that the reading level of congressional speeches made by both Republican and Democratic legislators increased consistently from the eighth-grade reading level in the 19th century, to the 10th-grade level in the 1970s. But since 1976 the reading level of political speeches has been declining consistently, and as of the 21st century, it is below the ninth-grade reading level. The same trend was also observed with the vocabulary used by congressional members in speeches, which had been increasing consistently until the early 1970s, and then started to decline  and it is still declining, Shamir said.



The researchers' analysis of the speeches also showed that more recent congressional speeches express more positive and negative sentiments than the speeches made in Congress during the 19th century and early 20th century. The sentiments in political speeches became gradually more positive and peaked in the 1960s, but declined sharply during the 1970s. Since the 1970s the sentiments expressed in congressional speeches have been becoming more positive.



According to the study, the decline in reading level and vocabulary of the speeches can be related to the increasing presence of media  including live radio and TV coverage  in Congress beginning in the 1970s. Members of Congress started to gradually adjust their speech styles, addressing the public through the media rather than addressing their fellow legislators.



Another aspect reflected through the analysis was the partisan split, Shamir said. Starting in the mid-1990s, Republican and Democratic speeches became increasingly different from each other and also correlated with the political affiliation of the president. For instance, during the George W. Bush administration, speeches of Democratic legislators expressed more negative sentiments compared to their Republican counterparts. That difference flipped immediately after 2008, with the beginning of the Obama administration, during which Republican speeches became more negative.



"With natural language processing we can extract new knowledge from old data," Shamir said. "There is no practical way to quantify and profile such a large number of speeches without using computers."






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New Delhi :

To ensure transparency in implementation of rural electrification programme, the Power Ministry will launch a new app, GARV-II, to provide real time data of all six lakh villages of the country.

Earlier version of GARV mobile phone application used to provide data about rural electrification regarding 18,452 un-electrified villages. The new version GARV-II to be unveiled on Tuesday will provide real time data for all six lak villages in the country, a senior official told.

The official further said, Besides, the GARV-II will enable the commoners to participate in the development work and can give their input about rural electrification programme. Thus, the rural electrification work would be open to public scrutiny.

Under this facility, village-wise; habitation-wise base line data on household electrification for all states provided by them has been incorporated. Further, village-wise works sanctioned under DeenDayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) have also been mapped to monitor progress of works in each village.

Also read: Arunachal hydro project: Power Ministry asserts payments to contractor were released before Kiren Rijiju's letter

The progress on various works will be updated by the implementing agencies of the states on day to day basis, the official said that a dashboard for Managing Directors and Superintending Engineers of DISCOMs has been provided for online monitoring.

In GARV the data of only 18452 un-electrified villages has been mapped and 12-stage milestone based monitoring mechanism has been put in place.

Under GARV-II, the data in respect of all villages (about 6 Lakh) with more than 15 lakh habitations has been mapped for tracking progress on household electrification in each of the habitations of these villages.

Further, the status of release of funds to the states for projects sanctioned under DDUGJY has also been incorporated in GARV-II, he added.

GARV-II will have a citizen engagement window SAMVAD to enhance participation. They can contribute in the programme by providing their feedback and suggestions which shall be automatically forwarded to the concerned Managing Directors and Superintending Engineers of DISCOMs through SMS & Email on their dashboard.

The official said that the objective of GARV-II is to ensure electricity access to all households as government has already electrified over 11,000 villages out of 18,452 un-electrified villages.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want to make it a federal crime to own an ammunition magazine that can hold more than ten rounds, but a self-defense story out of Cullman County, Alabama is a perfect example of why the government shouldn't be imposing arbitrary limits on your ability to protect yourself.

According to Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, a homeowner in the county was forced to defend his life after four men broke into his home early Monday morning.

The suspects were met by the owners who were armed. When they tried to leave, the suspects were followed by one of the homeowners and shots were fired. One suspect was hit and is being treated at a hospital.

Three suspects have been detained, counting the suspect in the hospital, and one suspect got away in their vehicle.

We don't know how many of the suspects were armed, but at least one of them had a gun and exchanged fire with the homeowner, according to Sheriff Gentry, who praised the armed citizen for being able to defend themselves .....
Following violence over the erection of boundary wall around the Poush Mela ground, Visva-Bharati authorities on Monday decided to close down the university campus for an indefinite period.

However, the admission and examination process, and emergency services will be taken care of, the authorities of the central university said in a statement.

"In view of vandalism today leading to the destruction of university property worth lakhs due to the complete absence of police deployment, it has been decided to bring the matter to the notice of Hon'ble Chancellor (Prime Minister).

"Given the volatile situation in the campus, and also the threat to many colleagues with dire consequences, it has been unanimously resolved in the meeting of all directors, principals and HODs to close the university till the situation improves," the statement read.

The varsity demanded that those who were engaged in vandalism in the campus be booked immediately and stern action be taken against them to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future.

Claiming non-availability of police forces and "sudden withdrawal of the NVF ( Volunteer Force) deployed for the security of the vice-chancellor on Sunday night, it was unanimously resolved in the said meeting to request the MHRD to arrange alternative security forces in the entire campus so as to avoid damage of assets, including treasures," the statement said.

It also claimed that no action was taken despite an application to the local sub-divisional officer, copies of which were sent to the district magistrate and the district superintendent of police, for imposing prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC in the area around the fair ground.

The district administration has convened a meeting with the university authorities and other stakeholders on Wednesday to look into the matter.

Trouble erupted at Visva-Bharati campus in Birbhum district on Monday as a large number of people ransacked the university's properties to protest against the construction of a boundary wall around the ground where a century-old 'Poush Mela' used to be held.

The university has decided not to organise the fair held in December.

The university authorities said that the fence is required to be constructed to honour the verdict of the Green Tribunal, which had on November 1, 2017, said that a "barrier needs to be constructed to demarcate the mela ground from the university and the locality."



The statement said that the ground belongs to Visva- Bharati and the university is within its rights to construct a fence there.

(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.)
WILMINGTON, Del. - Democrats formally nominated Joe Biden as their presidential candidate Tuesday night, with party elders, a new generation of politicians and voters in every state joining together in an extraordinary, pandemic-cramped virtual convention to send him into the general election campaign to oust President Donald Trump.

For someone who has spent more than three decades eyeing the presidency, the moment was the realization of a long-sought goal. But it played out in a way that the 77-year-old Biden couldnt have imagined just months ago as the coronavirus pandemic prompted profound change across the country and in his presidential campaign.

Instead of a Milwaukee convention hall as initially planned, the roll call of convention delegates played out in a combination of live and recorded video feeds from American landmarks packed with meaning: Alabamas Edmund Pettus Bridge, the headwaters of the Mississippi River, a Puerto Rican community still recovering from a hurricane and Washingtons Black Lives Matter Plaza.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) accepts the vice presidential nomination on the third night of the Democratic National Convention. Former President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are among the other speakers.

Biden celebrated his new status as the Democratic nominee alongside his wife and grandchildren in a Delaware school library. His wife of more than 40 years, Jill Biden, later spoke of her husband in deeply personal terms, reintroducing the lifelong politician as a man of deep empathy, faith and resilience to American voters less than three months before votes are counted.

There are times when I couldnt imagine how he did it  how he put one foot in front of the other and kept going, she said. But Ive always understood why he did it. He does it for you.

The conventions most highly anticipated moments will unfold on the next two nights. Kamala Harris will accept her nomination as Bidens running mate on Wednesday, the first Black woman to join a major party ticket. Former President Barack Obama will also speak as part of his stepped-up efforts to defeat his successor.

Biden will deliver his acceptance speech Thursday night in a mostly empty convention hall near his Delaware home.

Biden used the second night of the four-day convention to feature a mix of party elders, Republican as well as Democratic, to make the case that he has the experience and energy to repair chaos that Trump has created at home and abroad.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State John Kerry  and former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell  were among the heavy hitters on a schedule that emphasized a simple theme: Leadership matters. Former President Jimmy Carter, now 95 years old, also made a brief appearance.

Some of them delivered attacks against Trump that were unusually personal, all in an effort to establish Biden as the competent, moral counter to the president.

Donald Trump inherited a growing economy and a more peaceful world, Kerry said. And like everything else he inherited, he bankrupted it. When this president goes oversees it isnt a goodwill mission. Its a blooper reel.

Clinton said Trumps Oval Office is a place of chaos, not a command centre.

If you want a president who defines the job as spending hours a day watching TV and zapping people on social media, hes your man, Clinton said.

For his part, Trump spent Tuesday courting battleground voters in an effort to distract from Bidens convention. Appearing in Arizona near the Mexican border during the day, the Republican president claimed a Biden presidency would trigger a flood of illegal immigration like the world has never seen.

Such divisive rhetoric, which is not supported by Bidens positions, has become a hallmark of Trumps presidency, which has inflamed tensions at home and alienated allies around the world.

Biden has the support of a sprawling political coalition, as demonstrated again during Tuesdays convention, although neither history nor enthusiasm is on his side.

Just one incumbent president has been defeated since 1992. And Bidens supporters consistently report that theyre motivated more by opposition to Trump than excitement about Biden.

A collection of younger Democrats, including former Georgia lawmaker Stacey Abrams and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, were given a few minutes to shine. But overall, there was little room on Tuesdays program for the younger stars of the partys far-left wing.

In a democracy, we do not elect saviours. We cast our ballots for those who see our struggles and pledge to serve, said Abrams, 46, who emerged as a national player during her unsuccessful bid for governor in 2018 and was among those considered to be Bidens running mate.

For a second night, the Democrats featured Republicans.

Powell, who served as secretary of state under George W. Bush and appeared at multiple Republican conventions in years past, endorsed the Democratic candidate. He joined the wife of the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, Cindy McCain, who stopped short of a formal endorsement but spoke in a video of the mutual respect and friendship her husband and Biden shared.

While there have been individual members of the opposing party featured at presidential conventions before, a half dozen Republicans, including the former two-term governor of Ohio, have now spoken for Democrat Biden.

The Democrats party elders played a prominent role throughout the night.

Clinton, who turns 74 on Tuesday, hasnt held office in two decades. Kerry, 76, was the Democratic presidential nominee back in 2004 when the youngest voters this fall were still in diapers. And Carter is 95 years old.

Bidens team did not give the nights coveted keynote address to a single fresh face, preferring instead to pack the slot with more than a dozen Democrats in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The younger leaders included Abrams, Rep. Conor Lamb., D-Pa., and the president of the Navajo Nation Jonathan Nez.

It remains to be seen whether the unconventional convention will give Biden the momentum hes looking for.

Preliminary estimates show that television viewership for the first night of the virtual convention was down compared with the opening of Hillary Clintons onsite nominating party four years ago.

An estimated 18.7 million people watched coverage between 10 and 11 p.m. on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC, the Nielsen company said. Four years ago, the opening night drew just under 26 million viewers.

Bidens campaign said an additional 10.2 million streamed the convention online Monday night.

We are producing a digital convention, and people are watching, Biden spokesman T.J. Ducklo tweeted.

___

Price reported from Las Vegas and Peoples reported from New York. AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace contributed to this report.
Two COVID-19 deaths announced Tuesday mark the first time Manitoba has reported multiple novel coronavirus fatalities in a single day.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two COVID-19 deaths announced Tuesday mark the first time Manitoba has reported multiple novel coronavirus fatalities in a single day.

Both deceased were elderly men in the Southern Health region who had been hospitalized, public health officials said. They are the 10th and 11th pandemic deaths, respectively, reported in the province.

The men  one in his 80s from the Hanover health district, one in his 90s from the Niverville/Ritchot health district  were previously announced cases connected to known clusters, a Shared Health news release said, offering no other details.

On Tuesday, 25 active cases were reported in the Niverville/Ritchot district but neither Niverville nor Ritchot is home to a COVID-19 cluster, leaders of those two communities said.

"It's an unfortunate situation," Ritchot Mayor Chris Ewen said. "There's got to be a way we can find out by region that's a little simpler."

Last week, the province responded to calls for more geographic information and began reporting the number of COVID-19 cases in each region by health district. Ritchot and its neighbouring chambers of commerce and the town council of Niverville have asked public health to provide even more specific detail about the location of active cases, and were told officials are looking into it, Ewen said.

"It's hard to say if it's a cluster of people who went to a restaurant here or a seniors home in Niverville," said Ewen, adding he doesn't know of anyone in Ritchot  or anywhere  who has COVID-19

The chief administrative officer of Niverville, Eric King, said its health district includes Ile des Chenes, Ste. Agathe, St. Adolphe, Grand Pointe, Glenlea, Howden and South Waverley south of the Perimeter Highway.

The district  as well as Hanover district  also includes Hutterite colonies where COVID-19 cases were reported up until last month, when chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin stopped identifying them.

Roussin has stated repeatedly he won't identify any cases unless it is to benefit public health. He has cautioned against stigmatizing people  and communities  in response to positive COVID-19 tests.

Now, after getting through the first half of the summer with relatively few new cases, the virus has made an unwelcome August return. Health officials reported Manitoba's ninth death  a Portage la Prairie man in his 80s  over the weekend.

On Tuesday, officials reported 17 new cases in Manitoba  11 in the Winnipeg health region, and two new cases in each of Interlake-Eastern, Prairie Mountain and Southern Health .

The Winnipeg cases are mostly related to contacts that turned into cases, but some are of "unknown acquisition," indicating the virus has spread in the community.

No updated information was provided about the "outbreak" reported at Bethesda Place nursing home in Steinbach, where one person had tested positive as of Monday.

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.

There were 235 active cases in Manitoba, with eight in hospital, including two in intensive care.

There are 502 Manitobans who've recovered. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is 748.

The five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate crept up to 1.8 per cent Tuesday from 1.78 per cent one day ago.

On Monday, 1,028 COVID-19 lab tests were completed in Manitoba.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
US-led coalition hands over major ammunition depot to Iraqi govt. forces

Iran Press TV

Monday, 17 August 2020 4:26 PM

The US-led military coalition purportedly formed to fight the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has officially turned over its largest ammunition depot in the north of the capital, Baghdad, to Iraqi security forces.

The official Iraqi News Agency, citing a statement released by Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOIR), reported that the handover took place at Camp Taji, situated approximately 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of Baghdad, on Sunday.

It added that nearly 50 ammunition storage bunkers and related facilities were also handed over to the Iraqi side.

The statement added that the handover of "the primary ammunition depot site, which is worth more than $11 million and supports the operations of the Iraqi security forces and the international coalition against Daesh, was planned for a long time in coordination with the Iraqi government."

It noted that the US-led coalition will continue to keep a smaller presence at Camp Taji to coordinate logistical and security operations with Iraqi forces.

The development occurred only a day after the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a brief statement that two Katyusha rockets had hit the military base.

There were no reports of casualties and no group claimed immediate responsibility for the rocket attack.

The US has handed over several bases to Iraqi forces over the past months.

Back on July 25, the US-led coalition turned over its facilities in Besmaya Range Complex to Iraqi security forces.

Anti-US sentiment has been running high in Iraq since the assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the Popular Mobilization Units  better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, and their companions in a US assassination drone airstrike authorized by President Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport on January 3.

Iraqi lawmakers approved a bill two days later, demanding the withdrawal of all foreign military forces led by the United States from the country.

The US responded to the move by threatening crippling sanctions against the Arab country.

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As dangerous winds pick up this week, many California residents are at risk of losing their power.

If you're affected by a blackout in your city, The American Red Cross shared useful tips with SFGATE on the do's and donts of a power outage.

Cynthia Shaw, a Red Cross communications officer, said that using candles as a source of light is one of the biggest mistakes most people make because candles can be fire hazards. Keep a flashlight handy instead, Shaw shared, and make sure to have extra batteries available.

Shaw stressed the importance of having enough drinking water, too. Thats three gallons per person, per day and also a gallon of water for medium-sized dogs that would be needed every two days.

Shaw also recommended having ready-to-go, nonperishable food handy.

What do you do for seven days when you can't use a microwave?" she said. "You may not be able to use your electric range. Do you have nonperishable, ready-to-eat meals for those many days? The refrigerator and freezer is good for a day but then the food's going to spoil.

Shaw says that being prepared is key, and its something that should be discussed among each family.

Preparedness is something that you build with your family," she said. "It really starts with each family and household having this conversation, and then encouraging other households to do the same. It gets your neighborhood and community more prepared, which in the end makes the whole city more prepared.

Take a look what you should and shouldnt do during a power outage, according to The American Red Cross.

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On Monday, a man who was stuck in the heavy flow of the Khutaghat Dam near Ratanpur area of Bilaspur was rescued by the Indian Air Force in a Mil Mi-17 helicopter.

A senior police officer said on Monday that Jitendra Kashyap of Gidhauri village jumped into the waste water weir of Khutaghat dam near Ratanpur after a quarrel with his wife around 4 p.m. on Sunday.

A newspaper report suggests that the man had jumped into the water after a fight with his wife. He told the media that he had fought with his wife over money and had jumped in out of anger. He had not expected the water current to be so powerful or that he could be risking his life; on top of that, it was raining heavily.

The Bilaspur police were informed and the rescue operation began. However, owing to the force of the water, the police were forced to ask the air force officials for help and the airlift was scheduled for Monday morning. All night, the man sat on a stone, holding onto a tree to save himself.

Watch the video of the rescue here:

Hours later an IAF chopper Mi-17 came to his rescue and he was airlifted at around 7.30 am in the morning in a mission that lasted half an hour. He was then shifted to a nearby hospital and was declared to be in a stable condition. In an interview, he also thanked the IAF and local authorities who helped him.

(With inputs from IANS)
IMF and WEF  From Great Lockdown to Great Transformation. The COVID Aftermath By Peter Koenig August 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The World Economic Forums (WEF) Great Global Reset is being paralleled  not challenged  by the IMF. Both are pulling in the same direction, shoveling more assets from the lower echelons to a small elite, through debt enslavement  shifting from consumer capitalism to Green (consumer) capitalism  and all with an allure of friendliness towards the environment and the world population. The WEF is an NGO, registered in a lush suburb of Geneva, with ambitions towards worldly power command. The IMF, created under the UN Charter, is an official international financial organization  one of the two Bretton Woods Institutions, the other one being the World Bank. The IMF was created to watch over and regulate the world monetary conundrum. Both, IMF and WB, are controlled by veto-power by the US Treasury. The discourse of both, the WEF and the IMF, is to doing as much good to a covid-disaster stricken world as we can. None of them mentions how their actions will put the world  especially the developing world, into even deeper sustainable disaster. The WEFs main message delivered by WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab, called on June 3, 2020, for: The world must act jointly and swiftly to revamp all aspects of our societies and economies, from education to social contracts and working conditions Every country, from the United States to China, must participate, and every industry, from oil and gas to tech, must be transformed. In short, we need a Great Reset of capitalism. You notice, the Great Reset is about preserving capitalism  and what Schwab and the elite directors behind him dont say, is how to accelerate the shift of assets from the grassroots to the oligarchs, while blinding the publics eyes and minds with the Sustainable Green slogan. That always sells. And  consuming green whatever is called green  we believe it anyway  gives a good feeling, a good conscience. In a formidable discovery  conclusion of a scientific study  the WEF concludes that the evil of all evils is affluence. Much worse than the corona virus. Affluence is the biggest threat to our world, according to a new scientific report. (See this). The WEF got it right, COVID-19 is of course by far not as bad as is Affluence, namely Money Wealth that has been accumulating over centuries, making the world an ever more unbalanced place  with increasing poverty famine, misery  and vulnerability to catch diseases, such as Covid. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Yes, the WEF and its players and Deep-State-Actors (which represent Affluence). behind the scene were using Covid to the fullest to cause a total lockdown of people as well as of the world economy. This happened virtually simultaneously Worldwide in almost all 193 (UN member) countries. The few exceptions included Sweden and Belarus. This mighty lockdown order, instigated from high-up, way above the worlds governments and the UN, and with such co-opted authorities, like the WHO, has brought the world economy down on its knees within less than 6 months; and now to be continued, under the transformation to a new color Green. As if the virus would have hit at the same time the entire world. Nobody in his or her clear mind can believe this. It never happened in the history of mankind. Yet, the masterminds behind this fraud are getting away with it  with so far relatively little protest. But with a massive all over-arching FEAR campaign. Fear has been weaponized to intimidate the entire world population. Fear, anxiety and frustration are the core causes for most diseases. In other words what the false and fear propaganda does, is making us more vulnerable to all kinds of diseases, including cancer. This is further enhanced by the strictly ordered social distancing. Prohibiting people getting together, socializing, solidarizing, and thus reducing their level of fear, is a clever dictate of the Masters. Strategizing collectively on how to get out of the dilemma and of the covid-stranglehold, has become a virtual impossibility. The shock slowly but surely abides among some thinking people and they get together in masses, protesting, despite the prohibition  Berlin, 1 August 2020, 1.3 million people in the streets. Others are demonstrating for Black Lives Matter (BLM), against police brutality and for or against the Woke movement. Most are funded generously by foundations of rich oligarchs like, Ford, Gates, Soros, Rockefeller  and more. Starting in the US, protests have now also spread to major European cities. They are all an exasperation and anger against repression, hence unknowingly linked to the corona-fever, the covid-repression  raising more and more havoc. The Global Great Reset Its time for appeasing actions. The WEF is there with the global Great Reset, that propagates what the protesters knew all along: Affluence is the problem. Its as simple as that. Some details were released by Klaus Schwab, that endless consumerism has to stop and that Mother Earth needs to be protected and rehabilitated  and that more balance has to be brought into humanity. And all that veering the economy  mind you CAPITALIST economy  to a concept of GREEN living. Voila. More details pertaining to these noble objectives and to mechanisms on how to achieve the objectives, will be divulged at the January 2021 Davos WEF. Sounds good. Do away with affluence and promote more equality. Concepts that sell easily, but nor the WEF or the IMF believe in them. Its anathema to their dogma of free-for-all capitalism, with a fundamentalist Market theory that resolves all the worlds ills. Green Capitalism Now comes the IMF with its parallel dogma for shifting away from what didnt work  towards another form of capitalism, a sustainable capitalism  would you believe, also a Green Capitalism ; promoting the US Democratic (sic) Partys New Green Deal, fashioned after President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal of the 1930s. The Roosevelt New Deal was officially designed as a program of relief from the 1929-1933 economic depression. It consisted of public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations, leading right up to 1939, the beginning of WWII. In her remarks to the US Chamber of Commerce, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, announced to the distinguished guests, there is no stronger advocate for markets than a person who has lived in the highly distorted environment of a non-market system. I learned firsthand the cost of bad policies, and the benefits of good policies. In fact, it was partly due to the IMF that Bulgaria turned a corner in the 1990s and was able to participate in both the European Union and the world economy. Kristina is Bulgarian. She went on to say, What does it tell us that somebody who came from a Communist system now leads the IMF and is invited to address the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? Put simply, it tells us that change for the better is unstoppable. That says it all. Market fundamentalism must continue come hell or high water. And if the IMF has its way, it will. Kristinas three-point program joins closely the WEF approach to the new economic paradigm, the Great Reset. A shift from capitalism of affluence to a more egalitarian Green Capitalism. There is no shift that doesnt shovel assets. And since the rich will be doing the shoveling, the few remaining assets of the people will be shoveled from below to the top. The usual. The first point of what did we learn from the crisis, leads to stocktaking. Ms. Georgieva points out some of the collateral damage of the obligatory lockdown  obligatory, because we were and still are fighting a deadly virus. According to the IMF, by the end of 2020, 170 countriesalmost 90 percent of the worldwill be worse off with lower per capita income. This disastrous and wanton destruction of the world economy has already prompted massive fiscal measurestotaling nine trillion dollars, globally, according to the IMF. In reality these measures, including the semi-clandestine rescue packages to banks and other financial institutions, plus, to the corporate giants, have in the US alone exceeded 20 trillion (fiat) dollars. Add to this what the rest of the world, especially the EU, via the European Central Bank (ECB), has dished out in so-called rescue money  we are reaching a huge package ofQuantitative Easing  QE  debt-money made out of thin air. By far, most of it went at lenient conditions to corporate finance, production and services; and only a small percentage went to those people in most need. In the US, millions of unemployed received an extra US$ 600 per week for the past few months. But this benefit stopped on 31 July 2020. This is having dire consequences for millions. Point two is the pathway to recovery. Here, the IMF foresees the great reopening of the economy. That means a careful approach to building a recovery that is focused on a great transformation as we emerge from this exceptional crisis. The WEF calls the transformation massive reforms. Reforms and transformations are key words in the jargon of the Washington Consensus. They reverberate well in the language of neoliberalism. A country to be salvaged by the IMF has to reform, transform and to adjust. WEF and IMF go hand-in-hand. The Great Transformation The process of reopening is now starting across the globesome 75 percent of countries are reopening. So says the IMF. Now is the moment to think carefully about what comes next. The IMF suggests, building a recovery that is focused on a Great Transformation as we emerge from this exceptional crisis. What precisely the Great Transformation entails, Ms. Georgieva does not explain. One of the opportunities the IMF sees emerging from this crisis, is the digital transformation  a big winner from this crisis. The IMF doesnt say what it means, but it requires foremost digitizing peoples identity and digitizing money  total control over peoples movements, health records, cash flow, bank accounts and more. See also this Although, both WEF and IMF recognize that this crisis will bring more debt, higher deficits, higher unemployment and higher levels of poverty, they both want adjustments. And adjustments usually target the lower income groups, the poor. Adjustments is the lingo of the IMF and the World Bank, reforming public administration, i.e. firing a large segment of state employees, thereby increasing unemployment, deprivation and despair; privatizing public assets and services (stealing peoples accumulated assets); giving concessions to foreign corporations to exploit the countries national natural resources  and the carrot is: An IMF or WB loan, or both. Bravo. It brings debt and debt service  and foremost more control by the Global North over the Global South. Which brings us to the Third Point  building a fairer society, the role of the IMF. It offers another opportunity, going green. The IMF does not miss its chance to point to the climate change which still looms over us all, man-made climate change which went almost forgotten in the saga and drama of the corona virus. It has to be revived. And what better opportunity than looking into the future  and going Green. This is precisely what the WEF is also propagating  a new Green Agenda or the New Green Deal. It costs a lot of money. It means transforming wasteful, polluting industries to green and clean industries  like, among others, electric cars. Its a visible icon for a clean and conscious society. Where does the electricity come from for charging the environment-destroying lithium batteries of electric cars? In most countries its still made by combustion of hydrocarbons. In this case and in many others, the transformation from black energy to green energy uses more black energy than was used before. See also the remarkable documentary on the subject by Michael Moore, Planet of the Humans (full length feature documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk11vI-7czE&feature=emb_title . The IMF is ready to lend billons for so-called debt-relief and Financial Assistance (FA) to allow new investments for the projected transformation. FA and Debt Relief in the jargon of the IMF is adding new debt to pay off the old debt, and in rare cases, it contains some real relief, or debt forgiveness. The huge new transformation investments required to go SUSTAINABLY GREEN, may come from private banking, leveraged by World Bank loans and lending from other official and regional lending institutions. In fact, the IMF has put in place a Covid-19 Financial Assistance and Debt Service Relief Program. Under this plan, the IMF is providing FA and debt service relief to member countries facing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, the IMFs Executive Board, since late March 2020, has approved an increase of the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT), from US$ 250 billion to US$ 1 trillion. These funds are made available to IMF members who ask for relief support. So far (as of August 10, 2020), some 80 countries have applied for relief under the CCRT. These charts provide lists of countries by region and the corresponding loans for financial assistance and / or debt service relief per country. Total FA for 80 countries amounts to US$ 87.8 billion; Debt Relief for 28 countries amounts to US$ 251.2 million, a fraction of what was transferred from the Global North to the Global South in the form of new debt, new dependence  or to call it what is, new slavehood. It is interesting to observe that all the FA funds go to developing countries. Debt relief is clearly for poor developing countries. But why would FA funds only flow south? The industrialized north also incurred huge amounts of covid debt, most probably sums larger by orders of magnitude than those of developing countries. Yet, these developed countries manage to survive without help from the IMF or WB. Why?  Because most covid-accumulated debt is local, internal debt and can be managed locally through sovereign national monetary policies. Dedollarization Why would developing countries not handle their local debt internally?  One may just guess. There is very likely a lot of arm-twisting or outright threats and corruption going on, for those countries to stay in the orbit of financial predators, of dependence on the west, the Global North. Many of their currencies are partially or fully dollarized  and using their own sovereign money to manage their internal debt  would require dedollarization which doesnt happen overnight. And especially not in an emergency. Examples abound. Venezuela is a case in point. Thats whats at stake for most developing countries, and most of them are rich in natural resources. Dedollarization means regaining their national and monetary sovereignty. It is a crucial step, if what both the IMF and the WEF profess  more socioeconomic equilibrium, more economic justice  were to become reality. Its not a question of Black or Green  its a question of justice, justice based on social equality. Unfortunately, thats not meant with the Great Reset, nor with the Great Transformation. They are slogans of deception. In reality, both mean a new Great Capitalism  shaded green, as it were, for popularity. Actions and professed policies of both, WEF and IMF, go into the direction of continued unfettered capitalism. To become independent again, rather than swelter under continued neo-colonialism, defy WEF and IMF advice and work steadily with perseverance towards political and financial autonomy. De-dollarize and de-globalize and turn to local production for local consumption with local sovereign money and local public banking, directed by a sovereign local central bank that works for the socioeconomic development of her countrys people, not for the faraway shareholders of a Wall Street or internationally affiliated bank. The IMF is ready to lend billons for so-called debt-relief and Financial Assistance (FA) to allow new investments for the projected transformation. FA and Debt Relief is jargon of the IMF, for adding new debt to pay off the old debt, and in rare cases, it contains some real relief, or debt forgiveness. The huge new transformation investments required to go SUSTAINABLY GREEN, may come from private banking, leveraged by World Bank and IMF loans, as well as lending from other official and regional financial institutions. In fact, the IMF has put in place a Covid-19 Financial Assistance and Debt Service Relief Program Under this plan, the IMF is providing FA and debt service relief to member countries facing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, the IMFs Executive Board, late in March 2020, has approved an increase of the Catastrophe Contain call I am sorryment and Relief Trust (CCRT), from US$ 250 billion to US$ 1 trillion. These funds are made available to IMF members who ask for relief support. So far (as of August 10, 2020), some 80 countries have applied for relief under the CCRT. These charts (see link below) provides lists of countries by region and the corresponding loans for financial assistance and / or debt service relief per country Total FA for 80 countries amounts to US$ 87.8 billion; Debt Relief (grants) for 28 countries amounts to US$ 251.2 million, a fraction of what was transferred from the Global North to the Global South in the form of new debt, new dependence  or to call it what is, new colonialism. It is interesting to observe that all the FA funds go to developing countries. Debt relief is clearly for poor developing countries. But why would FA funds only flow south? The industrialized north also incurred huge amounts of covid debt, most probably sums larger by orders of magnitude than those of developing countries. Yet, these developed countries manage to survive without help from the IMF or WB. Why?  Because most covid-accumulated debt is local, internal debt, and can be managed locally through sovereign national monetary policies. Why would developing countries not handle their local debt internally?  One may just guess. There is very likely a lot of arm-twisting or outright threats and corruption going on, for those countries to stay in the orbit of financial predators, of dependence on the west, also the Global North. Many of developing countries currencies are partially or fully dollarized  and using their own sovereign money to manage their internal debt  would require dedollarization which doesnt happen overnight. And especially not in an emergency. It would be fought nail and tooth by the owners of the dollar economy. Examples abound. Venezuela is a case in point. Imagine a country like Ecuador making her own monetary policy. Ecuador not only is 100% dollarized but uses the actual US dollar as its currency. Impossible. Countries like Peru and Nicaragua are tacitly and partially dollarized, to the tune of about 70% and 90-plus%, respectively. Most developing countries are to some extent in this predicament. Its the US Treasury that makes monetary policy of these countries. Take the weaker and debt-ridden southern countries of the EUs Eurozone. They cannot act independently. They are euro-ized. Its not the directly the US Treasury, but the ECB (and IMF) that call the shots. Would Greece have stepped out of the Eurozone in 2008 to 2010 economic crisis, reverting to a devalued Drachma (their former currency), called for a Paris Club renegotiation of their debt, they would be sailing into a much brighter future today. Thats whats at stake for most of the Global South, still rich in natural resources. Dedollarization means regaining their national and monetary sovereignty. It is a crucial step, if what both the IMF and the WEF profess  more socioeconomic equilibrium, more economic justice  were to become reality. Its not a question of Black or Green  its a question of justice, justice based on social equality. Unfortunately, thats not meant with the Great Reset, nor with the Great Transformation. They are slogans of deception. In reality, both mean a new Great Capitalism  shaded green, as it were, for popularity. Actions and professed policies of both, WEF and IMF, go into the direction of continued unfettered capitalism. To become independent again, rather than swelter under continued neo-colonialism, defy WEF and IMF advice and work steadily with perseverance towards political and financial autonomy. De-dollarize and de-globalize and turn to local production for local consumption with local sovereign money and local public banking, directed by a sovereign local central bank that works for the socioeconomic wellbeing of her countrys people, not for the faraway shareholders of a Wall Street or internationally affiliated banks. Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a water resources and environmental specialist. He worked for over 30 years with the World Bank and the World Health Organization around the world in the fields of environment and water. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. He writes regularly for Global Research; ICH; New Eastern Outlook (NEO); RT; Countercurrents, Sputnik; PressTV; The 21st Century; Greanville Post; Defend Democracy Press; The Saker Blog, the and other internet sites. He is the author of Implosion  An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed  fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! - Essays from the Resistance. Peter Koenig is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Post your comment below See also The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Nearly all Victoria's second-wave coronavirus cases can be traced back to a single quarantine hotel, an inquiry heard today.

The virus escaped Melbourne's Rydges on Swanston hotel after a family of four was moved there following positive tests, according to government epidemiologist Charles Alpren.

The family returned from overseas on May 9, started quarantine in another hotel and was moved to the Rydges on May 15.

Staff inside a hotel in Melbourne are seen moving luggage for guests in quarantine on June 25

The virus escaped Melbourne's Rydges on Swanston hotel (pictured) after a family of four was moved there, an inquiry heard today

All four tested positive to COVID-19 by May 18.

The following week, on May 25, three hotel staff members were diagnosed with the deadly virus.

By mid-June, a total of 17 staff and their close contacts had tested positive.

The virus then made its way out into the community and the outbreak is linked to another 24 clusters.

'It is likely that the large majority - I said in my statement approximately 90 per cent or more - of COVID-19 infections in Victoria can be traced to the Rydges Hotel,' Dr Alpren said.

Almost all the other cases can likely be traced back to the Stamford Plaza Hotel which was also used for quarantine, according to Dr Alpren.

'It is likely that a high proportion, approximately 99 per cent of current cases of COVID-19 in Victoria have arisen from Rydges or Stamford,' he said.

Some 46 workers from the Stamford Plaza and their close contacts were found to have caught COVID-19 from a man who returned from overseas on June 1 and a couple who returned on June 11.

Travellers arriving in Melbourne head into their two weeks of hotel quarantine

Dr Alpren said Victoria's health department had seen 'no evidence of any other transmission' outside the hotels.

'That's not to say that there are no other transmission events that could be there.

'But because there are very few people now coming into Victoria who potentially offer new sources of importation of the virus, it is less and less likely,' he said.

In late May, when the virus first broke out of hotel quarantine, 19 people in Victoria had died from COVID-19.

The state's death toll now stands at 351, with almost 7500 cases active.

The inquiry continues.

RYDGES ON SWANSTON CLUSTER: * May 9 - Family of four return to Australia from overseas and begin mandatory hotel quarantine. First family member becomes symptomatic on the same day. * May 10 - Second family member becomes symptomatic. * May 11 - Third family member becomes symptomatic. * May 12 - Fourth family member becomes symptomatic. * May 14 - First two family members test positive to COVID-19. * May 15 - Family moved to the Rydges on Swanston Hotel. * May 17 to 18 - Other family members test positive to COVID-19. * May 25 - Three members of staff at Rydges on Swanston Hotel become symptomatic. They subsequently test positive to COVID-19. * May 26 to June 18 - A total of 17 people are epidemiologically linked to the Rydges outbreak, and were either working in the hotel or household members or social contacts of staff at the hotel. An additional case, a household contact of a staff member at the Rydges hotel, is diagnosed with COVID-19 in Queensland. * May 30 - Department of Health and Human Services receives first genomic analysis relating to the outbreak and comes to the conclusion all cases belonged to the same transmission network. * By July 31 - DHHS has received genomic sequencing reports of 14 of the 17 cases epidemiologically linked to the outbreak. It found all 14 cases cluster genomically together and cluster genomically with the family of overseas returnees. Advertisement
New Delhi: Gujarat cadre IPS officer of 1984-batch Rakesh Asthana took charge as the 27th Director-General of Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday (August 18). The Centre had appointed Asthana as the new director-general of the BSF on Monday.

Asthana replaced DG Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) chief S S Deswal who was holding the additional charge of BSF since March 2020. He was presently working at the Director-General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in Delhi and holds an additional charge of the Narcotics Control Bureau.

In October 2017, Asthana was appointed as the special director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Prior to this on December 2, 2016, he named as interim CBI director by the government. He has earlier also served as SP in CBI in 1994 and has handled the investigation of Bihar's fodder scam.

Asthana arrested RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1997 for the scam and was part of the investigation till 2001. He has also been part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Gujarat government to probe the Godhra train burning incident.
18.08.2020 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, has disclosed that the Shiashie fire victims will be relocated to Amanfrom, near Nsawam.

According to her, the land will serve as a permanent residence for the victims who were affected by Friday nights inferno in her constituency.

Addressing the victims on Monday morning, she said that, I am glad to tell you that, through my hard work I have being able to secure a land for you people at Amanfrom, near Nsawam. So I want to know the number of people who will like to go there, you know that land in East Legon is very expensive. The land at Amanfrom will be a permanent residence for all of you.

Theres a lot more that we can do for them. What I have there cannot support them for long. Some of them have their livelihoods and workplaces gone completely, Lydia Seyram Alhassan exclusively told Shiashie-based Kingdom FM 107.7

So I am appealing to even people beyond this constituency to come to our aid.

Fire gutted over 100 wooden structures that serve as accommodation for residents of Shiashie, a slum community around East Legon in Accra.

Even though no life was lost, the ravaging fire destroyed properties running into hundreds of Ghana cedis and rendered some of the slum dwellers homeless.

---KingdomfmOnline
John Thompson, Minnesota Democratic candidate for district 67A, speaks during a protest outside the home of Minneapolis police union head Bob Kroll and WCCO reporter Liz Collin, in Hugo, Minn., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

No Felony Charges for Democrat Nominee Who Issued Threats During BLM Protest

No felony charges will be filed against a Minnesota Democrat who threatened to burn a city down during a Black Lives Matter event outside the home of a police union president over the weekend.

John Thompson, a left-wing activist who won a primary race for House District 67A last week, joined others Saturday in gathering outside the residence of Bob Kroll, the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, and Liz Collin, a reporter for WCCO.

The protesters want both Kroll and Collin fired.

During the event, Thompson and others were filmed taking a bat to effigies of the couple. Thompson also, within earshot of children, threatened to burn the city of Hugo down.

In a joint statement on Monday, Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry and County Attorney Pete Orput said Thompson spoke and chose divisive, hurtful and inflammatory rhetoric to include berating children who were present.

We have both received much communication regarding what was said. After investigation, the comments made by Mr. Thompson, though grossly inappropriate, do not violate any felony statute. We will continue further review of any other violations of state law or city ordinance, while allowing for First Amendment protected speech, they said.

People bash pinatas made in the likeness of Minneapolis police union head Bob Kroll and WCCO reporter Liz Collin, outside their home in Hugo, Minn., on Aug. 15, 2020. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

WCCO and the police union didnt respond to requests for comment.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists said it supports the publics constitutional right to protest peacefully, but views the destruction of Collins image on her private property to be a direct threat against her as a journalist.

We encourage the general public to use respectful and peaceful means to communicate dissatisfaction with journalists coverage, such as contacting them or their supervisors directly or demonstrating outside of their place of work, rather than using threats and intimidation to attack them personally. We also urge media outlets to address concerns about conflicts of interest in a timely and transparent manner, the group said.

At this moment in particular, it is essential that the industry do its part to maintain the publics trust.

Thompson took to Facebook to apologize, saying his comments were not helpful.

Inflammatory rhetoric is not how I want to address the important issues were facing, and I apologize, the DemocraticFarmerLabor candidate said. Im not apologizing for my passion to fight injustice.

Ken Martin, leader of the state party, said in a statement: Im grateful for the work John is doing to combat systemic racism, and Im glad that he recognizes yesterdays rhetoric was inflammatory.

Minnesota House Republicans said Thompson led a disturbing protest in Hugo, harassing neighbors and screaming profanities at children.

They called for people to donate to Elliot Tengen, a Republican candidate running against Rep. Ami Wazlawik, a Democrat who represents most of Hugo.

Jennifer Carnahan, president of the Minnesota Republican Party, said on Twitter that the party stands solidly with Bob Kroll and our police against police hate, unlawful riots, mob rule and intimidation tactics.
Los Angeles, Aug 18 : Makers of the Camila Cabello-starrer Cinderella have decided to resume shooting the film amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Director Kay Cannon will resume filming outside London, with some low-level shooting commencing this week as the "production felt safe and organised enough to move ahead", a deadline.com report said.

Shooting is expected to continue through the month of September. Reportedly, the movie's shoot was stopped in March owing to the pandemic, causing the delay in the release date.

The movie will feature Cabello as Cinderella, Minnie Driver as Queen Beatrice and Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Robert. It is a musical comedy that reimagines the traditional "Cinderella" story.
The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked UTs top law officer Pankaj Jain to ascertain facts into a case of ownership of a Sector-5 property wherein a former UN executive and NRI Padamjit Singh has alleged impersonation.

The HC bench of justices Daya Chaudhary and Meenakshi Mehta passed the order after Singh filed a plea stating that a petition filed on July 8 using his name was not, in fact, filed by him.

The 84-year-old former UN executive lives in the USA. The property in question as per submissions in court is owned 50% each by him and family members of his brother.

Pankaj Jain, senior standing counsel, has been asked to verify the facts about the property ownership. He has also been asked to verify who authorized a lawyer to file the July 8 petition using Singhs name. The lawyer, who had appeared in the July petition, has also been asked to cooperate for the probe.

Registrar (judicial) has been directed to keep complete record of the case in a sealed cover and restrained from allowing inspection of the file without permission. The construction, if any, being done at the property has also been stayed.

The July 8 plea had claimed that Singh never sold the 50% share of the property to a woman named Pritam Kaur. However, a fresh affidavit filed by Singh says that he has sold his share of property to the woman and that he had authorized none to file the July 8 plea. When the lawyer appearing in the July 8 petition was questioned, he told the court that the matter was brought to him by another lawyer and all requisite permissions to file the plea were obtained on mail, a fact denied by Singh in his latest plea.
A retired Chinese professor who called President Xi Jinping a "mafia boss" and the ruling Communist Party a "political zombie" has been disciplined, according to her former employer, the latest such critic to face punishment in recent months.

Cai Xia, who had taught democratic politics at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party before retiring, is the third prominent figure in recent months to be disciplined after criticising the party and its leader.

The school, which trains rising officials destined for promotion, announced yesterday that it had rescinded Ms Cai's party membership and retirement benefits for making remarks that "had serious political problems and damaged the country's reputation".

The notice on the school's website did not specify the remarks.

Two Chinese political watchers, however, pointed to comments she made in a recording leaked online in June, arguing that replacing Mr Xi as party chief would be the first step to saving the party from itself.

In the recording, a woman identified as Ms Cai by fellow academics called Mr Xi a "mafia boss" who turned the party into his personal tool, and a "political zombie".

"If the Politburo Standing Committee has any sense of responsibility to the people, the country and the party, they should call for a meeting to replace Xi," she said.

It was unclear where, when or to whom she was speaking.

Ms Cai could not be reached for comment.

She is the grand-daughter of a revolutionary fighter, giving her a solid "red background".

Last month, a law professor at Beijing's Tsinghua University who criticised Mr Xi and the party was detained by police and then fired.
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Walking around or standing while working all day can be tasking on the feet, but taking care of them can improve blood circulation along with many other health benefits. While investing in some shoe alternatives can be READ THE REST
More than 400 students, faculty members, and alumni from various science and technology institutes in the country have signed a petition to the Central government, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, demanding bail and medical care for Varavara Rao and GN Saibaba, who are in jail for their alleged Communist Party of India (CPI)-Maoist links, and the release of other political prisoners.

Rao (81), an acclaimed Telugu poet and a human rights activist, is booked in the Elgar Parishad/Bhima Koregaon case and is undergoing treatment at Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital in Mumbai after he had tested coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive in July.

Saibaba, who is 90% physically handicapped, is a Delhi University (DU) professor and was convicted in 2017 along with five others for their links with Left-wing extremist (LWE) organisations and for waging war against India.

The petition, signed by the researchers and scientists from various Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs), makes three specific demands.

The petitioners are seeking immediate and proper medical treatment and bail for Rao and Saibaba.

The petitioners are seeking the release of all political prisoners arrested in the Elgar Parishad/Bhima Koregaon case in Maharashtra and anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, protests in New Delhi following a spike in Covid-19 cases in prisons across the country.

They are also seeking the repeal of the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act (UAPAA), 2019.

The government, in a bid to stifle dissent, is using the pandemic as an opportunity to arrest political activists such as Dr. Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, Dr. Kafeel Khan, and Pinjra Tod activists Natasha and Devangana. They have been arrested, as they were active in the anti-CAA protests, said a researcher from IIT-Bombay and a signatory to the petition.

The government is putting their lives at grave risk amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in prisons, he said.

Delhi Police had arrested students of Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University following the communal riots in north-east Delhi in February and during the anti-CAA protests last year.

Pregnant Jamia student Safoora Zargar and IIT-Bombay alumnus Sharjeel Imam are among the prominent activists, who have been arrested by Delhi Police.

Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, both students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), were slapped with the stringent UAPAA, 2019, which empowers the government to take action against activities that are against the integrity and sovereignty of the country.

We can clearly see that the government is continuously attacking activists, writers, poets, lawyers, students, and professors, who are critical of its anti-people agenda. As socially-conscious citizens associated with some of the best institutions of our country, it is our duty to make our society more equitable. We must raise our voice in solidarity to demand the release of all political prisoners, read the petition.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) sees a robust return of oil demand, mainly from China, ADNOC Groups chief executive Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber told IHS Markit Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin in a recent interview.

The oil market has visibly tightened over the past two months as economies started to reopen, said Al Jaber, who is also the UAEs Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.

The approach of OPEC and its leadership also helped build confidence in the markets. And as a result, we are seeing a robust return of oil demand. This is mainly coming from China. Having said that, our industry will have to remain cautious and nimble, ADNOCs top executive said.

The oil and gas industry, however, needs to be cautiously optimistic about the structural macroeconomic changes and has to continue focusing on cost management, Al Jaber told IHS Markit.

ADNOC produces most of the oil in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is currently OPECs third-largest oil producer after Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Earlier this month, Amin Nasser, the chief executive of the worlds biggest oil-producing and oil-exporting company, state oil giant Saudi Aramco, said he was optimistic about the pace of oil demand recovery in Asia.

We are seeing a partial recovery in the energy market as countries around the world take steps to ease restrictions and reboot their economies, Nasser said in a statement following Aramcos Q2 report this month.

Speaking about the UAEs competitive advantage on the global oil market going forward, ADNOC chief executive Al Jaber told IHS Markit that the key was low-cost production in combination with low carbon emissions.

The world is going to need oil and gas for some considerable time to come. It is up to us as oil and gas producers to deliver that energy as responsibly and as sustainably as possible, Al Jaber told IHS Markits Yergin.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
August 17, 2020

News

By David Vergun , DOD News

Defense.gov

DOD Leaders Provide Digital Modernization Updates

Data will be the fuel and the engine for everything the Defense Department has to do to bring intelligence and operations together, DOD's chief information officer told CIOs and technology leaders from across the department in a virtual global town hall meeting.

Dana Deasy said during the Aug. 12 event that quality data that is secure will also help to enable the development of artificial intelligence.

With AI, humans and machines are going to collaborate effectively and efficiently in an ethical manner, Deasy said, lauding the progress being made by the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center's work over the last 18 months.

He then turned his attention to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOD COVID-19 Task Force, along with IT organizations across the department, have helped to protect DOD personnel, ensured continued execution of missions and supported the whole of government approach in combating the pandemic, the CIO said. The combatant commanders, leaders from across the services and the secretary of defense all have recognized that effort, he noted.

"It was there. It worked," he said, speaking of the tools that service members and DOD civilian employees have used to work remotely. "Yes, we had our moments where we had to scramble and get things fixed, but if you kind of take the long view of this thing, it was a truly remarkable result by all of you, so a huge 'thank you.'"

U.S. Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Joint Staff, the military services and National Guard Bureau, as well as the DOD CIO office, worked together to get the necessary equipment into the hands of the users, enabling hundreds of thousands of people to work remotely, Deasy said.

Navy Rear Adm. William Chase, senior military advisor for DOD Cyber Policy, noted that adversaries such as Russia and China attack the information space daily through cyber intrusions; intellectual property theft  including weapon systems from the defense industrial base  and, attempts to deny DOD's use of command and control, networks and communications. As a result, he said, joint interoperability and all-domain command and control is a top priority for DOD.

An example, Chase said, is joint all-domain situational awareness, which involves integrating AI and secure cyber data enabled by machine learning as a tool for the combatant commanders to use in such things as target recognition and decision aids for use in long-range, precision fires.

Greg Garcia, the Army's deputy CIO, said it's important to have a workforce that is customer focused, communication strong, adept in technology management and structured to meet future demands.

Skills such as application software, data, information management, enterprise architecture, systems analysis and data analytics will increasingly help the department better prepare to improve mission outcomes in the digital future, he said.

Col. A.G. Hatcher, deputy Air Force CIO, noted that it's critical that the joint force gain the needed 5G network access across different operating environments. Although innovation is taking place, it needs to move even faster, he said, not only to get to such goals as 5G, but to get to the post-5G network that inevitably will follow.

A 5G network would be particularly useful for telemedicine into remote areas such as Iraq or Afghanistan, he said, and work is being done on that at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas.

The next focus of 5G work will be on extending the range of the signals, particularly in the vast area of U.S. Pacific Command, Hatcher said, and work on that will occur soon at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Aaron Weis, the Navy's CIO, said the challenge for his department is modernizing aging infrastructure and IT systems. The culture needs to change as well, he said.

"Today we have a culture that's driven by security through compliance," he said. "We need to get to a state where security is driven as a constant state of readiness."

Navy Vice Adm. Nancy Norton, the DISA director, said her agency is working to get new collaboration tools that support cloud computing. The Defense Enterprise Office Solutions Program will lead that effort. These cloud collaboration tools will be made available first to the combatant commands in support of the warfighters, and it will eventually expand out across the department, she said. DISA also is working on ways to reduce bandwidth, improve cyber security and improve performance, Norton said.

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Rhea Chakraborty's Lawyer Addresses The Molestation Episode In His Statement

He narrated the incident in his statement by saying, "In the initial months of their relationship, when Rhea had visited Sushant's house, his sister Priyanka and her husband Siddharth were living with him. On one night, in and around April 2019, Rhea and Priyanka had gone out to a party. Priyanka consumed copious amounts of alcohol and was behaving inappropriately with men as well as women at that party. So, Rhea insisted that they return to Sushant's home. Upon returning, Sushant and his sister continued drinking alcohol while Rhea retired for the night as she had a shoot the next morning. Rhea was asleep in Sushant's room when she suddenly awoke to find Priyanka had got into bed with her and was groping her. Rhea was extremely shocked and demanded that she leave the room immediately. Subsequently, Rhea herself left the house."

Rhea's Lawyer Claims The Incident Strained Ties Between Rhea And Sushant's Family

Satish Maneshinde said that Sushant got into an argument with his sister Priyanka when Rhea informed him as to what had transpired. He said that due to the aforesaid incident, the relationship between Sushant's family and Rhea had been strained since inception. Even after his death, when a list of 20 people was made to attend the funeral, Rhea's name was not included in the list and she was missing at the funeral.

'Nothing Incriminating Has Been Found Against Rhea Till Today,' Says Her Lawyer

Rhea's lawyer said that the actress has been summoned by Mumbai police and Enforcement Directorate on several dates for inquiry, investigations and gathering electronic evidence. He further said that she has appeared on all the appointed dates when ever summoned as a law abiding citizen. Both the agencies have investigated her relationship with Sushant Singh Rajput and her financial status at great length.

Maneshinde revealed that the Mumbai police and ED have collected all Electronic, Forensic and Medical including DNA evidence in the case. He further said that the bank Statements, income tax returns, CCTV, CDR and Electronic Data are with both agencies.

Rhea's lawyer in his statement, said that till today, nothing incriminating has been found against the actress.

Here's When Sushant And Rhea Began Dating

Rhea's lawyer revealed that the actress and Sushant were known to each other over the past several years as they were both working in the Indian Film Industry. They had maintained a cordial friendship and would occasionally communicate with each other. In April 2019, Rhea and Sushant had attended a party hosted by the film fraternity and shortly thereafter, they began dating each other. Even though they spent a lot of time in each other's homes , they officially moved in together in December 2019 and live at Mount Blanc, Bandra, till Rhea left on June 8, 2020.
The government is considering the possibility of claiming the existence of a legal conflict of a constitutional nature in relation to the tabling of a motion of censure during the parliamentary recess, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said on Tuesday.

"We are analysing the possibility not to challenge with the court but to claim the existence of a legal conflict of a constitutional nature regarding the tabling of the motion of censure during the parliamentary recess. That has not happened in 30 years: no political party filed a motion of censure in an extraordinary session during parliamentary recess. In fact, it is a parliamentary recess," explained Orban when asked whether or not the government will challenge with the Constitutional Court (CCR) the motion of censure submitted by PSD.Orban and Minister of Transport Lucian Bode on Tuesday attended the official opening of works on Bucharest Ring Road (A0), South Sector, Lot 2, Vidra - Bragadiru.
FILE PHOTO: The Nihombashi Takashimaya Shopping Center reopens its doors amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tokyo

By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Hiroko Hamada

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's low unemployment rate on paper suggests an economy weathering the coronavirus reasonably well, but official figures belie worsening prospects for the country's army of temporary workers, who make up about 40% of the jobs market.

A rise in job losses would undermine one of the few successes of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "Abenomics" stimulus policies, aimed at reviving the economy.

Japan's jobless rate stood at 2.8% in June, much lower than 10.2% in the United States and 7.8% in the 19-member euro zone.

But a close look at data shows a rising number of people dropping out of the jobs race. That prevents the official jobless rate - the ratio of job seekers who are yet to land work - from rising much.

About 2.4 million furloughed workers are kept on payrolls backed by state subsidies, which the government is seeking to extend beyond its end-September expiration.

"The huge number of furloughed workers suggests companies are saddled with excess labour and are under pressure to cut jobs down the road," said Hisashi Yamada, senior economist at Japan Research Institute.

"Job losses will hurt Japan's economic recovery as they spread to broader sectors in coming years, eroding households' purchasing power," he said.

Japan's economy plunged by a record pace in the second quarter as the pandemic hit consumption and exports.

In the jobs market, the pain has been felt most by those categorised as "non-regular workers," including those with low-paying, part-time jobs, who make up 38% of all employees in Japan.

Non-regular workers account for roughly three quarters of those employed by restaurants and hotels, many of which were hit hard by the pandemic, according to the labour ministry.

A government survey showed more than 40,000 workers, about 15,000 of whom are non-regular workers, have been laid off since February.

Story continues

One worker in her 20s, who was employed as temp staff at a call centre in Kanagawa prefecture, quit her job in June."My employer would not allow us non-regular workers to work from home," she told Reuters, on condition of anonymity. "I was told that I could take time off but would not be paid, so I quit, thinking it'd be better living on unemployment insurance."

Some economists estimate the jobless rate would be closer to 4% if furloughed workers were included in the official figures.

More broadly, the downturn has affected both those at the start and end of their careers.

Over 100 university and high-school students had their job offers cancelled, about triple the number for 2019. More than 50 listed firms offered early retirement to let go some 9,300 employees, the fastest pace in eight years, separate data found.

Some analysts expect Japan's official jobless rate to rise to a record 5.5% hit during the 2009 global financial crisis.

That is a high level in Japan, where labour unions have historically accepted low wage offers to protect jobs - keeping the jobless rate low compared with other countries.

However, Nobuyuki Sato, chairman of a Japanese-style hotel inn in Yamagata prefecture, said an end to government subsidies could force his company to start cutting jobs.

"Labour costs are a major burden to Japanese-style inns like us, as they account for 30% of overall costs," he told Reuters.

(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto and Hiroko Hamada; Editing by Sam Holmes)
It wouldnt be the Democratic National Convention without some Hollywood star power, and this year is no exception, even though the proceedings will be largely virtual.

The actresses Eva Longoria, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington and Julia Louis-Dreyfus will serve as M.C.s during the four nights of the convention, organizers announced on Monday.

The voices were including are the perfect messengers to lift up our theme of unity and help us engage with more Americans than ever before, Stephanie Cutter, the conventions program director, said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear whether the M.C.s would make live or prerecorded appearances, or how much speaking time they would have. The organizers said only that the hosts would keep the program moving and connected.
Organisers of a two-day vegan camping festival have been accused of 'playing Russian roulette' with people's lives for an event during the coronavirus pandemic.

Up to 1,000 people are expected to attend the Vegan Camp Out, based near Alfreton in Derbyshire.

The event, billed as the world's 'largest vegan camping festival,' has already been delayed and scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It was originally due to take place this weekend, with food stalls and talks, activism workshops, yoga and fitness classes, and an afterparty with DJs planned.

But last week organisers announced a 'back to basics' event at a new venue as coronavirus restrictions started to ease.

County councillor Paul Smith, accused organisers of the festival of 'burying its head in the sand' during the Covid-19 crisis and having a 'total disrespect' for the pandemic and for the community living in the area where the festival could be held.

Concerns have been raised over this year's Vegan Camp Out festival at Riddings Wood Caravan and Camping Park in Derbyshire

He said: 'Holding gatherings of this nature and that size at this time is like playing Russian roulette.'

Dean Wallace, public health director at Derbyshire County Council, has penned a strongly-worded letter opposing the gathering Riddings Wood Caravan and Camping Park

He wrote: 'Based on the evidence provided we would recommend that this event is not granted licence and should not be allowed to proceed on public health grounds given the current Covid-19 situation.

'The Amber Valley rate is currently one of the lowest in the county and region, therefore it is highly likely that people travelling to this event will be travelling from areas with higher Covid-19 incidence rates.

Vegan Camp Out started back in 2016 and attracts thousands of visitors each year, but the event has been scaled back due to the Covid-19 pandemic

'Even if all public health measures outlined in this response were to be adopted by the event organisers the volume of people congregating from different parts of the country on this site would still pose a significant health protection risk.'

In his objection the health official raised the possibility of 'viral transmission through singing or shouting to others over the music' as well as encouraging 'dancing in close proximity to others'.

'The key message from national guidance is that 'In line with the social distancing guidance it is advised that large gatherings should not take place',' he added.

Mr Wallace has drawn up an extensive number of questions which he says need to be answered for the event to even be considered including access to the site and the lack of a public health contact to oversee the event's restrictions and Test and Trace contact details.

A Facebook event page for the festival shows 220 people registering as 'going' to the event and 653 'interested' in attending this year's event

Organisers initially told campers to use neighbouring streets around the venue for parking and that no allocated site would be provided. The firm has since said it is looking for a field nearby.

One resident said he had been offered 5,000 to use his fields for parking. A recommendation on the event website for attendees to car share to travel to and from the event also appears to have been removed.

So far the company behind the camp out has refused to disclose the maximum attendance at the event, saying 'all will be revealed soon'.

A Facebook event page for the festival shows 220 people registering as 'going' to the event and 653 'interested' in attending.

This year's Vegan Camp Out festival has been described as going 'back to basics,' as it tries to mitigate the possible spread of Covid-19

On a social media posting event founder Jordan Martin told campers: 'Remain one metre away from people at all times if you can. It could be the case at that point, because things are changing all the time, that there is no social distancing. I think it is unlikely.

'There is going to be no crowd surfing or mosh-pits and stuff because we are not at that stage yet until probably next year. At the same time, you don't need to make sure everybody is unbelievably spaced out.

'You can go camping now and mix with friends.and be in bubbles, but just be sensible. We are going to be staggering queues and the showers, toilets and food lines. There'll be extra hand sanitiser everywhere and extra signs speaking about the importance of washing your hands.

'Things are changing all the time and we will only know for sure what we need to do a few days before.

'We will get to rave as a family but with strict social distancing and sensible procedures.'
When Democrats picked Milwaukee as the site for their national convention, it was for a very specific reasonas native Wisconsinite and journalist Dan Kaufman says, a symbol that the Democratic Party was trying to atone for its sin of ignoring Wisconsin in 2016. After all, Hillary Clinton didnt visit Wisconsin even once that election cycle. And Donald Trump took the state by about 23,000 votes. As Kaufman sees it, this had a lot to do with the states so-called Driftless Area, the southwestern region known for its dairy farmers thats seen a stark number of family farm bankruptcies and personal tragedies. These farmers had voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and then came out strong for Trump eight years later. But this time, they might go blue again. On Tuesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Kaufman about how Democrats lost the Driftless Area and Wisconsin, and how these farmers anger could now cost Trump the presidency. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Ray Suarez: To understand the political earthquake that shook the Driftless Area back in 2016, you first need to look at how agriculture in America has changed in recent decades.

Dan Kaufman: I think theres a lot of frustration with both parties, who have presided over a real erosion of rural America, particularly since the early 1970s. Earl Butz, Richard Nixons secretary of agriculture, encouraged consolidation of farms. He said, basically, to get big or get out, to adapt or die. He didnt see much room for the small agrarian farm and small family farmer. Both parties have since encouraged that consolidation to various degrees. I think this anger sometimes doesnt know how to be channeled. Theres still a lot of support for Trump in these rural areas, but its also eroded to a significant degree. And I think the Driftless Area will be key as far as which way Wisconsin will go.

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Its a much different operation to survive as a farmer in todays world. Market forces are encouraging consolidation and theres no government policy to mitigate that. So farmers are really struggling and it just keeps getting worse.

Unlike in 2016, Trump is running with a record. What has he done in the past three years thats changed farmers lives? Do they perceive him as having made their lives better or worse?

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I think, like everything, its a mixed bag. Overall theres a lot of frustration because hes basically continued the agricultural policy that has existed for the past 40 or 50 years. His trade wars with China, Mexico, the European Union, and Canada have worsened the conditions of a lot of farmers and caused export markets to dry up. Trump is somewhat cognizant that he needs these rural voters. He has offered substantial amounts of federal aid for farmers. But most of this aid is going to the largest farms, big factory corporate farms. So its not helping these small family farmers at all. Theres a sense of frustration and profound hopelessness in a lot of rural Wisconsin that theres little that can or will be done to help them.

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Theres a lot of frustration because Trumps basically continued the agricultural policy of the past 40 or 50 years.  Dan Kaufman

On a lot of Midwestern family farms, workers will tell you their own kids dont want farm life, or some of them will say they dont want it for their kids. And a lot of the work day to day is being done by Mexicans and Central Americans. Is immigration much of an issue in Wisconsin farm country?

Dairy is one of the most labor-intensive forms of farming, and almost every farm Ive visited had many immigrant farmworkers. I think its a huge issue, and its a source of friction between the Trump Republican Party wing and some of the more traditional elements. The agricultural needs of the United States depend on foreign labor, Mexican immigrants particularly.

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Youre right to say that most of the younger people dont want farm life. I think they see that its almost hopeless to keep small farms going. Theres so much pressure.

You are describing the steady decline in rural areas, but if you go to a state like Wisconsin, its not like the urban areas are going great either. Cities have seen their factories close and their plants be bought and sold and then closed. It sounds like the Democrats have their virtual convention in a place that feels like the 21st century has a lot to answer for.

I think youre right. And Im really glad you said that. There are a lot of similarities between the deindustrialized towns and cities of the Rust Belt and some of these rural areas. I was shocked. Ive done a lot of reporting in Michigan and Ohio also and you see the same dynamic: people left behind, victims of a lack of public investment and concern. American trade policies have sent a lot of those jobs overseas.

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Trump actually linked, in 2016, the fate of family farmers to that of steelworkers and coal miners. He seized upon a decadeslong erosion by both parties of these kinds of jobs and the idea that you could make a decent living. It definitely helped him win very narrowly in these states, particularly Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.

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After Republicans took control of Wisconsins statehouse and governors mansion, Democrats fought back and sought to win support by exploiting the difference between the presidents rhetoric and his policies. At a local level, it seems to have worked.

I think theres a growing frustration with Trump. And Democrats have become more tactically skillful since 2016, when Hillary Clinton didnt campaign there. That became a kind of national emblem of how out of touch the Democrats were with some of those who had been their core constituents.

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Now theres a recognition on the Democratic side that the battle for Wisconsin represents much more than just the state itselfits a kind of national proxy. Theye been more organized at turning out their voters. Most significantly, they defeated Scott Walker in 2018 narrowly. A lot of that was also a shifting of the rural vote: Tony Evers did significantly better in the Driftless Area, campaigned heavily in rural areas, and was able to win back some of these voters.

One more recent example of Democratic statewide success came in the form of a state Supreme Court race this past April. The election itself was hotly debated, as the Republican Legislature overturned the governors stay-at-home orders and forced Wisconsin to move ahead with in-person voting in the early weeks of this pandemic, while at the same time closing almost all polling places in Milwaukee. Conservatives might have felt moving forward with the election and in-person voting could help secure the seat for their preferred candidate. But voters didnt see it that way.

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Ironically, it backfired. I think it drew a lot of angry progressives to the polls. Jill Karofsky, the Supreme Court justice who won, got 55 percent of the vote. I think theres been some fatigue with the hyperextreme politics Republicans have been pushing. You saw it play out in her victory, and particularly the size and breadth of her victory, which occurred in areas all over the state, including some areas where Democrats traditionally struggle.

Listen to the full episode using the player below, or subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
BERKELEY  For decades, three commercial billboards advertising to motorists on Interstate 70 in Berkeley towered above the graves of dozens of Black people laid to rest in Washington Park Cemetery, once the St. Louis regions preeminent Black burial site.

On Monday, activist Wanda Brandon, whose grandmother is buried near the billboards, watched construction crews begin to take the billboards down.

Brandon launched a campaign two years ago to remove the billboards and sued the owners, DDI Media, arguing the structures desecrated the memory of the people buried there. The company agreed in July to take them down.

This is a victorious day, said Brandon, 60, of St. Louis, while she watched construction crews. Black Lives do matter even after death, and they deserve to be respected and protected.

The billboards, on which several companies have advertised over the years, werent technically in the cemetery; the strip of land they sit on was sold in 1986 to the company, then Drury Displays Inc., an affiliate of the Drury Inn and Hotels company.

The billboards, which were installed amid graves, followed a series of construction projects that disturbed cemetery ground.

Built in 1920 as a for-profit burial site, the cemetery was originally 75 acres. Construction of I-70 in the late 1950s split the cemetery in two. St. Louis Lambert International Airport bought 9 acres in 1972. In the 1990s, the airport and MetroLink paid to remove the remains of about 12,000 people to other cemeteries.

Families complained that workers rushed the process, damaging remains and mismanaging records. Many said they lost track of relatives graves.

Basmin Red Deer, of St. Louis, has an extended family member whose remains were among those disinterred and subsequently lost.

Red Deer said Brandon was her champion for removing the billboards, which she said is timely given recent Black Lives Matter protests.

This is a welcome day, said Red Deer, who is searching for her grandparents graves amid overgrowth near the billboards. Im elated that in this time, where a lot of truth is shining all over the United States on inequities, that here is another inequity that were taking first steps on correcting.

While many historic cemeteries have suffered upheaval to make way for expanding cities, Washington Park Cemetery and other historic Black cemeteries were further squandered under discriminatory policies, said Michael Allen, an architectural historian with Washington University in St. Louis.

Washington Park was founded as a for-profit cemetery by two white businessmen who supported restrictions burying African-Americans in St. Louis. The cemetery did not retain the type of financial endowment that helps preserve other cemeteries, he said.

The highway, light rail and billboards running through there are all affronts to memory, Allen said, and things you would not find at cemeteries where there are more stable finances and reverence.

Burials in Washington Park Cemetery ended by 1991, when the cemeterys third owner killed herself after the state sued her for neglect.

More than half the roughly 42-acre site, which contains about 40,000 graves, has since become overgrown with grass and trees. Roads are deteriorating, and headstones tipped over and cracked.

Volunteers have for several years spent thousands of dollars to maintain roughly 20 acres of the cemetery along Natural Bridge, but they have been unable to fix up the remaining half.

The majority Black city of Berkeley last year opted to buy the cemetery but the sale was never completed.

The current owner, Kevin Bailey, is the cemeterys first Black owner and the first with relatives buried there. He bought the cemetery in 2009 for $2 from the estate of a deceased lawyer who had also bought the property once the county placed liens on it for delinquent taxes.

Bailey had hopes of reclaiming the cemetery but struggled to organize an effort large enough to clear the overgrown portion. The company he formed to own the cemetery, Amazing Grace Properties, owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes for the land.

Bailey, whose father is buried in the cemetery, did not respond Monday to a request for comment.

In a lengthy statement Monday, DDI Media said the company had sought a compromise to keep the billboards while supporting efforts to reclaim the cemetery. The billboards will be removed by Friday, the company said, after which it will maintain the parcel of land it owns.

While we had hoped to be part of the solution to address the long-term future of the cemetery, we are not willing to go through ongoing and costly litigation to help.  Removing these structures will be difficult, but we will do so in a careful and respectful way to continue to honor the memories of those buried there.

Brandon on Monday also thanked Hazel Erby, director of the St. Louis Countys Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, for her help in taking down the billboards.

Erby, whose father is buried at the cemetery, supported Brandon's campaign and is helping oversee the billboard's dismantling. She recalled once visiting her father's gravesite and briefly being unable to find it amid overgrowth.

Erby said her office hopes to establish a workforce development program that would enlist people to help clear the cemetery and gain on-site job training.

The demise and the way our burial grounds for our ancestors have been treated is also an indication of the discrimination we dealt with in our community, Erby said. "Im hoping we can move the cemetery forward and restore it."

This week marks the 76th anniversary of Brandons grandmothers burial, she said. Her mother and sister are also buried in the cemetery, in graves Brandon is still working to find.

This feels real sweet, Brandon said, to be able to honor them and be their voice.

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NEW YORK  Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that gyms and fitness centers will soon be able to reopen in New York state. During his press conference, Cuomo confirmed those types of facilities can reopen starting Aug. 24, adding those facilities will be subject to rigorous health and safety standards and all gyms and fitness centers will be able to open by Sept. 2.

As New York maintains daily positive test rates below 1 percent, the State has determined that local elected officials can allow gyms and fitness centers to reopen at 33 percent capacity while following rigorous safety protocols, including wearing masks at all times, Cuomo remarked.

While its encouraging that weve reached the point where its acceptable for them to begin reopening in our communities, this is not the time to forget that the pandemic is ongoing. New Yorkers must closely adhere to the guidelines and local health departments are required to strictly enforce them to help ensure gyms and fitness centers reopen safely and protect the public health, Cuomo added.

Below is the listed guidance for gyms and fitness centers:

Capacity: 33% occupancy limit.

Access: Sign-in with contact information and health screening required.

PPE: Appropriate face coverings required at all times.

Distancing: Six feet of separation at all times.

Hygiene/Cleaning: Cleaning and disinfection supplies made available to customers; shared equipment cleaned after every use; staff must also be available to clean and disinfect equipment in between uses; rental equipment must be cleaned and disinfected between customer use.

Classes: By appointment/reservation only; maximum class capacity capped at number of people that can adhere to the 6-feet social distancing rules, but in no case more than 33% of the typical class size (i.e., leave stations, cycles, etc. vacant); classes should be scheduled to allow additional time for cleaning and disinfection in between each session.

Amenities: Water bottle refill stations permitted, but not shared water fountains; communal showers are closed, but individual showers/stalls can remain open so long as they are cleaned in between use.

Air Handling Systems: Gyms should operate at MERV-13 or greater; if they are unable to operate at that level, they must have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional document their inability to do so and adopt additional ventilation and mitigation protocols from American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Inspection: Local health departments shall inspect before or within two weeks of the gym/fitness center opening to ensure compliance.

Local elected officials may choose to delay the reopening of gyms and fitness centers until Sept. 2 to, in part, provide time for required local health department inspections, and may also choose to delay the reopening of indoor fitness classes until a date beyond Sept. 2.

In New York City, the mayor will determine whether gyms and fitness centers should postpone reopening. Outside of New York City, the countys chief executive  county executive, administrator, manager, or chair of the local elected legislative body  will determine whether gym reopening needs to be postponed.

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy expressed his pleasure with the Governors decision.

[Im] happy to hear Gov. Cuomo announce today that gyms can reopen as soon as August 24, something Ive been advocating for since Phase 4 started. Not only is this critical for jobs and the businesses who are fighting for their survival, McCoy stated.

New Yorkers need gyms for their health, mental health and a sense of normalcy. This will of course come with restrictions, including wearing masks at all times, a 33% capacity limit, HVAC systems meeting state guidelines & more. Lets keep this reopening progress going, everyone, McCoy added.

Localities can also determine whether gyms postpone resumption of indoor classes. In New York City, the Mayor and, throughout the rest of the state, the countys chief executive may decide to opt-out of indoor group fitness and aquatic classes within their jurisdiction, postponing their resumption until a later date. Local health departments must inspect gyms prior to reopening, or within two weeks of reopening, to ensure strict adherence to Department of Health guidance.
Singapore, Aug 18 : Amid worldwide disruptions in supply chains due to Covid-19 restrictions, the 3D printing technology has enabled on demand solutions for needs ranging from personal protection equipment to medical devices and isolation wards, say researchers.

The researchers examined how the digital versatility and quick prototyping of 3D printing has enabled the rapid mobilisation of the technology and a swift response to emergencies in a closed loop economy.

"The agility and precision of 3D printing has allowed for innovative solutions amidst the supply chain pressures that we are facing globally," said Professor Chua Chee Kai from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

"This has resulted in rapidly deployable built environment, healthcare medical devices and training tools which have been crucial in the fight to save lives and contain this virus," said the professor who is also the corresponding author of an article published in the journal Nature Reviews Materials.

The researchers from SUTD, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and HP Inc explained how 3D printing has enabled product customisation, complex designs and on-demand manufacturing using any decentralised 3D printing facility in the world by leveraging designs shared online.

This has led to the broad spectrum of 3D printing applications in the fight against Covid-19 including the printing of personal protective equipment, medical and testing devices, personal accessories, visualisation aids, and emergency dwellings.

For instance, due to severe shortages of ventilator machines, continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machines were used as substitutes for Covid-19 patients who require sub-intensive therapy.

An Italian engineering company, Isinnova, came up with a 3D printable mask connector design, the Charlotte valve, was produced and it was specially designed to fit and connect Decathlon's Easybreath snorkelling masks to CPAP machines, the researchers noted.

The 3D printing technology also served as an alternative and more efficient manufacturing option to keep up with the demand for nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs.

The 3D-printed NP swabs were fabricated with complex tip structures for enhanced sample collection efficacy, hence eliminating the need to apply flocks at the tips.

Separately, 3D printing has even been used to fabricate temporary emergency dwellings to isolate those under quarantine, relieving the overloaded medical infrastructures, said the study.
PORTAGE  One day after pulling two teens out of the rough surf along the city's lakefront, Jeremiah Schwanke returned Monday to watch as a diver recovered the body of a 16-year-old, whom he was unable to locate in Sunday's high waves.

"People need to be safe out there because it's not a joke," the Lakes of the Four Seasons resident said.

Schwanke, who just happened to be in the area at the right time riding his Sea-Doo watercraft while wearing a life jacket, was upset the public was allowed to enter such rough water and that no lifeguards were on scene.

"No one is out there telling them, 'Do not go into the water,'" he said.

A group of five male teens from Illinois was swimming at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk about 11 a.m. Sunday when the waves pulled them under, state officials said.

While lauded for his heroic efforts, the 34-year-old Schwanke also was angry that responding rescue officials did not join him in the water as he struggled to bring the young people to shore.
By Trend

Seventeen companies with French capital were registered in Turkey from January through June 2020, which is by 14 companies less than in the same period of 2019, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) told Trend.

During the reporting period, the total capital of French companies registered in Turkey amounted to over 10.6 million liras (more than $1.5 million), as compared to over 8.7 million liras ($1.2 million) in the same period of last year.

In the first six months of 2020, most of the French companies were registered in Istanbul (14 companies) with a total capital of 3.4 million liras ($500,000).

Six of the companies were industrial companies, three were construction companies, four were engaged in wholesale and retail trade, while three companies were operating in the sphere of tourism.

"The remaining one company with French capital operates in other sector of economy," TOBB said.

The total capital of the four companies operating in the wholesale and retail trade registered during the reporting period exceeded 1.1 million liras ($160,000), according to TOBB.

(1 USD = 6.8573 TL on July 17)

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Scottish energy services company John Wood Group has axed its dividend after it fell to an $11million loss due to a decline in oil prices brought on by the coronavirus.

It is the latest announcement by a petroleum industry firm that it will not be rewarding shareholders with a dividend, coming on the back of BP halving its payout and Shell slashing its dividend for the first time in 75 years.

Revenues at Wood Group plunged by $700million to $4.09billion between January and June this year, a 14.7 per cent drop compared to the same period in 2019.

The energy services group has stepped up work in recent times on solar, hydrogen and wind projects in a pivot away from oil

The Aberdeen-based oilfield service business has accelerated its investment in renewables

Core earnings fell by just over half to $66million as the multinational took action to make massive savings. To cut its debts, the company sold off its nuclear business for 250million to American professional services company Jacobs.

It also offloaded its industrial services division to Kaefer for over $100million for the same reason. These disposals and efficiency savings ended up lowering its debts 'significantly' to $1.22billion.

The Aberdeen-based oilfield service business has accelerated its investment in renewable technologies, winning a significant contract in June to supply solar power to the US state of Virginia.

Just before then, work was completed on a hydrogen storage site in Scotland, which is focused on supplying clean power to residents in Fife.

It has touted the project as the 'first of its kind to employ a direct supply of offshore wind renewable power to produce green hydrogen energy, heating up to 300 homes in the first instance.'

The oil and gas sector has been severely damaged by the plummeting demand and price of such fuels in the last year. A barrel of Brent Crude oil dived to its lowest price in over two decades in April while Texas Light Sweet's value briefly went negative.

John Wood Group recently completed work on a hydrogen storage site in Scotland, which is focused on supplying clean power to residents in Fife

Crude prices are down more than 30 per cent for the year, though they have recovered from their historic decline in April.

Wood Group said it had seen recent signs of stabilisation but risks of downward scope variations, deferrals and cancellation of secured work persist.

Chief executive Robin Watson, wrote: 'We are benefiting from our broader market exposure and have seen relative resilience in two-thirds of our revenue which is derived from chemicals & downstream, renewables and built environment markets.

'We have successfully protected margins, and delivered trading performance at the upper end of guidance while reducing net debt as a result of portfolio optimisation and steps taken to protect cashflow.

Oil and gas businesses have had to cut spending, make workers redundant and scale back exploration and production to try and become financially stable again

'Our objectives are to maintain full-year margins in line with 2019 and deliver strong cash flow to further reduce debt in the second half.'

Oil and gas businesses have had to cut spending, make workers redundant, and scale back exploration and production to try and become financially stable again.

The world's seven largest petroleum companies: Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Equinor, ENi, Total, Chevron, and Spanish firm Repsol have written-off a total of $90billion from their assets, according to climate finance thinktank Carbon Tracker.

Shares in John Wood Group were up 3.4 per cent to 219.3p during mid-afternoon.
Shawn Insall was serving as an audio engineer for a musical at Medfords Craterian Theater in March when large events within the state were banned due to the coronavirus pandemic. The cast and crew learned during dress rehearsal that the musical had been canceled.

Five months later, Insall, like many in the live events industry, still doesnt have a job to return to. Instead, Insall has been relying on unemployment insurance to support himself, his partner, Adreal, who is in school, and his four-year-old stepson. The couple has another baby on the way.

Insall said the extra $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit that Congress approved in March as part of the CARES Act was a lifeline for him and his family after he lost his job. But since the benefit expired at the end of July, Insall has been receiving just $200 per week in unemployment benefits, which isnt close to enough to pay for his familys basic expenses.

Its scary, said Insall, 42. I think in about a month if there isnt some sort of resurgence in support, Im going to be looking at bills that Im not able to pay, whether it be diapers or normal week-to-week expenses. Were already tightening the belt grocery-wise, cutting back on gas money.

Insall is among more than 200,000 Oregonians who had their unemployment benefits cut by at least half at the end of July when the federal unemployment boost expired.

Congress has yet to come to an agreement to extend or replace the bonus, even though economists have warned that letting the benefits expire could lead to severe economic consequences. The Senate is now on recess until September, a sign that another coronavirus relief bill is likely weeks away.

In ordinary times, unemployment benefits are meant to keep laid-off workers afloat for a brief period until they find a new job. Congress approved the higher benefits in March in response to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic, which devastated numerous industries and left many people without job prospects.

Oregons unemployment rate was 11.2% in June, among the highest levels on record. The state reports Julys jobless figure Tuesday.

After Congress failed to reach an agreement to replace the expired $600 unemployment boost earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would redirect $44 billion in disaster relief funds to fund a $300 per week federal unemployment bonus. The order said that states could use their own money to fund an additional $100 weekly bonus.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is administering the new program, said Monday that states that are approved would receive initial grants for three weeks of benefits, and could receive more on a week-to-week basis until the money runs out.

It will likely take until the end of the month before states begin paying out the new benefit, according to FEMA.

It also remains unclear when, or if, Oregon will pay out the benefit. David Gerstenfeld, interim head of the Oregon Employment Department, said last week that the state needed more clarity from the federal government on how the program would work before committing to its implementation. Oregons employment department relies on an ancient computer system, which could also impact how quickly it is able to implement the new system.

In the meantime, tens of thousands of Oregonians have been left wondering how they will pay their rent, utility bills and weekly expenses without the enhanced unemployment benefits they depended on.

It took away the daily gnawing stress of, How am I going to survive? said Eric Wright, a Portland disc jockey.

Wright, who has spent 30 years building his career, is usually booked solid working at weddings and other events throughout the year, especially during the summer months. But he has not had a paying gig since the end of February.

Wright, 59, applied for unemployment benefits for the first time in his life in March. It took until April for him to start receiving payments as the employment department struggled to keep up with a flood of new claims. His payments then mysteriously stopped again in May. He applied for food stamps, dipped into his retirement savings and borrowed from family members to continue to pay his bills.

For Wright and many other Oregonians who have struggled to receive payments they are owed, the issues at the employment department have outweighed concerns over the expiration of the $600 federal unemployment boost.

But while Wright expects the unemployment checks that he is owed by the state to show up eventually, he isnt sure how he will get by if the unemployment bonus isnt extended. Even with the bonus, Wright was making significantly less than what he made before the pandemic and was just barely meeting his basic expenses. Now, he is looking at a weekly check of just $274.

Its the difference between paying my bills and stomach-aching everyday wondering, Am I going to lose the house? Wright said. I will try everything in my power not to let that happen, but its a definite possibility.

Trumps executive order could bring some short-term relief to Wright and other Oregonians, if Oregon is able to implement the new program. But the funds FEMA has to enact the program are finite and legislative action would still be needed to provide a longer-term solution for unemployed individuals.

Donald Trump also said workers would receive benefits through the end of the year, but only three weeks of funding will be provided up front, said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR, in a statement Monday. If after three weeks, FEMA determines it needs the money to respond to a disaster, for example, nearly 30 million unemployed workers are simply out of luck. I will continue to push to pass legislation to reinstate the $600 federal boost.

Talks in Congress broke down earlier this month as Democrats pushed to extend the $600 benefit until the end of the year and Republicans proposed cutting the bonus to ensure that workers couldnt make more through unemployment insurance than at their regular jobs.

Several Oregonians that spoke with The Oregonian/OregonLive said that even a reduced weekly bonus would still make a huge difference as they continue to navigate the pandemic. Seeing Congress fail to reach any compromise was infuriating, they said.

As the negotiations in Congress dragged on earlier this month, Wright had to stop watching the news. He couldnt stand hearing the partisan bickering as he and others desperately waited for relief.

Rachael Pruitt, 67, also struggled to understand how negotiations could break down with the livelihoods of so many individuals at stake.

Pruitt, a substitute teacher in Eugene, was receiving unemployment benefits until mid-June when Oregon paused unemployment payments to all school employees for the summer months. Pruitt usually teaches in the summer and expects she will ultimately be paid for those weeks once her claim goes through adjudication.

But she remains concerned about what she will do this fall if the unemployment bonus is not extended. Pruitt said she has pre-existing health conditions that would make it unsafe for her to return to the classroom amid the pandemic. Even if she felt safe returning to in-person teaching, her job as a substitute might not be available as many school districts continue with remote learning.

The $600 bonus enabled Pruitt, who also receives some income through Social Security, to pay her bills, and even put some money in her savings. Without the extra benefit, Pruitt said she will still be able to cover her rent, but wont have enough money left over to meet her other expenses.

She worries that others will be left in even more dire situations, if Congress doesnt act.

They just dont get it, Pruitt said. People are going hungry. People are losing their houses. These are people that have worked hard all their lives and have built a life, and its been taken away.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 18, 2020 - 18:37 | World, All

A plenary meeting of the Central Committee of North Korea's ruling party will be held on Wednesday, state-run media said Tuesday, as its denuclearization talks with the United States remain stalled ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

At the key gathering to be convened for the first time in eight months, the party will "decide on an issue of crucial significance in developing the Korean revolution and increasing the fighting efficiency of the Party," the Korean Central News Agency said.

The focus is on whether the Workers' Party of Korea will map out its new policies on missile and nuclear development as well as negotiations with Washington in the run-up to the U.S. presidential election in early November, pundits said.

North Korea may also announce some provocative measure against the South, which on Tuesday kicked off joint military drills with the United States although they have been scaled down amid the pandemic of the new coronavirus.

Pyongyang has long called on Washington and Seoul to halt such exercises, viewing them as rehearsals for invasion.

The drills, the first major military training between the United States and South Korea after their springtime exercises were canceled due to the virus outbreak, is scheduled to be run mainly utilizing computer-simulated combat scenarios until Aug. 28.

The plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling party is an important gathering that is normally convened once a year.

At the meeting in late December 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to unveil a "new strategic weapon" to be possessed by the nation "in the near future."

Since then, however, the global epidemic of the virus has dealt a heavy blow to North Korea's economy against a backdrop of stagnant trade with its neighbors China and Russia, apparently depriving the country of an opportunity to show such a weapon.

The virus was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. Since earlier this year, North Korea has cut off traffic to and from China and Russia.

North Korea has claimed that nobody has been infected with the new virus so far in the nation.

Related coverage:

Democrats start virtual presidential nomination event amid pandemic

North Korea lifts lockdown on city where suspected virus case spotted
Union Steel Minister on Tuesday asked the industry stakeholders to prepare a plan to enhance investment that will boost steel consumption and create new job opportunities in the country.

He was speaking at a webinar on 'Atmanirbhar Bharat: Fostering Steel Usage in Housing and Construction and Aviation Sector',organised by the Ministry of Steel in association with industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Referring to COVID-19 outbreak, Pradhan said, "I believe, we have been able to control the situation and you all (industry) have played a big role in it. In the coming days, providing employment opportunities will be a big challenge".

The minister suggestedthe industry to prepare a plan so that states and private industry can increase their spending, saying itwill be very beneficial in creating more jobs.

Higher spending in projects will also lead to an increase in steel usage, Pradhan said.

He further said the government has already announced several infrastructure projects across sectors, including rail, road, aviation, gas pipeline, and housing, where steel can find its usage.

Speaking on the migrant workers, Pradhan said the industry must take steps to provide them low-cost houses and better pay.

He appealed to leaders to partner with the government in providing low-cost housing for migrant labourers.

"Leaving the 1 lakh houses of Urban Development Ministry, we can also make low-cost steel-intensive houses. I believe PSUs like SAIL (for example) can take benefits of schemes of the government and build houses in its premises for them," he said.

State governments can also give away some land for construction of low-cost steel-intensive houses for the poor. This will lead to increased use of steel in the country.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PORT ELIZABETH: Generators hum loudly in the background as a tour boat bobs past a towering vessel filled with ship fuel, anchored in Algoa Bay, a stones throw away from the worlds largest breeding colony of African penguins. Mid-way along the Europe- Asia sea route, the bays deepwater port was an obvious choice for South Africas first offshore bunkering operation. Since 2016, mostly cargo ships have pulled in for ship-to-ship (STS) refuelling, allowing them to carry more freight, bypass port fees and save time. But conservationists, ecotour operators and nature lovers are alarmed about the longterm impact in a marine biodiversity hotspot and major foreign tourist magnet.

They claim the bunkering takes place too close to foraging and breeding grounds, disrupting the ecosystem and exposing sea animals to oil spills. The risk has been highlighted by the catastrophic oil spill which began earlier this month into a protected marine park off the pristine coastline of Mauritius, after a bulk carrier ran aground on July 25. With the main storage tanker in Algoa Bay able to hold 100,000 metric tonnes of fuel, opponents fear a potentially massive leak. In two minor spills, in 2017 and 2019, rangers rescued oil-tarred penguins. Scientists are also studying whether the noise, pollution and increased ship traffic could affect the marine animals. They are particularly worried that vibrations caused by the activity may drive away those that rely on sonar to hunt fish. This is too close to the Marine Protected Area, there are too many risks involved, warned environmental scientist Ronelle Friend.

Algoa Bayis home to myriad species of seabirds, including under half the global population of African penguins, classed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The worlds largest group of bottlenose dolphins was recorded in the bay in 2018, according to a report last year by the Port Elizabeth-based Nelson Mandela University. The site is also on the path of an annual sardine run, touted as one of the planets most spectacular marine events. This operation is slap-bang in the middle of a hotspot for bait fish that birds feed on, said whale watcher and tour operator Lloyd Edwards.
The lawsuit is the latest move in a complex tug of war between the administration, lawmakers and civil rights groups over the census timeline. In April, the Census Bureau, which is overseen by the Commerce Department, said that because of coronavirus-related restrictions it could not conduct an accurate count on its original schedule, which would have meant finishing the count by July 31 and delivering data to be used for congressional apportionment by Dec. 31. Census data is also used for redistricting and the disbursement of federal funding.
India plans to sell cotton to Bangladesh to trim its bulging reserves following a slump in demand from textile mills in the top grower.

State-owned Cotton Corp. of India may export 1.5 million to 2 million bales of the fiber to the neighboring nation to help reduce Indias record surplus before the new crop begins arriving in October, said Pradeep Kumar Agarwal, chairman of the company. It generally sells cotton to local mills and traders at market prices, after buying from farmers at government-set minimum rates.

Higher sales from India may potentially increase reserves in top exporters like the US and Brazil and further lower global prices that have fallen about 8% this year as the coronavirus erodes demand for clothing. Global cotton consumption is set to drop about 15% from a year earlier to 22.29 million tons in 2019-20, according to the USDA estimates.

Export prices will be decided by the two governments using the Cotlook index, Agarwal said. Industry researcher Cotlook Ltd.s benchmark is a daily average of the five cheapest cash prices in the world.

In any case, I can assure that it wont be lower than domestic prices, which have fallen about 20% since the outbreak of the coronavirus, he said.

Huge Stockpiles

Cotton Corp. plans to sell 500,000 bales to 700,000 bales of 170 kilograms each to Trading Corp. of Bangladesh in the marketing year ending on Sept. 30. The rest of the quantity will be shipped in 2020-21, Agarwal said in a phone interview. Bangladesh vies with China as the worlds biggest buyer of cotton.

India is likely to have a record closing stockpile of 10.25 million bales by Sept. 30, according to the Cotton Association of India, as domestic consumption may drop more than 20% from a year earlier to 25 million bales in 2019-20, it said.

Cotton Corp. bought 10.5 million bales this year, the highest-ever procurement. It included 2 million bales purchased during a nationwide lockdown to prevent distress selling by local growers, Agarwal said. The company is carrying about 8.4 million bales at present and its ending reserves may not exceed 3 million bales on Sept. 30, he said.

Cotton Corp. spent about 5,500 rupees ($74) per 100 kilograms to purchase cotton from farmers, compared with the market rate of 4,800 rupees to 5,000 rupees, he said. Indian farmers have planted cotton in 12.55 million hectares (31 million acres) as of Aug. 14, compared with 12.16 million hectares a year earlier, according to the farm ministry. The crop will be harvested from October.
Its a seasonal exercise, one for radio, for newspapers, for clubs and for others: the best summer songs, those which evoke beach and fun in the sun. Some are upbeat, some are laidback, but whatever the tempo the messages are tributes to glorious summer. Except when, occasionally, they are not. What once was pleasure nows pain for us all; In my heart only shadows fall; I once stood proud now I feel so small; I dont know whether to laugh or cry; The long hot summers just passed me by.

Paul Wellers Style Council lament could play from speakers on emptying terraces or through the airport public address. A song for summer 2020, it is worth reminding ourselves - as Jesus Sanchez has - that there was a time when it looked as if summer would be cancelled completely. The president of the nightlife businesses association wasnt the only one who had considered this eventuality; many of us had. But there was to be a rescue. Of sorts. The drowning summer was hauled from the sea, resuscitation was applied. Summer walked off with a cheerier smile, looking back at its rescuers and failing to notice that it was about to tumble into a pitfall.

Where do you begin in feeling sorry for individuals, for businesses, for communities? One doubts that many would single out the Balearics tourism minister; certainly not over the many others. But there is scope for feeling sorry for him. He did his best; he really did. He ensured the lines of communication were open with Germany from the very start of the pandemic. He now appears bereft in the different meanings of this word - deprived of something and sad because of a death or a departure.

His response is to fall back on to safe corridors, a response made because very little other response can be offered, except giving up. Unfortunately, however, the safe corridors proved to be less safe than had been hoped. Was that his fault? No. The corridors came with their caveats applied. From the word go, Germany established its threshold - the number of cases that could trigger a change to its travel advice. That figure of 50 in 100,000 inhabitants for a seven-day period was set in stone back in June. Germany should at least be given some credit - there was a clear criterion. Everyone knew what it was. The German decision wasnt a caprice.

The UKs decision had appeared to have been just that; or a decision that was motivated for reasons other than purely health ones. There wasnt the set criterion, but it is now possible to concede that there may have been an assessment of trend and that the UK adopted a proactive approach - a sudden one and unusually decisive, to use the political keyword which described the quarantine announcement.

There is and there will be blame all round. The Balearics two key overseas markets have pulled the plug, and they arent alone. At the time of the UK decision, Gabriel Escarrer of Melia was confident in there being European solidarity. Firmly of the view that there were political reasons, Escarrers confidence was in continental fraternity. But now, Germany, the greatest of friends, has disabused him of that belief; the Netherlands also. Solidarity dissipates in the face of health data.

Too fast, too early; political mismanagement; non-compliance with health measures and lack of enforcement of measures; absence of controls of national tourists; public irresponsibility. You can pick which ones you prefer, as each one will have a basis for doing so. But to take one, the national tourists, there were the data (the inevitable data) which indicated that, for example, only eleven out of 837 positive cases between mid-May and the first week of this month originated in Catalonia. There was one in Aragon, and just 39 for all of Spains regions. There could of course have been community transmission stemming from these (this hasnt been stated), but on the face of it, the importing of cases is low.

For all this, and as the government in Galicia has highlighted, regional governments arent armed with the range of powers that could help in virus containment. Galicia wants Madrid to facilitate regional sanitary cordons; in effect being able to address movement from other regions.

This is a health control response, but just as urgent is the response to the failure of the semi-promise of summer. Politicians, business leaders, unions and others need to return from their holidays. Parliament in the Balearics should reconvene. There have to be some answers. Real leadership is required. Not sad faces and mere safe corridor default. The long hot summers passing us all by. Winter will be here soon enough.
As states and cities grapple with how to reopen businesses, schools, and other staples of everyday life amid surges in COVID-19 infections, Asst. Prof. Abhishek Nagaraj and a team of researchers across four universities are building an interactive website that shows how different policies affect employment and the number of deaths from the virus.

The Reopen Mapping Project illustrates that the same limits on social interactions can have very different consequences in different locations, underscoring that the most effective policies must be tailored to local characteristics such as population density, age, and employment and movement patterns, Nagaraj says.

It also illuminates a phenomenon that's playing out in real time: Denser cities and places that were relatively less affected early in the pandemic are likely to see faster growth in cases as they loosen restrictions

In different cities, the patterns in which people mix and meet each other is extremely local. Every specific city has its own fingerprint in terms of mobility, and that of course has a major impact on the spread of the virus." Abhishek Nagaraj, Assistant Professor, University of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business

The website, which Nagaraj is building with a team of economists and transportation scientists from Berkeley, Stanford University, Harvard University, the University of Chicago and the urban planning platform Replica, aims to complement ongoing studies across epidemiology, public health, and social science to forecast trade-offs between different reopening policies.

The interactive site is based on a database of anonymous cellphone location data to model how individuals within a city move around on a typical day, allowing the researchers to estimate the number of "contacts" the average person encounters--whether it be a family member, co-worker, or someone in the grocery store.

The model also incorporates electronic medical records data, surveys on people's ability to work from home, and insights from the growing global body of COVID-19 epidemiology literature.

(The site is meant as a preliminary tool, and the researchers encourage anyone interested in applying it to a real-world application to contact them. They've also open-sourced the data and code behind their models on Github.)

Currently, the online tool allows users to choose a city--initially it's Chicago, Kansas City, New York City, Houston and Sacramento, but the researchers plan to add data for more cities as it becomes available--and then choose a policy mix. They can then see how that mix changes the number of jobs lost and the estimated number of lives lost due to the coronavirus.

Chicago vs. Sacramento

In a recent working paper that served as the basis for the Reopen Mapping Project website, the researchers considered differences across two of the cities: Chicago and Sacramento. On a typical day before COVID-19, the average person under the age of 50 in Chicago encountered twice as many people relative to someone over 80. This gap was much less pronounced in Sacramento, however.

They also found differences across industries in the two cities. For example, health workers in both cities encountered over 350 contacts daily pre-pandemic. Yet the simulation revealed that the average worker in Chicago--across all industries--encountered about 50 more people daily than the average worker in Sacramento.

The model allowed the authors to construct estimates of the number of specific contacts people had across age groups. Unsurprisingly, the results illustrate that the majority of a person's interactions are with people in the same or similar age groupings.

But in terms of protecting the most vulnerable, it is important to also know how many encounters the average young person has with the elderly population: In Chicago, for instance, adults under 50 were in contact with people over 60 for about 50% more time relative to adults in Sacramento.

The researchers modeled how infection and employment rates evolve when a city moves from a policy of only essential workers going in to work (what they call Phase 2) to a less-restrictive cautious reopening policy where people go back to work and school, but social interactions are still limited (Phase 3).

In both example cities, they modeled what would happen when most of the workforce returns to in-person activities under cautious reopening. In Chicago, this would cause infection rates to rise to the point where about 4% of the population would become infected. A similar pattern emerges in Sacramento, but with a considerably lower rate of infection--peaking at about 1%.

They then considered alternative Phase 3 reopening scenarios that have been proposed. In the first hypothetical scenario, which they call isolate 60+, mobility is not restricted for younger people but people aged 60 or older must limit their movement to only visiting local stores.

Under the second scenario, work from home if possible, those who can work from home do so, but schools reopen. Lastly, under an alternating schedule scenario, people return to work and school but at different times: either alternating mornings and afternoons, or alternating days of the week.

Density matters

In Sacramento, the four different policy scenarios produced very similar results in terms of mortality rates, but implementing relatively more restrictive policies like alternating schedules led to an additional 8 million lost work days.

In Chicago, however, the different policies have larger consequences on mortality. For example, work from home resulted in about 700 fewer deaths relative to the less restrictive cautious reopening scenario, with similar impacts on employment.

Moreover, work from home is better for both mortality and employment relative to isolate 60+. If limiting deaths is the only goal, alternating schedules ranks as the best policy. The authors note that a hybrid solution, where those who can work from home do so, while other workers alternate schedules, would likely be even better for both health and the economy.
Melbourne influencers have been using Married At First Sight as a fast-track to their 15 minutes of fame since 2015.

But due to the coronavirus pandemic, those days are sadly over.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Married At First Sight producers have decided not to cast any Victorians this season after the state recorded a spike in COVID-19 cases.

End of the road: Melburnians have been banned from the new season of Married At First Sight after a second wave of COVID-19 cases in the state. Pictured: season six couple Bronson Norrish and Ines Basic

'They've replaced all the Melbourne participants with second-option contestants from Adelaide and Queensland,' a production insider said.

Due to the stage-four lockdown in Melbourne, it 'just wasn't possible' to include anybody from there as the countdown to filming begins.

The source added that producers are 'playing it by ear' at the moment, and they're hoping the pandemic doesn't impact the weddings, which take place next month.

Furthermore, there will be 'no overseas honeymoons' this year for obvious reasons.

Sorry! 'They've replaced all the Melbourne participants with second-option contestants from Adelaide and Queensland,' a production insider told Daily Mail Australia. Pictured: season seven bride Hayley Vernon

While couples from Adelaide, Perth and Queensland will still be involved, they will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their arrival in New South Wales, where all the weddings are being filmed in order to centralise production.

Victoria recorded another 222 cases and 17 deaths on Tuesday, and there are fears Melbourne's strict lockdown could be extended if the coronavirus cases remain high.

On Friday, Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that filming of the participants' backstories will commence on Friday, August 26.

It's happening! On Friday, Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that filming of the participants' backstories will commence on Friday, August 26. Pictured: Season six couple Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant

The weddings had originally been scheduled for late August, but were postponed to mid-September because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The cast will be more ethnically diverse this year, with a gay male couple joining the show for the first time.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.

Pre-production of MAFS season eight began in March.

At the time, executive producer Tara McWilliams shared a short video to Instagram of herself in her office at Endemol Shine's Sydney headquarters.

As a safety precaution, she was wearing blue surgical gloves.
Dr Joseph Hartland of Bristol Medical School said many students go through their training without seeing common skin conditions such as eczema in people with darker skin tones

The way in which doctors are trained is inherently racist, a leading medical school claims.

Teaching focuses on how illnesses affect white people  such as advising trainee medics to watch for a patient to turn blue  the University of Bristol Medical School says.

But doctors at Bristol noted that symptoms present differently on patients with darker skin.

Backed by the General Medical Council, it is attempting to 'decolonise' its curriculum, with training on spotting unconscious bias.

Students had expressed concerns that they were left ill-prepared to treat ethnic minority patients.

The school said it will address these discrepancies with a series of practical measures such as emphasising the diversity of skin tones among patients.

The way in which doctors are trained is inherently racist, a leading medical school claims (file photo)

Students at other medical schools have also called for training to be more inclusive.

Dr Joseph Hartland of Bristol Medical School said many students go through their training without seeing common skin conditions such as eczema in people with darker skin tones.

He told the BBC: 'Historically, medical education was designed and written by white middle-class men, and so there is an inherent racism in medicine that means it exists to serve white patients above all others.'

He added: 'We are teaching students how to recognise a life-or-death clinical sign largely in white people, and not acknowledging these differences may be dangerous.'

Dr Joseph Hartland of Bristol Medical School (pictured) said many students go through their training without seeing common skin conditions such as eczema in people with darker skin tones

The Medical Schools Council has already started working with universities to diversify subjects.

It will also aim to boost support for people coping with racism.

The council's Dr Clare Owen told the BBC: 'It is vital that not only should the profession represent our diverse population but it should also understand the unique health differences in our various communities.'

The GMC said it would work with medical schools on guidance including 'ethnically diverse presentations'.

It wants to be active 'in driving change that is real and effective in support of black and minority ethnic students, trainees, doctors and patients in the UK', it was reported.
Deep-sea experts discover fragile corals and sponges, as well as new species of crustacean.

An international team of marine scientists has discovered 30 new species of invertebrates in deep water surrounding the Galapagos, the Ecuadoran archipelagos national park authorities announced on Monday.

The deep-sea experts discovered fragile coral and sponges including 10 bamboo corals, four octocorals, one brittle star and 11 sponges  as well as four new species of crustacean known as squat-lobsters  the Galapagos National Park (GNP) said in a statement.

These discoveries include the first giant solitary soft coral known for the Tropical Eastern Pacific, a new genus of glass sponge that can grow in colonies of over one meter in width and, colorful sea fans that host a myriad of associated species, the archipelagos Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) said in a separate statement.

Scientists from the CDF, in collaboration with the National Park Directorate and the Ocean Exploration Trust, probed deep-sea ecosystems at depths of up to 3,400 metres (11,154ft) using state-of-the-art Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs).

The two ROVs, Argus and Hercules, were operated from the 64-metre (209ft) exploration vessel Nautilus, which carried out the deep-sea probe in 2015.





The deep sea remains as Earths last frontier, and this study provides a sneak-peek into the least known communities of the Galapagos Islands, said CDF marine scientist Pelayo Salinas de Leon, who led the study and announced its findings.

Deep-sea exploration

The expedition explored, for the first time, three steep-sided underwater mountains, or seamounts, located near the islands of Darwin and Wolf in the archipelagos north. The area is home to the worlds largest shark population.

These pristine seamounts are within the Galapagos Marine Reserve and are protected from destructive human practices, such as fishing with bottom trawls or deep-sea mining, that are known to have catastrophic impacts upon fragile communities. Now, it is our responsibility to make sure they remain pristine for the generations to come, Salinas de Leon said.

The many discoveries made on this expedition showcase the importance of deep-sea exploration to developing an understanding of our oceans, said Nicole Raineault, chief scientist of the Ocean Exploration Trust.

Since we never know what were going to find, we utilise land-based scientists who watch the ROV dives from home and communicate directly with the shipboard team in real-time, to help determine what is truly new and worthy of further investigation or sampling.

The Galapagos archipelago, located 1,000 km (620 miles) west of Ecuador, is a fragile ecosystem that harbours the largest number of different animal species on the planet [File: Parque Nacional Galapagos/AFP]

Scientists studying the resulting video, data, and specimens make an astonishing number of discoveries, reminding us how little we know about the deep sea, said Raineault.

The Galapagos archipelago, located 1,000km (620 miles) west of Ecuador, is a fragile ecosystem that harbours the largest number of different animal species on the planet.

The news came after Ecuador raised concerns about the presence of a massive Chinese fishing fleeting near the protected waters surrounding the islands.

In recent weeks, Ecuadors navy conducted a patrol mission that included a flyover of the region where the vessels are fishing, as well as reconnaissance by military patrol ships.

A total of 340 ships were reportedly spotted in the area, the navy said, compared with some 260 reported last month.

Ecuadors navy commander, Rear Admiral Darwin Jarrin, said the navy had approached Colombia and Peru to share information and seek a regional response to the vessels, most of which can hold up to 1,000 tonnes of catch.

Ecuador and China have begun negotiations about the fishing fleet, according to reports.

Yolanda Kakabadse, Ecuadors former minister of the environment, told Public Radio International that the Galapagos should be the last place on Earth to be affected by irresponsible actions of any sort.
Ukraine will be represented by Andriy Yermak, chief of the President's Office.

The meeting of political advisors to leaders of the Normandy Four states (Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France) will be held on August 28.

That's according to Sergiy Garmash, Ukraine's member to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas settlement, Obozrevatel reports.

"The Normandy [Four] meeting at the level of political advisors is scheduled for August 28," Garmash is quoted as saying.

Read alsoUkraine interested in preserving "Normandy-Minsk infrastructure"  foreign ministerUkraine will be represented by Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, and Russia  by Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak.

What is Normandy Format

The Normandy Format talks (French: Format Normandie) involve the representatives of four countries, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France, who met informally during the D-Day celebration in Normandy on June 6, 2014, and who aim to resolve the war in Donbas. It operates mainly through telephone calls between the leaders and their respective ministers of foreign affairs.

Normandy Four: latest developments

Following the Normandy summit in Paris on December 9, 2019, leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia agreed on a communique in support of the agreement within the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the disengagement of forces in three additional areas of Donbas.

It was determined that disengagement was to be completed before the end of March 2020, although it hasn't yet.

Earlier, forces disengaged in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska (June 2019), near Zolote (late October 2019), and in the area of Bohdanivka and Petrivske (November 2019).

On July 7, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Reznikov suggested that a meeting of the Normandy Four leaders in Berlin could take place as early as August.

Since midnight on July 27, a full and comprehensive ceasefire has been in effect along the contact line in the zone of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas.

The relevant agreement was sealed by the parties to the TCG (Ukraine, Russia, and OSCE) on July 22.
A key witness in the Adrian Donohoe murder trial consulted with former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams before providing information to gardai, it has emerged.

Sinn Fein TD for Meath East Darren ORourke has confirmed it was his "understanding" that Mr Adams was the TD who reassured the witness before he gave information to gardai about now convicted murder Aaron Brady.

Speaking outside Leinster House, Mr ORourke said of the potential Garda witness: "why that person felt the need to do that, I dont know, as the party has been very very clear.

"People should come and make statements if they have information bring to the guards or to the PSNI.

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"I don't think that the, the party presumed that they needed to say. And actually a very helpful and useful role was played by that person which I think is important point."

The Sinn Fein TDs comments come after the Irish Times reported former Detective Pat Marry saying that he had to approach a Sinn Fein TD when he was having a difficulties getting a statement from a witness. Mr Marry said the TD said he told the witness to talk to gardai if wished.

Read More

Asked if the TD consulted was Gerry Adams, Mr ORourke said: "It's my understanding that it was." But it was not a question of needing permission, he said.

"I can say, as somebody who's been a member of this party for over 20 years, who came into this without a strong republican background or tradition, I have never experienced that.

"In fairness to the party leadership, they have always been positive and encouraging in terms of our important role in terms of citizens first and foremost role, and also in terms of our directives.

"I don't know what the reason or rationale of thinking was on behalf of that person. And maybe it was just in relation to being overly cautious or second guessing themselves"

He added however: "Practically it worked out to play a positive role."

"But the party has been very clear in relation to it and I can restate it here today that in future if people are second guessing themselves in relation to it, when we say, Come forward, It means come forward and that's the that's the sum total."

When contacted by the Irish Independent, a Sinn Fein party spokesperson said: "Sinn Feins response to the murder of Garda Donohoe has been consistent. In the aftermath of Garda Donohoes murder Sinn Fein TD Gerry Adams called for anyone with information to bring it forward to An Garda Siochana.

"Indeed Gerry Adams met regularly with An Garda Siochana to discuss issues of criminality within the constituency. He consistently called on anyone with information in relation to criminality to bring that forward to An Garda Siochana."

However, Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond has said Sinn Fein has questions to answer over the issue.

"The revelation that a key witness in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe wouldnt speak with investigating Gardai until they cleared it with party figures raises serious questions that the party must answer.

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"Why does a Sinn Fein activist feel they need to speak with party officials before making a statement to the Gardai? Do Sinn Fein believe their authority comes before that of the State? Will Sinn Fein encourage all who have information on the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe to present themselves to the Gardai?" he said.

Retired detective inspector Pat Marry said he was contacted in early 2017 by Sinn Fein councillor Antoin Watters.

The politician informed the investigation team that he received a message from a south Armagh man living in New York.

The witness had read an article on the Adrian Donohoe murder and relayed that he had vital information.

Mr Watters supplied detectives with a copy of the message sent from the witness as well as his contact details.

Pat Marry first made contact with this witness on February 16, 2017 and said that he was reluctant at first.

The retired senior detective told the Irish Independent: "He wasn't sure about making a statement at all. I talked him around that it was the right thing to do.

"He said he was a Sinn Fein member and that he had to get sanction," Mr Marry said.

The investigator made contact with Antoin Watters, who said that this would 'have to come from head office' according to Mr Marry.

He then contacted a Sinn Fein TD, who he did not name, and was told that the party "would do anything" to help the guards.

The TD informed Pat Marry that the witness "is one of us" and that they "got word to him to make a statement and cooperate".

Pat Marry said he didn't read too much into the Sinn Fein member needing sanction to speak to gardai, as it was the way he understood the political party to work.

Later that year on May 15 detectives flew to New York and took the ground breaking statement from the witness which advanced the investigation and led to other people coming forward.

The south Armagh man told investigators Aaron Brady admitted to him that he was on the run for shooting a guard in Ireland.

Read More

The confession happened during an early morning drinking session in a Bronx bar in the Summer of 2014.

The witness was scheduled to give evidence before the Central Criminal Court in June.

However, on the day he was expected to be called, his testimony was ruled inadmissible.
Australia, France Object To Afghan Release Of Some Taliban Detainees

By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan August 17, 2020

Afghan officials say the planned peace talks with the Taliban have hit a new impasse after some foreign governments called on Kabul not to free certain fighters in a prisoner-release deal.

The negotiations were expected to begin within days after a Loya Jirga -- a traditional consultative assembly -- met in Kabul earlier this month and approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners, a major precondition to talks.

The officials didn't name the foreign governments who opposed to the release of the militants.

But Australia and France have urged the Afghan government not to free several Taliban fighters accused of killing Australian and French nationals.

Fereydoon Khuzoon, a spokesman for the High Council for National Reconciliation, told reporters that the prisoner release process had been slowed down by the foreign partners' objections.

Khuzoon said Afghan authorities were now trying to resolve the problem in such a way that both the peace opportunity and relationships with the foreign partners remained unharmed.

Azizullah Fazli, a government adviser on peace affairs, told RFE/RL that efforts were under way by the government in Kabul to remove obstacles to the start of inter-Afghan negotiations.

"It is not a big problem, it will be resolved," Fazli said on August 17.

France's Foreign Ministry said on August 15 that Paris was "firmly opposed to the liberation of individuals sentenced for crimes against French nationals, especially soldiers and humanitarian workers."

Bettina Goislard, a French employee of the UN refugee agency, was killed by two Taliban militants in 2003.

In 2012, a former Afghan soldier killed five French troops and injured 13 others in Kapisa Province.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said last week he had lobbied against the release of a former Afghan National Army soldier -- identified as Hekmatullah -- who went rogue and killed three Australian soldiers.

Kabul has already released 4,600 Taliban inmates out of the 5,000 pledged in a landmark agreement signed by the United States and the Taliban in February.

But Afghan officials have described the remaining prisoners as dangerous. About 200 of them are accused by the Afghan government 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.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani himself has warned that the 400 militants were a "danger to the world."

But the Taliban said in a statement that the militants didn't pose any threat to anyone and that they were imprisoned for fighting for their country.

The militant group has said it is willing to begin peace talks "within a week" after all 400 prisoners are released. It the Afghan government for delaying the negotiations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said repeatedly that he wants to end America's longest war, which began after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/australia-france- object-to-afghan-release-of- some-taliban-detainees/30788711.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Prince Charles has recorded a message for Victorians, describing his fondness for the state as it battles the 'pernicious and unpredictable' coronavirus.

In a video posted to the Governor of Victoria's YouTube page, the Prince of Wales expresses his heartbreak at the state's plight.

'No sooner were the dreadful summer bushfires over, then you find yourself grappling with this pernicious and unpredictable virus,' he said.

'I couldn't imagine just how incredibly hard it must be for you all. Having had such early success in combating the virus, you now find yourselves in the midst of this second wave with all its heartbreaking consequences for so many people's lives, livelihoods and businesses.'

Prince Charles has sent his well wishes to coronavirus-stricken Victoria in a video on YouTube (pictured) as the embattled state navigates through an unprecedented time

In the video, Prince Charles sends his wishes to those battling the virus, touching on his own recovery back in April.

'Having experienced this dreadful coronavirus myself, my heart goes out to all those currently battling the disease, those caring for them - either at home or in your first-class healthcare system - and those who have so tragically lost their loved ones,' he said.

The first-in-line to the throne also thanks essential workers, including those in aged care, hospitals, transport and supermarkets for 'doing a remarkable utterly vital job in such difficult and challenging circumstances'.

The future king said his heart goes out to those battling COVID-19 after having contracted the virus himself. Residents of Hambleton house, in Albert Park, Melbourne, are escorted to Patient Transport Ambulances on August 17 following a coronavirus outbreak among residents

The 71-year-old recalled his 'special fondness' for Victoria, having spent two terms in 1966 at Geelong Grammar School, plus return visits.

'From being able to live among you and then to have the good fortune to revisit your marvellous state on many occasions, I know Victorians like all Australians are tenacious and resilient. Or indeed as you might say in Australia, "made of tough stuff",' he said.

'To all you, I just wanted to say on behalf of my wife and myself, that you are so much in our special thoughts, in what I can well imagine is a tremendously testing and frustrating time and that we care deeply for what you are having to go through.'

He ends the video by reassuring Victorians that the 'difficult, often soul-destroying days will surely pass'.

'We have no doubt that Victoria will emerge stronger than ever,' he said.

Victoria's death toll from the virus stands at 351, with 7274 active cases.
Good morning.

Over the weekend, the heat, the rolling blackouts and the fires (not to mention the fire tornadoes) converged on top of the pandemic, giving Californians an unpleasant taste of what feels more and more like an inevitable future plagued by layered, climate-change-driven disasters.

On Monday, during his virtual briefing, Gov. Gavin Newsom sought to at once soothe those anxieties and hammer state regulators over what he described as a major failure to anticipate the weekends surge in energy usage, as Californians blasted their air-conditioners or ran fans to try to keep cool.

You cant control the weather, but you can prepare, Mr. Newsom said. We failed to predict and plan these shortages, and thats simply unacceptable.

[Read the full story on the blackouts.]

Mr. Newsom on Monday demanded an investigation into the outages and released a letter to top state energy regulators in which he said he wasnt even made aware of the need to shut off power in some areas until moments before the blackouts started. He had also declared a state of emergency.
North Macedonia's pro-EU Social Democrats have struck a coalition agreement with the Balkan country's largest ethnic Albanian party nearly a month after elections.

Former Prime Minister Zoran Zaevs Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) won the most votes in July 15 parliamentary elections but did not secure enough seats for a majority in the 120-seat parliament to govern alone.

Zaev and Ali Ahmet, the head of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), announced on August 18 their parties had reached a power-sharing deal.

Coalition talks were complicated by the BDI's demand that an ethnic Albanian become prime minister, something SDSM and the right-wing VMRO-DPMNE that came in second in the vote had rejected before the election.

Under the agreement, Zaev will be prime minister but he will hand the prime minister's office over to an ethnic Albanian proposed by BDI a hundred days before the next election.

In order to do that, the parliament will scrap a 2015 mechanism foreseeing a technocratic government to take over a hundred days ahead of parliamentary elections. The deal was brokered by the European Union to pull the country out of a dangerous political crisis in 2015.

"The idea was for rapprochement, a message for Albanians to take responsibility for a common state. I must thank Zaev for his courage and I welcome that there will be an Albanian prime minister in the last 100 days of this government," Ahmeti said.

The BDI has been in coalition governments for the past 18 years and became the junior coalition partner of the SDSM after the last elections in 2016. Ethnic Albanians make up about a quarter of North Macedonia's 2.1 people.

The new government will have a two-seat majority with the SDSM's 46 seats, BDI's 15 parliament members, and the single lawmaker from a smaller ethnic Albanian party.

Parliament is expected to approve the government in the coming days.

According to Zaev, the main priorities of the new government will be attracting foreign investment, fighting crime and corruption, reforming the judiciary, protecting the environment, and managing the coronavirus pandemic.

Another SDSM-BDI coalition is considered positive for North Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic integration.

Zaev resigned as prime minister in January after the EU failed in the autumn to provide a start date for accession talks. After months of delay due to opposition from France, the EU in March finally gave North Macedonia a green light to start formal talks to join the bloc.

As prime minister, Zaev also reached a landmark deal with neighboring Greece to add "North" to the country's name in February 2019, clearing the way for Athens to lift its veto over Skopje's membership in NATO.

Events in North Macedonia carry broader geopolitical implications, as the EU and United States seek to bring the country closer to slow moves by Russia and China to increase their influence in the Western Balkans.
Patients outside the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City, Philippines, are processed for COVID-19 testing, Aug. 4, 2020.

Updated at 12:14 p.m. ET on 2020-08-19

A strain of COVID-19 common in Europe and the Americas has been detected in Malaysia and the Philippines and could lead to a spike in infections, authorities say.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the Philippine Genome Center and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine said samples of the variant were discovered in Quezon City, a city of about 2.9 million people within the Metropolitan Manila region.

There is evidence that the mutation makes it easier for the virus to enter its target cell and may be associated with higher viral loads in infected persons. This likely translates into a higher level of infectivity, the statement said, while cautioning that there was not yet definitive proof of this.

The D614G variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been associated with outbreaks in Europe and New York, and has been present in Singapore since February, according to reports.

The variant is only very slightly different from the strain of novel coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China in late 2019, but became the dominant form worldwide by March, scientists said.

The mutation allows it to enter human cells the way a burglar picks a lock, the Washington Post reported in July.

At least five laboratory experiments suggest that the mutation makes the virus more infectious, although only one of those studies has been peer-reviewed, it said.

In Manila, the Philippine Genome Center noted that testing for the new strain had been conducted only in Quezon City to date. Health department spokeswoman Maria Rosario Vergeire added that the sample size was too small to establish the extent of its presence in the Philippines.

Quezon City has recorded 8,755 COVID-19 infections and 363 COVID-19 deaths, according to health officials.

As of Tuesday, the Philippines logged 169,213 COVID-19 cases and 2,687 deaths. Globally, more than 22.9 million infections and 775,000 deaths have been recorded, according to disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

The report comes a day after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced that quarantine measures tightened in early August as infection rates soared would be eased again in Manila and neighboring provinces, including Quezon City, starting Wednesday.

Malaysian cases

On Sunday, Malaysias Director General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah announced that four cases of the D614G variant had been found in Malaysia, in clusters linked to cases imported from India and the Philippines.

Fast-paced public health actions brought the clusters under control, he said, while warning that the new strain was 10 times more infectious than the earlier variant.

At the moment, the strain was only detected in three cases in the Sivagangga cluster and one in the Ulu Tiram cluster. We are still conducting tests on other samples from other clusters in the lab, he told BenarNews on Tuesday.

Malaysia should close its borders again and limit interstate travel to respond to this development, said Gerard Lawrence, a primary care specialist at Global Doctors Hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

Of course, this may affect our economy, but if we have a second wave pandemic with this superbug, things will get so much worse, Lawrence told BenarNews.

But Wang Linfa, director of the emerging infectious disease program at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, said there was no scientific data to show that D614G was more transferrable or more deadly than the original version of the virus, the Straits Times reported.

That particular mutant, D614G, was circulating around the world for a long time, since February, and we had it in Singapore  for the layman, they interpret this as more transmissible or more deadly, but thats not true, he said.

New phase

Meanwhile, the Western Pacific regional director for the World Health Organization said the pandemic had entered a new phase in Asia.

In this phase, countries are increasingly able to minimize large scale disruptions to peoples lives and economies by combining early detection and rapid responses to emerging infections, and people sticking to the prevention measures, Dr. Takeshi Kasai told reporters on Tuesday.

At the same time, death and infection rates were accelerating all over the world, and young, healthy people are increasingly driving its spread," he said.

Many are unaware theyre infected  with very mild symptoms or none at all. This can result in them unknowingly passing on the virus to others, Kasai said, adding the efforts to control the coronavirus would depend on the actions of governments and people across the region.

We must continue to refine, learn and adjust our response in pursuit of the new normal, because COVID-19 will likely be with us for the foreseeable future, he said.

CORRECTION: An earlier version erroneously implied that Quezon City was outside Metro Manila.
US President Donald Trump has elevated America's ties with India and solidified the growing partnership between the two countries in ways not seen in any previous administrations, the White House has said.

The US president will continue to build this critical partnership in the years to come, it asserted.

"President Trump has prioritised US-India relationship and worked to expand all facets of the partnership over the last three-and-a-half years," a senior administration official from the National Security Council of the White House told PTI on Monday.

"Given the two countries' democratic foundations and their mutual interests in rebuilding the global economy following COVID-19, diversifying global supply chains, and ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open, President Trump will continue to build this critical partnership in the years to come," the official said.

"The Trump Administration has elevated the US relationship with India and solidified our growing partnership in ways not seen in any other US administration," the official said, noting that the president has enabled India to become the first non-treaty ally to be offered an armed MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System.

"During President Trump's historic visit to India February 24-26, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the relationship to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Modi was also one of the first foreign leaders to visit the White House after President Trump took office on June 26, 2017," the official said.

The senior official noted the two leaders have also spoken side-by-side at two major events  "Howdy, Modi" in September 2019 in Houston, Texas, before a crowd of over 55,000 and again at "Namaste, Trump" in February 2020 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to address a crowd of 110,000 people.

"These gatherings boosted our people-to-people ties and highlighted the warm personal relationship between the two leaders," the official said.

Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy prioritises closer cooperation between the United States and India to secure a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, said the official.

"We have boosted quadrilateral consultations among the United States, India, Australia and Japan, with the four foreign ministers meeting for the first time in September 2019," the official said.

"President Trump has strengthened all aspects of US-India security and defence cooperation to build a comprehensive, enduring, and mutually beneficial defense partnership," the official said.

Under the Trump Administration, the United States has become the second-largest arms supplier to India, growing from virtually no arms sales a decade ago to more than USD20 billion today, the official said, adding that earlier this year, the US and India concluded USD3 billion in defence sales, including MH-60R naval helicopters and additional AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

"To bolster India's role as a net provider of security in the Indo-Pacific, the Trump administration has lifted restrictions on the provision of sensitive defence technology, enabling India to become the first non-treaty ally offered an armed MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial System," the official said.

"As global leaders with vibrant democracies, the United States and India have cooperated to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. US and Indian pharmaceutical companies have collaborated to expand global supplies of critical medicines and are cooperating on vaccine development," the official added.

In a separate statement, Al Mason, co-chair for the Trump Victory Indian American Finance Committee, said Trump has elevated India's stature on the world stage, and asserted that credit also goes to Prime Minister Modi.

"Of course, due credit also goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his skilled policy towards the US. The India-US relationship has been rock solid. Kudos to the brilliance of both Trump and Modi for cementing the bond between India and US," Mason told PTI.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Tesco said it will top up all customer donations with an additional 20% donation in cash to the two charities

Food banks and community groups in Northern Ireland have said they are in need of more donations of food as demand soars during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now grocery giant Tesco has announced it's holding an extra summer food collection from Thursday to Saturday this week to support charities the Trussell Trust and FareShare.

Donation points will be put up at every Tesco Superstore and Extra store, with customers being asked to donate essential items of long-life food.

Tesco said it will top up all customer donations with an additional 20% donation in cash to the two charities.

FareShare said it's seen its highest ever demand for food from the thousands of charities and community groups it supports. And Trussell Trust said demand at food banks in its network is up by over 80%.

Tesco director David Page said: "Our customers have responded with incredible generosity to our food collections in the past, donating more than 39 million meals.

"I hope they will give generously again because there are a lot of people that need a helping hand at the moment and this appeal will make a real difference to them."

Paul Armstrong, the Trussell Trust's operations manager for Northern Ireland, said: "Over the last few months, we've been truly humbled to see how much people in Northern Ireland are willing to give and the difference this can make when someone is in crisis.

"As we look to the coming months, more people than ever are likely to need to use a food bank. This isn't right. Everyone should be able to afford their own food."

The extra summer food collection is in addition to the pre-Christmas Tesco Food Collection the supermarket holds for FareShare and the Trussell Trust in November.
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mocana , a developer of cybersecurity solutions for IoT and operational technology in critical infrastructure, has been awarded an Air Force Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to provide advanced cyber protection for military systems.



The $1.5 million contract is designed to establish end-to-end digital supply chain security and provenance, from software development to the point of presence on embedded systems. Mocana will work with the Air Force to provide a solution securing the digital chain of custody, ensuring the integrity and non-repudiation of data while reducing the likelihood of cyberattacks on key embedded systems.

This Phase II SBIR contract award recognizes Mocanas continued expansion into developing and delivering essential cyber protection solutions for government and military customers.

Vulnerabilities in the digital supply chain pose a real threat to the reliability and operational availability of mission-critical technology, in both defense and civilian infrastructure, said Dave Smith, president of Mocana. This Phase II SBIR award to Mocana reflects the Air Forces commitment to seeking innovative cybersecurity solutions in support of our warfighters.

The SBIR Program was established by Congress in 1982 to fund research and development by small businesses of 500 or fewer employees. The Air Force, via a partnership between the Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX , has streamlined the SBIR process to speed the experience, broaden the pool of potential applicants and decrease bureaucratic overhead, creating opportunities for a broader range of innovation.

About Mocana

Mocanas mission is to protect the nations most critical devices and the data they produce from unauthorized control, manipulation, and weaponization. The company ensures trust is measurable and demonstrable at all levels, not merely implied. Mocanas patented core technology protects more than 100 million devices today and is trusted by over 200 of the largest energy, government, healthcare, manufacturing, IoT, telecommunications & networking, and transportation companies globally. Learn more at https://www.mocana.com .

Media/Analyst Contact:

Joel Don

Director of Marketing and Communications

joeldon@mocana.com


Vietnam announced on Tuesday evening that one COVID-19 patient had died after having tested negative for the virus four times.

The patient already passed away last week, the Ministry of Health said in a notice.

He was 61 years old, residing in Hai Chau District, Da Nang, a touristy city on the central coast.

He had a history of hypertension, chronic renal failure, type-2 diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

He tested negative for COVID-19 on August 4, 10, 11, and 12.

On the afternoon of August 12, the man died of complications from chronic renal failure at Hue Central Hospital, located in Thua Thien-Hue Province.

His death was medically attributed to septic shock, multiple organ failure, hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This is not counted as a COVID-19 death because the victim was negative for the pathogen upon his death, the health ministry said.

He was the second domestic case to have been registered in Da Nang, an outbreak epicenter, since the beach city started to be battered by a new wave of community-based infections on July 25.

The patient was confirmed to contract the virus on July 27. He was one of the most critically ill patients in this new wave.

One virus-related fatality was logged on Tuesday morning, taking the death toll in Vietnam to 25.

The 51-year-old victim had suffered serious comorbid conditions such as ovarian cancer, kidney stones, and urinary tract infection.

Vietnam on Tuesday documented a total of 13 coronavirus patients, including three cases imported from the Philippines, Taiwan, and Equatorial Guinea. The imported cases had been quarantined upon arrival at the airport.

The Southeast Asian country also announced 53 recoveries the same day.

It has recorded 989 cases since the virus first hit in January, with 526 having recovered from the disease, according to the health ministry.

Five hundred and nine local infections have been reported since July 25, when the country documented its first community-based case after 99 days. Most of the cases have been traced back to Da Nang.

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Delhis ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for admitting to its fold some people who took part in the long-running protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the Shaheen Bagh area which, it alleged, had been planned by the BJP to polarise the electorate ahead of the February assembly elections.

AAP alleged that the Shaheen Bagh protest was pre-planned, scripted and strategised by the BJP. to win more seats in the February 8 elections. It also accused the BJP of engineering the communal violence later that month in northeast Delhi that left 53 people dead and around 400 injured.

At a digital press conference, AAPs chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned the BJP, which heads the Central government, and Delhi Police, which reports to the Centre, as to how they allowed the Shaheen Bagh protest to continue for 101 days when other protests in the city -- by farmers, students, doctors or the differently abled -- are not allowed to last even three hours.

Also read| Tahir Hussain was given task of collecting glass bottles during Delhi violence: Report

It was because the BJP planned and executed the Shaheen Bagh protests that its vote percentage rose from 18% to 38% in the recently concluded Delhi elections. The BJP used the protest to polarise the north-east Delhi region and it won some seats there as well. After that, it engineered a riot there. Today, the people who raised anti-national slogans or pro-Pakistan slogans or talked about dividing India during the protests are part of the BJP, Bhardwaj alleged.

The BJP denied AAPs allegations and said the party led by Arvind Kejriwal was making baseless claims to garner support from the minority communities ahead of the municipal elections in the capital. due to take place sometime in April 2022. The last municipal elections in Delhi took place on April 23, 2017 and the BJP managed to win a majority in all three civic bodies.

The AAP has misled people in Delhi, especially the Muslim community, for its political gains. Their allegations have no meaning as the Muslim community supports the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Now, with the municipal elections scheduled in 2022, the AAP is nervous about losing its support base in the community, said Delhi BJP chief.Adesh Gupta.

AAPs attack came a day after the BJP announced that several Muslim residents of Shaheen Bagh, which was the epicentre of anti-CAA protests for months, have joined the party. While taking them into the partys fold on Sunday, the Delhi BJP chief had said it was a result of the Prime Ministers efforts to reach out to every section of the society and end the triple talaq practice.

Also read: How Shaheen Bagh lost the plot | HT Editorial

At his press conference, Bhardwaj also mentioned inflammatory comments allegedly made by BJP MPs Parvesh Verma and Anurag Thakur during the partys Delhi assembly election campaign. In the elections, the AAP won 63 of the 70 assembly seats and the BJP the remaining sevens.

On December 11, 2019, the Indian Parliament passed the citizenship amendment bill and on December 14, a group of 10 women blocked a portion of the Delhi-Noida highway. The protest was technically happening only at the GD Birla Road, but the Delhi police closed all the connecting roads and kept it shut for 101 days giving a harrowing time to lakhs of commuters. The high court had also noted that it was completely a law and order issue. But still, the police did not do anything and remained a silent spectator of these violations, the AAP said in a statement.

(ends)

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Contractors are being warned they face self-isolation if returning to England from work in France or the Netherlands, as both nations are now off the UKs travel corridor exempt list.

Since 4am on August 15th, Britons returning from France, the Netherlands, Malta, Monaco, Aruba or Turks and Caicos Islands, have been required to self-isolate for 14 days.

It means not leaving the place where you stay as it can take up to 14 days for covid-19 symptoms to appear, the government said, after infections in the six destinations spiked.

A shorter self-isolation of 10 days is acceptable for those travellers from the six who spent four days in a country still on the exempt list, before they arrived in the UK, guidance adds.

'All but essential'

But Access Financial, a tax advisory for contractors who work overseas indicated yesterday that very few of those travellers ought to include contractors returning from temporary roles.

[For a while now] the FCOadvice [has been] against all but essential travel to the Netherlands and France, said the advisory, picking the two most popular with contractors.

Travel to France is subject to entry restrictions. [And] the Foreign and Commonwealth office isnt advising those already travelling in the Netherlands or France to leave at this time.

But, added the advisorys Kevin Austin, if you are a contractor returning to the UK from the Netherlands or France on or after August 15, you may need to self-isolate on your return.

'Resident or visitor, the rules are the same'

He added that UK contractors currently in France or the Netherland but awaiting a return flight to the UK should first contact their airline if they have questions about their journey.

Resident or visitor, added Mr Austin, Access Financials managing director, if you are travelling to the UK from any country, you must provide your journey and contact details.

Pointing to an online form, he warned: You may be fined up to 100 if you refuse to provide your contact details. You may be fined more if you break this rule more than once. And you may also be fined up to 1,000 if you refuse to self-isolate, or you could face further action.

'No special treatment for business travellers'

As to how that action might come about, the governments guidance adds that it will use the information on the completed, provided form to check that the individual is self-isolating.

Asked if contractors and other business travellers returning from non-exempt countries could expect to be treated differently than ordinary holidaymakers, Mr Austin said they shouldnt.

There is no special treatment [based on the purpose of ones trip], he said. Everyone is going to be treated the same, as all UK individuals are equal under the UK's coronavirus laws.
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Linkedin Timothy Aeppel (Reuters)  Tue, August 18, 2020 18:44 519 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066edefdb 2 Business work-from-home,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,coronavirus-effect,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,pandemic,furniture,industry,office Free

America's biggest office furniture manufacturers got the rug pulled out from under them by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For decades, producers like Herman Miller Inc and Steelcase Inc focused on selling through their own dealers to companies that bought ergonomic chairs and desks by the truckload and employed teams of designers and technicians to deliver and install them. None of them were prepared for a flood of orders for a single adjustable desk from stay-at-home workers suddenly trying to figure out how to conduct Zoom meetings from spare bedrooms.

Early in the pandemic in late April, 52% of employed Americans said they were always working from home to avoid catching or spreading the coronavirus, while another 18% reported sometimes working from home, according to a survey by Gallup. A later survey found half said they'd like to continue doing this permanently--including 27% who cited both a preference for remote work and fear of the coronavirus.

When Alphabet Inc's Google told employees in May the company would reimburse up to $1,000 to outfit home offices, most of the options they found were inexpensive imports sold by big box stores or Amazon.

"A Tsunami hit this industry with this pandemic," said Ron Wiener, chief executive of iMovR, a maker of adjustable desks in Seattle. "The big companies simply weren't structured to serve people from home."

Steelcase, the largest US office furniture maker, and Herman Miller, the No. 2 producer, both reported steep losses and double-digit sales declines in the three months ending in May. For Steelcase, sales of about $483 million were the lowest since its initial public offering in 1998.

Investors have figured out just how dire their situations have become as some experts predict the virus will largely kill off large offices as more companies find they can operate with workers dispersed, saving on costly real estate.

Even as the wider stock market has nearly recovered all of its losses from the early days of the outbreak, shares of Steelcase and Herman Miller remain deep in the red. Steelcase shares fell 69% from their 52-week high after the pandemic hit - and are still off 51%. Shares of Herman Miller fell over 71% and are still down over 50%.

Herman Miller and others say they've made strides in expanding their online options since the pandemic hit and have found other ways to sell to individuals.

Lori Gee, vice president of workplace performance services at the Zeeland, Michigan-based company, said they quickly set up a way for Google employees to buy directly from the company, for instance.

"Part of this has been an acceleration of what we were already doing - to make it easier to get the best set up," regardless of where the furniture would go or the size of the order.

High prices, logistics challenges

Manufacturers of many other goods have pivoted to new products, including things needed to fight the pandemic, or stepped up services to make up for other lost business.

Office furniture makers have had a harder time, in large part because of logistical challenges. The average work-at-home customer, for instance, wants a product that can be sent by a delivery service in a single box and can be easily assembled - ideally without needing special tools.

Price is also a factor. An Aeron chair, a classic design sold by Herman Miller, comes in versions that can easily cost $1,000. Workstations in offices can cost even more, depending on their complexity and added features, such as adjustable desktops and built-in arms to hold computer monitors. Workers stuck at home are far less likely to splurge on such expensive options, at least in part because many are worried about keeping their jobs.

The way big companies make their products is a complicating factor. Many producers have outsourced component production, buying bases from one company, for instance, desktops from another, and assembling them into configurations according to the design laid out for a large operation.

"We're not used to dealing with the end user - if we get a call from a customer about a missing screw, we're not set up to handle that," said Soren Stig-Nielsen, president of LINAK US Inc., the US division of a Danish company that makes many of the world's actuators for lifting bases on desks to adjust height. The company has a large factory in Louisville, Kentucky, and sells its equipment to most of the big domestic furniture companies, including Steelcase.

"COVID has created huge demand in the home office area," said Stig-Nielsen, "and traditionally we have not been a big player in that market."

Meanwhile, the industry is not giving up on actual offices.

Herman Miller's Gee said it is unclear how long the slump in building new centralized offices will continue. But she said the company's designers are already working on concepts for a new style of working, including more "small, satellite offices" that they believe companies will want to set up to serve workers more widely dispersed than in the past.

"We think there will always be the need for a physical workplace - places where you go for collaboration and bring to life the corporate culture," Gee said.
More than 15 years after Hariri was killed along with 21 others in a suicide bomb blast, verdict finally comes out.

A United Nations-backed tribunal has found a member of the Lebanese group Hezbollah guilty of assassinating former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a massive bomb blast in 2005.

While Salim Ayyash was convicted, the three other Hezbollah suspects were cleared of the charges on Tuesday.

The verdict by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)  an international court based near The Hague in the Netherlands  came more than 15 years after Hariri was killed on February 14, 2005, along with 21 others in the huge explosion in the capital, Beirut.

The four members of the Iran-backed group and political party were accused of organising and carrying out the attack, although the group was not formally charged and it denied any involvement.

We accept the verdict of the tribunal and want justice to be implemented, said former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, adding that he wants just punishment for the criminals.

Hariri said those who assassinated his father aimed to change the face of Lebanon and its system and its civilised identity and said there would be no compromise on this matter.

The four members  Salim Ayyash, Assad Sabra, Hassan Oneissi, and Hassan Habib Merhi  were tried in absentia as Hezbollah refused to disclose their whereabouts.

Ayyash used a mobile phone identified by prosecutors as critical in the attack, a judge said.

The STL is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that evidence showed Ayyash used the phone, Judge Micheline Braidy said, reading a summary of the 2,600-page verdict.

However, prosecutors provided insufficient evidence to prove the three others were accomplices, said Judge Janet Nosworthy.





Designed to cause fear

Presiding Judge David Re said the evidence was largely based on mobile phone network data, with the suspects accused of tracking Hariris movements in the months leading up to the attack, and the phones going dark after the blast.

Judge Nosworthy said four different networks of mobile phones were interconnected and coordinated with each other, and operated as covert networks at the relevant times.

The court found the killing was politically motivated in an act of terrorism designed to cause fear in the Lebanese population.

The Tribunal has found beyond a reasonable doubt that a suicide bomber triggered the blast, said Re, reading out the verdict.





The assassination plunged Lebanon into what was then its worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war, setting the stage for years of confrontation between rival political factions.

Syrian forces, which were based in Lebanon for more than 40 years, were forced to withdraw from the country as many Lebanese blamed Damascus for the killing.

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied any involvement.

The Tribunal exonerated the leadership of Hezbollah and Syria, citing a lack of evidence.

The trial chamber is of the view that Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr Hariri and some of his political allies, said Re.

However, there was no evidence Hezbollahs leadership had any involvement in Mr Hariris murder, and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement in it.

According to Al Jazeeras Zeina Khodr, the verdict indirectly points the finger at Hezbollah. The UN court is not allowed to indict countries, governments or organisations, but can only issue verdicts on individuals, she said.

It is not clear, however, what the rulings real consequences will be, Khodr said.

Following the Tribunals decision, Lebanon is meant to hand over Ayyash, but the government, where Hezbollah and its allies hold political power, is not expected to do so.

The groups leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has repeatedly said he would not hand over any member of the movement, insisting last week on the innocence of the suspects and describing the Tribunal as a conspiracy against the group.

If the case is referred to the UN Security Council, internal divisions would make it impossible to implement the verdict.





So will Lebanons international relations be affected, taking into account that Hezbollah and its allies control political power? Khodr said. Or will this open the door to some sort of compromise between Hezbollah and the former PM Hariri, who is now in the opposition and a possible candidate to head the next government?

Go after the leadership

Toby Cadman, an international human rights lawyer, said the Tribunal did not shed new light on the killing, but was noteworthy for being the first trial of its kind to rely entirely on cell site analysis as evidence.

He noted that, after all the time and money spent, only mid to low-level perpetrators were convicted in the assassination.

If you go back to the beginning of the trial, in the opening speech of the prosecutor, there was a reference to the Syrian regime, so there was an attempt to implicate the Assad regime and to go after the leadership. Unfortunately, whether it is a lack of independent evidence to produce such a link is anyones guess, Cadman told Al Jazeera.

From the outside perspective, there would have been more satisfaction after close to $1bn spent that it would have gone after those who actually ordered it.

Initially, five suspects were identified  all Hezbollah members. Charges against one of the groups top military commanders, Mustafa Badreddine, were dropped after he was killed in Syria in 2016.

Ayyashs sentence will be handed down at a later date. The court has no death penalty, and maximum jail sentences are life imprisonment.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States welcomed the conviction.

In a statement, Pompeo also slammed Hezbollahs exploitation of the financial system of Lebanon, which is reeling from the aftermath of the huge August 4 Beirut explosion, and said the degradation of Lebanese institutions jeopardised the countrys financial wellbeing and potential recovery.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The number of new coronavirus infections in New Mexico continued to dive Monday, allowing the state to clear every standard that health officials have set as necessary for reopening more of the economy.

Testing detected just 95 new cases Monday  the smallest number in almost two months.

The states seven-day rolling average of new cases now stands at 151  well below Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams goal of 168 or fewer cases a day, established last week, according to a Journal analysis.

The decrease in new infections comes as Lujan Grisham and state health officials weigh whether to allow public schools to hold in-person classes after Labor Day. They are also facing pressure to permit indoor dining at restaurants and breweries.

The last substantial loosening of New Mexicos health restrictions  in early June  was followed by a surge in new virus cases. About five weeks later, Lujan Grisham tightened the states mask mandate and reimposed the ban on indoor seating at restaurants.

But as of Monday, New Mexico met all the criteria established by the state Department of Health for resuming a phased reopening of the economy, according to a Journal review. The standards cover the disease transmission rate, number of new cases, supplies of medical equipment, testing capacity and other factors.

Keep up the great work, New Mexico, Lujan Grisham said on Twitter. Your efforts are making a difference.

Lujan Grisham and health officials said last week that they wanted to see New Mexico sustain compliance with the standards for some time before relaxing the restrictions on schools, businesses and social gatherings.

They suggested theyd also like to beat the targets by enough to allow for the new cases that would arise from reopening more of the state.

The public health order is scheduled to expire Aug. 28, although the administration is free to revise it before then or extend it.

The 95 cases announced Monday are the lowest total for a day since mid-June.

The state also reported four coronavirus deaths, pushing the number of fatalities to 718 since the pandemic reached New Mexico in March. Those whose deaths were reported Monday ranged in age from their 40s to their 90s, and all had underlying medical conditions.

At least one of the states criteria  for testing capacity  is trending in the wrong direction but still well within the state targets.

New Mexico is now conducting about 6,587 tests a day on average, down from a 7,884 a little over a week ago. But the testing capacity remains well above the states goal of 5,000 a day.

The percentage of tests coming back positive has fallen, suggesting New Mexicos declining case counts arent only a result of doing fewer tests. The positivity rate for the most recent week reported by the state is 2.9%, down more than a percentage point from where it stood earlier this month.
FORT KNOX, Kentucky -- After observing a dress rehearsal of the Army's newest assessment course for colonels, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph Martin said he isn't sure he would have been judged ready for command earlier in his career.

Unlike in the past, lieutenant colonels and colonels attending the new Colonel's Command Assessment Program (CCAP) will be judged for their command potential solely on how they perform during the five-day course, which evaluates candidates' leadership strengths and weaknesses and forces them to use higher-level thinking and communication skills.

"If you asked me, 'How do I think I would have done on it?' I think I would be presumptuous to say, 'I would have done very well,'" Martin told Military.com after receiving briefings on CCAP. "If you have never been assessed like this in your career, it's got to be a pretty daunting task."

Read Next: US Patrol Under Attack in Syria Returns Fire

Scheduled to hold its first class in mid-September, CCAP is similar to the new Battalion Commander Assessment Program (BCAP) and part of a larger effort to overhaul how the Army selects officers for important command positions.

Under the current Centralized Selection List Process, senior officers select battalion and brigade commanders in special boards, where they review and rank hundreds of personnel files. Now, Army officers are forced to leave their previous career accomplishments at the door to be judged on their performance in a series of tests designed to assess their physical fitness, intellect, psychological makeup and communications skills.

But unlike BCAP, lieutenant colonels and colonels going through CCAP will have to demonstrate their ability to wrestle their way through complex problems during a Strategic Leader Exercise.

CCAP officials would not release many details on the exercise, but the Army began working on developing strategic thinking in senior officers in 2012 under the direction of then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, said retired Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, who worked on the effort when assigned to the Army War College.

"This is not something the Army dreamed up three months ago," Cucolo said during a briefing to Martin. "It was based on a problem that [Odierno] saw that the newly selected brigadier generals, when tossed inside the beltway or tossed into the strategic environment, were hesitant, tentative -- they held back, they lacked confidence. They were incredible operational warriors, but suddenly they were faced with challenges that required a different kind of thinking and the adjustment was too slow for what the Army needed."

Martin said the strategic problem candidates will be faced with will put them in a realistic situation "where you've got to provide a solution to something, and you've got a sea of information."

"Do you have the ability to look through that sea of information and be able to filter down some important points in order to sit down and make a point: 'I think this is what we ought to do, and I think this is why we ought to do we ought to do.'"

The CCAP exercise, however, is not a pass-fail event, said Maj. Gen. JP McGee, director of the Army Talent Management Task Force.

"It's just an observed event to watch how candidates handle the situation," McGee said. "You are not going to get a score coming out of this that says, 'You got 99 out of 100 or you got 22 out of 100.'"

Observations from the Strategic Leader Exercise are included with all of the other information gathered during the course and provided to a special panel that will conduct the Army Comprehensive Talent Interview and decide whether the candidate is ready for command.

McGee stressed that the Army's decision to adopt courses like BCAP and CCAP does not mean that the old system was ineffective at selecting good leaders for command positions.

"It's not a question of whether the old system was bad; the question is, is this the best possible system for the Army? And so the old system is good, but good enough isn't good enough for the future wars we anticipate," McGee said. "We have got to be running the best processes to put people in these very impactful positions to have the Army that we want to have in the future."

So far, participants who have gone through BCAP have said the Army should continue to use this model for selecting leaders.

"The feedback we have received from the participants ... is overwhelmingly positive," Martin said. "They all believe that it is a fair process. They believe that they had an experience that they wish that they would have had earlier in their career."

The Army surveyed the officers who went through BCAP as candidates before they got their results and again after, said McGee, adding that two key questions were asked: "Is this a better way to pick battalion commanders? And should we continue this?"

Before they got the results, "the numbers were like 97%, 'Yes, it's a better way. Yes, we should continue,'" McGee said.

"And we asked them after they got the results, and they only dropped two percentage points," he said. "Even those who were determined not ready for command -- two-thirds of them, 67%, said, 'This is a better way to pick battalion commanders.'"

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: Why Some Army Colonels Won't Make the Cut for Command in New Assessment Course
A father has sparked a furious debate on social media over his 'definitive' rankings of cheeses - and even celebrity chef Manu Feildel was not impressed.

Sydney-based media manager Bruno Bouchet ranked 17 varieties from best to worst - controversially crowning goat's cheese as number one and describing haloumi, blue and cheddar as 'cat vomit'.

The former Kyle & Jackie O radio show producer - who's known for rating iconic snacks, fast food burgers and pizza toppings - has attracted the ire of cheese connoisseurs, including the My Kitchen Rules judge, with his list.

'The 100 per cent accurate cheese power rankings. Don't bother commenting, this isn't up for discussion,' Bruno said in his latest Instagram post.

A father has sparked a furious debate on social media over his 'definitive' rankings of cheeses

My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel weighed in on the controversial ranking, saying Bruno's cheese list is 'so so so wrong'

Poll What's YOUR favourite cheese? Goat Edam Mozzarella Jarlsberg Bega Stringers Ricotta Camembert Laughing Cow Feta Swiss Kraft Singles Parmesan Brie Gouda Halloumi Blue Cheddar What's YOUR favourite cheese? Goat 99 votes

Edam 39 votes

Mozzarella 56 votes

Jarlsberg 113 votes

Bega Stringers 2 votes

Ricotta 5 votes

Camembert 143 votes

Laughing Cow 17 votes

Feta 70 votes

Swiss 37 votes

Kraft Singles 11 votes

Parmesan 85 votes

Brie 205 votes

Gouda 48 votes

Halloumi 117 votes

Blue 377 votes

Cheddar 608 votes Now share your opinion





Goat's cheese, mozzarella and Edam, which is coated in red wax, were awarded the coveted top spot in the 'God tier' category.

Jarlsberg and ricotta featured in the second-best 'Royalty tier', alongside Bega stringers, which are cheese sticks that can be peeled into strings.

In the centre of his rankings, Bruno put Camembert, Laughing Cow, feta and Swiss cheese in the 'Adam Sandler tier', or what he describes as the middle ground of 'take it or leave it'.

The 'Pleb' or second-lowest tier proved controversial for its inclusion of fan favourites brie and parmesan, alongside Gouda and Kraft singles.

Haloumi, blue cheese and cheddar stood at the bottom of the barrel in the 'cat vomit' tier.

Many were furious with his 'wrong' choices, while others were 'offended' by the low placement of blue, feta, brie and Camembert.

'I've been disappointed with some of your rankings in the past but this one my friend, you are so so so wrong. I can't even begin to tell you,' Manu said.

'Cheeses Christ! You've made some serious errors here,' another said, while someone else added: 'Been a long time fan of you and your work but I don't think I can get past the disrespect for blue here.'

Some were baffled by the high rankings of Edam and goat's cheese.

'You lost me at Edam on the God tier,' one man said, and another added: 'Goat's cheese belongs in the bin.'

Others even questioned Bruno over his French background, with one saying: 'You've lost your damn mind Bouchet. How are you even French?'

Media manager Bruno Bouchet (pictured) ranked 17 varieties from best to worst - crowning goat's cheese as number one and describing halloumi, blue and cheddar as 'cat vomit'

Surprisingly, some agreed with his rankings, while others said the list is 'almost perfect'.

'I agree with absolutely everything except I'd swap halloumi with ricotta 9/10 almost perfect list,' one said, while another added: 'Absolutely spot on! If there was a tier under "cat vomit", blue would be in that level... worst cheese ever! And goat's cheese is the G.O.A.T of all cheese.'

And one man admitted: 'I can't believe people even consider blue cheese edible! I'd rather eat cat vomit.'

Others made fun of Bruno's list, with one saying: 'This is the Aussie bogan list,' while another added: 'The basic bogan power rankings more like it.'
Mike Ashley will only negotiate with proposed buyers of Newcastle United once his lawyers have convinced him they are genuine.

London-based Dentons are acting as a filter for all those who express an interest in buying the club and sources claim up to 50 such enquiries have been fielded since the Saudi-led takeover collapsed two weeks ago.

However, Ashley and his trusted lieutenant Justin Barnes will only get involved if Dentons advise that an approach is serious and those interested have the financial backing to complete a deal.

Mike Ashley will only negotiate with Newcastle buyers once he is convinced they are genuine

Sources claim up to 50 enquiries have been fielded since the Saudi-led takeover collapsed

That means the owner has not yet had any contact with the Singapore group who submitted a 280million offer over the weekend.

Sportsmail has seen the documentation that was sent to Dentons by the Bellagraph Nova Group (BNG), in which it is claimed they have provided proof of funds.

But the offer is below the 300m asking price and there is caution given the investor group have released a statement confirming their offer, raising the suspicion of this being an easy publicity grab.

Former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra is acting as a broker for BNG, who insist they are serious about buying the club and claim to have the financial means to negotiate should their offer be rejected.

It means he has not had any contact with the Singapore group who submitted a 280m offer

Former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra is acting as a broker for BNG who insist it is serious

Singaporean cousins Terence and Nelson Loh head the Paris-based group and it is said they are ready to pay 250,000 to access the clubs data room.

Meanwhile, former Newcastle manager and captain Alan Shearer has been mooted for a role after he was mentioned in the BNG statement.

However, we understand Shearer has told them what he routinely does to such offers from would-be buyers come back when youve bought the club.
An Egyptian Cairo Criminal Court upheld on Tuesday an order by the prosecutor-general to freeze the funds of two female TikTok influencers jailed for inciting debauchery and violating family values and principles.

TikTok influencers Haneen Hossam and Mawada El-Adham, who are well-known for their content on the video-sharing platform, were sentenced last month to two years in prison, along with three others, and were also fined EGP 300,000.

An appeal hearing for the defendants was adjourned to 14 September.

Hossam, El-Adham and other defendants were referred to criminal court in June for what the prosecution described as violating family values and principles and establishing and running online accounts to commit this crime.

One of the three other defendants in the case was charged with possessing unauthorised and illegal software for the purpose of using it to facilitate committing these crimes. The three defendants were charged with helping one of the girls evade arrest, concealing evidence of the crime, and publishing materials to influence public opinion about the case.

El-Adham was arrested on 14 May after she fled her residence at an upscale New Cairo gated community, moving around between Cairo and the North Coast after an arrest warrant was issued against her.

El-Adham, who has 3.1 million followers on TikTok and 1.6 million followers on Instagram, gained fame for posting lip syncing and dance videos.

Hossam, who has 1.2 million followers on TikTok, was arrested on 21 April for inciting debauchery and human trafficking. She was arrested a few days after she posted a video on TikTok encouraging women to publish live videos and talk with strangers, via short video sharing platform Likee, in exchange for money.

A court ordered her release on EGP 10,000 bail after she spent about a month-and-a-half in custody; however, the 20-year-old influencer was remanded once again after the prosecution presented new evidence.

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Lenovo India has launched the new refresh of the Legion laptops with a newer look, Intel's 10th generation processors and even vapour chamber cooling on the Legion 7i.

Lenovo India has today announced the launch of their refreshed Legion series of gaming laptops, with a new nomenclature, and updated design and many other changes. Some subtle and some obvious. The laptops launched today carry the Legion 5i, Legion 5Pi and Legion 7i nomenclature, a departure from the older Legion Y-series. We also had the opportunity to converse with Shailendra Katyal, Executive Director and Head of Consumer PCSD, Lenovo India about Lenovos overall business and the Legion laptops.

Lenovo Legion 5i, 5Pi, 7i specifications

Lenovo has clearly drawn the lines between the kind of user that would go for each of the three laptops. The Lenovo Legion 5i is the entry-level machine, designed for first-time gamers or those who want a powerful machine for casual gaming and work. The Lenovo Legion 5i will come with up to an Intel Core i7-10750H and GPU option going up to Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650Ti. The display options available go all the way up to an FHD panel with 120Hz refresh rate. The Legion 5Pi takes things up a notch, stepping the GPU choice up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060. Lenovo also improved the display options here, offering a 144Hz refresh rate on an IPS panel with 100 percent sRGB coverage. The Legion 7i is the companys top-tier gaming machine, with the best components available. The Intel Core i9 and the Nvidia GeFore RTX 2080 Super Max-Q become available in this model series, with the display also getting GSync besides the 144Hz refresh rate.

Lenovo Legion gets a new name

Up until last year, Lenovo used the Y540 and Y740 moniker for their gaming laptops. That naming has changed this year, with the series names being simplified to Legion 5 and Legion 7. The i stands for intel, meaning that all the models launched today are powered by Intel. When asked about the renaming, Mr. Katyal said that the goal of the goal of the company over the last few years has been to simplify the product portfolio. The Legion series is the premium offering from Lenovo and will carry the numbers 5 and 7, however, for entry level gamers, theres the IdeaPad Gaming 3i. This simplifies Lenovos offering for gamers, a segment that is fast growing within the country.

Differentiating the Lenovo Legion

One question that often comes up is if every OEM is offering the same hardware configuration, what would be the reason to choose laptop over the other. While there can be small nuanced differences, thermal performance of the machine will play a big role in whether youre satisfied with your purchase or not. Lenovo implements a fairly robust thermal solution for the Legion 5i and the Legion 5Pi, with large fans and generously sized intake and exhaust vents. The Lenovo Legion 7i ditches the traditional copper pipes in favour of a massive vapour chamber to cool the top-of-the-line Intel Core i9 and Nvidias RTX 2080.

Lenovo Legion powered by Ryzen

There had been rumours that today's launch would also include the Ryzen-based models of the Legion laptop, however, that was not the case. When asked when we can expect the Ryzen based Legion machines to be launching in India, Katyal said soon, without committing to a timeline. However, we expect Lenovo to bring the laptops down soon in order to make the most of the days leading up to Diwali. Currently, 10 percent of the PC market in India is owned by the gaming segment and contributes to 22 percent of the overall revenue.

When asked if the lockdown had any significant adverse effect on Lenovos launch plans, Katyal clarified that there wasnt much of a negative impact. The company had originally planned to launch the Legion series in early July, yielding a delay of just 4-6 weeks which can be attributed to getting the BIS certification. In terms of market trends, Katyal notes that the PC segment has seen notable growth, even in the premium segment which includes gaming.

Lenovo and Make in India

Lenovo, though a Chinese company, has ensured that it was always positioned as a global brand. Katyal notes that the companys supply chain has been developed in manner that was free of geo-political issues, with the primary focus being on the most optimal route for obtaining parts. When asked if the company would ramp up efforts towards making in India, Katyal says that Indias share in the global PC sales is just about 4 percent, a number far too small to warrant such significant investments. The company does, however, have a plant in Pondicherry where they assemble desktops.

Lenovo Legion 5i, 5Pi and 7i Price and Availability

Legion 7i, Legion 5Pi and Legion 5i are available in Slate Grey, Iron Grey and Phantom black color variants respectively. Legion 7i pricing starts at INR 1,99,990; Legion 5Pi starts at INR 1,34,990, and Legion 5i starts at INR 79,990. Legion 7i and Legion 5i are available on Lenovo Indias website and will be available through Lenovos retail partners later this week. Legion 5Pi will go on sale across all platforms later in August.
Mr. Flickinger brings over 23 years of banking experience to his Leesburg post. Most recently he served as Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager with BB&T (formerly Susquehanna Bank). Prior to that, he served as Assistant Vice President, Senior Branch Manager with M&T Bank (formerly Allfirst/First National Bank of Maryland). Additionally, Mr. Flickinger served as CFO for Noel's Fire Protection in Williamsport, Maryland.

"Patrick is a great addition to the BCT family," stated Alice P. Frazier, President and CEO. "His experience and commitment to community fit perfectly with our core values and strategic focus in Leesburg and Loudoun County. He will be our ambassador of 'neighbor helping neighbor' throughout the market."

Mr. Flickinger is excited to bring his passion for community service to Loudoun County community organizations. He is a past Board member of the Mental Health Authority of Washington County, Maryland. Additionally, he served as a Board member of the United Way of Washington County, Maryland, and the Community Free Clinic of Washington County, Maryland. He also served as a Certified Medical Technician for ARC of Washington County, Maryland. Mr. Flickinger is a graduate of Leadership Washington County.

When away from the office, Mr. Flickinger enjoys many activities including repurposing and refinishing old furniture, spending time outdoors kayaking and hiking, and visiting small towns in the region. He also enjoys spending time with his three adult children.

About the Company

Founded in 1871, BCT - Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:PTBS). With approximately $607 million in assets as of June 30, 2020, the Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and one loan production office. BCT's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun County (VA). The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network plus online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments. The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, commercial real estate loans and agricultural loans. The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit. For over 60 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided financial management, investment, trust, and estate services to its clients. In 2019, the Bank was named a "Best Bank To Work For" by American Banker. In 2018, Forbes named BCT a "Best In State Bank" for Maryland.

The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc. and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank.

SOURCE BCT - The Community's Bank

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During the Aug. 11 town council meeting, Midland Planning, Zoning & Subdivision Administrator Kassie Watts presented the amendment to the council. It was approved 3-1.

After the meeting, Mills was quick to get the ball rolling to purchase the permits.

I told Kassie after the meeting that I would be there Thursday morning with all of my documentation ready to get my permits so that I can get to work.

For Mills, the councils approval was a win, he said, for a small business like his, especially since he started the business less than a year ago.

Before moving to North Carolina 30 years ago, he lived in Dallas, Texas, working on cars. He moved to North Carolina to be closer to the racing scene. Working on Jaguar and Rolls-Royce cars specifically, he opened up an automobile shop in Charlotte called the Jag doctor. But after the recession in 2008, he had to close shop and started looking for a new business, he said.
Kolkata, Aug 18 : After 75-years of Subhas Chandra Boses mysterious disappearance, the family members of Indias freedom struggle icon on Tuesday demanded for renaming of the Eastern Command headquarters Fort William in Kolkata after Netaji.

"On the official day of his disappearance, we demand for renaming Fort William after Netaji. This will be the ultimate tribute to him where he had undergone four months of military arms training from February 1916 when he was just about 20-years-old," Netaji's grandnephew and activist Indraneel Mitra told IANS.

Mitra said that very few Indian's know that Netaji had undergone rigorous military training for four months at the Fort William. "We family members would want the Government of India to consider the demand and take necessary steps towards renaming one of the six operational commands of the Indian Army after Netaji," he said, adding that the British has gone, now why should we still call it Fort William and remember their King.

The Eastern Command, an operational command of the Indian Army, is headquartered in Fort William in the city of Kolkata. The Command's Area of Responsibility extends from Bengal to Sikkim and then across the entire Northeast India.

"Netaji has a strong association with the Fort William as a part of the 89-Bengal Regiment when he was a third-year student of philosophy honours in the Scottish Church College under Calcutta University. He was a trainee member of the university cadet corps that time," said Rajashree Choudhury, great grand-niece of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

She said that Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) will demand for renaming Fort William as Netaji Subhas Fort on the very day of his mysterious disappearance (August 18, 1945).

"As great grand-niece and as national president of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) this will be the first honour we can show to our freedom fighters by removing a British name and honouring the hub from where our brave soldiers fought in the name of the first Supreme Commander of free India government," she told IANS.

Choudhury said that this would be an official recognition for Netaji who stands as a 'Symbol of Patriotism' for every Indian. She said that she would also write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a request to consider the proposal and rename Fort William after Netaji.

Built during the early years of the Bengal Presidency of British India, Fort William is a fort located near Hastings in Kolkata. It sits on the eastern banks of the Hooghly River as one of Kolkata's most enduring Raj-era edifices. Named after King William-III, the fort extends over an area of 70.9 hectares and stands as a testimony of an internal guard room which eventually became the Black Hole of Kolkata.

"It is extremely relevant to rename Fort William after Netaji as he received training as a military trainee there and later he became the Supreme Commander of the Indian National Army (INA) which he had raised on October 21, 1943.

"The INA, under his leadership, had captured a large part of the Indian Territory and entered almost 1,500 miles inside the Indian mainland. Even Japan had also handed over Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Subhas Chandra Bose which he had named as Swaraj and Shahid Islands on December 30, 1943," said Netaji researcher-author Dr Jayanta Chowdhury who was also been one of the deponents of the Justice Mukherjee Commission.

He said that Azad Hind Government had been recognised by the heads of 11 independent nations including the Soviet Union, Japan, Philippines, Germany and Italy.

"It will be a great honour shown to Netaji if the Centre can take a call on the issue of renaming Fort William after him. This has been long overdue," Chowdhury said, adding that the British had left the Indian soil not because of anything but the military movement spearheaded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his INA.

Chowdhury further said that along with the proposal of renaming Kolkata's Fort William he would also want the Indian Army to be renamed as the Indian National Army.
Joe Bidens presidential campaign is working to convince Michigan voters that President Donald Trump is responsible for the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The campaign unleashed a series of advertisements in Michigan and rolled out high-profile surrogates in virtual events to outline steps Biden would take to reign in the virus and fix the economy. Michigan Democrats have kept a particular focus on Bidens involvement in the Obama-era bailout of Detroit automakers, arguing the former vice president saved Michigans economy during the last recession and can do it again.

The economic pain we are facing right now is because the President of the United States has not taken control of this pandemic, said U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, in a press call last week. These failures have slowed down our ability to get back to work and to start building back our economy ... Donald Trump inherited a great economy from Barack Obama and Joe Biden. His incompetence during this coronavirus pandemic has blown it all.

The Biden campaign announced a $44 million ad campaign in Michigan and other battleground states focused on the coronavirus pandemic. The ads call for nationwide mask mandates and expanded testing, while emphasizing how the pandemic has harmed older Americans.

To fix the economy, we need to get control over the virus, Biden says in one of the ads running in Michigan.

Democrats say Trump was slow to recognize the danger of COVID-19 began spreading up across the country, then failed to create a national strategy to roll out testing supplies to states dealing with outbreaks. Meanwhile, Republicans point to the fact that the U.S. has conducted more COVID-19 tests than any other country and say Trump is already leading the economic bounce back.

More Americans are going back to work, but economists expect the path to recovery will take years. A new report from the University of Michigan suggested unemployment in Detroit will drop faster than the Great Recession but remain above 12% for the next four years.

The U.S. economy shrank by 9.5% from April to June, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department last month, the worst drop in modern history.

There are half as many Americans temporarily laid off in July compared to April, when Michigan and many other states implemented strict quarantine orders that closed businesses for several months. There are still 12.8 million fewer people with jobs compared to when the outbreaks became widespread in March.

The national unemployment rate improved to 10% in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with 16.3 million people still out of work at the end of last month. State-by-state data for July isnt yet available, but Michigans 14.8% unemployment rate in June, was the 6th worst in the country.

Michigan Republicans said Bidens economic policies will stifle the ongoing recovery. U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, criticized Bidens plan to roll back Trumps 2017 tax cuts in a Monday press call before the Democratic National Convention.

Bidens plan would roll back Trumps tax cuts for households making more than $400,000 per year, increase the corporate income tax rate by 7 percentage points and create tax credits for investments in renewable energy technology, family caregiving and student loans. An analysis by the Tax Policy Center found Bidens plan would largely affect the highest-income households.

When you add on a $4 trillion tax increase that will devastate the economy in terms of job creation, investment, economic opportunity and freedom, prosperity for the middle classes on the line right now, Huizenga said.

Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Laura Cox said Bidens climate change policy would decimate the states manufacturing industry.

The Biden campaign is highlighting his plans to create 1 million auto jobs in Michigan through investments in energy-efficient vehicle technology. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, said automakers are already planning to make electric vehicles a major part of their business in the coming years.

Because President Trump has not paid attention to this and because of the chaos hes created, China is running ahead of us right now on this new technology, Stabenow said. Theyre doubling down, they know where the future is and we have a president debating whether or not we shouldnt keep fuel efficiency standards that were enacted a number of years ago.

Dingell said last week she is damned certain China wont beat domestic manufacturers in producing electric vehicles.

Stabenow, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint; Michigan Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka hosted press calls for the Biden campaign this month. The events were largely focused on Bidens promises to build auto jobs and highlighted his work during the 2009 auto bailout.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also made that message the centerpiece of her remarks during the opening night of the DNC Monday. Whitmer said the former vice president saved Michigan auto workers who went on to help manufacture ventilators and personal protective equipment to respond to the coronavirus.

Adrian Hemond, a Democratic strategist and partner & CEO of political consulting firm Grassroots Midwest, said Bidens appeal to auto workers makes sense given his relationship to union members and blue-collar workers throughout his political career.

Trump did really well with white auto workers, he said. The other ones, not so much. Its true that Trump did reasonably well with white non-college-educated voters, especially men fall into that group. Part of that was because of how historically unpopular his opponent was, especially with that constituency. (Trump) does not have that benefit this time. Joe Biden made a political career out of getting elected by downscale white voters.

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Coronavirus, racial protest response could undermine Trumps outreach to Black voters in Michigan

Trump campaign bus makes push for women voters in Michigan battlegrounds

In must-win Michigan, Trump campaign takes fight door to door as polls show Biden with strong lead
A SOCIAL Democrats councillor has said he hugely regrets going on holiday with his family to Spain for a fortnight in breach of the Governmen's advice on foreign travel.

Kildare county councillor Bill Clear has admitted to Independent.ie that he went to Spain on July 18 where he holidayed in the town of Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol for two weeks before returning to Ireland on August 1.

We booked this family holiday last year to go to Spain and as we got closer the official guidance wasn't that clear so we made the decision to go, Mr Clear, a councillor based in Naas, said. I hugely regret it now.

Government advice at the time was that people in Ireland should avoid all non-essential travel abroad and for anyone who went overseas to restrict their movements for 14 days upon return.

While Mr Clear, who is a married father of three, and his family were in Spain, the Government published a green list of countries to which the 14-day rule did not apply. However, it still advised all people in Ireland against holidaying abroad.

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Mr Clear said that as soon as he and his family returned to Ireland they contacted their GP to arrange to be tested for Covid-19.

As soon as we returned we got all family tested and they all came back negative so we followed all the guidelines of restricting our movements in that time, he said.

Mr Clear said the family were tested on Tuesday, August 4 with the results coming back negative on Thursday, August 6. After testing negative he said he stopped restricting his movements.

I regret it now but at the time the figures were in single digits and when we were there and as we were travelling, we wore gloves and masks, he said.

On the day Mr Clear and his family flew out to Spain - July 18 - the Department of Health reported 21 new cases of Covid-19 and two new deaths.

A SocDem spokesman said the party did not believe the issue was a resigning matter, but that it would have preferred had Mr Clear not travelled abroad.

It was a private decision he made, he made the decision to go in a private capacity, we don't think it would be a resigning matter," the spokesman said. We would prefer if he hadn't gone on holiday. In hindsight it's a decision he regrets and he wouldn't make it again.
KERRVILLE, Texas, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- James Avery Artisan Jewelry, a family-owned jewelry retailer based in Texas, announces the upcoming opening of its new store on Wednesday, Aug 26 in Houston, Texas, located at 560 Gulfgate Center in Houston.

"It's always exciting for us when we open a new location and this location is Gulfgate is no different. We're hoping to bring the jewelry our customers love closer to home," says James Avery Director of Customer Service and Marketing Communications Lindsey Avery Tognietti. "The shopping experience may be a little different at the moment, but we are committed to making each visit to our stores convenient, inviting and memorable for customers."

Tognietti says customer and associate safety is the number one priority. The Gulfgate Center store will open following recommended health protocols and other guidelines which have been implemented in all the company's stores. There are hand sanitizing stations in the store for customers and associates as well as regular cleaning and sanitizing of all jewelry and high-touch areas of the store. The company asks customers to honor social distancing guidelines and to wear face coverings when in the store. James Avery associates will undergo daily health screenings and wear facemasks.

The current store hours will be Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m. and are subject to change. Gulfgate Center customers are welcome to shop in the new store or use the Contactless, Curbside Pickup or Buy Online, Pickup in Store options at JamesAvery.com. The James Avery team will announce plans for a grand opening celebration after regular store operations resume across the company.

About James Avery Artisan Jewelry James Avery is a vertically integrated, family-owned company located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. We offer finely crafted jewelry designs for men and women in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold, gemstones and leather handbags. James Avery jewelry is designed by our own skilled artisans in Kerrville, Texas. We are a multi-channel retailer with 94 James Avery stores in four states. Our jewelry is also available in more than 220 Dillard's stores in Texas and 28 additional states, airport stores in Austin and Houston, Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations at Fort Hood and Fort Belvoir and nationwide through JamesAvery.com. James Avery crafts jewelry in Texas workshops in Comfort, Hondo and Kerrville, made of the finest materials sourced worldwide. For more information, visit JamesAvery.com or facebook.com/JamesAvery.

SOURCE James Avery Artisan Jewelry

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And one of the practical jokes that seemed to be circulating on this job was that whenever we were at work and it was a lunch break  wed all be in this big canteen space  if there was ever a dessert primarily made of a custard or creme, someone would go, Does this smell funny to you? and point it towards your face, youd go down to sniff it and theyd slam it in your face. Like the old pie-in-the-face gag. It happened numerous times and if someone fell for it, wed be like, I cant believe you fell for it! Im 21 years old at the time and Im Mr. Gullible so I got it in the face one time, absolutely. And we all thought it was hilarious.
Nearly all the Democratic stars get at least a moment in prime time this week as the party holds its virtual convention. But not everyone.

Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank, one of the partys most recognized faces, hasnt gotten a prime speaking spot. Neither has Florida Rep. Val Demings, who was on the short list to be Joe Bidens vice presidential nominee, nor New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, seen as rising star.

These notable omissions all have something in common: They won rave reviews among Democrats for their prominent roles in the Houses impeachment prosecution of President Trump just seven months ago. Impeaching Trump remained a point of pride for many on the left even after the Senate acquitted him  polling analysis that FiveThirtyEight.com did in February showed that support for it among Democrats remained at a solid 84% after the trial ended.

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

But the partys speaker roster at its virtual convention shows that Democratic leaders dont think swing voters want to revisit impeachment. In fact, Mondays lineup contained several prominent Republicans, including Meg Whitman, the 2010 California GOP nominee for governor.

They dont want to remind voters about the impeachment fight  first of all, because they lost, said Melissa Michelson, a professor of political science at Menlo College. And because a lot of people felt that impeachment was the wrong thing to do.

She said Democrats whole shtick Monday is about reaching across the aisle and showing that the Democratic Party is a safe and welcoming place. They dont want to remind Republicans who are thinking of Biden about this partisan battle that they had with Trump.

Schiff, who led the House impeachment prosecution team in the Senate trial, wont be invisible at the convention. He is scheduled to speak to the California delegation Thursday and will continue to be a top surrogate on national media for presidential nominee-to-be Joe Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris.

Still, Schiffs absence from prime time sidelines one of the partys top fundraisers, a possible Senate replacement for Harris should the Democrats take the White House, and an electrifying speaker whom even Oklahoma GOP Sen. James Inhofe called very, very effective in the impeachment trial.

Schiff has a lot of upward mobility, but events have shifted since those (impeachment) hearings, said David McCuan, a professor of political science at Sonoma State University. Voters seem to have moved past the issue of impeachment, so these speakers dont capture the moment.

Demings and Jeffries were both on the impeachment prosecution team, and like Schiff, theyre both seen as having bright futures. Demings has been mentioned as a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Florida in 2022, and Jeffries is among those  along with Schiff  seen as a possible successor to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco when she decides to retire.

For his part, Schiff is taking one for the team. His spokeswoman Emilie Simons said Monday that Schiff commends the convention team and campaign for pulling off an impressive lineup amid a pandemic and ever-changing circumstances, that reflects the diversity of the country and the strength of the party. Schiff will be doing everything possible in the next few months to elect Joe and Kamala this fall.

Not speaking at this convention wont hurt Schiffs chances to seek higher office in California, analysts said.

Schiffs legacy as a warrior in the impeachment battle still helps him in California, Michelson said. Nationally, Biden is worried about winning over the swing states and doesnt want to potentially alienate them with speakers who remind them of impeachment.

Also among the missing is Tom Steyer, the billionaire former hedge fund manager and environmental activist. He started Need to Impeach in October 2017 to put pressure on lawmakers to remove Trump from office. Few listened at first  including Pelosi, who is Steyers congressional representative.

Ultimately, 8.5 million people signed an online petition, helping to give lawmakers cover to pursue impeachment. Steyer parlayed that campaign into a run for president, but he dropped out shortly after Super Tuesday and endorsed Biden.

Now, we are looking toward the future and the ballot box, Steyer told The Chronicle on Monday. Im excited to be participating in events throughout the convention to highlight the vice presidents commitment to rebuilding our nation in a way thats just, green and equitable.

Steyer will still be involved in the campaign in a way likely to be more powerful than anything he could say on stage this week. NextGen America, a political organization he funds, will spend at least $45 million trying to fire up young voters in 11 battleground states.

Steyer will still do what hes going to do, regardless, McCuan said.

The same goes for Demings. The (campaign) will use her all around the country, in (battleground states) like Georgia and Florida, campaigning with Harris or Biden, McCuan said.

This is like deciding who is on the all-star team, McCuan said. You cant put everyone on there who had a breakout season.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
The funds enable ImmunoScape to bring its unique immune-profiling capability to major biopharma companies globally, accelerating development of vital immunotherapies and other medicines

Singapore based biotech startup ImmunoScape has announced that it has raised USD $11 million (SGD $14.8 million) in a global equity financing round. US-based venture firm Anzu Partners led the round, joined by University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC) in Japan, and NPR Holdings in Indonesia.

ImmunoScape's immune profiling platform, which provides deep insights into the T-cells of the human immune system, is already intensely engaged in COVID-19 related programs on three continents.

"There is an urgent need to understand how the T-cell immune response contributes to COVID-19 immunity and can be leveraged for vaccine design," said ImmunoScape co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Alessandra Nardin. "In global collaborations with Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Parma (Italy), and Duke-NUS, we are evaluating COVID-19 patients and recovered individuals. We are building a large data set on human T-cell response to COVID-19, in an effort to develop new therapies and better vaccines with our partners."

ImmunoScape also has established collaborations with several vaccine development companies, including the San Diego-based Arcturus which is running clinical trials in Singapore.

ImmunoScape's technology was based on work begun at Stanford University, and continued at A*STAR of Singapore, where the company was established in 2017. ImmunoScape has received support from A*STAR and its commercialization arm A*ccelerate, as well as Enterprise Singapore. Technical founder Dr. Evan Newell, PhD, previously an A*STAR Science Fellow, is now based at Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Ecolab (ECL) said the company's Synergex Sanitizer & Disinfectant is the first product to receive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for efficacy against biofilms. The company said Synergex Sanitizer & Disinfectant has been developed to kill 99.9999% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes pathogens in biofilms on hard, non-porous food contact surfaces. 'Biofilms are a leading cause of quality issues for food and beverage manufacturers, and until now, they have been difficult to destroy on food-contact surfaces,' said Ann Gent, senior vice president and general manager of Ecolab Food and Beverage in North America. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on August 17, 2020

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

CCTV: On August 14, the United Nations Security Council voted on the United States draft resolution on extending arms embargo on Iran. China and Russia voted against the draft, and 11 Council members abstained in the voting, while only the United States and the Dominican Republic voted for it. The draft resolution was not adopted at the Security Council. On the same day, Russian President Putin called on the P5 countries, Germany and Iran to hold a video summit on the Iranian nuclear issue. I wonder if China has any comment?

Zhao Lijian: As you said, in the UN Security Council voting on the US draft resolution, most members were against the US wrongdoing, and held the view that the JCPOA and UNSCR 2231 should be earnestly preserved and implemented.

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 interest of the international community is a dead end. In recent years, in pursuing unilateralism and "America first", the US has abandoned its international obligations, and withdrawn from multilateral agreements and international organizations, shattering its own credibility. China urges the US to abandon unilateralism, and stop unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. The US should adopt a reasonable and realistic attitude, and return to the right track of observing the JCPOA and the UNSC resolution.

China welcomes Russia's proposal on holding a video summit on the Iranian nuclear issue, and applauds Russia's efforts on de-escalating tensions on this issue and its contribution to regional security. China firmly endorses the JCPOA and stays committed to upholding peace and stability in the Middle East. We are ready to work with relevant parties to keep close communication and coordination and advance the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

Reuters: China and the US were supposed to hold trade talks on August 15. Can you confirm that the trade talks were scheduled to take place on August 15? What is the reason for not holding them?

Zhao Lijian: Regarding the specifics of the China-US trade agreement, I'd refer you to the competent authorities.

China Daily: The Supreme Court of British Columbia will hold a hearing on the Meng Wanzhou case on August 17 local time to discuss the disclosure of evidence and information. The information published indicates that the Canadian law enforcement authorities are suspected of misconduct and abuse of process in planning and carrying out the operation to arrest Meng, including colluding with the FBI, stalling for time at the Vancouver airport and illegally searching and questioning her. Meng's lawyers asked the court to demand that the Canadian prosecutors disclose more information and evidence. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: China's position on the Meng Wanzhou case is consistent and clear. As is clearly revealed by evidence that has been made public, the US and Canada abused their bilateral extradition treaty and arbitrarily took compulsory measures against a Chinese citizen, which grossly violates the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese citizen. The US aims to oppress Huawei and other Chinese hi-tech companies, and Canada is its accomplice. It is a serious political incident. This is not only China's view, but also a conclusion shared by the rest of the international community including insightful people in the US and Canada.

I want to stress that the Chinese government is firmly determined in upholding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and businesses. In the meantime, we support Chinese companies and individuals in safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests through legal means. We once again urge the Canadian side to take seriously China's solemn position and concern, immediately release Ms. Meng Wanzhou and ensure her safe return to China at an early date.

China News Service: US President Trump signed an executive order on August 14, asking ByteDance to divest its interest in TikTok's operations in the United States within 90 days. According to Trump, "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." I wonder if you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: China has been putting forward facts, truth and reason on TikTok-related matters on multiple occasions. Here I'd like to add the following two points.

First, according to reports, in its operations in the US, TikTok's middle and senior management personnel, including the chief executive officer, are all Americans. Its servers are in the US, data centers in the US and Singapore, and teams all localized. The company hired 1,500 American employees and promised to create 10,000 jobs. Its audit policy and source code are open to the public. It is fair to say that TikTok has done almost everything the US side demands. However, it still cannot escape from certain US individuals' disguised and coercive robbery out of selfish political gains. Some US politicians are attempting to strangle TikTok with one baseless excuse after another.

Second, in the views of certain US politicians, "national security" is a one-size-fits-all pretext for the country to stir up troubles and oppress non-US companies. The US claims that companies like TikTok threaten to undermine US national security, but even a CIA assessment says there's no evidence that China intercepted TikTok data or used the app to bore into cell phones. A think-tank in the US also said that there is no security justification for banning an app merely because it is owned by a Chinese company. This proves once again that "freedom and security" is nothing more than an excuse for some US politicians to pursue gunboat diplomacy in the digital age.

Such bullying practices are a flagrant denial of the principles of market economy and fair competition, of which the US is a self-claimed "champion". Those practices violate international trade rules, undermine other countries' interests, and will surely damage the US own interests. We urge the US to immediately correct its mistakes and stop smearing China and wantonly oppressing foreign companies.

Beijing Youth Daily: We noticed that on August 14, the Dutch Ouwehands Zoo held a 100-day and name day celebration ceremony for a giant panda cub born in May. Do you have more on that?

Zhao Lijian: On August 14, the Dutch Ouwehands Zoo held the 100-day and name day celebration ceremony for the the baby panda of expat pandas Wu Wen and Xing Ya. Chen Ribiao, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in the Netherlands attended the event and unveiled together with the Dutch side the name for the baby panda: Fan Xing.

In 2017, giant pandas Wu Wen and Xing Ya arrived in the Netherlands for bilateral friendship following the consensus President Xi Jinping and King Willem-Alexander reached during their exchange of visit. Several years passed and the baby panda Fan Xing was born. The first couples of the two countries exchanged congratulatory letters, calling Fan Xing a lovely token of China-Netherlands friendship and a symbol of fruitful cooperation. It's worth mentioning that the cub, born amid the COVID-19 pandemic, brings hope and joy to the two peoples and also witnesses their friendship during the joint fight against the virus.

Giant pandas are China's national treasure and messenger for friendship and exchange with other countries. We hope Fan Xing will grow up healthy and sturdy as a cute little ambassador bringing the Chinese and the Dutch people closer and strengthening their bond of friendship just like its parents.

Bloomberg: Can you provide any update on whether Chinese journalists in the US have their visas extended after the US shortened visas for Chinese journalists to 90 days in May?

Zhao Lijian: On May 8, 2020, the US limited visas for Chinese journalists to a maximum 90-day stay, which means they need to apply for an extension every three months. We understand all Chinese journalists have already submitted their extension application, but none has got a clear answer from the US side.

I stress once again that for some time, the US, driven by Cold War mentality and ideological bias, constantly escalated political suppression of Chinese media. Such practice severely affected Chinese media's normal reporting in the US, tarnished their reputation, and disrupted normal people-to-people and cultural exchange between the two countries. On one hand, the US claims to champion freedom of the press, but on the other hand it wantonly thwarts Chinese media's normal work in the US. This exposes the hypocrisy of its so-called freedom of the press. It is stark double standard and hegemonic bullying.

As we've repeatedly said, the cause and responsibility for the current situation lies with the US. It should correct its mistake, stop political suppression on Chinese media and journalists and ensure the safety and property of Chinese journalists are protected and their normal reporting unaffected. Should the US decide to go further down the wrong path, China will be compelled to take necessary and legitimate countermeasures to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests.

AFP: India's Prime Minister Modi vowed in a speech over the weekend that India will build a strong military, and he also said the country's territorial integrity is supreme. Does China have any response to this speech?

Zhao Lijian: We noted Prime Minister Modi's remarks. As two neighbors and emerging major countries each with a population of over 1 billion, the growth of China-India relations will not only benefit our two countries and peoples, but also add stability and positive energy to peace and prosperity of the region and the world at large. Mutual respect and support between China and India is the right path and serves the long-term interests of both countries. China will continue to work with India to enhance political mutual trust, properly manage differences, strengthen practical cooperation and jointly uphold the big picture of bilateral relations.

AFP: First, do you have any comment on Taiwan finalizing a deal to buy dozens of F-16 fighter jets from the US? Second, police in Nigeria said that four Chinese workers have been freed after they were kidnapped from a quarry. Do you have any details on the kidnapping and the rescue process?

Zhao Lijian: On your first question, China consistently and firmly opposes US arms sales to Taiwan. US arms sales to Taiwan seriously breach the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the August 17 Communique. It severely undermines China's sovereignty and security interests and gravely violates the basic norms of international relations. China stated its solemn position and made a firm response after the US announced the sale of 66 F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan in August 2019.

The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests. China has firm resolve in upholding its sovereignty and security. We urge the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques and stop arms sales to and military ties with Taiwan, lest it should gravely harm China-US relations and cross-strait peace and stability.

With regard to your second question, on August 15 local time, with the joint efforts of relevant parties, four kidnapped Chinese nationals in Nigeria were rescued. China will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of our citizens overseas.

Reuters: China's fishing ban near the Diaoyu Islands expired on Sunday. Japanese media reported that local Chinese authorities had ordered Chinese fishermen to stay away from the Diaoyu Islands in an effort to ease tensions with Japan. Can you confirm it?

Zhao Lijian: I haven't heard this or seen reports on this. China's position on the Diaoyu Islands is consistent and clear.

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NEW HAVEN  New Haven school district officials proposed using state grant money to assist with distance learning efforts as the district looks to go entirely virtual for the first marking period amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Typhanie Jackson, director of student services, explained to the Board of Educations finance and operations committee that the $17,960,436 Alliance District grant from the state Department of Education represents an approximate $2.9 million increase in state aid. The grant serves as aid to make up for shortfalls in New Havens school budget  which is around $270 million this fiscal year, including the grant.
BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, N.J.  Theyre here.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) and Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) offices all across the state have been receiving reports of sightings of spotted lanternfly, and everyone can play a role in monitoring for and controlling this exotic invasive insect.

We have been working diligently to slow the advance of this bug, NJDA Secretary Fisher said. We are targeting areas where severe infestations have been confirmed, and we also encourage residents to destroy the spotted lanternfly if possible when they see it. It will take a combined effort to help keep this pest from spreading.

While the spotted lanternfly is no threat to humans or animals, it is known to feed on 70 different types of plants and trees. The New Jersey counties under quarantine are Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren, Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem.

The spotted lanternfly is a plant hopper and can only fly short distances. However, it is an excellent hitchhiker and has been known to ride on any kind of transportation. The Department asks that anyone who travels in a quarantined county do a quick inspection of their vehicle for the spotted lanternfly before leaving.

New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher recently announced information and instructions for residents who encounter the Spotted Lanternfly.

NJDA and USDA crews have worked to control the spread of this invasive pest, NJDA Plant Industry Division Director Joe Zoltowski said. Its ability to travel easily on any mode of transportation has allowed it to spread. We are asking residents to do their part by eliminating this bug whenever possible.

Controlling the adults of spotted lanternfly and its egg masses is vital to slowing its spread.

Using items such as sticky traps are not recommended as they have been found to be ineffective.

Adult spotted lanternfly will begin laying egg masses in early to mid-September. These grayish egg masses can be scraped off, double bagged and then thrown away. They can also be placed into alcohol or bleach to kill them.

This article originally appeared on Bridgewater Courier News: Spotted lanternfly: New Jersey counties in quarantine for invasive bug
Antoni Woss earned JSA's 2019 Thesis Prize for exploring the theory underpinning the properties of subatomic particles and how they can decay

Hadrons are elusive superstars of the subatomic world, making up almost all visible matter, and British theoretical physicist Antoni Woss has worked diligently with colleagues at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility to get to know them better.

Now, Woss' doctoral thesis on spinning hadrons has earned him the 2019 Jefferson Science Associates Thesis Prize.

"It's a massive honor. I wasn't expecting this at all," said Woss, 27. "It's just amazing to think that the work that I'd been doing, people had really looked at and recognized and said, 'This is really useful. This is really pushing forward the sort of ideas and the direction we wanted to go.'"

Nuclear physicists endeavor to understand the properties of hadrons, subatomic composite particles that form when quarks -- the Legos of the universe -- are bound together in prescribed ways by gluons, the elementary particles that carry the strong force.

Three bound quarks, for instance, form baryons (e.g. protons and neutrons), while quark and antiquark pairs form mesons. But there are many other potential combinations.

"There are very complicated ways in which you can think about sticking these Legos together," Woss said. "So the quark and antiquark together form mesons, but they can be spinning in different orientations with respect to one another. They can also orbit each other in various ways. They might also have some other funky dynamics going on -- for example, excited gluonic degrees of freedom. When we calculate the theory, we can begin to see the different types of mesons that you can have and how all of these different dynamics come together to give us the particles we see in our experiments."

Woss' thesis, "The Scattering of Spinning Hadrons from Lattice QCD," discusses his efforts to contribute toward a sort of periodic table for hadrons -- what and how many there are, their properties, if experimentalists are seeing some that theorists are not, and vice-versa.

Lattice QCD, or Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics, is a standard approach in physics to calculate QCD and study the properties of hadrons.

Woss' objective was to tackle questions about the wide spectrum of possible hadron states, to look at the theory that underpins how things stick together and work out the properties of the hadrons that can appear following the set of rules that say how quarks and gluons interact. In particular, he has focused on calculating the properties of hadrons that can decay into other hadrons that carry a non-zero value of 'spin' -- a fundamental property of subatomic particles.

"A lot of them we don't really know much about at all," Woss said. "So an experiment might see something and say, 'Hey, we found something and it seems to have these properties,' and another experiment might say, 'Hey, we don't find this, we find something else.' And then the question is, what is the right picture?"

For his doctoral work, Woss ran supercomputer simulations to use lattice QCD to examine the properties of particles that appear in high-energy collider experiments.

"We are trying to calculate properties of unique particles that can decay into other hadrons with non-zero spin from theory outside of an experiment - looking at these hadrons that we really haven't looked at with these first-principles theoretical calculations before," he said. "We can then see what that tells us about their properties and does that marry up with what experiment has seen."

An experiment is underway at Jefferson Lab now that relates to one of his thesis calculations.

"And it's really interesting to see, with the new data coming from that experiment, how accurate or how close or what the differences are between what the theory has predicted and the experiment," Woss said. "Is there anything else going on here or is there something we don't understand? Has the theoretical result been realized in the experimental data?"

In his thesis, for instance, Woss describes an ambitious calculation of a particular particle, the b1 meson.

"That really demonstrated that the computer simulations and Lattice QCD now is at a point where we can ask and answer these quite difficult, challenging questions about hadrons that can decay into other hadrons with non-zero spin," said Woss. "So what I hoped to have done, and what I think I did achieve, was push the lattice QCD framework to a point where it can really start contributing answers to a whole host of interesting hadrons that share this property -- there's a whole lot of them!"

The JSA Thesis Prize, established in 1999, is funded by the Jefferson Science Associates (JSA) Initiatives Fund program, which JSA provides to support programs, initiatives and activities that further the scientific outreach, and promote the science, education and technology missions of Jefferson Lab and benefit the laboratory's user community. It is given each year for the top Ph.D. thesis on research related to Jefferson Lab science. It includes a $2,500 cash award and a commemorative plaque. Judges weigh four criteria: the quality of the written work, the student's contribution to the research, the work's impact on the field of physics, and service -- how the work contributes to Jefferson Lab or other experiments.

"It is a very sophisticated calculation, the first of its kind, and is an important and impressive accomplishment," said Will Brooks, JLUO BOD chairperson and founding experimental group leader at Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria, Valparaiso, Chile, where he is also a professor.

Woss made three visits to Newport News from 2017 to 2019 to consult with colleagues who are part of the hadron spectrum collaboration based at Jefferson Lab. Last year, he earned his doctorate from the University of Cambridge in applied mathematics and theoretical physics and high-energy physics.

He said he's aiming for a career in industry -- perhaps in software development, where he can apply not only his physics and supercomputing expertise, but also his more recent interest in machine learning and artificial intelligence.

"There are a lot of parallels between how you interpret data in physics to what you do in a wider context," Woss said. "For example, looking for patterns -- there's a lot of overlap. In the last decade, there has been a big revolution in how industry and scientists are using data to really look at all sorts of problems in slightly different ways."

Woss grew up in Worksop, a town in Nottinghamshire in central England surrounded by woodlands and mining villages. His mother is a special education teacher and his father works in the coal industry. He credits both for his lifelong curiosity about how things work and his affinity for problem-solving.

###

Jefferson Science Associates, LLC, a joint venture of the Southeastern Universities Research Association, Inc. and PAE, manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, or Jefferson Lab, for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.
A rally organized by the far-right Proud Boys drew fascists from across the country to Kalamazoo, Michigan on Saturday where they violently attacked a homeless resident and counterprotesters. Police intervention was delayed and to a large extent friendly to the Proud Boys and their supporters.

As early as July 27, antifascist activists were calling attention to social media posts from Proud Boys accounts advertising for a rally to be held at Arcadia Park in downtown Kalamazoo where many homeless people live.

Although the plans for the rally could not be confirmed even as late as August 13, social media was used to organize a large, diverse counterprotest that included an armed antiracist organization and religious pacifists.

Nathan Dannison, a pastor at a local church, organized a peaceful vigil, filing for a permit at the park where the social media posts had directed the Proud Boys and working in close collaboration with local police. There was a contingency plan to end the vigil at the first sign of violence and to allow police to sweep the area.

On August 13, Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain released a statement acknowledging the social media posts and the planned counterprotest which concluded, the City is prepared to act quickly if necessary.

In a public Facebook post, Dannison recounted that on the day of the rally, he met with a representative of the homeless residents of the park who requested peer support specialists and mental health counselors, a request which he passed on to city officials and which, he explained, never materialized. At roughly 1:30 p.m. the Proud Boys began marching toward the park. When the Proud Boys arrived, there were still several homeless people standing on the sidewalks/streets, trying to see what was happening. I dont think many of them understood what was happening.

I watched as the Proud Boys surrounded the same man I had been speaking with earlier, and when he touched one of their shoulders they began assaulting him with bats and other makeshift weapons that they had disguised as flag poles.

This is the moment when several residents of Kalamazoo very bravely dove into the crowd in order to extricate the man who was being assaulted. I was certain that we were about to witness a lynching, and I am grateful that these members of our community helped save him.

Samuel Robinson, a reporter for MLive, documented in real time on Twitter as Proud Boys [attacked] counter-protesters, spraying pepper spray. I have been hit and sprayed.

A thread of Robinsons tweets shows an important timeline. At 1:30 p.m., a video shows the Proud Boys marching on the periphery of the park. Four minutes later, a video with the caption, Hell has broken loose, shows street fights erupting after a group of Proud Boys surrounded a black man and counterprotesters dove into the crowd after him. After two more videos of violent clashes between fascists and counterprotesters at 1:41 p.m. and 1:46 p.m., a tweet at 1:49 p.m. reads, There have been no police present.

Robinsons next tweet was posted over three hours later from jail after he was arrested. In the video of the arrest, which has been released by MLive, he clearly states he is with the media while he is pushed to the ground by police in riot gear. His charge of impeding traffic was subsequently dropped, and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety issued an apology.

MLive reported, Based on videos [sic] footage and first-person accounts, including that of Robinson, it appears there was not a strong police presence until 20-30 minutes after the initial violence began.

This cannot be explained considering the contingency plan that the police had supposedly agreed upon. Pastor Dannisons Facebook post relays, At 1:42 p.m. I texted Asst Chief Coakley and said, Clear the park, 100% of my people are out. The violence continued.

Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas boasted that the police response used 111 officers from five jurisdictions. It resulted in the arrest of nine, none of whom were Proud Boys, but one was a journalist.

In fact, several eyewitness accounts describe the police protecting the Proud Boys from the larger crowd of counterprotesters as they retreated into a parking garage and then exited the city in their vehicles. One Twitter post shows a caravan of cars leaving with the caption, Police suited up in riot gear are in the tunnel/underpass doing absolutely nothing to confront the Proud Boys driving off Lots of out of state plates on the cars that still have them. Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia...

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with one of the counterprotesters who was arrested. He explained the scene when he arrived downtown after the Proud Boys had marched to another park three blocks away from the site of the peaceful vigil.

In only a few minutes, they walked a block north to a parking structure. They got inside and continued their shouting from the higher levels of the ramp, some of them presenting a Nazi salute, most flashing a common white-power hand signal, as the counterprotesters shamed them from the street.

The crowd of counterprotesters moved to the back entrance of the parking structure, where many of the [Proud Boys] vehicles were making their exit. After several cars, many with out-of-state license plates and many more with no plates at all made their exit, I noticed a handful of police pull up across the intersection.

A few minutes later, I felt hands on my shoulder and wrist from behind me. I was told that I was being arrested.  As I was being put in the incredibly hot police car, I saw what looked like a few dozen more police in riot gear emerge from beneath the parking ramps overhang and descend on the crowd.

Since the [Proud Boys] had mostly made their getaway at this point, it seemed obvious to me that the counterprotesters were likely to disperse on their own if left to chant for a few more minutes.

The police response to the Proud Boys rally contrasts sharply with the violent repression that was meted out on residents protesting police violence in early June, when a massive wave of protests against police violence swept across the world following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

On the evenings of June 1 and June 2, police forcefully dispersed peaceful protests in downtown Kalamazoo. Protesters lying on the ground were sprayed with pepper spray. Those attempting to flee the crackdown were shot with rubber bullets. Tear gas canisters were used indiscriminately. In justifying the attack on protesters, police made claims about the size and violent character of the protests that were directly contradicted by video evidence but nonetheless parroted by the local media organizations.
Mr John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer, National Democratic Congress (NDC), says one million jobs will created for the youth over four years by the new NDC government from 2021.



Mr John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer, National Democratic Congress (NDC), says one million jobs will created for the youth over four years by the new NDC government

from 2021.



Mr Mahama said Ghana cannot afford to have young people graduate into a jobless

economy, adding that people would have sustainable and decent jobs.



A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency by Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Spokesperson, NDC Campaign Team, said Mr Mahama was speaking in Battor, North Tongu constituency on the first day of his four-day visit to

the Volta Region.



Mr Mahama told a gathering of various interest groupings that the most critical thing that the people needed now were jobs.



The Flagbearer of the NDC said a new NDC government would invest in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and make it free.



That way, Mr Mahama said, young people would be equipped with employable skills for the job market.



Touching on abandoned projects, the NDC presidential candidate promised to complete

abandoned hospitals, roads as well as the remainder of the 200 Community Day Senior High

Schools started by the NDC government.



Mr Mahama also re-stated his pledge to pay assembly members to enable them to

effectively discharge their duties.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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NEW YORK and TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial advisors across the United States and Canada report fundamental changes to client relationships and business activity as they grapple with the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new survey from Broadridge Financial Solutions , Inc. (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader. Seventy-seven percent of financial advisors say they have lost business as a result of not having the appropriate technology tools to interact with clients, while 87% report sustained changes in investor communication and engagement. Of financial advisors who reported losing any business, they on average lost a fifth (21.7%) from their book.

"Financial advisors are reliant on their firms for technology that allows them to best serve their clients wherever they may physically be and whatever market conditions are like that day," said Michael Alexander, President of Wealth Management at Broadridge Financial Solutions. "In the fallout from the pandemic, wealth firms are going to face increased pressures to invest in modernizing their advisor technology or risk losing their advisors to firms that already have next-generation wealth platforms."

Technology Tools and Frequent Communication Vital During Pandemic

Amid the pandemic, 63% of North American financial advisors report that they generally communicate with clients on at least a weekly basis. A surprising generational difference was uncovered in this practice: over half (51%) of Millennial financial advisors communicate with their clients daily, while 62% of Baby Boomer financial advisors communicate with clients at a frequency of monthly or less.

Eighty-nine percent of financial advisors report that their desktop software and firm-provided technology tools became more critical during stay-at-home mandates. Across generations, 74% of financial advisors wish their firm had access to better technology tools, and 82% state that paperwork detracts from time spent working with clients.

Half of financial advisors (51%) report that they often think of leaving their current firm for one with better technology tools. Financial advisors under the age of 40 are more likely to leave their firms (59%) compared to those between the ages of 60-79 (32%).

Gaps Between United States and Canada Apparent as Advisors Seek Support

When it comes to marketing support offered to advisors, there is a stark difference between resources in the United States and in Canada. In the United States, 95% of financial advisors report that they have enough marketing support from their firms to grow their practice, while only 59% of Canadian financial advisors say the same. Fifteen percent of Canadian financial advisors report that they get no marketing support from their firms whatsoever.

Financial advisors in the United States are more likely to report that they are provided tools for email marketing (69%), paid digital media promotion (61%) and website creation (60%), compared to financial advisors in Canada, who report 53%, 26% and 41%, respectively.

Only 17% of Canadian financial advisors are very satisfied with the tools they are provided to interact with clients and prospects over social media, compared to 67% of U.S. financial advisors. While all U.S. financial advisors surveyed report that they use social media to some degree for client interactions, 8% of Canadian financial advisors do not use social media at all.

Financial advisors in the United States were found to share more customized communications with clients compared to their Canadian counterparts. U.S. financial advisors routinely share ideas for new investment vehicles with clients (57%) and a personalized analysis of existing investment vehicles (51%). In Canada, financial advisors prioritize sharing a comprehensive view of client accounts (59%) and money-saving tips (41%).

"As wealth management firms across North America look to attract and retain talent, they should be aware that one in two financial advisors often think about leaving their firm to join one with better technology," said Donna Bristow, Managing Director at Broadridge Financial Solutions. "In particular, Canadian firms have an opportunity to improve the marketing and social media tools they provide to their financial advisors in order to enable better digital communications, investor engagement and opportunities for business growth."

Leveraging next-gen technologies is part of Broadridge's investment in The ABCDs of Innovation - AI, blockchain, the Cloud and digital  helping clients understand and apply these technologies by simplifying the complex to help them be Ready for Next. For more information about Broadridge's Wealth Platform, please visit www.broadridge.com/financial-services/wealth-management.

For an interactive look at the findings in this press release, please visit here

Methodology

This survey of 254 financial planners and advisors in the United States and Canada was fielded in June 2020 by Research Knowledge and Insights, a market research firm.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR), a $4 billion global Fintech leader, is a leading provider of investor communications and technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and corporate issuers. Broadridge's infrastructure underpins proxy voting services for over 50 percent of public companies and mutual funds globally, and processes on average more than U.S. $7 trillion in fixed income and equity securities trades per day. Broadridge is part of the S&P 500 Index and employs over 11,000 associates in 18 countries.

For more information about Broadridge, please visit www.broadridge.com.

Media:

Tina Wadhwa

Broadridge Financial Solutions

+1 212-973-6164

[email protected]

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.broadridge.com


Of course, most people who think Birtherism 2.0 is racist, sexist or nativist are probably already committed to voting against Trump. But the swing voters in this election, by definition, are more sympathetic to Trump or Trumpism. They may be undecided, agnostic or apathetic about birthright citizenship or the candidates themselves, but many are likely exhausted with the pointless theatrics and relentless fighting over sexism, racism and nativism driven by the president's sops to the one segment of the electorate that has been in his corner all along.
Residents in a Massachusetts town are reeling after a gravestone at a cemetery was defaced last week with racist graffiti, news outlets reported.

Found written on a headstone at the historic Mount Hope Cemetery in North Attleborough was the phrase Black lives dont matter, NBC Boston reported.

A trustee learned about the vandalism Friday morning after a resident saw the graffiti while exercising, according to the news outlet.

The graffiti was painted on the back of the gravestone behind a parking lot near Mason Field, The Sun Chronicle reported.

Trustees of the cemetery put cardboard over the vandalism Monday until a cleaning crew arrived to wash the graffiti off the headstone, according to NBC Boston.

The Mount Hope Cemetery, created in 1850, is considered one of the towns most visible landmarks. The nonprofit cemetery has an arboretum as well.

St. Marys Cemetery, located near Mount Hope, was also hit with vulgar, spray-painted graffiti, NBC Boston reported.

Police told the news outlet they are looking into whether the two cases are connected.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-19 04:40:44|Editor: huaxia

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OTTAWA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Chrystia Freeland as his new finance minister Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Trudeau appointed Dominic LeBlanc as minister of intergovernmental affairs.

Freeland, 52, has become the first female finance minister in Canadian history. She has already served as Canada's international trade minister, foreign affairs minister and deputy prime minister and intergovernmental affairs minister. She will retain her role as deputy prime minister.

Trudeau made the mini-shuffle of his cabinet after Bill Morneau resigned as finance minister Monday night.

Morneau resigned amid an ongoing scandal of accepting gifts from a charity organization and reported rift with Trudeau.

Morneau told a press conference Monday night he was not going to run in the next federal election and that he only ever intended to serve in two governments. "Now is the right time for a new finance minister" to manage a long and uncertain recovery as Canada rebuilds from the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19, he said.

Morneau denied he was asked to quit and said he will run for secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

In the past week, reports surfaced that Trudeau and Morneau were at odds over environmental initiatives and COVID-19 pandemic relief spending.

The Canadian Prime Minister's Office issued a statement a week ago saying Trudeau had "full confidence" in Morneau.

Canada's opposition parties have asked Trudeau and Morneau to resign over granting a student volunteer program to a charity group named WE Charity that has close links to them and their family members.

Trudeau and his government have been under fire since announcing on June 25 they were granting WE Charity a sole-sourced contract to run the now-halted student volunteer summer program of 900 million Canadian dollars (about 664 million U.S. dollars).

Due to public outcry over the contract, the charity and the Trudeau government announced on July 3 that they were ending the contract.

On July 13, Trudeau said he made a mistake in not recusing himself from cabinet discussions about granting the program to the charity group.

In late July, Morneau said he had paid WE Charity back 41,366 Canadian dollars in outstanding expenses the organization covered for two trips his family took in 2017, and that his wife has made 100,000 Canadian dollars in donations to the organization in recent years.

The parliamentary ethics commissioner is investigating both Trudeau and Morneau over whether they breached the Conflict of Interest Act in relation to the program with WE Charity. Enditem
- A housewife in Nigeria returned the sum of KSh 4 million that was mistakenly credited into her account by a Lagos-based company

- After Josephine received the credit alert on Monday, August 3, she was taken aback and she had to inform her husband

- Though some people condemned her honesty for returning the money, her husband, Eze, showered praises on her

A Nigerian woman, Josephine Nchetaka Chukujama Eze, has shown the true meaning of honesty after she returned almost 14 million Naira (KSh 4 million) that was mistakenly paid into her account.

Her husband, a journalist and lawyer, Chukujama Eze, disclosed it to News Express as he praised his wife for the virtue she exhibited.

READ ALSO: Book publishers gain, retailers lose as schools remain closed until 2021

A collage of the woman and husband with illustrative naira notes. Photos source: News Express/Business Day

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Danson Mungatana, co-accused released on KSh 200k cash bail

In a letter he addressed to the media, he said that he decided to celebrate her not because it is her birthday but because she did a thing that made him very proud of her.

The husband said the event happened on Monday, August 3, when Josephine was in a salon and her phone rang with alerts.

The mother of three did not check her phone until later. She had to call her husband immediately after she saw the amount credited to her account.

READ ALSO: Nairobi woman develops platform offering free study materials online to empower students

After some search, they realized Sankiya Global Investment Ltd is a private company based in Lagos Island and they authorised Josephine's bank to refund the company.

Eze said that when some people heard about it, they condemned them for being naive and not smart enough.

He, however, said the bank officials were really appreciative of his wifes act of goodness.

READ ALSO: Women who tolerate husbands' abuses don't respect themselves - Psychological counsellor

In a separate incident, a media personality identified as Certified Camill took to Twitter to share the story of an honest Nigerian man called Chidiebere Ogbonna.

Describing the man as his personality of the week, Camill said the kind-hearted man bought a carton of noodles and when he realised that a huge sum of money was in the carton, he returned the noodle box quickly to where he had bought it.

READ ALSO: Kenyans in diaspora rally to join government in fight against COVID-19

The broadcaster said Ogbonna revealed that the reason he returned the money was that it was not his and he was also scared.

According to him, when he took it back to where he bought the carton of noodles from, the seller was really excited.

He noted that the seller said the money was the payment for some goods.

To appreciate his honesty and saving him from debt, the noodles' seller rewarded Ogbonna with free cartons of noodles for the next six months.

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
In January, on a cold, sunny Boston day, just two months before the COVID-19 global pandemic shut down schools across the nation, I visited a neighborhood school full of Black students. After observing a full day, a well-meaning white teacherchair of Black Lives Matters weekstood in front of a group of faculty members with an abundance of anxious energy.

She told us that she was planning on inviting successful Black people to talk to the students. They dont have to be President Obama or Beyonce or anything, they can be anybody, she said. We just want our students to see really good, really successful Black people.

All I could think to myself was here we go againanother well-meaning white teacher entranced by the romanticisms of talking about Black folks and our progress in America through an individual lens. Little did I know that only a few months later, a public reckoning on racism would erupt across the nation.

As schools fumble to talk about Americas original sinracismwell-meaning white teachers (and some Black folks) often assume that cultural relevance equals applauding individual progress.

Well-meaning white teachers (and some Black folks) often assume that cultural relevance equals applauding individual progress."

As we now strategize our re-entries into school buildings after months of a global pandemic and ongoing demonstrations for racial justice, Black and brown families disproportionately carry the burden of food, housing, health, and income insecurities. Well-meaning white teachers have another chance to rethink classroom talks on race. As we continue to call the names of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Elijah McClain, Atatiana Jefferson, and Tamir Rice, well-meaning white teachers must question their pedagogical souls.

Against the backdrop of a dwindling moral fabric and farcical political leadership, all of us, but especially well-meaning white educators, have the burden of building a learning environment that centers the truths of Black progress in a nation plagued by alternative facts.

The question, then, is how do well-meaning white teachers reimagine their classroom rhetoric? Here are three strategies that can reimagine the experience of our students.

1. Talk about systemic racism, not individual stories.

The system or the personwhos to blame? Every lesson is an opportunity to talk about the legacy of systemic racism, not solely the wonder of individual stories. And when we neglect to talk about how systemic racism is embedded within American structureseducation, justice, employment, housing, and health carewe unintentionally teach students that really good, really successful Black folks are exempt from racist structures. We have a duty to resist this logic by acknowledging that those we acclaimKing, Morrison, Hughes, Angelou, Baldwin, Winfrey, Obama, and Knowles-Carterexisted and exist within a structure of systemic racism despite their individual feats.

Ask yourself, What assumptions have I constructed about the Black experience, historical and current, that causes me to center individualism over the racism? Then, ask yourself, Am I privileging individual stories over systemic racism to avoid having to wrestle with the risky and dangerous truths of how racism contributes to my attitudes and practices?

As a Black educator with a modicum of American-defined success, I have seen white colleagues attempt to co-opt my own individual narrative without the context of systemic racism. When white educators see their Black colleagues as exceptions to the systemic racism of America, transformative dialogue cant happen. Our journeys to the job of educator were formed and informed by the different privileges we had or lacked. Ignoring the existence of a structure I exist within perpetuates the alternative fact of a personal American Dream while ignoring the oft-experienced Black communal reality of an American Nightmare.

2. Talk about history in todays context.

When we teach units that are grounded in American historyslavery, the Civil War, and Jim Crowwe often leave those units in history, without employing todays context. Most of our students need a clear reason why something is meaningful before it is learned and internalized. Our responsibility, then, is to provide that why for studentsa why that is grounded in knowing that history is not only insight into what has been but also a catalyst for reimagining what can be.

What is it to esteem Frederick McKinley Jones refrigerated-truck ingenuity without discussing Trump-era cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, effectively sustaining food desertsareas without easy access to fresh foodin low-income urban and rural communities? What is it to know of the first successful pericardium surgery performed by Daniel Hale Williams without talk of persistent health-care disparities between races and the biases of medical practitioners who disregard the symptoms of Black women? What is it to be moved by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolent protests during the civil rights era of the 1960s without talk of the hyperviolent policing tactics and Draconian curfews against Black Lives Matter movements?

3. Talk about navigating and disrupting racism.

In 1993, Harvard professor Evelyn Higginbotham coined the phrase respectability politics to describe when racially marginalized groups attempt to distance themselves from stereotypical aspects of their communities to fit white-supremacist standards. The underlying assumption is that respectability will position Black folks to access white Americas inalienable rights. Students are told to pull your pants up to look professional or stand straight, arms to the side, eyes in front of you, and lips sealed as if treating children like prisoners will maximize their potential.

This philosophy expects students to navigate racism without any tools for disrupting the system. Instead, we should teach our students to disrupt language, writing norms, and even dress codes. For example, Ive explained to my students that I spell my name rob"with a lowercase Rbecause, as an educator, I choose to reimagine the recommended relationship between capitalization and proper nouns because all constructed knowledge can be deconstructed.

The seemingly innocent rhetoric, academic tactics, and teaching frameworks of white well-meaning teachers need to bend toward justice. The democratic futures of our Black students, and the moral sustainability of our nation, depend on educators willing to disrupt their sensationalism of Black progress and rethink rhetoric, with love and justice, which centers the complex truths of Black folks in a white nation.
We are excited to be able to be the encryption key management provider for 1.1 million secure smart meters in Eastern Europe

Fornetix, LLC today announced it has commenced the launch of a central project with ADD-Bulgaria, a technology company providing intelligent solutions for remote data transfer, analysis of information, and management of smart meters in Eastern Europe. Fornetixs VaultCore was chosen as it is the only key management solution to meet all the requirements needed for securing millions of smart meters. VaultCore not only provides the scalability needed, but also meets compliance requirements as directed by the Prime Alliance who oversees the interoperable standards for advanced meter management and smart grids in Europe. VaultCore will be deployed for encryption key management of over 2.5 million smart meters.

"VaultCores ability to easily manage hundreds of millions of keys coupled with our commitment to interoperability and compliance make this project a perfect fit, and we look forward to a long relationship with Fornetix and providing advanced secure solutions for connected devices to our customers in Europe," said Alexandar Dikarlo, Sales Director at ADD-Bulgaria.

ADD-Bulgaria focuses on offering a turn-key solution to its customers since its establishment in 2006. A complete end-to-end system of an MDM, data concentrators and meters, all designed according to the customers needs and requirements. ADD has grown bigger, has attracted some of the most important players on the energy arena as its partners, suppliers and customers. This project with Fornetix will enable ADD-Bulgaria to provide secure solutions that meet Personally Identifiable Information (PII) regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Since energy data is considered private and, in some cases, PII, it must be encrypted to comply with EU laws.

"It is wonderful to be supporting the advancement of key solutions for the European consumers that meets GDPR and the rigorous requirements for securing smart meters. It is quite a challenging environment, but we are excited to be able to be the encryption key management provider for 1.1 million secure smart meters in Eastern Europe," said Mark Gilroy, CEO of Fornetix.

Fornetix will address testing, delivery, and implementation of a new generation system for automated and dynamic management of cryptographic materials with capacity up to 100 million keys. The key distribution system was successfully integrated into the existing Smart Metering system on the territory of the utility company.

This is a massive, central program that came together between ADD-Bulgaria and Fornetix after a few years of working together to ensure the best possible security solution for the implementation of smart metering systems for electricity, water, gas, and street lighting in Eastern Europe.

About Fornetix

At Fornetix we understand that managing encryption in todays complex environment can seem an impossible task. That is why we created VaultCore, a simplified, automated, and secure encryption key management solution designed to address security challenges arising from the proliferation of IoT, big distributed networks, and rapid cloud adoption. Our commitment to standards and interoperability enable us to join forces with leading technologies around the globe to provide smart and unified security solutions that bring order to the chaos of encryption management. For more about Fornetix visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About ADD-Bulgaria

ADD-Bulgaria offers turn-key technology for remote management of connected devices, data transfer and data analysis for the energy and industrial sector. At ADD we believe that the time and resource consuming processes of measurement and maintenance of expensive equipment can be substituted with remote, timely and smart management and monitoring solutions with one ultimate goal  to help our customers achieve greater efficiency, process optimisation and huge cost reduction.

Our experience dates back from 2006 and lies upon many projects of various type, application and complexity. We have installed and are currently supporting one of the biggest smart metering deployments in Europe, with millions of electric meters, we have realized several projects for street lights modernization and we are participating in projects for automating the electricity and water metering process in ports and marinas. For more visit the ADD-Bulgaria Website.
An increasingly common mutation of the novel coronavirus found in Europe, North America and parts of Asia may be more infectious but appears less deadly, according to a prominent infectious diseases doctor.

Paul Tambyah, senior consultant at the National University of Singapore and president-elect of the International Society of Infectious Diseases, said evidence suggests the proliferation of the D614G mutation in some parts of the world has coincided with a drop in death rates, suggesting it is less lethal.

Maybe thats a good thing to have a virus that is more infectious but less deadly," Tambyah told Reuters.

Tambyah said most viruses tend to become less virulent as they mutate. It is in the virus interest to infect more people but not to kill them because a virus depends on the host for food and for shelter," he said.

Scientists discovered the mutation as early as February and it has circulated in Europe and the Americas, the World Health Organization said. The WHO has also said there is no evidence the mutation has led to more severe disease.

On Sunday, Malaysias director-general of health Noor Hisham Abdullah urged greater public vigilance after authorities detected what they believe was the D614G mutation of the coronavirus in two recent clusters.

Sebastian Maurer-Stroh of Singapores agency for science, technology and research said the variant has also been found in the city-state but that containment measures have prevented large-scale spread.

Malaysias Noor Hisham said the D614G strain detected there was 10 times more infectious and that vaccines currently in development may not be effective against this mutation.

But Tambyah and Maurer-Stroh said such mutations would not likely change the virus enough to make potential vaccines less effective.

(The) variants are almost identical and did not change areas that our immune system typically recognise, so there shouldnt be any difference for vaccines being developed," said Maurer-Stroh.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A blue line appearing to support the NYPD has popped up along a trail in Clove Lakes Park.

The line, which follows the path behind a ballpark near Royal Oak Road and Victory Boulevard, is accompanied by the words BACK THE BLUE. No artist or organization appears to be taking credit for the display, creating some mystery around it.
A key witness in the criminal case against opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian has denied that the money he received from the tycoon ahead of the 2017 parliamentary elections was meant for vote buying.

Earlier this year the National Security Service (NSS) said that when it searched the office of a construction company owned by Vazgen Poghosian as part of a different criminal case it found evidence incriminating Tsarukian in organizing vote buying for his bloc during the elections.

In June, Tsarukian was stripped of his parliamentary immunity from prosecution and indicted on vote buying charges that he rejected as politically motivated.

A lower court in Yerevan later refused to issue an arrest warrant sought by investigators for Tsarukian, confining the wealthy businessman to country limits pending the investigation of the case. Prosecutors have appealed the decision.

In an interview with RFE/RLs Armenian Service (Azatutyun) this week Poghosian, who is considered to be the main witness in the case, acknowledged that he had received a hefty amount of money from Tsarukian ahead of the 2017 vote, but insisted that it was intended to cover the costs of the general BHK election campaign rather than buy votes.

[As a witness] I went through confrontation with Tsarukian at the NSS investigation committee and you can find out all these secrets in the investigation committee. I have no problems with Tsarukian, all this is a lie, it is just to arouse interest among people. Tsarukian and I have known each other since 1990. I built his business premises, his casino, I laid the foundations of the church he built. I built all that, and I was paid very generously, said Poghosian, director of the Yerevanshin construction company.

Poghosian is accused of giving a bribe to a former chairman of the Urban Development Committee. It was within the framework of this criminal case that in February law-enforcement officers conducted a search at Yerevanshin and found documents related to alleged vote buying. The NSS also reported that Poghosian, who was a candidate on the slate of the bloc led by Tsarukian in the 2017 elections to the National Assembly, had informed law-enforcement officials about electoral bribes.

Poghosian, however, insists that the 90 million drams (about $185,000) mentioned in the NSS statement were spent only for campaign purposes. Every election requires expenses, doesnt it? Why do you consider it to be vote buying? Dont you need money for organizational work? All these expenses were for organizational work  to rent offices, to pay people for two months, to buy fuel, pay for electricity, water and sewage, pay for other costs. Who should be paying for all that if not the party? Participation in general elections requires serious expenses, and it should not be considered a bribe, the 68-year-old businessman said.

Poghosian polled 8,151 votes as a candidate on the Tsarukian bloc list in the 2017 parliamentary elections, but later he gave up his parliamentary mandate. According to prosecutors, Poghosian testified that in 2017 Tsarukian invited him and offered him to run in the elections on condition that he secure at least 9,000 votes in the Gegharkunik province. It was as part of that agreement that Poghosian received money from two other associates of Tsarukian  Sedrak Arustamian, the director of the Multi Group Company owned by the Tsarukian family, and Abraham Manukian, a former BHK lawmaker  for vote buying purposes, prosecutors allege.

Poghosian confirmed that he had met with Arustamian and Manukian, but said those meetings were aimed at securing financing for the campaign and not for vote buying. I didnt discuss it with Tsarukian. Tsarukian instructed me to go to the guys. The guys were Abraham Manukian and Sedrak Arustamian, he said.

Manukian and another former BHK lawmaker Vanik Asatrian are also charged in the same case. Only Asatrian is under arrest. As part of the investigation Poghosian has also been confronted with Manukian.
Ontarios labour and environment ministries are investigating two Dundas work sites.

The remediation and demolition of the Canadian Tire building at 50 Cootes Dr., and a roofing project at Osler Drives University Plaza have been subjects of recent inspections by one or both ministries, and both propertys files were still open as of August 17.

Ministry of Labour spokesperson Janet Deline said an inspection was conducted at 50 Cootes Dr. on August 13.

Four orders and one requirement were issued to the constructor, Ground Force Environmental, Deline said. Unfortunately, the details of the orders and requirement are not available at this time due to the ongoing investigation. Once its completed, those details may be released.

She would not say if Ground Force was ordered to stop work at the site, but said a Notice of Project was provided to the ministry for 50 Cootes, which includes asbestos removal.

Ministry of Environment spokesperson Lindsay Davidson said an environmental officer was scheduled to visit the Canadian Tire site on Friday, Aug. 14, in response to a complaint. The result of that visit was not available by deadline.

The City of Hamilton issued a demolition to 50 Cootes Dr. owner Canadian Tire in March. After a four-month pause, site remediation and demolition work resumed in August.

The City of Hamilton is responsible for issuing demolition permits which specify how the demolition is to occur, including what steps must be taken to properly remove any contaminants from a building before it is demolished, Davidson said. It is recommended that the public also contact the City of Hamilton Building Department at 905-546-2720 regarding environmental concerns they may observe during the demolition process.

Hamiltons building department did not respond for a request for comment by deadline.

Davidson said the environment ministry received four complaints since June about odour and smoke from roofing work at University Plaza.

He said ministry representatives visited the site several times, but the roofing company was not working any of those days.

An environmental officer has contacted the complainant to arrange for immediate notification when the roofing company continues the work in order to reassess the situation, Davidson said.

According to the citys online registry, no building permit was issued for the plaza roof work.
Describing and in as "endangered minorities", a resolution introduced in the has sought to resettle these persecuted religious communities from the war-torn country to America.

Introduced in the House of Representatives last week by Congresswoman Jackie Speier and co-sponsored by seven others, the resolution supports refugee protection for and in Afghanistan, noting the "systematic religious persecution, discrimination and existential danger" faced by the members of these communities.

" and are indigenous but endangered minorities in Afghanistan, numbering approximately 700 out of a community that recently included over 8,000 members," the resolution stated.

The resolution supports resettling Sikhs and Hindus from in the US under the United States Refugee Admissions Programme pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Expressing concern for the safety of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, the resolution condemns all terrorist attacks, religious persecution and discrimination against members of these communities in the war-ravaged country.

Noting that Islamic militants attacked a gurdwara in Kabul on March 25, killing 25 worshipers, including a four-year-old girl, the resolution said that the terrorists made further attempts on the lives of the survivors before and after the funeral ceremony held for the victims.

The resolution also mentioned the suicide bombing carried out by Islamic State-Khorasan in Jalalabad on July 1, 2018, which took the lives of 19 people, including leaders of Sikh and Hindu communities.

"These acts of violence follow a greater pattern of targeted violence against Sikhs, Hindus, and other religious minorities in in recent years," it said.

According to the resolution, the Department of State and US Commission on Religious Freedom have documented systemic discrimination against Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan, including restrictions on religious practices, illegal seizure of property, the inability to send their children to public schools due to harassment, judicial bias against religious minorities, and constitutional limitations on the political rights of religious minorities.

The former Taliban-led government routinely persecuted and discriminated against the Afghan-Sikh community, restricting their funeral rites and forcing the community to publicly identify themselves by wearing yellow armbands, it said.

The resolution rued that President Donald Trump has proposed resettling up to only 18,000 refugees for fiscal year 2020, in contrast to the Obama administration's proposal of 110,000 refugees for fiscal year 2016.

(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.)
Bakers in Akropong constituency in the Eastern Region could not hide their joy after Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Hon. Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei donated over 100 bags of flour to support them in their businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic.



Almost all the women (bakers) within the constituency gathered at Akropong on Monday, August 17, 2020, where a 5kg of flour was presented to each one of them.



Explaining the rationale behind the gesture, Hon. Ama Dokua, who doubles as the Deputy Minister of Information, said she took upon herself to help the women with the flour for free to support them in the various field of baking.



She said she is touching lives in one way or the other and now is the turn to put a smile on the faces of the bakers in her constituency, hence the flour donation.



According to her, she had held several meetings with the bakers in the area to discuss how she can support them. She disclosed her outfit has provided individual assistants for some people.



She said, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, some people requested for flour so she thought it wise to turn their plea into a social intervention program rather than donating to individuals who asked for.



Nana Ama Dokua affirmed it will affect the cost of their product that will be sold to the constituents, adding that since she has touched food vendors it will affect everyone positively especially people who patronize their food items.



The MP refuted claims she is presenting the items to the people to seek for votes in the upcoming December general elections.



She indicated she has been donating to the constituents since time immemorial and have even supplied fertilizers and other needful products to farmers in the past.



"We are recontinuing with our work and my target group is that of the professional groups. So day in day out I meet with different professional groups from time to time and this is one such meeting that has occurred. Someone can interpret everything that it is vote buying but as we speak, I'm still their MP so I have to deliver", she said.



The Beneficiaries who received the flour in a cheerful manner expressed gratitude to the legislator for her kind gesture and also being committed for coming to their aid in this pandemic.



They promised to vote for her and President Akufo-Addo in the 7th December general elections.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Flopy Feng, AIM Technical Support Manager, to discuss Pin-In-Paste, at the 2020 SMTA China South Technology Conference.

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While the number of hospitalisations has only risen slightly, with eight confirmed cases in intensive care, just 33  or 8 per cent  of the country's public critical care beds were empty as of Monday, the Health Service Executive said. France reports more than 2000 new coronavirus infections The French health ministry reported 2238 confirmed new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, less than recent daily highs but still at levels last seen during the March-May lockdown imposed to stem the spread of the disease. On Monday, when the number of reported cases typically falls sharply due to a lag in weekend test results, the ministry had reported just 493 new cases, after more than 3000 each on Sunday and Saturday and more than 2500 per day last Wednesday through to Friday. A family walks along on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Credit:AP

The seven-day moving average of the case count, which smooths out daily reporting irregularities, has now been above 2000 for five consecutive days, a level that was last seen around the middle of April. Following a sharp uptick in new infections, the French government announced on Tuesday it would make the wearing of masks mandatory in all workplaces from September 1. Despite the jump in infections, the number of people in hospital fell again by 102 to a new low of 4823 and the number of people in intensive care slipped by four to 380, reflecting a preponderance of younger people among new cases who are more likely to be asymptomatic or not to fall seriously ill. Both numbers had been on an uninterrupted downward trend since the peak of the pandemic in the first half of April, but that downtrend has slowed in the past two weeks. The number of people in ICU is now back at levels seen at the end July, after having fallen as low as 367 last week.

Lebanon orders two-week shutdown after COVID-19 surge Lebanon's interior ministry ordered businesses across the country to shut down for two weeks and enforced an overnight curfew from Friday after a rise in coronavirus infections. Tuesday's decision allows for clearing rubble, making repairs and giving out aid in neighbourhoods demolished by the August 4 blast in Beirut. The airport will remain open, with travellers having to take a PCR test before boarding. Loading Lebanon has registered record numbers of daily infections that have crossed 400, with its tally on Monday standing at 9337 cases and 105 deaths since February.

Already deep in financial crisis, Lebanon was struggling with a COVID-19 spike before the huge blast at Beirut port killed at least 178 people and pushed the government to resign. The warehouse explosion damaged many hospitals and overwhelmed them with more than 6000 wounded. It put about half of 55 medical centres across Beirut out of service. Officials have urged precaution. But after the blast uprooted nearly a quarter of a million people, the risk of the virus spreading has grown, healthcare workers say. South African smokers empty shops of cigarettes after ban lifted In the latest wave of panic-buying triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, South African smokers on Tuesday snapped up all the cigarettes they could lay their hands on after the lifting of a five-month ban designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

As part of a broader easing of restrictions, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday announced the end of a ban on sales of tobacco products and alcohol, effective from midnight on Monday. A man stocks a display shelf with bottles of alcohol at a Johannesburg liquor store. Credit:AP Customers, wary of shortages or future bans, bought whatever they could on Tuesday, in scenes reminiscent of panic-buying of groceries at the start of the country's lockdown in March. "People are not buying packets, they are buying cartons," said an executive at a Pick N Pay Express store, who did not want to be named. "I have a feeling that we may go back to level 3 (higher alert level), that is why I am buying a few packs," a customer queuing at a tobacco store in Johannesburg's Melville suburb said, again asking not to be named.

Many shoppers faced empty shelves as companies struggled to fulfil restocking orders. In April, Ramaphosa said tobacco sales would be allowed but later changed his mind, citing concerns the sharing of cigarettes could spread the virus. WHO blasts 'vaccine nationalism' in push against hoarding Nations that hoard possible COVID-19 vaccines while excluding others will deepen the pandemic, World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday, issuing a last-ditch call for countries to join a global vaccine pact. The WHO has an August 31 deadline for wealthier nations to join the "COVAX Global Vaccines Facility" for sharing vaccine hopefuls with developing countries. Tedros said he sent a letter to the WHO's 194 member states, urging participation.

The global health agency also raised concerns that the pandemic's spread was being driven now by younger people, many of whom were unaware they were infected, posing a danger to vulnerable groups. Loading Tedros' push for nations to join COVAX comes as the European Union, Britain, Switzerland and the United States strike deals with companies testing prospective vaccines. Russia and China are also working on vaccines, and the WHO fears national interests could impede global efforts. "We need to prevent vaccine nationalism," Tedros told a virtual briefing. "Sharing finite supplies strategically and globally is actually in each country's national interest." The European Commission has urged EU states to skirt the WHO-led initiative, citing worries over its cost and speed.
Since students in Grades 5 and up will be required to wear face masks on school buses this fall, the province should also make face coverings mandatory on all city buses, Winnipeg city councillor Jeff Browaty says.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 17/8/2020 (520 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Since students in Grades 5 and up will be required to wear face masks on school buses this fall, the province should also make face coverings mandatory on all city buses, Winnipeg city councillor Jeff Browaty says.

Browaty (North Kildonan) is lobbying the province to require non-medical mask use on Manitobas public transit systems as well, including Winnipeg Transit. He said that rule is key to ensuring all students get the same level of protection during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting many rely on public transit to get to class.

"If the school buses have it, the logical next step is the mandatory use of masks on (Winnipeg Transit) buses," he said Monday, adding people who cant wear masks due to medical reasons should be exempt.

Browaty began his effort to make masks mandatory on Winnipeg Transit in May, noting research pointing to reduced virus transmission.

"By adding the extra level of safety that masks provide, I think people would be more confident taking the bus," he said.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The union that represents Winnipeg Transit drivers said it has no objection to required mask use, as long as government officials make it clear that drivers wont be expected to enforce the rule.

Winnipeg Transit recommends that riders wear masks but it has not made them mandatory.

Browaty said the confined space on a bus can make it difficult to maintain adequate social distance.

He believes a provincial mandate would trigger widespread compliance.

"I think its a better tool to have it as part of (provincial) public health orders, as opposed to a city bylaw, because its more enforceable," he said.

The union that represents Winnipeg Transit drivers said it has no objection to required mask use, as long as government officials make it clear that drivers wont be expected to enforce the rule.

"I would like to see everybody wear masks on the bus but were not going to enforce it as drivers. We dont have the authority," said James Van Gerwen, vice-president of Amalgamated Transit Union local 1505.

Van Gerwen said having drivers enforce the rule could raise the risk of assaults against them, something he said is already far too common.

During a Monday press conference, Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitobas chief public health officer, was asked if hed consider increasing mandatory mask use requirements in places such as school buildings.

Roussin said the option hasnt been ruled out. But he also stressed that he expects Manitobans will follow a public health recommendation to wear masks any time they cant ensure physical distancing will occur.

"If we continue to see (COVID-19 case) numbers going up, then we might have to move to things like mandating, at least in certain circumstances. But right now, weve (got our) messages out. Manitobans have shown in the past that theyre willing to step up to prevent the spread of COVID and were going to expect that here, too," he said.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A bus displays it new messaging outside City Hall on Tuesday. Transit is now asking commuters to wear a mask while on transit. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. Reporter: Joyanne

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Masks should be seen as an added measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19, not as a replacement for following social-distancing guidelines and staying home when sick, he said.

In an emailed statement, Health Minister Cameron Friesen echoed Roussins focus on following public health advice and urged Browaty to lobby for change at city hall.

"The City of Winnipeg has the authority to pass bylaws requiring the use of masks in public places. The councillor should share his concerns about city transit with the mayor and council, who can mandate masks, as some private businesses have chosen to do," wrote Friesen.

Mayor Brian Bowman was unavailable for comment Monday.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
Regal Cinemas and AMC Theatres, the nations two largest movie theater chains, both plan to reopen this weekend -- but not in the Empire State.

When will movie theaters reopen in New York? Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered no timetable for indoor cinemas Monday, calling them less essential and higher risk amid the coronavirus.

Its the level of risk. If you look at our metrics, we started [reopening] with the most essential business that posed the least risk. And then it was the gradation to the least essential businesses that posed the most risk, Cuomo said during a press briefing on states Covid-19 response.

I am sure there is a whole group people who say, I cannot live without going to the movies. But on a relative risk scale, a movie theater is less essential and poses a high risk. It is congregant. It is one ventilation system. You are seated there for a long period of time, he continued. Even if you are at 50% capacity with one or two seats between the two of you, this is a risk situation and  movie theaters are not that high on the list of essentials.

New York state has slowly allowed shopping malls, museums, bowling alleys and other industries to reopen while keeping coronavirus numbers low. Cuomo announced Monday that gyms can reopen next week with strict rules after being closed for five months.

Yes, gyms for more New Yorkers are more essential than movie theaters, Cuomo said.

AMC Theatres, which has theaters in Upstate New York cities like Buffalo, Vestal and Allegany, said it plans to reopen more than 100 locations on Thursday, Aug. 20, and as many as 400 by the time Christopher Nolans Tenet opens Sept. 3. Regal Cinemas, which operates at Destiny USA and two other malls in the Syracuse area, similarly plans to reopen Friday, Aug. 21 but wont in New York state until Cuomo gives them the green light.

Joseph Masher, president of the National Association of Theatre Owners of New York, told Deadline that keeping New York theaters closed could affect whether or not studios release major movies. New York City is the second-largest movie market after Los Angeles.

Its a chicken and egg situation, Masher said. It has a gigantic ripple effect on the industry if New York doesnt get open... We need to get theaters open by Labor Day so we can show Tenet.

Theaters will largely have to rely on older titles upon reopening, as many blockbuster release dates have been shuffled. Disneys live-action Mulan has shifted to Disney+ on Sept. 4, Wonder Woman 1984 moved to October, the James Bond adventure No Time to Die is set for November and Tom Cruises Top Gun: Maverick will open next summer. Besides Tenet, the only releases over the next two weeks include Russell Crowes Unhinged and Bill and Ted Face the Music.

Regal and AMC have both said theyll follow reopening health and safety measures based on guidelines from the CDC, including requiring employees and moviegoers to wear face masks at all times; customers may only remove face coverings while seated inside the auditorium to enjoy food and drink. Also, seat capacity is reduced by 50 percent, with at least two empty seats between groups; group sizes will be limited; theaters will be cleaned between showings; floor markers will help lines with social distancing; hand sanitizers will be placed at entrances and other key areas; and contactless payments will be used for both tickets and concessions.

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Harmonate announced Kevin Walkup as CEO, to continue the acceleration of its data operations platform for fund administration.

"We are seeing a historic evolution in fund administration from a professional services model, to a fundstech model driven by data operations," said Walkup. "Harmonate is a catalyst for that transformation, which is frankly happening faster than any of us might have expected. Conductor's ability to take statement processing from two weeks to 24 hours is turning heads, and our expertise in change management is a match for firms that are inclined toward leading this market."

Walkup was previously President and COO of Harmonate, and former CEO Michael Halloran will now serve as Executive Chairman.

"Kevin drives enterprise technology markets," said Halloran. "At Dell, Samsung and Sanmina, Kevin built teams that facilitated and sped the transformation of industries, and he is bringing that to fund services. He comes with a reputation for seeing where industries will pivot into digital solutions, and for facilitating domain experts and industry veterans in extracting profound value from automation and data operations sooner than their competition. Harmonate is built around that strategy."

Harmonate's introduction of exception-based machine learning to fund middle and back office processes, and its powerful Conductor product, have led a new category of data operations for funds that steps beyond traditional automation and ETL services. The Harmonate team harnesses expertise in funds-of-funds, multifamily offices and alternative investments generally to provide the change management that fuels fund services leadership.

For additional information please visit the Harmonate site or contact a Harmonate representative at 1-800-339-1031.

About Harmonate

Harmonate is a data services platform for funds that frees operations from the limits of legacy systems, and closes the information gap between fund managers and investors, as well as between funds and the public sector. The company's purpose-built solutions streamline middle office processes  simplify complex, high velocity transactions, and help ensure security and regulatory compliance through each step of a fund's life cycle.

With its proprietary fundstech platform and leveraging more than 15 years of specialty financial administration leadership, Harmonate is helping define best practices in each of the markets it has supported. Today the Harmonate platform is used to service more than 800 funds, and administers more than $20B annually. For more information, please visit harmonate.com.

SOURCE Harmonate
The Romanian Embassy in Madrid has been notified about 16 Romanians working at a farm in Spain's Madrigal de las Altas Torres - Avila, Castile and Leon Autonomous Community having tested positive for COVID-19, and has taken urgent steps with the local authorities to obtain further information on the identity and health status of the persons affected.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a representative of the Romanian Embassy in Madrid went to the said farm on Monday to discuss with the employer, the local authorities, as well as with the Romanian citizens.

In accordance with the information obtained by the embassy from the farm representative, 16 Romanian citizens were found COVID-positive and are currently in self-isolation in the homes provided by the employer. The health status of infected people is good, they are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms.

Another 24 Romanian citizens, direct contacts of the infected people, were placed in self-isolation. The company will cover their wage rights during the period of self-isolation. At the same time, the company provides infected and self-isolating persons with the necessary support to purchase food and other basic products, and there is a service for the supply of such products.

"The representatives of the farm have mentioned that random weekly tests are carried out among the workers, and the activity will continue in compliance with the sanitary conditions. The farm also has an internal medical center that provides medical assistance to employees. The contact with the local authorities revealed that the outbreak is in the attention of the Avila Territorial Sanitary Directorate, which monitors the epidemiological evolution within the farm," the Foreign Affairs Ministry mentions.
Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov and World Bank Country Director for Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine Arup Banerji discussed prospects for cooperation in implementing projects in the healthcare sector, combating COVID-19 and creating conditions for public-private partnerships.

"Since 2015, the Health Ministry and eight regions have been implementing the Serving People, Improving Health Project through a loan from the World Bank. The total loan amount is USD 214.7 million. Of this amount, USD 148.9 million is envisaged for the implementation of eight regional subprojects in Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Zakarpattia, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Poltava and Rivne regions," Stepanov said during the meeting on August 18.

In order to effectively use the funds of the World Bank loan, in April 2020, the project was restructured and more than USD 10 million was allocated to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, Stepanov spoke about the development of a model and conditions for involving the private sector in transplantation and the activities of the healthcare system. According to him, the creation of conditions for public-private partnerships has already begun, so that business becomes a real source of investment in medicine.

As reported, the Health Ministry and the World Bank will purchase more than 1 million new test kits for COVID-19.

ish
A Northern Irish man remains in a critical condition in hospital following a farm-related incident where he was crushed by a steel beam.

The incident happened on Wednesday 12 August on a farm in Tandragee, County Armagh.

It is understood the farmer, who is in his 40s, received extensive injuries while he was working on a new shed.

A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital by ambulance."

A spokesperson for the Royal Victoria Hospital described his condition as critical.

DUP MLA William Irwin, who knows the injured man personally, said it was a 'very distressing' incident.

I want to take this opportunity to wish him well as he undergoes surgery and I hope and pray that he makes progress and recovers from his injuries.

I have known him for some years and he is a hard working individual and a real family man and I know a great many people will be supporting him through this difficult period.

It follows the release of figures which show over the past year, a total of 21 people were killed in agriculture, consisting of 20 workers and 1 member of the public - a four year old child.
The Trump campaign has tried to turn such donations against Mr. Biden.

Is Joe Biden really OK with filling his campaign coffers at the expense of the tens of millions of American workers who will lose their jobs from his radical policies and the millions of American families whose housing taxes will go up to pay for these socialist proposals? Courtney Parella, a Trump campaign spokeswoman, asked in a statement.

Other deep-pocketed hosts associated with Climate Leaders for Biden include Nat Simons, a senior managing director of the investment firm Meritage Group, who with his wife, Laura Baxter-Simons, runs the Sea Change Foundation, a major funder of clean energy work. Lawrence H. Linden, a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. partner who runs the Linden Trust for Conservation, is also in the group, along with Mark Gallogly, co-founder of the private investment firm Centerbridge Partners L.P. and his wife Elizabeth Strickler, and Nicole Systrom, founder of the Sutro Energy Group, a clean energy investment firm in San Francisco. (Such investment firms and the energy companies they fund would stand to profit from a multi-trillion-dollar government effort to combat climate change.)

A separate group called Clean Energy for Biden has about 4,500 members and has held 30 events that include fund-raising, policy analysis and get-out-the-vote efforts, said Dan Reicher, a co-founder of the group who served in the Department of Energy under President Clinton and President Obama. They have raised about $1.1 million for Mr. Biden.

A third group, GiveGreen, is a coalition of the fund-raising arms of various environmental groups that has worked with Climate Leaders for Biden but also raises money for state and local races. As of Tuesday the group had helped raise $30.39 million for races up and down the ballot, a figure that includes the $15 million that Climate Leaders for Biden raised for the candidate, said Tiernan Sittenfeld, senior vice president of government affairs at the League of Conservation Voters.

That total has already broken the groups record of $23 million raised during the 2018 midterm elections. The group raised $8 million in the 2016 election.

Unlike past presidential cycles in which activists openly said they were donating in an effort to prod the candidate to prioritize climate change, donors with these two groups said Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris already are where the donor community wants them to be on the issue.

Several donors said they were not early supporters of Mr. Biden, having preferred candidates that were more outspoken on climate change, but they praised the former vice president for working with youth leaders in groups like the Sunrise movement and issuing an aggressive plan that calls for $2 trillion in spending over four years with a clean energy standard and 40 percent of spending devoted to low-income communities.
DUBLIN, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowForma, the leading provider of Process Automation tools for Microsoft Office 365, announced that the joint venture of Costain, VINCI Construction Grands Projects and Bachy Soletanche, building the east section of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, are digitizing their business processes using the award-winning FlowForma Process Automation tool for Microsoft Office 365.

A large-scale infrastructure project tasked with constructing a new sewer to prevent pollution of the river Thames in London, meaning paperwork across departments was a significant challenge that needed to be streamlined. Having a process automation tool which could remove paper site-wide, that could also be adopted quickly by employees, was the preferred result for the partnership.

With an existing SharePoint environment already up and running, the team sought a solution which could seamlessly slot into their current software. CVB JV Tideway East BIM Manager Lampros Arvanitis and his team soon came across the ideal fit in the shape of the FlowForma Process Automation tool. Sitting on top of SharePoint, the tool uses the SharePoint platform as a secure area to store data, maximizing their initial investment.

Mobile access to projects and processes was of high priority for the joint venture, as connectivity below ground level had previously been a stumbling block. With the FlowForma Process Automation tool, the team can document processes offline and upload them at a later time when back online, thanks to FlowForma's clever mobile app. Processes such as 'Concrete Pour' and 'Daily Site Diaries' have improved visibility and governance site-wide, with 'Field Change Request' and 'Environmental Inspections' processes also in the pipeline for development.

Remote working for employees has also since improved, as staff were forced to work from disparate locations due to COVID-19. Previous paper-based processes would have broken during the lockdown period, as forms would have required physical signatures. These have instead been completed online quickly and easily by staff working remotely throughout the pandemic, putting the joint venture of Costain, VINCI Construction Grands Projects and Bachy Soletanche, building the east section of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, on the path to process perfection.

"We've got visibility and functionality that we just didn't have before. Now all our processes can be captured quickly and efficiently by both site workers and engineers. With hundreds of people on-site, paper was inevitably lost or completed incorrectly. Thankfully, those holdups are now a thing of the past as we look to further digitize processes in the future," commented Lampros Arvanitis, BIM Manager, joint venture of Costain, VINCI Construction Grands Projects and Bachy Soletanche, building the east section of the Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Paul Stone, Product Strategist, FlowForma added: "The construction sector is an area where FlowForma is helping several organizations right now to meet the challenges of digitization across the industry head on, producing massive results. In this instance, Lampros and his team will now have much better productivity and transparency as staff continue to work remotely and in offline environments. They will also benefit from better reporting on processes and agility as business requirements change due to COVID-19."



Supporting Resources:

To find out how the FlowForma Process Automation tool works visit:

www.flowforma.com/how-it-works

To find out how the FlowForma Process Automation tool assists businesses in this sector visit: www.flowforma.com/helping-construction

T o download a free 14-day trial of FlowForma Process Automation visit:

www.flowforma.com/start-your-flowforma-trial

To learn more about FlowForma Process Automation, book a demo with one of our experts:

www.flowforma.com/book-a-demo

About FlowForma

FlowForma, the leading provider of Process Automation tools for Microsoft Office 365 has been revolutionizing the traditional BPM space with an innovative approach to developing award winning products that empower users to create and streamline processes smarter and faster, utilizing the familiar SharePoint platform, without any coding.

FlowForma is a Gold Microsoft Partner, with over 150,000 users across Europe, America and Asia. The company is headquartered in Dublin with offices in London and Boston and is motivated by its values to innovate, evolve and achieve with employees, customers and partners.

For further information or a 14-day free trial, visit www.flowforma.com

About CVB JV and The Thames Tideway Tunnel

Tideway is the company delivering the Thames Tideway Tunnel. More than 400 highly experienced professionals are employed by Tideway to deliver the project, working alongside the company's main delivery partners. Preparatory work on the project began in 2015 and construction is now underway at each of its 24 sites in London. The project is anticipated to be complete in 2024.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1229170/FlowForma_Paul_Stone.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/715823/FlowForma_Logo.jpg
Trumps pardon comes 100 years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which ensured women the right to vote.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday posthumously pardoned Susan B Anthony, a leader in the womens suffrage movement, who was arrested for voting in 1872 in violation of laws permitting only men to vote.

Anthony is best known for her role in the movement to secure voting rights for women, but she was also a strong anti-slavery and voting rights pioneer.

Trumps pardon, which he said he will issue later on Tuesday, comes 100 years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which ensured women the right to vote. It is also known as the Susan B Anthony Amendment.

Trump is facing a tough fight for re-election in November and has tried in recent weeks to appeal to women voters, especially those in the suburbs.

But during the White House event commemorating the event, Trump blasted former first lady Michelle Obamas speech a night earlier at the Democratic National Convention saying it was extremely divisive.

Former first lady Michelle Obama in her DNC speech called Donald Trump the wrong president for our country [Democratic National Convention via AP]

She was over her head, and frankly she shouldve made the speech live, which she didnt do, Trump said. She taped it. It was taped a long time ago because she had the wrong deaths. She didnt even mention the vice presidential candidate in the speech.

Obama stated in her speech that more than 150,000 Americans have died of COVID-19, when the number is 20,000 higher.

She gets these fawning reviews. If you gave a real review it wouldnt be so fawning, Trump added. I thought it was a very divisive speech. Extremely divisive.

The former first lady delivered the closing speech on the first night of the DNC, blistering Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and arguing he has shown he is incapable of handling the responsibilities of the presidency.

Anthony was arrested for voting in her hometown of Rochester, New York. She was convicted in a widely publicised trial in 1873. Although she refused to pay the fine, the authorities declined to take further action.

The 19th Amendment says: 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 passed it in 1919, and the amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920.

Visiting Anthonys gravesite in Rochester on election day has become a popular ritual in recent years. Thousands turned out in 2016 for the presidential match-up between Trump and Hillary Clinton. In 2018, voters showed up by the dozens to put their I Voted stickers on her headstone.

But most in-person events, festivals, marches and exhibitions planned around the country to mark the anniversary, have been cancelled amid continued concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. Some events will be conducted virtually.

United States Postal Service postboxes or mailboxes stacked in Hartford, Wisconsin, the US; people who live nearby say the pile had grown noticeably larger in recent weeks [Brian Snyder/Reuters]

The pardon also comes amid an outcry over US Postal Service (USPS) disruptions that Democrats say endanger the voting rights of millions of Americans who would vote by mail in November amid the pandemic. Trump has denied asking for the mail to be delayed even as he levelled fresh criticism on mail-in voting.

Meanwhile, the USPS announced that it would honour the centennial anniversary with a new stamp titled, 19th Amendment: Women Vote.

According to the USPS, the stamp itself was inspired by historic photographs and features a stylised illustration of suffragists marching in a parade or other public demonstration. The clothes and banners display the official colours of the National Womans Party, purple, white and gold.

A virtual dedication ceremony is scheduled for August 22, USPS said and pre-orders for the new stamps can be made online.
The Albuquerque Police Department has identified the victims of two weekend homicides and offered updates on other recent homicide cases.

Lyle Coriz, 32, died of a gunshot wound after he was dropped off at the Albuquerque Fire Rescue station at 123 Dallas NE around 1:30 a.m. Friday, a news release from APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos says.

Michael Nuckles, 39, was shot on the 7800 block of East Central around 10 p.m. Friday and later died of his injuries.

Natalie House, 49, a victim of a July 27 aggravated assault, has died, causing the case to be investigated as a homicide. Kevin House, her 24-year-old son, was previously charged with the assault. He is accused of strangling his mother, according to court documents.

Gallegos said that APD is now ruling the July 4 death of 69-year-old Leroy Jaramillo on Rio Maule Drive SW as a homicide. No other details were given.

The fatal shooting of a man in Barelas on June 23 is now being considered a justifiable homicide, Gallegos wrote. In June, APD identified the man killed in that case as 31-year-old Johnny Fajardo, and said that an initial investigation suggested the shooting was the result of a confrontation between two relatives.
Iran downplays U.S. attempts to trigger "snapback" mechanism

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:37, August 17, 2020

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that the United States cannot invoke the snapback mechanism under the UN Security Council of 2231, official IRNA news agency reported.

Washington has officially announced its departure from the Iranian 2015 landmark deal and "has no right to invoke snapback clause," Zarif was quoted as saying.

"They (the Americans) think that if they say something loud and repeat it again and again, it will bring them a right," Zarif said with reference to the U.S. persistance on triggering snapback which means restoration of all pre-2015 UN sanctions against Iran.

The United States has said it would invoke snapback sanctions against Iran, after its attempt to extend arms embargo against Iran failed.

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Lieutenant Governor has announced a committee to work out modalities for the economic revival of the union territory and extending support to its business community, an official spokesperson said here on Tuesday.

The announcement was made during an interaction with the representatives of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) at the Raj Bhavan auditorium here on Monday.

The interaction was organised to get the first-hand appraisal of the issues and problems of the business community, the official said.

He said the event proved to be gainful for the trade bodies as important decisions were made including framing of a committee to make an assessment of the overall economic scenario and propose fresh measures to ensure its revival, extension of power amnesty scheme and taking a holistic view of policy/guidelines for registration, renewal/operation of house boats.

To provide succour to the problems being faced by the traders, Sinha announced the committee which will be headed by advisor to the Lt Governor, Kewal Kumar Sharma, and consist of financial commissioner, finance department, commissioner secretary, industries and commerce department, secretary, tourism and chairman J&K Bank, the spokesperson said.

He said the committee would work out modalities for the economic revival and propose measures for extending much needed support to the business community.

It will submit its report to the Lt Governor by September 1, so that necessary measures can be initiated in the right direction.

Taking cognizance of the demands raised by various members of the umbrella body to extend the benefits under the power amnesty scheme, the Lt Governor issued on-spot directions to extend the last date for availing of benefits under the scheme up to September 30, he said.

During the interaction, the Sinha said the trade and industries are the major impact sectors for the economic development of any region and more effective measures are on the cards to develop a conducive environment for the development and growth of industrial and business sector in

Sinha directed the concerned officers to devise an institutional mechanism for taking onboard all stakeholders while formulating policies and other related issues, besides taking a fresh holistic review, after examining stakeholder concerns, in respect of policy/guidelines for registration, renewal/operation of house boats.

The members of the delegation of KCCI led by its president Sheikh Ashiq Hussain apprised the Lt Governor about a range of concerning issues of the prominent business sectors including industries, hospitality, handicrafts sector, houseboats, tourism, private schools, apple cold storage, young entrepreneurs etc., the spokesman said.

He said they also projected the socio-economic problems being faced by the people, especially the business community due to COVID-19 pandemic and other factors.

Redressing the issues, the Lt Governor assured the members of the delegation that a compassionate view would be taken for the redressal of the issues and demands projected by them.

Sinha said the UT administration is committed to addressing the issues concerning the Industries, besides promoting entrepreneurship and business opportunities for the youth of

(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.)
GLEN ALLEN, Va., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Company (NYSE: HBB) announced today that Gregory H. Trepp, President and Chief Executive Officer; Michelle O. Mosier, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and R. Scott Tidey, Senior Vice President, North America Sales and Marketing, Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., will participate in the Midwest IDEAS Investor Conference to be held virtually on August 26-27, 2020.

The Company's presentation, which will be prerecorded, will be webcast and is scheduled to be available at 7:00 am CST on August 26. The presentation can be accessed through the Midwest IDEAS conference portal for registered participants, in the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.hamiltonbeachbrands.com and on the IDEAS conference website: www.IDEASconferences.com .

About Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Company

Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Company is a holding company for Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., a leading designer, marketer and distributor of a wide range of branded small electric household and specialty housewares appliances, as well as commercial products for restaurants, fast food chains, bars and hotels. The Company's consumer brands include Hamilton Beach, Proctor Silex, Hamilton Beach Professional, Weston field-to-table and farm-to-table food preparation equipment, TrueAir air purifiers, and BrightlineTM personal care products. Hamilton Beach licenses the brands for Wolf Gourmet countertop appliances and CHI premium garment care products. Hamilton Beach markets the Bartesian premium cocktail delivery system through an exclusive multiyear agreement. Commercial brands include Hamilton Beach Commercial and Proctor Silex Commercial. For more information about Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Company, visit the Company's website at www.hamiltonbeachbrands.com.

About IDEAS Investor Conferences

IDEAS Investor Conferences are sponsored by a group of buyside companies for the benefit of regional investment communities. The IDEAS Investor Conferences are held annually in Boston, Chicago and Dallas and are produced by Three Part Advisors, LLC. Additional information about the events can be located at www.IDEASconferences.com.

SOURCE Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Company

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Auditors of Tata Steel Europe said they are doubtful about the company's ability to raise sufficient capital in the near term and continue as a going concern.

"Without qualifying our opinion on the special purpose financial information, we have considered the adequacy of the disclosure made in the special purpose financial information concerning Tata Steel Europes ability to continue as a going concern, the auditors said, as quoted by The Economic Times.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

A Tata Steel Europe spokesperson told the paper that it "remains an ongoing concern and constructive talks are on with the UK government on areas of potential support. As these discussions have not reached a conclusion, it would be premature to comment on any options that may or may not be under consideration.

In Tata Steels Integrated Report and Annual Accounts 2019-20, the auditors cited a letter received by Tata Steel Europe, the report said.

Tata Steel Europe received a letter from TS Global Procurement Company (Tata Steel) undertaking "to provide working capital up to a specified amount," which is higher than the forecast required by Tata Steel Europe over the next 12 months.

But the letter from TS Global stated that "it represents present policy, is given by way of comfort only and is not to be construed as constituting a promise as its future funding plans."

Due to this uncertainty, and other information in the "special purpose financial information" section of the annual accounts, the auditors raised doubts about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.

Tata

Steel

"Clearly,is trying to limit support only to the extent they believe the current shortfall may require, but is not giving an open cheque for all future adverse possibilities," an official told the publication.
As admired as Michelle Obama's Democratic National Convention speech was Monday night, it was her gold VOTE necklace that took center stage and set the internet on fire.

The former First Lady gave an impassioned keynote speech on Day 1 of the DNC, telling Americans to 'vote like we did in 2008 and 2012,' subtly underscoring the point by wearing a gold necklace that spelled out the word 'vote.'

It went viral almost immediately, and became a top-trending search during last hour of the convention, Google Trends tweeted.

Michelle Obama's $430 gold, ByChari VOTE necklace went viral after it was spotted around the former First Lady's neck during the DNC keynote speech Monday night

Social media users flocked to Twitter seeking to identify for comment on the necklace

'Someone find me Michelle Obama's VOTE necklace immediately please, I need to wear it every day for the rest of my life,' one Twitter user wrote.

'Where can I find Forever FLOTUS Michelle Obama's V-O-T--E necklace? Asking for a friend,' another tweeter wrote.

'The DNC convention was 95% cringe worthy and 5% Michelle Obama's necklace,' joked another Twitter user.

'I have now counted FIVE tweets in one quick scroll about Ms. Michelle Obama's gold vote necklace,' a Twitter user said, adding: 'It's bout to be 1) sold out from the original 2) targeted to every woman by rando DTC companies 3) Forever 21, Zara, and H&M are already mass producing this.'

Obama's necklace became a top trending Google search an hour after its debut Monday

Obama's VOTE necklace was custom-made by ByChari, a female-owned company based in Los Angeles.

Company owner Chari Cuthbert, 36, told the Daily Beast that she had no idea Obama would sport the necklace during the DNC speech until she saw it around her neck in a clip from the video that her mother spotted on CNN Monday afternoon.

'It was surreal,' Cuthbert said. 'I sat at my desk and cried.'

Still, Cuthbert said, she didn't trumpet the fact that Obama was wearing one of her designs on social media 'out of respect' because she 'didn't want to take advantage.'

Miami-born Cuthbert, whose parents are Jamaican, said that Obama's stylist had called to order the $430 necklace several weeks ahead to the convention, but hadn't specified when or where it would be worn.

Cuthbert said that she created a VOTE necklace prior to Obama's stylist ordering one. A November 2018 Instagram post features a VOTE necklace

Cuthbert (in jeans) said that she first learned Obama was wearing her VOTE necklace when her bother (standing) sent her a clip of Obama's DNC speech Monday afternoon

Cuthbert said that before Obama's stylist came calling, she'd actually created a VOTE necklace for herself and posted it on the ByChari Instagram page.

'I rarely voice my political views on social media, but there is too much at risk for us as women and individuals to not do our part,' reads the caption for a post featuring a the necklace, dated November 5, 2018.

'I encourage everyone to go out and vote tomorrow. Make your voice heard.'

Cuthbert said that she wasn't sure if Obama's stylist saw the VOTE necklace when it was posted back then or if the stylist came up with the idea to customize the necklace on their own.

About an hour after Obama's speech, Cuthbert said she has seen an 'a significant uptick in sales.'

Custom-made necklace pricing for the Original Space Letter Necklace, starts at $300.

Cuthbert said that prior to the necklace going viral, she had actually planned to use them to promote social activism and was already in the process of having several VOTE necklaces made to give to celebrities ahead of the 2020 Presidential Election.

Cuthbert called Obama her 'ideal dinner guest' and added 'to see her wearing my necklace, it's insane.'

At least one social media user pointed out that as great as Obama's necklace is: 'I do hope, though, that people also go VOTE and not just by [sic] a necklace that has those letters on it.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 11:14:45|Editor: huaxia

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OTTAWA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced his resignation Monday night amid an ongoing scandal of accepting gifts from a charity organization and reported rift with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

At a press conference in Ottawa, Morneau said he told Trudeau he was not going to run in the next federal election and that he only ever intended to serve in two governments.

Now is the "right time for a new finance minister" to manage a long and uncertain recovery as Canada rebuilds from the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19, said Morneau, who had been in the role of finance minister since 2015.

"That's why I'll be stepping down as finance minister and as Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre," he said.

Morneau denied he was asked to quit and said he had come to the conclusion that he was not the "most appropriate person" for the job.

In a statement, Trudeau praised Morneau for his relentless work to support all Canadians and create a resilient, fair economy that benefits everyone.

He said Canada would vigorously support Morneau's bid to become secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

In the past week, reports surfaced that Trudeau and Morneau were at odds over environmental initiatives and COVID-19 pandemic relief spending.

The Canadian Prime Minister's Office issued a statement a week ago saying Trudeau had "full confidence" in Morneau.

Canada's opposition parties have asked Trudeau and Morneau to resign over granting a student volunteer program to a charity group named WE Charity that has close links to them and their family members.

Trudeau and his government have been under fire since announcing on June 25 they were granting WE Charity a sole-sourced contract to run the now-halted student volunteer summer program of 900 million Canadian dollars (about 664 million U.S. dollars).

Due to public outcry over the contract, the charity and the Trudeau government announced on July 3 that they were ending the contract.

On July 13, Trudeau said he made a mistake in not recusing himself from cabinet discussions about granting the program to the charity group.

In late July, Morneau said he had paid WE Charity back 41,366 Canadian dollars (about 31,000 dollars) in outstanding expenses the organization covered for two trips his family took in 2017, and that his wife has made 100,000 Canadian dollars (some 74,400 dollars) in donations to the organization in recent years.

The parliamentary ethics commissioner is investigating both Trudeau and Morneau over whether they breached the Conflict of Interest Act in relation to the program with WE Charity. Enditem
Kentaro Kawamori and Jason Offerman, the co-founders of new startup Persefoni, which aims to make carbon reporting easier for large corporations, know a few things about carbon emissions.

The two men met at Chesapeake Energy Corp., an Oklahoma City-based energy company focused on oil and gas extraction that ranks as one of the biggest polluters in the world.

Kawamori, whose colorful career includes no more than two-year stints at companies including Accenture, Insight, SoftwareONE and Major League Gaming before ascending to the chief digital officer role at Chesapeake Energy, met Offerman at the energy company just as the company was helping the U.S. assume a dominant position in the oil and gas energy world.

Offerman, a longtime employee of the energy company, had spent 30 years in operations and enterprise resource planning before finding himself working under Kawamori. Together, the two men left to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and linked up with a family office called Rice Investment Group, in late 2019.

Their timing proved to be fortuitous, as Chesapeake Energy was forced to declare bankruptcy less than a year later. But even as Chesapeake was hitting hard times, Offerman and Kawamori were ramping up their work on Persofoni, which was officially incorporated in January.

The company provides businesses with the equivalent of enterprise resource planning software to set up the scope of their carbon reporting based on established guidelines and provide a window into a company's emissions profile.

While many companies have tried to pitch similar products in the past, they were working to overcome institutional inertia that had many companies convinced they could ignore their environmental impact. In the current business climate, that attitude is no longer acceptable to some of the major investors that companies rely on for liquidity in stock markets.

"Institutional investors are getting aggressive on requiring companies to disclose their sustainability metrics," said Kawamori, who serves as Persefoni's chief executive.

Story continues

It's not only institutional investors that are getting more stringent with their reporting requirements around sustainability. Kawamori expects that the European Union will pass tough regulations similar to the privacy requirements under GDPR to mandate clear reporting around emissions.

Investors backing the company include the Rice Investment Group, which led the round, with participation from Carnrite Ventures and some undisclosed angel investors. Daniel Rice, a co-founder and partner at Rice Investment Group, and a former oil and gas executive at Rice Energy, has joined the company's board of directors.

While Persefoni uses standardized reporting metrics, the company's software only enables reporting based on the criteria that companies establish for their metrics. These self-reporting mechanisms could obscure more than they reveal if company's aren't transparent about how they decide to measure their emissions profiles and what data they're actually including in those measurements.

"Ultimately, Persefoni wants to make measuring and tracking every organizations carbon footprint as ubiquitous as managing their financial performance," Kawamori said in a statement. "Financial ERP systems did that for financial data decades ago and the same need to manage carbon inventories and transactions has emerged for organizations.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed that a resident of South Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County had recently tested positive for the plague, according to a report from ABC News.

#BREAKING California's first case of the plague in 5 years reported in South Lake Tahoehttps://t.co/0jvrJrAQ0B  ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 18, 2020

It is believed that the person, an avid walker, may have been bitten by a infected flea while walking their dog along the Truckee River Corridor, according to a statement released by El Dorado County.

El Dorado Countys Health and Human Services said that, once transmitted, symptoms of the plague usually show up within two weeks. The patient is currently under medical care and is recovering at home.

The last reported human case of plague in California was in Yosemite National Park in 2015. Two people tested positive, and both were treated and recovered. These were the first in the state since 2006.

The plague most commonly refers to the Bubonic plague, that causes fever, chills, weakness and headache, followed by painful, swollen lymph nodes. It is very serious, but is treatable with antibiotics if discovered early, according to the video by ABC News.

El Dorado County public health officer Dr. Nancy Williams explained, "Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher elevation areas of El Dorado County. It's important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking and/or camping in areas where wild rodents are present. Human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious."

El Dorado County officials said rodent populations are routinely checked for plague activity in California. From 2016 to 2019, there were a total of 20 rodents with evidence of exposure to plague bacterium in the South Lake Tahoe area, but no plague-associated illnesses were reported.

The best ways to prevent potential exposure includes not feeding wild animals, not touching sick or dead animals, protecting your pets with flea control products, the wearing of long pants and using insect repellent.

While the word plague makes everyone uneasy, the CDC says that there is now only an average of seven human plague cases per year and the WHO says the mortality rate is estimated to be between 8 and 10%.

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3 churches sue Minn. governor over face mask mandate, attendance limits

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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.
Jessica Lesesky, Spoonflower CRO I am confident Jessicas experience, tenacity and passion for our customers will be instrumental to Spoonflowers continued evolution and success.

Spoonflower, the worlds largest custom fabric, wallpaper and home decor digital marketplace, today announced the appointment of Jessica Lesesky as the companys Chief Revenue Officer. Lesesky, a seasoned e-commerce and marketplace executive, will be responsible for driving sales for Spoonflower, focusing on brand and performance marketing initiatives as well as customer acquisition and retention. This strategic leadership addition comes at a time when the company is experiencing substantial growth and expanding its leadership team.

At Spoonflower, were focused on growing the business responsibly to keep our customers top of mind and continue to provide a source of income for our artist community, said Michael Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Spoonflower. I cant think of a better person to manage these efforts than Jessica. In her short time here shes already driven meaningful growth for Spoonflower, serving as an integral part of our COVID-19 response hub, building relationships with strategic partners like the Masks Now Coalition for our Buy A Mask, Give a Mask program and positioning us to achieve an incredible increase in new customers. I am confident Jessicas experience, tenacity and passion for our customers will be instrumental to Spoonflowers continued evolution and success.

Lesesky is a digital commerce veteran with several senior leadership positions focused on revenue, marketing and business development at organizations such as eBay, Barnes & Noble and ChannelAdvisor. Recently, she held positions as SVP of Sales and Account Management at Zalando SE, VP of Online Channels & International at Charles & Colvard, Ltd., and VP of Retail Solutions at Assurant Solutions.

Throughout my career, Ive always found inspiration in companies that create opportunities for everyday entrepreneurs, said Jessica Lesesky, Chief Revenue Officer, Spoonflower. Spoonflower provides that opportunity for millions of artists and makers, creating a community that celebrates creativity and individuality as well as a marketplace of endless choices for customers. I am excited to partner with the incredible team at Spoonflower to make this brand a household name by developing strategic relationships and launching initiatives that support our artists, makers and designers.

Leseskys appointment follows Spoonflowers appointments of Chief Executive Officer Michael Jones and Chief Financial Officer Brad Schomber earlier this year as the company positions itself for long-term growth. Spoonflower is actively recruiting a Chief Technology Officer as well as a Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Sustainability to further round out its leadership team.

Year to date, DIY projects, home makeovers and face masks have driven significant demand for Spoonflower products. Critical hires such as Lesesky will position Spoonflower to continue to accelerate its growth, support its artist community, and solidify its reputation as the premier destination for print-on-demand wallpaper, fabric, home decor and recently, masks.

ABOUT SPOONFLOWER

Spoonflower is a global marketplace connecting makers and consumers with artists worldwide. The companys on-demand digital printing platform has revolutionized the textile industry in its development of an eco-friendly, sustainable and scalable manufacturing process. With Spoonflower, consumers can either design their own patterns on premium fabric, wallpaper and home goods or shop from the worlds largest marketplace of over 1 million designs from independent artists. Today, millions of individuals use Spoonflower to express their personal style and power their entrepreneurial spirit.

For more information on Spoonflower visit http://www.spoonflower.com.
N orth Korea has between 20 to 60 nuclear bombs as well as a large stockpile of 20 different chemical weapons, according to a report from the US army.

In a report published last month, the US Department of the Army headquarters said North Korea uses its weapons as a deterrent to countries seeking regime change.

The authors of the report, titled 'North Korean tactics', estimated that the country, which is formally known as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), has between 20 to 60 nuclear bombs with the capability to produce six new devices each year.

"North Korea sought nuclear weapons because its leaders thought the threat of a nuclear attack would prevent other countries from contemplating a regime change," the report states.

The US Army also warned that it is "highly likely" North Korea has done research on biological weapons.

North Korea's first missile test of 2020 1 /10 North Korea's first missile test of 2020 Reuters AP Reuters Reuters Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP AP Reuters Reuters

It says: "North Korea has a longstanding chemical weapons program with the capability to produce nerve, blister, blood, and choking agents, and likely possesses a large chemical weapons stockpile.

"It is estimated that the country possesses 2,5005,000 tons of chemical weapons of approximately 20 different types, making it the third-largest possessor of chemical agents in the world.

"This includes the highly toxic sarin and VX chemical agents. It is highly likely that the KPA would use chemical artillery shells."

The writers of the report explain that North Korea is not a signatory of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons.

"North Korea possibly has weaponised anthrax or smallpox that could be mounted on missiles for use against South Korean, US, or Japanese targets in the region," the report states.

North Korea confirms destruction of inter-Korean liaison office

"One of the most recent defectors, who was a KPAGF soldier, had been vaccinated against anthrax."

The US Army also notes that Kim Jong Un's regime has developed its cyber warfare abilities and manages more 6,000 hackers, many of whom are based overseas.

Earlier this month a leaked UN report seen by Reuters, suggested the DPRK has probably developed miniaturised nuclear devices to fit into the warheads of its ballistic missiles".

The report stated: The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea is continuing its nuclear program, including the production of highly enriched uranium and construction of an experimental light water reactor.

"A Member State assessed that the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea is continuing production of nuclear weapons."

After a summit between President Donald Trump and Mr Kim broke down in Hanoi in February last year, negotiations between the two country's on Pyongyang's nuclear programmes have stalled.

North Korea has been subjected to UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Mr Kim and Mr Trump have met three times since 2018, but failed to make progress on calls for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and North Korea's demands for an end to sanctions.
Canadas finance Minister Bill Morneau has resigned amid a series of reports of differences between him and the countrys prime minister Justin Trudeau over the handling of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Morneau formally announced he was leaving the post as well as the House of Commons as he told reporters during a press conference that the right time for a new Finance Minister to deliver on a plan towards recovery from the havoc caused by the impact of the coronavirus crisis.

According to multiple reports, Morneau had been deeply unhappy over the deficit the Government was running in and believed that policies announced by Trudeau were not carefully considered.

Morneau met Trudeau in Ottawa on Monday morning before the announcement was made later in the evening. A statement issued by Trudeaus office said he had accepted Morneaus resignation.

The statement was laudatory about Morneaus contribution to the Government and ignored any explanation as to why the finance Ministers departure was precipitated.

However, it did mention that Morneau will put forward his name as a candidate to be the next secretary general of the OECD and that Canada will vigorously support his bid to lead this important global institution.

Speculation over Morneau ouster grew in recent days as former governor of Bank of Canada and Bank of England Mark Carney returned to Toronto from London and has been playing a role as an informal advisor to Trudeau on the plan for recovery from the economic devastation caused by Covid-19 related restrictive measures. Carney and deputy PM Chrystia Freeland are among the leading contenders to replace Morneau.

During the course of his media interaction Morneau said that it had never been his plan to run for more than two federal election cycles. The 57-year-old was an MP from Toronto Center and was first elected in 2015. He was appointed Finance Minister in October 2015 and remained in that post till the resignation.

Both Trudeau and Morneau have also been embroiled in the controversy over the grant of a near billion dollar contract to a charity with links to them and their families. While that contract was cancelled following the controversy it resulted in, both of them are also being investigated by the countrys Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner as well as a couple of Parliamentary panels.

The acrimonious exit, which is likely to jolt Bay Street, Canadas equivalent of Wall Street, and have economic repercussions given its timing, was not reflected in Trudeau statement, as he said I want to thank Bill for everything he has done to improve the quality of life of Canadians and make our country a better and fairer place to live. I have counted on his leadership, advice, and close friendship over the years and I look forward to that continuing well into the future.

Just recently, as reports came out about growing rancour leading to Morneaus departure, Trudeaus office released a statement that he had full confidence in Minister Morneau and any statement to the contrary is false.

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Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Monday resumed its direct connection with the UK with the British Airways operating its flight to London.

Re-starting this connection between Hyderabad and London, the first flight of British Airways (BA 276), a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner wide-bodied aircraft, took off Monday from Hyderabad Airport for Heathrow at around 7.50 a.m.

This gives a big boost to the air travel, which is now showing signs of recovery amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, said Hyderabad Airport operator GMR.

All passengers were serviced through the fully-sanitised Interim International Departures Terminal (IIDT) which has been kept ready for flight operations. Mandatory screening and safety measures were in place during the flight's handling to protect against the Covid-19 threat, including thermal screening prior to terminal entry, and mandatory social distancing enforced through special queuing arrangements at all passenger processing points.

RELATED NEWS British Airways Announces Special Relief Flights as India and UK Establish Air Bubble Pact

British Airways would be operating four times a week - every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Any passenger can book a ticket from Hyderabad to London as per the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. All passengers will have to adhere to the Covid-19 safety guidelines.

"We are happy to restart one of our important destinations under the international air transport bubbles arrangement. UK has always been a key destination for us. We are thankful to the government of the United Kingdom and the government of India for making this possible. The resumption of this connection between Hyderabad and London would help restore vital economic and social links between Telangana and UK, enabling much-needed movement of people and goods," said a GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) spokesperson.

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A British Airways spokesperson said: "Following months of uncertainty caused by the global lockdown, we are delighted to be able to once again provide a direct flight between Hyderabad and the UK. We know many of our customers in India have been waiting to be reunited with friends and family. We look forward to welcoming them back onboard."

With an aim to revive the pandemic-struck economy, during Unlock 3.0, the Indian government is building "Transport Bubbles" or "Air Travel Arrangements", which are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the pandemic.
Memphis, TN -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/18/2020 -- Watson Burns, PLLC was co-founded by Frank L. Watson, III and William F. Burns. Watson Burns provides trial lawyers for many types of cases such as for legal malpractice, defective and dangerous products, investment and consumer fraud, class action litigation, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death, and many more issues. Watson Burns also offers malpractice lawyers for clients that want to sue negligent attorneys. Besides, Watson Burns does not accept cases involving family law and divorce, medical malpractice, criminal work, workers compensation, as well as slip and fall cases.



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An orang-utan orphanage has started transporting its baby apes to 'nursery' using a wheelbarrow after realising the adorable animals could not keep up during the morning commute.

Young orang-utans at Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation in Kalimantan, Indonesia, join a nursery group where they can meet other apes, while the older apes attend 'forest school'.

The orphanage came up with an inventive way to take the orang-utans to school after realising their legs could not keep up to speed during the commute.

Now the baby apes are ferried off to nursery in wheelbarrows, which each hold around four young orang-utans.

The orphanage shared adorable footage of their taxi service, showing the orang-utans relaxing ahead of their day of learning.

Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation in Kalimantan, Indonesia, started ferrying their baby orang-utans to nursery in wheelbarrows after realising they could not keep up during the walk

The orphanage shared adorable footage of their taxi service, showing the young orang-utans relaxing as they are taken to nursery in style

In the footage, around four apes sit in each red cart as the workers push them to nursery, where they are taught how to locate food in the jungle and build a nest to sleep in

In the video, the baby apes are helped to climb into the red carts by the workers and when they are safely inside, they are ferried off to nursery.

The loveable animals sit and peer over the side of the wheelbarrows to look at their surroundings as they enjoy their luxury treatment.

During nursery, the orang-utans are taught how to locate and open all the varied foods found in the jungle and how to build a secure nest to sleep in.

Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation is an Indonesian charity which rescue, rehabilitate and reintroduce orang-utans back into their natural habitat.

Many of which are orphans who have been separated from their families due to mass deforestation, forest fires, poaching and the illegal pet trade.

The baby apes join a nursery where they are able to socialise with other orang-utans, while the older animals attend a 'forest school'

Borneo Orang-utan Survival Foundation is an Indonesian charity which rescue, rehabilitate and reintroduce orang-utans back into their natural habitat

Many of the young orang-utans are orphans, who were separated from their families due to mass deforestation and poaching

Nyaru Menteng Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre and the Samboja Lestari Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre in Kalimantan, Indonesia, have a veterinary team who assess the apes upon arrival.

Once the surrogate mothers have found the juvenile orang-utans to be skilled, they are moved to socialisation complexes.

They are then temporarily housed in groups in large cages where they can practise their socialisation skills with new individuals.

While orang-utans are classed as semi-solitary animals, in the wild they interact with other members of their species when mating, during times of high food availability, and when disputing territories.
ROME - Cesare Romiti, an industrialist and champion of Italian capitalism who steered automaker Fiat through years of strikes and domestic terrorism in the 1970s and 1980s, died in Rome on Tuesday, Italian state TV said. He was 97.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/8/2020 (519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ROME - Cesare Romiti, an industrialist and champion of Italian capitalism who steered automaker Fiat through years of strikes and domestic terrorism in the 1970s and 1980s, died in Rome on Tuesday, Italian state TV said. He was 97.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella hailed Romiti as an important protagonist of a demanding and controversial season of industrial relations and Italian capitalism.

FILE -- October 1994 File photo of Fiat chairman Cesare Romiti. Romiti has died Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in his house in Milan at the age of 97, according ton Italian media. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

For many years, Romiti served as right-hand aide to Giovanni Agnelli, the jet-setting chieftain of the family dynasty that had founded the automaker in 1900 and would develop it into the nation's largest private employer.

In 1974, during the global oil crisis that rocked the automobile industry, Romiti joined Fiat, going on to become CEO and eventually chairman.

Just after becoming CEO in 1980, he helped break a weeks-long strike by factory workers with a march of some 40,000 Fiat managers and other white-collar workers through Turin, Fiat headquarters town, demanding the right to work. The strike was triggered by Fiat's plans to fire 14,000 workers.

For Romiti, the strike was more than a walkout that had crippled production. He contended that elements of the Red Brigades, an extreme-left terrorist organization whose shootings and knee-cappings" targeted business executives, magistrates and journalists, among others, had infiltrated the higher ranks of the CGIL labour union confederation. The union enjoyed the staunch backing of the Italian Communist Party, then the largest communist force in the West.

I had 60 persons who were knee-capped,'' Romiti said in an 2010 interview with Catholic daily Avvenire, referring to the trademark tactic of the Red Brigades to shoot in the knees those they deemed capitalist enemies. Among those assassinated by the Red Brigades was a Fiat planning manager, and, Romiti noted, he himself had been the target of an attempted kidnapping.

After watching workers on the picket lines outside factories for weeks, Romiti said he took his car one evening without letting the bodyguards know. "I drove around Mirafiori (factory). In front of the gates you saw great bonfires, with people who were singing, laughing, dancing. Those werent workers struggling for jobs," Romiti told Avvenire.

The strike was broken, with laid-off workers given unemployment benefits, but the future of the company and its employees was safe, Romiti concluded.

FILE -- FILE -- In this Oct. 16, 1997 file photo, Cesare Romiti arrives at a Confindustria, industrialists association, meeting in Milan. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Romiti was born in Rome on June 24, 1923, the son of an Italian postal worker who was fired because he opposed Benito Mussolini's fascist regime. In interviews, Romiti recalled growing up poor, recounting how once he stole a bagful of flour from a deposit of flour during the Nazi occupation of Rome in the 1940s.

That flour was welcomed like manna at home, Romiti called.

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He took a university degree in economics, and went on to hold executive posts in several Italian and foreign companies, including as CEO of Alitalia, Italy's flagship airline, in the early 1970s.

Romiti helped Fiat launch new car models and close the historic Lingotto factory in Turin to put the company solidly on the path to profits. He left the company, as chairman, in 1998. By then, Fiat's market share in Italy had dropped below 40% as foreign brands gained in popularity with consumers.

Fiat is now part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Fiat Chrysler Chairman John Elkann, an Agnelli family member highlighted the significant role Romiti had played in the automaker's past.

In the many years spent next to my grandfather (Giovanni Agnelli), Cesare Romiti faced difficult moments with courage, and for this he deserves a place of regard in the history of Fiat, Elkann said in a statement.

From 1998 to 2004, he served as chairman of the Milan-based RCS Media Group, including daily Corriere della Sera.

With an industrialists keen sense of trends, he anticipated the growing economic influence of China in global markets, establishing in 2003 the Italy-China Foundation. In 2006, he received honorary citizenship from China for his efforts to strengthen ties between the countries.
The internet is an essential tool for modern life, and there is no doubt whether its lack of presence impacts daily lives.

Hollywood star Dennis Quaid has put on many noteworthy performances throughout the years. He is known for his roles in The Rookie (2002), Frequency (2000), and The Day After Tomorrow (2004). The award-winning actor now also utilizes his talents as host for the educational program Viewpoint." The television show features a wide variety of topics to inform its viewers about issues that impact people around the globe. Coming to the show is an episode discussing broadband internet in rural communities.

Rural areas are a prime location for many folks looking to get away from city congestion or to give their children lots of room to roam outdoors. However, living further away from towns with larger populations means running the risk of minimal internet access. Broadband internet is severely lacking for many individuals living in the country where landmass outweighs population numbers.

Lack of access to high-speed internet hinders many aspects of modern life, such as schooling. Many schools in rural communities are unable to tap into online resources due to a lack of high-speed internet connection. As a result, some developers are working on expanding broadband internet to these areas.

The internet is an essential tool for modern life, and there is no doubt whether its lack of presence impacts daily lives. Additional details about broadband internet in rural communities will be in the upcoming episode.

Viewpoint" with Dennis Quaid is cautiously looked over before airing to a public audience. The informational show has received numerous awards.


A big fire at an apartment building in Mandan, N.D., last week started accidentally with improperly discarded smoking materials, police said.

The determination was made after examination of physical evidence and interviews with building occupants and witnesses, Deputy Police Chief Lori Flaten said in a statement.

Residents in 31 units of the third-story apartment building were displaced by the fire. Flaten says it began on a third-floor balcony. It spread through the attic and consumed the buildings rooftop.

No one was injured in the fire.

Residents have been allowed back into the building to retrieve belongings on the first and second floors. The building management owner says it wont be known for a while whether the building can be saved.

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Topics North Dakota
Birdie logo Birdie is the industry's first comprehensive AI-based Insights-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform designed specifically to help CPG brands understand millions of consumers opinions, transforming unstructured data into actionable insights.

Birdie, the technology company that is revolutionizing how CPG brands do market research, today announced it has raised $1.6 million in a seed funding round led by ASTELLA, a Brazilian-based venture firm. The company plans to use the new funding to support Birdies expansion in the US, where the company plans to grow its sales and marketing teams, and accelerate the development of new features related to integration with other data sources.

Birdie is the industry's first comprehensive AI-based Insights-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform designed specifically to help CPG brands understand millions of consumers opinions, transforming unstructured data into actionable insights. By using AI and natural language processing, Birdie turns millions of comments, reviews, and other online conversations into structured, practical consumer insights that help marketing teams make faster, more effective decisions. According to Gartner, 60% of Marketing Analytics teams will be cut by half until 2023 for failure to deliver insights in a more faster and efficient manner with many brands still using offline and expensive market research tools. Birdies powerful system of intelligence offers a critical tool for brands overwhelmed by the amount of data generated by consumers about their buying experiences.

Our vision is to become a central system of intelligence for Consumer Insights executives and their teams. By consolidating data from enterprise marketing & data solutions  such as customer service, CRM, review management, research and surveys, and social listening tools  and external sources into a central dashboard with actionable insights, we are helping consumer brands tackle the problem of infobesity  or information overload  to optimize marketing and sales efforts, said Alexandre Hadade, Co-Founder and CEO, Birdie.

Hadade, named by CNBC as one of the 20 most innovative entrepreneurs in Latin America, founded Birdie in 2018 alongside Patricia Osorio, Everton Cherman, and Rodrigo Pantigas fellow serial entrepreneurs from Brazil with backgrounds in marketing automation, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence. After completing Samsungs startup accelerator program in Brazil in 2019, Birdie turned its attention to the US, where 44% of the Consumer Insights and Market Research spend reside.

Already, leading global consumer brands like Samsung and P&G are using Birdies platform to predict category trends, anticipate product crises, and discover promotional opportunities in key retail channels, a process that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated as brands are being forced to develop new sales channels or understand changing consumer behavior in existing channels.

"Birdie helped us review our current buying personas and allowed us to instantly discover new and untapped ones from the enormous amount of consumer data we collected. With their platform, Birdie allowed us to refine the messaging and positioning for some of our products, which significantly improved our campaigns' conversion rates," said Jairo Ramalho, Sr. Ecommerce and Data-Driven Marketing Manager for Samsung Latin America.

In just five years the insights-as-a-service industry tripled to $3 billion in 2020, and within that, the consumer insights category spanning marketing, sales, customer success, and product management, is going to be a major driver of the markets future growth. Birdie has built a powerful system of intelligence that we expect to become the cockpit for the next generation of leading consumer brands, said Edson Rigonatti, partner at ASTELLA.

ABOUT BIRDIE:

Birdie is the AI-based Insights-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform that helps CPG brands extract actionable consumer insights from unstructured data to predict category trends, anticipate product crises, and discover promotional opportunities in key retail channels in real time. Developed in collaboration with industry-leading veterans of the CPG and AI technology worlds, Birdie offers brands a powerful new system of intelligence that puts valuable, but previously neglected, data to use. Today, Birdie works with some of the worlds leading brands like Samsung, P&G, Whirlpool.

Founded in 2018 by Alexandre Hadade and Patricia Osorio, Birdie is headquartered in Palo Alto with offices in Miami and Sao Paulo and is backed by ASTELLA and private investors. For more information, visit Birdie.ai or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

ABOUT ASTELLA:

ASTELLA is an early-stage Brazilian Venture Capital firm. Launched in 2010, the firm is currently investing its fourth fund, ASTELLA looks to back talented and daring tech entrepreneurs, and generate value-creating growth with new solutions and market categories that are changing the future of Brazil.
CROWN POINT  A judge found a Dyer man mentally competent Monday to stand trial on charges alleging he attempted to murder his grandparents by stabbing them.

Nicholas B. Powers, 23, is accused of attacking his 73-year-old grandmother as she wrapped Valentine's Day gifts and then turning the knife on his 79-year-old grandfather Jan. 28, after the grandfather told Powers to move out for smoking marijuana.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Samuel Cappas granted a request in February from defense attorney Lemuel Stigler to appoint mental health professionals to assess if Powers is competent to stand trial. The judge appointed a third professional in April to evaluate Powers, records show.

One of the professionals concluded Powers wasn't quite competent to stand trial, but the other two professionals determined he was competent, Cappas said.

John Heroldt testified Monday he evaluated Powers and had some concerns about the defendant's understanding of the court process. However, Heroldt said he thought Powers could become competent if his defense attorney were to spend time educating him.
The Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday released the fifth and final volume of its report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, which details "counterintelligence threats and vulnerabilities."

Why it matters: The bipartisan, 966-page report goes further than the Mueller report in showing the extent of Russia's connections to members of the Trump campaign, and how the Kremlin was able to take advantage of the transition team's inexperience to gain access to sensitive information.

Highlights

Paul Manafort: The report found that the former Trump campaign chairman began working on influence operations for the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and other pro-Russia Ukrainian oligarchs in 2004.

Manafort hired and worked closely with Russian national Konstantin Kilimnik, whom the committee definitively calls a "Russian intelligence officer" that served as a liaison between him and Deripaska.

On numerous occasions, Manafort sought to pass sensitive internal polling data and campaign strategy to Kilimnik. The committee was unable to determine why or what Kilimnik did with that information, in part due to the pair's use of encrypted messaging apps.

The committee did, however, obtain "some information" suggesting Kilimnik "may have been connected" to Russia's hacking and leaking of Democratic emails. The section detailing these findings is largely redacted.

The bottom line: "Taken as a whole, Manafort's high level access and willingness to share information with individuals closely affiliated with the Russian intelligence services, particularly Kilimnik and associates of Oleg Deripaska, represented a grave counterintelligence threat," the committee wrote.

Roger Stone/WikiLeaks: The committee found that then-candidate Trump and senior campaign officials attempted to obtain advance information about WikiLeaks' release of damaging emails from Roger Stone, who they believed had inside information.

It also assessed that Trump spoke with Stone about WikiLeaks on "multiple occasions," despite the fact that the president said he did not recall doing so in written answers to special counsel Robert Mueller.

In July 2016, Stone drafted tweets for Trump  at his request  that "attacked Clinton for her adversarial posture toward Russia and mentioned a new peace deal with Putin."

The committee also found "significant evidence" to suggest that WikiLeaks was "knowingly collaborating with Russian government officials." WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has long denied that the source of the hacked emails was Russia.

2016 Trump Tower meeting: The committee found that Donald Trump Jr. expected to receive "derogatory information" that would benefit the campaign from a person he knew was connected to the Russian government, but that no information was ultimately transmitted.

Two participants at the meeting, Natalia Veselnitskaya and Rinat Akhmetshin, had far more "extensive and concerning" ties to the the Russian government, including to Russian intelligence, than publicly known.

Michael Cohen/Russia business deal: The report found that by the end of 2015, Trumps former personal lawyer had reached out to the Kremlin directly to solicit the Russian government's assistance about building a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Cohen kept Trump updated on the progress of the deal. While these negotiations were ongoing, Trump made positive public comments about Putin in connection with his presidential campaign. The report found Cohen and Felix Sater, a longtime business associate of Trump, sought to leverage Trump's comments, and subsequent comments about Trump by Putin, to advance the deal.

Cohen made contact in January 2016 with a Russian aide to Putin spokesman Dmitri Peskov and reported to Trump that he had done so. Attempts to advance the deal stopped in the summer of 2016.

Trump transition: Russia "took advantage" of members of the Trump transition teams "relative inexperience in government, opposition to Obama administration policies, and Trumps desire to deepen ties with Russia to pursue unofficial channels through which Russia could conduct diplomacy," the committee determined.

The transition team "repeatedly took actions that had the potential, and sometimes the effect," of interfering with the Obama administration's diplomatic efforts, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn's conversations with the former Russian ambassador.

FBI investigation: The report concluded that "certain FBI procedures and actions in response to the Russian threat to the 2016 elections were flawed," specifically with respect to the bureau's interactions with the DNC about the email hacks and its treatment of the Steele Dossier.

Methodology: Together, the five volumes of the report represent "three years of investigative activity, hundreds of witness interviews and engagements, millions of pages of document review, and open and closed hearings."

The committee conducted "follow-up interviews" with Michael Cohen, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump Jr., John Podesta, and State Department official Jonathan Winer  which were necessary after the committee "developed additional information since the initial interview that required clarification from the witnesses."

The committee said it was limited in some aspects of its investigation by assertions of executive privilege, including by members of the Trump transition team. "The committee was surprised by these assertions because they were made inconsistently and because they have no basis in law," the report claims.

What they're saying:

Senate Intelligence acting chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.): We can say, without any hesitation, that the Committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election."

We can say, without any hesitation, that the Committee found absolutely no evidence that then-candidate Donald Trump or his campaign colluded with the Russian government to meddle in the 2016 election." Senate Intelligence ranking member Mark Warner (D-Va.): At nearly 1,000 pages, Volume 5 stands as the most comprehensive examination of ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign to date  a breathtaking level of contacts between Trump officials and Russian government operatives that is a very real counterintelligence threat to our elections. ... This cannot happen again."

Read the full report.

Editor's note: This post has been corrected to reflect that the report is 966 pages (not 996).
REUTERS/Blair Gable

After a string of scandals during his tenure, and a reported rift with the Prime Minister, Bill Morneau is resigning as Canadas Finance Minister.

Morneau announced he is stepping down during a sudden news conference called Monday evening. He says he told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he will not be running in the next election, and that he never intended to run for more than two elections.

Morneau says the Prime Minister did not ask him to resign, and that he tendered his resignation when he met with Trudeau earlier today.

Like any job theres a time when youre the appropriate person in the role and theres a time, where you have to decide youre not the appropriate person in the role, said Morneau, during the news conference.

Since Im not running again, and since I expect well have a long and challenging recovery, I think its important that the Prime Minister has by his side a Finance Minister who has that longer term vision, and so thats what led me to conclude during this time period that its appropriate for me to step down.

Morneau says Trudeau supports his decision to put his name forward to be the next Secretary General for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

For me the opportunity to contribute to the challenges were going to face in the globe, the OECD is there at the centre, in thinking about issues like international taxation, the digital transformation in our world, thinking about how we can deal with the challenges well be facing as we get through this pandemic.

Morneau would not say if a rift with Trudeau led to his resignation, but acknowledged there was vigrous debate over spending plans. Thats the way you get to better policy outcomes, said Morneau.

Trudeau praised Morneau in a statement acknowledging his resignation.

Bill has worked relentlessly to support all Canadians and create a resilient, fair, economy that benefits everyone, said Trudeau in a statement.

Story continues

Under his leadership, Canada developed a strong economy with one of the best balance sheets in the G7, created over one million jobs, achieved the lowest unemployment rate in recorded history, lifted over one million people out of poverty, and created a coherent plant to protect the environment while growing the economy.

Morneau, 57, has served as Finance Minister and the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre since the Liberals took power in 2015. As Finance Minister he launched the Canada Child Benefit and incentives for first-time homebuyers. He has also helped guide the countrys fiscal programs through the COVID-19 pandemic with new supports like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).

Morneau was caught up in the WE Charity scandal that has also brought criticism to the Prime Minister, and resulted in an ethics investigation.

He has four children with his wife Nancy McCain, a member of the New Brunswick family that owns McCain Foods. His daughter Grace, who is adopted and the family sponsored to Canada from Uganda when she was 14, worked at WE when the scandal emerged.

Before entering politics, Morneau served as head of Morneau Shepell, Canadas largest human resources firm. Continuing ties to the company his father founded got him into hot water on more than one occasion. He sold his shares in the company after facing criticism for not placing the $20 million stake in a blind trust, and was later cleared of insider trading after accusations that he profited from his own tax policies when he sold shares in the company in 2015.

He was also the head of policy think-tank C.D. Howe Institute. He co-authored a book, The Real Retirement, with Fred Vettese.

Jessy Bains is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jessysbains.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 18:42:19|Editor: huaxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia reported seven new COVID-19 infections, bringing the national total to 9,219, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah told a press briefing that four cases are imported and three more are local transmissions.

Another 26 cases have been released, bringing the total cured and discharged to 8,902 or 96.6 percent of all cases.

Of the remaining 192 active cases, eight are being held in intensive care and two of those are in need of assisted breathing.

No new deaths have been reported, leaving the total deaths at 125. Enditem
Rhonda Mangum doesn't think rapper Kanye West is a serious contender for the White House and would never cast a vote for the music mogul. But she is worried his candidacy could draw votes away from Democrat Joe Biden and help President Donald Trump on Nov. 3.

"Some may be swayed out of true belief that hes serious or as a joke or out of spite," said Mangum, a Georgia Democrat.

West continues to draw media attention as a presidential hopeful running under the "Birthday Party" banner, despite not qualifying for the ballot in enough states to reach the minimum of 270 electoral votes.

He's on the ballot in Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah and Vermont, and has sought to be a contender in important battlegrounds such as Wisconsin. But West has missed the deadline in significant states such as his home state of Illinois, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas.

Get ready: Register to vote or check your status here

Republican operatives in several states have been involved in helping West get on the ballot. Lane Ruhland, a lawyer with ties to the Wisconsin Republican Party and the Trump campaign, was recorded on video dropping off signatures for West with the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The Associated Press and other media reported that GOP lawyers and activists have helped him get on the ballot in other states.

Mangum, who is Black, said she believes Republicans are encouraging West's bid in hopes his third-party candidacy could damage Biden.

"This is outrageous that in plain sight the Trump folks are OK with cheating to win," she said.

Some Democrats worry that West, 43, could have an impact on the race, in particular by cutting into Biden's support with younger Black voters. But critics say that thinking underscores an incorrect assumption that Black voters would flock to an African American celebrity. In fact, polling data shows very slim support for West and indicates that Black voters are no more likely to back him than white voters are.

Story continues

Trump's reelection campaign has denied any coordination with West.

"We dont know what Kanye West is doing or who is helping him do it," Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told USA TODAY.

In an interview with Forbes, West acknowledged that the impact of his candidacy could be to draw votes from Biden. "Im not denying it," West said. "I just told you."

Kanye West on July 19, 2020 in North Charleston, S.C.

Last week, West confirmed meeting with White House adviser Jared Kushner, saying the two have been friends for a decade and talk often.

"I'm willing to do a live interview with the New York Times about my meeting with Jared where we discussed Dr Claude Andersons book 'Powernomics'," West said in an Aug. 12 tweet.

Kushner said neither Trump nor his campaign have anything to do with West's presidential efforts, but acknowledged the meeting took place.

"(Kanye) has some great ideas for what he'd like to see happen in the country," Kushner told reporters at the White House. "And that's why he has the candidacy that he's been doing."

Democratic and Republican strategists said they are not taking West's presidential bid very seriously, at least not yet.

Polling shows slim support for West

A POLITICO/Morning Consult poll released last week showed just 2% of registered voters said they would vote for West, smaller than the 7% who said they had no opinion. Black voters were no more likely to support West, with only 2% saying they backed him. The poll also found that Biden's 9% lead nationally over Trump wasn't affected by whether the rapper was on the ballot.

Political consultant Jason Perkey, a former executive director for the South Carolina Democratic Party, said some of West's previous comments and his past praise for Trump put him out of step with many Black voters.

During an October 2018 visit to the White House, West, wearing a red "Make America Great Again" Trump campaign hat, hugged Trump and said wearing the hat made him "feel like Superman."

After West gave lengthy remarks during a session with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said: "He can speak for me any time he wants. Hes a smart cookie. He gets it." Trump added that West "could very well be" a future presidential candidate.

"Only after 2024," the rapper clarified.

Kanye West hugs President Donald Trump after arriving in the Oval Office during his White House visit on Thursday.

When he held his first political rally in South Carolina last month, West tearfully discussed his opposition to abortion.

"My dad wanted to abort me," he told the audience. "My mom saved my life. There would have been no Kanye West, because my dad was too busy."

At the same event, West criticized abolitionist Harriet Tubman, saying she "never actually freed the slaves. She just had the slaves go work for other white people."

Tubman is one of the most respected figures of 19th century America. An African American who escaped slavery, she helped enslaved Black men and women travel north to freedom and fought for the Union during the Civil War. She later became a supporter of womens suffrage.

Perkey said it was unlikely West would attract votes in battleground states.

"However anyone wants to categorize what motivated Kanye to get into the race, who motivated him to do it or where his resources are coming from, the people in battleground states are smart enough to see through it," he said.

African American voters were a crucial base of support for Biden during the primaries. Support from Black voters in South Carolina in February rescued his campaign after his losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. He eventually overtook Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to clinch the votes needed for nomination.

Any Republican hopes that West could derail Biden's chances in November are unrealistic, Perkey said.

"It puts the term 'Hail Mary' to shame in terms of electoral politics," he said.

Comparison to Ralph Nader

But that doesn't mean some party professionals aren't keeping a wary eye on the music mogul's efforts, citing the damage a well-known third-party candidate can do.

"Everybody remembers what happened with Ralph Nader," said pollster Frank Luntz, referring to the battle for Florida in the disputed 2000 election in which President George W. Bush prevailed over Democrat Al Gore after a recount and the intervention of the Supreme Court.

Nader, a consumer advocate-turned-presidential candidate, carried only 1.6% of the vote in the Sunshine State, but that may have included thousands of left-leaning voters who might otherwise have backed Gore.

Bush had a lead of 537 votes over Gore in Florida. Nader got 97,488 votes.

"If Nader had not been on the ballot," Luntz said, "Al Gore would have won."

Pollsters questioned whether West could have that much of an impact on the 2020 race, especially since he missed deadlines in several big battleground states.

Republicans and Democrats also noted that West has not been campaigning, issuing only occasional and enigmatic tweets.

"People have to take him seriously," Luntz said.

A deeper dive into the POLITICO/Morning Consult survey showed West has a 21% approval rating among Black voters compared to a 62% unfavorable rating. He ranks highest at 34% among voters who have a very favorable view of Trump, according to the poll.

Biden holds a 78% favorable rating among African Americans versus a 17% unfavorable rating, the survey shows.

Republican pollster Ed Goeas said surveys show little or no enthusiasm among African American voters for West's candidacy, including among young people who might be more receptive to the candidacy of the musical artist.

On the other hand, he said, polls do show strong Black support for electing Biden and defeating Trump, making it hard to imagine that many committed people will simply switch their vote from Biden to West.

"I just don't see it," Goeas said. "They're not going to play that game and throw away their vote."

Even so, a small percentage of the vote can make a difference.

Many Democrats have argued that Trump benefited in 2016 from a pair of outsider candidates: Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

Trump won the Electoral College by carrying three states a Republican had not won since 1988: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. He won those states by a combined total of fewer than 80,000 votes.

In each of those states, Johnson and Stein drew more votes than the margins between Trump and Clinton. Democrats believe that Stein in particular took votes away from Clinton.

Keeping an eye on young voters

Democrats are keeping an eye on whether West will attract younger voters who aren't excited out Biden and have tuned out presidential race altogether.

Many took part of former first lady Michelle Obama's convention speech on Monday night as a warning to those young Americans about West, who is the most prominent third-party candidate thus far.

During a virtual address, she said that in the face of tactics to deter Biden's supporters, this year "is not the time to withhold our votes in protest or play games with candidates who have no chance of winning."

Young Black voters, especially those who supported Sen. Bernie Sanders in the primary election, have been more skeptical of Biden than Black voters in other age groups, according to an analysis from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape project.

Roughly 91% of Black voters age 65 and over, the study found, planned to vote for the former vice president. That dropped to 68% among the Black voters ages 18 to 29. It was also lower than the 85% of young Black voters who supported Hillary Clinton in during the 2016 election, according to the study.

West is drawing his strongest support from Gen Z voters, those born after 1996. About 6% of those voters said they would support West for president, according to the POLITICO/Morning Consult poll. But that group is a tiny slice of the electorate.

Younger Black voters have been more critical of Biden's record in the Senate, citing his role in crafting the 1994 crime bill as an example.

The legislation established stricter sentencing guidelines, including a mandatory "three strikes" life sentence for repeat violent offenders. Advocates for criminal justice reform say mandatory sentencing has contributed to mass incarcerations and should be rolled back.

Biden, then a senator from Delaware and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was a main architect of the bill.

The former vice president was questioned about the bill during a virtual NAACP forum in June.

Biden said the questions are "legitimate" but asked voters to focus more on his present views than past votes.

Watch what I do," he said. "Judge me based on what I do, what I say and to whom I say it."

Redfield & Wilton Strategies, a British-based polling firm, found Democrats are worried West could spoil the race by siphoning away younger votes, but its data showed the opposite might happen.

The July poll showed Biden leading Trump 48% to 40%. But when West's name was included as an option in the survey, Biden still garnered support from 48% of the respondents while Trump's support slipped to 39%.

Even if polls suggest West's candidacy is unlikely to impact the race between Trump and Biden, he has received at least two challenges regarding his candidate paperwork in Wisconsin.

The complaints, filed with the state election commission by local activists, alleged that West's filing was late and included invalid signatures  accusations that West's attorneys disputed.

"These complaints represent a well-organized effort funded by wealthy outside groups, including the Wisconsin Democratic Party and its allies, who fear the candidacy of Kanye West, and seek to silence him," attorney Michael Curran wrote in the response.

Contributing: Byran Alexander of USA TODAY and The Associated Press

Reporter Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at pbailey@USAToday.com. Follow him on Twitter at @phillipmbailey.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could Kanye West's 2020 bid hurt Biden and give Trump a 'Hail Mary'
The police command in Niger has confirmed the abduction of a foreign national and a Nigerian by suspected bandits between Yankila and Regina village of Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

The commissioner of police, Adamu Usman, comfirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday.

Mr Usman said on August 17 at about 11.05 hours, information was received that armed bandits attacked and kidnapped two staff of Transparent construction company.

He said that the victims were handling the rehabilitation of the bad portion of the federal road in the area.

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They have not informed the command of their operations in the state. We only knew their presence in the state due to this incident.

We have already deployed a team of armed security personnel to rescue the victims, Mr Usman said.

(NAN)
A light to moderate magnitude 4.9 quake occurred at approx. 58 km depth and 150 km south of East Java or 200 km SW of Bali's capital Denpasar. It was felt as light shaking by many people in the southern coastal areas of East Java and Bali. ...

Quakes detected near: Askja (5 quakes between mag 0.5-1.6), Churchill (1 quake mag 1.3), Clear Lake (19 quakes between mag 0.1-2.8), Coso (12 quakes between mag 0.3-2.3), Etna (4 quakes between mag 1.0-1.6), Katla (2 quakes between mag 0.9-1.3) ...

Quakes detected near: Clear Lake (11 quakes between mag 0.6-1.9), Coso (8 quakes between mag 0.3-2.1), Esjufjoll (1 quake mag 1.1), Etna (3 quakes between mag 1.2-1.6), Fourpeaked (1 quake mag 1.1), Grimsvotn (1 quake mag 1.6) ...

A relatively deep (92 km) magnitude 5 earthquake occurred this morning in the Aegean Sea between Attika and Milos Island, at 10:27 local time. ...

A shallow (11.3 km depth) earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck in a sparsely populated area of northern Baja California, at 169 km distance SE of Tijuana city. ...

Quakes detected near: Clear Lake (35 quakes between mag 0.3-3.2), Coso (10 quakes between mag 0.2-1.4), Eldey (2 quakes between mag 0.7-1.5), Etna (5 quakes between mag 1.0-1.2), Gran Canaria (1 quake mag 2.1), Hofsjokull volcano (2 quakes between mag 1.7-2.2) ...

to get one of the fastest seismic alerts online:

If you were or still are in this area during the quake help others with your feedback and file a quick report here .

LOOK: Damages brought by the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck Cataingan, Masbate at 8:03 this morning, August 18,2020. Photos by: PRC Masbate - RCY of Cataingan NHS pic.twitter.com/PhH5CxM2Cv

Shakemap of this morning's quake in the Philippines

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August 18 : Akshay Kumar donates a whopping one crore to Assam Flood Relief and gets a special thank you note from the Chief Minister of the state.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took to his social media profile and thanked actor Akshay Kumar for his contribution of Rs 1 crore towards the Assam flood relief.

The Chief Minister took to Twitter and extended his gratitude towards the star for always showing sympathy and support at the time of crisis. He wrote, Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of Rs 1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena"

Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of 1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena.  Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) August 18, 2020

Floods have been wreaking havoc in the northern-eastern state of Assam for the past two months due to incessant rains. As many as 11,962 people have been affected in different districts in Assam due to flood.

Meanwhile on the work front, Kumar has Laxmmi Bomb, Sooryavanshi, Prithviraj and Bell Bottom in his kitty.

Laxmmi Bomb is an upcoming comedy horror film written and directed by Raghava Lawrence in his Hindi directorial debut. It is a remake of the Tamil movie Muni 2: Kanchana and also starrign Kiara Advani.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film will not be released theatrically and will stream worldwide on Disney+Hotstar.
At present, all activities to introduce and promote books have been nearly frozen. Therefore, Omega Vietnam cant surely achieve its growth goals in 2020, said Director of Omega Vietnam Company Vu Trong Dai.



Similar to other sectors, revenues of publishers dipped as the Covid-19 outbreak is now travelling around the world, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake though the sector has strived to survive by boosting online distribution channels and partnering with e-commerce platforms to sell books.

However, it didnt work much. As it was revealed, revenue of Omega was halved while revenue of the Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House in the first six months was just 25 percent compared to the same period last year.

Worse, big publishing houses just bought good books that they can sell and some of them proposed to delay payment instead of settlement in six months like before.

Furthermore, publishing houses reduced the number of printed books. Director Vu Trong Dai said Omega Vietnam just printed 2,000-2,500 books instead of 3,000 books in 2019.

Meantime, the Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House just printed 1,000-1,500 books, director of the publishing house Dinh Thanh Thuy has said.

According to Head of the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution Nguyen Nguyen, the number of printed books of publishing houses and companies has gone down by 26 percent compared to the same period.

The coronavirus pandemic has made damaging impacts on the sector while the sector received little support from the government.

Director Dai alerted that publishing houses and companies should prepare to live with the pandemic until 2021 proposing publishing houses and companies to radically restructure.

By Ho Son - Translated by Anh Quan
The second night of the virtual Democratic National Convention will promote the message of presidential leadership as Democrats seek to illustrate the sharp differences separating their candidate, Joe Biden, from the incumbent President Donald Trump.

Bidens wife, Jill  who is one of his closest political advisers, will close the list of notable speakers in Tuesdays programme designed to showcase Bidens life story while highlighting his collaborative leadership style, in contrast to Trump whom Democrats have cast as chaotic and ineffective.

On Monday night, headliner former First Lady Michelle Obama criticised Trump for being in over his head and incapable of rising to meet the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout.

Trump pushed back in a series of tweets on Tuesday morning defending his handling of the economy, and saying he would not be here, in the beautiful White House, if it werent for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama.

He also claimed the country was more divided under the Obama administration.

Somebody please explain to @MichelleObama that Donald J. Trump would not be here, in the beautiful White House, if it werent for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama. Biden was merely an afterthought, a good reason for that very late & unenthusiastic endorsement..  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2020

Biden ascended to the top of what was initially a very crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates through a steady and persistent strategy that positioned him as best able to take on Trump because of his experience and personal decency.

Democratic voters responded, and now Bidens team is using this years unusual, COVID-19 constrained convention to reintroduce Biden to the nation and promote him as a better choice than Trump on the basis of character.

People forget how divided our Country was under ObamaBiden. The anger and hatred were unbelievable. They shouldnt be lecturing to us. Im here, as your President, because of them!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2020





Most Americans know Biden from his eight-year service as vice president to former President Barack Obama, which helped define Bidens collaborative leadership.

Fewer will remember Bidens middle-class roots growing up in Delaware and the tragic beginning to his public life when his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident in 1972 weeks before he was sworn in as US senator at the age of 30.

Biden commuted to the Senate by train on Amtrak every day so he could be home for his boys Beau and Hunter who survived the crash. Bidens son Beau followed in his fathers footsteps as a politician, but died in 2015 from a brain tumour.

He met his wife Jill in 1975, and they were married in 1977. She will give the closing remarks in tonights virtual convention programme.

Other speakers who will touch on the Democrats leadership theme include former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State John Kerry, who ran for president in 2004 and is a close ally of Biden.

Kerry condemned Trumps foreign policy in a phone call on Tuesday with reporters, telling them, the world does not have a leader in the free world at this moment, The Associated Press news agency reported.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry arrives at a campaign event in support of Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden in North Liberty, Iowa, on February 1, 2020. Kerry slammed President Trumps leadership failures in a call with reporters before his Tuesday convention speech.[File: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters]

Kerry faults Trump for pulling away from traditional European allies and failing to assert a cohesive foreign policy strategy, leaving US allies French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel casting about trying hard.

Kerry was secretary of state during President Barack Obamas second term and took the lead in negotiating a multi-lateral agreement to curb Irans nuclear ambitions which Trump unilaterally withdrew from in 2018.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive first-term member of Congress who supported Bernie Sanders in the presidential primary contest, will make an appearance on behalf Biden on Tuesday, as part of the Democratic tickets effort to unify its progressive and establishment wings under one banner.

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is among the bright, young politicians that are seeking to define a progressive future for the Democratic Party [File: Andrew Kelly/Reuters]

Sanders threw his support behind Biden in the virtual convention on opening night on Monday. Ocasio-Cortez is a prominent member of a new class of progressive young legislators emerging in the Democratic Party.

Carters appearance among the Democratic luminaries marks his first showing at a presidential nominating convention in eight years. Carter, 95, and his wife, Rosalynn, will address attendees at a virtual gathering, convention organisers announced on Tuesday.
Australian registered nurse and anti-ageing specialist from The Wellness Group, Madeline Calfas, has revealed why sleeping on your back is the ideal position.

According to research, 92 per cent of people aren't sleeping in the correct position at night, which can lead to health issues, sore muscles or a stiff neck.

Ms Calfas said sleeping on your back can assist with headaches, prevent wrinkles, ease sinus pressure and helps with overall spine alignment - and you can train yourself to do it by placing a pillow under your knees to relieve spinal pressure.

Two pillows can also be used under your head to make breathing easier and add support, but this sleeping position is not recommended for those with lower back issues or sleep apnoea.

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Australian registered nurse and anti-ageing specialist from The Wellness Group, Madeline Calfas, has revealed why sleeping on your back is the optimum position for most people

Assist with headaches

Ms Calfas said sleeping on your back is known to assist with easing headaches, as other positions can intensify them.

'If you are a stomach sleeper, the angle at which you have your neck for long periods can result in muscle shortening, muscle spasm and misalignment of the cervical spine, all of which can result in tension headaches,' she said.

'Sleeping on your back allows for you neck to lie in alignment with the rest of your spine, resulting in no extra tension on your neck muscles.'

Headaches can also occur from sinus issues or additional fluid in the sinus cavities, which can also be drained by sleeping on your back.

You can train yourself to sleep on your back by placing a pillow under your knees to reduce back pain and relieve spinal pressure

Madeline Calfas (pictured) said sleeping on your back is the best position

Prevents wrinkles

This optimum sleeping position helps to prevent wrinkles on the face and chest as the skin is no longer subjected to hours of creasing due to body positioning and sheets or blankets.

'When you crease your skin, it pushes the skin matrix (which comprises of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid) out from underneath the skin,' Ms Calfas said.

'As we age, our skin matrix production slows down, and creases start to become etched in, progressively getting deeper the longer we do it, and the older we get.

'This applies to the skin around our decolletage as well, so sleeping on your side with your arms crossed over promotes the creases and wrinkles in between the breasts,' she said.

This optimum sleeping position helps to prevent wrinkles on the face and chest as the skin is no longer subjected to hours of creasing due to body positioning and sheets or blankets

Eases sinus pressure

As well as easing headaches, sleeping on your back can also assist with sinus pressure and unblock your nose and ears.

'As anyone with a history of sinus problems will tell you, lying with your face down only leads to an increase of pressure as gravity takes the fluid that has collected in the sinus cavity and pushes it down towards the front of your face,' Ms Calfas said.

'The fuller your sinuses are, the greater the pressure; sleeping on your back (sometimes even slightly propped up) allows for the fluid to drain out of the sinus cavity, which means no more puffy eyes and that heavy pressure build up in your cheek area.'

It's best to sleep on your back with two pillows behind your head to unblock the sinus passageways - especially when you're ill.

Sleeping on your back can also help relieve sinus pressure and unblock your nose and ears

Helps with spinal alignment

Ms Calfas said the spine functions best when it's in a straight line, and sleeping on your back is the ideal way to guarantee this structure.

'Sleeping on your stomach or twisted on your side allows for shortening of some of the muscles supporting the spine, and lengthening of others - it also places your body weight in the middle of your spine, which is unsupported,' she said.

'Over an extended period of time, this unevenness of muscle length can start to pull some of the spinal bones out of alignment, which can then create issues in not just your back, but your hips, pelvis, knees and feet.'

Sleeping on your back will also allow your muscles to relax and rest while also preventing any twisting of the spine.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced South Africa is moving to alert level 2, which will see the resumption of economic activity across most industries.

This is excellent news for South African IT and telecoms companies, which will benefit as more businesses open and require ICT services and support.

There has already been a boom in advertising campaigns on MyBroadband in recent months as ICT companies are looking to capitalise on the increase in economic and buying activity.

MyBroadbands Marketing Director Cara Muller said MyBroadband has launched a record number of campaigns this year, which shows the increased demand for IT and telecoms services.

The initial demand came from companies looking to support their employees working from home, but this is now changing.

Muller said many of the new campaigns focus on business-to-business (B2B) products and services, as more companies start to operate at full capacity.

She expects this growth to continue as more sectors of the economy come online.

Change in marketing strategies

One of the biggest changes which the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown brought is the acceleration of digital transformation among local companies.

This extended beyond using digital platforms to improve business efficiency  it has also changed the way companies market their products.

A recent survey showed that most companies are now prioritising online and digital channels. This is not surprising, considering the increase in Internet usage in recent months.

83% of tech companies said they are now prioritising online marketing and are moving budgets to this medium.

It is also interesting that 59% of companies said they plan to increase their marketing spend after the lockdown has ended to capture the increase in IT spending.
The Roomba i7+ is a robotic vacuum cleaner that cleans the house on its own. The only thing that you need to do is tell the device when you want the house to be cleaned. This can be easily done using a mobile app or a virtual assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant.

Brand: iRobot

Product: Roomba i7+

Key specifications: 3 stage cleaning, Alexa and Google Assistant compatible, Wi-Fi connectivity, automatic dirt disposal system

Price: 99,900

Rating: 4/5

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the world hard. Schools have shut down. Businesses are in a perpetual state of uncertainty. And working in office buildings has turned into working from bedrooms. While working from home might seem like the one good thing coming from the pandemic but its not. Thanks to the existing situation, the fine line between work and office seems to have blurred. And lack of help at home has only exacerbated this situation further, especially for the working class who are struggling to find time for chores like cleaning the house.

Enter the Roomba i7+.

The Roomba i7+ is a robotic vacuum cleaner that cleans the house on its own without any active help from the users. The only thing that you need to do is tell the device when you want the house to be cleaned. This, however, can be easily done using a mobile app and by setting up cleaning schedules.

The app, apart from setting cleaning schedules and letting you check the charging status, can also be used to check the status of the bag that collects all the dirt. This means that you dont have to stop the device and check on the dirt once they have deployed Roomba i7+. This is probably one of the biggest advantages of this robotic vacuum cleaner.

The iRobot Roomba i7+ retails at 99,900 in India. With a price tag as high as that, simply cleaning the house isnt enough. You expect something more. The obvious question here is - is the Roomba i7+ any good? Is it worth spending a lakh on?

Looks good

The iRobot Roomba i7+ comprises of three parts, each of which are specifically designed to play an important role in the cleaning process. First is the docking station. The docking station is the place where Roomba i7+ rests when its not in use or when it needs to juice up. It is also the place that collects all the dirt once Roomba i7+ has completed its cleaning mission. It has a suction valve at the bottom, which as you might have guessed, sucks in all the dirt that the vacuum cleaner has collected and deposits it in a bag that is placed on the upper half of the tower.

The bag can easily be accessed by lifting the lid of the docking station. You can remove a full bag and add a new one simply by sliding one in. iRobot says that one bag can hold 30 bins of dirt, which roughly translates into 30 cleaning missions of the entire house. But that solely depends on your house. If your house has more sources of dirt, like pets may be, it will last as long as it promises. But if your house mostly stays clean, it will probably last longer.

Roomba i7 Plus docking station (HT Tech)

Once the bag is full, which you will know from the iRobot app, all you need to do is remove the bag and replace it with a new one. This mechanism is so simple (and effective) that you don't have to actually handle the dirt even if you are cleaning the bin or in this case, replacing the bag. You get three bags in the box at the time of the purchase. More bags can be purchased form iRobots India site in sets of threes for 1,490 for each set.

The second component is a tiny remote-like device that can be used for creating a virtual wall around the area where you dont want Roomba to go.

Third and probably the most important component is the robotic vacuum cleaner, which does all the cleaning. The design of the vacuum cleaner is similar to what we have seen in older generation models, but this one gets better sensors to map the area. It has two buttons on top, which can be used for turning the robot on or off or to send it home. At the bottom, it has wheels and a cleaning brush that sweeps the floor and helps the robotic vacuum cleaner, well, clean the floor.

Its smart and it cleans well

Speaking about cleaning, the Roomba i7+ does its job well. Once it has mapped your house (or any other that area that it is supposed to clean) it does its work extremely efficiently. Be it a rug or a carpet it sucks in all the dust and leaves the floor spotless. For comparison, it managed to collect dust and dirt off the floor of my house minutes after the house help had mopped the place.

But even before it starts cleaning your house, it needs to map the floor of your house so that it knows where it has to go and where it has to clean. This it does by using mapping missions. Once deployed, it takes Roomba i7+ three to four mapping missions to find its way around your house. But that solely depends on your floor area. My house, for instance, has a total of five rooms and a carpet area of about 1400 square feet. It took Roomba i7+ nearly five mapping missions to find its way around my house.

Coming back to the mapping missions, when Roomba maps your house, you will see it stumbling over carpets, bumping into furniture, decorative items and even the walls till it has figured everything out. It took Roomba a lot of bumps and bruises to map my house that has too many tables. To make sense of everything or in other words, for Roomba i7+ to draw an accurate map of your house, its imperative that you keep everything right where it usually is, even if that means you have let Roomba bump into things more often than youd like.

Whats good about this robotic vacuum cleaner is that it can remember floors. So once everything has been mapped, it's good to clean seamlessly unless you have decided to shift your furniture around. In that case, it might need to map some more.

Roomba i7 Plus (HT Media)

This, however, is not the only trick it has up its sleeves. Roomba i7+ is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which means that you can ask these virtual assistants to ask Roomba to clean your house or a part of it. I have Alexa-fied my home and so I found myself asking Alexa to ask Roomba to clean the house every morning more often than scheduling the things on the app, which can be easily downloaded from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. App or Alexa, Roomba obediently cleans the house on a single prompt without fail every time.

Lastly, the battery. Roomba i7+ takes about 2.5 hours to three hours to charge completely and the charge usually lasts for about one to one-and-a-half cleaning missions. But that again depends on your carpet area. Cleaning my house was a bit of a task for Roomba as it managed to clean the house just once on a single charge. And it took Roomba about two hours to do so each time. But if you have a smaller house or a house with probably less furniture than mine, Roomba will do the job faster.

Once Roomba has completed its assigned task, that is cleaning a particular room or cleaning the entire house, it runs back to the docking station. It also goes back when its battery goes below a certain level resuming the cleaning mission automatically once it's sufficiently charged. Like I said, minimum human interference!

Should you buy it?

Yes and no, both. First the good stuff. iRobot Roomba i7+ is excellent when it comes to vacuuming the house. It has an extremely efficient suction system that captures the finest of all dust particles with ease. Another great thing about this robotic vacuum cleaner is its automatic dirt disposal mechanism which ensures that once captured, the dirt and dust particles are captured in one place and can be removed without coming into direct human contact (remember the bag?) even when users are cleaning this robotic vacuum cleaner. The iRobot app coupled with support for Alexa ensure that users can command Roomba i7+ to clean the house from anywhere.

My biggest qualm with Roomba i7+ is its hefty price tag. At a price tag of approximately 1 lakh, Roomba i7+ just cleans. There is no mechanism to mop the floor as well. For that, youll have to get the Braava series robotic vacuum cleaners. This for me was a big turn off. Personally, if I am spending a lakh, I would the device to do everything and not get the job half done. But if you can leave these grudges aside, Roomba i7+ is a keeper.

If you are in a quandary as to whether or not you should spend a lakh in getting Roomba i7+, the answer is pretty simple: if you have a big house or more specifically, big carpet area, its definitely worth splurging on. Else, you can give it a miss.
TRENTON, N.J., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Former and current inmates at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility For Women (EMCFW), New Jersey's only women's prison, and for years the site of rampant sexual discrimination, abuse and retaliation, have achieved a significant victory in their legal battle for class-action certification and reform at the notorious Hunterdon County facility. The trial court, in a just unsealed opinion, found that the Plaintiffs satisfy the requirements for class-action treatment, stating "all parties will ultimately benefit" from consolidation of claims rather than holding individual trials. The court stopped short of formally certifying the class, seeking direction from the appeals court.

Following the unsealed July 20, 2020, opinion of the Appellate Division, Hunterdon County New Jersey Superior Court Judge Michael F. O'Neill, reversed an earlier decision in the case of the court in Brown et al. v. NJ DOC HNT-L-19, Civil Docket and indicated that the plaintiffs have met the class-action standard to address systemic problems at the prison. Previously, following argument on the plaintiff's appeal of the prior class-action denial, the appellate court had remanded the case to the trial court to evaluate the requirements for class certification as well as the recently released Department of Justice (DOJ) independent report finding that sexual abuse had been a longstanding problem at the prison that the administration had failed to address.

In its opinion and order remanding the case for reconsideration, the court repeatedly cited the April 2020 DOJ Report . "The overriding claim sought to be addressed is the hostile living environment that is alleged to have pervaded at Edna Mahan for decades. The DOJ Report cited multiple examples of investigations, convictions, guilty pleas, etc. that are corroborative of the allegations supporting that overriding claim." It added, "To require inmates to file individual lawsuits seeking to end the alleged toxic atmosphere at Edna Mahan would be impractical, and economically unfeasible, to say the least."

The class action complaint was filed in 2017 on behalf of then long-term inmates Marianne Brown and Judith Vasquez, and alleged "decades of inappropriate sexual relationships, verbal and physical harassment, rampant discrimination, and widespread assault at EMCFW, creating a hostile environment based on the gender of plaintiffs, and similarly situated inmates." The complaint, filed in Superior Court, Hunterdon County, asserted that inmates were subjected to "systematic, inappropriate and illegal treatment" resulting from "a long-standing, prison-wide culture of abuse within the institution." It also asserted that that such an environment has a harmful effect on every woman who is immersed in it, not only those who are the direct victims of sexual assault.

Oliver Barry and Frank Corrado of Barry, Corrado, Grassi & Gillin-Schwartz and Martin Schrama and Stefanie Colella-Walsh of Stark & Stark  attorneys for the plaintiffs  stated that this decision, "Represents an important step towards addressing the problems at the prison that permitted predatory corrections officers to operate unchecked for years." However, they cautioned, "The work is not done until the broken policies and culture at the facility are fixed and until the women subjected to this toxic and abusive environment are compensated for the damage it wrought." The case is currently before the appeals court for further direction.

SOURCE Stark & Stark Law Firm
On the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, Dylan Dreyer traced her family's history back to a strong woman who helped put down their roots in America.

The TODAY meteorologist learned more about her great-great-great-grandmother Sabina Hugle with the help of our sponsor Ancestry. Dylan found out that much of Hugle's life took place not too far from where she lives with her family now.

Watch TODAY All Day! Get the best news, information and inspiration from TODAY, all day long.

Dylan Dreyer learned more about her great-great-great grandmother Sabina Hugle, who married Franciscus Finer and had 12 children while living in New York City in the late 1800s. (TODAY)

Dylan, who found out she is 67% German, learned through Ancestry family historian Lisa Elzey that Hugle was born in 1843 in Germany before coming to the United States with her family when she was about 8 years old.

The family entered the country at Battery Park in Manhattan, which also happens to be the area where Dylan lives now.

"It gives me chills just imagining meeting my great-great-great-grandmother," Dylan said.

Hugle and her family lived in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in what was then known as "Little Germany."

"I had no idea there was even ever a Little Germany in New York City before," Dylan said.

Related: Need a dose of good news? TODAY brings you one good thing each day to lift your heart and make you smile.

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Records indicate the family likely lived in multifamily buildings known as tenement housing, and Hugle and her two older sisters worked as dressmakers.

Dylan, who grew up not too far away in New Jersey, paid a visit to the Lower East Side with Dave Favaloro of New York City's Tenement Museum to look at a building that remains one of the few traces of Little Germany that still exists. The tenement building was a common housing type in the 1860s in a neighborhood filled with signs written in different languages.

Sabina Hugle married her husband at a church that still exists in the section of Manhattan once known as Little Germany. (TODAY)

"This was really a German city unto itself," Favaloro said.

Story continues

A building like that would've held 22 families living in apartments that were each only 325 square feet, according to Favaloro.

Dylan also visited another New York City site with special significance in her family's past. Hugle married Dylan's great-great-great-grandfather, pastry chef Franciscus Finer, at 20 years old at the Most Holy Redeemer church in Manhattan, which still exists.

Sabina Hugle is a descendant from the side of Dylan's mother, Linda Dreyer. (TODAY)

During her visit, Dylan found the book containing their signatures as part of the original marriage record.

"I'm imagining my great-great-great-grandmother walking down the aisle, looking at the same exact things that I'm looking at right now," Dylan said.

The Hugles went on to have 12 children, extending the family tree to Dylan's mother, Linda Dreyer.

"A tough line of women, and I've inherited that, too," Dylan said.
EATONTOWN, N.J., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Key Highlights:

First AngelMed Guardian  patient implants in Asia Pacific for Hydrix Medical, a subsidiary of Hydrix Limited (ASX: HYD)

patient implants in for Hydrix Medical, a subsidiary of Hydrix Limited (ASX: HYD) Four implants were carried out under the guidance of leading Cardiologist Dr. Leslie Lam

This significant milestone provides a foundation for future implants under early access schemes in Singapore and Australia

Angel Medical Systems is pleased to announce the first implant of the AngelMed Guardian device in Asia Pacific. Four implants were performed over a 3-day period last week in Singapore, and all patients have since been discharged from the hospital. Each implant procedure was supported by a Hydrix Medical field clinical engineer in Singapore with real-time remote support from Angel Medical Systems, USA.

Angel Medical Systems has developed the AngelMed Guardian, the first implantable, patient alerting system designed to warn patients to seek medical attention for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) including heart attacks. Delays in treatment contribute to the high level of mortality and morbidity from heart attacks.

Dr David Fischell, founder and Chairman of Angel Medical Systems commented, "We are very pleased with the success of these first Asia Pacific implants and excited about the large potential market opportunity. It has been a global team effort in getting to this point, and I'd like to acknowledge Dr. Lam's medical team and the teams from Hydrix and AngelMed for their hard work and dedication."

The successful implants follow Hydrix's announcement on March 13, 2020 that it had acquired an exclusive seven-year distribution agreement for eight Asia Pacific countries to distribute the AngelMed Guardian device, the world's first FDA approved implantable heart attack warning system.

Gavin Coote, Hydrix Executive Chairman said, "The AngelMed Guardian implants are a significant milestone for Hydrix and Angel Medical Systems. This achievement demonstrates strong execution of our buy, build, invest strategy to create product revenue and earnings streams, and of equal importance, reflects progress in our aspiration to meaningfully improve a billion lives."

"The patients selected for implant in Singapore were chosen based on their previous medical history and the benefit they would derive from the AngelMed Guardian. Hydrix Medical supplied the devices on a commercial basis to Dr. Leslie Lam whose patients were implanted at the Farrer Park Hospital Singapore under his GN-26 early access scheme permit," said Gordie Nye, Chief Executive Officer, Angel Medical Systems.

In terms of next clinical steps, these implanted devices will gather data over a two-week period to establish each patient's baseline heart signal. Each patient will then meet with Dr. Lam and a Hydrix Medical field clinical engineer with real-time remote support from Angel Medical Systems to calibrate and customize the device's alarm configuration. The device will continuously monitor these patients' heart signal to warn of an acute coronary syndrome event, including silent heart attacks.

About Angel Medical Systems, Inc.

Angel Medical Systems, Inc. was founded by Drs. Robert, Tim and David Fischell to advance life-sustaining patient care and the long-term management of High-Risk Coronary Artery Disease. The AngelMed Guardian System received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2018. The AngelMed Guardian is an implantable cardiac monitor with patient alerting for patients who have had prior Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS), including myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) or unstable angina and who remain at high risk for recurrent ACS events including silent heart attacks.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release that look forward in time or that express beliefs, expectations or hopes regarding future occurrences or anticipated outcomes or benefits are forward- looking statements. A number of risks and uncertainties, such as risks related to product development and commercialization efforts, results of clinical trials, ultimate clinical outcomes and benefit of the Company's products to patients, market and physician acceptance of the Company's products, intellectual property protection and competitive product offerings, could cause actual events to differ from the expectations indicated in these forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to put any undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to purchase any particular securities. Any such offer or solicitation will be made only pursuant to definitive legal agreements prepared specifically for such purpose. An investment in the Company's securities entails significant risks and is suitable only for sophisticated investors who can afford a loss of their entire investment; no assurance can be given that investment objectives will be achieved. In considering the performance information contained herein, you should bear in mind that past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results; there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve comparable results or that any projected returns will be met. The Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

All questions should be directed to:

Sean Pisani

Marketing Manager

[email protected]

732.542.5551 ext. 199

SOURCE Angel Medical Systems

Related Links

www.angel-med.com


By Jorge Arreaza Monserrat

August 17, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Elections always have an interesting effect on public policy, in particular if the person in charge of designing and implementing a certain policy is up for reelection. In politics, it is logical that an incumbent candidate decides to show successful policies and accomplishments while minimizing failures or shortcomings. However, what is irrational is that a candidate insists on presenting, preserving and deepening a policy that has proven to be a failure and that the candidate himself only supports half-heartedly. This is the case of the Trump Administrations current failed policy towards Venezuela, which is being reinforced despite its failure while a more appropriate approach, dialogue, is being discarded.

On January 23, 2019, as John Bolton points out in his controversial memoirs, Trump advisors pushed for the U.S. Administration to recognize as interim president, an obscure young politician, Juan Guaido, who represented Voluntad Popular (Popular Will), the party of Leopoldo Lopez, Washingtons key ally who masterminded the violent protests of 2014 and 2017. Rather than produce a change of government, this action led to Venezuelas decision to break diplomatic relations with the United States. Guaidos recognition has dragged the U.S. Administration, as well as many of its subordinate allies, down a path of failure after failure in their regime change policy. Furthermore, it has also dragged the people of Venezuela through a vicious blockade that has eroded their living standards and seriously jeopardized their well-being.

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Over the course of 2019, the Trump Administration imagined that the whole world would dive into a collective state of denial, would stop recognizing the constitutional government of President Nicolas Maduro and would instead recognize Guaido who in practice does not even exercise control of any institution in Caracas. A month after his self-proclamation, Guaido, with U.S. support and propaganda, attempted to force the entry of alleged humanitarian aid into the country while hoping that the Armed Forces would at the same time betray president Maduro. They failed. On April 30, Guaido and Lopez, with the support of their U.S. partners and military defectors, led a failed coup attempt counting on the support of public officials that never came. This prompted Bolton to send desperate tweets and Elliott Abrams to complain because his phone calls were not answered. They failed again.

Today, more than two thirds of the Member States of the United Nations still recognize Venezuelas legitimate government and it is Trump himself who is having second thoughts on his erratic choice. The year 2020 came, however, with an unforeseen challenge: the COVID-19 pandemic. Trumps reelection bid was not counting on the dire impact that this pandemic would have on one of the strong points of his campaign, the economy. Even less, could he have imagined the toll this pandemic would have on the entire population: to date, over 150,000 deaths have been officially attributed to COVID-19 and a crisis with over 45 million new persons unemployed is engulfing the United States. Massive protests have taken place all over the nation, since the murder of George Floyd, an African-American man, at the hands of the police. But they are much more than protests over systemic discrimination; they are protests against a system that has abandoned the majority of its poor citizens.

Trump had in his hands a golden opportunity to show leadership, admit the shortcomings of the system and launch an unprecedented process that would redirect the priorities of the nation, cut back on the aggressive militarization of the police and of foreign policy and turn to a robust policy of relief for workers and the strengthening of the healthcare system. Instead, Trump dug himself into a labyrinth where the desperation to win the reelection clouds his thinking and rather than turning to sound domestic policy, he has opted to put the blame on foreign enemies and to divert attention from his catastrophic mishandling of the situation.

First, he placed the blame on China and resorted to a racist, Cold War-like narrative, as if this would do anything to help the suffering U.S. population. By the end of March, as the death toll increased, Trump announced he was stepping up his maximum pressure campaign against Venezuela. In less than a week, a man who helped justify the 1989 invasion of Panama and was now heading the Department of Justice, presented indictments against President Maduro and other top leaders of the Bolivarian Revolution for narco-terrorism, placing a $15 million bounty on President Maduros head, as in the Wild West. Then Trumps State Department, through the voice of Elliott Abrams (whose involvement in the Iran-Contra scandal and the massacre in El Mozote, El Salvador, is notorious) proposed a democratic transition framework built on the principle of delegitimizing the democratic elections of President Maduro in 2018 and offered a negotiation where President Maduros separation from office was non-negotiable. Finally, Trump ordered the largest deployment of U.S. military to the Caribbean Sea since the Panama invasion under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking from Venezuela, when the Department of Defenses records show that the main route for drugs to the U.S. is via the Pacific Ocean, of which Venezuela has no coast.

In May, a group of mercenaries attempted a raid on Venezuelan coasts. Two of them were former Green Berets who confessed to having been employed by a U.S. security firm by the name of SilverCorp. The CEO of this firm presented a contract with the signature of Guaido and his aides to carry out actions in Venezuela aimed at removing President Maduro from office and targeting other revolutionary leaders. This too, failed, and has been followed by attempts at intimidating and effectively blocking Venezuelas trading partners from bringing much needed supplies, including gasoline, which in a time of pandemic, is key for moving medical supplies, personnel, and food throughout the country.

Venezuela has stood firm against all of these attacks. International solidarity from countries such as Cuba, China, Russia, Iran, and Turkey has been key. Strong measures and an organized and community-conscious population have allowed Venezuela to still be one of the countries with the lowest death toll and active COVID-19 cases in the region. In sharp contrast, while Washington imposes repression on cities such as Portland, which has suffered the deployment of federal police agents, Venezuelans will once again be heading to the polls in December with the hopes of electing a renewed parliament that better reflects the political forces in the country and one whose leadership is not compromised with the promotion of sanctions and blockades against their own country, as is Guaido.

In the distorted view of reality that Trump and his advisors have of the current conjuncture, there is a belief that hard line, regime change policies against Venezuela would lead to electoral success in Florida and therefore, nationwide. It might well be that some of Trumps base may like to see a coup in Venezuela, but failure after failure, by now should have indicated that Venezuela is not moving in that direction. To continue attempting clumsy solutions will only repeat past frustrations. A sound policy towards Venezuela has to be in line with the aspirations of the Venezuelan people and with the real interests of the people of the U.S. Venezuelans want peace, dialogue, and politics. Trump would do better if he followed his initial instinct of talking to President Maduro. A respectful dialogue with Venezuela is what is really in the interest of the U.S. electorate. Instead of spending U.S. taxpayer money on failed adventures and made up drug cartels, it could be better spent on dealing with the pandemic and other needs of the U.S. Sound policies are more conducive to reelection. Regime change will only lead to more failure.
By Akbar Mammadov

The Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy has arrived in Baku to participate in the International Army Games-2020, the Defense Ministry said on August 17.

Among the Russian Caspian Flotilla arriving in Azerbaijan, are small-size gunnery ships Makhachkala and Astrakhan, and SB-738 rescue tugboat.

As part of the International Army Games-2020, the Sea Cup contest will be held in the territorial water of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea.

The Commander of Azerbaijani Navy, Real-Admiral Subkhan Bekirov exchanged views on the organization of the contest with the delegation led by the representative of the Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy Captain 1st Rank Sergei Yekimov.

It should be noted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Iran and Kazakhstan will not participate in the Sea Cup contest this year, which was discussed at the video conference with the participants of the contest held in the headquarters of the Azerbaijani Naval Forces on August 13.

The "Sea Cup" international contest is planned to be held as part of the International Army Games - 2020 in the territorial waters of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea from 25 August to 4 September this year.

The Sea Cup 2020 competition will be held at the Buta Naval Base of Azerbaijan, and the opening ceremony will take place on August 24.

During the period of the competition, the sailors will have to show their skills in performing artillery fires against the sea and air targets, anchoring and mooring barrel, rescue training, as well as in the fight for the survivability of the ship.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
An undated photo of Cai Xia, 68, a former professor at the Central Party School, who was accused by the school of serious violations of Party discipline and expelled from the Party, Aug. 17, 2020.

Chinas Communist Party has expelled an outspoken retired professor from the partys top training academy and stripped her pension over a series of speeches she made criticizing the countrys direction under leader Xi Jinping.

Cai Xia, 68, a former professor at the Central Party School, who once denounced Xi as a "Hereditary [Second Generation] Red" leader, was accused by the school on Monday of serious violations of Party discipline and expelled from the Party.

The schools announcement said the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Party School Commission for Discipline Inspection made a joint investigation and decided to criticize Cais remarks as serious political problems that damage the countrys reputation.

The statement added: Their nature is extremely vile, the circumstances very serious, and the Partys political and organizational discipline, and code of conduct for personnel in national institutions seriously violated.

Cai responded from the United States with a social media post saying: I am very happy to thoroughly sever ties with this cabal-like ruling party.

She joins a growing list of public figures whove been punished in recent months for public criticism of Xi and his policies.

Real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang, was expelled from the party in July, and is expected to face corruption charges after publishing comments highly critical of the party. Law professor Xu Zhangrun was also fired from his teaching post at Tsinghua University in Beijing over a series of articles critical of the leadership.

Critic of Xi

Cai signed a joint open letter while the coronavirus pandemic was raging in the central city of Wuhan, urging the implementation of free speech rights guaranteed by China's Constitution.

"Speaking the truth can help everyone live safely. I think that this principle is very clear, and was written in our Constitution long ago. But for many years we have not implemented it well, she said.

But the retired professor is best known for a snippet of video circulating widely on the internet.

"Surprisingly no one dared to raise this issue at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party Congress, and the Party has become a political zombie. One person, one core leader controlling the knife and gun has ensnared corrupt officials  but their corruption is a by-product of the system itself. There are no longer any human rights or rule of law in the Party to protect the rights of Party members and cadres."

Although Xi was not named, most viewers saw him as the target of her attack.

She also participated in the Yanhuang Chunqiu magazine symposium, telling the gathering that China's development path is not only to integrate economically with the world, but also to integrate with the world through political reform."

Former executive editor of Hong Kong's "Open" magazine Tsoi Wing-Mui said he believes that criticizing Xi led directly to Cai's expulsion from the Party.

"Cai Xia is her own person, and has spoken the truth," Tsoi said. "She can be said to be a democrat within the Communist Party of China, and is also said to be 'Hereditary [Second Generation] Red' herself.

Party intellectuals

Cai, who is believed to have relocated to the United States, is among many party intellectuals who are deeply frustrated with the current situation in China, and she has already considered the consequences of speaking out, Tsoi suggested.

"They are completely disappointed with the current political reality in China. Originally, these people had a little more room for speech, he said, referring to Xis two post-Tiananmen predecessors.

The Jiang Zemin era and the Hu Jintao era turned a blind eye to them, not like Xi Jinping now. They are more inclined towards universal values. Now they are deeply frustrated," Tsoi said.

Cai and the other critics have taken aim at domestic repression as well as policies under Xi, including the aggressively nationalistic Wolf Warrior diplomacy, mercantilist trade and industrial policies, and other actions that have sparked friction with the outside world.

"After 'Xi's Great Leap Forward', we saw a big leap forward in Xi's style like 'Made in China 2025' and even 'Greater My Country'. Issues including Huawei and so on have all erupted from this, said political commentator Wu Qiang, who was dismissed by Tsinghua for supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Although it did not bring about three years of famine, it brought Wuhan pneumonia and a serious deterioration in US-China relations. China fell into international isolation unprecedented since the early 1960s."

Reported by RFAs Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Scott Savitt and Paul Eckert.
Rating Action: Moody's assigns Baa2 rating to Roper's new senior unsecured notes, outlook stable

Global Credit Research - 18 Aug 2020

New York, August 18, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") assigned Baa2 ratings to Roper Technologies, Inc.'s ("Roper") new senior unsecured notes. Concurrently, Moody's affirmed the Baa2 rating on existing unsecured indebtedness and the (P) Baa2 rating on the existing unsecured shelf. Proceeds from the new notes will be used to finance the recently announced acquisition of Vertafore, Inc. ("Vertafore") for $5.35 billion. The outlook is stable.

RATINGS RATIONALE

The Baa2 ratings incorporate Roper's strong competitive standing within its niche markets, as well as the portfolio benefits that accrue from the company's highly diverse set of products and services that have varied and distinct demand drivers. Roper's strong cash generating capabilities and its relatively stable earnings profile, represent key credit considerations. Tempering considerations include Roper's aggressive acquisition strategy, which periodically involves large-sized debt-financed leveraging transactions, as well as ongoing exposure to cyclical energy and industrial end markets that are vulnerable to earnings and cash flow pressures during an economic downturn.

Moody's views the large-sized acquisition of Vertafore as in keeping with Roper's long-standing strategy of acquiring asset-lite, software-based companies with strong positions in niche markets. Vertafore is one of two primary providers of insurance software solutions to insurance carriers, agencies and brokers, and benefits from a deeply entrenched customer base with recurring revenues and robust retention rates. Notwithstanding the large size, Moody's considers the acquisition of Vertafore as having limited integration and execution risks. Pro forma for the transaction, Moody's anticipates adjusted debt-to-EBITDA of 4.6x, which represents about 1.5x of incremental leverage.

Story continues

The coronavirus pandemic, the weakened global economy, lower oil prices, and asset price declines are sustaining a severe and extensive credit shock across many sectors, regions and markets. The combined credit effects of these developments are unprecedented. Moody's regards the coronavirus pandemic as a social risk under its ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. Notwithstanding some early signs that the adverse impact of the coronavirus on Roper and the deterioration in credit quality that it triggered may be relatively short-lived and subsiding, the company remains vulnerable to shifts in market demand and changing sentiment in these unprecedented operating conditions.

The stable outlook incorporates Moody's expectation that relatively predictable operating performance over the next 18 to 24 months will be accompanied by a focus on debt reduction such that key credit metrics are restored to pre-acquisition levels by the end of 2022.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS

An upgrade in the near term is unlikely given the leveraging nature of the Vertafore acquisition. Factors that could lead to an upgrade include ongoing robust cash flow generation coupled with fiscally conservative financial policies and a measured and disciplined acquisition strategy. The rating could be upgraded if Debt-to-EBITDA is anticipated to remain below 2.5x and operating margins are expected to be consistently in the high-20% range. Given Roper's relatively small size, Moody's would expect the company to maintain credit metrics that are stronger than levels typically associated with companies at the same rating level.

Factors that could lead to a downgrade include an unwillingness or an inability to pay down debt such that key credit metrics are not restored to pre-acquisition levels by the end of 2022, or if Moody's-adjusted debt-to-EBITDA is not returned to 2.5x or below. Any leveraging transactions over the near term, including additional large-sized M&A or shareholder dividends beyond current levels, could also result in a downgrade. The rating could be lowered if the company suffers a material weakening of profitability that erodes financial metrics and cash flows such that annual free cash flow (after dividends) is expected to remain below $600 million or operating margins are expected to remain below the mid-20% range. This could include a deterioration of the company's leading market shares in its niche markets due to the entrant of an aggressive competitor or replacement with a newer technology or solution.

The following is a summary of Moody's ratings and today's rating actions:

Issuer: Roper Technologies, Inc.

Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Assigned Baa2

Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Baa2

Senior Unsecured Shelf, Affirmed (P) Baa2

Outlook, Remains Stable

Roper Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Sarasota, FL, is a diversified technology company that designs and develops software and engineered products and solutions for a variety of end markets, including healthcare, transportation, food, energy, water, education and academic research. Revenues for the twelve months ended June 2020 were approximately $5.4 billion.

The principal methodology used in these ratings was Business and Consumer Service Industry published in October 2016 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1037985. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.

For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.

The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.

These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.

Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.

The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.

Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.

Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.

Eoin Roche Vice President - Senior Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Russell Solomon Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653

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Actor Rhea Chakraborty has shared a statement through her legal team, claiming that she had a strained relationship with actor Sushant Singh Rajputs family and called the allegations of abetment to suicide against her concocted and fabricated for ulterior purposes.

Sushants father KK Singh had registered an FIR in July against Rhea and her family members for abetment to suicide and misappropriation of funds. On July 31, the Enforcement Directorate registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in the case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also registered a case against Rhea, Indrajit Chakraborty, Sandhya Chakraborty, Showik Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda, Shruti Modi, and others in connection with the actors death. Mumbai Police are also investigating the case.

The statement said, Rhea and Sushant were known to each other over the past several years as they were both working in the Indian film Industry. Rhea and Sushant had maintained a cordial friendship and would occasionally communicate with each other. In April 2019, Rhea and Sushant had attended a party hosted by the film fraternity and shortly thereafter they began dating each other. Even though they spent a lot of time in each others homes, they officially moved in together in December 2019 and lived at Mount Blanc, Bandra, till Rhea left on the 8th of June 2020. Here are excerpts from the statement...

Familys allegations total nonsense

The current allegations being levelled by his family are total nonsense and an afterthought. No allegations whatsoever were made till the 27th of July 2020 by anybody in the family before the Mumbai Police or to any other authority. Their statements were recorded by the police in Mumbai. They are educated and have an IPS officer OP Singh in the family. The allegations are totally concocted and fabricated for ulterior purposes. Rhea denies all allegations of abetment of suicide, misappropriation of funds and others or otherwise. Both the Mumbai Police and the Enforcement Directorate have been handed over all of Rheas financial documents which clearly show the falsity of such allegations. She has not received a single transfer from Sushants accounts. All her Income Tax Returns have been examined by Police as well as the ED. Neither of them have found anything incriminating against Rhea.

Rhea was excluded from attending Sushants funeral

In the initial months of their relationship, when Rhea had visited Sushants house, his sister Priyanka and her husband Siddharth were living with him. On one night, in and around April 2019, Rhea and Priyanka had gone out to a party. Priyanka consumed copious amounts of alcohol and was behaving inappropriately with men as well as women at that party. So, Rhea insisted that they return to Sushants home. Upon returning, Sushant and his sister continued drinking alcohol while Rhea retired for the night as she had a shoot the next morning. Rhea was asleep in Sushants room when she suddenly awoke to find Priyanka had got into bed with her and was groping her. Rhea was extremely shocked and demanded that she leave the room immediately. Subsequently, Rhea herself left the house. Thereafter, Rhea informed Sushant as to what had transpired and Sushant got into an argument with his sister regarding the same. That due to the aforesaid incident, the relationship between Sushants family and Rhea had been strained since inception. Even after his death when a list of 20 people was made to attend the funeral, Rheas name was not included in the list and hence she was excluded from attending the funeral.

On Bihar Polices role

Unless the Maharashtra Govt Consents to a CBI investigation, the Case cannot be transferred to CBI. Instead the Bihar Govt ought to have transferred the investigation to Mumbai Police as per the Notification issued by the Union Government. The very foundation of the Federal Structure is at stake by the present actions for Bihar Govt. As per law, the Bihar Police ought to have registered a 0 FIR and transferred the investigation to the Mumbai Police. The Bihar Police has no jurisdiction to investigate the case. Rhea will not submit to an illegal investigation.

There were various reasons that made Rhea apprehensive about the nature of the investigation that would be conducted by the Bihar Police. The Bihar Police registered the FIR on the same day that the complaint was received, despite a delay of over 40 days. The Bihar Police arrived in Mumbai without ever summoning Rhea to cooperate with their investigation. There were several newspaper articles quoting the advocate of the complainant as having stated that the Bihar Police were hesitant to register the FIR but did so at the behest of the political leadership in Bihar. Rhea has not shied away from cooperating with any investigating agency till date, but she is entitled to a fair and impartial investigation by an agency which has jurisdiction to investigate the case. The manner in which the proceedings were instituted and being conducted in Bihar made it appear unlikely that she would receive a fair treatment.

Rhea doesnt know Aaditya Thackeray

Rhea does not know and has never met Aaditya Thackeray till today. Neither has she ever spoken to him telephonically or otherwise. Though she has heard of him as a leader of the Shiv Sena. She knows and has met Dino Morea socially as he is her senior in the film industry.

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Several mortar shells slammed into various part of Kabul on Tuesday morning as Afghans marked their country's Independence Day amid new uncertainties over the start of talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government.

No militant group responsible for the attack and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The Interior Ministry's spokesman, Tariq Arian, said the mortars were fired from two vehicles in the northern and eastern part of the Afghan capital.

According to eyewitnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals, at least one mortar shell landed in the upscale Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood, where diplomats and senior government officials reside.

The attack came a day after the government said it would not release the last 320 Taliban prisoners it holds until the insurgents free more captured Afghan soldiers. The decision went against that of a traditional Afghan council held earlier this month the Loya Jirga and is likely to further delay intra-Afghan peace talks sought by the United States.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he wasnt aware of the mortar attack in Kabul. The Islamic State groups affiliate, which operates in Afghanistan, has interrupted national celebrations in the past with rocket fire.

Also on Tuesday morning, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani attended an Independence Day ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Kabul, inspecting an honor guard and laying flowers on the Independence Minaret monument there.
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Gavin Williamson was today savaged over the A-level and GCSE exams 'farce' by the British press which called for the Education Secretary to be sacked and described him as a 'clown'.

The Daily Mail used the headline 'Another fine mess', with a cartoon of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Mr Williamson as Laurel and Hardy, saying it was a 'humiliating climbdown' for the Education Secretary.

Politics expert Tim Bale said the last time a front page mocked up a PM and a high-profile minister as the duo with 'Another Fine Mess' as the headline was John Major and Norman Lamont after Black Wednesday in 1992.

The Daily Star published a mock advertisement for the Education Secretary, saying: 'Are you a moron who couldn't organise a booze up in a brewery?' along with the hashtag #PromotedBeyondHisCompetence.

The Times told how Jonathan Slater, permanent secretary at the Department for Education, could be ousted over the chaos - but Mr Johnson has 'no intention' of sacking Mr Williamson and 'expressed confidence' in him.

Meanwhile the Guardian said the decision 'followed days of mounting anger among Conservative MPs and alarm among students', adding that the climbdown will overturn 2.3million A-level grades.

The Telegraph went in on how Mr Williamson blamed Ofqual for the chaos, and that his announcement on the dramatic U-turn yesterday 'came after 24 hours of mounting pressure from Tory backbenchers'.

The Sun gave the Government an F grade for Farce, saying that A = Anger, B = Balls-Up, C = Chaos, D = Dunces, E = Errors and U = U-turn. The newspaper also told how yesterday's U-turn followed an 'outpouring of fury'.

The Express called the U-turn a 'victory for common sense' and said it followed a ''deafening outcry'. The newspaper also said youngsters were 'relieved' by the decision and described it as a 'dramatic turnaround'.

It comes as a major U-turn by the Government will see tens of thousands of A-level students in England receive increased grades, with Mr Williamson apologising for the distress caused by the debacle.

Following criticism from students and headteachers and complaints from dozens of Tory MPs, grades will now be based on teachers' assessments rather than a controversial algorithm devised by regulator Ofqual.

The PM and Mr Williamson had previously defended the 'robust' system, which saw almost 40 per cent of grades reduced from teachers' predictions. The change will also apply to GCSE results in England on Thursday.

DAILY MAIL: The Mail used the headline 'Another fine mess', with a cartoon of Boris Johnson and Gavin Williamson as comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. The newspaper said the Education Secretary had carried out a 'humiliating climbdown' yesterday

DAILY STAR: The Star published a mock advertisement for the Education Secretary, saying: 'Are you a moron who couldn't organise a booze up in a brewery?' along with the hashtag #PromotedBeyondHisCompetence in reference to Mr Williamson

THE TIMES: The Times told how Jonathan Slater, permanent secretary at the Department for Education, could be ousted over the chaos - but Boris Johnson has 'no intention' of sacking Gavin Williamson and 'expressed confidence' in him

THE GUARDIAN: The Guardian said the decision 'followed days of mounting anger among Conservative MPs and alarm among students', adding that the climbdown will overturn 2.3million A-level grades but universities now 'face admissions chaos'

DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Telegraph went in on how Gavin Williamson blamed Ofqual for the A-level chaos, and that his announcement on the dramatic U-turn yesterday 'came after 24 hours of mounting pressure from Tory backbenchers'

THE SUN: The Sun gave the Government an F grade for Farce, saying that A = Anger, B = Balls-Up, C = Chaos, D = Dunces, E = Errors and U = U-turn. They also described yesterday's decision as a 'screeching U-turn' that followed an 'outpouring of fury'

DAILY EXPRESS: The Express called the U-turn a 'victory for common sense' and said it followed a 'deafening outcry'. The newspaper also said youngsters were 'relieved' by the decision and described it as a 'dramatic turnaround'

DAILY MIRROR: The Mirror led on Sir Keir Starmer's comments that it was 'no way to run a country' following 'numerous Tory debacles' during the coronavirus pandemic. It added the Government had put 'thousands of youngsters through hell'

i: The i newspaper told how Gavin Williamson had 'caved in' over the A-levels fiasco - describing it as a 'humiliating climbdown' - and used a photograph of students celebrating the U-turn outside the Department for Education in London

FINANCIAL TIMES: The FT said the U-turn was 'one of a catalogue of government reversals in recent months', following policy changes over school meals and forcing migrant care workers and NHS staff to pay a surcharge to use the health service

INDEPENDENT: The Independent reported how Gavin Williamson had 'bowed to pressure from pupils, parents and other ministers', with Sir Keir Starmer saying it was a 'screeching U-turn'. It also used a picture of students celebrating the U-turn
Yellow Rose Whiskey Yellow Rose, the first legal whiskey distillery in Houston, achieved an "Extraordinary" "Ultimate Recommendation" score of 96 points in the recent 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, along with "Great Value," "Finalist," and "Top 100 Spirits" honors for the distillery's Yellow Rose American Rye Whiskey. Describing the rye as "smooth in texture that finishes with just a touch of dusty leather," the Ultimate Spirits Challenge distinguished judging panel noted that the "light and bright aromas of yellow peach and freshly milled grains" are earthy and enticing and create a complex set of flavors. Also, Yellow Rose Outlaw Bourbon earned an "Excellent" "Highly Recommended" 93 points in the competition, outscoring many of the other top American whiskeys when the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge results were announced late last month.

The Ultimate Spirits Challenge was established in 2010 with a mission to provide the industry and consumers a clear and unassailable indication of beverage quality by tapping top beverage alcohol authors, journalists, educators, distributors, and buyers to taste and judge spirits based on their integrity, method and credibility.

Martin Miller's Gin

Martin Miller's, long recognized for its high quality and remarkably smooth taste, is distilled in England using Icelandic spring water and was the first super-premium gin on the market when it launched more than 20 years ago.

All three core gins in the Martin Miller's portfolio were recently awarded top medals and ratings from Chicago's Beverage Testing Institute, one of the world's most comprehensive and reliable sources for alcohol beverage product testing and professional reviews: 97 points and a Platinum medal for Martin Miller's Westbourne Strength Gin; 96 points and a Platinum medal for Martin Miller's Original Gin; and 93 points and a Gold medal for Martin Miller's 9 Moons Solera Reserve Barrel Aged Gin.

In July, Martin Miller's Westbourne Gin also earned a premier commendation  the Master Medal  from the highly competitive Spirits Business Global Spirits Masters, an annual blind-tasting competition which featured almost 200 expressions of gin alone. Martin Miller's Original Gin and Martin Miller's 9 Moons were also awarded Gold medals in the 2020 contest.

Bodegas Ramon Bilbao

In April, Ramon Bilbao was recognized as the most admired Rioja brand on the Drinks International "World's Most Admired Wine Brands 2020" list, and was awarded the "Highest Climber" distinction for its 17th place ranking in the world, overall (up from its 40th place ranking in 2019). Only six Spanish wine brands made the list of 50.

Founded in 1924, Bodegas Ramon Bilbao is one of the top-selling Spanish wines in the world, and as noted by Drinks International in bestowing the "Most Admired" honor, is strongly committed to sustainable viticulture, rural development, and innovation, taking "forward-thinking steps in response to environmental change, minimizing the use of fertilizers and pesticides and investigating the potential for growing at higher altitudes rather than on Rioja's sun-parched valley floors to pursue the elegant style it aims for."

The "World's Most Admired Wine Brands" ranking is drawn from surveying international trade experts (retail buyers, importers and wholesalers, sommeliers and bartenders, journalists, and wine educators) who are asked to select wine brands they most admire based on a list of criteria including quality, authenticity, and brand image.

"While we're understandably proud of our premium spirits and wine portfolio, it's always very gratifying when others in the industry also recognize the quality, craftsmanship and authenticity that defines each of our outstanding brands," says Bill Corbett, CEO of Zamora Company USA. "We're delighted about these recent awards, but more importantly, we're honored that consumers and the trade have continued to embrace and enjoy all of our world-class spirits and wine."

About Zamora Company USA:

Zamora Company USA, based in Dallas, Texas, has recently brought together their collection of unique luxury brands along with an experienced, passionate and dedicated team of over 30 people. In addition to Don Papa rum, the new organization manages sales, distribution, execution and marketing of the following brands: Licor 43, Double Cross Vodka, Yellow Rose Whiskey, Martin Miller's Gin, Lolea Sangria, Villa Massa Limoncello, plus Spanish wines Ramon Bilbao, Cruz De Alba, and Mar de Frades.

SOURCE Zamora Company USA
Elections officials in the Washington area are moving quickly to boost the number of ballot drop-boxes for the coming election, aiming to expand socially-distanced voting options amid the coronavirus pandemic and an assault on mail voting by President Trump.

In Maryland, Montgomery County's board of elections has asked the state to approve a plan that calls for 40 drop boxes, up from two or three in a normal year. Neighboring Prince George's County requested 36 additional secure drop boxes from the state last week. There will be at least 50 ballot drop box locations scattered throughout Washington D.C. starting in early October, with at least five drop sites per ward, according to the D.C. Board of Elections.

And Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has proposed allowing localities to set up drop boxes in his state as well.

Jim Shalleck, who chairs the Montgomery County elections board, said the changes there were "directly generated by the news and the public discourse about the slowdown of the mail."

The Postal Service recently notified nearly all states in the country that it may not be able to deliver ballots in time for them to be counted.

Reports detailing these concerns, along with Trump's vows to block emergency funding for the agency, have left "people feeling more comfortable putting their ballots in a drop box than in the mail," said Shalleck, a Republican appointed to chair the five-person board by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan.

In the past month, Shalleck said, he and other board members have received dozens of emails from Montgomery residents and public officials requesting drop boxes in their neighborhood or expressing concern about relying on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their mail-in ballot.

The state board of elections is set to review Montgomery's plan on Wednesday.

The cost of purchasing and delivering the boxes is about $120,000, which the local board of elections hopes to split with the state, Shalleck said. Montgomery County Democratic council member Evan Glass said more dropboxes would be ideal, though he recognizes that they might be in short supply.

"President Trump is clearly trying to dismantle the U.S. Postal Service so that mail-in ballots won't be counted," Glass said. "We can circumvent the Postal Service with drop boxes."

The county has also made changes to in-person voting, in line with state guidelines recently approved by Hogan. There will large voting centers instead of neighborhood precincts; residents can vote at any location. Early voting starts on Oct. 26 and will be conducted daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Nov. 2. On Election Day, voters can cast ballots in-person at any early voting center or public high school.

Other local election boards in Maryland are in the process of approving their voting plans or having the state sign off on them. Some say they want to add drop boxes but have concerns over the cost.

"My budget is shot," said Armstead Jones, election director for Baltimore City, which used 15 drop boxes with 24-hour surveillance during the June primary, with a price tag exceeding $70,000.

"Cities can't just keep bearing the brunt of these costs," Jones said. "The state needs to help."

The state election board did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

- - -

The Washington Post's Michael Brice-Saddler and Rachel Chason contributed to this report.
Candice Brown's 'love rival' Micah Taffurelli has claimed the Bake Off star split from her husband Liam Macaulay 'months' before they were pictured holidaying together.

Liam jetted off to Mykonos last month with the mother-of-one, days before he confirmed the end of his two-year marriage to reality TV star Candice.

Now businesswoman Micah claims the couple, who married in France in September 2018, had actually parted ways at the start of the year.

'Im no homewrecker!' Candice Brown's 'love rival' Micah Taffurelli has claimed the Bake Off star split from husband Liam Macaulay, months before they were pictured holidaying together

Micah told The Sun: 'Liam and Candice broke up at the start of the year and I met him on a dating website in April. Liam and Candice had been over for a long time before we got together.

'But the way she announced the split made me look like a homewrecker because Liam and I were on holiday.

'I was mortified to see Id been caught up in it when it was genuinely nothing to do with me.'

MailOnline has contacted Candice's representatives for comment.

'They've been over for a long time': Liam's 'love rival' said: ''Liam and Candice broke up at the start of the year and I met him on a dating website in April' (Candice pictured in July)

Difficult: Tree surgeon Liam told MailOnline last month how his relationship with Candice, 35, collapsed under the pressures of fame as the TV cook's career took off

Tree surgeon Liam told MailOnline last month how his relationship with Candice, 35, collapsed under the pressures of fame as the TV cook's career took off after winning Bake Off in 2016.

He said at the time that he had gone on a two-week break to get over the split while insisting that nobody else was involved in the break-up.

Micah posted two pictures on Facebook of her and Liam sunning themselves in Greece on July 19.

She also posted more pictures showing her relaxing and enjoying local cuisine including oysters on the island.

Holiday: Liam jetted off to Mykonos last month with the mother-of-one (pictured), days before he confirmed the end of his two-year marriage to reality TV star Candice

The pair looked cosy during their relaxing break, but Liam denied she was his girlfriend when contacted by MailOnline today, insisting: 'I am not in a relationship with anyone.'

Micah, 28, lives with her young son from a previous relationship in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, and works in hospitality.

Candice's ex told how he had struggled with being thrust into his wife's showbiz world after she won the Channel 4 show and appeared on Dancing On Ice.

He confirmed he had moved out of the flat they shared with their three dogs Dennis, Albus and Sybil above the gastro pub she runs with her brother, The Green Man in Eversholt, Bedfordshire.

Speaking of their marriage split, he said: 'There is nobody else involved. We have just sadly decided it wasn't working.'

Candice first met Liam in the bar where he worked while studying for a degree, back in 2012.

After five years of dating, the couple announced their engagement in October 2017, just over a year after she first appeared on Bake Off.

Their relationship came under strain just days after becoming engaged when Candice was pictured kissing Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, 54, on a night out.

Public eye: Candice and Liam (pictured before their split) struggled with life in the spotlight after she propelled to fame on Bake Off and Dancing on Ice

Liam said last month: 'I'd not long asked Candice to marry me and I had to read reports that my new fiancee was seen kissing Hollywood and getting close to him.

'That was just a kiss on her cheek and there was nothing else to it. But we had only been engaged a few days. It was a lot to have to deal with.'

The couple went on to tie the knot in a romantic ceremony at Chateau de Varennes in Burgundy, France, in September 2018.

But Liam said they had called time on their marriage after a series of long talks.

He said last month: 'My wife is a lovely woman and a wonderful human being and I could never find anything detrimental to say about her.'
Grace Montanez Davis, the highest ranking woman and Latina during Mayor Tom Bradley's administration, died Saturday at 93. (Deirdra Christian )

Grace Montanez Davis was the first Mexican American woman to serve as Los Angeles' deputy mayor, and it was no easy feat.

People assumed she was the mayor's social secretary; she'd often get phone calls and bills addressed to Tom Bradley's then-campaign aide, Gray Davis, the state's future governor. The first time she gathered the city's 38 department heads, 36 of them men, her body shook with nerves.

But in the 15-plus years she served in city government, Montanez learned the ins-and-outs of the job like no other and became known for her attention to detail.

Before she moves, she knows the facts and figures," Tom Houston, former chief of staff for Bradley, told The Times in 1985. "She takes her time. She is appropriately cautious. And she generally knows the outcome.

It was the most prominent position in her career. But behind the scenes, Montanez was a constant aide in the rise of Mexican American political power for decades.

She was there in 1949 to register voters who helped make Ed Roybal the first Latino council member in Los Angeles since the 19th century. Montanez was present at the Chicano Moratorium, shoved into a van and sped off by younger activists when the anti-Vietnam War rally in East Los Angeles turned violent. She marched and picketed with farmworkers during the Delano grape strike. And as more Latinos from the Eastside began entering public office, Montanez offered pointers and her perspective as a pioneer.

It is with great sorrow that we share the passing of our alumna & friend, Grace Montanez Davis '45 on 8/15.

Grace, an accomplished & #empowered woman, followed her SH graduation w/a college education @ Immaculate Heart & UCLA. Her love for her Alma Mater never dwindled. pic.twitter.com/hUhGcKyxmY  SacredHeartHS-LA (@SacredHeartHSLA) August 17, 2020

She transcended these different movements, said Virginia Espino, a lecturer for UCLAs Chicana/o and Central American Studies program who interviewed Montanez in 2008 for a university oral history project. Typically, when I try to interview Latina women of her generation, they tend to be shy about their accomplishments. But Grace was someone who knew the value of her life history and gladly told it.

Story continues

Montanez, who was the highest ranking woman and Latina during Bradley's administration, died Saturday of heart failure at a hospital in Upland, said her daughter Deirdra Christian. She was 93.

"I remember many times she was the only woman in a large group of men," recalled Christian.

Montanez was appointed as the mayor's right-hand woman in August 1975, focusing her work on grants, housing and community development. Within months, Montanez took over Bradley's duties while he was absent on a 12-day trip. Her approach at impacting the city was aimed less toward governmental bodies and more toward groups and people.

March 26, 1980, Los Angeles Times story on Montanez (Los Angeles Times)

I usually like to be in touch with the people who are going to be involved and then go to him [Bradley] and say, I talked to this organization and this group of people and this is what theyre saying,'" she said. "'Theyre wondering if you would like to support this issue."

It's a quality praised by those who worked with her. Bradley said that Montanez represents a unique blend of tradition and progress" and called her "a symbol of the citys continued commitment to incorporate all residents into its rich and diverse city life.

Grace Montanez Davis was born Nov. 24, 1926, in Lincoln Heights. Her father, Alfredo, was a soap factory worker and her mother, Belen, a homemaker. Both were Mexican immigrants. She was the second youngest and only girl of four children, which pushed her to work harder "because she felt she needed to prove herself to her brothers," said Christian.

Her parents enrolled her in Catholic school in seventh grade so she wouldn't have to walk alone through the neighborhood's business section. After high school she attended Immaculate Heart College, where she earned a bachelor's in chemistry in 1949 and studied microbiology in graduate school at UCLA.

She was keenly aware of how rare it was for a Latina to be pursing higher education in the early 1950s.

When I was at UCLA I once went through all the students cards to see if there were other people with Spanish surnames," she once said. "There were five in the graduate school, and four of them were from Mexico or Central or South America. I was the only one [Mexican American] in graduate school at that time. She was the only one of her siblings to pursue higher education.

It was during a function at UCLA where she met Raymond Davis, a high school history and journalism teacher. They married in Santa Monica in 1953 and divorced in 1968. They had three children. Davis died in 2011.

College also introduced her to activism, which led her to join the Community Services Organization, the group that helped to elect Roybal. Montanez not only registered new voters, but also taught citizenship classes in Spanish; one of her first graduating students was her father.

As to how Montanez pivoted from science to politics, Christian said, "My mom had a really giving heart and was really concerned with people who were less fortunate, with Hispanics and people were mistreated. That's what pointed her in that direction: She wanted to speak up for people who didn't have a voice."

Montanez went on to work for Roybal and helped with Rep. George Brown's campaigns before joining the Economic and Youth Opportunities Agency in 1964, a program aimed at encouraging employment among youth. After a stint at the U.S. Department of Labor, she joined Bradley's staff in 1973 and was promoted to deputy mayor in 1975, leaving in 1990.

Sept. 5, 1985, Los Angeles Times article on Montanez (Los Angeles Times)

Montanez's ease in talking to different levels of el movimiento earned her respect from anyone who ever worked with her, said former Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina, who was a 20-something activist in East Los Angeles when she first met the deputy mayor. "We couldve been so easily dismissed at the time by someone in her power, but instead, she embraced us."

Throughout her career, Montanez was also a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, National Advisory Committee on Social Security and the board of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Even in her later years, Montanez kept a busy social calendar and never stopped trying to advocate for Latinas.

Espino remembered how Montanez called her former bosses at UCLA when the lecturer left an oral history post to ask if they were going to replace me with someone else to interview Chicano pioneers.

Anton Calleia, who worked alongside Montanez for 15 years as Bradley's chief executive officer, said she was active in her community her whole life and that human rights were at the core of her ideology.

"People like her dont come around very often," he said. "We were lucky to have her and I think the city is better because she was so involved, because she served so well. I genuinely believe that."

Montanez is survived by three children, Deirdra Christian, Alison Hoverston-Davis and Alfred Davis; and two grandchildren.
STOCKHOLM Sweden said on Tuesday it had temporarily withdrawn all its diplomats from North Korea, where its embassy also represents the interests of the United States and several other nations, partly due to issues linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

Most other Western nations which have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, including Germany, Britain and France, have already pulled staff out temporarily, citing the difficulty of rotating staff and bringing in supplies during the pandemic.

Sweden acts as the consular representative of the United States, Australia and Canada, among others, in North Korea. The Swedish foreign ministry said its embassy in Pyongyang remains open and staffed by local employees.

What has happened is that we have relocated our diplomats, either as a result of holidays or rotation," a ministry spokesman said, adding that the situation was temporary.

But naturally, the situation has become more difficult as a result, among other things, of COVID 19," he said, without elaborating.

North Korea says it has zero confirmed cases of the coronavirus, but has taken significant measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

In January the reclusive state shut its borders completely, cancelled most flights and train services, and ordered foreign residents into more than a month of quarantine.

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
NEW HAVEN  The leader of the state Department of Education Tuesday said the agency would support the city school districts plan to start the academic year with 10 weeks of remote learning.

First multiple state department heads tested the resolve of local school board members to initiate a fully remote start to the school year, asking questions about the potential negative impact of keeping school doors closed for the first marking period.

But once it was clear that a majority of Board of Education members would not relent, Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona said his department would offer support and work with New Haven to support district officials in planning distance learning for 10 weeks.

In anticipation of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, four of seven voting school board members decided against opening schools at a meeting this month. As a condition of deciding against offering an in-person option for students, district officials met with an exception review panel of state officials presenting information about Connecticuts virus containment efforts and the struggles some students may have without in-person instruction.

The meeting, which took place over video conferencing software, was streamed live on YouTube, and at its maximum viewership was watched by more than 2,500 people.

This process is not to approve or deny a plan, said Cardona. He said districts were given the right to decide the plan that is best for them.

Before asking to hear from board members on the rationale for their votes, Cardona reminded those on the call that New Haven has higher needs than what is average for the state  15 percent of students are identified for special education services and 17 percent are English learners. During distance learning in the spring, it was reported that only 30 percent of New Haven students were regularly completing assignments, compared to an average of 74 percent of students across the state.

Under state guidance, school districts would be asked to go to fully remote learning if there were a daily infection rate of 25 per 100,000 people in the county  as of Tuesday, that figure was two per 100,000 people.

Board member Larry Conaway, a retired district educator who made the motion for the board to go remote for the first marking period, said hes lost sleep over the decision since he made it.

This is a safety, and a life and death issue, he said.

Although he said he wants to see students return to school, the story of this virus changes minute by minute, and it seems as though no one knows what the final outcome will be.

The mere fact we are having a remote meeting and not meeting in person speaks volumes, he said.

Board member Tamiko Jackson-McArthur agreed, noting the planning seemed reactive instead of proactive.

My vote was around readiness and I dont feel were ready, she said. I have a lot of questions Ive asked that have not been clearly answered.

Jackson-McArthur, a physician, said New Havens status as a magnet school district means it relies heavily on transportation and moving students across municipal lines. She said its a sign that virus containment could be difficult for a district like New Haven.

Board member Ed Joyner defended his vote for a remote open to school by borrowing a term he said he heard from fellow board member Matt Wilcox: that New Haven is a comorbid city. The city has multigenerational homes with high rates of high blood pressure and diabetes and vulnerable community members who might have difficulty and barriers to seeking out help, such as undocumented people.

We are a poor city that has never gotten the resources we need, he said.

Cardona said he and other department heads hoped to share some facts you dont have yet with the board to potentially inform their decision.

There are many parents who rely very heavily on the school system to provide learning opportunities, he said, before turning it over to other panel members to ask questions.

State Board of Education member Erin Benham asked whether there was any consideration of the impacts of remote learning on special education and bilingual students.

New Haven Director Of Student Services Typhanie Jackson said that a number of special education students  including those who are nonverbal  can be adequately educated only with robust, in-person education.

Acting Commissioner of Public Health Deidre Gifford asked what more the board would need to feel comfortable with safely returning to in-person education. Joyner said he would want to see a diagram of a safely socially-distanced classroom. Jackson-McArthur said she would need more reassurance that there would be personal protective equipment provided for all school personnel and students, which Cardona said would be the case.

Cardona said state officials would be available to work with New Haven as early as Tuesday to begin developing a remote education plan.

This is the beginning of the next chapter, he said. Time is of the essence, but we want to get it right.

According to surveys, roughly half of the districts parents would opt to send their students to school; state officials extrapolated that to roughly 25 percent of the districts students beingin school during a hybrid model, where cohorts of students attending in-person would alternate days within schools.

Parents who support both models have petitioned the school board and the state education department. Parents who support remote learning did a letter-writing campaign to the state. New Haven school board members were also presented with 230 signatures of district parents who support having an in-person learning option.

In several school districts, the two largest teachers unions in the state held caravan events asking for districts to do more to protect teachers and students.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
Im unfortunately not going to be at the upcoming EWS races this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation around the world. Traveling across the world right now is not a risk I want to put myself or my family through. Its a very tough decision to make as I love racing and being with my team and the fans but I feel its the right choice for myself at this time. Hopefully next year things can get back to normal and I will be ready to chase another title.  Sam Hill



Press Release: Nukeproof



Its been a crazy year for everyone, our thoughts go out to all those affected by the current Covid-19 situation.



Like most of you, weve been eager to get back to do what we love; racing bikes. However, after much discussion and consideration and with respect for all involved, we have decided Sam Hill will not travel to Europe this year to compete in the 2020 EWS races.



Where Sam lives in Western Australia, they have strict rules on international travel and whilst air travel companies are doing an amazing job to make travel as risk free as possible, the prospect of none essential travel and 14 day isolation & quarantine on return is something we are not comfortable and unwilling to ask any of our athletes to do.



Sam came into 2020 more motivated and prepared than ever, ready to defend his Enduro World Title. However, with the prospect of no EWS 2020 world title on the line, Sam will remain as the current EWS world champion going into 2021 when we will hope to be back to racing.



We would also like to wish team rider Kelan Grant a speedy recovery from recent shoulder surgery. The team and Kelan chose this time to rectify a persistent injury and ensure that he is 100% fit and healthy for the future so he will also miss the next few races of the 2020 season.



However, were excited to get back to racing and the rest of the team will head out to Zermatt. For the remaining races joining 2018 U21 EWS World Champion Elliott Heap and myself will be a really talented local rider to myself - Anthony Hales. Ant, will be competing in his first EWS races and is an exciting prospect to look out for.



A big thank you to all our team sponsors and their management for their continued support in these strange times, we are fortunate to have support from some of the best sponsors and people in the business.



I want to thank all our team for their proactive approach to this year. Whilst racing has not been possible, our athletes have continued to do as much as possible to entertain. Be sure to look out for some really cool riding edits Sam is working on in WA coming soon.



Lastly, thank you to the great EWS team for working so hard to get some races going this year.



Stay safe everyone.



Sam Hill has announced he will not be flying to Europe to take part in the upcoming 2020 EWS season due to the risks associated with the COVID-19 virus.With cases rising across Europe again, Sam said in a press release that the risk of travelling to himself and his family is too great. Sam also lives in Western Australia where strict rules have been placed on international travel, which would make it difficult to travel to and from Europe. Nukeproof said: "the prospect of non-essential travel and 14 day isolation & quarantine on return is something we are not comfortable with and unwilling to ask any of our athletes to do."Sam has been EWS champion for 3 years in a row and he will continue to be reigning champion when he returns in 2021. The EWS has already confirmed that due to the disruption this season, "there is no series championship this year and well no doubt miss some nationalities attending and the spectators being trackside".The 5-round EWS season is due to begin on August 30 in Zermatt and will run until October 17. The revised schedule can be found here
Illegal fish transshipment at sea, popularly called saiko exceeded normal trawl landings in Ghana by 150 per cent in 2017.



Similarly, saiko also accounted for 57 per cent of the landings of artisanal fishers in the same year.



This was revealed by the Director of the Environment and Natural Resource Research Initiative (ENRRI  EfD Ghana), Professor Wisdom Akpalu in a presentation titled: Capture Fisheries Management in Ghana: Challenges and Prospects in Accra on Tuesday, August 18, 2020.



He said saiko is accelerating the depletion of small pelagic stocks, which are the main target of artisanal fishers in the country.



He explained that because of the many illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices such as the saiko, light fishing, overfishing and overcapacity, catch per unit area has reduced and continue to reduce.



Prof. Akpalu, who is also the Dean of the School of Research and Graduate Studies of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), said many industrial trawlers and canoes use samall-sized illegal nets, hence catching undersized fishes.



Participants at the seminar



According to him, about 90 per cent of artisanal fishers use illegal fishing nets, a situation he explained, is greatly contributing to the depletion of fish stocks in Ghanas waters.



He said Ghana imports about 60 per cent of her fish needs, a situation he described could worsen in years to come if proactive measures are not taken to regulate the sector well.



He said currently Ghana has over 70 fishing trawlers and that each of these trawlers land more juvenile fishes than expected.



We have evidence of fish stocks collapsing in the world, Prof. Akpalu said, pointing out that We are not in a very good place. We have to think carefully about this.



He noted that without sacrifices, the fishing sector cannot be well regulated, hence urging all stakeholders to make some sacrifices in order to save the countrys fishing industry from a possible collapse.



The seminar, which was organised under the auspices of Environment for Development (EFD), brought together key players in the Ghanaian fishing industry.



As one of the 15 centres of the EfD initiative, ENRRI contributes to the sustainable management of Ghanas natural resources through capacity development, policy-relevant research and policy engagement. The EfD initiative is funded by the Swedish International Development Initiative (Sida).



A former Acting Chief Director at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Prof. Francis K.E. Nunoo, called for drastic measures to sanitise the countrys fishing industry and protect the livelihoods of the many people, particularly coastal communities who depend on marine resources.



He called for "...a big revolution in the fisheries industry in Ghana to save the sector.





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.

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PULLMAN, Wash., Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2020 Business in the Northwest report, published by the Washington State University Carson College of Business, finds that although most businesses have experienced significant hardships due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Pacific Northwest (PNW) business leaders are confident they have the necessary skills and resources to navigate the crisis.

"2020 has emerged as one of the most challenging years of our lifetimes. Yet, even in the face of record adversity, the Pacific Northwest business community continues to show resilience," said Carson College dean Chip Hunter. "The results of this year's report encourage me to believe that we'll come out of this with new ways of working and a stronger sense of community."

Now in its third year, the 2020 report specifically focuses on how business leaders have been navigating the unprecedented challenges brought forward by the pandemic. Businesses across the PNW have stepped up to support both their employees and communities during this time and, despite facing setbacks, business leaders remain optimistic about the region's future.

Key findings from the 2020 report include:

PNW businesses feel the negative impacts of the pandemic: 64% of business leaders report feeling a negative impact on their business, resulting in a third of businesses having to close their doors. More than 1 in 10 (12%) businesses had to close permanently, while almost a quarter (24%) have closed temporarily.

64% of business leaders report feeling a negative impact on their business, resulting in a third of businesses having to close their doors. More than 1 in 10 (12%) businesses had to close permanently, while almost a quarter (24%) have closed temporarily. Adapting in the face of challenge : Refining or re-strategizing product and service offerings has helped 76% of business during this time.

: Refining or re-strategizing product and service offerings has helped 76% of business during this time. Business leaders support stay-at-home policies : 66% of business leaders feel their state governments have done an either an "excellent" or a "good" job responding to the COVID-19 crisis. 79% say stay-at-home orders were the correct response to slowing the spread of the virus.

: 66% of business leaders feel their state governments have done an either an "excellent" or a "good" job responding to the COVID-19 crisis. 79% say stay-at-home orders were the correct response to slowing the spread of the virus. In this together: 87% of business leaders feel a larger responsibility to help their communities during this time, and 95% feel an increased sense of responsibility to support their employees.

87% of business leaders feel a larger responsibility to help their communities during this time, and 95% feel an increased sense of responsibility to support their employees. Teleworking is here to stay: 56% of business leaders will continue allowing employees to work from home and 74% will continue with virtual meetings.

56% of business leaders will continue allowing employees to work from home and 74% will continue with virtual meetings. Optimism remains: Despite facing unprecedented challenges, 80% of business leaders are optimistic about the business climate in the region. Additionally, 92% feel their company is equipped with the tools they need to withstand changes over the next three years.

The report surveyed a total of 301 PNW business leaders from June 16, 2020 to June 25, 2020.

To access the full report, visit: https://business.wsu.edu/bnwreport2020/

About the Carson College of Business

The Washington State University Carson College of Business is accredited across all business disciplines at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Faculty across disciplines produce scholarly and applied research at the main campus in Pullman as well as at urban campuses in Vancouver, Everett and the Tri-Cities. International activities include academic centers in China and Switzerland as well as thriving partnerships with several schools around the globe. Innovative online programs supplement face-to-face offerings.

SOURCE Washington State University Carson College of Business

Related Links

https://business.wsu.edu


After the United States President Donald Trump claimed that New Zealand is seeing a "surge" in COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hit back by calling him patently wrong. Reports suggest that Trump enraged the people of New Zealand when he told people in Minnesota that the South Pacific country of 5 million people which had earlier succeeded in battling the virus, is now in the grip of a "terrible" upsurge in COVID-19 cases. On August 18, New Zealand reported 13 new infections, taking the toll to 1,293, with 22 deaths. However, the US has more than 5.2 million cases with 170,000 deaths.

Read: New Zealand Authorities Say New COVID-19 Wave Did Not Come From Frozen Food Items

NZ PM hits back at Trump

According to reports, while addressing the crowd at Minnesota, Trump asked the people if they knew what was happening in New Zealand. He said that a few days back they were on the front page of newspapers for battling the virus because they wanted to show him something. He added that the situation is now terrible and nobody wants that.

Hitting back at Trump, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that there is no comparison between a few new cases in New Zealand and the "tens of thousands" in the United States. She said, people who are following the transmission of coronavirus know that one cannot compare nine cases a day to thousands of cases in a day. He called Trump patently wrong. Prime Minister Ardern called New Zealand as one of the best-performing countries in fighting the virus.

Read: New Zealand PM Jacinda Arden Suggests Shorter Working Week Post-lockdown

According to reports, New Zealand`s death rate stands one of the lowest in the world at about 0.44 per 100,000 people. Even though New Zealand has set a benchmark in fighting the pandemic, it recently reported a surge in cases. New Zealand's health authorities reported 13 new coronavirus cases on August 18, including a maintenance worker at a hotel quarantine facility in Auckland. Although the origin of the new cluster still remains unknown, the initial investigation pointed out frozen food arriving in the country. However, in the aftermath of investigations, authorities revealed that the virus had not come through chilled services or material arriving from overseas at an Auckland facility.

Read: US: Whitmer Touts Biden, Rips Trump On Virus Response

Also Read: New Zealand Director-General Of Health Reports 9 News Virus Cases

(Image Credits: AP/Unsplash)
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Richard Morgan from the Humanitarian Coalition says:

"Canadians have donated generously over the past week to help those on the ground in Lebanon. We want to ensure that their donations are going directly to those in need. Our team will participate in aid distributions on the ground that are providing food, medicine, medical supplies, sanitary products and other items to those who have been affected by the blast."

In response to the devastating blast in Lebanon, the Canadian government is matching all donations received through the Humanitarian Coalition and its member agencies up to 5 million dollars.

Staff from Islamic Relief Canada and CARE Canada are part of the team travelling to Beirut and are available for media interviews in English, Arabic and French.

The Humanitarian Coalition brings together leading aid organizations to provide Canadians with a simple and effective way to help during international humanitarian disasters. The following agencies are members of the Humanitarian Coalition: Action Against Hunger, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Care Canada, Doctors of the World, Humanity & Inclusion, Islamic Relief Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec, Plan International Canada, Save the Children, and World Vision.

SOURCE Islamic Relief Canada

For further information: To arrange for interviews, pictures, videos and/or live footage of distributions, please contact: Reyhana Patel - [email protected] / 647-200-4662; Marg Buchanan - [email protected] / 613-239-2159

Related Links

islamicreliefcanada.org


Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

18.08.2020 LISTEN

Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has reiterated government's commitment to expanding existing infrastructure at the various military garrisons across the country.

He believes this will not only boost the morale of personnel but will also make the military more efficient in supporting the cause of national development, as well as performing their duties in the global security arena.

The Vice-President made the disclosure when he addressed a joint graduation ceremony of the Senior Division Course 41 and Master of Science Degree in Defence and International Politics of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) in Accra on Friday.

He took the opportunity to entreat the graduands to let the knowledge acquired in time management and leadership become manifest in their respective institutions and work environment.

He equally urged them to maintain and strengthen the cordial relations that existed amongst them during their study in order to respond swiftly to sub-regional, regional and continental security issues.

In all, 72 people comprising 46 personnel from the GAF and 26 officers from 11 African countries, including Nigeria, Togo, Liberia, Gambia, Sierra Leon, Tanzania, Zambia and Cameroon, graduated.

There were also public servants from some public sector institutions, including the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Investment Fund and Attorney General's Office, who participated in the course.

The studies covered Defence Management, Peace Operations, Theories and Concept of Defence, Youth and Conflict in Africa and Tourism and Counterterrorism.

The objective of the course was to equip participants with the requisite tools for analytical thinking, good judgement, leadership, and critical managerial skills in defence and international affairs.

The Commandant of the College, Rear Admiral Moses Beick-Baffour, advised the graduands to exhibit a high-level of discipline and also values of military training in order to be agents of change in society and be guided by the GAFSCC motto in all their dealings.

Rear Admiral Beick-Baffour lauded the government for its tremendous support to the college over the years and was optimistic that it would soon complete the 54-unit hostel accommodation facility for the institution.

---Daily Guide
Ice cold Bintangs. Panoramic clifftop views. Hipster cafes. Perfectly feathering waves. Though our heads may be full of joyous stereotypes, Bali holds a special  authentic  place in many Australians hearts (and itineraries). Many have even moved to Island of the Gods permanently.

While Border Force figures show 200,000 people have returned to Australia since March 21, there are a number of Australians who have decided to ride out the pandemic in Bali.

As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, some Australians, like 53-year-old Tim Ryan, dont plan on repatriating any time soon  even after being out of work for a number of months.

My family live here and I believe in Bali, Ryan told the Sydney Morning Herald. My wife is Indonesian. Bali is home.

Ryan told the Sydney Morning Herald he is a little bit concerned about coronavirus, but the situation is not too bad.

If I am really sick, health insurance will allow me to go back to Australia to seek medical help.

If you look at the situation now, the beach is open.  I believe that the Balinese government and health system has got it under control and they are taking precautions to keep it under control, so I feel safe, he added.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Surfers of Bali (@surfersofbali) on Jul 19, 2020 at 5:55pm PDT

Speaking of the beach being open (after closing for a period of time as confirmed cases soared), the Instagram account, Surfers Of Bali (SOB), has been making waves of late on social media, giving wing-clipped Australians even harder FOMO than usual.

SOB has posted tantalising videos of Bali for years. And their aesthetic hasnt changed in the last few months. But the account has captured a rare moment in history that may never be repeated: what Balinese coastal areas and surf spots look like with no international visitors (visitors are set to return in September)  just expatriates and locals.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Surfers of Bali (@surfersofbali) on Aug 16, 2020 at 1:36am PDT

From Uluwatu  the south-western tip of the Bukit peninsula  to the iconic surf spots at Padang Padang and Bingin, as well as city breaks like Kuta and rice paddy backed beaches like Canggu, SOB has captured, one might argue, every Australian surfers dream.

Thats not to say lineups are now uncrowded. But they certainly look more relaxed.

Its not just the perfect waves that have convinced some Australians to stay in Bali though. As Ryan told the Sydney Morning Herald, the cost of living is another factor in the decision: I could live in Bali for another six months easily without working.

Rent is cheaper here, living expenses are cheaper and I am not picky. I can eat any Indonesian food. A small bottled water in Australia could cost 10 times [what it does] in Bali; a simple dish like fried rice or whatever could cost you $10 a plate compared to as little as $1 in Bali.

Unless youre already over there though, dont hold your breath on being able to go any time soon.

smarttraveller.gov.au has issued the following in respect to Australians thinking of travelling: Theres a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You cant leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.

If youre overseas and wish to return to Australia, we continue to encourage you to plan your travel home. However, be prepared for possible delays.

When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. View individual State and Territory Government information, smarttraveller.gov.au adds.

If youre staying overseas, make plans to stay for an extended period. Follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know youre safe.

Read Next
The League of Women Voters asked the Michigan Supreme Court on Monday to reconsider an appeal to allow local clerks more time to count ballots postmarked by or on election day.

The League, which initially filed a lawsuit over absentee ballot counting rules in May, points in its Aug. 17 filing to August primary election data released by the Secretary of State, which says 6,400 absentee ballots were rejected because they were delivered after Election Day.

Christina Schlitt, the Leagues president, said the new information shows how important it is to ensure all valid ballots are counted. The League is a nonpartisan political organization that supports voter education, issue advocacy and citizen participation.

Voting is the bedrock of democracy and why would you hinder it in any way? Schlitt asked. Why would you not go the other way and make it more convenient for the voter?

The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled in July that absentee ballots must be delivered to clerks offices by 8 p.m. on election day in order to be counted, finding that the deadline was nondiscriminatory and that it was a policy decision made after Proposal 3 was adopted by Michigan voters in November 2018. The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of that ruling on July 31.

Proposal 3 required sweeping changes to Michigans election process, including allowing for no-reason absentee voting, which, along with the coronavirus pandemic, has resulted in record numbers of absentee ballots being requested.

Schlitt said the United States Postal Service isnt getting enough support to deliver absentee ballots to clerks offices on time. The USPS sent Secretary of State Jocelyn Bensons office a letter on July 30 stating Michigan voters must mail their ballots more than two weeks before election day to ensure their vote is counted. Michigan law allows voters to request and submit absentee ballots through election day.

The point of the matter is we need to support our voters. We need to make voting convenient. We have made a great deal of strides in Michigan, but we need to a little bit more, Schlitt said.

Schlitt said the USPS letter to the SOS confirms Michigans statutory received-by deadline, combined with USPSs delivery standards, violates the guaranteed 40-day window for voting by mail.

The Courts decision could help prevent the disenfranchisement of thousands of voters in the November election and ensure voting is accessible and convenient for every registered voter in Michigan in November and beyond, Schlitt said.

Benson addressed why 10,600 absentee ballots were rejected in an Aug. 14 press conference. More than 80% of absentee ballots rejected in Michigans August primary election were denied because of signature verification issues or because they arrived at the clerks offices after election day. Benson said the majority of disenfranchised voters in last weeks statewide primary could have easily had their votes counted with small changes in law.

The data demonstrates that thousands of people who cast otherwise valid votes were not able to participate in last weeks election solely because the Legislature failed to act ahead of the primary, Benson said. With turnout and absentee ballot numbers expected to double or even triple in November, we could be looking at tens of thousands of Michigan citizens disenfranchised if the legislature again fails to act.

There are three pending bills Benson is calling on Michigan lawmakers to pass, two of which she said would have prevented a majority of the denied ballots, more than 8,600, from being rejected.

One bill, SB 757, would allow clerks to start processing absentee ballots before election day. The second bill, HB 5987, would allow mailed ballots to count if they are postmarked by election day, even if they arrive up to two days later. The third bill, HB 5991, requires clerks to contact voters if the signature on the absentee ballot doesnt match the name registered with the state.

More on MLive:

Most of Michigans rejected August primary absentee ballots had signature, late arrival issues

Absentee ballots must be received by Election Day, Michigan Court of Appeals rules

League of Women Voters sues Michigan over absentee ballot access, deadline
100 cool worlds found near the sun

Maunakea, Hawaii - How complete is our census of the Sun's closest neighbors? Astronomers and a team of data-sleuthing volunteers participating in Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, a citizen science project, have discovered roughly 100 cool worlds near the Sun - objects more massive than planets but lighter than stars, known as brown dwarfs.

With the help of W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea in Hawaii, the research team found several of these newly discovered worlds are among the very coolest known, with a few approaching the temperature of Earth -- cool enough to harbor water clouds.

The study will be published in the August 20, 2020 issue of the Astrophysical Journal and is available in preprint format on arXiv.org.

Discovering and characterizing astronomical objects near the Sun is fundamental to our understanding of our place in, and the history of, the universe. Yet astronomers are still unearthing new residents of the solar neighborhood. The new Backyard Worlds discovery bridges a previously empty gap in the range of low-temperature brown dwarfs, identifying a long-sought missing link within the brown dwarf population.

"These cool worlds offer the opportunity for new insights into the formation and atmospheres of planets beyond the solar system," said lead author Aaron Meisner from the National Science Foundation's NOIRLab. "This collection of cool brown dwarfs also allows us to accurately estimate the number of free-floating worlds roaming interstellar space near the Sun.

To identify several of the faintest and coolest of the newly discovered brown dwarfs, UC San Diego's Professor of Physics Adam Burgasser and researchers from the Cool Star Lab used Keck Observatory's sensitive Near-Infrared Echellette Spectrometer, or NIRES, instrument.

"We used the NIRES spectra to measure the temperature and gases present in their atmospheres. Each spectrum is essentially a fingerprint that allows us to distinguish a cool brown dwarf from other kinds of stars," said Burgasser, a co-author of the study.

Follow-up observations using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, Mont Megantic Observatory, and Las Campanas Observatory also contributed to the brown dwarf temperature estimates.

Brown dwarfs lie somewhere between the most massive planets and the smallest stars. Lacking the mass needed to sustain nuclear reactions in their core, brown dwarfs are sometimes referred to as "failed stars." Their low mass, low temperature, and lack of internal nuclear reactions make them extremely faint -- and therefore extremely difficult to detect. Because of this, when searching for the very coolest brown dwarfs, astronomers can only hope to detect such objects relatively close to the Sun.

To help find our Sun's coldest, nearest neighbors, astronomers with the Backyard Worlds project turned to a worldwide network of more than 100,000 citizen scientists. These volunteers diligently inspect trillions of pixels of telescope images to identify the subtle movements of nearby brown dwarfs and planets. Despite the advances of machine learning and supercomputers, there's still no substitute for the human eye when it comes to finding faint, moving objects.

Backyard Worlds volunteers have already discovered more than 1,500 stars and brown dwarfs near the Sun; this new discovery represents about 100 of the coldest in that sample. Meisner says this is a record for any citizen science program, and 20 of the citizen scientists are listed as co-authors of the study.

The availability of decades of astronomical catalogs through NOIRLab's Astro Data Lab helped make the discoveries possible.

"The technical burden of downloading billion-object astronomical catalogs is typically insurmountable for individual investigators - including most professional astronomers," said Meisner. "Thankfully, the Astro Data Lab's open and accessible web portal allowed Backyard Worlds citizen scientists to easily query massive catalogs for brown dwarf candidates."

Data sets from NASA's WISE satellite as well as archival observations from telescopes at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory and Kitt Peak National Observatory were also key to these brown dwarf discoveries.

"It's exciting these could be spotted first by a citizen scientist," said Meisner. "The Backyard Worlds discoveries show that members of the public can play an important role in reshaping our scientific understanding of our solar neighborhood."

###

ABOUT NIRES

The Near Infrared Echellette Spectrograph (NIRES) is a prism cross-dispersed near-infrared spectrograph built at the California Institute of Technology by a team led by Chief Instrument Scientist Keith Matthews and Prof. Tom Soifer. Commissioned in 2018, NIRES covers a large wavelength range at moderate spectral resolution for use on the Keck II telescope and observes extremely faint red objects found with the Spitzer and WISE infrared space telescopes, as well as brown dwarfs, high-redshift galaxies, and quasars. Support for this technology was generously provided by the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation.

ABOUT W. M. KECK OBSERVATORY

The W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes are among the most scientifically productive on Earth. The two 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes on the summit of Maunakea on the Island of Hawaii feature a suite of advanced instruments including imagers, multi-object spectrographs, high-resolution spectrographs, integral-field spectrometers, and world-leading laser guide star adaptive optics systems.

Some of the data presented herein were obtained at Keck Observatory, which is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

The authors wish to recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that the summit of Maunakea has always had within the Native Hawaiian community. We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to conduct observations from this mountain.

For more information, visit: http://www. keckobservatory. org

This story has been published on: 2020-08-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) said that it discussed the matter of issuing broad guidelines for holding elections amid prevailing COVID-19 situation at a commission meeting held on Tuesday (August 18, 2020).

They said that the commission also considered the views and suggestions given by the Political Parties.

The matter of issuing broad guidelines for General/Bye Elections during COVID-19 period was discussed in the Commission meeting today. Commission considered the views/suggestions given by the Political Parties.(1/n)  Sheyphali Sharan (@SpokespersonECI) August 18, 2020

The official statement said that they also took into consideration the suggestions and recommendations made by Chief Electoral Officers of States and UTs.

"After considering all these, Commission directed to frame broad guidelines within three days," said Sheyphali Sharan, Official Spokesperson, Election Commission of India.

"Commission directed that on the basis of these guidelines, Chief Electoral Officers of the election going States shall also prepare a comprehensive plan for State/district concerned for COVID-19 related measures, taking into account local conditions during the conduct of elections," stated Sheyphali.

Commission directed that on the basis of these guidelines, Chief Electoral Officers of the election going States shall also prepare a comprehensive plan for State/district concerned for COVID-19 related measures, taking into account local conditions during conduct of elections.  Sheyphali Sharan (@SpokespersonECI) August 18, 2020

Notably, several states like Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam will go for legislative assembly elections in late this year and early and mid-2021.

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, who was next in line to head the poll panel, resigned on Tuesday.

He will join the Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) as vice-president in September.

Lavasa, who would have retired as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in October 2022, would be the second election commissioner to step down from the poll panel before the completion of his term.
STURGIS, S.D.  And just like that, the roar of the motorcycles was gone.

Ten days after Sturgis, S.D., drew hundreds of thousands of bikers from all over the country to its signature motorcycle rally despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, the parties ended and most of the crowds headed home on Sunday.

Uncertain still was what effect, if any, the event will have on the spread of the virus. Because of the time it can take for symptoms to appear and the way coronavirus cases are tracked in the United States, officials may never know whether the annual rally was a place where the virus was widely passed along.

There were no immediate signs that the rally had led to a significant uptick: The county that includes Sturgis has reported 104 coronavirus cases during the pandemic, 33 of them since the start of August. On Monday, state health officials said they knew of one case of the virus in someone who had attended the motorcycle rally, according to The Rapid City Journal. And Mark Schulte, president of Monument Health Sturgis Hospital, confirmed that some people in Sturgis for the rally had tested positive for the virus, though he would not say how many.

But if a flurry of new cases were to emerge  days from now or even longer  they would likely be reported by attendees back in their hometowns, and would not necessarily ever be tied to the rally.
The merger was announced days after the army said operations against armed groups had brought hard-earned success.

The Pakistan Taliban has brought two splinter groups back into its fold, it announced in a statement, days after the army said nationwide operations against armed groups had brought hard-earned success.

The Pakistan Taliban, fighting to overthrow the government, is an umbrella of Sunni armed groups called Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has broken into many divisions.

The TTP, designated a terrorist group by the United States, has been in disarray in recent years, especially after several of its top leaders were killed by US drone attacks on both sides of the border, forcing its members into shelter in Afghanistan, or fleeing to urban Pakistan.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan welcomes them, the TTP statement said of the two splinter groups, adding that it would like all groups to unite.

The reunion with Jamat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) and Hizb-ul-Ahrar (HuA) appears significant in view of the rise in attacks against security forces, most claimed by the TTP, including some suicide bombings.

Pakistani army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar said last week, however, the militarys operations against armed groups had been very successful.

The war against terrorism has yielded some hard-earned success, he told a news conference. More than 18,000 terrorists have been killed and more than 400 tonnes of explosive material seized in a countrywide anti-militant operation that started in 2017.

The reunion comes at a time when the US is promoting peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and the government in Kabul.

The US signed an agreement with the Taliban in February that called for US troops withdrawal in exchange for security guarantee from the Afghan armed group, which has been fighting the Afghan and US-led NATO forces since 2001.

The Pakistan Taliban said the two groups pledged allegiance to the TTP chief, Mufti Noor Wali, shown in photos at a ceremony.

It was not clear what side of the border the ceremony took place. Government and military officials did not comment on the merger or the location of the ceremony.

The JuA, which broke away from the TTP in 2014, has been involved in major attacks, including the 2016 suicide bombing in a park in the eastern city of Lahore that the group said targeted Christians celebrating Easter. It killed more than 70 people.

The HuA, a faction that further split from the JuA, has not been so active.
Revu 20 empowers real-time collaboration across project partners worldwide, saving time and improving project quality

Pasadena, CA, Aug. 18, 2020, leading developer of solutions and services that set the standard for architecture, engineering and construction professionals worldwide, announces the newest version of Revu, their flagship project efficiency and collaboration solution. Revu 20delivers greater flexibility and control with improved user and content management capabilities and streamlines communication with new enhancements designed to increase accuracy and save time.

"When we think of 'teamwork' on a construction project, we think about removing barriers through technology while unlocking the inherent potential of a group of diverse project partners," said Bluebeam CEO Jon Elliott. "When teams have the right solutions in place to work together seamlessly across distances and time zones, all of the investments an organisation makes in training, management and process development can be realised through clear and measurable improvements in quality, accuracy and efficiency. Revu 20 delivers improved communication management capabilities and productivity improvements that are designed to maximise an organisation's investments across the board."

Revu 20 introduces new communication features that are designed to boost productivity and enable more successful project delivery, improved user and content management capabilities to provide greater flexibility and control, and enhancements to the powerful annotation tools in Revu that improve project data management when reviewing, commenting, annotating, tracking and managing project documents.

"Bluebeam has always been a company that has focused on solving problems without reinventing the way teams work in the process," said Bluebeam CPO Roger Angarita. "In fact, we focus on developing solutions that enhance the existing strength of organisations and meet them at the point where the right tools start to make all the difference. Whether that takes the form of the right features, the right collaborative tools or the right global data network. As proof to the effectiveness of our approach, Bluebeam Global Services surveyed customers at individual companies and found that 82% of Revu users reported saved time, 76% reported boosted efficiency and 88% reported improvement in work quality. These results reflect the incredible benefits of collaborative innovation and teamwork and we're proud to drive results that build a stronger business relationship among AEC companies and their customers."

Studio is a collaborative space accessed from within Revu that transforms the application into a real-time collaboration solution, allowing teams to stay connected across the globe from wherever they are - whether it's the jobsite, the trailer or - most recently - their homes. Studio Projects provide access to a single centralised location to store documents - even entire building projects - in the cloud and Revu 20 delivers improved access and control. Revu 20 also introduces an improved invitation process and administrative controls in Studio Sessions that make it easier than ever for team members and administrators worldwide to connect instantly on the same set of documents and take advantage of real-time connectivity. ?

Along with the release of Revu 20, Bluebeam also announces the launch of a Studio server in Australia today, allowing clients to host Studio Sessions and store project data within Australian borders, meeting data sovereignty requirements. Access is available immediately and is automatic for all users in the region using Revu 20 or Revu 2019. More information can be found here.

Revu 20 Standard, CAD and eXtreme editions are available now at Bluebeam.co.ukand through our worldwide reseller network.

Bluebeam, Inc.

Trusted by over 1.9 million individuals in more than 130 countries, Bluebeam's smart, intuitive annotation and collaboration solutions advance the way technical professionals work, manage and collaborate on projects digitally. Founded in Pasadena, CA, Bluebeam has grown to include additional US offices in California, Illinois, Texas and New Hampshire, as well as offices in England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Australia. Bluebeam is part of the Nemetschek Group. Download a 30-day trial of Bluebeam Revu on our website.

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An attorney for one of the Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd's killing claims the black man contributed to his own death because he overdosed on fentanyl during his arrest.

Thomas Lane, 37, is one of the three officers charged with aiding and abetting murder for holding down Floyd's legs during his May 25 fatal arrest.

Another officer, Derek Chauvin, is charged with murder after body cam showed him kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes as he pleaded: 'I can't breathe'.

Lane's attorney Earl Gray has been trying to get the charges against him dropped, claiming there is insufficient evidence to establish the officer committed a crime.

In a memorandum filed in court on Monday, the attorney claimed that Floyd swallowed a 'lethal dose' of fentanyl as he was resisting arrest.

An attorney for Minneapolis officer Thomas Lane, who is charged in George Floyd's killing, claims the black man contributed to his own death because he overdosed on fentanyl during his arrest

The attorney pointed to bodycam footage of the arrest in which he claims Floyd had a 'white spot on the left side' of his tongue when Lane and another officer first approached him following reports he had used a fake $20 bill to buy cigarettes at a convenience store.

Gray has claimed in the memo that Floyd intentionally ingested '2 milligrams of fentanyl, a lethal dose' after Lane ordered him to put his hands up to be taken into custody.

Thomas Lane is one of the three officers charged with aiding and abetting murder in Floyd's May 25 death

'All he had to do is sit in the police car, like every other defendant who is initially arrested. While attempting to avoid his arrest, all by himself, Mr Floyd overdosed on Fentanyl,' the filing says.

'Given his intoxication level, breathing would have been difficult at best. Mr Floyd's intentional failure to obey commands, coupled with his overdosing, contributed to his own death.'

A medical examiner's report and a separate independent autopsy both ruled that Floyd's death was a homicide and that he died from asphyxiation.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner added in its report that Floyd had 'recent methamphetamine use' and 'fentanyl intoxication' - along with hypertension and coronary artery disease - all of which were possible contributing factors to his death.

In the court filing, Lane's attorney argued that the neck constraint used by Chauvin was not excessive as he argued that the tissue in Floyd's neck wasn't damaged.

He also pointed to Floyd's criminal background and past alleged drug use as to why his clients charges should be dropped.

Lane was one of the two officers who were first on the scene following the reports that Floyd had attempted to pass a fake $20 bill to buy cigarettes at a convenience store

Lane's attorney Earl Gray has been trying to get the charges against him dropped, claiming there is insufficient evidence to establish the officer committed a crime. Lane was one of the two officers who were first on the scene following the reports that Floyd had attempted to pass a fake $20 bill to buy cigarettes

Citing a May 2019 arrest in Minneapolis, Gray argued that Floyd had to be physically removed from a car where police found oxycodone, cocaine and rock cocaine.

The court records do not state if Floyd was charged in that arrest.

Lane's attorney has previously argued that Floyd should not have resisted arrest and that he should of obeyed the orders of the officers.

He has also previously said in interviews that it was 'clearly evident' Floyd was 'under the influence of some kind of drug' at the time of his arrest.

Lane was one of the two officers who were first on the scene following the reports that Floyd had attempted to pass a fake $20 bill to buy cigarettes at a convenience store.

Chauvin and a fourth officer, Tou Thao, were called in to assist.

All four officers were fired the day after Floyd's death.

Lane's attorney is expected to argue a case for dismissing the charges against the fired officer during a court hearing scheduled for September 11.

It comes after a Minnesota judge ruled Lane's bodycam footage could be released publicly after DailyMail.com revealed leaked footage.

The judge had previously restricted the viewing of Lane - and Kueng's bodycam footage - allowing it to be viewed only by appointment in the county courthouse.
Akshay Kumar, who is currently shooting in Scotland, has donated Rs 1 crore towards flood relief in Assam. Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal took to Twitter on Tuesday to thank him for his contribution.

Thanking the actor for showing support during tough times, Sonowal tweeted, Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of 1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena.

Thank you @akshaykumar ji for your kind contribution of 1 crore towards Assam flood relief. You have always shown sympathy and support during periods of crisis. As a true friend of Assam, may God shower all blessings to you to carry your glory in the global arena.  Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) August 18, 2020

Akshay has also contributed Rs 1 crore towards flood relief in Bihar. The actor contributed to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund of both the states to do his bit for the relief work being carried out amid the worsening flood situation.

Earlier, a source told Hindustan Times, On Thursday, Akshay Kumar spoke to CMs of Bihar and Assam and pledged a sum of Rs 1 crore each at a time when these areas are affected by the natural calamity. Both the chief ministers have expressed gratitude and appreciated his gesture that amid so much negativity all around, he could think of the betterment of these states.

Akshay had earlier made a donation of Rs 25 crore to the PM-CARES Fund in March to help the country deal with the Covid-19 crisis. The actor on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day on August 15 urged people to come together for India and help the street hawkers, vegetable vendors, tea shop owners and people selling small items at traffic signals, whose livelihood is affected due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput asked Rhea Chakraborty to leave his home on June 8 as sister Meetu was to visit: Rheas lawyer

Akshay flew along with his family to Scotland a few days ago for the shooting of his film, Bell Bottom. It also stars Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi. He also announced a new film titled Rakshabandhan on the festival of Raksha Bandhan this month. He also has multiple films in his kitty, including Laxmmi Bomb, Sooryavanshi, Atrangi Re, Prithviraj and Bachchan Pandey.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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Something awful happened in Portland. The "mostly peaceful" protesters who we were assured would leave the moment Trump pulled federal law enforcement officers from the federal courthouse tried to beat a man to death.

This is what happens when Antifa and BLM run riot in the streets. They are socialist terrorist groups, and they are doing what Hitler's brownshirts and Mussolini's black-clad militia did in the 1920s and 1930s: taking control of the cities from the streets through murderous mob violence and political intimidation.

This seems to be the chronology: the BLM and Antifa mob had beaten a white, homeless, transgender person and then stolen that person's longboard. A man in a blue t-shirt and black shorts  a decent human being  tried to help the victim:

It looks like the person robbed and beaten by BLM protesters in downtown Portland tonight is a trans woman. She pleads for her backpack back. Her longboard was also stolen. She may be transient. The man who tried to protect her was later beaten himself & kicked unconscious. pic.twitter.com/uNrgCkevUt  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 17, 2020

You can see in this video (strong language warning) that the black people standing around have oozing contempt and hatred for white people:

We out here for black lives matter, fuck these white cunts



BLM rioters in Portland threaten to beat man who chastises them for assaulting and robbing a suicidal trans woman in downtown. #PortlandRiots Video by @livesmattershow. pic.twitter.com/5ivhejgBGr  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 17, 2020

The man who tried to help then got back into his white truck, but the mob weren't done with him. They attacked the truck, causing it to crash. Once it crashed, both Antifa and BLM members pulled the man out of the truck. They first humiliated him, and then they brutally beat him, a beating that ended with a kick in the head that sent his head smashing into the pavement. It's nauseating stuff, so, again, a strong content warning:

He didnt do nothing bro



Video by @livesmattershow shows the altercations that happened in downtown Portland before the car crash. The BLM mob is beating a blonde woman and they tackle her to the ground. #PortlandRiots pic.twitter.com/c0xbTr2Eon  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 17, 2020

So we're all just supposed to be ok with this happening or what? pic.twitter.com/No1pgkW2Zi  Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) August 17, 2020

Earlier: Rioters stand over the unconscious mans body after they beat him. They pour water on him and shout in support of Black Lives Matter. Antifa street medics are examining him. Hes not responsive. #PortlandRiots #BlackLiveMatter Video @FromKalen. pic.twitter.com/aI5emSRATI  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 17, 2020

There were rumors that the man had died, but as of this writing, it appears that he's still unconscious.

This is leftism. This is what it does. This is what it did in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, Cuba, China, and North Korea. On the surface, in academia and newsrooms, it's about fairness, equitable redistribution, and social justice. On the street, it's mob violence that almost beats to death a brave man who got out of his car to help a traumatized person who had been beaten and robbed.

And here's the crucial thing to remember: no Democrat, not in the media; not in local politics; and not in Washington, D.C., has said a word to condemn the violence, destruction, and death that Antifa and BLM bring with them wherever they go. On the first night of the Democrats' fake convention, no one, from Michelle Obama on down, spent a moment calling for prayer for the victim or urging Antifa and BLM mobsters to stop the violence. Instead, Michelle had the chutzpah and indecency to accuse Donald Trump of fomenting "chaos" and having "a lack of empathy."

These are deeply ugly people, and what's happening in America's Democrat-run cities is a preview of coming attractions. The fine speeches cannot cover up the stench and ugliness of what their foot soldiers are doing. The Democrat mainstream media are trying to downplay this, but we shouldn't.

Remember: Unless Trump wins in a landslide in November, the mob will redouble its efforts. Whether you're in a red state or a blue, vote as if your life depends on it...because it does.

Image: A photograph taken in the aftermath of 1938's Kristallnacht in Germany, when Hitler used his foot soldiers to take complete control over Germany and sound the death knell for Jews. Except for the old-fashioned clothes, that photograph could be in any Democrat city that's given free rein to Antifa and BLM. At least 91 Jews died. (Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1970-083-42 / CC-BY-SA 3.0.)
A mother who forgave her son for stabbing his brother to death with a butcher's knife in a drunken rage has delivered a heartbreaking message in court.

Peter James Te Maru plunged a knife into Marino Te Maru's heart at Snells Beach, north of Auckland in New Zealand, on February 10, 2019 during an alcohol-fuelled scuffle that started over a car.

The 34-year-old, who had previously been deported from Australia for violent offences, was found guilty of murder earlier this year.

Upon hearing of her younger son's life sentence in the High Court on Tuesday, his mother Susan Te Maru said: 'You are ours and always will be,' the NZ Herald reported.

Upon hearing of her younger son's life sentence in the High Court (pictured) on Tuesday, his mother Susan Te Maru said: 'You are ours and always will be'

Defence lawyer Ron Mansfield told the court that the family 'has lost in effect two sons'.

'There can be no doubt that there were two tight brothers that were loved and respected by their family.'

The incident began over a car and punches were later thrown on a grass verge outside one of the brothers' homes.

Marino picked up a concrete block and started smashing the windows of his little brother's car.

Peter then cut his older sibling's back with a knife sharpener, but it didn't stop the victim from wrecking his vehicle.

When Peter went inside and returned with a butchers knife, a witness told the court Marino tried to apologise and calm the situation.

Te Maru later told police he didn't remember the murder (stock image of a New Zealand police car pictured)

But the killer pushed the knife into his brother's chest, creating an 11cm deep wound that punctured his heart.

Te Maru later told police he didn't remember the murder and only wanted to scare his sibling.

'[There was] no suggestion you were so intoxicated you could not act of your own volition,' Justice Fitzgerald said.

She also acknowledged that Te Maru was genuinely sorry and had good rehabilitation prospects.

He was given a life sentence, as required by law, with a minimum non-parole period of ten years.
Almost half of those who claimed a second round of cash from their superannuation amid the coronavirus pandemic hadn't suffered a drop in earnings, research has revealed.





Citizens and permanent residents were able to access $10,000 of their super until June 30 and an additional $10,000 from July 1 if their income had fallen.

AlphaBeta and leading credit bureau illion partnered to track the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

Their analysis revealed almost 40 per cent of the 1.35 million Australians who applied for early access to their superannuation hadn't seen a drop in their income.

Australians financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic are allowed to dip into their superannuation. Pictured: Nail Technician Lily Nguyen is seen wearing a mask and face shield at the Depot Nail Bar in Broadway Shopping Centre, Sydney

Recipients who were granted the second round of super withdrawals spent an extra $3,618 during the first fortnight, compared to $2,855 during the first lot of super withdrawals. Pictured: Data from AlphaBeta-illion and leading credit bureau illion

Recipients who were granted the second round of super withdrawals spent an extra $3,618 during the first fortnight, compared to $2,855 during the first lot of super withdrawals.

The data revealed 64 per cent of the spending during the second round was 'discretionary', including gambling (11 per cent) and clothing (10 per cent), while 24 per cent was 'essential' and 12 per cent was 'debt repayment'.

The research was based on a sample of 13,000 Australians who withdrew their super in round one and 10,100 who accessed the cash in round two.

Cash spent on groceries during the first fortnight with the lump sum increased by more than $200 - from $320 in round one to $531 in round two.

Those wishing to access the cash were told they had to meet strict criteria such as being unemployed, being made redundant or having working hours reduced by 20 per cent.

However, there were few checks on this when people applied - and now the ATO is launching a crackdown on people who took money out of their superannuation that they were not eligible for.

The data revealed 64 per cent of the spending during the second round was 'discretionary', including gambling (11 per cent) and clothing (10 per cent), while 24 per cent was 'essential' and 12 per cent was 'debt repayment'

Pictured: Two women wear face masks while out shopping in Sydney's CBD

'The government has amped up warnings on compliance checks and penalties for misuse of this scheme but that doesn't seem to have stopped withdrawals by many who should not be using it,' AlphaBeta director Andrew Charlton told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Australian Tax Office has warned they will take action against people who have deliberately exploited the system during the unprecedented health crisis.

'Compliance remains one of our priorities to ensure the integrity of the tax and super system,' the ATO said.

'We have seen some COVID-19 early release of super examples where people are doing the wrong thing.

'In some cases, we have stopped applications and prevented super money from being released.'

Those who provide false or misleading information could face penalties of more than $12,000 for each false and misleading statement.

More than 2.7 million people have acted on the early access to super funds during the pandemic, withdrawing more than $33 billion.
Authorities in Mauritius have arrested the Indian captain of the Japanese ship that ran aground near Mauritius and spilled 1,000 tons of oil on the Indian Ocean islands protected coastline.

Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar, captain of the MV Wakashio and who is from India, was charged with endangering safe navigation and is in custody pending a bail hearing next week, Police inspector Sivo Coothen said Tuesday.

The ships first officer was also charged and is being held, he said.

We are carrying out a full investigation and interviewing all the crew members, Coothen said.

The Wakasio ran aground a coral reef on July 25 and after being pounded by heavy waves for several days the vessel cracked and started leaking oil on August 6. The damaged ship spilled more than 1,000 tonnes of its cargo of 4,000 tons of fuel into the turquoise waters of the Mahebourg Lagoon, one of the islands most pristine coastal areas.

Most of the remaining 3,000 tonnes of fuel was pumped off the ship before it split into two but environmental groups warned that the damage to the surrounding coral reefs could be irreversible.

The Wakashio was meant to stay at least 10 miles (16 kilometers) from shore but it ran aground just a mile from the island. Owner Nagashiki Shipping is investigating why the ship went off course and it has sent experts to help clean up the damage. The Mauritius government is seeking compensation from the company.

The Mauritius government is under pressure to explain why immediate action wasnt taken to empty the ship of its fuel before it began to leak. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth earlier blamed bad weather for the slow response.

Environmentalists in Mauritius are objecting to plans to pull the bow of the ship  the smaller part of the Wakashio  out to sea and allow it to sink. The larger part of the ship will be dragged off the coral reef where it ran aground and towed away, possibly to India for salvage.

Authorities say they will tow the bow eight nautical miles out to sea and sink it in the waters that are 2,000 feet deep, said Sunil Dowarkasing, an environmental consultant and former member of parliament in Mauritius.

But that area is where whales give birth and nurse their young, said Dowarkasing. The sunken bow could badly affect that critical area. So the environmental impact of that plan should be fully considered. The Mauritius government has closed off the coastal area of the eastern part of the island, where thousands of civilian volunteers worked for days to try to minimize damage to the Mahebourg lagoon and protected marine wetlands polluted by the spilled fuel.

Only officials and hired workers are permitted to work in the coastal area and the waters surrounding the grounded ship.

Experts from France, Japan and the United Nations are also involved in the clean-up work.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN Development Program has allocated $200,000 to address the immediate impact of the spill.

The International Maritime Organization, the UN Environment Program and the UN humanitarian office have deployed an oil spill expert to support the government, Dujarric said. And UN agencies are also supporting the public health response, assessing the risks to communities, providing forensic investigation and legal support, and using U.N. satellite imagery and analysis to help with remote mapping.

After the government declared an environmental emergency, thousands of volunteers rushed to the shore to create makeshift oil barriers from tunnels of fabric stuffed with sugar cane leaves and even human hair, with empty plastic bottles tucked in to keep them afloat.

The island nation of some 1.3 million people relies heavily on tourism and already had taken a severe hit due to travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
The WA government has rebuffed calls for an independent review of the coronavirus risks posed by the 7000 people who have entered the state with quarantine exemptions since the "hard border" restrictions were put in place in early April.

A heated debate in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon erupted in the wake of a number of high-profile cases of quarantine breaches, including two women who allegedly escaped from a hotel after arriving in Perth without an exemption.

Health Minister Roger Cook and opposition health spokesman Zak Kirkup. Credit:Lauren Pilat

An inquiry into quarantine arrangements in Victoria on Tuesday revealed 99 per cent of cases of coronavirus in the state's recent outbreak were traced back to hotels.

WA Liberal health spokesman Zak Kirkup said 52 people a day had come into the state and were given a pass from 14-day self-isolation restrictions.
Along with Russia and China, Turkey is among a small number of lifelines for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who has fended off efforts by U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido to oust him. The U.S. has made it increasingly hard for those countries to do business with Venezuela, last week seizing the cargo of four tankers for allegedly transporting Iranian fuel to Venezuela. Iran said the U.S. had no right to confiscate the shipment in international waters.
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa, which had one of the worlds strictest anti-coronavirus lockdowns for five months, relaxed its restrictions Tuesday, permitting the sales of alcohol and cigarettes in response to decreasing new cases and hospitalizations for COVID-19.

In a festive mood, people lined up at shops across the country wearing face masks and keeping a safe distance to purchase the previously banned liquor and cigarettes.

This is not the time to party, warned Professor Salim Abdool Karim, chairman of the governments COVID-19 advisory committee.

We are still in the midst of an epidemic, he told The Associated Press. We have passed the first peak and we are comfortable in easing restrictions now ... but we must keep up our vigilance.

South Africa loosened its regulations to allow the opening of bars, restaurants, gyms, and places of worship, all limited to no more than 50 people. Virtually all businesses and factories have reopened with distancing regulations. Schools will reopen gradually from August 24, starting with grades 12 and 7 and a phased opening of other grades. The country will keep its nighttime curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

With more than 589,000 confirmed cases, South Africa has more than half of all reported cases in Africa. The 54 countries of the continent reported a total of more than 1.1 million cases on Tuesday, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

South Africa has recorded more than 11,900 deaths from COVID-19, while overall the continent has reported just over 25,800 deaths. The actual numbers of cases and deaths are estimated to be much higher, say health experts.

South Africas new confirmed cases have dropped from an average of 12,000 per day at the peak in July to less than 5,000 per day last week. South Africa confirmed 2,541 new cases in the last 24 hours. South Africas recovery rate is 80%, according to official figures.

South Africa banned liquor sales in order to reduce trauma cases in hospitals, to allow medical staff to concentrate on patients with COVID-19. When alcohol sales were banned at the end of March the number of emergency room admissions dropped by about 60%. When liquor sales were permitted again in June the hospital admissions went back to previous levels. So when South Africas virus cases surged in July, the government banned alcohol sales again, to ease the burden on hospitals.

Tshepo Sebola, a resident of Kempton Park in eastern Johannesburg, was among the first customers at a local liquor store, buying several bottles of whiskey and boxes of cigarettes.

I am happy we can now buy these things for the right prices, during lockdown we had to pay huge amounts for these, he said, referring to buying from illegal traders. The cigarettes were even worse because you were paying three times the price of something that is way less in quality.

At the Makro wholesale retailer in Edenvale, small liquor traders were also stocking up on liquor and cigarettes as their businesses are now allowed to operate.

Christine Hudlock said she had come early as she intended to stock up for two months worth of alcohol this week because she was uncertain how long the sales would be permitted.

Andrew Kadi said he was especially relieved with the lifting of the ban on cigarettes because the quality of illegal cigarettes was very bad.

I only smoked them because they were the only ones available, but I am not going back there, he said. We know smoking kills, but those cigarettes will kill us quicker.
The former mayor of New Jerseys third largest city  on parole for official misconduct  has asked taxpayers to foot the bill for his medical benefits, city officials said Tuesday.

Jose Joey Torres, 61, who was forced to resign as mayor of Paterson after his criminal conviction in 2017, has asked that his free health insurance, which was canceled, be reinstated, officials said.

Torres was given free insurance in 2014, shortly after he took office for his second term as mayor at a salary of $119,000.

At the time, Torres qualified for free healthcare coverage based on his state pension and retirement from his job as business administrator in Jackson Township, officials said.

The situation at the time led to questions on how a person can be considered a retiree and still work for the city at the same time.

In 2018, Paterson discontinued its self-insurance program for retirees and decided instead to join the states health benefits plan.

The state then eliminated Torres from its list of retirees eligible for free health insurance. In response, Torres filed a workers compensation claim that disputed his loss of benefits.

Torres did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. He told NorthJersey.com that he had no explanation as to why (the state) dropped me.

Jose "Joey" TorresNJ Department of Corrections

NorthJersey.com reported that the Paterson City Council plans to vote on a possible settlement with the former mayor next week. However, the Paterson clerks office on Tuesday said the item so far has not been placed on the agenda.

Attorneys for the city did not immediately respond to a request for comment and current Mayor Andre Sayegh did not respond to a call seeking comment.

Torres pleaded guilty in September 2017 to second-degree conspiracy to commit official misconduct for using city employees to work at a liquor distributorship his family planned to open.

The work at the warehouse on East 15th Street, leased by "Quality Beer," included painting, carpentry and electrical, and was done between July 2014 and April 2015.

Torres daughter and nephew planned to run a wholesale liquor distribution business at the warehouse, but they failed to obtain the necessary permits and licenses from the state.

A judge in 2017 sentenced Torres to five years in prison for using the city workers, who were paid overtime for working on the warehouse.

State prison records show Torres was paroled in December 2018 after serving only 13 months of his five-year sentence.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. As part of a tour in the Kotayk Province, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited on August 18 the Rock Berry greenhouse business in the village of Kamaris to get acquainted with the strawberry, raspberry and blackberry producing companys activities and development programs.

A company representative told the Prime Minister that they have 149 employees, most of whom are residents of Kamaris, while some are from other nearby towns.

A 1km road leading to the greenhouse is currently being rebuilt by a subvention program.

The PM is accompanied by Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan.

The PM then headed to the village of Aramus to review the ongoing subvention programs. He toured the village and talked with the locals, and gave candies to the children.

A resident complained on the condition of the road, and said that visiting the neighboring village is difficult because of that problem, asking the PM to rebuilt it.

Everything will be done in turn, soon the restoration of that road will begin, PM Pashinyan told the resident. All you gotta do is pay property tax, as well as cultivate the lands, so many more programs will be implemented.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan and Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
Using news reports and historical websites, Stacker compiled a list of 50 countries and when they gave a majority of the women the right to vote. The countries are listed in chronological order.
The man who has ruled Belarus for 26 years growled today that protesters demanding new elections would have to kill him first, while his would-be successor announced she was prepared to take charge.

Why it matters: Aleksandr Lukashenko has never before appeared so weak  but he still has a fearsome security apparatus behind him, and a global power watching from the east.

Driving the news: Streets across the country were flooded with protesters over the weekend, while workers at Belarus state-owned enterprises and state TV network  two pillars of Lukashenkos support  have now joined strikes.

Come, sit down, well work on the constitution, Lukashenko told factory workers today. Yes, I'm no saint. You know I can be tough, but you know that if there was no toughness, there wouldnt be a country.

When they drowned him out, shouting for new elections, he turned icy: We held elections. Until you kill me, there will be no other elections.

Meanwhile opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to Lithuania after the vote, released a YouTube video saying she now was prepared to step in, release all detained protesters, and hold real, honest, and transparent elections.

What to watch: Lukashenko has utterly failed to reassert control in the eight days since he claimed a preposterous 80% of the presidential vote. What happens next may thus depend on another strongman: Russias Vladimir Putin.

Lukashenko has appealed for Putins help, though their relationship had recently grown frosty as he resisted Putins push for a Russia-Belarus political union and arrested Russian mercenaries in a bizarre pre-election incident.

Between the lines: The Kremlin is not wedded to Lukashenko: it has had enough of him, writes Carnegie Moscows Dmitri Trenin.

It cannot, however, allow Belarus to follow the path of Ukraine and become another anti-Russian, NATO-leaning bulwark on its borders.

With Lukashenkos legitimacy now gone forever, Trenin contends, Russias best option is to convince him to step aside and manage a transfer of power that secures its interests.

What to watch: At present, this is a wholly anti-Lukashenko movement, with no anti-Russian dimension, nor even an explicitly pro-Western one, notes Russia analyst Mark Galeotti.

Direct Russian action, particularly on behalf of Lukashenko, could change that.

What Putin needs most are loyalty and stability from a country that sits on Russia's border and in its sphere of influence. His priority may thus be to secure his influence in a post-Lukashenko Belarus.

What to watch: My pessimistic point of view is that Russia will get involved," Lena Smirnova, a Belarusian who relocated to Baltimore in 2012, told Axios. "That Lukashenko will go, but it wont be beneficial for Belarus. This is the worst-case scenario.

Smirnova was part of a small but enthusiastic group of protesters gathered outside the Belarusian Embassy in Washington on Sunday.

Protesting outside the embassy. Photo: Camila Sgrignoli Januario

She expressed confidence that Lukashenko's days were numbered but concern about what would come next.

We hope that he will go but we will maintain independence," she said. "That someone else will come and we will have democratic elections without Lukashenko, and we will move forward with the Western world."

Smirnova said her fellow Belarusians should be aware that when he goes, it will be hard. It will be worse probably, in the short term, because the economy will struggle for a while until it rebuilds again."

Alesya Semukha-Greenberg, a fellow Minsk native who has lived in the U.S. since 1995, said the peace and economic stability of the Lukashenko years had once satisfied Belarusians, "but a time of peace in prison has its limits.

I have a lot of friends and relatives in Minsk, and Ive been asking them, why now?" she said.

First, she was told, came Lukashenko's indifference and ineffectiveness in the face of the pandemic. Then came the "disrespectful and unbearable" election charade. "People felt their dignity was totally ignored," she said.

The brutality of the police just brought more people on the street," Semukha-Greenberg continued. "It was just like a gang on the streets of Minsk.

She hopes the European Union will pressure Lukashenko to "end the bloodshed" and step aside, allowing Belarus to "go through the struggle of building the democracy."

The bottom line: "Its not going to be easy, but it's the only way," she said. "26 years of this prison is long enough.
Berlin:

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday defended the alliances decision to refrain from stepping into the war in Syria, saying doing so would only make matters worse.

All 28 NATO members belong to the US-led coalition battling the Islamic State group but they are not directly involved in the Syrian conflict.

We are experiencing in Syria a horrible human catastrophe. Sometimes it is right to deploy militarily such as in Afghanistan, Stoltenberg told Bild am Sonntag.

But sometimes the costs of a military operation is higher than its benefit. Looking at Syria, NATO partners came to the conclusion that a military deployment would only make a terrible situation worse, he said.

We would risk turning it into a bigger regional conflict. Or more innocent people could die. A military deployment is not always the solution, he warned.

The West has come under fire from some quarters over its failure to halt the carnage in Syria.

Trapped civilians and rebels in besieged Aleppo were today waiting desperately for evacuations to resume, as the UN Security Council was due to vote on sending observers to the flashpoint city.

France is pushing for the monitors, arguing that an international presence would prevent Aleppo from turning into another Srebrenica, where thousands of Bosnian men and boys were massacred in 1995 when the town fell to Bosnian Serb forces during the Balkan wars.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
It was a bizarre drama from the start. Smollett was accused of fabricating a hate crime. But none of that really matters here. The questions that led to Webbs appointment by Cook County Judge Michael Toomin focused on Foxxs management of the states attorneys office, which brought a 16-count felony indictment against Smollett in March 2019 and then suddenly and secretively moved soon after to drop all the charges. Foxx, elected in 2016 as an advocate of criminal justice reform, argued that she handled this case like thousands of others and in accord with her mission as a reformer. In a Tribune commentary she wrote last March, Foxx said she wanted to spend my offices finite resources on the most serious crimes.
TEHRAN, AUGUST 18, ARMENPRESS. Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif has highlighted the need for developing economic relations with neighboring countries, finding it to be the main guarantee for Irans economic development. The neighboring countries and economic relations are among the priorities of the foreign ministry, Zarif said in an interview with the Iranian First Channel. The relations with our neighbors are among the guarantees for our countrys economic development.

The ministry of industry, mining and trade has labeled 15 countries as primary directions for exports. The supreme council of exports, despite several obstacles, is projecting a rather good export indicator of non-oil products this year, he said.

Iran is one of Armenias main trade partners, with 174,7 million dollars in turnover recorded in 2020 Q1, according to official statistics.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
A man from Pennsylvania managed to get Foo Fighter's leader Dave Grohl to join him on Instagram live, through a bit of "friendly stalking".

Note: if you don't really give a sh*t how this all happened but wanna watch the livestream, scroll to the bottom of the article.

When COVID-19 hit, 40 year-old Pat Finnerty was out of his job as a working musician, and has been self-isolating in his room pretty much ever since, with the exception of a couple isolated-roof-top performances with his band.

To help cure his boredom, Finnerty started daily live-streaming on Instagram, broadcasting himself attempting to learn every part to various classic rock songs in under an hour. He dubbed this livesteam "The Pat Finnerty Show".

Then he had an even better idea for his livestream - he wanted to record Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing", and get none other than Dave Grohl to sing Sting's iconic line, "I want my MTV."

But obviously if he wanted the star to appear on his livestream, he had to put in a bit of work.

Finnerty's mate sent him a giant cut out of Grohl, which accompanied him when he and his band performed on his rooftop. The video of this performance later went viral online, which we later find out Grohl saw. (Step one - get a video of yourself going viral with a life sized cut out of Grohl in it to get his attention).
Technology firm Continental on Tuesday said it has launched a new range of for passenger vehicles in India.

The German company's Generation 6 -- UltraContact UC6 and ComfortContact CC6 -- are designed to cope with challenging road conditions found across the country, Continental said in a statement.

UltraContact UC6 and ComfortContact CC6 have been designed based on an in-depth understanding of the needs and driving habits of the Indian consumer, it added.

Both the range of are aimed to provide higher safety, low noise levels, higher mileage, robust sidewalls, improved fuel efficiency, and greater comfort, the company said.

"With the entry of Generation 6 tyres in India, our offering in the passenger vehicle segment is well established. It gives our customers the choice to upgrade to the premium product in the market," Continental India Head of Tires Business Claude d'Gama Rose said.

The tyres will be produced at Continental's Modipuram (Uttar Pradesh) plant, he added.

"We have a strong focus for localisation of our products in India. Our philosophy 'in the market, for the market', complements the entire manufacturing value chain, enabling us to bring German technology for the local market," Rose noted.

Founded in 1871, Continental offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation.

The company is one of the leading tyre manufacturers with 24 production and development locations across the globe.

In 2019, the company generated sales of 44.5 billion euro and currently employs more than 2,30,000 people in 59 countries and markets.

(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.)
2 1 of 2 San Francisco General Hospital / Show More Show Less 2 of 2 San Francisco General Hospital Show More Show Less



San Francisco General Hospital officials on Tuesday were seeking the publics help in identifying a woman found unconscious near a hotel by San Francisco International Airport.

The woman, who is believed to be in her 50s and stands about 5 feet tall and weighs 150 pounds, was found Sunday afternoon on the bayfront walkway near the Marriott Hotel in Burlingame, officials said. She was wearing a black fabric mask with a yellow flower. No identification was found.
Colleges and public K-12 schools across Horry and Georgetown counties are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to install personal protective equipment on campuses amid the coronavirus pandemic as students are set to begin a new academic year in the coming weeks.

Expenses for extra safety measures to help prevent the spread of the virus will be allotted from CARES stimulus funding, and $10 million will be distributed to 70 of the states school districts for PPE.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced on Aug. 10 that $10 million will be distributed to school districts from the states COVID-19 response reserve account for supplies including masks, shields, gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes.

Horry and Georgetown counties were both included in the list of school districts to receive supplies.

Coastal Carolina University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College began installing safety measures to help prevent the spread of the virus in the spring.

CCU spent nearly $522,000 on PPE, about $78,000 on sanitation stations, and $11,200 on signage and stickers, said Martha Hunn, CCUs spokesperson. The university installed 500 sanitation stations across campus, she said.

The Student Housing Foundation provided the CCU with $131,238 to purchase 36,000 masks with the Chanticleers logo. Each student, faculty and staff member were given two masks, Hunn said, and the remaining 12,000 masks are being sold to the public to help pay for COVID-19-related issues.

The university intends to apply for reimbursement funds through FEMA and the CARES Act funding sources, Hunn said. The university has gone to extensive measures to let the public know how it will return to campus with its Comeback Plan  a series of daily videos on how campus will operate amid the pandemic.

Classes begin this week at CCU and Aug. 24 at HGTC, with both campuses planning to have instruction delivered mostly online.

HGTC installed a range of PPE from plexi-glass shields to signage to encourage social distancing, costing $200,000, said HGTC spokesperson Nicole Hyman.

Horry County Schools and Georgetown County School District are set to begin school Sept. 8. Students in Georgetown County will begin online, while HCS has not made a decision on how instruction will be delivered at the start of the academic year.

Georgetown County School District originally budgeted $700,000 for PPE, said GCSD Executive Director for Food Service and Procurement Brent Streett. The S.C. Department of Education provided $500,000 for the district, he said.

GCSD requested items including gloves, safety goggles, masks for children and adults, and plexi-glass guards.

The district has also purchased Clorox 360 Electorstatic Sprayers for every school along with the Clorox 360 solution to use to keep school spaces sanitized, Streett said in an email to the Post and Courier. We have ordered several types of floor graphics and wall graphics to promote social distancing in the schools as well.

Horry County Schools did not provide its cost for PPE after repeated attempts by the Post and Courier to obtain the information.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 07:07:10|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Aug. 17, 2020 shows the site of an event marking the upcoming Medical Workers' Day in Beijing, capital of China. China set Aug. 19 as its Medical Workers' Day to call for respect from society for the country's medical and health workers. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)
Iran's Stock Market Begins To Fall After An Astronomical Rise In Four Months

Radio Farda August 17, 2020

As the overall index of the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) fell sharply for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday, the Islamic Republic President Hassan Rouhani tried to instill optimism saying, "corrective fluctuations in the stock market are normal."

After the fall of 65,000 points of the TSE index on Tuesday and about 25,000 on Wednesday last week, Tehran Stock Exchange experienced a drop of more than 72,000 again on Saturday and 90,000 on Sunday. The slide is a historical record in the fall of the country's stock market index by sheer points.

Responding to the TSE crash, the Islamic Republic President Hassan Rouhani maintained, "Capital market experts consider correctional fluctuations in the stock market as normal and natural. Nevertheless, inconsistencies in statements and actions should be avoided."

However, he did not elaborate on the "inconsistency in statements," but his administration had previously warned against "inconsistent" comments during crises such as coronavirus outbreak.

The Tehran Stock Exchange index was around 500,000 units as late as in March but aggressively climbed to more than two million points by early August without any economic fundamentals backing its rise. While the country is struggling with stagflation quadrupling the total index means quadrupling the value of mostly government-controlled companies' shares. Experts and the media regarded such developments as surprising and suspicious.

So far, many warnings have been issued concerning a huge bubble in the TSE; either created or encouraged by government manipulation.

The seemingly unstoppable rise in the stock market finally came to a stop last week and in a few trading sessions it fell by more than 250,000 points, dropping to 1,880,000 units on August 16. Still the fall is not a total collapse. The index has pulled back some 10 percentage points.

In recent days, government-owned giant corporations such as the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Company, Mobarakeh Steel, National Iranian Copper Industries, Isfahan Oil Refinery, Tehran Oil Refinery, Islamic Republic Shipping, Telecommunications, and Ghadir Investment Company have lost significant value. These companies have always had the most significant impact on the stock market.

It is not clear whether the decline in the stock market will continue in the coming days and weeks. Nonetheless, small investors trying to make money in a depressed economy have poured more than forty trillion rials (approximately $950 million) in the stock market this year. Therefore, the sharp decline could hurt many ordinary people.

Furthermore, according to the budget law, the government had planned to sell assets worth 49.5 trillion rials from the beginning of the year, which is ten times more than last year. Most of these assets are being put on the market through the stock exchange, which raises suspicions about the government's deliberate manipulation of stock values to make more money. Many of the companies it controls and tries to offload are money-losing enterprises.

Despite warnings of bubbles in the TSE by experts, the Iranian government has been campaigning extensively in recent months to attract the public to the stock market.

Meanwhile, President Rouhani, has stopped short of explaining why the overall stock market index quadrupled in five months while the country is facing an economic crisis. Moreover, he has not revealed why the TSE lost 250,000 units in the past week, and what will be the fate of people who bought shares in the past few months partly by government encouragement.

In his remarks on Sunday, Rouhani referred to his administration's decision to implement a "stock market strengthening policy" and said, "Offering government and public's diverse, profitable and secure assets in the stock exchange will continue in an orderly and sustained manner, as planned."

Since the beginning of the new Iranian calendar year, the country's national currency, the rial, has lost more than 40% of its value against foreign currencies. At the same time, due to the housing crisis, the industrial sector's recession, and widespread government propaganda to attract people's assets, many Iranians have rushed to the stock market.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-s-stock- market-begins-to-fall-after-an-astronomical -rise-in-four-months/30787776.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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(Bloomberg) -- Eric Lee has dreamed of working for Microsoft Corp. for as long as he can remember, and was stoked this spring to land a job at the tech giant right out of college. But instead of traveling across the country to start his career at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash., Lee joined the workforce this month from his familys house in the suburbs of Boston.

The arrangement has its comforts. Every hour Lees mom brings him a different type of cut-up fruit, then usually noodles for lunch. But he feels disconnected from his new colleagues in a way he wouldnt if they were sharing an office. When Lee gets stuck on a tricky line of code, he sends a message asking for advice, then tries to figure it out himself. If that fails, he passes the time until he gets a response by watching videos on TikTok. Sometimes it takes hours. Im afraid of asking dumb questions or intruding when they are AFK, away from keyboard, Lee says. So I just wait.

The feeling of being forced to wait is common for students who graduated college this year. Until March, things were moving fast for them. Most were born around 1998, too young to have memories of the dot-com bust or anything but the vaguest recollections of the 2008 financial crash. Theyve spent their entire lives plugged into smartphones, and many have seen a career in techrather than in medicine or lawas the highest marker of success. And tech had been booming.

But the economy was slowing even before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the U.S., and the last five months have been devastating. The upheaval can be seen in industries such as technology, and the approximately 200 students who graduated this spring from the computer science program at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, one of the top 10 engineering schools in the country. Lee is one of its so-called Class of Covid, those students who finished their studies just as the pandemic was gripping the country.

Graduates from the programs 2019 class earned an average starting salary of $108,000. Over 97% of graduates reported having full-time work or enrolling in graduate school within six months, according to the school. The pandemic had an immediate impact on this years graduates. Some students who had gotten job offers from companies like Uber Technologies Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. had them rescinded or lost their jobs soon after starting. Others were told their start dates were being delayed by months. Those who have gotten jobs, like Lee, begin their careers in a weird state of limbo.

Story continues

These travails are mild compared to the havoc that Covid-19 has wreaked on less advantaged workers. The tech industry was the best-performing sector of the economy before the pandemic, and large tech companies are not facing the existential threats of, say, airlines or retail chains. Computer science graduates, some of the most sought-after workers in the country, will be better off than those in other fields. But the Class of Covid graduates are likely to have a harder time than students who graduated just one or two years earlier, and their personal experiences provide a window into the post-pandemic economy.

Tell us about your experience: If you graduated this year email us your story about how youve been impacted by the pandemics impact on the economy.

Graduation day at UIUC felt hollow. The university cancelled its in-person commencement ceremony, and administrators rushed to cobble together a virtual replacement. Lee slept through it. Caren Zeng, who lives near San Francisco, tried to make the most of the situation. She ordered a cap and gown and posed for photos in her backyard, the California redwoods in the background a reminder that she wasnt actually in Illinois. Her family crammed into the living room to watch the 30-minute prerecorded event. Zengs name flashed across the screen for a few seconds. It just didnt ring true at all, she says. I feel like the moment was kind of robbed from us and theres no real replacement for it. This week, shes starting a job at Alphabet Inc.s Google. Technically the job is located at the companys New York office, not its headquarters in nearby Mountain View. But the distinction doesnt much matter for now, since Zeng is doing it from home.

Surabhi Sonali, like Lee, started a career at Microsoft from her parents home this month. Sonali spent her first morning on the job rearranging her bedroom furniture so its bright pink walls and teddy bears wouldnt show up in the background of her video calls. I want to set up my laptop so people see the least amount of the girly decor all around my room, she says. Sonali has less control over the sounds of her brother and sister playing Xbox in the bedroom next door.

While Sonali is saving money on rent, avoiding daily commutes and sometimes working in pajamas, any novelty has already worn thin. She interned at Microsoft three times before getting hired, and remembers how much easier it was when she could just walk up to someones desk to ask a question. Its 100% weird to start a full-time job at my parents house, Sonali says. This is the most anti-climactic life transition ever.

Working from home can be a trying experience for people at all stages of their careers, but the challenges for new graduates are unique, says Joseph Altonji, a professor of economics at Yale University. It is harder to cultivate mentors through a screen than at lunches and happy hours. This is different for people just entering the workforce who don't have a lot of prior experience, says Altonji. They've literally never set foot in the company office building and not met their boss in person, not met their coworkers in person.

The impacts may be long-lasting. Altonji co-authored a study that found that workers graduating during the 2008 financial crisis had earnings as much as 10% lower in their first year working than they would have otherwise. The initial setbacks were often permanent. He expects to see a similar dynamic with this years graduates. It will take longer for many people to find work. The weak labor market will cause some people to take jobs that are less relevant to their academic backgrounds. Once employed, new graduates who begin work remotely are likely to take more time picking up both technical and soft skills, says Altonji.

A Microsoft spokesperson said the company is aware that bringing young employees into the workforce remotely isnt ideal. It is working on various ways to improve the experiences of working from home, like giving managers specific training on how to manage remote workers, and how to aid employees in times of crisis.

UIUCs administration has also been contemplating whether it needs to take a more active role supporting its graduates, says Nancy Amato, head of its computer science department. Because most graduates have thrived professionally, she says, alumni services in the past have consisted of checking in to keep track of where they ended up. We dont really offer to support them, says Amato. And I think we need to, because right now theyre kind of in between.

Some UIUC grads are still searching for jobs. Alan Jin grew up in Wenzhou, China, and moved to New York with his family when he was in high school because his parents thought it would increase his chances of getting into a top engineering college. Jin fell in love with virtual reality and computer vision. I thought, if I just studied CS and went to a good school, Id easily be able to find a job making a lot of money, he says.

After applying to a few dozen companies during the school year, Jin landed an internship at a high frequency trading firm in Chicago that he hoped would turn into a full-time job. Jin is crashing at his aunt and uncles house, where the Wi-Fi isnt the best. Online team-building events dont seem like effective ways to build relationships that could increase his chance of landing a permanent position. At one recent virtual event, Jin and other employees tie-dyed t-shirts while chatting on Zoom. Its cool, I guess, but I dont think Ill wear it, Jin says, holding up the shirt he made. Mostly, I work a lot and dont talk to anyone. It still feels kind of weird.

Jin has become pessimistic enough about his chances at his current firm that hes begun applying for jobs again. He hopes to land a job with a prominent California tech company. No one seems to be hiring, he says, lamenting his bad timing. If only I had graduated earlier.

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 First milestone successfully achieved in early stages of the ongoing research project with McMaster University



 Confirmed capability of PGX Technology to optimize and standardize the size and morphology of yeast beta-glucan (PGX-YBG) suitable for lung inhalation

 In-vitro study with human cell lines demonstrated that PGX-YBG obtained from different sources exhibited significant stimulatory effect on human immune response

EDMONTON, Alberta, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceapro Inc. (TSX-V: CZO; OTCQX: CRPOF) (Ceapro or the Company), a growth-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of active ingredients for healthcare and cosmetic industries, today provided an update on its ongoing collaboration with McMaster University to develop an inhalable therapeutic for COVID-19.

The project, entitled PGX-processed yeast beta-glucans as an inhalable immunomodulating therapeutic for COVID-19 patients, jointly funded by Mitacs and Ceapro, is under the leadership of Dr. Kjetil Ask, a pulmonary fibrosis expert, and Dr. Todd Hoare respectively from departments of Medicine and Chemical Engineering at McMaster University.

To assess the potential of PGX-processed yeast beta-glucan (PGX-YBG) in practical application for COVID-19, the project was designed with four aims or milestones. The first milestone was to optimize the size and morphology of the best PGX-YBG for immunomodulation while the second milestone was to examine tolerability and safety of inhaled PGX-YBG in naive animal models. The first milestone of the project was fully achieved, and the second milestone is near completion.

In order to derive the best and most suitable PGX-YBG product, the PGX Research and Development (R&D) Team at Ceapro worked very diligently to source, fractionate, and modify the PGX demo unit to process yeast beta glucan obtained from various sources. Surface area, surface morphology and particle size distribution measurements conducted by Ceapro and the research team at McMaster confirmed that, unlike the yeast beta-glucan currently available on the market, the PGX-processed YBG particles consistently generated from the retained raw material are small enough for effective inhalation.

We are excited that we have been able to fabricate particles that have the targeted properties for inhalation, enabling the effective delivery of the particles to patients lungs pending the safety and efficacy animal trials now underway. As this project continues, our confidence in the potential of Ceapros materials to treat late-stage COVID-19 patients and make a real-time impact on preserving lives during the pandemic continues to build, reported Dr. Todd Hoare.

Dr. Kjetil Ask added, If this size optimized PGX-YBG passes the tolerability, safety and therapeutic animal tests that we have already initiated, this material could quite quickly contribute as an immune modulator and anti-fibrotic treatment option for the most severe COVID-19 patients. Additionally, and equally exciting, the possibility of using PGX-YBG as an inhalable carrier of other drugs, would potentially allow the direct delivery of additional treatment options and increase their bioavailability in the lung, while reducing potential side effects.

In parallel to the animal studies conducted at McMaster University, Ceapro also outsourced an in-vitro study to assess the immune response of the PGX-YBG on human receptors. The activity of PGX-YBG was tested on two human Dectin isotypes (Dectin-1a and Dectin-1b) involved in the modulation of the innate human immune response. The conclusion of this in-vitro study was that PGX-YBG exhibited significant stimulatory effect on human Dectin-1a and Dectin-1b receptors. Due to the results seen in the in-vitro study, the Company expects that PGX-YBG will stimulate the human immune response once inhaled into the lungs and potentially prevent reactions like the cytokine storm. The results demonstrated in the in-vitro study were also consistent with results seen in the preliminary biological study where PGX-YBG was found to modulate the immune system without causing the undesirable side-effects associated with other yeast beta-glucan.

We are very proud of the work that has been conducted so far and believe we are well-positioned to offer an additional tool in the fight against COVID-19, which is having devastating effects worldwide. With the expected completion of the third and fourth goals related to tolerability, safety and efficacy studies with both naive and pre-clinical animal models as early as mid-October, our teams are positioning us to be ahead of schedule. Hoping for favorable pre-clinical results, preparations of a Phase 1/2 clinical trial protocol will be commenced immediately and planned to be submitted to Health Authorities during Q4 2020. Given that yeast beta-glucan is already approved as a pharmaceutical additive, we expect to quickly develop PGX-YBG as a fast-acting inhalable stand-alone therapeutic and/or delivery system to treat severe inflammation observed in COVID-19 patients and other fibrotic end-point disease in the lung, commented Gilles Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA, President and CEO of Ceapro. We look forward to providing continued updates as we progress through the next milestones of this study.

About Pressurized Gas eXpanded Liquid Technology (PGX)

Ceapros patented Pressurized Gas eXpanded (PGX) is a unique and disruptive technology with several key advantages over conventional drying and purification technologies that can be used to process biopolymers into high-value, fine-structured, open-porous polymer structures and novel biocomposites. PGX is ideally suited for processing challenging high-molecular-weight, water-soluble biopolymers. It has the ability to make ultra-light, highly porous polymer structures on a continuous basis, which is not possible using today's conventional technologies. PGX was invented by Dr. Feral Temelli from the Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science of the University of Alberta (U of A) along with Dr. Bernhard Seifried, now Senior Director of Engineering Research and Technology at Ceapro. The license from U of A provides Ceapro with exclusive worldwide rights in all industrial applications.

About McMaster University

McMaster University, one of four Canadian universities listed among the Top 100 universities in the world, is renowned for its innovation in both learning and discovery. It has a student population of 23,000 and more than 175,000 alumni in 140 countries.

About Mitacs

Mitacs is a national, not-for-profit organization that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for 20 years. Working with over 100 post-secondary institutions, 6,000 companies, and both federal and provincial governments, Mitacs builds partnerships that support industrial and social innovation in Canada.

About Ceapro Inc.

Ceapro Inc. is a Canadian biotechnology company involved in the development of proprietary extraction technology and the application of this technology to the production of extracts and active ingredients from oats and other renewable plant resources. Ceapro adds further value to its extracts by supporting their use in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and therapeutics products for humans and animals. The Company has a broad range of expertise in natural product chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology and process engineering. These skills merge in the fields of active ingredients, biopharmaceuticals and drug-delivery solutions.

For more information on Ceapro, please visit the Companys website at www.ceapro.com .

For more information contact:

Jenene Thomas

JTC Team, LLC

Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Advisor

T (US): +1 (833) 475-8247

E: czo@jtcir.com

Issuer:

Gilles R. Gagnon, M.Sc., MBA

President & CEO

T: 780-421-4555

This press release does not express or imply that the Company claims its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the SARS-2-CoV-2 (COVID-19) at this time.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Former second lady Jill Biden and former President Bill Clinton will be among the headliners Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention.

But the keynote speaker for the convention to nominate Biden to challenge President Donald Trump on Nov. 3 will be delivered by a group of 17 rising stars in the party, including Stacey Abrams and Reps. Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania and Colin Allred of Texas.

Abrams is a former Georgia lawmaker who was the first Black woman nominated by a major party to run for governor, in a race she lost narrowly. Lamb and Allred are Democrats in districts Trump won in 2016.

Top moments from Monday: Michelle Obama goes 'high', GOP's John Kasich blasts Trump

Amidst all of the chaos and crises our nation is facing, Democrats are focused on finding new and innovative ways to engage more Americans than ever before  because thats how well mobilize the nation to defeat Donald Trump in November, said Joe Solmonese, the convention's CEO.

How to watch

DNC speeches will be broadcast from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday.

The event will be broadcast on all major television networks. Viewers also can tune in using Amazon Prime and Amazon Fire devices, including listening via Alexa, as well as watching on Apple TV and Roku TV.

Who is speaking Tuesday?

Jill Biden was second lady for eight years, and she is among the headliners Tuesday for the Democratic National Convention.

The evening promises a night of contrasts between Trump's administration and Democratic officials ranging from former acting Attorney General Sally Yates to Clinton.

Within the theme of "Leadership Matters," John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic nominee and former secretary of state, will speak along with Clinton.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, a vocal critic of Trump, will be speaking. Delaware's only House member, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, will also speak.

Not sure if youre registered to vote?: Check your status

Yates briefly oversaw the investigation into Trump campaign and administration officials that led to the president's impeachment and was dismissed 10 days into the administration for refusing to defend in federal court the administration's travel ban for a half-dozen Muslim-majority countries.

Story continues

Yates had a contentious hearing this month with the Senate Judiciary Committee in which she denied that Obama had ordered the investigation of Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents about contacts with Russians during the transition between administrations.

What happened on Monday?

Former First Lady Michelle Obama capped the first day of speeches, songs and videos spanned 50 states and seven territories for a virtual Democratic National Convention by saying the presidential election would reveal who we are as a country.

Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country, Obama said. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.

She said voters must support Biden with overwhelming support, to prevent a corruption of the results.

Weve got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it, added Obama, whose necklace spelled out vote.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democratic Convention: How to watch and who is speaking on Day 2
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A woman accused of assaulting an attendant on a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Rapids was sentenced Monday to four months in federal prison.

Amy Jo-Manshum John had pleaded guilty to interference with a flight crew, a 20-year felony.

U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney in Kalamazoo on Monday, Aug. 17, handed down the prison term to be followed by two years on supervised release.

He remanded her to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin her sentence.

Both the prosecution and defense had agreed that John should undergo alcohol- and substance-abuse treatment rather than serve a prison term.

But after she was arrested July 3 for allegedly driving while intoxicated, and failed to attend substance-abuse treatment session and a drug test, the judge revoked her bond.

Treatment will be a critical part of her supervised release following any period of confinement ordered by this Court, and for John to avoid similar encounters in the future, Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay West wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Of key concern to the government, however, is not just that Ms. John drinks too much, but rather that when intoxicated Ms. John has a track record of aggressive behavior and hostility to others, particularly to law enforcement and in the present offense  flight crew who were protecting the well-being of Ms. John and other passengers onboard the airplane.

The defense asked that John avoid incarceration. She has serious substance-abuse problems, James Stevenson Fisher, an assistant federal public defender, wrote in court documents.

The incident happened Dec. 14, 2019, on Allegiant Airlines Flight #1795, a non-stop from Hollywood International Airport into Gerald R. Ford International Airport. John twice swung at a flight attendant and was disruptive, unruly, and disobedient, according to a plea agreement.

Fisher said his client had just left a Florida rehabilitation that day after a five-week detoxification period because her insurance coverage ran out. She obtained alcohol on her way to the airport and had several drinks waiting for her flight.

She drank quickly because of her anxiety and intense alcoholism. She blacked out during the episode that led to criminal charges, her attorney said.

As documented by the witnesses, her behavior was erratic and incoherent during the offense conduct itself, vacillating wildly between aggression and weeping. Upon landing in Grand Rapids, Gerald Ford Airport Police could not obtain a coherent statement from her as to what happened. They noted that her demeanor rapidly changed from angry to confused and crying.

Fisher said it was fortunate that no one was injured and that the flight crew did not have to change the flight plan.

Read more:

Woman admits assaulting flight attendant, interfering with crew

Woman struck flight attendant en route to Grand Rapids, federal indictment says

Multiple houses hit by gunfire in separate incidents
Armenian parliamentarians say they hope that the current political crisis in Belarus will not take a violent course and the situation there will be resolved peacefully.

Talking to RFE/RLs Armenian Service (Azatutyun) member of the Armenian parliaments pro-government My Step faction Mikael Zolian said that violence is unacceptable in any situation.

Violence has never solved such problems and I think that in this case it wont solve any problem either. A peaceful resolution of the situation is necessary, the lawmaker said.

At the same time, Zolian said that both parliamentarians and government officials in Armenia should exercise restraint in commenting on the events in Belarus. I would not like to comment on issues related to the internal affairs of Belarus. I believe that the people of Belarus should resolve this situation themselves, and it would be wrong for other countries, including us, to propose any solutions, he said.

Protests swept across Belarus after the countrys incumbent President Alyaksandr Lukashenka was declared a victor in an August 9 presidential election that the opposition says were rigged in favor of the longtime autocratic leader.

Lukashenkas main challenger, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who has fled Belarus for neighboring Lithuania, refused to recognize Lukashenkas victory, calling on her supporters to stage protests to seek an election rerun.

At least two people have been killed, hundreds have been injured, and thousands arrested in the government crackdown against protesters in Belarus.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, who came to power as a result of widespread anti-government protests in May 2018 and earlier spent nearly two years in prison after being convicted of organizing mass disturbances during 2008 postelection protests, congratulated Lukashenka on his disputed win hours after Belaruss Central Election Commission announced the preliminary results on August 10.

Pashinians move immediately drew criticism from his political opponents and some leading human rights activists who believe the Armenian leader took a hasty step.

Only a handful of world leaders have congratulated Lukashenka on his disputed election win. Among them are Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinas leader Xi Jinping. The European Union has said it does not recognize the results, and the United States has expressed deep concern over the election results and the unrest, with President Donald Trump describing the situation unfolding in Belarus as terrible.

Zolian, a member of the Pashinian-led My Step bloc, said that the congratulations sent to the Belarus leader by Armenian leaders were a step taken in accordance with certain diplomatic rules.

Armenia is a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization, both of which include Belarus.

Both the prime minister and the president sent their congratulations on the basis of the adopted procedure. If events develop in a way that new elections are held [in Belarus], there will be new congratulations in accordance with the results of these new elections, Zolian said.

Opposition Bright Armenia faction member Armen Yeghiazarian, who was on a delegation of observers at the Belarus election representing the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose grouping of several post-Soviet countries, said that based on what he observed at polling stations in Minsk he got the impression that perhaps indeed there were no major violations during the ballot itself. Perhaps people, indeed, cast their vote, but in the end, during the vote count, seeing that the numbers were not in favor of the incumbent, they [election officials] changed them. Perhaps, there were indeed no violations at the polling stations for us to see, he said.

Yeghiazarian said that the main challenge for Belarus now is to avoid bloodshed. If the majority in the country opposes the current government, it might be right for Lukashenka to step down and leave it up to democracy so that people themselves can decide in which direction the country wants to go, the Armenian lawmaker said.

While most people in the streets of Yerevan took little interest in the events taking place in Belarus, those who did mainly spoke in favor of the protesters.

He [Lukashenka] must leave. But he is very stubborn. He wont leave until he does what we had in 2008, one Yerevan resident said, referring to Armenias post-election crackdown 12 years ago in which 10 people were killed.

I support the people of Belarus. Let it be the way people want it to be, another man said.
As part of its Area 120 experiment, Google may launch the Orion app to help users pay for WiFi. As reported by 9to5 this should help users gain WiFi access whilst on the go and out in public.

Googles Area 120 has been responsible for a number of projects over the last few years. Notably an app with beginning code lessons launched in 2018. More recently it has launched an app named Keen. This was designed to help users curate and collaborate over their interests.

Orion to help with public WiFi access

One way or another we pay for public WiFi access when we use it. Be that in the form of buying a coffee or sharing your email address you offer something in return for that access. Sometimes you directly pay money for the access as well.

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A new trademark filing reveals that Google is looking to launch an app to help with this process. The idea is that the app Orion will use microtransactions to buy access to certain networks.

The filing states that Orion can be used for downloadable software for mobile devices for various things. These include financial microtransactions, software used processing of financial microtransactions to purchase access to Wi-Fi and cellular networks.

It also includes downloadable software for mobile devices for managing roaming on Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The idea is that this app will give you access to certain networks by using microtransactions.

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Details still thin on the ground regarding Orion

Naturally, a lot of this is speculation and inference from a typically vague trademark filing. Reports suggest Google is looking to use the Orion app to streamline WiFi access through simple and easy transactions.

There may well be more to this or something the reports have missed. Since Google is yet to make any public comment on the project everything we know is speculation.

Diggers have found a future landing page for Orion once it launches. However, right now it brings up a Wix Error Page. This app looks like it will be more useful once the world gets moving again and we are using services away from our homes more often.

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The project comes from Googles Area 120 department. This is the incubator of experimental apps and projects. Generally, these projects tend to get rolled out into existing Google products.

Whether this is the case with this project remains to be seen. Right now all we can do is wait for some more information to be drip-fed, or for Google to make some sort of public announcement. There is little sign of the latter in the near future so it could be some time before we know more about Orion.
The poison that is killing the country will require an international reaction not seen in decades





by Robert Fisk





"Well, we can all agree that the sea took 70 per cent of the blast! a close Lebanese friend announced to me this week, with intriguing if doubtful science. I had asked him  because I knew the answer  which of Lebanons religious communities had suffered most grievously from the explosion that changed the nation. Or did not change the nation, as the case may be.













Like everything in Lebanon, his calculation may have been right. Because Beirut, like Tripoli  and Haifa, for that matter  is built on one of those ancient east Mediterranean promontories, like the face of an old fisherman as Fairouz memorably called her capital city. The great clap of sound may have embraced more salt water than buildings. And the fish, so far as we know, are not religious.





But my acquaintance  a Sunni Muslim, a civil servant of many years, a reader of books rather than memos  was quick to caution me. Lets not see this in civil war terms. But yes, the Christians were hit worse because they live next to the port in the east of the city, the Maronites mostly. The Muslims side of Beirut lost its windows, the Christians lost their lives. But even that wasnt quite true.





Those who said that the dead contained Lebanese of every faith were also correct. There were Muslims  Sunni and Shia among the firefighters, shopkeepers and others  not to forget the dozens of Syrian refugees who may be a quarter of all the fatalities. In fact, the Syrians somehow got included in the death toll for Lebanon. But there was something slightly odd about the way this tragedy was retold in the west.





In France, in Britain and America  and, I noticed, in Russia, too  the narrative (a word I hate) was a little different. The Lebanese, so we were told, were now protesting against the elites and the government  which had corrupted the country, bankrupted its economy, failed to protect its people  and now demanded a new system of politics, democratic, non-sectarian, uncorrupted, etc, etc. True again.





And yes, the smashed houses and apartment blocks and devastated streets were indeed part of the destruction of Beirut. But their names  Gemmayze, Mar Mikhael, Ashrafieh  were presented as mere locations on a city map rather than the very epicentre not just of the blast wave but of the old Christian heartland of the Lebanese capital. These districts were beautiful, their Ottoman heritage magnificently preserved  just look at what has happened to the breathtaking Sursock Museum.





These areas were joyous, centres for young people (largely middle class but Muslim as well as Christian), filled with restaurants and bars, immensely popular not only among Lebanese youth but with the westerners who lived in the city and felt safe in a French-speaking, English-speaking, largely pro-European (and often anti-Syrian, anti-Iranian) population.





Before the civil war, it was the other way round: foreigners lived in the west of Beirut, clustered around the American university with its liberal education, its protest demonstrations, its (then) Palestinian movements, its middle class Sunnis and Druze and  if, you drove south twenty miles, its large, ignored Shia minority. In subsequent wars with Israel, it would be these and other Muslim areas which would be smashed by bombs, decimated by explosions, its people cut down in swathes. The Christian districts would be partly spared.





Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael were Christian Phalangist front lines, the streets of west Beirut patrolled by a mixture of venal Palestinian and Muslim militias. When the Israelis invaded Lebanon in 1982, they were greeted as saviours by tens of thousands of Christians and welcomed into their streets. Ariel Sharon would meet Christian militia leader and later murdered president-elect Bashir Gemayel in the magnificent Au Vieux Quartier restaurant in east Beirut, the hostelry long ago redeveloped but the street in which it stood devastated on 4 August.





And no, the ball of fire whose shock waves broke those peoples lives last week was not some kind of hideous political revenge for the past. The Christians stood up to months of Muslim militia bombardment during the war and Syrian bombardment afterwards  and in recent months, their people have been among the cheerleaders of those demanding an end to Lebanons rotten governments. But among them, too, are those who hysterically welcomed home from exile the awful and  many believed  crazed Christian general Michel Aoun, he who was Syrias enemy and who is now Syrias friend and whose son-in-law was the foreign minister (hence the attack on his former ministry at the weekend).





On the day Aoun returned to Beirut in 2005 after years of pleasant exile in Paris, his supporters, singing and waving banners, repaired to Gemmayze to celebrate his return. Wed better go and listen to them and find out what they want, a Sunni businesswoman said to me at the time. After all, we now have to live with them. True, yet again. But then this week steps forward the son of the aforesaid assassinated president-to-be, young Nadim Gemayel, a former member of parliament, to tell the world that Hezbollah and thus Iran was behind the corruption of Lebanon.





And this is a story being heaped into the narrative of this most recent of Lebanons crises. By Saturday, we were being told  this in the Financial Times  that it has long been an open secret that Hezbollah controls sectors of Beiruts port, as it does its airport Well, up to a point, Lord Copper. Television channels then hinted that Hezbollahs weapons were smuggled through the same harbour. Was the ammonium nitrate to be used for Hezbollah bombs? Indeed, perhaps some of it had already been used for violence, its supposed 2,750 tons long ago reduced in weight?





So perhaps its time for a visit to my favourite all-purpose Lebanese government ministry, the Department of Home Truths. Hezbollah does indeed control parts of Beirut airport next to the southern suburbs, which it rules. Watch who runs the security in the terminal when Iranian airliners land and Hezbollah members pass through immigration control. But the port?





Heres a little home truth from a Beirut shipping agent whom Ive known for several decades. Every Lebanese party has its people in the port  Sunnis, Shia, Christians, the lot. If I need to bring in a vessel and I want to move goods quickly through the port, I might get customs men who are Berris party people. He is talking about the Amal movement, the Shia pseudo-militia belonging to the speaker of the Lebanese parliament. And if the Berri people are asking too much? Well, I go to Hezbollah to see if I can get a lower rate from their customs people. Or to the Christians. Or even (though not many, it seems) the Druze who work in the port.





And thats the point. With every major party  their intelligence sought by every major foreign power  operating in the port, would Hezbollah really store explosives, munitions, bombs, even missiles in the harbour? In a Hollywood movie, of course. But in real life? No, their weapons come across the Syrian-Lebanese frontier to the east. During the civil war, the Christian Phalange in east Beirut controlled the entire 5th Basin (so it was called) in the port. But did they import weapons and ammunition into Beirut through the harbour? Of course not. (They shipped them in industrial crates into their port of Jounieh to the north, but thats another story). Beiruts port was not a weapons dump. It was a roulette wheel for everyone. And the casino, its dice loaded by every faction in Lebanon, spectacularly blew up last week.





But the present tale is now acquiring wings with a series of dangerous but unspoken associations. For Hezbollah, read the Shia of Lebanon who, alas, do not largely support the protests  although, at the start last October, they bravely stood up to the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon. And on several specific occasions, Hezbollah thugs have arrived in central Beirut to threaten and beat the anti-corruption protestors in an effort to sectarianise the demonstrations, to force them into an endangered Maronite-Sunni alliance opposed to the government.





For Hezbollah  and here is their real shame  have sided with the Lebanese mafiosi. They may be representatives of the masses of southern Lebanon, the self-proclaimed and major resistance to Zionist aggression, but they have chosen to support the very same zoama  the big families  who have corrupted Lebanon. Hezbollah have seats in the government. They want to keep them. So the principle representatives of the Shia are against any change in the corrupt regimes which rule Lebanon.





What all this suggests is that the very sectarian element in Lebanese life  which permeates the politics, economy, society and (dare I use the word?) culture of the country  is now being grafted onto last weeks detonation. We dont call the blast zone Christian and we dont call Hezbollah Shia  and we very definitely dont mention the war  but all this is true, and its about time we realised this before we dress up the mushroom cloud as a nursery story about big bad greedy politicians  or elites as I now hear them being called  and the streets of east Beirut as symbols of all Lebanon.





The real story of this exquisitely tormented and brilliant nation, of course, goes far further and wider. Its a truism  as well as true  to say that corruption is the cancer of the Arab world (and not just the Arab bit, if recent events in Israel taken into account). But somehow, we find the Lebanese version of corruption more terrible, more shameful, more grotesque than that which is practised in every other Arab country. Is this because it is more obvious? Or because it exists in the only Arab nation that actually publicises its own decay?





So lets return, briefly, to the Department of Home Truths and take this story outside Lebanon. Every Arab dictator who wins around 90 per cent or more at the polls runs a corrupt country. Yet Egypt, whose army controls shopping malls, real estates, etc  enough to make the average Lebanese politician weep with envy  is left out of the corruption stakes by which we measure the Lebanese. We do business with Sisi (a 97 per cent vote in 2018), and Trump calls him my favourite dictator after Sisi has overthrown Egypts only elected president, locked up tens of thousands of his opponents and tortured inmates to death. And we encourage UK citizens to prop up his bankrupt countrys tourist industry, send the Royal Navy on courtesy calls to Alexandria and praise Egypts stability under its wretched tyrant who is  here we go  fighting Islamist extremism etc, etc.





The same applies to Syria. The Russians do business with Assad (an 88.7 per cent vote in 2014), may rebuild his entire country, their ships pay courtesy calls  rather a lot  to Syrian ports and the regime is regarded in Moscow as a bulwark against Islamist extremism (etc, etc, again). Saudi corruption  in a land which would not dream of any elections even if its king or crown prince were to win 99.9 per cent of the vote  is itself so respected that the UK Fraud Squad can be called off corruption cases unless we upset the chief corruptors in the kingdom. Tony Blair had much to say about the Britains national interest when it came to letting those who allegedly took backhanders off the hook. The line is: Arab dictators are corrupt, the people merely repressed. We know their votes  when they pretend to hold elections  are fiction.





But the Lebanese, very oddly, are held by us to higher account. Their parliamentary elections never produce 90 per cents or 80 per cents. They are often in single figures. Because the sectarian list system of voting is so thorough, so carefully crafted that it really does take the population  their religious origins, that is - into account. In its way, it is actually quite fair  if you ignore the graft and cash handouts and if - and only if - you accept the system of confessional voting and the utterly sectarian politics of the state and the inevitable fact that the vote will produce a series of leaders on revolving chairs who hold power because of their religion rather than their abilities.





What the young people of Lebanon desire  or those we actually observe demonstrating today  is easy to understand. No nation whose president must be a Christian Maronite, whose prime minister will always be a Sunni Muslim, whose speaker of parliament must always be a Shia, will ever be a modern state. The very certainty of power-through-religious-sect ensures corruption. There can be no checks on dishonesty when power rests on mutual fear rather than compromise.





And by giving a vote to every citizen  in an election process so contorted that even MPs must study the form, so to speak  the Lebanese people are themselves brought into the electoral wheel of shame. Their very participation in elections has thus contaminated them with the corruption they so viscerally and correctly hate. No wonder their rage is so incendiary. The resignation of a government  like Hassan Diabs little theatrical performance on Monday  is just another invitation to participate in the states next act of self-humiliation: lets have another election and bring the same crooks back to the casino!





And to think  and yes, this is true  how often we outsiders praise Lebanons unique democracy, adding that it is, if flawed, at least better than the surrounding dictatorships. Yet without leaders, how does such a genuine, young, politically honourable movement  rightly insistent on an end to the outrageous national contract in which Lebanon is imprisoned  bring about constitutional change? Weve heard more and more voices talking of how much better the French ruled Lebanon, a nonsense which any reading of modern Lebanese history should destroy  take out the works of Kamal Salibi, Samir Kassir and the inimitable Brigadier Stephen Longrigg if you have any doubts.





But more serious ideas are now floating about; that there should be some form of international mandate to restore Lebanons economy, to force the banks and government into transparency, its leaders into representative government rather than seigneurial privilege . Yet the moment the west arrives in the form of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organisation (WTO)  indeed, the UN on some as yet unthought-through, untested mandate  the Christians and Muslims of Lebanon will unite to throw them out as bravely as their grandfathers did the French.





Weve specialised in the western world this past century in creating new nations, new constitutions, new peoples gathered untidily within frontiers which make no geographic and even less political sense. We can hardly start tinkering with the system all over again, punishing the Lebanese for their greed if they wish us to rescue their economy and their banks, to provide them with food and reconstruction and new political systems. Indeed, the price of our western bail-outs  from the US, the EU and all our financial empires  will look less like the colonial mandates of 1919, more like the cruel reparations levied on Germany after the First World War. To impose our law on a crushed and starving nation in 1919, to ensure they paid their debts, we had to occupy part of the German nation. To clean up Lebanon today, the west would have to make sure its people obey the new rules. Which UN force would be called upon to undertake this mission impossible?





The only conceivable vehicle would be the combination of a new international league attached to Marshall Plan largesse, a re-envisioning of the worlds commitments  not just to little Lebanon but the whole Middle East tragedy, a multinational work of imagination which could embrace all the sectarian and expansionist wars that have afflicted the region over the past hundred years. Think of the UN at its inception in 1945, a place of near-euphoria (and almost virgin purity) compared to the old donkey which clip-clops before us today.





But we live in the age of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and nationalism of a kind which only Arab tyrannies might have dreamed of a few years ago. The Lebanese are not alone in seeking an end to corruption. We are all demanding the same thing across the globe. We are, to coin a another cliche, all Lebanese now. Thats why the cataclysm which swept through their capital was so powerful and so frightening.





Robert Fisk is an English writer and journalist. He has been Middle East correspondent intermittently since 1976 for various media; since 1989 he has been correspondent for The Independent, based in Beirut.
SPRINGFIELD  This years corn and soybean crops continue to look strong, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Illinois Crop Progress and Condition report.

As of Sunday, corn dough in Illinois fields was reported at 81 percent, compared to the five-year average of 78 percent. Corn dented, however, was 21 percent, compared to the five-year average of 33 percent.
Miguel Danao, VP of Finance at Bishop-Wisecarver, Wins the individual Digital Transformation Leadership Award from National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) As a company, our main focus is providing customers a Signature Experience that includes unparalleled quality, reliability, speed and service to support their individual needs. -- Pamela Kan, President of Bishop-Wisecarver.

Bishop-Wisecarver, a trusted industrial automation company offering linear and rotary motion solutions that are expertly designed and delivered to perform, today announced that it has been recognized as a Manufacturing Leadership Awards winner by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Miguel Danao, Vice President of Finance at Bishop-Wisecarver (BW), received the individual Digital Transformation Leadership Award for successfully leading and implementing operational changes that have resulted in significant cost and time savings in his department and throughout the company.

As a company, our main focus is providing customers a Signature Experience that includes unparalleled quality, reliability, speed and service to support their individual needs, said Pamela Kan, President of Bishop-Wisecarver. Miguels leadership on this project is further evidence of this commitment as the technology advancements and operational changes have given each of our departments greater visibility and insights that help us provide quicker, better informed support for each customer.

Digital Transformation Project Results

The digital transformation effort spearheaded by Danao enabled Bishop-Wisecarver to increase efficiency of its manufacturing shop floor in the assembly process by approximately 30 percent, improve returns (RMA) by 60 percent, improve sales quote-to-close ratio by 10 percent year-over-year, and reduce accountings month-end close cycle from 10 business days to a mere three days total. Key to Danaos leadership success was taking the time to educate employees throughout the company on the goals and benefits of the new technology, as well as the best ways to utilize the data for success, thus empowering each department to recognize and make their own changes.

In a culture of data-driven decision-making, the finance team now provides enhanced transparency by displaying metrics such as the ROI of marketing spend and labor productivity. Self-service reporting gives all company stakeholders greater visibility into the data without having to rely on the finance team to provide this information.

Bishop-Wisecarver and Danao will be recognized at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, which is to be held virtually on October 8, 2020.

About the Manufacturing Leadership Awards

The Manufacturing Leadership Awards honor manufacturing companies and individual manufacturing leaders that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. Winning projects and individual manufacturing leaders have demonstrated achievement in one of a wide range of categories, and are chosen by a panel of expert judges for results that have delivered clear and compelling value, return on investment, and other tangible outcomes.

About the National Association of Manufacturers

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of all private-sector research and development in the nation. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States.

The NAMs world-class staff of policy experts provide unmatched access and information on the key issues affecting your business and bottom line. We are on the front lines of a wide range of policy battles, from immigration reform and labor relations, to energy and the environment, to trade policy and taxes. At every turn, we are working on behalf of manufacturers in America to advance policies that help manufacturers do what they do best: create economic strength and jobs.

About Bishop-Wisecarver

Bishop-Wisecarvers proven linear and rotary motion solutions are expertly designed and delivered to perform, enabling customers to solve their toughest industrial automation challenges. Leveraging nearly 70 years of experience, from custom machine building to industrial automation solutions, BW has earned the reputation of providing unmatched quality, reliability, service and engineering support for every stage of a customers design and production cycle. Combining long-lasting performance with ease of installation, Bishop-Wisecarvers linear and rotary motion solutions, custom complex assemblies, and technical engineering design and support offer the lowest cost of ownership for a wide variety of applications ranging from Aerospace to Medical to X-Y-Z systems and more. No matter the application or extreme environmental conditions, Bishop-Wisecarver designs innovative solutions from concept to completion, from prototype to production, on time and on budget. To learn more, please visit http://www.bwc.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 22:38:04|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, checks the water situation of the Huaihe River and learns about local measures for flood control, disaster relief and post-flood production recovery at a floodgate in Funan County in Fuyang, east China's Anhui Province, Aug. 18, 2020. Xi on Tuesday inspected Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

HEFEI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Tuesday inspected east China's Anhui Province.

While visiting Funan County in the city of Fuyang, Xi went to a floodgate, a luggage and bag company and a "zhuangtai," a residential structure on raised ground with higher elevation that functions as a safe haven from river floods.

Xi checked the water situation of the Huaihe River and learned about local measures for flood control, disaster relief and post-flood production recovery. He also visited and consoled those affected by floods. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-18 11:04:22|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Remittances in Laos are projected to decline by about 50 percent in 2020 as a result of the economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, local daily Vientiane Times quoted a senior economist as saying.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Planning, Finance and Audit Committee and economist Leeber Leebouapao told Vientiane Times on Monday that the remittances form a major part in the Lao economy and poverty reduction efforts.

"More than 100,000 Lao migrant workers have returned home as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic," he said. "A majority of Lao laborers work in Thailand and the rest work in South Korea and Japan."

According to the latest edition of the World Bank's Lao Economic Monitor unveiled in June this year, the COVID-19 pandemic is adversely impacting the flow of remittances and could push as many as 214,000 people into poverty in Laos which has a population of around 7 million.

The World Bank said that since the outbreak, thousands of Lao workers have returned, resulting in an estimated reduction of up to 125 million U.S. dollars, or 0.7 percent, of gross domestic product (GDP) in remittances in 2020.

Around 9 percent of households in Laos receive remittances from abroad, and remittances constitute 60 percent of their household income, according to the World Bank report. Due to the significant reduction in recipient household incomes, the poverty is expected to rise by 1.4 to 3.1 percentage points in 2020.

"The impact of the pandemic on poverty is expected to linger, with poverty projected to return to its pre-crisis level in 2021 under the upside scenario, or later than 2022 under the downside scenario," said the report.

Remittances constitute the money sent home by individuals working abroad to their family and friends. Most Low-income countries, including Laos, depend on remittances to boost their GDP growth.

In 2020, the global remittances are estimated to drop by 20 percent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A majority of Lao migrants regard remittances as an important source of income for their families, and many of them send money back home every month. Recipient families used remittances to build houses, sending children to schools and paying for healthcare. Enditem
Their hit duet has earned an amazing seven nominations for the awards event, and now Ariana Grande will be part of the live proceedings.

On Tuesday, Variety announced that Grande, 27, will join her collaborator Lady Gaga for a performance at this years MTV VMAs, which will take place on Sunday August 30th.

The ladies will perform their hit duet Rain On Me at the event, which was originally scheduled to be held with a limited audience in Brooklyn's Barclay's Center but will now place at various outdoor locations across New York City instead.

Raining on her: Ariana Grande will join her collaborator Lady Gaga for a performance at this years MTV VMAs, which will take place outdoors on Sunday August 30th

The VMA's, or Video Music Awards, is honoring Gaga's team-up with Grande with the seven nods, including Song of the Year and top prize Video Of The Year.

In addition to Video and Song of the Year, the pop snippet is also nominated for best collaboration, best pop, best cinematography, best visual effects, and best choreography.

Ariana also shared the news of the upcoming performance on her Instagram Tuesday, with a dreamy video featuring Grande and Gaga revolving in the clouds.

With Lady G: Ariana shared the news of the upcoming performance on her Instagram Tuesday, with a dreamy video featuring Grande and herself revolving in the clouds

In addition to the recognition for Rain On Me, off of Gaga's latest album Chromatica, Grande is also being nominated for two more VMAs for her sweet quarantine-themed collab with Justin Bieber, Stuck With U.

Those nominations are another in the best collaboration category, and a new category for the age of the coronavirus pandemic  best music video from home.

Grandes upcoming VMA performance, her fifth, will be the first since 2018, when she wowed with her hit show-stopping rendition of God Is a Woman.

In addition to the recognition for Rain On Me: Grande is also being nominated for two more VMAs for her sweet quarantine-themed collab with Justin Bieber, Stuck With U; seen in a BTS clip for Rain On Me

She and Gaga join fellow performing artists The Weeknd, Miley Cyrus, Roddy Ricch, BTS, Doja Cat, J Balvin, Maluma and CNCO for what is sure to be a different experience, as the awards event will of course not be held in front of a live and enthusiastic audience.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the VMAs would not take place at Barclays as initially planned, instead taking the festivities outdoors as a precaution against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was reached mutually between both MTV and representatives from the large Barclays venue, who said in a statement:

Star: Grande and Gaga join fellow VMA performing artists The Weeknd, Miley Cyrus, Roddy Ricch, BTS, Doja Cat, J Balvin, Maluma and more

'The 2020 VMAs will be held on Sunday, Aug. 30 and pay homage to the incredible resiliency of New York with several outdoor performances around [the city] with limited or no audience, adhering to all state and city guidelines.

'In close consultation with state and local health officials, it became clear at this time that outdoor performances with limited or no audience would be more feasible and safer than an indoor event,' the statement continued.

'The VMAs will highlight the boroughs in an exciting show and return to Barclays Center in 2021. MTV will continue to work closely with the Department of Health, state and local officials, the medical community, and key stakeholders to ensure the safety of all involved,' the missive concluded.
Moscow attorneys embezzlement case is gross interference in civil matters - lawyers

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

17:35 18/08/2020

MOSCOW, August 18 (RAPSI)  A criminal case against Sergey Yuryev, the president of Moscow's bar association Mezhregion charged with embezzling 1 billion rubles (about $15 million) from the State Air Traffic Management Corporation (ATM) is a rude and unwarranted interference in civil matters, according to a statement of the Federal Chamber of Lawyers.

Investigators do not have complaints against a tender and its results as well as legal services provided by the lawyer. They belive that Yuryevs bar association won the tender for legal service provision at an allegedly inflated price. However, the initial price was determined by a state commission but not by the defendant, the statement reads.

The Chamber members point charges against the lawyer are an attempt of the revision of a voluntary concluded and already executed civil law agreement.

Investigation into Yuryev was completed in July.

Investigators claim that in 2008, the State ATM Corporation signed a contract for legal services with one of the bar associations. The bar chairman working connections in the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) submitted a conclusion with a write-up value of legal services for the completion of tender documentation. The signed agreement has been repeatedly prolonged in violation of the established procedure.

The contract overpricing resulted in unjust receipt of more than 1 billion rubles by the bar association from 2008 to 2018, investigators claim.

Yuryev pled not guilty. He is in detention.

Members of the Federal Chamber of Lawyers Council and heads of several regional bar associations have repeatedly stood bond for Yuryev. He is an honest and reputable attorney, the Chambers statement reads. One of the lawyers bail bondsmen was Chair of the Federal Chamber of Lawyer Yury Pilipenko.




The police in Lagos on Tuesday said they have apprehended a seven-man fraud syndicate with base in Lagos as well as bank insiders that help them perpetrate frauds.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, during a press briefing, said the prompt arrest of members of the syndicate including the team lead enabled the police to foil multi-million naira fraud by the team which was near completion.

The arrest, which was made last week by the decoy team of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), voided a N3 million, N25 million and $220,000 fraudulent transactions by the team.

The arrest by the Decoy Team of RRS a few days ago, was based on the intelligence it received on the activities of a fraud syndicate based in Lagos and led by one Osita Nwafor, alias Ossy.

Nwafor, 45 years old, was picked up in the gangs hideout by the Decoy Team after a technical analysis of the details of the gang and its activities. His arrest facilitated the arrest of six other members of the gang in different parts of the metropolis, the police said.

Members of the syndicate arrested are; Nwogu Joseph Chika, Anthony Odama, Ikechukwu Nkem, James Okonkwo, Adedio Paulinus and Ogundepo Olufemi. The suspects are 36, 43, 32, 51, 29, and 51 years old respectively.

According to police investigations, the team works with bank insiders  locally and internationally  who agree on a percentage. The fraudsters scout for obituaries of well to do members of the public, use bank insiders to determine the deceased account balance, clone their SIM cards for online transfer, the police said.

Mr Odumosu said investigations revealed that the gang members were recruited by Mr Nwafor sometime in 2019 and they work independently and collectively. While one of the bank insiders was arrested in Lagos, another bank insider located in Benin is on the run after suspecting that the syndicate has been busted.

According to Nwafor, although I brought the team together, each and every member of the group has his own specialization in the group. We sourced for cases and each and every member of the gang has his own role on each of the cases.

Once I have done my own part of the deal (sourcing for SIMs and accounts numbers through which the group perpetrates its fraud), I push it to whoever among the members has to play the next role and that is how we treat our cases. Apart from this, each member of the gang also has his own splinter group. Whenever they have personal jobs, they also handle on their own, he added.

The suspects confirmed to investigators that they also work with bank insiders locally and internationally and sourced for foreign and local accounts for money lodgements.

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The team leader also told the police that Mr Nwogu, a member of the syndicate was working on the transfer of $220,000 fresh transaction from a foreign bank, while Femi Ogundepo, another member was on a fraudulent transaction of N25 million from an old generation bank with insider connivance.

James Okonkwo, a close ally of Mr Nwafor, the gang coordinator, allegedly cornered N8 million fraudulent proceed of the gang shortly before his arrest, which led to a serious dispute between the two, the police said.

Mr Odumosu said all the suspects will be charged to court.
The Delhi High Court on Monday directed Delhi University (DU) to conduct examinations for final-year students in the pen and paper mode from September 14 even as the varsity said it was too short a time frame and there was immense pressure on the available manpower due to the ongoing open book examinations (OBE).

The move comes days after the Union home ministry, in an affidavit in the Supreme Court, said colleges could reopen to conduct final-year examinations.

The university had proposed to hold physical examinations for students who could not take the online exams, and those who want to better their performance in OBE, from September 20. But a bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Subramonium Prasad said the timeline was quite unreasonable and asked DU to advance the date.

The court noted that the university had earlier said it would be able to gauge the number of leftover students who would write the physical exams only after it measured those who participated in the online mode.

By now, the online examinations have been conducted for an entire week. There should be enough data for the university to analyse the number of students who intend to sit for the examination physically in September, the court observed.

The court said the university should expedite conducting physical examinations so that the entire process can be over at the earliest. It said even though at least two weeks are required after the online examinations are over on August 31, for the university to gear up, physical examinations should start by September 8.

When senior advocate Sachin Datta, appearing for DU, said it would be too short time to complete preparations, the bench changed the date to September 14. It asked DUs counsel to file an affidavit and indicate the end date of the physical examination, after he expressed his inability to inform the end date immediately to the court.

The Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) is not happy with the courts order. Abha Dev Habib, treasurer, DUTA and assistant professor, Miranda House, said, This will mean those students who could not appear for OBE because of adverse circumstances will now have to take health risks and appear for exams physically. Blind students, those living in different parts of the country and facing issues of connectivity will have to travel to Delhi, expose themselves to the virus and spend 40,000-50,000 on travel and rent. These physical exams will be monitored, while all such important parameters to ensure credibility were relaxed for OBE.

An official in the DUs admission branch, who wished not to be named, said, Its going to be a huge task to conduct physical exams amid the pandemic. DU has students from across the country and it wont be possible for many to travel to Delhi since public transport right now is not completely safe. Also, it will be very difficult for the university to complete the evaluation process for the online exams before September 14.

The court expressed anguish over DU in not providing details of grievances to the redressal committee reconstituted by the Delhi HC itself for fairness and transparency. The bench said if the varsity claims that there has been hardly any complaints, it is all the more necessary that the complaints received were satisfactorily addressed by the grievance officer (1st tier) and placed before the committee (2nd tier).

The bench, while hearing a bunch of pleas by PwD students seeking various facilities for the open book exams, directed the University Grants Commission take steps to issue a fresh advisory to all central universities to defer their demand of seeking provisional certificates for entry to postgraduate courses.

The court directed DU to verify the number of PWD category students who were let out of OBE, and those in the segment who wish to sit for the physical exam even though they may have taken the online mode, for working out modalities of a place of stay and transportation from their present residence to Delhi.

HC was informed that the students had gone back to their home towns due to the lockdown and arrangements would have to be made to bring them back.

The court directed Delhi University to create a separate e-mail ID, where students can e-mail their requests along with details of foreign universities where they have secured provisional admission so that a request letter can be addressed directly by the Delhi University to the institute concerned.

The court sought to know from the varsity the date by which the results will be declared for all streams of final-year courses and posted the matter for further hearing on August 27.
Pelvic floor strengthening is an important component to womens health and wellness. As a result of childbirth, menopause, and the natural aging process, bladder and pelvic floor muscles become weaker which can lead to:



Urinary leakage  Stress incontinence

Strong and sudden urges to urinate  Urge Incontinence

Inability to control bowel movements - Fecal incontinence

Worsening sexual function and enjoyment during intimacy

The new Emsella device provided by Womens Excellence is a non-invasive solution to help women combat these problems.

Emsella is designed as a chair that is comfortable and convenient for treatment. When sitting on the device, Emsella uses high intensity focused electromagnetic technology to stimulate deep pelvic floor muscles. The device produces thousands of pelvic floor contractions, which is comparable to thousands of kegel exercises. Patients remain fully clothed throughout the entirety of the treatment and there is no pain or downtime upon completion of the session.

Strengthening the pelvic floor with rapid and repetitive contractions from Emsella will help support the bladder and urethra to provide women better control over urination and reduce urgency and frequency. Also, the tightening of these muscles targeted during treatment will aid in better sexual function for women by improving orgasms and vaginal tightness and relieving pelvic pressure.

Dr. Jonathan Zaidan, MD, FACOG, President of Womens Excellence decided to begin offering Emsella at Womens Excellence to support his overall mission of easy and convenient healthcare for women.

Emsella is now a mainstay of therapy for our patients. Patinets with mild urinary incontinence and pelvic floor problems are beginning to see great results from Emsella, says Zaidan. The device produces over 11,000 pelvic floor contractions in 28 minutes  more than regular pelvic floor physical therapy could ever do. All of the providers at Womens Excellence are referring patients to this new program because it is effective, convenient, and non-invasive.

To schedule an in-office appointment or a telemedicine consultation for pelvic floor strengthening at Womens Excellence, visit http://www.WomensExcellence.com. Online Patient Support Specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm to assist new, current, and prospective patients. The chat is located at the bottom right corner of your computer or mobile device screen at http://www.WomensExcellence.com. During offline hours, all chats sent will be messaged directly to a Womens Excellence team member. Offline messages will receive a response within 24 hours. Messages received during the weekend will be answered the next business week. Appointments can also be made at (248) 693-0543.

About Womens Excellence

Womens Excellence is the most comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic office in Michigan. Additionally, they specialize in menopause, weight control, bladder control, endometriosis, robotic surgery, oncology, and midwifery services. Womens Excellence is committed to staying at the forefront of innovation with cutting edge technologies utilizing robotic surgery and minimally invasive surgical options when possible. The knowledgeable, compassionate physicians and healthcare providers of Womens Excellence focus on patient-centered processes to deliver the highest quality of care. They are affiliated with most insurances. They offer seamless medical record access via a state-of-the-art patient portal and use the latest technology for record keeping and sharing, making the patient experience easier and more efficient. Womens Excellence is taking new patients and is conveniently located throughout southeastern Michigan in Clarkston, Lake Orion, Lapeer, Rochester, Royal Oak, and West Bloomfield. Womens Excellence is also a proud partner of Detroits longstanding radio network, WJR 760AM, providing expert womens health news and information. For more information, visit http://www.WomensExcellence.com.